A Matter of Trust

by Wendy Davy

  “No, James, I don’t understand any of it.” Victoria released her anger. “Just hours ago, my life was normal. I thought everything was going fine,” she spat out the words. “I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t do anything wrong. So stop treating me like a criminal!”

  “Well, Victoria, sometimes good people get caught up in bad circumstances.”

  “Like Danny did?”

  “Leave him out of this,” James growled a warning.

  Victoria took a deep, calming breath. “Look, I didn’t mean it like that. James, my world has been turned upside down and you keep trying to bully me, like some tyrannical steamroller. I need some time to adjust to what has happened, like you said before. So, will you do me a favor and leave me alone?”

  James backed away a step. “Okay. We’ll talk more in the morning,” he said a little less aggressively.

  Victoria moved so he could reach the door. “James, I do have a question before you go.” She looked at him square in his eyes and asked, “Why did you have to take it so far? Why did you make me fall in love with you?”

  She saw a muscle in his jaw twitch as he searched for words. After a moment he lifted his hand to her cheek, brushed his knuckles across her skin and said, “I never meant to hurt you, Victoria. I didn’t plan on taking things so far, it just happened. At first I needed to find out what you knew. Then I found myself wanting to be with you,” James admitted. He let his fingers drop as he reached for the door. He stepped outside before he turned, looked at her and said, “You’re not the only one who fell in love, Vic.” Then he spun away and disappeared into the darkness.

  A Matter Of Trust

  A Matter Of Trust

  Chapter Nine

  You’re not the only one who fell in love.

  Those words echoed through Victoria’s head long into the night. As she tried to sleep, she saw his face as he spoke them. She hadn’t seen an ulterior motive, not a single hint of a hidden agenda on his features. She wondered with a shiver if he really meant it, or if he was still playing some kind of game with her. Was he the secretive Special Agent Montgomery when he spoke of love to her, or was he the James she knew and fell in love with?

  Victoria tossed in her bed, exhaustion racked her body but sleep evaded her until deep into the night when her thoughts became so muddled they no longer made sense and it took too much effort to try to keep them in focus. Her dreams that night were not of Eric and the night so long ago. This time she dreamt of Gramps, all alone sitting in a cell and of James. She dreamt of his protectiveness and his smile, next of his betrayal and accusations. The jumbled images both terrified and intrigued her.

  She woke several times during the night, tense with emotion and forced herself to relax again enough to sleep. Each time she woke, the images in her dreams imprinted themselves in her mind, leaving no room for a peaceful or restful night of sleep, and no hope that she would be able to forget about the nightmares when she woke.

  The sunlight streaming through the windows woke Victoria early the next day. Sleep deprivation took its toll on her as she sat up for a moment, groggy and dry eyed, then flopped back on the bed with a thump. Her throat was as dry as her eyes and her head pounded in rhythm with her heartbeat. She squeezed her eyes shut against the light, turned over and buried her face in her pillow.

  Dear Lord, how do I face this day? She asked God to help her through simple prayers, and repeated the Lord’s prayer a few times. The part about God forgiving us our trespasses as we forgive others who trespass against us, held new meaning for Victoria today. She had forgiven Eric for his actions years ago, but could she forgive Gramps and James for their much more recent actions? How could she expect James to forgive the drunk driver and himself, if she was unwilling to forgive him?

  New tears formed in her eyes and she wiped them away as anger resurfaced once again. Why should she be put in this position? The unfairness of it all tore at her. It hurts so bad! Lord, help me be able to get through this! Visions of Gramps locked in a cold, dirty cell interrupted any rational thoughts she tried to have. The hurt sat on the surface of her heart, the betrayal was as strong as the sunlight penetrating her window.

  Victoria forced herself to flip around in her bed and face the day. In order to get Gramps out of jail, she’d have to get up first. She dragged her reluctant body out of bed and headed for the shower. She heard a heavy knock on the door. Grabbing for her robe instead of her toothbrush, she quickly flung it on. If this was James, she was prepared to give him an earful.

  It was James. Victoria started to give him a thousand reasons to let Gramps out of jail as she swung the door open wide, but stared unmoving instead, stunned at what she saw. Gramps stood behind James. Victoria ran to him and hugged him tight. She pulled back, inspecting him like a child, to make sure he was still in one piece.

  “I didn’t expect…” her words trailed off. She turned her wide eyes to James.

  “We’ve got a lot to talk about, Vic. Why don’t you get cleaned up while we wait for Tyler? I’ll get some breakfast ready for you.”

  “I thought I was going to have to beg you to release him.” She studied Gramps’ movements as he made his way to the sofa. He looked okay.

  “I never intended to keep him in there for long,” James said quietly.

  Victoria looked up sharply at him. “Why didn’t you tell me? I stayed awake worrying last night, imagining all sorts of horrible things…having nightmares.”

  “I wanted you to worry,” James held up his hands before she could interject a word. “So, you would realize these are serious federal laws that have been broken, and you and Connor are at our mercy.”

  “You made that clear to me yesterday,” she replied dully.

  “Yes, but I wanted to give it a chance to sink in. Now, go get showered and dressed, we’ve got to design a plan to catch the bad guys.”

  “I thought we were the bad guys,” Victoria said as she yawned into the back of her fist.

  Her brain still felt fuzzy from the difficult night and she didn’t want to get into a sparring match with the federal agent, so she turned and padded her way into the bathroom without waiting for a reply.

  After dousing her fuzzy head in a hot stream of water, her thought processes became much clearer. She lingered in the bathroom, after dressing, thinking through the possible arrangements James may have in mind and her possible defenses against them. She wound her hair into a tight bun while considering the dire situation. As more and more potential avenues came to mind, she grew more and more tense and guarded.

  Drawing on her past experiences, the hardships and pain, the tests of patience she had endured, she steeled herself from her own emotions and headed out into the living room. She heard James and Gramps speaking with Special Agent Tyler Bains. She straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin high and put on her professional mask as she neared the trio.

  ****

  James saw the stubborn set of her jaw first, the cold detachment in her eyes next. He admired her attempts to remain impassive in the intensely emotional and seemingly impossible situation. He knew it must be difficult for woman as warm and loving as she to appear so cool and aloof. He forced himself not to smile at the harsh hairstyle she wore. The tight bun on her head pulled her skin across her cheekbones in a severe manner. It didn’t deter from her softness, even though he knew that she intended it to. She put up a good show, but he knew it wouldn’t last for long. Not when she heard what he had in mind to do.

  “Have a seat, Victoria,” he said in a professional tone. If she wanted to play games, he was more than willing to indulge her. He knew he could break down her defenses at any given moment, but for now, it was better that she remain impassive. He set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her on the table. “You need to eat.”

  She looked at the plate as if it had insects infesting it. “I’m not hungry.”

  “I need you to be strong, Vic.” James knew the right words to choose. He knew she didn’t want to appear weak
in any way.

  He watched her nod her head begrudgingly and begin to eat. He turned to Tyler and said, “Bring in the pictures.”

  The tension in the room was tangible as they sat and waited while Tyler went outside. No one spoke, but James didn’t take his eyes off of Victoria. She took great effort not to look at him as she continued to nibble at the food on her plate.

  Finally, Tyler returned with a thick folder and dropped it onto the coffee table. He looked at Victoria and Gramps and said, “This is evidence in an ongoing investigation. You understand to keep this confidential, right?” Tyler’s baritone voice was almost as deep and commanding as James’.

  “Of course,” Victoria replied and Gramps nodded his head.

  James spoke up, “We’ve been tracking illicit spirits, moonshine, coming out of Henson County for several months now. Connor, you indicated that you started making sugar runs for these people at about the same time.”

  “That’s right. It was early February, or somewhere’s ‘bout that time,” Gramps drawled out his words.

  “That’s when the first anonymous call came in.”

  Victoria looked at James and asked, “Anonymous call?”

  “We had an unknown caller report the moonshine operation. We confirmed the information a few weeks later when a drug task force team purchased moonshine in and around the county.”

  “Did you track down this anonymous caller?”

  “No, and we had a few more calls in the months that followed. They were all made on a pre-paid cell phone. We still don’t know who called us, or why. But the tips led the A.T.F. to you.” James looked at Martin Connor. “By the time Tyler and I were assigned to investigate, the bureau already had evidence that proved the allegations to be true. We knew a little of what you were doing. We came to find out more. And you, Victoria,” James said as he focused on her, “as you know you were also a suspect. I had to find out what you knew, too.”

  “Why didn’t they arrest the guys that sold the moonshine to the undercover druggies?”

  “Undercover druggies?” James smirked. “You mean the drug task force. They didn’t arrest the bootleggers because they needed to remain undercover until the source of the moonshine was discovered. That’s where we,” James indicated he and Tyler, “come into play.”

  “But, we aren’t the source of the moonshine.”

  “No, but whoever the source is, is connected to you, Connor. You are our best lead right now.”

  “So the drug task force fed guys are still undercover?”

  “Yes, and they will remain so until we find the root of it all. Once the source is found, we will give the go ahead to arrest the sellers as well.”

  “Why don’t you follow the guys with the moonshine and investigate them?”

  “There are other teams working on those leads. We’re assigned to follow up on this lead.”

  “So where do we fit into all of this?” Gramps broke into the conversation.

  James leaned forward and steepled his hands together. “You have contact with them.”

  “But, I don’t know who they are,” Gramps said quizzically.

  “No, but we will track them down through you.”

  This was the first time Gramps had been introduced to the idea of him being used as bait. “If I go along with you, I want Victoria to be protected.”

  Victoria countered looking at James, “I want you to protect Gramps. And I want all charges to be dropped against him.”

  “If you both cooperate and help us uncover the people behind this, the charges will be dropped. You’ll stay out of prison and keep your land. Things will go back to normal for you. Meanwhile, you’ll be under our protection,” James assured them.

  “Maybe you should leave, Victoria. I don’t like where this is heading. You could go, move back in with your friend, Ashley.” Gramps’ weary voice had a pleading edge to it.

  “It’s too late for that Connor. She’s already in it too deep. She stays,” James answered forcefully. He opened the file folder on the coffee table. “It appears whoever it is that is involved in all of this has an obsession for you, Vic.” James spread out dozens of photographs.

  She picked one up and studied it. “It’s a picture of me in front of my favorite deli, before I moved,” she stammered. “Here’s one of me driving in my car and one of me and Ashley shopping together. I’m at the beach in this one. I don’t understand. Who would want to do this?”

  James saw the terror come into her eyes and watched a shiver course through her as he explained, “The guys who want Connor to keep on buying supplies, that’s who.”

  ****

  Victoria felt like she was going to lose her breakfast. She hugged her arms in self defense and wished James would stop referring to Gramps as Connor. It sounded so impersonal and she had grown to think of James on a very personal level. As he started putting the pictures away, she caught a glimpse of one that shocked her. “Oh my, James.” She held up a picture of her asleep on her couch in the cottage. “He must have been right outside the sliding glass doors. Did either of you see the guy who took these? You’ve been watching the cottage right?”

  “We’ve been watching you two closely, but we can’t keep 24 hour surveillance on you or the cottage. We didn’t see him,” James admitted.

  Victoria looked to the open curtains on her sliding glass door and immediately wanted to shut them.

  James must have read her mind. “I won’t let him hurt you.”

  She felt some of her unease fade at James’ promise. He put the pictures away and put a reassuring hand on top of hers.

  Victoria said, “He didn’t need to take so many pictures to get his point across. It’s creepy.”

  Tyler looked at Victoria and commented, “That’s why you can’t leave. You’re safer here with us.”

  Victoria stood up and paced the room. She chewed on a fingernail for a moment before slipping her hands into her pockets. She stopped pacing abruptly and spoke her mind, “What makes you think I would leave? I’m not a coward. I’m staying right here and putting an end to this whole mess. What do you want me to do?” She looked directly at James.

  He smiled and sat back in his seat. “That’s my girl.”

  The words stung her. She had wanted to be his, but had he ever really wanted her? “I’m not your girl, James,” she said hotly. “You only pretended I was, remember?”

  James’ smile disappeared and his expression hardened. “Sit down.”

  She swallowed in apprehension at the quick change in his demeanor. She sat down quietly in a chair opposite the sofa.

  James looked at her and worked his jaw muscles as he delayed his words. He sat forward and laced his fingers together. He appeared to study his shoes for a moment. When he looked up he said, “I want you to know that I’ll do whatever it takes to bring these guys down.”

  “You’ve proven that already James. You betrayed my trust after pursuing it diligently. Tell me, did you enjoy humiliating me? Hurting me? Are you so ruthless as to not care who you hurt on your never ending quest for vengeance?” Victoria shot back.

  “That’s enough,” Gramps intervened with his bold, loud announcement. Victoria looked up, surprised at Gramps sharp words. Three pairs of eyes watched as he continued to speak. “I know your parents raised you with better manners than you’ve been showing ‘darlin. These men here deserve your respect and I won’t tolerate anything less from you.”

  Astounded, Victoria sat speechless as tears glimmered in her eyes. She had expected to have support from Gramps, not a reprimand.

  James spoke up, commanding everyone’s attention once again. “You asked what I want you to do.”

  “Yes, I did. But do I really want to know?” Bewilderment was evident in her voice. She felt cornered by the three men in the room. Trapped in the twilight zone where everything seemed surreal. Even the usually soothing sounds of the wind chimes clinking outside on the deck sounded as if they were from a far off land. Her breathing quickene
d and she felt panic emerging from deep within. Irrational fears threatened to consume her as an overwhelming feeling of isolation stole over her. Was there anyone on the planet that could possibly understand what she was feeling at this moment? Oh Lord, help me! She prayed intently.

  “Take this, put it on your forehead,” Tyler said as he handed her a cold, wet washcloth. She hadn’t even seen him get it for her. She grabbed at it like a drowning victim offered a life preserver.

  “Thank you,” she said and buried her face in it.

  Tyler briefly touched a hand to her shoulder. “Breathe slower, Victoria. We don’t want you to pass out.”

  The show of compassion from Tyler and cool dampness of the cloth helped her keep the panic attack from expanding to the surface. She looked up and found all three men staring at her as if she were as fragile as a porcelain doll. Anger replaced her irrational fear.

  “I’m strong, I won’t break. Tell me what we have to do.” She held her chin up high and tossed the washcloth aside.

  James took a deep breath and said, “I know you’re strong and courageous, Vic. Or I wouldn’t ask you to do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “I want you and Connor to start distilling moonshine.”

  A Matter Of Trust

  A Matter Of Trust

  Chapter Ten

  “What? You want us to make moonshine?” Victoria shrieked. “What on earth for?”

  “There’s a reason. Just hear me out…” James began.

  “A revenuer is asking us to make moonshine? I thought I had heard every odd thing there was to hear from my five year old students, but this beats them all. You want us,” Victoria pointed her finger from herself to Gramps repeatedly, “to become real moonshiners?”