Day and Night

by Kaylie Hunter

  “How’s she doing?”

  I shrugged. “She went back to work, but the FBI reassigned her to a drug trafficking unit. She says her reporting supervisor is an asshole.”

  “Damn. Couldn’t Kierson stop the transfer? Keep her in sex crimes?”

  “Kierson benched her to a desk because she was a bit of a loose cannon. Then she went over his head to complain and found herself assigned elsewhere.”

  “So—she lost her temper, and now they’re punishing her.”

  “That was my interpretation.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Maggie,” Grady said, shaking his head.

  “Being tortured changes a person,” I whispered, squeezing his hand.

  “It makes an impression, but it doesn’t have to define you.” He lifted my hand and kissed it before he got up and went into the bathroom.

  I heard the shower start up and decided it was best if I was escaped quickly. If I was still in the bedroom when he returned covered in wet rippling naked muscles, I’d likely find myself tangled in the sheets again. I snuck into the bathroom long enough to use a wash cloth for a quick wipe down and brush my teeth before I slipped back into the bedroom. I dressed in cotton shorts, a sports bra, and a loose-fitting T-shirt before lacing a well-worn pair of running shoes. Ready to go, I turned toward the atrium before I remembered the contracts that Grady had told me about for the new houses. I pulled the file out and scanned the documents before signing all the marked signature lines. I was pleased to see that Whiskey was hired as the general contractor. I moved the folder to the dresser before exiting the atrium side door. Crossing the street to the woodlands, I started down the outer running trail.

  Chapter Six

  Two miles into my run, I heard voices up ahead. I slowed to a walk, careful of where I stepped so I wouldn’t be heard. At the top of a small hill, I crept toward the edge until I could see two men below, talking. Neither of them noticed me.

  “We need to break this case soon,” the tall man with black hair said to the other. “I’m not sure how much more physical training I can take.”

  “Tell me about it,” the stouter blond said. “Grady’s worse than my basic training sergeant. And Bones scares the shit out of me.”

  “If you tell anyone back at the office that Bridget took me down during practice yesterday, I’ll kick your ass.”

  “She’s crazy,” the blond said. “I can’t decide whether I want to hit her or fuck her.”

  “Better not let your wife hear you say that,” the other said, laughing as he lit a cigarette.

  The blond took the cigarette, grinding it into the dirt with his shoe. “I ain’t getting my ass kicked off this op because you needed a nicotine fix. And we need to get back, anyway, before someone comes looking for us.”

  “Fine. But the first one of us with an opportunity to look around Donovan’s office, needs to take it. We need to get that intel.”

  “Agreed.”

  They jogged off in the direction of the road. The woodlands were off limits to everyone except Grady, Donovan, and me. I didn’t even allow the kids to play in the woods unless Grady or I were with them. Those two men definitely didn’t have permission to be on my land.

  After waiting until they were out of hearing distance, I jogged the next mile, exiting at the end of our dead-end street. I walked the rest of the way, waving at Lisa who was washing her kitchen window. She smiled briefly before continuing to attack invisible smudges. I shook my head and continued on. I wasn’t equipped to know what to do with a woman obsessed with cleaning.

  Not having my keys on me, I went to the front door and rang the bell. Sara opened it a minute later, leaping into my arms for a hug.

  “What’s this all about?” I laughed, carrying her with me through the door into the dining room.

  “The glass walkway to connect the houses,” Whiskey answered, saluting his cup of coffee at me. “She’s already added it to the blueprints.”

  “I’ll be able to run back and forth any time I want. It will be like a hallway.” Sara’s smile beamed back at me.

  “I like that thought too,” I said, rubbing my nose against hers before I set her down in the chair by her laptop.

  I walked into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Grady was already there, sliding a cup my way. “You have a good run?”

  “Let’s say it was interesting,” I answered, glancing toward the dining room table. “I’ll fill you in later, but tell Donovan to keep all the offices locked and supervised.”

  Grady raised his left eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “Could be worse. I don’t think we have anything to worry about, but I’ll make some phone calls.”

  “I trust you.” Grady planted a hard kiss on my forehead before he poured his coffee into a travel mug and left through the garage door.

  ~*~*~

  After showering and throwing on a clean set of clothes, I grabbed my shoulder bag and moved into the dining room to work at the other end of the table from the kids. I reviewed the trainee files of the two men who were in the woods. Both files were thin—and completely fabricated. I was surprised Tech didn’t notice the lack of details as a red flag. I grabbed my cell phone and called Agent Kierson.

  “I’m busy,” he answered. “Unless you’re calling to accept the offer to be our profiler, I don’t have time to talk.”

  “Are you sure you can’t convince Maggie to come back? I hear she hates her new boss.”

  “He’s already gone. She’s stuck between assignments right now, bored.”

  “What happened to her boss?”

  “He got demoted to no-man's-land. Maggie insists she didn’t have anything to do with it, but she’s definitely laughing about it. I worked with the guy once and have to admit I enjoyed hearing his career crashed and burned.”

  “Damn. You FBI agents are brutal.”

  “He’s a class A dickhead. You’d have dropped him.”

  “Well then, I’m glad he’s out of the picture, but that’s not why I called. I need a favor.”

  Kierson sighed dramatically but didn’t say anything.

  “I’m looking at two fake trainee files and overheard them say they were undercover investigating Silver Aces Security.”

  “Feds?”

  “They’re not local cops. And their backgrounds have holes, but the basic details passed preliminary vetting.”

  “Is this about you? Aren’t you part owner now?”

  “I bought in recently, but Grady and I are silent partners. We let Donovan stamp his name on everything.”

  “This has to be about you, then. I can’t see any of the agencies looking into Donovan or Grady. What did you do this time?”

  “If I knew that, why the hell would I be calling you?”

  “Smartass. I’ll make some calls and ask Genie to do her computer thing. Give me a couple hours.” Kierson disconnected.

  I looked up to find both kids watching and listening to me. “Shh,” I said, putting my finger near my lips.

  “Your work looks like a lot more fun than mine,” Sara said, coming over to look at one of the files.

  “Shouldn’t you be listening to some online professor or something?”

  “We’ve already watched all of our lesson plans and have most of our homework done,” Nicholas said, moving over to look at the other file. “Are these bad guys?”

  “I don’t think they’re bad. I just think they’re sneaky,” I answered, reaching out to tickle his ribs. “It’s not even nine o’clock yet. How can the two of you be almost done with your work?”

  “We worked ahead last week. We were bored.”

  “You both need someone to manage your schedules. And you need physical education and some arts-based studies.”

  “Another nanny?” Sara sighed.

  “No. But a teacher would be a good idea. Get online and post an ad. Put down that a teaching degree is required. Set up interviews for Wednesday.”

  “Will you still be here?” Ni
cholas asked as Sara moved to her laptop to start writing the ad.

  “I don’t know, but if I’m not here, I’ll ask Lisa or Grady to do the interviews. Will that work?”

  “Nicholas and I should get to pick the teacher,” Sara said.

  “Not happening. But you can give us your opinion.”

  “Deal,” Sara said.

  “You’re not supposed to agree right away,” Nicholas said, glaring at her.

  Sara’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “We can force someone to quit if we don’t like them.”

  “You two are monsters,” I said, rolling my eyes to the ceiling.

  I looked over when Nicholas’ laugh cut off abruptly. His face was whiter than the sheet of paper he was holding. I took the paper from him and looked at it. I didn’t recognize the picture of the trainee stapled in the upper corner. It was a file I hadn’t reviewed yet. I skimmed the profile before looking back at Nicholas. “Do you know this man?”

  He looked up at me and nodded slowly. His eyes were wide, and he was breathing in quick shallow breaths.

  I reached out and held his hand. “You’re safe, Nick. You’re at home with Sara and me. Did this man hurt you?”

  He shook his head no as his breathing started to even out.

  “Did he work for Nola?”

  He looked back at the picture and nodded. “He dropped off kids to her,” he whispered.

  “What the hell?” Whiskey gasped, standing at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Watch the kids and go through the rest of the trainee files with them. See if they recognize anyone else,” I ordered as I tucked my phone in my pocket and grabbed my keys off the hook. “I have some ass kicking to do.”

  ~*~*~

  It took me less than thirty seconds to drive over to Silver Aces. As I was getting out of my SUV, my phone rang.

  “Give me the quick version,” I said to Kierson as I jogged toward the door.

  “Not FBI, but possibly DEA.”

  “What the hell would the DEA want with Silver Aces?”

  “No clue. Still trying to get someone on the phone with enough clearance to answer that question.”

  “Screw it. I’ll ask them myself. I just need to take out the trash first.”

  “Literally?” Kierson asked.

  “No!” I snapped, hanging up on him. He probably didn’t deserve my anger, especially when he was doing me a favor. But my ire was spiking and my heart slammed against my chest with each beat. My ears made whooshing noises as I stormed past the front receptionist and into the gym.

  The gym was in the center of the building with a conference room and several offices on the far-left of the oversized space. Also on the left was an open stairway that led to the second floor. The south side of the second floor housed a glass-walled office that Tech and I shared for a war room. The north side was Grady’s office and a few empty offices.

  Grady sensed my presence and watched me with a raised eyebrow as I barreled between the trainees to the center of the room. I spotted my target and when I was close enough, I swept his legs out from under him and placed a booted heel at his throat.

  “Who the fuck are you?” I screamed down at him as I pressed more of my weight against him. “And what the hell are you doing here?” One wrong move on his part, and my heel would puncture a life-ending hole through his neck.

  I sensed Bones, Grady, Bridget, and Donovan close in around me.

  “Who is he?” Grady asked, reaching a hand out and lightly touching my shoulder.

  “One of Nola’s delivery boys,” I said, spitting in the man’s face.

  “I don’t work for her no more,” the man wheezed.

  “Since I killed her—I already know that!”

  “Oh, shit,” he whimpered. “You’re her!” His face paled, and he moved his hands off my boot and held them up in surrender. “Please, don’t kill me!”

  “You kidnapped children and sold them!”

  “I’m sorry!” he whimpered. “I needed the money!”

  “Piece of shit,” I said, kicking him in the face before stepping away.

  “Can we kill him now?” Bones growled.

  “I wish. But the DEA agents planted as trainees would be required to arrest us,” I said, motioning to the agents. “In fact, they witnessed the confession of a federal crime which I believe they’re required now to report.”

  Both men sighed, one ducking his head and placing his hands on his hips. The other moved over to the man on the floor and pulled him up, rattling off his Miranda rights. I looked over my shoulder as Donovan scrubbed a hand over his face, Grady raised his left eyebrow, and Bones laughed. Bridget looked mad.

  “What am I missing?” I asked her.

  She moved over to the shorter blond and stomped her heel on his toes.

  “Shit!” he screeched, jumping up and down on his good foot to keep the weight off his smashed one. “What the hell was that for?”

  “You were flirting with me to get info on the company!” she fumed. “Like I’m some airhead tart who would betray her friends just to get a little attention?”

  “Well it didn’t work,” he grumbled. “Damn. You broke my toe.”

  “Good!”

  Bridget stormed out of the gym.

  I reached inside my boot for flex cuffs, passing them to the agent holding Nola’s goon.

  “Thanks,” the agent grumbled.

  “You can thank me by telling me what the hell the DEA is doing investigating Silver Aces Security.”

  “How did you figure out who we were?” the shorter, blond agent asked.

  “I caught you talking in the woods. For future reference, never meet up in a low valley. It makes it easier for people to spy on you.”

  “Our boss is going to be pissed.”

  “If you or your boss want to know something—ask!”

  Grady placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, reminding me to calm down.

  “Take him out to the car. I’ll talk to them,” the shorter agent said to his partner before he started limping toward Donovan’s office.

  “I don’t think so,” I said, walking toward the main conference room. “This way.”

  As I entered the room and turned on the lights, the green light for the concealed video camera turned on. Tech must have heard the chaos and was recording the meeting. Unless you knew the camera was there, you’d never notice it. It blended with a security panel on the wall that had various green and red lights in a strip. Only Tech, Grady, Donovan, and I knew that the top right light was for the video recorder.

  “Let’s start with your name,” I said, pulling out a chair and sitting at one end of the table.

  “Agent Leighton. My partner is Agent Thomas.”

  “What’s the basis of your case and how does it tie into Silver Aces Security?” Grady asked, leaning against the glass wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

  Bones wandered over and stretched out in a chair near me. Donovan paced near the exterior windows.

  “We’ve been monitoring shipments of drugs along the east and west coast that tie back to Kalamazoo. We can trace deliveries on three different dates that correspond to private jet rentals this company made.”

  Bones snorted. Grady rolled his eyes. Donovan continued to pace.

  “What are the dates?”

  “February 16th of last year. January 1st of this year. And April 23rd of this year.”

  On the screen behind the agent, Tech typed in the details of each flight including passengers, plane staff, dates, times, and terminals.

  “Well, it seems that the only thing those three flights have in common is the pilot,” I said.

  The agent smirked. “That’s it? You drop a different suspect and expect us to move on to someone else?”

  “The flight last year in February was me,” Bones said. “I was flying out to my family’s estate.”

  “January 1st was a whole crew of people, everyone in this room except Donovan, plus about a dozen more men and women,” Gr
ady said. “But we flew south, not east or west.”

  “April 23rd was just me,” Donovan said. “But I was working with the FBI on a case. Unless I was carrying dope for your fellow Feds, I’m covered for that flight.”

  “And you expect me to believe you remember all those dates?” the agent asked.

  “Turn around, Agent Leighton,” I said, pointing to the screen behind him. “The information you’ve been looking for is on the screen behind you. I suggest you track down the pilot and ask him a few questions.” I stood and moved toward the door. “And next time you need information from our company, save the taxpayers some money and ask.”

  I walked into the gym and scanned the room. Bridget had returned and was running laps with a few other trainees. The rest of them stood around talking.

  “Trainees! Line up!” I yelled, calling their attention and pointing to the red line in the center of the room.

  Most of the trainees immediately went to the red line and stood anxiously waiting. A few more dragged themselves over, looking annoyed. Two of the men glanced my way, but continued to talk and joke around.

  “I’m Kelsey Harrison,” I called out to them. “Lead investigator for Silver Aces Security. Line up, or get out.” One of the men looked surprised and quickly joined the line. The other snorted and meandered to the line looking bored. “Do we have a problem?” I asked him.

  He scanned my body slowly before raising his eyes to meet mine. “The only problem I see is that we’re not in my bed.”

  “Interesting,” I said as I maintained eye contact. “I thought the problem was that you were still on the premises.” I turned toward the offices where several off-shift employees were watching. “Could one of you gentlemen escort this asshole to the dorms to collect his shit?”

  Everyone laughed, and two of them jogged over and motioned for him to leave.

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” the trainee yelled as he stalked over and leaned over me.

  “A partner of this company,” Donovan answered from somewhere behind me.