Guardian of Justice

by Carol Steward

  Kira shook her head. “The way he was clutching that backpack the other day, my bet is the phone is in there.”

  “When you brought him back from the ranch he had to bring all of his belongings, so it most likely was in the backpack then,” Dallas mused. “But I don’t think he’d take the chance of having something that valuable at school, where it would be much more easily stolen. That said, he’s a teenager, and sooner or later, he’s going to slip up.”

  Kira waited until Dallas confirmed that Cody was in school the next morning before she made an impromptu visit to the foster home. She hated to bring another problem case to the Woods, but they needed to know what was going on. Glen and Deb ran one of the county’s best foster homes. It was a perfect place for kids like Cody and Betsy, who needed extra attention. Kira didn’t expect the couple would turn the kids away, but she didn’t want them to be caught off guard, by Cody or anyone else.

  She explained the situation, and Deb helped her look, but unfortunately, their search of the siblings’ belongings came up empty. Though Deb didn’t recall seeing either of her charges playing with anything that looked like a Blackberry, she agreed to keep her eyes open and let Kira know if she found anything.

  After working long days, Kira was almost caught up with her caseload again. She had several conversations with Dallas, on duty and off. He assured her that Cody was arriving on the bus each day and making it into school, but he continued to struggle to make it to class on time. By the end of the first week, he had already tallied half a dozen truancies, which gave her a perfect reason to stop at the school to chat with Dallas in person. He wasn’t in his office, but she was able to track him down. “Good afternoon.”

  He spun around, seeming irritated to see her. “Hi,” he said, giving her a quick once-over, as if unable to stop himself. Then he looked down the hall. “What brings you all the way out here?” He took off walking, beckoning for her to come along.

  “I want to know if you’ve asked Cody why he keeps being tardy for his classes.”

  “You could have called to ask that.”

  Dallas’s response startled her. “Is there something else I should know about?”

  He remained silent as he marched to the main hall and then his office. “We can talk a little more freely in here.” He stopped and waited for her to go in first, then closed the door before answering her question. “Cody avoids me, which works fine, since I can’t really become the boy’s shadow without raising too much suspicion.”

  “This is one way our agencies need to work closer together, Dallas. We’re understaffed, and you’re with him every weekday. I trusted you to let me know how he’s doing here.” Kira went on about his obligation to keep her informed about kids in the system.

  “Fine, pull rank then. Just remember, we have rules that we need to follow, too, and you’re stomping all over most of them. You’ve got to step back and let us do the investigating on the drug issues, Kira.”

  She rejected such an absurd idea. Her, breaking police policies? He was out of line. “My brother included me—”

  “But he agrees with me,” Dallas interrupted. “We needed you to identify Mickey. Yes, your role is important, we’re not arguing that. But we don’t want you hurt. And this is a dangerous case.”

  With a pulse-pounding certainty, she knew he wouldn’t back down. He had at least one of her brothers on his side. Probably all of them, from the sound of it. Kira gave a disgusted grunt. “So how is Cody adjusting?” she asked curtly.

  Dallas was equally stubborn. “He’s pushing a few buttons with his teachers, but overall he’s toeing the line. I notice he’s been walking around outside during lunch. Occasionally he leaves campus, which is not against the rules, so I can’t stop him. “

  “You can’t follow him?”

  Dallas slapped his chest. “I’m a little hard to disguise, even if I had time to follow one kid around.”

  “Why didn’t you call me so Icould follow him?”

  “Because I had another critical issue to handle,” he said in exasperation. “Cody’s getting back into a routine, Kira. That’s what we want him to do. He needs to get the impression that we trust him. And I need to know you trust me to do my job.”

  “Of course I do, but…”

  “But? If you don’t trust me to handle it, there are other options. If you want him watched 24–7, he needs to be somewhere else.” Dallas pointed to the door. “I have a responsibility for all of the students here at the school—keeping boys from lighting girls’ hair on fire, dealing with teenage drug dealers who are carrying more money in their backpacks than I earn in a month…”

  As he continued to share the frustrations of his few weeks at the school, Kira’s mind drifted back to the phone message she’d received the previous day from Family Finders, closing her search for Jimmie Driscoe, her brother. They’d found him, serving a ten-year sentence in a California prison for dealing large quantities of drugs.

  “Maybe you’re right, Dallas. But it could be that Cody just needs to know someone cares if he ruins his life.” She walked out of Dallas’s office and went directly to the main office to check Cody’s attendance record and write down his schedule. If Dallas wasn’t going to keep an eye on him, she would.

  Chapter Fifteen

  FIFTEEN

  The following week, Kira rearranged her schedule so that she could visit Antelope Springs every day at lunchtime. She just hoped Dallas didn’t find out. She parked close the first day so she could spot Cody coming out of school. The next day, she traded cars with her dad, and parked a little farther away, so she could stay out of sight.

  Her heart broke as she watched Cody wander the campus alone. Where were his friends? Finally, the third day, Cody left the school grounds and began running. Starting the engine, she frantically tried to follow. Somehow, as she weaved her way through the housing development, she managed to, ending up at the elementary school. That must be where Cody had been going, she realized.

  Kira saw him offer Betsy a bag of potato chips from his lunch, and the two shared the small treat. Then he pulled something from his pocket and took off again, back toward the high school.

  The next two days, it was the same routine.

  Though Kira had a terrible feeling Cody was creating trouble, she was relieved that he was going to the elementary school to check on Betsy.

  The next Monday, she headed out to Antelope Springs High School yet again. She opened her car windows and pulled her lunch from its bag, ready to start up the motor as soon as Cody took off. She took a bite of her Asian chicken salad, struggling to see the almonds through the dark glasses she was wearing.

  How she wished she and Jimmie had known where one another was when they were growing up. Maybe her brother wouldn’t have rebelled so violently if she’d been there to check on him, she reflected. Had he been loved by his family, as she had been by the Matthewses? Or had he been raised in a dysfunctional family like Cody’s? Did Jimmie feel the same sense of abandonment that she did each New Year’s Eve, when she thought of her parent’s hit-and-run accident? Did he even remember that night?

  She pushed her floppy straw hat—today’s disguise—out of her eyes, startled to see Dallas peering in the side window. She jumped, tossing salad all over herself.

  Dallas’s tight expression turned into an affectionately boyish smile as she opened the window. She plucked lettuce and mandarin oranges from her slacks. “Good thing I didn’t have dressing on my salad!”

  “Sorry about that. I’ve noticed you out here the last few days, wondered if there was a problem.”

  Kira didn’t like the way her heart beat faster when he showed up. It seemed unfair that Dallas hadn’t a clue how she felt about him. “Don’t be a smart aleck, Dallas. Get in here before Cody sees you.”

  His laughter died as he crawled into the passenger’s seat. “What do you think you’re doing, spying on the kid in a getup like that?” He eyed the hat and smiled.

  “You know why
I’m out here,” she said, determined not to let him soften her up. “You’ve barely told me a thing about Cody, so I’m here to watch him myself.”

  Dallas nodded somberly. “So you’ve figured out that he’s going to the primary school to check on Betsy.”

  “You knew?”

  He nodded again, seeming very sure of himself. “Of course.”

  “Then why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I want you to stay out of it and leave the police issues to the police. You make sure things are going well at the foster home. I’m able to handle the school side of it.” The humor disappeared from his expression.

  “What police issues? Is Cody in trouble?” She put the lid on her salad and removed her sunglasses.

  “Kira, why won’t you just trust me to handle it? I don’t want you involved.” Sweat beaded on Dallas’s upper lip. His gaze darted down the block to the school grounds, then back to her.

  “Yeah, well, like it or not, Dallas, I’m already involved.”

  “Too involved for your own safety. I thought I made that clear last week. Why don’t you trust me to do my job?” He waited, but she remained silent. “Do you have any idea how difficult it is to lose your heart to a woman who won’t let you protect her?”

  She didn’t know what to say. She felt tears sting her eyes, and hurried to put the sunglasses on again. “I…you…” she said, and then her voice cracked.

  “I was kind of hoping there’d be one more word in there.” He pulled her sunglasses off and leaned across the console between them.

  Kira looked away, afraid of getting lost in those warm, intense eyes. She had come here with her own agenda. And as usual, he was throwing a kink in it.

  Her heart raced and her pulse pounded. She knew how difficult it was for Dallas to let anyone into his personal life. She wasn’t about to admit she’d been in love with him since the first night they met. Not until he gave her more to go on than he was “losing his heart.” What does that mean, anyway?“So…” she said breathlessly. “I don’t see what that has to do with me.”

  “You don’t?” He sounded truly confused.

  They exchanged polite smiles and he leaned closer. “I’m falling in love with you, Kira.”

  “It’s okay, I’ll catch you,” she whispered. “Trust me.”

  “I’m trying.” His laugh was soft and strained. “You don’t make this easy. I want you to go home and let me call you later.”

  “No.” She crossed her arms. “Something always comes up. I’m still waiting for a real date as a real couple, maybe even at a real restaurant. You should have figured out by now that you can’t scare me away with platitudes, such as you’re a cop and you have PTSD. I have baggage to pack up and put behind me, too. I’m ready to look ahead.”

  “You deserve better.”

  “I know what a cop’s family life is like, Dallas. You don’t walk out on the moments that matter, and you darn well better make the best of every minute together, good or bad. I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s really wrong.”

  Dallas took her hand, and she held on tight, ignoring the fact that she wanted to know what his kisses would be like. God, let me be here to catch him, today and forever.

  He drew a deep breath. “I’ve suspected the last few days that something is going on, someone’s dealing, but I couldn’t prove anything. Kids had these wads of bills, but no goods to be found. Their parents claim they want them to have money for an emergency, but they never even asked how much I’d found. I checked the parents out, and there was no known record of drug use. So today we found a girl collapsed in the bathroom. She’d eaten some Pop Rocks candy. It looked like candy. Smelled like strawberries. According to the EMT, her symptoms are classic for an overdose of meth.”

  Kira felt tears well up in her eyes again. “Is she okay?”

  “We don’t know yet.”

  “Is Cody involved?”

  Dallas shook his head. “I hope not, but I’m hearing rumblings. I don’t want to worry about you being caught in the middle of this again, Kira. If Cody is involved, hemay need you to catch him.” Dallas gave her a quick kiss and got out of the car.

  She waited for him to walk across the street, but he ducked his head in the passenger-side window. “Can I pick you up for dinner at seven?”

  “I’ll be ready. Come to my place.”

  Kira put her glasses back on and started the car, her hands trembling. She considered going to the Woods’ home, just in case something did happen, but realized that it would be worse to worry the couple if it didn’t involve Cody. If something did happen, they’d handle it then. If it wasn’t him, she’d hang a shadow of doubt over him that wouldn’t be easy to get rid of.

  Traffic seemed especially heavy between Antelope Springs and Fossil Creek today, which was extra annoying with someone tailgating her most of the way. Kira drove to the office and tried to focus on her job, but the minutes seemed to drag. She had the radio on, waiting for any word of the girls who’d overdosed, and thankfully, there was no announcement. Kira finally went home, hoping Dallas would call on his way to pick her up for dinner.

  He arrived at ten to seven. She was ready to leave, but he stepped into the condo and quickly looked around. “You’ve been busy. It looks nice, definitely more like what I expected from you.”

  “You expected a neat freak?” she teased. “You’ve been talking to my brothers.”

  One corner of Dallas’s mouth turned up in an irresistible smile. “Yes I have, but no, I figured that out all on my own.”

  Kira felt defenseless as she gazed into his blue eyes. I can’t believe he’s really here.She hoped tonight would finally be a normal date.

  “Are we just going to stand here staring at each other?” she asked at last. “Not that I mind. You look great in uniform, but you look even better in your street clothes.” His sand-colored slacks had actually been pressed, and his red button-down shirt looked brand-new.

  He took a step closer and rested his hands on her shoulders, holding her at arm’s length. “I think that’s a perfect idea—staring at you. Life hasn’t slowed down enough that we’ve had much of a chance to really be alone, and part of me would almost like to order takeout and hole up here. But a promise is a promise, and a real date it will be.” He raised her chin and paused, thoughtfully studying her face. “You are a beautiful woman, Kira.” Before she could respond, his lips brushed hers.

  Kira felt her shoulders relax as he pulled her close, tenderly cradling her against him. As soon as he broke the kiss, she leaned close again, not wanting the magical moment to end.

  A few minutes later, she pushed herself away from him. “I suppose we’d better pick a restaurant, before they stop serving.”

  Glancing at his watch, he smiled. “Where does the time go?”

  She turned out the lights and grabbed her purse. They walked arm in arm to Dallas’s car, outside the gate.

  “You could have come on inside. There’s a buzzer so you can call in from the gate.”

  “I needed the walk to settle my nerves,” he said with a chuckle. “So what do you feel like eating tonight?”

  Kira looked up as they crossed the street, startled to see a dark gray car parked on the next block. Was that the same car that had tailed her into town earlier?

  She shook her head. She was definitely too involved when she started noticing ordinary cars and imagining them following her. As she and Dallas walked past, she tried to get a look inside, but the windows were tinted and she couldn’t see a thing. “So, tell me,” she said cautiously. “Do you wear your gun when off duty?”

  Dallas tensed. “Where did that question come from?”

  She shrugged, trying to tame her inner fears. If she told him about the car, they’d be back in her condo so fast she wouldn’t know what day it was. They needed a night to be normal. She’d seen the worry that going out in public with the family placed had on her dad and mom when he was on the force. Her dad was always concerned that som
eone he’d put away would retaliate against his family. That was even worse for Kent when he worked in narcotics. She wasn’t going to do that to her and Dallas. “I’m just curious. My brothers say most cops wear their guns all the time. Well, except at home, I suppose.”

  “Is it going to upset you?”

  She hadn’t expected him to question her. Still, she would feel a lot more comfortable knowing he had a weapon with him. “I’m fine if you do carry one.”

  “I do,” he said curtly.

  Kira heaved a sigh of relief.

  “And now you owe me an explanation.”

  “There’s this quaint restaurant in Lyons. They have the most decadent fried cheese. How does that sound?” she said cheerfully.

  He looked into her eyes, but she could tell he’d scoped out their surroundings, too. “What am I watching for, Kira?”

  She raised upon tiptoe and pretended to kiss him on the neck. “I think that gray car behind me followed me from the school this afternoon.”

  Dallas pulled her close. “Hurry to the car.”

  He pressed the unlock button and they rushed into the vehicle. Dallas gunned the engine and backed out, squealing his tires just like the teenage boy who lived next door to her parents. Kira struggled to get her seat belt on as Dallas turned several sharp corners.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t think anything of it at first,” she said breathlessly. “And then I realized it had the same snake hanging from the rearview mirror.”

  “If I’d had my vest on I would have contacted him, but with dark windows like that, I don’t take too many chances.” He was silent for a few minutes, focusing on his driving and watching to see if the car was still following them. “I should have let him tail us now, rather than spend the night worrying that whoever it is is breaking into your condo. I sure hope it’s just a terrible coincidence.”