Ally swayed in place and looked into his eyes. “You want to marry me?”
“I know I’ve shocked you, but there it is. That’s the way I feel about you. But I’m sure you need time to think about marrying a man you’ve only known...what is it? Ten days?”
“Luckey...” She couldn’t take it all in.
His hands slid to her hot cheeks. “I didn’t expect to meet someone like you. You’ve come as a total surprise to me when I least expected it. After we ran into each other at your office, my life changed and will never be the same again.” He kissed her lips once more. “Come on. Let’s saddle our horses and go for a ride while I still have the ability to let you out of my arms. Persey’s in the barn waiting for us.”
Ally couldn’t move. Her Texas Ranger had just made her happy beyond measure. Riding was the last thing on her mind. As she slid her hands up his chest to let him know much she loved him, his cell phone rang.
The sound jarred her so badly she moaned in protest, but knew he had to answer it.
He pulled it from his pocket and checked the caller ID. “This is Davis.” Ally clung to him and waited. She felt his body stiffen. “I’ll be right there,” he stated, his voice grating. This sounded serious.
No...
Just like that her joy turned to pain. She almost begged him not to go, but stopped herself in time. He wouldn’t leave her if it wasn’t an emergency. She knew that.
Don’t let him see what this is costing you, Ally.
She put on a smile and lifted her head. “I know you’re needed. Call me tomorrow.” Ally raised up on tiptoe to kiss his lips before turning to get back in the truck.
He followed and shut the door for her. His troubled, dark brown eyes searched hers for understanding. “I’m sorry, Ally.”
As much as she knew he didn’t want to go, she could already tell his mind was elsewhere. “It’s your job,” she said through the open window. “I understand.”
“I’ll phone you later tonight if I can.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“This is the last thing I expected to happen.” He leaned through the opening and kissed her fiercely before hurrying down the drive to his own car, parked in front of the house. Ally trailed him out to the main road before he waved to her, and they went in different directions. By the time she reached the ranch, she realized she’d just experienced what it had been like to be his ex-wife.
She eyed their uneaten picnic in the sack next to her.
Her body ached with unassuaged longings that wouldn’t go away until she was in his arms again.
There was no guarantee of when she’d next see him.
And if he’d been called in to a dangerous situation, he could be injured. Or worse...
Ally poured out her thoughts to Silver as she put the horse back in her stall for the night. The more she thought about it, the more she marveled that his ex-wife had stayed with him for as long as she had. To realize that every time he walked out the door she might never see him again was anathema.
That will be your life if you marry him, Ally.
He hadn’t asked her for an answer yet. He was giving her time to think about it. Luckey had told her why his first marriage hadn’t worked. He’d given her a taste of love without trying to make love to her. If he had, she would have gone wherever he led, because she loved him with every fiber of her being. He was honorable to the core.
By the time she went inside the house, she’d lost her appetite and went up to her room to do some work before she left for the university in the morning. Her parents had gone over to her uncle’s house, sparing her from having to explain why she’d come home early with red eyes and a blotchy face.
Ally still hadn’t heard from Luckey before she turned out the light and went to bed. It wasn’t until the next morning on her way to work that she heard some news on the car radio that turned her inside out.
“We have breaking news that Michael Landrey, a Texas Ranger with Company H in Austin, Texas, was shot in the line of duty in the Highland Park area last night, leaving two wanted criminals dead. A veteran with the department, the many-times-decorated Ranger died at the hospital in the early hours of the morning. He was coming up on retirement and leaves behind a wife and two married children. More information will be forthcoming on our noon broadcast.”
Ally was so badly shaken, she sat in her reserved parking space at the university in order to pull herself together. The news explained Luckey’s silence. She’d been around him and his friends just long enough to realize these men had a rare bond with each other. The loss of one of their own would leave its mark.
Tears poured down her cheeks. That poor man’s family. His wife’s pain had to be excruciating. After thinking he’d be home with her to enjoy the years they had left together, he was gone.
One of Ally’s colleagues pulled into the space next to her. Embarrassed to be seen in her condition, she wiped her eyes and hurried inside to her office. One of her students was waiting there to talk to her.
Functioning on autopilot, she was thankful when they concluded, and was about to make her way to her classroom when a tall, striking male appeared in her doorway. Her heart thumped outrageously.
“Luckey...” She wanted to launch herself into his arms, but couldn’t do that with other students and faculty walking back and forth. He was dressed in the same clothes he’d worn last evening. It meant he hadn’t been to bed yet. His attractive features looked drawn with pain. “Come in,” she said. “I heard the news on the radio.”
He closed the door behind him and took her into an embrace. “I’ve been up all night and need to go home to sleep, but I had to see you first. I promise to call you tonight.” He kissed her softly on the lips before disappearing out the door.
Ally clutched one of the chairs nearest her. While she stood there trying to catch her breath, she heard a voice. “Dr. Duncan? Can I talk to you for a minute about my thesis?”
* * *
AT A QUARTER to seven in the evening, Luckey heard his cell phone ring. Roused out of a deep sleep, he reached for the device on his bedside table. It was Randy. The tragedy had hit both brothers hard, because Mike Landrey had been a colleague of Randy’s as well as a personal friend of their father’s.
The sight of his grieving widow and family at the hospital had come as a double blow to Luckey, considering he’d just told Ally he wanted to marry her. He might have known Mike’s death would be blasted over the news, but he’d hoped to be the one to tell her first.
This was the kind of news that had always terrified Linda. She’d feared that one day a couple Rangers would come to their door and she’d know why. Luckey had no doubt that when his ex-wife heard today’s news, she’d be thankful she’d moved on.
But all his concern was concentrated on Ally. What had the news done to her? When he’d found her at her office that morning, all it took was one glance at her face and he knew he’d arrived too late. They needed to talk.
Wearing a pair of sweats, he walked through the house to the den, intending to check his emails before phoning her. No sooner had he sat down at his desk then his cell rang again. It was Phil from the surveillance team.
“Phil? What’s up?”
“I’ve just sent you some videos. When we posted ourselves down the street from the orphanage on Monday, we saw a man in a black car parked across the way. The young woman in question came out the front door at 5:00 p.m. and got in the car. We followed it to a spa downtown off Windsor Road.”
Luckey knew it. He’d had a feeling about the young Chinese woman, who couldn’t meet his eyes and had suspicious bruising.
“The car turned into an alley regulated by a gate,” Phil continued. “Our video shows men coming and going from the spa all night. Tuesday morning the same man in the black car came out through the gate and dr
ove the woman to the orphanage, at 8:00 a.m.”
“Could you tell his ethnicity?”
“No, but I’m sure forensics will figure it out. The guys who replaced us got a video of her being dropped off and going inside the orphanage the next morning. After the car drove off, another black car with a different driver pulled up across from the orphanage and stayed until the young woman came out again at five. Obviously she is under a constant watch.”
Luckey whistled. “Her ‘handler’ is making a ton of money off her and won’t let her out of his sight, even during her legitimate day job. Did the routine change at all?”
“No. She was driven to the same spa after work. This morning they got video of her being driven to the orphanage again at eight. Sid and I took over and got video of her leaving at five and getting back in the car. We followed it downtown to the same spa. We’re still here. How long would you like us to keep this up?”
“I’ve got everything I need. Great work! I’ll take it from here.”
Halfway through the videos Phil had sent, Luckey stopped watching and phoned Ally.
“I’m so glad you called.” She sounded anxious.
“I’d like to come over, if it’s all right with you.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I think I can’t wait to see you. I’ll be there soon.”
He showered and dressed as fast as he could. Before leaving the house, he put the videos on a flash drive and took it with him. En route to the Duncan ranch, he phoned Art, the teenager next door who took care of Persey when Luckey couldn’t. He asked him to walk his horse around and make sure he had food and water.
With that taken care of, he pulled up in front of Ally’s house and raced to the porch. She stood in front of the door waiting for him, looking beautiful in a soft blue sweater and jeans.
He crushed her in his arms and kissed her long and hard. “I needed this tonight.” One kiss grew into another as their mouths communicated, until he lost complete track of time.
“Thank heaven it wasn’t you shot in the line of duty,” she said at last.
His lips brushed over her delectable features. “I don’t want to talk about that tonight, Ally.”
“Then we won’t. Did you get some sleep?”
“Enough. How was your day?”
“Normal.”
“I need to solve this case ASAP so I can have a normal life with you.”
“Does that mean you have to leave again tonight?”
“I never want to leave, but there’s been a development I’d like to discuss with your parents. Are they here?”
She nodded. “Does this have something to do with the orphanage?”
“Yes.”
“Can’t you tell me?”
Luckey took a quick breath. “I thought I’d explain everything to the three of you at the same time. The surveillance team I sent to watch the orphanage has emailed me some videos I want you to see. They’re on a flash drive.”
She grasped his arms in alarm. “Are you saying Shan is involved?”
“That’s right. I saw signs when I met her.”
“What signs?”
“Bruising on her arms. She wouldn’t look me in the eye. There’s a manner these victims portray that reveals they live in fear. I felt then she was a victim.”
“Oh, Luckey...that’s so horrible.”
He drew Ally close, rocking her back and forth. “We can do something for her, but we have to proceed with great caution, and your father needs to be on board if we’re going to ask for her help.”
“Let’s go in the family room. While you put the flash drive in the computer, I’ll ask Mom and Dad to join us.”
Ally started for the door, but Luckey pulled her back. “Not until I have more of this.” He found her mouth and kissed her until they were both swaying. “Later we’re going to have a long talk about the rest of our lives. How does that sound?”
“I—I agree we need to talk.” Her voice faltered. He didn’t know if he liked her response, but she’d turned to open the door. Luckey followed her inside to their family room. “Go ahead and set things up. I’ll get my parents.”
Within a few minutes the four of them had congregated around the computer screen. After a warm greeting from her parents, Luckey inserted the flash drive. “Just watch everything, then we’ll talk.”
The videos were self-explanatory. When they were finished, he glanced at Ally, who looked horrified. Her mother and father eyed each other in silence. Luckey removed the flash drive.
“As you can see, this woman is caught without hope. It’s my opinion she’s doing extra work at the orphanage to make more money for the man who owns her. Not all victims have another avenue for money. No doubt she was brought into the spa with the promise of work. The going salary is usually $30,000. But they can never buy themselves out of the contract they sign.
“She could provide us with a lot of information if we handle this carefully. How did she get here? Where is she from? Does she have family? Who did this to her? I don’t know that she would be able to shed any light on the murders, but maybe she knows someone at the spa who could give us crucial information. Naturally, we’ll free her and relocate her to a safe life without causing any notoriety to the orphanage.”
Ally’s father got to his feet. “How will you get information from her?”
“One of the men at the bureau who speaks Mandarin will go undercover at the spa to procure her services. He’ll get her alone and tell her we’re going to free her from her situation, but we’d like information. After she’s safe, we’ll learn all we can from her and raid the place. The whole ring will be arrested and we’ll free the other women they’ve kept in bondage.”
“Do it, Luckey!” Ally’s mother cried. “I’m devastated for Shan, who has to work under such ghastly circumstances before coming to work at the orphanage every day. She’s such a lovely girl and so sweet with the children. All these women need to be freed.”
Larry nodded. “Nothing would make us happier. Anything we can do to help, just let us know.”
“You already have, by giving me a copy of the orphanage records.”
“Thank you for what you’ve done and are prepared to do, Luckey,” Ally’s father said sincerely. “I know you’ll keep us informed. Come on, Bea.”
Luckey watched them exit the den, leaving him alone with the woman he loved. She sat on the edge of the couch with her hands clasped. “We have to talk, Luckey.”
“I know you’re anxious to hear the details about Mike’s death.”
“Only if you want to tell me.” She got to her feet. “But that’s not what’s on my mind. I’ve been thinking about Shan. If another Ranger could get rid of the man waiting outside the orphanage tomorrow, I’d drive over and convince her to come to the ranch with me. If you were here waiting, you could ask her all the questions you want and I’d provide the translation.”
He shook his head, but she kept on talking. “The proof she’ll provide will enable you to arrest those evil men and close down the spa. You’ve got videos. With the women freed, you’ll probably be able to gather a lot of information needed to make inroads in the trafficking situation here in Texas. You know it’s a perfect plan. You need me to do this.” Her lavender eyes were begging him.
“I refuse to let you sacrifice yourself like that,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I lived under scrutiny of the MSS authorities for fifteen years. My whole family did. What if I want to do this for all these girls? I’ll ask my teaching assistant to cover my classes tomorrow. Think about it. Shan doesn’t trust any man, but she knows and trusts me. We’ve become friends. When I tell her what’s going on, she’ll do as I say.”
Damn if Ally wasn’t making perfect sense.
* * *
“IF ONE OF your undercover officers approaches her at the spa, she’ll be too suspicious and it won’t go well. It could put another Ranger in needless danger. I’ve always wanted to help. Now’s my chance to get involved. You have to use me, Luckey. To quote you, the sooner the better. While you think about it, I’m going to get the sandwiches I made for us. I’ll only be a minute.”
The second she left the room, Luckey phoned TJ and ran the whole thing by him.
“What in the hell tipped you off about the Chinese girl at the orphanage?” After Luckey told him why he’d gone there in the first place, his boss asked, “Do you see any holes in Dr. Duncan’s idea?”
“In all honesty, no, but as we’re both well aware, the best-laid plans can go wrong.”
“Do her parents know?”
“Not yet. They’d have to be told.”
“I doubt they’ll go along with it.”
Luckey closed his eyes tightly. “Probably not.”
“You don’t think the man driving the Chinese woman back and forth is tailed by a backup?”
“That was the first thing I asked the guys to watch for. They saw no signs.”
“You know what, Davis? You have such scary instincts, all I can say is I’m glad you’re on our side.” Luckey smiled to himself. “However you want to handle it, go ahead, and round up the help you need. Vic is between cases. I’ll ask him to get things in place for the victims to go into protective custody. Get that spa closed down and there’s another citation waiting for you.”
Luckey heard the click as Ally came into the den with a tray of sandwiches and clam chowder. “What would you like to drink?”
“Do you have coffee?”
“I can hear a long night behind that request. Be right back.”
Nothing escaped Ally. She returned fast and they settled down in front of the coffee table to eat.
“Thanks for this. I didn’t eat after I woke up today.”
Her Texas Ranger Hero Page 11
