LAST OF C’S NETWORK ARRESTED. HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING RIO. HARRISON.
That would be Lou Harrison, the portly detective from Paloma, Illinois. Tom had heard that the guy could be pretty vindictive when someone made him angry.
The commander tossed both vaporizers into the mechanical trash compactor by the entrance to the hotel. He looked up at the sunny afternoon sky.
“Thanks for the Bergulon, Vega. You did something good, after all.”
79
Over the Baltic Sea—28,000 feet AGL
The flat-screen GPS in the passenger cabin of the Gulfstream G650 pinged as the jet cleared Russian airspace. Gerhardt had worked his magic. Jess and Michael’s ride home belonged to one of America’s richest dot com zillionaires: outfitted with satellite communications, a fully stocked bar, even a queen-size bed at the back of the sumptuous cabin.
The detective and the FBI agent sat across from one another in Corinthian leather seats. Besides the two-man crew, they were the only passengers on a flight that would take them non-stop from Moscow to Washington.
Directors Gerhardt and Taylor had pulled every string to get the pair out of the country. “The opulence of the transportation,” Gerhardt said, “was the least we could do for all you have done for us.”
The pilot’s voice crackled on the intercom. “Incoming call for you, Detective Ramirez.”
The video screen morphed from displaying the flight’s position to the interior of Detective Inspector Liyanna Evans’s flat in London. She and Ali were there, wine glasses in hands, grinning at the extravagance.
“I save humanity and get fish and chips,” Ali laughed. “You two take a Russian vacation and get the royal treatment. There’s something wrong with the world.”
Jess pursed her lips. “What are you still doing there, Alexandra? Play time’s over. We’re supposed to report back to work on Monday.”
Ali shot a prurient glance at Lee. “I decided to burn a little more vacation and check out the UK job market.” She pinched her partner in the ribs. “I kinda like the scenery.”
“Any blowback from your boss, DI Evans?” Michael asked.
Liyanna blushed. “A commendation from the queen. But no promotion and no raise. When an American freestyles outside of her jurisdiction, she gets a private jet. I’m back in the research section on Monday.”
Jess chuckled. “Thanks for everything, Lee. I wish you two could be here with us now.”
Ali choked on her wine. “No, you don’t. I can see that bed behind you. Four is definitely a crowd up there.” Jess’s partner glanced away from the screen for an instant. “The clock says we’ll lose the satellite connection in about a minute. Come see us the next time you’re in London.”
“I’ll see you in Paloma next week, Alexandra. Who else can I trust to pull my chestnuts out of the fire?”
The connection flickered. The moving map returned to the screen, nine hours and fifty-five minutes until touch-down.
“That wine looks pretty good,” Jess said, rising from her chair and inspecting the alcohol inventory. “Want some?”
Michael joined Jess at the bar. “I think we’ve seen enough red for three lifetimes,” he said. “How about some Pinot Grigio?”
When the glasses were full, the FBI agent sat on the edge of the bed, an overt invitation that appealed to Jess. She settled next to him. “A toast,” she said, “to building with what remains.”
Michael clinked his glass with hers and drank. “I’ve been thinking. The last time we were alone like this, I was in the hospital asking you to marry me. Why didn’t you answer?”
Jess rolled her eyes. “You were stoned out of your mind, Michael Wright. We both knew the timing wasn’t right.”
Michael’s smile was disarming. Jess could feel its warmth surround her. He slipped a hand in his pocket, retrieving a small square box.
“How about now?” Gliding down on one knee, Michael flipped it open to reveal a glittering diamond ring. “Jessica Ramirez, you can live the rest of your life in Paloma, Illinois, Washington, London, or Timbuktu. But I can’t live the rest of my life without you in it.”
Jess’s eyes widened. She started to speak, but Michael held up a hand. “I wasn’t in my right mind in that hospital in Phoenix. But I am now. Neither one of us knows what the future may bring. But whatever that future is, let’s live it as husband and wife.”
Michael placed the open box in the palm of his hand and held it up. The rays of the afternoon sun reflected off the diamond’s facets, painting prisms on Jess’ face.
Jess put a hand on each side of the collar of Michael ’s shirt, drawing him toward her. She probed his mouth with a delectable kiss that made them both hungry for more.
“Marry me, Jess,” Michael said, his voice just above a whisper.
Jess responded in her sexiest voice. But her answer was anything but alluring. “You saved my life, Michael. But you also put both Ali and me in danger. As usual, you knew more than you told us. You were ahead of me every step of the way. And the necklace,” she fingered the beautiful star that still hung from her neck. “Even that had a secret you didn’t share. Did you think I’d ditch it if I knew it was a GPS locator?”
“You probably would have,” Michael admitted.
“If this is going to work, we can’t have secrets.”
Michael’s expression darkened. “Secrets come with the job. There are some things I can never share. You know that.”
“It’s all or nothing, Michael. If we are going to link our two families, the best interest of the team must come first. I’m not a pawn on your chess board. If we do this thing, I have to be your Queen.”
“Queen before country?” Michael asked.
Jess shook her head. “Family First.”
She watched as Michael pondered all she had said. The wheels were turning, but this time, he wasn’t a step ahead of her. She began to wonder if her demands were fair to this man who was willing to do whatever it took to win her love.
Michael’s eyes narrowed. She knew that meant he had made a decision.
“Perhaps a test drive is in order. Tell you what. Let’s do what we did that night in DC. Let’s act the part before we commit to it. Wear my ring. Try me out as a husband and I’ll try you out as a wife. Do Catholics still go to hell if they live in sin before marriage?”
Jess couldn’t surprise a smile. “We’re both already headed in that direction, cowboy. And by the way, you’ll have to convert.”
“Who said I wasn’t Catholic?”
This surprised Jess. “You are? What about the divorce.”
“Annulled. I took my sister to the Vatican to help me get it approved. Juliette loves The Pope.”
Jess felt a tiny twinge of excitement. Another sister in the family. Maria and Mamacita will love that.
Michael stroked her cheek. “Maybe you’re right, Jessica. There are a lot of things we’ll only discover about each other if we try this out first. I’ll commit to your..” She thought he was going to say “demands,” but he didn’t.
“Your priorities. And you’ll have the chance to better understand mine. If it doesn’t work, we walk away with broken hearts. If there’s a consensus that is the true love we both think it is, we’ll do it up right. A wedding that celebrates two individuals, two cultures, coming together to create a new entity, stronger and more amazing than we could ever build alone.”
Michael took Jess’ left hand and slid the diamond on her ring finger. She didn’t stop him.
“Whadaya say, Jess? Got the cujones to risk it all for love?”
“I’m still a little uncertain.” Jessica Ramirez pulled Michael Wright on top of her, their bodies sinking into the plush mattress. She shot a glance at the countdown clock. “You’ve got nine hours and forty-seven minutes to convince me.”
THE END
Acknowledgments
This one took a long time to write. Between navigating the pandemic and stumbling into several other priority projects, “Jess
2.0” took shape more slowly than I would have liked.
But good things come to those who persevere. It was my fellow author, the talented Kate Anslinger, who challenged me to the daily word count duel that brought the project over the finish line. Kate writes great stuff! Look her up and give it a taste.
Dawn Alexander’s sense for my strengths and weaknesses made this a much better story than it was before her magical eyes focused on it. Joan Turner’s editor’s pen transforms many of my bad habits into something readable.
About the cast…
Mo Gerhardt is a real person. He’s not with MI6, but he lives exactly as I’ve described him. Check out his autobiographical Perspective From An Electric Chair. You’ll discover what a real hero he truly is.
Same goes for CJ Riemer. We each come into the world with our own set of tools, and CJ always amazes me with how he uses his. I thought he’d love channeling a younger version of Ian Fleming’s Q.
Andy Milluzzi is a true wizard. We’re ham radio buddies, and the thought processes his character exhibits in Chasing The Captain are exactly how I’d expect him to react if this tale were real.
Tom Anastos has spent his life pursuing his hockey passion. His accomplishments are too numerous to mention here, but he would make a great MI6 agent, too.
Terry Taylor is also a real person. We played drums together in junior high back in the 1960s. After fifty years of friendship, I reward him with a bit part and not a starring role? What kind of friend am I?
Liyanna Evans is a composite of several women I admire. Author Louise Dawn, a South African by birth, gave me the name and some Lee’s spice. Her other inspiring contributors prefer anonymity. But you know who you are.
Alexandra Clark also is a delightful mix of many of awesome people. Shelley Appelbaum gave Ali her name. The courage and love my LGBTQ friends express in a world where so much prejudice against people with differences still exists breaks my heart. They inspire me to contribute to positive change in some small way. I hope Ali’s star shines brightly in that direction.
By now, you know that Jess is based on Lt. Traci Ruiz, a twenty-five-year cop veteran. She’s seen it all and dealt with many of the challenges that Jess faces. Through everything, she’s never lost her attitude. Her passion for making a positive difference knows no bounds, and she continues to be my go-to when I need to get inside Jessica’s head.
There are many “Easter Eggs” in the story, little nods to people who have been instrumental in my growth as a writer and a person. See if you can find them.
I have been blessed with a plethora of generous advisers within the law enforcement community on both sides of the Atlantic. Research for Chasing The Captain deepened friendships and gave me a greater appreciation for the sacrifices these dedicated men and women make to keep us safe.
And then, there are my beta readers and support team. The writing community is filled with cheerleaders, and I’m blessed with the best. Thank you, Dänna Wilberg, Stephie Walls, Danielle Girard, Eve Elliot, Pam Stack, Kerry Schafer, Kay Hutcherson, Heather Graham, Tori Eldridge, Boyd Morrison, D.P. Lyle, Lee Goldberg and many others who have been immensely helpful as I continue to learn the craft.
My kids, Shelby and Brandon, aren’t kids anymore. With their soulmates and progeny, they give me faith in the future.
The star necklace that Michael gives Jess in Washington, DC is real. My talented daughter-in-law, Stephanie Vutera Westerman, designed it, and you can buy it as a necklace or lapel pin.
It celebrates my granddaughter, Juliette, who came to us with Down syndrome and reminds me every day of the treasures to be found when you take life on the scenic route. Her brother, Hudson, is exactly the kind of kid that Jess and Michael might create, if they ever quit fooling around and get married.
Finally, every good thing that has happened to me I owe to the two most important women in my life. My sister, Judy Westerman-Silver, died around the time Chasing Vega was published. A long-time book nut and respected publicist, my sister is still with me in spirit as I try to channel her gifts as I distill my books into blurbs and sound-bytes.
Anyone who knows us will tell you that my forty-four-year love affair with my beautiful Colleen would make a great romance novel. I marvel at how it’s possible to care about someone more with each passing year. I would never have become an author without her constant support.
And most of all, thank you, dear reader, for reading my stuff. Like many of us in the trade, I began writing fiction to heal. It’s opened a world of treasured friendships, evolving from process, to passion and purpose. The if the rest of the world were populated with the kind of people I’ve met on this journey, many of the challenges we face might well resolve themselves.
Terry Shepherd
Jacksonville, Florida - August 2021
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