Evenings at home were good for Callie and Mac. Though they worked hard, they still reserved time for laughing together and making love almost every night, as their passion for each other intensified. Bedtime with Mac was wonderful. Callie looked forward to touching and looking at his body and Mac could barely keep his hands off her until Callie finished with schoolwork. He opened up a little more during “pillow talk” time, bringing them closer. Sometimes Callie awoke during the night with a start, feeling lost and alone, and was comforted by his closeness, his arm around her or they would be spooning. His physical closeness began to make her insecurities and fears disappear.
Being together at the office was less of a strain now that they were married because they could steal an occasional kiss in the file room without fear of discovery. Mac draped an arm around Callie’s shoulders from time to time and Callie squeezed his hand. No one objected, after all, they were silly newlyweds. Love was in bloom in the middle of winter at Kensington State.
Chapter Eighteen
At the next Task Force meeting, Dave Williams outlined his idea for a sting operation. He needed a student volunteer. Blaine tried to volunteer, but Mac mentioned it was too dangerous for a student to participate because if something happened to the student, the school was liable.
There was silence around the table until Callie realized she was the only one who could get involved and not jeopardize the school. She had to be the one to make the call, there was no other choice, so she volunteered to be the student masquerading as the drug buyer.
“This could be dangerous, Baby,” Mac pointed out.
“Who else can do it? It has to be me,” she insisted.
“I’ll keep her safe, Mac, I promise,” Dave said.
“Don’t like it,” Mac muttered, shaking his head slightly.
“So overprotective sometimes,” Callie said under her breath.
“Trust me, Mac…Callie,” Dave said.
Mac grunted his approval. The plan called for Callie to call the phone number they got from one of the students who ended up in the hospital. She’d make a deal for drugs and when the dealer came to pick up the money, he’d be surprised by the police. The plan seemed simple enough to Callie. All she had to do was make a phone call and place the money at the drop point, the police would do the rest.
Across town, this plan was discussed,
“That idiot, Williams, thinks he’s gonna catch us with his stupid sting thing. What an asshole!” Jupiter said to Venus.
“What’s the deal?”
“Mars told me the plan. They’re gonna call our cell and think we’re stupid enough to make a deal with that piece of ass, Callie,” Jupiter said.
“Yeah?”
“Then they’ll be waiting at the drop point for us. It’s a joke, Venus.”
“Some joke. If Mars didn’t find out about this, we’d be cooked”
“So? He did. We’re not cooked. Now they’re gonna look like assholes, not us,” Jupiter said, smiling.
“This is getting too hot. I don’t like it.”
“Lay low, Venus. They’ll never find us,” Jupiter said and hung up the phone.
Callie and Mac went home together and at dinner Mac voiced his concern over her participation again.
“What if they’re waiting for you at the money drop?” Mac asked.
“They won’t be.”
“How do you know? This could be dangerous,” he said.
“How could it be dangerous? The dealer isn’t even going to know who I am. Please, Mac. Don’t be silly.”
“It isn’t silly to look out for you. You are my wife, if you remember,” he said.
“I know you worry. I make a phone call and drop off the money, nothing more. How am I in danger? This dealer doesn’t want to meet me, does he?”
“Probably not. If he knew what you were up to…”
“But he won’t. And even if he did, why hurt me?” She interrupted.
“I don’t know, Callie. Why sell drugs? If I could understand this bastard... I don’t. I don’t want to make him mad at you,” he said.
“Mac, you’re over-reacting.”
“I’ll worry if I want to,” he sniffed.
“You worry too much, if you ask me,” she muttered.
Callie finished her dinner, tagged Mac for the dishes because she had schoolwork to do and disappeared into the bedroom, closing the door.
* * * *
Mac felt misunderstood. He thought he was showing how much he cared, not trying to control Callie. Guys don’t say “I love you” ten times a day, they keep harm away from their women and kids.
In this sleepy little town, how could so much trouble come along? He felt threatened, felt his wife was threatened, felt the entire campus experience at Kensington State University was threatened.
Mac turned on the TV, and then turned it off. He knew Callie was mad.
When she came out for a glass of water, Mac came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.
“Not now, Mac,” she said, shrugging his hands off.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked, putting one hand on her waist.
“Oh. Sorry. Sure,” she said, turning to face him.
“I‘m a dean, a professor, not a cop and I don’t like messing around in police business. I’m not sure what the risks are, I don’t want there to be any risks for you,” he said, touching her cheek.
“I know and its sweet you’re worried. I’m not anxious to take any risks, either. I’ll be careful, I promise,” she said, kissing him.
“Guess I’m a little nuts tonight.”
“I wish I could give you a massage, but I have a paper due next week for my Curriculum Theory and History class and I’m not finished with the research yet.”
“Don’t mind me. I’ll read the paper and go to bed. Concentrate on your work. I don’t want to interfere,” he said.
Callie kissed him lightly and returned to the bedroom. Callie and Mac went to bed separately, but neither one had a very good night’s sleep.
The next day Callie, Mac, Blaine and Dave Williams met in the conference room to go over the plan for the sting. Callie was supposed to call the cell phone number they got from Harry Burke. She was to place an order for cocaine with someone called Mars. The college had the money ready. She was to deposit the money where the dealer said and to let the police handle it from there.
Dave and his men would stake out the money drop and the drug drop. As soon as the dealer came to claim his money, Dave would nab him. It all sounded a little too pat for Mac.
Callie and Mac didn’t see the dirty white van following them home as they were busy discussing the events of the day.
The sting was scheduled for ten pm. Mac seemed edgy, he was pacing.
“I wish we didn’t have to use you for this,” Mac said.
“I’m not going to take any chances and neither is Dave. He doesn’t want to have to face you if anything happens to me,” she joked.
“He better not take any chances with you. If anything happens, I’ll hold him responsible,” Mac said in all seriousness.
Callie hugged him.
“Hey, you are worried, aren’t you?”
“I don’t want to get mushy here, but I like…having you around.”
“I noticed,” she said.
They had a couple of hours to kill before the sting.
“Why don’t I give you a back massage, release some of your tension?” she offered.
Mac stripped to the waist and lay down on the bed. Callie took off her jeans so she could comfortably straddle his butt and reach his back. She climbed on, armed with massage oil.
Callie loved this chance to look at his body privately. She studied his broad muscular back and kneaded the muscles in his shoulders first, then down his spine while Mac rested his head on his hands and closed his eyes. She could feel him relax under her touch. He reminded her of a tiger, so cute and sweet at rest, so powerful and commanding when awake. She leaned ove
r and kissed the center of his back, thinking how much she loved him.
Callie moved her hand up to massage his head and neck.
“Roll over!” she commanded.
Mac rolled over. She ran her hands over his muscles and fine black chest hair then pushed her thumbs into his pecs and smoothed them outward. More than his muscles responded to her touch. He opened his eyes where she saw the familiar look of desire glittering. As she worked his chest muscles, a slow smile spread across his face and his gaze traveled down her body, all the way down and back up to rest on her breasts.
“Now it’s my turn,” he said, grinning. He pulled her tee shirt over her head, then unsnapped her bra, tossing both items on the floor. He gently massaged her breasts, rubbing his thumbs lightly on her peaks, making them hard. She closed her eyes feeling the familiar ache for him beginning inside her. His hands slipped down her sides, his thumbs on her belly, massaging her while he pulled her down and possessed her mouth, his tongue tantalizing hers. He maneuvered her down onto the bed next to him and moved his hand down between her legs, removing her panties and stroking her gently, turning her ache into pure fire reaching down to her toes. They kissed hungrily and he held her naked body against his. She lowered her hand and touched him, escalating his arousal. He pushed her hand away.
“Stop.” he moaned.
She looked at him with a hurt expression.
“Stop, if you want to keep going,” he whispered.
She smiled, realizing her power to create molten desire in him, her ability to bring him as much pleasure as he brought her. He parted her legs with a gentle nudge from his knee, entered her and began moving slowly driving her wild. She cried out for him and he increased his pace, only to slow down again when she seemed to the point of ecstasy, prolonging her craving, increasing its intensity.
Then he could hold out no more and his thrusts came fast and hard as she dissolved into deep release with Mac following right after, groaning with satisfaction. When they could catch their breath, Callie relaxed in his arms. He nuzzled her neck as he murmured “I love you, baby.” His declaration pleased Callie as she basked in the warmth of his love. The easiness between them was back.
At nine thirty, Mac and Callie drove to the library. In the distance, she saw the dirty white van parked by itself. The driver got out hidden by shadows so she couldn’t see who it was.
Callie met Dave. Mac parked under a tree becoming camouflaged. He slumped down and kept his cell phone in his hand, awaiting Callie’s call.
Callie made the call to the dealer. Blaine joined them as they made their way to the hollow tree by Mueller, the senior dormitory. As Callie placed the money in the tree, Dave told her she and Blaine should leave.
“I can walk you back home,” Blaine said, hoping to get her alone.
“I’m meeting Mac down on Montgomery. But thanks, Blaine. What’s your major?”
“History.”
“Good.”
“How about you?”
“I’m getting my Masters in education,” she said. “Are you dating anyone, or shouldn’t I ask?”
Blaine blushed because he wished he could date Callie. Maybe date is the wrong word to describe what he wished he was doing to her.
“A couple of people. But I haven’t met ‘the one’ yet.”
“Oh, you’re young. You’ve got lots of time.”
The chitchat continued until they approached the car. Callie texted Mac and he was waiting for her.
“Do you need a ride Blaine?” Callie asked, turning toward him. Mac got out of the car.
“No, thanks. I’m meeting a few friends down at Corcoran for a game of pool,” he said, turning to her.
Callie was still looking at Blaine when she started to cross the street. Mac walked over to greet her. She kept her attention focused on Blaine as Mac approached from the side. Neither Blaine nor Callie saw the dirty white van approaching, but Mac did.
As Callie stepped into the street, the van picked up speed. Mac ran up, his long legs getting him to Callie’s side quickly, he grabbed her hand and yanked her back to the sidewalk. She fell on her butt as the van sped past her. It was a narrow miss.
“Ow!” she said. Then Callie saw the back of the van disappearing quickly.
“Bastard! He almost hit you,” Mac said.
“What happened?” Blaine asked, returning to the sidewalk.
“That van tried to run Callie down,” Mac said, pointing.
“You must be mistaken. Why would they?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it. Are you all right?” Mac asked, helping her up.
“My butt is going to be a little sore tomorrow, but I’m okay. Thanks for saving my life, Mac,” Callie said, giving him a hug and kiss.
Blaine blushed at their open affection. Jealousy and frustration flamed inside him making him burn as if he had a fever.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Callie. Some people are dumb. Probably drunk,” he said walking away, hiding his face from her.
“I hope it wasn’t connected to this scheme,” Mac said.
“Close call,” Callie admitted.
“And you said I shouldn’t worry,” he scoffed.
They drove to the police station to wait for the results of the sting. An hour later, Dave called Mac,
“Nothing happened yet.”
“What?”
“No one picked up the money. And there is no cocaine in the drop spot,” Dave said.
“Crap! What happened? asked Mac.
“Either he got suspicious or someone tipped him off.”
“Someone tried to kill Callie,” Mac said.
“What?”
“A white van almost ran her over,” Mac said.
“Are you sure it was intentional?” Dave asked.
“It sped up as it got closer to her. I yanked her out of the way, just in time,” Mac said.
“Did you get the license number?”
“It was too dark,” Mac said.
“See what we can do. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“What happened?” Callie asked.
“Nothing. It was a complete bust.”
“Guess we start over,” Callie said.
“Not with you as bait,” Mac said, putting an arm around her shoulders.
* * * *
Across town there was another conversation.
“What were you doing, Jupiter?”
“Trying to take the bitch out,”
“You can’t kill someone because they are in the way.”
“The hell I can’t!”
“Control yourself! Mars called me, very upset. You’re going to ruin everything.”
“She’s going to ruin everything,” Jupiter countered.
“Lay low. This will blow over,” Venus ordered.
“And if she keeps nosing around?” Jupiter asked.
“We’ll take of her then if we have to.”
Chapter Nineteen
Steve called.
“Mac, the papers are ready to be served. I sent them over to you by messenger. Have Callie serve them to her when she comes to pick up Jason on Sunday.”
“Great news, guy.”
“I hope so. Don’t underestimate Audrey, Mac, I’m sure she’s up to something. She is very quiet…a bad sign,” Steve said.
“You worry too much, Steve.”
“Yeah? That’s what you pay me to do. Get those papers served and we’ll see what happens.”
An hour later, Callie came into his office with the package from Steve.
“This is it, what we’ve been waiting for,” he told her.
She gave him a questioning look.
“The papers to serve Audrey. The suit for custody begins,” he said.
“I hope this works,” she said, crossing her fingers.
She tried to be happy but she felt apprehensive. She worried things might not go as Mac predicted. Audrey was volatile and hot tempered, Callie prepared…to expect the unexpected, maybe even violence by Audrey.
Kyle told her to be ready for surprises in life, like a good soldier. She steeled herself.
Callie canceled her session with Josh, anticipating either a disaster to recover from or a celebration. Either way, she needed to be home. Jason seemed extra sensitive. He cried more easily and appeared feverish but had no fever. He gave Callie a hard time when she tried to wipe his hands and nose. Mac yelled at him causing him to cry. Everyone seemed touchy and on edge. Finally, Audrey pulled up.
“Come in, Audrey. We need to talk.”
Audrey entered the house cautiously.
She sat on the sofa and stared at Mac.
Callie playing with Jason in his room, stopped and came into the living room, picking up the papers from a small desk in the corner.
“Audrey, I have something for you,” Mac said joining her on the sofa as Callie handed her the custody papers then returned to Jason.
Audrey took them and looked them over. Then an evil smile came to her lips.
“I told you not to do this, Mac. Now you’ll be sorry, because I have something for you too,” she said. “Get little Miss Sunshine back out here. I want her to see this, too,” she said.
Callie appeared. Jason was busy with his fire engine.
“Here Mac,” Audrey said, handing him a thick envelope.
“What is it, Audrey?” Mac asked her, his brows knitted.
“It’s a paternity test, Mac. Jason’s not your son, so you can’t get custody of him. He’s mine and not yours. I’m leaving on Wednesday and Jason is coming with me and you’ll never see him again,” Audrey announced.
Mac was speechless. He opened the document and looked it over carefully.
Callie sat quietly, she could hardly breathe. The only sound was Jason’s fire engine.
“That’s what this says, Callie,” he said, turning to her.
“It can’t be,” she responded, putting her hand on Mac’s forearm.
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