by Anne Hagan
She shoots, she scores! Now, how do I play this? While I was thinking about it, Buhler continued to talk. He was a real chatterbox, for once.
“Right now, I’m workin’ as a general hand and getting a little time in the milkin’ operation learning the systems. I’ll be dealing with calving a lot when that time comes. Got a lot of cows with calf, in such a big outfit.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve had time then to do much poking around, since you’re a working man now and all?” I purposely kept my tone friendly.
“I did some but didn’t find nothin’. Here’s the thing though, and it might be somethin’... I just don’t want to mess up my job. I’ve been hurtin’ a while and this is a good deal for me.”
So, he sees something at the farm... “What does it have to do with your job?”
Buhler was quite for a minute while he chewed his food and let his mind run. Finally, he started speaking again. “I was mendin’ fence the other day with another hand and he told me that there’s sometimes easy extra work, under the table, for good pay, if I know how to stay low and keep my mouth shut.”
“What kind of work?”
“Didn’t say and I didn’t push, like. I just said I’d be interested in that.”
“And?”
“And, he said he’d put in word with the foreman. We left it there.”
“Who’s the foreman?”
“Dunno his name. Just do what he tells me. One of the Chappell grandkids, Heath Jr., is the man though. The foremen all answer to him.”
I just wasn’t sure where to take the conversation because I wasn’t sure Buhler really didn’t know the foreman’s name and because I didn’t want to tip my hand just yet. Suddenly, a thought popped into my head. I leaned toward Buhler and asked quietly, “Do you think Carter had any connection to this Chappell family or to whatever is going on there, “under the table”, as you put it?”
He looked thoughtful, then spoke; “Could be. His family ran in the same circles as the Chappell’s. He would have been ‘bout the same age as Jr.”
“Is there a Heath Sr.?” I played dumb.
“Yeah.”
“Is he involved in the farm operations?”
“Naw, don’t seem to be. ‘He’s really up there in years. Besides, them people got money. They’re always off at horse jumpin’ shows and this country or that country. They don’t hang around the county much. Junior actually runs the whole show.”
That explains Mel’s confusion about why the younger generation was more involved over the older family hierarchy. It also tells me that there may be stuff going on there the older generations know nothing about or that they’re turning a blind eye to.
“Well, like you said, it could be something but we really don’t know anything. Might be another dead end too.” I leaned back and played it cool.
Buhler shrugged. “I suppose I’ll find out eventually.”
I tipped my head toward him and then nodded. “Keep me in the loop. If it is something after all, rest assured the farm isn’t going anywhere if senior isn’t involved. I’ll see to it that you don’t get made.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Chapter 23 – Teamwork
“I’m going stir crazy. I have to get out of here!”
Holly made soothing sounds in my direction. I wasn’t amused or soothed.
“I’m serious. I’m the damn Sheriff! It’s crazy that I’m holed up here like some scared little school girl!”
“Sheriff, no one thinks you’re scared. We just can’t afford to lose you. What’s crazy are the lunatics out there gunning for you, literally.”
I blew out a breath and sank down in the chair beside Holly’s desk. “I know. It’s just so frustrating being stuck here when I should be out there.” I leaned forward and whispered, “especially now that the customs team is here. I just know, at some point, all hell is going to break loose and I should be out there helping.”
“What’s all of this about?” Dana stepped into the room.
“Rossi, I want to help. I can’t just sit here. I won’t just sit here. This is my county!”
“Whoa there Nellie!”
“Don’t you “whoa” me!”
Dana held up her hands in protest.
Holly jumped to her feet, “Do I have to get between you two?”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m just not meant to be the one caged up. My job is to do the caging.”
“Sheriff... Mel, you’ve already been a huge help. Both of you have. We’re convening a team meeting at 5:30 if you two want to sit in. Any further information like we talked about is certainly welcome.”
“I’d love to sit in,” Holly began, “but it’s almost five now and I really have something I need to do that I can’t put off any longer... I can come back later tonight, if that helps?”
“Go Holly. Do what you need to do. No need to come back tonight. I’ll figure out a way to entertain myself.”
“I’ll be back bright and early Mel, I promise. What would you like me to bring you for breakfast?”
“No need for that either Holly.” Dana waved her off. “I think the team and I can help the Sheriff out of her predicament, at least for a little while.”
“Awesome. I’ll just be off then.” With that, Holly strode out the door.
Dana and I just stood and stared at each other. Finally, she broke the silence. “Let’s go into the conference room and get set up for the meeting.” She turned and headed out the door and down the hall. I followed her like a lost puppy. I hated myself for the way I was feeling.
###
Dana
“Okay, everyone. Busy day!” I stood and looked around the room. “First of all; thanks Ron for joining us.” I addressed the chopper pilot who would be responsible for doing our aerial recon. Then, I introduced Mel to him, the only person in the room he didn’t already know.
“Now, moving on, checklist from this morning; Tim?”
I took my seat as Tim Singer started speaking. “First, I’m still working on getting access to those two who ran Mel off the road and were shooting at her. They’ve lawyered up and they’re not talking.”
I shook my head. “Figures. I’m really not surprised. Go on.”
“We’ve briefed Ron up and he’s taken a look at the aerial maps.” Singer looked at the pilot.
“Right. I’ve gotten a good overview. I’ll head out with one of you when we’re done here and we’ll get up tonight for a quick look around, scout for some potential vantage points for ground surveillance. We’ll do a bit more overhead watching in the early A.M. when I expect things will be a little busier on a dairy farm.”
“I’ll go up with him tonight and tomorrow,” Phil spoke up.
Phil was a former Army Ranger and a great asset in recon and surveillance operations. “Great. Thanks Phil. If you see anything out of the ordinary tonight, I want a full report ASAP. We’re not playing with a lot of time here.”
“What else, Tim?” I looked back at my right hand man for the op.
“Do you want to talk about Jonathan Joseph, Dana?”
“Oh, right. Thanks. For those of you that don’t know, Joseph was stopped by Canadian Border Patrol and then remanded into the custody of our guys. Gene is working on extradition back to Chicago on conspiracy to commit murder charges. Once he’s in custody there, Gene will fly up and do the interrogation.” There were nods all around. “We’re making progress gentlemen...er...team!”
“That brings us to your informant...”
“Yes it does. I was able to make contact with him today. Turns out, he’s recently become employed as a farmhand by our suspected targets and put his name in for some “special work”. Without tipping our hand, I let him know I had an interest in what’s going on and to keep me posted.”
“Was that luck or are you just that good?” Jason asked. Everyone laughed.
“It was sheer, dumb luck, my friend. That’s the best kind, isn’t it?” Everyone s
hook their head or nodded. “Anyway, he was able, unwittingly, to give me some background information that’s helpful to our case and I’ll get to that another time, but he’s holding out on some other info. I’ll be working on him a bit harder.”
I sat back and looked around the table. “So, what else do we have?”
“I tried to ring Webb twice,” Mel spoke up. “I couldn’t get through the gatekeeper there. She would only tell me he’s unavailable. I only left one message to return my call since we’re trying to play this low key.”
I nodded. “I just hate that we have another agency tied up in this case. What a friggin’ mess! Let’s hope no one in their custody is talking about anything; counterfeiting, smuggling or otherwise. Unfortunately, one or more of our three they’re holding is probably singing like a damn canary.”
Mel hung her head. I jumped back in, “Sheriff, that isn’t your fault. You were doing your job and, by doing so, you’ve helped break our case open for us.”
“Sorry. I’m just frustrated all the way around, with the whole situation.” She let out a long sigh and then continued, “Anyway, Holly and I have been working on looking into Chappell affairs. If our combined knowledge is enough,” she gestured around the room, “and I think it is, we can subpoena the farm financials and Delores’ personal financials. A phone wiretap on both Delores and on Heath Jr. would be helpful too.”
“We wouldn’t want a local judge – even a federally appointed one – to order those. We don’t want their lawyers getting wind of anything or of anyone in their pocket, so to speak, tipping them off.” I turned to Tim. “Contact Gene and see if we can get the subpoenas for financials and the wiretap ordered under RICO.”
“Roger, boss!”
“I could do so much more if I could get back to Morellville and just talk to people casually, even to her. She doesn’t know we’re onto her. She surely doesn’t know your team is here.”
“Hmm. While that may be true in normal circumstances, don’t you think you’ll draw a lot of attention since the shooting incident – people asking questions...?” I trailed off.
“People around here are nosey no matter what. Everybody knows everybody’s business. I’m probably more conspicuous by my absence. Besides, Dawes took two shots at me the other day right there in town. Already, no one’s talking about that anymore and...well, I would think...”
I waved my hand at her. “Okay, Sorry. Look, I don’t mean to cut you off. You’ve made a good point. Let’s talk about it offline and see what we can work out.” Mel sank back in her chair but she nodded her assent.
“Ron, Phil, we need to get you out of here and airborne. Tim, if you’ll ride with Jason to the hotel that would be great. Mel and I will work out some plans for tomorrow.”
Tim looked at Jason. “I gotta get with Gene and get the subpoena and wiretap stuff going first.”
“No problem. I’m working on some background stuff, given that we know our targets now. I’m also going to see if I can dig up – quietly - any sort of route scheduling for that trucking company too.”
“Good thinking. Great work everyone. Ron, be off! It’s going to be dark in about 2 hours.”
“Right boss!”
I couldn’t help but smile again. Then, I turned to Mel and, keeping the smile on my face, I said, “Let’s talk in your office.” I’ve got to get her loosened up. I need her help but I don’t need her making me tense and hampering the team.
“Do you want to get out of here?”
“Hell yes!”
I grinned. “Listen, we’re staying at a hotel in Cambridge. The four guys are double bunking. Since I’m the only female this trip I have a room to myself. If you don’t mind sharing...with me...” I caught the look of surprise on her face.
“The room Mel, not a bed.”
“Of course. Yes, I accept the offer. I’d bunk with one of the guys – in his room, not his bed – if it meant not having to sleep here another night!” She breathed a sigh of what could only be relief.
“Well then gather up your stuff, tell who you have to tell, and let’s figure out how to sneak you out of here.”
“I don’t need to tell anybody anything. Where are you parked?”
“Down the street behind a repair shop. I don’t need to draw any attention pulling in and out of here repeatedly.”
“There’s a bay door at the back of this building where we get deliveries from time to time. You won’t be able to get through the gate to the bay door but I can wait for you behind the gate and you can do a quick pick up. It’s doubtful anyone is watching that but, if anything looks suspicious to you, just drive on by.”
“Okay. I’ll head out then after I look in on Tim and Jason. See you in a few. Keep your chin up girl. We’re going to work this out!”
Chapter 24 – Two to Tango
I watched Dana’s profile as she drove.
“You’re staring!”
“You’re beautiful Dana.”
She blushed. Turning to me she said, very quietly, “Thank you. Mel, I... Don’t make me regret...”
“Hey, no pressure! I was just stating a fact.”
She sighed. “Look, I’m not going to deny that I feel something for you. I do. But, well, there are two things at play here. One, and most importantly, I’m here to do a job and I need to do it. I’m majorly stressed out about this op right now. I need to focus and get this done.”
“Dana, you don’t have to do it by yourself, you know. You have, from what I’ve seen, an amazing support team plus the full power of your agency and, of course, whatever you need from my department.”
“I know, I know! It’s just... well... I’m in charge this time and whenever I’m the lead on an op, I always feel like I have something to prove. This one has been such a struggle from the word “go” to get anywhere.” She grew quiet and appeared to be completely lost in thought.
We were silent for a few minutes then I remembered what she had started to say. “What’s the other thing?”
She turned her head to look at me. “Huh?”
“You said there were “two things at play”. What’s the other thing?”
“Nothing. Just forget it.”
“Dana?”
“What?” She sounded exasperated.
“You can talk to me you know; friend to friend. You don’t have to hold in whatever it is that you’re holding in.”
She looked at me for a few seconds and then focused on the road again. “It’s been a while since I’ve had any sort of friend to confide in. My work keeps me on the road and it consumes my life.”
“No one in Chicago, where you’re based that you can talk to...hang out with?”
“Outside of the past week or so, I’m really not there much. I don’t even have a place there. I have a roommate I share an apartment with in Cleveland temporarily because my last assignment was a long term one in that area and now, well, I have this. She’s pretty cool but I rarely see her. She’s with Customs too but she has a desk job.”
“I see.”
“No. You really don’t.” She paused, glanced at me and then continued, “I was in a really bad relationship Mel. She was a total control freak. It took me far, far too long to see what was happening and get out of the mess I was in. In the process, I lost my home, a job I loved and most of my friends. It’s been tough the last few years being on my own and starting all over. I’ve spent all my time clawing my way up the ladder and into special investigations and now I just completely lose myself in my work.”
I stayed silent and just let her talk.
“I’m just not sure that I’m ready for any sort of relationship right now or if I ever will be. My job isn’t real conducive toward me seeing anyone long term, even if I was in that frame of mind. And, frankly, I’m not the one-night-stand type.”
If I ever find the woman that hurt her, I’ll kill her... “Dana, I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. Now, I’m not going to lie. I definitely have feelings for you. For the record
, I certainly don’t want a one-night-stand with you. I’m interested in a lot more, but I understand where you are right now. I’m not going to push you into anything you’re not ready for. Just promise me one thing?”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll accept that you have a friend who is willing to be here for you, no strings attached?”
She nodded but didn’t say anything.
###
Mel
“What is this? We reserved all double rooms!”
“I’m sorry ma’am, we had a reservation system issue and we’re overbooked. Since your room was booked for a single occupant, we changed your reservation to a king room.” The front desk clerk was clearly frazzled but trying his best to be courteous and patient. Dana meanwhile, was exhibiting no such behavior.
I stepped to the counter. “It’s okay Dana.” I turned to the clerk, “I’d like to book my own room. Do you have anything else available?”
“As I said to Ms. Rossi ma’am, we’re overbooked. We’ve been working with the other hotel just down the street to accommodate everyone but they’ve informed us they’re now full as well.”
Dana muttered, only half under her breath, “Must be a damn cow milking convention in town.”
I was tired and I’d had enough. I glared at the clerk, “Just give her the key please. We’ll make do for tonight.” I turned to Dana, “I’ll sleep in the chair or on the floor. At least their floor will be carpeted! Let’s go.” I hustled her over to the elevator and then to our room.
Dana stared at the bed. “It’s huge.”
“Well, yeah. It is a king room, after all.”
“I suppose we could share it...”
“I don’t want to do anything that’s going to make you uncomfortable.”
“I know. Mel, it’s fine. I’m sorry. I guess I’m being silly.”
“No, you’re not. I promise to be on my best behavior. Right or left?”
“Huh?”
“Do you want the right or the left?”
“Oh; dibs on the right!” With that, she marched over to the right side, away from the wall, and dropped her bag. She looked around and then stepped over to the desk and picked up the info binder for the hotel.
