by DiAnn Mills
Why did he give someone a quote? Then it hit her like a punch in the gut. This told Cayden and Fields they were committed to the relationship. Smart but irritating.
She read through the comments. Well-wishes from those she didn’t know. Probably criminals like him.
Where was the woman who once worked violent crime? She reached deep down to regain her composure. The Facebook post played into the ruse with Wilmington. She simply needed to stay on top of it.
The task at hand was to call SSA Preston on her burner. “Good afternoon, sir. Can you tell me if the employee interviews from Almet Pharmaceuticals are completed?”
“Received them earlier. I’ll forward the report to you.”
“Thanks.”
“You and Wilmington are receiving a lot of attention.”
“I saw. Hope it works.”
“Just sent the reports your way. Interesting, as I’m sure you’ll find. We think Cayden is our man, but we still have nothing for prosecution. From his history, if we bring him in for questioning, he’ll go dark.”
The call ended, and she read through Miami’s findings. The employee interviews revealed information about thirteen males and females who had military backgrounds. That pinpointed her concentration and the FBI’s. Ten of the ex-military passed FBI radar. Two men held possibilities for a strong cover.
The first suspect was a former Navy man who was less than honorably discharged for admitting use of a controlled substance. The incident occurred eleven years ago. Vendettas could easily fester. The Miami FBI office was in the process of an investigation. His ex-wife claimed his drug addiction led to their divorce. Police record for assault. Currently in a court-ordered rehab.
The second man, Geoff Cayden, managed a team of salesmen. He was married with a daughter. Described as intelligent and reliable. He’d been a part of Army Delta Force until adult-onset asthma forced his early retirement. Commendable. Highly decorated. FBI was investigating his unconventional missions. No flags there except Wilmington’s claims. Delta Force knew how to plan and execute missions. Trained to beat a polygraph test. But she didn’t think he’d offer to take one. Preston sent her the information regarding Cayden’s nonprofit, which he’d formed eighteen months ago. The board of directors were influential people across the US, a blend of clergy and politicians. Nothing on this guy but the American hero who wanted to help the elderly.
Laurel texted SSA Preston for more information from the FIG. Did Cayden travel with his job? She received a positive response. He had trained salesmen all over the country prior to his medical leave. She posed four additional requests: Did the FBI have his travel log? What was his work attendance for the past year, along with his sick days? Did his travel and sick days line up with any of the elderly scams? Had the doctor who wrote the work release and past medical slips been questioned again?
A text came in from Daniel.
They always say time changes things, but u actually have 2 change them urself - andy warhol
She laughed. So Daniel. She loved it and texted him back.
Thanx
Got the DNA
Yes! I have the employee interviews you wanted
Why am I not surprised?
Sending now
What am I to do with a partner who always seems 2 b one step ahead of me?
Change the music.
She held her breath as reality paralyzed her. She cared for him, and it frightened her. He could be taken in an instant, and she’d be alone. Selfish . . . but life had always thrown her a curve when it came to her heart.
She’d gladly step into the line of fire to keep him safe. Inhaling sharply, she felt chilled at the gravity of her thoughts. Would she give her life for Daniel? Had her feelings for him gone too far?
She needed to talk to someone who could help her make sense of what was happening.
CHAPTER 37
4:30 P.M. TUESDAY
Abby believed the secret to longevity was a positive outlook on life. Other things were important too, like eating healthy and exercising, which meant doing sit-ups . . . Forty-one, forty-two, take a breath, then forty-three. She stood and admired her flat stomach.
Girl, you still have it. A few things might not look like a Barbie doll’s, but the rest of you is in place. At least she didn’t need a walker.
The doorbell rang, and she made her way to the door with Earl emerging from the living room. Pete escorted Laurel. Abby swung the door open and gave the young woman a huge hug.
“So glad you came to see us. Earl and I are bored to tears,” she said.
Earl wrapped his arm around Laurel’s waist. “Now I have two beautiful women to keep me company. Come on in.”
How dear to see him like the man he used to be.
Laurel stepped inside the foyer. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“Please do.” Earl’s blue eyes twinkled.
Once all three of them were seated on the living room sofa with iced tea, Abby sensed Laurel wasn’t making a business call. “Is everything okay?”
“The best it can be while I look for a job. Won’t be long, though.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Oh, just talk.”
Earl excused himself. “You girls have a nice chat. Laurel and I will have plenty of time to catch up in the future.”
“I hope I’m not running you off,” Laurel said.
“The History channel is calling my name. Time I generated some brain cells instead of wasting them.” He disappeared into the next room.
“How can I be a friend?” Abby studied her. Why did Laurel want to visit with an old woman?
“I’m in a reflection mode.” Laurel’s lips turned upward but quivered slightly. “I want to tell you about my foster mother.”
Abby listened to the heartbreaking story of a little girl abandoned except for an older woman who loved her unconditionally. She believed Laurel held back, but Abby wouldn’t question. Not at this point anyway.
“Joining the FBI helped me deal with the ups and downs of life while helping others.”
“But you’re still with them, right?”
Laurel blinked. “The FBI released me.”
Abby reached for Laurel’s hand. “Oh, I know. Just calling it like I see it.”
“Abby, I think you could handle anything.”
“Not always. Life can be a formidable taskmaster. Jimmy, Daniel’s dad, nearly destroyed us, but Daniel is our joy.”
“Have you ever made choices you regret?”
Abby pressed her lips together. The question was more about Laurel than herself. “Choices can be forced on us or made voluntarily. In either case, we can have regrets.”
“Do you mind telling me how you met Earl?”
Abby laughed. “How much of it? I’m a cross between eccentric and quirky.”
“I respect the woman you are now. So tell me about the beginnings.”
Abby stared into the depths of the young woman before her. Daniel could easily fall in love with her. Laurel could feel the same for him. Love was like that. People spent their lives looking for the perfect fit, but did they always recognize it? Hopefully both of them would see the gift before life passed them by.
“All right.” Abby kept Laurel’s hand firmly in hers. “I was born on a farm in east Texas, deep in the Piney Woods, where time still seems to take a step back. I was one of eight children, right in the middle with three older and four younger brothers. My mother and I had a hard road working the fields beside the men, then cooking and taking care of them. I hated it. When I was fourteen, I ran off with a man who swore he loved me. He said he had a ranch in west Texas and we’d go there. But that isn’t what happened at all. He sold me into slavery. Law enforcement types now call it human trafficking. I couldn’t figure out how to get away. Couldn’t trust anyone.
“Once a month, the man who owned the business took three of us into town for a treat at the Dairy Queen. Called us his DQ girls. Earl and his father had stopped th
ere on their way home from a hunting trip.” Abby closed her eyes. “He was the most handsome boy I’d ever seen. I could see the man he’d grow into. He approached me at the booth and started talking. The man who owned me told him to get away.”
“What happened?”
“Earl’s dad must have suspected something. He leaned over the table and asked me if I was all right or if he should call the police. I couldn’t go back home after the things I’d been forced to do. But living on my own had to be better than what I’d experienced. I asked him to contact the police. My owner was furious. Earl’s father wouldn’t let me leave with the man. So my captor took the other two girls and left. When the police arrived, I explained how I’d been tricked. The officer contacted my parents, but they didn’t want me back. No surprise there. Earl’s dad made a few phone calls and found a place for me to stay with a family from his church. From then on, Earl and I were inseparable. He showed me faith and helped me find my way to heaven.” Abby swiped at a tear. “Jesus and Earl, in that order.”
Tears streamed down Laurel’s face. “Oh, Abby, you are an inspiration. Maybe I can walk through this nightmare, see it through to the end. All I have to do is remember your strength.”
11:20 P.M. TUESDAY
Laurel drove to meet Wilmington in the bar near downtown. Finding answers often meant looking into dark and angry places. Laurel understood associating with Morton Wilmington brought those things and more. She’d been there, a survivor on the outside, a fragile soul on the inside. The one thing she hated about her job was the exposure to the worst of evil. The one thing she valued was contributing to the end of that evil.
The seclusion of night fit their conversation. She needed to pose a few questions without Daniel. If the situation got hot, she didn’t want him killed.
She watched her mirrors and didn’t detect anyone. Agents were there, hidden in the unknown, like the ones who’d followed her on the other occasion. Then there were Cayden’s people. He’d approved her as part of the team, but Fields wasn’t pleased. Cayden and Fields were good at accidents.
When she arrived, Wilmington sat at a small table in a corner. The shadows of the bar hid far too many people. Her gaze swept the room before she joined him. Two bodyguards faced the entrance at one table, and a third nursed a beer at the bar, all looking like businessmen enjoying a drink. Their hands rested close to their concealed weapons, and their scrutiny was fixed on her the moment she stepped in. She understood they didn’t trust her any more than she trusted their boss.
The others didn’t appear as threats. A woman with more cleavage than Laurel owned eyed the bartender. A couple clasped hands and shared a drink. Another couple brushed past her.
Wilmington stood when he saw her. She knew his leather jacket held a weapon in the left pocket. Possibly two. He was fond of wallet guns.
“We made it through tonight and it worked.”
She reached for his hand and noted the cold fingers. “I’m assuming we’re being photographed.”
“We are.” He ordered water and lime for them.
Anger bubbled inside her. The new info regarding him made her want to pull her Glock. “Why didn’t you tell me Messner had been on your payroll?”
“He left my business while I was in prison.” He paused and smiled. “We kept tabs on him.”
“I’m sure you did. Who’d he go to work for?”
“Mostly himself.”
“Can you be clearer?”
“Flew low until he connected with his half sister.”
She held on to his hand, but her thoughts were murderous. Wilmington had kept information from the FBI and her. “You’ve not held up your end of the deal.”
“I’m not the man from five years ago, so wipe that image out of your mind.”
She kept her emotions intact, playing the role of the agent, not the woman concerned about a bullet piercing her skull. “Explain why you kept valuable information from me and the FBI.”
“We lost him until he turned up dead.”
One more reason why she’d never trust him.
“Why isn’t Daniel with you?” Wilmington said.
“I wanted this private.”
“He can’t work undercover, help his grandparents, and babysit you. I like the man, what I know of him. Wouldn’t want to see him dead either.”
“I don’t need a babysitter. Neither am I protecting him. He’s your bodyguard.”
“Look, babe—”
The sound of his voice made her skin prickle. “Don’t call me that.”
“Laurel, back when we were together, I loved you the best way a man like me could. When I saw you at the prison, the old anger and bitterness surfaced. I thought the issues of betrayal were resolved, but I was wrong. Those things won’t vanish overnight, but I’m working on it.”
He took a deep breath. A look of tenderness swept over him, and it frightened her more than his anger did.
“I’m following God and I’m committed to ending the elderly scam. When this is over, I’ll leave you alone. But I’ll continue to assist the FBI in fighting crime.”
“I’m afraid for Daniel.”
Wilmington chuckled. “At least I’m aware of one allegiance.”
“It’s not like that. We’re all a part of a team.” Dare she play into the emotion she’d just seen? “Please, Morton, don’t keep information from me.”
He finished his water and set the glass on the side of the table for a refill. “I could use a good epitaph on my tombstone.”
“I’ll do my best.”
CHAPTER 38
12:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY
Abby replaced the crackers in the pantry and opened the dishwasher to stow away the soup bowls from lunch. Earl loved homemade chicken noodle soup with a kick of jalapeño. He wanted corn bread, but he’d had butter and apple jelly on biscuits for breakfast, raising his cholesterol and sugar. Since he’d had bacon, eggs, and hash browns too, she’d taken a nutritional stand. After all, she was the head dietitian in the house.
Melodious sounds from the piano took her back in time to when Earl played for churches and weddings. Even though his mind might not be onstage, music still flowed from his fingertips.
The doorbell diverted her. She hurried to the foyer. Ah, Pete and a young woman. She disarmed the security system and opened the door to greet them.
Pete smiled. “Miss Abby, you and Earl have a pizza.”
“Oh, my. But I didn’t order one.”
“Looks like Daniel sent it.” Pete picked up the note on the box.
Strange, since Abby didn’t care for pizza. “How nice of him.”
The young woman laughed. “I wish someone would surprise me with lunch. When he called it in, he asked that I set it on your table.”
“Impossible, ma’am,” Pete said and took the box.
“Let me get you a tip.” The smell of pepperoni and tomato sauce filled Abby’s nose. If only she enjoyed it.
“Not necessary.” The young woman smiled. “Your grandson took care of me nicely.” She left, turning to wave when she got to her car.
“Mercy, Earl and I just ate.” She glanced at Pete. “But you haven’t. Why not enjoy this, our treat?”
“Are you sure?” He lifted the lid on the box and stared hungrily. “Mushrooms aren’t my favorite, but I’m hungry.”
“You could pick them off. Come on in.”
“No, Miss Abby. The front porch is fine.”
Abby retrieved a few napkins and a tall glass of iced tea for him, then returned to tidy up the kitchen. One thing about being at home meant she could cook a decent meal instead of eating on the fly. While the officers guarded their home, she could fix plenty and it would be eaten. Another reason she didn’t understand the delivery.
She made her way to the front porch to see if Pete needed a refill on his tea. Pizza could be messy, and she’d given him only a couple napkins. Opening the door, she gasped. He lay facedown beside the rocker.
“Pete!” She bent to h
is side. He was breathing but she couldn’t wake him. She grabbed his phone sticking from his shirt pocket and dialed 911. “I have an unconscious man. Possibly a heart attack.” Abby listened to the instructions. “Yes, sir. I’m right here until help arrives.”
Pizza littered the porch floor. She counted two pieces missing. Her mind flew to the young woman who’d delivered it. Neither her ball cap nor her car had advertised a pizza company.
She pressed in Daniel’s number. He responded on the first ring.
“Hey, Pete. Everything okay?”
“This is Gran. We have an emergency. I called 911 for Pete. He’s unconscious on our porch.”
“What happened?”
She drew in a heavy breath. “I’m not sure. But I have an idea.”
“Is he breathing?”
“Yes.”
“Did he arrive sick?”
“No. Earl and I ate lunch early, and then your pizza arrived.”
“Gran, I didn’t order pizza.”
She touched her heart. “A young woman delivered it. Said you’d sent lunch. I gave it to Pete since we’d eaten. I should have known you wouldn’t have ordered it. Where is my common sense?”
“Calm down. Did he eat it all?”
“Two pieces.”
“Tell the paramedics there’s a good chance Pete’s been poisoned.”
“My thoughts too. How awful. Daniel, it was supposed to be us. When will the tragedies end?”
“Soon. I promise. Many people are working on stopping the scammers. Pray for Pete and for those responsible to get caught.”
A siren blared in the distance. “The ambulance is almost here. I’ll text you with the hospital. Earl and I will follow in the Lexus.”
“Gran, I don’t like you driving.”
“Get over it.”
“Okay. Be careful. I’ll call Pete’s wife. He’s a strong, healthy man and can pull through this.”
She studied Pete’s pale face. “I hope so. I’m ready to fight back. Unload on them.”
“Gran—”
“Remember when I said I couldn’t shoot someone? The rules have changed.”
