Tess said, “They couldn’t just let you go if you were being arrested for armed robbery, Daniel.”
He shrugged. “That’s what the lawyer said they’d do.” His dark eyes settled on her face. “I know you met my brother. I know what you think you see when you look at Miguel. But he’s more than the tattooed gangbanger you think he is. He’s done a lot to keep the others off my back, to keep me and Mom safe.”
“I know he loves you and your mother very much. But I also know he probably lives his life by different rules than most of us. I don’t hold you responsible or look in judgment on you because of your brother’s lifestyle. You have no control over the decisions other people make about their lives. Only the ones you make yourself.”
She was repeating the words Brett had said to her only a couple of days before when discussing Brian Gooding and her suspicions. If she felt torn about what might become of a man she didn’t even know, she could only guess how Daniel must feel. “Who was your other lawyer?”
“I have that information, Tess,” Clarence said. “But he can’t talk to you about anything. Attorney-client privilege extends beyond my replacing him.”
“I’d still like his name.”
Clarence glanced in Daniel’s direction.
“His name was Eli Carter. He was court appointed.”
Tess nodded. “Do you have any tattoos?”
“No. Mom went off on me about them. She said Miguel had enough ink on his body for the both of us.”
From what Tess had seen she had to agree. And the area between Daniel’s wrist and elbow, the place Rosalie said she’d seen a tattoo, was free of any images.
For fifteen minutes she guided Daniel through questions about school, and his interests. “What is it you hope to study in college?”
“I want to be a doctor. But that won’t happen if I have a felony conviction.”
“Mr. Niles is really good at his job. I can’t see him allowing that to happen.”
Daniel’s gaze rested on his handcuffs. “Ms. Kelly, they’re not interested in looking anywhere else, they think they have their guy. And I won’t give them anything on my brother, and that pisses them off. They won’t care if they convict me, even if I’m innocent. They just think they’re getting another gangbanger off the street. That’s the way things work in my neighborhood.”
The sad acceptance in his eyes tugged at Tess’s sympathies, no matter how objective she tried to be. “We’ll see, Daniel. Mr. Niles has investigators out looking for other evidence. Something may pop up.”
He jerked his head in Clarence’s direction. “Do you have investigators looking for the real guy?”
“Yes, I have an investigator looking at the evidence against you.”
Hope flared in his face, his eyes. “Good. I’m glad. They have to find something to prove it wasn’t me.”
Tess scooped up the recorder and stood to leave. “I appreciate you seeing me, Daniel.”
“Thanks for coming and getting me off the floor for a little while.”
“Keep studying.”
“I don’t have anything else to do.”
Clarence knocked on the door and the guard opened it. Tess stepped outside the room and took a deep breath. It seemed they’d been in the small space for days when it had only been an hour.
They waited until the guards had freed Daniel from the metal ring and walked him down the hall.
“What were you looking for, Tess?”
“I know you probably have some of this information, but I’ll share it anyway. One witness saw a tattoo on the inside of the holdup man’s arm between the guy’s wrist and elbow.”
“It could have been a temp and removed after the robbery.”
“There would have been residue, and he’d have had to go somewhere to wash it away. They don’t come off easily. There would have been a red area where he’d had to scrub. And doesn’t it seem he accomplished a lot in twenty minutes?”
“Yeah. Is that it?”
“Ronald Gordon has a nephew with a drug problem. A nephew who’s been arrested in the past for breaking and entering. And who has a history of violence. His name is Jay Gordon. It’s Gordon’s sister’s boy. She had him when she was a teenager and has raised him by herself. He may either be a member of Miguel’s gang or may buy his drugs from them. In any case, Gordon got this look of rage on his face when I mentioned Miguel. I think he holds Miguel Delgado responsible for his nephew’s drug problem. And I believe he named Daniel as the suspect on purpose to both protect his nephew, who I believe may have held up the store, and to get even.”
“Holy hell!”
“I couldn’t ask Daniel if he knew Jay. And I can’t ask Miguel either. Miguel might kill him before he can be arrested. But if I were you, I’d find out if Jay has a tattoo and try and light a fire under the DA’s office to pick him up for questioning before he gets rid of the money, the gun and the mask. If he hasn’t already. And before Miguel goes after him.”
“The DA’s office has to know Gordon has a nephew with a record.”
“Yes, since they’re the ones who probably prosecuted him in the past. But they think they have leverage against Miguel as long as no one else is brought in as a suspect in the robbery. As a last resort you can let them know I have all this information, and that I’m digging into this story. It might move things along. Every day they don’t pick Jay up is a day he’s in danger and another day Daniel remains stagnating in here.”
“So you believe he’s innocent, too?”
After a calming breath, she said, “I hope he is, since I’ve just given you information that might free him.”
“You may be burning some bridges here if I mention your name to the DA’s office. The lawyers who work there tend to have long memories when someone throws a poison pen and disrupts their bargaining strategies.”
“If you find evidence that they are purposely stonewalling to gain leverage against Miguel, I’d like to know. It would make my story even bigger. Besides, if Daniel’s innocent, what they’re doing is wrong, you know it as well as I do.”
“You know this take-no-prisoners attitude might cause you some problems.”
“Says the man whose defends some pretty shady characters.”
Clarence shrugged. “Everyone is entitled to a good defense. Besides, my clients always pay their bill.”
He grinned and Tess couldn’t tell if he was serious or not.
“What do you need in return for all this?” he asked.
“Just let me know ahead of the other media outlets when he’s cleared and released. I already have a partial story ready, I just need an ending.” She glanced down the hall, eager to leave.
Clarence motioned for her to precede him. “With no weapon, no money recovered, one eye witness identifying a masked hold-up guy—this won’t stand up in court. I can get him off, Tess. Just not in time for him to keep his scholarship.”
“I know, and I’m sure the DA does, too. I don’t know how in good conscience they’re keeping him in here.”
“The lines get blurred when they’re after a bigger fish. And Miguel is a piranha.”
That was a fitting description of Miguel. She just hoped he didn’t devour Jay Gordon before he could be arrested.
Chapter Twenty
‡
Brett lifted the bottle of water to his lips and took a large swallow. His gaze stayed on Tess as she played with A.J. several yards away. The afternoon sun struck her hair and turned the dark strands to copper, her skin glowed smooth and pale, though her cheeks had taken on a light pink tinge.
God, she was beautiful. It was probably a good thing they were hanging out in Hawk’s back yard right now, because every time he looked at her he wanted to go caveman and carry her off to a bedroom, lock the door, and make love until he was too exhausted to move. But it went deeper than that. She fed something in him no other woman had ever touched. He thought of her every day. Wanted to hear her voice every morning.
What would he do
if she took the Washington job? How would they survive the move from one coast to the other? They’d only get to see each other when they were both free. Which would be pretty much never. He cut the thoughts off. He’d deal with that part if and when he had to.
Tess stretched to the right and caught the Nerf ball A.J. threw, more a wild, out-of-control swing than a toss. The kid was going to have a powerful throwing arm if he ever learned some control. She pitched the ball underhand back to him and A.J. laughed when it bounced off his chest and landed at his feet.
“Did A.J. go with you to pick up Tess?”
“No. Zoe dropped him off with your mom this morning while I did the yard work, then Clara brought him by after I picked her up. I’ll have him the rest of the afternoon. We’ll hang together and take a nap.” Hawk flipped the burgers over and closed the lid on the gas grill. He pointed a finger at the water bottle. “You’re guzzling that water like you wished it was something stronger.”
His brother-in-law knew him well. “Before I left—places south to go CONUS, Senior Chief told me I was up for a promotion. Captain Jackson called me in today and told me things have been put on hold until the investigation into the car bomb is completed.”
“Why Captain Jackson and not Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey?”
“Jeffrey had to go out of the country. And maybe they thought I’d take the news better from someone I’d had more contact with.”
Hawk hiked a hip up on the picnic table situated close by the grill. “Wish I could say I’m surprised about the stall, but I’m not.”
“Neither was I, not really, but I’m still fucked up about it. I was mad as hell at first. Still am. I was counting on the extra money so Tess and I could get a bigger place.”
Hawk frowned and nodded.
“It hits you in the gut,” Brett muttered. “That feeling of betrayal.”
“Don’t rush to judgment, Brett, I know you think I got a raw deal when they deployed the team back to Iraq, but it kept me and the others involved with Derrick’s take-down from doing time, and losing our careers. It wasn’t the perfect solution, but it worked. I’m here with Zoe and A.J. where I want to be, need to be. It was worth the six months.”
“At the time you didn’t feel that way.”
“No, I was mad as hell, felt just like you. But I learned something from it. When we’re in combat we’re focused on following a plan and getting a series of things to go the way we want them to, one at a time. It’s all right up front. But behind the scenes at HQ nothing is as it seems. Sometimes there’s other maneuvers going on in the background, things we’re not aware of, and we have to let them play out before the whole picture comes to light.”
Hawk was right. Even in the SEAL community, despite the good press and a supportive nation, there was still politics involved in every mission. “Had you not returned to Iraq, the kid I was accused of killing might never have been found, and Tess’s dad might not have survived to cover the story and clear me. So, I know good came out of it. And I’m grateful for it.”
“The mandate came down from on high for us to find the kid, Brett. HQ wanted your name cleared as much as we did. So they did have your back. They may still have it right now, they’re just not showing their hand.”
Brett nodded. For a moment he was tempted to share Tess’s job offer and his thoughts about a transfer. But it was her news to share, and the transfer wouldn’t become a reality unless she decided to give the Times a shot. And it might not even then. It depended on a lot of different variables whether he’d qualify for a transfer to an east coast team. The Navy’s needs came first.
Brett’s gaze shifted to A.J. and Tess again. “Tess and I are going to take off for a few days. She has some research she wants to do in Washington for a story, as soon as this grocery store robbery thing winds up.”
“It might do you both good to get out of town and away from things.”
“Yeah, it might.”
Hawk flipped the burgers and closed the grill again. “How are the two watch dogs working out?”
“Actually pretty good. We did background checks on them and got references from their last jobs. Alonzo’s real quiet but stays on the ball. Armando packs some serious muscle. He could probably take us both on with one arm behind his back. I talked to him a little about what special ops might have to offer him. He seemed interested, but he’s gearing up to do some amateur boxing.”
“If we weren’t so tight for time right now—” Hawk said.
“Hey, you don’t have to say anything, bro. I know you’d be there if you could be. But you’re doing what needs to be done right here. Zoe and A.J. come first. That’s the way it should be.”
When they sat down to eat at the kitchen table a few minutes later, Brett’s attention was snagged by the relationship Tess had developed with A.J. The kid wanted to sit beside her in his high chair, wanted to share his food with her. She pretended to eat the tiny bite of hot dog he offered her and nibbled at his hand instead, the kid roared with laughter. Brett realized he had no relationship with his nephew. He’d been gone most of the little man’s twenty-month-old life on training missions and deployment, and had never had any one-on-one with him at all after he was about six months old.
When Hawk started to clean up, Brett wandered over to the high chair and released the tray. A.J. seemed okay with him picking him up, but his eyes went to Tess for reassurance. His nephew was sturdy and tall for his age. He frowned at Brett, and eyed him, sizing him up, his features and his expression such a miniature of Hawk’s, Brett had to grin.
A.J. laughed, then pointed at Tess. “Tiss,” he said.
“Yeah, that’s Aunt Tess. I’m Uncle Brett. You want to try and say Brett?”
A.J. shook his head and pointed toward the living room.
“He wants to go to the picture wall Zoe made for him down the hall,” Hawk said.
While Tess loaded the dishwasher, Brett wandered out of the kitchen and was immediately confronted by clusters of candid photos of friends and family stretching along the entire wall. He’d noticed it the other night during his welcome home barbeque, but hadn’t thought to ask about it.
“Where’s Momma?” Brett asked.
A.J. pointed to Zoe’s photo.
“Where’s Daddy?”
A.J. twisted around to look back toward the kitchen and pointed. Brett laughed. “Yeah, he’s right here, isn’t he?’
Tess leaned against the kitchen doorjamb.
Brett spoke to her though his attention was on his nephew. “Where’s Hawk? He needs to see this.”
“He’s bringing up some toys from the weight room. And he’s done this more than once with A.J.”
“Where’s Brett?” Brett asked.
A.J. pointed at his picture.
“I’m Brett, little man.” Brett pointed to himself. “Brett.”
A.J. frowned, his gray gaze so much like Hawk’s focused in on him as if he was working through a problem. He poked a stubby finger into Brett’s chest. “Bet.”
Brett grinned. “All right! You know how to do high-five?” He held up his hand. A.J. slapped his palm.
Tess laughed. “I hate to break up this party, Brett, but I have an interview scheduled with one of the building inspectors investigating the Brittain accident. Alonzo will be here any minute.”
“Okay.”
Hawk stepped into the hall from the kitchen, a box of toys in his arms. They followed him into the living room.
“Smart kid,” Brett said as he passed A.J. off to Hawk.
“Damn straight,” Hawk replied.
“Damn!” A.J. said with feeling.
Hawk’s head whipped in his son’s direction, his eyes wide.
“You are so in trouble if that ends up being the new word of the day,” Tess said with a smile. She brushed her lips across A.J.’s cheek and then Hawk’s. “Thank you for lunch and for picking me up.” She patted Hawk’s arm.
“You’re welcome.” Hawk’s concerned frown hadn’t abated
.
“Dude, they’re like sponges,” Brett said with a laugh. “Katie Beth used to repeat things we didn’t even know she’d heard.”
Hawk shot him a steely-eyed look. “I’ll remind you of that when you have some of your own.”
As soon as the door closed behind them, Tess laughed. “Hawk’s expression was priceless.”
Brett shook his head. “If you’d told me two years ago he’d be so—” he searched for an appropriate word, “—domesticated, I’d have said, no way.”
“Marriage changes you. It takes over your life, more than your work does. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
All the technical training he’d done as a SEAL, the harsh physical conditions he’d worked in, even the stuff he’d done to overcome his speech issues when he was recovering from his head injury, didn’t compare to this. He understood that. This was long term, together—forever.
“I’m used to working as part of a team, doing my part, sharing the load. You and I, we pull together even when we’re apart. I know we’re going to do just as well after the ‘I do’s.’”
Alonzo pulled up in his white Altima. Tess wandered over to say hello while Brett went over the rental car, looking under the hood, under the chassis and along both bumpers. Satisfied everything was okay, he joined Tess.
In his early sixties, Alonzo Garcia looked younger. His dark eyes had a steady regard, Brett had liked from the first. Though he’d only spent four years in the Marines, he still had the military bearing and walk. He was licensed to carry his firearm and did. Brett filled the man in on where they were going.
Once Brett and Tess were in the car, his thoughts returned to their earlier conversation. They’d talked about kids in the abstract, but not specifics. “Think you might want a little guy like A.J. someday?” he asked after he got in and fastened his seat belt.
Tess smiled. “Someday. Maybe even a couple.”
He started to make an offhand comment like, ‘Let me know when you’re ready, I’m up for it.’ But knowing the bulk of responsibility would rest on Tess’s shoulders, he wasn’t sure either of them was ready for that kind of stress in their relationship. Their marriage needed to be well established before they brought another person into it.
Building Ties (Military Romantic Suspense) (SEAL Team Heartbreakers Book 4) Page 20
