Agent by Her Side

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  * * *

  Hours later Alfie’s fever had finally broken and he was sleeping comfortably. Kiely had tried to call her sister multiple times, but Sadie hadn’t answered. Kiely had no doubt that Sadie was furious with her, needing someone other than Tate to blame. This too would pass, she thought. She thought about going back down to wait it out with Cooper, but he needed to focus and she needed a moment to herself.

  When her phone rang, it surprised her. Recognizing Pippa’s cell phone number, she answered it promptly.

  “Hey, Pip!”

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  Kiely felt her stomach flip. Since they’d been little girls they had always been oddly simpatico; one always knew when something was wrong with the other. Anytime Kiely was feeling blue, she trusted that Pippa would call like clockwork to check on her.

  “I’m fine,” Kiely answered.

  “Don’t lie, Kiely. I got that gut feeling that things were off with you.”

  Kiely sighed. “I’m just trying to work through some things. Have you spoken to Sadie?”

  “She’s here with me now. She’s been bawling her eyes out since she got here.”

  “I hate that this has happened to her. But I’m glad that she knows the truth about Tate.”

  “We just need to make sure she knows we’re here for her. She needs to feel supported and she’ll get through it.”

  “I wish I was there.”

  “You just need to keep yourself safe. How are things with you and that handsome agent going?”

  “Hold on,” Kiely said. She moved down the hallway toward her bedroom to ensure Cooper couldn’t overhear her conversation. She paused in the doorway to peek in on Alfie before disappearing behind her closed door and dropping down to the bedside.

  “Don’t laugh at me, Pippa, but I think I’m falling for Cooper.”

  Pippa laughed. “You think?”

  “Okay, I know. I love him, and it scares me to death!”

  “Why? That’s such a beautiful thing!”

  “Because I’ve become Mom! It’s the craziest thing, Pip, but all I want to do is take care of Cooper and Alfie. I feel like I’ve been transported back in time and discovered my inner June Cleaver,” she said. “I don’t even recognize myself anymore!”

  “But are you happy?”

  “Happier than I think I’ve ever been. But I’m sure Mom was happy, too, until she wasn’t. I don’t want to look back twenty years from now and regret that I gave up being a wild child for a man.”

  “Kiely, you’ve spent the majority of your adult life running toward danger in order to run from commitment to anything. Nothing has ever brought you true joy so that you would want to settle down and avoid always putting yourself at risk. This man and his son are bringing you joy. Embrace that! None of us knows what the future holds and change happens every day. Twenty years from now you may still be happier than you have ever been.”

  Kiely reflected on her sister’s comment. “He kissed me,” she said.

  “Just kissed you?”

  “We’ve been taking things slow.”

  “I’m thinking if you haven’t been to bed with him already then this man is definitely the one.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Because you have never had any qualms about sleeping with a man you were attracted to. Your hit-it and quit-it attitude has always concerned us. Because you’ve dated some really good guys, Kiely. Good guys that you tossed away like trash.”

  Kiely sighed.

  The knock on the door pulled her from the reflections.

  “Kiely?” Cooper called her name. She could hear the concern in his voice and it tugged at her heartstrings.

  “I need to run,” she said to Pippa. “Cooper is calling me. I’ll check on Sadie tomorrow.”

  “Sadie will be fine. Vikki is on her way, and we’ll take care of her. I may not come up there tomorrow as I planned. Will you be okay if I don’t?”

  “I’ll be fine. Just take care of Sadie. Tell her I love her, please.”

  “We love you, too! And, please don’t sabotage yourself trying to overthink this! Care for this man and know that it’s okay if he feels the same.”

  Kiely stood up from the bedside and moved to the door, pulling it open. Cooper looked anxious, standing on the other side.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  “I was just on the phone with Pippa. I wanted to check on Sadie. She’s not answering any of my calls.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. So, what’s going on? Did your team complete their mission?”

  Cooper shook his head, his expression dropping. “We lost him,” he said.

  “Lost him?” Her expression was incredulous, her eyes wide as saucers. “How the hell did they lose him?”

  “We’re still trying to figure that one out. They raided the townhouse and he wasn’t there. The shower was still running but Tate was long gone. We’re thinking he slipped out the back and managed to get past our men who were positioned there.”

  “Did Sadie say something to him before she left the house?”

  “Not a word. Your brother says she was as surprised as they were.”

  “So that means he’s on the run now, too.” Kiely threw up her hands in frustration.

  “It also means that Sadie might be in danger. Your brother has asked us to move her into protective custody.”

  “Well, she can come here and stay with us, right?”

  “I already suggested that option, but Sadie refused. She says she just wants to be alone.”

  Tears misted Kiely’s eyes and she batted her lashes so as not to cry. “She’s devastated.”

  “Agent Miller will take her to another location first thing in the morning.”

  Kiely shook her head. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she said.

  “There’s more. I need to go back to Grand Rapids in the morning. I have a meeting with the mayor scheduled first thing and he wants to do a press conference.”

  “A press conference? Do you think that’s wise?”

  “I’ll be fine and I won’t do anything that will jeopardize you or Alfie’s safety. But he’s on a real tangent about us finding Landon Street and making sure the public is aware of the dangers of RevitaYou. Will you and Alfie be okay by yourselves for a few hours?”

  “He and I will be just fine. I don’t want you worrying about us.”

  Cooper pulled her into a deep hug and held on tightly. He kissed her forehead, his lips brushing gently against her skin. “I can’t help but worry, Kiely. You two are the most important people in my life right now.”

  * * *

  Cooper wasn’t sure what to think. He was still fuming about that raid going bad; thinking that if he had been there on-site they would’ve captured Tate Greer. He hadn’t planned to go back to Grand Rapids, but political pressure was bearing down on the FBI. What he hadn’t told Kiely was that he also planned to participate in a second raid while he was in the city. A random tip had come in on the hotline with an address where the caller claimed Landon Street could be found. Landon Street’s picture had been in the news for days. The Grand Rapids Police Department had even issued a reward for information about his whereabouts. A special line had been dedicated to accept the flood of calls that had followed.

  Earlier in the investigation Cooper had spoken with Landon’s half brother, Flynn Cruz-Street. With two tours of duty under his belt, Flynn now worked as military police at the Fort Rapids military base. In their brief conversation it was obvious that Flynn had once idolized his big brother. He had claimed they were now estranged, claiming not to know where Landon was but that he had since seen him twice around the city. Flynn had assured them that he would call if he spotted his sibling again and so far he had been true
to his word. Flynn sounded anxious to find Landon himself, hoping to convince his brother to turn himself in. Despite Flynn’s many assurances that he wanted to do what was right, Cooper wasn’t sure that he truly trusted the man.

  He needed to vet this new tip personally. He also knew that if he told Kiely, it would be an issue. She either wouldn’t want him to go or she’d insist on going with him. Keeping her safe was now as important as keeping Alfie safe. He figured he would deal with the fallout after things were all said and done.

  The rest of their evening had been relatively quiet. Kiely hadn’t talked much, retiring to her bedroom early. Now he was missing her something crazy. After a hot shower he moved from the bathroom to the bedroom and climbed into his bed. He had checked on Alfie before his shower and his son seemed to be past the virus that had raised his temperature and put him in a sour mood. Cooper knew that his little boy would sleep soundly through the night.

  He tossed and turned for another hour, unable to fall off to sleep. Cooper couldn’t stop thinking about Kiely. There had been a sadness in her eyes, her sister’s heartbreak fracturing her own. Knowing the siblings were close, it wasn’t until he saw how hurt she was that he realized just how close.

  Cooper would’ve done anything to take Kiely’s pain from her. He couldn’t begin to know how to console her. He just knew that he wanted to put a smile back on her face and make things well. Breaking this case would bring comfort to her and so many others.

  The knock at his door surprised him. When Kiely pushed it open, easing into the room, that surprised him more. She wore a black tank top and matching panties. She’d pinned her hair up and a wisp of curls framed her face. Her skin was bare of makeup and her cheeks glowed. She was stunning. Stepping into the room Kiely turned to close and lock the door behind her. She moved to the nightstand and turned on the baby monitor.

  “We need to hear Alfie in case he wakes up,” she said softly.

  Cooper nodded his agreement. Nervous energy exploded through his lower extremities. He suddenly wanted her more than he could have ever imagined. Throwing back the covers he gestured for her to climb in beside him. Kiely sat down on the mattress, lifted her legs and slid her body against his, her buttocks grazing his pelvis. As he covered them both with the blanket he wrapped his arms tightly around her, curling himself against her backside.

  They lay together for a good while, trading easy caresses. Cooper pressed a damp kiss against Kiely’s neck. Others followed, trailing over her shoulder. His touch was featherlight and he felt Kiely’s entire body tremble. She grabbed his hand and pressed it to her breasts, which fit perfectly in the palms of his hands. Her nipples were rock-hard and as he gently kneaded the soft flesh Kiely slowly rotated her buttocks against the sizeable bulge that had risen in his flannel pants. The two did a sensual dance, lying side by side, cradled sweetly against each other.

  When Kiely turned in his arms, pressing her mouth to his, that kiss felt as mesmerizing as their first kiss. Her tongue did a voracious tango in his mouth, teasing past the line of his teeth to dance with his tongue. Her warm breath was minty, tasting like the mouthwash they both used. Kiely’s hands skated against his chest, wound around his back and settled along the round of his backside.

  His heart fluttered and blood surged through every vessel in his body. His muscles tightened and when she slid her hand past his waistband, wrapping her fingers around his male member, Cooper thought he would explode right then and there. Their loving became feverish, heat rising like a vengeance between them. They tore at each other’s clothing, desperate to feel skin against skin.

  Cooper pulled himself from her just long enough to reach a condom hidden in his wallet resting on the nightstand. He sheathed himself quickly. When he rolled above her, Kiely parted her legs widely and welcomed him in. That moment of intimate connection, as Cooper slid his body into hers, affirmed what both had been feeling. Love spiraled in brilliant shades of joy and delight. It was thick and abundant and all-consuming. The pleasure was one he never would have fathomed. It was sensual gratification and hedonistic decadence. It was bliss beyond his wildest dreams.

  * * *

  Hours later, when Kiely woke, Cooper was gone. She missed him, and that surprised her. She had never missed any man before. But now she was missing him, missing his touch, and the scent of his cologne that wafted from room to room. The night between them had been exquisite. It had been more than she could have ever imagined. She couldn’t see herself ever being with any other man ever again. Cooper had claimed her, body and soul, and he had a grip on her heart that was irrefutable.

  Movement out of the corner of her eye pulled at her attention. Alfie had crawled up on the bed and sat on the pillow beside her, calling her name. He patted her face and lifted one eyelid and then the other. “Mornin’, Ki-Ki!”

  “Good morning, Alfie!” She gave him a hug.

  “Alfie cuddle with Ki-Ki,” he said as he snuggled with her beneath the covers.

  She reached for the television remote and found the local PBS affiliate, playing an episode of Sesame Street. Alfie was excited to see Big Bird skipping across the television screen that hung on the wall. His joyous laugh rang through the room. Kiely laughed with him. It was going to be that kind of day for the two of them.

  Chapter 11

  Cooper entered the FBI office like a man on a mission, a pep to his step. Claire Miller stepped into his office, her brows raised.

  “Good morning, Agent Winston!”

  “Agent Miller, it’s good to see you!”

  “It’s good to see you, too! You’re looking all spry this morning. I thought you were still out on medical leave?”

  “Technically, I am, but the mayor wanted to tear me a new one this morning.”

  “He’s been here twice this week looking for a victim. Personally, I would have stayed in my sickbed. No point in just giving him a target to kick.”

  “What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment.”

  “I keep warning you, that martyr complex of yours is going to be your downfall.”

  Cooper laughed. “Hard head, soft ass, what can I say!”

  “Seriously though, why are you here? I know good and well you haven’t been approved to come back yet.”

  “We got a tip on Landon Street. I want to personally vet it.”

  “So, if you couldn’t vet it remotely, that means you plan to go out in the field.”

  “Unless you tattle on me.”

  “I’m no snitch as long as I can ride shotgun. You might need backup and I’m a better shot than you are.”

  “You are never going to let me forget that, are you?”

  “The truth sometimes hurts, my friend!”

  Cooper nodded. “I’d appreciate your help in case things go left. If we can get this monster off the streets it’ll be worth the hurt I’m going to feel later.”

  “You mean when Ms. Colton finds out what you’re up to?”

  He lifted his brows and deliberately widened his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Claire laughed. “I saw how you two were looking at each other. Now you come skipping into the office like it’s Christmas Day and you got all the presents you wanted. Clearly, protective custody with a beautiful woman becomes you.”

  Cooper laughed with her. He felt himself blush. “Ms. Colton and I are just friends and she’s been a great help to me.”

  “It’s your lie, tell it any way you want to,” Claire said matter-of-factly.

  He shook his head, changing the subject. “I’m ready to roll when you are. Carter and Jones are coming with us.”

  “Give me ten and make sure you put on a vest. If you get shot again, Kiely will kill both of us.”

  Cooper laughed. “You got that right!”

  After rounding up the team, doing a weapons check and making sure everyone was tactically equipp
ed, it was Cooper riding shotgun as Claire drove to the College Avenue location in South Hills. The residence was a single-family, Tudor-style Craftsman in a meticulously maintained neighborhood. The property was currently owned by the bank, having been foreclosed on months earlier. Anyone living there did so without permission.

  Their two black Suburbans pulled into the home’s driveway. The grass was freshly cut, but the mailbox overflowed, envelopes and coupon flyers littering the porch. There was a Realtor’s security box on the doorknob and a call to the listing agent gave them the code.

  Two agents covered the back of the home and Cooper led the way through in. He announced them as he threw the front door open, his weapon raised. Claire banked left through the dining room and Cooper went right toward the kitchen. When the first floor was clear, Claire opened the door to the other agents who scaled the second floor.

  It took no time at all to assess that the home was empty, no sign of life to be found. Cooper secured his weapon. His frustration was palpable, feeling like he’d wasted time they didn’t necessarily have.

  Agent Miller suddenly called his name. “You need to see this,” she yelled from the lower level.

  Cooper descended the steps to find a makeshift lab in the basement. Bunsen burners, glass beakers and vials of chemicals littered a folding table that sat in the center of the room. A small cot and a sleeping bag rested in a far corner and an oversized garbage container was filled with empty cola cans, Cracker Jack boxes, and Kashi granola containers.

  “He was here,” Claire said. “I’ve already called for a forensics team but I’m betting this is ricin,” she said as they appraised a tray of powder and a jar of castor beans.

  Cooper barked out orders. “Talk to the listing agent. I want a list of everyone who requested access to this house. Names, addresses, contact information. And I want to know everything you can find out about the agent on record. If they’re not showing this house I want to know why. I want to know how Street was able to set up shop down here and go undetected. I also want a team on surveillance. If he comes back we better know it. And find out who’s cutting the damn lawn! I want to know who’s been maintaining the property.”