“That should take about twenty minutes. Why not take a shower and be waiting on us when we get back, because I can promise you, if you’re still in your tighty whities, that’s how I’m taking you in,” Joe said as he got up and brushed off his pants.
The two agents left and Anthony immediately got off the couch and stripped to shower. If Joe and Shelby mentioned the airport, the questioning Annabel wanted to engage in wouldn’t be friendly. There was most likely a collage of pictures of him and Juan leaving the airport and essentially the scene of a crime that’d play well to a jury.
He was dripping on the carpet in the bedroom a few minutes later, not caring if the phone was bugged. “Get ready to move,” he told Juan. “The net’s in place and the feds are getting ready to close it.”
Shelby snapped her fingers in the van and rearranged their surveillance to make sure Anthony didn’t spot them. “Are you calling Agent Hicks?” Joe asked.
“Eventually, but right now we’re going to stick to Anthony and see where he leads us. Make sure the guys know he’s one of ours and, though he’s been out of his mind lately, he’s been trained to spot us.”
“You think he’ll trip up enough to give you something?” Joe asked. They were halfway to his car, but Shelby stopped at the corner where their second team was parked.
“Call it a hunch, but yeah. Cain and her crew are still important, but Anthony’s playing a dangerous game with an unstable partner.” She leaned against the panel van and crossed her arms over her chest. Staying here would also keep her from having to stare at Muriel all day, but she wasn’t about to admit that to Joe or anyone. “You stay with the Caseys and we’ll meet up later.”
“I’ll send Lionel back to help you,” Joe said, “and don’t take any chances. Like you said, Juan’s not stable, and unlike our friend Cain across town, he’s not going to respect that you’re an agent.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my head down. Call me when your shift’s done and we’ll touch base.”
Joe started walking but turned before Shelby could open the door to the van. “Remember to be careful, Shelby. Juan’s one part of this, but something’s really off about Anthony. Getting the bad guys is important, but it’s not worth getting hurt over.”
“That goes for you too, Joe. Now get out of here before our boy starts his day.” Shelby was getting comfortable in her seat when Anthony strode out and headed for his car. The van parked close to his car was Shelby’s decoy, and she laughed when he flipped them off. He peeled out of his parking spot, obviously in a hurry to get to wherever Juan was.
Shelby sat back and closed her eyes as they started at a much slower pace, confident that the three cars she had following Anthony wouldn’t lose him. He was up to something that could only help their investigation, but she figured Anthony wasn’t aware it would trigger his downfall. You didn’t cross a certain line unless it was the FBI’s idea, and he’d done it. Now there was no going back.
*
Cain sat at one end of the table with her family stretched out between her and Ross. When he got back, they’d picked Vincent Carlotti’s place to celebrate and were waiting for the main courses.
“Daddy, I think the tycoon persona looks good on you,” Emma said of his suit and tie. “The cows won’t recognize you.”
“I’m having so much fun I might leave the cows to Jerry and his guys.”
“Then our brilliant plan worked,” Cain said, lifting her glass of iced tea in his direction. “I’m sure if we give these guys a vote, they’d tell you they want their grandpa to stay,” Cain said about the kids. “Then there’s the other reason.”
“The first one’s pretty good, Cain,” Muriel said. “I’m not sure there’s a better reason than grandkids. At least that’s what Da keeps telling me.”
“Two grandchildren are a great reason,” Emma said, “but three might be the clincher.”
“You’re having a baby?” Hayden asked. “You are, aren’t you?” He slid his chair back and sprang to his feet and wrapped his arms around Emma before she could do the same. When he turned to Cain he slapped hands with her before giving her a bear hug. “Hannah, we’re getting a brother or a sister.”
“I want both,” Hannah said as she stood on Muriel’s legs.
The doors to the private room opened and Vincent carried in a bottle of champagne and the right number of flutes. “Are you going to tell me now why I’ve had this on ice all day?” he asked Cain.
Cain popped the cork and poured while Vincent did the same with a bottle of sparkling grape juice. “To my beautiful wife,” Cain raised her glass to Emma, “to our children and our family. Those who’ve come before us, those here with us, and those yet to come.”
“Cheers,” the group said before they drank. The rest of the night was filled with laughter that Nunzio didn’t ruin when he arrived and tried to muscle his way in to see her. The celebration started again when Lou and the others drove them home. Ross had worked hard with a handful of Cain’s men and repaired the damage to the walls.
The place was spotless and contained only a fraction of their personal belongings, but Cain had wanted it to be a surprise. They’d worry about their clothes and other things in the morning. All Cain wanted was to make love to Emma in their bed.
“Do you want a boy or a girl?” Emma asked as she lay in Cain’s arms trying to catch her breath.
“We’ve got one of each now, so this one, whatever it is, is lagniappe. What matters is that it’ll belong to us, a part of our little clan.”
“Was it the clan chieftain who Nunzio Luca wanted to do business with tonight? He was pretty adamant about wanting to talk to you.”
“Nunzio’s a shit who needs to learn some manners, and tomorrow’s going to be his first lesson.” Cain yawned and Emma rubbed her hand in a circle on Cain’s stomach, trying to get her to fall asleep.
“While you’re dealing with him, I’ll get us moved back in here and get Hayden’s party squared away.” She kept up her soft touch and felt Cain’s breathing even out as she fell asleep. Once she was sure, Emma dropped her hand and kissed Cain’s shoulder.
Emma remembered their first night in this room, but that timid girl who wasn’t sure of her place was gone. This time around, the woman she’d become accepted and welcomed how Cain had dealt with the killers who had destroyed their home.
Again she whispered a quick prayer to keep her family safe and to protect the life she carried. As long as God granted her that, she’d bear the rest the best she could, no matter what sacrifice she had to make personally.
*
“The bastard’s gone too far this time,” Juan said as he paced the new hotel room Anthony had checked them into on Airline Highway, right outside the city limits. It was one of the only places that didn’t rent by the hour to the dozens of hookers walking the strip made famous when televangelist Jimmy Swaggart was caught in a sex-for-hire sting.
The ranting was starting to get old, and Anthony contented himself with another small taste from Juan’s box. It still surprised him that he’d stumbled on to the one thing in his life that had triggered the addictive part of his brain. He was convinced he was still in control, but he felt so good nothing much bothered him.
“It was lucky for me you called when you did and I got out before Carlos saw me,” Juan continued.
“What was he doing at the hotel and how’d he locate you?”
“My uncle sent him, and I don’t know how the old bastard found out I’m back. But if he sent Carlos—he wants me dead.”
Anthony unbuttoned his shirt and lay back on the bed. “I saw how he was with you at Ramon’s place the night he first met with Casey. Rodolfo doesn’t want you dead. You’re like a son to him.”
“You don’t know how Rodolfo Luis works. He isn’t a forgiving man, even if it’s his family, when someone goes against him.” Juan checked the parking lot again before he took the other bed. “I need to get out of here until I can put my own network together, but I want you to do something first.”