“Let me tell you something, Shelby. May I call you that, Agent Daniels?”
“Please do, sir, and if I may, this is Anthony, Joe, and Lionel.” She pointed to each man in turn.
“Then you all call me George, not that I mind such a nice-looking group of young people calling me sir. As I was saying, I ran into Cain on the golf course about a year ago. She was playing a round with that big good-looking kid of hers, and she allowed my group and me to play through. She shook my hand and congratulated me for twenty-two years of tireless service to the community. After that, Hayden Casey asked how my daughter was doing and also said to congratulate her on my new grandson. I was out playing that day to celebrate the birth of my fourth grandbaby.”
“Amazing,” said Anthony.
“No, son, that’s not amazing. It’s damned good. Dalton, her father, was good, but he sired something when he and his wife were gifted with Cain. If I did anything else for a living, I’d say she was damned fun to watch, and that kid of hers. Well, let’s just say I don’t envy you your jobs when it’s his time in the saddle.
“When I went to the hospital that afternoon to see my daughter, I discovered a flower arrangement there from Hayden, along with a note saying he had donated his month’s allowance in the baby’s name to a local children’s center where my daughter does volunteer work. If she’s ever sitting in a jury box fifteen years from now, do you think she’ll be seriously considering whatever we’re accusing him of, or will she be remembering that nice note he enclosed? And she knows better.”
“It sounds like you admire her,” said Joe.
“Cunning should be admired in any form, Joe. I’m not saying we should emulate her, considering what our jobs are, but know your enemy, because sure as I’m sitting here, she knows all about us.”
Anthony was thinking back to the morning on the farm when he and Joe had followed her and Hayden on their run. “I would have to agree with you on that score, George. We’re forever running around hiding behind bushes and trees, thinking how smart we are, and she’ll just stop and look right into our eyes and smile. I’m waiting for the day she just waves and puts us out of our misery.” If Cain had a special ability, the old man was right. Her son had inherited it along with the looks and blue eyes.
“It doesn’t hurt either that most people in this town feel like she’s a hero to the little guy. For you folks, that makes life difficult. For me, it makes it impossible. No one wants to convict someone who’s seen as a friend by most. Hell, I think Mrs. Talbot would run off with the outlaw if the opportunity presented itself.”
The occupants in the room laughed and were happy to relax, if only for a few minutes. The investigators who worked with George were back, dressed in black SWAT uniforms with very few markings. They were getting ready to deploy to the warehouse and set up before any other company arrived. Almost simultaneously the beepers the four visitors were all wearing went off. The boss was calling.
“Daniels, where are you?” Kyle was riding shotgun, with his senior agent Samuel Rich behind the wheel. They had taken over as the lead car tailing Cain and her party.
“My group and I are going over last-minute details and waiting for a call from Agent Rich to get going, sir.”
“She and that kid just left the restaurant, and I have a feeling she’s going to be moving after that, so stand by and be ready to move. I don’t want any fuckups tonight.”
“Yes, sir, we’ll be ready.”
“Rocky, are we ready?” George asked his senior investigator.
“Yes, sir, we’re leaving now. Agent Daniels, please be advised we’ll be on the scene, so the four of you be sure and not take any shots at us,” he joked.
“We’ll keep that in mind, officer.” Shelby answered her ringing phone and was glad they had brought along their own gear so they could leave from the federal building to wherever Kyle needed them. “Daniels.”
“She’s headed to the club, so let’s see if she remembers you from the crowd, Daniels.” In his usual manner, Kyle abruptly disconnected from his end.
Shelby unzipped the bag and pulled out a black minidress as her fellow officers just smiled. George finally had the guts to ask, “Where, Shelby, do you hide a gun while wearing that?”
“Trade secrets, George. If I told you I’d have to kill you.”
*
“You know who we’re looking for, right?” Cain stopped at the front door of Emerald’s and talked to the guy in charge of letting people in.
“Yeah, boss. Merrick gave me the heads-up earlier today. Don’t worry if they show up. I’ll make sure they don’t wait in line.”
Cain turned to Merrick and leaned in a little. “Where are they?”
“The trucks are en route still and about three hours away. That gives us enough time to meet with Vinny and finalize the distribution once they arrive. His father’s monitoring the caravan and says we have plenty of company.”
“Good to know I’m still so popular.”
They entered the building and went directly to Cain’s private table.
“Are you sure you don’t want to let me in on what you’re doing?”
“Sweetheart, you worry about my son and keeping him safe. Let me and Vincent worry about everything else.”
Merrick tried to hide her hurt feelings of being cut out of Cain’s inner circle.
“Don’t pout, Merrick. I haven’t lost faith in you. Believe me, that’s not it. Vincent and I are the only ones on the front lines on this deal. I need you to be ready to move with Hayden, if it comes to that. Once my son is safe, you worry about me, understand?”
Merrick put her hands on Cain’s cheeks and gazed into her eyes for a long moment before kissing her. “I may understand, but that doesn’t mean I’ve got to like it. My place is with you.”
“For now, sweetheart, your place is where I send you. Granted, Lou isn’t as beautiful, but he’s got my back tonight.”
The big man of few words turned to the two women at the private table before he returned to observing at the crowd.
“At least there’ll be no tits to distract you,” said Merrick.
“Yes, that’s one advantage to taking Lou along tonight.”
In answer, or perhaps a curse, to what Merrick had said, two women entered the club, neither of them noticing the other, but both looking for the same person. When they spotted the object of their search in such an intimate embrace with Merrick, they had identical frowns. Anthony walked up and put one hand on Shelby’s elbow and pointed two fingers at her eyes to get her to focus on why they were there. The other woman’s eyes never left the couple as she stalked toward the table, appearing ready to mark her territory.
“Heads up, boss,” said Lou.
“Well, well, who do we have here?” asked Merrick.
“That, my dear, is what my mama would’ve called a devil in a blue dress.”
“Can I talk to you?” Emma seemed ready to drag Cain away by the hair, if that was what it took to get her to cooperate.
“Sure, I’m feeling generous tonight. Merrick, take off and call me when you get home.” Cain stood and kissed Merrick one more time before she left.
When she scanned the crowd, she noticed Emma wasn’t the only surprise guest in the building. Shelby and her shadows were making their way to the bar and keeping an eye on both her and Emma. “Lou, call me in the office when our buddy gets here, okay?”
“You got it, boss.”
For the first time in four years Cain wrapped her hand around Emma’s and pulled her toward the office. It was their first prolonged physical contact since Emma had walked out the front door of their home. She tried to ignore the pull of her heart, but like she had admitted to herself earlier, Emma would always hold a special place in that sealed vault.
From her bar stool, Shelby locked her eyes on the mirror next to the bar. If Cain didn’t know better, she would have sworn the agent could see into the quiet office where they had shared such an intense meeting not that long before. “Emma, you look like your old self tonight. What can I do for you?”