“I have no right to ask you this, Sheriff,” Emma said. She squeezed Cain’s shoulder before she went on, “but I want you to tell Shelby that we’re not here.”
“Why would I do that?” He took another sip and studied the couple. “You’re not doing anything but visiting friends, right?”
“Agent Kyle shot Cain on the order of a mob boss in New Orleans. So far the FBI has refused to give us any more information on what happened and who else might be involved. We came here so she can heal, but also so we could get out of the line of fire.” Emma delivered the information with a quaver in her voice. “We have children, Ignatius. If you don’t do it for Cain and me, then think about them.”
Ignatius focused on Cain. “I have your word that recuperating is all you’re doing out here.”
“Just recuperating and spending time with Emma, I swear,” Cain said with a wink. “But if this is going to cause you problems, then do what you think is right.”
“Mabel down at the diner hasn’t stopped talking about you since you left, and if Mabel likes you it’s a safe guess that you’re okay. Just behave, and I’ll take care of Agent Daniels. Turns out I came out here and didn’t find anything but cows.”
“Moo moo,” Cain said before she laughed.
*
The chatter around the city for the next week was almost deafening. Not only were the authorities searching for and asking what had happened to the Casey crew, so was anyone working for Gino Bracato. Cain had done such a good job of vanishing that no one had a clue where to start looking, no matter how much money or muscle was dangled in front of them.
News did come on the eighth day of their disappearance, but it wasn’t what Bracato had planned. Cain might have taken her gang with her for the protection of her family, but she still had an army of snitches working the streets, and his family’s name was coming up more often in connection to the attacks on the Caseys.
As for Cain, her daily walks with the children were making her feel better and stronger, and it had been a boost for everyone when the local doctor said it was time for the stitches to come out. The wounds were still healing, and Cain was slowly regaining full health.
Emma watched as Cain threw her coat on, intent on sneaking out to the back fence with the satellite phone in her hand like she had all the other times it had rung. Whoever was on the line obviously didn’t mind interrupting Hannah’s playtime with her favorite new block-building partner.
“What’s going on?” she asked before Cain made it outside.
“I’ll tell you as soon as I’m done with this call. For now could you go keep an eye on Hannah? Hayden’s out for his morning run with Mook and some of the others.”
Seeing that her daughter was fine, Emma returned to the back door and watched Cain’s face as she spoke sporadically, as if either asking questions or verifying information. When she hung up she immediately dialed another number and did most of the talking. Emma didn’t worry until she saw Cain run her hand through her hair. It was a move she knew well, and it bespoke either worry or frustration. Neither emotion was good for Cain’s convalescence.
“Problem?” Emma pulled Cain’s sweater tighter around herself as she joined Cain in the yard. She’d put it on when she felt the wind pick up. The business of Cain’s world had left them in peace for eight glorious days, which was more than she could have hoped for.
“Giovanni’s number-one son was responsible for the bombs at Emerald’s and at Muriel’s office.” Cain opened her coat and wrapped Emma in her arms to keep her warm.
“How do you know?”
“The little shit just planted one at Vincent’s place, or at least he tried. The guy he hired ran into a couple of Vinny’s more unreasonable guys and, if I had to guess, got one hell of an explosive enema.”
As gruesome as the thought was, Emma snorted into Cain’s chest, picturing what her partner had painted. “Who tipped him off?”
“One of our guys on the street. Gino Jr. never did learn the cardinal rule of keeping your mouth shut. Bragging only leads the police to your door or, worse, someone like Vincent Carlotti. The little crazy bastard might have done us a favor, though.” Cain kissed the top of Emma’s head.
Emma ran her hands up Cain’s back until she locked them behind Cain’s neck. “Why do you say that?”
“Because now Vinny really does owe us a favor, and Ramon will be told of our immediate and lifesaving actions. When the time comes or, I should say, if the time comes that I need their help, it’ll be a guarantee.”
She massaged the tense neck and tried to read what was going on in Cain’s mind. “Honey, you have to know that both those guys would come running if you just called. I saw what they did for you and our family when you got hurt.”
“Emma, my father taught me that some help comes back to haunt you, some is freely given, and some is given because it’s owed. Sometimes you have to pay for the help that haunts you with something you don’t want to part with. That’s the worst. Freely given help is good for everyone: we help because we love the other person. But help that’s given because it’s owed is a blessing, just like the second. Vinny is my friend, like Ramon, but I want to live my life and run our business as debt-free as I can.” She stopped her lecture and kissed Emma’s cheek. “Do you understand?”
“By you helping him, he helps us in return because he owes you a debt?”
“You’re a fast learner, lass. Maybe I can retire after all this is over and hand the business over to you.”
“No, thanks, you can keep your job.” Emma took a deep breath and held it as she looked up at Cain.
The last eight days and how they’d spent them returned to the forefront of her mind. They had walked with their children and visited with her father every day, strengthening the ties necessary to rebuild their family. Every night she and Cain had relearned each other in the most intimate and sensual ways possible, waking naked and smiling every morning.
“Go get your coat on, lass.” Cain swatted her gently on the backside and nodded toward the house.
“You need to make another phone call?”
“No, I want you to take a walk with me and tell me what’s on your mind. If this is going to work, then you have to share with me what’s making this worry line get deeper. After all, it’s what you keep telling me to do.” She ran her thumb down the middle of Emma’s forehead. The little part of her brain that had kept her alive screamed what Merrick had been telling her from the moment Emma walked back into her life. Maybe the worry line had to do with the fact that Emma wasn’t being totally up-front with her about how she felt.
“Whatever it is, I’ll listen. Then we’ll fix it, if that’s what you’re worried about. Unless you’re wearing a wire under that bulky sweater of mine.” She ran her hand up Emma’s side more in a tickling fashion than in a distrusting one. “Then we’ll plug you full of holes and feed you to the cows.”
They walked back to the house together and picked up not only Emma’s coat but a blanket as well. Emma wanted to share one of her favorite places with Cain. Maddie waved them off from the family room where she had Hannah engrossed in dressing up her dolls, shooting a wink their way when Emma held up the blanket and pointed to the back of the yard.
Soon they crested a hill and came upon a fairly good-sized lake.
“What a beautiful place.” Cain looked around the area before sitting down next to Emma. “I don’t know how I missed this the last time I was here.”
“The hills around it form almost a perfect bowl, so unless you wanted to do some leg work by climbing, there’s no good reason to come up here. See over there?” She pointed to their left. “It’s the only way to get in without having to make the climb, and that’s how the cows get in here. When I was little and someone else owned Jerry’s place, I’d sneak over here and sit along these banks for hours, just looking at the water or the clouds floating by.” Emma felt melancholy.