San Antonio Secret, page 8
Rafe studied an older man, a bit stocky, with a close haircut, wearing a Stetson, as he paced back and forth. He’d arrived in a Texas-sized Cadillac. A gold ring gleamed on his right hand. “And what the hell am I supposed to do about this?” he shouted, his voice carrying easily to Rafe. “I got a rodeo to run. You get your men to work faster, Captain. Or I’ll make a phone call you won’t appreciate.”
A captain didn’t typically work a scene in the middle of the night. Obviously the gentleman had clout. Which put him on the top of Rafe’s suspect list.
A familiar detective standing at the perimeter eased away from the group, and after a quick backward glance, strode toward Rafe. The man was skilled and subtle at blending into the scenery, Rafe would give him that.
Detective Cade Foster rounded the trailer where Rafe had planted himself to observe. “Ransom is damned lucky I live fifteen minutes from this place. Another five and you’d be sitting in jail.”
“Noted,” Rafe said. “How’s the guard?”
“Probably gonna make it. Thanks to you. Which is the reason I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt. That and I owe Ransom.” Cade tilted his Stetson back, his frown deepening. “You’re involved with the embezzlement case that hit yesterday? Mallory Harrigan. She shoot the guy?”
Rafe shook his head. “Pretty sure the perp was a man. I didn’t get a good enough look to identify him, but he was around six feet, stocky, wore a white Stetson, a Western-style black suit and too-shiny cowboy boots. He drove off in a dark F350.”
Cade flipped open a notebook and penned a few words. “Pretty specific, but not unlike a hundred thousand other men in this part of Texas.”
“I know.” Rafe scowled. “We’re on a time crunch. You hear anything—”
“If it’s pertinent, I’ll contact you or Ransom. But quid pro quo. I want to be kept in the loop, or I come looking for you.”
With a quick nod of agreement, Rafe shook Cade’s hand. “We owe you.”
“And I’ll be collecting.”
The detective headed back to the crime scene, and Rafe walked as quickly as he dared, not to attract attention. Early-morning shadows offered some cover, but that would end soon.
His phone vibrated, and he winced when he saw the screen identifying his boss.
“Vargas.”
“What the hell is going on down there, Rafe?” Ransom didn’t mince words. “Attempted murder, bringing in local law enforcement. You got me playing in the dark gray, and I don’t like working there. Not on this side of the pond.”
Rafe sighed. He’d thought about his choices, and they were few. And they involved CTC. “Sierra’s stumbled onto something bigger than we thought.” Rafe briefed his boss and winced at the man’s curses.
“You believe the woman and girl are alive?” Ransom asked.
“If she can hold out and not give them what they want, maybe.” Truth was, after the way the guard had been shot, Rafe was less certain than he had been. The bad guys may just cut their losses. If they owned a wide enough swath of law-enforcement officials, they could probably squelch most evidence. He and Ransom had seen it happen more than once.
“The guy shot a security guard, risking scrutiny just to hide a conversation,” Ransom said. “That’s no coincidence.”
“Agreed. Since Sierra found evidence of at least twenty-five million being laundered through the rodeo, and these guys are working a deal that could bring in twice that over five years, I’d say they have a lot to lose. Sierra’s working the electrons, boss, but we don’t have a name. Not even close. If we’re going to save Mallory and Chloe, we need information. And even if Cade were willing to risk his career, I don’t know who’s involved at the San Antonio PD.”
“What are you proposing?”
“If we’re going to follow the money, Sierra and I need an in at the San Antonio Rodeo. Can you do it?” Actually, Rafe had no doubts Ransom could pull it off. The trouble was, did he want to?
“Identities for both of you? Can’t you just send her home? She doesn’t have the field experience for undercover.”
“She’s a lot like her brother once she has a mission in her head. She won’t leave. Mallory and Chloe are important to her. Besides, I need her to follow the money.”
Ransom let out a curse. “She’s as much of a pain in the ass as Noah.” The sound of drumming fingers filtered through the phone. “We might be able to switch you out for someone already entered in the rodeo. You did some bull riding when you were young, right?”
Like Ransom didn’t know, or remember.
“It’s been a while. I gave it up. Special Forces was less dangerous,” Rafe said.
“With your pedigree, I think I know someone who can find you a spot. You sure Sierra won’t let this alone?”
“No way. It’s too personal. Which worries me, but the truth is, she knows the players better than I do. She may have heard something or seen something that will break the case. It’s her best friend and five-year-old goddaughter. If it doesn’t turn out well and we don’t let her help…” He left the consequences unsaid. No need. Just the thought made Rafe’s gut twist. “How do I argue with that?”
“Noah’s going to kill us both when he learns she’s gone undercover. Even if you’re watching out for her.” Ransom’s voice sounded pained.
“He hasn’t forgiven you yet, has he?” Rafe said. “For keeping Sierra’s employment a secret for so long?”
“He flew down here just to slug me,” Ransom admitted. “Guy has a killer left hook.”
“Next time I’m in Carder, I might do the same.”
“You both need to see Sierra for who she is. The best I’ve seen. That’s why I hired her in the first place.”
“At the computer,” Rafe said, “I’d agree with you. But you took her off duty.”
“For her. Not for you and Noah. She wanted to be more involved, to get hands-on experience. Archimedes’s abduction gave her a look into what could happen. Made her skittish. She needed time to heal, to decide. From what Noah’s said, she’s not quite ready.”
“I’m well aware. I’m keeping an eye on her.”
“Anything happens to her, Noah and her other brothers won’t let you forget it.”
“If anything happens to her, it’ll happen to me first,” Rafe muttered. “I’ll try to convince her to go home, but we both know the odds.”
“Zero. Do you need backup for the op?”
“I need someone in that rodeo office with ready access to records and to run interference. I don’t want Sierra put in that position. Three of these guys have seen her. Even with the disguise I have planned, I’m concerned.”
“Zane’s on his way since you’ve already read him in.”
At the words, Rafe coughed.
Ransom let out a low chuckle. “You think I didn’t know he was running a search for you? Really, Rafe? It takes a lot to surprise me.” Ransom paused. “By the way, did you forget to mention a certain package you had delivered?”
Package? It took Rafe a moment. He hadn’t called it in. He grimaced. “Elena. Yeah. I—”
“Another stray. I won’t out you as a closet softy, Rafe. Besides, she deserves a break. The wife and kids have fallen in love with her and Charlie. I have a place for them. Give me a heads-up next time. Our security spooked her.”
“She okay?”
“She’s tough. And there’s a bit more to her than you suspected, I think. I’ll give you the details later. Back to our immediate problem. I’m using Zane as a go-between with Detective Foster until this op is over. Afterward, you, Noah and I are having a long conversation regarding Sierra.”
Ransom ended the phone call, and Rafe picked up his pace heading to his truck. Was he making a mistake?
Normally, when the plan took shape, his entire body went calm and still. Not this morning. He vibrated with tension. Probably due to working with another woman he cared about. He couldn’t deny his feelings for Sierra. And he couldn’t stop the memories of the fallout of the last op with his fiancée. Her bullet-ridden body, the blood. Arriving too late.
He reached the vehicle and gripped the door handle with whitened knuckles. The bruises on Sierra’s face had deepened in color. She sat hunched over the computer, lost in concentration.
He’d have to work on her spatial awareness. The angry bullet’s graze on her thigh burned in his memory. She could’ve been killed, and everything inside Rafe shouted at him to pack her in Bubble Wrap and hide her away. Instead, he rapped on the window.
Sierra jerked her head up. Princess Buttercup leaped across the keyboard and placed her paws on the window.
The shock on Sierra’s face melted into relief, and she rolled down the glass. “You’re back. I was worried the cops…”
“Ransom’s guy came through.”
“Thank goodness.” She let out a shuddering breath. “I half expected him to be on the take.”
“We can trust Cade.” He frowned. “But you can’t let yourself get so immersed in your work that you’re that easily surprised. I could have dropped you if I’d wanted to.”
“I was tracking your movements,” she said with a confident smile. “I saw your approach. I just didn’t expect you to bang on the window. Don’t do that again.”
Rafe rubbed the brow bone over his uncovered eye. This op was going to test his patience in a big way.
The dang cat butted her head through the open window against Rafe’s forearm. He shook his head but scratched the silly animal’s ears anyway. “I’m not sure what Ransom did for the detective, but whatever it was, Cade was willing to risk lying to his superiors about finding the guard. He’s covering for us. For now anyway.”
“Is the guard going to make it?”
“He’ll be out of it for a while, but it looks like it.”
Sierra let out a sigh of relief.
“You get a name?” he asked.
“Nothing.” Her brow furrowed, and her eyes flashed with fury. “Millions of dollars are moving through that rodeo. Whoever’s doing this is smart, and secretive. We know the what, but the who and why are like smoke. No account numbers, no bank routing numbers, nothing to identify them. I’ve hit a brick wall.”
Rafe leaned in. “Look, honey, this situation is getting complicated. And more dangerous. Following the ones and zeroes won’t cut it. We need boots-on-the-ground intel if we’re going to find Mallory and Chloe.”
“The rodeo venue’s owner is John Beckel. I’m running his background next.”
“Good idea. See if anything pops.” Rafe shifted his feet. “Sierra, why not head up to Carder? CTC headquarters has the latest equipment, everything you need to work your magic.”
She froze and narrowed her gaze at him. “I need to be here. You need backup.”
“Zane’s coming in. I promise, I’ll let you know what’s happening every step of the way.”
“You want to get rid of me. Why?” With a snap, she closed the laptop.
“You’re good at your job. You can help us there.”
“Mallory’s told me about her job, about the rodeo. I can help more right here during the investigation…”
Her words tapered off, and her eyes widened. “You’re going undercover. That’s what you meant by boots on the ground.”
He could almost see the gears churning in her mind. The eagerness in her eyes made his gut twist. He knew the adrenaline rush well, and he knew the risks. She had a personal investment in this op. It made for bad decision making. He should know.
She gripped his arm. “I can help you.”
“If I said no, you’d insert yourself anyway, wouldn’t you? Somehow, some way?”
“Let’s put it this way. You aren’t banishing me to Carder, anytime soon. Not until Mallory and Chloe are home safe and sound.” She met his gaze. “I can’t stop looking for them. Not when I should’ve been able to stop them from being taken.”
He gripped the door through the open window. “Then I guess it’s time for us to go undercover at the rodeo.”
Chapter Six
A thin layer of pink-orange sky filtered through the trees. Hunkered in a depression in the midst of a small but thick grove of cottonwood trees, Mallory cradled Chloe, focusing on her daughter’s even breathing. She’d finally fallen asleep. Even though Mallory could use the rest, she couldn’t close her eyes. She peered through the web of branches encasing them, praying she saw nothing. That they were safe.
She’d had no idea how far they’d run, or how long. The only light visible had been a shard of moon hanging in the sky and a bevy of stars, which had offered little hope. She’d seen no sign of civilization anywhere. Not a road, not a light. Just darkness and trees and open stretches of land.
They’d almost been caught, but choosing the road less traveled had been their salvation. Finally, when the shouts and curses of their captors had dimmed, they’d trudged as long as Chloe’s legs had held out. Mallory had carried her daughter as long as she could, until, finally, legs and arms shaking, she’d stumbled and pitched to the ground. She had no choice but to stop. Mallory had crawled underneath a mesh of leaves and branches. She’d camouflaged their hideout to the best of her ability and settled in for the remainder of the night.
Darkness had provided camouflage, but now that dawn had peeked over the horizon, it would be more difficult than ever to escape detection. She stroked Chloe’s hair. Tears pricked the corners of Mallory’s eyes.
Their escape had been so panicked, the desperation to survive so paramount, she hadn’t kept track of which direction they’d run.
If she left their hideout, she could very well end up going back toward that trailer—and their kidnappers.
Chloe squirmed in her lap. “Mommy,” she whimpered.
“Shh, Button. You have to be very, very quiet.”
“Or the bad people will find us.” The little girl burrowed against her mother’s breast.
“Yes.” Mallory kissed the top of her daughter’s head.
“The sun’s up. I’m hungry.”
“I know, but we can’t eat right now. Maybe a little later, okay?”
“Pancakes?”
If only she possessed Chloe’s optimism. “Maybe tomorrow,” she said, praying she told her daughter the truth.
“That means no,” Chloe said, pouting. She squirmed. “Mommy, I have to go pottie.”
“Okay, sugar, but we need to stay quiet.”
Chloe pursed her lips and nodded. Carefully Mallory pushed aside the leaves, and they crawled out of their hiding place. Mallory stood and took her daughter over to a stand of buffalo grass near a small grove of trees.
A shout carried through the landscape. “Find them! Ten grand to whoever brings them to me. Dead or alive.”
Mallory’s throat spasmed in panic. She grabbed her daughter’s hand. “Run, Chloe! Run!”
*
SIERRA RUBBED HER EYES. She winced at the grit and stinging behind her lids. She’d been through more than her share of all-nighters during college, but she was out of practice. The morning sun had only risen a sliver, and the western sky still bore that dark purple-blue of night.
Rafe pulled into the motel parking lot. Princess Buttercup had plastered herself to his leg. If he moved an inch, the cat scooted closer.
Covering her mouth with her hand to disguise her small smile, Sierra eyed the pair. He didn’t quite know what to make of the mostly white calico, but he sure couldn’t shake that cat.
After Rafe turned off the engine, he twisted in his seat, once again pushing Princess Buttercup out of the way, gently but firmly. The cat lightly jumped onto the floor and curled around Rafe’s boots. He shook his head, clearly befuddled. “Are cats trainable? At all?”
She bit the inside of her cheek. “About as much as you are.”
A twinkle of humor shined in his unpatched eye. She couldn’t ever remember witnessing that particular expression on his face. She liked the change, but it didn’t last long. He stroked his chin. “You want to be part of this op, I have some ground rules, or we end this here and now. First one is, this is my operation. I say jump, you ask how high. I give an order, you don’t question me because I may not have time to explain myself. Got it?”
She bristled at the order but knew he was right. He had the experience; she was a newbie. “Got it.”
In truth, she couldn’t believe he’d agreed to work with her. She knew from the jobs Ransom assigned to Rafe that he didn’t do partners. Not if he could help it. But, she possessed a skill he didn’t. She might excel at her job as a forensic accountant, but she also knew Rafe. He was a lone wolf. He preferred swooping in, getting the job done as quickly as possible—on his own—and swooping out, not getting too involved. Her brother had tried to warn her off when she’d been under the illusion that there might be something between her and Rafe. The warning had come too late. She’d already fallen for that mysterious aura he exuded.
Everything about him should have terrified her—the edge of danger lacing his eyes, the intensity, the aloofness. Perhaps because she’d worn her own mask for far too long, she’d recognized something more beneath the mask he wore. A kindred spirit.
He was also a true hero at heart. Mallory and Chloe were innocent. And Rafe would do whatever it took to find them. Even if it meant teaming with a beginner.
“First order of business is to move locations. We clean out the motel room and disappear. No trace. Eliminate any possibility of a tail.”
Nodding, she slid out of the truck. Her leg had gone stiff after sitting so long, but at least it didn’t hurt quite as much. She could feel his narrowed gaze watching her, studying her movement. She stiffened, sucking up the pain so her walk appeared even and natural.
His frown deepened, but he didn’t comment. They walked to the motel room.
“Key?” he asked, holding out his hand.
Ignoring him, she unlocked the door. When she pushed it open, she couldn’t stop her gasp. The room had been destroyed.
Rafe shoved her away from the entrance with one hand and unholstered his weapon with the other. Sierra wasn’t nearly as quick, but she drew the Glock.
