The Cain Casey Series

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Are you sure about this?” George Talbot, the U.S. Attorney for the Fifth District in Louisiana, held the report the four FBI agents sitting before him had put together.

George had worked for the federal government, putting criminals away longer than these guys and gal were alive, he was willing to wager. Every crop of new up-and-comers had its conspiracy theorists, but this group had pictures and video to back up their outlandish claims.

“We’re sure, sir. We’ve got a lot more in our files if you’d like to take a look.” Shelby had been elected their spokesperson.

“No. As the saying goes, young lady, a picture’s worth a thousand words.” He held up the stills from that afternoon’s surveillance atop the abandoned buildings.

“Sir, I know this isn’t the usual chain of command, but we needed secrecy and discretion. We’re the low men on the totem pole, so if things go badly our careers could be in jeopardy.”

“Then why do it at all, Agent Daniels?” He cocked his head and waited. These young people had a fire he hadn’t seen in years, the same drive and passion he had managed to retain.

“Because the law is the law, sir. No one gets to use it for personal gain, especially someone like Giovanni Bracato. Even if you take away our badges, we feel we’ve done the right thing.”

“Okay, tell me this. Where did all this come from?” He pointed at the thick folder thrown down on his desk and looked up at four pained faces.

Anthony jumped in before Shelby could answer. “Mr. Talbot, that’s confidential, sir. Agent Daniels garnered the information, and she trusted the rest of us with the operation because of the short timeline. To betray the trust of our informant would jeopardize future operations where this person could be vital.”

Shelby smiled at Anthony. He obviously wasn’t happy accepting help from Cain, so to have him defend her made her feel better about the upcoming operation.

“I see. Well, I tell you what we’re going to do.” George almost laughed when four eager faces leaned farther into his desk as if he had started whispering.

They talked over their plan, and the four agents agreed to have some of the investigators who worked directly for George brought in for the final operation. The men who sat in on the final meeting had spent their careers with the craggy old attorney and were, in his opinion, above reproach. As far as Shelby, Joe, Anthony, and Lionel were concerned, they had to be for the whole thing to work. They had irrevocably set things in motion to coincide with whatever Cain had in mind for them that night.

“Why do you all think Cain’s going through with this when she’s got to realize the trap is set? I’ve known her from the time we were trying to chase her daddy down for running numbers and booze in the city, and she’s an even more worthy adversary in the slippery department, but she’s no dummy. She’s like an old and wise warrior who’s always three steps ahead of not only what you’re doing, but also what you’re thinking.”

George watched Shelby’s face as he talked. A few more years and a little more experience would help her temper her emotions, but she hadn’t perfected the technique quite yet. He had his answer as to where the file had come from, and in a way it made him feel better. Cain was thorough in everything she did, so the information was as good as if it had come from the FBI.

“I don’t know her well enough to answer that, sir. All I can tell you is we’ve been watching her for over a year, and all we’ve learned is how she takes her coffee, and that she’s got a keen eye for the cameras.” Shelby laughed as the file of pictures of Cain’s smile they had back at the office came to mind.

“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?”

“I want you to listen to me and not interrupt until I’m done. Do you think you can do that?”

“I think I’m disciplined enough to pull it off.”

Emma looked suspicious. She wasn’t expecting Cain to be this accommodating. “Okay, I give. Why are you being so nice?”

“Because it’s the only way I can figure to get rid of you, and like I said before—

I’ve got things to do.”

“Whatever you’ve got planned tonight, Kyle knows all about it and is waiting for you.”

The admission took Cain by surprise. Emma had set her up to get Hayden back, and now she was willing to throw it all away by spoiling Kyle’s surprise. “How?”

“He showed up at the farm and bugged the hell out of the bunkhouse. He knew you wouldn’t let Hayden come alone, so he set a trap for you.”

A dark brow arched at the news, and Emma wanted to run from the look in Cain’s eyes.

“And you know this how?”

“Because he had to ask our permission before he was able to do that. I guess he could have gotten a court order or something, but he talked to me, and I listened again. You’ve got to understand that I thought this was the only way to get Hayden back. But then I learned the truth about Barney Kyle and what kind of help he had gotten from my mother. I can’t take back the past, Cain, but I can try and make up for it, starting now.”

Cain exhaled and leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees. “Are you blaming your mother and Kyle?”

“That would be the easy way out, wouldn’t it?” Emma sat on the opposite end of the couch and hoped Cain would listen to the rest without trying to kill her. “No, what I did, I did for my own reasons. I let someone else convince me of how evil you were, and even though I couldn’t reconcile that person with the one who held me at night and loved me so well, I trusted a stranger blindly.”

“You can never imagine just how deep you’ve cut me, Emma. I took Hayden out to dinner tonight so I could tell him how you were my safe haven, and I believed that at one time. What you’ve done, though, makes it impossible to go back and salvage any type of relationship. So if that’s why you’re here, then get out. I can handle Kyle, and I’ll be fine without your last-minute confessions.”

“There’s one more thing, and you promised you’d let me finish.”

“What? Let me guess. You’re wired for sound too?”

“Don’t you think I know what kind of chance I’m taking coming here tonight and telling you all of this? I have to live with what I did, and I have to live with the shame of what happened to Marie. I’m trying now to stop anything else from happening to my family. Kyle listened to everything you said while you were up visiting us, so whatever you planned, Cain, I’m begging you to think about backing away. I know you won’t believe me, and you’re nothing if not a fighter, but think of Hayden.”

“I am thinking of Hayden. Everything I do is because I’m thinking of Hayden.”

Emma moved closer and put a hand on the cold leather of the seat cushion between them. “There’s one more person to consider here as well.”

“Who would that be?” Cain wanted Emma to admit to the baby. She just wanted to hear it from the woman who should have shared it with her four years before that.

“Your daughter.” Emma’s voice was so soft she barely heard it. She had dropped her head and didn’t look her in the eye.

“Hannah.”

“How?” When she whipped her head up, a few of the blond locks fell from the knot Emma had pulled them into.

“Haywood, Wisconsin has a lot of cows and expanses of empty, beautiful land. But do you know what there isn’t a whole lot of?”

Emma looked at her and shook her head.

“Houses with dark-headed, blue-eyed children who live with two people so blond they’d sunburn in moonlight.”

“I was going to tell you.”

“Emma, don’t insult both of us by saying something so colossally stupid.”

“I just didn’t know how to tell you. Once I left, and went through all that alone, I didn’t know how. Every night, though, I tell her about you and Hayden and how we’ll be together one day. She knows you, Cain. Your little girl knows you even if you haven’t met. When you do, her mom is someone she won’t shy away from, because she belongs to you just like Hayden. Just like I do, but it isn’t for just a little while. I belong to you forever, even if you don’t want me.”

“Promise me something. You owe me that much, at least.”

“Anything.” Emma gathered what courage she had and put her hand over Cain’s. She would have traded her soul for Cain to take her in her arms.

“If something happens to me, you will keep my children safe, and you will stay away from me.”

Cain got up and walked out of the office. This was not the time to become an emotional wreck, but she was close to losing her grip. To have Emma betray her trust and believe Kyle without even asking her was one thing, but to rob her of knowing her daughter was a bigger crime than she could even fathom.

Three feet from the office door was as far as she got before Shelby stopped her in the secluded entryway leading to the private space.

When Emma opened the door to go after Cain, she found them in each other’s arms. Whoever the woman was, she was able to give her ex-lover something she no longer wanted from Emma. Shelby whispered things into Cain’s ear and finally pulled the dark head down and kissed her. The two agents at the bar and Emma all looked away, not wanting to witness something that seemed almost special.

The urge to run again was getting stronger, and she wanted nothing more than to bolt and go home to her daughter. She could call it a wash—she would get Hannah, and Cain would get their son. Not the best solution and fair to no one, but she didn’t want to end up alone, no matter how selfish that sounded. However, her father’s words of not giving up bolstered her courage and made her look at the woman Cain was now holding and talking to.

“I won’t go so easily, Cain, and I know you still care for me. If it takes a lifetime to knock down those walls you’ve built around your heart, then I’m willing to take the time.”

All of the players in the upcoming game eyed their opponents and readied themselves for the final showdown. Time was growing short, and all of them were resolved to win.