The Cain Casey Series

Chapter Fourteen

“Shelby?”

“Speaking,” Shelby said into the phone balanced on her shoulder. She was in the office for the afternoon finishing up the report on the Barney Kyle incident. “Can I help you?”

“This is Agent Franks. Conner, remember?”

“I remember.” Shelby had first been assigned to Conner’s team before Kyle had poached her for his, thinking her looks would help further his investigation against Cain. Now she wished that she’d stayed with Conner, since he’d shown her the ropes so well.

She pictured the short redhead assigned to different areas around the city, currently assigned to Ramon Jatibon and his gambling ventures. “What can I do for you, Conner?”

“Are you all still tailing Casey and gang?”

“You need to come in more often. Didn’t you hear?” she asked, wondering if one more person was going to rub it in. The day after they’d wrapped up the warehouse inventory, someone had left a bottle of whiskey on her desk with a sticky note attached describing what to look for when confiscating illegal liquor.

“I’m not calling to razz you. I just thought you might want to know that Ramon and a couple of his goons just drove up to Mercy Hospital with a big bunch of flowers. Any guess as to who he’s here to visit?”

“What’s Cain doing with him?”

“Look, I have to go. He’s heading inside.” The phone went dead, and Shelby was left listening to the dial tone.

The drone let her concentrate on what the next-best move should be, and Shelby didn’t wait too long to decide. She punched in a number and waited for it to connect. “Joe, where are y’all?”

“Are we speaking again? I thought you were mad at us.”

“Come on. Tell me where you are.”

“Outside Giovanni Bracato’s house watching his guard pick his nose. Where do they find these geniuses? He should know you have to wait till you’re alone to fully enjoy the nose-picking experience.”

“As fascinating as that sounds and as much as I want you to continue down this interesting subject path, I need to ask you and Lionel a favor.”

“Ask away.”

“Meet me at Mercy and see if you can zero in on a conversation happening on the fifth floor.”

Joe banged his head on the small desk in the back of the van and groaned. “Do you remember a woman named Annabel Hicks? A very scary female when angered, who also happens to be our boss, in case that happened to slip your mind. Leaving the scene of a stakeout she assigned wouldn’t be a wise career move.”

“Have I led you wrong before?” Shelby gathered up her things.

“Would you like the list in chronological or alphabetical order?”

“Please, Joe?”

“All right, but if Lionel says no, you’re on your own.” The argument was weak, since Lionel was already in the driver’s seat with the engine running. “We’ll be there in five, and if Giovanni commits some heinous crime in his front yard, you’re explaining it to Hicks.”

“You’re the best, Joe.”

“Yeah, yeah, that and a hundred bucks will get me into a movie with a Coke and popcorn.”

They were set up and searching for what Shelby wanted when she pulled up, but it was slow going because of all the equipment interference.

“As far as we can tell, they aren’t in the room you told me Cain is occupying,” explained Lionel. He’d pulled up the blueprints to the building to aid in the search, but Cain and Ramon had effectively shut them out.

“What do you think he’s doing here?” Shelby asked.

“One of two things. He’s here only as a friend paying a social visit, or we got the head of one family cahooting with the head of another,” answered Joe.

“Cahooting? Is that even a word?” Lionel asked. “I say it has to do with everything that’s happened. We’ve watched Casey long enough to know she isn’t going to just lie down and take someone blowing up her property and shooting at her house while her children and her woman are inside.”

Joe leaned over and punched his arm. “Her woman? Who are you, king of the jungle? I have to agree, though.” He said to Shelby, “We followed Bracato to Costello’s Restaurant today but couldn’t see who he was meeting. There’s too much activity in town for something big not to be happening. I think the deck’s about to be reshuffled, and whoever’s left will control much more than even we can imagine.”

“Do any of the players have enough muscle to wage a turf war?” Lionel asked, still searching the floor for any sign of Cain’s or Ramon’s voices.

“If brains are the deciding factor, then Cain, Ramon, or Vincent could end up running the rackets for years to come,” Shelby said. “My money’s on Cain.”

“Are you up for this?” Joe looked at her, wanting to see her face when she answered. “If she goes to the mat to destroy those who tried to hurt her family, we have to put her away. I don’t care how much you like Cain and Muriel. No one’s above the law.”

“Don’t worry. This isn’t personal. I know what my job is, and I intend to do it.”

*

“Señor Jatibon, it’s so nice to see you again,” Emma said when he stepped into the sunroom and handed her a bouquet of flowers. “Thank you so much. I’m sure Cain is going to love them.” She handed them to Lou at the door and followed Ramon to some chairs by the windows.

“Please, Emma, call me Ramon.” He kissed both her cheeks, showing no surprise at her being there. “How is the patient?”

“Much more of this place, and she’s probably going to plan an escape. You know Cain as well as I do. She can’t sit still for long, so thank God she’s back on her feet and able to move under her own steam. She just had to run back to the room for a minute. She shouldn’t be long.”

“She can take all day if she wants, my dear. This old man never misses the opportunity to spend time with a beautiful woman,” Ramon said. “How are you and the children after what happened at the house?”

“Hayden says he’s okay, and I hope there’s no lasting effect.”

“He’s a good boy. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“Hannah is too young to really understand, so I’m hopeful it won’t be a problem, but getting out safe is enough to be thankful for. Cain has good people working for her, and they handled things flawlessly. Though I never want to go through that again. Cain and the children are my life.”

Ramon leaned forward and put his hand on her knee. “Never forget that, Emma. Cain and I are from two different cultures, but in here”—he tapped two fingers over his heart—“we are the same, and we feel the same when it comes to our children and our wives. You have my oath that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the peace and all of you safe until this is over.”

“Thank you, Ramon. That means a lot.”

“Yes, it does, and I owe you a debt for coming to our aid,” Cain added, from the door. “Are we ready?”

“My plane’s waiting for you, Cain.” Ramon stood and offered his hand. “No one will be the wiser until it’s too late. I’ve also made arrangements for Muriel and the other people you want to take. Vincent and I’ll keep an eye on things until you get back.”

“I’m thinking two weeks.”

“It can be two months, amiga. Everything will be waiting for you when you return. Then we will sit and discuss what needs to be talked about.” He was glad to see Cain up and walking around, but she looked tired. “Is there anything else you need?”

“Just time to heal.” Cain looked at Emma before finishing. “But now that I’ve found my strength, I don’t see that being a problem.”

“Then we will be unbeatable.”

“Count on it, Ramon.” She held out her hand to Emma, who readily took it. “Count on it.”

It was plain to Ramon as he looked on that the missing piece of Cain’s fractured soul was back and appeared ready to take her place in Cain’s life.