“Take away love and our earth is a tomb.”
Robert Browning
Buzzzzzz!
Rafe bolted upright in bed. Disorientation clogged his head. Then he remembered. He slapped the alarm on the motel room’s nightstand and pulled himself to sitting. He ran a hand over his face, then scrubbed his head. Morning had come entirely too soon.
The coffee from the maker in the room was less than appealing, but a cup of black coffee, along with a hot shower, helped Rafe feel a little more human and a little less like a bear. His cell chimed.
“Baxter.”
“Well, imagine that.” Nick’s deep baritone boomed over the line. “Better be you since that’s who I called.”
“Thanks for calling me back.”
“What’d you expect after the voice mail you left me last night? Excuse me, early this morning.” The Memphis SAC cleared his throat. “You were rather cryptic.”
“I’m sorry about that.” Rafe had left the message after he left the hospital and after he’d read the notes on the Moore case.
“So, what’s this all about?”
Rafe took a deep breath. “I’m working a cold case that has . . . I believe . . . well, there’s no other way to say it, dirty agents involved.”
A thundering pause. “Did you say dirty agents?”
“Yes, sir. One of them is the ASAC. And I’m talking to you about this because I’m not sure if the SAC is involved or not.”
“Maybe you’d better back up and start at the beginning.”
“Yes, sir.” Rafe relayed the entire story, including all the details. He used the file for reference to make sure he didn’t miss anything.
“I can’t believe . . .”
Rafe remained silent, letting his former boss work things out.
“We can always go straight to main justice in DC.”
He could hear the hesitation in Nick’s voice. “But?”
“But that’s a long process. If I’m getting what you’re saying, this girl’s in danger until every person involved is put away.”
Leave it to Nick to cut right to the heart of the matter. “Right.”
“Have you looked into that case you found linking the judge to the dirty agents?”
“Not yet. Just got it last night. I don’t have anyone in the Little Rock office I can trust yet.”
“Fax the details to my personal fax number. I’ll get a couple of boys to look into it from here.”
“Thanks, Nick. I really appreciate it.”
“You seem to have gotten yourself into a fix over there. Guess it wouldn’t do me any good to say I told you so, huh?”
He knew Nick wouldn’t let it pass. “No. We both know why I’m here.”
“Apparently, for more than one reason.”
“Yeah.” Rafe studied the photograph of Remington. How had he missed that she was Bella? Now that he knew, he could clearly see it was the same person. “And you’re okay with me bringing the witness in to the Memphis office? It won’t cause problems?”
“Oh, it’ll cause some problems, but if Alphonse Jackson isn’t involved, he’ll understand. And if he is . . . well, we won’t care what he thinks at that point.”
“I’m grateful to you, man.” Rafe released the tension in his shoulders. “I don’t know when she’ll be released from the hospital, but I’ll call you before we head in.”
“Fax me that info ASAP. We’ll start on that.”
“On its way as soon as I get off the phone. Thanks again.”
Nick grunted before disconnecting the call.
Rafe glanced out the window across the parking lot. Hartlock’s car was parked in front of their motel room. He shrugged off the urge to storm over there and beat on the door, just to see if he’d hit Devane. The hospital reported no gunshot wounds in the ER last night. Rafe shook his head. He’d been so sure he’d hit him.
He grabbed the Cason Moore file and his jacket, then rushed out the door and strode to the motel’s office. A chilly fog-like density hovered low.
A blast of forced heat slammed him when he opened the office door. Daisy was on duty, allowing him to use the fax machine at no charge, even though it was long distance and against policy, as she was quick to point out. Still no sign of life from Hartlock and Devane’s room. Their car still sat unmoved outside. It didn’t matter—they’d get what they deserved. Rafe got behind the wheel of his car, then headed to the hospital.
Simpson met him as soon as Rafe stepped off the elevator on the hospital floor. “We’re about to bring in Hartlock as a suspect in the attack on Bella.” His eyes shone with excitement. “The nurse picked him out of a photo lineup. We just got all the paperwork.”
Rafe wasn’t entirely sure what the proper protocol was when bringing in an FBI agent for questioning regarding an assault, but he was pretty sure it’d be better if he went with the police commissioner. Just in case. “Mind if I tag along?”
Simpson smiled and nodded. “Hoped you would be interested in joining us.”
“What about Remington?”
“Two of my men are guarding her and the hospital security is on full alert. I told her we were going to pick up Hartlock. She’s relieved.”
He’d like to at least say hello to her before he left, just to see for himself that she was okay this morning, but Simpson stepped into the elevator and jabbed the button to the lobby. “You can ride with me. Two other units are following us. I have a car already on-site, just to make sure they don’t leave before we get there.”
“I didn’t notice any activity when I left the motel.” Rafe followed Simpson from the elevator.
“Good. I don’t want him getting away.” Simpson slipped inside the cruiser before Rafe could even open the passenger door.
Dare he call Jackson? If he didn’t and Jackson was clean, Rafe’s head would be on the chopping block. To not give the SAC a heads-up when the ASAC was being brought in for questioning? Yeah, Rafe could kiss any hope of a promotion good-bye.
On the other hand, if Jackson was involved, calling him in advance would give him time to warn Hartlock. It was a catch-22 in the worst kind of way.
Or the best opportunity.
Rafe pulled out his cell phone and flipped it open. “Simpson, I need to call Jackson and tell him we’re about to pick up Hartlock.”
“What are you doing? He’ll warn him.”
Rafe nodded. “If he does, then we know for a fact he’s involved in all this. Don’t you see? This is one safe way to learn if we can trust him about Remington’s story.”
One slight measure he’d use to help keep her safe.
Why hadn’t Hayden called her yet? And where was Rafe?
Bella sat on the edge of the hospital bed. She’d already taken a shower, having been set free of the IV after the bag of antibiotics had emptied. The morning nurse assured her the doctor would be by any minute for his morning rounds.
She planned to be discharged soon. No matter what Dr. Benton said, she wasn’t going to stay in the hospital any longer. She felt fine. Her shoulder was pretty sore, but Rafe had already warned her about that.
Rafe.
He had haunted her dreams during the early morning hours. Bits and pieces of images: his smile, those smoldering eyes of his, the set of his jaw, the broadness of his shoulders. She’d faded in and out of reality and dreamland, never really sure which was which. The result was her road map eyes and restless irritation.
The hospital door swung open and Ardy rushed to her side. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. Hayden just told me about you this morning.” She smoothed Bella’s hair. “I can’t believe you were shot. I already gave my son a good talking-to for not telling me about this last night. I could’ve stayed with you. And then to have to go through such a brouhaha to get in your room . . .” She stood back and stared at Bella’s bandaged shoulder. “Oh, honey. I just can’t believe this.”
“It hardly hurts anymore.” Hayden probably hadn’t told Ardy earlier to save Bella from this overzealous attention. She’d have to remember to hug him for it later.
“But shot?!” Ardy shook her head. “I just don’t know what Hopewell’s coming to. Shot, in your own home.”
“I’m going to be fine.”
“Hayden said they have a suspect and will be picking him up this morning. Have you heard if they’ve done that yet?”
Ah, so that’s why he’d told Ardy . . . so she could babysit Bella while Hayden picked up Hartlock. Sneaky man that he was. “I haven’t heard.”
The door whooshed open before Ardy could further comment. The doctor, with a new nurse trailing him, went straight to the computer at her bedside. “Good morning.”
Click-click-click. “Looks like you had an uneventful rest of the night after your excitement.”
“Yes.”
Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. “Your stats are good. Bloodwork from this morning gives no indication of infection.”
Tap-tap-tap. Tap. Tap. “Everything looks great.” He finally turned from the computer and addressed her. “Let’s take a look, shall we?” He faced Ardy.
The nurse scooted Ardy toward the door. “You’ll be allowed back in after the doctor completes his exam.”
Dr. Benton eased the bandage back, then peered over the rim of his glasses. He secured the bandage back in place, then did the same thing on the back of her shoulder. “Well, Miss Miller, everything looks like it should. How’re you feeling?” He pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.
“Fine. Ready to go home.”
“Are you sure? You might prefer staying another night.”
“No. Please. I’d really like to go home.”
He scribbled on a pad of paper the nurse passed him. “Well, it seems you have a ride home, so you’re free to leave.” He handed the nurse the papers, then patted Bella’s right hand. “The nurse will bring you the discharge papers and your prescriptions. If you have any problems, call your family doctor.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded and left, the nurse on his heels.
Bella stepped to the floor. A sensation of wooziness caused her to sway. Ardy rushed to her side and balanced her. “Honey, should I call that doctor back?”
“No. I’m fine. It’s a side effect of the pain medications.” She straightened, giving her equilibrium a chance to right itself. “I’m being discharged. I wonder where my clothes are.”
“You just sit down. I’ll find your clothes.” Ardy helped her sit in the chair Rafe and Hayden had taken turns occupying throughout most of last night. She shuffled into the bathroom, making odd noises.
Bella rested her head against the side of the bed, more tired than she’d realized. But she wasn’t going to stay here.
“I found these, but no shirt.” Ardy laid the sweatpants on the foot of the bed. “Your shoes are right here. Don’t see any socks.”
“I have my socks on.” They would’ve had to cut her shirt and bra off to treat her wound. Lovely. She stood, wobbling again. “Can you help me get the pants on?”
“Sure, hon. No problem.”
Between the two of them, Bella had her sweatpants, socks, and shoes on when the nurse arrived with her discharge papers and prescriptions. She went over the wound care instructions, then handed the paperwork to Ardy before staring back at Bella. “Let me get you a shirt. We have plenty of scrubs left around here.”
“Thank you.” Bella stared at the clock on the wall.
Ten o’clock. Plenty of time for Hayden and the other officers to make it to the motel. Maybe she’d hear something soon.
And where was Rafe?
Bam! Bam! Bam!
“Police, open up!” Hayden kept his hand on the butt of his gun. “Agents Hartlock and Devane, Hopewell Police. Open the door.”
No response.
Hayden knocked again, even harder than before. “Agents Hartlock and Devane?”
Silence save for the shifting of nervous police officers.
Hayden nodded at the officer who held a master room key, given to them by the young woman named Daisy at the front desk. He inserted the key and turned the knob, then pushed in the door and flattened himself against the wall.
Rafe moved past Hayden and marched into the empty room. “They’re gone.”
Officers checked the small bathroom area, then returned to Hayden. “Nothing.”
“But their car is still outside.” Hayden glanced around the parking lot. “Bob, take two men and walk to the diner. See if they’re out having breakfast.” He nodded at the rookie officer just hired three months ago. “Call in a BOLO on both agents.”
Rafe exited the bathroom area, carrying a trash can. “Look here.”
Hayden glanced inside to find wadded papers, but at the bottom, gauze with dried blood. “Devane?”
“I knew I’d hit him.”
“Hey,” Hayden hollered after the cop he’d just spoken to.
The rookie faced him. “Yes, sir?”
“Get the crime-scene kit. There are some items here to be bagged for evidence.” And he’d have to take photographs and preserve as much as possible in the event this went to trial. “Everyone else, vacate the room immediately.”
Hayden couldn’t deny the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he ordered his men about, collecting evidence and documenting. He turned back to Rafe. “We don’t have a warrant on the vehicle, but I’ve called in a request for that, given what we’ve found here. We should get that back soon.”
Rafe nodded, his face grave as he stared at the car.
“What?”
“I just now noticed the car’s plates.” He pointed.
Hayden looked. Rental car plates. Not good. Hartlock and Devane were covering their tracks.
“Have you heard from your men on foot?” Rafe’s voice sounded lighter than normal. “Have they found Hartlock or Devane yet?”
Hayden radioed to Bob Travis. “Any sign of them?” He deliberately didn’t say names or other identifying words on the off chance the agents had access to a scanner and were monitoring.
“No, sir. No one at the diner has seen them either.”
Hayden let out a sigh. “Head on back, then. Keep an eye out on your way back. Over.”
“Copy that. Out.”
Hayden turned back to Rafe. “Not a sign. I guess we don’t know for certain now if your SAC tried to warn them or not.”
“True. That could be why they’re staying away. However, they were gone long before I called Jackson, and they left their car then. Something’s up.” Rafe rubbed his jaw.
“What’re you thinking?”
“Where’d they go on foot, and why?”
Hayden shrugged. Then his blood went cold as he locked stares with Rafe.
They both spoke at the same time—
“Bella!”
“Remington!”