Chapter Sixteen

“Karl!” Callie gasped.

B.J. heard her voice as he came through the back door, and looked for some place to hide Callie in the event of a firefight or another kidnap attempt. The only viable alternative was the tunnel in the back. While agents shouted, they scrambled to cover the windows.

“Where are the narcos?” someone asked.

“We have to assume they’re not far behind.” Fitzgerald laid a hand on an agent’s shoulder and pointed to an open space.

“Do you think that Expedition is armored?” Leo strapped on his body armor.

“If it’s narco, it is,” one of the Mexican police officers said.

“Carleton, what do you know about this yahoo?” Fitzgerald turned the chaos into pre-mission planning.

B.J. respected Ron Fitzgerald and was relieved to see him as commander. “Abbott is a wild card. He’s growing more and more unpredictable.”

“And he’s been looking for the two of you.” Fitzgerald looked over his reading glasses and pulled them off.

“He has delusions of running away with Callie and setting up house with the help of narco money.” With fierce eyes, B.J. put his hands on his hips.

Fitzgerald looked at Callie and gave her a sympathetic nod. “We can’t have that.”

“Since he’s looking for us, would he talk to us?” Callie asked.

“Us? Callie, you’re not part of this plan. Leo, isn’t there a backup plan to get her out of here?”

“There is a car in the cul-de-sac. We can go now if you think we can get out.”

“Conversation is a good idea, though.” Fitzgerald always tried to negotiate first. “Can we make contact before any narcos arrive?”

“He would have to get our number.” Leo met B.J.’s gaze.

“What’s worked before?” Callie refused to look at B.J.

“Low-tech works. Write the number on a yellow pad or a piece of cardboard in big enough numbers that he can see from a distance.” B.J. spotted an agent listening in and nodded.

The agent scurried off.

“The gate is half wood, half iron bars. The opening is low enough for someone to stand there with the sign,” an agent stationed at the window called.

“Who do we send out with the sign?” Leo looked around.

“The one who means the most to him.” Callie straightened. “Let me go.”

No, B.J. raged.

“Yeah. The one he’s least likely to shoot!” Leo agreed.

Don’t do it.

“Has someone found a yellow pad?” Callie eagerly grabbed the pad out of the agent’s hand. It already had a number written on it.

B.J. pulled her aside and leaned close to her face. “Callie! Don’t do this. Let someone else do this.”

“Don’t worry. I want to stop him as much as you do.” She lifted her chin and stepped away from his grip. But he saw the flare of fear in her eyes.

“If you’re determined to do this, I’ll be right there with you.”

B.J. rummaged in the box containing body armor and grabbed one for her and one for himself. He thrust the vest at her, and a female agent came over to help her put it on.

As the female agent checked Callie’s vest, Callie locked her gaze on him, and he understood what was going on in her mind. She didn’t think Abbott would shoot her. She was protecting B.J. and anyone else who attempted to make contact with Abbott, but she underestimated Abbott’s desperation. Feeling like his world was spinning out of control, B.J. double-checked Callie’s vest himself.

She put her hand on his, and this time, she was the composed one. “It’s going to be okay. That’s what you’re always telling me.”

“This is my world, not yours. You don’t have training.” He worked his jaw to put his emotions in the box, but this time the feelings wouldn’t go in there.

Fitzgerald clapped him on the shoulder. “Son, I wouldn’t do this if I thought she would get hurt. The gate will protect her lower body. Her torso is protected by the armor. I don’t think Abbott is good enough to get off a head shot through vertical gates.” Fitzgerald leaned in closer. “Don’t make her more nervous.” Fitzgerald was right. B.J. was fighting his own history. Moira had been shot in the head by a shooter too close to miss, and that wasn’t like this time.

When B.J. looked up, he nodded. “I’m leading backup.”

“Good man.” Fitzgerald tightened the hand on B.J.’s shoulder.

Leo handed B.J. a Glock. B.J. yanked on his vest and snatched an earpiece. Callie approached him with the yellow pad in her hands. As he checked everything again, he noticed she’d put her white jacket on over her vest.

“Okay, let’s do this.” For one brief moment he held on to her shoulders, then he gave her a little smile and let go. He took a deep breath. He had a job to do, perhaps the most important job of his life.

Fitzgerald walked Callie to the door. “Young lady, here’s what’s going to happen…”

B.J. didn’t stick around to hear her directions. By God, if he couldn’t change her mind, he would be right beside her at the gate. He was out the door and into the small passage that connected the backyard to the front courtyard. They could follow the wall without Abbott ever seeing them.

He saw Leo leading the group on the other side of the fence. When everyone was in place, he asked Leo in a sign language they used if he had eyes on Abbott. Leo nodded.

B.J. heard the front door open. His heart rate soared higher than it ever had during an apprehension. The female agent who helped Callie with her vest was by Callie’s side. He double- and triple-checked to see that all his people were ready, and he used his vantage point to look down the street. No narcos yet.

He turned to check Callie’s progress. She looked like a nervous bride. Although he didn’t like that image, he couldn’t think of another one.

Then she looked at him, lifted her chin, and turned to walk across the courtyard to the gate. “Karl?”

The car door clicked. “Callie, what the hell?”

“Karl, we need to talk. Can you see the number?” She held up the yellow pad.

“We don’t need to talk. You just come out that gate. I got everything ready for you and me.” He stood, shielded by the driver’s side door.

“It’s not that simple, Karl. I don’t feel safe. So call, okay? Can you see the number?” The yellow pad trembled.

“Those damned ATF agents have turned you against me, haven’t they? They don’t know me like you do. Wait, Callie, don’t go. I didn’t get the number.” Karl almost moved into the clear, then jerked back behind the armored door.

She stopped inching backward. She leaned in B.J.’s direction, but she didn’t look at him. “I don’t think I can do this anymore.”

“You’re doing great.” His teeth clenched.

She changed the hand holding up the pad and wiped the other on her jeans. B.J. looked around Callie to catch Leo’s eye. From his position on the other side of the gate, Leo could see Abbott. What was taking so long? Leo did a writing motion, then hands up. Abbott couldn’t find a pen.

“Toss it to him.” B.J pantomimed a Frisbee toss.

Callie put her hand between two iron bars and there was a splat. Then she collapsed.

“Callie. Goddamn it!” Karl exploded.

B.J. only had seconds to get her out of harm’s way. He grabbed her arm. “C’mon, Callie. Move it!” With adrenaline-powered strength, he pulled her away from the wooden gate to a more solid section of the concrete fence and covered her with his body.

A spray of bullets splintered the wood. Gunfire erupted as the team drove Abbott back into the Expedition.

“Did he just shoot at me?” Callie tried to see around B.J., her anger getting her feet working.

“Get back to the house. That was posturing.” B.J. still had an arm around her shoulders, firmly guiding her wobbly steps.

“Posturing? He shot at me.” Callie still looked over her shoulder.

“Yeah, and he’ll call you. We need to get inside.” B.J. practically carried her inside to safety.

Fitzgerald was on the phone and gave them the thumbs-up. “She’s a bit shaken up. You did shoot at her.”

B.J. helped her to a barstool at the breakfast bar, then high-fived a few team members. He flopped into a chair beside her and yanked out the earpiece.

Fitzgerald walked toward them, talking into the phone. Karl yammered loudly enough for B.J. to hear. He wanted to jump through the phone and strangle the murdering piece of trash. Then Fitzgerald held out the phone to Callie, and B.J. clenched his fists to keep from knocking it out of her hands. This was a case, he reminded himself, and he was too close. He could jeopardize everything, but all he could think of was keeping her safe.

Callie reached for the phone, and she fussed. “Karl? You shot at me. That’s a funny way to show love.”

Whatever his response, she rolled her eyes. “Sure. I remember algebra. I almost flunked, because you wouldn’t leave me alone.”

Fitzgerald gave her a signal.

“So, Karl, here’s the deal. I can’t move to Mexico. No, I know it would be great, but I’d miss my family.” She went for chatty.

B.J. scowled, a bad feeling creeping down his back. Fitzgerald must have given Callie a script that would get her close to that lunatic, too close.

“If our relationship has any chance at all, you can’t ask me to leave my family. Well, I’m sorry. Plus there’s your mom.”

Who came up with this shit?

Glaring at Fitzgerald, who shook his head at him, B.J. seethed too much to stay in his chair. Callie was getting in too deep, and he had to stop her. He tapped her arm and slid his fingers across his throat to “cut.”

She shook her head as her eyes begged for his support. “Karl, here’s an idea. You could turn yourself in. Now, baby, think about it. You wouldn’t be locked up that long, and I’d wait for you.”

The chair hit the bar when B.J. jammed it with his palm. “Callie, stop.”

“No, Karl, it wasn’t him. Karl, wait. You’ve got to come in.” Eyes huge, she hunched her shoulders over the phone, her voice rising until she was yelling.

Everyone in the house watched, waited wordlessly, as she straightened. “He’s gone.”

Callie handed the phone to Fitzgerald.

“B.J., couldn’t you have waited two minutes to throw your tantrum?” Her quiet recrimination tore him apart worse than an angry one, because she was right. He was falling apart and jeopardizing the entire mission.

“You’re right. I’m too close.” B.J. sat down and stared at the floor, absorbing the reproach he heard in the murmurs in the house.

“The good news is that we have Abbott’s number.” Fitzgerald handed the phone to an agent.

“The bad news is that the narcos are here.” Leo walked in from the front.

…

Callie was still shaky from her trip out to the gate, and now this. Before B.J. could stop her, she ran to the front window to see Karl conferring with a group of paramilitary types. Horrified to find herself in a war zone, she stared at soldiers in black masks holding assault rifles.

“Leo!” B.J. hollered.

Leo pulled her away from the window. “Callie, c’mon, you’re the worst person to be by the window.”

If only she could stop this. She gazed at the agents and police officers putting themselves in danger. If good agents were killed today, it would be because Karl wanted her. Even though he tried too hard, B.J. would be one of those agents in the line of fire. Her gaze found him on the other side of the room. His face red, he pointed and leaned into Fitzgerald, spouting angry words, although she couldn’t hear them.

Callie hadn’t wanted to follow Fitzgerald’s script, and she wished she’d followed her instincts. B.J. had been humiliated in front of his colleagues. How much more could he take?

Now he was getting in deeper and deeper with Fitzgerald. B.J. puffed out his cheeks and said something else.

“That’s it. You’re outta here.” Like an umpire, Fitzgerald shouted and threw him out.

Except this wasn’t a game. As B.J. walked toward her, he put the earpiece back into his ear and handed her the plastic pouch with her documentation. “C’mon, I’m getting you out of here.”

“Why you?”

“Orders.” Of course that would be the only way B.J. would leave.

B.J. had her on the move before she could say anything to anyone. As he headed outside and across the patio, she had to run to keep up with his long, urgent stride.

Less than an hour ago, Callie had gabbed with Rick at this very spot. “Watch your head.”

“Stay behind me.” His muffled voice floated back to her.

The earthy air was cooler as they walked down the cave-like tunnel, and soon there was enough light to see carvings, names scratched on the mud walls. Javier + Sonia.

B.J. slowed down and drew his weapon. He held on to her hand and paused at the opening. Lightning-quick, he looked out and pulled back. “See that white Charger over there?”

Callie looked at him. “Seriously? We’re leaving in a white Charger?”

“What?” Between scanning the street for narcos and pulling the key out of his pocket, he probably didn’t see the joke.

“White Charger? Symbolism?”

“Whatever.” He raised the key fob, and the snick of the doors unlocking echoed up the tunnel. “I’ll go first. If it’s clear, I’ll signal you.”

Callie nodded and put her hand on her knee to be ready to run. B.J. leaned out then rushed toward the Charger. Halfway between the tunnel and the car he motioned. She all but ran to the passenger door. Door closed, their panting was the only sound.

“What’s wrong with this picture?” B.J. narrowed his eyes, shaking his head as he looked down the street.

Callie scanned the street as well. Nothing moved. No one was out. “It’s hard to tell a war is breaking out one street over.”

“Weird, huh. Sit in the floorboard.” His hand brushed her leg as he helped her adjust the seat.

After his blowup over the phone call, she could tell he cared about her. Little accidental touches between them now tortured her with tantalizing hints of what would never be. As she pushed the seat as far back as it would go, she folded herself in the floor and tried to stay out of his reach.

“Ah, there they are.” His mild-mannered tone did nothing to calm her heart.

Blind as she was, dread strangled her as she imagined the worst. “What are they doing?”

He made a left turn. He spoke into his wrist. “Be advised. Street is blocked. I count five vehicles outside the cul-de-sac.”

“Roger.”

Callie ducked her head even though the narcos couldn’t see her from her position. If five vehicles each carried four armed narcos that sounded like a lot of guns.

“You okay down there?”

“What’s happening?”

“I’m going to turn, and then you can get up.”

“No, I mean—” Wedged in as she was, she felt the turn without her body moving an inch. She crawled into the seat to glance out the back windshield. There were no black SUVs screaming after them, so she plopped into the seat and buckled her seat belt.

“Keep an eye on this for me.” He handed her a phone.

“Expecting a call?” She tried to make a joke.

“Don’t you know not to text and drive?”

Her head turned sharply so she could look at him. “B.J. Carleton, did you just make a joke?”

“What makes you think that was a joke? Hold on.” B.J. swerved to miss a taxi, so Callie pointed out the Bridge of the Americas sign. If they didn’t hit traffic, they’d be there in about fifteen minutes.

“This was too easy.” All traces of humor gone, B.J.’s lips thinned.

“I’ll settle for easy.”

Callie jumped when the phone rang, and she put it on speaker.

Fitzgerald’s voice was easily recognizable. “The narcos left. They never fired a shot. It’s the damnedest thing.”

“Rick said narco support could be soft. Where’s Abbott?”

“He left and the narcos followed.”

A text popped up and Callie gasped as she read Rick’s message to B.J.

U R made.

B.J. swore and sped up, dodging traffic where he could. “We’re going to need backup at the bridge.”

The plaza for the border crossing was just up ahead, and the checkpoint was busy, lines stretching with weekend traffic. He got in the lane that said “temporary passes” and two cars pulled in behind him. He craned his neck to scan out the back window.

“Hiding in plain sight.” Callie sighed in relief.

“Let’s hope so.”

They were almost safe. Another few minutes and everything would be done, including the adventure of her and B.J. With Karl’s escape, there wouldn’t be a trial or the excuse to see him. So the time in this line was the last time she would spend with B.J. For once, she was speechless.

“Callie, I expect you to have a great life. I’ll read about you discovering an original Declaration of Independence or something great.” B.J. stared straight ahead with a chokehold on the steering wheel, his jaw clenching.

Words filtered through her mind in abundance. We can work this out. Don’t leave me. I love you. But nothing came out of her mouth.

A rap on Callie’s window made her jump. A large gun barrel pointed at her face.