CHAPTER 35

Caleb watched the lighted numbers descend. What had he just done? This was not business as usual. By the time the elevator doors had opened and he stepped into the well-lit lobby of the Rutherford, he had replayed the last few minutes in his mind over and over again.

There was no doubt. He had crossed the line. He had made this case personal. And it could cost him everything. Even the case.

He cradled the back of his neck with his hand. Things had just changed between him and Danni. Between him and his confidential informant.

What would he tell Ridge if he found out? Hadn’t his supervisor already known that things were going in the wrong direction? He had seen it coming when he had thought about taking Caleb off the job a few weeks ago.

Am I really that transparent? And out of control? An agent has to be in control at all times or someone gets hurt. The case could suffer, would suffer, if he didn’t get ahold of himself.

This wasn’t about him. It was about serving justice to the jerks who had killed Jonathan. Or, if not Jonathan, hundreds of innocent kids just like him. The thought of losing that opportunity was unacceptable. Evans, Ramirez, Roman, and the man who attacked Danni tonight. All of them. They had to be locked away for a long time. If not forever. They had already caused too much heartache.

Caleb had collected files on local teens for years. Good kids who had stumbled into the drug scene and never returned. Some had been hooked, hopelessly, on meth or heroin and sold everything but their souls—sometimes even that—to get their daily fix. Others’ lives had ended far too soon, if not by an overdose then by a related car accident, a shooting, or a steady decline in health.

No one was immune from falling victim to a drug dealer’s wares. The streets were unsafe because of those thugs, and he had to do everything he could to stop them. But he couldn’t do his best if he let his heart go off leash the way it had tonight.

Off-leash? He groaned. Where had that come from? Danni Kemp, and her big, goofy dog had gotten to him. Big time.

He relived the kiss again. Why had he let that happen? Because she had been willing? There was no doubt she had responded to his overture, and because of it, their relationship had taken a mutually acceptable turn. But despite the guilt and pain that hitched a ride, he wasn’t about to stop the speeding train. He just had to slow it down for the sake of the investigation. It was his job to keep everyone safe. He had to put the bad guys behind bars first.

And then he could move on with his life.

He glanced at his watch, weighing his options. He could go home and change clothes, or he could go on into the office wearing water-soaked pants and shoes. He had made the decision to drive home when his phone rang.

“Where are you?” Ridge asked.

“Downtown.”

“Get to the office as soon as you can. We have breaking news coming in.”

“What is it?” Caleb hoisted his tired body into his Chevy.

“I’ll know more by the time you get here, but it sounds like something explosive is about to go down.”

Caleb closed his eyes and prayed to God there wouldn’t be a literal fulfillment of Martin Ridge’s prophecy.

“Let’s start shooting over here, Tom.” Cassia Noelle directed her photographer to a large stack of rocks. Then she turned to Rob. “If you would, please stand here.”

Rob tugged at microscopic wrinkles in his shirt and walked to the X Cassia had drawn in the dirt, pivoting toward her and her photographer.

A satisfied sigh fell from her lips. “Perfect. This is going to look fantastic!”

Rob relaxed. In the last few days, it had become apparent that Cassia Noelle’s work was stellar. She had shown him several of her finished projects, including photos she had art directed and stories she had written. Every one of them was top notch. His cover story was going to blow the roof off his profile in Nashville. It was about time he got some respect in Music City.

He grinned.

“Great! Show those dimples.” Cassia cooed. “Keep snapping away, Tom.”

Rob switched positions and tilted his chin down. He’d watched dozens of celebrity photo shoots, many for his own artists. He had the poses down. This was going to be fun.

“Work it, baby.” Cassia knew how to get the best out of him.

He laughed and blew her a seductive kiss.

“Now do that, but for the camera.” She winked and took a step behind the photographer so Rob could react to her, but it would appear he was looking into the camera’s lens.

He threw out another kiss. This one even more impassioned. He trusted Cassia to cull out the bad shots and make him look great. Not just great but amazing. Just like she had done with her other features.

He took a break while the beautiful journalist and her photographer brainstormed more ideas for photos. This cover story would be one of the best hits he’d had in a long time. His peers in Nashville would be so—

His phone vibrated from inside his boot where he’d hidden it for the shoot. He bent to retrieve it and saw Ramirez’s number flashing on the screen. Not a convenient time.

“Hello.”

“You sound irritated, Robert.”

“It’s just not a good time—”

“If it makes you feel any better, I’m not having a good day either.”

Rob sighed. Now what?

“I’m losing my patience with that pretty little brunette of yours in Nashville. When are you going to take care of her?”

“It has only been twenty-four hours since I talked to you last—”

“The woman seems to have nine lives.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Let’s just say one of my men found her especially attractive and became impatient.” Ramirez laughed.

“Who? What did he do?” Rob stepped farther away from Cassia and her photographer.

“Am I detecting a bit of jealousy? El comal le dijo a la olla, que tiznada estás. Perhaps you need to look in the mirror, my friend.” Ramirez clicked his tongue. “You should be more concerned about that cop she’s cozying up to. He’s digging for information.”

“It’s nothing I can’t fix when I get home.”

“Then it’s time you go home.”

“My business is on the road, you know that.”

Rob heard breathing on the other end of the phone. “Robert. Robert. Robert.” Ramirez sighed. “You need to slow down and remember who’s in charge here.”

Rob bit his tongue, pushed his pent-up frustration aside, and waited.

“Perhaps you don’t understand me. This is a matter of life and death.” He paused. “Hers and yours.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Take it any way you want to take it but get your girlfriend under control, or I’ll do it for you. And you may not approve of my method.”

Rob’s heart climbed to his throat.

“Do you understand?” Ramirez prodded for a response.

“Yes.”

“Good. And if you want my advice, it’s time to marry her.” He cleared his throat. And the air. “Now, let’s talk business.”

Rob glanced impatiently toward Cassia. Thankfully, she was preoccupied.

Ramirez continued. “Are you serious about retiring?”

“Yes.” Now Ramirez had his full attention.

“I’ve been thinking about it, and I hate to lose you. But . . .” He paused for dramatic effect. “You’ve been such a good employee. I wouldn’t feel right standing in your way.”

Could it be this easy?

Rob envisioned warm sun, sandy beaches, and palm trees swaying in the breeze. No more cramped tour busses or small towns. No more surreptitious business transactions. For that matter, no more Music Row competition. He would miss the women on the road, but . . .

“But,” Ramirez broke into Rob’s thoughts, “I need you to do one more job. A big one.”

“The bigger the better.” Rob said enthusiastically. A little extra cash before retirement would be handy.

“Good,” Ramirez said. “I’ll be back in touch soon.”

The call ended, and Rob put his phone back in his boot.

“Is everything okay?” Cassia slipped up beside him.

He smiled. “Yes. I’m ready to get back to work.”

“Great. We have one more shot over here.” Her voice drifted off as she walked away from him, hips sashaying.

Rob shifted his eyes to the ground and thought about Ramirez’s advice. Why did he need to marry Danni right away?

Cassia looked back to see if he was following her.

Of course! If he married Danni, she couldn’t testify against him. Danni didn’t know much, but she knew about the money stash. And Ramirez had said something about a cop. Danni wouldn’t do anything stupid like talk to a cop. She had proven her loyalty over and over. Still, it appeared that he needed to get back to Nashville.

He hurried to catch up with the beautiful blond reporter, to finish the work at hand and get it out of the way. Then he would schedule an unexpected visit to Music City. He would get everything worked out. His dream of retirement would soon be a reality.

Cassia directed him to stand in front of the bus, which Hank had parked in the middle of a long stretch of road.

“The Endless Road,” Cassia said, gesturing wide with her hands. “That’s what we’re calling this shot and your feature.” She smiled. “Don’t you love it?”

“Very creative.” Rob nodded and assumed a pose. But it might not be completely accurate.