Scott’s fishing lure plopped as it landed on the smooth surface of the lake, sending out circular ripples in the water. He stood along the rocky shore under a large oak and reeled his line back in rhythmic jerks. The sun dipped lower behind the tree line. Another hour until sunset. Zach was due to show up any minute.
The deal to free Zach and enlist his help as an informant hadn’t come easily, but Scott had refused to give up until he’d convinced the chain of command that he needed someone on the inside. The sooner he locked Mole away, the better. No one was safe with him walking the streets. Scott flicked his wrist to cast again.
Maddie could never know the scope of his undercover work or the dangers involved. She had a right to be pissed after that kiss last night. He’d lost control and kissed her back. Couldn’t help himself. She’d ignited an inferno when her tongue had slid into his mouth.
She’d been the last woman he’d kissed, and that had been a hell of a long time ago. His body had reacted before his mind engaged. He couldn’t let that happen again. The pain on her face when he’d broken their kiss haunted him. She probably thought he was playing games with her, messing with her head and heart. Guilt gnawed at him, but what mattered most was protecting her.
His line tugged, and he yanked his rod. The lure and empty hook broke the water surface.
Missed it. Too eager. He needed to be more patient. At many things.
Footsteps rustled through the brush behind him, and Zach emerged from the woods, fishing pole in hand. His gaze darted around the perimeter of the lake. “Hey, Scott.”
Scott nodded. “It’s okay. No one’s around. That’s why I picked this place.” He tapped a Styrofoam cup of worms with his foot. “Try some live bait. I’m using a lure. One way or another, we’ll set a hook.”
Zach raised an eyebrow. A hint of a smile teased the corners of his lips. Out of the orange jumpsuit, in jeans and a T-shirt, he could almost pass for relaxed. But Scott knew too well the telltale signs of a person on high alert.
After picking up the cup, Zach pulled out a worm and struggled to bait the hook. He whipped the rod, plunking the bait a couple of feet out.
Clearly, he hadn’t been fishing much.
He cast again. “I think I have an in with this guy, Eric, who works for Mole. He’s looking for someone to boost crystal sales. I convinced him I had connections. Eric said he was going to talk to his boss about me. Thinks it might impress him that he found someone to bring in on the operation.”
“It might. This town is small. Not a lot of criminals to recruit.” Scott reeled in his line. “Did you meet Eric or just talk to him?”
“We met.” Zach shook his head. “He’s a fuck-up. I’m guessing he uses. The guy couldn’t focus on anything.”
Sounded familiar. “What’s Eric’s last name?”
“He never said.”
Scott yanked some green, slimy weeds off his lure and cast again. “I ran into an Eric at the development site. Probably the same guy. Can’t lie for his life, and is jumpier than a grasshopper in a birdcage?”
Zach snorted. “Yup. Gotta be him.”
“Must be slim pickings if Mole’s using Wilson in his operation.”
“Wilson?” Zach’s hand froze on the rod. He slapped a palm to his forehead. “Are you shitting me? Eric Wilson? This is the asshole Nikki’s living with?”
“Whoa. What?” Scott whipped his head around to face Zach. “Your sister is involved with Eric?”
Zach lowered his hand. His nostrils flared. “She told me his name once, but I never met the guy since I was in prison. They’ve been together for a while. I had no idea the jerk was a meth head. What the hell, Nikki?”
This threw a wrench into things. Scott plucked his line out of the water and set the handle of the rod on the ground. He rubbed his jaw. “If this is too complicated, I’ll understand your need to bail.”
“Fuck.” Zach reeled his line in fast and then cast it out hard. “No, I’ll handle it. I just can’t believe she’s with him. I left her in the lurch, and this is what she ended up with. She doesn’t do drugs and never hung around anyone who did. I don’t get it.”
Scott checked his lure and tossed the line back out. “I take it Eric doesn’t know you’re Nikki’s brother?”
“No. Last time we discussed Eric, she admitted she never told him about me. I figured she was embarrassed to have a brother in jail. Now, I wonder if it’s because she never wanted us to meet.”
“This is a small town. Eventually, Eric’s gonna find out she’s your sister.”
Zach turned to Scott and looked him in the eyes. “I won’t let it affect what I have to do. Nikki doesn’t know I’m out yet. I’ll talk to her and make sure she keeps her distance from me. I’d planned to anyway, for her own safety.”
The guy was a straight shooter. Nothing but honesty and determination on his face. “All right. I’ll let you handle the situation.”
“I won’t let you down.” Zach went back to cranking his reel.
Scott nodded. “In the meantime, I’m working an angle to make Mole think I could be on the take. If anything comes up about me, jump on it. In fact, if anyone does see us here together, it could corroborate that idea.”
“Okay.”
“Anything else we need to discuss?” Scott kept his gaze on the lake.
“No. Except I…uh…wanted to thank you.”
“Hey, you’re earning this. You don’t need to thank me.” Shit. The kid deserved the break.
“Yeah, well, you coulda left me to fend for myself finding a place to live. The condo I’m in rocks.”
Warmth spread through Scott’s chest. Zach was easy to like. Scott had arranged with the owner to pay a portion of the rent without Zach knowing about it. He thought the police were picking up part of the tab while he acted as an informant.
Things might have been different for Justin if someone had stepped up to help him. Maybe he’d been in a tough spot, like Zach. Arrested and no one around to bail him out. Scott was tired of holding everyone at a distance, but he couldn’t afford to be Zach’s friend. He had to keep it professional. Mole used friends of his enemies as leverage.
Scott shrugged. “You have to look legit. If you were slumming, they wouldn’t buy you had money or connections.”
“Makes sense.” Zach’s bait surfaced, and he cast again. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to help you nail Mole. Then, I’ll work on getting Nikki away from Eric. She needs me. I failed her once. Not again, ya know?”
“Yeah, I do.” Scott’s gut clenched. Zach’s tortured eyes haunted him. Like looking into his own soul. Only Zach had lived with his guilt for four years and had plenty of downtime to think about it.
At least Scott had been immersed in cartel cases. If he’d had to stare at a cell wall and face his failure to save his brother every day, he’d have gone crazy. Zach was one tough dude. He’d need to be for what lay ahead. Tension squeezed Scott’s ribs. He’d better not fuck this up and get him hurt.
Zach’s rod bowed, and the reel spun fast, taking line with it. “Holy shit. What do I do?”
Scott pointed to the reel. “Turn the knob to tighten the drag. When the fish stops pulling, crank fast and keep the rod tip up.”
A quick study, Zach reeled when the line slackened and held steady when it went taut. At last, the fish surfaced with a frothy splash, and Zach landed it on the bank. It flopped wildly on the sand and rocks.
“Whoa. He’s huge.” Wide-eyed, he stared down at the fish.
Scott stabbed a couple of fingers behind the gill plate to hold it up. “It’s a lake trout. Biggest one I’ve ever seen.”
Zach grinned. The sheer joy and excitement that lit his face ripped right through Scott’s heart. Took him back to the first time he’d fished with Justin, and he’d caught a largemouth bass. Same as Zach, Justin had followed his instructions. He had hooted when Scott netted the fish and brought him in the boat. Now, Zach stood beside Scott with the same look on his face.
“We make a good team.” Zach continued to admire the fish.
“You work well under pressure.”
A trickle of blood dripped from where the hook caught under the gill. Zach’s smile fell. “You gonna let him go? I mean, I don’t want to cook him or anything.”
The guy had a soft spot. He’d have to be careful not to show it. Scott nodded, removed the hook, and bent to gently place the fish back in the water. When he let go, the trout’s tail thrashed as it swam away.
Scott wiped his hands on his jeans and faced Zach. “When we catch the one we’re after, we won’t be letting him off the hook. You with me?”
Zach’s eyes steeled. “Damn straight.”
“It’ll be dark soon. Better pack it up.” Scott picked up his rod and the cup of worms. “Let me know when you hear from Eric.”
“I will.” Zach took the worm off the hook and tossed it into the water. “Thanks again. For…everything. This sure beats the shit out of sitting in a dark cell.” He glanced at the sky. The first streaks of orange and pink laced the clouds. “Think I’ll hang here for a few more minutes. I’ll be in touch.”
“Will do.” Scott made his way through the woods and back to his car. His stomach growled, and he couldn’t help but smile. No fish for dinner tonight. Looked like it would be carryout from O’Leary’s. He called in an order and headed to the pub.
When he pulled into the lot, he spotted Maddie’s car. Of course. Just his luck. Put a pickle next to his shit sandwich and serve it up. Maybe she’d be at a table in the back, and he could grab his order at the bar and leave without seeing her.
He opened the door to an eerie silence. His senses went on high alert as his gaze shot around the room. Everyone stared at the bar where Maddie stood in front of Eric, who had a hand to his face covered in blood.
He lunged at Maddie. She dodged him.
A man at a nearby table stood and took a step toward Eric.
Scott shouted, “Police. Nobody move!”
The crowd turned as one to stare at him. Except Eric. He lunged for Maddie again, who dodged out of the way.
Scott sprinted across the room and grabbed Eric’s arm, pinned it behind his back, and put him in a chokehold. He flexed his bicep against Eric’s throat causing him to gasp for air. “I said freeze.”
Wheezing and spitting blood, Eric waved at Maddie, who stood with her hands on her hips glaring at him. He rasped, “I’m fucking pressing charges. Bitch punched me.”
Scott clenched his jaw. Zach had every reason to be concerned about this asshole living with his sister. Now what-the-fuck trouble had Maddie gotten herself into? “We’re going outside.” Scott pointed to her. “You stay here. I’ll be back.”
Eric tried to wriggle out of his grasp. “I got rights. I’m coming after you, whore. I’ll kill—”
“Threatening her in front of an officer is a really bad idea.” Scott manhandled him through the bar and out the front door. He shoved him against the brick wall and kicked his legs out, spread-eagled.
Scott patted him down and snagged a bag of weed out of Eric’s back pocket. “Your night just got worse.”
“Hey, that’s not enough for you to do crap with. Why aren’t you arresting the bitch in there? She’s the one who started this.”
“I’ll wait to hear her side of the story. I know what I just saw.” Scott ground his molars. The first time he’d met Eric, the guy had mouthed off about some bitch lying. Now he’d threatened Maddie. What Scott wouldn’t give to be able to deck the prick right there. He spun Eric around.
Blood oozed from his nose. He ran his sleeve along it.
“Remember when I told you I make up my own rules?” Scott leaned in.
Eric swallowed.
Good. He’d intimidated him. Now, instead of going full out Angel-of-Death on the guy, he had to keep his end game in the crosshairs. Even though he could have killed the maggot ten different ways with a stirring straw in the bar, he needed to keep his cover as a small-town cop, and a corruptible one. He forced himself to stay in DEA mode. Detach from emotion. Handle the situation and keep Maddie safe at the same time.
“Here’s the deal. You go after Maddie or any other woman, and I’ll have this police force so far up your ass you won’t shit for a month.” He shook Eric. “You understand? Because I’m betting your boss doesn’t want a lot of police attention.”
Eric gave a jerky nod.
Scott held up the bag of weed. “And this?” He glanced around as if to make sure no one was looking. “It’s gonna cost you fifty for me to forget I found it.”
Eric’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait. You saying—”
“I’m not fucking saying anything. And you’d better not either.” Scott rubbed his fingers together, making the universal signal for money. “I’m waiting.”
Eric wiped his mouth, reached into his pocket, and pulled out three twenties. He slipped them into Scott’s hand and cocked his head.
Scott snickered. “I don’t make change. Now get the fuck out of my sight.”
Eric took a few steps toward the parking lot and looked back. Scott placed his hands on his hips, stance wide. He waited for Eric to drive away and then heaved a sigh.
Good thing Scott had shown up when he did. He might not have been able to control himself if that dickhead had hurt Maddie. Zach would have his hands full hiding his anger while he dealt with Eric. The guy could infuriate Mother Teresa.
And Maddie kept ending up in dangerous situations. How she’d survived this long was a mystery.
The woman made him crazy and had added more to his already-long day. Hungry and tired, he’d now need to write up a report on the incident. At least about what had happened inside. His discussion with Eric would stay off the record.
Scott went back inside the pub. Maddie squatted on her hands and knees in front of the bar, blotting the floor with cocktail napkins. The place quieted as people turned to look at him. Like it or not, he had to act like he was there to do his job. That meant following procedure.
The bartender came out from the kitchen with a mop. “I told you I had this, Maddie.”
“Well, I caused the mess, so—”
“I need to speak with you, Ms. Cooper. Outside, please,” Scott said.
Maddie grimaced and stood. “Can’t we talk in here?”
The last strand of his patience snapped. “No.” He pointed to the door. “Outside. Now.”
She blew out a breath, but marched to the exit. After the door closed behind them, he turned to her. “What the hell were you thinking in there?”
Maddie jutted her chin up. “Aren’t you going to ask what happened, Detective Fisher, since we’re going by last names now?”
Damn, she smacked the head of the rattlesnake in him. “You’re on thin ice. Drop the attitude.”
She pressed her lips together and tapped her foot on the concrete.
“Why’d you punch Eric?”
She met his gaze. “The bastard beat up Nikki. She has no one to stand up for her.”
Scott’s shoulders stiffened. They needed a special hell for men who hit women. “Is she okay?”
“I think so. Bruised and bleeding, but refused to go to the hospital.”
Shit. Zach might not handle this well when he found out. Scott would make damn sure Eric paid for laying his hands on that sweet girl. He was right up there with Mole now. “Why didn’t she call the police?”
“She’s scared of Eric. Thought he’d come after her.”
“So, you decided it was up to you to take him on?”
She shrugged. “I made him bleed.”
Scott placed his hands on her shoulders to get her attention. Now she was fucking with Mole’s guy, playing too close to the fire. “This isn’t a joke, Maddie. He could have really hurt you.”
“No kidding. You should see Nikki’s face.”
Defiant, strong, full of passion. Maddie never backed down. Her cheeks flushed. The sweet scent of apples wafted up from her hair. His hands turned hot over the thin fabric of her blouse. He warred with himself over whether to lock her up for her own safety or kiss her senseless. Before he did either, he let go and took a step back.
She wouldn’t listen to reason in her current state. At the same time, he couldn’t fault her for defending a friend. He sighed. “Go home. I have work to do.”
“Go home? Again?” She crossed her arms. “That’s all you seem to tell me to do. Don’t I need a lawyer or something?”
“No. I’ll handle it.”
“I don’t want you to do me any favors. I’ll—”
“Damn it, Maddie. I said I’d handle it. Now, go home.”
She closed her mouth and glared at him.
He’d had enough for one day. He held up his hands. “I know. You don’t like to be told what to do. Too bad. Please, leave, so I can finish up here.”
He strode to the door, yanked it open, and left Maddie in the lot.
The room went quiet once again when he walked in.
“Can I have your attention, please?” He waited a beat until all eyes were on him. “Did anyone see anything tonight they’d like to go on record and report?” As he ambled through the room, people shook their heads and looked away. He waved a hand. “Okay, then. Thanks.”
As he went to the bar to pick up his carryout order, some of the regulars nodded at him. The air in the room changed. Gone were the hostile looks. The noise level returned to normal.
The bartender disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a box. Scott reached for his wallet, but the server held up a hand and smiled. “This one’s on the house.”
Yeah, the climate sure had changed. Scott thanked him and took the food. He’d planned to stop over at Maddie’s to get his spare key back, but that could wait. She’d still be pissed at him for telling her to go home. In their current states, one of them might burst into flames if they got together.
Tomorrow would be soon enough to have words with her about her actions.
And she’d damn well better listen.