Above the Law (12 page)

Shit. Why did she care? Just a few more days and she should be able to escape the whole crew for good. She shook out of her musings to find Bianca staring at her with a playful grin. “What?”

“Nothing.”

It wasn’t nothing, but she wasn’t in the mood to hear what Bianca had to say unless it was about work. “Okay, you called this little powwow. What’s up?”

“I have an idea, but Peyton’s not going to like it, so you’re going to have to talk her into it or we have to go behind her back.”

Grateful for the change in subject, Dale said, “Spill.”

“I think it’s time we stopped trying to hunt down Sergio Vargas and get him to come to us.”

“And how do you propose we do that?”

“We have the perfect bait. His sister. Sophia.”

“Lily’s mother?” When Bianca nodded, Dale smacked her hand down on the table. When several of the other patrons looked their way, she waved them off and whispered to Bianca. “Don’t let me ever hear you refer to her as bait again. Do you understand me?”

Bianca nodded, looking appropriately contrite. “Sorry. Bad choice of words, but the theory’s sound. I’ve been thinking about this a lot. We get her to go see Arturo in jail and imply that she can help him. I haven’t thought it all through, but she could tell him something to get his curiosity piqued. I have no doubt Arturo can get word to Sergio, and we’ll just follow the trail from there.”

“Except what happens when they figure out Sophia did this for us? What happens when they hack her into a bunch of tiny pieces and leave them for her daughter to find? What do you think Peyton will say then? Aren’t you forgetting that we already have one witness under protection because we tried to use her for bait and it backfired?”

“It didn’t backfire entirely—we have Arturo Vargas in custody, and it wouldn’t have happened without Carmen’s help.” Bianca referred to one of the defendants they’d managed to flip in exchange for leniency on her case. “I respect Peyton as much as you do, but she’s not in a position to make the hard calls on this. We may have to do it for her.”

Bianca had a point. Whichever way she turned, Peyton was conflicted. Her brother, her lover, her lover’s mother—all of them stood between her and the tough choices that had to be made to break this case. She trusted Peyton with her life, but Peyton’s loyalty meant they all paid a price, and that price was the inability to do what needed to be done, to hell with the cost. She knew what it was like to have something personal at stake, but her case was different. Her desire to find and punish the assholes behind Maria’s killing wasn’t a roadblock. It was a catalyst. She didn’t like going behind Peyton’s back, but the idea of catching Sergio Vargas was a strong incentive to do just that.

“Okay, but we need to come up with a solid plan since, in your own words, you haven’t quite thought this through.” Dale rubbed her forehead as she considered how to proceed. “Get me transcripts of all the phone calls Arturo has made so far, and let’s tailor something believable for Sophia to offer. Whatever we do has to be ironclad because we’re only going to get one shot at this. If it goes wrong, Sergio will go deep underground and we may never see him again.”

“I’ll have something to you by morning. Where should we meet?”

Dale drummed her fingers on the table. She’d committed to meet Lindsey and her team the next morning at Lindsey’s hotel to go over logistics for some additional interviews they planned to do later in the week. She’d rather chew nails than spend the valuable time she should be spending tracking down Vargas sitting around babysitting this fake news reporting. She couldn’t risk meeting with Bianca at the courthouse again, and if Bianca showed up at her office, Diego would be suspicious.

“You have other plans in the morning?” Bianca asked.

“Actually, I do, but I guess we could meet later.” But she didn’t want to meet later. If they were going to make this work, they needed to jump on it and fast. She cast about for a convenient solution, and bam, one appeared. “Wait a minute, I’ve got the perfect place in mind.”

*

Lindsey carried two drinks over to the table in the bar where Elaina was waiting. She didn’t have time to set the glasses on the table before Elaina started in. “What was the deal with you grilling the chief today?”

“Maybe I’m dying of boredom.” She slid into the booth and took a deep swallow of the expensive scotch she’d ordered on the network’s dime. She might be spending her days drowning in mediocrity, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the complexity of a good whisky.

“You know you’re being punished, right?” Elaina said in a know-it-all tone. “Even if Larry didn’t tell you as much, lots of people paid a price for the stunt you pulled with General Tyson.”

“Nobody pays a price when the truth is told except the ones who tried to hide it in the first place.”

“Are you really that naive? You had full access to Tyson and his team, and instead of doing the so-called substantive story you claim to be famous for, you chose to publicly embarrass him. Your little stunt shut down access for dozens of other reporters who are just trying to do their jobs.”

“Give me a break. First of all, the network you’ve sworn allegiance to couldn’t air that footage fast enough. Their ratings skyrocketed. It wasn’t until the conservative backlash started that anyone, including Larry, had any second thoughts about the piece. Tyson is a douche and I’m not a bit sorry he showed his true colors. The only thing I’m sorry about is being stuck on this job, but once I pay this penance, I’ll be back out in the field reporting on real news instead of glorified PR stunts.”

“That’s what you think this story is?”

“Don’t you? You really think any good comes from these once in a while displays of community involvement? I’d bet every penny I have in the bank that not one of the DEA or local cops believe this Take-Back day has ever accomplished anything in the real war on drugs, as if there really is such a thing. You think people are going to show up carrying bricks of cocaine or baggies of heroin? The drugs that are killing people will never stop as long as there’s money to be made. Did you know the Medellin Cartel made so much money in Colombia they couldn’t even launder it all? They had to start burying it in fields. A farmer found some by accident when he was plowing. Did he take it to the police? No, he knew it had to be Cartel money and he went straight to them out of fear for his life.”

“We’re not in Colombia, Lindsey.”

Elaina’s condescending tone set her on edge. “Not yet. Mark my words, the Texas Mexican Mafia, the Zetas—they’re all here and working hard to make sure that changes. As long as the DEA is focused on all show and no substance projects like this one, the bad guys have a fighting chance.” She raised her glass and took another deep swallow, bracing for Elaina’s next parry.

“I always liked your passion.”

Lindsey laughed at Elaina’s response to her diatribe. “Until it got in the way of your career.”

“Not fair. There’s no room in your life for anything but your work. If I’d asked you not to go back to Afghanistan, would you have stayed?”

Lindsey started to point out that Elaina hadn’t asked. Elaina had only been annoyed that she was once again disrupting their normal lives in the city where bouts of work were sandwiched between dinners and parties designed to have them rubbing elbows with the in-crowd. To Elaina these events were networking, but to her they were a chore she could hardly wait to have done. Just like this conversation. “Let’s talk about this another time. I’m exhausted.” She swirled the last bit of scotch in her glass and downed it to signal the end of the conversation. When she stood up, Elaina stepped out of the booth.

“I’m tired too. Let’s go.”

They didn’t speak in the elevator. Lindsey was certain Elaina was waiting for her to own up to her part in the demise of their relationship, but she wasn’t interested in rehashing it. They’d wanted different things, and to her, the things Elaina had wanted were too shallow to merit a second look. Maybe she’d judged too harshly. Maybe she was judging too harshly now, about Elaina, about this assignment.

When the elevator dinged, they both walked out. Elaina’s door was just down the hall from hers and they reached it first. She was several feet away before she heard Elaina cursing as she rummaged through her purse.

“Damn.”

“What’s up?”

“I can’t find my key. I bet I left it in the room.” Elaina glanced back at the elevator. “It’s such a trek back to the front desk. I don’t suppose you’d mind if I called them from your room?”

Lindsey searched Elaina’s face for any signs she was trying to ignite some past flame, but she saw nothing to cause alarm. She could suggest Elaina call the front desk from her cell, but it seemed rude to make her wait in the hall. “Sure. Come on.” She led the way a few doors down to her room and invited Elaina in. “Help yourself to the phone. I’ll be right back.”

She walked into the spacious bathroom and shut the door behind her. The bathtub was huge and featured spa jets and a basket full of essential oils. A hot bath was exactly what she needed after a stressful day. Funny how she considered the day stressful in light of the kind of days she’d been used to on her last assignment where long, hot baths were an unheard of luxury. Did burger-loving Dale take bubble baths?

The thought came out of nowhere, but she reveled in the idea of Dale Nelson, stretched out in the tub, patches of muscled flesh showing through billowing foam. Damn. Maybe she’d downed that scotch too quickly. As soon as Elaina left, she’d run herself a bath and indulge in a little harmless fantasy. She set out a towel and robe and then brushed her teeth and hair. Finally, she decided she’d allowed Elaina enough time to take care of her business.

When she walked out, she was surprised to find Elaina sitting at her desk. For a second, she was suspicious, and her gaze swept the area to see if anything was out of place before she decided she was making too much of it. Too long on the job made her question everything. She pointed at the phone. “Everything okay?”

“Yes. I’m supposed to meet them at my door, but I was waiting for you to come out so I could say good night.” Elaina stood up and stepped close. “So, I guess this is good night.”

Her voice was a whisper, and the question in her eyes signaled she was open to staying. She was a beautiful woman, no doubt, but if that were enough, they would still be a couple. Lindsey squeezed her hand, but then stepped back to put some distance between them. As she moved away, Elaina’s expression changed, but Lindsey couldn’t quite tell if it was sadness or relief. Didn’t matter either way. They wanted different things, and right now all she wanted was to be alone with her fantasies.

C
HAPTER
T
EN

The next morning, Dale strode into the lobby of the Anatole and was surprised to find Bianca already there.

“Tell me there’s somewhere nearby where I can get something to eat,” Bianca said as she approached.

“Sure. There’s one of those coffee bar things.” Dale pointed to an area around the corner from the lobby. “Over there.”

“Thank goodness. I could eat a dozen bagels right now.”

Dale walked her to the coffee bar and watched with amusement as Bianca ordered the largest cup of coffee they had and a giant bear claw. Once they sat down, she said, “Wow, you really are hungry. I didn’t mean to get in the middle of your breakfast time with this meeting. Besides, you’re early.”

Bianca took a huge bite of the pastry and washed it down with her complicated coffee concoction before responding. “I’ve been here for thirty minutes, but I didn’t want to leave the lobby in case I missed seeing you. This place is huge. I dropped my daughter off at school an hour ago. She kills me with her early morning track practice. Why did I have to spawn a sporting child instead of a bookworm like me?”

Dale did a double take. “You have a daughter? How old is she?”

Bianca smiled indulgently. “Yes, I have a daughter. She’s eleven. Just started the seventh grade—skipped a grade because she’s smart in addition to being athletic. And I don’t keep stuff like this,” she held up the remains of the pastry, “at home since it would be setting a bad example about a nutritious breakfast. Go ahead, tell me I’m too young-looking to be a mother of an almost teenager.”

“Well, you are.” Dale felt the slow creep of a blush as she paid the compliment, but her discomfort came from embarrassment, not attraction. “It’s just you’re always available whenever we need you, night or day, and…” She stopped when she realized she sounded stupid for assuming that just because Bianca had a child, she wouldn’t be able to handle anything the job threw her way.

“I know. And before you ask, I’m a single parent. I’m just lucky to have a mother who lives down the street and has nothing better to do than indulge her granddaughter’s hectic schedule. And Emma loves her
abuela
, so it’s good they get to spend so much time together, but if you try to schedule something during a track meet, watch out.”

Dale held both hands in the air. “I’m sufficiently scared. Sorry. I was just surprised, is all.”

“I better not catch you treating me differently. I spend a lot of time with my daughter, but I want Emma to grow up understanding how important a good career is, especially this one. If I have to be somewhere during family time, she’ll know I’m working to make a better life for all of us.”

“You won’t get any flack from me. Hell, I’m impressed. I’m not sure I could handle a kid on my own.”

“You could. It’s amazing what you can do for family. Did you and Maria ever talk about having children?”

The question brought Dale up short. Not because of the subject, but because hardly anyone ever talked to her about her relationship with Maria anymore—like the subject was encased in glass, too fragile for close inspection. Yet, Peyton had brought her up the other day, and here Bianca was bringing her up again.

Maria had talked about making a family once they were more settled in their careers, but settling in for both of them was more like diving in, and at the time of Maria’s death, they had been completely immersed. Someday, they’d have a family. But someday had never come, and Dale didn’t plan to dream those dreams again.