Mission Undercover

She slipped out of the office, softly closing the door to hide her escape, and crept on tiptoe down the hall, away from the bullpen, before anyone noticed. There had to be a back door or employee entrance she could use to make her escape. She spotted an exit sign bright and beckoning at the end of the hallway and felt a rush of relief flow through her. It was her way out. The voices and footsteps heading her way stopped her from rushing toward it. She slipped into an empty office, holding her breath as two officers passed by without seeing her. Once they were out of sight, she ran to the exit and pushed open the door to freedom.

She didn’t make it.

Someone grabbed her from behind, slipping his hand around her waist. “Where do you think you’re going?” he snarled, his breath hot against her ear. Panic seized her as she recognized the voice.

Mason.

He pulled her into a room that appeared to be an employee break area. Her heart sank when she realized it was empty. No one around to help her or to stop Mason. She wasn’t even sure anyone in this precinct would try.

He shoved her against the counter and Holly reached out, trying to stop herself. She bumped a bin and it fell, sending utensils crashing down.

“Please don’t.” She held out her hands to him as she’d done before. “You don’t want to do this.”

“Oh, no, you’re wrong. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

He grabbed her again, pushed her to the floor and crawled on top of her, his hand pressing into her neck.

He was going to strangle her! Holly grabbed his hand, trying to break his grasp as fear ripped through her. She had to get away from him. She kicked and pounded on him, but he easily overpowered her. When she couldn’t break his grip, she flung her hands out hoping to grab something, anything, she could use as a weapon. Her fingers locked around an object and she jammed it into Mason’s neck, only then realizing it was a plastic fork. He howled but didn’t loosen his grip. In fact, he tightened it, his face full of rage.

Holly gasped for breath that wouldn’t come. She gripped and clawed at his hands fitfully. This couldn’t be it. This couldn’t be the end. I’m not ready, God! The room seemed to spin and fade as the lack of oxygen began to affect her. She had only moments before she lost consciousness and then her life.

But it wasn’t her late husband’s face she saw in the fading light of the room. It was Blake’s...hovering over Mason...a metal chair in his hands. She realized he was really there the instant he slammed the chair into the back of Mason’s head.

His grip loosened and he slumped over, unconscious.

Holly quickly slid out from under him, fighting for each wonderful but excruciating breath. Blake grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet, then slid his arm around her waist when her knees buckled.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes probing.

She managed a nod and then a hoarse whisper. “What are you doing here?”

“Making sure you’re okay. I can see you’re not—so let’s get out of here.”

He kept his arm around her as they hurried through the exit. Her legs protested every step but she willed them to keep moving. They had to get away before Mason regained consciousness. Blake’s truck was parked at the back and he opened the door and helped her inside before running around to the driver’s side and getting in. A moment later they were speeding away.

She glanced at Blake, awestruck that he’d returned for her. He hadn’t just left her—even after she’d insisted she didn’t need him and had questioned his motives. He’d risked his own safety to make certain she wasn’t harmed. She wasn’t sure if that made him just plain dumb or incredibly kind.

“How did you know I needed help?” she asked, each syllable painful to speak.

“I was watching. I knew you were in trouble when I saw Mason pull up.”

She nodded. “Chief Waggoner tried to defend Mason to me. I can’t believe the chief is dirty.”

Blake’s jaw clenched and his fingers tightened around the steering wheel. “I should have known.”

“You were right. We can’t trust anyone on the police force.” She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

“I can understand why you did. Even I would think I was paranoid if I wasn’t living it. But now we really have to get out of town.”

“How are we going to do that with the roads blocked? The police are searching for you. Mason told everyone you kidnapped me.”

He turned those blue eyes on her and comfort washed through her. “We’re going to find another way out of this town. I promise.”

This time, she didn’t doubt him.

* * *

He had no idea what their next move was. He’d walked into this, but she hadn’t—Mason had dragged her in. She had to be terrified.

He shuddered, remembering the image of Mason choking her. His heart had stopped and he hadn’t even thought—he’d only reacted. He wouldn’t allow Mason to harm her.

She slumped in her seat, her green eyes wide with fear and her hand stroking the bruises forming on her neck. She was counting on him to keep her safe and he wouldn’t let her down.

The situation looks dire, Lord, but I know nothing is impossible for You. We need a way out of this town.

They passed by a convenience store and he slowed, scoping the area. Only two cars were present in the lot—one at the gas pumps and the other parked at the front entrance. Neither was a cop car, so that was good. He was taking a risk even stopping, but they had a need they couldn’t do without any longer. He had to contact Matt and the only way to do that was to find a phone.

Holly popped up in her seat as he turned the Dodge toward the gas station. “What are we doing?” she asked, her voice raw and scratchy.

“I need a phone to contact my friend. This store will have a prepaid one we can purchase.”

He pulled into a parking space then cut the engine and started to pull the door handle. Her hand on his arm stopped him. It sent chills rattling through him. “I should go.”

“That’s not a good idea. You were barely able to stand when I pulled you from the precinct.”

“I’m better now that I’ve gotten some oxygen to my muscles. Besides, you’re too high-profile. If they’ve blocked the roads, they could be searching for us. I’ll be right inside. You can even see me through the windows and come in if something goes wrong.”

Still, he hesitated. He should be the one to go.

She blew out a weary breath. “Do you think I’m going to call the police on you?”

“No, that’s not what I’m concerned about. I’m worried about your safety.”

Her face softened and she smiled. “We’re in this together, Blake. We have to be able to count on one another and that means you have to trust me. I’ll be fine. Only, the longer we sit here, the more obvious we become.”

He knew she was right. He was the one with the gun. He needed to watch out for Mason or other officers that might spot them. He nodded his agreement and she removed her hand. He found he missed it when it was gone. He pulled out his wallet and counted several bills. “Make sure you get one that has internet access, as well. We might need it. Maybe we can find another exit on a map of the town.”

She nodded and closed her hand over the cash.

“And be careful,” he insisted.

She nodded then slipped out of the vehicle.

He shook off the feeling of paranoia that threatened his thoughts. If she’d wanted him captured, she could have shouted out at the police station. He hadn’t forced her to come with him, but she had. And she’d been right when she’d said they needed to trust one another. The problem was he didn’t trust her, and it had nothing to do with anything except her gender. He’d been fooled before by a beautiful face. He pushed away those fears. He wasn’t starting a romantic relationship with her, just trying to get out of a difficult situation alive. He had to trust her and she had to trust him. Neither of them had anyone else at the moment.

He watched her move through the store, stopping every few minutes to toss something into her basket. She moved smoothly and determinedly, not like someone on the run and frightened. She put on a good act. He knew she was frightened. He’d seen her hands shaking after Mason had attacked her. She wasn’t downplaying the danger they were in. She simply wasn’t allowing it to control her. Amazing. He imagined her job as a nurse had trained her to stay calm in a crisis situation. That would definitely work in their favor today.

He started the engine as she exited the store and slid into the passenger’s seat. “Any trouble?”

“Nope.” She held out a baseball cap. “I got this for you. I thought you might need it since most of the police force knows your face. It won’t hide you completely, but if you wear it low, it might shade your face a little.”

“That’s a good idea. Thank you.” He slid the cap onto his head and pulled it low.

She nodded approvingly, then pulled out a Twizzlers and bit into it before offering him one.

“Candy?” he asked, and she shrugged.

“I eat when I’m nervous.” She pulled out the phone she’d purchased to set it up as he drove, plugging it into the outlet to charge. “I had the cashier activate it for me on his cell after he explained that you had to activate it from another phone. I told him if I had another phone, I wouldn’t be buying this one.” She pulled up the maps on the browser and her face fell. “We were right. The bridge and the access road are the only two routes out of town. If there are any others, they’re not on this map.”

He looked over her shoulder at the phone, noticing the sweet scent of her hair and how soft it was as it tickled his cheek. He moved a bit so it was no longer touching him. He couldn’t go there, couldn’t even think it. Falling for this woman wasn’t an option, so it was better not to tempt fate.

He took the phone from her and dialed Matt’s cell number, thankful when he heard his voice on the line.

“I’m in trouble,” he said when Matt answered. “My cover’s been blown.”

“What happened?” Matt’s voice was serious.

“I’m not sure. Mason Webber had my file.” He glanced at Holly then lowered his voice. “My real file, Matt. How did that happen? I thought the DOJ buried it.”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll find out. What’s your status?”

“He shot me. Don’t worry, it’s just a graze. But we’re on the run.”

“We?”

“I’m with a woman. Holly Mathis, a nurse at the med center. She’s the widow of Mason’s old partner. He attacked her, too. He said he was going to set it up to look like I was obsessed with her, killed her and then killed myself. He also claimed the boss was someone high up in the town. He said they had the coroner under their control.”

“But he didn’t give you a name?”

“No, but when Holly went to the police, Chief Waggoner tried to hand her over to Mason. He’s definitely dirty.”

“We’ll figure this out once you’re both safe. Where are you?”

“A convenience store on the south side of town.”

“Wait, you’re still in Northshore? You’ve got to get out of there.”

“We tried. All the roads are blocked. Mason has had me labeled as a dirty cop and told everyone at the precinct I kidnapped Holly. The whole force is out there looking for me.”

“Let me make some calls,” Matt said. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure this out. You just stay safe.”

Blake turned to look at Holly and realized he was now responsible for keeping them both alive and well. He hoped he was up to the task. “I’ll do my best,” he told Matt before he pressed the off key. “We need to find a place to hide while we think this out.”

“Should we go back to my friend’s apartment now that Mason is gone?”

“No, he may still be watching it. We can’t go to my place or yours, either.” He leaned back in his seat and sighed. His mind spun at the notion of making a wrong decision. The calm he saw in her eyes meant she was depending on him.

He wouldn’t let her down.

“I know a place where we can lay low for a while. It’s not a great option, but it’s secure.” He pulled onto the road and headed west. He knew this place from his patrols. It was seedy and run-down, but hopefully it would be a safe haven for them at least for a little while until they figured out how to make their escape.

THREE

Blake drove into a part of town Holly knew by reputation only. Jimmy had always warned her against crossing over into this area. It was a notorious hangout for junkies and gangs and was known to be dangerous. Tourists were steered away from this part of the lake and even the hospital paramedics shared horror stories of coming into the area to respond to emergencies.

And Blake was choosing to go here.

“What are we doing here?”

“We need a place to hide until we can figure this out.” He pulled up to a seedy motel and cut the engine.

“Are we really going to stay here?”

“This places takes cash and doesn’t ask questions. It’s our best option right now.”

He reached out to touch her arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. No one will bother you as long as you’re with me.”

His assurance did make her feel better, but it didn’t prevent her apprehension as he got out of the truck and entered the office. She could see him inside, through the glass doors, handing over cash to the clerk and receiving a key.

He returned to the truck then drove around to the back of the complex. He led her into a small but neat room. It had a double bed, a dinette set and a dresser with a small television mounted to it.

The phone he’d slipped into his pocket rang and Blake answered. “Matt, what’s the news?”

His expression fell. “I understand.” He ended the call then grabbed the remote. “Matt said the chief is on TV.” He switched on the television to breaking news coverage.

Chief Waggoner was standing at a podium and Blake’s photo was in a box at the corner of the screen. “This is Officer Blake Michaels, a recent hire with the Northshore PD. We’re sad to report that we believe Officer Michaels to be a threat to our town. We’re currently investigating his wrongdoings and will update more on that later, but what we do know is that he assaulted a fellow officer as he attempted to prevent Michaels from abducting a female nurse at the medical center early this morning. The hostage’s name is not being released just yet.”

Indignation rushed through her. “I can’t believe he’s sticking with the story that you kidnapped me.” She felt her face flush in anger. If she’d had any doubts about Chief Waggoner, they were all gone now. She steamed, thinking about all the times since Jimmy died that he’d acted like her friend. When she’d showed him the papers from the journal, she’d thought he’d been upset to learn Jimmy had uncovered corruption in the department, but now she wondered differently. Every conversation she’d had with him took on new meaning. Had he spent the past months pressing her for information about what Jimmy might have told her? How had she mistaken the questions with just being kind?

Blake seemed unsurprised by the development. She realized he’d been right all along. He’d known how they would spin this. He’d tried to warn her—and she hadn’t believed him. No, she had to be honest with herself. She had believed him. She just hadn’t wanted to believe him. She’d been so consumed with protecting herself from more heartache and grief that she’d fooled herself into wishful thinking. She’d suspected the truth about the Northshore PD ever since finding that journal. So far she’d only read the passages about Mason, but she’d scanned the rest and knew other officers were mentioned in it. She’d known her husband was investigating dirty cops. She just hadn’t wanted to believe it went as high as the chief of police.

In the midst of her struggle with Mason, she recalled she’d cried out to God. She blamed Him for this mess. He’d allowed all this to happen. He was the one who’d taken her husband from her and made her a widow at twenty-seven. Now He’d brought Mason Webber into her life.

She shuddered. “I can’t believe this. Your own police department just labeled you a kidnapper. What do we do now?”

“We wait. My friends will take care of this. They’ll find us a way out of town.”

His friends. She’d heard him reference the DOJ in the car when he was speaking to his friend Matt. He’d told her about the drug trafficking and corruption investigations. Had he contacted the DOJ for backup? She folded her arms and locked eyes with him. “I think it’s time you told me exactly what’s going on. Who do you keep calling? And what does the DOJ have to do with it?”

He pushed his hand through his dark hair and sighed. “I’ve been working undercover for the past nine months as part of a joint task force between the DEA and DOJ. Somehow, Mason found out who I really was.”

She was stunned by his revelation. He wasn’t just a small-town cop investigating his fellow officers. He was a federal agent, a plant, someone who had voluntarily put himself into this position. She turned away, thinking of Jimmy and instinctively knowing he would have liked Blake. They both had the trait of jumping into the fire in the name of justice.

He knelt beside her, his expression one of compassion, and he squeezed her hands in a comforting manner. “I’m sorry you got pulled into this, Holly. I really am, but we’re not alone in this. Matt and the agencies will come through for us. We have people on our side and, most importantly, we have the Lord with us.”

She stared into his eyes and her heart clenched. He really believed that. She had believed it once, too, but now she figured God had forsaken her. She could put her trust in Blake Michaels to keep her safe, but she wasn’t ready to put her faith back in God to do anything for her.

* * *

Blake walked to the vending machine and slipped in a handful of coins. It wasn’t a real meal, but it would have to do for now until he could figure out a plan. Holly was depending on him for answers and he didn’t have any. He’d heard the concern in Matt’s voice. They were in real trouble. If the corruption went to the highest levels in town, they might have to fight to protect themselves.

The hairs on his neck prickled and he sensed someone watching him. He glanced around, spotting a figure on an outside balcony. Discouragement bit at him. He recognized the man as a local drug dealer. And he would no doubt report Blake’s presence at the motel to Mason. They couldn’t remain here.

He walked back into the room. When he’d left her, she’d seemed in a daze. Now she was pacing, determination locked into her expression.

“We can’t stay here,” he told her. “We have to leave now.”

“What happened?”

“Someone spotted us. I’m sure he’s on the phone to Mason as we speak. We should go now.”

She went with him to the car without further questioning, but once inside, she said, “Tell me about the drug trafficking.”

She had a right to know everything since her life was tied into his now. “There’s this drug called Trixie. It’s extremely dangerous and the manufacture and distribution operation is massive. My friend Matt busted up a ring in Tennessee last year but it was only part of a bigger organization. The DEA has been working with the DOJ to try to find the manufacturing facility and they believe it’s right here in Northshore. I was tasked with infiltrating the department to try to find it.”

“Don’t the DOJ or DEA have some other way of ascertaining where this drug den is? Surely they have access to satellite imaging. Why don’t they just bust it?”

“They’ve gotten some good leads, but they’ve been burned several times—getting close only to have the labs pack up and move. It’s courtesy for the Feds to alert local law enforcement before they execute a raid. After a few times, they started to suspect police involvement. That’s when they partnered with the DOJ.”

“I don’t understand. Which agency do you work for?”

“Neither.”

“Then how did you get roped into taking this job?”

He shrugged. “I was in a place in my life where I needed a change. I used to be sheriff of my hometown. It was right about the time I was ready for a change that Matt approached me about this task force. They needed someone to go into the precinct, someone with certain characteristics that might lead to an invitation into corruption.” He didn’t tell her about the betrayal he’d suffered or Miranda’s death. That was too much detail and he wasn’t ready to delve into it with anyone.

“So your friend thought you were believable as a dirty cop? Either he’s not a great friend, or there’s something you’re not telling me about your time as a sheriff.”

“Something did happen, but it had nothing to do with my job as a police officer. However, Matt thought I could use it to infiltrate this group.”

She gave him a wry smile. “Nice friends.”

“No, he’s a good friend. He knew I needed something else to focus on besides what was going on in my life.”

“Look,” Holly said, “we should start with figuring out who we can trust. Sometimes in nursing if there’s a problem, it takes someone else to look at it to see what’s happening. A new perspective, if you will.”

He nodded. “I agree we need help. Was there anyone specific on the force that Jimmy trusted?”

“I’m not sure. You’ve been there for the past nine months. Isn’t there anyone in the police department that you trust?”

He pulled his hands through his hair. He’d thought Waggoner was a stand-up guy and he’d been wrong. But he had to start thinking differently. He’d gone in looking to bond with the troublemakers. He’d made it his mission and he’d rubbed some people the wrong way in doing so. Maybe he should focus instead on those on the force who hadn’t approved of his choice of friends.

One name rose to the surface. He didn’t know if he could trust Gabriel or not, but Holly was right. They couldn’t wait around to be either captured or rescued. They had to do something—and it could be something dangerous.

* * *

Blake drove past Gabriel Butler’s house. Everything seemed quiet on the street and Holly noticed a car in the driveway. The lights were on inside the house, too, so he was definitely home. But would he help them? And could they trust him?

Blake parked several houses down and they got out. She jumped when he drew his gun. It stunned her and somehow made this all the more real. She nodded to let him know she was okay then followed him toward the house.

“Should I knock?” Holly asked when they reached the front door. “He might not recognize me right away.”

He nodded then moved out of view of the peephole. She rapped on the door and listened as footsteps approached. Her gut told her someone was behind that door staring at her through the peephole. She held her breath in anticipation. Would he even open the door for her?

Seconds later she heard the lock click and the door opened. Blake pushed her aside then stepped in front of her. He raised his gun to the stunned man’s head.

“There’s no cash in the house,” Gabriel said, coolly looking at them both as if they were common criminals.

“We’re not looking for money,” Blake said, pushing him back inside. Holly followed, closed the door behind them and turned the latch. “Do you know who I am?”

Gabriel stared at him then nodded slowly. “Blake Michaels. You’re NPD’s most wanted today.” He slowly lowered his hands. “What do you two want with me?”

“I’m not here to hurt you, Gabriel. I just want to talk.” To prove his intention, Blake lowered the gun and tucked it into his waistband.

Gabriel’s color began to return. “I’m not sure what we have to talk about.”

“Whatever you’ve heard about me over the radio is a lie. I didn’t kidnap anyone.”

“It’s true,” Holly said from behind him. “Mason Webber tried to kill me. Blake interceded. He saved my life.”

Gabriel glanced at her then back at Blake, and nodded. “Mason, huh? Can’t say I’m surprised.”

“I heard a rumor that you’re upset about the corruption in the department. That’s why I came to you. I’m undercover, working as part of a joint operation between the DEA and Department of Justice. I was sent here to ferret out the corruption and determine how high it goes and how it connects to the drug manufacturing ring operating out of Northshore.”