Eva: Thanks! I take that as a great compliment – especially from a Candy lover such as yourself.
Natalie36: Thanks for reading!
keepsmiling7: Diablo has become a special character in this story and he’s stolen the show more than once, lol.
Patience has its own rewards, doesn’t it?
We’re getting ready to take off!
dreamon: Lol, they took their sweet time, but they finally got there! Definitely the calm before the storm.
xilaj: I’m so glad that Diablo has become such a beloved character in this story. His first concern is always for his humans and he loves them both with a devotion and depth that has no end.
Max and Liz have both come a long way since the beginning of this story and finally reaching this place in their relationship, in their lives, where they can really accept each other and even themselves, understand their flaws and imperfections, and move forward with a resolve to be open and honest with each other is something that will continue to strengthen their relationship over time.
They’re both at a place where they’re becoming more comfortable in their own skin and it’s allowing them to set those masks aside. Everyone hides behind something at some point or other in their lives and our couple here are truly letting their guard down with each other and letting that go. Thanks for the compliment!
Oh, the storm is about to break… and very, very soon!
Alien_Friend: Oh, I so understand! I hate not being able to post regularly because RL keeps interrupting precious writing time! There’s nothing like reading and writing to give you an escape from the insanity of RL.
Nancy is a strong woman and Jeff is a very smart man to not only listen to her, but to see the logic in her argument and accept it.
Unfortunately Jeremy was ill but the time he and Shakes had together was important to both of them. He was a lover of the written word and it must’ve been quite a gift to him to be able to share it with someone he grew to care for very much.
Diablo is a scene stealer, lol. And he loves a good conversation. He may not be very verbal, but he certainly gets his thoughts across. Thanks for the compliment!
Max and Liz have come a long way and they’re only getting stronger with each part. Together and individually they’ve grown so much and I can only imagine the good they can do in the future working with street kids.
If it ever comes down to a confrontation where Diablo has to show off those skills it’ll be quite the battle. He’ll do everything in his power to protect his humans and if anyone tries to hurt one of them and he’s there… well, I wouldn’t want to be them. There are several levels of protection dogs but unfortunately they’re very expensive. Luckily, that’s one thing Liz didn’t have to worry about when she went in search of a means of protection.
LovelyPOM83: I take that as a great compliment! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed Max and Liz’ story in Prisoners of the Past. It’s been a lot of fun, and at times, also quite a challenge, to write. Their story has progressed so beautifully and it allowed the opportunity to explore so many aspects of the life of someone recently paroled.
begonia9508: Thanks!
Why is Shakes going to such lengths to help Max? I promise that will be revealed before the end of the story!
Part 55
The peaceful quiet of Saturday morning was shattered by a triumphant shout that brought Shakes out of his bed, gun in hand. He was halfway to his door, still trying to focus his eyes, when he identified the voice as belonging to Dimitri. He growled and flicked the safety on, switching the gun to his left hand and reaching up to rub the tension at the back of his neck. Too little sleep could be hell on the human body and he didn’t get enough sleep on a good night. The shouting from down the hall had interrupted what had been one of the good nights.
He put the gun away and grabbed a pair of jeans, pulling them on and jerking a sweatshirt over his head before padding down the hall. He slouched in the doorframe and rubbed the side of his head against it as he glared at Dimitri. “I hope this isn’t related to anything that’s gonna irritate me. Not a touchdown or a field goal or a homerun or anything else related to sports. Please tell me I’m awake before the sun because you’ve solved some big mystery that’s gonna enlighten the world.”
Dimitri jerked a disc out of the burner and snapped it in a case, waving it in the air before slapping it on the desk. “I did it.”
“Did what?” It was really too early for this.
“I’ve got the list.”
Shakes rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. “Grocery list, fantasy car list, sports teams list… please stop being cryptic,” he grumbled.
Dimitri just grinned, invading David’s space to rest his hands on either side of his neck, his fingers slipping down to rub at the tense muscles at the base. “You were worried Captain Stone might trust the wrong cop tonight.” He shook his head. “I’ve got Knight’s list; every cop, agent, lawyer, and judge on his payroll. And it’s not just names. He’s kept evidence against them and being the fool he is, it was all right there in his files.”
His eyes widened and he stared at the disc lying on the desk. “You really found it.”
“Not as quickly as I’d hoped, but yeah, I found it. I was careful, covered my tracks, so his people will never know I was in the system for this one.”
“The timing couldn’t be better. With this list we can make sure everyone involved is clean.” If he was comfortable with physical demonstrations he probably would’ve hugged Dimitri at that moment. But he wasn’t so he shifted, moving further into the room so he could pick the case up. He turned to rest his hip on the edge of the desk when he heard his companion sigh and he watched as Dimitri hung his head for a moment before taking a deep breath and nodding to himself. “I don’t know how to do this, D.” He froze, not expecting it when Dimitri turned around and smiled slowly.
“You’re not telling me anything I don’t know, David, and I don’t expect you to apologize in that unique way you have when things get uncomfortable.”
“That wasn’t an apology,” he snapped and turned around to shuffle the papers and folders around. He really needed to start organizing them so they would be ready to be destroyed once this operation was finished.
It wasn’t an apology, he rationalized silently. He didn’t apologize for being the way he was.
“Yeah, it was. We’ve already established you may never be able to do a relationship and I’ve accepted that. Would I change that if I could? Hell, yeah. But since I can’t we’ll take things as they come.”
“I don’t understand you.”
“But you care about me.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, but – “
Dimitri reached out to silence him. “That’s all that matters.” He tapped his fingernail against the plastic case in David’s hands. “You’ll wanna get that to Captain Stone.” He picked up the headphones. “I’ve got some listening to do and I wanna go over the viruses a couple more times just to make sure nothing goes wrong when I turn them loose tonight.” He had settled into the chair and was reaching over to turn the equipment on when he realized David was still standing there. He shifted to look at him, watching as his eyes scanned over the room. “You ready for this to be over?”
“Yeah.” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’d better set up a meet with Stone. Our time’s limited and I need to get to her before she notifies the cops she intends to use tonight.”
He nodded as David made his escape. He was ready for the situation with Knight to be over but he wasn’t so sure he was ready for what came after that. For so long his life had revolved around seeing Knight taken down and he had been unable or unwilling to focus on anything else. He had a feeling his friend was going to feel aimless once his mission was finished. All he had known his whole life was pain and suffering on the mean streets of New York City. He smiled as he turned the audio on. If things went the way he hoped they would they would leave the city that had taken so much from David far behind once this was over.
*****
Liz rolled over and stretched, her eyes opening when her hand encountered cool sheets rather than her boyfriend’s sleep-warmed skin. Her breathing slowed as she strained to hear any movement in the apartment, but after several seconds she decided he and Diablo had gone for their morning run. She reached for his pillow to pull it closer and snuggle into it but as her arm wrapped around it she felt something crinkle and she pushed herself up on her elbows to see what it was.
She picked up the piece of paper, smoothing out the creases she had just put into it, and unfolded it. A smile graced her features when she saw the ‘I love you’ scrawled below the ‘happy birthday’. She wondered how it was possible to be so happy and content but then decided it didn’t matter. She was pulled out of her musings when her phone rang and she answered it without checking the caller ID.
“Good morning, Mom, Dad.”
She rolled her eyes affectionately when they launched into their version of the birthday song instead of answering with a traditional response. She waited until they were finished and then talked to them for a good twenty minutes before assuring them that she and Max would be meeting them for dinner at seven o’clock. There were several more calls from family and friends and she was disconnecting from the last one when she heard Max and Diablo return.
“Are you boys back from your run?”
“We had to run out for somethin’ and we decided to stop at that bakery you like to grab breakfast,” Max called back.
“Gimme just a few minutes and I’ll join you.”
“No rush, take your time.” As soon as he heard the shower come on he hurried to start a pot of coffee and set everything out on the table. He looked at Diablo where he sat in the kitchen doorway watching him. “You’re sure you’re ready?”
The dog yawned widely and turned to look at the table.
“I didn’t mean were you ready to eat. She’s gonna be out here in a few minutes so make sure you’re ready.” He filled two mugs with coffee when it was finished brewing and he added cream and sugar to them before carrying them to the table. He retrieved the gift he had gotten for her and ran his fingers over the paper he had painstakingly wrapped around it before placing it on the table where she normally sat for meals. He snapped his fingers when he heard movement in the hallway and Diablo took off.
Liz ran her fingers through her hair, pausing when she reached the dining area and saw Diablo sitting next to Max with a package on the floor in front of him. “What’re you two up to?” she asked as she walked over to them, reaching down to rub the dog’s head as she leaned in to kiss Max.
She looked down when the dog nudged her without an ounce of subtlety and she tried not to laugh when he placed a paw on top of the package and looked at her as if to ask what she was waiting for. “Hmm… whose gift should I open first?” She hadn’t missed the package sitting in front of her chair and she could practically feel the anticipation humming through Max’s body as he waited.
“He’s pretty excited about his gift so maybe you should go with his first,” Max said and nudged him with his foot.
Diablo picked the package up by the ribbon and lifted it up, releasing it when she reached for it. He watched as she held it up, turning it this way and that way before giving it a gentle shake.
Liz smiled as Max shifted to make room for her on his lap and she ran her fingers over the wrapping paper while making herself comfortable. “I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that Diablo picked the paper out.” It was blue and decorated with white dog bones in various sizes and the card attached next to the bow was shaped like a bone as well.
“Yeah, I couldn’t talk him outta that design.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and grinned at the dog when Diablo watched her every move so closely. “What’s it say?” he asked when she opened the card.
Her arm settled around his shoulders as her eyes moved over the words written inside. “To keep us visible and safe on our nighttime walks, while Max isn’t here to watch us like a hawk.”
“Yeah, he’s not the best poet,” Max said, trying to keep the mood light.
Liz looked at him as she shook her head. “It came from the heart and I think that’s all that matters.” She gave him a quick kiss and then focused on the gift once more, peeling the paper back to reveal a rectangular white box. “He’s not giving anything away, is he?”
“He opted for the more mysterious packaging.”
Diablo barked when she lifted the lid and he jumped up, bouncing around the room when she lifted the new collar and leash set out of the box.
“They’re made with LED lights and he picked these out,” he reached into the box and searched through the tissue paper to pull out a pack of lighted armbands, “for you. It’ll keep both of you visible at night or early in the morning and with the seasons changing it’s getting dark earlier and light later, so…”
She smiled. “It’s the perfect gift and I promise we’ll use it.”
“Thank you.” He cleared his throat when her teasing laugh registered. “Diablo says thanks too. Since he picked it out an’ all.”
Liz leaned over to give Diablo a rubdown and pressed a kiss to his head. “You did a good job.”
As soon as she released him he ran across the room and snatched Bunny up off of his pillow, shaking it back and forth while he growled happily.
“Looks like I’ve got something else to open up,” she said as she reached across the table for the small box. The edges and corners weren’t perfectly creased, indicating he’d wrapped it himself, but to her that made it all the more meaningful. She didn’t shake the box this time, but she took her time running her fingers over it and letting the anticipation build. After several minutes she started to peel the taped ends apart and she could feel Max holding his breath as he watched her every move. “Hmm… another mystery box,” she said when the wrapping paper fell away to reveal the small white box.
He couldn’t breathe as he watched her lift the lid and reach inside for the small velvet bag. She gently undid the fastening at the top and raised one end, her eyes widening when she saw the bracelet that slid into her waiting palm.
“Max,” she whispered as she took in the bracelet, “it’s beautiful.” The thin sterling silver links were tastefully crafted, and her fingertips traced over the tiny 14-carat gold key that rested alongside a diamond-studded heart charm. “I love it.” She presented her wrist to him. “Put it on for me?”
He accepted the bracelet and was once again struck by just how clumsy and awkward he felt handling something so fragile. As he secured the clasp he caught her hand and lifted it, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist. “Happy birthday, Liz.”
She almost missed the small card attached to the inside of the box lid as she leaned forward to place it on the table, but as she moved to sit back one edge lifted for a moment and she reached for it again. She caught the edge with her fingernail and slid her finger under it, opening the card and reading the inscription. It wasn’t printed and it wasn’t anything fancy; it was simple and written from his heart in his own handwriting.
To the woman who taught me what love is and who gives me something new to love about her every day. Love, Max.
Her eyes filled as she read the words and she shifted to throw her arms around him. “I love you, Max,” she whispered between kisses. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” He didn’t want to ever let her go, to ever lose this moment, and he wondered how things would change while he was serving his time. Would they be able to recapture this feeling or would it remain strong throughout his incarceration?
“I have something for you.”
“For me?” He shook his head. “It’s your birthday, Liz.”
“It is my birthday,” she said as she slipped out of his grasp and got up, “and I wanted to give you something.” She disappeared into the kitchen and he heard her pause in her rummaging. “I see the two of you stopped by Gourmet Paws.”
“Well, Diablo thought since we were having croissants he should at least get some of those carob and vanilla bagels they make over there and it wasn’t really out of our way.”
“Um-hmm.” She moved things around for another minute or two before finally coming back out of the kitchen to retake her place in his lap. She placed the small black designer box on the table next to him and watched his hand clench and unclench spasmodically as he reached for it and then backed off. She had purchased it the same day she had run across it but she purposefully hadn’t had it wrapped because she had no idea how he felt about receiving gifts. When his hesitation didn’t seem to be easing she reached over and covered his hand. “If you’d rather not…”
“No, it’s just… I mean, me an’ Ava picked stuff up for each other, but it was usually necessity items, not really gifts.”
“Oh.” She remembered him telling her that his mother had run out on him on his sixth birthday but he had never mentioned receiving anything for any birthday or Christmas that she could recall. And after his mother deserting him he had been put into foster care for several years before he had hit the streets. Her heart broke for the little boy he had been, never knowing what it was like to be loved and cherished the way all children should be. “Max, if you don’t like it you don’t have to keep it.”
“No, I’m sure I’ll like it,” he said, his eyes glued to the store emblem. He recognized the store name and he could just imagine how much she had paid for whatever was tucked away in that small box. He knew the price tag wasn’t the point and that she wasn’t likely to ever hurt financially, but accepting something so expensive was a little disconcerting.
“Is it because of the price tag?” she asked after a moment. She bit her lip uncertainly. “I didn’t buy it because of how much it cost, Max. I just saw it and I thought you’d like it. It’s a gift, nothing more, nothing less. There are no price tags between us, not ever.”
He swallowed hard. He had to be able to accept that she didn’t see boundaries where money was concerned and he knew that. Knowing it and accepting it were two completely different things though. There were plenty of things he could imagine getting for her but most of them were out of his price range and probably always would be. And he could live with that. It was just gonna take some adjusting on his part because he knew she had grown up with money and it was second nature for her to spend it when she saw something she wanted and he didn’t have that luxury.
“Be patient with me, Liz. I don’t want money to ever be an issue between us and there’re gonna be times when I might have to choke down my pride because of that – “
She covered his mouth with her hand. “Max, I don’t care if you never have a million dollars. I don’t care if you don’t have some prestigious job and wear a three-piece suit to work every day.” She wrinkled her nose. “Matter of fact, I can’t even picture that and I have a pretty good imagination. You wanna do something to help street kids and I respect that.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I’d even love to help if I can, but please, let’s never make it about money. I have money, yes, and I love to spend it. I make no apologies for that.” She smiled at him. “And you haven’t asked for any, so we’re good there. But at the same time, if something happened and it all went away I’d still have you and that’s what matters most to me. So if we ever become destitute then you’ll know what to do and I’ll have to follow your lead.” She chuckled and gave him a quick kiss. “But for now we’re not so let’s just enjoy life and each other without money creating some kinda barrier between us. If I get too pushy financially just tell me and I’ll back off.”
Max snorted. “You get too pushy in any capacity and I’ll tell you.”
She hugged him and nudged the box closer to his hand. “Good, now I’m gonna be just a little pushy and beg you to please open that box.”
“It’s not something crazy expensive is it?”
“You mean, did I go overboard and buy you a car and gift wrap the keys?” She laughed outright when his eyes shot to hers. “No, I didn’t.”
He nodded. He didn’t want to ruin her happiness by being so reluctant to accept her gift; he just didn’t know how to do it gracefully. He forced down the hesitation he felt and lifted the lid off of the box, pulling it closer to look inside. He had never worn any kind of jewelry other than a cheap wristwatch but it was a nice piece, and one he could honestly say he liked before he had even picked it up.
Liz watched him, taking in every nuance of his expression. It was a man’s bracelet made of silver-tone brass with silver chain links on one side and the rest of it was a solid band with a leather inset. She relaxed when he carefully picked it up to inspect it and she gnawed on her bottom lip when he noticed the words engraved on the inside of the band.
My love is given freely. Love, Liz.
Her heart somersaulted in her chest when his lips turned up at the corners and she recognized the smile as the most genuine in his arsenal, the one she hadn’t seen given to anyone but her. When he held it out to her wordlessly she accepted it and fit it around his right wrist before snapping the clasp in place.
“Thanks,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion.
She knew it was going to take time for him to become comfortable with receiving gifts and she accepted that. She wasn’t in any rush and they were going to have plenty of time to work their way around each other’s quirks, insecurities, and bad habits.
*****
The Brooklyn Heights Promenade was busy, but not so busy as to make it miserable to be out and about. The weather was comfortable for a late September afternoon but the breeze coming off of the East River was just cool enough to require a light jacket. Alex and Isabel kept an eye on Jenny as she hurried ahead of them, the short ankle-to-knee casts hidden beneath a pair of sweatpants, her gait slightly awkward but allowing her to feel normal as she chattered happily with her companions.
“Her progress has just been amazing,” Josh said as he and his wife Teresa kept an eye on their own girls. They had decided to get together and bring their kids down to Brooklyn Park for a picnic lunch. Rather than drive they had taken the ferry and the girls had been so excited they hadn’t stopped talking since they had gotten together. The family dog trotted ahead of them, his dark eyes following the girls and watching the area around them. Lugnut was a Swedish Vallhund and even though he was a very small dog and had a fluffy tail that curled over his back he kind of resembled the German shepherd.
“It won’t be much longer before she’s out of the casts, will it?” Teresa asked. She was nearly as tall as her husband with long black hair and dark eyes.
Isabel shook her head. “No, not long at all now. She’s made it through all of this with such a good attitude. I think that’s really helped.”
Teresa chuckled. “I think her parents can take some credit for that. Without a strong support system it’s difficult to keep those spirits up.” She was about to holler at the girls when their three-year-old Sadie started climbing up on the fence that bordered the bridge they were taking down to the park but Josh got to it first. His arm dropped from around her shoulders and he set the picnic basket down as he shoved Lugnut’s leash into her hand so he could rush forward to grab Sadie. “Thank God,” she whispered when their youngest was safely enfolded in her daddy’s arms.
“I’m not looking forward to moments like that,” Isabel admitted.
“They certainly keep you busy but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Alex looked down when Jenny ran up to them and her hands locked around his wrist.
“Hey, Alex, did you know the best ice cream anywhere is close to here?”
“Is that so?” he asked with a smile.
“Um-hmm, Joshlynn said so.”
His gaze lifted to look at the nine-year-old girl who ran back to pick up the picnic basket as Josh swung Sadie up to sit on his shoulders. “Well, I guess if Joshlynn said so it must be true.”
“Mommy, Mommy, can we get ice cream?”
Teresa took her five-year-olds hand when Zoey ran up to her. “After lunch, honey, and no buts because I won’t change my mind.”
The little girl made a face but knew better than to argue with her mom’s decision. “Can I take Lugs?”
“Yeah, but be careful and don’t trip him or anyone else with the leash. You remember how Daddy showed you to use it?”
“Uh-huh,” she said and eagerly accepted the retractable leash. Zoey ran down the walkway, slowing down when her daddy called after her when she passed him.
“How do you manage a job, three kids, a dog, a husband, and a pregnancy?” Isabel asked as she and Teresa fell back. Her gaze stayed on Alex as he and Josh scouted the area looking for a good spot to get things set up for the picnic.
“I don’t sleep much,” Teresa said and laughed. “I have a husband who always leaves the toilet seat up, never rinses his cups or glasses out, leaves his clothes wherever he happens to drop them, throws his wet towels on the bed, and leaves the newspaper all over the house.” She watched her husband help Alex down onto one of the benches before taking the picnic basket from Joshlynn and setting it on the table. “But, in all seriousness, he’s an amazing father and husband. I may have to provide a little guidance around the house, but he’s good about pitching in when it’s needed.”
“You have a lot on your plate.”
“I’m not the only one. From what Josh has told me you can’t possibly have much time to yourself right now.”
“No,” Isabel said and chuckled. “Alex keeps telling me to get out of the house, take an afternoon off and go do something just for myself.”
“Um-hmm,” Teresa murmured, “but you’re not quite at the point where you’re able to let go. I understand that. Of course, now that I’ve had three kids and number four’s on the way, I have no problem taking a ‘me’ day when Josh suggests it. Matter of fact, sometimes I have to remind him it’s time for me to take one of those days. It’s good for you, and believe me it’s good for them too.” She winked. “It reminds them just how much they appreciate you and everything you do for them.”
“When’s the last time you took one of those days, Teresa?”
“Oh, I’m about due for one.”
“Have you been to the spa lately?”
She laughed and shook her head. “No, but that sounds lovely.”
“How’s next Saturday sound?”
“I’ll have to check with my OB, but other than that I say let’s put it on the calendar.”
“They have an entire package for pregnant women. I can call over and have them email me the details and then forward it to you in case your doctor wants to look it over.”
They were making plans for the following weekend as they finally joined their families and Alex smiled as he listened to their conversation. He was glad she was finally taking his advice and planning to spend a little time away from home. She needed a break and Teresa was the perfect person for her to hang out with because she was in a position to really understand her situation.
*****
Max leaned back, his weight braced on his hands, as he stared out at the Statue of Liberty. As tempting as it had been to spend the day at home they had decided to spend the afternoon at Brooklyn Bridge Park. They had considered just going to Central Park so they could take Diablo but when she had discovered he’d never been here she decided they’d drop the dog off at her parents’ home and she’d pick him up after the party. He had been awed when they had started walking and he’d noticed Liberty Island in the distance. They had spread the blanket out in an area that had given him a clear view of the statue and while the park had been flooded with people earlier the dark clouds moving in and threatening rain had sent many of them searching for other activities.
“New York has to be one of the most amazing cities on the planet,” he said as he watched the waves of the ocean rioting against the hulls of the boats daring to cross its angry expanse. “You could spend your time exploring it every day for an entire year and still never manage to see all of it.”
“It’s gorgeous at night,” Liz said as she followed his gaze. “I wish I’d thought to bring you down to Pier 1 before now. The view of Brooklyn Bridge all lit up at night with the city as a backdrop, it’s just beautiful.”
“We’ll see it.” And they would, he believed that. He glanced up when it started to drizzle and he watched the dark clouds slowly rolling across the sky. “I guess we’d better get moving before it starts to pour.” He stood with the intention of helping her to fold the blanket but he found himself captivated once more by Lady Liberty. “Y’know, so many people can quote the phrase, ‘give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses’, but I’ll bet almost none of them can quote the last two lines of “The New Colossus”, if they even know what it is.”
Liz found herself embarrassed by her lack of knowledge, but rather than make some flippant remark she folded the blanket and waited. For all of her years of education she couldn’t say she knew what he was talking about. Sometimes she wondered at the quality of education students were receiving because there were so many things he could talk about for hours on end that she either hadn’t studied in school or it had just been a passing footnote in her studies. There was no end to his fascination with nearly any subject, but he had an absolute thirst for history.
“The last two lines are: ‘Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me’,” he chuckled quietly and continued. “’I lift my lamp beside the golden door.’ The doors of this country may have been left open, but when it comes to the homeless, the hearts of her people have been slammed shut.” He shook his head and sighed. “The number of homeless people is off the charts and now they’re intentionally overlooked, ignored, and treated like the lowest form of life.”
“People are scared of them,” Liz said as she moved to stand beside him. “They can’t relate to them and all they know about the situation is what they see on TV.”
“When did people lose the ability to think for themselves? When did they become slaves to the media? Homeless people do commit acts of crime, but the majority of them are non-violent. While violent crimes against the homeless are increasing. Studies have even been conducted that prove that, but most people will never hear of them let alone read them.” He shoved his hand in his pocket and absentmindedly jingled the loose change there.
“Maybe you’ll be the one to change the way people view and treat the homeless.”
He smiled. “That’d be great, but even if it’s just a few people I’ll be happy.” He took the blanket from her and draped his free arm around her shoulders as they started to head out of the park. “Do we have time to make the ferry?”
“Yeah, but we’d better hurry if we don’t wanna wait for the next one.”
He looked up when the rain started to come down a little harder. “You wanna run, try to avoid getting wet?”
She shook her head. “Not really, and it’s not raining hard yet. If it starts coming down hard we’ll make a run for it.” She knew he could spend all day walking in the rain or even just standing in it, drawing in deep lungfuls of the clean scent and feeling its wetness against his skin. She could only imagine how much such a simple thing meant to him after being locked up for years. Although when it started getting cold she’d have to keep an eye on him, make sure he didn’t end up making himself sick.
But, by the time it started getting really cold he’d be back in prison, she realized.
“What’s on your mind?” Max asked when she suddenly fell silent and her expression turned pensive. “Liz?”
She forced a smile. “I’m not ready to let you go.” She sighed and leaned into him. No matter how hard they tried to keep what was coming from intruding on their day together it was impossible to completely forget it. “You’re going into this thing tonight and there’s no safety net. I know you trust Shakes but you never heard from the District Attorney or anyone else about getting your deal and without that… without it you could be looking at a long sentence, Max.”
“I’ll admit it’s a little unsettling that I haven’t heard anything, but there’s a reason. Shakes has had this thing planned out from the beginning and if he’s kept things quiet he’s got his reasons.”
“You have a lot of faith in him.” She searched for the words she wanted to say. “I don’t mean that you trust blindly, you obviously don’t, but you’re just placing a lot of faith in him and I don’t see how he can do anything to protect you when this is all over and done with.” She sighed. “I’m saying this all wrong. I don’t mean that – “
“It’s okay, Liz, I know what you’re tryin’ to say, and you’re right. But I trust Shakes and he’s never let me down. Where I come from you trust someone or you don’t, there’s no in between.”
She nodded. “And you trust him.”
“Without question. I know I could end up serving a longer sentence without the deal and I’m prepared if it comes to that. Yeah, a deal would be nice, and I’d be lyin’ if I said I wasn’t hopin’ to have one before tonight, but if Shakes didn’t feel it was safe for a meet with the D.A. or anyone else, I know there’s a good reason for it.”
“I hope you’re right, Max.” She hugged him a little tighter. “God, I hope you’re right.”
*****
Kyle was sitting on the floor in the living room, watching the college football game and keeping an eye on Cadence. He had put her down on a blanket next to him while Ava and DJ made dinner, keeping her occupied until the food was ready. He glanced down to check on her and he missed the next play when he saw her push herself up on her arms and tilt her head just enough to give him a big toothless grin.
“Hey, look at you.” He shifted and rolled over onto his stomach, facing her as she babbled happily. He braced his weight on his fisted hands and pushed up and he laughed when his little girl mimicked the move with a sort of bouncy push. “Ava, come check this out!” he hollered.
She came into the room drying her hands on a dishtowel, her mouth open to ask him what he was yelling for when she was just a room away, but the words died on her tongue when she saw the two of them.
“Now there’s a photo opportunity,” DJ said as he came up behind her and reached over her shoulder to offer her the camera he had dug up a few days ago. “Dinner’s almost finished. Go on, I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, DJ,” she said with a smile.
He nodded and disappeared back into the kitchen, lifting an eyebrow when he caught Courtney snooping through the pots on the stove. “You’re not hungry, are you?”
She froze for a moment and then slowly lowered the lid back to cover the pot. “There’s too much oregano in the sauce.”
“What?” He grabbed a spoon and nudged her out of the way so he could check for himself. He shook his head as he lifted the lid and stirred the sauce. “Too much oregano,” he huffed. “This recipe has been in my family for generations, passed down from my great-great-grandmother and you can rest assured she never put too much or too little of anything in her spaghetti sauce.”
“Callahan isn’t an Italian name.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the counter to watch him as he tasted the sauce, smirking when he frowned at the taste. “You’ll want to add just a little bit of sugar.”
“No, but my great-great-grandmother was Italian and she wanted to make sure the family recipe was passed down for future generations,” he said as he added a pinch of sugar and started to stir again. “And last I checked Banks wasn’t Italian either.”
“My great-great-great-grandfather was Sicilian.”
“Sicilian and Italian, huh?” He waggled his eyebrows playfully. “I’ll bet we could set off some serious fireworks.” He grinned at her. “C’mon, Court, go out with me.”
“Stick to your sauce, Daniel.” She straightened and pushed away from the counter. “I need to check the perimeter.”
“Dinner’ll be ready in fifteen.”
“I’ll be finished in ten.”
He chuckled and started getting the garlic bread ready when she left him alone again. He took her parting words as a win. There hadn’t been a bite to the words this time and usually there was. He was brushing the garlic spread over the bread when he heard heavy footfalls behind him and he turned his head to see Michael come into the room.
“No word yet?” he asked, knowing the other man was waiting for a text from Sean to let him know everything was okay with his family.
He shook his head and nodded at the stove. “Need a hand with anything?” He was glad Kyle had found someone he wanted to be with; a woman who made him happy and a little girl that had him wrapped around her little finger, but right now he couldn’t watch the three of them together.
“Table needs to be set or…” he trailed off when Michael suddenly jerked and he fumbled to pull the cell phone from his pocket.
“I’ll get it in a minute. Care if I borrow the computer in the study?” Michael asked, his eyes locked on the small screen as he scrolled down to read the whole message.
“Go for it.” Courtney had already installed protective measures on the only computer in the house and they rarely touched it.
He hurried out of the room and rushed down the hall to the study, closing the door behind him and dropping down into the chair behind the desk. He followed the instructions Sean had sent him in the text message, logging into a dummy email account, and opening up the attached media file. He adjusted the volume and sat back only to shift forward a second later when the 17-second video started to play and he recognized Jim and Amy’s living room.
He felt the tightness in his throat when his little boy walked into the room, his arms wrapped around the stuffed toy he’d started carrying around everywhere he went. The sensation worsened when Maria entered the shot and she tried her best to direct Hunter’s attention to the camera.
“Hunter, can you say hi to Daddy?”
The little boy grinned, showing off his new teeth, and he waved clumsily. He walked right up to the camera and he reached out to touch the lens as he tipped his head back to look at Mama with a curious look on his face. “Dada?”
“That’s it, right there, Hunter.”
He heard Jim chuckling off screen and a moment later Maria stepped into the shot again, picking Hunter up and sitting down facing the camera. She looked up and nodded at a question from her dad and he heard footsteps moving away.
“Hunter’s finally managed to get Dada out. I can’t wait until you can hear him say it in person. Sean said we had to keep this around 15 seconds or so and our time’s already short, so here goes. I hope wherever you are you’re safe and you’re not taking any unnecessary chances. We’re doing fine on our end, keeping a low profile, and if everything goes according to whatever plan you guys have put together, I guess we’ll be seeing you either late tonight or early tomorrow.” She glanced up and nodded when someone he couldn’t identify spoke. “We’re counting on you coming home to us, so don’t let us down. We love you, Michael. Take care and be safe.”
The video ended and the screen went black. He sat back and sighed as he reached up to rub his face with both hands. They were still safe and this mess was almost over. He watched the video one more time before closing everything out and pulling the engagement ring out of his pocket. He studied it for several minutes before closing his hand around it and nodding to himself.
He had asked her to marry him because he didn’t know what was gonna happen and he wanted to make sure she and Hunter were taken care of if anything happened to him. He’d always believed that marriage was just a piece of paper and Maria had never pushed him to think differently but he’d seen her face the night he’d offered her the engagement ring and asked her to marry him. What they had was good and it’d always been enough for him but it was time to take it that step further. She wanted him as her husband and the more time he’d spent thinking about it the more he’d realized that he wanted to make things official too.
*****
They were soaked as they burst through the front door, laughing breathlessly after their race through the downpour. The apartment was dark, the only illumination provided by the jagged streaks of lightening that flashed across the sky from time to time. Max turned at the same time as Liz and their eyes met as he reached out to shut the door.
The locks were turned one by one as his free hand settled at her waist, tugging her closer as he lowered his head to kiss her. Their time was growing shorter and that only fueled the intensity of their need as their mouths devoured, their hand roamed, and their hearts raced.
He spun her around, his lips moving over her neck and shoulder as it was bared. His right hand moved over her, quickly stripping her shirt and bra off and dropping them to the floor. He cupped her breasts, his thumbs working her nipples to stiff points as he nuzzled her neck before tasting her skin.
She whispered his name as her head dropped back against his shoulder and she pushed her lower body back into him. She reveled in the growl she elicited from him when she ground her backside into his erection and their hands collided when they reached for the fastening of her jeans at the same time. He moved her hand, pressing it to the door before he returned to his intended target, releasing the button and zipper and sliding his palm over her soft skin to cup her heated center. He drew in a ragged breath when he teased her and her body shuddered against him. She moved in tandem with his fingers, her soft sighs and needy moans increasing his need for her.
“Max,” she covered his hand with one of hers, squeezing it lightly to get his attention.
“You okay,” he rasped, stilling his movements.
“Better than okay.” She moved against him when his hand flexed. “I wanna do it like this.”
His fingers dragged against her when he withdrew his hand and she stripped the wet denim and panties off while he shoved his clothing out of the way and applied protection. He ran his hands over her body, loving the way her skin felt.
“I love you,” he whispered as he entered her slowly, rocking against her and drawing their pleasure out. He could feel her inner muscles fluttering around him and he held her tighter, bracing one hand against the wall for leverage as he started to move faster.
Her hand wrapped around his wrist as she reached between them to touch him. The storm outside increased in intensity; the thunder rumbled and the windows rattled in their frames. The lightning flashed, briefly illuminating the couple locked in the most intimate of embraces, the gentleness in their touches as they recovered at odds with the tempest raging just beyond the windows.
“If tonight didn’t mean so much to my dad I’d call and cancel so we could spend the rest of our time together right here,” Liz said as she turned to lean against the door.
“Your dad has been pretty excited about your birthday.” He leaned back, giving her room to work as she helped him pull his shirt off. He could see the conflicted look in her eyes as she wondered if her dad would understand. “And I appreciate the thought, but it’d be selfish of us to take that away from him,” he said as he cupped her face in his hands and brought her gaze to his.
She nodded and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. “Please be careful tonight, Max.”
“I will,” he promised. “Now let’s get ready for that party because your parents are expecting us to be there on time.” He couldn’t promise her everything would be alright, that it would all work to their advantage, but he could at least promise that he’d be as careful as he could be under the circumstances.
*****
Mac watched as Yoda crept along the windowsill, stalking her prey with a patience that would make a saint proud. She had observed the feline over the past couple of months and while she liked the animal more than she had when they had first met, she still wasn’t a cat person. Not that Yoda was like any other cat she’d ever seen. As Sean had told her on more than one occasion, the animal was more like a dog than a cat in many respects.
She shook her head when the cat suddenly reared up on her back legs and made a valiant attempt to capture the moth that took flight. The animal yowled in annoyance when the winged creature slipped through her paws but she still managed to land on all fours on the floor. She continued to follow the moth across the room and Mac was just waiting for the animal to walk into a wall when her attention was pulled away by the sound of the front door opening.
Yoda ran across the room, sliding to a practiced stop just as Sean stepped through the door with takeout from a nearby pizza place.
“I’m runnin’ a little behind so I called ahead and ordered somethin’ for dinner. Figured it’d be faster than waitin’ for delivery.” He paused to scratch Yoda’s ears and then carried the pizza over to hand it off to Mac. “Wanna soda?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
He nodded at the laptop sitting on the coffee table in front of her. “Anything from Atlas?”
“He emailed earlier just to make sure everything was ready. He said most of his people are already in place and those that aren’t are en route. He has spotters on Knight, Pascal, and Grainger. So far they haven’t done anything unexpected but he said they’re packing a lot of firepower. Pascal picked up another shipment from that arms dealer he does business with.”
“Great.” He retrieved a couple of drinks from the fridge and they discussed the plan while eating their dinner. Everything had been planned out down to the last detail – the best vantage points for everyone involved, the signals that would be used, who would make the final call when it was time to move in, and then they had gone over it all again from an alternate plan because they wanted to be prepared for anything that came their way.
Mac looked up when Yoda jumped up to walk along the back of the couch. She did her best to ignore the cat when she stretched out to stare at her, tail slowly flicking as her gaze bounced back and forth between the slice of pizza and the woman holding it.
“Oh, fine, take the damn thing,” she huffed, peeling a pepperoni off and holding it out.
Sean hid a smirk and shoved the last bite of his own pizza in his mouth. He washed it down with a drink of soda and wished it was a cold beer. There would be plenty of time for that later, he reminded himself. He leaned forward, wiping his hands on a paper towel and tossing it in the empty carton.
“Alright, I guess we’d better get down to business.” He got to his feet and walked over to the wall facing them and reached up to release the panel with family pictures mounted to it. He lifted it up out of the frame and set it aside, careful to make sure it was secure before he turned back to the opening in the wall.
Mac’s eyebrows lifted in surprise when she saw the safe behind the wall. A gun safe, she realized. He inserted a key into the lock and turned it, then identified himself using the fingerprint scanner before the locking mechanisms released. He turned the handle and pulled the door open to reveal the lighted interior. “You should be ready for whatever comes at you tonight.”
He smiled when he heard the envious tone in her voice. “It’s only right that you be there tonight, Mac.”
“Don’t say that, Sean.” She shook her head. “Your captain’s gone out on a limb not turning me in. As much as I wanna be part of the task force taking Knight down…” she swallowed hard. “I won’t jeopardize all the work that’s gone into this.”
He reached for a bulletproof vest and turned to toss it to her, nodding when she caught it deftly. “Captain Stone got it approved. This case is yours as much as ours, maybe more. You earned the right to be there tonight.” He stepped aside and motioned to the safe that housed rifles, handguns, ammo, scopes, laser sights, holsters, and an assortment of knives. “It’s too risky to get you into the station and we still need to keep you outta sight so you’ll have to gear up here.”
She got up and slowly crossed the room, almost holding her breath as she reached inside the safe and picked the weapons up one by one, testing the weight and balance. “This’s a beautiful collection,” she said reverently.
Sean watched her as she handled the guns, her hands confident and sure, her stance solid, and her expression focused. “At the risk of getting slapped into next week I’ve gotta tell you I find this incredibly hot.”
She slowly turned her head, meeting his gaze over the barrel of the gun. “When this’s over you can take me out to dinner and we’ll discuss that.”
“Slapping me or me finding this hot?”
Mac laughed and shook her head. “I should probably warn you I’m about as romantic as a doorknob.”
“Yeah, well, my ex didn’t think the gun range was very romantic so we might just discover we’re pretty compatible.”
“Never ever compare me to your ex and we’ll get along just fine. I figure I’ve already survived living with you and your cat for the past few months so dinner’s just the next step.” She held her hand up, stopping him before he could open his mouth to suggest an alternative suggestion. “
Dinner is the next step.”
He sighed and nodded. “Dinner it is,” he agreed as he glanced at the time. “We’d better get ready. It’s almost time for us to get into position.”
*****
Max held the door for Liz as they walked out of her apartment building and his eyebrows lifted in response to the long black limousine waiting at the curb. Jeff had told him he would be sending a car for them but he hadn’t said anything about it being a limo. He glanced down at Liz when her hand settled in the crook of his arm and she took his breath away all over again. They had dressed for the occasion but he had brought a change of clothes with him so when it was time to duck out he could make it to the meet with Damon prepared for whatever was coming at him.
He couldn’t name the designer or the style other than knowing the dress had what she’d called spaghetti straps. It was a deep red and it moved with her, clinging to her body in all the right places. Not like a second skin though; it left room for the imagination and that was the way he liked it. The neckline was low cut and hinted at her cleavage but wasn’t excessively revealing. And out of deference to the cool night air, or maybe it was simply part of the getup, she had chosen a shawl that draped over her shoulders and further hinted at the mystery beneath.
Her hair was done up in some kind of upswept style with bits that curled and dangled around her face. A necklace adorned her neck, the tiny line of diamonds with the small teardrop-shaped ruby pendant at the center nicely accenting the bracelet that dangled from her wrist. Her eyes shone brightly with happiness, and the radiance in her smile put the sparkle on the diamonds to shame.
He didn’t miss her appreciative gaze as it swept over him and while he didn’t mind dressing up to go out he was glad he’d gone to the extra effort of finding the new suit. He’d asked Dottie to give him a hand with it and she’d known exactly where to go so he wouldn’t have to take out a loan to buy the thing. It was cut in the traditional style, classic black with a crisp white dress shirt. He had a feeling Dottie had probably consulted with Liz about the color of her dress because she had picked out a tie that matched it perfectly.
The cufflinks and tie clip were both silver with a black inlay, which also suggested that Liz had been consulted. The getup was a nice ensemble though and there was no doubt that she had impeccable taste. He had enjoyed the way the older woman had fussed over him and he hadn’t missed the tears in Dottie’s eyes as she had stood back to look at him.
The rain that had slowed to a steady drizzle suddenly began to gain momentum again, the fat drops pelting the glass awning that covered the walkway leading into the building. The chauffer suddenly appeared next to him, umbrella in hand, and he motioned to the car.
“Ms. Parker, Mr. Evans, if you’ll allow me…?”
Liz smiled up at Max. “You ready?”
“Me?” he chuckled. “I’m not the one who’s gonna have to blow all those candles out.” He’d been having fun teasing her since he’d discovered she was almost two years older than him.
“You’re having way too much fun with this.” She rolled her eyes at him and nodded at the chauffer. “We’re ready.”
He gave a sharp nod and walked them over to the waiting car, opening the back door and continuing to shield them from the falling rain while Max helped Liz into the car.
She was settling into the comfortable leather seat when she noticed the shadowed figure sitting across from her. She started to warn Max before he could get inside but the chauffer moved and the light from the front of the apartment building illuminated the interior of the limo and she recognized Shakes just as Max eased inside.
Shakes lifted a finger to his lips in a bid for silence just as the door was closed and he waited until Liz had raised the divider that separated the driver from the rest of the car before he nodded. “You clean up nice, kid,” he said after a moment.
Max grinned. “Not too shabby, huh?”
“No, not at all.”
He glanced at the window when he heard the drivers’ door close. “I’m guessing you’re not here to compliment my choice of clothes though.”
“No, but the two of you do go together very well.” He shifted and pulled an envelope from the inside pocket of his coat as the car started to move. “I don’t care to put a damper on your evening out,” he said with a glance at Liz and then focused on Max, “but there’re a couple of things we need to handle before you leave to meet Knight.”
“The wire?” Max asked, feeling his nerves quicken at the thought.
“I was able to get my hands on the wire and have an associate adjust it so Knight won’t be able to detect it.” He upended the envelope and a small device slid into his palm. “The district attorney approved it so all you’ll need to do is keep it out of sight. You’re wearing a jacket tonight? What kind?” he asked when Max nodded.
“Just a jean jacket, nothin’ special.”
“Perfect. Put the bug in one of the chest pockets and forget it’s there. It’s made to secure to the backside of the button so it won’t be noticed during a pat-down.” He upended the envelope again and tapped it against his palm until a packet of papers dropped into it. “The other thing is your deal with the district attorney’s office.”
Liz swallowed with difficulty. As much as she wanted this to all be over she had dreaded this moment. “You were able to work the deal?”
Shakes smiled tightly. “I wouldn’t leave him hanging like that. He wasn’t going into the meet without a deal.” He handed the papers over to Max. “I’ve had everything verified to make sure it was what we agreed to when I met with McCarthy. My lawyer went over it multiple times to ensure there were no legal loopholes.”
Max blinked when Liz switched on the interior lights and he shifted to lean forward so he could read the document. After several tense minutes he swallowed with difficulty and shook his head. “Shakes, this’s… I never expected…” He was shocked and didn’t know what to say. “How were you able to get them to agree to this?”
He shook his head. “All it needs is your signature and I’ll get it into the proper hands after I leave.”
“You’ve tested that wire, right?” Liz asked, watching Max sign the legal documents.
“Repeatedly.”
“What if they have some kind of equipment that can, I don’t know, interfere with the signal? Things like that exist, right?”
“There are devices that can disrupt the signal and we haven’t discounted the possibility that Knight will have one,” Shakes said as his eyes moved from one tinted window to the next. “We don’t have a way around that. If they bring a jamming device into play we’ll rely on our own eyes and ears to get him out safely.” He looked at Max directly, seeing the shadows of fear hidden beneath the determination in his eyes.
Only a fool wouldn’t be afraid, he thought. A little fear wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It kept a person on edge, kept them aware of everything going on around them, and prevented them from easily becoming someone else’s victim. “I’ve got your back, kid. Just a few more hours and this nightmare will be over and you’ll be free.” He nodded at the restaurant’s entrance when the limo pulled to a smooth stop and then he looked at Liz. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.” Her smile slipped slightly. “How did you know?”
He chuckled roughly and shrugged one shoulder. “Am I wrong?”
“Well, no, but...” She just nodded when the driver got out and she could hear the soles of his shoes slapping against the wet pavement as he rounded the car and a moment later his shadow fell over them. “Please keep him safe tonight, Shakes.”
“With everything I have,” he promised.
*****
Two hours into her surprise birthday party Liz was beginning to feel anxious. There had been dinner followed by cake and then opening the small mountain of presents that had been stacked on a table. Max had stayed close by since their arrival and she’d introduced him to so many people she doubted he’d remember half of their names. She had paused when she’d reached a gift box wrapped in shiny blue paper and she’d looked around for DJ. She hadn’t seen or heard from him in a few days, which wasn’t unusual, but it was unlike him to miss her birthday. She had set the gift aside, hoping he might arrive before the end of the party but so far he hadn’t made an appearance.
She glanced up when someone sat down next to her and she smiled at Maria. “Hey, I’ve hardly seen you all night.”
Maria smiled and shifted a half-asleep Hunter into a more comfortable position. “He’s been a little fussy and it’s your night.”
“Is Michael still working with that crew down on the coast?”
“Yeah, but he’s hoping to be finished and home soon.” She reached for Liz’s right hand and lifted it to look at the bracelet that caught light from every angle. “That’s pretty.”
Her lips lifted at the corners as she reached out to touch it with her fingertips. “It was a gift from Max.” She felt her throat thicken as she remembered the words he had written on the card. She knew he would be leaving soon and she had to be strong enough to let him go. “He has great taste, don’t you think?”
“It’s very nice,” Maria agreed. “Where is he anyway?”
“Oh, he went to help Dottie with something.” She leaned forward and picked up one of the cards off of the stack in front of her. “Michael’s influence?” she asked as she waved it in front of her friend’s face.
She chuckled quietly so she wouldn’t disturb Hunter. “Well, you have to admit four passes to the bowling alley and dinner for four at the Mexican restaurant he likes is an improvement. You have to take your victories where you can get them, Liz.”
Liz shook her head. “Considering he’d probably prefer to spend a night in anyone’s company but mine I think it was pretty generous.”
“Are you feeling alright?” Maria teased as she leaned forward to place her palm against her friend’s forehead.
“I actually had a pretty good time the night we all went out and Max really enjoys hanging out with Michael.” She gave a longsuffering sigh. “I’m making the sacrifice for the man I love.” She suddenly smiled when she caught the look of surprise on Maria’s face. “Yeah, it’s true. And maybe Michael’s not as bad as I thought he was.” She shrugged as her expression sobered. “How have you put up with me?”
“Differing opinions aside, you’re my best friend, Liz, and I love you.”
They glanced up when Max settled into the chair on Liz’s left side, his arm settling on the back of her chair. “Hey, Maria, how’s it goin’?”
“Good.” She smiled at him. “Just love your gift.”
“Thanks. Michael still down on the coast?”
“Um-hmm.” She looked at Hunter when he started to stir and she could tell just from his fidgeting that he wasn’t going to be happy when he woke up. “I’d better get him home.” She leaned over and hugged Liz. “Happy birthday, girl. I’ll call you later.”
Max waited until Maria had left them to get her things together. “I need to get going too, Liz,” he said regretfully. “It’s almost time.”
She nodded and wished they could be somewhere private but she didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to him before he slipped out for the meeting with Knight. “Please be careful tonight, Max.” She reached up to cradle his jaw and she brushed her thumb over his chin. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Liz.” He covered her hand with his and turned his head to press a kiss to her palm. “Promise me you’ll go get Diablo as soon as you leave here. Don’t take any unnecessary risks tonight. I don’t trust Damon and I have no idea what he might do.”
“I won’t. I think I’ll see if Maria wants a ride home since getting a taxi in this weather might take a while and then I’ll go straight to my parents’ place and get Diablo. I know for a fact Emily baked a little cake for him and I’m sure he’s patiently waiting for it.”
“Okay.” He checked the time again. “I’d better go, Liz.” He leaned in and kissed her, wanting to hold onto her and never let her go.
*****
The shipping docks were cast in shadow courtesy of the hundreds, possibly thousands, of shipping containers, equipment cranes, and even ships that seemed to be everywhere Max looked. He’d only been to the docks a handful of times but he was always awed by the sheer size of the ships that docked there. This time though, he hardly noticed the shadowy outlines of the ships. All of his focus was on the men around him, listening to everything being said and watching every move they made. It was still raining heavily, making it a little harder to hear what was being said.
Pascal had picked him up and he’d been patted down and checked for listening devices and when that hadn’t satisfied the sadistic bastard he’d insisted on a strip search. It wasn’t the first time he’d ever been subjected to a search of that nature but it didn’t lower the humiliation factor. He’d been allowed to dress again once he had proven he wasn’t wired and now he was waiting for the delivery so this could be over with.
He watched as a car was escorted into the area and a man he didn’t recognize stepped out of the back. The guy looked normal; no flashy jewelry or fancy suit, just a regular looking guy in his mid-forties who would’ve looked normal sitting in the bleachers at his kid’s little league game. He nodded at Knight, his eyes scanning over the men assembled on the dock.
“You’re late,” Damon growled.
“Other business ran late,” the man answered unapologetically. “We can do this or not, your choice.”
Max wanted to laugh at the look on Damon’s face but he’d only seen one guy ever make that mistake and he’d only been breathing for a matter of seconds afterwards.
“Let’s see the merchandise.”
The man snapped his fingers and another man stepped out of the car and ran over to one of the containers, unlocking the padlock and pulling the chain free of the doors so he could pull them open. He switched on a high-powered flashlight and swept the beam of light over the cargo.
Max nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw the amount of product packed into the container.
The street value on the shipment would be in the billions, he thought. He waited while Damon sent Pascal over to check the purity of the product and he tried to ignore it when the man who had unlocked the container started staring at him.
His unease notched up when the man casually made his way over to his own boss, motioning for him to step aside for a private conversation, and started speaking quietly to him.
“What’s that about?” Damon snarled at him. He hadn’t missed the way Hardison’s man had been watching Max.
“I don’t know. Never saw the guy before,” he said, hoping his voice didn’t reveal the nervous feeling in his gut.
From his vantage point Shakes was watching the scene unfolding and he felt that familiar sensation that always accompanied something going wrong. “I don’t like the way he was watching the kid,” he muttered. “This’s about to get ugly.”
“We need to see money change hands before we move in,” Captain Stone said, knowing the deal was about to go bad. She had been on the job long enough to trust her gut feelings about these situations. “If we don’t wait, the case against Knight’s dead.”
“If we wait he’s dead.”
From the top of a nearby container Mac glanced at Sean. “They’ve made him.”
Sean nodded. “Yeah.” He watched through the scope and waited for the captain to give him the green light. “This entire thing’s about to go to hell.”
Hardison looked at the man who had served as his right hand for the past several years and his eyes lifted just enough to look across the dock. “You’re absolutely sure?”
“I wasn’t sure at first because he got rid of the facial hair, but that’s the guy. My contact in the police department said there was a rumor that Knight has a mole in his ranks. He said the guy’s a parolee. We weren’t on the same cell block, but that’s him.”
“If he’s a mole he’s got backup.” He glanced down at Murph’s gloved hands. “There’s nothing to trace ownership of the product back to us and no money’s changed hands yet. Tell Wilson to be ready. If we get any resistance from Knight or his crew I want them dropped where they stand, got it?”
“Got it, Boss.”
“We’re gonna call it a night,” Hardison said as he approached Knight. He was going to take a major financial hit with the loss of this container but it wasn’t worth his life.
Damon’s gaze moved around the dock area suspiciously when Hardison’s men made no move to close the container or secure it. “Why?”
Max fought down the urge to swallow, knowing the man would notice the nervous movement. He knew. He didn’t know how the guy knew, but he did.
“Because I don’t do business with anyone who can’t keep his own ranks clear of cops.”
Damon looked at Max and laughed. “He’s not a cop. I don’t know what that man of yours told you but maybe you’d better invest in a better vision plan for your people.”
Hardison shook his head. “He doesn’t have to be a cop to be working with them, Knight.” He nodded at the crime boss and then looked at Max, his expression ice cold. “Whatever the cops promised you, it wasn’t worth taking this risk.” He turned sharply and walked back to his car and he listened as Knight called Pascal over to him. He met Murph’s gaze and nodded slightly when he got the expected response.
“This’s about to turn into a real bloodbath,” Dimitri said to the cop standing next to him.
Jim Valenti sighed and nodded. “Yeah, and there’s no way for anyone to get down there and get Evans outta there.”
Before another word could be spoken bright light flooded the dock area, temporarily blinding everyone who had been watching through scopes equipped with night vision. Chaos erupted as the bullets started flying and as Max turned to make a run for it something hit him from behind and he fell to the ground. He didn’t regain consciousness as he was thrown off of the dock and into the small boat waiting below.
