Caching Out (25 page)

Breaking
away, Tate locked eyes with Emma. “That, sweet Em, was the beginning of your
reward for finding the cache before me. Now put the container back and let’s
get home so that I can finish
rewarding
you.”

Laughing
for the camera, Emma turned and snapped the lid back on the container pushing
it against the tree and covering it with rocks and leaves. Standing she took
the hand that Tate offered and without talking they walked away from the cache
site.

A
quarter mile away Gavin watched his computer monitor as the couple on the
screen found the cache and took his coin. When the man pulled the woman into a
tight hug and let his hand drift low on her ass Gavin whistled. “This one is
going to be a lot of fun, just look at that fine little ass.” Moving closer to
the screen, he pushed a button zooming the screen in on their faces. “Shit! It’s
the same couple that was talking to that old sheriff at Walt’s funeral this
morning!” Letting the screen slide back to full he reasoned,
It’s a fucking
set-up Gav. They think they’re going to catch you!
Gavin laughed at the
absurd idea, “They think they’re going to catch
you
!” 

Staring
at the retreating backs of Tate and Emma he snarled, “Let the chase begin,
assholes. This is one game you just can’t win.”  Watching as his tracking
program loaded onto the screen Gavin stood and walked into the kitchen, pulling
a carton of orange juice from Walt Mabry’s refrigerator. With the glass in hand,
he moved back to the den and peeked through the blinds just in time to see Tate
and Emma drive past on their way back to town. Silently he held the glass up, a
toast to his next victim.

CHAPTER 36

Back
in the car, Tate pulled his cell out and punched in Martin’s number. Martin
answered on the first ring. Skipping the hellos Tate said, “We’ve got it. Call
Chad and Reva off the search and ask them to stop by my place before Chad takes
Reva home. I want her to see the coin and confirm that it’s the same one she
and Parker found.” 

“Son
of a bitch, Tate. That’s good news. I’ll get them on the phone now and then
I’ll meet you at your house.”

“I
don’t think that’s a good idea. This guy is probably already tracking us and I
don’t want him to see you and for damn sure no cop cars at my place. In fact, I’m
calling Julie and having her cancel all patrols in my neighborhood for now. We
want to keep it as low key and quiet as possible around my place for now.”

“You’re
right about him recognizing me, but I think we should have a couple guys out
that way in plain clothes. No sense in putting you and Emma at any greater risk
than necessary.”

A
few minutes later Tate turned his anger on Emma, “You just had to take the
damned thing, didn’t you Em? You should have let me have it, but no, you had to
hold it up and make sure he saw you with it. Why? Why do you have to be the
hero here?”

Pulling
one leg up in the seat, Emma stared at Tate. “Just table it for now, Tate. What
difference does it make which one of us got it?  For God’s sake we’re going to
the same house. And for the record, there are no heroes here. We both have a
job to do and that’s what we’re doing. No contest, no heroes, just a job.”

Emma
watched as Tate opened his mouth to speak and then clamped it shut without
saying a word. With a sigh she turned away from him
. Damn, he knows I’m
right for once,
she thought.

Pulling
the car into the driveway, Tate got out, slammed the door behind him and walked
to the porch without waiting for Emma. “You don’t have time to fight with her
now,” he muttered under his breath.

Before
he got the back door open, a tan Dodge truck pulled into the drive and Chad and
Reva stepped out. Meeting Emma half way across the yard, the three of them
walked to the porch together. Pushing the door open, Tate let them all inside
where they followed him to the kitchen.

Emma
went to the laundry room, opened the door and scooped the puppy up in her arms,
his wet pink tongue lapped out at her face as she crooned to him. She let him
out for a minute then returned to the other room, and she took a seat at the
table next to Tate.

Tate
spoke first, his eyes on Em the whole time, “Show Reva the coin.”

Emma
reached into her jeans pocket and pulled the token out, laying it on the table
in front of Reva.

Without
touching it, Reva nodded. “That’s it. That’s the same coin that me and Saralyn
found at the lake.” Overcome with emotion Reva buried her face in her hands
before looking up at Tate and then at Emma. “Oh, my God, he’s going to come
after you now. I know that’s what you wanted but….well…I guess it wasn’t so
real until now.”

Emma
dropped down in the chair next to Reva, placing a comforting arm around the
other woman’s shoulders. “It’s okay, Reva. It’s different this time. Tate and I
know that he’s coming, we’ll be ready and we’ll catch him. You don’t have to
worry about us.”

Reva
wiped at the tears forming in her eyes. “I know, Emma, but I keep thinking
about Saralyn and how that could have been me. I don’t want anything to happen
to you or Tate, either.”  With a strangled sigh she whispered, “I’m afraid for
you both.”

             “You
don’t have to be afraid,” Chad said. “Tate and Emma are both trained to handle
situations like this and they’re going to be fine. Come on, let me take you
home.”

With
a nod Reva stood, giving Emma a quick hug. She turned to Tate. “Tate, you take
real good care of the two of you. I don’t have too many friends and I can’t
bear to think of losing another one.”

Tate
gave Reva a quick peck on the cheek. “I won’t let you down.” Turning to Chad he
said, “Can I speak to you for just a minute before you leave please?”

Tate
opened the back door and the two men stepped out onto the deck, leaving the
women in the kitchen. He needed some extra protection now that Em’s life was on
the line.

CHAPTER 37

Just
a few more hours, Gav and you’ll have your coin back, and a little fun too. Then
my friend, it’s time for you to get the hell out of Pine Ridge for good.
  Grabbing his
backpack and pushing his computer inside he walked to the back door of Walt’s
house. It had been the perfect hiding place, completely deserted since Walt’s
death. Gavin took the steps two at a time, making his way to the old barn in
the back where he’d parked his car out of sight.
Wouldn’t want the lovely
Jewel coming by and finding you in her daddy’s house, now would you?
 

Dropping
his backpack on a weathered work table in the barn, Gavin reviewed the items
that he would need.
Could need two needles, Gav. Chances are, wherever the
hot chick went the guy went too.
He pulled a pocket knife from his front
jeans pocket, and then measured and cut four lengths of red cording from a
spool stored in his backpack. Staring at the cording, he pulled two more
lengths and cut them. Better to be over prepared than under, and that’s one a
big dude.

Repacking
his backpack, Gavin tossed it into the front seat of his car and then sat down
in the driver’s seat without starting the vehicle. Laying his head back against
the seat he closed his eyes and willed his body to relax.

I
told you it wouldn’t take long, Mama. Just think, after tonight there will be
five more people just like you, and these five are really special, Mama. They
all live right here in Pine Ridge. That old man Walt probably lived here when
you did. He probably looked the other way when you’d come to town all busted up,
just like the others did. Now they know what it’s like. Now they’re all just
like you, Mama . . . Just like you.

CHAPTER 38

Emma
sat in the living room floor, playing tug of war with the puppy using an old
sock. She watched Tate from the corner of her eye. “Why don’t you sit down? 
You know as well as I do that he’s not coming until dark. This is a
well-populated area and he wouldn’t risk it. Save that energy for later, could
be that you’ll need it then.”

Frowning
at her, Tate flopped down on the couch propping his feet on the smooth wooden
surface of the coffee table. Grabbing the remote from the arm of the sofa he
flicked the television on and started surfing the channels.

The
third time that Tate passed the same channel, Emma stood, bringing the puppy
with her. Taking a seat next to him she bumped her shoulder against his, “Talk
to me.”

He
grunted, “And exactly what good would that do me, Emma?  I don’t think you
listen to me.”

Emma
drew in a deep breath, “Tate, you’re not being fair. I listen to you when you
talk. It’s when you try to pull some nonexistent rank and give me orders that
we run into issues. I don’t want to argue, I just want to talk.”

Leaning
forward, Tate rubbed his face with his hands before speaking. “You’re right. I
know you’re right, but I can’t help myself. I want you to be safe. If you had
listened and let me take the coin, you could be at the courthouse with Martin
safe and sound right now instead of sitting here waiting for a killer.”

She
shook her head, “I don’t think you’ll ever understand. I don’t want to sit at
the courthouse safe and sound, with Martin or anyone else. A desk job would
drive me crazy. I like what I do.” 

Seeing
that he was about to speak, Emma cupped a hand on his cheek silencing him, “It
makes me feel good knowing that I’m helping the world be a better place when I
take down a killer, a molester, a drug runner or any other criminal out there. I
couldn’t get that from a desk job. You of all people know about the
satisfaction that comes from being part of a field team.”

Looking
into her eyes, Tate felt helpless. The anger drained from his body, deflating
him like a left over party balloon. “I know, Em….I know.”

Opening
her arms and pulling him into a hug, Emma sprayed tiny kisses on his neck. Tate
buried his face in her hair, inhaling the freshness and the unique scent that
was all Emma. God, he wished they could sit like this forever. A tiny yelp
broke them apart. Looking down, Emma pulled the puppy from the sofa between
them, his little tail slashing back and forth as he tried to lick her.

With
a playful growl, Tate rolled the puppy on his back, scratched his tummy for a
moment, then carefully sat him on the floor. “You know he thinks you’re his
mama, right?”

Emma
turned to Tate and smiled, “I know, and maybe he’s right. I’m pretty fond of
the little guy. You’re going to keep him, aren’t you Tate?”

“Don’t
suppose you’d consider staying here and helping take care of him?  Wait, don’t
answer that. I already know the answer, and I don’t want to hear it out loud. Not
yet.”

Scooting
closer, Emma laid her head on Tate’s chest, one hand resting on his muscular
thigh. “It’s almost dark. He’s coming soon.” 

Tate
ran his fingers through her long hair and leaned one cheek against her head.
They sat like that for more than ten minutes. He finally said, “I guess we’d
better get ready. We want the bastard to feel welcome when he shows up.” Tate stood
and walked to the living room windows twisting the rod to open the blinds. “Turn
the lamp on, Em. We want him to be able to see us if he comes from the
front.”  

Emma
pulled her shoes on, switched on the lamp and then picked the puppy up. “I’m
going to take the pup for a potty run before it gets crazy around here.”

“Okay,
but don’t leave the deck and take your gun. It’s not really dark enough for him
to be slinking around yet, but don’t chance it. I’m going to check the windows
in the other rooms. When the bastard shows up, I want to limit his way in to
the doors only.”

CHAPTER 39

Hunching
in the bushes on the edge of the yard, Gavin adjusted his backpack and sat down.
Did they really think he was too stupid to recognize a trap when it practically
crawled up his leg and bit him on the ass?  Next to him on the ground lay the
unconscious body of the cop they’d posted to keep him out.

Kicking
the man with one foot, Gavin muttered, “Good thing I brought extra cord. Once
the K wears off, you’re going to have a hell of a headache man.”

Light
filtering out from the back door of the house pulled Gavin’s attention away
from the downed cop. The woman who took his coin appeared on the deck with a
small puppy. “Damn, they really do think that I can’t get to them?” Stepping
back into the hedge, Gavin pushed his way through the dense shrub, popping out
in the yard next door. With his back to the brush he ran a few feet down the
hedge row before pushing back through and jogging a short distance to the side
of the house. Using the shadows for cover, Gavin peeked around the corner of
the house and watched the woman as she sat the dog down on the ground where he
promptly began sniffing the grass.

Crouching
low, Gavin dropped to his knees. Hugging the shadows at the side of the house,
he crawled, stopping only when house met deck. He practically smelled the bitch
from here.