Complicated Matters (24 page)

   “So that’s your problem.” She sat back rattling her chains. “You just want the satisfaction of seeing me strapped to that little, metal table. I cheated you out of watching me die.” She leaned forward, but two guards sat her back down. Her thick lips turned upward into a smile revealing a line of straight, white teeth.

   Taylor’s eyes narrowed. “I had time to do a little digging. Did you know Stevenson had a baby on the way? Morales had just gotten engaged a month before he was murdered.”

   “And my only daughter will graduate Medical School come June.” Flo stretched her arms as far as her chains would allow. “What’s your point?” 

   “You cold hearted bitch.” He snapped. “So tell me, what are you going to do when the others learn about your past occupation?”

   “That was part of the deal.” Flo smiled the way she did when she tricked Taylor into getting Farrah out of the house the night of the break-in. “My past is my secret. As far as anybody around here is concerned, I’m just another importer of chemical enhancement products and a procurer of useful devices. So, is Farrah looking forward to going to the University?”

   Taylor sat back and crossed his ankle over his thigh. He laced his fingers behind his head and relaxed. “I checked on that as well. All systems are go. Except, I know it was Phillips’ idea. Not yours. But thanks for asking.”

   “I take it you’re not going to answer me. I’m guessing your concerns about losing your job over her were as unfounded as your concerns about her developing a crush on you. By the way, bugging your office was a sweet trick. I couldn’t tarnish that shield of yours even one little bit.” She held up her thumb and forefinger to measure about a half of an inch.

   “Is this really how you want to spend your thirty minute visitation? ‘Cause, Boss Lady, I could do this all day long.” Taylor came close to laughing. “I only came here because you asked me to. Now why don’t you tell me what you want?” He leaned across the table.

   Flo looked down at the table for a few minutes. Her features softened. She radiated all the wonderful qualities for which Taylor had come to like her. She looked back up at him. “I just wanted to tell you, I’m glad it was you who figured out it was me all along.” She flashed him a smile. “Too bad you couldn’t seal the deal by talking them into executing me for the murders of those two agents.”

   Taylor knew nothing in a visitation area was guaranteed private. She insinuated she had beaten him by getting life and not death. He’d be damned if that was going to happen. 

   The guard called time.

   Taylor stood up and took a few steps to the exit door. “So long, Special Agent Florence LaBoe.”

   Two weeks later, LaBoe was attacked and beaten to death in the exercise yard of the Union Correctional Institution. Although the yard was crowded, there were no witnesses to the act.

   When the warden called Taylor, his only response was, “I see Miami traffic jams aren’t the only places people go blind, deaf, and stupid.”

Chapter 27

   It was over--the deception, the trial and sentencing phase--the entire nightmare was in the past. Taylor and Farrah were finally free to explore their feelings.

   Deputy Bonner told Taylor about a little spot out in the woods he and his wife used as a get-away. He once offered to let Taylor use it.

   Although it was late October, the weather was still warm during the early part of the evening.

   Taylor decided it was time he took the deputy up on his offer. He ran up with him in front of the Freeze and Fry. “Hey, David. You want to have lunch? I’m buying.”

   “Sure. I never turn down a free meal.” 

   Bonner was few years older than Taylor, other than an extreme dislike for the indoors, they had little in common. But Bonner had a way of talking that kept you interested in what he was saying. He and Taylor grabbed a couple of cheeseburgers and headed for the shaded picnic tables behind the restaurant.

   Taylor shoved a short french-fry into his mouth. “Is there something on your mind?”

   “Unless you’re an expert gift buyer, I doubt it’s anything you can help me with.” Bonner took a swallow of his Pepsi.

   “You never know until you ask.”

   “My fifth-year weddin’ anniversary’s comin’ up.”

   Taylor smiled. “Congratulations. That’s great.”

   “Great that someone like her put up with me that long. Bad that I don’t know what to get her.”

   “What do you have in mind?” Taylor bit into his burger.

   “I don’t know. Katrina’s been fantastic about not complainin’ about all the over-time I’ve been puttin’ in. I want to do something real special for her. You know--quiet with just the two of us.”

   A light went on inside Taylor’s mind. “Have you ever thought about cooking dinner for her? Women really like that kind of thing. The hard work shows you care.”

   Bonner shook his head from side-to-side. “Man, I can’t cook. The last time I tried, I set the kitchen on fire.” 

   Taylor grinned. “I can.” 

   Bonner put his elbows on the table. “Did I mention our anniversary is tonight?”

   Taylor shook his head.

   “You can see why this has to be something special.”

   “All you have to do is set the scene. I’m talking bubble bath with scented candles, clean sheets on the bed, soft music; the works. You might even get started on that baby boy you want.”

   Bonner sat back on his bench and raised an eyebrow. “Okay, Taylor. What’s in it for you?”

   “Your hide-a-way for the weekend. I’ve got some impressing of my own to do.”

   “I won’t ask who.” He wrote down the gate codes. “You’ll need this to get in.”

   “Thanks, man.” Taylor tucked the paper into his shirt pocket. “Meet me at my house around five to pick up your meal.”

   “You got it. Have fun this weekend.”

   “Who said anything about it being this weekend?”

   “Everybody knows who got sentenced to what.” He winked. “And all the agents are gone. So I’m guessing you’re ready to tell Farrah Mathews you love her.”

   “What?” Taylor’s voice elevated.

   “Don’t deny it. Every time you get around that girl it’s like you’re fightin’ yourself to not touch her.”

   Taylor blushed. “I didn’t realize I was that obvious.”

   “There are some things a man can’t hide. In case you didn’t know, she checks you out when you’re not lookin’.”

   He couldn’t believe it. All that hard work was for nothing. “I thought we were being discrete.”

   “You were as far as the FDLE was concerned.” Bonner winked. “The people around here had you under a microscope. You two make a good lookin’ couple. The citizens of Morgansville like both of you. Why don’t you run for sheriff and stay a while?”

   “You think I’d win?”

   “You would with Farrah Mathews standing by you.”

   “I was at her high school graduation. The people turned on her when she announced she was turning down the scholarship to Duke. It was brutal.”

   “Then you came to her rescue. I was there too. The people started discussing you in longer terms that night. This is a good place to raise kids, don’t you think?”

   Taylor had to admit Bonner had a point. His heart dropped. “Farrah has other plans. She’s going to The University of Florida.”

   “When was that decided?”

   “A while back. She wants to play pro ball. In order to do that, she has to play college ball. She’s hoping for a spot as a recruited walk on.”

   “Too bad. The old ladies will have to find someone else to gossip--I mean
speculate
about.”

   *

   Taylor made a quick trip by the store and gathered his supplies. Farrah already had him thinking in terms of long weekends just off campus. Bonner put visions of little blonde-headed babies in his head. While he was cooking, he made a quick call. “Hello, Farrah. Do you like motorcycles?”

   “I’ve never ridden one,” she answered.

   “I thought we might go for a ride this evening if you want. Maybe we can have a sunset picnic. I’m a pretty good cook.”

   “Why, Sheriff Taylor, are you asking me out?”

   “Are you game?”

   “I don’t know. Did you ask my father’s permission. That’s what old-fashioned gentlemen do.”

   He thought she was beautiful before, but that kind of humor just made her irresistible. She’d already been in his bed. He was not about to ask her father’s permission. “Do you really want to put me through this? That means I’m gonna have to go over there and blow my horn. Champ will start barking, the horses will get spooked, and who knows what your dad is likely to do? He might spend hours questioning my intentions toward you.”

   “What time should I be ready?”

   “I thought I’d pick you up around six. There are still have a few things I need to take care of.” Taylor’s pulse was racing. He realized he could finally be himself around her. Would she be into him once all the danger was over?

   “Six is perfect. I’m looking forward to it.” 

   Bonner knocked on Taylor’s door around five. “You done?”

   Taylor handed him a picnic basket. “I even threw in a bottle of sparkling cider.” 

   “Sparkling cider?” Bonner backed up a step. “Do you know somethin’ I don’t?”

   “I know I didn’t have time to drive to Georgia to pick up a bottle of wine. You can’t get anything but beer and wine coolers around here.”

   Bonner laughed. “Point taken. Thanks, man. Gotta go.”

   Chapter 28

   “Father we thank the for this fo--” A loud roar that sounded like a chainsaw on steroids interrupted the Mathews’ family blessing. John looked up. “What’s that?”

   Farrah ran down the hall and into the living room. “It’s Heath.”

   “Please don’t tell me there’s more trouble,” said her mother.

   “Not the usual kind.” John left the dinner table and headed for the door. “The kind where I have to put the fear of the Lord into the sheriff.”

   “Daddy, please.” Farrah looked out the window. 

   Taylor stood beside a motorcycle wearing the leather jacket she was so impressed with. The metal rivets sparkled like diamonds in the afternoon sun.  His black t-shirt and nicely fitted jeans gave her feelings she never knew existed. 

   “We’re going on a picnic.”

   “Not before I lay down the ground rules.”

   “He already knows them.” She grabbed her denim jacket off the coat rack. “Ya’ll have a goodnight.” She kissed her dad on his forehead. “Love you. Don’t wait up.”

   “We won’t,” Alex laughed.

   “Weenie.” She ran out the door. “Be there in a second, Heath.” She crossed the yard and stared at the motorcycle. “Do you really expect me to get on this thing?”

   He patted the leather seat. “Don’t insult my woman by calling her a thing.”

   She’d ridden plenty of horses, but motorcycles were out of her element. “Are you sure you want me along for the ride?”

   “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have with me.”

   He was out of her element too. “I want to be with you.”

   He leaned forward grinning. His eyes directed at her neckline. “Oh really?” 

   Heat covered her face and neck. She started regretting wearing her white tank top. “That’s not--” That was exactly what she meant. Why did she say it out loud?

   “What’s wrong? Did the Great Farrah Mathews suddenly lose her nerve?” He pulled a leather jacket from his saddle back. “Maybe this’ll help you find it.”

   She grabbed the jacket and held it against her body. “Thanks, Heath. It’s beautiful.”

   “Take off your denim jacket and put it on. Time to discover your inner city woman.”

   She’d seen city girls when they visited Morgansville. It wasn’t a tourist Mecca, but there was an excellent hunting lodge. Well-off people stayed there during the summer and were pampered like royalty. She hoped she’d never be that shallow. “It’s just I--

   Something sparkled. Her eyes widened. She stepped closer to him. I never noticed you wearing an earring before.” She fingered the little diamond stud in his left ear.

   “You’ve never seen me do a lot of things.” He fingered a strand of hair laying on her shoulder. “Come on. Give my lady a chance.” He took her hand and glided it over the chrome gauges. “She reminds me of you.”

   An uneasy feeling manifested in the pit of Farrah’s stomach. She wanted to pull away. She yielded to his touch. Her skin tingled. “Are you saying I’m cold and hard?”

   His body felt hot and hard when he pressed against her backside. Not knowing what to do, she froze.

   “You’re stunning.” He traced the gas tank with her fingertips. An American eagle engraved in black coming in for a landing. He glided her hand across the black, leather seat. “Do you like it?”

   She wondered if he were still talking about the motorcycle. “I’m not sure.”