SAFE (5 page)

Once they finished, it was after midnight and the Lone Star was putting out last call. It was time to call this day done and Ty was ready for his bed. He could feel his bones calling for a horizontal position and his head begging to just shut out the world. When he got this tired Ty knew it was impossible for his neurons to fire on all cylinders so it was no wonder he almost missed his new partner’s softly uttered last words as she crawled into her own unmarked SUV.

“Don’t think a late night dinner and being nice will make me forgive you.” He watched as she sped out of the almost deserted parking lot and back the way they had come, taillights bright in the darkness of the Texas night.

Son of a bitch. This was going to suck great, big fur balls for sure!

Chapter 5

June 2005

Dear Diary:

I didn’t get to go to the Prom Dance and I didn’t have the money to order my own senior book for next year so I didn’t buy one. It was a choice, you see. My senior ring, cap & gown, or senior book. The costs all came at the same time and Momma said she didn’t have the money for me so I had to choose. She told me if I wanted it so bad then I had to pay for it myself, but I still couldn’t go to the dance. Man, Gram’s was ticked when I told her about that when I got down there on spring break. Gram never says a swear word but she did then.

Momma’s still mad at me over the neck thing and the nurse finding out. The nurse calling Dad was a really bad thing. I don’t know what was said after we got home because Momma and Dad always go to their special place to “talk” when they argue. But it had to have been awful, because they were gone a long time. My sisters have been angry with me for weeks, saying it’s my fault Momma is in such a bad mood all the time but I didn’t call Dad, the nurse did that.

I did get to go to my Gram’s early for the spring break though, which was cool. I love going there, because we can work on my “gifts” and I don’t have to hide them from Momma. Gram says Momma is afraid of them but I think she just hates me because I’m different. I’m not like my sisters. I don’t cook or sew and I want to learn important things like math and science, not teaching.

August 2005

Dear Diary

I’m graduating early. I took courses during the summer thanks to Gram’s help and talked to the school counselor. I have enough credits to graduate in December and have been on the Honor Roll enough that they can’t stop me from graduating. I’ve enrolled in college with the help of my Gram’s and going to stay in the Girl’s Dorms. My Dad is furious that I didn’t tell him until it was all done but I knew if I did he wouldn’t be happy about it. I applied for scholarships and student loans, and Gram’s had some money put in a trust fund for me to go to school on if things got bad. I can do this. I know I can.

I have to leave because I can’t stay here with Ty close by anymore. He can’t know what’s going on with my Momma or I’m not sure what he’ll do. If he goes to Dad it will be terrible because Dad doesn’t like him and Momma thinks I’m nothing but a slut anyway. I can’t be the reason for my parents to have more problems. I have to go and prove to myself and them that I am more than what is here. Family is important, but I have to prove that I can do this.

Momma thinks all a girl is good for is either teaching or making babies. I can’t live that way. I have to make a difference and she hates the fact that I’m different, that I see things differently. So I have to leave.

* * *

The week had been one of the worse ever and taking a toll on Melissa’s temper. She came awake the next morning groggy, slapping the loud noise on the bedside table before her brain kicked in and her eyes could open. The nightmares were getting to her, causing her to lose what little sleep she was able to get once she was able to hit the bed. She knew why. It was one thing to push the memories away, another to be in the same town, even the same county as her family.

Her sister and her family lived in Amarillo, the nephew she had never met just graduated from Amarillo High School. Her father now lived in Lake Tanglewood and she stayed away from there. She and her father hadn’t spoken since her mother’s Memorial Service. Those things were not the best place for reunions, and with a dysfunctional family like hers it was even more chaotic and feelings ran high. She had made it to the services just as they ended and the looks from her family and their friends had been telling.

Melissa hadn’t been expected or wanted at her mother’s service. It had taken long hours and pulling a few strings, but Buck had managed to get her a private plane charter to get her back to her hometown. She didn’t want to think about who or what she owed in exchange for that favor but Melissa knew that one day it would be called in. She had learned from hard experience that you never received anything for nothing.

With her emotional blocks already at maximum overload there was no way she would be able to handle any interaction with her sister and or seeing her father right now. He truly thought she was possessed and once Gram’s was gone there really wasn’t anyone else in her family that she cared to spend time with other than her Aunt and Uncle. After she had left for college, then the Academy, it was as if her father only had two daughters and that was fine with her. Her mother had been ill for a long time and her death was a blow to her sisters, even if it was something that God and the doctors couldn’t change.

She knew it was dangerous going down the emotional roller-coaster with her family again. Not when it was bad enough she came awake with her gun in one hand, reaching for the light with the other. It was always the same when she was in a strange place, but lately it was worse. Sitting on the side of the bed in a pair of shorts and a tank top, she listened to the air conditioner silently trying to suck the humidity out of the air as her body worked to kick itself awake and Melissa knew she needed a hot shower and caffeine, in that order if she was going to wake up.

Thank god she was almost OCD about her coffee because all she had to do was flip the in-room coffee maker to “On” as she walked into the bathroom and turned the shower to as hot as it would go so steam begin to fill the bathroom. Stripping, she turned it down to as hot as she could stand it and stepped into the hot water, groaning as the water hit sore muscles and neck tendons that were screaming she had bent over the laptop too long for the last couple of days. She needed to get out in the field and run down leads but until they could get the information from CSI and confirm what she suspected, run it by the Task Force, it was just running in circles.

Shampoo and body wash were quick and soon Melissa was wrapped in a large towel while blow drying her hair and putting on a minimal amount of makeup. She had always kept it light, never needing much more than moisturizer and a light foundation. A quick turn of her lashes and she was done.

Since today was Saturday, she opted for dark jeans and sleeveless cotton shirt that could breathe in the humidity. It was rare that she wore anything like this to work but it was her day off and few would be there except the Task Force so she wasn’t going to worry about it.

Once dressed and ready, Melissa looked around her room. It took only a minute to set her “tells” to let her know if anyone had come into her room that wasn’t supposed to be there. A long thin hair strand placed above each window sill, a tiny piece of paper looking like a tear from a corner of paper slipped under the bathroom doorway left half open. It was things she had learned over the years to protect herself, especially right now. Something or someone was coming for her on this trip, Melissa could feel it moving through her senses like an evil fog sneaks up

She would be moving hotels tonight. Call her paranoid but she was sure there had been eyes on her neck last night coming in the hotel. It was time to move. It could have just been someone who may have known her from the neighborhood, or not.

Twenty minutes later the bullpen was quiet and Melissa was making her coffee when she heard the first members of the Task Force filtering in the conference room. She had expected to have at least a couple of hours before anyone else came in. Looking over her shoulder she shouldn’t have been surprised to see Ty walk in the door.

“Coffee’s almost ready.” She didn’t look up again, but poured her own brew and walked back to her office.

Ty watched her from the corner of his eyes as he poured his own coffee and decided to chance it. What the hell. Live dangerously, right?

“Thank you for taking me to a great place for dinner last night,” he said, standing in the doorway of Melissa’s office. She looked up over her coffee cup with bright blue eyes as if it was a shock someone might actually thank her for something.

“Just doing my duty, Agent DuValle.” A quirky little dimple peeked out from her cheek and Ty wished he could get her to smile more. The thought caused his stomach to flip and his cock to go hard in an instant.

“What’s on the agenda for today?” He took a long sip of his coffee, amazed it tasted as good as it did for station-house coffee. Ty looked down at his cup and then back over his shoulder. He would have to make sure he put money in the pot for whomever picked up the grounds because this stuff was better than most. He almost missed Melissa’s next words.

“I need to finish the review of these interviews, then hopefully if the rest of the group comes in we can discuss them. If not, I need to go talk to a few people. Afterwards, I need to relocate my stuff to another motel.” She said it so nonchalantly Ty didn’t comprehend what she meant until it registered.

“Why are you moving hotels?” He continued to drink his coffee but for just a blink of an eye Ty saw the hint of something flash over Melissa’s face. If he didn’t know better he would think it was fear but what would a decorated DEA Agent with over five years of outstanding service have to worry about? She wasn’t in the public eye on this case, Buck Stanfield had made sure he took all of the heat from the media on this one. They hated him and he loved it. When she still didn’t answer him, Ty pushed again.

“Melissa, is there something Buck and I need to know about?” Ty stepped into her office, pushing the door almost closed and leaning against the inside of the wall. He watched her, the slight change in respiration and a sprinkling of moisture just above her upper lip. It could have been the humidity of the office coupled with the hot coffee but Ty didn’t think so. He was good at waiting a suspect out and he could wait Miss Melissa McKinney out just as easily. Ty was about to say something else when the door was slammed open and a loud voice rocked the office.

She never got to answer the question before Chip Nicholson came barreling into the bullpen.

“Well hell, McKinney. Now you’re flashing those boobs at the new guy and trying to run the investigation your way just so you get all of the glory on this one. Why not just take it back to your hotel instead of bringing it to the station.” Anthony Chip Nicholson stood with his beefy fists on his lean hips as he glared at Melissa where she sat behind her desk, oblivious to Ty standing just behind the door.

“Ty, don’t!” she shouted just before Ty grabbed the newcomer by the shirt front and pushed him up against the panel outside of Melissa’s office.

“Apologize.” He kept his voice low and calm, but the look in his eyes was deadly. “Now!” he said, giving Nicholson a shake like a rug that needed airing instead of an Agent who should have more manners than attack a fellow team member.

“Ok, ok,” Chip tried to say but Ty had his shirtfront up around his windpipe and it was a little difficult to talk at the moment.

“Let him go, Ty.” Melissa’s hand pulled at his fists and it was then Ty knew he was holding the dumb fuck a little too tight. “It’s ok. It’s par for the course.”

“Not on this team it’s not.” Ty eased his fist just enough before getting back in Chip’s face. “Didn’t hear your apology yet!” he growled.

“I’m sorry,” Chip said quickly, looking between the two of them. His face was red and his breathing fast.

“What’s going on here?” Buck’s loud voice echoed through the bullpen and everyone froze.

“Ah shit,” Melissa whispered under her breath, pushing away from Ty to go back to her desk.

“Boss, can I talk to you a minute?” Ty called, dragging the now quiet Nicholson behind him. He made sure the other agent stood still as he filled Stanfield in on the inappropriate behavior he had been at the end of and wanted to ensure Agent McKinney was not going to be used as the butt of more jokes because of it. Once he was sure the boss had the dickhead well in hand Ty headed back to find Melissa’s office empty and her stack of files in the middle of his desk with a note on top.

“Here is what I’ve found so far. Brief them if you want. I’m off to the safe house to talk to the kids.”
Melissa’ scrawling initials were at the bottom of the note and he felt his stomach clench. Something more was going on here than just harassment in the ranks.

Ty slammed his hand down on his desk, making his coffee cup move around. Son of a bitch, he had hoped to talk to Melissa a little more before everyone showed up. His hand ran through overly long, dark hair, reminding him that he needed a haircut. It was time to see what the rest of the Team had to contribute and hopefully it would distract him.

The bullpen was quiet so he moved to the conference room where Danny and Paco were quietly discussing the case. As he entered all conversations stopped but Ty was use to office gossip.

“Put a lid on it, guys!” he growled, moving to sit across from them. “Ask your questions before you choke on them.”

“What happened with Chip?” Danny asked, looking over at his Hispanic partner.

“He stepped over the line. Chip needs to learn to take directions, not mouth off when he doesn’t like something.” Ty took a sip of his coffee, waiting and watching the gerbils wheels turn as they put facts together.

“He’s always been a hothead, Ty.” Paco squirmed in his chair, picking his words carefully. “He and Melissa came out of the Academy about the same time. It has always been hard for him to realize she’s on the Fast Track instead of him.”