“Damn it.” Erren’s fists hit the wheel. “Of all the rotten timing.”
They ended their Hansel-and-Gretel trek stuck to the east of the farming implement, with the Ford speeding away to the west, a dirt trail billowing in its wake.
“Maybe it’s not too late. Back into the cornfield and go around this guy.” But even saying the words as Erren put the pickup in gear, she didn’t believe they’d see that blue truck again. On the other side of the railway tracks, about half a mile down the road, was the city of Allen and an unlimited number of Ford F-150s.
Police or rogue pursuit?
“We’ve avoided the cops, but can’t keep following for long. So do you want to find the Allen P.D. or take this information back to Dallas?”
He slowed the truck for the upcoming stop sign. “I’m getting some coffee and a couple of breakfast burritos.”
“I have part of the license and a description. We need to report what happened and get an APB out as quickly as possible on that truck. I can go through the police files and find this guy or work with a sketch artist. What do you mean, you want to eat?”
“Exactly what I said, Darby. I’m hungry and I’m getting coffee. Fifty cell phones dialed 911 back at that school.”
“But we have proof. We can get help with the investigation.”
“Not happening. We have to get out of here. They’re probably looking for
“So all you’re interested in is delivering a package of you-don’t-know-what to someone you’ve never met and returning to your life in San Antonio?”
“I’ll be out of your hair and
He had to be joking. And what was wrong with taking notes? She was thorough, and documented what happened. So what? He said it like note-taking was a plague.
“What-A-Burger or Mickey D’s?”
He was completely and totally serious. So completely nonchalant about the entire encounter it seemed a part of his natural routine. Was working undercover so dramatically different from the day-to-day workings of the police department? Did they not uphold the same laws?
“But what if he has…”
“But what if he has what?” He stopped the truck on the side of the road, pulling halfway into the ditch and placing it in Park. “It’s time to stop toying with me, Darby. I need to know what’s in the package and where it’s located. What are you
He was no longer impersonating a military pilot, and the know-it-all drug dealer had been gone since he’d rinsed his hair. Her brother was right, the chameleon called Erren Rhodes changed yet again. His eyes became harder, like slow whiskey that carried a punch once it hit your gut.
“Pike was shot in the parking lot of the police academy. I heard the shots and ran outside to find him. He struggled and told me someone would come asking for a package. His last words were, ‘Trust him.’ I couldn’t ask any questions. I couldn’t find any type of ‘package’ during the last week. I’d given up hope, until you came to my house last night.”
His lack of reaction told her it wasn’t the story he expected. He angled his head forward and glared at her through the hair falling into his face. Other than the tilt, he didn’t move. She’d laid everything out for him. Well, everything except Michael being accused of Pike’s murder.
“Unfreakin’ believable.” He slammed the truck into gear. “I need to think. Since I can’t do that on an empty stomach and no coffee, I’m taking you with me. Don’t bother talking or trying to plead your case. I’ve never really had a partner before, O’Malley, but I’m fairly certain they don’t lie to each other.”
“YOU SAID WE WERE GOING to Lake Texoma? What part of the lake?” Darby asked.
“This just gets better and better,” Erren mumbled and shook his head, almost ignoring her.
Throughout their hour-long drive, he’d grunted or told her to be quiet. She ignored his sarcasm and watched him. Watching wasn’t hard to do. Even with his face turning different colors from the bruising, his features could be admired. Of course, her brother’s parting warning about not sleeping with her partner kept coming to her mind.
Often.
Rhodes was her partner. The attraction was just chemistry. A simple reaction to the adrenaline and the fact he was good-looking. Shoot…chemistry had been her only D in college. She sucked at chemistry.
“I haven’t been up here in a long time. Not since Connor shipped overseas and Michael was excommunicated from the Sergeant Major’s family gatherings.” Her father had purchased lake property closer to home and was satisfied to see her and Sean for Cowboys games and balloon festivals.
She watched several more miles of farmland, sprinkled with the occasional oil well. “My brothers and I used to count these pumps when we drove here to camp. We always took the same route and always came up with a different number. We could never understand how that was possible.”
Erren shook his head some more.
Each time he’d punched the radio on, she’d turned it off.
When she’d asked where Erren was headed, he’d mumbled something about a cabin. One of the few words mumbled during their trek north. She had hoped they’d talk more after they’d had breakfast, but it didn’t happen.
Just like a man to sulk.
He didn’t look in her direction. She kept watching the landscape, wondering which section of the lake he was headed toward. She’d grown up with three brothers and knew how to keep quiet when necessary. She also knew that constant, mindless chatter annoyed the heck out of them.
“Sergeant Major took up ballooning when I was about thirteen. Connor never really got into it, but Sean and Michael loved flying.”
Erren’s teeth gnashed. His free hand rubbed his jaw or tapped his thigh. He poked the radio on again. She imitated his movement and poked it off. He growled.
A few minutes later, they were somewhere on the north side of Pottsboro, pulling into an overgrown road where branches screeched against her brother’s paint job. They were close to the lake, but not on waterfront property, with a drive wide enough for only one car—or a bicycle and one oversized pickup.
“The cabin’s up this road a bit. Stay in the truck,” he commanded in a broody, lone-wolf deep voice many women probably obeyed.
“No.” She was poised and set to jump out as soon as he stopped the truck. She liked the anticipation building inside her. Something she didn’t understand but was ready to use.
Erren rolled to a slow stop and before she could open the door, he had the handcuffs around her left wrist. When had he obtained those from her service belt?
“What are you doing?” she asked, but knew the answer. He was forcing her to stay put. He didn’t trust her. The anticipation deflated like one of her father’s balloons.
“I’m ensuring that you follow orders this time.” He clicked the other cuff to the steering wheel. He hit the windows button, leaving them halfway down. “Your orders are to stay put.”
“You’re leaving me here?” He couldn’t be serious. Could he? “Don’t go in there alone.”
“It shouldn’t take you long to pick the lock.” The look on his face specifically told her he knew she couldn’t. “You do know how to pick a lock, don’t you?”
The man was too arrogant for anyone’s good. He’d get himself shot and she’d be a sitting duck. As he left the truck, the sun flashed off the dagger at his neck. She caught his reflection in the side mirror…the pirate grin was back.
Sitting in the car like a naughty child wasn’t teaching her anything about field work. Erren turned ninja walking into the woods. He disappeared quickly and she couldn’t hear any sounds of him tromping around.
That was her problem. The man wouldn’t leave her head although her normal, clear-thinking brain certainly
