A Voice from the Field (32 page)

“But Chief,” Jackson said, “you saw what's up there. Some shit went down.”

“I know, Travis. Just leave her,” the chief said.

Tia could hear TJ continuing to protest as he climbed back up the ladder. The rest of the officers and deputies followed him up, escorting the other captives. Tia could tell, by the woman's scream, when Elaine Delafield first saw her husband. Her shouting was immediately mixed with the calming voices of paramedics who were undoubtedly already working on the injured agent.

The pit itself was silent and Tia thought she was alone until she heard Ben's voice, thick with sad emotion. “You did all you could, Tia. You did all
anyone
could. Take all the time you need.”

Connor knelt beside Tia, still in his ghillie attire but with his face wiped mostly clean. He looked somber. He reached for her, but Tia leaned away and would not look at him. Expression unchanged, he waited for a long moment, then got to his feet and left. Tia felt nothing, not even regret that she had hurt him once again.

Tia stared into the quiet face of a dead girl whose name she would probably never know, whose brief life she would never fully understand. A girl who had begged for help … but no one had listened. Minutes passed and the voices above faded. Silence fell.

At last, the normal sounds of a peaceful night returned. Time went on.

Still Tia sat there, in the black pit, dimly lit by the beam of her flashlight.
What a lonely place it must have been to die.

Tia pulled her knees up high under her chin, lowered her head, and cried.

 

FORTY-ONE

“Hey, Tia. How you holding up?”

The familiar voice seemed to reach her from a thousand miles away and she was reluctant to even acknowledge it. She'd managed to drift away to a place where there were no consequences for failure. No shame or death. No unnamed bodies to bury. But she knew all those things mattered, so she allowed herself to be pulled back to the present.

She was sitting at her desk, facing a blank computer screen, just like she had been for almost an hour. No idea what to write, how to summarize recent events.

Beyond exhaustion, she gave just the slightest nod of her head when she turned to face the speaker. “Hey, TJ.”

“Chief's asking for you. He's got that Stahl guy in his office. Along with the sheriff and some other guy I don't know.”

Tia nodded.
Here it comes,
she thought. “Thanks, TJ.”

“You sure you're okay?”

“Yeah. I'm fine. Tough couple of days, but I'll be all right. Thanks for asking.”

“Sorry about the girl. I should have–”

“Not now, TJ.” Tia shook her head and put her hand up, then realized she'd come across as harsh. “Sorry. I just mean, don't worry about it for now. There's a whole long list of people, me included, that are going to say something that starts with ‘I should have.' Just not now.”

“Yeah, okay,” TJ said. She could tell he understood. “Well, be careful talking to those guys. I mean, don't go off on anybody. And, don't say any more than you need to.”

She smiled. “Thanks, Counselor, but I'm good. Sawyer's got my back.”

Tia took the familiar walk, thinking of the two days since her last summons to the chief's office. That time, she'd thought she was going there for the last time. She shook her head at herself. She'd survived that and everything else they had thrown at her. Now she thought,
Here we go again
.

Tia walked in to see Ben behind his desk and Sheriff Solo standing nearby, looking out the window. On the couch, Lester Stahl sat, staring at her with the sort of look he might give to a dog with mange. Next to Stahl was Elliot Gage practically glowing with self-righteous satisfaction.

When Tia entered the room, Ben stood up and the sheriff turned around. Both seemed at a loss for words. Stahl and Gage whispered to each other. Tia decided to set the tone. She did her best to mask her exhaustion as well as the overwhelming sadness that she had not been able to shake.

She addressed her boss.

“We've cleared the crime scene, Chief. Last I heard, Agent Delafield was conscious and responsive. He was headed into surgery, but his prognosis is good. I don't think we'll be talking to him until sometime late tomorrow.”

Tia looked at Stahl, then back at the chief. “From what he was able to tell me, the case we have against Kane will be strong. Multiple counts of kidnapping. Conspiracy to commit rape. And, of course, now we have him dead to rights for murder.”

Stahl frowned slightly at Tia before turning to the chief. “Kane will be transferred to federal custody. I am here to initiate the process.”

Tia didn't wait for Ben or the sheriff to respond. “No, he won't. He'll be charged in Waukesha County Courthouse on state charges. Kane is my prisoner. And you should know, your informant, Jessup Tanner? He's being taken into custody as we speak.”

Stahl stood and closed the distance between them. “The federal government has more than three years invested in this case. It is a major case of domestic terrorism. National security dictates that—”

“Your case is shit,” Tia said defiantly. “Hell, you don't even have a case. All you have are the rifles, which were recovered from Tanner's property. Kane is already claiming no knowledge.”

“We'll charge him with conspiracy to purchase, along with the assault against Agent Delafield and the kidnapping of his family.” Stahl faltered and his voice turned sheepish. “And of course, he'll be charged with the death of that girl.”

Tia glared back. “He's in state custody. For murder. That's where he'll stay.”

“Chief Sawyer,” Stahl said, turning to the local authority, “this is obviously a situation that should be handled at an executive level. Perhaps we should dismiss the rank and file—”

“Shut up, Stahl,” Ben said crisply.

Stahl went silent, his face taking on a look of shock and confusion. Tia was inwardly amused but kept her expression neutral. When Ben spoke again, she easily picked up on his anger, mixed with what sounded like disgust.

“You have screwed this case from the start,” the chief said. “You've got nothing but a questionable firearms deal and an informant who will be shredded on the stand. As far as your undercover agent being nearly killed and a young woman being murdered, all of that is a direct result of your incompetence. The last thing in the world your case needs is a courtroom.”

Clearly flustered, Stahl worked to hold his ground. “That isn't your decision.”

“He's right, Ben,” Sheriff Solo chimed in, stepping away from the window and staring at Tia. “It's my decision. Most all the crimes were committed in county jurisdiction.”

Stahl lifted his chin with satisfaction and opened his mouth, but Solo put out a hand. “It's a county case and it will
stay
a county case. But obviously, we'll work hand in hand with Newberg PD.”

Solo turned to Tia, his manner serious. “Detective Suarez, if you wouldn't mind coordinating the investigation from this point forward? Interviews, evidence collection, liaison with the district attorney? It would all be much appreciated.”

“Of course, Sheriff.” Tia nodded. This was a victory, but not one to take pride in. It was a chance to do the job right.

“Apparently you've both forgotten,” Stahl said, “that Detective Suarez was involved in a shooting on Jessup Tanner's property a few days ago. A man was killed. The federal government still has an interest in that case.”

Stahl turned to Ben and went on. “It is my understanding, Chief, that you had been told of Detective Suarez's instability, that she was not fit for duty. I believe this whole situation calls for some federal oversight.”

“He's right, Chief,” Gage piped in. “There is no way Detective Suarez should have been put in that situation. She was in no condition to be working in the field. I think I made that clear in my report.”

“A report,” Stahl said, “that I have read in its entirety.” In a condescending tone, he said to Tia, “My, you have had a tough time of it, haven't you, Detective?”

Ben shook his head as if annoyed with the games. “Well, until someone tells me different, this is still my department and it is sure as hell my office. Gage, you can leave.”

“Chief Sawyer,” the doctor said, “I think you—”

“Leave, Doctor,” Ben repeated curtly. “Or I can have you escorted out.” He reached for the phone on his desk

Gage got up from the couch. He brushed by Tia without looking at her as he headed out of the room.

“Just so you know, Stahl,” Ben said conversationally, “I've already spoken to your assigned counsel, Ms. Graham. Based on the facts as they stand now, she has no interest in pursuing federal charges.”

Tia saw Stahl's eyes widen fractionally in shock.

“Tell you what, Stahl,” she said. “I've got a few crates of M4 machine guns and ammunition you can have. We've got no need for it.”

Clearly furious but thwarted, Stahl walked to the door. “This is not over, not by a long stretch.”

“That I agree with,” Tia said. “But we'll do our best to keep your name out of it. I think we'll all be better off that way.”

Stahl left, practically slamming the door behind him. Tia turned around to look at the sheriff and the chief. She knew they each realized that there would be no victory celebration at the end of this case.

No high fives. No gloating over showing up the feds. There would be no sense of vindication coming out of this. Tia nodded at the sheriff, then addressed her boss.

“I'll get back to my desk then, Chief. I've got a good bit of paperwork to get through.”

Ben looked at her quietly for several seconds, then nodded. “Get to it, Detective. Let's wrap this up.”

 

FORTY-TWO

With stomachs full from a dinner of roasted pork, refried beans, fresh tortillas, and jicama sprinkled with lime and chilies, Tia and Connor walked out onto the front porch of the farmhouse. There was a coolness in the air and Tia wondered if it was the first hint of an early fall. She looked up into the trees in the dying light of the sun and, sure enough, a half-dozen leaves were tinted with orange. Ringo came up the steps, back from some sort of adventure, his beet-red tongue hanging from his mouth. The dog pushed past Connor to put his head under Tia's hand. She dropped down and pulled at the loose skin around his head. He leaned into her, tail beating.

Connor patted his stomach. “That was amazing, Tia. I had no idea you could cook like that.”

“Thanks,” she said, giving the dog a final pat and standing up. “There are two things unmarried Mexican girls must be. Good cooks and verifiable virgins.”

Connor smiled, rolling a toothpick to one side of his mouth. “Yeah? One outta two ain't bad.”

He leaned against the porch railing and Tia leaned on him, her arms around his waist. The silence was long and comfortable, but there was a question Tia still wanted to know the answer to.

“What brought you to me that night, Connie? Did you listen like I told you to? Did you hear a voice?”

He kicked his head back and the sound of his laughter filled the quiet night. “You just aren't going to let it go, are you? The answer is no. I wasn't following any voices.”

“Okay, what then?”

“Nothing as mysterious as that, I promise.” Tia poked him, signaling without words that she was waiting for an answer. Connor shook his head and said, “You know, if you want to keep slinking around at night like some secret agent, you ought to disable the GPS on your phone.”

The laugh burst out of her, completely unexpected. Tia rolled her eyes and smacked her own head.
Duh.

“Sorry about all that, Connie. I should have told you. I thought Delafield was being straight with me and I didn't want to involve you. I had no idea it would get that crazy.”

He turned within the circle of her arms and took her by the shoulders, pushing her slightly away. He looked her straight in the eyes. She saw no condemnation there, nothing but honesty and warmth. “You got nothing to apologize for. Nothing you tell me will make me regret what I did. That wasn't a hard call.”

“So you're going to come out okay??”

“Well, both Sawyer and the sheriff made it pretty clear they'd rather not have civilians all kitted up and out on recon patrols, but they seem willing to make an exception this time.”

Tia pulled him close for another hug, then took him by the hand. “Come on. I need to show you something.”

She led him down the worn path, still holding his hand, convincing herself the time had come. She was really going to do this. Ringo followed them off the porch, then ran ahead.

“Remember all that time I spent down in Mexico after the shooting? Convalescing, they called it.” She kept her tone light and he matched it.

“Course. You were there what, two months? Called me twice, I think.”

“Yeah. Sorry, it was a…” Tia paused. “I had a lot on my mind.”

“I think we've pretty much moved on,” he said, sounding a little puzzled.

“Yeah, but I need to tell you some things. About me.”

They arrived at the trailer. Tia took a deep breath, looking at her old home. Ringo sniffed at the green grass, turned around three times, then dropped like a lead weight. He held his head high as if enjoying the peace that had returned to their lives.

“I've never brought you down here before,” Tia said, “but this is where I grew up. I lived here with my parents from the time I was five until I joined the marines.”

Connor's face lit up with sentimentality. “No kidding? How come you've never showed me?”

Tia shrugged. “I don't know. Kind of embarrassing, I guess. Bunch of Mexicans living in a singlewide trailer behind the big house. I kept it pretty quiet growing up.”