Another Man's Treasure (23 page)

 

 

“Can
I
return
the
favor?”

 

 

“Oh
course,
baby.
There
is
nothing
I
would
love
more.”

Miranda
ran
her
soapy
hands
over
Jude’s
chest
and
shoulders
in
slow
circles
as
she enjoyed
the
feel
of
each
muscle and every
ripple.
His
body
fascinated
her.
Jude
was
fit and
taut...not
toofont>
bulky
or
too
lean.
In
Miranda’s
eyes,
Jude
was
the
perfect specimen
of
masculinity
and
she
loved
him
so
much
it
hurt.
Jude
noticed
a
tear
had escaped
Miranda’s
eye.

 

 

“Mandy,
you
ok?
Why
the
tear,
baby?”

 

“Jude, I just can’t believe how much I love you.”

 

“I love you more than life, Miranda.  Believe me.”

 

 

“I
believe
you,
Jude,
and
it
makes
what
is
coming
our
way
less
scary
for
me.
I
know Ross
doesn’t
have
good
news.
But
I
will
get
through
this
knowing
you
are
with me
and
love
me.”

 

As Jude
and
Miranda
dressed,
they
discussed
approaches,
scenarios
and
outcomes. No
matter
what
Ross
had
to throw
at them,
they
felt
ready.
What
did
Ross
have for
information?
That
thoughze=/fot
alone
scared
them
both.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ross pulled up to the farmhouse and parked behind Jude’s SUV.  He noticed the plates on the Lexus were California tags…Miranda. 

He sat and wondered what her reaction would be when she saw him again. Miranda and Ross had met before tonight.  She just didn’t realize it, and neither did Jude. 

Ross knew Jude better than anyone.  He knew about Jude’s past and his quick temper from their college days.  They were roommates and best buddies and kept in touch long after Ross left for the West Coast to pursue his career as a private investigator. 

Ross crawled out of the sedan, sputtering to himself. 
Who the fuck made the arrangements for this rental for him?  He would kick his ass the first chance he got! 
Annoyed as hell,
he slammed the car door, straightened his leather jacket and put his game face on. 

Ross was a 6’4”, 240 pound hulk of a man.  Bald, sporting a goatee and a massive tattoo across his
well-defined chest and shoulders, Ross could intimidate anyone with just a glance from his steely blue eyes.  At the same time, he could calm a small child lost in the department store with a smile.  He was a gentle giant with a heart of gold, as long as you didn’t fuck with his family.  Cross that line and you would witness hell on earth. 

Jude heard the car pull up and opened the front door just in time to see his college friend pull himself out of the car, sputtering and swearing.  Jude was laughing as he approached Ross.

“That’s what you get when you’re bigger than the fuckin’ Egyptian Pyramids, dude.”

“Ah, Delaney, you jealous fuck!  Good to see you, it’s been too long.”

The two old friends bumped fists back and forth and slammed each other’s forearms together, their version of a hug since college.  They reminisced a few minutes before they turned and approached the house.  Miranda stepped out on the front porch, wide-eyed and slack jawed.  Her mind started to race ze=/fisceas she looked directly at Ross Guthrie. 
What was Trevor doing here?

“Miranda, what’s wrong?  You look like you have seen a ghost!”

“I...I...I think I have. What are you doing here, Trevor?”

“Who the fuck is Trevor?  This is my college buddy, Ross Guthrie.”

Ross put his hand on Jude’s shoulder to calm him down.  Jude’s eyes darted back and forth between Miranda and Ross.  Miranda’s eyes narrowed and her facial features hardened.

“This is Trevor Wilkes. Hank Castile’s business partner.”

Jude’s hands balled up into fists.  Something here was very wrong and he was going to get an answer one way or another.  Ross reached into his coat pocket and showed his identification. FBI.

“Jude, man, settle down.  I have some explaining to do.  Let’s go inside.”

“What the fuck is going on, Ross?  How do you know Miranda and what’s up with the alias?”

They walked into the house and Jude took Ross’s jacket, unveiling his holster and glock.  Jude’s eyebrows raised and he heard Miranda gasp.  He grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.  Ross chuckled in an attempt to lighten the moment.

“Yeah, I get that reaction a lot from the ladies.  Miranda, it’s good to see you again.”

“Wish I could say the same Trev....Ross.  Right now I am freaking out.”

“I’m confused too, Ross.  Let’s have a seat and talk about what is going on?”

“Look, Jude, when I moved to Los Angeles after college, I started out strictly as a PI
, doing investigative work for the LAPD, working with the Internal Affairs Division   I was investigated and eventually approached by the FBI to help them bring down a drug trafficker.  I went undercover as Trevor Wilkes, Hank Castile’s business partner.  I worked with that piece of slime for 2 years prior to Miranda’s relationship with him.  When my bosses told me who Miranda was, it was imperative to keep my identity quiet.  I couldn’t risk blowing my cover and putting her in danger.  Not only was I there to take Castile down, I was there to protect her.”

Miranda and Jude looked at Ross, confused and full of questions.  Ross took a deep breath. 
This was going to suck.

“I don’t understand, Ross. What is the connection with Mandy, Castile, and me?  Other than the fact that I want to kill the son of a bitch.”

“Protect me?  From Hank, his business affiliations?  Is that what you mean, Ross?”

“Partly to protect you from Castile, the drug lord, and his future plans.  Also to protect you from the truth of your past.  Hank Castile had a younger brother.  The parents put the younger child up for adoption at the age of 8.  Fuckers practically sold him for drug money.  Theneyto y kept Hank, and at the age of 12 had him running product for them on the streets of LA.  Police caught them, took them down and placed Hank in a foster home, but the damage was done.”

Ross stopped, looked at them and then shook his head.  Miranda and Jude sat with their mouths open.  This was too surreal to be true.

Jude got up from the table and paced the floor.  He grabbed three beers from the refrigerator, popped the tops and handed one to Miranda and Ross.  He took a long drink, sat back down and grabbed Miranda’s hand. Jude looked at Miranda and she nodded yes.

“Ok, Ross, spit out the rest of it.  We’re ready.”

“This sucks, but I am going to say this flat out.  The youngest boy was adopted by a nice family from Virginia.  David Jones was Hank Castile’s younger brother and his East Coast drug runner.”

Miranda stood up, staggered back and knocked her chair down.  Ross jumped and grabbed Miranda before she fell, then settled her onto Jude’s lap.  He set the chair upright and sat back down. Jude held Miranda tightly as she sobbed. Her world was falling apart and Ross delivered the blow causing it to crumble.

“Everything I knew as a child was a lie?  What do I believe?  Who do I believe?” 

“Shhh, Mandy, we will figure this all out.  It’s going to be ok.  Ross and I will figure this out.”

“Miranda, Jude, there is a lot more information, but I think later would be better. I am here for the duration.  I am here for you and we will settle this once and for all.”

Ross slapped Jude on the back and nodded.
What a fucking mess.