Dead Heat (11 page)

Paige couldn’t help the feeling that all the lines in her life were blurring. Her fake relationship with Cole was starting to feel more and more real. Her friends’ fake deaths were starting to feel more and more real. Paige stood up and started to pace the room. She didn’t like the feeling of not being in control. The feeling that she was starting to become confused on what was real and what was fake.

“She sure did. But, Cole, I need to see Dani and Kenna right now.” Paige stopped pacing in front of him and looked him in the eyes.

“I am sorry. It would give their cover away if anyone sees you going there.”

“I will do it without you then.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Cole, it’s getting to me. Our fake relationship suddenly seems real. My friends’ fake death suddenly seems real. I just need to see them,” she pleaded.

“Okay. I have an idea.” Cole picked up his phone and walked into the kitchen.

* * *

Paige slipped on Dinky’s extra uniform and pinned her hair up and under the SHERIFF ball cap. Dinky and Noodle were stretched out in front of the television while Cole changed into Noodle’s uniform in the bathroom.

“Thanks for helping me out guys.”

“No problem. Just tell the gals we say 'hi',” Noodle said in his Southern twang.

“Ready to go Paige?” Cole asked as he walked out of the bathroom. Paige nodded as she stared at him and swallowed. There was just something about a good looking man in uniform.

“Okay. This will be real easy. Just walk out and get into the passenger side of the cruiser. Pull the cap low. Walk slowly and confidently.

Paige and Cole headed downstairs. She followed Cole out the door and went straight to the door of the cruiser. Cole meandered through town for twenty minutes until he declared them free of any tails.

The trip to the hospital was made in quiet. Paige was too confused to want to talk about anything. She was still trying to work through her feelings. As they approached the hospital, she started bouncing her legs in anticipation of seeing her two friends.

“It’s okay, Paige. They are recovering and are safe.”

“I’m just anxious to see them.” Paige opened the door to the car as soon as they stopped. She hurried to the back entrance where Cole flashed his badge and got them in.

“Kenna is over here.” Cole strode through the hospital wings until he reached the maternity ward.

“What are we doing here?”

“It’s where they are staying. The maternity ward is constantly monitored with video, heightened security guard presence and a check-in reception area. It would be very difficult for someone to find them here.” Cole flashed his badge and was instantly surrounded by security and a nurse who was clearly one of Mo’s undercover guards. “Cole Parker, FBI. This is Paige Davies. Here is our ID.” He handed over his badge and her driver's license. He just shrugged when he saw her glaring at him. He must have gone in her purse and gotten her license while she was changing. After being cleared, they were lead to Kenna’s room first.

“Go ahead, I want to talk to the doctors. I will be in shortly.” Cole brushed back a piece of Paige's hair that had come down from under her cap and gave her a slight smile before turning towards the nurses’ station.

“We are both doing great. I am due in early February.” Kenna was still in a tank top, her right shoulder was covered in gauze while her arm was in a sling. Her auburn hair was braided in pigtails and she looked happier than Paige had ever seen her.

“Actually, I am glad you stopped by. Kenna and I have been talking about what to do about the football team,” Will said as he stood up so Paige could sit in the chair next to the bed.

“What about the team?”

“After all this and knowing we have a baby on the way, well, I am not sure I want to coach next year. I may just volunteer part-time. But, I don’t want to hang the boys out to dry. The only way I will step down is if Cade will take the head coaching job. Do you think he would consider it?” Will asked.

“Of course he would! He loves it.”

Will looked so relieved. Paige couldn’t wait to tell her brother.

“But, don’t tell him yet. I am still trying to convince him I will be fine. I know he loves coaching and I don’t want him to stop for me,” Kenna told her.

“Okay. I’ll let you all decide and then you can tell him the news.”

“So, a more interesting question is... what’s going on with you and Cole? I heard you all went at it in some closet. Nice.” Kenna winked at her and Paige felt her face color.

“It’s complicated. It’s a fake relationship that has real qualities. And, how could you possibly know that?”

“We get so many calls a day on Will’s cell phone. Apparently Edna ran into John on the way home and by the time she made it to Miss Lily’s, John had already called. Edna was pissed. Anyways, all I have to say is it took you all long enough. You two have been shooting off sparks for months now.”

“Actually, I am putting you all up at my house. You’ll have more room. It won’t be anywhere on the books or use any FBI funds so there is no way the shooter will find out.” Cole paused for a second and opened the folder he had been carrying. “Now that you’re feeling better and not under any pain medication, can you look this over and sign it? It’s your affidavit.” Cole handed her the document and stepped back.

“Do you still need Dani’s?” Kenna asked as she started reading. Paige wanted to laugh at how fast her lawyer mask fell into place.

“Got it before you came back from your honeymoon. We also got Whitney’s back when we arrested her at the Derby. Your affidavit is the last one we need before we can simultaneously move on your old boss, Bob Greendale and Whitney’s father, Senator Bruce. Chad confessed to Bruce’s men dumping the bodies on Bob’s swamp property. We have narrowed down which property. After a sweep of that property, we expect to find at least one body. The way Chad talked before Dani shot him, there could be dozens more."

Cole continued, "We will have men sitting on the rest of the ring. Once we have evidence of a crime, mainly the murders of those women, we’ll move in and arrest the whole group. My boss will then fly in from D.C. and interview them personally. There will be no pulling of rank on younger officers here.”

“How long until this all goes down?” Kenna asked as she turned the page and continued reading.

“As soon as I get your affidavit, I will fax it and they will start mobilizing tonight. They will probably coordinate the watchers at first light. When they are in place, we will serve the warrants on Bob and Bruce. I expect it to start tomorrow mid-morning with the whole group brought in by the afternoon.” The way Cole stood and the way his eyes were shining, Paige could tell he wanted to be there. After all, he was the lead on the case and he should be there.

Kenna just nodded as she continued reading the document. She turned the page and Paige could tell Cole wished Kenna would hurry up. He was running his thumb along this finger tips, giving away his excitement to get the warrants served. Kenna just held out her hand and Cole placed a pen in it. She made a couple of small notations and initialed them. Then she signed the document.

“There. Go do your thing, Agent.” Kenna handed the document to Cole. “Dani is next door planning her wedding. Make him take you there before he goes running off to New York.”

“Why didn’t you tell us? Are you okay?” Kenna had an amazing ability to flip in between lawyer mode and caring friend, much like Cole with his cop mode.

“I am fine. Marshall is putting in a state-of-the-art security system. Nothing for you to worry about.”

“She’s right. Just focus on getting better. Red will be here tomorrow to transport you to my house in an ambulance. I am sure Mo will send some of his men ahead to scope things out once I talk to him.”

“Okay. Be careful and call Will’s phone if you need anything.”

Paige walked out the door Cole was holding open and smiled. Her friend was happy and her baby healthy. She looked at Cole and gave him a small smile too.

“What?”

“Thanks for bringing me.”

Cole slung his arm around her shoulder and steered her to the room one door up. “Anything for you.” He lowered his head and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before knocking on the door. Mo opened the door and Paige smiled at her friend’s fiancé. He was in a three piece black suit and looked like he was in a board room, not a hospital. She had never seen him out of a suit, but Dani swore she had him in jeans once.

“Paige. Cole. Danielle will be so happy to see you.” Mo displayed calm grace as usual. Not even a shooting could overshadow his royal upbringing.

“Hi Mo. How are you both doing?” Mo opened the door for her and Dani smiled when she saw them.

“We are doing well. The chest tube comes out tomorrow and then we get to go home in a week or two,” Dani answered for him. “But, that’s nothing compared to the gossip I am hearing.”

“What gossip and how are you hearing anything?” Cole asked. Paige rolled her eyes at the cop mode he had switched into and then tried to signal Dani to shut up. She gently shook her head, held her finger to her lips. When Dani ignored her, she cut her finger across her throat and Dani just smiled. “Oh, all about some hot make out action in the closet of Southern Charms. You couldn’t even wait until poor Miss Edna picked out her hat, could you Cole?”

Paige buried her head in her hands and groaned, but not before seeing Cole smile. She thought he would be embarrassed, but instead he seemed proud.

“Pretty uncomfortable. I can’t wait for the chest tube to come out. However, Mo and I have gotten a lot of wedding planning done. Speaking of which, Paige would you be my bridesmaid?”

“Of course I will!”

“Wonderful! We were thinking December seventh. It will be Mo’s thirty-fifth birthday. Figured to give one little barb at my future father-in-law for his inane contract forcing Mo to marry by then.” Dani smiled and held out her hand for Mo. “Although, I must say, your parents have been great. They are hanging out with my parents and they sneak in to see me every day. The moms are even planning a bridal tea for when I am recovered.”

“That’s great. I bet you are very relieved it all worked out.” Paige smiled and felt the same twinge of jealousy she had felt seeing Will and Kenna in love just moments ago. It was a happy jealousy though. She just hoped she’d be as fortunate as her two friends with love.

“Cole, fill us in on the investigation,” Mo asked, but it came out as more of a demand.

“Yes, sir!” Cole joked. Mo gave a sheepish smile as Cole continued, “Kenna just signed her affidavit. Along with Whitney’s and the two taped affidavits I have of Dani, the FBI will move into action tonight and if we have enough people, the whole operation will be done by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Enough people?” Mo asked.

“Yes. Lots of manpower for this operation, but at the same time it has to be manpower we trust. We need enough agents to sit on every member of the group while two teams go through Greendale’s and Bruce’s property. We don’t want to tip anyone off and send them running for the airport,” Cole explained.

“Take Ahmed and some of his security. We have a full team here. I can easily spare ten men. One of my men can assist one agent, thus keeping the chances of a leak low while providing all the manpower you need.”

“Thanks, Mo. Give me a second to call my boss and I’ll let you know in a minute.” Cole opened the glass door and stepped out into the hallway.

“Girl, about damn time.” Dani smiled as she leaned back into her pillows and reached for Mo’s hand.

“About time for what?” Paige had a feeling this conversation was not going in a direction she wanted.

“About time you finally made a move on that man. You two have been eyeing each other for as long as I've been here. I thought you two would explode if you didn’t get it on soon.”

“Yes, it has been very uncomfortable for us. We are so glad you both realized what all of us were seeing," Mo chimed in.

Oh no. Mo too? How did everyone see something that she was only starting to get glimpses of? Before she could react to the fact everyone just assumed she was now in a relationship, the object of said relationship strode back into the room.