Delta Stevens 1: Taken by Storm (18 page)

“Relax a little, will you?” Laying her hands on Connie’s shoulders, Delta massaged them. “You’re pretty tight.”

“Uptight is more like it. Damn, Delta, I’ve scoured every possible corner, and I can’t come up with anything that would be a conclusive link to Williams.”

Sitting next to Connie, Delta grinned at Gin, who sat reading on the couch. “What does your gut tell you?”

Turning slowly from the monitor, Connie inhaled deeply before answering. “Gut?”

“Gut.”

Connie licked her lips. “I’d have to go with either Captain Williams or Trask. Those are the only two who have access to both the files and the dope. I lean more toward Williams because of the new change in evidence room policies and the fact that his computer files have the serial numbers, and I couldn’t locate them anywhere.”

“You don’t think anyone else can get in the way you did?”

Connie drew back in mock surprise. “Are you kidding? Most of the guys in the department don’t even know how to turn a computer on, let alone gain entry into someone else’s locked system.”

This made Delta smile. “Then how do you explain Miles’s name being entered twice on days he wasn’t in town? Don’t you think one of the evidence cronies could have punched it in?”

Connie nodded. “I thought of that. It’s entirely possible that one of them is in on it, but certainly wouldn’t be the main man. That’s why I lean more toward Williams. The man is a total pig. When is the last time you saw him on the ttstreets? I swear, he’s become a permanent fixture in that office.”

“That’s not enough to hang the man.”

“No, but with the evidence list, the serial numbers, the fact that Larson’s report was shot through, should be enough to raise someone’s eyebrows.”

Delta tossed the paper back on the table. “It’s still not enough. I’m going to have to get someone to say his name on tape.”

Connie took her wad of gum out and tossed it into the trash. “God that makes me nervous.”

Delta shrugged. “I never really thought there was any other way.”

Connie turned to Delta, her eyebrows scrunched in a deep frown. “I don’t want you out there alone. Isn’t there someone we can trust to watch your backside?”

Delta smiled. “There is.”

“Who?”

“Bear.”

“Bear? He’s not even in our department.”

“Exactly.”

“Does he know?”

“He knows that Miles was killed during some kind of investigation, but that’s about all. He told me to call him if I needed him.”

“You need him.”

“Can you link up with the computer in his unit?”

“No problem.”

“Great. Using Eddie, you two can keep in contact during my shift. If anything goes sour, you can call him to come bail me out.” Connie sighed. “I feel a little better knowing we have at least one friend out there.”

Delta agreed. “I think I’d better get some sleep. Tonight may be the longest night of my life.”

Connie turned from the monitor and looked up at Delta. “I wish I were going out there with you.”

Patting the top of the monitor, Delta grinned. “You will be. You think you have everything you need for tonight?”

Connie inhaled and nodded. “Gina and I are all set. How’s your end?”

Delta ran her hand through her hair. It was hard to believe that in less than twenty-four hours, it would all be over.

I’m ready. First move is the black knight’s. After that, they’re ours.”

Delta studied herself carefully in the full-length mirror hanging in Connie’s guest bathroom. She looked more different than she’d ever seen herself; there was an agedness, a sort of wisdom in her eyes that she hadn’t remembered seeing before. Perhaps it was just fatigue exhaustion from the mental chase she’d been on since Miles died; fatigue from battling grotesque emotions threatening to break her spirit and corrupt everything she believed in. She had closed herself off from these emotions, afraid they would entrench themselves so deep within her that she would back away from the only course of action open to her.

Delta admitted she was afraid. Fear was one emotion that kept cops from making stupid mistakes. Fearing the unknown, fearing the enemy is one thing, but being afraid of a friend was a different sort of fear altogether. With an enemy, she’d never let her guard down — she didn’t worry about looking over her shoulder because she never turned her back. This was a new game, and Delta didn’t know all the rules.

Maybe there weren’t any. Or maybe, for the first time ever, she understood the multitude of grays Megan had talked about.

Thus far, the media and the public believed there were cop killers on the loose. Every law enforcement agency within one hundred miles were on the look out for that damned van with a tattooed man inside. Delta hated thinking about the manpower exerted in tracking down the fictitious felon. Cops everywhere were drawing their weapons on every suspicious action or movement. An almost irrational panic swept over everyone wearing a badge. These killers had done so much more than cheat the system; they were responsible for at least two deaths and innumerable drug related crimes. Delta would see to it that they paid dearly.

Turning from the mirror, Delta walked into the bedroom, where Megan sat reading a textbook from one of her classes.

“You’re sure this guy Bear will be there for you?” Megan asked, letting the book fall in her lap.

Delta sat on the edge of the bed, and her bulletproof vest hiked up so she adjusted it. “I sure hope so.”

Megan held her hand. “Scared?”

“Shitless.” Delta could feel her pulse pounding at her temples.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

This made Delta grin. “It’s a good thing. Fear keeps you on your toes.” Sitting next to Megan, Delta leaned into her embrace. “It’s strange. The thing I’m afraid of most is that, after tonight, I may never work in law enforcement again.”

“Why not? If you stop them, you should be given a medal or something.”

Delta suppressed a grin. “Megan, even good cops don’t like snitches. Cops are a lot like politicians and professional athletes: we feel we’re not only above the law but that we should be allowed to handle everything in-house.”

“I see. So what you’re saying is, even though you do an incredible job, you’ll be ostracized nonetheless.”

Delta felt a pinprick in her heart. “Something like that.

You never can tell. If we get no support from the masses, I’ll be forced to give up police work.”

“That would kill you, wouldn’t it?”

Delta shook her head. “No, what would kill me would be to walk away. I can handle it if I give this everything I have and still have to leave. At least I’ll know I gave it my best shot.”

“That’s important to you, isn’t it? Doing right by people.”

Delta nodded.

“What must you think of me then?”

Kissing the top of Megan’s head, Delta hugged her tightly. “I think you’re the greatest thing that’s happened to me in a long time. I don’t care what you do for a living or what you’ve had to do in the past. I think I’m beginning to understand something about those gray colors you were telling me about.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“I wish I could say the same about your world. I don’t think I’ll ever really understand.”

Turning into Megan’s embrace, Delta kissed her hard.

“It’s not important that we understand what we do as long as we love and understand who we are.”

“And you really believe that?”

“With everything I’ve got.”

For a moment, the two women looked into each other’s eyes, speaking without words, and feeling without touch.

Slowly, their faces moved closer until their lips parted and met, barely touching, yet feeling that loving warmth. Gently pulling Megan to her, Delta wrapped her arms around Megan’s tiny waist and kissed her softly. It was as if the softer they kissed, the more they shared.

Slowly removing her lips from Megan’s, Delta kissed her nose and chin. “I do love you, Megan Osbourne.”

Megan smiled. “Then come back to me, Delta Stevens. Come back and take me to Hawaii like you promised.”

Standing to leave, Delta looked at Megan one last time.

“And we know I would never stand a beautiful woman up.” Kissing Megan’s forehead, Delta started for the door. “And you make sure Gina and the dogs are ready on time.”

Megan’s eyes twinkled. “In prostitute school, we learned that timing is everything. We won’t let you down.”

Closing the bedroom door behind her, Delta smiled and shook her head.

Prostitute school?

Connie was already at work when Delta arrived. She was furiously entering data into Eddie when Delta pulled a chair up next to her.

“Well?”

Connie did not look up. “We’re in.”

“Bear didn’t ask any questions?”

“Not one. He just said what you told me he’d say; that if you needed him, he’d be there.”

Delta sighed. “Great.”

“Are you expecting them to roll over right away?”

Delta nodded. “But I can’t bring them here. Once they start talking, I’ll have to take them to the county jail. If they get back here, we’re doomed.”

“Agreed. What are you going to do about your less-than illustrious partner?”

“I’ll have to feel him out first. It sure would be nice to know he was on our side, wouldn’t it?”

Connie nodded. “I sure would feel better knowing that both of you were looking for the bullet. Connie looked up from the monitor. “How’s Megan taking all this?”

“I can’t really expect her to understand it all. I’m not so sure I understand it all myself.”

Connie looked back at the monitor and lowered her voice. “She adores you, you know.”

“I know.”

“And from the looks of it, you’re pretty stuck on her, aren’t you?”

Delta felt herself warm. “She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. There are so many facets to her, it would take a lifetime to get to know them all.”

“I hope you have that long, Storm. I really do.”

Delta grinned and threw her arms around Connie. She no longer cared who saw. Tonight was her night. “Thanks.”

Reaching down to touch Delta’s knee, Connie continued.

“I’ll be listening to every sound you make out there.”

Delta glanced over at the portable AM-FM radio sitting on Connie’s desk. It appeared to be a typical radio-cassette, but inside, there was a CB radio locked in on the dispatcher’s frequency. A small thin earphone traveled down the floor and the ear plug at the end lay neatly coiled on the desk. It was an invention Connie rigged up years ago when one of the officers was a lover of hers. The CB enabled her to listen to the kinds of calls her lover was being sent to while she was working. She hadn’t used it in years.

“I feel better already.” Checking her watch, Delta waved to Taggart as he walked through the back entrance.

“You ready?” Connie asked, squeezing Delta’s hand.

Delta nodded. “I’m wired, and I have one for him when I catch him. I’ll put it on him the moment I’ve got his ass. Then we’ll let him hang himself and anyone else.”

“Just don’t get fancy. If he doesn’t talk, get him to the jail and don’t mess with it. He’ll confess sooner or later. You just need to get off the street as soon as possible. Lord knows, if they’re desperate enough, you might take a cop’s slug in the back.”

Delta nodded, feeling the cold creep up her arms.

Connie turned from the monitor, her face grim and unsmiling. “Don’t take any unnecessary risks out there. Being a dead hero won’t do anyone any good.”

Delta shook her head. “I’ll be more than careful, don’t worry.” Adjusting her vest, Delta stared at the monitor. The weight from her vest felt like the weight of the world.

“Keep your holster unlocked and your wits about you. If anything starts turning sour, bail out.”

Smiling warmly into her friend’s face, Delta patted the monitor. “You and Eddie and your little gizmo there should keep me safe for a while.” Looking down into the concerned eyes, Delta lightly touched Connie’s cheek. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

“Thank me when you walk through that door at the end of your shift.” Taking Delta’s hand, Connie kissed the back of it. “Be very, very careful my friend, and come home safely.”

Walking away from Connie and past the tinted glass of the Captain’s office, Delta gritted her teeth.

Gripping the door knob to his office, Delta gagged back the bitterness rising in her throat. Captain Williams looked up from the dim desk light, his face blank.

“I just wanted you to know, sir,” Delta hesitated after heavy emphasis on the word ’sir.’“That I WILL see you when this shift is over.”

Captain Williams’s only comment was the raising of one eyebrow.

“There just aren’t enough people in the world, sir, capable of keeping me from bringing Miles’s killer to justice. And rest assured—that’s exactly what I’m going to do.” Closing the door behind her Delta started off for the bathroom, feeling the bitterness transform into anger. He would not do to her what he had done to her partner.