Bronco's Rough Ride (Bad Boys of Beta Squad, 0.5) (10 page)

John settled the “I heart Las Vegas” t-shirt over his shoulders and buckled the belt on his jeans. They sat a little low on his hips and bagged around the thighs, but they’d do until he got his truck and gear back. He carried the duffle bag Lindsey had brought for him into the living room and set it beside hers as she wiped down the counters in the kitchen.

“Ready?” she asked.

“Yeah. I got everything out of the room and made the bed.”

“With hospital corners, I’m sure.”

“Is there any other way?” He grinned as she laughed. “I’m gonna load the last of the gear into the car.”

“Thanks. I’m just finishing up here.”

John nodded and ignored the oddly comforting feeling of the domestic existence they’d shared for a few days. The detox had been painful, but Lindsey’s presence had dulled the edges and soothed the excessive agony. He wanted more domestic bliss with her.
Let it go, Andrews. You gotta get to Coronado.

He shoved the disappointment deep and threw the bags into the trunk of the car. Lindsey appeared on the steps, locked the door, and hid the key under one of the rocks in a flowerbed beside them. She turned and scanned the gravel road behind the car, sighing. He turned to follow her gaze and listened hard, expecting the sound of an engine or a helo. Only the breeze through the pines met his ears.

“Everything good?”

“Yeah, we’re good.”
The brief smile she gave him didn’t light her eyes as she unlocked the doors to the car and got in.

“Thanks for bringing me here. Best
safe house I’ve ever stayed in.” John buckled his seat belt as she started the engine.

“Me, too. It helps that no one knows about it except me.”

“And now me.”

“Right.”

They didn’t say anything more as she drove them back into Vegas. John settled into his thoughts, turning a blind eye to the world passing outside the windows. He’d have to say goodbye to Officer Lindsey Jarvis and get back to his duty as a SEAL. It should be enough. The adventure, the duty, all his actions centering on changing the world for the better.
Just like Lindsey’s doing here.

But as they pulled into the underground parking structure of the Las Vegas Metro PD, the words felt hollow and cold. He wanted more.
Let it go, Andrews. A SEAL’s life is too fluid to have a long-term commitment.
He spent most of his time away, doing things he couldn’t talk about to anyone.
She deserves better than that. Really.

“Ready?”

“Yeah. I’m good.” As good as could be expected.

They left the gear in the trunk and took the elevator up to the first floor of the station. Lindsey’s body
straightened into what John thought of as ‘official business’ mode and by the time they stepped out into the foyer, she’d become all cop. He donned his patented SEAL mask and followed her past the front desk.

“Hey, Jarvis. Long time no see.” The booking sergeant smoothed his hand over his bald
scalp as his gaze slid over Lindsey’s V-necked shirt and capris. “You here for Dabner?”

John swallowed the growl burning in his chest.
She’s not mine so I can’t get twitchy about some jackass drooling over her.
He’d drooled over her at a distance, but not in her face.
Have some class, asshole.

“Yeah, she’s expecting me.” Lindsey returned the man’s stare with a look John described as “unstable awareness
.” She didn’t smile, she didn’t frown. She simply stared at the desk sergeant, acknowledging him without emotion.

The man
sat back a little and swallowed hard then sneered. “Who’s that you got with you, Jarvis?”

“A witness, Schroder. Are you gonna let us pass or what?” Lindsey signed her name on the check-in sheet.

“He’s gotta sign in.” The desk sergeant scowled as he pointed at John.

“No, he doesn’t. Not until Dabner sees him. Then you’ll get your paperwork just the way you like it.” Lindsey leveled the man with her soulless expression.

“You can’t just waltz in here after two years and think the protocols don’t apply to you.” He leered a greasy smile at Lindsey, flexing his front desk power.

John resisted rolling his eyes.

Lindsey didn’t react, just pulled out her phone and tapped a message into the screen. The desk sergeant’s smile slowly faded as she ignored him. Within seconds, the front-line phone rang and he picked up the hand set.

“Schroder.
” His face creased into a scowl. “Yes, ma’am, they’re here…No, ma’am, but—” Schroder clenched his jaw. “Yes, ma’am. Will do.” He hung up the phone and leveled some ferocious stink-eye at Lindsey. “Guess you’re clear to head back.”

“Guess so.”
Her expression never changed as she marched past the desk into the offices beyond.

John followed her
, swallowing a smirk.
Damn, she’s hot
. He had to hand it to her. She’d learned how to put men in their places after her time in Madame LeBeau’s realm.

More than one set of eyes followed them as they made their way to the offices in the back. The whole place smelled like sweat, frustration, and gun oil. Not exactly an armory, but enough weapons rode the hips of the inhabitants to create a distinctive smell.

“Jarvis, good to see you.” A tall woman with blond hair and the body of a supermodel grasped Lindsey’s hand and shook it, her gaze falling on John. “Glad you made it in. Is this your witness?”

“Yes, Courtney. This
is Chief Petty Officer John Andrews.” Lindsey shifted her gaze to his and she raised her chin with a proprietary smile. “Let’s go to a more private place to discuss the case. There’s a lot we can tell you.”

Courtney gestured to one of the windowed rooms behind her. Lindsey nodded and led the way. John found a seat in one of the relatively uncomfortable chairs at the table. Lindsey sat beside him and Courtney took the seat across from them.

“All right, Jarvis. Let’s get tape on this. Chief Petty Officer Andrews, my name is Detective Courtney Dabner, and anything you can tell me about the inner workings of Madame LeBeau’s sex-slave industry will help us make our case against her.”

John and Lindsey spent the next four hours relating everything they’d learned in the last week of his incarceration at the hands of Madame LeBeau.
Lindsey filled in the holes to John’s story and they told a diabolical tale of abduction, drug intoxication, forced prostitution, and murder. The damning evidence would put LeBeau and her cronies away for at least a century. Lindsey knew most of the heavy players and investors, while John described the way the victims were gathered and a few of the women who pulled them in.

Curiously, the name of the sexy, sultry woman he’d met the first time he woke up in Madame LeBeau’s dungeon never came up.
He filed that away to ask Lindsey later.
If there is a later with her.
The thought sank his gut, but he ignored it. Duty first.

At last, they had covered everything they could think of and Courtney stacked her notes with her phone and a satisfied smile. “Thank you, Chief Petty Officer. This will help us nail this bitch and take her down.”

“Anything I could do. You have to give most of the credit to Detective Jarvis, though.” John glanced at Lindsey with a smile. “She was the one who found me and pulled me out. She’s a damn good undercover detective and I was lucky she had my back.”

“
Sex crimes detective.”

“What?” He and Lindsey spoke at the same time.

“Sex crimes, Chief Petty Officer. The paperwork went through today, as a matter of fact.” Lindsey gasped and Courtney nodded with satisfaction. “Yep. As of this morning, you’ve be assigned a desk. Congratulations, Jarvis.” She grinned and shook her head. “HR will be contacting you to fill out the necessary paperwork as soon as you can.”

They all stood and John held out his hand to Lindsey. “Well done, Detective Jarvis. Congratulations on your new job. Guess this means you won’t be undercover anymore.”

“Yeah.” Her smile was tinged with disbelief.

“
We have also found your truck and secured your gear, Chief. If you’ll follow me, we can do the paperwork to have it released to you.”

“Thank you,
Detective Dabner. I’m glad it could be recovered.” He followed the women back into the main squad room.

“Let’s get you squared away and you’ll be free to go. I believe Coronado is expecting you by Monday?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded then paused. “That is, if it’s still June. Time didn’t have much meaning when under the drugs.”

“It’s still June, Chief.” Lindsey handed him a clipboard with several forms on it. “I made sure to get you out with plenty of time to spare.” Though her face held a smile, her gaze seemed unfocus
ed and her voice held distance.

John suppressed a shiver against the loss of intimacy
as he signed the forms releasing his property back to him.
It’s for the best. I have my duty in Coronado and she’s been promoted to detective, just like she wanted.
The logic held strong, but it didn’t fix the disappointment dogging its steps.

“Thank you for that, Detective Jarvis.”

Her smile broadened with the new title and gave him a measure of pleasure as he handed the clipboard to Dabner.

“Thanks again for sending Jarvis to me. She did a remarkable job undercover as well as getting me out safely.” He glanced at Lindsey before returning his gaze to Dabner. “Not that my recommendation means much, but if she ever needs a reference for commendation, I’d be happy to give mine.”

Dabner raised her eyebrows. “High praise coming from an operator of your experience, Chief Andrews.”

“Yes, ma’am. Detective Jarvis deserves it, ma’am.” John didn’t mind admitting it.
A SEAL’s only as good as his team and I’ll take her as a teammate anytime.
“A hell of an investigator and undercover agent. She’d do well in SpecOps if the military let women in the front lines.”

Lindsey’s eyes had grown wide and a blush stained her cheek
s, but John meant what he said. It was unlikely women would ever be in the SEALs, but she had the skills to rival any CIA agent he’d encountered.

“Thank you, Chief.”

“I’ll note that in her file for future reference, Chief. Thanks for the tip.” Dabner handed him his keys and gestured toward a side entrance to the building. “Your truck and gear are in the secured garage through that door.” She held out her hand to shake and he took it. “Glad you made it out safe and are on your way. Your statements will bring this system down hard and LeBeau won’t be getting up or out anytime soon.”

“Will I be called to testify later?” John didn’t believe he’d be free to do so, but he wanted to check.

“Probably, Chief. While your statements are damning, due process requires your presence. When the time comes, the DA will be in contact with your unit.” She looked him up and down with consideration. “I don’t think anyone will be coming after you. That’s not their style. They seem to go after only local fish.”

“Wouldn’t matter if they did.” One thing he knew: if LeBeau sent someone after him, they’d learn the hard truth about the adage,
‘Mess with the best and die like the rest.’ “They’d have a whole mess of trouble getting to me and would be liable to meet the business end of a weapon if they did.”

“Yep. Good luck and safe journey, Chief Petty Officer.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Dabner retreated to her desk and Lindsey pulled him toward the door to the garage, her body language
emanating professional and distant courtesy. John understood the why behind it, but still ached for the loss of their connection.

They stepped through the door and into the sultry heat of the garage. Even though it sat shaded, the summer temperatures of Las Vegas filled the space with rippling warmth and John thanked God he’d worn a t-shirt. Lindsey said nothing as she checked the receipt he’d been given for the location of his truck.

“There it is.” She pointed as she strode for the silver pickup and he enjoyed the flex of her ass in her capris as he inhaled the scents of baking motor oil and hot metal. He certainly wouldn’t miss the oven heat of Vegas when he left.

But he’d miss Lindsey’s sexy heat.

Let her go. She’s got a life now.

Lindsey paused at the truck and looked up at him, her gaze full of conflicting emotions and t
houghts. He couldn’t read them. He didn’t know her well enough yet.
Yet? You won’t get the chance, Andrews.

“Here you go, Chief. I wish you good luck, fair skies, and clear water. May the wind be always at your back and your sails full.” She held out her hand.

John wanted to take her hand and pull her into his arms, holding her for one last time, but he respected her professional façade. He squeezed her palm gently and shook it before unlocking the door.

“That’s a helluva blessing you gave. Kinda mixed things, didn’t you?”

Lindsey laughed. “Yeah, but my grandfather always said blessings don’t have to be said the same as long as they’re meant from the heart.” She sobered and sincerity filled her expression. “I wish you the best of luck, Chief. And—” She stopped, shaking her head. “No, just luck.”