Captured: A Bad Boy Romance (18 page)

The uneasy feeling inside his stomach just wouldn’t go away. Larsen didn’t like the man and was never going to. But Logan had requested a visit and he couldn’t very well say no.

“Detective,” Logan smiled and sat down without even a handshake, “I’m glad you could come by.”

“Not like I have a choice, now do I?” Larsen let out a belly laugh. “Feds always trump locals.”

“Very true. I have a few questions for you.”

“Sure thing,” Larsen nodded. “Ask away.”

“Obviously, we take the murder of one of our own very seriously,” He looked at Larsen and waited on him to nod his agreement. “I’m trying to piece some things together. Like who would have had a reason to target an ATF agent that wasn’t even on duty.”

Larsen didn’t mention that he was aware that Wallaby had been fired weeks ago. But for whatever reason, Logan wanted to pretend, Larsen went with it.

“Easy target would be my guess. You lot ain’t very popular around these parts.” Larsen shrugged. “Truth be told, even I’m not really sure what you guys do, other than overstep boundaries on my cases.”

“Well I’m aware that Wallaby had met with you on at least two occasions,” Logan continued. “I was curious if he was discussing anything with you.”

Larsen thought it over for a minute before he responded. It was a little unsettling that his meetings were public knowledge to a dick like Logan. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to be honest or not. He decided he’d be best to do just that.

“Well, the first time he had questions about Asher Hudson. Seems one of yours was kidnapped or something…” Larsen paused for a moment to gather his own thoughts. “Anyway, he came to me to ask about anything I might know.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“That she was probably dead,” Larsen looked down. “I feel real bad about that now. It upset him.”

“What about Hudson? Anything?” Logan pushed.

“I can’t remember everything I’ve said, Agent Logan. I’m sure you understand. It wasn’t a very important meeting in my mind at the time.” He shrugged. “I told him what I knew about Hudson. That the girl was probably dead. And that was that.”

“What about his second visit?” Logan pressed on. “Was it also about Hudson?”

“No,” Larsen shook his head.

“Then what was it about?”

Larsen watched him begin to fidget. He wondered what secret Logan was trying to keep hidden. “He wanted to talk to me about a job,” Larsen finally confessed.

“A job?” Logan asked.

“Yep,” Larsen looked Logan eye to eye. “Said he was unemployed and was interested in working with us. Wanted to know what he had to do.”

The detective watched the agents face go pale. Logan not only gained none of the information that he was hoping for, he had also been busted in a stupid lie.

“Well…we had parted ways just before his death,” Logan confessed his own truth. “But that’s all the visit was about?”

Larsen toyed with what to say. Finally he just nodded. “That’s it,” he lied. No way was he sharing that information. The last guy that knew it is now in the morgue with more holes than a wheel of Swiss cheese.

“And Agent Fuller? Has she been meeting with you?” Logan continued.

“Only twice.” The detective answered. “Before you ask, she’s working the gang case. Wanted to know if I knew anything about who might be selling these weapons. Seemed to think it might be her captor.”

“And you said what?” Logan was curious.

“Told her I didn’t doubt he was involved, but was sure someone else was as well. Maybe even Guiterro.”

“I see,” Logan finished. “I may need to ask more questions later, detective. You should probably let me handle the investigation into Agent Wallaby’s death. Wouldn’t want the person that got him to target you now.”

“Certainly don’t want that. But that’s fine. We have nothing anyway. Just gut hunches that it’s gang-related and somehow tied to Hudson.”

“Maybe that’s enough. Maybe it will get him off the streets for good.”

“Doubt that,” Larsen responded. “Won’t be the first time y’all dragged him into something like this.”

Logan nodded and stood up. “Thank you, detective, and stay safe. It’s a dangerous world we work in.”

“That it is,” Larsen said, standing as well. “That it is.”

With that he turned and walked out of the office, all the while trying to make sense of what had just happened. Larsen was pretty confident he’d been threatened, but he didn’t have proof. All he could do, was take it seriously and protect himself.

He grabbed his phone and made a call as he walked towards the diner. He had someone he needed to meet with and it was important.

***

“Why did you call me?”  Melissa asked across the diner table from Detective Larsen.

The diner had been a long way out of the way. Somewhere she wasn’t even sure she knew existed. Not that it was odd. After all, she hadn’t been here that long.

“We need to talk about your boss.” he said and his face remained serious and contemplative.

Fuller sat back in the chair and flagged down a server for some coffee. There was no doubt in her mind that this conversation was going to test the limits of her nerves.

The waitress left and Fuller turned back to the detective. “The last guy that told me about my boss is being buried Saturday. I happen to think I’m in danger. And now you want to bring more to me? I hope like hell it’s good.”

The conversation wasn’t much of a surprise. Other than Larsen told her about his meetings with Wallaby. There had been several of them. Larsen had apparently been helping Andy in his research.

The detective told her that Wallaby had felt horribly guilty for his choices the night she was kidnapped, but he’d learned she was okay and it helped him to feel better. She shared what she suspected on both Wallaby’s murder and the gang gun cases. Larsen just nodded.

As she talked, she felt guilty. She was telling this random detective more than she’d shared with her colleague or the man she was in bed with the night before. But something told her that she could trust him. Something told her that he was on her side.

“I don’t have all of the paperwork on me. Andy kept it. But he had some things I think you need to see. Things that none of us were aware of.” Larsen leaned forward. “It may make some things more sensible once you read it.”

Melissa wasn’t sure how or why she’d read it, but she nodded and agreed to do so as soon as she could. The two of them talked for about an hour and a half before they parted ways, separately, to go in opposite directions. It wasn’t until she arrived home that she realized she would, indeed, be reading the information.

A package was at her doorstep. It was from Wallaby. Dated the day she’d met with him. He had sent her what he had so that it was protected. And that someone knew it.

Melissa wasn’t sure she was ready for what it entailed to read it. Part of her wanted to call Hudson and have him with her. The other part of her feared for what she would find out about him. No doubt that Andy had taken on that research as well. His guilt would make him do so. He would need to know that she was safe from any future problems after she’d been kidnapped.

Grabbing a strong drink, Melissa took the folder and went to her bedroom. She wanted comfort and quiet as she pored over what Andy had sent her. She even grabbed her notebook to jot down whatever could help with her investigation.

She scanned each page, finding herself even more amazed with the things she was learning. Nobody that she knew was what she had thought they were. Nobody. And she had the proof in front of her. All of it.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t handle everything at once. Andy was dead. Logan was going to take a little more work. She couldn’t just walk up and confront him and question him about his choices. That would cost her job. Actually, if she were honest with herself, it would cost her life.

She read more and realized there were people she’d never suspected involved in things she’d never realized were going on. The corruption in this town was huge. The dirty people in high profile positions made a long list. But there was one name that struck her quickest. One name that she did have control over. One name that she could handle.

As she read the details the shock filled her body. Then the tears filled her eyes. She’d never known. Never guessed. Never would have guessed.

He
had
lied to her. Even though the lie was less than many of the others, it was still a lie. And for some reason it felt twice as bad as the rest of them. The truth would have saved them so much heartache and problems.

She grabbed the papers and put them back into the folder. She stood up and grabbed a new outfit to wear. One that was casual and relaxed. One that didn’t say
I’m really fucking pissed off
.

She combed through her hair and grabbed her keys and the folder. It was time to confront Asher Hudson for the final time. She was going to lay the truth on the table in front of him and let him decide what to do with it.

As she walked out the door she knew her life was about to change. She just wasn’t sure if it was for the better or worse. She loved him. That much she knew. He loved her. She was pretty sure of that. But this was serious. And she needed to fix it. Somehow and some way.

“You lied to me,” She couldn’t hold it in anymore. She let the tears fall. “Everyone lied to me. Nobody is what they seemed to be.”

“I wanted to protect you.”

“Bullshit,” she accused. “You wanted to protect what you were doing.”

“Both,” he agreed. “It’s important, Melissa.”

“I should be important!”

“You are.” Asher said. “You’re the most important person in my life.”

“Then I’d know the truth,” she looked at the floor. “You let me think…” her voice trailed off. “You let me say…”

She was almost hysterical as he wrapped his arms around her. He wanted to comfort her. He wanted to make it okay. But he wasn’t sure it ever would be again.

“I wanted you to form your own opinion,” he told her softly. “I wanted you to judge me for yourself.”

“I thought you might have killed him. For me. I thought you were…”

“I know,” he soothed her. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t fully trust you because of what you do. But this…”

“It’s something I can’t tell people.” He whispered.

“I’m not just people.”

“True.”

They sat like that in silence for a while. Finally she pulled out of his arms and looked him in the eyes.

“How long have you been working for the law?” she asked.

“Since I was seventeen. Someone finally believed me. And they brought me in. It’s been a long process. I’m ready to go back to living life. I don’t want this anymore. But we aren’t quite there. So I haven’t been able to leave. Or tell anyone. I’m shocked your friend found anything about this.”

“He showed Larsen.”

“Great.” He answered her irritation with his own. “If this gets out, I’m as good as dead. And Logan is as good as gone.”

“It won’t. We aren’t telling. We’re both in danger.”

“I know. And that terrifies me.”

“Me too.” She looked away. “I need to get home. I can’t get caught.”

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m angry,” she answered. “And hurt.” She walked towards the door. “But one thing is for sure,” she glared at the papers in her hand. “I won’t stop until Brent Logan gets everything he deserves.”

“Me too,” he walked over and kissed her forehead. “Drive safe, Melissa. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” she answered with a halfhearted smile.

***

“We have a problem,” Nelson spoke softly into the phone.

Logan listened as the idiot explained what he’d just heard. He then thanked him and sat the phone down in its cradle. This was not a good thing. That fucking bitch had everything. She knew everything. No wonder it hadn’t been at Wallaby’s place. She now had it. And she was going to use it.

He picked the phone back up and punched in a bunch of numbers.

“Yes?”

“It’s time,” Logan said.

“Are you sure?”

“I have no doubts.  She’s become a liability.” And he slammed the phone down.

Damn that bitch for forcing him to make this decision.

***

“Boss?” Nelson appeared out of nowhere.

“Yes?” Asher looked up. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s the agent,” Nelson’s face was pale. “She’s been in an accident.”

“Melissa?” Hudson jumped up. “Where is she? Is she okay?”

“She’s at the hospital,” Nelson put a hand on Hudson’s shoulder. “It’s pretty bad.”

“I’m going.”

“Boss, should you really…”

“Out of my way!” He grabbed his helmet and shoved past Nelson as he ran out the door.

Something in his gut told him it was no accident. Someone was trying to kill her. And he’d be damned if he’d let them finish the job.