Kade (11 page)

But those rifles didn’t stop Jamie from getting out of the car.

Jamie spared the ranch hands a cool, indifferent glance before she slid on a pair of dark sunglasses and strolled toward them as if this were a planned social visit. No nerd status for her. Jamie was tall and lean, and she had her long auburn hair gathered into a sleek ponytail. Kade had always thought Jamie looked more like a socialite than a nurse.

“How did you know I was here?” Coop demanded.

“I didn’t.” Anthony looked past him and put his attention on Bree. “I came here to see you. It’s all over the news about the shooting, and since Agent Ryland wasn’t at his office in San Antonio, I thought he might bring you here. Obviously, I guessed right.”

Kade hoped it was a guess, and that Anthony didn’t have any insider knowledge. Of course, Anthony could have learned Bree’s location from his father, but Kade didn’t think the two were on speaking terms.

“Why’d you want to see Bree?” Kade demanded while Anthony and Coop started another glaring contest with each other.

“Because SAPD has been hassling us again,” Jamie calmly provided. “And Anthony and I thought we’d better nip this in the bud.”

“What are you planning to nip?” Kade asked, and he didn’t bother trying to sound friendly. He wanted all three of these people off his porch and off his family’s property.

“You, if necessary.” Jamie turned toward Kade, though with those dark shades, he couldn’t tell exactly where she was looking. “You had your shot at investigating us, and you found nothing on me other than a few charges that you can’t make stick.”

“Not yet. But at least you’ll do some time in jail. That’ll be enough for now.” Kade knew it sounded like a threat, and he was glad of it. “Bree’s been through hell and back, and someone will pay for that.”

Anthony pointed toward Coop. “What about him? He should be the one paying.”

“I warned you about those lies.” There was a dark, dangerous edge to Coop’s voice.

Still, Anthony came closer, but he pleaded his case to Bree, not Coop or Kade. “Did Agent Cooper tell you that he provided
security
to the Fulbright clinic and that he was paid a hefty amount for his services?”

“Security?” Kade repeated over Coop’s profanity-punctuated shouts that this was all a crock.

Anthony nodded, and Jamie strolled closer until she was near the bottom step and standing next to Anthony. “It’s true. Anthony’s father told me that Agent Cooper kept the local cops from digging too deeply into what was going on.”

Coop turned that profanity tirade to Jamie, but it didn’t stop the woman from continuing.

“Hector said Cooper was stunned when he realized Bree, one of his own agents, had been sneaked into the undercover assignment at the clinic that could ultimately land him in jail.” Jamie paused, a trace of a smile on her dark red lips. “And Anthony here has proof.”

Anthony had a bit of a smile going on, as well. Kade could understand why—
if
there was proof. And it was that possibility of proof that kept Kade from latching onto them and giving them the boot.

“Anthony and you have nothing on me,” Coop fired back. “Neither does Hector McClendon.”

But Jamie only shrugged. “You’re investigating the wrong people, Agent Ryland. You need to be looking closer to home. You need to investigate Agent Cooper.”

Bree huffed and stepped around Kade, between Coop and him. But she didn’t say anything. She just studied Jamie from head to toe, and Kade had to wait just like the others to hear Bree’s take on all of this.

“Are you the woman who held me captive all those months?” Bree asked.

With all the other accusations flying around about Coop, Kade certainly hadn’t expected such a direct question from Bree. But he waited for Jamie’s answer and watched her expression. He wished he could strip those glasses off her so he could see her eyes because he was certain that question had hit some kind of nerve.

Jamie shifted her posture and folded her arms over her chest. “I did nothing wrong,” she insisted.

Kade looked at Bree to see if she believed Jamie, but Bree only shook her head. It made sense. After all, Bree had said her kidnappers had kept on prosthetic masks, but he’d hoped that she would recognize something about Jamie or Anthony.

Of course, maybe there was nothing to recognize because they hadn’t been the ones to hold her captive.

“Did. You. Hold. Me. Captive?” Bree repeated. Her anger came through loud and clear.

Jamie shifted again. “No.” She paused. “Are you accusing me so you can protect your boss? My advice? Don’t. Because accusing me won’t do anything for your safety. Or your baby’s safety.” Jamie leaned in and lowered her voice as if telling a secret. “Investigate him, and you’ll learn the truth, even if it’s not what you want to hear.”

That got Coop started again. “I want to see this so-called proof of my guilt,” Coop demanded.

Anthony lifted his hands, palms up. “You think I’m stupid enough to bring it with me?
Right.
Then you just kill me and take it.”

“I’m an FBI agent,” Coop fired back, “and I’m not in the habit of killing people just because they’re telling lies about me.”

“I’m not lying, and you know it.” Anthony turned to Kade and Bree. “I have an eyewitness who’ll testify that Agent Cooper here had a meeting with my father at the clinic, less than an hour before your cover was blown.”

Oh, that was not what Kade wanted to hear, and by God, it had better not be true. If so, Coop would pay and pay hard.

“That witness will also tell you that Cooper took money from my father,” Anthony smugly added.

It took a moment for Kade to get his teeth unclenched. Bree had a similar reaction. She was hurling daggers at Anthony with a cold glare, but she wasn’t exactly giving Coop a resounding vote of confidence, either.

“Sounds like I need to talk to this witness,” Bree commented.

“No, you don’t.” Coop walked toward Jamie and Anthony with his finger pointing at the man who’d just accused him of assorted felonies. “I’m not going to let you get away with this.”

Because Kade didn’t want Coop to do something they’d both regret, he grabbed his fellow agent. He held on until he was sure Coop would stay put.

“We’re not dealing with this here at the ranch,” Kade informed Anthony, Jamie and Coop. He shifted his attention to Anthony. “Bring the witness to the Silver Creek sheriff’s office. And while you’re at it, both of you come prepared to answer some more questions because this investigation is just getting started.”

Jamie groaned softly and mumbled something. “I’ve had enough questions to last me a lifetime.”

Kade tossed her a glare. “Then you’ll get a few more. Be there when Anthony brings in this secret witness.”

Much to Kade’s surprise, Anthony nodded, and his smile wasn’t so little now. The man was smirking when he headed back to his car. “Come on, Jamie. We’re finished here, for the moment.”

But Jamie paused a moment and glanced over her shoulder at Anthony before she spoke. “I don’t trust Anthony,” she said in a whisper. “And neither should you. The man is dangerous.”

Bree and Kade exchanged a glance, and she was no doubt thinking the same thing—what the heck was this all about? One minute ago Jamie had been ice-cold and unruffled. Now she looked on the verge of panicking.

“If Anthony is dangerous, then why did you come here with him?” Bree asked.

Jamie didn’t answer right away. She glanced over her shoulder again as if to make sure Anthony wasn’t close enough to hear. “Because sometimes the only choice you have is to cooperate.” And with that, she turned and followed Anthony to the car.

“They’re liars,” Coop repeated before Anthony even started the engine. “It’s a mistake to give them an audience for whatever it is they’re trying to pull.”

Kade shrugged. “I have to start somewhere to get to the bottom of what happened to Bree.”

“What happened to Bree is
my
concern,” Coop snapped.

That was
not
the right thing to say, especially after those heated accusations that Anthony had just made. Kade had to fight once more to hang on to his temper, but Bree beat him to the punch.

“Kade and I became parents,” she reminded him. And there was a bite to her voice. “What happened is most definitely his concern.”

That didn’t cool down the anger in Coop’s face. He opened his mouth, no doubt ready to argue, but there was no argument he could give that would make Kade back off from this investigation. His baby girl’s safety was at stake.

Coop gave her a look that could have frozen hell. “Be careful who you cast your lot with, Bree. It could come back to bite you.”

Bree faced him head-on. “I’m always careful.”

That obviously didn’t please him because he cursed. “I’m giving you forty-eight hours.” Coop’s voice had that dangerous edge to it again. “If you’re not at headquarters by then, you’ll never see your badge again.”

Chapter Eight

Bree watched Leah sleep and hoped the baby would wake up before Kade’s brother Grayson arrived to take her to the house in San Antonio. These last minutes with her daughter were precious time, and she needed every second to count.

“Grayson will be here in about a half hour,” Kade informed her when he got off the phone.

Bree had listened in on the flurry of calls that Kade had made after their guests’ departures, but her main focus had been on Leah.

And her badge.

It was hard to push that aside completely, even though that’s exactly what Bree wanted to do.

She’d been an agent for five years now, after she’d slogged her way through college night classes at the University of Texas and cruddy jobs so she could get her degree. And Coop had helped with that. In fact, he’d helped with a lot of things to put her on track and keep her there. He hadn’t just been her boss but also her mentor and friend.

“All three of the nannies will be at the estate in San Antonio,” Kade explained. “So, Leah will have lots of attention from them and her three aunts.”

Still, it hurt that she wouldn’t be there to share it. “I’ve never thought of family as being a good thing,” she mumbled. “But I’m glad Leah has yours.”

“So am I.” He walked back to the sofa where she was seated. “It’s not too late, you know. You can go to San Antonio with them.”

Mercy, that was tempting, just so she wouldn’t have to leave Leah, but Bree had to shake her head. “Too big of a risk, especially since all of our suspects know I’m with you.”

Bree’s gaze whipped to his. “Please tell me that Grayson will take precautions when driving Leah to San Antonio. McClendon and the others can’t follow him.”

“They won’t follow,” Kade promised. “Grayson’s a good lawman. And besides, his pregnant wife is at the house. He wouldn’t put her or any of the rest of the family at risk.”

Further
risk, Bree mentally corrected. Because the risk was already there.

He sank down on the sofa next to her and touched Leah’s cheek. The baby stirred a little but went straight back to sleep. Bree repeated what Kade had done and got the same results.

“Don’t worry,” Kade said. “You’ll have time with her after this is over.”

Yes, and that was another unsettled issue to go with the others. Leah. A custody arrangement. And the man next to her.

Her mind was already spinning with some possibilities. “Maybe I can move to Silver Creek. And get a regular job with the FBI.” Those were things she’d considered
before
Coop’s visit. “If I still have a badge, that is.”

“You will,” Kade promised. “Coop was just, well, I think he was pissed that you didn’t jump to go back with him. He’s pretty territorial when it comes to you.”

That sent her gaze back to his. “There’s nothing personal between Coop and me.”

“Didn’t think there was on your part, but Coop’s reaction could be because of guilt. He failed to protect you, and now he’s trying to make sure nothing else goes wrong.”

She stared at him. “Or?”

Kade shrugged. “Or Anthony’s accusations could be true. We have to at least consider that Coop might be in on this. I’m having someone check his financials to see if there’s a money trail that leads to the Fulbright clinic or any of our suspects.”

Before today, Bree would have jumped to defend her boss. But that was before someone tried to kill her. “What about this witness that Anthony claims he has?”

Another head shake. “Anthony won’t give names, but both Jamie and he are supposed to show up at the sheriff’s office tomorrow. Grayson told them they’d better have proof and the witness.”

That caused her stomach to churn, because she didn’t want to believe that Coop could have endangered her this way. But it also gave her some relief. If Anthony maybe had proof that could lead to an arrest, then Bree wouldn’t have to be away from Leah very long.

Of course, that might not end the danger.

Coop could be just a small piece in all of this. An insignificant piece. But Bree still didn’t like that he could have kept a secret that would have an impact on the investigation. Not just for the Fulbright clinic but for the aftermath and what had happened to her.

“When are Anthony’s and Jamie’s trial dates?” she asked Kade.

“Two more weeks. I’ll testify. They’ll want you to do the same.”

Yes, because their testimony was what would convict them of the worst of the charges since there wasn’t a lot of hard evidence.

“Nothing else on those missing surveillance backups?” she pressed.

“No. We have agents looking for them, though. Agents who don’t work for Coop,” he added before she could voice her concern. “Even if we don’t find them before the trial dates, our testimony should be enough to convict Jamie and Anthony of at least some of the charges. The security guards, too.”

Because those guards had tried to kill Kade and her on that undercover assignment. Plus, she could testify about the two illegal immigrant surrogates she’d ferreted out while there. The women had said both Jamie and Anthony were responsible for them being at the clinic. Of course, the women had also since disappeared and hopefully were alive somewhere, but Bree’s testimony should be sufficient.