Page 101 of Playing With Love

“All I got is dark hair and not short. At the distance he keeps I couldn’t say if he’s taller than I am and certainly not his eye color or if he’s good-looking. Could be I’m on edge because Liza’s with me,” I admitted.

Carter chewed on that a minute while I parked.

“We’ll get those images to you ASAP.”

“Thanks.”

“And, Tucker?”

Carter’s tone had turned sharp, deftly slipping from easygoing to operator.

“Yeah?”

“Trust your gut. If shit doesn’t feel right, grab Liza and get the fuck out. We’ll find another way.”

I wasn’t so sure Liza would feel the same way. She wanted this shut down as quickly as possible, freeing Allyson and the others to move on. The old band-aid trick only worked in certain situations and I didn’t think it was going to do much for the people of Nu Dawn.

“We’ll reassess after tonight.”

After another promise he’d get Dylan to text me the images as soon as he was done, Carter rang off. Instead of going inside the coffee shop, I called Liza to fill her in. Since she was with Allyson there was more listening than there were questions or comments so the conversation was short, informative, and to the point.

I sat there for a minute thinking about Carter, what he’d said, the friendship we’d forged. He was younger than me in years, but his time in service had made him wise beyond his years. Same with Trey, Matt, Luke, and Logan. The way Brady had grown up, I reckoned the trauma of that had him robbed him of a childhood and he’s always been an adult, so even though he was younger than I was, his demeanor was that of someone much older. Then there was Jason Walker, a close friend who did me a solid by hiring me when I left the DEA. I owed him more time than I’d given but he’d understand. They all would. Nick Clark especially; I doubted he’d be surprised when I handed in my resignation.

Liza’s old partner Steve popped into my head. The way Liza had told the story of Steve leaving his job to follow his wife Janis when she got a promotion. I wondered if he struggled with his decision, or like me, if he knew the tradeoff was worth it.

Leaving behind the friendships, the camaraderie, working with skilled and dedicated men and women would be easy. I’d miss it. But over the last two years I’d missed Liza more. So it wouldn’t be easy, but it sure as hell wouldn’t be hard leaving to be with her.

Wherever she needed me to be, I was there.

And if that meant quitting my job and moving with her to Virginia then that’s what was going to happen.

Easy.

With that I went into the coffee shop.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The place was busier than it was the previous afternoon. Three twenty-somethings ran the counter. No Melanie in sight. Twenty minutes later with my coffee empty and still no sight of the owner, I went back out to the car. I wasn’t even in it five minutes when an unknown number called. Normally, I’d send what was likely a telemarketer to voicemail, but seeing as it could be someone from Liza’s team, I answered.

“Hello?”

“Tucker, it’s Greg.”

“Hey. I talked to Carter this morning. Heard what you found. Good news.”

“Yeah.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “I’m still waiting for Dylan to get me those stills but your man Trey’s finished with the plates. Mackenzie and Beatrice were the only two with any direct connection to Nu Dawn. I’m having Frank dig into that further to see if there are any loose threads.”

I could see Greg’s play giving Frank busy work.

But…

“You sure he’s the best man for that job?”

“Nope. He’s fuckin’ useless and working my last nerve, but I gotta give him something to do to keep him occupied or he wanders down rabbit holes and devises plans that are in no way helpful. I don’t know how Liza’s put up with him for as long as she has, but I got her back on that, I have already talked to Shannon. I understand why Frank was placed with Liza, she’s one of the best we got, so this is no reflection on her. Sometimes the best can’t train stupid and no matter how good you are, you can’t train lazy out of someone.”

So Greg did respect Liza. It was just his style of working a case I didn’t jibe with.

“Anyway, I’ve got a woman, Susan, following up on the names. If there’s something there she’ll find it. Won’t be as fast as your man, but Susan’s got some rules and regs she’s gotta follow that you don’t.”