Promise Renewed (The Callahan Series Book 5) Read online

  He wasn’t very good at it. The thought chilled him. He had to portray his character more forcefully.

  His attention went to the boots. “Both pairs have a new shine, but you can tell they’re far from new.”

  “Just the look you need,” she told him when no one was around. “Slightly worn. You want to look rich, but a hard worker. Dangerous if crossed.”

  Smart woman.

  He walked around again. “These fit, too, sweet one. Which do you like best?”

  “Let’s splurge. Get them both.”

  With two pairs of boots and a Stetson, they were back in his pickup. Once there, they turned to look at each other. And laughed.

  “I enjoyed the act. It was fun,” Gina said.

  He started the truck, edged into traffic. “I have to get better. The fun will be over if I don’t play my part with more authenticity than I did today.”

  “Practice. Practice. Practice.”

  Darin let out a deep sigh. He knew all along this wouldn’t be easy. But he’d had no idea it would be this difficult.

  ****

  Darin was right. He had a long way to go if they were going to pull this off. If they had to step into their roles right now and face Chavizi or Ramiro it would be disastrous. Gina realized she’d have to pull the plug if he didn’t get better. The risk was too great.

  She questioned her own abilities. She’d gone undercover for IA a few times, but never like this. She looked the part, but could she keep up the charade for days? Could they? They’d have to practice more. Lots more. Despite her misgivings, she found the idea appealing.

  She looked at his hands. “You don’t have a wedding ring.”

  “Because I’m not married.”

  Gina grinned and looked down at her bare fingers.

  “Pawn shop,” they said at the same time. And laughed again.

  As soon as they stepped inside the cluttered shop they settled into character.

  “C’mon, sugar. Let’s see what they have. I didn’t like a thing the last place showed us.”

  “We’ll look until we find what you want, sweet one. Just take your time.”

  The clerk, with the look of a grifter, showed them a tray of diamond rings. “Got some really good pieces here. Lots of folks need money. I’m only too glad to help them out.”

  I’ll bet you are, Gina thought. She’d bet the short, gray-haired man with the piercing blue eyes took advantage of that need every chance he got.

  “I’m short on cash, but I want my sweet one to have the ring she’s always wanted.”

  “Then she’ll like my inventory.”

  The man showed them ring after ring. Finally, he showed them one larger than all the others.

  “That’s the one I want,” Gina squealed, grabbing it and putting it on her hand. “Isn’t it gorgeous? It fits, sugar. Can I have it?”

  She turned her hand back and forth letting the light catch the stone. It shot sparks in all directions.

  “How much?” Darin asked.

  “This is the real deal,” the con man turned pawnshop owner gushed.

  Darin slipped the ring off Gina’s hand, held it up to the light. “Do you have a loupe?”

  Reluctantly, the man handed him one. Darin held it to his eye and looked at the stone as if he knew what he was doing. All the while, he was making um-hum noises.

  Gina almost choked.

  “It looks like the real thing,” the man corrected. “You can’t tell the difference without the loupe.”

  “How much?” Darin asked again, knowing the guy was building up for a big sale.

  “Five hundred.”

  “I’ll give you one.”

  The man’s voice raised several octaves. “I can’t. It’s a good piece. I can get five for it easy.”

  Darin leaned closer, got in the man’s face. “A hundred, and consider it a favor. Now see if you have a wedding ring I might like. One that goes with my wife’s.”

  “Yes, sir.” The man dragged out another tray.

  It didn’t take long to find Darin a wide gold wedding band that matched Gina’s close enough, plus another ring with a large emerald that looked real.

  They left a little while later after spending a little over two hundred dollars.

  “You were better this time, Darin. With a little more practice we just might be able to pull this off.”

  He chuckled. “Have to admit it’s getting easier.”

  “For a minute there, you looked so dangerous I was almost afraid of you myself.”

  “Good. That’s what we want. When this is over, we’ll take this stuff to another pawnshop and get some of our money back.”

  Gina let her so-called diamond flash in the sun. “I don’t know, sugar. I might not want to part with this beauty.” Then she turned serious. “Our papers will be here soon. Chief Hamilton wants a meet before we go under. It seems the FBI want a hand in this as well.”

  It was a good thing they did. They were instrumental in setting up the money end.

  “Are you serious? First the chief, now the FBI? What next, DEA? Aren’t you afraid there will be too many people involved?”

  “Not in this case. I’ve told you before this isn’t a two-bit operation. We’re going into an elaborate sting. The chief thought we needed their help, and I respect his expertise.”

  “When did he tell you?”

  “This morning. I’m not happy about it either.” But they were the pros. Without their help, she wasn’t sure they could make this work, especially since they didn’t know who they’d be dealing with.

  “We’ll have to meet with them as well. I would rather go with the two of us and the four in our group, but now that the chief is involved we have no choice but to follow his lead.” He paused. “The word is out now a buyer is coming to town eager to get his hands on the right drugs. We have to follow through, or the drug cartels will get suspicious.” Darin’s cell phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number. “Callahan.”

  “Chief Hamilton. I need to see you and Carlson as soon a possible.”

  “We’re headed to her apartment. Can you meet us there?”

  “Give me forty-five minutes.”

  “We’ll pick up lunch and see you then.”

  They picked up a large box of pizza and a double salad and were back at the apartment before the chief got there.

  “Wonder what he wants?” Gina asked.

  She sat the food on the table. “I’m going to change.”

  “Wait a bit. He needs to see our disguises. If anyone comes in with guns drawn, I want them to know we’re the good guys.”

  “Goes for the team, too,” she reminded him.

  “We can trust them. I’m not as sure of anyone else who might get involved.”

  The doorbell interrupted them. Chief Hamilton scrutinized their undercover disguises, signaled his approval. “If your fictitious backgrounds check out, this might work. My biggest worry is who you’ll encounter. One cartel would be bad enough; if two are involved, I’m not sure.”

  He took out his cell phone, snapped a couple of pictures. “For our FBI friends.”

  Gina grabbed her cell phone and handed it to the chief who took more pictures.

  “For our team,” she explained. “And our ID’s.”

  “The pay-off is what bothers me,” Darin said. “Whichever cartel is involved has to believe we have the wherewithal to make the deal. Otherwise, we’re in trouble.”

  “The FBI will take care of that end. They have the expertise to make a wire transfer look legit when it isn’t,” Chief Hamilton assured them.

  ****

  They sat at the table, sharing pizza and salad. Gina had changed into jeans and T-shirt while Darin took off his jacket and wig. He’d added over-sized shoulder pads to all the jackets he would wear as Dutch Farley. “Better,” he breathed.

  Darin wanted Gina to stay in character a while longer. She was delightfully curvaceous as Meg Farley. He gave her a close look as she chatted with the
chief. He could find nothing wrong with her looks just as she was. More and more, he was drawn to her. It was so unlike him he had to step back to ask himself what was going on. But he was afraid he knew. He wanted her in the worst way.

  He’d had female partners before. A couple of them had been real lookers. Neither had made him look twice. Gina, on the other hand, had stirred him from the first meeting.

  Looking at her lips he fantasized about kissing her. She looked at him and smiled. His heart did a double-dip.

  He had to get his mind back on the job. It wouldn’t be easy to fool the people they’d have to face. Nor would it be easy to find Hunter’s killer. They went over the plan, made a few changes.

  “We’re going to take a day or two to settle in at the Hotel Indigo at the Galleria,” Darin said. “It’s classy enough to make an impression. We’ll set the plan in motion from there when we’re contacted. Once we have the evidence we need, we’ll call in the squad. If we play this right, we’ll take down at least one drug cartel and arrest Hunter’s killer.”

  It sounded good on paper. But would it work in reality?

  “The FBI will set up the hotel and provide you with some hi-tech toys to help in the sting,” the chief said as he picked up the fake Rolex. “I’ll switch this out with the real one in the evidence room. The FBI said they could put a one-way mike in it.” He examined Gina’s fake diamond ring. “Let’s see what they can do with this. We’ll let you know what they come up with.”

  He stood to leave. “You’ve taken on quite a job. A dangerous one. Get out fast if you think you’ve been compromised.

  “Gina told me what you found at Hunter’s apartment. I can’t believe one of the squad is a mole. Nor can I believe Captain Wells is having an affair with a guy, or that he could be involved in this. As long as he’s been under my command he’s done an exemplary job. He doesn’t have the best personality, but he gets the job done. He’s been married to Dorothy for twenty-five years. That doesn’t sound like the man you describe. I’m keeping an eye out, though. Your job is to play this thing safe. You can’t afford to be recognized, so make damned sure you have your act down pat. Remember this, if you find Hunter’s killer and he recognizes you, he won’t hesitate to kill you, too.” He looked each of them in the eye. “I don’t want to lose either of you.”

  It was an order.

  “Yes, sir,” they said.

  Then he was gone.

  Gina breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I wish you would reconsider. I can do this alone.”

  “You’ve told me the same thing how many times now? You can’t do this alone, and you know it. Besides, it’s better for both of us to be involved. We can watch each other’s back.”

  “And what a pretty back it is.”

  “Darin Callahan, are you flirting with me?”

  Was he? It wasn’t like him to flirt. Until Douglas married Lisa, Douglas had been the skilled one in the family in the romance department. Not Darin.

  He grinned at Gina and for a moment wished he had some of Douglas’ savoir-faire.

  He walked over to her, touched the tip of her nose with a finger. “I don’t flirt.”

  “Really?”

  “Nope.”

  Her brow knitted as if she wanted to question him, then changed her mind. “Good.”

  He started to gather his things to leave. If he stayed, he was afraid he would kiss her.

  “How long do you think it will be before we set the plan into motion?” he asked.

  “Give it until Monday. By then, we should have our papers. Word has already spread so we’ll be ready to go.”

  “You sound excited,” he said as he watched her eyes light up.

  She looked up at him. “I am.”

  Without thinking, he dipped his head and caught her lips in a brief kiss.

  Her hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes grew wide.

  “Just practicing,” he told her by way of explanation.

  She didn’t respond.

  The door slammed shut behind him with a resounding thud.

  Chapter Eleven

  One small kiss, and Gina’s knees were jelly. She sank into the nearest chair. Heat rose in her. How could a simple, casual kiss cause such a reaction? Darned if she hadn’t just flirted. It was so unlike her.

  Her and her sister’s background didn’t encourage male/female relationships.

  But Maddy was interested in Hank. Gina felt a strong attraction to Darin.

  Both of them were behaving out of character.

  They needed to talk.

  When she felt as if she could walk again, she strode into the kitchen and drank a big glass of water. She was in control here, not her libido. But as she cleaned and straightened, her thoughts were on Darin.

  She wanted to tell him why she was really here and what her job entailed. Couldn’t. Guilt swept through her in a wave of revulsion. Darin trusted her. And she was deceiving him.

  How would this turn out when he found out the truth?

  The sting had to go down as they’d rehearsed. Too much was at stake.

  She had to forget everything except the job at hand. Forget she was attracted, more than attracted, to a man at a crucial point in her life, a man who made her have thoughts she’d never had before. Forget that she was living a lie; if he found out…she didn’t want to go there.

  Maybe the planets were out of alignment or something.

  Gina looked at the clock. It was late. Maddy should be home by now.

  It seemed ridiculous to call a grown woman to ask if she was all right while on a date, but Maddy and Gina were different.

  If Hank hurt her, it would be devastating.

  Gina had started to dial when she heard a key in the front door.

  Maddy sauntered in, her face glowing.

  Gina grabbed her sister by the hand and dragged her to the kitchen. “We need to talk.”

  “What’s up, Sis? You look worried.”

  Going to the fridge Gina poured them both a glass of iced tea. Back at the table she put one in front of Maddy, then took a sip of her own. “I’m worried. You’re not acting like yourself. Are you okay?”

  Maddy frowned. “I don’t know what you mean by okay. I’m having a great time with Jake and Hank. Jake is adorable. I can’t get enough of him.”

  “And Hank?”

  “What about him?” She bristled.

  “Is this a one-sided love affair? You’re crazy about Jake and you tolerate Hank because he’s part of the package? If that’s the case you’re going to have to cut it off. It’s not fair to Hank.”

  Maddy blushed. “I’m not having a love affair.”

  “It’s not one-sided, is it?” she asked softly.

  “I don’t know,” Maddy wailed. “I’m comfortable with Hank. Which, as you know, is unusual. Of course Jake has been with us every time we’ve been together.”

  “Do you trust Hank?”

  Maddy knew what she meant. “I know it’s hard to believe after the hundreds of times we swore we’d never trust a man, but I do.”

  “Has he kissed you?”

  Maddy’s eyes widened. “No. It wouldn’t be right with Jake watching.”

  “Do you want him to?”

  Maddy dropped her eyes. “I think so. He makes me feel all trembly inside. Like I want him to touch me. And you know full well I’ve never had such feelings before. Sometimes I lie in bed and wonder what this is. I’ve never been around a man I didn’t shy away from. So this is strange to me.” She looked into Gina’s eyes. “I’m scared, and I don’t know what I’m scared about. Is that dumb or what?”

  “Not to me. I wonder if we’ll ever get completely over it.”

  “I don’t think so,” Maddy said. “It was too traumatic.”

  “We deserve to be normal.”

  Maddy moved closer to Gina and took her hand. “We do. It’s like I tell my children who have been molested. They’re not responsible for what a grown-up did to them. I tell them over and ove
r they are good; the person who hurt them was bad. So why is my past still interfering with my future? Instead, I’ve let Elton Griffin define my life. I hate myself for my weakness.”

  Gina squeezed her sister’s hand. “It’s not weakness. Maybe Hank can help you put this behind you. It would be the best thing in the world for you.”

  “Right now it’s wonderful. I adore Jake and have a good time with Hank, but if I even thought he wanted to touch me or kiss me, would I freeze? Would I run? I don’t know what would happen.”

  “Give it a chance. If it works out, it would be good for you, for Hank, and for Jake.”

  “Do you really think so?”

  “I know so.”

  “What about you and Darin? There’s a spark there. You’ve admitted to such. Will you pursue it?”

  “He kissed me today.”

  Maddy gasped. “Was it okay? Were you scared? Did it bring up bad memories?”

  Gina held up a hand. “Hold it. He took me by surprise. Besides, it was only a brief, two-second kiss. But it was almost electrical…a jolt that made my knees weak and my body hot. For a brief second I wanted more. Like you, I’m not sure if I wouldn’t run. Despite how wonderful it was, it scared the heck out of me.”

  “We’re a pair of misfits,” Maddy said gloomily. “We’ll never be normal, get married, and have babies.” She looked at Gina with tears in her eyes. “It’s what I want, Gina. More than anything.”

  “Maybe we should go back into counseling. It helped for a while.”

  “I still go once a month. I read the books she suggests, do the self-imaging exercises. And here I am, still a mess.”

  Gina looked at her sister and saw herself. She was just as messed up, just as angry. “We’re both a mess. I wonder…” She paused.

  “What?”

  “If we had been able to put him behind bars would we feel different? Would we have the closure we need?”

  “I’ve often wondered about that myself.”

  They sat there, lost in their horrific memories of the man who had tried to ruin their lives.

  “I still look for him.”

  “So do I, Maddy. Everywhere. I check the police records every week. It’s like he’s dropped off the face of the earth. If I ever see the bastard, he’s going to jail.”