Not all of your employees are long-term, right? You do have some transient workers.
She chewed on the inside of her lip. An anxious flutter started low in her tummy. True. We do have a few seasonal laborers who come in the fall and stay until Christmas day. Then they travel back to their homes. But those few have been coming for years, as well.
You cant always predict what people will do if given the right motivation. He slowly stood.
His words sent a shiver of apprehension crawling across the nape of her neck. She rose to face him. Where is the cocaine coming from?
We dont know the direct route, but we do know the source of the cocaine coming into the US is from Central America. There are many drug cartels in various countries south of the border infiltrating both the US and Canada. And more recently, Australia.
Her mouth went dry. Theres a drug cartel here?
Possibly. Tyler sank down on the dining room chair. Im working with IBETsIntegrated Border Enforcement Teamsweve been investigating rumors of drugs crossing the USCanadian border for months. Two weeks ago Seth reached out to me and my team.
Pride filled Heather. She could only imagine how scary it had been for Seth to seek help. Going up against a drug cartel was no small feat.
Apparently last year hed needed some extra cash, Tyler continued. He had allowed a shipment of cocaine to hitch a ride into Canada with a shipment of trees from your farm. Hed thought it was a onetime deal. But when they came back to him this year, he realized hed gotten in over his head.
Heather silently groaned. One step forward, two steps back. Seth had always courted trouble with his decision making.
We Tyler grimaced I convinced him to find out as much as he could and keep a record of everything he learned, including who, what, where and when.
Stunned, Heather rocked back on her heels. Let me get this straight. My brother came to you with information about an illegal drug operation on our farm and you A cold sweat broke out on her skin. He was spying for you?
A grim expression stole over Tylers face. Yes.
Heather backed away. Her mind scrambled to make sense of what she was hearing. It was one thing for Seth to be a whistle-blower and another entirely for him to play the role of spy. That was a dangerous thing for you to ask of him.
Yes, it was.
She stilled as a thought burned through her brain. Her blood turned to ice. He didnt die of an accidental overdose. Someone killed him.
Thats what I believe.
Hes dead because of you!
Tyler closed his eyes. When he opened them, the bleakness in his gaze confirmed her accusation. Yes.
TWO
Tyler held Heathers gaze with what he hoped was dispassion and not the swirling maelstrom of guilt laying siege to his psyche. He wouldnt shirk the responsibility of Seth Larsons murder.
Despite Seths past addictions, Tyler had sensed his sincere need to get out from under the thumb of the drug cartel. Though Tyler may not have injected Seth with the lethal dose of cocaine, he felt responsible. Tyler had no doubt that someone had found out that Seth was keeping an account of the illegal activities going on at the Larson family Christmas tree farm. And that someone then killed Seth. He gritted his teeth against the throbbing in his head.
Heather stared at him with wide eyes full of flashing anger. How could you let this happen?
It was a valid question. One hed been asking himself for the past five days. One his superiors were asking, as well. Your brother initially wanted us to raid the farm, but we didnt know who we were looking for and where the drugs were stashed. And Seth claimed he hadnt been privy to how the smuggling took place. At least at first. A raid too soon would have only shut down the operation here, not stopped the flow. We needed evidence. We needed facts. Still do. Seth began to gather intel and had thought he had enough to shut the ring down, but then he was killed.
Her eyes widened even more. You really do believe he was murdered?
I do. Whatever information he had cost him his life. And now it put Seths sister and nephew in danger. They werent supposed to be here. Seth had said they lived in Washington State. And now, per Tylers bosss mandate, Tyler and his team were to make sure the widow and her son were protected.
She shook her head. No, you cost him his life. You pushed him to do something he wasnt trained to do.
The sharp tip of her barb hit him squarely in the gut. A fact I will have to live with, Tyler stated with more regret than she could possibly know. This wasnt the first time an informant had lost his life. But Seth got himself into this mess. Seth came to us. He knew the risks. Believe meI wish I had done things differently.
If he could go back, hed have extracted Seth a week ago. But Tyler had wanted more information. Hed wanted to cut off the head of the ring, not just pull in a few low-level minions. So hed pushed Seth to keep up the pretense of going along with the drug-smuggling scheme until he knew the identity of the mastermind behind the illegal operation.
Tyler had been doing his job. A job that wasnt finished. If I am going to bring his murderers to justice, I need to find the notebook he told me he had.
Thats why you broke into the house.
I didnt break in. As I said, Seth gave me a key. Hed said if anything happened to him that Id find what I needed here at the farm. I didnt mean to scare you. I had thought you and your son lived in Washington and would have returned there after Seths burial. Otherwise I would have arranged to meet you away from the farm.
A contemplative expression crossed her face. Ah. Thats why Seth offered to pay for our plane tickets to Florida for the upcoming holidayso we wouldnt come here. A sad light entered her eyes. My late husbands parents live in a nursing facility there. Seth had insisted we should spend Thanksgiving with the Randalls. I declined Seths offer. She gave a little shrug. The Randalls barely know us, and we wouldnt be able to stay with them. I didnt want to spend the holiday in a motel.
Her words resonated with him. He spent most holidays in motels or on stakeouts. It was a lonely way to celebrate.
And now well be spending the holiday here alone, without Seth.
Guilt burned at her words. He had nothing to say to soothe her hurt.
Visibly pulling herself together, she asked crisply, What does this notebook look like?
I wish I knew. All Seth had told me was to get the notebook if anything happened to him. Tyler planted his feet beneath him and slowly rose. The world tilted. He swayed. He braced his feet wide, forcing back the dim shadows creeping in at the edges of his mind.
Heather rushed forward to steady him. Take it easy. You probably have a concussion. You should go to urgent care. You might need stitches.
Im not going anywhere until I find what I came for. But he would lean on her for the moment, to keep from embarrassing himself again by falling flat on his face a second time. You know how to handle a frying pan.
If Id had Kens service weapon handy, Id have used that, she retorted drily. But its locked in a safety deposit box at the bank in town.
If Id had Kens service weapon handy, Id have used that, she retorted drily. But its locked in a safety deposit box at the bank in town.
He slanted her a glance. What were you thinking to begin with? You shouldnt have confronted an intruder. You could have been seriously wounded or killed.
From the background search hed done on Seth and his family, Tyler knew Heathers husband had been killed in action and they had a young child, who he assumed was upstairs at this very minute unaware of the danger that could have befallen his mother.
She paled and squared her shoulders. I had to protect my child. My husband taught me how to take care of myself. I know how to shoot a gun. I know enough self-defense to break a stranglehold. And, as you said, I know how to wield a frying pan.
He couldnt help the little burst of admiration for the gutsy lady.
Slowly she extracted herself from his side. She moved away when it became apparent he was going to stay upright.
Youre still bleeding, she said. Come along and let me take care of your head. She turned and walked away.
He followed Heather to a large mudroom just off the kitchen, where he washed his hands while Heather grabbed a first aid kit from the cabinet over the washing machine and set it on the counter beside the washbasin. Next she dragged a chair in from the dining room.
He looked at the sturdy lattice-back chair with the pale yellow seat cushion. I dont want to ruin any more of your cushions.
She found three towels in a drawer and brought them over. After laying one across the chair, she pushed on his shoulder. Sit. I cant work with you standing.
Even sitting, he was as tall as her petite frame. She stood in front of him. The scent of her skin, a mix of soap and vanilla, teased his senses. Her face was a study in concentration as she unwound the cloth shed fastened around his head.
This is going to hurt, she warned as she dabbed him with a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic.
The biting pain made him wince. When she finished, he sighed with relief.
I think I can use butterfly bandages to close up the wound. She worked with quick efficiency. Why come at night? Why not come in the daylight with a search warrant?
Because I didnt want to alert the bad guys that were onto them. I was hoping to get in and out unnoticed.
She made a delicate-sounding snort. But if youd found the notebook, would its contents be admissible as evidence?
Yes, it would. The person, or persons, involved in the drug ring have no reasonable expectation of privacy on your farm, even if they are staying in one of the cabins. Youre the only one who would be exempt from the rule because youre the owner. But youre not involved, so that point is moot.
How can you be sure Im not?
Seth was adamant you werent. Plus, I did a background check on you. Youre clean. I have no reason to believe youre tangled up in this mess. Could he be mistaken? His gut tightened. You arent, right?
The corners of her mouth quirked, and she shook her head. Im not.
The last bit of doubt drained away. Good.
You dont even know what youre looking for, she said.
True. But Im sure Ill know it when I see it.
She frowned, her brow creasing. Are you the one who called me?
He cocked his head. No, I never called you.
Well, someone did, and they seemed to share your thought that Seths death wasnt just an overdose.
A spike of concern sent his blood pressure soaring. What did the caller say?
That my brothers death was more than it seemed and I should leave the farm because its not safe.
Dread punched him in the stomach. When was this?
A few hours ago.
His head pounded a rapid staccato. All the more reason for me to find the book quickly. We need to put a stop to this fast before anyone else gets hurt.
She stepped back and put the first aid kit away, then tossed the soiled towels into the washing machine. Ill help you look for the notebook, but first you need some fluids. Follow me.
Bemused by her take-charge attitude, he allowed her to lead him out of the mudroom. She stopped in the kitchen and turned on the light over the sink. A large butcher block served as a center island. Long wooden counters and blond oak cabinets with glass doors gave the place a homey feel. The appliances were older but clean. Blue-and-yellow gingham curtains hung over the window behind the sink. The place had a cozy feel that was foreign to Tyler.
She took a tall glass from a cupboard, filled it with tap water and handed it to him. Drink.
Aye, aye, Captain. He took the glass and drank the cool liquid.
She dug into a drawer and came up with two over-the-counter painkillers. Here, these should help.
Thanks. He popped the tablets and swallowed them with another large gulp of water. When he was finished, he set the glass on the large center island. Lets check your brothers room.
In Seths room they worked in silence, rummaging through drawers, checking under the mattress, under the bed. In the closet, inside the crawl space in the closet floor. Their search resulted in nothing but frustration.
Fisting his hands, Tyler glanced around the tidy room, taking in the tall dresser standing in the corner, the desk and chair placed beneath the window and the long twin bed covered in a geometric-patterned quilt.
Seth had told Tyler hed kept the journal on the farm; it stood to reason it was in this room. There were many places to hide a notebook in the large farmhouse, but which nook or cranny had Seth used?
Tylers head throbbed and so did his heart. He couldnt change the past, only hope he could affect the future. Wasnt that what his gran always told him?
Next they tackled the living area. It was a large great room that flowed into the dining area with the kitchen around the corner to form an L shape. Tyler searched the well-worn leather couches, while Heather checked the bookshelf, taking the books down, inspecting them and then piling them on the floor.
Tyler even checked under the large throw rug covering the hardwood in the living room. No secret compartments. No secret hiding places. He moved on to the dining room while Heather continued her slow but steady pace through the bookshelf.
The large rectangular table had no drawers or hidden slots in which to stash a notebook.
Mommy? A small boy stood at the bottom of the stairs staring at Tyler with wide eyes beneath a fringe of dark brown bangs. He wore footie pajamas with rockets all over them. A plush dinosaur dangled from one tiny hand.
Tyler untucked his shirt and quickly pulled it over his hip holster, hoping the boy hadnt noticed his firearm. No need to frighten the child.
Colin, honey. Heather rushed to her sons side. What are you doing up?
Keeping his eyes on Tyler, the child said, I heard a noise.
She picked him up, hugging him close. It was just me and... She looked at Tyler as if she werent sure how to introduce him.
Tyler stepped closer. Im Tyler. A friend of your uncle Seth.
Uncle Seth is with Daddy now, Colin replied gravely.
Yes, he is, Tyler said. He gave the boy a sad smile. Im sure they are both watching over you and your mommy.