Page 84 of Witness Security Breach

“How?” Charlie and Aiden asked in unison.

“I’ve got Walsh and Devlin on tape. Devlin admitted to framing you. When I called your San Diego field office to let your boss, Will Draper, know, he informed me that Albatross’s wife came out of her coma this morning. She told the police what really happened. Apparently, Draper had marshals providing protection for her around the clock, in case you two decided to...well.” She stopped, not voicing the vile implication. “It was a good thing, too. A local cop tried to kill her.”

“What?” Charlie asked.

“The cop was Devlin’s buddy who’d provided his cover story for being out in San Diego.”

Devlin was trying to tie up loose ends, including her and Aiden. Edgar Plinski was saved for last.

“Thank you for contacting our superior,” Aiden said. “And for not shooting us.”

Garcia smiled. “Glad I could help.”

“What’s going to happen to Albatross?” Charlie asked.

“We’ll keep him safe in custody while we investigate Mr. Walsh’s allegations. If they’re true, Albatross will lose immunity and be sent to prison.”

It made sense that he’d kept quiet about Walsh in order to protect himself from a murder charge.

“When are you going to get Enzo Romero?” Aiden asked.

“We heard he made a big power play today,” Garcia said.

Charlie and Aiden exchanged a glance but said nothing.

“Thanks to the information you gave us,” Garcia continued, “we’re going to get a warrant and bring him in. After I get some rest.”

“Thank you again for your help,” Charlie said, shaking her hand.

Aiden did likewise. “There are four more inside. The dirty SWAT cops that ambushed us. Two are dead, including Devlin.”

Garcia nodded. “This is proof that interagency cooperation works.” She stepped past them inside.

“What now?” Charlie asked Aiden.

He circled his arm around her shoulders, and they started walking away from the hubbub of the scene. “Now we go back to our rented room in time for dinner. Henri’s serving blue crab gumbo. We shower, make love and talk about my job offer at Camp Beauregard.”

Being an instructor someday was always Aiden’s goal. She couldn’t give him children, but she could make sure he accepted his dream job. No way in the world would she take that away from him.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Charlie said. “You’re taking the job. End of discussion.”

“Not so fast.” He kissed her head. “If I take the job, we’ve got to talk about how to get you out there, too.”

“Me?” She looked up at him, confused. “They’re not going to make me an instructor and I’m not quitting.”

He crushed his mouth down on hers, his palms sliding up and down her body, his strong arms pulling her against him so tightly she could scarcely breathe, and the worries swimming in her head dissolved.

Drawing his lips back, he smiled at her. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and when we’re together, anything is possible. Have a little faith. In us.”

Epilogue

The sun was setting, taking the natural light with it. Charlie grabbed another box from the back of the portable moving container that had been shipped from San Diego, and strode out into the steamy Louisiana air. The day had been long and hot and muggy, and the air-conditioning in their new house was on the fritz. An HVAC repairman wouldn’t be able to come out for two days, and every time she turned around, it seemed like something else in the place had broken.

She’d be happier once the temperature dropped and Aiden came home from the Special Operations Group Tactical Center at Camp Beauregard.

Her new position there as a full-time SOG member assigned to one of the special teams didn’t start for another two weeks. But she had a month of unused leave.

This was giving them a chance to settle in and find their baseline before his twelve-hour training days started and she deployed on a mission. Thankfully, Aiden hadn’t fed into her worst fears and turned into a Neanderthal, demanding she not go out in the field without him. No, he was the best kind of man, a friend and partner. He trusted her to take care of herself.