When drugs are smuggled across the border

it’s their duty to stop the culprits…at any cost.

Forming a joint task force, Canada border officer Kaylin Poirier and police constable Hudson Steeves have one objective: take down a drug-smuggling ring trying to sell a new lethal product. But when the smugglers come after Kaylin and Hudson, this mission becomes more than just a job. Can they live long enough to solve the case?

DARLENE L. TURNER is an award-winning author who lives with her husband, Jeff, in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters and moved by her inspirational message. Visit Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com, where there’s suspense beyond borders.

Also By Darlene L. Turner

Border Breach

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Border Breach

Darlene L. Turner

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90673-3

DEADLY COVER-UP

© 2020 Kathleen Tailer

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

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“Don’t move. We only want her.” The masked man pointed the barrel of his gun in Kaylin’s direction.

Hudson kept his hand on the Smith & Wesson still holstered at his hip. “Who are you and what do you want with Kaylin?”

“None of your concern, Constable. Take your hand off that gun of yours.”

Hudson lifted his hands in surrender but inched closer to one of the assailants. “Tell us what you want.”

A sneer peeked out from behind the man’s mask. “I told you. He wants her.”

“He?”

“The boss.”

Could he mean Valentino? “Look, you don’t have to do this. Surrender and we’ll take that into—”

The mansion’s front door opened.

It was enough of a distraction to act. Both Kaylin and Hudson whipped out their weapons, crouching behind the back of the cruiser.

Hudson turned back to the gunman. “Give it up, man. You won’t get away with this.”

But the silent masked man fired in their direction, bullets spraying the area.

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed reading Kaylin and Hudson’s story as much as I loved crafting it. It was fun to create their world and delve into their lives. Living in Canada, I’ve always been fascinated by Canadian law enforcement and the Canada Border Services Agency. I knew I needed to write them both into a story because they often work together. Plus, who doesn’t love a handsome constable?

I felt it was important to give them everyday struggles because it’s reality, right? There are times we need to move forward and forgive so we don’t become bitter. It makes us stronger.

I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me through my website www.darlenelturner.com and also sign up for my newsletter, to receive exclusive subscriber giveaways. Thanks for reading my story.

God bless,

Darlene L. Turner

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

—Colossians 3:13

For Jeff, my forever love.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

Extract

Extract

ONE

Officer Kaylin Poirier’s stomach lurched at the sight of the two people inside a white florist van that pulled up to her booth at the Windsor-Detroit border. The driver wouldn’t meet her gaze and his passenger couldn’t sit still. Their body language elevated her guard. Could it simply be her overactive imagination or perhaps the humid weather putting her in a foul mood? Experience said there was more to it. This was her job, to protect the border and catch criminals illegally importing goods into Canada—whether it be drugs, weapons or immigrants. Today was no different.

Actually, today was different. Security at the border had been tightened by her father, Chief of Police Marshall Poirier. “We will find every drug smuggler and stop them before they can enter Canada. My daughter will make sure of it,” he’d said at a joint television press conference earlier in the morning.

She winced at the memory of his firm grip on her arm and commanding voice as he spoke. He’d vowed to clear his city of drugs after numerous gangs had terrorized the community with deadly narcotics. Too many teens had died in the past two months.

And he expected her to get the job done.

No pressure.

She wiped perspiration off her forehead and extended her hand out the window of the booth. “Passports, please.”

She eyed the inside of the van, checking for contents, but the rear of the vehicle was hidden by a partition. Not good. She would have to go around and open the back doors.

The men handed over their passports, and she ran them through the bar scanner. “How long were you in the States?”

“One day.” The driver wiped his brow, chewing on his lip.

The passenger tugged at his hoodie and sat further back into his seat.

Kaylin checked her computer, noting their nervousness. Strange. “What are you declaring?”

“Flowers, ma’am.” The driver produced a paper. “Here’s the phytosanitary certificate allowing us to bring them into the country.”

She examined the document to determine if all the correct signatures and details were included. Satisfied it was legit, she passed it back to him.

He took the form with a shaky hand.

Detector Dog Services Officer Nolan Keene walked in front of her booth with one of their dogs. The DDS worked with the Canada Border Services Agency and patrolled the border frequently, checking for smuggled goods. The older man had mentored Kaylin during her probation period two years ago and now often shared advice with her on what to observe when inspecting cars as they traveled over the border.

The beagle stopped and growled at the van, inching its way toward the vehicle.

Kaylin’s muscles tensed. Something was up. The dog’s actions confirmed her suspicions that she needed to investigate this van more closely. No way would she let the men pass without further inspection, especially with her father counting on her.

She stepped outside her booth and stood in front of the driver’s window. “Sir, can you shut off the vehicle and give me your keys?” She held out her left hand, keeping her right positioned on her weapon.

He shifted in his seat, exposing a gun in his lap. He fingered his Glock. A picture of Kaylin and her father at the press conference lay on top of the middle console.

Kaylin’s pulse palpitated, throbbing in her head. Why would they have her picture? Her training kicked in and she whipped out her 9 mm as she stepped an inch to the right to get out of his line of fire. “Gun! Hand it over. Now.”

The driver’s expression turned to a daring snare.

Nolan pulled his weapon from his holster. The beagle barked, tugging the officer toward the commotion.

The rows of cars lined up to cross the border reminded Kaylin of the pending danger. She needed to contain the situation before panic set in and others got hurt. She wouldn’t allow that on her watch.

The man opened his door in a flash, shoving Kaylin to the ground. Then he aimed his gun on her.

Before he could act, Kaylin rolled to the back of the van and crouched in an attack position. She pressed her radio button. “Officer in need of assistance. Hostiles armed and dangerous. Booth two.”

Nolan took cover behind a column and pointed his gun toward the vehicle. The beagle continued to bark, intent on protecting those around him.

The driver pulled the door shut, fired a shot out the window and gunned the engine, tires squealing on the concrete.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Kaylin fired.

She hit the driver’s-side mirror, causing the vehicle to swerve for a split second. The driver straightened the van and stepped on the gas.

He shot back, the bullet slamming into the concrete beside Kaylin. She scrambled to her booth, taking a position behind the wall, her heart jackknifing to her throat.

Nolan returned fire, damaging the rear window.

Sirens sounded as CBSA vehicles made their way to Kaylin’s booth. They pulled in front of the van, blocking its path.

The driver increased his speed and swerved around the vehicles, scraping the side of the concrete barrier. Then the van raced off into the distance.

Kaylin mumbled under her breath and holstered her weapon. Her fellow officers radioed ahead to the local Ontario Provincial Police to pursue the suspects. OPP patrolled the highways and would be nearby. Hopefully they’d intercept the fleeing van and stop it from getting further inside the Canadian border. Kaylin hated that the two men in the van had gotten away. Not a good start to tightening security at her border.

Other CBSA officers directed the bottleneck of cars to the remaining booths. They needed to keep them moving.

Nolan approached Kaylin with the dog. “You okay?”

She brushed gravel off her uniform. “Perturbed they escaped.” Tightness grabbed her chest, reminding her of her father’s impending wrath for not doing a thorough job. No doubt she would hear from him and her boss.

“Agreed. Time for the OPP to take over.” He petted the dog. “Duke sure had a nose for something in that van.”

“Good boy.” She rubbed the beagle’s head. “I wonder what they were smuggling.” And what was their intent with her?

Duke barked. Nolan ruffled the dog’s ears. “Let’s hope we catch them and find out.”

Kaylin’s radio crackled. “Officer Poirier, this is Dispatch,” the female said. “Be advised the police are en route to your location to discuss the incident.”

She stiffened. Great. Now she had to report to the police on the situation.

The last time she had to work with them did not go well.

A police cruiser pulled up at her booth and an officer stepped out.

Kaylin sucked in a breath.

Not him again.

Canadian police constable Hudson Steeves adjusted the holster at his waist and made his way over to the border patrol officer he needed to interview. The one involved with this morning’s incident with the florist van. Not a coincidence the altercation had happened shortly after they received a tip of the doda drug being smuggled into Canada via this exact border.

That was why he was here. To determine whether the driver of the van brought doda into their country. He was now part of a joint task force the chief of police had assembled.

Plus, he had made a promise to his sister to catch the drug ring that had targeted his nephew.

He stopped when he saw the CBSA officer standing near her booth.

Chief Marshall Poirier’s daughter.

Kaylin Poirier was the most stubborn woman he’d ever met. Sure, he noted how the tall brunette stood with her hands on her hips, looking more beautiful than when he’d seen her six months ago. However, he would not get sucker punched by a woman again.

Focus.

He tipped his hat at the two officers. “Morning.”

Kaylin crossed her arms. “Constable Steeves, what brings you here?” Her question held a curtness to it.

Images of their last case together flashed before him. Things had not gone smoothly: they’d almost lost their suspect because of their constant bickering, and he had nearly been fired. He’d vowed never to let it happen again during an investigation.

He squinted in the June sunlight. “The incident with the florist van.”

A wrinkle distorted her brow as she averted her gaze. “It occurred ten minutes ago. How did you get here so fast?”

Her body language told him she was annoyed by his presence.

Hudson eyed the other officer and extended his hand. “Constable Hudson Steeves. You are?”

“Nolan Keene with Detector Dog Services for the CBSA.” They shook hands. Nolan held up his dog’s leash. “This is Duke.”

Hudson nodded. “Nice to meet you both.” He turned back to Kaylin. “To answer your question, we had an anonymous tip that a shipment of a drug named doda was coming across the border. I was on my way over here when I heard the call about the chase.”

Kaylin adjusted the radio on her shoulder. “I don’t have an update for you. The OPP are still in pursuit.”

He took a step forward. “You hurt? I heard they shot at a CBSA officer.”

She tightened her arm muscles. “I’m fine. Nothing I can’t handle.”

Nolan motioned for Duke to sit. “How do you two know each other?”

“We worked on a case together six months ago,” Kaylin said.

Hudson pulled out a notebook. “Tell me about this van. What did the driver look like?”

“Asian. Approximately twenty-five. The passenger was wearing a hoodie, so I couldn’t see his face clearly.” Kaylin shook her head.

Hudson positioned his pen. “What happened?”

“I became suspicious as soon as their van pulled up to my booth.”

“Why?”

“Tense body language,” Kaylin said. “And then when Nolan and Duke walked by, Duke growled.”

Nolan rubbed the beagle’s ears. “One of his signs that he smelled something inside that van.”

Kaylin eyed the dog and nodded. “I stepped out of my booth and up to the driver’s window, requesting he turn off the engine and hand me the keys. Then I saw the gun.”

“You’re fortunate you didn’t get hurt. What happened next?”

She kicked a stone and dragged the toe of her boot in a circle.

She was stalling. Obviously, something bothered her.

He took a step closer. “What is it?”

She shoved her hands in her pockets. “They had a picture of me and my dad at the press conference this morning.” A pause. “Why would they have that?”

What? Not what he was expecting her to say. “They targeted you?”

“How would they know which booth I was at?”

Hudson glanced around. “They’re watching you. Are you normally at this one?”

“Mostly, but not always.” Duke nudged her hand, licking it. She looked down at the dog. “You know how to lighten the mood, don’t you, boy?” She squatted and rubbed the dog’s neck.

“How did you get away?” Hudson asked.

“I scrambled out of their line of fire. That was when Nolan ran toward us. It startled them and they pulled away. I shot at the van. Didn’t stop them, though.”

“We radioed the OPP to pursue them,” Nolan said. “That’s the last we heard.”

“Police joined in on the chase just as I arrived here.” We often work together with the OPP and other law enforcements on joint task forces.

Nolan adjusted the dog’s collar and Duke wagged his tail. “Well, I gotta get this guy back to work. Nice meeting you, Constable.” With a wave, Nolan spun on his heels and left.

“Let’s check the area for shell casings.” Hudson tucked his notebook back in his front shirt pocket.

“We should find mine, Nolan’s and the driver’s.” Kaylin scoured around her booth as the other CBSA officers directed the lines of cars through the border.

Hudson pointed to the shiny casing glittering in the sunlight. He put gloves on and picked it up. “This yours?”

She peered closer. “9 mm. Looks like it.”

He inspected the booth’s doorway and found two 10 mm casings. “Gotcha.” He bagged them and tucked it into his pocket. “Let me see if I can get an update.” He punched in his sergeant’s number. “Hey, Sarge, any word on the pursuit at the border with the OPP?”

“They found the van abandoned and on fire. Footprints appeared in the dirt. The driver and passenger must have fled through the woods.”

“Any goods found at the scene?” He turned for privacy.

“That’s what you need to find out. I’ll text you the address. Survey the area. I spoke with the CBSA officials and looks like you’ll be working with the chief’s daughter, Kaylin, on this task force. Know her?”

He tightened his grip on his phone and a lump formed in his throat. Could he work with her again?

A horn honked in the distance. The booths were filled with cars bumper to bumper. Another busy day at the border with thousands of passengers wanting to either visit or reenter their normally peaceful country. Too bad this day had been tainted with scandal.

“Talking with her right now.” He turned back to face her and caught his breath. Maybe he could make amends for the last time.

Kaylin’s eyebrows rose.

“Get this going. I’m counting on you to catch this drug gang. We need to stop it before it continues to hit the streets.” Sergeant Peter Miller clicked off the call.

Hudson stuffed his cell phone in his pocket. “Looks like we’ll be working together again.”

Her face contorted. “What are you talking about?”

“We’re looking into the uprise of the doda drug and I’ve joined the task force to stop the smugglers. Get your gear.”

She fisted her hands on her hips, eyes turning cold. “I’m working a lane today.” Her cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and checked the screen. She grimaced as the text message confirmed her earlier suspicions. “My father heard about today’s incident. Great. I’ll never hear the end of this.”

Her clipped tone spoke of possible friction between father and daughter. Would it cause problems? “They found the van abandoned. We need to go check it out. See what evidence we can find,” Hudson said.

“I can’t leave in the middle of a shift. My boss wouldn’t—”

Bullets ricocheted off the pavement.

They were under fire.

TWO

Hudson threw himself on top of Kaylin, pushing her into the booth to take cover. “You okay?”

“Not hit.”

He ignored his galloping heartbeat, whipped out his Smith & Wesson and aimed it through the entrance.

Where was the shooter? Were they targeting Kaylin? Muffled screams echoed throughout the stalled lanes of traffic.

Another round of bullets hit the booth, penetrating the glass and creating a spiderweb effect on the window. Several shards bit into his arm and blood began to ooze from the cuts instantly. He winced but dismissed the pain and dared a glance into the parking lot.

Gunfire peppered a nearby car’s windshield. He needed to check on the occupants.

“Where’s the shooter?” Kaylin stayed low and pointed her weapon out the broken window.

“No idea, but there can’t be too many places for the sniper to hide. Obviously, someone knows what they’re doing.” He took out his phone and punched 911, relaying their location and the number of shots fired.

Pounding footsteps sounded nearby as more CBSA officers made their way to the area.

Hudson waved at them. “Stay down!”

After several minutes of silence, Hudson slipped his gun back in its holster. He and Kaylin eased out of the booth, feet crunching on the broken glass.

“You hurt?” His gaze caught hers and held.

She hesitated. “I’m good. What about the other drivers, though?”

Hudson nodded and ran to the car hit by bullets to ensure they didn’t have any victims. He approached the vehicle with caution.

The couple lay on the front seat, shielding their heads.

Hudson opened the door. “Everyone okay?”

They peeked up, brushing off shards of glass. “They didn’t hit us. Just the windshield.”

Did this shooting have anything to do with the earlier incident? Were the suspects really targeting Kaylin and had they come back to finish the job?

Sirens pierced the area. EMS and local authorities weaved through the lanes. Windsor police officers piled out of their cruisers and approached them for a briefing on the situation.

After an intensive search of the area, Kaylin holstered her 9 mm. “Shooter is gone.”

Hudson wiped the perspiration from his forehead. The June morning had already turned muggy. “Sniper fired multiple shots. Hit the booth and a car,” he informed the Windsor police officers.

Hudson eyed Kaylin’s rigid body. Just like him, she stood on guard for more shots, but the bags under her eyes didn’t have anything to do with the tension from the shooting. They revealed sleep deprivation. Why? The pretty officer was stressed about something in her life and he had the sudden urge to find out what it was. To help.

Officers moved to examine the booth, combing the area for shell casings, while a paramedic bandaged Hudson’s arm.

“Kaylin.” Another CBSA officer headed in their direction. “Need to speak with you.”

She groaned. “Here he comes.”

“Who?” Hudson squinted to get a better look at the older gentleman.

“My boss. Probably wants to give me an earful for not manning my post efficiently. He seems to have it in for me.”

The Goliath-like officer stepped forward. “Everyone okay?”

“Yes.” She shoved her hands into her pockets. “What’s going on?”

He pointed to Hudson as he spoke to her. “You’ve been reassigned from duty here to work with Constable Steeves on a task force your father has created. You now take orders from the constable.”

Hudson grimaced. How would she react to the chain of command? The last time they’d worked together, she’d had a hard time taking orders from him.

“What about the shooting?” She pointed to the booth.

“We’ll leave that to the local authorities. You’re to work with your father and the police in busting this ring. I’m counting on you to do a good job. You hear?”

Her eyes narrowed and she scowled. “Yes, sir. You can expect nothing but my best. As always.” She folded her arms across her chest, revealing her foul mood.

What had happened for her to get her back up so easily with her boss? Something in their past, or was she known for not doing her job effectively?

Hudson cleared his throat. “Thanks for your help, sir. You can count on us wrapping this up as quickly as possible. I’m sure Officer Poirier is needed back on the team.” He turned to Kaylin and pointed to the officers scouring the area. “Let’s leave this shooting with them and go check out the florist van. Forensics are en route.”

“Whatever you say, Constable.” She flattened her lips.

Great. Not only did he have to deal with a shooting today, but an angry female, as well.

Not a good combination.

Kaylin jumped into the constable’s vehicle and slammed the door. Why did she have to work with him again? When they’d worked together last time, he’d taken over the case, pushing her aside so he could fly solo. He had a problem with authority and only wanted to do things his way. She folded her arms and stared out the window.

Didn’t matter that Hudson Steeves was one of the best-looking men she’d ever met. Those cornflower blue eyes were hard not to get lost in, but she was determined not to get sucked into another man’s good looks. Jake, her ex-fiancé, was incentive enough to steer her away from all men. His tricks had taken the ultimate toll and there was no way she’d open herself up to that kind of pain again.

Hudson pulled onto the highway that would take them to the charred van. “It’s good to be working with you again,” he said, spouting the professional line. “How have you been?”

Despite her resolve to stay close-minded toward him, she snuck a peek at his side profile. His chiseled jaw, covered by a five o’clock shadow, made him even more handsome. Stop, Kaylin. She turned back to the window. The tree line zipped by as they moved in and out of the busy traffic. “Working nonstop,” she replied. “You?” She was working hard, but mostly so she didn’t have time to think about being alone. After all, her experience with the men in her life proved she was better off by herself. Although, if that was the case, why did she have to keep reminding herself of that?

“The same,” he said. “Never a dull moment.”

“For sure. Tell me about this case. How did you stumble onto it?”

He took the next right and maneuvered the cruiser into the heart of downtown Windsor. “Doda—the poor man’s heroin street drug—has been on the rise again. The police staged a siege with the CBSA in Saskatchewan a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, the arrest didn’t include the big cheese of the operation. Just a few men from lower on the totem pole. Ever since then we’ve gotten reports of the drug being used in different cities. Toronto’s Asian community seems to be the hardest hit.”

“Interesting that the driver was Asian. Any connection?”

“Possibly.”

“Are they targeting a specific ethnic group?” She plunged herself into getting more information on the case. Anything to direct her away from thoughts of the handsome constable.

“It used to be mostly in the Asian community, but we’re finding more high school and college kids are starting to use the drug.” His knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “We have to stop it before it gets any worse.”

“I’ve heard it’s a hard drug to kick.”

“Yes, that’s true, especially without the help of a doctor.”

Kaylin shook her head. Just the thought of kids taking this drug put her on edge. “When will people learn drugs are not the answer?” Images of her brother popped in her head. She wrung her hands together. She knew firsthand what it was like to have drugs take over a loved one’s life. She had watched it happen bit by bit with her brother.

“You okay?” Hudson’s eyes softened.

Had he changed since they’d last worked together? Interest in him tugged at her emotions, but she turned away to block out his boyish charm. “My brother overdosed on heroin at the age of eighteen, so drugs have always been a sore spot for me.”

“I’m so sorry. How old were you?”

She let out a heavy sigh. “Ten at the time, but I can still picture his lifeless eyes.”

“You found him?”

Tears welled, but she pushed them away. She would not let him see her in a weakened state. “Yes, and my father blamed me for it.”

He pulled into the parking lot of an abandoned warehouse. “The police chief? That’s terrible. How could he have done that?”

“Let’s just say my father blames me for a lot of things.” That was more than she wanted to share. The memories were all in her past and she had to keep them there. For her own sanity.

“Well, it could hardly be your fault. What did your mother say?”

She stared out the window. “She died giving birth to me, so I never knew her. Another thing my father hated me for.”

“Doesn’t sound like the man I’ve met.”

Her father put on a good image for the public, but she knew his secret. Who he really was. “No comment.” She rubbed her temples. She needed to change the subject. “How did you get chosen for this task force?”

A vein twitched in his neck as he jerked the car to the right, where she saw the remains of the charred van. “I asked to be on it.”

“Why?”

“Personal reasons.”

He wasn’t offering much information. Why the secret, she wondered. “Like?” She continued to push.

“My nephew Matthew overdosed after he was targeted by a drug ring. He’s in the hospital.”

“I’m so sorry.” Once again, Todd’s face flashed before her. She could relate to Hudson’s pain.

“I’m determined to stop drug smugglers. I’ve seen what it can do to teens. It has to end.” His taut expression revealed just how much he wanted to catch them.

Her cell phone dinged. She pulled it out and read the text.

Next time you won’t be so fortunate. We’re watching.

A picture popped on her phone. One of her and Hudson standing near her booth at the border.

She swallowed despite her dry mouth. Yes, she agreed with Hudson. These smugglers had to be stopped or someone could be hurt. Or worse.

“What is it?” Hudson parked beside another cruiser and turned off the engine.

“Got a text and this.” She held up the picture on her phone. “They’re watching.”

His eyes narrowed. “This is not good. How did they get your number?”

“No idea.” A tremor rippled through her body, threatening to overpower her. She forced it away and shoved her cell phone into her vest pocket.

“You best report it.” Hudson grabbed gloves from a bag in the back seat and handed her a pair. “Let’s see if we can salvage anything from this wreckage.”

Kaylin put them on and stepped out of the vehicle. Smoke assaulted her nostrils and she pinched her nose. Firemen had doused the van’s smoldering embers. Only a charred shell remained.

“I doubt we’ll find much.” Kaylin stepped forward. “Why do you think they did this?”

“I’m guessing they knew we’d catch up to them at some point, so they decided to get rid of any evidence.” He turned toward another officer at the scene. “James, did we get any leads on what direction they went? It can’t be far.”

The white-haired constable shook his head. “We have officers canvassing the area, but so far it’s like they disappeared.”

“Always one step ahead.” Hudson rubbed the back of his neck.

A lone remaining fireman approached the group. “The flames are out and it’s safe to search the van. It’s all yours now.”

Hudson touched Kaylin gently by the elbow, guiding her toward the vehicle. “We need to wait for our Ident team.”

She trembled at his innocent touch.

They didn’t have long to wait. The forensic unit pulled into the parking lot and two officers rushed forward with their equipment. Another cruiser pulled up beside them and a female constable emerged.

Hudson approached her and held out his hand. “Hey, Bianca. Good to see you again.”

She pointed to the van. “Have you contaminated the crime scene?”

“Wouldn’t think of it,” Hudson said. “This is Kaylin Poirier, CBSA officer. She’s here to help with the investigation. Kaylin, this is Constable Bianca Wills. She works alongside the forensic team and reports back to us.”

“Nice to meet you.” Bianca motioned toward the van. “Shall we take a look?”

Hudson put his gloves on and opened the back doors. The hinges screeched in annoyance.

Kaylin peered closer.

Empty, charred tin plant buckets lay on the floor.

Kaylin pointed to a pot. “What? They torched the van because of flowers? That doesn’t make sense.”

“They had to be some form of illegal flower.” Hudson moved to the front of the vehicle. “Let’s check out the seat.”

Kaylin opened what was left of the driver’s door. Searching cars was part of a CBSA officer’s duty. She could do this. It was her comfort zone. “Do you mind if I take a look here?”

“Go ahead,” Bianca replied. “Just don’t move anything.”

Kaylin reached in and felt around the seats. Nothing. She placed her hand behind the blackened cushion. Something pricked her finger and she snapped back. “I think there’s a knife in here.”

Bianca reached in and pulled out a blade.

Kaylin leaned closer. “I imagine the fire removed any chances of getting a print off it.”

“Probably, but we’ll check to be sure.” Bianca dropped the knife into an evidence bag and handed it to the forensics officer.

Kaylin ran her hand along the inside of the door. “Nothing hidden there. Looks like they kept a clean van.”

Hudson handed Bianca a card. “Can you call me when you hear anything?”

“Sure will.”

“See ya around.” Hudson’s cell phone buzzed. He fished it out of his pocket and swiped the screen.

Kaylin kept her gaze on Hudson. His presence lured her in like a lobster to a trap, ensnaring her so she couldn’t escape.

Hudson’s expression clouded as he read the text. “We gotta roll.”

“What’s going on?” She removed her gloves.

“A suspicious package was found at my nephew’s high school. Could be related to the case.”

The hairs prickled the back of her neck.

What else would this day bring?

THREE

Hudson took the steps two at a time into Matthew’s high school with Kaylin at his heels. He needed to get to the bottom of this doda ring, and fast. Before more kids were enticed. His nephew’s safety depended on it. Lockers lined each side of the sparse halls as their footsteps echoed down the corridor. It was lunchtime, so the halls were empty of students.

He pointed to the right. “The principal’s office is this way.”

“You’ve been here before, I take it?” She grinned.

He stopped, her sassy smile tantalizing him. Wait. What? Where did that come from? She probably still hated him. Not that he blamed her. He’d acted like a jerk on their previous investigation. He’d broken up with his fiancée and was still getting over her betrayal. Rebecca had brought out the worst in him. And Kaylin had paid the price. He’d ended up praying a lot during that time—asking God to forgive him.

Focus on the case.

“Yup, my old high school.”

When they reached the office, Hudson knocked on the door and stepped aside, letting Kaylin enter first. Her floral scent followed and he breathed it in. He adjusted his hat to help him concentrate on the task at hand.

A woman in her late forties sat behind a desk, typing. Piles of paperwork filled the top of her working area. She sipped her drink and glanced up at the interruption.

Hudson pulled out his credentials. “Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m Constable Hudson Steeves.” He pointed to Kaylin. “This is Officer Kaylin Poirier of the CBSA.”

The secretary stood, her glasses slipping to the end of her nose. Her raised brows peeked over her cat-eye spectacles. “You’re here about the drugs, aren’t you?”

Hudson put his badge in his pocket. “Yes. Can we talk to Principal Normand?”

She picked up the phone and buzzed into the inner office. “The officers are here about the package.” She paused. “Will do.” She pointed to the door. “You can go in. He’s expecting you.”

Hudson and Kaylin entered the small office lined with bookshelves on both sides.

The silver-haired man stood. “Good afternoon, Officers. Thanks for coming.”

Hudson stuck out his hand and introduced himself and Kaylin.

“Nice to meet you both.” The principal came out from behind his desk and returned the gesture before pointing to the table. “Here’s the package in question. We received a tip that someone had brought drugs into the school, so we did a locker-by-locker search and found this.”

Hudson opened the bag and sniffed the beige powder. He stuck his finger in and scooped up a trace with his pinkie. “It’s doda all right. Where’s the student? We’d like to talk to him.”

“He’s being detained down the hall by another teacher. His father is also there. He’s madder than a stirred-up hornet’s nest.”

Hudson pulled out a folded evidence bag from his pocket, placed the doda into it and sealed the top. “We’ll take this to the station for processing.” He pointed to the door. “Lead us to the student.”

Hudson turned to exit the room and bumped into Kaylin, almost knocking her over. He caught her by the waist as their gaze locked. He cleared his throat and stepped aside. “After you.”

They followed Principal Normand down the hall to a classroom. A curly-haired teenager slouched in the chair behind a desk. The teacher sat at the front of the room. A sophisticated gentleman in an Armani suit stood in the corner with his arms crossed. He looked at his watch before peering at them with a scowl.

It was evident they were taking up the man’s valuable time.

Hudson knew the type. A father who needed complete control of his kids.

Principal Normand pointed toward them. “Benji, these officers are here to talk to you. I suggest you cooperate. You’re already under suspension. Don’t make me kick you out of school.”

The father rushed forward, standing toe-to-toe with the principal. “You wouldn’t dare. My son will not be treated this way.”

Hudson stepped between them and extended his hand. “I’m Constable Steeves. You are?”

“David Rossiter.” He kept his arms glued to his side. “Constable, you better be careful on how you treat this situation or I won’t hesitate to sue your department.”

Great. If that happened, he’d never hear the end of it from his boss. And it’d be just what he needed. Another strike against him. “We want to get to the bottom of what happened here, sir. I hope you will cooperate.”

The man said nothing; he just stared at Hudson, whose own gaze didn’t waver.

Then, finally, David Rossiter stood aside.

Hudson pulled up a chair next to the boy and straddled it. He held up the bag. “Benji, is this yours?”

“Nope.”

“Why was it found in your locker?”

The boy shrugged.

Kaylin stepped closer and stood in the boy’s personal space. “Be honest with us and we may let you off easy. Where did you get the doda?”

Hudson waited for a response, but the boy said nothing.

The teacher stood. “Benji, cooperate with them.”

Silence filled the stuffy room. The teen studied the floor, remaining mute.

“Come on, Benji, give us something. We want the dealer.” Hudson’s cell phone played his sister’s ringtone. He stood. “I need to take this.”

As soon as he stepped into the hall, he asked, “Ally, what’s wrong?” She didn’t normally call during his work shift. Something had happened.

She sniffed. “Matty has slipped into a coma.” Her voice quivered.

He stiffened and gripped his phone tighter. “I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

“Find the monsters who did this to my boy.”

Ally hadn’t believed her son had taken the overdose. She’d insisted he’d been forced. But she couldn’t say why. “I will. I’m working on a lead right now. I promise I’ll find them.” Could he really? Lord, make it so. “Keep me updated. Love you.”

“You, too.” She clicked off.

Hudson rammed his phone back into his pocket and stormed through the classroom door. “Do you know Matthew Wilson?” he shouted at Benji.

David rushed to his son’s side. “Lay off, Constable, or I will talk to your superiors.” His icy tone revealed he meant business.

Hudson didn’t flinch and kept his gaze on the teen. He wouldn’t let this father get in the way of the investigation. “I repeat. Do you know Matthew Wilson?”

Benji met his gaze. “Yes. Why?”

“He’s in a coma thanks to a drug overdose. Do you know what’s special about this version of doda?”

“He’ll kill me,” Benji whispered.

“What? Who will kill you? What are you talking about?”

David put a hand on Benji’s shoulder. “Son, be careful what you say.”

Benji recoiled from his father’s touch. “He told me if I said anything he would come after me and my family. You know, like this.” He motioned a knife being slid across his neck.

“We can protect you. We just want this drug off the streets.” Hudson pulled a notebook from his pocket. “Tell us what you know.”

“I don’t know his name. Only how to get in touch with them.”

“How?” Kaylin asked.

Benji bit his fingernails. “I text a number. They tell me where to meet.”

Kaylin sat at the desk next to the teenager. “So, you know what he looks like?”

“It’s a different person each time.”

Hudson frowned. The drug dealer used his thugs to make the drop in order to conceal his identity. How far did this ring spread?

He knew what he had to do. It was their best shot to get the dealer out of hiding. “Let’s text the number, shall we? Tell them you need more drugs and you’ll only meet at the school parking lot at six tonight.”

The boy shook his head. “They won’t go for that.”

“Try it. What do you have to lose?”

Benji rubbed his temples. “My life.”

David Rossiter slammed his hand on the desk. “You will not put my son’s life at risk. I forbid it.”

Kaylin leaned forward. “We’ll protect him. Put a wire on him.”

The man leaned in closer to Kaylin, his eyes never wavering. “Use someone else’s kid. Mine isn’t available.”

Benji lifted his chin. “Dad, I can handle it.”

The man’s nostrils flared. “Can you guarantee my son’s protection?”

Nothing was absolute, but Hudson would try. “We will be there with him every step of the way. As soon as the dealer emerges and offers more drugs to Benji, we’ll move in.”

The teen fished his cell phone out of his pocket. “I’m doing it, Dad.” He typed a message.

They waited.

Would the dealer take the bait?

Hudson kept his anticipation under control, though he knew this could be the break they were looking for. The clock on the wall ticked, the only sound in the classroom. He eyed Kaylin. She bit her lip, something he’d already learned was a nervous habit. He knew she was as anxious as he was to find this ring.

A couple minutes later the boy’s cell phone dinged.

“What did they say?” Kaylin asked.

“After a few swear words, they agreed.” Benji threw his phone down. “What do we do now?”

Hudson gestured toward the door. “You’re coming with us to the station. We have paperwork to do and then we have to get you wired.” He glanced at his watch. Twelve thirty. They had a few hours to get ready for this exchange. “Please, sir, we need to know if we have your permission. Time is running out.”

David poked his finger into Hudson’s chest. “Fine, but if something happens to Benji, I’m holding you personally responsible.”

Hudson rubbed his neck, massaging the forming knots.

No pressure.

Kaylin’s heart pounded in anticipation of the upcoming meet. The thought of putting a boy’s life in danger ate away at her like a mouse gnawing on a box of tissues. But what choice did they have? They needed to catch this ring and she would do everything in her power to make that happen. After all, her father counted on her to get the job done. This would be one ring gone off the never-ending list of drug smugglers. Plus, she needed to take the target off her back.

She scrolled through her texts to pass the time and calm her pulsating nerves. They had everything in place. Benji sat in the cruiser’s back seat as they parked two blocks down from the school’s lot, hidden by a row of cedar trees. At the station, Hudson had prepped Benji on what to say and do, and the boy ran through it again, his knee bouncing nervously. The constable had shared the news of his nephew’s coma and it was clear from his agitated state that he was concerned. For obvious reasons he wanted this case solved as fast as possible.

She glanced out the window. She couldn’t see them but she knew other officers were strategically placed around the school, keeping watch.

Her cell phone vibrated and she swiped to check the newest text. It was from Diane Smith, her long-time friend who’d taken her in when she’d needed to get away from her father. Kaylin pictured the elderly woman rocking while knitting a scarf for the local mission. She was the only person Kaylin could count on.

Praying 4 u 2day.

How did the woman do it? She always seemed to know when something of significance was happening in Kaylin’s life.

Appreciate it, but not sure if God is here.

Why did Diane always have to bring God into everything? Even after all these years, she still trusted in someone she couldn’t see or touch. Not Kaylin. She needed proof of God’s existence. She just couldn’t believe in an entity who supposedly watched over her. Where had He been when her father had ridiculed her at every turn? When Kaylin had lived on the street? God had been nowhere to be seen or heard.

He’s always there. U just have 2 believe.

I can’t.

Keep looking up. Luv u.

U 2. XO

Kaylin checked the clock on her phone. 5:52 p.m. She turned to Hudson. “It’s time to get into place. You ready, Benji?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

They piled out of the cruiser and Hudson checked the wire once more. “You’re good to go. We’ll be around the building, watching and ready to take action. Just get him to offer you the drugs. Then we’ll move in and make the arrest.”

The boy nodded. His hands shook as he buttoned his shirt closed.

Kaylin squeezed his arm. “You’ll be okay. Trust us.”

Hudson nudged him forward. “Go ahead. We’ll follow and get in position.”

Benji shuffled toward the school parking lot.

“This better work,” Kaylin said.

“It’s in God’s hands.”

Not him, too. She patted her weapon. “No, it’s up to us to keep that boy safe.” She couldn’t believe in an invisible God. “Let’s take our places around the corner before the dealer arrives. Benji is counting on us.”

Hudson scowled and gestured for her to take the lead. “After you.”

Why had she just been rude to this man? She knew better than that. Talk of God always put her in a foul mood.

Concentrate. You need to help solve the case to prove to your father you’re worthy of this job. She remembered how Hudson had taken over the previous investigation they worked on together. She would not let that happen again.

They reached the corner of the school and Hudson pulled out his binoculars, focusing them in Benji’s direction.

Kaylin crouched behind a massive flowerpot and peeked out.

Still no sign of the dealer. She checked her watch. It was 6:05 p.m. She tapped her finger on the side of her leg. Patience was never her strongest virtue. “He’s not coming.”

Hudson pointed the binoculars to the left, then right. “Give him time. He’s not that—”

Tires screeched around the corner and a dented Chevy Impala pulled into the school parking lot, burning rubber. The foul smell lingered in the air.

Kaylin wrinkled her nose and adjusted her earpiece. “Here we go.”

A lanky man stepped out of the car and approached Benji.

“Didn’t we just give you some drugs?” His deep voice crackled through Kaylin’s ear.

“I sold it all.” Benji’s broken words revealed his nervousness.

Calm down, kid. You’ve got this.

“That fast? Trying to make employee of the month?”

Benji shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Do you have the goods or not?” His voice steady.

Good save.

Kaylin grabbed Hudson’s binoculars. Her fingers grazed his, tingling from the electricity surging through. What was that? They’d had a moment earlier when they bumped into each other and she caught something in his gaze. Admiration? She had sworn off men, so why the sudden interest in him? Concentrate, Kaylin! You have a job to do.

She studied the suspect. The man slouched over and reached into his car. His shoulder-length curly hair swung forward, hiding his face. He tucked it behind his ear and passed Benji a package, revealing his tattooed arm. He snatched it back, eyes narrowing. “You get it when you give me money. Your rich father footing the bill?”

“That’s none of your business.” Benji pulled out a wad of cash.

The lanky man reached for it.

Hudson pulled out his weapon. “That’s it. Move in.”

Kaylin stood from her position, holding her gun in front of her body.

They rushed around the corner and across the parking lot.

“Stop, police!” Hudson raised his Smith & Wesson. “Turn around and place your hands on the hood.”

The drug dealer dropped the package and grabbed Benji. He pulled out a gun and held it to the boy’s temple. “Don’t come any closer or I swear I’ll shoot.”

Hudson and Kaylin froze in their tracks.

“Give it up, man.” Hudson took a step forward. “You’re surrounded.”

Officers emerged from their stakeout locations and circled the suspect with their weapons raised.

The lanky man squeezed Benji harder. “Is this boy’s life worth the risk?”

“Is yours?” Kaylin hated attitudes like this one. Did he really think he could get away from them? He’d be shot if he fired his weapon.

He pushed the boy aside, raising his hands and gun. “I surrender. It’s not me you want anyway. I’m just a small piece of the big pie.”

Hudson rushed the man and grabbed the Glock out of his hand, stuffing it into the back of his pants. He spun him around and slammed him against the car’s hood. “Who do you work for?” He cuffed him.

“I ain’t saying nothing until I call my lawyer.”

Hudson’s cell phone dinged. He checked his text message, then relayed it to Kaylin. “Finally, a break. We caught the van’s driver from this morning.”

“Excellent. Maybe he can lead us to whoever is behind all this. Too many small fish in the big pond.” Kaylin holstered her weapon.

Hudson shoved the lanky man forward to another officer. “Book him.”

“Yes, sir.” The constable led the suspect away.

Hudson patted Benji on the back. “Great job, man. You held up under the pressure. The authorities will take what you’ve done here into consideration. We’ll drop you off at the station. Your father is waiting.”

Benji’s eyes clouded and his gaze shifted to the pavement.

Kaylin picked up on his actions. Obviously, something about his father unnerved him.

She placed a hand on Benji’s arm. “You okay?”

His gaze snapped to hers. “I’m fine.” His tone was curt.

Did this boy have trouble with his father? She flexed her fingers. Just because you had father issues doesn’t mean everyone does.

The boy slouched his shoulders and headed to the vehicle.

Clearly there was more to his story.

And Kaylin desperately wanted to know. She couldn’t save herself from past heartache, but could she help a troubled teen?

Her cell phone rang and she glanced at the number. Speaking of fathers. She gritted her teeth before answering. “What’s up?”

“Is that how you greet your father?”

“I’m busy, Dad. We’re working on a lead.” Did she have to justify everything to him?

His exaggerated sigh passed through the cell phone. “Listen, there’s been a development.”

“What?”

“I just received a disturbing picture a moment ago. I’m sending it to you now.”

Kaylin held her breath. Him, too?

“I’m pulling you off this case.”

How could she convince him that she needed to stop the drug smugglers? Even if it meant putting her own life in jeopardy. “No, you’re not.”

“Look at the picture, Kaylin. You need to be careful.”

She pulled the phone down to check it out.

It was a picture of her standing with Benji and Hudson at the school. Her face had an X through it with a caption below it.

Stop this task force or your daughter will die.

Hudson scratched on his notepad while waiting for the driver of the florist van to be brought into the interrogation room. He wanted to record what went down at the meet. They couldn’t miss a beat in this investigation. Kaylin sat across from him, checking her cell phone. She had shared the latest picture with him and the conversation she’d had with her father. It seemed they’d stepped on an anthill and now smugglers were exploding onto the scene, targeting the task force. He was more determined than ever to stop them.

They’d dropped Benji off to his father and even though the teen had seemed reluctant to go, his father had insisted they leave right away. He’d also promised to sue the department if his son had any lasting nightmares over this incident. Didn’t seem to matter that Benji had scored a victory with this takedown and would probably get off with just community service. David Rossiter had practically dragged his son down the hall and out the door.

“There’s something about Benji’s father I don’t trust.” Kaylin tossed her cell phone onto the table and stood. “Benji didn’t seem to want to go with him. Did you get that impression, too?”

“Perhaps an overprotective father?”

She shook her head. “There’s more to it. I can sense it.”

How could she possibly know, he wondered. “What makes you say that?”

“The way Benji acted around his father. He’s almost scared of him.”

Hudson ran his hand along the metal table. Its coolness soothed his sweaty fingers. “You think he’ll hurt him or something?”

“I know the signs.” Her eyes darkened.

Instinctively he knew there was a story behind her sullen expression. “How do you know?”

She stood up and paced the tiny room. “I just do.”

Clearly, he wouldn’t get more out of her, but he sure wanted to know what she was hiding.

The door opened, and a guard ushered in the van driver, pushing him into the chair. He cuffed his hands to the metal bar fastened to the table. “No more trouble out of you, mister.” The guard threw a folder in front of Hudson.

“He giving you problems?” Hudson opened the file and glanced at the particulars. Akio Lee, age twenty-six, resident of Toronto. Two arrests for drug trafficking. One for assault with a deadly weapon. Another for attempted rape. A passport picture of another man also lined the inside of the folder. Martin Belliveau.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” He rubbed his reddened cheek. “He’s all yours, Constable.” The guard slammed the door on the way out.

“You taking potshots at the guard, Mr. Lee?” Hudson said.

“Whatever.” The man slouched in his chair.

“Seems you have quite the dossier of crimes.” Hudson handed the file to Kaylin.

She opened it and read it before dropping it on the table. “Where’s your partner, Akio?”

Akio shrugged. “Don’t know. We parted ways.”

Hudson leaned forward. “Right after you torched the van?”

“I know nothing, man. I’m just a driver for a florist.”

Kaylin huffed. “A driver with a list of felonies a mile long.”

“That’s in the past. I’ve changed my ways.”

“Hardly. Tell us what you were transporting into the country. Whatever it was you didn’t want us to find.” Kaylin sat opposite him.

“Flowers.”

Hudson tilted his head. “You can get flowers in Canada. Why were they coming from the US?”

“I don’t know. Something about a rare breed of roses.” He jiggled the cuffs in front of him, clanging against the bar. “You have nothing on me. Let me go.”

Kaylin placed her hands on the table, leaning close to Akio. “Nothing on you? You fired on an officer of the law. Why did you have a picture of me and the police chief?”

“I was only following orders.”

Hudson leaned forward. “By whom?”

“Don’t know.”

Hudson’s chest tightened, his unconscious nephew entering his mind. “How could you not know?”

Silence.

“What about the knife behind your driver’s seat? What were you going to use that for?” Kaylin massaged her forehead. “And stop lying to us.”

“That’s only for opening boxes.”

Hudson lunged out of his chair. “Tell us the truth. What was in that van?” He paused. “If you cooperate, we’ll try to help you.”

“Yeah, right. You’ll put me behind bars and let me rot. I know what a cop’s promise can do.”

“You have experience, I take it?” Kaylin fiddled with the strap on her radio. “Look, we don’t want you. We want your boss. Cooperate with us and we’ll try to get you a plea bargain.”

Could they? Hudson wasn’t so sure. But they’d let him believe that.

Akio bit his lip.

They had him nervous now. Good.

“He’ll kill me,” Akio whispered.

It was the second time they’d heard that today. First the boy and now this man. Both were scared of someone. But who?

Kaylin’s eyes softened. “We can protect you, Mr. Lee. Tell us what you know.”

“My partner did all the dealing with the boss man. I was only supposed to drive the van to and from the States.”

Hudson sat back down and picked up his pen. “What’s your partner’s name?”

“Blaine Ridley.”

He checked the file. “Says here it’s Martin Belliveau.” He shoved the passport picture in front of Akio. “This him?”

“Nope. He obviously used a fake passport.”

How did he get across the border, then? Then he remembered Kaylin mentioning he wore a hoodie, hiding his face from her.

Hudson wrote down the name. “Can you give us a description of him? Any distinguishable features?”

“About six feet. Bushy hair, beard. Zigzag scar under his right eye. Said he got it in a bar fight.”

Not a lot to go on, but Hudson would get a sketch made. “What was the plan for your shipment?”

“We would cross at the Windsor border and pick up the flower order in Detroit, then make our way back with all the correct papers.”

“If you only had flowers, why would we think anything of it? Why pull a gun?” Kaylin scooted her chair closer to the driver, obviously wanting to intimidate him.

He shrugged. His knee bounced as if he was ready to bolt if he could.

“Who are you scared of?” Hudson guessed the man wasn’t telling them everything. His nervousness proved it.

Akio chewed on his fingernails. “He promised he’d kill us if we ever told anyone about him.”

“Do you know who he is?” Kaylin rubbed the back of her neck.

“We only know him as—”

A rumble shook the building.

The lights snapped off, leaving them in pitch darkness.

FOUR

Kaylin flicked on her flashlight as adrenaline coursed through her body. Was this a simple power outage or something more sinister? Her mind raced to the latter. It was too much of a coincidence after everything else that had happened today. Had they found her? Her father’s warning echoed in her mind. She rested her right hand on her holstered weapon. No way would she be caught unaware.

Across from her, Akio’s eyes widened. “What’s going on?”

A crash sounded down the hall, followed by screams.

“He’s found me.” Akio’s whimper didn’t fit with the image of the arrogant van driver he’d portrayed earlier.

Hudson bolted out of his chair, unleashing his gun. “I’ll check it out. Stay here with him.” He rushed out of the room.

Kaylin set the flashlight on the table. “Who do you think has found you? What are you involved in?”

Akio exhaled. “I needed the job, man.”

“What exactly is your job? Drug running across the border? Targeting people?”

His eyes flashed in the beam of light. “No.”

“Why did you torch the van?”

The man’s knee bounced. His obvious nervous tic. “Blaine told me the boss man would get angry if the shipment fell into the police’s hands. Plus, we made sure you saw the pictures as he said we needed to scare you so your father would back off. The boss ordered it. I do what I’m told. Learned that from living in the hood.”

Kaylin certainly related to living among danger. She’d faced it in her short time with the homeless as they defended their territory. Fights broke out frequently and she had done her best to steer clear of them. She shuddered. Thank God for Diane, who’d saved her from that life. Did I just thank God? She wasn’t thinking straight. It was all Diane. God had nothing to do with it. She rubbed her brow and concentrated on the situation in front of her. Enough about her past. She needed to figure out this case quickly and bring down this ring.

Before they got to her or her father.

“Tell me about your boss man. Do you know his name?”

He massaged his neck. “Blaine only referred to him as Valentino.”

“Have you met him?” She wrote the name down.

“No, not many have. All I know is he has men everywhere.” He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “You better watch your back. They’re close and watching.”

“How do you know that?” How far did this drug ringleader’s tentacles reach? How many people were involved? The thought of anyone hurting her family or friends sent a jolt of anger through her veins. She had to stop them.

“Blaine is always nervous and said one of them confronted him when he stole money. They roughed him up and said never to cheat Valentino again. That was when he knew they were watching. He’s been paranoid ever since.”

“Where’s Blaine now?”

Akio shrugged. “Don’t know. He ran in one direction and told me to go in the other. That we couldn’t be seen together.”

“Can you get in touch with him? He’s our only hope to finding out more about Valentino and what they’re smuggling.”

“I can give you the address where I picked him up for this run.”

Kaylin slid her notepad and pen across the table. “Write it down.”

Akio scribbled on the paper. “I’ve cooperated, so can you give me a deal?”

“That will be for Constable Steeves to decide. This is his case.”

“What do you—”

The door opened and Hudson entered. “We have to leave. Now.” He unlocked Akio’s cuffs and pulled him up.

Kaylin grabbed her flashlight and stood. “What’s going on?”

“Bomb threat. They’re clearing the building.”

“Where do we go?” Kaylin’s head throbbed, but she ignored it.

“To the nearest OPP station. We’re transporting all our prisoners there. We can finish our interrogations after we’re secured. We still have to question our drug dealer suspect.”

Akio wiggled in Hudson’s vise grip. “How about you give me a deal?”

“You need to provide us with more intel before that can happen,” Hudson said.

“But I gave her lots of info.”

Hudson raised his brow. “Until I’m satisfied, you’ll stay with us.”

“But they’re watching. They probably called in this threat and caused the power outage.” He paused. “They know I’m here.”

“Who?” Hudson said.

“Like I told Officer Poirier, I only know him as Valentino. Blaine told me they’re never far away. You have to let me go, man. I’m not safe with her.” He pointed toward Kaylin.

She dismissed the quiver of fear running down her neck and tucked her notepad into her vest pocket. She understood the man’s concerns. It seemed this ring stretched far and wide. “You’re the safest you can be. We’ll protect you. Cooperate with us.”

“I am! I told you everything.”

“Have you?” She raised a brow.

He cursed and looked at his feet. “Yes.”

Kaylin knew that expression. Either he was too scared to say anything or he was holding back because he was more involved than he let on.

And she intended to find out which.

Hudson pushed him toward the door. “We need to clear the building. We’ve already wasted valuable time.”

Kaylin followed the pair out of the room and down the darkened hall.

An officer ushered their other drug dealer suspect, the lanky man from the high school parking lot, out the front door.

The evening breeze kissed Kaylin’s cheek and she welcomed the fresh night air after a humid day. Officers rushed by, vacating the building, as two shots pierced the night, echoing around them.

Kaylin drew in a sharp breath.

Beside her, Akio fell to the pavement, along with the drug dealer.

Both lay in a pool of blood.

Hudson crouched and whipped out his 9 mm, pointing it in the direction of the shots. They were out in the open and easy targets. A suspicion raced through his mind. Someone must’ve called in a fake bomb threat to get them out of the building so they could take out both suspects. Who were these people and how closely were they being watched?

Akio lay motionless. Taken out by a shot to the forehead. Assassin style. The man had probably died instantly.

Hudson placed himself in front of Kaylin. He needed to protect her from the hidden enemy. He waited for more shots.

But none came.

The shooter had hit the assigned targets. And in so doing, he had killed Hudson’s first big break in this case.

Heat flushed through his body as he pictured Matthew on his hospital bed. Still. Silent. The life sucked out of him. Hudson’s only lead had faded like a weathered photograph while his nephew’s assailant goes free. I can’t fail him, Lord.

The drug dealer they’d arrested in the school parking lot moaned.

Hudson checked the man’s pulse. It was weak. They had to get him to the hospital immediately.

He grimaced and holstered his gun. He had a job to do. “We’re clear. Seems the shooter only wanted these two. Our drug dealer is still alive.” He pulled out his cell phone and called for EMS. He motioned to another officer. “Put pressure on his wound until the paramedics get here. We need this guy alive. He has valuable information in our case.”

The constable obeyed and placed his gloved hands on the lanky man’s chest.

Kaylin put her gun away. “How did these people know we had both men?”

“I don’t know.”

“Akio did say he was being watched. Could it be the same sniper who took shots at us at the border?”

“Probably. Who else would it be?” It was the only active case Hudson was working on at the moment. Was he getting closer?

Hudson eyed the dead witness. What information died with Akio? He knew the driver had held back information, but what? “What did Mr. Lee tell you after I left the room?”

“Gave me the name Valentino as the head of the ring. Also said he didn’t know much, but he gave me an address for Blaine Ridley.”

He glanced at his watch. 8:30 p.m. “Want to check it out?”

Distant sirens sounded.

“It’s getting late and we haven’t eaten since lunch.”

“What? You going to turn into a pumpkin?”

She scowled, taking a wide-legged stance. “Fine, boss. We’ll do as you wish.”

Ouch. What gave him the right to be rude? He rubbed his temples as a migraine hovered in the background. Stress held him in its grip. He obviously hadn’t learned from their past working relationship. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

An ambulance and OPP officers pulled in front of them. Paramedics scrambled out of their vehicle and relieved the officer holding pressure on the suspect. “We’ll take it from here.”

“Jacobs, follow them to the hospital,” Hudson said to one of the constables. “I want a report on his condition later. We still need to question him.”

The officer nodded and raced to his vehicle.

“He won’t be in any condition for your questions, sir. At least until after surgery,” the paramedic said as he hooked the suspect up to a portable IV and sped him away without waiting for further comments.

The coroner arrived moments later to take Akio’s body to the morgue.

Hudson shook his head. What a waste. This young van driver was struck down in his prime. Whatever future he’d had had evaporated. Lord, be with his family as they go through their loss. Not that he knew if he even had one, but someone out there must have loved this poor guy.

“Do you want to quit for the night and start fresh tomorrow morning?” He gestured for more officers to come forward. “These constables will secure the scene and Forensics will soon be here to check for evidence.”

“No way.” She pulled a granola bar from her pocket and held it up. “My go-to nourishment on the job.” She pursed her lips before opening the bar and taking a bite.

Her expression told him he’d annoyed her. He seemed to have a habit of doing that.

He motioned her toward his cruiser and followed her, admiring her from a distance, despite his warnings to himself to keep his eyes averted. Even her uniform couldn’t hide her exquisite features. He shook his head. No, he couldn’t get wrapped up in past thoughts of this woman. He’d sworn off women since Rebecca. No way would he fall that hard again.

He promised his heart he wouldn’t. But sometimes the head and heart didn’t agree.

He opened the passenger-side door for her.

She ignored his gallantry and didn’t look at him when she climbed into the vehicle, her disdain evident. Could he get through the walls she’d obviously built around her?

He slipped into the driver’s seat and started the car. “What address did Akio give you?”

She mumbled it off between bites.

He punched it into his vehicle’s GPS and turned right out of the parking lot, heading in the direction of Blaine’s home. “How did you get into the CBSA?” It was time to lighten the tension between them. After all, her lousy mood was his fault.

“I saw an ad and it interested me, so I enrolled. They accepted my application and that was that. I love what I do. Keeping the border safe is my passion,” she replied.

Her demeanor changed with talk of the CBSA. The lines on her face turned upward from scowls to smiles.

“Your father must be proud,” he said.

She heaved a sigh. “I doubt it.”

“Why would you say that?”

“We rarely speak.”

He turned left onto a side street. “I’ve seen you together before. You seem so close.”

“Don’t believe everything you see.”

There was a story there. Would she trust him enough to share it? “Well, you’re good at what you do,” he said. “You proved that to me on our last case when we wired you to get a confession out of your ex for drug trafficking. What was his name again?”

She looked away but not before he caught her frown. How quickly her mood changed again.

“Jake Shepherd, and he’s locked up.”

“How did you two meet?” There was more behind those sad eyes than she would probably admit, he knew, but he’d try to get it out of her.

She shifted in her seat. “It was after high school, at a church function.”

He raised a brow. Maybe she did have a background with the gospel. “So you believe in God?”

“I don’t. I went to appease a friend.” She fumbled with her shirt button as if trying to occupy her mind with something other than her past.

Another story for another time.

“What happened with Jake?” He turned the police radio down slightly, so he could hear her every word.

She gave up on the button and peered out the window but waited before continuing in a soft voice. “We met, fell in love, got engaged, and then I realized he was doing drugs. But it was after—”

She stopped. Her silence betrayed her tangled emotions.

But he had to know. “After what?” He turned down another street, taking them closer to Blaine’s address.

Her eyes glared at him like a cobra ready to strike. “Nothing.”

“Didn’t he threaten you when you helped convict him?” He couldn’t let it go.

She rubbed her arms as if protecting herself from her ex’s advances. “He said he’d get even with me when he got out.” Her voice broke.

“Good thing he’s in jail.” Lord, protect her and help her move past this.

Kaylin bit her lip.

Her nervous habit. It was cute. Where did that thought come from?

“His lawyer is appealing his sentence.” Her face turned ashen as she stared at the road ahead.

She was scared, he realized. This man had gotten to her even from behind bars. “Have you heard from him since he was incarcerated?”

“Numerous times. Letters I haven’t opened.”

“Maybe you should. If they’re threats, they could keep him behind bars.”

“I don’t want to have anything to do with that man.” She clamped her mouth shut.

That was his cue to stop talking about her ex. Instead, he pulled in front of the address given to them. “We’re here.”

Graffiti filled the front of the dilapidated apartment building with boarded-up windows. Weeds poked out of cracks in the concrete and chunks of brick lay around the yard.

“Wow. How can anyone live here?” Kaylin opened her door. “Looks like the building is ready to be condemned.”

“Let’s be careful. This may be a setup.”

She shook her head. “No, Akio seemed to want to help. I don’t think he fed me incorrect information.”

“Only one way to find out. Let’s go.”

She walked up the uneven sidewalk ahead of him, sidestepping the bulging concrete.

The front door hung at an angle, broken at the hinges.

Young boys played basketball in the lot next to the building under lights. Shouldn’t they be home now with their parents? This rough neighborhood could easily cause problems for these boys. “When will kids learn to get off the street at night? Especially here.”

“I wonder if their parents know where they are.”

Hudson eased open the broken door. “What apartment?”

“Second floor. Number two fourteen.”

Their footsteps creaked on the old stairs. No keeping their arrival quiet. Hudson walked with his hand ready on his weapon. He wasn’t taking any chances. He opened the door to the second level and the overwhelming scent of marijuana filled the air.

Hudson crinkled his nose. “Great. This building has got to be a grow-op.”

“No wonder it appears abandoned.”

The smell increased the closer they got to their destination.

Hudson pointed. “Here’s two fourteen.”

The door stood ajar, its lock broken.

Hudson unholstered his weapon and eased the door open.

“Looks like someone beat us here.”

Kaylin whisked out her weapon and followed Hudson into the ransacked apartment. Tables were overturned, couch and chairs ripped to shreds, and marijuana plants strewn about the one-bedroom apartment. A skunky odor filled the small area and Kaylin covered her nose and mouth with her hand. The cannabis reeked.

Hudson raised his gun and swept the room. “Police. Anyone here?” He turned back. “Check the bedroom.”

She entered the tiny room ready to take action. It, too, was trashed. Mattress torn apart, dresser drawers open with the contents thrown all over, but no sign of Blaine.

“Clear.” She moved back into the living room. “The place is empty. Sure looks like someone was bent on finding something.”

“Agreed. I wonder what Blaine had that they so desperately wanted.”

She holstered her weapon. “And who are they? Can this all be related to the drug smuggling ring or something else?”

“Good questions.” He pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll call it in. Maybe we can get prints from this mess.”

Would they? Considering the way their day had gone so far, she doubted it.

A wave of dizziness plagued her and she teetered. She grabbed the back of the couch to steady herself. The day had taken its toll on her. She needed to get home, eat a real meal and climb into a hot bath to soothe her achy body.

No. She would not let Hudson see her as weak. She’d struggled too hard to get to where she was, given all the criticism from her male coworkers. She’d prove them wrong, especially her father. One way to do that was to solve this case. Even if it meant putting her own life at risk. And working with another male. At least this one wasn’t hard on the eyes, and he seemed kinder this time around.

Did I just think that? She blinked. No way would she be caught in the same situation as she was with Jake. No, she didn’t trust men. Not after her broken engagement.

But it was hard not to notice the handsome man beside her, with his army-cut hairstyle and muscular arms. He piqued her interest.

But she had to stop thinking about him.

Besides, he believed in God. Something they could never agree on.

She glanced at her watch. “Are we done after the forensic unit arrives?”

He clenched his jaw. “I need to keep going. Find these people.” His face twisted, the pain evident.

She placed a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry about your nephew, but you won’t help him by overtaxing yourself. Believe me, I want to catch these people, too, but it’s been a long day and you need rest. We both do.”

His shoulders squared as if preparing for battle.

His love for his nephew drove him. She understood that, but she wouldn’t let him wear himself out. Matthew needed him alert. “You know I’m right. Don’t fight me on this.”

He let out a forced breath and his muscles relaxed. “Fine. We’ll call it a night.” He stuffed his phone back into his pocket. “Forensics should be here within ten minutes.”

“Good.” She spotted a drug kit on the coffee table. “Looks like Blaine here dabbles in his business. I wonder if it’s doda.”

“The unit will test it to find out. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was doda, since it appears he’s involved.”

“How do you know that?”

Hudson stared at the mess in the living room. “He ran, didn’t he? I suspect he knew more than Akio and that’s why he’s on the run.”

“We need to have someone stake out this place in case he returns.”

“I’ll clear that with my sergeant.” Once again, he pulled out his phone to make the call.

The front door squeaked open. “You two aren’t messing up the crime scene, are you?” Bianca walked in with the Ident team. They set their kit on the floor and pulled out fingerprint powder.

Kaylin held her hands in front of her, palms out. “We haven’t touched a thing. I promise.”

Hudson clicked off his call. “Hey, Bianca. Good to see you again.” He gestured around the apartment. “Think you guys will be able to get some prints off this mess?”

“We’ll do our best.” She put on her gloves.

“You find out anything from the van?”

“The team hasn’t had much time for the tests yet, but nothing so far. Doesn’t look hopeful. Whatever was in the van was completely destroyed.”

Hudson frowned. “We need to see if there’s any connection to the doda smuggling ring.”

“You’ll be the first to know.” She opened her notebook. “For now, leave us so they can do their job.”

“We’re outta here.” Hudson motioned Kaylin toward the door. “Time to get you a protective detail at your address.”

She scoffed. “No way. I know how to protect myself.”

“And your police chief father would have my head if I let something happen to you. Don’t argue.”

She realized it was his turn to be forceful. So she just shook her head and followed him out of the apartment.

An hour later, with an officer positioned in front of her building, Kaylin let the lavender-scented candle permeate the air in her living room. She slouched back into the couch, allowing her achy muscles to relax. Exactly what she needed after a long day.

Her black-and-white cat hopped onto the coffee table. She stuck her paw into Kaylin’s ice water and licked it.

Kaylin giggled. “Sassme, why do you do that?”

The cat meowed.

Kaylin kissed the feline’s forehead before it jumped down and trotted out of the room.

Her cell phone rang, jarring her out of a relaxed state. Who could be calling at eleven thirty? She reached for her phone and when she saw an unknown caller, she hit the decline button. She didn’t want to talk to anyone tonight.

The cell phone rang again.

Same unknown caller.

Someone was persistent. She picked up. “Poirier here.”

Silence. Heavy breathing.

“Hello? Who’s there?”

“I’m watching you.”

Kaylin sat up straight. “Who’s this?”

“You’re mine.”

Click.

Goose bumps spiked the hair on her arms.

So much for a relaxing evening. There was no way she’d be able to sleep tonight.

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