Page 14 of Take Me to the Valley

“Who has you smiling like a love-struck teenager?” Rick asks walking by my desk again.

“No one. Mind your business,” I tell him, but I don't even bother wiping the smile off my face.

“Well, when you are done, there is something in here you will want to see,” he says, setting a folder in front of me.

When I nod, he leaves, but I turn back to my phone.

Me:In this case, I think it's true. I will let Skye know you volunteered to do her hair on the next picture day.

Calista:Good. We'll have to pick out something ahead of time. Then, she and I will talk over family dinner.

Me:Sounds like a plan. She will be excited. But I have to get back to work.

Calista:Be safe.

Me:Always am.

Something about her wanting me to be safe warms my heart. I know it's probably more for her brother's benefit than hers, but either way, I like it.

I put my phone away and grab the folder Rick set down.

Flipping it open, I start reading some reports related to my drug case here in town. It looks like after some surveillance, we finally got an address on where they are buying the drugs. Why does this address look familiar? I can't put my finger on it, so I pullthe address up on my computer, and when I see the street view, it hits me.

The address is so familiar because it's Calista's best friend's house. That can't be right. I know Kaylee isn't selling drugs.

Right?

There is always a buzz when the warrant comes in and you are putting the wheels in motion to do a raid. We do it maybe once or twice a year, and it's a big event that the entire station gets in on. Normally, I feel prepared, but this time, my gut is churning.

I can't put my finger on it, but I get a feeling this isn't going to go smoothly. Though I don't share my thoughts with anyone. I might just be feeling out of sorts because I don't know what to expect, and with it being Kaylee's place, it's personal. We know this is the time to catch them. The deals have been happening at this place twice a week, between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon like clockwork for over a month now.

Another reason for my gut feeling is how do I break this to Calista if Kaylee is involved in any way? As of now, I have no have no proof that she is, and I hope she isn't, but this is her place, so there is still a possibility.

“Alright, let's roll. You all know your jobs,” Chief Barton says.

Only a few guys are hanging back at the station to take on anything that comes up that can't be put off for a few hours. Judy and the other assistants are staying as well. Otherwise, the rest of us get our vests on and head out to our vehicles one by one, random formation. We are all going different ways there, so we won’t draw attention to anyone who is on their way there too.

After we all partnered up, Rick is at my side. I like him, but he isn't one to fill the silence with chit-chat, so we both concentrate on the task at hand on our way over to the house.

“Alright, months of paperwork leading up to this. Let's shut it down,” he says as we park at the big empty lot down the road we are using as a meeting spot and wait for orders to enter.

Everything is done by the book. We move in and cover all the exits and then a group of us, me included, head up to the door. My job is to go in, get the evidence, while at the same time, having the mens’ backs who are going to bust in.

There are two cars in the driveway. Kaylee's and her ex's. I thought they broke up, at least according to the intel we have aka the Whiskey River gossip tree, but they could have gotten back together. Only I know that isn't true when we get up to the door, and I can hear them screaming. We pause for just a moment to listen.

“We broke up, so you don't get to come and go from my house at will anymore, Calvin,” Kaylee yells.

“I said I just came to get the rest of my stuff. Lord, what is your problem? Aren't you supposed to be at work?” Calvin says, and I'm pretty sure he rolled his eyes with that one, judging by the tone of his voice.

“I told you I burned that shit. And I came home because I wasn't feeling good. Not that it matters, it's my house! I took your key. How the fuck did you even get in?”

“I made a copy and kept it at my place after I thought I lost my keys. What is the big deal?”

“The big deal is we broke up, and I come home to find you in my house. This is breaking and entering and burglary, since none of this is yours anymore. I'm calling the cops!”

“The fuck you are!” he yells.

That’s when the Chief gives the signal, and the guys burst through the door. Both Calvin and Kaylee scream because neither was expecting us. Kaylee freezes and puts her hands up, fear evident on her face. The anger from a moment ago, long gone.

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