Page 20 of Fighting for Julia
“What the fuck? Who’s that, and how in God’s name did he get past security?”
Miguel grinned and wiggled his fingers in a silly wave. Julia sucked in her breath, both horrified and amused, and a funny thing happened. Her heart somersaulted.
“Sir, that’s Laguna Beach police officer Miguel Rivera, and he’s here with me. A guest…”
SAC Silver cut her off. “Laguna Beach? I’d heard a contingent of officers from the West Coast had been fast tracked by the President himself to form Madam Secretary’s Secret Service detail.”
His dismissive tone offended Julia. “Chief McQuaid is a former lieutenant commander and a Navy SEAL. When the Navy retired him, my mother sent him to Laguna Beach to investigate illegal arms coming ashore. What he and his officers uncovered was Axel Anderson’s multi-pronged plot to topple America. They single-handedly stopped him and his brainwashed domestic army and prevented a national catastrophe. So, yes, sir, Chief McQuaid and his officers were specifically chosen to protect my mother. Each brings a special skill set to the team, and more importantly, they trust each other.”
“Huh.” Nothing Julia said made a difference to Silver. “Listen, Agent Washburn, I need your head in the game. You missed the briefing about the raid tomorrow. It’s been confirmed that a large shipment of fentanyl will be delivered to Elba’s Antiques at ten a.m. You’re running point on the op.”
“Why me? As you said, I missed the briefing. Besides, there’s?—”
“What?” Silver interrupted her. “Another photo opportunity?”
Julia resented his snide remark, and her jaw stiffened as she bit back a sharp retort. She glanced at Miguel who was closely observing her and Silver’s interaction. The scowl on Miguel’s face indicated he understood the gist of the conversation. She mentally addedintuitiveto his skill set, along with loyalty and compassion. When Miguel made a gesture that meant,want me to punch him,Julia almost snickered.
Turning back to Silver, she replied, “That’s unfair, sir. I’ll join the op.”
“Good. Be here at seven a.m. ready to go.”
“Yes, sir.”
When she and Miguel were alone in the elevator, Julia playfully jabbed him in the ribs. “Your antics almost made me laugh, Miguel.”
“From where I stood it looked like SAC Silver was giving you a hard time.”
“Oh, he was. He’s been petulant ever since he was passed over twice for a promotion. Silver is looking for a big, career-making drug bust so he can move up the chain of command. This raid tomorrow morning isn’t it.”
Outside a light snow began to fall. Julia cranked up the heat in the Suburban and pulled out of the parking lot.
“Are you hungry, Miguel?”
“Starving, actually.”
“There’s a fabulous Cuban restaurant a couple of miles away. It’s warm and intimate. The perfect place on a snowy night.”
“Sounds nice. I love Cuban food.”
Since they didn’t have to wait to be seated, Julia and Miguel chose a table for two in a corner of the small restaurant. They both went to sit in the chair facing the other diners and laughed.
“Habit,” Miguel explained as he held out the chair for Julia.
“Definitely.”
After they ordered shredded pork and beef, black beans and yellow rice, two empanadas, and glasses of Coke, Julia leaned forward and spoke in a low voice. “I want to hear your opinion on Axis and Axalia’s escape from the mental hospital. Do you really believe they’re heading to Mexico?”
Miguel leaned forward, too. She saw tiny flecks of gold in his eyes and smelled the woodsy scent of his skin. Julia’s heart did that funny thing again.
“Yeah, I do. Here’s my theory. Lola told her Anderson children why she had to leave you at the fire station. I think Axis and Axalia are going to Mexico to find your grandfather. And when they do, if they survive the encounter, they’ll promise to deliver you to him.”
A chill ran up Julia’s spine. “Not if I get to them first.”
A waitress delivered their food and asked if they needed anything else. Both shook their heads, and the waitress moved on to another table.
A hard, stubborn expression crossed Miguel’s face. “And how do you propose to do that?”
“By using every resource at our disposal.”
