Page 39 of Steers and Stowaways
“You know him?” Luke Hawling sounded surprised.
“Unfortunately.” Tucker wished he was at liberty to tell them he was working as a federal agent himself. The better he got to know Gil, Dave, Gage, and Rock, the more he liked them, but he didn’t make the rules. His undercover connection to the feds wasn’t something he was at liberty to reveal.
Yet.
He was toying with the idea of turning in his resignation the moment he closed the narco rustling case. There was no other way to make good on his new commitment to Evans Ranch and Mallory.
He tuned back in to the conversation in time to hear Luke give them their marching orders. “The Feds have given us the green light to continue with the cattle shipment. They’ll put their own spooks on your tail, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
“Agreed.” As far as Tucker was concerned, there was no such thing as too much backup. When it came to ensuring Mallory’s safety, he also didn’t care who took the credit.
“We still need the names of the key players,” Luke continued gravely. “Where the drugs are coming from, their supply routes, you know the drill. Then, and only then, will we make our move to arrest Mr. and Mrs. Silva.”
Tucker definitely knew the drill…and why the Silvas were still needed on the outside. Like roaches, they would be pivotal in leading the police to the kingpins inside the nest.
The sheriff disconnected the call, leaving the Lonestar team sitting in contemplative silence.
Gil was the first to break it. “I’ve got a question that’s been eating at me.”
The retired lawman leveled his gaze directly at Tucker. “It’s about the explosion you told us about the morning you drove south to collect Old Glory.”
Tucker wasn’t sure what the man was questioning, since the intelligence about Old Glory’s whereabouts had come from Lonestar Security’s own facial recognition software.
“They knew you were coming.” Gil’s voice was even. Not accusing. Not questioning. Just matter-of-fact.
“Yes.” Anyone with half a brain would’ve drawn that conclusion by now.
“How?” Gil shot back. He was an experienced interrogator. He wasn’t giving Tucker time to fabricate answers or doctor his body language.
“All I have is a theory.” Tucker was an experienced interrogator, too. He knew how to school his expressions and modulate his voice to communicate no more and no less than what he wished others to know.
Gage gestured impatiently for him to continue.
Tucker wasn’t sure how they were going to take what he was about to tell them. “I paid a visit to Mallory right before I hit the road. Only seemed right to give her the good news about Old Glory.” It wasn’t his only reason, though.
His supervisor frowned. “I didn’t issue the green light for that. I’m starting to agree with Dave. Your feelings for Mallory may be clouding your objectivity.”
“Maybe not.” Dave looked like he was fighting a smile. “I think I know why he did it, but it’ll mean more coming straight from the horse’s mouth.”
Tucker was impressed by Dave’s discernment. Not much got past him. “Okay. You got me. I didn’t ask for a green light because I wasn’t sure you would give it. I figured it would be easier to ask for forgiveness if you called me out on it. But Dave’s right. I had my reasons.” He laid them out. “I was counting on Mallory to share the information with the Silvas. I wasn’t sure what would happen after that, only that whatever they did next would prove if they were involved.”
Gil nodded sagely. “How close were you to the explosion?”
“Too close,” Tucker admitted wryly. He pointed upward. “I’m giving God all the credit for tickling my senses in the nick of time.” He described how the ranch had been too quiet and too empty, and how he’d suddenly justknownthat it was time to turn around and hightail it out of there. “I understood the risk of losing Old Glory’s trail, and for that I couldn’t be more sorry. I know how much he means to Mallory and the success of her ranch.”
“But it was the right call,” Gage finished for him.
Tucker was relieved to hear it. Clearly, he’d underestimated the guy by not sharing his plans with him. “In hindsight, I was wrong not to tell you what I was up to. Guess I’m just so accustomed to running solo…” He shook his head in apology. “If you give me another chance, I promise not to blow it.”
A bark of laughter erupted from Gil. “Oh, we’re not letting you off the hook for driving the cattle transport.”
Dave snickered. “Nope. We don’t have it in us to serve up that kind of disappointment to Mallory Evans. Plus, the rest of us wouldn’t look half as good in your Ken doll wig.”
Tucker’s lips twitched. “You’re a funny guy.” He took off his Stetson and performed his best imitation of a hair flip.
Dave’s grin grew wider. “My wife and kid think so.”
It seemed to Tucker that the attorney’s thick chest swelled a little bigger as he spoke. Not only had the fifty-something-year-old attorney-turned-security-guy married later in life, he was the proud father of his first child. Lucky him!
