out.”
“How do you know all that? I thought you ran her off,” noted Bob.
“I got a second chance.”
Now even Vince snapped to attention. “Meaning?”
“I’m still not sure how Sophie talked me into it, or how she convinced Violet to go along with the idea, but you’re looking at Violet James’s new bodyguard.”
Mack Lawrence whistled through his teeth.
“You go, Romeo,” said Trini.
“You lucky son of a bitch,” remarked Bob. “Your streak is intact.”
JD squirmed mentally. “It’s not like that. She just had a scare when she finally emerged and went out on her own. She has security in L.A., but she’d been promised she wouldn’t run into problems in Austin, and she’d rather not have a shadow. I told her I’m not a trained bodyguard, but she doesn’t really want that, anyway. I just run interference, pick places where she won’t be noticed, that sort of thing. I’m mostly acting as a companion so she can safely get out and see the sights.” If only he could keep reminding himself of that and forget the charged atmosphere building between them.
“So what’s the connection with Lofton?”
“Not sure yet. I can’t rush it.”
“She know you’re a cop?”
“Yeah. The family had no reason to hide that fact, and Sophie surely explained why she thought I’d be qualified to help. I told her I only teach at the Academy, though, so if she mentions me to Lofton, it would sound like I’m no threat.”
“We need to know about him, JD. ASAP.”
“I understand, Doc, but this woman has been through a lot.”
“Not compared to our vics.”
JD rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I know that, too.” He glanced up. “After I left Violet last night, I cruised the area, looking for Candy, but not a trace of her. Anybody hearing talk about that shipment she mentioned?”
“Not talk,” Mack said, “but some movement at a warehouse owned under a dummy corporation. Lofton’s a partner in it.”
“One of our guys in Houston got word of a new shipment coming in, too,” offered Holly. “Likely within days.”
“I need something to get a warrant for a wiretap on Lofton,” Doc said, his look at JD pointed.
“I really don’t think she’s involved, Doc.”
“And what’s your evidence?”
They all had to trust their instincts, but instinct didn’t get warrants or impress the DA. “I have an opening I can exploit to see her today,” JD said.
“Good. First, you meet with APD’s sketch artist and get us a face for the Turkish girl. Then you keep your focus on Ms. James, and we’ll have other eyes on the area around Danger Zone. Holly, what do you have to report on the surveillance of Lofton?”
Around the table Doc went, and minutes later they were all dismissed.
JD rose to go.
“JD, a minute, please,” Doc said.
JD halted. Turned. “What’s up?”
Doc studied him for a minute. “You look like hell. You’re pushing yourself too hard.”
“I thought you wanted me pushing harder on Violet.”
“I’m not talking about her. I’m speaking in general terms. You’ve been on VICTAF longer than anyone but Bob and me. Too long, maybe? I wonder.”
JD stiffened. “If you don’t think I can do my job…”
“Son, if I thought that, you’d already be gone,” Doc said gently. “You’ve done one hell of a job here, but I’m realizing I’ve asked a lot of you. No one has spent more time undercover than you, and we all know too much of that is a soul-draining experience. You’re damn good at it, but everyone has a limit.”
“You going to pull me, Doc? I’m okay, I promise.” He had to pursue these bastards and take them down. Had to find justice for the victims who robbed him of sleep.
“JD, I’ve been in law enforcement as long as you’ve been alive. I know what burnout looks like, and I’m looking at it.”
“Those women and children who died an ugly death last week don’t care much about my tender feelings.”
“Unfortunately, there will always be
“How do you know all that? I thought you ran her off,” noted Bob.
“I got a second chance.”
Now even Vince snapped to attention. “Meaning?”
“I’m still not sure how Sophie talked me into it, or how she convinced Violet to go along with the idea, but you’re looking at Violet James’s new bodyguard.”
Mack Lawrence whistled through his teeth.
“You go, Romeo,” said Trini.
“You lucky son of a bitch,” remarked Bob. “Your streak is intact.”
JD squirmed mentally. “It’s not like that. She just had a scare when she finally emerged and went out on her own. She has security in L.A., but she’d been promised she wouldn’t run into problems in Austin, and she’d rather not have a shadow. I told her I’m not a trained bodyguard, but she doesn’t really want that, anyway. I just run interference, pick places where she won’t be noticed, that sort of thing. I’m mostly acting as a companion so she can safely get out and see the sights.” If only he could keep reminding himself of that and forget the charged atmosphere building between them.
“So what’s the connection with Lofton?”
“Not sure yet. I can’t rush it.”
“She know you’re a cop?”
“Yeah. The family had no reason to hide that fact, and Sophie surely explained why she thought I’d be qualified to help. I told her I only teach at the Academy, though, so if she mentions me to Lofton, it would sound like I’m no threat.”
“We need to know about him, JD. ASAP.”
“I understand, Doc, but this woman has been through a lot.”
“Not compared to our vics.”
JD rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I know that, too.” He glanced up. “After I left Violet last night, I cruised the area, looking for Candy, but not a trace of her. Anybody hearing talk about that shipment she mentioned?”
“Not talk,” Mack said, “but some movement at a warehouse owned under a dummy corporation. Lofton’s a partner in it.”
“One of our guys in Houston got word of a new shipment coming in, too,” offered Holly. “Likely within days.”
“I need something to get a warrant for a wiretap on Lofton,” Doc said, his look at JD pointed.
“I really don’t think she’s involved, Doc.”
“And what’s your evidence?”
They all had to trust their instincts, but instinct didn’t get warrants or impress the DA. “I have an opening I can exploit to see her today,” JD said.
“Good. First, you meet with APD’s sketch artist and get us a face for the Turkish girl. Then you keep your focus on Ms. James, and we’ll have other eyes on the area around Danger Zone. Holly, what do you have to report on the surveillance of Lofton?”
Around the table Doc went, and minutes later they were all dismissed.
JD rose to go.
“JD, a minute, please,” Doc said.
JD halted. Turned. “What’s up?”
Doc studied him for a minute. “You look like hell. You’re pushing yourself too hard.”
“I thought you wanted me pushing harder on Violet.”
“I’m not talking about her. I’m speaking in general terms. You’ve been on VICTAF longer than anyone but Bob and me. Too long, maybe? I wonder.”
JD stiffened. “If you don’t think I can do my job…”
“Son, if I thought that, you’d already be gone,” Doc said gently. “You’ve done one hell of a job here, but I’m realizing I’ve asked a lot of you. No one has spent more time undercover than you, and we all know too much of that is a soul-draining experience. You’re damn good at it, but everyone has a limit.”
“You going to pull me, Doc? I’m okay, I promise.” He had to pursue these bastards and take them down. Had to find justice for the victims who robbed him of sleep.
“JD, I’ve been in law enforcement as long as you’ve been alive. I know what burnout looks like, and I’m looking at it.”
“Those women and children who died an ugly death last week don’t care much about my tender feelings.”
“Unfortunately, there will always be
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