“Am I?”

She recognized the indifference in his voice and knew he had no remorse whatsoever. She turned to go, then stopped. “Why a hostage, Angel? Doesn’t really seem your style.”

He shrugged. “Seemed like a good idea at the time. I was working on Plan C, since A and B were fucked,” he said.

“And after all of that, you get sloppy and drive into a checkpoint?”

He moved away from the bars, into the shadows. “Yeah, well, it had been a really long week.”

She had not worked with Angel in several years, but the man who was on her team was always meticulous, never sloppy. She was about to question him further, but the loud clanging of the cell doors down the corridor stopped her. She heard several footsteps approaching and she stepped back. She doubted he would have anything else to say.




Chapter Twenty-Three



The drive back to the campground was made in relative silence. Andrea glanced out of the corner of her eye, seeing Tori and Sam holding hands in the backseat. She looked at Cameron, who appeared deep in thought. Cameron had said little since they’d left. Sam had said even less. She turned around in her seat, meeting Tori’s gaze. It was as questioning as her own.

“So, are we just not going to talk about it?” she finally asked, looking first at Cameron, then Sam.

“What’s to talk about?” Cameron asked.

“Oh, how about the fact that we’ve been chasing this bastard through the goddamn woods for days,” Tori said, “and neither of you are saying a thing about it.”

“I told you, he wanted to see if I’d made it out okay,” Sam said.

“That’s it?”

“Yes, Tori, that’s it.”

Andrea glanced at Cameron. “And you?”

“Me? I told him he was getting sloppy in his old age,” Cameron said. Cameron glanced in the rearview mirror. “Did he say anything about the checkpoint?”

Sam shook her head. “I asked him why he got caught,” she said. “He said it wasn’t intentional, but I think it was.”

Cameron nodded. “So do I.”

“What do you mean?” Tori asked.

“The Angel I know could spot a checkpoint a mile away. Hell, we had to avoid checkpoints all the damn time,” Cameron said. “Nothing about this feels right.”

“Maybe he was tired of running,” Andrea suggested. “Maybe he knew there would be no way out.”

“So he turns himself in?” Cameron shook her head. “He’d just gone on a killing rampage because he didn’t want to get caught. We’re trained not to get caught,” she said.

“So what are you thinking?” Tori asked.

“I don’t know. It makes no damn sense. So they take him back to Santa Fe and he tells them where the money is. Makes no difference. He’s still going to rot in prison. There’s nothing in it for him,” Cameron said. “And that’s what the problem is. It’s all too easy. There’s got to be something more to it.”

“Maybe he’s genuinely sorry for what he did,” Sam said.

“No,” Cameron said. “That’s not his style.”

“People change.”

“Not Angel.”

Sam didn’t say anything else, and neither did Cameron. Andrea glanced again at Tori, who only let out a heavy sigh. The silence was again loud in the truck, and Andrea searched for a topic to break it.

“You two are heading back to Texas in the morning?”

Sam didn’t acknowledge the question, but Tori nodded. “Yeah. Renting a car. What about you?”

“I guess we’ll head back to Colorado until our next assignment,” she said.

Cameron simply nodded but said nothing. Andrea sighed, giving up on conversation. She turned her attention to the road as Cameron made the drive from Taos back to their campground.

* * *

Tori dug through the bag that Casey had left them for some clean jeans. The sun was shining brightly, but it was a cool afternoon. And for the rest of the day, they were going to pretend they were still on vacation. Andrea had offered to cook an early dinner for the four of them, and Cameron had let them have her truck. She glanced to where Sam stood, her back to her. Sam had spoken to Leslie earlier. She’d been extremely quiet ever since.

“You okay?” she asked for the fourth time. Sam had already changed and was standing at the window looking out.

Sam turned to her, offering a quick smile. “Yes, Tori. I’m fine.”

It was the same answer she’d given the other three times. She tossed the jeans down and walked over to her. “Why won’t you talk to me?”

Sam leaned closer, letting their shoulders touch. “I’m simply trying to make sense of it, Tori.” She turned then, meeting her eyes. “I’m a cop. He’s a killer. Yet we have this connection between us. I can’t explain it.”

“Like…like an attraction?” she asked hesitantly.

Sam gave a quick laugh. “God, no. Is that what you think?”

“I don’t know what to think,” she admitted. “I haven’t met the guy.” She ran a hand through her dark hair in frustration. “I just—”

“I know. You’re worried about me.”

Tori met her gaze. “Yes. I feel like he’s gotten inside your head.”

Sam nodded. “Yes. Yes, he has.”

“Sam…he’s a killer. He’s—”

“I know, Tori. Don’t you think I know all of that?”

Tori let out a breath. “I’m sorry. I’m trying—”

“I can deal with this.” Sam leaned closer and kissed her. “I love you, Tori. More than anything in this whole world. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Tori closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the closeness as Sam kissed her again.

“I know. I love you too.”

“Now, I bet there’s a beer calling your name,” Sam said. “I think sitting outside in the sunshine will be just the ticket.” She stepped away from Tori. “Besides, I’m looking forward to getting to know them better. Andrea seems very likable. Cameron has an edge to her.”

“Yeah, I told you, arrogant and bossy.”

Sam grinned. “Maybe that’s why I like her. She reminds me of you.”




Chapter Twenty-Four



Cameron had just opened a beer and sat down in the lawn chair when she saw a flash of their truck through the trees. She turned back to the opened door of the motorhome. “They’re here,” she called.

“Try to be nice,” Andrea said from the doorway.

Cameron smiled. “Me?”

“Yes, you. I know you have questions for Sam, but let it go. It’s over with.”

Cameron nodded. Yes, she had questions. But it didn’t really matter any longer. Angel was in custody. Tori and Sam would be heading back to Dallas, and she and Andrea would head north to Colorado. Angel would already be back in Santa Fe by morning. Over and done with. But the nagging questions she had kept bouncing around in her head.

Something wasn’t right. As she’d said, it was too easy. Angel wouldn’t go down without a fight. Angel wouldn’t simply drive up to a checkpoint and essentially turn himself in. There had to be a reason. Every move Angel made, there had to be a reason for it. And she wanted to get Sam off by herself, away from Tori and Andrea, and get her feelings on it. But really, she should do what Andrea said. Let it go. They would enjoy the rest of the day, visit a little, drink a few beers and share an early dinner. Then tomorrow, they would go their separate ways and chalk this up as another mission completed.

If only it were that easy.

“I hope we’re not too early,” Sam said as she got out of the truck.

“No. Right on time,” Cameron said as she held up her beer. “First one.”

Tori came out holding up a six-pack. “We stopped at that little grocery store. Didn’t know what kind you drank, so I got what we like,” she said as she pulled two from the pack, handing one to Sam.

Cameron stood and took the beer from her. “I’ll put it in the fridge,” she said. “Sit down.”

“Does Andrea need help with anything?” Sam asked.

“No, we picked up some steaks. I think she’s got potatoes in the oven,” she said.

Andrea met her at the door and took the beer from her. “Go visit,” she said. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

Cameron returned to her chair, her gaze going to first Tori, then Sam. There seemed to be a little tension between them. She wished Andrea would hurry. She’d never been good with small talk.

“So…hell of a vacation, huh?”

“Oh, yeah. Ranks right up there with the best,” Tori said dryly, then turned to Sam. “Remind me to tell Casey ‘no’ the next time she invites us somewhere.”

Sam smiled at her. “She was only trying to get us away from Dallas for a while,” she said.

“Let’s try the beach next time.”

Cameron laughed with them. “Casey’s partner, Leslie…I guess she recovered okay?”

Sam nodded. “Yes. I talked to Leslie earlier. She seems fine. She’s going to take a few days off before she goes back to work though.”

“Good.” Cameron looked over at Tori. “Why FBI?” Tori raised her eyebrows and Cameron clarified. “Your best friends are with Homicide. You were a detective there too. You don’t seem FBI material.”

Sam laughed at that, and Tori scowled at Cameron. “Oh? And like you are?”

“No offense,” Cameron said. “Just…you don’t appear to put up with bullshit.” Cameron glanced up as Andrea joined them. “I don’t either. If I was stuck in an office having to follow goddamn protocol all the time, I’d shoot myself.”

Tori nodded. “Yeah, I hate that part of it.” She looked over at Sam. “Actually, I hate pretty much all of it.”

“You do?” Sam asked. “I thought you loved it.”

“No. It was a change I needed at the time, that’s all. Like Cameron said, bullshit and politics.”

“A large police force like Dallas, you wouldn’t think it would be much different,” Andrea said as she joined the conversation. “I used to work for LAPD. I remember well the bullshit and politics there.”

“There’s some, yeah,” Tori said. “But for the most part, our lieutenant dealt with that.” Tori looked at Sam. “I miss it. I miss the team.”