Complicated Matters (18 page)

   “You would have to ask her about that, Mr. Mathews.”  Taylor took a swallow from his cup uncomfortable with the conversation. “But if you’re uncomfortable with the arrangements, I could ask that another agent be assigned to your daughter.”

   “That’s very accommodatin’ of you, but I understand she didn’t like that idea the first time you mentioned it.” John got up and headed to the coffee maker. “I’m not gonna beat around the bush. If you can’t reciprocate those feelin’s, tell her soon.” 

   Alex walked into the kitchen still half asleep. “Dad, are those guys going to be campin’ out here forever? Taylor watched us for months, and we hardly knew he was there at all.” He jerked his head when he saw Taylor sitting at the table cradling his cup in his hands. “Hello, Taylor.”

   “Hi, Alex.” Taylor tried to control his laughter. He was glad someone broke up John Mathews’ inquisition. “Those snoring agents work for you. Go wake ‘em up if you want.”

   It wasn’t long before Morris came stumbling into the kitchen. “Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Mathews. Taylor, we need to talk.”

   Taylor refilled his cup. “What can I do for you, boss?”

   Morris shot him a dirty look, but Taylor just smiled at him.

   “I need you to help me coordinate the surveillance team,” Morris mumbled.

   “What did you say, boss?” Taylor put his hand to his ear. “I don’t think I heard you.” 

   “I’m open to suggestions for making things go smoother tonight.” Morris raised his voice.

   Taylor got up. “Excuse us please.” 

   They went out on the back porch. Taylor put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Send for a camper trailer so we can live like human beings without disrupting the Mathews. At night, we all stay outside. Two agents need to be in front of the house, two in back, and one at the head of the road. Better yet, allow me to bring in my nightshift deputies. I’ve got ten on schedule, four of them can come out here. We can sleep in the camper just in case something goes wrong. And tell the rest of the agents to get some regular clothes. Suits aren‘t practical around here except for a few hours on Sundays. That’s when the family attends church.”

   “Okay, we’ll do it your way.” Morris braced himself against the wall. “But I’m warning you--”

   “Yeah, yeah.” Taylor turned his back to Morris. “You’ll take all the credit or give me all the blame, depending on how things go. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to persuade Miss Mathews to accompany me to my other job.”

   By the time they returned to the kitchen Farrah was dressed. “Ready to go, Sheriff?”

   Taylor crossed his arms. “Do you have your workout clothes and basketball?” 

   “I thought you said you had some work to do at the office?”

   “I do. But you need to practice. So I’m doing my work at the rec center. You got a second shot at your dream. Don’t screw it up.”

   *

   They arrived at the sheriff’s office. Taylor felt an idiot asking Farrah to stay in the lobby, but he had to talk to Commander Phillips.

   “Phillips here.”

   “Commander, this is Special Agent Taylor. I have a problem. David Clancy is transferring up here on Special Agent LaBoe’s suggestion. Commander, he’s as dirty as they come without being caught. I checked their histories and they’ve known each other since the academy. They were also each other’s first partners.”

   “There’s nothing I can do about Clancy’s transfer. Did you find Daniels’ main stash yet?”

   “No, sir. I’m still looking.”

   “Well find it. Phillips out.”

  
Find it?
Taylor slapped his desk.
I don’t have time to take a piss, never mind find a drug stash.

   His thoughts drifted to Farrah. She was inside his head. He couldn’t have her. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. He tugged at his hair.
Dammit, Taylor. You nearly kissed her on a hospital bed. How messed up is that?

  
He was mad at himself for wanting to hold her. But holding her wasn’t enough. He wanted to make love to her. He thought about her tender, young body yielding to his desires. The sweet taste of her kisses on his lips. How her firm breasts would feel in his hands. He wanted to caress her pink nipples with the tip of his tongue. He wanted to whisper poetry against her skin as he nuzzled her neck.

   He punched his filing cabinet.
She’s an assignment. A kid
.

   *

   “Let’s go to work.” Taylor looked around the recreation center.
Perfect. We may be alone, but at least I can keep my distance. 

   The scorekeeper’s table was still set up, so he used that for a desk while she practiced.

   He ran Flo’s financial statements and discovered she had about three hundred thousand dollars in a saving’s account.
No way had she saved that much on her salary.
He also discovered Flo had a houseboat called the Marie Lavaeu.

  
Taylor remembered Clancy always went on a two week fishing trip twice a year.
What was that charter boat service?
He remembered Clancy bragging about a woman boat captain with big breasts, but he couldn’t remember her name. Clancy was about as good as keeping his mouth shut as he was about keeping his pants zipped. Mark Chisolm, his partner back in Miami, would know. Clancy would have told him at least half a million stories about it. First, he needed to call his Sergeant.

  
“Hello?”

   “What’s up, Sarge?”

   “Hmm. There used to be some goofball used to ask me that same stupid question. Reminded me of Buggs Bunny when he talked like that. What was his name?” There was a second or two of dead air, then the sergeant busted out laughing. “How the hell are you, kid? I heard you busted up that Mini-Mafia with only one gun fight.”

   “To tell the truth, I’m not so sure.” Taylor spotted Farrah practicing three-throws.
Good. She can’t hear me from that distance.
“When did Clancy leave the force?”

   “Let me see.” There was more dead air, as the old sergeant thought things through. “He took his last vacation about a month before all hell broke loose up there. Then he came back and gave his two weeks notice. He said he had better opportunities waiting.”

   “His old partner, Mark Chisolm, could I get his phone number?”

   “I guess it’s okay. What’s going on, son?”

   “Maybe nothing. But Clancy’s on his way up here, and I want to know why a hot shot like him would want to come to a place like this. Because it sure as hell ain’t the excitement.”

   Marx gave him Chisholm’s phone number. “He gets off around midnight.”

   “Good. Not so many ears around to listen to the conversation. And, Sarge, do me a favor and don’t tell him I called.”

   “Okay, you take care of yourself.”

   “Yes, sir.”

   “Come on, Heath,” Farrah called from mid-court. “I need someone to play me.” 

   Taylor pointed to his injured arm. “I can’t.” 

   “Chicken.” She spun the basketball on the tip of her pointer finger.

   “First one to ten points wins.” He turned off his computer
.
“And you have to promise to take it easy on me.”

   “I promise.” 

   Farrah was dribbling the ball when Taylor came running across the gymnasium floor and stole the ball from her, sinking it in the basket with an easy lay-up.

   “That’s cheating,” she yelled.

   “I prefer to call it the element of surprise.” He threw the ball back to her. “Now show me something.”

   She dribbled the ball, but he blocked her mid-court. 

   “Come on, girl. Get past me.” He eyed the hemline of her shorts as she used her body to shield the ball from him. His body reacted to a vision of her wrapping her legs around his waist. He felt dirty for thinking and feeling it.
Dammit, Taylor. Stop thinking like that. 

   “I’m used to working with a team.”

   “Sometimes you have to be a team of one. Now go back and do it again.” He went to the other side of the court. “And get past me this time, or I quit.”

   Farrah’s nostrils flared. She started dribbling the ball. Taylor rushed her. She side-stepped him and sank the ball from mid-court.

   He grabbed the ball. “Game on.”

   They went back and forth in a virtual tie until Taylor sunk the tenth point.

   He tossed the ball back to her and headed for the bleachers. “Not bad for a one-armed, old man.” 

   “You’re not getting off that easy, Coach,” Farrah yelled from across the basketball court.

   “What do you mean by coach?” Taylor turned around and started walking backwards.

   “I mean, since you and I are joined at the hip, we might as well accomplish something.” She threw the ball at him. “I want you to teach me how you just beat me.” 

   He caught the ball and sank it in the basket midcourt. “There’s nothing to teach. You didn’t play your best, and I’ve always dribbled and shot with my right hand.”

   “No-no.”  She retrieved the ball and caught up with him. “You’re much faster than me. How did that happen?”

   Taylor went back to his computer. “Take the ball in both hands and run up and down each segment of bleacher until you’ve covered them all.” He turned on some Billy Idol music.

   “You’re killin’ me with that hard rock.” She proceeded to run the bleachers.

   Taylor laughed. “Give it a chance. It’ll put you in gear.”

   “I don’t suppose I can get a little country.” She kept running.

   “Keep up this with this.” Taylor played
The Orange Blossom Special
.

   “Hey, that’s bluegrass.”

   “At least it’s not metal.” Taylor shrugged.

   While Farrah worked on her legs, Taylor worked on finding The Marie Lavaeu. He called every boat storage facility listed on the internet.
Damn. Nothing. 

  
Farrah tapped him on the shoulder. “Can I shower at your place before we go home?”

  
Taylor shook his head. “What?” 

  
“Maybe you should take a nap. You don’t look good.”

   “Gee. I thought you found me kind of cute.”

   Farrah kneeled down in front of him and touched his forehead. “You feel kind of warm.”

   “My temperature rises when I’m around a pretty woman.”

   She shifted her weight to her right foot and crossed her arms in front of her. “Isn’t your shift about over?”

   “Just about.” Taylor scanned a list of boat slot rentals. “Why?”

   “Let’s go back to your place so you can get some rest.”

   “But what about you?”

   “I’ll stay with you until you wake up.” She grabbed her gym bag. “While I’m there, I’ll take a shower. The ones here look kind of nasty.”

   He envisioned her in his shower. Her long body curvy in just the right places. He pictured himself washing her back as the shower foam slid down her legs. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

   “Why not? I can freshen up and practice the guitar. And you can catch up on your sleep.”

   He did feel weary. “Okay,” he conceded. “But it’s only because I don’t trust myself to drive all the way back to your place.”

   She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Heath.”

   He managed the short ride back to his house and quickly escorted her inside. “There’s one condition attached to all this--stay away from the doors and windows.”

   “I promise.” She blew him a kiss and closed the bathroom door.

   Taylor took off his shirt and shoes, then stretched out on his bed. Feeling a tinge of guilt about being attracted to Farrah, he turned Lianna’s picture face down on the nightstand and closed his eyes. The sound of the running shower water lulled him to sleep.

   He woke up when the bed moved. The scent of baby powder invaded his senses. He didn’t have to ask who it was. Over the last, few months he learn to associate that subtle scent with Farrah. “What are you doing?”

   She laid her hand across his chest and pressed her body against his. “Satisfying my curiosity.” 

   He kissed her hand. “Your curiosity is going to cost me my job.” 

   “I won’t say anything if you don’t,” she whispered.

   He rolled over and started kissing her. She tasted so sweet. His body reacted to the situation. He didn’t realize how lonely he was until the sassy, young woman entered his life.

   He stopped when a little voice inside his head screamed,
“Ethics violation.” 

   He turned is back to her. “I can’t do this. The timing is bad. It ain’t right.”

   Farrah got off the bed. “Ted used to beg me.” 

   “I ain’t Ted.”