The Texas Ranger's Reward (Undercover Heroes) (10 page)

Casey followed him out of the bathroom, where Travis had just
finished shaving. “Can Melissa come to dinner at our house tonight?”

Travis wasn’t surprised that that was the first question to pop
out of his son’s mouth. He could hardly avoid this situation while he was
working her case. Once he’d pulled on jeans and another T-shirt, he turned to
his son. “Guess what? I’m going to pick you up after school and we’re driving to
the cabin again. Melissa’s fixing dinner for us.”

“Hooray!” Casey ran to the kitchen, whooping the whole way.
Travis followed, to fix them fruit and cereal. Once they’d fed Dexter, they left
for school in the truck.

After dropping off Casey with a hug, Travis stopped for gas,
then headed to the office. Jose and Roman were waiting for him with coffee and
doughnuts. The boss had a big smile on his face. “Come on in.”

Bemused, Travis reached for his coffee and sat down, eyeing
both of them. “What’s going on?”

“Congratulations are in order.”

Chapter Six

“What are you talking about?”

Roman smiled. “I’ll let Jose tell you.”

Travis eyed the other man. “Is this about that camper?”

His colleague nodded. “An hour after I phoned in the license
plate number, I got a call. That Utah plate was stolen off a new blue Jetta on
June 5 of this year. So they checked to see if the camper was stolen.”

“Wait till you hear this next part,” Roman interjected.

Travis was all ears.

“The police in Cochise County, Arizona, have been looking for
the killer of an elderly couple, a crime that happened on June 3 of this year.
They were found in their home in Douglas, with their camper stolen. I checked
the VIN number, and it’s their camper, all right. As you know, Douglas is in
that border territory between the U.S. and Mexico.”

Travis’s heart dropped any time he heard that another innocent
person had been murdered. It hit too close to home. But a part of him was elated
that his hunch had been on target.

“What about the man you followed?”

“Adam said the guy came back to the garage about an hour later
and got in the camper. He was in there all night, and still is. He thinks the
guy’s living there. The other man disappeared into the woods and never came
back.”

Travis’s mind was reeling with possibilities. “This could be
connected to what’s going on at the Roberts cabin. Considering the close
proximity between the camper and their place, that other man could be making
himself at home there. But it’s still early days.”

“I agree,” Roman said.

Travis looked at his boss. “Let’s sit on what we know for now,
and just keep them under surveillance. I’ll be talking to forensics in a few
minutes, to see what they’ve come up with so far. Later on I’ll be going up to
the cabin again, to check the tapes and the listening device.

“Before we make official inquiries, I’ll ask Melissa if she
knows who owns that vacant cabin and garage. I meant to ask her earlier, but got
distracted. If the intruders were there last night, then we’ll know a lot more
than we do now, and can decide how to proceed. Jose? Have we found out who
bought Grampy’s yet?”

“Lon’s still working on it. Hopefully he’ll get back to us
sometime today.”

Roman leaned forward. “You’re on to something big, Travis. I
feel it in my bones.” His solemn expression changed to a gleeful one. “I barely
put you on the case and already you’ve turned up a couple of possible
killers.”

Travis eyed Jose. “Thanks to a great backup team.”

“Agreed,” Roman said. “How did you know about the hidden
camper?”

“On Monday the guy with the buzz cut waited on Melissa and me
at Grampy’s, this burger shop in Kamas. He leered at her in a way that alarmed
her. I sensed something about him wasn’t right, so I asked Jose to check him
out.”

Their boss grinned. “And just like that you’ve helped solve
cases that have stumped lawmen in two states. I’ll get the police chief on the
phone. He’ll contact the cops in Douglas, but I’ll make it clear you’re in the
middle of a sting and don’t want anything to leak until you find out what’s
going on at the cabin.”

“Appreciate that, Roman.”

“You were born with an instinct for this business, comrade.
Talk to you later.”

Travis nodded and stood up. “Come to my office, Jose. Let’s
listen to what Forensics has to say.”

A few minutes later Travis had Rudy, in Forensics, on the line.
He was the best in the business. “What have you got for us?” Travis turned on
the speakerphone so Jose could hear.

“That tire print was pretty good. I saw two cuts that could
have been made by rocks or glass. They’re year-old Goodyear tires.

“As for the fingerprints, you got some decent ones off that
pine table you noted on the tape. I’ve sent them on to headquarters, and they’ll
run them through the database. The other items had some interesting
elements.”

“Like what?” Travis hadn’t realized he was holding his
breath.

“For example, the soil sample contained traces of mashed
foliage typical of that area of forest. It also contained marijuana.”

“Marijuana?”
Travis’s eyebrows
lifted as he stared at Jose in amazement.

“No doubt it was clinging to the soles of someone’s shoes. The
particular type is called Early Misty. It’s a short, bushy plant that flowers in
eight weeks. The sample was pretty fresh. So were the cigarette butts you
brought in last evening. They matched the others that were days old, and in some
instances, a couple of months old.”

“Were you able to identify the brand?”

“Yes. That’s interesting, too. The tobacco is a type grown in
Japan and shipped to Europe, where it’s made into cigarettes with the brand name
Monte Carlo. These are the long, slim kind you find in cellophane bundles.”

“I’ve heard of them. Thanks, Rudy. Couldn’t do this without
you.” Travis clicked off. “Jose? What do you know about Monte Carlo
cigarettes?”

“They’re the strong-flavored variety and the cheapest on the
world market. You can buy them online in the U.S., but they’re distributed and
sold in Switzerland, Germany, Monaco, the Emirates and Colombia.”

“We’re narrowing it down. These boys have to be illegals sent
by some Colombian drug cartel to work here.”

Jose nodded. “The traffickers come primarily from the Valle del
Cauca region or from the Caribbean north coast. The latter operate more
independently than the Cali mafia, but are very powerful. By working with
counterparts in Mexico and the U.S., they’re responsible for most of the world’s
cocaine production and wholesale distribution.”

Travis leaned back in his chair. “I wasn’t in Utah three years
ago, but I remember hearing Roman talk about a crop of marijuana plants with a
street value of $60 million found growing on a mountain farther south in this
state.”

“You’re talking Boulder Mountain in Wayne County. It was headed
by a Mexican cartel.”

“Could be the Colombians have done the same thing around here
in the back country. The man you saw come out of the garage could be one of that
group. Then again, maybe there’s no connection.”

“Maybe not,” Jose murmured, “but I’m planning to get a look at
the left front tire on that camper, in case it made a trip to the cabin. That
will give us the link you’re trying to find.”

“Good. While you do that, I’ll be busy hiking in the mountains,
looking for marijuana plants.”

As Jose got up to leave, Travis called him back. “I have
another question for you. While Melissa and I were getting our hamburgers, I
noticed the guy with the buzz had a tattoo on the back of his neck.” Travis’s
eyes narrowed. “Does a solid silver star with eight points mean anything to
you?”

Jose looked astonished, then shook his head in disbelief.

Travis half laughed. “What?”

“You just solved another piece of the puzzle. That star is in
the middle of the Barranquilla flag, the northern port city of Colombia. It was
carried by Simon Bolivar, signifying the eight provinces of the
confederacy.”

Again Travis’s mind was off and running. “The bunch of them
could have come up through the Caribbean to Mexico. When they got across the
Arizona border, they killed that couple for the camper and drove straight
here.”

“It’s more than a possibility.”

“We don’t know how many illegals are involved in this
operation, but it’s been well orchestrated up to now,” Travis theorized.
“Otherwise, they wouldn’t have found a garage to keep the stolen vehicle hidden
two days after that couple was killed. Roman needs to hear about this new
development.”

“While you talk to him, I’ll drive back up to Kamas and try to
get a look at those camper tires. When I find something out, I’ll phone you. Oh,
one more thing. I checked the bills with the water and electric company for this
year and last. There was no abnormal usage of either utility.”

“These men are being careful. It’s more evidence that this
operation has been in the planning for a long time.”

“Watch your back, Travis.”

“Ditto.”

After Jose left, Travis went back to their boss’s office and
gave him the latest update. The news about the marijuana blew Roman away. They
talked strategy before Travis went back to his office and called his resource at
the database down at police headquarters. He wanted to know if any of those
fingerprints were a match for wanted felons operating illegally in the country.
The Feds would have a field day.

Later, Mitch dropped into his office, and they decided to go to
lunch. Travis told him about Melissa, and they talked shop. Before long it was
time to pick up Casey. His son worried when Travis didn’t get to school right on
time, but his anxiety level hadn’t been as high since he’d met Melissa.

Casey was crazy about her. There were moments when he seemed to
be as happy around her as he’d been when his mom was alive. And he wasn’t the
only one....

Time had something to do with the healing process, but Travis
had to admit Melissa was playing a big part. Otherwise he wouldn’t find himself
this eager to be with her again. For several days he’d been wondering what she
would taste like. Before much more time went on, he would have to find out—or go
mad with wanting.

* * *

M
ELISSA
REVELED
IN
BEING
able to paint for a whole day without fear. At
three o’clock she put her things away and started dinner. Around four she drove
down to the church parking lot to wait for Travis and Casey. Her heart thudded
when she heard the phone ring. She clicked on and said hello.

“Melissa?”

“Casey, hi! Where are you?”

“Dad says we’re just coming into Kamas.”

“Well, I’m right here watching for you.”

“Okay. Don’t go away.”

She laughed. “I promise I won’t.”

A few minutes later they pulled in alongside her, and everyone,
including Dexter, got into her Jeep. The hug Casey gave her was so natural, she
was thrilled to the core. It was sheer delight to hear about his school day. She
caught Travis’s warm glance. No ice, no shadows today. Her spirits soared.

Once they reached the cabin, Travis disappeared outside, while
Casey ran around examining everything. After he’d teased Dexter with more of
Spike’s toys, he became Melissa’s shadow.

She set up an easel for him and they painted out on the front
porch. He chatted about some of the kids in his class at school. Robbie had
asthma and had to carry around a spray. Cindy’s daddy had to move to California
because her parents got a divorce. Melissa loved listening to it all, but when
she heard Casey’s tummy growl, so loudly they both laughed and Dexter barked,
she knew it was time for dinner.

Travis came in as she was putting supper on the table. To
Melissa it felt like they were a real family. She found it harder and harder not
to fantasize about what was going on. While he washed his hands at the kitchen
sink, her gaze took in his rock-hard physique. The play of muscle across his
back and shoulders kept her attention riveted.

When he suddenly turned toward the table, he caught her staring
at him, and she felt herself blush to her eyebrows. Casey saved the moment.
“Come on, Dad. We’re hungry.”

“So am I.”

After they’d tucked into their food, Travis glanced at her. “I
did some hiking and made the rounds of the cabins in the area you identified for
me. There was one with a detached garage near the main road, about a mile from
town, but it was boarded up. Do you have any idea who it belongs to?”

“You must mean the Gledhills. They’re a retired couple from
Reno, Nevada. They were willed that cabin by her father, but only come up here
every other year. On the off year they like to boat on Lake Tahoe.”

“That explains it,” Travis murmured. “This afternoon I was able
to talk to most of the people in the other cabins. When I showed them my ID,
they were very receptive and anxious to talk to me. However, their complaints
had more to do with thefts of fishing gear and items of furniture taken mostly
over the winter months.

“I found it interesting that so far none of them have
complained of intruders living there when the owners aren’t about. Yet that
seems to be the particular problem of
your
cabin. My
hunch is because it’s the highest one on this side of the ridge, out of
sight.”

“I’m sure that’s true. The very thing I love about this
location is what makes it a natural target for evi—for bad people,” she
corrected. Casey picked up on everything.

His father’s eyes went an intense dark blue. “They won’t be
doing it much longer. That’s a promise.” The almost primitive note in his voice
convinced her he knew more than he’d told her. The Texas Ranger was on the hunt.
Melissa’s hand trembled as she reached for her water glass.

“If you two will excuse me,” Travis said next, “I have some
work to do upstairs.”

“Go ahead, Dad. We’ll make dessert.”

Travis exchanged an amused glance with Melissa, then left the
table.

“Okay, Casey, let’s get busy.” She brought a dish from the
counter. “These chocolate chips are melted. I’ll let you ice the brownies.”

She scooped the chocolate onto the cold peppermint butter cream
frosting, then handed him the spoon. “While the chocolate is hot, you spread it
around lightly and quickly till the brownies are all covered. Try not to mix the
two together too much, so it will stay layered.”

“Like this?” He made big fast swirls.

“That’s perfect.”

He worked with concentration, biting his lower lip. “I’ve
finished! Now can I lick the spoon and the pot?”

Melissa chuckled before setting the brownies aside. While he
went to town on the leftover chocolate, she cut a big brownie for Travis and put
it on a plate. With a napkin in hand, she walked upstairs and found him in the
hall, putting more film in the video camera. Melissa couldn’t help watching
him.