Cody Walker's Woman

Callahan stepped aside to let them exit. As Cody passed him he caught the wicked gleam in the other man’s eyes; he knew Callahan could read his thoughts and was enjoying his discomfort. A memory from another place and time flashed through his mind, and Cody realized Callahan was probably remembering the same thing—the two of them watching Mandy sleep six years ago, their hostility toward each other barely contained.

Keira was already halfway down the hall toward the kitchen, and far enough away so she wouldn’t hear him. “Don’t push it,” he muttered to Callahan, his eyes narrowing.

“Wouldn’t think of it,” Callahan said smoothly. “Coffee’s in the cabinet right above the coffeemaker.”

* * *

A half hour later all four of them were in Callahan’s four-by-four, heading down the unpaved driveway. Dawn was breaking, painting the eastern sky cloud layers baby-bunting pink and blue, but sunrise was still more than twenty minutes away when they pulled on to the highway leading to Black Rock.

Callahan had only driven a minute before Cody said quietly, “We’ve got company.”

“Yeah,” Callahan growled. “I see them, too. They were waiting for us.” He slowed down slightly, and the car behind them slowed also. Then he pressed down on the accelerator, picking up speed quickly, and the car behind them did the same, maintaining the same distance.

“Open tail,” Cody said. “They want us to know they’re back there. Fibbies.”

“Who else would utilize an open tail?” Callahan asked rhetorically.

“Yeah. I wouldn’t put it past the FBI to leave a crew on watch. Especially since Holmes knows the agency is involved. He doesn’t trust us.” Cody glanced over at Callahan. “For protection, you think? Or out of suspicion?”

“Protection.” Callahan laughed under his breath. “Otherwise, why the open tail?”

“What are you going to do?”

“I can’t shake them...not out here in the middle of nowhere—there just aren’t enough roads to turn on. But we don’t want them following us to Betsy’s house either.”

Cody thought for a moment. “Where’s the truck McKinnon was driving?”

“Back at the house, parked out of sight behind it. Why?” Callahan darted a glance toward Cody. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

Cody laughed a little. “Probably.” We always were on the same wavelength, he told himself. That’s never changed, not in all these years.

He thought a moment. “Keep driving into town. Cruise around a little, like you’re showing us the lay of the land—they’ll suspect something if we don’t. Swing around the rim road, pick up the highway on the other side, and head back to your place. Then you and McKinnon can drive out again heading in the other direction to draw them off the scent, while Keira and I take the truck to Betsy’s house.”

When Callahan opened his mouth—to protest, Cody was sure—he added, “It’s the best chance we’ve got to search without company, and Keira knows what she’s looking for. Besides—” he slanted a sideways look at the other man “—technically you need a search warrant. I don’t.”

“Agency rules?” Callahan asked, a dangerous edge to his voice.

“Latitude,” Cody answered lightly. “If I were looking for evidence against Betsy I’d still need a warrant. But that’s not the case.” He saw Callahan’s hands tighten on the steering wheel. “The world has changed,” he said softly in response to what the other man was thinking.

“I know. But I don’t have to like it. Makes me glad I’m a small town sheriff now. Most of the time, anyway. There’s something to be said for breaking up bar fights and arresting drunk drivers.”

“Ah, the good old days,” Cody said, agreeing with him.

“You ever miss it?” Callahan asked him. “You ever wish—” He stopped abruptly, as if he suddenly remembered the real reason Cody had left Black Rock.

All at once Cody realized Keira and McKinnon could hear their conversation. They had been quiet this whole time, but that didn’t mean they weren’t listening. “Yeah,” he said honestly. “I miss it sometimes. Denver’s different from Black Rock—nothing against Denver, but living in a small town, where you know everyone and everyone knows you, has its advantages. But there’s also a certain satisfaction working for the agency that I never got from being the sheriff here. It’s a trade-off.”