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deserved the truth at all times.
“Just to clear the air,” Dallas said, “Charley and I are…putting the pieces back
together. That’s all we have to say at the moment.”
“I just wanted to make sure things are really good between the two of you. Nobody
in the world would be happier about that but the last couple of days have been a real
roller coaster for all of us. I’m just checking that everything is really good.”
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“They’re really good,” Dallas said.
“We’ve settled some of our…issues,” Charley told him. “Right now I’m just pissed
at myself for what happened. Trying to figure what we did wrong.”
“Nothing,” Dallas said. “We’ve obviously got a fox in the hen house and I know
you’ll find him out.”
“Just checking,” Morgan told him. “I just want you both to know I’m here for you.”
Dallas had to swallow around the sudden lump in his throat. “I think we both
know that, bro. Thanks.” He held out his other hand. “I guess I owe you thanks again.”
Morgan took his hand and shook it. “That’s what family does. Let’s not forget that.”
Dallas’ body tensed for a moment then relaxed. “Believe me. I won’t forget it
again.”
“All right. I’ll let you two get your act together. I’ll see you downstairs. Dallas, I
suspect you’ll need those heat packs when we get to Atlanta.”
“Yeah. When we get settled.”
“I’m ordering dinner in our suite tonight,” Charley said. “Would you like to join
us? It’s probably the last calm before the storm tomorrow.”
He nodded. “Thanks. Okay. See you in a bit.”
As soon as they were alone Charley insisted Dallas lie down again. “Rest. I’m going
to call the pilot and check on some other things.”
“You know, you have every right to rag on me for making our situation clear to
everyone without asking you first,” he told her. “I’ve been waiting for the explosion but
you haven’t said a word.”
She smiled at him and his insides melted. “You did kind of throw it in everyone’s
faces. But that’s okay. It’s been kind of an open secret anyway after last night.”
“I just want everyone to know what’s going on. Besides, don’t you think we’re too
old to be sneaking around?”
“I suppose.” She brushed a lock of hair back from his forehead. “Besides, I realized
that if I tried to pretend nothing was happening it would distract me from what I was
hired to do. If I’m always worried about someone seeing us together it makes my job
that much more difficult.”
He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers with hers. “So what’s next on the
agenda for today?”
“We changed the hotel in Atlanta and no one will know where we’re going until we
actually get there.”
Dallas frowned. “Sawyer’s going to bitch again. He likes the perks we get at the
places we stay.”
“Sawyer will be a lot happier as long as you’re alive. You’re his meal ticket. I also
switched which planes everyone is flying out on. We’ve had guards at the airfield all
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night but I never take chances. And I texted my secretary and the forensic accountant I
hired and I should be getting more reports today.”
He squeezed her hand, loving the smooth feel of it. “Thank you. For everything.”
Her eyes softened. “No problem. Got to take care of the client.” She grinned. “And
this one gets special care.”
“What time are we taking off?”
“Give me a minute and I’ll let you know.” She unhooked her BlackBerry from her
waistband and punched in a number, talked for a moment to the voice on the other end.
“All set,” she told Dallas when she hung up. “Plane takes off around one. Flying time’s
a little over two hours. I need to coordinate with Chase and Mike and make sure
everyone’s travel is taken care of and lock down the arrangements on the other end. We
should pack and be ready for transport to the airfield. You rest your leg. I’ll notify
everyone, pack my stuff and then get yours.”
“I can pack for myself,” he protested.
She bent over and gave him a soft kiss. “Just relax and be waited on, cowboy. It
won’t happen every day.”
Dallas watched her through the door, wondering if he’d ever get tired of looking at
her.
Then he wondered if he’d still be alive tomorrow to enjoy it.
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Chapter Thirteen
I called both my office and Lynette Touhey to get updates.
“You were right about the prints,” Jacquie told me. “Too smeared to get a read,
even with our new software.”
“Dandy.” I repeated Dallas’ comment.
“I’ve got a little bit more for you on the band, Todd Mullins and Sawyer Black, but
I’m telling you, either these people have no life or they’re good at covering it up.”
“Nothing? Come on.”
“Only what you’d expect from musicians on the road. Booze, women and a few
fights. Period.”
Shit.
“Okay. Send it to my netbook along with anything you found on Randy Mueller.”
I’d print it out to read on the plane.
Lynette’s voice mail picked up so I left her a message. I’d try her again when we got
to Atlanta. I also texted Chase to be sure someone had eyes on Randy at all times. Dallas
could defend him all he wanted but I wasn’t ready yet to give him a pass.
By twelve thirty we were packed and downstairs. Chase left with the road crew and
the equipment. Mike and his team loaded the band into two SUVs and now it was our
turn. I noticed Sawyer grumbling but heaving himself into the shotgun seat. Morgan
took the third row in the vehicle and Dallas and I sat in the middle.
And finally we were off. I’d gone over everything with Mike and Chase one more
time, everyone was accounted for and the guards at the airport had reported no
unusual activity around the planes. I just wished I didn’t have this terrible feeling of
dread coiling in my stomach.
We boarded the plane with little fuss, but the byplay between Sawyer Black and
Dallas was interesting.
“Come on in the back with me.” He indicated two facing seats in the rear of the
cabin. “We can talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about that we can’t discuss with Morgan and Charley.”
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