again, and then said, "I am sorry about the dishes, Ma. You buy whatever you need to replace them and I'll pay the bill. They aren't worth risking your life, do you hear me? This is not just your son you're talking to, Ma. It's a Police Lieutenant used to being obeyed." He listened once more, and then said, "I love you, too, Ma. And you bet I'll tell you everything as soon as I can. I need to call Jason now..." He said goodbye, and then called his brother. The conversation was much briefer because Jase didn't ask for explanations. "Thanks, bro. You bet I'll call if I need back-up." His third call was for reinforcements. Kari was impressed by the cooperation and respect he received.
By the time that call ended they were pulling into a gated community and Jake showed his badge to the guard on duty. The older man nodded, and greeted Jake by name, and said, "It's a shame this little gal is in some trouble, Lieutenant. If you need me, let me know."
"I will, Gus, and it's still Jake to you," he grinned.
"Even with that new shield?" the man teased.
"I should still be saluting you," Jake replied seriously, and then said to Kari, "Sweetheart, Gus took me in as a green rookie and partnered me. What I learned, I learned from him. You'll be safe here. Gus can spot trouble a mile away."
"High praise, youngster," Gus was beaming. "Sweetheart,' is it?" he looked at Jake in surprise."
"Kari is my future wife, Gus. I've been undercover, and inadvertently put Kari in danger. She's not guilty of anything except being beautiful," he added, and it was Kari's turn to blush a fiery red.
"I'll keep her safe, son. My word on that." Gus never thought he'd live to see the day his young partner fell hard for a woman, but he knew that when and if it happened, the young woman in question would be special. "You've got a fine man, Kari. He's not like other men who'll hand you a line then be on their way. He's for life."
"I know," Kari whispered, her green eyes shining.
"Do you want me to help you check out the house?" Gus was suddenly all business.
"No, I'll do it, and then I'll give you the all clear to let you know we're safe." It was standard procedure. Gus would give them ten minutes to make that call, and then he'd call 911 and come running to give assistance.
"You stay put here while I check the house, Kari. If something happens, drive yourself to Gus. He'll tell you what to do." He was proud of the way she nodded. He locked the car doors securely, and then drew his gun and made a thorough check of the house, room by room. He used his cell to call Gus as he went back to the car to get Kari, and once they were inside, he showed her around the nice home. It was a safe house, and he'd used it before to house witnesses. As far as the neighbors knew, it was owned by a wealthy widow who lived with her adult children now and rented it out occasionally to someone she knew who was visiting the city for a brief amount of time and didn't want to stay in a hotel. The cover worked. Neighbors expected to see different people at times, and no one came over to welcome them to the neighborhood when they were only going to be staying for a couple of weeks or less.
At Jacob's insistence, Kari called her Father and let him know she was doing well, and she casually mentioned that she was visiting with a friend while looking for a new apartment. Her Dad seemed pleased, and assured her he was extremely busy with work, but told her to call if she needed him and he'd drop everything and come right away. She thanked him, and then hinted that she and Jacob were becoming more than just friends. That news didn't shock her parent as much as it should have, and she wondered what Jake had told him. Still, it didn't matter. What she needed was an explanation. She closed her cell phone and then looked at Jake.
"So, Jacob, what is it that Quincy Darles does that has you looking to arrest him, and why are we in danger?"
"We'll get to all of that, sweetheart, but first, we
By the time that call ended they were pulling into a gated community and Jake showed his badge to the guard on duty. The older man nodded, and greeted Jake by name, and said, "It's a shame this little gal is in some trouble, Lieutenant. If you need me, let me know."
"I will, Gus, and it's still Jake to you," he grinned.
"Even with that new shield?" the man teased.
"I should still be saluting you," Jake replied seriously, and then said to Kari, "Sweetheart, Gus took me in as a green rookie and partnered me. What I learned, I learned from him. You'll be safe here. Gus can spot trouble a mile away."
"High praise, youngster," Gus was beaming. "Sweetheart,' is it?" he looked at Jake in surprise."
"Kari is my future wife, Gus. I've been undercover, and inadvertently put Kari in danger. She's not guilty of anything except being beautiful," he added, and it was Kari's turn to blush a fiery red.
"I'll keep her safe, son. My word on that." Gus never thought he'd live to see the day his young partner fell hard for a woman, but he knew that when and if it happened, the young woman in question would be special. "You've got a fine man, Kari. He's not like other men who'll hand you a line then be on their way. He's for life."
"I know," Kari whispered, her green eyes shining.
"Do you want me to help you check out the house?" Gus was suddenly all business.
"No, I'll do it, and then I'll give you the all clear to let you know we're safe." It was standard procedure. Gus would give them ten minutes to make that call, and then he'd call 911 and come running to give assistance.
"You stay put here while I check the house, Kari. If something happens, drive yourself to Gus. He'll tell you what to do." He was proud of the way she nodded. He locked the car doors securely, and then drew his gun and made a thorough check of the house, room by room. He used his cell to call Gus as he went back to the car to get Kari, and once they were inside, he showed her around the nice home. It was a safe house, and he'd used it before to house witnesses. As far as the neighbors knew, it was owned by a wealthy widow who lived with her adult children now and rented it out occasionally to someone she knew who was visiting the city for a brief amount of time and didn't want to stay in a hotel. The cover worked. Neighbors expected to see different people at times, and no one came over to welcome them to the neighborhood when they were only going to be staying for a couple of weeks or less.
At Jacob's insistence, Kari called her Father and let him know she was doing well, and she casually mentioned that she was visiting with a friend while looking for a new apartment. Her Dad seemed pleased, and assured her he was extremely busy with work, but told her to call if she needed him and he'd drop everything and come right away. She thanked him, and then hinted that she and Jacob were becoming more than just friends. That news didn't shock her parent as much as it should have, and she wondered what Jake had told him. Still, it didn't matter. What she needed was an explanation. She closed her cell phone and then looked at Jake.
"So, Jacob, what is it that Quincy Darles does that has you looking to arrest him, and why are we in danger?"
"We'll get to all of that, sweetheart, but first, we
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