“Of course not.” Chief Garcia rose, a polite smile on his face. “I’m glad we could come to an agreement.”
Derek scowled, the veil of politeness completely gone. He stormed out of the office, slamming the door hard behind him.
Dawson almost laughed. “Wow. Talk about a dramatic exit.”
Liam grinned. “I have a feeling whoever he assigns to the task force won’t be bringing donuts and coffee to our next meeting.” He plopped back down in the chair. “They didn’t forget to inform us about their operation. They purposefully left us out of the loop.”
“The ATF should also be knocking down our door, asking for help to find Lilia.” Peyton’s gaze narrowed. “She dated Cade, and could be an asset. So why are they trying to hinder our investigation?”
Chief Garcia’s expression was speculative as he reclaimed his seat. “It may be exactly as Fallon said. They’re close to dismantling the entire organization, and they don’t want us to screw that up. He didn’t tell us to stop looking for Lilia, just that we needed to steer clear of Cade and the Iron Serpents.”
Dawson frowned. “All this time, we’ve assumed Cade kidnapped Lilia from the train depot. It was a reasonable theory based on the attack on Peyton and the bandana we found at the scene. But what if she escaped and has gone underground?”
Liam tilted his head. “It could explain why we didn’t find her car at the train depot.”
“So…where is she? And why hasn’t she contacted anyone?”
“Maybe she thinks it’s too risky,” Peyton suggested. “Marvis certainly sounded scared of Cade. He said he has eyes and ears everywhere...” She straightened in her chair. “Her lawyer.”
Dawson frowned. “What?”
“Lilia hired an attorney to draft the guardianship paperwork for Grace. What if she knows where my cousin is? She could even have the evidence Lilia stole in her possession.”
“I called her,” Liam said. “Carmen Reyes refused to talk to me because of attorney-client privilege. I explained it was a matter of life and death, but she didn’t budge.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. Lilia may have left specific instructions with her attorney, but only for me.” She turned to the chief. “Not to mention, if we really believe Lilia may have escaped on the night of the train depot attack, then she’s hiding out somewhere. We never figured out where she was living right before and right after having Grace. That could be where she is now. Speaking to her lawyer could be the break we need to blow this open.” She grinned. “And it keeps me far away from the Iron Serpents.”
Chief Garcia shot her an amused look. “You’re a team player, Special Agent Hughes.”
“Anything to help out the ATF, sir.” She rose and arched her brows at Dawson. “What do you say, Graham? Interested in a road trip?”
He sighed. What Dawson wanted to do was lock her on his ranch behind a wall of armed guards, but he was wise enough to know he wouldn’t win that argument. Peyton’s mind was made up. There would be no talking her out of this. “Do I have a choice?”
She laughed, hooking an arm through his. “No. Not really.”
FIFTEEN
The highway stretched ahead, nothing but farmland and fences to break up the horizon. Country music played softly from the truck's speakers. Peyton adjusted the air vent away from her face and flipped through the news articles she’d saved on her tablet. “I’ve been doing some research on the Iron Serpents. Their reach is a lot further than I understood—beyond Knoxville and well into Austin—and they haven’t just been linked to drugs and weapons. There are several unsolved murders connected to them.”
Dawson nodded, his gaze skipping to the side view mirror before focusing back on the road. His attention had been heightened since they left the police station. Knoxville was nothing but a blip behind them, but it was still another half an hour to the outskirts of Austin. Plenty of open road where they could be attacked.
Peyton leaned her head back against the seat. “Thanks for coming with me. And for arranging protection for Grace. It means a lot.”
His lips quirked. “We both know you’d be far more trouble stuck in Siberia with nothing to do but fret. Idle hands and all that.”
She laughed. “I’d have Grace to keep me busy. But yes, you’re right.” Being trapped in a safe house would only leave her sick with worry and no way to help. She’d do it in order to protect Grace, but if there was another way to accomplish that while still working the case, she’d prefer that option. “Chief Garcia and everyone in the police department are great. Dedicated. I can see why you’re happy here.”
“It’s home. But yes, it’s nice to work with people who care as much as I do.”
He’d built a life for himself. With purpose. With passion. Surrounded by co-workers, friends, and family. The only thing Peyton could see that was missing was a significant other.
The memory of their kiss wouldn't leave her alone. If the shooting, the phone call with Marvis, and learning her cousin may have stolen something from Cade hadn’t kept her awake, the conversation in the barn with Dawson and their toe-curling kiss would have.
For the first time, Peyton allowed herself a tiny glimmer of hope. Hope that her cousin was alive and safe, hiding out somewhere. And hope that she and Dawson could find their way back to each other.
She longed to ask him about last night, but it was complicated and there were more pressing matters at hand. Peyton turned back to the tablet. “Most of the murders connected to the Iron Serpents appear drug or turf related. But then I found this last night.” She pulled up an article from five months ago. “An accountant named Walter Jennings was shot execution-style. His body was left on the side of the road outside north Austin. The Texas Rangers are working the case, but so far haven’t developed a solid lead. Jennings was an accountant,apparently known for handling the finances of criminals. Groups like the Iron Serpents, who use legitimate businesses to launder the money they make from illegal activities.”
“You think Walter Jennings’s murder has something to do with Lilia?”
