Agent by Her Side Read online

  “Good morning,” Cooper said. He gave them a wave of his hand.

  “Dad-dy!” Alfie rushed forward, throwing himself into Cooper’s arms.

  “Don’t lift him!” Kiely admonished, though her words fell on deaf ears. She shook her head and smiled. Cooper knew he’d conveniently forgotten, or had chosen to ignore, his doctor’s orders. But Alfie’s smile was well worth it.

  Cooper lifted his son up toward the ceiling and spun them both in a circle. He brought him close and kissed his face. “Good morning, Alfie!”

  “Alfie playing with Ki-Ki!” the child responded. He pointed toward Kiely.

  “We’re still practicing my name,” Kiely said with a soft giggle. “I think Ki-Ki might be it for now.”

  Cooper laughed. His son’s delight was infectious, and the little boy was completely smitten with Kiely. Almost as smitten as he himself was if he were honest. Watching the two together tickled Cooper’s spirit, sparking joy he hadn’t felt in some time. “You two are up early.”

  “Actually, I think you might be late. In fact, I’m pretty sure of it. We’ve been up for a while.”

  He nodded. “I don’t know if I can get used to this rest thing. And it’s taking me a minute to get used to someone else being in the house taking care of Alfie. I panicked for a minute when he wasn’t in his room.”

  Alfie kicked to be put down and ran back to Kiely. He threw his little arms around her neck and hugged her.

  “Snack time!” she chimed as she stood up, Alfie still hanging onto her back as she grabbed his legs for a piggyback ride. “And breakfast for Daddy.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I usually only have coffee.”

  “Don’t you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? You need to be setting an example for your son.”

  “I barely have time to feed him in the mornings before it’s time to head to day care.”

  “Let me guess, you work until the wee hours of the morning and then you barely get a decent night’s sleep before you need to be up doing it all over again?”

  “Ding! Ding! Ding!” he said facetiously. “And you win the prize!”

  Kiely laughed. “It’s a good thing I’m here to help you figure out how to do better.”

  He gave her a wry smile but didn’t respond.

  “Come sit,” Kiely commanded, pointing to an empty chair at the table. She placed Alfie into his booster seat and secured the safety straps.

  By the time Cooper made it to the table to sit down, Kiely was placing bowls of freshly cut fruit on the table mats before him and Alfie. Alfie immediately grabbed an apple slice in one fist and two large red grapes in the other.

  She moved back to the stovetop and turned on the burner. By the time Cooper was done with his fruit, she’d prepared him a croissant sandwich with honey-baked ham, a fried egg and melted brie. She placed his plate on the table with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and then her own.

  The faintest sliver of melancholy swept over Cooper. He couldn’t help but think how things might have been for him and Alfie had Sarah lived. How differently his son’s life would be if his mother had been there to cut fruit for his breakfast and rock him to sleep at night. He shook the emotion away, turning his attention back to Kiely. “You didn’t eat breakfast?”

  She shrugged. “I wanted to wait for you. I cooked oatmeal for Alfie and fed him and then he and I played until you woke up.”

  “You cooked oatmeal? And Alfie ate it?”

  “He loved it. It’s one of my best recipes. You cook the oats and you can do them in the microwave or on the stovetop. After they’re done you slowly stir in some egg whites for added protein. It also makes them super creamy. Then I add some coconut oil and cinnamon. Those are great immunity boosters and I’m told kids can never have too many. Then I top them with chocolate chips and raspberries, which Alfie loved. Sometimes when I make it I’ll do nut butter or nuts, or toasted coconut and pineapple.”

  “That actually sounds pretty good and I’m not a fan of oatmeal.”

  “I’ll make you some this week and you can give it a try,” she said. “I’ll have you eating healthy in no time.”

  Cooper held up the last bite of his ham and brie. “I imagine this isn’t wholeheartedly healthy but it’s very good.”

  “Thank you.” She reached over to wipe Alfie’s hands with a napkin. He’d eaten the last piece of cantaloupe from the bowl and the juice had run down his arm. She turned back to Cooper. “So, what’s on your agenda today?”

  “I need to get back to work. I need to solve this case.”

  Kiely nodded. “Well, first things first. You and Alfie need some quality daddy and son time. Why don’t you read him a story or two while I clean up and then after you put him down for his nap, we can do some work so we can solve this case,” she said, emphasizing the we.

  Cooper gave her a bright smile, feeling amusement dance across his face. There was an edge to Kiely that he found exhilarating. There were moments of softness, too, that he saw when she engaged with Alfie. Then there was that take-charge, work-hard, no-nonsense side of her that didn’t play. That side was commanding, demanding and quite engaging. “Yes, ma’am!” He lifted Alfie from his seat and nuzzled his cheek against his son’s. “Kiely said it’s story time, kiddo!”

  Alfie threw his hands in the air and laughed. “Ki-Ki!”

  * * *

  An hour or so later when Cooper returned from putting Alfie down for his nap, his doorbell rang. He and Kiely exchanged a look.

  “Were you expecting someone?” Kiely asked as she moved to the cupboard and reached for the revolver that she had hidden behind a bag of sugar. She checked the chamber and slid it into the back waistband of her pants.

  Cooper shook his head as he disappeared into his office. When he came back he was checking the chamber of his service weapon. Kiely watched him as he moved to the front door. After peering out through the peephole first, he took a step back then secured his gun in the waistband of his pants. He tossed her another look before pulling the door open. Tripp McKellar and Emmanuel Iglesias stood sheepishly on the other side.

  “Good morning,” Emmanuel said. “I hope this isn’t a bad time?”

  “Not at all,” Cooper answered. “Come in.” He stepped back to let both men enter the home.

  “Hey, there!” Kiely greeted. She gave them a slight wave. “What brings the dynamic duo by this morning?”

  Emmanuel’s eyes widened at the sight of her. “Kiely! This is a surprise. I wasn’t expecting to find you here,” he said.

  “On the job. Cooper needed help after he got out of the hospital,” she answered.

  He nodded. “Pippa didn’t mention it.”

  “Bad Pippa,” she said sarcastically.

  Cooper laughed. “Kiely’s been a big help, especially with Alfie.”

  Emmanuel eyed her with a raised brow and a smug smile. Kiely could already see him racing back to her sister to tattle as if she and Pippa didn’t already share everything. She rolled her eyes skyward.

  “Can I get you two a cup of coffee?” Kiely questioned, turning an about-face.

  “No, thank you,” Tripp answered. “We’re not staying. I wanted to check on your security detail outside and make sure everything was going okay.”

  “We also had some news to share,” Emmanuel added.

  “Good news, I hope,” said Cooper. He gestured for the two of them to have a seat at the kitchen table.

  Emmanuel shook his head. “It’s Gunther Johnson. He’s changed his mind about giving up the goods on Capital X.”

  “He’s scared,” Tripp said. “We think someone may have gotten to him.”

  Cooper shook his head. Kiely threw up her hands in frustration. Both were all too familiar with the career criminal. Gunther Johnson had been a hired enforcer for Capital X, the private loan operation w
hose seedy, underground lending operation preyed on borrowers with astronomical interest rates, substantial loan fees and shady collection practices. Known to respond with threats and violence if payments were missed, they had been on the law enforcement radar for some time.

  Brody had borrowed fifty thousand dollars from Capital X to invest in RevitaYou. Wes Matthews had absconded with his money shortly after. When Brody was unable to make his repayment, Capital X had sent Gunther Johnson to break two of his fingers, promising to break two more if he didn’t come up with the money he owed. Capital X’s henchmen chasing him was the reason why Brody had disappeared.

  Weeks earlier Pippa had helped with the sting operation to take down Capital X and its owners. Gunther Johnson had been caught in that sting but had been less than cooperative. Working out a deal with the district attorney, he’d finally agreed to give up the Capital X hierarchy and name who oversaw the operation. To now hear he was refusing to talk didn’t sit well with any of them.

  “We need that name,” Cooper snapped, his irritation clouding his good mood. “That name might get us closer to Wes Matthews.”

  “I spoke to the DA and he said he was going to contact you. I filled him in on the shooting so he said he was going to give you a day or two before he called,” Tripp said.

  “I’ll call him as soon as we’re done. I need to go see him,” Cooper said, “to see how he plans to play this.” He shot a quick glance in Kiely’s direction, expecting a comment but none came.

  “Just take care of yourself,” Emmanuel said, rising. “We’ll check back in with you and you know if you need anything all you have to do is call.” He extended his hand to shake Cooper’s.

  “Thank you. I appreciate you guys stopping by.”

  “We’re here if you need us,” Tripp reiterated as they moved toward the door. “But I’m sure you’re in good hands.” He gestured with his head toward Kiely, winked his eye at her and smiled.

  Kiely smiled and Cooper was ready for him to be gone. He looked at her and then Tripp and back at her. He took two steps to his right, as if moving to block Tripp’s view of her.

  “Yes,” Cooper said. “I definitely am.” He tossed a look over his shoulder.

  Kiely laughed. And Cooper tightened his jaw, raising his brows. He practically threw the two men out the door, keeping his goodbyes short and swift.

  “You’re funny,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I see how you act every time Tripp is around.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He double-checked the door lock one last time, feigning disinterest in her comment.

  “If I didn’t know better I’d think you were a little jealous,” she said teasingly.

  Cooper turned away from her, moving toward his office. “I don’t get jealous.”

  She laughed again. “Not much you don’t,” she muttered under her breath.

  He stopped in the doorway and it was on the tip of his tongue to ask if she were interested in the man, but he didn’t. He didn’t want to know the answer if by chance she said yes. He said instead, “I need to call the DA,” and then he disappeared into the other room, closing the door behind himself.

  Chapter 6

  The next day, the Uber driver would not stop talking and his incessant drone was beginning to wear on Cooper’s last good nerve. Using a ride-share service had not been his choice. He had wanted to drive himself to the district attorney’s office. Kiely had no issues with him going but she’d been adamant about how he got there. Since she needed to watch Alfie and couldn’t drive him herself, Uber had been her idea and he had acquiesced to stall the argument brewing between them. She’d issued a host of threats she promised to rain down on him had he gotten into his car to drive himself and none of them had been pretty.

  Kiely Colton was spit and fire when she wanted to make a point and she’d had a few to make about him not following doctor’s orders. Had this meeting not been important he would have crawled back into bed as she had wanted because he hurt. He hurt more than he wanted to admit—and he would never admit that to Kiely.

  His first stop was the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office. The district attorney of record was Eugene Beckwith. Eugene and Cooper had worked many cases together and he was highly respected amongst his peers. He rarely sugarcoated things and could often be bitterly blunt. Cooper appreciated that he always knew where the man stood on an issue.

  Eugene rushed in his direction, visibly irritated. “It’s good to see you, Agent Winston. I was surprised when you called. I got the impression you were going to be off your feet for a minute.”

  “I probably should be, but duty calls.”

  Eugene nodded. “Detective Iglesias said he updated you?”

  “He did. Emmanuel indicated Gunther Johnson is recanting his earlier statements and wants to forfeit his deal with the state.”

  “That dirtbag is playing us. Personally, I don’t think what he claims to know is as big as he wanted us to believe. Now he’s got cold feet because he can’t deliver. I know you need that information, but Johnson’s looking at life in prison, no matter what he does. Whether or not we make that time comfortable for him doesn’t much matter to me. Like I don’t already have a dozen other cases to worry about. No one has time for this!”

  “I agree, but we still need to try. I want to talk to him.”

  Eugene shrugged. “It’s your time to waste. How soon are you looking?”

  “I’d like to head over there right now.”

  “Give me a second to contact his attorney,” the man said. He stepped away, pulling his cell phone to his ear. A few short minutes later he moved back to Cooper’s side. He nodded. “You’re good to go. His attorney will meet you at the jail in one hour.”

  Cooper and the man shook hands. “Thank you,” Cooper said.

  “I’d say good luck, but you’ll need more than luck to deal with that con artist.”

  Cooper smirked. “I appreciate your faith in my abilities.”

  * * *

  The Grand Rapids city jail was Cooper’s second stop. The building at Monroe Center NW was a holding facility for the Grand Rapids Police Department and agencies within the judicial district of Kent County. Its proximity to the courthouse and the county clerk’s office made for easy visits when needed.

  When Cooper arrived, the jailer on duty took him directly to an interrogation room to wait. For twenty minutes he sat twiddling his thumbs, trying to decide how he planned to appeal to the criminal and sway his decision. When the defense attorney entered, looking slightly flustered, Cooper found himself whispering a quick prayer that this didn’t prove to be harder than necessary.

  The door swung open a second time and a guard walked Gunther Johnson into the room. Although Cooper had seen photos of the man—multiple mug shots, a high school yearbook image, and a picture captured on a nearby security camera when he’d been arrested—he was struck by Gunther’s physique. He had a sizeable build, bald head and cold, ice-blue eyes. He was intimidating, looking like brute force beneath his ivory complexion.

  Gunther gave his lawyer a narrow stare, then dropped heavily onto the wood chair. He leaned back in the seat as he shifted his gaze toward Cooper.

  Cooper leaned forward in his own seat, folding his hands together atop the table. “Mr. Johnson, I’m FBI Agent Cooper Winston. I’m here to talk to you about your deal with the DA to give up the name of your Capital X associates.”

  “I’m not taking no deal. I told them that,” he spat, annoyance furrowing his brow. “I changed my mind.”

  “May I ask why?”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  “Let me keep it real with you, Mr. Johnson. We need that name.”

  “And my client needs a safety net or that can’t happen,” the attorney interjected.

  “I ain’t talking!” Gunther reitera
ted, his lips forming a petulant pout like he was in kindergarten.

  “The district attorney has been very generous with his offer to you.”

  “Is he going to let me off? Give me...what’s that they call it...immunity...that’s it...full immunity?”

  “Be real, Mr. Johnson. The district attorney has an airtight case against you for murder, and I’m sure if the FBI does a little more digging we can probably link you to a few others. You’d be looking at the death penalty for certain, instead of a cushy life sentence.”

  “The death penalty?” Gunther shot his attorney a look. “You ain’t said nothing about no death penalty!”

  The man waved a dismissive hand. “Because the state of Michigan abolished capital punishment. He’s just blowing smoke!”

  Cooper smiled. “But Indiana and Ohio do and I’m sure it won’t take much to tie you to Capital X customers in both states. Let me see,” Cooper said as he flipped open the manila folder in front of him.

  He continued. “Paul Phelps, a resident of Gary, Indiana, found dead with four fingers missing. Regina Leslie, also a resident of Gary. Jon Tucker of Columbus, Ohio. They all borrowed money from Capital X. They all had problems repaying. And what else do they have in common? You. You traveled to both states around the time of their murders. That sounds like a death penalty case to me. Crossing state lines means an interagency investigation.”

  “You said no death penalty!” Gunther shouted at his attorney, although he was staring at Cooper.

  Cooper smirked. “Well, now I’m saying I’m sure my office will have no qualms pushing a death penalty agenda for the time you’ve wasted yanking our chain!” He slammed the file folder closed.

  “He will kill me if I tell!”

  “Who, Mr. Johnson?”

  “You can’t protect me!” He was shouting, still visibly agitated.