Elizabeth held tight to Nathan. Julie and Viola had gone back to their B&B for the night, and she and Nathan were sitting on their porch swing, rocking gently in the cool evening breeze.
"Are you sure you have to go in tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked, her voice small. "I don't like the thought of you being undercover with a dangerous drug lord."
Nathan kissed the top of her head, holding her closer. "I know, sweetheart. I wish there was another way, but this is a part of the job." His hand slid to her stomach, where their twins were turning somersaults inside of her. Elizabeth wondered if they had picked up on her anxiety over Nathan's upcoming mission. They calmed as his hand laid over them, as if they knew their father was near.
"I've accepted that your job can be dangerous, Nathan, I really have. But times like these it's very hard to let you go," Elizabeth admitted. She knew she was extra emotional because of her pregnancy, but she was frightened. Last time Nathan went on a dangerous mission, he'd been shot and spent a long time recovering. She sniffed, looking up at him. "Will you be wearing a bullet-proof vest?"
He hesitated, which gave her the answer she needed. She burst into tears, burying her face in his shoulder.
She could feel Nathan's distress as he pressed her to him. "Elizabeth, sweetheart, it's okay…"
"No, no it's not!" she cried. "You're going to meet this man with no protection? How is that okay?" She pulled away, tears streaming down her face. Standing, she ran into the house, throwing herself onto their bed and crying into a pillow.
Nathan followed her. He sat beside her, rubbing a hand gently over her back. "Elizabeth, I didn't answer because I can't tell you how this meeting is going to play out. That's a need to know basis at the moment. I wish I could give you details, love, but rest assured that I will be safe. And I promise I will give you all the details after the mission."
She sniffled with a little hiccough, turning to look up at him through bleary eyes. "Is that your way of telling me that you'll be wearing a vest?"
Nathan smiled, leaning down to kiss the tears from her cheeks. "I'll be as safe as I can, Elizabeth. I promise."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him to her with a force that surprised him. He grunted as their lips met, his surprise quickly giving way to passion. They lay there for several long minutes, their kisses growing deeper. Elizabeth kissed him with a desperation she only felt when he could be in danger. Her tears continued to flow. Nathan pulled back, wiping them tenderly from her cheeks. Laying on his back, he pulled her to his chest, holding her close. One hand stroked her hair while the other rested on her back. Elizabeth felt a little calmer snuggled against him, though she still couldn't keep the fear from her mind. She knew her emotional reaction bordered on irrational, but considering her wacky hormones, it wasn't a surprise.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, resting her head against Nathan's chest.
His arm tightened around her. "Don't be," he said softly. "I understand." No further words were needed between them. Elizabeth's eyes drooped as Nathan's hand continued to move gently through her hair. The feeling was so soothing, so comforting. Within minutes, she fell asleep, wrapped safely in his arms.
The next morning she woke in the same position. Nathan was already awake, still holding her securely. Their eyes met. Nathan's held an unspoken question as they studied hers. In response, she reached up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "You come home to me today, Nathan. You come home to me and to our girls. Understand?"
He nodded, framing the side of her face with his hand. "You have my word I will do everything in my power to accomplish that," he said softly. "I promise."
She burrowed closer to him, holding on tight. Letting out a sigh, she prayed that everything would go smoothly and that he would come home safe and sound. Elizabeth knew the dangers that came with Nathan's job. She accepted it as part of their reality. There would be dangers. This wasn't the first and it wouldn't be the last.
She just had to trust that he would come home to her. The alternative was unbearable.
It had never been harder for Nathan to leave Elizabeth at home. After he kissed her goodbye, she had stood at the door wrapped in her robe, her arms folded across her body. She was fighting tears, but she had smiled at him as he looked back before driving away.
He was thankful that she had a shift at the hospital today. Hopefully it would help keep her mind off his mission, at least a little. He knew she was traumatized from his last big mission, and he couldn't blame her. He was feeling a little nervous himself. But this time, the bad guy didn't have a personal vendetta against Nathan. This time, the mission was a little more cut and dry.
After a couple weeks of detective work, Nathan and Lee had discovered that the local drug lord's name was John Crawley, the owner of the house they had seen in the nice neighborhood. The man had a long list of misdemeanors and suspected crime, but no one had been able to arrest him yet. Nathan had arranged to meet him in a local park at a time of day when people tended to be scarce. Lee was going to be there as well, incognito in a ball cap with a newspaper on a park bench. The meeting had been arranged by a former drug addict who knew the names of drug dealers in Kauai. He had been clean for years, unbeknownst to the dealers, and he was a huge help to the police department from time to time.
This was one of those times. They now had the names of the drug lord and a few of the men who worked in the seemingly abandoned house in the woods. The objective today was for Nathan to have the drugs in hand, given to him by Crawley, after which he would immediately arrest the man. If it worked, they had a sting operation ready to go for the house in the woods.
Nathan hoped it would all be over today. He didn't want to worry Elizabeth more than necessary, and he had a feeling the operation on Kauai was small compared to the main one on another island. Perhaps Crawley or one of his cronies would give them the information they needed about the overall operation, which Nathan could then pass on to the Honolulu Police Department.
He glanced at Lee. They had just arrived at the park. It was close to the meeting time. "Are you ready?" he asked.
Lee nodded, folding a newspaper under his arm. "Ready."
Nathan went to his assigned place first. He walked casually, hands in his pockets, as if he didn't have a care in the world. He felt the bulletproof vest under his shirt, a thinner model than previous ones but just as effective. No one would be able to tell he was wearing it under his blue plaid shirt. He found his spot and leaned against a tree, picking up a stick to whittle while he waited.
A few minutes later, Lee took his spot at a park bench far enough away to be unnoticeable but close enough to help if help was needed. Nathan surveyed his surroundings. It was five minutes until the meet, and there was no sign of Crawley yet. Exactly five minutes later, the drug lord strode into the park, looking as if he hadn't a care in the world.
Nathan smirked. Crawley probably thought he was invincible. If that was the case, that would make Nathan's job a lot easier.
Crawley stopped beside Nathan. "Mr. Brandt, I presume?"
Nathan nodded languidly. "That's me," he said, intentionally speaking slower than he normally did. "Mr. Crawley?"
"At your service," the man said, eyeing Nathan. "You got the money?"
Nathan pulled a thick envelope from his jeans, filled with the specified amount of cash. He handed it to Crawley. "It's all there."
Crawley opened the envelope, double-checking the amount inside. Satisfied, he nodded, producing a large pouch from his pocket in turn. "And this is for you."
Nathan peered inside. Several smaller pouches of meth were tucked inside the larger pouch. He shut it with a smile. "Pleasure doing business with you, sir."
As Crawley walked away, Nathan nodded to Lee. His partner stood and approached Crawley from the front as Nathan followed to the back. Lee stepped in front of Crawley, gun drawn. "John Crawley, you're under arrest for the illegal selling of drugs and for suspicion of drug trafficking."
Crawley looked like he was about to bolt, but Nathan grabbed his arms and held him immobile as Lee slapped handcuffs on him. Nathan propelled him to the car as Lee continued to read him his rights. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…"
Nathan had never been quite so relieved to make a quick arrest in his life.
Elizabeth hung up the phone, letting out a breath. Nathan had called to tell her they arrested the drug lord on Kauai. She had felt an immediate sense of relief until he'd paused.
"There's one more phase, Elizabeth," he'd said gently. "A mission this afternoon."
She had closed her eyes, feeling the familiar fear wrap itself around her. "Do what you have to, sweetheart," she said. "And stay safe."
"I'll do my best," he said. "I love you, Elizabeth."
"I love you too."
She took a deep breath, placing a hand on her stomach. Breathing a quick prayer for Nathan's safety, she squared her shoulders and walked to the next incubator. There was nothing she could do by worrying. The best thing to do for now was pray and continue caring for her NICU babies.
Reaching into the incubator, she lifted out a tiny baby girl. "Hi, Klarissa," she said softly, heading for a rocking chair with the little girl. "It's time to eat. I need you to eat more than you did earlier, okay?"
Little Klarissa had a hard time latching on to the bottle, but when she did she ate a few ounces of the formula. Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. Klarissa was mostly healthy, but she needed to gain weight. The nurses had been coaxing her with a bottle every couple of hours, hoping she would get the sustenance she needed to grow stronger. It was an uphill battle, but Elizabeth was encouraged that she was eating.
Klarissa's eyes slowly closed. Elizabeth placed the bottle on the table beside the rocker, holding the baby close for a few moments. Her mind drifted to her own daughters. In a few short months, she and Nathan would finally meet Arianna and Cecilia. She would be able to hold and rock them the way she was currently holding Klarissa. Elizabeth's heart ached with a fierce, tender love for her babies. They were a part of her, a part of Nathan.
She closed her eyes, trying to quell the anxiety that once more was threatening to swallow her. Nathan would be alright. He would do whatever it took to ensure he was there as his girls were growing up.
With that reassurance, Elizabeth let out her breath, finally feeling calm. With peace of heart, she resumed her work, pouring her heart into caring for the tiny babies in her care.
Nathan crouched beside the abandoned house, waiting for Bill's signal. Most officers were on call for the sting operation. They had the house surrounded.
John Crawley wasn't talking. He had looked mutinous while Nathan was questioning him, refusing to say a word. Eventually Nathan had Hickam escort Crawley back to his cell. They decided to strike the drug house while the men were unaware that their boss had been arrested.
Bill gave the signal, and Nathan pounded at the door. "Police! Open up!"
He could hear scrambling inside. Bill must have heard it too. "Kick it open," he directed, drawing his gun.
Nathan kicked the door in, opening it to reveal four men hurrying around, vainly trying to hide evidence. One shot wildly at the door with his weapon. Nathan hurdled back, the bullet missing him by inches. He gasped, memories of being shot by Ray Wyatt suddenly overwhelming him. Lee pulled him to one side as more officers took his place. "Nathan, you stay out here," Lee directed. "We don't need you in any more danger."
As he spoke the words, Bill commanded his men to surround the windows and door. Once the men were in place, he barked orders to the men inside the building. "You're surrounded on all sides! Come out with your hands up!"
More gunshots met his words. Nathan had known a shootout was likely with cornered men. Every officer on site was wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet. He wanted to make sure everyone was as safe as could be.
"With as much as they're shooting, they may run out of bullets soon," Lee said, shaking his head. "I suppose that would be the best option. These guys don't seem to be the smartest."
Nathan chuckled. "No, they don't."
After a while, there was a pause in the firing. Hickam peered into a window, then looked toward Bill. "They aren't reloading, Chief. I think they might have used all their ammo."
"Good," Bill said. He waved a hand in the air. "Let's get them, boys!"
Two officers entered the front door while another three came through the back. Two officers were at each window, their weapons trained on the suspects. Everything seemed to happen in a blur. Within five minutes, officers were leading the four men out of the house, their hands cuffed behind their backs.
Lee and Nathan watched as the men were placed in squad cars and driven to the local jail. Other officers went back inside to gather all the evidence.
Lee crossed his arms. "You know, that felt almost anti-climactic, considering how dangerous we thought this mission could be."
Nathan glanced at him. "Are you complaining?"
Lee chuckled. "No, sir, I am not. Rosemary will be thrilled to hear that no one was hurt and all the bad guys were taken in without much drama. Our part in this is over, right?"
Nathan nodded. "The operation here on Kauai was probably very small compared to the other islands. I'll call in what we found to the other police departments, but we've done our part. Hopefully we can put this case behind us quickly and efficiently. Including the paperwork."
Lee smiled wryly. "Oh joy. More paperwork."
Nathan didn't mind. He would rather fill out tons of paperwork than be in the kind of danger that worried Elizabeth. She would be relieved to know everything had gone well.
He looked at his watch. Their mission was over. It was time for him to go home and comfort his wife.
