Disclaimer: is the same as usual... le sigh.. but I like dreaming though lol

Ch13: Priority List

The aroma of grilled meat lingered in the air long after the sun had set behind the mountains. The DJ had packed up his equipment and the families with young children had left to return to their homes after an afternoon filled with food, music and a carefree frivolity. Strategically positioned floodlights had been turned on at dusk, illuminating the property as if it were nine' o clock in the morning instead of nine at night.

Jacob liked his hosts. He particularly liked Jared. He was generous, unpretentious and completely without guile. Jacob reminded him of Leah. He was brutally honest. Jacob was also glad he had come to the cookout with Leah, because it'd been a long time since he had been able to kick back and do absolutely nothing but eat, drink and listen to music while watching others do the same. Little children had run around in wild abandon, teenagers had competed with one another in dance offs. Their older siblings and parents were content to sit around talking or cooling off with a dip in the lake.

Jacob, who'd shared grilling duty with Jared, sat on the man's back porch with him and four of his police officer buddies. He had sat sipping Wild Turkey bourbon from an old fashioned glass taking puffs from a quality cigar. He was half listening to the conversations going on around him, because he couldn't get the image of Leah cradling Kim and Jared's son out of his head.

Living with Leah had given him a greater advantage of becoming more familiar within a shorter span of time than if he had dated her. He had learned to gauge her moods, which ran the gamut, from defiance to annoyance, joy, tension and anger. What he hadn't glimpsed—until today—was serenity. The look on her face radiated peace, the emotion that probably had eluded her for almost a year. His gaze lingered on her as she sat with a small group of women sitting under a copse of trees. He smiled when she threw back her head and laughed with the other women.

"What's your take on robbery, Black?"

The query shattered his musings and he turned to stare at a middle aged sergeant with a noticeable paunch, who had passed on the bourbon to drink beer. "I'm sorry Phil," Jacob apologized, "my mind was elsewhere."

"And I have a good idea just where your mind was." Laurent had insinuated himself into the conversation.

Jacob ignored the gibe. He had no intention of discussing Leah with any of the men. "What were you asking?"

Laurent took a deep drag of his cigar, blowing out a perfect ring of smoke. "Phil was asking about the gang that kidnapped and shot that gun dealer who was from around here."

A shiver shook Jacob, and he uncrossed his legs, stretching them out in front of him to camouflage his reaction to Laurent's reference to the gun shop owner's kidnapping, which had been closely held secret. Who, he wondered, had given the trooper classified information, because the details as to the kidnapping were deliberately excluded from any Bureau, local police and newspaper reports.

"Have they caught the bastards?" he asked smoothly.

Laurent took another puff of his cigar. "Not yet. Fortunately, Raoul Jessup was able to give the ATF folks a description of the shooter. Let's hope they catch him before I do, because I would blast his ass and ask questions later."

Slouching lower in his chair, Jared Walsh crossed his feet at the ankles. "I read an article yesterday that had been printed in the Houston Chronicle about high powered gun purchases at a Houston-area store by a Gulf drug cartel cell. They were smuggled across the border bye syndicate and were tied to fifty five killings in Mexico, including the deaths of police officers, civilians and gangsters."

Jacob forced himself to relax as all his senses came into focus. The reason he had been ordered to hang out in Waynesville while waiting for Embry to contact him was to gather as much information as he could about the gun thieves, and it was more than luck that Leah's friend's husband was in law enforcement.

He shook his head. "It doesn't make sense, Jared. The drugs flow north into our communities, contributing to more violence and compromising health and safety, but we know weapons from the U.S. flow south and are used in violent attacks."

Laurent sat up straighter. "But, why steal guns when you can buy them legally?"

"Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" Jared asked.

"Robbing gun dealer's bypasses legal paperwork and background checks, which many wouldn't pass," Jacob interjected.

Jared ran a hand over his hair. "That's true for some." Everyone stared at him.

"What aren't you telling us, Jared?" the sergeant asked.

"I have a cousin who works for the ATF Houston division, which also includes the Rio Grande Valley and the Del Rio, and he said agents inspected gun dealer records and knocked on doors of people who purchased guns that wound up in Mexico. Many said they were stolen, but there was one case that involved a small town Texas policeman. He had bought a few military style rifles, left them in his car and on the same night forgot to lock his door. He's in a lot of hot water because he couldn't explain why he hadn't filed a police report or why he'd visited Mexico the next day."

Phil smothered a belch with his hand. "I guess you can say that that good ole boy can say bye-bye to his pension. The local police may look the other way, but not the feds."

Jacob nodded with commenting. The veteran police officer was right. The federal police had prioritized illegal gun sales. The file on Embry Call included a report on the results of the Gun Runner Impact Team operation, which brought in one hundred agents from around the country for temporary duty. Two hundred seventy six full-scale investigations were opened against weapons purchasers as well as a handful of firearms dealers.

Since it was illegal to own firearms in Mexico, and the U.S. had top-quality guns readily available, the cartels organized cells that recruited U.S. citizens with clean criminal backgrounds to purchase the weapons without raising red flags. ATF inspectors, who had gone through the records of more than one thousand dealers, issued warning letters about compliance to more than seventy and revoked the license of one. Many problems were attributed to sloppy record keeping.

"It's not going to stop until our people stop buying the shit," Jared sneered.

Laurent blew out a series of smoke rings. "I doubt if that's ever going to happen. As long as there are illegal drugs you 're going to have people selling their souls to buy it, and those on the other end will annihilate anything and anyone who get in their way of making profit."

Phil raised his longneck. "Preach, Brother." The other four raised their glasses in acknowledgement.

Jacob drained his glass, and then pushed off the chair. He extended his hand to each of the men. "Gentlemen, it's been good."

Jared stood up. "How long are you and Leah hanging around?"

"We plan to spend the summer."

He slapped Jacob's back. "If you're not doing anything next weekend, then we would like you to come on by."

"It can't be next weekend, but if the invitation's open for the following one, then why don't you bring your family to our place?"

"That's a bet, providing Kim doesn't go into labor before then."

Jacob gave the men a snappy salute before walking off the porch and down to where Leah sat. Her head popped up when she saw him. Reaching down, he helped her to her feet, waiting until she said her goodbyes.

"What's the matter?" he asked when she wrinkled her nose.

"You've been smoking."

"The boys and I had a cigar to go along with our bourbon."

Leah wrinkled her nose again. "Well, if that's the case then you can sleep with the boys tonight."

Holding her arm in a firm grip, Jacob led her around to where he had parked his truck. "I had my fill of sleeping with the boys when I was in the army."

"Well, I'm not going to share a bed with someone willing to risk their health because of an addiction."

Jacob helped Leah up, and then came around to sit next to her. "I didn't know you cared that much," he teased.

"Yes, I care, Jacob. The problem is I care a little too much about you."

"You care too much as a doctor or as my wife?"

"That's something we're going to have to talk about."

He pondered her cryptic retort, starting up the vehicle. "What's on your mind Leah?"

"There you go again."

A frown found its way onto Jacob's face. "What are you talking about?"

"Why do you have to come off so condescending?"

"You think?"

"I know," she shot back. "I want to talk to you about something and you make it appear as if I'm annoying you."

He wanted to tell Leah something was bothering him, but it wasn't her. It was Laurent's reference to the group of gun thieves kidnapping the gun dealer. Raoul Jessup was carjacked on the way to work, taken across the border into Tennessee then returned to North Carolina where the thieves cleaned out his store with the intent of leaving him for dead. The case would have fallen jurisdiction of the ATF if it hadn't been for the kidnapping, which was why the Bureau had become involved. Jacob wanted to believe Raoul's abduction was Embry Call's idea because he was apprehensive about his cover being blown. If not, then it was something new in the gang's repertoire or brazen holdups.

"I'm sorry, babe, if I came off sounding so insensitive. What do you want to talk about?"

Leah turned, staring at Jacob's strong profile. "I can't do this."

"Are you talking about our marriage?"

She nodded. "I can't keep lying, Jacob, only because I've never been adept at it. I'm flubbing the script, and whenever someone asks about our dating and how you proposed I have to mentally backtrack and try to recall what I had said before."

Jacob's hands tightened on the leather steering wheel. He could understand Leah's exasperation because subterfuge wasn't a part of her psyche. "What else is bothering you sweetheart?" His voice was soft, as if he were comforting a child.

"I can't stop thinking that Tyler Crowley's abduction is somehow connected to the hospital shooting."

"And what if it isn't?" he asked.

Leah managed to force a smile through an expression of uncertainty. "Then I have one less thing to worry about."

"I don't want you to worry about anything, Leah."

"That's easy enough for you to say, Jacob. You're not the one who has to testify against a member of one of the most ruthless gangs in South Florida."

"Are you having second thoughts about testifying?"

Leah shook head. "No. The only way I don't testify is if I'm dead, and I don't plan on dying in the very near future. I was spared for a reason Jacob and I believe it's to make certain the people who were murdered in that E.R. did not die in vain."

"That's my girl. For a minute, I thought you were going soft on me."

A pregnant silence filled the vehicle as she stared through the windshield. "I'm not afraid for myself."

"Even if you were, I'd still take care of you." Jacob knew his pledge to protect Leah hadn't come from his promise to Seth Clearwater, but from some place that was totally foreign to him. Leah had admitted that she cared a little too much for him. Well if he was going to be truthful with her, then he would have to admit his feelings were more intense than just caring about her well-being.

He didn't want to think about or believe that a woman he had known a week had changed him completely—inside and out. Solitary by nature, he was used to ling and working alone. Even when he'd had relationships of what he'd considered long duration he'd never asked a woman to live with him, and when they'd made the offer he hadn't hesitated to reject the offer.

Leah was different, though. It could be her independence and inner strength that drew him to her. She had her music, needlework, garden, and cooking to keep her busy during the day, and when they shared a bed it'd become more than his making love to her. It's become a time to heal, to love. Jacob wasn't certain if he was falling in love with Leah because he believed he'd never been in love. He had known lust, but not love for a woman who wasn't a family member.

"Will it make you feel more relaxed if we make our marriage legal?"

"What?" The single word exploded from Leah.

"We can go to Virginia, where there is no waiting period, and we don't have to be a resident of the Commonwealth. We can get married the same day we procure the license."

"We can't, Jacob."

"We can do anything we want to do Leah. I shouldn't have to remind you that we're consenting adults."

"But I'm not in love with you."

"You weren't in love with Sam, yet you'd agreed to marry him."

Leah wished she could have retracted her words when she admitted loving Sam, yet not being in love him. There were time when she would question her decision to accept his marriage proposal, but when she had analyzed why she had, it'd come down to doing what was the norm. She had a career and the next phase of her life was to get married and have children.

"It was different with me and Sam."

Jacob made his way slowly down the steep hill, stopping and looking both ways before driving onto the paved road leading back to Leah's house. "And it's going to be different for us."

"How different, Jacob?"

"The decision will be yours whether yo annul the marriage or see if we can make a go of it."

Leah stared at Jacob, tongue tied. She couldn't believe he could come up with such an absurd proposition. "You want to dump the responsibility in my lap." The query was a statement. "No thank you Jacob. I'm not that desperate to be married."

"What if I accept the decision to our future together?"

"It still doesn't solve anything," she protested.

"Yes it does Leah. You can stop lying."

Somehow he had turned the tables, and as they say, the ball was in her court. She was the one who had little or no skill when it came to telling lies. "Answer one question for me Jacob."

"What is it?"

"Did any of the guys question you about me?"

"Nope. Why?"

"I got the third degree from the ladies about you. The only thing they didn't ask is whether you wear boxers or briefs."

"Would you have told them if they had asked?"

"Hell no. That's none of their business."

Jacob laughed as he drove into the driveway of the house. He pushed the button on the remote device and maneuvered into the two car garage. It was a tight fit with the two SUVs but he didn't want to leave either vehicle out overnight. "The only thing guys want to know is how long it took me to get the panties."

Leah smiled and landed a punch on his shoulder. "That is so low down."

"Whoa babe. Hitting your husband can be interpreted as domestic abuse."

"No, it's not because legally you're not my husband."

Jacob shut off the engine and pressed the remote again. The door lowered automatically. A ceiling light illuminated the interior of the garage. "What's it going to be baby girl? Do you want to stop lying or continue the farce?"

"Okay, we'll do it. But when it comes time for us to split up, I don't want to have to deal with any histrionics from you."

"I guess you're going to want me to sign a prenuptial agreement."

Leah smothered an expletive. How could she have forgotten that she was worth millions? "I'll call my attorney on Monday and ask him to draw up one. He can overnight it to Seth's farm. We can sign it and send it back before we exchange vows."

"That sounds good. Remember, Monday we pick up Terry."

I've truly lost my mind, Leah thought as Jacob got out and came around to assist her.

Leah waited for Jacob to disarm the alarm. "I'm going to call my brother to let him know our plans have changed, and then I'm going to take a bath and go to bed. I'll try and wait up for you."

Jacob closed the door and reset the alarm. Reaching for Leah, he pulled her to his length. "We're going to do okay."

Curving her arms under his shoulders, she buried her face between his neck and shoulder. The lingering scent of his cologne was barely discernible. He smelled of burning wood and cigar smoke. Leah didn't know why, but she wanted what she had shared with Jacob to be real, that when they did marry, it would be for all the right reasons.

But, then she had to ask herself if she'd agreed to marry Sam for all the right reasons when the only thing they had in common was medicine. Other than that, there wasn't much that they did together. Much to her surprise Jacob helped her inside and outside the house. He was not opposed to doing loads of wash or folding the clothes once they came out the dryer, and he cooked and cleaned up afterwards, which left her time to clean the house.

Traditionally, when Clearwater's married it was for life. The exception was her cousin Claire. She'd married Quil Ateara, but agreed to a divorce after their daughter drowned in the family pool. He had convinced her to give him a second try. They were not expecting another baby and remarried.

"Is that wishful thinking?"

Easing back, Jacob stared at her upturned face. "Yes it is." He smiled. "I'm going to hang out down here and watch the news and then I'll be up."

He had said yes when he had wanted to say prayer. There was something about Leah that tugged at his heart the way no other woman had been able to do. He had no inkling what it was about her and hoped he would discover what it was before it came time for her to testify.

Going on her tiptoes, Leah kissed his ear. "I'll see you later."

Jacob waited for Leah to climb the staircase and disappear from view before he reached for his cell phone. Walking to the back porch, he flipped a wall switch. Soft light from a table lamp and floor lamp illuminated the space. He reached for the remote and turned the television to CNN, hoping for an update about the Florida prosecutor's abduction.

But, first things first. Jacob wanted to know how Laurent came by the information about Raoul Jessup's kidnapping. Was there a leak in the North Carolina field office? Had the loquacious state trooper overheard something he shouldn't have repeated? Or was he a dirty cop?

The questions nagged at Jacob until he punched the buttons on his BlackBerry that connected him to the Bureau. He identified himself to the analyst that answered the phone. Lauren was either off or she away from her desk. He gave the man Laurent's name, asking him to get back to him as quickly as possible.

"Do you want to hold, Agent Black, or should I call you back?"

"I'll hold."

Jacob stared at the television screen, reading the closed captions while he waited. He didn't have to wait long. Laurent had been under surveillance for more than a year.

The man was more than a dirty cop. Laurent was a traitor.

He flicked off the television, plugged his cell phone into the charger and checked all of the doors and windows. Jacob's footfalls echoed dully on the staircase. He had come to the Great Smoky Mountains to provide safe passage for an undercover agent, but had found himself involved with a woman that made him feel things he didn't want to feel. She had gotten under his skin when he had agreed to legalize a charade of a marriage.

Jacob could not have imagined that when he had walked into FBI headquarters to meet with a Department of Justice task force he would become a player in a plot that was becoming more and more complex. He was protecting a witness, when it should have been someone from the U.S. Marshal Service; the prosecutor in the case where Leah was the key witness had been kidnapped in front of his home and unknowingly he had made contact with a traitor masquerading as a North Carolina state trooper.

Crowley's abduction and Laurent's clandestine activities were on the Bureau's priority list. Embry Call and Leah Clearwater topped his.

Finally sort of catching up on my updates still need to update FWB which I will do later

I'm taking myself to sleep lol

But review they brighten my day :)