Chapter 2: Heart Wants What the Heart Wants
Los Angeles had a restless energy. Raylan wasn't sure if he liked it. Of course having endured Miami, he didn't have a right to complain. At times, he missed it. The culture. The sunshine. The palm trees. The food. Kentucky was home, but there was something about Miami, and Los Angeles kind of reminded him of the reasons why he wasn't keen on going back.
Lucky for them, the witness lived in Westchester. Not quite in the heart of Los Angeles, wherever that was, if the place even had a heart. No detour through Hollywood or its infamous side. Not even a view of the Pacific would be required to get them to the Jenkins house.
The ride down Sepulveda Boulevard from LAX was quick and painless. Because the GPS offered a straight shot via the street, he opted to avoid the freeway. A glance at Rachel and he couldn't tell if she was disappointed at avoiding an immediate introduction to the 405 or was eager to see the sites of the side streets.
"So this is LA," he said, braking at a red light. "Notice the smog…the palm trees."
"I've counted seven since we left Hertz," Rachel said. "Tim said those burgers are the best."
To their left was a fast food burger joint. Cars were wrapped around the building and leaked onto the side street. But the local interest in the food stand wasn't what irked him.
"Tim said?" Raylan turned his head to hide the snarl that wanted to follow those words. "Yeah, In-n-Out isn't bad."
"Judging by that line, they're better than that."
He chuckled. "Are you trying to tell me you're hungry?"
"Maybe."
He laughed out right. Annoyance at the mention of Gutterson was a thing of the past. Of course, he reserved the right to explore it later. Hell, fuck Tim. He'd rather focus on Rachel. Her cryptic responses were predictable and cute. "In-n-Out now or later? There are more restaurants."
"We'd better pick up the witness first," she said, glancing at her watch.
"Miss Efficient."
He felt her bristle. The lightness between them evaporated quickly.
"Was that a dig?"
"Nope," he answered honestly. "Nothing wrong with efficiency."
"Yeah, that was definitely a dig."
Okay, maybe it was a dig, he thought. He wasn't sure how she took it. Teasing her was fun, but he didn't want to hurt her feelings. Gauging her was always hard. Sometimes she wore a half smile even in the most strained situations. He recognized it as a mask of protection. For the first time, he realized he wanted to see her unmasked.
"If you're hungry," she said, her tone returning to even, "we can stop at that iHop."
Raylan grimaced. "We have iHop in Lexington."
Her half smile widened. "There's a Grinder's across the street."
"No, we'll do In-n-Out. I'd hate for us to come all this way and you never taste a double-double with cheese complete with fries and a shake. I'd feel like I failed as a partner."
He heard her shift on her seat. He looked away from traffic to see that she was searching her phone. Then, she said, "There aren't any between here and the house."
"We'll pick her up," he said. "Then we'll eat."
R&R
Miss Efficient, he called her. Rachel knew Raylan didn't play by the rules. Well, not by traditional rules. He had rules, but they were his. The rules that Rachel and even Tim adhered to didn't always work for Raylan. It caused them to clash at times. Tim fought back with snark. Rachel ignored their pissing contests for the most part. But that didn't mean the dig didn't get to her.
So, she was efficient? So getting the job done the right way with a minimal body count mattered to her? So, what? So, why did it bother her when he made the comment? Two words shouldn't have made her hackles rise. They weren't on a pleasure trip. This was work. Her hurt feelings had no place here when the most important thing was keeping their witness safe.
Rachel could feel him balancing his attention between her and traffic. The offer to grab lunch but really dinner after they picked up Darla Jenkins was an olive branch. His tone hadn't been condescending, so she wouldn't allow herself to take it that way. Smooth your feathers, she told herself. Raylan's just being Raylan. She needed to chill.
He guided the black Explorer onto a tree-lined street. The suburban neighborhood reminded her of the old nighttime soap that her grandmother loved, Knots Landing. The lawns were all perfect. There were a few more palm trees dotted here and there. Couples walked their dogs. A woman pushed a stroller down the sidewalk. A couple of kids were on their bikes. All of this Rachel mentally noted. Finally, he pulled onto a carport in front of a two-car garage.
A curtain fluttered at one of the windows of the single-story adobe home. She and Raylan left the SUV and moved purposely toward the door. Assuming a charade for the benefit of possible onlookers, he placed his hand at her back. Rachel pretended that his touch didn't affect her. It was just a job.
She pushed the doorbell and not a second passed before the door opened. A tall medium-sized woman with a complexion the color of pecan pie filling stood at the door. Rachel flashed her star and quickly identified herself.
"Darla Jenkins?" Raylan asked from right behind Rachel. His twang rumbled against her ear.
"Yes."
"Hug me like we're old friends in case someone's watching," Rachel said as she pulled Darla into a quick embrace.
Raylan pulled the door closed behind them. Rachel heard the click of locks falling into place.
"I didn't realize they'd send two," Darla ran a hand through a close-cropped curls. "Are we leaving now?"
"Are you ready?" Raylan asked.
"Not quite. It'll only take a minute. I'd offer you a seat, but…" A slight frown creased her brow as they all looked at the empty house. "I'll only take a minute."
After she left them, Rachel could not resist the urge to check the kitchen and other rooms. Raylan went in the other direction and she knew he was doing the same. They both met in the living room. He narrowed his eyes at her and lifted his shoulders in a shrug.
"Empty?" Rachel mouthed.
He nodded.
"Why?"
Just then, Darla returned with her purse, a backpack, and a rolling suitcase. She appeared ready. "Why is the house empty?"
"Yeah," Raylan said slowly. "We were wondering that."
"If I make it out of this thing alive, I'm not coming back here."
"We'll get you to Lexington safely," Rachel said.
Darla gave her a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm not worried about that. It's the afters. Giving testimony will have consequences. I've already faced some. I can't be too prepared about the rest."
"You'll go back into WITSEC," Raylan said. "Excuse me, witness protection when it's over."
"The Cassalotti's have a long memory. This will never be over unless they're all dead," Darla said. "Every last one of them. Nik warned me. I should have listened."
R&R
Raylan honored his promise and stopped at In-n-Out. The enjoyment at watching Rachel inhale the double-double with cheese should have worried him, but he pushed it aside. Instead, he chose to ponder their charge. The witness wasn't like the usual mob girlfriends turn federal witnesses that he'd protected in the past. She was cool, quiet, and offered no excuses or apologies for having bedded the bad guy. Her matter of fact view of the outcome of her testimony surprised him. Hell, nothing shocked him more than the empty house. Talk about being a prepared girl scout!
"I never made it past Brownie," Darla said, biting into a fry.
Raylan coughed to hide his embarrassment. What other thoughts had he said aloud? He glanced at Rachel for clarification. She still wore that mysterious half smile that drove him crazy.
"I went to Cadette," she said.
"Is that the highest level?" he asked. His back was to the wall. They were at an In-n-Out in Riverside. There had been a steady stream of patrons since their arrival. He and Rachel were both just as aware of the clientele as they were of their witness and their food.
"Nope, right below it."
"What stopped you from reaching the top?" he asked, curious.
"Middle school."
Darla's smile was nostalgic. "Ah, boys."
"Guilty," Rachel said.
The admission surprised Raylan. She didn't seem the boy crazy type. Hell, he didn't even know if she dated. Did she have a boyfriend? Dare he ask?
While he was summoning the courage and weighing his odds, both women stood.
"Restroom," Rachel said. She reached for their trash, but Raylan grabbed it.
"I'll meet you outside."
He had the motor and the A/C running when the women stepped from the restaurant. He felt almost stalkerish as he compared the two. Both were pretty. Hell, they were beautiful women. Despite the job, Rachel's face still carried a hint of innocence. Darla with her high cheekbones and wise brown eyes seemed to know all the secrets of the world and had been burdened by them. The height difference was telling. Their witness had at least five inches on Rachel. Having seen her in action, he knew the height deficit was not a hindrance. She was a tough and capable Marshal.
Darla climbed into the backseat and Rachel stopped at his window. "I'll drive."
"I don't mind," he said with his hand on the door handle.
"I know." She opened the door.
Raylan settled in the passenger seat and buckled in. The trio was quiet as Rachel guided them out of Riverside and onto I-15. In Barstow, they'd merge onto the 40. He supposed sometime after that or maybe near Flagstaff, they'd switch off and he'd take over. Or better still, they'd stop and call it a night.
"You know," Rachel said, "you look familiar."
"I bet," Darla replied.
Raylan turned to look over his shoulder. Her eyes were unreadable behind the dark sunglasses, but the clenched hands in her lap spoke volumes. He directed his attention on his partner. He wondered what she was getting at.
"No, from before all of this" Rachel said. "I've seen you before."
"Maybe."
Damn, Raylan thought. Here, he'd given Rachel the award for cryptic responses. He'd jumped the gun. Darla was giving her stiff competition!
"No, I'm sure of it. I saw you perform on Beale Street. Gosh that had to have been in 2002. Maybe 2001. It was awhile ago."
"I'll say," Darla murmured, barely audible.
"Was that you?" Rachel persisted.
Raylan glanced at her face. She didn't appear agitated, mostly curious. Still, he couldn't help but wonder where she was going with this.
"Could have been. In 2002, I had the misfortune of being in Memphis."
"Are you a singer?" Raylan asked.
"Used to be," Darla responded. "I used to be a lot of things. So, yes, once upon a time, I was a singer. Not anymore, though."
"You were great," Rachel said. "No, really. My friends and I drove up a few times just to hear you."
"Drove up from where?"
"Ole Miss."
"Hmm…that's the route I should have taken," Darla said. "Maybe not necessarily there, but somewhere."
"College isn't for everyone. You can't be taught a voice like yours. You're born with it."
"Thank you."
Feeling a little left out, Raylan said, "I didn't know you were into the blues."
"I'm not," Rachel said.
From the backseat, Darla chuckled.
"But…Beale Street…"
"Not all clubs on Beale Street play blues 24/7, Mr. Marshal Man—"
"Please. My name is Raylan," he said. "So, what do you sing?"
"Whatever. R&B, pop, country…I was billed as 'eclectic.'"
"Hmm…" Raylan settled back against his seat. He tapped his fingers on his knee and stared out at the passing desert scenery.
"What?" Rachel asked.
"Just wondering," he said.
"Again, what?" she asked, a hint of annoyance lingering in her voice.
"You never turn on the radio when we're driving back and forth between Harlan and Lexington."
"So?"
"So, what kind of music do you like? Musicians play at the bar. Sometimes they're pretty good. I can't vouch for all of them."
He heard a faint giggle in the back. When he quickly turned to verify, their witness sat still and her mouth was a straight line. He glanced at Rachel and her expression was contemplative.
"Well?" he asked, becoming a tad annoyed himself.
"Well what?"
"If I know what you like, I can… You like music. Stop by sometime."
Her silence remained for several more miles. He was on the brink of rescinding the offer. Then she finally said, "I have eclectic taste. It depends on the music, I guess."
"That's vague."
"That's my answer," she snapped.
A louder giggle came from the backseat. Raylan didn't bother to turn around. He didn't need to confirm with his witness how badly he was fucking this up.
R&R
Rachel knew she shouldn't have jumped down his throat. Turning on the radio should have eased the tension, but it only made her feel worse. Thankfully, the fuel light signaled the need for a pit stop and she pulled over. Raylan hopped out before she could shift into park. From the sideview mirror, she watched him fill up the tank. He sauntered to her window and she opened the door.
"Refreshments are on me," he said. "What would you ladies like? Candy, beverages, magazines?"
"Anything?" Rachel asked, accepting yet another olive branch from him.
"Within reason."
She was starting to feel the drain of the time difference and the drive. "Coke and plain M&Ms would be great. Thanks."
He smiled. "No problem. Darla?"
"Water, I guess. Reese's and a copy of People," she said. "Thanks."
He nodded and headed inside the store.
"He's not so bad," Darla said.
Rachel hesitated responding. She feared giving herself away. "No."
"The saying about good ones being hard to find is true," the other woman said. "Nik was… He wasn't necessarily bad. He tried. There were warning signs, but what can you do? The heart wants what the heart wants."
"That's why we have heads to keep us in line," Rachel spoke more to remind herself.
"True dat."
"Sorry, I didn't mean…"
"No problem. Head and heart go to war all the time. It's a toss up as to who'll win and to which is right," Darla said. "Have you two been partners long?"
"We're not necessarily partners. We all work together in an office. This is an assignment."
"Hmm…"
Dare she bite? Rachel wondered. Was the witness getting at something? Or was she planning to jump Raylan as so many women often did? If so, why did the thought annoy the hell out of Rachel? An office crush shouldn't lead to her being jealous.
"What?" The word was out before Rachel could stop herself.
"Nothing," Darla said. "Nothing at all. I'm not interested."
"Wh-what?" Rachel sputtered. "Who said anything—"
"Here's your stuff," Raylan said, bag in hand. Upon meeting Rachel's eyes, he asked, "What did I do?"
"Nothing. Thanks."
"I'll drive."
"Fine." Mentally sputtering, she stepped from the car, walked around to the driving side, and promptly slammed herself in.
"Did you ladies need to use the um…facilities?"
They both declined. Raylan got them back on the road. If he was concerned about the tension, he kept it himself. For that, Rachel was grateful. A few swigs of Coke and bites of M&Ms calmed her somewhat. The chocolate soothed her system and gave her pause.
What had gotten her so riled? Was it Darla's admission of not being interested in Raylan therefore he was free game for Rachel, or was it being outed in the first place? And by a witness no less!
If she was that obvious to a stranger, what the hell were Art, Tim, and the rest of the office thinking? Stricken by that possibility, she was drawn to search his profile. What was Raylan thinking?
He chose that moment to glance at her. His eyes showed concern. His mouth curved into that adorable little smile. She found herself returning the gesture. Obviously, whatever he thought of her, it wasn't bad. She could live with that.
[A/N: Thanks again for checking out the story and reviewing! Reviews are encouraged. You'd be surprised how your insight provides inspiration for us writers!
Regarding Winona, she may make an appearance. She is pregnant with his child and that can't be ignored. As for her being the absolute love of his life…hmm… Well, not necessarily and definitely not in this fic. She won't be vilified in this story, but Raylan will come to terms with their relationship and how the patterns have affected him. I'm considering the possibility of including more of Tim in the fic once they return to Lexington. But I'm also torn with making this a strictly R&R fic. Decisions, decisions. Argh! Lol
Yes, there was a character name change. A revised version of the first chapter will be uploaded soon.]