Three weeks later – Houston - FBI Headquarters
Eunice sat at her desk as she looked through the information in the file and she strummed her nails on the desk. She was still waiting for the information she was gathering for her friend and she was getting frustrated. The door opening made her look up and a tall, young man with dark hair and eyes stood in the doorway. He was dressed in a black suit jacket, black pant, black tie, black leather belt, black shoes and socks and a white shirt was under the suit jacket.
"Hey, Fred," Eunice said.
"Hey, Eunice," Fred Owens said, walking in the office.
"What can I do for you?"
"You know we were getting a new boss, right?"
"I heard about it."
"He's here."
"What's he like?"
"Not really sure. All I know is he wants to meet all of us."
"Have you met with him?"
"Yeah. We talked and he… He started to freak me out."
"That doesn't sound good."
"He told me to get you."
"He did?"
"Yeah. He seemed really interested in meeting you."
Eunice frowned as she pressed her lips into a thin line, picked up her cellphone in case she needed help and she got up. Fred watched her walk around the desk when she walked to the doorway and he moved back so she could walk by him. Eunice walked down the hallway while her heels clicked on the tile flooring and she sighed.
"Why would he be interested in me?" she thought.
She stopped at the reception desk as the young woman with black hair and gray eyes looked at her and the receptionist leaned back in the chair. The receptionist wore a tight, white blouse, a dark blue skirt, nude hose and dark blue shoes with heels and her hair was pulled back into a bun.
"May I help you?" Catherine Samuels asked.
"I'm Agent Eunice Bloom. I heard he wanted to see me," Eunice said while looking at the door to the inner office.
"Hold on."
Catherine picked up the receiver off the phone cradle, pushed the buttons then she held the receiver to her right ear.
"Hello, Sir. Agent Bloom is here. Yes, Sir," she said then she placed the receiver on the phone cradle before looking at Eunice. "He said you can go in."
"Thanks," Eunice said as she walked to the door, lightly tapped and she opened the door. She walked in the office as she scanned the room with her eyes then she looked at the high back chair facing the window.
"Come on in, Bloom," a familiar voice said.
"No," she thought and the urge to turn and run moved through her.
"Don't worry. The room's secure."
Eunice closed the door when she turned on the audio recorder on her cellphone, walked to the large oak desk and the high back chair turned around. Smecker smiled at her as he sat back in the chair and her eyes became tight slights.
"Are you kidding me?!" Eunice growled, placing the palm of her left hand on the top of the desk. "How the hell did you get re-instated?!"
"I made a deal," Paul said.
"And they put you in charge of this agency?!"
"What can I say? I'm good."
"You're a sleaze ball!"
"That's debatable."
Sighing, Eunice stood straighter as she shook her head and Smecker smiled at her.
"I have a case for you," Paul said.
"I am not interested."
"You don't know what the case is."
"Oh….! I know full well what the case is about. It's about the Saints."
"I never said…"
"I. Am. Not. Interested." Eunice said and she tapped her leftt index finger on the top of the desk.
"I'm no longer looking for them."
"Thank God!"
"The reason I'm not has to do with my deal."
"Ah."
"Do you want to know what the case is about?"
"Sure."
Smecker slid the file folder to her as she picked up the file folder and she opened the file folder.
"No," she thought, looking at the photograph. It was a photograph of the man her friend wanted her to gather information on.
"Looks like you know him," Paul said.
"I might," she said as she looked at the information. "Says here he works for the Yakavetta family."
"Yep. One of the lower underbosses."
"First the nephew then this asshole," she muttered and he nodded. "What do you want me to do?"
"I need you to find him."
"Says that he was last seen here in Houston."
"Yep."
"Ok. I'll get on it."
He watched her head for the door when he made a soft whistle and she turned to look at him.
"Now what?" she asked.
"You're going to need some help."
"I'll ask Owens to help me."
"Nope. I'm going to need him," he said as he slid a file folder across the desk.
Apprehensively, she walked back to the desk as she picked up the file folder, opened the file folder and her eyes widened.
"No!" she said, placing the file folder on the desk.
"He's the best."
"He's retired!"
"We need him."
"I don't care. I promised him I would never contact him after he nearly died. Again."
"Then I'm going to have to bring her in," he said as she looked at the information and her eyes went wide.
"You wouldn't," she growled.
"I would."
"You really are an asshole."
"Does that mean you'll do it?"
"I have no choice."
He watched her head for the door when she opened the door and he slightly flinched when she slammed the door closed. She stormed out of the office while she turned the audio recorder off and her high heels slammed against the tile flooring.
the Golden Cactus Ranch
Diego, Hank, Kenny and Jeff were heading for the farmhouse when Diego noticed the black sedan moving up the driveway and the black sedan stopped near the stairs.
"Looks like we have company," Kenny said.
"Last time I saw a car like that was when Child Services came to check on Lisa and Darcy," Jeff said.
"Yeah. I remember," Hank said.
"Think someone called them again?" Kenny asked.
"Who would do that?" Jeff asked.
"Sam," Diego said.
They watched him head for the black sedan when the driver side door opened and he watched the driver exit the black sedan. The sunlight shimmered off the black hair and the lens of the sunglasses. The white blouse was under the black suit jacket and the black skirt ended at the driver's knees. She was also wearing nude hose and black shoes with high heels. He could feel the sense of power coming off of her and he folded his arms over his chest.
"Hey, Blondie," Diego said and the driver smiled.
"Hey, Wolf," Eunice said as she closed the driver side door. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good. Mind telling me why you're here?"
"I have the information you asked for."
"You could have just sent it to me."
"Wanted to see your face when you see it."
"Yeah. Right."
Eunice arched her eyebrows when he walked closer and he pointed to the path. They started walking as she noticed the muscles in his jaw was twitching and she made a small cough.
"Got anything you want to tell me?" Eunice asked.
"Like what?" he asked.
"Like how's retirement treating you?"
"I'm alive."
She cringed as her mind replayed what he looked like the last time she saw him. He was lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. His eyes jerked to look at her and he had a small trail of blood dribbling from the right corner of his mouth. The next thing she saw was him lying in a hospital bed and how defeated he looked.
"Promise me you will never contact me again."
"What if I need help?"
"Promise me!"
"Ok. But if you ever need help…"
"Yeah."
"Mind telling me what this is really about?" Diego asked suddenly.
"I told you. I got the information you wanted," Eunice said.
They kept walking when he stopped near the paddock fence and he slid his forearms over the top of the paddock fence.
"What did you find out?" he asked.
"The guy you're looking for is a real scumbag," she said, looking at the cows gracing on the grass.
"Already know that."
"You do?"
"Yep."
"Did you know he has mob connections?"
Diego's head quickly turned to look at her.
"He has what!?" he asked.
"He works for the mob," she said.
"Who does he work for?"
"He works for the Yakavetta family."
"Damn."
They stood in silence as he blinked his eyes for few times and he pressed his lips into a thin line.
"He's here in Houston," she said.
"Still!?" he asked.
"What do you men still?"
"I thought he left."
"Hold on. Mind telling me how you know this guy?"
"He's my boss' ex-husband."
Her eyes widened as he sighed and he tapped his fingers against the top of the paddock fence.
"Are you saying this place was bought with mob money?" she asked.
"Nope. Everything's above board. She inherited it from her dad," he said.
Eunice could always tell when he was lying, but nothing he said was setting off any red flags.
"When did they get divorced?" she asked.
"Three years ago," he said.
"When was the last time you saw him?"
"It was a month or so ago."
"I take it didn't end well."
"Nope."
They stood in silence when she looked at him and a cold ball of ice formed in her stomach.
"Want to help me bring him in?" she asked.
"I'm retired."
"I know. But…."
A sudden scream of a child startled them as Diego removed the walkie-talkie from his belt and he pushed the button.
"This is Diego. What was that scream?" he asked then let go of the button.
"Sorry. That was Nichole," a familiar voice said.
"Is she hurt?"
"Nope," another familiar voice said.
"Where are you?"
"We're in Paddock Eleven," the first familiar voice said.
Diego put the walkie-talkie back on his belt when he saw the shocked look on Eunice's face and he silently scolded himself for forgetting she was there.
"Let's go," he said and they headed down the path.
Paddock Eleven
Nichole screamed again after Angus playfully wiggled back and forth and she held tightly onto the saddle horn. Angus was still leery of letting people ride him, but he didn't mind when the kids were on his back.
"Havin' fun?" Murphy asked, holding onto the rope.
"Yeah!" she said and she lightly patted Angus' left side.
"Ok. It's Peter's turn," Connor said.
"Aw…."
"Hey now. You know you have t'take turns," Murphy said as he made Angus stop then he lifted Nichole out of the saddle. He held her in his arms and she placed her left cheek against his right shoulder.
"Was Diego angry with me?"
"You mean when you screamed? Nah. He just wanted t'know if you were ok," Connor said, helping Peter onto the saddle.
"I screamed because that bee flew at me," she said, folding her arms over her chest as she frowned.
"That bee was more scared of you than you were of it," Murphy said, lightly tapping the tip of his left index finger against the tip of her nose. He felt the knot in his stomach as he tried not to look upset and she smiled at him.
"I was still scared," she said with a pout.
Peter held onto the saddle horn when he barely nudged Angus' sides with his heels and Angus moved.
"I think Angus likes Blue Belle," Peter said, looking at the cows in the next paddock.
"What makes you think that?" Connor asked, walking next to Angus. Like Murphy, he felt the knot in his stomach and he looked down at his feet.
"He's always standing near the fence where she's grazing."
"Hmmmm…:"
Connor stopped when his eyes caught sight of Diego and Eunice and Mark and Chandler headed for him.
"Who's that?" Mark asked.
"She looks like a Child Services lady," Chandler said.
"Why is she here?" Peter asked.
"Dunno," Connor said and he lightly patted Angus' neck.
Murphy felt the shock and apprehension coming from Connor when he looked from him to Diego and Eunice then he placed Nichole down on her feet.
"Chandler," Connor said as he looked at Chandler. "Take Nichole, Mark, Peter an' Angus an' put Angus in th'stable."
Chandler looked at Diego and Eunice when he felt something was wrong and he nodded.
"Let's go," Chandler said as he helped Peter out of the saddle and Mark took hold of Nichole's hand. Chandler took hold of the rope and he led his brother, Nichole, Mark and the bull toward the stable.
"What th'hell is she doin' here?" Murphy whispered in German after he had walked to Connor.
"How th'hell should I know?!" Connor whispered in German.
"Should we make a run fer it?"
"No. It looks like she's alone."
Diego stopped near the paddock fence as he watched Chandler, Mark, Peter, Nichole and Angus heading for the stable then he looked at Connor and Murphy. Connor and Murphy moved to the paddock fence when they slid their forearms over the top of the paddock fence and they saw the blank look on Eunice's face.
"Agent Bloom," Connor said with a small nod of his head.
"Connor," Eunice said. She saw the anger in his eyes and he moved his head left to right. She knew he was looking to see if they were alone and he flexed his fingers in and out.
"Are you alone?"
"Yes."
"Why are you here?"
"She's here to see me," Diego said.
"She's here to see you?" Murphy asked, arching an eyebrow. Eunice heard the anger in his voice and the muscles in his jaw twitched.
"Remember when I told you I was a Texas Ranger?"
"You quit after you got shot an' nearly died," Connor said.
"Right. Then I told you I went into another branch of law enforcement."
"You were FBI," Murphy said.
"Yeah."
Connor and Murphy looked at each other as they had a silent conversation and Diego looked down at his boots.
"I didn't turn you in," Diego said.
"Doesn't matter," Connor said.
He and Murphy climbed onto the top of the paddock fence, hopped down then they walked down the path and Eunice looked at Diego.
"Shit," he grumbled, running after them.
"Is he followin' us?" Connor asked after a few seconds.
"Yeah," Murphy said, looking behind them.
Diego slowed down as he walked next to Murphy and he saw the anger on their faces.
"She used to be my partner," Diego said after a few seconds.
"That's nice," Connor said with a cold tone to his voice.
"She stayed with me the day I got shot."
"So?" Murphy asked with a cold tone.
"She promised she would never contact me."
"Then why did you contact her?" Connor asked.
"I asked her to look into Sam."
Connor and Murphy stopped walking.
"You asked her to look into Sam?" Connor asked while Diego walked to them and Diego titled his head to one side.
"I knew she wasn't in the FBI anymore, but she still had contacts," Diego explained.
"Did she find anythin'?" Murphy asked.
"She said she did," Diego said, looking back and he could just see Eunice standing by the paddock fence.
"Do you think she's tellin' th'truth?" Connor asked.
"No. I don't," Diego said with a shake of his head.
"What do you wanna do?" Murphy asked.
"I want to see the information she has."
"What if she's here fer another reason?" Connor asked.
"I don't give a shit if she is. I'm retired."
"What do you want us t'do?"
"I want you to go back to the house, tell Annie she's here then I want all of you to get the hell outta here."
"You want us to run?" Murphy asked.
"Damn right."
"What if she brought people with her an' we surrounded?" Connor asked.
"I don't think they would do anything with Lisa, Darcy, Annie and the kids around."
"They would. Those assholes want us dead," Murphy said. Diego knew he was telling the truth as he sighed and kicked at the rocks on the path.
"Guess we better go back," Connor said.
They turned around as they headed back to Eunice and she saw the anger in Murphy and Connor's eyes.
"I don't know if I should hug you two or arrest you," Eunice said with a small smile.
"Where is this information Diego told us about?" Connor asked, glaring at her.
"He told you why I was here?"
"Yeah," Murphy said.
"I left it in the car."
They headed down the path while Eunice took the rear and she watched Connor and Murphy's fingers flexing in and out.
"Just so you know. I didn't make any calls after you three walked off," she assured them.
"Thanks," Diego said with a cold tone to his voice.
They arrived back at the farmhouse when Eunice walked to the black sedan, opened the driver side door, reached in and she removed the file folder. She closed the driver's side door when she handed Diego the file folder and he looked at the file folder.
The sound of the screen door opening made Eunice looked toward the porch and Annie, Lisa and Darcy walked down the stairs. Eunice saw the family resemblance between Annie and Murphy as Eunice frowned and Annie went to stand next to Diego.
"Hank told us we have a visitor," Annie said.
"Yeah," Diego said.
"Is she from Child Service?" Lisa asked as she stood next to Connor.
"No. She's here to see me."
"Who is she?" Darcy asked as she stood next to Murphy.
"I'm his old partner," Eunice said, walking to them as she held out her right hand. "Eunice Bloom."
"Bloom?!" Annie whispered, looking at her brothers.
"Sounds like you heard of me."
"Yeah. I have. Diego told me about you."
Diego glanced at Eunice when something clicked in his head and he looked from Eunice to Annie.
"What's wrong?" Murphy asked after he noticed the angry look on Diego's face.
"I'll tell you later," Diego said, handing him the file folder before he walked to Eunice. "Thanks for bringing this. Now get out."
"Hold on," Eunice said as she held up her hands. "I need…"
"I am retired!"
She heard the low growl in his voice as she nodded, opened the driver's side door, got in the black sedan then she closed the door. They moved back as she started the engine, put the black sedan in reverse and the black sedan headed down the driveway.
"She left awfully quick. Think it's a trap?" Connor asked, placing his hands on his hips while looking at Diego.
"Let's get inside," Diego grumbled then he headed for the stairs.
They watched him half-run up the stairs when he opened the screen door, went inside and the screen door slammed behind him. Annie, Lisa, Darcy, Connor and Murphy went up the stairs as Murphy opened the screen door and they walked inside. Connor closed the front door as Annie saw Diego sitting on the stairs and Devil rested on the floor.
"Ok. Will one of you tell is what's going on?" Annie said, sitting next to Diego.
"It has to do with this," Diego said, holding up the file folder.
"What's in there?" Lisa asked.
"It's information on Sam."
"Sam?"
"Yeah. Turns out he works for the mob."
"Christ," Connor said.
"Lord's name." Murphy warned and Connor nodded.
"And she wants you to help bring him in?" Annie asked.
"Yep," Diego said with a nod.
"But you told her no. What do you think she'll do?" Darcy asked.
Diego wanted to tell them he figured out Eunice would use Annie against him, or use her to lure out Murphy and Connor, and he sighed.
"I don't know," Diego said, looking up at the ceiling.
Connor, Annie and Murphy felt like he was lying as she placed her head against Diego's right upper arm and Connor and Murphy frowned, glancing at each other.
"Diego said he wants us t'get th'hell outta here," Connor said.
"You and Murphy…," Lisa said and he held up his left hand.
"He wants me, Murphy and Annie t'go. An' we should. Ma told us t'run if things got rough."
"What about…? What about what's going to happen to you? I don't if I can stand the idea of you being out there when… When it happens… And we're not there to say goodbye," Darcy said and Murphy heard her voice cracking. He held her as she started crying and Diego sighed.
"She's right. You can't go," Diego said.
"Then what are we going to do?" Annie asked.
"I have no fucking idea."
Houston - FBI Headquarters-
The door slammed open as Eunice stormed in the office and Smecker leaned back in the high back chair.
"Guess he said no," Paul said.
"Yeah," Eunice said, placing the palm of her left hand on the top of the desk. She had turned the audio recorder on her cellphone on and he sat up in the high back chair.
"Then we'll have to bring her in."
"That's not going to happen."
"Why not?"
"She's no longer in the picture."
"Care to explain?"
"Fine. I'll talk slowly. They broke up three weeks ago and she went back to Ireland."
"He told you this?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sure he's telling the truth?"
"Yeah."
Smecker gave her a blank look. She tried to figure out what he was thinking when he leaned forward and he placed his elbows on the top of the desk.
"Dismissed," Paul said.
Nodding, she stood straighter, turned and she headed for the door. She left the office as she slammed the door closed and Smecker frowned, sitting back in the high back chair.
"Never bullshit a bullshitter," he whispered and he turned the high back chair to look out the window.
The Wild Bull Bar
Hank sat at the bar while he sipped on the beer and the country music filled the air. He placed the glass down on the bar when the bartender placed the plate with a pile of buffalo wings down in front of him and Hank nodded. He paid for the buffalo wings when he started eating and he wiped his fingers on the cloth napkin.
"Hey, Hank," almost made him choke when he turned his head to the left and he saw Sam sitting next to him.
"Sam," Hank said with a nod. "Thought Lou ran you outta town."
"He did. Still working at the ranch?"
"Yeah."
"I thought Lisa would've sacked your ass by now."
"Me, too."
The bartender walked over as he looked at Sam and Hank barely shook his head.
"You want somethin'?" the bartender asked Sam.
"I'll have a Miller Lite," Sam said.
Nodding, the bartender walked off and Hank picked at the buffalo wings.
"What do you want, Sam?" Hank asked.
"I want a lot of things," Sam said as the bartender walked to them and the bartender placed the glass on the bar. Sam paid for the beer, watched the bartender walk off then Sam took a sip of beer.
"Ok…," Sam said after he placed the glass on the bar. "I want you to come work for me."
"Why?" Hank asked.
"Because, if you don't, Lou will get an anonymous call about you dealing drugs."
A red mist moved across Hanks eyes as he growled and Sam smiled.
"I haven't done that in years," Hank whispered, looking to see if the bartender was listening.
"Yeah. But I bet Lou would love it if he found out you were dealing at the ranch."
"Do you have any idea what that will do to Lisa?!"
"She'll lose the ranch and custody of Chandler and Peter. Shit. She might even get arrested."
"So will Darcy and Annie. Hell…! Darcy will lose custody of Mark and Nichole."
"Don't care."
Hank felt blood pounding his ears as he went to stand up and Sam looked at him.
"Sit down, Hank," Sam said through his teeth.
Hank saw the seriousness in Sam's eyes as he sat down and Sam smiled.
"Good boy."
"What do you want me to do?" Hank asked.
"I need you to bring me my sons."
"Chandler and Peter? Why?"
"They're going to bait."
"Bait?"
"Yes. I am going to use them to get Lisa to finally sell me the ranch."
"Why do you want to it for? You know shit about ranching."
"Never said that's why I want it."
"Then what are you gonna use it for?"
"Can't tell you that."
Hank took a long sip of beer while Sam picked up one of the buffalo wings, looked at the buffalo wing then he placed the buffalo wing on the plate.
"Are you in?" Sam asked.
"Don't have a choice," Hank said.
Smiling, Sam got up when he patted Hank's left shoulder and Hank looked at him with hate in his eyes.
"I'll call you later," Sam said, walking away.
Hank watched him leave then he got up and he quickly ran to the men's room. The men's room door slammed shut as Hank ran into the stall and he vomited.