Bloo Moose Romance BoxSet 3 (Books #7-9), page 2
Ryan nodded at the chief. The man’s frustration was obvious but he didn’t raise his voice. He also didn’t look away from Ryan’s gaze for even a second.
“For the better part of two decades, the government has been trying to find the top level of a large money-laundering group. They’re wily and smart. Dangerous. About five years ago, the top man was identified as Paul Wilson.”
Dave shook his head slightly and frowned. “We don’t have anyone named Paul Wilson in Bloo Moose. Unless he’s using an alias. And I can’t picture any of my people being top-level criminals.”
“Paul Wilson isn’t in Bloo Moose. He’s not even in Vermont. But he has a connection with one of your residents and we hope to use that connection to lure him out into the open where we can nab him.”
Another frown. “Why can’t you arrest him wherever he is?”
Ryan kept in the sigh. “I wish. We don’t have any documentation on where Wilson lives.”
“You don’t know where he is?”
Ryan blew out a breath. “It’s a complicated mess. Wilson doesn’t own any property in his name. We know where he lives, but because we can’t tie him to the property with any kind of paperwork, we can’t enter the premises. Can’t even step on the property. If we do, he’ll be able to scream entrapment or some other bullshit and the case will be tossed out of court.”
“Why not grab him when he leaves?”
“He doesn’t leave. Ever. In the years since our teams have been watching, the man has never once left the property. It’s huge and everything he needs or wants is brought to him.”
Dave waved him into the visitor’s chair and Ryan sat. It took the chief another moment but he did the same.
And Ryan found another plus of the tiny office. Their knees were almost touching. Without doing anything at all, the chief would put any criminal in an uncomfortable position. There wasn’t anywhere to go, not even anywhere to look. Whoever was in the office with the chief would have his complete attention.
And Ryan suspected that never went well for the bad guys.
Dave asked more questions about Wilson and the proof they had that this man was indeed guilty of the crimes Ryan had listed. And more.
“I’d be a lot happier if we could bring the deputies in on this. Secrets are the worst and cause nothing but trouble.”
Ryan nodded. “I get that, but orders are above my pay grade. Because this operation could go on for a few months, they want to keep everyone out of the loop except me and you.”
“Months?” The chief sat back. “Can’t say I like this much at all.”
Ryan was used to attitudes like he was facing. Every undercover assignment was different, but if the IRS and Treasury Department were involved it meant serious shit was happening. And that never made anyone happy.
Especially having an undercover agent in their midst.
Ryan wished he could say he was used to it, that it was simply part of the job but that would be a lie.
Once they had Wilson in custody, Ryan would finally be able to move on and do something else.
After discussing Wilson and the need to take him down for a few more minutes, Dave nodded. “Fine, we’ll give this a shot but I’m not guaranteeing that we’ll stay in it for months. I’m going to keep my options open and if your superiors have a problem with that, tell them to give me a call.”
Ryan agreed. Dave Belanger wasn’t a pushover. Ryan would have to work to keep the chief on his side because failing to get Wilson wasn’t an option.
Wilson had occupied Ryan’s every waking moment for years and this was the best chance to get him. He wasn’t going to let it get screwed up.
“Now tell me who the connection to Wilson is.”
He’d hoped to avoid this, but that was obviously impossible. “Emmy Rivera.”
Chief Belanger’s face didn’t give much away. Actually not a single cell in his body reacted. But the intensity of his focus deepened.
The chief was not happy with Ryan’s announcement.
He could be as unhappy as he wanted. As long as he stayed out of Ryan’s way.
Scaredy-Moose
“Try a bite of Megs’ brownie. My sister, Lil, swears the brownies make everything better.”
Emmy nodded and took a bite. Megs Carter was the best baker Emmy had ever encountered. Everything she’d tried over the past few months was delicious.
The brownie was no exception. Emmy closed her eyes and let the chocolate melt in her mouth and head straight to her courage.
She could do this.
Would do this.
When she opened her eyes again, Jaz LaChance still sat across the butcher block island from her grinning. They sat in the kitchen of The Lucky, a coffee shop owned and managed by Jaz. He also owned the property she might be leasing. Probably was about to lease.
Maybe.
“You ready to sign or are you going to chicken out?”
Emmy rolled her eyes. Despite being one of the best-looking men she’d ever met, Emmy never felt awkward around Jaz. He was a great guy and he was giving her an excellent deal on her lease, but she’d never felt any zip with him. Nor he with her.
Not like with the cutie-pie stranger from earlier.
“No pressure, Emmy. If you’re not ready to take on a space, it’s fine.”
She shook her thoughts back into the present. “I’m ready.”
“You’re sure?”
Nope. But she grabbed the pen and signed her name before she changed her mind.
For a moment, she stared at her name at the bottom of the first page of the document.
The world didn’t end. No monsters emerged from the lake to swamp the town. No zombies tromped through the doors to signal the end of days.
“How’s it feel?”
Emmy grinned up at Jaz. “Pretty good. It actually feels pretty good.”
Jaz laughed. “You’re an official business owner, Emmy. Not simply an online business but one with a storefront. Your merchandise is going to be great for Bloo Moose. I’m excited for you.”
Emmy was still floating when she bounced through the door to the house where she rented a room from her best friend.
Nathan stood at the stove stirring something that smelled delicious.
He turned his head to smile at her then his eyes widened and he turned back to turn off the element on the stove.
When he looked at her again, his grin was wide. “You did it? You signed?”
Emmy whipped the paper out of her purse and held it high in the air. Nathan whooped and swung her up into the air and twirled her around the kitchen a few times.
The back door opened and Scott Anders walked in, eyebrows raised. “Should I be worried?”
“She signed it.”
Scott’s grin rivalled his partner’s. “You signed it.” He crossed the room and gathered her into a hug. “Congratulations, business-woman Rivera.”
Emmy laughed and held up the paper again.
“How’s it feel?”
She blew out a breath. “I thought I was going to be scared and worried and terrified. And maybe that will all come but right now I feel happy.”
Scott hugged her again and then walked over to kiss Nathan. They were a strikingly handsome pair. Nathan’s dark skin and hair contrasted with Scott blond, Nordic look. Both tall and strong with smiles ready to charm the masses.
Picture-perfect images of their professions. Firefighter and cop.
And their relationship was moving into the next stage. Scott already lived there more than at his own apartment which he’d given up at the end of the month.
Emmy knew they didn’t mind her renting out a room, but they needed space to themselves and she didn’t want to be the third wheel.
Time for Emmy Rivera to live on her own. Again.
Only this time it would be her choice and in a decent apartment in a nice town.
Because she’d signed a lease.
“How can we help?”
She and Nathan had become friends in college in Albany. Two different schools and two different programs, but they’d met through mutual friends and hit it off.
When she’d been looking for a place after she’d discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her, Nathan had come to the rescue.
And again when the same thing happened with another loser.
She’d been in Bloo Moose for almost five months now. He’d not only given her a place to stay, he’d brought her to a town she loved.
A town she hoped she never had to run from.
“Uh oh, she’s heading into panic mode. You think she’s going to run?”
Scott’s dry words dragged her from her own thoughts.
Nathan laughed. “Not going to run this time. Our girl is going to be brave and put down some roots. Roots that are going to stick. Right, Emmy?”
Emmy drew in a deep breath and looked at the lease on the table. “Right.”
“You could sound a little more convincing.”
“What if Moose Prints is a flop?”
Nathan made a show of checking the time on his phone. “And we have a new record. From excitement and jubilation to panic and despair in less than a minute.”
Scott laughed. “Seriously, Emmy. Optimism. It’s a thing.”
Optimism. Her new favorite word, her new favorite lifestyle.
“You’re right. I’m going to be an optimist. I’m going to believe it’s all going to work out. I’m going to build a successful business right here in Bloo Moose.”
“And you’re not going to run?”
“Nope. I’m going to stick.”
Scott gave a side-eye look to Nathan. “Is this where we make her do that pinky-swear thing?”
Emmy laughed. “Nope. This is where you offer to help me clean and paint the place.”
RYAN couldn’t believe the luck he was having. This town was turning out to be perfect.
He’d bumped into his target on Day One.
Instead of the scum of the earth he often had to spend time with, this target was fun and sweet. And normal. Not to mention cute as hell.
Ryan also liked his new fake job as Deputy. The chief might not like the subterfuge but he wasn’t holding it against Ryan.
The team he was working with seemed great and Ryan knew they’d help him out when it came time to take down Wilson.
And now, he’d been invited to help out one of the other deputy’s friends at a paint party. To help her freshen up her newly-leased store and apartment.
Over the years working in undercover, Ryan had learned that things more often went wrong than right. So when things were clicking, he’d learned to go with the flow and hang on for the ride.
This ride had him wearing old jeans and a t-shirt in preparation for a day of getting to know his target better and insinuating himself into her life.
Deputy Scott Anders had invited Ryan to help out his friend. Ryan wondered if the relationship was more than that.
The thought pissed him off but he brushed it aside.
When he arrived at what had been an empty storefront yesterday, he found the sidewalk full of people. He waited on the edge of the crowd not seeing anyone he knew.
A large grinning black man jumped up to the top step of the store and held out his hands. “Thanks for coming everyone. I figure the best way to keep Emmy in town is to indebt her to each of us. By the time we have it cleaned and painted she’ll owe each of us enough favors to tie her to Bloo Moose for a very long time.”
Ryan hadn’t seen Emmy yet, she’d been hidden by the taller people, but she jumped up to the step and shoved the man off.
She turned to the group and smiled, tears shining in her eyes. “Thanks so much for helping out everyone. I’m not sure how to pay you back, but I’ve got Megs supplying breakfast and Fortini’s supplying lunch.”
A cheer rose from the crowd and with a flourish, Emmy produced a key and opened the door.
As the people moved past her, Emmy greeted each one with a smile and a touch. They all appeared to know each other, not surprising in a small town.
Something he would have to remember and get used to. He’d lived in Chicago his whole life and while his work took him to other places, they’d all been major centres so far.
Weird that the case than meant the most to him would be in a small town in the middle of Vermont.
When everyone else had entered the store, Ryan stepped up to the stairs. Emmy turned from her conversation with the woman ahead of him and looked right into his eyes.
She was on the step above and he was able to see the pleasure light up in her eyes.
He was sure his looked the same.
“Hey. Hi. I didn’t expect to see you again.”
Ryan laughed. She could expect to see a whole lot of him but he wasn’t about to tell her that. “Scott asked me to come along to lend a hand today. Hope that’s okay with you?”
Her almost-black eyes lit up. “Let me see. Do I want to use you as free labor? Absolutely.”
Her words of using him had all kinds of thoughts running through Ryan’s head but he firmly pushed them back down. He was on a case and this woman was the best lead he’d had in years.
“Where do you want me?”
Emmy laughed and her eyes sparkled with mischief even as her dusky skin deepened on her cheeks. “Why don’t you tell me what skills you’ve got so I can decide where you’d fit best?”
Ryan laughed. This assignment definitely didn’t suck.
“Hey, Mitchell. Glad you made it.” Scott Anders slapped him on the back. “I see you’ve met Emmy.”
“Not officially.”
Emmy stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Mitchell. I’m Emmy Rivera.”
He shook her hand and held on as he explained. “It’s Ryan actually. Ryan Mitchell.” He’d been doing the switch so long his tongue didn’t even trip over the little lie.
Scott leaned over and kissed Emmy on the cheek. “Ryan’s the new deputy in town. Figured he might as well get indoctrinated into the town before his first official shift tomorrow.”
Emmy’s eyes widened. “I had you pegged as a tourist. Thanks for volunteering but I’d totally understand if you’ve got other things to do. You don’t want to spend your time off helping out a total stranger.”
“You can’t be a stranger when I’ve already saved you from falling on your face once.”
Scott barked out a laugh and slapped him on the shoulder again. “You’re going to fit right in.” Then the man moved into the store and left them alone on the steps.
Still smiling, Emmy leaned forward and touched his arm. “Seriously, if you have better things to do, then feel free to go.”
Not a chance. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be. Lead the way to paint so we can change some of those Cons to the Pros list.”
Moose Prints
While the rest of the crew worked on the cleaning and painting, Emmy decided to tackle the front window.
She’d been dreaming about this for years. Since way back when she and Mandy had become friends in elementary school. They’d bonded over art supplies and messed-up families.
Their original drawings didn’t match up with her current business plan but she couldn’t do anything without their company name.
Em&M Designs.
Even the thought of it made her heart swell and her eyes tear.
Mandy would be thrilled that Emmy was fulfilling their dreams to make a living with their off-beat art ideas.
It might not be the hamsters and puppies they’d originally envisioned but Emmy was pretty sure Mandy would totally be on board with the Moose theme.
Mandy would have loved the originality and quirkiness of the town of Bloo Moose. And she would have loved the logos Emmy had designed.
Moose Prints by Em&M Designs.
Every t-shirt and souvenir Emmy sold would bear a tribute to Mandy. And a portion of all the profits would go to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Emmy looked from her sketchbook to the front window. She wanted the name to be large but not block the entire window.
She’d made the font blocky with soft edges. The letters would be in the bright blue that would be the main color of the brand. With the name of the town she couldn’t choose anything else. The shadows along the edges of the letters would be black.
The moose peeking over the double o’s and around the t would be a soft walnut.
Using painter’s tape, Emmy blocked out the main areas of the window and picked up her paints.
She’d finished the main outlines and had removed the tape when she smelled the pizza. Antonia Fortini weaved magic around whatever she cooked but her pizza made Emmy drool.
“I figured the artist might need some sustenance. Even Da Vinci had to eat.”
She looked down from the scaffolding she’d set up to find Ryan Mitchell smiling up at her. He carried two plates of pizza and had some of Jaz's eco-friendly mugs gripped in his hands.
“Thanks. How’d you know I liked pineapple?”
His grin made her smile in return. “Superior detecting skills, remember?”
He placed the plates and mugs on the scaffold’s platform and then hopped up to sit. “I can’t believe you free-handed those letters like that.”
Emmy laughed. “I’m a little impressed myself. Thought I’d have to do more scraping and repainting but it’s coming together.”
He nodded and passed her the mug and she smelled the caramel before she even took a sip.
“Superior detecting skills, indeed.” Then she took a sip and stretched her back and looked around her space.
Her mouth dropped open as she surveyed the room.
Every wall was painted a soft cream that would be a fabulous counterpoint to the browns and blues of much of her merchandise.
The doors and windows were trimmed with a crisp white. Pete from Pete’s Paint had worried the white would make the cream look washed-out or dirty, but it worked. The man himself gave her a thumbs up from across the room when their gazes locked.
“Can you explain the shirt to me?”
Emmy turned back to find Ryan pointing at her shirt. She was wearing another of her own creations with the same logo as the ones she’d worn yesterday.
