In Harm's Way - H.L.B. Adams (thriller novels to read TXT) 📗

February 16

Twenty six year old Brantley Johnson, six foot with blonde hair cut in a crew cut, green eyes, a tan, and the physique of a Greek god, walked into the precinct in Fort Payne, Alabama, wearing black jeans, a black t-shirt, a black leather jacket, and motorcycle boots, ready to work. ‘Damn, why do all precincts have to look so drab? They all look like dungeons and not the cool ones in the movies. Well at least it’s warmer in here.” Brant thought as he walked the halls.

‘It’ll be nice to stay in one place for a while,’ he thought. Brantley had just got out of the marines. After six years of moving around he was excited about staying in one spot for a while. Plus it was nice to be back in Alabama. He had a lot of great memories from the last time he was here. ‘Well not exactly here,’ he thought. While he was happy to be back in the state he couldn’t bring himself to go back to Montgomery. ‘She might still be there,’ he thought. No matter how good the memories were he couldn’t bring himself to face her.

Brantley walked into Lieutenant Marx’s office ready to get to work. “Sir,” he said as he walked in. Lieutenant Jonathon Marx was a thirty year old hard ass, or at least that’s what everybody said. He was in good shape, but didn’t look like a cop. He looked more like an accountant, with his nondescript brown hair and eyes, glasses, and lean body draped in a dreary gray suit. “Have a seat Johnson,” Marx said pointing to a chair by a pretty blonde with long hair pulled back into a pony tail and grey eyes, wearing a black skirt, green blouse, and six inch heels. When Johnson sat Marx introduced him to the blonde with the great legs sitting beside him, “Johnson this is your new partner Miranda Sweeney.” Brantley only had a chance to nod before Marx continued. “Okay now down to business. Fort Payne may be a small town, but every now and then we have some jackasses who want to turn it into a hell hole. We’re investigating a group whom we know are up to no good, but we can’t get any solid proof. Most people in town have no clue they exist, and in a small town that is no small feat. We want to take them down before they have a chance to make a name for themselves, and the only way to do that is to get on the inside. So seeing as you’re new town you’ll be going undercover. I can’t tell you exactly how dangerous they are, but assume very. They work in smuggling. We can only guess at what all. Here’s your cover and all the information we have on them,” Marx said handing Brantley a file. “Sweeney will be your point man. She’s state so no one has recognized her. She’s been undercover in the neighborhood that at least one of them lives in. She’ll keep an eye out and call for back up if needed. You’ll check in with Sweeney and no one else. She’ll send us a report once a week. Now look over the file and y’all work out a plan. I want you in by the end of the week. Now get out of here.”

Brantley followed Miranda out of Marx’s office and to a couple of desk in the bull pen. “Brantley, nice to meet you,” Brantley said holding out his hand to shake Miranda’s when they reached their desks. “Call me Miranda,” Miranda said shaking his hand. “Or better yet call me Mary, Mary Smith that’s my cover. You’ll be Brant Williams.”

“Okay, straight to work got it,” Brantley said and sat down to discuss the case.

“Okay, your cover,” Miranda started, “Is Brant Williams. You are an ex-marine…”

“That works considering I am.”

“Who is on parole,” Miranda continued, “You were given a dishonorable discharge for dealing drugs. The parole offices are upstairs it will explain you visits to the precinct.”

“Okay, and what is your excuse for being at the precinct?”

“My “distant cousin” Officer James Crane. He is part of the investigation. He’s playing the part of a dirty cop. He will also be your way in,” Miranda said.

“Okay so I see I’ll be working at the lumber yard.”

“Yes, we believe they have some connection there if it is only that one of them has a day job is there. It will help you get to know some of them, another way in. You’ll be living in the apartments at the edge of town for now. It would look a little weird if the new guy into moved into the neighborhood of the bat. We’ll happen to meet at the local bar, start dating, and then you’ll move in to the neighborhood a few doors down.”

“Okay, well let’s get the ball rolling,” Brant said with a small smile.

April 22

Savannah Caldwell, a petite twenty five year old who stood about 5’2 with long curly red hair and green eyes, walked into the moderately sized two story house with its warm and inviting colors exhausted. She had cleaned two houses today, on top of having to finish up her article or rather critique at the paper. She had been going since six that morning and now at seven in the evening she just wanted to relax. She walked in the living room and saw her father, Devin Caldwell a man of fifty about 5‘10 in height with graying red hair, sitting in his recliner watching TV, still wearing his work clothes, jeans and a button up uniform shirt. “Hey Dad, did I get any mail?” she said as she went and sat on the couch.

“No sweetie, sorry,” Devin replied, “How was your day?”

“Fine,” Savannah said. ‘It would’ve been a hell of a lot better if I could just hear back about my manuscript, but no they love to torture people.’ “How was your day?” she asked her dad.

“Same as usual. We worked; the crew bitched.” Devin was a foreman for a construction company.

“Some things never change. Have you eaten yet?”

“Yeah, I grabbed something on the way home. I put yours in the microwave.”

“Thanks,” Savannah said and headed to the kitchen. “A cold burger from Chubby’s, yum,” Savannah mumbled looking at the burger in disgust. Then her stomach growled, “Well food’s food,” she said and took a bite.

Savannah took her burger into the living room. “So, have you met the new guy?” her dad asked.

“New guy?”

“I guess not,” her dad said laughing, “He moved in last week. I figured you would have at least seen him by now. His name is Brant Williams. He lives two doors down.”

“No, I haven’t met him. I don’t even think I’ve seen him. So what kind of guy is he?”

“Seems nice to me. He works at the lumber yard. I think he was military. He has that look about him.”

“And a military guy can always spot another military guy, right,” Savannah said smiling. Her dad had been in the National Guard for about ten years many years ago. “Of course he can,” Devin said, “Anyway I thought I’d invite him over for dinner this weekend. Do you have any plans? If not I thought you could make your pork chops.” Savannah thought for a second; she’d planned on writing all weekend, but it wouldn’t take too long to cook and entertain a new neighbor. “No plans. What night?”

“Friday sound good?”

“Sure, I’ll stop by the store on my way home tomorrow to get everything,” Savannah said happily. She couldn’t wait to meet the new guy in town. Maybe they’d become friends. She hoped so. ‘Can never have too many friends.’ she thought as she got up to go to bed. “Night daddy, love you,” she said as she left the room. “Night sweetie, love you too,” Devin called up the stairs.

Savannah went upstairs to her room and changed out of her blue jeans and white t-shirt into a purple pajamas short set. As she laid down for the night she smiled thinking of the new neighbor, ‘Maybe he’ll be a good guy.’

April 24

Brant was getting ready for dinner at the neighbors. He still wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. ‘Well they might know something, but if they don’t this is just a big waste of time. Of course if I act like a good neighbor it could help my cover, but I could be putting Devin and his daughter in harm. It’s a little weird I haven’t seen her yet. I’ve seen her car in the drive way at night, but that’s it. Oh well, I’ll get to see her tonight.’

Brant knocked on the door just as Savannah took the pork chops out of the oven. “Hold on,” she yelled rushing to the door. Her father wasn’t home yet a delay at work he had said when he called.

Brant took a step back when he heard the voice. ‘No it can’t be,’ he thought, ‘just my imagination.’

Savannah reached the door and opened it to the past, and the past looked damn good in a pair of dark wash jeans and a black button up shirt. ‘Oh shit,’ Brant thought, ‘It is her, and she still looks great especially in that little white sundress.’

“What the hell?” Savannah said, “What are you doing here?”

“Umm, I was invited. May I come in?” Brant asked not knowing what else to do.

“What? Invited? Yeah come in,” Savannah said backing away from the door. She headed straight to the kitchen and grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator.

“So, where’s your dad? May I have one of those?”

“Work. Fridge.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“What the hell are you doing here? Why did my dad say your name is Brant Williams? Where the hell…” she stopped without finishing the last sentence, going pale as she realized what she almost said. She didn’t want to know. She didn’t care. It didn’t matter, or at least that’s what she told herself.

“Umm, I just moved here, and my name is Brant Williams,” Brant said. ‘Damn it. Well now I know how she feels. Not happy to see me for sure. Damn it she’s pale. What am I so supposed to do? She wasn’t supposed to be here. No one should know me here. Damn it, I just put her in harm. She knows my real name.’

“No your name is Brantley Johnson. I didn’t forget you name. Wish I had.”

“I changed my name.”

“Why? Never mind I don’t want to know.” They both jumped as they heard the front door open.

Devin came into the kitchen. “Well I guess y’all have met now. Is supper ready? I’m starving. Brant have a seat.”

“It’s ready Daddy. I just have to set the table,” Savannah said and turned to get plates down.

Devin went to the refrigerator and got himself a beer. “So Brant how do you like working at the lumber yard?”

“It’s a good job, pays well,” Brant replied staring at Savannah’s back.

“Well that’s good,” Devin said, “My Savannah was smart enough to get a degree, but that still doesn’t guarantee a good paying job.”

“Dad!” Savannah exclaimed.

“Sorry sweetie. I didn’t mean to insult you. I was just stating a fact.”

“Mr. Williams doesn’t care about how well my job pays.”

“That’s okay. I’ve noticed the same thing,” Brant piped in. ‘I don’t care, yeah right.’

“Anyway, let’s eat,” Savannah said as she finished setting everything on the table.

They all sat and fixed their plates. “So Savannah what do you do?” Brant asked. ‘Nice I caught her off guard, and pissed her off.’

“I write an article for the paper,” Savannah said after a second.

“What kind?”

“Book critique,” she replied through gritted teeth.

“She also cleans houses and writes books,” Devin said like a proud papa, “We’re just waiting on her to get published.