The Engineer Read online

  THE ENGINEER

  THE CAULEY FILES

  RACHEL RENEE

  Copyright © 2019 Rachel Renee/Rachel Morgenthal

  All Rights Reserved.

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  * * *

  Cover Design by: Alora Kate with Color Kraze

  Formatted by: Alexandria Bishop with AB Formatting

  Editing and Proofreading by: Audrey Bobak

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Thank You

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Rachel Renee

  About the Author

  1

  I KNEW IT WAS COMING, I just didn’t know when. Or for how long.

  “You’re going to Mexico…”

  In the back of my mind, I’d been picturing the sandy beaches and clear blue oceans of Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta. Even a resort in Acapulco would have sufficed.

  “Chihuahua,” my leader continues. “You’ve got twenty-four hours to get your affairs in order before you ship out. This is going to be a long one, so hopefully, you have nothing big planned for the next eight to ten months.” His brows raise as my eyes bug out.

  “Eight to ten months? Seriously?” I raise my brows, too.

  “Yes, sir.”

  I didn’t let him finish before I blurt, “I just got married. Eight to ten months in the field wasn’t in the plans.”

  “You’ve been married for a few months now. This will be the first real test on your relationship.”

  I’d like to say that he’s correct, but this won’t be the first trial we’ve undergone. Eliza and I have had our fair share of obstacles. I’ve left her before, for over ten years, to be exact. I was new, my career was in the forefront of everything. Eliza had just been my girlfriend at the time. I hadn’t planned to be gone that long, but circumstances didn’t allow for my return. This time will be different. We’re married. I like to think I know what I’m doing. Letting out the breath I’d been holding, I utter, “She’s not going to like this.”

  “This is your job. The one you swore to uphold. Are you going to turn me down?”

  I look him dead in the eyes. His lids lower, but his brows rise even higher than before. Is he testing me? What if I say yes? I’ve never turned down an assignment. I’ve also never been married to the love of my life either. Our careers have always come first, but we’re at that spot in our lives where we’ve been talking about more.

  “Well?”

  He expects an answer and despite my reservations, I give him the one he wants. “I’m not turning you down. Just voicing my thoughts.”

  “You’re a good man, Cauley. One of the best I’ve got.”

  There are times, such as these, when I wish I wasn’t the professional that I am. I’ve enjoyed the piddly assignments over the last several months, short trips, and I had hoped they would continue for a bit longer. Although, my true love for the agency has always been firmly in the field.

  There had been much talk about a new cartel in Mexico and we knew the rumors couldn’t keep the agency out of the mix for long. Just the type of thing we are sent to infiltrate with the hopes of shutting it down. For months, conversations had been whispered about taking a trip for intel and later, more dangerous objectives. Eight to ten months means I’m going in deep. Likely a spot within the cartel itself. I won’t know until I’m on that plane tomorrow with my mission plans laid out in front of me.

  “You might want to take a look at these.” Lieutenant tosses a folder across the table. “Your initial cover. This doesn’t give away any specifics of the assignment, just some information you’ll need to know for your job.”

  I huff, trying to hold back the incredulous laugh I felt like letting out. I take a quick peek into the folder. The info on the front page is intriguing. “I’ll get right on it.”

  “Be sure that you do. And, feel free to take the evening off with your wife. Will be the last one you get for quite some time.”

  I don’t need the reminder. I refuse to patronize the man and instead, thank him as I leave the small office before he can decide there’s something else that needs taken care of.

  Much of my lunch is spent studying my cover and it carries into the early afternoon. This task will be interesting, to say the least. I’ve got a good grasp on it before I decide to call it a night. At four o’clock, I assume Eliza is still at the precinct. She’s been working an active case for the past two days, so we haven't seen much of each other. I’m not certain we will tonight either. It’s worth a try. I press the button on the phone, tapping my free hand impatiently against my leg as the tone rings in my ear. When her voicemail picks up, I decide a drive to the station is in order. She can’t ignore me if I’m right in front of her face.

  Eliza not answering could irritate me, but it doesn’t. She’s busy and I trust her, which keeps those deep-seated feelings at bay. Once upon a time, I was in a very different relationship, one built on a huge lie. Even though I can’t compare what Eliza and I have to that marriage in any way, inklings of insecurity try to sneak in every now and then. Like now, as I pull into the precinct and see her car missing. I quash the feelings of doubt and produce the more logical answer as to where she might be.

  The phone vibrates from my pocket, so I put the Range Rover in park and retrieve it. Her name illuminates the screen and I press the talk button to hear her voice.

  “Hey, babe, did you need something?”

  “Are you real busy? Do you think you could step away for a couple of hours?” There’s a sigh before I hear some garbled words spoken away from the receiver.

  “I’ll take care of it. No. Yes. Why don’t you go make sure they haven’t missed anything?” I assume she isn’t talking to me so I tune out momentarily, turning the dial on the radio to hear what song is playing. “Okay, sorry. Can I step away? Ummm...maybe in an hour. What’s up?”

  I almost missed that she was talking to me again as the weather report started in on the current storm moving into the area. “Well, we need to talk. I’ve got a mission and I leave tomorrow.”

  She’s silent and I know what that means. Eliza is planning the exact words to let me know she supports me but doesn’t want me to leave. “How long?” she asks.

  Not exactly what I was expecting. “It’s not going to be short.”

  “How long?” She enunciates each word.

  “Months.”

  “Liam,” she mumbles.

  “I know. Terrible timing.”

  “It’s always terrible timing,” she y
ells into the phone.

  I’m taken aback by her tone and anger. The behavior is kind of out of character for her. Our careers haven’t always taken a passenger seat in the relationship. We’ve worked to make them less important, but if anyone understands why I do what I do, it’s typically her.

  “Can we talk about this when you get home?”

  “I don’t know, can we?” she seethes.

  She’s stressed due to an open case that she’s struggling to find enough evidence for. That’s the only explanation I can give for her behavior. “Will you meet me at the apartment as soon as you can?”

  There’s some static over the line and I think she’s hung up but instead of silence, I hear, “An hour.” Now, the line double beeps, indicating the disconnect.

  I knew she wouldn’t be happy, but I never imagined she would be upset enough to yell at me. Her case must be causing her a lot of grief. That, and she’s down a man this week because Cooper, her sidekick and best friend, is on paternity leave, taking care of his new baby for a couple of weeks.

  The moment that little girl was placed in Eliza’s arms a few days ago, that motherly spark blazed higher than ever. I didn’t think she was ever going to give Willow back to Cooper. She counted her fingers and toes, kissed her little forehead multiple times and even let a few stray tears of joy run down her cheeks. Part of that reaction is because of her relationship with Coop and the other is because for the first time in her life, the conversation of having a child of her own has been the forefront of many late-night talks. Maybe that’s why she’s so upset? My long assignment is going to put a sudden halt to our future.

  The flower shop is bustling when I park out in front of the apartment. I give a wave to Martha, the owner and my adopted mother, who is standing in the front window with a smiling customer. She winks conspicuously in my direction but keeps right on talking with the woman holding the crystal vase of white lilies.

  The boys are waiting for me, swirling in and out of my legs as I make my way into the apartment. Sirius, the newest member of the family, stops and meows after Orion trips me when I turn to shut the door. I catch myself, bracing my hand against the wall. “Let me get in, boys,” I say to the cats as though they might heed my direction.

  I bend down, picking up Orion, allowing him to nuzzle up under my chin, nibbling on my beard hair as he welcomes me home. “I’ve got some bad news,” I speak to the kitty. “I’m going to be leaving for a few months.” My eyes closed momentarily at my own words. It’s way more than a few. It’s closer to a year than not. In the grand scheme of things, that’s not a lot of time, assuming we have unlimited time here on this earth. Which unfortunately, we do not. So, it’s a lot of time to miss with someone as important to me as Eliza. A lot of time to be separated as we were planning to build our family.

  My breathing turns ragged the more I dwell on my predicament. After placing the cat on the bed, I grab the hard-shelled suitcase from the back of the closet and begin packing. I methodically place items inside, so in tune with my needs that the action is almost robotic. Orion and Sirius are playful with the first few items, batting them before I was allowed to place them inside the bag. After a couple of minutes, they grew bored and made themselves comfortable, snuggled together in a small heap just outside the top of my suitcase.

  The front door slams, awakening me from my trance and I pause, awaiting Eliza to enter the room. “Honey, I’m home,” she yells, frustration evident in her voice.

  I drop the shirt I was about to fold and spread my arms out to embrace her the moment her sullen face peers around the bedroom door. “Bad day?”

  “Something like that,” she whispers into my chest. I pull her into me and she squeezes tightly around my sides. Her fingers dig into my backside, holding on like her life depends on it. “How long?” she asks once more.

  I pull in a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds before I can answer. “Eight to ten months.”

  I feel her chest press against me, but it doesn't deflate right away. Her fingers release from my back, her arms go slack at her side. I know she’s looking up at me, but I can’t bear the thought of looking down into those eyes at this moment. A desk job never sounded as appealing as it does right now.

  “We both knew it was coming,” she mumbles. “Things have been too quiet for you. Eight to ten months, though,” she moans the last word. “Seems like forever.”

  I finally feel like I can peer down at her. “It does,” I admit. I kiss her forehead, the side of her damp eye, her cheek, and then finally I find her lips with mine. Her hands come up, pressing against my chest as I deepen our kiss, prying her lips with my tongue to taste her. Eliza pushes off of me before I can complete my task.

  “No.” Her eyes bore into mine and I think she’s going to say more, but that look says everything she can’t.

  “I know this is not ideal.”

  “It is what it is,” she grumbles, walking toward the bathroom. She says something else before shutting the door, but I don’t hear what it is.

  “Can we make the most of our night together? Do you have to go back to work?” I ask loud enough that she can hear me through the closed door. She doesn't answer. I hear the toilet flush and then the faucet turn on. Instead of waiting for her to come back, I turn to my clothes and continue packing. If I get this done, I’ll have the whole night to spend with my lady, assuming she can break away from work.

  Her eyes are red, and her face is blotchy when she finally emerges from the bathroom. I release the shoes I was about to place in the suitcase and rush to her side. “Don’t cry. Please don’t.”

  “I... I think I’m overly tired. I’m sorry.” She nuzzles into my chest. This case I’m working... It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.”

  “I hate to see you so upset. You’re never this upset.”

  “It’s a combination of everything. You telling me you’re leaving is just the topper. Jones is killing me. Sometimes I regret declining the captain position.” She sighs forcefully enough that I feel cool air through my cotton shirt.

  When Jones first became Eliza’s new Captain, she was all about it. He let her do her job and never questioned anything. He took over the tasks that were thrust upon her previously, tasks that kept her busy and didn't allow her to focus on being a detective. A month into his new position and everything changed. The whole structure of the department shifted, each person was doled out new responsibilities as homicide detectives. He kept Eliza as lead, and added tasks, ones that should have been left for the captain. Eliza was basically leading the department, which was exactly what she didn't want—the reason she decided against becoming Captain in the first place.

  Jones was the head of narcotics before he took the job as captain of the homicide division and he continues to dabble in their affairs. That’s why he doesn't have the time that’s required of him to do his job as captain of homicide. Eliza is too proud to tattle on him, or alert the higher-ups that he’s basically handed the reins to her. She hopes that they’ll eventually notice when all the signatures on the case notes aren’t signed by the captain, but by her.

  “I can understand why. You’re basically doing it anyway, without the pay and the added benefits.”

  “Exactly.”

  The two of us are huddled together, wrapped in each other’s arms as we converse. “He never even showed up this morning,” she continues. “He called and said he would meet us at the crime scene. We went back to take another look now that it’s a little more accessible to us. He never showed. I called him on my way home and he sent me straight to voicemail.”

  “Is he sick?”

  “No!” she yells, louder than anticipated because she winces at her own tone. She pushes off of me once more. “He’s working with his buddies in narcotics. Orlowsky texted me earlier and told me he saw him at Chatham chit-chatting with the narcotics crew.”

  Orlowsky is an officer friend Eliza has gotten to know over the last year or so. “Unbelievable,” I huff.

>   “Why did he take homicide if narcotics is his baby? He should have stayed. If I wanted all this added stress and responsibility, I would have taken the captain job.”

  “Do you think you should talk to him about it? Maybe he didn't realize he would be needed as often as he is with his old team.”

  “They shouldn't need him. They have a huge team and a new captain themselves.” Eliza plops down on the only empty spot left on our king-sized bed. I watch as she breathes deep for half a minute, letting go of some of that frustration, before she smiles faintly and looks toward me. “I’m sorry. Enough whining. Let’s not talk about Jones or about work. I told the guys I wasn’t coming back tonight. I left Jones a voicemail with the same response. I’m all yours.” The smirk turns into a full-blown smile.

  Her arm reaches out, her finger motioning me to come to her.

  “Let’s not waste any more time,” I tell her before gently laying her back on the bed and climbing over top of her. “We don’t have much time to accomplish all the things I want to do before I leave.” My lips meet hers once more, my tongue crashing through the barrier and into the minty warmth of her mouth.

  “You better work fast.” She pushes me up somewhat, tugging my t-shirt over my head and separating our union for just a second. Grabbing my short beard, she pulls my head closer to hers. I laugh at her sudden urgency, but she smiles against my lips and gets to work on the button of my jeans.

  2

  “MY BOSS IS ENTANGLED in the drug world and now my husband will be too?”

  Pillow talk is not as sweet as usual tonight. Eliza falls back onto her side of the bed, her hair splayed all over her pillow, but some is left draping over my face. I push it aside and respond to her comment.

  “Looks that way. I’m not certain of all the roles I’ll play, but I do know the arena in which the game is set.”

  “The drug world is dangerous.”

  “No more dangerous than any other parts of the world.” I turn to lie on my side and wrap my arm over Eliza’s bare chest. “Whatever they throw my way, I can handle. Don’t you worry about me.”