Hard to Fight - Bella Jewel Page 0,28
was a bad idea.”
He narrows his eyes. “How so?”
“It just was,” I lie. “It’s taking too long and I don’t think it’s the right plan.”
He nods. “So what are you going to do?”
“I need this case, Vance. It’s everything to me. I think my only option is to try to bring him down with help. Taser him, maybe.”
He rubs a hand over his chin. “You know we’re supposed to use the Tasers only if we need to. Are you sure you can’t bring him in without it?”
“He’s huge, Vance.” I sigh, dropping my head into my hands. “It won’t be that easy. He’ll know what I’m doing the minute I get close, and he’ll run. I can pull a gun on him, but both he and I know I won’t use it, so the Taser seems like my best bet.”
“Well, I’ll help you.”
I snap my head up and glare at him. “I’m trying to prove I can do this without help.”
“Gracie,” he says, reaching over and taking my hand. “Don’t you think we all need help sometimes? Shit, there are times I’ve had to take Julio on a case. It doesn’t make you weak.”
“This is my first big case,” I say. “This is my chance to prove I don’t need to have someone with me. I know there are times when help is needed—I get that. But this one … this is it for me. This is my chance to prove myself.”
He nods, and I know he understands. “Well, then you’re just going to have to get more creative. You do the work enough to get him to the front door, and let us take it from there—that’s still you bringing him in. Hell, you could even get him to your place or his and call it in. We do it all the time, Grace. You don’t have to crash-tackle him to the floor for it to be considered a successful job.”
That’s true.
“How do you suppose I do that?”
He shrugs. “You’ve been working the seduction angle, but why not try the victim path?”
I tilt my head to the side. “Victim?”
“Yeah, you could ask for his help or pretend you’re in danger. If that’s too much, you could do something as simple as follow him to a bar and act drunk, stumble about, make a scene, see if he’ll help you. Find a way back to his place with him. Anything to get him away from people. Then you call it in and let the cops ambush him. Done.”
It’s not a bad idea. In fact, I’m kicking myself I didn’t think of it earlier. I don’t need the guys to help me bring him in, I just need to take him to a place where I can hold him long enough to bring the cops to him.
“You’re a legend, Vance.”
He grins at me. “Don’t I know it.”
I go to answer but am cut off by the sounds of someone knocking. We both turn and see Don standing at the door. Vance gets up and opens it, letting him in.
“Jesus, Gracie, what happened to your eye?”
“Terry.”
His jaw ticks, he never likes us getting hurt. Unfortunately, like police officers or any officers of the law, that’s a risk we take. “You okay?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“How’s the big case going?”
“Good.”
“That’s good. I have another small one for you, if you’re up for it. Julio and Vance are full.”
“Yeah, send it over.”
“Good.” He turns to the door. “I’m out for the remainder of the week. I want progress reports from the both of you when I return.”
“On it,” we both say.
When he’s gone, I turn back to Vance. “I should go and get some work done.”
He flashes me a smile. “Meet me for lunch?”
“It’s a date.”
Turns out my day isn’t going as bad as I first thought.
* * *
By the end of my workday, my head is pounding again and I’m ready for bed. Lunch with Vance was great, as always. We found a Mexican shop nearby and ordered tacos, then we got ice cream on our way home. It was nice to have a break, to take a moment to think about something different. Now it’s home time. I pack up my desk with enthusiasm, thinking of my bath and how good it’ll feel to sink back into it.
I rush my good-byes as I charge out the door to my car. The entire drive home, I think about anything but Raide. I have to do my job. I have to prove myself. I can’t think