“I’ve been on the runways in New York, Chica. Not all of us eat like the pigs in a trough.” I’d like to put her on her ass, but it’s against regulations.
“Bitch, I’m not fat.” In fact, I’m the opposite of overweight. Ray has been trying to feed me every time we’re together.
“But then why hasn’t he slept with you?” Fucking bitch doesn’t know shit about us.
“What makes you think we haven’t fucked like crazy?” I ask her.
A smug know-it-all smirk spreads across her face. “Because I know my man couldn’t wait to see me, so we met up in Dallas. We fucked like bunnies, and that’s why he’s a day behind schedule, so adios.” I know she’s lying because she’s got that telltale tic in her jaw that gives it away. Her eyes nervously look around as if she’s afraid he’s going to show up. Besides, the auction was in Oklahoma not in Dallas. The house doesn’t have a sign that a woman even visited. She might be an ex-girlfriend, which pisses me off, but I can’t do anything about that.
I drive off, shooting him a text message.
It looks like you’ve already got a replacement for me or was I her substitute.
My phone rings twenty seconds later.
“Woman who the fuck are you talking about?”
“Look at your surveillance cameras. Your girlfriend from New York is back and she’s in your home.”
“There shouldn’t be a woman in my home at all. You are the only woman I want there and you’re leaving me because your job is more important.”
“Don’t. You don’t even start that with me. You’re not even in town for your job.”
“You won’t even tell me the truth.”
“Look, I called to say there’s a woman in your home just in case you didn’t want her in there, and if you did you’re a prick. I have to get going. I have another call that I have to take.”
“I love you, Angel. There’s no one else.”
“I want to believe you, Cowboy.” My skills to tell when someone’s bullshitting me are on point and I know she’s lying, but I need this to help me pull away.
“Then do it. Believe me because it’s the fucking truth, Angel.” The timber in his voice tells me he’s sincere. I do believe him, but it’s best to leave things the way they are.
“I have to go back to work. We’ll see each other when this is over.”
“Don’t take too fucking long or I’ll have to hunt you down and bring you back.”
“Please don’t. I promise I’ll come back when the time is right. See ya, handsome.”
I end the call, power it off, and tuck my phone away because I’ll be tempted to answer if he calls or more likely wait for him to call like a needy woman.
The drive back to San Antonio is a long one and my heart wants to turn around, but I have obligations that have extreme consequences should I fail to return. Once I reach my apartment building parking lot, I park in my spot which thankfully is close to the door. The department pays for my housing until my assignment’s over which means they checked in on it while I was away, and thankfully, it’s exactly the way I left it. I didn’t have much in the way of food or anything, but I cleared it out before leaving.
I secure my line and call into my office to speak with the section chief in my division.
“Agent Carnigal, it’s good of you to finally report in.”
“I’m sorry, sir. I’m due at the agency office tomorrow.”
“Good. I need to have more on his practices. We aren’t getting enough and we’re sure there’s trafficking going on.”
“I’ll keep digging, sir.” Several women have gone missing and they’ve had some sort of connection to the San Antonio area and there are also ties through a foundation that my boss Richter is on the board of.
“Do that. I want him nailed to the wall and this trafficking arm cut off as soon as possible.”
“I do as well, sir.”
“Good.” He hangs up on me and I ensure the line is closed before bringing my bags inside. As I finally carry in the last bag, I plop down on my sofa and my thoughts go straight to Ray. I told him that it was too soon to say I love you, but it was a lie. I love him so much that my chest aches. If he moves on, I may never overcome the loss and maybe that’s why I refuse to say the words out loud.
*****
I’ve been here for a month and Richter has been eyeing me strangely. “Angel. In my office now.” Damn it. Does that man ever say my name without shouting?
“Good luck, girl. He’s been in a mood lately.”
“Why?”
“Beats me. Maybe he can’t get his old pecker up,” she scoffs. I laugh with her and walk off to meet with my boss.