Deep in the Night Ch. 11

"I decided when I grew up that I was going to do whatever I could to put an end to the drug wars. But after high school I tried all sorts of jobs and with only a high school education I was qualified to flip burgers or clerk in a store to make a living. Plus I was getting hit on all the time because of my looks. That's when I moved to L.A. and figured I could make money with those looks, so I auditioned to do pornographic movies. They call it the Adult Entertainment industry, but it's just making smut. I hated it but the money was good. That's how I came to be on that Adult cable channel. I suppose anyone with a satellite in Shawnee that night saw me too. No wonder I'm a mystery woman."

"You looked pretty good to me," Jordan smiled.

"A year into that job I got a call from a friend and learned the DEA was looking for informants. I still knew all my brother's doper friends and their suppliers. I figured it would be easy with my background to get in with them and get my revenge. The DEA took me on and I pretended to work for the high-up sellers as a runner while I was actually snitching on them.

For the first two years I was put at various towns, and then I went back home to Arizona. I spent my days getting myself trusted by the gangs supplying Phoenix and informing on them at night. Then one day I came across an article that was strangely familiar to me. It was about a drug bust on a ship in the port of Los Angeles. Drugs were frozen then shipped in ice. The dogs can't detect the aroma because the cold temperatures prevent aromatic molecules from escaping into the air. My Phoenix gang was the doing the same thing, wrapping cocaine in foil and freezing it in a block of ice.

Jordan listened spellbound.

"So, I started my own investigation. It occupied most of my days off and took many hours on the internet and the library researching articles. But it paid off. I came across other busts that were similar in size. I collected records, wiretaps of the gang, photographs, everything I could find.

To sum it all up, I believe I uncovered a huge cartel operation. My research took me all the way to Washington, Jordan. Turns out that a Congressman, Senator Harvell, of Wisconsin is involved. Do you know of him?"

"Isn't he the chair of the Commerce Committee?"

Raven nodded her head in affirmation, "A powerful committee and a very influential man. I had proof know he was getting a share on those drug profits. The thing is I couldn't prove it and I don't believe anyone ever will. He makes sure he covers his tracks and the paperwork will never lead back to him. As for the bills he sponsors favoring loose security, he can just say they are circumstantial evidence."

"What did your Captain say?"

"That's when it all started Jordan. I told him about everything I discovered and he contacted the U.S. District Attorney. Naturally, I thought they would launch an investigation into Senator Harvell and a possible international cartel. I was deluded. Not long after that, I started getting death threats; anonymous phone calls, threatening emails, cars trying to run me off the road.

And then my Captain called me into his office not long after and told me to drop everything. Just like that. He didn't want me to do anymore research. He wanted me to pretend the investigation never existed. Someone got to him Jordan. Someone with power and he got scared."

"So what happened next?"

"I called the D.A. myself and asked him what I should do. He just thanked me for the information and told me that he didn't need my help anymore. He warned me that my life was in danger. He gave me the number of a man to call. At the time I had no idea why he gave it to me, but I called him. That man saved my life."

"Who was the man?"

"Someone deep undercover in the Attorney General's Office, but I never met him. I explained to him my situation and what I had found. His solution was to make me disappear. Everything I collected I hid safely away. As long as I had it, I was a potential threat and witness, but it protects me too. They will never know if I made arrangements to make it public. So...to protect me and his superiors he arranged a fake death and suddenly I had a whole new life."

"As Raven Summers."

"Yes, Jordan, the name my mother had in the tribe plus the 's'. Gone from everyone and everything I ever knew. I have no idea what effect this has had upon my folks, but to think that they have lost two children..." Raven looked away as a tear formed in her eye.

"So what's with the motel?"

"They selected Shawnee as the place I would appear as Raven Summers. It's a nowhere kind of place where I could be anonymous. Funds that support the Witness Protection Agency supplied the means for me to purchase the motel and set up all my fake records. That was five years ago Jordan and I have been here living as Raven ever since."

"Amazing story Lily," Jordan commented.

"Sweetheart, please don't ever call me Lily. She is dead to the world. Gone forever. I don't know her anymore...only Raven."

"Well, Lily is an strange name for a dark haired child."

Ravens smiled, "Yes, I took after my mother in appearance and coloring. She always thought that if I didn't look like white, at least I could have an Anglo name so that I would have better opportunities."

"Did you tell anyone where you have the evidence?"

Raven shook her head vigorously, "No way. I'm the only one who knows where it is."

"That's good. Now I can see why you don't want to be in Washington. Too close to the bad guys. And if they know you have that valuable information?"

"Exactly Jordan." Raven observed Jordan for a moment to see how she would react to her story. "I hope this doesn't freak you out darling."

"No...it doesn't freak me out. I am just glad you are safe. I mean, has anyone found you or tried to contact you?"

"Not that I am aware of. The only person who has mentioned my past is that man from the restaurant. He was probably a DEA agent that I had worked with."

"That's why you have that gun in your drawer, isn't it?"

"Yes. It's for protection and I know how to use it if I have to." There was silence between the two women for awhile as they both considered the consequences Raven's situation would have on their future together.

"So what do we do now Jordan? I mean, I know there's no FBI office in Shawnee." She laughed weakly at her attempt at humor.

"No...there isn't." Jordan said thoughtfully, "The behavioral science unit is in Quantico and that's our only off..." Jordan suddenly stopped short.

Jordan sat up and threw off the covers. She seemed distracted. "I don't want to get your hopes up...I need to make a phone call first." Excitement was growing in her voice. Jordan leaped out of bed and began rifling threw her clothes that had been dropped on the floor.

I'll be right back sweetheart."

"You better hurry and get your cute ass back into my bed!" Raven called to her as Jordan dashed from the bedroom.

As she pulled her cell phone out, she noticed the little gift box with the necklace still sitting in her purse.

Jordan dialed the number to her supervisor's office in Quantico.

"Jordan...how the hell are you?"

"I'm fine, Bob, but...."

"Don't tell me you want more leave to stay in New Mexico?" He laughed into the phone.

"No. Remember about a year ago when you asked me about that west coast thing? Is the offer still open?"

"Jordan..." He began, "...I can put you there if you want, I mean you got seniority over the agents there now, but you need to know I'm moving up and you're getting a promotion."

"Bob, sorry, but I don't want your position. I like being a field agent. So, listen, please, can you put the transfer through, I know you can make it happen." "All right Jordan," he said reluctantly, "but you'll have to finish up your ongoing projects in New Mexico and then Washington. It'll be about a month before all this happens."

"Yes, that's fine, I have to come back to Washington and sell my townhouse anyway. Thanks Bob."

Jordan turned off her cell phone and pulled the gift box from her purse and hiding it in her hand, she ran to Raven's bedroom in three big leaps, took one more and landed with a huge bounce onto the bed. Raven giggled as Jordan discreetly slipped her hand under her pillow to hide the box.

"So what's with the phone call Jordan?"

"Listen..." Jordan was smiling happily, "...there's a possibility we can be together. I know you can't live in Washington, but suppose we could live somewhere else? I want you to think about this seriously Raven. I know you have to make arrangements for the motel and..."

"Oh, Jordan! Are you certain?"

"Yes, I have a short assignment to finish in Albuquerque then I can sell my D.C. house, then we get transferred to the west coast."

"Oh, my God! Yes! Yes!" Raven almost shouted. She hugged Jordan.

"Yes I want to live with you darling. We're going to L.A.!"

"No. It's...Seattle. I chose Seattle because for some unknown reason, there seems to be a lot of serial killers that originate in Seattle," she said with a smile on her face.

Raven didn't get the joke, but no matter what, she was happy to be with Jordan.

Jordan slid her hand under the pillow and pulled out the little box from Macy's.

"What's this?" Raven asked.

"It's for you. Open it." Jordan instructed.

Raven tore off the gift wrapping and opened the lid. She gasped when she saw the little gold heart with the diamond in it.

"Honey, it's beautiful," she exclaimed in a whisper. She pulled the necklace out and held it up for the diamond to catch the light. Handing it to Jordan, she pulled her long hair off the back of her neck and turned her back to Jordan, "Will you please put it on me darling?"

Jordan placed the necklace around Raven's shapely neck and hooked it in the back. It fell to just below her collarbones.

"I love it baby." Raven hugged Jordan, "And I love you. I can't wait for our new life together!"

Jordan hugged Raven back and shared in her girlfriend's happy exuberance, "Girl, we're gonna have fun!"

Raven got up. "I'm gonna go out for about an hour so don't go anywhere. I'll have my surprise for you this afternoon. I've delayed it long enough!"

(See the Epilogue -- Deep in the Night: The Ride)