be able to get away. He was getting more worried by the minute. The police had not shown up, and it was already after midnight. They had finished up the first shipment, and the two men he didn’t know drove each vehicle out at the large bay doors and into the trailers that had been set up at the side of the warehouse. Once they were done, they drove in a new set of cars.
“Okay men,” David said. “We’re halfway there. We have to get this done for four in the morning. These trailers have to be locked and driven over to the port by four-thirty. Keep it focused, and we’ll all get out of here in time for all-night breakfast.”
Before they could start working on this second batch, Chase could hear the subtle sound of sirens approaching from the distance. Relief washed over him. He looked at the others. None of them seem to notice yet. It was only when one of the drivers ran inside a few minutes later that the rest of them looked up from what they were doing. By then it was too late.
Policeman in riot gear stormed the warehouse from every open door, and from the back room. They ordered everyone to put their hands over their heads. Chase did as he was told. He acted like he was going to be arrested as well. Oliver tried to run, but was tackled to the ground by two officers.
Chase was handcuffed and led to sit in the back of a squad car. After waiting a few minutes, he noticed an officer approached him in riot gear. When the officer took off his helmet, Chase saw it was Detective Beam. He was relieved. This meant it was over.
“Great job, Chase.”
“Did you catch the other trailers with the first shipment?”
“Yes. We saw them leave and stopped them as they were entering the port.”
“Does this mean I get to see Meaghan now?”
“Soon. We’ll book you down at the station with the rest of them, otherwise it may raise some red flags if they don’t see you. When the coast is clear, we’ll release you and take you over to where we have Meaghan. By the time they realize you’re not coming back, you’ll be long gone from San Diego, with a new identity. We’ll work David to find out who is really running this. If he cooperates, we won’t need you to testify.”
“That’s great. Thanks for everything Detective Beam.”
“Good luck, Chase. Try to stay out of trouble.”
Chapter 15
They were finally back together. An officer had driven Chase to Meagan’s hotel, and taken him up to her suite. They held on to each other at the front door for a long time. Afterward, she took him past the officer in the living room, to her bedroom.
They sat on the side of the bed. Meaghan rested her head on his shoulder.
“Meg?” Chase studied her when she looked up at him. “Are we okay?”
“We are, baby. We may leave here with new identities and have to start fresh again. And we won’t be able to contact our family for some time, but as long as I have you, we can make it through anything.”
Chase didn’t know what to say. Meaghan had forgiven him. Nothing else mattered. That’s when he remembered. He pulled the necklace from his pocket without pulling from her gaze. “I got this for you, Meg. I meant to give it to you that night Jeff locked you away, but, well you know, I didn’t get the chance. I hope you like it.”
“God… It’s gorgeous,” she said as she looked at it. “Wait. I recognize this. You remembered…it was from that jewelry shop we walked by that day. Awwww, Chase. It’s perfect.”
She cuddled a little closer to him.
“Do you know how much I missed holding you?” He asked.
She nodded and stood in front of him. “I missed you too.”
“I need you, baby.” He pulled her to sit on his lap.
She wrapped an arm around his neck, and ran a hand through his hair. “You have me now,” she whispered in his ears.
He tugged gently on the clothes she was wearing. “This is what they bought you?”
“Yeah. It was a small department store. You like it?”
“No. I
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