Southern Comfort - Fern Michaels [104]
“How do you know this?” he asked.
“Apparently the governor was keeping an eye on you. He had your phones tapped.”
Tyler was defeated and dropped his head against the steering wheel. “You knew who the blackmailer was when you found me, didn’t you, Sandra?”
Sandy looked at Tyler, who looked as though his world had just turned completely upside down. “No. I wasn’t given that information when Jellard sent me to babysit your ass tonight.”
Tyler grimaced. “Well, now you know. It’s my frigging godfather, can you believe that? Of all people. I’ve always hated the son of a bitch, and now I know why.”
Jelly hadn’t given her details. “What’s his name, this godfather of yours?”
Tyler gave a shaky laugh. “Carlton Staggers. I think he lives in Miami.”
“Then I’ll send a car to find the bastard. Your father has pulled out all the stops for the DEA, said anything we needed to do was sanctioned by the governor himself. If we find him first, do you want me to kick his ass?” Sandy asked.
Tyler just shook his head. “You’d do that for me after all the bullshit I’ve given you over the years?”
Now it was Sandy’s turn to laugh. “You’re damn right I would. Remember, that bomb almost killed me, too. So it’s personal with me.”
Tyler thought there was a very, very slim chance that someday he just might actually come to like Sandra Martin.
Someday.
Chapter 24
“I’ll contact the governor’s office and meet you in Miami as soon as I can,” Jellard said.
He closed his cell phone, and shook his head.
“What? What?” Kate asked impatiently. “Are they okay?”
“You know you’re starting to sound more like a mother hen rather than a DEA agent. And yes, they’re okay. Josh Levinson and Roy Jacobson are two of the best agents I have.”
“Gee, thanks,” Kate offered up.
“Along with you and Martin, I was about to add, but you keep interrupting me. Now, do you want to hear what went down or not?” Jelly asked.
“That can wait. First, you need to follow through on making arrangements for me to meet Aunt Constance. I have something very important to impart to her.”
After Sandy had called to tell them about rescuing Tyler from the bomb Carlton Staggers had planted in the Mustang, they’d been up all night, waiting to hear from her again. After she’d filed her report with the locals, she and Pete had been taken by a private plane to Miami, where Tyler was placed in protective custody until Carlton Staggers could be found and arrested. Tyler’s location was known only to Jelly and the governor.
On the second front, Josh and Roy had been able to nab “Aunt Constance” and “Mateo” just hours after they’d arrived in Cuba. It would be a long time before either viewed sunlight other than from behind bars.
As soon as Kate had learned Josh and Roy were back from Cuba, she begged Jelly to take her to their location. Aunt Constance and Mateo were being held in a secret location until the DEA and Key West authorities received further notice from Tom Dolan. But Homeland Security wasn’t going to get a chance at these low-life child abusers before Kate did.
“Kate, you know I can’t sanction this, especially since you’re not officially DEA. But I might be able to arrange a visit. I know a gal there, she’s in charge of security for things like this. I would bet when she gets the full story, she might allow a visit. We’re going to forget this conversation as soon as I make a few calls. You got that Rush? I know this has pissed you to the bare bone; hell, I wouldn’t mind a couple of minutes in a jail cell with these scum feeders myself, but that’s what distinguishes us from the bad guys. We catch them, Kate, the rest is up to the justice system.”
“I get your meaning, Jelly. You do whatever you can, I’ll take it from there, and this conversation never happened. Make that phone call. I’m going