Chapter 6: I'm Just a Man; I'm Not A Hero

Mr. Big Mouth, Elis, stuck his foot where the sun shone too much and yapped about my visit to Blood after I told him. Suddenly, Morgan and Ahmo went female protective on me, pushing me to stay away from the two warring criminal elements. I got a number of lectures on letting the cops and FBI do their job. They knew me well enough to realize I wasn't listening so implemented Plan B, Ahmo sticking to me like glue. Ahmo's constant presence translated to the FBI's constant presence. Sewing Elis's mouth shut sounded reasonable suddenly.

The only place I got any peace was in the MMA studio. Peace defined as only Diana keeping an eye on me. I had to wonder when the poor woman would cave and ask what she seemed dying to. I didn't know guys liked to tease as much as women until my experience with Diana's obvious frustration.

I was a little surprised to find a couple of FBI SUV's outside the gym when I walked out.

"We need you to come with us, Tavi." Diana held open the backdoor to one of the SUV.

"What's wrong?"

"Tavi, we'll explain at the house."

The need to protect Ahmo wasn't a warning sign of danger, but my own suspicions of something having gone wrong caused a spike. "What happened? Where's Ahmo ... and my Dad?"

"We'll explain everything at your house," Diana said.

"Why are we playing this shit?" Agent Tan asked coming around from the passenger side of the SUV. "Get in the car, kid!"

"Enough!" Diana leaned towards me. "Get in the car, Tavi."

"No," I replied. "I'll see you at home."

Tan made the mistake of grabbing my arm. He was good but too used to a gun as leverage. I tossed him head first inside the SUV.

"Tavi!" Diana yelled as I walked away. The FBI had shown their cards; no way they let me manhandle an agent. They wanted something.

I felt the SUV's at my back as I ran home. It was a father/daughter day. My dad instituted the monthly event after Ahmo made the turn into the teen years.

Catherine was sitting in the living room. Nobody had to tell me something had gone horribly wrong; she stood up and hugged me tightly.

"We have some bad news," Agent Diana said. The room flooded with FBI agents, three at each exit and one at each window.

"Have you found my daughter?" Catherine's voice broke. I stared at Diana. Someone must have delivered news earlier.

"Your dad was ambushed."

"I thought you had a protection detail on him."

"They're dead."

My breathing quickened. I felt an intense pressure in my chest. Ahmo! "Where's my sister?"

"Your dad didn't make it out of the car," Diana continued. "I'm sorry for your loss, Tavi."

"Where's my sister?" "Where's my daughter?"

"We haven't finished processing the scene. Whoever did this came harder than we were expecting. They got Sheriff Smith and my men cold. Didn't give them a chance!"

"Is my sister dead?" Catherine pushed me away. She stared at me like asking the question was the last betrayal she could tolerate. She covered her ears so she wouldn't hear the answer.

"We didn't find her body at the scene. We're pretty sure whoever did this took her."

"My Dad is dead, what could they want with her? What could they get for her?"

"We don't have any answers, Tavi." I nodded and walked by Agent Diana. Tan put up his hand as I tried to walk out of the room. "Tavi, let us do our job. We'll find Ahmo. You can't do anything."

Tan was staring at me with a hand on his holster. This time he'd draw and let the chips fall where they would.

"Tavi, let me do my job." My sister was in danger. Someone had her. The agents were bent on keeping control of the situation. The only way to get to her was through them. Diana got between Agent Tan and me, "I'll find her, Tavi. I promise you. I will find her."

I fought the need to go to Ahmo. There were only two suspects; I could hit them both. It would mean no more secrets. Candice wasn't ready for that yet. My angel was in danger and I fought with the driving need to protect her.

The need and I held to a stalemate for thirty minutes. It wasn't easy, but I held my instincts at bay until most of the agents cleared the room. Agent Tan and Diana talked into their cell phones and left the room together.

Thirty minutes!

The remaining agents did not stop me from going to my room. Most of my hunting outfits were in Candace's office. I tore open new packages and was dressed in two minutes. I noticed the envelope on my pillow as I opened the window. There was a card in the envelope.