Above the Law by Carsen Taite

“What about the rest of the team?”
    Gellar grunted. “Don’t need a team anymore. We’ve got what we need. It’s just a matter of catching that damn vagrant who’s still on the loose. Any cop in a uniform can get that done.” He stood and reached out a hand to Dale. “Agent Nelson, thanks for all your hard work, but I can take it from here. Besides, I’m sure you have much more important things to do than run down a fugitive.”
    Gellar left the room and Dale could only shake her head. Sure, she had much more important things to do, like keep a beautiful woman company while a ruthless drug lord was on the lam. She vowed again not to let Lindsey Ryan or her silly story get in the way of her real work, no matter what Herschel Gellar had to say about it.

C HAPTER S EVEN
    Dale pulled up at Peyton’s ranch and parked her truck to the left of the tiny sports car she recognized as Bianca’s. How had she made it up the rocky drive in the low-riding car? After she stepped out of the truck, she stood still for a few minutes, soaking up the fresh country air.
    She’d always lived in town, but lately she’d been considering getting a place farther out with some land and maybe a horse or two. The thought lasted the two minutes it usually did before her inner voice nagged about how hard it would be to keep up with a place like that all on her own. Since Maria’s death, she’d shoved all her belongings in storage and moved into a small apartment near work. The two rooms were stifling, but better than looking out over the front lawn every day where her wife had been mowed down in the quiet neighborhood they’d chosen to spend the rest of their lives. The money from the sale of the house was in the bank, waiting for whenever she was ready to move on with her life. She figured it would be there a long time.
    As if on cue, Peyton and Lily stepped out from the front of the main house. She’d had a ringside seat to their burgeoning romance, and while she was happy for them, she couldn’t deny a tinge of envy as she witnessed their relationship unfold. Lily waved and she waved back, unable to resist her welcoming smile.
    “Get in here, Dale,” Lily called out. “Or you’ll miss Fernanda’s pie, and trust me, you don’t want to miss this pie.”
    Dale couldn’t help but return the smile. “Is it chocolate?”
    “Yes.”
    “Meringue or cream?”
    “Cream, of course.”
    Dale took the steps two at a time. “You said the magic word.” She nodded to Peyton and said, “Everyone here?”
    “All inside.”
    “Sorry I’m late. Had to shake a reporter. Lindsey Ryan’s in town to do some human interest piece on the DEA, and Diego pawned her off on me.”
    “Lindsey Ryan?” Lily asked. “Wasn’t she the reporter embedded with the troops in Afghanistan? I love her. What’s she like?”
    Dale paused before answering. Her opinion of Lindsey was still in flux, and her impressions of her percolated in the back of her mind. She settled on a vague, “She’s okay.” She saw Lily’s eyebrows knit into a curious expression, but thankfully, Peyton saved her from further interrogation about her celebrity pest.
    “Lily, we better get started.”
    Lily gave Peyton a peck on the cheek. “No problem. I’m meeting with one of the contractors at the house. You go do your business, and I’ll go do mine.”
    She walked to the stable and Dale waited until she was out of earshot before saying, “You two moving in together?”
    “As soon as the house is ready. It’s been a while since it was lived in, so we’re having some work done. Lily thinks it will be the perfect place for a wedding.”
    “A wedding, huh?”
    “You have something you want to say?”
    Peyton’s challenge was clear, but Dale wasn’t looking for a fight. “I won’t deny it seems a bit quick, but it’s none of my business. I wish you both the best.”
    Peyton’s shoulders relaxed, but Dale could tell she still had something on her mind, and she asked