“I don’t believe you,” she answered. “Some of it’s past history and I know it.”

The door flew open and six police officers stood in a line, all holding guns while facing the Big Man and Crystal.

While the Big Man still had hold of her hair, he pulled a gun from his pocket and put it up to her head. “Drop your guns or the dame dies.”

Jake walked in and lifted his gun toward the Big Man. “Danny DeLuca sent us, saying you were kidnapping someone.” He glanced at Crystal. “Are you in trouble?”

“Does the gun to my head give you any hints?” she answered, her voice lowered.

He turned to the Big Man. “Frankie Kentrell, you’re under arrest for kidnapping a dancer from the Las Vegas strip. You have the right to remain silent-”

“I’ll shoot!” the Big Man yelled, slamming the gun to her head. “Get out of here, or I’ll shoot!”

“No, you won’t,” Crystal said, then turned toward the District Attorney. “Jake, he doesn’t have any bullets in that gun.”

The Big Man turned the gun to the side and checked. “I don’t?”

“Genius,” she muttered. She grabbed his gun and slammed him against the wall. “I’m a federal agent. I have you saying so many things on tape and don’t believe any of it’s a lie. You’ll have to prove it’s not a lie, and while you’re doing that, we’ll be corroborating the details with our agents all over the nation. You’re going down, Frankie, and I’m going to make sure you do.”

“Let me guess. You’re not Kacie, are you?”

She snorted her laughter. “Sure. You can think of me that way if you want to.”

The other officers cuffed the Big Man while Jake walked to Crystal, pulling her into a big hug. He faced her, then touched his lips to hers. “Tell me, babe. What’s he got that I don’t have?”

“A bigger gun.” She shot him a wink.

~~~~~

“That was nice of the department to send us on a vacation,” Crystal said, looking out over the blue water while sitting on a white beach on the shores of the Bahamas.

“Sure was,” Jake replied. He reached down to the cooler beside him and pulled out a small box. “Happy tenth anniversary.”

She grinned, then answered in a high-pitched voice. “Thanks, sweetheart!” Upon opening the box, she began to laugh. “A necklace with a big gun on it. How thoughtful.”

He leaned up to her. “Does that mean I win your heart now?”

She sat on top of him, smothering him with kisses. “Sure, Jake. I’m all yours.”