Hidden Allegiance - Undercover Valor, Book 1
Chapter 1
As the heat of the Arizona sun beat down on Daffanie Flower’s back as she walked through her neighborhood street. She raised her right hand to wipe off the sweat that formed above her eyebrows on her forehead. The sound of cars passing on the street next to where Daffanie was walking put her mind at ease. Daffanie had lived in Jerome, Arizona for the past two years, the population was small with only four hundred and sixty people living there.
As Daffanie reached the local park where all the kids usually play, she heard two voices, both voices seemed to belong to men. What are they arguing about? That question raced through Daffanie’s head as she got closer to where the voices were coming from. As she got even closer, she heard a very distinct gunshot, Daffianie patted herself checking to see if she had gotten shot, nope she hasn’t. Without thinking she ran towards the gunshot, her nurse instincts started to kick in, as she stumbled upon a backpack that laid approximately a foot from the body of one of the men, while the other man who had shot the gun had run off after shooting the other man. Daffanie pulled out her phone and called 911.
“911, what’s your emergency?” The Dispatcher asked. Daffanie cleared her voice. “My name is Daffanie Flower, I’m a nurse at Verde Valley Medical Center, I was walking down my neighborhood towards the park, when I heard two men arguing and then a gunshot. I’m one of Verde Valley Medical Center’s only ER nurses and I can tell the man that got shot is dead, though I saw the other guy run off and get into a waiting car. The car took off after the man got inside. The car was a 2005, silver toyota camry, license plate ended in 589, I didn’t see the first letters though. The driver looked to be a female. There is a backpack that is lying at least a foot away from the body.” Daffanie explained to the dispatcher. The dispatcher took a while to respond, “Don’t touch anything. I’m sending police and ambulances to your location as we speak, please stay on the line ma’am.” the dispatcher reassured.
“Are you in a safe location right now ma’am?” The dispatcher asked. “I’m not really sure, I’m still at the park, but I’m under a tree right now waiting for the police.” Daffanie explained. “Ma’am, will you be able to pinpoint the shooter, if you see him again?” the dispatcher asked. Daffanie’s response was quick, “Yes, I will.” she explained.
Kyliee Kirk was driving her police cruiser downtown, when all the sudden during the quiet day, her radio began to go chatter from the dispatcher. “Unit 62, this is dispatch, do you copy?” the dispatcher asked. Kyliee grabbed her police radio and held down the button on the side. “Dispatch, this is Unit 62. Go ahead.” She responded. “There was a murder at the local park in Jerome, Arizona. A witness who will be able to recognize the murderer, she is waiting at the park.” the dispatcher informed.
Kyliee turned on her police cruiser lights and sirens and began to race to the scene. She pulled up at the crime scene, as she put her SUV in park, she hopped out. “Ma’am please wait in the back of my SUV.” she said. She opened the door to her police cruiser for the witness to get in.
Daffanie sat inside the back of the SUV while Officer Kirk walked around the scene, finally Kyliee walked over to the door of the SUV and opened it. “Ms?” Kyliee asked. “Daffanie Flower.” Daffanie responded. “What happened here Ms. Flower?” Officer Kirk asked, holding a notebook and a pen. Daffanie cleared her throat. “I had just gotten home from working a twenty-four hour shift when I decided to go on a walk, I usually do that after long shifts. After I got close to the park, I heard two men arguing, then a gunshot sounded after, and then I stumbled upon him dead like this.” She explained. “Also, the murderer got into a 2005 silver toyota camry, the driver seemed to be a girl.” Daffanie reccounted the situation. Kyliee wrote everything down right as her backup and CSI arrived.
Max Wells was the second cop on the scene. He took pictures of the crime scene. He tried to find an ID for the victim, he was wearing gloves as he searched through the victim’s pockets. He pulled out a wallet and opened it up. There inside was a driver license. “Vic’s name is Laken Wess, does that ring any bells?” he asked everyone at the scene.
Kyliee shook her head. “Nope, what about you Daffanie?” she asked. Daffanie shook her head. “I don’t know that name.” she commented.
US Marshal Caesar McHenry sat at his desk filling out paperwork. His boss, Jonnie George sent out a mass email, telling everyone to be at the meeting in six minutes. Caesar looked at his friend Colt confused. “Usually we don’t have meetings this late.. Wonder what’s going on.” he said. He stood up and walked with Colt to the conference room. “Not sure, Jonnie will tell us soon.” Colt responded. Colt sat by Caesar in the conference room as every other Marshal arrived. Once everyone was sitting in the conference room, Jonnie stood up. “Everyone, thank you for coming on such short notice.” She said with an appreciative voice. Colt looked up at her. “Ma’am? What’s going on?” he asked. “Good question Colt, I just got a call from a friend in the Jerome Arizona police department or JAPD. They recently had a murder happen in broad daylight.” she started to explain.
“Ma’am? Why would they call us for a murder?” Deputy US Marshal Colt Henderson asked. “Great question Colt. They called us because their only witness can possibly ID the suspect. So, Deputy Marshal Caesar McHenry, I want you on standby. If the witness gets threatened, I want you to protect her. And everyone else is on standby to help Deputy Marshal Caesar McHenry if it comes to the need of protecting the witness.” Jonnie ordered, her tone went from playful to very serious.
Everyone agreed and let out a yes ma’am. Finally the meeting was over and Caesar went back to his desk.
Colt followed Caesar to Caesar’s desk. He leaned against the side of Caesar’s cubicle, “Maybe the witness will be hot.” He said laughing and then his laugh was replaced by a smirk. Caesar punched Colt’s upper arm. “Shut up.” he said, feeling his face getting warmer. “Stop being a flirt Colt, maybe it’s a good thing you're not protecting her.” Caesar said dryly. Colt gave a playfully wounded expression. Caesar pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts and clicked his mother’s contact and he clicked call. As the call kept ringing, finally it went to voicemail. But his mother’s voicemail was full, Caesar then found his sister’s contact and clicked the call icon. Soph picked up, “Hey brother.” she said, greeting him. Caesar smiles to himself. “Hey Soph, please tell mom that I won’t be going to sunday dinners and sunday churches for a while. I’m on standby to protect a witness here. Mom’s voicemail is full again.” He asked, he knew his mother would be upset but she’d understand. “I also can’t go to Austin’s birthday, once this case is over I’ll make it up to him. I’d love to see Austin, mom, dad, and you. I love you sis.” He said, he took a deep breath. Soph on the other line said, “Caesar, we understand. Your job is important, let me know when you can come and visit and I’ll request time off. Love you bro, I gotta go. I’ll call you later.” Soph said before hanging up.
Daffanie had gone home after spending a few hours at the police station giving her statement. She couldn’t get the image of the body out of her mind. Before the police allowed her to go home, they had given her a US Marshal’s number to call in case she starts getting threats. Right as she began to close her eyes and drift into a deep sleep, the sound of breaking glass awoke her from her slumber. Daffanie reached for her baseball bat that she keeps by her bedside table with her registered glock on the table. She keeps them in her room since she’s a woman who lives by herself. She then grabbed her phone and glanced at the time, 4:30 in the morning. She hated waking people up, but she knew she had too. She needed to call the US Marshal.
Daffanie swiped to unlock her phone before clicking the phone app. She typed in the phone number the police officer gave her for the US Marshal. “Please answer…” she begged in a whisper.
The constant shriek of his terrible ringtone sent Caesar out of his deep sleep. He groaned as he reached for his phone to check the number and he noticed what time it was. “4:30?! Who’s calling at this time?” He asked himself. He was close to letting it go to voicemail but for some reason he felt compelled to answer. He swiped accept. “Hello?” Caesar asked, his voice gave away that he had just been woken up.
“Is this US Marshal Caesar McHenry?” the scared voice of Daffanie asked. Caesar’s sleepiness evaporated. He had a feeling this was the witness. He quickly sat up. “This is him, is this Daffanie?” he asked. “Yes, someone is breaking into my house. I’m scared it’s the murderer..” Daffanie said, her voice filled with fear. She seemed vulnerable right now. Caesar was quiet for a second. “Alright, I’m on my way, I’m gonna make some calls to the police. Try to get out of the house, I’ll pick up. I’ll be driving a blue 2022 Ford Bronco.” Caesar ordered, authority in his voice.
Once the call ended, Daffanie quietly went to her bedroom windows and gently unlocked them, before opening the windows and crawling out of her bedroom windows. She had her phone, wallet, and her gun in her purse. She booked it towards an abandoned cabin. She then pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Caesar.
Caesar received the text and after getting off the phone with Officer Kyliee Kirk, he arrived at the abandoned cabin that Daffanie was hiding at. He then unlocked the car doors and waited for Daffanie. He sent Daffanie a text explaining that he was there at the cabin.
Daffanie watched from the upstairs window as Caesar arrived and she ran down the stairs of the cabin and out the door. She went to Caesar’s car door and opened the door. She slipped inside, visibly shaken by the whole ordeal. “I’m sorry for waking you up.” She apologized.
Caesar looked at the pretty nurse next to him. He pushed his attraction down knowing he had to protect her. “No need to be sorry, your safety is my top priority.” he reassured her. Caesar pushed the gas to the metal, speeding away from the abandoned cabin. Caesar glanced at Daffanie. “Get some sleep. You’re safe here with me.” he said softly, he turned on the radio and played some soothing music. Daffanie looked at Caesar. “Thank you Marshal.” she said.
Caesar smiles. “Call me Caesar, who knows how many days we’ll be hiding together.” he said, giving her a smile. “Then call me Daffanie.” Daffanie said before curling up in a ball shape and slowly fell asleep in the front seat of Caesar’s bronco.
As Caesar drove out of Jerome, Arizona, he glanced at the time, it was now 6:30am. Caesar let out a small yawn. After being on the road for at least a good two hours, he pulled into a gas station and he slipped outside of the car without waking Daffanie. He walked over to the gas pump, he put his credit card inside and began pumping gas into the bronco.
Daffanie woke up and let out a small yawn. She realized Caesar wasn’t in the car. “Caesar?” she asked. Caesar looked inside the car. “I’m here, just getting gas.” He reassured her. Daffanie looked around, the area didn’t look familiar. “Where are we going?” she asked as she watched Caesar finish pumping gas and slip inside the car. “We are going to Phoenix, Arizona, to my sister and brother-in-law’s house. My sister Soph is a military captain in the Air Force. Soph’s husband Jack is an FBI agent.” he explained. Daffanie nods, “Alright, thank you Caesar.” she said, before laying her head against the side of the car seat and she began to fall asleep again.
Caesar pulled out his phone while sitting in the gas station. He unlocked his phone and clicked on his sister’s contact and clicked the call button. On the third ring, Soph White, Caesar’s younger sister answered. “Everything ok, brother?” Soph’s voice appeared over the bluetooth speaker’s in the car.
“Soph, I’m almost at your house. I have my witness with me.” Caesar informed. “Alright, I’ll inform Jack, we’ll be waiting for you. When you get to the base, tell the guard, Lieutenant Linc Sanders, he’s a friend of mine. Tell him you guys are here visiting me. If he questions, call me.” Soph informed Caesar. Soph is one of the higher ups in the air force, she reported to the general. While everyone else reports to Captains like herself. “Thanks, sis.” Caesar said before hanging up the phone. Daffannie woke up about thirty minutes later. Caesar began to make the drive into Phoenix, Arizona. He took the backways so they wouldn’t be followed. He noticed the sign for the air force base and he made the turn to head towards the air force gates. As he got closer to the gates he noticed Lieutenant Linc Sanders.
Caesar pulled up in front of the gate and Lieutenant Linc Sanders walked over to Caesar’s passenger window. Caesar rolled down the window to talk to the lieutenant. “What's your business here?” Linc asked, his voice skeptical. “I’m here to visit my sister, Captain Soph White and her husband Jack White.” Caesar explained. Linc didn’t want any trouble with Soph so he had his k-9, Kakko sniff around Caesar’s bronco before allowing him through the gates. Caesar pulled through the gates and began to drive towards Soph’s military housing, he pulled into the driveway of Soph’s house. “We’re here, let’s go ring the door.” He told Daffanie.
Caesar and Daffanie got out of the car and walked over to Soph’s front door and knocked on the door. Soph answered the door. “Hey Caesar, is this your witness?” she asked. Caesar nods, “Soph this is Daffanie. Daffanie is my sister Soph and her husband Jack. We should be safe here.” He reassured Daffanie. “Thank you for allowing us to stay here.” Daffanie said she appreciated it. “It’s no problem! You’re safe.” Jack said, while standing behind his wife. Jack and Soph stepped away from the door allowing Daffanie and Caesar to step inside.
Spring 
Night Weather: 
Flood Moon: 
