Life settled into a regular rhythm. Evenings were spent at the executive suite DOJ kept for exactly these situations. I rented my condo out, and I had great tenants. It would be silly to kick them out when I really wanted to be at the cabin with Chayton.

I spent time on video calls with Malia and Ella. We agreed on Nubian goats for milking even though they produced less milk per day. Their fat content was exceptional, and Malia was looking to produce both butter and cheese from her goats.

It would take time to gather a small herd of them, though. Breeders weren't looking to produce them for anything but pets for the most part, so Malia was researching her options there. The Cashmere goats were in progress. Probably at least two to three years before she could get them into the country. Angoras were in the same predicament. She didn't want animals from poor bloodlines.

Boer was her choice for meat. It happened that a local rancher was getting out of the goat business and his herd was hardened to the desert climate. His goats survived well in the high desert of New Mexico and will do well here.

I could hear the sounds of construction outside. I took out a construction mortgage, and the shelters were going up. adobe style with seriously thick walls to keep the heat out in the day and in over night. Storage for hay and other food for the goats, as well as a proper stable for the horses was going up in a third building. At the last second, I decided to let Malia add a couple of rooms to the hooghan.

Chayton had contacts in Land Services, and I signed a lease to use about a thousand acres for pasture. The access was about two miles down the road from our grandmother's property. I volunteered to be there when she moved the herd.

The male Boer goat was huge. It was hard to believe how big these animals were. The buck was almost four hundred pounds. No wonder she wanted this breed for meat. The Myotonic goats put on more muscle, but the Boers were just plain bigger. As Malia said, fainting goats weren't good where there were cliffs and arroyos everywhere. The Boer nannies usually had multiple births making them a very good bargain.

"I'm putting the architect who designed the barns and shelters to work on a cheese house. Goat butter is really popular as well. We need the facilities here. I've talked to the state about registering our business as well," Malia was pacing as she talked, moving in and out of camera range.

Ella sat down in front of the I-pad. "Aunty Malia wants me to tell you about Abuelita." I hit record immediately as she lapsed into Spanish. No wonder she barely spoke in English. I needed to find out if Chayton spoke it. Mine was rusty, but I understood her, even if my spoken fluency was horrid.

I knew Ophelia was completely bilingual. She handled a lot of our Spanish only cases. She would be able to untangle Ella's excited prattle. We had a last name. And we had an address. Her mother's ex was somehow involved with the cartel running drugs.

"Gracias, Ella. I will try to find your Abuelita for you." We were speaking a mix of English and Spanish, which she was far better at than I was.

"I want to stay here though. Abuelita wants to come to America too."

The child was far more articulate than I thought for her age. "How old are you, Ella?'

"Seven. Abuelita says I'm going to be short like she is."

Our conversation went on, and I had a list of notes giving me her last name and last address. Northern Mexico. I had a problem. Would Edison have a contact with the Mexican authorities? International cooperation was better now, but this was a very sensitive case.

"Ella, it's bedtime for you. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?" I switched back to English. She giggled at my mangled Spanish, and we continued in an unlikely mix of the two languages.

"Patch and Snow come in at night. Miguel watches the goats at night, but the big Billy goat is a good guard too. He killed a coyote last night."

I shook my head. She wasn't even upset about it. Possibly her home was somewhere in the desert hills before. It made sense with the address she gave me.

Malia gave me the cut it off sign from behind Ella and I said goodbye. Time to see what was up with Chayton.

"How are you love?"

His first words brought the same clutch in my chest as they did the first time he said the words. So different from my ex. I told him about Ella's revelations. His smile was wide, and he said, "Since I'm working with ICE maybe I can find a way to get her grandmother up here. It seems like she's all Ella has for family."

"How close are you to rounding up your suspects up there?" Chayton was in New York state, close to the Canadian border.

"Operation Noose is set for tomorrow. I should be back in two days. And some of the hassles we've had making sure we have our ducks in a row had me thinking."

I knew that tone now. He usually had the solution and my email program notified me of an incoming message. "Okay, spill."

He continued with a wolfish grin.

"I have a proposal for you to put to Edison. I've sent the paperwork to you. I think we need a liaison between the agencies working on the human trafficking issues. I've detailed the position, so we have one person gathering the intelligence finds from all involved."

"Great idea. They could make a daily bulletin for all agencies. Save a lot of misfires when we're on the hunt for unknown suspects. I'll look it over, so I know what the details are. I'll pitch it to Edison. DOJ can influence the president when others can't. Besides," and I made a sour face as I spoke, "It's a sexy vote getter. Especially since things have been sliding since 9/11."

"I hate politicians." Chayton's expression matched mine. "It's why I never want to leave the field. I'd just as soon shoot some of them."

I was nodding as I spoke, "But don't let them hear you say that too loudly."

"Yeah, I hear you."

"Love you Chayton. I'm missing you and it aches. I can't wait for you to get back. But it's time for me to get some rest. I've got court tomorrow. We're choosing a jury for Whitcomb's trial."

"That's further along than I thought. What happened?"

"He's fired every lawyer who was assigned to him. I think he's quite mad, but not to the point of not understanding proceedings or responsibility. He spent the time we were away in a forensic psych unit in Tucson, the reports are damning. He is exercising his right to defend himself."

"Then he has a fool for a client."

I snorted. "The judge will decide that question first. I think they will allow it as the psych evaluation states quite firmly that he is mentally competent and knows the consequences of his actions. He just doesn't believe he was wrong. I probably shouldn't be sharing this with you, but you do have the clearances and I know you won't compromise the trial by running to the press."

He snorted this time. "I find most of them disgusting. No care for accuracy anymore. They slant everything for fear factor and sensationalism. After all ratings are the most important thing. I want him behind bars. There's no way I'll be the source of a leak."

"We're on the same page there. Anyway, I'll be counting the minutes. Two days?"

"Two days. Love you, Alyana. I always will."

"Love you too. Talk to you tomorrow."

"Bye."

I couldn't get myself to break the connection, but Chayton smiled and said, "I'll do it."

The monitor went blank.