Part 16 (2/2)

Davis's voice had the edge of barely controlled anger. ”Then what the h.e.l.l are you doing hiding from me?”

Tiffany's voice trembled as she tried to explain. ”I wasn't hiding from you. Haven't you heard about that dead woman, the councilman's daughter? The cops are after me about that. Ask Cappy where he found me. I was getting a bus ticket to get my baby out of town. I can't take no murder rap.”

”Why would they think you had something to do with that?”

Davis's voice still sounded skeptical.

”That's what I'm saying. Word on the street is she was poisoned or drugged and I was there. That's all I know. You gotta help me, baby.

We were good together. You know it.”

Davis's cruel laugh vibrated through the walls and Alex s.h.i.+vered.

”Ain't that justice for you? That d.a.m.n drink was meant for you. I thought you were informing on me. I had one of my boys pa.s.sing out drinks at the meeting. You must've given it to the Chambers girl. There was enough in that thing to kill a horse.”

Tiffany started crying. ”I can't believe you tried to kill me. I swear, Sonny, I never double-crossed you. I love you, baby.”

”We'll see about that. I don't have time to deal with this s.h.i.+t now.”

A loud thump against the wall startled Alex back into the corner of the room. ”Cappy, get your sorry a.s.s in here.”

* 147 *

”Yeah, boss?”

”Take Tiffany to my safe house on the east side and stay with her.

Don't let her out of your sight. If you lose her, it's your a.s.s. Got it?”

”Sure thing, boss.”

Alex had heard enough. Her muscles tightened with loathing for Sonny Davis. His comments were not only incriminating, but they just might be the nal nail in his cof n in Stacey's case. She peeked out the door, saw that Fletch was still occupied with the dancer, and headed back to the table. Keri was sitting with Hunk and Dolph, looking like a dejected child.

”Lynn, we have to go.” Alex's tone left no room for argument.

She helped Keri to her feet, arms around her waist, and guided her to the front door.

”Hey, where you going?” Dolph called after them.

”Some sick f.u.c.k put something in her drink. We'll party another time,” Alex shouted back, already halfway across the room.

When they returned to the car, Alex radioed for a marked unit to stop Cappy's car when it left the club. It was to look like a routine traf c stop. When they found Tiffany Brown, they were to arrest her on suspicion of murder. Under no circ.u.mstances was she to be allowed to post bail. If there were any papers on Cappy, they were directed to serve them; if not, to release him. She told Beth what she'd heard between Davis and Tiffany. She wanted Steve to take a sworn statement from Tiffany before morning. She also told Beth that she'd take Keri home.

Her instructions were for Beth to pick Keri up the next day.

Clear of the club, Alex drove in silence and fumed inside. First thing tomorrow, Beth would get Keri to the hospital for a blood test.

Con rmation of drugs in Keri's system would be essential, even though they'd never be able to prove who actually spiked her drink. She thought of Josh's death and knew Keri would go ballistic when she found out about her own drugging.

Alex knew it was her fault. She was responsible for keeping things under control. It was her job to antic.i.p.ate anything. Her focus should've been strictly on Davis and his a.s.sociates, not wandering to Keri and worrying about her. She'd failed the operation, her experience, and most of all, Keri. Costly mistakes were often the result of mixing business with pleasure.

Keri s.h.i.+fted toward the console and leaned her head against Alex's * 148 *

shoulder. Her condition seemed to have deteriorated since leaving the club. She looked up through bloodshot eyes and said, ”I'm really sorry.

I messed up, didn't I?” She stroked Alex's arm, let her hand rest over Alex's on the console and entwined their ngers.

The delicate caress raised goose b.u.mps that raced to Alex's center and exploded into heat. This is exactly what I was just kicking myself for. But still she didn't stop Keri.

”I've got to tell you something, Alex.” Keri's voice wandered and slurred. She released Alex's ngers and placed her hand on Alex's thigh. ”It's important.”

Alex's breath caught in her throat. ”Save it for another day. You'll be glad you did.”

Keri's head was spinning, but she continued, ”I'm not sorry I touched you. I wanted-”

”Don't say any more. Please, Keri.”

”I've been having these feelings ever since I met you. We both know I'm no good at hiding how I feel.” All of a sudden a dim light went on in Keri's head and she struggled to sit up. ”OmiG.o.d, am I red?”

”No, you're not red. You're just a bit drunk, so I won't hold anything you say against you. Is this your house?”

Keri pointed to the John Deere mailbox with her father's name on it. ”Yep, that's me, country b.u.mpkin Keri Lynn Morgan. You can let me out here. I don't want to wake my folks.”

”I'll make sure you're safely inside.”

Alex helped Keri up the steps, through the screened-in porch, back door, and into her bedroom. The smell of fried chicken lled the house and reminded Alex she hadn't eaten since breakfast. It was easy to picture Keri in the modestly furnished farmhouse caring for her parents with the loyalty and hard work such a place inspired.

Keri's small bedroom was fairly nondescript with the exception of a hand-knitted comforter at the foot of her bed and two framed pictures on the dresser. One photograph was her mother, apparent by Keri's striking resemblance to her. Her mother was pinning her badge on at the graduation ceremony from the academy. The other was a handsome young man with jet-black hair and blue-gray eyes.

Noticing the direction of Alex's gaze, Keri said, ”That's Josh, my first true love. No s.e.x, but love just the same. I was closer to him than my own brother.”

* 149 *

Alex inched as she imagined Keri in anyone's arms but hers.

Keri continued, her words becoming more slurred. ”He died a year ago, too. 'Member I told you a f.u.c.kin' doper slipped him an overdose at a frat party? He didn't even do drugs.” Her blue eyes turned stormy as she stared at the picture.

Alex knew this was the reason Keri needed so desperately to be on the task force. It was about revenge. She'd gotten her own powerful lesson about revenge from Helen. It could serve as a motivator but also led to poor judgment. She hoped Keri would not fall prey to bad decisions she would later regret.

Keri looked away from the photograph and snickered. ”How about that?” She stripped down to her thong without the slightest hesitation or embarra.s.sment. ”I got you into my bedroom on our first date.”

Alex stared, openly admiring Keri's strong body and resisting the temptation to touch her, just once, to feel that hot silky skin respond to her searching ngers.

”Wait. I'll be right back.” Keri steadied herself along the furniture and hallway to the bathroom. She returned a few minutes later smelling of soap and toothpaste. She jumped into the four-poster bed and snuggled under the covers.

”Are you okay?” Alex sat on the edge of the bed, trying desperately to suppress her desire.

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