Hot Trick (A Detective Shelley Caldwell Novel) (2 page)

Donations were brisk, buckets traveling through the crowd filling up quickly. My mind whirled with questions.

Why had Sebastian picked the Rivera case?

Silke, no doubt. Probably outraged for me when Ruben Hernandez had walked, she’d brought Sebastian’s attention to the case.

A sudden jostling and shouts snapped me out of my musing.

The gang members had gotten hold of the buckets of money.

Instinct propelled me after the closest duo. Snake Eyes wielded a knife, protecting Tattoo Boy, who was carrying one of the buckets. The crowd parted for them. And for me.

Where the hell were the security guards?

My hand slipped to the gun holstered at the back of my waist and pulled it free. My pulse
tick, tick, ticked
…faster and faster. The moment I put some distance between me and the crowd, I shouted, “Freeze or I’ll blow off your frickin’ heads!”

Of course the last thing any cop wanted to do was discharge a weapon. Too much damn paperwork.

Tattoo Boy stumbled and Snake Eyes turned and flipped the knife—blade in his hand—so that he could throw it at me. “Catch, bitch!”

No hesitation, I rolled to the ground as the knife whizzed too close for comfort over the spot where I’d been standing. It fell harmlessly to the ground with a clatter, and someone nearby shrieked. Heart pounding, I came up to one knee, holding my gun with both hands.

“Drop to the ground,” I ordered.

Suddenly, the guy carrying the bucket threw it down, but before he and his partner could attempt a getaway, two beefy security guards were on them. Thankfully, because cops didn’t shoot to wound and I wasn’t up to killing anyone. A quick look across the crowd assured me another pair of security guards had stopped the other gang tag team.

And I could take an easy breath, because a uniformed officer was heading this way. Since I really, really hated paperwork, I would be happy to let him make the collar.

Sebastian couldn’t take his eyes off Shelley Caldwell as she aimed her weapon at the would-be thieves. He knew exactly who she was…the reason he’d hired her sister.

To get to her.

“Omigod, Shell,” Silke muttered, winding up as if she meant to help.

What did Silke think she could accomplish? Sebastian held back from stopping the little bastards himself. Then the security guards took over and Silke relaxed.

And Sebastian burned his gaze into Shelley Caldwell’s being.

Turn and face me…

Her back twitched but she didn’t turn.

You want to look at me…

She seemed to be fighting herself, and in the end, she stepped forward to speak to the uniformed officer who’d arrived on the scene.

Look back, just for a second…

She stopped and twitched but kept herself under control, her full attention on the thieves and their captors.

Not only was Detective Shelley Caldwell fearless, she was formidable. Not only had she risked life and limb to stop the thieves, but she’d been able to resist his suggestions.

Which made her more of a challenge than he’d expected.

And, hopefully, more of a pleasure.

The weirdest feeling itched at me, like someone was trying to crawl into my skin.

The closest thing I could compare it to was Silke climbing into my head. Only this wasn’t Silke. I knew when she was knocking at my headwaves. I trembled from the effort it took to ignore her.

Silke and I have always had a special connection…one I hadn’t always appreciated. A twin thing, I guess, not that I’d ever met any other twins who had quite the same experience. Or any who would admit as much. Not only could Silke and I second guess each other, we could communicate without words.

Literally.

It had started when we were toddlers, before we could talk. Maybe earlier. Sometimes I wondered if we’d been able to communicate in the womb. We’d been able to send images and impressions and feelings to each other. And eventually unspoken words. It had been a fun kid thing for a while, but by the time we’d reached puberty, I’d had enough of other kids making fun of us, playing tricks on us and treating us like dirt that belonged under their little shoes. I hadn’t wanted to be different anymore, while Silke had reveled in it.

Nearly two decades later, nothing had changed.

Thankfully, the weird feeling eased and a couple more uniforms arrived on the scene to help the first officer cuff the bastards. I gave my statement and then they dragged off all four gang members to a waiting paddy wagon.

I headed for the stage. Fans oohed and aahed me nearly as openly as they had Sebastian. The back of my neck grew hot. Unlike my theatrical sister, I’d never craved that kind of attention.

“Shell, thank God you’re all right,” Silke said, throwing her arms around me. “What did you think you were doing?”

“My job?”

“Catching petty thieves?”

“Criminals are criminals.” After giving her a quick hug, I pulled back. “And there’s nothing petty about what was in those donation buckets.”

“Money that will help a young woman in her quest for justice.”

My pulse started ticking the moment I heard Sebastian’s voice. Turning to face him, I found my personal space a little too crowded for my comfort. A giant step back eased the knot in my middle.

“How is she going to get justice?” I asked.

“Nothing to raise your suspicions. Ms. Rivera wants to hire someone to find new evidence of Hernandez’s guilt, and if she can’t get him to a new criminal trial, she’ll go for a civil trial. Very expensive undertakings.”

“But you’re willing to bankroll her.”

“Not me. The good people of this city.”

“By the way,” Silke butted in, “you probably don’t need introductions, but Shell, this is Sebastian Cole. Sebastian, my sister, Detective Shelley Caldwell.”

When Sebastian took my hand and raised it to his lips, I wanted to pull it free, but a wave of indecision stopped me. I don’t know if it was the way he was staring or what, but I felt powerless to do anything but play along. What the hell? I couldn’t stop looking at him. Up close and personal, he seemed familiar somehow.

Sebastian’s lips brushed the inside of my wrist. “Delighted.”

My gaze felt glued to those lips. “Uh-huh.”

“And thank you for your quick thinking in stopping the thieves. Not that it was necessary that you put yourself in danger.”

“They would have gotten away.”

“Not necessarily.”

Though I wondered what he thought might have happened if I hadn’t intervened, I didn’t ask.

“I would like to get to know Silke’s sister better. Perhaps you can join me for a late supper?”

“Already ate,” I lied.

One of his dark eyebrows lifted. “A drink?”

“Alcohol would knock the stuffing out of me tonight. I just got off a seventy-two-hour shift.”

“And you’re still standing?” Silke asked.

A rhetorical question. She knew detectives had no lives in the heat of a new homicide. We lived at the office and slept there when we could spare a few hours.

Sebastian gave me one of those intense looks and asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Just tell me why you picked the Rivera case tonight.”

His secretive smile raised the flesh along my spine.

“Perhaps because I knew that case was important to you.”

Right. He wasn’t going to tell me. So it had to be Silke.

Someone calling, “Sebastian, over here,” broke the connection.

The escape artist glanced at the woman waving him over. “Tanya is signaling me.”

According to the program, Tanya Janicek was his public relations person, the one who got the word of his appearances out to the fans.

He met my gaze. “Until we meet again.”

If we do,
I thought.

“Don’t worry, we will,” he said, as if he’d heard.

I must have gaped a little as he walked away, because the next thing I knew, Silke was snorting at me.

“What?”

“Just wondering what Jake would think if he knew you were attracted to another man.”

“What?” I asked again.

“Oh, please, Shell. I should recognize the signs by now.”

Though I wanted to argue, I kept silent. Silke had a valid point. Sebastian
had
stirred my senses, Jake
wouldn’t
like it…and I simply didn’t want to think about it.

“You look like hell,” Silke suddenly said. “When was the last time you were home?”

“Like three days ago. But I’m on my way there now.”

“You ate last when?”

“What is this? You becoming Mom?”

“I’m just concerned about you, Shell. You don’t always take good care of yourself.”

That was a flip, her worrying about me. Then again, Silke had changed some. Less self-involved than she used to be.

Hugging her, I said, “I really can take care of myself.”

“So you haven’t eaten since when? And don’t give me the bull you laid on Sebastian.”

“Earlier.”

“How much earlier?” Silke pressed.

“This morning.”

“Well, we’ll just take care of that right now. I’m done here for the night. Let’s eat.”

My gaze roamed the area and zeroed in on Sebastian. Much of the crowd had dispersed, but some fans lingered on, clambering for autographs. Sebastian didn’t seem to mind. I, on the other hand, wasn’t going to wait around like some groupie to get a last word with him.

“Okay, drag me off and feed me, then.” Turning down Sebastian was one thing, my sister quite another.

Silke led me to a bar on the next block and then ordered a couple of burgers as she swept me back to an empty booth. I sank onto the padded bench with a sigh.

“Food’ll make you feel better,” Silke murmured.

“A real bed would make me feel better.”

“You haven’t slept, either?”

“I got a couple hours kissing a cot last night at the Area office.”

“You need to take better care of yourself.”

“You really are sounding a lot like Mom,” I said.

“Am not. You’re the one who’s like her.”

I grinned at her. “Only in my official capacity as a cop. And I don’t have her ambition.”

Our mother—District Commander Rena Caldwell—was one of the highest-ranking female officers in the Chicago Police Department. She’d been single-minded getting where she was, to the detriment of the other factors in her life, especially her daughters—we’d had a string of sitters to take her place at home until we were in high school. The years of depending on each other had made Silke and me close, so good had come of it. Now, while I was an equally dedicated copper, I didn’t aspire to be in Mom’s position. Besides, I had no political leanings whatsoever. I liked working the streets. I liked tracking down and arresting killers and bringing them in for trial. I liked hands-on justice.

When I got it.

Which reminded me of the Rivera case.

“So, how did Sebastian pick Benita Rivera to be the recipient of his good will?” I asked.

“Uh-oh, you’re not going to be mad at me, are you?”

“So you did suggest it?”

“I knew how angry you were that Hernandez walked. I thought I was helping.”

I couldn’t be mad at that, yet I wasn’t ready to let her off the hook so easily. “Did Sebastian ask for your advice or did you volunteer?”

“I don’t know exactly. We had a meeting about who to pick. Sebastian was talking about another case, but he kept looking at me, like he wanted my opinion. It just sort of popped out. I-I couldn’t help it.”

“I’m not angry, okay. Just curious.”

Something made me wonder why Sebastian had wanted Silke to come up with the answer. He couldn’t have known about her connection to me and my connection to the Rivera case.

Or could he?

I was simply too tired to think about it now. Maybe after I’d had…oh, about twelve hours of sleep.

The burgers arrived. My mouth salivated and my stomach growled like it was cheering.

“Happiness is a juicy burger and crispy fries.” I took a big bite.

“Speaking of burgers, Mom wants us to come to her place for a barbeque.”

I choked a little as I wrangled the mouthful of food down my throat. “What? Mom only does take out. Besides, we already get together every month.”

“She says we need to spend more time as a family.”

A statement that immediately aroused my suspicions. Not that I didn’t believe Mom loved us and wanted us to be a family. Of sorts. We did have that get together at a restaurant once a month. But usually her extracurricular demands meant something was up. Mom had something on her mind. Something that wasn’t going to make me happy.

“Did she say when?”

“Sometime this week. She left which day open until she can talk to you. And she wants you to bring Jake.”

Uh-oh.

“But Jake isn’t family.”

Silke gave me a look. “You know what she’s thinking.”

“We’ve only known each other a few months.”

“A few months more than you’ve dated anyone in…well, ever.”

“That’s not true.”

Of course it was. I was what men called difficult-to-date. A cop first, no matter the situation. Like that time during dinner when I saw a guy lift a wallet and made an arrest in the middle of a fancy restaurant. So much for that date. So much for them all. One guy took me to a popular club then parked at a fire hydrant. I only gave him a warning, but he took it the wrong way. Yes, I’d gotten past first dates a few times—probably because of the sex—but when a guy got to know me too well, he did a disappearing act.

Jake was the only man I’d ever been with who didn’t let my job stop him from wanting to be with me. And to help me. He had an innate sense of justice very much like mine, one of the reasons we suited one another.

As long as Mom didn’t ruin it for me.

As long as I didn’t ruin it for myself, one of my biggest fears. I just figured it was my fate. Considering my romantic history, I’d somehow chase away the best thing that ever happened to me. Consequently, I didn’t want to get too attached.

I chomped into my burger, determined not to let Silke spoil my appetite.

She asked, “When’s the last time you had a boyfriend?”

“I’m too old for boyfriends.”

“Semantics. Lover, then.”

“I don’t talk about my love life.”

“Because you never have one.”

I slammed my burger down onto the plate. The fries flew across the table and I didn’t try to stop them.

Okay, so she got me there. Until Jake, I’d spent more time in bed with my vibrator than with a man.

“Well, I have a man now.”

“That’s the point, Shell. Mom wants to get to know him better. She thought a barbeque would be casual enough for you both to be comfortable.”

Knowing Mom, she wanted to grill
Jake
rather than burgers or ribs.

I shook my head. “You know this is a bad idea.”

“Why?”

I gave her a look, as if I had to remind her. “Because he’s sort of a…well,
vampire.
” Although a half-breed who didn’t need blood to survive.

“She won’t know that.”

“She’s a cop. A good one. She can find out anything about anyone. She already ran Jake through the computer banks, remember.”

“That’s because Jake was involved in your homicide investigation. But he’s not part of a case now. He’s your boyfriend. Lover. Whatever.”

“And that should make me feel more at ease…why?”

“Because Mom respects you and your choices.”

Could’ve fooled me. Somehow, when dealing with Mom, I always felt like less. Maybe that was my own problem, but I just couldn’t help it.

“It’ll be okay,” Silke said. “You’ll see.”

How could identical twins be so different? Not just in lifestyle choices but in personality. Silke was outgoing, confident about herself and her choices, ever the optimist.

I was…well, none of those things except confident about my work.

The thing we had in common, the thing that made us close despite the differences, was not that we were twins, but that our love for one another was absolute. We would support one another, go to the mat for one another, give anything to see the other sister was safe…no matter what.

“Jake is in your life to stay, right, Shell?”

“I don’t know.”

“You want him to be, though, don’t you?”

“I guess.”

Silke sighed. Loudly. “How would you feel if you never saw him again?”

A lump filled my throat and my stomach knotted. “Horrible. I, um, do care about him.”

“Then don’t you think it’s time Mom gets to know him better?”

Praying that a barbeque didn’t spell disaster, I caved. “Okay. If Jake agrees to be the main course, then I guess we’ll make Mom happy.”

“You won’t regret it.”

I had my reservations on that score, but the family gathering was inevitable. I would have to warn Jake, though. Make sure he had a plausible story about his past.

Although he’d been born with certain preternatural powers like speed, strength and amazing healing among other enhanced capabilities, Jake was equally human. He ate and drank regular food. Though he’d admitted to craving blood, he’d never indulged—he considered the craving to be like any other addiction and had fought it all his life. And, while sensitive to light—especially his eyes—he was no night creature. If he chose to go out during the day, he wore sunblock and dark glasses and went about his business. Like any other human, he aged normally and could die from disease or accident, the thing that made me fear for him. He operated like he was invincible, but he certainly wasn’t.