Justifiable Risk (34 page)

“How do you know this?”

“I was Johnny’s second. He told me what he planned that day. And being an industrious businessman, I made an anonymous call to Fluharty. When Johnny didn’t come back, I heard what happened on the news. Good and bad for me—I was in charge but I inherited Fluharty. So what does this get me?”

“That’s between you and the district attorney.” She hoped it got him absolutely nothing. “My concern right now is Fred Fluharty.” But
concern
wasn’t the right word. She tried to pinpoint an emotion that described her feelings at this moment but couldn’t.

“You might be too late.”

“What do you mean?”

“All that sugar he drinks in his coffee will kill him someday.” Baron laughed and shook his head. “But I’d love to share a cell with him for a few hours. Can you arrange that?”

Greer stood and walked out of the room without answering his question. When JJ and Eva tried to stop her in the hall, she kept walking. “JJ, call Bessie and have her come get Eva.” Then she looked at the woman she loved. “Please go home, Eva, and don’t argue with me, not this time.” She needed answers, and to get them she had to face Fred Fluharty.

The sharp edge of betrayal sliced through Greer like concertina wire as she remembered the many times she’d confided in her sergeant. She’d fallen apart in his office on numerous occasions, and he’d comforted and supported her. He’d arranged for her transfer into the homicide squad “to look after her” for Bessie. She couldn’t recall how often he’d covered for her because she was too devastated to come to work. Now she understood the source of his concern—guilt. He was responsible for Clare’s death and was trying to make amends. But that was an impossible task. He’d committed the one offense for which Greer could never forgive him, and she needed to tell him.

Agent Long caught up to her in the parking lot. “Ellis, I know you have to confront him, but we’re going with you.” He motioned behind him to her squad mates. “He denied everything this afternoon, so who knows what he’ll do.”

“I don’t care who comes along, just don’t get in my way—not this time.”

When they arrived at the rundown hotel, Fluharty’s room door was partially open. Greer nudged it wide with her foot and stepped inside, motioning for the others to stay back. “Sarge,” she called out, but the room was dark and quiet. She flipped on the table lamp and saw him lying across the bed. “Sarge.” No answer.

Greer moved closer and noticed an empty coffee cup and a dark stain on the bedcovers next to his left side. To the right lay a note written on hotel stationery and his service weapon. Fluharty’s skin was ashen and cold to the touch, with no apparent signs of injury. Whitish gray froth clung to the corners of his mouth. Greer checked for a pulse but didn’t find one. “He’s gone,” she said to the officers behind her.

With the tips of her fingernails, Greer tweezed the note off the bed and read silently:

Greer,

Forgive me. I never intended to hurt anyone, especially you. Clare’s death was a horrible accident. I tried to make it up to you over the past two years, but I know I failed. I’ve disgraced the department, our profession, and myself. This is the only way out for me.

Fluharty

“I’ll notify the state forensics lab and have them process the scene,” Agent Long said. “I’m not sure what happened here, but it looks like suicide.”

Greer noticed a chalky white residue in the bottom of the overturned coffee cup. “Have your folks check the cup and his sugar container for cocaine. It could be narcotics poisoning. Remember Baron’s wisecrack about sugar killing him someday?” That would be apropos, though she wished she’d had a chance to confront him.

She walked to her vehicle and scooted onto the hood. JJ joined her and nudged her in the side. “He fooled us all. It sucks big-time.”

“You can say that again, but it clears up a lot of things, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, like why he was so anxious for me to close the Saldana file so fast. He was covering his drug business. He’s probably even responsible for the missing hotel guest register, because I know I put a copy in the file. I guess if I was
really
desperate I could understand needing money bad enough to commit a crime, but not murder. I still can’t believe he ordered Baron to kill Paul Saldana.”

“Yeah, it doesn’t jive with the man I thought I knew, the man I considered a friend.”

“But once he’d committed himself, he had to keep going. He was in too deep. When Eva came to town she threw a monkey wrench in the works.”

“And I was the perfect patsy. He needed somebody on the case review that he could control, somebody he knew would come straight to him with any new leads. And I did. He fed every bit of information I gave him to Baron. I was the one who put Eva and Bessie at risk. Hell, I’m even responsible for Tom’s death. How stupid.”

“Stop it.” JJ’s voice was firm. He grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. “None of this is your fault, so don’t even go there. And in case you’ve forgotten, you stood up to the entire squad. You even kept investigating after the chief and the SBI told you to stand down. Nobody pulls your strings when it comes to your job, partner, nobody. This is all on Fluharty, so let it go.”

“But I trusted him.”

“We all did, and he betrayed us. That hurts. I’m beginning to understand how much damage disloyalty can cause. But we’ll help each other through it.”

Greer nodded and her spirits lifted a bit.

“Good. Now I have to brief the Staties and get going. I’ve got a date.”

“A date? What about Janice?”

“Janice
is
my date. She’s agreed to see me. We might be able to work this thing out, but she needs time to trust me again.”

Greer patted him on the back as she slid off the hood of her car. “Good for you, Jake. Best of luck. Think I’ll go home too. If I’m lucky, a gorgeous reporter’s waiting there to throw herself into my arms and pledge her love.”

“Yeah.” JJ laughed. “Good luck with that.”

Eva walked to the edge of the porch and looked again toward the road that led into town. It seemed like hours since Greer had sent her home. She was no good at waiting, pacing didn’t calm her, and sitting was impossible.

“Pacing won’t get her here any faster, honey.” Bessie raised her glass of tea. “Do you know the secret to a great batch of sweet Southern iced tea?”

Eva laughed. The tension in her body demanded release, and screaming wouldn’t be polite. Bessie had already cleaned the cuts on her face and arms and listened to her story of being kidnapped by Baron Wallace. The least she could do was indulge Bessie’s attempt to entertain and distract her. She returned to her seat. “I can’t imagine.”

“Some people think it’s the sugar. But the secret is in the tea bags. If you don’t use the right ones, it’s either too bitter or too weak. You can tell who your true friends are if they share their beverage and cooking tips with you.” Bessie took a big gulp to prove her point. “Perfect.”

“I’m dying to know. What are the best tea bags?”

“Everybody knows they’re—” Greer’s motorcycle rumbled. They both met her as she pulled into the driveway. “Are you all right?” Bessie asked.

“A little stunned, but no physical harm.” Greer hugged Eva and clung to her for several minutes. “How are you?” She held Eva at arm’s length and seemed to check every inch of her for signs of injury.

“I’m fine. Bessie fixed me up and I’m good as new.”

Greer then turned to Bessie and gave her a prolonged hug. “Fluharty is dead.”

Bessie clutched her chest. “Oh, honey, you didn’t—”

“No, I didn’t kill him. It looks like suicide or an accidental overdose of cocaine. Somebody probably laced his sugar with coke.” Greer hung her head, and Eva could tell the guilt had already set in. “He was dirty—drugs.” Her voice cracked. “And he’s the reason Clare died. If I hadn’t trusted him, you two wouldn’t have been in danger. I remember what Eva said about having to choose between loyalty and the truth.”

“No!” Eva and Bessie said at once. Eva nodded to give Bessie the go-ahead.

“You
will not
take the blame for Fred Fluharty’s weakness and deception. I won’t allow it. If it hadn’t been for you and Eva, none of this would’ve come to light. God knows how long he might have gotten away with it.”

Greer’s eyes filled with tears and Eva put her arm around her waist. “Yeah, what she said goes double for me. You can’t blame yourself for everything that goes wrong in this crazy world. And what about Breeze?”

“The clerk’s office finally found the sign-in sheet. He was in federal court like he said, so he’s been cleared. At least we didn’t have two rotten apples.”

Bessie patted Greer on the back. “I’m glad you’re okay and this case is finally solved. Why don’t you two go talk or something. I’ve got reports to do on my wayward nurses. See you later.” She herded them in the direction of the garage and walked back toward the house.

When they were alone in the apartment, Eva remembered the last time she’d shared this space with Greer. She’d been conflicted about her life and what she wanted. Her past and her unwillingness to take a chance had clouded her feelings for Greer. As she stood here now, those things seemed small and insignificant. She had no doubt about her feelings for Greer. She wanted to spend her life with her and needed to say those things aloud.

“Greer—”

“Wait.” Greer put a finger under Eva’s chin and tilted her head up. “I’d like to kiss you. Is that all right?”

Eva stretched on her tiptoes and brought their lips together. Greer’s response was tentative at first, but warm and inviting, reverent in appreciation. Eva allowed her to set the pace as her own need rose—the need to be completely and totally joined.

She wasn’t ready for Greer to pull away. “Thank you.” Her blue eyes lacked some of their usual sparkle and vitality. “I need to take a shower. I feel—”

“I know.” Eva understood the film of degradation and distaste that permeated the pores after dealing with the bottom dwellers of life. She’d spent an hour under a hot stream of water to sluice the unpleasantness of the Baron Wallace experience from her body. “I understand.”

Greer started to touch her face but stopped. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do your cuts still hurt?” A look of pain flashed across her face and she turned away. “I should’ve kept you safe.”

Eva touched Greer’s arm and gently urged her to face her again. “It wasn’t your fault. You’ve done everything possible to protect me. I decided to take a drive without telling anyone. What happened after that is my fault. Besides, I’m perfectly fine. Now go shower. I want to be with you, soon.”

Without responding, Greer walked toward the bathroom, peeling off clothes as she went. By the time she reached the glass enclosure, she was completely nude and Eva throbbed with the need to touch her. She listened to the steady flow of water from the shower and imagined it running down the length of Greer. She controlled the urge to go to Greer as long as she could, then stripped and sneaked in behind her in the spacious shower.

Greer braced herself against the tiled wall with her arms stretched out shoulder height and her head bowed. Water saturated her thick blond hair, ran down the taut muscles of her torso and over the exquisite swell of her ass. Eva saw the tension along Greer’s shoulders, back, and legs. She stepped closer and smoothed her hands up Greer’s sides.

“Let me help you, darling.” Eva massaged the bunched muscles of Greer’s shoulders and felt them relax beneath her touch. She pressed and squeezed her way down Greer’s rib cage to the top of her buttocks, paying particular attention to the lumbar section of her back. As she worked some of the tightness away, Greer seemed to unwind and the strong lines that defined her athletic body loosened.

“God, that feels amazing. Your hands are magic.” She let go and swayed with the rhythm of Eva’s strokes. Greer stood quietly for several minutes as Eva worked her way around her body, kneading and releasing tension in her stiff muscles. “That is great. Would you mind if I hold you for a minute?”

“You can do whatever you want,” Eva replied, straightening to make eye contact.

Greer pulled Eva under the shower spray with her. When their bodies merged, Eva thought she might stop breathing. The connection was sensuously gentle and the physical fit perfect. Her breasts rested comfortably under Greer’s smaller ones, and the firm ridge of Greer’s leg eased naturally between her own.

Eva shifted to accommodate Greer’s movements as the slick moisture of arousal coated her sex. She rode up and down Greer’s thigh, purposely rubbing against Greer’s pubic mound with each rise. Greer responded with deep, guttural moans that shot another current of excitement through her. Eva could come within minutes by rubbing her body against Greer’s. But she wanted more than corporeal satisfaction.

Her body ached for the physical touch that would sate her flesh. She craved the release. But the desire to surrender, free from mental and emotional doubt, to give without reservation, consumed her. Greer kissed her and Eva matched Greer’s fervor, the hunger growing with each second of contact. Her body tingled with stimulation and her legs weakened.

“Can’t stand much longer,” she said between kisses.

Greer turned off the shower, wrapped Eva in a bath sheet, and swept her up as though she were weightless. She carried Eva to the bed and placed her gently on the edge. With the corner of the towel, Greer dried Eva’s hair and body with light, delicate strokes. “I need you so much, Eva.” Her breathing was deep and halting.