Sins (Vance Davis Dossier #2) (2 page)

“You can call her Susie,” Emmett offered.

Vance looked at her for confirmation.

“Oh, call me whatever the hell you want.” She waved her hand. “And don’t listen to Emmett. Cops are cops. Nothing new there.”

Emmett rubbed his jaw ruefully and squinted one eye at her. “Felt like something when they beat the crap outta me and left me for dead on the East side.”

It was Vance’s turn to rub his jaw ruefully, memories resurfacing at Emmett’s words. “Actually, they’ve been doing that one for a while. That happened to me my first month in St. Louis. The polo-shirt crowd was harassing a homeless cripple. I shot my mouth off at them, and a nervous bar owner called the cops because he saw a fight brewing on his sidewalk. Cops sided with the money and didn’t want to deal with the paperwork of arresting me.”

Otis and Emmett nodded sympathetically. Susie wrapped her arms around herself a little tighter, her frown deepening as she muttered. “Told you, Emmett. Hell’s hell, and we found it.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Vance’s tone was gentle. He wondered what happened to the woman, what journey had brought her to this point. The conversation moved on, but Vance’s mind wandered back to it later that night as he lie in his bed, sleep eluding him.

That beating wound up setting him on a path that would change his life. In the darkest of night, as his mind danced between dreaming and waking, Vance could remember the event quite vividly. He’d been lying on the cracked blacktop thinking he was going to die in the filth with no one to see or care. He might have been able to muster the strength to crawl or even get up if he had the will, but with nowhere to go it seemed the better option to lie there and die.

As the minutes had ticked by, he’d had time to bemoan every choice he’d made, every injustice piled on him. By the time a pair of high-heeled feet came into view, he’d begun to feel properly sorry for himself. So much so, he was hoping his end would be swift. But then the woman attached to those high-heeled feet knelt gingerly beside him, reaching two delicate fingers out to check his pulse.

“I’m alive,” he’d croaked, his embarrassment mounting as he realized just how pretty the woman was. Her blond hair was pulled into a messy pile on her head, tendrils escaping to tumble about her bare shoulders. She studied him with her big, blue eyes. He squinted up at her through his own swollen lids.

“Just barely from the looks of you, sweetie.” She ran her fingers down his cheek in something that felt like a caress before taking his chin in her hand and tipping his head up so she could better assess his injuries. “How’d you get yourself into this mess?”

Vance’s sharp laugh was cut off by the blinding pain it sent through his ribs. “That’s a long story.”

“What’s the short version?”

“Pissed off a cop.”

The woman regarded him a moment more before giving a slight nod. “You’re coming with me.”

Vance hadn’t had time to process her words before a second set of heels came into view. That woman also leaned down, her face bearing less kindness as she took him in. “Jessie, leave him. We’re going to be late.”

“You go on without me, Marie. Tell Spence I’ll be there soon.”

“I’m not taking a hit for you,” Marie retorted.

“Then tell him you don’t know where I am. I’ll deal with him later.”

Marie scrunched her face unattractively. “Just because you’re his favorite doesn’t mean he’s going to let this fly. You’re gonna push him too far someday.”

Jessie’s eyes didn’t leave Vance’s face. “Something tells me this one’s worth the risk.”

Vance opened his mouth to tell her he didn’t want her to get in trouble for him when she interrupted.

“Don’t bother arguing with me. I’m helping you whether you want it or not.”

“You’re nuts,” Marie decided. “And I’m out.”

Jessie waved her off without a glance. Vance had gotten the impression there was no love lost between the women.

“I’m Jessie. What’s your name?”

“Vance. It’s nice to meet you, Jessie.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Vance. Now let’s get you patched up.”

With no small effort, Jessie had helped him to his feet, paying no attention to the mess he made of her clothes. To this day, he wasn’t entirely sure how she’d managed to get him to a motel room, but she had—and then she’d paid for his room for a week and brought him a meal before telling him to take his shirt off.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Vance had asked.

“I’m already late. Might as well see this through. Now can you take your shirt off, or do you need help? I need to see if you’ve broken any ribs or if I can patch you up.”

“Do you have much experience patching up broken people?” He’d meant it as a joke.

The look on her face had squeezed at his heart when she answered. “Lots. Now off with the shirt.”

He’d felt like he was being beaten all over again as he maneuvered his way out of the cotton material, but he’d managed to get if off by himself.

“I bet you’re a good-looking guy when you’re not all busted up,” she’d commented.

“Thanks. I think.”

“You’re welcome.” Her fingers didn’t hesitate as she ran them along his ribs. For the first time, he really paid attention to her clothes, her makeup. He put it together with what part of town she was in and the time of night.

“You’re a hooker,” he’d blurted. “Crap. I’m sorry.”

A grin tugged at the edge of Jessie’s mouth. “It’s okay. It is what it is.”

“So Spence is your pimp. And he’s going to be mad at you for helping me. You should go; don’t get into any more trouble for me.”

“Spence also has it in his head that he and I are a thing. He’ll bluster but he’ll forgive me.” There was a tremor in her voice that made Vance think she wasn’t quite as confident of that as she professed to be. “I don’t think they’re broken. Your ribs, that is. I think you’ll be okay if you take it easy for a while.”

Vance accepted the bag of ice she handed him, wincing as he held it to his ribs. “What can I ever do to repay you?”

“Do you have a home to go back to? If so, go there.”

“I can’t do that.” Vance’s last words to his foster father weighed heavy on his mind.

Jessie sighed and patted his hand. “We’ll figure out something to do with you, then. You can’t just keep wandering the streets. You’re too young and fit to be living like a stray dog.”

“Thanks. I think,” he repeated, not sure if he found her straightforward manner refreshing or offensive.

“Sorry. But the story doesn’t end well for guys like you. Can’t get a proper job without a place, can’t get a place without a proper job. Shelters are full. As big as you are, I’m surprised you haven’t been recruited to a gang yet.”

“Is that another failing on my part?” Vance’s tone was wry.

“You don’t want to be one of those guys. Last week, one of the gangs jumped Harry and Leila. Beat them to death with bricks just for the fun of it.”

Vance’s stomach tightened, and he wondered what kind of terrifying world he’d stumbled into. Outwardly, his face was granite. “What about your boss? Does he need help?”

“Are you applying to be a hooker?” she teased.

“No! I just meant…” Vance paused, embarrassed. He didn’t really know what he thought he could do for a pimp.

Her smile was sad this time. “You don’t want any part of my world.”

“I’ve got to do something.”

“Right now I want you to get better.” She stood and walked to the door, resting her fingers on the handle as she turned to look back at him. “Stay here. I’ll come check on you tomorrow and bring you some food.”

Vance hadn’t thought he’d be able to sleep that night, but once the adrenaline wore off exhaustion had claimed him. From that moment on, Jessie’d had a firm hold on him. She was his angel, his friend, a sister brought to him by circumstance instead of blood.

True to her word, she’d come back the next day with a sack full of nonperishable groceries. She was also sporting a black eye, which she waved off as inconsequential. Vance’s pulse had pounded in his temple. He’d wanted to find the man who’d hurt Jessie, to repay the injury. She’d begged him not to make it worse by retaliating. At the time, he’d let her think she’d won the argument. But he would eventually repay Spence for Jessie’s black eye. It just took him a few years so he could do it without bringing more trouble on her head, but that was another story.

As it turned out, Spence was in the market for hired help. The unprovoked attack on the homeless couple made him rethink the number of enemies he’d accrued. When Spence commented to Jessie that he was toying with the idea of hiring some muscle, she casually mentioned there was a strapping new kid in town who needed a gig.

When Jessie arranged the meeting, Vance jumped at the opportunity. As much as he hated the man who ruled Jessie’s life, he knew becoming Spence’s right hand would be the best way to protect her. If Spence had been put off by Vance’s fading bruises, he hadn’t mentioned it.

He became Spence’s driver, the intimidating muscle standing behind Spence at deals, the enforcer when things went south. In return, he’d gotten a roof over his head, a nice suit, and a little bit of money in his pocket. As long as he didn’t think too hard about who he’d become, it wasn’t a bad deal. It certainly beat his days of knowing which dumpsters to dive.

The hotel bed he was currently tossing and turning in was worlds apart from the dirty little motel Jessie had put him up in the night they’d first met—even if it was only two actual miles away. His mind wandered from memories of Jessie, of his throwaway life, to the homeless friends he’d made that night. He wondered what their stories were. Maybe as he got to know the city again through them, he’d also find a way to help them, to repay what Jessie had done for him once upon a time.

ALLIE WALKER TWIRLED THE END
of her blond ponytail around the ends of her fingers, her head cocked to the side as she watched Vance across the kitchen table.

He couldn’t help the grin that tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Do I want to know what that look means?”

“Taking down the modeling agency that was acting as a front to traffic girls, that trafficked Nicole, wasn’t enough? You’ve decided to end homelessness in St. Louis, too?”

Vance’s brow creased; he shook his head. “That’s not what I said. I was just wondering if maybe there was something more we could do to help these people. Like maybe you could come to St. Louis one week, spend a little time with Susie. I think it would do her some good to have a friend.”

The light that flickered in Allie’s eyes made Vance question the wisdom of his suggestion. He had the distinct impression she’d misinterpreted his invitation as a personal one.

Before he could backpedal from the impending danger, she was nodding. “Yeah, absolutely. I’d love to come help out.”

“If you don’t have time, that’s okay.” He tried in vain to steer out of the murky waters. “I mean, you’re right—I really should focus on the original task at hand. And I promised Nicole I’d come visit soon, so I’d better wrap it up fast.” Nicole might not be his blood sister, but they’d spent time as foster children in the same house—albeit a decade apart. Still, it was probably as close to family as he’d ever get, barring Jessie.

Allie pulled him back to the moment. “No, really. I don’t mind. It would be good for me to get away for a bit. Just let me make a few calls…” She was up and dialing the phone before Vance could respond. Instead, he sat there mentally kicking himself. He’d driven back to the Barnett farm to eat a home-cooked meal and load up on food for his new friends. He hadn’t planned on bringing Allie back to St. Louis with him.

Yet that’s exactly what he found himself doing. After the last dish from Sunday dinner had been put away, he was hot-footing it down Interstate 44, trying to get back to the city while Emmett and crew were still out and about. Allie sat in the passenger seat, watching him with an expectant expression on her face.

“Have you found out anything about Beastly Modeling?” she asked.

“Not yet. It’s early, though. Since this isn’t a recovery, I’ll take my time.”

“So, because there’s not a kid
you know
missing, you’ll just meander along?”

“Ouch.” He winced. “I prefer to call it being thorough. It’s not like I’m sitting in the hotel room popping bon-bons.”

“Right. Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound harsh.” She grew silent, pensive almost, before venturing again. “So, when you do solve this one, what’s next?”

Vance shrugged. “Dunno. Another one?”

“Oh.” Allie thought for a moment more.

“There’s always another one.”

“And is there ever a time when you’re just Vance?”

He shook his head slowly. “It’s been so long since I’ve been just Vance, I don’t know if I’d recognize him. I didn’t like him very much back then, though.”

“Maybe he’s changed.”

Vance cut his eye toward Allie. There was such hope on her face; he wished he could make her understand. “Maybe, but I’m not quite ready to find out yet.”

Conversation died after that. Vance thought he should maybe feel guilty about, that but all he could muster was relief. He wondered if he and Allie would ever have that elusive thing called friendship between a man and a woman. He wasn’t ready for anything else, not when he still saw Harmony’s sweet face every time he closed his eyes. Even if that weren’t the case, Allie wasn’t meant for his kind of life. She needed a good, solid farmer who she could raise her kids, go to Sunday school, and attend parent-teacher meetings with.

A small smile escaped at the thought of attending a parent-teacher meeting. It was comical, really. He couldn’t imagine fitting into that world.

“What’s so funny?” Allie’s eagle eye noticed his expression.

“Just thinking about how different our worlds are now,” he admitted. It occurred to him that maybe if she realized how different, she wouldn’t be trying so hard to domesticate him. “You wanted to know what’s next with the case I’m working now. I never really answered you.”

She shifted in the seat so she could see him better, nodding encouragingly.