Tameka's Smile (28 page)

She kicked him under the table. “Don’t mind him. I’m in no particular rush to trade one prison for another,” she assured Rome.

He smiled and set the bulging folder in his hands on the table before being seated.
Oh my, he has a dimple.
She let out a dreamy little sigh.

“Watch it. You’re a happily mated woman, remember?” Chad muttered in her ear.

She patted his knee. “Of course, baby. Doesn’t mean I can’t look.”

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He captured her hand and held it tight. “That’s exactly what it means.”

Rome ended their little byplay by getting down to business.

“I want to discuss two things. We found Emily Carstens, but she’s not going to be much help. She was shot, execution style, almost a year ago. Reagan was able to find the birth records.

Emily had a boy named Franklin. He’s wanted for questioning as a person of interest in the death of his mother.”

“A boy? You’re sure?” Chad asked.

“We got a copy of the birth certificate from the Vital Records Unit,” Rome assured him. “The son was in therapy before he went missing. We’re trying to contact his therapist now to see what he can tell us.”

“Not much. It would be a violation of doctor/patient confidentiality,” Tameka informed them.

“That’s where you come in. He might be willing to speak off the record with another professional,” Rome stated.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she hesitantly promised. She’d took a solemn vow when she got her license and wasn’t comfortable with the idea of helping someone else circumvent theirs. “What has this to do with my case? I thought we were looking for a woman?”

“We are. I’m not sure yet how the two are related. I just feel in my gut that they are,” Rome answered.

Never argue with a cop’s intuition, she reminded herself. If he really felt that the situation warranted it, she’d do what she could to assist, despite her personal feelings on the subject.

“What about Flora’s Flowers?” Chad asked.

“That’s the second thing. The driver’s name is Francis Carter. She’s been working for Flora’s Flowers a little over two years as a delivery driver. Deb Turner, the owner, said she’s very quiet, keeps to herself. She’s a dedicated employee, always shows up to work on time and stays ’til her shift is finished.

Francis never mentioned having a boyfriend and the owner didn’t think she was involved with anyone. She did mention one thing that I found very interesting. Ms. Carter is a member of the National Skeet Shooting Association. She routinely takes off to attend tournaments.”

“Damn,” Chad muttered.

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“My sentiments exactly.”

“What does this mean?” Tameka asked, not sure why the men were looking so grim.

“If she’s got any experience with the sport, she would by necessity be an expert shooter. The person that ambushed me the other day knew how to handle a rifle,” Chad explained.

“She had time and opportunity. Now we need to see if she had motive,” Rome added. He continued with, “When I asked to speak with her, I was told she’d returned from her route early that day citing a medical emergency. Seems her mother is deathly ill and Ms. Carter will be off indefinitely.”

“Well isn’t that convenient?” Chad stated with disgust showing in his expression.

“Sounds suspicious if you ask me,” Tameka stated.

“I got her home address from the owner. Told her Ms.

Carter may have witnessed a crime and we’d like to question her.

I drove by her place. No answer at the door and the landlord wouldn’t let me in without a warrant.” Rome closed the folder.

“At this point, we know Carter is involved, but not in what capacity.”

“She may be Carstens’ lover,” Chad suggested.

“I’m sure Raleigh police would love to know where he is,” Rome said.

“Is that where Emily relocated to?” Tameka asked.

“Yeah. She and Franklin. Emily bounced around a lot after leaving Refuge, but spent the last fifteen years in Raleigh,” Rome stated.

“So basically, we’re back to square one,” Chad said.

“Not really. We have a definite suspect in your shooting.

We just need to find the connection. We’re close. I can feel it. In the meantime, you stick close to Tameka. I don’t like it that this woman has disappeared. She’s already proven to be dangerous.

Watch yourself.”

Chad nodded his agreement and motioned for Meka to stand.

Rome slid a piece of paper across the table to her. “This is the therapist’s name and number. Wait a day and then give him a call.”

She took the paper, folded it and put it in her pocket. “I’ll 187

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call him tomorrow.”

Rome stood, grabbed his folder, and waited for them by the open door. “We’re going to tap your house phone. At this point, we need any help that we can get.”

“All right.” She mostly used her cell phone anyway, so it was no big deal.

“Hang tight. We’ll catch her,” Rome promised. The grin he gave her showed a bit of fang. She shivered. Between him and Chad, she was sure they would.

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Chapter Thirteen

When Tameka got home, before she could kick back and relax, the little matter of sleeping arrangements had to be dealt with.

“I’ll sleep with NeeCee.”

“The hell you will,” NeeCee told Bull.

“It’s only fair. Chad is Meka’s protector and he’s sleeping with her. I’m yours so I sleep with you,” Bull said with a wicked grin on his face.

“Step foot in my room and I’ll have a wolf pelt lining the doorway of my apartment,” NeeCee threatened.

“Ew, animal cruelty. I’m calling the people on you. They’ll come, too. I give big money every year to PETA,” Bull said confidently.

Meka’s eyebrows shot up. “People for Ethical Treatment of Animals? Are you serious?”

“Why does that surprise you? It’s my hide they’re protecting.”

It did make a strange sort of sense, she mused.

“Call PETA, NAVS, HSUS, hell, call the KKK. I don’t give a shit. You’re still not sleeping in my bed.” Meka didn’t know who half of those groups were, but she definitely recognized that last one.

Bull tsk’d at her. “NeeCee, NeeCee, NeeCee. Why does it always come back to race with you? I’m a man. You’re a woman.

Let’s do what men and women were created to do.” Meka thought NeeCee was going to choke. Her complexion turned an interesting shade of purple. She stepped in before things got violent. “NeeCee, you take the guestroom. Chad sleeps with me. Bull, you can either sleep on the foldout in the study or on the couch in the living room.” He was shaking his head before she finished speaking. “No 189

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can do. I’m her bodyguard. Twenty-four hour a day defense.

Where she goes, I go. To the kitchen, the bedroom, bathroom—

just consider me your very protective shadow,” Bull said and wagged his eyebrows at her.

“Now wait just a cotton picking minute…” NeeCee exploded.

“It’s true. I got orders,” Bull interrupted with a grin.

“Chad…” Meka pleaded. “Do something with your friend.”

“You’re not following me into the bathroom!”

“He does have orders,” was Chad’s oh so helpful comment.

“This is what I think of your orders…” NeeCee spewed forth with a string of cursing that burnt Meka’s ears.

“Oh my. Such language, and from a lady.” Bull delicately placed his hand over his mouth, his eyes rounded in pretend shock.

“Chad!”

“Yes, dear?”

“Handle this or you’ll be sleeping on the couch with him,” Meka ordered, starting to get pissed. She was so not in the mood for this.

He straightened and the amused grin at their antics disappeared completely off of his face. “Bull.”

“I’ll take the couch. Someone has to keep an ear out. Chad can cover the back,” Bull immediately stated in all seriousness.

“That’s what I thought,” NeeCee said with a smug grin.

“NeeCee, you’re being a brat. Stop it,” Meka stated firmly.

“Me?! What about him?”

Tameka threw up her hands. “I’m going into the kitchen to fix me a sandwich.”

A few seconds later, she bellowed, “WHO ATE ALL OF

MY FOOD?”

* * * *

The next day, the guys focused on beefing up security in the house. Alex sent men to patrol the grounds, both in wolf and human form. NeeCee sat on the back porch with charcoals and a pad, concentrating on her art. Meka did as she promised Rome and called Franklin Carstens’ therapist.

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“Dr. Richard Higginbotham’s office.”

“I’d like to speak to Dr. Higginbotham concerning one of his patients.”

“Your name.”

“Dr. Tameka Jones, a former family and marriage counselor.”

“The doctor is with a client right now. May I take a message?”

Tameka left her name, number, and the reason for her call.

“I’ll have him call at his earliest convenience.” Chad appeared in the room’s doorway. “You find out anything?”

“He’s with a client. I left my information for a callback.” He nodded and went back to whatever mysterious thing he and Bull were doing at the back of the house. She heard Chad mutter something about an early warning system. Whatever that meant. Frankly, she didn’t want to know.

An hour later, the phone rang.

“Dr. Jones, this is Richard Higginbotham. I understand you have questions about one of my patients?”

“Yes. A Franklin Carstens.” She explained the purpose of her call.

“I Googled you, so I know you’re familiar with patient confidentiality. Though I can’t betray any confidences, I will tell you this. Mr. Carstens is no longer a client. He ended his therapy, too soon in my opinion. To find the answers that you seek, research his family history. That’s all I can offer you.”

“I understand completely and thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome.”

She hung up and called the number Rome had given her.

“Rome.”

“This is Tameka. I just got off of the phone with Franklin’s therapist.”

“What did he say?”

“As I expected, not much, but he did say that if you wanted answers, you need to research Franklin’s family history. Dr.

Higginbotham also stated that Franklin ended his therapy too soon.”

“Thanks, Meka. I appreciate your help. Put Chad on the 191

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phone, will you?”

“Chad, phone.” He was there before the last syllable left her mouth. She handed him her cell. “Rome.”

“Yeah, boss?”

“You have access to the internet?”

He looked at Meka questioning. “We do,” she answered Rome for him. This supersensitive hearing had its benefits. She didn’t have to wonder what Rome wanted with Chad. She could hear both sides of the conversation clearly.

“I want you to research Emily and her son. Find out where they lived, where she worked, where he went to school…I want to know everything. His therapist said the answers we need are in his past. I’ll have someone here working on it as well.”

“Will do.”

She heard the connection end.

“Do you have a password on your computer?”

“No.” She followed him into the study. He cut on the computer and logged onto the Internet.

“It’s a bit slow, but it will do what I need. Thanks, babe. If you need me, I’ll be in here working. Don’t leave the house without Bull or me with you.”

“I know the drill.” He’d been spouting variations of the same thing since yesterday.

He gave her another steady look before he finally seemed satisfied of her complicity.

* * * *

One week passed, and then another. NeeCee left and went home. She got a call about a show one of her art dealer friends wanted to set up and went to make sure she had enough paintings. With NeeCee gone, Bull went back on patrol and it was once again just her and Chad, and the pack members patrolling the grounds.

Both Franklin and Frances had gone to ground. Their bank accounts hadn’t been touched, nor credit cards used. It was like they disappeared. Rome had been in contact with the Raleigh police, gathering more information on Emily Carstens’ death.

Tameka blocked it all out. She was a virtual prisoner in her 192

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own home. By the third week, she was tired and listless, appetite gone. When she couldn’t even drum up interest for sex, Chad got concerned and called Alex, who made her come in early for a check-up.

“What seems to be the problem?” Alex sat behind his desk in his office while she and Chad were seated on the other side.

She shrugged and looked away.

Chad jumped in. “She’s barely eating, and then only when I make her. She sleeps all the time and when she’s not sleeping, she’s staring out the window, lost in her own little world. I don’t know what to do anymore. Nothing I’ve tried has worked.”

“Is this true, Meka?”

She lifted one shoulder and stared at her nails.
Hmm, my
polish is peeling. Maybe I’ll redo them…later.

“What about exercise, fresh air? Has she shifted into her wolf form since she’s been home?”

“No, she hasn’t. She mostly just sits around the house.” Meka felt her first flicker of emotion—anger. “I can’t go anywhere without you or Bull with me, and you spend all of your time on the computer. Bull went back to work so I can’t call him.” That little bit of dialogue tired her and she slumped back in her seat, drained.

“What about work?” Alex asked.

“I haven’t been back since I got out the clinic. He won’t let me,” she said tiredly.