To Protect & Serve (14 page)

Alex groaned inwardly. It was difficult enough to work with Keri every day, keeping her at arm’s length and fighting their growing attraction. But the reality of being alone with her in an environment filled with liquor, sexy lighting, soft music, and bodies in all stages of vertical lovemaking raised too many red flags.

Beth sensed her hesitation. “It’s a one-time thing. Once the intro’s made, you’re out. I’m sorry to spring this on you, but I had to improvise.” She bit her tongue to keep from smiling. She knew Alex wouldn’t have any tactical objections to the assignment. She’d worked undercover hundreds of times before. So her anxiety had to be about Keri. Beth played her final card. “She’s probably feeling a little overwhelmed right now. It’s her first UC assignment. She’ll be nervous and we can’t afford to have her blow this. I need you there to keep her on track and so does the team. This could be your chance to try out that mentoring thing you talked about.”

“All right, enough already. I’ll do it, but just this once. Now get out.”

“You’re a trooper, boss. We’re meeting back here at twenty-one hundred hours.” Beth blew an air kiss and ducked out the door just as Alex playfully hurled a small statute book across the room at her.

*

Keri’s entire wardrobe lay strewn across the bed as she surveyed her choice of outfits for the night. She had no idea what to wear. The faded jeans with threadbare patches beside the crotch and on both cheeks of her ass could possibly be considered sexy. She pulled them on along with a white Lycra T-shirt that stretched tightly across her chest and accented her small, athletic breasts. It stopped well above her navel, exposing several inches of tanned flesh between the shirt and the waist of the low-cut jeans. She added a short jeans jacket for the finishing touch and walked into the living room.

“Whoa, look out, druggies, here she comes.” Kevin whistled and threw a pillow at her.

Keri snapped it from the air and threw it back. “Where’s your ball and chain tonight, bro? Do you have a pass to be out by yourself?”

The two of them often joked that they used to bicker in utero. She’d never blamed her twin for her abuse. It wasn’t his fault she was born female and their father saw her as a punching bag, but she knew Kevin felt guilty for not intervening.

From the worn sofa, her father held her mother’s hand and glared his disapproval. “Are you really going out like that?”

“I’m on assignment, Dad. Don’t worry, I’ll be with Lieutenant Troy.”

Bobby Morgan’s eyebrows lifted, layering deep grooves into his forehead. “You tell her to keep the boys at least a hundred yards away from you.”

Keri crossed to her mom, leaned down, and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Mom. I’ll be careful…and don’t wait up.”

“Have a nice time, dear,” her mother said vaguely. Keri wasn’t sure how much she’d taken in.

After reassuring everyone again that she would be fine, she waved good-bye and drove back to the office with her nerves bunching in her stomach.

Predictably, she was greeted with whistles and catcalls when she walked into the conference room twenty minutes later. She took off the jacket, slung it over a chair and spun in a series of 360-degree twirls across the length of the room. Concluding with a split to the floor, she gave her best Elvis imitation of “Thank yuh ver-uh much.”

Alex watched from a corner chair she’d chosen for the briefing. Not only was Keri Morgan drop-dead gorgeous in the outfit, but she’d already won over the entire team with her personality and entertaining antics. She was the right choice for the job, however awkward the consequences were for Alex. It wasn’t Keri’s fault if her boss lost concentration every time they were in the same room.

Keri’s final split left her kneeling in front of a pair of black cowboy boots with silver tips. She lifted her gaze from the boots to skintight black jeans that covered muscled legs and continued to the join of thigh and torso before disappearing under a bronze-colored blouse. A transparent pattern woven into the blouse revealed flashes of a white camisole underneath. Full breasts rose and fell with each breath and a steady pulse pounded on the side of the sleek neck. A square jaw and lips ripe for kissing brought Keri back to her senses. In a matter of seconds—seconds forever etched in her mind—she had followed the undulating curves of Alex Troy’s body and thought of kissing her again. She made eye contact with Alex as she stood. “Nice boots, Lieu.”

Alex’s insides ached. The look in Keri’s eyes seemed to brim with heat. Maybe they simply mirrored Alex’s own desire or her fear. Something was certainly churning there, and the intensity rattled Alex’s usual detachment.

Mercifully, the pager on Keri’s side vibrated and she grabbed it, glad for the distraction. She read the display and recognized the code she’d given Chad. “It’s showtime,” she said aloud to no one in particular.

Beth held her arms out and waved everybody forward with her hands. “Gather ’round and let’s go over the plan one more time.” Beth turned to Alex. “You wanna go first, Lieu?”

The officers rolled their chairs closer to the table as Alex began to speak. “Our workup on Davis shows he’s pretty clean, records wise, except for a blip on the IRS screen. Your surveillance has given us an idea of his patterns, but we need to find out about known associates. That’ll come when we get closer.

“Today I received the lab results from the first four deaths of our college students. The report confirms that the drugs in all of their systems are from the same batch of ecstasy. I’m still waiting for the tox results from Stacey Chambers. I want everybody to utilize the utmost caution.” Alex nodded for Beth to review the evening’s operational plan.

“Lieutenant Troy and Morgan will be going into the club to make contact. The rest of us will leave first, find the best places to set up, get in position, and wait for their arrival. Neither of them will be wired, so I want surveillance as tight as we can get it.”

The officers fidgeted in their seats, tired of the talk and ready for action, as Beth continued. “Rick and Paige, you’ll be in front in the panel van. Take pictures if possible for later identification. Mike and Renee, you’ll cover the back lot and alley in the blackout van. If Davis leaves, meets, or talks to anybody back there, I want to know about it. If we’re lucky, this’ll be a routine intel-gathering operation and our first contact with the target. Is everyone clear on their assignments?”

Everybody nodded.

Beth tossed a set of car keys to Alex. “She’s Jane, you’re Tarzan. Make us proud…and don’t wreck the ’Vette.”

Keri and Alex stayed in the conference room after everyone else had gone, waiting for the signal to proceed to the bar. After a few minutes, Alex cleared her throat and rolled her chair closer to Keri, her heart pounding faster in direct proportion to their proximity.

“Morgan, I know you’re nervous, but you’re going to do a great job. I’ll guide you through it. Just follow my lead. If you have questions, I’ll try to answer them.”

Keri heaved a sigh. “What exactly do you have in mind for our floorshow?”

Alex had to smile at the irony of her situation. “Just act like”—she traced the strong line of Keri’s jaw with her index finger, her eyes never leaving Keri’s—“we’re
very
good friends.”

The current from Keri’s body teased slowly up Alex’s arm and dove directly to her core. Keri’s blue eyes turned hazy and her nostrils flared as the pulse at her neck raced. Alex swallowed the burst of attraction that blocked her throat.

Intense heat radiated from the point of contact on Keri’s jaw and through her body with lightning speed. She felt mesmerized by Alex’s touch. The tenderness and intimacy of it belied the tough exterior Alex tried to portray. Keri held her gaze and felt as though she were looking into the soul of a woman saved. Her heart thumped against her chest. She heard the blood racing through her veins, headed toward the ache between her legs. It was the most exquisite pain she’d ever experienced. She prayed it would never end.

“It’s a very intimate environment,” Alex said. “Not like most bars, so prepare yourself.” She ran her tongue slowly across her lips.

“Yes, I can imagine,” Keri finally managed.

“Oh, you can?” Alex teased.

“I mean…Oh, hell, I don’t know what I mean.” Keri stopped. They were both kidding themselves if they wanted to pretend they’d have to fake some heat.

“Other people may ask you to dance, men and women. If they do, go with your gut.”

“Right.” The way Keri felt right now, she’d probably jump some stranger in the ladies’ restroom out of sheer frustration.

“You’ll be fine. Trust me.” Alex couldn’t remember the last time she’d said those words to anyone. The look in Keri’s eyes told her that she did.

Beth’s voice came across the walkie-talkie. “We’re in position.”

Keri stabilized her emotions and projected herself into the role she was about to play. She was this sexy woman’s “date” for the evening but she was also going to send signals to men, hoping Sonny Davis would respond. She had to get him interested by projecting a bisexual persona. She hoped she was up to the challenge and wouldn’t just come across as a lesbian hot for the woman she was with, even if that was the truth. And it was, regardless of the fact that Alex was her superior officer and that Keri still couldn’t completely forgive the past.

What if someone asked Alex to dance? Keri couldn’t leave the room in a jealous huff like she did a few days ago when she saw Alex with Helen. The thought sent her confidence into a nosedive. She’d fled because
she
wanted to be the woman on that table, arousing the same fierce reaction she’d seen in Alex. Pushing that thought out of her mind, she stood hastily and left the room, side by side with her boss. When they reached the car, Alex opened Keri’s door. She did the same thing when they arrived at Shelly’s and placed her hand in the small of Keri’s back as they strolled toward the club.

Keri walked slowly toward the entrance, wanting to prolong Alex’s touch for as long as possible. It felt so incredibly right. She had never been so turned on by a simple caress or so aroused by a woman’s proximity. Everything about Alex excited her. Physically, sexually, and emotionally. The ache that coursed through her body made it clear that her feelings for Alex Troy had escalated to new and torturous levels. She wasn’t sure which hurt more, her attempts to bury her physical cravings or the equally impossible attempts to conceal her feelings. As they approached the club door, Alex’s hand slid down her back and brushed lightly across her butt. Before she pulled away completely, Keri caught her hand, gave it a light squeeze, and reluctantly released it.

Alex allowed herself to imagine that Keri clung to her hand out of uncontrollable desire. She wanted to believe her feelings were returned. She even wondered if she might have found the woman she was destined to spend her life with. Although the idea seemed absurd and the timing disastrous, there could be no other reason for her uncharacteristic lapses into professional unconsciousness and sexual fantasy.

When Keri released her grip, a familiar hook wrapped around Alex’s heart and settled into place. She reminded herself this was work and any interest Keri displayed was just an act. A silent mantra echoed in her mind: Sonny Davis behind bars equals captain’s bars.

Shelly’s lacked the usual wall-vibrating rhythms, boisterous voices competing for attention, and oppressive smell of testosterone. The music was loud enough for dancing but it was still possible for people to talk. Small candlelike fixtures on each table lent an intimacy Keri found inviting. Here, among people of all ages and sexual preferences, the atmosphere was freeing and arousing, and she quickly lost herself watching the sensuous fluidity of women’s bodies together. A familiar tightness grabbed her pelvis and she cast a sideways glance at Alex. The lieutenant was impossible to read, showing no discernible reaction to the steamy sensuality on all sides.

Keri had spotted Chad a few minutes ago but she’d delayed telling Alex, instead absorbing the sexual energy in the room. She forced her gaze to the curly thatch of black hair across the room. Sonny Davis. Chad had found him, and the two were talking. She tactically assessed her surroundings, noting exits and potential hazards. During her evaluation her gaze skimmed past a young blonde on the dance floor being caressed by a brunette. The blonde kept staring at Alex.

Keri placed her hand possessively on Alex’s arm and leaned in close, speaking next to her ear to make herself heard above the music. “Our target’s in the back and it looks like he has company.”

She inhaled Alex’s warm musk perfume and found herself not wanting to move. Her lips inadvertently touched Alex’s earlobe and she felt the lieutenant shiver.

Alex stifled an involuntary moan that threatened to expose her desire.
I’m just horny
, she thought,
and God knows Keri’s gorgeous
. Her hot breath sent goose bumps across Alex’s skin.

“Let’s find a seat.” Alex indicated a table directly in Davis’s line of sight.

They ordered drinks and waited for Chad to do his part. The blonde on the dance floor continued to watch Alex and when the song ended, she started toward their table. Keri couldn’t allow another woman to touch Alex. That wasn’t part of their plan.

Running interference, she placed her hand on Alex’s knee and slid it slowly up her skintight-denim-clad thigh. “Would you like to dance?”