To Protect & Serve (21 page)

Alex steeled herself against the loss she knew would hit the minute she broke contact with Keri and stepped back, forcing Keri to release her grip. “That’s it. We’re definitely out of here. Splash some water on your face. I’ll make excuses to Davis. Meet you back at the table.”

Keri shook her head, producing a light wave of dizziness. She turned toward the sink, scooped cold water in her hands, and buried her face in it. The shocking contrast of icy water on her skin did little to cool the burn that seemed to scorch her from inside out.

“Please don’t call it off, Alex.” She lifted her hands away from her face and turned around. Alex was gone.

*

When Alex exited the restroom, the house lights were on. She was so angry she stood in the shadows and took several deep breaths.
How dare that scum-sucking bastard drug one of my officers?
She waited for Keri, returned to the table, and asked Dolph where she could find Davis. He motioned toward a private lounge area in the back.

She followed his directions and found Fletch and Cappy standing in front of a door that led into a private dance room. “I need to see Sonny.”

“Can’t right now. He’s busy.” Fletch nodded toward the door. She could hear raised voices coming from the room.

She sighed in phony disappointment. She helped Keri into a chair and said, “Wait here a sec. I have to make a call, then we’re leaving.”

“You’re going somewhere?” Fletch asked with an edge of suspicion.

“Yeah, we are.” Alex gave him some attitude. “We were all set to party, but some asshole slipped something in Lynn’s drink and now she’s getting sick. Ruined the whole fucking night for us.”

“Sonny won’t be happy.”

Alex flipped out her cell phone. “You can tell him I’m real disappointed, but what’s a girl gonna do? I guess we’ll hook up another time.”

Fletch absently waved her off, turned his back, and motioned a dancer over with his other hand. Alex saw her opportunity while Fletch and Cappy played grab ass. Walking away with the cell phone to her ear, she kept an eye on them. When they were fully preoccupied and no one else was paying attention, she ducked into the room next to Davis’s. She let her eyes adjust to the darkness. The smell of spent passion from a single sofa in the room wafted to her nostrils and made her nauseous. She inched closer to the adjoining wall and placed her ear to the cheap divider.

“What the hell’s your problem, Tiffany?” Davis’s voice boomed.

A scared, female voice answered, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, baby.”

Davis made a disgusted noise. “I heard you were going to the cops on me.”

“Ain’t no way, Sonny. I swear it. I got my baby to think about.”

Davis’s voice had the edge of barely controlled anger. “Then what the hell are you doing hiding from me?”

Tiffany’s voice trembled as she tried to explain. “I wasn’t hiding from you. Haven’t you heard about that dead woman, the councilman’s daughter? The cops are after me about that. Ask Cappy where he found me. I was getting a bus ticket to get my baby out of town. I can’t take no murder rap.”

“Why would they think you had something to do with that?” Davis’s voice still sounded skeptical.

“That’s what I’m saying. Word on the street is she was poisoned or drugged and I was there. That’s all I know. You gotta help me, baby. We were good together. You know it.”

Davis’s cruel laugh vibrated through the walls and Alex shivered. “Ain’t that justice for you? That damn drink was meant for you. I thought you were informing on me. I had one of my boys passing out drinks at the meeting. You must’ve given it to the Chambers girl. There was enough in that thing to kill a horse.”

Tiffany started crying. “I can’t believe you tried to kill me. I swear, Sonny, I never double-crossed you. I love you, baby.”

“We’ll see about that. I don’t have time to deal with this shit now.” A loud thump against the wall startled Alex back into the corner of the room. “Cappy, get your sorry ass in here.”

“Yeah, boss?”

“Take Tiffany to my safe house on the east side and stay with her. Don’t let her out of your sight. If you lose her, it’s your ass. Got it?”

“Sure thing, boss.”

Alex had heard enough. Her muscles tightened with loathing for Sonny Davis. His comments were not only incriminating, but they just might be the final nail in his coffin in Stacey’s case. She peeked out the door, saw that Fletch was still occupied with the dancer, and headed back to the table. Keri was sitting with Hunk and Dolph, looking like a dejected child.

“Lynn, we have to go.” Alex’s tone left no room for argument. She helped Keri to her feet, arms around her waist, and guided her to the front door.

“Hey, where you going?” Dolph called after them.

“Some sick fuck put something in her drink. We’ll party another time,” Alex shouted back, already halfway across the room.

When they returned to the car, Alex radioed for a marked unit to stop Cappy’s car when it left the club. It was to look like a routine traffic stop. When they found Tiffany Brown, they were to arrest her on suspicion of murder. Under no circumstances was she to be allowed to post bail. If there were any papers on Cappy, they were directed to serve them; if not, to release him. She told Beth what she’d heard between Davis and Tiffany. She wanted Steve to take a sworn statement from Tiffany before morning. She also told Beth that she’d take Keri home. Her instructions were for Beth to pick Keri up the next day.

Clear of the club, Alex drove in silence and fumed inside. First thing tomorrow, Beth would get Keri to the hospital for a blood test. Confirmation of drugs in Keri’s system would be essential, even though they’d never be able to prove who actually spiked her drink. She thought of Josh’s death and knew Keri would go ballistic when she found out about her own drugging.

Alex knew it was her fault. She was responsible for keeping things under control. It was her job to anticipate anything. Her focus should’ve been strictly on Davis and his associates, not wandering to Keri and worrying about her. She’d failed the operation, her experience, and most of all, Keri. Costly mistakes were often the result of mixing business with pleasure.

Keri shifted toward the console and leaned her head against Alex’s shoulder. Her condition seemed to have deteriorated since leaving the club. She looked up through bloodshot eyes and said, “I’m really sorry. I messed up, didn’t I?” She stroked Alex’s arm, let her hand rest over Alex’s on the console and entwined their fingers.

The delicate caress raised goose bumps that raced to Alex’s center and exploded into heat.
This is exactly what I was just kicking myself for
. But still she didn’t stop Keri.

“I’ve got to tell you something, Alex.” Keri’s voice wandered and slurred. She released Alex’s fingers and placed her hand on Alex’s thigh. “It’s important.”

Alex’s breath caught in her throat. “Save it for another day. You’ll be glad you did.”

Keri’s head was spinning, but she continued, “I’m not sorry I touched you. I wanted—”

“Don’t say any more. Please, Keri.”

“I’ve been having these feelings ever since I met you. We both know I’m no good at hiding how I feel.” All of a sudden a dim light went on in Keri’s head and she struggled to sit up. “Omigod, am I fired?”

“No, you’re not fired. You’re just a bit drunk, so I won’t hold anything you say against you. Is this your house?”

Keri pointed to the John Deere mailbox with her father’s name on it. “Yep, that’s me, country bumpkin Keri Lynn Morgan. You can let me out here. I don’t want to wake my folks.”

“I’ll make sure you’re safely inside.”

Alex helped Keri up the steps, through the screened-in porch, back door, and into her bedroom. The smell of fried chicken filled the house and reminded Alex she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. It was easy to picture Keri in the modestly furnished farmhouse caring for her parents with the loyalty and hard work such a place inspired.

Keri’s small bedroom was fairly nondescript with the exception of a hand-knitted comforter at the foot of her bed and two framed pictures on the dresser. One photograph was her mother, apparent by Keri’s striking resemblance to her. Her mother was pinning her badge on at the graduation ceremony from the academy. The other was a handsome young man with jet-black hair and blue-gray eyes.

Noticing the direction of Alex’s gaze, Keri said, “That’s Josh, my first true love. No sex, but love just the same. I was closer to him than my own brother.”

Alex flinched as she imagined Keri in anyone’s arms but hers.

Keri continued, her words becoming more slurred. “He died a year ago, too. ’Member I told you a fuckin’ doper slipped him an overdose at a frat party? He didn’t even do drugs.” Her blue eyes turned stormy as she stared at the picture.

Alex knew this was the reason Keri needed so desperately to be on the task force. It was about revenge. She’d gotten her own powerful lesson about revenge from Helen. It could serve as a motivator but also led to poor judgment. She hoped Keri would not fall prey to bad decisions she would later regret.

Keri looked away from the photograph and snickered. “How about that?” She stripped down to her thong without the slightest hesitation or embarrassment. “I got you into my bedroom on our first date.”

Alex stared, openly admiring Keri’s strong body and resisting the temptation to touch her, just once, to feel that hot silky skin respond to her searching fingers.

“Wait. I’ll be right back.” Keri steadied herself along the furniture and hallway to the bathroom. She returned a few minutes later smelling of soap and toothpaste. She jumped into the four-poster bed and snuggled under the covers.

“Are you okay?” Alex sat on the edge of the bed, trying desperately to suppress her desire.

“I’d be better than fine if you’d do me one little itsy-bitsy favor.” Keri’s head felt like someone had blown insulation in through her ears.

“And what’s that, Officer Morgan?” Alex asked as she tucked the covers around Keri’s neck.

“Kiss me. Every time I see you, that’s what I want.” She grinned like a kid asking for an ice cream before dinner.

The request burned through Alex. More than anything she wanted to say yes, but that would be totally selfish and very unfair. “Go to sleep, Morgan. You’ve had a rough night.”

Keri wanted to object but she couldn’t speak anymore. She felt too sleepy to move, or talk, or reach out. Alex was so close, but she felt far away. As Keri drifted into a deep, inebriated sleep she thought she felt Alex’s cool, soft lips against her burning forehead. With a sigh of contentment, she gave in to the fog closing on her mind. Alex liked her. The thought made her smile.

*

On the drive home Alex called Beth. “I want you to make sure Morgan gets to the hospital tomorrow for a blood test. I want her checked for drugs, especially roofies. I know it’s Sunday but it has to be done tomorrow ASAP.”

Beth wanted details.

“She was out of it and I want to know why. I think somebody put something in her drink. On your way, ask her about tonight. See what she remembers. Make her be specific.”

“You got it, boss. You’re still coming up to the lake tomorrow, right? We’ve still got a couple of days off with the holiday on Monday.”

“You better believe it. I need a break.”

As Alex drove, Keri Morgan’s face and near-naked body refused to leave her mind. She’d been unable to resist a single, light kiss to Keri’s forehead after tucking her safely into bed. Would Keri remember the kiss or any of the heart-wrenching comments she’d made on their way home?
I know I’ll never forget
.

Keri stood in the shower and allowed the cold stream of water to assault her body into consciousness. She’d slept through the alarm, which she didn’t remember setting, and was still in bed when Beth called and said she was coming to pick her up. Her head felt like it was filled with steel wool, cold and abrasive and unable to produce discernable memories of the night before. As she pulled on her jeans and T-shirt, she tried to remember where she’d left her car. How had she gotten home? She peeked into her mother’s bedroom, smiled at the peacefully sleeping frame, and rushed to the unmarked police car in her driveway.

“I thought you had today off, Sarge.”

“I do, but before I go you and I have to talk.” Beth waited for her to settle into the passenger seat then began the inquisition. “What happened last night?”

Keri toyed with the idea of making something up so she wouldn’t sound like a total incompetent but opted for the truth. “I have no idea, Sarge. The last thing I remember clearly is drinking a beer in the club. I have some fuzzy images but nothing specific after that. Did I blow the case?”

“No, Alex called it off. She thought you might’ve been drugged. We’re going to get you tested right now.”

For the first time Keri noted the concern in Beth’s voice and her death grip on the steering wheel. Her own skin started to flush as anger boiled to the surface. “You mean one of Davis’s cronies slipped something into my beer?” She thought of Josh and could barely contain her emotions. “That son of a bitch. I’ll—”

“Let’s hold off on the threats until we know for sure. If this thing happened, we’ll make it right. You’re not alone, Keri.” She paused for a moment, her expression thoughtful. “Listen, I think you need to take a couple of days off.”