by Blair Grey
“I can see that you think he’s very powerful. But he’s not that powerful.” With a sigh, his broad chest deflated. “You’re giving him more power than he really has. I know that. I’ve done that myself. See, you have a voice. We forget that sometimes. We think we’re all alone in this world. Like no one else is around to help us. But the truth is that even strangers can help.”
“You’re wrong.” I had asked for help and my superiors gave me the least amount possible. “He raped me. I told my supervisor about it and Dean only got probation from our agency. No real charges were ever made. And now he’s anywhere I am, thanks to the agency’s help.” I took in a breath and held my lips together. I’d never told a soul the things I was telling him. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He never reached out to touch me at all. “You’re just not used to letting people in. I get it. I get it more than you know. Bad things happen to good people. It’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not. And I’m this physically strong person. I can’t figure out why I let him do what he did. I tried to stop him but couldn’t. I mean that. I could not stop him, and I don’t know why.” I really didn’t. It never made sense to me.
“There are these people in the world who have certain abilities,” he told me. “You were one person before you met them. And then you became a different person. I think you and I are people who have the ability to affect people in ways. In one way, we can become victims of certain people. And in other ways, we can help those who need it. That’s our superpower. We can be heroes when we want to be.”
I had to laugh. “There are no superheroes, Mr. Robertson.”
“I think you’re wrong,” he let me know. “I think we can be whatever we want to be. If that means we want to be victims, then we can be victims. If we want to be superheroes, then we can be superheroes. So, what do you want to be, Agent Johansson?”
Digging deep, as this guy made me feel as if I needed to dig deep, I told him what I felt at the time, “Call me Nicki. I’m not sure I want to be Agent Johansson any longer.”
“Okay, Nicki. Call me Garrett because I know that I don’t want to be called Mr. Robertson anymore. That was my father’s name. And my father was as much a monster to me as Dean Strong is to you.” His blue eyes met mine and I saw the pain in them. “We’re a lot alike, you and me. A superhero alliance is what I see in the future.”
Laughing in a way I hadn’t laughed in forever, I had to wonder if this was all a dream. A crazy, wonderful dream. “So, you and I are going to team up against Dean Strong. And what are we going to do to this man?”
I knew what I wanted to do to him. But Superheroes didn’t kill people.
“Well, I think we should allow things to go the way they want to. Allowing rivers to flow, wind to blow, and the sun to glow the way it sees fit makes the most sense.” He bumped his shoulder to mine – the first physical contact we’d had. “Rule number one, we superheroes stick together. I know we don’t know each other, but we’re going to have to trust one another. So, you should know more about me.”
“I should.” I liked the fact he wanted to let him in.
No one let me in. I knew that was because I never let anyone into me. But I’d let this man in and had no other reason than I thought he was sent to me from above.
“Do you have anything else you’d like to tell me before I get started?” he asked.
“My parents are dead. When I was fifteen, they were killed in a home invasion by a gang with ties to the drug world. I’m from Bakersfield, California. I was brought to Maryland and put into a foster home. My name was changed, and I’m not allowed to tell anyone my real name. So, don’t even ask me for it.”
So, there it is. All of my secrets. Now, what is he going to do with them?
Chapter Nine
Garrett
The sun had moved in the sky, making it afternoon. Nicki and I had been sitting on top of a picnic table, talking for quite some time when her stomach growled.
It was my turn to talk about my past, but hunger put that to the side. “Let’s walk over to a café that’s just around the corner. Lunch is calling.”
Placing her hand on her flat stomach, she nodded. “I agree. Sorry about that. When I get hungry, my tummy tells everyone around me about it.”
“It’s cool.” Getting up, I reached out to take her hand to help her down. For a moment, she just looked at my extended hand, then took it and let me help her. I let her hand go as soon as her feet hit the ground. I didn’t want her thinking that I was coming on to her. “I recommend the lobster rolls and homemade potato chips this place serves.”
“Having a local to help steer me to the best places to eat will be a Godsend.” Looking around as we walked, she seemed to be looking for something. “You didn’t ride your bike here?”
“I came in my car. It’s that little red beauty parked over there.” I pointed it out. “I got it a month ago. I’m still in the honeymoon phase with her.”
“She’s a beauty alright. I haven’t bought myself a new car in years. I really should too. I’ve got an old Chevy Nova parked in a rented garage in Arlington. That’s where I’ve been based since I got the job with the DEA.” Stepping over some trash someone left on the ground, she put her hand on my arm to steady herself. “Thoughtless people who throw their stuff wherever they want.”
“I saw you driving a tan Toyota last night. That’s not yours?” Turning right, I led her toward the café, liking that she felt comfortable enough with me to trust being somewhat alone with me.
“That car belongs to the DEA. When on a case, we never drive our own vehicles. And sometimes we have to work while disguising ourselves. Thankfully, my case isn’t that type of case this time. I hate wearing disguises. They feel so fake and I’m sure the whole time I’m wearing them that everyone knows I’m up to something.”
“I bet that does feel awkward.” Turning the corner, we left the park behind us and I saw her look over her shoulder just before we lost sight of it.
Looking at me, she asked, “So, what do you do for a living, Garrett?”
“I’m a computer tech.” We came to the small café and I opened the door for her. “Ladies first.”
Going in before me, she looked around the little place. “Quaint. Smells good. That’s always a good sign that the food is good.”
A burly man came out from the back, wiping his hands on a white dishtowel he had hung through a belt loop on his faded jeans. “The food here isn’t good – it’s great.” He laughed at his joke as we approached the counter. “I’ve got Gino in the kitchen today. He’s a wiz with the vegetables, that guy. We just got back from the farmer’s market with a whole bunch of fresh veggies. His special today is a veggie platter with various dipping sauces he creates himself.”
Eyeing each other, Nicki and I both said, “Yes.”
Putting my hand on her shoulder, I complimented her tastes. “I like a person who eats vegetables. Not everyone does, you know.”
“I do know that. And fresh ones at that. I feel extra lucky now.” She turned to smile at the man behind the counter. “Is this platter large enough to share between us two?”
“It is.” He jerked his thumb toward the back. “He’s got some iced tea back there too that’s pretty refreshing. I could toss in some lemon wedges for you if you’d like.”
“Sounds awesome.” She looked at me. “Think we should split a lobster roll since we’re going to be gorging on the platter?”
“Let’s do that.” I slid a hundred across the counter, trying not to be obvious about it. “It’s on me today. Keep the change, boss.”
“Will do. And I’ll get a dessert out to you two at the end of your meal. Gino’s wife, Gina, is busily working on something she’s calling a fresh fruit tart. I think she’s making homemade whipped cream to go on top of it. I’ll bring you a generous slice to share. Take a seat anywhere and I’ll have our girl bring it out to you.”
We both turned at the same time and our eyes we
nt to a table near the window. She led the way and I had to admit that I liked the way she walked. Head up, shoulders back, nice even steps, and an ass that would not quit.
Just as we sat down, the waitress brought out our drinks. “Good afternoon. Here are your iced teas with lemon and the chef is plating up your food as we speak. I’ll be right back with that.”
Nicki picked up the tall glass and took a sip. “Thanks for getting lunch. Maybe, if things go well, I’ll pay for dinner.”
“And a movie?” I teased her as I took a drink of my tea. “This is fresh. What a great idea your tummy had to find something to eat.”
“Right?” She laughed, the sound echoing off the walls of the empty place. “I think we came in just after their lunch rush wound down. Perfect timing.” Putting her elbows on the table, she steepled her fingers then leaned her chin on them. “So, are you a freelance computer tech or do you work for a company?”
“I work for a company.” Calling an MC a company was a stretch. “Well, it’s an organization really. And they’ve got quite a few businesses. And businesses have computers, so I head that up for them.”
Looking impressed, she winked at me. “So, you’re more than just a computer tech. You’re the boss of them all where you work. Sounds like you must be pretty damn smart.” She leaned back in her chair, eyeing me. “And you might know someone that I’m looking for in the case I’m here to solve. Are you into talking or not?”
I wasn’t entirely against it. “I can talk about some things and some people. Just not all things and not all people. I should come clean with you about who I work for. It’s a motorcycle club.” I figured I’d get it all out there in the open with her. “Dean Strong has been trying to find ways to shut them down in the last year or so. That’s how I know about him.”
Her brows raised with concern. “You work for the Iron Cobras MC?”
“I do.” I had nothing to hide and wasn’t about to start lying to the woman.
“Are you a member of their MC?” She looked over her shoulder as the waitress brought out a rather scrumptious looking platter. “That looks amazing. Give the chef our compliments, please.”
“I will certainly do that for you.” Placing a handful of napkins on the side of the large platter, she smiled as she walked away. “Enjoy.”
“We will,” I let her know as I reached out to pluck a slice of squash out of the center. We each had a line of small bowls on the outer edge of the platter with the dips in them, so we didn’t have to share. “Smart of him to give us our own dips. And the answer to your question is, no. I’m not yet a member of the MC. But I am a prospect and I hope to be a member pretty damn soon. That’s my main goal right now, earning that patch.”
With a nod, she dunked a snow pea into some peanut sauce. “Of course, you don’t have to answer anything that I ask you. But I would like to solve this case, so I’m going to ask some questions. You’re a computer tech and a biker. Being a biker, you have that in common with the man I’m looking for. Being a computer tech, you might be into playing video games. And being a gamer might be something this guy I’m looking for is too.” She held up her hand. “And I know you are not him. So, don’t even think that I’m sizing you up as the perp.”
“An honest DEA agent?” I had to laugh. “I thought you guys were just a myth.”
“Yeah, I know.” Waving a small tree of fresh broccoli at me, she went on, “Agents have this rep for lying. And that’s because we do a lot of it. Being an agent means using everything you can to make people trust you, feel safe telling you their deepest, darkest secrets, then using everything you know about them against them. I could tell you that I won’t do that to you, but you wouldn’t believe me if I did.”
“I might.” I liked how honest she was about her job. “So, give me the benefit of the doubt. Tell me about this case you’re on. Is it one of those really bad ones? You know, did the cops find a body in an abandoned warehouse or something?”
“We don’t try to solve those kinds of crimes. We go after the big dogs in the drug world.” Running her fingers around a stalk of celery, she acted as if she was smoking it. “Are the Iron Cobras big dogs, Garrett?”
They totally were and I totally wasn’t even broaching that subject. “The crime, Nicki. I asked about what crime has you here.”
“Slick.” She snickered as she picked up the glass of tea. “So, there was this car that was left in the Walmart parking lot and the trunk had quite a bit of marijuana and prescription meds with the labels taken off the bottles. It was obviously dropped off by one person and meant to be picked up by another. Know anyone who’s missing a drug shipment?”
“I’m not aware of anyone missing anything at the moment.” And that was not a lie. “But those types of drugs aren’t what the big dogs deal in, Nicki. I am assuming that as a DEA agent, you know that already.”
“And that is why I’m seeking gamers who might also be in small biker gangs. You know the kind who ride Hondas, instead of Harleys.”
I had a hard time believing she was on a case that small. “You sure that’s why you’re in Baltimore, Nicki? I mean there are much bigger fish to fry here. Why bother with the small potatoes? Let the local cops deal with them. If you were killed in the line of duty while working on such a shitty, little case, that would suck ass.”
Picking up her half of the lobster roll, she took a bite as she thought about what I’d said. Swallowing, she nodded. “This is good. You were right. And this is a small-time case. You’re right about that too. Once I send in my report, I might get called off the case and have to go back to Arlington.”
I didn’t want her to leave just yet. And not only because she was a tie to Dean Strong, but because I genuinely liked her. “Don’t leave so soon. You can fudge the report a bit to make it seem as if the crime is bigger than it is. It’ll buy you more time here. More time with me.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “I am fascinating once you get to know me.”
Her laugh was almost a giggle and it made my heart skip a beat - it was so cute. “I’m sure you are.”
Finishing off the meal, we got up to leave and I bumped her shoulder as we walked out of the café. “I could sit with you at the park and tell you who everyone is and what they’re into if you want me to.”
“Then I will have to take you out to dinner.” She looped her arm through mine. “I’ll take you up on that. We’ll have to pretend that we’re there on a date, deeply in love, and not paying any attention to anyone else. Think you can handle that?”
“Yes, I think I can pretend to be deeply in love with you, Nicki. And I will take you up on the dinner date. I haven’t had lasagna in a while. Are you any good at making it?”
“Nope. I don’t cook at all. But I can order takeout like a pro.”
Laughing as we went back to the park, I thought we made an attractive couple and would easily fool the park’s patrons into believing our ruse.
Pulling her down to sit on my lap as I took a seat on the grass beneath a tree with branches that spread out like a canopy, I pushed a locked of blonde hair behind her ear. “You’ve been honest with me and I want to be honest with you too.”
Loosely, draping her arms around my neck, she leaned her head on my shoulder to make it look as if we were much closer than we actually were. “I’d like that.”
I knew she was looking around at everyone else, and not really into me as much as she was pretending to be, but I went on anyway, “My father was a monster. Do you remember me telling you that?”
“I do.” Her fingers ran softly along the top of my shoulder. “Why do you call him that? Was he mean to you? Did you hit you?”
“No, he never hit me. Not even once. He barely paid attention to me. But then one night when I was ten, he came into my room and paid too much attention to me.”
Pulling her head up, she looked at me with big eyes. “What did he do, Garrett?”
“He touched me - fondled me.” It was a lot harder to tell her than I’d thought
it would be. Looking down, I closed my eyes. “I would always be asleep when he came in and then I’d wake up and he’d be there – sitting on my bed – stroking my.” I couldn’t say it.
“It’s okay. I understand.” Leaning in close, she whispered, “He was wrong for doing that and you know that. But you weren’t wrong for the way your body reacted. I know that’s a huge part of the shame. It’s part of mine anyway and I’m sure you feel the same way.”
So, her body had reacted to what Dean Strong had done to her too. I hadn’t ever realized that when someone was being taken against their will that they would feel any pleasure at all.
But then it made perfect sense to me. “Our bodies are traitors to our minds.”
“That, they are, my friend.” She kissed my cheek so softly that it felt as if a butterfly’s wings had barely grazed it. “He can’t ever hurt you again.”
I knew that to be true. And I also knew that Dean Strong could hurt her again. She wasn’t going to be safe until he was out of the picture for good.
Killing Dean Strong just keeps getting easier and easier to do.
Chapter Ten
Nicki
I’d gone through some bad things in my life. But I’d been fifteen when I lost my parents and in my twenties when Dean did what he did to me. Garret had been a child. And what made it so much worse was the fact his own flesh and blood had hurt him.
Being a victim of a sex crime myself, I knew what sorts of insecurities came along with that. Even if I wasn’t a man, I knew Garrett had to have confusion as to why his body had reacted to his father’s touch.
“Have you seen a therapist?” It was probably a stupid question as he’d been a kid and somewhere along the way, some adult had to have gotten him some help.
“Not really.” He ran his hands up and down my arms. “Maybe one day I’ll find the right person to talk to who can really help me. So far, the people I’ve seen about this haven’t done much to help.”