There was a moment, the father and his sons looking from one to the other, as they pondered their options to help their kin. Jerome finally nodded. “Your call. I’ll support whatever decision you make. If you want the FBI on this case, make the call. Right now, it sounds like we can use all the help we can get.”
Jerome gave Davis a gentle tap as they lifted him into the ambulance. “It’s going to be okay, son. I’ll see you at the hospital,” he said.
“Why is this happening?” Davis questioned as Mingus took a seat beside him in the ambulance.
His brother shook his head. “We’ll figure it out. But right now, that’s the least of your troubles.”
“The cops think I killed Gaia. How much worse can it get?” Davis muttered.
Mingus shot a look over his shoulder before he leaned to whisper in his brother’s ear. “Balducci thinks you may have killed his daughter. He’s coming for you. That’s how much worse it can get.”
* * *
Davis didn’t know when he’d fallen asleep or how long he’d slept. When he opened his eyes, he was in a hospital bed and connected to a series of monitors that beeped periodically. A nurse stood at his side, adjusting the drip for intravenous fluids. His eyes followed the plastic tube from the bag of saline to the back of his hand where someone had placed a catheter into his peripheral vein. He looked back at the nurse, who was smiling at him. She was an older woman who reminded him of bread dough. Her complexion was pale and she was round and plump.
“How are you feeling?” the rotund woman asked.
He shrugged, his mouth dry as he tried to speak. “What happened?”
“You have a slight concussion. Apparently, you passed out in the emergency room while the doctor was examining you. Your blood pressure was elevated, and they opted to keep you for observation. Your mother just stepped out to get herself a cup of coffee. Your brother ran to the restroom. I imagine your family will be back shortly. You’ve had a few visitors since you arrived.”
“How long have I been out?”
“Since late last night. I just came on duty. My name’s Arlina.”
Davis nodded. “Thank you, Arlina.”
“I’ll be back in a while to check on you. I’ll also let your doctor know that you’re awake. As soon as he comes by and says it’s okay, we’ll be able to order you something to eat. I imagine you must be hungry right about now.”
As if on cue, Davis’s stomach grumbled. The nurse named Arlina laughed. “You rest. I’ll be back shortly,” she said as she opened the door and exited the room.
Davis pressed his head back against the pillow behind him. He closed his eyes as he took a deep inhale of air. Everything suddenly came rushing back to him and he felt his stomach bubble and churn with anxiety. The last few hours hadn’t been a nightmare that he could wake himself up from. Gaia was dead and he was still a suspect.
“Davis?” His mother’s voice pulled him from his trance and his eyes flew open, meeting her stare. Concern blessed her expression, her eyes misted with worry. Relief spread her smile bright and wide. “The nurse said you were awake. How do you feel?”
“I feel like crap. And I have a headache.”
“Paul said you would.”
“Paul’s my doctor?” Davis questioned.
“He’s been keeping an eye on you.” His mother fussed around him, straightening the bright white coverlet and sheets that lay across his body.
“Where’s everyone?”
“Mingus is in the hallway on his cell phone. Your father is at the station. Everyone else was here to check on you last night. I’m sure they’ll be back soon. You had us all worried sick.” She leaned to kiss his forehead, brushing her fingers against the spot where she’d just pressed her lips.
“Hopefully they’ll let me go before then.”
“Your father says you need to stay here as long as possible.”
“I’m not doing that, Mom. I have a job to do and I need to make a statement about Gaia’s death. Has anyone checked on Emilio?”
His mother took a deep breath. “Alexander took custody of his grandson.”
Davis’s brows lifted. “You know?”
“Alexander confided in your father and me. He’s broken that he will never have an opportunity to forge a relationship with his daughter. He’s determined to be there for her son.”
“That poor kid. I’m sure he doesn’t have a clue what’s going on.”
“He’ll be fine. I plan to go over to check on him myself.”
“Is that a good idea?”
His mother looked at him, her brow creased. “It’s what we do for friends. No matter what the circumstances.”
Davis shook his head. “Can you explain to me, please, how you and dad are friends with that man?”
“Things aren’t always what they seem, Davis.”
“So, he’s not a friend?”
“He’s a necessary evil,” his mother said before changing the subject. “Your sister is interviewing assistants for you. Why didn’t you let us know you needed help?”
“I can handle it, Mom.”
“Humph! Well, Vaughan has found a few students she thinks will be perfect for the job, especially while you recover. If nothing else, there will be someone there to keep the office open.”
Davis nodded, knowing there was no point in arguing. Although it was annoying at times, he couldn’t deny that his family intervening whether they were wanted or not, often came in handy. He trusted that whomever Vaughan hired would be exactly who he needed to help him run his office. He also didn’t have the energy to give it attention. He was more concerned about what was happening with the investigation. And he suddenly thought about Neema.
“Where’s my phone?” he asked, lifting his eyes back to his mother.
“I’m not sure. The police may have it. Mingus will know.”
“I need my phone. I need to call my new friend. She’s probably wondering what’s going on.”
“You have a new friend? How do you have a new friend and not one of your siblings told me?”
Davis laughed. “Now that’s a question I can’t answer for you!”
“Someone’s sleeping on the job. I should have gotten a full report by now. What’s her name?”
“Neema. Neema Kamau. Her father owns that African restaurant that Dad likes so much.”
“I know Mr. Kamau. He’s a very nice man. I didn’t know he had a daughter. Will you be bringing Neema to Sunday dinner soon?”
“Soon. Maybe. If this situation doesn’t scare her off.”
His mother smiled. “If it does, then she definitely isn’t the woman for you.”
Davis shrugged, the two of them falling into a moment of quiet. He broke the silence with a question. “Aren’t you going to ask me if I did it?”
“If I know anything about you, Davis Harper Black, it’s that you did not kill anyone. Most especially someone you loved and cared about. That’s not a question I will ever need to ask. I know you didn’t hurt Gaia.”
“No, I didn’t,” he replied, “but I do need to try to figure out who did.”
* * *
Neema woke in a surly mood. She’d sat up until well after midnight hoping that Davis would call and when she’d finally given in and called him, there had been no answer. No answer. No return calls. No text messages. He’d gone radio silent and she was feeling out of sorts about it. She had never been the jealous type, but knowing that Davis had gone to spend time with another woman had that green-eyed monster stalking her spirit. He and Gaia had history and their connection was undeniable. Neema wasn’t quite sure what she and Davis had just yet beyond the desire to take their new friendship farther.
She pressed her hand to her cheek where he had kissed her. She knew she was only imagining things, but it felt as if his touch was still there, still tingling,
still sweeping heat through her feminine spirit. It had been a perfect first kiss, and it had left her wanting more.
Throwing her legs off the side of the bed, she stood, stretching her arms up over her head. With her fingers reaching for the ceiling, she held the stretch for a good few minutes. She bent forward at the waist, her hands sweeping the floor. Pulling her elbows back against her sides, she rolled her body upward, slowly unwinding each of her vertebrae until she was standing straight again.
As she headed toward the bathroom, she reached for the television remote, turning it on to catch the morning news. She was just about to brush her teeth when she heard the newscaster announce a forthcoming story about the city alderman as soon as they returned from a commercial break. She brushed, rinsed and spit, then stepped back into the bedroom. She dropped onto the corner of the bed. Her heartbeat was suddenly racing, anticipation curdling in the pit of her stomach. Intuition told her something was seriously wrong. Her sour mood nosedived at the news anchor’s next words.
“A local politician has been hospitalized after a late-night shooting left one person dead. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us this morning at seven. I’m Mark Miller and this is ABC7 Chicago.”
The news anchor was familiar, a man Neema had interviewed a year earlier for a piece on local celebrities. He was balding, an unsuccessful comb-over failing to hide the spot of flesh on the top of his head. The newscaster continued. His expression was smug as he stared into the camera.
“A shooting last night left one person dead and another hospitalized this morning. Local politician Davis Black, the elected alderman of the twenty-fourth district, was found injured early this morning in his office after reports of shots fired. A second victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The ABC7 team’s Wesley Wallace is reporting live from Northwestern Memorial Hospital.”
A well-dressed news reporter stood on the sidewalk near the hospital’s parking lot. He wore an expensive wool suit and polished leather shoes. His voice was nasally, sounding like he had a perpetual cold. Neema found it slightly disconcerting.
“Mark, police have confirmed that a young woman was pronounced dead at the scene of a shooting on South Keeler Street, in the office of Alderman Davis Black, son of Chicago’s police superintendent. Cook County EMS reported Alderman Black was transferred here to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The victim, who has not yet been identified pending notification to her family, and Alderman Black were known to each other. Neighbors living near the scene say they are still in disbelief.”
The camera shifted to a scene previously recorded in front of the alderman’s office.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” a woman identified as Betsy Trevino was saying. Betsy held a small black dog in her arms and the dog was dressed in a pink tutu. “I just think it’s sad. It’s sad that people do this kind of thing. Mitzi and I—” she gestured with the dog “—normally walk this stretch twice per day and usually it’s very peaceful.”
The clip ended and Wallace continued. “The alderman’s office has not yet issued a statement, but sources say he’s stable and recovering from his injuries. It’s anticipated that he will be released within the week. Detectives are still working to find out what led to the shooting, but do say they are questioning a person of interest. We will bring you more as this story evolves, Mark.”
Neema depressed the volume button on her television remote, silence filling the space. She reached for her cell phone and tried Davis’s number one more time. It rang once and went directly to voice mail.
She was suddenly shaking. The news report was just vague enough to capture everyone’s curiosity and just precise enough to leave them wondering how Davis Black figured into the crime without being outright guilty. She imagined that every reporter who worked that beat was trying to break the story and get the facts. How they’d managed to keep it on the low until daybreak left her questioning just how well connected the Black family was to the press. She hadn’t heard anything on the police scanner and even Tiger’s informant had failed them.
Neema jogged to her closet to find something to wear. Davis might not be answering his calls, she thought, but she knew where to find him. And right now, she needed to lay her eyes on him to know that he was well.
* * *
When his father and brothers arrived, Davis’s mother kissed him on the forehead and excused herself from the room. There was a hushed exchange between his parents; Davis sensed an air of tension between them that both were trying to hide. He shot his brothers a look, the lot of them taking stock of the moment. When the door closed behind the matriarch, his father seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Is everything okay with you two?” Davis questioned, asking what they were all thinking.
Jerome looked from one to the other. He nodded his head. “Everything’s fine. Your mother is just concerned about you.” He changed the subject. “So, where are we? I have to update the mayor after lunch this afternoon.”
Parker took a seat on the edge of the bed. “I’ve turned the case over to the FBI. They’re sending a team later today to take over the investigation. They’re going to want to talk to you, but we’ll hold them off until after you’re out of the hospital.”
“They’ll need to schedule that through me,” Ellington said. “You have legal representation and you are not to talk to anyone about this case without me being there.”
Davis looked confused. “The FBI? You’re not going to handle the case?”
“Letting the FBI take the reins doesn’t mean we aren’t going to investigate. It means what we do will be off the books and when we find what we need, we point them in that direction,” Parker said.
“It avoids the look of any impropriety,” Jerome said. “No one will be able to accuse us of hiding anything because you’re my son.”
“Right now, though, we have more questions than we do answers,” Armstrong interjected. “First, someone does a drive-by on your home and now this. It can’t be coincidental.”
“Tell us what you remember,” Parker said, directing his question toward Davis.
“Gaia called me. She was furious. She said she needed to see me immediately. I asked what was wrong and she responded that I already knew and she wanted answers. I automatically assumed that she was talking about Alexander Balducci.”
“What’s he got to do with this?” Armstrong asked.
“It’s complicated,” Jerome answered. “And Davis isn’t at liberty to say anything more.”
Davis and his father exchanged gazes, the patriarch’s stare feeling like a warning.
The brothers all seemed to be trying to read the moment. All of them except Mingus, who looked like his mind was racing to put two and two together but coming up with three instead of four.
“Did she mention him directly?” Parker asked.
Davis shook his head. “No. She just said that she had trusted me and asked how I could do that to her, and then she started crying. That’s when I agreed to meet her. She said she was headed to my office and would see me when I got there.”
“Did you understand what she was talking about?” Parker queried.
Davis gave his father another look and nodded.
“Where were you when she called?” Armstrong asked.
“Home. Having dinner with Neema.”
“Who’s Neema?” Ellington questioned.
“His new boo thang,” Mingus muttered, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Davis rolled his eyes at his brother. “She’s a friend.”
“Did you say anything to her?” Parker asked.
“I did. She met Gaia at her gallery opening last week. I told her Gaia was in trouble and I needed to go help her. I wanted to invite her to tag along but we both agreed that it wasn’t a good idea.”
“I just bet she did,” Mingus muttered under his breat
h.
“What’s your problem?” Davis quipped.
Mingus held up his hands as if surrendering. “No problem here.”
“Something we need to know about her?” Armstrong asked, looking from Mingus to Davis and back.
“No!” Davis snapped. “She doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
Mingus stood silent, not bothering to respond. Davis suddenly found the look his brother was giving him disconcerting.
“Let’s move on,” Ellington intoned. “We can come back to baby brother’s love life.”
“No, we won’t,” Davis said. “Let it go, please.”
“So...” Armstrong continued, “you ended your dinner and left to meet Gaia. Did you make any stops?”
“No. I went straight to the office. It was just after ten o’clock when I arrived. Her minivan was parked across the street and I checked to see if she was sitting inside, but she wasn’t there. I figured she might have taken a walk up the street when I didn’t see her standing in front of the door.”
“So, from the time you got her call till you left to meet her, was how long?”
“Maybe an hour at most. If that.”
“Anyone see you?”
Davis shrugged. “Church was just getting out across the street. There was a group of women standing beside the car parked in front of Gaia’s van. I’d heard them talking just before I opened the office door.”
“Then what?”
Davis took a deep breath before continuing. “I unlocked the door and went inside. I tried to turn the lights on, but they didn’t work. I thought it might have been a fuse. That’s when I found Gaia on the floor.”
“You saw her? I thought it was dark?” Ellington asked.
“I had the flashlight app on my cell phone engaged.”
Ellington nodded. “Then what?”
“I went over to check for a pulse. Then I saw the blood. I was trying to dial 9-1-1 when someone hit me in the back of the head.”
“There was someone else there?” Armstrong asked.
“Yeah. They were inside.”
“You sure they didn’t walk into the building behind you?”
Harlequin Romantic Suspense March 2021 Page 82