An Inner Fire

by Jacki Delecki

  He needed to report the break-in to the chief and discuss when to bring in the feds for the possible drug smuggling. But when he spoke with the chief, he would lose control of the investigation. He wanted the bastard’s name before he turned over the case. The bottom line—he wasn’t going to trust Grayce’s safety to the feds, to strangers.

  Davis stopped in front of his building. How was he supposed to greet everyone, when they were all suspects? He felt the tick of his tightly clenched jaw.

  Everyone in the department knew he would be able to track the key card owner. Either he was dealing with a skilled idiot or a mastermind.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Davis lifted Grayce’s hand from his chest and kissed her palm. She draped an arm and a leg over him as if to shield him, sighed and slept on.

  His plan had been to invite her for dinner and then warn her she might be in danger. He wasn’t going to tell her about the break-in. He didn’t want to alarm her, just make her aware that the investigation had heated up. Things could get nasty. Instead, they had eaten a snack in bed after amazing sex.

  He peeled himself out of her embrace. She mumbled something, then reached for him without waking. He had considered putting some distance between them until the investigation was finished. Who was he kidding? He couldn’t stay away from her. And besides, he could protect her if she were close-by.

  Mitzi slept at Grayce’s feet and didn’t stir when he left the room. Mitzi had made her loyalties clear. She hadn’t left Grayce’s side.

  Davis sat on the couch with his laptop and studied each fire scene picture. Someone had found them threatening. The first time the pictures disappeared he had thought it was a technical glitch. When the pictures disappeared a second time, he started to get suspicious.

  “Davis?”

  Grayce stood in the doorway wearing his shirt. Mitzi stood behind her. A surge of possessiveness hit him in the gut. He wanted Grayce Walters to belong to him and only him.

  “How long have I been asleep?” She stretched her arms over her head. He watched his shirt hike up to reveal her thighs, high enough to tantalize, high enough to cause heat to pool under his clothes, under his skin.

  “Three hours.”

  “Wow, I was really out. I had no idea I was so tired.”

  “My fault. I didn’t plan on a workout when I invited you for dinner.”

  A patch of red appeared on each cheek. A woman who blushed, a woman with no artifice. How had he gotten so lucky?

  “Are you working?”

  “I was.” He stood. He wanted to go back to bed and do all the things they had done to each other and more. Desire drummed through him in a slow, steady beat. With her hair sleep-tousled around her shoulders, she looked like the cover of Maxim, like every hot-blooded male’s fantasy.

  He pulled her into his arms. She smelled of lemon and warm, sleepy woman.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “I am, but you keep working. I’ll fix something.”

  “I’m hungry, too.” He leaned down, taking bites of her earlobe, nipping at her neck. “So tasty.”

  He started to remove her shirt when her stomach growled loudly.

  “I guess I’m pretty hungry.”

  “I did promise you dinner.” He pulled her by the hand to the kitchen. Her fingers linked with his felt right. The two of them felt right. It was strange to have the roles reversed. Women always brought up to the topic of commitment at this point. For the first time, he wanted to have the c-word discussion.

  “More wine?” Their unfinished second bottle of wine sat on the counter.

  “That would be great.”

  “There’s still salmon. Can I reheat it?”

  “I like it cold.”

  “Sit down. Let me serve you.”

  “I can help.”

  “I like taking care of you.”

  “Your dinner was great.”

  “I can do steaks and salmon. Sprinkle with a rub and grill. Quite the gourmet.”

  Grayce moved next to him and cut the bread. She fed him a crusty piece. He licked her fingers one by one. He was as winded as if he had climbed to Camp Muir. He rested his chin on her head, trying to regulate his breathing. Mitzi got up and nosed her way between them.

  Grayce asked, “What do you want, girl?”

  Mitzi held her nose in the air and sniffed.

  “Davis, do you give Mitzi bread?”

  Mitzi yelped.

  “I feel bad if she’s not eating when I’m eating.”

  Mitzi gazed up at Davis, her dark eyes beseeching.

  “I swear she knows I feel guilty.”

  Grayce cut a small piece and gave it to Mitzi. “You’re such an actress.”

  Mitzi licked Grayce’s fingers. He and Mitzi both had the same need to taste Grayce.

  “Do you want salad and salmon?”

  “I’ll have both.”

  “For such a small woman, you sure can pack away the food.”

  “I burned quite a few calories tonight.”

  The heat started to gather under his skin again. “Should we eat at the table for a change?” He liked making her blush. He carried the wine and glasses.

  Grayce searched in the cupboard for the plates. “Davis, I didn’t know you carried a gun.”

  “I don’t usually.”

  “Why now?” Her voice sharpened.

  “It’s the reason I wanted you to come to dinner.”

  “To show me your gun?” Her voice and eyes were lit with mischief.

  Now, he was blushing.

  Mitzi moved to lie under Grayce’s chair. Grayce bent over and patted Mitzi, giving him an eyeful of her round luscious breasts. Desire drove through his body like the leader on a NASCAR racetrack. This need to keep touching, to get closer, to know someone intimately was new.

  He leaned down, their faces close. “I can’t resist you, Grayce Walters. They’re going to have to put that on my gravestone. The man who couldn’t resist Grayce Walters.”

  She ran her tongue over his lips. “I taste Merlot. Let me see if I can taste the salmon.” She pushed her tongue into his mouth.

  An erotic thrum traveled through him. “Grayce I want…I want…”

  “I want it too. The feeling’s mutual, Davis.”

  Grayce sat back in her chair and flipped the thick curls over her shoulder, looking young and innocent. “But first, tell me why you’re carrying a gun.”

  Some bastard had access to Grayce’s home and work addresses. Maybe he should tell her.

  As if Mitzi understood his need to protect Grayce, she placed her head on Grayce’s lap. Grayce spoke to the poodle in a low soothing voice. Mitzi nuzzled deeper. He and Mitzi did think alike.

  Mitzi could stay with Grayce and guard her when he couldn’t be with Grayce. The poodle had already proven herself as a ferocious watchdog.

  “You’re looking very serious.” Grayce sat up in the chair, putting her feet on the ground, her playfulness gone. “What is it, Davis?”

  “Some interesting things have turned up about the shed fire.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Well, it’s mostly speculation, but I believe I’m onto something big.”

  “The sheds are being used for criminal activity. I don’t think the fire was started by a fire bug as it was made to look. The Russian mob may be involved.”

  “In Seattle?”

  “When I searched the sheds on Sunday, one of the port employees told me about the strange activities in the N-4 shed.”

  Grayce leaned forward.

  “The port employee went into the shed to leave paperwork for the renter. He found crab cases sitting out, unrefrigerated. It had him baffled.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “These guys aren’t in the fishing business. There was something worth a lot more than crab in the boxes. My guess is drugs. I’ve been doing a little research. One of the major heroin routes from Afghanistan is through Russia to Alaska.”

  “Oh my God,
if that’s true….” She shot out of her chair. She began to pace in front of him. Mitzi sat at attention, watching Grayce.

  “I was right. You’re in danger. The guy who stabbed you was hired by the Russians. Remember? He had a strange accent.” Her speech was fast, rushed.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re in danger. I knew it. And you know it. That’s why you’ve started carrying a gun.”

  How in the hell had she turned the conversation to him? “I’m not worried about my safety. My job is dangerous.”

  She stopped pacing and stood over him. “James, Hollie, and I went down to Belltown to ask questions about the guy who tried to stab you. We found out that he wasn’t a street person, he had an accent and smoked foreign cigarettes. Don’t you see? He’s Russian and was hired to kill you.”

  His entire body clenched. Anger and fear beat through him. He shoved his chair back. “You went to Belltown? Looking for the crazy guy?”

  Grayce backed away. “I knew you’d be upset. I tried to tell you. You wouldn’t believe me.”

  “I am upset.” The vein in his temple pulsed as if it was about to burst.

  He took a deep breath. “I can’t believe you would put yourself in danger after you saw what that guy was capable of.”

  “We weren’t in danger. We only asked questions. I would’ve gotten more information, but some guy tried to harass us. James had to use his karate.”

  “What?” He was going to explode, like the shed after its big blast. “James had to fight someone off?”

  Mitzi now stood in front of Grayce shielding her from his wrath.

  “The guy wanted to pick a fight. James knocked him down.”

  “Listen to yourself. Why did James have to use karate if you weren’t in danger?”

  He had worried about frightening her. What a joke. She and her friends had gone out searching for suspects. Mitzi lay back down.

  “This isn’t a game. This isn’t some damn TV show.” He heard her quick intake of breath.

  “You think I’m doing this for entertainment?”

  He had never seen Grayce angry. Her green eyes darkened to the color of the granite in his kitchen. Her chest heaved in and out. Always calm and centered, his little animal healer’s face was red, red hot. “How absolutely unfair. I was trying to help.”

  “By getting yourself stabbed?”

  “I know how to defend myself.”

  “God damn it, Grayce. You’re a veterinarian.”

  Mitzi’s head came up in alert. Even his dog was on Grayce’s side. He could see the tears of frustration pooling in her eyes. He reached for her. She turned and walked to the bedroom. Mitzi followed her. This was just like with his sisters. Women stuck together.

  “You don’t need my help. I forgot you’re the invincible man.”

  He shouted, “Grayce, come back.”

  Her eyes widened. She stood straighter, spreading her feet apart. He recognized the stance for what it was. He had seen it enough with the punks who started fires. Grayce would argue with him before backing down.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout. Please, can we talk about this rationally, calmly?”

  Their breathing was the only sound in the room.

  His nerves whirred, giving him an edgy, out of control feeling. “This investigation might get dangerous. I want to make sure nothing happens to you.”

  She dropped her hold on the door. Mitzi lay back down at Grayce’s feet.

  “Why would you ever take such a risk?” He shook his head. “I just want you safe.”

  “You don’t understand, Davis. I feel the same. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “You don’t?”

  She stepped away from the door and touched his arm. “Wasn’t that what tonight was about?”

  “Tonight has been perfect, but the idea of you going to Belltown.” He felt himself getting agitated again.

  “You didn’t believe me. I knew the guy was more than a drug addict.”

  “You might’ve been right. But you still shouldn’t go looking for trouble. Grayce, those guys kill without flinching.”

  “I understand. But the guy James kicked was like the kids at Teen Feed. He was mean, angry at the world but not dangerous.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “Promise me you’ll stay out of it.” Her body stiffened against him. “You need to tell me when you have any suspicions and I’ll do the investigating.”

  “I tried to tell you, and you didn’t believe me. I told you the guy was hired to stab you and you laughed.”

  When she had told him about the assailant, he had thought she was distraught. He kissed her hair and held onto her tightly, wanting to keep her in his arms. “I stand corrected. I didn’t listen to you, and I should’ve. But I’m still not convinced you’re right.”

  She tried to pull out of his arms.

  “Okay, okay. Listen to me. If drugs are involved, this investigation will get treacherous. I don’t want you involved.”

  Grayce ran her hand along his chest as he had seen her do with Mitzi, trying to soothe him. And it seemed to be working. “I know you have great instincts. Let me pursue the criminals. Can we agree on that?”

  Her hand had stopped and one finger jabbed at his chest. “You need to promise to listen to me.”

  He bent down and captured her finger and brought her palm to his lips, brushing, caressing the soft surface of Grayce. “I’d do anything for you. Don’t you know?”

  She twined her arms around his neck and pulled him down. “I know—it’s the way I feel too.”

  “Before we get to the making up part, let’s settle on something. I want Mitzi to stay with you. She’s proving to be an incredible guard dog. I’ll feel better knowing she’s with you.”

  Mitzi sat up and nuzzled Grayce’s hand. He swore Mitzi understood every word he said.

  “That’s unfair, Davis. You know I could never hurt Mitzi’s feelings by saying I don’t need her. I’ll agree if you’ll have Mitzi protect you too.”

  Mitzi barked and jumped on Davis.

  “Two women protecting me. Let the Russians come after me.”

  “Don’t say that, Davis. Please, don’t say that. Promise me you’ll keep Mitzi with you when you’re working.”

  “Honey, I can take care of myself.” If the other FI’s could see him, promising his 90-pound girlfriend to let his poodle protect him, they would laugh their asses off. He would never admit it to the guys, but he liked the feeling that Grayce was worried for his safety.

  “Mitzi is always with me or in the car. That’s not hard. But I want Mitzi to be with you when you’re at home or I can’t be there. Agreed?”

  Grayce did a half nod.

  “You haven’t said the words,” he said.

  “I’ll keep Mitzi with me. Does that make you happy?”

  “It does make me happy. He pulled on her hand and backed toward the bedroom. Now, can I make you happy?”

  Grayce bent down and whispered to Mitzi. “Your job is to keep him safe when I’m not with him. Understood? It’s not over.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Grayce opened her desk drawer and reached for her hidden stash. The big gulp of warm Diet Coke helped quell her gnawing anxiety. She should be breaking the habit, but today wasn’t the day for self-improvement.

  Last night she had jumped out of the proverbial frying pan right into Davis’ arms. She tried to justify not divulging her secrets. She had made him promise to listen to her observations. It was a beginning. How could she explain visions from his dog? Visions she didn’t understand.

  He promised to cherish her. But he had reacted badly after her visit to Belltown. How would he respond to her cover-up of the attack and following his boss? Once her suspicions were substantiated, that the assistant chief had a gambling problem and might be helping the Russians with their drug smuggling operation, she would tell Davis everything. He deserved her full honesty.

  Hollie knocked
, then leaned her head in the door. “Diet Coke, Boss? What’s wrong?”

  Busted by an eighteen-year-old, and she thought she had hidden her indulgences so well. The end of all of her secrets loomed.

  “Rasputin is here, and he’s one very unhappy cat.”

  “Give me a minute before you bring that charmer in.”

  Grayce flashed on the Russian connection—maybe this was a good omen.

  * * *

  “I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Grayce stared at the long line of cars ahead of them.

  “God, I hate I-5.” James eased his red Beamer into the northbound merge lane. “The one time I’m legal in the carpool lane, and I’m stuck tailing Davis’ boss. Grayce, you and Mitzi better be right about Maclean.”

  “James, it’s a hunch, just a hunch.” She didn’t have any way of processing her otherworld information into a practical approach.

  “Definitely beats Monday night football,” he said.

  “This is insane. We’re following an assistant chief on a vision from a French poodle?” The sensible thing would be to disclose the threats, the visions, and her premonitions to Davis. She had been down this path after Cassie’s death, and she didn’t want to repeat the painful experience.

  “Would you be happier if it were from a pit bull? How about a Rottweiler? Any messages from Chihuahuas lately?”

  This wasn’t the first time her inner-world collided with the workings of the outer-world, but it was the first time Grayce needed to use her inner-world abilities to protect a human and she wasn’t sure how to proceed.

  “Okay, this is crazy. You should be home with your hot new boyfriend. Is that what you want me to say?”

  “Yesterday, following Maclean sounded pretty reasonable. Now, it feels too weird.”

  “Honey, stop. What do you want to listen to? Pretend we’re on a road trip. Remember the time we went down the Oregon Coast.” James began to run through the music selection on his iPhone.

  “James, please watch the road. Let me pick the music.”

  “No way, I’d have to listen to some soothing flute music.”

  Grayce willed herself to relax and leaned into the leather seats. “What did Hollie tell you while I was seeing my last patient?”