One Night More (BBW Romantic Suspense) (One Night of Danger)

by Bayard, Clara

  "No, I can't."

  My eyes widened with shock and I drew back. "Why not?"

  "Because I'm a cop, Carly. And I won't tell them what you did, but I can't lie about it under oath."

  "Right. Of course." I wanted to kick myself. If only I'd told the truth about what happened. That I did knowingly deliver the illegal medications that one time but I didn't know what else to do. Surely the legal system would make some allowance. Grant me immunity or whatever the hell. But now I'd lied to the cops and made Sam do the same. Mitchell and whoever he worked for could get away with it, all because I was too scared to come clean.

  "Hey," Sam said, slinging an arm around my shoulder. "It's going to be okay. Things will work out. This investigation is only beginning. And, if we're right and this is related to a bigger enterprise, there will be more evidence. Stronger evidence."

  I thought about telling him what I'd seen in the warehouse, but I was tired and didn’t want to admit to yet another lie. I needed more information. A way to make this right for all of us.

  "Why don't you lie down. Try to get some sleep."

  "Okay."

  We looked at each other but there was no heat or even the building connection in it. The issues weighing on both of us, and the lies hiding within me made a wall between us, one I wasn't sure could be scaled without a lot of work, and for the moment I was too exhausted to bother.

  So I lay back and rolled onto my side facing away from him. I l closed my eyes and willed sleep to come while I went over my plan and added some urgency to it.

  Sam sat there for a long time, I could practically feel him wanting to touch me or say something, but he didn't. As I drifted off into a nightmare-riddled sleep he got up and left the bedroom.

  Chapter Five

  The next morning we went through the motions of getting ready for the day together, but the conversation was only short necessary words about breakfast and bathroom order. There was no talk of sharing a shower this time.

  Sam had to go into work for a few hours but wouldn't be gone all day. He told me we could talk more when he got back. I agreed, thinking I'd have a lot more to tell him than he expected. I charged my cell phone with a charger that the nice officer who'd brought my clothes had thoughtfully included.

  Sam looked down at it on the kitchen counter by the only outlet that was free. "You expecting a call from someone?"

  "Not really. But I figured while you're gone I can check my messages and email. It's been a couple days."

  "You kids and your technology," he quipped.

  "Pipe down old man." I grinned, my insides warming from that tiny bit of normalcy. But the moment passed and I tensed up as Sam grabbed his keys.

  "Call me if you need anything, but like I said, I'll be back soon."

  "Okay." I stood up and went over to the sink to start washing breakfast dishes.

  "I like seeing you in my kitchen," he said lowly.

  I looked over my shoulder. "What was that?"

  "Nothing. See you in a few hours."

  He left and I sighed as the door shut behind him. Trying to stay calm, I washed and dried the dishes and then put them away. I tidied up the few out-of-place things and then looked at the clock. He'd been gone for fifteen minutes. Should be long enough.

  I gathered my things and my phone, and headed out the back door again. I hopped in Anna's car and sent her a text that I'd have it back to her later, and drove off.

  When I got close to the warehouse we'd left the day before, I drove around for a little while to get a better sense of the area. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but I hoped something would become apparent.

  Luckily and unfortunately, something did rather quickly. A few streets over, right by the expressway overpass I saw the woman I'd handed that damn box of pills to. She was standing by a green SUV, talking to a man whose face was almost completely hidden behind dark glasses and a baseball cap. From their casual posture and the smile on the woman's face I knew they weren't strangers. I pulled into a space and cut the engine off, hoping to get something after they finished talking.

  The man was constantly in motion as he talked, shifting his weight from one foot to the other and back again. He punctuated every few words by pumping his fist and then snapping his fingers. I wondered briefly if he was high, but the movements were controlled enough that it seemed unlikely. He was a little antsy maybe, but not strung out.

  I laughed at myself under my breath. I really had turned into a third rate Nancy Drew.

  The pair in front of me finished their conversation. He opened the back door and pulled something out of the SUV while she went around the front of the car and climbed in behind the wheel.

  Torn, I couldn't decide who to follow, but since he seemed the most suspicious, I picked him. Plus I was kind of worried she might recognize me if she saw me. Stealth and stalking were not topics covered at my community college.

  The man took the bag he'd picked up from the car and slung it over his shoulder. He glanced around and then turned towards an alley that ran beneath the underpass, around the side of a large warehouse.

  Once he'd been gone a few minutes I got out of the car, shoved my phone into my pocket, and followed him.

  As I approached the building I scanned the street, cars, other structures and windows for movement and saw nothing. The coast was as clear as it was going to get. I walked up to the large concrete warehouse and noted it was much newer and apparently in use. I could hear machinery and voices coming from inside.

  Pretty sure that would be the least stealthy drug operation ever, I sighed as I got to the corner where the man had disappeared. I was in the process of peeking around the building to check when a land landed on my shoulder and I jumped, stifling a scream.

  I turned, prepared to fight or run or cry or collapse. Instead I froze, speechless.

  Sam stood there glaring at me like I was a disobedient child. "Fancy meeting you here," he drawled.

  "What the hell are you doing here?"

  "Following you, Carly. I'm not sure if you know this, but this is very much not part of my house."

  "Hilarious," I hissed at him. "Why did you follow me? How did you know?"

  "I had a hunch. I assume the reason you're here has something to do with what you and Anna really did yesterday."

  I chewed on my lower lip, trying to figure out what to say.

  "Don't bother." He held up a hand. "Let's just go."

  "Fine. This was stupid anyway. It's obviously the wrong place."

  "Wrong place?" He leaned back against the wall, keeping one hand near his hip where I knew his gun was hidden beneath the light jacket he wore, and his eyes on the street around us.

  "Yeah, I saw the woman from that place, the other warehouse. She was talking to some shady looking guy and when she left I followed him over here. But this is just a regular place."

  "Why do you think that? Did you go inside?"

  "No, but listen. You can hear people working. The street is full of cars, and not abandoned ones either."

  "Well damn," he said, shaking his head.

  "What?"

  "That's not bad detective work."

  "Oh. Thanks. But anyway, I was wrong so we can go now."

  "First tell me about this guy you saw. What did he look like?"

  I shrugged. "Can't tell you much. He was wearing a hat and sunglasses. But he was tall and big, kind of your size. Black t-shirt and pants; didn't see his shoes."

  Sam's face looked pinched for a moment, but then smoothed out. "Anything else noteworthy about him? A limp? Scars?"

  "Not that I could see."

  "Okay. Not much to go on. Now, you go back to the car and I'll be there in a minute to follow you home."

  "In a minute? Where are you going?"

  "To check the place out a little."

  "But I thought…what about my good detective work?"

  "It was good, but you're not a pro at this. I am."

  I rolled my eyes. The confidence I'
d found so attractive at first was starting to piss me off. "So what do you see that I don't?"

  "The perfect cover."

  "Huh?"

  "If you want to hide illegal activities, coming and going, vehicles and such, you don't do it somewhere quiet and remote. You hide in plain sight."

  I nodded, understanding. "Like in or near a busy warehouse."

  "Exactly."

  "Great. So let's go look."

  "No." Sam put his hand on my arm. "I look. You go get in the car and lock the doors."

  "No way. I found this place and I'm going with you."

  He frowned and looked at me. "If I refuse you'll just follow me won't you?"

  "Yup."

  "Fine." He sighed. "But stay behind me and if I tell you to run, do it. Okay?"

  "Okay." My heart started beating faster in a combination of fear and excitement. "Let's do this. Are there hand signals or something I should know?"

  Sam chuckled and shook his head. "You're gonna be the death of me, baby. I swear."

  It was the first time he'd called me baby all day and it made me smile.

  We rounded the corner silently and Sam led us past two sets of doors. Through tinted windows I could see people milling around.

  Further down there was an alcove with a door and a set of stairs leading down to a lower level. It was fairly unassuming, and I might have been fooled by the bits of trash at the bottom of the steps and the faded "Fire Exit" sign, but the set of three small cameras mounted to cover the immediate area gave it away. They were small enough that someone walking past would likely miss them.

  Sam put his hand on my belly to keep me from crossing into range, but I'd already stopped. Looking to my right I recognized the view. It had been shown on one of the screens in the control room. I gasped.

  "What is it?" Sam whispered.

  "I've seen this place before. And I'm pretty sure we found what I was looking for."

  "How do you know?"

  "I…it's kind of a long story."

  "Okay. Let's go back to the car and you can tell me. I don't like being out here in the open like this."

  I agreed and we went back to Anna's car and got in. I explained about my trip to the other warehouse and I could tell Sam wanted to yell at me, but knew there wasn't time.

  Once I finished talking he asked, "Is that everything now? The whole truth?"

  "Yes. I swear."

  "Okay. We'll have a chat about you trying to get yourself killed later. For now I need you to drive back to my place and stay put. Really this time."

  I looked down at my hands, fingers twisting nervously in my lap. "Fine. Where are you going?"

  "I need to call this in and get a team over here."

  "You're going in?"

  "Not yet. We'll start with surveillance. Damn, Carly. Your reckless behavior might have just busted this case wide open."

  I smiled weakly. "Maybe I should apply to the police academy."

  He shook his head, but a smiled tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Let's just start with you going home, okay?"

  "Fine."

  He kissed me softly on the forehead. "I'll check in with you as soon as I can."

  "Okay. Sam," I said as he started to leave the car.

  "Yeah?" He turned his wide, handsome face to me and my heart swelled.

  "Be careful."

  "Always am. Except when it comes to beautiful girls."

  I grinned as he got out and walked down the block away from the warehouse. In his black jacket and pants he could have been anyone, just a big anonymous man not unlike the one I'd seen earlier, but in ways I wasn't ready to admit to myself, he wasn't just any man. He was one who infuriated and excited me, comforted and terrified me. Amidst all this insanity I was falling for Sam, and falling hard.

  That thought was scarier in a way than being kidnapped, and I pushed it to the back of my mind. Heading back towards Sam's house I dialed Anna's phone number. When it started ringing I remembered I didn't have my cordless headset and the last thing I needed was to get a ticket for talking on a cell phone while driving. Peering into the rearview mirror I saw a car coming around a corner behind me. It was a black sedan with dark tinted windows, much like the one I'd seen outside my office, and like the one I'd been abducted in.

  "Shit," I said under my breath. I hung up the phone and sped up a little. Instead of heading straight across the city I took random turns and the mysterious car followed me every time. I wound my way north and east, sliding into heavier traffic.

  For a few minutes I thought I'd lost the other car, but it soon reappeared. Figuring I'd be safest off the road, I pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store. I gathered my things and was deciding whether or not to call Sam when someone knocked on the window.

  With a gasp I looked up to see a tall, thin man standing over me. He was pretty much unremarkable except for a large scar that ran down the side of his neck and disappeared into the collar of his blue button-down shirt. It was way too quick, I thought, for the other car to have caught up to me, so I didn't know what he wanted.

  I opened the window a crack and said, "Yes? Can I help you?"

  "No, Ms. Chase. I'm here to help you."

  My blood ran cold and I tried to shove the keys back in the ignition to get the hell out of there but my hands were shaking so hard I dropped them into the footwell.

  "Relax, Ms. Chase. I'm not going to hurt you. Just sit there and listen."

  "Why do you keep saying my name?"

  "So you realize I do know who you are. I know where you live and where you work. Or worked, as it seems your former employer has closed his business."

  "What do you want from me?"

  "I'll get to that in a minute. First, please place your phone on the passenger seat along with your purse."

  I shoved them over, my eyes scanning the lot around us for potential help. There was a woman with a stroller wrestling bags into the back of her car. A pair of teenagers laughing and shoving each other by the front door of the store. No one was paying any attention to me and the man. And none of them seemed inclined to help even if they knew something was wrong. I was on my own.

  "Excellent," the man said. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned down closer to the gap in the window. "I told you some of the things we know about you. Here are a few more. We know about the cop you're staying with." He paused for a second. "Detective Samuel Rollins, Junior. Badge number two-one-seven-nine. Assigned to the seventeenth district."

  "Okay, okay. I got it."

  He smiled, a wide grin that made me want to curl up in a ball and hide. "Good. We know you and Detective Rollins were instrumental in the arrest of Mitchell Douglas, your former employer I mentioned before.

  "What we don't know is how long you and Detective Rollins have been involved in this undercover scheme, or how much evidence of our work you have turned over." He shook his head when I was about to argue. "Fortunately for you, those details are unimportant right now. Any evidence you collected will be destroyed or misplaced."

  I thought about the phone Sam had said went missing. Obviously it was no accident.

  "Here's the part you really want to pay attention for, Ms. Chase. Anyone else you tell will be handled similarly. Destroyed or misplaced."

  My head swam and I started to hyperventilate. Anna knew. She knew everything. "Please, I-"

  "Wait, I'm not quite finished. I imagine you're wondering why I'm telling you this. Why you yourself are not going to be destroyed or misplaced. All of your shenanigans have caught the attention of way too many law enforcement agencies.

  "Consider it a gift from us to you. Your life. In return you will be quiet about what you know. No more interviews with the cops. No talking to the press. No blabbing in court.

  "You forget everything you know about our activities and we forget you exist. Violate this agreement and there will be consequences. Serious consequences." He cocked his head to the side and smiled again. "Now I'm going to leave. You will si
t here for ten minutes and then go wherever you were headed before. No one will know about this conversation. Understand?"

  I nodded, throat too dry to speak."

  "Wonderful. Goodbye Ms. Chase."

  Chapter Six

  By the time I was composed enough to drive, the time the strange man had given me was long past. Terrified to use my phone, I drove to the giant mall nearby and parked in the middle of a mass of cars.

  I stumbled inside, feeling conspicuous in the bright cheeriness of things. I made my way downstairs and sat on a bench by the food court. People streamed by, lugging bags and dragging cranky children behind them. It was all so normal.

  Trying to breathe so I could talk, I called Sam's cell phone.

  "Carly, what's up? We're almost done here."

  "Sam, I need you to come meet me right now."

  "What? I'm on my way home. Won't be more than an hour or so."

  "No. Please, listen to me. I'm at the Cheshire Mall by the food court. You have to come get me."

  "Are you all right?"

  "Yes. But please hurry."

  "On my way." He didn't say goodbye and before he hung up I heard him cursing.

  I made a point of not checking the time to see how long it took him to arrive, but I estimated somewhere between five and ten years.

  He strode over and I stood to greet him, but never got a chance.

  "You're okay."

  "Yes."

  "Great. Then what the fuck is your problem?" he hissed.

  "What?"

  "Do you want to die? How hard is it for you to follow directions?"

  "Sam, I-"

  "Don't talk. I'm so furious with you. Tell me, why are you here? Felt like doing a little shopping? Have a craving for an overpriced smoothie?"

  My face went red with fury. "Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like this?"

  "I'm the fucking dumbass who's trying to help you. But every five minutes you're messing it all up for no good reason."

  "That's bullshit," I said and then lowered my voice. We were already getting some looks from the shopper around us; I didn't want this to turn into a shouting match, even if he did deserve it. "I'm the one who found the warehouse and I'm the one in real trouble here. I'm not one of your subordinates, Detective. You can't order me around."