by Tl Reeve
Taking the proffered thumb drive from her chief, Kennedy headed out. She needed to talk to Phoenix and listen to the tape. Once she’d tucked herself into her car, she grabbed her phone and called him.
“Where are you?” His gruff voice surprised her.
“On my way to you. I have the recording.”
“Good. I’ll see you when you get here,” he said, tension filled his voice. “You should know your partner is already here talking to my people.”
“I know. He’s there about the girl,” she said. “Ariges told me a few minutes ago.”
Phoenix blew out a breath. “Jacolby is fucked up over it, she was our source. But, if the recording helps find the killer….”
Yeah, he didn’t have to say anything she hadn’t already been thinking. “I’ll see you soon.”
*****
The recording popped and hissed for a moment then the operator answered. “Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”
“Uh…Oh my God, she’s dead. Oh fuck.” The man sounded frantic, scared.
“Sir, who’s dead? Where are you?” The female voice of the operator was calming unaffected by his words.
“The girl. Oh God. He-he said she wouldn’t die. Oh God, she’s dead,” a throaty whine filled the line and Phoenix glanced at Kennedy. He knew the voice. He thought Kennedy might too.
“Okay, sir, stay on the line and tell me where you are and who the girl is.”
“By the river, ten miles outside Reserve, I-I gotta go, he’s coming.” The line went silent and the operator called out before the information had been relayed to dispatch.
“Shit,” Kennedy whispered.
“Yeah, that’s not who we thought,” Eric chimed in.
“No, it’s not,” Kennedy said, rubbing her forehead.
“It’s the blond from the club,” Phoenix supplied. “I’d remember his voice anywhere. I wanted to rip his head off after he gave you that shit.”
“This changes everything.”
Kennedy’s week had flown by in a blur between staying with Phoenix and pulling her normal twelve hour shifts. In the meantime, the killings had stopped, almost as though the dicks from Nemesis knew she was getting too close. For now, she waited for the warrant to come down the pike. The flier they found on the newest victim, Veronica, Phoenix’s source, had the club’s name and a time circled on it. Ladies night, the same night she’d been there, was written across the top of it in big bold letters—a way to draw the innocent unsuspecting women into their lair of debauchery. Hate, thick and heavy poured through Kennedy’s veins. She wanted to see the men running the club swing from a noose for everything they’d done.
For the innocent lives they took.
Pacing outside her commanding officer’s office, she nibbled on her thumbnail. Eric promised to finesse the captain and get her the warrant. “I got it,” Eric said laying his hand on her shoulder.
“You did?” She couldn’t believe it.
“The judge signed off on it this morning and Captain just handed it to me. We’re a go.” Determination rolled off of him. “A little bird told the judge his daughter had been spotted sniffing around the place.” He winked.
“I’m not even going to ask if that’s true or not,” she muttered, taking the warrant out of his hand. “When do we go?”
“As soon as we get the team together,” he answered. “You know we’re going to have to tell Phoenix and the guys they can’t join us. They may be a little disappointed.”
Knowing Phoenix he’d be pissed off, but he’d also understand. This wasn’t an ego mission, this would be a chance to close down a vile operation and send the bad guys up the river. Walking down the hall of the precinct, she stopped in front of the vice division.
“After you,” he said opening the door.
“You’re too kind,” she laughed, walking into the tactical area. The spacious room had a few desks and a computer or two. What made the room spectacular was the giant cage in back. Wall to wall weapons and munitions hung in racks and were shelved in neat orderly rows. Glancing to her right, she nodded to one of the officers sitting at a desk. “We have a warrant.”
“Oh?” The man at the desk took the folded up piece of paper out of her hand and read it over, then nodded. “We can do it tonight. If that works with you?”
“The sooner the better,” she said nodding. “What time should we meet up?”
Adrenaline coursed through her. She looked at Eric and she could see the same edginess she felt in his eyes. Licking her lips, she waited for the officer to answer her.
“Five. Don’t be late.”
Pulling up in front of Phoenix’s house, she actually took a moment to look at the place. He’d done so much work to it. It was like everything he touched came back to life, including her. Now, she had to go inside and break it to him that the case was going straight to serving a warrant, which might be dangerous, and she was on the team. Opening the door, she heard laughter bubble up from the kitchen and made her way back. There sitting on the counter was her man…Dom, hell if she was eighteen again she’d call him her boyfriend, but it was more than that. He meant more.
“Hey guys,” she said, feeling Eric walk up behind her. On the way over they didn’t speak. Both knew the risk of this mission. Both knew they could get hurt or the suspects could go easily. She had a bad feeling though. She didn’t get one often, but something nagged at her and she couldn’t figure it out.
“Hey,” Phoenix edged off the counter and walked over to her. “What’s going on?”
Luckily for her everyone was gathered in the room, the smell of something roasting in the oven made the knot in her stomach clench even more. “We need to talk. I’m glad you’re all here.” Phoenix’s eyes darkened. His jaw clenched.
“What?”
“This morning the judge signed off on a warrant to take down the club. Eric and I, plus a tactical team are going in to serve it.” The room erupted in noise, and Kennedy winced under Phoenix’s penetrating stare. “I won’t miss it, Phee. It’s my case.”
He stepped back and shook his head. Her heart sunk when cold piercing eyes met hers. “You could get hurt. I could…” he swallowed hard. “I could lose you.”
“That’s why I’m there,” Eric said, laying a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll be there to protect her, I promise.”
She hated how much it would tear the guys apart if something bad happened. But she knew her job and she knew tactical would protect them. She had to trust them. She had to trust her partner. “We’ve got to end this, Phee.”
“What time do you leave?” he asked still not touching her.
“In an hour. I’m sorry.” She blinked back the tears that burned at the corners of her eyes. She knew he was angry at her, and she couldn’t stand it.
Wrapping his arms around her, he practically squeezed the life out of her. “You come home in one piece, Le Roche. Promise me,” he said, his voice clogged with the same emotions that ripped her apart from the inside out.
“I will, Sir,” she whispered. “I will.”
They left the house twenty minutes later, and a feeling of foreboding curdled her insides. She wanted to stop the car and call it off. If something happened to them out there, it was all on her. Her best friend of ten years, someone she would take a bullet for, wore the same expression she was sure sat on her face as well. In a short while they would be knocking down doors and making arrests.
Tonight would be the last time anyone had to worry about getting hurt. Tonight she’d be able to look in yuppie’s face and in the suit’s face and know she did good. That she saved unsuspecting women from their clutches. Reaching over, she took Eric’s hand. She needed his strength and his comfort. “We can do this.” He nodded and gave her a small smile, as they pulled up in front of the precinct and got out.
“I’ll be on your ass the whole time, Le Roche,” he said walking to the back of the car and opened the trunk.
“I know you will.” He took out her bag, close
d the trunk and they walked into the station to meet their team.
The men were gathered around two tables with maps on them. They chatted back and forth, not noticing Kennedy and Eric walk in. Clearing her throat, she took a closer look at where they were pointing and knew they were going over a plan. The team lead stepped forward and shook her hand then waved her over to the desk.
“We were just going over exits and entrances. This place is a fucking rat’s nest,” he said shaking his head.
“Tell me about it,” she mumbled. At his arched brow, she shook her head. “Please continue.”
“My team, team one, will be going in through the south entrance. Team two will go through the front door. You’ll be on team three. You’ll be going through the east entrance. Once inside, you’ll start arresting everyone. If shots are fired, no questions asked, you return fire. Understood?”
She nodded checking over the maps. “Roger that.”
“Good, then let’s get a move on. We’re burning daylight.”
With unsure strides, she followed the men out. What the hell is wrong with me? Each man had a bullet proof vest and a helmet. They were each given an AR 15, and enough zip-tie cuffs to take down a small army, yet she still felt defenseless. Try as she might, she couldn’t shake it, even as they loaded up in the SWAT truck and pulled away from the station. Glancing over at Eric, his eyes were closed. When his opened them, the dark menacing gaze wasn’t that of her friend, it was that of a stone cold killer.
Eric had always had edge of darkness to him, like he could take matters into his own hands and dispense with a lawless justice. She wasn’t sure she wanted watch it happen. A deadly smirk curled the corner of his lips and he nodded. A little piece of the knot in her gut broke loose, and she felt a smidge better. He always knew how to keep her centered. Focusing on him helped her marginally, but she felt the beginnings of being out of control. Get it together. You’re better than this. Swallowing down the ill feelings, she concentrated on the road in front of them.
“Okay guys, this is how it works,” their leader said from the passenger seat. “We’ll circle the building twice; make sure we have a secure place to stop. Unmarked cars will follow behind us and give us the backup we need. Once we say go, file out and take up your positions quickly. Then on the count of three, we’ll take the place down.”
Just ahead the club came into view. A few cars were in the parking lot, but not many. Kennedy mentally took in her surroundings. Hopefully no one would alert those inside. The element of surprise would be a tenuous one. Making the loop around the block twice, they stopped about five hundred feet from the club and were given the signal to go.
The back door popped open and they filed out. With their guns at the ready, they moved as a unit until the teams broke off and made their way to each designated spot. Kennedy stayed bunched between her team members. In her ear she heard the countdown, then all hell broke loose. The doors were busted down, and they made their move. The screams of those caught unaware filled the air, while others shouted. Flash bangs went off in a room to her right, and she watched the smoke pour out of it. But so far, no suit and no yuppie.
Turning the corner, she moved slowly clearing every inch as she went. Seeing another closed door, she kicked it in and found her targets. “Hands in the air, mother fuckers,” she yelled. Both men were stunned momentarily, and she was sure they’d put up a fight—especially with a gun so close to the yuppie. “Touch it and I will put a bullet between your eyes. On the floor.” Behind her she heard shots ring out, but she had to focus. Once she had each man cuffed, she read them their rights.
Within fifteen minutes, they were given the all clear. Now, the arduous task of taking up evidence would begin. She worked silently, recalling everything she saw and everything she heard. By the time she glanced up, the sun had gone down. They still weren’t half way done with taking inventory of the place.
The only upside—another girl had been found in a locked room tied up, but otherwise unharmed. She answered Kennedy’s questions, then said the one thing that could connect the cases. “They were looking for single women, who liked to play. I didn’t understand in the beginning, but they said we’d make millions together if I did what they said. Oscar said they had a new, refined drug on the market, and I’d be giving demonstrations for prospective buyers.”
Tomorrow she’d check the women’s bank accounts. Something told her they did it for the promise of a pay day. It had nothing to do with BDSM at all. Greed, even needy greed, could make some people do stupid shit. In this case, it got three women dead and a fourth kidnapped. Tying up the victims and making them do whatever they wanted had been part of the drug. Not, a show per se. It took away inhibition and reluctance. It made the person who took it more willing to try something new, if it didn’t kill them first.
She returned home with Eric by her side. Fear for her partner had been unfounded. In fact, the shots fired came from him after Oscar leveled a gun at him. She needed to decompress. Take a little time to get her head out of the mess and back on those she loved—Phee. As they followed the curve in the road, the house came into view and she sighed. Home.
“We did good work today,” Eric said as they pulled into the driveway.
“Yes, we did.”
“You’re happy here.” Not a question, but a statement.
“Very happy,” she answered. “I think I could get used to it.”
“Thank fuck.” He grinned.
Eric stopped at the front steps and glanced at her. “I’m glad you found your happiness, NeNe.”
“Me too.” She opened the door to get out, then turned to face her partner. “Thank you for helping me see past my stubbornness.”
“What are partners for?” He gave her a playful shove. “Go on. We don’t need Phoenix throwing a fit because you’re out here and not in there with him.”
Kennedy laughed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yep. Bright and early,” he replied. “You know; I still haven’t gotten that day off I’ve been promised. Maybe I’ll take it.”
“You should go find some young man to play with,” she teased.
“You never know.” He gave her a playful look. “See you tomorrow.”
She closed the door behind her just as Phoenix walked out onto the porch. Not giving a shit who saw her, she ran up the steps and into his arms. “Honey, I’m home.”
Epilogue
One year later
“Heads up, guys we have a new team member I want you to meet.” Phoenix watched as the guys gathered around the table and Kennedy took her place next to him. When everyone was settled, he walked over to the door and opened it. The six foot two, two-hundred-and-fifty-pound mountain of a man had come to him from SWAT. The man needed a change and Phoenix could always use another good man on his team.
“Guys, I want you to meet Kenzie. He’s coming to us from SWAT.” He clapped the guy on the shoulder and shook his hand. “He’s also one of the new Doms at the club. Jagger and I vetted him the other night.”
Phoenix waited patiently as Kenzie shook hands with everyone. “Ma’am,” he nodded.
Kennedy smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Kenzie.”
“Likewise.”
Phoenix pulled Kennedy to his side.
Holding her close, he sat down with her in his lap. He knew she wanted to be treated as an equal while they did business. After the fucking mess of a trial, which ended with a conviction for the asshole who ran Nemesis, Kennedy quit the department. Every night they talked about it, and every night she had the same response for him. She needed something more. Ten years in a thankless job with too many people who didn’t see her as an equal took its toll. So he offered her a job with him. He’d asked Eric to come along for the ride too, but the guy decided a change of scenery would do him well. The card Kennedy received from Los Angeles let them know her best friend had made the right choice.
“All right, if I can have your attention. We have another case,” he
said. Passing out the files he let everyone read them before he went on. “There is a sex trafficking ring in New York. York and Knox, you’re going undercover with NYPD to get into the ring. Our client is Senator Wabash from New York. His daughter was kidnapped two weeks ago, and her picture showed up on a biker website as a smooth ride.”
“Fuck,” York snarled. “That’s some sick shit.”
He couldn’t agree more. “I know. Your contact is a Catalina Hernandez. She runs the division working this case. You leave in two days.”
“Wait,” Knox said. “Is this Sloan Wabash?”
Phoenix nodded. “The one and only. This case takes priority.”
“She knew this shit would happen,” York said. “We let her down.”
“We’ll get her back too,” Phoenix said, confident in his team.
They sat there for a while longer going over the case, then filed out. He watched as the new guy slipped right into step with everyone else.
“Time has a way of changing everything,” Kennedy said, glancing up at Phoenix. “Your team is getting stronger. Pretty soon, you’ll be the go to guy when people need help.”
“Yes it does, wife.” Picking her up, before carrying her upstairs. “Thank God for that and for you.” He brushed his lips over hers. “It’s why I opened the doors to begin with. To help those in need. I hope I made my dad proud.”
“You did, Phee. You saved me, when I needed it most, and you’ve made me the happiest woman alive.” She kissed him again and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Are you ready to prove it?” he growled, closing them into their bedroom. Kennedy batted her lashes and a coy grin curled her lips.
“Why, whatever do you mean?” she teased. Squirming out of his arms, she moved to the far side of the room and began removing her clothes. “Oppsie,” she giggled dropping her shirt on the floor.
He was on her in an instant, ripping the rest of her clothes away from her body. “You are a little minx, brat,” he teased. “I should spank you for that.” He would too, before making love to his wife. His second chance. His everything. “I love you Kennedy Dupree.”