Reunited with the P.I.

by Anna J. Stewart

  “I realize you’re hurting,” Allie said. “We hurt for you. You’re angry and you’re confused and you’re feeling guilty, all of which are understandable. But we know you, Simone. Once you’ve taken some time and let things sit, you’re going to come out swinging. And you’ll have us right by your side.”

  “She was one of us,” Eden said as Simone stared at the wine in her glass, the liquid rippling as she spun the stem. “Which makes her ours now. Whoever is responsible, we’re going to get them. We’re going to set this right.”

  “Speaking of setting things right.” Simone took a deep breath, glanced upstairs and sighed again. “There’s something I need to show you. Something Vince wouldn’t have mentioned on the phone. Give me a second.”

  She retrieved the envelope from under her law text and went back to her friends in the living room. She didn’t think anything could lessen the impact of the photos but seeing Mara’s body, replaying the image over and over in slow motion, did the trick. “These photos were left on my windshield Friday when Vince and I got back from visiting Mara’s friend in Davis.” Because she knew the pushy journalist in Eden would rip them out of Allie’s hand, she gave them to her first. “I haven’t had a chance to examine them yet and with everything else that’s been going on—”

  “Let me guess.” Allie’s eyes sharpened into that therapist gaze she wore so well. She rested her elbow on the back of the sofa and pressed her fingers against her temple. “Our dry spell on gifts has come to an end.”

  “Sicko is upping his game.” Eden flipped through the pictures.

  Simone stood still, toes curling, bracing herself for the reaction she expected. Eden’s eyes went hard, her face unreadable as she handed photo after photo to Allie.

  “You should have told us immediately,” Eden said.

  “So you could what?” Simone fell into the defense she’d crafted days before. “Cut your honeymoon short because some maniac’s taking pictures of me? Nothing’s changed, Eden. There’s nothing new. There wasn’t anything either of you can do.”

  “I don’t know about you, Eden, but I can’t wait to get home.” Allie’s statement, accompanied by a knowing look aimed in Simone’s direction, made her realize her mistake. “Maybe he’s left something for us as well.”

  “I should have thought of that.” She should have asked Jack to check their homes and offices right away.

  “What did Vince say when you showed him?” Eden asked.

  “I’m surprised he didn’t try to lock you in a safe room so he could go after this monster himself,” Allie said with a strained smile.

  “He doesn’t know,” Simone said. “And before you two get any ideas, I don’t plan on telling him. He’s already turned this place into a fortress because of the Denton case and Ma—” She cleared her throat. “He’s already acting protective and that’s with him not knowing.” Not that the idea of Vince as a bodyguard didn’t have its appeal.

  “Correct me if I’m wrong,” Eden said after a moment. “And granted I didn’t get to know Vince all that well during your first go-around, but I seem to remember him being a stickler for the truth. You really think lying to him is the way to go on this?”

  “How can you not tell him?” Allie frowned. “Aren’t you two sharing that magic moment again?”

  “Man, we really need to find you a boyfriend,” Eden muttered. “But I agree. How can you be doing whatever you’re doing with Vince and not tell him what’s going on with Chloe’s case?”

  “It’s none of his business,” Simone said. “I—” She looked from one to the other, but when she found both her best friends looking at her with disbelief and disapproval, she caved. “I hired him to find Mara. That’s all this was supposed to be. I needed him to help save the case.”

  “Bet that surprised him,” Allie said from behind her wineglass.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Simone snapped.

  “It means the two of you never had a particularly loquacious relationship,” Eden explained. “You two lived very separate lives even while you were married.”

  “You don’t get to give me marital advice until you’ve at least had your first real disagreement,” Simone countered.

  “Then my advice stands.” Eden grinned. “And you were right about the makeup sex.”

  “Getting back on point,” Allie said, waving her hand in the air. “Tomorrow you’re taking these pictures to Jack. What you decide to tell or not tell Vince is on you, but he’s going to find out.” The buzzer sounded and Allie leaped to her feet and grabbed her wallet. “I’ll go down and get the pizza. And keep pacing all you want, you know we’re right. Lying to Vince isn’t going to get you anything but trouble and if you ask me, you already have plenty of that.”

  * * *

  “Nothing like a suspicious death to kick a company into complying with a court order.” Lieutenant Santos entered the conference room of the major crimes division and closed the door behind him. Slight in stature, he commanded a presence that reminded Vince of his time in the military. Santos didn’t miss a trick and prided himself on being directly involved with every investigation. Cops might have his grudging respect, but Lieutenant Santos earned Vince’s with his handling of this case, especially on a Sunday when Vince was certain he’d rather be home with his wife and kids. “Now that we have a victim, the company who manufactured the GPS system in Mara’s car should get us her complete history within the hour.”

  Jack polished off his latest cup of coffee. “Better late than never.”

  “No guarantee it’ll yield anything.” Cole glanced at Vince who had taken the look-and-listen approach.

  Organized chaos seemed to be the best way to describe the department since Vince and Cole had arrived. It was as if the cops were taking Mara’s case as personally as Simone.

  “Has anyone been able to get in touch with her family yet?” Vince asked.

  “We’ve left voice mails on her parents’ phone and brother’s,” Jack said. “Both the coroner and the lab have moved her case to the top of the list and we’ve shifted the evidence Tammy collected in Mara’s apartment to authorized. We hope to have some preliminary results by morning.”

  “What about Gale Alders?” Vince hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Mara’s friend and the fact she probably hadn’t slept since his and Simone’s visit. “She shouldn’t hear about this on the news.”

  “She’s on the list,” Jack confirmed.

  “I should be the one to tell her,” Vince said. “I promised we’d keep her up to date.” When was he going to learn not to make promises he was loath to keep?

  “You sure?” Cole sat back in his chair and pinned him with a skeptical look. “It’s not the best part of the job.”

  “I’ve handled worse.” Vince meant what he said. “Are we done here? I’d like to get back to Simone’s.”

  “Would you now?” Cole arched his neck to look at Jack before focusing on Vince. “Any particular reason?”

  Aside from wanting to see her? “You didn’t tell him?” Vince looked to the lieutenant then to Jack.

  “Tell me what?” Cole asked.

  “Someone left these on Simone’s windshield the other day.” Jack dug through the stack of papers on the table and pulled out a file, slid it toward Cole.

  Cole flipped through the photographs Jack had printed. The quiet rage that settled on the cop’s face mirrored the anger simmering inside Vince.

  Cole muttered, “I’d ask why Simone didn’t say anything, but I already know the answer.”

  “She didn’t say anything to any of us,” Jack said. “We only found out about it because Vince was with her at the time.”

  “She didn’t share with me, either. She still hasn’t,” Vince added. “But I knew something was wrong. Takes a lot to freak her out.”

  �
�I don’t suppose anyone thought to check—” Cole began.

  “I stopped by your boat that night along with Eden’s old place and Allie’s house, and again yesterday,” Jack said. “Didn’t see anything out of the norm. Looks like he’s got Simone in his sights for the moment.”

  “And we thought he’d got his kicks by making sure I found Eden hanging in that meat locker. Now he’s moving down the line.”

  “It’s a theory,” Lieutenant Santos said. “Meantime, Vince is sticking close to Simone. He knows what to look for.”

  “And what’s that?” Cole asked.

  “I’ll know it when I see it.” He’d dealt with his share of criminal minds over the years. “I don’t want her to get hurt any more than the rest of you. And she won’t as long as I have something to say about it.”

  “Does Simone have anything to say about it?” Cole asked.

  “Not really, no.” Vince wasn’t tempted to apologize in the slightest. “She doesn’t want to let me in on this part of her life, so be it. Not the first time we’ve been down this road. However, I’ve updated all her locks, added a few extra security precautions and will be meeting with the building manager tomorrow so everyone’s brought up to speed. Might not hurt to add more patrols around her building.”

  “Already done,” Lieutenant Santos said. “Allie, too. Cole, whatever you want, you say the word.”

  “If it were me, I’d say let him come. But I don’t want that creep anywhere near my wife. You want to put some extra cars on the marina, do it. I’m not going to let pride get in the way of her safety.”

  “Just don’t tell Eden about it, right?” Jack chuckled, but when Vince looked at the other detective, he didn’t find a hint of humor in the man’s eyes. “Be nice if we could get some kind of handle on what the guy’s plans are.”

  “Let’s hope we don’t find out too late. I’m going to get going. Oh.” Vince stood, then reconsidered. “Since it looks like we’re all open and aboveboard here, you should know Simone has a meeting with the DA first thing in the morning. She should have some backup about how the case is progressing. Lieutenant?”

  “You thinking they’ll take her off the case?”

  “I’m thinking watching them try is going to make for some fabulous entertainment. Whether they do or don’t won’t matter. She wasn’t going to give up before. She certainly isn’t now that Mara’s dead.”

  Chapter 13

  “I don’t need a babysitter, Vince.” Simone exited the elevator and headed toward her office. Late night and two bottles of wine aside, she’d been up since the crack of dawn, pounded out a good forty-five minutes on the treadmill and drank enough water to fill a canal. By the time she’d gotten showered and dressed, she found Vince in the kitchen brewing coffee.

  While he hadn’t said anything about the white-and-blue flowered shirt she’d found in the back of her closet, the approval in his eyes when he’d looked at her boosted her confidence. “I need time to get my head together before meeting with Ward.” She needed to get her head around a lot of things.

  “Is my presence that distracting?”

  “We both know it is.” Few people had arrived yet as it wasn’t even eight, but she found Kyla, bright-eyed and eager, sitting behind her desk, typing hard on her keyboard as if exorcising a demon.

  “Good morning.” She stood and walked around the desk to take Simone’s jacket. “I’ve got a new pot of coffee brewing. All your notes on the Denton case are arranged on your desk. I’ve also got Judge Buford’s and Mr. Poltanic’s phone numbers for you in case you need to contact them.”

  “Thanks, Kyla.”

  “Poltanic is Denton’s defense attorney, right?” Vince asked.

  “Slime bucket.” Kyla looked a bit sheepish. “I’ve heard. Sorry.”

  “Apt description.” Simone nodded. “I can’t recall any client he represents who shouldn’t be on the FBI’s most wanted. Did you bring something to keep you occupied?” she asked Vince.

  “You mean my coloring books? Absolutely. I even sharpened my crayons.”

  “A simple yes would have sufficed.” Simone flipped through the stack of phone messages from last week as she wandered into her office. She heard Vince ask Kyla a question and caught the flash of color as her assistant headed to the break room. When the door clicked shut, she spun around. “Vince, I don’t have time—”

  “Make time.” He moved toward her like lightning. His arms were around her in no time; she could feel every inch of him pressing against her. She didn’t have time to catch her breath before he kissed her.

  It took a lot to surprise Simone, and that Vince could still manage to thrill her to the point of breathlessness said a lot about him. Every kiss felt like the first one. The way his lips devoured hers had her abandoning all thought other than how much she wanted him.

  Her hands went slack. The papers she was holding fell to the floor. She reached up, locked her arms around his neck and opened herself to him.

  She heard him sigh in approval as he sank into her, his mouth on hers. Simone urged him back, guiding him until he was against the door and rattling the glass wall beside them.

  “This distracting thing is becoming a habit.” Simone used a finger to trace and tease his lips before she dived in and took more.

  She loved the feel of his mouth, his strength, his confidence. How he knew to hold her, to send her pulse rocketing into the stratosphere made her heart soar. So much so that he must have known it and felt it. He held on to her hips and switched their places, now her back was to the wall.

  He abandoned the kiss, pressing his mouth against the side of her neck as his fingers trailed to the hem of her skirt. She was breathing hard and murmuring his name as the fabric went higher, exposing her bare skin to his searching fingers. “Vince.” She bit her lip, arched her neck.

  “Silk.” He was panting as he rested his forehead against hers. She pressed her lips together. She couldn’t stop herself from wanting, needing to feel more of him. “I’ve been wondering about that ever since you walked into my bar.”

  “I—” She gasped as his fingers slipped beneath the edge of her panties. “Oh.” She dropped her head back, barely registering anything else as she felt him touch her, caress her, stroke her. She moaned and drew him as close as she could as he whispered in her ear to let go. But she couldn’t. Not here. Not now. Not with people outside... “I can’t...” His touch lightened, but the pressure didn’t ease. If anything it only built her up faster, higher than she thought she could go.

  Her entire body quaked as the orgasm ripped through her. She rode it out, pulsing against him, not wanting to let him go.

  She went lax, still holding on as he tugged her skirt in place and took a step back. It was only a step but it felt like a mile.

  She stayed there, against the wall as they caught their breath. “That can’t have been enough for you,” she said. She reached for him. “Let me—”

  He shook his head, held up his hands. “It’s fine.” He flinched, backing up toward her desk to sit on the edge. “Trust me, there’s nothing I love more than watching you fly. Almost nothing,” he offered a weak smile. “Feel better?”

  Her face flushed. She shoved her hair in place, shaking herself back to reality. “That was so completely unprofessional I can’t even say.” She stooped to collect the confetti of notes and messages.

  He grinned. “I’d love to hear you describe it for me. In excruciating detail.”

  “Was that supposed to help me prepare for my meeting?”

  “It was supposed to remind you you’re a powerful woman who knows what she wants. You want to find out who’s responsible for Mara’s death, find a way to keep this case going. You needed to get rid of all the clutter you’ve been collecting the last few days.”

  “If that’s decluttering, consider
me a fan.” She smoothed her shirt, wiggled to readjust her underwear and ignored the knowing smile clinging to his lips. She walked to her desk. She stopped, brushed her hand over his shoulder and leaned in. She kissed him. Stroked his face. Stared into the eyes that had equal parts challenged and loved her all those years ago. “Once this is over, I’m thinking we should go on a date. A real date. Dinner, conversation. Dessert.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me. Just remember.” He caught her hand in his and squeezed. “It doesn’t matter where we start. We both know where it’s going to end.”

  * * *

  “Denton’s lawyer has officially filed a petition with the court to dismiss the charges against his client.” Simone had barely entered the conference room and already she was under fire from Ward Lawson.

  She lowered herself into one of the padded chairs, folded her hands on top of the thick files she’d brought with her and focused her attention on the DA. As much as she hated to admit it, Vince’s idea of stress release had managed to reboot her. The nerves, the uncertainty, the self-doubt? They’d all vanished under his touch. “Yes. I’m due in court at one to respond. I plan to ask for a continuance so we can reevaluate our case.”

  Bookended by his assistant on one side and Cal Hobard on the other, Ward looked more prepared for a stump speech than for reading her the riot act. There was charisma to be sure. How else would he have gotten elected? And the man wore a blue power suit better than anyone else. His conviction record was stellar. Ward Lawson was a talented lawyer. Talented enough that his political future could be whatever he wanted it to be. Depending on who he chose to surround himself with.

  Which brought her to Hobard, who continued to radiate some semblance of control despite the strained lines on his face and the ghostly exhaustion in his eyes.

  “Is that what you think this situation calls for?” Hobard asked, smoothing his hand down his tie. “A reevaluation?”

  Simone resisted the urge to clear her throat or reach for the glass of water a few inches away. “I’m aware this isn’t the outcome we hoped for.”