by Tawny Taylor
Could she trust this man?
What if he was working with Holloway? What if he didn’t believe her?
What if he called Holloway and told him she’d reported him?
Oh, God, she felt sick.
By the time she reached room 402, she was about ready to say to hell with it and make a run for it.
She lifted her hand to knock.
Last chance. Trust this man or go back and tell Malek everything?
She knocked, and a split second later, the door swung open.
“Hello, Miss Mitchell,” he said, stepping to one side to let her pass.
Her legs literally wobbled as she shuffled into the room.
He shut them in and motioned to a chair. “Have a seat. Do you want some coffee? Water?”
“No thanks,” she said, as she swallowed hard. She was pretty sure anything that went into her stomach would come right back up. She sat in one of the two chairs crowded around the small round table in the very back of the room. He sat opposite her, dropped a yellow legal pad on the table between them, and said, “Okay, what’s going on?”
“Is there any chance you can keep this just between you and me?”
“It depends.”
In other words, she had to assume he couldn’t.
“What would you say if I told you that the person who attacked me was...” Her throat closed up. She coughed. She swallowed.
Vasquez leaned forward. “Do you need some water?”
She shook her head, inhaled, exhaled. Again. Her gaze dropped to the yellow paper. “He’s in the CIA,” she blurted.
“Who? The man who broke into your home?”
She nodded.
“What makes you think that?”
She told him, “He had a badge.”
“He showed it to you?”
She nodded. “This past summer, I was . . . working as a call girl. Agent Holloway was working undercover, pretended to hire me a couple of times. But we never . . . you know. He just kept asking me questions about my pimp, the other girls. I had no reason to believe he wasn’t legit. He even helped me get some of the girls freed.”
“Okay.”
Lei couldn’t tell from his expression whether he was believing her story or not.
“What happened next?” he asked.
“My sister had been searching for me for months, and she was able to . . . compensate my ‘employer’ in exchange for my freedom,” she explained, making quotes in the air with her fingers. “I didn’t hear from the agent again. Until recently. He called me, asking me to do something terrible, something illegal, and when I refused, one of the girls we had worked together to get freed was found dead.”
“You think he did it?”
“He pretty much admitted it when he called me shortly afterward. I refused to help him again, and not only did he threaten to have me framed for the girl’s murder, but he told me if I continued to refuse, all the girls we helped would be killed.”
Vasquez shook his head. “Hmmm.”
“When I refused him a third time, that’s when I was attacked.”
“Whose death is he supposedly framing you for?”
“Eve, Evelyn Barket. Have you heard anything about a person of interest who fits my description?”
“No, we get regular updates on the case. Haven’t heard about a person of interest at all. I can check with the lead on the case, see if there’s been any recent activity.”
For the first time in days, Lei actually felt like she could breathe freely. “That’s a relief. I was so scared.”
Vasquez scrawled Eve’s name on his paper. “What is it this guy, Holloway, wants you to do?”
“Steal something. From someone very close to me.”
The officer jotted down some notes. “This doesn’t sound like the MO of a CIA agent. For one thing, the CIA wouldn’t be involved in sex trades.”
“Not even human trafficking?”
“No, the CIA’s focus is intelligence. I’m guessing he lied and the badge is a fake. But I’ll see what I can do to find out for sure. In the meantime, if he’s still threatening you, you should go stay somewhere safe. He knows where you live. Do you have any friends or family you could stay with for a while?”
“I don’t know.” She motioned to his pen. And when he handed it to her, she wrote down the names of the two remaining girls. “I’m worried about these girls. If I don’t agree to help him, they could be on tomorrow’s six o’clock news. I’ve tried everything to track them down, but I can’t find them. They should be warned.” Next she wrote down Gwen’s name and address. “This person knows Kate, but I don’t know if she’s been in touch with her recently.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you.” Feeling a shudder building deep inside, she wrapped her arms around her body. “It all sounds so crazy, I know.”
“I believe you.” He stood. “Do you have a phone number where I can reach you, in case I come up with anything on Holloway or the girls?”
“Sure.” She wrote her cell phone number on the top of the page. “I guess I’ll get going.”
“Whether this guy’s for real or not, he sounds dangerous. Don’t take any chances.”
“I won’t.” She dug her car keys out of her purse and stood.
He led her to the room’s door. Before he opened it, he said, “I’ll call you when I have something.”
“Thank you.”
Aware of everyone around her, she scurried out of the building and to her car. She raced home and spent the rest of the day alternating between preparing meals for Malek and researching the CIA, as well as digging around the Internet for information on Kate and Heather and Nate Holloway. She found absolutely nothing on the girls. But she did locate a couple of excellent sites on the CIA. Vasquez was right. It seemed human trafficking would be outside the scope of the CIA. If that was true, was he also right about Holloway being a fake? In one sense, that possibility almost made her feel better. If he wasn’t an agent, he might not have access to the resources an agent would possess, like computer programs to track down her cell phone calls or credit card purchases. And he might not be able to make good on his threat to frame her for Eve’s murder.
But if he wasn’t a CIA agent, what was he? And why, exactly, would he be trying to get his hands on some mysterious artifact?
She Googled for hours, through the afternoon, through the evening, into the dark hours of the night. Her eyes barely able to focus, she dragged her sore body up the stairs and into her room. She changed, brushed her teeth, and was about to fall into bed when she remembered her promise to Malek.
Hoping he was sleeping, she tiptoed down the hall to his room and pushed open the door. The soft buzz of his snoring greeted her the instant she stepped inside.
It seemed tonight he wouldn’t be tormenting her. After settling into bed, she closed her eyes and prayed.
Once again, Lei woke up the next morning sprawled on top of Malek. She hadn’t realized before how much she moved around while sleeping. Evidently she wasn’t so sensitive to touch when she was unconscious.
As she shifted positions, she became aware of something else.
Malek was aroused.
Being careful, she eased her weight off of him.
He groaned, slapped an arm over her back, and pinned her down.
A little jolt of discomfort zipped through her. She wriggled. His hold tightened.
He had to be awake.
“Malek,” she whispered.
“Hmmm?” he responded. His voice was low. The vibrations hummed through her body. It was a pleasant sensation. Very pleasant.
“I need to go . . . if you get my drift.”
“Hmmm,” he said again.
“Malek, doesn’t it hurt, with me lying on top of you?”
“No.” He lifted his arm, freeing her. “Not at all. Come back when you’re done.”
“Come back? I need to get moving. I don’t recall lounging in bed until noon being part o
f our agreement.”
“It wasn’t. But you cheated me out of my time last night.”
“I’m sorry. Something important came up. I promise I’ll come to bed earlier tonight.” Not waiting for his response, she scampered down the hall to her bathroom and took care of all the basics, including a shower. She was feeling pretty good by the time she got out. Clean. Well rested. Just overall less stressed. She dressed and combed her hair. As she was heading down the hall, toward the stairs, she heard male voices in Malek’s room. His nurse had arrived.
She barefooted it downstairs, got the coffee going, and shoved a couple of bagels in the toaster. She made a tray for Malek, and before she ate her own food, took it up to him.
He was sitting up, smiling. He motioned to the IV pole. “I’m free.”
“Isn’t it a little soon?” She shot the nurse a worried look.
The nurse wrapped the plastic tubing into a ball. “I wouldn’t have taken him off the IV if I didn’t think he was okay. His pain level is low enough now that he can take oral medications. And he can eat and drink.”
“But he had major surgery just two days ago.”
The nurse shrugged. “We all heal at our own rate. He’s doing well.” To Malek, he said, “Now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be resting. You don’t want to do too much yet.”
Malek lifted his hand as if taking a vow. “I promise, I’ll take it easy.”
The nurse motioned to Lei as he gathered his things and placed them back in his bag. “I have a feeling she will make sure of that.”
“You bet I will.” Lei set the tray on the bed.
“Okay, Mr. Alexandre, I’m through here, unless you wanted me to help with your shower.” He motioned to the plastic and metal bench sitting next to the door.
“Nope, I’m good,” Malek said.
“Okay. I’ll be back tomorrow. Remember, you don’t want to soak your incision, but it’s okay to wash it with soap and water.” The nurse left the room, leaving the bench where it sat.
Lei slid Malek a raised brow look. “No shower?”
“I thought you’d help me.”
She tried to imagine how that was going to work. “Um . . .”
“Just kidding. I can handle a shower on my own. Now that I’m off the IV, maybe I should cancel the nurse altogether,” Malek said, grabbing the bagel off the plate. He took a big bite and chewed.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea at all.”
“Hmmm.” He swallowed. “Why not?”
“What if you get an infection? What if you get sicker? Doesn’t that wound need to be checked at least once a day?” Looking extremely unconcerned, he continued to munch. Meanwhile, she had a mini panic attack. “I’m not a nurse, Malek. I don’t know anything about wound care.”
“Okay, maybe I’ll keep him for a couple more days, if it would make you feel better.” He slurped his coffee, lifting his cup. “Thanks for the breakfast.”
“You’re welcome. And, yes, it would make me feel better. A lot.”
“Did you eat already?” Grimacing a little, he reached for the TV remote sitting on the nightstand.
“You’re in pain.” She grabbed the remote for him, hit the POWER button to turn on the TV, then handed it back.
“It’s fine. Just a little ache. I can handle it. Why don’t you bring your breakfast up here and join me? We can watch the news.”
“Sure, okay.” She went down, grabbed her plate and coffee, and brought it up.
As she entered the room, she heard the news anchor speaking, “Another woman’s body was found this morning—”
Click. The TV went dead.
12
Malek, still holding the remote, dropped it on the mattress and pretended nothing was wrong. “There you are. After you eat, I think we should—”
“Why did you do that?” Lei plunked her tray on his bed and grabbed for the remote. “Why’d you turn off the news?”
He held the remote out of her reach. Damn him for his long arms. “I didn’t think you needed to hear about another murdered woman right now. Especially after our attack.”
“I’m an adult. I get to decide what I do and don’t need to hear, thank you.” She lunged for his hand and tried to pull the remote free.
He refused to give it up, stubborn man.
Praying the victim wasn’t either Kate or Heather, she sprinted down the stairs, zoomed through the kitchen, and remoted on the family room TV.
“The body was found behind this hardware store,” the reporter said, motioning to the dilapidated concrete building behind her. “An autopsy will be performed today, but it’s fairly apparent the unidentified victim died of a gunshot to the head. There is nothing linking this murder to the other two from earlier this week, but people in the area are convinced the three are related.” She paused for a moment, then smiled. “And now, back to you, Meredith.”
No photograph of the victim had been shown. No sketch. Nothing.
“Dammit.” Lei hit the CHANNEL button, hoping to catch more details, a police sketch of the victim, or a description. But the other channels weren’t broadcasting the news. She killed the TV and headed back upstairs. When she stepped into Malek’s room, she gave him a glare. “I missed most of the report.”
“The police don’t have anything yet.”
“Did you know about that murder?”
“I did. It was on last night’s news.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was sleeping—”
“This morning.”
“There’s nothing to tell yet.”
“Bullshit. Three women are dead. I personally knew two of them. And we were attacked.”
“And at this point there’s no reason to assume this third one had anything to do with the other two, or with our attack.” He tipped his head and narrowed his eyes. “Unless there’s something you’re not telling me...?”
“No, of course not.” She wanted to fiddle. Or look away. But he was studying her, trying to decide if she was lying. She didn’t need him thinking she was.
“Do you know who attacked us?” he asked.
“No.” She pointed at the TV. “Do you know who that dead woman is?”
“No. Do you?”
“How would I know?”
Malek’s gaze sharpened slightly. “I can’t shake the feeling that you’re keeping something from me.”
“I’m not.” Lei sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m not hiding anything. I’m just scared. I don’t know what to do.”
“You’re safe as long as you stay in this house.”
“How can you be so sure? Someone attacked us. Here. In this house.”
“Which is why we’ll be going on a little trip as soon as Talen returns.”
She needed to get to her phone and call Vasquez. Find out what he knew about the dead woman.
“Drako and Talen are working on this. Hopefully it’ll all be over soon and things will be back to normal.”
Normal. How she longed for that. She slumped onto the bed and cupped her hands over her face. “When is this nightmare going to end?”
“Soon, baby. I promise.” He eased one of her hands from her face, wove his fingers through hers, and squeezed. “I’m going to take care of you.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“I don’t mind.”
“But—”
“Hellloooo!” a male voice echoed through the house. Lei recognized it. Talen.
“Damn,” Malek mumbled.
Lei jumped up off the bed and scrambled back away from it. She didn’t need Talen getting the wrong idea.
Talen thudded up the steps and into the room. His gaze jerked from Lei’s face to Malek’s, then back again. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Nope,” Lei said.
Malek didn’t respond.
It took all of two long strides for Talen to reach the bed. “What the hell happened to you?” he asked Malek.
“I fell,” Malek sa
id.
The brothers laughed.
Lei failed to see the humor in the situation. But she did see an opportunity, and she was going to take it. If she could get Malek out of town, hidden away somewhere safe, that would be one less person to worry about. Then she could focus her energy on locating those two—or was it one now?—girls.
“Two men attacked us. Right here. In the house. Your brother almost died trying to protect me,” Lei explained.
Two sets of male eyes landed on her.
“Is that so?” Talen asked, his tone not at all light or joking.
“Yes, that’s so,” she said. “And it’s no laughing matter.”
“Sure.” Talen’s mien was serious now, as it should be.
“And I’m wondering if the attack was my fault,” she added.
One set of eyes widened—Talen’s. Malek didn’t look surprised.
“It’s not your fault, Lei,” Malek said.
Talen asked, “Why’s that? Why do you think it’s your fault?”
She explained, “Because two girls I used to . . . work with . . . were killed recently.”
“And you think you were supposed to be next?” Talen asked.
“Sure.” Lei pointed at the television, which was now off. “I think someone’s going around killing all the girls who’ve recently left that bastard. A third woman was found dead this morning.”
“We don’t know yet if that one is related to the others,” Malek reminded her. “She hasn’t been identified yet.”
“Were the police involved in your situation here?” Talen asked.
“I called them, of course.” Catching the hint of something negative in Talen’s reaction, she added, “If I hadn’t called for help, Malek would be dead. As a matter of fact, I believe he was dead when EMS arrived.”
Talen’s expression soured even more.
“Obviously, we need to go stay somewhere else for a while,” Malek said.
“Already taken care of. Drako’s made all the arrangements. But you’re not in any condition to drive, and I need to stay here and take care of some things.”
“I can drive,” Lei said.
“No,” the guys said in unison.