by C. J. Thomas
With the trash bag completely full and the mess now cleaned, I stepped into the garage and headed for the trash can. Setting a loose photo of Nora down on the workbench, I opened the lid on the bin and dropped the bag inside with a smile tugging my lips.
“Hello, Kendra.”
I spun my head around like an owl, my hair swinging wildly across my shoulders. Freezing, I stared into the wistful eyes of Angelina Davis. Despite what she had said about me being a person she liked, I couldn’t deny questioning her intentions and why she was here now.
“If you’re looking for Kelly, he’ll be here soon,” I said with thoughts that she might be here to kill me.
“Actually, I was hoping to speak with you.”
Glancing over her shoulder, the neighbor’s house was quiet. My heart drummed inside my chest, the throb growing louder in my ears with each step Angel took toward me. “How did you know where I would be?”
Angel brushed behind me and reached for Nora’s photo on the workbench. “I told you that you weren’t the only woman Kelly had.”
“I remember.” Angel stared at Nora and smirked. “But you never did mention that she was dead.”
“I like to keep things interesting.” Angel winked.
“I’ll tell Kelly you stopped by.”
Angel set the photo down and flicked her curious gaze to me. “I know he’s the one who started the rumor about me.”
Folding my arms over my chest, I said, “You started it yourself.”
Angel stepped forward and tipped her chin back. Her eyes narrowed into tiny, sharp slits. “Quit wasting your time. There is nothing you two can do to stop the movement of business in this city.”
“Why?”
Angel laughed. “You just don’t understand.”
I arched a brow.
“You and me, we’re no different. We came to LA with the same intention of making it big. Some try their luck in movies, others in music. My calling,” her tongue darted out of her mouth as she wet her lips, “began the day I met Blake Stone. He had everything. Access to Hollywood royalty, invitations to exclusive parties, and when the opportunity presented itself with promises of riches, well, you see,” Angel reached out and pretended to pick lint off my shoulder before locking her gaze on me, “I got hooked on that first taste of power.”
“You killed Tonya.”
Angel held my stare before turning her back and pacing around. “Do you know what that feels like to be able to control people’s behavior?”
“What are you talking about?”
She stopped and turned to glance at me. “Alex must be so worried about Nash.” Her brow furrowed.
My heart skipped a beat when I realized Angel was behind the Mint story. “Why are you doing this to all of us?”
Angel laughed. “Do you and Kelly really want to battle this out?”
“Stone is going to be released.”
Angel clucked her tongue. “That was inevitable. But my name is being slandered and it’s going to cause me a great deal of headache if it doesn’t stop.” She stepped up to me and lowered her brow. “Honey, tell your boyfriend to back off.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I would hate for me to have to read about how Kelly knew what happened to both Maria and Tonya but decided to not share what he knew with the authorities. It would be a shame to have to break you two love birds apart.” She tilted her head to the side. “Don’t you think?”
44
Kelly
I had to see it with my own eyes. Go straight to the source. No way would I be threatened by the same elected officials who’d sworn to work for the good of the people. Mayor Bentley was about to receive an ear full.
The elevator doors dinged open. Squeezing my shoulders through, my blood pumped hot. Making my way toward the exit, I peered through the large front windows, catching sight of Giselle.
Hitting the brakes, I dug my heels into the floor and stopped.
What was she doing here and why hadn’t she mentioned anything to me about her location earlier?
My eyes scanned the front entrance as I slowly backpedaled to the side of the room. Edging the wall, I approached closer. Keeping my gaze locked on my colleague, I realized she wasn’t alone.
Pulling my head back, I felt my lungs constrict. My lungs craved another breath as I watched her and Drake move around the corner. I had no choice but to follow.
I stepped outside and quickly hid my eyes behind a pair of sunglasses. Curling my fingers into the palm of my hand, I made a fist, asking myself if Giselle was purposely being dishonest or if she and Drake were wrapped up in some sort of collusion to conspire against me. Either way, I didn’t like what I was seeing.
My feet brought my down the sidewalk and I quickened my pace to catch up.
Paranoia crept up my spine. Feeling my skin shrink wrap around my bones, I stayed naturally suspicious. It was a matter of survival. Too many confidants had already proven they couldn’t be trusted. I couldn’t have Giselle fool me, too.
They were standing by the planters with their backs toward me as I crept closer. Their mouths were at enough of an angle for me to read their lips. Easing myself into their conversation, I was only able to make out every other word before they turned away.
My gaze dropped to the space between them.
Giselle’s fingers subtly reached for Drake’s and there was little doubt in my mind their relationship was on the mend.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. My phone rang, shocking my heart dead. I jumped back into the concrete wall and hid in the shadows, afraid Giselle would recognize the ringtone.
It was Kendra. “Bella, is everything all right?”
The line crackled.
“Kendra, baby, I can’t hear you.” The crackling popped louder. “You’re breaking up. Are you at the house?”
Her voice broke through. “I can’t stay at the house. It’s been compromised.”
I squinted, straining my ears to question if I’d heard her right. “Did you say the house has been compromised?”
Nothing. The line went silent.
“Kendra,” I barked. Turning around, Giselle approached as Kendra’s voice was back.
“Angel set you up…”
“Go back, Kendra.” I locked my gaze with Giselle’s. “I don’t like the feeling of this.”
Again, the line went quiet.
“Kendra, talk to me.” Then the line went dead.
“Kelly what’s going on? Where is Kendra?” Giselle dropped her gaze to my side and stared at my phone.
“Fuck.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. Turning to Giselle, I said, “I sent her to my house.”
I caught movement behind Giselle. A shadow emerged and, soon after, Drake’s face broke through the light. I pointed at him. “Stone is going to be released, you know that, right?”
“I’m aware,” Drake said.
“Then why aren’t you doing anything?” My hands rooted into my hips.
Giselle placed her hand on my shoulder. “Calm down, Kelly.”
I shook her off. “Calm the fuck down?” My face pinched. “Stone will pick up where he left off. Hell, he never stopped calling the shots even when he was behind bars. Listen to yourself, you act like you want him freed.”
Giselle shared a small glance with Drake. “You need to give it time, Kelly.”
“Fuck. We’re out of time.” I shoved my hand through my hair and spun on my heel. Getting up in Drake’s face, I bared my teeth. “If not Stone, then go after Angel. Get Stone on conspiracy to murder Tonya. Why won’t you fight?”
Drake’s eyes danced with mine. “You have to trust that we’re doing all we can.”
“Kelly, he can’t discuss the case. You know that,” Giselle said.
“Let me do my job, Black.” Drake held his ground.
Hot breath expelled from my flaring nostrils.
“Trust me when I say everything will work itself out.” Drake’s eyes flicked to Giselle. “You’ve d
one everything you could,” he said to me. “Your job here is finished.”
45
Kendra
“Do you hear me?” I yelled into the phone.
Nothing.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and glanced to the black screen.
Kelly was gone. The line dead. I was alone again.
I growled a loud curse into the confines of the car and tossed my phone into the empty seat next to me. It was worthless. Kelly didn’t confirm it, but I was sure he was downtown speaking with the mayor. That was where he last told me he would be, and that was where I was planning to find him.
Popping the clutch, the car surged forward as I managed to shift gears. The RPMs increased as I pressed my foot down on the accelerator. My heart raced as I glanced at the clock, knowing I didn’t have much time.
As soon as Angel left, I closed up the house and got behind the wheel. I knew I couldn’t stay and wait for Kelly to call. Not with what Angel said. She wanted me to know that Kelly’s life was in danger, that she held more of the power than either of us would have liked. I wasn’t sure what she was going to do next, but I knew she was capable of murder and that was what kept me holding my breath. I was convinced Kelly was next.
Coming up behind a car, it seemed to be crawling forward.
I laid on the horn.
The car didn’t move.
I yanked on the wheel, laid on the horn once again, and blared past the vehicle once it was clear. Cursing the slow drivers that seemed to be out in hordes today, I didn’t know Kelly’s next move. And the fact that cell reception was spotty already was enough to twist my gut with worry.
I cut across town, hoping my route would get me there quicker. Coming up to a four-way intersection, I rolled to a stop at the sign.
Turning my head, I glanced to my cell phone. I thought I heard it ring. I was wrong. I blamed it for dropping my call with Kelly. Then I blamed Kelly’s signal getting blocked by the tall buildings near City Hall. Whatever it was, it was less than ideal and I wanted nothing more than to tell him I was on my way.
Giving my rearview mirror a quick glance, my breath hitched when I saw Angel behind me.
“You’ve got to me kidding,” I muttered. Then I took off.
Angel was right on my tail.
We raced through town, weaving through traffic. Now I wasn’t convinced she was after Kelly but, instead, going after me. But why hadn’t she made her move at Kelly’s?
The engine whined each time I shifted gears.
I couldn’t shake her free from my tail. I turned. She turned. Sticking to me like glue.
The tires squealed with each turn I accelerated around.
It didn’t matter if I came across a stop sign. I blew through it as if Kelly’s life depended on it—as if my life depended on it.
Keeping a close eye on Angel, I raced toward another intersection. The light turned yellow.
Tucking my chin into my chest, I sped faster.
Time seemed to slow. My vision blurred and I could hear the sound of my thrashing heart fill my ears with blood. I raced forward.
Angel wasn’t letting up. I kept my gaze focused on the yellow light, willing it to stay that color just long enough for me to travel through safely.
Tightening my grip on the steering wheel, I was nearly to the intersection. “You fucking bitch, you’re going to kill us.”
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. I heard the clock ticking inside my head like a bomb about to go off. A second later, the light turned red and I opened my eyes wide and screamed like a soldier heading into battle.
Next thing I knew, a loud horn honked before a tire squeal shattered the air. My ear drums burst to the sounds of metal crumbling around me and everything came to an abrupt stop.
46
Kelly
Giselle parted with Drake and they both left me feeling less than inadequate.
It wasn’t the position I wanted my colleague to put me in, but I didn’t have time to discuss it. My job wasn’t finished. Far from it, actually.
Jogging across the street, I headed to City Hall, continuing the mission I’d first set out on.
I didn’t blame Giselle for Drake’s secrecy. She probably knew as much as I did, which wasn’t much. Despite my initial feelings of them turning against me, I truly did hope they could find a path forward so they could be together. Giselle deserved it, and it would be nice to have someone like Drake to consult with on future cases.
A man with a red tie held the door open for me and I was quickly greeted by security who ushered me through like the familiar guest I was. Though they asked non-specific questions, mostly about how my day was going, I kept my mouth shut, wanting to save my energy for the mayor.
Mayor Bentley’s secretary smiled when she saw me coming. Without missing a beat, I put in my request to see the mayor. She picked up her phone, made a quick call, and a minute later Bentley showed his face through his office door.
“Please, Kelly, come inside.” He angled his body to the side, remaining firmly placed on the threshold.
I skirted past him with a grudge balling in my stomach. Scanning his office, it felt different than the times I had visited before. The smell had changed—the scent of entitlement, corruption, and dirty money filling my head with further anger for what it seemed he was doing to increase his own power.
“After reading the headlines, I’m not surprised you’re here, Kelly.” Bentley closed the door, offering me complete privacy to call him out on his bullshit.
I turned to look at him.
“Nicely done,” he congratulated me.
I didn’t share his enthusiasm. “Your guys should have arrested Angelina Davis by now.”
His lips pulled downward as he moved to the wet bar by the back window. I watched him make himself a drink before offering me a water, which I declined. Then he sat down.
Taking the seat opposite him, we stared for a minute before speaking.
“I’m afraid that you might be late to the party.” His thick lips wrapped around his tumbler. “Stone is set to be released.”
Wiping my mouth, I responded, “I just spoke with your ADA.”
Bentley raised his brows, glaring at me from beneath them.
“She convinced me that Stone’s review wasn’t her call.”
His head bobbed with small nods.
“The thing is,” my gaze sharpened, “when I asked her if maybe you had influenced her decision, she became very defensive.”
“I told you, I don’t like her.”
“That may be true, but the request to release Stone came from this office, Mayor.”
His fingers stopped stroking his glass. Leaning back, he locked eyes. “Kelly, it’s over.”
“What is Stone giving you in return?”
The mayor turned his head and laughed. “Kelly, it’s not what you’re thinking.”
I arched an eyebrow.
“There is nothing more we can do.”
“I disagree.” I threaded my fingers over my stomach with dozens of thoughts on how I could make his corruption public. I had nothing left to lose. My career, over. The drive inside, gone.
“The judge has already ruled in his favor.”
“It’s sending the wrong message,” I said. “But I guess you don’t care much about that now, do you?”
Bentley pressed his lips together as I continued swimming in thoughts of how Judge Smith—the last line of defense—had allowed this to go through. They were all working to conspire against me, probably the same people who came up with the list of charges the ADA threatened me with. And for what? To win an election and put extra money in their pockets? It didn’t seem worth the cost of what Stone would do to this city.
“I’ve given it considerable thought.” Bentley tipped his head back. “It was what needed to be done.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
Bentley pushed his glass to the side and brought his elbows to the desk. “Let me ask you what would have happen
ed if you remained Stone’s attorney and received a not guilty verdict?” There was a knowing glimmer in his eye. When I didn’t respond, he said, “You never thought about it because Madam instructed you to purposely convict him.”
I stopped breathing. My chest froze. The blood went cold.
“I know, Kelly.” He grinned. Then he leaned back. “I got a call from your friend, Wes.” He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. I was still frozen to my chair. “He wanted this, too.”
“You’re lying.”
The mayor shook his head. “I wasn’t kidding when I said that I want you in the district attorney’s office.”
Brining my hand to my face, I thought back to my conversations with Wes, how I’d recruited Timothy Parker to help make the case to bring in Angel, and how Drake seemed confident enough to tell me my job was finished. “Not like this,” I said.
“Allowing Stone to be released will create an uproar. The city will be furious. Blaming me and the ADA for allowing this to happen.”
“It will ruin your career.”
“But if it puts you in Oscar’s old office, then I can live with the political fallout.”
The throb in my neck slowed. “You believe in me that much?”
“I do.” His smile lit up the room.
“This was your plan all along?” My cell phone rang.
The mayor stood and winked. “I expect your answer within 24 hours,” he said on his way to the door.
I felt disoriented as my skin tingled with surprise. My phone continued to ring until, finally, I answered. “Kelly Black.”