“I give the directors credit for trying to keep the campus clean.” He eyed the guy who walked past them on his way to the restroom. Keeping his voice low, he told her, “Emma mentioned tonight, Denise Davidson had lost a lot of weight over the summer.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He edged a little closer. A silent conversation passed between them before he asked, “Did these girls give you any leads on who is supplying them?”
“Not yet. I have to earn their trust and being a size two doesn’t help. I mean why would I want to use ice to lose weight?”
She had a point. Jolene’s charm bracelet probably helped her break the hundred pound mark on a scale. Her size masked her excellent physical abilities which came in handy when taking the bad-ass dudes by surprise. She was one hell of a kick boxer. She’d kicked his ass pretty good when they’d had a friendly sparing match. “Is there another angle you can use?”
“They’re not into drug users. They were very adamant about that fact, during our bonding over some Jack.”
“I hope you weren’t contributing to the delinquency of minors.”
“Hell no. I didn’t supply the Jack and I didn’t ask ages. I sipped on a shot, pretending I drank way more than I could handle and listened to them talk. Those girls can gab. Nearly burnt my brain cells listening to them.”
Piping hot cheese fries showed up along with two more cold beers. “I assumed you’d want these,” momma waitress stated, setting the beers down next to the fries.”
“Thanks.” Chase flashed a smile.
“Anything you need, just give a holler, sweetie.” With a wink, she limped away on her orthopedic shoes.
“They don’t see themselves as drug users.” Jolene gobbled down a couple fries and licked her fingers clean before picking up where she’d left off. “I considered saying I’m already in trouble keeping up with my studies and need to pull a few overnighters. Maybe they’ll buy into the story and help me make a connection. But then again, they might share their stuff.”
“It might work.”
“How about you? You make any headway?”
“Some.” He shrugged.
“The grad student?”
“She has a name. Emma.”
“Sweet name for a drug maker.”
“She’s not a—” He bit the words on his tongue, knowing he’d snapped at Jolene’s bait like a hungry bass. “Until we have evidence implicating her, she’s innocent.”
“Hey you don’t have to get all defensive.” Her face turned totally serious as she leaned forward. “Let me tell you something. You wouldn’t be the first C.U.F.F. member to find love while on the job. That’s where the boss man found his. It could happen to you too.”
He knew Will and Nicole’s story. “Love? Shit. Who said anything about love? Lust maybe.”
“Oh please, your eyes light up at the mention of her name. Emma.” Jolene let out a hoot that earned them some attention from the other patrons. She reined in her smile and pointed a polished nail at him. “See. Admit it, mister. You’ve been smitten. I hope she’s not guilty, honey, because that is the hardest thing to get over.”
Jolene spoke from experience. She’d fallen for a member of the mafia who had protected her from his boss. Chase couldn’t understand how she’d let it happen—until this very moment. He didn’t need more sad memories “I’m listening to my gut. I don’t think she is.”
“You’ve never made a wrong step trusting your gut. At least none that I’ve seen.”
Jolene was right. Not trusting his instincts, and obeying orders, had cost six good men their lives. He had to stay true to himself this time.
Chapter Fifteen
Chase’s cell phone rang as he entered the tiny apartment over Knepper’s garage. Dog tired and ready to fall onto the couch and catch a few hours of sleep, Chase glanced at call display, pushed the scrambler button and answered the call.
“Hey, boss.”
“You in bed?”
“Hell no. I just got in. I was about to call you.”
“Did you sweep the place?”
“Yeah. It's clean and the scrambler is up for interference, in case anyone tries to listen in.”
“Good. Adams is on my ass. Please tell me you’ve got some leads?”
The night before, they’d discussed the possibility of the meth lab being concealed on campus. They also discussed the resistance of the college directors to let the local police do an all-out search of the campus. It sure would make life a hell of a lot easier.
“Nothing solid. I checked out most of the educational buildings, including the chemistry lab.” He’d also checked out Emma. Chase warmed under his sweatshirt, recalling the softness of her lips. He shrugged the shirt over his head and tossed it on the worn recliner before he divulged other information he’d received from both Knepper and Jolene. He ended his report by stating indifferently, “I’m in with Emma Lewis too.”
“Pretty girl I hear.”
Damn Jolene. Couldn't she keep her mouth shut? “I didn't notice.”
Will’s chuckle bristled the hairs on his neck. “Just remember why you're there, kid.”
Chase’s jaw tightened. Was Will questioning his ability to do his job? His boss knew the details of his past—that he’d seen a half dozen friends blown away.
“I know what you're thinking kid. Don't even go there. I wouldn’t have put you in charge of this operation if I didn't have faith in you. All I’m saying is, don't let a pretty face make you miss details.”
“I won't.”
“You still don’t think she's part of this mess?”
“My gut says no.”
“Your instinct is one of the reasons I gave you this assignment. You might not realize it, but on more than one occasion I made a call based on your assessment. However, stay on her. I mean that figuratively not literally. She might not be involved, but someone close to her might be.”
“Have you learned something?”
“Her keycard to the lab’s supply room has registered at odd hours; along with a few others, including one of the professors. We’re checking to see how the cards are distributed and if they can be copied.”
Chase’s mind reeled over the new information. Emma had admitted she used the lab after hours to work on her thesis research which explained her card’s use. “Send me the list of names. I’ll do some probing on this end.”
“Sure thing,” Will said. “Ok, I’ve got some information for you concerning Frank Knepper. He’s swimming in debt. What’s your read on him?”
“He seems to be a nice a guy. He has his hands full. His wife is wheelchair-bound. He has two kids who are hoping to go to college. One next year. The other the year after, but I’m sure you already have the info.”
“Do you think he's mixed up in this mess?”
“Like I said, I'm not counting anyone out at this point. He’s very willing to help with the investigation.”
“It would be pretty smart for the guy to keep us right under his nose.”
“True.” Chase’s jaw tensed. He hadn’t thought much about Knepper. He walked to the window that overlooked the Kneppers’ house and scanned the windows for any signs he was being watched. “He doesn't know who Jolene is though.”
Fuck.
He jabbed the drape with a fist. He’d let that fuck-up slip. “He asked about the other agents underground.”
“How did he know there were more?” The pitch of Will’s voice upped a notch and Chase could imagine the man’s lips pursed, ready to say more.
“I'm not sure he did. He was probably fishing.”
“Another reason not to trust him.”
“Or being a cop, he assumed I’d have backup. Either way, I didn’t give up her cover.” Chase slumped down on the sofa and scrubbed a hand over his face.
“Good. If he’s involved, things might quiet down for a while until he thinks he has a handle on us.”
Chase stifled a yawn. He needed sleep. “And if they don't,
that could also be interpreted as a sign he’s not.”
“Or he is confident and doesn't give a rat’s ass if we’re there or not.”
“True. I’ll nose around.” Chase couldn’t talk to the Knepper children without permission. He couldn’t talk to the neighbors either. “I’ll talk to his co-workers on the side and see if there is any extra money being spent.”
“Good idea.”
“Could you get me some information on a few people?”
“Sure. Let me grab a pen.”
Chase heard paper rustle.
“Go ahead. Who?”
“Emma’s roommate, Nanette Yves and a Bart Logan.”
“As in Logan Industries?”
“Yeah. Mr. Bart Logan is the current hotshot on campus.”
Will chuckled. “It sounds like you don’t like him. Did you have a run-in with Mr. Logan?”
“I met him, and yes, I don’t like the guy.”
“So why order the run down?”
“Let’s say my gut’s got a bad feeling.”
“Well you’re spot on. Mr. Logan’s name is on the list I’m sending you.”
“No shit.”
“You sound surprised?”
“I guess I’m surprised his daddy’s money didn’t keep his name off any list.”
“True enough,” Will said. “It sounds like you have everything under control.”
Will’s affirmation made Chase smile. “Just doing my job, boss. I'm hoping someone slips up and we can nail this case closed before anyone else gets hurt.”
“That's the goal.”
In the background, he heard another voice. A woman's voice. The words were soft and tender, so he knew the boss man wasn't at the office, but rather was at home with his wife, Nicole. She was a strong woman and in Chase’s opinion, was the best thing to ever happen to his boss.
Emma was so different from Nicole.
Chase blinked. Why had he thought of Emma in terms of being his partner?
He cleared his throat, again pushing Emma’s image away. “If there’s nothing else, I'm going to grab some shut-eye, hit the books and refresh my memory. I don't want to look like a total loser in class.”
“Roger that.” Will laughed and the line went dead.
Chapter Sixteen
Carting her backpack, Emma walked across campus. The rising sun hadn’t yet touched the concrete sidewalks beneath her feet and the dew colored them a murky gray—a hue in opposition with her light mood. For the first time in forever, her dreams reeled toward something else besides her work and obligations.
After sleeping on yesterday’s events, she realized exactly how much of a fool she’d been worrying about Detective Johnson’s and his partner’s actions. They were only doing their jobs. They had to cast a wide net in order to gather as much evidence as possible in a short window. She’d simply gotten caught in the net. She had nothing to hide and therefore she wasn’t going to worry about them anymore. She’d have her car back today and the detectives would move on.
Ahead, she saw a man strolling off onto a side path. He had sandy-blond hair and walked like he didn’t have a care in the world, and seeing him, the biggest reason she was walking on air that morning came to mind.
She couldn’t believe she’d kissed Chase. And he hadn’t initiated the kiss. She had done it all on her own. She felt pretty darn good about doing that. And what had she gotten for acting out her desires? The kiss she’d dreamt about all her life.
A smile blossomed on her lips. She’d like to see Chase again, to kiss him again, but the way he left things last night, she wasn’t sure if she would. His good-bye had left her feeling unsettled. He’d said something that made her believe, even though he might want to kiss her again, there was a line he would not cross. She wondered what that was and what the consequences would be if he did?
She didn’t even know where he lived. What if he decided to switch classes, how would she find him? Tri-Penn wasn’t a huge college, but one could easily attend all four years and never run into some people. If Chase decided to change his current course of study, she might never see him again. Especially if he didn’t want her too.
Slowing her pace, she filled her lungs with cool morning air and released it over a full ten seconds. With that slow release went the tension which pulled her shoulder muscles taut. She had two choices. Find Chase and make him cross the line again, or she could forget about him and move on.
He hadn’t been a part of her life two days earlier, so she couldn’t be that invested. She had dreams before she met him and they hadn’t included being held in his arms. She had been happy. She hadn’t felt complete, but she knew sooner or later she would find someone who made her feel loved. Probably someone more compatible than Chase. Someone more like Bart. They shared the same career interests, at least. However, Bart didn’t make her heart pound at a rate of sixty beats in ten seconds.
Emma shook her head. Choosing to be pragmatic and settling for Bart reflected the old her, the safe-within-your-own-world her. She sort of liked the new adventurous her. The Emma that had dreams beyond work. Still she wasn’t foolish and if Chase was the man for her, she needed to know what he hid, and what line he had to cross to be with her.
With newfound determination, she entered the education building, charged up the steps and pushed through the door leading to the landing on the second floor. Professor Langson’s office was located down the hall and to the right. She needed to retrieve the tests he’d locked in his desk, the ones he wanted administered to this morning’s class. Once class was over and she spent a few hours focused on her own work, she’d devise a plan to learn more about Chase.
***
Chase trapped his locked jaw between his thumb and forefinger and moved it back and forth. The cracking sound his joint made reminded him of the time he and his brother both fell out of their grandmother’s two-hundred-year-old oak at the same time and Luke had broken his arm. One second they’d lounged on a huge branch, the next they clung to each other as they dropped nearly twenty-five feet. Luckily the hay bales they’d piled under the tree in order to reach the first branch helped soften their fall, otherwise they might’ve snapped their backs. Luke’s arm had cracked when Chase landed on him.
Despite the pain for his brother, Chase knew those were the best years, carefree.
He scrubbed his teeth hard.
This morning, after a few hours of restless sleep, he woke feeling anything but untroubled. Disappointed with his actions, or rather lack of action, caused his jaw to tighten. He accepted this job, all gung ho to rule it, but he hadn’t. Forty-eight hours on campus and all he could say about his performance was he’d allowed himself to get distracted by a pretty face.
Emma.
Hell, he dreamt about her that night, wanting to make her his, but he couldn’t. Not until this case was solved and she was cleared. Then maybe.
He exited the bathroom, finger combing his damp hair into place.
Distraction was a dangerous thing, he reminded himself for the millionth time as he tugged on his jeans. Allowing diversions to happen could change the course of lives, and most times, not for the best. He slipped into a clean shirt and focused on the day ahead.
His phone rang and he snapped it up. Jolene.
“What’s up?”
“I have a na…” she mumbled.
“Are you Ok?” He hadn’t quite made out what she’d said.
“Yeah, I’m alive. I got pulled into a party after I left you. I’m too old for this shit. Next time, I get the easy watch. Oh, my head.”
Chase waited as her painful moan filled his ear. He’d seen Jolene tanked once, after a co-worker had died. She’d blamed herself for covering his back a little too late. She wasn’t fuckin’ Superwoman. None of them had super powers. He imagined her dark hair spiked out in all directions as she tried to keep her head from splitting open. “Mark Varklet.”
In the back of his mind a tiny spark jumped. The hairs on his arms stood at attent
ion. “Mark who?”
“One of the girls told me she gets her supply of ice from some guy name Mark Varklet.”
“The name sounds familiar. Hang on.” Chase opened his email from Will and then the attached list he’d asked for, the one containing all the people who had access to the chemistry lab. Varklet’s name wasn’t on it but Bart Logan’s was. “He’s Bart Logan’s roomie.”
“The school’s man on campus.” Jolene’s words were a statement more than a question.
“The very one.”
“Shit. Do you think he’s one of them?”
“I don’t like the guy, so…”
“You’ve met?”
“Briefly.”
“How about Mark?”
“No. I haven’t had the pleasure yet.”
“Do you want me to check him out? I could try to deal for some ice.”
“No. Mark is the tip of this berg. We want the one who is in control, and my gut says Logan is the CEO.”
***
Lector’s blood had simmered all night long. If he didn’t need the fucker, he’d kill Einstein. He’d never killed anyone, but Einstein had pissed him off enough times over the last few days to make him consider murder.
He should wait until later to talk to Einstein, but patience was never on his Virtues List. When his target made the mistake and entered a secluded area meant for creative meditation in the liberal arts building, Lector’s neck veins seared with the hot, angry blood flowing through them and he stepped out of the shadows.
Einstein’s attention had been hooked by an abstract painting done by a local artist, and noticed Lector a second too late. Snagging the mother-fucker against the wall was like cornering a con in a sweatbox. Easy.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Einstein tried to sidestep him, but Lector slammed his palms against the wall, locking the hot turd inside the space between them. Unable to move more than an inch without making contact, his prey’s dark eyes darted toward the hallway leading away from the area.
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