Justifiable Risk

by V. K. Powell

  JJ started to respond, but turned and stalked out of the coffee shop. The room immediately buzzed with whispers. Customers stared and pointed as Eva rose to pay her bill.

  The older woman waved good-bye to her nurse friends, escorted Eva to the cash register, and followed her outside. Something about her seemed familiar, though Eva was certain they hadn’t met. Her frankly inquisitive stare swept over Eva’s body and back to her face. Those eyes. Greer Ellis. The two women had the same piercing stare and high cheekbones—disarming and attractive.

  “I’m sorry for butting into your conversation in there, but JJ can get a little ornery when his testosterone kicks in.” The woman smiled and offered her hand. “Where are my manners? I’m Bessie Ellis, lifelong resident of New Hope and head nurse at the hospital.” She pointed across the street to the three-story structure.

  “Eva Saldana. It’s a pleasure.” And she meant it. Bessie epitomized small-town hospitality, her smile warm, her demeanor friendly. She’d actually helped Eva, the first person to do so since she arrived. Not that she needed anyone to rescue her from JJ, but it reassured her that someone else considered his behavior a little odd and not simply a juicy piece of gossip.

  “You’re Portuguese, right?” Eva nodded. “I spent some time in Portugal during my younger days as a military nurse. I love the language. It has such a romantic rhythm.”

  “You said Bessie Ellis?”

  “Yes, and I’m guessing you’ve already encountered my niece, Greer. If you’ve met JJ, it makes sense that you’ve met her. They’re a bit like a wrestling tag team—bonded by the work and just as subtle.”

  Eva hesitated, unsure how to respond. Her encounters with Greer Ellis invigorated, disturbed, and disappointed, unlike this pleasant encounter with her aunt.

  “It’s okay. She can be a bit hard to take at times. I only hope she didn’t put you off permanently. And I’m sorry about your brother, Ms. Saldana.” Eva’s face must have shown her confusion. “Small town. News travels quickly and not necessarily accurately, unlike CNN.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Ellis. You’re very kind.” She started to excuse herself, but if Bessie had lived in New Hope all her life and worked at the hospital, she was bound to know the history of everybody in town. Maybe she could hang out with her and listen for a while. “Are you on your way to work now?”

  “No, honey. And please call me Bessie. This is my day off. I met the girls for breakfast after their night shift, and now I’m going back to the house to pick up Greer. She isn’t much of a morning person, so she’s sleeping in. We’re headed to the farmers’ market. Hey, why don’t you join us?”

  Seeing Greer so soon after her sexual rejection didn’t entirely appeal to Eva, but getting to know her better did. This might be her only opportunity to glimpse Greer’s private world. It could help her learn how to get Greer on her side. “I don’t want to intrude. Besides, she might not want to see me, especially at her home.”

  “Don’t worry about her. She’s used to me bringing strangers home. I’m sort of a magnet for strays, animal or human. Besides, I’ll have a chance to show off the house and entice you to stick around a while. Every visitor to New Hope is a potential resident. That’s my philosophy, and I’m the self-appointed Welcome Wagon. Say you’ll come. We seldom get guests, and one of your stature, even less often.” Bessie’s smile faded a bit and her exuberance waned. “I’m being too pushy, aren’t I? Greer says I can be terribly pushy at times. Forgive me. I’m sure you have other things to do.”

  Bessie’s obvious disappointment made Eva’s decision easier. She didn’t even know this woman, but she didn’t want to disappoint her. And she did want to explain why she’d phoned the chief last night before Greer heard it from someone else. It was often best to deliver bad news in person. Though, if JJ’s reaction this morning was an indication, it might already be too late. “If you’re sure, I’ll visit for a while.”

  As Eva followed Bessie’s pickup into the country, she wondered about the reception awaiting her. Surely they could put aside a momentary attraction and concentrate on professional matters. But Eva acknowledged the subtle sting to her ego as she turned onto an asphalt drive leading through a stand of beautifully colored fall foliage.

  They stopped in front of a large two-story log home with a green metal roof and wraparound porch that looked like a cover shot for Log Home Living. Off to one side, a matching three-car garage sat beside a small body of water. Nestled among the trees, the place screamed warmth, serenity, and stability. Two wildly enthusiastic dogs bounded off the porch and loped in their direction. Eva had imagined a home like this to share with someone she loved, a place of dreams and possibilities. Wiping a tear from her cheek, she opened the car door and walked toward Bessie.

  “Meet Straw Dog and Frisky, my two most recent wards.” Bessie scratched each dog behind the ears, then looked back toward the house. “Quite a sight, isn’t it? Would you believe my partner and I built this? Both floors have the same square footage, but arranged a little differently. It’s sort of like a stacked duplex. I thought when Greer got older she’d want a place of her own. And that worked fine until… Sorry, I’m rambling. Come on in. I’ll give you the nickel tour. And don’t panic if you see a big fluffy ball of black fur skitter by. That’s Nina, our resident cat, and not very sociable, kind of like Greer.”

  Eva followed Bessie inside and listened as she proudly pointed out details of her amazing home with its open floor plan. Large master bedroom suites occupied either end of the common space. A library, half bath, and expansive deck completed the first-floor living area. Every room housed large, comfortable furnishings that made Eva want to sink into them and rest.

  She stood in the center of the great room, staring at the second-floor railing and the bank of windows overlooking the lake. “How did you get the same space up there with a vaulted ceiling down here?”

  “Ruth, my partner, took care of that. She was architecturally gifted.”

  The sadness in Bessie’s eyes broadcast her pain. “And she’s—”

  “Passed, yes, several years ago. But she’s still with me, everywhere I look.” Bessie spread her arms as if to embrace the spirit of her departed lover. “How about a cup of coffee?”

  “If it’s not any trouble, that would be perfect, Bessie. This is a beautiful home, open and welcoming.”

  “Thank you. For Ruth and me, our life was our family. You can’t raise a kid in a museum. Speaking of Greer, I better go light a fire under her.”

  “Why don’t I go while you make the coffee?” Eva offered.

  “If you’re sure you don’t mind. She’ll be out back or in her apartment over the garage.”

  Eva followed the rock-lined path toward the garage. Maybe she’d take this chance to talk privately with Greer. If the rest of the day turned out like the morning, Bessie would amuse them with nonstop chatter. A relaxing break sounded good after the events of yesterday. But, first, she needed to tell Greer about her phone call to the chief.

  As she rounded the corner of the garage and started toward the steps, Eva froze. Greer stepped from an outside shower enclosure completely naked. Eva imagined her hands replacing the water that slid down Greer’s belly. Sunlight reflected off the moisture that covered her body and she seemed to glow.

  Eva could only stare, mesmerized, at the boyishly thin figure with feminine attributes. Tight, perky breasts accented strong shoulders and a slender waist. Narrow hips sloped into a golden, neatly trimmed triangle at the apex of her thighs. Heat bubbled up inside Eva as Greer bent to retrieve her towel and her tight ass mooned her. Eva’s tiny gasp echoed between them like a bullhorn.

  Greer whipped around, wrapping the bath sheet around her as she moved. “What the—”

  Eva didn’t wait to hear the rest. She ran back toward the house, unable to see anything except Greer Ellis’s body in all its naked glory. She paused on the deck to catch her breath and compose her rampant libido before telling Bessie she needed to leave. When s
he entered the kitchen, Bessie was preparing the table for coffee.

  “I think I should go, Bessie. This suddenly doesn’t seem like such a good idea.”

  “You look a little rosy, darling. What’s the matter? Catch Greer in the buff? I’ve told her a hundred times about that—and in this weather. She’s lucky she hasn’t caught pneumonia.”

  “She didn’t look too happy.” In truth, she’d received friendlier looks from the murderers and terrorists she’d interviewed.

  “She’ll get over it. After all, you’re my guest and she’ll act accordingly. I didn’t raise her to act like a heathen.”

  “I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

  “Honey, this house without trouble is like summer without heat. It doesn’t happen.”

  Eva started to object again, but Greer entered through the French doors from the deck, fully dressed. Her blue eyes still sparked with anger, but Bessie didn’t give her a chance to attack.

  “Look who I dragged in from town. I believe you two have met, officially and otherwise.” A grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. Greer started to speak. “Be nice, girl,” Bessie warned her.

  “Yes, we met at work,” she said as if that explained everything. “What are you doing here?”

  “I told you I invited her,” Bessie said.

  Eva smiled at Bessie in appreciation and finally met Greer’s stare. “Yes, your aunt is a wonderful hostess. But I also need to talk to you before—” The cell phone clipped to Greer’s side rang.

  “Excuse me.” Greer turned away from her to answer the call. “Detective Ellis.”

  Bessie motioned for Eva to have a seat at the table and poured everyone a cup of coffee. “Yes, sir, I’m on second shift. No, sir, I can come in now.” Eva scooped sugar and poured cream into her cup and tried not to eavesdrop. “She what?” Greer whirled back toward Eva, her face flushed except for the white scar bisecting her left eyebrow. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  Greer slid the phone back into its case with slow deliberation. The anger that burned in her eyes earlier flared again and her pupils darkened. “What have you done?”

  Eva rose and reached toward Greer. “That’s why I’m here. I wanted to explain before you heard it from someone else.”

  “Too late. What do you hope to get out of this?”

  “Answers. I need answers, and no one wants to give me any. Can’t you understand that?” Eva tried to control her breathing. When she got too emotional, her accent thickened.

  Greer grabbed her leather jacket off the back of a chair and started toward the door. “I understand that you’ve opened a can of worms. I hope I don’t end up in the middle of it.”

  “Greer, I’m sorry but—”

  “Save it.” She slammed the door after her, and seconds later the Harley roared to life and spun out of the driveway.

  Eva started to apologize to Bessie, but didn’t get the chance.

  “You go, honey. We can talk another time.”

  “Thank you.” She was already halfway out the door but Greer had left. Why did her search for answers in Paul’s death place her at odds with Greer? And why did it bother her so much?

  *

  Greer paced in front of Donna Burke’s desk while she waited to see Chief Bryant. Donna had tried teasing, picking, sparring, even outright flirting, but Greer wasn’t in the mood for idle conversation. She didn’t look forward to this meeting.

  The chief opened his office door and waved her in. “Thanks for coming, Greer.”

  “Sure, Chief. What’s up?”

  “I won’t beat around the bush. I don’t like to micromanage, but this is an unusual situation. Eva Saldana called me last night very displeased after meeting with Sergeant Fluharty. I know how victims’ families can be, but this woman can bring down a boatload of negative publicity on the department. I have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

  Greer shifted in her chair, wondering when he would get to the part that involved her. Had Eva complained about her showing up at her motel room? Had she spun the failed seduction attempt into a complaint against her?

  “I asked Fluharty to assign a detective to review the Saldana case and to read Eva Saldana into that review—completely.”

  “I’m sure JJ will do a great job.”

  “Fluharty chose you.”

  Greer felt like someone had punched her in the gut. A personal misunderstanding was turning into a professional nightmare. This reeked of disaster on so many levels. She stared at the chief, waiting for the punch line. When he didn’t smile and didn’t attempt to continue, she had to ask. “Is this a joke?”

  “I’m afraid not. Like I said, I don’t dictate how a sergeant runs his squad, but you need to know exactly what I expect. The investigation’s all yours. Run it through Fluharty like any other case. But I expect full disclosure with this woman and, of course, keep me in the loop because of the potential publicity.”

  “But, Chief, this is JJ’s case. He knows it better than anybody else.”

  “Fluharty wants fresh eyes on this. That makes perfect sense to me. I trust you to do what’s right.” Bryant rose and started toward the door. “You clear on what I expect?”

  Hell, no, but she’d straighten it out with Sergeant Fluharty shortly. “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Do us proud.”

  Greer walked toward the homicide squad like a zombie. She didn’t want to second-guess a fellow officer’s investigation, especially not her mentor’s. This resembled an Internal Affairs assignment—policing the police, not her thing. And the guys would treat her like a pariah. She could count on Sergeant Fluharty to make this right.

  When she plopped into the chair in front of Fluharty’s desk, he immediately stated, “I know what you’re about to say, so don’t. You’ve got the review and that’s final.”

  “But, Sarge.” The walls of his tiny office closed in on her. This job carried an unhealthy dose of professional suicide topped with a heaping scoop of personal complications. How was she supposed to work side by side with Eva Saldana after they’d seen each other naked? Not at the same time, but that was a technicality. The replay of Eva lying nude on her motel bed made Greer tingle with arousal.

  Fluharty raised his hand. “Listen to me, Greer. I need you to do this. I know you don’t want to. I know you’re the junior detective. It’s JJ’s case. He’ll be pissed. I know all of it. But he handled the investigation initially, and if I give it to him it’ll look like a whitewash. Besides, he’d try to get in that woman’s pants. We can’t afford that. You’ll do a good job. Look the case over, check for any obvious errors, walk Ms. Saldana through it, and close it again.”

  “What can I find that you and JJ didn’t?”

  “Nothing. But we have to look. Can you do that—for me?”

  Sergeant Fluharty had never even vaguely referenced that day and the tremendous debt she owed him. He wouldn’t ask for anything directly. Her guilt tasted like a wave of nausea. Against her better judgment and every gut instinct, she said, “Okay, Sarge. But JJ will go ballistic.”

  Sergeant Fluharty sighed in visible relief, and the worry lines around his eyes relaxed. He hadn’t looked well lately. Was he sick? She couldn’t ask now. Besides, they weren’t exactly friends and he might think she was meddling.

  “Let me worry about JJ. I’ll keep him too busy to complain. You’ll work only this case until it’s closed. Set your schedule and check in with me for periodic updates. I’m depending on you, and so are the chief, JJ, and the department. We can’t have this reporter make us look incompetent.”

  Greer nodded, rose from her chair, and walked back into the squad room feeling like she was facing a firing squad.

  JJ took one look at her and jumped up from his desk. “Oh, hell, no!”

  Chapter Five

  “JJ, this wasn’t my idea.” Greer wanted desperately to explain.

  “This isn’t right.” She’d never seen him so upset. His tanned skin darkened as anger flooded his face
.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Greer started to defend herself but wasn’t sure what JJ meant. Did he think she wanted to one-up him for some reason? Could he possibly think she wanted him to be wrong to prove herself? Or had he picked up on the sexual tension between her and Eva that first day? Maybe she’d bruised his male pride and ego. Things didn’t look good for her and this investigation.

  Sergeant Fluharty exited his office with a case file in his hand. “She didn’t want this assignment, JJ. I didn’t give her a choice. What’s the matter, don’t trust your training?”

  “It’s not about that and you damn well know it, Sarge. You shouldn’t put Greer in this position. It’s not right for her to review the work of a senior detective.”

  Fluharty dropped the folder on Greer’s desk. “Listen up, everybody.” He raised his voice so Breeze and Craig could hear him clearly. “Nobody likes to have an outsider review their work, but the chief gave us orders. Greer’s doing her job, so don’t give her any crap. If you’re worried about her inexperience, give her a hand and let’s get this over with.”

  When Fluharty returned to his office, Breeze said, just loud enough for Greer to hear, “Well, that sucks.”

  Craig didn’t look up from his computer screen but added, “Yeah, off-the-rails sucks.”

  JJ nodded and continued to glare. Was something wrong with the investigation? Maybe JJ had cut some corners or missed something important. Or maybe everyone just thought she was too green to review JJ’s work.

  These people depended on each other. She hated being at odds with them. Greer sat down at her old scarred desk and opened Paul Saldana’s file, determined to end this nightmare as soon as possible. Slowly the hum of the workday resumed around her, but tension still hung in the air.

  Greer reviewed the crime-scene photos first, starting with the victim. Paul Saldana’s general appearance resembled his sister’s—dark hair, striking features, and classic good looks. He wore a pair of suit pants and a dress shirt. Highly polished oxfords and dark socks littered the corners of the room. He’d apparently settled in for the night, draping his necktie and suit jacket over the back of the only chair. A small suitcase rested at the foot of the bed, clothes neatly folded inside. His wallet partially protruded from his back trousers pocket, and his BlackBerry hung on his side. Specks of white powder inside Paul’s nostrils provided the only incongruities in the photos. Greer turned her attention to the other pictures.