Black Obsession

by C. J. Thomas

  It was nearly impossible to keep a calm face. I closed my fingers around the knob and began turning it. When it didn’t budge I shook it harder, feeling that it was locked. Panic began to boil up in my chest, but I kept composed for fear Kelly would be on to me .

  “The bathroom is that door.” Kelly pointed to the opposite wall with a pinched brow .

  Glancing back to Kelly, I was sure he knew what I was about to do. This was no mistake. He told me it was this door, and now he was telling me it was to the left instead of the right. Smiling, I laughed the mistake off while silently cursing him .

  Spinning around to the opposite door, my stomach jittered through a ball of nerves zipping up and down my spinal cord that threatened to reveal my cards .

  My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I swore they were going to bruise. And without looking, I could feel Kelly standing, staring, and watching with an eagle eye for any possible mistakes .

  Fumbling with the door, it took me a couple of tries to finally get it to release, but when I had it open, I could see light at the end of the tunnel .

  With one last glance at Kelly, he had a quizzical look on his face and I started to doubt my plan all together. I didn’t know what was more foolish: To think that I would get away with calling Alex without Kelly finding out, or me thinking that Alex wouldn’t hate me forever if I didn’t warn her what was coming. My options were terrible but I couldn’t let Alex down .

  Closing the door, I locked it before leaning my back against it .

  The sigh of relief escaped through my lips and I counted to three before pushing off the door and moving to the toilet where I proceeded to lower the seat cover. Plopping my butt down on top, I hurried to pull out my phone to call Alex .

  With my thumb hovering over the green call button, I held my breath and listened to see if I was being spied on .

  The room fell silent .

  There was nothing .

  Only paranoia plaguing my thoughts .

  It wasn’t that I didn’t think Kelly didn’t trust me. I knew he did. It was just that I knew he didn’t trust me to not ruin his investigation. His work meant everything to him, and his quest to bring justice to those he believed innocent would trump all that dared to stand in his way. That was something I truly admired about him. He had worked hard to get where he was, and he wasn’t going to tarnish his reputation over a conflict of interest that unfortunately also involved me—his call girl, Bella .

  When I was sure that the coast was clear, I mumbled to myself, “Fuck it,” and committed to hitting the call button .

  The line began ringing .

  My heavy lids closed as I listened .

  And as I sat there with knees pressed together waiting for Alex to answer, it seemed as if each ring that followed drew out longer and longer until I began to give up hope that I would reach her at all .

  C’mon, Alex, pick up , I silently pleaded as I fixed my gaze beneath the door .

  A shadow passed in front and my heart skipped a beat .

  Pulling my phone away from my ear, I almost hung up, ending the call all together. But then she answered. “Did you get my text ?”

  “Alex, I don’t have much time,” I whispered in my lowest voice possible, covering my mouth with my hand. “But I need to know where you are .”

  “At home. Why? Is everything all right ?”

  “Are you with Nash ?”

  “Kendra, what’s this about ?”

  A noise came from the wall behind me .

  My spine twisted as my gut lurched to see what it was .

  Adrenaline pumped through my veins and kept me jumpy. Glancing to the ceiling, I feared I could be heard through the vent above .

  Turning my head back around, the shadow beneath the door darkened. Sweat formed on my brow and the pulse in my neck ticked higher .

  “Kendra?” Alex’s voice came through the line, grounding me. “Are you still there ?”

  Wetting my lips with my tongue, I couldn’t respond. I knew someone was on the other side of the door listening—but could Kelly hear me ?

  “Kendra?”

  My heart thrashed between my ears .

  “Shit. Did I lose you?” Alex cried. “Kendra, are you there ?”

  Closing my eyes, I calmly said, “They’re coming for Nash .”

  “Who?” I could imagine the concern flashing over her eyes. “Who is coming for Nash ?”

  My hands began to shake. “Kelly.” Gasping for air, I suddenly couldn’t breathe. “I don’t have a good feeling about this .”

  “Is this about that dead girl ?”

  “You need to get out of the house, now !”

  A knock on the door made my eyes pop out of my head .

  “I gotta go.” I reached behind me to flush the toilet. “Do what I said. Trust me. I’ll explain later .”

  Another set of knocks rapped against the door. This time harder than the last .

  Killing the call, I raised my voice and responded, “Just one minute .”

  Standing, I ran my fingers through my hair before stuffing my phone deep inside my purse .

  The knob jiggled and I fought to compose myself .

  Moving to the sink, I turned on the water and stuck my hands beneath the faucet .

  The door shook, and with the handle jiggling I was at a loss for words .

  Staring at myself in the mirror, I quickly fluffed my bangs and blinked some life into my eyes .

  Then a second later the door flew open .

  Turing around with a playful glimmer in my eye, I said, “In a hurry, are you ?”

  I followed Kelly’s eyes to my purse perched on the sink counter. I knew he wanted to get his hands on my phone, wanted to see who he’d heard me talking to. Taking it in my hands before he got to it first, I put my arm through the strap and tucked it beneath my elbow. “You know, Kelly, you should have told me .”

  He gave me a questioning look .

  Raising my brows, I said, “To wear something jet black .”

  He arched a brow .

  “Because black is a more appropriate color to wear—” I took a step forward and placed my hand on his shoulder, “—when killing a friendship .”

  14

  Kelly

  M axwell pulled up to the apartment and I turned to Kendra. “Tell me, Bella , is this the building ?”

  She refused to look at me. Just like she had the entire journey here. I knew she didn’t like this any more than I did. But it had to be done .

  Stretching my hand across the middle, I let my fingers fall to her thigh .

  She flinched before pushing my hand away .

  Pinching my lips together, my throat closed up and Giselle glanced over her shoulder from the front passenger seat. The look on her face said it all. She was getting restless. It seemed the only calm spirit in the car was Maxwell .

  I fixed my eyes on the back of Kendra’s skull and shook my head in frustration. She was proving to be more difficult than I’d anticipated and I started to question bringing her in the first place .

  “Is this it, Kendra? Is this Alex’s apartment building?” My suspicions were on high alert since she escaped to the restroom before leaving the office. I couldn’t let her blow this without first hearing Nash’s side of the story .

  “This is it, Kelly.” Giselle looked me straight in the eye. “I’m certain this is it. Let’s just go .”

  Holding up my hand, I wanted to hear Kendra confirm that this was in fact Alex’s apartment building .

  “I shouldn’t be involved in this.” Kendra clucked her tongue as she stared out the window. “Alex is my friend. She loves Nash .”

  Giselle turned around and curled her fingers over the seat in a white-knuckle grip. “Look, Kendra, I get it. I really do. But a man is about to go to prison for a murder both Kelly and I are certain he didn’t commit.” She spat her words like bullets from a gun .

  The air in the vehicle went stale .

  Kendra rolled her neck a
nd fixed her uncertain, narrowed eyes on Giselle .

  “We believe Nash knows something that can prove this man’s innocence.” Giselle glanced at her watch, knowing that each minute that ticked away was time we could never get back .

  Grazing her tongue over her top front teeth, Kendra rolled her eyes to me .

  “He made a plea deal, Kendra.” I nodded. “A deal that is yet to be approved by the judge. There is still time for us to stop this. If Nash knows something that could set a framed man free, wouldn’t you like to help us do that ?”

  Her eyelids hooded over as she blinked once. “If he’s innocent, then why did he plea down ?”

  Snapping my head away, I clenched my hand into a tight fist on my thigh .

  “And shouldn’t you be worrying about your own legal troubles ?”

  Hot blood pumped through my body and I fought to remain as calm as I could, knowing that now wasn’t the time to explode and let loose on her. There would be a time for her punishment, but it wasn’t now .

  Angling my head forward, I shared a knowing glance with Giselle .

  “Never mind.” Kendra turned her head and stared out her window once again. “Don’t tell me any of this. I don’t need to know .”

  Her voice was soft, afraid, and I couldn’t blame her for having those feelings. I’d do anything to take them away, shield her from the realities we were all facing. But I couldn’t do that. Not when I needed her help .

  Straightening my arm, I let my hand drift down to hers. Curling my fingers over her knuckles, she let me tighten my grip and hold her .

  “We have reason to believe Nash knows who killed Maria Greer,” Giselle continued .

  “I shouldn’t be here,” Kendra breathed as her eyes fluttered closed .

  “There’s something I want to show you.” Giselle reached to her feet and pulled out the folder that housed the images of Maria’s murder .

  Swallowing down the scratch in my throat, I blocked Giselle’s hand. She pinched her brows and shot me a look. “No,” I said, shaking my head. Kendra would find out soon enough what exactly was at stake, but she didn’t need to see those images of Maria. I would do anything to delay it, wanting to protect Kendra instead .

  “You’re the one who wanted to bring her along.” Giselle’s voice hardened. “It’s not fair of you to keep her in the dark.” There was fire in her eyes as I refused to back down .

  “Show what to me?” Kendra glared at Giselle. “I’m a big girl. I can handle it .”

  Knowing this wasn’t a battle I wanted to fight, I lowered my hand and let Giselle hand the folder off to Kendra. Without saying anything, Giselle and I both watched Kendra open it up and finger through image after image before falling back into her seat .

  “Kendra,” Giselle’s voice was lighter than a minute ago, “people are saying Nash did it .”

  Kendra dropped her face into her hand and I smoothed my hand up her arm before clamping my fingers at her nape. Her tight muscles twitched with disbelief as I began massaging the tissue keeping her neck stiff .

  “Wouldn’t you like to know if he’s capable of murder?” Giselle pressed further. “If not for you, then for Alex ?”

  Kendra’s chest rose before she said in a shaking voice, “I shouldn’t be here .”

  Leaning close to her ear, I said, “Give me your phone .”

  Turning her head, she fixed her eyes on mine. “Excuse me ?”

  Continuing to massage her neck with one hand, I flipped my hand over and held my palm out. “Give me your phone .”

  Her brows pinched. “Why ?”

  “Just give me your damn phone!” I barked, hitting the ceiling with my hand .

  A second later she was digging in her purse and handing me her phone .

  Scrolling over the screen with my thumb, I quickly found the log of the last call she made. Grinning, I read the time stamp and name displayed on the screen. “You might not care about our client, but you should care about what Nash knows,” I said .

  “And why should I care ?”

  Flipping the phone over, I showed her the screen. “Because you’re already involved .”

  15

  Kendra

  I t was impossible to get the images of Maria out of my head .

  The bruised, battered skin and dull, dead eyes. It was awful, and despite my previous knowledge of the event that initially got Kelly interested in Nash, I never imagined, nor could I have prepared myself for, what I saw in those photos .

  There was a mixture of fear and sadness swirling around my chest. And with Giselle and Kelly both staring at me like this was my decision to make, I knew I had no choice but to agree and follow along .

  “Fine. You’re right.” I turned to Kelly. “I want to know what Nash knows .”

  Giselle whipped around in her seat, gathered her things, and opened her door before stepping out .

  “You won’t regret this.” Kelly squeezed my hand .

  “Don’t be so sure.” I took a deep breath before opening my own door and letting the hot dry air quickly engulf me .

  Looking up and down the street, I knew Alex and Nash were still here despite my warning for Alex to leave. And as my mind raced to understand why she’d ignored my advice, I could only hope that it was because Nash wanted to stay—that he had nothing to hide—and cooperate to the fullest extent possible .

  Kelly quickly found me at the front of the car and murmured, “This is the right thing to do .”

  “C’mon,” I said, not wanting to give my decision any more thought than I already had. “Follow me.” I waved them on, leading the way. “I’ll show you where she lives .”

  With Kelly and Giselle flanking both my shoulders, I pushed through the front doors with gusto. The cool air from the building hit my face and prickled my scalp. There was no sense in delaying the inevitable, but I also couldn’t stop my mind from reliving the nightmare that played out the last time Nash was brought into the police station for questioning. He’d been cleared once, and I could only assume that he would be again .

  Marching through the front lobby, I heard Kelly say in a soft voice to Giselle, “Nash owns this building, doesn’t he ?”

  “From what I understand.” She nodded .

  When we came to a stop at the elevators, I knew that this wasn’t going to go over well. Alex was going to be pissed, and the raw ache in my stomach from feeling like I was betraying a friend left my nerves frayed .

  Kelly narrowed his gaze and eyed me. He didn’t have to say anything because the look alone told me everything he was thinking. But I wasn’t going to purposely mislead them. My games were over. The ball was in Alex’s court now .

  Tapping my toes, I pressed the up button again. Shortly after, the metal doors slid open and we stepped into the empty car. The moment we started traveling up to the 12th floor, the walls began closing in on me. As if feeling my jitters, Kelly moved his hand to the small of my back .

  Closing my eyes, relief swept over my body and relaxed my shoulders .

  “Kendra, remember what you said .”

  I arched a brow at him .

  “That, if anything, you’re here to distract Alex .”

  Dropping my chin to my chest, I nodded .

  “Leave the heavy hitting for us .”

  A deep calming breath did little to relieve my anxiety as the seconds ticked away like hours. It seemed to take forever to reach Alex’s floor. But once we did, my mind went blank before I found myself knocking on her door .

  We all held our breaths as we waited, then the door opened .

  Alex’s round eyes drifted to both Kelly and Giselle before landing on me. “I suppose there’s no use in pretending we don’t know why you’re all here,” she said .

  “We would like to speak with Nash, if he’s home.” Giselle stepped forward .

  Dropping her gaze, Alex nodded and opened the door all the way. “C’mon on in. He’s in the kitchen .”

  I stepped to the side and let Kelly fol
low Giselle through the threshold. Then I embraced Alex. “Why didn’t you leave ?”

  She shrugged. “Nash didn’t want to .”

  We held hands as we looked into each other’s eyes. I felt bad that it had come to this. But there was no turning back now .

  “C’mon, let’s go be there for Nash,” I said .

  Alex kept her arm linked with mine as we made our way inside, finding everyone waiting in the kitchen. Not a second passed before Nash’s gaze landed on me. “Good to see you, Kendra .”

  “Hey, Nash .”

  He skirted the counter and took my arms in his hands as he leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Thanks for the warning,” he whispered quietly in my ear so no one else could hear .

  Casting my gaze to my feet, I nodded once .

  Kelly’s loud clapping made me turn my attention to him. “Nash, would you prefer if we talked in the living room ?”

  Nash held out his hand. “No better place than there.” He smiled .

  Alex shuffled her way over to me and together we watched the three of them make their way to the living room. Giselle took a seat on the chair while Kelly sauntered over to the big bay windows with his hands stuffed inside his pant pockets .

  “Tell me the truth, Kendra.” Alex leaned her shoulder into mine. “Should I be worried ?”

  Swallowing down the lump forming in my throat, I stared at Kelly with eyes round as coins, not knowing how to respond. “Honestly, I don’t know,” I whispered .

  Alex’s grip tightened on my arm and I felt her muscles go stiff .

  Giselle opened Maria Greer’s folder and my heart thumped hard in my chest .

  “Do you recognize this woman ?”

  Nash barely looked at the image Giselle slid toward him on the coffee table .

  “Are you asking because you don’t know, or because you want me to confirm what you already know ?”

  Kelly pivoted on his heel and turned to face Nash. “Your cooperation will speed up the process. I suggest you make this easy on all of us .”

  Nash glared at Kelly before fixing his gaze back on Giselle. “I know her. Or, shall I say, knew her. We had a history .”