by Tee O'Fallon
“As I told you yesterday,” Alex went on, “my son has been diagnosed with a variant of leukemia, one very resistant to traditional treatments. There is, however, a doctor here in New York City, who outlined a treatment for Nicky that seems to be helping, but it’s experimental and investigational in nature. Medical insurance carriers only pay for treatments that are generally accepted by the medical community. There is no carrier out there that will cover all the costs associated with clinical studies for an experimental treatment. Even New York City assistance programs have their financial limitations.”
“I’ve heard,” Agent Tanner chimed in, “some medical treatments not approved of here in the U.S. are offered totally free elsewhere, such as in Switzerland.”
Alex let out a bitter laugh. “Maybe you’re wealthy enough to fly to Switzerland every month and put yourself up in a hotel for a week at a time while your child goes through treatment and recovery, but I’m not. Making rent is hard enough as it is.”
Shit. Annoyance at his own blindness had Gray feeling more like an insensitive dick by the minute. He really had no idea Alex’s financial situation was so dire, and he’d worked in the same office with her every day for the last ten months. The Pyramid, an organization of international assassins, knew more about her than he did.
Alex took a deep breath, the only outward sign of the immense pressure she was under. “While I do want to make good on my mistakes, I also want something in return besides a get-out-of-jail-free card.”
“Staying out of jail is more than most people in your position get,” Agent Wilson said.
“Perhaps, but are most people the only viable contact you have with a group of international assassins whose veil of secrecy you’ve been unable to crack?” Alex paused for her comment to take effect. “I know as well as the rest of you that the NYPD seizes hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit drug money every year, and some of that money is used to pay informants. I want enough money to pay for Nicky’s treatments for the next twelve months.”
“What happens after twelve months?” Gray asked.
“Nicky’s doctor is in Phase Four of his clinical trials and hopes to have this treatment approved by the medical community by next year. If that happens, all the associated costs would then be covered by my medical insurance.” Frown lines appeared on her otherwise smooth forehead. “If I still have a job,” she whispered, dragging a hand down her face.
“You’ve obviously given this a great deal of consideration.” Gray narrowed his eyes at Alex. His Scandinavian princess had more balls than most cops did.
His Scandinavian princess?
Idiot. She isn’t your anything.
From the corner of his eye, Gray again caught Dom grinning, something he had half a mind to do himself. This Alex was a force to be reckoned with. Damn but she was giving as compelling an argument as any high-priced New York City lawyer could.
He glanced to Lt. Frye, who sat silently. Gray waited for the signal, Lt. Frye’s nearly imperceptible nod that would give Gray the green light to acquiesce to Alex’s demands.
“How much money does each of Nicky’s treatments cost?” Gray asked.
“About four thousand dollars, when everything is said and done.”
Agent Wilson sucked in a breath. Agent Tanner let out a soft whistle.
Gray could hardly believe the exorbitant amount. “How often does Nicky need these treatments?”
“Every month,” Alex said firmly. “His next treatment isn’t due for another three weeks.”
Gray shook his head, wondering how Alex could pay any bills with that kind of cash going out of her account. He suspected she would never have accepted money from him outright, but he could have made her a loan or put her in for extra performance awards. He would have found some way to help, but she’d made it clear last night she didn’t want his assistance. Not that he could blame her. He hadn’t spoken much to her in the last week. Dating a woman he couldn’t trust was so not gonna happen. From this point forward, she was the proverbial forbidden fruit.
Although he was the lead investigator on this case, even a detective first class didn’t have the clout to authorize that much money in cooperator funds. Again, Gray looked to Lt. Frye, who nodded once.
“It’s a deal.” Gray handed Alex a pen for her to sign the cooperator agreement.
“I want it in writing.” She shoved the document across the table to him.
This time, Gray couldn’t stop from smiling. This pretty blond had all but manipulated the NYPD into paying her forty-eight thousand dollars.
Gray began scribbling the details of Alex’s demands in the margin on the last page.
“I want this witnessed by two other officers,” Alex added, “including Lt. Frye.”
“You missed your calling.” The lieutenant smiled as Gray passed him Alex’s agreement to initial. “You should have been an attorney.”
Dom chuckled, as did the other men in the room.
“Two more things,” Alex added. “As a sign of good faith, I want you to specifically note that I requested this money be paid directly to Nicky’s doctor immediately after each treatment. I’ll forward the bills as soon as I receive them. I wouldn’t want anyone to think I used the money to buy a brand-new Porsche or a chalet in the Swiss Alps.”
Holding back another smile, Gray made the requested notation and handed the document first to Dom to initial as the second witness, then back to Alex for her signature. While Alex signed on the bottom of the second page, he cursed fate like there was no tomorrow.
Alex Romano, aka Aileen Alexanderson, was a helluva courageous woman, one who would do anything to protect her child. Something Gray couldn’t help but admire. Yet much as he’d once wanted her, she was a police cooperator—a woman he could never let into his personal life. He’d sooner chew on a bullet than break that cardinal rule.
“And the last thing?” Gray narrowed his eyes.
“Naturally, I want a copy of this document.”
“Of course, you do.” Gray laughed bitterly.
Alex was now officially an NYPD cooperator and someone who would undoubtedly be fired when she was no longer of any use to the department. Even if she did stay out of jail, she could still wind up with a criminal record.
“For the moment,” he said to Alex, “the plan is simple. If you get a text from the Pyramid, save the text and call me right away, no matter what time it is. If you get a call from the Pyramid, you record it.”
Gray stood and went to the end of the table. He opened up the small, black plastic case and pulled out a set of wires and a digital recorder. “I’ll show you how it works. Give me your phone.”
Alex brought him her phone and stood near him but not too close, he noticed. Warm drafts from the heating system wafted her delicate, flowery perfume to his nose. She smelled good. Really good. And the way she filled out that snug black suit made him want to run his hands up and down her hips, tracing her soft curves.
“We’re outta here.” Agent Tanner and Agent Wilson rose and headed for the door. “Let us know when they make contact. The FBI is happy to provide manpower for any surveillance you need for the meet.”
“Same goes for HSI.” Agent Geer followed the other agents out the door.
“I gotta roll out, too.” Without looking at Gray, Dom stood and shoved his pad under his arm.
“Got something going?” Gray asked.
“Nah, nothing. Just a quick meeting uptown.”
“Want me to go with?” He knew Dom would decline in his typically cryptic way.
“Not worth your time, partner, and you’ve definitely got your hands full.” Dom bolted out the door.
Nothing, huh? Bullshit.
This was the second such mysterious meeting Dom had disappeared for in the last month. Gray had a feeling he was being left in the dark about something important. Partners didn’t keep secrets from each other, and he damn sure wasn’t about to let Dom start. As soon as this op was over, he’d confront h
is partner and choke it out of him if he had to.
“Alex, do you want me to stay?” Lt. Frye shrugged into his jacket, clearly sending a message that he had better things to do.
She shook her head. “No, sir. But thank you.”
Lt. Frye closed the door behind him, leaving them alone in the large conference room. Gray took the phone from Alex, doing his damnedest not to touch her. Her nearness was frying his brain cells as it was. He jumped right into explaining how to operate the technical equipment, though every nerve in his body stood on high alert.
“This plug goes into the bottom of your phone.” Gray inserted the plug and held up the earpiece on the other end of the wire. “The earpiece containing the microphone goes in your ear. Leave it set up like this and you’ll be ready to go. As soon as you get a call from a number you don’t recognize, assume it’s the Pyramid and start the recorder by pushing the record button. If it turns out not to be them, you can erase the recording. I’m signing this equipment out to you so that you can have it with you at all times. The call could come in at two in the morning. If it does, record it then call me right away. No matter what time it is.”
Gray programmed his cell phone number into Alex’s contact list. “Got it?”
“I think so.” Alex exhaled a shaky breath.
“You’ll do fine.” Without thinking, Gray rested his hand on her shoulder. He jerked his hand away and yanked his cell phone from his belt. After putting a good three feet between them, he dialed her number. “We’ll do a practice run. Pretend I’m the Pyramid and start the recorder.”
A second later Alex’s phone rang. She picked it up, placed the foam-covered earbud into her ear, and pushed the record button on the digital recorder. Next, she answered Gray’s call. “Hello?”
“Good job. You’re a natural.” Despite the simplicity of the equipment, most cooperators were nervous their first time and had to go through the routine at least twice to get it right.
“Is this really going to work?” She still held the phone to her ear.
“It’ll work if you keep your cool. When they do call you, remember not to be too eager. Get as many details as you can. Who, what, where, and when. Keep them talking for as long as possible. Even professionals make mistakes. They might drop useful information without realizing it.”
Alex held his gaze a moment longer before ending the call, and that’s when Gray saw it. Her shaking hands. The courageous woman, who not moments ago dictated her demands to the NYPD, was afraid. She should be. In the bad-guy league, the Pyramid was as bad as it got, and this was one deadly ballgame. If he did nothing else, he would get Alex out of the predicament she was in, then say good-bye.
Gray unplugged the ear wire cord from Alex’s phone and hit the play button on the recorder so she could hear confirmation for herself that the equipment worked. As he replayed their brief conversation, she tugged the earbud from her ear. Her knuckles were white where she gripped the tiny device.
“The next piece of equipment you need to be familiar with is the locator transmitter.” Gray unlocked the larger silver case on the table. Inside were a monitor, a GPS-type gadget pre-programmed with city maps, and a small plastic case containing the locator. “You’ll wear this.” He plucked the button-sized locator from the smaller case. “It uses a tiny watch-size battery. As soon as we turn on the system, this device will go active and transmit your location to this monitor.”
“Who will be watching the monitor?”
“I will.” He wouldn’t trust Alex to anyone else.
She nodded. “Can we do a practice run with this, too?”
Gray gripped the locator’s plastic case tightly. Not a chance in hell. That would involve Alex unbuttoning her blouse in order to clip the locator behind the front of her bra. As awkward as it was, he had to ask. “Uh, do you have a front closure bra to wear the day of the meet?” When her body stiffened, he added, “With the device’s weak signal, the higher up on a person’s body it’s located the better the chances of picking up a signal, particularly with all the expected interference from tall buildings. Front closure bras are perfect, since the clasp neatly conceals the locator.”
“Installed many of these on women, have you, detective?” Alex grinned, bringing much-needed color back to her pale cheeks.
“Very funny.” Not. Just talking about having his hands anywhere near Alex’s breasts was enough to give him a hard-on. “I’ll arrange for a policewoman to do a test run with you the day of the drop.”
“I want to do it now,” Alex insisted. “I don’t want to leave anything to the last minute. Please, can we just get this over with? I’m nervous enough as it is.”
Without waiting for an answer, Alex began unbuttoning her snug black jacket, popping open button after button. Then she began unbuttoning her blouse, revealing the sexiest, laciest, white, front-clasp bra Gray had ever seen. His mouth went dry at the sight of her full breasts mounding above the edges of lace.
Shit. This is a bad, bad idea.
Damn his legs for not connecting with the part of his brain telling him to walk away. And for that other part of him that was beginning to harden painfully.
After taking a deep breath, Gray grasped the locator between his thumb and forefinger then began to clip it directly behind the clasp of Alex’s bra. His hands were so large it was impossible for them not to brush against the smooth, curvaceous mounds of flesh. Her heart beat out a steady, accelerated thumping beneath his fingers. As he clipped the device in place, he raised his eyes to hers. Invisible electricity surged between them as brightly as a muzzle flash.
He lowered his hands to prevent them from doing something stupid, like reaching out to cup the luscious globes of her perfect breasts. He cleared his throat and turned on the monitor. “See?” He pointed to where a small red dot blinked steadily on the screen between Park Row and Pearl and Madison streets. “This is you.”
Alex leaned over the case, her shirt still open. “That’s really me?” As she pointed to the monitor, her right breast plumped higher above the lacy bra’s cup.
“Yes.” Gray cleared his throat. “Take it off. The locator, I mean. We’re done for the day.”
While she did as he ordered, then re-buttoned her blouse and jacket, he busied his hands by packing the equipment away, save for the digital cell phone recorder that he handed to Alex.
“What do I do now?” Her eyes met his.
For a moment, Gray said nothing. A dangerous battle waged between his brain and his heart. Take her in his arms and comfort her, or stand by his resolve to stay away from her. Wisdom won out.
“For now it’s business as usual. Do whatever work Lt. Frye assigns to you, but nothing more. Call me when you hear anything.”
Gray grabbed both cases and headed for the door. When he opened it, he made the mistake of looking back over his shoulder. A lone tear trickled down her pale, creamy skin. For a moment he froze, then a healthy dose of reality kicked him in the ass and he continued out the door.
Goddammit. Goddammit to hell and back.
Chapter Nine
No sooner had the door to her apartment building slammed shut than Alex sagged with relief. Today had been a long, stressful day, and all she wanted was to get home and snuggle with Nicky in front of the TV.
Triumph surged through her as well. She’d held her ground and gotten what she wanted. Now she had enough funding for Nicky’s treatments for the next twelve months. Gray, however, was another story. She needed to get the man out of her head. Last night hadn’t helped. Today about sent her over the edge.
She knew he’d been staring at her breasts today, as well as last night. Alex had been freezing, standing in the open doorway wearing only her short, silk robe, but the minute Gray walked into her apartment, the temperature in the room seemed to soar. Her skin had gone from warm to hot in a heartbeat.
And why, oh why, did he have to be so kind to Nicky?
This alter ego of his had her confused as hell.
I
n an instant, he’d transformed from hard-nosed, badass cop to the heart-stoppingly gorgeous man who haunted her dreams. And when he’d smiled at her son—that big white smile she hadn’t seen directed her way in days—her heart skipped a beat. But it was his interaction with Nicky that had affected her the most. Gray was a natural with children, and he seemed to take a genuine interest in her little boy. And Nicky liked him. Really liked him.
Figures the man would be great with kids.
Being alone with him today was a constant, jagged reminder of something wonderful that she’d lost before it could begin.
She and Gray would be forced to work together, and she had to accept that in order to get past this and make the best of a horrible situation. When it was over, she would never see him again. Something she was beginning to think was for the best.
Detective Gray Yates would never understand what she’d done. And he was right. She hadn’t told him everything and hopefully would never have to. So what if the man could ignite fireworks in her blood just by looking at her? Every time he was near, her brain cells jumbled together until nothing made sense. She needed to distance herself from him, but when he looked at her with those entrancing silver-gray eyes… No, the best thing she could do for herself was to disconnect, to stop thinking of Gray Yates as a man and only as a police detective.
She walked up the stairs to the second floor and knocked on Mrs. Frattiani’s door to collect Nicky. A few minutes later, with her son’s hand tucked into hers, she and Nicky headed to their apartment.
“Mommy, why is my mitt on the floor?” He tugged out of her grasp.
“What?” Lost in thought, Alex now saw Nicky’s baseball mitt on the hallway floor in front of their apartment door.
Nicky ran down the hallway, intent on getting to his favorite possession. For a moment, Alex froze as she processed what Nicky said. Something wasn’t right. There was no reasonable explanation as to what the mitt was doing outside the apartment on the floor. When she and Nicky left for school that morning, the mitt was planted in the middle of Nicky’s bed, the same place he always left it.