Dance of Deception

by Trish Reeb

  Martindale’s gaze dropped to the fresh grave. "She had no idea she’d given me reason to get up in the morning." He glanced at Cole before returning his attention to the mound of dirt. "After my marriage broke up, I didn’t much care about anything. The ex swept up our daughter and fled to New York. Figured I’d go undercover for awhile, live someone else’s life."

  He shrugged and stuck his hands in the pockets of his baggy pants. "I asked for the most dangerous gigs, thrived on taking unnecessary chances." He kicked at the loose dirt, smoothed it over with a suede shoe. "I barely made it out alive on my last assignment. Boss decided to go easy on me. Sent me to Lincoln."

  Martindale raised his eyes to Cole's. "I met Taryn when she asked me to help with a student being harassed by a couple of hard asses. Didn't take long to realize the kids adored her, attracted to her like a money tree. Duty called. Thought she might be the key to my case. I needed to get close to find out."

  He stared off in the distance. After three beats, he continued. "Hadn’t counted on falling for her. Seeing her in the halls didn't cut it. I wanted more." He peeled off his tweed jacket and draped it over his arm. "Against my better judgment, to say nothing of the rules, the time we spent together transmuted from professional to personal. By then, I realized she could no more hurt the kids than give up her first born."

  Martindale’s face hardened. "I couldn’t tell her my true identity without breaching my cover. I was a lie. I had no right to ask for anything. Only my feelings were real." A vein throbbed at his temple. "She interpreted my evasiveness about the past, present, and future as reason not to trust me. Can’t say I blamed her." Martindale surveyed the sky and eyed Cole. "Because of me, she put her faith in the wrong hands. And died."

  Cole had listened without interrupting and waited for more. But Martindale had said his piece. Though his words had been delivered quietly, with little emotion, they manifested a tidal wave of grief, triggering Cole’s own pain. The pain he strove daily to keep in check. Martindale blamed himself for Taryn’s murder. Under the circumstances, Cole understood. Nothing he said would reverse that but he wanted to try anyway. "It’s not your fault, man." His words dropped with the thud of a bowling ball and rolled away.

  "Sorry for the bedtime story. Don't know what got into me," Martindale said, smiling sadly. "How’d you recognize me?"

  "I’m a good detective." Cole attempted a grin but the muscles in his face didn't step up to the task. "Honestly, the disguise threw me for a sec but, man, you can’t hide the pain."

  "Better stay clear of Alex," Martindale said.

  "Heading back to the Motor City?"

  He nodded. "Call me when you get in. I'll know something by then."

  Cole rejoined Alex.

  "Who's that? I noticed him earlier at the church."

  "Taryn’s godfather," Cole said, the lie sliding easily off his tongue. "We’re alone now so tell me how you’re really doing."

  Alex stared at her shoes. "I-I’m all right, I guess."

  "I want you to know, if you need to talk . . . ." Yeah, when hell freezes over. A doer not a talker—unless trying to talk her way out of something—Alex would not take him up on his offer.

  "I’m okay," she said.

  "It’s not good to bottle up your emotions. One of these days, the cork’s going to blow."

  "I’m okay," she said again, vehemently.

  "Me thinks thee protests too much."

  "Mind thee own business," she said, mimicking his tone. "So what’s new in the case?"

  He dipped his face to her level. "Ditto."

  "Oh, come on. Without me, where would you be?"

  Right of course, but he'd never admit it. Maybe if he offered her a tidbit to mollify. "I’m close to understanding how McGerald River owned a couch worth more than the national debt."

  "I knew it. Drug money."

  How’d she reach that conclusion? He rubbed his chin. It made sense after seeing Foxworth Apartments, he supposed. After all, she hadn’t seen what he had. He canvassed the area before staring down at her. "Look, even though you’re off the case, even though you didn’t listen before, I want, no, I need, you to stick to the ground rules now. Like glue!" He cupped her chin. "Case’s starting to gel and I don’t want you caught in the crossfire. It could get ugly." He dropped his hand.

  "Where does Martindale fit?"

  Not only did Cole not want to blow Martindale’s cover, he intended to keep people thinking of him as his number one suspect. "Behind bars where he belongs."

  "Cole, I’m not an idiot. Morgan was buried up to her armpits in this case and she's dead because someone wanted her silenced." Alex placed her hands on her hips. "Martindale had already been arrested when Morgan was killed. Either they worked together, and for someone else, or he’s innocent. I tend to believe the latter."

  Nothing wrong with her conclusion but how had she gotten there? "Why?"

  "Because I believe his feelings for Taryn were genuine. I don’t think he'd harm one hair on her head. Or let anyone else do it." She sent him her know-it-all look. "You arrested the wrong guy. You better look somewhere else or you’re going to blow this case."

  "You’re correct about one thing."

  "What?" She stared up at him.

  "You’re no idiot," Cole said.

  Alex raised her eyebrows and reduced the level of her voice. "So Martindale is innocent. You must be holding him for a reason. So the real culprits will let down their guard." Giving him a sly grin, she nodded her head. "Smart." A second later, she wagged a finger at him. "I still want to know what’s going on!"

  "Sorry. I can’t talk about the case."

  Alex imparted an exasperated sigh. "You mean you won’t." Her eyes brightened. "What if I had a bargaining chip?"

  What could she possibly have to barter? He stared at her, pondering the question. Oh, no, she didn’t. When it hit him, he wanted to clap on the handcuffs and haul her butt to jail. Shit, it would be just like her to pull a stunt like that. Why hadn’t it occurred to him before? Because he’d wanted to trust Alex, believe she’d learned her lesson, and been humbled by everything that had happened to her. He was the idiot for believing in the fairytales. "Where is she?" he asked.

  Her mouth dropped. "How’d you know?"

  "Alex, what the hell did you think you were doing?"

  "Saving Mercedes."

  Where is she? He wanted to shout, a knee jerk reaction he'd recently developed since meeting Alex. Scoping the cemetery, he said, "Never mind. I already know. She’s at your place. Are you nuts?"

  "I’m smarter than you think. She’s at Gino’s."

  "Your younger brother? What’s he going to do, protect her with his bookbag?" He could picture Mercedes ending up dead. "Tell me what happened."

  "I called her. Cole, she was so scared. She hadn’t heard anything more from you and had no idea when, or even if, you'd be back. I-I couldn’t leave her there at the mercy of some maniac."

  He cocked his head and delivered a skewed look.

  "All right, already. I told her to get dressed and I’d be there at the end of visiting hours. She could walk with my help. We rode the elevator to the ground floor and escaped through an alarm-wired door."

  Cole groaned.

  "Don’t worry. No one detained us. I think they planted that sign there to deter people."

  "It didn't work for you." He glared at her. "Sorry, forgot who I was talking to."

  "Tch." Alex shook her head. "I’d parked the car in a no-parking zone." She presented a triumphant look. "Got lucky again."

  "Girl, you’re certifiably insane. Someone could've followed you."

  "Hey, I’ve watched detective shows. I did everything I could think of to lose a tail."

  He wanted to spank and kiss her at the same time. "Have you talked to her since you left?"

  She nodded. "They’re fine. I slipped Gino your cell number in case of trouble. Of course, I had no idea you’d be coming to the funeral."

  "I need his
number."

  Alex pulled a pen and paper from her purse and wrote. "Why are you here?" She handed the information to him.

  "To keep an eye on you, what else? What’d Mercedes tell you?"

  Alex shook her head. "Too tired to talk. She slept all the way to Gino’s. After she settled in, I left." She smiled, apparently pleased with herself. "Now will you tell me what’s going on?"

  He shook his head. "This discussion is over. Can’t trust you, Alex. My goldfish obeys better than you."

  "You own a goldfish?" She laughed.

  Oh lord, help me. He snapped, "You kidnapped my number one witness. We’re talking federal offense."

  "Why don't you arrest me?"

  Cole knew better than to share his plan to place her under house arrest as soon as she deplaned in Detroit. He’d do it now if he could but he had no authority in Atlanta. Plus, he needed to get back. "Do I need to?"

  Alex shut her mouth, quiet for several seconds. "Are you staying for brunch?" she asked, her voice low and almost apologetic.

  Too bad. Contrite didn't quite work for him. Probably an act anyway. Cole scanned the grounds and spotted Jordan. "Hey, Whitfield, come over here for a sec, would you?" To Alex, he said, "I’ve got to get back."

  Jordan turned to Alex. "Didn’t get a chance before the service to say hello. You okay?"

  She nodded. "You?"

  They embraced.

  Cole looked away to allow them privacy and searched for McGerald River. He spotted his red head amongst a group of young people climbing into an SUV. Interesting he showed up. Obviously, the kid had no idea what they had on him. And perhaps Cole had more to learn yet.

  "Doesn’t seem real even now," Jordan said. "I keep expecting her to poke her head out from behind a tree and give us that devilish grin."

  They dropped their arms, their sad smiles mirroring each other.

  "Can you drive Alex and Sheila to the brunch and back to their hotel afterward? They rode with me and," Cole glanced at his watch, "I need to catch the next flight out."

  "By all means," Jordan said. "Anything I can do to help."

  *

  Cole hadn’t acknowledged her before he left. She should be used to it by now. They never seemed to be on the same page. Or even in the same book. She just tried to help, for Pete’s sake. Couldn’t he be at least a little bit appreciative? No, she only ticked him off. Alex didn’t care what he said, she had no intention of missing tonight’s Rave. Her adrenaline raced as she thought about going home and the unknown events awaiting her. She said to Jordan, "We’re on for tonight?"

  He nodded. "Why the change in Grant's plans? A break in the case?" He regarded her hopefully.

  "Come on, we’ll be late for the brunch," Sheila said, squeezing between Alex and Jordan. Saving Alex from having to come with an explanation, she hooked her arms into each of theirs and escorted them to the parking lot.

  CHAPTER 66

  Cole drove his Hummer out of the Metropolitan Airport parking structure and contacted Gino on his cell phone. Twenty-five minutes later, he rolled to a halt in front of a two story apartment building in Ann Arbor. He parked behind a Camero and headed up the walk. Seconds after knocking on the door, his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He carried on a brief conversation with Gino until a lanky young man with Alex’s green eyes and dark hair opened the door, a phone pressed to his ear.

  Closing his phone, he waved Cole in. "Sorry. Had to be sure," Gino said, shutting and locking the door before introducing himself and shaking hands. "Mercedes," he called, "Detective Grant is here."

  The girl, in jeans and red sweater, with sleeves covering all but the tips of her fingers, came around the corner. The purplish lid, less swollen now, still concealed half her eye. She tottered toward them.

  "Do you want me to stay?" Gino asked.

  "It's okay. Thanks." She smiled shyly.

  He nodded and disappeared down a hall.

  "How are you?" Cole asked.

  "Good, thanks to Ms. T."

  Yeah, my favorite new action hero.

  Mercedes led him into an atypically neat living room for college kids. Cole claimed a chair in the far corner to keep an eye on the front door. Part of a shirt sleeve peeked out from under the couch. He smiled to himself. Gino, doing the same thing Cole had in his bachelor days when unexpected company dropped by, had shoved the mess out of sight.

  Mercedes sat on the sofa, propping two throw pillows on the armrest behind her. Stretching her long legs across the cushions, she crossed the ankles of her stocking feet, the top foot jiggling.

  "I know this'll be hard, Mercedes, but it’s important you tell me everything. Try to relax and take your time."

  Her foot stopped shaking.

  "Why don’t you start from the beginning?"

  Mercedes folded her arms and stared at her lap.

  Cole leaned forward slightly.

  A minute later, she raised her eyes, hands going to her lap. Her eyes filled. "Jada and I figured it out," she gulped back a sob, "the night she died."

  Cole nodded.

  "Deshawn Bishop." Mercedes spit out the name, her face hard, hurt in her eyes. "I-I thought he liked me." Tears came to her eyes. "We started talking about a month ago."

  To teens, ‘talking’ implied a budding relationship. "What happened?" he asked gently.

  "He want to keep it QT. Said his ex-girlfriend be nasty and it’s for my own protection." She raised her voice slightly, "He lied."

  "No ex-girlfriend," Cole said.

  Mercedes shook her head. "Jada said we been played." She wiped a tear from her cheek.

  Cole cocked an eyebrow. "Deshawn talking to her, too?"

  She pulled her legs up and hugged them. "Naw, but the script the same."

  "So, two different boys said the same things."

  Mercedes nodded. "Like they be programmed or somethin’. Once we compare notes, it easy to figure out. Deshawn brung up E and how good it’d make me feel."

  "Ecstasy," Cole said.

  She nodded again. "Jada been to a Rave. But, she too smart for them soljahs."

  "Soldiers?"

  She shuddered. "Yeah, they follow him like he god."

  "Who?"

  A long pause. "Redd Dog."

  "What’d you mean by Jada being too smart?"

  "She just pretended to take E." Mercedes stared off into space. "She recognized a classmate carried off by two dudes." Her eyes on Cole, she said, "The girl never came back to school." Mercedes shrugged. "Everyone figure her for a run away. Had lot a drama at home. While her mom at work, stepfather abused her." More tears. "Jada tole Ms. Richards about it." She gulped. "Now they both gone."

  She sniffed.

  Cole searched the room for tissue. Mercedes wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her sweater. "Jada din’t overdose. She want to bring those guys down."

  Cole excused himself and found the bathroom. No tissue. He grabbed a handful of toilet paper. Returning, he handed the wad to Mercedes. While she wiped her eyes and blew her nose, he thought about what she’d said. Adding it to what he’d seen at Foxworth, one more link of the chain snapped into place. "Anyone ever see you talking to Deshawn?"

  Mercedes shook her head. "He never even look at me in school. Like we hadn’t even . . . ."

  "Had sex?" Cole asked.

  She nodded

  "Anyone else know about this?"

  She shifted, folding her legs. "Not that I know of. After Jada, I been too scared to tell anyone."

  "How’d you end up at Foxworth Apartments?" he asked softly.

  Mercedes swallowed. "Think they got suspicious when I quit taking Deshawn’s calls. Redd Dog, he send his soljahs to beat answers out me. I din’t say nothing. I couldn’t. Not after Jada." Tears welled in her eyes. "Must a pass out. I woke up in Morgan’s car. I think she save my life." Mercedes started to cry. "She died ‘cause of me," she said, sobbing.

  So many deaths and so many people feeling responsible for them. Everyone except the pit bulls perpet
rating them. "We believe Morgan was in on it and killed to prevent her from talking. You’re not to blame." He waited for Mercedes to stop crying and dry her face. "You sure the boys after you belonged to Redd Dog’s gang?"

  Mercedes shrugged. "Not for positive."

  "Did you see or hear anything at Foxworth that might be helpful?"

  Mercedes leaned her head against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes as if all her energy had drained away. Ordeals such as hers left a person feeling sapped for days, sometimes weeks, afterward.

  He let her rest. She’d filled in some of the gaps, like how the teens disappeared. Get ‘em high on E, feeling connected to, and trustful of everyone. An extra dose clipped their wings so they'd disappear before they could fly the coop. Sounded like Morgan targeted kids with problematic lives. When, or if, someone reported the teen missing everyone shook their heads thinking who could blame them for running away? But they’d made a fatal error in judgment when they targeted Jada, reading her wrong.

  Mercedes shifted her body, dropped her feet on the floor. "I overheard two girls whispering when they pass by the infirmary. One told the other she better obey or they’ll hurt her family."

  Threats. To maintain control. Kids still loved their abusive, neglectful, addicted parents. Especially, when they couldn't go home. If they had siblings, all the more reason to protect them.

  "Anything else?"

  She shook her head.

  "Mercedes, you’re a brave girl. Thank you for your help. An officer will be here shortly to transport you to another place."

  "Can I stay here with Gino?" she asked shyly.

  "It’s for your safety. And Gino’s, too."

  Her face fell.

  "When this is over—" Cole’s phone sounded. "Excuse me." He moved swiftly to the front door away from Mercedes' ears. "Martindale, what ya got?"

  He listened, his stomach pinching and the adrenaline rushing through his veins. "Well, fuck me," he said softly.

  CHAPTER 67

  Fifteen minutes before landing at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Alex slipped out of her seat and headed for the restroom. She freed the folded floppy hat from her purse. Bracing her hips against the sink in front of the mirror, she slapped the hat on her head, adjusting it a half dozen times. Finally satisfied, she smiled.