That sounded perfect to Chaz.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“What do you mean you just finished packing?” Chaz was confused by his wife’s words.
“I didn’t tell you yesterday because you had so much on your mind already.” Stephanie snapped shut the lid on the container of homemade spaghetti sauce and set it in the freezer while she talked. First, she told her husband about the offer to work on this important case and the travel itinerary. Then, she speculated about the relationship between her boss and the ex-husband client who was forcing a face-to-face meeting, combined with the fact that Cherise had carefully selected the most non-threatening employee to assist her. Finally, Stephanie explained that she had come to that conclusion because she’d been able to read her boss’ auras and knew what she was seeing.
“What? Wait. You actually saw colors this time?” Chaz’s voice was filled with excitement.
“Yes!” Stephanie laughed. “I was so excited that I could hardly sit still the rest of the day.”
“That’s incredible, sweetheart! You can see auras, dream about people other than me, and sense moods. This isn’t a strong enough word, but I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you.” She sat at the counter, lifted a tangerine from the fruit bowl, and began peeling it. “But I didn’t have any dreams about that guy you sent me a picture of.” Chaz didn’t comment. “Something is wrong, isn’t it?” she asked softly.
“I think we’ve figured out most of our problems, so everything is on track. And, don’t worry about that guy. We found irrefutable information on him; he’s not on the team any longer.”
“Okay.”
“Baby, I’m sorry to cut this call short, but I’m a little more tired than normal. I haven’t been getting much sleep.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s probably not realistic for us to think we can talk every day while you’re on assignment. You should be focused on your job, and I don’t want to be a distraction.”
Chaz laughed softly. “It’s too late for that, baby. You’re my permanent distraction and there’s no way I’ll ever get you out of my head. I don’t even want to try.”
“That’s sweet.” There was a long pause. “I’ll text you my hotel information as soon as we check in. In the meantime, get some rest and stay safe.”
“Always. You might kick my butt if I don’t.”
“That’s right!” Stephanie failed miserably at trying to sound stern. Even she had to laugh at the effort. “All right. Enough of that. Good night, Chaz. I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart.”
Chaz squeezed the bridge of his nose and leaned his head back against the headrest. He dreaded going back inside since there was little to do other than stare at computer screens with almost no movement. Earlier in the day, when he’d been trying to piece together inconsistencies in the case, his adrenalin had been high. Now that the sun had gone down, he was running out of steam.
He needed sleep. Even though it was relatively early, Chaz told Sydney that he was calling it a night and headed up to the loft. But, as tired as he was, he couldn’t totally relax. Half an hour later, his brain was still going over everything he knew about this case.
Officer Austin had been undercover for nearly two years as someone from North Carolina who set up a brothel there and was looking to relocate. The FBI had been called in once it became obvious that the project was going to warrant Damien Granger’s personal attention. Officer Chris Jenkins, supposedly Austin’s younger brother, joined the undercover operation six months ago when Austin was asked to find someone to install the electronic security system and set up the surveillance room. They had been feeding reports to the Kentucky State Police who was floating them up to the FBI for analysis against people known to be involved in organized crime. So far, at least 12 people had been identified and cases were being built against them. All that was left to do was observe the brothel for one week in order to establish the pattern of operation and the exchange of monies for illegal services. Then, Chaz and the other FBI agents could go home and deal with the follow-up paperwork. A whole slew of charges accompanied their objectives.
As Chaz and Steve Watkins believed, inconsistencies are almost never insignificant. Someone was altering the reports sent to the FBI. While Roy speculated that the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigation was behind that issue, there was no evidence. Chaz only knew that the Department had kept its involvement secret from both agencies conducting the undercover operation—but some unknown person was feeding it information. No one knew what Brian Pleasant had been doing, for how long, or who he worked for. No one knew for certain why the security cameras failed.
Chaz was confident in the reliability and honesty of his team, now. He knew they would be able to complete the mission of taking down the prostitution ring. He believed the electronic evidence against Damien Granger would make a significant contribution to the larger case against him. And he was fairly certain that Granger had authentic feelings for Special Agent Vanessa Long and that she would be safe.
No one knew why Paul Watkins was so far south of his normal territory or who might be reporting information to him. It was obvious that someone knew enough details about what Granger was trying to accomplish to get Watkins interested enough in a hostile takeover—someone who didn’t mind selling their soul to the devil, because that’s exactly what Chaz thought of Watkins.
Chaz also needed to figure out whether he had deciphered Stephanie’s impressions correctly. The warning about Steve needing to quit the case for medical reasons. The certainty that the operation would fail if Chaz didn’t take it—primarily because the inconsistent reports were significant in some way. Confirmation that Granger and Watkins had never been working together and that Granger is very protective of this project. Confirmation that Austin is an honest cop.
After cycling those details around in his head, Chaz knew what he needed to do. Finally, he rolled over and fell asleep.
CHAPTER 9
Stephanie tried to contain her smile. Cherise was nervously tapping an index finger on her thigh. Some people might have thought she was nervous about flying, but not Stephanie. For starters, the tapping that had begun as soon as they were dropped off at the airport, continued as a town car sped them toward their hotel after they’d landed. She believed her boss was anxious about seeing her ex-husband.
“Have you ever been to Atlanta?” Cherise asked as the elevator carried them to the 24th floor of the Hilton downtown. She didn’t wait for an answer. “There’s a lot to do here; unfortunately, we won’t have time for any of it. Derrick wants to meet us for dinner. He loves Nikolai’s Roof and always insists we eat there whenever I’m in town. It’s upstairs and is a very, very nice restaurant. Of course, I don’t object since he pays for everything.” She handed Stephanie a key card as they stepped off the elevator. “My room is next to yours. I’m going to spend the next hour or so going over the figures to make sure I’m ready for tomorrow. He’s going to give me a hard time, as always. Even though I’ll answer the more complex issues, you might want to look at the packet I gave you, in case he asks you any details.” She paused and gave Stephanie a sincere smile. “Thank you for agreeing to come on such short notice.”
“You’re welcome.” She returned the smile and hoped it calmed her boss at least a little.
On the non-stop flight from Cincinnati, Stephanie had learned a lot about the woman she worked for. She and her husband had met while attending college in Atlanta and decided to stay after graduation since the city ranks as the best for African American professionals. He immediately jumped into his career as a lawyer, and she took a job at an investments company. When he moved into Entertainment Law, they had the perfect partnership—he protected his clients and she helped protect their money. They were young, successful, and happy. And then, they weren’t.
Cherise admitted that she didn’t really know why her marriage ended. They never argued. There was no infidelity. She had simply wo
ken up one morning and realized that they were each too consumed with their careers to have much room in their lives for each other. Neither of them could see a reason to stay together, so they didn’t. Being a Cincinnati native, she returned home to her family and opened Renito Investments Solutions.
“He invests his money with me because I’m good at what I do, but I’m not naïve enough to think there aren’t larger firms trying to get his business,” she had explained. “They tell him about companies he should get involved with, real estate he should buy, stocks he should let them manage—and every year, he calls me to come down to check them out. My husband—ex-husband—has made a lot of money over the years, and I’ve helped him triple it. He is our biggest client. Derrick says he would prefer for someone else in my company to handle his case, but that’s not true. If he didn’t want me, he’d take his money someplace else. This is just a game we seem to have fallen into playing.” She shrugged, leaned her head against the seat, and closed her eyes for the rest of the relatively short flight.
Stephanie heard everything her boss was not saying aloud. Two very logical people forgot that love doesn’t always make sense and walked away from their marriage. But, they didn’t really go far. They use the money made from the very careers that drove them apart as a way to stay connected. Now, as Stephanie stretched out on her back across the hotel bed, she wondered how long Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were going to pretend that they weren’t empty without each other.
She thought about her marriage and wondered whether she and Chaz would ever forget how to be in love. She couldn’t imagine that happening; they craved each other too much. With a smile on her face, she turned on her phone and sent her husband a very naughty text message. Then, she pulled out the financial portfolio and looked at the recommendations Cherise would make tomorrow.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A few hours later, right after they had arrived at the restaurant, Stephanie had a déjà vu moment. It occurred when Derrick Nelson pushed the chair in for his wife—ex-wife—and the two of them had smiled fondly at each other. She wondered whether either of them saw the regret and the longing in that brief look.
Stephanie smiled that, in addition to reading their expressions, she could read their auras. They were the same: blue, pink, a little bit of brown. Strength and unconditional love, but also uncertainty and insecurity. Instantly, she understood them. They were so much alike that they hadn’t known how to balance each other.
Surprisingly, the dinner conversation did not revolve around business. The trio discussed food and wine and traveling. Cherise and Derrick caught up on details of what was going on with their families and friends and dragged Stephanie into the discussion with anecdotes, questions about her family, and casual laughter. She hadn’t expected this atmosphere at all.
“The two of you get along so well,” she commented. “It’s nice that you’re so friendly.”
Cherise gave a slight nod and looked down at the finger that started tapping beside her water goblet. She pulled her hand off the table to rest in her lap.
“Well, I hope we’ll always be that,” Derrick said softly. His gaze moved from his ex-wife’s face to the spot on the table where her hand had been. Obviously, he knew her nervous habit. “But, I’m sure you’ll have a different impression of us tomorrow,” he said with a chuckle, turning his attention to Stephanie. “When money is involved, we’re all business—tough and demanding.”
“I don’t think so,” Stephanie disagreed cautiously while looking directly at him. “Friendship that lasts for years never really gets pushed away. It simply takes a back seat and people don’t realize it’s still strong. Like any emotion, just because it’s quiet for a while, that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. When it’s real, it tempers everything that we do.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Stephanie feared that she had crossed a line by being too personal with her employer and client. But then, Cherise looked at her with a curious expression that turned to gratitude. Derrick had a similar expression on his face. It was another déjà vu moment.
Stephanie tried not to smile as she took a long drink of water. Thankfully, the waiter appeared to offer dessert and coffee menus; there wasn’t enough time for the silence to become awkward.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to pass on dessert,” Stephanie said after checking her watch and realizing that it was after 9:00. “I need to make a call before it gets much later.”
“No problem.” Derrick stood as Stephanie rose. “I’m sending a car for you at 7:30. So, I guess I’ll see you in the morning.” He gave her a pleasant smile.
“Why so early?” Cherise protested.
“Our first appointment is at 8:30—I know what you’re going to say, but that was the only time Grant could squeeze us in.”
“I’ll be ready,” Stephanie assured them. “Thank you for a wonderful meal.”
“You’re very welcome.”
As she had hoped, Cherise didn’t prepare to leave. Maybe the couple would share some chocolate soufflé, coffee, and an honest conversation about their feelings. It was obvious to Stephanie that they still loved and respected each other. Now that they had proven themselves in their careers, maybe they could get back something they probably never should have let go of in the first place. But then, who was she to say what should have happened. Each person has their own destiny.
Life works out like it’s supposed to. She sighed and typed a message to her husband as she stepped into the elevator.
Stephanie: I just had a wonderful dinner with a couple who don’t want to admit they’re still in love. So … I want to remind you that you’re my life, Chaz. I’m not whole without you.
She didn’t have to wait long for a reply.
Chaz: I needed to hear that. You know I feel the same.
Stephanie: J Goodnight
Chaz: Wait! What are you wearing?
Stephanie: Seriously???? Goodnight Chaz!
Chaz: If all goes well, I’ll be home in seven days. You owe me.
Stephanie: Actually, you owe me and I’ll be waiting. Remember what I said about the mud room.
Stephanie thought she could hear his frustrated growl from hundreds of miles away. She laughed, set the alarm, and set her phone on the nightstand. After taking off her dress and matching tailored jacket, she pulled one of her husband’s FBI t-shirts over her head and took a deep breath as the fabric slid past her nose. It didn’t smell like Chaz, but that was okay. Wearing it still made her feel close to him.
Today had been a good day. She felt confident about her gifts and was firmly grounded. The déjà vu and seeing auras reminded her that her life was on the right path. But she wasn’t taking any chances; anything could happen during the night.
She pulled her small hot pot out of her carry-on bag, filled it with water, and plugged it in. A few minutes later, she was sitting crossed-legged on the bed, holding a mug of tea, and inhaling the aromas. Meditating had become her nightly routine. Being in hotel room wasn’t going to prevent it.
Something told her that Chaz would need her. She wanted to be relaxed and ready.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Chaz put his phone in his pocket and turned his attention back to the computer monitors. Everything was as it had been on Saturday at the jazz club. Vanessa and the ladies occupied tables at the rear of the room. Gentlemen presented gold coins and escorted their “dates” to the dance floor before heading for the elevator. Security was still heavy. Austin still watched over the room from his position at the end of the bar.
Less than an hour later, Granger entered the room. Vanessa immediately whispered something to the woman who had been seated beside her and moved to join him at the door. Together, they walked to the VIP area where they’d entertained Paul Watkins. Drinks were brought over and the couple relaxed.
Other than noticing that the club was nearly full—interesting for a Monday evening—there wasn’t much to hold Chaz’s attention. He and Sydney made idle conversation, joking and creating
stories about the people who floated in and out of the club. All of that came to a halt around midnight when his phone signaled that a new text message had arrived.
Stephanie: Dream
Chaz sighed and excused himself. Once upstairs, he called his wife.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey, Chaz. I think you have trouble coming. Is your undercover officer wearing a gray suit with a pale blue shirt?” Chaz thought about Austin sitting at the bar before saying that he wasn’t.
“Okay, then maybe this won’t happen today. Anyway, I saw three hefty men arrive and they were prevented from entering the main room where the band plays by a couple of other hefty men. There wasn’t a loud altercation, but something caught your guy’s attention. By the time he made his way across the room, there was a bit of a standoff between all of the men. Another man—remember the one I saw coming out of the back room with the pretty black woman and Paul Watkins?—he came from one of the seating areas to find out what was going on. Your guy stood behind him with another man. Even though there weren’t any guns visible, I think everyone was armed. Those two men that I saw arriving said something to the man who seems to be in charge. People immediately stepped forward and the men backed away, smiling. I guess they only had to deliver a message, but I don’t know what it was. Everyone went back to whatever they had been doing and wherever they had been sitting, but the mood from all of them became very tense. That’s how the dream ended.” She took a deep breath before continuing.
“Don’t ask me why, but it didn’t seem like that man was in any danger. Still, he was so angry that he was ready to explode. My impression is that they threatened someone else. Maybe the woman he’s with? I don’t know, but that’s the way it feels. He was very protective, like you were that day you turned down the promotion and Sylvia decided your decision was because of my manipulations.”
Loving Night: Dream Catcher Series ~ Book 2 Page 10