Still the Best Woman for the Job

by Sharon C. Cooper

  Silence greeted her.

  “Oh, so now you don’t have anything to say? You’ve called five times in the last hour, say something! Just tell me - why are you still calling?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know.” Craig’s deep baritone voice held a hint of irritation edged with steel.

  Toni stopped near the staircase and leaned against the wall. The last thing she needed was for Craig to get involved. Even with all the things she loved about him, he had his faults. Impatient, over protective, and at times possessive, but she knew, behind those faults, there was a good man who loved with all he had, hard and completely. Despite them no longer being together, she had no doubt he was still willing to fight her battles.

  “When did the phone calls start, Toni?”

  “Craig, let me handle this.”

  “I asked you a question,” he said, his voice hard and unwavering. “If this asshole is harassing you, I want to know.”

  “I can handle him.” She had already decided to get her cousin MJ to help teach Ronald a lesson if he didn’t cease the calls. MJ’s words alone could put fear in any man and would make him question whether or not he was really a man. “By the way, thank you for the flowers. They’re absolutely gorgeous.”

  “You’re welcome, but let’s get back to this Ronald dude.”

  “Craig,” Toni said exasperated that he wouldn’t drop the subject, “I don’t want you to get involved. You might do something you’ll regret.”

  “The only thing I’ve ever regretted is letting you walk out of my life.” Toni could picture him running his hand over his head, pacing the length of a room. “I doubt I’ll regret anything I do to this guy.”

  “Craig, just stay away from him. Let me handle this my way and if I need you, I’ll call you. Please, just stay away from him.”

  After a long silence he finally answered, “Fine, but that fool better hope I never run into him.”

  ***

  Craig tossed a paper coffee cup in the trash and sat back in his seat. Running his hand down his face and to his chin, he stroked the short hairs of his goatee. He couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation he’d had with Toni earlier. She would kill him if she knew he had pulled up everything he could find on Ronald Kent, looking for anything that could justify him hunting the guy down. As far as he was concerned, Ronald calling her nonstop was enough of a reason for Craig to pay him a visit, but he wouldn’t. He had promised Toni that he would let her handle the situation. One wrong move on Ronald’s part though, and all deals were off.

  “I’m quitting for real today.”

  Craig looked up and grinned. Floyd Hobson, his new partner as of six months ago, was as dedicated to his job as he was big and tall. Standing well over six feet and two hundred and fifty pounds, he didn’t mince words and his bark was just as bad as his bite. After Julien, Craig’s former partner was killed during a domestic violence call, Craig barely wanted to show up for work and definitely didn’t want another partner, but then Floyd arrived. He’d transferred to Craig’s precinct and they hit it off immediately.

  “You do realize you say that every two weeks don’t you?” He taunted Floyd.

  “This time I mean it.” He ran his hands through his short blond hair and then leaned on the desk facing Craig. “They just released Thomas James.”

  Craig’s mouth flew open. “What?” The word caught in the tightness of his throat and came out like a croak. He gripped the edge of the desk and took several breaths before speaking again. “The guy all but confessed, how in the hell could they let him go?”

  Floyd shrugged. “He got this big-time lawyer who says we didn’t have enough evidence to hold him.”

  Craig stood and pushed hard against the anger churning deep in his gut, his composure crumbling with every breath he took. They had worked this case for months, putting the pieces together to finally make an arrest and now they’re saying there wasn’t enough evidence?

  He shook his head. “No. This is not happening. I know he’s the one who attacked that woman and he practically confessed to killing those other two women in Hyde Park. I need to talk to the captain.” He jerked away from his desk and headed down the hall.

  Craig stormed into the office without knocking. “Captain, we cannot let Thomas James walk! We have evidence that ties him to two murders and Joyce Sanders identified him as the guy who attacked her.” Craig paced in front of the captain’s desk and stopped. “She told us he’s been showing up at her house, despite the restraining order.”

  The captain removed his glasses and laid them on top of the file he’d been going through before Craig barged into the office. “She recanted her statement,” he said. “We had to let him go.”

  Heat surged through Craig’s body as if he were standing near a roaring fire. He had worked his ass off on this case, not eating, losing sleep, and even put his badge on the line at times all in the name of solving the case.

  A bitter, bark of laughter gushed from the pit of his stomach and he glanced around, waiting for someone to jump out and say “gotcha.” There was no way this case could be falling apart with the evidence they had collected over the last few weeks. Thomas James was their guy and Craig would bet his life on that.

  The captain stood, walked around the desk and sat on the edge of it, his arms folded across his chest. “I was getting ready to call you in here.” He studied Craig for a long moment before saying, “You’re off the case, Logan. You’re too close to this one and taking the case way too personal.”

  “What?” Craig yelled. “Captain, how else am I supposed to act when this asshole has killed two defenseless women and is terrorizing another?”

  “There’s not enough evidence to link him to those two murders. All circumstantial.”

  Craig threw up his arms. “How can you pull me off when—”

  “You’re off the case!” the captain barked. “Now go home!”

  Craig clenched and unclenched his fists as he glared at the man who had mentored him throughout his career. He knew the captain was doing what he thought was best, but a rebellious rage surged through Craig’s veins at the thought of them letting a killer go free. He turned without saying another word and stalked out of the office.

  “I’ll catch you later,” Craig said to Floyd and snatched his jacket from the back of the chair not giving his partner an opportunity to ask him any questions.

  Craig slowed when he saw Thomas James leaving with his lawyer.

  “Attorney Andrews, may I speak to your client for a minute?” Craig asked.

  The lawyer looked from him to Thomas and then back at him after Thomas nodded a confirmation. Andrews stepped off to the side and pulled out his cell phone.

  “Officer Logan, so what you gon’ do now? Try to accuse me of yet another murder?” Thomas mocked.

  Craig hesitated, feeling the urge to punch him in the face, but he knew the act would get him suspended at best and definitely a lawsuit.

  “Craig, don’t do this,” Floyd said close to his ear. “He’s not worth it, man.”

  He hadn’t heard his partner approach, but assured him that everything was under control and he just wanted to talk with Thomas alone. Once Floyd walked away, Craig returned his attention to Thomas.

  “I actually came to congratulate you and to tell you to enjoy your freedom. We’re letting you walk this time.” Craig studied him for a moment, irritated by the cocky smirk on his face. “I don’t know when and I don’t know how, but I will prove that you’re a cold-blooded killer who gets his kicks off torturing women.” He started to step away, but stopped. “Oh and I’m sure I’ll see you back here soon.”

  Craig turned and walked away before he did something stupid while Thomas laughed as if he’d just finished watching a Kevin Hart comedy show. As long as he lived, Craig would never understand how someone could kill another human being and not feel a thing.

  He climbed into his Land Rover unsure of where he was going, but forty-five minutes later, he was pulli
ng up to Toni’s townhouse. Days like this he wanted to quit his job, buy a 100-foot yacht and get lost at sea.

  Craig stepped out of his truck and leaned against the driver’s side door. He gazed up at the sky. Dark, gloomy clouds loomed above and threatened to bring a storm, but Craig didn’t care. He was dealing with his own storm churning in his gut. He drew in a deep breath of the cool evening air and thought about Cynthia, his fiancée who was raped and killed by a gang member over four years ago. For years, he’d dedicated his life to ridding the city of men like Thomas James. Men who thought it was okay to hurt and terrorize women. Men who thought they were more of a man by beating on a woman and men who thought they could get away with it. An image of Toni flitted across his mind and his gaze fell on her front door. He would never forget the night she told him how she’d been raped walking home from a party while in college. Young, naive and defenseless, she endured what too many women suffer through on a daily basis and the violence had to stop.

  Craig rubbed his forehead and tried to shake loose the feeling of defeat. He couldn’t quit the force, but he didn’t know what else to do. You’re too close to this one. The captain’s words hit him full force. He was right. Craig had seen the victim, Joyce, and immediately visualized Cynthia and Toni. He had done everything that was humanly possible to put that animal away in order to keep him from hurting another woman … and they let him walk.

  “Craig?”

  Craig looked up to see Toni climbing out of her work van, the words Jenkins & Sons Construction painted boldly on the side panels. Still standing in the street next to his truck, his gaze raked over her as she approached. Skin the color of toasted caramel glistened with a light sheen while her compelling dark brown eyes studied him as he observed her. He didn’t miss the gentle sway of her hips encased in jeans that hugged her generous curves. As far as he was concerned, she was too damn fine to be a plumber. The black and white flannel button-down shirt that hung open revealing a dark T-shirt did nothing to hide the sexy ass body that he knew lie beneath.

  “What are you doing here? It’s not Friday yet,” she joked but sobered when she came closer to him. He wasn’t sure what she saw on his face, but he didn’t miss the sudden concern in her eyes. “What is it? What’s happened? Are you hurt?” Her hands were on his arms and then his chest as she looked him over.

  If Craig had any doubt of how she felt about him, those doubts were immediately dispelled by the way she fretted over him now.

  He grabbed the hand that rested on his chest and placed a kiss in her palm. “I’m okay,” he said allowing the words to roll off his tongue despite the pain in his heart.

  She studied him a second longer. “You don’t look okay.”

  The events of the past hour came rushing back and an intense desolation swept through his body. He wasn’t sure why he’d driven to her house, but for whatever reason, he had a sudden urge to leave, not wanting her to see him like this. He pushed away from the door and turned, prepared to climb into his truck and go back the way he came. “I shouldn’t have come.”

  She quickly stepped between him and his truck. “You’re here now.” She reached for his arm and tugged gently. “Come on. Come inside.”

  Chapter Five

  Toni was surprised to arrive home and find Craig standing in the street, leaning against his truck. At first glance, she thought something across the street had caught his attention, but upon closer inspection, she noticed the vacant look in his eyes. She hadn’t seen that haunted expression since the day of Julien’s funeral and she feared something was terribly wrong.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” She watched him as he strolled around her living room. When she moved out of his house, she moved in with Peyton for a few weeks then purchased the three-level townhouse. Craig hadn’t seen her place since the day he brought over a box that she‘d left at his house, and even then he’d left the box downstairs near the front door. “Are you hungry?”

  He shook his head. “No. I’m good, but thanks.”

  He stood across the room, staring aimlessly at the wall-to-wall fish tank. The soothing gurgle of the tank’s filter and the soft light bouncing off the sky-blue background always brought comfort to Toni whenever she was troubled. She hoped it had the same effect on Craig.

  He watched as the fish, big and small swam back and forth around the plastic plants, under the ornamental bridge and around the other props, stopping periodically to stare back at him. He hadn’t said much since walking in, but it was as if she could feel his pain seeping through his pores.

  “Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?” She asked once he took a seat on the sofa. She sat on the arm of the sofa facing him.

  Craig leaned forward, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. He released a noisy sigh and for a while she thought he wasn’t going to share what was troubling him, but then he spoke. “I got pulled off a case today.”

  She waited for him to continue, but when he didn’t she said, “And?”

  “And it’s a first. Captain said I was too close to this case, taking it too personal. It started because of a domestic violence call, but we had evidence that could link the boyfriend to two murder cases.” He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “Captain let him walk this afternoon claiming we didn’t have enough to justify holding him and I blew a gasket. I couldn’t believe they let him walk.”

  Toni didn’t know what to say. Craig took his job very seriously and anyone who knew him well knew that he had no tolerance for crimes against women. She still remembered his reaction when she told him about her rape. He was just as emotional as she was and she had no doubt that if he could have hunted the bastard down who had taken her innocence he would make him pay.

  Craig sat back against the sofa, his large hand rubbing her thigh, sending jolts of pleasure through her body.

  “When I was leaving the station all I could think about was you and Cynthia. What you two went through.” He looked up at her and the anguish she saw in his eyes made her heart constrict. “I know in my gut that this guy will strike again, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.”

  “Oh, Craig, honey,” she covered his hand with hers and squeezed, “you’re only one man. You can’t protect us all.”

  He removed his hand from her grasp and pinched the bridge of his nose, laying his head against the back of the sofa. He closed his eyes and Toni felt helpless seeing the pain etched on his face. She didn’t know how to help him since she was dealing with her own issues.

  For the past hour, she’d been reeling after an argument with her father about bringing Ronald to her grandfather’s party. Her and her father’s relationship was already shaky, so it didn’t take much for her to disappoint him despite being his only child. Her mother had two daughters from a previous marriage and Toni always felt like Cinderella. But instead of a wicked stepmother, Toni had a pain-in-the-butt father who was good at pointing out her flaws and a mother who went along with whatever Toni’s father said.

  Toni glanced at Craig who appeared to be asleep, but she knew better. He was shutting down. She’d witness the technique many times when he’d come home late from a frustrated day of work. If she didn’t get Craig to open up, he would shut her out completely.

  “What can I do to make you feel better?” She knew it was a loaded question, but she couldn’t stand to see him hurting.

  He slowly opened his beautiful hazel eyes and met her gaze. A sensuous light passed between them and Toni knew at that moment that he could ask her for anything and she would do it.

  Without a word, he slid his arm beneath her butt and pulled her onto his lap. She gulped hard, afraid of the lustful desires flowing through her body.

  Not taking his eyes from hers, Craig ran his hand over her hair and released the clip that held her ponytail in place. His fingers sifted through the long strands.

  “God, I love you.” He tilted her back into his arms and covered her mouth with his. All her thoughts jumbled together. His kiss,
so tender she almost cried. Terrible regrets assailed her at the way she had walked away from him months ago. She would never stop loving him. What she felt for him hadn’t diminished, but she knew that right now all she could offer Craig was her body.

  Without breaking contact, he removed her flannel shirt, laid her back across his lap and slipped his hands underneath her T-shirt. The soothing sounds of the fish tank did nothing to calm her rapid heart rate as she anticipated his next move. Her breasts surged at the intimacy of his sudden touch against her lace bra, and she squirmed beneath his masterful hand. Heat plowed through her body and a moan sounded from the back of her throat when his fingers circled and tweaked her sensitive nipples. She hadn’t been with a man since the last time she’d been with Craig and right now she needed him worse than the desert needed rain.

  His kiss was thorough, unhurried, and Toni nearly jumped out of her skin when he unsnapped the front of her bra and her breasts spilled into his large hands. He cupped them with just the right amount of intensity.

  “Craig,” she panted, not sure what she wanted to say, her mind suddenly blank. He removed her T-shirt in one smooth yank and his mouth went back to work. She had missed their long conversations over coffee and their sometimes heated disagreements, but what she missed most was the way he made her body come alive. He rested his hand on her torso, his thumb making circular motions against her blazing skin while his lips planted a delicious trail of kisses down her neck and then to her collarbone.

  “Mmm, you smell good,” he growled, nipping at her skin. He scooted to the side and laid her flat on the sofa, his eyes caressed her body. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” He straddled her and shook out of his jacket. He placed his gun and holster on the coffee table then stripped out of his shirt and T-shirt. Her eyes zoned in on his broad shoulders and muscular chest, unable to stop her hands from reaching out and pulling him down on top of her.