Mink Too, All the Riches in the World Can't Buy Love

by B. L Wilson

  Susan closed her eyes as she felt the kiss curl her toes and make her lips throb with excitement. Suddenly, she felt the cool breeze of the air-conditioner against her face.

  Liz Gilmore pulled away first. She felt miserable taking advantage of a woman when she was most vulnerable. She cleared her throat twice before she spoke. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I …It won’t happen again, Miss Drummond. Maybe we ought to call my brother.” Her hands shook as she reached for the phone, fumbling around on the night table as she tried to pick it up. She finally knocked the cell into the wastebasket. “Damn it!” she exclaimed as she ran a nervous hand through her hair. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  Susan smiled at her outburst. She stilled Liz’s hand and then stroked it to stop Liz from playing with the lightweight quilt. “I believe I do, Lizzie.” She brought Liz’s hand up to her lips and tenderly kissed her knuckles. Then she leaned closer to kiss full lips. The kiss ended when the chirping cell phone in the wastebasket brought the women back to the reality of the moment. Susan reached into the basket to pick up the phone. She wiped the cell off and handed it to Liz.

  Liz flushed as she gazed at the woman she’d just kissed. “Hello. Yeah, Jake, it’s me. We were just about to call you and Dad.” She listened for a moment, then nodded. “Susan wants to speak with you.” She handed the phone to Susan and watched as she spoke to Jake.

  “Okay, Jake, I understand.” Susan agreed to stay at the hospital through the following day, until the board meeting. She thanked Jake and his father, then gave the phone back to Liz. “Here, he’s wants to speak with you.”

  “Jake?” Liz shrugged when she realized that he’d gone. She ended the call and returned the cell phone to the end table. “You mentioned something about a board meeting tomorrow.”

  “Yes. I did.” Susan sighed but didn’t say more.

  Liz waited for her to provide an explanation. When she didn’t, Liz finally asked for more details. “What time would this meeting be?”

  Susan frowned. “Why? You can’t come. It’s a closed meeting.”

  Liz studied Susan’s annoyed face. “Oh, really? Who says so?”

  “I do and so do the board’s bylaws.”

  Liz rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Okay, tell me what goes on in these private little meetings.”

  “I don’t know what my father’s were about, but this one is to decide whether to hire a private investigator.”

  “Why would you need one?”

  Susan looked slightly annoyed, then sighed. “Do you really need to know, Sergeant Gilmore?”

  “Oh, now it’s Sergeant Gilmore again. What happened, Susan? A minute ago, it was Lizzie.”

  Susan shrugged beautiful shoulders, then slipped off the bed. She walked over to the cot and opened her duffel bag. She quietly sorted through the items, searching for her nightwear without answering another question.

  Liz folded her arms as she watched Susan march to the bathroom. Ten minutes later, she came out of the bathroom wearing an outsized T-shirt that showed off long legs and shapely thighs. Liz groaned inwardly as she watched the stubbornly silent woman sit in the middle of the bed yoga-style. She re-twisted reddish-brown locks as she silently glared at Liz. “You’re not going tell me, are you?”

  Susan continued to glare at Liz from the center of the cot she sat on.

  “Okay, since you won’t talk to me, Susan Drummond, let me talk to you. If the board is meeting to hire a private investigator, I’ll bet his first case is the arson at the mall site. If I’m right, it means you’ve probably been snooping around the police investigation for the last four or five days, trying to gather information. When the police or, rather, when my godfather stonewalled you, you came up with this PI stuff. Am I right so far?”

  If Liz weren’t a trained observer, she wouldn’t have seen signs that her assumptions were true, but Susan’s eyes gave her away in a way that her hands didn’t. Her hands continued to twist her hair into thick corkscrews, but her eyes widened and her pupils dilated for a split second, just long enough for Liz to tell she’d scored a direct hit.

  “I don’t think you should go to the board meeting tomorrow, Susan. Not until we check it out and make sure it’s safe for you.”

  “Nobody asked for your opinion, Sergeant.”

  “It musta have been your evil twin who came to see me today and practically begged me to investigate this case on my own. Your twin even slapped me for bad-mouthing Old Man Drummond, as I recall.” Liz rubbed the side of her cheek as she remembered the blow. “I still owe you for that one.”

  Susan stopped twisting her hair and threw the comb on the cot as she quickly rose and strode over to Liz’s bed. She pointed with an accusing finger. “That’s it! I’ve had it. You’ve gone too far, Sergeant!”

  “What do you plan to do about it, Susan?”

  Flashing hazel eyes confronted calm, serene dark eyes as Liz reclined against the headboard. “One thing you won’t do, Baby, is to hit me again because I will lock you up this time.”

  “I’m not your baby, Sergeant!”

  Dark eyes roamed all over her body, taking in the full, pouty lips, an ample bosom that was heaving rapidly, and the short nightshirt that exposed long, dark, honey-colored legs. “No, you’re not, are you?” You could be if you wanted to be, Liz thought, staring at the angry woman in front of her. She sighed. “Miss Drummond, huh … Susan, could we call a truce tonight? I won’t arrest you. You don’t hit me again. Is it a deal?”

  Susan crossed her arms and glared at Liz.

  “You’re not gonna make this easy, are you?”

  Susan shook her head.

  Liz tapped her lips and shrugged before she made her next remark. “Okay, I apologize for what I said about your father. I’m sorry I called you ‘Baby.’ It slipped out. My mouth does that sometimes. I hate my mouth when it does that.”

  Susan looked into dark eyes glowing with good humor and allowed a tiny smile to come forth.

  “That’s better. It’s late. Why don’t we turn in for the night? Is that okay with you?” Liz remarked, studying Susan for a moment.

  “Yes, I’m tired too.” Susan found herself trying to hold back a yawn.

  Liz sighed. “There’s one more thing. I know I don’t have the right to ask, but could you reconsider not attending the board meeting tomorrow, please?”

  Susan groaned and then said, “Tell me why I shouldn’t go and I’ll think about it.”

  “Has it occurred to you the notes are meant for you and not your father, Susan? You haven’t been keeping a low profile these last few days.”

  Susan frowned in the semi-dark room. “No, why would I worry about that? Who would want to kill me?” She groaned before admitting something. “That’s not true. All your coworkers would, after the trouble I caused them.” She held up a hand. “Don’t answer that. Do you have suggestions about the meeting, Sergeant?”

  Liz nodded. “Yeah, I have one. If you have to go, take a bodyguard.”

  “Who would you suggest?”

  “Me.”

  Susan giggled at the suggestion. “In case you didn’t know it, Sergeant, you’re still in the hospital.”

  “Not for long, Babe, not for long!”

  “I find the term ‘Babe’ even more repulsive than ‘Baby,’ Sergeant! It brings to mind visions of well-endowed women with tiny brains.”

  “Oh, quit changing the subject, Drummond!” Liz snapped at her. “Are you gonna tell me when the meeting is or not?”

  Susan exhaled loudly. “Do you think that I’m in that much danger, Lizzie?”

  Liz’s mind went into overdrive. It was the third time tonight Susan referred to her as Lizzie. Only her close friends or family did that. Which one did Susan want to be? Liz wondered as she took her time answering the question. “I don’t know, but I don’t want to take chances with your life either, Susan. I already lost Danny over this mess. I don’t want to lose you too.” She cleared her throat when s
he realized how much she’d revealed, then tried to cover it with humor. “Who would I have left to stop for speeding or give swimming lessons to?”

  Lizzie sounded like she was smiling, Susan thought, listening to her attempt at humor. She reddened. Thank God the room was dark enough and the bed low enough that Lizzie couldn’t see her embarrassment. She thought back to their first kiss at the pool. What Liz Gilmore didn’t know was that she didn’t want to fire her. She just wanted to teach her a lesson about power. Who had it and who didn’t. After she checked out Liz through Johnny’s contacts, she made a call to her father to complain about her insulting behavior. It was a call she knew would get the sheriff involved. He’d either fire Liz Gilmore or discipline her.

  They bargained back and forth for a good hour. It wasn’t much of a discussion. She had the upper hand since she was Owen Drummond’s daughter. She already proved she could fire his men whenever she wanted. Their discussion centered on how much humiliation the sheriff was willing to inflict on his sergeant. Once they agreed to the swimming lessons, she asked that Liz not know about the lessons. She wanted to see Liz’s face when she told her about the arrangements the sheriff made with her. She deliberately changed into the most provocative swimming outfit she could find, then sat in the lounge chair and struck a seductive pose.

  She got far more than she bargained for, didn’t she? Liz not only looked at her as though she was under a microscope, but she also stripped her naked with those hot, dark eyes of hers. Tonight, with the second fiery kiss they shared, she didn’t know what to make of their new relationship. Humph! That wasn’t true, was it? She knew what it might mean, but the thought of a relationship with a serious woman scared her.

  “Ms. Drummond? Hey? Are you still awake over there?”

  Susan cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m still here, Sergeant. Where could I go? You’d probably have me arrested if I left here tonight. I know at least one sheriff and a bunch of officers who would stand in line to help you do it.”

  “I wouldn’t tell anyone if you wanted to leave,” Liz answered quietly. “But I’d have you followed if I couldn’t do it myself. I’m serious about this, Susan. I have to know where you go until this thing is over. You’re going to have to check in with me once every couple of hours unless there’s another note and then it’s every hour. I think you’re the one in danger and not your father. Frankly, I think you know something or saw something or the killer thinks you did.”

  “You sure know how to make a woman feel safe, Lizzie,” Susan remarked with a large dose of sarcasm.

  “Look, I’m not trying to scare you, Susan. I’m just giving you the facts as I see them. It’s still your decision to make. You’re a grown-ass woman. You’re old enough to decide what you want to do.”

  If you knew what I wanted from you, Lizzie Gilmore, you’d probably hustle away just like most of the other people in this town, Susan thought. “Thank you.”

  “For what? I haven’t done anything yet.”

  “Yes, you have, Lizzie …I…” It was hard for Susan to find the words to explain how she felt. “It’s nothing; never mind.”

  Liz cleared her throat. Sensing Susan’s vulnerability, she decided to try one more time. “What time is the meeting, Susan?”

  “Three o’clock in my father’s conference room. Still want to come with me?”

  “Yes, I do. Now go to sleep. We’ll talk some more tomorrow, Susan.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN … Going home

  Liz spent a restless night in the narrow hospital bed, jumping at the sound of every car backfiring outside or creak of the door, beep of the machines, and thud of a dropped tray inside the hospital. At dawn, she pushed the portable IV stand into the bathroom. She sat on the toilet lid lost in thought until she heard a light tap on the door.

  The door openly slowly and Susan peeked into the small room. “You’re not sick, are you?”

  “No, I couldn’t sleep. I’m thinking about today.”

  “Is there enough room in here for me?” Susan stepped around the IV stand and sat on the edge of the tub that doubled as a whirlpool.

  “You’re different than I imagined,” Susan said softly, studying her former nemesis.

  “What did you think I’d be like?”

  “I thought you were tough, insensitive—especially insensitive—overbearing, swaggering cop and a bit cruel too.”

  Liz sighed as she thought about what Susan said. “The guys at the stationhouse say I’m tough, maybe a little too tough, but that I’m always fair. My father says I’m insensitive at the wrong times. He says that’s why I don’t have a woman in my life. He and Jake think that I’m in love with my job. They say I spend too much time being a cop. I can’t help it if I love my work. I love being a cop, but if I couldn’t do it anymore, I’d find something else to love just as much. That’s why I’m trying law school. Getting blown up put a damper on my study time. As far as being overbearing, I don’t think so. I’m a little shy. Nobody ever told me I swagger, but if I do, it comes from having a bowlegged daddy.” She smiled at Susan.

  Her gentle humor made Susan smile as well.

  “As for cruel, I hope I’m never that, Susan, to you or anyone.”

  “Okay, it’s your turn. What did you think I’d be like?” Susan asked.

  “Are you sure you wanna know?” Liz looked in Susan’s direction and watched her nod. “Before I say anything else, you gotta promise no hitting.”

  Susan glared at her and folded her arms.

  “Just kidding, Honey.”

  Susan continued to stare at her.

  Liz searched the stony face in front of her as she sat on the toilet seat she was beginning to find uncomfortable. “Okay, okay, so you don’t like ‘Honey’ either, huh?”

  Hazel eyes snapped at her.

  “Christ, you are stubborn. When I heard about you at the stationhouse, I thought you were a rich bitch … er … witch.” Liz glanced at Susan to see how she was taking it and caught the look of fury on her face. She’d better choose her next few words carefully. Susan Drummond looked angry enough to smack her again. “Maybe we should finish this conversation later.” She heard the sound of a muffled cell phone chirping. “That’s probably Jake reporting in. Could you get it for me, please?”

  Susan marched out of the bathroom, then snatched up the phone. “Hello,” she answered sharply.

  “Oh, Ms. Drummond, I’m sorry to wake you.”

  “I wasn’t sleeping,” she replied coldly. “Is my father okay?”

  “He’s fine. There were no problems here all night.” Jake yawned into the phone. “Sorry about the yawning. Is Lizzie there?”

  “Oh yeah! She’s here all right!”

  “Could I speak to her, please?”

  “Yes, you may!” Susan strode into the bathroom, slammed the phone into Liz’s hands, and then stomped outside to sit in a chair. She shot Liz a dirty look as she left the bathroom.

  “It doesn’t sound like all is well in Camelot this morning, Lizzie. What did you do to the Drummond woman this time? Strip search her?”

  Liz eyed Susan as she sat in the chair facing the window. “Ha, ha, that’s funny, Jake! I didn’t lay a hand on her, not that she couldn’t use a good turn over my knee.”

  “Boy, I’d like to see that!” Jake laughed into the phone.

  Liz groaned as Susan turned around in the chair, caught her eye, and mouthed the words “you bitch!” “Shut up, Jake! It’s bad enough that she’s driving me crazy. Don’t you start too. How’d it go last night?”

  “No problem here. Her old man spent a peaceful night, which is more than I can say for our old man. His back’s acting up again, Lizzie, but he’s determined to see this thing through.”

  “I’ve been thinking, Jake. Maybe we’ve been looking at this thing from the wrong angle. Suppose the notes Susan found were for her and not Owen Drummond. Susan’s been snooping around since the explosion.” Liz wanted to say “since Danny’s murder” but didn’t have the heart to
say it, so she referred to the explosion instead. “The killers might think she knows something or is close to exposing them.”

  “But why warn her? Why not just kill her?”

  “Maybe he or they don’t wanna kill her. They figure if they warn her, she’ll back off.” Liz eyed the chair Susan settled into again. “They obviously don’t know what a pit bull Susan Drummond can be. Trust me, Jake, I have personal knowledge!” she whispered into the phone.

  “Dad told me about your drug search, Lizzie. It was brilliant but stupid, if you get my drift.”

  “I know that now, Jake.” Liz frowned. “She wants to go to a board meeting at three today. What do you think?”

  “I think she’s bonkers, but if you can’t talk her out of it, I’ll shadow her if you want.”

  “No, you won’t. I’m gonna do it.”

  “Sure, Kid, sure you are.”

  Liz didn’t answer.

  “Christ, Lizzie, you’re serious!”

  “Yeah, Jake, I am. I can’t handle another person dying, but especially her.” Liz looked over at Susan, noticing for the first time she’d fallen asleep in the chair. “Talk to you later, Jake.”

  “Yeah, I’ll call you later, Kiddo.” Jake shook his head. He contemplated whether his sister suffered brain damage that didn’t show up on the brain scans. He flipped the cell phone closed and slipped it into a pocket as he leaned into the driver’s side of the nondescript car. “Dad, we need to convince Lizzie to let us do more. You know how stubborn Lizzie can be when she gets a notion in her head. She’s already talking about providing protection for the Drummond woman today.”

  “I was afraid of that. Even if the doctors release her this morning, she’ll be in no shape to do much of anything but sleep.”

  “Try telling her that. If they do release her today, I’m gonna find out about the board meeting and shadow her and the Drummond woman.”