by Lee Taylor
Nate stepped back after he landed a particularly fierce torrent of blows to Sam’s torso.
“You know, Sam, I could take you at any point I decide to end this.”
Sam staggered back, gulping for air. He nodded in agreement. “Yes, I know you can. But, maybe after you knock me down you’ll be willing to talk to me so that we can work together to solve this fucking case.”
Nate was incredulous. “So you’re willing to let me beat the crap out of you so you can talk to me?”
“If that’s what it takes, Nate, to convince you that I am on your team.”
Nate groaned and put up his gloves ending the match.
“Oh, for Christ sake. Get the hell out of here before I change my mind. Get to the showers.” He climbed out of the ring and said over his shoulder, “Then let’s go someplace where we can talk.”
~~~
“This is a great car. What’s the difference between the S and the Turbo.”Sam rubbed his hand over the tricked out dashboard.
Nate grinned. “To begin with, 130 horse power. The Carrera S has 400 HP, the Turbo has 530. Oh and the minor issue of $60,000.”
“Well, I happen to know that the S runs at about $100,000, so you’re telling me I’m sitting in a $160,000 automobile?”
“Hey, I didn’t say that. I said that was the starting price. But, c’mon, hotshot, what kind of a Ferrari do you drive? I’m assuming an FF?”
It was Sam’s turn to laugh. “Am I that much of a stereotype? You’re right. If I did have a Ferrari it would definitely be the FF. But, hell, even a ‘nepotistic Police Chief wannabe’ occasionally steps an inch or two outside of the predictable. To answer your question, I drive an Audi R8 coup. Pretty much for the same reason you drive this beauty. The R8 has as much horse power as your Turbo. Oh and since we’re measuring dicks, has about the same starting price.”
Nate took a deep breath. Time to eat a little crow or better yet a lot of it.
“Look, Sam, I was out of line in the Chief’s office. Way out of line—particularly what I said about you. That was a horseshit thing for me to say. I apologize.”
Sam shrugged. “Well at least you didn’t add that I’m also a black dude reaping all of those preferences.”
Nate sighed. “I keep thinking that Erin has made a better man out of me, but guess the asshole is too deeply engrained. But again….”
“Forget it, Nate. What you said is true. And you didn’t have to add the black part. We both know it’s there. So save the apology.”
“Okay. I’ll buy that. I could describe you that way and be accurate. But that’s just the surface. You’re a stand-up guy and a smart one. And Christ, you’re as much of a shrink as my fucking cousin. You understood me well enough to taunt me into the ring. It was gutsy. We both know I could have beaten the crap out of you. And you still took the chance. Thanks. To coin a phrase, I needed that.”
“You’re welcome.”
He mused, “The one thing I don’t know yet is how good a detective you are. But I guess we’re about to find out.”
“Let me put it this way, Nate. I didn’t risk my pretty-boy face for nothing. We both know without your help and leading behind the scenes, this murder investigation is going nowhere fast.”
Nate threw him an ironic grin. “See. I knew you were a smart guy.”
When they turned into the driveway and pulled up in front of the cabin, Sam whistled. “Damn, Nate. Is this where you live? This is extraordinary.”
“Yeah, thanks. It’s not finished yet, but I’m getting there.”
“Don’t tell me you built this place, Nate? This looks like something in Architectural Digest. Did you design it?”
“Yeah, pretty much. I knew that I wanted it to fit in the woods, be as much like a cabin as I could make it. But I’m a sucker for innovative architecture. I liked the idea of melding wood and stone with huge expanses of glass. That combination reminds me of how the lake looks nestled in the forest.”
Sam whistled again. “You are a surprising guy, Nate. You work hard to cultivate that badass reputation of yours, and then you start waxing poetically about the simpatico nature of glass and water.”
“Yeah, I know. Some magazines did approach me. Guess the idea of a dumb cop building something that looks like this is too good a ‘man bites dog’ story for them to pass up. Naturally I refused them all. The most important element of this place is that it’s my sanctuary. Until Erin, the only people who had been in it were Connor and the Chief—and of course Marcus, Mama D and the girlie girls, though that was a few scant times. Erin changed all of that. I guess you could say that she’s my sanctuary now.”
“I can understand that. Both of you fit here. This is also a beautiful piece of land. Do you own any acreage?”
“Almost ten acres including a thousand feet of shore line. The Chief gave it to me when I graduated from college. He owns fifty acres surrounding my piece. Guess he wanted to keep an eye on me.” He sighed, “Which reminds me: next to you, I owe the Chief the biggest apology for earlier today. But unfortunately he’s accustomed to it.”
“Did the Chief also give you the wherewithal to buy all these toys, Nate?”
Nate quirked a questioning brow and frowned. “That was a slick change of course, Commander. Are we starting the interrogation? If so, don’t you need a transcriber?”
San flushed. “Yes, I do want to know your financial situation. It could have a bearing on the evidence. But this can be off the record or you can just tell me no comment.”
“Well, hate to disappoint you, Sam. But I happen to be somewhat independently wealthy. As long as we define wealth in Chicadia Falls terms. But my money did come from illegal sources, if that’s any help. I guess my little drugged out prostitute mother did occasionally think of me. She died on me—literally. When I was six. They found me four days later, guarding her body. Somehow she’d managed to save some money, or had a smart john. Chief followed some rumors and tracked it down. Found a nice little nest egg in an auspicious trust fund. Both the Chief and Marcus taught me a lot about investment, and I’ve done fine. So the money angle is a dead end, Commander.”
Nate led Sam through the extraordinary great room. Sam murmured in appreciation at the twenty-eight foot, vaulted open-beamed ceiling and stone fireplace that took up virtually one whole end of the room. The opposing wall was floor to ceiling windows which opened to a stunning view of the tree-shadowed lake at the bottom of the hill.
Sam followed Nate into a beautifully appointed kitchen.
“Now if you tell me you actually cook in this place, I’ll start reconsidering my sexual orientation and make a pass at you.”
“I’m agnostic about most things, Sam, but I’ve stayed on the straight and narrow as to which side of the street I walk. Now what I do on my side is anything but straight or narrow but too much for your tender ears.”
He got out the coffee beans and ignoring Sam’s intrigued study of his DeLonghi high-end coffee maker, he programmed the contraption and leaned back against the counter with an aggrieved sigh.
“Which reminds me, Commander, if I know the Chief, he’s already talked to Connor, who will have talked to Erin, and they’ll be over here soon.”
Sam gave him a sheepish grin. “I should tell you, Nate, the reason I suggested we come here was not only to get out of the station but because there’s going to be an evidence team showing up here within the hour.”
Nate chuckled. “Yeah, I know. Dwayne Hedson called me on my way to the gym to make sure I was okay with them landing on me.”
Sam scowled then gave a resigned shrug. “Good thing I knew when the Chief appointed me, that I was going to be the leader in name only.”
“No, Sam. The Chief is right as usual. We’ve gotta do this by the book. Once the press gets wind of this—and given Laura’s obsession with attention, you can be sure they will hear about it soon—we’ve got to be squeaky clean.”
Sam huffed an annoyed snort. “I presume you mean squeaky cl
ean on the surface. But don’t worry, I won’t forget my place. Oh and while you’re at it, since they refuse to return my calls, will you call your unusual accountant duo, if they’re not too engaged in committing some high level crime, and let them know that they have your permission to talk to me?”
Nate raised a brow. “I dunno, Commander, if I should give up all my sources. Next you’ll be wanting to talk to Eric Jacobs. If you think Nunn and Weise skirt the grid, Eric might just be too much for your Boy Scout sensibilities. You were a Boy Scout, right, hotshot?”
Sam cheek creased slightly but he gave a nonchalant nod. “Eagle, plus three silver palms.”
“Damn, hotshot. You really are an overachiever. Hell, maybe beneath that all-American super achiever is a potentially badass detective. Wouldn’t that be something?”
While waiting for the coffee to brew, Nate went to the refrigerator and snagged two long-necks. He quirked a questioning brow and at Sam’s affirmative nod, he plunked one of the cold brews in front of Sam. Settling in the chair across from him, he pulled on his beer, watching Sam make notes with a Visconti fountain pen in a leather bound journal. The Chief was the only other person he knew who used a fountain pen. Nate grinned to himself as Sam took a refined sip of his beer. Damn, the guy went first class all the way. Bet a lot of people underestimated him. The way they underestimated Nate. Lots of perps misread his badass attitude as evidence of an
arrogant overgrown Northwoods guy—which he was. And most people no doubt saw Sam as an overachiever trying to prove he was more than a racial stereotype. Not bad, Nate thought. Being underestimated is a gift, worth cultivating. Throws the assholes off.
Hearing the familiar squeal of tires in the driveway, Nate tipped his chair back against the wall and groaned. “Prepare yourself, hotshot. Here comes the cavalry.”
Chapter 21
Connor burst into the room and ignored Nate’s eye roll. Jerking Nate’s chair back, he yanked him to his feet and threw an arm around Nate’s shoulders. Connor wasn’t as tall as Nate but what he lacked in height he made up in girth. Every additional pound was solid muscle. To Nate he was the human prototype of an overgrown mama bear. God help anyone, human or otherwise, who dared poke a stick at one of Connor’s charges. And for some reason, Connor appointed himself the overseer of his big brother and bigger cousin. It amused Nate and Luke to no end. But, hell, you couldn’t help but love the righteous caretaker who put his life on the line every day of the week to help someone in need. Much as Nate hated to admit it, that someone was often him. Last night taking care of Erin was just one example.
“Jesus, Cuz, are you okay? Damn, three hours ago you and Erin left my house all gooey eyed. I was certain when the Chief called that you and Erin had played horizontal hooky but instead he tells me he put you on leave and put Sam in charge of the investigation. And, goddamn, Nate, is it true that bitch implied you killed Mike?”
Nate let Connor hang onto him for a moment before he broke his hold and grabbed a long neck from the fridge and handed it to his cousin. Nate took a slug of his beer and glanced over at Sam.
“Ask the Commander. He’s heading up the investigation. I’m the suspect at this point.”
Connor whirled on Sam and demanded, “Well?”
Sam took a sip of his beer and met Connor’s stormy gaze.
“Yes, Lieutenant. To all your questions.”
The roar of yet another car in the driveway and the rapid click of boot heels on the wood floor signaled Erin’s arrival.
Nate glared at his cousin.
“Couldn’t you have kept her in the dark at least until I get this mess straightened out?”
Connor hissed under his breath, “What do you think I am, Cuz? A fucking supersonic jet? That I can head off a force of nature?”
Erin stood in the doorway, anger emanating from her slender body. A rosy flush brightened her pale cheeks and along with her flashing tourquoise eyes, prepared Nate for the onslaught that was sure to come. He didn’t have to wait. Glaring at Sam and then focusing on Nate, she unloaded.
“Keep me in the dark? Is that what you intended, Nate? Not to let me know that you were in trouble?”
Her lips trembled and tears welled up in her gorgeous eyes. Nate reached for her, but she held up her hands keeping him at a distance. Before he could respond, Erin turned to Sam.
“You also could have called me, Sam. Or maybe even the Chief? But, no, the Chief called Connor, who also didn’t bother to let me know—only acted surprised that I knew. Apparently even my best friend would have kept me in the dark. No, it took Naomi to call me and let me know that the Chief took Nate off the case.”
“Come here, Erin.” Nate put his arms around her and pulled her in close to his chest. She resisted, and tried to push him away, but he held her tight until her resistance evaporated. With a sob, she clung to him.
“I’m fine, Erin. Let me hold you, darlin’, and, yeah, I should have called you. I apologize. Damn, I wanted to keep you out of this mess.”
Erin pushed against him putting space between them.
“How could you think that I wouldn’t want to be here? What if it was me, Nate? You would have been by my side in minutes and mowed down anyone who tried to keep you in the dark.”
“You’re right, Erin. That’s exactly what I would have done. And yeah, honey, in some crazy way I was trying to protect you from the ugliness and—” He put his finger over her lips when she started to interrupt. “And, Erin at first I was so angry that the Chief would presume to take me off the case that I wasn’t thinking straight. You can thank Sam for wrestling me off the ledge or in this case taking me on in the ring, where I damn well coulda maimed him for life. He’s a courageous guy and he helped me to get straight where my real anger lies. And yeah, the Chief did what he had to. Exactly what I would have done if I were the Chief.”
Nate knew he couldn’t hold back the ugly truth any longer.
“Erin, there’s more. Another reason I resisted calling you. They’ve got evidence, not the least of which is the crazy way I’ve been acting. I’ve let this case get to me and it shows. But it’s more than that. Hell, in a few minutes the evidence team is gonna be swarming all over this place. Seems as though someone pointed out to Dan that I’m a master with the whip. Even mentioned that they should take a look in my weapons safe and they’ll find a whole variety of whips. Which is true.”
Connor broke in. “Who the hell came up with that load of crap?”
Nate snorted and kept his gaze on Erin. He couldn’t avoid telling her the truth. God knows, she was gonna find out soon enough.
“The same person who gave Dan close to a hundred voicemails from Laura to me. Explicit messages, ones that imply that she and I… have a relationship.”
“Jesus, Nate. How could she… why… I don’t understand.”
Nate glanced at Connor and shook his head, then focused again on Erin. “Not surprised you don’t get it, Connor. Neither did I. She started calling me over a year ago. Leaving these crazy insinuating messages. After you and I got together, baby, the calls even heated up. Soon I was getting three or four a week. I got an app on my phone that you can use to delete nuisance calls. I’ve used it before. I never knew she was calling the way that she was. I know I should have told you about them, Erin. I… I just hated to bring you into her lair. I know her, Erin, but you don’t. She’s nuts. She no more wants me than she wanted any of the dozens of men she strung along. But she never likes to let anyone go free. Once they belong to her, they always belong to her. Gospel according to Laura Chumpter Chambers. But, Erin, honey, I have to warn you. The ones Dan played for me this morning are damned explicit.”
Erin bit down on her lip and visibly swallowed.
“I already know that, Nate. I’ve heard them. She also sent them to me.”
Connor and Sam joined in Nate’s exclamation, “What. The. Hell?!”
Erin held up her phone and punched on the voicemail. Laura’s sultry voice slid into the kitchen.
Thirty seconds into the recording, Erin shut it off and stared up at Nate.
“I didn’t listen to all of them. I couldn’t. It was too painful. But it’s clear from the ones I heard, Nate, that she is either making up a bizarre relationship that doesn’t exist or… or you and she have been intimately involved for over a year.”
Nate ignored Connor’s gasp and the scraping sound of Sam pushing his chair back from the table. He grasped Erin’s face between his hands and looked deep in her eyes. She couldn’t hide the pain or the upset she was feeling. He ached, seeing her distress. He could only imagine what he would do if the situation were reversed. Hell, just the mere thought of Sam running in a group with her had sent him over the edge. One hundred intimate e-mails? Someone would die! He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His voice was soft, for her alone.
“And what did you decide, Erin?”
She didn’t hesitate. Her voice was astonishingly firm.
“I decided that I was wrong.”
Nate took another breath and waited for her to continue. The fist that had been squeezing his chest since he first heard the messages came back in full force. Breathing became a conscious effort. Not something that was going to happen on its own.
He didn’t trust his voice but tried to sound calm.
“How were you wrong, baby?”
“I underestimated her, Nate. I knew she was hateful, despicable, untrustworthy, but I didn’t know that she was evil. I told you the other night that she frightens me.” Erin pressed her lips in a firm line. “But I’m not scared of her anymore. She’s gone too far. And she’s trying to take you with her. She’s going down, Nate. And if you and Sam can’t make that happen, then I will.”