by Gerri Hill
She went back to her packing, wondering why they shied away from it. Both of them. While they’d talked about everything under the sun, from her privileged upbringing to CJ’s horrific childhood, they never once broached the subject of where their relationship was headed or what either of them expected—wanted—from it. Perhaps they were afraid, afraid of what the other would say. Paige often wondered if what she was feeling was too much too soon. And she knew CJ’s fear—that she wasn’t good enough.
But still, she was afraid to go there. Was it lust? Certainly. But could she truly, honestly say that she’d fallen in love with CJ?
She took a quick breath, those words causing a tumultuous feeling in her stomach. She stared off into space, seeing CJ’s face, these days almost always with a smile plastered on it. Had she fallen in love with her?
“Yes.”
She laughed quietly, the sound loud in her empty apartment. What if she told CJ that? Would she freak out? Would she run? Or would she be relieved? Sometimes when they made love, it was all there in CJ’s eyes. She didn’t attempt to hide it. Paige sometimes thought she was reading too much into it. CJ had her past, her many, many one-night stands. Sometimes Paige was afraid of that, afraid CJ would drift back to that life. So she would look into CJ’s eyes, looking for a sign that told her CJ loved her, cared about her. But when she found it, it frightened her. What if it really was too much too soon? And more importantly, what if it didn’t last?
Well, now wasn’t the time to contemplate it. The guys wanted to meet for beers before they were whisked out to the “boonies,” as Ice called it. She knew CJ would have rather spent the evening alone—as would she—but they’d already missed last week’s night out.
* * *
“Paige is coming, right?” Billy asked for a second time.
CJ flicked her eyes to the door then to her watch. “It’s only ten after,” she said.
Ice tipped his beer back, downing it. He loved this bar. Loved that practically everyone knew everybody, loved that the bartenders knew what beers they wanted and had them opened and on their way before they’d even sat down. He loved the atmosphere—cops talking about cases, who they busted and how, who saw what. He loved it all. Maybe because he was single and didn’t have anyone to go home to, but he looked forward to their night out each and every week.
“Do you really snore like a freight train?” CJ asked.
Ice glared at Billy. “I do not.”
“Do too, man. Which reminds me, I need to pick up some earplugs.”
Ice tossed his coaster at Billy, hitting him square in the forehead. Billy scowled back at him, rubbing his forehead with two fingers.
“Is this how you two are going to be for the next two days?”
“Yeah, what’s with that deadline anyway?” Billy asked.
Ice picked at the label on his empty beer bottle. “Cold case. They either match or they don’t.”
“Howley doesn’t want us picking up this new case unless it’s related,” CJ added.
Ice slid his bottle to the middle of the table, the first dead soldier of the evening. He was about to order another round when Billy broke out in a grin.
“There’s my beautiful partner now.”
They all turned as the lovely Paige Riley headed their way. Ice didn’t miss the quick look she gave CJ and again his curiosity was piqued. These next few days should prove to be interesting.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said. “I couldn’t decide what to pack.”
“It’s just two days,” CJ said as Paige sat across from her.
“Yes, but shoving jeans and black FBI T-shirts into a duffel bag isn’t really my style.”
“And what makes you think that’s what I did?”
The corners of Paige’s mouth lifted in a smile. “Isn’t it?”
“Well, they weren’t all black T-shirts.”
“Another round?” Ice asked, already raising his hand toward the bar.
CJ slid her empty bottle to the middle, joining his. “Did anyone have a chance to read the old file yet?”
“I just glanced through it, that’s all,” Billy said.
“Me too,” Paige said. “They interviewed people from the neighborhood, kids and teachers from the elementary school, that’s about it. No one saw anything, there were no strangers hanging around, nothing suspicious,” she said.
CJ nodded. “I skimmed through it pretty good,” she said. “Since I didn’t have much packing to do,” she added with a grin. “The only thing of interest found was a smudge on his belt. It was chalk. White chalk. Also found some under his fingernails.”
“Like you’d find in a classroom?”
“Yeah. Only the kid never made it to school that day.”
“So it could have been from another day,” Ice said.
“Not according to his mother. That was a belt he only wore to church. They were taking class pictures that day so his mother dressed him up. Anyway, he was found two weeks after he disappeared. The chalk under his nails was fresh.”
Billy raised his eyebrows. “That’s it? That’s all the evidence they found?”
CJ nodded. “That’s it.”
The waitress stopped by with four bottles of beer. Ice was about to hand her a twenty when Paige beat him to it. He nodded his thanks at her.
“So the killer is someone who handled chalk or could have had the boy handle it,” Paige said. “I did read where all the teachers were questioned.”
“Yeah. No abnormalities in their routine, no one ever missing or had time unaccounted for. All squeaky clean,” CJ said as she took a swallow from her beer.
“Do we know anyone who worked the original case?” Ice asked.
CJ shook her head. “The file listed three agents as leads. The only one still in the Houston area is Ronnie Duran, but I don’t know him. Any of you heard of him?”
“No, but it wouldn’t hurt to pay him a visit,” Paige suggested.
“If we find out the cases are linked and we work it,” Ice reminded them. “But cold cases are a bitch.”
“It’ll be nice to get out of the city, though,” Billy said. “You guys spent all that time out in the woods during the summer. Me and Ice were still stuck here.”
“Oh, yeah, we just had a blast,” CJ said sarcastically. “I highly recommend spending time in Hoganville. As an added treat, maybe you’ll get to be chased through the woods by a crazed unknown and unnamed monster.”
Ice laughed with the others, but he remembered all too well running for his life as said monster chased them back to Hoganville. Which of course reminded him of something else he was scared of.
“Do you really think that house is haunted? Or was Howley just giving us shit?”
CJ shook her head. “The agents investigating the case never saw anything out of the ordinary, but they only checked it one time. It was locked up. No evidence of a breach anywhere. No evidence of activity inside.”
“So where did Howley get that?”
“Some of the people they interviewed mentioned that it was haunted.” CJ grinned. “Apparently there were some murders with an ax.”
Ice’s eyes widened. “Back in the day?”
“Hell, I don’t know,” CJ said. “That’s just what one of the locals said when they interviewed her.”
“Let’s remember,” Paige said, “it’s not the house we’re investigating. As Howley said, the only significance of the house is that the bodies were dumped on the grounds.”
“Let me just say that me and haunted houses don’t mix,” Ice said, unconsciously rubbing his shaved head.
“What are you afraid of, baldy?” CJ asked. “It’s just a house. Surely you don’t believe in ghosts.”
“Whether I believe in ghosts or not doesn’t matter. I have a thing with haunted houses,” he said. He downed the rest of his beer in one large gulp. “I had a bad experience as a kid.”
“Halloween?” Paige guessed.
“Yeah. A group of us were going through one
of those haunted houses they set up at Halloween every year. We got locked in a room with a guy and a chain saw,” he said with a shaky laugh. “The door jammed. The guy playing the murderer had us all peeing in our pants before they got the door opened again.”
Billy laughed. “Really?”
“Yeah, really. And the dude thought it was funny as hell too. It took months before I was able to sleep with the lights off,” he admitted.
“How old were you?” Paige asked.
“Ten.”
“I guess that ruined Halloween for you.”
“To say the least.”
As they normally did, empty beer bottles got shoved to the center of the table. CJ raised her arm for another round.
“Anybody want nachos? I’m starving,” she said.
“If you get beans only and leave off the cheese, I’ll split an order with you,” Paige offered.
“Are you still on that vegetarian kick?” Billy asked.
“It’s not a kick and it’s vegan,” Paige said. “I’ve never felt better.”
“I’ll just stick with a burger.”
“I’m going to have wings,” Ice said.
“Thanks, guys,” CJ said dryly. “Leave me with the vegan nachos then.” She turned to April, their waiter. “Another round please. And I’ll have black bean nachos. Cut the cheese.”
“No cheese? What’s wrong with you?” April asked as she scribbled her order.
“Paige is what’s wrong with me,” CJ said as she pointed across the table.
Ice and Billy placed their orders too and waited only a minute before she returned with another round of beer.
“We’re taking two cars, right?” Billy asked.
“Yes,” Paige said. “I’ll drive.” She looked at the others. “Who else?”
“I guess I can take my truck,” Billy offered.
“Yeah, you and Ice take your truck. I’ll ride in the Mercedes,” CJ said.
“A black man should not be seen riding in a redneck truck,” Ice said. “It’s just wrong.”
“Oh, hell, Ice, I bet my redneck truck will fit in a lot better in Pecan Grove than Paige’s Mercedes will.”
“I didn’t think of that,” Paige said, almost apologetically. She turned to CJ. “Maybe we should take yours.”
Chapter Four
CJ stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up toward Paige’s apartment. An involuntary smile lit her face, something that had been occurring more and more frequently. She’d changed so much since Hoganville; they both had. She knew the guys—especially Ice—had noticed. She no longer had to drag her ass in to work, smelling of tequila and wearing yesterday’s clothes. There had been no trips to the bar, looking for a quick hookup. So yeah, surely they noticed. But neither had said a word about it.
She and Paige spent nearly every night together, mostly here, at Paige’s. It was much nicer than her place and closer to work. In fact, the only time she went to her own apartment was to do laundry, pick up her mail and get fresh clothes. Of course, on those nights, she took the opportunity to grab a greasy burger or a pizza to take home with her, two things Paige had eliminated from her diet. She didn’t really miss them—Paige was an excellent cook—but it was just habit.
She jogged up the stairs two at a time, pausing to catch her breath before knocking on the door. She heard Paige inside and again a smile formed as she waited.
When the door opened, she found herself pulled inside and pinned against the door, Paige’s hands tugging her shirt from her jeans.
“What took you so long?” Paige murmured against her lips.
“Stopped to get gas,” she said, her hands sneaking inside Paige’s robe, finding her completely naked. She groaned in anticipation as their kisses turned fiery hot. They pulled apart long enough for Paige to slip CJ’s shirt and bra off, then Paige’s mouth was there again, letting CJ know who was in control.
Paige had CJ’s hands clasped to her sides as she ducked her head, her hot mouth closing over one of her nipples, her tongue teasing it as CJ leaned her head back against the door, her breathing coming in quick bursts. She knew not to protest. Paige would take her sweet time, making her squirm, making her want to beg her to finish. And sometimes she couldn’t wait that long, sometimes she would pull Paige’s thigh between her legs, the contact making her come instantly.
Paige’s mouth moved back to her lips, kissing her slowly now, drawing it out. She pulled away from her, and CJ rested against the door, her chest rising and falling as she drew deep breaths. Paige slowly untied her robe, letting it hang open. CJ’s eyes took in her nakedness, the robe covering just enough of her breasts to leave her wanting more. She brought her gaze back to Paige’s face, meeting her eyes, seeing desire and, God, so much more. Sometimes that frightened her—the look in Paige’s eyes. And sometimes it made her heart melt, like it was doing now.
She reached for Paige, pulling her close again, the robe opening, their breasts touching as their mouths found each other once more. CJ’s tongue drew Paige’s inside. She moaned as Paige’s hands seemed to be everywhere at once. They both paused in mid-kiss when Paige’s phone rang out.
“God, I swear if that’s my mother, I’m going to kill her,” Paige said as she finished the kiss.
“You know most people just set ringtones, don’t you?” CJ countered as she pulled Paige closer, only to feel Paige move away. She opened her eyes fully. “You’re going to answer it? Now?”
Paige pointed at her. “Don’t move.”
CJ leaned her head back against the door, still breathing hard. “She’s trying to kill me,” she murmured. She glanced down her naked torso, finding her jeans unbuttoned and the zipper halfway down. When did she do that? She wasn’t listening to Paige’s conversation although by her demeanor, she knew it wasn’t her mother.
Paige turned to her and mouthed “Howley.”
CJ banged her head slowly against the door. “This can’t be good,” she whispered. She glanced back at Paige, now listening to her one-sided conversation. Paige was nodding, and then she heard the words she dreaded.
“Okay, I’ll be right there.” Paige tossed her phone down, walking slowly back toward her, her robe still open.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Sorry, tiger.”
CJ groaned. “His timing sucks.”
Paige grinned. “Got you in a little heated state, do I?”
“You think?”
Paige moved closer, nearly touching her again. “Well, we can’t just leave you like this, can we?”
CJ nearly trembled. “No,” she whispered. “Not unless you want me to finish it myself.”
Paige’s mouth was on hers again. “Not unless I can watch.”
Before CJ could take another breath, Paige’s hand slid inside her jeans and panties, her fingers finding her clit in one stroke.
“So wet,” Paige murmured dreamily. “I love that I can do this to you.”
CJ couldn’t speak as she spread her legs helplessly, letting Paige pin her to the door as her fingers moved with lightning quickness, knowing exactly how to touch her. CJ was moaning into Paige’s mouth as their tongues battled. She tried to prolong it—God, she wanted it to last forever—but when Paige pulled her mouth away, going to her breasts instead, CJ’s orgasm hit the instant Paige sucked her nipple into her mouth.
She clamped her thighs together, holding Paige’s fingers hard against her as she tried to catch her breath. Paige finally moved, her lips brushing against CJ’s neck, her cheek, finally her mouth, kissing her softly, gently.
“Get some sleep,” Paige whispered. “I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
CJ opened her eyes, watching as Paige headed to the bedroom. “What’s up, anyway?”
“Howley wants me and Billy to visit with Ronnie Duran. He’s the one who worked the cold case,” Paige said as she ducked into the bathroom.
CJ took a deep breath, still reeling from Paige’s lovemaking. She reached down and zipped her
jeans up again, walking on shaky legs toward the bedroom.
“Why now?” she asked.
“He’s flying to El Paso in the morning,” Paige explained as she pulled on jeans. “Howley wants us to pick his brain before we head to Pecan Grove.”
CJ plopped down on the bed, her energy level drained. She rolled her head to the side, watching as Paige slipped a blouse on. “You’re so beautiful,” she said without thinking.
Paige paused, a slight smile on her face. “Tired?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Why don’t you get undressed and go to bed?”
“If I do, will you wake me when you come home?”
Paige nodded. “Get some rest.”
CJ watched her go, feeling her eyelids getting heavy. When she heard the door close, she made herself get up. She should shower, she knew, but she simply didn’t have the energy. She stripped out of her jeans and crawled under the covers.
Chapter Five
Paige woke to the smell of delicious coffee. She opened her eyes to find CJ standing beside the bed, a cup of the steaming liquid in her hands. She pushed up on her elbows, taking in CJ’s appearance. She was already showered and dressed.
“What time is it?”
“Six.”
“What time are we meeting the guys?”
“Seven.”
Paige groaned and lay back down. “Why again so early?”
“Traffic.” CJ put the coffee on the bedside table. “Come on. I made your favorite.”
“Guatemala Antigua?”
“Yes.”
Paige sat up again. “I didn’t get back until midnight.”
“You were supposed to wake me,” CJ reminded her.
“You were sleeping like a baby,” she said with a smile. “I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.”
CJ nodded, then pointed at the coffee. “Up,” she said. “I’ll take your bags down while you shower.”