Biloxi Blue (The Biloxi Series Book 2)

by Jerri Ledford

  Kate nodded at Conner’s comment about the voicemail. “It’s a long story. I figured it would be easier to come on over here than to try to call you back and explain it.”

  Conner nodded, grabbed the computer from Caleb and headed to a long desk with a double row of computer monitors hanging above it. “Alright then. Tell me about this.” She busied herself connecting the box to her bank of displays.

  These days Conner was one of the most well-known, ethical hackers in the U.S. She made more money than Kate could even fathom by doing what she loved to do the most – finding the weaknesses in corporate security protocols. She’d started small, but word gets around fast when someone who is barely old enough to have a beer can hack into your corporate network and wipe all your data clean.

  In Biloxi, Conner worked mostly with casinos, hacking into their systems and then building security programs and protocols to prevent others from doing the same. Considering the casinos had millions of dollars at stake at any given time, they were more than willing to pay her top dollar to help protect it.

  “So, why did you bring me this little pretty?” Conner prompted Kate again.

  She had the machine booted up and a duplicate of the desktop showing on three monitors.

  “It’s part of an investigation. I need you to help me track some data on the machine.”

  “What about your tech department. Too mundane for them?” Conner sounded bored.

  “Oh, the tech department tried. Seth said it was beyond his skill level.” Kate glanced in Caleb’s direction. He sat off to the side, watching, but said nothing. Kate could feel his eyes on her. Her skin warmed and she had to remind herself that she wasn’t interested. She wanted Jack. Even if she wasn’t sure Jack still wanted her.

  Conner plopped into her chair and spun around to face Kate. “Seth couldn’t get into this?” Conner’s tone projected confusion. Seth and Conner had never met. They knew of each other. Had even exchanged occasional messages about something one or the other was working on, but that was as close as they’d ever gotten.

  “I didn’t say he couldn’t get into it.” Kate lifted her eyebrows at Conner. “That he had no problem with. It’s the disappearing data that’s an issue.”

  “Explain.” Conner’s voice quivered.

  She loves a good conquest.

  Kate held back the smile she felt trying to turn her lips up. This was serious. Even if she did like to bring Conner this kind of surprise.

  She explained everything that Seth had told them about the data eraser protocol and stressed that she needed as much of the data intact as possible.

  “It’s never easy with you, is it?” Conner didn’t sound disappointed though. She looked pointedly at Caleb. “Nice to meet you.” She spun back to the computer and monitors leaving Kate and Caleb staring at her back.

  Kate knew she wanted them to leave. She didn’t like to work with an audience. Kate wasn’t offended. That was Conner and this was her obsession.

  Kate caught Caleb’s attention and inclined her head toward the door. “We should go.”

  Caleb stood, but turned to stare at Conner’s back. “When will you have something for us?” He asked.

  Kate cringed. She knew it was a question that Conner hated. She would have answers when she had them, and she always worked as fast as she could.

  “Don’t know,” Conner said. Kate could hear the tightness in her voice. “I’ll call you when it’s done.” Kate was surprised. Conner maintained her civility. An unusual response for the young woman when she was questioned. Maybe she liked Caleb? They’d hardly spoken, but Conner was a good judge of character. She knew almost instantly whether she liked and trusted a person, and in Kate’s experience, she was rarely wrong.

  “Good enough.” Caleb started toward the door.

  Kate stood for a moment, watching first Conner’s back and then Caleb’s. Something had just happened, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. For the few words that were exchanged, there was a lot of communication going on, and Kate didn’t understand one bit of it. She shook her head. She was probably reading way more into that situation than was actually there.

  TWENTY-THREE

  “Frankie why are we doing this?” Brian “Bubba” McKenzie was getting under Frankie's skin. They might be relatives, but there was no blood between them and Frankie would be glad to have him out of the picture.

  “I've already explained this to you.” Frankie gripped the steering wheel until his fingers hurt. “This kid has a rap sheet a mile long. He's probably the one who killed that woman.”

  “And it's not likely that Kate will be able to pin this on him. But-”

  “No but'“ Frankie said through gritted teeth. “And leave Kate out of this.”

  “Yeah. I forgot. You're sweet on her.”

  Frankie released his grip on the steering wheel. He'd had enough. His hand slid to the gun tucked between the seats. He would deal with cleaning this mess up later.

  “There he is.” McKenzie pointed at Brandon Causey as he exited the main Ingram Logistics corporate offices.

  You just bought yourself a little more life, Bubba.

  Bubba had no idea how lucky he was.

  Frankie watched intently as Brandon disappeared between two buildings.

  “We gonna follow him?” McKenzie's whining voice grated on Frankie's nerves. Frankie briefly considered killing the worm again, but his common sense kicked in. Now was the time to deal with Causey. He could take care of Bubba later. There was a ‘gator somewhere in the swamp that would appreciate a good meal. Until then, Frankie had other things to take care of and Bubba might still have a role to play.

  Maybe if he got rid of Brandon Causey, Kate's case would go cold. Maybe she would finally realize police work wasn't what she was meant to do. Getting to her would be a lot easier if she wasn't always surrounded by cops.

  Frankie didn’t answer McKenzie’s question. He pulled the gun from between the seats and pushed out of the truck.

  “Where’s he going? What’s the plan?”

  Frankie shut the door. The sound of large cranes and other machinery busy loading and unloading ships and moving cargo at the port behind the warehouses covered the solid thunk of the door slamming shut. He gritted his teeth to keep from cussing the other man and tucked the gun into his waistline.

  What he wanted to do was use that gun on Bubba. One bullet. It will take one bullet then I won't have to deal with the sniveling cooyon again.

  True. But he would have to deal with the body and he wasn't quite ready for that yet. There would be time to deal with him later.

  “Just shut up and come on,” Frankie cut through the shadows to edge against the building he’d seen Causey enter. The door to the warehouse was covered in shadow. Frankie stopped and looked to the roofline of the surrounding buildings. There were security cameras but if they timed it right, and stayed in the shadows, they should be okay.

  “Follow me.” He pointed to the cameras. “And keep your head down.”

  Frankie glanced around to make sure no one else was out, then walked to the door and twisted the knob. The latch released, but the door didn’t move. He pulled at it with strength born of a lifetime working in an oilfield. The door popped open with the grating sound of rusted metal.

  Frankie stood in the open doorway, listening. It was hard to hear anything over the noise from the shipping port, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He stepped into the dark warehouse with McKenzie right on his heels.

  “Go that way,” Frankie leaned in and whispered. He indicated the right section of the warehouse. “If you find him, don’t kill him. We need to have a chat before he dies.”

  McKenzie lumbered off in the direction Frankie indicated. Frankie turned to the left section of the warehouse and within a minute he caught sight of Causey descending a set of stairs across from where he stood. He angled toward the stairs, staying in the shadows and out of Causey’s line of sight.

  Causey stepped off the bottom s
tair into Frankie’s meaty fist. He crumpled to the floor.

  Frankie grabbed one limp arm and drug him across the warehouse floor. Near the entrance was a desk with a rolling chair pushed under it. Frankie lifted the unconscious man into the chair and secured him in place with zip ties around his wrists and ankles, and then steered the chair between two shipping containers sitting in the middle of the warehouse floor. It wasn’t the most secluded location, but it was hidden enough that Causey wouldn’t be the first thing seen by anyone coming into the warehouse.

  By the time he was done, Causey was starting to come to.

  Frankie grabbed his chin and shook his face. “Shake it off boy. We need to talk.”

  Causey looked at Frankie through hazy eyes for a long moment before comprehension followed by fear registered on his face.

  “What do you want?” His voice was fuzzy and weak.

  “I want you to tell me why you killed that girl?” Frankie leaned in close to Causey’s face and focused on him with a hard stare.

  “What girl?” Confusion pinched Causey’s features.

  “Don’t play stupid with me,” Frankie’s fist shot out and caught Causey right beneath the eye. The skin split and blood dripped down his face.

  Causey’s head drooped to the side.

  “Hey now. Don’t you go passing out again.” Frankie shook the kid’s head again. “Ain’t got time for ‘dat. Come on back here and tell me what you did son.” The Cajun accent was back, thick. Frankie didn’t even try to correct it.

  “You mean Beth?” Causey’s words slurred together. He tried to lift his head, but it drooped to the side again.

  “Ayuh. What ‘chu done, Boy?”

  “I didn’t kill her. I swear.”

  “You ‘spect me to believe dat?” Frankie’s fist flashed forward again, this time catching the kid in the mouth. His lip split and his head dropped back.

  Blood from the cut filled his mouth and he rocked forward as far as his restraints would let him, coughing. He spit blood and a tooth into his lap, trying to clear his mouth.

  “It wasn’t me.” Now he was pleading. “I don’t know who killed her.”

  “You lying,” Frankie growled. He grabbed a fistful of Causey’s hair and tipped his head back so that Causey was looking into his eyes. “You been gettin’ away with your criminal activity so long now, you think you invincible. I know you kilt her.”

  Frankie reached for the gun at his waist and thought better of it. Instead he pulled a folding knife from its clip at his side. He slipped open the six blade. Causey deserved exactly what he’d done to the woman that he killed.

  He moved behind Causey, keeping his hand balled in the kid’s greasy hair.

  “I didn’t. I didn’t kill her. I didn’t.” Causey’s voice was tight from having his head pulled back. His words slurred by the busted lip and missing tooth. “Please. I didn’t kill her.”

  Frankie didn’t respond. He placed the blade of the knife just below Causey’s jaw bone, pressed it into the skin, and sliced cleanly across the throat to the other side, just below his ear.

  Blood fountained from the wound, covering the front of Causey’s clothes. Frankie released his hair. Causey’s head fell back, the wound gaping open.

  Frankie stood still, watching. Fascinated as the fountain of blood slowed to a dribble. It didn’t matter to him whether the kid killed that woman or not. Maybe he did. Maybe he didn’t. Either way, the kid was a bad seed. More importantly, his death would slow down, maybe even stop Kate’s investigation. That alone was worth watching the boy die.

  “Frankie, ain’t nobody in…” Bubba stepped around a container and stopped, his sentence forgotten as he took in the scene. “What happened?”

  “He lied.” Frankie wiped the knife on an oily cloth he’d found lying on the desk then dropped it into the growing puddle of blood on the floor.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  Frankie stood at Kate’s front door, trying to bring himself to knock.

  Quit being chicken, boy. This isn’t a date. Kate only asked you to escort her because she’s trying to get back at Jack, and you’re supposed to be her partner.

  Intellectually, Frankie did know that. He’d even considered telling her no. But something inside him wouldn’t allow that. He wasn’t even sure why. All he knew was that in this moment, he felt like he was back in high school, picking up his date for prom.

  “Quit being a sissy,” he muttered and then tapped lightly on the door with his knuckles.

  “It’s open.” Kate’s voice floated through the door from somewhere within the house.

  He let himself in. “Kate. It’s Caleb.” He awkwardly held the flowers he’d picked up on the way over in front of his chest and stayed by the door. This wasn’t his first time coming into Kate’s apartment, but his momma would be mortified if she knew he’d come in without someone else opening the door for him. If he ventured beyond the front room she would probably roll over in her grave.

  “Sorry, I was just finishing up.” Kate stepped through a doorway a few feet in front of him.

  Frankie caught his breath. She was dressed in a medium blue, strapless evening gown. It fit snugly around her chest accentuating her figure, and flowed to the floor in soft folds of gauzy fabric. Her pale shoulders glistened as she moved. It reminded him of staring at a summer sky. Clouds floating in a sea of blue. Tranquility.

  “You look stunning.” He couldn’t keep the wonder from his voice. He’d only seen Kate in slacks or jeans before tonight. His heart thudded. Despite her tough exterior, Kate was all woman.

  She blushed and glanced down at the floor. “Thank you. Would you help me with this necklace?” She held the necklace toward him.

  “I will.” He handed her the flowers he’d carried in and could feel the heat of a flush rise when she lifted her eyebrows at him. The tug of a smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

  “Thank you.” She lifted the flowers to her nose and inhaled deeply. The sparkle in her eyes caused Frankie’s breath to hitch. For a minute, he considered taking her away right now, but it would be risky, and he wasn’t quite ready for that kind of risk.

  She would be worth it.

  Of that, he had no doubt. He took a deep breath. The timing wasn’t right.

  Soon. Very soon.

  He took the necklace from her and she turned her back to him. He caught his breath at the sight of bare skin that went nearly down to the base of her spine. He gulped back the urge to run his hands over that skin. “You really don’t need this.” He kept his voice steady as he struggled with the tiny clasp. “You have all the beauty you need without these baubles.” He traced a finger along her neck and across one shoulder but made himself stop there.

  “Those are not baubles.” Kate shivered.

  “I didn’t mean they were fake. I meant that true beauty doesn’t need any adornment.” He straightened the necklace so that it hung perfectly centered on her bare chest. Kate didn’t need that necklace, but he had to admit he loved the way it accentuated her skin.

  “Oh. Thank you. Again.” She turned back to face him, looked him up and down. “You really know how to wear a tux.”

  “Thank you. My momma taught me how to be a gentleman. Besides, I’ve been to a few Mardi Gras balls in my time.” He flashed a smile at her. This might not be a real date, but he was going to enjoy every minute of the evening as long as she was right beside him.

  “You never did tell me what this whole charity ball is all about.”

  Kate picked up a small evening bag and a scarf. “It’s really nothing. An opportunity to meet and greet. Rub shoulders with some of the more influential people in Biloxi. And maybe give back a little bit.”

  “Give back to what?” Caleb pulled the door open for Kate.

  “The Police Explorer’s Program.” Kate stepped into the breezeway and locked the door behind them.

  “Sounds like a bunch of law enforcement types looking for a reason to drink.”

  Kate laughed. “Not
really. There are usually some pretty interesting people at this fundraiser. The department needs officers and detectives to get involved in causes around town. The mayor likes it, too. He says it gives the department a better image.”

  “So, he’ll be there?”

  “Probably.” Kate stopped abruptly, causing Caleb to nearly run over her. She stared, mouth hanging open, at the 1968 Mustang convertible parked at the bottom of the stairs with the top down.

  “Something wrong?”

  “Wrong? No. It’s beautiful.” The awe in her voice made Caleb smile.

  “I thought you might like it.” He helped her into the passenger’s seat. The car had been a last-minute decision. He’d borrowed it from a friend, because he knew how Kate liked to drive. He suspected muscle cars were her passion, and he wanted to entice her. If she fell for him, taking her would be easier. He could give her anything she wanted. She just needed to know her place.

  “This is my dream car. The exact car I’ve wanted since I was in high school,” she said as he walked around the car and settled himself into the driver’s seat. “Even the color.” She ran a hand over a Brittany Blue dashboard that was a couple of shades lighter than the color of her dress.

  “I’ve had this car since I was fifteen.” The lie was spontaneous, but Frankie felt like it would appeal to her. “My dad helped me get it running. I’ve been working on it ever since, restoring and modifying it as I have time. I only drive it for special occasions.” He turned the key in the ignition and the car rumbled to life.

  “Wow. It sounds amazing. How does it drive?” The sparkle in Kate’s eye ratcheted up the anticipation that had been building for Frankie all day.

  The night seemed to hold a lot of promise. “Do you want to drive it?”

  They swapped places and Frankie settled into the passenger seat. When Kate pressed the accelerator and merged onto the interstate she laughed aloud and Frankie couldn’t help but smile. Life with her would be good. Eventually.

  He had ridden with her often enough over the past few days that he trusted she could handle this car. He glanced over at her and his smile widened. Her thick blonde hair whipped around her face, but she didn’t seem to notice. In fact, she seemed calmer and more relaxed than she had since he’d started working with her.