by J. D. Faver
“A blue blood, huh?” Vinnie looked at the two photographs side by side up on Aida’s screen.
“Not exactly,” Aida said. “Laurel was a beauty queen at eighteen. She was Miss Rhode Island or something like that. She caught the eye of Hobart Jobe when he was in his mid-fifties. Laurel is his third wife, but most significantly, she produced the all important male heir to carry on the Jobe name. He has daughters from his previous marriages, but little Hobart Jobe, III, is the apple of his doting daddy’s eye.”
“How do you know all this stuff, Aida,” Oz asked. “You’re amazing.”
Aida laughed. “I Googled her.”
Micki grimaced. “And Laurel Jobe was hugging some guy in public? Maybe it was innocent. Maybe he’s her brother? They both have brown hair.”
“Wrong,” Aida said. “He has brown hair. Hers is Sable Glow number three from the C’est Vous Salon.
“You didn’t find that on Google,” Micki accused.
“I have my ways,” Aida replied.
Micki raised her brows. “Who would have thought that my simple little photo shoot would stir up so much trouble?”
Oz glanced at her, then caught Vinnie’s eye. “There’s always trouble when you’re involved, Micki.”
Vinnie snickered.
Micki crossed her arms over her chest and skewered them with her gaze. “It could be completely innocent. If you guys go poking into this Jobe lady’s business there’s no telling what’ll happen. It might cause an otherwise happy family to split up.”
“Otherwise happy women don’t need an outside man to keep them company,” Oz said positively.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Aida said. “One for the money and one for the honey.”
Oz turned to gaze at her with raised eyebrows.
“Oh, grow up, Oz man,” Aida said. “You’re dating a stripper, for Crissake!”
Oz frowned at Micki and ran his fingers through his thick hair. “I’m not dating a...a dancer any longer.”
Micki felt a twinge of relief over hearing him admit it in public.
“Good,” Aida said. “A nice boy like you could get some terrible disease from all those lap dances.”
Vinnie snorted in laughter and Oz turned a shade of red Micki had never seen before.
#
CHAPTER EIGHT
Oz dropped Vinnie by his car and took Micki to a drive through restaurant. At the apartment, Micki spread their fare on the coffee table. She scooted over so Oz could join her on the sofa.
“Tough couple of days.” She reached for her hamburger.
“Understatement. Major understatement.” Oz bit into his burger.
“You nabbed an armed fugitive in the restaurant last night and a dead man floats to the surface of the lake today. Is this what your life is all about now?”
“Pretty much.”
“Also, the woman in the park was Laurel Jobe and the sniper was on top of one of the Jobe buildings. Is that a coincidence?”
He snorted. “I don’t believe in coincidence.”
Micki turned sideways to curl her legs under her, giving Oz the benefit of her double-barrel stare. “And when were you going to mention to me that your Lieutenant Qualls wants to transfer you to Homicide?”
Oz stuffed a handful of fries in his mouth, she suspected to preclude an immediate answer.
“Homicide, Oz, as in death.” She gave him total silence, willing to wait him out.
“It’s a promotion, Micki,” he said. “The Lieutenant encouraged me to study for the Sergeant’s exam. I passed and he thinks I’ve got what it takes.”
Micki continued to give him the stare.
Oz shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s no more dangerous than being a street cop. In fact it may be less so.”
“I’m not buying it.”
He grinned his one-sided grin. “It sounds like you give a damn what happens to me.”
Micki slammed her hamburger back down on the table. “Well, of course I do. Don’t be an idiot.”
“In that case, I’ll set your mind at ease and let you know that, statistically there are far fewer deaths and injuries among homicide cops than street cops.”
Micki rolled her eyes. “You invented that statistic!” She stabbed a French fry into ketchup and bit it viciously.
Oz removed a dab of ketchup from her chin with his thumb and licked it off.
Micki caught her breath. Oz could turn the simplest thing into a sexual act. The next sentence she’d planned to say faded from her thoughts as her anger ebbed away to be replaced by longing. She was unable to protest when he reached for her and kissed her tenderly.
“I’m flattered that you’re worried about me, Micki.”
He kissed her again and grazed her cheeks with his fingertips. “But, don’t worry. I’m a big guy and I’m pretty good at my job. I promise not to take any unnecessary chances.”
Micki took a deep breath and cleared her throat which had suddenly become husky. She nodded and leaned against Oz’ shoulder. “You better not.”
#
The fact that Micki was worried about him made him hopeful. At least she cared enough to bitch at him.
She announced the intention of taking a shower, leaving him to clear the remains of their meal and check the locks.
He stored his gun in the drawer of the bedside table and unfastened his ankle holster, tucking it beside the other weapon. He unbuttoned his shirt and heard the water start in the shower. In a moment he’d dropped his clothes and stood naked outside the bathroom door.
He knew there was some reason Micki didn’t want to make love to him even though the attraction was still obviously there. He thought it was about commitment.
I’ve only got one chance to make this right.
He turned the knob and entered the bathroom. Steam had fogged up the mirror in spite of the exhaust fan. Oz stepped behind the curtain and gazed at Micki standing under the shower.
She was crying.
“Aw, Micki...” He pulled her out of the direct stream of water.
She looked surprised, but didn’t order him out. Oz held her gaze locked with his. He stroked her arms with his fingertips, willing her to leap into his embrace.
“Come on, Micki. I can’t do it all. Give me something.” His heart pounded as he reached for her.
A single tear rolled down her wet cheek. Micki opened her arms and raised her trembling chin. That was enough.
Oz lifted her, cradling her head in his hand as he kissed her lips. She tasted like tears. Her arms came around his neck and she kissed him fiercely, clinging to him as though she was drowning. The ache that had lived in his chest dissolved in a warm glow.
Her body was like silk beneath his fingers. He stroked her breast and pressed against the length of her, his hands sliding over her curves.
Her legs wrapped around his torso and he grinned. There it is. An engraved invitation. Micki and Oz are together again. He’d make sure she remembered this night as long as she lived.
He touched her and caressed her body as he knew she liked to be touched. Micki nipped his shoulder, her teeth grazing his skin. He held her against the wall of the shower and teased her nipples with his tongue.
“Oz,” she whimpered his name, a note of urgency lingering in the air.
He entered her body and rocked her in his arms against the side of the shower, her body arching into his. Locking her legs behind him, she ground herself against him. It was as though no time had passed, as though she had never broken up with him. He thought the joining of their bodies signaled a reunion of their spirits, of their relationship. She held on as she rode him to her own rhythm.
She bit her lip and groaned as she climaxed while he gripped her tight against him and rubbed against the spot that gave her the most pleasure.
He brushed her wet hair away from her face enjoying the flush of her skin and the grin on her face. She opened her eyes to catch him grinning back at her. “That was great,” she gasped.
“I’m not
through with you,” he growled.
Her laughter reverberated off the glass tiles and echoed throughout her body. The muscle spasms gave him a delicious squeeze as he found her lips again. “Not by a long shot.” He reprised his efforts on her behalf, making sure she was thoroughly sated.
He finally surrendered to the pleasure of joining her orgasm. Her body arched against his as she rode the tidal wave engulfing them both.
He held her cradled in his arms in the steamy shower, her head against his shoulder and her legs still gripping his hips. He lifted her chin for another kiss before stepping under the rain shower again. Warm water caressed his skin, cooling the fires left smoldering. It pleased him that she clung to him, her breath rasping in his ear.
Oz wrapped her in a bath sheet and carried her to his bed. He draped her with the coverlet and gathered her in his arms, cuddling her in the curve of his body. He brushed her damp hair away from her neck, and kissed her nape and ear. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but he was afraid she wouldn’t say it back. He draped his arm across her and whispered, “Goodnight, Micki.”
She sighed. “Nite, Oz.”
#
Micki curled in Oz’ arms, his regular breathing assured her that he slept soundly. She knew she’d made a mistake, but she couldn’t stop grinning. It had been hard enough to resist Oz, but last night, when she’d felt completely vulnerable, he’d been there to offer comfort. And how.
She hadn’t meant to be a cry baby. She’d been choking back her tears, but when she stepped under the shower she had felt safe in letting it all out. The concern for Oz’ safety, the horror of the bloated body dragged from the lake and the fear stirred by having her windows shot out by a sniper. All of this had pushed her to need emotional release. She tried to rationalize her actions.
Micki grinned again. No, it’s all about Oz.
When he’d pulled her from under the shower there was no resisting. The look on his face had melted what little reserve she’d had and his kisses had done the rest.
Breaking up with Oz had hurt as much as ripping off body parts. Making love had been healing. She felt whole again, as though she’d come home.
She let out a deep breath. Their relationship wouldn’t be the same. There was no point in distancing herself from Oz because they were one person again. Whatever power he held over her was linked to their intense sexuality. Or maybe it was the other way around. Pleasing her gave Oz some kind of control over her and she couldn’t seem to take her power back.
Micki closed her eyes. She shouldn’t complain. She was in a good place. A whole legion of women would never experience such pleasure. But the pleasure was addictive. Even now, her body basked in an afterglow, dangerously close to igniting again and demanding more.
Micki opened her eyes. Today was Zondra’s wedding rehearsal. And she needed to pick up the proofs at the home of the newlyweds from her previous wedding shoot. That money was waiting to fall into her hands. Money she needed.
“Good morning.” His voice was deep and rough with sleep. He slid a hand under the bath sheet still wound around her, caressing her skin.
“Insatiable animal!” Micki removed his hand.
He kissed the rim of her ear, such a simple act, but it sent a jolt of lightning to her nether regions.
She fought her way out of the bath sheet. “Let me up,” she said. “I have a big day today.”
“I had a big night last night.” His smoky voice was getting to her.
“I did too.” She relaxed against him.
“You know how I feel about you, Micki.”
She nodded, afraid to say more.
“Don’t break my heart again. I couldn’t take it.”
Micki tried to swallow the barbed wire bundled at the back of her throat. She was silent a few moments, carefully considering her answer. “I couldn’t either, Oz. But there have to be some changes. I can’t be in a box.”
“I don’t understand.” He sat up, leaning over her with a concerned look on his face.
Her heart fluttered like wings beating against her ribs. “Can we talk about this later? I really do have a million things to do today.”
He nodded. “As long as we work it out, Micki. Don’t ever run away from me again.”
She turned back to look at him. “I didn’t run away.”
“Yes, you did. You wouldn’t explain why you were dumping me. You just cut me out of your life.”
“Oz, I couldn’t put my feelings into words then. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I couldn’t be what you wanted me to be.”
He gazed at her silently, his expression wrenching her heart.
Micki raised her hand to stroke the side of his face. “I never quit loving you. I just quit the box.”
“I don’t want to put you in a box,” he said.
His sincere expression tore a hole in her resolve. “We’ll talk about it later,” she said. “You have to go to your work and I have to go to mine...a wedding rehearsal.”
“I don’t feel good about you being out there when we haven’t caught the sniper.”
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll be careful.”
“And how are you going to dodge a sniper?”
“He got the memory card, two sets of proofs and he wrecked my computer. He’s got to think he has everything.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I’d die if anything happened to you.” He gazed at her a long moment.
She swallowed hard. “And I’d die if anything happened to you, so be careful. I’m in a different car, staying at a different address. How would he find me?”
“A professional can find anyone.”
“That’s so comforting,” she said. “Get up and go to work. I’ll see you after.”
#
“The body’s been identified.” Lieutenant Qualls spoke in his usual matter-of-fact monotone. “His name is Randal Knox. He has no family, but his girlfriend is waiting to identify him. You want to take this one, Osmond?”
“Yes, sir.” Oz knew Lieutenant Qualls favored him and was offering him an opportunity to prove himself. This was a step up the career ladder.
He escorted the young woman, who couldn’t have been more than nineteen, to the viewing room of the morgue. Although a thick pane of glass separated them from the immediate proximity of the body, Oz could smell the chemicals he knew saturated the air on the other side. He steeled himself, knowing the lake man presented as an unsightly corpse.
The young woman gasped and collapsed back against Oz when the face was uncovered. Her features contorted into a grimace as an agonized sound escaped from her throat.
Oz swallowed hard and nodded at the coroner’s assistant to cover the body. He led the grief-stricken woman to a small office to take her statement.
He brought her a glass of water while she tried to compose herself. Oz took a seat across the table from her and turned on a small recorder.
“Please state your name for the record.”
“Lissa Montgomery,” she said in a thin reedy voice.
“Please state the name of the deceased and describe your relationship to him.”
“His name was Randal Knox and he was my boyfriend.” She paused and took another swipe at her already reddened nose. “That is, he used to be my boyfriend. We broke up.”
“Can you tell me how you met Mr. Knox?” Oz asked.
“I met Randy at work.” She wiped her eyes and blew her nose heartily using the tissue Oz offered. “He works... worked at the Golden Coast Spa as a personal trainer. And he was a body builder. He was Mr. Ohio in 2005.”
“And you work at the spa as well?”
“No, I’m an au pair. It’s like a nanny. I take care of a small child and I live in the same building as the spa. I get to have spa privileges when I’m off.”
“That’s quite a perk for an au pair.”
“Don’t I know it,” she said. “Randy was really nice to me when we first started seeing each other, but lately he’s been kind of
irritable, like he’s always in a bad mood.”
Oz snapped to attention, recalling the dead man’s musculature. Steroids? “How was he different?”
“He was angry all the time. My dad wanted me to break up with him, but I was kind of afraid and, you know...I loved him.” She’d been staring down at the crumpled tissue in her hands, but she glanced up at Oz, her eyes pleading for understanding.
“I understand love,” he said softly.
“When I told him I wasn’t going to see him anymore he just exploded. He slapped me and choked me. My dad made me call the police and put a restraining order on him, but since we work in the same building it didn’t really matter. The judge said one of us should quit our jobs, but I’d never be able to get a position like this again.” Lissa took another tissue and blew her nose.
“When was the last time you saw the deceased?”
“I saw him last week. I think it was Monday. I was taking the baby to the park and Randy was at the front desk of the building talking to Leon, one of the security guards.” This brought another bout of tears.
When she’d composed herself Oz nodded for her to go on. “What happened then,” he asked.
“Randy must have said something about me because they both laughed when I walked by with the stroller.”
“And that was the last time you saw him?”
“Yes. I thought he must have quit and I was a little relieved, but I was still afraid he’d come back.”