She stood, finally ready to be on her feet again. “How do you know it’s not me? Maybe I want to be wild.” Something in his expression changed, though he quickly banked it. “What? Why’d you look like that?”
“I don’t feel comfortable with you exploring that part of yourself here. What if you’re drugged again, and I’m not the guy who gets you?”
She sank down to the bed as a dark possibility hit her. “If I hadn’t been chosen for you, I might have been…would have been…”
“Yeah, don’t go there. I already have, plenty. The thought gives me the heebie-jeebies. But I also keep thinking that there were other guys meeting with Willie that night. Which means other women were drugged. I need to find and interview them.”
“And they’ll need support. I…can’t imagine waking up with a stranger, knowing we had sex but having no memory of it. It was disturbing enough to wake up with someone I sort of know.” She stood again. “Willie set me up to be raped. To be prostituted out, for God’s sake! I want to help—need to help—in honor of my father’s memory. Of what he stood for.”
He shook his head. “Not a good idea.”
“I can help you.”
“How’s that?”
“I know how I felt when I first woke up this morning. The shame. Embarrassment. Confusion. It was terrible. If a woman’s just gone through that, it’s going to show on her face. You think she’s going to confide in some guy?”
“She may have woken up in her own room, too. Willie offered to save the ‘awkward morning-after conversation’ by collecting you and taking you to your room. Of course, I told him no way in hell. But I can see how that would be easier for him. Less chance of a guy spilling what actually happened to the woman. So she wakes up alone, knowing she had sex but having no idea who it even was.” He muttered an expletive at the thought.
“I’m going back to my room to shower and change, and then I’m going to have a smoothie at the Hangover Hut. That’s about all I can tolerate right now, and I bet any other woman who was drugged last night will feel the same. You with me?”
Chapter 6
Sax didn’t like Jennessy being involved in this one iota. Okay, one tiny part of him did like her being around (and no, he was not referring to that part), but the rest of him wanted her on the next plane out of here. She was supposed to be wrecked from a hangover, but apparently his concoction had worked too well. Her movements were a little sluggish, her eyes a bit bloodshot, but she had fire. Not to mention outrage.
He donned his nonthreatening look, ready to coax potential victims into opening up, then into giving him a urine sample and a statement. He still had a few hours before the drug left their systems.
At least that was the plan. But Jennessy had a point—she could approach these women more easily. What was the worst that could happen? She knew the delicacy of the situation, she was motivated to keep his investigation secret, and in two days, she’d fly back to her life.
The pop music at the Hangover Hut was drowned out periodically by either the blender or the scream of the espresso steamer. The sea breeze was enhanced by the smell of fresh brewed coffee. As Sax headed to the bar for a cup, he scanned the people sitting at the scattered tables in the courtyard.
Okay, not the people. Admit it. You’re looking for Jennessy. She was studying a woman at a nearby table and didn’t see him. The sight of her, sunglasses in place, hair pulled into a bun, sipping on a bright orange frozen drink, caused a spinning sensation in his chest. He’d felt something like it before, when he’d had to dive off a ship or else be shot by a pirate. He’d gotten turned around as he plunged into the water and was disoriented for a few moments. He rubbed his stomach as he watched her.
Jennessy wore a loose top that hung off her shoulders, baring golden skin to the sun. Her shorts were tight, coming to mid-thigh and showcasing long legs that ended in gold sandals. Palm trees and blue water in the distance framed her, making her more enticing than any of those photos on the resort’s website. She wrapped her lips around her straw and sucked, and that flip moved lower. The last thing he needed was to show up with a woody. He reminded himself of why he was there, which was first to get a cuppa brew and then to scan for possible victims.
“The strongest coffee you have, but no steamed milk or expressed coffee or whatever you call it. Just a normal cup.” There was something wrong about there being foam floating like pond scum on his coffee. He took the proffered cup and added milk and sugar.
A woman who looked like hell stumbled up to the bar. “A very large coffee, please.”
“Morning,” Sax said, putting on his most charming smile. “Had too much fun last night, eh?”
She grimaced, then turned to the barista. “I’m not talking to any man right now. Except you. And after you give me my coffee, I’m not talking to you either.”
Had she been drugged, too? “Sounds like boyfriend trouble,” Sax prodded.
“Men suck.” She turned a narrowed-eyed look at him. “The prettier they are, the more they suck. Threesome,” she muttered, taking the cup and leaving. “Oh, but honey, it’ll be fun,” she mimicked sourly.
Not drugged, then. Sax leaned against the bar to survey the courtyard.
One brunette was sitting by herself at a table near the edge, her head in her hands. She was on her cell phone. “It’s how much to change my flight? But it’s only one day difference!” She hung up and dropped her phone on the table in disgust.
Jennessy wandered over to the woman. “You look like you feel as bad as I do. Mind if I join you? Misery loves company, right?”
The woman’s mouth twitched in a semblance of a smile that quickly faded. “Sure, though I doubt anyone is as miserable as I am.”
Jennessy’s gaze slid to Sax as she sank into the chair. She gave him a maybe tilt of her hand before turning back to the woman. “Maybe I am. I woke up in some strange man’s room with no memory of even meeting him.” Jennessy put genuine regret and confusion into her voice. “I feel like such a slut. I never do things like that.”
The woman gripped Jennessy’s forearm, her eyes wide. “That’s what happened to me! Not the waking up in someone’s room part. I was in my room, thank God. Alone. But I knew something had happened. And I’m terrified. Did I use protection?” She gestured to the people wandering around. “It could be anyone! Every man I see, I wonder: Was it him? I just want to go home,” she said, plaintiveness in her voice. “But it’s two hundred dollars to change my flight, and I can’t afford that.”
“Do you remember drinking a lot? I went from slightly buzzed to black-out drunk, just like that.” Jennessy snapped her finger.
“That’s exactly how I felt. Well, maybe a bit more than slightly buzzed, but not drunk by any means. I remember being at the toga party, then going to the restroom. I have a fuzzy memory of someone offering me a cherry Jell-O shot in one of those little plastic cups. Then nothing.”
Holy shit. A perfect way to deliver the drug. Since it wasn’t a drink, even a woman armed with the coasters designed to detect the drug probably wouldn’t test it. Especially if it was given to her by a member of the staff.
Jennessy was whispering to the woman but her gaze was on Sax. After a minute, she gave him a subtle nod, then stood. The woman took her drink and followed, meandering down the path to Sax’s room. He trailed behind them, catching up as they reached his door.
No one spoke until they were inside. “I’m Sax,” he said, holding out his hand.
She tentatively took it. “Mona. You’re an investigator?”
“Private, yes. Jennessy explained how important it is that you not say anything about that, right?”
She nodded. “The police are looking into this?”
“We are determining if there’s a problem.” He wasn’t about to say that the resort itself was suspect. “There are places where date rape drugs are used more often than others. We’re looking for a pattern, a source. That’s why I need to test you to make sure that’s what we have h
ere. And I’ll need a statement, along with your contact information. We’ll need your help if this ever becomes a formal investigation.”
Mona hesitated, then turned to Jennessy. “So, your story about this happening to you was a cover?”
“No, it really did happen.” Jennessy gestured to Sax. “I’ve already given him my statement. And my pee.” Jennessy smiled in that and I’m so happy about that part way. “Please, do the same.”
“Date rape…” The woman’s face contorted painfully. “I was raped?”
Jennessy put her hand on the woman’s arm, her own fear clear on her somber expression. “You were given a drug with the intent for someone to have sex with you without your consent. I know it’s a harsh word, but that’s what it was.”
Sax was getting out one of the test cups. “Don’t blame yourself. You did not invite this. And the men who buy into this program are told to wear a condom. While it’s obviously not enforced, we can hope they comply. Though, of course, you’ll want to get tested anyway.” He handed her the cup and gestured to the bathroom. “Take your time. You can leave the cup on the counter.”
“This will tell me what I was given?”
“Yes.” He could tell Mona badly wanted to know.
Jennessy walked close to Sax when the woman closed the door behind her. Her fingers curled over his biceps, fear stark on her face. “I can’t imagine how it would feel if I hadn’t gotten you.”
He brushed his hand against her cheek. “It makes me sick to think about it. About what happened to Mona. I want to do more than document the problem. I want to squash it.” Anger and disgust stormed inside him. And determination. He’d felt the same way when they were being briefed on an assault mission, knowing the bad guys were inside a compound preparing to annihilate a base full of Marines. He patted Jennessy’s hand before moving toward the refrigerator. “I’m going to make her one of those drinks I gave you.”
The door opened, and Mona came out. She wrapped her arms around herself, cinching the baggy shirt she was wearing.
“I’d like to make you a drink that will help clear that crap out of your system.” He showed her what he was putting into the cup, listing every ingredient.
“It helped me a lot,” Jennessy said. “I’m tired, have a bit of a headache, but otherwise I feel okay.”
As Mona drank, Sax checked the test cup. He took a picture of the indicator, and came back out to find the women sitting on the bed, Jennessy rubbing Mona’s back. “Ketamine, just like Jennessy.”
“I don’t know if I want to give a statement.” Mona started moving toward the door. “If I have to testify, they’ll just say I was drunk. And I was.”
Sax blocked her path. “We need to shut this down. You may not have to testify, but I need your information in case the investigators have follow-up questions.”
She seemed to struggle with that but eventually nodded. When they were finished with the statement, Sax said, “I’d like to give you the money to change your ticket. I know how much you want to go home.”
Relief washed over her expression. “So much. Thank you.”
He handed her two hundred-dollar bills. “I want you to note that I offered you the money after you willingly gave your testimony. I don’t want it to be interpreted as a bribe.”
Mona paused outside her door once Sax and Jennessy escorted her back to her room. “I’m going to sleep for a few hours. After I change my flight. And take another shower.” She shuddered.
Jennessy rubbed her arm in empathy. “Do you want me to stay with you for a while?”
“I appreciate that, but it would feel weird having someone in the room with me while I sleep. But…will you come with me to the airport?”
“Absolutely. I’ll give you my number, and you can call me when you make your flight arrangements.”
They made their way back to Hangover Hut, but Sax pulled her aside before they reached it. “You okay? Hearing her story seemed to shake you up.”
“It did, just making me think about the what-ifs. But it was worth it. We have another witness.”
“You did a good job back there. You’re right; she wouldn’t have opened up like that to me.”
Jennessy gave him a proud grin. “So, you need me.”
There went that flip in his stomach again. “Yeah, I guess I do.” And now, shift your eyes away from hers, nice and steady, step back, and—
His body reacted exactly counter to his mind, leaning down, his mouth touching hers. His gaze never wavered as he saw her eyes widen, filled with surprise and desire and surrender before they drifted shut. Then he saw nothing because he lost himself in the kiss, too. Her mouth softened beneath his, opened to invite him in to explore all those lovely textures. Warm, fruity, the ridges of her teeth and the smoothness of her tongue as it tangled with his. Dayum but she always tasted so good.
He stepped closer, flattening her up against him. Her arms slid around his waist, pressing all those curves close. This time he could enjoy the kiss. No subterfuge, no morality. He trailed his thumb along her jawline, his fingers stroking her cheek. His other hand stroked her back, along her spine and down to the dip just above her waistband.
He wanted to stay there forever, at least for an hour or so. He’d never felt such pleasure from a mere kiss. She exhaled softly, her fingers tightening at his hips.
He wrapped his hand around the back of her head, softened the kiss, and pressed his forehead to hers. “Now you know how much I wanted you when you kissed me at the terminal.” Since that was more than obvious at the moment. Ahem.
She groaned. “That was so embarrassing.”
He made himself step back. “It was not a happy moment for me either.”
“And you know what was going through my mind when I threw myself at you? That you were the opposite of Lane as far as looks, and I wanted to get as far away from that type as possible.” Her voice lowered. “But in reality, you have a lot of the same characteristics: great-looking, charismatic, confident. Even the blond hair, though you’re eyes are way prettier.” She pressed her finger to her lower lip. “So, was I drawn to those aspects of you even though I couldn’t see them? And is that because those attributes are my type? Or my comfort zone?” Rhetorical questions, obviously, since he couldn’t answer them. She regarded him. “Though you definitely don’t feel comfortable.”
He chuckled. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.” Comfortable could be a pair of old slippers or a soft, warm blanket.
“Ms. Jennessy, how you feel this morning?”
Willie’s voice behind him felt like a hot spike thrust into Sax’s back.
Jennessy turned toward Willie, visibly tensing as she no doubt fought to keep anger and disgust from her expression. “Not so hot. I think I had too much to drink last night. Which is odd, since I don’t remember drinking that much.”
Willie tensed too when he saw that Sax was still with his drugging victim. “All those fruity drinks can sneak up on you. It happens a lot around here.”
Yeah, that’s what Sax was worried about. His fingers clenched at his sides while he maintained a casual expression.
“Maybe we’ll see you at the mixer in an hour,” Willie said. “Limbo dancing, body shots.” He took them in. “But maybe you have found what you’re looking for.” His smile was forced, nothing like that overly bright one he usually wore. “I’ll be in the office until the mixer starts if you want to update your information. Enjoy your day.” He scooted away with his efficient gait, his legs trucking while the rest of his body hardly moved at all. With a clipboard tucked against his chest, he scanned as he went. Sax wanted to get his hands on that clipboard. The more he could document, the better the chance of making a case stick.
If it went that far. Because he wanted to snap this guy’s neck. He took a deep breath, quelling his outrage and disgust. “I need to build a package on Willie, find out if this is his scheme or the resort’s. I doubt he could run something like this without someone higher up being
involved. I know your education is geared for the analytical and scientific aspects of investigating, but you up for a little undercover work?”
“If it stops this business, yes.” Determination glittered in her brown eyes.
Here was another aspect of this investigation where she could be of help. Because this wasn’t the kind of mission where guns and strength factored in, as Chase had said, it was safer to involve Jennessy. They needed to gather intel, and she was the perfect person to do it. He just needed to make sure he didn’t get too involved with her.
—
Jennessy stepped into Saxby’s room, which was more familiar than her own. Her gaze went to the rumpled bed while Saxby unlocked his safe. He had lain there with her, he’d said. Taken care of her while she’d been out of it. How closely had he held her? Had he whispered reassuring things in her ear?
“You introduced yourself to Mona as Sax,” Jennessy said instead of asking those other questions.
“I usually go by Sax. You can call me either.”
He unlocked yet another box that contained a laptop and set it up on the small table near the window. His black swim trunks fit nicely, just tight enough to mold a fine derrière and muscular thighs. He wore a white cotton shirt loose over his waistband, and when he raised his arms, she saw a slice of his washboard abs.
He pulled the second chair next to his and patted it in an invitation to join him. Within a minute he’d entered a passcode and tapped across the keys in that endearing way some men had, two-fingered but fast as heck.
A handsome black man’s face appeared on the screen. “This is Darius Mitchell, the owner of the resort. He’s also a well-known retired football player who doesn’t seem to have a lot of day-to-day involvement here. You might remember that he was accused of drugging and raping a woman a few years back. The case was dropped due to lack of evidence, but I find it interesting given what we have here. He is now involved in several charities.”
Jennessy sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Lane was furious when Darius was suspended pending the investigation. He wasn’t exonerated in a lot of people’s books. Lack of evidence doesn’t mean innocent,” she said. “I remember hearing that for every woman who reports a rape, there are many others who don’t for various reasons. There’s no telling how many women might be afraid to go up against someone like him, especially since the first case was dropped.”
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