by Lynn Emery
“We need to have the truth, Ms. Benoit,” Holmes said.
“You have it.” Nicole steadied her breathing in an attempt to slow her heart rate. Think! The men seemed content to stare at her in silence. The muted sound of ringing telephones and footsteps put her nerves on edge. Nicole felt as though all activity in the police station was aimed at proving her guilt. She willed herself not to panic.
“Well?” O’Connor cocked one eyebrow at her.
“Well what?” Nicole played for more time.
“I wouldn’t protect him if I were you,” he replied. “Reed hasn’t earned this kind of loyalty, ma’am.”
Nicole mentally grabbed pieces of information that seemed to fly toward her at the speed of light. Think! Then it struck her.
“Am I trying to frame him or save him?” Nicole stared at O’Connor.
“We’re following solid leads, Ms. Benoit. Believe me, Mr. Reed figures in somewhere and we’re going to find the trail,” Holmes said.
Nicole wasn’t impressed. She stood and looped her purse strap over one shoulder. “You’re just flinging out theories like a handful of darts hoping one or two hit the target. You people have more work to do on this case, like gathering reliable evidence. I suggest you get to it. Thieves and murderers are ahead of you.”
“Not for long,” Holmes replied.
“I’d be happy to help you in this investigation. Call me when you have real questions to ask. Goodbye.”
Nicole walked out. Her legs felt weak despite her show of bravado. She expected uniforms to converge on her and push her back into the room. Instead she made it out the front door and into the sunshine. Nicole gasped with relief and took in several deep breaths. She jumped at the deep voice over her shoulder.
“Did you believe them about me?” Marcus asked.
“I’m having a bad enough day as it is. Adding heart failure to the list won’t help.” Nicole pressed the heel of one hand to her forehead. Pain from a budding migraine thumped behind her eyes.
“Today wasn’t fun for me either. Not that my week was any better. I’m unemployed and under suspicion.” Marcus put on his sunglasses.
“Yeah, well, you walked out on your job. As for being under suspicion, you brought that on yourself as well. You’re protecting Shaun. I have to ask myself why.” Nicole glared at him.
“I’m standing by a friend. Something you obviously don’t think is important,” Marcus snapped back.
“Because you knew what he and Aliyah had planned?” she replied angrily.
“Okay, you answered my question. Just so you’ll know, I blew them off when O’Connor suggested you had a motive to kill Aliyah. There was nothing going on between her and I.”
“Whatever.” Nicole looked away and brushed back her hair with the flip of a hand.
“Yeah, whatever.”
“You need to—”
Nicole turned to face Marcus, but he was gone. All she saw was his broad back as he strode across the parking lot. She wanted to shout at him to come back. Instead she watched him walk toward his Acura. Somehow Nicole felt she’d made a mistake. As she headed for her car, two men in a dark green Ford Explorer stared at Marcus as they drove by. One of them was Shaun.
twenty-five
“You’re sure it was him?” Kelli Caldwell crossed her long legs.
“Yes.” Nicole dropped down onto Kelli’s russet sofa. “By the way, thanks for returning my calls.” The rest of the women from their networking group were avoiding her. Not that she could blame them, given the circumstances.
Kelli waved a hand. “Don’t give me props just yet. I thought about running in the opposite direction. But I know what being stuck with no support feels like.”
“I still think you’re wonderful,” Nicole replied with feeling. “Right now I don’t want to talk to my own family.”
“They shouldn’t have dumped you. Far as I’m concerned you were a helluva CEO. Kick ass at the board meeting.” Kelli lifted her mug of beer in salute.
“If you know any magic spells, put ’em in action. I’m gonna need all the help I can get.”
“Give them the facts. If they don’t accept it, then the decision had nothing to do with your skills. Believe it,” Kelli said.
Nicole managed a smile. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. So, Marcus is the real issue. Right?”
“Partly. I have a track record of being less than responsible, too. But to be honest, our affair really set them off. Especially my parents.” Nicole groaned. “I can just hear my mother. ‘Stanton, Nicole has lost what little common sense she got from my side of the family.’”
“Sounds like my mama. I feel for you, girl.” Kelli shook her head slowly and sipped more beer. “Shaun Jackson has nerve hanging around a police station. The question is why?”
“I don’t want to believe Marcus is involved with Shaun in something shady, but…” Nicole sighed. Marcus was acting guilty. Guilty and stubborn.
“I don’t know the guy, but Shaun Jackson must be cocky to take such a chance. I don’t think Marcus knew he was cruising around the block either,” Kelli said.
“He could have followed Marcus. They might have agreed that if things got tough, Shaun would show up and they’d bail each other out with the same story.” Nicole chewed her lower lip.
“Oh, please. I thought I was suspicious. This guy is a scumbag and Marcus just can’t see it. You should tell Marcus his pal was there.”
“Marcus won’t listen to me,” Nicole muttered. “Not after our last two encounters.”
“Oh?”
“He’s being a real chump! Anybody can see Shaun would be happy to let Marcus take a fall for him.”
“He loves the guy like a brother.” Kelli lifted a shoulder.
Nicole rubbed her eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”
“Marcus wouldn’t just kick his brother to the curb. That’s the kind of guy he is. Strong, silent types are intense when they care about someone,” Kelli said.
“Marcus hasn’t had a lot of relationships he could count on in his life. He’s going to go down for Shaun.”
Kelli leaned forward and tapped Nicole’s knee hard. “He might unless somebody can get through to him.”
“I pretty much accused him of being either a crook or a fool. I’m not the somebody.” Nicole stared at the wall in misery.
“Okay. Let him twist in the wind while you go shopping.”
“Cut it out.” Nicole frowned at her.
“In fact, your family might be impressed you tossed him aside. Could get you back in as CEO,” Kelli went on in a mild tone.
“You know damn well I don’t care what they think. If I want to be with Marcus, then—” Nicole broke off when Kelli pursed her lips to suppress a smirk. “How very transparent.”
“Worked though.”
“No, it didn’t. I’m not going to find Marcus and cry out that I’ve been such a fool,” Nicole said.
“Why not?” Kelli dodged when Nicole threw a small accent pillow at her head.
“Two minutes ago you thought I was the greatest thing since the microchip.” Nicole squinted at her.
Kelli shrugged with a rueful grin. “I’m fickle. But that’s all I’m going to say.”
“I’m sorry for being so ungrateful. You’re more supportive than anyone right now.” Nicole reached out and patted Kelli’s arm.
“I’m not paying attention to half of what you say.” Kelli stood and walked to the wet bar. “Have another beer.”
“No, I’m going home to get what little sleep I can.”
Nicole gave a short, bitter laugh. Tonight would likely be no different from the last three or four nights. She’d wind up sitting in front of the television staring at it and thinking about Marcus. Kelli gave her one last pep talk, and a hug, and she extracted a promise that Nicole would call on her anytime. Nicole got into her Honda CRV and headed for the very empty house. She thought about how cozy it had felt only a week ago when Marcus had held her close. He’d
filled every space inside her as well.
“Guess I better start rehearsing my ‘I’ve been a fool’ speech,” Nicole said and took the nearest exit on the interstate highway.
Marcus threw the cordless phone down. “Damn!”
He’d been trying to call Shaun all day. Finally he’d gotten the message that Shaun’s cell phone was off. His apartment closed in on him like a jail cell. Marcus felt cut off. Shaun seemed to have gone underground, he couldn’t talk to anyone at Summers Security, and Nicole was gone from his life. A sharp stab of loss made him forget about Shaun. The way she’d looked at him at the police station had hurt the most. In her eyes he was just another ghetto rat. Maybe she was right. Fifth Ward life seemed to follow him no matter where he went. He swore again. When the phone rang, he scooped it up.
“Yeah,” he snarled into the phone.
Marcus let out a string of curses after he heard a click. When the doorbell rang minutes later, he was at the boiling point. He twisted the locks open and yanked on the door.
“You better have a damn good excuse for all this sh—” Marcus blinked rapidly. Instead of a six-foot-three-inch target, he stared down into a pair of lovely but scared almond brown eyes.
“I could come back later when you’re in a better mood,” Nicole stammered.
Anticipated pleasure sent a surge of electricity up his spine. In five seconds he noticed the thick hair that framed her face, inhaled the enticing citrus scent of her perfume, and hungered to touch her mink-soft skin. Be realistic, he told himself. Still his hopes skyrocketed. After all, she’d come to him. In spite of his desire, Marcus affected an impassive expression.
“I won’t be in a better mood any time soon. Might as well come in.” He swung the door wide.
“Gee, thanks for the gracious invitation,” she murmured. Nicole glanced at him cautiously before she came forward.
Marcus braced against another jolt when Nicole paused and faced him. She stood close to him for only a second before she walked past him into the living room. He tried to collect himself as he closed the door.
“I definitely didn’t expect to see you here. Your father would probably freak.” Marcus went to his sound system.
“Probably. But since they already fired me, what do I have to lose?” she wisecracked.
“Yeah. So I’m a safe playmate these days,” Marcus replied over his shoulder. He switched off the rich soulful tones of a love ballad.
“Not if you count being a possible murder suspect, or at the very least an accessory.”
Marcus spun around to stare at her. Nicole gazed back at him with her arms folded. “Is that what you believe?”
She let her arms fall. “Hell no. Maybe you planned to stab me in the back at one point, but I don’t see you beating Aliyah to death.”
“Thanks. I’m only a petty criminal.” Marcus tried to keep perspective. Her words weren’t exactly a declaration of love.
“Not so minor. You had a pretty slick plan in place.” Nicole glanced around the room. “I’ve had a long night. At least invite me to sit down, even amaze me by offering some refreshments.”
Marcus swung right along with the change in direction. He went to the kitchen. “Sorry. Soft drink or something stronger? I’ve got snacks, or maybe I could whip up some hot hors d’oeuvres for the lady.”
“I could go for some of those cocktail sausages or maybe Swedish meatballs.” Nicole let her shoulder purse slide down and drop onto the sofa. “Second thought, peanuts and root beer will do me.”
“Good, ’cause that’s all you’re gonna get,” Marcus answered with a scowl. He tried willing his body not to tingle every time she spoke. Nicole was the only woman that could get him hot by being a smart-ass.
“Hey, I’ll compromise.” Nicole sat on the barstool at the counter that faced his kitchen. She watched him, both elbows propped on the ceramic tile surface.
“Really? Does that mean you’ll ‘settle’ for somebody like me? A guy with no fancy family name or connections?” Marcus ripped the top from a can of mixed nuts as he spoke.
“I’m just talking about snacks, Marcus,” she said in a muted tone.
He put the can down and looked at her. “Answer the question.”
“Okay. You tell me if you can handle my fancy family background and connections.”
They stared at each other for a long time. Her question was a fair one. He would have to lose his attitude toward Black folks he considered terminally “bourgie.” Marcus turned away. Grateful for the time it bought him, Marcus played host. He poured nuts, chips, and onion dip into a set of bowls. After placing everything on a tray, he went back to the living room. Nicole hopped off the barstool. Each sat in one of the chairs that matched his sofa. Marcus poured the root beer with care. He sensed Nicole gazing at him. She accepted the mug from him. Both avoided looking into each other’s eyes, as though afraid of finding painful answers. Minutes ticked by in tense silence.
“You’re pretty good,” she said.
“Are you talking about snacks now?”
Nicole put down the mug. “I was, but since you mentioned it…”
Marcus couldn’t risk looking at her. Instead he studied the foam that topped his root beer. “We never really had a chance. Your family is just one part of the equation. You and I tried.”
“If you say we can always be friends, I swear—”
“No,” he said quickly.
Nicole banged her mug down on the glass cocktail table and stood. “Wonderful. I drove over here in the middle of the night to get dumped. Where the hell did I put my purse?”
Marcus caught her bare arm before she could pick up the black leather bag. The heat from her skin went right to his heart. “Nicole,” he whispered.
“A friend suggested I admit to being a fool. I think we’re both guilty.”
She kissed him and he let her. His sensible voice, the one that told him they were too far apart, faded fast. Nicole caressed his hips and thighs with both hands as though determined to keep that voice away. The phone rang a number of times before he looked at the caller ID box. Instead of a number, the word “Unknown” flashed.
“I need to answer that,” Marcus said.
“No, you don’t. Shaun is going to jail, and he wants to take you with him.” Nicole’s hold on him tightened.
“You ever been down, Nicole? I mean, really down low with nobody and nothing? I won’t assume he’s guilty.” Marcus grabbed the phone on the fifth ring before his voice mail could answer.
Nicole let go of him and walked away. Marcus watched her even as he listened to Shaun’s rapid-fire speech. She sat down on the sofa. The soft light in her eyes had faded. Her expression changed to one of suspicion. They were back to square one.
“I don’t know if—” Marcus turned away from Nicole. He walked into the kitchen. “Look, you’re making things worse. Damn it, Shaun! What? Okay.” He hit the button, ending the call.
Nicole stared at him without speaking for several beats. Then she stood and grabbed her purse. “You’ve made your choice.”
“I’m not going to let either of you force me to choose. That’s emotional blackmail.” Marcus dropped the phone onto the base, making it rattle.
“When you kept secrets from me about Shaun’s involvement you sure as hell did make a choice.” Nicole pointed at him.
“He’s not involved,” Marcus shot back vehemently. “Shaun didn’t know that his cousin had hooked up with Tameka. Olandon is a true thug.”
Nicole started to counter his argument, then paused. She let out a slow breath. “All right. Believe whatever you want to. But something is up with him, Marcus, and you’re running away from the truth.”
“That’s your prejudice talking. Shaun may be ghetto underneath the silk blend suit, but that doesn’t mean he’s a crook.” Marcus sighed.
“Here we go with the ‘you can’t understand.’ Well, don’t even try it!” Nicole strode over to him and grabbed both his arms. “What price are you willing
to pay—give up on us?”
Marcus gazed into her eyes. He saw the end of loneliness, a world he didn’t believe existed. Nicole wore an almost desperate expression. Still, she wanted him to abandon a friend. With all Shaun’s faults, Marcus couldn’t see making her understand his world. Even if Shaun had made mistakes, he couldn’t leave him behind. Not without trying to help.
“I can’t walk away when Shaun needs me the most. He didn’t leave me when things got rough. Please, Nicole. Trust me,” Marcus said in a strained voice. His throat tightened with grief when she let go of him a second time.
“He followed you to the police station,” Nicole said.
“What?” Marcus lost focus at the sudden turn.
“That’s right. When you were being questioned by the cops, your good pal didn’t step up.”
Marcus rubbed his forehead, as though the motion would help him comprehend. “You must have made a mistake. Shaun intends to stay miles away from the police.”
“How admirable, considering your ass is on the line,” Nicole retorted. “Let’s examine his motives. Shaun’s got balls from what I’ve seen of him. So, he follows to see if you’re cooperating. Or maybe he hoped you’d get arrested.”
“No way. Shaun has always taken chances. He likes the rush of…” Marcus frowned.
“Yeah, he likes to boogie on the edge. Shaun also has expensive habits like luxury cars, designer clothes, and flashy women. Like Aliyah. Put those two together and—”
“Hold up, Nicole.” Marcus backed away from her as he tried to sort through his thoughts.
“What are the odds Aliyah would hook up with Russell? Oh, right, another coincidence.” Nicole advanced on him.
Marcus didn’t want to hear what she was saying. “You’re wrong about him.”
“I’ll admit it, Marcus. I’m a typical Black American Princess. More of my parents’ attitudes have rubbed off on me than I ever thought,” Nicole said.
Marcus ached inside. She seemed further from him than ever. “You’re also caring, warm, and the sweetest taste I’ve ever had on my tongue.”
She bit her lower lip. They stood apart, staring at each other for a long moment. Finally she moved toward him. “Is that your roundabout, strong-silent-type way of saying you love me?”