Tropic of Trouble

by Wynter Daniels

  She had to get her hands on that damn book, had to extricate herself from this godforsaken marriage before he killed her. If she could only convince Jones to part with it. She’d even be willing to split the money with him. And share his bed.

  She thought about the picture of him she’d seen in his office. Having a strapping man like Jones would prove satisfying in so many ways. Unexpected desire stirred between her thighs and hardened her nipples.

  A man like Jones would protect her from her bastard husband and wouldn’t screw things up as Thomas did regularly. If only she could convince Jones of what a perfect match they’d make.

  Only one person stood in the way. Kelsey Ackerman needed to disappear.

  * * * * *

  Kelsey eyed Jason as he checked his weapon. “You’re being unreasonable about this. Lilith tried to kill me. I want to be there when you confront her.”

  He slipped the gun into his belt and laughed. “That’s the very reason you’re not going to be anywhere near the park when I meet her. Besides, you’ve been so insistent that your shop has to open today.” He raised an eyebrow in challenge and grasped her shoulders. “I want you safe and sound. And ready for me to ravage you again tonight.”

  An unwelcome wave of desire weakened her knees. She forced away a vision of the two of them making love. Last night—and this morning—had been incredible. But letting a man in—completely in—made her feel more vulnerable than ever before. What if he changed, started abusing her emotionally, as Paul had? Only she couldn’t imagine Jason acting like Paul had.

  “Kelsey?” Jason squinted at her. “Where’d you go just then?”

  Straightening, she fixed a smile on her face. “Just thinking of some things I have to do at the store today.”

  “See? You need to go to work.” He handed her the thirty-eight he’d let her borrow yesterday. “I want you to carry this on you everywhere you go, understand?”

  She nodded solemnly. “I will.”

  “I’m serious. Every second you’re away from this house make sure you’re armed.”

  Huffing, she took the gun. “I said I would. Jeez.”

  Jason drove her to the bookstore and came inside like her own personal bodyguard. He checked behind the counter, in the restroom, everywhere. Finally, he declared the place safe. “Callahan promised to step up patrols in this zone, but if anyone suspicious comes in, call me or phone 9-1-1 immediately. Got it?”

  For heaven’s sake, did he think her an imbecile? “I understand what to do in an emergency, thank you. But what about you?” She had confidence he could take care of himself, but Lilith had proven herself a formidable foe.

  “Mike agreed to free up one of his men to stake out the park.” He leaned his elbows on the counter and winked at her as she booted up the computer.

  Her stomach did a little flip. “Will he arrest her?”

  “The cops have nothing concrete on her, at least not yet. Mike wants to question her, though. One step at a time. We still have to figure out the identity of her accomplice.”

  She wanted to ask him not to go, but she knew better. Jason wasn’t the sort of man to walk away from something simply because it posed potential risk. “You’ll be careful, won’t you?”

  He took her hand, brought it to his lips and painted her skin with a tender kiss. “Of course I will. I have this amazing woman to come back to.”

  Gazing into his emerald eyes, she saw her own desire mirrored back at her. “Good.”

  His smile faded and his brow creased. “Always keep your weapon handy.”

  She nodded, then leaned toward him for a kiss. When the door chime rang, she immediately backed away and cleared her throat.

  Two middle-aged women entered and headed to the romance section.

  “Time to go.” Jason blew her a kiss, then left.

  After she finished with the customers, she tried phoning Art. When his answering machine picked up, she disconnected. She’d already left several messages.

  As she returned the phone to the charger, she knocked over the pencil cup, sending writing utensils scattering behind the counter. Huffing, she crouched to retrieve the contents. She frowned when she noticed bits of pencil shavings and dust on the floor.

  Just as well. The area needed to be swept. That had been Margaret’s job. She clamped down against the grief as she headed into the storage room to fetch the broom and dustpan. They hung on a nail near the backdoor, right above the area where she’d found Margaret’s body.

  Goose bumps covered her skin although the room was warm and stuffy. She swallowed past the lump in her throat before taking a step toward the door.

  From the front of the shop she heard the door chime, then the sound of the deadbolt engaging. She froze.

  Who would lock the door?

  The gun! Damn it. She’d left it under the counter. Why hadn’t she listened to Jason and kept it on her?

  Silence, colder than death, filled the air. Nausea churned in her stomach. Tears threatened, but she forced them back.

  I’m going to get through this.

  She frantically scanned the small room in search of anything she could use as a weapon. Her gaze fixed on a box cutter on the shelf. Softly as she could, she tiptoed toward it and snatched it up. A small measure of relief loosened the death grip of fear strangling her chest.

  Grasping the knife in her fist, she listened. The only sound she heard was her pulse pounding in her ears.

  She sucked in a deep breath, tried to keep calm. Remember the techniques Jason taught you.

  Everything she’d learned about self-defense melted into a gray blur. But she refused to stand in the storeroom like a sitting duck. Easing through the doorway, she swept her gaze through the shop. The tall bookshelves had suddenly become her enemy, blocking her view of most of the room. Footsteps resonated through the air and she stood still as stone, too petrified to make a sound. High heels clacked on the terrazzo and confirmed the intruder as a woman. Lilith!

  The sound abruptly stopped. A taunting high-pitched laugh set the hair on the back of Kelsey’s neck on end. A gravelly female voice floated to her ears. “Kelsey, where are you?”

  A chill slithered over her skin as she quietly ducked back behind the curtain into the storeroom. Her storeroom. Her store.

  Fear gave way to anger. That bitch! How dare she lock herself in here and try to intimidate me? In my own store?

  Her fingers clamped tighter around the box cutter and her teeth ground together. It took everything she had to stop from marching through the shop and giving that sicko a piece of her mind. But what if the woman had a gun?

  “I have a surprise for you.” The ice in her voice galvanized Kelsey’s fear. “I have more in common with Jason than you could ever hope to have. He’ll understand soon enough that deep down, it’s me he wants, not you.” Her footsteps came closer.

  Kelsey held her breath, eyes wide. Terror ripped through her like a tidal wave. Her heart thumped so hard she feared it would come crashing through her chest.

  “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” Lilith sang.

  Stars swam before Kelsey’s eyes.

  Oh God. I’m going to pass out. The woman was going to kill her. A shadow filled the doorway.

  Oh God, no!

  * * * * *

  Jason arrived at Moore Park a few minutes early. Under a thick canopy of evergreens, he spotted a mostly deserted playground. One child spun the empty merry-go-round and two played on the swings. A couple of women seated on a bench appeared deep in conversation.

  No sign of a cop, yet Mike had assured him the officer would be there. He backed his truck into a spot in case he had to make a hasty departure. Tucking his weapon into the waistband of his jeans, he gave the lot another inspection. If and when Lilith arrived, he’d have to steer her to an area far from the playground.

  Hopefully, Lilith would listen to reason, drop this dangerous game and tell him the identity of her accomplice. But as a realist, he knew these situations rare
ly worked out the way they should.

  The group at the playground started toward the lot. A mom carried her baby as a toddler ran ahead. The little girl had blonde curls and reminded him of Kelsey. Maybe someday…

  When his cell rang, he hoped it was her calling. He immediately hit the send button.

  “Hey,” Mike said. “Where are you?”

  “At Moore Park. Remember? You’re supposed to have a man here watching for Lilith.”

  “Lilith, yeah, right.”

  Something in his voice sounded off. “What is it, Mike?”

  “What do you know about a guy named Art Stephens?”

  Tension instantly knotted his shoulders. “He’s an antique book dealer in Hallandale. Kelsey’s been trying to reach him about the book Margaret’s killer was after.”

  “Mm hmm. He won’t be returning her calls or anyone else’s. Meter reader found his body this morning.”

  His body? Jason’s head started pounding. As he watched the two other cars in the lot drive off, he started his engine. Lilith was ten minutes late and he had a feeling she wouldn’t be showing up. “Please tell me he died of natural causes.”

  “Sorry. Stabbed with a kitchen knife. Looks like about seven times.”

  Cringing, Jason clutched the phone tighter. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. “It had to be Lilith, Mike. If not her, her partner.” It struck him like a slap upside his head. Lilith had gone after Kelsey before. Maybe she’d lured him away so she could finish the job.

  Throwing the truck into drive, he floored the accelerator and raced toward South Beach. “She’s alone at her store. Send an officer right away, would you?”

  “I’m on it.” The line went dead.

  He tried to tamp down the unease. She had a gun in her purse. And she now knew how to use it. Kelsey was fine, she had to be.

  Like Charlotte was fine?

  His mind wandered back to that awful day. Charlotte’s desperate phone call, pleading with him. He’d let her down. He cringed and his stomach turned at the memory.

  He couldn’t let Kelsey down. She had to be all right.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kelsey clutched the box cutter as the shadow grew larger. The sound of the phone ringing pierced the silence and the shadow stopped its advance. The answering machine played her voice announcing the store hours and promising to return their call.

  “Kelsey,” Jason said on the machine. “Lilith didn’t show. I have a feeling she’ll try to get at you. I’m on my way and the cops should arrive there any second.”

  Lilith let out an angry growl. “Don’t think I’m through with you, Kelsey.” Her footsteps receded.

  Seconds later the deadbolt clicked. “He won’t be able to save you next time.”

  The moment the door whooshed closed, Kelsey teased back the curtain and swept her gaze through the store. It appeared empty. Racing to the counter, she grabbed her purse and reached inside for the gun. Still trembling, she ran to the door, locked it and scanned the area for the woman, but she’d disappeared.

  She wanted to rush outside and find Lilith herself, but marching down a city sidewalk with a loaded weapon didn’t seem like a prudent plan, especially considering how angry and violated she felt. And what would she do if she found her? Make a citizen’s arrest? Kill her? She hadn’t even managed to see Lilith’s face.

  Her shoulders sank with the realization that Lilith had again upped the stakes and Kelsey had squandered the opportunity to thwart her. She could have ended this whole thing if she’d only listened to Jason and carried her gun on her. She could have held her there until the cops arrived.

  Less than two minutes after Lilith left, police sirens wailed outside. She unlocked the door for an officer and let him inside.

  Seconds later, brakes squealed out front and she knew before she looked it was Jason’s pickup. She watched him hurry out of the truck toward her door and her trembling finally abated.

  Jason burst through the door, worry emphasizing the fine lines on his face. “Are you okay? Was she here?”

  Despite herself, she wrapped herself around him, pulled in a breath of his comforting piney scent. “Yes, I’m fine. And yeah, she was here, but when she heard your voice on the machine, she bolted. I think you saved my life.”

  “Did you have your gun?”

  She swallowed hard. “I left it in my purse. I just went into the back for a second, but…” She heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry. I should have been carrying it on me.”

  Rage at Lilith and protectiveness for Kelsey battled inside Jason. He’d let Kelsey down.

  Like I let Charlotte down.

  Kelsey could have been hurt or killed. His chest tightened. He grasped her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “We’ll find her, okay?”

  She nodded against his chest.

  Jason recognized the responding officer from years of working in Central Booking at the jail. “Hey, Pete. Thanks for getting here so quick.”

  It took the man a moment, but then recognition flashed in his eyes. “Jason, what are you doing here? Is this your store?”

  “No.” He tightened his hold on Kelsey’s shoulder and nudged her closer. “Here’s the lady you want to speak to, Kelsey Ackerman.”

  The officer took Kelsey’s statement as Jason paced the floor. When his cell rang, he strode to the back of the store so he wouldn’t disturb them.

  “Jason,” Mike Callahan said. “Where’s Kelsey now?”

  He glanced at her, wondering why Mike needed to know. “She’s giving a statement to one of your guys. Unfortunately, my instincts were on target. Lilith locked her in the bookstore and came after her. Thankfully, she ran when she heard me say the cops would be here any minute.”

  Mike remained silent for a long beat. “Jason, how well do you know Kelsey?”

  The question caught him off guard. “Why?”

  His friend hesitated.

  “What’s going on, Mike?”

  He heard the other man sigh. “You think Lilith’s partner supposedly murdered Kelsey’s assistant, right?”

  Supposedly? He didn’t like Mike’s tone. “Right.”

  “Lilith tried to break into Kelsey’s apartment, but miraculously disappeared as soon as you showed up.”

  Jason’s jaw clenched at his friend’s inference. Could Mike really believe Kelsey made this whole thing up?

  “Now I have another victim and the only person who’s called him lately is Kelsey. I checked his phone records. And Lilith said she’d meet you at the park but didn’t show.”

  “Now hang on—”

  “Now Lilith locked them in the store but left before anyone else saw her. Am I the only one who finds it strange that Lilith keeps causing trouble and no one but Kelsey is ever there to see her?”

  “What the hell are you implying?” His shout drew the attention of Kelsey and the officer taking the report. “Sorry,” he said to her.

  “I’m not accusing her of anything, I only want you to keep your eyes open. I’d hate to think someone you trust would deceive you and possibly put you in danger.”

  “You’re dead wrong, Callahan. Lilith called me several times. I told you that. If you’d start doing your damn job instead of blaming victims, maybe Lilith would be off the streets by now.” He shut his phone and sucked in a steadying breath. How dare his friend voice something so preposterous? He studied Kelsey’s profile as she sat with the officer.

  Damn Mike Callahan for even considering that notion. When Jason’s cell rang again, he saw Metro-Dade PD and expected Callahan’s apology. “Jones.”

  “Jason Jones?” an unfamiliar male voice asked.

  Now what? His gut knotted. “Speaking.”

  “This is Officer Long with Metro-Dade Police. We had a call from All Points Security Company that your property on Shadow Bend Drive has been burglarized.”

  Son of a bitch. His temples started throbbing as he waited to hear the report.

  “A back door was broken and it looks as if you
had some vandalism,” the officer continued.

  Vandalism? Could it be coincidence or had Lilith made the rounds today? At least Kelsey hadn’t been there. “It’ll take me at least an hour to get there.”

  “Yes, sir. That’s no problem. The officer will write a report and we’ll mail you a copy or you can pick it up at our headquarters so you can submit it to your insurance company. If you discover anything missing, give us a call and we’ll amend the report.”

  “Yeah. Thanks.”

  After the cop left the bookstore, Jason steeled himself for an argument with Kelsey over closing the shop. He took a deep breath as he faced her and told her about the break-in. “I want you to shut this place down, at least for the rest of today. Maybe tomorrow too.”

  Her glasses slid down her nose and he could practically see the wheels turning as she prepared her rebuttal.

  He raised a hand in the air. “Look, Kelsey, this isn’t open for discussion. Call it an executive decision. It’s obviously not safe for you to work here alone and I can’t stay with you. I have to go and deal with the situation at my house.”

  She started to buck, but stopped. Lips pursed, she nodded. “You’re right.”

  He nearly fell over, incredulous that she’d actually backed down so easily. Rather than make a big deal of it, he merely motioned toward the counter. “Grab your things and we’ll head over to my place.”

  Without uttering a word, she locked up and followed him to his truck. He glanced at her as he started the engine. “Thank you, Kelsey.”

  She stared straight ahead and nodded. That would have to do. Maybe Lilith’s visit had scared some sense into her. Or maybe her frightening experience had just now hit her.

  He turned the corner then stopped for a red light. The tension in the cab was palpable. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  A heavy silence settled between them. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Talk to me. That had to be a scary experience. You handled it as well as could be expected.”

  Her smirk spoke volumes. “How do you figure?”

  Could she be blaming herself? “Well, for starters, you’re here talking to me instead of lying on a slab at the morgue.”