by Dale Cadeau
Pacing behind his office chair, James looked at the men assembled in front of him. “I know in my gut from following her around for the last week that she has nothing to do with it. She is a naïve little thing, only five feet tall, that a strong wind could blow over. She spends all her time at her apartment, leaving only for work and small outings to the grocery store. She keeps to herself and doesn’t seem to have any friends. What do you think we can do to either bring this thing to a head or at least get the Feds and Carlos off her back? I think she deserves a break.” Looking up from his rant, James was surprised to see all of his friends staring at him.
“What?” James shot back at them.
His friends looked at each other and seemed to quietly come to the conclusion that Clay would speak for the group.
“James, maybe you should step back a bit and take another look. This is just another job, and you seem to be taking it as a personal affront. This girl—what’s her name, Aven?”
James interrupted. “Her name is Avery.”
Clay threw a shocked glance back at James. This was not the James they all knew and it was not the way he operated—maybe he better poke him to see what was really bothering him.
“Yes, Avery. She might seem to be innocent of any knowledge, but you know as we all do that sometimes looks can be deceiving. Are you sure her looks are not deceiving you into believing something that’s not there?”
James looked at the group and gritting his teeth, snarled. “Since when do you question my motives on a case? I expected support, not questions. I need suggestions. If none of you can be objective, I can do this alone.” Falling back into his chair, James poured another drink and swallowed it. Looking up at his friends, James noticed that all were oddly quiet and still looking at him with a strange look on their faces.
Clay, now standing next to his chair, took offense to James’s words.
“That’s a low blow, James. This group has been through hell and back. We have always been there for you when you needed us. You know that. I think you’re just not thinking straight on this case.”
James looked down at his hand, clasping his glass with white knuckles. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the group and saw the sincere concern on their faces staring back at him.
“God, you’re probably right. But she looks so alone and down on her luck that I just want to protect her. Ever since the Feds showed me her picture for the first time, something in her keeps calling to me. I can’t explain it. Do you know what I mean? When I see her in the diner looking so small and frail, with all the dirty old men watching her every move, I just want to protect her. I want to grab her and take her someplace where she doesn’t have to deal with the scum that frequent that hellhole and keep her all for myself. It might seem selfish, but that is where my head’s at right now. So maybe I’m not seeing clearly, but I still think my gut is right.”
Angel, who had been sitting off to the side in the corner with his back to the wall—something he always did no matter where he was—spoke what everyone in the room thought. “Looks like you have a bad case of lust for this Avery woman. What can we do to help? Any woman that makes you sit up and take notice is worth helping. But I don’t know if we need to help her with her problems or keep her safe from your intentions,” Angel said with a smirk in his voice and a smile on his rugged mug.
James had to laugh at Angel. They know me well, James thought to himself. They knew he was all business, and even after getting out of the army still kept the same work ethics. No time for any long commitments. Plans and people could be taken away at a moment’s notice, he had learned that the hard way. Jerking himself back from his thoughts, he once again looked at his friends.
“I think I have a plan. Let me give you the run down and tell me what you think.” James picked up the Scotch and poured each of his friends a shot.
Chapter Two
Avery woke up the next morning and shook her head, thinking about her walk home last night. Hadn’t she lived here long enough to know that there were drunks or johns at most corners? She probably had seen a drunk stumbling home from a night at the bar and mistaken him for someone following her.
Getting up, she made toast and coffee and looked over the paper she had picked up on her way home from work. She desperately needed a new job. The diner was OK, but the owner did not strictly stick to selling only meals and coffee. She suspected that some backroom drug deals were going on and wanted out before it came back to bite her like last time. The Feds would never believe her this time. Hell, they didn’t believe her the first time that she knew nothing about the drug deals. If it happened a second time, they would probably think she was part of a distribution ring. Straightening out the newspaper on her small kitchen table, Avery looked over the help wanted ads. Not much new, especially in this area, not that she could get anything fancy. Since her only other experience was a couple of months working as a receptionist, her hopes of landing a better job were slim.
Avery took her plate and cup to the sink, still thinking of her lot in life while rinsing them out. With a sigh, she went to her closet to get ready for another day at the diner. She couldn’t be late and lose this job because she was daydreaming about a life that was out of her reach.
James was sitting at his usual back booth at the diner when Avery walked through the door the following morning. He could see she had dark circles under her eyes, probably from lack of sleep, and looked a little down. Her apartment, with all the nightly trades being plied just outside, couldn’t have been the most restful place to lay your head.
Walking past him, Avery glanced in his direction on her way to the back to leave her purse and grab an apron. Her green eyes seemed to recognize him. He hoped only from his everyday cups of coffee, morning and night, and not from seeing him in the alley last night. She probably thought he was some down on his luck guy if she went by his clothes and rust bucket parked outside. As long as that’s all she thought, his cover was safe.
The bell over the door of the diner rang just then and James looked up to see Clay stride though the door. Without even glancing where James was sitting, Clay took a stool at the long counter that ran the length of the diner. Sliding his large frame onto the stool, Clay reached for a menu and looked the place over. He looked like any other customer, gruff and gritty in his black leather jacket, getting accustomed to a new place. But James knew Clay and could see his gray eyes taking in everyone in the diner and marking all the exits in case they were needed. Clay was staking the place out in case danger was stupid enough to come calling when he was there. Clay was always prepared. No one had ever gotten the drop on him.
Avery came around the corner from the back kitchen, skirting the end of the counter, tying her apron as she walked. She didn’t notice Clay sitting at the counter until she was in direct sight of him. James could see her eyes widen in surprise. Clay did that to most people. He was six foot three, full of muscles and dressed completely in black leather, making him an intimidating figure. Watching, James saw Clay crack a bad boy smile that said he wasn’t dangerous, just misunderstood. Ladies seemed to fall for this look all the time and swarmed around him wherever he went. Avery was no different, except that she kept her distance as far as the back wall permitted. James saw her stiffen her back when asking Clay if she could help him and just sat back to watch his plan unfold.
With wide eyes, Avery took in the new customer. God he was big. The only thing that kept him from looking like he wanted to eat his young was his smile and the long brown hair trimmed in silver that reached over his collar and slid into his eyes.
Pushing it back with a hand covered in scars, Clay gestured to the menu. “I would like a coffee and toast with jam. Thanks, madam.”
“OK, but are you sure that’s going to be enough breakfast for a big guy like you?” Avery bit her tongue as soon as the words passed her lips. That was a little too familiar to a customer she knew nothing about. Would he be insulted? He seemed so polite, calling her madam—no one
did that any more.
“You’re right, it is too small for breakfast, but this is just a midmorning snack. Thanks for thinking about me.” Clay gave her a wide smile and a wink from warm gray gun-metal eyes. Avery relaxed with his response and quickly turned to get his coffee and toast.
“Here you go.” Avery placed the coffee and toast down in front of Clay.
“Are you new to the area?” Avery looked up at Clay with a shy smile.
“Yes and no. I opened a business a few years back across town, and this morning I’m searching out a place to locate a second office.” Clay picked up his coffee and took a sip as he studied Avery. “Know any good places around here?”
“You really don’t want to move any business into this area. It’s not that great at the best of times.” Avery leaned closer, keeping her voice low, not wanting anyone to overhear her putting down the neighborhood. In this area, gossip was never a good thing—anyone had the potential to take things the wrong way. And one thing she didn’t need was added attention when she was trying to keep a low profile.
“Oh, I don’t know. If you live around here, it must have some redeeming qualities,” Clay replied.
“Are you kidding me? I only live here out of necessity. If I could change my address and job, I would in a second,” Avery said in a hushed tone of voice after noticing the cook looking at her. God she hoped this didn’t get back to the boss. She’d be out of a job in a flash if he thought she was dissing the diner.
“You look like you’re over qualified for this position anyway,” Clay said, looking her up and down. “Why don’t you change your job and move uptown?” Clay used the same low tone she had. “I think you can do better than this.”
“Well looks can be deceiving. I am very happy with this job and my apartment.” Looking around, Avery hastily stepped back. She realized she was talking to a stranger that she knew nothing about, but had strangely felt comfortable talking to.
“I’ll just get back to work. If you need a refill just yell,” Avery stammered and walked to the next customer at the counter.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I do think you can do better. Anyway, I have to be off and look at some buildings down the street.” Clay laid some cash down on the counter with a little extra for her and left with an easy stride.
James had watched the interaction between Avery and Clay from his booth. They seemed to be getting chummy until something snapped Avery out of her friendly mood. Wonder what that was about? James stood up and advanced to the cash register where Avery was currently checking out another customer.
With money in hand, James stood in line to pay. “That will be $5.50, same as every day,” Avery said, keeping her head down. Her long blonde hair covered her face, and allowed her to avoid any contact with his eyes. James wanted her to look up, but she didn’t. With a frown he handed her the money and made his way out the front door.
Two buildings down the street he met up with Clay.
“Well what do you think?” James asked as soon as he was close enough for Clay to hear him. His impatience was telling in his rushed movements. James usually had a smooth gate to his walk. He always looked like he had all the time in the world and nothing better to do. But this morning that was missing. “And why the hell were you so chummy with her?” he demanded.
With a scowl on his face, Clay held up his hand before James could get another word out. “James, step back a minute. Didn’t you tell me to get friendly and gain her confidence—that’s all I did. And before you can ask, yes, I see what you see, an innocent girl in a bad place. Now what’s the next step?”
James wiped his hand over his face. Fuck, Clay was right. He had to step back, but every instinct was telling him to sweep her away out of this place and protect her. Seeing her talk to Clay in the diner had awakened his greedy “mine” obsession—no one but he was supposed to see that shy smile.
“Now we find a building that’s not falling down around our ears that we can change into a business.” James strode with Clay as they looked at all the buildings lining the sidewalk with “For Rent” notices posted in each window. It was going to be someone’s lucky day.
Chapter Three
Avery watched the tall, well-built, muscular man pay for his usual coffee and leave the diner. God he was hot, but so out of place on this side of town. Although he wore old jeans and a battle-weary leather jacket, he had the look of a CEO of one of the large downtown firms. He stood at least six feet and seemed huge to her five-foot height, but with his black overly long hair and piercing blue eyes, the whole package looked as good coming or going. Avery knew. She watched him every day under her lashes, so he couldn’t tell, and that tight ass that swaggered out the door every day just made her drool a little bit every time.
Could she take a bite? Avery mused to herself. She had been serving him coffee every morning and evening for a week. Could he be one of the Feds that had dodged her every step after her parents’ car accident? He always seemed to be trying to look deep inside her and she almost believed he could see what was hiding when he asked for coffee every day. He made her uncomfortable with his scrutiny, but in a good way, like if she really needed someone at her back, he would be there. She’d never had that feeling from someone before. She learned never to depend on anyone after her parents’ betrayal. If she couldn’t count on her parents, how could she count on a stranger? God, she hoped he was as nice as he looked. Tearing her eyes away from his retreating figure, Avery went back to work with a thoughtful expression on her face. Maybe she would try to get to know him better the next time she saw him. This wasn’t like her, but she was getting tired of living alone with no one to talk to. She didn’t even have a cat, since her building didn’t allow pets.
* * * *
The following week was a hub of activity in Avery’s neighborhood. A new business was opening up and the street was littered with work crews that seemed to be working around the clock. They must have a deadline only they know about. Avery had asked the other diner workers about it but no one seemed to know what was going on or what kind of business was opening up. With all the new work crews in the area, the diner was hopping and Avery had not had a chance to speak to the tall stranger that still came daily for coffee. Going home every evening, Avery still felt she was being shadowed but put it down to nerves, with all the new people in the area.
Standing in the center of the new reception area, Clay took a look around. If someone had told him that in two weeks they could take a rundown building and turn it into a sleek office space with a one-bedroom apartment above, he would have told them they were nuts. James had a way of getting things done on his timetable and this was proof.
From the plush carpet on both floors to the mahogany desks in all of the five offices, including reception, all that was needed was the outside sign proclaiming their business. James, with input from Clay and the other guys, had brought an office to life among the ruins surrounding them. It stood out like a sore thumb, but James thought it might get others thinking about the area and, maybe, interested in improving it.
Clay turned around when James strode through the front door. James was fresh from having his daily coffee at the diner. He looked happy, with a grin on his face, as if he was thinking good thoughts about someone, and Clay could bet who his thoughts were of.
“Now we have the office, but what are we going to do with it? I know we’re going to be a front for some behind-the-scenes activities, but what’re we actually going to offer or produce. We never did pin that down.”
“We are going to start a financial investment firm like my brother’s uptown. He does really well as we all know. If he can run one, I’m sure we can. After all, how hard could it be? Our first job is to find a receptionist. Know anyone who could use a job? It pays well and comes with a furnished apartment above.” James looked up at Clay with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes. “Let’s get our name over the door and open up for business.”
“Don’t we need an invest
ment license to operate?” Clay always liked to be prepared for anything. “And what the hell do any of us know about stocks, bonds, or investments? I think we will need some operatives that know what they’re doing so we seem legit.”
“I thought about that and have already procured a license in association with Chase’s firm. He wasn’t too hot on the idea but he is going to cover us if anything really legit comes up. Let’s just say he was less than gracious but, being in this area, we are not stepping on his toes.
“I don’t think we’ll be asked too many questions. We always pretend to be someone else when on the job undercover, so this will be no different. As you can tell by looking around this area, it hasn’t been on anyone’s radar for a long time.” James always had the attitude that nothing was impossible once he made up his mind to do it, and this was just a new venture for him.
“Taylor First Rate Investments will be on the sign. I’ve already ordered it and it will arrive sometime after lunch.”
“Hey, that’s my name,” Clay said as he followed James to the large main office at the back of the building.
“I couldn’t use mine. My brother, while willing to help, does not want his firm to be too closely associated with this setup. Using my name would do that. I want Avery to keep thinking I’m a fellow down on my luck that needs a job, too. When I finally get her to talk to me, I don’t want to have to use someone else’s name.”