Submit to Me

by Sappharia Mayer

  "Just Kade."

  "Say again." She looked up at him.

  The sparkle in her pale gray, almost silver eyes, took him aback. He shook his head to regain his composure.

  "My name is Kade, just Kade," he growled, his own frustration clear.

  "Okay, just Kade. Shall we get this show on the road?"

  "Go ahead and bring in your forensics team, Ma'am. Then you can go tell the media it was all a hoax."

  "Fantastic," she said with a triumphant smile, but her tone remained even and deadpan. Jessica picked up her radio and issued the order.

  Kade punched a new secure channel into his own radio as he watched her.

  "Let the forensics vehicle through, Command."

  "Copy that," replied a disembodied voice.

  "I'll let you get on with it then. Dean, here, will get you anything you need." He nodded toward the young man who'd followed him out earlier.

  "Captain. Detective Lawson," he said as he nodded to them both and walked down the stairs.

  After that encounter, he needed a cold shower, but first he needed to find out exactly what was going on around here.

  Chapter Two

  Jessica stared at Kade's retreating tight backside as he walked away. There was something about the man she found infuriating and hot, all at the same time. She reprimanded herself and turned to find Captain Jones watching her.

  "Yes, Sir?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.

  "That's one way to make an introduction." He smirked.

  The young man assigned to her shifted back and forth on the balls of his feet beside them.

  "Captain, I didn't get where I am by being some soft woman who waits for a man to take the lead. He either lets us in to do our job or I have to do more paperwork, which means I'll run more overtime on your already tight budget."

  The captain shook his head. "Tread a little lighter on this one. The money that flows through this place is not insignificant, nor is the political power they wield in our nation's capitol," he admonished lightly.

  "No offense, Sir. I don't care how those cake eaters in Washington get their freak on. Either this is a hoax and someone is harassing them or someone is dead. That's my job. From top to bottom. You schmooze the money. I'll see if there's a body," Jessica retorted.

  "Watch your step, Detective," he said and started down the stairs.

  "Yes, Sir."

  The forensics van pulled into the driveway to her left, and the captain headed off in the same direction as Kade. Around her, doors popped open and slammed in a staccato as the team formed.

  "What do we got, Detective?" a middle-aged man asked as he walked up the stairs toward her.

  "Honestly, I don't have a clue. On-site security says there's nothing more than this knife stabbed into a door, but the anonymous tip says there's a possible murder on site. Let's process this immediate scene. I'll work on getting access inside. Then we'll set up a search team to cover the outside and any outbuildings."

  "Sounds good," he acknowledged, then turned to his team. "Okay, folks, let's get to work. Process everything as a murder investigation."

  Jessica walked down the steps to give the team room, and Dean followed on her heels. She watched as bright yellow crime scene tape roped off the large marble front steps. On one side of the portico, a photographer snapped pictures, while another team member placed evidence markers.

  "How long have you worked here, Dean?" she asked as she watched the proceedings.

  "Just over six months, Ma'am," he responded without confidence.

  "Has anything like this happened before?"

  "Not like this."

  She let a long silence linger in the air. Just enough to make him believe the scene distracted her but not long enough to disengage the conversation.

  "But something has happened before," she finally asked, maneuvering the question toward her curiosity.

  "The... um... nature of the club... um... can cause some... um... problems," he stuttered.

  "Are you uncomfortable with the nature of the activities going on here?" she asked curiously.

  "Um... at first. It can all be a bit intimidating," he replied shyly.

  "Do you enjoy watching?"

  He shifted his weight and rubbed his hands together as he fidgeted with a ring on his finger.

  She smiled to herself. More than once she'd seen a man fidget under her scrutiny. It was a game of cat and mouse she used both in play and work. Sometimes it was all about fun, and others it was deadly serious.

  "It's my job to make sure everyone is safe, and the activities are consensual," he finally replied with more confidence.

  Jessica nodded.

  "It must be a tough job. All of these heightened emotions in such a tight space. I can't imagine how hard it is to be surrounded with all these activities and stay focused on the job at hand," she said as a slight smile lifted at the corners of her mouth. "So to speak."

  She watched Dean nod out of her periphery.

  "I've learned a lot. Kade is a good trainer—tough but good."

  "Tough? How so?" she inquired.

  Dean shrugged and thought about his answer.

  "His standards are high and demanding. I guess they reflect the club owner's expectation, but I don't know. She's not been here for months."

  This piece of information piqued her interest, but she schooled her expression as if it were of no consequence.

  "Is this unusual? Is she usually gone for long stretches of time?"

  "I don't think so, but I don't really know. Like I said, I'm new to the organization."

  Jessica nodded, taking a mental note of the anomaly.

  "Does the club owner... What did you tell me her name was?" Jessica asked, letting a tinge of confusion paint her tone.

  "Alexandra," he supplied automatically.

  "Yes, Alexandra. Thank you. I presume Alexandra has her own security detail unless this type of thing is rare."

  "She gave her last one the slip, so I don't know."

  She kept her eyes forward on the scene investigation in front of her. Her mind spun with a thousand questions as puzzle pieces formed.

  Beside her, Dean shifted uncomfortably and pushed the earpiece against his ear.

  "Ma'am, if you'll excuse me, I need to attend to something."

  Jessica nodded without looking him.

  "Please tell Kade I'd like to speak with him, and I need a copy of all the security tapes for the last twenty-four hours." She smiled and looked up at him.

  "Yes, Ma'am." He nodded curtly and turned to walk away.

  Above her, the security camera motor whirled to life as it tilted in her direction. With a smile, she looked directly into the camera and waved.

  She'd gotten someone's attention and that meant there was more to this puzzle than met the eye.

  Jessica let her gaze take in the vast club grounds. Everything around her appeared immaculately maintained, and from the number of cameras she counted, well monitored.

  Something about this situation bothered her. It appeared to be a hoax. Harassment most likely meant to threaten a more alternative lifestyle. Such things often happened, depending on who was in power. Recent political changes made people bold, and there had been an increase in this type of behavior.

  She made her way around the scene, letting questions form in her mind as she looked at it from different perspectives. Until she understood the motive, the rest would be difficult to unwrap. Jessica suspected the private club security knew something, and she was determined to find out what.

  As she moved around the scene, she noted that the pan and tilt cameras followed her movements. At first she thought it was based on motion, but she realized the cameras didn't follow the other members of the team.

  "Detective?" Dan, a young forensics investigator, called to her from a small walkway near the building.

  Jessica looked up and noticed he was squatting. Something on the ground held his attention.

  "What is it, Dan?" she aske
d as she approached.

  "I don't know that it is anything, but there's a fresh footprint here in the grass. It looks like someone stumbled off the walkway and landed in the soft dirt."

  Jessica tucked her suit skirt under her as she squatted next to the investigator.

  "It looks like a bare foot, but that makes no sense. Why would anyone be barefoot in front of a club like this one?" he speculated aloud and looked closer.

  "Wait, there's a tread mark. I bet it's one of those barefoot running shoes."

  She leaned forward and took in the scene.

  "Do you think the print is male or female?"

  "Hard to tell. It's not a large print, but it's not tiny either," he said and glanced over at her feet before he abruptly brought his gaze back to the footprint.

  "It could go either way and it could be unrelated," he continued. "I'd like to take a casting, just in case."

  "Sounds good," she replied and stood up. "I will see if we can look at the rest of the grounds."

  Dan nodded but didn't look up as she stepped away.

  She followed the pathway to the edge of the large house as it continued to bend between the house and what appeared to be a guesthouse.

  "Is there something I can help you with, Ma'am?" A deep voice startled her, and she whipped around.

  Her eyes climbed up the impossibly tall man in front of her until her neck could go back no farther.

  "I'm looking for Kade."

  "He's inside talking with your captain," he stated simply.

  "You mean my captain is trying to calm the money while we figure out what is going on here."

  The man chuckled. "It would entertain Kade to be considered the 'money.'" He smiled down at her.

  "How many of you are there?" she asked, trying to keep a tally of the number of private security personnel.

  "Of me? There's only one."

  Jessica exhaled. "Let me rephrase. How many security personnel are on site?"

  "At this moment, there are six club security personnel on-site." His short, specific answer frustrated her, especially when she saw a smile pull at his mouth.

  "So the club uses six security type?"

  "Ma'am, you asked how many were on-site. I've provided you with the information you requested."

  "Indeed," she acknowledged and searched for a new tactic. "Are all of you former military?"

  He nodded. "Except for the boot."

  "Ah, you're former Marine."

  The man quirked an eyebrow, and she smiled.

  "Now, where might I find Kade?"

  Chapter Three

  "Kade." The captain's voice echoed around the lush foyer as his shoes clicked across the marble.

  Kade pivoted at the sound of his name but continued to give orders into the mic of his earpiece. When the captain was within a few feet, he fell silent and forced a smile across his face.

  "What can I do for you, Captain?"

  The two men had a long history together. When Alexandra had first opened the club, it was imperative they made quick and fast friends with the local law enforcement. Too much of what went on within these walls pushed the edges of proprietary and the law. It didn't matter if the laws were outdated; anything on the books could be applied at any moment given the right enemy and political climate. Since then, they'd contracted out to the beat cops on the force when they needed extra security for an event or to give his own team some well-needed time off.

  "You can start by telling me what is going on around here." His tone was respectful but firm.

  "To be honest, I wish I knew."

  He rubbed the back of his neck in frustration.

  "I was here until close last night. Left the team to fend for themselves until later this afternoon and headed home for sleep I desperately need."

  "You look like hell," the captain acknowledged.

  "Thanks," Kade replied dryly. "What's up with your new pup? Is she all bark and no bite?"

  "You mean Detective Lawson?"

  Kade nodded.

  "Her bite is far worse than her bark. She wasn't kidding around out there. That one is intense. When she gets a bone between her teeth, she'll let go when she wants to let go and not before."

  "Great," Kade groaned. "Just what I needed."

  "Actually, I think she's exactly what you need. Something's wrong around here, and you need help."

  "How do you mean?"

  "Don't play stupid. We've been at this for a while now. Alexandra doesn't just take off and leave her precious club without someone at the helm."

  "I'm at the helm," Kade spat.

  "You're at the helm out of force and need. It's the last place you want to be, and we both know it."

  "Regardless, this current situation is just a security issue. My team can handle it. There's no reason to waste your resources."

  "Mind if we look around then? Satisfy our investigative curiosity?"

  "You know I can't do that. It violates half a dozen rights to privacy and I'm still getting up to speed on the situation."

  "Come on. Give us something here. We need to explain it to the frenzy out front unless you enjoy this kind of media attention."

  "Sadist," Kade chided.

  "Just now figuring that one out, huh?" The captain chuckled.

  "No. I've seen you play. I see all." Kade gestured around the grand hall with his tablet.

  "I think the power's going to your head."

  He shook his head. "Not even close. I can quip about it all day. The power I wield is because I'm good at it and it keeps the most important people in my world safe. The rest of it is heavy. I do not understand why Alexandra does it."

  "We all have our reasons."

  "Don't I know it."

  The tablet in Kade's hand pinged, and he glanced down.

  "Looks like your pit bull wants in my doghouse," Kade quipped.

  "You might as well let her in or she'll find a way around the fence. Besides, I really think she can help here. You need to trust her."

  "There's a hard ask."

  "Think of it as a favor. I make sure the front porch roaches are cleared away, and you work with her on whatever the hell it is that you're trying to hide from the world. Fair?"

  Kade ran a hand through his hair as he stared at her image on the screen of his tablet.

  "Fine," he mumbled. "Take a team and do an outside sweep. I'll send two of my guys with you to open doors and such."

  "Okay. Good luck with Detective Lawson. You'll need it," the captain said as he smiled and turned on his heels.

  He issued the commands into this radio and watched the activity from the camera feeds.

  "Just what I need," he mumbled out loud, engrossed in camera feeds.

  "I'm sure I am, but we'll get to that later."

  Her quiet voice echoed through around him in an almost ethereal tone. His head snapped up to meet her calculating stare.

  "Shall we get started?"

  Images formed in his mind at her question and all the things he'd like to get started with her. He needed to get himself under control or this would be a long day.

  "This way," he commanded as he turned and walked toward his office.

  He heard the soft click of her heels across the floor. Her footfalls barely echoed around the room, yet something about her sheer presence was enormous. They worked their way back through the maze of the club until they came to his office.

  "Can I get you anything to drink, Detective?" Kade asked as they passed through the door.

  "Water, please."

  He glanced over his shoulder to tell her to have a seat when he noticed her small frame lowering itself into the largest chair of the conversation area. A low growl emitted from his chest, and his hands balled. That was his chair. Everything else in the arrangement was placed to make others know who was in charge when they were having a discussion, and right now she was sitting in his chair. How dare she walk into his house and presume to take over?

  With a great deal of effort, he gr
abbed two bottles of water from the small refrigerator under his desk and took two deep breaths to settle his rising agitation. Then he turned and walked back toward the seating area, placing a bottle of water on the small table beside Jessica and taking a seat across from her on the leather loveseat.

  He watched as she scribbled furiously on the small pad of paper in her hand. She didn't look up or acknowledge him, and each second that clicked by made his blood boil.

  Kade cleared his throat loudly.

  "Mr. Kinkaid, when I am done with my notes we can talk, but an attempt to interrupt me will not go well for either of us," she said without looking up or even pausing her pen.

  How dare she? Kade wanted to scream. Who the hell did this little spit of a woman think she was walking into his house and demanding he wait?

  Every muscle in him tensed and released in a rolling wave. The action did little to slake his need to punch something, but discipline and patience were drilled into him at a bone-deep level. Just when he didn't think he could sit still another minute, she placed the notebook in her lap and looked up.

  "Tell me why you don't think this is a hoax?" Her penetrating stare would unnerve a lesser person, and still it took everything in Kade to meet it.

  "There's nothing to suggest otherwise." He batted the answer back at her.

  "You wired this place for sound. There are enough cameras to cover every square inch. Based on that, tell me who planted the knife on your front door."

  Kade stilled at the question. His team was combing through the tapes, and they'd come up empty so far. In addition, there was twenty-four-hour surveillance. The operation's center should have known the minute the incident happened, but lately there'd been too many breaches and issues. He'd already worked through his own doubts about his team, but each situation seemed to be a step ahead of them.

  "My team is looking at the footage now. We should know shortly," Kade spat, scrubbing his face with his hands.

  "What time did you leave last night?" Jessica asked.

  Her expressionless face gave nothing away, yet there was something else in the mix Kade couldn't quite put his finger on.