Saving Valentines: Love and the Alpha Male

by Cate Mckoy

  “Shit!” Rick threw down the pen in his hand. “What the fuck?”

  “I have a theory.” Danes said.

  Rick looked at her and waved a hand, indicating she should speak.

  “What if she had more than one stalker at the same time?”

  Murdock shook his head. “I have a theory.”

  Rick waved his hand at Murdock.

  “What if she faked her stalking and had a real one at the same time?”

  Rick studied the couple that was fast becoming his top investigating team. They worked way better than Forbes and Murdock. “Danes the odds of having two stalkers at the same time are astronomical.”

  Murdock laughed and Danes showed him her middle finger.

  Rick continued. “Murdock Chastity was with us when Forbes was stabbed.”

  Danes laughed and Murdock showed her his middle finger.

  “The odds are high, but there are still odds.” Danes said.

  “She could have an accomplice.” Murdock said.

  “You both have theories that could flesh out. However, I remember the look on her face each time she received one of the stalker’s little gifts and I remember her look the night of her little sleepover. There was nothing fake about the fear I saw.”

  Rick looked from Murdock to Danes and back again. They each acknowledge he had a point with a nod.

  “Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. What do you want to do?”

  Rick took up his pen and wrote something on a piece of paper. He spoke while he wrote. “I just finished all the reports on Chastity’s bloodwork. I need you guys to go to this address and speak with the homeowner. Ask these questions and respond accordingly.”

  He tore the piece of paper from the pad, handing it to Danes. They glanced at the paper and Murdock looked at Rick like he lost his mind. “You’re shitting me?”

  Rick gave him a somber shake of his head. “I shit you not.”

  The two detectives nodded and walked out the door. Passing Chelsea on the way out.

  Rick stood. “Chelsea, what are you doing here?”

  Chelsea gave him a smile. “No hello, Rick?”

  Rick sighed. He didn’t have the time. “Hello, Chelsea. What are you doing here?”

  She walked to his desk. “May I sit?”

  Audibly sighing Rick waved his hand to a visitor’s chair and sat. “What do you want Chelsea?”

  “Rick you made your point.” Chelsea smiled. “I learned my lesson. We can stop this silliness. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.”

  “Chelsea, I wasn’t playing a game with you. Head games are your thing. I meant every word I said. We are not a good mix and I—”

  “How can you say we aren’t a good mix. I always come with you and you come with me.”

  “You might find this hard to believe, but, good sex isn’t the only thing I want out of relationship.”

  “So, this little show of temper isn’t your way of punishing me for trying to get you to quit this job and join my father’s bodyguard team? What is it supposed to accomplish exactly if not getting me back?”

  Rick ran a hand down his face and shook his head. “Chelsea if I wanted you, I wouldn’t have broken things off with you. I am too damn old for head games. You want to play? Go get one of your boy toys. I broke things off because I had enough of your version of a relationship. I want a partnership.”

  Seeing he was serious, Chelsea grew angry. “You think you’re going to get a partnership with the freak that has her legs permanently crossed?”

  Rick’s eyes narrowed and his mouth turned to a firm line. “I’d be careful if I were you.”

  “Chad tried to get into her panties, and she ignored him. She’ll never respond to you. You’re too much dick for her. She can’t hold a candle to me in or out of bed.”

  Rick shook his head. “Chad has the sensitivity of a head of lettuce. She probably didn’t even know what he was doing. And as for the rest of it, I can happily say you’re wrong on all counts. Now, I’d appreciate you leaving my office and not returning unless you need a cop.”

  Chelsea was shocked. “Really? Then why did you leave your box of things if you weren’t planning on coming back to get it?”

  “I didn’t leave a box at your place so I could go there and make up with you. I sincerely forgot it. And since I haven’t missed anything in it for this long, feel free to toss it. Goodbye Chelsea.”

  Rick picked up his pen and started writing with the same finality of his words.

  ***

  “Holy shit. Would you look at this place.” Murdock whistled as he rolled through the huge gates that just opened for them.

  “She seems so down to earth and likeable. It’s hard to believe she grew up like this.” Danes looked around in awe.

  “I was reading over the lieutenant’s shoulder the other day. She was almost kidnapped by a sexual predator when she was seven while at fair. I guess that’s where some of her issues come from.”

  Danes shook her head. She guessed that would explain some of it but certainly not all. Murdock parked on the circular drive and they went to knock on the huge door.

  A maid answered the door. “Yes, can I help you?”

  “Police. I am Detective Murdock. This is my partner Detective Danes. We’re with the Stalker Division. We’d like to speak with Mr. Sterling Valentines.”

  “Yes of course.” The maid widened the door, leading them to an oversized living room. “It will be just a minute.”

  The maid left to get Valentines. Murdock walked to a mantlepiece that was at his eye level. A line of pictures of a younger Chastity took up his attention until Valentines’ arrival.

  “Detectives, nice of you to drop by. I didn’t get a chance to thank you for protecting my daughter.”

  Murdock turned from the mantle and was startled. There was a sophisticated, polished version of Chastity standing next to her dad. He shook his head to dislodge the image. When she was still standing there, he didn’t know exactly what to say.

  That is until Chastity stepped from behind her dad. “Hi Danica. Hi James.”

  Murdock could now see the polished version of Chastity was older. There were tiny laugh lines near her eyes. Her figure was a bit fuller. Her eyes had something in them that Chastity’s lacked. Murdock assumed it was the life she lived.

  “Mom, Dad, please meet detectives Danica Danes and James Murdock.”

  The woman came forward, shaking first Danes’ hand and then Murdock’s. “We can’t thank you enough for protecting our daughter.”

  Murdock was still feeling a bit tongue tied. Danes spoke. “I am afraid this isn’t a social call, ma’am, sir.”

  Murdock found his voice. He looked directly at Valentines. “Perhaps we could have a word in private, sir.”

  Valentines turned to his wife. “Honey, Chastity, please excuse me for a moment.”

  Mrs. Valentines took in her husband’s look and then turned to the two detectives. Seeing the seriousness on their faces she said, “No, I don’t think we will excuse you. We will hear whatever it is the detectives have to say as a family. Everyone please, sit.”

  Murdock sat. Danes remained standing she faced the three Valentines. “I am afraid we received the report on Chastity’s bloodwork.”

  Sterling frowned. “Bloodwork?”

  “What kind of bloodwork?” Vera wanted to know.

  Chastity looked worried. “What did you find?”

  Danes answered each of their questions. “The lieutenant was convinced something was effecting Chastity. Her behavior has been erratic, disoriented and she has had some memory loss. So, he had drug and toxicology screenings done on her.”

  Danes’ eyes switch solely to Chastity. “You’ve been dosed. The lab techs think you’ve been receiving pretty heavy doses.”

  “Oh, my God! Chastity.” Vera hugged her daughter. “How do you feel, now?”

  “Mother, I feel fine.” Chastity looked at Danes and Murdock. “Are you sure? I really do feel fine, except for a h
eadache.”

  Murdock spoke. “That’s because you’ve actually been away from the dosing.”

  “What was it? What have I been given?”

  Danes turned to Sterling. “You want to answer that one sir?”

  Vera gasped, turned to her husband. “What does this have to do with you, Sterling?”

  Chastity looked at her dad. She knew he was the cause of her dosing before he opened his mouth. “Dad?” The one word held all the betrayal and pain she felt.

  “Oh, my God. Sterling, how could you poison our child?”

  Sterling looked at his wife. “I didn’t poison her. I just wanted her to relax, not feel so anxious about everything all the time.”

  Shaking Chastity turned on her dad. “Are you serious, right now? You’re not a doctor. You could have done me irreparable damage.”

  “Sterling, you could have killed her.” Vera had tears in her eyes.

  “Oh, my God! I’ve been practicing medicine while under the influence of a controlled substance.” Chastity started to cry.

  Vera took Chastity into her arms. “Shush, darling. It will be okay.”

  “How, Mom? How will it be okay? I’ve broken the law. I’ve committed a crime.”

  “No, no, it wasn’t like that.” Sterling looked at his wife and daughter with a heartbroken expression. A plea for understanding in his eyes. “I wouldn’t hurt you like that, babygirl.”

  “He’s talking about the doctor he got to dose you without your knowledge.” Murdock informed.

  Mother and daughter expressions increased in shock. “What?” Vera coldly asked.

  “I made sure a board-certified medical doctor was giving her the correct doses.”

  “Dad, it doesn’t matter if they’re certified. A doctor must have a relationship with his patient, know their history. There could have been things in my history that could have called for a specific drug. Certain drugs are contraindicated with alcohol. I didn’t know I was taking a drug. I didn’t stop drinking.”

  “Oh, you have a relationship with this doctor.” Danes chimed in. All eyes turned to her. “The doctor is being arrested as we speak. Mr. Sterling Valentines we need you to come with us.”

  ***

  Chastity’s world was in a tailspin. Her father was being questioned by the police. Sydney was under arrest for assault.

  Moments ago, when the officers escorted Sydney through the police station, Chastity felt as though she were in an alternate dimension. How is this her life? Her father had paid her best friend to poison her!

  Sitting in Rick’s office; a special favor for her, Chastity looked around. Both, her father and Sydney, sat in chairs next to each other. Vera Valentines had a look on her face Chastity had never seen in her entire life. Her features were harsh, unyielding. Unforgiving? Chastity hoped not.

  The detectives stood behind the chairs in which her father and Sydney sat. Rick sat at his desk, commanding the whole room with a look.

  “Mr. Valentines, technically there is nothing I can charge you with. You merely paid your daughter’s medical bill. It is how Dr. Salandar recorded your monied transactions. You are here strictly to answer to your family. Dr. Salandar you have been arrested for assault, attempted murder.”

  “Attempted murder?!” Vera, Chastity and Sydney all asked incredulously.

  Rick’s brow furrowed. “One of my detectives was stabbed and Chastity could have died.”

  “You can’t be serious? I didn’t have anything to do with the detective being hurt.” Sydney’s tear drenched eyes beseeched Rick’s. “I was trying to help my friend. Help get rid of her symptoms. She wouldn’t voluntarily take the meds. She shouldn’t have stopped taking them.”

  “Doctor, you were read your rights. It’s those words right there that will bury you.” Rick looked from the doctor to Chastity. “She’s an adult. If she doesn’t want to take meds she doesn’t have to. And, doctor from what I’ve seen, those meds didn’t help her much. At times, she was disoriented, confused and anxious. She experienced memory loss for God’s sake. You could have very easily killed her.”

  Tears streaming down her face, Sydney explained. “I don’t understand those symptoms. What I gave her should have made her calm and at ease, not catatonic or blacked out.”

  Because she had been silent and unmoving, everyone turned when Chastity spoke in a strained voice. “How did you do it? How did you drug me?”

  “Baby, it was my fault. I just wanted to help. I didn’t help you when you were seven and you ended up with PTSD to the extreme, all the nightmares and anxieties. I just wanted to be there for you this time.” Sterling directed his look at Chastity.

  Her father’s imploring tone was also something Chastity had never seen or heard in her entire life. She did not like her mother’s harsh features or her father’s weak tone. This was not her parents.

  Sydney finally faced Chastity. “I-I put it in your bottled water, and I dosed the fruit you always ate with me.”

  The last straw for her, Chastity broke down, jumped up out of her seat and fled the room.

  ***

  Rick knocked on Chastity’s door. He had missed her so much. He had felt torn when she ran out of his office. Part of him wanted to go after her, console her and protect her. Another part of him; the cop part, needed to finish things. He had tried to make things as easily as he could for Sterling Valentines. The man had looked shattered. Rick found himself sympathizing with Chastity’s father. If he had the two most important women looking at him as if they didn’t know him, he’d feel shattered too.

  When Chastity opened the door, she was looking pretty shattered herself. Her chin trembled before the dam broke on her tears. Rick opened his arms and she threw herself against his chest. Keeping her against his chest he closed the door and walked them to her sofa where he settled her on his lap and let her cry her pain against his chest.

  There were no words he could say that would console her. He held her, stroking her hair, murmuring commiserating words in her ear. He kissed her temple and let her get it all out.

  When she sat up and looked at him, Rick saw that her air of innocence was no longer prominent. Seeing her utter bafflement and pain Rick simply inquired. “What can I do? Baby, what do you need?”

  Her gaze held his for an infinitesimal moment, then she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. This kiss was not like any of their other kisses. Rick felt her pain and need as she opened her mouth beneath his. Her tongue stroked his with strong intent.

  She pulled back, gasping for air. “Make love to me Rick.”

  Her kiss had him wanted to strip their clothes and taking her right there on the sofa but there was a desperation in her movements that worried him. “Honey, are you sure? I can just hold you.”

  She shook her head. “I need to feel safe and alive. I have only felt that one place.” Their eyes silently communicated. “Only in your arms. Make love to me, now. You can hold me after.”

  Not waiting for his reply, she took his mouth, devouring him. She pulled off his jacket and started to unbutton his shirt when Rick groaned and took over the kiss. He picked her up and navigated his way into her bedroom without breaking their kiss.

  Placing her on the bed, leaning over her, he broke the kiss asking, “Are you sure?”

  She put a finger across his lips and gave him a weak imitation of her amazing smile. “Ssh, no talking, just fu—”

  Rick took her mouth, cutting her off. He removed their clothes with ease. He moved their bodies to the center of the bed. She tried to put him inside her. Rick pushed her hands away. When she tried again, he took both her hands in one of his and held them against the mattress above her head.

  She started to protest when Rick settled between her welcoming thighs. He kissed her hairline and worked his way down with soft, lingering kisses and caresses. His free hand teased her nipple while his mouth did the other one.

  Chastity moved wantonly against him, wrapping her legs around his waist. She moved her pelv
is in strategic motions, trying to get him to enter her. She begged. “Please, Rick.”

  He ignored her words, answering with his hands and mouth. He released her hands, leaning back on his heels he positioned her knees, opening her wide. He looked at her and then took his shaft and placed it at the entrance to her body.

  Chastity’s breath caught as he began to push inside her. “Oh, God.” Her eyes closed.

  “No, baby, open your eyes. Watch us join.” His voice was strained, his jawline tight.

  She opened her eyes and looked down her body to the point where they were one.

  “You feel amazing. So, tight, hot, wet.” For a few savoring seconds his eyes closed before opening and connecting with hers. “Heaven.”

  She arched her back as he penetrated her fully and began to move. Once again, she wrapped her legs around his waist. He sped up his stroke. Chastity followed.

  In an intense cloud their gazes remained locked as they moved, first slow and then faster. Rick took her with slow, long strokes until he couldn’t anymore. He put his hands to the mattress and pumped and thrust, hitting all her spots, giving her what she begged for and him what he needed. He felt her inner muscles tighten on his cock seconds before her body went rigid. He thrust through her orgasm, glorying in the sounds emitting from her. When she quieted Rick changed his angle, using a stronger thrust he took his.

  ***

  Murdock was feeling annoyed. This should have been wrapped up already. He didn’t want to be in one of the interrogation rooms. He wanted to visit Forbes before going home and getting some much-needed sleep. He let Danes take her turn dealing with the doctor. He was quickly losing the tiny bit of patience he had left.

  Danes’ tone hinted at her annoyance as well. “Look, doctor, there is no need to cop to one aspect of the crime and not the others. I can guarantee you that the sentence will be the same.”

  Dr. Salandar looked tired. Even so, she continued to deny being the person behind the notes, bloody gifts, the noise maker and black out at the sleepover. “I have no reason to lie now is exactly why I am not. I only gave her meds for anxiety.”

  Murdock had heard enough. “It has been verified that the blood, semen, and heart all belong to a patient that died at the hospital and donated his body to science. The morgue is in the basement of the hospital. You have access to it all; the blood that was used to smear the message on Chastity’s bedroom closet door, the heart left in her drawer. You’re caught. Just tell us who your accomplice is so we can all go home.” He glanced his watch. “You might even make bail if you quit stalling.”