“We think so.”
A waitress dressed in black slacks and a black turtleneck moved to the table and dropped a tumbler of amber-colored fluid to the tabletop. “It’s nice to see you again, Detective Armstrong.”
“You, too, Angela.”
“Ma’am, what can I get for you?”
Danni pointed to his glass. “I’ll have what he’s having,” she answered.
The young woman nodded. “One scotch, neat, coming right up,” she said as she started to turn.
“I’ll have a beer chaser with mine,” Danni added. “Whatever you have on tap.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Danni grimaced. “Scotch? Really?”
“My father use to say a good scotch would put some hair on your chest.”
She laughed. “That might work for you,” she said.
He laughed with her. “You’re right. I don’t think it would be all that flattering on you.”
She settled back in her seat, allowing herself to relax fully for the first time that day. The waitress delivered her order and promptly excused herself. Danni took a sip and suddenly leaned forward in her seat.
“I think we need to approach this from a different angle. Clearly, something is off with Pius, so I need to work Ginger and the rest of that crew. I need to understand how he operates. How the business functions. How he’s connected domestically and internationally. And Ginger might have those answers. And if that doesn’t work, there is always Alexander Balducci.”
“You’re right, but you also need to step away from it for a minute. Approach it with fresh eyes. So, let it go for tonight and come back to it in the morning with a new perspective. You can’t keep going over the same details and not miss something. You’ve been trying to tie it up quick and fast, and that’s not working. I think it’s why we’re stumped.”
She nodded. “You might be right.”
“I know I’m right, so no shop talk tonight. Just enjoy the music,” he said as he gestured toward the stage and the dance floor.
The evening’s entertainment was a jazz and blues guitarist who was older than dirt. He was a pretty man with skin the color of black licorice, and lush, snow-white curls. A quiet reverie had settled over the whole room as he played one blues tune after another. Danni fell into the wealth of tranquility, her eyes closed and every one of her senses heightened. By the second drink she was feeling all kinds of warm and fuzzy, not an ounce of tension pinching any nerve.
The conversation between them was easy and comfortable. She talked about her family, and he talked about his. She discovered he had a love for chocolate chip cookies and ice cream, and she shared that cheese puffs and barbecue potato chips were her go-to snacks. He was well traveled, detailing how he and his brother had trekked through Europe the summer between high school and college. She bemoaned the fact that the extent of her international travel was one cruise to the Caribbean by her lonesome after a bad breakup.
As the alcohol began to simmer through her bloodstream, everything starting to feel distorted, Armstrong ordered food from the kitchen. The cook, a robust Jamaican woman with waist-length dreads, personally delivered platters of curry goat, jerk chicken, peas and rice, fried plantains and coco bread. Danni ate heartily, savoring every forkful until she was stuffed and ready to be rolled home.
“This was so good!” she exclaimed, her hands resting atop a slight bulge in her abdomen. “I couldn’t eat another bite!”
“That’s not good,” Armstrong said as he licked jerk sauce from his fingers and then swiped them across a yellow paper napkin.
Danni slid an antibacterial hand wipe across the table toward him. “You look like you need this,” she said, eyeing him smugly.
He tore the small packet open and swiped his fingers. “Thank you.”
“Thank you for suggesting this. I’ve had a really good time.”
“You’re very welcome, but you say that like we’re done.”
She blinked, her lashes batting fervently. “What else are you planning?” she questioned.
He pushed his empty plate forward. “We need to burn this food off,” he said as he reached for her hand and pulled her to the dance floor.
Danni gasped as Armstrong snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. The moment took her by surprise and left her legs quivering with anticipation. The music was thick and sultry, and the other couples dancing cheek to cheek beside them were lost in the moment. Her alcohol high had diminished substantially, and she was suddenly taken aback by the nearness of the man. He was solid muscle and he smelled like heaven and Caribbean spices, she thought as she rested her head against his chest, unable to resist the temptation to lose herself in his arms. Her hands were looped casually around his neck, and she allowed her body to move easily with his. Maybe she hadn’t sobered as much as she’d thought, she mused as her hips seemed to move with a mind of their own. Time seemed to stand still. There was an echo of silence that vibrated through her head, and the only sound she recognized was the beat of her heart as it pulsed like a drumline in her chest.
Chapter 8
The ride back to the hotel was peppered with laughter and anecdotes about Danni’s two left feet and the number of times Armstrong had tripped from the club to an Uber. As the driver waited, he walked her to her door, wished her a good night and caught the ride to his own home. Neither had been in any condition to drive, and he arranged to pick up his vehicle the following morning before they were expected at his family dinner.
Now his head was throbbing, there wasn’t an aspirin to be found in his medicine cabinet and he couldn’t get that woman off his mind. There was no denying the level of comfort they’d found with each other. He had thoroughly enjoyed their time together, and just the mere thought of their spending time together again had him excited.
Armstrong had been a perfect gentleman, despite the battle that desire and need had waged in his southern quadrant. There weren’t many women who actually took his breath away, and last night Danni had left him gasping for air more times than he cared to count. Admittedly, she had caught his attention and was holding on to it with two tight fists. But crossing that professional line went against the grain of everything he’d been taught and all he knew from past experience.
Together they had bigger fish to fry and work that required every ounce of their attention. He couldn’t allow last night’s diversion to deter them from what needed to be done. It wasn’t how he worked, and he knew it wasn’t how she operated, either.
He lifted his large frame from his king-size bed, kicking at the bedclothes that had landed in the middle of the carpeted floor. Despite the tossing and turning, he’d slept fairly well, the sweetest dreams trolling through his slumber. He chuckled softly as he thought about Danni and the fantasies that had tightened the muscles below his waist. He shook his head, thankful that only he and God knew his thoughts. Now he needed a large glass of ice water, the Sunday newspaper and an hour of prayer to put him back on the straight and narrow.
* * *
When Armstrong dialed Danni’s cell phone number, he was already sitting in the hotel parking lot waiting for her to exit. She answered on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“Good afternoon! How are you doing?”
He sensed her smiling into the receiver as she answered. “I’m really good. How about yourself?”
“I’m good. Not nearly as hungover as I thought I would be.”
“You did drink a lot last night.”
“Says the woman who went shot for shot with me.”
“But I don’t have a hangover. In fact, I was up bright and early and went to the gym.”
“That’s impressive. I went to morning church services.”
“Really? Where do you attend church?”
“My living room pew, pastored by the television evangelist of the
moment.”
“You really are a heathen!” she said with a warm laugh.
Armstrong laughed with her. “I’m outside when you’re ready,” he finally said.
There was a brief moment of silence, an awkward stillness that seemed to swell between their phone lines.
Danni gasped. “We’re having dinner at your parents’!”
“You forgot!”
“Oh, cuss!” she said. The expression was one she used in lieu of actual profanity, and her enthusiastic use of the term had been fodder for much laughter the night before. “I did! What time is it?”
“It’s one thirty, so you can’t cancel. I’ll wait for you to get ready.”
“I’m showered and dressed. I just need to pull a comb through my hair and maybe put on some lipstick.”
“Maybe?”
“Are you really going to give me a hard time about wearing makeup?”
“If you plan to show up looking like a fourth-grader, yes.”
“I only look like a fourth-grader when I’m undercover. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be right out,” she said before she abruptly disconnected the call.
Those ten minutes turned into fifteen. When Danni finally exited the building, Armstrong was standing outside his car, in conversation with another man. She paused, waiting for them to finish their chat. When the other guy walked off, disappearing down the road, she moved to where he stood.
A wide smile pulled across Armstrong’s face. She was wearing a long-sleeved knit dress that hugged her nicely and black suede boots that stopped thigh-high. The heels gave her just enough lift to elongate her legs, making her seem taller than she actually was. Her hair hung down to her shoulders, loose waves framing her face. A hint of mascara and lip gloss were her makeup of choice. Looking very much like the adult she was, she now bore no resemblance to a grade-schooler. Much like her transformation the day before, she cleaned up well. So well that he found himself rethinking that line between business and pleasure that he’d sworn to never cross.
“Thank you,” she said, her expression smug.
He looked confused. “What are you thanking me for?”
“You were just about to tell me how incredible I looked.”
Armstrong laughed. “Now that was funny,” he said, shaking his head from side to side.
He reached for the passenger door and pulled it open. “You’re going to make us late, and my mother will not be happy.”
Danni laughed as she slid into the passenger seat. “If what you said last night is true, your mother is going to be thrilled about your bringing a woman home for her to meet.”
The smile on his face drooped slightly. “Excuse me? I said something last night about my mother?”
“You said a lot of things!” Danni teased.
He shook his head. “Things like what?”
Amusement danced out of the woman’s eyes, and she laughed again, ignoring his question. “Shouldn’t we be going?” she asked.
Armstrong paused before closing the door after her. Everything about the moment suddenly had him in his feelings. Something like joy swept through his spirit.
“By the way,” he muttered after closing the car door, knowing she couldn’t hear him. “You look amazing.”
* * *
The home of Jerome and Judith Black was located in the heart of Chicago’s historic Gold Coast neighborhood. It was situated on a large corner lot, the stone and brick architecture timeless. As he held her hand, Armstrong entered through the front door without knocking, the entrance having been left unlocked. A wealth of laughter echoed through the interior, dropping into a brief moment of silence as he called out in greeting.
“Hello! Anybody home?”
A warm voice responded from the rear of the home. “We’re all in the family room, Armstrong!”
He took a deep breath and then turned to give her a look. “Are you ready for this? My family can be a bit overbearing, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Danni smiled. “As ready as I’ll ever be. I think the better question is, are you ready?”
“Hell, no!” he exclaimed as he squeezed her fingers and then led her through the front foyer and past the formal living room.
From the moment she’d laid eyes on the solid wood and glass door with its ornate iron details, Danni was in awe of the home’s beauty. Stepping through the entrance was like stepping into a whole other world, a busy Chicago lifestyle easily left behind for the comfort and quiet of the family retreat.
The decor imparted an Old World feel with walls papered in silk, sparkling chandeliers, ornate wood moldings and fireplaces meticulously carved in stone. The windows were draped in sumptuous fabrics, and every detail, from the coffered ceilings to the highly polished hardwood floors, had been meticulously selected.
Armstrong’s mother met them in the short length of the hallway. She was a tall woman, nearly as tall as her son. She had picture-perfect features: high cheekbones, black eyes like dark ice and a buttermilk complexion that needed little if any makeup. She was elegantly dressed in black linen slacks and a pale peach sweater set that complemented her fair skin. Lush silver-gray hair fell in soft waves past her shoulders. A bright smile blessed her face. “Hello, my darling!” she said, reaching to kiss her son’s cheek. “Thought I was going to have to call the troops to come look for you.”
“It’s all her fault,” he said, cutting his eyes in Danni’s direction. “I think this one might be high maintenance. It took her forever to get ready!”
“I know you did not just say that!” Danni exclaimed. Her eyes were wide, amusement dancing all over her face.
He shrugged. “Danielle Winstead, I’d like you to meet my mother, the Honorable Judith Harmon Black. Judge Black, this is Danni, the new detective I was telling you about.”
Danni extended her hand, trying not to look surprised to discover he’d talked about her with his mother.
His mother laughed as she reached to wrap Danni in a warm embrace. “I’m a hugger, dear. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Danni laughed with her. “The pleasure is all mine, Judge Black.”
“Please, call me Judith. We stand on little formality in this house. Come, let me introduce you to my other children.”
The matriarch looped her arm through Danni’s and pulled her along. “I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was when Armstrong told me he was bringing a friend for a family dinner.”
Danni tossed him a look over her shoulder as he followed behind them.
“Danni and I are just partners,” Armstrong noted. “She’s new in town, and I didn’t think she should spend her day off alone. We’re not friends like that.”
“After working with you all week she might have wanted a break,” Simone interjected as the trio moved into the living space.
“I know that’s right!” Vaughan chimed from her seat in the corner.
Armstrong shook his head. He leaned toward his mother and whispered loudly, “Please tell them not to embarrass me.”
“You need to worry about embarrassing yourself!” A deep baritone voice came from behind them. They turned as Jerome Black entered the room behind them. There was no missing the resemblance to his children. His sons had not only inherited their father’s good looks but also his height and athletic frame. The patriarch was one distinguished man with salt-and-pepper hair and a full beard and mustache. At first glance he reminded Danni of Sean Connery in the movie The Hunt for Red October but with a complexion that was a rich, chocolate brown.
He moved to his wife’s side and hugged her warmly, then extended his hand toward his son. He stood in front of Danni, his eyes sweeping over her. “Now, who is this beautiful lady?”
Danni stepped forward to shake the man’s hand. “Danielle Winstead, sir. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Armstrong’s father hel
d her hand between both of his, gently patting the top of her fingers with one as the other held the appendage firmly. “Detective, the honor is all mine. We’re very lucky to have an officer of your caliber here to help us with this nasty trafficking business. Welcome to my home.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said, her eyes gleaming with joy as she finally released the warm breath she’d been holding.
Judith gestured them toward a seat. “Make yourself comfortable, sweetheart. I want you to feel at home here,” she said. She gave her son a quick glance. “Introduce your friend, Armstrong.”
He grimaced. “She is not my friend!” he quipped. “Not like that,” he added, trying to clean up the comment.
“We heard you two looked quite friendly on the dance floor last night,” Simone said. She and Vaughan exchanged a look and laughed.
“Word travels quickly, I see,” Danni said, laughing with them.
“Especially when people are talking about their boss,” Vaughan said. “Those women at that club love gossiping about their Detective Black.”
Danni shot Armstrong a look. “You own that club?”
He shrugged. “Something like that.”
She shook her head, much starting to make sense as she thought back to some of the comments and looks she’d gotten through the night.
“Chicago might have a population of two point seven million, but the police rank is a community unto itself. If you don’t want everyone to know, don’t tell a brother in blue. It’s nice to meet you, Danni. I’m Mingus, Armstrong’s older brother.”
“Private investigator, right?” Danni asked.
The man nodded. “Yes, ma’am. At your service.”
“And we’re his sisters,” one of the women added. “That’s Simone, and I’m Vaughan.”
“I’m Davis,” the youngest in the family said. He gave a nod toward his sisters “And those two are more like Armstrong’s personal bodyguards. Overprotective and sometimes mean!”
“That’s Alderman Davis Black,” Armstrong added.
Seduced by the Badge Page 9
