“Yes, she is,” I smiled.
“That’s good if it helps us find out if there is anything to Larry’s death.”
I felt Ron’s pause, and I knew I wasn’t going to like what he had to say next.
“Does she know about Laura?” he asked.
That question was the one to wipe the smile off my face completely. My heart skipped a beat.
“No,” I responded, turning to go sit behind my desk. “Tell me how we’re going to do these interviews,” I demanded, switching topics. I didn’t want to think of the question he’d just asked me.
Chapter Six
Coral
I stretched out on the plush bed in my huge guest suite. I hadn’t planned to stay in a suite, but when I checked in, I saw my room had been upgraded. I knew it was Jeremy’s doing. As I stared out the floor to ceiling windows towards the Dallas skyline, I sighed heavily. Some days it felt like I lived in hotels. Even though I owned a condo in Savannah, I was barely there enough for it to feel like home. I knew my family wished I were around more, and truthfully, I did too. I wanted to get this case wrapped up and find out whoever this Ghost was and eliminate him before he killed me. That was the only way I could spend more time with my family without endangering them.
Pulling out my cell phone, I saw that it was only around seven. I opted to call Stacey, my younger sister to see how she was doing. Stacey lived in Atlanta and recently married, Andre Collins, a wealthy businessman in the city. I actually knew his older brother, Nikola from the Army.
“Hey, sis,” Stacey’s breathless voice greeted me.
“Hey, you. You sound like you were rushing. I didn’t interrupt anything did I?”
“No, I actually just got home from running some errands after work. I’m surprised you’re calling during the week though and in the evening.”
I chuckled at her statement. It was a running joke between the two of us that I usually called her early Saturday mornings. She used to grumble about me calling so early on the weekend, especially since she used to dance ballet and had late-night performances on Fridays. But, I started calling whenever I was free, and it just became a habit that Saturday mornings were reserved to catch up with my sister, no matter where in the world I was. She dealt with it.
“Yeah well, I was free and was missing you so I thought I’d give you a call. How are you?”
“Oh,” she paused, “I miss you too. Nothing much is going on over here between work and-”
“Being a newlywed,” I laughed. I knew her new husband kept her busy. The man had a bit of a possessive streak when it came to my sister, but he also had a heart of gold and loved Stacey unconditionally. I could tell he was good for her.
“Yeah, that too. Andre and I are going to Seattle in a couple of weeks. He has some business to take care of out there, and I decided to take a few days off to go visit my old home base. We’re going to take in a performance at my old dance company.”
I smiled. Stacey had loved ballet since she took her first class at five years old. She had fulfilled her dreams of dancing professionally, dancing at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, until the age of twenty-five when an injury sidelined her. She went through a lot with that loss, but eventually regrouped and went back to school to become a social worker. It took her years to be able to watch ballet again, though. I knew Andre had something to do with that. And for that, I was grateful to him. I never told Stacey, but on her deathbed, my mother made me promise to watch out for her. It was a promise I’d done my best to keep since I was nine years old.
“I’m so happy for you, Stace. I know that trip is well-earned.”
“Thanks, sis. Enough about me. What are you up to these days? What far off country or continent are you in now?”
“I’m actually not that far. I’m in the great state of Texas working a case.” I shut my mouth before offering too many details. I didn’t want her to know I was in Dallas because I ran the risk of her possibly guessing that I was working with Liam. She didn’t know everything that went on in our relationship, but she did know how close we were, and then suddenly we weren’t. I think she suspects more happened between us than just a friendship. My sister, being as smart as she was and always wanting to be there for me the way I’d been there for her, likely wouldn’t let it drop. I already had enough on my mind.
“I know you won’t give me the details, but are you at least being safe?” She tried to make the question sound lighthearted, but I heard the underlying worry in her voice. I was used to it by now. I’d called my sister from war zones and other dangerous locales. She had a right to be worried, but it still made my chest ache a little to know she was so fearful of my work.
“I’m being as safe as I know how to be.” That was my honest answer. The truth was, I couldn’t eliminate all threats, and I didn’t want to lie to her and tell her I wasn’t in any danger. That’s just not the way my life was.
“Good. I trust you to be smart,” she stated.
We spent the next twenty minutes catching up. She told me about her social work in an eating disorder facility and how much she was enjoying it. I could hear the passion in her voice. I felt proud remembering the tears she cried in my arms coming to the realization that her dreams of becoming a prima ballerina would never come true. The happiness in her voice lifted a weight off of my shoulders that I hadn’t even known was there. I breathed a little easier hearing my sister talk about new treatment options and expanding her facility’s reach to working-class and women of color. Before hanging up, she made me promise to still call her at my usual Saturday time. Next, I dialed another number.
“It’s about time you called. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about me.” The airy voice tried to sound admonishing, but also held a hint of laughter.
I chuckled. “Whatever, Tasha. We spoke three days ago.”
She faked a pout. “Three days is too long.”
I shook my head. Tasha was what I would consider the closest thing I had to a friend these days. I told her more about my life than I told my family. Mine and Tasha’s actual connection was a complicated one, and she didn’t like to discuss her past, so we rarely talked about how we actually knew each other. Those were painful memories for her.
“Anyway, where are you now?”
Before I caught the words, they slipped out, “I’m in Dallas.” I guessed I was feeling the need to share with someone what was happening in my life.
“Dallas? Hmm-wait, isn’t that where he who shall not be named lives?”
I sighed. She too knew of my complicated relationship with Liam. “Yes.”
“And?”
“And what?” I snapped.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Coral. And are you working with Liam?”
I pushed out a heavy breath as my only response.
“Oh my God, you are. Is this the first time you’ve seen him in how many years?”
“More than five. Well, except last October when I went to DC.”
“You’ve been holding out. Tell me,” she demanded.
Usually, I could keep my business private, but I wanted to share with someone what I’d been feeling the last few months. First seeing Liam at the ball, and now working on this case in such close proximity. I told Tasha mostly everything, keeping a few details to myself.
“Well, what are you going to do?”
“Nothing. I’m going to work this case and then move on like always.”
“Coral,” she hesitated, “I think you need to talk to Liam. Maybe he didn’t leave for the reasons you think he did. Maybe...” she trailed off.
“Maybe what? You know something I don’t?” I asked. Tasha knew Liam. They’d met years earlier when Tasha had come back into my life after years apart.
“No. I just remember the way he used to look at you. I know what love looks like and it was written all over his face.”
I ran my hand over my short curls and stared out the window at the darkening sky. “I don’t want to talk abo
ut it, Tash. Tell me how the new book is coming,” I deflected. For the past five years, Tasha had worked full-time as a sci-fi writer. Her books were extremely popular, and they centered on a young African-American girl in alternate universes saving the planet Earth from destruction. I loved her stories, and I could tell that Tash was writing for the girl she was who needed saving. She’d made the New York Times’ bestseller list multiple times. Despite her success, the most fascinating part was no one had any idea who she was. She wrote under a pen name and did not do public interviews. I knew why she refused to go public and given her history, and I could understand why.
“Nice deflection, but I’ll let it slide because I need to bounce a couple ideas off you anyway,” she responded.
We spent another thirty minutes talking about some ideas Tasha had come up with for future books. She then told me where she was stuck in the current book she was writing. The heroine was in a pretty precarious situation, and Tasha had no idea how to get her out of it. I did more listening than talking. I knew Tasha didn’t need my input. She was a phenomenal writer who just sometimes needed to hear things out loud to work through them. Sure enough, by the end of our conversation, Tasha worked out how to get her heroine out of her sticky situation and on to saving the world. As we hang up, I smiled knowing two of the most important women in my life were doing well. Given where we all came from, we shouldn’t have made it this far, but we did. I wasn’t one for religion, but as I stared out of my hotel window, I closed my eyes thanking God and asked Him to continue keeping my family safe.
Chapter Seven
Liam
“And you’ve rescheduled my afternoon meeting for next week, right?” I asked my assistant, Darlene. I came into the office early to get a phone meeting and some paperwork out of the way. I wanted this day cleared out. There was a part of my business that I did not show Coral yesterday that I was looking forward to showing her later on in the day. I knew she was going to spend the first part of the day going over camera footage with Ron and our security team. After that, I wanted to show her a little surprise.
“Yes, sir,” Darlene answered. “Your three o’clock has been rescheduled for the same time next Tuesday, and I’ve ordered your lunch to be delivered at 1pm.”
I nodded in approval. “Thank you, Darlene. Just make sure the car is ready to pick us up at two.”
Darlene nodded in agreement and left me to my work. I began filling out some forms that needed to be completed and scanning some documents to make sure I had them on file. Before I knew it, I heard a knock on my door.
“Good morning,” Coral uttered in a voice that although was not meant to be seductive, still caused goosebumps to rise on my skin.
I pivoted around in my chair and gave her a smile. Just twenty-four hours ago I was in this very same spot demanding Jeremy tell her we no longer needed her services. Now, I contemplated sending Jere a damn thank you letter. I couldn’t believe how having her this close had brightened my mood.
I stood from my chair. “Good morning, Coral,” I greeted, as I unbuttoned my Armani suit jacket. Although she tried not to, I saw her eyes trail up and down my body; her gaze softening as she realized I was once again wearing the cufflinks she gifted me. Unbeknownst to her, I wore these cufflinks to work at least three times a week. It was my way of keeping her close.
“I had my assistant go out and get some green tea from Starbucks. Seems we ran out in the office kitchen,” I said holding up the grande cup of hot tea.
She half smiled up at me as she took the cup from my hand. “You didn’t have to do that. Thank you.” Her fingers grazed mine, and the pulse of awareness that shot through both of us had us staring into each other's eyes; causing her to be the first to take a step back.
As I watched her take a sip of her tea I nearly groaned at the sight of her full, gloss coated lips wrapped around the edge of the cup. I imagined her lips wrapped around something else…
“I’m heading to Ron’s office to organize and to analyze some of the video interview footage,” she stated, her words break into my train of thought.
“Right. Ron told me about that. I also arranged for us to see another part of my business this afternoon after lunch.”
Her eyebrows rose as she gave me a questioning look. “I thought we saw everything, except the hotel side of your business yesterday. I doubt this has anything to do with the hotels and spas segment of the company.”
“I agree. Jeremy has his own separate accounting team and employees. Our companies are housed under Bennett Industries but run as separate companies. Whatever this danger is, it likely has to do with the energy and oil sector of the business. But that’s not where I was taking you. It’s our community relations and outreach sector I wanted to share with you. I’ll tell you more later. I’ve scheduled lunch at 1pm here in my office, and right afterward, we’ll leave,” I explained, once again sitting down behind my desk.
Coral tossed me a confused, yet resigned look. “Okay, I’m heading down to Ron’s office now. I’ll be up in a few hours.”
Those few hours seemed like they dragged on forever. I found myself constantly looking at the clock only to see ten minutes had passed. I was rarely this anxious at work. It took a lot to rile me up or get me flustered. The woman who was some ten stories down looking over camera footage was one of those things. When it was about ten after one and Coral still had yet to come to return, I called down to Ron’s office.
“Hey boss,” he answered.
“Ron, is Coral with you?” I asked, bypassing greetings.
“She actually left two minutes ago. We’ve been looking at footage for hours. I’m not sure if anything was learned.” He sounded doubtful.
“Alright. Thanks.” Just as I looked up, I saw Coral greeting Darlene outside my office. A sigh of relief escaped. “She’s here. I’ll ask her take on it.” I hung up quickly as Coral knocked on my door and entered.
“You don’t have to knock, Coral. You’re free to enter my office whenever. I ordered your favorite, a honey-glazed salmon salad.”
My chest expanded as she smiled in appreciation.
“Thank you. Where are we going after lunch?” she asked as she slid onto the couch, grabbing a fork and the salad.
I found my eyes wandering to toned legs encased in a pair of black leggings, and a pair of brown knee high boots. I watched as she crossed her legs and unfolded a napkin over her lap.
“Li…”
I’m caught.
Our gazes collided, and I felt those odd sensations, that only she elicited, rise in the pit of my stomach. I could tell she felt something as well as she quickly removed her gaze from mine and peered down at her salad.
I cleared my throat. “Did you have a question?” I asked, pulling up a chair closer to the low table in front of the couch.
“You said we were going to see a community center? Tell me about it.”
“Not yet,” I said uncapping a bottle of water and handing it to her. “I want you to see it before I reveal too much.”
“Can you tell me how long you’ve been running it?”
“A little over four and a half years now. It’s been around for more than twenty years, but it was in financial turmoil for some time before we took over. When I took over Bennett Industries, I wanted to strengthen our social responsibility to the community. Not just improving how we utilize environmental resources but how we treat the people in our community as well.”
I noticed Coral pause in between bites to stare at me. I was unable to discern the look, but it sent a warm feeling spreading throughout my chest. We ate in a comfortable silence for the remainder of our lunch and a little before two pm we headed down to the building’s garage to take a town car to the community center. During the twenty-minute car ride, I watched Coral’s profile. I was struck by how beautiful she was and how it’d been so long since we were in each other’s presence. No other woman had dominated my thoughts the way this woman had for years. I knew from the first moment I s
aw her that she was going to play a pivotal role in my life, and as I sat there trying to discreetly observe her, I knew this to still be the truth. She was the reason for almost every decision I’d made in the last five years.
“Looks like we’re here,” she said as we pulled up.
I turned to look out the window and noticed we’d arrived at our destination. “So, we are. Come on,” I encouraged and pulled her by the hand helping her out of the car. I only released her hand after I felt her tugging for me to let go.
She was already two steps ahead of me heading towards the door. “Well, ‘Mr. King of Surprises’, show me what you’ve got here.”
I smiled knowing she was trying to maintain her distance from me. I shook my head knowing her strategy is futile. The longer I was in her presence, the more I realized this thing between us was undeniable and always had been. I started to rethink my plan of keeping my own distance while I handled this little problem to keep her safe. Maybe next to me was where she was safest after all, I wondered as I followed her inside the huge brick building.
As we entered, we were greeted by Ava, one of our part-time interns. “Welcome, Mr. Bennett and Miss Coleman.” Ava was a graduate student studying child psychology. Here at the community center, she did a lot of our administrative work, as well as leading two child-centered talk groups.
“Coral, this is Ava,” I introduced, as Ava began telling Coral all about our facilities.
“Here we have state-of-the-art computers and technology for the kids to do their homework, research projects, or just use at their leisure. Each child is given a maximum of three hours per week that they can be on the computer or tablet, because as important as technology is, we also like to stress physical activity. Many of our kids go to schools that have cut gym classes and recess, so we like to give them time here to run around and exert some of that pent up energy.” Ava continued to talk as we moved from the classroom area where the technology was to the side of the center that housed our gymnasiums and pool. “Here we have the smaller gymnasium where our basketball team practices.”
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