“Now on to the other stuff. Start from the beginning.”
We go through every single detail over and over and over. Until I want to scream. But he’s thorough. His men are already delving into things, running searches on business connections, Charleston connections, the mob, you name it.
“How long before we have answers?” I ask.
“I can’t say. But my gut tells me we’ll get this one figured out fast. Unless …”
“Unless what?”
“Never mind. One thing I need from you is business as usual.”
“I moved Carter out.”
“Understandable. What about you?”
“They’re working on the place now. Making it livable again. The whole front was destroyed. Windows shot out and so on.”
“Oh, I understand. My home was blown up once.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. I wouldn’t kid about that. Did the police say anything about the evidence?”
“Not to me, but I can ask my attorney.”
“Why do you have an attorney?”
I explain what happened. He scrapes his teeth over his lower lip and then cocks his head to the right.
“Uh oh.” Gemini sighs.
“What?” I ask her.
“He’s pissed. That look. It’s not a good one.”
I sit silently and observe. Drex calls in another guy, Nikolai, and he relays what I’ve just told him.
“Nikolai, do you think you can squeeze into the Charleston PD database? I want to see if they have any information on the evidence in there.”
“Won’t they know?” I ask.
“Nope. It’ll ping from Siberia or something,” Gemini says.
Nikolai taps the keyboard for a few minutes and says, “Law enforcement is getting wiser and wiser. They’re hiring better people to set up their security. It’ll take a few minutes to get in. I’m breaking their encryption now.”
In the meantime, Drex continues to drill me for more information. I’m sure I’m not giving him enough, because everything I tell him seems so basic.
Then he asks, “Any encounters with anyone? Interactions that may lead you to believe this could have resulted from that?”
At first I say no. But then I think of Simon. Could it be him? Does he hate me enough to do it? Or even hate Carter enough. I tell Drex. I also tell him about Harper.
“You have to count everyone as a possibility. Even this Simon fellow.”
“Okay. But after the two of them, I don’t have anyone else.”
“What about Carter?” Gemini asks.
“If you met her, that girl doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. I don’t know how she could possibly have any enemies.”
Drex says, “You have to think outside the box. We’re looking at all possibilities. It doesn’t matter that you don’t know how she could have enemies. The fact is someone might have wanted her dead. So think in those terms. If you do, who would you point your finger at?”
“She has the shittiest friends I’ve ever known, not that I’m an expert on friends.” I explain.
“Okay, not cause for death, but yet the green monster of envy has been the motive before.”
“Are you sure this isn’t mob related?”
“No. At this point I’m only sure of one thing. Your mother is dead and we don’t know who did it. I’m exploring everything I can.
Nikolai yells, “I’m in.”
Drex yells back, “Evidence. Hart case. Bullet, casings. Anything that can tell us what they found, or suspect. Gang related? Organized crime? Let me know when you have it.” Then his attention is back on me.
A young blond woman enters, carrying a tray of coffee and all sorts of breakfast items.
“Hungry?” Gemini asks.
“Yes, thanks.”
Coffee is poured and we continue to work as we eat.
Nikolai announces that the evidence is scarce. “I don’t really understand. The database has almost nothing, which is baffling.”
I stand and walk over to him. “What does that mean? They spent two days collecting it. With all the gunfire, there must’ve been tons of it. Maybe they haven’t finished testing it yet.”
“No. What they collected should at least be listed. They should enter it the day it’s brought in.”
Drex shakes his head. “There’s a dirty cop. Someone inside’s involved in this.”
“But who and why?”
“Can’t answer that. But the fact that the evidence isn’t in here is enough proof for me. Huff, did Dane get off okay?”
“Yeah.”
“He report in yet?”
“Yeah. The plane is en route.”
“Call him now and tell him to call as soon as he’s set up. We need to send a back-up. Kestrel, call your team. Make sure Carter is watched twenty-four/seven. She’s not to be left alone.”
“Okay. You are freaking the fuck out of me.”
“Don’t mean to do that, man. Just making sure your girl is safe. Make the call. Better yet, let me talk to your team.”
I dial and initiate the call, then hand it over to Drex. They coordinate and admittedly, I feel better about things.
“Where’s Kolson?” he asks.
“I assume at the hospital.”
We need to set him up with a team, too. Get him on the phone.”
Drex explains the situation to him and he is instructed to remain at the hospital until his protection arrives. Christ, this thing is snowballing. What next?
The day rolls by and lunch is brought in. Soon I glance out the glass partition and notice the office outside is empty.
Gemini looks at me and asks, “You’re spending the night, right?”
Ha! “I hadn’t planned on it. I thought this was going to be a quick here and back trip.”
“No worries. The executive apartment is here for that very thing. We have everything you need, steps away.”
“I’m very worried for Carter.”
“I can see that. But she’s in good hands and as soon as Dane gets on site, you’ll have the best shadowing her.”
“He can’t be there all the time.”
“That’s why we’re sending back-up.”
“Drex, I need to ask you something. Do you think Carter is safer away from me?”
“Tough call. If you felt like you were bringing the danger upon her, then I would say yes. But you don’t know that for sure.”
“That doesn’t help me at all,” I say.
“I know. It looks like we have everything we need from you here. I’m going to come down there tomorrow and poke my nose into the Charleston PD’s investigation. See what they tell me. I also have a friend in the FBI. He can help, if need be. But right now, the important thing is to keep all of you protected so this doesn’t happen again.”
The next morning, Drex, Gemini, and two men join me for my flight home. One of the men will be my shadow. His name is Turk and the other will be helping Dane watch Carter. His name is Heath. I pray things go as they plan because I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to Carter, or anyone else.
***
Returning to Charleston was the most difficult thing imaginable. I can’t eat, sleep, or function. All I can do is think about Carter and the way she looked when I left her. And then I’m in a constant battle over her safety. Should I go to her or let her be? Was I the true cause of the shooting? My gut tells me yes, so I feel this is the right thing to do, but it’s making me fucknuts. Being this close to her, and not being able to touch her, has triggered my cravings for her. She’s all I think about. The only time I get relief is when I’m dead ass drunk.
Two weeks go by and that’s about all I’m doing now. Jameson has become my best friend. I’ve even abandoned Lagavulin in exchange for it. Seems to be the only thing that can drown out the picture of Carter’s face that’s embedded in my mind.
Kolson walks in and yanks the bottle of Jameson out of my hand. “Get the fuck up and straighten
out your shit. You have a company to run and a killer to help Wolfe find, and you can’t do either at the bottom of a bottle.”
I groan as he opens the curtains in the bedroom. The bright light streams in and my skull wants to split wide open. Christ, what time is it? Did I sleep with that damn bottle of whiskey?
“You have to stop this shit, Kestrel. Living like this isn’t going to help.”
“You don’t understand.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I understand better than anyone. When I was in hiding, I did exactly what you’re doing and it got me nowhere. I finally realized if I didn’t stop, I’d be right where Kade was, only my vice would be liquor and not drugs. Now what’s it gonna be?”
“Whiskey is the only thing stronger than Carter.” And it’s true. It’s the only thing that expunges the image of her face from my mind—the last look I have of her when I walked out of her life.
“Jesus, if that’s what you think, then you don’t know that woman at all. Think about what you just said. I have to go back to New York. Gabriella’s been released and the plane leaves in four hours. You don’t have a choice here or I’m removing you from HTS. Do I make myself clear?”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
“As CEO, I would. I’m in charge of protecting this corporation and right now you are incompetent. Pull yourself out of your self-imposed gutter, brother. Or you’ll find yourself unemployed. Get your ass in the shower and get cleaned up. Now!”
He leaves me no choice. I roll out of bed and stumble into the shower. He’s right. The pity party has to end. And I need to get my ass in gear. Finding the killers should be my priority, not drinking myself into oblivion. What the hell is wrong with me? When I get out of the shower, Kolson stands there.
“You’re right,” I say.
“Good. Now go get something to eat. You smell like whiskey.”
“That bad, huh?”
“That bad.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Carter
“What do you mean he left?” Harper asks.
“I don’t know how I can be more explicit.” My hand automatically fingers the necklace he gave me. I can’t bring myself to take it off.
“How could he do this to you?”
Falling back against the cushions on the sofa, I groan. “I don’t know, Harper. All I know is he said he was worried about my safety.”
“That’s obvious. From the looks of the linebackers you have on the porch, you don’t need to worry about a thing. They wanted to frisk me when I got here.”
“You’re kidding!”
“No! They asked me if I was carrying a weapon! I showed them my pepper spray.”
“Ugh!” I want to crawl back in my bed and hide.
“By the way, you look like shit.”
I give her the evil eye. “Thanks. You would too, if you had been shot, and then abandoned by your boyfriend.”
“Ooooh, poor baby.” She launches herself at me and squeezes me as hard as she can.
“Ouch! Take it easy. My chest still hurts.”
“Oh, sorry.” She releases me.
I rub my incision.
“Hey, can I see it?”
“I guess so.”
I lift my shirt and she says, “Ew! That’s gross. You’re still green and yellow. And what’s that?”
“It’s left over from the tape and glue.”
“Huh? They glued you?”
“Uh huh.”
“Ick. That’s just nasty, Carter.”
“Thanks. You know how to make me feel better.”
“Hey, I have an idea. Let’s go out to lunch. You need to get out of here.”
“I don’t know.”
“Come on. It’s been over three weeks since you’ve been home and all you do is sit in here. You need some fresh air. Going out will do you some good. Go take a shower and wash your hair.”
“My hair?”
“Carter, you smell bad.”
“I do?”
“Uh huh. Now go. And we’ll go somewhere to eat.”
After some prodding, I realize she’s right. I haven’t showered in days and I need to pull myself out of this funk I’m in. So I shower and dress and Harper takes me to lunch. We chat about everything and anything, but eventually the topic of Kestrel comes up.
“Why don’t you call him?” she asks.
“And why in the hell would I do that? He fucking left me!”
“According to you, it was because he was afraid for you.”
“Big fucking deal. If that were true, then why hasn’t he even checked on me?”
Harper is silent. Then she says, “Excellent point. Fuck the asshole.”
I bite my lips to keep from bursting into tears.
“Look, it’ll get better, I promise.”
“When?” I ask. “Because this feels like fucking hell right now.”
“Yeah, I know.” She pats my hand.
My leg thumps up and down. I have to do something to get my mind off crying. Every time I think of Kestrel, I want to break down into a lump of soggy tears. Jeez. I was so stupid to let myself fall for him.
“When can you go back to work?” Harper’s hand reaches under the table and grabs my knee to stop it from thumping. “You’re going to rattle everything off the table.”
“I’m going to check with my doctor about work. If I sit, I’m thinking maybe soon.”
“Good. You need to get out. Sitting in that house is fucking with your head.”
“I know.”
The worst part of all is I want to see Ells’ room and I can’t. It used to bring me peace and now my access is cut off.
“Hey Harper, can you do me a favor?”
“Sure, hon. What is it?”
“After lunch, can you take me to Ells’ headstone? I need to talk to her.”
“Sure thing.”
We finish up and Harper drives me to the cemetery. She starts to get out of the car but I stop her, telling her I want to do this alone. I walk to the marker and stand for a minute.
It’s chilly, but not too bad for a late January day. Dropping to my knees, I lean my forehead against the granite.
Oh, Ells. I wish I could visit you in your room, but I can’t anymore. I miss you so much. You’re going to have a little brother or sister. No one knows yet. I’m really afraid. I don’t have Geemama or Big Papa to help me this time. But most of all, I don’t have you. How did I screw up so badly? Where did I go wrong?
“Carter, are you okay?”
I look up to see Harper.
“Yeah. I always cry when I come here.”
She reaches out her hand and I take it as she helps me stand. We walk back to her car.
“Going back to work will do you good. Talk to your doctor.”
“I will.”
When we get back to the house, I make the call. He says part time is okay, as long as I don’t stand for too long. If I go for a week and don’t tire, I can go back full time after two weeks.
On Monday, I go back to the lab. John greets me at the door with a big grin and a hug. It gives me a warm glow to see my old home. Now it’s my only home. The place I’m living will never feel like home. A few days before, Uncle Foster presented me with the deed. He said Kestrel purchased the place in my name and I own it free and clear. It would’ve been nice if Kestrel had called and told me.
“I have everything just as you left it.” John’s voice pulls me out of my reverie.
“Thank you, John.”
“StrongMeds will be down next week. They want to give you a week to catch up before they visit.”
“Ha! I’ll need at least a couple of weeks. And if I’m part time, maybe longer.”
“Better let Winston know then.”
“Yeah, you’re right. And thanks for everything, John. You’ve been a blessing.”
His face turns ruddy. “It was nothing.”
It feels great diving into my work again. The day is gone before I know it. John nudges me
and reminds me I need to leave.
“I love my work so much. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed it.”
“You need to follow your doctor’s orders.”
“But I feel great. Better than I’ve felt all month. He said to let my body be my guide.”
“Go home, Carter. I want you back all well. Not tired and broken.”
He doesn’t know how broken I am.
“John, I need to talk to you about something.” I bow my head because I can’t look him in the eye. I fiddle with my thumbs.
“Sure. What is it?”
“I’m pregnant.” I can’t look up. I’m too afraid of what I’ll see.
“Oh, Carter, that’s wonderful news!”
“Is it? How’s that? I’m all alone. The father doesn’t even know.”
John takes my hands and in a soft voice asks, “Why haven’t you told him?”
“Because he left me.”
“Hmm. I didn’t know that.”
“I know.”
“You have to tell him. He has a right to know.”
“I realize that. But … it’s difficult.”
“But he’s crazy about you.”
Oh, that’s what I thought, too. “Then why did he leave me?”
“I don’t know. Have you asked him?”
“He claims it’s for safety reasons. He thinks I’m in danger around him.”
“And you disagree.”
“It’s not that I disagree. It’s that he didn’t give me a choice.”
“Call him.”
“He won’t take my calls.”
“Then you’ll do what anyone else would do. You’ll have a baby and be the best mother you can be.”
And I break down and cry. Again. Like I always do when I think about having a baby all by myself.
John shoves a bunch of tissues in my hand and keeps assuring me all will be fine. He names every reason in the world why it will and halfway convinces me. When I’ve calmed down, he packs up my stuff and walks me to the elevator, promising to close up the lab. I get to the parking garage and hear my heels echo on the concrete. For whatever reason, I get the eerie feeling I’m being watched. I stop and look behind me, but I’m alone. It’s dark and dingy in here, but it’s never felt creepy to me before. All this stuff about the shooting has made me more paranoid, so I hurry to my car. When I get home, the linebackers are on the porch waiting for me. I have to stop and wonder why they don’t escort me so I ask.
Kestrel Page 28
