On His Honor

by Jean Brashear

  A faint tightening of those lips had Violet wanting to smile again, but she resisted. “He’s very important to me, you know.”

  Narrowed eyes, then a regal lift of the head. “Of course. Come this way.”

  They headed toward a set of stairs. “Does this lead to the windowed rooms above?”

  “Yes. My office, Avery’s office and a VIP suite. I thought you’d be more comfortable waiting for him there.”

  “That’s very kind of you.” Though kindness was a stretch to attribute to this woman.

  “Don’t mention it.”

  * * *

  JD PACED OUTSIDE HIS TRUCK as Lofton’s phone rang. When it went to voice mail, he swore at the delay required by Lofton’s message.

  At last, the beep. “Lofton, this is JD Cameron. Sophie Carlisle relayed your message, but we need to talk. If you’re half the friend Violet believes you are, call me the second you get this. Don’t screw around—if she gets hurt, I will hunt you down, you son of a bitch.” He squeezed his phone in white-knuckled fingers. “Call me.” He rattled off his cell number and choked down the urge to hit something.

  After he disconnected, he got in his vehicle and immediately dialed Doc, trying not to think about his last sight of Violet’s face, set and still, steeled against him and the hurt he’d caused her.

  When Doc answered, he relayed what he knew, but JD’s phone soon beeped for call waiting. When he saw it was Lofton, he switched calls immediately and didn’t waste any time on niceties. “Lofton, where are you?”

  “That doesn’t matter. You need to help Violet.”

  “I intend to, but I need some answers first. We should meet.”

  “I…can’t.”

  “What do you mean you can’t?” JD’s eyes narrowed. “Are you running away? After you got Violet involved in this? You bastard, when I get my hands on you…”

  “You don’t know Sage, how she is.”

  “So you’d leave Violet at her mercy?”

  “I can’t go to jail.” He hesitated. “If you could get me immunity, I could help you.”

  “Unbelievable.” JD choked down the urge to leap through the phone and strangle the asshole. “You’re the reason she’s in this position.”

  “I never intended for this to happen. I tried to keep her away. Things have gotten out of hand, but it’s not my fault.” He was practically whining.

  “You are some piece of work, you know that?” JD ground his teeth. “All right. I’ll talk to the D.A.”

  “How soon?”

  “You expect me to leave Violet in danger while I track down the D.A.? Forget that. Go ahead and run. Just do this one thing for Violet’s sake, answer some questions about your setup at the club while you drive off into the sunset, you coward. Then to hell with you.” The second they were off the phone, he’d have a bulletin out for Lofton, but the clock was ticking.

  “You don’t understand.”

  “Oh, I understand enough. I know that Violet thinks you’re the only person in the world she can trust, and you’re throwing her under the bus to save your own hide.”

  A long silence. JD waited him out. C’mon…show me that Violet wasn’t completely wrong about you.

  A sigh. “What do you want to know?”

  Besides why I shouldn’t shoot your sorry ass? JD forced his mind back to the operation. “Is Violet alone with your partner?”

  “No, our manager is at the club, too.”

  “Name?”

  “Leslie Alsobrook.”

  “So, two females. Give me a description of each one.”

  Lofton complied.

  “Anyone else on the premises?”

  “Not when I left, but by now the place will be full of staff getting ready to open.”

  Crap. “So what’s that mean, number-wise?” He cast back in his memory to when he’d been there before. “You have one DJ, a bartender and a bar back, how many wait staff and busboys?”

  “You’ve been in the club before? When?”

  “Doesn’t matter. How many?” JD snapped.

  “Six cocktail waitresses to begin the evening, four more later. Six busboys, two bouncers. Two dishwashers. Lighting and sound guy.”

  JD shook his head. “A lot of bodies to work around. Doors open at, what, seven?”

  “Yeah.”

  It was now nearly six. “Where do you think your partner would have her?”

  “I don’t know. They were touring the club when Sage called.”

  “Take a guess.”

  “There’s a VIP room upstairs. Look, whatever you’re going to do should happen soon. Sage expects me back any minute. If I’m not there, she’ll get suspicious, and she’s paranoid at the best of times.”

  “Then call her and stop her from getting suspicous. Tell her you’re nearly at the club, that it won’t be more than ten minutes.”

  “But—”

  “I’m almost there, but I need more time to get backup in place.”

  “If Sage sees them…”

  “She won’t. They’ll be staged farther away. First priority, though, is to extract Violet. So how do I get inside without attracting attention?” If the club were already open, it would be simpler, but no way was he leaving Violet there one second longer than he had to.

  “If Sage senses a cop, there’s no telling what she’ll do.”

  A possible gambit occurred to him. “What kind of deliveries would you get this time of day?”

  “What?”

  “Deliveries,” JD barked. “So I could enter at the back without anyone noticing something unusual.”

  “It’s too late for that. Alcohol and food are already onsite. Linens, too. Sage would be suspicious of any deliveries right now.”

  Crap. “Anyone there you trust? Someone who likes you and not Sage?”

  “That would be nearly everyone.”

  “Pick one.”

  “Leslie. The manager.”

  JD searched for a parking spot, though his sense of urgency pushed him to abandon his truck in the middle of the road and haul ass straight for the club. “Can you call her now without Sage knowing?”

  A pause. “Yeah. I have her cell. We, uh, we had a thing.”

  Oh, great. “You’re sure she’d be on your side?”

  “Yeah. She’s solid.”

  “Is she involved in the trafficking?”

  “No. She knows nothing about that. She’s a good person.”

  Like Violet. Someone else who could be hurt by this bastard’s use of a legitimate business to make dirty money. “Do it, then. Tell her to let me in the back door and to say nothing to anyone. See if she knows where Violet is.” JD pulled in a spot and cut the engine.

  “You’re not just a teacher at the Academy, are you?”

  “No.”

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m the man who’s going to see you fry in hell if one hair on Violet’s head comes to harm.”

  “I— Look, I never thought…”

  “You thought you and someone like Lima would just have a cozy little tea party? And speaking of Lima, what do you suppose he’ll do if he gets his hands on Violet?”

  “Oh, God.” A pause. “All right. I’m coming back. I’ll help you.”

  “Why should I believe you? And how the hell can I trust you now?”

  “Because Violet’s important to me. Sounds like she’s important to you, too. You willing to turn down help? I can get you inside. You said yourself getting her out of there is critical.”

  “I can’t promise you a deal.”

  “But you’ll try?”

  “Help me get Violet to safety, and I’ll do my best.”<
br />
  This hesitation was shorter. Lofton exhaled in a gust. “All right. What do you need me to do?”

  “How far away are you?”

  “Close. I’ve been circling. Listen—Violet mentioned taking me to dinner when Sage handed her the phone. Maybe I can use that as an excuse to take her away from the club.”

  JD’s heart thumped. “You talked to her? How did she sound? Was she all right?”

  “It was a voice mail, but she sounded like Violet—sweet. Sincere. Said she was having a nice time looking around.”

  “Did she sound as though she was under duress?”

  “Not then.”

  JD thought madly. “Okay. Your restaurant is only a block or so away from the club, right?”

  “Right.”

  JD didn’t like involving civilians, and he wasn’t sure how far to trust Lofton, but the man could get inside the club with no questions. And JD would be right on his tail. “Okay. Call Leslie the manager first. See if she knows where Violet is and have her keep an eye out for me at the back door—”

  “Wait—” Lofton interrupted. “I don’t know what you look like.”

  Impatiently JD rattled off a description. “Call me with Violet’s location ASAP. Then you’ll phone your partner. Tell her you got her message and that you set up an early dinner at the restaurant so you can be back at Danger Zone not long after opening.”

  “What if Sage says no?”

  “If she balks at all, that’s an answer of sorts.”

  “But then what do I do?”

  “You show yourself to be the actor you once claimed to be, and you keep it calm and casual. Reassure her you’ll be there in ten minutes, then report back to me on the conversation.”

  “Got it.” Lofton clicked off.

  JD phoned Doc. A team was on its way, and they refined their plans quickly. JD donned his earpiece while they were speaking, then checked the transmitter to be sure it was on. He’d like to wire Lofton, as well, but he didn’t have spare equipment on him and time was too critical.

  Then he spotted Lofton driving his Jag into the parking lot, talking on the phone.

  “Gotta go, Doc.”

  “Be safe, JD.”

  “Always.”

  JD shoved his phone in his holster, checked his service weapon and yanked out the tail of his shirt to cover it, then checked the clutch piece fastened to his ankle.

  And waited impatiently to hear from the piece of garbage Violet thought had only her best interests at heart.

  * * *

  “AND THIS—” SAGE GESTURED around her like a Vanna White substitute “—is a special suite for VIPs. Everything they could want—the sound from below piped in or their own music played on a state-of-the-art system.” She strolled along one wall. “Home theater, a wet bar, catered meals, all manner of cushy seating…”

  “Very impressive,” Violet murmured. “Is that one-way glass?”

  “To a degree, though if the light is on up here, dancers on the main floor can see in. Some VIPs like to keep things private, but others want to be part of the scene below.”

  “Without actually having to rub elbows.”

  “Exactly.” Sage’s phone buzzed and she held it to her ear. “You’re still not here? What’s the holdup?” She frowned, casting an irritated glance at Violet. “Why don’t you ask her yourself when you get here? You’re neglecting your guest, and there are things I need to check on.” She listened again, a line forming between her brows.

  Uh-oh. Botox wearing off, Sage. “Want me to talk to him?” Violet extended a hand.

  Instead, Sage hit the end button. “I don’t know what’s taking him so long.” She pocketed her phone and strode to the door. “Why don’t you try out the chairs and enjoy your drink while I get back to work? You don’t mind, do you?” Her expression said she couldn’t care less if Violet minded.

  “Of course not.” Sage wasn’t exactly scintillating company, anyway.

  “Fine.” Sage was through the door in an instant.

  “What did Avery want to—”

  The door shut with a click.

  Talk to me about? she was going to ask.

  Or not. Violet settled into a decadently comfy chair and took a sip of the Violet James cocktail. Then she let her head rest against the back of the chair and tried to relax.

  * * *

  A few minutes later, Lofton called JD back. “Sage isn’t going for it. She wants me there now. I’m going in.”

  “No. You don’t have any training for this.”

  “Look, Sage is getting really agitated. Leslie says Violet is upstairs in the VIP room, and she’s ready to let you in. But someone’s got to keep Sage occupied if you’re going to sneak Violet out. That’s what you want, right? To get her out quietly?”

  “Yeah.” Damn it.

  “What? You don’t trust me?”

  “Should I?”

  Lofton’s voice went tight. “On this, yeah. I know you don’t think much of me, but Violet is all the family I have. I can’t leave her in there alone with Sage.”

  You were ready to do exactly that earlier. JD didn’t have a lot of choices, though. Hostage situations could be deadly. Surrounding the club and demanding Violet’s release when she was in the custody of an unbalanced woman? The odds were too dicey. If Sage was getting more agitated, waiting would only worsen the situation.

  And eyes on the inside would be invaluable.

  “Go in, then, but keep your partner downstairs and away from Violet. Make sure there are others around. She’ll be less likely to do anything if other people are in sight. Set your phone to vibrate only, and keep this line open. Hit any key when it’s clear for me to come in behind you, but stay on the line so I can listen in—that’s your best protection until the team arrives. With luck, I’ll be in and out fast. As soon as I have Violet clear, I’ll text you, which should make your phone vibrate. Then you get the hell out of there. We’ll do the rest.”

  “Got it. I’m going into the club now.”

  JD moved into position in the parking lot and watched Lofton enter the building.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  VIOLET STUDIED HER SURROUNDINGS, thinking of all Avery had created, how nice the people were who worked for him. Okay, not Sage—he had lousy taste in business partners—but everyone else. If this club was being used for nefarious purposes, she couldn’t see it. She could not believe Avery was part of anything like what JD had suggested.

  Sage, on the other hand… Maybe it wasn’t fair to accuse her simply because she’d taken such a dislike to Violet. If she only knew…the only man Violet wanted was a smoky-eyed detective she couldn’t trust.

  Thoughts of JD wrecked any hope for relaxation. Violet leaped to her feet and went to the window to watch the activities on the main floor. She would not think about JD—not ever again if she could help it.

  Oh, yeah, that’s gonna happen.

  Just then, Avery strode into view below, his head swiveling to scan the premises. He headed for Leslie and spoke to her intently. Sage walked up to the two of them, clearly impatient for Avery’s attention.

  Suddenly Violet couldn’t wait any longer to see him. She would know the truth as soon as she looked into Avery’s eyes.

  She’d surprise him. She crossed the room in quick steps and grabbed the door handle.

  It was locked.

  There are things going on right now, serious things. People could get killed.

  Violet banged on the door. “Hello?” No one else had been up here but her and Sage. She returned to the window and knocked on it, but no one looked up.

  Sage, she saw now, was in Avery’s face, apparently reading him the riot act. Avery appeared both nervous and upset.<
br />
  Suddenly this spacious, beautiful room felt like a cushy prison, and she wanted out.

  Things JD had said began to resurface. People close to your buddy Avery are dying. Right now he’s nervous and scared because someone he met with was murdered last night…and it’s setting off a chain reaction.

  Unease prickled between her shoulder blades. The locked door no longer seemed like a mistake, and Sage, not Avery, appeared to have the upper hand.

  You don’t have to take my word on the crimes of your so-called friend—but you do have to believe this: I want you safe, and I don’t care what I have to do to guarantee that.

  Think, Violet.

  Whatever Avery’s role, she could not believe he’d let her come to any harm. Surely Avery would come upstairs to get her soon, and when he did, she’d insist on leaving the premises for dinner to get him out of Sage’s sphere. Then she would start asking Avery some hard questions.

  * * *

  JD STOOD OUTSIDE THE BACK ENTRANCE, waiting for Lofton’s signal.

  His phone was also on vibrate for when he went inside. He put his Bluetooth on mute and pitched his voice low on the mic, testing to see if the team had arrived yet. “Doc?”

  “It’s Vince, JD. Had a holdup, but we’ll be there in ten,” said Vince. “Where are you?”

  “Back door.” Suddenly, his phone vibrated. “Got my signal, Vince. I’m going in. Have to get Violet out of there before everything goes sideways. I’ll signal when I’m clear.”

  “Copy that. I’m closer than the rest. Be there in five.”

  Suddenly JD heard voices through his Bluetooth.

  “What do you mean, you locked her in?” Lofton demanded. “Where?”

  “I don’t believe you’re in any position to be making demands,” said a sultry voice that, from Lofton’s description, must be Sage. “Joe, check Avery’s car, tell me what you see inside. Particularly if there are suitcases.”

  Crap. JD backed away to hide and spoke into his mic. “Do not approach. Someone heading for the back parking lot. Repeat, do not approach.”

  “Roger that.”

  A burly guy came through the back door. JD watched him while he listened in on Lofton.