The Ultimate Romantic Suspense Set (8 romantic suspense novels from 8 bestselling authors for 99c)

by Lee Taylor

  From across the room Jesse saw her former husband. The sultry young woman with him was twenty years old, if that.

  The nervous clerk jumped to attention. “Yes sir, of course, sir. Let me check and see where he is.”

  Garrett scowled at her. “I just told you where he is. He’s at the jail. This is an outrage. I demand to see him immediately.”

  The clerk paled. “Yes, Sir. I’m calling the jail now. I….”

  To her relief, Jesse saw Dameon coming around the corner. He was wearing a black t-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. Even in this casual attire, he was impressive. Jesse now knew him well enough to see his face tighten and knew that he had overheard Garrett’s exchange with the woman at the desk.

  “Excuse me. I’m Dameon Macarios, the police chief.”

  The clerk who’d refused to speak with Jesse was effusive with relief.

  “Chief Macarios, this is Dr. Chambers. His son, Trey, has been… arrested. I’m getting ready to show him to the conference room. I’ve called the jail to get information—”

  Dameon held up his hand, stopping the clerk in mid-sentence.

  “I see.”

  He walked toward Jesse and motioned for her to approach. Bringing her up next to him, he said, “You are his mother?”

  Jesse nodded.

  Dameon turned to the young woman next to Chambers. “And you are?”

  The young woman who looked as though she might tumble over in her high heels was dressed in a short red dress graced by a white Ermine wrap. She blinked long eyelashes at Dameon and breathed, “I’m Sapphire Somers. I’m Doctor Chambers’ fiancé.”

  “I see.” Without speaking to Chambers, Dameon motioned to a uniformed officer standing to the side watching the exchange.

  “Officer, please take Dr. Chambers and Ms. Somers to the parent’s conference room.”

  The ruddy faced young officer snapped to attention. “Yes, Sir.”

  Dameon waited until the threesome turned the corner then moved toward Jesse. She was dressed in sweats and a t-shirt and wearing sneakers. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail. Just as before in her kitchen, she looked like a kid—a thirteen-year–old, scared, vulnerable kid. Dameon wrapped a big hand around Jesse’s arm and pulled her up next to him. He said in a low voice for her ears only, “Are you okay?”

  When she nodded to him, he turned his anger on the clerk.

  “What’s the meaning of this?”

  The middle-aged fleshy woman squinted at him surprised and stammered. “I… don’t understand, sir.”

  Dameon asked Jesse, “How long have you been waiting here?”

  “Over an hour, almost an hour and a half.”

  He glanced at the clerk’s nametag. “Did you tell Mrs. Peterson that you are Trey’s mother?”

  Jesse nodded. “Yes, four times.”

  “Can you explain why when Dr. Chambers arrived you immediately agreed to take him to a conference room and get information about his son but you kept his mother waiting for over an hour?”

  The flustered woman glanced from Jesse back to Dameon. “I’m… sorry. I assumed because he was a doctor that he was busy and wouldn’t want to be in the waiting room with all the other people….”

  “I see. But you assumed his mother would?”

  “I’m sorry—”

  Dameon cut her short. His voice was crisp.

  “Do you have children?”

  Jesse tugged on his arm. “Dameon, it’s okay.”

  “No, Jesse, it isn’t okay. That is not the kind of department I run.” Turning back to the clerk who looked angry as well as embarrassed, he repeated, “I asked you if you have children.”

  Mrs. Peterson glowered at Jesse making it clear that she blamed her for the trouble she was in. Seeing Dameon’s determination, she mumbled, “Yes.”

  “If your son was arrested and the woman at the desk refused to give you any information about him for over an hour and your husband came in and he was immediately taken to a conference room, would that upset you?”

  When the woman refused to answer him or meet his eyes, Dameon said, “Your behavior was inexcusable. You can pack up. You’re done for the day.”

  Mrs. Peterson looked up, startled. “But… I just got here. My shift isn’t over until—”

  “You’re done. Who is your supervisor?”

  Fear riddling her face and voice, Mrs. Peterson whispered, “Moses Shapiro.”

  “I’ll discuss your actions with Mr. Shapiro. He’ll let you know on Monday if you can come back.”

  “But Sir—.”

  Dameon was curt. “Don’t call us. We’ll call you. And by the way, since you seem to be impressed by titles: this woman is a decorated retired Major in the U.S. Army and happens to be associated with this department. But the only title that you needed to hear is that she is Trey’s mother. Do you understand?”

  Ignoring the woman’s angry glance first at Jesse and then at himself, Dameon looked instead at the crowded waiting room. He stepped to the front. Even dressed in casual clothes, the only sign that he was a policeman the shield clipped on his jean’s pocket, he commanded the crowded room.

  “Excuse me, everyone. Are there other people here who have been waiting more than thirty minutes for information about a family member?”

  Dozens of hands shot up as a surprised murmur ricocheted around the room.

  Dameon pointed to the front desk.

  “Please form an orderly line. My name is Police Chief Macarios. Please accept my apologies for your inconvenience.”

  Turning to the surprised man standing in the doorway, Dameon ordered, “Officer Sorenson, get as many clerks as you need to break through this back log. I want it cleared within the hour. Do you understand?”

  The befuddled officer nodded yes and jerked out his walkie talkie.

  “And Officer Sorenson, please leave a message that I want to address the front desk staff the first thing in the morning. I will describe what constitutes a professional customer-centric organization that from now on will be SOP in this department.”

  When Officer Sorenson looked askance at the waiting room filled with what he clearly considered the dregs of society, Dameon glared at him.

  “Yes, Officer. These customers. The citizens who pay our salaries.”

  Chapter 11

  Guiding Jesse by her elbow, Dameon led her down a dismal hallway and stopped at the door marked conference room. Jesse stumbled after him trying to reconcile the scene she’d just seen with her frustrating experience with the hostile clerk. She glanced at Dameon. His bearing was stiff, the lines around his eyes and mouth were taut. Jesse thought again how fortunate she was that he’d merely put her on probation. He obviously ran a tight ship and didn’t suffer fools gladly. She saw Army commander written all over him. Like her father—and like herself—a simple frown from this commander got results. No one wanted to be on his bad side.

  “Do you have any objection to being in the same room with that asshole? We usually put the parents together.”

  His caustic remark startled her bringing her back to the present. Knowing that she had to deal with Garrett and how ugly the scene was likely to be, Jesse shrugged. She may as well face it. She knew Garrett would blame her for what had happened. She only wished that Dameon wouldn’t see the ugliness. She felt guilty enough as it was.

  She managed to whisper, “It’s okay.”

  Dameon frowned at her, obviously concerned. “Look, Jesse, we can separate you two….”

  “No, please. I’m fine. It’s just that he’s a challenging man.”

  Dameon barked a harsh laugh. “So am I.” He tipped up her chin and winked at her. “And so are you, tiger. Or is it only with me that you bare your claws?”

  Jesse gave a startled laugh, the first non-panicked emotion she’d had since she’d received Trey’s call. She blinked back grateful tears.

  “Thanks, Dameon. And thank you for coming.”

  “After I deposit you in this snake pit I’m going t
o find out what happened. Were you able to talk to Trey?”

  “Just for a half a minute. He was crying. I could barely understand him.” Remembering Trey’s frantic sobs, Jesse’s fear spiraled.

  Dameon nodded and tightened his grip on her arm. He walked her into the conference room. Glancing at Garrett and his companion, he addressed Garrett.

  “As I indicated, I am Chief Macarios. I’m going to the jail to see your son and talk with the arresting officers. I’ll be back shortly. While you wait, can I have my staff bring you anything? Water? Coffee?”

  Garrett gave Macarios a dismissive glance and pointed at Jesse.

  “What’s she doing here?”

  “Pardon me?”

  Apparently missing the simmering danger in Dameon’s response, Garrett glared at Jesse.

  “What’s that bitch doing here?”

  Dameon stepped in front of Jesse and glared at the obnoxious man. His voice was low, ominous.

  “I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt, doc, once. I’m assuming that you are under stress and for the moment, I’ll let that that remark pass. As you well know, Jesse is Trey’s mother.”

  Sapphire chipped in with a haughty sniff. “If you can call her that.”

  Dameon stepped in her direction, drilling her in turn with a hard stare.

  “Excuse me. And you are again? Not related in any way to Trey?”

  Apparently too caught up in self-importance, the young woman didn’t see the danger lurking in the tall man’s flashing blue eyes.

  “Well, I’m going to be his mother very soon when the doctor and I get married.”

  Dameon turned away with a disgusted look as if she were too insignificant to take up any more of his valuable time.

  “Jesse, do you have a problem with Ms. Somers being here?”

  Jesse gave a weary sigh. “No, not with her or any of the others. I just haven’t met this particular ‘fiancé.’ ”

  When Chambers hissed “bitch” under his breath, Dameon fastened him with a long hard look. When the doctor flushed and looked away, Dameon turned to Jesse.

  “I’m going to talk with Trey and the arresting officers. I’ll send word back if I’m going to be longer than thirty minutes. Okay?”

  Jesse nodded. “Thank you.”

  After he left, Garrett turned on her.

  “What the hell are you doing here? How dare you show up and act as if you belong here?”

  Jesse ignored him and walked over to the window. Staring unseeing into the darkening night, Jesse wondered as she always did, how she ever could have married this loathsome man. And how this abhorrent man could have such a beautiful son. She was surprised that she’d once thought Garrett was handsome. But now like Dorian Gray’s painting his personality had thoroughly infected his looks. Pinched lines around his mouth and eyes confirmed that the scowl on his face was there often. He was thin, with a bit of a paunch. Guess golf four times a week wasn’t enough to combat a daily cocktail hour that started as early as 5 p.m.; Jesse hoped for the sake of his plastic surgery patients that their operations were scheduled early in the day.

  She didn’t know how much time had passed when the door opened. Jesse breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Dameon’s voice. In seconds he was at her side.

  “Everything okay here?”

  Jesse nodded, avoiding looking at her former husband. She moved toward the table when Dameon motioned to her to sit down.

  Assuming the command post at the head of the table, Dameon settled into his chair.

  Jesse shook her head in disgust, seeing Garret’s latest fiancé smile at Dameon and hitch her risqué skirt several inches higher. If he saw the eager young woman’s flirtatious gesture, and Jesse was sure that he did, Dameon ignored her.

  “Okay, folks, here’s what we have. I spoke with the arresting officers and with Trey. I’ll bring him in here in a moment to talk with you but I wanted to give you a recap. It appears that your son met up with some unsavory characters. From what I can tell, Trey and three other 10th graders went to a Circle K. When the clerk refused to sell them cigarettes, one of our miscreants pulled a gun and shot him.”

  Jesse cried out, “Oh my god!”

  Garrett hissed and shot her a hate-filled glance, condemnation oozing from every pore.

  Dameon ignored the silent attack and continued.

  “Three of the boys ran. But Trey called 911 and stayed with the clerk. While he was waiting for help Trey tried to stop the injured man’s bleeding. Luckily for Trey, the clerk and the arresting officer verified his version of the story. Trust me, Trey would be in a world of hurt if they hadn’t.”

  Garrett’s anger spilled over. He leapt to his feet, turning his rage on Jesse.

  “What can you expect? You act shocked, you fucking bitch! Whose fault do you think this is? You have a house full of guns and run around the world playing soldier and you act surprised that my son has guns?” A spray of spittle spewed from his mouth punctuating every word. “He does fine and then you come back and suddenly he’s hanging out with scum and is involved in an attempted murder? And you fucking act surprised?” His voice rose to a shriek.

  “EXCUSE ME!” Dameon’s warning crackled across the room, halting Garrett’s tirade.

  “I’m warning you for the last time, doc. Trust me. You can ask anyone in the precinct or in this town. You do not want to mess with me. This is your son’s mother. I want you to treat her with the respect she deserves. Do you hear me?”

  Garrett’s face was purple with rage. His eyes bulged and his body was shaking. He clung to the table edge to steady himself. He turned his anger from Jesse and focused it on the police chief.

  Dameon’s voice dropped lower becoming more ominous. “I asked you a question, Dr. Chambers. Answer me.”

  His threat was all the more powerful in that he remained in his chair in contrast to the infuriated man who’d reared up like an impotent snake seeing a crouching lion preparing to strike.

  After a long moment, the angry man attempted to speak then gave a curt nod.

  Dameon slowly shook his head.

  “Not good enough, doctor. I asked you a question. I expect an answer. Now.”

  After clearing his throat several times, the red-faced man muttered, “Yes.”

  “Apologize to Major O’Donnell. Then sit down.”

  Garrett’s eyes flared in angry disbelief.

  “You… you… expect me to apologize to—”

  Dameon cut him off.

  “Apologize to Major O’Donnell and sit down. Now.”

  The doctor flushed a deeper more dangerous reddish purple then muttered, “I’m sorry.” He sunk into his chair ignoring the shocked look on his paramour’s face.

  Jesse didn’t blame the clueless twit. The girl was clearly stunned at the way the cool dark-haired man brought the self-righteous doctor to his knees. But then so was Jesse.

  Dameon continued his overview as though the three people in front of him weren’t staring at him with various levels of disbelief and in one case, hatred.

  “I’m going to bring in your son and question him in front of you both and then we’ll decide what we’re going to do.”

  Dameon clicked on the speaker on the table.

  “Officer Michaels, please bring in the Chambers boy.

  Jesse jumped to her feet when Trey came in. He was flushed, shaken, and tear tracks stained his face. Jesse started to go to him but Dameon warned her back with her an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Jesse sunk down in her chair, her heart pounding against her chest.

  Dameon motioned to the chair next to him at the corner of the table.

  “Trey, sit here please.”

  With that one gesture, Jesse saw that Dameon had separated Trey from both her and Garrett and clearly established that he was the person Trey needed to answer to.

  Apparently Garrett wasn’t that savvy. He choked out, “Trey, goddamn it. Explain yourself. I can’t believe this. That a son of mine could do this.
I knew this was going to happen if they let you be with her….”

  Dameon threw him a deceptively casual glance.

  “Thin ice, doc. Verrry, verrry thin ice.”

  Garrett sunk back in his chair, dark red splotches blooming on his cheeks.

  Dameon captured the young boy’s gaze. “Okay Trey. I’ve gone over the basics with your parents. First, do you object to Ms. Somers being in the room?”

  Sapphire gushed, “Why would he object to me? We’re best friends, aren’t we, Trey, sweetie?”

  When Trey flushed, Dameon repeated, “Any objection, Trey?”

  Trey’s muttered response was disparaging. “I don’t care.”

  Dameon shot a glance at the eager young woman who gazing adoringly at Trey.

  “You may stay for now.”

  Dameon turned his attention to Trey.

  “I told your parents what the arresting officers told me. Will you please tell us in your words what happened tonight?”

  Trey swallowed several times before he could speak.

  “I… I went with Peter, Joey, and Clark—”

  Dameon interrupted. “They are classmates of yours?”

  “Yes.”

  “Friends?”

  “Not really. I… I….” Trey shook his head. “I don’t know a lot of kids. I don’t really have any friends. I’m new here. We moved here last spring right before school let out.”

  Garrett burst out. “You’d have friends if you’d go to the Club as I insisted instead of locking yourself like a fucking hermit in your room with that insidious computer.”

  Jesse saw Dameon inch his chair closer to Trey, strengthening their connection. She remembered with a start that Dameon had done that with her the other day when she was upset.

  “Hmm. You’re the new kid in school? Not easy being the new kid, is it?”

  Trey looked down at the floor.

  “I… I liked where we lived before better. But my dad wanted to get away from my mother. Make it harder for her to see me.”

  Garrett’s outraged retort erupted. “That’s not true, Trey. Your mother was never there wherever we were. Why would it matter if we moved where there was no Army base? She’d be gone, no matter….”

  Garrett trailed off in mid-sentence at Dameon’s narrowed gaze.