by Koko Brown
“Laz, that’s not it. I—I heard the DA’s office is investigating you and one of your cases.”
Unease crept up his back and the coffee cup stalled near his mouth before he slowly lowered it to the counter. Questions ran rampant through his mind and he wasn’t sure which ones to ask first. Being investigated by IA was one thing, but being investigated by her office was on a different level.
“Laz…”
“What case?” he asked a little harsher than intended.
She hesitated and pulled her lower lip between her teeth. He knew he was asking a lot, assuming whatever was going on was in the early stages. But Laz needed as much information as possible to prepare himself for whatever was coming.
“Journey, I need you to tell me everything you can. I promise you, it stops right here.”
“I heard that our office is reopening the Monsuli case because…the DA was informed that some of the evidence had been planted.”
“What? That’s bullshit!” He leaped from the barstool, startling her. “So all of a sudden they decide the evidence is no good? I’m not buying that.”
“Monsuli’s lawyer is trying to get the original case overturned. If that happens—”
“Monsuli walks,” Laz finished. He ran his hand over his mouth and paced near the kitchen. Memories of that arrest and the hours after floated to the front of his mind.
“They think you planted evidence, Laz.”
“I’ll admit, I’ve done some dirty shit over the years, but I wouldn’t intentionally jeopardize my case.”
Journey said nothing and anxiousness twisted in Laz’s gut. Did she believe him? Even if there could never be anything between them, what she thought of him mattered.
“Anyone who really knows me knows that I’d do almost anything to put a criminal away, especially if I knew without a doubt that they were guilty. But this…”
Journey exhaled loudly as if she’d been holding her breath. “I know, and I believe you had nothing to do with tainted evidence. But Laz, this is serious. Depending on what comes of the investigation, the DA can press charges. You could do time.”
He just stared at her. He had busted his ass for the city for the last seventeen years, and he’d be damned if he went to jail for some shit like this.
“This guy can’t go free. Do you remember three years ago, six teenagers were found shot dead under the Buford Highway bridge.”
“I remember.”
“That was Monsuli’s doing. Those kids were drug runners for him and had started using his merchandise. We could never get enough evidence to formally charge him or anyone in his camp. I can give you a handful of other instances off the top of my head where he was involved. And finally, we catch him, with a murder weapon, and you’re telling me he might walk. What type of sense does that make?”
“Laz, I know the legal system can be frustrating, but it works. We can’t keep him in jail unless we know for sure he did the crime we’re charging him for.”
“What evidence are they claiming was planted?” he asked, his anger almost at its tipping point.
“The knife used to kill the victim. It has the vic’s blood on it, and according to forensics, Monsuli’s prints aren’t on the weapon. Yours are.”
Laz’s mouth gaped open. “That’s crazy!” Even if he was going to plant evidence, there’s no way he’d be sloppy about it.
“Monsuli insists you’re trying to frame him since you haven’t been able to get anything on him in the past.”
“I caught the bastard with the knife in his hand, Journey. He wasn’t wearing gloves. When I ordered him to freeze, he dropped the weapon to the floor.”
“Then what did you do with the knife?”
Laz didn’t forget details of a case, especially this one. The drug kingpin, a supplier of heroin, meth and cocaine, had been on Laz’s radar for years, but they could never nail him. A few years ago when one of his customers ended up dead, they thought they had him, but one of his minions took the fall, admitting to first degree murder.
“I never touched that weapon. I had the responding officers tag it for evidence.”
She didn’t speak, only stared at him with her big, brown doe-like eyes that were filled with sympathy. He didn’t want her pity. All he wanted was to get to the bottom of whatever this nonsense was.
“Whatever they think they have on me is bullshit. Either they have the wrong knife, or somebody is trying to set me up. Either way, I’m not taking this shit sitting down.”
He headed to the door, but Journey caught up to him and grabbed his arm.
“You can’t say anything about all of this yet, Laz. I probably shouldn’t have even told you since I could lose my job if it got back to my office that I shared confidential information. But…I owe you.”
He knew exactly what she was referring to, and over the years, memories of that night filtered into his mind. She didn’t know this, but since the night she’d almost been raped, he had kept tabs on her. She still worked late hours, which he hated, but at least now she didn’t use public transportation at night. She had started either driving or ordering a car to get home from work. Laz still got the shakes whenever he thought about the night she’d been attacked. The situation could’ve gone very different had he not happened to be in the area and heard her screaming.
“Baby, you don’t owe me anything, especially where that night is concerned. I’m glad I was there for you.” He caressed her soft cheek, loving the way her eyes drifted closed as she leaned into his touch. What the hell was he going to do about this woman? This adorable, intelligent woman who dominated so many of his thoughts?
Her eyes fluttered open again, and his hand slid behind her neck, pulling her closer. He wanted to kiss her sweet lips again. Staring into her troubled eyes, he held onto her, his thumb caressing the soft skin beneath her ear.
“Thanks for the heads up. I swear to you, I won’t say a word.”
He lowered his head, inches from her mouth, but at the last minute settled for kissing her on the forehead. If he had kissed her lips, there was no way he’d be able to leave without stripping her out of her clothes and taking her body the way he’d desired.
“Lock up, and I’ll see you around.”
SEVEN
Journey couldn’t leave work fast enough. Seemed anything that could’ve gone wrong did, from breaking a heel on her favorite pair of pumps to having one of her witnesses change her mind about testifying.
The shoe issue was an easy fix since she always kept an extra pair at the office. The witness situation—not so much. She’d been prepping the witness for weeks and to get the call from her that she’d changed her mind, left Journey scrambling for a back-up plan. Basically, it had been a hellish week and she was looking forward to joining her sister, Geneva, for happy hour.
Journey walked out of the building and shivered when a gust of wind had her staggering a bit. It wasn’t really cold, but she pulled her jacket closed and hunched her shoulders against the brisk evening weather. Summer was definitely over.
Lingering near the door, she glanced out at the street and smiled when she spotted her sister’s car pull into the no parking zone.
“Ah, yes. It’s officially the weekend.”
She took a few steps before a tall man in dark shades and a shadow of a beard stopped in front of her and pointed.
“You!” he growled in a low, menacing voice. “I know you were behind this.”
Journey’s heart lurched in her chest. Assuming he was drunk or high on something, she stepped to the side with intentions of going around him, but he blocked her path. There was something familiar about the guy. She just…
He whipped off his dark glasses and she gasped.
“Gabe! Oh, my God. What happened to you? Who did this?” She set her bag down on the concrete and reached for him, but he swatted her hand away.
“Don’t act like you didn’t know. Having someone beat me up, Journey? Really?”
“Whoa, whoa, wait a minu
te,” she said, shocked by his allegation.
He pointed at his bruises. “I don’t know how, but I’m going to prove that you were behind this.” She took in his swollen face with dark, painful looking circles below his eyes, a bandage across his nose, and puffy lips. His arm was in a sling, though he wasn’t in a cast.
She didn’t like Gabe, but she wouldn’t wish this type of beating on anyone.
“Gabe, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but—”
“Save it! You just better watch yourself.” He slipped on his sunglasses despite the setting of the sun and hurried down the street, leaving Journey gawking after him. Was that a threat?
“Come on Journey before I get a ticket!” Geneva yelled through the open window.
Journey hurried toward her sister’s vehicle with yet another topic of conversation for them to discuss over drinks.
“I can’t believe you think the cutie-pie detective had something to do with Gabe’s beat-down,” Geneva whispered when they arrived at one of their favorite bar and grills, snagging the last table in the bar area.
“I said I hope he didn’t have anything to do with Gabe’s situation.” Journey didn’t want to believe Laz would stoop to that level, but she had a nagging feeling he probably knew something about it.
“I knew Laz had a little thug in him when you introduced me to him last year at Club Masquerade.” Geneva laughed and Journey couldn’t help but smile. At the time, Geneva had tried flirting with Laz, not knowing that Journey had a serious crush on him. To Laz’s credit, he’d been kind to her sister, but his interest and attention had been solely on Journey. If she had to pinpoint when their relationship had shifted, she could credit it to that evening.
After the server took their drink and appetizer order, Geneva continued.
“You know, I always thought the prosecutor was a little creepy. Remember that Christmas party? He found every excuse to get close to you and then he acted as if he’d been hypnotized by your breasts.”
Journey laughed. “Okay, you’re right. That was creepy, but he’s harmless… At least that’s what I used to think. Now, I’m not so sure.”
That party had been four years ago and she’d made it clear to Gabe that night she wasn’t interested. But lately, something with him had changed and she wondered if his behavior was really about her or if there was something else going on in his life.
“I might have to get the cops involved and let the DA know what’s been going on since Gabe threatened me. I don’t want to, but he’s giving me no other choice.”
“Well, from what you told me about that encounter at the courthouse, Gabe is lucky I didn’t hunt him down myself and beat his ass. And if Laz wasn’t behind the whooping, Gabe must’ve rubbed someone the wrong way if his face was as bad as you claim.”
As the server placed their drinks and potato skins on the table, Journey’s thoughts stayed on the Laz and Gabe situation. No way would Laz take that type of risk with the mess that was already going on with him. Then again, she knew him well enough to know not to put anything past him. He did whatever the heck he wanted to do. Consequences be damned.
“And speaking of Laz, what’s going on with you two? Have you had any more close calls?” Geneva grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. “You didn’t accidently fall on his dick and not tell me did you?”
Journey rolled her eyes trying not to laugh knowing if she did, it would only encourage her sister to continue. Geneva had a way with words and there was nothing off limits.
“Don’t make me regret telling you about the lapse in judgment in my office, and no, nothing’s happened between us. I haven’t seen or heard from Laz in over a week.”
“You sound disappointed. Hell, I’d be disappointed if I wanted to screw his brains out and he was nowhere to be found. Sooo, are you disappointed? Are you finally ready to get your head out of your ass and let that man show you all that he can do with his tongue?”
“Dang, Geneva! Do Mom and Dad know you talk like that?”
Her sister shrugged and twisted the thin straw around in her drink. “Hey, I just don’t understand the problem. The man is absolutely gorgeous. You two have been skirting around each other for years. He likes you. You’re crazy about him. Just g’on and fuck and get it over with.”
Journey shook her head. “We can’t. Well, we could but—”
“Don’t tell me it’s because he’s white.”
“Of course not! Laz is a nice guy and I’ve dated white men before. It’s just that…” She kept telling herself that she wanted to maintain a professional relationship with him.
“You know what, sis? I get that you walk this straight and narrow road that you’ve created for yourself, but life is short. If you want the man, go for it. Use all that.” She waved her hands up and down at Journey. “Besides, what if you never act on the attraction between you two? You’ll miss out and always wonder what it would have been like to sit on his face and let him eat yo—”
“Stop!” Journey burst out laughing, knowing her sister would have kept going and probably would’ve gotten more graphic. “What is wrong with you tonight?”
“I’m horny as hell. I honestly don’t know how you’ve gone without for all of these months. Thank God Evan is getting back tonight,” she said of her boyfriend of six months. “I’ve already worn out Dildo Evan and…”
Journey laughed through the rest of her sister’s lewd monologue. After the week she’d had, this was exactly what Journey needed. She hadn’t laughed this hard in a long time, probably not since the last time she and her sister got together.
As Geneva explained all that she planned to do to the real Evan when she saw him, Journey’s mind drifted to Laz and all that she wouldn’t mind doing with him. She was tired of depriving herself, and what better time than tonight to go after what she wanted?
Journey stared out the window as the town car she was riding in the back of traveled through the streets of Atlanta, heading to Laz’s place. What seemed like a good idea at first was starting to feel like one of the dumbest things she’d done in a while as doubt plagued her mind. How had she let Geneva talk her into going to see him?
What if he wasn’t home? What if he didn’t open the door? Or worse, what if he opened the door and didn’t let her in?
Journey shook her head. He would never slam the door in her face. He might give her a hard time about showing up out of the blue, but he’d at least let her in. She wasn’t a spontaneous person, and hadn’t put a plan fully in place when she and her sister parted ways. All Journey knew is that she didn’t want to spend another night alone.
It didn’t matter that he was everything mothers warned their daughters about when it came to men. There was an invisible thread that connected her and Laz. A thread she wanted to pull tighter to bring them closer.
Glancing at the bag of food sitting next to her, Journey knew it would at least get her in the door, assuming he was home. And Gabe’s bruised face would give them something to talk about, then she’d leave.
Who are you kidding? You’re not going to want to leave.
Journey rested her head against the leather seat. She wanted Laz more than she wanted anything at the moment. Since neither of them were looking for a serious relationship, it could be the perfect setup. They could act on the scorching attraction between them, without getting emotions involved.
Journey glanced out the window as the car turned into Laz’s neighborhood. He lived near Underground Atlanta, and the number of homeless people hanging around stood out like black on a white canvas. Cops didn’t make much considering they put their lives on the line daily, but she had a feeling Laz lived in the area to stay close to the action.
Even after the car stopped in front of his building, she remained in the back seat. It was cold out, yet people lingered outside of the building laughing, talking loud and smoking. Unease swept through her when she realized she’d have to walk through a group of men near the entrance appearing to be in a heated discussi
on.
Okay, let’s do this.
“Thank you,” Journey said to the Uber driver and gathered the bag of food and her purse before climbing out. She held her bags close to her body as she moved quickly to the door, her heels clicking against the concrete.
“You lost?” A kid in his early twenties, with two front silver teeth blocked her path. The liquor, and another smell she couldn’t identify on his breath made her eyes water. Journey didn’t need this right now. She was already nervous about being there.
“Man, leave her alone,” one of the kids he’d been hanging with said before turning back to the small group of guys, but Mr. Silver Tooth didn’t move.
Seeing that ignoring him wouldn’t work, Journey said, “Thanks, but I know where I’m going.” She tried stepping around him, but he blocked her path and grabbed at the sleeve of her shirt. She yanked her arm back, anger simmering behind her calm. “Touch me again and be prepared to lose that hand,” she said in her deadliest voice.
After being attacked years ago, she had taken a self-defense course. Outside of her encounter with Gabe, she hadn’t had to use what she’d learned. But she remembered some of the most important body parts to inflict pain. Genitals, eyes, knee cap, and Adam’s apple to name a few. She just hoped she wouldn’t have to test her memory.
A shrewd smile spread across his mouth. “I see you have jokes. You think your boney-ass can take me?”
“Maybe. If I can’t, I’m sure I could get Laz down here to handle you.”
The smile immediately dropped from the kid’s face and he lifted his hands in surrender. “We’re good. Don’t need no trouble from the white shadow.” He went back to his group, who were now laughing at him.
Journey hadn’t known for sure he would know Laz’s name, but apparently he did. No surprise there. There weren’t too many people who didn’t know of him. Most thought him a nice guy, while the rest thought he was a heartbeat away from crazy.
White shadow?
Journey didn’t stick around to question the nickname. She hurried into the building, sidestepping a couple of kids playing cards on the steps, and ignored the loud rap music streaming from one of the apartments. The stench of alcohol mixed with trash was almost too much, but she kept moving.
