by C. J. Thomas
I swallowed, suddenly reminded of the sandpaper scratching the back of my throat. “Is he going to be okay?”
Cobbs pressed his lips together. “I believe so.”
I lifted my hand and touched his elbow, feeling the need to lean on a trusting shoulder.
“Let’s get you closed out here so you can get back to him.” His eyes smiled. Sitting at the table, Cobbs opened the bottle of water for me as he said, “I’ve reviewed the plea deal. You’ll receive probation, no time served, in exchange for offering your testimony against Madam and Oscar.”
I dropped my face inside my hands and started trembling.
Cobbs scooted his chair closer and angled his broad shoulders to me. “This is a good deal. An excellent deal, Kendra. I would have made the same choice if in your shoes.”
Tears prickled behind my eyes. It wasn’t that I didn’t think the deal was unfair. I knew it was the best I could get. The reason I was shaking was because I was scared that despite Madam being in custody, she still had the resources to silence me before she ever went to trial.
When I heard the door open behind me, I pulled my hands away and watched Agent McGurk join us at the table. “I need to be protected,” I said. “Until the trial is over.”
Cobbs turned to McGurk and began hashing out the details of my request. Once protection was promised, McGurk flicked her gaze to me and added, “A thorough review of the police department and district attorney office is currently underway. We’ll purge it of all remaining corruption. All thanks to you, Ms. Williams.”
A quick flash of their faces moved across my eyes. Madam, Jerome, Oscar, and Detective Fletcher. As if reading my mind, McGurk said each of their names, mentioning details about their hearings before a judge, scheduled for the morning.
“Will they be granted bail?” I asked.
Cobbs turned to me. “It’s safe to assume they will all be held without bail.”
McGurk nodded in agreement before excusing herself from the room.
Once we were alone, Cobbs briefed me on the steps that would follow—how long it might be until a trial was officially scheduled; how it would be best if I didn’t interact with the press until after it was finished. That was an easy suggestion for me to agree to. All I was interested in was getting back to Kelly and disappearing—leaving without a trace—until the world calmed itself down.
A knock on the door got both of us to turn our heads.
It was Lucky and I could see in his eyes that he was hoping to talk to me alone.
“Would you give us a minute?” I glanced to Cobbs.
He looked me in the eye and nodded.
I watched Lucky’s gold badge swing across his chest as he walked around the table. Sitting across from me, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say. Even now he had such a calm presence about him that it was hard not to want to smile and let him know how much I appreciated our time together.
“How are you doing?” he asked, his African accent gone.
“I’ll survive.”
He grinned. “Are you mad at me?”
“Do you care if I am?”
“It might sound surprising, but I do care.” He licked his lips. “I was rooting for you the entire time.”
“Even when you left me to be kidnapped at Tonya’s funeral?”
“Despite what happened, it was something that sped up our case.”
Looking to the table, I wanted to be mad but didn’t have any anger left inside to give.
“If it weren’t for you, we would all be in a much worse position than we currently are.”
My eyes flicked up to him. “I’m not sure I would have chosen to be a martyr.”
“Martyrs don’t get to make that decision.”
“It was written.”
Lucky nodded. “It was written.”
Agents McGurk and Smith entered the room. Cobbs took up the caboose. “Can I still call you Lucky?”
“I’d like that,” Lucky said before letting the two other agents take control of the debriefing.
With Cobbs by my side, I quickly fell into the zone of answering the last of their questions. They wanted to know more about Kelly and how much I knew about his business with Madam, my role as an escort, and if I was ever instructed to sleep with anyone.
When Cobbs gave me the okay to answer, I said, “Yes, but only once.”
“And who was that with?”
Wetting my lips, I pulled my spine straight. “Timothy Parker.”
Agent Smith fell back in his chair as he shared a glance with McGurk.
I knew that look, the unspoken thoughts they were sharing. “Tonya’s dead and she deserves justice.”
“Let’s talk about her.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Any idea who might have wanted to kill her?”
Cobbs reached his hand over and stopped me before I could answer. “My client doesn’t know who or why the woman in question was murdered. Let’s stick to the script we all agreed to without veering too far off course.”
Smith stared into Cobbs’s glare. “The woman, Tonya Craig, was also Madam’s girl.” He rolled his eyes to me. “Also had marks similar to Maria Greer—who, as you might recall, was also murdered. Her body dumped at the same location as Tonya’s.”
I watched Smith rake his gaze over my arms, across my neck, seeing the familiar marks now associated with murder. Wanting to cover up, I folded my arms across my chest, stifling the shiver rolling beneath my skin.
“Tonya had those same marks.” Smith pointed to my neck. “Care to discuss—perhaps give us insight—into what goes on inside these nightclubs you and these other two women seemed to frequent?”
Cobbs spoke for me. “I think we’re done here.”
“Kendra, we know you’ve been inside these clubs,” Smith pressed on. “Probably knew who both these women were. You could be the key to solving their murders, too.”
My chest heaved with new adrenaline igniting. “If I’m not mistaken, don’t you already have a suspect in custody for Maria’s murder?” I said, thinking of Sylvia Neil.
“Okay. Enough.” Cobbs raised his voice. “We’re done here.” I felt his glare bore a hole into the side of my head.
Smith narrowed his eyes and leaned his large frame across the table. Staring me in the eye, he said, “But did you ever see Maria Greer at Wesley Reid’s nightclub, Mint?”
3
Kendra
Cobbs marched me out of the room.
He was silent but I could feel the tense energy rolling through him.
The once-calm man was now visibly flushed with anger.
“What are they getting at in there?” I asked once we were out of earshot. “I thought this was over and Sylvia Neil admitted guilt?”
“Kendra, they are baiting you.” He leaned close to my face, locking his naturally suspicious eyes with mine. “I don’t know what they’re after, but they’re hoping for you to reveal something.”
With heart pounding, I glanced back to the room we’d just exited. “Tonya Craig’s case is still open.”
“I don’t know.” Cobbs rooted his hands into his hips.
I rolled my neck back to him. “No. That’s what I’m telling you. She was murdered and they haven’t made an arrest.”
“You’ve been through enough for one day. It’s time to go home, get some sleep.”
As tempting as that offer sounded, I couldn’t keep my mind from wandering to Angelina Davis. We knew she was the one to have killed Tonya. She’d admitted it was her way to get back at Madam for stealing business away from Blake Stone. As much as I wanted to name-drop her, I couldn’t. She thought I was one of the good ones and every time I needed to calm myself down, I thought back to Sam playing the piano at the last gala I’d attended.
Cobbs was still staring when my words came out in a whispery breath. “I know who did it.”
The lines on his face deepened as he pushed his face into mine. Sneering, he said, “Enough.” Then he gl
anced to his wristwatch. “Take my advice. Don’t speak to anyone about anything more tonight.”
I could feel his eagerness to leave. “Where are you going?”
He sighed. “I wish I could stay. God knows you need someone by your side. But it’s late and my wife is sick.”
Folding my arms, I said, “Don’t worry about me, I can handle myself.”
A skeptical look arched his brow. “That is the exact reason why I’m worried.”
“Shit.” My arms fell to my sides. Reaching for his elbow, I said, “I’m sorry. That came out wrong.”
Cobbs had made the effort to come all this way and I didn’t have the decency to return the respect he deserved. I was floating with my head stuck in the clouds. The questions from the inquisition still rang in my ears and I was having a difficult time processing the last 24 hours into something that made sense.
The clacking of high heels turned our heads. McGurk strode in our direction. Immediately, my stomach tensed as I held my breath. “Kendra, I just spoke with Mr. Black and he has requested you wait for him here… if you have it in you to stay.”
My chest expanded on the next inhale as blood rushed to my tingling toes. I nodded, saying I would wait. Then I turned to Cobbs. “Can I walk you out?”
“I’d like that,” he said.
We didn’t say anything until the double door exit was in sight. Then he stopped and turned to me.
“You’re currently sitting in a very good position. But don’t think that one wrong word can’t bring it all down.”
I swallowed down the lump of sudden fear in my throat. His eyes were narrow beads of sincerity I wasn’t about to take lightly. “I understand.”
“If you’re withholding information about a murder,” he paused to look behind me, “those are charges you don’t want brought. Believe me.”
“Thank you.” I rolled my eyes.
He touched my arm, squeezed, and I watched a small smile sprout on his lips. “I’ll follow up with Kelly in the morning. Until then, be there for each other.”
I blinked my round eyes and watched him leave. Whether he meant it or not, his words branded me with the simple reminder that nothing in this life was for certain.
Turning on a heel, I wrapped my arms around my ribs as I walked with my gaze glued to the floor. My head was still spinning with thoughts of Maria Greer. Though I couldn’t recall ever meeting her in person, I wondered if we had crossed paths and what the authorities knew about her actual place of death. Because, if anything was certain, they knew something. But it didn’t concern me, and I wasn’t even certain it concerned Kelly. My first visit to Mint occurred after her death. This was Wes and Nash’s problem to sort out.
The black metal door opened in front of me. The tall man’s bushy eyebrows were instantly recognizable. “Mr. Anderson?”
He lifted his head and gently smiled upon seeing me.
His tired eyes flickered with renewed light, but as I got closer I could also see the glint of betrayal that kept me hesitant to respond. Wanting to recoil inside of myself, guilt pushed my shoulders down. There was little doubt that he was brought here because of me, yet I played my naïve self when asking, “What are you doing here?”
His trembling fingers extended as he reached for my arm. His touch was warm, like that of a concerned father. “They put me under the light.”
My brow furrowed, suddenly feeling sorry for him.
“I had no idea.” His head fell to one side. “If I had, I could have helped.”
A rock settled in my stomach, my eyes prickling with tears. All this time I’d pretended that things were good, that nothing was wrong with the direction my life was heading. I’d refused to believe that what I was doing was wrong—that Kelly was worth the sacrifice of having to obey Madam with her insane demands. And as the story played out behind my lids as Mr. Anderson stood there with a sympathetic look on his face, all I could say to him was—
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, kid.” He uncurled his fingers and dropped his hand from my arm. “We all make mistakes.”
“But I am sorry. Sorry for not being the person you thought I was.”
“And who did you think I thought you were?”
Looking past his shoulder, I said, “Not the person I’m sure they painted inside there.”
“You have always been kind to me, Kendra. No one can take that away from us.”
Stepping forward, I extended my arms out to the sides and hugged him for him simply being him. “You truly are amazing.” After a minute, I stepped back with him asking about Kelly. Placing my hand over my heart, I said, “I believe everything will work itself out.”
“That’s good.” He lifted his head, smiling at the person behind me. “Now tell that to him.”
4
Kelly
I left the room feeling worse than when I entered.
“Kelly, settle down.” Giselle chased after me.
I hit the brakes and spun around. “They didn’t give a fuck about Nora or Patrick,” I said, pointing my finger down the hall. “Were you not in the same room?”
“That will come. They are sifting through a lot right now.”
“Jesus, you too.” I kept on marching.
I wasn’t convinced they were even listening when I accused Madam of committing a capital offense that would put her away for life. That was what we needed. A slam dunk. Grand slam. Something we could really celebrate. Instead, all they wanted to discuss were the city’s nightclubs and if I knew anything about the patrons who frequented them.
I rounded the next corner and all my worries and frustrations vanished the moment I saw her. Slowing my stride, a halo of light brightened her curvy silhouette. Her jades glimmered as her crown pulled to the ceiling. Forgetting I was with Giselle, I hurried toward Kendra.
“My Bella,” I murmured as I slowed to a stop, standing in front of her.
Mr. Anderson’s eyes shone with gentle wisdom as he handed Kendra off to me. I shook his hand before he left. “I hope they didn’t give you too much trouble in there.”
“Not any more than one would expect.”
I handed him my business card, offering my services to him free of charge should he need them in the future. “Thank you,” I graciously said.
He glanced to Kendra. “Stick close to the ones who love you most.” Mr. Anderson patted my shoulder and wished us a good night. He nodded to Giselle before vanishing behind us.
Kendra’s eyes sparkled as I reached for her hands. I felt her pulse throb in her fingertips. My chest tingled with excitement. As we struggled to find the right first words to say, I wanted to tell her that this was over, that she got what she wanted. We were free.
Except I knew we weren’t. Not yet. Maybe never.
There was a hole in my heart that needed to be closed. I wasn’t sure if that was even possible, but I had to try—or die trying.
“I was so worried about you,” Kendra said.
“You were worried about me?” I laughed. “I was worried about you.”
She fell into my arms like the missing piece to the puzzle. I closed my eyes and smoothed my hands down her spine, across the flare of her hips that sent my chakras spinning. There was so much love I had to give I didn’t know where to start. She had been my motivation throughout all of this, yet I still felt like I could have done more.
“Thank you for sending Cobbs.”
“It was the least I could do.” I kissed the top of her head.
She squeezed me tighter. “I’m scared, Kelly.”
“I know, baby.” As we held each other, acting as if we owned the hallway, I thought how Madam would do whatever it took to be released. There was still a huge unknown when it came to whether or not she would be granted bail, or who else she might have working for her on the outside.
Drake appeared out of nowhere. I heard Giselle gasp. Releasing Kendra, I turned to Giselle and said, “Are you all right?”
She removed
her hand away from her mouth and nodded.
Drake kept his distance.
Lacing my fingers through Kendra’s, Giselle skirted past us, excusing herself. “I’ll call you later.”
“Don’t hold back,” I called after her.
Kendra turned into me as we both watched Giselle accept Drake’s company. Dropping my gaze back to Kendra, I weaved my fingers through her hair. Breathing in her scent, I embraced the warmth I received from her body pressing against mine. “Let’s get out of here,” she said.
We exited the building with Maxwell waiting out front. A half-dozen reporters were waiting. Their flashbulbs went off. Questions were shouted and ignored. As soon as the door shut, Kendra turned to me and said, “Kelly, they were asking me some questions I wasn’t sure how to answer.”
“Did Cobbs direct you?”
“He did, but—”
“Then we’re in good hands.” I pulled her closer and kissed her. “Cobbs is a friend I entrust all my secrets with.” A watery gaze filled her eyes and she nibbled on the edge of her lip. “I’m proud of you,” I said.
“You would have done the same.”
“I’m not sure I would have.”
She tipped her head back and closed her eyes. I bent, pressing my lips against hers. They were pillows of softness that made me hard. “Don’t blame yourself. Blame me.”
“Kelly, I can’t. It’s not fair.”
Hooking her chin, I murmured, “But we both know it’s true.”
Her lids hooded as I thought how Emmanuel had been charged and denied bail. In the morning we would know if Madam and Oscar received the same fate. Anxious, it didn’t take us long to settle into silence. And as we listened to the tires hum across the roads Maxwell drove, I found myself smiling. I wanted to believe this was the beginning of a new chapter. The last chapter leading to our happily ever after. It was important Kendra knew what I wanted, what I expected from her. So I told her.
“I want to start over.”
She lifted her head off my shoulder and turned to look at me.
