Justifiable Risk

by V. K. Powell

  “Wow. I mean, excuse me for staring, but television doesn’t do you justice. Though I’m sure you’ve heard that before.” Tom’s face flushed as red as his curly hair. He finally stepped from behind the mound of papers, his neatly pressed jeans and button-collar shirt quite a contrast to the disarray in his office. He looked young, but the editor had indicated Tom had been with the paper for ten years. “How can I help you? Whatever it is, ask.”

  Tom was obviously curious and maybe suffering a tiny case of hero worship. Her father had taught her to use whatever resource or advantage presented itself. In Greer’s case her body provided the leverage; in Tom’s, her star power. Whatever worked.

  “I’m interested in some history on the police department, specifically the homicide squad. Things like significant past cases, anything controversial or newsworthy. You know what I mean. You’ve been around a while, Tom.”

  Eva could swear the man’s chest puffed out. “Yeah, I get your drift. Any body you’re particularly interested in?”

  “You’re very astute. In fact, focus your efforts on Detectives Johnston and Ellis. Cases they’ve handled or incidents they’ve been involved in. I’m not trying to discredit anyone, so the facts will do nicely.”

  Tom stretched against the side of his cubicle and the flimsy panel swayed, nearly dumping him to the floor. He recovered quickly, trying to mask his embarrassment. “I understand what you need, but it could take some time to get all this together. JJ has been with the department several years. Greer moved over to homicide a couple of years ago after—”

  Eva was immediately more attentive. “After what?”

  “Well.” He lowered his voice as if about to reveal the location of the Holy Grail. “It’s a long, involved story. I’d be glad to fill in the small details, but you need to get the facts down first.”

  “Will I read about it in your research?” Eva wanted to know what made Greer tick, especially in her personal life. That’s where her vulnerability would lie.

  “Definitely.”

  “Then you might as well tell me.”

  Tom shuffled his loafer-clad feet. “Hey, I got no problem sharing what I know, after you’ve read the official version. Greer and I went to school together and I like her, but news is news. So, if we can reach an agreement, I’ll be glad to cooperate.”

  The mystery intrigued her. Greer seemed overprotective of her fellow officers and refused to view them in a bad light. But the law-enforcement community in general guarded its secrets fiercely. If you didn’t know the secret handshake, you didn’t get in. Now Tom was waxing cautiously about Greer.

  “What kind of agreement are you talking about?”

  “I know how you TV types are, no offense intended. You waltz into a small town like ours and think you can snatch a story from under our noses and we’ll be grateful for your crumbs. So, if you find something newsworthy, about your brother’s case or the police department, we put a double byline on it. That would be a real coup for me. Agreed?”

  Eva liked to know exactly what she was dealing with, and ambitious people seldom showed all their cards. “Absolutely, agreed.” She stuck out her hand and they shook. “Now, what’s your take on Detective Greer Ellis?”

  “A good person—honest, loyal, committed, and works practically nonstop. Outgoing in school, but she’s become a bit more closed. You couldn’t want a better friend than Greer. I hope your investigation won’t hurt her.”

  “I hope not too, Tom.” As she spoke, Eva realized that she sincerely meant it. “When can you have something for me?”

  Tom rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged apologetically. “A day or two. Is that good?”

  “That’s fine.” She placed her hand on his arm and the muscle relaxed into her touch. “I appreciate this. It’ll save me so much time.” She scribbled her cell number on the back of her business card and handed it to him. “Call me, any time.”

  “I should be thanking you.” As she walked away, he added, “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Saldana. This could be my ticket out of Podunk, North Carolina.”

  “Eva, call me Eva,” she said. Tom seemed like a nice man, who knew exactly what he wanted and took advantage of opportunities. Maybe she’d finally found one ally in this town. Two reporters against an entire police department. Not great odds, but she’d played worse.

  Chapter Six

  After eight cups of the potent motel-room coffee, Eva paced her tiny space like a gerbil on steroids. She hadn’t spoken with Greer or Tom in two days. At this point, neither of them seemed sincere about helping her. Another search of Paul’s BlackBerry and wallet and a round of casual questions in town turned up no solid leads.

  She hit the usual hotbeds of gossip in a small town: the diner, post office, quick-stop market, and the hair salon. Folks eagerly chatted about any topic she chose, as long as she kept it “confidential.” According to local opinion, the New Hope Police Department was the best if you were on the right side of the law and the worst if you weren’t. That was how it should be. Chief Bryant got high marks for running an honest force with limited resources. When Greer’s name came up, the comments usually echoed Tom’s: loyal, committed, honest, but nothing personal. In a town that loved to gossip, people remained tight-lipped on the subject of Greer Ellis the person. For a reporter that spelled story.

  By midmorning Eva’s patience had run out. She’d promised Greer time to go through the investigation, but she refused to wait any longer. Reporters sniffed out stories, they didn’t wait for them to drop in their laps. Eva grabbed her purse and the local map she’d picked up at the post office and drove back to New Hope. She could follow up at least one lead that didn’t require police assistance.

  The rows of old warehouses on Lewis Street all looked the same: run down, windowless, and abandoned. This dismal picture of New Hope conflicted with the upbeat staging of colorful umbrellas and bright storefronts on Elm Street. These back streets represented a seedier side of the little town, and Eva wondered if her decision to come here alone was prudent. She slowed and searched for the address. When she found 247, she parked on the street in front and approached the precarious-looking entrance.

  Rusty hinges barely held the weathered door upright. Eva nudged it with her shoulder and stepped back. It creaked open enough for her to scoot inside between the edge and the frame. Minimal light filtered in from above and shrouded the interior of the structure in a gray haze. Large crates and boxes stacked precariously on the floor sported a thick layer of dust and a spider commune. The floors buckled in places from the elements, and in spots tiny vegetation peeked through.

  Eva edged around the hazards and walked toward the center of the space. Not even the dust had been disturbed. What had Paul seen in this place that made it worth considering as a film studio? But he had been the visionary in the family, which made him very successful in his job. However, nothing here helped explain what happened to him, so she turned to leave. As she moved toward the exit, the floor beneath her dipped slightly, pitching her forward. She grabbed at a stack of crates that gave way under her grasp. Groping for anything solid to hold on to, she fell backward and the boxes crashed down on top of her.

  She lay stunned in the rubble with her head pounding like a weeklong hangover. She wiggled her arms and legs and was relieved that nothing felt broken. No sticky patches that might signal blood loss. Covering her head with her hands, Eva crouched and then stood, forcing the empty crates off her. She opened her eyes and tried to focus as pain shot through her temples. When her vision cleared, she was staring down the barrel of a very large gun.

  “Merda santamente,” she swore.

  “What in the hell are you doing here, Eva?” Greer lowered and holstered her weapon, but it looked like she was swaying from side to side.

  “The same thing you are, I imagine—investigating.” She grabbed her head to stop the dancing vision of Greer. “Can the sermon wait a while?”

  “Are you hurt? You’re a little unsteady. What happe
ned?” Greer pulled Eva against her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

  The light-headedness increased. Greer stood very close and Eva fought not to cling to her just for the contact. “Boxes fell on me, but I’ll be okay.”

  Greer led her outside and toward her unmarked police car. “I’ll drive you to the hospital. You might have a mild concussion.”

  Eva felt foolish for not being more careful. She didn’t want Greer treating her like an invalid. “Don’t need a hospital. I’ll go back to the room and rest.”

  They stopped beside Greer’s vehicle and she fixed Eva with her azure stare. “You’re either going to the hospital or I’ll stay with you until I’m sure you’re okay. You decide.”

  As tempting as the option of having Greer with her sounded, nurse was not the role she had in mind. Besides, she wanted Greer working on Paul’s case, not wasting time babysitting her. “Fine, hospital it is.”

  Fortunately, New Hope General wasn’t busy and they settled Eva into an exam room quickly. Before the nurse could take her temperature, Bessie was standing at the door.

  “Are you all right, honey?”

  “I’ll be fine, Bessie. Don’t worry. Your niece insisted I come in.”

  “What happened, Greer?”

  “I found her under a pile of boxes. Ask her what happened. Does the emergency room have you on speed dial when I come in?”

  “We care about you, that’s all. What happened to Eva?” Bessie wasn’t giving up.

  “She was snooping around the old warehouse district and a pallet of empty crates fell on her. She’s a little woozy. I couldn’t let her drive. But now that she’s here, I can go.”

  Eva watched the interaction between Greer and her aunt with interest, finding it strange that they spoke about her as if she wasn’t in the room. Was this how cops and medical folk discussed victims—as if they weren’t really present? Or maybe this was simply Bessie and Greer’s method of communicating—third-person cryptic.

  “You certainly cannot go, young lady. You wait right here until she’s finished, then take her to her motel. She doesn’t have anybody in town.”

  “That won’t be necessary, Bessie,” Eva said. “I’ll call a cab when I’m ready. I’m sure Greer has more important things to do.”

  Greer nodded and started for the door, but Bessie ended the discussion. “She can wait outside if she wants, but she will take you back to your motel when we finish.”

  Two hours later, Bessie rolled Eva’s wheelchair to the hospital exit where Greer paced the concrete drive. Her posture was rigid, her gait long and purposeful, and her expression totally blank. Why did this place make her so uncomfortable?

  As they approached her, Greer stopped. “Finally. I’ll get the car.”

  “Is she okay?” Eva asked Bessie.

  “She’ll be fine. This isn’t her favorite place anymore.”

  Bessie helped Eva into Greer’s car, then walked around to the driver’s side. “She has a mild concussion. Stay with her and watch her for a few hours.”

  “But, Bessie—”

  “You heard me. Don’t leave her alone for at least four hours. Understand?”

  Greer put the car in gear and, without answering Bessie, drove out of the lot. “Why did I get the most meddlesome aunt in the history of the world?”

  “She’s trying to help, but you can drop me off. The headache meds are working.” At this point Eva wasn’t eager to spend alone time with Greer either. The combination of their attraction and a concussion could be dangerous. And now that Greer was finally working Paul’s case, she didn’t want to jeopardize their cooperative efforts.

  “Afraid not. If I don’t follow the general’s orders, there’ll be hell to pay.” She clearly wasn’t happy about the forced caretaking. “And what were you doing in that warehouse? You promised me some time.”

  “But I didn’t agree to infinity. Why were you there, alone? Isn’t that a violation of police protocol?” The day she and Greer met, Sergeant Fluharty had cautioned Greer about handling a dangerous situation without backup.

  “I was doing my job.”

  “You like that, don’t you? The risky part?” When Greer didn’t answer, Eva pushed a bit more. “Taking down felons without assistance, riding your motorcycle like a maniac, showering outside in near-freezing water, searching buildings alone—it all appeals to you, doesn’t it?”

  “Help isn’t always available. The guys have their own stuff to do and now that—” Greer stared too intently at the road ahead.

  Eva mentally completed the statement: you’ve alienated me from my squad. “If you’re taking unnecessary risks because of me, please don’t.”

  “It’s not about you. I enjoy my work, and I don’t have anything to lose.”

  The certainty of Greer’s comment struck Eva as heartbreaking. It sounded like a death wish. Eva had never grieved so deeply that it threatened to suck the life out of her. But this woman, shrouded in silence and mystery, personified a wounded soul.

  When they arrived at the motel, Eva took a quick shower while Greer made phone calls. Eva walked out of the bathroom with the terry-cloth robe tied around her and Greer’s gaze swept slowly up her body. The look was like a caress as she remembered Greer’s fingers skimming the surface of her skin. She shivered as tiny shocks of arousal fanned through her.

  All her earlier good intentions, all the mental discouragement evaporated with the flood of desire that drenched the inside of her thighs. The attraction overwhelmed her as she fought the urge to strip bare and press herself against Greer. She grabbed the edge of the bed for support and settled onto it.

  When she looked up, Greer stood in front of her. “Are you dizzy again? What do you need?” Her normally husky voice softened, and the tenderness of it ripped away the last of Eva’s restraint.

  She pulled Greer into her, resting her face against Greer’s breasts. “I’m sorry. It must be the head injury.” Eva didn’t usually blame outside forces for her desires. If she wanted someone, she went after her without excuse or explanation. But that approach probably wouldn’t be as effective with Greer Ellis. “I can’t help myself. I’m really attracted to you.” At least that part was true. What she didn’t add was, “In a purely sexual sense.”

  Greer tried to step back but Eva hugged her tighter. “I know this doesn’t sound logical. I’m here to find out what happened to my brother. But it stirs up so many emotions. I can’t seem to separate the grief from the need to connect. Please. I see how you look at me.”

  “But that doesn’t mean we should—”

  “For God’s sake, enough with the shoulds already. Do what you feel for once.” The tension in Greer’s body relaxed slightly and Eva tugged her down on top of her on the bed. “Don’t think. Don’t talk. Just kiss me.”

  Greer tensed again. “No kissing.” Her eyes said more about the comment than her words.

  “Fine, fuck me, then.” Eva shrugged out of the bathrobe and rolled over on all fours. “Is this impersonal enough for you?” She rubbed her ass against Greer’s abdomen as she fondled her own breasts for stimulation. “Take me. You don’t need to be gentle.”

  When Greer hesitated, seemingly uncertain what to do, disappointment settled over Eva. Did she misread this woman’s abilities and her blatant sexuality? How much more explicit did she have to be about what she wanted?

  She guided Greer’s hand to her breast and squeezed hard. Her nipple instantly puckered. “Again.” Greer’s fingers pinched her erect flesh and sensation coursed through her. “Yes,” she encouraged her, “yes.” She rocked her hips back, desperate for contact. Her voice strained and quivered with need as she begged, “Please go inside me.”

  Greer crouched over Eva’s body and slowly rimmed her sensitive opening with the tip of her finger, too tentative, too gentle. “Harder, I need to feel it.”

  Her words finally registered as Greer’s touch became more purposeful. She twisted Eva’s nipple and her other hand orchestrated a similar rhyth
m on her clit. Alternating jolts of pleasure and pain rifled Eva’s insides. Jabs of electricity sparked through her body and her temperature spiked. It wouldn’t take much for her to come, to experience that ultimate expression of life.

  “Do it now.”

  Greer released Eva’s pulsing clit and thrust her fingers deep inside. The entry was rough, and Eva buried her face in the pillow to muffle a scream. She pounded her ass against Greer’s hand, urging her to go deeper. “More.” Faster and harder—exactly what she needed.

  Eva turned to watch the woman who had arrived like manna from heaven as her sexual savior in this godforsaken town. Greer’s eyes were tightly closed and she humped her own driving hand as she thrust in and out of Eva. Her well-formed thighs bulged beneath tight jeans, and Eva ached to see her naked, her head thrown back as she climaxed. The thought of this confident, controlled woman in the throes of orgasm made Eva’s abdomen clench with the first tremors of release. “Yes. Faster.”

  Greer slid her hand from Eva’s breast and stroked her clit in time with her deep penetrations. Eva covered Greer’s hand with hers and clamped down on her swollen tissue. The pain and pleasure coalesced at once in her groin and she surrendered, vibrantly alive, as the climax consumed her. It temporarily obliterated anything but the physical sensations of touch, relief, and satisfaction. She savored the last shudders of orgasm, waited while the soft moaning of Greer’s release subsided, then rolled over.

  Greer knelt beside her, still fully clothed, and for a second Eva glimpsed a faraway expression in her eyes. She’d seen that look many times, the sightless stare of an emotionally absent lover, physically present but mentally somewhere else. Then it disappeared.

  “Jesus, I feel like I stumbled into the rabbit hole.” Greer wiped a hand across her sweaty forehead and through her short hair. “This shouldn’t have happened.”

  “I believe you went through the rabbit hole and directly into Dante’s second circle of hell, whether you should or not.” A stab of her headache returned as Eva calmed her breathing.