Deadly Charade

by Virna DePaul

  She entered the house without knocking. There was a man in a dirty T-shirt staring at the illuminated television set.

  “I’m looking for Tony,” she said.

  He pointed toward the back of the house without even looking at her.

  She checked several doors, but didn’t see him. Eventually she came to a closed door and knocked. The brunette from the courthouse answered it. Instead of the skirt and jacket she’d worn to court, she wore a tight red T-shirt and frayed cutoffs that showed off her trim body to its best advantage.

  The woman laughed humorlessly. “Unbelievable,” she said. “The little prosecutor followed you here, Tony. Can you believe it?” She moved to the side so that Linda could see inside the bedroom.

  Tony lay in the bed. Though he was halfway covered with a sheet, his chest was bare.

  Just as it had when Tony had kissed this woman, pain once again stabbed at her. This time, however, it was multiplied a hundredfold, strong enough that it almost buckled her knees.

  He’d gone straight from her bed to this woman’s?

  Horror ripped a hole right through her until she swayed. That kind of behavior didn’t bode well for a woman who’d just had unprotected sex with him. She locked her knees together.

  It had been her choice to waltz in here unannounced, but as much as it hurt to see Tony and this woman together again, she’d come for answers. And she was going to get them.

  “We need to talk, Tony. Please.”

  Justine snorted. “Such good manners. But we don’t want you here.”

  Tony contradicted her. “Justine, give us a minute, would you?”

  Eyes wide with disbelief, Justine turned to stare at Tony. “You just set up that meeting, Tony. Finally you’re close to getting what you want. What we both want. Remember that.”

  “I remember, Justine. I promise.”

  With one more look at Linda, Justine left.

  Slowly Tony rose and the sheet fell to the floor. He seemed to be favoring his injured leg again, but as she got a quick glimpse of his toned, naked body, all she remembered was the pleasure he’d given her earlier.

  “You’re blushing, Miss Priss.” Reaching down, he picked up the sheet and wrapped it around his waist. “Given what we were doing several hours ago, that’s pretty funny don’t you think?”

  The nickname was something he’d teasingly called her when they’d dated. Then, it had always sounded affectionate. Now? She swore she heard the same affection in his tone. Had their time together impacted him? Softened him? Then what was he doing here? Naked with Justine just mere hours after he’d been naked with her?

  “You didn’t wear a condom, Tony. I’m on the pill, so I won’t get pregnant, but do I need to worry about any other unsavory consequences of our little escape into the past?”

  His eyes widened as if he, too, was just now realizing that he’d released inside her. He flushed and his throat convulsed as he swallowed. “You’re fine, Linda. I’ve never forgotten to wear a condom before, and I’m clean. I was just in the hospital, remember? They checked. And thankfully, nothing happened in jail to change that.”

  Relief swept through her and she gave an audible sigh. “Okay. Thank you for telling me that.” She licked her lips, took in the messy, dingy bedroom and forced herself to turn back to him. “So what meeting was Justine talking about? What do you and she want?”

  He smiled tightly. “What most people want. Money and even more money. And the meeting she mentioned is the first step in how I’m going to get it. So you see, killing Guapo had the exact effect I was hoping for. His former business associates are lining up to do business with me.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Right. And you’re going along for the ride because obviously money is so important to you.” She swept her gaze around the room. “You’re living in the lap of luxury, aren’t you?”

  Tony scowled. “Does Neil know you’re here? Or that I was inside your house—inside you—not too long ago?”

  “Do you want to be back there? Because I won’t lie.” She took a deep breath, bracing herself. “I want you there, Tony.”

  He actually took several steps back, as if he was afraid of her. But she was through playing games. It was best that he know that.

  “Then you’re a fool. That meant nothing to me, Linda.”

  She’d braced herself for the cut of his words but they still hurt her anyway. Big deal. She’d hurt before and she’d always picked herself up and kept moving. She’d do it now. “I don’t believe that.”

  He swept the cluttered dresser, shoving its contents—clothes, books, newspapers and a few glasses—to the floor. He stared at what he’d done, then laughed and shook his head. “Like I told you earlier, you’re crazy.”

  “No. You’re crazy if you think I’m just going to buy your act when I know who you really are.” She gestured at the room around her. At the debris scattered on the floor. “This isn’t you, Tony.”

  “Damn it, stop it. Get it through your head that I don’t care about you anymore. That this is the life I want now.”

  “You touched me as if you cared about me.”

  “That was sex, Linda. For God’s sake, you’ve never been this full of yourself.”

  “Guess you’re not the only one who’s changed, Tony. I’m stronger than I was. Nearly dying can do that to a person. I’m not buying that you killed Guapo. Not when my gut is telling me differently.”

  “Why not? You assumed I’d start taking drugs again. Granted, you had ample evidence given the pills I was staring so covetously at. Your gut led you in the right direction that night, Linda. It told you I was a loser. Someone you needed to stay away from. Remember that.”

  He turned, obviously intent on dismissing her, but swayed on his feet. He reached out to steady himself on the wall beside the bed. Linda stepped closer and gasped at how pale he’d turned. A thin film of sweat covered his face and his breaths were shallow and ragged.

  “Tony, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

  He shook his head. “No. I’m just—I’m just tired. Leave.”

  She stepped closer, reached out to touch him, but he backed away before she could.

  “Damn it, leave me alone. Get out of here!”

  He turned away from her, favoring his leg again.

  It had always caused him trouble, but he’d hurt it in the fight with Guapo, and he’d hurt it again when he’d pushed her out of the way of gunfire. Yet... She looked around the room for the bottles of painkillers, but saw none. Spying the bathroom door, she pushed through it and checked around the sink and in the medicine cabinet. No pills there, either.

  She believed he wasn’t a killer, but was it possible he really wasn’t a drug user anymore, either? He’d implied as much when they’d talked at the jail, when he’d hinted she’d ended their relationship based solely on suspicion rather than any actual betrayal. What if it was true? What if he hadn’t used drugs since before she’d broken up with him?

  Despite the fact he was in significant pain?

  The thought merely strengthened her belief in his innocence.

  But why was he sticking to his charade? Maybe it wasn’t to help the greater good, but to help someone specific. Who was he protecting? How bad could the threat be?

  She stepped out of the bathroom only to find him sitting on the bed now, his face in his hands. When they’d made love, he’d kept his clothes on. She hadn’t gotten to see him au natural or feel him that way, either. Now she stared at him, noting the differences in his body. He’d always been lean with nice muscles but there was a definite toughness that hadn’t been there before, and she couldn’t help wondering what those bigger muscles would feel like under her fingers, or taste like under her tongue.

  Realizing where her thoughts had led her, she jerked her gaze up only to see him stari
ng back at her, his eyes dark and heated rather than in pain. She stepped closer, wanting to take what he was offering, intentionally or not. Wanting to remind herself what it was like to be loved by this man who looked so different but who still inspired the same feelings of peace and pleasure and contentment in her body even as he challenged and frustrated her.

  It was Tony’s duality that had always drawn her to him, she realized. The darkness she’d sensed under his sweet, affable facade. The darkness that was even more apparent now. As much as she’d hated his addiction, she also felt guilty because it was his layers and complexity that made him who he was.

  And that hadn’t changed.

  “Do you want me to call 911?” she asked. “Get an ambulance for you?”

  He shook his head. “I’m fine, Linda. And I’ll be even better when you’re gone. Get me Justine. She’s the one I really want. If you don’t believe me, ask her exactly what I did—who I did—after I left you.”

  He stared at her challengingly and despite the denial on her lips, she hesitated.

  He looked like he was telling the truth. But it couldn’t be. He wouldn’t have done that to her.

  She sucked in a quick breath, then practically felt her hope and determination deflate. Weariness overcame her.

  This was ridiculous. She didn’t know what way was up anymore. She couldn’t distinguish the truth from lies. Tony didn’t want her here. Whatever his reasons were, maybe she just needed to accept that. “Fine,” she said. “I won’t bother you again.”

  She left, her movements slow and robotic. She glanced around for Justine so she could deliver Tony’s message, but couldn’t find her. She was outside by the time she spotted the beautiful brunette, who was talking on the phone in hushed tones, her back to Linda.

  “Nicco, now that Guapo’s gone, you need to listen to Tony. He’s smart. He’s going to take us places Guapo never could. He’s finally made contact with Guapo’s Rapture supplier. That’s going to be just the beginning.”

  Linda’s heart pounded, the sound so loud she couldn’t hear Justine’s next words. She’d been wrong. So very wrong. There it was. Undeniable proof that Tony was working to take over Guapo’s place as a drug supplier. He was right. Whether he still cared about her didn’t matter. Just like always, he didn’t care nearly enough for it to matter.

  She turned away and quickened her steps until she reached the street, wanting only to get out of there. She’d barely rounded the corner of the house when a familiar feeling caused her skin to prickle. It was the exact feeling she’d felt just before Guapo’s men had attacked her in the courthouse parking lot.

  Chapter 17

  Linda’s breath seized when a man emerged from the shadow of the house and grinned tauntingly at her.

  “Going someplace?”

  She averted her gaze, pretended she didn’t hear him, and kept walking. He stepped in front of her, blocking her way. Tilting her chin up, she said, “I don’t want trouble.”

  He waggled his brows up and down. “You found it anyway.” He reached out to touch her face and she automatically flinched away, hating herself for the involuntary show of fear.

  “I’m a friend of Tony’s,” she said quickly, hoping the lie would help rather than hurt her.

  “Is that right?” the man said. He dropped his hand. “You should choose your friends more carefully.”

  “What do you mean? He runs the show here now, doesn’t he?”

  “Maybe. For now.”

  “You planning on changing that? Because he murdered Guapo to keep his territory. What makes you think he won’t do the same to you?”

  He shrugged then grinned. “Maybe because I know who his friends are now and a man who cares about others is a man with a weakness. You should—”

  “Carl, what’s going on?”

  At the sound of Tony’s voice, Linda whirled around and barely managed to suppress a sigh of relief. Tony was wearing a pair of jeans but nothing else, and though she could see he was still slightly unsteady on his feet, he glared at them—at her—with hostility.

  “Who the hell is she?” he snapped.

  The guy Tony had called Carl laughed, the sound laden with nerves. “She said she was a friend of yours.”

  “She’s no friend of mine. Finish with her fast. I have a delivery for you to make.” Without even looking at her again, he turned and stalked back to the house.

  She watched him with disbelief. He had to know that Carl had stopped her. And that leaving her in his company could be dangerous to her.

  Carl glared at her. “Lying bitch. Who were you here to see?”

  “She was here to see me,” Justine said. “Our business is over. Let her go, Carl.”

  “Why’d she say she was a friend of Tony’s?”

  “She wants to be but he’s not interested.”

  “Hmm...I’m plenty interested.”

  “You’ve got a job to do,” she reminded him.

  He nodded. “I’ll come find you when I have some free time, lady.”

  With a lingering look, he left. Swallowing hard, Linda turned to Justine. “Thank you,” she said.

  The other woman smiled tightly and shook her head. “Don’t thank me. I won’t interfere again. I suggest you don’t come back here. You’re not wanted.”

  No, she thought, she wasn’t. Tony had dismissed her quite easily, leaving her to the hands of one of his lackeys. She’d gladly give him and Justine what they wanted.

  She wouldn’t be back.

  * * *

  Tony had thought it was the hardest thing he’d ever done—letting Linda walk away from him and out of the dingy house that was now his home. Especially now, after they’d made love. She’d expressed her faith in him and he wasn’t being watched by guards. He was a free man. Free to do whatever he wanted. And what he wanted—who he wanted—was Linda.

  He’d still managed to let her go.

  But then Justine had told him that Carl was hassling Linda. He’d had to do something, but, not wanting to make matters worse, he’d forced himself to pretend he didn’t care and this time walked away himself. He hadn’t wanted to. He’d felt an intense urge to rip Carl away from her. To pound on him. But he’d hung back and waited, ready to move fast if Carl didn’t follow him quickly enough. But luckily enough the man had and Tony had sent him off to make some runs.

  As for Linda?

  He should have been happy with the fact she’d made it past Carl unscathed, but he couldn’t leave it at that. She actually believed he’d made love to Justine after leaving her bed.

  And even though that’s what he’d wanted her to believe, even though driving her away had been exactly what he’d wanted, he’d changed his mind. He couldn’t let her believe it. Not that.

  At seven that night, almost twenty-four hours after being there and just two hours before he was supposed to meet with the Rapture supplier, Tony drove to Linda’s house. Standing outside, he peeked into her living-room window.

  She sat on the sofa, her knees drawn up to her chest, the television on. She’d buried her face in her hands and her body shook with sobs.

  Damn it.

  The sight of her pain, the pain that he’d caused her, filled him with regret. He turned to stride toward the door. To knock. To demand she let him inside. But then her phone rang.

  He froze as she wiped her tears, took several deep breaths then picked it up.

  Since she’d cracked her window open to let in the breeze, he could just barely make out what she was saying. But he did hear the name “Neil.”

  He frowned. Neil Christoffersen. The suit who was panting after her.

  The man who could offer her so much more than Tony ever could, starting with a clean past and a bright future. Both of which would serve her well as a judge.

&
nbsp; Rage and denial filled him, but what could he deny. It was true. Between the two of them, Neil was definitely the better man for her. All he had to do was look at the drying tear streaks on her face to know that.

  They made small talk and he was about to turn away and leave when he heard her mention his name.

  He stiffened.

  “I went to see him. I know, I know. It was stupid of me. I saw his girlfriend, too. She was on the phone when I left. She didn’t know I was listening and I...I think Tony was telling the truth about killing Guapo so he could take over his business.” She sighed. “Yeah, I know what I heard potentially makes me a witness, but it’s hearsay and it doesn’t fall into any of the exceptions, so there’s no point in putting me on the stand.” She paused. “He’s said incriminating remarks to me, yes, but...I don’t know, Neil. I don’t know if I can actually testify against him.” She bent her head and Tony’s fists clenched at the agony that she must be going through.

  “I’ll call if I need anything. Thanks.”

  She hung up the phone and once again stared at the television with a blank face.

  He simply watched her. Soaked her in. He stood there, unsure what to do. Should he go in and tell her the truth, or at least part of it, just like he’d planned? Or should he do the right thing and let her get on with her life with a good man?

  A faint noise coming from the other side of the house disturbed his mental gymnastics. His first thought was—maybe Yee had sent some cops to check on Linda just like he’d promised. But a cop would be doing a drive-by in a patrol car or would be coming up the walkway to knock on her door, not sneaking around the side of her house.

  Unless of course, the cop was a dirty one.

  Just because Guapo was dead didn’t mean the dirty connections he’d built had died along with him.

  Slowly he moved to investigate, tensing when he saw a hulking figure in black clothes and a mask.