Deadly Rumors

by Cheris Hodges

  “Thanks, Sarah.” Carver looked up and saw Zoe coming his way. “I have to go.”

  Zoe raised her eyebrow at him. “Must have been an important phone call.” She handed him his bag.

  “It was. Thanks for this.”

  “No problem.” She popped the trunk and dropped her bag inside. Carver followed suit, then reached out and grabbed Zoe’s hand.

  “Have you called the authorities about your former partner?” He wanted to get her talking about anything but the phone call she’d walked up on.

  “No. What’s the point? There’s no evidence, and I can’t say that anyone in the Bronx would care if he did it or not.”

  “Not many friends here, huh?”

  “You could say that. Let’s get out of here. I’m starving.”

  Carver nodded and got into the car. Zoe turned on the radio and the sounds of Jodeci filled the car.

  “I love this song,” Carver said, then did an off-key imitation of K-Ci. “‘Forever my lady.’”

  “Don’t quit your day job. I think my ears are bleeding.”

  “Girl, you know you like that. You want to throw your panties at me right now.”

  “No, just stuff them in your mouth to shut you up.”

  Carver and Zoe laughed as they sang off-key to more ’90s R & B. “Yeah, you should keep your day job, too,” he said as a Mary J. Blige song played.

  “Whatever. I could sing backup for Ms. Mary. Ooh, that’s my girl. What’s the 411? is a classic.”

  “No, ma’am. You need to sing solo.”

  “Solo?”

  “So low that no one can hear you.”

  “You aren’t funny, and I ought to kick you out of this car.” She rolled her eyes as she merged onto the highway.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What do you know about Singletary’s organization?”

  She gave him a quick glance, then turned back to the road ahead. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because when I was at the field office, your name came up in a file. I know after your arrest—”

  “On bogus charges. Don’t forget that part.”

  Carver sighed. “Here we go again.”

  “Listen, you were the one who took the word of a madam over me. I’m still a little salty about it.”

  “A little?”

  “Anyway. When I found out what Natalie was into, I started looking into her background and who she was working for. I mean, she wasn’t that smart and she acted more like a hooker than a real madam.”

  “And what did you find out?”

  “Found out that Joseph Singletary used to be drug kingpin, but after it got harder to traffic drugs, he turned to women. It was much easier for him to make money doing that and easier to skirt the authorities. Since he was dealing with black and brown girls, it took a long time for the FBI and local police to take notice.”

  “That’s harsh.”

  “But that’s the truth. And don’t act like the FBI hasn’t dropped the ball on this. If little girls from the suburbs with blond hair were being taken and sold by a big black man, Singletary would be dead or in jail.”

  “I can’t change the system by myself.”

  “I know. But if someone would’ve paid attention earlier, maybe more girls would’ve been saved. Have you seen those ads on Backpage?”

  “Yes.”

  “They’re horrific. Some of those girls don’t look as if they’ve gone through puberty. Social media is their hunting ground.”

  “And the technology keeps outpacing our investigations.”

  “You guys should hire some hackers.”

  “Why have you never applied with the Bureau?”

  Zoe sucked her teeth. “Are you serious?” She started laughing. “Women don’t have a fair shot at having a great career there. I did some research a long time ago, and realized the FBI wasn’t for me.”

  “That’s bullshit. If you work hard—”

  “Harder than the men.”

  Carver rolled his eyes. “So, would you burn your bra or your badge first?”

  “Are you happy with your work at the Bureau? All jokes aside, do you miss the Marines?”

  “I do. When I see my brothers and sisters out there fighting the good fight, I want to go back. Then I think about the losses and the mistakes I made.”

  “Mistakes?”

  Carver nodded. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “All right.” Zoe slowed down as she took the exit for Astoria. “I remember when Dad used to bring us out here when we made good grades or he closed a big deal. Zach always wanted the juice. If he could’ve drank his dinner, he would’ve.”

  “What was your favorite thing here?”

  Zoe turned into the restaurant’s parking lot. “Silver-dollar pancakes with powdered sugar.”

  “You have a hell of a sweet tooth. Must be why your mouth is so delicious.”

  “There you go, thinking with the wrong head again. And who eats pancakes without powdered sugar?”

  “Most adults.” He laughed, then leaned over and squeezed her cheek. “If you order that tonight, I won’t hold it against you.”

  “Don’t make me regret this. I should’ve let you suffer with greasy Chinese food.”

  “And that would’ve been horrible. This is much better, now I know that you think you can be a backup singer for Mary J. Blige and we can do a duet at the Apollo one day.”

  “Yeah, right. You know once this case is over and you return to DC, you’re not going to give me a second thought.”

  Carver ran his index finger down her cheek. “Zoe, you know I will never forget you. And trust me, I’ve tried.”

  She reached up and grabbed his wrist. “What is it about me that makes me unforgettable?”

  He leaned into her, brushing his lips against hers. “These.” Carver devoured her lips and Zoe melted against him. A blaring horn stopped them from taking the kiss one step further. Looking at each other through lust-filled eyes, Zoe opened her mouth, but the driver leaned in on the horn.

  “We better move,” she said.

  “Yes. Because another minute and I can’t be held responsible for what happens next.”

  Zoe’s mouth fell open as she pulled into a parking spot. “Let’s go eat.”

  Chapter 17

  Once Zoe and Carver entered the restaurant, she couldn’t stop thinking about that brief kiss in the car. His lips were magical, and if she spent much more time with him, she was going to be in trouble.

  “Silver dollar pancakes,” Carver said as he pulled out a chair for Zoe. The heat from his breath made her shiver.

  Zoe couldn’t understand what happened in the last few hours that had changed everything. It made sense, though. As much as she tried to be angry about that night two years ago, she’d never felt such passion and heat since. As much as Carver thought she was unforgettable, she knew he was as well. And now that the memories were back, she didn’t know how to handle it.

  “With powdered sugar,” she quipped.

  Carver licked his lips and smiled while Zoe’s panties dripped with desire. “I’m going to try that. Maybe add a little whipped cream.”

  “Now you’re doing too much.” She crossed her legs and squeezed her thighs together, hoping to subdue the throbbing.

  He leaned across the table. “Maybe I’m not doing enough.” Capturing her face in his hands, Carver brushed his lips against hers.

  “Stop, we have an audience.” She nodded toward two giggling kids who were watching them.

  “All right, I’m done for now.”

  * * *

  Wendy sent a text to her guy in New York, and when she didn’t hear anything from him after an hour, she felt as if she’d been played—again. She needed this money from Singletary because she was tired of risking her freedom for this man. Ungrateful bastard. He doesn’t even care how much I’ve risked to keep him out of prison, and I know someone is going to make the connection between us, if
Zoe Harrington and Carver haven’t already.

  She stood up and walked over to the window. Playtime was over. She had to get back to New York and track Zoe and Carver down herself. Just as she was about to leave the office, the door opened and three men in suits walked in.

  “Agent Covington?”

  “And you are?”

  “You need to come with us. Be quiet about it and act normal,” the other man said.

  “What is this about?”

  “You can ask all the questions you want when we get to a secured location.”

  She gritted her teeth and rose to her feet. “Fine.” Her mind was working overtime to find a way out, but the men flanked her as if she was a threat to homeland security.

  Once they were on the parking deck, Wendy turned to the man who’d been doing all the talking. “I need to see some identification before I get in a car with you two.”

  “We’re not getting in the car,” he said. “We’re here to deliver a message. Find Banks and Zoe or you’re going to come up missing. Your delay has just cost you a million dollars.”

  “You tell Joe that I want my full bounty, and the next time he sends fuck boys to threaten me, I’m sending you back in boxes.”

  The other man turned to Wendy. “Bitch, who do you think you’re talking to?”

  Wendy squared up with him and then kicked him in his chest. Before the other man could react, she’d given him a roundhouse kick to the head. The third man stepped back and threw his hands up in surrender.

  She felt powerful and ready to do something she should’ve done a long time ago. Wendy was going to confront Singletary and get her money now. She’d done enough for his organization to deserve the money he’d promised her. And with the investigation into Smallwood’s death heating up, Wendy knew she had to disappear sooner rather than later. Clearly she’d given him everything he needed to take care of Carver and Zoe. She’d done everything that she could and it was time for Joe to pay her for her sacrifice.

  * * *

  Carver leaned back in his seat after finishing his meal. He was stuffed. “That was good. Even the powdered sugar on the pancakes.”

  “I told you so. How do you feel about dessert?”

  He shook his head, then smirked at her. “Unless it’s you, I can’t eat another bite.”

  She sucked in her bottom lip. “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Give me what I want so we can both be happy.” He placed his hand on top of hers. “I’m going to give it a rest because we have work to do and a plane to catch.”

  Zoe slid her hand from underneath his. “Part of me is hoping to find Jessica alive with memory loss or something. Maybe this could be a miracle case, like those girls in Cleveland,” she said wistfully. “Or maybe I’m just overreacting because of what happened earlier today. I’m tired of death.” Zoe reached into her purse and pulled out her tablet.

  “Are you using Wi-Fi?” he asked.

  “Why does that matter?”

  “Because I don’t want to pay for your data charges.” What he really meant was that he didn’t want them traced.

  “You’re so damned cheap. I knew you couldn’t afford me.”

  “But who’s flying you in style, baby?”

  Zoe rolled her eyes. “We’re probably riding in a crop duster.”

  Carver wiped his mouth. “So cynical. You would’ve been a great FBI agent.”

  “Whatever. Me and other people’s rules don’t always work out, you know.”

  Carver rose to his feet and held his hand out to Zoe. “Can’t say that I’m surprised.”

  She took his hand, and when he pulled her against his chest, he could feel her tremble. Quickly, she pulled out of his embrace. “Where are we staying?”

  “I haven’t booked a room yet because I wanted to give you the option to help me choose.”

  Zoe rolled her eyes. “You haven’t booked two rooms yet, you mean.”

  “Of course, because I know you can’t control yourself.”

  “You wish I couldn’t control myself. But you wouldn’t be able to handle it if I did lose control.”

  “Handled it just fine last time. Maybe you’re the one who can’t handle it.” Carver smiled at her as he watched her cheeks heat and turn red.

  “There’s a Crawford motel on the beach. We can stay there.”

  “I’ve noticed something about you. When a conversation isn’t going your way, you will change the subject.”

  “I don’t do that.”

  He raised his right eyebrow as if to say really. “If that’s what gets you through the night, then I’ll let you believe that. Or, am I the only one you give this kind of treatment to?”

  * * *

  Zoe wanted to run. Zoe wanted to kiss Carver. Zoe wanted to punch him in the face. But she wasn’t going to admit to him that he was the only man who’d gotten under her skin like a virus. The only man who’d branded her body and made her quiver with just a look.

  “You really have an ego problem, you know.”

  “I don’t have an ego problem, I have a Zoe problem.”

  “A Zoe problem?”

  “I want you so bad that it hurts.”

  She started to say something about feeling the same way, but she needed to focus. I’m supposed to be finding Jessica Dolan, not his erogenous zones.

  “It seems as if we’ve gotten off track. We’re here together because Jessica Dolan is missing. Don’t pretend that we’re reconnecting and rekindling some lost romance. So, answer this question: If you want me so bad that it hurts, how did you dull the pain all this time?”

  “You know how the old adage goes, out of sight, out of mind. But I can say this, one day I was walking down K Street and I thought I saw you. When I chased that poor woman for about two blocks, that’s when I knew this problem of mine wasn’t going to go away.”

  Zoe laughed, imagining him following that poor woman. Then a heat wave of jealousy washed over her. “What happened when you caught her?”

  “I had to talk her out of calling the cops. Then I bought her a drink, took her home, and pretended she was you.”

  “Pig.”

  “The look on your face said you thought that’s what I did. Zoe, no other woman will ever compare to you, so I haven’t wasted time with, what did you say—tapas, wine, and lobbyists.”

  “I never said anything about a lobbyist, so you just told on yourself. Let’s get out of here so that we can go to sleep.”

  “For the record, I’m more into women who can run sting operations and take down a suspect with one hand,” he said with a wink. “Lobbyists talk too much.”

  “That wasn’t a suspect takedown, that was me grabbing a tramp that I couldn’t stand.”

  “Well, you looked damned good doing it.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “So, that’s why you kissed me that night? In front of my brother, I might add.”

  “I kissed you because I missed you and you made me hot when you got all Foxy Brown out there with Natalie. If you had an afro, I would’ve made love to you on the sidewalk in front of your brother.”

  A heated blush colored her cheeks. “Whatever. Let’s go.”

  Zoe knew the sooner they got to Vegas and found out the final resting place of Jessica Dolan, the sooner she could get back to a normal life. A life where she didn’t have to change her panties every time that man looked at her. A life where she might be bored as hell, but her heart was safe.

  They walked out of the restaurant and headed to the Crawford SeaSide Motel. It may have said motel, but this small, one-story seaside place was luxurious. And when Carver went inside to book their rooms, she felt as though she could breathe freely now.

  Moments later, Carver returned to the car. “Got the last two rooms.” He handed Zoe her key card. “They aren’t even side by side, so you can’t sneak in my room if you wanted to.”

  “I don’t have to sneak, when, according to you, I have a standing invitation.”

  �
��All you have to do is knock and I’m yours.” Carver winked at her, and once again, Zoe knew she was going to have to change her panties.

  She pulled the car into an empty spot and looked down at her room key number. “Well, I guess I’d better go to bed. What time are we leaving in the morning?”

  “You let me know. We’re not constrained by the schedules of commercial airlines this time. We can leave as early or as late as you’d like, Just give me a heads up so that I can alert the pilot.”

  Zoe nodded. “The sooner we leave, the better. No later than six. Then I can cover more ground in Vegas.”

  “And I can hit the slot machines.”

  They stepped out of the car and Zoe headed to her room. She looked over her shoulder. “Good night, Carver. Dream about me.”

  * * *

  Zoe’s last words turned out to be exactly how Carver spent his sleepless night, dreaming of her in his arms. Fantasizing about her on top of him, her lips pressed against his and their bodies becoming one.

  So many times he woke up expecting to see Zoe’s naked body next to him. When he just found empty sheets, he was pissed. Then he thought about the real reason he and Zoe were together. He was supposed to be keeping her alive. Couldn’t do that if he was trying to get in her pants every time he saw her.

  Sitting up in the bed, he swung his legs over the side and reached for his cell phone. He needed to talk to the Shadow Team and find out if there was a mole on the Singletary investigation. He wasn’t surprised about what Sarah had told him about Wendy.

  He called Raymond because he knew this man woke up every morning at five.

  “Tyler.”

  “Ray, it’s Carver.”

  “My dude. What’s going on? I heard we’re getting back together to kick some ass.”

  “Still ready to fight all the time.”

  “That’s never going to change, and that’s why y’all still love me. I’ve been looking into your official team with the FBI. I think your girl Covington is dirty as a swamp rat. Singletary was tracked down to Los Angeles and she went out there, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, she might have been the one who killed those little girls who were ready to testify against Singletary. Two victims of trafficking were found that night, one died of an overdose and the other was shot. From what my inside guy says, the one thing they have in common is Wendy. She was seen talking to both of them. ”