Provocative Attraction

by Altonya Washington

  “Meeting?” Viva peeked out of the laundry room to ensure her privacy was still intact. “Any idea what that was about?”

  “Not much. I didn’t even have it listed among his appointments. I can tell you they weren’t in the business.”

  “Meaning they weren’t actors?”

  “Not actors or anyone else connected with the business. They had an...official look about them.”

  “Cops?” Viva wondered if Sophia had sent investigators to get a feel for their suspect.

  “Not sure. I got the feeling their business didn’t skirt the right side of the law. Anyway...” Arty’s sigh sounded more natural then. “It was just a feeling,” she added.

  While Viva didn’t need the sharp assistant growing suspicious of her questions, she risked one more. “Do you think you’d recognize them if you saw them again?”

  “Sure I would. Veev? Do you think Murray’s okay?”

  “I’m sure he is, honey. Don’t worry, I’ll see what I can find out.”

  “Thanks. Oh, hey! Be on the lookout for that script and the delivery from wardrobe.”

  “Thanks for the reminder, Art. Hold down the fort and we’ll talk soon.” Viva ended the connection, waited a beat and then located the number to place a second call. She muttered a curse when she heard the voice-mail greeting.

  “Murray? It’s Viva. Give me a call, okay?”

  Chapter 3

  “So these two and these three?” Sophia tapped her fingers to the two-by-three-inch black-and-white mug shots that coincided with her questions.

  “Yeah. Those are all I remember from the bunch.” Viva leaned back from the small round conference table in her sister’s office.

  Sophia nodded firmly, looking pleased. Viva had just positively identified the sons of Sylvester Greenway. The construction entrepreneur, and one of their father’s oldest friends, had recently come forward with suspicions of his sons’ involvement in the money-laundering scheme that had already deposited so many of Philadelphia’s finest in holding cells.

  Viva’s identification of the Greenways was another direct link. Viva had recalled seeing the men at a Malibu party with Murray Dean. The identification added another layer to the case being built around the security-agent-turned-Hollywood-agent-turned-suspected-money-launderer.

  Viva watched Sophia remove the book of mug shots. “Is Murray going to jail, Sophia?” she asked after watching her sister quietly for an extended moment.

  “It’s not a done deal until there’s a verdict.” Sophia sat on the corner of her big desk. “But a verdict requires a trial first,” she said with an encouraging smile for good measure.

  “Doesn’t seem like I had that much to offer after all.”

  “Are you kidding? An eyewitness putting Murray with these guys in Cali with the ones here? It’s gonna help the DA build an even stronger case. Police work can be a lot of tedious piecing together, but it often results in one colossal wrecking ball at the end.”

  Viva responded with an airy laugh. “Thanks, Soap, that helps.”

  “It’s the truth.” Sophia vacated her spot on the desk and began to browse the files there.

  Viva, meanwhile, walked the perimeter of her sister’s new and spacious office digs in the heart of downtown. The building, one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most stately, boasted offices befitting what the exterior conveyed.

  A person with an eye for interior decorating and design, Viva appreciated the efforts taken to ensure Sophia’s office was both warm and functional. The formal blackwood paneling and tables of rich cherrywood were softened by suede furnishings of rich earth tones mingled with a few bolder splashes of color that lent the room an efficient yet appropriately chic appearance.

  “I can hear your brain over there, but unfortunately I can’t translate,” Sophia called once silence filled the room for almost two minutes.

  Viva turned from the breathtaking wall of windows that presented a glorious view of the city. She looked at her sister who held a handful of folders over a bottom drawer to one side of her desk.

  “Is there anything more I could do here, Sophia? Anything more that you’d want me to do?” Viva asked.

  Sophia frowned. “Anything more?”

  “I called Murray,” Viva blurted, knowing that was the only way she could share what she was sure had been a boneheaded move.

  Sophia pushed up slowly to stand. “What the hell, V?”

  “I didn’t want to risk him running, after I talked to his assistant.”

  “Viva—”

  “The girl was at her wits’ end when she called, talking about how out of it Murray was acting. She mentioned something about him having a meeting with folks she knew weren’t in the business. She said they looked ‘official’ but she wasn’t sure if they were cops or...worse. I thought maybe they could’ve been cops and I know you can’t divulge all the moves you’re making in this case, but she said Murray was acting...off ever since and I—I just wanted to help.” Viva took a breath following the long spill, winced and waited for the cop in the room to explode.

  Sophia stood hunched over the desk. Her hands were splayed across the surface as she inhaled. She straightened, appearing very calm without leaning the slightest bit toward wanting to explode as Viva expected.

  “Making sure that a suspect doesn’t run isn’t your job.”

  “I was only—” Viva cut herself off, raising her hands in a look of surrender when Sophia’s eyes flashed.

  “You’ve done everything I’ve intended for you to do.” Sophia rounded the desk, her expression schooled. “With that in mind, I think it’d be a good idea for you to stay out of sight for a few weeks.”

  “I agree.” Viva began an eager nod, closing some of the distance between her and Sophia. “That won’t be a problem at all. The cast has already discussed taking time off to hunker down with the new script for a long rehearsal—”

  “Stop.” Sophia glared, waiting for Viva to obey. “Staying out of sight means staying completely out of sight, away from anywhere Dean might think to look for you if he’s got a mind to. Obviously he’s got lots of friends in my neck of the woods.” She lifted her hands to gesture at their official surroundings. “Ones I’ve yet to identify. It wouldn’t take much for one of them to discover you’re on the witness list.”

  Viva returned to the chair she’d vacated and leaned on the back. “What have you got in mind?”

  Sophia propped her hands to her hips, as if preparing for confrontation. “I thought some time out of the country might be a good idea.”

  “Well, that’s great.” Viva gave a solitary clap of agreement. “The cast usually does these rehearsal retreats outside the country. We found this really great place when we were on location in the Philippines.”

  “Viva!” Sophia gave an exasperated sigh. “Completely out of sight means away from your coworkers too.”

  “Sophia, please tell me you aren’t planning to stash me in some old cabin with only cops for company?”

  “Oh, I can do way better than that.” Sophia gave a flip shrug and went to settle into her comfortable desk chair. “I’m pretty sure you won’t be cooped up in an old cabin, but a snowy chalet, and instead of cops, what do you say to a sexy security specialist?”

  Sophia’s smile sharpened, as did Viva’s glare.

  * * *

  “Still can’t believe that fool’s getting married.”

  Rook chuckled when Linus Brooks began to laugh. Enjoying the dig at their friend, Linus indulged in a few additional seconds of laughter before helping himself to a swig of the beer Rook had served up from the wall bar in the living area of his office.

  “Sophia’s a good match for Tig. Always has been.” Linus nodded in apparent appreciation of the savory flavor of the chilled imported brew. “Only thing t
hat makes up for the shame of him letting her walk around free all that time is not wasting any more of it before getting her down the aisle.”

  “Yeah.” Rook observed the mug that held his own serving of the beer. “Some fools do wise up given enough time.”

  As Rook prowled the length of the tall windows behind his desk he felt Linus’s eyes on him. “Lotta mess went down between them, but...if they could work it out...” Linus trailed off as Rook fixed him with a look. “I’d take that to mean it’s never too late, is all I’m saying.”

  “I’m on my way to Italy in a week,” Rook said in a manner to rival the softness of the rain tapping his office window that afternoon.

  “A lot could happen in a week,” Linus said.

  “Not that.”

  “Rook—”

  “Sophia and Tig made a mess of things, but at least they had the time and space to fix it.” Briefly, Rook closed his eyes to the dreary view. “How are we ever to fix anything when she’s halfway around the world or across the country?”

  “Last I heard, you were your own boss.” Undeterred, Linus swigged down another gulp of the beer. “Educate me on exactly what’s stopping you.”

  “Do you really need me to go into that?” Despite the amount of beer he’d downed, Rook’s throat still felt as scratchy as a square of sandpaper.

  Understanding pooled in Linus’s ebony eyes. “Do you want her back?”

  “I never wanted her to go.”

  “She’s here now.”

  “She is...” Rook seemed to consider the simple truth, but only momentarily. “Trying to work this out with Viva will be messy, Linus. People change and six years is a long time.”

  The cool understanding on Linus’s sculpted dark face meshed with empathy. “You’re not a victim to that anymore.”

  “But it’s still in me.” Rook tapped the bottom of his mug to a denim-clad knee once he’d taken a seat in front of his desk. “Isn’t that what we’re always supposed to remember? That it would always be inside us, lurking?” He looked to Linus. “That what we have to focus on now is managing it because we’ll never be rid of it?”

  With a nod he appeared reluctant to give, Linus set aside his beer. Rook tilted back more of his, knowing he didn’t need to say more. Linus understood. After all, Rook reminisced, it had been his old friend who had recognized the signs of Rook’s anger morphing into an uncontrollable monster inside him.

  It had been Linus who’d bravely forged ahead. He’d refused to let Rook’s increasingly hostile mood spook him into doing nothing to help him find the means to battle the darkness carving a spot inside him.

  “I don’t want her to see that in me.”

  “You’d never hurt her.”

  “I know that.” Rook’s tone was black, yet with a matter-of-fact tinge. “Doesn’t mean I want her to see me launch a TV through a plate-glass window because I was aggravated over some ancient drama.”

  “Might do you both some good. Not tossing a TV through plate glass,” Linus clarified with a laugh when Rook glared. “I mean getting this poison out of your system. Finally telling her how what she did made you feel.”

  Rook shook his head stubbornly. “She wasn’t to blame.”

  “I didn’t say she was, but what happened put you in a real bad place—a place you haven’t all the way come back from.” Linus came to take a chair closest to the one Rook occupied. “You’ll never truly manage this crap if you don’t share some of that weight with her. Do that at least—even if nothing more comes of it. She’ll head back to California and you’ll make your moves, but you’ll make ’em without a lot of weight from the past dragging at you and dangling like a carrot in front of that monster you need to control.”

  “Does Eli know you moonlight as a shrink?” Rook teased, referring to Elias Joss, another of their friends and Linus’s business partner.

  “Aw, he’s used to it.” Linus gave a playful eye roll. “’Specially if it means the happiness of a friend.

  “Look, man,” Linus said once laughter was shared. “The last thing I want is for everything you’ve got pent up to barrel out unexpectedly. Trust me, I know what the consequences of that feels like.”

  Rook spread his big hands. “What? Am I giving off some kind of dark vibe?”

  “No, but I know Viva being back has to be adding some kind of pressure. That added to the fact that you’ve missed two meetings...and now you’re about to take a long trip... Well, I’m a little concerned.”

  “Don’t be.” Rook leaned over to slap at Linus’s forearm beneath the fleece sleeve of his sweatshirt. “I’m good. I’ve been good. No reason to think that won’t continue.”

  The phone rang and both men grinned as though the sound were a good omen.

  “Yeah, Lind?” Rook greeted his assistant Lindy Peters, by speaker.

  “Sorry, Rook, I thought you’d want to take this call. It’s Chief Hail.”

  Linus left his chair, taking his empty beer mug which he used to motion to Rook for another refill.

  Rook nodded, appreciating the bit of privacy. “Send her through.” In a few seconds he heard the click on the line. “Soap? Linus is here.”

  “Hey, Linus!” Sophia called through the speaker.

  Rook silenced the speaker once Linus sent his greetings. As Linus busied himself browsing the extensive stock of domestic and imported beers behind the bar, Rook listened to what Sophia had to say. His responses into the phone turned shorter and he couldn’t keep frustration from creeping into his voice. Linus must have heard it too, because he returned to his chair and offered an encouraging shrug when the call ended.

  “Scratch everything I just said,” Rook ordered his friend.

  * * *

  “Viva?”

  Her hands going still on the straps of an enormous tan tote bag, Viva turned toward the sound of the vaguely familiar voice that was presently etched with curiosity. Laughter tickled her throat when she saw Burt Larkin standing in the doorway of Rook’s office.

  “So is it all right to be here in the control room?” Viva asked once she and Burt had exchanged hugs and pleasantries. “Rook’s assistant told me to come on in.”

  “You’re fine and besides, it’s the best place for you.” Burt scratched at a wheat-colored brow. “How’d you get in here without being mobbed anyway?”

  Viva gave her tote bag a shake. “Never underestimate the power of a good wig and sunglasses. Sophia told me how to get here but my guess is she regrets that now after ordering me to go along with Rook putting his life on hold to babysit me. I’m sure you know about that.”

  Burt nodded. “I may’ve heard something, but I’m sure he doesn’t see it as babysitting and putting his life on hold, Viva.”

  “I’m here to see that he does.”

  Viva’s practiced bravado threatened mutiny when she saw Rook arriving at his office door.

  “So I’m gonna head out,” Burt said, putting a knowing smile in place. He went to pull Viva into a quick, warm embrace. “Have someone find me before you leave, so I can get an autograph. It’ll make me the envy of all my playmates.”

  “Promise!” Viva laughed.

  Burt kept the smile on his attractively weather-beaten face when he sidestepped his boss.

  Rook shut the door at Burt’s back and was facing it when he began to speak to Viva. “Sophia called, said you might stop by.”

  “Wow.” Viva set aside her tote bag and pretended to be impressed. “Calls announcing my arrival...you and Sophia sure are close these days.”

  Rook strolled to his desk, which was a fixture of gleaming blackwood in the back of the spacious yet efficient office. Rook allowed himself few comforts when he worked. Even the well-stocked bar and living area radiated Spartan undertones.

  “Chief of Ds thinks me and my team d
o a pretty decent job.”

  “I’m sure that’s true, but you don’t need to waste your resources on me.”

  “Last thing it’d be is a waste.” Rook settled onto one corner of the broad, neat desk. “There’s no need for a large crew. This is a one-man job.”

  “Rook, I’m sorry.” Viva stopped a few feet before him at the desk.

  “Sorry?” He tensed. “What for?”

  “Sophia should’ve never pulled you into this.”

  “And why is that?” Rook faked a little confusion. “I supply security and you’re obviously in need of it.”

  Viva eased her hands into the side pockets of the teal skirt that showcased her curves and shapely calves where the hem ended just below the knee. “Just what did Sophia tell you?” Suspicion was rife in her slightly husky voice.

  “Not much.” Rook studied his hands while he rubbed his palms. “Enough to give me a sense of what’s going on, but I suspect she’s leaving it up to you to share all the...colorful details.” He treated himself to a brief but effective appraisal of her body that she felt in every nerve ending. “Sophia gave me the feeling there were several,” he added when her eyes met his again.

  I’ll bet she did, Viva mused silently, feeling the crushing need to act on her threats of bodily harm to her little sister.

  Rook made a pretense of straightening the few files lying on his pristine desk. “I’ve got time to talk now if you want.”

  “Rook,” Viva began in a manner that rarely failed to get her what she wanted. “Listen, I—I don’t want you involved with this and I’d appreciate you going to Soap and telling her to put someone else on it.”

  “No.” The response was quick, cold. Rook didn’t even spare Viva a glance as he studied the paperwork on his desk.

  Viva wasn’t surprised by the answer; she knew it’d been useless to ask the question. She’d only been using the “get me what I want” voice since her name had become a recognizable one. It had proved a successful technique—on most everyone except her sister. Trying it with Rook was just as idiotic. When safety was an issue, he was deaf to any attempt at making light of it.