Black Escape

by C. J. Thomas

  His brow was furrowed as he looked Giselle directly in her eye. “I do.”

  Giselle’s head bobbed with small nods of disbelief, seeing that it all made sense. Then she flicked her gaze to me and said, “I can’t believe you didn’t say anything until now.”

  “I wouldn’t have believed it either if it wasn’t for his mysterious appearance at Echo.”

  Kelly stepped forward. “At this point, until he convinces me otherwise, I’m going to assume Madam planted him close to our organization to keep a close eye on what we’re up to.”

  “That’s why it seemed she was always one step ahead,” I muttered.

  “And that’s why you slapped my face and blamed me?” When Giselle’s eyes met with mine, I watched them harden like granite.

  “It has to be him,” I said, rolling my shoulders back, my confidence returning.

  Giselle turned her head up the street and narrowed her eyes. It was a lot to process, the reality of being deceived by someone it was obvious she cared for.

  “Where does he live?” Kelly’s voice brought her attention back to the present.

  “Not far,” she breathed.

  “Take us there.”

  “Now?”

  Kelly nodded. “It can’t wait.”

  Giselle swallowed her lips and agreed.

  “We’ll take both our cars,” Kelly said.

  “And don’t call him.” I raised my brows, making sure she knew I still didn’t have her complete trust.

  The cords in Giselle’s neck twanged with sudden annoyance. “Thanks for inspiring such confidence.”

  “Better give me your phone.” Kelly held out his hand.

  Giselle gaped. Then she dove her hand inside her handbag and slapped it down into Kelly’s palm. “So much for feeling like we’re a team.”

  “We’ll follow you,” Kelly said.

  Giselle nodded. We hurried to buckle in. Kelly rode Giselle’s tail as if afraid to lose her.

  “So, what do you think, did she pass the test?” I asked, Kelly handing me Giselle’s phone.

  “Based on the looks she was giving you,” he rolled his gaze to me, “I don’t think she knew.”

  “Me neither.” I glanced to her phone, surprised to find the screen unlocked.

  “If she comes through here, we know we can trust her.” Kelly’s eyes stared at the screen.

  “Unlocked,” I said, searching her messages. “Looks like she was messaging Drake last night. Pretty heavy stuff.” I kept scrolling. “It’s clear he has her wrapped around his finger.”

  “This isn’t Giselle’s fault,” Kelly said. “You said Drake has been in our office when we weren’t there.”

  I nodded.

  “So he’s seen everything—heard even more. Hell, he probably knows more about Mario and Stone’s cases than anybody outside our inner circle.”

  “And if he’s working with Madam, then that could explain why the cops were here earlier.”

  Kelly looked at me, a knowing glimmer filling his eyes. “He could have been the link needed to convince the judge to sign off on a search warrant.”

  “Shit.” I pushed my fingers through my hair and looked out the window.

  Kelly took my hand and lifted my knuckles to his lips. He peppered gentle kisses across each of them saying, “You’ve done good today.”

  “If you call ripping Giselle’s hair out good work, then I suppose you’re right.”

  Kelly’s lips pulled at the corners as he snickered.

  By the time we arrived to Drake’s apartment complex, I was ready to find out the truth. I couldn’t wait to confront him, see how he reacted, and listen to what Giselle had to say about their relationship that seemed phony from the beginning. I had a dozen different questions for him myself, the biggest including how he could see me hanging by my limbs, bleeding and bruised, and not offering to help like he suggested he could.

  We parked off to the side, parallel to Giselle. Kelly rolled his window down and asked, “Do you see his car?”

  Giselle shook her head. “But he could be parked in the back.”

  I stepped out with my focus on the complex. It was nice enough, not overly luxurious. I could see Drake living here.

  “His place is over there.” Giselle began walking.

  “Do you have a key?” Kelly asked.

  Giselle shook her head. “We haven’t made it that far in our relationship.” She paused. “I’m not sure how he’s going to like me not calling first.”

  “He’ll deal.”

  “He lives at the top.” Giselle pointed. “We can take the outside staircase.”

  Kelly reached for my hand. I threaded my fingers through his and remained one step behind him. The breeze picked up, sending salty ocean air drifting around us. Kelly kept glancing back at me as if gauging my mood. I was feeling confident and knew we were finally onto something.

  We climbed the flight of stairs, landing on the top with Giselle stopping in front of what she said was Drake’s door. Kelly and I stood back as Giselle smoothed out the wrinkles of her blouse before knocking.

  Kelly squeezed my hand.

  I held my breath.

  Collectively, we stood on our tip-toes anxiously waiting Drake’s appearance. When nothing happened, Kelly nodded for Giselle to knock again. She did. Still no answer.

  Giselle spun around with a distant gaze to the gardens below. “Must not be home.”

  “Then maybe we see what he has inside.” Kelly stepped forward.

  “What are you suggesting; we break in?” Giselle questioned.

  “If he’s working with Madam, there will be something linking him to her.”

  “I’ve been here a dozen different times and, I’m telling you, there’s nothing.”

  Kelly reached for the door handle, giving it a shake. It didn’t budge. “Let’s just see for ourselves.”

  Rolling my eyes at their bantering, we didn’t have time to skirt the issue. Making the decision for them, I stepped forward, lifted my bent elbow, and jabbed into the window. Glass shattered to the ground as I cleared a hole big enough to reach my hand inside and unlock the door myself.

  Kelly raised his brows above twinkling eyes. He turned to Giselle, nodding his head, clearly impressed. Giselle stepped forward without saying a word. “Oh, shit,” she looked out with disbelief pulling her lips down.

  The place was empty. No furniture. Nothing on the walls. It was clear Drake hadn’t been here for some time—maybe even moved out—and that sent my heart pounding.

  Kelly and I shared a knowing look. “Are you sure this is his place?” Kelly asked.

  Giselle didn’t bother to respond before being drawn to the kitchen table. A lone orchid stood, flowering at the center. She picked up a note and ran to the back bedroom.

  Hearing her open and slam doors, I wondered what the note said. It was clear that she understood the truth of who her boyfriend actually was. He’d deceived her. Used her to get close to Kelly. But maybe it was even more than that.

  Giselle slammed a door so hard it shook the walls. My insides jumped as Kelly moved through the house, meeting Giselle in the back bedroom. I followed close behind. Giselle was sitting on the floor, her knees pulled into her chest. When she heard us enter the room, she lifted her watery eyes up and said, “They’re not here. The files. I had them here, and now they’re gone.”

  “You hid the files here?” I gasped, my blood boiling like hot sauce.

  Giselle’s chin quivered. “I’m sorry, Kelly. I didn’t think he knew.”

  Kelly was calmer than I thought he would have been. He looked around, thoughts filling his eyes.

  “What did the note say?” I asked. Giselle held her hand out and I took it between my fingers. Thanks for everything. Son of a bitch. “But if he’s working for Madam, and she has the files she’s been after, then why is she still intimidating us?” I asked, thinking out loud.

  “Because she thinks we have nothing.” Kelly glanced over his shoulder, his ey
es shifting between Giselle and me. “That’s why it seems like she’s set to destroy us all. The reason why the mayor turned his back on us. Why the police are abusing their power, and why Madam will release the truth of the accident exactly when Oscar decides to file charges against me for whatever crime they find in the evidence they took today.”

  I swallowed the fear that gurgled up my throat.

  Kelly held my stare and said, “Because prison is a slow death that doesn’t come with the risk of having us killed. It’s the perfect plot to murder us all.”

  38

  Kelly

  Their faces said it all.

  Giselle hugged her knees tighter to her chest, rocking slowly to a tune that only she could hear. Kendra openly stared at me like I had doomed us all to the fate Madam wanted. As their worlds spiraled into a narrow funnel, I felt my lips curl into a knowing grin.

  They believed Madam had won—outsmarted us at the game we’d all been playing. Except they didn’t know what I knew. That I still had my own copies of the evidence we’d collected at Sylvia’s apartment. Giselle should have known that but the shock of learning Drake Goodman used her to get to me must have made her forget.

  “I slept with that asshole,” Giselle muttered, her words coated thick with the deception I knew she felt. “The next time I see him, I’m going to kill him myself.”

  With limbs tingling, I said, “I still have my copies.” Kendra stepped forward, smoothing her soft hand down my muscular arm, sprouting a small smile. Looking me in the eye, I nodded. “This isn’t over yet.”

  Giselle tipped her head back. I met her gaze, continuing to nod. My eyes glimmered as I watched her push herself up off the floor, rubbing life back into her cheeks. “Then I better make sure that there isn’t a record of us getting them.”

  Filling my lungs with air, I said, “We go on as planned.”

  Giselle pulled her hair back and took one last look around. “Fuck this asshole. I’m out of here.”

  She marched to the front of Drake’s apartment and we followed. “Would you like us to come?”

  With one hand on the door, Giselle didn’t bother turning to look. “I think I need time alone.”

  I understood but wanted to let her to know that I still cared. “Be careful,” I said as she left.

  As soon as the door closed, I turned to Kendra. She was rubbing her elbow. I stepped forward, needing to see the damage for myself. Lifting her arm, I inspected the spot that had shattered the glass. “That was an impressive move,” I said.

  She bit her lip and rolled her eyes. “Does it turn you on?”

  Releasing her arm, I spread my fingers and pushed them through her hair. Tipping her head back, I lowered my lips to hers. Electricity fired as soon as they touched. She whimpered into my mouth, sending hot blood gushing between my legs. “I’m not mad at you,” I murmured.

  “No?”

  “No. I just wish you would have told me sooner about Drake.”

  Kendra’s eyes hooded. “Kelly, are we going to be all right?”

  Her words stopped my heart. Our eyes darted between our brows as we stared, holding our last breath. “I like to believe we will be.”

  She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and dropped her heels back to the floor. Looking around, she muttered, “This is such a mess. How can we ever trust anyone ever again?”

  “I don’t know.” My words were barely a whisper in the air. Still hanging onto the tips of her fingers, I pulled her back and nuzzled her head against my chest.

  The room fell silent.

  Together, we breathed.

  Then Kendra’s concerned voice asked, “Do you think Giselle will be all right?”

  “She’s a fighter.” I released a heavy sigh. “She’ll survive, seek the revenge that will allow her to sleep at night.”

  “We should be worried about her though, right?”

  “Yeah,” I breathed. “We should be.”

  Kendra tipped her head back and looked sexy enough to devour. “I’m sorry I’ve been off.”

  “We both have been.”

  One side of her face pulled into an uneven smirk. “Drake left her an orchid. That’s our flower. The first one you ever gave me, remember?”

  “The trail leading to my penthouse.” I smiled at the memory blooming heat across my chest.

  “Thanks for everything. That’s all the note said. No goodbye. Just rubbing salt in the fresh wound.”

  “He got what he was after, and we better do the same before we fall further behind.”

  Kendra’s fingertips turned cold in my grasp as we headed back to the car. I wasn’t worried about having broken into Drake’s apartment. It was clear he wouldn’t be coming back and, by the time it was discovered, no one would remember we were here.

  The drive downtown was quiet. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Kendra stared out her window, leaving my thoughts to drift between what I wanted to ask O’Brien and what Kendra asked about us being okay. She felt it, too. We were off. Madam had wedged herself between us and, until she was gone, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to give Kendra the attention she needed to heal.

  Fishing out O’Brien’s card, I handed it to Kendra. “Use your phone to search his name. See if we can’t have an idea of who we’re about to meet.”

  Kendra tucked her hair behind her ear, set the card on her thigh, and began typing up the search. I watched her scroll. “Nothing local is coming back.”

  “Keep looking,” I said. There were too many moving pieces to know which should come first. But I was set on getting my hands on the hotel’s security videos, knowing it would solve the mystery of where to point our investigation next.

  “Is it even worth our effort?” Kendra never bothered taking her eyes off the screen. “I mean, we know Madam was behind breaking into your apartment.”

  Feeling my eyes glow, it was like she could read my mind. I loved that about her. “It’s important to learn who and why, that way we can get a feel for how deep the corruption goes and also know who we can trust when deciding who to give the files to.”

  “And if they get to Sylvia first?” The whites in Kendra’s eyes widened when she looked at me.

  My lungs paused for a brief second. “It only takes one good detective—one trustworthy cop—willing to do the right thing. Hopefully we’ll be able to find that person before the ceiling collapses.”

  “Nothing is coming up.” Kendra dropped her phone.

  “Don’t worry about it. We’re here, anyway.” I took the first parking spot I could find. Killing the engine, I reached for Kendra’s hand.

  “Do you think he’s here?” Kendra pulled the mirror down and fixed her hair.

  “Who?”

  She turned her head. “Oscar.”

  “I don’t know.” My voice fell to a whisper. It was certainly a possibility. And I knew what happened the last time I left Kendra alone. This time, I wasn’t willing to take the risk. She was coming with me.

  As soon as we stepped inside, the air conditioning sent my system into shock. The station was buzzing with activity and I suddenly felt awkward for being here. Kendra clung to my arm as we stood and gauged the mood.

  Curious eyes seemed to find us easily. Feeling them staring, Kendra pulled her shawl higher on her neck, tugging her jacket tighter around her body to hide the bruises that still marked her.

  We walked.

  Uniformed officers and people wearing business attire looked at us funny. It was like they knew something that we didn’t—like they were seeing faces to the names on a Wanted list. It crossed my mind that maybe we had warrants out for our arrests that I didn’t know about, or they simply recognized us from the tabloid stories that had been recently published. Either way, one thing was certain: our faces were reminders of Maria and Tonya and how I was supposed to kill Kendra next. Or so the story said.

  “What can I do for you?” the woman working the front desk greeted us.

  “Is Detective O’Brien in?”


  “Can I tell him what you’re here for?”

  I slid my business card across the desk. She read it, looked unimpressed. “A case I’m working.”

  “Sit there and wait.” She jutted her jaw to the plastic chairs lining the wall behind us. “I’ll see if I can track him down.”

  We took a seat. Kendra was busy adding digits to her new phone when the receptionist got off the phone and called to us. “O’Brien is in. He’ll be here shortly.”

  I thanked her and turned my attention to Kendra’s phone. I saw her adding her mom’s number. “How is she?” I asked.

  “Blames me for everything,” Kendra said cynically. “Still wants to take my inheritance away. Barely looks at me when I do see her. So, you know, just peachy.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I know things got away from us on that front but is there anything I can do to help?”

  She dropped her head against my shoulder. “Kelly, you have plenty of problems to solve yourself. Besides, I missed my opportunity to finally meet with my father.” She didn’t sound too upset about it but the mystery of having to question the unknown must have been getting to her. “Then I learned Marvin is helping pay Mom’s bills. That’s a mystery of its own because, supposedly, I’m paying down his debt to Madam so how he has any extra money is beyond me.”

  “Kelly Black.” A man’s voice came from the side. I turned and felt my quick glance deflect off his shiny bald head. “I’m Detective O’Brien. You requested to speak with me?”

  Kendra lifted her head off my shoulder as I stood. Sizing up O’Brien, he stood at my height, slightly smaller shoulders, and had a pot-belly forming beneath his sport coat. “My penthouse apartment was broken into the other night and when I went to request to see the hotel security films, I learned they were taken.”

  His brows pinched, tilting his head to the side as if he didn’t follow. “Did you report it to the police?”