by Cass Sellars
“We can always go to my place and get out of your hair, Parker,” Taylor offered.
“No one’s going anywhere. Couch or the air mattress?” Parker secretly thought the couch was far superior to the wretched thing she had slept on when she’d moved in across the hall.
“Couch is fine.” Taylor was obviously uncomfortable being fussed over especially with people she still didn’t know well.
“Pull the ottoman over, and it makes a nice bed.” Syd’s voice was still weak. “Sheets are in the hall closet, take whatever.”
Parker walked over to hug Darcy firmly and then Taylor. “Thank you, both, you were amazing to me. To us.”
Darcy walked to Sydney and placed her arms gently around her shoulders. “I’m glad you’re okay, or going to be, at least.”
“Thanks, Dean. Be good to that girl—she seems to like you a little,” Syd whispered in her ear and winked at Parker. Darcy moved into the living room with Taylor’s arm firmly around her waist.
“Can I make you something to eat, love?” Parker’s voice shook as she bit at the inside of her cheek to steady it.
“I want a shower like you wouldn’t believe.”
“You can’t. Syd, you heard the doctor say you can’t get the bandages wet yet.”
“I can sit on the bench and you can help me rinse off. I won’t get the bandages wet. I just have to feel clean, please.” Her gray eyes were weak and imploring as she walked carefully toward the bathroom.
Parker reluctantly agreed and turned the water to produce a trickling stream after she helped Sydney sit against the tile bench, angled away from the water. She tried not to react when she saw her lover’s battered body. Parker cautiously stroked a soapy washcloth across Sydney’s skin and rinsed the lather away with another. She knelt in front of Sydney who leaned stiffly into the corner of the shower. She crouched near Syd’s thigh and wracking sobs overtook her.
“No, Park. Please don’t. I’m okay.” Sydney shifted to guide Parker to a spot on the bench near her. She lifted her left arm and folded Parker’s wet body against her uninjured side.
Parker barely gathered the air sufficient to speak. She didn’t intend for her words to sound so angry. “I could have lost you. You could have been killed.” The last words died on a whisper as Parker felt physical pain at possibly losing Syd.
“I’m just fine, Park. I’m so sorry you had to go through this, that you had to worry about me.” Another sob escaped Parker’s throat, and Syd tightened her lopsided grip on Parker’s shoulder. Sydney laid her lips against Parker’s hair. “I get it. If I picture you in that hospital bed, it’s terrifying.”
“I watched them fly you out and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t hear. It was like wading through mud or something. Like I knew what was happening in my brain but my heart hurt—it actually hurt, Sydney.” Parker had to get it out, to process the hours since the accident, the emotions she had buried until now.
Sydney tilted Parker’s face toward hers. “I can’t tell you how much I want to fix this, but I need you to look at me. I’m okay. We’re safe and together. We will always be.” Sydney looked desperate to take the memory from Parker, to erase her pain. “I told you I would never let go. I have never lied to you.”
Parker nodded as she felt a chill over her arms having nothing to do with being cold, and she reached into the spray to stop the water.
They walked back to the bedroom, and Parker watched Syd push a towel over her hair and pat it over whatever parts of her body she could reach without too much pain. Parker pushed a long T-shirt over Syd’s head and helped her lie back in the bed. She felt the wince of discomfort on Sydney’s face as she reclined awkwardly onto the mattress.
Syd settled and tugged Parker toward her, gliding her fingers across Parker’s hip. “We could, um…”
“Forget it, Hyatt. You’re completely ridiculous.” Parker inched toward her lover and fought the fear that still danced in her heart. “I love you so much. I couldn’t imagine my life if you weren’t going to be okay.”
“I love you more than anything. Thank you for taking care of me.”
Chapter Twenty
Major Williams walked into his office to address his administrative staff regarding the changes he planned to make for the SLPD. He believed in his heart that the interim title was simply a formality, which meant that there was no time like the present to put his stamp on his department.
He passed two men in dark suits in the waiting area and was shocked to see VBCI SAC John Noles in his office.
“John. This is an unexpected surprise. To what do I owe the pl—”
“This isn’t a social call, Damon.” Noles stood and handed him a wad of folded documents. “I have warrants. We need to search your office and your house. This covers your cell phone and your computers.” Noles was serious and dark when he spoke.
Damon Williams bowed his chest and stepped to the shorter man in an attempt to intimidate him. “You will do no such thing, John,” he spat the words, displaying a bravado that began to fade as the implications of the agent’s words began to build in his psyche. The two men from the lounge entered the office and stood behind him, plucking his weapon from its holster and the telephone from his belt clip.
“Damon, I’m trying to do this nicely. We waited for you to arrive before we went through your office. You need to understand that there’s nothing you can do to stop this.”
Williams sat in his own visitor chair and nodded, watching the agents dismember the dreams he had been building for years. The envelope was extracted from his bottom drawer, his last hope with it. He looked at his shoes that he had polished so well for his first full week on the job, then focused on John Noles who was cataloging evidence on a clipboard. “I believe I need to call a union rep and my lawyer.”
“Probably a good idea, Damon,” John Noles responded. “I have to know, when did you forget everything the job was supposed to be?”
Williams didn’t answer. He suddenly regretted every decision he should have made and didn’t. He knew there was no point in calling Jayne or even Pamela—he was on his own now and the best he could hope for was a deal. He blamed Bryce Downing and would make sure he paid. Jayne would pay, too. He wanted her to burn in the fire she’d set.
The agents waited as he arranged to meet his union lawyer at bureau headquarters. He thanked them for agreeing to walk him to the car without handcuffs. Damon Williams stopped to look at the photo of the day he’d accepted his badge, a long distance from being arrested inside the chief’s office he had occupied for mere hours.
* * *
Jayne Provost collected her Tumi purse from beneath her desk. She planned on sitting down for a healthy lunch before returning for the remainder of the day’s appointments. She glanced across the lake and idly watched a large trimaran amble across the water. She heard her door open as CEO Mason Bailey pushed through, leading a contingent of two men and a woman in dark suits. She recognized one of the men as a VBCI agent she had met at the Silver Lake Ball.
“Mason, good afternoon.” The question in her voice was evident as she scanned his guests. “What can I do for you?”
Agent Angela Stall stepped ahead, her forearm resting on the weapon inside her jacket. “Ms. Provost, I’m Special Agent Stall. We have a warrant for your arrest. The charges are listed here if you care to read them. You also need to know that there are pending federal charges. We have a warrant for this office, your house and vehicle, your cell phone, computers, and corresponding records.” Agent Stall watched her as if waiting for a reaction as she read from the paper.
Provost did not offer her the satisfaction. She was incensed at the circumstance that would decimate everything she ever hoped to possess. She stepped aggressively toward Agent Stall.
“Be very careful, Ms. Provost,” Mason Bailey warned. “This is not the time to further embarrass yourself or this company. You and Lawrence have done enough.” His words were weary and stoic as he seemed to process the
fallout to come. “Do you have anything to say before you leave? Like where you put millions of dollars of my inventory?” He jerked the CTI badge from her lapel in disgust.
“Mason, I had nothing to do with that! We need to speak with Lawrence and Bryce. In fact, I was planning on coming to you with my suspicions this afternoon.” Provost spoke as if she couldn’t fathom the accusation and ignored everything she knew about remaining silent. She watched the male agents begin rifling through her bag and her desk.
Stall read her the Miranda warning and appeared to delight in the sound of the handcuffs as their teeth bit through the mechanism replacing her Tiffany bangle as the most prominent jewelry she wore. Provost knew the agents could have chosen to lead her discreetly from the building via some back door, but instead Mason Bailey held the front door open wide after they walked her through the busy lobby.
News vans were perched on the approach to CTI headquarters. Stall looked back at the CEO and rushed to speak. “The VBCI didn’t call them, Mr. Bailey.”
“I know. I did. The publicity on this is going to be hell, so I decided CTI should go first.” He sounded unapologetic when he admitted to purposely humiliating his apparently short-term CSO.” Bailey walked to the curb where a short man wielding a microphone began lobbing questions at him. It was only a few seconds before the CEO was surrounded by others.
* * *
Parker and Jen worked diligently from the living room, trying to catch up from their missed work. Jen tapped away on the computer, handing Parker approvals to sign and resumes to review. Parker returned calls and apologized for delays while Mack hunted through the fridge, awkwardly lifting the tray of fruit Mia had left by the front door.
Parker heard Sydney call her from the bedroom. She ran to the bed, certain she would find evidence of a setback caused by a too-early hospital release. She was relieved to find a wide-eyed Sydney propped against the headboard and pointing at the wall-mounted television.
“Get everybody in here. They’re going to want to see this.” Sydney’s eyes were fixed and staring at the screen. A tiny grin played over her lips.
All six of them crowded onto the king mattress and watched the News 12 Special Report banner covering the large screen.
News 12 was the first to bring you this story late last night and we are interrupting this morning’s programming to bring you this special report.
Today, Silver Lake City Council confirmed that Interim Chief Damon Williams officially resigned from the Silver Lake Police Department. A confidential source inside the Virginia Police Union confirmed that criminal charges of tampering with evidence, collusion, and conspiracy are pending. The former SLPD commander is rumored to have cited direction from the former police chief, Jayne Provost, who left just last week for her new position as CSO of CacheTech. Ms. Provost refused to comment as she was led from the CTI headquarters in handcuffs by agents from the Virginia Bureau of Criminal Investigation. A brand new Jaguar, suspected to belong to Provost, was towed to the state’s impound lot this morning. Preliminary court documents reveal that she will be charged with numerous felonies. A federal indictment is also expected. Neither Provost nor a representative was available for comment.
In related news, the former Chief Security Officer of CTI, Lawrence Downing, III, was arrested for embezzlement of over four million dollars in stolen property belonging to CacheTech Incorporated, Silver Lake’s largest employer. CTI’s inventory manager found the discrepancy and reported it to officials who launched an investigation. Downing was arrested while accepting delivery of a sixty-five foot sailboat at the dock of his Silver Lake mansion which has also been seized by agents.
Authorities tell us that Bryce Downing, Lawrence’s son, is also charged with embezzlement and is being sought as a person of interest in connection with at least two murders, including the death of SLPD Sergeant Sandra Curran.
Sergeant Curran, a veteran of the Silver Lake Police Department, was shot and killed on July 4th and it is believed that she was investigating the delivery of stolen goods connected to the CTI thefts. Murder charges are also pending against Bryce Downing in the death of CTI’s former employee Greg Matthews who police speculate may have also discovered the inventory thefts. Matthews’s body was found hidden in the crawlspace of Bryce Downing’s town home, also on Silver Lake.
Authorities declined to speak with us citing the ongoing investigation but a source inside the SLPD told News 12 that the younger Downing may also face attempted murder charges in connection with another police officer and a city contractor.
A CTI spokesman told this station that their records are an open book and the privately held company is planning to cooperate fully with law enforcement.
Finally, Silver Lake socialite Pamela Hyatt was removed from the city council Concerned Citizens’ Coalition when she was charged with influence peddling and bribery. News 12 is unclear if the woman was connected to last evening’s arrests but she was rumored to have been intimately involved with Interim Chief Williams and admits to having knowledge of the corruption at the SLPD.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.
They all sat silently until Parker inched away from the crowd.
“I think I might throw up.” Sydney spoke first as Parker dove for a trash can near the bed. Syd grinned and pushed it away. “No, I just realized there’s one person I think is not good enough for my mother.” Sydney was horrified at the mental image of her mother and the slovenly Damon Williams. Parker also shuddered at the thought.
“I think Jen and I should go see if Mia’s home. She might need someone to talk to.” Parker tapped Jenny’s knee.
“Good thought.” Sydney held her lips against Parker’s as a little light dawned over their universe.
“Be right back.” Parker turned and saw Darcy leaning on a pillow next to Sydney. She smiled at Syd who seemed to catch her bemused look. Parker looked at the wiry blonde holding Darcy’s hand. “Taylor, you’re in charge until we get back.”
“Yes, ma’am.” If Taylor caught the inference, she pretended not to notice, and Parker led Jenny from the room.
As they passed, they could see Mack outside the lobby door speaking with Major Cash. Jenny released a fortifying breath as he placed her badge in her hand.
Chapter Twenty-one
Sydney drew her tongue across the smooth plane of Parker’s shoulder and slid the zipper of her halter dress toward the floor. “Like this?” Her fingers found the subtle curve of Parker’s breasts as she skidded her fingers under the now loose fabric.
Parker spun away, pulling the dress around her hips. “Not even close, Hyatt. You’re supposed to be helping us leave, not seducing me into a puddle.”
“I like you in a puddle.” Sydney’s raspy voice gave Parker chills. She was momentarily lost in her girlfriend whose hands were now traveling slowly up her back. Sydney’s silver cuff links, cut into lightning bolts, glinted at each of her wrists. The gift from Parker after her stitches were removed now claimed the cuffs of her starched white shirt.
“Dirty and impossible.” Parker felt her resolve weaken as Sydney pushed a finger under her chin and captured her mouth excruciatingly slowly. “You make me incredibly hot,” Parker managed when Sydney moved her lips a fraction from hers.
“I love it when a plan comes together.” Sydney began moving her mouth down Parker’s neck delivering chills in her wake. “How about we skip the reception and I’ll kiss your entire body instead.”
Parker struggled to fight the temptation to succumb to her lover’s maneuverings. “Hey, Darcy Dean is madly in love with one of the guests of honor tonight. You know I want to keep encouraging her interests and, of course, make sure they no longer include you.” Parker smiled into Sydney as she nipped her chin.
“Fine. Then I’ll just kiss half your body when we get home.” Syd zipped the dress and fastened the tiny snap at the top.
“Shortcuts do not impress me, my love. I want it all.” Parker twirled away flirt
atiously and dragged Sydney, who growled lustfully, to the door. They climbed into the Fosters’ waiting Murano for their carpool to CTI.
Sydney glanced longingly over the shiny new black Porsche 911 that had been delivered yesterday. CTI had made sure that any shortfall in the insurance fell to them and not her. Sydney couldn’t wait to drop the top and feel the power of that engine under her body again. She drew Parker against her, feeling the much more alluring power of her lover pervading her body instead. Sydney reminded herself that nothing would ever feel better than that.
* * *
The lobby of CacheTech was decorated for the grand event, designed, Syd knew, to turn the tide of bad press the company had endured over the past months. Metal folding chairs were disguised with white covers and a river of food and drink floated on long white tables that circled the perimeter of the three story lobby.
Taylor Westin noticed their arrival and waved across the expanse of charcoal gray marble before continuing her conversation with her new boss.
The mystery surrounding Bryce Downing’s whereabouts had faded from the news within weeks of the arrests but was never far from the minds of the CacheTech executives who were still unraveling the forensic accounting nightmare. It was assumed that, despite his place on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, he had used his ill-gotten gains to flee to Mexico and start the life of a fugitive.
Syd tried to fight the feeling that told her justice wouldn’t be sufficiently served until the smug bastard was in prison where he belonged. Identifying the buyers of the stolen computers would have made CTI much happier, but they had settled for the recovery of the twelve pallets found in Bryce’s storage locker and the seizure of the elder Downing’s assets in a deal that saved him from any federal time.
Major Dawn Turner from Raleigh had settled into her new civilian role nicely. It had taken some convincing for her to accept the position and, if rumors were to be believed, some extra money as well. Turner’s first task had been changing the rules and procedures for the handling of inventory, a review aided by their new operations manager Taylor Westin. Mason Bailey had promoted Taylor after she’d reconstructed the path of missing inventory and demonstrated safeguards which would stop future thefts from occurring.
