When she knew she couldn’t stop the approaching orgasm, she cried out his name, and Todd responded by thrusting harder, joining her in a heightened, throbbing climax.
Minutes passed before they were able to communicate again.
“I’m so glad I found you,” Amy said, knowing that she truly loved this man.
“I’m ecstatic to be found.” Resting on his elbows Todd swept back the copper-colored hair off her forehead, spreading it out on the bedspread.
“We should eat that food.”
“Amy, I don’t want to move,” he said, snuggling between her legs.
She giggled when he brought his mouth to her ear and blew on the delicate convolutions.
They rested and dozed for another half hour before Todd called out, “Dinner time.”
“The steak must be ice cold.”
“No microwave. I’ll have to make do.”
After they finished eating they made love again. Later, while each held a champagne glass and was propped against pillows, Todd questioned Amy about the information she had to share.
“Stu’s leaving town.”
“Good for him.”
“Todd, Stu’s going to Texas. The other partners have asked him to take a vacation. They must have found out about him assisting in smuggling illegal aliens.”
“Amy, what he was doing may have been legit. There are lots of lawyers who earn their living by assisting aliens to become legal.”
“But what about Joey’s murder?”
“I don’t believe he had anything to do with that. I think it was a personal vendetta.”
“But who would hold a grudge so intense he’d murder someone?”
“Amy, I’ve put a lot of people away. The list of people who would like to see harm come to me and Joey is long.”
“Could Joey have had enemies you didn’t know about?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to find out by hanging out in the dives he used to frequent.”
“Why did Joey hang out with such ruffians?”
“His father was an alcoholic. After they took Joey away from him because of child abuse, his father hit skid row and went down fast. I think Joey always hoped to find his old man.”
There were a few moments of silence as Amy watched Todd look off into space, remembering his friend and partner.
“Maybe your sister would have some ideas.”
“My sister has no knowledge of what I do for a living.”
“I have the impression she does.”
“No way. I’ve been careful never to utter a single word about the undercover jobs Joey and I handled.”
“Joey talked.”
“What?”
“Jennie said Joey used to tell her a lot about the work you two were involved in.”
“She must mean the export business.”
“No. I have the definite impression that she knew.”
“That’s impossible. Stay away from my sister, Amy. I don’t want her involved. She has enough to deal with. Hell, I don’t want you snooping around, either. That klutz you were talking to in the bar could have been trouble.”
“Is that why you moved closer?”
“Exactly.”
“How did you know I’d leave when I got out of the ladies’ room?”
“I reckoned that you had some common sense.”
“Thank you.”
“I should get back to my room before it turns daylight,” he said, checking the time on her watch.
“Will I be able to find you at that bar again?”
“Amy, I don’t want you coming around that neighborhood, understood?”
“Then where can we meet?”
“If things work out, I’ll be knocking on your door,” he said, rubbing the back of his hand across her cheek.
“If... I’m not sitting this out, waiting on the sidelines, Mr. Coleman.”
“Amy...”
“Hey, you can’t stop me from looking for you. Wouldn’t it be better if we agreed on some place to meet?”
Todd knew controlling this woman was impossible, and he feared for her safety if he didn’t come up with a simple task that could keep her occupied.
“Okay. How about you keep tabs on my sister, but don’t mention what I’ve done in the past. And I’ll give you calls periodically to see how she’s doing.”
Amy shook her head.
“You won’t help out with my sister?”
“I’ll certainly do that. She needs a person she can talk to, given that beast she lives with.”
“Has he given you a hard time?”
Todd had jerked forward and his eyes flashed out trouble. If she told him about the attempted rape she wasn’t sure what he would do.
“No. But anyone could see that he’s not an appropriate husband for your sister.”
Sighing, Todd eased back against his pillow. “I wish I could have talked sense into her years ago.”
“You’ve supported her financially and emotionally, and that’s all you can do. No one can tell a person how to live or what to do, including you, Mr. Coleman.”
He prepared himself for her demands.
“I don’t just want to hear from you. I want to be able to see you and make sure you’re all right. And I still think I should follow up with Stu.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Nothing dangerous. Maybe stop by his apartment and dig for information.”
“Amy, I assigned you a task, and I don’t want to hear about anything else. Otherwise, I’m not going to call at all.”
“But...”
“Two can play this game. I’ve compromised, Amy, and I expect you to do the same, or you’ll never know what’s happened to me.”
Amy nodded, thinking all he really asked is that she not tell him what she planned. That she could agree to, she decided.
“By the way, that conversation you had with Pickens...”
“Ah, yes.”
“What did he say, exactly?” she asked.
“Didn’t know anything.”
“What’s that smirk on your face for then?”
“I think you underestimate Pickens.”
“That twerp! You’ve never had to work with him.”
“Either you’ve underestimated the charms of Pickens or accountants do far better than I thought.”
“He lives in a big house?”
“Average size, but nice.”
“Todd, you’re holding something back. What is it?”
“Nothing,” he laughed. “He just seems to be doing quite well. Enough of Pickens and your curiosity. You promised to keep yourself confined to watching over my sister, remember?”
Not really, she thought.
“I’ve committed myself to seeing your sister on Saturdays when she takes the children to the library.”
“Great! Then I’ll give you a ring on Sunday evenings.” Amy began to open her mouth. “Not another word. I’d rather have a touchy-feely good-bye,” he said, tickling her into his arms.
Chapter 15
The Secret Understanding
What did Todd mean when he said that she underestimated Pickens? she wondered. Pickles sat across from her at the conference table, his glasses low on his nose and his sparse dark hair swept in long strands across his pate. He looked over the frame of his glasses directly into her eyes.
“Maybe Teddy could help me instead of you.”
“Not his job.” She purposefully made her stare more intent. It was an ‘I can see right through you, Mister’ kind of look, except that she really couldn’t. But maybe she could bluff him into giving something away, even if Todd hadn’t.
Pickens looked back down at his pad and tapped the worn-down eraser end of the pencil on the Formica table. The steady tap was driving her crazy.
“Must you constantly watch me?” he asked, not bothering to look at her.
She said nothing but didn’t even attempt to divert her attention away from her target.
By lun
ch time they were both nervous wrecks.
“What’s with Pickles?” Trudy asked. “I’ve never seen him go out to lunch before.”
“He probably figures it’s the only way to get away from me. And he’s right. Unless we catch up with him. He might be meeting someone for lunch,” Amy said, dragging Trudy along by the sleeve of her dress.
“Wait! There is no way I’m going to be following Pickles around during my free time. Why has he become such an obsession for you? Are you really interested in him?”
Amy slowed down to a stop. Todd said he had spoken to Pickens and Todd knew how to interrogate, didn’t he? He must have been trained to do such things, she reasoned.
“Okay. Where would you like to go for lunch?”
“Anywhere away from that pudgy little Pickle.” Trudy slipped her arm around Amy’s and they both headed for the elevator.
When Amy got back from lunch she found out that Teddy had been assigned to work with Pickens. Teddy didn’t know all about the office management, but he would act as an intermediary between her and Pickens, at least during this phase of the job.
That was fine with Amy. She hadn’t been getting any answers out of Pickens. Now she would have to turn to another source: Stu.
“Trudy, do you remember where Stu lives?”
“Oh, you’re referring to that Christmas Party.” Her eyebrows had risen. “You’re interested in Stu now?”
“No. I’m not trying to seduce Pickens or Stu. I have a few papers for him to sign.”
“But he’s not supposed to sign anything, everyone knows that.”
“They’re things that he should have signed before he left, Trudy. I have an old address for him, but he never bothered to give us the change when he moved.”
Trudy hesitantly gave Amy the address.
“You’ve been acting peculiar ever since that hunk was here to do the taxes, Amy. Is something wrong?”
“No,” she curtly replied, then went back to her office to call up Sam’s taxi company again. One of these times she was sure to bump into that driver again if she kept using cabs the way she was.
Later, a clone of Sam dropped Amy off in front of Stu’s house. This time, she didn’t mind the fact that he wouldn’t wait. The neighborhood was ritzy enough that cabs occasionally wandered through, and she didn’t expect to get mugged climbing the stairs to Stu’s house.
At first Amy doubted that anyone was at home, even though a light shined in the front window. She knew that many people used that ploy to keep burglars away. When she was about to descend the steps, Stu opened the front door.
“Amy, what are you doing here? I’m sorry. Come in. I guess I sound rude, but I didn’t expect to find you on my doorstep, otherwise I would have neatened the place up.”
She walked into a huge room. Cardboard cartons were piled in the center and Teddy was picking up several piles of paper off the floor.
“Amy! Hi.” He looked as if he had been caught in a raid.
She nodded.
“Teddy volunteered to help me sort out much of my work.”
“But I thought you weren’t supposed to be active now.”
“Not on company work. To be frank, I’m probably not going to be allowed to come back to the firm. The partners found out that I had been spending an inordinate amount of office time doing my own private cases.”
She wished she could pore over the same pages Teddy was now reading.
“Can I help?”
“No! Teddy and I have an understanding.” Stu looked over at the paralegal, who quickly glanced up from the materials. “Nothing firm. That’s why Teddy would—”
“I would rather you not mention that you saw me here to anyone at the office.”
Amy swallowed hard. She should have realized that Stu wouldn’t be in it alone. And Teddy had been out on vacation when Joey was killed. She gave a long hard look at the young man. His brown hair was chopped short and his face looked pinched with his flat thin features.
“Amy? Please?”
Teddy was pleading for time. For what, she wondered, so that both men could make their getaway?
“Sure,” she said, trying to appear relaxed. Why wouldn’t Todd believe that Stu had something to do with the murder? She was vexed.
“Do you think you’ll be called on the carpet also, Teddy?” she asked, straining to keep her anxiety under control.
“No. I doubt they have any suspicion about my...” Teddy paused. “I never let any of this interfere with my work at the office, Amy. You know my assignments are all handed in on time, and no one has ever complained about my work.”
“I’m certain you don’t have to prove anything to Amy,” Stu said. “She’s used to hearing people sing your praises around the office, right?”
“Especially from you,” she said.
The two men looked at each other. She wondered whether she was digging her own grave.
Stu was able to keep his composure and asked if she liked something to drink, which she refused. Teddy grappled with the papers in his hands, stuffing them into boxes before they slipped through his nervous fingers.
“You never did tell me what you had done on vacation, Teddy.”
Again the two men passed a brief look at each other.
“Just stayed in bed, reading.”
“I suppose that is the truth, in a way,” Stu chuckled. “What I don’t understand is why you’re so interested, Amy. Perhaps this is not a personal visit but a business call for you. Did the partners send you to check up on my whereabouts and to find out how soon I’ll be quitting town? Is that it?”
Amy shook her head.
“I’m sorry if I appear so nosy. I guess I was trying to come up with a friendly topic but didn’t.”
“Perhaps I should be the one to apologize. Teddy and I have been rather sensitive about some work we’re doing together and see enemies everywhere. Certainly a woman with those beautiful green eyes can’t be a foe, Teddy.”
“But will she tell them about me?” Teddy directed his question to Stu as if Amy wasn’t present.
“Perhaps if I were included in this business you’re both doing I wouldn’t have a reason to talk to anyone.”
“You! I hardly think I need an office manager, Amy. Right now I don’t even have an office. And, as far as doing paralegal work, I thought you had gotten bored with it long ago; that’s why you took your current position.” He smiled. “However, I must admit it would be tempting to take you along.” Stu’s leer traveled the full length of her. “You know, Teddy, if we hadn’t made that agreement, you might have had heavy competition here.”
Teddy threw Amy a look of disgust.
“From the looks of this room, there appears to be plenty of work for two paralegals.”
“Forget it, Amy, I’d never be able to duplicate your salary.”
“I don’t want a salary. I want a piece of the action.”
At this point Stu broke out in hysterical laughter, and Teddy stood tall with an amazed look on his face.
Amy didn’t think she was in any danger as yet; after all, she hadn’t revealed any knowledge of their possible connection to the murder. She had simply indicated that she knew what the law partners knew, and she doubted that Teddy and Stu were going to bump them all off.
Eventually Stu gained control of his laughter.
“You are a very attractive woman, Amy, but what you’re asking is almost akin to marriage, and unless you were going to give me the fruits of that status in life I’m not going to split my profits with you. How could I even be sure you’d be worth it? Unless we work something out late this evening.”
“I’m talking a straight business proposition, not any benefits on the side.”
“Then Teddy’s good enough for me.”
Teddy smirked.
Had she been too hasty in cutting him off so soon? she wondered. Perhaps he would have opened up in a more congenial environment. But Amy knew that meant bed, and she wasn’t interested in engaging in th
at activity with Stu.
“Is that the only reason you came, Amy?”
“I’ll think about what you said.”
Stu chuckled. “You do that.” He shook his head at Teddy.
“Is she going to report me because she can’t join us?”
Stu looked at Amy with raised eyebrows.
“Of course not,” she responded. “Not if I want in. Think I’m a idiot?” She turned and headed for the door and Stu followed.
“Here,” he said, pulling a pad and pen out of his pocket. “I have an unlisted number. If you’d like to... whatever. Give me a call.”
She felt as if her hand were covered in invisible grime after he took her hand and placed the paper in it.
At home, Amy stashed the number inside her address book then washed her hands. How had she ever gotten along so well with Stu? He seemed totally different. She had known he had been a ladies’ man, but he had always treated her with respect. What could she expect? she chastised herself: before today he thought she was respectable, now, after offering to collaborate in his nefarious plans, she had lowered herself to his rank.
The telephone rang. Todd was on the other end.
“I’m so glad you called. It would have been hell to have to wait until Sunday.”
“Same here. I kept thinking about you all day, hoping you were minding your own business.”
“What happens to you is important to me.”
“I don’t want you taking any chances. You haven’t, have you?”
“Is that what you kept thinking about all day?”
“Hell, no,” he said. “I couldn’t stand being separated from you before, but after this past weekend I think I’m going to go crazy without you.”
“Then I guess we should see each other again. I wouldn’t want to have you committed after this is all over.”
“Honey, you’ve got me thinking commitment’s not such a bad idea.”
A heated chill swept through Amy’s body.
“Too bad I’m not that kind of man,” Todd clarified.
“Yeah,” Amy sighed.
“Anyway, I wanted to make sure you weren’t getting yourself into any trouble. Leaving Pickles alone, I hope.”
“They have Teddy working as a go-between. Seems Pickens wants to stay as far away from me as possible.”
“The guy’s a fool. What about Stu?”
The Taxman Killeth Page 11
