“I love you too,” she said, her eyes staring right back at him.
“And I want you to be happy.”
“I will be … someday.”
“Night …”
“Joe, it’s not something you can make happen, either it does or it doesn’t, and it hasn’t yet. I can live with that.”
“Can you?”
“Yes.”
He looked at her for a long moment, then he shook his head resolutely. He couldn’t live her life for her, or make her fall in love with who he wanted for her. They conversation moved onto other things then. The air had been cleared and Joe was glad about it, but he was still worried about his partner. He wondered if she would ever fall in love, or if she’d just wait around for the rest of her life for “Mr. Right” to find her.
The rest of the day was rather uneventful. Everyone was out working on the Scorpions case, following up leads. The trail had gone somewhat cold.
Joe and Randy left the office around five o’clock that evening. They were both very tired from the night before, and they wanted to spend a quiet night at home. Rick and Midnight stayed behind working on more reports.
Rick was still feeling very put off by Midnight’s reaction to Joe and Randy’s engagement, but he was trying to put it behind him. It made him realize again how far away she kept him. They were close only when she needed him. Since she had gotten back on her feet from the rape, she had distanced herself again. She was at a friendly distance from him all the time, except when they made love, then she was there, she was his. Those times were what kept him hanging on, hoping.
“I’m tired, babe,” Rick said, standing and stretching. It was now seven o’clock. “Can’t we go now?”
Midnight looked up at him, stifling a yawn. “Yeah, I suppose we could, I’m pretty beat myself.”
They left the office and went back to Midnight’s house.
Chapter 4
Joe and Randy were halfway to Joe’s house when his cell phone rang. He answered expecting it to be Midnight.
“Yeah?” he said.
“Sinclair?” an unfamiliar voice said.
“Yeah, this is Sinclair, who’s this?”
“This is Sergeant Dickerson. Look I talked to Lieutenant Chevalier and she said to call you … I’ve got one of your people down here, and he needs one of you two down here to authorize a search.”
“Damn …” Joe said, knowing his quiet evening with Randy was blown. “Down where?”
“San Ysidro. Right off five near the factory stores, you can’t miss us. You’ll see the black and white,” Sergeant Dickerson answered.
“Well, I’m almost to PB, so it’ll be a little while. Tell him to hang on. Who is it anyway?”
“Uh … Dibbins … I think.”
“Alright, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Joe said, looking over at Randy. “I can drop you off …” he said, clearly disappointed they weren’t able to spend some time together.
“Maybe I could just go with you, and when you’re done, we could have the rest of our evening,” Randy said, smiling over at him.
“Well, that’ll work,” he said. He got off on the next freeway exit, and turned around to head south.
They got off the freeway at the exit Dickerson had indicated. He saw the black and white. The police car was off one of the side streets next to an open field. There were apartments on the other side of the fence next to the squad car. Joe pulled up behind the squad car, and got out. He looked around and thought he saw some movement to his left, in the field. He turned toward it, his hand automatically reaching for his weapon. He heard Randy scream, and as he drew his gun and turned, he was hit in the head with something hard. He fell, his eyes going unfocused. He could see that someone had Randy, but he couldn’t make out faces. He blacked out shortly after that with his gun next to him on the dirt road.
****
Joe woke in a room. The first thing he sensed was how damp it was. The musty smell was overwhelming. He decided he was most likely in a basement. The room was dark, but as he looked around he could he could make out faint shapes. There was a mattress under him, but feeling around he could tell it was just a mattress on a floor. The floor was ice cold. His head was pounding, and he suddenly remembered that Randy had been with him.
“Randy?” he said, his voice barely coming out at all, but the response was instant.
“Joe!” Her voice was off to his left. He looked in that direction, but the moonlight coming from right above him was dim, and he couldn’t see her. He tried to sit up, but his head was pounding so hard he had to lay back or risk blacking out again.
“Baby, are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes …” she said, her voice uncertain. “But, where are we, what’s happening, is this Robbins?”
Joe closed his eyes, knowing it was. He was terrified because Randy had been taken too. “Yes, it is, I’m sure of it. Randy whatever you do, don’t give him a reason to hurt you. I’ll do everything I can to get us out of this.”
Someone turned on the light. It was dim, but Joe could see Randy. She was tied to the furnace. It was indeed a basement.
“Well, well, well, Sinclair,” came a voice from the shadows. Then Daniel Robbins stepped out into the light, his evil sneer directed at Joe. “It’s about time we meet, wouldn’t you say?”
“What the fuck do you want, Robbins?” Joe spat.
“What I want, Sinclair,” Robbins said, standing above Joe, “is to kill you slowly and painfully.” Then he looked over at Randy, his face becoming a leering mask. “And meanwhile, I want to fuck your latest … she’s a real piece, Sinclair. How do you do it?”
“You leave her out of this, Robbins. This is between you and me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Sinclair. This is between you and me and Midnight, and your buddy Rick, and the Riveras, and none of us are real happy with none of you, and since nobody even knows you’re gone yet … I’d say you’re screwed, Sinclair.”
Robbins walked over to Randy and knelt down next to her. She looked up at him with wide terrified eyes. She knew this was the man who had raped Midnight, and she couldn’t control the fear that was rising in her. He reached out and grabbed her by a handful of hair. She shrunk from his touch, but he yanked her head toward him, his lips came down on hers in a bruising lustful kiss.
“Robbins!” Joe roared. He had sat up, but his vision was already swimming. He tried to get up, but his vision darkened instantly, threatening to go totally dark on him.
Having kissed Randy, Robbins stood up, looking down at her. She was rubbing her face against her shirt, trying to get all traces of him off her. He started to move toward her, to teach her a lesson she wouldn’t soon forget.
“Robbins!” a voice called then from somewhere above them.
“What?” Robbins answered, clearly irritated by the interruption.
“I need ya.”
Robbins turned to Randy. “Try not to think about me too much while I’m gone.” He winked at her and walked away. He stopped looking down at Joe, who was staring at him with narrowed eyes.
“What’s a matter, Sinclair, don’t you like to share?” His voice was leering and sarcastic.
“You touch her again, Robbins, and I’ll kill ya,” Joe replied, his voice cold steel.
“Yeah, yeah,” Robbins said. Then without warning, he launched a kick at Joe’s ribs. Randy cried out as Joe doubled in pain. “Don’t fuckin’ threaten me, Sinclair, it’s me that’s gonna kill you, and don’t forget it,” Robbins said as he left.
“Joe?” she said, her voice hesitant and terrified.
“I’m okay, babe … tough ribs …” He tried to smile at her, but he couldn’t manage it.
He knew they were in the worst possible situation. Midnight would have no idea they were gone until they didn’t show up at the office the next day. When they had left the office, Joe had told Midnight that he’d kill her if she called him that night. She had promised she wouldn’t. So he knew that he a
nd Randy were on their own, at least until morning, and he didn’t know if they’d be still alive by then. The thought of Robbins getting his hands on Randy made him almost physically ill. He knew he couldn’t let that happen.
He must have slept for a while, because when the light came on again, he was surprised to see Robbins was standing under the light, his eyes watching Joe. When he knew Joe was awake, he walked over to Randy and touched her hair. He clicked his tongue at her when she tried to pull away from him. “Now, Randy. Is that any way to be?” He looked at Joe. “So how is she, Sinclair? You broken her in for me?”
“Robbins …” Joe said, his voice holding a steel edge. “I’ll kill you.”
“Yeah, Sinclair, you already said that … but ya know, I just gotta ask, who’s better? Midnight or Randy? I mean you fucked ’em both, right?”
“Yes he did,” came a vaguely familiar voice.
When a woman stepped out of the shadows, Joe recognized her immediately, but he wasn’t sure what she could have to do with all of this.
San Diego, California, 1988
One night, a year and a half after the beginning of FORS, Midnight and Joe were taking an official, but rare, night off. They were sitting companionably in Joe’s living room on his sofa watching TV.
“Hey turn that back!” Midnight said, as Joe flipped through the channels.
“What?” he said, grinning over at her, as he changed the channel again.
“Joseph!” she said, lunging for the remote. He held it above his head so she couldn’t reach. She leaned over too far and ended up in his lap. They both laughed, as Midnight grabbed the remote and changed the TV back to the channel she wanted.
“Spoiled,” Joe said, and Midnight laughed evilly.
A little while later, there was a muffled ring. Midnight immediately looked embarrassed.
“You’re not supposed to have that bloody thing,” Joe said, his voice a little edgy.
That was the deal they always made on their nights off: no cell phones, no pagers, and instructions to the staff that they were only to be called at Joe’s in case of the direst emergency.
“I know, I know,” Midnight said, reaching to her FORS jacket that was lying of the back of the couch. “But I’ve been waiting for this one call.” She pulled out her cell phone, glancing at Joe, and smiled as she flipped it open.
“Yes?” she said into the phone. “Yes this is Midnight Chevalier … you do? Great! Yes, well I’m at my second’s house. He’s at … oh … you do? I see.” She looked at Joe. She was clearly surprised by what the person on the other end had said. “Okay … well I guess I’ll see you soon, thanks.” She hung up, but Joe could see she was still discomfited.
“What the fuck was that about?” Joe asked, his voice low. He hadn’t liked the sound of the conversation.
“That was Tasha Wood,” she said, still a sounding confounded. “She’s bringing over a file I’ve been waiting on. She said she had your address.” She put her phone back in her jacket pocket as she looked over at him. “You ever date her?”
“I don’t even know her,” he said, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
“Well,” Midnight said, shrugging to dismiss the strangeness of the situation, “she does deal with our confidential DMV files. She’s like the supervisor of the section that handles them. Maybe she just came across it today while getting my information together or something.” She shrugged again.
She had no reason to be suspicious of Tasha. She had been nothing but helpful from the first time Midnight had dealt with her.
“Yeah,” Joe said, not totally convinced.
The doorbell rang a few minutes later. They looked at each other. Joe’s eyebrow lifted at her. “That didn’t take long,” he said wryly.
He stood up and walked to the front door. He opened it and stood holding the door, staring down at the woman standing there.
Tasha stood looking at Joe for a full minute. She had heard that he was good looking, but she had never actually met him before. He was wearing faded jeans, white high top tennis shoes, and a white cotton oxford-style shirt that he hadn’t bothered to button. With his tan and his light blue eyes, he was very handsome indeed.
Joe looked Tasha over too. She was a petite woman, about the same height as Midnight, but a complete contrast to Midnight. Tasha had auburn hair that was just past her shoulders and blue eyes. Joe found her attractive, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing, this woman having his address. But he was still curious as to what had prompted her to look it up.
“Hi,” Tasha said, feeling uncomfortable at the silence. “You must be Joe.” Her voice almost cracked on his name.
Joe’s lips curled in a sardonic smile. “I must be.”
He stood back, indicating that she should enter. She stepped inside promptly stumbling on the slightly raised threshold. Joe reached out, catching her before she actually fell. Once she was steady again, he made a point of looking at the three inch heels she wore. “Those things’ll kill you.”
Before she could respond, he started off down the hall. She could do nothing but follow him, feeling foolish. She was a bit taken back by his attitude. She usually made a more definite impression on men, but Joe had barely feigned interest. ‘Well,’ she thought to herself shrugging inwardly, ‘that’s why I’m after him, because he isn’t like most men.’
She had dressed with care that night, choosing a black silk straight skirt and a sapphire-blue jacket that made her eyes stand out. She had also worn silk stockings and black leather pumps to emphasize her nice legs, and all he’d had to say was, ‘Those things’ll kill you.’ He was definitely going to be tough.
Joe continued through the house with Tasha trailing behind him. When he reached the living room entryway, he stood aside and gestured for her to precede him. He moved to the nearest wall and leaned indolently against it, observing Tasha as she talked to Midnight.
“Midnight,” Tasha said smiling at the leader of FORS. Midnight stood, extending her hand to the other woman.
Tasha and Midnight were a contrast in many ways, Joe reflected. Tasha was dressed to the nines and obviously well pampered in terms of her nails, skin, and hair. There wasn’t a hair out of place, and she smelled strongly of Opium perfume. Whereas Midnight was wearing faded jeans, a black tank top, and black boots. She wore no makeup, her nails were never painted, and she only wore musk if she wore anything at all. Midnight’s copper-blond hair was in its usual shaggy, unruly mane. As he watched them, he became aware how incredibly beautiful Midnight was once again, in her natural way without all those extras. Tasha was beautiful too, but because she seemed to have to work at it, Joe didn’t feel that it counted as much. The eyes of the two women were a major contrast as well. Midnight’s were not always warm, but they were always direct, whereas Tasha’s had a cold calculating look to them.
“Tasha, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Midnight said, shaking Tasha’s hand. They’d spoken on the phone frequently over the past few weeks, but hadn’t actually met in person before now.
She noticed that Tasha’s hand was very cold, not unlike the look in her eyes. Midnight wondered at that. Tasha had been very friendly on the phone, but you never knew about someone until you looked into their eyes.
“Yes, you too,” Tasha was saying, her gaze drifting over to Joe.
“Oh,” Midnight said, her glance touching on her second, “have you met Joe?”
Tasha turned to look at Joe then giving him a brilliant smile. Her eyes lost the cold look, but the calculation remained. “Yes, I believe I have,” she said, her voice almost breathless.
Midnight raised an eyebrow at Joe, and Joe had to stifle a laugh. Tasha knew something was going on, but she was determined to keep her cool.
Joe nodded in acknowledgment keeping his eyes on Tasha’s. She returned his steady gaze. She wasn’t shy, this one, Joe decided. She could be interesting.
****
Joe stared at Tasha. He remembered where she’d worked, but it also occu
rred to him that she must not have been connected with the Scorpions for long since Robbins still didn’t have all the confidential information he’d been looking for. Tasha worked for the confidential section of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It was a section that handled peace officer information such as their home address and vehicle information. When an officer was registered with the DMV their information was kept confidential and only other officers were able to access the information and then only with authorization.
He and Tasha had begun a short but volatile relationship after their first meeting. It had lasted no more than six months. Tasha had been extremely jealous of Midnight and had expected Joe to cut Midnight out of his personal life completely. Further, she’d fully expected Joe to ask her to marry him, within that short timeframe. He’d laughed in her face. Neither thing was something that Joe had considered doing for even a moment and it had rubbed Tasha completely the wrong way. Their break up had been a colossal battle, because Tasha had been drunk at the time. Joe had also suspected that she’d been on drugs, but hadn’t bothered to worry about it once she’d slammed out of his house.
It was, however, still hard to take that she was apparently in this with the Scorpions now. It meant that she was willing to endanger the lives of police officers with her betrayal.
“Yeah, and I fucked her too,” Joe said, looking at Tasha, a knowing leer on his face.
Tasha looked at him, her eyes traveling provocatively down his body. “Yes you did,” she said then, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
Robbins walked over to Tasha and grabbed her by the waist. “Just remember who you’re fucking now,” he said angrily.
Tasha looked at Robbins, a slow smile starting on her face. “Yeah, I remember …” She kissed him passionately. After a few minutes, Robbins was obviously excited and he led her from the room.
Joe looked over at Randy then. “Randy …”
“I know, Joe, I know … it’s okay …” She knew he’d been trying to keep the focus off of her and she was grateful to him. The thought of having Robbins rape her made her stomach turn over. She’d rather have him kill her.
Empires Fall (MidKnight Blue Book 2) Page 8
