Roulette

by C. D. Bradley

  “They had just arrested her boyfriend and her on charges of drug trafficking and prostitution. Gwen was pretty battered, her hair a tangled mess. Her lace dress had a small rip on the bottom seam which hung a strand of lace down her leg.” Olivia paused, she remembered the lost look on Gwen’s face the first time she saw her like a small child searching for their mother. “Our goal was to find out more about the prostitution ring and the drug trafficking as we suspected Gwen was deeply involved. I hoped to offer a plea deal in exchange for information that might lead us to her boyfriend’s bosses. I guess I was naïve thinking we could help her.” Olivia stared at the road ahead. She had never wanted to hurt Gwen, but their involvement had most likely caused her death.

  “I really thought we could help her, I guess I was just naïve.”

  “She got herself into that mess.” Dominic turned to her very seriously. “You didn’t talk her into trafficking drugs. You and I both know those situations never end well. You tried to help her, that’s all you can do.” He put a hand on hers and squeezed. He turned away suddenly and stared out the window. Reflexively he reached up and placed his hand on his chest. To anyone else the gesture would have gone unnoticed but Olivia knew that under that crisp white shirt lay a tattoo of his lost love. Had he tried to help her? Did she break his heart?

  They pulled onto a small gravel road that led down to the marsh area. Olivia found a place to park alongside the road. Police caution tape indicated they were in the right place. Was this the site where Gwen took her last breath or had she been moved? Carefully Olivia and Dominic got out of the car and made their way down to the actual sight of discovery. Caution tape and little red flags dotted the serene landscape. They were a stark contrast to the peaceful water, gently flowing reeds and grasses. The outline of Gwen’s small frame had been spray painted onto the soggy ground. The rest of her had been in the water.

  “Be careful,” he instructed.

  “This is not my first crime scene,” Olivia snapped back. Special agent hot pants could keep his advice to himself. She took a step closer to get a better look and sunk up to her knee.

  “What the hell?” she exclaimed unable to get her foot loose. Olivia thrashed around and tried to pull her foot out. Under a cloud of cursing she managed to get her foot out but lost her shoe and got her other foot stuck in the process. Olivia yelled in frustration and threw her hands up in the air.

  Dominic almost fell over from laughing so hard. “Need a hand?” he asked, barely containing himself. Olivia narrowed her eyes to slits. Fucker. Dominic reached into help pull her out. He took a step forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. He pulled her a little closer than he needed to. Pulling her tight against him Olivia couldn’t help thinking of the night before. She let out a short gasp. She hated that he affected her so.

  Her face was almost touching his. She could feel his breath and smell the cinnamon. He hoisted her out and his foot slipped, throwing them off balance and they both went sideways into the muck.

  “Ugh, gross.” She spat mud and plant life. “Oh this smells like dead fish and rotten plants. God, this is awful!”

  “At your service,” he said laughing loudly into the swamp. He got a serious look on his face and leaned toward Olivia.

  Oh, God. Olivia felt her cheeks flush. “Dominic not—” But he didn’t lean into her. It took her a moment to realize he was reaching past her into the mud they had just disturbed at the edge of the caution tape. Thank God forensics had already been here and collected everything, she was tearing their crime scene to shit. “What is that?” she asked horrified as he pulled a huge looking grub up out of the mud.

  “Hermetia illucens,” he said looking puzzled. “Similar to the ones found on the victim.” He stood and began examining the area and digging through the dirt collecting every manner of creepy crawly that he found. Olivia shivered. Bugs were not her thing. All she could think of was the cave filled with bugs in Indiana Jones and she wanted to run screaming out of the swamp.

  He was oblivious to her disgust and their mess. He was collecting specimens like a man on a mission. He collected water and mud samples also. Olivia forced herself into action and helped him tag the samples and place them in a collection bag.

  “The science behind this is really fascinating. You see we use multi organism identification to determine PMI.” He sounded like a kid playing with a fantastic new toy.

  “Lovely, now once again in English, I am a lawyer not a bug scientist,” Olivia answered and wrinkled her nose as she sealed another wiggling specimen.

  “Okay,” he said laughing at her expression. “So insect activity on a corpse gives insight about the post mortem interval or PMI. That’s the time that has passed since the victim died.

  “Dr. Mattis has talked about that before. Certain bugs come at certain times. What’s so special about this that they called you in?” Olivia raised the little baggy to eye level and stared at the occupant.

  “Right, so the first to come are usually carrion. He captured a blue green fly and held it up to show her. They would have arrived first and started to lay their eggs. As time passes various flies, beetles and mites come and go. Bacteria is at work also. You see this guy?” he said holding up another one of the fat little grubs. “It’s Hermetia illucens. Black soldier fly larvae. What is so interesting here is that they don’t usually show up until the levels of bacteria reach a certain point to attract them in. Based on the other insects present I would predict the PMI to be around ten days. But there are soldier fly larvae of varying sizes and stages like you would find on a corpse with a PMI of thirty to forty days. I want to take these back to the lab and compare them to the ones found on the body. I have a feeling that this was not our crime scene. I think she was killed and stored somewhere else. Then for some reason they decided to dump the body here.”

  “You can tell all that from bugs?” Olivia asked feeling a little perplexed. “I need more than a hunch. I need something I can prove in court.”

  “How about DNA evidence?” he asked with a grin.

  “Hell yes, I’ll take that . . . Wait they hadn’t identified any DNA evidence on the victim.” She narrowed her eyes and stared at him. “Are you messing with me?”

  “Not human DNA, I am talking about a PCR test for the bacteria and the gut contents of the soldier flies,” he answered triumphantly.

  Olivia gasped. “You are going to do DNA tests on the stomach contents of a bug?” Great, the first guy she actually liked in years and he was some kind of deranged bug nut. Not that it mattered after the way she had treated him last night and this morning.

  “Exactly, and I want you to help me. I think we have everything I need here. Let’s get out of this swamp shall we.” Dominic helped her to her feet and together they trudged back to solid ground.

  Olivia was more than ready to go home for a bit and get a much-needed shower. They walked up the path toward her car. As soon as it was in sight Olivia stopped short. She looked over at Dominic panicked.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, concern growing in his eyes.

  “We are not getting in my car like this.” Olivia waved her arms like Vanna White at their swamp soaked, mud caked appearance. “We have to change or something.”

  “Well I don’t know about you but I didn’t exactly bring along a change of clothes.” He chuckled.

  “This is not funny.” She huffed. We have to contain this mud somehow. This is ridiculous. The muck is everywhere.” Olivia delicately opened her car door and with the precision of a surgeon opened the glove box and extracted hand sanitizer and a small pack of Handi Wipes.

  Dominic almost fell he was laughing so hard. Olivia unfolded the small square of disposable cloth and attempted to wipe some of the mud off her face and arms. Her unsuccessful venture ended up smearing mud rather than removing it.

  Olivia spat and cursed and wiped again. Each round with the tiny towelettes only slightly more successful than the time before. Dominic walked over and picked up a
fresh wipe and opened it calmly.

  “Mind if I help?” he offered holding the cloth out like a peace offering.

  “I guess it can’t be any worse.” Olivia dropped the most recent attempt into the pile on the ground. She didn’t want him to help her but at this point what choice did she have? She stood still and closed her eyes as he approached and gently brushed from her forehead down to her chin in slow deliberate strokes. Even in this circumstance his touch was exhilarating. Each contact followed by tingles. Her body begged his hands to move lower. She breathed slow and deliberate, desperate for him not to see how affected she was by his touch. Flashbacks of the night before flooded her memory. She could still hear his moans and throbbed to have his hands on her again.

  “There ya go,” he said stepping away far too soon. Olivia was suddenly chilled by his absence. Her skin screamed at the vacancy.

  She opened her eyes. Before her stood the sexiest man she had ever been with. Get a hold of yourself. “Thanks.” Olivia managed to get out. She had to get last night out of her head.

  “So what’s the plan here?” he asked, his suit still dripping wet.

  “I still have my suitcase in my car from the Sheraton. I am going to change before I get in the car. Maybe I have something you can wear just until you get to where ever you are staying,” she answered pathetically. Olivia knew how crazy she sounded but she was desperate not to get all this filth in her car.

  “Do you really think your tiny clothes are going to fit me?” he asked laughing and then started to strip his suit. He kept his eyes locked on her as he took off his jacket and slowly unbuttoned his shirt.

  “What are you doing? I haven’t even found you anything to wear yet!” she squealed and looked around to see if anyone was watching. No one was in sight. They were beside a gravel road in the middle of nowhere.

  “It’s nothing you haven’t already seen,” he answered, the look in his eyes set her on fire.

  “What if someone drove by?” she retorted and opened the trunk and began rifling through the suitcase. She had to look away from those abs. God he was cut. She heard his belt unfasten and her breath hitched. She searched frantically for something he could put on. She froze as she heard his pants hit the ground. Oh sweet Jesus. In desperation she pulled out a pair of pink sleep shorts that were a little big and a white V-neck sleep shirt.

  “Here!” she said holding the garments around the side of the car trying not to look at the glorious specimen of a man standing only in boxer shorts a few feet away. She stayed behind the trunk even as she heard his boxers hit the ground.

  The sound of his laughter killed her curiosity and she couldn’t help but look. The sight of his bare ass trying to squeeze into her pink shorts caused her to bust out laughing with him. They looked like little pink hot pants stretched over his muscular thighs and ass. Olivia bit her lip and couldn’t begin to hide her laughter. He made a show of stretching the little white T-shirt over his arms and chest.

  “Thanks for this,” he said sarcastically. “I’m going to be a sight walking into the Sheraton in these Barbie shorts and this Baby Gap T-shirt.”

  “Oh, God. I’m sorry,” she said still laughing. Quickly Olivia slipped out of her wet clothes and pulled on a pair of jeans and a tank she had in her bag. She put all their wet clothes in her reusable grocery bag and tossed it in the trunk.

  Dominic had already climbed in the car. Olivia climbed in and looked at him. She still couldn’t help laughing at his get up. “You look like a Ken Doll in Skipper’s clothes,” she said still laughing.

  “Thanks. You are laughing now but my bike is at your office. Maybe I’ll just come up for a cup of coffee when we get back,” he said with a wicked grin across his face.

  “You wouldn’t dare.” She seethed. “What if the officers see you?”

  “I don’t care what they think,” he said laughing and turned up her stereo. Katy Perry’s song “Roulette” came blasting back. He started dancing in the seat of her car as she drove, taunting her.

  “You are certifiably crazy,” she snapped and turned the radio back down.

  “Do you ever take a chance, Olivia?” He leaned in closer to her. “Or do you always play by the rules? Don’t you ever want to just let go?”

  Olivia took a deep breath. “We are professionals, Dominic. We have a job to do.” Her voice cracked as she spoke, her throat suddenly dry. She looked at him and knew she couldn’t possibly take him to the office or the hotel like that. “My apartment is not too far away. We can go there and get cleaned up while I wash your clothes. Strictly business.” She did her best to sound professional, but all she really wanted was to lose control.

  OLIVIA GLANCED AT the clock as they drove, it was almost two in the afternoon. She hadn’t heard from Piper yet. At a stoplight she dialed her cell. Poor Piper probably had a hangover from hell.

  “Hello.” A sleepy voice came across the car speakers.

  “Piper, honey, are you okay?” Olivia asked and shot a concerned look to Dominic. “Are you still in bed?”

  “My head is killing me.” Piper groaned. “Sorry I guess I just need to sleep it off. What time do you need to check out?” Olivia pictured her in the bed with her silk PJs and sleeping mask still on. Her head wrapped in a nest of drool and matted hair.

  “It’s two in the afternoon, sweetie. I got called to a case. I’m sorry I had to leave. When is your flight?” Olivia suddenly felt like the worst friend in history. Piper flew all this way to spend time with her.

  “Not till tomorrow. Thank goodness.” Piper yawned and whined as she stretched. “What are you doing for dinner.”

  “Whatever you would like, love,” Olivia answered. She could finish her work for the day and take Piper out for one last really nice dinner before she had to head out.

  “This is your town. Surprise me,” Piper answered sounding groggy again. She must have laid back down.

  “Okay, get your beauty sleep. I’ll pick you up at seven.” Olivia shook her head as Piper mumbled bye and they hung up. She turned to Dominic who was smiling thoughtfully at her.

  “You’re a good friend.” He noted.

  “Not really,” Olivia answered and stared out the window. “I wasn’t for a really long time . . . too long.” She pinched her lips together. Olivia looked up and caught a glimpse of Grace judging her in the rearview mirror and looked away. “We’re here.”

  They pulled through the gate. Olivia was thankful it was just a key code gate and not an actual guard to see the state of her passenger. They pulled into Olivia’s reserved space behind her first-floor apartment. She had lucked into this place. The upgraded one bedroom apartment had a spacious study that allowed her to set up an office at home as well. Olivia was able to work on cases into the wee hours if she wanted to. Even ten years later working was still preferable to sleeping.

  “Nice place,” Dominic observed as they got out and walked up the manicured walkway. He carried the shopping tote with their dirty clothes. As Olivia unlocked the door a couple of guys that lived in the next building jogged by.

  “Olivia. Love. Who is your friend?” Derrick asked with all the sass of a true drag queen. Olivia bit her lip to stifle a laugh.

  “Hey, Derrick! Hey, Michael! This is Dominic. He’s a model and I think he’s single,” Olivia called back and giggled devilishly as she opened the door.

  “You didn’t,” Dominic said quietly and smiled and waved at the two men. “Oh, you are going to pay for that when we get inside.” He scooped her up and carried her in the apartment shutting the door behind him.

  “We have to do dinner sometime!” Michael called as the door shut.

  “Was that really necessary?” he asked setting her down trapping her against the door.

  “What?” she asked playfully. “I’m not the one in the Barbie shorts. You look like a seventies disco queen.”

  “Not for long,” he answered and in one motion had the shirt off over his head and went for the shorts.

  “S
top! My windows are open!” Olivia commanded as she ran for the shades. “Go to the bathroom and get your shower!”

  “Oh no, darling, you wanted to put me on display. Just a piece of meat you could discard remember.” He slid the shorts off his hips and let them slide to the floor.

  Olivia stood open mouthed at the stunning man before her. Fuck he was beautiful. The room became unbearably warm. “The . . . the bathroom . . . is this way.” She struggled to say and led him through the living room around to the bathroom. He winked at her as he went in but did not shut the door. Olivia looked up at the ceiling and prayed for strength. She turned on her heels and put their clothes in the washer. She heard the water running. She stood there for what felt like an eternity but could not walk away. The only thing she wanted was to walk in that bathroom.

  “Olivia,” he called from the steamy room. “Are you just going to stand there or are you going to give in to the temptation?”

  “I’m not tempted by anything, including you,” Olivia lied and gripped the molding on the edge of the bathroom door. She should just walk away. This was a dangerous game. One she was sure to lose. She could see his silhouette through the curtain, steaming water cascading over every rock hard muscle. Fuck. She closed her eyes and stepped into the room. “This will not end well.”

  She took a step forward and then hesitated. Last night she didn’t know who he was. That could be forgiven. But now she had no excuses. If she crossed this line there was no going back. She was flirting with fire and there was no doubt she was going to get burned. She turned to run and a soapy but chiseled arm reached out of the shower and caught her wrist. He pulled her close water dripped down her arm and onto her chest.

  “Not so fast.” He pulled back the curtain exposing his full glory. Olivia took a deep breath and closed her eyes but didn’t try to pull away. The steam enveloped her. “Let yourself go, Olivia. Don’t fight it. Give in to me.”

  She opened her eyes and looked directly into his. The hunger in his wild green eyes devoured any restraint she had left. “You’re going to be the death of me.” She breathed and stepped into the tiled double shower fully clothed.