Code Redhead - A Serial Novel

by Sharon Kleve

  “That’s okay…I can pay,” she quickly added.

  “You’ll make my night if you let me buy a beautiful woman a drink.”

  Beautiful? Aiven glanced behind her to see if he’d made a mistake and was talking to someone else.

  He smiled and continued, “If you noticed, there are three drinks. I ordered one for myself too, though martinis aren’t my drink of choice. The offer doesn’t come with any catch, if you don’t want to talk to me, you don’t have to. I’m a big boy, I’ll get over it. But, I’m pretty charming if you give me a chance.”

  Aiven was about to say no, but then thought about Sara stiffing her with the tab. Why not let a handsome stranger pick up the bill?

  “Thanks,” she finally said.

  He dropped cash on the bar. “Coleman.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “That’s my name, this is where you tell me your name or tell me to buzz off. Which is it?” He grinned.

  Wow. There was a flutter in her stomach that hadn’t seen the light of day in years. She checked behind her again, still not sure if he was talking to her. Just as she started to talk, the music paused, and she was thankful she didn’t have to yell.

  “Aiven.”

  Coleman took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Aiven. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. I love your red hair.” He touched a strand that trailed along over her arm. “Where did you get it?”

  “What if I said a box?” she asked.

  “I wouldn’t believe you.” He leaned in and dropped his voice, “I know a true redhead when I see one.”

  Aiven felt the heat of his body pressed against her as someone pushed by them. Lordy, he smelled good. Musky. Outdoorsy. All man. Sara’s suggestion to let’s party more flashed through her mind. With Coleman, a party of two would be nice.

  “My mother’s family. They’re Irish and Scottish,” she finally said pulling her mind out of the gutter and back into the conversation.

  “If you ask me, there just aren’t enough redheads around. If there were, I am sure the world would be a happier place—or at least I’d be happier. What do you do for a living, Aiven?”

  “I’m a scientist,” she stated. Small talk was good. She was much better at this than listening to straight pick-up lines. “Plant Chemicals. I’m a science geek. It’s much more exciting than when I talk about it.”

  “Plant Chemicals,” he repeated. “It actually sounds intriguing.”

  “Yeah, right.” She laughed. “And you would be the first guy in the history of civilization to say that. I’m not sure I believe you. What’s your story? What do you do?”

  “I’m in…security.” He looked down at the drink. “Not nearly as exciting. Finally got a night off. Since your friend’s nowhere in sight, and I bought the drinks, let’s say I drink mine with you and then we can decide what to do with her drink whenever she gets back? I might drink both.”

  “We could do that.” It was fun to flirt and talk with a drop-dead gorgeous guy. Aiven lifted the glass, but paused and sniffed the gin. Huh,…that’s weird. It didn’t smell like gin, but it was colorless. It looked all right.

  “Here’s to new friends,” Coleman said, as he raised his glass, and clinked it against hers.

  Aiven put her hand over his and his gaze popped up. “Wait…don’t drink that.” She lowered her glass and sniffed. The second martini had the same faint smell of tomatoes.

  “Really?” His voice was tinged with disapproval “You changed your mind, and now you’re going to save my drink and your friend’s while she leaves you alone here at the bar?” He blew out a breath and set the glass back on the bar. “My mistake. Have all three.” He made a dismissive motion with his hand.

  “No, that’s not what I mean. I well…” Wow, this was a date breaker. Why did she always have to be a scientist first? “I just thought…”

  Sara interrupted her and pushed between them. “There’s my drink!” she exclaimed. Tipping one martini up, she gulped it down. She grinned. “I guess I was thirsty from dancing. Thanks, Aiven. You don’t mind do you?” Sara grabbed the second glass and downed Aiven’s martini too.

  “Wait…Sara.” But Aiven couldn’t stop her.

  “It’s going to be a fun night,” Sara laughed, but a second later a look of surprise floated across her face it grew dark, and she clutched her stomach. A second later she doubled over and fell to her knees. Gasping for breath, Sara fell the rest of the way onto the floor.

  Coleman pushed a bar stool over causing it to topple as he tried to make space for his large body and the fallen girls. “Someone call 911!” he shouted toward anyone close by. “Had she been drinking before she got here?” he asked Aiven. “Could she have alcohol poisoning or be ODing on drugs?”

  “We came straight from work. Our company has a strict no drug policy, and I don’t think Sara drank any alcohol until she was here.” Aiven crouched beside Coleman and took Sara’s hand.

  Sara sucked in a few more ragged breaths and then was still.

  “No. No. No,” Aiven repeated, still not believing her eyes. She squeezed harder. “Sara!” she yelled. “Sara?”

  Coleman rolled Sara to her back and began CPR. He continued with chest compressions and then gave Sara a life breath.

  He stopped abruptly after giving Sara the first breath and wiped at his mouth. He quickly rose, grabbed for a water glass, dipped a cloth napkin in the water, and vigorously wiped his mouth. He then downed the water before reaching for another and drank that too. “Shit,” he swore as he eyed the full martini still sitting full on the bar.

  Aiven stood shakily and grabbed the edge of the bar to keep her legs from buckling.

  Her head swam. Black dots threatened her vision, and she thought she would faint. The club became extremely quiet, and a woman screamed.

  This can’t be happening.

  Coleman grabbed her arm. “You stopped me from drinking the martini…what was in my drink?” he asked.

  Aiven shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “You did know,” His squeezed even tighter.

  “I didn’t. When I sniffed my drink, there was something off about it. Then I stopped you from drinking and smelled yours. It had the same odor.”

  “Of what?” Coleman demanded again.

  “I told you, I don’t know. Weird. Like tomatoes.”

  Pulling his phone from his pocket, Coleman’s gaze searched the room. The bartender’s face was pale as he came toward them. The crowd around Sara’s body grew. His finger touched the screen, but then he swore again, and he shoved it back in his pocket. “Someone just tried to poison me, and I need to find out what I am dealing with, and I think that you might be the only one with answers. But, we have to get out of here.”

  “We? No.” Aiven’s eyes widened, and her heart raced as she started to try and pull free from his grip. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” She looked around, trying to decide if she should call out for help.

  Coleman stared at her for a long moment, before he gentled his voice, “Listen. I’m not accusing you of anything. Dear God, you almost drank it too. But, if the people I deal with saw us together, we could both be in danger. Let me make sure that we’re both out of harm’s way, and I just need some answers. Let me ask a few more questions, then you can go home or go to the police.”

  “Are you the police?” she asked barely above a whisper.

  “No…I am not the police.”

  “Maybe we should wait for them.”

  “No. We shouldn’t. I know you don’t know me from Adam, and I don’t want to force you to come with me, but, please, at this second, trust me. We have to go.”

  Looking down at her dead co-worker on the floor, her gaze traveled back to Coleman. There was something about him that made her want to trust him. He said he wasn’t going to force her to leave, but he seemed adamant in his concern about her safety.

  Aiven gave a sharp nod. As she grabbed her purse, Coleman already had her arm. He poured the contents of
the full martini glasses off onto the floor “I need this.” He clutched the glass in one hand.

  “Isn’t that evidence?” she asked.

  “I need it more than the police do right now.” He took her arm.

  They looked back to see two paramedics hurry through the front door of the club. “We have to get out of here,” he growled out. “It’s not safe.”

  “Safe from who?”

  “I’ll explain as soon as we’re out,’ Coleman said as they headed for the back door.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Coleman was caught completely off guard. This was something that never happened. He’d been involved in over seven high profile undercover criminal take-downs and never had a screw-up.

  Night off. Yep, this is what usually happened when he tried to distance himself from his job. That’s why his relationships only involved a one and done. A few hours in the arms of a woman that made him forget his chosen profession.

  There was a dead woman on the floor of the club. He was a walking time bomb. What made him think that he could pretend to live a ‘normal’ life and talk to a pretty girl? He was enjoying his conversation so much with Aiven, he’d almost forgotten the only reason he went to the club was a lead in for hot and sweaty sex afterward. Not that he would have minded that with Aiven in the least. She was a knockout, but she had brains and beauty. Something he seldom found in a club like Sphere. He wanted to spend time and talk with her and not just get her in his bed. Now, he had to focus on keeping them both alive.

  He looked back toward the alley to see if they were being followed. If Malhotra or any of his assailants were close, he’d kill them with his bare hands. Which he’d have to. Which reminded him, never go anywhere again without your gun. Dumb shit.

  Aiven glanced up at him, as he hurried her along. Her face was pale and her body trembled in shock. “It’ll be okay,” he said barely above a whisper. Why should he make promises he wasn’t sure that he could uphold? But it was all he could think of to say.

  He placed an arm around her back and tucked her against him. The contact was a bit more intimate than it should be. The heat of her body emanated through the thin fabric of her evening dress. They didn’t know each other, but, when Coleman felt her tremble, he wanted to protect her. Hold her safe. Wrap himself around her. She was in danger because of him.

  When they reached his car, he remotely opened the doors of his gray Jeep. Reaching in the back seat, he yanked out his coat. Her gaze was distant. He’d seen this before with victims in shock.

  “I want you to put on my coat,” he said.

  “I have a coat.”

  “I’m sure you did, but, it’s not here, and you’re cold. Put on mine.” He didn’t have time to argue.

  “Was that an offer or an order?” When she got no response, she finally nodded and let him slip it over her shoulders. He pulled it closed and tucked it around her. Coleman hoped the coat wasn’t icy cold after being in his back seat. He caught a whiff of cigarettes from the last meeting he’d had at the warehouse.

  He opened the passenger door of his car.

  “I have a car, it’s in a lot around the corner,” she said and stopped before getting in.

  “A few questions. Please, get in the car. Two minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”

  Aiven looked back at the club and then slipped in. He slammed the car’s door closed. Coleman got in his side and reached in the back seat for his gun. Aiven’s eyes widened, and she grasped for the door’s handle.

  “I did that out of order, didn’t I?” Coleman muttered. He shoved his hand under the front seat, and then lifted his badge, quickly flipping it open. “I’m a DEA agent. Here’re my credentials.”

  Her gaze flicked over the badge and ID. Aiven’s hand dropped from the car door.

  He started the car. “We’re not going to go far, but I have to get both of us out of here in case someone is tracking me.” They swerved out of the lot, as he watched the rearview mirror. The street was vacant. After driving a half mile, he pulled into a deserted lot between two old warehouses. He put the Jeep in park, cut the engine, and turned to face her.

  “I’ve been working for the past few months deep undercover, and I thought I was clear. Safe. But, someone…somehow, must have made me. These guys don’t mess around. I’m not sure why they didn’t just shoot me, poison isn’t their style.

  “But, Sara drank it, and now she’s dead,” Aiven spoke in a monotone.

  “Yes. I’m sorry.”

  “I think it was in all three of our drinks. Why would they poison all three of us if it was just you they wanted?”

  “They don’t take chances on a missed hit.” He shook his head and rubbed his temple where a headache was grinding down.

  “Why would whoever is after you care if they saw us talking? Why would I be in danger?”

  “They don’t care. Anyone I’ve had contact with could become a target. You’re disposable if they are after me and think you’re linked somehow.”

  “So, you decided to bring me into the fun and games for the night?” Aiven’s gaze was pained, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

  “Yes. No. Shit,” Coleman muttered, and closed his eyes for a second to gain his composure. His jaw was tense wanting to defend himself, but instead, he said, “You’re right, I don’t know what I was thinking. I would have never have been at the club if I thought that I, or anyone else, could be in danger. You have to believe me.”

  “Believe you? Are you going to say that same thing to Sara?” Aiven glared at him. “Oh, you can’t, because she’s dead.”

  “Fair enough.” Coleman twisted the gold ring on his right hand. It was embellished with the Marine’s crest—the only piece of jewelry he wore. The ring reminded him of the past. If they aren’t shooting white phosphorus shells at you, then buck up and deal with it. But tonight, his Marine mantra didn’t fit. “I can’t bring back your friend, but tonight I can keep you safe...or die trying.”

  Coleman hated to see her cry and hated even more that he was the cause. Pulling a pack of tissues from the console, he handed it to her. He could take the blame later, for now, he had to find out what the hell happened. “I need to know. Now. Why did you stop me from drinking my drink?”

  “It was off.”

  “You said that earlier. What the hell does that mean? How did you know there was poison in it?”

  She looked at him and leveled her gaze. “I didn’t know that there was poison in it,” she hissed. “The field I work in —ˮ

  “Plant chemicals?”

  “Plant chemical biology. Plants, obviously, have different scents. When I lifted the martini to my nose, it smelled faintly like tomatoes. I thought maybe tomato juice or something was mixed in, but it didn’t look red. I stopped you because at first, I thought the bartender had messed up the drinks. After spending thirty plus dollars, they should give us martinis, right?” Aiven wiped at her nose.

  “That was the reason you stopped me from drinking my drink?”

  “All the drinks had the same odor. As I said a million times before, I don’t know what was in the drink, but unless it was a Bloody Mary, a martini should not smell like tomatoes.” She threw up her hands to accentuate her point.

  “With Sara’s death, I have to assume that it was poison. What could it be? Coleman asked.

  “If the poison is plant based, I can find out in my lab.”

  “And what if it’s not?”

  “Then it looks like you’d best go to your people at your labs.” Her mouth was set into a thin line.

  That had been his original plan, to take the empty glass to the labs, but the labs weren’t open now. He could try and call someone in, but at this hour? And if he was nothing else, impatient was his middle name. It was way past midnight. If he stayed with Aiven, she might be able to give him a few answers, and he could also keep her safe.

  “Where’s your lab?”

  “I can’t get into my building at this time of the night, but I have a bunch o
f equipment back at my condo. I think with what I have I can determine what this poison might be.”

  “You have equipment at your condo?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “As I told you back at the bar, I’m a geek. What else am I supposed to do with my free time?”

  “I could think of a few things.” He stopped himself and bit his tongue. “But, tonight I’m happy that you’re a geek. I happen to like geeks over blonde airheads.”

  “Could that also be redheads with a Masters in Science?”

  “Yes.” He grew serious. “I don’t want you to be afraid if you take me back to your place. I wouldn’t try anything, but why would you trust me?”

  “Instinct. I wouldn’t still be in your car if I was afraid of you. I also had my hand on the mace canister in my purse just in case. But, now that the shock is wearing off, I want to find out what killed Sara as much if not more than you do.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Aiven flipped on the lights at her condo. She took off Coleman’s coat and then asked, “Do you want me to hang it up?”

  He nodded and Aiven put the coat on a hook. She walked in and kicked off her heels. Her arches were killing her reminding her why she didn’t wear these torture devices often.

  “I need to feed my cat.” She tipped her head toward the kitchen, not meeting his gaze. Aiven strode past Coleman knowing full well he’d follow. She opened a can of food and scooped the contents out onto a plate. Ziggy meowed and wound around Coleman’s legs. He squatted and scratched the cat under the chin.

  “I miss my cats,” he stated, as he picked Ziggy off the floor.

  “You don’t have your cats anymore?”

  “My sister took them for me. I had two. They were strays that lived out in the alley behind my apartment. Somehow they ended up at the end of my bed one night when I left the window open. I couldn’t throw them out. It was the middle of winter. But, also, I thought after that, I couldn’t have pets with my job. Always gone.”