Justice in the Shadows
Page 23
“You keep odd hours.” The redhead approached. “I’m Maggie Collins, one of the CSIs.”
Sloan held out her hand. “J.T. Sloan.”
Maggie quirked a brow. “Jefferson? Jeremiah?...Jezebel?”
Laughing, Sloan shook her head. “Just Sloan.”
“Well, then, Just Sloan,” Maggie said with a smile, “this place is going to be hopping in about five minutes. There’s been a big pileup on the Schuylkill, and we’ve got two teams working the crash site. Flanagan will be here shortly.”
“I can’t leave right now.”
There was something in the dark edges of Sloan’s violet eyes that gave Maggie pause. After a moment’s deliberation, she turned, walked into the other room, and pulled her blue CSI nylon windbreaker off the back of her chair. Returning, she held it out. “Put this on, then, and stay in here. Everyone will be too busy jumping to Flanagan’s tune to pay you much mind.”
Sloan smiled at the affection in the other woman’s voice. “Thanks.”
“Should I ask what you’re doin’?”
“I’m digging for worms.”
“Ah, sure you are.” Maggie hesitated. “What Rebecca’s doin’, that’s not my business. But Flanagan, now...she is.”
Sloan studied the calm, steady eyes. “There’s nothing here to hurt her.”
Maggie nodded. “Good huntin’, then.”
“Thanks,” Sloan muttered under her breath. Her fingers returned to the keyboard; her mind engaged the data. She’d found the worm all right. Now what she needed was to discover who’d buried it.
*
“We have to stop meeting like this,” Catherine whispered as arms came around her from behind in the dark. She shifted to make room for her lover in bed.
“I’m sorry.” Rebecca nuzzled Catherine’s neck, sighing with fatigue and discouragement. “I tried to reach you earlier, and Joyce said you were still in session. Then I got busy and didn’t get another chance.”
Catherine pushed her hips back into the curve of Rebecca’s body and pulled Rebecca’s hand between her breasts. She murmured contentedly when Rebecca shifted a palm down to cradle her breast. “It’s okay. I missed you, though.”
“Me, too.” Rebecca felt Catherine’s nipple harden against the curve of her hand. It felt so good.
“Any progress?”
“Not much.” Rebecca kissed the warm spot below Catherine’s ear. “Something’s gotta break soon, though. I can feel it.”
“Mmm. Good.”
“It’s not always like this.”
Catherine placed her hand over the hand that held her breast and pressed lightly. “I’m not complaining.”
“I know. Thank you.”
“No need for thanks, but...”
Rebecca stiffened, expecting recriminations, but forced herself not to jump to conclusions. “But?”
“I would really, really like it if you could make it home one of these nights early enough to make love with me when I’m not half asleep.” Catherine rolled her hips into Rebecca’s pelvis. “I’m so much better then.”
“Hmm...” Rebecca rubbed her fingers over Catherine’s nipple. “Does that mean you’re too tired now?”
Catherine turned on her back and drew Rebecca on top of her. “Did I say that?”
*
“What did you say your name was?”
“Sandy.” Sandy turned her back on the guy at the end of the bar who was giving her the once-over and faced Trudy, the thin Asian girl from the video. “Lucy said maybe you could put me with this movie guy to make some fast cash. I...you know...need some quick medical assistance.”
Trudy looked away. “Lucy sent you?”
“Not exactly.” Sandy swiveled on her seat as a hand stroked her shoulder. It was the guy from the end of the bar. “Buzz off, will ya?”
“What’sa matter, honey? You too busy or somethin’?”
The guy moved his hand lower, brushing the side of her breast.
Sandy’s eyes narrowed and, without moving anything but her arm, she slid a hand up the inside of his leg and closed her hand around his balls. Then she squeezed, gently. “Well...”
He smiled.
She kept squeezing.
His smile turned to surprise, and then his eyes suddenly widened in shock. “Jesus,” he whispered desperately. “Let go.”
“I’m trying to have a conversation here.”
“Okay, okay.” His knees buckled, and he grabbed the edge of the bar. “Ah, Christ...please.”
His eyes started to tear; satisfied, Sandy released her hold. “Goodbye now.”
“Bitch,” he croaked, but his voice lacked any venom.
The girl with Sandy watched the stranger limp carefully away. “Aren’t you afraid he’ll be waiting outside for you?”
Sandy shrugged. “Most of the time they’re too drunk by then to do anything. But I’ll go out the back just in case.” She checked once more over her shoulder, saw him ease carefully onto a bar stool, and turned her attention back to Trudy. “Lucy just told me you’d done this video gig. No details. So—can you fix me up?”
“I don’t know.” Trudy fiddled with her hair. “I’m not a regular, you know? I filled in when some other girl got sick or something. They usually use their own girls in these movies.”
“You mean actresses?”
“Not hardly.” Trudy snorted. “Foreign girls, dancers and hookers mostly. I was working the same club with some of them, and that’s how I got that one job.”
“So can you put me with one of them?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Look, if you do, I’ll split the money with you.”
Trudy’s eyes widened. “No way.”
Sandy nodded. “It’d be worth it to me. I’m tired of blowing slimeballs like that guy over there for small change.”
“Yeah, you got that right.” Trudy picked at a nail. After a minute, she said, “I’ll ask around.”
“Hey, thanks.” Sandy tried not to look as happy as she felt. I earned my money tonight, Frye. “So let me give you my number, ’kay?”
When she left the bar on Delaware, it was almost four in the morning. Ordinarily, she would have gone over to the strip on Locust and tricked for another two hours in the dark alleys or front seats of parked cars. Tonight she headed home, hoping that Mitch, or Dell, would be there waiting.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Rebecca groaned and reached for the phone. “Frye.”
“It’s Sloan. I have to talk to you.”
“What time is it?”
“Five.”
“How important?”
“Very.”
“Ah, Christ. Okay.” Rebecca sat up and pushed the sheets aside. “Your place?”
“That’ll work. I’ll wake Jason.”
“You need the rest of the team?”
“It can wait till later.”
“Am I gonna like this?”
“Maybe.”
Catherine waited until Rebecca put down the phone. Voice fuzzy with sleep, she asked, “Everything okay?”
“Sloan has something.”
“Call me later.” She burrowed back into the pillow.
Rebecca smiled, walked around to Catherine’s side of the bed, and leaned down to kiss her cheek. Lips close to her lover’s ear, she whispered, “What’s the matter? Something tire you out last night?”
“Mmm.” Eyes closed, Catherine smiled at the memory. “Something.”
*
Mitch stood uncertainly before the door to 3B, listening intently for any sound from the other side.
“Sandy?” he called softly, tapping very gently. He waited a minute, then turned to go down the hall to his own apartment. The door behind him opened.
“Hey.”
Mitch spun around, heart racing. “Hi.”
“Where ya goin’?”
“I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Why not?”
“Well, you know...it’s late...early...whatever.”
Mitch nodded, trying not to look as hungry for her as he felt. “Yeah.”
“How was your night?” She didn’t move.
“Long.” He moved to the opposite side of the threshold and stretched an arm up along the frame, tilting his body toward hers but not touching her. An inch separated them, and he could feel her heat across the chasm, penetrating his clothes, soaking into his skin. His insides twisted he wanted her so bad.
“Did you go out with the boys?” Sandy asked casually as she lazily drew her fingers across her bare abdomen.
“Uh-huh.” Mitch’s throat was dry, his eyes riveted on the slow caress. “We...uh...hit a few places.”
“Did you score?” This time there was a slight edge to the question.
Softly, Mitch replied, “Not yet.”
Sandy reached out, curled her fingers around the waistband of his pants, and yanked him into the room. “Smart answer.”
She swung the door closed and then pushed him back against it with the weight of her body glued to his. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her mouth to his, and rubbed the tiny square of black fabric covering her groin over the swelling in his crotch. Her tongue was in his mouth, and as she sucked on his, she moved against him until she was so wet she could feel the dampness on her thighs.
“I’ve been so hot for you,” she breathed against his neck. “So...crazy hot.”
Mitch cupped Sandy’s butt and held her as she rode him, letting her have...take...do...whatever she wanted. She was going to make him come pretty soon just from the pressure of her thrusting hips, but he figured she knew that, because he couldn’t help groaning with pleasure and need.
“Unzip your fly,” Sandy gasped, pulling his T-shirt from his pants.
She raked her nails down his abdomen, her thighs braced against his. Then she pulled her tank top off as he opened his pants for her. She looked down, saw the full white Jockeys. She looked up and met questioning blue eyes, so filled with longing it made her heart ache. Gently, she took Mitch’s hands and brought them to her breasts. Moaning softly, she closed her eyes and bit her lip as the first touch of his fingers against her hard nipples sent pleasure streaking deep into her core.
“Oh,” Sandy moaned, straddling a rock-hard thigh and sliding her slick skin over the cool leather. “You make me want to come so bad.”
“Sandy,” Mitch whispered, “I want—oh, God...” He leaned his head back against the door and fought to stay standing as Sandy reached into his pants. He felt the force of her fingers on the outside of his underwear, gripping him in her palm and slowly, rhythmically squeezing.
“Can you feel that?” Sandy murmured. “Baby?”
“Yes,” Mitchell groaned as the insistent pressure massaged her clitoris.
“Enough to come?” Sandy watched the muscles in Mitchell’s neck strain and a pulse race erratically the length of her throat.
“Oh, yeah...Sandy...” Mitchell gave a small cry as Sandy removed her hand and the tantalizing pressure disappeared. “Please...I’m almost there.”
“Next time,” Sandy reached beneath everything inside Mitchell’s briefs until she found skin, then slid a finger on either side of Mitchell’s hard clitoris, “wear your working gear.”
Mitchell couldn’t answer. Sandy’s fingers, tugging and stroking her quivering, poised-to-explode flesh, were quickly bringing her to orgasm. With her last bit of will, she pushed her hand down Sandy’s belly and inside her bikinis.
“Oh,” Sandy cried in surprise, instantly ready to come. “Dell...Dell, put your hand inside me. Oh—hurry, baby.”
Shuddering, Mitchell climaxed as she slipped gently inside Sandy’s warm depths. Hips bucking, she wrapped her free arm around Sandy’s waist and held them both upright as Sandy buried her face in the curve of Mitchell’s neck, clinging to her and crying out her pleasure, over and over.
In the midst of her orgasm, Sandy instinctively followed the lift of Mitchell’s hips and entered her, pushing Mitchell to yet another, deeper, climax.
“Oh God, Sandy,” Mitchell moaned, “you’re so good...so good.”
“I felt you come,” Sandy whispered in awe, trembling as the last waves of her own orgasm faded. She moved her fingers carefully and sensed tender muscles ripple in response. “Oh my God...Dell.”
Mitchell swallowed, trying to speak. Finally, “You’ll make me come again if you do that.”
“Yeah?” Sandy asked weakly, finding it hard to stand. Leaning into Mitchell for support, she tested the theory and smiled as Mitchell jerked and moaned softly. “How long can you go?”
Mitchell rested her cheek on the top of Sandy’s head, shivering. “Don’t know...first time for this.”
“Yeah?” Sandy kissed Mitchell’s neck, enormously pleased. “Good.”
“I gotta...lie down soon,” Mitchell gasped. “And you gotta stop.”
“Mmm.” Sandy lifted her hips into Mitchell’s palm. “You’re still inside me.”
Mitchell smiled, eyes closed. “Yeah.”
“I like it.”
There was a note of wonder in Sandy’s voice that made Mitchell’s heart turn over. “I’m crazy about you, you know.”
“Dell.” Sandy rested her palm against Mitchell’s cheek and stroked her gently. Carefully, she withdrew her fingers from between Mitchell’s thighs and immediately wanted to return. “You’re such a sap.”
Mitchell smiled. She loved the way Sandy caressed her face and curled into her, so soft and warm. “I’m gonna come out, okay?”
“Uh-huh,” Sandy murmured, lifting her hips away, feeling Mitchell slowly leave her. “That was so...so...”
“Yeah. It was.” Mitchell sighed and opened her eyes. She looked down into Sandy’s sated face and kissed her gently. “You ready for bed?”
“Mmm. Okay.”
“I should shower,” Mitchell said tiredly. “I smell like a fucking barroom.”
“I don’t care,” Sandy replied, taking Mitchell’s hand and pulling her toward the open sofa bed. “Shower later. I want to go to sleep with you naked next to me, and you just wiped me out.”
“Me?” Mitchell laughed. “Jesus, you were the one who jumped me.”
Sandy smirked. “I did, didn’t I?”
As they undressed, Mitchell laid her drag gear aside and asked quietly, “Did you mean what you said earlier, about Mitch wearing the working gear?”
Naked, Sandy crawled into bed. She watched Mitchell remove the chest wrap. “You have great tits, you know?”
Mitchell blushed. “Thanks.”
“I get turned on looking at you with no clothes on.”
“Sandy, jeez. Don’t you ever get enough?” But Mitchell was grinning as she slid into bed. She turned on her side, drew a finger down the center of Sandy’s chest, and cupped her breast. Sandy’s nipple hardened immediately. “You are so incredibly sexy,” she breathed in awe.
“You make me incredibly hot. Mitch makes me hot, too,” Sandy said quietly, edging her leg between Mitchell’s thighs. “Oh, baby, you’re still so wet.”
“No foolin’.” Mitchell kissed the tip of Sandy’s chin. “About Mitch—”
“I like playing with him. I like watching your eyes when I feel him up.”
The image hit hard and Mitchell jerked, her clitoris stiffening. “Oh, man...here I go again.”
Sandy laughed. “So, yeah, I wouldn’t mind if Mitch was packing a working dick.”
“Have you ever, you know...done it with one?”
“Uh-uh.” Sandy shook her head. “You?”
“Uh-uh.” Mitchell drew a deep breath. “But I wouldn’t mind...sometime.”
Sandy put her hand between Mitchell’s legs and held her gently. Sighing, she closed her eyes and snuggl
ed her cheek against Mitchell’s shoulder. Drowsily she murmured, “Between you, me, and Mitch, we oughta be able to figure it out.”
“Most likely.” Mitchell nodded, holding her tight. “Good night, honey.”
“Good night, baby.”
*
Sheltered in the warm curve of Mitchell’s body, Sandy awoke to the sensation of fingers softly stroking her cheek. She lay unmoving, her head tucked beneath Mitchell’s chin, unused to the strange experience of being next to someone and not being afraid. Lightly, she brushed her palm over Mitchell’s chest. “How come you’re not sleeping?”
“Couldn’t,” Mitchell whispered, nuzzling Sandy’s hair. “Sorry.”
“S’okay.” Sandy pressed closer, one leg and an arm draped across Mitchell’s body. “Something wrong?”
Mitchell shook her head.
Sandy nudged her with her chin. “Dell...”
“I’m worried about you working for Frye.”
Sandy tensed. “Would you rather I gave blowjobs instead?”
“No.” Mitchell continued to stroke her. “I’d rather you worked at...McDonald’s.”
“Oh, puh-leeze.” Sandy closed her eyes, her heart racing, waiting for what she knew was coming next. You’re thinking about what I do when I’m not with you, aren’t you? I’m going to lose you, aren’t I, rookie?
“I know, I know.” Mitchell kissed the top of the blond head resting on her shoulder. “I’m just so nuts about you, I can’t stand the idea that you might get hurt.”
“Jesus, Dell. You’re a cop. Ever think you might get hurt, and that I might not like that?”
“That’s different.”
“Oh yeah?” Sandy snorted, but felt a bit of the panic ease. Mitchell was still holding her, still touching her gently, her voice still lazy and warm. She hadn’t gone away. “Why is it different? Because you’re so big and strong and I’m just a girl?”
Mitchell laughed. “No, honey. Because I’m twice your size and I have a gun.”
“Big deal.” Sandy tilted her head and kissed Mitchell’s jaw. “Besides, if I work for Frye, I don’t have to hook regularly.”
“Now there’s a devil’s bargain,” Mitchell said darkly.