He nodded his head, but appeared to be miles away. His face was relaxed, yet she could see his temple moving as if he was clenching his jaw shut.
“What type of backup do you have on this case?” His tone had changed. She turned out of his embrace to face him. Did she miss something?
“What do you mean? I am the only official agent on this case. I’m supposed to gather intelligence only.”
Again, he nodded.
“What does that mean?” she asked again, feeling the tension rising between them.
“Camille, I don’t want to argue with you again.” He read her clearly. She knew what he was getting at and she did not like it. If it were a man alone on a case no one would question or second guess their choice.
“Who’s arguing? I simply asked a question. Do you plan to answer it?” she snapped.
He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. He did not look in her direction. She watched his every move. She could have sworn she heard him counting to ten.
“Camille, please don’t blow this out of proportion.” He faced her with his hands up as if trying to coaxing her. “I am asking a basic question because I don’t understand why an individual agent would be assigned to a case of this gravity.”
She crossed her hands over her chest. He reached for her, uncrossed her arms, held her hands and looked into her eyes.
“I may not know much about conflict diamonds, but I know these groups. They don’t take too kindly to people messing with their money. And if they have the associations necessary to move this enormous volume of diamonds into the States that must mean they have some big people in their pockets.”
He paused as she let his assessment sink in. Camille could feel his support and understood his concern, but she had it under control.
“I appreciate your concern.”
He nodded and glanced at his watch. “You have to get to work and I have to get to the airport.” Marc stood and pulled Camille to her feet. They stood inches apart as his scent filled her nose. She looked up to find his eyes intently focused on her.
He pulled her closer and in a hush whisper he asked, “Will you do me a favor?”
Not trusting her voice, she nodded.
“Be careful. You have gone from gathering intelligence to having a dead body. I have a hunch that things are going to get crazy.”
She felt safe in his arms, but his words caused a shiver to run through her.
“I’ll be careful. Speaking of work, I heard from Ashanta last night. She left me a message. I plan to talk with her this morning at work.”
He nodded. The heat from his gaze had her rattled, yet he seemed unaffected.
“Okay. Have you heard from Derek?” he asked while running the backside of his fingers across her cheek.
Her eyes slid close and she breathlessly replied, “No, but he’s usually quiet until he has something important to share.”
He leaned forward and softly kissed her on the mouth. He did not rush it and neither did she. He brought their bodies closer together and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He rested his hands on her hips and continued to kiss her.
He pulled back and kissed her once again, quickly on the mouth. He let go and she stepped back.
He walked to the front door. She unlocked it and ran her hand leisurely down his arm. “Travel safely.”
“I will. Call me if you need me.” She opened the door and he stepped out and stood on her porch. His expression was closed, but in his eyes Camille could see the remnants of the kissed they shared.
He paused in silence as if willing her to agree.
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye, babe I’ll call you when I land.”
He kissed her cheek again and left her standing in the doorway, puzzled by what they were getting themselves into.
Chapter 10
Camille lifted her hand and ran her finger across her lips. They still tingled from Marc’s kiss and she smiled from the memory while looking around the room. The boardroom buzzed as the IJDC department heads waited for Saul to call the meeting to order.
The seat to her right was still empty. She’d left the chair vacant for Ashanta. She glanced at her watch expecting the meeting to begin within minutes. Camille pulled out her cell phone and texted Ashanta: Where are you? She turned off her ringer and placed the phone on the table in front of her so she would see the light flash when Ashanta responded.
The seat at the head of the table was also still vacant as they drank coffee and chatted around the black lacquer conference table. She glanced toward the conference room door. Saul must be planning to make a grand entrance. She chuckled at her own joke.
Camille knew he harbored ill feelings for his father, it was evident in the awkward way the two avoided one another. She only wondered what changes the company and its employees should expect under new leadership.
Camille stood and walked to the coffee bar. She poured a fresh cup of coffee and added the cream and sugar.
“Excuse me,” she heard as someone tried to move closer to the coffee urn. Camille slid over, making room and looked toward the husky voice. She didn’t recognize it and she knew all the department executives.
“Sure.” She looked up to find herself staring into the darkest eyes she’d ever seen. She wiped her hands along her skirt and extending it with her introduction.
“Hello, I don’t believe we’ve met before, I’m Camille Carmichael.”
“Nice to meet you, Talib Kamwi.”
He had nearly perfect white teeth that radiated against his dark brown skin. She returned his smile as they shook hands. She waited as he poured his coffee, noticing that he did not stop to add condiments.
“Mmmm…that’s good.” She said to herself, unaware of his lingering presence.
They shared an awkward laugh. He started to talk right when the room fell silent. They stopped and noticed Saul walking toward the head of the conference table.
They exchanged a nod as Camille moved to her seat. She opened her portfolio and glanced to the back of the conference room hoping to see Ashanta come in…but she didn’t. She felt someone pulled the chair out and sit in the vacant seat, it was Talib. She moved her chair over a little.
He smiled. She returned it and turned to face Saul.
“As you all may know, my father passed away over the weekend. The Houston Police Department is uncertain what occurred, although we are sure that he passed in his sleep.
“We appreciate your flowers and condolences. However, I think we would all agree that he would want us to take good care of International Jewelry Distribution Company.
“With his passing, I will serve as CEO and in my place I will appoint an interim president of international accounts. I’d like to introduce Talib Kamwi.” He extended his hand toward Talib as the executives clapped. Talib stood and politely nodded.
Saul continued, “He is familiar with the company and has over fifteen years experience in international jewelry trading. Maybe we can convince him to stick around.”
The two shared an awkward chuckle and Camille found it odd. Saul made a gawky attempt to adjust his tie. Her eyes flashed to Talib and he appeared unaffected. She wondered what that was about.
“I don’t know about that. I love my home, but I’m happy to stand in and help you in your time of need,” Talib said as he took his seat.
Camille leaned to her right and whispered, “Congratulations.”
He moved closer and whispered, “Thank you.”
The tone of his voice made him sound close, almost too close. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She looked at him, feeling uncomfortable. They locked eyes, Talib winked and redirected his attention to Saul.
Camille followed his lead. Her body faced Saul, but her mind was turning around the details that were unfolding before her. Saul was taking the president’s seat and bringing in a stranger to fill his role, which meant she would report to Talib. Her first task would be to call Derek and have Talib looked into.
A half hour later people began leaving the conference room and heading back to work. Camille stood close to the exit, waiting for the herd of people to move. She was talking when she heard Saul call after her. She would have loved to ignore him.
“Camille, can I see you in about thirty minutes?” His fake smile reminded her of the Grinch. Personal feeling aside she knew something was up with the two of them. She planned to keep her eyes open.
“Yes, should I come by your office?” They both stood facing her. Talib appeared relaxed and confident while Saul had one hand in his pocket while the other played with the end of his tie.
“Yes, meet me in my office. Thank you.” He turned back to Talib, as if dismissing her. The two were as opposite as night and day. Talib’s dark skin and prominent features made Saul’s all-American appeal seem dull and almost nonexistent. His sandy brown hair with natural highlights made his pale skin seem nearly translucent.
She knew he had caught her staring when Talib sent a gentle nod her way without ending his conversation with Saul. Camille stiffened. His facial expression did not change, but she saw a glimmer of light in his eyes.
* * *
So, that’s Camille. Talib listened to Saul’s nervous chatter as he watched Camille leave the room. She reminded him of someone, but he could not quite put his finger on it. He hated Saul’s endless talking. Once the room cleared, he closed the space between them and Saul snapped his mouth shut. Talib found it hilarious that he was such a wimp. He knew from experience that men like Saul were all talk.
“How about we get to the point?” Talib ordered as he stood a mere inch away from Saul. He towered over Saul by nearly half a foot. He liked seeing a grown man reduced to a mumbling idiot.
“Yes, yes. Would you like to have a seat?” He gestured toward the table.
“No, thank you. I like seeing you sweat.” Talib said with a spine-chilling smile.
Saul shifted his weight from one leg to the other. “Hum…okay. What is it that you’re looking for?”
“It’s simple, Saul. I want my money. I sent you diamonds worth a half million and my bank account is empty. Why is that, Saul?”
Saul tried to answer but Talib raised his hand, halting his attempt to respond to the rhetorical question.
Saul inserted his finger into the collar of his shirt as Talib watched the beads of sweat streaming down his face. He could care less. He wanted his money and he would get it or they all would die.
With that settled, he decided to give Saul a break, just for a moment, but not without making a point. With a heavy hand, he gripped Saul’s shoulder, added a little pressure and leaned in close to his ear.
“Let’s make sure we have an understanding,” Talib said.
Saul nervously nodded.
“I have no issue with killing you where you stand, but I would hate to do that to such a dear friend.” He laughed at his own joke. Apparently, Saul did not find the humor in his statement as he stood stiff as a board. “So, find my money and I’ll leave you alone and we can resume our agreement. No love lost.”
He landed two bone-crushing pats on Saul’s back. Saul winced.
“Now, let’s go and get ready for our meeting with Camille.”
Talib turned and exited the conference room with Saul on his heels.
* * *
Camille searched her cell phone for Derek’s number as she marched into her office, closing the door behind her. Derek answered on the second ring.
“Lewis.”
She could hear the strain in his voice. “Have you received any word about Harold?”
She paced the office floor, listening to Derek share the results of the police report. The police suspected drugs were the cause of Harold’s death. Camille stopped mid-stride. Drugs? Her hand rested on her chest in attempt to slow her racing heart.
“What type of drugs are we talking about here?”
Derek was awaiting the results of the autopsy. She sat behind her desk. This case was turning into a runaway train and she did not know how to stop it.
“Camille,” he interrupted her thoughts, “I need you to hear me good.”
She nodded as if he could see her.
He continued, “Be careful. I have no reason to believe your identity has been compromised, but this death seems out of place. Do you think he engaged in recreational drug usage?”
“No.”
“Do you have any other reason to believe that someone would want him dead?”
“No.” She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. She had to find the missing piece, her mind immediately moved to Ashanta…or Saul?
She heard a light knock on her door and it opened before Camille had a chance to respond. It was Talib.
“Dad, I have to go.” She nodded her head as if deep in conversation. She lifted her hands and shrugged her shoulders as if apologizing for being tied up.
He mouthed, I’ll come back.
She nodded. He walked out, closing the door behind him.
“I have to go.” she said to Derek. Then she remembered the reason for her call. “I have a meeting with Saul, but I need you to check on two things for me. First, I haven’t heard from or seen Ashanta. Second, we have an interim president of international accounts. His name is Talib Kam-wai.”
She spoke into the phone a few octaves above a whisper.
“Do you know how to spell his name?”
“No, but I’ll see what I can find out from Saul and call you later tonight.”
They talked a few minutes longer before disconnecting the call. Camille stood to leave the office when her phone rang again.
“Hello.”
“I’m home.”
“Marc?” Her statement sounded more like an airy question.
“Yes, are you expecting someone else?” He asked with a light chuckle.
“No, look, I’m heading to a meeting.” Hearing his voice made a ping of awareness move through her body and she did not sound like herself. Her feelings were foreign and she did not have time to think past getting him off the phone.
“Okay. I’ll call you later tonight.”
“Okay. Bye.”
How did her life get turned upside down in a matter of days? Shaking her head, she stood and walked down the hall. It was time to meet with Saul.
* * *
He sat comfortably in front of Saul’s desk. The office reeked money. He had a solid dark cherry wood ensemble, with matching bookshelves lining the perimeter of the room. The furniture that occupied the far side of his office included a chocolate leather couch, wing chairs, coffee table, end tables, and a Tiffany antique lamp.
Talib stopped his visual tour at Saul’s large, oversized desk. Two chairs faced the desk, one of which he occupied. He leaned forward and picked up a picture. From his peripheral vision, he noticed Saul tense up, which made the identity of the woman in the picture more intriguing. The sterling silver frame seemed to weigh a ton, monogrammed with love in script. The woman bore into him with hazel-green eyes.
“She’s beautiful.” Talib wanted to gauge Saul’s reaction and to learn the identity of the woman.
“Thank you,” he replied.
Talib heard the tightness in his voice and lifted his head to look into Saul’s eyes.
“Is this your wife?” Talib watched his eyes widen and his nostrils flare.
“No.”
“Really? I hope that you’ll introduce us during my visit.”
Ignoring his statement, Saul asked, “How long do you intend to stay?”
“Long enough to get my money.”
“I told you I sent your money to the usual account.”
“I don’t have it. I suggest you contact your accounting department and find it because I only plan to play nice for a short period of time. After that, I will not be responsible for my actions.” Talib said with a smile.
He did not like Saul, but their relationship was financially beneficial and although he did not like having to travel to the Unite
d States, it was necessary. You didn’t casually misplace a half million dollars. He hoped for Saul’s sake that it was a mix up.
“Saul?” A woman’s voice traveled through the intercom on the desk phone.
Saul reached over and pushed a button. “Yes, Linda.”
“Camille is here to see you.”
“Thank you Linda, please ask her to give me a few minutes. I’ll buzz you when I’m ready.”
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