by Stacy-Deanne
“Hey.” Alexis sat back and looked at her. “You’re my best friend, right?”
Penelope gripped the armrest. “I always worry when you ask me that.”
“You’re one of a few people I can trust in this town.” Alexis rubbed the steering wheel. “I know no matter what happens you always got my back.”
“Okay, now I’m getting worried.” Penelope chuckled, gaping. “What’s this about?”
“I need your help probably more than I ever will.”
Penelope turned in the seat.
“It’s about Grant.”
“Gee.” Penelope touched the dashboard. “I’m shocked.”
“I have a plan that might get Grant to confess that he killed my father. Or at least to get him to admit that he had Base set up Leo.”
“And what’s this grand plan?”
Alexis grabbed the steering wheel. “I’m going to wire Base through a phone and send him to talk to Grant. Hopefully he’ll admit to something and I’ll have it on tape.”
“You can’t be serious.” Penelope batted her eyes. “Are you out of your mind?”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to get Grant. I’m sick of tiptoeing around and not getting any results.”
“You can’t wire Base for your own personal benefit, Lexi. You’re breaking serious policies if you do this. You can’t abuse your power like this.”
“Oh girl, please.” She laughed. “Look who we work for. Like the Tate Valley Police gives a damn about policy.”
“So it’s not okay for the police department to do underhanded things, but it’s okay for you to do them?”
“I’m not doing something crooked to further my job or to get perks from Grant Copeland like the other cops around here.” Alexis rolled her eyes. “I’m doing this to get justice for my father. I thought you understood.”
Penelope straightened up in the seat. “Let’s forget policy for a moment and remember that this is illegal, Lexi. You can’t just wire people without a court order. You could be thrown off the force.”
She waved her finger. “I won’t because I won’t get caught.”
“I don’t think you realize the trouble you could get in.”
“I don’t care, Penelope! I told you I’d do anything to get Grant and I’ll do it. As my friend and partner, you’re supposed to back me up.”
“You lose all sense when it comes to Grant, and I don’t understand it.” Penelope turned straight ahead.
“Maybe if he’d raped your mother and killed your father then you would.”
“Do you even care that you’re putting Base in danger? Think of what would happen to him if Grant found out you tried to set him up.”
“Base is a police informant. He knows how to handle himself in these types of situations.”
Penelope scoffed, shaking her head. “It’s one thing to want revenge on Grant, but when you put other people’s lives in danger…that’s wrong, Lexi.”
“I can’t believe this. You’re my best friend and should be on my side.”
“I’m on your side but you have to do things the right way.”
“That man killed my father and raped my mother!” Alexis threw her palm in Penelope’s face. “He has this entire town running scared and you expect me to just sit back and take it? Think about what you’d do if you were in my shoes.”
Penelope put on her seatbelt. “I wouldn’t do this.”
“I need your help whether you agree or not.”
“Count me out.” Penelope moved the seatbelt off her breasts. “You’re putting yours and Base’s life in danger and I won’t be a part of that.”
Alexis stared with her mouth open. “You’re really not going to help me with this?”
“I can’t.” Penelope whipped her hair away from her face. “It doesn’t feel right.”
“Wow.” Alexis started the car. “Will you at least keep your mouth shut?”
“I’ll pretend you didn’t tell me anything. I can’t believe you’re actually doing this.”
“Believe it.” Alexis backed out of the parking lot. “I’m going to prove Grant’s a murderer and I don’t give a damn how I have to do it.”
* * * *
Two Nights Later
“Base should be at the door by now.” Alexis turned up the volume on the speaker of the surveillance cell phone. She and Leo Pacheco sat in his car a few blocks from Grant’s estate. “It sounds like he’s knocking on the door. Damn, he’s breathing like a bear.”
“He’s nervous.” Leo stroked his trimmed black beard. “Trying to trap Grant Copeland is much different than trapping some punk who’s selling weed.”
Alexis held the phone between her and Leo. “Okay, the doorman let him in.” She crossed her fingers. “Let’s hope this works.”
“I thought you had all the confidence in the world.” Leo took out a candy bar and unwrapped one end.
“Thank you so much for agreeing to help me.” She patted his arm. “Somehow I imagined Penelope would be sitting here with me. I can’t believe she turned her back on me.”
“Don’t be too hard on her. You know she’s big on doing what’s right even if she does work for the Tate Valley Police.”
“You think she’s scared of Grant?”
He bit off the edge of the chocolate bar. “That might have a little something to do with it.” The moonlight hit his black hair, giving it a bluish glint. “I worked on the force a long time, and most cops were intimidated by Grant’s heavy hand.”
“You’re not scared of Grant. I wish everyone else in this town were like you.”
“Grant took my career away from me.” He chewed. “But that’s not why I’m helping you. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do, and I know somehow he’s involved in your dad’s murder.”
“Thank you, Leo.” She gripped his hand. “So when are you and Penelope going out on a date?”
He cut his gaze to her.
“Oh. Shh.” Alexis listened into the phone. “I think Base just went into the living room.”
Chapter Fourteen
“I would be lying if I said this visit wasn’t a surprise.” Grant got up from his computer desk and went over to the mini bar beside the baby grand piano. “You want a drink, Base?”
He clenched up to stop the shaking of his knees. He was sweating in places he didn’t even know he had.
“Base?” Grant got a half-empty bottle of Brandy and a glass off the shelf. “Do you want something to drink?”
“No…thank you.” Sweat dripped behind his ear. “Jesus,” he whispered.
* * * *
“God,” Alexis said. “He sounds like he’s gonna explode he’s so nervous. I bet he’s sweating like a pig.”
* * * *
“You look awfully nervous.” Grant set the brandy and glass on the bar. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” Salty sweat stung Base’s eye. “It’s hot as hell in here.”
“Really?” Grant filled the short, square glass with brandy. “The air’s on. It feels fine to me.” He smiled. “What did you want to see me about?”
“Uh…” Base took another deep breath but each time he did he became even more apprehensive. “I’ve been feeling bad lately.”
“Sick?” Grant set the Brandy on the shelf and closed the cabinet.
“No uh…” Base leaned on the bar. “You ever feel…guilty? Like when you do things wrong?”
“No.” Grant sipped. “I never do anything wrong.”
* * * *
“Give me a break.” Alexis rolled her eyes.
Leo grinned.
* * * *
“That’s not true, Grant.” Base faked a grin. “This is me you’re talking to here.”
Grant sipped slowly. “Yeah, and?”
“Come on.” Base chuckled. “I know you’ve done at least one bad thing. I helped you with it, remember?”
“Oh I see.” Grant walked from around the bar. “You came here to bring that up?”
“
I helped you and I think I deserve to know why.”
“Really?” Grant sipped. “You deserve?”
* * * *
“Fuck.” Leo chewed on the candy bar. “Grant sounds like he’s on to him. I hope Base doesn’t blow it.”
“He won’t.” Alexis prayed to herself.
He better not.
* * * *
“I put my life on the line for you, Grant.”
He laughed. “No you didn’t. You did a job and I paid you.” He walked to the couch. “I also told you it was over and done with, so why are we speaking about it now?” He sat down.
“Because I can’t get what I’ve done out of my head.” Base touched his forehead. “I’m no saint, but what I did for you was probably the worst thing I’ve ever done.”
“And what did you do for me?” Grant ran his finger around the rim of his glass.
“Leo Pacheco is a good person. He didn’t deserve to lose his job the way he did.”
“Well, he should’ve minded his own business.”
* * * *
“Shit!” Alexis hit Leo’s arm. “He’s almost admitting to it.” She clenched the phone. “Come on, Grant. Admit you set Leo up, you son of a bitch. Come on.”
* * * *
“Leo Pacheco was trying to damage my reputation,” Grant said. “The reputation I’ve spent decades building. People look up to me around here. I own this fuckin’ town, and he tried to accuse me of murder.” He scoffed. “Murder of Stossel Adams, one of my closest and dearest friends, then he got caught with meth?” He shrugged. “What goes around comes around.”
“Yeah.” Base nodded. “Especially when the meth is planted, right?”
Grant tapped his foot. “You did what you did on your own. It had nothing to do with me.”
“Bullshit it didn’t!” Base charged him. “You made me set Leo up so he’d lose his job! Admit it!”
Grant grinned. “Base—”
“Admit it, Grant.” He held out his arms. “It’s just us.”
“Admit what?”
“Admit what you had me do!”
* * * *
“Shit, calm down, Base,” Alexis said.
Leo laid his hands on his thighs. “I’m telling you he’s gonna blow it.”
“Please.” Alexis closed her eyes. “Please just let Grant admit he set you up. Just let me have that at least.”
* * * *
“Admit that you found Leo a threat.” Base pointed to Grant. “That’s why you paid me to put the meth in his house. Now why would you want me to do that if you hadn’t killed Stossel?”
“Oh I see.” Grant poked his lips out and nodded. “You came here to find out why I killed Stossel.”
* * * *
“Oh God.” Alexis held her breath. “Leo!”
Leo sat up with his mouth open.
* * * *
“You wasted a trip because I didn’t kill him.” Grant sipped brandy. “That’s another nasty rumor going around thanks to Alexis Adams.”
* * * *
“Shit!” She hit the dashboard. “I was that close.”
“Shh.” Leo waved his hand. “He might still admit to paying Base to set me up.”
* * * *
“If you didn’t have someone tamper with Stossel’s brake lines, then who did?” Base asked. “Who would want him dead?”
“I don’t know who’d want him dead. I think about who’d do such a thing all the time.”
“You’re the most powerful man in this town, Grant. You would literally get away with murder even if you did do it.”
“When you asked me how I felt about doing bad things…” Grant looked away. “I don’t always feel good about doing them. Sometimes it’s like something takes me over.”
Base inched up to him. “I can tell that something is weighing heavy on you.” He sat on the coffee table beside the couch. “I’m nobody in this town. I’m probably the only person you can tell your deepest secrets to, because who would believe me?”
Grant looked at him.
“I know you cared about Stossel. What, is it that you didn’t want to do it, but were in a corner or something? Did he know something about you?”
Grant set his glass on the table.
“I know you wanna get what happened off your chest.” Base leaned closer to him.
“You know you can trust me, Grant. Look what I did for you and I never told a soul.”
* * * *
“Wait a damn minute.” Alexis almost jumped out of her skin. “Is he really falling for this or is this too good to be true?”
“He knows Base is the safest person to confess to if he wants to get things off his chest,” Leo said. “Like Base said…who would listen to what he says about Grant?”
“God.” Alexis held her breath and rocked. “Come on, Grant. Say you killed my father. Just move your fuckin’ lips and say it.”
* * * *
“You remember what you said to me?” Base smiled. “You said I reminded you of yourself.”
“You do.” Grant leaned up. “You’re smart. From the first time we met, it’s like you understood things before I even had to explain. I’m too complicated for a lot of people to get to know like that.”
“I know the real you, Grant. We’ve bonded, and we both got dirty laundry we wanna keep hidden. I know you want to let it out.” Base touched his leg. “You can tell me what you did. I probably understand you more than anyone will.”
“I know you do.” Grant shook Base’s hand. “I feel so ashamed.”
* * * *
Alexis held her breath.
* * * *
Grant exhaled. “I…”
The doorbell rang.
* * * *
“What the hell?” Alexis jiggled in the seat. “Someone’s at the fuckin’ door! Are you kidding me?”
Leo leaned his head back. “Jesus.”
Alexis hit the dashboard. “I don’t believe this!”
* * * *
“Good evening, Mr. Reed.” The doorman allowed Kevin inside. “Mr. Copeland is in the living room.”
* * * *
“Shit!” Alexis hit her forehead. “It’s Kevin.”
Leo scowled. “What the fuck is he doing there?”
“No telling, but he’s probably suspicious of Base being there. Shit!”
* * * *
Kevin made it to the living room. “Uh…”
Grant and Base stood up.
“Am I interrupting something?” Kevin stared at Base.
“I didn’t expect you,” Grant said. “Is something wrong?”
“I came to talk about the merger…” He kept his gaze on Base. “But if this is a bad time it can wait.”
* * * *
“Damn it,” Alexis whispered.
* * * *
“No it’s not a bad time.” Grant turned to Base. “Will you excuse us, Base?”
“Uh, yeah.” He smiled at Kevin when he passed him. “Goodnight.”
* * * *
“I don’t believe this.” Alexis sighed. “I was this close, Leo. He was gonna confess.”
“We don’t know that. I think Grant was playing him.”
“I’ll probably never get another chance to catch Grant.” She stroked her forehead. “I love Kevin, but his timing’s fucked up.”
Leo raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t tell him you were doing this?”
“No.”
“Why? Is it because you don’t think you can trust him?”
“I need to keep some things a secret for both our benefits.”
“I haven’t been in a relationship in a while.” Leo put his hand on the steering wheel. “But one thing I know is that nothing kills relationships like a lack of trust.”
“I trust Kevin.” She laid the phone down.
“Then tell him the truth.”
Chapter Fifteen
Leo, Alexis, and Base waited twenty minutes until Kevin’s car drove toward them. Leo blew the horn and waved out the window.
Kevin drove through the intersection. He looked straight at Alexis with a shocked yet annoyed expression.
“Shit,” she whispered.
Kevin drove to the back of Leo’s car and came up beside Alexis. “Wow.” He shook his head, chuckling. “I can’t wait to hear this.”
She leaned out of the passenger’s window. “I know this looks bad.” She glanced at Base in the backseat. “But what did you expect me to do?”
“What did you do?” Kevin hung his arm out the window. “Did you bug Base or something and sent him in there to set up Grant?”
She flinched. “Kind of.”
“I can’t believe this.” He held on to the steering wheel. “How could you do something so stupid?”
“It didn’t sound stupid to me. In fact, it probably would’ve worked before you showed up and ruined it.”
“Bullshit it would’ve worked.” Kevin’s face twisted. “You think Grant is stupid? How much you wanna bet he knew exactly what was going on?”
“No, he didn’t.” She looked at Base. “He was going to tell you, right?”
He nodded. “He sounded like it.”
Kevin pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re so obsessed with this that you’re willing to put your job in jeopardy?”
“Damn straight.” Alexis gestured to Leo. “And I’m starting to realize who I can really depend on.”
“Oh really?” Kevin leaned back. “That crack can’t be for me because you don’t give me a chance to be there for you. Once again you hid this because you don’t trust me.”
She hit the side of the door. “I do trust you, but I knew you’d think it was silly and not help me.”
He faced ahead then looked at her. “I love you. I’d have done what Base did if you’d only asked.”
She sighed. “Kevin.”
I’m the worst girlfriend on the planet. How in the world will we ever make it if I don’t start trusting him? I try to, but when it comes to Grant a tiny part of me isn’t quite sure.
“I’m sorry.” She held her hand out the window. “I promise I’ll let you in on everything from now on.”
“You said that the last time.” He moved his hand down the steering wheel. “Yet here we are.”
“Uh…I don’t mean to interrupt,” Base said. “But I need to get on.”
Leo turned and looked at him. “And where do you have to be?”
