The Devil Within (Devil Series Book 3)

by Stacy-Deanne

  “Let me make it up to you, Kevin.” Alexis got out of the car. “Give me a ride home so we can talk.”

  He gestured with his head for her to get in. “We’re going to my place.”

  Oooh, maybe he wants to punish me for being bad.

  She grinned and went to the passenger side of the Porsche.

  When she got inside he stared at her as if she’d just run over his foot.

  On the other hand, maybe hot lovemaking is the last thing on his mind.

  “Uh, Alexis?” Base hung out of Leo’s back window. “You forget something?” He rubbed his fingers together. “My money?”

  “Money? He didn’t tell you shit.”

  “That’s not my problem. I held up my end of the deal. I can’t help it if lover boy here fucked things up.”

  Kevin glared at him.

  “Anyway, you promised.” Base pointed at her.

  She sighed and got out her billfold. “Here.” She slapped a fifty in Kevin’s hand.

  He handed it to Base.

  Base looked at it with his nose in the air. “Fifty for what I just did?”

  “You better be glad you got that.” She put her wallet up. “I’m still back where I started.”

  “Women.” Base stuck the bill in his shirt and hit the back of the driver’s seat. “Let’s go.”

  “Excuse me?” Leo turned around. “I should kick your ass for setting me up in the first place.”

  Base shrugged. “I didn’t want to do it.”

  “But you did it.” Leo waved to Alexis. “I’ll see you, okay?” he yelled out of the window.

  “Okay.” She smiled.

  Kevin looked at her from the corner of his eye.

  “Come on.” Base hit the seat again. “I gotta go.”

  “Hell, I don’t even know where to take you.” Leo drove off.

  Alexis exhaled and tried to figure out what Kevin might’ve been thinking.

  “You and Leo look like fast friends,” he said. “Sad that you felt you could trust someone you just met over me.”

  “I thought you’d be upset about this like Penelope was.” She took his hand. “It wasn’t about you, Kevin. A part of me wants to tell you everything and I do trust you, but I want to look after you, too. I guess I feel like it’s unsafe if you know too much.”

  “I just can’t believe you’d do something so careless, and if you think you fooled Grant you’re wrong.”

  “He was gonna tell Base before you showed up. I could tell.”

  “Lexi…”

  Her ring tone went off.

  She grabbed the phone from her pocket and checked the ID. “It’s Grant.”

  “Speak of the devil.” Kevin laid his head back.

  “What do you want?” Alexis asked into the phone.

  “I want to say bravo. I give you an A for effort,” Grant said.

  She put him on speaker. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about you trying to set me up. Sending Base to my place to get me to confess to a murder I didn’t do.” He laughed. “Pretty slick, Firecracker.”

  “Shit,” she whispered.

  “Do I wait now or later to tell you, ‘I told you so’?” Kevin whispered.

  “I guess you think you’ve still got the upper hand now, huh?” She asked Grant. “Next time I’ll get you.”

  “Ooh, I hope so.” He made a sucking sound. “Though I must admit I was a bit disappointed. I expected something more creative coming from you.”

  “Don’t worry.” She smirked. “I have more tricks up my sleeve, just you wait.”

  “This town had become so mundane before you got here. I’m willing to tell you anything you want to know about me if you’d just give in.”

  “I’m not going to dinner with you, Grant.”

  “But I thought you wanted to find out everything about me?” He cackled. “Who knows? If you get me drunk enough I might tell you all my dirty secrets.”

  She clicked off. “Shit.”

  “Boy.” Kevin started the car. “I can’t wait to find out your next brilliant idea.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  A patrol car sat in front of Kevin’s two-story home when he and Alexis got there. He lived in one of the wealthier neighborhoods in Tate Valley in which the police gave special attention.

  If the cops decided to make a house call to Kevin, then something was definitely up.

  The officer got out of the car when Kevin parked in the driveway. He walked up as Kevin and Alexis got out of the Porsche. “Good evening, Mr. Reed.” He tipped his head to Alexis. “How are you, Detective Adams?”

  She faked a smile. “Good evening, Officer Ponder.”

  Kevin got out his house key. “Is everything all right?”

  “We got a call from one of your neighbors across the street.” Ponder pointed to the gigantic green house with the hedges shaped like animals. “They said they saw a strange man at your door about an hour ago.”

  Kevin jiggled his keys. “What?”

  “Yes.” Ponder clasped his hands. “He was around six feet, had dark skin, and jet black hair. They said he looked Arab possibly.”

  “Maybe he was a salesman or something,” Alexis said.

  “The neighbors didn’t think so,” Ponder said.

  “Why?” She put her hand on her hip. “Because he looked Arab? If he’d been a white man would you all be so concerned?”

  “This has nothing to do with the man’s race, Detective Adams.”

  “Mmm hmm.” She crossed her arms.

  “This is an upscale neighborhood,” Ponder said. “It raises eyebrows when certain people hang around.”

  “I just bet it does,” Alexis said.

  “What was strange to the neighbors was that he didn’t knock or anything. They said he just looked around and that was it. They found that alarming.”

  “Hmm.” Kevin bit his lip. “Maybe he was at the wrong house or something. It happens all the time.”

  “You might be right.” Ponder smiled. “Just in case, be careful, and if you see anyone hanging around your place let us know.”

  “I definitely will.”

  “Goodnight.” Ponder got in his vehicle and left.

  Kevin turned to Alexis. “You think I should be concerned?”

  “No.” Alexis rubbed his arm. “He probably went to the wrong house, like you said. Why wouldn’t he leave word with a neighbor if not?”

  “I’m trying to remember if I know someone who fits that description.” He jiggled his keys. “He said he looked Arab. I certainly don’t know any Arabs.”

  “He said he looked Arab. He can’t know for sure.” She tugged on his hand. “You don’t have to be scared.” She kissed him. “I’ll protect you.”

  * * * *

  “Hey.”

  The next day, Mercy turned around on the park bench to see Blake standing behind her. “Hey,” she whispered back.

  Blake sat beside her. “I’m here.” She crossed her legs at the ankles. “What did you wanna talk to me about?”

  A couple cuddled on the bench across from them. A woman pushed a baby stroller down the sidewalk. An elderly man shooed pigeons away while reading the newspaper at one of the picnic tables.

  Mercy sobbed into her hands. “I’m sorry.” She grabbed her head. “Everything’s so fucked up.”

  “This is about Alicia, isn’t it?” Blake closed her eyes. “Please don’t tell me you had something to do with her death. I wouldn’t be able to live knowing that.”

  “No.” Tears covered Mercy’s face. “I loved Alicia like a sister! You know that.” She balled a fist. “You’re the only one I can depend on now, Blake.” She laid her head on Blake’s chest. “Please. Please don’t hate me.”

  “Shh.” Blake put her arms around her. “I don’t hate you, but I’m afraid of what you’re gonna tell me. It’s obviously bad.”

  Mercy sat up, wiping her eyes. “I’ve been hiding something from you and the police. I swear I didn’t k
ill Alicia. You gotta believe me.”

  “What have you been hiding?” Blake took Mercy’s large, trembling hand. “You can tell me. You know I’m your friend.”

  “Alicia, Nadine, and I were at Angel’s house the day Alicia died.” She sniffled.

  “You lied about being at work that day?”

  “Yes. I was off but I was afraid to say anything.”

  “Jesus, Mercy.” Blake leaned over. “What have you done?”

  “We were just hanging out. They were drinking, but you know…” Mercy sucked in tears. “You know I don’t drink.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “We were having fun, but her dad kept calling.” Mercy wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “Alicia was pissed because she didn’t wanna speak to him. By this time, Alicia was drunk. You know how she acted when she was drunk.”

  “Yeah.” Blake rubbed Mercy’s back.

  “We told her she shouldn’t have been drinking since she was pregnant, but you know how she was. She did what she wanted. The drunker she got the crazier she got.” Mercy kicked her feet out. “She started ranting and cursing and she got into it with Angel.”

  “What did she do?”

  “She told him that he was cramping her style and she wanted to train with this guy who’d worked with some professionals. He’s some big trainer in Los Angeles and he wanted her to move there and he’d provide contacts for her to make it to the next level.”

  Blake tapped her feet. “I can imagine Angel’s response to that.”

  “You know he has a temper and he was pissed.” Mercy pushed her hands between her thighs. “They went at it and it got violent.”

  “What happened?”

  “Alicia smacked him and he was about to hit her back until Nadine and I grabbed him. Nadine and I told Alicia we’d take her home.” Mercy crossed her arms and rocked. “So we get in Nadine’s van and everything’s fine but then Alicia goes off on us.” She waved her arms. “She’s sitting in the backseat, waving her arms and cursing at us. She called us whores and bitches because we were sticking with Angel when we all needed to go to LA. Well, you can imagine how Nadine responded.”

  “Did she kick her out the van?”

  Mercy nodded. “She told her to get out and walk home. We were probably three or four blocks from Soviet Avenue. I begged Nadine not to leave her, but she was sick of Alicia so we left.”

  “You left Alicia in that neighborhood alone after she’d been drinking?”

  “What could I do?” She turned away. “It was Nadine’s van and you know how she is when she gets mad.”

  “But Alicia was our friend. If it had been me, I’d have stayed with her to make sure she was safe. Mercy, how could you leave her alone like that?”

  “I hate that we did that. She might still be alive if we hadn’t. Don’t you think I think about this every fuckin’ day?”

  “What happened then?”

  “We went back to Angel’s and told him what happened. He was still mad at Alicia but he was worried, too. He told Nadine to go back and take her home before something bad happened to her. Nadine agreed, then she left.” Mercy looked at her hands. “That’s the last time Angel or I heard from Nadine.”

  “I don’t believe this.” Blake stared at the couple sitting across the park. “How could you keep this a secret?”

  “I was scared.” A tear hung from her lip. “I knew it looked bad, that’s why I didn’t say anything. The cops will think we did something to her.”

  “Hiding it has made it worse instead of better, I assure you.” Blake sighed. “You gotta tell Adams and Dao.”

  “I can’t.” Mercy grabbed her. “What if they don’t believe me?”

  “You have to tell the truth.” Blake held her. “If you really care about Alicia then you’ll do all you can to help them find out who murdered her.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “How can you not have anything yet?” Pastor Bellows moved the rolling chair up and down between Alexis and Penelope’s cubicles. “There must be some leads.”

  “I’m sorry.” Alexis twirled her pencil within her fingers. “But other than what we’ve told you we have nothing else to report about Alicia.”

  Penelope rolled her chair from her desk and put her hand on his shoulder. “As soon as we find out something significant you’ll be the first to know.”

  “I just wonder if we’re being forgotten here,” he said. “Eli and I have been going through the motions but we’re not feeling anything. We’re dead emotionally.” He covered his eyes. “My baby girl is dead and no one will tell me anything.”

  “Pastor, please.” Penelope patted his back. “We understand how hard this is for you and we promise that we wouldn’t hide anything we felt you needed to know.”

  He put his hand down. “You’ve talked to her friends and everything. How can there be nothing? Are there any suspects that stick out to you?”

  “Unfortunately several people have motive, but you have to understand that we can’t divulge the details of our investigation.” Alexis turned to her computer.

  “Not even to her father?” He gawked at her. “I deserve to know what’s going on.”

  “And Alicia deserves for us to not compromise this case,” Alexis said. “We can’t risk information getting in the wrong hands.”

  “But I won’t tell.” He stood. “I’m a pastor and her father.” He patted his chest. “You can trust me.” He leaned over Alexis. “I need to know something, please. I’m dying not knowing.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “We’ve told you all we can at this point, but we’re trying our best.”

  He backed away from the desk. “Nadine’s mother came to my church yesterday. She asked me to pray for Nadine and I did.” He looked at Penelope. “I told her I knew Nadine was okay and that she’d come home alive. It was the first time I ever lied during prayer. I don’t believe Nadine is alive and I don’t think she’s coming back.”

  Penelope sighed. “We hope that’s not the case.”

  “I pray I’m wrong about Nadine.” Bellows grabbed Alexis’s hand. “You have to find the monster that did this. You have to.”

  Alexis’s cell phone rang.

  “Uh…” She tugged to loosen her hand from the Pastor’s grip. “Excuse me.”

  He let her hand go.

  She checked the phone then answered, “Kevin, I’m busy right—”

  “Lexi.” He panted into the phone. “I saw that guy.”

  “What guy? Why are you breathing so hard?”

  “It’s the guy Officer Ponder told us about who came to my place last night.” He huffed and puffed. “I was eating lunch at that Chinese place down from Copeland Enterprises.” He paused and took a big breath. “When I was driving from the restaurant, some guy in a gray Camry was following me. I got a look at him and he could’ve been Arab or something like Ponder said.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes! He followed me until I got back to the Copeland parking lot and then he drove on.”

  “You can’t be sure that’s the same guy. He might’ve just been going in the same direction.”

  “The bastard was following me, Lexi. I know it!”

  Penelope offered to walk Pastor Bellows to his car and they left.

  “Did you get a license plate number?” Alexis asked Kevin.

  “No. Shit, I was so scared I could barely drive.” He exhaled into the phone, causing static. “This is too weird for words. Why would this man be following me? What could he want?”

  “Come down to the station.” She put her pencil down. “We’ll try to figure it out.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

  Alexis clicked off.

  Penelope made it to her desk. “What’s going on?”

  “Remember that guy I told you was supposedly at Kevin’s place last night?” Alexis laid the phone down. “The same guy…at least Kevin thinks it’s the same guy, just followed Kevin on his way back from
lunch.”

  “What?” Penelope sat at her desk. “Why would someone be following Kevin?”

  “I don’t know.” Alexis stared at her computer screen. “I just hope he’s not in any danger.”

  * * * *

  “I don’t get this.” Kevin sat in the chair between Alexis and Penelope’s cubicles, bouncing his legs. “This makes no sense whatsoever. Why would someone be following me?”

  Alexis glanced at Penelope. “You work for a very powerful man. Could this have something to do with Grant?”

  “Oh.” He rolled his eyes. “Lexi.”

  “I’m not trying to accuse him for the hell of it, but I wonder.” She rolled her chair back from her desk.

  He flattened his hands on his thighs. “Does everything have to be about Grant with you?”

  “Is Grant involved in some type of illegal dealings concerning his company?” she asked.

  “Hell no. It’s just a pharmaceutical company and nothing more.”

  “Are you sure?” Alexis looked at him.

  “Course I’m sure. You think I’d be involved with a crooked company?”

  Alexis scratched her head. “You’re involved with a crooked man. And what if you don’t know what might be going on with Copeland Enterprises?”

  He held a stern expression. “I know everything about Copeland Enterprises.”

  “Copeland isn’t just any pharmaceutical company but one of the top in the United States,” Penelope said. “You can never be sure what’s going on in a company that big and powerful.”

  “This is nuts.” Kevin closed his eyes and exhaled. “I don’t think this has anything to do with Grant or Copeland.”

  “How do you know?” Alexis squinted. “Unless there’s something you’ve been hiding.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Have you had any dealings with anyone who would have a need to follow you?”

  “No!” He put his hand on her desk. “I swear I’m as clueless as you.” He sprang up in the chair. “Shit. You think the man following me could be a terrorist or something?”

  Alexis’s mouth dropped. “And could you be any more racist right now?”

  “I’m not trying to sound racist, but how can we know? Maybe it’s some plot to bomb Copeland Enterprises or something.”