by JA Huss
“What?” I laugh. Could this day get any weirder?
“Yeah,” Case says, putting his wine down. “Something strange is happening. That bank robbery. Now the power’s out. The water treatment plant is down.”
“It is?” I say. “I haven’t been back to the office so I wasn’t aware that there was a problem with the treatment facility.”
“And SkyEye is the only phone service at the moment. So you can see how this might… make me and my friends uncomfortable.”
I just stare at him. Is he really going there? No pretenses? No disguising his motives?
“Thomas thinks they’re gonna blame him for the cell phone towers.”
“Towers?” I ask, feeling like I’m coming in on the middle of a conversation. “What’s wrong with the towers?”
“Someone blew them up.”
“Who?” I ask, bewildered. “Who would do that?”
“Someone who wants to knock out cell service to Cathedral City, obviously.”
“Like your friend? The satellite phone guy?”
“Oh, the phones are just the domestic side of his business.”
“Case,” I say, putting a hand up. “I have no idea where you’re getting your information, but I don’t think I need to know all this—”
“You do, Lulu. Because the city is falling apart down there. And it’s my job to hold it all together. It’s counting on me to—”
“How do you know all this, Case? I haven’t even heard about the things you’re telling me.”
“See,” he says. “This is part of the reason we need to have this chat.”
I get up, skirt around the low table holding the food, grab my coat and purse, and then start walking towards the doors. I throw them open and head towards the elevator. “I’ve got to get back to work. We’ll have to do lunch some other time.”
But when I get to the elevator the flickering light show that calls himself Steve is blocking my way. “You can’t leave here without permission, Miss Lightly.” He says this so casually, I get a chill up my spine.
I turn to face Case, who is still back inside his office.
“Let me out,” I say, my voice thick with anger.
“No,” he says, walking over to me. “I can’t. Not yet. Not until we’re both on the same page.” He walks right up next to me, placing his hands on my hips. That’s when I think about the gloves again. And the heat. And the story that O’Neil told me this morning.
“Your hands,” I whisper. “Your hands were so warm last night.”
Case lets out a long breath and leans down into my neck. “Come back inside my office, Lulu. You don’t have a choice, because you can’t get out of this building unless I let you. And I’d hate to have to pick you up and carry you back, but I will if I have to because you’re not leaving yet. Not until I have your word.”
I pull out my phone and begin dialing—Case whips it out of my hand. “Who do you think you’re calling?”
“The police,” I say, unable to prevent the satisfied smugness from leaking out with my words.
Case studies the screen and scowls. “You had nine and one dialed. You were actually calling the police on me?”
“You’re the one who said you were holding me prisoner. Now give it back, call your creepy hologram to let me out of this building, and I’ll be on my way without a fuss.”
He says nothing. Just keeps still and silent, like he’s thoughtfully considering my offer.
“Give it back,” I say, making a grab for the phone.
He holds it high above his head. And smiles.
“That’s really mature.”
“Desperate times, Miss Lightly. Why are you being so uncool about this?”
My mouth does this dropping thing and I stop blinking. Because he’s an idiot, right? “You’re some kind of strange rich toy freak with creepy friends who make pretend light-show people and blow up cell towers just so they can sell more satellite phones. That’s why I’m being uncool.” I roll my eyes and cross my arms.
“He didn’t blow up those towers.”
“That’s the only part of that statement you’re going to bother denying?”
Case shrugs. “We have been known to blow things up before—”
“Like Blue Corp?” I say.
He stops talking and just tilts his head at me. “What do you know?”
“I’m not going to tell you because you’re being a dick.” And then I giggle because I almost want to tell him about stupid DickCage at the prison. Being the boy-man he is, I think Case might appreciate that little inside joke.
“None of this is funny, Lulu. What do you know about blowing up Blue Corp?”
“Did you do it?” I ask.
He rubs a hand over his jaw, looks at me from the corner of his eye. “If I tell you the truth will you stay and not call the police?”
“Depends.”
“Depends on what? You can’t say depends, Lulu. That’s very uncool, OK? We’re here having this amazing bonding moment over secrets and it’s your job to play your part.”
“My part? What are we, ten? We’re in your little backyard treehouse about to be blood brothers? Do I have to spit on my hand before we shake on it?”
“That is usually how it’s done when you’re ten,” he sneers. “But no, we’re grownups now, so I was thinking we’d just fuck afterward.” He shrugs again. “You know, to seal the deal.”
“God,” I say. “You’re so stupid.”
We both laugh.
“Seriously, Lulu,” he says with a sigh, lowering the hand holding my phone. “Bad things are happening and I need to trust you. But I can’t if your first reaction is to go running to the police. Or your stupid boss. I can’t believe you work for Randy Shits.”
“It’s Shultz,” I say. But RandyShits is almost as funny as DickCage. “And it’s not my fault you’re mixed up in all this illegal shit. I’m a goddamned lawyer, Case. I represent Cathedral City in court. It’s my job to follow the law.”
“Exactly,” he says, tossing me my phone back. Which I catch—one-handed, I might add. “You,” he says, pointing at me, “represent the city. And the city needs help, Lulu. That’s why you need to trust me.”
“That makes no sense. You and your friends are the ones messing it all up.”
“No,” he says. “You’ve got it all backwards. Lincoln has been doing his best to rid the city of bad people for a long time now. Thomas took over Blue Corp and kept things going after all that shit went down in the spire. And I—” He stops. Like he’s not sure where he fits in. “I’m the one the city talks to at night. I’m the one it’s counting on this time.”
Holy shit.
He really is fucking crazy.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - CASE
“OK,” she says with a fake smile. “I really do have to go. Can you please let me out? I have a meeting at work in thirty minutes.”
But I know that look. That looks says, He’s nuts.
“Lulu, just wait.” I reach for her arm but she pulls away quickly. Like I might burn her.
“Nope,” she says, still fake-smiling. “I gotta go. It was nice catching up and I have to say thank you for that impromptu sex last night. I don’t usually do things like that but it was exciting and fun. So maybe we can do it again…” She drops off and blows some hair out of her face. “Never mind. I’m just going to be honest because that’s the kind of girl I am. You creep me out, Case Reider. Not a little, but a whole lot, OK? I’m done. I need to leave.”
She crosses her arms and taps her toe on the black tile floor.
“Now,” she adds, when I don’t move or speak.
“I’m not creepy,” I say. “I’m just… adjusting, OK? I’m doing my best, Lulu, I swear to God, I am. But I’m not creepy and neither are my friends. You’re just not hearing me. And you’re jumping to conclusions. Especially about my friends.”
“Did you blow up Blue Corp? Answer that truthfully and without conditions and I’ll rethink my assessment of
you.” She waits, then adds, “You have five seconds. One, two—”
“Yes,” I say. “Yes. We did it. But it’s not what you think and I can prove it.”
“How?”
“You can talk to Linc and Molly. And even Thomas if you want. Although I should caution you, he’s not as lighthearted as I am and he really will creep you out.”
She shakes her head at me. “No. Not how can you prove it. How did you do it?”
I walk away. Go stand in front of the window and stare down at my city. “It’s a long story.”
“I have time.”
“I thought you had a meeting?”
“I lied. Now start talking or I won’t bother lying anymore to save your feelings. I’ll just dial the last one on my phone.”
“You won’t believe me.”
“Try me, Case.” She crosses the room and stands next to me. I chance a glance down at her. She shrugs. “If you want me to stay, you need to start talking. Because bad things are happening and I need answers.”
I look back at the city.
“There was a helicopter…” she starts.
“How do you know that?” My words have a little shard of ice in them that I immediately want to take back.
“Someone filmed you guys. From a tall building, close by. They got everything on video.”
“From inside?” I ask, squinting at her.
“No,” she says, losing some of her bravado. “No. But I saw the footage this morning at the office. It showed a man, who we think is your friend Lincoln Wade, crashing a motorcycle through the top spire of Blue Corp. A guy parachuting out of it too. And another guy, sliding down into the broken building on some kind of grappling hook or something. That was the three of you, right? You, Lincoln and Thomas Brooks?”
I rake my fingers through my hair. This is not good. Linc is gonna be pissed.
“You should just tell me, Case. Then I can help you.”
“Help me with what?” I sneer.
“Help you make a deal, at least.”
“A deal?” I laugh. “You think you’re here to make a deal with me? So I’ll turn in my friends?” I shake my head. “You’re delusional, Lulu. Certifiably insane if you think I’m gonna end up doing time for that night.” I turn to face her. “What we did was Justice. With a capital J, understand?”
“You don’t get to dish out justice, Case. That’s called vigilantism. Justice happens in a courtroom.”
“Not when the judges are corrupt. And if you think for one second there’s even one honest judge on the bench in Cathedral City, well, then you’re just another dishonest, underhanded, unethical, double-dealing lawyer like all the rest.”
“Fuck you,” she snaps. “I’m trying to do you a favor.”
“You’re trying to pigeon-hole me into a prison sentence.”
She lets out a long huff of air through her nose. We stand there in silence for almost a minute before she says, “Did you know that the warden over at CC Penitentiary is named DickCage?”
We both laugh at the same time.
“Because it took me by surprise and I had a hard time tucking down the giggles when I was there this morning.”
“You were at the prison this morning?” I chance a sideways look at her.
“Yup. I was there because that’s where former police chief O’Neil is serving his sentence. And do you know what he told me?”
“I can’t wait to hear,” I say, more sarcastic than I’d like.
“He said Lincoln Wade choked him last winter. And his hand was so hot, it made blistered burns on his throat. In fact, he’s got a very ugly scar as proof. What do you think that’s all about?”
“Fuck,” I mumble.
“What’s going on, Case?” Lulu turns to me, places a hand on my upper arm. “You can tell me. I promise I won’t say a word for at least two days, OK? I’ll give you two days to get your head straight before I let my boss in on it.”
“I don’t think two days will help. We can’t pull it off in two days. We’re not even in Phase One yet.”
“Pull what off?” She sounds desperate now. “What the hell is Phase One?”
“That’s not your concern. It’s got nothing to do with all this.” I wave a hand down at the city. “It’s not connected.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“And that’s why,” I say, pointing a finger at her face, “I’m not gonna tell you anything. Steve,” I say to the ceiling. He pops up immediately. He’s getting better at that. Sheila made some adjustments to his programming last month and it’s a nice upgrade. “Show Miss Lightly out. We’re finished.”
“Very well, Mr. Reider. Miss—”
“Steve,” Lulu barks. “Shut the fuck up and get out of our private conversation. I’m not leaving, Case. I’m staying. I’m staying until I have the lunch you promised me.”
I shake my head at her. “Nope. Sorry. You’re one of them, Lulu. And I can’t take any more chances with you. Not now. Maybe not ever.”
“Do I need to say the name DickCage again to lighten things up? Fine. DickCage.” She snorts a laugh, then glares at Steve’s holographic figure, still looming. “Didn’t I tell you to go away? This is private, lightman.”
Steve manages a surprised look complete with raised fake eyebrows, then flickers away.
“Well, I might need one of those things for my home. He’s oddly obedient.”
I say nothing.
“Case…” she says.
“No. I can’t tell you anything.”
“Then lunch. We can stop talking about this stuff and just have lunch. I’m starving. And I need more than cheese. Where are we going for lunch?”
“I was just going to have something brought up from the kitchen.”
“You have a kitchen? And a chef, I presume?”
“It’s the corporate dining room. But the food is good.” I shrug.
She tsks her tongue. “You can admit it, you know.”
“Admit what?” I ask, suspicious as I gaze out at Cathedral City.
“That you only invited me here for a nooner.”
I really do laugh at that. “You knew? And you came anyway?”
I can see her smile in the glass. “I came anyway. Was really looking forward to it, actually. But since you want me to go…”
We both go silent. Then we sigh.
“I don’t want you to leave,” I say. “You’re like the only thing I care about. I’ve never stopped wondering… what if, you know? What if you didn’t leave? What if we had a real chance? How would I be different today?”
“Well, I did come back, right?”
“I don’t think we’re on the same side, Lulu.”
“I can’t help that I’m a good girl and you’re a bad guy.”
“I’m not a bad guy. And it fucking sucks that you can’t see that.”
We stand there, silent. Just looking out at the accidents down on the city streets below.
“Can we start again?” she finally asks. “Because I really did come over here for the lunchtime sex and it would be a really frustrating afternoon for me if I went away unsatisfied.”
“That’s not why you came.” I chuckle.
“Maybe not entirely. But it’s why I’m still here.”
I turn to face her, wondering how genuine this gesture is. Does she just want to use sex to get me to talk? Or is she really as interested in me as I am her? “Do I still need to get you drunk first?” I ask, motioning my head towards the wine. “Because that was my evil supervillain plan.”
“Nope,” she says, unbuttoning her light pink blouse to reveal a lacy white bra. It’s accentuated with a sweet satin ribbon right between her round, plump breasts. “I’m an easy catch today. No bait necessary, Mr. Reider.”
“You understand why I should be suspicious?” I say, giving her a sidelong glance. “With all your self-righteous talk of deals and disdain for vigilantism?”
“Can we fight later?” she asks. “After the nooner?”
/> I’d like to think I’m stronger than that. I’d like to brag about how I’m the alpha male here and no woman has the power to manipulate me. But fuck it.
I am an Alpha, but I’m a lost one. And I could really use a soft, quiet afternoon with the beautiful woman I loved and lost to take my mind off things.
Lulu doesn’t give me the chance to think too long on her offer. One soft hand grabs mine and places it on her breast. The soft cloth makes me want to stroke it.
“I really didn’t bring you here for sex, Lulu.”
“Are you saying no?” she asks, placing her other hand on my chest. She flattens her palm against my shirt and closes her eyes.
“Not exactly,” I reply, distracted by her boldness.
“Then stop talking.”
I grab both her wrists so fast her eyes fly open and a small surprised gasp leaves her lips. “Don’t give me orders,” I say in a low voice. “I don’t like it.”
“Then don’t keep me waiting.”
“I’m not fucking you, Lulu. Do you really think I’m so desperate for sex, or human contact, or whatever it is you’re peddling right now, that I can’t say no?”
“Why would you want to say no?”
I let out a small, unamused laugh as I slowly shake my head. “I get it,” I say. “I get that when shit starts to go down some people need a distraction. But I’m not one of those people. I’m not the kind of man who runs. I like to look people in the eye and say what I mean.”
“Then stop talking in riddles and do that,” she quips.
“I don’t think I like you anymore.”
She tilts her head like she heard me wrong. “Excuse me?”
“I guess you were just one of those good memories, you know? We had a great time getting to know each other leading up to the ball and that night you were so insistent. So it’s understandable that I’d latch on to what could’ve been once you left town. But now that you’re back, Lulu, I really don’t think we have anything in common.”
“Because you’re on the wrong side?” She hastily buttons her shirt, rescinding her offer. “And I’m out to get you?”
“No,” I say, turning my back on her and walking towards the door, grabbing her coat and purse from a chair. “No, that’s not it at all.” When I turn she’s still all the way across the room, standing in front of my city like this isn’t happening. But it is happening. “You don’t know me. You don’t know one true thing about me. And yet you’re standing here like some pillar of truth and justice, passing judgment on me like you’re above it all. But you’re part of the problem, Lulu. My friends and me are part of the solution and if you’re too fucking scared to pull down the blindfold of government-sanctioned righteousness and see what’s standing right in front of you, then I’ve got nothing more to say except…” I wave my hand towards the elevator where Steve is waiting, actually anticipating my next move. “Get the fuck out.”
