Savannah's Curse

by Shelia M. Goss

  He couldn’t tell if she was disappointed or not. If she was, she didn’t press the issue. “I’ll get my purse and things so you can take me home.”

  “Why don’t you spend the night?” Troy asked. He didn’t want her to leave. He wanted her in his arms.

  Savannah said, “First you want me to stop; now you want me to stay. Make up your mind.”

  Troy felt like a fool. Apparently, he took too long to respond, because she left him in the kitchen, staring down at the member of his body that betrayed his true thoughts. He tried to think of something to calm himself down. It took a few moments for him to cool off.

  Savannah’s beautiful eyes stared back at him when he entered the living room. Troy wanted her to stay, but he didn’t want her to be with him out of obligation. Some women looked at him as being a hero, when he was an average man looking for a woman who loved him for him. Truth was, up until reuniting with Savannah, he wasn’t looking for a commitment. She made him want to settle down. That was scarier than his last assignment with The Agency.

  “Earth to Troy,” Savannah said as she stood next to him with her purse and bag filled with the items he showed her and her sisters earlier. He took the bag from her.

  “Sorry about what happened in the kitchen,” Troy said.

  “Me too.”

  “I’ll take you home now if you’re ready.”

  They were soon on the road. Savannah didn’t have much to say to Troy on the ride back to her place. He attempted to start conversations with her, but to no avail. During the silence Troy thought, This is going to be a long ride.

  When they pulled up in front of her house, before she exited, Troy touched Savannah on the arm and said, “Wait.”

  “I’ve taken up enough of your time,” Savannah responded.

  “This thing between us.” Troy hoped he didn’t sound nervous.

  “There’s nothing between us. So whatever you were going to say, save it.” Savannah left the car and slammed the door.

  He watched her enter her house. He grabbed the bag she left behind and walked to her front door. He rang the doorbell. “You forgot your bag,” he said, assuming Savannah would be on the other side of the opening door.

  “I’ll take it.” Montana reached for the bag.

  Disappointed, Troy responded, “Tell your sister, I’ll see her in the morning.”

  Montana stood in the doorway, blocking Troy’s view. She frowned. “I don’t know what happened after we left, but I hope you’re not playing emotional games with my sister.”

  Troy threw his hands up in defeat. “What happens between her and me is just that, between her and me.”

  Montana walked out of the house and closed the door. “If you care about her, and I mean really care about her, give her some time. Don’t rush it.”

  Troy decided to confide in Montana. “Your sister doesn’t trust me.”

  “Men are so stupid. If she didn’t trust you, do you think she would have stayed behind? The thing is, she trusts you more than she has any other man . . . since Dad. All I can say is, if you don’t plan on it being long-term, nip it now. Help us with this, and then stay out of her life.”

  Montana went back into the house, leaving him on the porch contemplating what she had just said. Troy had no intention of staying away from Savannah. He lost her once. He refused to lose her again. He would deal with this situation first, but as soon as they got some closure to Major’s death, he and Savannah would talk and maybe even go on a real date. Hopefully, a date that wouldn’t lead to disaster, since lately he seemed to have a knack for putting his foot in his mouth.

  Troy pulled out Meeks’s business card and dialed his number before pulling out of the driveway. “Can you meet me tonight?” he asked.

  Meeks was already out and at a sports bar. Troy liked to avoid taverns, when he could, but he felt the bar was probably a better place than any to meet. Meeks found them a table away from the crowd. He and Meeks joked around a little before Troy decided to get down to business.

  “Do you do any freelance work?” Troy asked.

  “Every chance I get. Child support is killing me, man,” Meeks responded.

  “I need you to keep an eye out on someone. Well, actually a family.”

  “Sure. I usually work days, so as long as it doesn’t interfere with my schedule, I can do it.” Meeks’s eyes wandered around the club.

  “Great. I’ll just need you to watch them from about one A.M. until it’s time for you to go to your next shift.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Great.” Troy slipped him an address. “Don’t let them know you’re watching them. These three women aren’t your average women.”

  “Any of them fine?” Meeks asked.

  “Real lookers,” Troy responded.

  Meeks smiled. “Don’t worry. Whoever I’m protecting them from will have to go through me to get to them, and I’m not so easy to get rid of,” Meeks said.

  22

  “Vanna, wake up,” Montana said as she shook the bed.

  “Go away,” Savannah responded. She pulled the covers over her head and held it tight.

  Montana sat on the bed. “We didn’t say anything to you last night, but we know something happened between you and Troy. If he hurt you in any way, just say the word.”

  Savannah reluctantly pulled the covers down. “It’s not him, it’s me. I thought . . .” She threw the covers down. “Never mind. All’s well.”

  “I’ll say this, and then I’ll go and let you get dressed. I think Troy cares about you. I think you care about him, but until you two are able to communicate this to one another, just chill. Find Dad’s killer and then let things progress normally.”

  “When did you get so wise?”

  “I learned from my older sister.”

  Savannah remained in bed a few more minutes. Her sisters had no idea of her history with Troy. She felt guilty keeping the information from them. How could she explain her feelings for Troy, when she didn’t quite understand them herself? She dragged herself out of the bed and took a long shower. Feeling rejuvenated, Savannah met her sisters downstairs.

  Less than an hour later, Montana pulled her SUV in front of Troy’s house. He greeted them at the door. Troy spoke and acted like nothing had happened last night, so Savannah pretended the same. Minutes later they paired up and went separate ways. Savannah and Montana worked together on coming up with their new identities in one room, while Troy and Asia worked on gathering information about the men on the list provided by Major in another.

  “We’ll save Uncle Raymond for last,” Savannah said.

  “I want to be there to see it all.” Savannah could hear the pain in Montana’s voice. Out of all of the sisters, Montana was closest to Uncle Raymond.

  Each pair reunited in the living room after they completed their tasks. Savannah’s cell phone rang before Troy could talk. “It’s my neighbor,” she said, looking at the screen. She answered the call. “Are you sure it’s the same men?” she asked. “No, don’t do anything. Stay inside. I’ll call the police.” She hung up. The conversation around her ceased. “Ladies, we won’t be going back home tonight. Seems like our visitors returned.”

  Montana removed her cell phone. “I’m calling the police—”

  Troy interrupted their conversation. “Montana, don’t. You need to go back home. If you don’t, they may suspect something. This time if they come back, you’ll be ready for them.”

  “My daddy once told me that an unwanted pest had to be terminated,” Asia said as she folded her arms. “It’s on.”

  Savannah’s stomach turned cartwheels as they drove home. Troy stayed lying down on the floor, just in case they were being watched. “Troy, are you sure we’re doing the right thing?” Savannah asked.

  “Yes. We want them to come to you. If need be, we’ll kill them all. Once I identify who the leader is, we can eliminate the others.”

  Savannah thought back to her conversation with her neighbor. “The s
hort one is the one in charge.”

  “If the others don’t want to cooperate, then we’ll dispose of them.”

  Asia turned around in her seat. “Like you did with Ms. Irene.”

  “No, worse,” Troy responded.

  It took them an hour to set up for their visitors. Troy made sure the cameras on the outside would cover every angle. Each sister made sure she had her weapons near her. Savannah’s nerves were on edge. Troy being there calmed her some. She hoped the men in black wouldn’t return. Troy talked them into playing board games to combat their nervousness. When nightfall hit, they took turns sleeping in shifts. Nothing happened overnight.

  Savannah cooked breakfast and watched them all eat. She didn’t have an appetite, but she noticed Troy had no problem piling more and more food on his plate. Troy’s phone rang, interrupting her thoughts.

  “Ladies, I need to go into the office.”

  “I can drop you off,” Montana volunteered.

  “Savannah, I’ll take the rest of this to go.”

  Savannah rolled her eyes, but she got up and placed his bacon and biscuits on a plastic plate and covered it with foil. Troy drank his juice and stood up from the table. Savannah followed behind them to the garage door.

  Troy turned and said, “I know nothing happened last night, but still keep your guard up.”

  “I will,” she responded.

  “Promise me, you’ll call me if you need me.”

  “I will.”

  Troy got in the front seat of Montana’s SUV and then let the seat back so he couldn’t be seen.

  “I hate this,” Asia yelled from behind Savannah. “Here we are playing the waiting game. I don’t know if I want to live my life like this.”

  Savanna agreed. “It’s time we turn it up a notch. Let’s go pay Uncle Raymond a visit.”

  “But that’s not in the plans,” Asia said.

  “No, it isn’t. This is the plan.” Savannah went over her idea of having Asia plant a device in their uncle Raymond’s office. Thirty minutes later they were casually dressed and headed to The Agency’s local office.

  “Security there is like Fort Knox,” Asia said as Savannah weaved through traffic.

  “I know, but you’re a computer engineer. You always carry junk with you, so they wouldn’t suspect you of carrying anything in,” Savannah said.

  “True. Okay, I’m ready.”

  Asia rearranged her handbag and they exited the car. After going through numerous security checks, Savannah and Asia were escorted into the lobby of Commander Raymond Steel’s office. The secretary knew they were Major’s daughters. They took a few minutes to get caught up on each other’s lives since Major’s death.

  “Uncle Raymond,” they both sounded enthusiastic about seeing him. They each took turns hugging him.

  “Girls, what are you doing here? Where’s Montana?”

  Savannah looped her arm through his. “She had to work. We just wanted to treat our favorite uncle to lunch.”

  “I don’t know. I have so much stuff to do. See all of the stuff on my desk.” He pointed to the stack of folders piled high on his oak desk.

  “Well, I’m hungry. Come on.”

  “Unc, may I use your phone? I can never get a signal in here,” Asia said, pretending to use her cell phone.

  “Let me see it,” he said.

  “No. I would rather use a landline, anyway.”

  “Okay, we’ll wait.”

  “No, go ahead. I’ll meet you both downstairs,” Asia insisted as she stood up to use the phone. Savannah watched her press the numbers. Savannah knew from their previous conversation, she was only calling her bank to check her balance.

  She grabbed Uncle Raymond’s arm. “She’s a big girl. She knows how to find her way down.”

  “Don’t keep us waiting too long. You got me hungry for a big old steak now,” Raymond said while rubbing his stomach.

  Savannah engaged him in conversation. She played on his ego and mentioned how proud her dad would be of him and all that he had done. She also reassured him that she was not going to deal with Troy. “I realized he’s a man from my dad’s past. I trust your judgment, and if you say he’s bad news, then he’s not a man I need to be hanging around.”

  “That’s all I was saying, dear,” Raymond said as he placed his arms around Savannah.

  Savannah hoped Asia would hurry up. Raymond would be suspicious if it took her too long, and she didn’t want that. They were about to get to the car, when she saw Asia running toward the door.

  “There she is. You know how she can run her mouth,” Savannah said.

  “She gets that from your mama. Ellen Danielle could talk a grown man out of his paycheck,” he joked. “That’s how much she would talk.”

  Savannah faked a smile. How dare he talk about her mama? She wanted to slap the smug look off his face.

  Asia sounded out of breath. “I hope I didn’t keep y’all waiting too long.”

  “I was about to call my secretary to see where you were,” he responded.

  “The elevators took a while.”

  He glanced at his watch. “Where to girls? My treat.”

  “Since you’re treating, let’s do that new steak house right down the street from here,” Savannah said.

  Thirty minutes later, Savannah forced herself to eat with the enemy. Asia was a good actress. She laughed at the right time. They were only there for about an hour, but it seemed longer. Once they dropped him off and pulled out of the parking lot, Savannah released her breath as if she had been holding it the entire time.

  “The recording device is in place, but now I just have to see how to go back and get it,” Asia said.

  “You won’t. Montana will have to retrieve it.”

  “But she can’t change a lightbulb, let alone remove a computer chip.”

  “We’ll come up with something. You’ll have to teach her. If we show up again, he’ll be suspicious.”

  “Swing by my place so I can pick up some more clothes.”

  Savannah checked her rearview mirror to make sure they weren’t being followed. When she entered Asia’s apartment complex, she surveyed the area and didn’t see any cars that looked out of place. She parked in an open space. “Be careful.”

  “I shouldn’t be long,” Asia said before closing the door.

  Savannah waited behind in the car as Asia went to get her change of clothes. A black sedan passed through the parking lot. The windows were too tinted for her to see the occupants. Her instincts kicked in. She felt for her gun. Her heartbeat increased. I’m just being paranoid, that’s all it is, she thought. She dialed Asia’s number. Asia didn’t pick up. She held on to her gun and slid from the driver’s side.

  23

  Savannah filled Troy’s waking thoughts. His quest to find Major’s killer was first fueled by the loyalty he had for him, but now was fueled by the rekindled love he had for Major’s daughter. Troy’s call to Savannah went unanswered. He scrolled through his phone to locate Montana’s number.

  Montana sounded frantic. “Troy, I’m so glad it’s you. Vanna and Asia aren’t here, and I’m worried,” she responded.

  Troy turned away from the computer screen. “What do you mean they aren’t there?”

  “When I got back home, they were gone.”

  “I’m on my way there. If they come home before I get there, call me.”

  Troy grabbed his keys and jacket. “Cheryl, call me on my cell if you need me,” he said as he rushed out of the office. The elevator seemed to take too long, so Troy opted to take the stairs. He rushed past his employees and sped out of the parking lot. His gut instincts alerted him that Savannah could be in trouble.

  Troy broke all traffic laws and made it to the Blake sisters’ house in record time. Montana opened the door before he could ring the doorbell. “They’re not answering the phone,” she said.

  “Right now, all we can do is wait,” Troy said as he followed Montana to the living room.

  Mont
ana paced back and forth. “This is unlike Asia. She sleeps with the phone up to her ear.”

  Troy tried to concentrate. He needed Montana calm. “What grocery store does Savannah normally go to? It’s possible they went shopping, and sometimes cell phones don’t work in certain parts of stores.”

  Montana said, “Brookshire’s, but the fridge is full, so . . .”

  His phone vibrated in his pocket. When Savannah’s name displayed across the screen, he let out a breath he must have been holding. He was not prepared for her frantic voice on the other end.

  “Calm down. I can’t understand you. Speak slowly,” Troy soothed.

  “Asia’s hurt. I didn’t know who else to call.”

  “Where are you?”

  “We’re at Asia’s apartment.”

  “We’re on our way.” He grabbed Montana’s arm. “Come on. I need you to show me how to get to Asia’s place.”

  Montana barely had enough time to grab her keys before Troy dragged her out of the house. She locked the door and jumped in the passenger side of his SUV.

  “I don’t want you to panic, but Asia’s hurt.”

  “What?” Montana pulled out her cell phone.

  Troy reached over and grabbed it. “You can’t use that anymore.” He let the window down and threw it out the window.

  Montana commenced cursing him out. “I can’t believe you trashed my phone.”

  “Did you not hear anything I said the other day? There’s GPS tracking on those phones, and if anybody is looking for you or tracking your moves, guess what, all they have to do is track your cell phone.”

  She hung her head. “I need to use your phone.”

  Troy gave her his phone.

  “Vanna, how’s Asia?”

  Troy couldn’t hear Savannah’s response. “What exit?” he asked Montana.

  “It’s the second one on the left,” she replied. “We’re a few minutes away,” she informed Savannah, and hung up. “It’s the next apartment complex,” Montana informed Troy. He spotted Savannah’s car.

  “Which apartment?” he asked as he pulled up behind Savannah’s car. He didn’t care about blocking anyone in.