by Stacy-Deanne
“Grant?” Kevin grimaced.
Alexis cleared her throat and answered, “Hello?”
“You still intend to come after me?” Grant chuckled.
She wiggled her toes in the water, groaning. “What do you want?”
“Honestly?” Grant breathed into the phone.
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want the truth.”
Kevin pulled on her leg. “What is he saying?”
“We both want something from each other, Lexi,” Grant said. “You want to ‘expose’ me and I want to get inside your head.”
She rubbed her foot against Kevin’s arm. “And what makes you think you can do that?”
“I can do anything I set my mind to, Firecracker. See, I believe in holding my enemies closer. And I’d love to hold you.”
She shivered from his repulsive tone.
“You’ve hated me since you were a child. You never gave me the chance to win you over. I don’t think that’s fair.”
“Well, life isn’t fair, Grant.” She laid her head back. “And there’s no way you could ever win me over.”
Kevin pulled on her foot. “What is he saying?”
“Why did you call me?”
“I’m challenging you to a duel,” Grant said. “I want you to have dinner with me.”
She straightened up. “Damn, you must be crazier than I thought to even think of saying that.”
“It seems reasonable. It’ll be our chance to get to know each other. I can dispel the myths you have about me, and I get to see what you’re made of.”
“There is no way in hell I’m having dinner with you.”
“Dinner?” Kevin whispered.
“You’re so sure you know the real me,” Grant said. “I bet I can prove you wrong.”
She moved her hands through the water. “How?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” He hung up.
She looked at the phone.
Kevin gaped. “Did he ask you to dinner?”
“Yep.” She set the phone down and pulled at the loose strands from her messy French roll.
“And why…” He put his arms around her waist, “would Grant ask you to dinner?”
“He’s trying to fuck with me.” She brought her legs around him and kissed him. “But, there’s only one man I wanna fuck.”
He smirked with suds running down his chest. “And I’m happy to oblige.”
The End
SINNER’S PARADISE
Chapter One
“Oh.” Pastor Markus Bellows fell into his son’s arms. “No.” Tears streamed down his face. “No. Why, Jesus?” The chubby, rosy-cheeked minister threw his fists up. “Why?”
“I’m so sorry,” Detective Alexis Adams said with her notepad in hand. “I can’t imagine how you’re feeling.”
“It can’t be true.” Bellows buried his face into his son Eli’s chest. “It just can’t be true.”
A tear fell from Eli’s eye, but he struck Alexis as the type of man who never cried. She couldn’t make judgments about his character this quickly, but something told her what she felt was true.
“God.” Eli covered his mouth. “I knew if Alicia carried on the way she had been something bad would happen to her.” He looked toward the ceiling. “We tried to talk to her so many times about the people she’d gotten mixed up with, but she wouldn’t listen.”
“What people?” Alexis made eye contact with the curvy Vietnamese woman beside her with the blonde highlights in her hair.
“We know this is hard,” Detective Penelope Dao said. “But the only way we can find Alicia’s killer is for you to tell us what’s going on, Eli.”
“She was only twenty-six years old.” Bellows sniffled. “Still a baby.” He held Eli for leverage. “I tried so many times to help her. But if God couldn’t…how could I? And to die like she did?” He held a fist to his mouth. “Beaten and left behind some old nightclub.”
Eli rubbed his father’s silver hair.
“If someone could do something so brutal to your daughter then there is no predicting what else they could do,” Alexis said. “You need to tell us everything you know.”
“We don’t know anything,” Eli spat. “Alicia didn’t come around as much as she used to and she was always tightlipped. We’d been close since we were kids, but lately she didn’t want to come around us.”
“Why?” Alexis asked. “What caused such animosity on her part?”
“We wanted her to change and get her life together.” Eli sniffled. “She didn’t like us telling her what to do, so I guess she felt it was best to stay away.”
Markus patted his chest and groaned.
“Pastor Bellows.” Penelope took his arm. “Are you all right?”
“He has heart issues.” Eli helped him to the couch. “Sometimes it beats too fast.” He bent over his father. “You okay, Dad?”
“Yeah.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Just happens when I get upset or excited.”
“Tell us more about these people Alicia hung around with,” Penelope said. “The people you claim were dragging her down.”
“We don’t know any names. We just know she was being influenced.” Eli sat by his father and put his arm around him.
“How do you know this?” Alexis jotted on her notepad.
“Because that’s how Alicia has always been.” Eli looked at his father. “It’s strange. With her fighting, she’s so strong and independent, but with other things she lets people control her. I’ve never understood that.”
“Fighting?” Alexis looked up from the notepad.
“Alicia was a trained boxer,” Bellows whispered. “It’s what she always wanted to be.”
“Really?” Penelope looked at Alexis. “That’s interesting. Not every day you see a female boxer.”
“I was so proud of her,” Bellows said. “Even though she thought I wasn’t.”
Alexis wiggled her pencil. “You can’t tell us any names of anyone she hung out with at all?”
“She has a trainer and some friends.” Eli shrugged. “I think they’re boxers, too, but we don’t know their names and never met them.”
“You gotta understand.” A tear fell as Bellows lifted his head. “We’d become estranged from Alicia, and when she did come around she was very private. Even as a kid she’d run off and not tell me or her mother where she’d gone.”
“Where is your wife?” Alexis asked.
“She’s dead,” Penelope said.
Thirty-four-year-old Alexis recently moved back to her hometown of Tate Valley, California after nineteen years of being in Los Angeles. Having her best friend Penelope around to fill her in on tidbits served Alexis well.
“How long has your wife been dead?” Alexis asked.
“Four years.” Bellows coughed while he sobbed. “She had lupus and failing kidneys.”
“I’m so sorry,” Alexis said.
“My wife was always ailing, since the kids were little.”
Eli rubbed his father’s shoulder.
“Alicia never took it well. She and her mother were extremely close and her illness took a toll on Alicia. When she was a teenager she started acting out and hanging with the wrong crowd.” Bellows flattened his hands against his thighs. “I even kicked her out of the house for a few weeks when she was sixteen because of the way she was acting.” He shook his head. “She never forgave me for that. Our relationship’s been unstable ever since. Even when we’d communicate there was always a strain and we’d end up fighting.”
“Alicia liked to drink, too,” Eli said. “That’s one of her problems.”
“Was she an alcoholic?” Penelope asked.
“No, but she got out of control when she drank,” he said. “She could be the nicest person, but when she drank she’d call you all kinds of names, become violent.” Eli sighed. “She’d be a mess. Dad had a rule that she couldn’t come here if she’d been drinking.”
“I don’t know who she’
s been hanging around,” Bellows said. “But I know in my heart they have something to do with her murder. I can feel it.”
“Do you live here too?” Penelope gestured to Eli.
“No,” he said. “I live way across town, but I come by probably two or three days a week.”
“Where do you stay?” Alexis readied her pencil to write.
Eli gave his address. “I live alone.”
Alexis wrote the information while nodding. “You mind telling us where you were at around five and six this evening?”
“What?” Eli stood from the couch. “Am I under suspicion for some reason?”
Alexis studied his uneasy disposition and made note of it. “We didn’t say that.”
“It’s just routine, Eli,” Penelope said. “We have to start with the people closest to her.”
“I’d never hurt my sister.”
“They have to ask, son.” Bellows took Eli’s hand. “That’s all.”
“I’d stopped by the Tate Valley Lounge after work.” He walked from the couch. “I get off work at four and I was at the lounge until my dad called and told me Alicia had been killed. Then I came right over.”
“What did you do at the lounge?” Alexis asked.
“I played pool, danced, bought some ladies some beers.” He put his hands in his pockets. “I always go down to the lounge.” He pointed to Penelope. “I see Detective Dao there all the time.”
“I’ve seen you there a few times.” She moved her gaze down his body. “I go there often but I don’t see you as much.”
He shrugged. “Maybe we miss each other.”
She smiled. “That’s possible.”
“I don’t like the way you’re looking.” Eli turned to his father. “I don’t like the way they’re looking at me, Dad.”
“Son…” Bellows stood. “Calm down. This is all for Alicia’s benefit.”
“I don’t like this because I feel like I’m being accused.”
Alexis scoffed. “Because we asked you where you were when your sister was being beaten to death?”
Eli stared at her. “It’s the way you’re asking. I had no reason to want my sister dead.”
“We didn’t say you did,” Penelope said.
He pointed at her. “But you’re looking at me like you think I did.”
“Son, please.” Bellows put his arm around Eli’s waist. “It’s just procedure.”
“You two are so wrong if you think it’s me.” Eli pointed back and forth at Alexis and Penelope. “For God’s sake, this is a small town. If I killed my sister and left her behind an old nightclub, I don’t think that would remain a secret for long.” He put his hand down. “I would never hurt my sister. I loved her very much.”
* * * *
“So what do you think?” Penelope drove from Pastor Bellows’ home twenty minutes later. “I’m dying to see what you’re coming up with.”
“I’m thinking about Mr. Eli.” Alexis flicked her long hair off her shoulder. “Boy, he flew off the handle didn’t he? Has a temper it seems.”
“Yeah, but to be fair most people would if they felt they were being accused of something so horrible.” Penelope turned right. “He’s human, and he just found out his sister was killed so his emotions are all over the place. We don’t know how we’d react in the same situation.”
“I’ll buy that.” Alexis nodded, scratching a spot on her light-brown hand. “We have to check out his alibi first. Another thing I caught was he said he always goes to the Tate Valley Lounge.”
Penelope eased at a red light.
“Yet you go there at least twice a week and you said you’ve only seen him there sometimes.” Alexis chewed her lip. “That makes me think he’s lying because wouldn’t you see him more often?”
“Not necessarily.” Penelope took off when the light turned green. “He could mean he goes there once every few weeks, or hell, a few times a month.” She shrugged. “Always means different things to different people.”
“When was the last time you saw him there?”
Penelope squinted. “Probably about a month ago.”
“I don’t know about you but he’s on my suspect list.” Alexis propped her elbow on the door. “Can you believe Pastor Bellows invited us to church?” She grinned. “Like that’s happening.”
“We both need to go.”
“Why?” Alexis glanced at Penelope. “And you know I don’t do church.”
“I used to go.” Penelope switched lanes. “Since you got back to town I haven’t been. You’re a bad influence on me.” She winked. “Anyway, church isn’t that bad.”
“Ugh.” Alexis shook. “Just the thought of going to church gives me the creeps. I’m not comfortable because I wasn’t raised in church.”
“Are you a Christian?” Penelope looked at her while making a left. “We’ve known each other for years and I don’t even know.”
Alexis turned up her nose. “You know…I don’t either.”
Penelope shook her head, grinning. “You believe in God though, right?”
“Girl, you know I believe in God.” Alexis straightened her seatbelt. “But I wouldn’t say I was a devout Christian or something. I just believe in being a good person.”
“We should take the Pastor up on his offer.”
“Hell no.” Alexis wiggled her fingers. “No.”
“I bet you’d go if Kevin asked you to.” Penelope pinched Alexis’ thigh. “Even Grant goes to church.”
“Shit, he needs it.” Alexis looked at her fingernails. “I bet God leaps out of the sky when Grant walks in the church house.”
Penelope laughed. “Maybe if you leaned on God a little bit you wouldn’t be so hung up on Grant all the time.” She turned toward Alexis’ beach-area neighborhood. “You might even let go of this crazy revenge idea of yours.”
“Sorry, but that’s never happening.” Alexis lay her head back. “Even God can’t make me leave Grant Copeland alone.”
Chapter Two
Alexis walked into the Regency restaurant with her arm tucked in Kevin Reed’s that night. Only the richest and most successful citizens of Tate Valley dined there.
Even though she’d decked herself out in an expensive black, off the shoulder gown, and had diamonds on her neck and ears courtesy of Mr. Reed, the usual patrons gaped at her as if Elvis had walked into the room.
If she didn’t know any better, she’d assume they were staring because she was black, and there weren’t many blacks in Tate Valley with the cash to eat at the Regency. But since there were just as many blacks staring at her, that most likely wasn’t the reason.
Being rich and stuck up had no color.
The greeter ran up to them and yanked Kevin’s hand. “Mr. Reed, sir. So honored you decided to dine with us this evening.”
“Thank you, Sam.” Kevin slipped his arm around Alexis’ waist. “This is my lady, Alexis Adams.”
“Oh…uh…” All the air seemed to deflate from Sam’s face. “Hello, Ms. Adams.” He kissed her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Aren’t you a…a cop?” He poked his lips out as if he’d sucked ten lemons.
“I’m a detective.” She wiped his drool off her hand. “And thanks for that somewhat warm welcome.”
“She’s Stossel Adams’ daughter,” Kevin said, the lights illuminating his short, ebony-brown hair.
Sam’s mouth dropped. “Oh.” He touched his chest. “You’re Mr. Adams’ daughter?” He grabbed her hand. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Ms. Adams. Stossel was one of our biggest customers.”
It never fails. Mention a connection to Grant Copeland or someone else connected to him and people in this town go from sniffing your ass to licking it.
“I assume you two will be dining at your usual table, Mr. Reed?” Sam presented a goofy smile.
“Yes, that will be great.” Kevin gripped Alexis’ hand.
“Fabulous!” Sam put his hands together. “Just give me one moment to personally make sure everything’s set up.”
“Okay.” Kevin and Alexis stood over to the side.
Sam rushed off.
“Wait a minute,” Alexis whispered. “You have a usual table here?”
Kevin nodded, pulling at his blazer.
Damn.
She whispered in his ear, “Even the mayor of Tate Valley doesn’t have his own table here.”
“That’s because the mayor doesn’t work for Grant Copeland.” He kissed her nose. “God you look beautiful.” He slid his hand down her backside. “Why don’t we skip dinner and tend to our other appetites?”
“Hold on.” She moved his hand. “I don’t know if I even want to eat here now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, it’s bad enough I don’t belong here.” She gestured her black, sequined purse around. “Everyone’s looking at me like I’m the trash lady.”
“Oh, come on.” He held her close. “That’s not true.”
“It is true.” Alexis pointed to a gawking couple.
The couple flashed plastic smiles, and then turned away.
“These people are more uncomfortable that I’m here than I am.”
“Why are you uncomfortable?” For some reason his gray eyes looked more silver tonight. “You’re my lady and you belong here just as much as I do.”
“Can’t we go somewhere else?” She tugged on the snug dress. “It’s not just that people look at me like I’m contagious, but I don’t want to eat anywhere that caters to Grant Copeland.”
“So where are you going to eat?” He straightened his sleeves. “China?”
She rolled her eyes.
“You know how Tate Valley is run. This is a small town and Grant’s the biggest man in it. You can’t change that, Lexi.”
“Yeah, but I don’t like going out with you and being pampered because of Grant. I hate his guts.” She stomped her foot. “I feel like I’m condoning what he stands for.”
“By eating in a restaurant?” He laughed. “We’ve gone to other places Grant has connections with and you’ve never said anything about it.”
“I should’ve.” She stroked her forehead. “I’m getting a headache. Can we please leave?”
