by Taylor Lee
Not wanting to let him off easy, Sky pretended not to understand. “I know. You want me to wear my contact lenses instead of my glasses.”
He chuckled. “No, I’m kinda getting to like those nerdy coke-bottle lenses. They speak to your weird personality. They also keep the hound dogs away. You know, the shallow assholes like me, who rate a woman on her looks alone.” He shook his head and huffed a loud sigh. “No darlin’, it’s about your pussy.”
Sky gasped in shock.
He pulled her closer and a soft smile quirked his lips. “You see, baby, you might just have the most gorgeous cunt I’ve ever feasted on. But, Sky, I’m a visual guy. I need to see what I’m eating. I need you bare, honey. Not so much as a landing strip of hair on your gorgeous pussy. I want to be able to watch those intimate lips off yours get puffy and swollen, go from soft pink to a luscious rose color. And yeah, I want to be able to see the musky dew glistening on them. Hell, baby, if I had a razor I’d shave you myself. But tonight, when I bring you back here? We’ll go to work on that.”
By the time they pulled up in front of the precinct, Sky had concluded that for once the Internet wasn’t the answer. Having determined how to proceed, she breathed a sigh of relief. At their first break, she’d call Hailey. She’d know what to do.
Chapter 22
“I hope you don’t mind, Jude, but I turned some of the financial documents over to an accounting firm I’ve worked with in the past. They ride a thin line between legal and illegal and know as much about forensic accounting as I do. I wanted to check my findings with accountants who are accustomed to sophisticated scams but who don’t know the details of this case. I want their opinions on the financial issues without the prism of the murders or the identity of the victims.”
Jude looked up from the pile of documents he was studying and shook his head. “I can understand why you might want a second opinion, Squirt. If your conclusions are even close to accurate, our buddy Blake is in a shitload of trouble. Not only is he guilty of siphoning off a bucket of bucks from his family’s coffers, but it makes him worth a first or second look at why he might have been upset with his parents.”
Sky shot him a troubled glance. “Exactly, Jude. That’s what’s been bothering me all night.”
He snorted. “Well I guess it’s good to know that it wasn’t me who was bothering you. But I’d like to think that you had something else on your mind beside our murder investigation.”
Feeling her cheeks heat, Skylar remonstrated, “You know I didn’t mean that, Jude.”
He laughed. “I know you didn’t, Sky. I’m teasing you. Honestly, baby, the fact that you did have all of this on your mind and were still as present as you were with me last night, is a credit to the magnitude of your brain.”
“And to your prowess?”
He winked at her. “That too. And to the sexiest, most receptive woman I’ve seen in a long time. Fuck it, woman, I know I called you the damnedest woman I’d ever met. I double that. Honey, I know you aren’t an experienced lover. But Squirt, you are the most exciting and damnedest woman I’ve ever known. God, the things that we can explore together, the places I can take you. Fuck that! The places you can take me!”
Sky wanted to believe him. Oh, God, how much she did. But the old tapes that her father had played into her head from the time she was four years old reared their ugly heads. Sky reminded herself as her father had repeatedly reminded her—she was a smart woman and smart women knew that men weren’t interested in women like her. Not in what he dismissively described as the non-intellectual, animalistic way. And if ever there was a man who looked at women though a non-intellectual lens it was the handsome, green-eyed detective who was gazing at her with a quizzical expression. According to her imperious father, if the man was impressed with her brain and intellect, he wouldn’t cloud that higher order relationship with base physical needs. The conclusion? Unless the man was as smart as her father, he wouldn’t be interested in Sky, which meant that one hundred percent of the men she met would not be interested in her. If perchance they were, her braininess would quickly disabuse them of that interest.
To her surprise, Jude pushed the pile of documents aside and shoved back his chair. He was at her side in seconds, and before she could stop him he’d lifted her out of her chair and pulled her up next to him.
She gasped and glanced at the door, knowing that at any minute one of the guys might walk in. “Jude what…what are you doing? Someone might see us.”
His frown and narrowed gaze frightened her.
“And what if they do, Sky?”
When she shook her head in confusion and tried to pull away, he held her chin, insisting that she meet his gaze.
“Let’s start with that issue, Skylar. The one about someone walking in and seeing what? Me holding you? Do you honestly believe that the guys we work with, who’ve been watching you bedevil me in every way possible, would be surprised?”
When she honestly looked flabbergasted Jude softened his hold. Christ, the little munchkin probably wasn’t aware of the way the guys, particularly his brothers, had been openly placing bets on how long it would take him to get his head out of his ass and confess that he was ass-over-elbows crazy about her. He reminded himself how little experience Sky likely had with men and knew he needed to cut her some slack. But what upset him more was that pained expression he’d seen before, the one that made the bright, intuitive mastermind look like an orphaned child who’d lost her one and only friend.
“I need to understand, Squirt, what caused that expression to cross your face.”
“I…don’t know what you mean.”
“Uh-uh, baby. You don’t get away with that. In addition to your powerful brain, you have instincts and analytical abilities that are on the genius side of miraculous. What did I say that upset you? Out with it.”
For a minute he thought she might talk to him, tell him what he’d said that made her look like a puppy dog whose master had taken away his favorite toy and banished him to the garage.
Unfortunately, at that moment Bernice poked her head inside the door. “Uh, sorry, Detective Justice, I—”
“What is it, Bernice?” Jude let Sky step back, but kept one arm around her shoulders.
“Uh, it’s a call. Actually it’s for Skylar. Blake Parker is on the line. He said he didn’t have your cell phone number, Sky.”
Jude looked at Sky. “Do you want to take it in here, Skylar?”
When she nodded, Jude looked at the telephone console on his desk. “Which line, Bernice?”
“Line three.”
Jude listened to Sky’s end of the conversation. After Skylar confirmed that she would meet Blake at Philippe’s at noon, she threw him a questioning glance and pointed to him. Jude shook his head. He’d decided that Sky needed to meet with Blake first to soften him up, lay the groundwork. Then he would drop in on them as if by happenstance. Of course, Blake would know that Jude never did anything by happenstance, which would raise the stakes higher.
After she hung up, he explained, “Sky, I think you will be able to get more out of him if I’m not there. He’s clearly interested in you. Not only because you’re appealing, but because you’re investigating the financial aspects of the case. I’ll join you after you’ve had a chance to disarm him. My presence will confirm that he has our attention.”
Seeing her cheeks flush and her eyes flash when he called her appealing, he realized she thought he was making fun of her. Beginning to understand what had upset her earlier, he decided to confront her.
“Listen up, Squirt. I’m not finished with our earlier conversation. You and I have some issues to resolve. And we are going to resolve them.”
Jared rapped on the door as he entered. “Good, you’re both here. Sky, there are some shady looking men waiting for you in the conference room.” Glancing at Jude he chuckled. “No need to worry bro, these guys look like accountants.”
Sky gave him a semi-smile. “They’re from the Larson, McClella
n firm. I wanted to talk to them outside of Mr. Larson’s purview. Even though he’s supposedly given me access to all the documents, there are some missing pieces that his assistants may unwittingly provide.”
Jared whistled admiringly. “Damn, short stuff. You’d think by now that Lars Larson would know by now that there is nothing going on in those finances that you haven’t figured out.”
Sky shrugged. “That presumes he’s given me everything I’ve asked for.”
Jared threw Jude a puzzled look. “Wow. Lars is holding out on us, bro? I thought he was smarter than that. Christ, the Judge uses their firm. You’d think that Lars wouldn’t want to do anything to upset the Justice family.”
“Yeah, one would think so. But thanks to the squirt, it appears that the Parker money speaks even louder than the Justice holdings.” Jude nodded when Skylar moved to the door. “Go ahead, Sky. You go disarm those unsuspecting men who haven’t yet learned that they are dealing with a reincarnated Auguste Dupin. I’ll bring Jared up to date.”
After she left, Jude laid out her findings for his brother.
“Jesus Fucking Christ. Blake? I don’t know what to say, dude. I’ve known the guy all my life. If ever there was a person who seems too unsophisticated, frankly, too gutless to have a secret life, it’s Blake Parker. My sense was that he was totally controlled by those sisters of his. But stealing? From his family? Gambling? Connections to the mob? C’mon, Jude. Get real. We both know what a pussy Blake is.”
”Í agree. My response was the same as yours. But after you see what Skylar has unearthed, at the very least, Blake has some serious ’splaining to do.”
After combing through the documents, Jared threw up his hands. “I don’t get it, Jude. How could Blake have kept this on the down-low? Someone in the firm has to have known something was off.”
“I agree, Jared. If Sky’s right, and you and I both know without even seeing the evidence that she is, Blake has to have had an accomplice and one at a very high level.”
“Are you saying it’s…Lars?”
When Jude just shrugged, Jared whistled. “Phew, if that’s so, and Hank or Carol got wind of it…”
“Yeah, it doesn’t take perverted minds like ours to conclude that if Hank or Carol discovered that they were being robbed of so much as a shekel, they’d raise holy hell.”
“Even if it was their beloved and sheltered only son?”
“Especially so.”
Jude broke their brooding silence. “She really is something, isn’t she?”
He wasn’t surprised that he didn’t have to tell Jared to whom he was referring.
“Yeah, she is. Like I haven’t been telling you that from the get-go.” He paused, then added carefully, “Since you brought her up, dude, I gotta add my two, or twenty-two cents. In addition to being the fucking smartest person I’ve ever known, Skylar is without a doubt one of the most vulnerable. A blind man can see what’s happening between you two, Jude. It’s written in her shining eyes and much as you’d deny it with your last breath, you actually have a few stars in your eyes.”
He put up his hand to stop Jude’s interruption. “I can’t blame you. Hell, if there ever was a woman who could challenge you, brother of mine, at your core, it’s the sprite. But—”
“Stuff it, Jared. I know what you are going to say. Tuck your wannabe Dr. Phil advice in your vest pocket and give me an inch of space. Maybe even trust me enough to know that I might not be as big an asshole as you think I am.”
“C’mon, Jude. You know I love and respect you as much as anyone in my life. It’s just that if you ever have the privilege, and I say that facetiously, of meeting Morton J. Hughes, you’ll be astonished that Skylar didn’t commit herself to a mental institution just to protect herself from him. Seriously bro, Sky has to be the strongest person alive to withstand that haughty authoritarian. When I found her at the DEA she had buried herself so far off the grid you needed a Kepler Planet Hunter to find her. She literally worked incognito. Christ, it was like she’d put herself in a witness protection program.
“Precious few people knew the actual source of the stunning work she accomplished. I figured out who the mastermind was, and snapped her up. The best hiring decision I ever made. She blew my mind on a daily basis. When I knew I was coming back here I was determined to bring her with me. I’m telling you dude, her father did everything in his power to stop her and me. Ask the Judge if you don’t believe me. I listened in on the one call that the Judge agreed to take from him.
“The way Morton Hughes shredded his daughter to a man he’d never met was beyond description. He could have been field dressing a white tail deer the way he eviscerated her. All to help the Judge ‘understand’ his daughter and why he couldn’t allow her to leave his authority. First he explained how smart she was—almost as brilliant as her renowned father. Except that she needed strong guidance to ensure that her extraordinary intellect didn’t go to waste on insignificant tasks. Like solving crimes that no one else could. When the Judge wasn’t moved, Hughes went on to describe how sheltered Skylar had been. Which, according to Hughes, he’d had to do given that she was prone to defiance and what could only be considered unstable acts. Such as refusing to follow the illustrious path her renowned father had carved for her, et cetera. And he said it all in a cultured, dispassionate voice as if he weren’t describing his only daughter as a nutcase.”
Jude dragged his hand thorough his hair and huffed out a hard sigh, “Christ, Jared. If he is even half as much of the son of a bitch you’re describing, I’ll take him apart with my bare hands.”
“Let me tell you, bro, if he gets wind of your interest in Sky, he’ll come at you in more ways than you knew were possible. One guy who unexpectedly left the DEA under a cloud, told me in a drunken rant that he’d made the mistake of dating Skylar twice before his world caved in on him. He was accused of a series of infractions, a couple of which had basis, but most did not. Finally one of his superiors told him that he had committed the unpardonable sin. He’d shown an interest in Morton Hughes’s brilliant and unusual daughter.”
Chapter 23
“I’m sorry I’m late, Ms. Hughes…um, Skylar. I got a call just before I left and I…well…” Blake hesitated, then reached up and rubbed at his temple, a deep frown creasing his brow. A sheen of perspiration beaded on his upper lip and his voice was shaky.
Skylar frowned in concern. “Are you all right, Blake? You don’t look well.”
Blake grabbed for the back of the chair and gripped it. Thinking that he might fall, Skylar rose from her chair to help him. He shook his head, signaling her back and sucked in a deep breath. “No, no. It’s okay. I’m okay, Skylar. I’ve had a challenging morning. And I’ve not been myself since…” His voice trailed off as he stared blankly at the table.
Skylar reached for his arm. Standing next to him, she felt his tremor and smelled the strong odor of perspiration emanating from him. When he continued to stare at the table she pulled out his chair and said quietly, “Blake, you don’t look at all well. Please sit down.”
He hesitated and nodded in agreement. Weaving slightly, he sunk into the chair beside her.
Waiting to see that he was able to remain seated, Skylar sat down next to him. She reached for a glass of water on the table and offered it to him. When he shook his head, Skylar was firm. “Please, Blake. Drink this. I’m concerned. You look pale and seem shaky. Are you ill?”
Blake shook his head and reached for the glass, taking several deep swallows. He made a visible effort to steady himself. After a moment he met her concerned gaze. “No, I’m not sick. But if you will excuse me, I…I need to go to the restroom.”
He rose unsteadily and clung to the edge of the table for a moment. Nodding as if convincing himself that he was able to do so, he turned and walked unsteadily across the dining room toward the restroom.
After five minutes had passed and Blake still hadn’t returned, Skylar motioned for the waiter who was standing attentively
off to the side of the room. He immediately came to her table as if he had been waiting for her to beckon.
Glancing at the name embroidered on his crisp white jacket, Sky said, “Excuse me, Manzo, I’m concerned about my luncheon companion. Would you please go to the men’s room and make sure that he’s all right? He indicated that he was not feeling well.”
Before she could describe Blake, the solicitous man nodded. “But of course, ,miss. I will see to Mr. Parker immediately.”
Watching him disappear through the arched doorway, Sky frowned, then reminded herself that she shouldn’t be surprised that the waiter knew Blake. Philippe’s was one of the most expensive restaurants in the city and close to Blake’s office and the Second Chance boutique. It was likely that all the Parkers were regulars at the upscale restaurant. Ten minutes later, Blake appeared in the doorway with Manzo several watchful steps behind him. Blake was still pale and had a strained smile on his face. He stumbled slightly as he strode to the table. In seconds, Manzo was at Blake’s side, a protective hand on his arm. He bowed slightly to Skylar as if to confirm that he had the situation under control.
Manzo assisted Blake to his seat, who sunk into the chair with an audible groan. He swallowed hard and shot Skylar a contrived smile. “My apologies, Skylar. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ve been fighting a cold, or the flu or…something.”
Seeing his glassy eyes and the sheen of sweat on his forehead—the telltale signs of prescription or designer drugs—Sky merely nodded. She focused on the visible clues, trying to discern what he had ingested.
Blake’s hand shook as he reached for his water glass. He struggled getting it to his lips, sloshing water over the top. He put the glass on the table with a sigh. He looked over at Manzo hovering next to the table, and then shot Sky an appealing glance.
Picking up on his silent plea, Skylar spoke to the solicitous waiter. “Thank you for your help, Manzo. We’ll order shortly.”
At Skylar’s pointed glance, Manzo stepped away from the table out of hearing range, although clearly reluctant to leave.
