Stripped

by Stacy-Deanne

“Ah, I hit a nerve with Prisha?” She noted his attitude on her pad. “Anymore rules?”

  “No, smoking, drinking or drugs. They can use a cell phone I’ve provided twice a week.” He smiled. “I’m not a complete monster. We monitor the texts to keep any outside influences from sabotaging their growth.”

  “What about sex?” Dee asked. “They have to sleep with you?”

  “I don’t rape anyone.” His jaws sunk. “It’s their choice to give themselves to me. They even fight for the chance.”

  “Is there anyone in The Circle who had issues with Autumn?” Connie asked. “Did she have beef with any of the women?”

  “Not that I’m aware.”

  “Could Shauna have gotten jealous of your relationship with Autumn?”

  “No, Detective Wilks.” He laughed from the back of his throat. “That proves you don’t get our community. The women don’t have those emotions.”

  “They’re human,” Dee said. “No matter what you wanna believe I can bet your ass that at least one of them is jealous of another.”

  He exhaled, swallowing.

  “You can pretend Autumn was like all the others, but you cared about her,” Dee said. “Your eyes glow when you speak about her. Did you love Autumn?”

  “If you mean did she become a little closer than the others, yes.” He cleared his throat. “But, if anyone was jealous, it would’ve been Autumn.” He stood. “She wanted to take Shauna’s place, or she didn’t want to be in the group at all. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

  “Where are you going?” Dee scowled. “We’re not done here.”

  “I’m done, Detective.” He bowed and walked to the path. “It’s time for our daily cleansing session where we strip ourselves of any impure or negative thoughts.”

  “Oh, I see,” Dee said. “Was the questioning too much for you? Got to get your lies straight?”

  “I’ve not lied to you.” He ignored Dee and smiled at Connie. “Have a nice day. Tran will show you out.”

  “Wait, a minute.” Dee stood as Jonathan left. “Did he just leave?”

  ****

  “My god.” Dee whistled, walking into Jonathan’s plant laboratory that night. It resembled a grocery store but instead of aisles of food, there were shelves full of containers of plants in and out of test tubes.

  “Detective Quarter.” Jonathan stooped over the steel table in the middle of the room, looking into a microscope. “It shocked me when you asked to come back.”

  “We have unfinished business.” She stopped beside the table. “It’s freezing in here.”

  “It’s good for the plants.” He straightened the small leaf on the slide. “What can I do for you?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Checking out the primary meristems of this plant.”

  “The what?” Dee leaned over beside him.

  Jonathan lifted his head. “Primary meristems are groups of tissues.” He focused back on the slide.

  “You must know everything about plants.”

  “Not everything.” He switched slides. “I love learning about plants,” He rose, his gaze landing on her bosom. “And people too.”

  “All people or just women?” Dee winked. “You got an Environmental Science degree from Harvard.” She poked out her lips, nodding. “Very impressive.”

  “Anyone can do it if they put their mind to it.”

  She laughed. “I doubt I’d ever get a degree from Harvard no matter what I do.”

  He stood straight. “You should believe in yourself. If you believe, then it can happen.”

  “Look, I told you.” She stood from the table and put her hands in her pockets. “That stuff you pull on those chicks in The Circle won’t work on me. You’re wasting your time.”

  “I don’t consider it a waste of time.” He sat with half-moon eyes.

  “How did you get interested in plants?” She walked around, checking out the specimens on the shelf.

  “I’ve always been fascinating with knowing how things operate.” He turned in his swivel chair, eyes following her movement. “Plants are just like people. Different things contribute to how both grow whether it’s science or the environment. I guess plants help me understand people.”

  “What about you?” She turned around, facing him. “Are you hard to understand, Mr. Wild?”

  He chuckled, muscles flexing in his cheeks. “Believe it or not I’m the least complicated person here.”

  “Somehow I doubt that.”

  “I love studying things.” He looked at his hands. “I’m studying you.”

  “For how long?”

  “Since you first came.” He stretched out his long legs. “I’m interested in you.”

  She sighed. “Why?”

  “Let’s say I wanna be a step ahead.” He stood, inching toward her. “Do you love him?”

  She stiffened. “Excuse me?”

  “The man in your life?” He stopped in front of her, too close.

  “Have you been spying on me?”

  “No, just guessing.” He pulled lint from her blouse. “A woman like you has to have someone.”

  “Yes, I love him very much.”

  He brushed her hand. “What’s his name?”

  “None of your business.” She moved from between him and the shelves.

  “Is he a cop?” He turned to face her.

  “Stop it, okay? I’m telling you this won’t work. I came here to talk about the case.”

  “Really? Because you’ve been here ten minutes and haven’t mentioned Autumn once.”

  She stuck out her chest. “I—”

  “You’re drawn Deidra, and that’s okay.”

  “Deidra? I didn’t say you could call me that.”

  His eyebrows wiggled. “You didn’t say I couldn’t.”

  “I don’t have time for this nonsense.” She hurried to the door.

  “It’s not about control,” he said. “It’s about being set free. I can set you free.”

  She swung around, scoffing. “How can you set me free when I can’t?”

  “You think you should be happy, yet you’re empty inside.” He inched toward her, crossing his arms. “I felt like that until I created The Circle. I had to change things, Deidra. Everyone needs help sometimes.” He touched her shoulder. “Let me help you.”

  “I—”

  “Let me help you.” He stroked her chin with his thumb. “What do you want? I can make it happen.” He closed his eyes, moving his mouth toward her.

  “What are you doing?” She jumped back, covering her mouth. “Are you trying to kiss me?”

  He pressed his hands to the wall, locking her in between his arms. “Do you want me to kiss you?”

  “Get away from me.” She shoved him. “This won’t work. You’re trying to throw me off so I’ll think you’re innocent.”

  “I assure you your case is the last thing on my mind right now.”

  “This isn’t happening,” she shouted. “I’m not falling for your bullshit.”

  He reached for her. “Let’s talk—”

  “You want to talk?” She walked from the door. “Let’s talk about Prisha then. I researched and found out she was pregnant. You have a strict rule about that don’t you, Jonathan? If a woman gets pregnant, she’s out of The Circle. Am I right?”

  “Deidra—”

  “Am I right? Isn’t that your biggest rule and the one you forgot to mention earlier?”

  “Yes, it’s true.” His lip curled. “Pregnancy is not allowed. There are things the women do to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

  “But, Prisha got pregnant, and I bet you were angry. Did you do something to her?”

  “No, damn it. I told her to leave, and she left. End of story.”

  “She disappeared, Jonathan. People don’t just disappear.”

  “Why would I hurt Prisha? It’s true I don’t want babies and even if I were mad, I wouldn’t have hurt her. If something happened to Prisha, it had nothing to do with me or Th
e Circle.” His lip trembled. “I’m not a killer, Deidra.”

  “Then why are you hiding from the world? You use The Circle so you don’t have to face reality. What are you so afraid of?”

  “The same thing you’re afraid of.” His stare burrowed into her. “Of being alone. We’ve both lost our fathers, and they meant the world to us.”

  “Stay away from, Jonathan.”

  He grabbed her wrist as she passed. “Winston is a very lucky man. I hope he appreciates what he’s got.”

  She yanked free. “What don’t you know about me?”

  He winked. “Nothing.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Four Days Later

  “Well, I’m sure you didn’t call me here for good news.” Grayson sat at the table in the interrogation room while Connie and Dee stood over him. “What’s up?”

  “You said you didn’t care that Autumn dumped you.” Dee approached the table. “We have evidence that proves otherwise.”

  “Yeah?” He leaned back in the chair. “Why am I not surprised?”

  “This isn’t a joke,” Connie said. “Forensics took a look at Autumn’s computer and they found tons of heated messages from you to her. You were cursing and threatening her. Seems to us you were upset about her dumping you.”

  He sighed, pressing his palms to his forehead. “All right, I didn’t tell you everything.”

  Dee smacked her lips. “No shit.”

  “Yes, I blew my top.”

  “Frequently it looks like.” Dee sat at the table. “What did you do?”

  “I was angry because I’d loaned Autumn money to pay off bills and she hadn’t paid me back. Autumn was in debt. You already have my alibi, anyway.”

  “We all know you don’t have to be present to kill someone,” Dee said.

  “So I hired someone to kill Autumn now?” He gaped, crow’s feet sprouting from the corners of his eyes. “How can you even fix your mouth to say that shit, Dee?” He stood. “We loved each other once.”

  “That was then, and this is now.” She rose, staring him in the eyes. “You lied about having any issues with Autumn and we can’t take that lightly.”

  “Fuck this.” He bumped into the table as he moved from behind it. “You can’t keep me here if I’m not under arrest.”

  “You need to be honest with us,” Dee ordered. “If you cared about Autumn—”

  “I cared about her.” He opened the door in a swift motion. “I care about you too but look where that’s gotten me.”

  “This isn’t about us.”

  “Oh, trust me, Dee.” He stuck his nose in the air. “You don’t have to remind me of that.”

  ****

  “My, my, my.” That night, Dee finished her last spoonful of Jake Jenson’s scrumptious one-pot Bolognese with thin spaghetti. “Jake.”

  He grinned from across his living room table. “Glad you like it, Dee.” Due to incomplete paralysis from a car accident, he could stand and even walk a little but had to rely on a wheelchair for the majority of his mobility.

  “Lisa, girl.” Dee fanned; Jake’s great cooking always had an orgasmic effect. “I’ll steal him away one day.”

  Jake and Lisa Swanson laughed while Winston grimaced, which didn’t surprise Dee since he and Jake weren’t exactly best friends.

  “Flirt much, Dee?” Winston chewed.

  “I was just kidding.” She kissed his cheek, rubbing his hairy chin. “Lighten up.”

  “Yeah, Winston.” Jake winked, his once-short, blond hair now grown into a long, layer cut that hit the curve of his rugged jawline. “Don’t be mad because cooking is yet another thing I do better than you.”

  “Whoa.” Lisa took a gulp from the nonalcoholic wine and then covered her grin. “Now don’t fight boys.” Her smooth, brown skin remained flawless as always. “Be nice.”

  “It’s fine, Leece.” Dee laughed, having the best time she’d had since her father passed. “It’s taking my mind off everything.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.” Lisa pulled on her long earring, her hair to-die-for in her signature short crop cut. “I’m so sorry again for your loss, girl.”

  “Stop it now.” Dee snapped her fingers. “Thought you invited us over to have fun. What’s been going on? How’s life going as sous chef, Jake?”

  “Doing well.” Jake sipped from his glass. “Things are going good at the restaurant.”

  “All I know is I’ve never had cooking as good as yours.” Dee pushed her empty bowl away.

  Winston exhaled, and Dee cooled the flattery.

  “There’s more where that came from.” Jake navigated his wheelchair from the table. “It’s time for dessert.” He rolled toward the doorway.

  “You need help?” Dee asked.

  “I got it.” He winked at Dee on his way out. “It’s a surprise for you.”

  “For me?” She giggled, catching Lisa’s smile. “You guys are so sweet.”

  “That was fantastic.” Winston finished his food and wiped his mouth. “This place is beautiful, Leece.”

  Dee admired the casual living room that Lisa brightened with a spark of femininity and a bolder color scheme since moving in with Jake.

  “Looks like you’ve lived here forever.” Winston kept his mouth tight, alerting Dee that the smile wasn’t genuine. “It’s already been eight months since you moved in. Time flies.”

  “You’re one to talk.” Lisa smiled. “Can’t believe it’s been a year since you and Dee got together. So much has changed.”

  “Yeah, like me going to work and seeing your face every day.” Dee held in tears. “I still haven’t gotten used to you being gone.”

  “Me either,” Winston said.

  Lisa displayed a tiny smile and lowered her head.

  “Here we go.” Jake wheeled into the room with a tray of tiny Bundt cakes glistened in golden glaze. “This is for you, Dee.”

  Lisa took the tray when Jake made it to the table.

  “Ooh.” Dee wiggled from the aroma of caramel and bananas. “That’s my favorite caramelized banana bread cake.”

  “It is.” Lisa stood and handed Dee and Winston their portions.

  “Man.” Winston sniffed the dessert.

  “And, that’s salted caramel glaze on top,” Jake said. “Hope you like it.”

  Dee chomped the moist cake. “Oh, god.” Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. “Lord have mercy.”

  The others laughed.

  “It’s so moist.” Dee struggled to speak with cake stuck inside her jaws. “Just the right amount of sweetness and salt to give it that kick.”

  “This is delicious, Jake.” Winston wolfed down a piece. “Gotta give it to you, man.”

  “I wanted to do something special for Dee.” He smiled.

  “You’re so sweet.” Dee hopped from her chair and went across the table to hug Jake. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome.” He kissed her hand.

  “You and Lisa have been wonderful through all this.” She scurried back to her chair. “That speech at Daddy’s funeral was out of this world.”

  Winston smacked while chewing. “It sure was.”

  “Have you heard from Lydia?” Lisa sucked cake from her fork.

  “No and I don’t want to.”

  “We try not to talk about Lydia,” Winston said. “It gets Dee more stressed than she already is.”

  “Between Lydia, working with Connie, Grayson, and this case...” Dee exhaled. “It’s a wonder I’m not insane.”

  “Maybe being on a new case is too much for you.” Lisa watched Dee eat. “You should take time off.”

  “I’m fine.” Dee sipped the bitter wine.

  “Lisa has big news.” Jake beamed. “Tell them, sweetheart.”

  Winston batted his eyes. “Are you pregnant?”

  “No.” Lisa laughed. “I’m thinking of becoming a criminal justice teacher at the Southmore Community College.”

  “Wow.” Winston glanced at Dee as if to gage her reacti
on. “A teacher, huh? That’s—”

  “Strange,” Dee said. “I can’t see that satisfying you.”

  Lisa cleared her throat, abandoning her dessert. “Why not?”

  “You want me to believe standing in a classroom all day will make you happier than catching the bad guys?” She shook her head. “You loved being a cop, Lisa. It’s in your blood.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Yes, it is.” Dee dropped her fork. “You’re only doing yourself a disservice by wasting time.”

  “I’m not wasting time, Dee. This is my life.” Lisa propped her elbows on the table. “Thank you very much.”

  “You belong out in the streets with me solving cases not teaching losers at the community center.”

  “Dee.” Winston grabbed her hand. “This is Lisa’s decision.”

  Dee pushed her cake away. “It’s a stupid decision.”

  “I think it’s a brave thing to do.” Winston cocked his head. “Lisa’s been so strong through everything. Being shot would affect anyone.”

  Dee sighed. “I understand that but—”

  “Then stop trying to run my life, Dee.”

  “Isn’t this a switch?” Jake chuckled. “It used to be Winston and I at each other’s throats. Now it’s you two every time we get together.”

  “I want what’s best for you, Leece.”

  She stood, pushing her chair under the table. “Let me decide that, Dee.” She walked out the room.

  “Lisa.” Dee followed her into the kitchen. “Leece?”

  Lisa got a cup from the cabinet and filled it with faucet water.

  “You mad at me?” Dee sat on the counter beside the sink.

  “I gotta get that taste out my mouth from that nasty, nonalcoholic wine.”

  Dee laughed. “I was trying to be polite, but it is nasty.”

  “My man’s an alcoholic so...” Lisa stuck out her tongue when she finished drinking. “Why can’t you lay off on this cop stuff?”

  “Because I love you and I miss you.” Dee brushed away a tear. “It’s not the same without you there.”

  Lisa stood with her back to the sink, head low.

  “Don’t you miss us being partners and doing all we can to make Baltimore safe?”

  “I miss it.” Lisa gripped the edge of the sink. “I loved being a cop more than anything but things change, Dee. I’m not going back.”