by Kay Bigelow
“Cots, expect a call from Amara Bensington sooner rather than later. She wants to rid her home of Lionel’s bugs. I told her you were her man.”
“Thanks for the referral,” Cots said.
Leah filled Cots in on what Peony found about Sarah’s friends.
“Pretty soon you won’t need me. The kid’s really good at investigation and finding things,” Cots told her.
“You’re irreplaceable, Cots. Even if the kid surpasses you in skill, she’ll never know as much about surveillance as you.”
“Thanks, Boss.” He grinned.
Leah sighed. “You two are never going to stop calling me ‘Boss,’ are you?”
“Probably not. Did you find anything new and helpful?” Leah asked.
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure Becker is on the take,” Cots said.
“Why do you think so?”
“Surprisingly, he’s been very careful. He’s getting large amounts of credits once a month, some of which he puts into a credits account that’s not his primary account. Nothing that would raise eyebrows unless you were looking for an anomaly. I don’t know yet where he puts the rest of the monthly payments, but I will find out.”
“Damn. I thought you said he was clean. Is there even such a thing as an honest cop anymore?” On New America, Leah and every other cop in the city knew there were dirty cops on the payroll. It had been a fact of cop life there.
“There are millions of them. But in our line of work, we’re bound to find more dishonest ones than honest ones,” Cots said.
“I’ll try to keep that in mind. Who’s paying him?” Leah asked.
“That’s where it gets interesting. It looks like he’s being paid by two opposing forces. One is, as expected, Lionel Bensington. The other is a little trickier to verify, but it looks like he’s being paid by the leader of that gang Peony told us about, the Shaanxi Group. I’ve got searches running as we speak. I should have more info on the gang as well as its members later tonight.”
“I wonder if the Shaanxi members were Sarah’s new friends that Sioux told Peony about.”
“We’ll know soon enough,” Cots said as they pulled into their parking lot.
In her office, Leah made notes about what she’d learned during the course of her day, including the impressions she’d had of the two people she’d met with. Using the notes she made, she updated the murder board. Both Peony and Cox had also updated the board during the day. She made a mental note to spend time studying the board the next day to catch up with her colleagues.
At six, Leah left the office and headed home. She needed to shower and get her head off murder and mayhem before seeing Jardain again. Her thoughts of Jardain were interrupted by Seraph.
“We’ve got company. The ubiquitous black sedan in the right-hand lane three cars back.”
“Alert Cots when you have a license plate number.”
“The car doesn’t have a front license plate. Shall I take evasive maneuvers?”
“Nothing obvious, Seraph. Let’s make sure the car’s following us.”
Leah was sure if Seraph had been human, it would have harrumphed at her for doubting the car was really following them.
Seraph didn’t change speed, but did take a left turn at a light just as it turned yellow. The car behind them apparently stayed in its lane. Seraph had them gliding down a side street in an attempt to get behind the black car and get a plate number.
“We’ve picked up another tail,” Seraph told Leah. “It’s the turquoise Toy two cars back.” The car used the same derisive tone when it said “Toy” as Cots did. Leah smiled.
“License plate number?”
“Already sent to Cots.”
“The black car is just ahead,” Leah said as she pulled out her binoculars from the glove compartment. She read the license plate number aloud so Seraph could send it to Cots as well.
Seraph turned right and sped up to make the first light. By this time, Leah was completely lost. She was born directionally challenged much to the amusement of Cots. Leah let the car do the driving most of the time because of it.
“We lost the Toy, too. Now let’s see who they send after us next.”
Five minutes later, Seraph couldn’t spot another car tailing them. Still, Seraph took what Leah thought was a circuitous route to her apartment building. The car drove into the underground garage and Leah exited the car, but stayed out of sight. She wasn’t followed into the garage.
That little cat-and-mouse game had cost her some time, and she still needed that shower. Just the thought of seeing Jardain again made her smile and sent her blood racing.
Chapter Eleven
After dropping her bag by the front door, Leah headed for her bedroom. As she was undressing, Rusty came into the room and asked if she’d care for a drink or dinner.
“I’ll be having dinner out tonight, but I will take a glass of white wine,” she said. “And put some music on.” In a moment the entire condo was engulfed in one of her favorite modern groups, the Elixir Junkies. They reminded her of the music from the twentieth century—called rock—her grandparents had enjoyed listening to.
Leah walked into her bathroom and told it she wanted her regular shower. When the water turned on, it was already at the temperature she liked. When she stepped into the shower stall, she could feel the tension melting from her body. Her mind, however, was not at peace. It was a jumble of thoughts jumping between the case and Jardain Bensington.
First in her mind was Jardain. She wasn’t sure what to think about the woman. Yes, she’s attractive and sexy, but there’s also an element of danger about her. What is that about? Why does your gut tell you she’s dangerous? Dangerous as in you could fall in love with her? Or dangerous because she’s not who she seems to be? Both? Maybe she’s too perfect? How many insanely beautiful and sexy Directors of Psychiatry are there in the galaxy? Why has the only one asked me out?
Leah knew if she continued to stand under the pulsating water trying to figure out what was going on with Jardain, she’d answer her front door looking very much like a raisin. That image made her smile as she exited the shower.
“Tell me about the restaurant Wildfire,” she told Rusty
“The Wildfire has an eclectic menu suitable to most tastes. It is known for its steaks and seafood. It is casual, but reservations are a must.”
“Rusty, make reservations for two in the name of Jardain Bensington.”
A moment later, Rusty said, “Dr. Bensington already has reservations for two.”
“When did she make them?”
“She made them at nine o’clock this morning.”
So Jardain had made reservations at the Wildfire after leaving Black Orchid Investigations. Either Jardain had already spoken to Amara about Leah or Amara didn’t know her daughter as well as she thought she did.
“What to wear?” Leah murmured.
“May I suggest the black silk slacks, blood-red T-shirt, and black leather jacket?” Rusty asked.
Leah was about to tell Rusty she hadn’t been talking to her when she realized what Rusty had suggested was perfect—casual, but not sloppy casual. She wasn’t sure she liked the idea that a robotic knew her well enough to make fashion suggestions. It was bad enough that her car talked to her, but having her butler standing next to her as she stood naked staring at the contents of her closet was more than a little creepy.
After she dried her hair and gave it a quick finger-comb, she applied a little makeup and dressed. As she exited the closet, Rusty entered the bedroom. “Boss, it’s a quarter to eight. I believe Dr. Bensington is due here at eight?”
Leah decided she was going to kill Cots if he didn’t reprogram Seraph and Rusty to stop calling her “Boss.” She knew he’d done it to aggravate her and it did. But enough was enough.
“Yes, Rusty, she is.”
Rusty left the room, her job done.
By the time she put her shoes on and took her black leather jacket from the closet, Leah felt a simmerin
g excitement building and she very nearly picked up the phone to call Jardain to cancel their date. She’d not had that feeling since she’d been getting ready for her very first date ever. And yet here it was again, nearly three decades later. Maybe this is what I was thinking when I told myself Jardain is dangerous. We haven’t even had our first date yet and already I’m excited at the mere thought of seeing her. I get aroused thinking about kissing her and we haven’t spent more than a few minutes together. What the phuc is the matter with me? Did I learn nothing from my experience with Quinn?
She dropped the nearly paper-thin wallet she carried into the inside pocket of her jacket and put her phone in there, too. As she walked down the hall toward the living room, the doorbell chimed. Leah’s stomach dropped a mile. Rusty must have been standing by the door waiting, because she heard Jardain ask if Leah was home.
“Won’t you come in, Doctor?” Rusty asked.
As Jardain stepped into her home, Leah had a few seconds to look her over. It only took those few seconds for her heart to start pounding. Jardain’s dark hair was cascading down her back. She wore all black, which made her green eyes seem greener and showed off her complexion exquisitely.
“Hello. I’m so glad you didn’t cancel our date,” Jardain said. “You look stunning,” she added as she stepped closer to Leah and kissed her cheek.
Leah resisted the twin urges to either touch her cheek where Jardain had kissed her or take the woman in her arms and kiss her until she was weak in the knees. Instead, she said, “I admit I did pick up my phone a couple of times this afternoon.”
“I’m very happy you didn’t dial my number.”
“Me, too.”
“Shall we go? I don’t want to lose our reservations. Although…”
Leah laughed. “Let’s go. I’m starved.”
“Good. I’m hungry, too.”
Is it my imagination or did Jardain almost say “hungry for you?” No, she did not. She probably doesn’t feel the chemistry between us. But maybe she does. Then what? Either way, I’ll be in trouble.
Since they needed to get to the restaurant quickly, they decided Jardain would drive because she was familiar with the location. She drove fast but not recklessly, and had them at the restaurant with a minute to spare before their reservation would have been given away.
The hostess greeted Jardain by name. Leah heard the hostess ask under her breath, “A new conquest, Doctor?” Jardain ignored the question, but she couldn’t make Leah unhear the question. There was no reason for Leah to think Jardain wasn’t a player. The woman was beautiful, sexy, wealthy, and the head of the psychiatry department at a large, prestigious medical facility. Well, she’s not going to play with me. I guarantee that.
As they traversed the restaurant to a table near the rear of the restaurant, both men and women watched them pass by. More than one person reached for their phone to take photos, alert the press, or just brag that they were dining in the same place as Jardain Bensington. Leah was sure the coverage would be extensive when the evening vidnews came on.
After they were seated and their dinner orders given to their waiter, Leah asked, “Is this your ‘usual’ table?”
“Yes. I eat here a lot, so when I have reservations, they seat me here.”
“Does the fact that people pull out their phones as you pass by bother you?”
“They do? I didn’t notice.”
“Really?” Leah asked.
“Yes, really. That sort of thing has happened all my life. When I was a kid, it happened when I was with my parents. It was one of the main reasons I left the planet to go to university and get my medical degree. I wanted to go somewhere I wasn’t known. Unfortunately, on Xing, there is nowhere I’m not known. Outside the city of Victoria, my mother is well known because of her status as a member of one of the Five Families. Here in Victoria, it’s my father who is well known. I think people expected me to be one of those spoiled trust fund babies.”
“And you’re not?”
“It’s been a long time since I was a trust fund baby.”
Leah sensed Jardain was uncomfortable talking about herself and her family, so she paused long enough to take a sip of her wine.
“Why did you choose to move to Xing?” Jardain asked.
“One of my associates is a native. She thought we’d be happy here.”
“We? Are you and your ‘associate’ a couple?”
Was that a touch of disappointment I heard in her voice? I need to get over myself. There’s no way she’d be disappointed after spending so little time with me.
“No. By ‘we,’ I meant my business partners.”
“You have business partners? Why?”
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure I wanted to own a business. My partners were more sure they did. So we put together Black Orchid Investigations.”
“How’s it going?”
“Do we really want to talk about my business dealings on our first date?” Leah asked.
“No. But I’m worried that the questions I really want to ask would offend you as being too personal.”
“Why don’t I ask a question to break the ice?” Leah asked.
“Okay,” Jardain said, sounding like it wasn’t really okay.
“Why are you single?”
“You jumped right into the personal arena with bells on your toes,” Jardain said with a laugh.
Leah didn’t respond. She’d wait to see if Jardain thought she’d be the only one asking intensely personal questions and expecting answers.
Jardain didn’t answer right away. Finally, she sighed and said, “I’m single because I have a hard time believing in monogamy. I didn’t exactly have great role models growing up. My adult friends are mostly serially monogamous. I only know one couple who has been monogamous, and they’ve been that way for twenty-some-odd years. When I asked them why, they talked about love. When I asked them how they did it, they said they worked at it. They said it wasn’t easy, but the thought of living without the other person was too painful to risk for the cheap thrill of a one-night stand.”
“You like the thrill of a one-night stand?”
“Wow. Damned if I answer the question, damned if I don’t.”
Leah waited to see if Jardain would try to change the subject.
“I admit one-night stands are easier—no commitment needed, no talk of love, no talk about a future—just uncomplicated sex. But I look at my mother and her wife, and I’d like something like they have together.”
“Commitments and love and a future?”
“Yes. But I wonder if that’s meant to be mine because I’ve never met anyone who I wanted to do that with.”
“Maybe you’ve been looking in all the wrong places because one-night stands are more readily available to you than anything else.”
“I hadn’t thought in those terms, but you may be right. Maybe I should broaden my search,” Jardain said, smiling. “What about you? I know you were monogamous with your wife on New America. Would you like that again?”
“Isn’t that a bit personal for a first date? How do you know anything about my personal life?”
“Oh, I see. You can ask personal questions and expect answers, but you won’t answer personal questions about yourself,” Jardain said.
“All I asked was if you were single. You supplied the additional information,” Leah said, smiling.
“Fair enough. Are you going to answer my question?”
Leah thought about it, and decided fair was fair.
“Ah, but ours wasn’t a monogamous relationship,” Leah said even as she noted that Jardain had not answered her question about how she knew the details of her personal life.
“Did you think it was?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Do you think you’d like another monogamous relationship?”
Leah smiled and said, “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.”
“No fair throwing my words back at me.”
Leah was saved from
answering the question when the waiter appeared with their dinners. They’d both ordered filet mignon and a salad. Leah immediately began eating because she was seriously hungry.
“Don’t think I won’t ask about what you want in a relationship just because dinner was served.”
“Damnation,” Leah murmured.
Jardain laughed and began devouring her dinner as well.
When they finished their entrees and determined neither of them wanted dessert, Jardain paid for dinner and they left the restaurant.
Leah knew she was close to moving beyond just being attracted to Jardain. She was on the verge of actually falling for her. She wondered if taking the next emotional step with Jardain would be the worst mistake of her life. I think it’s highly unlikely Jardain is interested in a monogamous relationship. And I don’t want anything less than an exclusive relationship with her.
Chapter Twelve
As they walked toward Jardain’s car, Leah said, “Thank you for introducing me to your favorite restaurant. And thank you for dinner. It was truly delicious.”
“You’re welcome.”
They walked a few feet, then Jardain stopped.
“What is it?” Leah asked.
“How did you know Wildfire is my favorite restaurant?”
“Well, let’s see. The hostess knew you by name and asked a very personal question, they give you the same table every time so you must go there often, and you didn’t even look at the menu, but you knew what to order.” Leah paused. Then she added, “And your mother told me it was.”
“My mother told you? My mother rarely discusses anything about our family, and certainly not with strangers. What did you do to wrest that information from her? Charm her? Bribe her with a new orchid?”
“She volunteered it. No charming or orchids involved.”
“Damn. She must like you a lot for her to tell you anything personal about me. What else did she tell you?”
“Nothing incriminating, I assure you,” Leah said, not knowing whether Jardain believed her.
