Possessed

by Stacy-Deanne

  “After this you’ll remember to appreciate laying with me.”

  “You’re doing this to punish me, aren’t you? Because I told Deidra the truth.”

  Jonathan yelled out the door. “Tran?”

  Tran brought Strickland inside the room.

  “Is everything set?” Strickland gawked at Rena with lust in his eyes.

  “She’s ready.” Jonathan ignored her pleading stare. “I warn you, Detective.” He stuck his finger in Strickland’s face. “If you are anything less than respectful of her—”

  “I’ll be respectful.” He flashed a toothy grin at Rena as she sobbed into her hands.

  Jonathan followed Tran out of the room never feeling so disgusted with himself as he did that moment.

  ****

  “Are you saying your girlfriend is lying?” Connie stood in the interrogation room glaring at Hock Meadows. “She came to us claiming you’d been antsy and nervous whenever someone mentioned Lang Latimer’s murder.”

  He leaned forward on the table, pushing his fingers into his black hair, messing up the chic comb-over. “I didn’t even know Lang.”

  “You sure about that?” Dee stood across the table, holding her hip. “Your girlfriend heard you on the phone talking about the murder.”

  “Is that a crime?” He laid his long fingers on the table, streaks of red running through his square cheeks. “This murder is the talk of the town. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s mentioned it.”

  “You’re sweating an awful lot, Mr. Meadows.” Connie gestured to the neck sweat seeping the collar of his designer button-down shirt.

  “Did you know Lang Latimer?” Dee noticed how his ears perked up and eyebrows flattened every time they mentioned her name. “If you did we’ll find out.”

  “You can’t keep me here.” He rubbed his hooked nose, sliding his fingers across his hairless chin. “I’ve done nothing and you have no proof I did.”

  “You’re an accountant at the Waterston Firm.” Dee whistled. “They’re one of the most successful accounting firms in the country. Impressive.”

  His wide lips twisted into a ruthless scowl. “What are you getting at, Detective Quarter?”

  “Oh, just saying...” She strolled around the table, sliding her fingers on the shiny surface. “I’m sure they’d move mountains to protect their reputation and all those big name clients they have.”

  “I didn’t kill Lang Latimer.”

  Dee stabbed her finger toward him. “If you didn’t do it, why are you keeping secrets?”

  “Because...” He closed his eyes and laid his hands over his chiseled face. “I found her body. I’m the one who called the police.”

  Dee froze. “What?”

  “I’m sure you can check the nine-one-one tape, right?” He batted his lavender eyes. “I found Lang Latimer’s body, but I didn’t kill her.”

  “If you’re the one who found her, why not just tell us?” Connie asked.

  “I didn’t think I had to.” He pointed to his wide chest. “I did the right thing. I shouldn’t even be here.”

  “What were you doing in The B-District?” Dee spread her arms wide. “You don’t look like a man who’d be in that neighborhood. You frequent shady bars, sex clubs, and drug-filled apartments, Mr. Meadows?”

  “No.” He jiggled his foot. “I was passing through.”

  She stood erect, straightening her gun belt. “No one passes through The B-District.”

  “I can go any damn place I want and I don’t have to explain that to either of you.” He jumped out the seat. “You can’t keep me here unless you got proof I did something wrong.”

  “Just can’t see why you’re so nervous,” Dee said. “If you only discovered her body.”

  “I got to get back to work.” He checked his watch as he walked to the door.

  “Mr. Meadows?”

  He left before Connie could finish her statement.

  “He’s lying.” Dee leaned over the table, replaying what just happened in her mind. “There’s more to his story. You think they had an affair?”

  “They had something.” Connie stood, grabbing her bottled water off the table. “We’ll find out what.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Jonathan jumped from the wall when Strickland’s orgasmic scream erupted from Rena’s room.

  Five minutes later, the breathless detective teetered into the hall, fumbling with his belt and zipper. “Excuse me for being so loud.” He slapped his thighs. “Man, oh man.”

  Jonathan groaned.

  “She fucked the shit out of me.” Strickland cackled, gripping Jonathan’s shoulders. “She came twice. I didn’t expect that to happen. She was so good.”

  Rena stood in the doorway holding a sheet around her body, tears hanging from her lashes.

  Jonathan headed for her and she backed into the room and shut the door.

  Strickland danced a jig, belt loosened and flopping. “She tried to put up a fight at first.”

  Jonathan closed his eyes, fighting the urge to kill him.

  “She was so soft.” Strickland stroked his middle. “Felt like I was fucking a cloud. Those womanly hips and breasts. Mm. I did whatever I wanted—”

  “Never again!” Jonathan grabbed him. “You hear me? This will never happen again.”

  “Ooh. You jealous because she came twice? She ever come twice with you?”

  “I mean it.” Jonathan shook him. “You’re a disgusting, pitiful excuse for a man and the only reason I’m putting up with you is because of Deidra.”

  “Yeah, Deidra.” Strickland pushed Jonathan away. “Without me you ain’t getting her back. I hold the cards here.”

  “Bull.” Jonathan panted.

  “Oh no? I’ll leave then.”

  “You’re not going anywhere. We have a deal. Now are you ready to talk business or not?”

  Strickland sniffed his fingers, hinting to whatever vile things he’d done to Rena. “How can I think of business?” He fell against the wall in a daze. “That was the best sex I had. Seems better when a woman doesn’t want it, doesn’t it?”

  “I wouldn’t push my luck if I were you, Detective. Lucian filled me in on some things. I never get involved with someone without learning their vulnerabilities. You fuck with me, your career and everything you’ve worked for is over.”

  “Trust me, J.” Strickland snickered, buckling his belt. “You’re the only person in this place I don’t wanna fuck.”

  ****

  “Ugh.” Ursula ripped the cigarette from her mouth that night as Johnny Depp mumbled through his chorus on a scene from Sweeney Todd. “My god. Who told Johnny Depp he could sing?”

  Someone knocked on her door.

  Ursula glided to the door, closing the robe over her green camisole and shorts trimmed in black lace. “Who is it?”

  “It’s the man of your dreams,” a silky voice crooned. “Open up.”

  She laid against the door, crossing her arms. “I don’t want to.”

  “Ursula. Open the door and let Daddy in.”

  “Daddy?” she grumbled, unlatching the double bolt.

  Gage held out a bouquet of striking, pink lilies. “I believe these are your favorite.” He flashed a playful smile as she took the flowers.

  “What are you doing here?”

  He leaned his on the doorframe. “You summoned me like an animal in heat.”

  She rolled her eyes skyward as she sniffed the lilies.

  “I smelled the sweet scent of your cunt through the air.” He lowered his chin, giving her an under look. “It’s calling my name. It’s saying, ‘Gage. Gage, I want your big cock in me tonight’.”

  “I don’t think so.” She tried to close the door, but he stuck his black, Paul Smith Oxford shoe between it. “Gage, no.”

  “No?” He slid inside, removing his black, Valentino blazer. “Since when is it no?”

  “Since I told you this is over. Please leave.”

  “How can I leave when you’re dressed
like that?” He lowered himself on the silver table. “I can’t move anyway because my dick weighs a hundred pounds.”

  “We can’t do this.” She closed the door, plucking at the lilies. “For God’s sake Lang was murdered.”

  “That’s why I need you.” He cringed as Depp’s pitiful singing continued. “I’m going crazy in my grief and you’re the only thing that can help me with that. Good Lord who told Johnny Depp he could sing?” He grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. “We both cared about Lang.” He strutted toward her. “She’d want us to comfort each other.”

  “I pretty much doubt she’d want us to fuck.”

  “Really?” He snatched the flowers out her hand, pushed her against the wall and plastered his juicy lips on her neck.

  “Stop.”

  He held her still, sucking her skin.

  “Lang is dead.” She moaned, cramped underneath his strength. “Don’t you feel guilty?”

  He fondled her hips, raising her camisole. “You didn’t care when she was alive.”

  She huffed. “I did but couldn’t fight the attraction for you.”

  “Then don’t fight it.” He slid to his knees and kissed her belly button. “We need each other now. We’re the only ones we can turn to.”

  “No.” She thrust her fingers in his hair, gyrating from his warm tongue. “We can’t.”

  “We can.” He slipped down her shorts. “You’re a beautiful woman. You expect me to just walk away?” He kissed the inside her thighs.

  “Did you kill her?” She rocked from the pleasure of his lips. “Did you?”

  “No.” He threw her leg over his shoulder. “Did you?”

  She slammed her back to the door, her breath filling the room as he inched his mouth toward her wetness.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “God.” Connie’s red Subaru shuddered, her tire dragging and thumping as she wobbled onto the feeder road and parked. “Damn it.” She called Grayson but got his voice mail. “Babe, I have a flat tire. Can you come give me a hand?” She told him where she was. “Call as soon as you get this. Bye.” She hung up, got out the car and checked the tire.

  A silver, Nissan Sentra crept up behind her, headlights beaming.

  “Oh, no.” She groaned. “Of all people.”

  CeCe hopped out of his car, leaving the door wide open. “What happened?”

  “I have a flat tire in the front.”

  He checked it out, squinting. “You got a spare?”

  She showed him to the trunk.

  “I’ll have this changed for you in no time.”

  “That’s okay.” She faked a smile. “I left a voice mail for Grayson. He’ll be here soon.”

  “You can’t be sure of that if he didn’t answer the phone though, right? Come on, Connie. You won’t even let me change your tire?”

  She sighed, moving back. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” He hauled the spare out the trunk as if it were a pillow. “Where’s your tools and stuff?”

  Connie grabbed the red tool box.

  “All righty.” CeCe propped the spare against her car. “Where are your wheel wedges?”

  “My who?”

  He grinned as he got the two red wedges from her trunk.

  “Oh, those.” Connie chuckled, avoiding eye contact.

  He stuck them behind the rear tires and knelt beside the flat. “I’ll have this off in no time.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  He displayed a slow, sensual smile. “I want to.” He set the flash light on the pavement and removed the hubcap with the wrench. “Watch my back. These people drive like idiots out here.”

  Cars flew past.

  “You’re not lying.” Connie propped her hands on her backside. “What do I owe you?”

  “It’s my pleasure.” He got the jack from her trunk and secured it under the frame. “Nothing I’d rather be doing right now.”

  “You make this look so easy.”

  He raised the car and removed the lug nuts. “So, how’s things going with you and Grayson?”

  “Um...” She batted her eyes. “Fine.”

  “Mm.” He lowered his head but she could still see his smirk. “I was hoping you’d say you were miserable so I could steal you away and we’d ride into the sunset.”

  “That’s not an appropriate thing to say.”

  His gaze traveled up her body. “You two got plans tonight?”

  “That’s not your business, is it?”

  “Nope. Curious that’s all.”

  “Look, I appreciate you fixing my tire but this isn’t happening, CeCe.”

  “What’s not happening?”

  “Let’s not play games. You’ve been watching me at work.”

  He removed the tire and set the it aside. “When have I been watching you?”

  “I’m not interested in you, okay? You’re wasting your time.”

  “I’m confused.”

  “You gave me the yellow rose, didn’t you? That was unprofessional.”

  “I was just being nice.” Darkness overtook his face. “If Grayson is so great, then why isn’t he here when you need him the most? You’d be stuck out here if I hadn’t come along.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “And, you just drove through the exact time I was here.”

  “Are you accusing me of messing with your tire?” He applied the lug nuts to the spare and tightened them with the wrench. “Wow, this is your idea of gratitude?” He stood and lowered the vehicle. “You’re done. Don’t forget your tools.” He put them into the box and gave it to her.

  She set the box in the trunk and he got the old tire.

  “I’ll get rid of this for you.”

  “Thanks.” She closed the trunk and got in the car.

  “You want me to follow you home to make sure you make it all right?”

  “No.” She gave a flat smile, putting on her seatbelt. “I’ll see you.”

  “You sure?” He leaned at her window, winking. “It’s no trouble. I know where you live, remember?”

  “Stay away from my house, CeCe.” She pushed the key into the ignition, hand shivering. “I mean it.”

  ****

  “Is everything okay?” Jonathan took another bite of the Philly Cheese steak casserole while the women sat around the dining room table with their faces lowered to their plates. “Emma, this casserole is amazing.”

  She dabbed her mouth, avoiding eye contact with him.

  Jonathan looked at Rena’s empty seat between Ana and Jinghua. “All right.” He dropped his fork in the plate. “It’s obvious you’re all upset with me.” He loosened a piece of steak from in between his teeth with his tongue. “Let’s talk about it then.”

  “Are you sure you want to?” Asia raised an eyebrow. “You won’t like what you’re gonna hear.”

  He placed his hands in his lap. “I’m listening.”

  “What you did today was heartless.” Ana’s red hair lay over her shoulder in a thick braid. “We won’t tolerate that kind of treatment.”

  “We can’t explain how hurtful what you did was not only to Rena but to us,” Jinghua said. “You don’t know what it’s like to be a woman.”

  “You’re right I don’t.”

  Asia stuck out her lips, breathing hard. “What happened today can never happen again.”

  “I’m sorry.” Jonathan nodded, his heart heavy with guilt. “I didn’t mean to hurt Rena or any of you.”

  “We’re not prostitutes, Jonathan,” Emma said.

  “Yeah,” Ana chimed in. “You can’t treat us any way you want. We demand respect.”

  “You’re right.” Jonathan took his napkin out his lap and set it on the table. “I hate what happened and I promise it will never happen again.”

  “You made a mistake.” Candra’s sweet voice cut through the tension. “I know your heart, Jonathan. I trust that you won’t do it again.”

  “Did anyone ask you?” Asia snapped. “You shouldn’t even be here.”

 
Candra wilted in the chair.

  Shauna sat beside her, watching the timid young woman out the corner of her eyes.

  “I’m surprised you of all people have nothing to say, Shauna,” Jonathan said.

  She bit into her sweet roll. “You know you were wrong.”

  He rolled his eyes, pressing his lips together. “Is Rena joining us?”

  “No.” Emma tapped her plate. “You can’t be surprised she doesn’t want to see you.”

  Jinghua squinted, her Asian eyes becoming even smaller.

  “Will you ever forgive me?”

  “That depends on Rena.” Asia grabbed her glass. “If she does, we will.”

  Jonathan stood, holding the back of his chair. “Where is she?”

  Ana got her drink. “In the garden.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Jonathan approached Rena as she sat on the bench at the waterfall. “It’s so beautiful out here at night.” He relaxed beside her, staring at the cluster of stars above them. “It’s always so peaceful.”

  Rena stiffened, trepidation radiating from her body.

  He touched her shoulder, and she flinched. “I’m so sorry for what I did to you.”

  She pushed her hands between her thighs.

  “I promise nothing like that will ever happen again. Something comes over me concerning Deidra.” He curled his fingers. “Maybe I am obsessed.”

  “How could you treat me that way?” she whispered. “Hand me over to some stranger off the street?”

  “I wasn’t thinking. All I cared about was Strickland helping me.” He lowered his head, glancing at her bosom. “I’m ashamed.” He touched her cheek. “I’m sorry I hit you.”

  “Give me a good reason I should stay here.”

  “Because we need you, Rena. You’re a part of us. You’re a part of me. I love you.”

  She batted her eyes, frowning.

  “I’d be lost without you. I need you.”

  “Why?”

  “You embody the reasons I created The Circle. You’re the kindest and most sincere person I’ve ever known.” He held her, rubbing her arm. “Did you know you’re my favorite?” He stroked her drooping curls. “You remind me of the goodness in the world. That there’s hope for a better life.”