CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

AJ opened her door, a smile tugging at her mouth as she took in the sight of Derek. It had been almost a week since she’d seen him, and she’d missed him. They’d texted every day, but he hadn’t asked to see her, and she’d been too proud to ask him. She folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Well, hey good-lookin’. Haven’t heard from you in a while. I was beginning to wonder if you’d fallen off the face of the earth.”

He leaned on the outside of the same doorframe, his face inches from hers. “Sorry, babe. Something came up, and I had to go out of town for a few days. But I’m here to make it up to you. Take a ride with me.” He jerked his head toward his bike.

Her neck craned, her gaze going over his shoulder to the motorcycle that sat in her driveway. She’d missed seeing it there, as she’d missed him.

He took her for a long ride; they drove across the bridge spanning Lake Ponchartrain and rode all through the French Quarter, then up through the Garden District and back again. It was exhilarating being on the bike, with the wind in her face. It felt freeing, and she relaxed, letting all her cares fall away.

Being with Derek was easy. It felt right. It felt good. She never wanted the ride to end. But of course it had to.

He got a call. Club business and had to drop her off at her place, apologizing. She was growing more and more attached to him every day and hated to see him ride away.

***

The next day she was back in her office, daydreaming about their ride when her receptionist buzzed her on the intercom.

“Yes, Coralee?”

“There’s a Detective Williams here to see you.”

AJ frowned. Williams had been one of the detectives who had worked her husband’s murder. He’d become a friend to her through the long months of the investigation and trial, even stopping in to check on her in the weeks and months after. But she hadn’t heard from him in years and wondered why he’d be coming by now, unless he was just stopping in to say hello. “Send him in, please.”

The door opened, and he walked in. Joseph Williams was a tall black man with a big warm smile. If he hadn’t been a detective, he could have been a linebacker. He was a big teddy bear until it came to dealing with criminals. Then the scary came out.

“Joe! How are you?” AJ came around her desk, holding her arms out for a hug. She was soon enfolded in his embrace.

“I’m doing well, AJ. How have you been?”

“I’ve been doing better lately.” She beamed.

“You look happy,” he replied, seeing her expression.

“I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time.” She watched him nod in response, but before he could get maudlin on her, she changed the subject. “How are Tracy and the kids?”

“She’s good. Terrence has been accepted to Tulane next year, and Mayelle just got her driver’s license, so watch out.”

“Oh, Lord.” She laughed and extended an arm, indicating the chairs in front of her desk. “Please, sit down. What brings you here today? Just stopping in to say hello?”

He took a seat, and she moved behind her desk.

“Actually, I have some good news.”

“What news?”

“I got a call from a buddy of mine on the Detroit PD. He’s been keepin’ tabs on Jamal Hill for me.”

The smile faded from her face, his name bringing a rush of bad memories with it. “Detroit?”

Williams nodded. “That’s where he’s been the last few years.”

She absolutely hated the fact that while Gregg lay in his grave, his murderer was walking the earth, carrying on with his life. “Oh, I see. And what’s he been up to?”

“Drug dealing mostly. Until three days ago, that is. He was found dead. I thought you might want to know. Thought maybe it’d help you to finally put it all to rest.”

“Dead?”

He nodded. “He was thrown from the fourth floor of an abandoned building.”

She frowned. “Why do you think he was thrown?”

“Because he was duct taped to a chair when he went out the window.”

“Someone threw him out a window? Who?”

“He wasn’t a very likable guy. Possibly a drug deal gone bad, or maybe he pissed off the wrong person.” Williams shrugged. “I’m just happy he’s dead. I don’t really care how he got that way, do you?”

She stared off out the window, her mind going blank and foggy for a moment. She was glad he was dead. Maybe he had a few years more of life than Gregg, but at least he didn’t live a long life. That was something, she guessed. Perhaps now she could finally put it all behind her and move on.

“You okay?”

She gave him a smile. “Yes. I’m good. Thank you for coming to tell me.”

He stood. “I thought you’d want to know.”

She came around the desk and gave him another hug. “It was good to see you, Joe.”

“You, too. Take care, honey.” He turned to leave, pausing in the door to give her one last smile. “Be happy, Ms. Carter; it looks good on you.”

When he was gone, she moved to the window, staring out at the sky. Something about what Williams had said nagged at her brain. Maybe he pissed off the wrong person.

The timeline jumped out at her. Three days ago. Williams said he’d been found three days ago. Undertaker had been out of town three days ago. She bit her lip. He couldn’t be involved in this, could he?

She thought back to when she’d told him about the murder of her husband and how the man who’d shot him had gotten away with it. She remembered Undertaker had asked her the shooter’s name.

And a few days later, the man turns up dead.

Was it just a coincidence?

She shook her head. She was being ridiculous. He couldn’t possibly have anything to do with it.

But try as she might, the suspicion ate at her all day long.