Chapter 13
Jake dropped his cell phone into his jacket pocket as Demond approached. Five phone calls to Kenna since he’d dropped her off two days ago and still no response. Nothing. Stone-cold silence. Each call bounced right to voicemail. He didn’t bother leaving a message this time. Maybe if he waited another day, gave her more time . . . Or maybe he should take the hint.
He focused on his colleague, who’d call earlier with a request to meet somewhere since Jake in his undercover capacity couldn’t go to the FBI building. Given that he had laundry to do anyway, Demond agreed to meet Jake at the Laundromat.
The neon green plastic chair next to Jake’s groaned when Demond stuffed himself into it. “You don’t look too happy, friend. Trouble in paradise?”
Jake shrugged. “I’ve been trying to call Kenna but she’s not answering. I assume you’re logging her calls by now so you’ll see those. If you can keep them off the boss’s radar, I’d appreciate it. They’re strictly personal.”
Demond raised his eyebrows but didn’t commit to the deception.
Jake’s stomach twisted. “What’s up, Demond?”
Demond’s massive chest expanded to twice its size as he took a deep breath. “Got some bad news for you. Your bank-teller girlfriend has moved to the top of our suspect list.” He slid a printout from his coat pocket and handed it to Jake. “A couple days ago, she barely had enough to keep a bank account open. Now, some interesting deposits have appeared. Here’s five hundred bucks and another nine-hundred deposited in a two-day period.” His round finger moved down two lines. “This one appeared this morning. Maybe it’s a coincidence that it’s fifty-two dollars less than the amount taken from her cash drawer in the first robbery. I doubt it but I like to keep an open mind.” His finger redirected Jake’s attention. “And this one? This deposit equals the take from a bank robbery seven weeks ago clear on the other side of town. We didn’t think they were connected but now, we’re re-examining it. She’s paying her bills again.”
Jake was dumbfounded. “There has to be another explanation, Demond. I’d bet my career that she isn’t involved.”
“I think that’s exactly what you’re doing, my friend. You should step back from this.” Demond studied a woman standing at a folding table across the floor, robotically stacking children’s clothes. “I admit I’d be surprised but then, it wouldn’t be the first time a beautiful woman fooled me. We talked about you getting closer to her but now, that isn’t advisable. I wanted you to hear from me that we’re looking at your bank teller harder now. I plan to bring her in for more intensive questioning. This time I’m taking off the gloves.”
He shrugged and hoisted himself out of the seat using the chair arms. “Get out of this while you can, Jake. And watch your back. She could be the next Bonnie Parker or worse,” he said, referencing half of the infamous bank-robbing duo, Bonnie and Clyde.
Demond ambled away, and Jake reached for his cell phone. He was in too deep to get out. Should he leave Kenna a message saying it was important that he speak with her? For what purpose? Certainly he couldn’t tell her the FBI monitored her financial activity, not only because it would blow his cover but it would also be against the principles he’d sworn to uphold when he took his oath as a new agent. His allegiance was to the Bureau and the Constitution of the United States.
The wiser move would be to leave her alone.
Courtney’s public corruption case that originally brought him to Brighton City was in a position to finalize. The prosecutor’s office expected to have the arrest warrants ready next week, launching a major sweep of the key players. The police would arrest Jake too, in order to maintain his cover. He’d been dropped into the case as the money man who served as the liaison between city officials and the shady contractors. It afforded him a bird’s eye view of a dozen corrupt politicians, two secretaries who would be caught in the sweep and the night watchman, who willingly admitted Jake after hours with his payoff pouches. Under ordinary circumstances, that would end his temporary assignment in Brighton City and he’d head back to his home office.
It would be months until he appeared in court in a suit and tie to testify and prosecutors would do their best to protect his identity until then. He’d be listed only as a confidential informant in any paperwork requested by defense attorneys.
As far as Vinny Cabacolli was concerned, Jake was simply a Good Samaritan who’d become his friend. His credibility as a man on the wrong side of the law could be enhanced if after the sweep and his arrest, he called Vinny to bail him out. That was a risk Jake would have to convince his boss to take. Doing that would extend his assignment in Brighton City, immerse him deeper into the Cabacolli case and keep him close to Kenna. That’s what he really wanted, more time with her.
Of course, he could opt out of the Cabacolli case and head back home. Then he could tell Mackenna the truth about his job. But that would leave him in Alabama and she’d be here, too many miles away to build a relationship. He’d tried long-distance love. It didn’t work.
Jake wrestled with his options while he finished his laundry, mentally rehearsing the pros and cons he’d present to the boss. He was making good headway on the Cabacolli case, meeting Vinny tonight, in fact, just to hang out. Better progress with Vinny than Mackenna.
Demond’s revelation puzzled him. Even if Kenna were part of the bank robberies, she wouldn’t be stupid enough to deposit the money in her personal account. Would she? If she did take Jake’s call, he didn’t know how he’d approach the subject anyway. He’d have no way of knowing about her bank balance.
The quandary occupied his thoughts most of the day while he caught up on paperwork, and on the ride to the sports bar where Vinny would be camped out watching the different sports contests he made book on. That had been somewhat of a surprise to the administration. Vinny ran his own small-scale sports betting operation, separate from the family business. Jake wondered if Old Man Cabacolli even knew about it.
Jake spotted Vinny’s black BMW parked in a prime spot as he drove into the lot in his Jeep. He expected it to be a late night and he hadn’t wanted to ride the motorcycle, knowing Vinny enjoyed beer by the pitcher. He chose a parking space at the far end of the parking area, wondering if subconsciously it was an effort to distance himself from Vinny.
Entering the bar, Jake found exactly what he expected. Vinny sitting like a king in one of the overstuffed chairs grouped in twos and threes, all facing a bank of screens. Two of his lackeys milled around ready to fulfill his every command, like dogs waiting for crumbs. The regular bimbos flitted about as well, smiling and jiggling their parts as he approached. Busting this arrogant thug would be an extreme pleasure.
Vinny jumped up when he saw Jake, then he embraced him and signaled the waitress. Jake sighed and ramped up his enthusiasm. It was going to be a long night.
Hours later, Jake swallowed the remnants of his beer, passed a handful of darts to Vinny, and offered to buy another round for them both. His cell phone rang as he headed to the bar and he squeezed it when he read the caller ID. Mackenna. Close to midnight. Was something wrong?
It wasn’t hard for him to sound upbeat about her phone call. His heart actually fluttered.
“Hey, sugar, I’ve been calling you.”
“I know. I had some things to sort out before I returned your messages. Is it too late for me to call? Are you busy?”
“Ah, kind of. I’m working tonight.”
She paused. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you work a night shift. I shouldn’t have bothered you. Should I call back tomorrow?”
“No, no, don’t hang up. Is everything all right?”
“Yes, I guess. I need a friend to help me with something and I thought you could do it.”
“I’m your man.” I wish. “Is it something we can do tomorrow? I can change my schedule and help you with whatever it is any time that you need.”
Geez, Manettia, could you sound more eager? If you were a puppy, your tail would be wagging and you’d be humping her leg. Come to think of it, you are a dog where Kenna is concerned.
“Won’t you have to work tomorrow night too?”
“My schedule is flexible. Tell me what time and where.”
“Can you meet me at my apartment after I get off work, around five?”
“You bet, honey. See you tomorrow.” He disconnected, not wanting to give her time to change her mind and hoping she hadn’t identified the background noise as a bar. A grand slam on one of the broadcasts had generated a roar of applause.
He hadn’t asked what she needed help with and it didn’t matter. Just the fact that she’d called him and wanted to see him again was enough.
Vinny noticed his improved mood when Jake returned with fresh beers. Jake threw three darts and hit the bull’s eye twice, landing the third arrow in the triple ring, effectively leaving Vinny in his dust.
She needed a friend, she’d said. He could be that and more if she let him.
~ ~ ~
Arriving thirty-five minutes early to meet Kenna wasn’t a sign that he was eager, more like he was punctual. And the long-stem white rose he purchased? Well, that was a symbol of a new start, which is what he wanted. With her. He looked up when the exit door at the end of the hallway opened and she stepped out of the stairwell. She appeared thinner and her clothes hung slightly loose. Her eyes widened, as if finding him there surprised her.
He summoned up his sweetest smile. Not too difficult, considering his heart skipped at the sight of her and his desire jumped to full attention. Man, he had it bad.
“You look surprised to see me. You asked me to meet you here, remember?”
At least she kept advancing toward him. She offered a tentative smile.
“I didn’t expect you to be waiting for me. I thought I’d have time to change clothes.” Her eyes dropped to the rose and he held it out for her.
“I can wait out here if you like.” Why, he didn’t know. They’d already paraded around in front of each other in their underwear.
“What’s this for?”
“For you, sugar. I wanted to make you smile.” She rewarded him with a wide grin and her eyes lit up. Visible tension released from her shoulders as she relaxed them and reached for the flower. “Thank you. That’s a sweet thing to do. I don’t think I have a vase for it, though.”
He extracted the half-empty bottle of water from his jacket pocket and held it out. “It’s not fancy but it will work.”
Mackenna unlocked the door, stepped inside, and waved him in. She placed her purse on the kitchen counter on top of a yellow legal pad then stepped out of her heels and put the rose to her nose. Still smiling, she reached for the bottle, uncapped it, and plopped the rose inside. “It’s lovely, Jake. Thank you. Give me a minute to change and I’ll explain what you can help me with.”
Jake tucked his hands in his pockets and leaned against the counter, since there was no place to sit. “Take your time, honey.”
When she returned, he felt faint. She’d slipped into a tight pair of faded blue jeans and a pale blue V-neck T-shirt. Just the slightest bit of cleavage tempted him. Her hair hung around her shoulders, freed from the workday ponytail, and she was barefoot. Her polished red toes made him smile. She had no idea how hot she was.
“You look great, honey. I thought I liked the business woman but the after-work casual Kenna could drive a man insane.” He folded his hands in front of his crotch to conceal just how crazy.
“Thank you.” Her breasts rose when she took a deep breath and so did the heat in the room. “I went to the police station, Jake.” Her smile was tentative, her eyes seeking validation.
“Oh, Kenna, that’s great. I’m proud of you. I would have gone with you if you’d asked but I’m pleased that you went. How’d it go?”
“The police woman asked me about penetration, just like you did.” She leveled a steady gaze at him now and his internal alarm sounded. Careful, Manettia.
“I smiled when she said that and when she asked what made me grin, I told her that my friend used the same words. Then she asked if my friend was a cop.”
Until now, he’d never known what a pregnant pause meant. Electricity charged the space between them. His hard-on disappeared, replaced by a thudding heart. Where was she going with this?
“And?” His question hung in the air between them.
“I answered yes, I think he is.” She reached into the refrigerator for a bottle of water, uncapped it and drank. Somehow, an invisible wind storm had blown every grain of sand from the Sahara Desert into his mouth. She extended the bottle to him and he gratefully accepted it.
“Say something, Jake.”
Another swallow, his eyes never leaving hers. “You’re a smart woman, Kenna. Think it through.”
“It’s all I’ve thought about. If you aren’t a cop, you’re into something illegal, like a drug dealer.” She left the statement hanging in the air, just as he’d done.
It was brilliant. If he denied dealing drugs, it confirmed her suspicions. She had him cornered. Checkmate.
“Can you respond to me, please?”
“No, ma’am, I can’t.”
“Jake, you have to say something. Either that or get out.”
He hated ultimatums. Usually, he chose the ‘or’ option simply because he detested being forced into anything. But this time, door number two meant walking out on Mackenna. And that was unacceptable.
“Don’t shut me out of your life, sugar.”
She sighed and shook her head slowly. “What do you want from me, Jake?”
He locked on to her dark-brown eyes, widely innocent and questioning. His heart pounded. This was a make-or-break moment so he chose his words carefully, holding her gaze as he softly repeated her question.
“What do I want from you? I want to be inside you. Not just between your legs as your lover. In your heart and in your head. I want to be the voice in your ear and the taste in your mouth. The last face you see before you close your eyes at night and the first thought on your mind in the morning.”
She stared at him wide-eyed. “You say that and yet you can’t tell me the truth.”
“Stating it like that implies that I lied to you, honey, and I never have.”
“That’s just semantics. You know what I mean.”
“It’s where we find ourselves at the moment, sugar.”
Five seconds of silence. Ten seconds. A stand-off.
Mackenna’s shoulders sagged. “I’m on a precipice, Jake. My whole world is upended. I’m about to fall off the edge and out of nowhere you appear to save me. But I don’t know anything about you. I don’t know where or how you fit into my life and you won’t talk to me. Why can’t you be honest?”
He stepped toward her, his pulse racing. Slowly, he lifted his hands to her arms and then eased her into his embrace. “I won’t let you fall, Kenna.”
Her hands settled on his waist and he kissed the top of her head, inhaling the coconut scent from her shampoo.
“I promise, sugar, I won’t hurt you and I won’t let you get hurt.”
She leaned into him, her body conforming to his, her arms wrapping around him. They fit together so perfectly. Didn’t that count for something? “Just trust me a little longer. Don’t ask me questions I can’t answer right now.”
With her face against his shoulder, she mumbled, “Are you sure you’re not hiding a wife somewhere?”
“That answer is the same honest answer. No, I’m not married.” He hugged her tighter. “But I’m not free anymore. I’m a puppet and you could control all the strings if you allow me the chance to win your heart and be a part of your life.”
She raised her face to his and his heart splintered at the tears that edged her eyes. “Will you please answer just one question?”
Could he? Did he dare? Silently, his whole life teetering on that precipice she feared, he waited.
Her voice cracked. “Are you a bad guy?”
The breath he held released slowly. So many ways to interpret that question. But the answer remained the same for all of them. He lowered his mouth to hers as he spoke.
“No, ma’am. I’m one of the good guys.”
His lips touched hers and he detected the slightest tremor. Soft and full. Different from the kisses she’d delivered in her drunken performance, when she’d pressed her lips to his mouth, forceful and demanding. Now, she hesitated. He thirsted for this mouth, for every inch of this woman. And so he drank.
He raised his hands to her face and kissed her harder, his tongue touching her lips until she willingly opened her mouth, and then he plunged into paradise. The kiss exploded between them. Her hands clung to his biceps while he devoured her mouth, interchanging short, playful pecks with lustful, long dips into heaven. Somehow, Mackenna McElroy crawled through the portal that was his mouth and saturated his whole body, taking sweet possession of his heart and soul. Her kisses not only gave him life, they sucked it right out of him.
Her body tensed when he leaned against her, essentially pinning her to the counter. Immediately, he released her face and drew back.
“I didn’t mean to press you. I’m sorry if I scared you. I would never force you to have sex with me.” His arms glided down hers and he took both her hands in his and squeezed.
Desire raged through him, making him grin like a teenager about to get laid for the first time. “I can’t pretend I don’t want to make love to you, sugar. But I’m not pushing. I’ll wait until you’re ready. Just don’t add me to the men-you-hate list.”
She swallowed and cast her eyes downward. “Jake, I . . .”
“Relax, Kenna. No strings, remember?” He stepped backward in a gesture meant to give her space, even though he desperately wanted strings with this woman. He wanted to tie her to him in every way possible. The room was charged with electricity so he took another step back.
“You said you needed my help with something. Was that a ruse to lure me here or do you need a good ol’ boy for a chore?”
Mackenna’s eyes sparkled. “Some of your sayings make me laugh. Yes, you can help me. I filed two police reports yesterday. One against Ted Gleaner and one against Arthur. The officer asked for a detailed list of everything missing. I tried to tell him my entire apartment and my identity are all gone, but he couldn’t comprehend that. He said he needs specifics. I thought we could go from room to room and I could recite everything I had in each room and you could record it. Plus, you can help me remember things I don’t list.”
He shrugged, confused. “I’ve never been in your apartment before Arthur cleaned you out. How can I help you with that?”
Mackenna presented her back to him as she searched her purse. “Well, the truth is I think you’re the law so you can use your cop brain to help me think it through.” She swung around, grinning, with a pen and the legal pad in her hand. “Ready?”