A Witch and Her Man (Jeff and Gail) (9 page)

"You shoulda lied, Al, or you shoulda died, just like you are now," Felix said in a controlled voice as he picked up the telephone and walked into the other room.

Silently, Jeff pushed the door open and entered the room. He looked at the body on the floor then searched Al until he found the gun he was certain was there. He removed it and walked toward the other room to listen to Felix's conversation.

"Let me speak to Tom," Felix demanded.

Waiting for Tom to come to the phone, he walked back into the room. He had holstered his gun to use the phone and looked up just in time to see Jeff. He dropped the phone and grabbed desperately for his gun. He was far too late. Jeff's gun barked once, drilling a hole between Felix's eyes. Jeff watched as the man crumpled to the floor, dead.

Placing Al's gun on the table, he picked up the phone.

"Hello... Hello? This is Captain Bradford. Who's this?" asked the man on the other end of the line. Jeff pushed the disconnect button and placed the phone in Felix's dead hand. He walked over to Al, knelt down and placed the gun in his dead hand.

"I tried to tell you to leave, Al, but you didn't listen."

He searched through the house and after flipping on the light in one room, exclaimed, "Bingo!" He sat down at the desk and in a matter of minutes, hacked into the computer there. He located a blank CD and copied the files. He also found a slip of paper with scribbled passwords.
You talk about Al being stupid
. He added these to the CD and shut down the computer.

Jeff looked around carefully one last time to be sure no trace of his presence remained before leaving.
 
When he got back into his car, he removed the latex gloves on his hands and stuck them in his pocket to be disposed of later.

As he drove back to his place, he was already planning his next step. The name Captain Tom Bradford was familiar.
No wonder the investigation was going nowhere. The damned Assistant Police Chief, for Christ's sake. The deeper I dig into this case, the more it stinks. Well, Captain Tom Bradford, we'll just find out what you know.

When he got home, he put the CD in his computer and started opening files. One in particular contained photos that turned his stomach. He made some notes and looked at the clock. He reached a decision quickly and went back out to his car. For the first time in a long time he had somewhere to go for comfort.
I hope she's up for company because I'm going to need her more than usual, and soon.

****

Gail was sleeping soundly when the doorbell rang. She got up and threw on her robe to cover her nakedness. Stepping into the living room, she found Greta already there with her gun drawn.

"Stay back," Greta ordered.

Gail stayed in the darkened doorway to her room. After looking through the peephole, Greta visibly relaxed, opened the door and ushered Jeff in.

"Sorry for coming over so late, Greta. I need to see Gail. You can go back to bed."

"Good night, Jeff. Good night, Gail," she said, turning to Gail. Greta went back down the hall to her own room.

Gail rushed across the living room and planted a big kiss on his lips. Jeff kissed her back but she could sense something was wrong. She stepped back and gazed at him. "Tell me what's troubling you."

"Just hold me... please."

Gail wrapped her arms around him and felt him shaking.

"What's wrong, Jeff? Please tell me," she pleaded.

"It's better you don't know right now. Maybe later when things are over."

"What things? Jeff, I'm getting scared. Tell me something."

Jeff acquiesced slightly. "The ball is rolling and heads are starting to tumble, that's all I'm going to say."

She noted bags under his eyes. "When was the last time you slept?"

"Uh, I don't know… a day ago, maybe more. I don't remember for sure."

Turning toward her bedroom, she led Jeff by the hand. She sat him down on the edge of the bed and told him to get undressed.

"Gail, I really don't feel like..." he started.

"Shhh, just do what I tell you to do," she ordered in a firm voice.

Jeff was too tired to argue so he started to remove his clothes instead. She helped him remove his holster and he watched as she carefully placed it on the nightstand within easy reach. She finished undressing him and helped him roll onto the bed. Shucking off her robe and throwing it on the edge of the bed, she curled up beside him, pulling the sheet up to cover them. She cradled his head to her breasts and ran her hand gently through his hair. Although she did not know what was going on, she knew instinctively he needed her comforting hands. Slowly his shaking subsided. Before long, his deep breathing indicated he was asleep. She continued to stroke her hand through his hair for a long time, lost in her own thoughts. Finally she also drifted into slumber.

****

Jeff woke with a start. At first he did not remember where he was, but as his gaze roved over the familiar room, he sighed in relief. He relaxed even more when he saw his gun on the nightstand. Throwing the sheets to the side, he realized he was naked. He looked around and found his boxers on the floor at the foot of the bed. He slipped them on and headed out of the room toward the kitchen. He smiled as he heard soft humming to a tune he was familiar with but could not remember the name of.

He walked softly into the kitchen and saw Gail with her back to him, doing something at the sink. She was wearing one of his white dress shirts. The tail of the shirt was just long enough to cover the sensual curves of her butt.

I wondered where that shirt went to. It looks good on her
. He grinned.

"Good morning," he spoke softly, hoping to not scare her.

"Actually, it's evening." She turned to face him.

The front tail of his shirt covered her sex... barely. She followed his gaze downward, batted her eyes and said, "I borrowed it. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. Looks much better on you than me." His lips quirked in a smile.

He watched as Gail turned, stood on her tiptoes and reached for a glass out of the cupboard. The tail of his shirt pulled up, revealing she was not wearing any panties. Her curvy butt gave way to shapely legs and bare feet. He had little doubt his shirt was the only thing she was wearing.

Gail took a glass from the cupboard and poured him some lemonade. "I hope you like this, it's freshly squeezed." When he cocked his head, she added in jest, "Freshly squeezed right out of a can."

"Thanks, it's perfect." He took a long swig, set the glass on the table and sat.

"Greta?"

"She went back to her apartment to do some things. She thought it would be okay since you were here. She told me call when you got ready to leave."

"Fine."

Gail busied herself by serving up two plates of spaghetti for dinner. "I didn't know whether to fix breakfast or supper." She set his plate in front of him, went to the fridge and pulled out the two bowls of salad she had made earlier. "I finally decided on supper."

With him set up, Gail began fixing her own plate and took a seat across the table from him. She did not broach the subject of his activities or statement from the previous night. He asked about her work for the past week. After she told him about her week, he engaged her in other conversation while they ate.

"So are you going to stay again tonight?" she asked.

"I'm afraid not, but I'll miss that soft, wonderful smelling pillow I slept on last... this morning."

"Silly, those were my breasts, not a pillow, you slept on."

"Oh well, no wonder they were so soft and smelled so nice," he smiled. "I'm sorry I came over in the middle of the night and imposed on you. I should've stayed home."

"Nonsense. Your coming over was no imposition. I was glad to have you with me... just to hold on to. I slept great having you next to me."

"Thanks for understanding," he said and looked at his watch. "Damn. I need to go. Carefully, he avoided letting his gaze drift below her luscious lips. Instead, he let it fix on the fabulous depths of her green eyes. "I sure as hell don't want to, but I must."

He opened his phone and dialed a number. "Greta?"

"Hi, Jeff."

"I'm getting ready to leave."

"Be there in ten."

"Thanks." He broke the connection.

When Greta pulled into the drive, he headed for the door. "Sorry to eat and run."

Without saying a word, she walked with him, her hand in his. He pulled her close and kissed her. "Thank you for last night," he whispered against her lips.

"You're welcome." She hugged him tight while Greta watched him from the doorway. He waved to Greta and drove away.

****

Jeff drove to the police station, parked inconspicuously across the street and waited for Captain Tom Bradford to arrive. Through discreet inquires he had learned Tom's work schedule.
I still find it hard to believe. A police chief! Mr. Bradford, you're going to get a visit from yours truly.

He speculated out loud while he watched. "Are you the alpha dog in this pack of wolves or is there someone you answer to? I guess I'll find out when I ask you. You may not want to tell me but rest assured, you will in the end. Whatever I discover, I must be headed down the right path. There haven't been any attempts on Gail's life or even any phone calls. Just as in football, sometimes the best defense is a good offense. I intend to be as offensive as possible."

****

Using the tracing abilities of the police department, Tom discovered the disconnected phone call had originated from Felix's house. Repeated attempts to call Felix on his cell and his ground line had gone unanswered.

He knows better than to call me at the station.
Then when I call the fuck on his cell, he won't answer. Unless he can give me a damn good reason, I'm gonna ream his ass this afternoon when I see him.

When Felix and Al failed to show for their meeting, Tom was livid. He went to Felix's house and saw Al's car in the driveway. After his knocking went unanswered, he let himself in.

The scene on the living room floor turned his blood to ice. Felix and Al were sprawled out there, both very dead. Tom drew his gun and carefully searched the house to confirm there was no one else present. When he was satisfied he was alone, he returned to the living room and the two bodies. He examined the scene and came to the conclusion that the two had killed each other.

"Fucking idiots. I wonder what their argument was about this time. I'll let my men find this on their own so no one will ever be able to trace our relationship," he whispered under his breath while carefully removing any fingerprints he might have left behind.

I hope the two new guys I hired are better than these bozos,
he thought as he drove away.

Tom drove back to the police headquarters in McManville. He went to his office and closed the door. Opening his cell phone, he made a call. He waited for Fred to answer.

"Fred?" he inquired when the phone was answered.

"Yes."

"I just came from Felix's place. Looks like he and Al got into an argument and shot each other. Both of them are dead. We already had to dispose of two bodies, thanks to the private dick that Sweet woman hired. The one he shot in the chest bled out. We got rid of the other one just in case the dick could identify him. Had to get rid of the car too since it was full of holes…"