Black Diamond (33 page)

“Look, don't bite my head off. You really need to take a vacation after all of this,” he said humorously. Marc knew he would, but only if she would join him.

“Talk,” he commanded.

“Yeah, yeah, well I was digging and came across a system flag on your friend Derek. He's being investigated.”
  

“What? This shit is getting too deep. For what?” Marc ran his hand down his face.

“Treason.”

Un-fucking-believable, how in the hell did he find himself mixed in this madness?
“Man, keep digging and I'll call you back. Run Talib's picture through the database. Call me with whatever you find.”

He walked through the banquet room and fell into the closest chair.
If Derek was under investigation, what did Camille know? And was she involved?
He shook his head in disbelief as he dialed Camille's number. He watched the candle flicker as the flame fought to stay lit. The phone rang until her voicemail sounded.

“Camille, this is Marc. I'm...sorry about tonight. I went to the bar and lost track of time.” He paused, not knowing how to continue, “Call me...”

Brrrnngg.
Saul opened his eyes as the ringing phone interrupted his dreams. He shoved Ashley, “Babe, get the phone.” She was a heavy sleeper and after supervising the packaging of their things, he knew she was exhausted. He closed his eyes willing the phone to stop ringing. It didn't.

“Hello.”

“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”

Saul's eyes opened when he recognizes the voice. “How did you get this number?”

“I wanted to meet Ashley.” He laughed, however Saul found no humor in his response.

“At one o'clock in the morning? Look, man, you are taking this too far. I'll see you at the office on Monday.” He turned to replace the phone on the hook when he heard Talib's voice carry through his dark room.

“Not so quick, princess. I'm standing at your door, and either you come out or I'm coming in.”

Saul shot to his feet. Ashley stirred, adjusted her pillow, and continued sleeping. “Where are you?” he whispered into the phone as he walked to his bedroom window and saw a black SUV in his driveway.

“Get your ass down here,” Talib hissed.

He knew he had to get him away from his home. He grabbed a pair of jeans from the armchair next to the bed. He tossed on an UT Austin alum t-shirt and shoved his sock-less feet into his shoes. He kissed Ashley and she reached for him, deepening the kiss as she ran her fingers through his hair.

“I need to make a run, babe.”

“What time is it?” She asked with her eyes closed. She stretched and purred as the sheet shifted down, exposing her bare breasts.

“I'll be back,” he said aroused by the sight of her nude body.

“Okay, be careful,” she whispered. She turned onto her stomach and resumed her calm slumber. Her ivory skin against the black sheets made him want to make love to her again. They’d spent the day finalizing the purchase of their new home. His life changed in a matter of days and with the increase of his salary, he decided to propose to her. He smiled at the memory of first staring into her shocked gaze and then her girlish squeal and almost unrecognizable “yes.”

The five-carat diamond on her delicate finger reminded him of what he had to lose if he didn't get rid of Talib. A car horn rung through the night and interrupted his thoughts. Saul looked toward the sound. It was Talib.
Didn't he know that people didn't honk horns in this neighborhood
?

He ran down the stairs and grabbed his keys. He reached for the door handle and decided to make a quick stop by his home office. He searched his key chain and found the little lockbox key.

Saul located his gun box and moved quickly, not wanting Talib to lay on his horn again. He loaded his gun, secured the safety, and inserted the gun in the small of his back before staggering into the full moon to meet Talib. Approaching the car, he saw a sleeping figure in the passenger seat. He stopped by the driver side as Talib lowered the window.

“What's up, man?” Saul asked trying to get a better look at the sleeping passenger.

“Get in.” Talib barked.

“Wait, is that Camille? What is she doing here?”

“Did I stutter?” he asked, ignoring the questioning expression on Saul's face. “Get in.”

Saul jumped in the car and prayed this would all be over soon.

* * *

She sat in the car waiting. He had underestimated her. She fed him lies, waited for him to leave, and when she heard the slam of a car door, she made her move. She felt weak, but she had no choice.

Ashanta rented a car and found a jogging suit at Wal-Mart. She needed to find Camille, but she didn't have her phone and she didn't know her cell phone number by heart. She now sat less than a block from her condo. She could see the window from the street and the lights were on.

Was someone in there or did someone leave the lights on?
She sat back in the seat, contemplating what to do next. The glare from an oncoming car reflected off the side mirror. She hunched back in the seat, lowering her head to watch the car drive past.

To her surprise, Ashanta noticed Saul in the backseat before she ducked out of sight. The car passed and she raised her head until it was level with the dashboard. She watched as Saul stepped out of the car and then she saw Talib climb from behind the wheel.

What were they doing at her place?
She watched them talking, or more like arguing from the expressions on their faces. Talib stepped to Saul and talked directly in his face. They stood inches apart. Saul recoiled and Talib circled the car, opening the passenger door.

Ashanta squinted, trying to see what he was reaching for. The full moon helped, but they were in a shadow.
Is that a body
? Shock filled her as she watched Talib cradle the body to him. It was a woman in a black dress. He was struggling to hold her arms. Saul helped and leaned into the car.

Was she dead?

Ashanta looked up and down the street to ensure she had not been spotted. They started walking toward her, she ducked out of sight again, watching the men make their way into her complex. They stopped for a brief moment under the streetlight as Talib balanced her weight and activated the car alarm. She felt her chest tighten as she held her breath. She recognized the profile of the woman in his arms...it was Camille!

* * *

The street was still. The clock on the dashboard read one-thirty. He'd sat in the same spot for almost an hour. Marc walked to her door when he arrived, but the house was dark and she didn't answer the door. The longer he waited, the more uneasy he became.

He only had one choice. He would call Derek after talking with Jarvis.

“This better be good, it's almost one o'clock.”

“Man...”

He watched a car ride down the street and paused, willing the car to stop and for her to step out, but when it continued down the street, his heart dropped.

“What's going on, Marc?” His voice sound more alert.

Where did he begin? What if she left with him and they slipped off from the banquet together?

“Camille and I went to a banquet tonight and I stepped out for a couple of hours. I came back and she was gone. I've waited outside her place for almost two hours. I have a gut feeling that something is wrong.”

“Did you call her?”

“Yeah, I left several messages...” Now he was just worried.

“I can run a trace on her car,” Jarvis offered.

He shook his head. “That won't work because her car is here.” Marc nervously tapped his fingers against the steering wheel.

“What about her cell phone?”

“Can you do that?” He saw a glimpse of hope in the suggestion. He hadn't thought about her phone other than to leave a message.

“Yes, most cell phones have GPS now. I could have someone run it. What's her number?”

Marc gave him the number and Jarvis promised to call back as soon as he could. While he waited he called Derek, maybe he knew where she was.

Relief cursed through him. It was almost over.
The case from hell.
Derek tapped on the passenger window of Marc's car. He heard the click of the doors unlock. He climbed in and calmed his racing heart before speaking.

“Have you heard from Jarvis?”

“Yes, I have the address. You ready?”

“Yeah, let’s roll...”

* * *

Camille opened her eyes and scanned the room.
Why was she in Ashanta's room
? She attempted to sit up, but a piercing pain shot through her head. She groaned, falling back against the bed.

Talib entered the room. She turned to him as he handed her a glass of water and two pills. “What is this?”

“Aspirin to help with your head. I think you had too much wine.”

He smiled, but it felt phony. She took the aspirin and reached for the lamp on the nightstand. He stopped her and turned on the light as she pushed up in the bed. Camille noticed her purse and cell phone. The green light flashing signaled she had voice mail.
Marc…

Her mind was racing, but she needed to quiet the throbbing in her head. She took the aspirin after examining the gel-coated capsules. She drank the water as she looked around the room. He took a seat on the bed at her feet.

“What are we doing in Ashanta's house?” She asked aloud this time.

He shrugged, but did not respond. They held a stare that spoke volumes. She fought the sense of betrayal and prepared to fight for her life. Camille shifted in the bed, allowing her thighs to rub together slightly. She felt relief as the cold from the metal confirmed he had not removed her gun, but first she needed answers.

“Camille, I need you to listen to me, and listen good.” He slid closer to her and she watched him transform before her eyes. Gone was the humorous smile and laid back charm; in its place was a hardened edge that caused her to jerk away from him.

Talib placed his hand on the opposite side of her body, preventing her from sliding across the bed.

“What did you do with Ashanta?” she asked, ignoring his threat.

He laughed and she flinched as he tossed back his head. Talib stood and faced her with his shoulders squared and arms crossed. “Precious, you are not in a position to demand answers, but if you behave you will be allowed to walk away from tonight unharmed.”

“Are you planning to do to me what you did to her?” She continued. Ashanta's warnings rang in her head.

 
“What do you know about my money?” He asked with a scowl on his usually handsome face.

“What money?”

“Don't play stupid. I know you know something and I'm not into playing games. Tell me and you can go on with your night.”

Camille returned his spine-chilling glare and inwardly prayed that Marc or Derek were aware of her disappearance. She needed to disarm him and get to her gun. She decided to play sweet.

“So tonight was a lie?” She softened her voice and watched him adjust his stance.

“Camille, answer the question. What did Ashanta tell you?”

“Nothing...I saw a picture of you at her graduation. You must be friends.” She watched the veil behind his eyes fall, but instantly return.

“We're acquaintances.”

“Did you kill her?”

* * *

Camille eyes began to fill with tears and Talib fought to hold his composure. He felt his heart breaking as her eyes bore into him.