Dancing with Detective Danger (13 page)

Sterling gathered her determination to piece together the puzzle and close the Witt case before her heart became hopelessly entangled. There couldn’t be any more letting her guard down. The intimate times she’d spent with Ben only made things worse. What had she been thinking, letting her emotions take over? It amazed her that she could make such poor choices.

Ben cleared his throat. “Okay, maybe I’m a little nervous about you wandering around when we haven’t secured the scene. I’m going to make the call to the department, then I’d like to talk with you.”

Sterling crouched to scrutinize, without touching, the papers lying on the floor. “You make your call. I’ll just look around.”

“Sterling, you leave things be until my men get here.”

Sighing, Sterling straightened and shot another look at Ben. “You don’t have to caution me. I know what I’m doing. You just get the cops here. It’s been a long day and the sooner your men get here, the sooner I can get some of my own answers.”

• • •

Lacey perched on her kitchen stool and fingered the rose quartz earring dangling from her left pierced ear. She hadn’t taken the earrings off since her encounter yesterday in the hospital with Nicholas. Call it superstitious, she didn’t care, they had to be her lucky earrings. How else could the return of her sweet Nick be explained?

After the doctor released Tyler from the hospital that afternoon, Lacey had brought her son home, fixed his favorite meal — spaghetti, corn muffins, and fresh cantaloupe — then coaxed him with computer games into an evening of sitting put. Against his protests, Lacey had ushered him off to bed early. After making sure Tyler had a night’s rest in his own bed, she would be nearly ready to release her precious son back into the world again, be it with a cast from his fingers to his shoulder.

But you know concern for Tyler is not the only reason you wanted him snug in bed tonight.
Nicholas promised he would be near, but when, how? Lacey’s thoughts churned and stewed as she tried to logic it out.

But honestly, none of it made any sense. Not rationally. Still, Lacey knew without doubt that Nicholas had visited her in the hospital yesterday, and maybe there had been other times, too, that she had discounted. She was as sure of it as she was sure of anything — not because her head told her it was possible, though. The sweet, unshakable knowledge of Nicholas sat firmly planted in another place located in the center of her chest.

A smile started in Lacey’s heart and lifted the corners of her lips. “Nicholas,” she whispered. “I know you’re here. I can feel you.”

“Hey, beautiful.” The sound of his voice struck a jubilant chord in Lacey’s body. As real and solid as the kitchen walls, Nicholas sat on a stool beside her. “I knew you’d figure it out.”

Leaning close, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips.

Lacey felt tears welling inside her heart. “You told me you were near, I just had to believe.”

Instantly on his feet, Nicholas’s arms encircled her. Lacey could feel his heart beating against her trembling body.

“Don’t cry, Lacey.” Nicholas brushed away a tear traipsing down her cheek. “Everything’s okay now.”

“Longing for you has been aching inside me for so long. Now, seeing you here, really here, holding me and kissing me, my heart can’t contain the joy.” Lacey rested her head against Nicholas’s solid shoulder, wanting only to have faith that this moment would never end.

“Our love is so strong. Like I told you, nothing could keep me away.” Nicholas tilted her face up to his, taking her lips in a lingering, exquisite kiss.

Fairly humming like a finely tuned motor, Lacey let the force of their love carry her to a place of gentle calm. With Nicholas’s arm draped over her shoulders, she let him lead her into the living room to nestle onto the couch together.

“Just like old times.” Lacey snuggled close to him, taking in his familiar scent. “Can this really be happening?”

Silently, Nicholas stroked her cheek and Lacey gazed up into his liquid-blue eyes. From his wavy, ash-blonde hair and squarely broad shoulders beneath his red T-shirt, to his wrinkled jeans and quirky smile, this was exactly the Nicholas she remembered. How could she question the reality of this moment?

Still, there were questions.

“Why are you here?”

“You needed me, so I came.” Nicholas continued to stroke her cheek, his eyes never stirring from hers.

“But I’ve needed you for two years. Tyler needed you, too. Why have you come to me now?”

“You called me.”

“But how?” Lacey knew the questions were coming from a place inside her that was afraid to believe, afraid she’d lose him again. Or worse, discover this was all in her head.

Nicholas drew her up close to him. He felt solid, warm, real.

“It’s hard to explain,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Don’t listen to your fears, Lacey. Listen to your heart. You know our love is as real as anything that exists in this world. And that’s how you called me.”

The clock in the hallway struck eleven o’clock, and Lacey yawned, relaxing comfortably into the knowing of her love for Nick.

“You better get to bed, sleepyhead,” he teased.

Lacey straightened. “Will you stay?”

Nicholas smiled. “Don’t worry about anything, sweetie. I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”

“When will you be back?” Lacey felt the fears rising again.

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“How long will you stay?” she said, lowering her eyes. She couldn’t bear the thoughts tumbling around inside her head.

“I’ll stay as long as you need me.”

• • •

Thinking seemed to be getting Sterling nowhere but in concentric circles. The clock on her wall beat out the minutes as she thumbed through copies of the police investigative report of Pamela’s death.
Nothing here pins down motive. No leads to Jerry’s whereabouts.
The key remained a dead-end, and the planner had yet to yield any clues. Sterling slammed the file folder down on her desk, and walked to the window.

City lights sparkled loudly, announcing the close of another day and nagging at her in chorus with the wall clock. A third day on the case was drawing to an end with still no breaks. Each day’s passing meant the trail was just that much colder, making the odds of locating the wayward Jerry just that much slimmer. It gnawed at her, like the hungry growl of an empty stomach.

Interviews with neighbors at the condo and in the Rutherford neighborhood had netted Sterling nothing she hadn’t already known.
Still, maybe tomorrow I’ll canvas the neighborhoods again. Maybe I’ll stake out the Rutherfords’ home tomorrow evening. Something’s got to budge.

“Keeping late hours is hard on your health, you know.”

Sterling’s heart jumped into her throat, and she whirled to face the familiar intruder. “Ben! What are you doing walking in on me like that?”

The sweet half-smile popped out onto his lips, making her heart do flip-flops.

“The door was open. You really ought to consider locking it after hours, beautiful.” He made himself at home on the couch, resting his head against the back cushion, and closing his eyes.

A shadow of a beard darkened his features. Relaxed, his eyes closed, Ben’s face beckoned her to touch the hollow places in his cheeks and caress the furrowed spot between his eyes.

“I take it it’s been a long day for you, too,” she said. Knowing the warmth growing inside her, she almost felt guilty letting her eyes linger on him.

Lazily, he raised his lids. “Come sit down, you look beat.” Ben motioned to the cushion beside him. “I bet you haven’t eaten dinner yet, have you?”

She gave in. Her heart pounded out a staccato beat inside her chest, but as her head rested against the back of the couch, she didn’t care. Sterling closed her eyes and drew in a slow, deep breath, and with it came the scent of him. No exotic, expensive cologne or anything she could put a name to. Just Ben’s scent. As with so many times before, it went through her like sweet medicine for her soul.

“So, what do you say, how about going with me for a nice dinner out?”

Sterling let herself enjoy the soothing effects of the nearness of Ben for another moment. He didn’t even know he had this effect on her. He couldn’t know. And she wouldn’t tell him. That would be the in he seemed to be dying for. A little grin escaped her lips. Dying for. Funny she’d think of it like that.

“What’s so funny?”

She opened her eyes and found herself looking into his, two pools of deep blue that caught her breath.

“Nothing.” After all, dying was anything but funny. Ben’s expression remained unchanged, but Sterling could hear his thoughts, and he clearly knew more than she wanted him to know.

“Sterling, we’re so alike, you and me.” His face close enough for her to feel his warm breath on her skin, Ben’s voice was low and throaty.

Her breathing picked up pace to match the rapid flutter of her heart. “Oh really? You think you still know me, Ben?”

“I know what makes you see red, what makes you laugh, and what touches your heart,” he said, gently laying his hand on hers. “I know what makes you get up in the morning and face each day despite the gaping hole deep inside your heart. We’ve both known the dark side of life and it’s done something to us.”

His eyes wouldn’t let go. She felt painfully laid open. This was forbidden territory, even for him. No, especially for him, because he should know better.
“And how does this make us so alike?” she asked, numbness seeping through her veins.

He flinched, almost in slow motion. “Don’t play dumb, Sterling.”

“Then don’t play psychiatrist.” Gathering her senses, she slid by him and walked across the room. She didn’t glance at him, but she could feel him sink.
There’s nothing I can do about it,
she thought to herself, shoving aside the near instinctive need to comfort him. “Besides, if we’re so alike, then you know what’s really making me see red is the Witt case. Do you have anything for me?”

• • •

Ben paused, staring at her, his eyes searching. But she’d brought up her defenses — she was numb.

Finally, he answered. “I was right about the black sedan’s plates. It was a rental car rented with a fake ID. And Dewberry’s office was clean.”

Sterling’s eyes widened. “Dewberry’s office was clean? No prints?”

“Nothing.”

“What about the envelope? Did you lift anything useful off that?”

“Again, nothing. That’s all I’ve got right now. You’ll have to wait for the reports if you want anything else.” Why did he keep trying? Whenever he sensed her heart opening a crack, she slammed it closed in his face.

“You know what that means,” she stated, more than asked.

The tired slump of her shoulders had disappeared and the traces of sadness that moments ago had laced her voice were gone.
Not that I’m surprised. The case takes her mind to places she can handle.
“It means I want you to close the case with your client.”

Hands on her hips, Sterling chortled. “Excuse me? You want me to what?”

Ben stepped toward the door. “C’mon, I bet you haven’t eaten since breakfast. Let me buy you a late dinner at that hamburger place you like. Happy’s Diner. I bet they’re still serving.”

“Stop changing the subject. This is a break. A small break, but nonetheless, a break, a lead, a direction to follow. Dewberry’s murder was a professional hit. That means Pamela and Jerry were mixed up with some really bad guys. Did you ID the prints on the photos?”

Ben stared at her again. Her mind caught up in the case, her spirit sparked to life and fire burned hot in her eyes. She was like a wild horse captured in a corral, ready to break loose. This was Sterling. So alive and fearless. But right now, he wanted to just hold her, talk sense into her. He caught her shoulders and forced her to face him. “You said it yourself. These people are really bad. I want you to step away.”

Sterling’s eyes glistened. Her lips, inches from his, slowly parted and a smile appeared. “Not a chance.”

“You’re so stubborn!” Ben dropped his hands and shook his head.

“Maybe. But you can’t seriously be suggesting I walk away from a case. It’s what I do, remember? I solve cases and get paid. That’s how I can pay my bills. Why can’t you take my work seriously?”

Sterling stood looking up at him with those eyes the color of the Mediterranean Sea, and all he could think of was himself. How much he’d longed for her, and how much he couldn’t stand it if some low-life …

“I’m waiting for your answer.”

The room was closing in on him, and it felt like something had sucked all the air out. “I’m sorry, Sterling.”

“That’s it? That’s your answer?”

Her eyes demanded the truth. “Are you really prepared to deal with the type of people involved in this case? They’re probably into drug dealing, money laundering, who knows what else. Obviously killing doesn’t bother them.”

“They don’t scare me.” Sterling’s chin inched up just a bit.

“I know that. And that’s what scares me. A little healthy fear is good.”

“That’s a funny thing to hear coming out of your mouth,” she said, inclining her head.

“I told you, I’ve changed. Why can’t you see that?”

“All I see is the same Ben I’ve always known. You’re wearing a suit now, that’s the only difference. You forget, I was there today when we went after the driver that tried to run us over. I saw how you still take to that stuff.”

Resolutely, Sterling crossed her arms over chest.

“I’m just doing my job. Yeah, maybe I get a kick out of it, but that doesn’t mean I’m out of control.” Ben felt an urgency to say the words so Sterling would finally get it, but by the set in her stance, he could tell he wasn’t making much headway. “Could it be you see only what you want to see? That way you don’t have to face your own feelings.”

His remark hit home, drawing her brow down. “We can’t keep doing this,” Sterling said.

“You’re right.” He dared a touch to her cheek, thinking he’d rather die than hurt her. “I guess this is hard for both of us. But I don’t know what we do instead, Sterling. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”