Damaged Read online

“I’ve had it, Susan.”

  “Well leave.” Travis pointed toward the doorway. “Everything was fine before you came into the picture, anyway.”

  “You’re so lucky I love your mother.” Charlie huffed and puffed. “If not you’d be in the ground in the backyard.”

  “That’s enough.” Susan poked Charlie’s arm. “Don’t talk to him like that.”

  Charlie gestured at Travis. “He deserves more than that for all the hell he’s put you through, Susan.”

  “Please.” She sighed. “I can’t take this fighting anymore.”

  “Fuck with me Charlie and the police might come knocking on your door real soon.”

  Charlie’s eyebrows lowered. “What did you say?”

  “Yeah.” Travis nodded, standing wide-legged. “When you spoke to the cops today did you tell them about that fight you and Prisha had at the boarding house? I bet they’ll find that very interesting.”

  “Jesus, Charlie.” Susan touched her forehead. “You had a fight with Prisha?”

  “It wasn’t a fight.” He massaged his thick neck. “We argued. It wasn’t even about nothing.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Susan asked. “Do you realize how this will look if the police find out?”

  “I didn’t kill Prisha.” Charlie looked at Travis. “And, they’re not going to find out about that fight. Will they, Travis?”

  He leaned into Charlie and winked. “That depends on how nice you are to me, Big Fella.”

  ****

  “I can’t believe you’ve never been to this place before.” Grayson sat across from Connie on the terrace of the bistro, cutting into his roasted duck breast.

  “Told you I don’t get out much.” Connie sipped Burgundy Pinot Noir, watching cars stroll through the avenue. “I find that a good thing.” She bit into the succulent, juicy duck. “It means I appreciate these things more than the average person.”

  Grayson chewed, blueberry vinaigrette glistening off his salt-and-pepper goatee. “Other than with me, you ever go out?”

  The loose strands from her bun flew into her eyes. “No.”

  “Connie.” Grayson leaned back, lifting his wineglass. “You’re too fascinating to be stuck in the house.”

  “I don’t mind it.” She chuckled, chewing the collard greens mixed with creamy garlic sauce. “It’s what I’m used to. I’m fine with my life.”

  “You want more.” His almond-brown eyes peered into her soul. “Why am I the lucky man you take time for?”

  “I like you.” She swallowed food. “A lot.”

  A waiter in a long-sleeved white shirt approached them. “More wine, sir?”

  “No thanks.” Grayson smiled.

  He asked Connie, and she declined.

  “Please let me know if you need anything else.” The waiter flashed a crooked smile then went on his way.

  “You like me?” Grayson sucked his teeth. “Why?”

  She laughed. “Why do people always ask why someone likes them? You’re great and fun to hang out with.”

  He propped his elbows on the table, stroking his ring finger. “Is that all I am?”

  She set down her fork and knife. “Do you want this to be more?”

  He turned his head toward the bright headlights of passing cars. “When we first started this, I swore we’d just be friends.”

  She put her hands in her lap.

  “But, over these last three months, I’ve grown even more attracted to you.”

  She smiled, tilting her head.

  “I’ve gotten to know the woman underneath the cop and she’s a fascinating person.”

  She felt her cheeks turning warm. “That’s sweet.”

  “It’s the truth.” He got the red rose from beside him and handed it to her. “I’m very much attracted to you, Connie. I’m sure you feel it.”

  She sniffed the bitter rose.

  “And, unless I’m way off, you feel the same about me too.”

  “Grayson.” She wiggled in the chair. “It’s been a long time since I was in a relationship. After I screwed up my marriage, I wasn’t sure I deserved love again. You’re proving me wrong.”

  He clasped his hands in front of his face.

  “You make me want a life outside my job, and I haven’t felt like that in a long time.”

  “You’re special, Connie.” He took her hand. “I love spending time with you.”

  “Are you saying you want to see me and only me?” She twirled the rose. “No other women?”

  “I haven’t been seeing any women since you and I started hanging out.”

  “If you’re asking if I want us to date, yes.” Her heart pounded at the admission. “I would like this to be more.”

  “How much more?” His eyes twinkled. “Where we kiss and stuff?”

  She laughed, covering her eyes. “Yes, where we kiss and stuff.”

  A tranquil calmness swept his face. “That’s good because I’ve been fighting kissing you for the last three months.”

  She stuck out her bosom as she rubbed her thighs. “You won’t have to fight it after tonight.”

  “I took Dee here all the time.” He ate another chunk of duck. “It’s one of her favorite places.”

  Connie lifted her fork to eat another bite but lost her appetite. “You left that out.”

  “What?” He acted as if he tried to read her body language. “I thought I’d mentioned that.”

  She took the napkin out her lap and dabbed the corners of her mouth. “You didn’t.”

  “Is something wrong?” He stopped chewing, forehead lowering.

  “You say how much you want to move on with me and then you bring me to a place that’s special for you and another woman?” She scoffed, digging meat out her teeth with her tongue. “Does that not seem lopsided to you?”

  “Um—”

  “This is why I was hesitating to move this relationship forward. Grayson, I’m not convinced you’ve move on from Dee.”

  “I have moved on.”

  “You’re trying to but now and then she sneaks into the conversation. Like sometimes we’ll eat something she loved or you go down memory lane, saying how something we do reminds you of her.” She laid the napkin on the table. “It’s not a game I wanna play.”

  “Dee meant a lot.” He grimaced. “I can’t just forget her or act like she doesn’t exist.”

  “I’m not playing second fiddle to her.”

  “Aren’t you being selfish?” He touched the table. “I’m worried about Dee with this Jonathan stuff going on. Sorry if it bothers you I mention her now and then or ask if you’ve heard anything about her. If you can’t deal with that, then this isn’t a good idea.”

  “I can deal with you being concerned.” She stuck her neck out, batting her eyes. “It’s you still wanting her I can’t deal with.” She grabbed her purse from her chair and stood.

  “Connie.” He jumped from his seat. “What the hell are you doing?” He glanced around at the patrons at surrounding tables. “Sit down and let’s enjoy the rest of our evening.”

  “No, thank you.” She pushed her chair under the table. “Scratch what I said maybe we shouldn’t see each other at all.”

  His face fell. “How can you be mad over something that doesn’t matter?”

  “Because you still love her. Look me in the eyes, Grayson. If Dee wanted you back tomorrow would you go back with her?”

  He lowered his head, rubbing the table. “Connie—”

  “Answer me.” She moved closer, inhaling his hazelnut and pine cologne. “Would you?”

  He lifted his face. “No.”

  She leaned back, shaking her head. “I don’t believe you.”

  He reached for her but she kept going. “Connie!”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Shauna entered the glass double-doors of Jonathan’s inside pool as he finished his morning swim the next day. “You wanted to see me?”

  He hopped out the water, body dripping in silky swim trunks. “I want
you back into The Circle.”

  Her face came alive as she threw her arms around his shoulders. “I knew it.” She kissed him, leaving crimson lipstick on his chin and mouth. “Why did you change your mind?”

  He pushed her away with one hand and grabbed his towel off the table. “There’s certain things about you I’ve missed.”

  She followed his gaze to her chest and stopped smiling. “You want sex? Is that what this is about?”

  “There’s a group of gorgeous women in this house waiting to please me any time I want. I don’t need you for sex, Shauna.”

  She caressed her curvy hips, bust protruding. “They’re no substitute for this.”

  “If you come back, you’ll be just like the others. No longer Head Mistress.”

  She dropped her hands from her hips, wobbling her head. “Figured as much.”

  “But, you can’t just waltz back in.” He walked around her with his hands behind his back. “You’ve got to prove I can trust you again. Show me you’re worthy and earn your place.”

  “Okay.” She straightened her tall body and nodded. “What do I have to do?”

  “There’s a thorn in my side.” He sat on the table, legs wide. “I need you to take it out for me.”

  She grimaced. “Excuse me?”

  “I think you’ll enjoy taking it out because this is a thorn you think is handsome.”

  She showed a teasing smile. “Winston Lewis?”

  “You’re attracted to him, aren’t you?”

  She tangled her finger into her crinkles.

  “I want you to keep tabs on him and see what he’s planning concerning Deidra.” He rubbed his wet palms together. “I want you to be my eyes and ears for Detective Winston Lewis.”

  “How?”

  He held his hands out to her. “How do you think?”

  “You want me to seduce him?”

  “You do whatever you have to do to get me what I need. I’m not letting him take Deidra away from me.” He caressed her cheek. “You’re a beautiful, sexy woman Shauna. When you get going, you’re impossible to resist. Find out what he’s up to and be his distraction.”

  “I...don’t know if this will work.”

  “I’ve seen how he looks at you. He’s attracted even if he doesn’t want to be.”

  “There’s no way in hell he’d trust anything I have to say. He’ll tell me to get out his face and that’s that.”

  “You make him trust you.” He got off the table, balling a fist. “This is an order, Shauna. Either you want in or you don’t and if you do, this is what you gotta do.”

  She swept her hand underneath her hair and stroked the back of her neck.

  “It’s not like it’ll be torture for you.” He touched her crinkles. “It might even be fun.”

  “He’ll be a challenge.” She licked her lips, making her lipstick shinier.

  “I have faith in you.” He let her hair go. “If anyone can get his mind off Deidra, you can.”

  She smirked.

  ****

  “Man, I can’t believe this.” Winston closed his stainless steel refrigerator and poured two glasses of orange juice. “It’s good to see you.”

  The brightness in Lydia Quarter’s gorgeous, oval face dimmed. “I wish it were under better circumstances.”

  “Did you say you were in Egypt?”

  “Cairo.” She stretched, her straight auburn hair flowing to her butt. “Cam and I were doing archeology in the Cairo slums.”

  “Wow.” Winston handed her a glass of juice and sat with her at the table. “What a life. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

  “I figured you’d tell me not to.” She sipped the juice, leaving glossy, pink lipstick on the rim of the glass.

  “You came all the way from Egypt to check on Dee?”

  “She’s my big sister.” She touched her hair. “Not making it to Daddy’s funeral killed me and it confirmed how important family should be.” Her brown eyes burned with fury. “How could Dee get mixed up with a cult? That’s not like her at all.”

  Winston exhaled, pondering the situation himself.

  “I’ve been reading about The Circle online.” She licked juice from her lips. “Just seeing Jonathan’s eyes on the site made me shiver. This sinister feeling came over me.”

  “He’s evil.” Winston stroked his goatee. “He gave Dee something to make her forget she loves me. It’s all insane.”

  “I want to meet the bastard and let him know if he fucks with Dee, he fucks with me too.”

  “Stay away from him.”

  “I’m thirty-two-years-old, Winston.” She adjusted the silver ring on her thumb. “I can handle myself.”

  “Not with Jonathan.”

  “I didn’t come to Baltimore to twiddle my thumbs. I got to save Dee.”

  “No.” Winston took her soft hand. “Jonathan’s dangerous, and he has this unexplainable power over women. Before you know it you’ll be in The Circle too.”

  “That ain’t happening.”

  “Dee said the same thing. Guess what? My recent case is a homicide involving a woman who was a member of The Circle.”

  “My god.” Lydia’s bracelets vibrated when she jerked her arm. “You think Jonathan killed her?”

  “He’s capable of anything in my opinion.” Winston stood, pulling at his T-shirt. “I gotta get ready for work.”

  “Cool.” She jumped off the stool. “I need to find a hotel, anyway.”

  “Say.” He smiled. “Why don’t you stay here?”

  “What?” She tilted her head, gold hoop earrings dangling.

  “You’re family.” He rubbed her arm. “It’ll be good to have company.”

  She smirked and then poked her valentine lips out. “Are you letting me stay here so you can keep tabs on me?”

  He winked on his way out the kitchen.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Winston finished searching the dresser of Prisha’s room at the boarding house. “What do we have here?”

  Connie sat on the bed, doing a mild search on Prisha’s laptop. “What’s that?”

  Winston held up the leather-covered book. “I’m guessing it’s a diary.” He flipped through it. “Yep, looks like it.”

  “A diary, huh?” Connie whistled as she got off the bed. “Those can be treasure troves of information.”

  “I’ll keep it and look through it.” He put it in his pants pocket. “Other than the computer, I don’t think there’s anything else of value.”

  “Me either.” Connie got the laptop and headed toward the door when the manager entered.

  “Did you find anything?” Ms. Rosalie Kachel asked.

  “Got her computer and diary.” Connie maneuvered the thin computer under her arm. “Thanks for cooperating.”

  “No problem.” The wrinkles faded from Kachel’s pale skin when she smiled. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.” She looked away. “Might be something I should tell you.”

  “About Prisha?” Winston moved from around the bed.

  “She seemed troubled ever since she moved in. Like she was afraid of something.”

  “Like someone was after her?” Connie asked.

  Kachel nodded. “I didn’t wanna get in her business so I didn’t ask her what was going on but something was bothering her.”

  “Thanks again for your cooperation.” Winston and Connie handed her their cards. “Please contact us if there’s anything else you need to tell us.”

  They exited the room and walked down the outside stairwell.

  “Wonder where Prisha’s kid is,” Winston asked.

  “Huh?”

  “Remember, Jonathan kicked her out The Circle because she was pregnant with his baby.”

  Connie stopped when she got off the stairs. “Oh yeah.”

  “Come on.” Winston squinted as he walked to his car. “Time to talk to Mr. Wild.”

  ****

  “I’m warning you, Detective Lewis.” Tran showed Winston and Connie into Jonathan’s c
aramel-colored den. “Any trouble and you’ll be arrested.”

  “Don’t worry.” He smirked, waving his hand. “I’m here on business.”

  Tran grimaced, his right eye bulging as always.

  Winston wondered what happened to it but never cared enough to ask. He and Connie passed the floor-to-ceiling windows and sat on the brown sectional with the ivory pillows.

  “Nice fireplace.” Winston laid his arm on the back of the sofa, alluding to the stone fireplace with sarcasm. “This place seems bigger every time I come. How many rooms you have again?”

  Tran drew a sharp breath. “Jonathan will be down.”

  “Tell him to hurry his ass up.” Winston got out his notepad. “We don’t have all day.” He sniffed the faint aroma of cinnamon coming from the pot-pourri on the table.

  Tran rolled his slanted eyes and left the room.

  Winston dug for his pencil. “This place gives me the creeps.”

  “Don’t start anything with Jonathan, okay?” Connie wiggled against the cushions. “We’re here for our case. Keep your mind on Prisha.”

  “I got it.” Winston straightened his shirt. “But, if he tries shit with me all bets are off.”

  Jonathan glided in wearing a white lab coat.

  Winston scoffed. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

  “I was in my lab experimenting on my plants so imagine my surprise when Tran said you were here yet again.” His gold, ruby ring caught the sunlight that barged its way through the windows. “Let’s not even pretend we can stand each other. What are you doing here, Lewis?” He cut his eyes to Connie. “Connie, you’re looking lovely today. Your ravishing green eyes are always like a breath of fresh air.”

  She fidgeted, blushing. “Jonathan.”

  Winston rolled his eyes. “Prisha was found dead on West Chelsea Boulevard yesterday morning.”

  “What?” Jonathan’s aquiline nose lifted. “Is this a joke?”

  Winston squinted. “Are we laughing?”

  “God.” Jonathan leaned over, face turning whiter.

  “Are you all right?” Connie asked.

  He wobbled to the velvet chair and sat, rubbing his clean-shaven chin. “This can’t be true. How was she killed?”

  “Strangled with something,” Winston answered. “That’s a crime of passion most likely.”