Give me the phone.”
Kerry walked over and handed it to her, then knelt and helped Dar to sit up a little. “Easy,” she murmured.
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Dar’s head spun for a minute, and she waited for the buzz to fade, then held the phone to her ear. “Hello, Chief.”
“Roberts.”
“Yep, that’s me,” Dar agreed. “Did you miss me so much you had to call on a Saturday?”
“Roberts, just shut up a minute.” The chief lowered her voice. “All crap aside, there’s something here you need to see.”
A prickle went up Dar’s back. “Like what?” she said.
A distinct hesitation made itself felt. “I can’t explain it,” the chief said.
“Bad enough I’m dealing with the devil, as it is. Just get down here.”
Dar met Kerry’s gaze. The blonde woman was shaking her head no, in a very serious way. “I can’t,” she finally replied. “If you want me to know about it, you’ve got to come up here.”
“What?” the chief hissed. “Don’t be a— Jesus, I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m trying to help you out here, damn it.”
“I know.” Dar decided to try honesty. “I had an accident last night, Chief. I’m not driving to the base, so if you’ve got something that big, get moving.”
The chief was quiet for a long time, and then she sighed. “Son of a bitch,” she finally said. “What the hell, I’m in this so deep now, it won’t matter. Where the heck are you?”
Dar told her. “Chief?”
“What?” the woman snapped back.
“What made you change your mind?” Dar asked. “About me, I mean.”
Chief Daniel snorted, clearly audible even to Kerry. “Change my mind? Like hell, I did.” She paused. “You ever hear the term ‘least evil choice’?”
Dar allowed a dry chuckle to escape. “Oh yeah. I’ve heard that before.”
“I bet.” The chief hung up.
Dar folded the phone closed and relaxed back onto her pillow.
“That was a surprise.” She glanced up at Kerry. “Last time I saw her, she was cursing me for a pervert.”
Kerry gazed soberly back. “I can’t believe she’d just turn around and help you, Dar.”
A faint shrug. “She’s not a...” Dar lifted her uninjured hand and rubbed her eyes. “She’s a good officer, Ker. She knows her stuff, and she’s just protecting her people. She views me as a threat.” Dar considered her words. “Question is, what’s she found that’s more of a threat to her than I am?”
“Hmm.” Kerry tapped the end of the spoon against her chin. “Well, it’ll take her a while to head up here. Let me get this soup done.” She pointed the wooden utensil at the couch-bound woman. “Then you’re going to sit there and let me feed it to you.” She turned and headed back to the kitchen, leaving an amused Dar behind.
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“I DON’T SUPPOSE I can get away with staying dressed like this?”
Dar asked, as she used a washcloth and cold water to bring a little more life into her face. “Can I?”
Kerry leaned against the doorsill and regarded her. “If it were up to me...” she ran a fingertip under the elastic waistband of Dar’s soft gym shorts, “sure.” She traced a rib. “But I think your petty person is going to pop a solenoid.”
“I’m not in the mood to coddle her solenoids,” Dar responded, awkwardly trying to manage her toothbrush one-handedly. “Ker, could you...”
Kerry reached across her and picked up the toothpaste, spreading it neatly on the brush for her. “There you go.” She put the cap back on and watched as Dar brushed her teeth. “Well, all you need is a T-shirt or something.” Her eyes dropped to the very short shorts, which exposed almost all of the length of Dar’s very long legs. “On second thought, c’mon into the bedroom and let me see what I can do for you.”
Dar turned, a very rakish grin on her face. “Now that’s my kind of offer.”
“Tch.” Kerry moved forward and her hands found their way around the sling. “Do you remember how we... Ah.” Kerry found Dar’s arms wrapping around her, and the sling settled around her own shoulder, attaching them together body to body. “That’s right.”
Dar ducked her head and they kissed. She felt Kerry’s body press against hers, and the sensual rush erased the lingering aches like magic.
“Much better than drugs,” she murmured.
“Oh yeah?” Kerry slid her hands across Dar’s skin. “How about this?”
Dar growled softly in response and nudged Kerry backward a step.
She held her lover’s body close with the sling and unhooked Kerry’s bra, feeling her gasp a little in surprise as the snug cotton came free.
“Not bad for one hand, huh?” she whispered in the pink ear near her lips, which then was delicately nibbled.
“Uh.” Kerry’s fingers roamed restlessly over Dar’s half-clad body.
“This could get complicated.”
“Oh.” A soft, breathy purr. “I hope so.” Another nudge toward the bed. “Simple’s no fun.” Dar rubbed lightly against Kerry’s skin and smiled as Kerry melted into her, a jolt of warmth flaring as their bodies joined. She could feel Kerry breathing, her chest moving against Dar’s, and as she took another step toward the bed, she felt that breathing quicken in time with her touch circling Kerry’s breasts.
They stopped and rid themselves of extraneous clothing, still linked together by the sling. Dar slid her other arm under Kerry’s and half-turned, easing down onto the bed, pulling Kerry down with her.
Amidst a tiny giggle, Kerry ended up sprawling over her, their legs tangling together.
“Y’know...” Kerry licked Dar’s neck, then bit down lightly around
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her collarbone. “With our luck, she drives fast.”
“I haven’t cleared her on the ferry yet,” Dar replied blithely. “She’ll wait.”
Kerry’s chuckle turned into a soft moan, and she forgot about visitors.
Or ferries.
CHIEF DANIEL DROVE along the causeway, looking nervously right and left when she wasn’t glancing at the piece of paper on which she’d written the directions. “What the hell is that nutball talking about? She sent me to the goddamned Coast Guard terminal. Damn her...thinks I’m joking.”
Abruptly, she spotted a right hand turn and took it, almost causing a two-car collision behind her. The car she cut off honked furiously, and she stuck her hand out the window, giving him a rude gesture as she made the tight turn into the small, not-well-marked ferry base. “Son of a bitch.” She shook her head. “Should have figured.”
The chief maneuvered her pickup truck through the roped-off lanes and arrived at the edge of the dock. A uniformed guard greeted her courteously. She rolled her window down. “This how you get on?”
“The island? Yes, ma’am.” The security officer nodded, obviously used to the question. “Are you visiting one of our residents, or are you interested in purchasing a home?”
Momentarily distracted, the chief leaned on her window frame and pulled her sunglasses down to get a better look at the neat, almost military clean Latino man. “How much do they cost?”
The guard blinked. “Um...w...”
“Round numbers.” The chief smiled. “Leave off the pennies.”
He cleared his throat. “I think the little ones start at a million...”
“Ah. Is that all?” The chief fixed a smile on her face. “Tell you what, there’s someone called Roberts who lives out there. Dar Roberts.
I’m supposed to go see her.”
The guard flipped through his clipboard, then read a page intently.
“Ms. Daniel?” He looked up. “Is that you?”
The chief’s nostrils flared. Ms? She’d get the little catfish bait for that. “Almost.”
The guard directed her onto the patiently waiting ferry and they chocked her wheels, then after a few minutes and a few more cars, they got under way.
Out of long habit, the chief reviewed the boat, noting the properly secured lifesaving equipment and the stock of life preservers. The ferry itself was flat, with room for perhaps twenty cars, and had a small cabin where people who were just riding over could stay in comfort. It was neat and clean and well ordered, and the chief found herself approving of it despite her inclination otherwise.
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In short order, they docked at the islandside dock, and she watched as the ramp to offload the cars was lowered. The island was plush and had lots of fancy-looking landscaping. She bet the hedges she was driving past cost more than a month of her salary.
The sudden impact of water on her windshield made her jump and grab for the window controls. “Hey!” She glared at the dockhand, who was washing off the front of her car. “What th— Oh.”
Salt spray. Sure.
Seventy-two Mercedes per square foot; can’t have them rusting, now, can we?
She drove on and glanced at her directions again.
One road, clockwise. Simple enough. She turned left and followed the road around to the second drive, then slowed her pace until she found the parking she’d been told about. She slid the pickup into a visitor’s spot and got out, holding a briefcase close to her.
She looked around, curiously. “Damn place shits money.” She shook her head and then made her way up the short path to the steps that led up to the door that matched the address she’d been given. It was a short flight that led up to a buff-colored door with a discreet doorbell. Chief Daniel paused and twitched at her uniform, dusting off her sleeve before she squared her shoulders and rang the bell.
Barking answered her, which was a surprise. She hadn’t figured Roberts for a dog. After a moment, and a quick command from inside, the door was opened. Chief Daniel found herself facing the intense gaze from a pair of steady green eyes almost on a level with her own. She spoke crisply. “I’m here to see Dar Roberts.”
“I know,” Kerry replied. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Kerry Stuart, Dar’s partner.” She held out a hand.
Chief Daniel almost backed up a step in pure reflex. Her distaste for queers had almost overridden her wanting to find out what the hell was going on, and this was pushing her buttons way too hard, way too fast. But she realized she wasn’t getting past the blonde door guard, so she gritted her teeth and took the proffered fingers. “A pleasure,” she enunciated precisely, hoping it was clear how untrue that was.
Disgusting.
She had to steel herself not to wipe her hand off when Kerry released her.
“Come on in.” Kerry stepped back and held the door open. “Don’t mind Chino, she’s harmless.” Standing behind Kerry was a large cream-colored Labrador retriever, who was watching her alertly. “Mostly.”
The chief edged around the big dog and stopped, while Kerry closed the door behind her. The first thing she noticed was the smell.
Equal parts leather and polish, with a touch of spice in the air. She looked around, taking in the huge living room with its comfortable leather furniture and expensive entertainment center. A door led off to one side, and through its half-open panel, she could see it was a bedroom. Behind the living room was a formal dining room, then the arch that led, she speculated, to the kitchen.
Nice place. The art on the wall was interesting, and the stereo was
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clearly top of the line. As a techno buff herself, the chief was impressed.
Kerry walked past her. “Dar’s just getting something to drink.” She gestured to the furniture. “Would you like to sit down?” The Labrador trotted past her and jumped onto the couch, curling up and putting her head down, but keeping an eye on the intruder.
“No thanks,” the chief said, her eyes shifting as she caught a flash of motion.
Dar appeared from the kitchen, holding a glass in one hand. She was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, but one arm was in a white cotton sling. “Afternoon.”
“What’d you do, finally piss someone off who could do something about it?” Chief Daniel asked bluntly.
“Sit down.” Dar ignored the snarky comment and took a seat on the couch. She noticed the chief hadn’t moved. “Either sit down, or get the hell out of here.” Her voice lifted and gained an edge. “You were all hot to show me something, so show me or get lost.”
Kerry opened her mouth, then closed it and simply sat down, pulling her laptop over and starting to review its screen. She didn’t look up as Chief Daniel took a reluctant seat as far away from them as she could.
“Fine.” The chief put her briefcase down on the coffee table and unzipped it. “See what you think of this, hotshot.” She pulled something out and threw it on the table. It slid across the glass surface and stopped right before Dar. “Looks like I didn’t need any outside help to find it, did I?”
Dar put her cup down and pulled the packet over, investigating it curiously. “What the hell is it?” she asked, glancing at the chief.
“Open it. I don’t have X-ray vision,” Daniel sniped back.
Dar unfolded the wrapping one-handed and finally got through the plastic wrap that covered the parcel. She pulled back the last fold and stared at the results. Her brow crinkled, and she exchanged a look with Kerry, who appeared equally puzzled. “You found a gift-wrapped brick?”
The chief laughed shortly. “And here I thought you had some brain cells. Maybe your perverted lifestyle made them leak out. That’s not a brick, Roberts. It’s cocaine.”
It came out of left field and almost smacked Dar upside the head.
She stared at the object. “Cocaine?” Her voice rose. “You’ve got to be joking.” Kerry edged over and examined it in fascination. Dar rubbed her temples with one hand. “Must be the drugs I’m taking. I’m hallucinating that I’m in a bad episode of
Miami Vice
.”
Kerry bit her lip. “Is this where they break down the door and start yelling?”
Dar stared at the brick, then up at the smug Chief Daniel. “They’re smuggling drugs?”
A shrug. “Found that in a storage locker that’s supposed to have 210
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remaindered ammo in it.” She smirked at Dar. “You didn’t have a clue, did you?”
Dar sat back and exhaled. “No.” She stared over the chief’s head bleakly. “Not about this,” she admitted. “But that might explain something else.”
And it probably did explain the journal entries. Dar tried to grasp the enormity of the situation. But how far did it go? How many people knew?
How high? Dar slowly let a breath out. All the way?