11
Troy turned to walk away right before Savannah opened the bedroom door. “I need to head out, but wanted to make sure all was secure here. I'll be checking on you all later.”
Savannah said, “Let me walk you out.”
Troy followed Savannah down the stairs. “I ran into Asia downstairs and she told me it was okay.”
“It's fine,” Savannah said as she waved her hand.
Troy walked to the front door. “If you need anything, and I do mean
anything,
don't hesitate to call me. Make sure you sleep in shifts. Activate the alarm as soon as I leave.”
Savannah saluted him. “Yes, sir.”
Troy paused. Savannah placed one hand on the doorknob. “You're not going to ask?”
“When you're ready to share the contents of the safe-deposit box, you'll share.”
Savannah leaned on the door. “What are you not telling me?”
“Tomorrow at zero nine hundred I'll meet you here.” Troy reached around Savannah for the doorknob. He could feel the heat coming from her body, or was it his?
“Tomorrow,” she said as she moved and allowed him out the door.
Troy couldn't hold back a smile. Although he and Savannah seemed to be like oil and water, there was something about her that made him want to protect then set up a meeting.
“Okay, boss.”
“Man, you know I hate it when you call me that.”
“Get used to it. Business is booming.”
“Sad for them, but good for us.”
Parker sat across the desk from Troy. He updated Troy on a few more cases. “Do you need any additional manpower on that special case you're working on?”
Troy wasn't sure if he should disclose what he was working on with everyone yet. The less information folks knew, the better. Some still had ties with The Agency, and he didn't want it leaked that he was investigating there. “No, I got it. It's just a favor for a friend. I'll be out for the next few days, though. If you can hold it down here for me, I'd appreciate it.”
“I got your back. Just call me if you need me.”
“Will do.” They shook hands. Parker left Troy alone with his thoughts.
Troy checked his voice mail. He made notes as he listened. The final voice mail made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. “Relentless, I heard you've been in contact with Savannah.”
Troy said all sorts of curse words. This was the last thing they needed. Hopefully, he could talk to Commander Raymond Steel without him blowing his connection with Savannah and her sisters out of proportion. He never felt the need to check in with anybody before, but before he called his ex-commander back, he needed to talk to Savannah. He phoned her to discuss this development.
“Your uncle knows I've been in contact with you.”
“I know.”
Troy balled up the paper in his hands. “When were you going to tell me? I thought we were going to keep our liaison a secret.”
It sounded like the phone was muffled. “Montana took it upon herself to tell him more than she should have.”
Troy didn't like the direction the conversation was heading. “What exactly did she say? Word for word.”
“I'll let her tell you.”
Montana came on the phone a few seconds later. “I'm sorry, Troy. I was scared and he's been our uncle since forever.”
“Calm down,” he said in a soothing voice, although he was infuriated with her.
“I only told him that you helped Savannah get away when those guys broke in the other night.”
“Anything else you're not saying?”
“He did say you were bad news and that we should stay as far away from you as possible.”
“Figures. Let me talk to Savannah,” he said, dismissing Montana, but not trying to sound annoyed.
Savannah said, “You got more out of her than I did.”
“Look, Savannah. When he asks, because he will ask, tell him I stopped by because I was feeling nostalgic about Major. I just happened to be there when the burglars came.”
“Sounds like a feasible story to me.”
“I got to make a call.”
He dreaded dialing the numbers, but it was best that he got it over with. “May I speak with Commander Steel, please? This is Relentless.”
“What's the word?”
Troy wasn't up on the new password. He had to think on his feet. “I'm a former op. I'm returning his call.”
“Hold, please.”
Steel immediately went into a rant. “If one hair gets hurt on my girls' heads, your head is mine.”
“Hello to you too.” Troy twirled his chair around to face the window.
“Trouble follows you wherever you go, and from what Montana told me, it followed you to Savannah's. Stay away from her, and I mean it.”
“Sir, I apologize if someone was following me. I have it under control and promise you that nothing will happen to her.”
“Exactly. As of today all communication between her and you will cease.”
“Sir, I mean no disrespect, but who I talk to on my own time is none of your business.”
“It might not be, but Savannah is. She's like a daughter to me and I'll be damned if I let your line of work be the cause of her death, like Major's.”
“Speaking of Major, have you gotten close to finding his killer?” Troy asked.
“No, I have no leads.”
Troy thought it was odd that he didn't stay on top of his best friend's murder. He made a mental note about it. “It still tears me up that he was taken out like that,” Troy said.
“Let me worry about that. You just worry about your security firm, and leave everything else to us.”
“So you think his death is related to one of his previous assignments?”
“If I did know, I wouldn't tell you. If I didn't know any better, I would think you're up to more than what you're letting on.”
“Sir, I'm just following up. My clients keep me busy, believe that.”
“If there's nothing else, Relentless, I hope not to talk with you again.”
When the phone clicked, Troy said, “I hope not either.”
12
“It's done,” Asia said, walking into the living room, where Savannah and Montana were sitting. Asia sat down on the floor near the coffee table. “Sorry, it took so long, but I had to make sure I didn't accidentally erase the contents.”
Savannah placed the newspaper down. “I'll give Troy the original tomorrow.”
“Speaking of Troy, don't you think he's fine with a capital F?” Asia asked.
Savannah responded, “He's all right.”
“All right. Girl, you would have to be blind not to see how fine he is,” Montana added.
“If you think that, go for it,” Savannah responded, picking up the newspaper to hide her face.
Montana reached over and pulled down the paper. “Now, you know the golden rule is never to go after the man one of your sisters has an interest in.”
Savannah put down the paper again and faced Asia. “I didn't know you were interested in Troy.”
Asia threw a pillow at her. “Don't even try to play us. We see the looks.”
Savannah feigned innocence. “I don't know what you're talking about.”
The doorbell rang and interrupted the conversation. All made sure they would be ready just in case it was trouble at the door. Savannah looked through the peephole and said, “It's Uncle Raymond.”
Montana frowned. “Sorry.”
“Let me do most of the talking,” Savannah said. “Put those away.”
They put their guns in a nearby drawer.
“Uncle Raymond,” Savannah said with enthusiasm, and a smile. Each sister took turns hugging him.
“Thought I would stop by and check on my favorite girls. I actually didn't expect to see you two,” he said, looking between Montana and Asia.
Montana looped her arm through his. “We decided to have a girls' night.”
“Do you want anything to drink?” Savannah asked.
“Some water. I'm trying to lay off the alcoholâdoctor's orders.”
Montana volunteered, “I'll get it.” She left them in the living room.
Asia asked, “Is there something you haven't told us?”
He patted his chest. “This old man here is in perfect shape. Don't go writing my obituary yet.”
Asia sat back down on the floor as their uncle Raymond took a seat in the chair.
“It's been a rough year,” Asia commented.
“You girls are looking great, though. In spite of everything,” he responded.
Savannah wanted to say something but decided to play it by ear. He didn't drop by at nine o'clock at night for a social visit. He would have called. One thing her dad taught her was never let anyone know everything.
After about fifteen minutes of small talk, Raymond Steel said, “Vanna, you need to make sure you don't get too involved with Troy. Your father would agree.”
Savannah saw Asia open her mouth and she kicked her. Asia rubbed her leg. Savannah responded, “I know you mean well, but I can handle Troy.”
“That's my point. You think you can. Did he tell you he got kicked out of The Agency?” The sisters looked at one another. “He wouldn't tell you. Trust me when I say, he can't be trusted.”
“There's nothing to worry about.”
Raymond didn't look convinced. “Call me if he contacts you again. He's up to something, and I don't want you girls getting involved.”
“Uncle Raymond, we can take care of ourselves.” Savannah tried not to sound irritated.
“And you, young lady. You need to let me handle this whole situation surrounding Major's death.”
Montana stuttered, “I sâsort of overreacted. With the break-in IâI was just scared. I couldn't stand losing someone else I loved.”
Savannah went and hugged her. “I'm not going anywhere.”
“See, you girls are going to have me crying.”
Asia said, “Sorry, Unc. As you can tell, we're just a little emotional right now.”
Savannah sat back down in her seat. “This was our first year of not having Dad share in family events. So it's still a little rough for us. I just need some closure.”
“I'll get you the closure. Just let me do my job.”
“Do you have an idea who could have done it?”
“Not really. If I did, believe me they would be punished.”
Savannah saw his eye twitch. She knew there was something he wasn't telling. She pretended to go along with him. She decided to fish for more information.
“In the report we read, it was labeled as a home invasion,” Montana said.
Savannah added, “But nothing was taken. That seemed suspicious to me.”
“True. But after I had my team investigate, it was determined that it had nothing to do with any of his past cases.”
“Whew. That's a relief,” Asia said.
Raymond shifted in his seat. “I didn't want to say anything, but with everything that's happened, I better.” With all eyes on him Raymond said, “One of my sources is saying that Troy may know more about this, and that's why I'm concerned for your safety. If he's behind what happened to Major, your lives could be in danger.”
“According to Troy, Dad was a good friend.”
Raymond looked Savannah in the eye. “Everyone who professes to be your friend isn't. Be careful who it is you align your loyalty with.”
A chill ran up Savannah's spine. A part of her reacted as if his words were more of a warning about himself than about Troy.
He looked at his watch. “Ladies, it's getting late. I need to be getting home. I have an early meeting in the morning. Savannah, walk me out.”
Savannah followed him to the door. “Uncle Raymond, I didn't want to say this in front of my sisters, but I feel there's more to it all. What is it that you're not telling us?”
His eyes turned to a dark color. “In a situation like this, the less you know, the safer you are.” He bent down and kissed her on the cheek.
Her body shivered as she watched him walk to his car. When he got to his door, he turned around and waved. She waved back. She closed the door and locked it.
“Ladies, we have a problem,” she said as she walked back in the living room.
“Was it just me? Didn't he seem like he was hiding something?” Asia asked.
“He knows more than what he's saying, that's for sure. From this point forward, do notâand I repeat, do notâtell Uncle Raymond anything.”
Asia and Savannah both turned and looked at Montana.
“What? Okay, so I made a mistake.” Montana threw her hands up in the air.
“Calm down. That's the past. We can only deal with the here and now. It's late and we have a full day ahead of us,” Savannah said.
Asia yawned. “I got second shift.”
Montana said, “Since I opened my big mouth, I'll take the first shift. You two go on up. Asia, believe me, I'll be waking you up when it's your turn.”
“No, Montana. I got first shift. Get some rest. Asia will be your relief.”
“You sure?” she asked.
“Yes. Now y'all go before I change my mind.” Savannah used her hands to shoo them away.
She checked the windows and doors before camping out in the living room. She watched a few reruns of her favorite show,
CSI,
until it was Asia's turn to take over.
“See you in the morning.” Savannah left Asia downstairs and headed to her bedroom. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow. She kept having the same recurring dream. The person who killed her dad was now chasing after her. The killer's face was blank, but the laughter, the voice yelling out at her, sounded familiar.
Savannah woke up the next morning in a cold sweat.