Disclaimer: Please be forewarned that this story contains explicit and graphic sex between two consenting adult females. If you are under the age of 18 or live in a place where this type of story is illegal then please stop reading now.
CHAPTER TEN
Jamie studied the autopsy report thoughtfully. "So, he had a stroke."
Alex nodded. "That could explain the wound on his head. He was sitting there having a drink, stood up, and then keeled over - hitting his head on the floor. Remember, it was only after he was already down that he got popped. Whoever it was, was trying to make sure he was dead."
Jamie started to pace. "This changes the complexion of things. This may no longer be murder, but rather attempted murder. The timing between his stroke and his being shot might be too close to ever know for sure."
Alex agreed but felt they should err on the side of caution. "It can’t change our investigation. At the very least we have attempted murder. I have to proceed under the assumption that he was murdered. As long as we have evidence of foul play, I have to continue the investigation. I’m waiting on the rest of the CSA’s findings. They found two other sets of fingerprints and a strand of hair that was patently not Reynolds’." The door opened and an assistant walked in with a folder. "Speaking of the devil…"
"The tests results are in," he announced unnecessarily, handing Alex the folder.
"Well, well...well. It appears that our star suspect has not been telling the truth after all." She smiled.
Jamie felt sick inside, and turned away. Whatever relief she had initially felt at Alex’s statement about the stroke was evaporating as she watched the cool blue eyes of her friend narrow on the folder.
"I will ask Judge Scott to come in for further questioning."
The trap was being set. Jamie could sense it as she looked at her confident friend. I need to get out of here.
Shane was immediately on her guard as Alex ushered her into the room. It was there in the quiet manner, in the faint amusement. Confidence.
"I will ask you one more time - and I would suggest you think carefully before answering: were you in Judge Reynolds’ suite the night in question?"
Shane tried not to look at Jamie but could not help herself. Their eyes met and she felt the impact of those gray eyes like a physical touch. Her mouth parted, almost as if she were out of breath.
"Don’t answer that," her lawyer cautioned.
"I don’t mind. I have nothing to hide. No, I was not in his hotel room on the night in question."
Alex nodded. She had expected the denial. She flipped through her notes. "Then how would you explain your fingerprints inside the room? Well?"
"Well, what, Detective?"
"You lied to us, didn’t you, Miss Scott?"
"Don’t answer, Shane," Landry instructed.
"I want to, Ken."
"I strongly urge you not to say anything."
"But I want to answer." She turned her attention to Alex.
Their eyes met and Alex felt the impact of her presence. She really was an attractive woman. But there was something more in her eyes, something haunted and almost calculating as they stared back at her. Alex’s eyes narrowed, curious about the possible cause.
"I did not lie, Detective. You asked me if I was in Judge Reynolds’ suite the night of his murder, and I was not. But I have been in the suite on previous occasions working on a case."
She’s clever, Alex thought with grudging respect. "Well, that’s convenient, isn’t it?"
Shane did not miss the sarcasm in the detective’s tone.
"When were you in his suite?"
"A few days prior to his death. We were working on a death penalty case and I dropped some opinions over."
"I see." Alex rubbed her lower lip thoughtfully, then her eyes strayed to Jamie and she was jolted by the look on Jamie’s face. She studied her best friend, trying to understand what her instincts were telling her. As if aware of the scrutiny, Jamie stood and moved out of her field of vision. Alex turned back to the woman beside her. "It’s interesting that you seem to have a prepared answer for everything."
"Is that question?" Landry asked testily.
"Just an observation. I guess that is all for now." Alex watched them leave thoughtfully, then glanced at Jamie. "Something doesn’t feel right."
Jamie tensed. "What doesn’t?"
Alex stood up. "Her whole demeanor, her whole story. It just doesn’t add up."
Jamie frowned. "It doesn’t not add up, either."
"That’s just it."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Rain dripped from the leaves in steady musical plops, and the air shimmered with the weight the storm had left behind. The day was leaking into dusk as Jamie leaned against the tree and stared at the windows of the brownstone. When a light came on in an upstairs room, she pushed upright, her mind made up.
Shane stepped out of the shower and as her hand reached out for a towel, her eyes caught the shadow in the doorway. She swallowed the scream that lodged in her throat and her heart lurched violently. Without a word, Jamie turned and stepped back into the hallway and waited. Shane hastily pulled on a robe and followed her, pushing the tousled, wet hair back from her face. A pulse beat nervously at the base of her neck.
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"That’s not a good idea. We shouldn’t be speaking."
"I am aware of that. Nevertheless…" She shrugged.
"How did you get in?"
"I broke in."
Shane’s eyes widened.
Jamie turned and allowed herself to really look at the beautiful woman. Her eyes turned dark with barely suppressed need, and she couldn’t control her body’s reaction to her presence. She felt her anger rise at that realization as she fought to keep her mind on what had to be done. "Did you know who I was when you walked into Murphy’s that night?"
"No, I…" The hesitation, though brief, was not lost on Jamie.
Her hand slammed against the wall startling Shane, who jumped nervously. "Don’t lie to me, goddammit. Don’t you lie to me. Did you know who I was?"
"No, I swear," she replied. Shane’s eyes fixed on the officer hungrily, Jamie’s nearness making her body ache.
"But you recognized me somehow. Where? Where did you recognize me from?"
The hesitation this time was more pronounced. "I didn’t. I don’t..."
Desperation settling over her, Jamie grabbed Shane. "What are you hiding? I know you’re hiding something. Why didn’t you say anything about me when you were first questioned?"
"Why didn’t you?" Shane challenged back.
Shane had her there. "I know you are lying," Jamie added softly, almost to herself. "Except I can’t figure out about what. Did you kill the Justice, Shane?"
She shook her slightly. "No." She struggled against the firm hold, her robe slipping dangerously low.
Jamie shook her head. "You knew who I was when you walked into that bar. You made sure I would see you, making enough commotion to get my attention. Why? Was it a set up?" She leaned closer. "Tell me, your Honor? What are you hiding? Were you his lover?"
"What?"
"Were you fucking the Chief Justice?"
The recoil was almost physical. "Go to hell." Shane pulled away.
"Thanks anyway. I’ve been there since I first laid eyes on you." The bitterness slashed at Shane.
"Don’t…" Shane whispered, a pleading look in her eyes.
"That’s not what you said when you came the first time. Or was it the second time?"
The golden-haired woman shook her head. "Jamie, please leave. Don’t ask me anything else. Don’t put me in the position of having to lie to you."
"That’s a joke. You’ve been lying since I met you. Look at me and tell me you didn’t come after me that day."
Shane stared at her. "I didn’t. Not really…"
"Not really." Jamie’s fists clenched by her side; she wanted to release the unbearable pressure by punching something. Controlling the impulse, she swore as she pivoted away, but she was unable to turn away from Shane for long. Fighting against the wave of helplessness that was rising in her, she turned back. "What else have you lied about?"
"I haven’t…"
Jamie stepped closer and, unaware of her action, her thumb rubbed Shane’s lower lip almost absentmindedly. "So beautiful. You lie so beautifully."
"I’m not lying, Jamie…"
"You played me so well. Why?" Her thumb parted the full lips. "Why did you come home with me?"
Buried in the question was a plea that called to Shane. Shane closed her eyes, fighting the arousal spreading through her body. She opened heavy lids. "For this. Just for this." She groaned as she reached up and pressed her mouth to Jamie’s.
At the feel of Shane’s mouth, Jamie lost it. With an oath, her tongue thrust deep in response and she pushed Shane against the wall, her firm thigh pressing between bare legs. Hard hands parted the loose robe and Jamie was steeped in the remembered scent and feel of her body.
Shane’s hips began to pump and move against the jeans clad leg, need pouring through her. "Oh God, Jamie, touch me. Please." Shane’s hands grabbed and pulled Jamie’s shirt from her pants, greedy hands finding and stroking the damp skin, the full breasts; fingers squeezing the hard nipples.
"Damn you. Damn you," Jamie snarled as she moved against her, feeling the pressure build. Her fingers entered Shane without any gentleness and found her wet and ready. It was primal and angry, but they were both lost in the sensations, too far gone to notice.
Shane bucked against Jamie’s fingers, knowing she was about to come, too wrapped up in the incredible feeling pulsing through her to stop it. "Yes, yes. Faster." Shane shoved against her hand, and when the climax came it was fast and sharp and had her crying out loud as her hands tightened on Jamie’s back.
Jamie closed her eyes and let her mind empty as she rode the firm thigh, her teeth biting down on Shane’s neck as the climax slammed into her.
They leaned against each other half supporting one another as they tried to catch their breath. Jamie took a shuddering, gulping breath. She was disgusted with herself, with her lack of control. She felt undone by the madness of being so close to the judge again. She opened her eyes to look at Shane, and shook her head as if to clear it. "I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Shane; I shouldn’t have… Did I hurt you?"
Shane opened her eyes and a trembling hand gently brushed Jamie’s blond hair from her forehead. "Jamie, you have to believe that it’s never been like this with anyone," she whispered.
Jamie sighed. "God help me. You’re so lovely, Shane. Every time I see you it’s like the first time. The light is different, the angle, but it strikes me just as it did the first time." Jamie looked at her. "Shane, tell me what you are hiding. I know there’s something. Maybe I can help you."
Shane straightened and pushed her away, giving her a long, level look. "You have to go. You can’t be seen here."
Desperation spread through Jamie. "Shane, was there something between you and the judge? Was he threatening you in some way?" Jamie felt rather than saw Shane’s sudden tension.
"I’m sorry. Just go, Jamie."
Resigned, frustrated, Jamie walked to the door but hesitated as she turned. "You are going to have to come clean about what you know one of these days." With a last look, she closed the door.
***
Distracted, Jamie never saw the shadowy figure until the last minute, and only her training and sharp reflexes enabled her to deflect the blow at the last moment.
"What the fuck are you doing here? Have you lost your mind?" Alex shouted as she shoved Jamie against her car.
Jamie struggled against her hold. "Let me go."
"Shut up." Alex pushed her inside, then went around the car and got into the driver’s side, slamming the door with barely restrained violence. "What the hell are you doing at our suspect’s house in the middle of the night?"
"What are you doing following me?" Jamie asked, ignoring the question.
Alex slammed a fist against the steering wheel. "I wasn’t, you fool. I was watching our suspect to see where she goes at night. Imagine my surprise when I saw you going in, hoping like hell that I was mistaken. Are you fucking crazy?"
"Possibly."
"What were you doing in there?"
Jamie looked at her and shook her head. She was sure Alex would never understand, especially since she herself did not. "Nothing."
Alex swore as she shoved an impatient hand through her short dark hair. "Jamie, you better start leveling with me, ’cause I’m not in the mood to play guessing games right now. I’m this close to kicking your ass from here to New York City and back. Now start talking. Do you know this woman?"
"No. Not really."
"Not really?" Alex whipped her head around to stare at her, blue eyes accusing. "Spill it."
Jamie looked out of the window. She could still feel Shane’s imprint on her body. "I just...I just wanted to talk to her."
"Why?"
"Because. I was trying to get at the truth."
"Truth? Truth about what? You do know her don’t you?"
Jamie shrugged. "We had a one-night stand." Her shoulders hunched defensively and she could not meet the stunned blue eyes.
Alex swore loudly. "I knew something felt odd. When? Why didn’t you say anything?"
"At the time, it didn’t seem important."
Alex stared at friend as if seeing her for the first time. So many thoughts flitted through her mind that for a moment she was speechless. She took a deep breath, fighting off the urge to snap something in two. "Well, now it is. You are jeopardizing our investigation, your career, possibly mine. For what? Are you willing to put yourself on the line for someone you don’t even know?"
Alex was right. Everything she said made sense. Still, Jamie couldn’t help it. She was wrapped in a sexual haze and it flowed through her veins as addictive as any drug. "Yeah, I’m willing to put it all on the line."
"For a quick fuck?"
Jamie turned to her and her eyes were dark and shadowy. "Alex, I can’t explain it. It just feels so..." She shook her head, unable to find the words that would describe being so out of control.
Alex looked at her, torn between her love for her and her duty as a police officer. Jamie was her best friend and they had been through so much over the years. Jamie had been there for her when she needed her. But now she was being asked to obstruct justice. The damn fool. Frustrated love flooded through her. She shook her head, taking hold of Jamie’s arm. "I want you off this case. Now. And I want you to promise to stay away from our suspect."
Jamie pushed away from her. "I can’t do that. I need to see this through."
"Then you are crazier than I am. I am going to ask that you be taken off this case. For your own sake."
"Do what you have to do, Alex. But I’ll do what I have to do." She slammed out of the car.
Alex punched the dashboard in frustration and sat staring into the darkness. "Goddammit!"
***
Following the confrontation with Alex, Jamie drove around for hours, unsettled. The fact that she could not think rationally about this case, about this woman, scared her. Somehow, it had all gone off the rails. She really didn’t know what she was going to do. How am I supposed to handle this? I need to talk to someone. Someone who can be objective. Ordinarily she would have talked to Alex, but under the circumstances that was out of the question. She thought of Darcy, but she had already imposed on her enough. And thinking of Darcy had her stomach jumping for reasons she was determined not to explore too closely. Lauren. I can go to Lauren. Their friendship had the ease of old friends where weeks could go by without speaking to one another, and then all of a sudden they would reconnect, as if no time had passed at all.
Lauren looked surprised when she opened the door. It was unusual for Jamie to show up unannounced, but a quick glance discerned the misery on her face. "Are you going to just stand there in my doorway, or do you want to come in?"
"Yes…no..." Jamie shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"Okay, why don’t I help you decide?" Lauren smiled gently and took her hand to pull her inside. "Want a beer?"
"I...I don’t know." Jamie pushed an impatient hand through her already tousled hair. The trembling in her fingers was not lost on Lauren, who hid her concern with a practical shrug.
"Well, I’m having one. I’ll get you one just in case." Followed by Jamie, she went to the kitchen, retrieved two beers, and placed a bottle in front of her friend. Jamie stood undecided, lost.
"Jamie, what is it? What’s got you so twisted?"
Jamie met the golden eyes of her friend. They had been friends since college, and for years Jamie had been half in love with her. Too scared to tell Lauren about it, she had buried it. The feelings had eased over the years, especially after Lauren had fallen head over heels in love with Madison, another of Jamie’s close friends. Now they were closer than ever, settling into an easy friendship with few demands. But Jamie would always have a tender spot for Lauren. She sighed. "A woman."
Lauren hid a smile. That answer had been almost predictable. "You met someone?"
"Yes…no."
Lauren lifted a brow. "You didn’t meet someone?"
"I kind of did, but not in the normal sense." There was a pause. "That didn’t come out right."
"Really?" Lauren replied dryly.
Jamie shot her a look and sat down, placing her elbows on the table. "I met someone a couple of weeks ago. It was the most unbelievable night of my life. Then the next morning, she was gone. And that was that. Except its not, and she’s back, and I’m in the middle of something that’s just... She’s..."Jamie rubbed her eyes. "It’s complicated. I can’t discuss it." And my friendship with Alex is in jeopardy, she thought, but did not voice aloud.
Hiding her worry, Lauren crossed to Jamie and wrapped her arms around her.
"Lauren, this is not what I had planned for. She’s not what I was looking for. It’s so..."
"Life’s full of surprises, isn’t it? Some of them are a real kick in the ass," Lauren replied, not unsympathetically. "I’ll tell you something Madison once told me. In life you can’t keep sitting on the sidelines placing little side bets on what the outcome is going to be. You have to play the game; ’cause if you don’t play, you can’t win."
Jamie looked at her. "Madison said that?"
Lauren smiled. "Yeah."
"Well, Madison is an idiot."
Lauren started to laugh and her amusement escalated when she met the puzzled eyes of her lover in the doorway.
"Should I be jealous?" Madison stood in the doorway, having come in during the last part of their talk. Dressed in a charcoal gray suit, her dark hair slicked back, she looked cool and delectable to Lauren.
"Absolutely. Jamie’s the only other woman besides you that has my heart." She kissed the top of Jamie’s blond head, and with a last gentle rub of her back, stepped back to greet Madison. Her stomach did the usual flip as she kissed her, lingering for a moment.
"Hey."
"Hey back." Pulling away reluctantly, Madison slapped a friendly hand on Jamie’s back. "Hello, stranger. Haven’t seen you in weeks. How are you?"
"Just busy. Just dropped by to see if I could talk Lauren into running away with me." Jamie stood up. "She’s not ready quite yet."
Madison grinned as she crossed to the refrigerator to grab a beer. "Give it time. I’m still not picking the towels up off the floor after a shower." She met the golden eyes of her lover and smiled. Lauren gave an amused shake of her head.
Jamie kissed Lauren. "I should go. Thanks for the beer." She nodded toward where it still sat untouched on the table. A quick hug for Madison, and she was gone.
Madison turned to her girlfriend. "What’s wrong with her?"
"A woman." Lauren still looked troubled. "I’ve never seen her scared before, but I’d swear that she is now."
Madison frowned. "She’s scared? Of what? This woman?"
"I don’t know." They exchanged looks. Jamie was and had always been the steadiest of them all, the one you counted on when things got out of control. It was as unsettling as it was unusual to believe that for once Jamie was in need of their help.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Jamie pushed open the torn screen door and stopped in the entrance, assaulted as soon as she entered by the smell of cigarette smoke, spilt beer, and countless other odors it was best not to try and identify. Her feet immediately stuck to the floor, and she tried not to think about what kind of substances were spilt on the worn wood floor. Her eyes stung as they narrowed against the thick smoke that seemed to hang permanently above them.
Directly in front, the regulars were glued to wobbly stools wrapped around a large oak bar that might at some time have looked impressive. Some kept one eye on whatever sport was playing on the old television set on a platform above them in the corner of the bar. The set had colors that were washed out and the picture was blurry, but it didn’t seem to matter. On the left, a pool table took up most of the space, and four men nursing their beers interrupted their game to watch her with interest. Jamie squinted and tried to see through the thick blue haze. She found him sitting in his usual spot by the jukebox.
"No. No way."
"Hello, Barney."
The short balding man scowled at Jamie. "Whatever it is, Saunders, I didn’t do it."
Jamie smiled at him, unperturbed. "Barney, sit. I’ll buy you a beer."
He looked at her suspiciously. "Shit, you got that look on your face."
"What look?"
"The one that says I’m not going to like what you have to say." He sat down and rubbed nicotine stained fingers over his bald head. "Make it a pint."
Jamie grinned and motioned to the waitress for two. She watched her unwilling companion until the waitress placed the glasses down in front of them with a thud and he took a sip. "Watcha been doing lately, Barney?"
He nervously licked his fleshy lips. "Come on. Let me enjoy my beer before springing whatever you’ve got."
Jamie laughed at his woebegone look. She had always liked him, even when she knew he was skimming from the snitch fund to pay for his gambling tabs. He had been a good investigator once, but alcohol and gambling weaknesses had caught up to him. She had used his investigative talents more than once. Sober, he was one of the best. Even half tanked he would put a lot of the rookies to shame. "I need a favor," she started.
He sighed. "Here it comes. And since you are alone, I’m not going to like it."
"I need you to do a deep background on a possible suspect we’ve got."
"Do we want him guilty or not?"
Jamie rubbed her chin. "I’m not sure. And it’s not a he." He raised a brow as she handed him a small slip of paper. "Her name is Shane Scott. She’s a judge. We think she might know something about the death of the Chief Justice."
"Jesus fucking Christ. A judge?" He dropped the slip of paper as if burned. "No way."
She calmly picked up her glass and sipped her beer as he continued his eruption. After he’d finished, his pale blue eyes fixed on her. "Must be serious if you’ve come looking for me to do the research."
Jamie shrugged, trying for nonchalance. "There is some noise."
He nodded. "Where’s Ryan?" he asked, referring to Alex.
"She’s working it from another angle. Keep her out of this one."
He nodded, but there was speculation in his look. "You’re not acting with lust in your heart, are you, Detective?"
She threw him a cool look and stood up. "Just find out what you can. And fast." She strode out, leaving him smirking after her.
This story is a work of fiction and is not intended to represent any particular individual, alive or dead. This work may not be printed or distributed for profit without the express written permission of the author. Copyright registered with the Library of Congress.