Gotta Get Next To You (39 page)

“Hello?”

“Miss Andrea, it’s me, Denny.”

Andrea gripped the cordless phone tightly.
“Your grandmother is worried about you, Denny. Where are you? I’ll
come get you right now.”

“No, you can’t do that. I’m leaving. I just
wanted to say I’m sorry. I lied to you and—”

“That doesn’t matter now. Just tell me where
you are. We can still work this out.” Andrea fought to keep her
voice calm. Her whole body tensed with the fear that he would hang
up.

“No. It’s not safe where I am. Did you know
about Jamal?”

She quickly considered what to say and
decided on the truth. “He finally told me about two weeks ago,
Denny. The board hired him without telling me. They didn’t know who
was stealing from the clinic.”

“So he fooled you, too. You picked the wrong
boyfriend and I picked the wrong friend,” Denny said, his voice
laced with bitterness.

Andrea chose not to talk about Lee but to
focus on Denny instead. “Listen to me, Denny. If you don’t finish
this thing, the sheriff can’t charge Ty’Rance with anything. He’ll
be free to hunt you down. And you know he will! He’s connected to
gang leaders all over this state.” She took a stab at the arguments
she thought Lee would use.

“I can’t stay here, awright?” Denny said in a
taut voice. “I got a gun. If anybody tries to screw with me—”

“No, no, no! Don’t make another big mistake!”
Andrea stood and paced as she talked. “What will you do for money?
Your grandmother is barely making it on her pension. You can’t
expect her to help.”

“I’ll find a job that pays cash. I’ll go
someplace no-body would expect to look.”

“Okay, so maybe I can give you a little cash.
Let’s meet somewhere.”

“No,” Denny said promptly. “Maybe you’re in
with the sheriff now. You want me arrested because of what I
did.”

“I promised your grandmother I’d help you.
That’s what I’m trying to do,” Andrea said with intensity. “I want
to keep my promise. Please tell me where to meet you.”

She stood rooted to the floor with her eyes
closed, praying. He was silent. All she could hear was heavy
breathing for what seemed like an eternity.

“Okay. Meet me at the Waffle Shack on Fourth
Street in Houma.”

Andrea sat down hard on the bed, her legs
weak with relief. “You’ve made the right choice.”

“And don’t bring anybody with you. I’ll sit
where I can see you come in the parking lot,” he warned.

She swore silently before answering. “I
won’t.” There was a click and he was gone.

Andrea yanked clothes aside in her closet
until she found a pair of jeans and a Grambling University T-
shirt. She laced up her sneakers, grabbed her keys and raced out
the door. She paused only to lock the dead bolt. She sped down
Highway 20, praying that Denny wouldn’t change his mind before she
got there. The speedometer needled crept up to eighty-five.

“Careful, careful,” she muttered to herself
as she eased her foot off the gas pedal.

The last thing she needed was to be stopped
for speeding or have an accident. She suffered through a series of
stoplights in the small city. She muttered a curse word and drummed
her fingers on the steering wheel.

“Come on! Why does the light stay red so
long? They roll up the dam sidewalks when the sun sets.”

A police car pulled up beside her on the
four-lane highway through the middle of the business district. The
officer stared at Andrea with an impassive expression. She stopped
talking to herself and avoided his gaze. When the light turned
green she waited. The police car did not move. Andrea drove ahead
slowly. He followed for two blocks, and then turned.

“Thank you, Lord,” Andrea whispered. “Now go
down one more light. There it is.”

She was able to park near the door. At this
hour, only one waitress and one customer were in the restaurant.
Huge glass windows dominated three walls of the Waffle Shack.
Andrea looked around, but did not see Denny’s car outside or Denny
inside. She suspected he was not far away. The waitress stood
pouring coffee in a brown mug for the customer.

“Sit anywhere, baby. I’ll be right with ya,”
the woman called out.

“A cup of decaf, please,” Andrea said, and
chose a booth not visible from the street.

Five minutes later the waitress plunked a
brown mug on the table. “Wanna order now or waitin’ for some-body?”
Her name tag read MARGIE.

Andrea’s stomach rumbled at the possibility
of food. She had not eaten dinner the night before. “Bring me a
bagel and fat-free cream cheese.”

Margie giggled and handed her a menu. “Sugar,
this is the original greasy spoon. We ain’t got no bagels and ain’t
nothin’ fat-free.”

Andrea could not help but smile. “At least
you have decaf. Bring me a doughnut.”

“You got it.” Margie winked at her and
flounced off. “What you want, baby?” she asked the man seated at
the counter.

The man rumbled his order low. Andrea turned
her attention back to the expanse of glass. The privacy of her
booth was a trade-off since she could not easily watch who
approached from outside. She strained to see the small comer of
parking lot still visible from her position. Ten minutes later,
headlights flashed as a car swung into the parking lot. The lights
winked out and a car door slammed seconds later. Tension knotted
the muscles in her back as she watched the door.

“Please let it be him,” Andrea whispered
between clenched teeth.

The glass door swung open. Andrea gasped in
surprise when Lee walked in. His gaze swept the entire restaurant.
His jaw tightened when he saw Andrea, but he still did not move.
She squirmed nervously when his dark eyes narrowed with anger. The
male customer turned his head around. He gave Lee only a brief
glance before he looked away again. Lee studied the man for a beat,
and then headed for Andrea. His long-legged stride exuded
restrained power, as though he could spring to action if needed.
There was an animalistic grace in his every moved. This man had
been a cop, but had easily passed for a ruthless gang member. Which
side ruled tonight, good guy or bad boy? Her body tingled at the
possible answer.

“What the hell are you doing out here?” Lee
said harshly, his deep voice low and urgent. “I told you to stay
home.”

“I couldn’t do that,” Andrea said with just
as much intensity, then lowered her voice to a whisper. “I heard
from him. Did you follow me?”

“I went back to your apartment to make sure
nobody suspicious was hanging around. Ty’Rance has had his gang
watching the clinic. I had to make sure you were all right.”

“Thanks.” Andrea smiled weakly, and then
sobered when he didn’t smile back.

“And I was going to warn you not to do
anything silly.” Lee’s eyes narrowed. “Like go off on your own to
meet him.”

“I was going to call you once I talked to
him,” Andrea said. “I swear!” she added at his skeptical frown.

“You should have called me before you did
anything, Andrea.”

“He was watching to see if I was followed.”
Andrea groaned. “He’s probably running off as we speak, thanks to
you.”

“I’m in a Ford Explorer, so he wouldn’t
recognize that. Besides, I checked out the area for five blocks
around. Denny’s not here yet unless he’s invisible.” Lee glanced at
the other customer. “I’ll wait with you.”

“No! He’ll take off for sure then. Slip out
before he sees you. I can talk him into coming with me.” Andrea
leaned across the pockmarked table.

“Forget it, Andrea. I’m not going to leave
you out here exposed.” Lee scanned the restaurant for a third
time.

“Don’t play superhero! There’s nobody here.”
Andrea chafed with frustration at the stubborn set to his jaw.
“I’ll be okay.”

“No.”

“I’ve got my cell phone. I’ll call you the
minute—”

“No,” Lee said again in a level tone.

“That’s right, play the big, strong PI,” she
muttered. “I’m in this whether you like it or not. I was your
number one suspect, remember?”

“And for that I owe you?” Lee’s full lips
lifted at one comer. “Nice try.” He settled back in the booth.

Andrea pressed her lips together and crossed
her arms. They sat across from each other without speaking for
another ten minutes. Andrea glared at him. Lee gazed back at her
with an implacable expression. She jumped when his cell phone rang.
Lee calmly pressed the call button and answered.

“Yeah? Where? How the hell am I— Right,
right. I’ll be there.” Lee ended the call and frowned.

“Has the sheriff found him?” Andrea leaned
forward. “Go home, baby. Denny isn’t coming.” Lee started to get
up, but stopped when Andrea clutched his arm.

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me
what’s happened.” Andrea tightened her hold.

“That was Ty’Rance. They’ve got Denny and
won’t let him go unless I deliver the drugs from the clinic.” Lee
tapped a forefinger on the table, a restless beat to help him
think. “It’s a test. They’ll kill him if I get the sheriff
involved. The bastard!”

Andrea now held on to him with both hands.
His expression had turned cold and deadly. “You can’t do it alone.”
She put everything into speaking with calm, persuasive force.

“Just go home. I’ll handle it.”

“How? You’ve got to give them something and
you can’t get into the clinic without me.” Andrea raised her
eyebrows. “You don’t know the code for the security system.”

“Then give it to me,” Lee said sharply.

“No, and that slightly insane ex-cop look
doesn’t scare me,” she said stubbornly, crossing her arms.

“Damn it!” Lee slapped the table so hard it
wobbled.

“Don’t waste time on temper tantrums,” she
tossed at him. “Let’s go.” She stood.

Lee stood with her. “You let me in, then
leave,” he said, and pointed his finger at her nose.

Andrea pushed her hair from her eyes.
“Agreed. You can call Sheriff Boudreaux on the way,” she whispered
back, then spun around and walked off.

Lee trotted a few steps before he caught up
with her. “So now you’re an expert at this?” he said close to her
ear.

“No, but you are,” she said over her
shoulder. “I know that’s what you would do anyway.”

“I hadn’t decided. It might not be such a
good idea until I know more,” Lee said gruffly.

Andrea pushed through the door. Lee came out
right on her heels. “You call him or I will. Good cops understand
you can’t hotdog. You need backup.”

“You’ve been watching too much TV,” Lee
mumbled.

Andrea did not rise to his taunt. “You know
I’m right.”

They both got into their separate cars. With
a taut frown, he motioned for her to lead the way. Andrea peeled
off. The drive back to Bayou Blue did not take long. Traffic was
sparse at four in the morning. Pushing eighty-five miles an hour
most of the way on the two- lane highway helped. They arrived
downtown fifteen minutes later. Andrea drove into the parking lot
of the clinic first, with Lee close behind. Lee jumped out of his
car and strode toward her.

“You can still give me the keys and the
code.” He held out a large hand, palm up.

Andrea ignored him and opened the door. She
went to the keypad. Lights on the panel flashed rapidly and a
high-pitched beep sounded. Both stopped once she entered the
code.

“I know exactly what they want,” she called
over her shoulder as she ran down the hall. “This stuff will get
them really excited.”

He locked the door and came up fast behind
her. “I don’t want them excited; I want them pounded into the
dirt.”

Andrea stopped at the locked pharmacy door
but did not open it. “Did you call the sheriff?”

He put both hands on his waist. “Open the
door.” “Did you? I don’t want you in this alone, Lee.”

“Yes, now come on!” Lee yelled.

“Good.” Andrea unlocked the back door within
seconds.

“Damn it, woman. I’ve been on the street
since I was fifteen. I can take care of business—”

“Right, big, strong secret agent man,” Andrea
cut him off. She looked around inside at the shelves. “Hmm,
painkillers and muscle relaxants. Those should satisfy that scum.”
She helped him stack six boxes on a small wheeled cart.

Andrea followed him as he pushed the cart
down the hall and out the back door. They loaded the boxes into the
trunk of his car. Lee waited while Andrea put the cart back inside
the clinic and locked up.

Lee grabbed her by the shoulders. “Now, go
home, Andrea. I mean it this time. It’s the best way you can
help.”

Andrea wrapped her arms around him and
squeezed for a moment. “Okay. Please be careful.”

Lee kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry. I want
to come back to you.”

Then she felt something hard and cool. Andrea
reached down to his brown leather belt. Lee had a small automatic
pistol hooked to it. The gun was hidden beneath the light cotton
jacket he wore.

“Good Lord,” she whispered, and gazed up at
him. Just then a car pulled up, the sudden glare of the headlights
momentarily blinding them. Three men got out of a Chevy Blazer.
Andrea blinked against the glare at the dark figures. Then her
vision cleared and her heart froze at what she saw. One of the men
had Denny by the arm with one hand as he pointed an automatic
pistol at Denny’s temple with the other. A big man with a toothy
grin that lacked humor strode forward. Lee tried to push Andrea
behind him. She held on to him, her arms still around his
waist.

“Ain’t this sweet. Sorry we gotta interrupt
such a warm moment.”

“What’s up with this, Ty? I thought you
wanted me to meet you,” Lee said, forcing a casual tone. He used
his body to shield Andrea.

“Yeah, well, I changed my mind. I’m like
that, ya know? Especially when I been lied to.” The mean grin
turned menacing. “Your boy spilled his damn guts.” “Hold up—”