Lethal Affairs (14 page)

Though Monty Pierce wanted to remain close to Operation Eclipse, other ongoing missions had necessitated that he return to the EOO’s Colorado headquarters. He’d taken the red-eye the night before and was badly sleep deprived, about to nod off in his office chair when his cell phone rang. Automatically, he drew the blinds before answering.

He listened as details of Domino’s call about the license plate were relayed to him. “It came back as a private detective’s?” he repeated. “All right. Let me know when they get back to Strike’s apartment.”

He had barely disconnected when his cell rang again. The display identified the caller as the operative he’d assigned to Manny Vasquez. The man had been positioned outside Manny’s apartment building for more than twenty-four hours, but an hour earlier had still seen no sign of the detective. Pierce had told him to start calling the morgue and area hospitals. “Yes?”

“Vasquez is dead,” the caller relayed. “Car accident, his fault, looks like he was drunk. Happened about ninety minutes after Strike left his place.”

Pierce replaced the phone in its cradle without replying.
Dead?
He stared, unseeing, at the closed blinds, and found it hard to believe Vasquez’s death was a coincidence, drunk or no drunk. Vasquez must have had something of consequence. And that’s what Hayley was there looking for the next morning. She must have known he was dead. But how? And did she find what she was looking for after Domino left? Where was it now?

Once again, the question of who was behind it all worried him. Did the same person who had sent Hayley the tape hire her tails? And had he also had Manuel Vasquez killed?

Pierce had a call made to Domino’s cell phone. The operative he chose to dial the number spoke only one word when the phone was answered—Domino—then disconnected. Domino’s callback would come to his secure line.

omino’s cell phone vibrated against her hip while they were still a few miles from Hayley’s apartment. “Sorry, I have a voicemail.” She flipped it open, listened, then returned it to her pocket. She’d have to find a way to call Pierce back without Hayley overhearing.

“I have to make a quick stop at this gas station, hope you don’t mind.” She turned toward Hayley as she unbuckled her seat belt. “Can I get you anything?”

Hayley slowly shook her head and gave her a half smile that revealed only a hint of her dimples. “Just your rapid return.” Her attention was focused primarily on Domino, and she had the same sort of smoldering sensuality about her Domino had found so compelling back at the theater. But Hayley seemed to be aware of danger nearby too. Every now and then, she would follow some bit of movement in her environment. She looked like a rabbit, ready to bolt.

Domino found a quiet corner inside the station and called Pierce. He briefed her on Manny Vasquez’s death, and her already heightened sense of danger surrounding Hayley shot into overdrive. Had her mysterious benefactor turned lethal? That didn’t make sense. If he wanted to bring down the Organization, why silence someone who might help Hayley do so? She wondered again what the ex-cop had told her the night he died and what “promising” stuff he had that Hayley was so anxious to see.

His death explained Hayley’s unexpectedly early arrival on the scene while she had been searching Vasquez’s apartment. Hayley had somehow known he was dead and had decided to get the note and erase her message from his machine, to make sure police didn’t connect her to him. Had she found what Vasquez planned to show her? She had remained inside a good five minutes, which would have given her enough time.

Domino had to find out what Hayley knew and what evidence she had, one way or another, because apparently the only other person who might have been able to tell her anything was dead. But the idea of sleeping with Hayley merely to get information increasingly bothered her, and the prospect of silencing her once they got what they needed bothered her even more.

As each day passed, she became more convinced that Hayley was only a pawn, swept up in someone’s effort to bring down the EOO.
She returned to the car and slipped into the driver’s seat. Hayley smiled at her so enticingly, and her skirt length left so little to the imagination, Domino had to grip the steering wheel hard to keep her hands from exploring the warm softness so invitingly within reach.
And Hayley was clearly not going to make it easy on her. She apparently didn’t believe restraint had much merit, because as soon as Domino started the car, Hayley touched her softly muscled thigh and began to stroke it lightly but purposefully.
The slow, old-fashioned approach wasn’t going to work much longer.

“Run that by me again, Jack?” Terrence hated to hear about snags in his plans. The political power he had amassed guaranteed he rarely heard any kind of pessimism these days, at least directly. Problems or obstructions were quietly taken care of without his intervention, or his aides presented the unwelcome news with enough positive spin to mitigate the sting. But this particular matter was requiring a lot of his personal attention. Way too much.

“The dick was made,” Jack said. “Your reporter was out with some jealous girlfriend who thought our tail was leering at them or something.”

“Jealous girlfriend?” Hayley Ward was a damn attractive young redhead. That, combined with her clear ambition and drive, had made her stand out when she’d interviewed him for some college newspaper. He pictured her naked, writhing beneath some equally attractive woman, and the image almost made him smile. Almost. But this dalliance was keeping her from the task he’d assigned her.

“Yeah, we checked the other woman out,” Jack continued. “An art restorer from Washington. Guy we hired said she was strong as hell. Subdued him with stuff she claimed she learned in a self-defense class, but he was skeptical. Claims she went all GI Jane on his ass.”

“Coffee or a nightcap?” Hayley inquired once they were back in her apartment, Luka seated on the couch watching her, Hayley leaning against the kitchen doorway, arms folded. They stared at each other a long time, the question hanging in the air.

Flirting with women—and men, in the line of duty—had become a practiced skill Hayley rarely gave a second thought. Her looks and practiced way of putting people at ease had always made it relatively simple for her to get the story she needed, or the body she wanted into bed. But something about Luka made her feel…nervous, almost giddy nervous…in a way she hadn’t felt since she was in her teens.

So far, Luka struck her as someone very different from any woman she’d ever met. How was it possible someone so intelligent and attractive had never had a serious relationship? What was it she’d said?
I think you’re the first woman I’ve ever felt compelled to take it slow with, to want to see beyond one evening.

Some reporter she was. Time and again, Luka had managed to deflect any personal questions. After a handful of dates, she knew virtually nothing about Luka except she had grown up in foster care.

And she carried herself in an unusual way, as though extraordinarily self-confident. Luka also seemed to be more aware of her environment than anyone she’d ever met. She always appeared, even when relaxed and reclining, to be…
poised.
For what, exactly, Hayley wasn’t sure. Just
ready
, somehow, for something to happen at any moment.

But though her eyes seemed to be everywhere, taking everything in, when they got in close proximity, and only then, Luka seemed to find it hard to maintain direct eye contact with her.

And Luka seemed to be guarded not only in her personal revelations, but also in her expressions. Very well practiced in not letting anything that was happening within, whether emotional or intellectual, show on her face. Her eyes were often blank, and Hayley was a bit frustrated by her inability to tell what Luka was thinking. Someone else might not notice these things, but her job had taught her to read between the lines, to know when whoever she was interviewing was saying one thing but feeling another. Still, her failure at being able to read Luka hadn’t stopped a real spark of attraction from developing.

Though Luka was still a virtual stranger, for some unknown reason, being around her made Hayley feel safe. She had an aura of rock-solid reliability, was the type to be calm in a crisis. Those were immensely appealing qualities, as were her humor and charm.

And she certainly could wear anything and make it look sexy. Hayley practically licked her lips as she admired Luka. Her low-cut jeans hugged her body, as did her tailored long-sleeve shirt, a deep eggplant purple. Her black leather boots were well worn but polished, as was her belt. Luka wore no jewelry or perfume. And she had no piercings or tattoos, not even pierced ears.

But she needed none of that. Luka was beautiful from any and every angle just as she was—the kind of woman who looked stunning when she rolled out of bed in the morning.

Part of Hayley was ready to pounce, remembering the way Luka’s mouth on her neck had excited her. That part was ripe for some hot and heavy, sweaty and nonstop sex.

But the other part was quite enjoying the anticipation, this
eventually
taking-it-slow thing. While she was eager to feel their bodies move together, she was also interested in getting to know the woman beneath the unreadable façade and feeling the chemistry build between them.
Jesus, those kisses
.

“Just water, please.” Domino’s insides were twisted. Her body wanted Hayley. Here before her was a beautiful, sexy woman, one who appealed to her more than any she could remember. All night she had been simmering with arousal. It didn’t matter that Pierce was listening. It didn’t even matter right then that it would be a lie. She tried to tell herself it was part of the job—she had fucked for work before and that’s all it was now. She was so excited the pain in her groin was a dull, steady throb that ached to be relieved.

And the way Hayley was looking at her nearly broke her. All that kept her from acting on her arousal was her ignorance of how Hayley might react if she did. If Hayley ended their affair as soon as they slept together, she would fail in her mission. Pierce would send someone else after Hayley to find out what she knew, and probably in much less pleasant ways.

Hayley removed her heels, one at a time, resting one hand against the door frame as she did. Domino thought her extremely provocative. “Why don’t you take your shoes off and kick back on the couch. I’ll be right over to join you,” she said, before she disappeared into the kitchen.

“You seemed very excited on the phone about your story,” Domino called. “I guess the lead worked out.”
Hayley reappeared with a glass of water in one hand and an amber liquid in ice in the other. Domino could see the change in her face at the reference to Vasquez. She handed the water to her and set the other down, then walked over to stand before the window, looking out.
“Are you all right?” Domino asked.
“I’m not sure. The story…my lead was an ex-cop,” she replied. “A good source. I had only started, really, getting information from him when I met with him the other night, but before I had a chance to see him again, he was killed in a car accident.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. You seem upset about it. Did you know him well?”
“No. But he seemed like a nice guy. What’s bothering me is I’m not sure his death was an accident.” Hayley drew the curtains shut and went to sit near her on the couch.
“Sounds hectic. What makes you think it was deliberate?”
Hayley pursed her lips. “Well, this story, is…how can I put it? Potentially a huge, explosive kind of story that could have serious repercussions for powerful people. And I believe the criminal types involved got wind we were talking about it and silenced him.” When Hayley took a sip of her drink, her hand trembled.
“Does that mean you’re in danger? Have you talked to the police?” Domino asked, as the siren of a police car in the distance grew louder. Hayley hurried to the window and looked out anxiously as the siren reached its peak then began to die away.
“I can’t go to the police with this because…it’s just too complicated. And I don’t know for sure if I’m in danger, but I guess I could be,” she said, returning to the couch. “He told me to be careful. And…and I had a kind of fright about it earlier. Nothing real serious,” she lied, then took a healthy swig of her drink and gave Domino a forced half smile. “You helped take my mind off it for a while tonight, but I’m still a bit jumpy. It’s hard to get it completely out of my mind.”
“What kind of fright?”
Hayley leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “I don’t want to discuss it any more, Luka. It…it was a pretty terrifying experience and it’s still fresh. If I think about it too much I’ll never be able to get to sleep.”
“I’ll let it go for now but I’m here to listen if you need that. Sometimes it helps. And if you decide to go to the police, I’d be more than happy to go with you.” She rubbed the back of Hayley’s neck, and Hayley sighed, relaxing into the caress.
“You know what would help?” she asked some time later, without opening her eyes. Domino thought she had fallen asleep.
“Name it.”
“Could you spend the night with me?” She roused herself to look over with half-lidded eyes. “I could use the company right about now. I don’t think I’m up to being alone tonight. I know you don’t want to rush things, and I promise to behave. I’ll even let you have the bed to yourself, if that’s what you want.”
Despite her light tone, Domino could sense, almost smell Hayley’s fear, a skill she was very practiced at. Usually she welcomed the knowledge her targets were afraid. But that was certainly not the case now. She knew Hayley was remembering being pinned to Vasquez’s bed, a gun to her back. “Of course I’ll stay with you. I hate to see you this worried.”
“I’m not worried, just…jumpy,” Hayley said. “I think your presence will help me relax. It’s soothing to be with you. You make me feel safe—you always have.”
The irony wasn’t lost on Domino. “Why don’t you get me a pillow and blanket,” she replied, “because I insist on taking the couch, and don’t bother with arguments. Then get yourself into bed. It’s getting late, and I know you have to work tomorrow.”
“But I really—”
“Couch or nothing,” she insisted.
Hayley smiled at her, and Domino saw relief replace some of the anxiety in her eyes. “Be right back.”