Saving Face (Mount Faith Series: Book 1) (6 page)

Harry nodded and then glanced at Natasha. "Why would Anne Carter's husband single out Taj Jackson for the presidency?"

Natasha shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

Taj looked from one to the other. "Bancroft mentioned that Carter was out to annoy him. So he chose me."

Harry's ears perked up. "So Carter hates Bancroft?"

"I got that impression," Taj said, "and I am also pretty sure that Bancroft hates Carter."

Harry rubbed his ears. He always did that when he was close to some important piece of information and could not figure out what it was.

"Lets talk about you." Natasha said to Taj. "Where were you born?"

Taj swung in his chair. "I think it was at the Black River Hospital. I don't know who my biological parents are. My parent's helper, Harriet, arranged my adoption. My father, Gersham Jackson, part-owned a string of jewelry stores and my mother, Darla Jackson, was an artist. She died trying to save a cat from being hit by a truck."

"Sorry for your loss," Harry said seriously.

Taj shrugged. "Darla was not really a mother in the sense of being a mother. Harriet was more my mother, to be honest. I miss Darla sometimes though…when I allow myself to think about my childhood any at all."

"Is it possible for us to talk to Harriet?" Natasha asked.

"Well," Taj said, "I'll call her later. I can put you on speakerphone. She is supposed to be going on a trip to Alaska for six weeks. I was planning to call her in the night."

Natasha nodded.

Harry frowned. "How is this relevant to the case?"

"We need to find out his connection to the case." Natasha said quickly.

"No," Harry frowned. "We don't. That is personal stuff."

"It's not," Natasha said stormily, "I just have a hunch that this is important to the case."

Harry looked at her hard and then backed down. "I have always listened to you and your hunches."

"Good," Natasha said, "listen now to this one."

Harry yawned and then stretched out his hand, flexing his fingers rapidly. "Okay then."

"So when can we come back for the call?" Natasha asked Taj.

"At around four this evening." Taj had been looking between the two of them and then he asked, "So who are the other suspects?"

"Bancroft," Harry said, "Edward Carlisle's wife—Miranda Carlisle, your secretary—Anne Carter."

"That's a pretty short list," Taj said, "I thought it was longer than that. Was Carlisle so loved that his list is so short?"

"The list was longer," Natasha said, "but the motives just don't add up."

"What's Anne Carter's motive," Taj asked quietly. He was alarmed that his secretary could be a murderer. She looked so unassuming and needy. But then again he had to be reassessing his view of the university.

"She was close to him. She said he had a secret life which was sickening." Natasha replied readily.

Taj frowned. "Seems like you are grasping at straws. That's just one person's perception of him. I wonder what that secret life was."

"We intend to find out." Natasha said picking up her cold patty. "So we'll meet back here at four?"

Taj nodded. "You might also want to accompany me to The President's Ball tomorrow evening. I figure all of your suspects will be there."

Natasha nodded and smiled slyly. "So we still get to have our date then?"

"It's work," Harry said belligerently, "remember that Detective Rowe."

"Oh kill joy," Natasha winked at Taj who could barely muster a smile, he was sitting in his chair, stunned.

Chapter Seven

Taj sat bemusedly through his department meetings, glancing furtively at his watch every two minutes. His mind was racing with thoughts. Why hadn't he had the foresight to question Harriet about his biological parents long before this? Now he was going to have to deal with whatever news he heard in front of Natasha—a woman who he was surprisingly still attracted to—and her detective partner.

He swallowed a yawn as the Dean of the college of Science wrapped up the meeting in his sonorous voice.

Taj grabbed his briefcase and hurried to his office as soon as he politely could. He had not wanted to stop and talk to anyone but a few of his colleagues were very anxious to hear about the progress of the Psychiatry Center.

He let himself into his office and saw that Natasha was sitting in his chair—her foot propped up on his desk. She was chewing gum and was in the middle blowing a bubble when he walked in. She was busy reading something on her laptop.

"Oh hi," she jumped up when he straightened at the door, a grin on his face.

"So this is what fake assistants do when the professor is not around?" Taj looked at her sternly.

Natasha blushed, "I am sorry to make myself so much at home Taj, but I just received the password for Edward Carlisle's school email address." She chuckled. "The systems administrator was very helpful when Harry insisted. I am just browsing through his email from as far back as 2001."

Taj whistled and sat across from her. "Wow, any useful insider information in there for a presidential hopeful?"

Natasha frowned. "Even if there was, I wouldn't give it to you. This is a criminal investigation Taj, not a game."

Taj held up his hands. "Okay Detective. No need to remind me. In the future, I will try to remember to censor all the email that I send through the school's servers. I can't believe it is that easy to get the password to someone's email address. In this information age truly there is no privacy, huh?"

Natasha nodded. "That's so true but if you are not criminal minded there is no need for you to be super cautious. Frankly, we can get access to your deleted messages too. That's the first place I look in an investigation where email is involved. Being cautious is good, but we instantly become suspicious of the super cautious."

Taj looked at her contemplatively. "Works the same for my profession. The super cautious are usually the ones with something to hide."

Natasha caressed the edge of the laptop. "You know, you can be a real asset to this investigation, with your knowledge of human behavior."

She looked at him appreciatively and then suddenly felt hot under her purple turtleneck collar. He had warm chocolate eyes with very white corneas. They were looking back at her with a knowing awareness.

She cleared her throat. "Uhm...this is not going to work."

Taj raised his eyebrows indolently. He made no move to help her escape the tension that was building between them. He saw her discomfort and he reveled in it
.
So, the business-like attitude from earlier in the day was just a front
.
Natasha was a woman and she was attracted to him—detective or not. He anticipated that this would be an interesting next couple of weeks, until she solved the case of Edward Carlisle's death.

Harry knocked on the door and pushed his head in; Natasha looked up with relief.

"It's four o'clock," Harry said coming in. "Have you called your housekeeper yet?"

"Not my housekeeper anymore," Taj said. "She lives in a retirement community where she is involved in sorts of activities. She is hardly at her condo, so we have to call her on her cell phone."

Taj reached for the office phone and dialed Harriet's number; putting her on speakerphone.

"Hello," her chirpy voice came on the line.

"It's me," Taj said hurriedly, "but before you get too excited, there are two detectives here with me and we have you on speaker phone."

"Taj Jackson are you in trouble?" Harriet asked in a panicked rush.

"No, he is not," Natasha said quickly to defuse Harriet's panic. "My name is Natasha Rowe, and my partner Harry Campbell and I just want to ask you a few questions about Taj's birth."

Harriet cleared her throat, "Why?"

"Well," Natasha said gently, "we are in the middle of an investigation and we have reason to believe that Taj may be biologically connected to a man named Ryan Bancroft."

"Never heard of him," Harriet said.

"Would you mind telling us about the circumstances behind Taj's adoption?" Natasha asked, her pen poised to scribble.

Harriet sighed. "My mind is not as fresh as it once was, but I'll try." She cleared her throat. "A church sister of mine in Top Hill—where I used to live—told me one evening after church that she was keeping a teenage girl that was pregnant because her mother could not afford to keep her and the new baby.

The mother of the pregnant girl had just lost her husband. I think he was a fisherman and was lost at sea. His body was never found. She had a whole bunch of other kids too, so the pregnant girl was an added burden on an already poor family.

So, they sent the girl to my district in Top Hill to live with that church sister who had promised to find a family for the baby. I knew that the Jackson's wanted a child and was working with them at the time so I told them. Gersham Jackson handled the rest of the adoption. That's Taj's father—the best father around."

She said stoutly, "Why you are bringing this up now is beyond me. The adoption was legal."

"What was the name of the girl?" Natasha asked with anticipation; cutting off Harriet's ramblings.

"Her name was Net," Harriet said. "That's all I know. Those fisher folk really know how to name their children from the trade."

Natasha looked at Harry and grinned. "I am from fisher folk too, Harriet. Are you sure that Net wasn't a nickname or something? Do you have a surname?"

"No," Harriet said. "It is possible that she changed her name when she came to the district. People do those sorts of things all the time—to save face you know. Young, unmarried Christian girl...She was probably ashamed of the whole thing. I think I heard that the boy who got her pregnant was accepted to some fancy school abroad and he left her in Jamaica with the pregnancy."

"Do you have any idea which district she was from?" Natasha asked desperately, "I am from Parotee in St. Elizabeth. There are other fishing villages there like Black River, Alligator Pond, and Slipe. Any of those names ring a bell?"

"No," Harriet said, "I never really spoke to the girl, she was very quiet and extremely shy."

"Can you describe her?" Natasha asked.

"Slim," Harriet recounted, "extremely curly hair…just like Taj's. She was medium brown. She cried all the time…she had just lost her Dad and was pregnant. That's all I know."

"Thanks Harriet," Natasha said contemplatively, "you've been most helpful."

"I have?" Harriet asked surprised, "how old are you Natasha?"

"Twenty seven," Natasha replied.

"Are you single?"

"Er...yes," Natasha answered reluctantly.

"Good-looking?" Harriet asked with a grin in her voice.

"Goodbye Harriet," Taj, who was silent through the whole reciting of his beginnings, perked up suddenly, "I will call you later."

"Taj is single too," Harriet said. "Don't you dare hang up the phone on me young man."

Taj who was about to cut the call, jerked suddenly and stilled.

"Now that's better," said Harriet as if she was in the room with them. "See how obedient he is Natasha?"

Natasha laughed. "Yes ma'am."

"He is also tidy and clean."

Taj rolled his eyes. "Harriet please, you are embarrassing me."

"Okay," Harriet said unrepentantly, "call me later."

Taj hung up the phone and looked at Natasha and Harry sheepishly. "Sorry."

Harry grinned. "I can empathize. I have a few females like that in my life."

Natasha was avoiding his eyes. She got up from her chair. "I need to think about what Harriet said. Something is puzzling me."

"What exactly is that?" Harry asked. "She was pretty vague with the information."

"I don't know," Natasha bit her lip, "but I am going to find out soon enough." She closed the laptop and finally looked at Taj. "What time tomorrow is The Presidential Ball?"

"Five o'clock. The invitation said elegant dressing. It would be nice to see you in formal wear."

Natasha flushed and looked at Harry who was staring at both of them speculatively.

"Are those the emails?"

"Yup," she nodded, "we can go through them tonight."

Harry nodded. "Alright, let’s go."

"Where are you guys staying?" Taj asked curiously.

"I am staying at Pavilion Hall. I have an apartment on the first floor of the girls’ only dormitory," Natasha said pushing her laptop in the case and zipping it up.

"I travel everyday from home," Harry said. ‘It's just forty-five minutes from here. I get to see my wife every night."

Taj nodded, a feeling of elation overwhelming him. He had been trying to figure out the dynamics between her and Harry. They sounded like they were genuinely platonic partners. "So see you tomorrow Natasha."

Natasha nodded.

Chapter Eight

"What is with those secret looks and hot, heavy tension I sense between you and Taj?" Harry asked as soon as they entered her apartment. The cramped space was home to a single bed, a study table, two chairs, and a small fridge. Natasha was on the first floor of Block A. the bungalows were divided into fourteen blocks in a semi circular fashion around an ornamental garden.

"It's nothing." Natasha said plopping the laptop down on the study desk. "Just your regular basic attraction."

Harry snorted and pulled up a chair beside the desk. "If you say so Detective."

Natasha turned on the laptop, "I was browsing through Edward Carlisle's emails a little before you came by the office today and I saw something that should get you excited."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "What? An affair?"

"Seems so. Check under the archived messages for 2007."

Harry quickly clicked through the files until he reached 2007 and found a bunch of mails to an address: [email protected].

"Bingo," he breathed, "I knew these types can't keep it in their pants. I just knew it."

"Stop sounding so excited because the man's a cheater." Natasha said scowling, "Somehow I think the Supe…who thinks his uncle walks on water…will be very disappointed."

She glanced in her fridge. "May I offer you some refreshment? I have orange juice and bottled water."

"No food?" Harry asked hunkering down and looking at the mail closely.

"Nope," Natasha said, "I was supposed to go to the school's business center and check out Ryan Bancroft's son and shop for some snacks. Haven't gotten around to doing that yet. I basically just eat at the cafeteria and then come back here."

"Not even nuts, or chocolate?" Harry looked up. "My belly is growling."

"I don't hear it," Natasha grinned, "so it's not loud enough."

"Come on, have mercy," Harry said, "I didn't have lunch today. My wife forgot to pack my lunch."

Natasha laughed. "You big baby. Okay, I am going to the business center for food. If I see Micah Bancroft I will chat him up a bit."

She got up. "Hurry up and browse through those emails…no men on the female dorm past ten o'clock."

Natasha grabbed her battered army camouflage jacket and slipped her feet into sneakers. She had contemplated driving to the business center but at the last minute decided to walk. The business center was almost seven minutes away. The air had a certain bite to it and she pushed her hand in her pocket.

She felt her slim line switchblade knife and her phone in her pocket. She guiltily waved to the campus security on her way to the business center because she knew she was not supposed to have a weapon on her.

She was glad for the walk. It gave her a chance to think about the case so far and also think about Taj Jackson.

She wondered about him. To be honest, she had had a slight crush on him since she first saw his picture. On her first day in his class she could see that all the girls had been drooling. One girl had even admitted that she had joined the class just to stare at him, but of all the girls there, she had sensed that he liked her.

She had breathed a sigh of relief because she had targeted him as the most likely candidate to help her with the investigation. He had been her target to get them access to faculty, and he was more than willing to help.

She barely glanced at the well-manicured lawns and the hustle and bustle of students; so lost was she in her thoughts of Taj.

"Where are you going?" his voice said to her.

She jumped. It sounded too real to be her mind. She looked around and saw that he was walking a few paces behind her. He was dressed casually in a tracksuit and was panting a bit.

"I saw you walking purposefully in this direction and decided to follow," he said, panting slightly. "I'm terribly out of shape."

Natasha blushed. "I wouldn't say that, you look like you are in great shape." She stopped and waited for him to catch up. "I am going to the business center."

"Oh," Taj said, "been through the emails already?"

"Nope, Harry is going through them now. I am just going to get some snacks. Apparently his wife did not pack food for him today, so he is starving."

Taj grinned. "He sounds happily married."

"He is." Natasha nodded. "They've been together since high school."

Taj grimaced. "I had a high school girlfriend who I saw myself being happily married to."

Natasha was about to keep walking and then she looked at him fully. "Is that so?"

Taj laughed. "I see feminine curiosity and jealousy in your eyes."

Natasha closed her eyes. "That's right, you read people for a living."

"And administer medication too," Taj said jokingly. "Spent four years in med school for that."

Natasha started walking. "So why aren't you not married to her?"

Taj laughed again, "I thought you had resolved in your thoughts that you wouldn't give in to curiosity and ask me that question?"

"Boy, you are real nifty with this mind reading thing."

"It's not too hard," Taj said. "People are basically predictable in some of their responses. But, to answer your question, we aren't together because she married somebody else. Sometimes high school relationships don't work out."

"Do you still have feelings for her?" Natasha asked curiously anticipating his answer with bated breath.

"Yes," Taj looked at her sideways. "Warm fuzzy feelings like one would have for a sister…I guess. I got over my initial heartbreak years ago. I am friends with her husband now and we all get on like a house on fire."

Natasha breathed out and then blurted out the thought that was uppermost in her mind since she saw his picture. "Are you seeing anyone?"

Taj stopped and then turned the full brunt of his brown gaze on her. "Is this a question for your investigation, or is this you finally admitting to yourself that you have the hots for me?"

Natasha growled. "You are so...so..." She threw up her hand in the air, "Bancroft like." She stomped off to the Business Center. It was well lit up in the dusk and she headed toward it determinedly.

"Take that back," Taj said to her a hurt tone in his voice.

"Arrogant," Natasha huffed, "and too sure of yourself."

"It's this school," Taj grinned at her, "they are rubbing off on me. I swear I was never in a million years like Bancroft. And yes, I am single."

Her steps faltered. "Okay then."

"But Harriet already told you that on the phone." He walked beside her up the walkway. "Are you going to give me a dose of my own medicine and answer me like a self-assured arrogant pig if I ask you if you are seeing anyone?"

Natasha grinned. "It's tempting, but no I am not seeing anyone. I haven't been in a relationship since," she stopped under a street lamp and screwed up her face, "five years ago. I dated a very clever con artist for a while…even lived with him. I should have listened to my mother and not live in sin. Turns out I was not only living in sin. I was also sleeping with sin."

Taj laughed. "That's a novel way to put it…sleeping in sin."

Natasha shrugged. "Never again."

Taj nodded. "Is this a vague way of telling me that since I am so obviously interested in you that I must be above board or you will hurt me?"

Natasha rolled her eyes and then started walking again. When they approached the mini plaza she said, "I am going to the supermarket."

Taj followed behind her. "Just out of curiosity, how badly can you hurt me physically?"

"I teach kickboxing to my fellow officers in the summers, when I am not under cover," Natasha said smirking. "I am also quite good at Aikido."

"Never heard of that," Taj said shuddering. "It sounds really dangerous."

"Have you ever watched a Steven Seagal movie?"

"Yes, I am ashamed to admit it. I've watched all his movies," Taj said, "and I enjoy it."

Natasha giggled. "You see his signature moves?"

"The arm twisting stuff?" Taj asked. They were nearing the supermarket.

Natasha nodded. "Yup. The defender does not try to stop the attacker, but uses his momentum against him. It is pretty easy, once you get the hang of it."

Taj looked unsure. "I am taking your word for it. Want to have a drink when you are done shopping. I promised Micah I would have a chat with him. Might as well check him now since I am here."

Natasha's eyes lit up. "Sure."

Taj grinned, "I wish you were getting excited to be having a drink with me, but I figure it's Micah that has you excited. You will have an opportunity to pick his mind."

Natasha laughed. "I like you."

Taj placed his hand on his heart comically. "Thank God, because I like you too."

Natasha was still smiling when she entered the student lounge. There were several sitting areas and rooms where students were playing pool and dominoes. She headed toward where Taj was sitting around a circular table with Micah. They had a several bottles of drinks on a tray between them.

They both had a faint resemblance when she catalogued their features. She glanced from one to the other. It was faint but the resemblance was there, around the eyes. Micah had almost waist length neatly groomed dread locks. His eyes were deep set and he was whipcord lean—he looked like he had a long distance runner's body. He had a chain around his neck with a small blue whale in the middle.

"Hey, Taj's girlfriend, have a seat," he said waving to her. He had a slightly husky voice and Natasha smiled. He made a very nice package. If she hadn't seen Taj first, she might have been interested in him.

"Is that what he told you?" She sat down and put down her bag between her and Taj.

"No," Micah said, "I saw you two flirting and grinning from the edge of the driveway and came to my own conclusions."

Natasha nodded. "Were you expecting Taj?"

"Not really," Micah said, "I was expecting my fiancée." He looked down in his drink sheepishly.

"Long story. My father is forcing me to marry her. She's the only daughter of a very generous benefactor of this college." He sighed, a look of pain flashing across his eyes. She's a past beauty queen—spoiled, immature, and young but my father requested it. In the past I would jump through his hoops, but not this time."

Natasha made a moue sound. "Hush, there are worst things than being forced to marry a pretty, rich girl."

"I am not going to marry her." Micah sighed. "I am not going to be working here much longer either. I have an escape plan."

He laughed. "I am not cut out for this rat race."

He picked up his juice and raised it in Taj's direction. "More power to you Dr. Jackson for wanting to be involved in the fray. This kind of thing is not my cup of tea. I am too young to be living this fake life anymore, and too old to be bowing and scraping at my father's well polished feet. I am getting out of here soon."

"So what are you going to do?" Taj asked Micah who had a steely determined look in his eye.

"Work here for another six months. I've been saving. By then, I should have amassed enough money to buy the old place I am living in now. It has some acreage attached to it. I can live a simple life and write and play music when I want."

"How many children does your father have?" Natasha asked innocently. She had checked that data on Bancroft already but she wanted to hear details from his son.

"Five." Micah looked over at her. "I am the eldest and most unfortunate for being his first born. Then there is Adrian…he's the good son. He went and did his Masters in the Social Sciences. He should be back here next year teaching his good little heart out and being molded into his father's image.

Then there's Kylie. She's a straight up nerd, with a brain like a computer."

He hiccupped. "She likes that area too. She goes to school here but keeps a very low profile. Then there is the famous Marcus Bancroft—you must have heard of him. He's the upcoming track star that everybody is talking about these days."

Natasha gasped. "That's your brother?"

"Yup." Micah nodded. "My Dad was too distracted in his growing up years to discourage him from following his dreams I guess."

"Your father sounds terrible." Natasha said quickly.

Micah shrugged. "My baby sister, the youngest of the bunch, would disagree with you. She thinks he walks on water. I guess after the first three he decided to be more humane in how he raised her."

"Your mother must be pretty strong to deal with his personality," Taj said softly.

"She's okay," Micah said. "They got married pretty young and started having children right away. They are not what I would call happy. My Mom is the giver, my Dad the taker."

Taj nodded. "Your father strikes me as the big-time taker when I met with him today."

"Oh yes. How was that?" Micah asked interested. "Did the beast roar?"

Taj shook his head. "He's something else I tell you. He said he'd have me investigated so that he could flaunt my secrets for the board to see and then nail me to the proverbial wall with my shame."