Third Eye Watch (A Serena Shaw Mystery) (20 page)

She leaned against him to steady her trembling knees when she heard him say, “Serena, honey, you are under arrest; for distracting an FBI agent by sending him racy photos, and for preventing him from focusing on his job of protecting his country.”

Serena giggled, loving the sound of his husky tone underscored with mirth.

“Do you have any questions?” He asked, mock-glaring at her as he held her in his arms.

“Just one, Mr. FBI agent; will you lock up the gallery before you take me into custody?” She offered him the keys, looking appropriately serious.

They got in the car, but Sam didn’t turn on the car.

“We’re still going to Audrey’s?” Serena asked.

He nodded, his face serious now, showing no signs of his earlier levity.

Serena touched his arm lightly and asked, “What’s up?”

“I told Audrey. I know I should have asked you, I’m sorry, but….”

“Did she believe you?”

“Yes, of course, she believed me. Is that all you’re going to say? You kept your abilities a secret for all this time, now in the space of days, two more people know about it.”

“Well, I did threaten to tell her myself, remember? And you can tell me the reason on the way to her house. Besides, she has kept your secret all these years, so I’m sure she’ll keep mine.”

He leaned over and brushed his lips on her cheek. Then started the car and told her all about it.

xxxx

“Welcome to my home,” Audrey hugged Serena, and she hugged her back, avoiding Audrey’s eyes, even though she had on her zero prescription eyeglasses.

Serena looked around with interest as they went through a large foyer, which had a glass wall on one side, and a fireplace on the other, and entered a vast and open kitchen with light wood cabinets and a long marble-topped island. Recessed lights shined brightly on the black granite countertops, and a spotless white marble floor looked like it had been freshly mopped.

Through the double French doors, Serena got a view of the lake that glistened in the early evening sunlight and was glad when Audrey suggested they step outside to enjoy the remainder of the beautiful sunny day.

They stepped out onto a raised brick patio, which offered an extensive view of the all-sports lake.

“I love your home,” Serena told Audrey, as she took a sip of her wine.

“Thank you.” Then her voice filled with laughter, Audrey said, “So, Serena, Is it ok if I avoid your eyes while we speak?”

Serena threw a quick glance at Sam who stood a few paces away, his attention on the people swimming and boating on the lake below them.

“I’m sorry. I haven’t found a switch to turn the ability on and off, yet.” Serena replied in a light tone. “But I have figured out a way to block the information. The only problem is, it works only when the eye-contact is brief, say under thirty seconds.”

“Oh, well that’s good to know. I’ll be sure to keep my eye-contact with you; very, very brief.” Audrey’s promised in an amused voice.

“So, are you game?”

“Game for?” Surprised, Serena looked from Audrey to Sam.

“Sweet Jesus, partner. Way to not communicate”, Audrey scolded Sam.

“I didn’t have time to tell her everything. Besides, I know how you women like surprises.” Sam said unperturbedly

“Ok then.” Audrey retorted, scowling at her partner. Then turning to face Serena, she said, “Sam thought we could use your abilities to pry into the activities of the Criket Club, maybe find clues to the murders of Fredrik and Sofia; and perhaps uncover other shit that may be going on there.”

Serena felt stunned. Sam had done this. He had been so against it when she had asked, but now Audrey was telling her that it had been his idea.

“You don’t have to do this,” Sam told her, sitting down next to her, misreading the reason for her quietness.

She looked at him, quiet for a second; then asked, “So do you want me to or not?”

His eyes flickered. Then so quietly that Serena had to strain her ears to hear him, he said,  “As an FBI agent, I see the value of having a skill like yours, to help break this case. I want to find Sofia’s killers, and Fredrik’s. And I want to bring down the people who may be engaged in sex-trafficking activities in my town. But the thought of putting you in danger scares the hell out of me.”

“I see.” Serena hadn’t given a thought to the danger; she had only felt exhilaration over using her newfound abilities to help solve a crime. Now, hearing Sam tell her that he was scared; sent a sliver of fear through her as well.

“You’ll be there with me, won’t you?” When he nodded, she said, “Ok, then what could possibly go wrong?”

“Anything can go wrong, honey. You are a civilian, untrained, and protected. I know you want to help, and I am aware that your abilities would be a great help, but be smart about this, just tell us no.”

“So if I say yes, that means I’m not smart?”

Serena held back a smile when she heard Audrey say, “I’m going to get a refill”, and watched her escape inside. Sam glared at his partner’s back, then turned to Serena and said, “I didn’t say that. Honey, all I’m saying is….”. He tried to pull Serena in his arms, but she resisted.

“Wouldn’t it be worth the danger, if I can use my powers for greater good? Maybe that’s why I was given these powers, to do something more than just be a voyeur; maybe this is my purpose, to help you catch monsters.” She argued with emotion, placing one hand on his arm.

When he didn’t reply, she continued. “I’ll admit; I’m scared too. But I feel it is the right thing to do, put my newly acquired skills to good use. And maybe, you can convince your boss to make me an adjunct FBI agent, someone who can be on-call…..” She was trying to make him laugh but broke off when he finally turned to look at her.

“I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.” He said, his eyes smoldering with emotion.

“I couldn’t bear it either.” Serena deadpanned.

He gaped at her, then threw back his head and laughed. Serena grinned too; then slid her arm around his back, giving him a sideways hug. He leaned into her, rubbing his nose against hers, then trailed his lips over her cheek.

“Dinner is ready, you lovebirds.” They broke apart guiltily; Audrey stood in the patio door, toasting them with her wineglass.

“On-call FBI agent, huh?” He quipped, taking Serena’s hand as they followed Audrey inside.

CARTER & SAM

Sam gulped his beer, keeping his glance divided between his buddy sitting on his right, and the large screen television set above the bar. They were at a bar, which was only two blocks from their office; it was a popular watering hole for the agents of the FBI, which was evident from the fact that it was packed, even on a weeknight, with barely standing room. Carter and Sam knew over ninety percent of the people there, most of whom were their cohorts from the Bureau.

First Sam had told him about the unofficial operation,
Third Eye Watch
. Then after Carter had said, “I’m in.”, Sam had told him about Serena. Now Carter was brooding, and Sam waited for the obvious questions about Audrey.

A whole five minutes passed before he heard Carter ask, “So were you ever involved with…..?” Sam gave him a side-glance, and saw him shaking his head as if not wanting to hear Sam’s response.

“Involved with whom?” Sam asked, a picture of innocence, although he wanted to burst out laughing at the wild look of excitement in his friend’s eyes. Sam flicked his eyes back to the television, hiding the smile that had sneaked out.

“You know exactly who I’m talking about. Everyone in the office knows that you and her, that she and you…” Carter bit out tersely.

Sam turned to face Carter, then burst out laughing, unable to believe the clipped tone of his friend who rarely got hot under the collar, no matter how hairy the situation. And they’d been in plenty dangerous situations together.

The look of excitement in Carter’s eyes was replaced by a murderous glare, and Sam put up his hands in surrender, afraid that his usually easygoing partner was going to start a brawl in public.

“First, a gentleman never kisses and tells”, then seeing Carter’s face darken, he hastily added, “Wait, let me finish. I…..have…..NEVER…..”, he enunciated slowly, emphasizing every word that escaped his mouth, “been involved with HER, whoever HER is, and SHE and I have never ever had any relationship, whoever SHE is, so whatever you are thinking, you need to stop thinking.”

Carter looked at him in surprise, then leaned over and grabbed Sam’s face in his hands, kissing him boisterously on both cheeks.

“Hey man, what are you doing?” Sam yelled; pushing him away, while people around them erupted in loud applause. Sam glared at Carter, who had jumped off the barstool and now stood in the middle of the bar, taking bows, as their fellow agents, and even others who didn’t know what was going on, cheered, and clapped, and shouted “Mazel Tov”, “Congratulations”, and “We never knew that about you Raina.”

A DOUBLE DATE

Sam stood on the balcony of Serena’s apartment, listening to the muted sound of the city late at night, the buildings below him bathed in streetlights. Serena came and stood next to him, slipping her hand through the crook of his arm.

He turned to look at her, illuminated in the fat slice of the moon that hung like a wide grin in the sky. His gaze darkened as it flicked over the sexy red dress she wore, with matching sandals that added five inches to her slender frame.

He ran his hands up and down over her hips, smiling as he heard Serena’s quick indrawn breath, then caressed the front of her thighs just above her short hemline, before clasping them against the small of her back. She leaned her forehead against his, her quickened breathing matching his as they both stood in a loose embrace.

Audrey was due to arrive any minute, and then Carter, who would be the one to drive them to the Criket Club.

“You can still change your mind. We’ll find another way to….”, he moved his head so that he could meet her eyes.

“Sam. I’m not scared any more.” She assured him in a quiet voice.

He nodded; then said, “We’ll just be two couples, double dating at a strip club.”

“I know,” she replied.

“Although what kind of sick man takes his girl to a strip club?” He murmured in self-disgust, and she laughed, just as he had hoped she would.

“Ready?” he asked her when his phone buzzed. She nodded, and he took her hand, dropping a soft kiss on her palm. They exited the apartment and took the elevator downstairs where Audrey waited.

“Woo-hoo, look at you, Special Agent Glennon!” Serena said admiringly as she took in Audrey who was dressed in a tight white sleeveless dress, her hair piled up high in a complicated chignon, and her feet too in matching sandals, white in her case.

Ten minutes later, Carter pulled up in a late-model Corvette and got out. He shook hands with Sam and turned to Serena.

“Serena, this is Derek Carter, a close friend”, Sam told her, then he looked at Carter and said, “And this is Serena.”

Since Carter already knew who Serena was, Sam introduced her by just saying, “And this is Serena.”

The he heard Carter say, “It is my pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman”, and he thought, “What the hell!” He watched darkly as Carter took Serena’s hand and copying Sam’s gesture from a few minutes ago, placed a lingering kiss on her hand; then looked up at her with a charming smile on his face.

Serena smiled in delight; then gasped as Sam jerked Serena’s hand out of Carter’s grasp and growled, “Stop ogling my girl.”

Carter winked at Serena, then looked at Sam and raised his hands up as if in surrender, his eyebrows raised as if saying, “Gotcha,” his way of exacting petty revenge on Sam. Payback was such a bitch, Sam thought.

Then he narrowed his gaze as he saw Carter’s grin fade and his body tighten, as he faced Audrey, looking her up and down. Sam’s eyes slid to Audrey, and he noticed that she too looked tensed; her jaw was set and her body appeared to be coiled tight, as she stared at Carter with unflinching eyes.

Huh.

He turned around as Carter clapped his hands and said, “OKAY! Let’s get this show on the road”. Sam took Serena’s arm and got in the back with her, forcing Audrey to take the front. He ignored the killer look his partner threw him, before she too climbed in and shut the door.

It was approaching ten when Carter parked in the basement of the parking deck.

“Hang on a second,” Carter said, as he pulled out a pair of eyeglasses from his pocket, and slipped them on his face.

“When did you start wearing glasses?” Sam asked him in surprise.

Carter grinned and said, “I haven’t. These are state-of-the-art eyeglasses, which have a built-in video camera in the frame.” He took the glasses off and turned on his mobile phone flashlight, shining it on the frame.

“There’s a video camera hidden in here.” He pointed to the center of the frame. “It’s invisible to the human eye. Someone would have to know it was there, and then look at it with a magnifying glass, to find it.”

“Wow. Can I get one of those too?” Serena exclaimed, as she took out her own eyeglasses and put them on.

“We’ll see what we can do about that, Ms. Shaw.” Carter winked at her.

They took the elevators up to the first floor, bearing into consideration the stilettoes the ladies wore, and entered the parking lot of the Cricket Club, a few minutes later.

THE CRIKET CLUB

There were only a couple of patrons ahead of them, and soon it was their turn. After handing their drivers’ license to be checked and paying their cover charges (girls went in free with their male partners), the four of them ventured into the main hall of the strip club.

The Criket Club was alive at this time of the night, and packed with people of all ages and diversities; among whom were also sprinkled burly security guards, cute cocktail waitresses; and strippers who were giving private dances to men all around them.

The main room had two bars, a three-pole main stage, and a single-pole second stage; the stages were lit up like a theater but had poles reaching up to the ceiling.

Red chairs were clustered around round tables, facing one of the two stages in the room, where groups of people, mostly men, shouted in the direction of the stage, their speech slurred and drunken. He noted several corridors leading out of the main hall, where he knew there were private rooms for those who wanted privacy; and for those who paid for and received much more than just a dance.

Serena looked around, her mouth agape, and even through her eyeglasses, Sam could see her eyes were wide with amazement; obviously this was her first time at a strip club.

“Close your mouth honey, the flies are getting in,” he teased, whispering softly in her ear.

The DJ played Motley Crue’s “Girls Girls Girls”, and he watched Serena’s face flood with color as her gaze flitted rapidly between the main stage, where two girls erotically slid down a single pole; and stage two where another girl gyrated, her pelvis moving with such titillation, that at every thrust, clumps of bills came flying in the air, some landing on her, most settling around her on the stage.

He grinned when Serena mumbled something under her breath; then encircled her waist to hold her closer, as they stood in the middle of the room waiting for Carter and Audrey to bring their drinks. He watched them now as they pushed through the crowd, and handed him and Serena their drinks.

Just as he took his first sip, he heard, “Don’t I know you from somewhere, handsome?” He looked down to see a blond woman, with naked, enormous perky breasts, and wearing only a G-String, clinging to his arm, looking up at him seductively.

He shook his head, inclining his head towards Serena, saying, “My girlfriend here is the jealous kind, we’re here just to look, you know, spice up our sex lives.” He smiled at her apologetically, then took a twenty out of his pocket and held it out to her. She raised her hip suggestively, gesturing to him to stick the bill in there, and he did, hearing Serena inhale a furious breath.

The stripper turned to Serena. “Would you like a lap dance sugar? To excite your man?” she trilled in a honeyed voice, jerking her head towards Sam.

He coughed to cover up his laughter at the horrified look that came upon Serena’s face. Audrey had just taken a sip of her drink, and she choked on it, spraying them all with vodka, then coughed convulsively. Carter thumped her back with one hand, while he turned away to hide his twitching lips from Serena.

A moment later, instant desire flooded Sam, as Serena copied the stripper’s move; and wrapped herself against him. “Maybe later, sugar.” She drawled, rubbing herself against Sam suggestively, which made Audrey convulse in laughter against Carter, who looking as if he had just won the lottery, held her tightly against his chest.

A few minutes later, Serena left to check out the ladies room, and Carter followed shortly, claiming he too needed to use the little boys room.

Audrey said she needed another drink, shouting to be heard over the noise around them, and then began moving towards the main bar, with Sam following her. Lena turned towards them to take their order, but her smile faded when she saw them, and she froze, a fearful look on her face.

“A vodka tonic for me, and a beer for him,” Audrey told her, smiling widely as if she had never seen Lena before in her life. Lena remained frozen, and Sam shook his head imperceptibly at her. Another moment passed before Lena turned away to get them their drink order.

Sam and Audrey remained at the bar, talking and laughing as if they were having the time of their lives. But their conversation was anything but happy-go-lucky.

“What if she gets caught? What if Carter doesn’t get to her…?”

“Stop that Sam. She’ll be okay. And Carter won’t let her get caught.”

He nodded, taking a swig of his beer, but he couldn’t stop thinking of all the ways this could go south on them.

xxxx

Serena glanced around furtively, as she pushed her way through the crowds. She could see the sign for the restrooms in the short distance, but that wasn’t her destination. She turned into one of the corridors, and then hastily stepped back out as she heard moans all around her.

She stood for a moment, taking in the eight curtain-clad spaces, which looked to her like the changing rooms at Macy’s. Then she retreated; this was obviously not their back office!

The third corridor led her into a short, dimly lit passageway, which ended in a door. Serena glanced behind her, expecting to see a guard or two, but seeing no one, she took a deep breath, and praying silently that Carter was following closely, she walked to the door, and placed her ear on the door, listening for sounds inside. When she couldn’t hear anything, she pushed at it cautiously, and found to her surprise that the door was unlocked.

She hesitated; then letting her breath out in a whoosh, she pulled out her cellphone and began talking into it loudly as she pushed the door open and walked in. 

“No, you wouldn’t believe the girls here. Their boobs, oh my god, I just can’t believe they’re real.” Her voice was slurred, and she giggled helplessly, weaving from side to side as she walked. Her alert eyes however noted that there was no one in the main hall, but the four rooms, two on each side of the room, were occupied.

Serena stopped, with arms akimbo, frowning as she slowly she turned in a half circle, letting her body tremble as if she’d crumble to the ground any minute.

A man rushed out from the second room to her right, and shouted, “This is a private office area. What are you doing here? How did you get here?”

“I was..”, wait a minute, she held up her hand, then slurring her words, she spoke into the phone, “Girlfriend, call you back…..’s a man here shouting at me. Byeeee.” She hung up the phone and looked at the man, allowing her body to do a naked tremble.

I should take up acting, she thought, seeing the disgust on the man’s face as he looked at the drunken woman in front of him.

“Yeah, so, this isn’t the bathroom then. I feel sick. I think I have to throw up. And pee. Too many vodka shots.” She weaved, and took a step closer to the man, then slumped on the chair in front of her saying, “the sign told me to turn here for the bathroom”, pointing behind her, as if there was a sign hanging on the wall. Then she dropped her head on the desk, and began snoring.

“Guard, Guard.” She heard him yell, and sighed softly; her short acting stint was coming to an end. But where the hell was Carter?

Serena heard rushing footsteps, bracing for a guard to haul her out of her chair. But just then she heard, “Oh my God, Serena, there you are.” She remained as she was, as she heard Carter rush into the room. Shadows fell over her as she imagined the three men staring down at her.

“Sorry fellas, this is my sister-in-law; my wife’s sister. She said she was going to the bathroom, and then I had to use the little boy’s room too, but when I was walking back, I saw her walking this way so I followed. She’s a little drunk, she’s always drunk!” Carter’s face was agitated and he acted nervous, knowing they had to be suspicious about him.

He withdrew his cell phone, and looked at it, then exclaimed, “Damn, there’s no signal here. I need to let my wife know that I…”

“Sir, you have to leave. Please, gather….your errr sister”, the office guy said, and Carter corrected him, “sister in law.” “Yes, your sister in law, please take her. And in the future, it might be better if she, you, that is….”

“I understand. We’ll make sure we don’t bring her with us when we come back. We love this place, and we didn’t want to bring her, but…”

“Enough. Please go. We are very busy as you can see, and I have wasted enough of my time on this….. woman.” He finished; then stood looking down at Serena with, Carter thought, desire, not disgust as he had initially thought.

Good thing Sam’s not here, or you’d be a pancake by now.

Carter nodded at the man; then after surreptitiously touching a small icon on his phone, he placed the phone in the top pocket of his jacket.

“Sorry for the trouble, I’ll take her now,” Carter said, as he lifted Serena from the chair and made her stand, murmuring softly to her, and half-dragged her towards the door.

Serena kept up the act of being completely out of it, clinging to Carter as they made it back to Sam and Audrey. Sam took Serena’s arm, holding her close to him, his lips tight, as he shook away an unexpected twinge of jealousy seeing Carter’s arms around her. Carter’s lips twitched, he had seen Sam’s reaction.

The left the club and entered the parking deck, this time taking the stairs to the basement where their car was parked. As soon as she got in, Serena slumped against the back seat, holding her head in both her hands. Sam pulled her against him and started to say something when Audrey’s hushed voice filled the car.