Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set (60 page)

“Yeah,” Conner shrugs at me. “I’m going with you.”

I shake my head at him. “You don’t have to do that, Dave. I got myself into this.” I stand up and head to Marcos’ office and Conner is right behind me. I stop halfway at the door and look back at him. “You don’t listen,” I smirk at him.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I smile at him and he shakes his head at me. “How many times have you had my back over the last four years, Guy? It’s not always easy being the partner of ‘Top Cop,’ you know? If I don’t want to look bad in comparison, I got no choice but to bust my ass just to keep up with you. So, in that sense you’ve made me a better cop, okay. But today, I get to have your back for a change, so … let’s go.”

He looks determined and my grin gets bigger. I turn and proceed to the Lieutenant’s closed door and knock.

“Come on!” Marcos’ voice is stern and agitated, and I take another deep breath before opening the door and heading inside. He looks up as we enter and immediately frowns. “You can go back to your desk, Conner,” he says to Dave, but his eyes never waver from mine.

“With all due respect, Lieu, I feel that I have something to contribute to this discussion,” Conner says.

Marcos looks at him for a beat and finally says, “Fine. Close the door.”

I swallow as we both walk over and sit in the chairs across from Marcos’ desk. Conner called me Top Cop a second ago. It’s a friendly, smartass moniker that I know some of the guys have used to describe me over my ten years at the PD, but I know what they’re getting at. I have spent my entire career working hard, putting forth the extra effort, clearing a lot of cases. I don’t do it for the recognition or to try and climb the ladder. I do it because I love police work, plain and simple. I truly enjoy my job and I take pride in it, every single day.

And I suddenly frown as a realization hits me. That’s what Lee meant. When he said that I’d make a good supervisor and that I’d be a good example and mentor for the young guys just joining the ranks. Conner said I make him a better cop because he has to hustle to keep up with me. Is that true? Could I instill that love and pride for the job into the rookies just starting out?

Not if Marcos is about to hand you your ass on a silver platter, Pierce.
I smirk to myself. I may have been Top Cop once upon a time but, I’m sure as hell not right now. I can’t believe it’s actually come to this over a woman! Over the course of my career, I have been reprimanded a total of zero times. I have never been written up for any reason. But then … I’ve never done anything this out of character before. Getting involved with the victim in a case? Not like me at all.

“Well,” Marcos says, looking at me expectantly. “Let’s hear it. What the hell has been going on, Guy? When you asked me for permission to escort Miss Colby to and from work each day, I was thought it was a great idea. Lucas Colby was happy to hear that we were making his sister’s safety such a priority. Now, I’m feeling like a fucking idiot here! Were you just playing me?”

His voice is raised and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so angry. At least, not at me. I look at him in a sort of daze. What the fuck am I supposed to tell him? “No, sir! My priority was always keeping Samantha safe! But I’m not really sure what to say, Lieutenant,” I shrug at him. “When this case began, I tried to ignore what I knew was going on between Samantha and me. I tried to stay away from her and just do my job! But once she started getting phone calls from this creep it became more difficult. She reached out to me, and I wanted to protect her! And then it just … happened.”

“Well when you saw where things were headed, why didn’t you try just taking yourself off the damn case?” He sounds pissed. I’m at a loss of what to say. I look down at the floor and Conner speaks up.

“If I can jump in, Lieu?”

“What is it, Conner?” Marcos barks at him.

“Sir, I know you’re worried that this relationship may have compromised our investigation in some way but, I have to tell you that is not the case,” Conner says. “In fact, it’s been just the opposite. Guy’s work on this case has been exemplary. His closeness to the victim made it possible for us to wind up catching this dirtbag today. If he had listened to me this afternoon, instead of listening to his own instincts – which were screaming at him to go and check on his girl – not only would we have missed Echols altogether, but Miss Colby would surely have ended up raped as well. Possibly even killed. And there would be no words for how upset the Colby family would be with this department right now.”

Marcos is quiet for several seconds as he mulls over Dave’s words, and I know that what he just said is true. I can’t imagine the frenzy this department would be in now if things had gone differently earlier today. And Marcos knows that too.

He looks at me and says quietly, “How far have things gone with you two?”

It’s an extremely personal question. One that I have no intention of answering directly. I look him in the eye and say nothing, and my stoic expression tells him what he wants to know. He sighs heavily.

“Are there feelings involved here, Guy, or was it just sex?” He is looking at me as if he’s trying to find a way to justify overlooking my indiscretion, and I swallow anxiously as I answer him as honestly as I can.

“I care very deeply about her, Lieutenant,” I tell him earnestly, and he studies my face for a moment.

“Who knows about it?”

I hesitate a second as I remember our conversation with Lee Parson at The Slammer. But Lieu doesn’t need to know about that. “Just Conner.”

He smirks at me. “And Parson?” I feel my face flush as I look down at the floor. I don’t answer his question but, I don’t need to. Marcos is well aware of the bond Lee and I share. He and Lee are close friends; they used to be partners back in the day. “Anyone else” he asks me.

“No, sir.”

“Well, let’s keep it that way until we see what happens with this case,” Marcos says. “And I mean it, Guy. You stay away from her until then. You got it!” I say nothing and nod at him. “All right. Get out of here.”

We stand to leave and he calls after us. “By the way, there will be a press conference in 45 minutes with Captain Skinner. I expect you both to be there.” Conner opens up the door and we turn to leave. “And Pierce?” We are halted in our tracks for a second as we look back at him. “Despite your minor lapse in judgment, you did good work out there today. You both did. You should be commended.”

He turns his attention back to the paperwork on his desk, effectively dismissing us, and Conner and I leave his office. I am dumbstruck. I expected him to read me the riot act and instead, he’s commending me on a job well done. I turn to Conner as we reach our desks. “Hey, thanks for what you said in there, Dave. I appreciate it.”

He shrugs at me. “I didn’t say anything but the truth, Guy. And I owed you one, for being such a jerk to you and Samantha at the bar the other night. If I get the chance … I’d like to apologize to her too.” I smile at him and pat his shoulder. As I’m taking a seat behind my desk and make to get started on the paperwork over Echols’ arrest, Conner sits across from me and says, “Hey, Guy. Why don’t you let me take care of the paperwork? That way, you can slide out right after the press conference.”

I look at him and frown. “That’s a lot of paperwork, Conner. You sure you don’t want to at least split it or something?”

“Nah, I’ll take care of it,” he says, looking at me, and I get a little skeptical.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask, narrowing my eyes as I look at him.

He shrugs at me. “Maybe I think Samantha Colby’s not the only one who’s had a rough time of it today.” He looks me in the eye as he continues. “I know that Marcos just ordered you to keep your distance but … I also know you. And I know it’s got to be killing you,
not
being with her right now. I’m sure you’ll be looking to rectify that situation just as soon as you can get out of here so … I’ll handle the paperwork.”

“Conner, I…”

“Nope.” He holds up a hand to silence me. “I don’t need to know. Just go take care of your girl.”

Chapter Ten

Samantha

I stand in my closet, staring blankly at my clothes as they hang neatly on their fabric covered hangers. Why am I in my closet? I know that I walked in here for a reason, I just can’t seem to remember what it was. In fact, I can’t seem to focus on anything. I feel numb. And cold. Frowning, I fold my arms in front of me and hug myself tightly. Why is it so cold?

I turn and wander, aimlessly, back into my bedroom and I stop and stare at my bed for a moment. The covers and pillows are all in place, just the way I left it this morning. As I stare at the neatly made bed, I remember lying in Josh’s arms last night after he made love to me and I remember feeling so safe and secure. The same way I felt this morning when I woke up in his arms. I want to feel that way now. Safe. Protected. Where is Josh? Oh, that’s right. He had to leave and go back to the station. To take care of … what was his name again?

An image of a cruel snarl and evil, dead eyes leering at me flashes through my mind and I flinch.
No! Don’t think about that!
I shut my eyes tightly and try to push the image away.
Breathe, Sam. Just breathe.

Why am I in my room? I blink and look around, frowning slightly once more. What am I doing here? I’m supposed to be doing something … what was it? Um … I can’t remember. Josh would know. Maybe I should ask him. Oh, wait. Josh is not here. He’s gone back to the station for a while. To, um … do some work. He’ll be back soon. He said he would be back soon to pick me up. I’ll just wait for him here.

Am I supposed to wait for him here? No, I don’t think so. I’m supposed to go somewhere else, to wait for him. But where is it?
Focus, Sam. Where are you supposed to wait for Josh to come and get you?
Why can’t I wait for him here, at my place?

In my mind’s eye I see his snarling face again, and I can feel his rough, calloused hands pawing at me, ripping my dress. His weight pressing me into the wall as he pinned my body against it, his forearm pressing against my throat. I flinch again, more violently this time.
No, no, NO! Breathe!

I am panting slightly now as I try to force the scary images from my mind. I wish Josh were here. Maybe I should call him. Where is my cellphone? I’ll call him and he can tell me where I’m supposed to wait for him. Turning, I head out into the living room but I am startled when I see what a mess it is. There’s broken glass everywhere and the small loveseat has been shoved way out of place. The bookcase has been knocked over and all of its contents are strewn about the floor amid the broken glass and debris. What happened here?

Oh, that’s right. I remember what happened, but I don’t want to think about it.
Don’t think about it, Sam!
As I pick up my phone from the table, I hear a familiar voice talking but I don’t see anyone. Following the sound, I venture into the dining room and I can see Lucas standing outside on the balcony.

Oh, yes! I’m supposed to wait for Josh at Lucas’ place. Now, I remember!
That’s why I was standing in my closet. I went in there to pack a bag. I have to leave my apartment so the door can be replaced, and Josh will pick me up at my brother’s. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly as I move closer to the opened balcony doors.

“Well, for the love of God, please tell me that you checked him out!” Lucas sounds angry and I wonder who he’s talking to. There is a long pause and he runs a hand through his light brown curls in agitation. “You’ve got to be freaking kidding me,” he says, and his voice sounds incredulous, as if he can’t believe what he’s hearing. “When you say ‘one of the most’ … how many others are on that list?” He is silent again as he listens to whoever is on the other end of the line, and then he chuckles slightly and rolls his eyes. “Son of a bitch,” he says quietly, and again, I get the feeling he is disbelieving of what he’s hearing. “And what are your personal impressions of him?” Lucas listens intently for a long moment and then smiles, saying nothing. “Well, that’s all well and good, but go deeper. I want everything there is to know…,”

His voice trails off as he turns and sees me watching him and he frowns. “I have to go. Fax all of that information over to me as soon as you get it.” He hangs up then and comes inside, closing and locking the balcony doors behind him. “You ready to go, Pita?” he asks me quietly.

I shake my head at him. “No. I … haven’t finished packing yet.” I don’t want to tell him that I stood in my closet forever because I couldn’t remember what I was doing there. He would think I had really flipped. Maybe I have.

“Well, you should get a move on,” he sighs. “Do you need some help?”

“No, I can get it,” I answer him. “Who was that you were talking to?”

He hesitates for just a fraction of a second and then says, “I was talking to Mr. Martin.”

“Martin?” I ask with a puzzled expression. “My bodyguard? What about?”

He smirks at me. “Martin is more than just your bodyguard, Sam. He happens to be the head of Colby Coring’s security team.”

“He is?”

“Yes, he is.”

“And you had him standing outside my hospital room and following me to work?” Now it’s my turn to sound incredulous. “Did he piss you off or something?”

Lucas chuckles at me and shakes his head. “Is it so hard to believe that I would want the best looking after you, Sam?”

I don’t know what to say. I know that Lucas loves me as fiercely as I love him but, for some reason, this knowledge floors me. I move into his arms and he hugs me tightly for a moment. Then he quickly pulls away saying, “Go get packed so we can get out of here. The apartment maintenance guys are waiting to board up your door.”

I turn and see the work men waiting patiently outside my door and I nod. Slowly, I head back into my bedroom and my mind is a lot less foggy than it was only a short while ago. Going back into my closet, I find my Luis Vuitton luggage and pull out the small overnight bag. Quickly, I begin to fill it with a change of clothes, underwear and socks. Then I go into the bathroom and add some toiletries and personal items. Done.