Dangerously in Love (11 page)

Over the next two weeks, Hill upgraded his security system, added cameras to the common areas of the warehouse, changed out the card key so that the one Caitlin had would no longer work, and sent Gabe and Ty to do the walk-through for the various projects they had completed, including the Church property. Hill wrapped a towel around his waist and stood at the sliding door overlooking the east view balcony, gazing at the sun’s attempt to cut through the cloudy haze.

Trina . . . Tina . . . Teresa, whatever her name was, rolled to the edge of her bed. He’d met her at Ernie’s Bar last night. She came on to him—hard—and invited him to her place. “Let’s get drunk and screw” was her proposition. He couldn’t resist, especially the way her breasts crowded her shirt—a shirt which seemed much too small to contain her. Her hips were a little too narrow and her butt was concaved in a strange way. She looked as if she’d tip over at any moment. Nonetheless, her odd body didn’t stop Hill from ogling her.

Night before last, his conquest was a waitress from the café he used to frequent with Perry and Samantha. A few nights before that, he’d had a bank teller. And before that, a bartender. In other words, Hill was amassing a string of one-night-stands. Trina-Tina-Teresa was, unfortunately, another of them.

She swaddled a sheet around her naked body and met him on the balcony, wrapping her arms around his waist, kissing his strong back.

“Would you like some coffee?” she asked.

“Sure.”

He smiled as she caressed his back, kissing his salty neck. He looked at the bedside clock, which had been flashing 12:00 since last night. He reached for his cell phone to check the time.
Eleven thirty
.

“Oh shit!” he shouted.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve got to go,” he said as he rushed by her.

“You’ve got to go?”

“Yeah. I need to shower,” he said as he stumbled into her bathroom.

***

Caitlin arrived at her lawyer’s office and sat across from the glass-top desk. Fran Wyler sat on the other side, her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, scribbling notes on a handheld notepad.

“Like I told you on the phone, I want to modify my will,” Caitlin said after sitting there for fifteen minutes waiting for her attorney to finish reviewing the current will.

“If there are no substantive changes, the will can stand as is,” Fran counseled.

“Here are copies of my life insurance policies. I’ve named my husband, Adam Church, as my beneficiary. Secondary beneficiary is my dear friend Amelia Morales.”

“I see on the original will, you are leaving everything to your husband. Do you want that to remain?”

“No, since he is the beneficiary of my life insurance policies and independently wealthy, I’d like to leave everything to Amelia, including any inheritances I may receive.”

“Any other changes?”

“Yes. I would like to leave the North Shore mansion to Rosemary Camargo. I know my husband and I own it jointly, but if something should happen to both of us, God forbid, I want Rosemary to have it.”

Fran Wyler set the notepad face down on the glass top along with her reading glasses and swiveled her chair. She got up and walked to the window, studying the pedestrians on the street. “Is there something you want to tell me, Caitlin?”

“I, uh,” she looked away, contemplatively, then continued. “I’m just making sure my affairs are in order. My uncle always told me to be prepared for anything. I want the people I love to be taken care of.”

“I’m sensing there’s more to this story than you’re telling me. Do you want to talk about it?”

Caitlin shook her head and pulled a tissue from her purse. Fran Wyler walked from behind her desk and sat in the chair beside Caitlin, her hand on Caitlin’s forearm.

“What’s going on, Caitlin?”

Caitlin nervously rubbed her hands together, dabbed her tearless eyes with the tissue then turned to face Fran Wyler.

“I’m having an affair with my gardener,” she said. Her accent was pronounced.

“Oh?”

Caitlin sniffed then went on, “Things have gotten out of hand, now he’s threatening me. He’s threatened to go to my husband if I don’t pay him off.  I’m just afraid, Fran. I — I really don’t know what to do.”

“You call the authorities, that’s what you do. You can’t allow someone like him to extort you and your family like that.”

“No. He threatened violence if I involved the police. I’m just going to do what he says.”

“I advise against that.”

Caitlin nodded. “I understand. But I have to do this. I need to add him to my will. If something should happen to me, Fran, please tell the authorities what I’ve shared with you. Will you?”

Fran Wyler nodded, knowing that she should try harder to convince Caitlin to involve the police. But she also didn’t know the depth of the danger. “In what capacity do you want him added?”

“I want to leave Hilton Parker the contents of my safe deposit box at Northern Trust.

“Okay. I’ll messenger a copy to you once it’s drawn up.”

“No. I’ll wait and sign it today.”

Hill arrived at the Oak Street Bar and Grill where he met up with Gabe and Ty. Ty was leaving, going to Texas where he’d found year-round work. Gabe had decided to retire and go back to the Dominican Republic. They were getting together to say farewell.

The bar used to be one of those fancy places where high profile folks went to unwind. But currently, it was somewhat of a dive. No fancy decor. No fancy drinks. Just the hard stuff and beer. That’s all. For a while, they served hot appetizers. Now, they served chips and salsa or burgers and fries. That was about it. And despite that, it managed to draw in a respectable crowd.

The three of them met at the bar. Ty had ordered a round of shots just before Hill arrived.

“Damn, Hill. You look like shit that’s been dragged through shit,” Ty joked.

“That’s not what your mama said last night,” Hill managed with a straight face.

“You two are like twelve-year-olds. Mama jokes? Come on,” Gabe added.

“Are you still lusting after that Church woman?” Ty asked. “I’m telling you, that woman is bad news.”

“I never lusted after her. I simply liked looking at her, that’s all.”

“Just be careful. I’d hate to attend your funeral.”

“Gabe, you’re awfully quiet. What’s up with you?” Hill asked.

“Just thinking about seeing my ol’ lady.”

“I hear you,” Hill said.

“Check this out,” Gabe handed Hill and Ty each a cigar. “I got a handful of these from that housekeeper, Rosemary, when I helped her unload Caitlin Church’s car.”

“Thanks, man. I ordered the same brand. These are definitely high end.” Hill put the cigar in his shirt pocket and guzzled his beer. He turned and leaned against the bar. As he did, he saw Samantha sitting alone at a table, sipping what looked like red wine while reading the postcard-sized menu. He tried not to stare, but he couldn’t help it. What was it about this woman that he couldn’t get over? Not even Caitlin could fill the hole she left behind.

She looked up, and their eyes met. He smiled and tilted his beer bottle toward her. She lifted her wine glass to him. He patted Ty on the shoulder. “I see Sam. I’m gonna go speak to her. I’ll be back.” Ty and Gabe waved at her. She did the same.

***

“Where’s your husband, Sam? Don’t tell me you’ve run him off already.”

“Screw you, Hill,” she said as she sipped her drink.

“Oh, wouldn’t you like to. . .” he grinned. “Is that Merlot? Cab? Malbec?”

She didn’t answer but took another sip.

“Let me have a taste. The last time I had wine, you and I were still together. Remember that?” Hill watched her take another sip. “Are you going to let me have some?”

“No.”

“Come on, don’t be like that, darlin’,” he said, flashing a seductive smile.

“No. This is
my
drink. Get your own.”

“Aw, don’t be that way.”

“What way is that, Hill?”

“Stingy.”

“Call it what you want, you still can’t have any,” and she took another sip.

Hill smiled, “That’s okay. I’ll taste the bit that’s on your lips. Works better for me anyway.”

She grinned. “It’s cranberry juice.”

“Cranberry juice? In a wine glass?”

“Yes, Hill.”

“So what’s with the cranberry juice? I thought you liked those drinks that put hair on your chest. Come on, let me buy you a proper drink. I’ll drink two to your one.”

She looked away. “I can’t have a drink with you.”

“Come on, Sam. You can’t still be mad at me. I mean, you’re the one who ran off and got married, and you didn’t even invite me to your wedding. But I’m not mad, and neither should you be.”

“I’m not mad at you, Hill. I’m pregnant. So no drinking for me.”

“Pregnant?” Hill nearly choked on the word. “Shit, Sam. You’re procreating with
Bob
?” Hill felt like he’d been hit by a bulldozer.

She punched Hill in the arm. “His name, for the hundredth time, is Bill,” she yelled then sipped the juice.

“
Pregnant
. You two aren’t wasting any time, huh?”

Perry walked to the table. “Sorry I’m late,” he said, kissing Samantha’s cheek.

He and Hill fist bumped. “What’s up, Hill?”

“Nothing. So you two still meet up? But you don’t include me anymore?”

“It’s not that. I just needed to talk to Perry about some stuff.”

“What do you need to talk about that you can’t tell me?”

“It’s nothing, Hill. Forget about it.”

Perry interrupted to keep the conversation from escalating into an argument. “Bill wants her to quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom. She wanted an impartial opinion on whether she made the right decision about quitting her job. Your opinion, Hill, wouldn’t have been impartial.”

“So you married a man who wants you barefoot and pregnant? And you called
me
an asshole?”

“See, this is why I didn’t want to talk to you about it, Hill.”

Perry’s cell phone buzzed. He looked at the screen. It was a text from Agent Reeves. It read: Mindy’s body pulled from river.

“Hey, I’ve gotta run. Duty calls,” Perry said. “Try not to kill each other while I’m gone.” Samantha hugged Perry. Perry did the man-hug with Hill.

“Can you drop me off at the train?” Samantha asked Perry. He nodded. She touched the side of Hill’s face, but he pulled away.

“Do you want a ride, too?” Perry asked Hill.

“No. I took a cab here. I’ll get a ride with Ty or Gabe.” Perry and Hill fist-bumped once more, then Perry wrapped his arm around Samantha and left the bar. Hill rejoined Gabe and Ty at the bar, flagging the bartender to order a whiskey straight up.

***

Hill believed everything his mother used to say to him—she had an answer for everything. The sky was blue because it was God’s favorite color. The grass was green so that the flowers would know where to grow. His hair was white because he was born wise. Yes, she had an answer for everything. And right now, he’d have given anything to have her answer to the currently burning question in his heart—why was love always
just
out of his reach? He didn’t intend to fall in love with Samantha, but he did. And for three years, he had struggled to keep her in his life. But with her high morals and expectations, he could never get it right. Then, there was Caitlin. She didn’t want much except for him to commit murder so she could continue being rich. Actually, he wondered if she had been using him—or vice versa. Or maybe it was a little of both. He knocked back the whiskey.

Speak of the devil,
Hill thought as he looked at the illuminated screen of his phone. Caitlin. He debated not answering. But hell, with the afternoon he was having, why not? He’d already brushed her off once today, and she still persisted. Maybe he could have one last hurrah with her. Oh, but it was Saturday. It wasn’t possible. He tapped the phone.

“Hill, come over.”

“It’s Saturday. Isn’t your husband in town?”

“He was called away . . . a last minute thing. I
need
you. Will you come?”

“When?”

“Rosemary leaves at eight,” she began.

“She lives there, so I don’t understand.”

“She’s leaving for vacation. Javier takes her to the airport at eight, so nine would be best.”

***

Gabe dropped Hill off at the sprawling mansion. He showed up on Caitlin’s doorstep tipsy but guarded. He wasn’t sure why she had summoned him to the house. Since Adam wasn’t there, he assumed she either wanted to make amends or she needed him to do something. Either way, the larger part of him just wanted to be in her company—especially after the bomb Samantha had dropped on him. He knew he needed to move on from Samantha. She had certainly moved on with her life with a new husband and a baby on the way.

“So what’s going on?”

“I saw my attorney today.”

Hill’s ears perked up. But he turned toward the window to hide his enthusiasm. “Why?”

“I told you I would divorce Adam. I love you, Hill, and I don’t want to lose you,” she said, caressing his back. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around his waist, clasping her hands together at his tight abdomen. Hill rested his hands on hers. “I told Adam I’ve filed for divorce. He stormed out of here, angry. I’m not sure where he went. He said he would contest it, though. I knew he would.”

“You’re not sure where he went? And you invited me over?”

“I meant, I’m not sure where he went, but he left on the plane.”

Hill turned around, pushing her hair behind her ears. “I’m sure your attorney knows what needs to be done, so if Adam contests it, it’ll take a little longer, but it will be done. You’ve made my night, Cate, which was quite shitty up until this moment.”

“I’m so glad you’re happy. I’m happy, too. I just couldn’t lose you. You mean too much to me.” She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him. “Would you like a drink?”

“Yes. Whatever you’re having.”

She stood behind the bar and made a martini for each of them. She stabbed a few olives onto a toothpick and dropped it in one of the drinks. Hill walked toward the bar. She quickly placed their drinks atop the bar counter, holding hers in her hand. “I don’t like olives,” she explained.

“You’re allowed,” he said with a smile, wondering why she was suddenly acting anxious.

“Oh, I just remembered . . . would you help me move a chest into my room?”

“Yeah. Where is it?” he asked as he took a sip of his drink. “Mmm. Pretty good for a martini.”

“I’m known for my martinis,” she said. “Follow me. I’ll show you where the chest is.”

Hill followed her down a long corridor to a rather large storage closet. When she opened the door, a pungent scent wafted out at them.

“I think you have a dead rat—or something bigger—in here.”

“You have a good nose. There
was
. A raccoon. Javier got rid of it.”

“You really need something to kill the odor.”

She pointed to a bamboo chest. It was more like a trunk than a chest, but it was large. “That’s the chest,” she said.

Hill grabbed it by the handles on each side and attempted to lift it. It was far heavier than he expected. “Geez, what do you have in here?”

“Books, papers . . . just stuff. Mementos.”

Hill managed to get the chest upstairs. It took a lot of effort, and he was tempted to empty some of its contents to make it easier to lug. But Caitlin insisted that she’d have to look for the key. Hill could have easily unlocked it without the key. Nonetheless, he managed to get the trunk upstairs and into her room. He plopped down at the foot of her bed, feeling a little lightheaded. He thought he was in better shape, but lugging that chest seemed to have knocked the wind out of him.

Caitlin offered to bring him his drink from downstairs. He agreed. He just wanted to catch his breath. He went into the adjoining bathroom and splashed cold water on his face, hoping it would refresh him. It helped a little.

Caitlin returned with their drinks, making a toast “to us.” She watched Hill take a big gulp of his drink. “Here, let me help you get comfortable.” She untied his shoes, slipping them off. Then his socks. “Let me set that drink down for you.” She took the martini and placed it atop the chest he had just moved into the room. “Why don’t you lie down? You don’t look so well.”

“You’re right. I do feel a little queasy.”

She pulled the covers back and helped him get situated on Adam’s side of the bed. “I’ll join you.” She took off her clothes and climbed into the bed beside him until he passed out completely.

***

Perry and Agent Reeves weren’t able to secure an arrest warrant for Adam, but they were able to get a search warrant. Reeves was upset that his most cooperative CI had been brutally murdered. She’d been beaten, her throat slit, and she was shot in the head.
Overkill
.

Perry was more concerned about how her location might have been disclosed. He had moved her to one of their safe houses. He figured it had to be an inside job. Nonetheless, they both knew Adam Church was somehow responsible for her murder. They were sure he had found the surveillance devices.

“How did he find her?” Reeves asked, trying to figure out how this happened.

“That’s what I’m worried about. But we’re the only ones who knew where she was. Unless Adam had someone watching her place—that would explain it. They might’ve followed us to the safe house.”

“But how could he have found out so quickly? Look at the timeline. Why would he have someone watching her if he didn’t have any reason to? By the time he had an opportunity to discover the bugs, she was already at the safe house.”

“She might’ve called someone and inadvertently given away her location. That’s the only thing that makes sense. But who? Come on, get the team together. Let’s go do this,” Perry suggested.

“Wilson’s on his way here with the search warrant.”