 
STRIPPED

(Book 1 in the Stripped Series)

By

Stacy-Deanne

Copyright © 2017 Stacy-Deanne

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

Readers: Thanks so much for choosing my book! I would be very appreciative if you would leave reviews when you are done. Much love!

Email: stacydeanne1@aol.com

Website: Stacy's Website

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Other titles by Stacy-Deanne Include:

Bruised Series

Tate Valley Sexy Suspense Series

The Seventh District

Dead Weight

You're the One

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Author's Note:

The Stripped Series is a spinoff of the Bruised Series featuring Dee, Winston, Lisa, Connie, Grayson, and Jake. The Bruised Series focused on Jake and Lisa while the Stripped Series focuses on Dee and Winston.

If you haven't read the Bruised Series and would like to check it out, the entire series is available now on all retailers.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE

Baltimore Detective Dee Quarter threw her keys on the nesting table by her front door and headed into her ivory-tone living room, loving memories of her father filling her head.

"You okay?" Detective Winston Lewis stood in the living room doorway and slipped his hands into the pockets of his black blazer.

Usually one look in his fascinating, ocean-blue eyes took Dee's worries away but not today.

She kicked off her black pumps and freed her long, wavy extensions from the bun.

"Honey, listen." Winston sat on the foot stand by the leather recliner. "You'll get through this."

"Oh, I know I'll get through it." Dee released a distant chuckle, relying on sarcasm to escape the pain. "That's what I do, remember?" She half-smiled. "I get through everything."

"This is me you're talking to." Winston stroked his chin, the tiny sprigs of hair barely resembling a goatee, but Dee found it sexy. "You're in pain and it's okay to show that. It's not a sign of weakness."

"It wasn't Dad's time." She laid her head back on the polyester couch and propped her feet on the cinnamon-brown table that matched her skin tone. "He was only fifty-nine. He had, so many years left."

"The funeral was beautiful. That speech from Jake and Lisa was amazing."

"I fucked up the eulogy." She sighed. "Too choked up so things didn't come out right."

"It was beautiful because it came from your heart."

"It's funny. When my mom died I was fourteen, and I dealt with it. I dealt with it better than Dad did. So why at thirty-eight does it feel like I can't handle this?"

"You can handle anything." Winston moved to the couch and pulled her into his arms. "You're one of the strongest people I know." He kissed her cheek, giving Dee a welcomed chill. "Besides, you won't have to do it alone. You have me, Lisa, and Jake."

"But not the one person I should have." She took her pearl studs out her ears. "How can Lydia not show up for her own dad's funeral? She is so damn selfish."

"At least she called—"

"Called?" She gaped at him. "Our father had a heart attack and died, Winston. If that doesn't get her ass back to Baltimore then what will?"

"Today's not the time for you to get upset about Lydia."

"How can I not?" She flung her arm. "She's on an archeology dig in Africa somewhere with her boyfriend, but she can't come bury her damn dad? It's no excuse." She shook her head. "Daddy always let her off the hook but I'm not doing it this time. Her ass should've been here and no amount of phone calls makes this okay."

"You're right." He scratched through his curly, toasted-brown hair. "But what good is it getting yourself more upset, hm?" He placed her feet into his lap and massaged her toes through her black stockings. "Lydia will have to deal with the guilt of this on her own. Don't even worry about her."

"But, I've always been there for her. After Momma died, I was the one who raised her. I became mother to an eight-year-old girl while being homemaker to my dad. I've given up so much for Lydia. I didn't have a childhood so she could and she can't come to the funeral?"

"Stop it." Winston pressed his index finger to her lips. "Forget Lydia and concentrate on yourself. That's the problem, Dee. You're always the one holding things together and never deal with what you go through. Worry about yourself, okay?" He guided her head to his shoulder. "Let me handle the other shit."

"Okay." She sobbed. "I love you, Winston."

He rubbed her cheek, chuckling. "I love you too."

"What?" She lifted her head, sniffling. "What's so funny?"

"Can't believe it's been a year since we got together."

"Me either." She managed a light smile. "Time flies doesn't it?"

"I hope it slows down though." He locked his firm lips on hers. "I want time to enjoy this ride."

****

"Winston, I'm fine for the last time." Dee got to her desk at the police station the next morning. "I'd prefer to be here working than at home wallowing."

"Your father just died." He sat on the edge of her desk, swinging his leg. "You need to grieve."

"Don't tell me what I need." She hooked her purse on her chair and sat. "I'm more than capable of doing my job." She turned on her computer. "Staying busy is how I cope."

"It's an excuse for you not to deal with things and that's unhealthy." He leaned toward her. "I'd rather you go home and deal with this."

"How much wax do you have in your ears?" She folded her arms. "I'm fine. What about that don't you get?"  
"Excuse me for being worried." He got off the desk. "I got a case to deal with, anyway."

"Winston." She stood and walked around the desk toward him. "I'm sorry, baby." She hugged him. "I don't mean to be a bitch."  
He put his arm around her, snickering. "You mean an even bigger bitch than usual?"

"Hey." She hit his chest. "Seriously, working will help me more than anything else." She caught sight of the thin woman with straggly blonde hair coming their way. "Ah, shit." Dee let go of Winston and walked back behind her desk. "This is the last thing I need."

Winston covered his grin as Detective Connie Wilks joined them.

"Morning, Winston." She straightened the badge on her tiny waist.

"Connie." He stood aside so she could approach the desk.

"Dee." Connie smiled. "How are you?"

Dee sat in her chair, staring at her black and white Clark Gable screen-saver. "I was better before you started talking to me."

Connie cleared her throat. "Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. How was the funeral?"

"How do you think it was?" Dee glared at her.

"It's no secret you don't like me." Connie flicked her ponytail to the back. "But I care how you're doing."

"Why do you care, Connie?" Dee leaned back. "So you can spread my personal business around the station?"

"No."

Winston lowered his head, tapping his foot.

"I'm not always after gossip." Connie fidgeted. "Even though we've had issues, this is a terrible time in your life and I wanna be there for you."

"Girl." Dee swept her hands over her face. "Ooh, Jesus. Connie, get the hell out my face."

"Dee," Winston said. "She's trying to be nice."

"No, she's trying to be nosey."

"Why do I bother?" Connie scowled. "You're just as nasty as you ever was."

"That's right." Dee stood, planting her hands on the desk. "I don't need your fake sympathy or anything else from you. I can't stand you and you can't stand me and my father being dead won't change that." She plopped in the chair. "Now unless it's something to do with work, go back to your desk."

"You don't want to see me, well that's too bad." Connie scoffed, leaning to one side. "Because we'll be close as ever now."

"What are you talking about?" Winston asked.

"Captain Salinger wants Dee and me to be partners." Connie grabbed her waist with one hand.

Winston guffawed so loud officers around the room turned to watch. "Are you kidding?"  
"Lying ass." Dee shook her head. "Captain Salinger knows I hate you."

"Well, it's true." Connie wiggled her neck, specks of brown shooting from her green eyes. "I just came out his office."

"No way." Dee sneered, not finding Connie's claim funny. "I can barely tolerate you. How will I work with you on cases?"

Connie's white face reddened. "It's no walk in the park for me either, Dee."

"This is insane." Dee stretched. "I don't need a partner. I've done fine since Lisa resigned."

"Salinger thinks differently, and he's the boss."

"I don't believe this." Dee laid her head on the desk. "Kill me now."

"You're gonna kill each other before this is through." Winston walked off, laughing.

Dee sat up. "Is this for real?"

"Go ask Salinger yourself if you don't believe me." Connie shrugged. "Speaking of Lisa, how's she and Jake doing?"

Dee scoffed.

"I care. Come on, Dee."

"Lisa's doing okay," Dee muttered not wanting to answer. "She moved in with Jake about a month ago."

"Really?" Connie's eyes lit up. "How is her health?"

"She's healed physically from the shot but not sure about mentally."

"I miss her." Connie hooked her hands behind her back. "Place just seemed brighter when she was around. Is she really not coming back?"

Dee pinched the corner of a piece of paper. "She says so."  
"Bummer." Connie sat on the desk. "Things seem to be going well between you and Winston. Can't believe it's been a year since you two got together. My, things change so fast, don't they?"

"Get off my desk."  
Connie jumped off it.

"I'll talk to Salinger about this partner issue because he's lost his mind. Out of all the people here why would he put me with you?"

Connie turned to the side, winking. "Maybe he feels I'd be what you need."  
Dee rolled her eyes. "Like a bullet in the head."
CHAPTER TWO

That evening, Dee and Connie arrived at 33-year-old Autumn Stuart's house on Peachtree Drive ten minutes after getting the call. They got details from forensics and first responders and then met with the distraught woman sitting in the red chair on the porch.

"You're Nelda North?" Dee asked in her softest tone. "The property manager?"

The 50-year-old nodded, a tear dissolving into her peach cheek.

"I'm Detective Dee Quarter. Homicide." Dee showed her badge as Connie pointed to the one on her waist. "And this is Detective Connie Wilks."

"Do we have this right?" Connie read off her notepad. "You came around six-thirty and found Autumn strangled to death in the living room."

"Y...yes." The grayish-black curls of Nelda's shoulder-length bob gyrated in the spring breeze. "I'd been trying to contact her for a few days. No one had heard from her." She lifted her head, displaying her soft, moss green eyes. "Autumn's been a tenant for about eight months."

"We sympathize but we need you to tell us anything you can about Autumn," Dee said.

"She was a nice person." Nelda stretched out her feet, wearing a denim skirt and white Keds. "She had a good sense of humor and could brighten your day with one joke."

Dee jotted in her notebook. "Were you two friends?"

"Yes. We got close when I'd pick up the rent. She'd ask me in and we'd talk. I rarely spend much time with tenants because they're not very nice when you're getting on them to pay rent and stuff."

Connie smiled.

"But, Autumn was the best tenant I could've asked for." She clasped her hands in her lap. "Can't find a bad thing to say about her."

Two forensics officers walked out the front door as another one entered.

"Could you tell us where you were before six-thirty?" Dee wiggled her pencil.

"Am I a suspect?"  
"This is procedure," Connie said. "We need to rule you out if you're innocent."

"I am innocent." Nelda shifted her shoulders back. "I couldn't strangle Autumn. I'm only five-three, and she was five-eight. There's no way I could've overpowered her. Why would I want to hurt her, anyway?"

"Like we said, this is procedure," Dee said. "No one is accusing you of anything but you're the only one who was here."

"I was with my dad all day." She rubbed her forehead, making it red. "He's in a nursing home. I live alone and I'm not married." She shrugged. "I'm lonely so I spend as much time with him as I can."

"What nursing home?" Connie pushed blonde strands out her face.

"Pine Village on Ash Street."

"How long has he been there?" Dee asked.

"Five years. He has Alzheimer's. He won't be here much longer so I treasure the time we spend together."

"I'm so sorry," Dee said, struggling to evade thoughts of her father. "I lost my dad a week ago. He had a heart attack and died in his sleep."

"That's horrible." Nelda's forehead crinkled. "My condolences."

Dee nodded with tight lips. "Had the funeral yesterday."

"You a daddy's girl?" Nelda's oversized, top lip covered the bottom one when she smiled. "I am."

"What can you tell us about Autumn's life?" Connie asked. "Did she have friends and work?"

"She worked from home. She wrote freelance articles for money." Nelda wiggled her feet. "She was dating a writer." She squinted, snapping her fingers. "Now, I'm not a big reader but this guy is a local author. Famous. I think he writes mystery books."

Dee's breath caught in her throat. "Grayson Paul?"

"That's him." Nelda waved her finger. "He's a little older than her I think."

"He's forty-seven." Dee sighed, glaring at Connie. "So Autumn was dating Grayson?"  
Nelda nodded. "Yes, and I think he was helping her get a book published."

"I don't believe this." Dee lowered her notepad. "Am I ever gonna get that man out my life?"

"You know Grayson Paul personally?" Nelda asked.

Dee groaned. "We have history."

"What about Autumn's family?" Connie asked.

"She wasn't from here and she didn't speak about her family much. Mentioned a brother somewhere in Arkansas or something I think."

"Once again we're sorry you had to see her like that," Dee said as she and Connie handed Nelda their cards. "Please call us if there is anything else we should know."

"I will, Detective Quarter." Nelda secured the cards in her hand. "Thanks."

"My god," Dee muttered to Connie as they walked off the porch. "Grayson Paul? Are you kidding me?"

They headed toward Dee's white, Chevy Malibu.

"This case is gonna be mighty interesting." Connie got into the passenger's seat.

****

"It's always so nice to see you, Dee." Sylvia, Grayson's loyal housekeeper, smiled from the front door.

"Hey, Sylvia." Dee took off her shades, gesturing to the woman beside her. "This is Connie Wilks. She's helping me on my latest case."

"We're partners." Connie shifted her eyes toward Dee without turning her head and took Sylvia's hand. "Nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too. I guess you want to see Mr. Paul?"

"Not really 'want' to." Dee hooked her shades on her blouse. "Need to discuss business with him. That's all."

Sylvia stepped out the door, gaping. "Is this about your case?"

Dee smiled.

"He's on the back patio." She pointed to the side gate. "You need me to show you—"

"Nope, it's fine," Dee said. "Come on, Connie."

Connie waved at Sylvia and followed Dee through the curvy walkway and into the metal fence that separated the backyard from view.

"Wow." She stopped in place. "This is amazing, Dee."

"It's not mine." They continued through the stone pathway and made it to a large patio where Grayson sat in the gazebo with a woman who looked young enough to be his daughter.

"Hm." Dee turned up her nose.

"What?" Connie stood beside her, smirking. "Jealous?"

"No." She smacked her lips. "Look, if this is gonna work then stay out my business. We only need to discuss the case. I'm not trying to be your friend."

Grayson and the young woman exited the gazebo and started toward Dee and Connie.

"Grayson is a part of the case," Connie said. "Like it or not your relationship with him might tie into it at some point."

"Grayson and I are over."  
"You seem jealous." Connie snickered as Grayson and the girl approached.

A wry smile spread across Grayson's lips, the sun hitting his pale skin.

"Well?" Dee held her palms out to him. "You going to just stare or what?"

"You came to my home, remember?" His black hair was almost completely gray now. "Seems you should tell me what you want."

Dee pointed at the girl. "Is this your long-lost daughter or something?"

He chuckled. "Funny."

The shapely, brunette woman fidgeted with a notebook in hand.

"Grayson, what are you doing hanging around this young girl?" Dee observed the brunette. "How old are you?"

"I'm twenty-two," the young woman snapped.

"Twenty-two?" Dee shrieked. "Grayson, you should be ashamed of yourself."

"Nothing is going on between us," he said. "Tammie is a writing student at the community college where I often give signings and seminars." He took off his reading glasses, his almond-brown eyes flickering. "Tammie is a huge fan of my work." He glared at Dee. "Just like you used to be."

"I still love your work." Dee flashed a stiff smile at Tammie. "If I'm wrong I apologize."

"You thought I was having an affair with Mr. Paul?" She scoffed, grimacing. "Ewe. He's older than my dad. Oops." She covered her mouth. "No offense, Mr. Paul."

"Yeah," he muttered.

Dee snickered.

"Mr. Paul is an amazing author," Tammie gushed. "It's a wonderful opportunity to pick his brain. I'm writing my first mystery novel and he's been reading it and giving me tips."

Grayson raised his eyebrow, still holding that sly smile. "And, who is this lovely creature?" He alluded to Connie.

She smiled, blushing. "Detective Connie Wilks. I'm Dee's new partner."

"Wonderful to meet you." Grayson kissed her hand, another thing Dee swore he did to make her jealous.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too. I've enjoyed some of your books."

"Only some?" Grayson's eyes twinkled.

"I mean..." Connie dropped her head, blushing. "I haven't read all your books but the ones I have, I liked them a lot."

He smiled.

"Hello, can we get to business here?" Dee rubbed her palms together. "We have something important to discuss with you, Grayson."

"Certainly." He dismissed Tammie and showed the detectives to the little round chair with the centerpiece made of violets and tulips from his garden. "May I?" He held Dee's chair out for her. "That perfume." He sat beside her and placed his glasses on the table. "All it takes is one whiff to remind me of how things used to be."
CHAPTER THREE

"Grayson, we're not here to stroll down Memory Lane," Dee said. "Autumn Stuart is dead and we're on the case."  
He sat back, mouth open. "What did you say?"

"Autumn Stuart is dead," Connie repeated. "Her property manager found her this evening. She'd been strangled."

"Oh my god." Grayson covered his mouth, rocking forward. "Jesus Christ, who would do something like that?"

"That's our job to find out," Dee said. "Her property manager says you and her were dating."

"Yes." He gripped the edge of the table, holding a deadpan expression. "For about three months, but it ended."

Dee got out her notepad. "How did it end?"

"Uh..." He fidgeted, eyes moving from left to right. "It just ended."

"Relationships don't just end, Grayson," Dee said. "Is there something you're hiding?"

"Why am I not surprised that you're suspicious of me yet again? I didn't kill Autumn if that's where you're going."

"How did the relationship end?" She tapped the pencil on the table. "It's not a hard question."

"Okay." He exhaled into his hands. "She broke it off a few weeks ago."

"She dumped you?" Connie asked.

Grayson focused on her. "You can say that."

"That must've irked you, huh?" Dee crossed her legs as she wrote. "You don't take breakups too well."

"No one wants to be dumped." He squinted at her with a scowl. "But, I didn't feel half for Autumn what I felt for you."

Dee looked away, clearing her throat.

"I didn't strangle her. Why don't you check out Jonathan Wild?"  
Dee batted her eyes. "Where have I heard that name before?"

Connie tapped Dee's arm. "That's the guy that runs The Circle."

"That cult?" Dee wiggled her pencil. "They've done stories about him on the news from time to time. His daddy was famous, right?"

"His daddy was Montgomery Wild," Connie said. "He was a scientist and invented that herbal medicine and became a multimillionaire."

"Jonathan is a botanist from Harvard." Grayson rolled his eyes. "He concocts all these herbal medicines and things on his compound outside Baltimore. That's who you should focus on."

Connie set her elbows on the table, staring at Grayson as if he were a movie. "Autumn was in The Circle?"

He nodded. "She and Jonathan became involved, and that's why she quit things with me."

"That still gives you the motive," Dee said.

"I was fine with the breakup, trust me."

"Have you been here all day?" Connie asked.

"Yes, I haven't left. Tammie's been here most of the time. You can ask Sylvia."

"May we have access to your security cameras to confirm you were here?" Connie asked.

"He doesn't use security cameras," Dee said. "He's not into them."

"I don't want cameras all over my house."

"A big, beautiful home like this?" Connie whistled. "What did this cost you, a couple million at least?"

"Like I said, I was right here." He exhaled. "A woman disappeared before from The Circle."

Dee and Connie exchanged glances.

"It was a few years back. Autumn told me the woman left, but no one has heard from her since."

"What was this woman's name?" Dee asked.

"Autumn didn't even know." He pulled a flower from the centerpiece. "She heard about it when she'd go to Jonathan's compound. He built that place, and it's like his own little city where he commands all these women. She says he's possessive."

Connie's eyebrows dipped. "Jonathan?"

"When she first told me she was involved with the group, I couldn't believe it. Jonathan manipulates women so he can have control over them and keep them as his sex slaves."

Dee grimaced. "Sex slaves?"

"What do you call it? He has all these brainwashed women locked away, promising them the moon and the stars. I tried to get Autumn to leave him alone but she wouldn't. No matter what Jonathan does those women remain loyal to him. More loyal to him than even to themselves."

"We'll check him out, and I hope you're telling the truth for your sake, Grayson." Dee rose when Grayson touched her hand.

"Can I talk to you alone?"

She relaxed back in the chair and nodded at Connie.

Connie got Dee's keys and pushed her chair against the table. "I'll be in the car." She waved at Grayson and left through the gate.

"What do you want?" Dee struggled to keep the edge in her voice though a part of her missed Grayson very much.

"I wanted to say I'm so sorry for your loss." He flattened his warm, soft palm over her hand. "I know how much your dad meant to you."

"That's nice of you." She stiffened. "Is that all?"

"I still miss you." He touched her hand. "I still want you."

"Stop it." She tried to move her hand but couldn't. "I'm tired of going through this song and dance every time we see each other. It's been a year and a half."

"I don't give a fuck if it's been ten years, Dee. I love you and we belong together."

"If that were true we'd still be together." She snatched her hand free. "Please, don't do this. I'm with Winston and happy."

"Winston." He rubbed his fist. "It'll never last."

"It's lasted a year which was longer than when you and I were together."

"That fire you had with me, you don't get that with Winston." His jaws clenched. "He'll never love you like I do. I bet he still wants Lisa and is using you to get close to her."

"I said stop it." She stood. "I refuse to have this conversation with you again. It's over, Grayson."

"I don't agree." He stood, grabbing her hand. "Make me believe it's over, Dee. You can't." He stroked her cheek. "Because deep down you don't want it to be."

She bumped into the chair on her way to the pathway. "I gotta go."

****

After an hour ride to Broadville Port the next day, Dee and Connie arrived at Jonathan's compound, which included multiple dwellings and over ten thousand acres of landscape.

Dee drove through the steep road leading to Jonathan's Mediterranean-style mansion in the middle of yards of fresh grass and regal, porcelain statues. She stopped at the wrought iron gate and looked up at the building, its roof reaching the clouds.

"My god." Connie's lip hung on her lap. "It looks huge on the website but that doesn't compare to seeing it in person."

"Are you the Detectives?" a man asked before Dee could push the button on the intercom.

"Uh." Dee chuckled. "We are."

"Please pull up to the house," the man instructed.

The gates opened and Dee crept through the lengthy driveway.

"It's so beautiful." Connie turned left and right. "How much you think this place costs?"

"More than we'll ever see in our lifetimes." Dee followed the curves of the driveway while losing herself in the mansion's warm, beige palette accented by bursts of orange, red, and green.

A petite Asian man with slicked-back salt-n-pepper hair and a cleft chin, came down the orange-bricked steps as Dee and Connie got out the car.

"Hello." A smile inched its way onto the man's stern face, one eye bulging. "I'm Tran." He held out his hand to the detectives, his head reaching their bosoms. "It's nice to meet you." He took Dee's hand, and his was so tiny it made her feel gigantic.

"Nice to meet you." She inhaled the bitter and sweet fragrance of the flowers sitting in front of the mansion. "I'm Detective Dee Quarter and this is Connie Wilks."

Connie bowed and then fidgeted.

Dee and Tran gaped at her.

"Why are you bowing?" Dee whispered.

Connie took Tran's hand with a tight smile. "I meant no offense."

"I'm not offended." Tran pulled back his hand. "You're the one who looked like the fool, not me."

Dee laughed under her hand.

Connie closed her eyes, sighing.

"Welcome." Tran clasped his hands. "This is your first time here so you need to learn the rules. We don't allow guns inside." He gestured to their holsters. "Please remove your weapons."

"I'm not removing anything," Dee said. "We're police officers who have every right to carry our weapons."

"It's no big deal," Connie said. "We can put them in the car—"

"The hell we will." Dee moved closer to Tran. "I'm not taking my gun off. It's your problem if you don't like that."  
"It's not my problem." Tran smiled, batting his eyes. "You're the ones who need answers. If you want to come in, then leave the guns outside. If not then you can leave."
CHAPTER FOUR

"We're not leaving." Connie took her gun from her holster. "Let's just do this so we can handle our business."

"No." Dee crossed her arms, lips poked out. "He has no right to ask this of us."

"This is private property, Detective Quarter," Tran said. "Unless you have a warrant, we don't even have to allow you inside." His bigger eye twitched. "Either you want to come in or you don't."

"We wanna come in." Connie snatched Dee's gun from her holster and put the guns in the car. "May we come in now?" She stood beside Dee again.

"Follow me and don't touch anything." He led them inside with his nose to the sky.

"Excuse me." Dee stuck her pinky in the air, and Connie laughed.

As if the exterior of the mansion wasn't to die for, the inside was an oasis of shiny marble floors and antique stone columns with a mild Vanilla aroma every time Dee turned her head.

They walked through the hallway past colorful rooms with posh furniture and decorative light fixtures.

They turned a corner, passing the winding stairwell.

"You ever get lost in this place?" Connie walked, looking at the ceiling.

"It can intimidate if you're not used to it." Tran's tiny frame disappeared in his airy white slacks. "Intimidation is good in Jonathan's eyes."

"Is it?" Dee stopped as they passed a cracked door.

"Something wrong?" Connie turned back.

Dee peeked inside the room to see at least twenty women of various races mediating on the floor in flimsy white dresses with their hair in tight buns.

"They're meditating," Tran said. "It's a huge part of our culture."

"Your culture?" Dee stood back from the door. "Jonathan describes The Circle as a spiritual group of peace and harmony."

"That's right." Tran smiled.

"Yet, no mention of a certain religion." Dee raised an eyebrow.

"People think religion is the same as spiritual and it's not." Tran wiggled his fingers, showing off the sparkling gold ring. "We're not a religious group. We just believe in living our lives free of negativity and other emotions that rot the soul."

Connie nodded, sucking her lip. "I thought Jonathan was a Buddhist or something."

Tran guffawed with his mouth open so wide Dee saw the cracked wisdom tooth on the right side. "We're not Buddhists."

"What's your role in this?" Dee asked Tran as they continued walking.

"My role is to keep everything running so Jonathan doesn't have to worry about such matters." He opened the door to a caramel-toned room with a brown sectional and a white, stone fireplace. "Please come in and sit down."

Connie and Dee sat on the sectional; the sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows introducing a tinge of brightness.

"Would you like refreshments?" Tran put his hands together. "Fresh fruit and nuts, perhaps? We grow a lot of our own fruit and vegetables."

"No thanks." Dee smiled, getting out her notepad.

"I'd love to see outside the property." Connie straightened herself on the couch, bumping against Dee.

"This isn't a field trip, Connie. I don't mean to be rude, Tran, but we'd like to get this show on the road so we can get back."

"I'll be right back." He left the room and returned with three women in thin, white dresses.

The brunette woman glided in front of the others as if she were royalty while the blonde and the redhead stood in place as if they needed permission to move.

"This is Mistress Shauna." Tran gestured to the tall, curvy woman with loose, black crinkles flowing across her shoulders and back. "This is Emma," He pointed to the blonde-haired woman with the slanted brown eyes. "And, this is Ana," he introduced the pale redhead with her face covered in tiny freckles.

"It's nice to meet you." Shauna's hair settled against her round face. "Detectives Quarter and Wilks, I hope you've enjoyed checking out our home." Her arched eyebrows added length to her face.

"Hold on." Dee held in a chuckle. "What the heck is going on here?"

Her thick, red lips flattened. "As Tran said, I'm Mistress Shauna."

Dee swallowed a grin. "Why do they call you 'Mistress'?"

"Because I'm the Head Mistress of The Circle." Her chestnut eyes brought drama to her face. "I'm second command to Jonathan."

"Wait, wait." Dee laughed, covering her mouth. "Is this a joke?"

"I see nothing funny," Shauna said, not a trace of humor. "In your world I'd be a queen."

"Okay, queen." Dee flicked her hand, grinning. "Whatever you say."

"Where is Jonathan?" Connie asked.

"Jonathan's busy." Shauna wiggled her toes in her sandals, wearing white nail polish. "You can talk to me."

"We don't wanna talk to you," Dee said. "When we called, we were told we could speak to Jonathan."

"Well, Jonathan has more pressing matters." Shauna hiked her narrow nose in the air. "I'm closer to him than anyone so I can answer for him."

"We don't get to see Jonathan then we'll leave and come back with a warrant." Dee sat against the ivory pillows.

"Fine." Shauna shrugged one shoulder. "Have a nice day."

"We'll talk to you," Connie said. "Dee, the case is what's important here."

"Fine." Dee yanked her pencil out the pocket of her maroon slacks.

Shauna turned toward Emma and Ana, holding her hands out to them. "Ladies?"

The women took Shauna's hands and helped her to the mahogany glider where she sat erect, batting her eyes.

"What's this about Autumn being murdered?" she asked with a severe lack of sympathy.

Dee relayed what they knew about Autumn and her involvement in The Circle, observing Shauna.

Shauna cut her gaze to Tran who looked as annoyed as she did at the interview. "You can't think Jonathan had anything to do with this, do you?"

"It's our job to find out," Connie said.

"Jonathan loves us," Shauna protested. "Doesn't he, ladies?"

"Yes, Mistress," Emma and Ana said.

"Wow," Dee whispered.

"Jonathan protects us," Shauna said. "Unlike those in the outside world. He'd never hurt us."

"How did you feel about Autumn?" Connie asked.

"Me?" Shauna stiffened. "She was my sister."

"Your sister?" Connie asked.

"Not by birth." She huffed. "We're all sisters here."

"Oh." Dee grinned, chewing on her pencil. "Opposed to in the outside world?"

"Detective Quarter." Shauna batted her long eyelashes. "I'm sure the concept of how we feel about each other here is foreign to you. That's the problem. We love each other on a level those outside The Circle could never understand."

"Don't give me that crap. You can play your little games here at the compound all you want but this is a murder investigation, and I'd suggest you take it serious."

"I'm trying to explain our ways." Her voice remained robotic.

"Love is love, okay," Dee said. "Either you love someone or you don't. Obligation can't force love."

"Never mind." Shauna snickered at Emma and Ana. "She'll never understand."

Dee examined Shauna's pale skin. "We need to gage if you're a suspect or not."

"Suspect?" Shauna slouched, seeming to show concern even if it were for herself. "I did nothing to Autumn."

"You're the Head Mistress, meaning you're above all these women?" Dee asked. "Are you Jonathan's lover?"

"We're all Jonathan's lovers," Emma interjected, causing Shauna to give her the side eye.

"I see." Dee jotted Emma's words and Shauna's reactions to them. "So you all have romantic relationships with him?"

"We all share him sexually if that's what you mean," Shauna said. "But for his heart, I'm the only one who claims that prize."

Emma and Ana grimaced.

"Jonathan's a very attractive man," Dee said, his electrifying, silver eyes alive in her memory from when she'd seen his website. "Don't you all get jealous of each other?"

"Never." Shauna scoffed. "More proof you don't get our world. We don't have those negative feelings because we live on a higher, spiritual plane. It's an honor for us to have Jonathan's attentions, we want to share him, not limit the love he provides."

"Someone's cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs," Dee whispered to Connie who shook her head.

"We get the feeling that Autumn was closer to him than even you, Mistress Shauna," Connie said. "Is that true?"

"No one is closer to him than me in that capacity."

"Not what we heard."

"Then you heard wrong, Detective Wilks." Shauna let out an exasperating sigh. "This isn't getting us anywhere." She stood, her dress snagging on the chair. "I've told you everything. We had nothing to do with Autumn's death."  
"It's thirty-two of you, right?" Dee asked. "You can't speak for every woman here. We want to talk to them and Jonathan."

"We don't have to speak to you." Shauna mocked. "This is Broadville Port not Baltimore. You have no jurisdiction."

"Eh, before you try to tell us about our jobs you should know what you're talking about first," Dee said. "In a murder investigation, jurisdiction doesn't limit us speaking to anyone who has something to do with this."

Shauna stuck her chin out, jaws flexing. "We're done here."

"Fine." Dee stood, putting the pad and pencil in her pocket. "But, tell Jonathan we'll be back soon and we expect him to speak to us. If not we'll come back with a warrant and not only talk to everyone here..." She looked at Tran, Emma, and Ana. "But, we'll search this entire place."

Shauna crossed her arms. "We don't want cops snooping around here."

"Then Jonathan needs to speak to us." Dee handed Shauna her card. "Have a good day."
CHAPTER FIVE

Jonathan watched Dee and Connie walk out the mansion through surveillance on his office computer.

He snickered, drawn to the sensuous black cop who threw her weight around as if she owned the world. "You'd be fun to tame." He ran his finger down the screen, imagining touching her.

Shauna burst through the frosted-blue door, panting as if she'd run a marathon. "Were you watching the whole time?"

"Of course."

"So you heard them then?" Shauna stomped to the desk. "They want to get a warrant, Jonathan. They want to come back and search the place."

"She said they'd do that if I didn't comply." He smirked, closing the laptop. "I had no issue with talking to them but you insisted I didn't." He took her hand and her face relaxed. "You don't have to protect me, Shauna. What's the harm in me speaking to them?"

"You don't need to be tainted by that one."

"You mean Detective Quarter?" He rocked in the suede red recliner.

"She thinks we had something to do with Autumn's death. Can you believe that?"

"I have no worries because I didn't do anything to Autumn." He raised his thick eyebrow. "Did you?"

"No. How could you ask me that?"

"I'm not accusing you but you're so wound up about this."

They stared at each other for a moment, Jonathan struggling to read her thoughts.

"This is serious." She touched the desk. "What if we go to jail?"

"If neither of us did anything wrong, then you shouldn't worry." He laughed, throwing up his arms. "I'm not worried."

"You're never worried." She moved from the desk, rolling her eyes. "And look at me. I let a few minutes with outsiders bring in negativity." She closed her eyes, humming. "I have to meditate—"

"She's sexy, isn't she?" He laid his head back, staring at the gold, flush mount ceiling light. "Detective Quarter?"

"Sexy?" Her nostrils flared. "Sorry, if while being accused of murder I didn't have time to check her out."

"Such venom in your voice, Shauna." He stopped smiling. "You've forgotten who you're speaking to?"

"I'm sorry, Jonathan." She bowed. "I meant no disrespect."

"You're forgetting your place more and more—"

"No." She gave a shaky smile. "I'll never forget my place."  
"We don't worry." He squinted. "We don't fret. We don't let outsiders get into our heads. Stay grounded."

"Yes." She nodded, swallowing. "That's why we need you in our lives, Jonathan. You remind us of what's important." She went to the door.

"Shauna?"

She turned sideways. "Yes?"

"Did you kill Autumn?"

She flinched, a bead of sweat drizzling her face. "No." She tugged on the doorknob.

"Something else bothering you?"

"They tried to make it look like I was jealous of her, but I have no reason to be. We don't get jealous but even so..." She rushed back to him, a look of pleading in her eyes. "I know you love me more than you do the rest of them." She walked around the desk and placed her hands to his cheeks. "I know, Jonathan."

"Course I do." He gripped her neck, lowering her head for a kiss. "You've been there for me through everything no matter how much it tested you. Don't worry, Shauna. No one could ever take your place."

She smiled, blushing.

****

"What did you think?" Dee drove onto the highway after exiting Jonathan's property. "They're something else, aren't they?"

"Definitely strange." Connie opened a Snickers bar and bit into it. "They live in their own little world."

"Girl." Dee got in the middle lane behind an empty bus. "What did you think of Shauna?"

"Might be hiding something." Connie licked nougat off her lips. "For someone who doesn't get jealous she got jealous when we mentioned Autumn."

"Her face turned white as a sheet." Dee flicked her signal on and switched into the next lane. "Don't tell me they don't get jealous of each other."

"You think Jonathan's attractive?" Connie watched her out the corner of her eyes, chewing.

"What?"

"You said he was when we were questioning Shauna."

"So? He is."

"But, it was the way you said it." Connie tilted her head. "As if you were interested."

"You want me to throw you out this car?"

"I didn't mean interested romantically but in knowing more about him."

"If you're worried about me getting sucked in you don't know me well at all. You gotta be crazy to fall into a cult. Did you see those women? Acting like Stepford wives and shit." Dee turned off the highway onto a quiet street. "I can't stand men like Jonathan who prey on vulnerable people. It's abuse if you ask me."

"A lot of normal people fall into these groups." Connie crunched nuts. "They don't all have issues. Sometimes people just need a place to belong and these unions provide that."

"They brainwash people." Dee shook her head. "The people think it's a choice to stay but they're manipulated from the first moment they meet someone like Jonathan. I can see how it can happen though."

Connie fixed her seatbelt.

"It's not just that he's good-looking but he has this presence about him. This aura. Even on the website it leapt from the screen."

"Really?"

"His eyes are so magnetic. It's like he looks into you instead of at you." Dee caught Connie's bewildered expression. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Connie squinted, her head rocking with the car. "No reason."

****

That night, Sylvia peeked into Grayson's living room made of wood-panel walls with a packed bookshelf in the back that took up half the room.

"Are you all right, Dee?" she asked. "You sure I can't get you anything?"

"No, uh..." She placed the half-done manuscript on the table and crossed her feet at the ankles. "Is he coming out or what? I've been here ten minutes."

"He should be out the shower by now." Sylvia twisted toward the stairs that led straight into the room. "I'll go check."

"No need." Grayson's voice bellowed from the top of the stairs. "I apologize for having you wait." He walked downstairs with his robe exposing his toned pecs and white jockey shorts.

"Jesus." Dee grimaced. "Put some clothes on, Grayson."

"Why?" His mouth rose in the corner as he tied the robe. "It's not like you haven't seen all this before."

Sylvia fidgeted. "Let me know if you need anything."

"We will." Grayson smiled.

Sylvia left.

Grayson stalked toward Dee, wobbling his head. "What? Seeing me half naked too much for you to take?"  
"I didn't come here to play games." She got off the suede, floral sofa that forced vibrancy into the room. "On the phone, you said you had information that might help my case but if that was bullshit then I can—"

"All right, all right." He exhaled, his hair plastered flat from being wet. "But, don't you still find me attractive?"

"You got one minute to tell me what you got to say or I'm gone."
CHAPTER SIX

Grayson sat in the swivel chair in front of his computer. "I researched Prisha Banerjee."

"Who?"  
"That's the woman who disappeared after leaving The Circle." Grayson ran his fingers through his slick hair. "The one Autumn told me about. Prisha's family is from Telangana in South India but her father brought the family to America when Prisha was a baby."

"Okay." Dee sat on the couch, contemplating the information. "Did you find anything about her outside The Circle?"

"That's what's strange. I checked every social network and Google and besides her being mentioned with The Circle, nothing. It's like she doesn't exist outside of that."

"This is interesting but if you're connecting this to Autumn—"

"Jonathan did something to Prisha." Grayson made eye contact. "Even Autumn said Jonathan is possessive. What if Prisha wanted to leave and he wouldn't let her?"

"Just because you can't find her on Facebook doesn't mean Jonathan did something to her. We need facts." She stood, gesturing to the computer. "Not theories. I'll see you."

"You have more tools at your exposure than I do. You can check Prisha out."

"I don't have time to chase this when I got a murder to solve."

"What if Jonathan killed Autumn?" Grayson rubbed the nape of his neck. "This could be connected."

"All right." She held her waist. "I'll look into it. We went to the compound today."

"Did you?" He sat, eyes wide.

"Grayson, it's nuts. They're living in their own world. It's the weirdest thing I've ever seen."

"I told you."

"There's this one chick called Mistress Shauna." Dee paced, pointing. "And they treat her like a queen. And, that house." She waved her hands. "It's gorgeous. More beautiful than on the website. Going there defied everything I imagined." She rested her hands on the curve of her back. "The whole thing is mystifying."

"In a good or bad way?"

"Huh?" She dropped her shoulders.

Grayson propped his arm on the back of the chair. "You seem taken by all this."

"Are you kidding?" She faked a laugh. "I think it's ridiculous, that's all. You know me, Grayson."

"I do." He nodded. "You're tough on the outside but the most vulnerable person too."

"I'm not vulnerable."

"It's why I fell in love with you." He smiled. "You have so many sides. What did he say?"

"Jonathan? We didn't meet him. Shauna claimed he didn't wanna talk to us."

"Probably because he killed Autumn."

"Thanks for telling me about Prisha." She drifted toward the table. "If he did it I'll get him, don't worry."  
"You will." He winked. "You're a great cop."

She got the manuscript. "This your latest project?"

"You can call it that." His face brightened. "I've only written five chapters. What do you think so far? I know you read it before I got in here. You were always sneaking peeks at my unfinished manuscripts."

She smiled, thumbing the pages. "It'll be another masterpiece."

"Masterpiece?" He stretched, loosening his robe. "I haven't had one of those in a while."

"Tell me when it's published." She set it on the table. "So I can be the first to get my copy."

"How about I give you a copy?" He lowered his head, glaring through his lashes. "In person."

"I..." Her hands shook. "I'd better go."

"You don't have to." He leapt out the chair. "Please stay."

"Why?" She turned her back to him.

"Because you want to?" He cupped her shoulder from behind, smelling of Irish Spring soap. "Don't you, Dee?" He brought his mouth to her ear, whispering through his soothing breath, "I miss you so much." He swept his hand around her waist. "I'll never love another woman the way I love you."

"Stop, please." She closed her eyes, heart pounding.

"I can't stop." He sucked her earlobe, enveloping her in his scent. "And, you don't want me to."

"Winston..." She moaned, melting from the touch of his masterful lips. "I love him."

"You love me." With his arm locked on her waist, he forced her around, smashing his chest against her tingling breasts.

Her gaze locked on his dry lips that begged for her mouth underneath the graying goatee. "Grayson."

He lay his warm mouth on hers, guiding her lips open with his tongue.

Dee released a soft moan, bringing her hands to his shoulders and holding her against him, savoring that faint peppermint flavor on his breath.

"Mm." She pushed back, unleashing his lips. "Oh my god. What are we doing?"

"What we wanna do." He grabbed the back of her head, forcing her lips toward his. "Come here."

She tossed her head in the opposite direction. "Have I lost my mind?" She let go of him, huffing and puffing.

His chest heaved as he tilted his head back, eyes narrowing.

"I got to go."

"Dee." He reached for her.

"No." She slapped his hand away and ran out the room.

****

Dee tangled her fingers in Winston's curls as he licked the moist opening between her thighs until she burst. "Oh." She let him go, reaching for the wooden headboard behind her.

"Woo." Winston lifted his head from her thighs, forehead full of sweat. "Feel good?"

"Who you asking?" Dee swallowed, catching her breath. "Every time is better than the last."

"I'm glad I relaxed you." He lay beside her, kissing her sweaty arm. "With all that's happened you've been so tense."

Dee put her hands over her face, exhaling.

"You okay?" Winston rested against the headboard. "Something on your mind?"

"I need to tell you something." She pushed hair away from her face. "We promised never to hide things from each other."

His face contorted, wrinkles indenting his forehead. "What is it?"

"I saw Grayson tonight. He had something to tell me that might help my case."

He sucked his lip, nodding. "Okay. He's a part of your case so you gotta see him." He rubbed her stomach. "No big deal."

"That's not all." She stared at the TV behind the foot of her bed. "Something happened."

He studied her face and a scowl slowly appeared. "Did you sleep with Grayson?"

"No." She stroked the tiny hairs on his arm. "We kissed."

"You kissed?" He pointed at her. "Did he kiss you or you kissed him?"

"What difference does it make?"

"It makes a damn big difference, Dee."

"He kissed me." She scratched between her breasts. "But, I let him."

He leaned forward, holding a fist to his mouth.

"I love you." She pressed her head to his back. "You're the only man I want. Please, don't get upset—"

"How can I not get upset?" He ripped the covers off and got out of bed. "How could you kiss him, Dee?"

"It was a huge mistake." She wrapped herself in the sheet. "A moment of weakness."

"I'm sick of this." He turned, gripping his head. "Grayson is always hanging around. I'm wondering if you like him pining for you."  
"Now wait just a damn minute here." She pointed toward the ceiling. "I've been honest with him from the beginning."

He swiped his hand through the air. "I don't want you seeing Grayson outside this case. You got that?"

"He had information—"

"Don't go to his goddamn house anymore." He bent over the bed, eyes bulging. "That's it, Dee. I've been more than patient but I'm your man."

She plopped her head on the pillow. "Don't I get points for being honest?"

"No, because you kissed the son of a bitch." He stood by the cream vanity desk. "I'm not asking or pleading anymore, Dee. I mean it. If you do this again then it's over."

"Winston." She moved the sheet off, getting on her knees in the bed. "You don't mean that."

"I mean it." His voice cracked. "I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but I won't share you anymore."

"You haven't been sharing me."

"He's always there." Sweat subdued his curls. "Every damn time we make a move in our relationship here comes, Grayson. I'm sick of him! When will it be over for good?"  
"It's over." Dee rushed to him, voice shaking. "I can't lose you, Winston." She hugged him. "I need you, please. I've lost so many people I've loved. Don't leave me." She looked him in the eyes. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."  
She waited for a sign of softness in his face or at least for him to touch her but he didn't.  
"Winston?"

"I mean it, Dee." His eyebrows rose. "If this happens again, it's over."
CHAPTER SEVEN

Three days later, Connie and Dee arrived at Jonathan's compound at his invitation. Tran met them at the entrance and escorted them to the massive garden. Plants of various shades of green and patches of red, yellow, purple, and white flowers surrounded them.

"The sitting area is over here." Tran led them underneath a huge arch made of flowers.

The contrasting scents from the different flowers made Dee's head ache.

"Dee, it's huge," Connie said.

They walked through a cement path engulfed in towering hedges and trees that smothered the sunlight.

Dee glanced up, her breath dwindling when she only saw trees above her. "Oh." She took Connie's hand, stopping her.

Connie held her. "You okay?"

Dee leaned over, slowing her breathing. "I feel like I'm suffocating."

"Are you claustrophobic?" Connie asked.

Dee did a quick nod.

"Come here." Tran took Dee's hand. "It happens to many people when they first come out here. It's overwhelming to look around and see nothing but trees and plants."

Dee calmed as her breathing normalized.

"Maybe sitting down will help." With his arm around her waist, Tran helped Dee to the gorgeous, off-white daybed shielded with canopy curtains and string lights.

"Oh, this is beautiful." Dee sat on the silky, soft material decorated with brown and beige striped pillows.

"Ooh, wee." Connie tugged on the curtains. "Just when I think this place can't blow me away anymore, it does." She plopped beside Dee, kicking. "I could live here forever."

"Don't get used to it." Dee tried her best to ignore the captivating scenery.

"Are you better, Detective Quarter?" Tran asked.

"Yes, thanks. I looked up too fast and there was all this green and I felt trapped."

A minute later, two women in white dresses with their hair in angelic buns emerged with refreshments.

"Maybe this will make you feel better." Tran smiled at Dee.

With the grace of a swan, the dark-skinned black woman set the tray of cheese and chilled fruit on the table, and the sensuous Asian placed a pitcher of lemonade beside it, looking neither at Dee nor Connie.

"Thank you," Tran told them.

Connie smiled at the women. "That fruit looks amazing."

They bowed and drifted through the greenery.

"Well, that's unique service you got there." Dee got a slice of watermelon while Connie grabbed a handful of green grapes.

"Jonathan should be out in a moment," Tran said. "Just holler if you need anything else."

"Thanks," the women said as he left.

"My god." Connie shoved grapes into her mouth and stretched on the daybed. "It's like a wonderland out here. Have you ever seen anything like it?"

Dee shook her head, eating a chunk of brie cheese.

"I'm gonna look around." Connie stood, still chewing grapes. "Let's see what's over there." She pointed at the path. "I hear water." She gasped. "Oh, it might be a waterfall or something."

"And, you asked if I'd be the one taken in?" Dee ate a fat strawberry, the juice seducing her taste buds. "Looks like you're ready to move in."

"Live a little won't you?" She poked Dee's shoulder. "I want to see what else is in this garden. I'll be back." She scampered away.

"Jesus." Dee lay back with her arms folded behind her head, grinning to herself. "I could get used to this life."  
"Could you?" a medium-deep male voice asked.

Dee shrieked, rising from her position.

A white man around six two or three with long, straight black hair and a thick, stiff beard, stood on the walkway.

"Hello." Shades covered his eyes.

"Hello." Dee observed him. "Who are you?"  
He snickered, his nose buried under hair. "I'm a guard here. Did I frighten you?"

She patted her crinkles. "I'm—"

"You don't have to fix your hair." His words held a sensual intonation. "Trust me. You're perfect."

Dee got a chill. "I'm Detective Quarter."

"I know." He lowered his head as if he were checking her out. "It's nice to meet you, Detective."

"Don't you have a name?"

"My name isn't important." He sauntered toward her in loose black slacks and an oversized gray shirt where his muscles fought for attention. "How do you feel about all this?" He sat beside her, tempting her with his honeysuckle scent. "Be honest."

"You mean the compound?"

He nodded, hair blowing in the mild breeze.

"I think it's bullshit. Absolute bullshit."

He licked his lips, moaning. "Why?"

"Because your boss is manipulating people to get what he wants. Sorry, but I have to be honest."

"Jonathan feels he's rescued these women." He flexed his smooth, delicate-looking fingers wearing a gold, ruby ring on his right hand. "You don't understand what some of them have been through."

"This is a cult no matter how he dresses it up. He's using these women."

"Using them how?" The beard shifted on his lip. "He doesn't force them into doing anything they don't want to. They come to him willingly and submit."

"He manipulates vulnerable women into thinking they need him to act out his twisted fantasy."

The man sighed, shaking his head. "You don't understand."

"He's taking advantage of weak women and it's sick."

"So you can't believe these women would be here on their own?"

"No." She slammed her eyes shut. "I sure as hell wouldn't."

"You wouldn't wanna live on the compound?" He raised an eyebrow. "Get a taste of what Jonathan can offer?"

"He uses these women as his personal sex objects, and I can't see why they'd be taken in unless something is wrong with them."

"I suppose you wouldn't be taken in by him."

"Hell no." She looked at him.

"Hm." He stroked the beard. "Your life's perfect?"

"No one's life is perfect but being in a cult isn't the answer."

"It's not a cult," he shouted and then softened his voice. "This is a wonderful, magical place, Detective Quarter." He touched her hand, causing her to shiver. "Give it a chance."

She tried to decipher his features underneath the hair. "Who are you, again?"

"Dee!" Connie ran up, pointing behind her. "There's a waterfall," she squealed, clasping her hands. "A little waterfall and pond in the middle of the garden. It's so beautiful." She focused on the man next to Dee. "I'm sorry." She smiled. "I'm Detective Connie Wilks."

"Nice to meet you."

"He's a guard here," Dee interjected. "Who refuses to give his name."

Connie checked her watch. "Is Jonathan coming out or not?"

"I don't know." Dee got a strawberry and rose from the daybed. "But, I'm about to go drag him out myself—"

"No need to drag." The man removed the long hair and beard, revealing a coal-black buzz cut and clean-shaven face. "He's already here."

Dee gasped, stomach pounding. "Jonathan?"

"In the flesh." He whipped off the shades, his small, silver-gray, deep-set eyes sending currents through Dee's body. "Did I frighten you?"

Connie gaped, holding her stomach. "Um—"

"Is this your idea of a joke?" Dee sat.

"I like to shake things up." He grinned, his aquiline nose twitching. "Nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"This isn't a game, Jonathan," Dee said. "A murder investigation is nothing to play with."

"I apologize if I offended you."  
"You didn't." Connie swallowed, staring at him. "It's just weird to meet you. Kinda like a celebrity."

"I wouldn't say that," he said. "I've done a couple TV interviews about The Circle but other than that, nothing."

Dee worked through her rapid breathing as she got over the shock.

"Are you okay?" He touched her back. "Funny, I thought you couldn't be taken in by me."

"I'm not." She pushed his hand away. "It'll take more than you in a wig and fake beard to get to me."

He snickered, nodding. "I look forward to the challenge."

"What is that supposed to mean?" She got her pencil. "If you think you have any chance of pulling me into this, you're crazy."

"And, if I had a nickel for every woman who said that yet ended up here." He shrugged.

"I'm not like these women."

"Detective Quarter?" He leaned into her, his eyes widening. "All women are like these women."

"Let's get this over with so we can leave," she said.

Connie sat on the opposite of Dee, her gaze frozen on Jonathan.

"When's the last time you saw Autumn?" Dee asked.

"A few weeks before her death, and I cared about her very much," Jonathan said. "But, Autumn wasn't ready to be a part of this. She needed to commit and she couldn't do it."

"Did that make you angry?" Dee lifted her head. "Didn't you want her here?"

"I only want women here who want to be here." He smiled. "I'm not playing mind games or brainwashing anyone."

"The jury's out on that one," Dee said. "Do you know of anyone who might want Autumn dead?"

"Grayson Paul, perhaps? She broke things off with him, she said. Isn't that motive?"

Dee twitched as she wrote.

"Is something wrong, Detective?" Jonathan's full lips evened out. "Did I strike a nerve?"

"I'm acquainted with Grayson, that's all. He wouldn't kill anyone."

"Well, I wouldn't either and I have no reason to."

"You said Autumn was waffling on joining The Circle," Connie said. "How do we know that wouldn't make you mad?"

"Because there are women from all over the country dying to be a part of this so, I wouldn't need to force anyone."

Dee crossed her legs. "Why can't men be in your community?"

"I find women easier to lead."  
"I bet you do," Dee said. "And I suppose the perks of having sex with all the women you want has nothing to do with it either?"

"Is that all this brings to mind? Sex?" He grimaced. "The physical is just a tiny part of the equation. It's a divine connection that bonds us. This is our family, and no one understands us as much as we understand each other."

Dee grinned. "Whatever you say."

"I shouldn't be shocked by your reaction, Detective Quarter. You're from the outside world where everything's on the surface." He gestured to nothing in particular. "Here, everything is spiritual. Not religious but spiritual. You know why the women wear white? I'm sure you've been wondering."

"Why?" Dee asked in a sarcastic manner.

"Purity." He licked his lips, staring at hers. "When you become a part of The Circle, you strip yourself of everything negative and any insecurities holding you back. All that comes with spiritual teachings and meditation. It's like being born again and starting over. Freeing the mind is the most important thing."

His voice shot butterflies into Dee's stomach as if someone tossed her from a cliff.

"You know why women join us?" He nudged Dee's thigh. "Curiosity. That's what you're feeling now."

"I'm not curious but amazed at how good you must be to pull this off." She faked a chuckle. "Like I said, it could never happen to me."

"Hm." He curved his lips into his mouth. "We'll see."

"It might help us understand Autumn better if we knew more about your community," Connie said. "How does one become a part of The Circle? Your website mentions recruiting."

"We recruit but you have to be special to join." He watched Dee. "I have to get a genuine feeling about you. We also have rules everyone must commit to."  
Connie wiggled her shoulders. "Like what?"

"Once you're a member, you never leave the compound."

"You never leave?" Dee asked.

"I can leave as I please and Shauna can run errands with my permission but the other women cannot."

"Why can't they leave?" Connie asked.

"Because once they're stripped, which means evolved, they have no need for anything outside the compound. Everything they need or want is here."
CHAPTER EIGHT

"Interesting that Shauna can leave the compound," Dee said.

"She didn't have anything to do with Autumn's murder." Jonathan sighed. "Anyway, she can't just leave any time she wants. It's on special occasions if I approve."

Dee raised her eyebrows. "What else is not allowed around here?"

"There's no TV or music other than what I approve of, and they can get online a few times a week but I monitor what they do online. It's for their own goods."

"Yeah." Dee nodded with sarcasm. "Is that it or do they have to have blood tests every day too?"

Connie sipped lemonade. "What if people get sick?"

"We have a doctor here at the compound." Jonathan smiled at Connie. "The only medicines we use are organic and herbal medicines. I create most of the medicines we use from the plants I study."  
"You mean, they can't even leave if they get sick?" Dee batted her eyes. "What if someone needs to go to the hospital?"

"We have an infirmary on the compound that can envy any hospital."

Dee stared at Jonathan in awe. "What if they need medical treatment you can't provide?"  
"Being in The Circle means sacrifice and everyone understands that when they agree to be here. It's how I run things and there's no negotiation."

"Can members leave the group?" Connie chewed cheese. "If they don't want to be a part of it anymore?"

"Sure." Jonathan's rigid voice wasn't convincing. "But, no woman's ever wanted to leave."

"What about Prisha Banerjee?" Dee asked. "Did she wanna leave?"

"Prisha had a problem." He sat erect, squinting. "She couldn't stick to the rules."

"Is that why she's no longer here?"

Jonathan wiggled his head. "Next question, Detective Quarter."

"Ah, I hit a nerve with Prisha?" She noted his attitude on her pad. "Anymore rules?"

"No, smoking, drinking or drugs. They can use a cell phone I've provided twice a week." He smiled. "I'm not a complete monster. We monitor the texts to keep any outside influences from sabotaging their growth."

"What about sex?" Dee asked. "They have to sleep with you?"

"I don't rape anyone." His jaws sunk. "It's their choice to give themselves to me. They even fight for the chance."

"Is there anyone in The Circle who had issues with Autumn?" Connie asked. "Did she have beef with any of the women?"

"Not that I'm aware."

"Could Shauna have gotten jealous of your relationship with Autumn?"

"No, Detective Wilks." He laughed from the back of his throat. "That proves you don't get our community. The women don't have those emotions."

"They're human," Dee said. "No matter what you wanna believe I can bet your ass that at least one of them is jealous of another."

He exhaled, swallowing.

"You can pretend Autumn was like all the others, but you cared about her," Dee said. "Your eyes glow when you speak about her. Did you love Autumn?"

"If you mean did she become a little closer than the others, yes." He cleared his throat. "But, if anyone was jealous, it would've been Autumn." He stood. "She wanted to take Shauna's place, or she didn't want to be in the group at all. Now if you'll excuse me."

"Where are you going?" Dee scowled. "We're not done here."  
"I'm done, Detective." He bowed and walked to the path. "It's time for our daily cleansing session where we strip ourselves of any impure or negative thoughts."

"Oh, I see," Dee said. "Was the questioning too much for you? Got to get your lies straight?"

"I've not lied to you." He ignored Dee and smiled at Connie. "Have a nice day. Tran will show you out."

"Wait, a minute." Dee stood as Jonathan left. "Did he just leave?"

****

"My god." Dee whistled, walking into Jonathan's plant laboratory that night. It resembled a grocery store but instead of aisles of food, there were shelves full of containers of plants in and out of test tubes.

"Detective Quarter." Jonathan stooped over the steel table in the middle of the room, looking into a microscope. "It shocked me when you asked to come back."

"We have unfinished business." She stopped beside the table. "It's freezing in here."

"It's good for the plants." He straightened the small leaf on the slide. "What can I do for you?"  
"What are you doing?"

"Checking out the primary meristems of this plant."

"The what?" Dee leaned over beside him.

Jonathan lifted his head. "Primary meristems are groups of tissues." He focused back on the slide.

"You must know everything about plants."  
"Not everything." He switched slides. "I love learning about plants," He rose, his gaze landing on her bosom. "And people too."

"All people or just women?" Dee winked. "You got an Environmental Science degree from Harvard." She poked out her lips, nodding. "Very impressive."

"Anyone can do it if they put their mind to it."

She laughed. "I doubt I'd ever get a degree from Harvard no matter what I do."

He stood straight. "You should believe in yourself. If you believe, then it can happen."  
"Look, I told you." She stood from the table and put her hands in her pockets. "That stuff you pull on those chicks in The Circle won't work on me. You're wasting your time."

"I don't consider it a waste of time." He sat with half-moon eyes.

"How did you get interested in plants?" She walked around, checking out the specimens on the shelf.

"I've always been fascinating with knowing how things operate." He turned in his swivel chair, eyes following her movement. "Plants are just like people. Different things contribute to how both grow whether it's science or the environment. I guess plants help me understand people."  
"What about you?" She turned around, facing him. "Are you hard to understand, Mr. Wild?"

He chuckled, muscles flexing in his cheeks. "Believe it or not I'm the least complicated person here."  
"Somehow I doubt that."

"I love studying things." He looked at his hands. "I'm studying you."

"For how long?"

"Since you first came." He stretched out his long legs. "I'm interested in you."

She sighed. "Why?"

"Let's say I wanna be a step ahead." He stood, inching toward her. "Do you love him?"

She stiffened. "Excuse me?"

"The man in your life?" He stopped in front of her, too close.

"Have you been spying on me?"  
"No, just guessing." He pulled lint from her blouse. "A woman like you has to have someone."

"Yes, I love him very much."

He brushed her hand. "What's his name?"

"None of your business." She moved from between him and the shelves.

"Is he a cop?" He turned to face her.

"Stop it, okay? I'm telling you this won't work. I came here to talk about the case."

"Really? Because you've been here ten minutes and haven't mentioned Autumn once."

She stuck out her chest. "I—"

"You're drawn Deidra, and that's okay."

"Deidra? I didn't say you could call me that."

His eyebrows wiggled. "You didn't say I couldn't."

"I don't have time for this nonsense." She hurried to the door.

"It's not about control," he said. "It's about being set free. I can set you free."

She swung around, scoffing. "How can you set me free when I can't?"

"You think you should be happy, yet you're empty inside." He inched toward her, crossing his arms. "I felt like that until I created The Circle. I had to change things, Deidra. Everyone needs help sometimes." He touched her shoulder. "Let me help you."  
"I—"

"Let me help you." He stroked her chin with his thumb. "What do you want? I can make it happen." He closed his eyes, moving his mouth toward her.

"What are you doing?" She jumped back, covering her mouth. "Are you trying to kiss me?"

He pressed his hands to the wall, locking her in between his arms. "Do you want me to kiss you?"

"Get away from me." She shoved him. "This won't work. You're trying to throw me off so I'll think you're innocent."

"I assure you your case is the last thing on my mind right now."

"This isn't happening," she shouted. "I'm not falling for your bullshit."

He reached for her. "Let's talk—"

"You want to talk?" She walked from the door. "Let's talk about Prisha then. I researched and found out she was pregnant. You have a strict rule about that don't you, Jonathan? If a woman gets pregnant, she's out of The Circle. Am I right?"

"Deidra—"

"Am I right? Isn't that your biggest rule and the one you forgot to mention earlier?"

"Yes, it's true." His lip curled. "Pregnancy is not allowed. There are things the women do to make sure that doesn't happen."

"But, Prisha got pregnant, and I bet you were angry. Did you do something to her?"

"No, damn it. I told her to leave, and she left. End of story."

"She disappeared, Jonathan. People don't just disappear."

"Why would I hurt Prisha? It's true I don't want babies and even if I were mad, I wouldn't have hurt her. If something happened to Prisha, it had nothing to do with me or The Circle." His lip trembled. "I'm not a killer, Deidra."

"Then why are you hiding from the world? You use The Circle so you don't have to face reality. What are you so afraid of?"

"The same thing you're afraid of." His stare burrowed into her. "Of being alone. We've both lost our fathers, and they meant the world to us."

"Stay away from, Jonathan."

He grabbed her wrist as she passed. "Winston is a very lucky man. I hope he appreciates what he's got."

She yanked free. "What don't you know about me?"

He winked. "Nothing."
CHAPTER NINE

Four Days Later

"Well, I'm sure you didn't call me here for good news." Grayson sat at the table in the interrogation room while Connie and Dee stood over him. "What's up?"

"You said you didn't care that Autumn dumped you." Dee approached the table. "We have evidence that proves otherwise."

"Yeah?" He leaned back in the chair. "Why am I not surprised?"

"This isn't a joke," Connie said. "Forensics took a look at Autumn's computer and they found tons of heated messages from you to her. You were cursing and threatening her. Seems to us you were upset about her dumping you."

He sighed, pressing his palms to his forehead. "All right, I didn't tell you everything."

Dee smacked her lips. "No shit."

"Yes, I blew my top."

"Frequently it looks like." Dee sat at the table. "What did you do?"

"I was angry because I'd loaned Autumn money to pay off bills and she hadn't paid me back. Autumn was in debt. You already have my alibi, anyway."

"We all know you don't have to be present to kill someone," Dee said.

"So I hired someone to kill Autumn now?" He gaped, crow's feet sprouting from the corners of his eyes. "How can you even fix your mouth to say that shit, Dee?" He stood. "We loved each other once."

"That was then, and this is now." She rose, staring him in the eyes. "You lied about having any issues with Autumn and we can't take that lightly."

"Fuck this." He bumped into the table as he moved from behind it. "You can't keep me here if I'm not under arrest."

"You need to be honest with us," Dee ordered. "If you cared about Autumn—"

"I cared about her." He opened the door in a swift motion. "I care about you too but look where that's gotten me."

"This isn't about us."

"Oh, trust me, Dee." He stuck his nose in the air. "You don't have to remind me of that."

****

"My, my, my." That night, Dee finished her last spoonful of Jake Jenson's scrumptious one-pot Bolognese with thin spaghetti. "Jake."

He grinned from across his living room table. "Glad you like it, Dee." Due to incomplete paralysis from a car accident, he could stand and even walk a little but had to rely on a wheelchair for the majority of his mobility.

"Lisa, girl." Dee fanned; Jake's great cooking always had an orgasmic effect. "I'll steal him away one day."

Jake and Lisa Swanson laughed while Winston grimaced, which didn't surprise Dee since he and Jake weren't exactly best friends.

"Flirt much, Dee?" Winston chewed.

"I was just kidding." She kissed his cheek, rubbing his hairy chin. "Lighten up."

"Yeah, Winston." Jake winked, his once-short, blond hair now grown into a long, layer cut that hit the curve of his rugged jawline. "Don't be mad because cooking is yet another thing I do better than you."

"Whoa." Lisa took a gulp from the nonalcoholic wine and then covered her grin. "Now don't fight boys." Her smooth, brown skin remained flawless as always. "Be nice."

"It's fine, Leece." Dee laughed, having the best time she'd had since her father passed. "It's taking my mind off everything."

"I'm glad to hear that." Lisa pulled on her long earring, her hair to-die-for in her signature short crop cut. "I'm so sorry again for your loss, girl."

"Stop it now." Dee snapped her fingers. "Thought you invited us over to have fun. What's been going on? How's life going as sous chef, Jake?"

"Doing well." Jake sipped from his glass. "Things are going good at the restaurant."

"All I know is I've never had cooking as good as yours." Dee pushed her empty bowl away.

Winston exhaled, and Dee cooled the flattery.

"There's more where that came from." Jake navigated his wheelchair from the table. "It's time for dessert." He rolled toward the doorway.

"You need help?" Dee asked.

"I got it." He winked at Dee on his way out. "It's a surprise for you."

"For me?" She giggled, catching Lisa's smile. "You guys are so sweet."

"That was fantastic." Winston finished his food and wiped his mouth. "This place is beautiful, Leece."

Dee admired the casual living room that Lisa brightened with a spark of femininity and a bolder color scheme since moving in with Jake.

"Looks like you've lived here forever." Winston kept his mouth tight, alerting Dee that the smile wasn't genuine. "It's already been eight months since you moved in. Time flies."

"You're one to talk." Lisa smiled. "Can't believe it's been a year since you and Dee got together. So much has changed."

"Yeah, like me going to work and seeing your face every day." Dee held in tears. "I still haven't gotten used to you being gone."

"Me either," Winston said.

Lisa displayed a tiny smile and lowered her head.

"Here we go." Jake wheeled into the room with a tray of tiny Bundt cakes glistened in golden glaze. "This is for you, Dee."

Lisa took the tray when Jake made it to the table.

"Ooh." Dee wiggled from the aroma of caramel and bananas. "That's my favorite caramelized banana bread cake."

"It is." Lisa stood and handed Dee and Winston their portions.

"Man." Winston sniffed the dessert.

"And, that's salted caramel glaze on top," Jake said. "Hope you like it."

Dee chomped the moist cake. "Oh, god." Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. "Lord have mercy."  
The others laughed.

"It's so moist." Dee struggled to speak with cake stuck inside her jaws. "Just the right amount of sweetness and salt to give it that kick."

"This is delicious, Jake." Winston wolfed down a piece. "Gotta give it to you, man."

"I wanted to do something special for Dee." He smiled.

"You're so sweet." Dee hopped from her chair and went across the table to hug Jake. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome." He kissed her hand.

"You and Lisa have been wonderful through all this." She scurried back to her chair. "That speech at Daddy's funeral was out of this world."

Winston smacked while chewing. "It sure was."

"Have you heard from Lydia?" Lisa sucked cake from her fork.

"No and I don't want to."

"We try not to talk about Lydia," Winston said. "It gets Dee more stressed than she already is."

"Between Lydia, working with Connie, Grayson, and this case..." Dee exhaled. "It's a wonder I'm not insane."

"Maybe being on a new case is too much for you." Lisa watched Dee eat. "You should take time off."

"I'm fine." Dee sipped the bitter wine.

"Lisa has big news." Jake beamed. "Tell them, sweetheart."  
Winston batted his eyes. "Are you pregnant?"

"No." Lisa laughed. "I'm thinking of becoming a criminal justice teacher at the Southmore Community College."

"Wow." Winston glanced at Dee as if to gage her reaction. "A teacher, huh? That's—"

"Strange," Dee said. "I can't see that satisfying you."

Lisa cleared her throat, abandoning her dessert. "Why not?"

"You want me to believe standing in a classroom all day will make you happier than catching the bad guys?" She shook her head. "You loved being a cop, Lisa. It's in your blood."

"Not anymore."

"Yes, it is." Dee dropped her fork. "You're only doing yourself a disservice by wasting time."

"I'm not wasting time, Dee. This is my life." Lisa propped her elbows on the table. "Thank you very much."

"You belong out in the streets with me solving cases not teaching losers at the community center."

"Dee." Winston grabbed her hand. "This is Lisa's decision."

Dee pushed her cake away. "It's a stupid decision."

"I think it's a brave thing to do." Winston cocked his head. "Lisa's been so strong through everything. Being shot would affect anyone."

Dee sighed. "I understand that but—"

"Then stop trying to run my life, Dee."

"Isn't this a switch?" Jake chuckled. "It used to be Winston and I at each other's throats. Now it's you two every time we get together."

"I want what's best for you, Leece."

She stood, pushing her chair under the table. "Let me decide that, Dee." She walked out the room.

"Lisa." Dee followed her into the kitchen. "Leece?"

Lisa got a cup from the cabinet and filled it with faucet water.

"You mad at me?" Dee sat on the counter beside the sink.

"I gotta get that taste out my mouth from that nasty, nonalcoholic wine."

Dee laughed. "I was trying to be polite, but it is nasty."

"My man's an alcoholic so..." Lisa stuck out her tongue when she finished drinking. "Why can't you lay off on this cop stuff?"  
"Because I love you and I miss you." Dee brushed away a tear. "It's not the same without you there."

Lisa stood with her back to the sink, head low.

"Don't you miss us being partners and doing all we can to make Baltimore safe?"

"I miss it." Lisa gripped the edge of the sink. "I loved being a cop more than anything but things change, Dee. I'm not going back."

"Teaching isn't gonna cut it for you. You'll be bored within a week."

"I'd be alive though."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this. You survived years of domestic violence. What's happened to that strong woman who could face anything?"

Lisa rubbed her hair. "She was shot and almost died."

"But, you didn't." Dee hopped off the counter and grabbed Lisa's shoulders. "You're still here and you're stronger than ever."

"You act like you understand what I've been through, but have you ever had your life flash before your eyes?"

"Lisa—"

"No, you haven't. You have no right to pass judgment on me. Being shot isn't something you get over like it never happened."

"It's a part of the job. You knew that when you signed up."

"Well, it's no longer important to me. Want to know what is?" She hurried to the doorway, pointing out of it. "That man in that wheelchair is way more important than some job, Dee. I want a life with Jake, and I won't threaten that for anything. I'll never be a cop again. Okay? A paycheck is not worth dying for."

"Being a cop isn't just a paycheck. It's who we are."

"It's easy to take an oath and say you'll put your life on the line until something happens." Lisa walked from the door. "I want to live my life without fear and I can't do that as a cop."

"I know it's selfish." Dee sobbed. "But, I feel like I'm losing everyone. Everyone."

"You're never losing me, girl." Lisa hugged her. "We might not see each other every day but I'll always be here for you."

"I'm just so lost right now." Dee wiped her eyes on her palms. "So empty and confused."

"I've been there. How about you talk to Dr. Guzman? If anyone can help you, it's her."

"No way." Dee walked around, shaking her head. "That therapy shit isn't me. I work things out myself, Leece."

"Everyone needs help sometimes."  
"Not that kind of help." Dee pushed her hair behind her ears. "I need more of that caramelized banana cake out there but not therapy."

Lisa laughed.
CHAPTER TEN

"Come here, you." Winston grabbed Dee as they entered her living room. "I'm still hungry." He sucked her neck, the bulge from his crotch brushing her thigh. "But, not for food." He lifted her dress, gripping her buttocks. "How about some real dessert, huh?"

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." She pushed his hands from her ass.

He swung his arms back and forth. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Besides flirting with Lisa all night?" She hunched a shoulder, snatching off her earring. "Nope."

"Not this again." He sat on the arm of the sofa, slouching. "Do we have to go through this every time we hang out with Jake and Lisa?"  
"You tell me. When you get around her, you act like no one else is in the room."

"Why are you so insecure about Lisa?"

"You don't give me reason not to be." She threw her earrings on the table. "I saw how you were looking at her."

"It's all in your head." He walked by the floor plant and stopped next to the lavender, floral wall art. "I love you, Deidra. You're the only woman for me or else I wouldn't be here."

"But you wanted Lisa." She crossed her arms. "It hasn't been that long ago."

"That's over now, woman." He smacked his palm. "Jesus, this makes no sense. Are you jealous of her?"

"Please." She wiggled her neck. "Lisa's my best friend and I love her, but I can't ignore how it makes me feel when I see you two together sometimes. It's like those old feelings are still there."

"That's your problem, not ours." He sat on the couch, propping his leg on the opposite thigh. "You have no right to question me, anyway."

"Excuse me?"

"You're the one with your ex in your face every time you turn around. Yet, you act like it shouldn't bother me."

"You said you trusted me about Grayson."

"Do you trust me?" He jumped off the couch, seizing her. "I don't want Lisa. I love you, woman. Never question that."

She exhaled, tugging on the collar of his white shirt. "I'm sorry." She gave him a peck on the lips. "I'm scared of losing someone else."  
"Look at me." He caressed her cheeks. "I don't want Lisa or any other woman but you."

She kissed him, embracing the familiar ripples of his lips. "It scares me how much I need you."

"Don't be scared." He pressed his forehead against hers. "It's true love."

They locked lips, holding each other in a sturdy embrace.

"Mm." Dee melted as Winston pushed his sticky tongue inside her mouth, her shaking knees threatening her balance.

"Well," Winston spoke with his mouth hooked to hers. "Still have that effect on you, I see."

"Oh yeah." She kissed him, teasing that buildup in the base of her soul. "What are you gonna do about it?"

He moaned, swaying her with his eyes closed. "I can think of something."

"I like that." Just as Dee pulled him into another kiss, her cell rang from her purse. "Sorry, I got to get it."

Winston nodded, sighing.

Dee got the phone, shuddering when she saw Jonathan's name.

"Something wrong?" Winston got the TV remote and sat on the couch.

"No." Dee let loose a clumsy giggle and answered, "Hello?"

"Hello, Deidra." Jonathan's sultry voice brought the quiver back to her knees. "Am I interrupting you?"  
"Um." She glanced at Winston who flipped channels. "Hold on." She ran to the hallway and stood out of eavesdropping range. "What are you doing calling me?"

"You gave me your number, remember?"  
"You're only supposed to call me if it has something to do with the case." She peeked into the living room and Winston's attention remained on the TV.

"How can you tell this isn't about the case? Maybe you're hoping it's about something else."

"Stop it." She laid her hand flat against the peach flowers on the white wallpaper. "We're not doing this, Jonathan."

"I want to do all I can to help you find who killed Autumn. I want you to meet the women of The Circle."

"You mean I can question them?"

"Sure. How about you come by tomorrow? I've invited the WABC to a luncheon in the courtyard."

"Isn't that Women Against Breast Cancer?"

"Yes. They're one of many charities I work with. I'll be presenting them with one hundred thousand dollars during the event."

"That's wonderful." She touched the pearl pendant of her necklace.

"It wouldn't be right to have all this money and not share it with those who need it. I hate hearing of people sick. My father worked hard to create cures and discover new medicines. What I'm doing pales in comparison."

"That's commendable."

"Dee?" Winston called for her. "Are you almost done?"

"Just a minute," she shouted back. "I have to go, Jonathan."

"Are you with Winston?"

"That's none of your business. I haven't forgotten what you pulled the other night in your lab."

"You mean when you thought I'd kiss you?" He snickered. "You got the wrong idea."

"Yeah, right. Make sure I have no reason to get the wrong idea again. Are we clear?"

"Crystal. The luncheon will be tomorrow at noon. Are you coming?"

"Connie and I will be there."

"I look forward to it."

Dee pushed the button on her phone, ending the call.

"Dee?" Winston shouted.

"I'm coming. I'm coming."

****

"We can't thank you enough, Mr. Wild." ReNita Venable, leader of the WABC bit into the chicken and goat cheese roll the next day. "It's gracious contributors like you who make our organization a success."

Jonathan smiled, moving his fingers from his lips. "Just promise me my money will be of good use."

"In ways you can't imagine." The 65-year-old ReNita blushed, patting the curls of her graying red hair that framed her powerful jawline.

At her age, she put many of the younger women at the luncheon to shame, proving she set men's hearts on fire in her day.

But, even the charming, mature, beauty couldn't take Jonathan's mind off the gorgeous black cop who dipped in and out of the crowd, asking the guests questions.

"We'd love it if you'd attend," ReNita said.

"Huh?" Jonathan broke his gaze from Dee as Shauna reached from the chair next to him and tapped his hand.

"Are you all right?" Shauna studied him with her eyebrows raised.

"Yes." He straightened himself in the velvet chair behind the extended table. "I'm sorry. What were you saying, Mrs. Venable?"

"We're having a huge event in November the week before Thanksgiving." She sipped her mint and ginger splash. "The WABC would love it if you attended. Almost every charity in Baltimore will be there and we're confirming guests as early as possible."

"That sounds great." He smiled at her while sneaking his gaze toward Dee and Connie who spoke to yet another woman from The Circle. "Get with Shauna and she'll make the arrangements."

Shauna smiled, taking ReNita's hand from across the table. "It'll be our pleasure to attend."

"Great." ReNita set her glass on the silken placemat. "This is so lovely."

People gathered on the decorative courtyard, mingling and eating while Tran and the members from The Circle tended to anything they needed.

"Your place is amazing," ReNita said. "You have so much to occupy your time."

"Yet, I'm never busy enough," Jonathan said.

"Jonathan's always so hard on himself." Shauna curled her arm inside his. "He's always doing so much for everyone but it's never enough."

"I can always do more." He squinted as Dee received an orange drink from a Circle member. "I've been thinking about expanding my organization, Mrs. Venable. I'm having a home built in Wales and it's almost done. As you know my father was from there."

"I've always wanted to go to the UK." ReNita gasped, touching her chest. "I bet it's lovely."

"It is." Jonathan sighed, tapping the table. "I want to move there."

Shauna cut her eyes to him.

"Wales is a magical place full of castles, old buildings, and valleys. My father used to take me all the time when I was a kid. I loved it and doubt I belong here anymore."

"You don't mean that." ReNita smiled. "Look at all the good you've done here." She set her napkin on the table. "Excuse me. I forgot I was supposed to return a phone call but didn't wanna be rude."

"Go ahead," Jonathan instructed.

ReNita smiled and left the table.

"What is it?" Shauna dug her fingernails into Jonathan's hand. "Something's on your mind." She sipped her drink, the flowing sleeve of her white dress sweeping the table. "The old bat's gone so you can level with me."

He moved his hand from underneath hers.

"Hm." She crossed her legs. "Would that officer be the reason you're so distant? Why would you invite her here?"

"Because it could help with the case."

"Why do you care?" She stroked her hair. "Autumn didn't care enough about you to join The Circle. She wasn't a part of us."

"She's dead, Shauna." He glared at her. "You didn't like her but at least pretend you care."

She stretched out her long fingernails. "What I don't like is how you've been obsessing over that nosy cop since she first came here. You're not thinking, Jonathan." She watched Dee the same way he did. "She can't be trusted."

He moved away from her. "What are you talking about?"

"You want her to become a part of The Circle, don't you?"

"Maybe. What business is that of yours?"

"I'm the Head Mistress, the one who cares about you above all else." She grabbed his arm, forcing his attention on her. "I was the first one who joined The Circle, remember? I've been loyal even when others came and went. Even when others double-crossed and betrayed you."

"And?"

"And." She closed her eyes, exhaling. "I'm looking out for you. Deidra Quarter is dangerous."  
"Dangerous?" He pushed away his plate of pork kebabs and pineapple rice. "How so?"

"You're already hooked. I'm telling you, Jonathan." She pointed at the guests. "Dee Quarter will ruin everything you've worked for. You can't let her get too close."

Dee said something to Connie and left the courtyard.

"How about you worry about yourself, Shauna?" Jonathan rose from the chair. "And, I'll handle Deidra Quarter."

She scoffed, grabbing her glass. "Her handling you will be more like it."  
He scowled as he exited the table.
CHAPTER ELEVEN

Jonathan's artificial waterfall stood at around four or five feet, mounted by thick, stone rocks and surrounded by small shrubs and unkempt trees for a natural appearance.

The steady, powerful stream cascaded into a manmade pond, flowers and plants growing around it.

Dee stuck her hand underneath the cool water and it soothed her from the afternoon heat. She dabbed some on her face and as she walked back, slipped on a rock.

"Shit." She caught herself before falling in the pond, landing in an awkward squat.

"Are you okay?" Jonathan bolted from behind thick greenery and leapt onto the rocks, grabbing her hand. "Did you hurt yourself?"

"No." She cursed herself, more embarrassed than anything else. "I'm fine."

"You gotta be careful." He helped her onto the grass. "The rocks get very slippery. I'll take care of that." He tightened his grip on her hand. "The last thing I need is a lawsuit."  
She faked a smile, wincing.

"You're not embarrassed are you?" He lifted her chin. "I can't tell you how many times Tran and I have fallen in the damn thing."

She laughed.

"Anyway, being embarrassed only makes you more beautiful." His gentle breath caressed her face. "If that were possible."

She realized he still held her hand. "Let go please."

He released her fingers. "Your hands are so soft. Are they naturally like that or do you use something—"

"What's your problem?" She sat on the railing that separated the waterfall and pond from the lawn. "Why can't you respect that I have a job to do and it's serious?"  
"I respect your job but I'm a forward person." He rubbed his knuckles. "And, I don't apologize for it."

"What is this?" She crossed her legs, touching her knee. "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"Funny." He bit his lip. "I thought it was the other way around."

"In your dreams." She shook her head, chuckling.

"Are you enjoying yourself? Did you like the food?"

"I didn't come here to have fun."

He sat beside her, smirking. "Did you find out anything to help your case?"

"Your women were of no help." Her nose twitched. "Why am I not surprised?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like you'd let them say anything that would point a finger to any of you."

"I didn't coach them if that's what you mean."

"It's too much of a coincidence that Prisha disappears and Autumn is murdered." She gripped the railing on both sides of her. "My instinct's telling me something's there."

"I have to say your instinct is wrong if it's telling you I killed anyone. I've spent years studying life so why would I wanna take someone's away?"

Dee wiggled her foot. "I'd like to know more about you."

"Hm." He leaned forward, clasping his hands. "What do you want to know?"

"About your father."

"My father?" He rubbed his thigh. "You could Google him in a second and find decades of information on him and his work."  
"Yes, he was a brilliant scientist who invented a variety of herbal medicines but how was your relationship?"

"I loved my father. He was all I had my entire life." He widened his legs. "My mother died when I was six of bone cancer. She didn't believe in modern medicine. If she couldn't cure something with herbal alternatives or by prayer, then she figured it wasn't meant to be cured."

"So she refused to take medicine when she was sick?"

He swallowed, eyes turning red. "It would've brought her more time but it was her decision."  
"I bet that was hard for your father." Dee switched her posture. "All wrapped up in his work then having to take care of a young son alone."

"We had family from Wales that came to help but my dad loved challenges. That's why he was so brilliant. He never let anything get the best of him."

"He was eighteen when he moved to America, wasn't he?"  
"Yes, he loved the UK, but it wasn't growing in technology and medicine the way America was. There wasn't a day he didn't miss Wales though."

Dee smiled.

"I loved it when we'd go to visit. I'm having a home built there."

"You're moving there?"  
"Maybe." His brow furrowed. "At first I wanted the home for a vacation spot but living there would be amazing."

"I was born and raised in Baltimore and I love it." She lifted her fist. "Go Ravens."

He grinned. "Not so sure about that one."

"You're not a Ravens' fan?" She wiggled her butt on the railing. "Them's fighting words."

"Sports isn't my thing." He pulled on his sleeve. "I'm a nerd."

"I wouldn't describe you as that."

"Your uh..." He chewed his bottom lip. "Mother died when you were young too, right?"

"Once and for all, how do you know all this about me?"  
"Let's just say someone at your precinct told me some things about you."

"Someone at my job's been feeding you information? Who?"

"If I told you it would defeat the purpose."  
"I can't believe a cop I work with has been sneaking behind my back and telling you my business."

He lifted his finger. "I didn't say it was a cop." Lines sprouted from around his eyes as he smiled.

"Unbelievable." She let out a harsh breath.

"Learned more interesting things. You dated Grayson Paul. Got involved with him while investigating him for murder. That's comforting."

"Why?"

He stroked his chin. "Means I might have a chance with you."

"Enough of this."

He grabbed her hand as she stood. "In my lab, I tried to kiss you." He rose, strengthening his grasp. "And, I won't say I'm sorry because I'm not."

"You want me to arrest you?" She pulled her hand from his. "Is that what it's gonna take for you to get the hint? I want nothing from you unless it's about Autumn's murder."

"I've never felt this way before, Deidra." He raised his hands, moving his fingers as if he struggled not to touch her. "Usually I have an undeniable effect on women but with you it's the opposite. I have this intense need to make things better for you. Give you peace and happiness."

"You want me to have peace, Jonathan?" She sniffled, nose irritated from the variety of flowers. "Let me do my job and stop playing this game."

"It's not a game. Something powerful is happening with us and we're helpless to stop it."  
Connie came through the path and halted, glaring at Dee. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No." Jonathan smiled. "Detective Wilks, I didn't tell you how lovely you look today. That pink blouse brings out your pretty green eyes."  
She half-smiled, switching her focus to Dee. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I was talking to Jonathan about Autumn's murder."

Connie nodded, approaching. "Did you find out anything?"

"I was telling the insistent detective yet again, that I didn't have more to offer concerning Autumn. Sorry if no one here gave you any answers."

"Dee, we'd better get back to the station."  
Jonathan whispered to Dee as he passed, "Come back tonight at seven for dinner with me and the ladies." He kissed Connie's hand. "Goodbye, Detectives." He disappeared in the garden.

"What?" Dee combed her fingers through her hair. "Why are you looking at me like that, Connie?"

"What's going on with you and Jonathan?"

"I was questioning him."

"He was all over you and you didn't seem to mind it."

"Get out my face with this shit, Connie."

"Listen." Connie grabbed Dee's arm as she tried to leave. "We might not be best friends but you're my partner and I'm worried. You're letting him get to you, Dee."

"That's insane." She cackled. "If it weren't for the case, I wouldn't be talking to him at all. Autumn's murder is the only thing we should be worried about. What you're seeing is all in your head."

"Are you attracted to him?" Connie's pointy nose wiggled. "Are you?"

"No." Dee gritted her teeth. "It's offensive you'd even ask that. I could never be interested in a man like Jonathan. I love Winston, remember?"

Connie sneered, walking away. "Do you?"
CHAPTER TWELVE

That night, Tran stepped aside while Dee entered Jonathan's dining room.

The crafted, hardwood furniture brought stuffiness to the space but the bright green walls eased Dee's apprehension.

"Please sit down." Tran held out the wooden, Valencia chair with the embroidered back.

Fixtures of antique brass and metal accents presented bursts of warmth and charm throughout the space.

Dee sat, her butt sinking into the smooth, leather cushion.

"Jonathan should be out in a few minutes and you'll eat once he arrives."

"Okay." Dee's senses perked up at the aroma of fine wood and Pine Sol. "What are we having?"

"Maple glazed duck breast, crispy potatoes and mushroom salad courtesy of Jonathan's garden."

"That sounds delicious." Dee got a cloth napkin off the table and laid it over her lap. "I like duck but don't get to eat it often."

"That's good." Tran smiled. "Jonathan had this meal prepared for you."

"He did?"  
"Yes." Tran bowed as the women of The Circle flowed in one by one and stood behind the chairs with stiff backs. "Have a good meal, Detective Quarter." Tran left.

The women remained motionless with their hands to their sides, their flowing dresses, the only sign of movement.

"Don't you guys ever get bored with wearing white?" Dee snickered, but the women didn't respond. "Excuse me?" She tapped the hand of the short, voluptuous blonde woman beside her who she remembered was Rena. "Why aren't you all sitting?"

"We don't sit until Jonathan enters," Rena said.

"Uh-huh. That's another rule?"

"Yes, Detective," Ana said from the other end of the table. "Bad things happen if we break the rules."

Dee stuck out her neck. "Like what?"  
"It's a secret," Emma said from beside Ana. "We can't share unless you're a part of The Circle."

"I'm a cop so I'm concerned." Dee clasped her hands in her lap. "I need to make sure you're all safe."

"We're fine," the Asian woman who'd brought the fruit to the garden spoke. "We welcome any punishment to keep us in line."

"This is insane," Dee whispered.

Shauna swayed inside, the train of her dress dragging the floor.

"Good evening, Mistress," the women said in unison, bowing as Shauna stood by the second seat at the head of the table.

"Ladies." She peered at Dee. "Detective Quarter, what do you think of our dining area?"

The women stayed stiff, staring ahead of them.

"It's one of the most beautiful rooms I've ever seen."

"And, been in I bet." Shauna flipped her black crinkles off her shoulder. "I doubt you're used to the finer things in life."

Bitch.

"Since I'm the guest here, I'll hold my tongue on that one."

"Make no mistake, Detective Quarter." Shauna's brows snapped together as she scowled. "I'm not letting you destroy our community."

"Jonathan invited me."

"But, why did you come?" Shauna touched the back of her chair. "If not interested in him."

"Look woman, the only thing I'm interested in is knowing who killed Autumn and yes, you guys aren't in the clear yet. I'm here for business."

"Jonathan's taken with you." Her expression hardened. "For some unknown reason."

"Is that the issue here, Shauna? Do I threaten you?"

"I am and will always be Head Mistress of this community. I'm not threatened by you or anyone."

"Is that why your nose is turning red? Why do I get under your skin so much?"

"I'm warning you, Detective. I'm watching you."

"I'm doing the same, Shauna."

Jonathan walked in, chest out and shoulders back. "Deidra."

The women bowed at him.

Shauna's face twisted.

"I'm so happy you took my invitation."

"Thanks for inviting me," Dee said. "Though I'm not sure everyone welcomes me."

"Shauna." Jonathan kissed her cheek, and she smirked as if she'd proved a point. "You promised you'd be nice to our guest."

"I have been." She clenched her teeth. "Believe me."

Emma and Ana held Jonathan and Shauna's chairs as they sat.

Jonathan lifted his napkin. "Be seated, ladies."  
They sat in their chairs, dignified.

"That expression on your face..." Jonathan smiled at Dee. "Something shocking to you?"

"Is this for real?" She laughed. "Are you fucking with me?"

"We don't put on shows for anyone." Shauna took Jonathan's hand. "What you see is what you get."

"Do you have an issue with what you see, Deidra?" Jonathan asked.

"Hell, I gotta be blunt because I'm not one to hold back my opinion but this doesn't sit well with me at all." She gestured to the women. "You treat them like slaves."

"Slaves?" Shauna raised her chin. "We live in the lap of luxury without having to lift a finger for what we need. We're submissive to Jonathan because that's the way of life we believe in."

"No one forces these women to be here," Jonathan said. "Right, ladies?"

"Right, Jonathan," they answered.

"I'm not the submissive type," Dee said.

"All women are submissive to a point," Jonathan said. "Don't you ever do things for Winston? And do you enjoy doing those things? That's submission."

"Women cannot control being submissive," Asia, the black woman with the long braids, said. "We have a genetic desire to be dominated. We believe in the spiritual and natural structure of nature. Being a part of The Circle means we can be what we're meant to be without feeling ashamed as we would in the outside world."

"That's bullshit." Dee scratched her nose. "It's in our genes to be submissive? Where did you get that crap?"

"You don't understand because you're not spiritual," Shauna said.

"You don't know what I am."

"Once again it's a waste to explain our ways." Shauna rolled her eyes. "You've been tainted by the outside world. You can't see this for what it is unless you're stripped of all the narrow-minded thoughts that hold you back."  
"Let's forget this conversation."

"Why, Deidra?" Jonathan rubbed his fingers together. "A sore subject?"  
"Because I'll never see it the way you all do. Shauna's right. You will never make me believe women are supposed to be submissive because of our genes or whatever. You can't base how someone acts on genetics."

"That's coming from a cop?" Shauna snickered. "Don't you base criminals actions on genetics?"

"That's different—"

"Is it?" Shauna bobbed her head.

Dee sighed. "Can we eat please?"

Jonathan instructed the women to get the food.

Four of them left and came back with the duck, sides, and drinks.

One woman sliced into the steamy, golden duck breast covered in golden maple glaze.

"That looks delicious," Jonathan said.

The woman placed thick slices on a plate and set it in front of Jonathan.

"No, serve Deidra first. She's our guest."

Shauna exhaled as the woman presented the plate to Dee.

Dee sniffed the sweet maple and spices as another woman served her mushroom salad and potatoes.

"Please." Jonathan leaned forward. "What do you think?"  
Dee took a bite of the juicy breast, the skin melting in her mouth. "Mm."

Jonathan smirked. "I'm glad you like it." He sat back. "I'd been rather disappointed if you hadn't."

"Who made this?" Dee mixed the savory mushrooms with the glaze. "They need their own Food Network Show. I'm telling you."

"That would be Emma." Shauna's nose rose.

"You made this, Emma?" Dee pointed her fork to the plate.

The blonde smiled, her slanted brown eyes narrowing. "Yes, Ma'am."

Dee chewed. "Did you go to school to learn to cook like this?"

"No, I just love cooking and picked it up on my own." She fidgeted, giggling. "I cook all the meals. It's the highlight of my day."  
"As you spend more time here, you'll see that each woman has a special set of talents." Jonathan tasted his meal as the women served everyone else. "Well done, Emma. The duck is perfect."

She blushed, the air from the vent blowing her blonde ringlets.

"Everyone show Emma your appreciation," Jonathan said.

The women clapped.

Shauna bit into the duck and puckered her lips. "It's a little salty."

Everyone looked at her.

Emma went from smiling to her mouth dragging on the table.

"I don't think it's salty at all." Dee smiled at Emma. "People go to school to learn to cook this good."

"I agree." Jonathan's eyes penetrated Dee. "It's not salty in the least."

Dee chuckled, sipping rosemary citrus spritzer. "Good Emma got the duck right, huh, Jonathan? I hear she'd been punished if not."

He cleared his throat as he chewed. "Enough about us. You're the guest. Ladies, anything you wanna ask Detective Quarter?"

"Do you like being a cop?" Shauna asked.

Dee could tell she meant it as a dig. "I love it. It gives me a purpose in life."

"A purpose that revolves around guns and violence?" Shauna wriggled her shoulders as she chewed. "It's such a brutal career."

"Who would keep people safe if not for cops?"

"It makes you happy?" Ana asked.

"Yes."

"What attracts you to it most?" Rena asked. "Having a brotherhood and place to belong?"

"Guess you can say that."

"But, do you belong there?" Jonathan asked. "Or is it a smokescreen? If not, why are you so empty?"

"Who says I'm empty?"

"Your eyes do." He pointed to Dee. "Look at our eyes. None of us are empty and we haven't been since we found each other."

"You don't have to be empty or alone." Rena smiled at Dee. "The police department doesn't have to be your only family."

Dee swallowed mushrooms. "I don't need to join some cult for a purpose."

"This isn't a cult," Emma said. "It's a family."

"A family that assures you'll never be alone, Deidra." Jonathan watched her with glassy eyes. "Isn't that your biggest fear?"

"This was a mistake." She scooted from the table. "I shouldn't have come here."

"Hold on." Jonathan clapped at the women. "Get the cups."

A woman nodded and left the room.

"The cups?" Dee asked.

"It's something we do during dinner." Jonathan's mouth curved into a mysterious smile. "An entertaining ritual."

Dee twitched, huffing. "I don't understand."

The woman returned with a tray of upside down cups and stood by the table.

"Every woman gets a cup turned upside down," Shauna said. "And if there is a seed glued inside her cup, she's the woman who gets to spend the night with Jonathan." She kissed him. "Besides me. I get to spend every night with him."

Dee gaped as the woman placed cups by everyone except Shauna and Jonathan.

"I have no idea who gets the seed," Jonathan said. "It's strictly by chance."

The woman set one by Dee's plate.

"You got to be crazy to think I'm taking part in this madness." She batted her eyes. "I'm not a member of The Circle, remember?"

"You're our guest," Jonathan said. "We wanted to include you."  
"I'm not doing this." Dee shoved the cup toward Rena who looked inside it.

"It's the seed." Rena showed the seed glued to the bottom of the cup.

Shauna exhaled, her mouth twisting.

"Well, well, well," Jonathan said. "Look who got the seed."

Dee stood, grabbing her purse from the floor.

Jonathan rose from his chair. "Deidra?"

She rushed out the door.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"I missed you last night." Winston held Dee from behind, munching the back of her neck in the police station lounge the next morning.

"Stop." She giggled as she got a soda from the machine. "We can't do this here."

He grabbed her breast as she turned around. "I'm not doing nothing."

"We can't be kissing and stuff like this here." She squirmed, checking the doorway. "We gotta be professional."

"How can I be professional when you're so goddamn beautiful?" He kissed the tip of her nose, the hair on his chin tickling.

A group of detectives entered the lounge and headed to the icebox.

"Chill, okay?" Dee patted Winston's hard chest, which did nothing to stop the sensation between her legs. "We'll pick up where we left off after work."

He did a lazy nod. "So, where did you go last night? I called and you never answered."

"Umm. I was out." She opened the soda, watching officers leave the lounge. "Had something personal to take care of."

"Is something wrong?"

"No, no." She sipped the tingling drink. "It was about Dad. Eh, funeral home stuff."

"How come you didn't call me back?"

"Sorry, I was tired when I got in." She chuckled. "You keeping tabs on me now?"

"No." He turned, watching as she walked to the table. "Just curious that's all."

"I told you where I was." She sipped with her hand propped on her waist. "You don't have to be curious anymore."  
"It's just that you tell me everything." He sauntered toward her, hands locked. "I wanna make sure everything is okay."

"Everything's fine."

Connie walked in, fixing her gun in her holster. "Morning."  
"Morning, Connie." Winston smiled, semi-waving.

"Dee."

"Connie." Dee gestured with her can. "Ready to start the day? Let's find out what happened to Miss Autumn."

"Can I speak to you first?" Connie tilted her head in Winston's direction. "In private?"  
"Whoa." Winston took steps back, eyebrows raised. "I can take a hint. Though that wasn't much of one."

Dee smiled as he left. "What's up, Connie?"

"I don't want you getting the wrong idea about how I came to you yesterday at Jonathan's."

"I didn't appreciate it." Dee rocked. "You were accusing me of—"

"I wasn't accusing you I was looking out for you. That's what partners do."

"Connie." Dee touched her shoulder. "I don't need a bodyguard where Jonathan is concerned. He's not getting to me."

"The way you were looking at him—"

"Girl, what are you talking about?"

"Level with me. Not as cops but as women. Are you attracted to Jonathan at all?"

"I have the best man in the world. Why would I fuck with that?"

"Because sometimes a woman can get sucked into something, even if she knows it's wrong." The light vanished from Connie's eyes.

"You speak from experience?"

"Keep what I'm about to say between us."

Dee laughed. "The Queen of Gossip wants me to keep her secrets?"

Connie glared at her.

"All right."

Connie moved closer as officers meandered in and out the lounge. "I know how it feels to be caught in something before you realize it."

Dee crossed her arms, exhaling.

"Long story short, I met a man that shook up my whole world from the moment we met. Only problem was, I was married."

"You were married?"

"Eight years ago for about two years." Connie lifted her head, the light returning to her eyes. "I loved my husband Percy more than anything, and he made me so happy."

"What happened?"  
"Another man happened." Connie scratched her neck underneath her hair. "Even though I loved Percy and swore I'd never hurt him, I couldn't stop my feelings for Abel."

"Abel?"

"A man I met during an investigation when I worked at the other precinct. I'd just become detective and on my first case. The relationship started just like you and Jonathan."

"There is no me and Jonathan—"

"That's what I said about Abel." Connie dragged her finger across the tabletop. "I kept telling him and myself nothing would ever happen, but I had this desire to be near him. That craving outweighed my love for Percy and before long, Abel and I were having an affair."

"That won't happen to me—"

"It can happen to anyone." Connie winced. "Look at Lisa and Winston. She loves Jake more than anything but Winston still tempted her. Winston and Lisa never acted on those feelings but it's the same thing."

"I love Winston."

"And, I loved Percy and Lisa loves Jake but it didn't stop either of us from being attracted to other men. I'm trying to save you, Dee. This kind of thing hits you before you realize it." Connie stepped back, squinting. "I hope it's not too late."

Dee's cell phone rang.

She got it from her pocket and checked the number but didn't recognize it. "Hello?"

"Detective Quarter, it's Nelda North."

"Nelda."

Connie jumped at attention.

"What can I do for you?" Dee asked.

"I got a call from Suzanne, the woman who lives next door to Autumn's place. She says Grayson Paul was just there, and he looked suspicious."

"Why would Grayson be at Autumn's?" Dee asked Nelda.

Connie lunged forward. "What?"

"I don't know," Nelda said. "But, I have a funny feeling about it."

****

An hour later, Dee and Connie returned to the station after questioning Grayson. While Connie rested at her desk, Dee found Winston in the lounge.

"Hey." He smacked on a spoonful of melted butter pecan ice cream. "How's my ebony queen?"

"That looks good." Dee leaned on the table to kiss him but he rewarded her with a helping of ice cream instead. "Hm. I needed something pleasurable right now."

"What happened with Grayson?"

She sat across from him at the table. "He denied being at Autumn's place despite the neighbor saying he was there." She sighed, rubbing her cheek. "He lawyered up. Not the actions of an innocent man."

"Innocent people lawyer up all the time." Winston chewed, stirring ice cream. "What? Surely you don't think he killed Autumn."

"He was a suspect in his ex-wife's murder, remember? The case I solved."

"And, he was innocent."

"Never thought I'd hear you taking up for Grayson."

"I'm surprised you'd throw him down the river so fast. You dated this man."

"He's changed, Winston." She blinked. "He's always had a temper, but it's gotten worse since we broke up."

"That doesn't mean he killed anyone."

"Why are you defending him?"

"Because, it makes me wonder if you'd support me when the going gets tough."

"How can you say that?" Her shoulders sagged. "I support you in every damn thing you do."

"Jonathan might've done it. That would make more sense. No telling what they do in that cult. As much as I can't stand Grayson, he's not a killer." He chuckled. "He just writes about them."

"Then why was he snooping around Autumn's place?" She scratched around the stud in her ear. "Why did he hide how upset he was when she dumped him? Why did he lawyer up? It makes little sense, Winston."

"How about we give this conversation a rest? Given anymore thought to seeing a therapist? Dr. Guzman—"

"Stop." She grabbed his hand. "I need you, not therapy."

He sucked ice cream from the spoon, reminding her how his lips could make her orgasm with just a kiss.

"How about we go out Friday night?" she asked. "On me. Let me treat my man."

"I love the sound of that." He reached over and kissed her. "I love you, Dee."  
She put her arms around his shoulders, not caring who saw them.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Friday night, Dee sped into Nelda's driveway and parked behind the marked police car.

The male officer briefed Dee as soon as she got to Nelda's living room.

Nelda sobbed on the beige and green striped couch. "Oh, Detective Quarter." She held an ice pack to her swollen jaw.

"Are you all right?" Dee knelt in front of her, grabbing her hand. "I couldn't believe what I'd heard. How could Grayson do something like this?"

"You look very nice." Nelda sniffled, alluding to Dee's knit, black dress and gold stilettos.

"I was on my way to a date but that doesn't matter. What happened?"

"She says Grayson Paul pushed his way through the door." The skinny, white officer pointed toward the door with his notepad. "Threatened her and hit her."

Dee closed her eyes. "Are you sure, Nelda?"

"I'm sure." She lowered the ice pack, her purple jaw so swollen it made her face lopsided. "I was screaming for him to get out my home and he smacked me. He was so wild and crazy."

"Why was he even here?"

"He was upset that I'd told you about Suzanne seeing him at Autumn's place. He tried to choke me, but I fought him off."

Dee covered her mouth. "This can't be happening."

"My neighbor, Odina will vouch for me," Nelda said. "She knows what Grayson did."

Dee closed her eyes, fighting tears.

"Are you all right, Detective?" the cop asked.

"No, I'm not all right." She exhaled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. Are you pressing charges, Nelda?"

"Yes." She raised her shaking hand. "He's gonna kill me, Detective Quarter."

Dee stood, straightening her dress. "Go get Grayson and take him to the station."

"Yes, Ma'am." The officer left.

"Do you need any medical treatment?" Dee asked Nelda.

"No, I'll be okay. What's wrong with Grayson?"

Dee's phone rang.

She got it out, sighing when she saw Winston's name. "Hey," she answered.

"What's up? You said you were picking me up at seven-thirty and it's five minutes after eight. You're never late."

"I'm sorry, baby." She walked to the window with the turquoise curtains. "I can't make it."

"What? We've been looking forward to this."

"It's Grayson—"

"Grayson?" he snapped. "Fuckin' Grayson?"

"You don't understand—"

"I understand. We'll never be rid of his ass will we?"

"This is about the case he..."

Click.

"Wait." She looked at the phone. "How dare he hang up on me?"

****

"Where's Lisa?" Dee barged into Jake's front door later that night. "I need to speak to Lisa."

"Calm down." Jake rolled across the living room rug. "What's going on?"

"My life is a mess." Dee plopped on the couch and hugged a pillow. "I'm losing it, and I need my best friend. Where the hell is she?"

"She's having a group session with Dr. Guzman for domestic violence survivors." Jake parked his wheelchair beside the couch and shook his hair out his face. "What's wrong?"

"What's not wrong?" She threw the pillow aside. "I was supposed to go out on the town with Winston tonight and relieve some of this stress but to hell with that." She broke down. "How could he do something like this, Jake?"

"What did Winston's do?" He joined her on the couch.

"Not him, Grayson." She sniffled. "I arrested him tonight."

"For Autumn Stuart's murder?"

"No, for attacking her property manager." She grabbed a tissue out the box off the coffee table. "He barged into her place, threatened her, and hit her."

He grimaced. "That doesn't sound like Grayson at all."

"He acted like a lunatic at the station." She wiped her eyes. "He was cursing at me and talking crazy and his lawyer wasn't any help. Grayson swore he didn't do it, but Nelda says it happened and has the bruise to prove it."

He patted her back. "No, I can't believe Grayson would attack a woman."

"He changed after we broke up, Jake." She struggled to see through tears. "I blame myself because after he lost me he felt he lost everything."

"That's not your fault."

"It is. Everything went south after I broke it off. Even his career isn't what it once was. Now Winston is pissed at me too. He didn't even give me a chance to explain why I had to cancel our date."

"You've been going through a lot with your father and everything. The last thing you need is worrying about Grayson."  
"I wish I could get a break." She exhaled. "Just one break so I can breathe. Every time I turn around there's something."

"Lisa told me she suggested you go to Dr. Guzman." He raised a blond eyebrow. "Not such a bad idea."  
"You too?" She groaned. "Why does everyone want me to go to fuckin' therapy?"

"Because it can help." He nodded. "Speaking from someone who benefited a lot from it. After I had the car accident, talking to a professional was the only thing that helped me. It helped me come to terms with being an alcoholic and understanding the emptiness. I wouldn't be here if not for therapy. Couldn't live with the guilt of driving that car into that tree and taking away what meant the most."

"Katherine?"  
"Because I couldn't stop drinking, I lost my fiancée forever. That was my fault, Dee. Even now I don't know if I forgive myself."

"I don't want therapy, Jake."

"No one wants therapy." He smiled. "But most of us need it."

****

Sitting on her living room floor with her legs Indian-style, Dee's body relaxed as random thoughts filled her mind.

On his website, Jonathan proclaimed that mindfulness meditation relieved stress the best and within ten minutes, Dee understood why.

Though she drifted into memories of her Dad and Lydia during childhood, she didn't become upset and with each passing moment, the boulder of stress became lighter.

"Mm." She moaned, enjoying happy memories of her and Winston.

Someone knocked on the door, awakening her from the serene escape.

"Goodness."

"Dee?" Winston shouted, knocking. "Are you still up?"

Dee hurried and answered the front door.

"Hey." Winston lifted his head, giving her those bedroom eyes.

She pulled the sweat pants out her crack. "What the hell do you want?"

"You don't make it easy, do you?" He walked in with his hands in his pockets. "I came to apologize."

She closed the door and leaned against it. "Is that so?"

"Connie told me you arrested Grayson for hitting Nelda North." He extended a hand. "That's why you canceled our date. What the hell's going on, Dee?"

"He attacked her, and I arrested him." She waltzed into the living room, pulling at her snug tank top. "No more and no less."

"Gotta be more to the story." Winston held his flat hips.

"Want more?" She huffed, tired of him second-guessing her. "Grayson damn near attacked me at the station tonight. He was all in my face, cursing like a moron. When I looked into his eyes, I didn't even recognize him."

He moved his hands, holding a distressed expression. "I'm sick of talking about Grayson."

"Me too." She studied his handsome face.

"I'm sorry for hanging up on you."

"You better be." She sat on the pillows on the floor. "I didn't deserve that."

"You're right. What's with the pillows?"  
"I was meditating." She scratched her head, her messy bun wiggling.

"Since when do you meditate?" A line appeared between his brows.

"I've been so stressed I had to find peace somewhere."

He sat in front of her, Indian-style. "Was it helping?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "My body opened, and I channeled every thought that came to mind no matter how afraid I was of it."

"I'm glad you're taking steps to make things better." He rubbed her thigh. "I still wish you'd try therapy."

She sighed. "All right, I won't rule it out, but I'm telling you therapy won't do anything for me."

"What would do something for you?" His glossy lips formed a sensual smirk. "Maybe this?" He leaned forward on his palms and gave her a kiss that made her toes quake.

"You gonna relieve my stress, big boy?" She got on her knees, grabbed his collar and pulled him closer. "You'll have to do more than that."

"That's cool." With his mouth open, Winston delivered rough, carnal smacks to her lips. "I'm up for the challenge."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Holding her hands to the rocking bed, Jonathan pumped Emma hard, his girth expanding inside her.

"Ah." She released a tiny gasp as Jonathan's sweat dripped on her pink nipples.

"Um." He raised her leg, jamming his cock deeper.

The women stood quiet around the dimly lit room, their eyes locked on the master bed.

"Ooh, make me come." Jonathan rolled his pelvis against Emma's damp crevice. "Make me."

Emma moaned, her pink body dotted with redness and her blonde hair spread over the pillow.

Jonathan thrust, easing the tightness in his member. "Now, damn it." He pressed her hands into the lavender sheets. "I'm coming. Oh!" He arched his back, roaring with his arms spread.

"Oh." Emma trembled, screeching as wetness escaped her soft folds, dampening him.

Jonathan rolled off her, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.

Emma glanced at him with her fat nipples still erect, her mouth begging for a kiss she shouldn't have expected. "How was I, Jonathan? Did I please you?"

He sat against the headboard with his legs wide, stroking his exhausted dick. "Could've used more movement in your hips."

"Forgive me." She rose on her elbows, her breath blowing her hair from her face. "We can do it again. I want to please you."

"Not tonight." He curled his arm under his head, resting on the pillow. "Go."

"Are you sure?" She touched his six-pack.

"He said he's done." Shauna stood from the upholstered chair in the corner. "Go. All of you."  
The women bowed and left the room.

Shauna tossed Emma her nightgown as she got off the bed.

"Goodnight, Mistress." She slunk to the door, head low. "Goodnight, Jonathan." She left.

"She's horrible." Shauna crawled into the bed and between Jonathan's thighs. "Like a dead fish." She kissed his sweaty belly button. "Must be pure torture being inside her."

"Be nice." He played with her hair, smiling. "Not every woman is as gifted as you in the sheets."

"I am, aren't I?" She licked the patch of hair over his crotch. "Why waste your time with girls when you have a woman?"

"There's something I wanna show you." Jonathan went to the closet and got the box from the top shelf.

"What is it?" Shauna propped on one elbow, her hair hiding one shoulder.

"You're so sexy." He laid the box on the bed but remained standing.

"Why don't you show me how sexy I am?" She pointed to the box, licking out her tongue. "Is that for me?"

"No, but you'll appreciate it, anyway." He opened the box and took out a tiny bottle of liquid.

"What is this?"

"It's power." He handed her the bottle. "In that bottle is control."

"What are you talking about, Jonathan?"

"That's the drug I've been working on for the last four years. Got it in from the lab in Columbia this morning. I call it, 'Jonathan's Web'."

Shauna gaped, staring at the bottle.

"You can't smell it, see it, or taste it." He smirked. "I didn't think I'd figure out the right combination of herbs but I did. The base of the main ingredient are the flowers from the borrachero tree."

"The who?"

"It's a tree in South America made of hallucinogenic chemicals. You can inhale it, drink it, or eat it without even knowing. It can take your memory, your soul, even change the way you feel about someone."

"Is this for real?" Shauna panted. "This medicine is a mind-altering drug?"

"Not mind-altering, mind-changing." He kissed her hand. "Give enough and you can get anyone to believe what you want. Wipe away their memory and their emotions." He took the bottle. "Full control over them."

"And, it works?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Jonathan, this is amazing." Shauna cackled, clasping her hands. "What on earth are you gonna do with this?"

He smiled, daydreaming of Dee. "The possibilities are endless." He put it back in the box. "Remember, this is our secret."

"Don't worry." She lay back, winking. "I'm loyal to you to the end and beyond."

****

The next day, Dee and Connie arrived at the chaotic scene in Nelda's front yard after getting another call concerning Grayson.

"Get off me!" Grayson tussled as two male officers pulled him from the house. "My lawyer's gonna make sure you pay for this."

"What the hell?" Connie sighed.

"Jesus." Dee yanked off her seatbelt and jumped out the car. "Grayson!" She stomped toward him, waving fists. "What the hell is your problem? You just made bail this morning, and this is what you do?"

"This fucked up police department is my problem." He pushed one officer to the grass. "I'm not going anywhere until that bitch in there takes back her lies."

Dee waved off the male officers. "I'll handle this. Grayson, you have no business being here."

He whipped his head from her direction and focused on Connie.

"Grayson, what's going on?" Connie asked.

He huffed and puffed, sweating. "I came to get answers." He pointed to the front door. "I wanted to know why she lied on me because you two don't care."

Dee inhaled. "Grayson—"

"I want him gone." Nelda came out, holding a bat. "Get him off my property!"

"Ma'am." The uniform officers ran toward her.

"Put the bat down," the blond cop with the pimply forehead said. "Now." He snatched the bat.

"You know what you did," Nelda shouted at Grayson, the cops holding her back. "You hit me, you coward."

"I didn't do shit to you." Grayson lunged at her, Dee and Connie blocking him. "I never laid a hand on you. This is the first time I've met your ass."

Nelda hopped while the officers held on to her. "You hit me and killed Autumn."

"Stop it both of you," Dee shouted. "Grayson—"

"She's lying, Dee." He grabbed her. "I wouldn't hit a woman and I sure as hell wouldn't kill anyone."

"Your actions make it hard to believe you."

"I still love you." He let her go, panting. "I wouldn't hurt anyone no matter how angry I get."

"I'm tired of you singing that song then you do stuff like this," Dee said. "I don't know what the hell to believe but your ass shouldn't have been here in the first place. Arrest him."

"Arrest me?" Grayson turned left and right as the officers charged him. "Wait, a minute!"

They both grabbed him by the arms.

"I'm innocent!"

"Calm down," one officer warned as they dragged Grayson to the police car on the street.

"Dee, you're making a mistake!" He dug his heels into the grass as the officers got him to the car. "No!"

Dee turned, tearing up from the sight.

"This is wrong, Dee," Grayson yelled through the back window. "Nelda's lying!"

The officers drove off with Grayson screaming.

"Are you okay?" Connie asked.

"No." Dee rubbed her temples. "The last thing I am is okay."

****

Winston tapped on the bars of Grayson's secluded jail cell an hour later.

Grayson jumped from the thin padding on the bed, yellow jumpsuit twisted at the waist. "What the hell is this?" His hair stood up , and he had lint in his goatee. "I'm definitely in hell. Got a visit from the devil himself."

"Drop the attitude." Winston leaned against the chipped bars, doing his best to block out the urine stench. "You must like it here." He grinned. "You keep coming back."

"Fuck you." A line of spit fell from Grayson's bottom lip. "And, fuck Deidra too."

"Well, fucking Dee is something you'll never do again." Winston smiled. "That's why you're so mad."

"As if being thrown in this shitty cell isn't enough of a reason to be pissed? Don't pretend you care about me."

"I don't. I care about Dee."

Grayson's eyelids lifted under his fuzzy eyebrows.

"This is killing her, Grayson. She didn't wanna arrest you."  
"For someone who doesn't wanna do it she sure is good at it." He paced in white socks and black flip-flops. "Why are you here?"

"I believe you."

Grayson squinted. "Why?"

"You're an asshole and a pain in my dick but you're not a killer." Winston shrugged. "Wanna tell your side of the story? I'm listening."

"I never heard of Nelda until she told Dee that Autumn's neighbor claimed I was snooping around the house. That wasn't true. And, today is the first time I laid eyes on Nelda." He ran his hands through his hair from the back to the front. "I don't know what the hell's going on."

"Someone should look closer at Nelda then."

"Who? Dee's eating every lie she tells so she won't do it."

"I'll do it."

Grayson gaped. "You serious?"

"The homicide I'm working on has stalled, so I got time. Won't take much effort to check into Ms. Nelda North and learn a little more about her."

"You mean it?" Grayson rushed toward him and grabbed the bars. "Thank you. I'd appreciate this."

"Just remember..." Winston stepped away from the bars, grimacing. "You owe me."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Two Days Later

After sneaking Dee through the backyard of Jonathan's compound, Rena took her in the garden behind the massive, two-floor shed.

"Thanks so much for coming, Detective." Rena's dress clung to her large breasts, flowing from the waist down. "I used my approved phone call to contact you."

"I'm glad you did." Dee observed the vinyl shutters of the gable window.

"Sorry I had to sneak you in, but I didn't want Jonathan to know and I can't leave the compound."

Dee got out her pad and pencil. "What did you have to tell me about Autumn?"

"Autumn was in danger." Rena swallowed, her full lips glistening from pink gloss. "Least, she thought she was."

"Why would she think she was in danger?"

"She didn't say, but I think someone was after her. She didn't want to go into details because she didn't want to endanger anyone else."

Dee nodded, writing what she'd said. "When I spoke to you before, I got the feeling you were closer to Autumn than the others were."

"We were very close." The brown freckles spread apart on Rena's cheeks when she smiled. "Like sisters. We told each other everything."

"If you care so much, why didn't you tell me this before?"

Rena sighed, her chest heaving. "Because Jonathan told me not to."

"He did, did he?" Dee rushed from behind the shed.

"Detective Quarter?" Rena chased her. "Where are you going?"

"To see Jonathan."

Rena pulled on Dee's arm. "You can't."

"The hell I can't." She snatched from Rena. "I'm gonna find out what the hell Jonathan's hiding if it kills me."

****

"I don't care if Jonathan's busy." Dee stormed toward Jonathan's office with Tran on her heels. "This is police business and if you interfere in my investigation I'll arrest you."

Tran stopped in the middle of the hall. "But..."

Shauna came from around the corner as Dee reached Jonathan's office. "What are you doing here?"

"I didn't come to see you that's for sure." Dee reached for the door but Shauna blocked her. "You really don't wanna do that, Shauna."

"I'm doing it." She held her waist. "I don't remember Jonathan saying he was expecting you."  
"That's because he's not and this is official police business. So move."

"I don't think so, Detective." Shauna grabbed Dee's arm and Dee whipped around, twisting Shauna's arm behind her back. "Ah! My arm. Let go!"

"Don't you ever touch me, okay?" Dee bent Shauna's wrist.

"You're hurting me!"

Dee let her go.

Shauna fell to the floor, holding her arm. "That's police brutality."  
"You grabbed me first." Dee wagged her finger at her. "That's assault on a police officer."  
"Ooh." Shauna whimpered. "Jonathan!"

He burst out the door. "What's going on out here?" He glanced at Dee and then Shauna. "What are you doing on the floor?"

"She twisted my arm." She reached for Jonathan and he helped her up. "She almost broke it."

"Oh, please," Dee said. "If I'd wanted to break it, I would've."

"She's crazy." Shauna took sharp breaths. "It really hurts, Jonathan."  
"It's not broken." He looked it over. "Go to the infirmary and let Neumann look at it."

Shauna whined, "It really hurts."

"Go let him check it out." Jonathan kissed her cheek. "You'll be all right."

Shauna muttered as she went on her way.

"Who's Neumann?" Dee asked.

"He's our doctor. What are you doing here?" He held a lopsided grin. "Not that you need an excuse."

"I wouldn't be smiling if I were you. This isn't a personal call."

"No?" He moaned, sticking out his lips. "I'm disappointed."

"I need to talk to you concerning Autumn's case." She pointed to his office. "May I come in?"

"Sure."

Dee entered the room, overtaken by the bright red walls and vivacious prints on the sofa and chairs. "This is beautiful." She did a quick turn to check out the place.

In the mist of all the brightness sat a large, wooden desk engraved with sophisticated carvings.

"You have to give me the number for your decorator." Dee joked, sitting in the cushioned, blue chair across from his desk. "You love color."

"Color equals excitement." He sat at the desk, his gaze searching her face. "But, nothing brightens this room up more than you."

She observed the shelves of books and medical journals behind him.

"You're a botanist. Why all these herbal medicine books? Interested in it because of your father?"

"Maybe." He swept his hand over his buzz cut. "We only use herbal and natural medicines here so these books are essential for treating different ailments."

Dee bobbed her head, scoping out the portrait of a swan on a lake.

"I got that from my last trip in Wales." He leaned back in the chair, pointing to it. "I didn't tell you, but I'm building another home there. It's much bigger than this one."

"Bigger than this one?" She grinned. "What's it look like, Buckingham Palace?"

He cocked his head, staring at her. "Maybe I'll show you one day."

"Sure, show me a picture." She rolled her eyes.

"I mean in person." His eyes narrowed. "Would you like that, Deidra?"

"Is it true that you told Rena not to tell me about Autumn being afraid of someone?"

The arrogance drained from his face. "Yes."

"And, you think it was a good move to lie to me?"

"I didn't lie."

"You told me you didn't know any reason someone would kill Autumn." Dee held the arm rests of the chair. "Rena told me she was scared and maybe someone was after her."

"Rena came to me, and I didn't want her involved. She didn't know for sure what Autumn meant and I wanted to protect Rena."

"I could arrest you for meddling in this investigation like that."

His skin glistened under the subdued, yellow lightning. "But, you won't arrest me. Though, I must confess I'm hiding something and it has nothing to do with Autumn's murder." He snickered, rocking his head. "I have a crush on someone. You think she knows it?"

"Tell Shauna if she touches me again, she'll be missing her arm next time."

"Wait." Jonathan rushed from his chair and grabbed her as she rose. "I'd love to see more of your moves myself."

Scoffing, she started for the door. "I gotta go."

"How you been feeling lately? Still stressed?"

"I'm trying something new." She dropped her head, back still to him. "I've been meditating."

"Meditating, huh?"  
She felt his grin.

"What made you do that? Let me guess. Would it have been me?"

She turned around. "You didn't invent meditation, Jonathan."

"Were you doing it before you met me?" He gravitated to her. "What did you think of dinner with us?"

"Interesting to say the least."

"You think that was something, you should see how The Circle really gets down." A muscle twitched in his jaw. "Our parties definitely keep you up at night."

"I'm sure." She turned to leave.

"Asia is turning twenty-five tomorrow and we're having a birthday celebration for her."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"I want you to come."

She turned up her nose. "Are you serious?"

He moved closer, sniffing her. "Yes."

"Why would I come to this party?"

"Because no matter how you fight it, you're interested in us. Something draws you here. You can't deny it."

"You're so full of yourself." She laughed. "Nothing here impresses me or interests me. I keep coming here because of the investigation. That's all."

"If you say so." He pressed his palms together. "At the party you can talk to the guests. Might be a good way for you to find out something."

"As if I believe you want me there just for that."  
"You have to admit though..." He leaned into her, pressing his hand in the curve of her back. "Spending time with me is quite the distraction."

She pushed him away and left.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The next night, Dee tried to keep her mind on Autumn's murder but the charms of The Circle swept her up at every turn. In between questioning guests who had nothing new to offer, her thoughts drifted to how being at the compound freed her mind unlike nothing else.

The group comforted her and being with them erased the stress and pain and that scared her because she knew deep down...it was the ultimate manipulation.

As the guests gathered around Asia in the garden, the bubbly black woman reveled in the attention everyone gave her.

"Okay!" Asia stood on a chair as the seventy guests surrounded her. "I've had a lovely, lovely birthday! Jonathan, thanks so much for this amazing party."

He smiled, glancing at Dee from the corners of his eyes.

"Every moment here is like Heaven," Asia said. "I've been a part of The Circle for seven years and don't regret a single moment."

Her sisters in white emerged from the crowd, sipping mango soda and eating cake.

"I love you all so much." Asia's smile glistened under the lights. "Let's finish the night with a game."

The guests cheered.

"Let's play Tie a Red Ribbon." Asia hopped.

"Oh." Dee dipped her head, chuckling. "I've played this."

"Really?" Jonathan brushed his arm against hers. "It's one of my favorite party games."

"With my career I don't go to many parties."

"That's unfortunate." His face tightened, and he hooked his hands behind his back. "I'm glad you could get out tonight."

People paired up and dispersed throughout the huge garden searching for ribbons.

"Looks like we're partners," Jonathan said.

"Guess so." A lump caught in Dee's throat.

"We'd better get started so we can catch up." He took her hand, pulling her through the flowers. "One thing I hate is losing."

"Jonathan." Her hand moved against his smooth palm. "Wait."

"Yes?" He touched the hedge beside him.

"I should explain things because I don't want you getting the wrong idea."

"Deidra, why so serious?" He touched her cheek, being the first man since Winston to make the nerves between her legs ache. "It's a party, remember? You don't have to explain anything just have fun."

"That's the problem." The flimsy material of her low-cut, green and white floral dress blew in the breeze.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you are tonight?"

"What's wrong with me?"

The guests' laughter and conversations carried in the night air.

"Why am I here?" Dee patted the back of her updo. "I feel so guilty."

"Why?" he whispered. "You've done nothing wrong."

"This is wrong, Jonathan." Her heart pounded. "I'm with someone."

"All we've done is have conversations." He nodded, shrugging. "Yes, we've flirted—"

"We?"

"Come on, Deidra."

A couple ran past with their hands full of ribbons.

"You might not have been as obvious as me," Jonathan continued. "But, you've flirted."

"It's not like that." She closed her eyes. "You're twisting this."

"Then why do you keep coming back and don't say because of the case. Be honest with yourself."

"Being here makes me feel good. It's like an escape." She shook her head, huffing. "It's like I belong here and I hate it."

"Maybe you do belong here, Deidra."

"No." She walked past him, stopping next to a bush of tiny red flowers. "Connie's right. You're sucking me in."  
"You wanna be sucked in." He whirled around. "It's not me that's the issue. I have no control over your feelings."

"Seems like you do. I keep coming here. I can't help myself." She scratched her naked shoulder. "Lately, it hasn't ended there." She plucked a flower and twirled it between her fingers. "I think about you."

"You do?"

"Nothing vulgar but I do."

"I think about you too, Deidra." He stroked her arms. "I desire you like I haven't any other woman in my entire life."

She stared into his eyes faced with undeniable sincerity.

"You've lived your whole life ignoring what you wanted. You've always put everyone else before your own happiness. Now here, you've found peace and someone who cares about you very much."

"You don't even know me."

He slipped his fingers between hers. "You're a woman unlike anyone I've ever known, but I respect you." He let her hand go. "I don't want to interfere in your life if you don't want me there."

She sensed manipulation in his words but what worried her was that she didn't care.

"There's something about you, Jonathan." A fired ignited within her as if she fed off his desire for her. "You are a dangerous man."

"Why is that?"

"Because you could change me."

"I don't wanna change you, Deidra." He caressed her cheek, pulling her lips toward his. "I like you the way you are."

"Hey!" Asia ran up, laughing with stacks of red ribbons.

Dee pushed Jonathan away, his vibrant scent swirling in the mild breeze.

"Have you guys been here the whole time?" Asia flicked her braids over her shoulder. "I'm sure the ribbons are all gone now."

"Sorry." Jonathan touched Dee's hair. "We got sidetracked."

"I gotta go," Dee said. "Happy Birthday, Asia."

"Not yet." Jonathan's gentle touch occupied her wrist. "The night's not over, Deidra."

"It has to be, Jonathan. Please, I can't do this."

"But, you can't leave until Asia's gotten her gift." He smiled. "A gift all the women get on their birthdays."

****

After Jonathan dismissed the party guests, the women took Dee upstairs to a hardwood bedroom with gold walls and matching color scheme.

Candles sat on small platforms in each corner, omitting a seductive vanilla scent.

"What is this?" Butterflies bounced in Dee's stomach.

"This is Asia's room," Emma said as the women gathered around the queen-size, canopy bed shielded by a white, lace curtain.

Dee turned to leave, but the women blocked the door.

"Please." Another woman took her hand. "Don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid."

The woman turned Dee back around. "You're curious like we all were the first time."

"The first time...what?"

"The first time we all realized we belonged here," the Asian woman said. "Nothing wrong with your feelings, Deidra. You belong here too."  
"No." She tried to turn again, but the women formed a gate around her. She could've moved them if she wanted but didn't try.

The bookshelf slid from the wall, exposing a secret doorway.

Shauna walked out. "Ladies."

"Mistress." They bowed.

"Detective Quarter." Shauna's face twisted. "You seem at home here now."

"What's going on? Why are we in Asia's room?"

"She's about to get her birthday present." Shauna straightened the golden pillows and lowered the bedspread.

"I've had it with these games. Tell me what's going on."

"What's the matter?" Shauna glided toward Dee. "You could've left if you wanted to. Why did you stay?"

Dee's lips grew heavy.

"You're curious." Shauna smiled. "That's how it starts."

"Go to hell." Dee shoved the women out her way and grabbed the doorknob as Jonathan and Asia walked in from the secret doorway, holding hands. "Jonathan, what is this?"

"It's Asia's birthday present, Deidra." He wore a long silk black robe with maroon and gold running through it. "We're honored to share it with you."

Asia approached the bed in a white, satin and chiffon robe, the color gorgeous against her cocoa-brown skin.

"Isn't she beautiful, ladies?" Jonathan asked.

"Yes." They stood stiff as statues.

"Do a little turn for them, Asia," Jonathan said.

She did a flirty turn and posed with her leg exposed.

"You're such a sensual woman." Jonathan grabbed her by her braids, giving her a ravenous kiss.

Dee glanced at the women who stared at the sexual display as if they were at a museum.

"Mm." Jonathan pulled his lips from Asia's mouth. "Are you ready for your gift?"

"Yes, Jonathan."

"Then take off your clothes."

Dee gaped, her mind urging her to leave but her legs remaining still.

Asia slid her robe off, wearing nothing but lace, white panties.

"Jesus," Dee whispered.

Ana let out tiny pants beside Dee as if she were aroused.

"Get on the bed," Jonathan ordered Asia.

She nodded, sliding on the bed.

"Are you ready for your gift?" He untied his robe. "Say you're ready."

Asia lay on the pillows, her medium-sized breasts spilling to the sides. "I'm ready, Jonathan."

"Good girl." Jonathan took off his robe and flung it to the floor.

A rippling sensation roared through Dee's clit.

Jonathan took majestic steps toward the bed, showing off shiny, wide pecs and toned arms and abs. He took off the black pants, gracing the ladies with his tight, muscular ass. "Happy Birthday, Asia." He climbed into the bed, planted gentle kisses on Asia's dark thighs and then removed her panties.

She wiggled, getting into the perfect position.

The women moved in closer as Jonathan's head settled between Asia's legs.

As his head gyrated, Asia moaned and grabbed at the sheet.

Dee clenched her thighs together, her cunt seeping beyond control.

"Oh." Asia rolled her hips as Jonathan's head moved faster. "Ooh..." She squealed, grabbing his head. "Mm. Ah."

Dee glanced to her right to see Shauna watching her with a sneaky smirk.

Asia rose on her elbows, scratching at the sheets while Jonathan continued his mission.

Shauna made her way toward Dee and whispered, "You wish that were you, don't you?"

Asia moaned and panted.

"You don't have to answer that," Shauna said.

"It is true, isn't it, Deidra?" Emma whispered. "You want to be a part of us."

Ana caressed Dee's hand. "This is where you belong."

"You belong with us, Deidra," another woman said. "Don't fight it."

"Don't fight it," the other women repeated.

"Yes!" Asia gyrated as if she were having a seizure. "Yes, Jonathan. Ooh!" She shivered, obviously climaxing.

Jonathan lifted his head, his glistening lips smirking when he looked at Dee.

"Join us, Deidra," Emma said. "This is your home now."

"No! Stay away from me." Dee pushed the women and barged out the door. "Stay away!"
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"See?" Shauna walked toward the bed with her arms crossed after Dee left. "You're wasting your time, Jonathan."

"Am I?" He lay beside Asia, massaging her breast.

"Yes." Shauna looked at the other women. "Detective Quarter will never succumb. She'll never believe in our mission." She walked around, stepping on the ends of her dress. "What do you see in her anyway?"

"She belongs with us." He sucked Asia's fingertip and she giggled. "Deidra's mine now."

"It won't happen."  
"She stayed, didn't she?" He propped up his knee. "And, her face told me she enjoyed what she saw. I wasn't the only one who realized that am I, ladies?"  
"No, Jonathan," they answered, Asia included.

"Tell me." He gestured to the women. "Do you get the same feeling from her I do?"  
"Yes," Emma said. "From the moment I met her I felt she belonged here."

Shauna wobbled her head. "I never got that revelation."

"She doesn't believe in us now," Jonathan addressed Shauna. "But, she will. All she needs is to be tamed like all of you were."

Rena smiled.

"She's a cop," Shauna said. "You can't trust her. She thinks you killed Autumn, remember?"

"No, she doesn't." Jonathan climbed on top of Asia, sniffing her sweet skin. "You think she'd keep coming back if she thought I killed Autumn?" He sucked Asia's nipple, snapping it with his teeth.

"Ow." She winced, laughing.

"Trust me, Shauna." He lowered his head, bathing Asia with kisses until he got to her damp mound again. "Once Deidra gets a sample of the life I can provide she'll leave everything behind." He bit Asia's thigh, forcing a tremble. "Including Winston Lewis."

****

Four nights later, Winston awoke from his sleep to his cell phone vibrating on Dee's end table beside the bed.

Dee moaned, turning away from him in her sleep.

Winston jiggled his arm from underneath her head, got his phone and checked the ID.

Grayson Paul

Winston groaned as he eased out the bed and tiptoed into the hall in boxer shorts and no shirt. "Grayson?" He closed the bedroom door. "What the hell do you want?"

"I haven't heard from you so wanted to see if you found out anything about Nelda yet."

"No, man." Winston yawned, the hall light burning his eyes. "I was sleep."

"Sorry, but I've been going crazy and you haven't contacted me."

"That's because there's nothing to tell. I checked out her history and nothing stuck out of the ordinary. She's been a property manager for ten years and I researched some of her past tenants and they had nothing but good things to say about her."

"Maybe she has mental issues?"

"I checked up on that too." Winston shook his head, scratching his stomach. "No history of her being in any institutions or anything. No arrests for any reason either."

"This makes no sense." Grayson exhaled. "She looks all Goody Two Shoes on the outside but is setting me up. You think she killed Autumn?"

"If so nothing's pointing to her yet."

"I'm afraid she'll pull something else and I'm sick of going to jail. Please, please keep your eye on her, Winston."

Winston nodded, half asleep. "I will."

****

After pacing in front of Dr. Guzman's door for twenty minutes, Dee decided she should've never come and scampered past the empty receptionist's desk.

"Dee?" Guzman walked from her office. "Well, isn't this a surprise?"  
"Shit." Dee turned around with a plastered smile. "Hi, there."

The wrinkles around Guzman's nose and mouth lifted as she smiled. "How are you?"

"Uh, I'm okay." Dee rocked, feeling like an idiot. "See you."  
"Hold on." Guzman clacked up to her in gray heels that matched the flowers in her white skirt. "Are you okay? Lisa told me about your father. I'm very sorry."

Dee nodded, sucking her lip.

"What's going on?" Guzman's pupils spread.

"Nothing." Dee chuckled, stomach turning. "Why would you think something's going on?"

"Dee." Guzman gave her that look parents give children when they've caught them doing something wrong. "You wouldn't be here if you didn't have a reason."

"Lisa and Winston have this crazy idea I should come see you. No offense, but I don't need a shrink."

"Then why are you here?"

Dee's jaws filled with air. "I don't know."

Guzman grinned. "Maybe your subconscious wanted you to come."  
"Ah." Dee snickered, waving her finger. "You shrinks are good." She put her hands in the pockets of her khaki pants. "Already playing the mind games and I ain't been talking to you even ten minutes."

"I don't play mind games, Dee, and I don't put ideas into people's heads. Seems like you have a warped idea of what therapists do."

"Dr. Guzman, I think you're terrific. You've done wonders for Lisa but I'm not Lisa." Dee tapped her foot. "This therapy thing isn't me."

She reminded Dee of a British school mom with her graying ball in a tight bun. "If I had a dime for every time one of my patients said that I'd be rich."

"I shouldn't have come here." Dee exhaled. "I gotta go."

"Wait now. Come on." Guzman touched Dee's arm. "Are you in a hurry?"

"Well, I'm on my lunch break and gotta get back to the station in about thirty minutes." She checked her watch. "And, you know how lunchtime Baltimore traffic is."

"My next appointment doesn't arrive until an hour and a half so we can talk if you want."

Dee sucked her tongue. "That's okay."

"We won't call this a session or anything. It'll be off the record." Guzman smiled. "Call it a test run. See if this might be something that could help you."  
Dee avoided eye contact.

"Dee, there's nothing to be ashamed of for needing a little help. Let's go into my office." Guzman walked in, holding the door open for Dee.

Dee slumped into the office.

Guzman approached her desk beside the wall, everything stacked neat on top of it. "Sit down, please."

Dee meandered to the polyester, burgundy couch and sat in the middle of it, holding her breath.

Guzman got a large notepad and pencil from her desk.

"Oh god." Dee's stomach flip-flopped. "Here you go with the pad. I thought this wasn't a session."

"This is for me, not you." Guzman slipped on her square glasses. "Relax, Dee."

"I feel like I'm about to be executed."  
"No." Guzman frowned as she sat on the other couch across from Dee. "We should work on those negative thoughts you have about therapy." She crossed her legs and fixed her skirt.

"So?" Dee rubbed her hands. "What do I do?"

"Just talk."

"About what?"

"Anything you want to talk about. I'm here to listen to you."

"I'm empty."

Guzman pushed her glasses up and jotted. "In what way?"

Dee's brow sweated. "I'm not into—"

"Talking to people about your problems?"

"I'm always the one people go to for advice and things."

"Most times people who are always listening to others never listen to themselves."

The muscles clenched in Dee's face. "You're not the first person to tell me that."

Guzman wrote, chuckling.

"I shouldn't be feeling this way because my career is going well and I'm in a great relationship. I should be happier than anyone."

"But, you aren't?"

"Something's just missing." Dee held back tears. "And, I feel so guilty for thinking that."

"You shouldn't feel guilty for your emotions. Just because things are going well, it doesn't mean it stops pain or longing."

"But, what could I be longing for? I have everything."

"Maybe what you long for is emotional and not physical or material."

Dee sat back, squinting.

"Were you this way before your Dad passed?"

"Yes, it started when Lisa left the department."

Guzman nodded, scribbling. "You ever had this empty feeling before?"  
"Yeah." She cleared her throat. "When my mom passed, I remember having it. She died when I was fourteen."

"That's a time when a child needs her mother the most." Guzman looked at her through her lashes. "Any other times you've been empty?"  
Dee moved her mouth from side to side. "Yeah, when relationships would end or friends moved away. Stuff like that."

"The common thread seems to be whenever someone leaves you. Do you see the pattern?"  
Dee pinched the tip of her nose, exhaling. "Since you mention it."

"Are you afraid to be alone, Dee?"

"Isn't everyone?"

"Do you think you have an unnatural fear of it? Do you imagine life without anyone you care for? Let me put out a scenario." Guzman waved the pencil. "What if everyone in your inner circle disappeared, and you never saw them again? What would happen to you?"

"I'd be alone. I wouldn't have anyone."

"You wouldn't have those people, sure. But, there will always be someone there, Dee."

"What do you mean?"

"We're going to lose people we care about. That's life. But, just because certain people disappear, it doesn't mean we are ever alone. As long as you're alive on this big earth, you won't be alone. There will always be someone to love you and for you to love. Does that make sense?"

"Damn." Dee rubbed her hair. "I never looked at it that way."

"You have an irrational fear of being alone like many people do. I'd like to dig further into this."

"I can't right now." Dee stood. "Gotta get back."

"How about you think on this arrangement and see if it will help you?" Guzman took off her glasses. "I'm already seeing underground issues that would help if you work through them."

Dee nodded on her way out the door. "I'll think about it."
CHAPTER NINETEEN

"Ms. North?" Winston caught her outside her front door as she locked up to leave.

She stepped off the porch. "May I help you?"  
"I'm Detective Winston Lewis, homicide. May I speak to you for a moment?"

"I was just heading out." She pointed toward her car with her keys. "Is this about Autumn?"

"Yes." He squinted from the sunlight. "It'll only take a few minutes."

"Isn't this Detective Wilks and Quarter's case?" She gave him a once-over.

"I'm helping out." He smiled. "Can we talk?"  
She sighed, sliding her purse from her shoulder. "I only have a minute." She sat on the green loveseat.

"I'd like to ask questions about LJ Witt."

"LJ?" Her forehead puckered.

"He lived at Autumn's before she moved in." Winston pulled his pants up at the thighs and sat. "He was thirty-two, black, worked at the hardware store—"

"Yeah, he was a tenant." She frowned. "What are you asking about him for?"

"What happened to him?"

"Um, he left."

Winston got out his notepad. "Do you know where he went because from what I've seen he disappeared off the face of the earth."

"He went back home to Illinois is what he told me." She scratched the side of her head. "Why are you asking about LJ?"

"Where in Illinois?"

"I don't know which city, but I think his mother was sick or something."

"That would've been a year ago?"

She swallowed loud. "Yes."

Winston wrote on his pad. "Can you tell me anything about his mother or his relatives?"

"No." She grimaced. "We weren't friends or anything. I had nothing to do with him except getting the rent."

"Is there anything else you can tell me—"

"I'm sorry, Detective." She jumped up. "I gotta go. Is there a reason you're asking about LJ? Does it have something to do with Autumn's murder?"

"His name came up during research, and we have to check any angle, that's all."

Nelda pushed her curls underneath her tam. "I know nothing about LJ besides what I told you."  
"I'll let you go then." Winston stood, smiling. "Have a nice day."

****

"Nelda claims LJ went home to Illinois or something." Winston opened a can of grape soda in his living room that night. "She seemed kinda tense."

Grayson sat on Winston's plaid couch, studying the picture of the light-skinned, buff black man with his hair in small twists. "Weird how someone just disappears."

"I spoke to the manager of the hardware store where LJ worked." Winston gulped soda and let out a loud breath. "He said he didn't know what happened to him but he never came back."  
"It's not normal for someone to leave and not tell their boss."

"Well, the manager said LJ was kinda flakey and often would not show up for work without calling so he wasn't surprised he left telling no one." Winston sat beside Grayson and took the photo. "I'm gonna talk to Hart Carroll tomorrow."

"Who is that?"

"He owns the property where LJ and Autumn stayed. Owns tons of property on that side of Baltimore." Winston propped his foot on the coffee table. "Maybe he can give insight into what happened to LJ."

"Why does this even matter? You think LJ's disappearance is connected to Autumn's murder?"

Winston took a long sip. "Possibly."

The doorbell rang.

"I'm not expecting anyone." Winston left the living room, reached the front door and checked the peephole. "Oh, it's my baby." He opened the door and pulled Dee into a smothering kiss. "To what do I owe this fabulous surprise?"

"Why's Grayson's car outside?" She sashayed past Winston and into the living room, her tight indigo jeans hugging her delicious hips.

"Shit." Winston rushed behind her.

"What's this?" Dee pointed to Grayson. "What's going on here?"

"Let me explain," Winston said.

"Oh, I want to hear this." She wobbled her head, ponytail waving. "Why in the world is my ex-boyfriend in my current boyfriend's living room?"

"Why are you always so paranoid?" Winston sat on the couch. "There's no big conspiracy, and it's got nothing to do with you."  
"Then what does it have to do with?" She rolled her eyes, lips pursed.

"I've been helping Grayson." He got his soda and sipped it to avoid her tense glare.

"I'm confused as hell." She laid her purse on the table.

"I didn't attack Nelda or do any of the other shit she said," Grayson said. "You didn't believe me so Winston offered his help."

"Oh, he did, did he? Why are you sticking your nose in my case, Winston?"

"Because I hate to see an innocent man dragged through the coals. Come on, Dee. Grayson wouldn't kill anyone."

"Nor would I attack a woman."

"I don't wanna believe Grayson did those things," she said. "But, why would Nelda lie?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out," Winston said. "I found out about a tenant of hers named LJ Witt." He passed Dee the photo. "He lived in Autumn's place for three years prior to Autumn and a year ago, just left. Didn't return to his job or anything and Nelda says he went home to Illinois to be with his sick mother."

"So?"  
"Doesn't that seem odd to you?" Winston asked. "It seems like he disappeared. At least that's what his friends are saying."

"That is strange." Dee studied LJ's photo. "But, sometimes people have to leave quickly."

"But, to never call your friends or to tell your boss you won't return?" Grayson asked. "It makes little sense."

"What does this have to do with Autumn?" Dee tossed the photo on the table and sat by the entertainment system.

"Heard of Hart Carroll?" Winston asked.

She rubbed her forehead. "No."  
"He owns the property Autumn stayed in," Winston said. "I'm going to see him tomorrow and ask him about Autumn and LJ."

"The hell you will." Dee batted her eyes. "Connie and I will see him tomorrow. Stay out my case, Winston. I mean it. Let me handle this."

"Okay."  
Grayson's face lit up. "Thanks, Dee."

She stood. "Don't thank me yet."

****

The next day, Dee and Connie waited in the empty parking lot of a desolate, white building with tinted windows and chains across the doors.

Dee surveyed the 9000-square foot structure from her car window. "Didn't this used to be a strip mall back in the day?"

Connie looked at the sign where half the letters had fallen off. "Where is Carroll?" She checked the clock on the dashboard. "It's nine fifty, and he said he'd be here by nine."

A shiny, black Porsche Panamera turned into the lot, jamming 80's soft rock music.

"Man." Connie whistled. "Look at that car."

"That must be him."

The car came to a smooth stop and a lean man around 6'5 with sleek brown hair and long sideburns stepped out of it.

"He's huge," Connie whispered.

"Are you the detectives?" He wore a light-blue shirt with a red tie and suspenders.

"Yes, we are." Dee opened her door. "Hart Carroll?"

"Yes, Ma'am." He strutted toward them in cherry-brown, leather wingtips. "How are you?" He took his shades off when he approached, his eyes widening. "You've got to be the best-looking cops I've ever seen." He did a deep laugh that shook his small belly.

"Thanks." Dee introduced herself and then Connie. "We appreciate you taking time to talk to us."

"No problem, Pretty Lady." He hooked his shades on his pocket. "I hope you don't mind meeting me out here. I plan on purchasing this property and have a meeting with the current owner here in a few minutes."

"We won't take up much of your time," Connie said.

"Believe me, Cutie." He leaned into her, his ivory skin shimmering in the sunlight. "I wouldn't mind if you gals took all day." Another obnoxious laugh escaped him. "Woo, you're both something else."

Dee sighed, playing off her dislike for Carroll. "Let's get to Autumn Stuart."

He nodded with lips tight. "It's horrible what happened to her."

"We read the statement you gave to the other officer. You said you have no dealings at all with your tenants, Autumn included?"  
"None. Don't even know their names. Detective Quarter, I own tons of commercial properties and rental homes. I have many managers who handle that side of things for me so I'm never involved with the tenants."

"Why did you and LJ Witt have that big fight?" Connie cocked her head to the side.

Dee smirked at Connie's attempt to trick Carroll.

"I never had a fight with LJ." Carroll frowned, teeth showing. "Who the hell told you that?"

"So." Dee rocked on her heels. "You at least know some of your tenants' names, huh?"  
Carroll's eyebrows creased. "That was clever, Detective."

Connie smiled.

"LJ left without paying his rent so I'm familiar with him." He pulled at his collar. "I never had contact with him but Nelda says he was an okay person. Isn't this about Autumn?"

"What did Nelda tell you about why LJ left?" Connie asked.

"Hm." He slid his fingertips through his greasy hair. "Said he left to be with family."  
Dee nodded. "Some people say he disappeared."

He let out a nervous chuckle. "What does LJ have to do with Autumn when he was a tenant before she even moved in? I'm confused, Brown Sugar."

"Excuse me?" Dee did a double take. "Who you calling 'Brown Sugar'?"

He gaped, batting his eyes. "Sorry."

"You called us 'gals' before, and I should've checked your ass then." Dee exhaled. "Watch it, okay?"

"Okay."

"Put your shades back on, Mr. Carroll," Dee grumbled. "We're done here."  
"Are we?" He touched his top lip with his tongue. "Before you two head off would you like a snack? I could use a chocolate and vanilla swirl right about now." He winked at Connie. "Made with a scoop of you two and me in the middle." He cackled, putting on his shades. "Yeah, I'd like that very much."

Connie gasped. "How dare you?"

"Mr. Carroll, don't you ever talk to us like this again," Dee said. "You got that?"

He stopped smiling.  
Dee poked his chest. "When female detectives question you about a murder it's best not to be a sexist, horny pig."  
"I apologize." He straightened his tie.

"And, you wouldn't have a chance with either of us in your dreams so don't even go there," Connie said.

"Whatever you say, Blondie."

Connie scoffed, gripping her gun. "Did you call me 'Blondie'? Dee, we gotta get out of here. I'm about to lose it."

"Apologies again." That slimy smirk still on his lips. "When I see beautiful women I lose my manners."

"If we see you again," Connie said. "You'd better have found them."
CHAPTER TWENTY

"Hart Carroll?" Jonathan sat at the table in his lab, scribbling figures in a notebook. "Never heard of him."

"He owns the property Autumn lived in." Connie walked through the aisles of plants, peeking inside the plastic bins.

Jonathan turned his chair straight ahead, shooting a lustful gaze at Dee. "What does this have to do with Autumn's murder?"

"We spoke to her neighbor." Dee faked a cough, the scene of Jonathan pleasuring Asia flashing in her head. "She says LJ Witt, the man who lived in the house before Autumn and Carroll didn't get along. Yet, Carroll acted like he barely knew Witt." She moved from the door but kept her distance. "We wondered if Autumn mentioned anything to you about Witt or Carroll."

"Nope." He shook his head.

"We found out Carroll lied about not being in contact with LJ," Dee said. "Suzanne, Autumn's neighbor, said Witt and Carroll had a fist fight. Autumn told her."

Connie popped from behind the plants. "We have a strong feeling that Witt's disappearance and Autumn's murder is connected."

Jonathan clasped his hands, wearing a relaxed expression. "Is Carroll a suspect or something?"

Dee smiled.

"Ah, right. You can't tell me anything about the case. Am I still a suspect?"

She smiled again.

"That's unfortunate." He stood from the stool. "I was hoping you'd know me better than that."

"I don't know you at all."

"Sure you do."

Connie walked from the aisles, glaring.

Dee caught Connie's expression and cleared her throat. "Thanks for your cooperation, Jonathan. Ready, Connie?"

"Deidra?" Jonathan rushed after Dee, grabbing her arm.

Connie gaped.

"May I speak to you for a moment?"

"We have to go," Dee said.

"Just for a moment." He let her go. "Please wait outside, Detective Wilks."

Connie hesitated and then left.

"What the hell are you doing, Jonathan?" Dee pointed to the door. "The last thing I need is her more suspicious—"

With a deep growl, Jonathan smashed his mouth over hers. "Mm."

Dee clawed at his shirt, trying to push him away.

He shoved her to the wall and forced his hand up her blouse, caressing her breast through the bra.

Dee moaned as World War III broke out between her mind telling her to leave and her pussy begging her to stay.

Jonathan ran his hand across the back of her bra, pulling at the snaps.

Not sure of how far she'd let things go if he didn't stop, Dee pushed him as hard as she could but it didn't move him. "Jonathan. No." She grunted, thoughts of Winston forcing their way into her head.

Yet, Jonathan's kisses felt so damn good.

I can't do this to Winston.

I won't.

"Stop." She pushed Jonathan off, breathless.

He stood back, huffing and puffing and wearing her lipstick.

She wiped her mouth.

"When I was pleasuring Asia, you watched." His eyes darkened. "And, you liked it." His voice held an authoritative edge. "You wanted that to be you." He licked his mouth clean of her lipstick. "You want this." He turned, the imprint of his giant boner displayed in the center of his black slacks. "I want you in The Circle, Deidra."

She ran to the door, reaching for it.

Jonathan walked toward her as she closed the door in his face. "You belong here!"  
Dee collapsed on the wall when she got into the hall.

"It's too late, isn't it, Dee?" Connie sighed. "You going tell me again that you won't get hooked?"  
"Leave me alone, Connie." Dee pushed away from the wall. "You have no right to judge me."

"I've been here, remember? What you're going through."

Dee passed her. "I'm not you, Connie."

"Yes, you are." Connie caught up with her. "You're exactly like me."

****

"Ah, shit!" Winston grabbed Dee that night as they watched Final Destination III. "Man, how can you watch this gruesome stuff? Ugh."

Dee chewed popcorn, her mind still on Jonathan's advances.

"Oh." Winston wrapped his arm around Dee, crushing her.

"I can't breathe."

"Sorry." He slapped his hands over his eyes. "I can't take any more of this." He turned the channel. "How can you watch those over and over?"

"You see how you get all scared and grabby?" She snickered, chewing. "That's why."

"So, you like it when I grab you?" He took the bowl of popcorn and set it on the table. "I can do a lot more grabbing." He tried to kiss her and all she thought about was how she'd betrayed him in Jonathan's lab.

As soon as Winston's lips touched hers, she turned her head. "We need to talk."  
He stretched out his legs underneath her. "Sounds serious."

"It is." She slid off his lap and turned on the lamp next to the couch. "I've been hiding things from you."

His eyebrows rose.

"I love you very much."

"Dee." He laid his arm on the back of the sofa. "Did you cheat on me?"

"No." She slammed her eyes shut.

"Do you..." His voice cracked. "Do you want to cheat on me?"

"No." She leapt on him, grabbing his T-shirt. "I swear I don't want any man but you."

"Then what is it?"

"I've been going to Jonathan's compound."

"You mean besides for the case?"

"I'm sorry, Winston."

"Wait, a minute." He stood, leaning over her. "Explain this."

"I've seen Jonathan outside the investigation."

"You what?" His forehead crinkled. "Why?"

"I had dinner at the compound and then went to a birthday party for a woman in his group."

"Hold on." He stood straight, locking his hands behind his head. "Am I hearing this, right?"

"I'm sorry—"

"Just tell me why it's okay to do shit like that."

She stood. "Nothing happened, but I didn't want to hide it from you."

"You didn't tell me when it happened. Isn't that hiding it from me? What made you tell me tonight?"

She turned away from him, staring at the table.

"Dee." He grabbed her. "Did something happen?"

"I saw him today, and he kissed me. I told him to stop."

"How could you be so irresponsible? Not only is this about our relationship but this is a suspect in your case. Then again you seem to have a habit of fucking guys you investigate."

"That's way out of line. Grayson is the only man I got involved with during an investigation. Jonathan kissed me. I couldn't stop it."

"You could've by staying away from the bastard." He jumped in her face. "He has feelings for you doesn't he?" He blinked. "You knew this all this time, and you kept going over there? Sounds like you need an excuse to see him."

"It's not like that. Be fair. I was trying to find out if he killed Autumn."

"Bullshit." He threw up his arm. "You keep going over there because you like him, Dee."

"No." She shook him by the shirt. "I don't want Jonathan Wild. Winston, I'm confused, and this happened so fast. He's been manipulating me."

"Don't give me that." He sat on the table. "You wanted to see him, Dee. How could you do this?"

"Please, honey." She knelt in front of him, rubbing his jeans. "I love you so much. Don't be mad at me. I didn't wanna hide it from you. It was killing me."

"You're the one always demanding trust but you're going behind my back like this?"

"Winston."

He stood, pushing her away. "I gotta go." He got his keys off the table and left the living room.

"No." She ran behind him. "Winston, wait!"

"There's no damn reason for you to see Jonathan anymore." He turned from the front door. "Not after this. I don't care about the case."  
"Okay." She pressed her hands together, nodding. "Okay. I won't go back over there unless Connie—"

"I don't want you going back over there anymore period."

"He might be the killer and—"

"If he's the fuckin' killer why are you letting him kiss on you?" he screamed, his breath blowing her hair. "Does this make sense at all, Dee?"

She shook her head. "Believe me; none of it does."

"He's sucking you in." He opened the door, pressing against it.

"He's not sucking me into that cult. You crazy?"

"You're hiding things and lying." His face turned crimson. "Things you weren't doing before you met him."

"I need you, Winston." She hugged him, pushing her face into his chest. "Please."

He unhooked her arms from him. "Why do you keep going over there?"

"I won't anymore, I promise." She kissed his hand and laid it upon her cheek.

He pulled his hand away. "I'm so mad I can't see straight."

"Please don't leave like this.  
He walked out and slammed the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"Winston, sit your ass down." Lisa giggled, slipping on oven mitts. "I said you're not bothering me. Don't be silly."

He sat on the stool by the kitchen counter, nostrils perking up at the aroma of chocolate and caramel. "What are you making?"

"Chocolate caramel brownies." She got the tray out the oven and set it on the stove.

Winston hopped from the stool. "O.M.G."

Lisa laughed. "Not every day a grown man speaks in teenage girl text speech."

"Ooh. I'm definitely staying now."

"Wait until I cut into them." Lisa got the knife. "I love brownies when they're so hot they're falling apart."

"You too?" Winston salivated. "I used to toss my mom out the way like a linebacker and snatch the brownies before she got them out the oven."

They laughed.

Lisa cut the brownie into individual squares, caramel gushing out the center of each one.

"Look at that. Damn, Lisa."

She put one on a saucer and handed it to him with a fork. "Careful, it's steaming."

Winston sunk his fork into the gooey thickness and blew on it. "If this tastes half as good as it looks..." He tasted the treat. "Oh." He chewed, eyes going in the back of his head. "Lisa." His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, hindering his speech. "This is incredible."

"I can't understand a word you said." She laughed, getting her own piece. "I take it they're good."

"Fantastic." He licked chocolate crumbs off his teeth. "You've really taken to baking since you moved in with Jake."

They sat at the counter.

"Jake always said cooking made him feel alive, and I discovered baking does the same for me." She ate some of her brownie. "Damn, I put my foot in this, didn't I?" She laughed, licking the fork. "So, is there a reason you showed up unannounced?"  
"Sorry I didn't call first."

"I'm just joking." She patted his shoulder on the way to the refrigerator to get milk. "You and Dee are welcome any time. What's up?"

Winston struggled to swallow the chocolate and caramel, which had turned into concrete in his mouth. "Kinda awkward that I keep coming to you when I have issues with Dee since she's your best friend and—"

"Oh, jeez." Lisa poured milk into two Scooby Doo cups. "What did Miss Dee Dee do this time?"

Before he choked, Winston grabbed a cup of milk and drank. "Ah." He wiped his milk mustache. "She threw me off again."

"Okay, Dee made another misstep?" Lisa put the milk in the fridge and sat on the stool. "You gotta be patient with her. You're the first long-term relationship she's had in a long time. I don't even count Grayson since she wanted you when she was with him. What did she do?"

"Has she told you about Jonathan Wild?"

She sipped milk. "Hm-mm."

"Sounds like she's been talking about him a lot."

"She's confused concerning him."

Winston chewed the brownie. "He kissed her today."  
Lisa gaped, brows wrinkled. "For real?"

"She came clean about it and also said she'd been going over to his compound outside the investigation."

"Why would she do that?"  
"Seems like neither me nor her know why." He propped his elbow on the counter, stroking his curls. "I got so mad I couldn't see, Lisa. How could she do this to me?"

"Wait, she came clean. That counts for something. Besides, can we judge Dee on this considering what happened between you and me?"

"That's the past, Lisa."

"It's not that long ago." She crossed her legs at the ankles. "We had a deep attraction for each other, Winston. And, even though I loved Jake, you tempted me. I did everything in my power to ignore it."

He looked at his saucer. "We didn't act on it though. That's the important thing."

"But, we kissed and flirted." She exhaled, shivering as if she'd gotten a quick chill. "And, it could've gone farther."

"You love Jake."

"But, I wanted you, and I hated myself for that."

"You're a good woman, Lisa." He touched her hand. "I feel guilty for interfering in your relationship with Jake. Now I know why he hated me so much. It's scary to think of losing the woman you love to another man."

"Jake didn't lose me and you won't lose Dee because she loves you."

"What about the temptation though?" He stared into her enchanting, brown eyes. "There's something about wanting the forbidden that overtakes you. What if saying no to Jonathan is too much for Dee?"

"Not so." She waved finger hand left and right. "Dee loves you more than she's loved any man."

"I can't lose her." He finished the brownie and pushed the plate away. "I want to spend the rest of my life with Dee Quarter."

She smiled.

"What do I do?" He scratched his forehead. "I told Dee to stay away from Jonathan but get the feeling that wasn't enough."

"You got to do what Jake did and fight." Lisa ate more of her brownie. "Dee's biggest fear is being alone. She acts tough and talks tough but out of all of us she's the most vulnerable."

He nodded, sipping milk.

"Your love has to be so strong that you won't ever give up no matter what mistakes she makes. You've got to vow to be there, to keep coming back even if it's hard."

"Even if she hurts me?"

"Dee wouldn't hurt you on purpose. That thing with you and me, Jake fought for me and our love when he could've walked away. Who could've blamed him? He didn't deserve what I'd put him through."

"We never had an affair, Leece."

"We had a mental affair and sometimes that's worse than sex. Don't give up on Dee. You and Dee have the power not Jonathan."

"What if she has feelings for Jonathan?"

"She might." Lisa shrugged. "It doesn't mean she wants to be with him. I had feelings for you, but I didn't love you. I didn't want a relationship with you. No offense but it was desire, lust."

"Is that all it was?"

"I'm not trying to hurt your feelings."

"It's fine," he lied, stung by her admission.

"Put yourself in her shoes, Winston. It's probably killing her to have these feelings and thinking she's betrayed you. I've been there."

"What if she's fallen under his spell? He's a cult leader. He can twist her mind like no one could."

"Then you gotta make sure that doesn't happen."

"You're right." Winston made a fist and held it to his mouth. "I have to protect my woman and make my presence known." He stood, hitting the countertop. "Thanks, Leece." He kissed her cheek. "It's all clear now."

"What are you gonna do?"

He turned back when he reached the doorway. "I'm going to show Jonathan who's boss."
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

"Wait in here please, Detective Lewis." Tran showed Winston into Jonathan's lounge the next day. "Can I get you anything?"

"No, thanks." Winston observed the magnificent space highlighted with bright orange and green furniture that offset the beige walls. "Jonathan loves color it seems." He walked across the gold and red spiral rug to the limestone fireplace. "It's beautiful. Bet he had the best decorator in the world."

"Many people had a hand in decorating and building this place."

"It's something." Winston sat on the orange couch, checking out the lime-green drapes on the ceiling-to-floor windows. "Is he coming out soon because I need to get back to the station."

"Oh, I'm sorry if there was a misunderstanding, but you won't be speaking to Jonathan. He's rather busy. Mistress Shauna will see to your needs."

"Who?"

"Mistress Shauna." Tran clasped his hands. "She's swimming with the others in the pool. I'll let her know you're here."  
"I don't care about any Mistress Shauna or whoever. I wanna speak to Jonathan." Winston put his feet on the black coffee table. "And, I'm not leaving until I do."

Tran cleared his throat, glaring at Winston's feet.

Winston took them off the table. "I didn't come here for games."

"Why did you come here, Detective? Is this about a case?" Tran snickered. "Or about Detective Quarter?"

"It's none of your business. Now, you said on the phone Jonathan would see me—"

"I told you we'd be happy to have you stop by. I did not say you could speak to Jonathan."

"Well, I'd better speak to Jonathan." Winston stood, grabbing his waist, underneath the tails of his blazer. "You made me leave my gun outside but trust me, I'm every bit as dangerous even without it."

"Is that a threat?" Tran's face got stiffer. "I don't take kindly to such treatment."

"And, I don't take kindly to men who push up on my woman."

"Excuse me?"

"Get Jonathan." Winston moved closer to him, towering over the petite man. "Now."

A gorgeous woman with long, black hair sauntered inside the lounge in a white bikini and cover up that pulled Winston's eyes to her bountiful bosom and voluptuous hips.

"Hello." She glided her tall frame toward Winston, her breasts jiggling with each movement. "My, my." Her eyes widened as she looked upon him. "You must be Detective Winston Lewis."

He shifted his gaze from her demanding curves. "I am."

"I'm Mistress Shauna." She held out her hand. "Nice to meet you."

He took her soft hand but didn't speak.

The small, backless heels she wore made her as tall as Winston. "You seem distressed, Detective." She batted her eyes in a flirtatious manner.

"I was telling Tran that I didn't come an hour from Baltimore to be played for a fool. I expected to see Jonathan, and that's what I'm gonna do."

"Jonathan's busy in his lab." Shauna tilted her head toward Tran. "But, it isn't fair that Detective Lewis drove all this way for nothing." She smiled at Tran, her gaze locked on Winston. "Go get him."  
Tran sighed, bowing. "Yes, Ma'am." He left.

Shauna rocked, bringing more attention to her breasts. "You came to see Jonathan, but I hope I don't disappoint you."

Winston gave her another once-over. "I don't mean to be rude but this doesn't concern you."

"I run interference for Jonathan." She gestured to the couch. "Please sit down."

He did.

She glided to the refrigerator by the grandfather clock, her cover up hugging her ass. "Would you like something to drink?"

"I'm on duty."  
"I didn't mean alcohol. We don't drink alcohol here or do drugs. Everything we consume is natural." She held up a glass bottle of dark juice. "Grape juice we've made ourselves. You want some?"

"No thank you."

With her glass of juice, she floated back to the couch and stood in front of Winston. "I was taking a swim. It's so hot today."

"Yes." Winston switched his eyes from her toned thighs. "It is."

"It's amazing how humid it can get, huh?" She massaged her neck, her damp hair glistening. "I can't stand humidity and feeling all sweaty. Do you swim, Detective?"

He tapped his foot, avoiding her gaze. "Sometimes."

"What times?" She sat on the table in front of him. "You've got beautiful eyes."

He sighed, rolling them.

"Don't think I've ever seen eyes so blue." She wrapped her lips around the rim of the glass. "I bet they come in handy in your line of work."

The corner of his mouth lifted. "Why?"

"Because if they have the same effect on others they have on me, I bet the suspects spill all their secrets."  
He shrugged, stretching his arm along the back of the couch.

"See, all someone has to do is gaze into them and they're hooked. Makes someone wanna tell you everything." She smiled. "Detective Quarter has taste."

"What is this?" He took a deep breath. "This game you're playing? All of you are playing?"

"I'm not playing any games." She crossed her lengthy legs, her cover up sliding off her shoulder. "You're just a very handsome man, Detective. Don't tell me I'm the first person to tell you that."  
"I don't know if Jonathan sent you here as a distraction or—"

"So I am one?" She raised an eyebrow. "A distraction for you?"  
"No." He grimaced. "I came here to find out why Jonathan's been flirting with Dee and nothing more."

"She's been doing a little flirting herself."

"Bull."

"Did she say it was one-sided?" Shauna chuckled. "Why do you think she keeps coming over here when it has nothing to do with the case?"

"Because he's manipulating her like he did you and all the other women in this place."

"You're wrong."

"I don't think so."

She grinned into her glass as she sipped.

"What's so funny?"

"You're from Philly?"

"How did you know?"  
"That accent. I'm from Philly and could spot it a mile away."

He pushed his back into the pillows. "You're from Philly?"

"Born and raised until I turned twenty and came to Maryland. That was thirteen years ago." She touched his thigh. "Small world isn't it?"

He gripped her wrist, snatching her hand from his leg. "Too small."

Jonathan walked in wearing a black, crew-neck T-shirt and slim-fitting black slacks. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No." Shauna jumped, rushing to him. "How are you, darling?" She kissed his cheek. "This is Detective Winston Lewis."

"We finally meet." Jonathan's silver-gray eyes danced. "I'm Jonathan Wild. Welcome to my home."

"Thanks." Winston kept a stiff tone. "Stay away from Dee."

Jonathan grinned, glancing at Shauna. "He's forward like me. I like that, Winston."

"Don't make me repeat myself." He squinted. "Stay away."

Jonathan patted Shauna's cheek. "Give us a moment."

Shauna smiled at Winston, his gaze following her out the room.

"You like what you see?" Jonathan stood next to Winston. "Shauna I mean?"

Winston broke his stare from the door.

"Don't feel guilty. She's a beautiful woman. She had me speechless the first time I met her."

"I have no interest in anyone here. What you're doing to Dee, it's not happening, Jonathan. I'm not standing by while you manipulate her."

"Are we talking about the same woman?" His brows met his forehead. "Because the Deidra Quarter I know wouldn't let anyone manipulate her."  
"You don't know a damn thing about her."

"Did Tran offer you any refreshments—"

"I'm not playing with you." Winston stood chest-to-chest with him. "Dee's my woman, and I'm not letting any man take her away from me."

"Does she realize you think of her as property?" Jonathan sauntered across the stone floor. "I'm flattered to see I threaten you."

"Kiss my ass. I'm not threatened but you will be if you don't leave Dee alone."

"What am I doing to her?" Jonathan stood by the chimney with his arm propped on the mantel. "She's the one who keeps coming by even when it has nothing to do with the case. You should have this conversation with her."

"I'm having it with you." Winston lifted his chin. "You don't wanna go there with me. I will do whatever I have to, to protect my relationship."  
"Well." Jonathan made a fist, mocking. "Deidra brings out the animal in you, huh? She's a grown woman who makes her own decisions. If she wants to see me, then she'll see me and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Why am I getting so worked up?" Winston chuckled. "It's obvious you're the killer and doing this to throw Dee off her case."

"Oh, no." Jonathan rubbed his buzz cut. "I'm a lover, not a killer. My interest in Deidra has nothing to do with the investigation."

"I'm warning you." Winston rushed toward him. "Stay the hell out of our lives."

"Does Deidra love you?"

Winston gaped, wondering what his angle was for the question. "Of course."

"Then why so upset?"

"Because you can make her believe anything. That's what you do with women isn't it, Jonathan? You got self-esteem issues or something? Think a woman won't want you unless you manipulate her and lock her in your compound?"

He lowered his head, smirking. "These women beg for my attention."

"Yeah, because they're brainwashed and can't tell if they're coming or going."

Jonathan passed a dirty look. "Most times they're coming."

Winston grimaced at the lewd punch line. "That's all women are to you? Just objects to keep for your pleasure?"

"I love these women. I give them everything and I'm the only one who they can depend on. We're a family."

"It's a crock of shit."

"You don't understand me at all do you, Detective? Let me show you something." Jonathan went to the door. "Come on."

Winston followed Jonathan through the coral-pink hall enclosed in Victorian-style portraits, antique mirrors and garish fixtures.

They turned a corner, the sound of women laughing and water splashing filled the hallway.

Jonathan stopped at glass double-doors that led to the indoor pool.

Winston pressed his hand to the glass, mesmerized by the oasis of feminine beauty.

At least fifteen, stunning women of various races in white bikinis, splashed around in the square-shaped pool, a grand atrium above them.

A black woman with braids laughed as she doused water onto two blonde women.

Another group of women played with a beach ball at the other end of the pool.

"It's a sight, isn't it?" Jonathan put his arm around Winston's shoulders. "Every man's dream, right?"  
Winston's member throbbed as the women wrestled with each other, pulling at each other's bathing suits.

"I get to wake up to this view every single day," Jonathan said. "They're some of the most beautiful women you've ever seen, aren't they?"

Winston's face muscles clenched, and he removed his hand from the glass.  
"Hey, it's okay to be honest. What man wouldn't want all the women he could have for himself?" Jonathan gestured toward the window. "Winston, they could be yours too."

"Get off me." He knocked down Jonathan's arm. "You're sick."

"And, you're hard." He pointed to Winston's crotch.

"Dee's the only woman I want."

"I'm just saying." Jonathan looked at the women. "If you're interested, I can make it happen. They do whatever I say, Winston. Look at them."

Winston kept his head low.

"Don't want to? Afraid you won't be able to control yourself if one looked back at you?"  
One-by-one the women took notice of the stranger and abandoned their games.

"Uh-oh." Jonathan laughed. "Looks like they've noticed you. I should introduce you."

"Don't bother and you're wasting your time." Winston stepped back. "This won't work on me. You can't manipulate everyone, Jonathan."

"You could have any one of them you want. Or all of them if you choose to and it would be between us."

Winston straightened the collar of his blazer. "Some men have scruples."

"Drop the martyr act. You'd fuck them if you were sure Deidra wouldn't find out."

"No, you want me to do that so you can cause trouble between me and Dee, but it's not gonna work."

"Hm." Jonathan twiddled his fingers. "Tits and ass, tits and ass, tits and ass—"

"Keep your women because I doubt they'd be able to handle me, anyway."

Jonathan cackled. "You might be wrong about that, Detective."

"It's over, Jonathan." Winston stabbed his finger at him. "Put your hands on Dee again and you're going to see how far I'll go." He headed out the hall, bumping into Shauna.

"Detective, leaving so soon?" She stuck out her bosom. "I was hoping you'd join us for a swim."

He scoffed, continuing on his way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"Hello, is this Mrs. Jacinta Witt?" Dee asked the woman on the phone as Connie sat on the edge of Dee's desk.

"Yes, it is," the woman answered. "Who's asking?"

"Mrs. Witt, I'm Detective Dee Quarter from Baltimore. Homicide."

"Homicide?"

"You have a son named LJ Witt, do you not?" Dee made eye contact with Connie.

"Yes, I do." Her voice shook. "Is something wrong?"

"We caught up with a friend of LJ's who gave us your name and number. We're trying to contact LJ. Is he staying in Aurora, Illinois with you?"

"I haven't heard from LJ in at least twelve years."

"What?"

"I don't speak to my son, Detective. We fell out years ago. He left Aurora and that's the last time I saw him."

Dee blew out a breath. "We heard he moved back to Illinois about a year ago because you were sick."

"Who told you that? I've never been sick. Did something happen to LJ?"

Dee sighed, grabbing her pen. "He's missing. The property manager of where he was staying said he told her he went to Illinois."

"If he's back here, he hasn't told me. I think that manager lied to you, Detective Quarter."

"That's unfortunate." Dee tapped the pen on the desk. "I'm sorry to bother you—"

"Wait, shit. My son is missing? What's going on?"

"That's what we'd like to know." Dee gave Jacinta her contact information. "We'll be in touch if we hear anything."

"I can't believe this." The woman's breathing sped up. "Lord, please let him be all right. We didn't get along, but that's still my baby."  
"We're gonna do all we can to sort this out, Mrs. Witt. Thanks for your time." Dee hung up. "Holy shit."

"What did she say?"

"She and LJ are estranged, and she hasn't heard from him in years."

Connie scowled. "What?"

"She's never been sick either."

"People just don't disappear into thin air." Connie swung her legs. "Either LJ lied to Nelda, or she made the whole thing up."

Dee rubbed her mouth. "Only one way to find out."

Connie jumped off the desk. "Let's go."

****

"His mother hasn't heard from him?" Nelda sipped iced tea, face snow white. "That's strange. I don't know what to say."

Dee stood over her, gripping her holster. "Are you sure LJ told you from his own lips he was going to Illinois to be with his sick mother?"

"Yes." Nelda crossed her legs at the ankles, feet shaking. "Maybe he didn't make it."

Connie glanced at Dee with upturned lips.

"Detectives, why would I lie about LJ? I still don't see what this has to do with Autumn's murder."

"LJ and his mother are estranged," Connie said. "It would make no sense for him to tell you he was going there."

"Well, he did." Nelda's voice rose at the end of the sentence. "I'm as confused as you two are."

"Do you understand what a big deal this is?" Dee asked. "LJ was your tenant, and he disappeared off the face of the earth it looks like."

Connie nodded. "And you told us something that doesn't appear true."

"I didn't tell a lie on purpose." Nelda scooted to the end of her couch. "I wish I could help."  
Dee rocked forward. "Mind going over when Grayson attacked you again?"

Nelda's head swiveled. "Excuse me?"

"Tell us about when he attacked you," Connie said. "Because it seems to be another thing that's not adding up."

"Grayson Paul is a lunatic." Nelda stood. "What else would you call someone who would hit a woman my age? You both were here when he came back. He was out of control. Why do I feel like the bad guy?"

"Why would Grayson attack you?"

"Isn't it obvious, Detective Quarter?" Nelda's mouth fell open. "He killed Autumn."

Dee sighed, scratching her cheek. "This just doesn't look good for you, Nelda."

"You think I killed Autumn or something?"

"You know something," Connie said. "The smart thing would be to come clean."

"I'm not hiding a damn thing." Her top lip trembled. "And, I'm not gonna let you accuse me of lying when all I was doing was trying to help. If you want anything else speak to my lawyer."

"It's like that?"

"Yes, Detective Quarter." Nelda plopped on the couch. "It's like that."

****

"Dee."

"Oh!" She turned from the cabinet in the station file room to see Winston standing in the door. "Don't sneak up on me like that."

He smiled, pushing his hands in his pockets. "Sorry."

"Man." Dee stooped over, exhaling. "What are you still doing here, anyway?"

"I knew you were staying late." He scooted on top of the table. "Stayed to surprise you."

She closed the cabinet, holding her breath as she looked at him. "Something you needed?"

"I'm sorry for how I acted last night."

"You had every right to be upset." She approached the table. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I wasn't just hurt but scared."

"Scared?" She batted her eyes.

"I can't lose you, Dee." He rubbed his thighs.

"Sh." She put her finger on his lips. "I love you." She hugged him. "I won't see Jonathan alone again." She pulled away from him. "But, for the case I might have to go with Connie."

He nodded, exhaling. "I saw him earlier today." He scratched his arm. "It's easy to see how he sucks people in. He has a way of twisting things and he knows how to get to your vulnerabilities."

Dee crossed her arms. "Are you speaking from experience?"

"Let's say he tried to play mind tricks on me." He wiggled his butt on the table. "But, he lost the battle."

"After this case..." She tugged on his button. "We can forget about Jonathan Wild."

"I hope so." He brought her into his warm arms, his coconut cologne fascinating her.

"I think Autumn's murder starts and ends with Nelda." Dee put her arm around his waist. "She's lying her ass off."

"Well, you'll crack the case." He kissed her forehead. "You always do."

"Meanwhile, how about we go to my place and you make things up to me?"

He snickered, kissing her. "Who's making it up to who?"

"I love you." She stroked his cheeks. "Remember that even if I make a mistake."

He flinched, sticking in his neck. "Do you plan on making a mistake?"

"No." She hugged him, thoughts of Jonathan's kiss sneaking into her head. "I need to make sure you'll love me no matter what."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Five Days Later

Dee and Connie strutted into the double-doors of Brown Landscaping and stopped at the receptionist's desk.

"Hello." The bubbly brunette woman beamed. "You must be Detectives Quarter and Wilks."

"Hello," Connie said. "Is Mr. Brown in?"

"He's expecting you. Just a second." She lifted the receiver off her phone, pushed a button, and informed Brown of the officers' arrival.

Moments later the elevator dinged and a medium-built white man with a large belly stuffed in a plaid shirt and worn jeans, approached Dee and Connie.

They exchanged introductions.

"What can I do for you?" Mr. Brown squinted at Dee as if he couldn't see.

"We're investing the murder of a young woman who lived in one of Hart Carroll's rent homes," Connie said.

"Wow." He stroked his chin, forehead lifting. "Okay."

"We found out you did backyard work at the home she used to stay in." Connie told him the address. "Does that sound familiar?"

"This would've been about a year ago," Dee said.

"Okay, let's check." Brown told the receptionist to find the information on the computer. "I have many crews so have to see who might've been in charge for a particular job."

She searched for a moment and then said, "Pablo and Cody supervised that job."

"Cody is no longer with us." Brown pulled on his suspenders. "He died in a car accident about six months back."

"That's horrible," Dee said.

"Pablo's on a job now but let me call him."

Connie nodded. "We appreciate it."  
Brown made the call and handed the phone to Connie.

"Hello?" She put the phone on speaker. "Pablo?"

"Yes." His Spanish accent was so thick Dee couldn't understand what he said.

Connie said who she was and asked about the job they did at Autumn's.

"Yes, I remember," Pablo spoke amongst drilling and hammering in the background. "We dug a space in the backyard for a garden. But, we never planted the garden."

"Excuse me?" Connie scrunched her face, suggesting she couldn't understand him either.

"We never planted the garden," Pablo yelled as if that made his words clearer. "Mr. Carroll had us clear it out but never called us back to finish the work."

"And, this was about a year ago, right?" Dee asked.

"Yes," Pablo replied. "I'm about to leave the crew for break. I could go to the property and show you the space we cleared if you want."

"That would be great," Connie said. "We'll be there waiting for you."

****

Dee and Connie bumped into Winston after they returned to the station.

"Did you check out that landscaping place?" he asked, holding a folder.

"Yep." Connie took her blazer off and hung it on the back of her chair. "They dug space for a garden about the same time LJ left but Carroll changed his mind and told them not to do the garden."

"It was in the backyard." Dee sat and pushed her chair up to her desk. "The guy who did the job took us over there to see it."

"We're betting the space wasn't for a garden." Connie gave Winston a suggestive look. "It was about three feet wide and eight feet long."

Winston gaped. "Those are grave measurements."

"Hm-mm." Dee sipped her old coffee from that morning. "Ugh." She licked the bitter liquid from her lips. "The plot thickens, huh?"  
"Literally," Connie said.

"Whoa." Winston blinked. "So, LJ might be in that grave?"

Dee nodded. "We have to get a warrant so we can dig up the backyard."  
Winston looked through his folder. "It's gonna be hard as hell to convince a judge LJ's disappearance is connected to Autumn's death without evidence."

"We'll get that warrant." Dee pulled a bag of cheesy chips out her drawer. "If I have to suck the judge's dick to get it."

Winston smirked. "What if the judge is a woman?"

She grinned, popping a chip into her mouth. "Then I might have to learn how to eat coochie."

"Dee." Connie grimaced. "Gross."

****

A Week Later

Nelda's neighbor, Odina Kuri parked herself at the table in the interrogation room, face flushed with fear. "Thanks for agreeing to meet with me."

"Thanks for coming." Dee and Connie sat across from her. "What did you wanna tell us?"

"I lied when I said I witnessed Grayson Paul hit Nelda." She lowered her voice, fingers trembling. "It never happened."

Dee exhaled, exchanging glances with Connie.

"Nelda paid my cousin to hit her and make it look like Grayson did it."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Connie said. "Back up. What did you say?"  
"She paid my cousin Eddie to hit her so she could say Grayson did it."

"Why on earth would Nelda do this?" Dee asked.

"She says Hart Carroll told her to." Odina scratched her hand. "I asked Nelda why they wanted to do Mr. Paul like this but she wouldn't tell me."

Dee rubbed the cool tabletop. "How could you go along with this when you knew Grayson was innocent?"

"Nelda's a friend." She sniffed. "I wanted to say something, but I got scared after time passed. Are you going to arrest me?"

Dee sat back, catching Connie's suggestive expression. "Will you help us get Nelda and solve this case?"

"I—"

"Don't get shy now," Connie said. "Nelda and Carroll might've killed Autumn and LJ Witt too. You covered for them, which makes you an accessory."

"Accessory to murder?" Odina's face twisted. "I swear I had nothing to do with anything. Nelda wouldn't even tell me what's going on. Please. I wanted to help you guys. I didn't have to come here."  
"It's your choice, Odina," Dee said. "Help us and we'll help you. You don't and you might share a prison cell with your girl Nelda."  
"I can't go to prison." She waved her hands, palms outward. "What do you need me to do?"

"We want you to wear a wire and get Nelda to confess," Connie said.

****

"Here we go." Nelda carried two plates of hot spaghetti to her kitchen table three nights later. "Bon appetite."

Odina sniffed the pasta and meat sauce. "Smells great." She pressed on her bosom, making sure the tiny microphone under her dress remained secure.

"I'm so glad you wanted to have dinner." Nelda got a bottle of red wine and two glasses. "Lord knows I need the company." She sat at the table. "Everything okay?"

Odina wrapped pasta onto her fork. "It's a little hot."

"Shoot." Nelda jumped up, snapping her fingers. "Forgot the parmesan cheese." She got the container of grated cheese and set the bottle in the middle of the table.

Odina tasted the tangy spaghetti. "It's delicious, Nelda."

"Is it?"

Odina licked sauce off her lips. "Sorry you've been so stressed."

"Ah." Nelda laid her napkin in her lap. "I'll be okay."  
"Anything wrong? Got something you wanna get off your chest?"

Nelda chewed, eyes going left and right. "Not really."  
Odina faked a smile, the wire tickling her stomach. "I doubt that's true."

Nelda tore her garlic bread in half.

"We've known each other for years." Odina pointed her fork at her. "I can tell when something's bothering you."

Nelda poured wine into her glass and glared at Odina. "I can trust you, right?"

"Have I ever told any of your secrets?"

Nelda laughed. "And, you know plenty of them."

"I do." Odina giggled.

A cloud of sadness suddenly filled Nelda's face. "I really liked Autumn."

Odina swallowed.

"I didn't want things to turn out the way they did."

"What are you talking about?"

Nelda propped her elbows on the table and sobbed. "I got dragged into this."

"It's okay." Odina walked to her and hugged her. "You're a good person. Whatever you did, you wouldn't hurt anyone on purpose."

Nelda cried into Odina's stomach. "God, forgive me."

Odina clenched, hoping Nelda didn't sense the wire. "Did you do something to Autumn?"

"No." She let Odina go.

"Did Hart?"

Nelda looked straight ahead, a tear trickling from the corner of her eye.

"You don't have to be afraid." Odina knelt beside her. "You're not alone. Whatever you say won't leave this kitchen. I promise."  
"You're the closest friend I have. I'm ashamed of what you'll think of me."

"I'm gonna always be your friend." Odina wiped Nelda's tears and kissed her cheek. "But, you can't go on like this. It's tearing you apart."

Nelda pinched the corner of her napkin. "Hart killed them. LJ and Autumn."

Odina covered her mouth. "Why?"

"Drugs." Nelda wiped her nose. "Hart's in the drug game and uses some of his properties to run drugs. LJ dealt drugs for him and he was also the muscle for when people owed Hart money."

"My god."  
"One night, LJ called Hart to his place and demanded he give him some money to leave town. LJ had gotten into trouble with some gang and they were after him. Hart refused and then LJ tried to blackmail him, saying he'd tell the police about the stuff he and Hart were into."

Odina rose.

"Hart told LJ to leave the property and LJ refused. He swore he'd turn Hart in and ruin his drug operation. They fought. Hart claimed the murder was self-defense, and that LJ attacked him with a bat." Nelda gaped at Odina. "I'm not sure I believe that, but Hart beat LJ until he was dead."

Odina sat in her chair, mind going in a thousand directions.

"Hart needed help to get rid of the body so he called me."

"Why did he think he could call you?"

"I don't know." Nelda shivered. "Maybe because I'd always been loyal to him and he trusted me. Plus, he knew I'd be too afraid to tell."

"Did he pay you?"

Nelda nodded. "To help him dispose of LJ's body and to keep it a secret."  
"Nelda." Odina sighed, closing her eyes.

"I didn't wanna do it but it happened so fast and Hart was desperate. He begged me."

"Okay, what happened after LJ was killed?"

"He wanted to cut him up, but I couldn't go for that. All I could think about was how his family and his mother would feel if we threw him out like trash."

Odina shook her head.

"Hart said we'd just leave him in the house and play dumb when he was discovered." Nelda took a measured breath. "But after a few days, Hart got scared because he thought people might've seen us over there so he decided we needed to get rid of the body. We went over there and LJ was smelling and decomposing."

Odina's stomach turned.

"Hart got the idea to bury LJ in the backyard." Nelda took in a deep breath. "We said I'd just tell people LJ moved away and that would be the end of it. Then, Autumn moved in and got suspicious when people started talking about LJ leaving the way he did. She started asking me all these questions, and Hart was afraid she'd figured out what happened."

Odina moaned with her eyes closed.

"He freaked out and said we had to get rid of her." She wiped tears. "I begged him not to but he said he wasn't going to lose everything over LJ's murder so Hart went to Autumn's." She took a deep breath. "He strangled her. I had to go along, but I didn't want to, Odina. He said I'd go down with him if he got caught." She howled, tears covering her face. "I can't go to prison. That would be the death of me, Odina." She slapped the table. "The death of me."

"And, that's why you set Grayson Paul up?"

Nelda sniffled through her red nose. "I'd told Hart about how angry Grayson was when Autumn broke things off. To us, that seemed a perfect motive, so we decided to set him up." She pleaded through her torn expression. "I'm sorry, Odina. I really am."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

"Oh!" Dee kicked her shoes off when she entered Winston's living room that night. "I'm so happy that case is over."

"Congratulations again." Winston swept her into a fiery kiss. "I knew you'd get to the bottom of it."

"For a while there I wasn't so sure." She threw her purse on his couch and ran her fingers through her hair. "Now I can relieve some of that stress I've been having."

"Speaking of stress..." Winston danced toward her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Someone needs some pampering."

She giggled. "I like the sound of that." She swayed against him. "What do you have in mind?"

"How about us cozying up on a pallet in front of the TV and sipping wine?"

"That sounds great." She put her arms around his shoulders. "Let's escape tonight then tomorrow it's back to the bullshit."

He chuckled, lowering her to the couch. "You rest and I'll go get the wine and the blanket."

Dee curled her feet up on the couch and got the remote control. "We can watch Turner Classic Movies."

"I'll be right back." Winston winked and left the room.

"Mm." Dee lay back, stretching out her arms. "Winston?"

"Yeah?"

"Bring cheese and crackers." She rubbed her stomach. "I'm starving."

Her cell rang.

"Jeez it never ends, does it?" She leaned up, pulling the phone out her pants pocket.

Jonathan Wild

Dee placed the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Deidra?"

She glanced at the doorway. "You have no business calling me."

"I wanted to congratulate you on solving the case."

"Listen, okay?" She sat up, hooking her leg underneath her. "Whatever this is you're trying to do is over."

"I'm not trying to do any—"

"Over, Jonathan. There is no reason for you to contact me again."

"You're one of us now." His tone grew ominous. "I won't give up until you realize where you belong."

She hung up, slamming the phone on the table.

"I gotta get the blanket." Winston strolled in with wine and a tray of cheese and crackers. "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah." Dee faked a smile. "Everything's fine."

THE END

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