C.J. locked the door behind her and dropped the day's mail on the table near her piano. She headed to her bedroom past her bed where she'd already lain her outfit for the gala.
The dress, her shoes and purse. Her jewelry on her dresser. The perfect outfit for a night at an A list only invite party for a worthy charitable organization. She had to look the part of a member of the distinguished guest list alongside the champion athletes, the Oscar winning actors and politicians all the way up to members of the U.S Congress.
All of them potential targets for hired assassin and terrorist Marquis Duvall, Jr. A few hours to the event and they still had no idea who Marquis had in his crosshairs not to mention who'd paid him to take that person out permanently. She felt frustration build all day about it along with the swirling tapestry of emotions inside of her over the fact that one of the most difficult chapters of her life had been used as fodder to sell a book.
A book that she'd barely touched let alone read. What did she need to learn about what had happened to her on the island? The depiction in Courtney's book had been adapted from journals left behind by Marquis, it would be his words that would define the event.
Not one word dedicated to how she saw what had happened with the two of them during the three days that Matt had been sent to L.A. to get Marquis Jr. released.
She stripped off her clothing and jumped in the shower, setting the water to cascade over her rinsing the day off of her.
It felt good along with the spa treatments she'd gotten earlier that week. She got out and after trying off, slipped on her strapless black cocktail dress and her low heeled shoes. Her favorite golden bracelet and a pair of diamond earrings completed the outfit.
The phone rang and she went to pick it up, after looking at the Caller ID.
"Houston…I'm almost ready," she said, "I'll be down to the office in an hour. What about you?"
He sighed.
"Got my damn penguin suit on and the tie's choking me but I'm ready to go."
She bit back a chuckle. His disdain of black tie attire was almost legendary but this was the most formal of affairs so they had to look the part
"Didn't Vince leave you with his clip on?"
"Yeah but I messed up on that too," he said, "Maybe if I bring it to the office you can help me."
"Sure thing Houston…see you then…"
"You too…and Roy will be there with Clover. We need to cue her in on some of the operation as part of her security."
C.J. agreed and clicked off the phone, before she picked up her comb and started fixing up her hair.
Unease crept up on her, tingling her scalp about the operation. She hoped it'd go as smoothly as planned.
Matt looked up as Roy entered the room, his tux perfect down to his patented carnation in the lapel. Alongside was Clover looking dazzling in a flowing black gown.
"Damn you look pretty…"
She smiled at Matt.
"I'm glad you approve," she said, "I'd say I'm looking forward to tonight but I find most galas tedious and I know this one's just for show."
Matt heard apprehension in her voice though she'd never show it. He put a hand on her arm.
"Clover it's going to go smooth as silk tonight. I'm not going to let Marquis near you, let alone put a hand on you."
She paused and nodded slowly.
"I know that Matt. I just don't know what he wants from me. Does he want to kill me or does he have other plans?"
Matt scratched the back of his neck.
"I don't know…but I'm guessing he doesn't want to shoot you," he said "at least not at the party. He's got another target he's been hired to hit."
She sighed.
"I know and one of the guests is his innocent target without knowing it," she said, "I get why the police don't want to cause a panic especially since they don't know the target…and they want to get him but what if something happens? What if it's dangerous?"
"We're going to take every precaution to make sure nothing happens," he said, "You've got Roy with you and C.J and I…and Hoyt's got a top notch team from LAPD working on it."
She smiled.
"I know a lot of people are working to make sure they trap and catch a very dangerous man," she said, "I hope no one gets hurt."
"I hope so too but we're not leaving it up to chance or luck. We're going to catch him before he has a chance to harm anyone."
He heard footsteps and saw C.J. enter the room all dressed up for the gala. Damn she looked beautiful in that form fitting dress, her curly hair framing her face. She smiled at him.
"Houston I see you're all here."
He nodded and walked to her taking her hands in his own giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"We're about to get started with our planning session," he said, "Just fine tuning some details."
She followed him and Clover to the lounge area where Roy sat with a lap top showing the schematics of the venue.
Roy looked up at them.
"I think we might have to make a couple changes…"
After the session, Roy helped Clover slip her evening coat on and Matt and C.J. stood waiting by the elevator. She looked lost in thought.
"C.J. you okay?"
She blinked her eyes looked at him and nodded.
"I'm fine Houston…I think the changes to the plan will work in our favor," she said, "The toughest part will be finding out his target from a group of over 200 guests."
She helped him adjust his tie.
"LAPD will help cover that. Our job is to keep a sharp eye out for him especially if he sticks to his MO of wearing a disguise."
She nodded.
"I can do that. He won't fool me. You can hide the way you look, even your face but he can't hide the way he moves, and walks. He'll stand out like a rooster at hen's convention."
He smiled, stroked her chin with his thumb.
"I know we'll find him and we'll make sure Clover's covered and we'll bring him in."
She nodded.
"Houston…after this is all over with," she said, "Can we go someplace private afterward?"
His eyes searched hers.
"Sure we can. What's this about?"
She bit her lip pausing a long moment.
"I need to tell you something," she said, "I should have told you a long time ago but…I just…couldn't and as time passed, it just seemed better no to…"
His face softened.
"C.J. you know you can tell me. Absolutely anything," he said, "Does this have anything to do with Courtney's book?"
Her eyes widened but she nodded.
"How did you know?"
"I guessed but not really," he said, "Clover told me I needed to read it. She wasn't being nosy, she's just really concerned about you."
C.J.'s brow knit.
"I'm concerned about her and what she's been through," she said, "My experience is a lot different."
"I know and you can share it with me or talk about anything else," he said, "as much as you want. I wish we could do that now."
She shook her head.
"We got to protect Clover from her own son and we've got to stop him before he follows through on his assignment."
Matt nodded.
"Very well…best we get going then," he said, "afterward we can go back to my place and have that talk okay?"
She felt relief fill her as she nodded.
"That sounds great…"
He wrapped his arm around her and as Roy and Clover joined them, they entered the elevator and to their cars, ready to get this operation started.
By the end of the night, they hoped to have Marquis safely in custody leaving the residents of LA to feel a bit safer again.
