Part Eleven
"A man has been following me and I've been getting threatening phone calls."
"Since when?" Harm asked.
"About a week ago, I guess." She sounded close to tears.
"Why didn't you say something before?"
"I didn't want to bother you. And at first I thought it was just some kind of joke, but I don't anymore."
It got quiet so I peeked around the door and I could see Harm hugging her trying to calm her down.
"Have you called the police?" he asked gently.
"No, I guess I should have instead of bothering you."
"Don't be silly," he said soothingly. "Tell me what happened." .
She looked nervous and said, "Not here. I hate to ask but could you take me home?"
"Sure," he agreed quickly. "I need to give Mac some instructions before I go, so you go get your things and I'll meet you in just a minute."
"Thanks, Harry. I don't know what I would do without you."
I scampered out into the hallway and pretended to just be returning to the office as they came out of his arm in arm.
"I'll wait for you in my office, Harry." She reached up and kissed him on the cheek and her eyes were full of gratitude.
He smiled and said, "I won't be long."
He waited until she was gone and asked me, "Did you hear?" I nodded and he said brusquely, "I have to go. One way or the other I think she's reached her breaking point."
I agreed. She seemed genuinely upset, but that didn't mean that she was completely innocent either. I hoped Harm wouldn't let his guard down with her. "Call me later and fill me in."
"I'll try." He seemed distracted and anxious to leave but then asked, "What are you going to be doing?"
"Gunny and I will be at Muscatel's around eight. Gloria said a bunch of people from the building are getting together after work, and I want to keep an eye on her. If those two men I saw this morning are hanging around I want to know about it."
He hesitated for just a moment with his hand on the door and said, "Be careful, Mac."
I looked at him significantly and said, "You too, sailor."
He winked at me and was gone.
**
The bar was dim and crowded. The music was sultry and seductive. Gunny's hands were on my rear end holding me against his body as we swayed to the music. My arms were wound around his neck and I was trying not to strangle him as I watched a particular couple across the room. I'd been surprised when Harm called just as we were leaving and said that they would be coming to the club too. After talking things over with him, Frankie had been determined to join her friends and not let anyone scare her into staying home. According to Harm she had no idea what the threatening caller wanted from her, but she had agreed to let him look at her files the next day. He was feeling confident that we were really close to finding what we were looking for and that the evidence would exonerate Frankie Mitchell completely, but of course until we were certain our charade would have to continue.
Now he was sitting at a small table with her, and they were completely wrapped up in each other. She was leaning against him, talking into his ear to be heard over the noise, and he was smiling and nodding. Then he took her hand, pulled her to her feet and into his arms, and led her to the dance floor. She must have saved all of her shapeless dresses for the office because she was wearing a pale pink dress that was clinging to her in a desperate attempt to stay on her body. It was low cut and silky and the sight of Harm's hands on her bare back made me bury my face in the hollow of Gunny's neck.
I'd felt duty bound to dress in a way that would live up to my reputation so I was wearing a long sleeved black halter top that had a plunging neckline that was tight across my breasts and left my mid drift bare. It was topped by a long black skirt that would have been impossible to walk in if it hadn't been split up to the middle of my thigh. My heels were high and my stockings were fishnets. I looked like a belly dancer in mourning. In a daring rebellious act, I had decided to go with my own hair instead of a wig. I was going to make Webb model every outfit including the wigs the next time I saw him.
Gunny's reaction when I had walked out of the bedroom had been flattering though. "It's a good thing I don't have to keep my hands to myself tonight," he'd said teasingly.
He looked dark and dangerous in a pair of black slacks and a soft black sweater and I must admit we made a noticeable pair as we'd entered Muscatel's arm in arm. We'd arrived early and since I didn't see anyone from the building there yet, we staked out a booth so we could see when Harm arrived with Frankie. Gunny had spent the day trying to track down the two men I had seen that morning, but he hadn't had any luck. I still thought they might show up tonight and by tomorrow Catherine was going to have extra surveillance on Gloria's house, Frankie's house and the office building. If Sadiq's men were in town it was more than the three of us could expect to handle alone.
We sat on the side of the booth facing the door and Gunny's touch was possessive and frequent. Anyone glancing our way would assume we were lovers, and damn it, anyone who saw Harm and Frankie come through the front door of the bar a few minutes later would assume the same thing about them.
Harm was wearing a navy blue shirt tucked into dark gray pants. His collar was open, and he had his arm around her protectively. Their conversation seemed intense, and he looked concerned. She seemed to be insisting they stay, and he finally seemed to relax and give in to her wishes. They made their way to a table, and he sat next to her, so close it seemed to me, that she might as well have been sitting in his lap. Even after they'd started dancing I hadn't been sure that they knew anyone else was around.
So now Gunny and I were dancing too, and I was trying not to be too obvious as I watched them. But I was going to give Harm a stern talking to about proper spy etiquette the next time I got him alone. There was no way he could be aware of any potential lurking danger if all he did was gaze lovingly into her eyes. Just then he lifted his head and caught me staring. He acknowledged me with a raised eyebrow and a glare in the general direction of Gunny's hands on my backside. I was about to glare at the way his thumb was dangerously close to the side of her breast, but she said something just then and all of his attention returned to her.
Other people from work started showing up, so I waved my hellos as they started to fill up the place. They were pulling tables together along with Harm and Frankie's so we could all sit together.
Gunny whispered, "We should join them after this dance."
"I know," I agreed reluctantly as I nuzzled his neck. "But I don't think Harm or Frankie will notice?"
He ran his hands up my back until he reached my neck. He tilted my face back with his thumbs and gazed into my eyes. Just before he kissed the corner of my mouth he murmured softly, "One of them will."
He was probably right. "Yes, she may make a scene if she recognizes you."
"She wasn't the one I was talking about." He grinned and kissed the other corner of my mouth for good measure.
I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder. "Cente, I think your attempts at male bonding are being wasted at the moment."
He laughed and twirled me around the floor.
After the dance we approached the table and I introduced Gunny to the crowd. We sat down in the only empty seats directly across from Harry and Frankie.
"Cente this is my boss, Harry Baldridge." They shook hands and Harry introduced him to Frankie. If she recognized Gunny she gave no sign, but then again the lighting in the club was really dim, and it was possible that she had never seen him this close.
"Frankie is an attorney in the building also," I explained. Gloria came up just then and said, "You must be Hannah's boyfriend."
"Yes, ma'am." Gunny and I stood up and he shook her hand.
"I'll have you know you are the envy of every man at this table," Gloria gushed. "She has caused quite a stir since she's been working for Harry."
I thought I heard Frankie snort, but when I glanced at her she was smiling innocently.
"I'm a lucky man," he agreed proudly and gave me a quick kiss. I was pretty sure it was Harm that snorted that time.
"Why don't you dance with me and you can tell me all about yourself, Cente?" Before he could protest she dragged him out onto the dance floor. Other couples followed them and soon I was left alone at the table with Frankie and Harm.
Frankie was whispering in Harm's ear again which I found to be quite rude considering that I was sitting right there. So I excused myself and said loudly, "I'm going to get something to drink."
I made my way to the bar, and ordered a soda water with lime. While I was waiting I turned and scanned the area for any sign of the men I'd seen earlier. I just couldn't get over the feeling that we hadn't seen the last of them. I really wanted to know more about what Harm had learned too. But he was busy playing patty cake with Frankie and even Gunny seemed to be enjoying his dance with Gloria. She was giggling and blushing like a school girl. At least one of us still had our minds on the job I thought glumly.
I turned back to the bar, and a deep familiar voice asked from behind me. "Did you lose your boyfriend?"
I turned to face Harm. "Yes, he's easily distracted."
"I bet he's not as distracted as you think." He ordered a beer and a glass of Merlot then turned and eyed my outfit. "Another one of Webb's creations?" he asked with a smirk.
"Mmm hmm," I said noncommittally.
He reached over and tugged my hair. "Where's the wig?"
I gave him a go to hell look then admitted reluctantly, "It was long and black and straight, and it made me look like a cross between Morticia and I Dream of Jeannie."
"Sounds kinky," he grinned and then picked up his drinks from the bar. "Well, I better get back to the table."
"Yes, she's watching us." I couldn't help it. I smiled and waved to her.
"Are you coming?" he asked.
"No, I think I'll go dance with Rodney." The insurance agent was doing a silly dance by himself on the edge of the dance floor and kept giving me waggley eyed invitations to join him.
Harm watched him for a second then shook his head, "Don't hurt him, Mac."
"Don't worry. I'll be gentle."
The evening went by in a flurry of dancing and loud talking and lots of laughing. After a while I had decided to quit worrying. No one suspicious was hanging around in corners and it seemed unlikely that anything would happen in the middle of a bar with so many people around. So I danced with every man in the place except Harm, and Gunny danced with all the women except Frankie. It was a friendly crowd except for those two. They stayed together, either dancing slowly or talking quietly. Occasionally, I would catch Harm watching me and I found my gaze drifting to where they were sitting more often than I should have, but for most of the time I tried to ignore them and have a good time.
Someone pulled me out onto the floor to learn some new line dance. I tried to keep up but soon I was stumbling and kicking and turning in all the wrong places. Laughing I excused myself and left in the middle of the song.
I was headed for the ladies room when an arm shot out and dragged me into a dark storage area. I yelped and struggled as I tried to bite the hand that clamped down on my mouth.
"Shhh," a voice whispered close to my ear and everything in me relaxed as the familiar form of Harmon Rabb trapped me against the moonlit wall.
He removed his hand and replaced it with his mouth. A starving mouth that ate up the darkness-consumed me with its hunger until it became my whole reality. His lips danced across mine and his hot breath mingled with every moan of desire he could wring from me. It felt like years since he'd kissed me. It felt like only seconds until he stopped.
"This is crazy, Harm." I whispered against his lips
"I know, but I need for you to say it again," he urged as he nipped at my jaw.
"Say what?" I could barely stand much less talk, and I grabbed onto his ears thinking I would fall to the ground if I let go.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" He straightened enough to look into my eyes. "This afternoon, back at the office before Frankie came in, you said you had fallen in love with me."
"Oh that." I winced suddenly feeling shy, but when I tried to look away his next words stopped me.
"I love you too, Mac-just in case you're wondering."
I smiled and let go of his ears. I suddenly felt weightless, able to leap tall buildings and I couldn't stop smiling.
He loved me.
I mean, I'd been pretty sure that he loved me. For years I'd hoped that he did. And lately, he'd actually been acting like he was in love with me-but hearing the words as he held me against a grimy wall inside this dark closet surrounded by cleaning products and mop buckets made everything absolutely perfect.
"Say it," he prodded once more.
"I love you, Harm." The next kiss was a softened by our comprehension of what we'd just admitted. We were both grinning so hard it was impossible to pucker our lips. We bumped teeth and grinned even harder before finally drawing back, content to just stare at each other. But that didn't last long. Soon our mouths were welded together again and our hands were about to start drifting inappropriately when voices floated in from the small window on the far wall that opened up onto the alley.
We both grew still, and then crept quietly to the window and peered out. Gloria Randall and Frankie Mitchell were having a very heated argument, and it was obvious that Gloria was winning. She was the one pointing the gun.
To be continued--
"A man has been following me and I've been getting threatening phone calls."
"Since when?" Harm asked.
"About a week ago, I guess." She sounded close to tears.
"Why didn't you say something before?"
"I didn't want to bother you. And at first I thought it was just some kind of joke, but I don't anymore."
It got quiet so I peeked around the door and I could see Harm hugging her trying to calm her down.
"Have you called the police?" he asked gently.
"No, I guess I should have instead of bothering you."
"Don't be silly," he said soothingly. "Tell me what happened." .
She looked nervous and said, "Not here. I hate to ask but could you take me home?"
"Sure," he agreed quickly. "I need to give Mac some instructions before I go, so you go get your things and I'll meet you in just a minute."
"Thanks, Harry. I don't know what I would do without you."
I scampered out into the hallway and pretended to just be returning to the office as they came out of his arm in arm.
"I'll wait for you in my office, Harry." She reached up and kissed him on the cheek and her eyes were full of gratitude.
He smiled and said, "I won't be long."
He waited until she was gone and asked me, "Did you hear?" I nodded and he said brusquely, "I have to go. One way or the other I think she's reached her breaking point."
I agreed. She seemed genuinely upset, but that didn't mean that she was completely innocent either. I hoped Harm wouldn't let his guard down with her. "Call me later and fill me in."
"I'll try." He seemed distracted and anxious to leave but then asked, "What are you going to be doing?"
"Gunny and I will be at Muscatel's around eight. Gloria said a bunch of people from the building are getting together after work, and I want to keep an eye on her. If those two men I saw this morning are hanging around I want to know about it."
He hesitated for just a moment with his hand on the door and said, "Be careful, Mac."
I looked at him significantly and said, "You too, sailor."
He winked at me and was gone.
**
The bar was dim and crowded. The music was sultry and seductive. Gunny's hands were on my rear end holding me against his body as we swayed to the music. My arms were wound around his neck and I was trying not to strangle him as I watched a particular couple across the room. I'd been surprised when Harm called just as we were leaving and said that they would be coming to the club too. After talking things over with him, Frankie had been determined to join her friends and not let anyone scare her into staying home. According to Harm she had no idea what the threatening caller wanted from her, but she had agreed to let him look at her files the next day. He was feeling confident that we were really close to finding what we were looking for and that the evidence would exonerate Frankie Mitchell completely, but of course until we were certain our charade would have to continue.
Now he was sitting at a small table with her, and they were completely wrapped up in each other. She was leaning against him, talking into his ear to be heard over the noise, and he was smiling and nodding. Then he took her hand, pulled her to her feet and into his arms, and led her to the dance floor. She must have saved all of her shapeless dresses for the office because she was wearing a pale pink dress that was clinging to her in a desperate attempt to stay on her body. It was low cut and silky and the sight of Harm's hands on her bare back made me bury my face in the hollow of Gunny's neck.
I'd felt duty bound to dress in a way that would live up to my reputation so I was wearing a long sleeved black halter top that had a plunging neckline that was tight across my breasts and left my mid drift bare. It was topped by a long black skirt that would have been impossible to walk in if it hadn't been split up to the middle of my thigh. My heels were high and my stockings were fishnets. I looked like a belly dancer in mourning. In a daring rebellious act, I had decided to go with my own hair instead of a wig. I was going to make Webb model every outfit including the wigs the next time I saw him.
Gunny's reaction when I had walked out of the bedroom had been flattering though. "It's a good thing I don't have to keep my hands to myself tonight," he'd said teasingly.
He looked dark and dangerous in a pair of black slacks and a soft black sweater and I must admit we made a noticeable pair as we'd entered Muscatel's arm in arm. We'd arrived early and since I didn't see anyone from the building there yet, we staked out a booth so we could see when Harm arrived with Frankie. Gunny had spent the day trying to track down the two men I had seen that morning, but he hadn't had any luck. I still thought they might show up tonight and by tomorrow Catherine was going to have extra surveillance on Gloria's house, Frankie's house and the office building. If Sadiq's men were in town it was more than the three of us could expect to handle alone.
We sat on the side of the booth facing the door and Gunny's touch was possessive and frequent. Anyone glancing our way would assume we were lovers, and damn it, anyone who saw Harm and Frankie come through the front door of the bar a few minutes later would assume the same thing about them.
Harm was wearing a navy blue shirt tucked into dark gray pants. His collar was open, and he had his arm around her protectively. Their conversation seemed intense, and he looked concerned. She seemed to be insisting they stay, and he finally seemed to relax and give in to her wishes. They made their way to a table, and he sat next to her, so close it seemed to me, that she might as well have been sitting in his lap. Even after they'd started dancing I hadn't been sure that they knew anyone else was around.
So now Gunny and I were dancing too, and I was trying not to be too obvious as I watched them. But I was going to give Harm a stern talking to about proper spy etiquette the next time I got him alone. There was no way he could be aware of any potential lurking danger if all he did was gaze lovingly into her eyes. Just then he lifted his head and caught me staring. He acknowledged me with a raised eyebrow and a glare in the general direction of Gunny's hands on my backside. I was about to glare at the way his thumb was dangerously close to the side of her breast, but she said something just then and all of his attention returned to her.
Other people from work started showing up, so I waved my hellos as they started to fill up the place. They were pulling tables together along with Harm and Frankie's so we could all sit together.
Gunny whispered, "We should join them after this dance."
"I know," I agreed reluctantly as I nuzzled his neck. "But I don't think Harm or Frankie will notice?"
He ran his hands up my back until he reached my neck. He tilted my face back with his thumbs and gazed into my eyes. Just before he kissed the corner of my mouth he murmured softly, "One of them will."
He was probably right. "Yes, she may make a scene if she recognizes you."
"She wasn't the one I was talking about." He grinned and kissed the other corner of my mouth for good measure.
I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder. "Cente, I think your attempts at male bonding are being wasted at the moment."
He laughed and twirled me around the floor.
After the dance we approached the table and I introduced Gunny to the crowd. We sat down in the only empty seats directly across from Harry and Frankie.
"Cente this is my boss, Harry Baldridge." They shook hands and Harry introduced him to Frankie. If she recognized Gunny she gave no sign, but then again the lighting in the club was really dim, and it was possible that she had never seen him this close.
"Frankie is an attorney in the building also," I explained. Gloria came up just then and said, "You must be Hannah's boyfriend."
"Yes, ma'am." Gunny and I stood up and he shook her hand.
"I'll have you know you are the envy of every man at this table," Gloria gushed. "She has caused quite a stir since she's been working for Harry."
I thought I heard Frankie snort, but when I glanced at her she was smiling innocently.
"I'm a lucky man," he agreed proudly and gave me a quick kiss. I was pretty sure it was Harm that snorted that time.
"Why don't you dance with me and you can tell me all about yourself, Cente?" Before he could protest she dragged him out onto the dance floor. Other couples followed them and soon I was left alone at the table with Frankie and Harm.
Frankie was whispering in Harm's ear again which I found to be quite rude considering that I was sitting right there. So I excused myself and said loudly, "I'm going to get something to drink."
I made my way to the bar, and ordered a soda water with lime. While I was waiting I turned and scanned the area for any sign of the men I'd seen earlier. I just couldn't get over the feeling that we hadn't seen the last of them. I really wanted to know more about what Harm had learned too. But he was busy playing patty cake with Frankie and even Gunny seemed to be enjoying his dance with Gloria. She was giggling and blushing like a school girl. At least one of us still had our minds on the job I thought glumly.
I turned back to the bar, and a deep familiar voice asked from behind me. "Did you lose your boyfriend?"
I turned to face Harm. "Yes, he's easily distracted."
"I bet he's not as distracted as you think." He ordered a beer and a glass of Merlot then turned and eyed my outfit. "Another one of Webb's creations?" he asked with a smirk.
"Mmm hmm," I said noncommittally.
He reached over and tugged my hair. "Where's the wig?"
I gave him a go to hell look then admitted reluctantly, "It was long and black and straight, and it made me look like a cross between Morticia and I Dream of Jeannie."
"Sounds kinky," he grinned and then picked up his drinks from the bar. "Well, I better get back to the table."
"Yes, she's watching us." I couldn't help it. I smiled and waved to her.
"Are you coming?" he asked.
"No, I think I'll go dance with Rodney." The insurance agent was doing a silly dance by himself on the edge of the dance floor and kept giving me waggley eyed invitations to join him.
Harm watched him for a second then shook his head, "Don't hurt him, Mac."
"Don't worry. I'll be gentle."
The evening went by in a flurry of dancing and loud talking and lots of laughing. After a while I had decided to quit worrying. No one suspicious was hanging around in corners and it seemed unlikely that anything would happen in the middle of a bar with so many people around. So I danced with every man in the place except Harm, and Gunny danced with all the women except Frankie. It was a friendly crowd except for those two. They stayed together, either dancing slowly or talking quietly. Occasionally, I would catch Harm watching me and I found my gaze drifting to where they were sitting more often than I should have, but for most of the time I tried to ignore them and have a good time.
Someone pulled me out onto the floor to learn some new line dance. I tried to keep up but soon I was stumbling and kicking and turning in all the wrong places. Laughing I excused myself and left in the middle of the song.
I was headed for the ladies room when an arm shot out and dragged me into a dark storage area. I yelped and struggled as I tried to bite the hand that clamped down on my mouth.
"Shhh," a voice whispered close to my ear and everything in me relaxed as the familiar form of Harmon Rabb trapped me against the moonlit wall.
He removed his hand and replaced it with his mouth. A starving mouth that ate up the darkness-consumed me with its hunger until it became my whole reality. His lips danced across mine and his hot breath mingled with every moan of desire he could wring from me. It felt like years since he'd kissed me. It felt like only seconds until he stopped.
"This is crazy, Harm." I whispered against his lips
"I know, but I need for you to say it again," he urged as he nipped at my jaw.
"Say what?" I could barely stand much less talk, and I grabbed onto his ears thinking I would fall to the ground if I let go.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" He straightened enough to look into my eyes. "This afternoon, back at the office before Frankie came in, you said you had fallen in love with me."
"Oh that." I winced suddenly feeling shy, but when I tried to look away his next words stopped me.
"I love you too, Mac-just in case you're wondering."
I smiled and let go of his ears. I suddenly felt weightless, able to leap tall buildings and I couldn't stop smiling.
He loved me.
I mean, I'd been pretty sure that he loved me. For years I'd hoped that he did. And lately, he'd actually been acting like he was in love with me-but hearing the words as he held me against a grimy wall inside this dark closet surrounded by cleaning products and mop buckets made everything absolutely perfect.
"Say it," he prodded once more.
"I love you, Harm." The next kiss was a softened by our comprehension of what we'd just admitted. We were both grinning so hard it was impossible to pucker our lips. We bumped teeth and grinned even harder before finally drawing back, content to just stare at each other. But that didn't last long. Soon our mouths were welded together again and our hands were about to start drifting inappropriately when voices floated in from the small window on the far wall that opened up onto the alley.
We both grew still, and then crept quietly to the window and peered out. Gloria Randall and Frankie Mitchell were having a very heated argument, and it was obvious that Gloria was winning. She was the one pointing the gun.
To be continued--