Leopard, p.17
Leopard, page 17
“I need you to find someone.”
“Man, you can find people faster than I can.” Mac waved him off, then continued scanning.
“This involves a woman and I need to keep my name out of the mix.”
“You’re looking for a woman?” Mac chuckled.
“No, her so-called man.”
Staring at him, Mac slowly stood up then leaned against the cabinet. “Say what?”
“Look, I don’t have time to explain. I need you to find some guy named Dylan. He is supposed to be an ‘associate’ of Leslie Carrington.”
“The one attached to this case?”
“The very same.” Calvin nodded.
“Then why can’t you just ask her, or find the man yourself?”
“'Cause I can’t, alright,” Calvin exclaimed. “Look, find the man for me, but keep it on the low.”
Mac stared at him for a long, long moment. “Is this personal?”
Calvin hesitated as he looked around the space. “Yes,” he exhaled. “It’s personal.”
“Okay, I got you covered.” Mac bent back down. “What’s the last name?” He began re-scanning.
“Have no idea.”
Calvin saw Mac’s head slump. He looked back up at him.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“That’s all I got. You know how to track movements. She claimed the last time she saw him was about a month ago.”
“So why you sweatin' someone she saw a month ago?”
“I’m not. I just want to know who he is.” Calvin picked up his computer bag. “I have to go rogue tonight. If you come up with anything, hit me on the com line.”
“I want you to remember this the next time I need a favor.”
Calvin threw up his hand as acknowledgment. “I got you.”
Chapter 26
Calvin had been watching the house from three streets over since before the sun set. He had parked his vehicle at the end of a corner where a number of houses were occupied, with a few vacant.
We have movement, Genevieve advised.
Calvin looked down at his tablet. The dot he had circled was indeed moving now. “Looks like he’s en route,” Calvin stated then glanced around. “I’m going in. Survey the area. Advise if I’m detected."
Confirmed.
Dressed in dark clothes, Calvin cut through the yard of the vacant house directly behind the targeted location. He jumped the half-broken fence then walked directly to the back of the house. There were three entrance points - the front door, back door, and the garage. The dot on his tablet showed the man still a good twenty minutes away from the location. Switching the mode on the tablet, he looked for infrared images of anything living in the house. Nothing showed.
Good, he thought. Calvin did not plan on using any of the entrance points. The house may looked old and neglected, but he could see the new wiring, indicating there was surveillance on the property. Using his tablet while standing in the dark corner of the house, he scanned the security device that was above. Searching for the recordings, he selected one from the day before then placed it for reviewing. If anyone was checking for movement, they would see the day before's entries from the back camera. Housing codes required the egress of a window in basements that had bedrooms. It was used as an escape route in case of a fire. Calvin used this to his advantage. Bending down, he slipped into the egress. Since there was a metal security grid on the window, Calvin pulled out his phone, pushed a button, then pointed the green laser light that appeared at the grid. He smiled as the laser easily cut through the metal.
"That should do it," he said as he checked the window. It was locked.
“Damn security freaks,” he murmured, then used the laser again, made an adjustment then cut out the middle glass. Reaching inside, he turned the lock, lifted the window then climbed inside. Using his phone, he scanned the area for any motion sensors. There were none in the basement. Putting the phone away, he pulled out his tablet. The man was now ten minutes away.
Calvin made his way up the shabby stairs, then slightly opened the door leading to the first level of the house. Using his phone once again he scanned for motion detectors.
“Aww.” He pushed a button on the phone, waited a second then nodded when the motion detector light went out.
He took the next few minutes to do a search of the house for weapons. He found one mounted under the kitchen table and two in each of the bedrooms. Securing them, he searched the small living room area to determine the best location for him to stay out of sight. He decided to wait in the corner by the door. Checking the tablet, the dot was right on top of him, meaning the man he needed to question was now parked in front of the house. He pushed the button on the phone, reactivating the motion detector.
The door opened, blocking him from the man walking inside. The man hit a remote on his key fob, which deactivated the security system. He dropped the keys on the table near the door, then walked straight back into the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, he reached inside, grabbed something then closed it. He twisted the bottle cap, threw it in the trash then turned to see Calvin leaning against the doorframe.
“How you doing?” Calvin smiled.
The man froze, then slowly brought the bottle down.
“Who are you?” the man growled.
“Not important.” Calvin pulled a chair from under the table, turned it backwards then sat on it facing the man. “Have a seat.”
“How in the hell did you get in here?”
Calvin could see the anger building in the man as his eyes searched for his weapon.
“Are you looking for this?” Calvin placed the gun on the table.
The man’s eyes shifted to the weapon then back on him.
“You are a dead man.”
“At some point in time, but not today.” Calvin grinned.
The man’s eyes whirled around the small house. “You’re a cocky son of a bitch.”
“Now, see, why'd you have to bring my mother into this?” He pushed a button on his phone. A bolt of electricity hit the man causing him to fall to his knees. Calvin took his finger from the phone.
“Come on, have a seat, man.” Calvin kicked a chair out for the man to reach. “I’m not going to ask again.”
The man used the chair to help himself stand, then he sat. The cold eyes stared at him, ready to kill.
Calvin leaned forward. “This is going to be a simple conversation.” He shrugged. “I only have one question. You have one opportunity to answer. Your answer will determine if you live or die.”
His attitude was so matter of fact Calvin could see the man was confused.
“Ask your one question,” the man snarled.
“Who hired you to kill the Carringtons?”
“The who?”
Calvin shot another surge of electricity at the man. The man squealed like a baby as he grabbed his leg.
Calvin released a calming breath. “See the first time I hit your arm. This time it was your leg. I don’t have the time to play this game all night. So, we are going to try this one more time.”
“I don’t get names.” The man squirmed. “Tell me how they died."
“A fire,” Calvin replied just as the earbud in his ear crackled.
A body is approaching from the rear.
“Identify.”
The man thought he was talking to him.
“I didn’t set the fire.”
Leslie Carrington
Calvin cursed the moment he saw her look through the back door that was behind the man. There was no way she could see them sitting at the table. His fear was that she would come to the window next. If she did, the man would see her and she would see them.
Too late. The man’s eyes went to the window. Calvin followed his gaze to see Leslie standing in the window with a shocked look on her face. At the same time the man leaped for the gun. Calvin recovered, tackled the man to the floor, grabbed the man around the neck…one quick snap and the man went still.
“No…no…no…” Leslie banged on the window.
Calvin hurried to the door, opened it then pulled her inside before anyone could hear her.
“What in the hell are you doing here?”
She ran over to where the man had fallen from the table onto the floor. The look on her face caused Calvin to pause. She had just seen him kill a man. Would she now look at him differently? He quickly cleared that thought from his mind. It was replaced with an anger like he had never experienced.
Turning on her, he bellowed again. “What in the hell are you doing here?”
“I came to find him, to get some answers,” she replied with hands on her hips. “Look what you did. You killed him.”
Calvin could not believe what was happening. He had killed a man in front of her. This was a scene he was sure she would never wipe from her mind. Would she now see him as a cold-blooded killer? “Kill or be killed.”
“You could have stopped him in a different way. You didn’t have to kill him. Now you can’t ask him any questions.”
Calvin stared at her, then understood what she was saying.
“You’re pissed that I killed him before you could ask any questions?”
“You're damn right.” She pushed him. “He could have led me to the person who killed my parents,” she barked. “Now we can’t ask anything.”
Calvin was not only startled by her admission, but he was also now pissed beyond reason. “He didn’t have anything to tell.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know,” Calvin yelled. He touched his earbud. “Send cleaning crew.”
Affirmative, Genevieve responded.
“ETA?”
Ten minutes.
“Let’s go!”
She looked at him confused. “Who are you talking to?”
“Let’s go.” He grabbed her by the arm. “Where are you parked?”
“Down the street but wait. We need to search him or the house or something to see if we can find anything connecting him to my parents.”
“It will be handled. We need to get out of here before the police arrive.”
“Calvin, we need…”
Calvin picked her up over his shoulder. “Locate Carrington’s vehicle.”
One block south of your location on the right-hand side. Cleaning crew en route. Vehicle secure for pickup.
“Who in the hell are you talking to,” she huffed when he put her on her feet.
“Keep your head down and walk,” he ordered. “Survey the area for onlookers.”
Clear.
“Received. Map best escape route. Put in Carrington’s car GPS.”
“I can’t believe you just dragged me out of that house,” she huffed.
“Give me the keys to your car.”
“No. We need to go back, Calvin,” she demanded as she pulled away.
He grabbed her arm again. “Leslie, keep walking.” He pulled her body next to him, then placed his arm over her shoulder to anchor her. He wasn’t dragging her, but she was securely in his grasp until they reached the car. Calvin did not ask for the keys again. He simply pushed a button on his phone and the lock clicked. He opened the door. “Get in the car.”
She stared at him, huffed then got in on the passenger side.
Hurrying around the vehicle, he quickly got into the driver's seat.
“Calvin…”
“Don’t speak.”
Calvin was so mad he wanted to yell but knew if he started, he would not be able to stop. They could not afford any activity inside the vehicle that may cause them to be pulled over. Holding in his anger, he kept driving until they reached his safe house. Getting out of the car he walked around, opened the passenger door, then pulled her from the vehicle.
“Wait a minute,” she demanded.
Calvin did not stop. He literally dragged her to the door, placed his palm on the door then walked inside. He sat her on the sofa with a warning look as her shoulder bag fell beside her. Pulling his black hoodie over his head, he threw it on the chair, then walked into the kitchen. At this point, he did not trust himself to speak. Grabbing a bottle of brandy and a glass from the cabinet, he placed both on the countertop then poured himself a drink.
“Why did you…”
He took a drink, held up a finger while shaking his head. “No. Nah…nah. Not yet.” He took another drink then just stared at her. The anger was like another presence in the room. Those doe-like eyes glaring at him with defiance.
“What…” he spoke slowly, “possessed you to go to that part of town, to a man’s house, alone?”
“I was following a lead,” she replied with an attitude.
“Alone!” he shouted, his fury in full rage now. “How did that work for you the last time?” He slammed the glass down. “Do you not get this is dangerous? Do you understand that that man would have killed you? He damn near killed both of us. This is not a damn joke, Leslie. These people have killed hundreds of other people. Hell, we don’t even have a body count at this point. You cannot do this alone. This is a murder investigation. I should not have to constantly tell you how much danger you are in. Are you trying to follow your parents to the grave. If you are, tell me now and I will not waste my time trying to keep you alive.”
“But you left!” She stood, shouting back angrily. “You left me.” Tears began streaming down her face. “I had no idea if you were coming back, or what. You just left.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “I don’t even know why you left, you just walked out the door.” She turned her back, wiped her face then looked back at him. “I can’t stand by and let whoever did this to my life get away with it. Don’t you understand, they took my life from me. My parents were my heart, and it was just ripped from my chest. I know dangers are out there, Calvin. I know. But I can’t just let them get away with murdering my mom and my dad. They were all I had, my anchor. Now, I don’t know who in the hell I’m supposed to be.”
Calvin's heart was pounding out of his chest. He realized he was so damn mad because he was scared something was going to happen to her. Now, he felt her tears, her hurt; her pain was stabbing him right in his heart. In three long strides, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.
“I know,” he said with his arms tightening around her body. She began to shake as her body was racked with tears. It felt like it was the first time she'd really cried in a while. Calvin stood there absorbing all the hurt she was experiencing, doing what he could to give her strength and security.
His defenses shattered in that moment. The anguish in her eyes was clear. His heart was opening up to what she had been holding inside. She wasn’t reckless. Her mission to find justice for her parents was her way of coping. Now, he understood why she couldn’t just let this go. She needed answers before she could heal. The longer he held her, the deeper the need to find her answers seeped into his veins. Now her pain was his pain.
Calvin removed her coat, gathered her in his arms, then carried her to the bedroom. Kicking off his shoes along the way, he laid her across the bed, then lay beside her.
“Let it out, Leslie,” he said while rubbing her back. “Cry it all out.” He held her against his chest, willing all the sadness and hurt out of her.
As her tears began to change from the heart wrenching sobs to a few hiccups, he felt her body relaxing against his. Now, he thought, was a good time for her to listen.
“I need you to listen to me,” he began with her head resting on his chest, his hand brushing her hair from her face, with his chin resting on her head. “My word is my bond. I made a promise to help you with this case. No matter what happens between us, I will keep my promise to you. Do you understand?”
Her head nodded slightly against his chest.
“I need you to trust that I will not only find who killed your parents but protect you with every weapon I have at my disposal. When you appear in places that are dangerous, I cannot concentrate on the mission. My first instinct will always be to protect you even if my life is in danger. I’m going to protect you first. Do you believe me?”
She nodded then scooted closer, resting her thigh over his. The shift caused their bodies to be more intimately connected, which sent his hormones in a direction he needed to avoid for now. He adjusted his position to keep the arousal he was experiencing from interfering in the conversation he needed to have with her.
“Good, now, here’s what I need you to promise me. You will pay closer attention to your surroundings at all times, especially when I’m not around. More importantly, do not go out again on your own. If you come across something you think is a lead, tell me and we will check it out together. Okay?”
There was no response. “Leslie,” he whispered. The light breathing of a sleeping woman filled the air.
Calvin didn’t know if he should be pissed that she was no longer listening, pleased that he could comfort her to the point of complete surrender, or feel sorry for himself because now, he was as hard as a rock with no chance of release.
Chapter 27
Someone was in the house. Calvin had closed his eyes for a moment after not having any real sleep for the last 48 hours. He glanced down at Leslie; she was still asleep. There was something about seeing her lying in his bed that seemed right. Shaking the thought, he eased his arm from under her head, then sat on the side of the bed. He listened. The house was small; any slight movement would be detected from any room. Silently he walked from the bedroom into the living room, then scanned around. He smelled the coffee coming from the kitchen, then walked in that direction.
“Do you think that is a good idea?”
Calvin walked over to the table, took the cup of coffee extended to him, then sat across from Adam.
“I’m not going to insult your intelligence by saying there is nothing happening between us, because there is. This is new for me so it’s hard to explain. I can tell you nothing physical has happened.”
“That I know,” Adam acknowledged. “You are both still fully clothed.”
Calvin looked down at himself, he was still dressed in black sweats and t-shirt. He sipped his coffee then looked back up. “Something could have happened before now.”
