Was she the woman I used to hear shouting in Spanish?
Portuguese. Her names Vivianne. Meliana knew her. She was half English, half Brazilian. They watched Wheel of Fortune sometimes over at Tims place when Mel came up for the weekend. She took off about a year ago.
Back to Brazil?
Miami, I heard. Tim doesnt talk about her, and most of us are too weirded out by the guy to press. Man, I tell you, I like it here, but I wont be sorry to lose this place. Small-town dynamics and all. Youre lucky youre FBI. People hesitate before poking their nose into a federal agents business. Zack regarded his watch. Ten-thirty. If I want out, Id better hit the books.
Are you on duty tomorrow?
Four hours worth. Phil and I are pulling part-time shifts right now. Sheriff Frank got back from his Shriners convention in Gary today. Ill catch you later, Johnny. Keep an eye out for Tim.
Just what he needed, Johnny reflected, a nudist neighbor who liked to walk in the woods. A man who no longer lived with his wife. A guy with two different and distinct sides to his personality.
Disgusted with himself, Johnny got off the sofa and made a circle of the room. He shouldnt be here. Hed given in to a moment of panic and flown. He could handle city lifehed done it for years. Meliana had urged him to go, hed felt the pressure building in his head, hed caved and fled. What a wuss hed turned into.
He gnawed on the side of his lip, glanced at his jacket, then released a breath and snatched it off the hook. Keys. Where? He searched the room twice, felt his pockets. There was nothing except an old shopping list inside.
He checked the top of the fridge, then his computer desk. He had e-mail, he noticed and gave the mouse a tap.
It wouldnt be Mel. She preferred the phone. And his supervisors in Chicago werent likely to
The thought dried up, simply vanished when the message appeared on screen. His blood turned to ice as he read it.
MELIANAS MINE.
YOU TOUCH HER, YOU DIE.
MELIANA WAS UPSTAIRS in her home office, reviewing the file of a patient scheduled for surgery the next day, when she heard the commotion outside. Her brows went up as she checked her desk clock. Twelve minutes past midnight?
The mens voices grew louder. She recognized them, and for a moment rolled closer to the window to listen.
Fat lot of help youve been, Grand. You hang around for less than a day, then rush back up to your lakeside retreat so you can bury your head in the sand. If thats your plan of action, you should stay there and leave the dirty work to those of us who can handle it. Man, do you think about anyone but yourself these days? Some creep waltzes in here, plants a flower in your exs lingerie drawer and steals some of her stuff. The cops shrug their shoulders, you take off and, meanwhile, some sickos running around with only his crazy brain cells functioning. Its depraved.
Done yet? Johnny asked when he ran out of breath. Meliana recognized the tone. She closed her eyes as she heard Chriss muffled Oomph.
However, knowing Chris as she did, she imagined hed given Johnny a hard shove or two to punctuate his earlier points.
No matter what hed been through, Johnny wouldnt use his fists unless he was pushed right to the wall. In the case of Chris Blackburn, that wall might be mere inches from Johnnys back, but he still wouldnt have precipitated a physical fight.
Shannon reached the front door ahead of her. Lokie, whod been returned to her that evening, lagged behind.
Coward, she accused, and gave the dogs head a scratch.
Lokie barked and sniffed her hand for a treat as she opened the door.
Who do you think you are? Chris demanded, red faced.
He was broader than Johnny and taller by about three inches, yet somehow Johnnys presence always managed to dwarf him. Still, Chris outweighed Johnny by a good forty pounds. In an all-out fight, that could present a problem.
Motioning for the dogs to stay back, Meliana leaned on the doorjamb and regarded the pair of them.
This is my house, and youre trespassing. Johnny pitched his voice lower than Chris. He wouldnt shout unless it was absolutely necessary. Go home, Blackburn.
Chris responded by shoving him again. This is Mels house. You moved out, remember? She lives here, I live two doors down and you have no business being here.
Meliana caught the gleam in Johnnys dark eyes and cleared her throat. Dont like to spoil your fun, guys, but youre making a lot of noise for this time of night.
Andy wears earplugs. Chris shot Johnny a hostile look. Hes the only neighbor within range, and anyone in the park at this time of night doesnt care what were doing.
I care.
Yeah, well, I caught your ex skulking in the bushes.
Hes not my ex, Meliana reminded him. Johnny has every right to be here, Chris.
Johnny rested his butt on the iron rail. Nice try, though. Now tell her what you were doing.
Chriss fingers twitched. I was checking the place for perverts.
By sitting in the backyard and staring up at her bedroom window? He was waiting for you to go to bed, Mel, Johnny said with contempt.
Meliana hooked his arm and drew him toward the door. Youre like two kids fighting over a toy. Thanks for the thought, Chris, but Im fine. You can take off.
The look he sent Johnny smoldered. Ill hear if she screams.
Meliana held fast to Johnnys arm while Chris stalked away. Let it go, okay? You copped an assignment he wanted. He resents you for it. Maybe it even scares him a little, seeing how it affected you. He could have been the one who almost got swept under. The outcome might have been worse if it had.
Blackburns got a granite skull. Hed have come out of it just fine.
Now youre flattering him? Meliana urged the dogs inside and closed the door. This balled-fist stuff you guys do totally baffles me. Are you friends or not?
Not. One guy wants another guys wife, hes no friend.
Remove me from the picture. Closer then?
Unlikely. Johnny scowled. Maybe. I dont know. Are you all right?
Sure. Why wouldnt I be?
No more roses?
Guilt and a trace of renewed fear trickled in, replacing amusement. Not so far. She rubbed her palm on the leg of her jeans. Do you want coffee?
He hesitated. You were working, werent you?
Homework for an op tomorrow. Im clear on the details. Why did you come back?
Because I felt like a wimp for leaving.
You plowed a fist into Chris Blackburns stomach. I wouldnt call that wimpy.
In the kitchen doorway he stopped, brows raised. You changed the appliances.
They were my grandmothers.
Were?
Meliana opened the stainless steel fridge. She died fourteen months ago, Johnny. I was going to tell you when your assignment was done, butwell, I didnt.
Johnny swore, raked a hand through his hair and began to pace. I liked her.
I know. There was no funeral, only a memorial service on Maui. She wanted me to have her appliances. They were brand-new, and she knew how much I love to cook.
Hell. Johnny dropped onto a tall counter stool. I should have been there.
I know. There was no funeral, only a memorial service on Maui. She wanted me to have her appliances. They were brand-new, and she knew how much I love to cook.
Hell. Johnny dropped onto a tall counter stool. I should have been there.
She pushed two plates, a knife and half a coconut cake into his hands. Dont beat yourself up over something you cant change. No one expected you to come, least of all me. I knew you were FBI when I married you. Anyway she ran a teasing finger along the line of his jaw I wasnt alone. His expression went from blank to suspicious so quickly that she laughed. My brother was there, and Julie flew over with me.
He narrowed his eyes. You want me to tell you what Im thinking right now?
No. Because he wasnt doing it, she picked up the knife and sliced into the cake. But I think I should tell you something.
Good or bad?
You decide. She licked frosting from her thumb. The rose guy sent me a pair of white stockings, tied with a white ribbon and bow.
Johnny trapped her chin. It was this afternoon, wasnt it? When you left your office.
The package was hand delivered, or at least hand placed. No one downstairs remembers receiving it. Reception said it just appeared. Probably true.
His eyes held steady on hers. Did you give it to Julie?
Not yet. I handled everything carefullynot that I think therell be prints.
Wheres the stuff?
Upstairs in my office. She waited a beat, then added. There was a card.
Damn it, Mel.
She raised the cake knife. Dont give me that look. Im not being stupid, and Im not taking this lightly. I just wasnt sure if I wanted to tell you first or Julie.
What did the card say?
She sighed. Accept this token of my love, Meliana. Accept my love. Accept me. We are meant to be.
Anger sparked in his eyes. And you sat on this?
One thing Johnny Grand had never been able to do was browbeat her. She leaned forward on her elbows and said clearly, Yes, I did. Make a fuss, and Ill take my cake and leave you here in the dark.
Johnny regarded her for several long seconds, then made a sound in his throat and reached into his back pocket. This came for me today while I was here in Chicago. I sourced it to a South Side Internet Café.
Meliana scanned the brief message. It was more malevolent than hers and, as a result, far more frightening.
He threatened your life. She glanced at the living-room window, visible across the open island. Why do I think hes serious?
Because people like this exist, Mel. Always have, always will.
Why choose me? And you?
Because youre beautiful, bright and talented. And he figures I might be in the way. He paused, looked away. I think.
She was quick enough to follow his sudden shift of thought. This has nothing to do with your work, Johnny. Anyone who might want to hurt you the way youre thinking would simply put a bullet through my head.
Not everyone uses a simple approach, Mel. One guy I was involved with prefers torture to a shot in the head. His names Enrique Jago. If somethings illegal, hell take it on. He pimps his own wife to business associates. My contact thought he might have made me near the end.
Did he?
I dont know. I didnt think so, but I could be wrong.
She quashed the tendrils of uneasiness in her stomach. Why would he send me roses? Its a form of torture, Ill admit, but there are much nastier versions if hes really into it.
Hes different with women.
In what way?
Johnny leaned forward, trapped a strand of her hair and brought it to his lips. His lashes shielded his eyes as he replied in flawless Spanish, To invoke terror in the heart of a woman is to be granted power over her. Total power. The power to choose whether she lives Using her hair, Johnny tugged her forward until their lips touched. Or whether, he whispered against her mouth, she dies.
The last thing Meliana wanted to do was kiss him. It would get her all tangled up again, and she still wasnt untangled from their separation. But she let herself tumble in because thats how it had always been between them. A quick fall followed by a fiery meltdown.
She opened herself to him, let him explore while she touched him, tasted him, inhaled himand tried very hard not to let reason sneak in.
He slid a hand into her hair, cupped her head and held her in place while he quite literally ravaged her mouth.
Deep kisses, she thought in a daze. They numbed her mind and sent her emotions spinning out of control. Only Johnny could do this to her. Only Johnny had ever really done anything to her. Only he had ever hurt her.
She wanted to push against his chest, but she didnt rush it. The heat of him made her want to slide in deep and stay there. It wouldnt be a safe or secure place, but it would be exciting. And Meliana lived for excitement. Or she had once.
She pressed her palm to his heart, felt it beating hard and fast against his ribs. Johnny, stop, she managed, and drew back. Juststop.
He did, with an effort that was visible even to her blurred mind.
He closed those stunning eyes of his and let his head fall forward. Sorry, he said, then gave a soft laugh and breathed out, No, Im not.
In his real life hed never been much of a liar. Meliana collected what composure she could and stepped away. When she saw the dogs staring at them with lolling tongues, she found her sense of humor and felt a smile work its way across her lips.
We had to go and complicate a perfectly workable situation, didnt we?
I did it, Mel. You just
Tripped and fell against your mouth?
If it keeps things level, yeah.
She hesitated a moment, then brushed the hair from his face. Nothings ever been level for us, Johnny. Not then or now.
And were doing our utmost to see that it stays that way. He flicked a finger between them. This is why I slept at Andys last night and will again tonight.
She glanced next door. Hell love you for waking him at this hour. Andys sleeping habits tend to follow the sun.
He got a parking ticket last week. Ill ask Julie to fix it. Thatll square us. Can I take the cake?
She nodded, but stopped him before he could leave. It wasnt your fault, Johnny.
From the doorway, he regarded her. Tonight or overall?
Both. I dont need to blame you for anything.
You never did. He sent her a miserable look and wrapped his fingers briefly around the door frame. But I do.
SHE WOULD KEEP HER BALANCE, Meliana promised herself. She repeated that every time her thoughts strayed into dangerous territory for the next three days.
Johnny hadnt meant to mess with her head, or her emotions, but how could he not when shed loved him so much it hurt. Still did love him, if she was honest with herself. Always would, no matter how divergent their life patterns became.
Hed worried that she would grow to fear him. Although she never had, shed glimpsed the violence inside him. Theyd fought, bitterly, when hed returned. Over what, Meliana couldnt say, but at the root of it had been both a lifestyle and an alter ego hed embraced just a little too fully for a little too long.