Cooper's Deale Part 12

Addy swallowed hard and could barely speak. "Thank you."

Everything felt so familiar and easy with Karen. The old memories overwhelmed her with heat and emotion. Karen's blue knit s.h.i.+rt highlighted her pale blue eyes, and her black tailored slacks complemented her dark hair. The candlelight flickered softly across her suntanned face, softening the sharp angles of her cheekbones. She was handsome, and Addy was shocked to discover that she wanted Karen very badly.

"I meant to ask you," Karen began, clearing her throat. "How is Scott Vinson's death and finding him on your land affecting you? Are you okay?"

"Fine," Addy said warily. This was not the direction she had expected tonight's conversation to take.

"And Tommy? Is he okay?"

"All the commotion bothered him. You know he doesn't like strangers around. But now that things are getting back to normal, he's better. Why do you ask? Did he say something to make you think otherwise? Maybe I should have a doctor examine him."

She leaned back to let the waiter place her plate on the table.

"No, that's not necessary. He was acting a little strange, though, when we talked." Karen tried to gauge Addy's reaction.

"Strange? In what way?"

"I don't know. Like he was hiding something. Tommy has always been able to talk to me, so that surprised me."

Addy's response intrigued and saddened Karen. When Addy was nervous or trying to keep something from her, she always sucked her lower lip. Now, Addy was sucking and biting her lip raw, and she glanced around the room, apparently wanting to get away. Karen had hoped Addy would have an innocent, blank expression.

"What could Tommy possibly be hiding? He never goes anywhere or sees anyone except us."

"My thoughts exactly," Karen said tiredly. "Which is why I decided it might have something to do with you."

"Me?" Addy squeaked. "What are you getting at, Karen? It's just like you to beat around the bush."

"I don't beat around the bush. I've always been straightforward."

"Hah."

"All right. Tommy said you told him not to say anything about Vinson. What didn't you want him to say, Addy?"

The bluntness of Karen's question, and the accusatory tone, rocked Addy against the back of her chair. Oh, Tommy. He didn't understand the consequences, how could he? She should have known he would confess to Karen. He was confused and scared, poor thing. What could she say to Karen now? How much of Karen was police officer and how much her lover? Well, former lover, anyway. If Dee-Dee was right, and Karen was still in love with her, could she trust Karen?

"Well?" Karen demanded.

Karen's harsh manner irritated her. "What exactly are you implying? That Tommy had something to do with that reporter's death? Don't be absurd."

"It's not Tommy I'm talking about."

Karen's implication finally penetrated Addy's brain. "You think I had something to do with Scott Vinson's death?" She jumped out of her chair. "I can't believe you could think such a thing of me."

"Addy, please-"

"Please nothing."

"Is something wrong with the food?" the waiter asked diffidently.

"Yes. I can't eat it. But I'm sure Officer Kaczarowski has a big enough ego to eat for two."

Addy grabbed her purse and stalked out of the restaurant.

She had reached the entrance to the parking lot when Karen called to her to wait, but she didn't stop. At most, it was only a mile to the house, and the evening was pleasantly warm. To think she had planned to let Karen back into her good graces.

Liberty drove her rental car slowly down Masons Beach Road, pondering the pieces of the puzzle she had so far. She hadn't ruled out the cuckoo bird entirely, but new information had come to light regarding Chauncey Velasquez. Cheatham and Gra.s.sley's background check had revealed that the guy was in the country illegally and had been for over two years. His disappearance certainly put a new twist on the situation. Could he be involved somehow? Maybe Vinson had uncovered Velasquez's role in an international plot to destroy the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

About to turn onto Parkers Creek, she noticed someone walking along the side of the road. Nearer, she could make out Addy in tan slacks and pale green blouse. She pulled up next to her and lowered the pa.s.senger-side window.

"Addy? Everything okay?"

Addy stopped and peered into the car.

"Oh, hi, Liberty. No, I'm not okay, but I will be. Just walking off a little steam, that's all."

"Let me drive you the rest of the way."

Addy got in but stared straight ahead.

"Weren't you out with Officer Kaz-Karen?"

"I was, but she can be the most infuriating, deceptive, callous woman. She was so unbearable, I left the restaurant before we even ate."

"I can't believe anyone would treat you badly. You're such a beautiful woman. If you were mine, I'd treat you the way a woman should be treated."

Liberty was curious as to what had happened but knew Addy and the deputy had a long history. It didn't matter anyhow. This was her opportunity. She ma.s.saged the tight muscles in Addy's shoulder, running her fingertips sensuously down her arm.

"You have ethics," Addy said, still angry over Karen's accusation. "Karen is heartless."

Liberty's fingers on her skin made her s.h.i.+ver. She had worked up a sweat, and now the air-conditioned car had quickly cooled her off. When Liberty's hand grazed the side of her breast, she trembled. They pulled up to the house and Liberty turned the headlights off. Suddenly, all consideration of Karen evaporated and Addy turned slightly. Ambient light from the moon filtered into the car, but Liberty sat in shadow, her features invisible to her. For a moment, Addy was uneasy.

"You're chilled," Liberty said. "Let me turn off the air."

The car went silent except for the sound of cicadas outside and the pounding of her heart. She had a pretty good idea what was coming next and she didn't care. She wanted Liberty, and she wanted to forget Karen.

"Here, let me warm you up." Liberty wrapped her arm around Addy's shoulders and drew her close. "There now, isn't that better?"

That was definitely much better. The chill vanished, and the flames licked at Addy's body like a prairie fire. Within moments, Liberty found her way to Addy's blouse and slowly unb.u.t.toned the top b.u.t.tons. Her warm hand slipped inside Addy's bra and stroked her heated flesh.

"That feels nice." Addy closed her eyes as Liberty's fingers found her nipple.

"I'll make you feel so good," Liberty murmured, her mouth inches away from Addy's, "you'll forget all about Kazro, Karoz, what's her name."

Liberty covered Addy's mouth with her own and thrust her tongue inside. Addy was hot and welcoming, and Liberty knew she finally had Addy where she wanted her. She shoved Addy's bra aside, tugging roughly on the taut nipple. When Addy moaned in her mouth, Liberty nearly lost control. G.o.d, how she loved having women this way. She loved being able to control them, do with them whatever she wished, until they begged her to release their tension. She was good, and women adored her for it. She'd make quick work of this one, then find out just what she and her brother knew about Vinson.

Liberty pressed Addy against the car door, bringing her legs up onto the driver's side. Crawling on top of her, Liberty pushed her bra up the rest of the way and drew a nipple into her mouth.

"Oh, that's really good," Addy said.

Liberty sucked and nibbled, running her tongue across the valley between Addy's b.r.e.a.s.t.s until she found the other nipple.

She rubbed her hand down Addy's abdomen and unzipped her slacks, pus.h.i.+ng inside to her panties. She could feel Addy's heat before she even reached the vee between her legs. When her fingers finally found their mark, Addy softly moaned. The sound always triggered the wild animal in Liberty, and she quickly unzipped her own jeans, sliding both their pants down to their knees. As she stroked Addy's wetness, she rode Addy's thigh, gently rocking them both rhythmically.

"f.u.c.k, yeah, that's hot," Liberty said. "You're so ready, I can feel it."

"Yes, please, please do it, make me come." Addy pressed into Liberty, clearly trying to open wider in the confines of the car.

Liberty needed no further encouragement. She continued relentlessly, speeding up, then slowing down, teasing Addy unmercifully, then pulling back.

"G.o.d, please, don't stop," Addy said.

Liberty finally settled into a steady stroking while she continued to ride Addy's leg. When Addy released a loud moan, the sound drove Liberty wild, and they came, their bodies s.h.i.+mmering with sweat. Liberty collapsed on top, her heart pounding rapidly against Addy's chest. She wasn't sure if she was hearing her heart or Addy's, but she breathed deeply, trying to slow its beat.

"G.o.d, that was good." Liberty sighed.

When Addy didn't respond, Liberty raised up just enough to see her face.

"It was good for you, right?"

"Yes, yes, of course. Sorry."

Addy struggled to sit up and Liberty crawled off her. Addy's mind was elsewhere, probably on Karen, and it ticked her off.

She had always kept a woman's attention, and she wasn't about to let that change now.

"You're still thinking about your cop friend." Liberty zipped up her pants. "Mind if I ask what happened?"

Addy struggled to pull her bra back down. "Oh, not much. She thinks I killed that reporter, that's all. Can you believe it? I've never been so outraged."

"That's absurd."

Liberty tried to put the pieces together. Why would Karen think that? Had she discovered some evidence she hadn't shared with her? Was Addy somehow involved more than Liberty had originally figured? Perhaps Tommy had killed the reporter and Addy was protecting him. But maybe Addy instructed Tommy to kill him while she put together some plot of political consequence.

Addy had attended Berkeley, a hotbed of revolutionaries and antigovernment sentiment. Maybe while Addy built the bombs, Tommy was her lookout. But what was Addy protesting? What was her motive? Liberty needed more information, and she'd start gathering it in the morning.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Karen slouched in her chair, a half-eaten hoagie on her desk. She was completing paperwork on a drunk driver, but her mind wasn't on it. How had her date last night with Addy, which had begun so pleasantly, turned into such a nightmare? Was Addy's indignation warranted, or was she covering something up? Karen shook her head to clear it so she could set aside her personal feelings and examine the facts.

She had only Tommy's word that Addy had asked him to keep quiet about Vinson. What kind of evidence was that? Was Tommy making something up, or was he giving her part of some greater picture? But what was that picture? She ma.s.saged her temples, trying to ward off a headache.

"Kaczarowski. In here."

Karen trudged to the chief's office and collapsed in the plastic chair. He motioned for her to close the door, and she gave it a shove.

"I've got McDonald on the speaker phone," he said. "Go ahead, McDonald."

"Officer. I had an interesting conversation last night with Addy Cooper. Would you care to share with me what you've got so far that leads you to suspect that she's involved in the murder of Scott Vinson?"

"She told you about that?" How could Addy confide in this jerk? "What exactly did she say?"

"She said you suspected her in his death. Why do you think that?"

"I don't have anything concrete and I'm not convinced."

"I needn't remind you that even though we're in this together, I'm in charge of this investigation. If you even suspect something, I want to know what it is. Remember, there's more at stake than the reporter here. The Chesapeake may be a target, and we need to stop the terrorists before a catastrophe occurs."

"Addy isn't a terrorist, for G.o.d's sake. And neither is her brother."

"Then tell me what's going on so I can help eliminate them from our list of suspects."

Karen hesitated. Liberty didn't understand Tommy and would take what he said out of context, make it into more than it might possibly be. However, what Tommy said was unusual even for him. She had to believe it had some merit. Why else would he say it?

"Sheriff?" Liberty demanded.

"Kaczarowski?" the chief asked.

Karen was annoyed by the federal prerogative, but gave in.

She told them of her conversation with Tommy and his revelation about Addy. When she finished, Liberty whistled.

"It doesn't prove anything," Karen said angrily. "Tommy could be playing some sort of game."

"Then why did you mention it to Addy last night? And why did she run out on you when you did?"

d.a.m.n it, Addy. Of course, Addy didn't know about McDonald, but it hurt that she had told the FBI agent about their quarrel. Addy would only confide in someone she was growing closer to. Liberty was using Addy to get information, and Karen couldn't stop her.

Frank, Abel, and Clarence waded in hip boots down by the water's edge. Frank had brought along fis.h.i.+ng gear in case someone came by and asked what they were doing. They bent over and reached into the water up to their armpits, blindly groping for the camera. Frank had made them scour the tall gra.s.s and weeds for nearly two hours, but they had come up empty. The police were sending divers the next morning, and Frank wanted to find the camera before the cops did. They would search their side of the inlet first, and later that night, they'd sneak over to their neighbors' property and inspect the waters there. If they couldn't locate it and the cops did, they were screwed.

"Found something," Abel said.

Frank waded over to where Abel was digging around in the muck. He straightened up and held something covered in mud, then stuck it back in the water to rinse it off. When he raised it again, he held it up for Frank's inspection.

"s.h.i.+t, it's a density gauge. G.o.d d.a.m.n it, Clarence. Get your a.s.s over here."

Clarence plowed through the water, his arms swinging across his chest as he tried to make his way. "What?"

"You're supposed to be burning this equipment, not dumping it into the inlet, you lame-a.s.s son of a b.i.t.c.h."

"I was burning it. I can't help it if the f.u.c.king barrel falls over sometimes and stuff falls into the water. What difference does it make?"

"It'll make a s.h.i.+tload of difference if the cops find it, you moron."