Page 9

CHAPTER 9

Diesel

Willow is putting a very resistant Eizlee Jane down for her afternoon nap. Been there, done that, I chuckle. It’s probably going to be a five-book struggle. Which reminds me to order some new books. I wish I could risk taking them to a bookstore.

Putting in my earbuds I cue up a current song and start practicing my moves. The beat of the music always drove me, and the physicality comes naturally. I like dancing. Now I only want to do it for my pleasure.

An image of Willow in a wispy gown pops in my head and I imagine the two of us swirling to a Salsa or Rumba, our bodies temping and teasing as we lightly brush each other, our legs intertwine. Then slowly taking the moves to bed where I can show her the attention and affection she deserves. So beautiful, so hot.

Shit. Just the thought is making me hard. Damn, it’s been a long time since I’ve wanted a woman like this. Actually wanted something more than release.

A lot of people judged me for what I did to support my sister. They can shove it. I took care of her when we couldn’t get help from anyone else like social services or the church.

The holier than thou minister was banging his secretary while his wife sat at home and he preached celibacy from the pulpit. The clerk at social services said we didn’t qualify but she had a fake account she was funneling money to for herself. I may not have skills like I-Tee, but they weren’t that clever either. I busted them both before I left town.

I wish I’d have been there for Willow when she needed someone.

My phone beeps and I see a text from I-Tee.

I-Tee: There’s more going on with your girl than you think. The apartment she was living in belongs to an old guy who’s in the hospital. She’s been squatting. Diego lifted a couple prints. We discreetly ran them. There’s a warrant for her in connection to a murder. Her real name is Etta Willow Burke. Raven wants us to hold tight and just watch her. Something about the warrant: how it was written, what it doesn’t say, is bothering her. Silo will be there soon to watch her and Eizlee. We’ll keep checking. Watch your six.

Me: We know there are cops on the take, they could be setting her up.

I-Tee: Roger that.

Twenty minutes later Willow comes out of the bedroom. “Tough one?”

“She did not want to sleep. Four books and finally zonked out in the middle of the fifth. She—she keeps asking for Mama?—”

Tears are streaming down her face. I pull her into my arms and against my chest. “I know. It breaks my heart too. I’ll reach out to my friend who’s a doctor to see how to handle this, or at least for direction.”

Stepping out of my arms she swipes at her cheeks. “You need to leave. You need to take her and go back to your home where she’ll be safe. You shouldn’t get involved. You’re all she has.”

“She has you.”

“As much as I lo—care about here, I don’t get to keep her. She isn’t mine. And she deserves someone better than me. I couldn’t even help her mom.”

“You warned Vicky. That’s all any of us can do.”

“I should have said more, told her more. Made her listen. I should have….” She spins away from me. “I should have done something more than run.”

“You had Eizlee. Run is what you needed to do. But anything else you remember about the night she died could be helpful. Or when the guy was talking to her earlier in the day, if you heard anything.”

She shakes her head.

“The package her visitor brought her. Could you tell what was inside? Was it a box, a bag? Was there a logo?”

“It was a bag, pink. Probably from the Sweet Tooth. That’s her favorite candy shop. The white macadamia chocolate truffles.”

I laugh. “Yeah, I remember I must have gone every other day for her when I was visiting. Did he take the bag when he left?”

“No.”

“Did you see it when you found Eizlee?”

She shakes her head. Grabbing my phone I dial Diego.

“Have Raven check the report from my sister’s crime scene. There should have been a pink bag, probably from The Sweet Tooth with a box of candy tagged and catalogued. Even if it was empty, it would have been in the trash.

“Do we have the autopsy report back? If it was drugs, how were they administered? The candy could have been doctored without her knowledge. If the bag is missing, either the killer came back to retrieve the evidence or one of the cops working the scene was doing clean up.

“Have they found the missing baby cam? Has I-Tee been able to hack into it?”

“Slow down, man,” Diego breaks in. “Let me get all this. I do know they have not found the baby cam. I’ll get the rest of this info to Raven and see what she says.”

“Thanks.”

When I glance up, Willow has gone pale and looks like she might bolt at any second. I slip my phone into the pocket of my jeans. “Willow, what’s wrong? Talk to me. Babe.”

“Can someone really hack into a baby cam and see the files?”

“Depending on the server and the model, yes. Vicky had a sims card on hers, but I don’t think she ever linked to the vendor server. I was going to do it for her next time I visited.”

“I have her baby cam. I— I took it in case…”

“You didn’t want to be seen on the camera. I know you’re keeping something from me, Willow. I don’t believe you would hurt my sister or the baby. I wish you could trust me to help you. You know about me, what I’ve done. I’m a no judgement zone. Maybe I can help you, too.”

She nods and heads to her room, coming back with the cam. “I was afraid someone would see me come in and think I’d done something. Technically I was breaking and entering even though I had a key.”

“I understand. Vicky wouldn’t have shown you the hidden key if she didn’t trust you.”

Taking the cam from her, I hook it up to my computer to download everything, so we have back up of what’s on the device. Together we watch through when Vicky puts Eizlee down for her nap and the multiple times she comes to check on her. We hear the knock on the door, but the cam isn’t pointed that direction and the voices are too low to really follow. When the guy turns to leave. I focus in on his wristwatch and snap a couple shots on my phone. Vicky takes the bag to the kitchen and pulls out the box leaving both on the counter. Twice she goes to the box and walks away.

The third time we hear her mutter, “What the hell. No sense letting good chocolate go to waste.”

She pops one in her mouth, and you can see the delight on her face. Shortly after, Vicky looks toward the camera. A knowing expression crosses her face, and she mutters, “Diesel, save my baby.”

Vicky slumps to the floor. A while later Eizlee, comes out from her converted crib and spends almost six hours alone trying to wake her mom. After fast forwarding though a lot we get to the part where Willow comes in and ultimately disconnects the machine.

They just left the baby there. Alone. Willow saved Eizlee.