Beneath The Silk

“But she’s innocent, Ma.”

“A few minutes ago you asked me what I’ve been hearing, like your mind wasn’t made up. Now you say she’s innocent.” Lavina shook her head. “I can tell you this much, she doesn’t look like a victim.”

Mouth-watering curves outlined in red silk flashed behind Jackson’s eyes. No, he decided, a woman showing off smother-me-please breasts to the degree Sunni had tonight didn’t look like a victim. But did being beautiful and owning a million-dollar chest make her a murderess?

“Women who look like that are dangerous, Jackson. Look what happened to Frank Masado. Grace Tandi was the most beautiful woman alive. Frank knew better than to sleep with his best friend’s wife, so why did he? I’ll tell you why. Because Grace tricked him into thinking with his Johnson instead of his head.”

Jackson grinned. “His what, Ma?”

“You know what I’m talking about.” She scowled when Jackson chuckled. “Maybe you should warn Joey to be careful. And take a little of that advice for yourself.”

Jackson snorted. “Warn Joe? Like he would listen to me any more than Lucky would.”

“You underestimate yourself, Jackson. I can still picture you boys lined up on the couch in the living room watching cartoons. You three used to belly-laugh together so hard that you would turn blue and almost stop breathing. You camped together. Went to movies. Shared spaghetti off the same plate. Slept out in the rain together in that old leaky clubhouse in the backyard. Those two boys had a hand in shaping you, and making you who you are today. And contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t Frank who made Joey and Lucky who they are. Who they really are, anyway.” Lavina patted her son’s arm, then pushed his coffee cup toward him and raised hers in a salute. “Friends forever, Jackson. To the end and beyond.”

Jackson raised his cup, then downed the strong coffee and stood. He’d left Mac asleep on the couch, and more than likely something in the apartment needed rescuing by now—the desk chair, the bedspread…his T-shirt. “So if I get a chance to pick you up a pair of underwear at Silks in the next day or two, what color do you fancy, Ma? Widow-spider black, or chili-pepper, too-hot-to-handle red?”

Lavina took a wild swing at her son and missed. “What would a woman my age do with silk drawers?”

Jackson leaned down and kissed his mother’s cheek, then whispered, “Give Charlie a thrill. It’s his birthday next month, right?” As he headed for the door, he tossed over his shoulder, “Maybe a better present would be saying yes next time he asks you to marry him.”

Chapter 3

A strange feeling raised the hair on the back of Sunni’s neck. It was as if she and Joey had chased a thief out the back door as they had come through the front door.

But that was impossible. She was just spooked, is all. And the blame rested squarely on Rambo’s broad shoulders—that wicked grin he’d flashed her a second before he’d walked away from their table had gotten her so flustered her imagination was playing tricks on her.

Sunni shoved the green-eyed demon from her thoughts and concentrated on getting Joey Masado out of her apartment as soon as possible. She said, “You wanted to talk privately. So talk.”

“Who’s your decorator?”

She glanced toward her dinner date and found him standing in the middle of her living room studying her taste in decor. “Me.” As a good host, she was forced to ask, “Would you care for something to drink? Beer? Wine? Something stronger?”

“Beer would be fine. I like all the color.”

The Crown Plaza was an upscale apartment complex, but the sterility of white walls and white carpets had driven Sunni on a quest to bring a touch of warmth into her home. She loved bold colors, especially red, and had painted the living room raspberry red, and her kitchen and small dining room, a shade lighter.

A sculptured glass coffee table separated a pair of mustard-yellow leather sofas. Wing chairs in raspberry-and-green-rose-patterned tapestry were used as accents. A number of expensive Tiffany lamps also expressed Sunni’s love for color—her favorite a one-of-a-kind Calafar with a giant red-and-amber shade that stood behind one of the sofas. A built-in bookshelf hinted that Sunni’s interest in roses was more than just casual—her book collection was as extensive as the fragrant collection she had in her greenhouse.

A dozen damask and silk pillows scattered throughout the living room gave the space a female-shrine feeling, as did the bone china in her kitchen cupboards, and the fresh-cut roses in colorful vases that could be found in every room—even the bathroom.

“Maybe I should have you make a few suggestions for brightening up my suite at Masado Towers.”

He turned and Sunni was surprised to find him smiling. The spare expression softened his dramatic good looks and made him appear more human. She rounded the island counter and took one step up to enter the kitchen. As she retrieved the requested beer, she said, “I’m sure you can find someone far more qualified.”

Beer in hand, she turned around, knowing that he had followed her into the kitchen. She handed him the beverage, avoiding his warm brown eyes, and headed back into the living room.

“Are you afraid of me?”

She would be a fool to admit it, but she wouldn’t lie. Sunni leveled him a look from behind one of the leather sofas. “You said you had something to discuss with me.”

“First let me say that I’m not here to force myself on you. So relax. You’re beautiful, and I’m sure a night in your bed would be memorable, but I never mix business with pleasure. Tonight is business.”

Sunni raised her chin. “Then state your business.”

“I know about the deal Milo proposed to you several weeks ago.”

He knew about the partnership. How?

Suddenly the room felt too warm. Sunni rounded the sofa and headed for the sliding glass door. She brushed aside the sheer curtain to unlock it, but it was already open. Momentarily surprised, she reminded herself of the fresh roses she’d cut that morning in the greenhouse. She must have forgotten to relock it…again.

“Tomas knew the day Milo approached you. Was that all he wanted from you, just the silent partnership?”

The fall breeze lifted the curtain’s hem as Sunni stood gazing at the dark sky. “Milo Tandi’s deal included some perks, as he called them. But his image of himself, at least in my book, was terribly overrated.

“Unlike me, Milo liked to mix business with pleasure.”

“He didn’t hide the fact that he was interested in me personally, but his interest in the partnership was what we talked about. I told him I wasn’t interested.” Sunni turned to face him. “Why are you still smiling? I thought you would be angry.”

“I’m smiling because seeing Milo’s expression when you told him no would have been worth a cool million. He doesn’t get told no that often.”

“True, he didn’t like hearing it. That’s why he kept the offer on the table.”

“Meaning he pressured you?”

“He died before it came to that. But, yes, I think he would have gotten heavy-handed eventually.”

“Would he have been successful…eventually?”

“I’ve sacrificed a lot to make Silks a success. It’s mine. I created it, and I should be the one to own it. Completely.”

His smile widened. “Very good answer, Sunni. Now, I’m told you have a greenhouse on your terrace. Will you show it to me?”

“You like roses?”

“Is that hard to believe?”

“Honestly?”

“I would appreciate it.”

“Yes. You don’t look like the flowery type.”

His sudden laugh was rich and open. It brought a hint of boyish charm to him that Sunni found attractive.

Inside the greenhouse, she showed him the climbing William Baffins and Celsianas. The long blooming rugosas. England’s impressive white Yorks and red Lancasters were some of the most fragrant.

“You did good tonight.” Joey leaned across the long work table to take a delicate white Rosa soulieana into his hand and sniff. “If we keep the game going, Williams will back off. These smell like heaven, Sunni.” He turned and guided her onto the terrace. In one corner an iron table and two chairs attracted him and he sat.

Sunni remained standing. She said, “I’m confused why you would care one way or the other whether I’m a suspect in the Tandi murder.”

“It’s important to Masado Towers’ image. Don’t get me wrong. I believe you’re innocent. But a full-scale investigation would be awkward for us. I supplied the alibi as added insurance until Williams wakes up and starts looking in a different direction.”

It made sense. An intense investigation for a family connected with the organization could pose serious problems.

She regretted wearing the revealing red shift. She could feel Joey dissecting her again and she turned away, her gaze locking on the fourth floor apartment across the alley. The room was dark at the Wilchard. Was Rambo there, sitting in the dark watching them, or was he still out?

“Did you hear what I said?”

No, she hadn’t. Sunni turned. “What?”

“I asked if you were afraid to stay here alone.”

She came forward and pulled the chair away from the table and sat across from him. “Should I be?”

“Vito Tandi will be hunting for Milo’s killer, as will the police. I could put you up at Masado Towers if you like.”

“But I’m innocent, remember?”

“Innocent, but alone. On your lease you didn’t list any sisters or brothers. And with both of your parents deceased, there’s no one to protect you.”

Sunni nodded, even now determined to keep the lie her secret. It was true what she had told him a short time ago. She had worked too hard to turn Silks into a success. “I’m fine, really.”

“I can protect you, Sunni. You can trust that.”

His declaration prompted her to question whether or not she should tell him about Rambo. But if they were friends, maybe he already knew that his fratello was staying at the Wilchard. No, Rambo had lied. He’d told Joey he’d just gotten into town, which meant he no longer lived in Chicago.

He drained his beer quickly, set the bottle on the table, then stood. “I’m good at what I do, Sunni. But you’re going to have to do your part, too.”

“My part? I don’t understand.”

He reached out and pulled her to her feet and kissed her. Kissed her quickly, like a man who had the capability to be as tender as he could be cruel.

As Sunni tried to shove him away, he slid his strong hand up her back and crushed her full breasts against him. He nuzzled her neck, whispered, “Someone’s watching us. A shadow at the apartment window across the alley. No, don’t look. It’s show time, Sunni. Kiss your alibi like a woman in love.”

Jackson backed away from the window, but not before the image of Sunni wrapped in Joey’s arms revisited him. He had to admit that the kiss he’d just witnessed could have started wet paper on fire.

Clide was going to chew both their heads off, he thought. Sunni’s for sleeping behind enemy lines, and his for being the elected sucker to confirm the ugly fact to his boss.

At least Clide would be happy to hear that Sunni hadn’t made his suspect list. In four days’ time he had narrowed Milo’s killer down to a list of four possibilities. The bad news was Frank Masado had made the list. Which meant that if he’d moved on Milo, it would have been Lucky who would have made the hit.

Aware of how little time he had to solve the case, Jackson turned on the floor lamp next to the old desk. Like always, he’d easily become obsessed with the case. But, he admitted, this time was worse. He knew the people involved, and a few of those people were important to him. If it took all night, he was determined to narrow down the suspect list to two instead of four.

Resigned, he peeled off his T-shirt and tossed it on the bed. Mac opened one eye, spied Jackson’s shirt a foot from his nose, and with the skill of a master sneak, he slid his paw forward and pulled his partner’s only hole-free T-shirt toward him. A few well-placed nudges, and the cotton lump became a pillow for his wide scarred head.

Jackson eyed his partner, then glanced at the jeans he had left on the chair before leaving to have supper with his mother. The jeans were now on the floor, and one ass-end pocket was missing.

Shaking his head, he went to work. An hour later, distracted by Mac’s whining, he looked over his shoulder to see the K-9 struggling in sleep—trapped in an obvious nightmare he couldn’t forget.

The facts were that Mac had lost Nate two years ago, and Jackson had lost Tom a little over three. They had nothing in common, save the sudden and tragic loss of their partners, and yet that was the cement that had kept Jackson from returning Mac to the pound five weeks ago—that, and the fact that the canine was on the List.

Mac rolled onto his side, still whining and twitching. It was then that Jackson saw it, a flash of red.

“What’s that, Mac?”

At the sound of his name, the dog jerked awake.

On his feet, Jackson moved to the bed, his hand reaching out to uncover the mystery. But Mac wasn’t feeling too obliging. Guarding his treasure, he growled low in his throat.

“Take it easy,” Jackson warned.

When Mac relented and turned his head away in resigned submission, Jackson sent his hand beneath the dog’s furry coat. When his fingers locked around the silky red strip, he pulled, and the mystery literally sprang forward, snapping Jackson in the chest. “What the hell… So this is why you didn’t give a damn about going outside to take a leak when I got home.”

Jackson was addressing Mac, but his gaze was locked on the sexy red bra that dangled from his fingertips—a bra that looked surprisingly familiar.

It wasn’t hard to figure out where Mac had gotten his loot. The Crown Plaza had a similar fire escape. It would have taken Mac less than five minutes to leave the Wilchard by way of the window, cross the alley and get on Sunni’s terrace.

Jackson turned and stared out the window. The case files concerning Mac had ranked him as the number-one dog in the precinct’s K-9 unit. If a door or window wasn’t locked, he was in…or out, whichever the case may be.

He was still staring out the window, still balancing Sunni’s bra on the end of his index finger, when his cell phone rang. He snatched it off the desk and jammed it to his ear. “Yeah?”

“Ward?”

Clide. “Chief, how’s it going?”

“That’s my line, Ward. I thought I told you to stay in touch. What that means is I want to be kept abreast of everything that’s going on.”

No, he didn’t, Jackson thought as he brought the sexy bra to his nose and inhaled deeply. It was hers, all right—there was no doubt. He would never forget how wonderful Sunni Blais had smelled as he stood downwind of her at the restaurant. He had never smelled anything better in his life, and he had always thought that nothing could top the mix of delicious smells coming from Caponelli’s kitchen.

“So tell me what you got so far. Anything we can sink our teeth into?”

Jackson ran his tongue over his front teeth, his imagination playing with the idea.

“Ward? I said, what evidence have you uncovered? Give me something that’ll make me rest easier tonight?”

Jackson thought a minute. “I got a suspect list.”

“Hell, that’s good news. How’s Sunni? Keeping a close eye on her? What’s she been up to tonight.”

Jackson moved the expensive piece of lingerie through his fingers. “Ah, she’s…home.”

“Safe and sound. Good. Good work, Ward.”

Jackson tucked a delicate red strap into the waistband of his jeans, then rifled through the papers on the desk. “You suppose if I sent you a couple of names you could run a check on them?”

“That’s a damn fine idea, Ward. I’ll convince the doc I need my computer. I’ll have Ry bring it in. E-mail me the names and I’ll have him do the legwork for us.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Keep up the good work, Ward, and remember…whatever it takes to get Sunni in the clear, do it. You got my blessing to raise a little hell.”

When Clide disconnected, Jackson tossed the phone on the bed beside Mac, then sauntered to the window. Sunni and Joe were no longer on the terrace, and the living room was dark. A dim light shone through the bedroom curtain.

The possibility that Joe was there spending the night in Sunni’s bed bothered him more than it should. But then any man with half a brain would want to be in Joe’s shoes, or out of them as the case may be.

For the next hour Jackson stood in front of the window and chain-smoked like a drunk on a bender. Then, just when he had convinced himself he needed to go back to work, a shadow appeared behind the curtain. For a long minute it stood there unmoving, then the curtain was swept back to reveal Sunni in a pale blue robe silhouetted against her dimly lit bedroom.

She knew he was there. Her focus went straight to the Wilchard’s fourth-floor window. Their gazes locked, minutes dragged by. Jackson wondered what she was thinking as she stood there like a statue.

He lit a cigarette.

More minutes.

Then she stepped back and let the curtain drop.

Her light went out seconds later, but Jackson didn’t move. He lit another cigarette. Two more cigarettes came and went.

Conceding that he was up for the rest of the night—up, as in straight as an arrow and stone hard—he went back to work with Sunni’s bra still tucked into his waistband, wishing he had taken the time to figure out how to fix the plumbing.

Chapter 4

Sunni knew she should have called her father, explained the mess she was in, then asked for help. It would have been the most reasonable and the most responsible thing to do. And she would have done just that if she hadn’t been so sure that she’d lose her lease for Silks and be tossed out of Masado Towers on her ear.

And after that, Joey would have no reason one way or the other to continue to be her alibi. She wouldn’t only be out of business, she’d be in jail.

It had been such a small lie. Well, not that small…but harmless. She’d just wanted Silks to have the best location possible in the city, and Masado Towers was simply the best.

Sunni was in the kitchen still dissecting her grim situation when a knock sounded at the front door. She glanced at her blue silk robe, debating whether she should make a quick change or pretend she wasn’t home. The second knock forced her to the door to investigate. She leaned into the door, closed one eye and focused the other on the peephole.

“Omigod… I’m dead.”

Sunni’s life—past and future—flashed before her eyes. She pressed her hand to her throat, tried to swallow.

Another knock.

“He’s finally made his move,” she whispered, choking on the words. Would they talk first? she wondered. Or would he just kill her…quick? Or maybe not so quick.

The idea of being dead, no matter how Rambo achieved it, sent Sunni scrambling into her bedroom. Throwing one of her fluffy pillows to the floor, she snatched up her loaded .22—if she was going to die, she wouldn’t go down without a fight, she decided.

Sunni emerged from the bedroom with the .22 automatic gripped in her hand, just as she heard Rambo call out, “Sis, you there?”

Sis…

“Come on, Sis. Open up. It’s me.”

She knew who it was, and her neighbor no doubt did, too—his voice was loud as a bell. Sunni looked out the peephole once more. “Not too smart, Rambo. A man bent on murder doesn’t want witnesses.”

Witnesses…

Of course, that was it. What she needed was a witness. Before Sunni could second-guess her genius idea, she slid the .22 into her robe pocket and unlocked the door. Please, Edna, be nosy today, she silently prayed, then flung the door wide and bolted through it.

In a flash of blue silk, she was past Rambo. Another second and she was pounding on Edna’s door. “Edna! Edna!”

In a jiffy the elderly woman in 404 swung her door open. “Yes, dear?”

“Look at this man, Edna.” Sunni spun on her heels and jabbed the air with a nervous finger in the direction of her early-morning caller. “Take a good look, Edna. If you read in the Tribune tomorrow that I was found in my apartment with my throat slit, call the police and give them this man’s description. Green eyes, Edna. Dark hair, almost black. He hasn’t shaved in days.”

“Five, to be exact,” Rambo supplied. “That’s if you want to count today.”

Edna angled her head and squinted Jackson Ward into focus. “He looks tall, dear. How tall did you say?”

“Very tall, Edna. He must be—”

“Six three.”

“Three, Edna. He said he’s six thr—” Sunni snapped her mouth shut and glanced back to find Rambo leaning comfortably against her doorjamb. He was wearing jeans and a brown leather jacket along with an amused smile that didn’t exactly make him look nasty or dangerous. Or much like a hit man.

“Handsome? Is he a looker, Sunni? His voice is sure nice.”

Edna’s question went unanswered, but not for long. Suddenly she shuffled forward in her pink terry-towel bathrobe, fuzzy pink bunny slippers and pink sponge rollers—nine, to be exact. She was three feet from Rambo when Sunni rushed forward and jerked Edna to a stop. “Wait. What are you doing?”

“Getting a closer look, dear.” Edna stretched her birdlike neck and licked her crooked lips as she dissected Rambo as if he were the dessert special for Thursday night bingo. Finally, she asked, “Who is he, again?” To Sunni’s surprise, Rambo shoved away from the doorjamb and stuck out his hand to her elderly neighbor. “Hi, Edna. I’m Jackson, Sunni’s older brother. The one she never talks about.”

“Brother? No, I don’t believe she mentioned you.”

“I’m not surprised. I’m the black sheep in the family.”

When Edna reached for his hand, Sunni’s jaw dropped. “You are not—”

One minute Rambo was shaking Edna’s hand, and the next minute he had successfully captured Sunni around the waist. A quick jerk forward and her body collided with a slab of iron. A solid squeeze after that—using only one arm around her waist—he lifted her off her feet. “God, it’s good to see you, Sis.”

Another hard squeeze successfully stripped the air from her lungs, and she fought to speak. As she sucked in air, his male scent rushed up to greet her—that and the smell of sweet tobacco and mint toothpaste.

“I should have called first,” he told her. “Forgive me, Sis? Please?”

The question wasn’t meant to be answered. He followed it up with a fast kiss planted square on her open mouth. Startled, Sunni jerked her head back only to hear him swear softly, then he thrust his free hand to the back of her head and forced her mouth to meet his once more. Their eyes locked in a battle of wills, he whispered, “Be nice,” then clamped his shiny white teeth around her lower lip and hung on.

Behind them, Edna said, “Oh, dear, would you look at the time. I had no idea it was so late. Jeopardy starts in three minutes. I hope I can move that fast.”

Flattened against Rambo, dangling a foot off the floor with her lip caught between his teeth, Sunni heard Edna’s famous slipper-shuffle start back to her apartment. Desperate to keep the elderly woman in the hall, she jerked her head back, only to wince in pain when sharp teeth clamped down hard to keep her silent.

Edna’s retreating shuffle stopped. “You two have a nice family reunion.” Then the sound of her door closing resigned Sunni to whatever fate Rambo had planned for her.

She squeezed her eyes shut as he stepped inside her apartment and closed the door. Sunni felt his arm loosen up around her waist enough to allow air to filter back into her lungs. Eyes still closed, her lip still caught between his teeth, her heart beat like an African drum in her chest.

A minute must have elapsed before he released her lip. Afraid to open her eyes, Sunni opted to keep them closed. That is, until something warm and wet slid over her lower lip. The unexpected sensation brought her eyes open in one quick blink.