To Protect And Serve Part 9

what Sergeant Price says is correct." She stood, towering over Helen.

"We thought about your of cers for the lead position, but our target is a racist white male. He doesn't mind selling to African Americans, but he won't let them into his inner circle. We needed someone who can get close to him fast."

Helen locked stares with Alex and her look changed from de ance to acquiescence. "Very well. As you wish, Alex. So who takes the lead?"

"If you'll allow Sergeant Price to continue, she'll nish the a.s.signments." Alex motioned for Beth to resume. Helen Callahan would not come onto her turf and insult her of cers, past lover or not.

Keri suppressed a childish urge to stick out her tongue at Helen, give her a "so there," and slap a high ve with Alex. She'd watched the exchange between Helen and Alex with increasing annoyance.

Everything about Helen Callahan screamed s.e.x. Alex was obviously trying to remain focused, but Helen had a different agenda.

"Our primary team is of cers Steve Alston and Keri Morgan,"

Beth continued. "We'll try to insinuate Morgan into an undercover role with an informant."

Keri felt a shock charge her body. She hadn't expected to be a lead of cer on the case, just being a.s.signed was enough. But everything had just changed. The stakes were much higher now.

Helen shook her head, a disapproving frown crinkling the s.p.a.ce between her perfectly plucked brows. In a steely calm voice, she said, "You've got to be kidding. Look at her." And everyone did. "She's obviously as shocked by this a.s.signment as I am."

Keri's initial surprise and excitement turned quickly to anger as Helen unapologetically expressed her dissatisfaction in front of everyone.

Helen continued with the verbal a.s.sault. "Have you ever worked undercover? Have you even made a single drug arrest, ever?"

Before Keri could a.s.semble a reply, Alex said matter-of-factly, "Of cer Morgan has extensive drug experience and will serve as one of our lead investigators."

Keri could see the anger on Alex's face, but this was her ght.

"Lieutenant, if I may?" She knew how to deal with bullies. Helen was playing her game now.

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Secretly pleased, Alex nodded her approval.

Helen caught the exchange and her eyebrows arched.

Keri drew a deep breath and began. "Captain...Callahan, is it?

You're right on two counts. I am a little shocked. And I've never worked undercover."

The corners of Helen's mouth curled into a self-satis ed grin.

Keri kept her breathing steady and continued. "But you're wrong about my drug experience. I've made over two hundred drug arrests in the past two years and I've got an informant who can probably get us into Davis's inner circle."

Gasps sounded as the other of cers calculated the amount of time and focused attention that accomplishment required. Even Alex looked surprised and gave Beth a questioning glance.

"Now, if you still don't think I'm capable of running point on this operation, I'll defer to the better of cer, whoever that may be." Keri's knees shook under the table but she forced herself to remain steady and con dent.

Helen seemed taken aback. "I still think your lack of undercover experience will be a detriment, sweetie." Helen's condescending tone and lingering appraisal only slightly diminished Keri's feeling of victory as she leaned back in her chair.

"It looks like we've already got a foot in the door since Keri has an informant who may be useful," Beth said. "I'd like to break for a long lunch so you folks can get to know each other better. We'll meet back here at fourteen hundred hours."

The of cers gathered their paperwork and immediately hovered around Keri, escorting her out like a team of bodyguards. She was elated that her colleagues had taken to her so readily, but she couldn't help glancing back over her shoulder. What was going to happen when they left Alex alone with that woman? Beth must've been thinking the same thing because she hung back, taking far too long to get her notes together and tidy up the room. Alex watched as Keri was swept down the hallway.

"Lieutenant, you'll be joining us for lunch, won't you?" Beth asked. "The troops need to get a sense of both of us."

Helen spoke before Alex could respond. "Actually, we probably need to talk privately." She smiled up at Alex and licked her lips slowly.

* 90 *

"Don't you think, darling? I still have questions about the operation and this new kid."

"Well, if you have questions about Keri, you need to talk to me."

Beth glared at Helen. "I'm her immediate supervisor and know more about her than anyone."

"I'm sure that won't last long," Helen continued, eyeing Alex suspiciously.

"Just what the h.e.l.l does that mean?"

"I knew it...you've already got the hots for her. Have you f.u.c.ked her yet?"

Alex felt Beth bristle beside her. She knew her friend wanted to throttle Helen, but she shook her head, murmuring, "Let it go, Beth."

She nodded toward the hallway. "I've got this. Close the door on your way out."

Helen gave a patronizing smirk and red another slam. "It's gratifying to see such devotion from the women who want to f.u.c.k you.

We're certainly a loyal though small group of thwarted rejects. I hope Little Miss Innocent can stand the heartbreak when it's over."

Alex cautioned Beth with another sharp look and waited for her to leave, then Helen purred, "Thank G.o.d, alone at last." She scooted up on the conference table, spread her legs, and reached for Alex.

"Don't even think about it." Alex's words sounded much more con dent than she felt as she tried to step back from Helen's grasp.

But Helen caught her around the waist in one swift motion and guided her between her parted thighs. She wrapped her legs around Alex and locked her in place. With her right index nger she traced the outline of Alex's lips. "I'm way beyond thinking about it, darling."

Alex squirmed backward, trying unsuccessfully to free herself from Helen's clutches. "We're in a police facility, for G.o.d's sake, Helen. Anyone could walk in."

"And I know how you love that fear of getting caught." The ngers of Helen's left hand slid up the inside of her leg and disappeared under her short skirt. "I'm already wet...feel."

"No, d.a.m.n you, I won't. Let go of me." But in spite of her words, Alex's physical responses had already begun. Her neck and face grew warm. Moisture gathered between her legs and her mouth dried. It happened every time Helen unleashed her ultimate weapon. Something * 91 *

about the way she just took charge, with no doubts and no hesitation, like no one could possibly refuse her. And Alex never had.

"You want it as much as I do," Helen whispered into her ear. "I can feel you getting hot. I can smell it."

Sparks shot through Alex's body as Helen's tongue rimmed her ear and stroked down the side of her neck. Her mind was screaming, "Snap out of it, get control of yourself," but the sensation felt so good, she heard an audible moan and feared her body had betrayed her out loud. Helen's soft chuckle provided con rmation.

"Come here, baby. I know what you need."

Alex froze. How dare this b.i.t.c.h claim to know what I need? "Oh, h.e.l.l no, you don't. Let go of me, now." All the energy that had fueled her pa.s.sion morphed into anger. Alex raised her arms with such force when she broke free that Helen slid backward onto the table.

The conference room door ew open and slammed against the wall as Keri barged into the room. "I forgot my car keys..." Her face paled. "What the h.e.l.l?"

Keri fought a wave of sheer fury as she took in the sight of Helen Callahan's body splayed across the conference room table with her skirt above her thighs. The woman was pure s.e.x and she was obviously working her witchery on Alex. How dare she come into a police facility and act like a s.l.u.t? In the next instant Keri knew her contempt was less about the violation of sacred police s.p.a.ce and more about the violation of Alex's body.

Helen rose up on her elbows and laughed at her. "What's the matter, sweetie, jealous? Why don't you run along? We've got some un nished business here. Or haven't you had the pleasure yet of seeing what Alex looks like when she's aroused?"

Alex reacted immediately, leaning toward Helen with cold menace.

"Get out of my building. Now."

Helen took her time sliding off the table and straightening her clothing. As she walked toward the door, she blew Alex a kiss and said, "See you later, lover." Her laughter echoed down the hallway as she exited.

Alex turned toward Keri Morgan. The shock and disillusion in her eyes was unmistakable. Now this young of cer would think she was not only a spiteful ladder-climbing opportunist but also a s.e.x-craved woman who couldn't control her appet.i.tes on the job. "It's not what * 92 *

it looks like." The explanation sounded lame, and Keri's face said she wasn't buying it.

Without a word, she grabbed her keys and slammed out of the room.

Seconds later, Beth Price walked back in. "What was that about? I just saw Keri running out of here like her a.s.s was on re."

"She walked in on one of Helen's ner moments-draped across the table half naked."

"Don't tell me you let that s.k.a.n.ky b.i.t.c.h touch you again."

"She tried, and I got caught up in the attraction for a second. She's like an Altoid, curiously strong." Alex shook her head as the reality of what almost happened sank in.

"Haven't you learned anything?"

Alex threw up her hands. "So I'm a little h.o.r.n.y. Shoot me."

Beth stared at her for a split second before breaking into laughter.

"You're sick, Troy."

"She has that effect."

"If you're that hard up to get laid, I know several women who'd love to have a go at you and they wouldn't cause any trouble. h.e.l.l, I'll even give you, a pity f.u.c.k if that's what you need." Beth paused as if considering her last statement. "Strike that. Tammy would kill my a.s.s."

"And mine," Alex said dryly.

Beth lifted Alex's briefcase from the chair and motioned toward the door. "Lunch?"

They didn't speak again until they drove out of the lot and were on their way to the designated lunch spot. Alex wished Beth would just drop the subject, but her friend loathed Helen and she also had responsibility for the team. In her position, Alex would want to know if personal dynamics would compromise the investigation.

Before she could offer some rea.s.surance that Helen was dealt with, Beth demanded, "I really need to know what's going on. You said you were done with Helen and now you're playing grab a.s.s with her in the conference room. What gives?"

"I let it go too far. Her persistence was attering again for about half a second, but you can bet your sweet a.s.s that I'm not getting mixed up with Helen Callahan again, ever. Now, can I get a little slack?"

Beth tapped the steering wheel absently. In a troubled tone, she asked, "Are you still in love with her?"

* 93 *

"G.o.d, no! Haven't you ever been with somebody who just makes you crazy every time they touch you?"

"Yeah, but it's a good kind of crazy and I'm living with her. Helen is a head case and you know it."

"You're right, and I plan to stay far away from her." Alex meant it, and for the first time since the relationship had ended, she knew she was strong enough to deal with Helen.

"I told you she'd use the task force as an excuse to reel you back into her smarmy clutches."

"That's not going to happen."

Beth gave Alex a sideways grin. "If it's just about the s.e.x, we need to get you laid, fast, and I've got the perfect candidate." She pulled into a parking s.p.a.ce in front of the pizza house and pointed to Keri Morgan entering the restaurant.

"Talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the re. No, thanks."

Alex got out of the car. "I can't afford a distraction on this case. Not with Helen or Keri."

"I know, but didn't you love the way she stood up to Helen?"

Alex thought about Keri standing her ground and defending herself. "That was de nitely a thing of beauty. That girl's got potential.

I just might take her under my wing and teach her a thing or two...about police work."

Beth grinned. "Yeah, right. Let's go eat."

"If you don't mind, I'm going back to the of ce. I need to clear my head and nish the op plan so I can get it to the chief. You can get a ride back, can't you?"

"Sure, boss, whatever you need."

But it wasn't her head or the op plan Alex needed to work on, it was the tumultuous waves of feeling that racked her body and mind.

After four years on an emotional roller coaster with Helen and a year of simply being afraid to express herself at all, it was almost joyful to feel something positive and to have a sense that she could trust herself again. But the timing of her newly realized feelings was way off. The job had to come first. Still, Alex realized that she was running. Right now, she couldn't face the intensity of Keri Morgan's blue eyes, searching, questioning, and maybe discovering things Alex could not disguise.

* 94 *

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Yeah, I can give you Sonny Davis, but it's gonna cost you."