A Cold Day in Hell Read online

  He thrust his pelvis against her face. His erection forced against black cotton briefs…and Gracie’s mouth. And she glanced up only once at the way he threw his head back and the veins strained in his neck.

  Nipping, sucking, she worked over him until the cotton was sodden and Chuck breathed in sobs. She felt him start to go over the edge and thumped her mouth against him.

  Abruptly, he released her arms, stepped back and got rid of the briefs, then he lifted her, rotated her, dropped her on the bed and opened his mouth on her. Gracie shuddered, twisted her hips. “I can’t,” she panted. “Come here, Chuck.” She had never met another man with a tongue like his.

  The first ripple of her climax started. Grinning, Chuck lifted his head and flipped her onto her belly.

  “Don’t stop now,” Gracie cried.

  He slapped her bottom; slapped it again and again. “I won’t stop, baby. We’ve only just started.”

  Gracie teetered, awash in the one pain she welcomed. “I’ll help you get what you want,” she cried. “You tell me what to do and I’ll do it. I’ll always do what you want.” Agitation built until she thrashed around, reaching for him.

  He stopped her with one stab of hot, hard flesh. “Now we’re singing the same song. It’s all about Chuck because you like it that way. Now move with me,” he said on a hiss, and their rhythm set up as perfectly as if no years had passed since the last time.

  Gracie’s laughter came in jagged shrieks.

  16

  Time to change the balance of power.

  He who thinks he calls all the shots needs an attitude adjustment.

  Once Eileen left Finn’s third-story offices in the Oakdale Mansion, she rode his elevator to the ground floor, then ran up a single flight of stairs to the open balcony surrounding the second floor. A few specialty shops, small professional offices, a coffee shop and a bistro occupied the commercial spaces there.

  From a table by the balcony railing outside the coffee shop, she had a good view of both the entrance to the building and Finn’s elevator door.

  Visions of how she’d blurted out details of the shooting at Angel’s, and where she’d been when it took place, brought blood rushing into her face yet again.

  She seethed. Angel and Finn, or probably just Angel, had set her up.

  Angel’s motorcycle stood in a parking spot in front of the mansion. Convenient. She could see it from where she was and if she had to sit outside the coffee shop until morning, she didn’t intend to leave until she had confronted Mr. DeAngelo, alone.

  He was too sure of himself. All that silently observant, distant confidence—his face for the world—brought him the respect of most. Well, Eileen was confident, too, and with the way he must have talked Finn into getting her to the Duhon offices today, he’d stepped over the line.

  He would wither under her cleverly controlled rage. She’d make sure he knew it was there, but she’d practice a little poker face of her own.

  She kicked a balcony railing, hard, and grabbed for her foot. Damn it, now she’d probably broken a toe.

  The waitress, Mary-Jo, refilled Eileen’s coffee cup. “I love this time of year,” the woman said, wiping her free hand on her bright orange apron. “The place looks like the North Pole. And I never get tired of the music.”

  A decorated tree stood in the center of the main floor and lighted garlands draped the balcony handrails. Tinsel and glitter adorned every spare inch.

  “It’s pretty,” Eileen said, grateful for the diversion.

  “The fair’s next weekend,” Mary-Jo said, a big smile brightening her round face. “I’m lookin’ forward to that. I saw your boy over on Main Street working on the decorations. It’s really going to be a show. They’re putting up a Christmas village.”

  “Emma Duhon’s in charge so it’ll be something,” Eileen said. “I’m glad Aaron picked up some extra hours over there. He needs new shocks on that old Impala of his. I’ll never be able to complain that he isn’t a worker.”

  “He’s a nice boy.” Mary-Jo patted Eileen’s shoulder and her look communicated that, like everyone else in Pointe Judah, she knew Aaron had been through his troubles but he was okay now.

  “Thanks,” Eileen said.

  “He’s a looker, too, and mature. Looks older than sixteen or seventeen. It’s a good thing he takes after your family. He could be Finn’s brother.”

  Eileen didn’t say, much younger, or mention that Finn didn’t wear his dark, curly hair slicked back into a tail. “Don’t you tell Aaron that. He’s already got a big head.”

  Mary-Jo moved to another table. Aaron was doing well. What did worry Eileen was the possibility that Chuck could shake their son’s determination to get the best education he could. “Get through high school, then go on the rigs,” Chuck used to tell him. “More schooling is a waste of time when you can be making good money.” Not for the first time, she puzzled over Chuck being in Pointe Judah on a so-called break when he had lived for his big paychecks and to throw money around with cronies, for so long.

  Emma Duhon pushed open the front door on the floor below and came in. Eileen hoped she got pleasure out of the tree that worm, Finn, had used as bait to get Eileen to his suite.

  Emma glanced up and spotted Eileen. What were the chances? Eileen didn’t feel much like talking and shrank back a bit, but it was too late, so she reversed directions and waved.

  Promptly, Emma climbed the stairs. Her honey-colored hair stood out in tight curls. She looked healthy. She looked happy. And she looked very pregnant.

  “You shouldn’t be climbing all those stairs,” Eileen said, leaning to kiss Emma’s cheek when she arrived. “You’ve had a shock.”

  Emma’s expression turned serious. “That’s a problem. I’m still looking over my shoulder everywhere I go. But I’m as healthy as a horse—no thanks to that pervert. I need some coffee before I face Finn’s hovering.”

  “Hovering, huh?” Eileen smiled. “It isn’t easy to think of that big, tough brother of mine hovering over anything—except you. You make him so happy.”

  “He makes me ecstatic,” Emma said. “He fusses too much is all.”

  Mary-Jo came with her carafe and a mug and poured for Emma. Eileen didn’t miss the curious glance Mary-Jo gave Emma. The rumor machine had been working overtime.

  “Did you see that?” Emma muttered as soon as they were alone. “The way Mary-Jo looked at me? Everyone thinks I made it up about that man. I won’t argue about it, but I’m going to track him down.”

  Alarmed, Eileen put a hand on the other woman’s wrist. “Please, let Matt take care of things. Finn won’t let this drop.”

  “Mmm.” Emma didn’t look convinced. “We’ll see.”

  “Aren’t you going to ask me what I’m doing here?” Eileen said. Emma was the closest friend she had and they shared most things.

  “Sure I am. What are you doing here? Are you rolling in so much dough you can afford to close Poke Around for an afternoon in the middle of the Christmas rush?”

  Eileen laughed. “Suky-Jo is working for me full-time now. And one of the nice things about having old friends move their salon next door to the shop is that it’s easy for Frances or Lynette, or one of their girls, to keep an eye on things if both Suky-Jo and I have to go out.” A walk-through had been built between the gift shop and the hair salon and the arrangement worked well. It certainly increased business for both shops.

  Originally Lynette had opened a nail salon in a tiny group of shops off Main Street. That had been years earlier and business had boomed. Then Frances, a hairstylist, became her partner and the business eventually outgrew the space. Moving to the much bigger shop next to Poke Around had been perfect, even if Eileen didn’t always love the music they tended to “share.”

  She felt Emma watching her and looked up.

  “You haven’t said why you’re here,” Emma said.

  Eileen gave a brief explanation, skirting the bathtub details but including the way she’d been ambushed
by Finn and Angel. She didn’t mention the surprise tree.

  “Whoa,” Emma said and left her lips parted. She leaned forward. “Hold it right there. A shooting at Angel’s and you were there? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

  Eileen’s brain moved fast. “Angel’s been in law enforcement. But you know that. He wanted to do some investigating himself before the place was overrun, so he kept quiet about it.”

  “And told you not to say anything?”

  She felt trapped. “I could tell it was important to him to buy some time.”

  “Threats to me, a shooting at Angel’s. Could they somehow be connected?” Emma said.

  “I don’t know. But this isn’t a very big place so I wouldn’t be surprised.”

  “You must have figured Matt would have to know eventually,” Emma said. “What got you so mad about being there when he was told?”

  She breathed deeply. “I didn’t like being brought to Finn’s without knowing Matt would be there.”

  “Why?”

  Why? “I just don’t like being manipulated.” She’d die if the sex-in-the-tub story became town gossip. How they would all love it!

  “You’ve been avoiding Angel,” Emma said.

  “How do you know?”

  “Finn and Angel talk about most things.”

  Eileen didn’t think that was a comforting idea. “Do they? Did anyone mention to you that Chuck’s decided to turn up again and make trouble?”

  “I know he’s here and making nice with you.”

  “He says he wants to be a father to Aaron. At the same time he tells me I should stay home to be there for Aaron—as if his son was seven rather than almost seventeen. And he more or less told me to stay away from Angel. Can you believe the man’s nerve? I don’t know why he’s here. We’re divorced and that’s never going to change. He’s out of my life.”

  Emma settled her hands on her belly and Eileen could see the baby moving. “He may think he can get back together with you,” Emma said.

  “Don’t say that,” Eileen told her. “It makes me sick to think about it.”

  “Okay.” Emma moved her chair closer to Eileen’s and looked her in the eye. “Do you care for Angel?”

  Eileen swallowed and pursed her lips.

  “Don’t give me the silent treatment,” Emma said. “Tell me the truth.”

  “Yes, I do. But that doesn’t mean I’m not worried about that, too. I haven’t always made…Oh, I might as well be honest. I’ve made poor choices in life. I don’t want to make another one.”

  “You think Angel would be a poor choice?” Emma’s eyebrows rose.

  “No, probably not.” Eileen tried not to think of the night at his place, and failed. “Anyway, who says either of us are thinking of doing any choosing? We’re mature people. We’d think carefully about anything like that—if it was ever a question.”

  “Right,” Emma said, her glance sliding away. “So, I’ll ask my question in a different way. Why are you sitting here?”

  “I’m having coffee.”

  “Don’t be smart with me, girlfriend. You don’t sit around in this place. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before.”

  “Okay. But if you tell anyone I said so, I’ll deny it. I’m waiting for Angel to leave the offices. He’s got a lot of explaining to do.”

  Emma smiled and the effect was wicked. “The gauntlet is going down. Goody. That’s a great start. Our house is empty if you want to go there and talk.” The switch to an innocent air wasn’t convincing.

  “I’m sure Finn would love it if we took over your place,” Eileen said. “But thanks, anyway. I do wish there was somewhere we could go and be sure we wouldn’t be interrupted. It’s hard to be anonymous and private in a town this size.”

  “You could get a suite at Damalis’s on Rice Street,” Emma said, grinning now. “Of course, there would be questions about that. Then there’s the Roll Inn, but—”

  “Stop,” Eileen said, chuckling. “The day hasn’t come when I seek out motels with hourly rates. Thanks for the idea anyway. You’d better go to Finn before he sends out a search party.”

  Emma wrinkled up her nose. “I know. Shall I tell Angel you’re waiting for him here?”

  “Don’t you dare,” Eileen said.

  “Well, if you don’t get down there, he’ll be on his bike and you’ll miss him.”

  Eileen looked through the railings, saw Angel leaving the elevator and shot from her chair. “Later,” she called back to Emma. “Behave yourself. Love you!”

  17

  She raced down the marble steps and across the wide foyer, dodging shoppers and office workers as she went. For an instant she lost sight of Angel and almost panicked.

  She broke through a clot of people near the front door and cannoned into him.

  “Eileen, love,” he said. “What’s happened?” He took her by the shoulders and examined her face as if he expected to find bruises or blood.

  “Nothing’s happened,” she said through her teeth, carefully extricating herself. “I was trying to catch up with you, that’s all.”

  “You were?” He took her by the elbow and, rather than make a scene, she let him steer her outside. “I was going to come looking for you.”

  Eileen had made a personal pact to avoid smart comebacks. For now. “This worked well then,” she said.

  They stood on the sidewalk in front of the bike.

  “What did you have in mind?” Angel said.

  Eileen frowned at him.

  He had the grace to look uncomfortable. With his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, he drew up his shoulders and grimaced. “That didn’t sound so good, did it?”

  She shook her head. “What I’ve got in mind is to give you hell.” Eileen kept a straight face. His awkwardness made it hard to stay as angry as she wanted to be at him.

  His mouth turned down and he nodded slowly. “I was afraid of that.”

  She stepped out of the way of people on the sidewalk and Angel took her by the hand. He stood in the gutter by the bike and urged her down beside him. “We can’t talk here, cher,” he said.

  Eileen pried his fingers from hers. “Sure we can as long as we’re quiet about it.”

  He smiled faintly. “I don’t suppose you want to come back to my place.”

  “No. I wouldn’t. Isn’t it a crime scene by now?”

  Angel winced. “They’ll have tape everywhere and cops tromping all over the house.”

  She nodded. “Then you’ll understand why I pass on that idea. We could go to the library.”

  “Now you’re being funny.”

  “What’s wrong with the library?”

  “Grrr.” He looked at the overcast sky. “We’d have to whisper in the library.”

  “So?”

  “Forget the library,” Angel said. “Tell me one thing. Are you mad at me?” “Yes, very.” She crossed her arms. “You owe me an apology.”

  “I apologize.”

  “Oh!” Eileen glanced around and lowered her voice. “That’s a general apology. Not good enough.” And he was doing a creditable job of taking some of the steam out of her arguments.

  “Okay,” he said. “Let’s go. We’ll walk.”

  This would be easier if she didn’t weaken each time she looked at him.

  “You don’t like the idea of walking?” he asked.

  They could walk and talk, as long as they didn’t take so long and go so far that getting back became a problem. “I do,” she said. “It’s fine.”

  Once out of the main Oakdale complex, they started off toward the south. Minutes passed, stretched to many minutes before she said, “You set me up.”

  “That wasn’t my intention. You wouldn’t talk to me—I was ready to do anything to get in the same space with you. Remember me coming to the shop? Remember what you did to me?”

  “I told you we shouldn’t see each other for a while.”

  He bent his head until she met his eyes. “Y
ou made it sound like you didn’t want to see me again. Period,” he said.

  “So you had me walk into a trap with Matt because you figured I wouldn’t make a fuss in front of him.” She stood still. “And look what happened. I’ve never been so embarrassed.”

  “I didn’t know you’d say that, did I?” he said. “It went that way is all. Finn and I figured Matt had to be filled in and that you needed to be there.”

  She looked up at him. When he looked back, his gray eyes darkened. He stared.

  “If you had let me know first—let me know what you intended to tell him—I wouldn’t have made a complete fool of myself. He didn’t need to know about…you know.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Slapping a hand onto the trunk of a young sycamore, he swung slowly around the tree. He managed a collision and made an unnecessary effort to steady her. “I do know, Eileen. I wouldn’t deliberately do anything like that to you.”

  She wouldn’t allow herself to soften toward him.

  “We were interrupted that night,” he said. “The timing was the worst. Don’t you think we should do something about that?”

  Eileen made fists on his chest and prepared to tell him what she thought about his timing. She sighed and let it go. There was something almost wonderfully childlike about the psyche of some males—or maybe that should be about the way some males blurted out exactly what was on their minds.

  “What is Matt going to do next?” she said.

  Angel shrugged and frowned. “We’ll see. So far he hasn’t turned up a thing about the attack on Emma.”

  “I don’t think he believes she was attacked,” Eileen said. “That makes me mad. I’ve known Emma a long time and she’s the most sane woman I know. Do you think these events are tied together? Whatever happened to Aaron, the guy in Ona’s parking lot and the crazy at your house?”

  “This isn’t a big place. All the potential victims know each other. Sure, I think there’s a connection. But I don’t know what it is, yet.”

  Eileen looked at her hands on his chest and dropped them. She was allowing him to lull her into his corner. Well, it wasn’t going to work. “You need to apologize to me properly.”