Guarding Light (24 page)

   The man gave her a quick glance and a warm smile. "Hello there Catlyn, I am Gunnery Sgt. Delbert Jenks, United States Army, retired."

   "Pardon me sir, retired?" It seemed to her as though he would be career military and he wasn't that old to be retired.

   "Oh, yes. The government didn't like the fact that I lost some toes over there in Afghanistan." Delbert indicated his right foot with a nodding head. "I wanted to continue to serve and apparently it's not totally unheard of for a man missing parts to continue to serve, just not on the frontline. But I couldn't do the desk job thing. It drove me damn near batty. So I took early retirement."

   They were at the bottom now and Catlyn set his cart down in front of him. "If you don't mind my asking, how old are you, sir?"

   "I'll be 66 next month."

   Catlyn's eyes widen in surprise. Although 65 wasn't considered old, she had put him at 45 or 49 at the oldest. She had been almost 20 years off. She was usually much better at guessing someone's age.

   Delbert gave a hearty laugh. "I can tell by the look on that pretty face of yours that you made the same mistake I did in guessing my age. I assumed you were in your early 20s but I can tell by the way you carry yourself and your respect for an old man, that you have most likely entered your 30s."

   Catlyn laughed. "Yes, sir, about to leave them too, I am 39."

   It was Delbert's turn to be surprised. "See, now? I guess that old saying about us colored folks is true." He gave another of his hearty laughs.

   His laugh was infectious. "Saying? Which saying is that, sir?"

   He winked and said in a conspiring whisper. "Black don't crack."

   Catlyn blinked, then threw her head back and laughed a laugh just as hearty as Delbert's, "Apparently, not."

   "Well, thank ya for your kindness. I am headed just over there." He pointed towards some abandoned factory buildings in the distance. He must live in one of them. Catlyn was reluctant to leave the older man by himself. But, she could see that he was a prideful man.

   "In that case, I will say goodnight, sir. Nice meeting you."

   "And, you Miss Catlyn." He offered his hand. She accepted the callous roughened hand. He lifted the tarp on the cart, dug around and came up with a small bundle of baby's breath, handing them to her.

   "Thank you." She took the flowers and smiled. Catlyn watched him make his slow way towards the old buildings, pushing his cart in front of him.

   Catlyn turned and ran back up the steps. As she neared the area where she jumped the wall she could hear Tasha's frantic voice. "I don't know, Jack. She just vaulted this frigging wall and took off. I tried to keep up with her. She was too fast. I lost sight of her almost right away-"

   Tasha's scream was short lived but loud. Catlyn's comforting hand she placed on Tasha's shoulder wasn't so comforting. "Hey, sorry I scared you. I seem to be doing that a lot tonight."

   "What the flippty-fuck were you doing?" Tasha shouted. "You just took off, left me alone in the damn dark. I can't handle this shit. I've seen this movie and the beautiful black chick always dies. I am too young to die."

   Catlyn tried to control her smile. Tasha was always afraid to watch horror movies too when they were younger. While Catlyn had outgrown her fear of a movie it was obvious Tasha had not. "Sorry, Tash."

   She indicated Tasha's cell phone clutched to her chest in a death grip. "Jack?"

   When Tasha nodded Catlyn reached for the phone. "May I?"

   "Hello, Jack."

   "Catlyn? Sweetheart, what happened? I couldn't make sense out of Tasha's ramblings."

   Catlyn quickly gave him a rundown of her little encounter.

   "Kitten, you went after a possible perp by yourself? Unarmed?" Jack sounded annoyed. "Don't do that again, is that clear?"

   Catlyn pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at the cell. Jack had never used that tone of voice with her. She tried to control her rising anger. She had only wanted to talk to him to reassure him she was fine and to thank him for his wonderful gift.

   She put the phone back to her ear. "You know what? I don't answer to you. My boss is in Virginia right now, thank you very much. And, I am here to do a job. My job is to find the UNSUB and bring him down. You called us in Chief Gard. I can't help the fact that you have a problem with me being a woman. I will continue to do my job as I see fit because I am a Federal Agent of the FBI and I won't be talked to like some naughty school girl, especially not by someone I outrank all day long! Good night, Chief Gard." Shaking uncontrollably and close to tears, Catlyn clicked 'end' on the cell, handing it back to Tasha before turning and heading towards the last parking lot.

   Tasha ran a little to catch up. "Damn gurrrl, remind me not to really piss you off."

   Catlyn's tears started to fall. She ran the rest of the way to the parking lot, stopping at the entrance because she didn't know which car was Tasha's out of the 3 that were left. A minute later Tasha came up alongside her, huffing and puffing.

   "Cat, some of us are not in that good of shape, you on steroids or what?"

   Catlyn wiped her tears, pointing. "Which is yours? Can you drop me off at the other agents' apartment? I need to go over some stuff with them."

   "Sure." Tasha led the way to her car, unlocking the door with her remote.

   Catlyn got in and laid her head back for the short ride. Tasha for once kept quiet, driving directly to the destination Catlyn had requested. As she made to get out of the car, Tasha stalled her with a hand on her arm.

   "He was just worried Catlyn. He cares very deeply for you."

   "You're defending him treating me like a second grader."

   "Hell nah, that man needs to know us sisters are doing it for ourselves and some of us are very capable and able bodied."

   "Then what?"

   "He was just worried and scared. He lost a longtime friend today. The guy died in his arms. He'd been covered with his friend's blood for hours before he was able to change. Believe me, a death of a good friend is the only thing that would have kept him from you. He sent the next best thing. Someone he trusts. And, you need to realize that he wasn't treating you like a second grader but a woman and not just any woman. His woman! There is a distinction."

   As Catlyn listened, she became more and more remorseful with each word Tasha spoke. She started regretting her hastily spoken words. He had lost a friend, probably in the line of duty and she had acted like a shrew. Of course Jack would be more sensitive regarding her job after losing someone close to him. Looking at Tasha she gave a shaky smile. "Thanks, Tasha. You're a really good friend to him."

   "I consider him my best friend. I'd do anything for him. He's that kind of guy. And believe me, if I could have gotten him to even think of me as a woman for just a second rather than his annoying sister he needs to protect, I'd have took that man to bed long ago."

   Shocked Catlyn shook her head. "Well, forewarned is forearmed."

   Tasha winked and said, "Just remember that the next time you want to spew your venom on him. 'Cause I gots the skillz to turn that man out if he ever gives me a chance. I'd have him addicted to chocolate right quickie."

   Catlyn threateningly moved in close to Tasha. "Don't even try it."

   Tasha's eyes bugged out. And then she laughed. "Ok, nice to know his feelings are returned. My job is done." She reached over into the glove compartment. "Here, he asked me to give you these."

   Catlyn took what looked like two tickets. She pocketed them and got out, waving Tasha off. The other agents let her in wide awake. The cold case box with its files spread all around was on the coffee table in the middle of their living room.

   Like Catlyn's the apartment was nice but in a very bad part of town. Their location was a little worse than Catlyn's. Even though it was after 1:00am in the morning the streets still teemed with activity. Loud conversation, music and cars could be heard perfectly from their living room.

   "Hey, I was restless, couldn't sleep. I thought we could brainstorm a little."

   Jabaria smiled big. "Great. The new forensic reports are in from trace." She showed Catlyn to a comfortable looking recliner situated at an angle to the coffee table.

   "Hot coco, Agent Lyte?" Sharonda offered.

   "Please. Thank you." While Sharonda left to get her drink, Catlyn took off her jacket, purse and unclipped her cell. She remembered to put it back on vibrate. It was on silent while at BJs as per the establishment's policy. She quickly checked her missed calls. There were 8 from Jack. Two were from earlier in the day but 6 were from about the time she hung up on him.

   She listened to the voicemail messages and was brought to tears again.

    
Baby, I am sorry about dinner and now I won't be able to pick you up either. Something happened…I-I will tell you about it when I see you. God, Kitten. I need you right now.

   
Baby, I am sending Tasha to pick you up. I know you are supposed to walk and make yourself more of a target but I just can't handle that right now, please do this for me. I love you Sweetheart.

   
Catlyn, Dammit you know that isn't how I meant it. Baby, I was just scared.

   
You aren't gonna answer my phone calls now?

   
Baby, I was an ass and I am sorry. Please answer your phone.

   
Baby, please I need to be right with you. I need you, please.

   
I know I keep fucking up with you, but you have to know it isn't because you're a woman. I love the fact that you're a woman.

   
Catlyn all I can say is that I am sorry. I was out of line and I apologize. But you aren't even giving me a chance to make things right. I guess the gift I left with dinner means nothing to you.

   Catlyn almost lost it at the last message. How could he think his precious gift meant nothing to her? She started to dial his cell but then decided against calling. What she needed to say needed to be in person. She would not only tell him what his gift meant to her she would show him. That decision made she settled back into the recliner with the latest forensics report.

****

   Jack quietly opened Catlyn's door with the key. Sanchez hadn't wanted to give it to him but after Jack told him it was to apologize for something he did to upset Catlyn he willingly gave the key to him.

   What a day he had. First his friend Bob Newson died. Bob and he had been in Desert Storm together. He was a good man. Bob ran a successful private investigation firm on the West coast. His clients tended to be the wealthy, the famous and the infamous. Years ago when one of Bob's suspects had skipped to Jack's backyard, Bob had asked Jack to wrangle the skipper for him and deposit him back to Bob's neck of the woods. Jack had happily done the favor for his old friend. He had even teased him, saying he would teach him how the superior East coast did things. He had had Bob's suspect bagged, tagged and back to him on the West coast within 24 hours. The next day Bob had a bottle of Jack's favorite scotch delivered with a card saying I owe you. Just let me know when you want to collect.

   Jack hadn't really seriously thought about collecting. He considered it a favor for a good friend. Over, done with, gone. But Bob had told him his talent for seeking out information on anyone was unmatched. At first he thought Bob had just been bragging as guys tend to do with their buddies. But using his own resources Jack had found out that Bob Newson had a way of finding out the deepest, darkest of secrets of anyone no matter how well they hid it. Jack didn't think even his office or the FBI, CIA could have ferretted out the information Bob had been able to reveal. It was why he was so successful. Important people paid big bucks for the information Bob accumulated.

   Jack had known, if there was something to find out about J.T. Dark, Bob would find it and bring it to light. It seemed like a simple task. Something Bob did every damn day. He wasn't supposed to die over a fucking favor. And he still had no idea what the deal was with J.T.

   Then as if his day wasn't bad enough he and Catlyn had this misunderstanding. And Jack hoped that was all it was. He hadn't meant to speak to Catlyn in that tone but when Tasha had called saying she thought Catlyn was in trouble and she didn't know where she was Jack had gone nuts thinking about losing someone else close to him today. He didn't want to lose anyone else close to him and especially not his woman. And that is what Catlyn was, his woman. He just had to get her to see that.

   Exhaustion went through his body. Glancing at his watch, he groaned. 4:00a.m., it was too late or early, depending on your point of view, to start any long discussion with Catlyn. He needed her in his arms.

   He quietly made his way to the darkened bedroom. He could just make out her shape. She was laying facing away from him. Her hair loose, covering her face. He frowned puzzled. She wasn't wearing her nightgown. From what he could see she wore nothing on top and just a pair of brief panties.

   Jack smiled. She would forgive him. She wouldn't be here waiting for him undressed if she were still angry. He quickly stripped to his boxers, leaving his clothes on the chest at the foot of the bed.

   Being careful not to wake her he slipped into bed and cuddled her from behind. His nostrils flared. She changed her perfume. He liked the cucumber melon she usually wore. But this scent wasn't unpleasant just different. He pulled her back against him, letting his cock rest in the cleft of her ass. He moaned as he started to kiss her shoulder.

   She shifted in her sleep, seeking closer contact with him, giving a breathy moan. He leaned up, one hand slipping into her panties to cup her mound while his other hand took her breast to feed it to his hungry mouth. In that same fraction of a second, she gasps a name, "Oh, Kyle."

   Jack froze as his senses went into overdrive and communicated several things to him all at once. The woman in his arms was not Catlyn, she called another man's name and she was now fully awake. Before Jack could release her the woman exploded into action.