Survive the Dawn (2 page)

“Yes, it is, and get that tone out of your voice.” Nina glanced at the dent in his forehead. “Remember the last time you questioned when you should have remained silent. Are the headaches any better?”

Without waiting for an answer, she turned her attention back to the woman with the white streak of hair at her temple and smiled seductively. “And how will you help? What’s your name?”

David cleared his throat. “This is Detective Carey Spaulding, who will get us past the police barricade. Nina, you will accompany Detective Spaulding while she assists us, then you know what you are to do next.”

Nina tore her gaze away from Carey and looked into David’s dark eyes. “Yes, I know. You needn’t worry about me. You have your own responsibility to him to worry about.” She then turned her attention back to the silent detective. “Now Detective Spaulding and I will get acquainted.”

David gathered his briefcase and opened the door.

Carey grabbed his shoulder. “Where are you going?”

Nina smiled, listening to the fear in Carey’s voice.

David looked down at his shoulder; Carey slowly let him go. “I’m through here. Now do as you’ve been instructed and you’re free. If you don’t, Nina will see to it that you’re returned. You understand, do you not?”

“Yes, I understand. I don’t want to know about your clients. I want Dr. Sebastian.”

Nina heard the anger in her voice and let out a chuckle as she smoothed her skirt. “Don’t we all.”

David slid out of the car. “Heed my warning, Detective. Act as if your life depends on it. It does.” He slammed the door.

Nina kept her eye on Carey and smiled. “His bite is worse than his bark. However, he is loyal and he does mean what he says.” She crossed her legs, causing her skirt to ride up mid-thigh. She glanced at Carey and sported a toothy grin. “I think you’ve seen enough, Carey. May I call you Carey?”

“I don’t give a shit,” Carey responded evenly, then flinched, bringing her arm up to fend off a blow as she looked around the car.

Nina grinned and cocked her head in amusement. “See something?” Carey ducked as if something dove at her head. “Good heavens, we’re a mite twitchy this evening, sit still. However, I understand, Carey. You can certainly blame Dr. Sebastian for your present condition. And once you do your part, you’re free to do as you like when you find Dr. Sebastian. Though I don’t think the Chicago Police Department will assist you.”

Carey let out a grunt and stared out the window. “Fuck the department. They left me in that hellhole.” She looked back. “So what’s your name?”

Nina offered a sultry smile. “Nina.”

Carey nodded and stared out the window.

The car pulled up to a building Carey vaguely remembered. She noticed the police tape across the double doors and a squad car was parked at the entrance where two policemen stood as sentries. “What’s in there that’s so important?” she asked Nina as the driver opened her door.

Nina stepped out and straightened her long coat. She then looked at Carey. “You are here for one reason. If it were up to me, I would have done this very differently, as in the old days. Just get me in there.”

Carey clipped the holstered weapon to her belt, along with her gold shield, and said nothing.

As they approached the two policemen, Carey put her hand on Nina’s arm. “Just don’t say anything. Let me handle this.”

For an instant, she saw anger flash in Nina’s eyes; then just as quickly, she smiled. “Love it when you take charge, Detective.” Nina lightly ran her fingernails up Carey’s arm.

Carey continued toward the warehouse. She opened her blazer; the officer looked at the gold shield and nodded. “Thought everyone was done with this, Detective.” He motioned to the building. Carey absently swatted the air around her head. The officer raised an eyebrow. “Um, we were cleaning this up before we got the call to sit tight.”

Carey flinched, her gaze darting back and forth. “We are, but forensics wants to take one more look.”

“Here, you’re gonna need this,” one officer said. He handed Carey the flashlight and pulled the tape out of the way to allow Carey to slip through with Nina right behind her. They walked through the dark corridor, with Nina walking ahead of Carey. “You seem like you know where you’re going,” Carey called after her as she bounced the high beam of the flashlight off the walls and floor. “At least I hope the fuck you do.”

“Do shut up, Detective. You’ve done your part, just make sure I’m not interrupted.”

Carey tried to keep up while Nina strode down the hallway, then descended the dark stairwell. Once in the sub-basement, Nina didn’t wait for Carey; she pulled the police tape away from the doorway and slipped inside. She looked over at the far wall and saw the lead pipe impaled high on the wall.

Carey flashed her light around the area; she noticed the boarded-up windows and took notice of Nina when she walked up to the wall and knelt amidst the dust and rags at her feet. She stood behind Nina, who opened her briefcase and took out a metal container.

“What are you doing?”

Nina glanced over her shoulder. “Carey? Shut up.”

Carey glared at her, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her to her feet. “Look, I don’t know what you and that old man are up to and I really don’t give a fuck, but—”

Nina easily wrenched her arm free. “Be careful, Detective. You know where you’ll wind up if you don’t.” She then dismissed her and turned back to her task.

“Fucking bitch.”

Nina laughed. “Yes, I am, and if you’re lucky, you’ll find out just how much.” Nina scooped the dust, or what looked like ashes, into the receptacle and screwed on the metal top, giving it a good twist to tighten it. She then dusted off her hands. “All done.”

Nina reached for the briefcase and carefully placed the container inside; she then looked up at Carey. “You did your job, Detective. One step closer to Sebastian, so that should please you.”

Nina stood and Carey placed her arm under Nina’s elbow to assist her. “Why thank you, Detective.”

Carey swallowed as she looked into Nina’s dark eyes. She saw the seductive look; she knew that look. “You’re welcome. Now how is this getting me closer to Dr. Sebastian?”

Nina laughed and walked past her. “Let’s get out of this mess,” she said and slipped through the police tape and headed back. “Come, Detective.”

Carey raised an eyebrow and followed her without saying another word. Nina sported a smug grin. “That was not an order, Detective,” she said in a sultry voice. “Yet.”

Once outside, Nina walked ahead of Carey, who stopped by the two officers. “Did she get what she needed?” one officer asked when Carey handed him the flashlight.

Carey nodded. “Thanks, guys.”

“No problem, Detective.”

As they drove away from the warehouse, Nina leaned forward to the driver. “Take us back to my hotel,” she said, then settled back. She glanced at Carey. “Is that all right with you? I thought we’d have a bite to eat. You are hungry, no?”

“I really don’t care,” Carey said, her gaze fixed on Nina’s lips. The urge to kiss this mysterious woman was overpowering. Her nipples ached, and her groin throbbed at the thought of it.

“Go right ahead. You may kiss me if you like,” Nina said and sidled closer.

Carey leaned into her and placed a hand on Nina’s pale cheek. She slipped her other hand behind Nina’s neck, feeling her soft dark hair. “Yes, Detective, you want this, don’t you?” Nina whispered; their eyes locked.

Unable to speak, Carey merely nodded. Nina grinned, placed her hand on Carey’s thigh, and lightly raked her fingers up and down Carey’s leg from her hip to her knee. Carey flinched and groaned as she closed her eyes.

Nina slipped her hand up to palm Carey’s breast while Carey let out a throaty groan and leaned into the touch. “Yes, you want this badly don’t you, Detective? You may kiss me now.”

Carey complied and kissed her deeply. Nina parted her lips; their tongues danced and dueled for control during the heated kiss. She took Carey’s hand and guided it between her legs. Carey whimpered when she felt the satiny hose covering Nina’s thigh. When her fingertips touched the lacy garter, she nearly came as Nina’s scent wafted up to her, making her mouth water.

Nina pulled back and pushed Carey away from her with a low seductive laugh. “Enough for now.”

As the driver pulled up to the hotel, Nina looked at Carey. “Open the door,” she said in a low voice.

Without a word, Carey got out and walked around the car to open the door. Nina gracefully slid out and walked away. “Come, come, Detective,” she called over her shoulder.

Carey hesitated, then slammed the door, but not before she saw the smirk from the driver when he pulled away from curb. “Fucking bitch.” She followed Nina through the lobby to the elevator.

Several people milled about waiting for the elevator, but when the doors opened, Nina marched in before them with Carey following. Nina grinned and put up her hand as the others tried to enter. “Find another,” she said evenly. The elevator doors closed on their stunned faces.

She reached over and pressed the button for the penthouse. When the elevator started, they stood in silence. Nina was grinning; Carey was watching the numbers above the door. When the elevator reached the penthouse and the doors opened, Nina walked out and turned to Carey, who didn’t follow.

“What’s the matter, Detective? Don’t you want to finish what you started? Come, come. Don’t tell me you’re afraid.”

Carey’s nostrils flared with anger. She stepped out of the elevator and followed Nina into the living room where she tossed her coat on the table. When she turned, Carey was right behind her. Nina grinned and started to unbutton her silky blouse on her way to the bedroom with Carey dutifully following her.

“You don’t like me, do you?” Nina walked to the bedside and continued undressing.

“Not particularly—”

“But you do want to fuck me, don’t you? Don’t deny it,” Nina cooed. “You feel trapped right now, yes? You’re being told what to do, that’s something you’re not accustomed to, is it?” She unzipped her skirt and let it fall to the floor. She stepped out of it and kicked it to the side.

Nina stood there and placed her hands on her hips in a challenging posture. Carey was breathing heavily as she watched her. Her silken blouse was opened to expose full firm breasts hidden by a black bra.

Nina followed her gaze and smiled. “Shall I leave the heels on or take them off?” She cocked her head. “I think you want me to leave them on, yes?”

Carey nodded. “Yes, leave them on.” She walked over and stood in front of her. When their eyes met, Carey could not look away.

“Ah, yes, you want this so badly, you can’t stand it. Your body will begin to tremble with need—the desire to take me.”

Nina knew Carey would take the challenge; she roughly stripped the blouse off Nina’s shoulders and yanked it down to her wrists. She reached in with both hands and palmed her breasts, then ripped the bra open.

“Yes, that’s it,” Nina said in a low voice. She shrugged the blouse off and pulled Carey’s head to her breasts.

Carey groaned while she licked and nipped at one breast, then the other as if she were starving. Nina threw her head back and cried out, pulling Carey closer.

She guided Nina back toward the bed and pushed against the pillows. Nina parted her legs farther, letting out an amused chuckle, knowing the effect that would have on the mentally unstable woman. “My, we are impetuous.”

Carey pushed Nina on her back and knelt between Nina’s legs, running her hands up and down the black hose to the garter belt. She slipped her fingers through Nina’s wetness.