Free Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins

L.A., Mr. Anthony.”
    “Thanks, Captain, and thanks for returning my call.”
    “No problem. Commissioner McNair told me you’re ex-Vice, Detroit?”
    “Yeah. Left the force about ten years ago. Lawyer now.”
    “Pays a lot better, I bet?”
    “You got that right.”
    They began discussing the case. Mendes said, “For the record, my detectives are still calling this a robbery, but the gun being found on the wrong side of the body and the coke moves it into another realm.”
    “McNair said the autopsy on the victim came back clean?”
    “As a germaphobe’s bathroom. The old man wasn’t using. We’re assuming he was there to clean the place because his company had the contract.”
    “Could the death and the coke be unrelated? Say, Pennington was shot in a robbery but the coke is tied to something else going on in that office? How fresh was the coke residue?”
    “Forensics is still running tests. Something to do with the way the molecules dissipate when exposed to air. You know how techie the techies can get on you.”
    Reese did.
    “But what you’re suggesting is a possibility too. We’re going to keep digging.”
    “Report says the detectives interviewed the GM?”
    “Yeah. GM Wenzel was nervous, but no more than the average citizen would be. They took his statement and the info on the security cameras service records and left. They didn’t say anything to him about the coke. We’ll play that close to the vest for now. See what else turns up.”
    “The cameras being down seems a little too coincidental for my tastes.”
    “Ours too. It might not be related but it’s another piece of the puzzle that’s got my gut churning.”
    “And you don’t mind me asking around on the league’s behalf?”
    “No. Budget cuts have us so low on manpower we’re having problems handling our case loads. We could use the help. Maybe you’ll see something we might have overlooked. When the commissioner called me and gave me your name, I reached out to your old captain. He said you were a good clean cop, so I’m taking him at his word.”
    Reese respected his old captain too. “Thanks.”
    “Commissioner told you the parameters?”
    “Yep. I can’t represent myself as law enforcement.”
    “Fine. Gotta go. Other line’s flashing. Call me if something churns your gut.”
    “And you’ll keep me in the loop?”
    “As long and as legally as I can.”
    “Looking forward to working with you Captain Mendes.”
    “You too, Lieutenant Anthony. Watch your back.”
    And he was gone.
    Reese was pleased to know that the locals weren’t going to deal with him as an interloper. He turned his mind to the victim. Who shot Pennington and why? Cocaine didn’t just magically appear in offices. Someone was either dealing or using or both, and from the autopsy report, it hadn’t been Pennington. Reese made a mental note to talk to the man’s family members. The police had already interviewed them, but as Mendes said, maybe he’d see something they’d missed.
    He watched some TV, hoping to put off making his next call for as long as he could, but the draw of hearing her voice again was making it hard to hold off. God, she’d looked good at the meeting today in her lawyer suit with her long brown legs and her snakeskin heels. Her hair had been lustrous and light, framing that gorgeous face like a painting; the makeup stellar. The memories of their road trip together resonated so hard he was sure everyone in the room could hear his heart beating. Unable to stand it any longer, he picked up his phone, spoke her name into the speaker, and waited for her number to dial through.
    JT was in the kitchen at the stove throwing together some shrimp stir fry when her earpiece buzzed. “This is JT.”
    “Hey.”
    She fought off the melting feeling and said coolly while stirring the stuff in the skillet, “Hello, Mr. Anthony. How may I help you?”
    “How mad are you?”
    She allowed herself a small smile, but kept her voice