CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Teri awoke feeling confused. She couldn’t remember the dream. Angel was in it and the mere thought of him made her feel warm and wet. She was alone in the bed. Might as well get up.

“Donde va?” he called.

“You frightened me. I was afraid you were gone.”

“I wouldn’t leave you like that.” The sound of the razor scraping across Angel’s cheek riveted Teri’s attention. He stood in the open doorway of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his hips. A thin stream of water ran in the sink and moisture from his recent shower clung to his skin.

Wrapping the sheet around her torso, she went to stand behind him. He smiled at her reflection in the mirror before stroking another path through the lather. “Good morning, mi querida.”

The shave gel smelled like mint. Curling her arms around his waist, she planted a kiss on the back of his shoulder. His smooth skin felt warm under her lips.

Angel drew in a breath and set the razor on the edge of the sink. He splashed warm water on his face then reached for the towel she handed him. He kissed her, the aroma of his shave gel clinging to his skin.

Teri inhaled the scent, her lips grazing his skin.

“Here we are. I told you I’d get you back to the city.”

Teri giggled. “Did I forget to say thank you?”

“You don’t need to thank me. I was just doing my job.”

Stung, Teri stepped back. “Your job?”

“Yeah, I was doing my job. You do remember that I was on assignment?”

“But, what happened...”

“What happened between us was not part of my job.”

Teri felt the prickle of tears and turned away. “And what would you say happened between us?”

“I lost my head. I lost my heart.” Angel began dressing himself. “I behaved unprofessionally.”

Teri was overwhelmed by an aching void in her stomach. “You weren’t unprofessional, Angel.”

“Tell that to my boss. I’m not supposed to make love to a witness. I should have brought you back to New York when I first identified you.”

“Spending time with your family was wonderful,” Teri said. “And if we’d come back earlier you couldn’t have caught those men.”

“Doesn’t matter. It wasn’t my assignment.” Angel slid a tie around his neck. “I’m prepared for the probability that I’ll be reprimanded, at least.”

The gravity of the situation settled upon her. “Oh, no! I can’t let that happen.”

Angel turned to her, his expression somber. “I can’t tell you what to do, Teri, but I think you should distance yourself from me, for your own sake.”

“What are you saying? I’ll just tell the truth.”

“Let’s examine this truth as we know it.” Gently, he took her by the shoulders and seated her on the bed. “Your dead boyfriend left a bag stuffed with hundred dollar bills in your care. You admitted to me that you had this mystery money all along. We don’t know the source of this money and now, it’s not in evidence, I’m afraid you might be held liable for it.”

Her throat tightened. She felt dread gathering inside her, but Angel remained calm. “What’s going to happen now?”

“I have to file a report. I kept in touch with my boss so he knows the generalities, but I didn’t tell him about us. I neglected to tell him that I’d figured out your identity early on. He thought I was watching your sister, Bernie. I don’t care what repercussions fall on me, but I don’t want anything I’ve done to reflect on you.”

Panic squeezed her insides. “What are you telling me? You want me to lie?”

He shook his head solemnly. “I don’t plan to lie. Whatever happens to me happens. I think you should get a lawyer, just in case.”

“In case?”

“In case there’s more to this money thing than we know. It’s better to be prepared.”

“You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?” She asked. “You’re worried they’re going to arrest me.”

“No, baby, I’m arresting you,” he said. “You have the right to remain silent...”

“You can’t be serious.”

“If you give up your right to be silent everything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney present when you are questioned.”

Teri gazed at him sadly. “I see. I’d better get dressed.” She left him sitting on the bed and went into her dressing room, selecting a beige silk shirt and a black suit. She slipped into her heels and gave her hair a flip.

“You look beautiful,” he said when she emerged.

“You’re taking a risk telling me that. It’s too personal for a man doing his job.”

“I’m not as big a risk-taker as you are. Not where you’re concerned.”

“Still taking care of me?” She stepped into the bathroom and closed the door. Teri pressed a cold, damp cloth to her eyes and allowed the tears to flow.

“I’m trying to,” Angel said to the closed door.

As soon as she’d applied a little make-up, Teri called Martin Kelso.

“Teri, you’re home!” He sounded excited.

“Yes, and I need your help.”

“You know I’d do anything for you, my dear.”

She expelled a deep breath. It was good to have powerful friends in high places. “I need an attorney,” she said. “I don’t know anyone to call. I’m in custody and being taken to the police headquarters for questioning.”

“Oh, my!” He sounded shocked. “Don’t worry, Teri. I’ll bring the best attorney money can buy. Trust me. Everything will be fine. Just don’t say anything until you talk to the lawyer.”

“Thanks, Martin.” She hung up abd turned to face Angel. “I’m ready.”

“Teri,” he said. “Don’t confuse what I have to do with the way I feel about you. I love you with my whole heart.” He cupped her face in both hands and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

“Thank you for clearing that up,” she said.

#

The ride to the precinct house was silent. Angel glanced at her several times, but the woman beside him was cool and distant, completely self composed. He knew he’d hurt her and he hoped she’d forgive him.

If she didn’t...

If she never spoke to him again, he’d at least know he’d protected her and done his job. He glanced at her profile. She was biting her lower lip. He wanted to reach out to her; to comfort her, but he sensed she was hanging on by a slender thread.

When he escorted her into the squad room, everyone turned to gape at her. Teri Slaughter was still a high-profile celebrity. His Captain met them and seemed a little star struck as he led the way to an interview room.

“Miss Slaughter,” Captain Benson said. “Has Detective Garcia explained to you your rights?”

Teri gave him a long stare before replying. “Yes, Detective Garcia informed me of my rights and I have a statement to make.”

Angel felt his stomach knot up.

“Go ahead, Miss Slaughter.” Captain Benson flipped on a recorder.

“First, I want to thank you for sending Detective Garcia to protect me. The men who killed Colin Dowd would surely have killed me as well.”

Captain Benson fell under her spell and blustered a little. “Think nothing of it. We were doing our job. Locating and protecting you was Detective Garcia’s assignment.”

“He performed his assignment very bravely.” Teri blinked back tears and the Captain pushed forward a box of tissues.

The door of the interview room was thrown open. “Teri! Don’t say anything!” Martin Kelso entered the small space with another man. “This is your attorney, Luther B. Stone. He needs to have some time to advise you.”

Martin Kelso wasn’t a tall man, however his energy made him appear larger than life. His receding hairline was threaded with silver, a contrast to his ruddy complexion. He seemed anxious, although pleased with himself.

Teri remained alone with her attorney while Martin Kelso paced back and forth outside, ranting at the two detectives. He exuded a powerful vibe that demanded attention.

“Why would you ever think someone like Teri Slaughter could have anything to do with Colin Dowd’s death? She was deeply in love with him. It’s been a tragedy all around, unnecessarily compounded by your complete idiocy.” His piercing blue eyes looked like marbles under water as he alternately glared at Angel and then Captain Benson.

Angel frowned. He recalled Teri telling him she and Colin were friends and companions who became lovers. But everything he knew about Teri Slaughter told him she was in love with him, not Colin Dowd.

“Mr. Kelso,” Captain Benson said. “We don’t know what happened. She may have been a witness to his death. She may have pulled the trigger, herself. We are offering her a chance to clear this up.”

“And I won’t stand for her being railroaded.” Martin Kelso slammed his fist on the nearest desk, his face an unbecoming shade of red.

“Garcia,” Captain Benson said. “You might as well get started on your report.

Angel nodded and went to his desk. He logged on and began to write his account of the past nine days, heavily edited. As he typed, he recalled the events as they occurred and tried to keep his perspective.

He glanced up to see Kelso and the attorney escorting Teri from the building. She met his eyes, briefly before they rushed her out. He crossed to the front of the building and looked down onto the street in time to see her being hustled into a waiting limo and whisked away.

He heaved a sigh, feeling a huge sense of loss. They’d been together for nine days and he was hopelessly in love with her. After work he’d go by her place to pick up his bag and let her off the hook.

“We didn’t have enough to hold her,” Captain Benson said. “Good work though, Garcia. Sergeant Tolliver said you solved a San Antonio homicide while you were there?”

“Frank Altman, the man who killed Colin Dowd also killed the San Antonio victim. You may have to fight Tolliver for jurisdiction. Two other men involved with our shooting were also arrested, Captain.”

“Texas has the death penalty. I don’t think Altman will fight extradition. Get that report on my desk, Garcia.”

“Yes, sir.” Angel returned to his computer wondering what was going on with Teri. At least she was with someone who seemed almost as protective of her as Angel himself.

#

Teri sank back onto the soft leather seats of the limo. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Martin. I didn’t hear what you were saying.”

“I said it’s a good thing you called me before you went to the station. No telling what they would have charged you with.”

“Mr. Kelso is right,” Luther Stone said. “They’re just looking for a way to close the case and they don’t care who they nail for it.”

Teri turned to look at him. “Really? What about truth and justice?”

The men exchanged a glance and chuckled.

Martin patted her hand. “My dear, you are so refreshingly naïve.” He turned to Stone. “Didn’t I tell you that she was a babe in the woods?”

Teri felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Had Angel only come after her because he thought she was the killer? Did he want to close the case at any cost?

No, that wasn’t true. He could have taken her in days ago. He nestled her in the midst of his family and surrounded her with the people who loved him. They welcomed her and seemed to confirm what she believed, that Angel Garcia was in love with her.

The limo pulled over to the curb and Stone got out. As the driver pulled back into traffic, Kelso directed him to Gallagher’s, a popular steak house. The interior was intimately lit and the walls were filled with paintings of famous race horses.

Martin beamed at her. “I hope you’re hungry, Teri. New York has missed you and so have I.”

“As a matter of fact, I could eat something.” She smiled at him and he squeezed her hand.

They ate and Kelso talked about the office and people she knew. She felt relaxed, as though the events of the past few months hadn’t happened; as though she would go back to the office and find Colin there waiting for her.

But everything had changed. Colin was dead and she had fallen in love with someone else. She needed Angel in her life and she feared that, somehow, she’d lost him through some negligence on her part.

After a leisurely meal, Kelso took Teri to her condo.

“Thank you for everything, Martin,” she said. “I appreciate that you’re always there for me. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come to the police station with Mr. Stone.”

“Think nothing of it, my dear,” he said. “I’ll see you up to your flat.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to do that. I can make it upstairs by myself.”

The doorman swung the limo door open and reached in to offer his hand to Teri.

Kelso looked extremely disappointed, but recovered quickly. “Well, if you’re sure. I’ll check on you later. Be careful, Teri.”

Upstairs, she unlocked her door and stepped inside. The silence that greeted her was immense. She walked to the floor to ceiling windows and gazed out at the panoramic view of New York City. She’d lived in this location for several years and it had always felt like her home. Today it felt like an alien planet. She thought of the large Garcia household in San Antonio, filled with noise and laughter and the aroma of food cooking on the stove. She missed the loving chaos that wrapped around her when she was in their home. She missed their firstborn son who’d managed to wrap himself around her heart.

#