Seduction and Lies Read online

  His jaw flexed over and over, making the veins in his temples pump. Finally he sat down and braced his arms on his thighs. “I’m listening.”

  More than an hour later, Danielle sat drained but surprisingly relieved as she waited for Nick’s verdict.

  He slowly shook his head. It was almost too crazy to comprehend. But the brilliance of it didn’t escape him. Who would ever suspect the everyday woman to be a quasi-undercover agent? It’s like the suburban housewives who run lucrative escort services during the week and take their kids to soccer practice on the weekend.

  Nick turned to look at her, searching for any deception in her eyes but finding none.

  She’d told him all she could reasonably tell him, leaving out the location of the Cartel, as well as the fact that not only was Savannah a card-carrying member, but also she was recruited by her mother, Claudia, who was one of the highest-ranking members in the organization.

  Nick mopped his face with his hands. “How long have you been involved?” he asked.

  “This is my first assignment, and I’ll probably get kicked out because of this.” She took his hands. “You have to swear to me that you will never, ever say anything to anyone. Please. It’s one thing for me to mess up, but I can’t ruin it for everyone else.”

  He nodded, then looked directly into her eyes. “You can trust me,” he said with quiet sincerity. He opened the case at his feet. “I pretty much figured out what most of the gadgets were,” he said, “but—” he lifted a bottle of what looked like shower gel and held it up “—what is this?”

  She half grinned. “It’s a sedative.”

  “Wow.” He lifted the top tray, beneath which was an outline in the shape of a gun. “Please tell me that you’re not carrying a gun around.”

  “No. I didn’t get that far in my training. This was kind of a rush assignment.”

  “Is that where you’ve been this morning, on assignment?”

  She nodded.

  “Dani, I…This is all so crazy. I mean…” He turned to her, trying to find the words. “If you wind up with some kind of assignment that has you carrying a gun, I’d be insane with worry.” He raked his fingers through his short ink-black hair. “And every time you walk out of the door and I don’t know where you are…” His voice drifted off, but the implication hung in the air between them.

  She studied the lines of anxiety that knitted his forehead. And then an idea slowly began to form. “We’re a team right?”

  “Yeah, absolutely.”

  “And we trust each other, right?”

  “Yes, but that isn’t going to stop me from worrying about you.”

  “But what if…you helped me.”

  His head jerked back in surprise. “Help you? But you said—”

  “I know what I said,” she interjected, cutting him off. “But I’ve already screwed up. This will probably be my first and last assignment anyway, so I might as well go out with a bang.” A slow smile crept across her mouth.

  “Let me explain to you what I have to do, and when I’m done, if you want to help me…then we go for it.”

  He tugged on his bottom lip with his teeth, a habit he had whenever he was contemplating his next move. “Shoot,” he said, quickly adding, “and I meant that figuratively.”

  Chapter 20

  The following day Danielle made an appointment to meet with Reba McDonald, the woman she’d met on the elevator, then saw coming from the building that she’d been staking out. Reba was more than happy to make time in her schedule to “squeeze” Danielle in.

  All she needed was a few minutes of alone time in Reba’s office to plant a transmitter on her phone and, if she had time, a tracking device on her computer. After pulling into the parking garage, she walked the short block to the office building.

  She checked the minicamera that was attached to the clasp on her purse and called Nick on her cell phone.

  “Is the picture coming through?” she asked.

  “Clear as crystal,” he said from his spot in front of the laptop in their home office. “Babe…”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t do anything silly, okay?”

  “I won’t. And you either. If things get strange, don’t play hero and call the police. They can’t be involved. Understood?”

  “Yeah, yeah. Hey, good luck, 007.”

  “Very funny,” she said with a light laugh. “See you on the other side.”

  Danielle pushed open the glass doors and rode the elevator up to the twentieth floor. She checked the directional sign for room 2018. She made a left turn down the corridor, and it was the last suite on the right.

  She knocked on the door and through an intercom was asked whom she was there to see. She gave them Reba’s name and was buzzed in.

  “Hi,” she said, forcing more cheer than necessary into her voice and then realizing how nervous she really was. “I’m Danielle Holloway.”

  The young woman looked Danielle over and then smiled. “Yep, Reba said you looked like Alicia’s twin. Have a seat,” she said, lifting her dimpled chin in the direction of a white leather love seat embraced on either side by two glass tables, which were decorated with the latest celebrity magazines.

  Danielle settled herself and took a cursory look around. The walls were adorned with photographs of celebrities, covering everyone from rap artists to Oscar winners and everyone in between.

  “They look like the real thing, don’t they?”

  Danielle turned in the direction of the voice. Reba approached. She stood no more than five foot five in heels. Her gunmetal gray hair was cut to frame her rather angular face with the purpose of softening her square chin. She wore a fitted navy-blue suit that showed off her remarkable legs and narrow waist.

  Danielle got up. “Are you saying that all of those photos are look-alikes?”

  Reba nodded. “That’s what I do. Sometimes a celeb needs a stand-in to get the press off them, and they come to me. Other times, it’s for other reasons.” She flashed a tight smile. “Come into my office and let’s talk about what I can do for you.”

  Said the spider to the fly, Danielle thought as she followed Reba to her office.

  “Make yourself comfortable.” She indicated a chair placed beneath a circular table in the small but well-put-together office. Reba’s desk was the focal point; it measured at least six feet long with a glass overlay beneath which looked like a massive collage of photographs. Danielle was most interested in the computer, which sat on the end of the desk.

  Behind the desk, the twelve-foot windows displayed the might of towering Manhattan. There were several photos on the wall of Reba posing with some recognizable politicians, and the young actress from Dreamgirls.

  “Are those real?” Danielle asked.

  Reba chuckled. “What do you think?”

  “I’m not really sure.”

  “Good, then I’ve done my job. Now, let me tell you what I think we can do. I cover everything from decoys to surprise guests for birthday parties. I think you would be great for parties.”

  “Really?” She hesitated, intentionally trying to give the impression that she may be broaching a sensitive topic. She leaned forward slightly. “Uh, you mentioned when we first met that these jobs pay very well.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Well, I’m in a really bad financial bind at the moment. If I don’t get a major influx of cash, I could lose my condo and my business. At this point I’d be willing to do just about anything.” She sputtered a nervous laugh.

  Reba studied her for a moment. She folded her hands on top of the desk. “I see.” She continued to stare at Danielle so long and hard that she would have sworn that Reba was going to tell her she knew exactly why she was there.

  A line of perspiration trickled down her back.

  “I’m sorry,” Danielle finally said. “I probably shouldn’t have come here. You run a business and there’s no reason to get you involved in my personal drama.” She stood.

  “
No, wait. I think we can do business. How much money are you looking to make?”

  “As much as possible and as quickly as possible. I’ll do whatever.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “I’m desperate.”

  “I’ll have to do some checking, but I think I have the perfect opportunity. Give me a day or two to get back to you.”

  “Thank you so much,” Danielle said profusely. Her time had just about run out, and she knew this may be her last chance inside this office. Tapping the phone didn’t appear to be an option. The only other alternative was to plant a listening device somewhere in the office. She stuck her hand in her pocket and felt the tiny disk. She palmed it and stood, then quickly walked to the other side of the room to look up at the picture of Reba with the newest presidential hopeful.

  “I still can’t believe that’s not really him.”

  Reba came up behind her. “That’s why my business works.”

  Danielle spun toward her. “I better get going.” She stuck out her hand, which Reba shook. “Thanks for talking to me. I’m eager to get started.”

  “So am I.”

  Danielle crossed the room to get her purse, and the instant Reba’s back was turned, she stuck the recording disk beneath her desk and hoped that the signal would be strong enough to pick up something worth while. She straightened and walked to the door where Reba was waiting.

  “Thanks again.”

  “You’ll be hearing from me shortly.”

  “Great.” She sucked in a breath and walked out.

  The instant she was outside, she called Nick. “Well?” she said instead of hello.

  “Got it all. Every angle.”

  “Did you get good shots of Reba?”

  “Definitely.”

  “It was really kinda creepy seeing folks that are so recognizable but are simply look-alikes.”

  “Guess there are plenty of twins out there.”

  “And according to Reba she can help you make a mint for that very reason. I’ll see you soon.”

  By the time she got home, Nick had already printed out the images that were taken with the miniature camera. “I still have no idea what Jenna and Anthony look like, but Mia does. They may be in one of these pictures, and if so, the connection is made.” She turned to Nick and winked. “I need to get these pictures over to Mia so she can take a look at them.”

  “Mind if I ride with you?” His dark eyes raked over her.

  Their gazes connected in a way that they hadn’t be fore, seeing each other through different eyes in a new and different light.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and wiggled onto his lap. “I’d love nothing better,” she whispered against his mouth before trailing the tip of her tongue tantalizingly across his lips.

  He took her mouth in a long, slow kiss, pulled her closer, pressing her breasts against his chest. Danielle moaned ever so softly, running her fingers through his hair and pulling him deeper into the kiss.

  With great reluctance he pulled back. “Keep this up and we won’t be getting anywhere near Mia’s house anytime soon.”

  She reached down and massaged the bulge in his pants. “That’s the point.” She gave him a devilish grin. “Mia can wait,” she said, her voice thick with growing need. “But I can’t.”

  More than two hours later, sexually satisfied and showered, they were on their way to Mia’s house.

  “Woman, if I knew you’d give it to me like that, I would have signed up for this spy stuff a long time ago. My legs are still shaking.”

  “I’ve been wanting to do it standing up against the wall for a while.” She turned to glance at him. “But I suddenly felt the urge to be a little naughty. I got so turned on with this whole new vibe going on between us. I can’t explain it.”

  “I can. It’s about being open and trusting someone completely. Opens a whole new world. But you’re right, working together like this on something a little illicit, a little dangerous, is a serious rush.” His eyes narrowed. “I’ve always loved to watch you work, but this is different.”

  “I know. Just imagine if I had a gun.”

  They both laughed.

  Shortly after, they pulled up in front of Mia’s building.

  “Don’t forget—you don’t know anything. You just took the ride to keep me company.”

  “Not to worry.”

  They hopped out of the car and went inside.

  “Do you two always look so happy?” Mia asked as she ushered them inside.

  “As often as we can,” Nick said, hugging Danielle around the waist.

  “Steve is in the living room watching something sports related,” Mia said.

  “Say no more.” Nick headed toward the sound of screaming fans.

  “So what do you have?” Mia asked, taking Danielle into the kitchen.

  Danielle sat down and took out the envelope with the pictures. She spread them on the table.

  “Do you recognize anyone? I mean, anyone you actually know—like Jenna and Anthony.”

  Mia peered and squinted at the pictures.

  “Mia! For heaven’s sake, would you please put on your glasses?”

  Mia huffed, went over to the sink and took her eyeglass case from the shelf. She flounced back over to the table and began looking at the pictures, tossing them aside one by one. Then she stopped and looked closer at a group picture. She pointed at a couple standing behind a short woman with steel-gray hair.

  “That’s Jenna and Anthony.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Danielle blew out a breath of relief. “That’s the connection. Somehow the three of them are working this thing together.”

  “How are you going to prove it?”

  “You’re going to get me inside their house.”

  Chapter 21

  “That’s the plan, Nick,” Danielle said as they lay in bed that night. “You said you wanted to help. I can’t risk being the one to go over there and run into Reba.”

  “Does Mia know what’s going on? I mean, really going on? Is she a member, too?”

  “No.” At least that part wasn’t a lie. “She’s not a member, and she only knows as much as she needs to.”

  He nuzzled her hair. “Hmm. Well, you know where to reach me. I’ll be at the JCPenney studio tomorrow going over the designs for photographing.”

  “Right. I need to monitor Reba’s office conversations until Mia can do her thing. Then I can get in there and grab what I need to take them all down.”

  Suddenly, he turned her onto her back and stared down into her eyes. A wicked smile bloomed across his mouth. “Humph, I love it when you talk dirty.”

  They both laughed until they were locked together in the oldest dance known to humankind.

  Mia opened up her database and located Jenna and Anthony’s number and dialed.

  “Good morning, this is Mia Turner. Is Mrs…”

  “Mia, hi—it’s Jenna.”

  “Jenna! Hi, I’m so glad I got you on the phone. I know it’s been ages since we’ve spoken. How have you been?”

  “Fabulous. We just got back from Mexico earlier in the week. What about you? Planning any more fabulous events?”

  Mia vaguely remembered that fabulous was Jenna’s catchphrase for anything even remotely interesting.

  “I’ve been great. Actually that’s part of the reason for my call.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “I was hoping that you’d be willing to do me a major favor.”

  “For you, no problem. Our circle of friends are still talking about that fabulous yacht party you put together.”

  Mia smiled with pride. That was certainly a signature event. Then her smile waned. At the time she didn’t know she was dealing with a criminal. And even now, talking to Jenna, it was hard to believe that she could possibly be involved in something so despicable. What if she did what Danielle asked and Jenna was actually innocent? It could get back to her other clients and her
business would be ruined. She’d be finished in New York, the city she’d built her business and reputation on.

  “So what can I do for you?”

  Mia hesitated. She could always tell Dani that she couldn’t reach Jenna. Dani was obviously resourceful; she’d figure out something.

  “Mia, are you still there?”

  “Oh, yes, I’m sorry. I thought I was multitasking, but obviously I wasn’t.” She laughed nervously.

  “You said you had a favor to ask. What is it?”

  She drew in a long breath. “I was wondering if you would mind being part of….”

  “Oh, thank you, girl,” Danielle said when Mia called later that morning.

  “It’s all set for tomorrow at three.”

  “Thanks. Couldn’t have pulled it off without you. You’re the best.”

  Mia heard the relief in Danielle’s voice, and whatever whispering doubts she’d had vanished. She wouldn’t trade her friendship for all the business in Manhattan.

  “That’s what friends are for. Keep me posted. I have a meeting in twenty minutes. Gotta go.”

  “I’ll call you tonight.”

  While Nick was off at the JCPenney studio, she spent the morning listening to Reba’s office chatter. There was no doubt that she had a boatload of clients. But what she needed to hear was anything that would incriminate her in any way. She set the device to record when her cell phone rang.

  “Hi, Dani, I didn’t want to risk calling the house phone and get Nick.” It was Bernard.

  “Yes, he might get a little curious if you asked to speak to me instead of him,” she said, her voice light and teasing.

  “What did you wind up doing with that lead I gave you?” he asked.

  “We’re working it as we speak.”

  “We?”

  She squeezed her eyes shut at her flub but realized that if they were going to pull this off, she was going to need his help and Claudia’s. She told him the plan they’d worked out.

  “Sounds like it can work. You know this is really going to piss off Jean.”