Wine and Roses Read Online Free Page B

Simon left the room scared the shit out of her. This wasn’t just a robbery or something gone bad.
    “No,” Simon quickly stated. “This guy’s not going to get near you.”
    “What did you and the detective talk about? What did he say?”
    Simon stared at her for a moment before responding. “This guy is ex-military and is wanted for questioning in several suspicious deaths of government officials. So far he’s never been caught. Always leaving the area, disappearing before he can be questioned. But you have nothing to worry about.”
    Detective Jackson entered the room and must have heard Simon’s last statement. “That’s right, Ms. Stiles. You’re going to have round the clock police protection until we catch this suspect.”
    “Are you saying he’s some kind of assassin?” she asked Simon.
    The men glanced back and forth between each other. “We’re not sure of anything yet,” Detective Jackson answered. “Merely taking precautions.”
    “But…if what you’ve said is true and no one’s been able to catch him before, what makes you think you can now?”
    Simon grinned. “She has a point. Besides you and I both know sooner or later the feds will become involved. This was no random kill.”
    “Well, until I know otherwise I’m treating this as a local matter. I’ve made a few phone calls but I need to get back to the precinct. Start by bringing this guy in for a line up.”
    “Do you know who he killed?” Eboni asked.
    “Not yet. We’re still working on that. There was no wallet on the man.”
    “Okay, can you let us know as soon as you find out?” Simon asked.
    “If we can ID him. When will you be released?” Jackson asked Eboni.
    “I’m hoping first thing in the morning.”
    “Okay. A uniform officer will be stationed at your front door, and there’ll be added drive-bys to your neighborhood.”
    “And I will be inside,” Simon said.
    She cringed at the thought of being confined in her small space with Simon for an indeterminate amount of time. No way could she be around him and not want him again. The police should be able to handle this. “I don’t think that will be necessary….”
    “Like hell it isn’t.” His tone remained firm, insistent.
    “What!” She frowned. “You are not speaking to me that way.”
    “Ah, I think now might just be a good time for me to go. I’ll give you a call later.” Eboni watched the detective leave; she waited until he shut the door behind him before turning to face Simon. “Look, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me but I’m sure I’ll be fine. The police appear to have this all in hand, and there’s no need for you to waste your time worrying about me.”
    He shifted so his entire rather large body frame leaned forward, towering over her. “In case you haven’t been paying attention, this guy has never been caught.”
    “But….”
    He shook his head, and his hair fell across his face. He quickly brushed it back with his hand, the sight of those long blunt fingers momentarily distracting her. “There is no but,” he stated. “This guy’s been a suspect in other suspicious deaths, wanted for questioning and manages to disappear until after most of the files are closed. He hasn’t even been spotted for a year. And now he pops up, and there’s another death. Look, I like Detective Jackson, but no way are these cops going to find a guy like this, and the feds will become involved as soon as they get wind Len Bennis is a suspect in a murder investigation.”
    “Well, won’t that be a good thing. If the local police can’t handle this then perhaps the FBI or somebody should get involved. They would have resources the local cops won’t. Shouldn’t they? So either way I’d still be fine. Besides, like you said he always disappears so he’s probably long gone.”
    “Babe, you still don’t get it. This was no random killing; this guy is a hired gun. He is not going to leave behind a witness.”
    Her heart raced at his