To Die For

I went out into the kitchen to call a cab. I'd take a taxi to my car, which was still parked at the funeral home, but it required extra time. While I waited for it to show up, I went outside to look for m.u.f.fy, walking up and down the sidewalk and calling her name. I worried Joe would hear me and come out but, he didn't, even though I saw him watching out his living room window. I checked the time on my cell phone-nine thirty-five. I still had time but my nervousness threatened to swallow me whole. I locked the door and waited for the taxi in the driveway, pacing.

Five minutes later, Joe came outside, easing his way over to me as though I was a wild animal and might bolt if he got too close. "Rose?"

"Leave me alone," I growled, looking down the street with my side to him.

"Do you need a ride to your car?"

"I called a taxi."

We waited a few more minutes. I was so anxious I thought I would puke.

"Don't go, Rose." His voice was so quiet I could barely hear him.

I turned to face him and shook my head. "Do you have any idea what you are asking?"

"Do you know what's going to happen if you go with an empty flash drive?"

"What do you care, Joe? Leave me alone!" I started down the sidewalk. Wearing heels wasn't such a good idea if I had to walk two miles.

Joe jogged up to me. "Let me drive you."

"Drive me where?"

"To your car."

I stopped and glared at him. "Why are you doin' this?"

"Rose, I care about you."

That made me livid. "Don't. You. Dare." I spit out through gritted teeth. I started walking again.

"Okay, I feel guilty. I'm tryin' to make it up to you."

I stopped. That sounded like a more honest answer and my cab still hadn't shown up. Being late wouldn't work in my favor. "All right." I turned around and walked to Joe's car and got in.

We drove in silence for a couple of blocks.

"Do you have a plan?"

I remained silent.

"Rose, do you know what these people are capable of?"

"I have a pretty good idea, Joe, which is exactly why I'm going."

Joe stopped at a stop sign. "I can't let you do this."

"You don't have a say. Now drive."

He drove several more blocks. "You at least need a plan. Tell me you have a plan."

"I have a somewhat plan."

"Does your plan have anything to do with the way you're dressed?" When I didn't answer, he continued. "That won't work with him, Rose. He's been put in a very awkward situation by trusting his source and paying already. His partners are breathing down his neck for this information. If you don't have it, nothing will save you."

"I already know I'm gonna die. I'm doing this to save Violet."

He stopped next to my car thankfully still parked in the deserted funeral home parking lot. He shut off the engine and turned to me. "Rose, I'm begging you."

"You have no right to beg me for anything, Joe McAllister. You lost that right the moment you betrayed me. When was that exactly? The night you met me?"

"Rose," he moaned.

"Fine, so you're worried about me?" I said in a sneer. "Come with me, be my bodyguard."

"I can't." He hung his head.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." I started to get out of the car.

Joe pulled me back and grabbed my shoulders. "I'm about to do something that could get me killed, but I can't sit here and let it happen to you first."

"Let go of me!" I tried to jerk away.

"Rose! I'm trying to save you! Shelf your pride for a minute and listen to me!"

I was willing to listen if he was going to help save my life.

"As much as I hate to admit it, you were smart to dress like this. Crocker likes good-looking women. He'll be more lenient with you because of your looks, which is probably why you're still alive. But if he finds out you haven't brought what he wants, he'll kill you."

I tried to remain calm in spite of facing my certain death. "Will he know tonight?" I whispered.

He looked out the front window. "Yes."

I let that soak in. "Will I at least be able to save Violet?"

"I don't know."

I gasped. I had to save Violet.

Joe turned back to me. "So will you change your mind?"

"Not if there's even a slight chance I can save her." I reached for the handle on the door.

"Wait!" Joe sounded desperate.

"What?"

"Give me your flash drive." I didn't move so he grabbed my purse and started digging through it.

"What are you doing? Give that back!" I tried to pull it away from him.

He looked panicked. "Where is it?"

I dug it out of my pocket, unsure I should give it to him. He pulled a flash drive out of his pocket and handed

"Is this the real one? You had it all the time?" I asked.

"No! It's fake. It'll save you tonight, but not past tomorrow. They'll figure out it's a forgery by noon."

"Why are you doin' this?" I wasn't sure I could trust him, but whatever he had on his flash drive had to be better than my empty one.

"You want the truth or the version you prefer?"

"Neither." I turned to the door.

"Wait!"

This was getting old. "I'm gonna be late."

He looked uncomfortable. "Try not to let him get you into bed."

"Excuse me?" I hadn't expected that.

"He's gonna try, which is why you're still alive, but avoid it if you can. You're gonna have to use your head. Rumor has it he's rough in the bedroom. Just be careful."

While I was grateful for that bit of information, it scared the bejiggers out of me. "Thanks," I whispered.

"Rose." His voice broke. "Be careful."

I didn't say anything. I knew I should be grateful, but I was still mad. I got out of the car and walked over to mine. Joe stayed in the parking lot while I pulled away.

The Trading Post was on Highway 82 just outside of town. Henryetta being so small, it didn't take long to pull into the pea gravel parking lot, already half-full of pickup trucks and motorcycles. My stomach tied itself up in knots as I got out of the car. It was one minute after ten. One minute late.

I took a deep breath as I went in and let my eyes adjust to the dim, smoky haze. Daniel sat across the room, at a table with two other men.

Showtime.

I walked over to his table, but I tried to saunter, like I'd seen models do on television. I had no idea if I pulled it off or looked like a fool. In either case, Daniel Crocker looked like he appreciated what he saw.

I realized I might get out of the dying part, but I highly doubted I'd get out of the sleeping-with-him part. I hoped I could go through with it.

Daniel leaned his arms on the backs of the chairs next to him and looked me up and down. "Well, there you are, baby. I was just talkin' about ya."

"Oh?" I sat down in the empty chair across from him and tried to look interested. I'd prefer to dump the flash drive in his lap and turn around and leave, but the person with the real flash drive had stood him up for awhile. Common sense told me I was gonna have to work my way out of being punished.

"Let me get you a drink. I believe you drank wine when I saw you with Sloan."

I ignored the Sloan comment. "Wine would be great, thanks."

Daniel motioned to a guy next to him with a quick wave of his hand. "White." The guy walked over to the bar. "I was worried you weren't goin' to show, baby. You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

"I disappointed you long enough." I smiled and lifted my eyebrows. I wasn't sure how it actually looked, s.e.xy or stupid, but he still looked interested. I felt like I was walking a tightrope without a net.

The guy returned with a gla.s.s of white wine. It creeped me out that Daniel remembered what I had that night. I took a sip and smiled my approval.

My hand rested on the table. Daniel stretched his hand over and covered mine. It felt clammy and oppressive. I resisted the urge to s.n.a.t.c.h mine away.

"They say business before pleasure, Rose. Seems particularly apropos tonight."

I stood up, carefully pulling my hand out from under his so I didn't offend him. I reached into my pocket, arching my back and thrusting out my chest. I needed to worry about the surviving tonight and not the fact I was digging myself into a hole of sleeping with him. His eyes told me he appreciated the view. I put the flash drive on the table slowly slid it toward him.

He picked it up and handed it to the guy who brought my wine. He waved to the other man, who got up and left. Daniel patted the chair next to him. "I'm feeling mighty lonely all by myself. Come sit with me."

I moved to the chair, trying not to stiffen when he draped his arm around my shoulders and sniffed my neck.

Oh, Lord, I don't think I can go through with this.

"You smell so good, baby. I can't wait to get a taste." He leaned over and kissed me, a wet sloppy mess that tasted like beer and onions. Daniel Crocker had a love of onions. I tried to show him a little enthusiasm, but he noticed the lack of effort on my part.

"Nervous, baby? You got something to be nervous about? I know you're good in bed. McAllister says so anyway."

I couldn't stop my show of surprise.

His hand moved to my leg, skimming the inside of my thigh. "Don't be hurt. I had McAllister keep an eye on you, once I knew it was you. I didn't expect him to watch you so closely though." His hand moved farther up my thigh. "Although he did provide exceptional information." He pinched the inside of my leg. Even through my jeans it was hard enough to bring tears to my eyes. "But you're mine now."

I grabbed my gla.s.s of wine and took a good-sized gulp.

The man came and whispered in Crocker's ear. Daniel grinned. "Bring over some tequila shots to celebrate." He turned to me, beaming. "You have no idea how happy I am that you didn't disappoint me."

The man brought six shot gla.s.ses, a bowl full of lime wedges, and a shaker full of salt.

"You ever done tequila shots, Rose?" Daniel asked, lining up the shot gla.s.ses, three in front of him and three in front of me. They were much smaller than a gla.s.s of wine or beer, but I knew they were much more potent.

"No," I said, scared. If a couple of bottles of beer made me jump Joe, what would a gla.s.s of wine and three tequila shots have me do with Daniel? Then again, if I was gonna have to do it, I might as well have a little help.

His eyes lit up, but with a scary excitement, not the excitement I saw on Joe's face. "Let me teach you," he said in a leer. "But first finish your wine."

I gulped my wine down. I was going be incapable of driving. How would I get home?

He laughed when I set down the empty gla.s.s. "You are gonna be fun. Okay, time for your lesson. I'm gonna demonstrate and then you try it, Okay?"

I nodded, my head getting fuzzy.

He picked up my left hand, and licked the back of it, I couldn't help the automatic response to jerk away. But he must have been prepared, because he held on tight and laughed. He picked up the salt shaker and poured salt onto my hand. Licking it off, he rolled his eyes an evil smile widening on his face. Still holding onto my hand, he picked up a shot gla.s.s with his other hand and downed it in a second. He slammed it on the table and picked up a lime wedge and sucked on it.

He narrowed his eyes, in what I suspected he meant to be a come-hither look. I just wanted to run. "I knew you'd taste good." He gave the back of my hand another lick. "You're turn."

I would have been nervous trying shots anyway, but doing this with Daniel Crocker released a slow trickle of terror that pooled and rose, threatening to swallow all reason. Daniel still had my hand and stuck his in front of my face. I closed my eyes and licked it.