Memphis Streets 4: Skeletons

Chapter 22- Hydeya

Good Lord Almighty.

I'm staring at the finest brotha that I've ever seen: a six-four, honey-coated, muscular god with cool pastel-colored eyes,and with a full beard similar to what Drake is rocking with it but clean cut. His voice is a smooth, sexy baritone that flows over the ear like a lover's whisper.

One minute in the room with him and I already feel like I'm cheating on my husband. Once that treacherous thought crosses my mind, I shake out of my trance in time to catch Maybelline's horror-stricken face before she slides it behind a fake smile. What the hell is that about?

"Hello." I move away from the door and approach the bed to interrupt their mini-family reunion.

Mr. Fine releases his aunt to swing his baby blues on me—wait. I thought they were green when he entered the room.

"Captain," he greets, giving me a smile that gets my heart hammering like a teenager, but has my head ringing alarm bells.

Danger, Hydeya Hawkins. Danger. "You know who I am?"

"Well, you have been all over the news the last couple of days. Looks like the city is keeping you busy."

"I'll sleep when I'm dead." His shoulders shake with his low, rumbled laugh.

"Won't we all?" No doubts that this man's Colgate smile alone has broken plenty of hearts.

"You have me at a disadvantage, Mister . . . ?"

"Carver." He extends his hand. "Diesel Carver."

We shake, and I force myself not to react to the electrical current radiating from his touch. The man exudes a strange power that fascinates me.

"Nice to meet you." A brief silence hangs in the air until Lieutenant Fowler clears his throat and jolts me out of my trance again.

"Oh. Uhm. Are you from around here?"

"No. Actually, my branch of the family tree is in Atlanta." His smile widens as he crosses his arms.

"You know, I'm glad that you're here. I can ask you directly—how's the investigation is going?"

"For Terrell?"

"Terrell?" Diesel's eyebrows jump—more out of amusement than surprise or curiosity. "Isn't he dead?" he asks.

I take two seconds to try and read his sincerity, but fail. "The jury is still out on that."

"Captain," Maybelline interrupts. Her impatience with me is written in the small lines in her face. "I'd like some time alone with my nephew, if you don't mind."

Our eyes lock, but I don't have grounds to push the issue so I pin on a stiff smile and promise myself that we'll take up our mental battle at another time.

Soon. "Of course not." I back away from the bed. "If anything else comes up, I'll keep you informed."

"I'd appreciate that," Maybelline says, her smile flat.

My gaze shifts to Diesel Carver. "It was nice to have met you."

"I promise you that the pleasure was all mine."

Fowler and I exit the hospital room. "That was interesting," Fowler quips, struggling to keep up with my quick, angry strides.

"Interesting or bullshit?" I punch the down button for the elevator and then start pacing.

I can't dismiss the feeling that I'm being played somehow. Confusion twists across Fowler's face. "I was referring to your reaction to Mr. Playa back there."

"What?" I roll my eyes in a bad attempt to convince him that he didn't see what he saw.

"Don't be ridiculous. I was putting him through my bullshit meter."

"Uh-huh." Fowler smirks. "And?"

"And—he's full of shit—or, at the very least, hiding something."

"Humph. And here I thought he was just a nice guy checking in on his aunt—who, by the way, has been through one hell of an ordeal. I don't get why it felt like you were putting the woman on trial for something."

"Don't be silly."

"What's with all that stuff about Terrell Carver—and he may or may not be dead? Did I miss a memo or something?"

DING! The elevator doors slide open and I jump inside, shaking my head. "Give me a break."

"What?" He follows me. "You know sometimes things are what they seem."

"Not in my world." Fowler laughs and then preaches to me about my trust issues all the way back to the precinct.

It all goes in one ear and out of the other. I know what I know. The second I return to my office, I shoot over to my computer and type in the name Diesel Carver.