Covet Page 3

  There was a hush as they walked through the station to the elevator. Merrick didn't make eye contact with anyone he just looked forward. He wasn't in to mood for the bullshit and making Mya even more anxious was not his goal at least not in public but in private that was an entirely different story.

  She walked ahead of him to the elevator and pressed the call button. Since they walked past the captains’ office it was obvious that she decided to head to see the M.E. first. Based on her silence she was at a loss for words.

  She had to get in front of this. Deciding to see the M.E. first was a wise decision concentrating on the case would give her some clarity. The trip down to the basement to see the M.E. was silent.

  When they got into the elevator thankfully it was packed with people so they ended up standing on opposite ends. When the elevator reached the first floor it emptied leaving only the two of them. Merrick reached for the button and pressed “B” for basement.

  He glanced at Mya and saw that she was looking intently at the wall. He smiled; it pleased him immensely knowing that he had an effect on her. So… he deduced she certainly wasn't gay that idea could be put to bed.

  Damn, “put to bed” that phrase sent all types of lecherous thoughts of Mya in his bed through his mind. The elevator door opened suddenly interrupting his fantasy. He held the door allowing her to go out first. She stepped out in front of him they were both erringly quiet.

  Chapter 5

  The M.E’s office was a bit down the hall so he walked a few steps behind her watching the mesmerizing sway of her hips. At this pace he was able to watch her uninterrupted. He noted that her shoes were different than the ones she wore yesterday.

  When he first met her she was wearing black stiletto boots but now she was wearing red Gucci pumps. She had exorbitant taste and it suited her. I wonder what she is wearing underneath those clothes. She would look ravishing in Bordelle...something lacy, silk or maybe nothing at all.

  Something about her got under his skin. By the smooth outline of her ass she was either wearing a thong or no panties either worked just fine. They reached the M.E.s office too soon. Mya walked ahead keenly aware of Merricks eyes on her.

  She didn't care at the moment she couldn't, she needed to recover this day and get back on her game. He managed to catch her off guard and that will not happen again.

  The walk seemed to take forever even though it was less than a few yards away. When they reached the M.E.s office they both reached for the door handle. Finally, their hands touched. It was magnetic. They both felt it.

  Mya snatched her hand away quickly but not fast enough. Merrick grabbed the handle allowing her to walk in first. It was gentlemanly thing to do. He spoke for the first time since they walked out of his office, “After you.” He masterfully concealed his reaction to her touch and pretended not to notice hers.

  The M.E. Clyde Morgan knew his job. He had been doing it for 15 years and was one of those rare people that enjoyed what he did. When Mya and Merrick walked in he looked up from his computer and greeted them,

  “Ah…I get a twofer today”, he got up to shake Merricks hand and gave Mya a welcoming smile he knew she didn't shake hands from previous encounters.

  Merrick noticed this of course. He felt relieved. So it’s not just me, she really doesn't shake hands. Like most of the men in the building Clyde found her attractive and unobtainable which made her even more desirable. Still he never crossed a line with her, he was content just looking.

  “Mya, its good to see you even if it’s under these circumstances.” Mya finally broke her silence, “Clyde its good to see you too”; she gave him a warm smile.

  He was gawking at her and Merrick didn't appreciate that at all. Ok time to break this shit up. “So Clyde what do we have on the congressman?” His comment was curt.

  “Man its not good. Someone worked his ass over pretty thoroughly. I’m still waiting on the toxicology report to make a definitive determination on cause of death but he sustained tremendous physical damage that certainly contributed to his death.

  Again that's just based on the pre toxicology report examination. Based on the post mortem exam all the damage was done premortem-he was alive for most of it. He was emasculated-his penis and both testis were removed again pre-mortem.

  There are over two dozen premortem superficial cuts on his face, neck, chest, and torso and of course in the groin area. The cuts on the hands were not defensive so they had to be done post mortem.

  He may have been drugged, there are a lot of drugs that can mimic paralysis and these days you don’t need medical training to concoct the proper drug combinations. I knew a guy that never stepped foot in a medical school but read a few books and watched Greys Anatomy religiously.

  He got a phony degree online forged some documents and was practicing medicine for five years before anyone realized he wasn't a real doctor.”

  Merrick chuckled, “Yeah I heard about that it was in Virginia I think, figures he was a friend of yours.”

  The sarcasm was refreshing under the circumstances. Mya appreciated it. She was on edge and fraught with a kind of tension that was unfamiliar to her. The joke was timely. The details of the congressman’s death were grim but that wasn't why she was on edge and she knew it. It was Merrick.

  He had a strange effect on her. She listened to Clyde’s findings but her mind was somewhere else. It was time to go but it would be impossible to leave abruptly without making both men suspicious.

  Then as if on queue her cell rang. Merrick and Clyde both turned to look at her, “Excuse me I need to take this”, she walked into the hall. It was Brian, “Hey, M how is everything going, do you need some backup?”

  This is why they made such a good team. Brian was always looking out for her. “No, I’m fine here. I’m actually headed back now.”

  “Great we can grab some lunch.”

  “Sure see you in 10.” Perfect timing Brian. Stuffing the phone back into her purse she walked back in to announce her departure to the two men.

  They both stopped talking long enough to acknowledge Mya’s reentrance. After Mya left the room they took a break and started shooting the shit about the super bowl. Merrick sensed that Mya was uneasy so he tried to relax the atmosphere as much as possible.

  When she walked back in they were just finishing up. She caught the end of the conversation. “Mya, did you catch the game last Sunday?” Clyde asked enthusiastically.

  “No Clyde, men running around in tights, tackling each other just isn’t engaging enough to keep my attention.”

  They both laughed. “I never looked at it that way Ms. Anderson”, Merrick replied.

  “Neither did I”, Clyde added.

  She smiled it was genuine. Merrick noticed.

  “Well gentlemen, I’m going to have to cut this short, I have an emergency conference call with the deputy mayor. I’ll shoot the captain an E-mail”, she turned to look at Merrick. “I guess I’ll see you later lieutenant.”

  Merrick watched her walk out the door, there was no way he was letting her off the hook that easy. “Clyde, it was good seeing you again.” With that, she turned and walked away.

  “Clyde, thanks man I’ll catch up with you later, keep me informed and let me know the minute you get the tox screen back.”

  “Will do Merrick.” Merrick hurried out the door after Mya. He caught up to her at the elevator.

  “Mya, I’m glad I caught up to you.”

  She turned to look at him and those violet eyes hit him like a sledgehammer.

  “Hey are you Ok? I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier with the “Hug” comment I was really just poking fun. I didn't mean anything by it.”

  For the third time today he managed to surprise her. “Its fine lieutenant I’m a big girl I can take anything you dish out.”

  Damn my smart mouth. That came out so wrong.

  Merrick stared at her mouth while she was talking, he didn't really hear anything other than the “take anything
you can dish out comment”, and he was amused she was feisty. I really hope you mean that.

  They stared at each other and that same tautness filled the air. Merrick knew exactly what it was; it was sexual tension and it was there whenever they were in close proximity. There’s no way she didn't feel it. He wanted to kiss her, but it was too soon not to mention Clyde could walk out of his office any minute.

  Instead he reached pass her brushing her arm and pressed the elevator button. When the doors opened she turned and walked in, “Until later lieutenant”, she said confidently and pressed the “Lobby” button. As the elevators doors closed they peered at each other.

  He decided against getting into the elevator with her to save face. She had a palpable physical effect on him and he needed a minute to “settle down” so her took the stairs.

  As soon as the elevator doors closed Mya exhaled. She didn't realize that she was holding her breath but Merrick was fucking devilishly handsome and he was awakening something in her.

  Something didn't want but needed. She needed to immerse herself in serious work as soon as possible and get Merrick out of her mind. Meeting up with Brian for lunch to discuss business should help.

  Chapter 6

  During lunch they discussed the M.E.’s findings prepared for the teleconference with the deputy mayor, and laid out a plan of action. She tasked Brian with getting the captain all caught up and mentioned that she would be a no show at the meeting with Merrick later.

  When they got back to the office it was business as usual. Giving the brutality of the congressman’s death they both predicted that the killer was just getting started. The killer took time with the congressman.

  The M.E. estimated the time of death somewhere between 12:00am and 1:30am. The hotel records showed the congressman arriving to his room at 9:00pm.

  That gave the killer a lot of time. Brian worked on getting the warrants to pull all the hotel security footage, guest information and credit card records of all the guests after lunch.

  Meanwhile, she would have to meet with the asshole politicians and media heads to keep this out of the press for a few days. She really loathed the media.

  She hadn’t fully recovered from the way they handled the “affair” between her and the former D.A. They portrayed her as a home wrecking whore. She didn't get a moments peace and her privacy was completely violated.

  Since then they made attempts to smooth things over. One paper made gainful attempts to repair her image but she held a grudge. It was too little too late once words are spoken or in this case printed they can ever be retracted.

  Luckily she was tough she bounced back and kept pushing forward. By continuing to focus on her career and surrounding herself with competent staff she excelled.

  She managed to not only be the youngest D.A. ever appointed but she also had the highest conviction rate. Those were her accomplishments and fake affair or not she earned her title.

  After lunch they headed back to the office. It was going to be a long day. The day progressed a lot busier than usual. The congressman’s death prompted a lot media and political attention.

  The phone rang literally off the hook all day, Karen was so overwhelmed that eventually she left if off the hook just so she could catch up with the scheduling from the previous calls.

  Not to mention the slew of unscheduled visitors that showed up trying to see either the A.D.A or D.A. Unfortunately for them Mya was a fair person and she did not see unscheduled visitors regardless of their title.

  The schedule got booked really fast and there was nothing available for the rest of the day. Merrick had the only available appointment for the afternoon.

  The conference call with the deputy major went well. The discussed the untimely death of the congressman and what details would and could be issued to the press.

  Notifying the family was the first priority and that “privilege” was given to the police commissioner and deputy mayor. The “meeting” took over two hours but it was eventful.

  Mya anticipated running late and instructed Karen to escort Merrick to her office when he arrived and offer him libation. As predicted the meeting went way over and Merrick and Chris arrived punctually.

  After Mya left in the elevator he was jolted. This was unusual since women never had that effect on him. The long walk back to his office helped clear his head or so he thought. What was it about this woman that bothered him?

  There was no disputing that she was stunning but there was something else. She intrigued him another first when it came to his interactions with women. When he returned to the station there were a lot of “loaded” looks from people that watched the interaction between him and Mya.

  He didn't care what anyone thought and it was obvious. His lack of interest was obvious by his body language. He calmly walked back to his office avoiding direct eye contact with anyone and closed the door.

  He never subscribed to workplace gossip and he certainly had no intention of starting. As soon as he got to his desk Chris knocked and he waved him in.

  “I pushed our meeting with the captain back a few hours. I saw you leave with Ms. Anderson word is she looked pretty pissed. How screwed are we… by “we” of course I mean you?”

  I’m not screwed at all unfortunately that will take time with her, but the anticipation will make it all worth the wait.

  Merricks tone was gruff, “I thought she was supposed to be the ball buster? If she was upset I couldn't tell, she swung by on her way to see the M.E. so we went down together.”

  With a disappointed look Chris replied, “Damn I missed that. I don't recall her ever coming down here…wait maybe once or twice. Do you need a minute or are you ready to head down?”

  No, I’m good let’s go.”

  Ironically, Merrick’s day pretty much mirrored Mya’s. It was a host of impromptu meetings, phone calls and briefings but he got through all of it without skipping a beat. He knew there was light at the end of the tunnel; his last meeting of the day was with the unforgettable Ms. Anderson.

  Merrick arrived at the D.A.’s office a few minutes early but decided to wait until the last second to head up. He wanted to be punctual not appear anxious even if thoughts of her plagued his mind all day. Stop behaving like a horny teenage boy. You don't even know if she will be there. Of course she will be there, the last thing she said before leaving was “Until later lieutenant”, she knows your name but still insists on calling you by your fucking title. I can make her say my name… over and over until… Shit! Its time to head up.

  He arrived to find Karen looking exhausted. “Hello Merrick, they are still in a conference call, Ill take you to Mya’s office. Would you like some coffee, tea or water while you wait?”

  “Coffee please black no sugar.”

  “OK coming right up. Please make yourself comfortable they will be with you shortly.”

  “Thank you Karen.”

  “Oh can I take your jacket?”, she added.

  “No that's fine, thanks again Karen.”

  She turned closing the door behind her.

  Merrick sat down on the brown leather sofa in Myas office. He took his jacket off and put on the couch next to him. The office was sparsely decorated with high-end office furniture.

  A large mahogany desk was the center of the room complete with a matching high back plush leather office chair. The desk was neat unlike any other D.A.’s desk that he could remember. There were no pictures of family or a boyfriend anywhere.

  As he surveyed the room he spotted the shoes she had on earlier under her desk. The bookcase was filled with legal books and a sculpture on one shelf standing alone, the Kiss by Rodin. There was one painting on the wall a rendition of the Gates of Hell also by Rodin.

  You can tell a lot about a person from the way they kept their office. So far what he was able to ascertain about Mya was that she wasn't gay…bisexual maybe, reserved definitely, in need of a long ass hard solid dick down… absolutely.

  He heard voices in
the hall right outside the door, it was Mya’s voice and another male probably ADA Smith.

  Mya walked in the room first and looked directly at Merrick. “Lieutenant, sorry to keep you waiting, we had a meeting that ran a bit over. Did Karen, offer you something to drink?”

  Smith walked in second and stood directly next to Mya, she introduced him. “Lieutenant this ADA Brian Smith. Brian this is Lieutenant Merrick Boivin from One Police Plaza, Major Case Division if I might add he is moonlighting, his actual title is senior special agent Merrick Boivin from the F.B.I’s violent sexual crimes task force.”

  Shit, she found out…this lady is good at her job.

  The men exchanged pleasantries and handshakes. Merrick fessed up, “My apologies for not identifying myself honestly earlier but it was necessary to maintain my cover.”