Blurred Lines by KD Williamson (4 page)

“Call me Kelli.” She grinned, but somehow she knew Dr. Whitmore wouldn’t use her first name. This day was getting better and better.

“I will not, that’s highly inappropriate.”

Kelli read the doctor’s name tag. “Uh-huh. So what’s the N stand for Dr. Whitmore?”

Except for the sound of whirring machines, things went quiet. Kelli looked around her. The students looked alarmed. Some of them even seemed afraid. “Okay,” she muttered. “Party’s over, huh?”

No one answered.

Dr. Whitmore addressed her students. “Wait in the hallway please. I’ll be there shortly.”

Kelli blinked. As the students filed out, she suddenly felt like she was in the principal’s office. “Am I in trouble?” She raised a brow. “I really don’t think you can expel me.”

Dr. Whitmore sighed, and her lips thinned. “I do apologize if you found this encounter rude. If you wish to lodge a complaint against me or—”

“What? No! Lady, I said I was just kidding. Jesus.” Kelli interrupted.

“Nora?” Dr. Rader stepped into the room.

They both looked toward the door.

The tension went from a hundred to about a thousand really fast. Kelli was stunned, but at least it was interesting. She thought this lady had been mad before, but clearly that was wrong. Now, she wouldn’t have been surprised if Dr. Whitmore’s eyes started to glow and Dr. Rader’s head exploded.

“Please wait in the hall with the rest of the residents, Dr. Rader.”

Dr. Rader’s expression morphed into the same silent, alarmed look as the other doctors.

“So…Nora, I like that.”

“Ms.—”

“Kelli.” She corrected Nora just to needle her. So far, the fallout had been fucking fascinating.

“No.” Nora looked even more flustered.

“Well, I’m gonna call you Nora no matter what you call me.”

“How nice for you.”

“Especially if I know it aggravates you. Are you aggravated? Because you look that way.” Kelli might have been enjoying this a little too much.

“Is that your aim?”

Kelli shook her head. “No, not when I woke up this morning.”

“Then boredom changed your mind?”

“Exactly.” Kelli nodded sagely.

“Why am I participating in such nonsense?”

“Because I grow on people, Nora.”

“Like the proverbial fungus?” Nora didn’t wait for a reply. “No one enjoys fungus, Ms. McCabe.” She backed away from the bed. “Have a nice day.” Then, she was gone.

Kelli stared at the door. She wasn’t so bored anymore. She was intrigued and a little offended, but most importantly, she was amused. Kelli smirked. Dr. Nora Whitmore had been better entertainment than the nurse from earlier.

Then, she remembered. Travis was awake. She could call him. Damn medication. It made her drowsy and fucked with her memory. She could have talked to him hours ago. Instead, she’d fallen asleep.

She dialed his room. On the fourth ring, she was about to give up.

“Yeah?” Travis sounded even more tired than Kelli felt. She didn’t know that was possible.

“Yeah, yourself.” Kelli smiled. It was good to hear his voice.

“Kelli?”

“No, it’s Big Red,” she deadpanned.

Travis chuckled, but it was brief and pained. “You don’t like it?”

“No comment until you can see my face.”

He laughed again, followed by a groan.

“Take it easy.” The sounds he was making scared her.

“Stop.”

“Stop what?” She had an idea what he was alluding to, but she didn’t call for a pep talk.

“Kelli, you aren’t responsible for every single thing that goes wrong.”

Kelli sighed. “I didn’t say—”

“Listen to me.” Travis spoke slowly, clearly, leaving no room for misunderstanding. “Everything bad that happens isn’t because Kelli McCabe didn’t do something to stop it.”

“I don’t think that.”

“You do about the people you care about.” He knew her too damn well.

“I’m allowed.” She could be overprotective at times, and that was a fact. She couldn’t stop everything, but it never kept her from trying.

“Okay, tell me how this is your fault? Somehow you’re psychic? You just knew our perps would kill someone who was just a potential witness? We barely had any leads, Kelli. No one could have figured that shit out.”

Kelli pressed her lips together and breathed through her nose. “I really hate when people ask me a question and then answer it themselves.”

“Well, I hate those little sperm-like things attached to egg yolks. The universe can’t make every fucker happy.”

“Bitch.” Kelli shot back. Sometimes, he just made her ass itch.

“Twat waffle.” Apparently, Travis was ready for her.

“Are we having a moment?”

“Possibly. Mark it with ten seconds of silence and let it pass.”

Kelli smirked because it was easy to do with him. As she thought about all that had happened, all that could have happened, her smirk gave way to a frown. “I was really worried about you,” she said softly—seriously.

“Yeah, well ditto white girl. But it’s going to work out.”

“White girl? I think of myself as an ethnic mix. Irish and Italian. Now
that
is a potent combination.”

“I’m just as complicated…Korean and black. It shows just a little more on me. Don’t you think?” Travis countered.

“You could have a point there. By the way, Sean told me your Dad is stuck overseas? That’s shitty.”

Travis grunted. “Life of a civilian contractor, I guess. It took him a week to get back after mom’s car crash. He was in Saudi Arabia that time.”

“No offense, but I really don’t like that man. His priorities are screwed up.”

“I don’t like him sometimes myself.” Travis agreed.

“I’m here. You know that, right?
We’re
your family.” Kelli knew that Travis knew that already, but if ever there was a time to reinforce it, this was it.

“I know you are. Don’t get me wrong. I love my dad, but man, I miss my mom right now. I wish…” His voice trailed off.

“I know what you mean.” The loss of her father left a hole big enough for her to walk through. It didn’t seem to want to close anytime soon.

“She had this way of making all the bad shit go away. I was seven maybe eight when my dad found religion. He took us to an all-black church. Me and my mom stuck out. I mean, really. If you don’t look too close, I can pass for black. That wasn’t the case for my mom. I’ve never had anybody stare at us like that. She would pull me close and say something to make me laugh. Then, it was like nothing else mattered.” Travis sighed. “Damn.”

“Yeah.” This was some heavy shit, and for both their sakes, Kelli needed to lighten the mood. “Did you hear? One of the shooters is dead and the other is in pretty bad shape. Probably right here in the ICU.”

“I did. You’d be surprised what people say when they think you’re unconscious.” Travis sounded less hesitant and emotional.

Kelli smiled again. “No, I would not.” She paused. “We can find out his room number and drown him in his bedpan.”

“I’m not touching that thing.”

Kelli rolled her eyes. “Think of the imagery…a piece of shit dying in shit.”

“You can’t drown in that,” Travis said.

“God, never mind.”

“Something is seriously wrong with you.” Travis’s voice was weak.

“True. I’d like to hear your theories later.” Kelli continued the banter as long as possible. Even though she knew it would be short lived, it felt familiar.

As predicted, Travis yawned and went quiet.

“You need to go?” Kelli asked.

“Yeah, I probably should.” He already sounded half asleep.

“Okay.”

Kelli hung up the phone. She listened to the activity around her—beeping machines, low murmuring voices, and ringing telephones. Kelli didn’t mind being alone, but she hated the feeling of loneliness. If she wasn’t moving…if she wasn’t laughing…if she wasn’t working…it caught up with her, sneaking in from behind to almost overpower her. She didn’t like being overwhelmed, especially by her feelings. Emotions usually fucked things up all the way to hell and back. Kelli was a good detective because she was detached enough to see the big picture, but her love life was screwed up for that exact same reason. At least her friends were fellow cops, so they knew the score. Her family was a different story. Things with them were always messy. All the time. Times ten.

Family. Maybe times ten wasn’t strong enough.

Sean was hiding something and not very well. If she was up to full speed, she’d already know what it was. But she wasn’t, and apparently he’d decided his balls had dropped enough to wear his big boy shorts now. Despite her irritation, she was almost proud. But it was shitty of him to keep things from her.

Then, there was Antony. Kelli closed her eyes. She wasn’t ready to think about whatever mess he was in. She needed to move. She needed to laugh. Where was Dr. Nora Whitmore when she needed her?

* * *

The night was still and humid. Nora smoothed a hand over her pale silk blouse and unfastened another button to reveal more of her cleavage. The matching black Dolce and Gabbana skirt hugged her voluptuous curves, and the Louboutin’s added to her five-foot-eight-inch frame. Her appearance was perfect, just as she wanted it to be. Nora handed her keys to the valet. Her heels tapped loudly against the stairs as she made her way up. She was flustered and exasperated. Her lack of professionalism today had been unnerving. Engaging with a patient like that was inappropriate. Her behavior was out of character, and she still did not understand how she let that McCabe woman get to her. She didn’t have the answers, but she needed to start clean the next day. Then, there was James. He assumed a level of familiarity with her that he hadn’t earned. It was very irritating. She was his superior, not only at the hospital, but in many other ways as well.

Throughout the rest of the day, she’d let work guide her. Now, she wanted sexual release. Sex was a necessity. The need for it—the oblivion it provided—was nothing to be ashamed of. Nora pursued it with the same single-mindedness that she used during surgery.

Tonight she craved a softer touch. A woman’s touch.

She entered the building and walked briskly down the long hallway. A lone man stood at the end by the elevator. Nora nodded, and he stepped aside. She’d been here several times, so it stood to reason that he recognized her from previous visits. The elevator moved quickly, preventing her from thinking about anything else. The doors opened, and semi-darkness and smooth jazz greeted her. This was an exclusive club that only catered to those who could afford it. She walked around the smattering of tables to the bar, aware of the gazes that followed her. Nora slid onto a stool. She flicked her hair over her shoulder as she waited for the bartender. She didn’t have to wait long.

“Martini. Dirty.”

The bartender nodded and smiled.

The gazes of the other patrons burned into her skin, teasing over her heightened senses. She studied her first suitor from the periphery. The woman was a compact brunette, and her hands shook as she shredded her napkin. She muttered to herself and wiped at her face. No, not this one. She didn’t have the patience to deal with someone else’s nerves. The brunette turned to finally speak, but Nora ignored her.

A few minutes later, another prospect appeared. Nora sipped her drink, aware of the other woman studying her. She was bold and had potential. Better. Much better. Nora turned slightly. The woman was tall and curvy, and blond hair spilled over her shoulders in waves.

“Tina.” The woman’s smile was slow and positively wicked. She held out a hand in greeting.

Nora took it. Her skin was soft, warm. Nora’s anticipation grew. “Nora.”

“That’s so tragically plain. It doesn’t fit you at all.”

Nora smiled slightly.

Tina chuckled. “You’re right that line really missed its mark. Should I try another?” She leaned forward, invading Nora’s space. “Or should we just discuss all the things I’d like to do to you instead?”

* * *

Nora’s back slammed against the door, and pleasure sharp enough to cut sliced through her. A moan rumbled in her chest, but she refused to make a sound. She controlled the venue. She controlled the pace. She controlled every aspect.

Nora glanced up at the hanging light fixtures that adorned her living room ceiling before she dropped her gaze to the woman between her thighs. Nora’s skirt was bunched up around her waist, and her lingerie had been pushed aside to allow access. Nora tangled her hand in Tina’s hair and encouraged each brush of Tina’s tongue with a roll of her hips. The tension left her body with each thrust. Her final release was silent, unassuming. She pulled roughly at Tina, forcing her to stand.

Allowing a strategic meeting of lips, Nora walked them deeper into the living room. She stopped when they hit the arm of the couch. She spun Tina around, pushed her face first over the side of the sofa, and removed her underwear. Tina moaned as Nora plunged three fingers inside her. Phineas, her kunekune, ambled past them. Weighing over two hundred pounds, the pig made slow, but determined progress through the house. Nora smiled and rustled the fingers of her free hand through the black and white hairs covering his back. He paused and glanced at her for a moment before huffing and continuing his journey.

Tina gasped and looked at Phineas with confusion in her eyes. Nora twisted her fingers and burrowed deeper still, bringing Tina’s attention back where it belonged.

CHAPTER 4

They walked up the sidewalk toward the witness’s home. Kelli looked around. Everything was tinted different shades of red, from the color of blood to a darker crimson, even the sky and grass.

Travis bumped her shoulder. “There’s this new bar, The Armory, that just opened. You wanna go tonight after work?”

Kelli smiled, nodded, and tried to ignore the weirdness around her. As they got closer, her guts churned—not a good sign. Something was way the fuck off. Her heartbeat slowed, but the sound echoed like a base drum in her ear. Kelli tried to push the feeling away, but as they climbed the stairs, it went up a notch.

It hurt to breathe. She knew there was a reason, but she couldn’t quite remember. The thought was there, just out of her reach. All of this was way too familiar. She had to warn him. “Travis…I—”