Page 33 of Promise Kept

A very expensive bouquet.

I stand at the elevators and wait.

When the doors finally open, a man in a suit smiles at me.

“Where to?”

“Tamara Sydney,” I say.

“Ah,” the man says. “She’ll have to verify once we’re there.”

“Of course.” I step into the elevator.

I’ve already been verified at the front counter.

I love these insane buildings that look old outside but inside are so different.

Tamara Sydney.

I’m not sure how she affords her lifestyle, but I’ve heard rumors.

It also didn’t hurt that she had once been with Heston.

And gave birth to Heston’s only child.

The elevator stops and I’m escorted to Tamara’s apartment.

I’m not even allowed to knock on the door, as the guy from the elevator does it.

The door opens and Tamara appears in a black dress showing off her famous hourglass figure. Showing off a lot of skin too. Her dress - strapless. Her lips are pouty, seeking attention. Her eyes are slightly glossy. And not from the wine in the wine glass she’s holding in her right hand.

“Leroy, why do you insist on acting like this?” Tamara asks the man from the elevator. Then she looks at me. “Big time city cop, retired to work here, and acts like this. Then again, he just wants to protect me and get into my panties.” She looks at the man again. “Right, Leroy?”

Leroy suddenly looks very uncomfortable as he begins to step back.

He folds his hand in front of his body and nods to me.

Once he’s out of the way, Tamara sighs. “One breast pops out of your dress after a night out…”

“Excuse me?” I ask.

She points down the hallway. “On the elevator one night. I had a slight wardrobe malfunction. Just one breast. And Leroy acted as though he’d never seen a woman’s breast before. Then he moved into hero mode, helping me home, expecting me to pull him inside my apartment and fuck him on the couch.”

“He actually said that to you?”

“Eyes. They never lie.”

Tamara opens her honey colored eyes wide.

Your daughter has your eyes…

“Forget him,” Tamara says. She reaches out and touches my face. “You clean up so well, Ellis. I’m so sorry I was such a mess last time we spoke.”

“It was a funeral,” I say. “Expected.”

“Don’t just stand out here,” she says. “Get in here.”

She grabs my tie and gives it a tug.

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