Page 2 of The Soul of Archer
“You look beat Hawk,” Grant Whitney commented as he stepped up next to Lance at the elevators. “You find anything?”
“I think that lady is off her damn rocker. If her husband is banging anyone he’s the sneakiest SOB I’ve ever seen. I think she’s just jealous that the campaign manager is younger, prettier and smarter than she is.” Lance grumbled as they stepped into the elevator.
Grant laughed, “Ethan thinks so too.”
A minute later the two stepped off the elevator and ran into Gage. “Good, you’re back Hawk. Ethan wants us in observation. He’s in his office talking to A.D.A Jamison on the phone. We got something, and it could be big.”
Lance and Grant glanced at each other before following Gage. As they passed Lance’s office, he ducked in to drop off his stakeout bag before the three continued to the observation room. Lance saw that Tony was already there and so was Ethan’s wife, Krista.
“Hey guys.” Krista greeted somberly.
“Why are you here?” Lance asked.
“She’s here because of the woman in the other room.” Ethan answered, walking in. “Let me fill you in while we wait on Nick and his assistant. Saturday afternoon just before I left I got a call from a Ryan Bowman in Houston. He said a friend of he and his wife was there and needed help. Our kind of help.
“The woman’s name is Alora St. James. She’s the owner of Sassy Explosions over on Lavaca. According to Mr. Bowman, she showed up unexpectedly late Friday night. She had been beaten. Here’s the kicker, Ms. St. James claims it was her boyfriend, Sam Malconi.”
This caught everyone’s attention. The Malconi name was well known in Austin. The Malconi’s were Austin’s mob family. They were into everything from drugs to weapons and recently started dabbling in human trafficking.
“So, what’s the game plan boss?” Gage inquired.
“When my dad and his assistant get here I’ll go in with them. I was thinking that maybe Grant and Ethan could go too. Grant, you have that soothing big brother thing going so that could help Alora stay calm.” Krista explained before Ethan could speak, making him just shake his head in amusement.
“You got it Baby Girl.” Grant nodded.
“Tony, Lance, Gage, you three observe and document. After this meeting we’ll talk with Nick and go from there.” Ethan ordered.
***
Alora sat at the round table, her head resting on her crossed arms on the table. When she got to Ryan and Jacquie’s house in Houston she had told them everything. The next morning Ryan told her he had called Blackout and that first thing Monday morning she was to go there. So here she was.
Her head snapped up at the knock. A second later three men and two women walked in. One of the women she recognized immediately. “Oh my gosh! You’re Kris James!”
Krista smiled warmly, “Yep. Alora, this is my dad, Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Jameson and his assistant, Annabelle Malconi.”
“Malconi? You’re related to Sam?” Alora blurted out.
“Sadly. I’ve been disowned by my family which I’m perfectly fine with. I’ve been helping Nick build a case against them for years.” Annabelle stated.
“And these two are Ethan Blackstone and Grant Whitney. They’re members of Blackout’s Alpha team.” Krista finished the introductions.
“Ms. St. James, I promise you we’re here to help you. Just tell us everything and then we can get the ball rollin’ on keeping you safe.” Ethan assured her as everyone took their seats.
Alora nodded. She closed her eyes and took a few slow breaths. She only opened her eyes when she felt someone take one of her hands. It was Krista. “Well, I really don’t know where to begin. I mean I’ve never done anything like this.”
“Alora, may I call you Alora?” Nick began. She nodded. “Alora, why don’t you start at the beginning. How did you meet Samuel Malconi?”
“We met the first time about sixteen years ago in college. I was studying at the Culinary Institute in New York and he was attending Columbia. We met at an art gallery when we were freshmen. We seemed to hit it off. About a month later we started dating. It was the middle of our junior years was when I met his dad for the first time.
“Ian Malconi scared the shit out of me. I…” She paused, licking her lips as she remembered meeting Ian. “I was at Sam’s apartment when his dad stopped by unannounced. God, the way that man looked at me made me want to take a scalding shower. I felt violated and all he did was shake my hand.”
***
In the observation room Lance was glued to the monitor. He felt a pull to the woman like he had never felt with anyone. Her jewel-like amber eyes were hypnotizing. Emotion swimming in them as she talked. Her deep brown hair was swept away from her face in a single braid. Her face was free of make-up and smooth looking, except the fading bruise on her left cheek. Her complexion was a soft golden tan that told him she enjoyed the outdoors.
From what he could see of her figure she was curvy in all the places he believed a woman should be. At present she was dressed in faded jeans, a Jason Aldean t-shirt and flip flops. She looked both terrified yet strangely pulled together. He mentally applauded her for her strength. He leaned in when she began speaking once more. What he heard next had him seeing red and he couldn’t explain it.
***
