Reckless

  Ericka Stone

  Case #006

  By

  Felicia Rogers

  Reckless

  Ericka Stone

  Case #006

  Copyright ©2024 by Felicia Rogers

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

  Contact Information:

  Website: http://feliciarogersauthor.weebly.com

  Email: feliciarogersauthor@yahoo.com

  Published by:

  Felicia Rogers

  Cover Design by For the Muse Designs

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication…

  To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

  And to my family who continues to support me through this writing journey.

  Table of Contents

  Other works by Felicia Rogers

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Excerpt from Discovery, Ericka Stone Case #007

  Other works by Felicia Rogers

  Standalone works:

  All I Have

  The Holiday Truce

  A Month in Cologne

  Andrews Brothers (Regency Romance)

  The Ruse

  The Rescue

  Southern Hearts Series (Civil War Romance)

  Millicent

  Amelia

  Cora

  “Justice” and Miss Quinn Mysteries (Regency Romance)

  The Case of the Missing Cross

  The Case of the Puppet Constable

  The Case of the Secret Love

  The Case of the Chinese Boxes

  The Case of the Hidden Treasure

  The Case of the Lost Island

  The Kenelm Chronicles (Regency Romance)

  The Golden Goose

  The Silver Moon

  The Bronze Heart

  Hudson Hunts: The First and Last

  Secret Defenders (Paranormal Romance)

  Cian and Arin: Beginning (prequel)

  The Key

  Mara’s Secret

  Iceas’ Victory

  Meaningful Numbers Series (Christian Romance)

  One of Forty

  One of Twelve

  One of Three

  The Haywood Brothers Series (Christian Romance)

  Love of a Businessman

  Love of a Detective

  Love of a Rancher

  Redeemed Soldiers (Christian Romance)

  Diamond Mine

  Pearl Valley

  Emerald Street

  Ruby’s Way

  Amethyst Cove

  Sapphire Shoals

  Opal Obsession

  Ericka Stone Cases (Clean Detective Stories)

  Freelance

  Pendant

  Treasure

  Escape

  Reunion

  Reckless

  Discovery (coming by March 15, 2024)

  The Board Series by F. A. Rogers

  (novellas are listed in order)

  Maralie (FREE on Amazon)

  Reuben

  Vanessa

  Simon

  Darla

  Daniel

  Irving

  Levi

  Francesca

  Benjamin

  James

  The Return to Eden’s Hollow

  Chapter One

  Monday rolled around way too quickly. Detective Ericka Stone climbed from bed, showered, and dressed. She put her house in shutdown mode as if she was leaving for a long trip.

  This was the second time in two weeks.

  Everything was off and unplugged. She was going away. This time she didn’t know for how long.

  Her bag was packed. She’d been told to travel light. Everything she needed would be provided. That was good and bad. She liked having her own stuff.

  She still didn’t have a car. Not that she would need to drive but leaving it in the driveway kept the house from looking so empty. Police would patrol her home while she was gone. That was a good thing.

  Ericka left and walked to Greg’s. He was already walking out the door. He locked it. When he faced her, he frowned.

  Despite his insistence that she could do this, he still looked worried.

  “Don’t. I have enough on my mind.”

  He sighed. At the car, he opened her door and she climbed inside. Character. This would all be about how well she could play the character.

  When they arrived at the office and stepped off the elevator on the fourteenth floor the entire office was abuzz. All the teams were in the main room, congregated in one corner.

  “She’s here. She’s giving autographs.” Monica held up her signed piece of paper.

  When the waves of people parted, Ericka drew in a swift breath. The woman in front of her could have been her double. The only difference was her hair was cut in a short bob and she liked colored lipstick. Today was yellow.

  She moved away from the crowd and stepped to Ericka. She stopped in front of her looking her up and then down.

  “I don’t believe it. They told me that you looked like me, but I don’t believe it.”

  Ericka couldn’t believe how Rosetta sounded. If she didn’t know she didn’t have a twin sister she might have thought she’d found her.

  Could she have a twin sister?

  “Speak. I must hear you.”

  “Hello, I’m Detective Ericka Stone.”

  Rosetta sucked in a breath. “How did you do that?”

  “How did I do what?”

  “You sound just like me.”

  “I do, but I assure you this is just me.”

  “That is amazing. Can you sing?”

  Ericka swallowed. It wasn’t something that she shared with the world.

  “You do. Oh, this is going to be so much fun! Now anytime I need a normal break, I’ll hire you!” She turned to a guy who hovered behind her. “Benji, let’s get this party started.”

  Benji stepped forward. “Right this way.”

  Ericka couldn’t help but feel that she was making a choice that would change her life forever. The question was if it was the right choice.

  ****

  Tito followed along as Dad directed Beta Team to a chamber off the main room. Everyone was busy fawning over Rosetta Vilo, famous Christian singer, and he was being forced to leave. Probably for the best. He was hurting his neck looking between Rosetta and Ericka. The resemblance was uncanny.

  Tito entered behind the others into what looked like an old office of some kind.

  “I wondered what they did with Greg’s office.” Blake looked around and snickered under his breath.

  “Looks like Manis was determined to erase everything from before.” Nick mimicked Blake’s condescending tone.

  Tito cringed but kept his mouth shut. They knew who he was related to, if they didn’t mind sharing their opinions that was up to them.

  “Hey, Santos, how come you don’t have dear old dad’s last name?”

  “He took his mother’s maiden name because of culture and to avoid the hint of impropriety. Nepotism isn’t in my vocabulary. Now if we’re done questioning agents on your team, let’s proceed.” Dad had entered last, and silently.

  Blake’s second, Nick Malone, looked properly chastened. Blake didn’t seem to care one way or the other.

  Dad used a remote and an image flashed on a screen attached to a bare wall.

  “Your mark is Alexi Romanov. No relation to the previous royal family.” No one laughed at the joke. Tough crowd. Tito felt for him.

  Dad continued. “Emails have been recovered from his computer that indicate he has an intent to harm Rosetta. At this time no action has been taken. Its words on paper that an anonymous source sent to the FBI. It’s our job to decipher whether these threats are real or have no substance.”

  A picture of a building flashed on the screen. Tito knew what was coming. He was sure that Blake would balk.

  “Alexi is living in this building on the lower East side. According to our sources, the gang he is a part of owns the building. We’ve secured your team a room in the building. You’ll move in, become friends with Alexi and determined the threat level and if it is a legitimate concern.”

  “You want us to live there?”

  “Blake, you and Nick have the lightest coloring, an
d I understand you speak Russian. You two will infiltrate the gang while the others man the equipment in the room.”

  “Me?”

  “Is there a problem Agent Hager?”

  Tito held his breath. This was Blake’s make it or break it chance.

  “No, just wanted to clarify.”

  “Good. While this assignment may seem below our standards, I assure you it is of the upmost importance. Not because a celebrity’s life is at stake but because one of our officer’s life is at stake. Now go, pack, and meet back here for your vehicle and prep kit.”

  Dad left the room. If he hadn’t been in attendance Tito knew the words would have flown. Instead Burle said, “Guess we should go home and get packed then.”

  “Agreed. Let’s go, Blake.” Nick encouraged him to leave, nudging him toward the door.

  Tito and Micah remained. The half-Samoan and the Jew would be monitoring everything from a room. He would be paying extra special attention either way, Hager and Malone couldn’t be trusted.

  ****

  Charles sat outside a glass building in the downtown area, at least he thought it was downtown. It looked like a downtown. He’d never been to New York before or anything like it.

  The tour bus was parked outside in a side lot. He’d joined the tour and come exactly where he wanted to be.

  Fortune had shone on him once more. He’d been surprised when Rosetta removed her cap and scarf. She was a doppelganger for Ericka Stone. It was like looking at a twin. If those two ever got together the world might face a time paradox or something.

  Rosetta had been gone for some time. Charles tapped his finger on the couch. The bodyguards, Jamus and Mud, had gone with Rosetta. Toad, the bus driver, had remained with the bus. His head leaned back against the headrest, and he was snoring.

  There was no one to see Charles leave.

  While the job offer had been nice, he had other plans, finding Ericka being top priority on his list. What if Rosetta’s trip was more than a concert? What if she was in New York to see Ericka?

  That could be good and bad.

  But he needed time to figure it out. And the money with Rosetta wasn’t bad. Maybe staying put was his best option.

  He drew in fresh air and paced alongside the bus. He could hear the traffic and smell the exhaust from his location. Maybe it was a good time to write down his plan. He wanted everything perfect for his eventual meeting with Ericka. Her demise would be his greatest achievement yet.

  Chapter Two

  Greg, Quinn, Maggie, and Ericka along with Rosetta and her manager, Benji Hunley, were escorted into a room off the main conference room. It was a place Greg hadn’t noticed since the remodel.

  Benji moved to the front of the room. On the wall was a five-foot by three-foot calendar. With a light pointer, Benji highlighted the next couple of days.

  “Tuesday, Rosetta has a photo shoot for Young Celeb magazine. Wednesday, she has a demo track to set in the studio. On Thursday, she goes to Children’s Hospital to meet a sick kid that is her biggest fan as well as some other kids. Friday, is the—”

  “Wait a minute, are you just rattling off the schedule?”

  “I am.” Benji looked at him with wide eyes, like what was the problem.

  Ericka’s jaw had dropped open and she looked pale as she turned her face to Greg.

  “Um, do you need more?”

  “Of course we need more! You’re expecting my agent to be Miss Rosetta Vilo! She needs to watch Rosetta, be with Rosetta. Talk to Rosetta. You want her to pass so that those threatening Rosetta don’t know she’s not the one doing these things. And tomorrow is too early to start these activities.”

  “Excuse me? Oh, no, no we agreed you would be security only. This, this thing cannot take the place of the great Rosetta.”

  Rosetta sat near the wall. Her leg was bent and propped up on another chair. She picked at her teeth with her fingernail but said nothing.

  “Now wait a minute, our director said I was taking your place and Detective Stone is taking Rosetta’s place.”

  “I told you Benji they wouldn’t go for the change. They don’t really know how to protect people.”

  She glanced up from her hands and looked straight at Greg. If she thought the insults would make him change his mind, she was sorely mistaken. Insults no longer bothered him. Plus, he wasn’t in charge of what the team did. He followed orders now.

  It was sort of freeing.

  “You will teach Ericka how to be you and Benji here will teach me how to be him. We will go to your hotel for this part then you will be escorted to a safe house until the person sending death threats has been apprehended or found not to be a threat.”

  Rosetta laughed. “I guess I’ll be there forever then. I always get death threats.”

  “Then we’ll just locate the one responsible for the latest round.” Rosetta was correct, Greg was sure of it. She probably always received some kind of threat because she was in the public eye. What made this time any different?

  “And?”

  “They’ll be arrested and charged.”

  “With what? Until they do something you can’t do anything.” Benji folded his arms over his chest and leaned back at the waist.

  Greg narrowed his eyes. He started to tell this guy to stick to his own lane, but Rosetta stepped in.

  “Benji, leave him alone. Let him to his job.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Uh, don’t thank me yet. Your job is about to become his job and his job ain’t easy.”

  Greg liked the entire plan less and less.

  Rosetta clapped her hands and rose to her feet. “Since it has been decided this is the best way, we better get started.”

  ****

  Ericka watched the exchange. Rosetta had stayed silent until it seemed she was out of options, then she’d accepted her fate. Ericka wasn’t sure what she thought about that. Clearly, Rosetta didn’t really want them to change places so why were they doing it.

  Rosetta headed toward her. “You come with me.” Rosetta led her to the corner. “You’ve got down my look, at least more than most, and you sound like me, now you need to act, walk, behave like me.”

  “What should we learn first?”

  “Ooo, eagerness, I like it.”

  Rosetta started to walk her away from the others, but Benji called, “Wait.”

  Rosetta stopped and shot him a questioning look over her shoulder.

  “Clothing is today for the shoot.”

  Rosetta slapped her forehead. “I completely forgot. They want me to pick out my own clothes for the shoot tomorrow. They want my own style.”

  “What store?” Ericka held her breath.

  “Oh, some store on Fifth Avenue was what I was thinking.”

  Greg snapped into action. “Quinn, you and Maggie go close the store. Meet us there. At least taking Ericka shopping will help her learn your style.”

  Ericka hated clothes shopping. And Rosetta’s style was eclectic and a little on the funky side with multiple scarves, loose bracelets, and colored lipstick. Brightly colored lipstick.

  “Your face! You’re so worried! Don’t be. We’re going to go with something completely classic for the shoot.”

  Benji stood to his full height. “But—”

  Rosetta held up her hand. “Benji, this was already my plan. I can be extra wild later. It’s a phase. It’ll go perfect with my new song. And when I look back years later, I’ll remember that wasn’t really me.”

  “You have a new song?” Benji’s eyes widened. “You can’t!”

  “I can. I wrote it for this event. And you, darling,” she wrapped her arm with Ericka’s, “will be the first to sing it.”

  Ericka saw Greg’s eyes grow. She knew hers were as big as saucers.

  Maggie giggled behind her hand.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be closing down a store?” Rosetta called Maggie out with a cocked brow.

  “Come on, Quinn.” Maggie let the door slam behind her.

  Rosetta clapped and hopped on her toes. “This is going to be so much fun!”

  Ericka wouldn’t argue. But she was wondering how so much energy was being put into protecting this one celebrity. As she said, she received death threats often. Why was this one time so important or different?

  When Rosetta’s excitement eased, Benji continued his assault on the wall calendar. Ericka apparently had events every day. There would be interviews as well. That was if Tito and his crew didn’t nail the perps by the end of the week.

  “We’ll have Ericka with an earpiece. You can feed her your answers.”

  “Sad, I looked forward to hearing her answers, but I guess that might reveal that I wasn’t the one really being interviewed.”