Once Upon a Disaster

by Holly Copella

  “What you think doesn’t really matter, does it?” he remarked with little reaction. “Ballistics will show my gun is clean. I haven’t fired it in months. I think I’ve been very cooperative and extremely patient. Admit it. You have nothing on me because I didn’t do anything.”

  Jade studied him a long moment. Vahn stared back at her and showed little reaction, silently attempting to intimidate her. She knew he was lying about knowing Trent and driving him to Virtual Play, but she didn’t have any proof. Jade finally sighed and stood, allowing him to win the staring match. She had better things to do with her time.

  “You’re right, I have nothing on you,” she informed him. “You’re free to go, but we’ll be keeping your gun for testing. If it’s clean, you can pick it up later tonight.”

  Vahn stood with enthusiasm and smiled. “This was fun,” he announced cheerfully. “We should do it again sometime.”

  “Oh, I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again real soon,” she countered.

  “That sounds promising,” he replied then grinned. “Be sure to bring your handcuffs.”

  She glared at him. “Trust me; I will.”

  Jade collected the file and opened the door for him. He eyed the door then glanced back at her and offered a charming yet lustful smile.

  “Maybe you should give me your number, in case I think of something that might help your case.”

  “Sure, you can have my number,” she replied almost cheerfully. “You’ll find my number on the side of every cruiser on your way out.”

  He leaned against the doorframe and attempted a sexy pose. “You’re very hot for a detective.”

  “Careful, Mr. Lott, you might get shot.”

  “Is this your idea of foreplay?” he asked while straightening. “Because it’s turning me on.”

  Miller appeared in the doorway with his arms across his chest and stared him down. Vahn eyed Miller then looked back at Jade and smirked.

  “Daddy’s back,” Vahn teased. “We’ll have to continue this some other time.”

  She watched as he casually left the interrogation room. Miller shook his head then handed her ten dollars. She took the money, grinned, and left the room.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jade’s apartment was located within a decent neighborhood and reflected her tom girl style, although not exactly on budget with a newly hired homicide detective. She had a sizeable inheritance after her parents had died. Between the sale of the house, business, and their combined insurance policies, Jade practically became a millionaire on her eighteenth birthday. Jade had her sights set on buying a house in the future, but she was waiting for one house in particular. Eventually, her parents’ house would be for sale again, and then she’d buy it and finally return home. In the meantime, she held off spending most of her money, as she would need it to buy her family home. She did have some nicer used furniture, which was obviously hand-me-downs from her uncle since most had an antique appeal and didn’t seem to fit her personality. Jade sat curled on the antique sofa, which had been the same sofa from Rafael’s living room. She held a glass of white wine in her hand and remained in her own world. She finally snapped out of her trance.

  “And if the day wasn’t strange enough already,” she continued her mild tirade while gesturing with her wineglass, “Miller let me interrogate this transporter guy.”

  “Transporter?” Rafael asked from across the room, although out of view.

  “Mafia errand boy,” she translated so her uncle could follow the conversation. “My first real mob interrogation.”

  “I don’t understand,” Rafael announced. “Why do you sound disappointed? Isn’t that right up your alley?”

  “He was more interested in making eyes at me than playing hardball,” she replied with a dreary sigh. “I swear Miller sent me in there just to amuse himself. I mean, the guy didn’t even threaten me or anything. It’s insulting. A rookie could have interrogated this guy.”

  Several feet behind her, Rafael stood on a step stool while dusting the light fixtures in his dress shirt, vest, and an apron to protect his clothes. He concentrated on his work and didn’t bother looking at her.

  “You have a warped idea of a good time, Jade.”

  She glanced behind her and watched him clean. “Says the man in the apron dusting my light fixtures.”

  “Cleaning relaxes me,” he announced boldly. “What about this business at Virtual Play?”

  “Other than the dead guy being a Mafia hitman?” Jade remarked and eyed him.

  “A Mafia hitman?” Rafael gasped and stared at her, nearly losing his duster.

  She shook her head while staring at him. “Doesn’t anyone around there gossip with you?”

  “They’d rather gossip about me,” he remarked then returned to dusting. “I just found out today that I’m gay.”

  “Hmm,” she responded then sank into her own thoughts while studying him. “That certainly would explain your excessive cleaning habits.”

  Rafael glared at her, not amused. “I’m not gay,” he insisted. “I was very happily married to your aunt for ten years, may I remind you.”

  Rafael climbed down from the step stool, removed his apron, and joined her on the sofa. He reclaimed his glass of wine and attempted to relax.

  “Whatever your man in the morgue wanted was on Greg’s computer,” Rafael informed her. “Maybe Greg is hiding a little more than you think.”

  “If he is, he’s certainly not giving up that information,” she muttered.

  “Do you want me to see what’s on his computer?” he asked with a curious look.

  “No, that would be against the law.”

  He chuckled in his throat. “Not for me. It’s my job, remember?” Rafael reminded her. “Sometimes I think you forget who I am.”

  She eyed him and raised a suspicious brow. “Do you even know?”

  “You’re so witty, Detective,” he growled, not humored then turned cheerful. “How about lunch tomorrow? I’m at Virtual Play at least half a day updating their computers. We can try that new Thai place a couple of blocks away. I overheard the secretaries say it was pretty good.”

  “I’ll give you a call around noon,” she replied. “I have a ‘special’ assignment in the morning, and I don’t know how long that will take.”

  “Special assignment?” he questioned then appeared enthusiastic. “That sounds important. I guess that means they’re finally accepting you for the skilled detective you are.”

  “I’m not sure I’d go that far,” she muttered. “There’s a lot of jealousy that someone my age, perhaps even my gender, was promoted above some of the veteran officers.”

  “You wanted to be a police detective ever since you were a little girl,” he remarked. “You’ve always been an overachiever. You wanted that promotion, and you worked hard to get where you are. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

  “Tell that to some of the older officers,” she remarked and sighed with defeat. “I know they have their doubts about my abilities because of my age and being a woman.”

  “Miller respects you, right?”

  She considered the question, uncertain how to answer. “Miller’s hard to read,” she replied. “He’s been my partner now for nine months, and I still have no idea how he feels about me being his partner. I know he grumbled about it when he first found out he’d be working with a woman. He’s not really much of a talker.” She straightened and eyed Rafael. “Enough about my job,” she remarked. “How are things going with you at Virtual Play? Have you made any friends at all?”

  He shrugged and appeared unwilling to talk about it. “I think the receptionist likes me.”

  “Dani something or another?” Jade announced with enthusiasm and turned toward him on the sofa, practically giddy at the thought. “She’s hot. Are you going to ask her out?”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” he remarked firmly. “She just brought me coffee. We’re not picking out china just yet. Although I’ve hea
rd she has a pet name for me.”

  Jade stared at him as her enthusiasm faded. “Why do I get the feeling that isn’t a good thing?”

  “Perhaps because you focus too much on the negative,” he casually replied.

  “I don’t think I’m the problem here,” Jade remarked. “We really need to work on your social life.” She frowned and sipped her wine.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Cody Riley’s mansion was barely visible from the front gate, which was by design. A tall, stone wall surrounded the entire estate meant to keep trespassers out. Large trees, as well as massive shrubs, kept prying eyes from seeing anything that went on even if someone had managed to climb the fence for a look. It was a little after eight o’clock in the morning. The brand new, expensive black Bentley passed through the electronic gates and drove down the road. The heavily tinted windows didn’t allow identification of the driver, but Vahn was one of the first guesses. An unmarked police car pulled away from the curb and followed the black Bentley from a safe distance.

  The Bentley drove only a few miles down the road to the outskirts of the city and pulled up to a newspaper stand. Vahn got out of the car, purchased a newspaper, and returned to the driver’s seat in no particular hurry. The unmarked police car parked nearly half a block away. Jade sat behind the wheel and watched the Bentley pull back into traffic. She put her car into gear and continued to follow from a distance. Only another mile down the road, the expensive car pulled up to a popular coffee shop. Vahn again got out and entered the cafe. The unmarked police car pulled up to the curb and waited. A few minutes later, Vahn returned with his coffee and a paper bag, undoubtedly containing a bagel or pastries. He jumped back into the car and continued on his journey. Jade continued her tail. The Bentley then pulled into the nearly empty parking lot of the Central City Park. The place was usually peaceful until late morning. Jade knew hoping for some drug deal or blackmail scheme was asking too much.

  Vahn got out of the car carrying his newspaper, coffee, and the paper bag. He sat on a bench and read the paper while enjoying his coffee and pastry. By his comfy look, he intended to be there a while. Jade sat behind the wheel of her unmarked police car, where she parked within viewing distance of the happily slacking man. She groaned and allowed her head to fall against the seat. Vahn spent an hour in the park just relaxing with his morning paper, obviously in no particular hurry, then finally returned to the car and drove away. Jade again followed him, although by this point she was bored out of her mind. Within a few minutes, the Bentley pulled up to an adult store. She watched as Vahn got out and entered the establishment. Jade pulled up to the curb several cars away and watched the adult store with a bored look on her face.

  “What a charmed life this guy leads,” she muttered.

  An hour had passed as Jade continued to watch the front door of the adult store with complete boredom. She looked at her watch several times then rolled her eyes and groaned. She wondered how many times one man could masturbate while watching porn movies in private rooms. Vahn finally appeared from the adult store with a paper bag and walked along the sidewalk. She found it unusual that he had a paper bag with him. Was it a payoff? She somehow doubted he actually bought something in the adult store. As he approached, Jade sank in the seat and avoided directing attention to herself. Her car door then opened, surprising her as Vahn hopped inside. She debated reaching for her gun, but she knew she’d probably shoot him just for fun. Jade eyed him as he returned the look and smiled.

  “While tailing a suspect, isn’t it police procedure to follow him inside an establishment?” he questioned. “I could have slipped out the back.”

  “I wasn’t tailing you,” she remarked with little interest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Besides, you’re parked at a one-hour meter. You wouldn’t risk having your boss’s very expensive car towed.”

  “Sexy and smart,” he announced with a chuckle. “I’m beginning to think maybe you didn’t sleep your way to the position of detective after all.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  “As long as you’re following me anyway, I think we should have lunch at that new Thai restaurant near the courthouse,” he informed her. “I hear the food is excellent.”

  “You’re very convincing,” she remarked then allowed her thoughts to stray. She was sure that was the same place Rafael wanted to have lunch.

  “So we’re on for lunch?”

  “No, I wasn’t’ talking about lunch,” she remarked. “I mean you certainly don’t act like a hitman.”

  He laughed at the comment and remained playful. “Probably because I’m not.”

  “You’re more suited to do infomercials.”

  “That felt like an insult,” he remarked while playfully pouting. “Will you be joining me for lunch or should I get it to go and eat in the car with you?” He raised his brows and grinned. “It seems to me we’ll be having lunch together either way, so you may as well join me.”

  Jade studied him a moment, rolled her eyes, and removed her cell phone. She pressed a button and waited.

  “Miller, it’s me. How much longer?” Jade announced in a bored tone. She waited for a response then groaned at what she didn’t want to hear. “No, there’s no problem. I’m just dreading this assignment.” She again awaited a response. “Yeah, okay. I understand.” Jade disconnected the call and pressed another button, only waiting a moment for a response. “Hey, it’s me.” She listened to the man on the other end. “No, I can’t do lunch today. I’m still babysitting Al Capone.” Rafael spoke from the other end. She nodded even though he couldn’t see it. “Yeah, I’ll be home for dinner around six. See you then.”

  Jade disconnected the call and glared at Vahn.

  He smiled and appeared humored. “Al Capone?” he teased. “I’m flattered.”

  “Yeah, you would be.”

  “I’ll try not to lose you,” he announced cheerfully. “It’s just a few blocks from here.” Vahn got out of the car, leaving the paper bag on the seat.

  “You forgot your bag,” she informed him.

  “No, that’s a gift for you.”

  Vahn closed the door and headed for the Bentley. Jade eyed the paper bag, hesitated, and then opened it with uncertainty. She rolled her eyes and removed the penis-shaped vibrator. She dropped it back into the bag while groaning with disgust.

  “This day couldn’t possibly get any weirder,” she muttered then pulled out behind the Bentley.

  Chapter Twenty

  Jade entered the elegant Thai restaurant and looked around while marveling at its expensive decor. The restaurant had only recently opened, and despite its price, everyone raved about it. Vahn immediately joined her, having waited inside. She wasn’t sure where he’d been hiding when she first entered, but she knew he was enjoying messing with her ability to tail him. He grinned proudly and escorted her to the hostess stand. She eyed him several times while they waited and silently observed his behavior. He seemed like any other man. It was almost a shame he wasted his life working for a low-life scumbag like Cody.

  Vahn slipped the young hostess a twenty-dollar bill. “Your most romantic booth.”

  The attractive hostess smiled knowingly and indicated for them to follow her. Jade glared her disapproval at Vahn, but he easily ignored her look and maintained his smile. Jade followed the hostess to a small, circular booth near the back in a lesser traveled, dimly lit corner. Vahn walked alongside Jade with his hand against the small of her back in a romantic gesture. She casually removed his hand then slid into the booth. If her actions offended him, he didn’t show it. Vahn slid in next to her, putting little space between them. She slid a few feet away from him. He again slid in against her.

  She cast a glare at him that meant business. “Seriously, you’re going to get hurt.”

  Vahn slid a foot away from her, giving her some space. The hostess handed them each a menu and walked away. He looked around then eyed Jade and smiled.

  “Very
romantic.”

  “Not from where I’m sitting,” she countered while looking at the menu.

  Vahn casually picked up his menu and looked over it. “I’ve had better first dates.”

  “This isn’t a date,” she immediately corrected.

  “I’m counting it. I always wanted to date a lady cop,” he announced and maintained his schoolboy innocence. “I’m not sure if it’s the badge, the gun, or the handcuffs that turn me on most.”

  “Cops don’t date hitmen.”

  “I’m not a hitman, and I’m not a transporter,” he reconfirmed while casting a sharp glare at her. “Ballistics showed my weapon hadn’t been fired. I didn’t kill that man or anyone else for that matter. We both know that, so stop pretending you have anything on me.”

  “What were you doing in that parking garage?” she questioned while eying him.

  “Can you not be a cop for five minutes and try to enjoy my company?” he practically demanded.

  “Why would I want to do that?”

  “I don’t know--because I was nice enough to let you follow me around all morning so you’d look good for your superiors,” he replied.

  “You let me follow you?”

  He chuckled softly. “I spotted you as soon as I left the mansion.”

  “Yes, and you were meant to,” she remarked and returned her attention to the menu.

  “Excuse me?”

  She set her menu down and focused her attention on him. “Of course Riley would assume we’d follow you, so he’d naturally send you out on some wild goose chase,” Jade informed him. “That’s why my partner is following the other guy. I’m low on seniority, so I got stuck babysitting you.”

  He stared at her with some surprise. Rather than call her bluff, he realized she was probably telling the truth and took offense. “That’s deceptive and not very ladylike.”

  “I’m not a lady; I’m a detective.”

  “Well, I hope you know it’s officially over between us,” he scoffed.