by JB Lynn
“That’s my point,” he said quietly, cupping my cheek in his palm. “Vinnie could have killed you.”
I saw the concern in his eyes and realized he was genuinely worried about me, not because I was a work assignment, but because he cared. I swallowed hard, caught off guard by the depth of his emotion. “But he didn’t.”
“You got lucky. Next time, you could get dead.” He shook his head once, then said, “I don’t want that to happen.”
Suddenly, as though startled by what he’d revealed, he dropped his hand and spun away from me, beginning to walk again.
“I’ll be careful,” I promised.
Nodding, he cleared his throat and steered the conversation back to business. “The DA just got the Skee-Ball to mess with the boss’s head. Knock him off his game. And it’s working.”
“And what are the stakes they’re playing for?”
“You’re better off not knowing.” He surprised me by grabbing my hand and walking a little closer to me.
His grip was warm and firm, and I had to fight the urge not to lean into him as my legs went weak.
“Better to look like a couple out for a romantic stroll,” he explained. “Less chance of being noticed.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak at the moment.
Piss streaked forward, but not before meowing softly, “I’ll go check it out.”
Gino stopped walking, tugging on me gently so that I ended up facing him. He pulled up my sleeve and, with his head bowed, used one finger to trace the line of heart tattoos I’d put on myself. Tingling bolts skittered over my skin. “I need to kiss you,” he said softly without looking at me. “I need for you not to hit me.”
“I won’t,” I promised breathlessly.
He looked up, his gaze pinpointed on my mouth, and cupped my chin in his hand. Taking his time, he turned my head so that my face was at a ninety-degree angle from his. Leaning close, he pressed his lips to the base of my throat.
My eyes fluttered closed as he slowly nibbled his way up, setting every nerve ending in my body alight.
“Yellow house, second story,” he murmured as he nuzzled my ear. “Is he still watching us?”
It took me a moment, okay, maybe a couple of moments, to realize that he wasn’t seducing me. He was using me to determine if we’d been detected by and considered to be suspicious by the DA’s neighbors.
I snapped my eyes open and tried to focus on the task at hand, instead of the sensations my body wanted more of. Sure enough, there was an older man standing in the window of a nearby home, watching us. “He’s there,” I told Gino.
Mercifully, he pressed a quick kiss to the corner of my mouth, looped an arm around my neck, and began walking again. Moving at an easy pace, we wandered past the DA’s place. Every light was on and the faint strains of jazz could be heard.
I nodded at an older woman who walked down the opposite side of the street holding the hand of a toddler and murmured, “Definitely not the time for a break-in.”
20
Aunt Susan caught me the next morning as I stood over the sink eating a piece of cinnamon toast before work.
“You would think you were raised in a barn,” she snapped. “Really, Margaret. Would it be too much to sit at the table with a plate…and perhaps even a napkin.”
I shoved the last of the bread into my mouth before she could force me to sit. “I’m in a hurry.”
“And you’re talking with your mouth full.” Even as she complained, she kindly topped off my coffee for me after she’d poured her own.
After chewing and swallowing the wad of crispy dough, I said, “You chose Katie’s teacher well.”
I’d already gotten my niece dressed, fed, and out to her schoolroom. For once, she hadn’t dragged her feet. “She’s loving learning.”
Even in her grouchy mood, a pleased smile lightened my aunt’s features. “She certainly seems to be. But I can’t take all the credit. It was Armani who brought Miss Lassalan to my attention.” She peered at me closely and I was relieved I hadn’t dressed for work yet. “How’s it going with Lawrence?”
I shrugged noncommittally. It was a tricky tightrope to walk when discussing her husband, my boss.
“He seems pleased with the job you’re doing,” she continued.
I sipped my coffee, avoiding eye contact with her. I didn’t think she’d approve of me practically pimping myself out for this case.
“Have you talked to Marlene?” she asked, abruptly changing the subject.
I shook my head.
“I hope she’s okay.”
I shrugged. “I think she and Doc needed some time alone.”
Susan tilted her head from side-to-side, indicating she didn’t believe that. “She got mail from a lawyer before she left.”
I raised my eyebrows at that revelation, wondering why Marlene was in contact with a lawyer. But I didn’t say anything, I just gulped my coffee.
“A thick envelope,” Susan revealed. “Any idea what that’s about?”
“No.” It wasn’t a lie. “You shouldn’t go through her mail. Isn’t that a federal offense or something?”
“It arrived in the mailbox along with Loretta’s sex toy catalogue, Herschel’s water bill, and a reminder that DeeDee needs a rabies vaccination. Have you taken care of that yet?”
“Soon,” I promised. I frowned into my nearly empty cup. “Have you and Griswald made up?”
She glared at me. “That’s none of your business.”
“And whatever Marlene’s got going on is none of yours.” I drained my cup, put it in the dishwasher, and walked out. “But if you absolutely need to know, I suggest you ask her and leave me out of it.”
Susan surprisingly remained silent.
I couldn’t really blame her for being curious about Marlene, but I wasn’t going to gossip about my sister behind her back.
I swung by the barn before leaving for work. I’d pulled on my Druid sweatshirt to cover up the fact I looked like a tramp.
Katie was happily petting Irma and telling her all about what she’d learned the day before.
“Ready to learn, kiddo?” I asked, ruffling her hair.
I glanced behind me as the teacher’s car rolled to a stop outside the barn.
“We’re going to paint after lunch today,” Katie revealed. “Aunt Leslie is going to paint, too.”
“That’s great. I’ve got to go to work, so I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Okay.” She held out her arms, demanding a hug.
I happily complied, squeezing her tight and pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Stay out of trouble.”
Leaving her with Irma, I left the barn and waved to Lorraine Lassalan, who was gathering supplies out of her trunk. “Your student is ready and waiting,” I told her.
“Just the way I like to start my day,” the teacher responded.
As I took off my sweatshirt before climbing into my car, Piss strolled up.
“You’ll check on Benny first thing?” the cat asked worriedly.
“Absolutely first thing,” I promised.
“And you won’t leave him there overnight again?”
“It was his idea to stay,” I reminded her.
“Just make sure he’s okay,” she snapped before trotting toward the barn.
“She’s really worried about him.” God’s remark was surprisingly subdued as I got behind the steering wheel.
“Are you?” I asked curiously.
“I wasn’t until she pointed out he could be in danger without any backup,” the lizard murmured.
I hadn’t considered that, either, so I drove to work a bit faster than necessary.
Patrick was just unlocking the building when I arrived.
He gave me the once over, scowling at my bra and shirt combo, but didn’t say anything.
“Morning, boss,” I called out as I approached him.
“You’re early.”
“I’m eager to make a good impression.”
“Good
isn’t the kind of impression you’re making,” he groused. “When Dale gets here, she’ll find you something to do.”
I nodded my understanding, waited until he was out of sight, and made a beeline to the staff restroom since that was where I was supposed to rendezvous with Benny.
I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until I spotted the little bundle of white fur, just outside the bathroom door, and let out a relieved sigh.
“He made it,” I told God.
I held the door open so that my favorite rodent could scoot inside and then joined him. Bending quickly, I scooped him up and placed a kiss on the top of his head.
The little guy’s whiskers quivered with delight, so I did it again.
“Ewww,” God complained as he scrambled up to my shoulder. “That’s disgusting. Do you have any idea how filthy he is?”
“I don’t care. I’m just glad he’s safe. You are okay, right?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Benny assured me.
“I kind of liked the hours of not hearing everything in triplicate,” God groused, but I knew he, too, was relieved that the mouse was unharmed.
“Basement, basement, basement!” Benny cried.
“What’s down—?” I began to ask the mouse.
But I was interrupted by a voice calling, “Peggy? Peggy, where are you?”
“That’s you,” God reminded me.
“Just a sec,” I yelled back. I peered at the mouse. “Want to stick with me all day or do more exploring.”
“Investigating, investigating, investigating,” he corrected proudly.
“Not me,” God said, diving into my bra. “I’ve had enough of this filthy place. I’ll probably end up with post-traumatic stress from the ordeal.”
I put the mouse back on the ground, opened the door, allowed him to leave, and squared my shoulders before facing Dale.
“Hey,” God shouted, his voice muffled. “Are you trying to suffocate me?”
I relaxed my shoulders, let him breathe, and went to smile at Dale. “Morning.”
“Boss is looking for you,” she muttered without looking at me.
I frowned, wondering why Patrick wanted to see me since minutes earlier he hadn’t wanted anything to do with me.
“I’ll take you to him.” Dale motioned for me to follow her.
We didn’t go to the hallway that housed the break room, security monitors, and office. Instead, she led me down another corridor and down a flight of stairs.
My heartbeat sped up as every cell in my body went on high alert.
“Don’t go in the basement,” God intoned in his best horror movie announcer guy voice.
Dale turned to look at me. “Did you hear that squeaking?”
I shook my head.
She shrugged and continued on.
I followed closely since it was dimly lit. “What’s he doing down here?”
“I just do what I’m told,” Dale responded, her cartoonish voice in direct contrast to our dismal surroundings. “He said to meet him down here, so that’s what we’re doing.”
My mouth went dry as my sense of trepidation increased.
She pulled open a heavy metal door and ushered me through ahead of her. Even though I knew it was probably a bad idea, I forced my leaden legs forward.
The second I’d crossed the threshold, someone grabbed me and swung me toward the wall. Instinctively, I threw up my hands to protect my face. I was dimly aware of hearing Dale scream as I was pinned to the wall of the darkened room.
“Don’t move,” an unfamiliar male voice ordered.
I couldn’t have if I wanted to with his weight pressed against me. Still, a panicked need to free myself had me squirming to try to break free.
“I’m not playing with you,” he warned. “Don’t move.”
Keeping my hands immobilized overhead with one hand, he used the other to pat me down.
I hated the way I trembled as a mixture of fear and outrage flooded through me as he violated my personal space.
“Nothing,” he muttered. “She’s clean.”
Even with my cheek pressed against the wall, I tried to look around to see who he was talking to, but I couldn’t see anyone in the shadows.
“You’re still undercover,” God whispered. “Beg him not to hurt you.”
That was the last thing I wanted to do, but I also had to acknowledge that the lizard was right. Even though I hated doing it, I tried to sound pathetic as I pleaded, “Please don’t hurt me.”
There was a long silence and I figured my captors were trying to figure out what to do with me.
“Please?” I groveled breathlessly. “I won’t tell anyone.”
“You better not,” the man growled in my ear. “Count to a hundred before you even take your face off this wall or I will hurt you. Understand?”
I nodded.
And then he was gone. The relentless pressure grinding me into the cement wall was gone.
“Don’t move,” God warned. “He hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s standing right behind you.”
“One. Two,” I began to count aloud, trying to prove my compliancy. “Three. Four. Five.”
“He’s going,” God whispered. “Keep it up.”
“Six. Seven. Eight,” I continued.
“Well, that certainly got my adrenaline going,” the lizard remarked.
I wanted to ask him if lizards even have adrenaline coursing through their veins, but I was too busy counting. Just in case I was still being observed, I counted all the way to one hundred before moving. Then I pushed myself off the wall, rubbed my cheek and found the metal door. I tugged it open and heard soft crying.
I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the dim lighting and saw Dale, sitting on the floor, head in hand.
Shuffling over to her, I knelt down and gently asked, “Are you okay?”
“He scared me!” she complained.
“Who?”
“The man who attacked me. When you slammed the door in my face, he came out of nowhere and grabbed me.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t slam the door in your face.”
“Yes, you did.”
“No,” I corrected, trying to remember she’d been through a trying ordeal and wasn’t just trying my patience. “Someone else slammed the door and I was attacked on the other side.”
She clutched at my arms, her nails digging into my skin. “We can’t tell anyone. I promised. I swore. He’ll come back if we tell.”
I nodded slowly. I’d said the same thing, but I hadn’t meant it. But…there was a good chance my cover would be blown if I told Patrick the truth, and I couldn’t let that happen.
“Let’s get back to the game room,” I told Dale, hauling her to her feet.
She swayed from side to side but didn’t topple over. I led the way back toward the populated area of the building, figuring there was safety in numbers. She followed.
“Promise you won’t tell?” she asked in her cartoon voice.
I glanced at her suspiciously. She’d been the one that had led me down there and there was no evidence that she’d been roughed up, only her claim. I knew why I was eager to get back to work, but it didn’t make a lot of sense that she didn’t want to report the attack.
“Promise?” she asked again.
“I promise,” I muttered as we stepped back into the land of flashing lights and beeping machines. But that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be keeping an eye on her.
She hurried off and I made my way over to the tattoo station where there was already a line of kids waiting for me to ink them.
I worked diligently, trying to smile at each child, while my mind raced to figure out who’d been in the basement and why they’d been so aggressive. I really needed to talk to Benny about what he’d seen, but the white mouse was nowhere in sight.
“I’ll go find him,” God whispered in my ear, apparently reading my thoughts. He skittered down my back, leaving me alone with a five-year-old who wanted a pirate skull slapped on his butt. I did
my best to decline his request, even when he dropped his pants and showed me exactly where it should go.
Thankfully, Patrick showed up at that moment. He took in the bare-butt boy, and my face, and said, “Sorry, kids, the tattoo shop has to close for a while.”
Kids pouted, parents muttered, and my favorite redhead crooked his finger at me, indicating I should follow him. Something I was grateful to do as soon as I’d scooped up my box of supplies.
He didn’t speak as he stalked away. I looked around, hoping to signal God where I was headed, but I didn’t see him. I hurried after Patrick and was out of breath by the time we reached his office. He waved me inside, stepped in after me, and firmly shut his door.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he tilted his head to the side, examining me.
I offered him a weak smile.
“Put that stuff down,” he ordered.
I gladly dumped it on the nearest chair.
“Now, tell me what happened to your face.” His tone was soft but laced with steel.
“My face?” I squeaked nervously.
He stepped closer and lightly ran a finger over the cheek that had been smashed into the wall. “Who hit you?”
“How bad does it look?” I asked.
“Mags.” The way he said that one syllable was enough to elicit the memory of rolling around in bed with him.
I swallowed hard, wishing I had God there to guide me.
“It’s complicated,” I began.
“You’re not going to tell me?” He leaned back, a glint of anger in those olive-looking eyes.
“Not yet,” I prevaricated.
He scowled. “Ponch says you and Dale disappeared from the cameras for a while. Was it her?”
“It most certainly wasn’t her,” I told him firmly, even though it would be hard to convince me she wasn’t involved.
“But you’re not going to tell me who did that to you?”
I shook my head.
He frowned. “I hope to hell you know what you’re doing, Mags.”
So did I.
21
The rest of the workday passed in a blur and before I knew it, I was headed home to get ready for my date with Phillip.
“Bad men, bad men, bad men,” Benny answered when I asked him what he’d seen in the basement.
