by Cindy Kirk
“I imagine he does. I know I do.” The woman sighed. “It was such a tragedy.”
“Yes, it was. Ms. Dean, I wondered if you’d had a chance to look up—”
“Tony D’Fusco?” Debra Dean smiled and her fingers returned to the folders. “I pulled his file last week and I’ve been meaning to take a look at it and get back to you.”
She opened a folder, stared at one page, flipped to another for a brief moment, then returned to the first. It was all Jake could do not to snatch it out of her hands.
“Find something?”
A frown furrowed her brow. “You didn’t tell me your friend went to Italy.”
“Italy?” Jake couldn’t control his surprise. His voice rose.
“That’s right.”
His gaze followed her finger to where the tip of a red nail rested on the paper. “St. Stephen’s?”
“It’s a well-known liberal arts school in Rome. It looks like in his letter Mr. D’Fusco indicates he’s going to be teaching English. Unfortunately, he didn’t give us a phone number.”
“That’s all right,” Jake said. “I can take it from here.”
Debra wrote down the name of the school on a slip of paper and handed it to him. “Good luck. I hope you reach your friend.”
Jake folded the paper and stuffed it into his pocket. “I guarantee you, I’ll be talking to Tony before the end of the week.”
Debra smiled. “Be sure and tell him we’d love to have him back.”
“I sure will.” Jake wished he didn’t have to teach all afternoon. He couldn’t wait to call Tony. Once Jake talked to him, he’d know if Angel was a cop or a part of some drug ring. If the man denied knowing her, it was probably the latter. Jake had already promised himself, if that happened he’d go straight to Tom with his suspicions. He’d have no choice.
“I said, is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Weston?”
He flashed her a smile and shook his head. “No, Ms. Dean. I believe the rest is up to me.”
Chapter Ten
“What do you mean he’s following in the footsteps of Kings Stephen and Charles IV?” Jake gripped his phone and counted to ten.
He’d made a special effort to time his call to St. Stephen’s School so that he’d be able to speak directly with Tony. Now, it appeared he’d called a day too late.
The man on the other end rattled on, giving him more details about a spring trip to Budapest and Prague than he ever wanted to know. The only part that mattered was that they’d left yesterday, and that Tony had apparently gone with the students as a chaperone.
“When Mr. D’Fusco does get back, you’ll make sure he gets my message?” Jake listened as the man repeated his name and phone number. “That’s right. Could you please tell him that it’s very important that I speak with him as soon as possible?”
Jake clicked off and leaned back in the chair. The man had assured him that his message would be relayed at the earliest opportunity. But when that would be was anyone’s guess.
For now, he’d just have to continue his watchful waiting.
Watching Angel every day.
Waiting to see if she’d give her true identity away.
Jake slunk low in the tattered seat of his parent’s old Impala. His father only used the battered blue car for fishing trips and was more than agreeable to his son borrowing it for a “special project.” In Angel’s neighborhood, Jake’s new Cherokee would have stuck out like a sore thumb. This car fit right in.
He’d been parked down the block from Angel’s house for most of the afternoon. If he couldn’t find out who she was from Tony, he’d have to try another avenue. Although he felt more than a little foolish, he’d decided to stake out her house and see what he could discover. Because most of the small homes didn’t have driveways, cars lined both sides of the street, bumper to bumper. He’d been lucky to snag a prime spot, close enough for a clear view of her front door, but far enough back that she wouldn’t notice him—he hoped.
He’d worried needlessly about the neighbors’ reaction. No one even gave him a second glance. Apparently, in this area everyone minded their own business.
The streetlights at the far end of the block were just coming on when a small foreign car with a hanger for an antennae stopped in front of Angel’s house. An older woman with bushy red hair that stuck out in all directions laid on the horn. A small child stood in the back seat staring out the window.
Angel’s door swung open, and she bounded onto the porch, her dark hair pulled back beneath a ball cap.
“Hurry up, Angel.” The redhead’s voice was deep and booming and carried all the way down the block. “I’m running late.”
Angel pulled the door shut with a slam and hurried down the steps.
Jake’s fingers moved to the ignition, then stopped.
Angel had opened the passenger side door but hadn’t slid inside the way he’d anticipated. Jake narrowed his gaze. She appeared to be pointing to the child.
To his surprise, the woman got out and buckled the kid in the seat belt before taking her place back behind the wheel. The car backfired once and took off down the street in a cloud of blue smoke.
Jake followed at a safe distance, maneuvering his way through the evening traffic with ease. It wasn’t long before the small car jerked to a stop in front of a run-down movie theater. Angel got out immediately, and had barely shut the door before the car took off.
Standing all alone on the sidewalk in the darkness, dressed only in a T-shirt, shorts and ball cap, Angel looked young and vulnerable. She shifted from one foot to the other, her gaze sweeping the surrounding area as if she were searching for something. Or someone.
To be safe, Jake waited until she went inside before he parked the Impala. Although there was a parking lot next to the theater, he chose a spot down the block on the street.
He bought his ticket from a pimply-faced girl, who seemed more interested in reading her book than in taking his money. She took so long, he expected Angel to see him standing there any minute and pepper him with questions he couldn’t begin to answer.
He was thankful that by the time he finally got his ticket, the movie had already started and the lobby was deserted. He made it all the way inside without seeing Angel or anyone else he knew. The theater lights had dimmed, and Jake stood in the back shadows surveying his surroundings and letting his eyes adjust.
He spotted Angel immediately. She was about halfway down on the right. A big tub of popcorn sat in her lap and a super-size drink rested in her hand.
He couldn’t help but smile. For someone so small, she sure had a mighty appetite. His stomach growled, reminding him how long it had been since he’d eaten, but he ignored it and looked for a good place to sit.
Toward the back of the theater on the left, an older man with thick bottle glasses chomped on a box of mints. In the same row a woman munched on her own tub of popcorn. Jake eased into their aisle and sat between them.
Slouching down, he fixed his gaze on Angel. And waited.
Awkward was the word, Angel decided. When Crow had called last night and asked her to a movie, she hadn’t known what to say. Especially when she asked if he had business to discuss, and he said no.
Now he was late. Angel glanced at her watch and took a sip of her large soda. She’d deliberately chosen a seat on the aisle. If Crow decided to show up, he shouldn’t have any difficulty finding her.
The movie was half over before her partner appeared. He slid into the seat next to her, and even in the dim light she could see the tension in his face.
“What’s up?” she whispered in his ear, grateful the nearest couple was five rows down.
“We need to talk.” His voice was low and, for Crow, unusually kind. “Not here.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Something was very wrong. “Tell me now.”
He shook his head. “I’ll take you home.” Again a gentleness she’d never heard ran through his voice. “We’ll talk there.”
Their eyes met. A chill swept through her body. “It’s something bad, isn’t it?”
Abruptly Crow swore. Digging in the pocket of his jacket, he pulled out his phone and glanced at the text. His lips tightened. “I’ve got to go.”
“But your news?”
A shadow crossed his dark eyes. “It’ll have to wait.”
“No. Tell me now.”
He patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. “I can’t. Not this way.”
She grabbed his arm, more insistent this time. “Tell me.”
He leaned his head back against the seat and exhaled deeply. “Dan Reilly was killed tonight.”
Angel’s body felt numb. “No.”
He glanced down at his hands. “He was shot answering a domestic.”
Dear God, no. Tears slipped in a steady stream down her cheeks, and Angel was barely conscious of Crow taking her in his arms, his breath warm against her hair.
“That’s why I was late,” he said. “I just heard.”
“Why Dan?” She lifted her face and choked back a sob. “He was one of the good guys.”
“I’m sorry, Angel. I know how close the two of you were.”
Close? Close didn’t begin to describe it. More tears slipped down her cheeks.
The phone in Crow’s hand buzzed against her shoulder. She sat up straight and wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. “You need to go.”
“I know I do.” His gaze met hers. “Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” With great effort she forced her lips into a reassuring smile. “You be careful.”
“I’ll stop by later.” Crow gave her shoulder a squeeze, and then suddenly she was alone.
Dan gone? Dead? How could that be? She’d talked to him less than a week ago.
The pressure in her chest increased, and Angel bit her lip. She concentrated on breathing past the crushing pain. In and out. In and out. Until the sobs welling up from deep within her subsided. If she didn’t think, she’d be fine. She could make it home. Then she could fall apart.
“Angel.” A deep voice sounded beside her. For an instant she thought that Crow had returned. But this voice was lower and smoother.
She looked up into the concerned eyes of Jake Weston.
“Are you all right?” He squatted down next to her seat. “I saw Crow leave.”
Confused, she could only stare. What was Jake doing here? She didn’t want to see him now. She didn’t want to talk to him. Her control hung tenuously on a rapidly fraying thread. One kind remark could snap it.
“I’m fine.” Angel turned her face from his searching gaze. “I just want to be left alone.”
“You’ve been crying.” He brushed the wetness from her cheek with a finger. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong.” An irritated masculine voice answered from the middle section. “You two are talking, and I’m trying to watch the movie.”
The thread started to snap. Angel pushed up from her seat, upsetting the popcorn that rested in her lap. Ignoring the mess, she swept the kernels from her jeans and grabbed her bag. “I’ve got to go.”
Angel brushed past him and headed out the door. She blinked briefly in the bright lobby lights before the outside darkness enveloped her.
Angel stared at the half-empty parking lot until it hit her. Of course her car wasn’t here. She’d caught a ride with a neighbor, assuming Crow could drop her off.
She was thankful the night was clear, although slightly chilly. Angel welcomed the cold, relishing the brisk air numbing her skin, wishing it could only freeze the pain burning deep inside.
Ignoring the fact that walking alone at night—especially in this neighborhood—was never advisable, Angel turned and headed down the sidewalk. She focused on putting one foot in front of the other. When thoughts of Dan surged, she started counting her steps. At five hundred sixty, the sound of a car motor caught her ear. At five hundred eighty, the vehicle slowed behind her.
Angel tensed, and her senses kicked into high alert. She looked ahead, then side to side. No help up ahead and nowhere to run.
She stopped by a tree and turned abruptly, her back protected by the trunk of a huge oak.
A blue Chevy she didn’t recognize pulled up to the curb and shut off its lights. The interior was dark, and the nearest streetlight was half a block away.
The driver’s side door opened. Angel’s adrenaline pumped, and she readied herself. She could hold her own against one or two, but if there were more—
“I know you said you wanted to be alone…”
“Jake.” She sagged against the tree. “You scared me to death. What are you doing here?”
Glad he’d taken that extra step and come after her, he smiled. “I thought you might want a ride.”
He’d expected her to jump at the offer. To thank him for his kindness. He hadn’t expected what he got.
Her eyes narrowed and her voice was positively frosty. “What part of ‘I want to be alone’ didn’t you understand?”
“It’s not safe to walk in this area.” His jaw had a stubborn set to it.
“Thanks for the advice, Dad.” Angel pulled her ball cap lower, hiding her eyes. “But I can take care of myself. I don’t need you or anyone else telling me what to do.”
If he didn’t know better, he’d swear she was eighteen. She had the insolence typical of that age down to an art.
“C’mon, Angel. Get in the car.” He reached out and grabbed her arm.
“Don’t you touch me.” She jerked back and stood before him with her fists knotted at her sides.
It was all Jake could do to hang onto his rising temper. She was being ridiculous, childish even. For goodness’ sake, all he wanted to do was give her a ride home.
He stared at her face, pale in the moonlight, and some of his anger melted. Although the tears he’d seen earlier had vanished, the look in her eyes showed the pain was still with her.
“What did he say?” Jake asked softly. “To hurt you so much?”
Angel stiffened, and for a moment her bottom lip trembled. But then her expression grew stony. “Stay out of my business, Jake. None of this is any of your concern.”
She whirled and stalked off down the sidewalk.
He wanted to call to her, to tell her it was his business. After all, weren’t they friends?
In the end, he watched her go without saying another word. But as her friend and nothing more, he got back in his car and followed her from a distance all the way home.
Once she was safely inside, it made no sense to sit in a car that smelled like fish and watch her house. No sense at all. For some reason Jake couldn’t bring himself to leave.
About an hour after Angel returned home, Crow showed up. Jake wasn’t sure how the guy even got there. He hadn’t seen or heard a vehicle. But suddenly Crow was there, on the porch, under the light, lightly rapping with his bare knuckles on the wood screen door, his gaze constantly shifting as if any minute he expected someone to jump out of the darkness.
Crow knocked again, louder this time. The sound carried all the way to Jake’s car.
She opened the door, an ethereal vision in a white T-shirt that hung to her knees.
Jake tensed and leaned forward, narrowing his gaze.
Crow raised a hand and brought it to her face.
Jake held his breath, waiting for her to tell the big guy where to get off, the way she had told Jake. Perhaps she’d slam the door in his face. At the very least she should push his hand away.
But she fell into his arms. His lips lowered to her hair and his fingers splayed across her back, pulling her to him.
Jake looked away. He didn’t know who she really was or what she was doing. All he knew was that he wished he didn’t care.
Angel opened her eyes to sunlight streaming through her bedroom window. She scrunched her eyes shut, desperate to return to a dreamland where friends didn’t die and happy endings were guaranteed. She reached out, yanked on the cord, and
the venetian blinds dropped with a clatter. The light disappeared.
Satisfied, Angel padded across the floor, down the hall and into the bathroom. Swollen eyes and a blotchy face reflected back from the cracked bathroom mirror. She drew a shaky breath and wiped away fresh tears with the tips of her fingers. It was surprising there was any moisture left in her body. She thought last night would have drained her dry.
Thank goodness, Crow had been there for her. He’d been a true friend. For over two hours she’d talked and Crow had listened.
It had been a cathartic experience. Sharing stories about how she’d changed when Dan came into her life gave her an untold measure of comfort.
Dan had died in the faith. She had no doubt of that. Though he was gone from this life, one day she’d see him again.
The only unfortunate part of the evening was when Crow blurted out that he thought they’d be good together. She’d been shocked. Why hadn’t she seen this coming?
Because I only have eyes for Jake.
She’d tried to soften the blow, but Crow had been openly embarrassed when he realized she thought of him only as a friend. He’d left soon after, saying he should have known she’d prefer a pretty-boy like Weston.
So if she preferred Jake, why had she been so harsh with him? Even in her hurt and anger she’d known he was only trying to help. Why, then, did she push him away?
Obviously he didn’t realize what he was asking. She sighed. Trust him? If only she could.
But not now. Not yet. Not until she knew for sure, without one shadow of a doubt, that her heart would be safe with him.
Chapter Eleven
If one more person entered Big Al’s Burger Palace, Angel feared the establishment would burst at its seams. All the booths, tables and counter stools were full. A line that had started at the cash register now trailed all the way to the door.
Angel expelled an irritated sigh and resisted the urge to look at her watch again. Of all the times for Mike to be late. She’d held the booth for twenty minutes already, and if she didn’t order soon she’d be tossed out the door. The Burger Palace was like that; greasy food fast, but not a lot of patience. Down time in a server’s section meant fewer tips, and money was the bottom line.
