by Rayna Morgan
“Do you really care?” Rick’s voice was raspy. He cleared his throat. “I’ll live. The doctor tells me the bullet passed through without hitting any organs.”
“No thanks to your benefactor,” Tom said. “I hope it’s clear to you by now that the gunman’s orders were to take out both you and the girl.”
Rick turned toward the wall, grimacing with the effort.
“Geez, man, smarten up,” Pat said, throwing her hands in the air. “If Tom hadn’t been there to save your sorry ass, you’d be dead.”
“I didn’t see it going down that way.”
“How could you not!” she said. “Did you honestly think being in cahoots with that ruthless bastard wouldn’t end up with someone getting hurt?”
“You think I should be grateful?” Rick sneered at Pat and glared at his boss. “You know what happens to cops in jail.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” Tom said.
“What do you mean?” Rick asked.
“Help us bring down the Kingpin, and we’ll work with the D.A. to reduce your sentence and get you transferred to facilities where you haven’t been responsible for putting some of the inmates behind bars.”
“What do you think will happen to me if I turn on the Kingpin?” he asked. His eyes were empty, like someone who’s run out of hope.
“Your only chance is to get as far away from here as possible,” Tom said, “and the only way you can make that happen is to cooperate.”
The nurse entered the room. “You’ll have to leave, Detective. I need to change his bandages.”
“Let me know, Rick. Your time’s running out.”
• • •
By the time Tom knocked on Maddy’s door, it was late. He peeked through the window and saw her dressed in robe and pajamas, lying on the floor in front of the fireplace, sipping a glass of wine. A glowing fire was a frequent sight at Maddy’s cottage, less than a block from the ocean where night breezes over the water created chilliness.
“Door’s open,” she hollered, setting aside her book.
Maddy’s house always felt like a safe refuge to Tom, but particularly tonight, after the day he’d put in.
He pulled off his shoes at the door and padded across the wood floor on stocking feet. Dropping down beside her on a padded quilt, he propped himself up on sheepskin cushions. She poured a glass of wine from a bottle on the tray beside her.
He began to unwind with the crackling sound of burning logs, the sight of smoke trailing up the chimney, and the sweet smell of lavender-scented candles.
“How’s the arm?” she asked.
“Now that I have time to notice,” he admitted, “it’s smarting a little.” He stretched his legs out, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Maddy watched as burrows across his forehead melted away like butter. His shoulder and neck muscles loosened, and his breathing became shallower.
“I had quite a scare when Pat told me officers were down,” she told him.
“Sorry you heard about it that way, not knowing if it was me or not.”
“I may have run a red light or two driving to the hospital,” she admitted, watching the corners of his mouth turn up. “When I think of how many promises I made to the higher powers—”
“The higher powers must have enjoyed that, especially coming from someone who answers to no one.”
“You’re making fun of me.” She reached to poke him but withdrew when he flinched. “Sorry, but seriously, you’ve always seemed invincible to me. Like my father, until the day he had his stroke and I realized he wasn’t invincible at all. Today, I found out you aren’t invincible either.”
“I tell myself I’m indestructible,” Tom said. He gazed into her eyes with heart-pounding intensity. “But I’ve learned I’m not invulnerable to pain.”
“I don’t know how to process what happened. I never worried about you before. I don’t know what’s worse; the thought of worrying about you all the time or the thought of losing you.”
“Now you know how I feel when you tell me not to worry about you.”
Maddy smiled. “Yeah, I get it.”
“What are you trying to tell me, Maddy?” Tom asked, sitting up.
“I’m not sure except our relationship has changed colors, for me, anyway.”
“What’s the color of our relationship now?”
“Richer…deeper…darker.”
“In case you hadn’t noticed, our relationship’s already been there for me.”
“I felt you’d begun to see us differently, but it made me uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to do with that.”
“Do you know now?”
“Well, I—”
A chirping sound came from the phone clipped to Tom’s belt. “It’s a call from the hospital.”
A moment later, Tom replaced his phone and leaned over to kiss her. “Rick wants to talk, I’ve got to go.”
• • •
Maddy’s phone rang a short time later.
“Are we okay?” Tom asked.
“I’m more upset with your running around with a bad shoulder than your leaving,” Maddy told him.
“You think Lea’s still got tickets to the Pier shindig?”
“She held on to a couple in case I changed my mind. How many do you need?” she asked, holding her breath.
“Two, assuming you’re willing to have a man with a bum wing as an escort.”
“An evening by the ocean, eating gourmet food and drinking wine. Yeah, I think I can handle that. Besides, when have I ever been unwilling where you’re concerned?”
“Good to hear. Wear something sparkly. I’ll pick you up at eight.” He rang off.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Tom paid the attendant at the parking lot and grumbled under his breath. “Twice the usual price. Good thing we got comp tickets from Lea or I’d be set back a month’s wages for this shindig.”
Maddy laughed. “Think of all the money you’re saving by tasting samples of the different cuisines instead of taking me to dinner at the chefs’ restaurants.”
“It’s not only the menu prices but the dress codes which keep me from their places,” Tom said, running a finger under his starched shirt collar.
“I hope you don’t regret coming,” Maddy said. She pursed her lips in a succulent pout as he helped her out of the car.
He looked at the curvaceous figure draped in a skin-tight cocktail dress, the chestnut hair flowing over strapless shoulders, and the flawless, glowing complexion.
“How could I have misgivings about spending the night with the most beautiful woman in the county?”
“You’re a charmer when you want to be, Tom Elliot,” Maddy said, soaking in the compliment.
Walking on the promenade, they saw rows of white canopies equipped with serving tables, chafing dishes, and warming trays. Chefs dished up servings of coconut shrimp, seared scallops, ravioli, pork medallions, and beef tenderloin. Waiters dressed in black pants and white shirts walked through the crowd carrying trays loaded with small plates of bruschetta with salsa and melted brie, sausage roll-ups, mini tacos, and spring rolls.
Moonlight reflected off glasses partially filled with varieties of red and white wine.
Waves of music performed by a string quartet blanketed the crowd.
Tom saw the chief of police standing at the center of a large group of people and stopped to shake hands. “Good evening, Superintendent.”
“Good to see you, Lieutenant, although I’ll admit, I’m a bit surprised. It’s not often we see you in a coat and tie.”
“I need a good reason to put on a monkey suit,” Tom answered.
“I see your reason tonight,” the police chief said.
Tom blushed and shuffled his feet. “You remember Maddy.”
The superintendent nodded and turned his eyes back to his lieutenant. “I heard about the incident yesterday. How are you, shouldn’t you be taking some time off?”
“I appreciate your concern, but I'
m all right.”
“Well, enjoy the event. It’s a beautiful evening, and you have a beautiful date. Take it easy and relax.”
“I’ll do my best, sir. Thank you.”
• • •
Tom and Maddy were filling their plates with delicacies when a man stepped up behind them.
“Would you mind leaving some for the rest of us?”
Tom spun around. Paul grinned and reached for a plate. “How you doing, pal? I heard you got your wing clipped yesterday.”
“Good thing our softball team has an ace hitter for a replacement. I may have to sit out a game or two.”
“I hope your sacrifice paid off.”
“We’ll know sooner than later,” Tom said. He turned toward Lea and Maddy and raised his glass. “Here’s to the two best amateur sleuths in the county.”
“That’s a back-handed compliment if I ever heard one,” Lea said.
“You never did tell me how you were able to find Dalton.”
“It was easy. I thought of the best one to find me if I ran away or got lost.”
“Me?” Paul guessed.
“Better than you,” Lea said. “Gracie or Spirit. So I used Dalton’s dog, Rascal.”
“I hate to tell you this, but you’ve blown your chance of ever running away,” Maddy said. “You’ve told us how to find you.”
“I’m only glad we found Dalton before he did something drastic,” Lea said.
“He may not have been the only one you saved by finding Albert’s murderer,” Paul told her.
“What do you mean?”
“Once Mildred had the financial resources to live on her own, she would have been free to leave her husband. If she had trouble getting a divorce, she might have turned into a black widow.”
“You’re right,” Lea said. She felt goose bumps on her arms. “By getting rid of Cliff, she’d get the rest of his money.”
“I’m grateful for your help, Lea,” Tom said.
“I got my reward. I won the contract to do the grand opening for Jim Mitchell’s condominium project, and I stand a good chance of working on promotions for his ranchette project.”
“Is it going through?” Tom asked.
“The Millers have agreed to sell their parcel to make sure Dalton gets an offer.”
“That was generous of them,” Tom said. He finished the finger food on his plate. “I’m ready for the main course.”
“You’re out of luck, pal,” Paul said. “That was the main course.”
Maddy caught the arm of a waiter carrying a tray filled with cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, and tarts. “Hold on there, fella. You’ve got what I’m looking for.”
“There’s Pat,” Lea said, waving toward the entrance where Pat and JJ were discretely presenting credentials at the entry booth.
Tom lowered Lea’s hand. “They’re not here for the festivities.”
His face took on a somber expression as he looked toward his officers with no more than a subtle nod. He was pleased to see they were dressed for the occasion. He watched them weave their way through the crowd without attracting undue attention.
Failing to notice his change in mood, Maddy offered Tom a cream puff.
He brushed it away with his hand. “There’s one more entree I need to sample before I am ready for dessert.”
• • •
Tom walked toward a table where a man dressed in white and wearing a chef’s hat filled plates for people standing in line. The insignia on his shirt matched the banner above the canopy: ‘Bluff Resort.'
A tall, angular man with a beaked nose stood beside the chef. He wore a white tuxedo with a red pocket handkerchief. Close by was a muscular man dressed in a suit cut full enough in the chest to conceal a firearm.
Tom joined the back of the line. He watched the man in the white tux intently, savoring the moment. As he neared the table, the detective stepped out of line to stand in front of him.
“You must be Teddy Vincent, owner of the Bluff Resort,” Tom said cordially. “I’ve heard great things about your world-class restaurant. Tell me, does the name of your resort refer to its location on the cliff above the ocean or the legitimacy of your business?”
“Most of my clientele call me Theodore,” the man responded in a cold voice.
“I’m not one of your customers, and that’s not the way your name shows up under the mug shot back in Chicago.”
The man’s body went rigid. The blood drained from his face.
“My counterparts in the windy city have been looking for you for some time. Was it the climate which brought you out here or the fact that they were breathing down your neck? They’re going to be real happy to get their hands on you.”
“This is an outrage. You’re mistaking me for someone else,” Teddy sputtered. He looked over his shoulder.
Tom saw movement out of the corner of his eye seconds before the bodyguard grabbed his wounded arm.
“Is this gentleman bothering you, sir?” the muscle-man asked, twisting the detective’s arm behind his back. Tom grimaced in pain.
“Escort him off the premises,” Teddy ordered. “He’s convinced I’m someone other than who I am.”
As the bodyguard steered Tom away from the canopy, JJ pushed a gun into the thug’s side. “You aren’t taking the Lieutenant anywhere.”
Tom jerked away from the man’s grasp and turned back to Teddy.
“Teddy Vincent, I’m arresting you on charges of illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and prostitution.”
A crowd of people was gathering. Teddy spotted the police chief.
“Is this one of your men, Superintendent? I demand to be released immediately.” Saliva spewed out of his mouth.
Everyone froze in place. The Superintendent looked from one man to the other.
“Detective Elliot isn’t prone to making mistakes. I think I’ll leave it to him to sort out.” The police chief turned and walked away.
Pat and JJ marched off with the Kingpin and his bodyguard in tow.
Tom approached Maddy. “I’ve got to—”
“I know. You’ve got to go. Don’t worry. I’ll get a ride home with Lea.”
Tom walked toward the parking lot where a police van was parked.
“Abandoned again,” Maddy sighed, turning to her sister. “Give me a moment, and then let’s go find the waiter with the goodies tray. I feel like drowning my sorrow in sweets.”
• • •
Maddy walked to the end of the pier and sat on a bench, watching the fiery red sun dip slowly into the ocean. She felt the moistness of the sea air as the breeze blew her long hair away from her face and breathed deeply, inhaling the clean, salty tang. She closed her eyes, letting the glowing sun fade to an orange dot on the back of her eyelids.
“It’s a beautiful evening, isn’t it? Mind if I join you?”
She opened her eyes and turned toward the voice behind her. It was Scott’s mother, dressed in an elegant green dress accented by a necklace of sparkling gemstones.
“Nice to see you, Claire. Please, come enjoy the sunset.”
They sat quietly for a moment enjoying the fusion of sounds created by the ocean waves and the string quartet.
“Did Scott come?” Maddy asked. “I haven’t seen him.”
“No, he doesn’t like these events much.”
“I don’t know many men who do.”
“Have you sampled the dishes?” Claire asked.
“Yes, I’ve stuffed myself already, but I’ll probably go back for pastries. I admit to having a sweet tooth.”
“I’m guilty of one as well, but I lean more toward chocolates.”
Both women smiled, comfortable in each other’s presence.
“Speaking of guilt, I’d like to thank you and your sister for clearing Scott with the police. Of course, he was innocent, but the cloud of suspicion hanging over him was a strain on all of us.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that experience, but the police were only doing their job,” M
addy said. She was surprised at how readily she came to Tom’s defense.
“We understood that,” Claire said, “but it didn’t make it any easier. I’m glad the whole nasty business is behind us.”
“How’s Lucy? Is she still staying with you?”
“Yes, she is. Katie insisted, and we’re glad to have her. She and Katie have been as close as sisters since Scott and Katie moved back home. The girls share the bond of growing up without a mother.”
“And Dalton?”
“I’m happy to say he’s staying with us, too. He goes to the Benson farm every day to take care of things but after he finishes his work, he has dinner with us and stays the night.”
“Are they planning to move into town?”
“Dalton’s already found an apartment. They’ll be moving as soon as escrow closes on the sale of the farm. Katie will miss having Lucy so close, but they see each other at school and Lucy will spend part of the summer with us. It’s all working out nicely.”
“Dalton’s a good boy,” Maddy said. “I’m sorry he lost his father, but I think he’s got a happier future ahead of him.”
“I agree. Scott will make sure the boy stays on track and gets his degree, but Dalton’s always been level-headed and self-motivated. I think he’ll do fine.”
Claire ran her fingers back and forth over her necklace. “Things may have worked out for the best. Dalton would have left his father eventually, but he would have done so burdened with either a continuing responsibility to help with the farm or the pain of a broken relationship if he refused.”
“I guess it’s true that sometimes greater good results from a terrible loss.”
“If not a greater good, at least, a sense of peace.”
Maddy knew Claire was no longer referring to Dalton but to her son.
Claire looked directly at Maddy and smiled. “You’ve been a good friend to Scott.”
Maddy didn’t miss the reference to her as a friend. She sensed the other woman was choosing her words carefully.
“It’s sad what happened to Albert after he lost Victoria. I lost my husband suddenly as well, but I didn’t suffer the endless grieving Albert put himself through. Rather than being bitter over the loss, I was grateful for the years we’d had together.”
“I’m sure that’s the way a spouse who passes would want to be remembered.”
