by Marion Myles
The gasping sound from behind startled her, and Mia whirled around to see Molly, face ashen, a hand clamped over her mouth. Frank frowned deeply and put an arm around his wife’s shoulder, drawing her against him. His eyes fixed on Mia, coolly assessing. “How did you know those things?” he demanded.
Mia spread her hands. “It’s…well…the scarf showed me the scene in the bedroom after the funeral.”
“Yes, that’s right. Exactly right,” Molly said, turning away from the shelter of her husband’s chest and wiping at her eyes. Frank continued to study Mia as though she were a particularly unappealing insect.
“Are you saying you can pick up anything in this room and tell me something about my daughter?” he asked.
Mia sighed. “Unfortunately, it’s not nearly as precise as that. Sometimes I see things, but not always. I have no control over what comes to me. It’s not as if I can set an intention of finding out where she is right now and get the answer.” She paused, rubbing her damp palm on the front of her jeans. “It’s sort of like a whole bunch of TV screens on a roulette wheel. They’re all spinning around, flashing by me, and then all of sudden everything stops before my vision is filled with whatever picture happens to be directly in front of me. Eventually, it whisks away, and I’m back to the whirling.”
Though Molly nodded enthusiastically, Mia could see Frank remained unconvinced. That was fine. She knew not everyone understood. She’d long since given up trying to convert those who were determined not to believe in what she saw.
“Mom, Dad, where are you?”
A man’s voice floated up the stairs, and Molly stiffened and turned to face Frank, eyes narrowing. “Did you call him?”
“Yes, I did,” he said, voice calm against her threatening tone. “He’s part of this, too.”
“Oh, Frank. I wish you hadn’t.”
Footfalls sounded on the stairs. “Mom, are you up here? I ran into Tony and brought him along, too. I know damned well she’s here.”
“We’re in Anita’s room,” Frank called out.
Mia braced when Roman filled the doorway. His eyes raked over his mother’s face before zeroing in on her. “I thought we were clear about you staying away from my family?” he said, jaw clenched.
“It’s not…I didn’t—”
“I made her come,” Molly cut in. “And this has nothing to do with you.”
Mother and son stared at one another while Mia squirmed and wished she could disappear. After what felt like an hour, Roman stepped into the room and bending down, hugged Molly. He said something in her ear, and she laughed softly. After releasing her, he turned to his father and clapped a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s okay, Son. Your mother really did drag the girl over here. And though I’m struggling with the concept, I think maybe she can help us,” Frank said, shocking Mia to the core.
Frank and Molly smiled sweetly at each other. Roman’s eyes flashed between Mia and his father.
“Maybe you really are a witch,” Roman said to her. “After what we went through with gypsy Cassandra, I’d have bet the bank my father would’ve spit in your eye and sent you packing.”
Right at this moment, Mia fervently wished he had.
“Come, everyone, let’s go down and have our meal,” Molly said.
“Dinner smells great.” Roman rubbed his hands together and wiggled his eyebrows at his mother.
“Maybe I didn’t make enough for a busybody son and an ungrateful nephew who hardly ever come to visit anymore,” she replied managing to stare down her nose at him.
Roman snorted. “Name me one time you didn’t make enough to feed everyone three servings and still have leftovers,” he pointed out.
Molly shrugged and marched past him, stopping to pat Mia’s arm. “Come on, my sweet girl. Let’s go downstairs. I promise my family will now start behaving like proper Christians and make you feel welcome.” She cast a glance over her shoulder, aiming it at the two men in the room. “Isn’t that right, you heathens?”
“Sure, Ma. No problem. As long as Ms. Reeves understands I’m here to protect this family. One wrong move and she’ll have to deal with me. Okay, let’s sit down and break bread together.”
The blue-eyed blond man waiting downstairs in the kitchen was introduced as Tony, son of Frank’s deceased brother Gino. He flashed a charming smile and shook her hand.
“So you’re the one who’s got my cousin’s jockeys in a twist?”
Mia pulled her hand away and stepped back. Before she could so much as open her mouth to reply, Molly swatted Tony on the head. “Antonio, enough. If you can’t behave then leave. This poor girl has had nothing but insults from my worthless family, and only moments ago I promised her a nice evening.”
Tony rubbed his head and smiled at Mia, his eyes as clear and blue as a summer sky. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t you I was getting at so much as my tightly wound cousin, the self-appointed protector of the entire Mancini family.”
This time Roman was the one thumping Tony, although he chose the shoulder to inflict his injury. “Yeah, well, someone has to look after this sorry lot. Especially you.”
“Um…wow…I just realized I have to get back,” Mia said, easing away from the group of them. “I think I left something on the stove. I’m so sorry I can’t stay. Maybe another time. Good night, Molly. Thanks for the invite. Good night everyone.”
She turned and fled the kitchen and was almost clear of the house when Tony bounded down the porch stairs after her.
“Hold up. Wait. I’m sorry,” he called. Mia didn’t stop, but he caught up with her at her SUV, pushing the driver’s door closed even as she struggled to open it. “I mean it. I am sorry. Please, stay. My aunt is very upset, and my uncle gets pretty testy when anyone makes Molly sad. If I could bring you back, I’d maybe get myself out of the dog house with them.”
“It’s nothing to do with you. Like I said, I forgot to turn a pot off on my stove.”
For several seconds, Tony kept his weight pressed against the car door and smiled down at Mia. “What’s in the pot?” he asked.
“Soup,” she said smoothly, calling on years of experience talking her way out of tight spots. “Minestrone. I make the beans from scratch.”
“Sounds good,” he said in a soft voice, stepping back and pulling the car door open. “Before you go, tell me, can you really see things or read people or whatever?”
She sighed and slid in behind the wheel. “Yes, I can.”
“Do me,” he said.
“What?”
“Read my mind. What am I thinking right now?”
Leaning her head back against the seat she closed her eyes. “It doesn’t work like that.”
“Okay. How does it work?”
“It’s better if I can touch the person or object, but even then I won’t necessarily get anything.”
“Try me then.” When she glanced over, she saw he’d extended his hands toward her.
“Okay, fine.”
She turned slightly against the seatbelt and grasped his hands. They were large and warm, and hers were completely engulfed in his palms. Clearing her mind, she reached out and got…nothing. There wasn’t even a static barrier. Tony was completely blank to her. For the briefest few seconds, she thought she’d sensed the snapping of excitement, but then even that was gone from her.
“I told you I can’t read everyone,” she said at last, pulling her hands back. “So you don’t have to worry because you’re deep, dark secrets are safe from me.”
His eyes crinkled in amusement, and he put a hand over his heart. “What a relief. Glad we got that out of the way.”
“Good night, Tony.”
This time he stepped back and let her close the door. With the greatest relief, she fired up the engine and started backing out of the driveway. Tony gave her a wink and raised his hand in a wave. She ground her teeth and punched the accelerator.
Mistake, mistake, mistake, she chanted in her head once she was finally on the ro
ad to home. But, now, at least, it was over. All of it. She still felt incredibly sorry about Anita Mancini, but she’d done all she could, and more than most people would do. It was now out of her hands.
Chapter Seven
By the end of shift the next day, Roman couldn’t have been happier. In general, he loved his job—and even had plans to transfer out to a bigger city in another year or two—somewhere with more action of the criminal variety in a month than Dalton could offer in a year.
Still, it had been a long week with this Anita thing preying on him night and day. And this morning, he’d been trapped in Mrs. Pringle’s house for almost an hour while she reported various so-called sinister behaviors of her neighbors.
He’d longed to be called out for something else: a cat up a tree, a lost purse, any fucking thing. Instead, the radio had been deadly silent while Mrs. Pringle forced tea and cookies on him. Once she’d run out of accusations about her neighbors, she’d none too subtly probed Roman for details related to his romantic life. God, she was worse than his mother.
When he finally got back to the station, his lieutenant dumped a stack of folders on his desk and ordered him to clear the paperwork by end of day tomorrow. And Kevin, the slippery son of a bitch, had suddenly a forgotten dentist appointment. Oh, it was real, all right. Roman had made damned sure of that by calling the dentist’s office the minute his partner stepped out. But given the fact Kevin’s girlfriend’s sister worked there as a hygienist, it seemed awfully convenient timing to him.
He almost didn’t answer the desk phone when it rang while he was pulling his car keys out of the drawer. With a sigh, he reached for the receiver. “Mancini,” he said.
“Oh, good, you’re still there. That’s perfect timing. I’m right outside, so I’ll wait for you in the reception area.” Molly’s voice had a cheerful lilt to it.
He could dodge her. Say he was working late or whatever, but given she’d been calling his cell all day, he knew she’d get to him eventually. He tried not to sigh. “Okay, I’ll see you in two minutes.”
Damn it all to hell. She must still be pissed off about last night. It wasn’t his fault, was it? All he’d done was make his position clear like any good son would under the circumstances. For some reason, Mia had taken offense and walked out before dinner. Probably because she had a guilty conscience.
“There you are,” Molly said as though they’d run into one another unexpectedly. She rose from a chair in the waiting area and approached him with a smile that made Roman distinctly queasy.
“Here I am. Look, Ma, I’m beat. I’ll walk you home. Then I’m going to my place, grab a sandwich, and maybe watch the game.”
She positively beamed at him. “I’m so glad you don’t have plans. Your father is playing cards with Fred and William, which means I’m free to take you to Gabe’s for dinner. My treat. Come on. You can tell me about your day.”
Roman’s shoulders slumped, and he turned and followed her out of the station. Why did he have to be such a good son?
They slid into a booth by the window and Gabriel himself took their order. “Drinks are coming right up, and the food will be out in five or so,” he said. “And don’t worry, Molly, I’ve taken care of that other thing for you.” He winked at her, shoved the menus under his arm, and strode back to the cash register by the front door.
Roman lifted an eyebrow. “What other thing?”
“Oh, nothing for you to worry about.”
They chatted for a few moments about inconsequential things, but when the drinks came, Roman took a sip of his beer and squared his shoulders, deciding to cut to the chase. “Are you mad about last night?”
“No, it wasn’t any worse than I expected once I realized your father had called in reinforcements. I know how close-minded you men are. I’m only sorry poor Mia felt so uncomfortable she had to leave. I like to think we’re kind, hospitable people. The way you boys treated her doesn’t speak well of our family, does it?”
Roman winced. “We didn’t do anything all that bad though I don’t guess we made her feel welcome.”
“It’s nice to see Tony around again. He was gone too long on his last job. Imagine him head-hunting for big companies and you a detective and Lina running a marketing division. All so grown up and successful. I can’t help wondering what Anita would be doing now if she was still with us.”
“Probably driving us crazy and popping a kid out every couple of years while she decorated the world.” Roman took another sip of beer and rested his head back against the padded booth. “I still miss her too, Ma.”
“Oh, baby, I know.” Molly stroked her hand over his. “I wish we could bring her back home. It hurts my heart knowing she’s out there somewhere, at the bottom of a lake or buried in some forgotten place. You may not be able to understand, but I need to know what happened to her.”
“Why wouldn’t I understand? I want to find her as much as you do. I promise I’ve gone over her file a million times. There’s nothing there. It’s like she finished her shift here at the diner and disappeared off the face of the earth.”
“I remember how proud she was when Gabriel hired her in tenth grade. She worked at the diner all through high school then kept on going, saving up extra for college so she could really focus on her school work when she got there. We should never have let her walk home at night. It wasn’t right.”
“Come on. You can’t say that, Ma. It’s a safe town. Anita was twenty years old. Even back then she had a cell phone. She was getting ready to go and live in Memphis for Pete’s sake.”
Molly’s sigh was tearful. “I know all these things but still…maybe if—”
“Maybe nothing,” Roman shot back. “It had to have been some freaky, random thing. Dalton hasn’t ever had a like crime before or since Anita.” His eyes flickered to the front door and seeing Mia Reeves step up to the counter, narrowed on his mother. “What’s she doing here?”
“Who, dear?”
“You know who. This is a setup, isn’t it?”
Ignoring her son, Molly got to her feet and waved frantically. “Mia, hello. What a wonderful coincidence.”
Hearing her name, Mia turned toward their table and jolted as though shot with a Taser. Her eyes darted to the door, and she took a hasty step back, but Molly was too quick for her. Hustling across the short distance, she was at Mia’s side in the next second, hand on her arm.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she gushed. “Roman and I are waiting for our food. You’ll join us. It’ll help make up for last night.”
Roman watched in fascination as even more color leached from Mia’s face, and she swallowed uneasily. “Oh, no, I don’t want to impose. Besides, I’m getting take-out. My dogs are in the car.”
“We won’t be long, and it’s a lovely night, I’m sure they’ll be fine. Come over now and sit down. Gabriel will bring your food to the table with our order.”
Gabriel, who stood watching the scene with a knowing smile on his lips, nodded. “Don’t you worry, Mia. We’ll plate it up for you and send it on out.”
Hand tucked in at Mia’s elbow, Molly towed her to the booth. “You sit right in here beside me,” she said, gesturing Mia onto the bench seat but wasting no time sliding in next to her and effectively blocking her exit.
“Kinda feels like you’ve been run over by a bulldozer, don’t it?” Roman said soberly. “Same thing happened to me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say this was the damnedest thing us running into you here.” He turned accusing eyes on his mother, but Molly simply smiled warmly at him as though unaware of his meaning.
“Now, Mia,” she said. “I didn’t get a chance to apologize for last night. My family…well, my men are very protective. After what happened before…I’m sure you understand?”
Mia’s head snapped up. “I told you, I don’t want anything from you or your family.”
“I know, dear. And now my men know too, so we can put it behind us.”
Mia’s eyes radiated fury. Roman r
ealized she wasn’t putting anything behind her no matter what his mother said. Maybe it was a good thing. With that resentment burning in her gut, she wasn’t likely to come sniffing around his folks any time soon.
The food arrived, killing the conversation for a few moments. Both Roman and his mother dug into their burgers. Mia picked lethargically through her side salad, finally fishing out a crouton and forking it up to her mouth.
“Now that we’re all friends,” Molly continued. “I have a favor to ask both of you—”
“No, Ma,” Roman said instantly. “Whatever it is, definitely no.”
For a split second, Mia caught his eyes and her lips curved into a smirking smile. She really was a looker. Even with face bare of makeup and a smudge of dirt on her cheek, she had a pure, wholesome beauty. Remembering Kevin’s comment about pillow lips, his gaze rested on her generous mouth, and his heart did an ungainly leap in his chest and seemed to crash into his ribs.
“—and working together seems like the perfect solution,” his mother finished, dabbing at the corner of her mouth with her napkin.
Mia shook her head abruptly. Roman blinked in confusion. “What did you say?”
“She wants us to join forces and figure out what happened to Anita,” Mia said.
“Exactly. You have access to all the information from before.” Molly turned to Roman. “Not to mention you’re an excellent detective. Mia, here, will maybe be able to fill in the missing details. And I’ll bet when she’s not worried about you and the rest of the family running her off, things will come to her more freely.”
“She’s a civilian. I can’t let her read confidential police records,” Roman said. “And besides, I told you there’s nothing there.”
“Police hire consultants, don’t they? That’s what Mia will be.” Molly brushed his objection off as if it was neither here nor there.
“Yeah, sure,” Roman said slowly, a smile blooming on his face. “But consultants go through a rigorous screening process. If Mia’s up for that, I’ll start the background check first thing tomorrow.”
