by Mimi Barbour
The driver jumped a foot before she turned to look at Aurora’s gun. Disbelief flooded her face. Aurora motioned with her finger to zip her lip and when the foolish twit went to speak, the barrel of the barrel nudged her cheek in dissuasion.
Aurora shook her head warningly. Then she motioned for the skinny broad to get out of the car in order to frisk her. Sure enough, the walkie-talkie hidden in her collar meant trouble. Aurora quickly turned the thing off and removed it. The pistol the idiot female concealed in her pocket added certain veracity to her intent.
Lookie here! A concealed weapon. You got a license to carry this piece?”
A smart-ass look was her reply.
Grinning, Aurora led the suspect toward Det. John Hampton who’d approached, seemingly from out of nowhere. Three others in plain clothes from their department also appeared and casually spread out, keeping within hearing distance of a loud whisper.
Aurora loved these guys, professionals who didn’t have to be told how to deal with an ongoing crime scene. They knew if the crooks inside happened to spot too many loiterers, they’d suspect something was up and it could be bad for their hostages.
“What’s the story, Detective?” Ham, who’d worked with Aurora for years, coolly took over and handcuffed the perp to take her into custody.
“Seems this little lady is the lookout for a gang of bank thieves.”
“That’s not good.” Ham’s solemn voice added a theatrical nuance.
“She’d better pray no one gets hurt.” Aurora played along as she put both guns away, led them to a corner out of sight from the front window and confronted the driver. “How many are in the bank?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was sitting in my car, listening to music. Last I heard, that’s not against the law.”
Her sneer made Aurora’s hand itch. “Yeah, but being stupid oughtta be. You were in a no parking zone, in front of a hydrant. Look, we know there’s a robbery in progress. And any idiot can make you as the driver. So it’s a given you’ll be doing time. Years from the looks of it. In fact, I bet after studying a few recent case files, we’ll be tying your bunch to the batch of robberies we’ve had in the past few months, right?”
“Hey, I’m just an ordinary citizen. You got squat!”
“Sure and I’m an alien from Uranus. How many ordinary citizens do you know are hot-wired and carry a 9mm while parked outside a bank at the same time it’s being robbed?”
Hampton broke in. “You’ve got me convinced, detective. She’s guilty as sin.” He shook the culprit as if to get her attention. “Be a good girl and answer Detective Morelli. It’ll go easier on you if you cooperate.”
“Fuck!” A sob broke loose at the same time as the young female’s lip quivered.
“My sentiments exactly, sweetheart.” Aurora’s anger showed in her clipped tone. “Just so you know, my partner’s in there. The jig is up and I’m losing patience. You’ve one more opportunity to be accommodating or we’ll tell the judge that you’ve been a hostile prisoner. It’ll go that much harder on your sentence. Look kid, for once in your loser life, be smart. Make the right decision.”
Shoulders drooped and the attitude disappeared. With lips quivering, the driver sighed and then shouted. “Four. There’s four. Alright? That’s all I’m saying.” Her lips closed tight and Aurora knew they wouldn’t get anything more. At least, not right now.
Four against one. Not great odds. Worry singed her insides and the familiar humming in her ears revved up big-time.
Chapter Five
Lisa knew that Aurora had to have time to set up outside the building and that she’d be covered as soon as her partner and Ham had figured out a safe way to break in. All she had to do was wait it out, play along and protect those inside.
The prick twisting a handful of her hair jerked her head to get her attention.
“I get it! I’m sorry. My mother always said I had a big mouth.”
“Well keep it shut or I’ll shut it for you.” Another hard yank followed by a push, and he let her go.
Between the show of violence and increased hostile tension the kids were affected. Their crying intensified. Provoked, the thief waved his firearm in the mother’s direction. “Shut those brats up or I swear I’ll hurt them.”
Shrieking, the terrified mom wrapped the two even closer and shushed them with a very strict warning. “Stop crying right now or I’ll… I’ll tell your dad.”
Watching her cohort with disbelief, the only female member of the gang snarled in exasperation. “Are you finished fooling around, shithead? Go check the door and stay alert.” Pissed, the gun-toting dame prowled over to where the manager cowered against the desk. “Get your act together, dipshit, and start working the safe. I won’t tell you twice. I know today you had money delivered and your system is off. Open it now, or I’ll shoot one of the hostages and trust me, it won’t look good on your next customer appreciation survey.”
The roly-poly manager nodded and wiped his brow with a handkerchief he drew from his pocket. Then he rolled to his knees and gained his feet with the help of a nearby chair.
In the meantime, the big bruiser had kept busy gathering bags of money from the tellers. Soon he shooed them out from behind the wickets, signaling for them to join the rest on the floor. Six women and one young man paraded quickly into sight and congregated in a corner by themselves.
Lisa furtively scanned each and easily recognized the middle-aged woman who she liked to deal with. When their eyes caught an immediate connection formed, and the teller nodded. Lisa ignored her. No way did she want anyone to know she was a cop and this woman knew her history. She just hoped her friend would be smart enough to keep her mouth shut.
Finally, the manager stumbled to the back where the top of the vault could be seen. His female guard followed, her high-powered rifle angled downward. While the other two gunmen paced the room like caged animals, they disappeared from sight
“Mind if I sit in a chair, young man? These old bones can’t take the floor for much longer without me being crippled.” The elderly fellow spoke with a distinctive English accent and made his request in a soothing tone so as not to upset.
The hulk turned and Lisa saw the brutal look on his face. Intervening, she spoke up, trying to deflect any hostility. “Shut up old man. Can’t you see these guys are working?”
Sure enough, the fury became focused on her as the big-assed creep started in her direction. Before she could respond, Jeff came to her defense. “Cool it man. She’s just a dippy chick. No sense to hurt her.”
A hand bigger than any she’d ever seen swung back intending to pound some sense into Jeff and totally missed. In a flash, Jeff ducked, shot to his feet and threw a punch to other’s flabby middle.
Lisa, reacting to his danger, used her feet to entangle the stumps called legs and the big guy went down hard. Lisa almost yelled “timb-ber.”
Too bad the schmuck didn’t stay there. Instead, he got up and took another swing. Jeff countered with a fist to the stomach and then quickly clenching both hands together like a club, he decked the guy on the back of his neck.
A weapon shoved in Jeff’s back stopped the fight. Youngster-ugly had decided it was time to intervene.
Lisa shuffled backward, stealthily rose and pointed her gun to nudge his dreadlocks.
“Uh uh, moron. Not gonna happen.” She looked at Jeff. “Get the other gun. Hurry!”
Jeff moved but not fast enough. The grandfatherly-looking man who’d started the whole ruckus, the same fellow she’d tried to protect, approached from the other side with a pistol in his hand. It ended up getting shoved in her back. “Put it down, Missy and stop being such a bloody bother.”
Oh for pity sake! Go figure the old fart was part of the gang. Lisa let her revolver hang from her finger but didn’t drop it. She saw Jeff, who’d gained access to the other weapon, lay it down but stay close.
Waving his free arm at his sidekicks, the old fella yelled. “If you t
wo have a minute, maybe you’d like to gather your weaponry and get back to work?” Sarcasm rang in his gravelly voice while the goons sprang into action.
Before they could retrieve their scattered firearms, the female suspect was shoved into the room; her hands held high as Aurora nudged her with her very own fancy-dancy rifle. Following close behind the two women, Ham gave Lisa a thumbs-up.
The arrested gang-leader didn’t act so brazen now. She looked like she’d lose her lunch any minute. With a jail cell in her future, her lack of color wasn’t a surprise.
Lisa acknowledged Aurora with a wink. “Nice to see you, Partner. Your timing is perfect, as usual.” She smiled, thankful for the one person who she most relied on. Then she became all business. “Game’s over. Hit the floor and don’t move. You too, old man.”
Lisa holstered her Glock and gathered the other hardware to pass on to a happy, overloaded Ham. In seconds, she approached the front door and swung it wide. “Bank’s open, boys!”
Chapter Six
“At the very least, you should have thanked Jeff.” Aurora wasn’t letting up and Lisa didn’t want to hear her recriminations again. They were sitting at the bar of a favorite restaurant waiting for Debbie, and Lisa couldn’t get away. Changing the subject hadn’t worked. Aurora was on a roll.
“I did thank him.” Her defiance lessened. “Sort of.”
“I don’t think a pissy nod constitutes a wholehearted thank you for saving your ass.” Disgust rang in Aurora’s tone.
“He makes me nervous.”
“For crsissakes. Why? He’s cool!”
“He’s shorter than me.”
Aurora cussed under her breath. “Only looks that way when your hair’s loose. I think he’s actually a few inches taller.”
“Is not.”
“Is so.”
Aurora huffed out another cuss word. “Lisa, you’ve been spending far too much time with your three-year-old nephew.”
“Have not.”
Debbie moved up unseen and interrupted. “Hey, you two intellects, what’s up?” Obviously, she’d been eavesdropping.
“Lisa is acting like an idiot with Jeff. She won’t even give him a chance, treats him like he’s contagious.”
Debbie stared Lisa down until she had to turn away and fidget. “Hell, girl, if I didn’t have Cory, my gorgeous big lug, I’d be all over that man. He’s delicious.”
“Whatever. Let’s eat.” Lisa’s stomach ached from unwelcome jitters. Just thinking about the owner of the new Cascades Hotel made her nervous, so she blanked him out whenever he popped uninvited in her head. And the jerk showed up like every few minutes.
Aurora spoke, her voice serious. “You have to know, he’s coming to the wedding on Saturday, Lisa. At first Kai didn’t agree but over the last few weeks, even he’s come around to respect Jeff. Now they hang out. In fact, since Kai’s best buddy is overseas in Iraq, Kai suggested Jeff partner you in the wedding party along with Cory and Debbie. Hell girl, if you can’t behave better than this, how’s that going to work?”
Lisa’s heart dropped; she bit down hard to stop the moans that hovered behind her sealed lips. Why does that one dude scare the stuffing outta me? She stared back at Aurora and knew the other two waited for her reaction. What could she tell them? That whenever he came near her, adrenalin pumped so hard it made breathing difficult. That the spit in her mouth dried up so she couldn’t swallow. They’d tease the hell outta her and she’d never live it down. Face it. The man had breeding, class and millions and she had a badge, a gun and a little boy to look after.
“Lisa, you’re not sharing. Whatever is going on inside your silly noggin is very obviously pissing you off, if the look on your face is anything to go by.”
Thinking quickly, Lisa cleared the alarmed pout from her expression. “Look, I already have a date.”
“Sorry, Noel doesn’t count. Gotta at least be in grade school. Plus, Ham arranged for their daughter to take him back to their place for the night once the ceremony is over. Since Kai had his way about that ridiculous Elvis chapel, he’s agreed to my stipulations. We all go dancing afterward at our favorite place and you’re coming with us. No excuses!”
Debbie slipped her hand into Lisa’s, tugged and giggled. “You might as well just go along. We both know that when Aurora gets a bee in her bonnet, she’ll chew that stick until the leopard changes his spots.”
Lisa had to laugh at Debbie’s foolishness. From the time Lisa had been a young teenager, she’d try using her grandma’s old sayings. Problem was, she’d get got them all mixed up. It had become a family joke and she’d finally stopped worrying about looking foolish since it made others laugh. Lately, she’d begun mixing metaphors on purpose to entertain her Vegas friends. Sometimes they’d use it back to get her goat.
She wiped her palms on the knees of her jeans. “Fine. I’ll play nice. But don’t expect me to dance with him.”
Chapter Seven
On the big day, Lisa and Debbie stared at the gorgeous woman dressed in the long white gown, pivoting in front of them. Rhinestones and pearls on the sleeveless creation glittered in the bedroom’s overhead lights and added magic to a dress perfect for the tiny woman it adorned.
Aurora’s French-braided hair, ending in a swirl of curls, hung over one shoulder. Wisps of escaped tendrils surrounded her lovely face.
“How do I look?” Aurora’s voice held an endearing uncertainty not normally revealed. Her wide blue eyes were shy, but glowing with happiness.
Unlike Debbie who’d completely broken down and was searching for the box of tissues, Lisa cleared her throat and answered; her voice wobbling. “Like an angel,” she admitted sincerity evident.
Debbie approached, wiping and sniffling. She spoke softly. “Kai won’t know what hit him. You are beautiful, my friend.”
Aurora, who normally wasn’t a toucher, hugged Debbie and reached her hand to Lisa. “I know you were upset that you didn’t get back to town until yesterday, Debbie, but your suggestion that you and Lisa wear the black dresses you already had in your closets was brilliant. You both look wonderful.” Overcome with appreciation, Aurora’s eyes shone to match the sparkle on her gown. “And thank you for staying in the condo with me today. Kai purposely made arrangements to hang with Cory so we’d have the place. Mattie took Lily as well as Noel just so we could spend this time together. It means so much with you both here helping me get dressed and keeping me from bolting.”
“As if you would,” Debbie sniffed again and interrupted. “I’ve never known anyone more infatuated. Kai’s a lucky guy.”
“See, I figure I’m the lucky one. He’s taking on a girl full of insecurities, maybe well hidden but they are there. I keep telling myself I can do this, be a good wife and a worthy mom for Lily, but it scares the living bejesus out of me as Ham would say.”
They both smiled at Aurora’s choice of words. Debbie answered before Lisa and put into words what she also felt. “Partner, if you put in half the effort in your home life as you do being a cop, trust me you’ll have the happy ever after we all want so badly.”
Lisa nodded, too overcome to speak so instead she squeezed Aurora’s hand, trying to hide the welling emotion.
“Yeah, yeah! You guys keep this up, you’ll ruin my makeup and Rikki will kill us. She’s gone to get the car so we’d better be ready to bolt when she honks.”
A blast alerted the girls that Rikki had returned and they rushed to gather their last minute gear. Lisa grinned when she saw Aurora stuff her badge and gun along with her makeup into the small white beaded bag. They made their way down the stairs and outside to where the car waited.
Once Rikki fussed over getting Aurora and her dress settled into the back of her flashy white Lincoln, they started toward Las Vegas Boulevard to the corny Elvis chapel open seven days a week.
“Rikki, its thirty here. Step on it.” Everyone knew how much Aurora hated to be a passenger in any vehicle.
“Can’t. The cops always hang around
this district.” Rikki’s sassy grin in the rear-view mirror let Lisa know she was pulling Aurora’s chain. “Anyway, we’re pretty early so there’s no rush.”
“Keep messing with me, and we’ll have to drop you off at the hospital first.” Aurora’s tone teased and everyone laughed. A beat box ringtone interrupted their bantering and Aurora stiffened.
Lisa knew the call came from Eddie, Aurora’s snitch and worry hit her hard. He had to know this was Aurora and Kai’s special day, the jerk. What the hell was he doing calling now?”
“What’s up?” Aurora kept her voice low automatically.
The tension emanating from the back seat halted all conversation.
“On my way.” Aurora pushed the off button on her phone and leaned forward to issue orders. “Rikki, drive to Big Mike’s. We have a short stop to make.”
“No freakin’ way, Aurora! In case you’ve forgotten, you’re wearing a wedding gown and tonight is your wedding night and Kai’s waiting for you at the Graceland and…”
“And there’s a sixteen-year-old girl called Shelley hiding at Mike’s from a brute twice her size who likes to beat the crap outta his ladies. It’s the first time she’s run from him. The sign I’ve been waiting for and no way am I gonna let her hang. If he finds her, this time her short stay in emergency could be a permanent place on a slab.”
Debbie turned and spoke, reason coming through loud and clear. At least Lisa heard it and crossed her fingers it would work. “Aurora, let me talk to the girl, get to her a safe home. Rikki’s right. This isn’t the time for you to be doing this.”
Agitated, Aurora shook her head, her voice pure steel. “Won’t work. Shelley won’t talk to you. If she doesn’t see me, she’ll either lose it or run. Listen. I know how much nerve it’s taken this chick to reach out. I’ve been working on her for months. Now that she’s finally chosen to live, because he will kill her one day, I can’t let her down.”
