by Lucia Kuhl
"Our tech girl taught me."
Of course, she did. I could guess what he told her about me.
"I see. So, everyone in your office knows you have issues with your sister."
He and Blake answered in unison. "Yeah."
“And the word is had. I had issues with my sister. Life changes you.”
What had changed my brother?
"Great. So that's why people were looking at us—your crazy sister and fugitive father."
"Not a fugitive," Vito said. "I've never been charged with anything."
"I've always wondered how that worked?" I wasn't lying. Everyone seemed to know Vito was a mobster, but he was never charged. His 'connections' were excellent.
"Someday, when the fuzz isn't around, I'll tell you how I did it. I'm semi-retired now."
Arie patted Vito on the shoulder. "Sure, you are Pop, sure you are."
CHAPTER 37
While we waited for Blister, I made us a quick dinner. When we finished, Blake took charge of the investigation.
“I think It would be prudent for you to tell us about this "Uncle Joe character," Blake said.
I'd been trying to rummage around in the depths of my mind to connect the memories since I'd heard Jane mention him. Uncle Joe was a long time ago.
"Okay, here’s what I remember. Uncle Joe isn't Lizzie's uncle. He worked for Chicago P.D. until he was shot and wounded. Then he became the police chief in La Porte. That's all I know."
"Is a last name walking around in your head anywhere?" Blake asked, standing next to me at the kitchen counter. His arm touched my shoulder.
"Maybe, it started with an M."
"Mazoronni?" Vito asked.
"Yes, that's it. I always thought of him as Uncle Joe Macaroni."
"He's based out of Chesterton," Vito said. "I've used him before. I should have recognized his logo on that bill."
"You're losing your touch, Pop," Arie said.
Vito glanced sideways. "Keep it up, son."
"So," Blake said. "Is this a call on the phone kind of guy or a drop-in for a visit?"
"Definitely, a drop in for a visit. And maybe, I should go alone. He's not the type to talk to cops."
Blake scratched his head.
"I thought he was one."
"Exactly."
"You aren't going alone," Arie said. "There's the possibility all of this is somehow connected to you." He grabbed his jacket. "I'll stay outside. Blake can stay with Faith."
Vito fished his keys from his pocket and started out the door after Arie.
"No funny business, you two."
No matter how old I got. Vito could still embarrass me.
"Those two don't know how much they love each other," Blake said as the door closed.
"Yes, I think Arie would be a different person if Dad had been around more. Of course, if dad had been around, Arie could be a mob boss."
Blake laughed. "Your brother as a mob boss. Can't picture it."
"I know, right." I rinsed the plates and stacked them in the dishwasher.
"About that."
"You think it's a cover, don't you?"
He shook his head. "I did not say that."
"I've known Dad my whole life, even though we were estranged. I am sixty-five percent certain it's a cover."
"For?" Blake asked.
"Still working on that part. But with Mom in her state of health and me staying put, I'll have more time to figure that out." I handed him the last cinnamon roll. "Let me fill your coffee cup."
"So, you are staying?" Blake asked, searching my eyes.
I shrugged. I liked his eyes—a lot.
"I guess. That's what my mouth said. And when my mouth blurts that kind of stuff without running it through my mind, it's usually the correct call. I guess I'm staying and starting a flower farm."
He put his arm across my back and walked me to the couch.
"You know farming is hard work. Even farming flowers."
"What? You think I'm a spoiled city girl who can't trade in her Parada's for dirt under her fingernails."
"Not exactly. I think someone who made $10,000 per consultation and did several a day is going to miss that lifestyle."
Where was he going with this?
"I know it’s easy to say this, but for me, it was never about the money or lifestyle. I enjoy helping people, and the magic that is Feng Shui truly helps people. When I first started, L.A. was the place I needed to be. The Market has changed. I may need to come up with a different fee schedule, but I'm not going to stop helping people."
"So how does the flower farm fit into the Feng Shui?"
"Well, first, it would add a little magic to Abracadabra. Arie's Nothing Fancy attitude needs some spiffing. Flowers make people happy, and happy people create good magic."
CHAPTER 38
My phone rang. I put Blister on speaker.
"Hey Hot Lips, is the boss listening?"
“Hot Lips,” Blake mouthed.
I shrugged.
"Nope, sorry, he and my brother are following another lead."
"Okay, but you'll tell your Dad I did good."
"Depends on what you tell me, Blister."
"I scoured everything. I couldn't find a direct connection between Bonnie and Charles."
"But…" said Blake.
"Who's he?"
"It doesn't matter, Blister."
"He hadn't better be your brother the cop."
"He's not."
"Okay, you had me going there. There is no direct connection between Bonnie and Charles, but Bonnie's husband and Charles both have lost big on the same online gambling site. Charles is broke, and so are Bonnie and her husband."
My heart sank, but I had to know.
"Who runs the site?"
"Looks like a crime family out of Mexico."
"Thank God." I hadn't realized my muscles had tightened, but they had.
"You were thinking it was your father," Blister said. "Don't worry. I wouldn't have buried the lead like that if it was your father. One more piece of information. Wallbanger took down the patriarch of the crime family. Put him in prison."
"So, whoever took the shot in the parking lot might have been targeting Harvey and not Lizzie or I."
"Possible, yes."
Blake twirled his finger in a wrap-it-up motion.
"Thanks, Magic Fingers. I'll keep you posted."
"So, it is possible, Charles shot at Harvey in payment for his gambling debts,” I said to Blake.
"Probable. But who shot Mr. Raymont? Charles wasn't in town."
"So, what do we know? We know it appears Lizzie was stealing money from her father."
"Chances are to pay for Charles's gambling debts." Blake found a corner of the whiteboard. "Raymont probably found out and shut Lizzie off, so Charles shot Harvey in repayment of his debts. I’d bet it’s only a partial payment. When you get in, you usually don't get out."
"That still leaves us with why kill Mr. Raymont? If he cut off Lizzie's access to his money, he would have cut off her access to his estate. Right? And why would Lizzie send me to Raymont Manor to find his body?"
"We are still missing a piece. Hopefully, "Uncle Joe" can shed some light.”
CHAPTER 39
Arie pulled his SUV to a stop in front of Joe Mazoronni’s office in the front of an old three-storefront shopping strip on the outskirts of Chesterton, Indiana. This place looks as I pictured, Arie thought.
"I could have driven, you know. My car is a tad more comfortable," Vito said, opening his car door.
"I always drive."
Vito closed his door. All but the top of his head disappeared as he walked to the front of the SUV. Old streetlamps cast shadows across the parking lot’s potholes.
"Still a control freak, I see."
I learned from the best," Arie said, zipping his jacket to conceal his badge.
"You mean your grandfather," Vito shot back.
Control freak was one of the curses hexed on the
Bracken Family male DNA, Arie thought to himself.
"Something like that."
Vito stopped. "Son, you know I wish I could have been there."
He knew that. Vito was many things, but he loved his family and would do anything to protect them. One of Vito's "contacts" had always loomed in the shadows. Spotting those contacts had made Arie the cop he was.
"Yeah, Pop, you've said that. I'm over it. You should get over it too. Let's go see what this Uncle Joe knows."
"He doesn't know anything." A man stepped from behind the building with a gun drawn.
"Put that thing down, Joe," Vito said, walking towards the gunman.
"What are you doing here, Vito?" He held the gun but lowered it towards the ground.
"Need Info."
"About?" Joe stood in the path blocking his office door.
"The investigation you ran for Raymont on his son-in-law."
"Why, Vito?"
"Because someone connected to the case took a shot at my daughter," Vito said, his voice low and lethal. I want that person. I want him real bad, Joe."
Joe pointed towards Arie.
"This guy looks like a cop."
"He's my son."
Joe leaned against the door frame. "That's Funny. Who'd have thought Vito Bracken's son a cop?
"Strange how the Universe works,” Arie said. Faith had only been home a couple of days, and already her words were coming out his mouth. She had that effect on people. Her phrases started invading other's mouths. Ever since she could talk, she'd had that effect.
Vito looked at him.
"Faith." He mumbled.
Vito nodded. "She's doing it again."
"Family is family," Joe said.
"The short answer is that Charles was deep in debt to a Mexican cartel. He used his wife's access to her father's accounts to pay his debts. Raymont cut Charles off."
"Did Lizzie know?" Vito asked.
Joe shook his head.
"Raymont played the long game, gathering evidence so Charles couldn't take Evie away from Lizzie."
"Because she'd been in and out of rehabs." Vito finished his sentence.
"Something like that."
Joe's shoulders slumped, and he leaned more into the door frame. His eyes softened as he talked about Lizzie. He was fond of her. Interesting.
"Who was the woman picking up the money at the ATMs, do you know?" Arie asked.
"Cartel woman."
"You don't happen to know where Charles was when Raymont was shot?"
"First thing I checked when I heard."
"And?" Vito prodded.
"He was in a board meeting. The head of security at his company and I spent a few lonely nights in a foxhole years ago. Video footage puts Charles there. I’m certain Raymont died because he shut off Charles's cash flow. Charles doesn't know that as long as Lizzie is married to Charles, she's on a tight allowance. And if anything happens to Lizzie, the money goes into a trust for Evie. A trust controlled by the bank."
"But if Charles doesn't know it, Lizzie is a possible target."
Arie walked away and pulled out his phone.
"Good to see you, Vito." Joe extended his hand. "Glad you've got your family back."
Vito shook Joe's hand.
"For a time. Trixie has a brain tumor."
"That sucks."
"Yeah, thanks for your help. We'll let you know what happens."
CHAPTER 40
Blake and I spent the last thirty minutes lobbying theories back and forth before his phone beeped and he checked the incoming message.
"What did that text you just received from Arie say?”
"How do you know it was Arie?"
"You turned away from me. You're hand in your hair. Arie wasn't wrong. I'm really good at body language. So, what does it say?"
"He and Vito are headed to Lizzie's house. He has reason to believe she could be the next target."
My hand went to my throat.
"So, Charles was shooting at her too."
"He said he'd fill us in when they return."
I had already jumped off the couch and grabbed my jacket.
"Then we've got to get to them."
Blake was now next to me with his right arm around my shoulder.
"Whoa. We don't have to do anything. We've got extra officers headed in their direction, and Arie and Vito are close. We are going to stay right here."
"You think I'm a possible target too."
His arms closed around me, and he buried my head to his chest.
"The thought just crossed my mind."
"I know who Mr. Raymont's killer is. It's like that movie."
"What movie." He asked, holding me. It felt good to be in his arms, but the magic was talking to me, and it would not be quieted. "The riders on the train."
"Okay, slow down. Let me catch up with that beautiful brain of yours."
I pulled away and went to the whiteboard.
"Okay, after Bonnie gave me the assignment to go to Mr. Raymont's, I called the office an hour later. Bonnie's assistant said she dashed out of there. She had to catch a plane to Chicago."
"So, you think Bonnie shot Mr. Raymont for Charles, and Charles took out Special Agent Wallbanger to repay Bonnie's husband's debt."
"It's a long shot, but it's the only theory that works."
"Proving it is going to be difficult," Blake said.
I called Blister. "Hey, Fingers, can you do me one more thing."
"Sure, this is fun. Is the boss there?"
"Nope, he's still on an assignment. But I'll give him a full report, and I am his only daughter soo."
"Okay, what's up."
"On my way to Mr. Raymont's, I was late and sent a text to Bonnie. Can you tell where Bonnie's phone was when I sent the text?"
"Can tequila get you drunk? I'll be back in a few."
"Thanks."
I turned to Blake. "I am not good at waiting. I need some chips. The crunch helps me focus. You want some?"
"I never turn down food from a beautiful woman." He followed me into the kitchen.
Opening the refrigerator, I pulled a brick of cream cheese. Can't have chips without cream cheese."
He started to open it. I grabbed the chips and set them in front of him. He reached around me to put the brick on the plate, and I looked up into his eyes. We stood there frozen for a second. I realized I wanted him to kiss me. His eyes said he wanted to kiss me. His head lowered. His lips were less than an inch from mine. I tipped my head to meet him. Shivers of anticipation warmed my body. My lips touched his, and Sampson leaped between us, grabbing my blouse in his mouth. Seconds later, glass shattered. Blake pushed me down.
"Stay here and hold onto Sampson," he said, drawing his gun. "Blake, you can't go out there."
"I’m going out the side door. Do not, and I repeat this, do not leave this spot."
CHAPTER 41
For a few seconds, I obeyed. I opened the cupboard and shoved Sampson inside using a bungee cord in the tool drawer to tie the door shut. Sampson whined, growled, and barked.
"We are under fire." I texted Arie.
"Do as Blake tells you." He sent back.
"So like Arie."
I didn't respond.
"Use your gift," the voice said. "It's for more than Feng Shui."
We were in this mess because of me. I was not going to let Blake die saving me.
"Use the room," came from the voice.
Why couldn't it just tell me what to do? Why be so cryptic?
"You'll understand," said the voice. It had more faith in me than I did.
"Faith," Bonnie's husband said. "I've got your cop boyfriend. Open the door. Let us in."
"Don't do it," Blake yelled.
"I can't let them kill you, Blake."
"They'll kill both of us if you open that door."
"That's a chance I've got to take."
The voice had said, use the room, not the outside. When in doubt, go with the gut. I crawled to s
tay beneath the window and opened the door.
"Stand in the doorway so I can see you."
"Not happening," my mouth said. "You are going to have to kill me inside my home."
"You know I don't want to do this. I'm just in too deep. The cartel owns us."
"I'm sure they do. Why don't you let Blake go? We can all work on this together. Figure out a plan."
While they walked up the stairs, I poured a bottle of vinegar into the plastic cup on the counter and stuffed a Phillip’s screwdriver I’d found in the back of my waistband. Not the best weapons, but I had to go down fighting. Arie would never forgive me if I got his boss killed. I stood in front of the counter.
Blake came through the door first with Bonnie's husband behind him, a gun held to Blake's back.
"Stand next to her," Hubby said. Blake walked towards me and turned around. I moved closer to him hoping he’d feel the screwdriver in my waistband.
"Now say whatever you need to say to one another before I shoot you."
"Why?" I asked.
"You leaving the company presents problems. And your investigation was getting too close. Now, say your goodbyes."
"Can I kiss him one last time?"
"Sure. I'm a romantic."
I turned to face Blake. I moved the screwdriver from my waistband to his. His right arm came around me. My right hand found the vinegar. I leaned slightly back and hurled it towards Bonnie’s husband.
Blake jumped forward, hitting Hubby with the screwdriver.
Sampson, who'd had enough of being in the cupboard, broke the bungee cord and ran full speed towards Hubby.
I screamed.
Sampson hit him.
Hubby slipped on the wet floor and fell.
Blake knocked the gun out of his hand. I grabbed it.
Blake hauled him to his feet and tied his hands with another bungee cord. Relief started in my shoulders and worked its way down my body.
"When this is all over. I'll take that kiss," Blake said.
"We'll see."
I texted Arie. “We are safe. Bonnie’s Husband did it.”
CHAPTER 42
