"Nothing, nothing at all, I just didn't know you planned to come up today, that's all. I'm glad you're here,” I lied. Shit, just what I needed was to have my mother on hand for the showdown. “Does Dad know you're here?” I asked.
"No, I went out to the mall after you called and haven't been home yet. What are you not telling me?"
This was the moment of truth. I had to get rid of my mother and I'd do what it took to accomplish that. I opened my mouth to give her some cock and bull story when the doorbell rang again. Geez, what the hell was this, anyway?
I rose from the chair as my mother sat down, and I went to answer the door. Once again, I peered through the peep hole and in amazement, I saw Richmond on the doorstep. Great, just great. With a beleaguered sigh, I wrenched the heavy door open once more.
His eyes narrowed as he took in my harried appearance. Marcus stepped toward the door as I tried to block his entrance. He put one hand on the outside door and pushed it back to make his way past me while I straddled the entry. One brow arched and he moved forward with purpose.
"Lavinia, are you trying to stop me from coming in?"
"Uh, well, it isn't a good time right now. I was just about to leave,” I lied again. I knew I'd go straight to hell from all these white lies, but God help me, it was the best I could do.
"With your mother, I assume?” Both brows hiked a notch. From the rigid look on his face, it was safe to bet he knew I'd lied.
"My mother?"
"I just saw her arrive. I thought we had an agreement?” His voice was soft.
I knew I was in the crapper.
"Oh, my mother. Yeah, well she stopped in quite unexpectedly."
"Uh huh, I'm sure.” He moved past me and I caved in to the pressure that was about to squeeze the life out of me.
His entry into the living room brought my mother to her feet with a warm smile. Approval of him shone on her face as she greeted him with her best manners. The grin widened as she glanced toward me with the same approval.
"How are you, Trooper Richmond?” My mother asked.
"Fine, Mrs. Esposito, I'm glad to see you again. Could you excuse your daughter for a moment? I have some business to go over with her."
"Sure, I should get home anyway,” she murmured. “Will you be down for dinner tonight, Lavinia?"
Richmond smiled and wrapped an arm around my waist and said, “I'm taking your daughter out to dinner tonight, I hope you don't mind, Mrs. Esposito."
His approval ratings had just skyrocketed. I knew he could do no wrong in my mother's eyes at this juncture.
"Not at all, I'm so glad you two are getting along so well.” She smiled at him. Her glance strayed to me as she said, “I'll let your father know so he won't worry if you don't come to eat with us."
Relieved, I glanced from my mother to Richmond and back. He'd made it possible to get her out of the house and away from me with just a few words. I'd never have managed it alone and silently thanked him for his interference.
We stepped aside as my mother moved toward the door. I stood in the entry and watched her get into the car and leave. Once she was out of sight, I closed the door and strode back into the apartment. She'd taken the main road so I knew she'd be safe. No telling who she'd meet if she took the back roads like I did.
Marcus paced the hardwood floors in the dining room as I entered the apartment. I could hear the sound of his tread and knew he was in the process of walking off his dismay. Maybe dismay was too mild a word, but what the hell, it wasn't my fault my mother came by, I reasoned.
His glance strayed toward me as I leaned against the door jamb. I didn't utter a sound while I assessed the depth of his anger. It is difficult with police since they had that cop face thing going on a lot. My hands snuck into the pockets of my jeans, and I just stood there watching him pace.
"We agreed that you'd stay away from your family, Vinnie.” His voice was hard, just like his eyes.
The craggy features of his face reminded me of granite when he looked at me like that. Damn it, it wasn't my fault that my mother had taken it upon herself to pick today for a visit. What was I supposed to do, tell her to get lost? Oh, that would go over big. My mother is Italian through and through and there are boundaries one never crosses, at least I try not to.
"Look, don't get all huffy. My mother decided to come here today. God knows why, but she did. I didn't invite her, Marcus.” My temper and voice climbed even though I tried to put a lid on them.
"Suppose you tell me why you went to the Knights of Columbus to see your father?” He controlled his voice.
I felt like an idiot for my inability to do so. Were there no secrets? I said, “The creep called last the night and threatened to hurt my mother if I don't return the damned gems. I called today in search of my father and she said he was at the hall.” I recapped the visit and how Dad had returned home to stay with her, but she had gone to the mall.
"You know, Vinnie, you tax my patience. I never know what to believe. The more I get to know you the more I realize that you have the worst luck of anyone I know. By the way, your buddy Frankie D. and I had a conversation this morning. He said to tell you that the two dummies are under investigation by the Feds and that you should stay out of it."
"He didn't say that,” I said, all indignant. “You're making it up since it's your investigation."
"No, I'm not. That's exactly what he said.” His arms crossed over his chest as he glared at me.
"Fine, then I'll stay out of it."
A skeptical snort issued from him. He continued to glare at me.
"If you think I believe that, then you're sadly mistaken. You couldn't stay out of anything if you were bound, gagged and locked in a cell. Honest to God, you drive me out of my freakin’ mind."
"Look, I'm trying to do as you asked, but nobody wants to make this easy for me.” I whined, I knew it and could do nothing about it.
"I have to go, if you get anymore calls, let me know. We are close, real close to nabbing these two and maybe the rest of the ring as well. Where's Romeo?"
"Gone before I got up this morning. Maybe he's on a stakeout or something."
"Right, I forgot about that. See what you do to me? I can't think straight with you in my life.” He edged past me and I followed him to the door.
After he left, a sudden emptiness consumed me. I wondered when this was over whether Richmond's interest in my life would cease. I'd gotten used to him cadging a meal here and there and well, Mr. Winky was a nice development also. Marcus Richmond had grown on me and I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to get married either, though nobody had seriously mentioned marriage, except my parents.
In an effort to get my mind off the upcoming events, I made a sandwich. I took two bites and chucked it in the trash. No way could I eat at a time like this. My nerves were shot, and I'd be lucky if I wasn't, too.
The phone jingled and I grabbed it off the counter with a quick greeting. A voice I didn't recognize came across and it took a minute before I realized it was Lanky Larry's drag queen friend, Liz. He said he wanted to meet with me to discuss a possible surprise dinner party for Larry and asked if he could come by. I glanced at the clock and saw it was after one thirty.
"What time would you like to get together?” I asked, counting down the minutes.
"Why not around two o'clock, I'm in Johnston."
Trying to figure out when the drop time would be, I hesitated. “Why don't you come here, I have to wait for an important phone call."
If the drop was later, then I could meet with this guy girl wannabe. Liz agreed to my request and I hung up the phone. Wandering around the apartment, I folded laundry and put it away. I had time to kill until the call. My nerves stretched beyond reason and I felt uptight as hell.
Nervous, I paced the house. When the phone rang, I snatched it from the cradle. The creep told me to go to the horseshoe dam up the street from my house. Bring the gems he ordered, and come alone, now. The line went dead and I stared at
the phone in my hand.
It was the last thing I expected and was rattled by the demand. The drop would take place now, not later. Dang, I didn't have time to get Lola into position and that posed a problem for me. Liz Taylor would have to wait. What should I do? I paced frantically back and forth across the kitchen.
The answer came loud and clear. I had to make the drop alone without any backup whatsoever. At least it would happen in a public place, but why in a public place? Hmm, I had no choice.
Traffic flowed across the small dam all day long. A short stretch of road crossed water that tumbled beneath it. The horseshoe shaped concrete dam was part of the Scituate Reservoir and was about fifteen feet deep where it opened under the road. Ice cold water reached the top ridge of the concrete and trickled over.
Thoughts of Liz Taylor came to mind again as I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. He'd have to wait, that's all there was to it. I locked up as I left and marched with purpose up the sidewalk past the town offices and the fire station. It was quiet at both buildings, unusual for a weekday. Occasional traffic slowed as the cars entered the village.
I reached the edge of the fire station launch pad. A blue Hyundai sat parked at the furthest edge of the reservoir across the span of shallow water. I didn't recognize the vehicle and wasn't sure who it belonged to. A female photographer sat on the edge of the stone wall built in front of the dam. She held the camera toward the reservoir to photograph the exceptional view. This happened all the time and it wasn't an unusual sight.
In an effort to control my pulse and stay calm, I slowed my gait and watched in surprise as she turned toward me and stood up. As I got closer, I saw Lanky Larry's dreamboat, the dark hair and face of the Liz Taylor wannabe. It couldn't be Liz, just a damned good look alike. Then I realized it might be Liz. Underneath all the clothing, makeup and wig stood my cousin Kenny without make-up. His resemblance to Liz was astonishing and then it dawned on me that he was Liz. Get outta town, my cousin was a drag queen.
Surprise must have shown on my features because he smirked at me. He was dressed in a twin set, slacks and thin strapped sandals topped with rhinestones. A wide brimmed hat sat atop his wig. Probably to hold it in place. He stood before me and all I could think of was what Aunt Josephine would say if she saw him at this very moment.
Speechless, I gaped at Kenny. He did make a beautiful woman, I thought with detachment. Why hadn't I realized it before? I knew why, he had no makeup on today. In a flash I snapped out of my thoughts and concluded that he and Frankie were true scumbags. They'd tossed the apartment, spied on me, torched Livvy's car, and threatened me and my mother, just for starters.
"Well cuz, are you surprised?” he asked with a smarmy grin.
"You might say that. I can't believe I didn't recognize you when Larry brought you to the house. Does he know who you are?"
"No, he doesn't. I used him to get into the house and have a look around. Frankie had searched it a couple of times, but couldn't find the stones. Where'd Livvy hide them?"
"One bag was in the lion and the other was in the trunk. I can't believe you didn't find the ones in the trunk,” I said with an attitude.
"You came back too early, or I'd have gotten that bag. The box was delivered to you by mistake and Livvy wouldn't give the other two bags to us. You've made everything a mess and now the Feds are crawlin’ up our ass. We're your family, Vinnie. That oughta count for somethin'."
Ignoring most of what he said, I accused him. “Was that why you killed her, because she wouldn't give you the stones?"
"We didn't kill her. She died on her own."
"I bet. She wouldn't give you what you wanted so you killed her.” My temper was on a roll and my voice rose.
"We didn't kill anyone, especially Livvy, she had the stones and we wanted them. Why kill her when we used her shop behind her back? Now you've interfered with a smooth running operation and screwed us all up. Did you bring the stones?"
"I refuse to give them to you. I came without them and you won't ever get them, you little meatball,” I yelled. “I can't believe you threatened my mother. If your mother knew, she'd kick your monkey ass into next year."
He stepped forward and grabbed my arm. We were the same height, but he was stronger. His grip tightened, and I looked down at the skin under his fingers. My hand covered his and I peeled two of his fingers away and bent them backwards. I heard a grunt of pain as he reached for me with the other hand and we struggled. I lost my grip on his fingers and he shook me hard.
My purse dropped to the ground and burst open. The contents scattered everywhere and the bags of fake gems lay among the debris on the sidewalk. I tried to retrieve them, but Kenny held my arm clenched tight while I struggled against him.
He glanced down and saw the velvet pouches. His eyes traveled back to me, and I knew it was over. He'd take the stones, realize later they were fakes and my mother would be in harm's way. He reached for the bags, and I gave him a shove. Without blinking, moving or even a wobble, Kenny turned on me. With a hefty shove he sent me backward, over the two foot high stone wall above the dam, into ice cold water below.
Water swept over me in a rush. Moving water is always colder than idle water, and I came up choking. Treading water until my breath came back I, paddled around in search of a way to get out. The water swirled past me, not roaring, but fast enough.
A hand extended down toward me and a voice yelled. I glanced up to see Richmond on the edge of a metal ladder that extended into the water. I hadn't seen it when I paddled around and knew my panic had made me blind to it. For a second I thought I imagined his presence, but it was really him. He grasped my soaking hand and wrist and yanked me up from the cold depths, swearing as he did so.
My teeth chattered as we slogged up the embankment and over the short stone wall further on. When we reached the sidewalk, I realized there were several Crown Victoria's and two local police cars on both sides of the road.
MacNert hobbled up the street toward us with a blanket under one arm and a first aid kit in his hand. I glanced around to see where Kenny was and noticed he was in the back of Richmond's car. He sneered at me though the window and I flipped him the finger.
Richmond turned me away from Kenny after MacNert draped the blanket over my shoulders. I shook from the icy dip, but it could have been an adrenalin rush as well. MacNert asked if I was all right and I nodded, though my eyes never left Marcus. He stared at me and then drew me into his arms.
"You make me absolutely nuts,” he murmured as his hold tightened.
"I know, that's why you keep coming back,” I said with a grin. “Thanks for saving me, I mean that."
He nodded and held me close as he barked orders to the men surrounding us. I was placed in a vehicle and driven to the barracks, blanket and all. I pressed charges against Kenny and repeated my story several times to as many different officers.
Marcus stood by, but didn't become involved in the questioning until I started to droop. He called a time out and ordered that I be given a break and asked for coffee to be brought in. When everyone left the room, he sat next to me and wrapped the blanket tighter. I'd stopped shivering, but was still cold.
"Why am I here this long?” I asked.
"We want to make sure your story sticks so we can nail these bastards. Kenny and Frankie are done, they belong to us and the Feds now. Kenny gave up the connections in the city and Frankie gave up the rest of the ring. I hate to admit it, but you did very well."
"Was this a set up? Did you expect it to happen this way?"
"Not this way. We figured if we put you off long enough that you'd do something rash. I watched you leave the house at a trot and knew you were up to no good. It wasn't long before you were tossed into the water. Kenny grabbed the bags and tried to get out of town. I caught him as he tried to get away. He tripped and hurt himself, poor bastard. Got a real bad bruise, too.” He smiled that terrific smile and handed me a piping hot cup of coffee offered by another trooper who had j
ust entered the room.
I grinned. Yeah, I'm sure he tripped. Good thing there were no stairs handy. The bruises would be overwhelming and Kenny would never have been the same afterward. Then it hit me that I was indeed set up. Aaron and Marcus had banked on the fact that I couldn't stay out of things.
"You did set me up. You knew I couldn't stand by and do nothing.” I acted outraged, but it was just an act.
"Okay, it may have been a little bit of a set up. But you did great, Vinnie.” He chuckled and pulled me closer to him. The door opened and a high command officer stepped into the room. I knew he was command just by his uniform stripes and the way Marcus reacted.
Marcus stood to attention and gave his report. The officer nodded before turning in my direction.
"So you're Lavinia Esposito?” A grin tickled the corners of the officer's mouth.
"Yes, I am.” I could only imagine what he'd heard. “Do you think I can go home soon?"
A smile slid across stern features as he nodded. He glanced at Marcus and issued orders for him to take me home. He then turned and strode from the room. I stood as Marcus took my hand and walked me out to the car.
On the short drive, Marcus glanced over and asked, “Do you think they killed your aunt somehow?"
"I accused Kenny, but he was vehement in his denial of it. As a matter of fact, he repeated himself a couple times. So to answer you, no, I don't think they did anything to her."
The Crown Vic slid to a smooth stop in the driveway. Marcus handed over my purse, and I searched for the house keys. When I pulled them from the handbag, he took them from me and unlocked the doors. We entered the house and for the first time, I felt unafraid. The feeling was good, and I was glad to be home.
Coffee perked when I emerged from the bedroom in dry clothes. My hair was combed and clipped at the nape of my neck. Fresh jeans and a Red Sox jersey adorned my weary body. Fragrant coffee slid across the counter in my favorite cup, and I smiled at the man I'd come to adore.
For Love of Livvy Page 20
