by Jen Talty
“Make that drink a double.” She blinked, shaking her head, unwilling to look at him. Something in his tone told her he was dead serious. A family? Who was he, Mike fucking Brady?
“Hear me out.” He took her by the hand and tugged her back through the kitchen and into the family room where some of the uncles and Frank’s dad Roger had gotten into a card game of some sort. All six men glanced up from their cards and smiled at them.
“Up here.” Frank pressed his hand against her back and led her to the staircase.
“No girls allowed in the bedrooms,” Roger said.
Welcome to the Brady Bunch Twilight Zone episode of Lacy’s life, and people thought Vegas was a strange place.
“I don’t have a bedroom here anymore,” Frank said, slightly amused.
“Don’t get fresh with me, boy,” Roger said with a smirk.
“I just want a little privacy with my girl.” Frank stopped and looked over his shoulder.
“Stay out of the bedroom,” his father repeated.
“Yes, sir.” Frank put more pressure on the small of her back as they headed up the stairs.
Under normal circumstances, she might think this whole thing was funny. She started up the short staircase into a small den-like room feeling like a child about to do something bad. The room housed a couch, a small wooden desk with a sailboat lamp, some more pictures, a bookcase, and a television.
“Let’s sit down.”
There was a bathroom on the right side and a closed door on the left. “What’s in there?” she asked not really wanting to deal with anything. It was all too weird. Weird enough that it was making sense in her head, which scared her.
“My, Greg’s and Jeff’s old bedroom. I think my parents use it as an office and spare bedroom or something.”
“Where are Greg and Jeff?” She settled herself on the sofa, dropped her head back, and closed her eyes. Hopefully, when she opened them again, she’d realize she was dreaming.
“Greg’s in Iraq, and Jeff is at West Point.”
“Does everyone in your family have a dangerous job?” She felt the cushions shift and she assumed Frank had sat down next to her. A moment later, she felt his hand on her thigh again. She didn’t say anything, and neither did he. She took the time to mull over the conversation but she kept coming back to one thing.
It was so crazy it made perfect sense.
“Not really. Most of my uncles did their time and got out. My dad just happened to make a career of it. He would have liked me to follow in his footsteps.”
“Well, your two other brothers have.”
He chuckled. “They are both Army, not Marines. Sore spot with the old man.”
She sighed, trying to relax. If she were to marry an honorable man, with a decent job, a decent place to live, and she could stay married for a few years, she just might have a chance against Taylor. She hated to admit that this ridiculous plan of his just might have some merit, especially if they could beat Taylor at his own game.
God, that would be way too much fun.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
She had so many. “Don’t you think people would question why we rushed into marriage so suddenly? Be suspicious and assume it was fake.”
“Like I said we don’t have to get engaged today. I was thinking a couple of weeks.”
“Still too sudden. We just met.”
“Not really.”
She opened her eyes and tilted her head. “Yes, really.”
“We met almost two months ago, and I’ve been flirting with you shamelessly ever since. Anyone at The Lake Pub can attest to that. Besides, we can just say we kept things quiet because of Andy.”
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”
He ran his thumb over her cheek. His touch so tender she could barely feel his skin against hers, but it was so powerful she couldn’t ignore it. “I wish.”
“They’re going to test us. Ask us all sorts of questions. Ask Andy questions about us. I don’t want to put him in that kind of position. He’s just a boy. It wouldn’t be right.”
“We tell him the same thing we tell everyone else. What I told my family.”
“What did you tell them?” She felt her eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. “That it was love at first sight or something?”
“Sort of.” He gave her a boyish-type grin.
“You didn’t.”
“Not in so many words, but I told them I thought I met the girl.”
“When?”
“The other day,” he said with the brow over his right eye about a half an inch higher than the other.
“You’re a liar.”
“Okay, so I haven’t told them that…but I will. My mom’s got this crazy idea that when I fall in love it will hit me so hard and fast I won’t know what happened.” His hand was still on her thigh. Still wreaking havoc on her hormones.
“It would be mean to play on her emotions like that.”
“We’d have to make everyone believe this. We’d have to live it.” His boyish glow was suddenly replaced with his serious cop expression. “We’d tell everyone that because of your situation we kept our relationship quiet until we knew it was the real deal.” He looked at her as if he meant it. His eyes had a softness to them. A sincerity that would be hard to fake, but he seemed to have managed it.
Maybe she could do it, too. “I understand how this helps me, but you realize you’d be tied to me and Andy for possibly years. You couldn’t see other women. You wouldn’t have a life.” She searched his face for a reaction to her words, but got none. He just nodded and stared at her as if he actually cared. “If I agree to this you have to promise me you will act as if you are the happiest man alive and never do anything that would jeopardize me or Andy.”
“I know what the stakes are and how they affect me.” He slipped his hand around her neck and leaned in.
“So what do we do now?” She knew she’d just agreed to become engaged to man she didn’t love. A man she didn’t know, and shouldn’t trust, but at this point, she’d do anything if it meant she’d get to keep Andy.
“We kiss.”
Before she had the chance to collect her thoughts and push him away, her tongue was dancing with his to the wild beat of her pulse. She wrapped her arms around his thick body and leaned in as close as she could. There was no denying he could kiss. No denying he could touch her in ways no other man had. She fisted her hands in his shirt and pulled away. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“Yes, we should…and we should be getting caught. If we want the world to think we are madly in love, we have to act that way.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You just did.”
* * * * *
The following morning, Frank sat at his desk muddling through piles of old reports. He’d pulled anything and everything he could find on Taylor Pratt, his family and his new soon-to-be wife, Becky Carlton. What interested Frank the most was the fact that Becky’s older brother was on a watch list for possible drug dealing. Even more interesting was that Paul Carlton had a son named Ricky. The same punk kid who said he could find a hit man for Andy.
Being related to someone who was a criminal didn’t make you one, but it didn’t help either.
Frank rolled his neck and glanced out the window. It had been raining since he got out of bed at five in the morning after a restless night. The plan hadn’t included marriage, not really. His extended family owned lots of little businesses and the plan had been to get her a decent job, with decent wages, and a new apartment since his Uncle Tony had one for rent.
So how did he end up talking engagement? Marriage? He’d like to blame it on his family. If he had a dollar for every time someone mentioned what a great gal she was and how she was very much wife material for him, he’d be about a hundred dollars richer.
Bottom line, he liked her…a lot…but he didn’t love her. He enjoyed her company. He liked the way she felt in his arms. Underneath him. The
way her breath always smelled of peppermint and her skin felt like silk. He remembered the way she looked at him last night when he dropped them off. She’d rested her head against the screen door and smiled slightly as he walked backward toward his truck.
He dropped his gaze to his desk and rubbed his temples. He’d drive himself insane if he tried to figure it all out. Frank knew it wasn’t her good looks that had him over the coals. His actions, or lack of actions, lead to the death of her sister. Last night, he’d been able to fall asleep easily with thoughts of Lacy, but he awoke abruptly when the nightmare had returned.
It was always the same. Hannah was drowning. She kept coming up for air and crying for Frank to save her, before going under again. Frank would dive, knowing exactly where she was, but the water was too dark, too murky. He’d come up for air and she’d be another hundred feet away. Calling his name.
Finally, she gave up the fight and slowly she disappeared into the dark water, never to be seen again. Last night, his dream had a new twist. As soon as Hannah’s cries had stopped, Lacy started calling for him. He could hear her splashing about, but he couldn’t find her.
He couldn’t help her.
Just then, the sound of chatter as the front door opened, brought him from his own personal hell. Jared and Reese entered the station and brushed the rain off their overcoats.
“Well?” Frank asked. Reese and Jared had been down at Albany Medical Center when they’d heard Chad Cartwright had regained consciousness. “Did he give us a description?”
“Mr. Cartwright was pretty out of it, but he swears a woman was driving the car that initially hit him,” Jared said.
“Did he say what she looked liked?” Frank questioned as he made a note of this on his never-ending list of information that meant nothing by itself, but somehow when pieced together might make sense.
“All he could come up with was light brown hair.” Jared sat down at the desk across from Frank. “The Warrensburg County Sheriff’s Office found a rent-a-car that matches the description. It’s all banged up and the paint marks on the side match that of the vehicle Chad was driving.”
“Who was the car rented to?” Frank asked hesitantly. Something told him he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“Hannah DeGeorgio,” Reese added as he tossed his cap on the desk and plopped himself down. “And this shit gets a whole lot worse.” Reese looked Frank dead on. “Chad verified there had been a third vehicle as described by witnesses. A small truck.”
Frank felt his heart fly up his throat. “I drive a…”
“Let’s not go there,” Jared said, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s still a pretty vague description and I already checked your truck out for any damage.”
“I’ve got a dent—”
“I know what you’ve got,” Jared barked. “But that dent doesn’t appear to be consistent with the accident Mr. Cartwright described. Besides, you were here, on duty when the accident happened.”
Frank leaned back in his chair listening to his heart pound against his ribcage. Someone was trying to set someone else up. “When was the car rented?”
“The day after the rock incident. Also, a few co-workers have made comments that Lacy threatened to get back at Taylor,” Jared said. “I’m sending Reese to question her.”
“I’ll go.”
“Like hell,” Jared snapped.
“I’m going whether you like it or not.” Frank stood up and started for the door. Jared would have to physically stop him. “I’ll clock out if that will make you feel better, but no one is questioning her without me being there.”
“Consider yourself off-duty then.” Jared rose and positioned himself between Frank and the door. “And if you do one stupid thing to make this office look bad, I’ll suspend you. You hear me?”
“Loud and clear.” Frank understood Jared’s position. Respected it. But it didn’t change Frank’s gut feeling that something fishy was going on.
“You let Reese do all the questioning. You are there as Lacy’s boyfriend, and nothing else.”
“Her fiancé,” Frank said as he stepped around Jared and followed Reese outside. He heard a faint cuss come from Jared, but he wasn’t going to stick around to hear more.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?” Reese asked once in the patrol car.
“No, but you have. What the hell are you doing taking out my cousin?” Frank didn’t see the point in discussing Lacy, because Reese, the lone wolf, wouldn’t understand.
“Don’t change the subject.” Reese glanced his way with a hard face. “You can’t be serious about marrying her.”
“I’m serious, all right. And for lots of reasons.”
“But you don’t love her.” Reese slowed as they came up on Route 8. He made the right hand turn off the main road. The trailer park was just five hundred feet to the right.
Reese was right. He didn’t love her, but he had to find a way to make the world believe he’d fallen hard and fast. “Yeah, I do.”
The car jerked as Reese turned onto the gravel drive. “Not even remotely funny, man.”
“Why is it so hard for you to believe I could fall in love with someone?” Frank kept his gaze straight ahead. A slight band of perspiration beaded across his forehead. His pulse increased as they rolled to a stop next to Lacy’s car. Why was it so easy for him to lie about it?
“I know you could love someone, but you don’t even know her.”
“I know enough.” Frank stepped from the car. “Give me five minutes alone with her.”
“Not on your best day,” Reese said stepping from the police car as he placed his hat on his head. “If you go and warn her, this office is fucked if I find anything.”
Frank nodded, but he wasn’t too happy about it. He followed Reese to the front door and turned his back. Part of him hoped she wasn’t home. Might give him a chance to find her and talk with her. Not that he thought she was in trouble, but with Andy wanting to hire a hit man, the relationship between Ricky and Taylor’s girlfriend, and the rent-a-car issue, it would appear Lacy could be moved up to suspect status.
“May I…Frank?” he heard Lacy question.
“I’m not here, officially.” He turned and stepped around Reese. “I’m just your boyfriend now.”
“Huh?” She blinked a few times. She glanced between the two men with a puzzled expression.
“Officer McGinn would like to ask you a few questions.”
“Okay,” she said, allowing them in the house.
“Hey, Frank,” Andy called from the family room. He’d been playing some video game. He paused it and turned his head. His eyes widened, and then narrowed, when he noticed Reese.
Frank moved closer to Lacy, sliding his hand behind her back, and thankful she didn’t back away. Shocked, she raised her hand and ran her thumb over his cheek like a girlfriend would when greeting her lover. “Just answer his questions, okay?” He looked deep into her chocolate eyes. A man could get lost there.
“What’s going on?” she whispered.
“Nothing to worry about.” He kissed her gently. Just one simple kiss. Nothing special, but it sealed the deal. They’d have to follow this through to the end. He pulled her in for a brief embrace. “It’ll be okay,” he whispered back.
Reese cleared his throat as Andy tentatively approached. “I’m really sorry to bother you with this. Just need a few questions answered.”
Frank put his hand on Andy’s shoulder, but he shrugged it off and gave him a deadly stare as he wedged his way between Lacy and him. Even under the worst of circumstances, Frank was never at a loss for words, until now. Andy’s set jaw, piercing eyes, and fisted hands spoke volumes. Mess with Lacy and you mess with him.
Something told Frank he didn’t feel the same way about Taylor.
“May I ask what this is all about?” she questioned softly.
“Chad Cartwright, ma’am.”
“Is he going to be okay?” her voice quivered. Frank could tell she was doing eve
rything she could not to appear scared. She looped her arm around Andy and scooted closer to him. Why anyone would consider breaking these two up was beyond him.
“The doctors seem to think so,” Reese added.
She let out a long sigh. “I’m glad.”
“Can you tell me where you were Friday morning?” Reese asked.
Lacy’s face paled and she didn’t look as though she’d make it through this process. “I started work at The Beach Side Hotel around eight and was there until maybe ten thirty.”
“Then what?” Reese continued.
“I took Andy to a friend’s house and did the lunch shift at The Lake Pub.”
Frank held up his hand before Reese asked the next question, but Reese ignored him. “What time did you arrive at the pub?”
“You don’t have to answer that.” Frank glared at Reese. “Excuse us for a moment,” he said to Lacy, then shoved Reese toward the door. Once outside, he took in a deep breath. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“My job,” Reese responded. “The accident was called in at ten forty-five. She had plenty of time to run the man off the road.”
“She wasn’t in the rental.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Neither do you.” Frank balled his fists. If he were in Reese’s shoes, he’d be coming to the same conclusion. Not a pleasant thought.
“But I plan on finding out,” Reese said. “Now back off.”
“I’m going to tell her she can end this conversation and demand her lawyer be present.”
“Just remember who you work for,” Reese said, poking him in the chest before heading back into the trailer.
“Sorry about that, Ms. DeGeorgio. I’d like to ask you a few more questions, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind,” Lacy said, tentatively as she glanced over to Frank.
“Yes, you do.” Frank leaned against the sink. “You have the right to not answer his questions. You also have the right to have a lawyer present, if you so choose.”
Andy had tucked himself under Lacy’s arm. At this point, Frank didn’t think Andy should be in the room, but knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to send him packing either.
“Someone want to tell me what is really going on here?” Lacy asked.
