by Mimi Barbour
“Watch it. If I wasn’t so hungry I’d make you take back those fightin words.”
Debbie talked as she chewed. “Seriously! You have everyone at work scared silly of you, the guys pray they never have to be your partner and yet you’re such a feminine little thing. Hell, even your size. Good Lord, when you strut around in those high-heeled boots, you walk like you’re six feet tall whereas the truth is you’re what? Maybe five-two.”
“I don’t strut.” No way she’d show how much Debbie’s words were affecting her.
“Like hell you don’t. And that hard-assed manner you’ve perfected?” Debbie sneered the words rather than speaking properly. “Scares the crap out of felons you track down. Shit, sometimes it used to scare the hell outta me. And you like me.”
“Says who?”
“Really Aurora, I’m serious. You’re beautiful, not just in looks. Hell, no one could ask for a better friend. I mean, every time I think of what you did for me by shooting Rhondo—” Debbie’s eyes welled.
“It’s over and done with. Don’t talk about it. Don’t think about him anymore. It makes you sad.”
“I can’t help but think about it… and you. What I asked you to do for me was way too much to expect from anyone. I’ve wondered if I could have come through for you if the circumstances had been reversed.”
“You would have.”
“No, truly I don’t know if I would have or not. You’re a lot stronger than I am.”
Aurora stopped eating, put her pizza on the plate and faced Debbie. “Tell me.” It was the first time they’d had a chance to fully talk over the events of what had happened to Debbie in the cabin with Earl Rhondo. Aurora had known her friend would explain everything sooner or later and it looked like the time had come.
Debbie’s eyes filled as she reached for a tissue that just happened to be in her jean’s pocket. For the first time, Aurora suspected this set-up had been rigged and her friend had planned for this night.
“Do you remember me telling you why I had decided to become a police office? A story I told you about when I was just a child and I’d witnessed a car accident where a young blond woman had been hit? That I’d seen a toy truck which had fallen out of her bag and I’d always thought about that little boy whose mother wouldn’t be returning?”
“Sure. I remember. You’d decided then that you wanted to be like the police officers who helped, because you couldn’t forget about the child.”
“Turns out? That child was Earl Rhondo. His stepfather had told him all his life that his mother had ran out on them. Called her a whore and made the boy believe she hadn’t cared enough to stick around. That man and his vile words created the monster we tracked. The criminal. It was his doing that led Earl to live the way he did. In the end, all Earl wanted was to have a child of his own, someone who he could love and never leave, someone he’d never let down.”
“And he believed Alec to be that child.”
“Yes, he did. As frightened as I felt, especially after he shot at Kai, I never really saw the monster that night. A man who loved a baby the way he loved Alec, well he deserved some measure of compassion and pity. You gave it to him. You know he wanted to die. He went out shooting so you would have no choice but to fire back and kill him. What he didn’t know was that all three of you were sharp-shooters. He’d made that choice so his child, which he believed Alec to be, wouldn’t have to live with a jailbird for a father. You granted his wish. And I thank you so much.” Tears streamed down Debbie’s cheeks. Mopping them up with her soggy tissue didn’t help. They kept on coming.
Aurora watched Debbie to see her expression, “You let him believe Alec was his; smart move.”
“I knew Earl’s beliefs to be wrong. Just that morning I’d gotten the DNA report from the hospital that proved Alec to be Cory’s son. At first I didn’t say anything to save my baby. Then after I knew his story, I have to admit it was out of compassion.”
Choked, Aurora put her arm around the weeping woman. “Then I’m glad we helped him out. I know all the women he hurt might not have pitied him, they just wanted him dead. So in a sick kind of way, it seems to me everyone got their wish.”
Later, after the pizza had been consumed and all talk of the incident had stopped, Debbie looked at Aurora closely.
“You’re not getting enough sleep, my friend. You look like hell.”
“Gee, thanks. Love those kinds of compliments. Makes a girl feel so good.” She wiggled her shoulders sensually.
“Serious, here. You’re still pining away for Kai. I know it. Haven’t you heard back from him yet? Cory keeps saying to give the guy time. What do you say?”
Anger slid in and pushed out the playfulness. In a voice hardened with resolve, she answered. “I’d say his time is up.”
Chapter Four
“She’s too tall??” Cory repeated Aurora’s remark. Losing his cool, he almost yelled. “Hell, she’s not much taller than Debbie!”
“Are you talking in inches or feet?” Bitchy and not knowing why, Aurora gave Cory a hard time after he’d pointed out her new partner, who paced in the waiting room behind the glass wall. “What else do I need to know? Come on—give. I can tell by your expression that you’re holding back on me.”
“All you need to know is that she’s a good cop.”
“That’s a given. What else?”
Her boss plunked himself down on the corner of his desk and glared his frustration. His fingers fiddled with the crease in his suit pants. “I’m not playing this game with you, brat. I put up with far too much of your bullshit and it’s time you started to play by the rules like everyone else around here.” He crossed his arms and kicked back with his foot. The loud bump signified he’d said it all.
A faint ringing started up in Aurora’s ears, and warned her that her boss was holding something back she most probably wouldn’t like. Her body’s warning, that the doctors called tinnitus and she called instinct, had been with her from the time she became aware that her mother hated her and liked to show it with pain. Now being a woman and a cop who examined every expression, every ‘tell’ on a face where lies were being planned, she knew when to expect bad news.
“Man, you’re scaring me here. You’d better tell me what’s crowding your craw or I’m taking the three month’s leave you owe me.”
“Aw shit Aurora, we’re already short-staffed. Okay, if you have to know everything up front, I’ll tell you. She might be rather athletic.”
Just the word had her stomach muscles tightening. Memories, of all the hassling she’d suffered while at the high school both she and Cory had attended, poured in. The jeers and taunts from the sporty girls who liked to torment because they could play the games, and due to her size, she’d never made the various teams.
“How athletic?” She narrowed her eyes and starred him down. When he swallowed she knew she wasn’t going to like his reply.
His I-give-up groan would have been comical if she wasn’t so invested in the discussion. After all, she’d be spending a lot of time with this female giant jock.
“She boxes, plays basketball and golf— and runs marathons.”
“Fuck!”
He jumped up and held her gaze. “First and foremost, she’s a good cop. Look, Rory, I know you have this thing about your size. But no-one else sees you as—little. You cast a large shadow, trust me.” He took her hand in his. “You’re the only one it bothers, Shrimp.”
Using the nickname from when they were kids back in Casa Grande, he teasingly balanced his chin on the top of her head. Her elbow came lightning fast, and if she hadn’t pulled it a second before it landed, he’d be writhing on the ground, all six-foot-four of him.
Her skill in the martial arts wasn’t a surprise to him. But her speed shocked him and always had. Graceful and deadly, she never hit what she didn’t mean to hurt. His breath came back, along with his relief, as he put the desk between them.
Clearing his voice, he added. “You ready to meet her? I thin
k she’s been left waiting long enough. Can’t make a bad impression on her first day, now can we?” He grinned and she answered with a sneer.
He lifted the phone and a few seconds later, Aurora watched as the slender giant approached, hand held out and her lovely face wreathed in the biggest smile Aurora had ever seen.
Looking up at the long lean body, past the strong muscled shoulders and into merry brown eyes like those of a small-breed dog whose biggest wish is to wash one’s face, Aurora realized the smile she shared with very few was starting to form. Subduing it, she held out her hand.
Cory piped up. “Aurora Morelli, meet Lisa Jordan, who previously worked in Seattle and has moved here to the desert for fun in the sun.”
Aurora raised one eyebrow at the way Cory worded his last phrase, and knew Lisa picked up on it. They shook hands. “I’m so pleased to finally meet you, Aurora. I’ve heard wonderful things about your skills and I can’t tell you how happy I am that we’ll be working together. It’s like a dream come true. Since I was a little girl I’ve wanted to come to Vegas and… sorry. I always talk too much when I’m nervous.”
“Guess we’ll need to look into getting you a prescription of Xanax,” Aurora replied dryly, then winced when her new partner erupted into an excessively cheery laugh. Only the fact that her voice was husky and pleasing saved her from being tossed aside for good.
Cory broke in nervously. “Lisa’s just been awarded her detective’s badge and felt a change would do her good. Plus the weather will allow her to enjoy a lifestyle here that’s different from the rainy west coast.”
“Yes! The weather here is warm and dry, perfect for the things I love to…”
Blah! Blah! blah! Aurora couldn’t stop the bitchy thoughts that took over. Hell, if this chick is so friggin happy all the time, she’s going to drive me bonkers. She dropped her head and let her chin rest on her chest. I might have to hurt her.
Chapter Five
Two hours later in their office, Aurora searched for the duct tape. Lisa had talked non-stop and seemed to become more nervous as the day wore on. To shut her up, Aurora had passed over a huge pile of files for her to study and get familiar with, but the lunatic continued to hum distractedly until Aurora barked. “Stop that!”
For a little while peace reigned, and then it started up again. Finally Aurora broke. “If you make one more noise, I’m gonna get mean. You hear me?”
“Yeah. I can’t help but hear you. You’re yelling quite loudly.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Lisa shrunk back into her chair and waited for the shit to hit the fan.
Aurora chuckled, surprising herself—and Lisa more. She held out her hands as if a propping up a book and tried to keep her tone pleasant. “Look. I can’t stand happy crap around me right now. I’m what one might call out of sorts lately.”
“Are you pregnant?”
Instantly furious, Aurora snapped. “Why the hell would you ask me such an asinine question?” The pinging in her ears started up and played a melody that would drive her crazy if it went on too long.
“Sorry,” said Lisa. “My sister acted grumpy like you in her first trimester. It just popped into my head. I didn’t mean anything—”
Just then the door opened and Hampton stuck his head around to wink at Lisa and point at Aurora. “You want in on the arrest going down right now? We finally got hold of the address for that little shit whose been selling the bad crack on the streets. He’s gonna be getting the shock of his life when he sees us coming to visit.”
Breathing a sigh of relief for the timely interruption, Aurora reached into the desk drawer for her gun. As they left the office, she sensed the taller presence behind her, and for some strange reason, it felt right.
When they arrived en masse to the address they’d acquired, Aurora and Lisa put on their vests and held their guns down low as they followed Ham up the crooked set of stairs in a dilapidated apartment building. When they reached the door, Ham pointed to the two female officers to stay on one side while he took the other, and made room for the officer with the ramming device to blast his way through.
It was Aurora who saw the movement down the hallway, a shadow slinking along the wall waiting to take off the minute they’d pile inside the apartment. Once the concealed male realized she’d seen him, he took off. She started after the agile sprinter, but out in the street and a block later, she was gaining very little. Then suddenly a streak passed her at warp speed, and with a flying leap, tackled the young man. Arriving in time to kick the gun from his hand, Aurora watched the two bodies struggling on the ground. With a deft movement that Aurora couldn’t have performed better herself, Lisa had the jerk in a stranglehold with one arm up behind his back.
Helping out a partner, Aurora pulled her cuffs from her pocket and clipped them on his one wrist, letting Lisa finish off the procedure.
“Asshole runs like a scalded tomcat.” Lisa’s breathing seemed even and smooth, whereas the dealer and Aurora were still catching theirs. As the three were making their way back to where the others were outside the apartment, a van pulled up beside the trio. Before either girl knew what hit them, two guys leapt out and pushed them aside to grab the kid and haul him to safety.
Pissed off and happy to oblige, Aurora decked the closest one with an uppercut to the soft place under his chin where it really hurt and stopped him dead. Before she could plant her foot in the throat of the other, Lisa had him pinned against the vehicle; both arms wrenched back and a stream of profanity spitting from his mouth.
Surprising the hell out of Aurora, Lisa slapped his face hard. “Hey, poopy-mouth! Shut the fuck up! There’re ladies present.”
“Shaking her head, wearing a grin she couldn’t stop, Aurora tripped the first felon who’d decided to run and pushed him toward Hampton. He’d finally arrived, but was bent over looking like a victim seconds before cardiac arrest.
“You really need to cut down on those sugar donuts, Ham.”
“Then stop buying the blasted things for me.”
“You’re right! From now on it’ll be packages of digestive cookies.”
“Bah! Come on, you punks.” Disgust plainly showing, Ham forced the two lowlifes toward the waiting police vehicle while Aurora caught Lisa’s smile, returned it and followed with the third.
Chapter Six
Aurora’s need for sleep, her aching heart, and the non-stop memories were the only ‘bad’ in a world surprisingly fine. She dragged her body from the covers and saw by the radio clock that she’d overslept once again. Sitting on the bedside, she plunged her fingers through her mass of hair and flipped it over to one side, then she hugged her body and leaned forward.
Staying awake half the night, fighting her images of the bald-headed jerk who’d stolen her heart with his big baby blues and cheeky grin turned her into a vegetable during the early morning hours. In the darkness of the night, covers wrapped around her shoulders, she’d remembered the feel of his hands stroking her skin, so gentle as if she were a priceless gift. The sensual stare as he’d captured her gaze while making love. The uncontrollable fantasies constantly screwed with her ability to shut her eyes and claim sleep, no matter how desperately tired she felt.
She grimaced when she recalled her 1 a.m. weakness. Giving in and calling him yet again added disgust for her lack of self-control. But there was no answer; there never was. Like he’d faded from the world and only left his mark on her soul. On the continuous battle she fought between love and hate, desire and retaliation, bitterness and yearning and more bitterness.
Late for work, she glanced at her calendar and a frizzle of excitement crawled up her back. Though her expression remained somber, a smile lit up her insides. Three months today and she still hadn’t had her period. A girl regular as Monday preceding Tuesday, she’d never missed before.
The thrill of her speculation dogged her every day since Lisa had asked her if she were pregnant. Scared to find out for sure, she kept telling herself to wait till the end of the month. I
f she hadn’t had her period by then, she’d look into it.
She stood up and stretched. Kinks had crept into joints held stiffly to stop more tears. The day ahead would be crazy, like all the others since she’d started working with the chatterbox chick. Smiling, she admitted the gangly girl had crawled under her skin and onto her list of people who mattered.
In the bathroom, Aurora grabbed her toothpaste and brush and began her ritual. The mirror beckoned her to survey the damage from her past hours of misery, and the assessment had her swearing once again it would be the last time. Her eyelids were puffy, skin pale and the scads of hair too long for her normal style.
What she didn’t do was look herself in the eye—too embarrassed by her bizarre behaviour of letting a man steal into her so deeply that he couldn’t be shook loose. Until her conscience kicked up a fuss and told her she was made of sterner stuff. It was the same voice that had carried her through all the nightmares of her childhood, and had made her into the strong-willed detective who didn’t take any shit from any man or woman.
Fingers gripping the edge of the counter, she leaned forward and stared. Sapphire twins stared back, daring her to look away.
Face it chicky! He just doesn’t give a fiddler’s fuck.
Chapter Seven
Kai watched Sonny strutting around the dingy bar; the asshole was showing off to his mob members, and Kai wanted nothing more than to put a bullet through his cocky smile.
Sonny stopped in front of him. “Hey, Jack, why’re you looking so gloomy?” Hands tucked in the pockets of his skinny jeans and a sneer lighting up his overly-handsome mug, the pain in Kai’s butt irked him just by breathing. “We have plans, big plans. Soon you’ll have more dough than you’ve ever dreamed of, and as many chicks as you can handle. Not that girls seem to do it for you. Hell dude, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were some kind of a freakin’ fairy. The women circle you in numbers man, and you never take them up on their offers. What’s with that shit?”
