by Tracy Ellen
I flushed the toilet to be convincing, combed my hair quickly, and then checked over my appearance in the mirror for any telltale signs of lingering lust. Luke opened the door enough to be sure the coast was clear.
I spoke low to him, “Sneak out real quietly and watch out for the second stair down.” His frowning disapproval over his shoulder at my orders made me grin. “Hey, it’s how I heard you coming up the stairs last night, so I thought you might want to know. The code works for Bel’s entrance doors and back door. Oh, and thanks again, Luke.”
I started to edge by him to leave. He smoothed a hand down the back of my hair to my hip. He closed the door in front of me.
Green eyes glinted. “Don’t thank me too soon. I’m still not sure what I am going to do with you. Can we get together later?”
I flashed on my vow to follow my rules. With a chair and a whip, I held back the sex kitten voice roaring in my mind. “I’ve got a thing with the girls tonight and it will go real late. Tomorrow?”
“Yeah, that’s right, the Sunday dinner at five.” He did not sound like a happy camper. By the look on his frowning face, clearly Luke was not a man used to waiting around for what he wanted.
He smiled invitingly. “You’re sure we can’t make it sooner than that? Dr. Luke thinks you’re making a big mistake going out tonight with the girls. You need a quiet night at home. Dinner in bed, temperature taken- that sort of thing.”
I hid my smile at how appealing he looked. He was making this hard. “Oh, well, Mac is feeding me dinner and she’s a nurse. I promise I’ll take it easy tonight and make no sudden, sharp moves.” Although, thinking of the way I danced this could be a falsehood. I patted his cheek, some devil prompting me to add insult to injury. “Dr. Luke doesn’t have to worry his pretty little head over me.”
I opened the door and scooted past a frowning, frustrated Luke. I went to join the others in the living room and take my licks from Chief Jack.
I was doubly glad I was sticking to my rules. Being the target of Luke’s determined charm, which probably worked for him more often than not, caused me to laugh softly at the difference in the sexes.
When a woman wants a man to break his plans with his friends to spend the whole night with her instead, she’s dismissed as clingy or needy. A man doesn’t think twice to ask, since his needs come first. The fact Luke hadn’t previously asked me on a date for tonight didn’t cross his mind, or deter him if it had.
There was only one redeeming factor in Luke’s favor for trying to coerce me into breaking my plans. The understanding that it was my fault a couple pints of his blood needed for normal brain functionality was currently coagulating in a more southerly spot in his body.
Except for catching considering looks from the three in my living room, I was not questioned about Luke. He slipped out undetected and we got away with our bathroom interlude unscathed. That was the only thing I got away with unscathed for the next hour.
Before Jack started in on me about the ex, Ron Hansen, I’d taken him aside to ask for the low down on Crookie’s missing wife. Jack was closemouthed about police business, but he grudgingly verified he’d spoken with Reggie and knew of his involvement on that night. He relented enough to tell me he was coordinating efforts with the Edina police to find Cheryl. He counseled patience and I backed off. Jack wasn’t much in the mood to share his cop intuitions with me right then. I even rose above it when Jack said the word ‘patience’ with a definite snarl.
I told the facts concerning my involvement in the assault on Larissa into a tape recorder and signed my statement. I suspected Jack was doing us all a huge favor conducting his interviews here in the apartment, but there has to be some benefits in having the Chief of Police as an honorary family member, especially considering what followed.
I dutifully sat through Jack’s censorious tongue-lashing of the perils involved when a female civilian plays hero. I got through this with my good mood intact only because I was gleeful inside knowing Anna and Stella also had to sit through Chief Jack’s pacing diatribe.
I didn’t dream of sneaking a glimpse at their faces. Jack probably would spank me on the spot if he detected the tiniest glimmer of amusement in my demeanor, he was really worked up. I deserve to be commended for keeping it together knowing the girls sat on either side of me staring at Jack with round-eyed astonishment.
Neither of them had ever seen this spitting nails, disciplinarian side of Jack. I’d seen it somewhat regularly over the years with my propensity to jump in where angels fear to tread. His words, not mine. Why Jack compared me to an angel quite regularly was beyond me. You’d think his dealing with the criminal element, Chief Jack would have gotten past the baby face and big, blue eyes years ago.
I pondered this anomaly, as I gazed up at him with a rapt expression while he spewed fire and brimstone. I also pondered why, as men age, they do not notice their eyebrows need trimming. Every time Jack passed by the light, I could see several eyebrow hairs sticking straight out. Yes, they were white blonde, but they were a good inch long. How he could miss those brutes when shaving or brushing his teeth is beyond me.
Jack finally calmed down from a frothing mouthed dictator into lecture mode, and I focused. I shifted my eyes for a quick glance at the clock on the wall. Ten minutes was shorter than most of Jack’s tyrannical raves. I think the poor man was tired. With a final warning glare at my upturned face, Jack crabbily advised I may need to be questioned again, depending upon what legal action arose from Larissa’s ex-husband’s assault.
Jack had some concerns an attempt could be made by the ex to sue me for causing him a long term disability. After the taser effects had worn off, Ron Hansen was heard repeatedly screaming, “My balls, my back!”
Jack thought with Trent and Billy’s eyewitness statements that type of case would not hold up for long. I was curious what he meant by this, but didn’t ask him to clarify. I was in no mood to ask Chief Jack any questions and get him wound up again.
He did let slip Ron Hansen had been released only late this morning from Dakota County Jail after serving close to a year for third degree assault charges. It crossed my mind to wonder how Ron had arrived at Bel’s Books. It was logical to presume he’d need transportation to get from the jail in Hastings to Northfield, thirty-two miles to the southwest. That detail spurred me to tell Jack about the van I’d observed in the parking lot when Anna and I had returned from spying. I had automatically assumed the man in the van was waiting for a customer in Bel’s, but he could have been waiting for Ron to kidnap Larissa out of the store.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get the plate number and could only tell Jack the make and model. Anna vaguely remembered seeing the van, but had nothing else to offer.
My description of the man driving was more detailed. He was pale white, and while sitting in a van made it harder to be sure, he looked very large and heavy. He appeared to be stuffed uncomfortably behind the wheel of the van. I’d place his age in his late thirties. He was wearing a light colored jacket, had a completely bald head, no facial hair, and a big schnoz.
Jack stepped into the foyer and called it in immediately for follow up. While he was on his phone, Stella overheard him verifying no first responding cops to the back store entrance had seen the van when they had arrived in the parking lot at Bel’s.
We three girls reasoned the driver was a fellow parolee or friend of Ron Hansen’s. If this was true, the cops would easily track him down by the physical description. If he was an accomplice, I knew Jack would find him. We all agreed it was too suspicious the van had not been spotted by any of the first responding police.
Anna thought it would be a smart idea to find out more details from Larissa. Maybe her ex had mentioned where he was taking her and if he had help. Stella verified the man had been yelling his head off at Larissa, so it was distinctly possible he’d told her things that could be of use.
Jack overheard us and looking alarmed, issued the stern warning, “Do not start playing at amateur
detectives or certain heads will roll.”
I promptly promised with Anna and Stella quickly following my lead and seconding their agreement.
Jack eyed the three of us for a long moment and then surveyed me with his cop stare.
“Swear to God, Anabel.”
“What am I swearing to here, Chief?”
Jack thought it over. “Swear you will not play detective on your own. Swear if you find out any information by sheer chance, you will report it immediately to me.”
I took my time, no need for Jack to be suspicious if I agreed too fast again. “Deal. I swear to God. But that was two swears, so you owe me.”
Jack grunted. He continued to eye me carefully while searching for visual clues how he might have been hoodwinked. I smiled placidly back under his suspicious regard. Concluding he had covered his bases, he turned to Anna next.
“You!” He pointed a finger and demanded, “Swear to God!”
Anna immediately put a hand to heart and fervently swore.
Then she promptly smiled nervously and looked guilty as hell.
Jack scowled.
Anna kept swearing to God repeatedly and then kept smiling repeatedly.
Jack shook his head slightly to clear it. With a last warning glare at my anxiously grinning friend, he appeared satisfied Anna was sufficiently cowed. He moved on.
When his scowling face moved Stella’s way, she held up a hand and stopped him before he spoke.
Stella, the daughter of my heart, was shakily courteous but firm. “Sorry, Uncle Jack, but I don’t do swear to Gods.”
Jack’s mouth dropped at this statement. After a stunned moment, his brows lowered and he mocked her in a girly voice, “‘I don’t do swear to Gods, Uncle Jack’.” Face like a thundercloud, he shouted, “You’re an Axelrod, of course you do swear to Gods!”
Stella shrank back against the sofa and visibly swallowed, but held her ground in the face of his temper. “Umm…I am a DeVere, remember? I am the only kid in this entire family. I stopped doing swear to Gods before I was ten just on general principle.”
Jack looked at me, an accusatory glower on his face.
“What?” I crossed my arms and smiled evilly. “Surely you don’t blame me that our Stella’s chock full of principles? Maybe you could trust her,” I glared back at Jack, “if you asked her nicely.”
Jack threw his arms in the air with an oath. He settled them on his hips. He locked eyes with Stella. “Do you promise, Stella DeVere, to stay out of police business like a good girl?”
Stella lifted her chin at his tone. She replied coolly, “Sorry, Uncle Jack, I don’t do promises, either.”
Jack’s stoic, cop face was a contortion of frustration.
In his everyday existence, he was The Chief. In his world, if Jack even casually glanced at someone in his employ they quivered and asked, “How high today, Sir Chief?”
He dealt with high-powered, muckety-mucks on a regular basis. He carried big guns, he captured dangerous criminals, and he dealt with life or death situations as a norm. Not to be able to control a couple of girls with his formidable force of will alone had to be unendurably tormenting.
Jack, probably longing for the simplicity of a rookie cop needing a new asshole ripped for some minor infraction, stabbed a finger at each of us and enunciated in an awful voice, “Stay. Out. Of. Trouble.”
The cursing Jack departed down the stairs, thankfully taking his cranky mood with him. I got down to business with Stella and Anna.
Stella said, “Larissa really wants to speak with you.”
I sighed; that was a load off my mind. “Good. Under the circumstances, I was worried Larissa would hate me for screaming and yelling abuse at her. She knows it was a distraction and not meant to be real?”
Stella rushed to reassure me, “Oh, she knows! It’s the opposite, Aunt Bel. Larissa worships you for saving her. She was terrified because Ron was trying to force her to come with him. He threatened to rain down all sorts of nasty shit on her head for divorcing him.” Stella continued, furious, “Can you believe in his fucked up mind the jerk blames Larissa for him being jailed for assault?”
I shook my head. “I see only two choices for a violently abusive man like him. Put him down or a total lobotomy. Men like him are wired wrong; plain and simple.” I paused, stomach sinking thinking about it. “He’s always going to be a serious threat to Larissa’s life.”
“You need to worry about him now, too, Junior,” Anna softly reminded.
My eyes got big at that distinctly unhappy realization.
I also wasn’t so happy hearing Stella and Anna change topics and start singing Luke’s praises for taking charge downstairs when I passed out. I had let my people down by collapsing. After I’d zonked out and was napping in the comfort of my apartment, Luke had smoothly stepped in and organized the chaos downstairs.
I heard how he encouraged Stella to close and lock the store to keep away the gawkers. At his advice, she recorded a brief statement on Bel’s Books voicemail greeting stating the shortened hours for today. It was essentially the same brief statement he coached her to give the woman reporter from the Northfield News.
Luke counseled the nervous Stella it was important we control the information being officially stated from the outset, and that I would want her to do so. He was absolutely correct. Stella was anxious for my approval she’d done everything kosher. I smiled brightly and thanked her profusely for her correct, quick actions.
I was grateful, but inside I was having a bitch of a time knowing I hadn’t been there doing my job as owner and fearless leader.
Anna couldn’t praise Luke’s handling of the three lady customers highly enough. “You wouldn’t believe how great he was with them. He encouraged them to tell him their part in what happened. He really listened, and then complimented them until they blushed.” She laughed. “My God, after talking with the cops those ladies marched right out of the store feeling like super heroes, and not victims in the wrong place at the wrong time. Luke’s such a good guy, Junior.”
I nodded in agreement with her opinion, but for different reasons. He was a good guy. Good at manipulation. Knowing they were all women, even if over the age of retirement, I was sure it took him only seconds to have them eating out of his hand. It was masterfully done. It neutralized the negative comments those same customers could justifiably spread about their “shopping experience” at Bel’s Books. I stewed broodingly over the fact I should be ecstatic for Luke’s strategic thinking, not simmering with aggravation they were needed on my behalf.
Anna went on blithely, “He also talked with Trent and Billy before they gave their statements. They both felt bad they hadn’t done more to try to save Larissa. Luke told them,” Anna lowered her voice in a creepily accurate parody of his deep voice, “‘Boys, you did the smart thing. Had you men interfered, it could have resulted in Larissa being seriously hurt like the ex-husband had threatened’.”
Anna smiled at my expression while Stella was making noises on my other side. “When the guys sang your praises to Luke about witnessing the royal ass whipping, he just smiled and shook his head. You’re gonna love this, Junior, because he told them,” her voice lowered dramatically again, “‘Remember, dynamite often comes in small packages and the same applies to a little woman’.’’
My friend and niece snickered together at my distinctly unloving look. Anna continued on, “According to Luke, it was his experienced opinion you were only successful because no man expects a super-hot, little boss lady, even if she was screaming like a lunatic, to stroll up and kick him in the balls!”
Stella chimed in, “Yeah, Luke really got Trent and Billy laughing their butts off and no longer questioning their manhood. So, I guess that part was good, right?”
I sniffed. “Sure. I’d hate to have demasculinized employees running around loose and causing havoc in the store.”
Stella fell back giggling on the sofa while Anna laughingly said, “But wait! That’s not all!�
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They both laughed harder when I said a choice word.
“Trent and Billy totally agreed with Luke that the man was a serious threat to you.” Anna snickered and made a face. “Even while he was on the floor screaming in agony and even as you repeatedly kicked him. They definitely heard him yelling death threats if he got his hands on you. They definitely stood guard over you to make sure the ex couldn’t attack you from the floor.”
That sure cleared up Jack’s reference earlier about Trent and Billy’s statements to the cops verifying I had the right to protect myself from Ron Hansen. Based on his earlier comments, I could tell Jack had approved of Luke’s assistance in “clarifying their thoughts” before the guys gave their statements. Problem was; I did as well. I was Grandmother Machiavelli’s handmaiden and could pay homage when someone deserved credit. Luke, damn his diabolical brain, really deserved credit.
Misunderstanding my silence, Stella frowned. “We do think Luke is a butthead to talk to Trent and Billy about you like a sex object, Aunt Bel.”
I thanked the loyal feminists before me, amused that they supported me despite their adoration of all things Luke Drake.
To be fair, I then explained Luke’s strategy to them both, so they would understand his good intentions towards me and see how truly sneaky he was capable of being.
To Anna, I raised my brows. “You haven’t forgotten our one hour lesson at Rueb’s with Mr. Tricky?”
She shuddered and laughed. “Ugh, I’ll never forget that lesson with Mr. Tricky! How was I supposed to know this was the same thing? You’re right, he’s truly sneaky.”
I also confessed that I had used similar tactics on Ron Hansen. I explained it was my understanding of how a misogynistic, abusive man would think that made me approach Ron Hansen as I did. “He’d see me as harmless eye candy if my shirt was undone. It allowed me to get close enough to get my kicks in.” I nodded in remembered satisfaction. “His reaction was what I’d calculated on. I had no intentions of coming out of that encounter anything but the winner against that little bastard.”
