by Tara Randel
“It was. But once we got old enough to outdo each other, things changed. I was about thirteen when I noticed it.”
“In what way?”
“We were always trying to surpass each other. If Derrick made the softball team, Dylan also tried out for the team, made it and played football. Then Derrick had to make the basketball team. If Deke aced all his science classes, Derrick scored higher in his classes.” The old frustration he thought he’d outgrown tugged at him. “It wasn’t mean-spirited or ugly competition, it was just...exhausting.”
Eloise crossed one bare leg over the other. “I imagine as the youngest you tried to best your brothers, too?”
“Yeah. But I wasn’t as interested in sports like they were. And school?” He shrugged. “I did okay but I was no academic genius.”
She nodded to the car. “This was your outlet.”
He chuckled. “I was fidgety even as a child. My father saw my interest in anything mechanical, and through a process of elimination, we started working on cars together.”
“You got to work off all that excess stamina and spend time with your dad.”
“Best times of my life.”
Daryl Matthews had figured out a way to channel Dante’s energy and make it fun at the same time. They’d had more conversations about how to be a man over a brake job than sitting around the kitchen table or throwing a ball back and forth in the yard. His father made sure to have one special activity reserved with each of his sons, and now, years later, Dante missed him keenly.
“Fixing a problem with my hands made me feel like I’d accomplished something. I didn’t have to prove myself, not to my folks or my brothers. I’m good fixing mechanical problems so my little hobby made me the family fix-it-all.”
“Why did you go into law enforcement instead of working as a mechanic?”
He froze. Answered the question the way he always did instead of admitting the truth—that when he was on the job he wasn’t the younger brother trying to prove himself. He wasn’t annoying others by trying to work off his nervous energy. Instead, he said, “Everyone in my family is in law enforcement. I had to.”
She peered at him for a long moment. “Had to because of family pressure or because you wanted to fit in?”
Now she was getting downright personal. “Has anyone ever told you you ask too many questions?”
“Yes.” She wagged a finger at him. “And you can’t evade my question. It’s just the two of us here.”
He pushed from the car. Paced beside it. “I wanted to become a cop. My father was police commissioner, and from the time we were toddlers, he emphasized the greater good. It didn’t take much for Derrick and Dylan to jump on the bandwagon. They idolized everything about my dad’s job.”
“Deke?”
“Not as much. He had childhood allergies so he spent a lot of time indoors with his head in a book.” He grinned. “Kind of like you.”
“You said he’s in forensics now?”
“He found a way to take his love for science and marry it to criminal investigation. He’s good at it, too.”
“Let me guess. You chose undercover work because it keeps you under the radar. That way you don’t have to connect with other people if you don’t want to. You go in, get the job done and get out.”
He frowned. Is that why he liked going undercover? He’d never really analyzed it, but it made sense. He was actually good at his job, even though most days he felt like a poser.
“My dad, my brothers...they all belong in law enforcement. Most of the time I feel like I simply have something to prove.”
He’d never said those words out loud before. Oddly enough, with Eloise, it seemed like the right time to confide the truth. To the right person.
She stood and came to stand beside him. Her perfume transfixed his senses, and when her long hair brushed over his shoulder, he fisted his hands together to keep from bringing her into an embrace.
“You are good at your job, you know.”
Dante sent her a sidelong glance. “Really? I don’t think our superiors would agree with that assessment.”
“You have a tendency to be the lone wolf too often. That’s their main concern.”
“I’ve always worked better alone.” Their shoulders brushed. “Until now. We make a good team.”
“We do. But we still have our work cut out for us.”
“Are you finished grilling me about my family?”
Her small smile didn’t quite dispel the sadness in her eyes. “For now.”
Back to business. Good. He’d revealed too much of himself already. And from the way Eloise distanced herself from the conversation she’d initiated, so had she.
“I overheard Rico on the phone this morning. Something is planned for Tuesday.”
She angled away from him, outrage plain on her face. “And you are just now telling me?”
“Well, between you entertaining guests and the pregnancy rumor, I didn’t have a chance.”
She coughed out a laugh. “I can’t believe they misinterpreted hiding my guilt with being pregnant.”
“You’re the right age. We’re married. It was an honest mistake.”
“I guess.” She settled back beside him. “Back to Tuesday. What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, but I hope it’s a break in the case. We need some action.”
“I’ve still been trying to find anything on Griffin Enterprises. No luck so far.”
“Keep digging. You’ll discover something.”
Their gazes met and held. He wanted to lean closer.
You’re straddling the line again, Matthews.
She blinked and the connection was gone. “Thanks. When we go back to the garage next week, we’ll need to be especially vigilant. It feels like we’re getting close.”
True, but the closeness he was worried about was this domestic situation with Eloise. He liked being pretend married to her way too much for both their sakes.
CHAPTER TWELVE
BY FOUR O’CLOCK Tuesday afternoon, Eloise still waited for Rico to make some sort of move. Dante had seemed sure that whatever Rico had been discussing on the phone was a big deal. When a normal day passed, she wondered if what Dante overheard was incorrect. Still, there was an underlying tension in the shop that couldn’t be missed.
Finally making headway in the data entry, Eloise hoped that Rico would allow her access to the second office. Her fingers itched to open files on his computer and find out just how deeply entrenched her boss was in this car theft ring. Just in case she had a shot, she’d been carrying a flash drive in her shorts pocket. There was no doubt Rico was involved in one way or another, at least moving stolen vehicles. The big man was dodgy and nervous, constantly looking over his shoulder. And with Ramsey now dogging Dante, the brittle tension in the garage rose daily.
After a more sweeping background check, it turned out Ramsey had been a person of interest many years ago in a smuggling ring case, but no charges were filed. The man appeared clean, at least on paper. But now?
The blinking cursor on the computer screen snagged her attention and Eloise went back to her task, her mind mulling over events so far. Dante was sure this garage was changing VINs. They’d followed a carrier with assumed stolen vehicles to a warehouse, which they’d checked to discover were still parked inside. Eventually, the cars had to be moved to the final destination, but when and where? Ramsey was suddenly interested in them, his mood changing from easygoing to dark and suspicious. All in all, the scenario raised more questions than answers. With a sigh, she continued typing.
A knock on the door startled her. She looked up to find Dante, hands braced on either side of the doorjamb, a frown marring his brow. He glanced over his shoulder and back, then lowered his voice. “Anything?”
She shook her head.
He rubbed a ha
nd over his chin. “Maybe I misunderstood.”
“It’s possible, but Rico’s been jumpy all day.”
“I noticed that, too.”
She closed the program and powered down the computer. “I’ve been putting it off, but Rico mentioned he wants me to run out for parts. It’s getting late. I don’t have an excuse not to go.”
“You should get moving. We need to act as normal as possible.”
She grabbed her wallet, keys and cell phone. “I have to get the list from the boss. I’ll see you later.”
He nodded and squeezed her hand as she passed by. Shivers cascaded over her, but she ignored them. She met his intent gaze for a moment, imagined that the uneasiness she glimpsed in his eyes matched her own. The longer the op went on, the more antsy they both became.
The boss was nowhere to be found in the hectic garage. Mac was singing, off-tune and loud, over the rattling generator. Dante returned to the oil change he’d started, tossing an empty bottle in the nearby trash can. A customer paced the sidewalk out front, talking on his cell phone, while waiting for his car. The prevailing scent of gasoline turned her stomach, already churning with the anxiety of waiting for something to happen.
Ramsey was also missing, unusual when they were this busy.
If Rico wasn’t in the garage, he was sure to be found in his other office. She headed there, stopping short when she spied Rico and Ramsey standing in the grass outside the building out back and having an intense conversation. Anticipation spiking, she eased back into the garage, peeking around the open bay door to spy. Rico’s face had turned a bright red, his hands flying as he rapidly spoke. Ramsey gave him a slit-eyed look, cutting into Rico’s tirade to make his point. Clearly, there was a major debate going on. One that might help their investigation?
“I don’t care what you’re doing,” Ramsey said, his voice louder as he spoke over his boss. “We need to go now.”
“I can’t leave. You know that.”
“Quit with the excuses. This is important.”
Rico ran a shaky hand through his dark hair, his expression torn.
“You agreed to this.”
Rico clapped Ramsey on the shoulder. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Seeing her chance, Eloise strolled out of the garage, purposefully running into the men.
“Hi, Rico.” She nodded to the other man. “Ramsey.”
Ramsey merely nodded, moving fast.
Angling into his path, she cut off Rico’s passage. “Boss, do you have the parts list ready? I’m running out to the repair shop and want to make all my stops in one trip. Mac said we’re nearly out of timing belts.”
A flash of frustration crossed his face. “It’s in my office out back. I’ll have to get it later.”
Eloise stood her ground. “But you told me we need the carburetor back by end of work today.”
Rico faltered. “You’re right, I did.” He glanced at Ramsey, who had stopped when he realized Rico wasn’t following.
“The repair shop called and said it’s ready,” she reminded him, pushing the issue since Rico looked to be operating on his very last nerve. “They close in thirty minutes.”
“C’mon,” Ramsey shouted, irritation deepening his voice.
Eloise made sure to keep a confused expression on her face, while secretly hoping they might slip up and reveal their mission. “Should I wait until tomorrow?”
“No,” Rico snapped, digging in his front pocket. “We need the parts now.” He tossed her a ring of keys. “The list is on my desk. Get it so you can pick up everything today.”
She caught the ring. “Thanks.”
“Hurry. I need the key back before I leave.” She’d taken two steps when he yelled, “And no messing around in there. Get in and out, got it?”
“On it,” she called, holding back the urge to cheer as she jogged to the building. Behind her, Rico and Ramsey renewed their argument. Before unlocking the door, she heard a phone ring. With a quick glance over her shoulder, she saw Rico take a call while Ramsey threw his hands up in the air.
Deftly unlocking the door, a haze of cigarette smoke assailed her as she entered. When had Rico started smoking? The other office was smoke-free. Could the stress be getting to him? Sure looked like it, especially with Ramsey goading him.
Once inside, she pulled the flash drive from her pocket and inserted it in the port on the hard drive. Her fingers ran over the keyboard as she pulled up the command to copy the system drive.
“Hurry, hurry,” she muttered under her breath, not sure how much time she’d safely need to get the information. The screen showed the computer directories being copied. While waiting, she searched for the parts list, buried—surprise, surprise—under a stack of papers. As she moved things around, she bumped the ashtray, spilling stubs on the desktop. Her movements jerky, she scooped them back into the glass tray. The man really needed to learn how to keep his work spaces tidy.
Finally, a beep and the drive flashed at her. Extracting it, she shoved it in her pocket, made sure the screen looked the same, took the list and grabbed the door handle, just as Rico opened it and pushed in.
“What’s taking so long?” he barked.
“Sorry,” Eloise said, haltingly, heart racing. “I had to search your desk.”
Rico stomped to the desk, investigating the area. He turned to her and held out his hand. She dropped the key ring in his palm.
“Let’s go.” His voice brooked no disobedience.
Eloise stepped outside, her mouth dry as she controlled her pumping heart. She hustled down the path, Rico muttering as he locked the door and fell into step behind her.
Her chest squeezed tight. What if she’d taken a few seconds longer? She would have been discovered and the entire op would have gone down the drain.
“When you finish the run, you can call it a day,” Rico said as he caught up to her. He jumped into the front seat of Ramsey’s old beater car, which seemed odd since Rico normally drove his flashy, brand-new and ironically immaculately clean red truck. Driving around in Ramsey’s car was equivalent to driving around in his messy office.
“I will,” she answered, truck keys in hand. Once inside, she blew out a gush of air and started the ignition, her hands trembling. She pulled into the street, unintentionally tailing the men in the car in front of her. Suddenly, an idea struck her. Why not deliberately follow them? No way was she going to miss this opportunity to find out what Ramsey was all stirred up about.
Ramsey turned right, but Eloise had to wait for cars to pass before pulling onto the main thoroughfare. It was already late afternoon; folks were starting their trek home, making traffic heavy. Her stomach sank when she immediately lost sight of the old car. Craning her neck, she kept driving, on the lookout for her quarry.
At the next light she caught a glimpse of the car, stopped in the left lane at the red light. Her blood pulsed. She still had a chance to discover their destination. When the light changed, she switched lanes, staying far enough behind as not to draw suspicion. The old car moved into a left-turn lane. Eloise, with a buffer of four cars ahead of her, also moved into the lane. She just made the turn before the light changed, again holding back so she wouldn’t be noticed. Finally, Ramsey pulled into the parking lot of a strip mall. Eloise passed, turning in at a different section of the same center.
Parking at the far end, she gathered her bearings to get a lay of the land before observing the men. They stood on the sidewalk outside a cell phone store. Rico checked his watch while Ramsey kept up a conversation. Rummaging around behind the seat, she pulled out the binoculars so she could better see what transpired. The glasses zeroed in on Rico as he nervously tugged on a cigarette, smoke lifting over him in ragged puffs.
They must be waiting for someone. Grabbing the digital camera from the glove box, she readied it to take pictures.
Moments later
three boys showed up. Well, more like young men, by the looks of it. Her pulse leaped again.
The boys wore hoodies, even in the heat of the day. Ramsey did most of the talking. One of the boys, his aggressive manner identifying him as the leader, held out his hand. Ramsey dropped an object into it and the boys nodded and started walking away. Ramsey grabbed one of the boys by the shoulder, yelled close to his face, then pushed him off. Eloise noticed a white lightning bolt on the back of the jacket. The leader shouted and gestured rudely at Ramsey, then they rounded the building and were out of sight. All the while, Eloise kept snapping pictures.
Not taking a chance at being discovered, Eloise backed out of the space, turned away from the men and pulled out into the street. A few blocks later she doubled back and went to the carburetor shop, thankfully making it before closing time. From there she finished her errands, securing everything on the boss’s list.
On the way back to the garage, she puzzled over a niggling image from the scene she’d just witnessed. Finally, revelation slammed her. When she’d gone on the call to the Parson’s Auto Mall the day after the car thefts, she remembered the perps in the surveillance video also wore black hoodies. They’d managed to keep their sides to the camera, but the video had picked up a white blur on the back of their jackets. She realized now it was a lightning bolt, just like the jackets of the boys she’d just seen walk away. She couldn’t be 100 percent sure they were the same suspects, but her clenched gut shouted otherwise. When she got home, she’d pull up the crime scene video to compare.
Finally, a break. One they hadn’t actually been searching for, but found just the same. Was Ramsey running the gang of kids who stole cars from dealerships? And if so, was it connected to the elusive head of whatever was going on? Were the cars she and Dante had seen loaded onto the carrier the other night the work of these boys? She couldn’t wait to compare notes with Dante and see what he thought.
Arriving back at the garage, she handed the carburetor off to Mac before placing the parts in the supply room. She returned to the office to collect her belongings, then locked up the office for the day. Trying to contain her excitement, she forced herself to keep a measured walk as she made her way to Dante. He lowered a raised hood and turned, a genuine smile crossing his lips when he saw her. His warm gaze sent mind-of-their-own tingles over her skin.
