Tracy Hayes, Apprentice P.I. (P.I. Tracy Hayes 1)

by Susanna Shore

  “Don’t move,” Jackson ordered Lonnie with a hard voice. He went to the door, a gun trained at Lonnie the whole time.

  “Moreira’s downstairs,” I managed to say, and he disappeared.

  I sat on the floor.

  Okay, I slumped to the floor, my knees giving up on me. It brought me annoyingly close to Lonnie’s face, but I couldn’t muster enough energy to care.

  “He’s gone,” Jackson said when he returned a few minutes later.

  “Why? How? I mean, how would he know you’d catch Lonnie?”

  He glanced at the detective. “I think this was a setup. For him.”

  “What?” Lonnie and I exclaimed simultaneously.

  “I received an anonymous call only moments before you came in. Very likely from Moreira.”

  “Why?”

  “Cleanup of the old regime I’d say.”

  Lonnie was so livid he looked like he was having a stroke. “That’s not true,” he spat, trying to turn on his back, but he was a bit too portly to manage the maneuver with his hands tied to his back. “They need me.”

  “You won’t be any use for them once you’ve lost your job.”

  “My guys will free me the moment you call them to fetch me.”

  “I guess we won’t call your boys, then,” Jackson said calmly. “Perhaps someone from my old precinct still owes me a favor.” He took out a phone.

  “This is your fault,” Lonnie said to me.

  I stared at him, too tired to do anything else. “This has nothing to do with me. I bet Douglas feared MacRath would rat out his contacts during the trial, if he hasn’t already. He couldn’t trust you.”

  That still didn’t quite explain why Moreira would’ve called Jackson, but I was too tired to care or wonder about the workings of the criminal mind.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jackson ended his phone call and came to me. “Come, let’s get you on the sofa.” He helped me up and to his office. I wasn’t even embarrassed that my feet wouldn’t carry me properly and he had to support me. I’d been held at gunpoint. It was a wonder I hadn’t wet myself.

  “Do you need a nip of whiskey?”

  “Yes, please.” I dropped onto the couch, the lovely, safe couch. There was a pillow and a blanket on it—I guess this wasn’t the first time Jackson had slept here—and I took the blanket and wrapped it around me. I would never get up. Jackson could sleep on the floor for all I cared, without the blanket, because I was keeping it.

  Jackson went to a cupboard at the side of the room and pulled out a bottle and a glass. He poured me a hefty dose that would put me under if I drank it all.

  My hands were shaking and I had to concentrate on not spilling the contents when he handed me the glass. The first sip burned my throat, making me cough. Second sip went down slightly better, and by the third it was like drinking water. The whiskey made my blood course faster and warmed me all over. It was tempting to drink it all and welcome the oblivion it offered, but I wanted to be sober when the police arrived.

  I don’t know how long I’d sat there in silence when Jackson spoke at the door, cutting into my contemplation of the floor pattern. “Can you keep an eye on this piece of shit while I go let the cops in?” He was assessing me, and I tried to look sharp and capable.

  “Absolutely.” My voice slurred a little. “What should I do if he tries to escape?”

  “You have the pepper spray, don’t you?”

  I dug into the pocket of my sweater jacket and pulled it out. “Yep.”

  My feet were only slightly tottering as I walked to the reception room. Lonnie was still on the floor, but Jackson had helped him upright and he was leaning against the wall, sulking. I kind of wished he would give me trouble; my finger was practically itching to release the pepper spray. But he wouldn’t even look at me.

  Jackson returned with two uniformed officers, both sturdy, hard-looking men who gave Lonnie such an ugly glare that I had no doubt he would end up behind bars. But they weren’t the only ones arriving. Following at their heels was my brother.

  Trevor didn’t even glance at Lonnie. He came straight to me, full of concern, and pulled me into a hug. All the tension I’d bottled was released and I started crying.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked, worried, holding me tighter.

  “No, just relieved,” I said past my sobs.

  “What the hell happened?”

  I pulled myself together and wiped my eyes on the sleeve of my sweater. I watched Lonnie being escorted out by the officers—not very gently—and I waved my hand towards him. “I think he followed me tonight. He attacked me outside York Street station and forced me into his car at gunpoint.”

  “What the fuck for?” Trevor’s hand twitched, as if he were reaching for his sidearm to shoot Lonnie. Luckily the asshole was out of sight already or he might’ve actually done it.

  “He wanted Pippin.”

  He stared at me amazed. “I think you’d better tell me everything.”

  So I did. I hadn’t even told Jackson the whole story yet, so both men listened, interested.

  “Why were you in Dumbo in the first place?”

  Since Trevor didn’t know about Jarod, I had to tell that story too, which took considerably longer, as—predictably—he wasn’t too happy about my decision to take a housemate without consulting him.

  “Jackson ran a background check for me,” I said defensively, but that only made Trevor direct his ire at him.

  “And you! You were supposed to keep my sister safe. And here she is, on her second day, being held at gunpoint.”

  “What do you mean, he was supposed to keep me safe?” I asked, annoyed. “You didn’t issue him ultimatums, did you?”

  “Of course I did. And he promised to give you only easy cases.”

  It was my turn to glare at Jackson. He didn’t even have the sense to look sheepish. “It was an easy case. A lost dog, for Christ’s sake. We couldn’t possibly know criminals would be interested in Pippin.”

  “I don’t need babysitting,” I huffed, but to my aggravation it only made Jackson smile.

  “Of course you do. You’ve only just started. You know nothing about this job.”

  “And now she won’t, because she’ll quit,” Trevor announced, as if he had the right to dictate what I do.

  “I will do no such thing!”

  My brother gave me his best hard stare. He was getting better at it, but his high-handed declaration had miffed me, so I was immune to it.

  “Yes you will. It’s not safe for you here.”

  “You can’t tell me what to do.”

  “I’m your brother and I know what’s best for you.”

  “Like you decided it was best for me not to know Scott is back in town?”

  “It would’ve only hurt you.”

  “And having my brother keep things from me wouldn’t?”

  He had the good sense to blush at least. “I made a decision not to let him back into your life.”

  “I’m a grown woman and I make my own decisions,” I said, raising my voice considerably.

  Trevor huffed. “You haven’t made a grownup decision in your life.”

  That stung. Big time.

  “Well, then, keeping this job will be the first one, and you’ll stay out of it!”

  “If I may intervene,” Jackson said, and we both swiveled on him so fast he lifted his hands in placating manner. “Admittedly, this has been quite a day for Tracy, but it isn’t normally this exciting in this job. We’ll get Pippin back to his owner tomorrow, and then we’ll return to trailing unfaithful spouses.”

  Trevor glowered, not willing to change his mind, so I linked my arm around his, placating. “I really want to keep this job. I haven’t felt this alive in years. I can’t go back to waitressing. I’d die there.”

  He didn’t look convinced, but he nodded, reluctantly. “Fine. But the moment people start shooting at you, you’re out.”

  “If that ever happens, I’ll probably want to qu
it myself.”

  He put an arm around me and gave me a brief hug. “Let’s get you home, then. It’s getting really late.”

  Jackson patted me on the shoulder. “Good job today. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll take Pippin to his owner together.”

  I smiled. “Thanks. And thank you for saving my life.” I pushed Trevor out the door before he would take another exception with my words.

  The drive home was quiet. Trevor didn’t try to talk me into changing my mind, but I could see he was still troubled by my decision. I could live with that, as long as he didn’t try to control my life. I didn’t want to think of what he’d said about me. My family had been saying the same thing for years, ever since I quit college to marry Scott, only to divorce a year later. But now that I’d finally taken a step toward changing my life, I wanted them to support me.

  “There’s no need to tell Dad about this, is there?” I asked when he pulled over outside my building. “He’d only worry.”

  Trevor nodded, looking grim. “I won’t talk. But you’ve got to stay safe, you hear me.”

  I leaned over to hug him. “I promise.” He waited until I’d got into the building before driving away.

  Jarod was sitting on the hallway floor, leaning against the wall, fast asleep. I felt embarrassed for having completely forgotten about him, but at least he had made it home safely. I shook him lightly by the shoulder and he woke up.

  “Hey! You made it,” he said, delighted, looking bleary. “I was, like, afraid when that guy pulled out a gun.”

  I led us in. “Sorry about that. This job turned out to be more exciting than I thought.” Utterly beat, I went to my room and fell face-first on the bed. I was instantly asleep.

  I woke up when the phone started buzzing in my pocket. It was a wonder I hadn’t crushed it, but as I pushed myself to a more upright position I realized I hadn’t moved the whole night. The display told me it was Tessa calling and the alarm clock on the nightstand that it was seven in the morning. I was instantly worried.

  “Hey, has something happened?”

  “No,” she answered calmly, if slightly puzzled. “Why would you ask that?”

  “Why are you calling me this early, then?”

  “Aren’t you usually up and at work at this hour?”

  “I’m not a waitress anymore, so no. What’s up?” I could barely keep the annoyance from my voice.

  “Have you showed Richard the photos yet?”

  It took me a moment to remember who he was and what photos she was talking about. The events of the previous night had completely wiped the amazing revelation of her affair from my mind.

  “No.”

  “Good, because Angela’s changed her mind. She wants to talk to him herself.” She sounded miffed, clearly not understanding such sentimentalism.

  “Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”

  “You mean you won’t do it?”

  “I didn’t say that. But we work for Richard, not you.”

  “Well, do your best. This needs to be handled delicately.”

  “I’m surprised you know the concept.”

  “Angela made me understand that Mom and Dad won’t necessarily take it lightly that I’m dating a woman.”

  Weren’t we a pair, trying to keep things from our parents.

  “If Trevor’s reaction is anything to go by, then no.”

  “You told him?”

  Her piqued tone made me realize she hadn’t necessarily wanted him to know about her relationship either. “Yes,” I confessed, apologetic. “I’m sorry.”

  She was quiet for a heartbeat. “Well, that’s one thing less to worry about.” And she hung up.

  Chapter Nineteen

  My second early morning phone call came when I was having breakfast. “I ran into Suzy Carter’s mother on my morning jog,” Trevor said. I suppressed a shudder thinking of the words “morning” and “jog” in connection—or separate for that matter.

  “She said Suzy and Moreira have been going out for only a couple of weeks, and that he’s such a nice young man.”

  “Nice?” I was intimidated by him before he even spoke. Last night’s events hadn’t exactly changed my opinion of him.

  “Her words. Helps around the house and drives them to church.”

  I failed to wrap my mind around that image.

  “Did she tell you how they met?”

  “No, but knowing Moreira’s connection to MacRath, it’s not hard to guess.”

  “At least my ex isn’t a drug dealer,” I said, with feeling. Scott had had his failings, but he wasn’t a criminal. Although, being a scumbag should be made a criminal offence in my opinion.

  “Or your current boyfriend.”

  “I don’t have a current boyfriend,” I reminded him.

  “Shouldn’t you try to get over Scott by now?”

  “I’m over him.” But it didn’t come out as resolute as I intended.

  He sighed. “Right… Well, I’ll keep an eye on Suzy’s house. We’ll get Moreira.”

  His words didn’t make me feel as good as they should have. “He was just the driver. And he warned Jackson about Lonnie.” In my mind, Lonnie was the real criminal here.

  “He hurt you. He’ll pay.”

  “That’s just it. I don’t feel hurt by him. But I wouldn’t leave me alone with Lonnie.” My hands itched to strangle him.

  That made Trevor laugh. “I’m not making any promises about Moreira.”

  “Just as long as you’re not going after him to get even with Suzy.”

  “Not hardly,” he huffed. “I was over her before school was out.”

  “You’re stronger than me, then.”

  “I wasn’t in love with her.”

  As I’d been with Scott. But that went unsaid.

  Jarod ambled into the kitchen wearing only boxer briefs, a sight that I could do without, especially on a beanpole like him. “I have to, like, go to work,” he said, going to the fridge, when I wondered why he was awake so early.

  I opened a kitchen drawer and pulled out a key. I might as well give it to him. It wasn’t like I’d throw him out.

  “Here. Use it responsibly. Meaning, no filling the house with unsavory friends.”

  He took the key, but gave it an apprehensive look. “I’m not sure I have friends.”

  I stared at him stunned. “What? Everyone has friends, from work or from college.”

  Though come to think of it, I hadn’t formed close friendships during my one year at college, and every time I’d switched jobs I’d lost the friends I’d made in the previous job, though new ones had always filled their place. Then I’d had Jessica, but I hadn’t heard from her since she moved out.

  Some friend she turned out to be.

  “I’m, like, younger than those who are intelligent enough to hang out with and we have nothing in common, or find those my age too stupid to bother with.”

  I could actually see that.

  “Well, we can be each other’s home friends.”

  He smiled and it transformed his face. “That would be cool.”

  Before I managed to leave for work, I got my third call of the morning, this one from Jackson. “I’ll come pick you up. We’ll meet Cheryl at the DA’s office. She’ll bring Pippin. No need to give anyone a chance to intercept us this close to the goal.”

  I was waiting for him outside my building when Moreira’s huge car pulled over by the curb. I looked around for the fastest safe place to run to, but he was out of his car before I could make my legs move. Just the same, I couldn’t have outrun him anyway. I dug out my pepper spray instead and pointed it at him when he approached me.

  He lifted his hands. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”

  “Yeah, right. I don’t have the dog and I wouldn’t give him to you even if I had.”

  “I don’t care about the dog. It’s Douglas’s private matter.”

  “Then why did you abduct me last night?”

  He shrugged his muscled shou
lders. “Lonnie was so eager to get to you, that I thought it best to tag along so he wouldn’t get carried away.”

  “And then you left me alone with him.” I was truly incensed.

  “I did call Dean and warn him. Don’t I get points for that?” His smile was disarming, but I hardened myself.

  “You did it just so you could get rid of Lonnie. You’ll get a face full of pepper spray, that’s what you get for scaring the shit out of me.”

  “Sorry about that.”

  He sounded so sincere my anger deflated. “Yeah, well, just don’t let it happen again. And stay away from my brother. He’ll shoot you on sight.”

  “As will Dean, I’d wager.” He nodded towards my boss’s car, which was approaching pretty fast. “I’ll see you around.” And he got into his car and drove away just as Jackson surged out of his car, a gun in his hand. I half expected him to fire after Moreira’s car, but he curbed his anger, put the weapon away and rounded the car to me instead.

  “Did he hurt you?”

  “No. And I had my pepper spray ready.” Which I still hadn’t had a chance to use. We got in the car and were on the move.

  “What did he want?”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say to apologize.”

  “Good thing you know better, then.”

  “Yeah. He told me that Pippin is Douglas’s private project.”

  “Makes sense, if he wants to free his brother-in-law.”

  “That’s just it. Why would he want to do that?”

  He gave me a sharp glance. “You mean because he’s taking over MacRath’s territory.”

  “Yes. It would be in his best interest to make sure MacRath stays behind bars.”

  “Perhaps blood is more important than business.”

  I had to concede that. Then I took a closer look at him. “You’ve changed clothes.” With his black on black ensemble it wasn’t easy to tell, but he had clearly showered and shaved. His hair was damp and he smelled nice. Pine and leather.