D.B. Hayes, Detective
Page 23
“You think Russo shot him?”
“Wouldn’t the angle of the bullet be different if Albert was the shooter rather than Elaine? I know they are both tall, but I think Albert’s left-handed. At least, that’s the hand he was using to hold the gun when he came inside the shop tonight.”
His expression was tinged with admiration. “You’re right, Ms. Hayes, the angle does make a difference.”
“I think Elaine was using Delvecchi. You won’t be able to prove this, but I’m betting she planned to have Delvecchi kill Albert Russo and make it look like suicide or an accident. If there’s a prenuptial contract, the only way she could inherit was if he died.”
“Even if you’re right, we won’t be able to prove that unless Mrs. Russo confesses.”
“I know.”
“I’ll need you to come to the station tomorrow and make a formal statement. It’s late and Mr. Kirkpatrick is waiting to take you home. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Russo should have heeded his own advice and watched out for his wife,” I said as Brandon led me over to a large, dark-colored SUV. “Whose car is this?”
“Dex’s. I’ll get it back to him tomorrow. Frog is trapped in the parking lot until the police finish for the night. You nearly gave me a heart attack, you know. What did you think you were doing, charging a gun like that?”
“Who had time to think?” I protested.
He swore.
“I’m telling Mickey,” I warned him.
I closed my eyes, feeling exhausted. When I opened them again, we were pulling into my father’s driveway. Dad should have been in bed hours ago, but the house blazed with light. He met us at the door and drew me into a fierce bear hug, kissing my forehead. Coming from a man who is not given to outward displays of emotion, it brought tears to my eyes as I hugged him back.
“Thanks for bringing her home, Brandon.”
“You’re welcome, sir.”
“Why couldn’t you marry and settle down like your brothers?” he demanded gruffly, letting me go.
“I like being a private investigator.”
“You need to call Lacy and Trudy.”
“In the morning,” I promised. There was no way I could face that daunting task at the moment.
“All right, honey. I can see you’re out on your feet. I’ll let them know you’re both home safe.”
It wasn’t until morning that the word both penetrated my fuzzy brain. If Brandon wasn’t careful, they’d have us married and raising kids in a house down the street in no time. He had no idea how ruthless my family could be when it came to matchmaking and me.
I’d been wrong on all counts. Brandon did fit on the couch and I could sleep in a house with him under the same roof.
Despite a headache, I showered and dressed quickly and found Brandon at the kitchen table reading the newspaper.
“Good morning,” I greeted. “How’s your arm?”
“Sore. We made the front page. Not a bad shot of you, either. You look cute.”
“Let me see that!”
He was right. Standing next to him, I did look cute. I hate looking cute. Especially when he looked so handsome and coolly professional despite the blood on his arm and the bruise on his face.
“The police want to talk to us. And some of the media is offering to pay for an exclusive.”
“How much?”
“Very funny.”
“Did he kill her?” I asked.
“Elaine? Not so far. She made it through surgery, but neither one of them is talking. They found the evidence Elaine originally offered to give me. Apparently Russo had Seth’s notebook and the tape he made of their conversation together. Seth was working on tying Russo to some serious graft that was going on at city hall. The mayor will be relieved to know his name wasn’t mentioned, but Dex wasn’t more specific about it than that.”
“Dex being the big, scary-looking guy with the beard?”
“That’s Dex. And changing the subject completely, I like the dress.”
“What dress?”
He nodded toward the dining room. Draped over a chair was a shimmery dress in ice-blue I’d never seen before. Or so I thought until I picked it up. The only familiar part was the bodice, with its rich array of colors. Kai had removed the cap sleeves and turned the gown into a delicate Empire waist, much lovelier than the original dress had been.
“Your aunt said Kai got an A on her project so she doesn’t need the dress anymore. She thought you might like to have it back. Is that what you’re going to wear on Saturday?”
I’d forgotten all about Lorna’s wedding.
“Aunt Lacy was here?”
“While you were in the shower. She said she’d talk to you later. I can’t wait to see you in that dress.”
I set it down, feeling the heat of his gaze.
“I need caffeine.”
He gave me a knowing smile and stepped back to allow me to enter the kitchen again.
“Ted says Binky will be ready by this afternoon.”
I stopped in the act of opening the refrigerator. “What do you mean ready?”
“He says you’re going to love the color. I told him I couldn’t picture Binky in purple with white and green racing stripes, but—”
“You’re kidding!” I felt faint. “You’d better be kidding. You are kidding, aren’t you?”
“Hey, I’m just the messenger.”
I thought about Binky and I thought about Ted and I couldn’t tell if Brandon was teasing or not.
“What did you do with my gun? This is justifiable grounds for a homicide. No court will convict me.”
“Speaking of courts, we need to let Detective Martin know we’re on our way before he sends a car for us. And we won’t be needing Frog. I returned Dex’s SUV and he ran me over to pick up the Honda. You are not to name my car. So, as soon as you have something to eat…”
I pulled a can of diet cola from the refrigerator. “Breakfast. Let’s go. And do not even think about lecturing me this morning.”
He held up his hands. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I was the one who felt like I was dreaming this morning. I pulled the tab, took a swallow and waited for the caffeine to reach my bloodstream. “We need to stop in Birdtown first.”
“I never heard of Birdtown.”
“It’s a local term for a block of streets all named after birds. I have to pick something up.”
“All right.”
We locked up and headed for the Arrensky house.
“I’ve been thinking,” Brandon said after a few minutes. “We work pretty well together, wouldn’t you say?”
I tried to calm the insane tripping of my pulse as I studied his impassive features. He was such a hunk.
“You mean, as investigators?” I asked.
He shot me a quick glance. “Yeah. How would you feel about forming a partnership?”
“What sort of partnership?” I asked cautiously.
“Kirkpatrick and Hayes Investigative Services?”
What had I expected? I squashed the other fleeting thought and faced him. “Hayes and Kirkpatrick,” I countered. “Pull up in that driveway over there and hold on to that thought.”
The street was quiet except for a girl on a bike at the far corner with a poodle nipping at her heels. Not another soul was in sight this gloomy Monday morning.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Brandon.
It wasn’t three in the morning, there were people out and about and Lyle could be home. I found I didn’t care. I strode up to the front door and inserted the first key. No good. The second key didn’t work either. Before I could try the third key, the door jerked open and Lyle Arrensky stood there in a pair of white boxer shorts spritzed with yellow smiley faces.
“You!”
“Yes, me!”
I put my hand on his bare chest and pushed hard. He was so surprised, he moved back, allowing me to stride past him into the living room. I emptied the loving cup of peanut shel
ls by dumping them on the floor and started back the way I’d come.
“You can’t come in here and take that!”
I pulled out my can of pepper spray and glared at him.
“As a duly authorized representative of your ex-wife, I am removing this piece of her personal property. You have a problem with that, call a cop.”
His mouth fell open.
“Now get out of my way or I’ll spray you in your squinty little eyes. And for crying out loud, put some pants on, Lyle,” I ordered as I strode past him carrying the ugly loving cup. “You’re an embarrassment to the neighborhood.”
Brandon had followed me onto the porch, ready to act as backup if necessary. I hadn’t seen him until he held the door open for me. The look of respectful admiration in his eyes gave me a buoyant feeling I couldn’t describe. For the first time in my life I felt about six feet tall myself as I strode down the steps and over to his car.
“Now about that name,” I said as he got in behind the wheel and started the ignition. “I’m the native Ohioan, so we go with Hayes and Kirkpatrick.”
He grinned. One of those curl-your-toes grins that set my stomach quivering.
“I’m looking forward to this negotiation, partner.”
I leaned back and smiled. “So am I.”
ISBN: 978-1-4592-2845-0
D.B. HAYES, DETECTIVE
Copyright © 2005 by Patricia A. Gagne
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* Fools Point/Mystery Junction
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