Under Cover Of Dark

by Juanita Kees

  ‘Where did you get the gun?’

  ‘From my father’s holster when he turned from me to hit my mum. He always wore a gun under his jacket.’

  ‘Mr Pritchard, what are you asking for?’ Judge Carmody tossed her reading glasses onto her desk.

  ‘To release him on bail until his trial, Your Honour.’

  She folded her hands on top of the case file. ‘And how do you propose to keep him out of trouble until then?’

  ‘Scott and TJ Devin have set up a teenage rehabilitation refuge here in Perth. It provides a stable home environment and activities to keep teenagers off the streets.’

  ‘The Tiny Watts Teenage Rehabilitation Centre. I’ve heard of it.’

  ‘They will ensure Luke meets his bail conditions. There is also the option of him signing up for the apprentice program they run out of their dealership. A student counsellor visits the apprentices on a weekly basis to mentor them. They now have four qualified mechanics on staff who graduated from the program. None of them have reoffended.’ He paused to give her a moment to process the information. ‘Detectives Johnson and Jones are weekend volunteers there, as are other emergency services personnel.’

  ‘Mr Bennetti, what are your thoughts on that?’

  ‘Uh…yes.’ He looked at his mum and then at Giles. ‘Yes,’ he said, louder this time. ‘I’ll sign up for the program.’

  ‘Fine. Bail is set at $2500. You will report to the detectives once a week and enrol in the apprenticeship program, during which time you will remain in residence at the rehabilitation centre under the care of Scott and TJ Devin. I want to see weekly reports from you on his progress, Detective Johnson and Mr Pritchard. All behavioural reports will be taken into consideration when it comes to Mr Bennetti’s trial and sentencing.’

  ‘Yes, Your Honour,’ replied Mark, his hand resting gently on Lily’s shoulder.

  ‘Let’s wrap this up then,’ said the judge. ‘The court order will be delivered to your offices today, Mr Pritchard. Mr Bennetti, from now on, it’s your responsibility to meet your bail conditions. I don’t want to see you again until your trial. Stay out of trouble.’

  ‘Yes, Judge Carmody. I will.’

  ‘Be sure that you do.’

  The screen went blank and silence hung in the air a moment.

  Lily’s shoulder trembled under Mark’s hand and he squeezed it reassuringly. She turned teary blue eyes to his and covered his hand with hers. He tried to ignore the zing that travelled through him at the contact.

  ‘Thank you,’ she whispered.

  Unable to speak around the lump in his throat, he nodded. He was a cop, for God’s sake! But there was something about Lily Bennetti that made him want more than to serve and protect at the level his duty required. Right now, with her looking at him like he was some kind of hero, he wanted to scoop her up, take her home and promise no harm would ever come to her or Luke again.

  She dropped her hand from his and turned to the lawyer. ‘And thank you, Mr Pritchard.’

  ‘It’s not over yet, unfortunately. We still have a lot of work to do before the sentencing. But for now, you and Luke need to rest. I believe TJ and Scott are on their way to introduce themselves. I didn’t see any point in wasting time, so I contacted them last night,’ said Giles.

  ‘You must have been pretty sure of the outcome,’ replied Lily.

  Giles shrugged. ‘Either way, I would have gotten them involved. They’re a great couple who do a great job.’

  ‘And there’s someone up there you know already, Luke,’ added Mark. ‘Your friend Marty is staying with them at the moment.’

  Luke nodded and for the first time since he’d been brought into custody, the boy smiled a little.

  Lily wiped at the tears on her cheeks. Mark handed her a tissue, their fingers brushing as she took it. His body tingled at the light touch. He took a step away from her and as he looked around the stark white room, he vowed to keep a cool head. He had to remain objective. As pretty and fragile as Lily Bennetti was, he had no right to feel even the slightest attraction for her.

  With his focus off Lily for the first time since he’d brought her in to the hospital, he looked around the shared room they’d put them in. The emptiness of it struck him, the lack of flowers or get well soon cards. Where were her friends, her family? Were Gino and Luke all she had? He made a mental note to look into her background.

  ‘Is there anyone I can call for you, Lily? A friend, family?’ he asked, his curiosity piqued.

  Lily shook her head. ‘No, thank you. There’s no one.’

  Those few words told him all he needed to know, along with the sadness in her eyes, the emptiness of her tone. Lily Bennetti had no one to turn to. The kind of man Gino Bennetti was would have hand-picked her friends if he allowed her any at all, alienated any family she might have had, and isolated her from the world. He’d seen it too often before, studied cases where women were held in captivity, and not even the closest neighbours knew it.

  He allowed himself to feel anger towards the man responsible for the position she was in and worse, the condition he’d left her in. It was up to him to bring that same man’s killer to justice, a boy defending his mother while fighting for his own life. Sometimes, his job sucked…big time.

  ‘Well then,’ said Giles, interrupting his thoughts, ‘I’d best be on my way. I’m sure you two will want to get out of here as quickly as possible and get Luke settled. TJ and Scott shouldn’t be too much longer.’

  ‘I’ll walk you to your car, Giles. Harold and I have a few questions for you about another case I’m working on. Lily, we’ll be back in a moment. Will you and Luke be okay alone for a while?’

  ‘Of course,’ answered Lily. ‘The doctor should be in soon to discharge us anyway.’

  * * *

  Lily battened down the sense of unease as the doctor went through the motions of examining them for discharge and writing up their charts. Soon they’d be free to go. She knew where to but not to what — a stranger’s home for Luke and an unknown future for both of them.

  The door opened and Lily turned, expecting to see Scott and TJ Devin. Instead, Nic Albero strutted confidently into the room. Her blood turned to ice. Surely he wouldn’t do anything here?

  ‘Liliana, I’ll take you and the boy home. I’ll sign the discharge papers since I’m your next of kin.’ His voice brooked no argument as he gripped her arm, his fingers digging cruelly into her soft flesh.

  Lily tried to tug away but he held firm. ‘We’ll order a taxi, thank you.’

  Mean eyes narrowed on his face. ‘It was an order, not a request.’ He leaned down to whisper in her ear. ‘The less you resist, the easier I’ll make it for you.’

  ‘Mr Albero, Luke and his mother will need to spend some time with his case worker. They won’t be leaving just yet. Luke is now a ward of the court, so your signature on the discharge papers would be null and void.’

  Lily sagged with relief at the sound of Mark’s voice from the doorway.

  ‘I can wait for Liliana. I am a patient man.’

  ‘I have no doubt about that. Mrs Bennetti and her son will be escorted home after the meeting. I’m sure you have clients to attend to?’ Mark placed a hand at Lily’s waist and steered her away from the big man. Albero was forced to release her from his grip.

  ‘I’ll be waiting, Liliana.’

  She shivered, but the warmth of Mark’s hand was reassuring. ‘Stay away from us, Nic.’

  With one last angry glance, Albero walked out.

  ‘What was that about?’

  ‘Nothing,’ answered Lily as she looked around to see where Luke was. He stood to one side close behind Harold Jones and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘Lily, you’re as white as a sheet. He scares you.’

  She felt the burden of their secret weighing heavily on her shoulders. How was she going to keep Luke safe? The apprenticeship program would make him an open target in public. She nibbled on what was left of her nails and dismiss
ed the thought of asking Mark for help. If she did, she’d have to tell him the whole story.

  Mark placed a hand over hers and pulled gently until she stopped worrying her thumbnail. ‘Out with it,’ he said.

  She looked into grey eyes that had seen into the darkest corners of her life and knew she couldn’t lie. He’d know. If she told him the truth, he’d be forced to follow up and go after Albero. Where would that put Luke?

  With a sigh, she shook her head. ‘It’s nothing. Nic is a little scary, that’s all.’

  His look said he didn’t believe her. ‘I won’t push, Lily, but if there is something you’re not telling me…’ Those stormy grey eyes bored into her soul. ‘…I will find out.’

  Lily dropped her gaze first and focused on the strong hand that swallowed hers in its grip. ‘I know.’

  ‘Then tell me.’

  This time when her eyes met his, they glistened with unshed tears. If only I could. ‘I can’t.’

  ‘Excuse me, Mrs Bennetti? May I come in?’

  Lily turned away from Mark’s searching gaze to face the woman who poked her head around the door. The pretty, petite blonde took a step inside.

  ‘My name is TJ Devin and this is my husband, Scott.’

  ‘Please, call me Lily.’

  ‘Lily.’ TJ smiled as she handed Lily a bouquet of gerberas. ‘We’re from the Tiny Watts Teenage Rehabilitation Centre. Scott and I run the apprenticeship program at M&M Motors.’

  ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you,’ said Lily, accepting the flowers. She touched the soft, silky petals gently. Pink, orange, red and yellow swam together in a rainbow of colour as she blinked to clear the sudden tears. ‘Thank you…no one’s ever given me flowers before.’ Gino refused to have them in the house. Dying flowers made a mess. Not that he’d ever had to clean it up. He’d always had someone to clean up after him and it seemed nothing had changed even in death.

  A big, warm hand patted her shoulder gently and she raised her eyes to Scott Devin’s. In them, she saw warmth and understanding. ‘You and my mum will get along well then. She has enough roses to give away to stock a flower market. You’ll never be without flowers again.’

  TJ laughed. ‘Not just with roses, either. Luke will start work with us on Monday. Are you okay for him to move up to the centre accommodation today?’ TJ asked.

  Lily’s uncertainty hovered. How safe would he be from Albero up at the centre and at work? Asking the question would only raise suspicion. It had all sounded good at first, but now the doubts nagged at her thoughts. She felt the touch of Mark’s hand on her shoulder and turned.

  ‘He’ll be fine, Lily. The boys from the workshop look out for each other,’ he said.

  How did he do that? How did he always seem to know what she was thinking? Was she that transparent? She’d be best off guarding her emotions from now on.

  ‘Thank you. Yes, it’s fine for him to move up to the centre today. I’ll…need to pack some of his things.’

  She dreaded going back to the house. Had someone cleaned up the mess? Were the investigators finished there? Would she be allowed inside? How would she feel walking into the house where her husband died?

  ‘I’ll give you a lift home,’ Mark said. ‘Luke could go on ahead with TJ and Scott. I’m sure Marty is looking forward to having company.’

  Fear knotted in her throat. Could she let Luke go with these strangers? ‘Luke?’

  ‘It’s fine, Mum. It’ll be cool to hang out with Marty ‘til you get there.’

  ‘If you’re sure —’

  ‘I’m sure.’

  Luke hugged her close for a moment and she relished it. He seldom breeched the gap these days, growing more and more distant as he’d been dragged into the underworld, powerless to fight against it. Now Gino was gone. Lily tried to feel regret and failed. She’d stopped loving him long before the abuse had started. To Gino, she was simply a wife, a necessity to complement his social standing. He’d saved all his affection for his long line of mistresses.

  ‘Well, then if you wouldn’t mind, Detective?’ she said.

  As much as she hated to admit it, Lily was thankful for the escort home. Albero’s threats weighed heavily in her mind but it was time to stand on her own feet. Gino was dead. She was free. Free from the pain of a marriage gone wrong. Free from the violence and lies. Now all she needed was to be free of Albero. There were only two ways to achieve that — run or hide. Hiding forever wasn’t an option. That wasn’t freedom.

  Over the years she’d mourned the loss of hopes and dreams, of wasted years and the crime that had turned Gino into a monster. Perhaps that monster had always been there, waiting to be awakened. Lily ignored the shaft of pain that lanced her chest. Even in death, Gino’s power reigned over them.

  She felt the sharp nudge of feelings of worthlessness and inferiority creeping in. How often had Gino reminded her of her weaknesses? She wasn’t pretty enough, smart enough, well-dressed enough to attend his fancy functions unless it suited him to have her there. She would never be able to hold a conversation with intelligent people because she was a loser, a failure, inept in a crowd. Her cooking skills weren’t good enough, so they’d had to hire a cook. The way she dressed wasn’t to his liking, so he chose all her clothes and then gave her little opportunity or occasion to wear them. Birthdays, holidays, Christmases were all about the great Gino Bennetti. Everything had to be his way.

  In the early days, when Luke was little, she’d argued with him over it until it became too painful to go against his wishes. So they ate what he wanted to eat, went where he wanted to go, did what he wanted to do until they no longer did anything together at all. Now it was time to move on.

  ‘Mum?’ Luke’s voice interrupted her thoughts. ‘Let’s go.’

  Lily shook off her morbid thoughts, straightened her spine and took a step towards the door. What would be, would be and they’d deal with it one step at a time.

  * * *

  What was Lily Bennetti hiding? Mark watched her face for a moment before pulling away from the curb. He was glad she’d agreed to let him take her home. It showed she trusted him, even if only a little. That pleased him more than it should, and not for professional reasons either. He forced his thoughts away from how easy it would be to like this troubled angel.

  Despite using his best interrogation tactics during questioning, the shutters on her thoughts remained tightly closed on certain areas of their life with Gino Bennetti. It wasn’t hard to identify the signs. She’d given them only what they needed to know about her husband’s murder. He was convinced she knew more.

  Watching her was no hardship. Lily was a beautiful woman whose character had taken as much of a beating as her body had. Soft-spoken and gentle-natured, like a kitten that needed a home, she’d touched a part of Mark’s heart he preferred to keep for himself. He flicked the indicator switch and turned left onto the road that led to the affluent Perth suburb of Brampton Park. Silence stretched between them. He left her to her thoughts while he processed his own. How would she feel when she opened the door to the house? Pretty crap, he’d imagine. It was a good thing he was there. Returning to the crime scene now, he would get a different perspective of it. He could study it objectively, see things he might have missed the first time around, all while Lily packed up Luke’s stuff. How would she feel staying alone in the mansion? Would she be afraid? He wasn’t convinced she’d be safe.

  ‘Forensics has finished in the house and the clean-up crew have gone too. Will you be okay alone there?’ He voiced his thoughts out loud.

  Lily turned from staring out the side window at the passing scenery. ‘I…I think so.’

  The hesitation in her voice had Mark’s gut twisting. She was trying so hard to be brave, yet he could feel fear radiating off her in waves. ‘Is there somewhere else you can stay? Family? Friends?’

  She shook her head. ‘I’ll be fine.’ Her fingers twisted in her lap. ‘I’ll put on the alarm, or maybe stay in the guest house out the back.’
/>   ‘Do you think Albero will be a problem, Lily? Is he likely to cause trouble?’

  She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I really hope not.’

  The quiver in her tone told him otherwise. She was scared…dead scared. He wouldn’t be surprised at all if Albero showed up at the house later, once he was sure she was alone. The question was what did he want with Lily? His behaviour at the hospital was suspicious, if not more than a little threatening. It might pay to put a patrol car on the street tonight, Mark thought as he pulled up in the driveway of the mansion.

  ‘Call me if you feel uncomfortable at any time and I’ll make arrangements for you,’ he said. It was his duty, wasn’t it, to serve and protect his witness? He had two dead bodies on his case files, and both were connected to the Bennettis and Albero.

  Lily looked out the window at the house and shook her head. ‘I need to stand on my own two feet. Now is a good time to start.’

  ‘You’ve been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours, Lily.’ He switched off the engine and turned in his seat.

  ‘No more than I have in the last sixteen years. It’s Luke who matters now. Will he be safe up at the centre?’

  ‘That much I can guarantee. TJ and Scott run a tight ship. There is supervision up there at all times. Scott’s parents, Rose and Bill, are only too happy to play the role of surrogate grandparents to the kids and Sarge, the Rottweiler, does a pretty good job of playing guard dog…when he’s not licking people to death.’

  Lily smiled and Mark’s heart skipped a beat. He could only imagine the power her smile would pack when her face healed.

  ‘He always wanted a dog,’ she said.

  The wistfulness of her tone had him reaching for her. ‘You’ll get through this, and so will Luke.’

  ‘What if the court finds him guilty and he goes to prison? There were drugs involved. The inmates will either make him a target or he’ll be forced into the gangs. Sometimes it’s worse inside the prison system than out.’

  ‘I’ll do everything in my power to help, but you have to be honest with me all the way.’ He patted her hand, so small and white against his tanned skin. ‘Are you afraid of Nic Albero?’