Martinez, Mary - Classic Murder: Mr. Romance (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Mary Martinez

  “I can’t think of any, but then how would I know?”

  “Well, think over your past trips. We need to find out who is doing this before someone else dies,” Brandon Novak advised.

  “Oh, I’ve had Katie inform the media I’m on hiatus until further notice. I’m not putting any more women in danger.” Adam had been about to add that he wasn’t going to be continuing the weekend jaunts anymore, but that wasn’t anything they needed to know.

  “You can’t stop now!” the two detectives stated at the same time.

  “Why on earth not?”

  “We have a pattern, or as Katie put it, an M.O.,” Detective Jones said.

  “What does M.O. mean? I’ve often wondered,” Katie asked.

  “It means Modus Operandi, or in layman’s terms, Method of Operation or Mode of Operation. Basically, it’s the unique pattern linked to a criminal,” Detective Novak explained.

  “So, what you’re saying is you want me to continue with my weekend jaunts, just so you can find the murderer?” Adam said.

  “Not exactly. I was thinking more along the terms of setting you up with a date with a policewoman,” Detective Novak said.

  “Wait, Adam’s dates are always women with prominent backgrounds, and they are always in the society page.” Katie stood up to pace some more, being careful to watch for obstacles, then she continued. “How are you going to come up with a background for a policewoman who will make the murderer think this is one of Adam’s typical dates?”

  “You do have a point. However, it’s either that or have Adam take a woman out on his regular ‘rendezvous’,” Detective Jones said. “Mr. Russo has stated he doesn’t want to endanger any more women. So that leaves a policewoman.”

  “What do you think about the daughter of Logan and Bonnie Sinclair?” Katie said.

  “Do you mean Logan Sinclair of Wall Street?” Detective Novak asked.

  “That’s exactly who I mean,” Katie answered.

  “Just how do you think we are going to get the daughter of Logan Sinclair to help us?” Detective Jones asked.

  “Wait a minute, Katie. We’re not going to do that,” Adam declared.

  “Why not? It’s the perfect solution,” Katie said.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Okay, you two, I want to know what you are talking about,” Detective Novak said. He looked at both of them, frowned, and then continued. “Russo, do you know what she’s talking about?”

  “Wait just a minute,” Detective Jones said, enlightenment lighting up his face. “Katie, is your name Katherine, Katherine Sinclair?”

  “Yes, that’s my name and Logan and Bonnie are my parents.”

  “You’re right, that is the perfect solution,” Detective Novak said.

  “Wait just a damn minute. We are not going to put Katie’s life in danger.” Adam’s heart hammered in his chest. He couldn’t risk Katie’s life. Especially since he’d finally admitted she may be the one.

  “We wouldn’t be putting my life in danger. The danger only comes after the date.”

  “She’s right,” Detective Jones said. “Once the two of you come back, a policewoman who looks enough like Katie will impersonate her and stay in her apartment. We would place listening devices in her home, and the policewoman would be a trained professional able to protect herself. Katie could live with her parents until all of this was over.”

  “I am not going to go along with the plan.” Adam knew he was being unreasonable, but the thought of Katie being in harm’s way for even a moment caused his stomach to burn.

  “We’ll make sure she’s safe. We’ll have detectives following you your whole weekend. Then at the airport, we will switch Katie with a policewoman. You will be dropping off the look-alike, and I will have an officer take Katie to her parents.” Detective Novak laid out a plan.

  “There is no way—I tell you I’m not going to do this. No matter how good your plan is, there is always a possibility Katie could be hurt.” Adam’s head swiveled to follow Katie’s pacing as if he watched a tennis match. She hadn’t changed from what she had been wearing earlier. Along with her tight-fitting jeans, she had on a bulky orange, or peach, his mother would call the color, sweater. She had her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and her lightweight glasses. Then his gaze dropped to her delicate feet and frowned. They sure didn’t look that delicate in those fuzzy frog slippers. He bit back a smile and continued to watch her for a moment. She looked young and vulnerable. He couldn’t risk her life. She meant too much to him.

  “No, Adam, they’re right, it’s the only way we are going to catch this maniac. If we plan a weekend somewhere we know a Cary Grant movie was set, we will be ahead of the game. The police will know what the murderer is thinking and can be one step ahead of him. The policewoman will know what to watch for, and we’ll be able to trap him or her.” Katie had stopped pacing to look earnestly at Adam.

  “I see I’m going to be outnumbered. So fine, as long as you can guarantee you will have someone with Katie at all times. Especially after we come back,” Adam said.

  “Why would someone need to be with me at my parents’ home?”

  “You can’t be positive whoever this is won’t find out what we are planning. We have no idea where he gets his information from,” Adam said.

  “It can only be two places, either our office or the newspaper. The person finds out where you are going, and then finds a movie to suit his needs.”

  “There’s only one little problem,” Detective Jones said.

  “What?” Adam and Katie asked at the same time.

  “There have only been three murders. Maybe it’s only a coincidence that he or she has picked Cary Grant movies. Maybe it’s classic murder mysteries in general,” Jones answered.

  “You’re right. So we just need to plan a weekend somewhere outside of the states,” Adam said.

  “True. There are too many movies set in the United States. What we need to do this time is set the weekend to a particular movie. One that is set in a country with only one possible scenario for a movie, like France,” Katie said.

  “Charade,” Adam said.

  “Wait a minute, doesn’t that have several murders in it?” Novak asked.

  “Yes, and that’s why it is perfect. If we have a weekend in France, the person responsible for the murders will start to investigate classics set in France. I think he will like the movie for just that reason. The theme gives him plenty of suggestions on how to murder his victim,” Adam said.

  “That makes sense, and then we can rely on most likely that he’ll follow some scenario from the movie. I have a policewoman in mind. I’ll brief her and have her study the movie to be prepared for all possibilities,” Detective Novak said. Jones had been quiet through most of the conversation. Adam assumed it was because the young man didn’t know much about the movies being discussed. And by the look on his face, he wasn’t a happy camper.

  “Now that it is settled, we need to plan our next move. How do we let the person know what is going on?” Jones wanted to know.

  “We don’t. He hasn’t had a problem finding out up until now,” Novak said. He stood, bent to gather his notebooks and things and then straightened. “Ed, let’s get down to the station and let the chief know what our plan is. He’ll be happy we finally have a direction to follow. Russo, I need the keys to your office. I want to do a sweep tonight.”

  “A what?” Adam asked.

  “We want to check your office for bugs, or listening devices,” Jones answered for his partner.

  “Okay, but if you remove them that will mean the guy is getting his information by listening in, so how will he know where I’m taking Katie?”

  “We won’t be moving them. I just want to know if that is how he’s getting his information. If it is, you two will have to be very careful to act at all times as if this is something you both want. Joke about why you’re just asking her out now after all this time. Something believable,” Novak advised.

  “
I’ll call the society editor as soon as we figure out when we are going,” Katie said.

  “Give us a couple of days to follow up on a few things. We may get lucky and then you won’t have to go through with the charade.” Novak laughed at his pun. “Get it, Charade? As in the movie you’re hoping he copies.”

  “Yeah, I got it. Too bad I can’t find anything funny about this right now,” Adam said.

  “Sorry,” Jones apologized for his partner. “Where can we meet to finalize our plans?”

  “Not in the office, and not a good idea to come here either. If this person is trying to frame me, maybe the best place would be the police station. Then he’d think I’m being questioned.” Adam hoped they caught the culprit and there would be no need to go through with the plan—he didn’t want to put Katie in danger.

  “If he’s trying to frame you, he’s doing a piss-poor job,” Novak said. “Other than he’s murdering the women when they get back from a weekend with you, he hasn’t done anything to point any evidence toward you at all.”

  “Detective Novak’s right. It has to be someone who is upset with you or jealous,” Katie added her opinion.

  “Until we catch the guy, or woman, we aren’t going to know. It’s late and we’ve got to get back to the station to file our report. Ms. Sinclair, would you like a ride?” Detective Jones asked.

  “I’ll give her a ride. Thanks, though,” Adam answered.

  Adam walked to the door with the detectives. Katie watched him from her seat on the couch. He certainly did fill out a pair of jeans. Too bad he didn’t wear them more often. The black turtleneck sweater set off his dark skin. If she hadn’t known he was Italian, she’d have thought he used a tanning booth. Her eyes glazed over and she thought again how damn sexy he was.

  After a moment, she realized she was staring at his belt as he walked toward her. Lifting her eyes, she caught the slight smile on his face. He must think she was an idiot. Here they were talking about poor Ms. Thomas’s death and she’s checking him out. She felt like crawling under the couch she was sitting on. Too bad she wouldn’t fit. She jumped up, not wanting to crane her neck to look up at him.

  “I guess I’d better get going. Like the detective said, it’s getting late. You should have let me catch a ride with the fine officers.”

  “I wanted the pleasure of seeing Oscar again,” Adam teased.

  “I’m sure he’ll want to see you, too. I swear he likes you more than me.” Katie walked over to the fireplace and looked down into the flames. She wished her small apartment had one, but then Oscar would probably fall in or something. Sometimes he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.

  She felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned when Adam whispered in her ear, “Where did you go?”

  She cleared her throat and looked back down, wishing he wouldn’t stand so close. She might do something stupid, like jump his bones. Going back to the subject of Oscar seemed safe. “I was just thinking Oscar only likes you because I have to give him baths.”

  She swallowed when his hand gently turned her back to face him, and his other hand came to rest on her shoulder. She watched in fascination as he leaned slowly closer. A fluttering like butterfly wings tickled her stomach. Her body heated all over, and it wasn’t from the fire. At the firm brush of his lips against hers, she let her eyes close and lost herself in the sensation.

  * * * *

  Katie toweled off after her shower and walked naked back into her bedroom. Oscar was lying in the middle of her bed, his favorite spot, watching her as she prepared for her day.

  “I can’t believe what I did last night, Oscar.” Katie selected a gray pantsuit to wear. “Adam gives me my dream kiss and what do I do?”

  Oscar lifted his head and cocked to one side waiting for her to continue. Katie smiled at him and grabbed a pair of heels, something she usually didn’t wear to work, but she was nervous facing Adam after last night and wanted to look her best.

  “I jump back as if I’d been burned. But was that bad enough?” Katie again looked at the dog and waited as if he might really answer. “Noooo, I have to trip over the damn ottoman again and land on my ass.”

  Katie blushed, just thinking about the ungraceful picture she must have presented. Adam tried valiantly to suppress his laugh, but a chuckle had escaped. He’d helped her up, but the romantic mood had certainly been broken. He took her home without a comment. She could just imagine what he thought.

  “I’ve known him for years and have been in love with him more than half the time. And when he finally starts to notice me, I act like a dork.” Katie picked up her briefcase and grabbed her coat off the chair and turned to head out the door, then whirled back and pointed at the dog. “But now is not the time to start anything. We have to figure out who is murdering the women. So I was being smart to stop things. Adam is just wound up about it because he can’t help feeling guilty, even though he hasn’t done anything. He could just be using me to ease things. I need to push back and when this is all over, I can see where things lead.”

  Katie let herself out of the apartment, glad she had discussed things with her trusty friend Oscar. He never talked back to her and always listened until she worked things out in her mind. She’d just keep Adam at arm’s length until after all this murder business. If he were serious about a relationship with her, he would pursue her later. She hoped he would.

  * * * *

  Katie typed rapidly as she drew up the rough draft for the article she’d send to the society page about her date with the popular “Mr. Romance.” She wanted to be prepared when the time came to send in the report. Besides, Adam was at a meeting with her father and she had completed the paperwork on the company they were investigating.

  Finally satisfied with the piece, she started reading to herself to make sure the wording sounded okay. The door opened and Mrs. Oakman came in to do her daily cleaning.

  “Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt. I thought Mr. Russo wasn’t going to be going out with his women for awhile.” Mrs. Oakman was busy using a feather duster on the shelves behind Katie, and the dust tickled her nose.

  “How did…” Katie let out sneeze.

  “God bless you, dear.”

  “Excuse me.” Katie found a tissue and blew her nose, then continued. “How did you know Adam was not going to go out?”

  “The story was in the paper. I read the articles every week to keep up with the adventures of our “Mr. Romance.” It’s like a soap opera. Who will be the next young socialite to be asked out? I just love suspense. I was very disappointed to read that he would be on ‘itis,” Mrs. Oakman said.

  “You mean hiatus?”

  “I guess. I wasn’t sure what the word meant, but I gathered from the article he would be too busy to go out. So why are you writing up another article to send?”

  Katie wrinkled her brow. “How did you know I was writing an article?” Then she swiveled her chair further to face the woman. She looked back at her computer and realized the woman must have been reading over her shoulder. Shrugging, she twisted back to her computer.

  “The business keeping him busy fell through, so he decided to do a Christmas rendezvous,” Katie improvised. They hadn’t discussed yet how they would handle the information at the office. The kiss had been too distracting.

  “I’m so glad. Well, I’ll get out of your way so you can finish, and I’ll look forward to a nice juicy read this weekend.” Mrs. Oakman picked up her cleaning equipment and lugged the tote through Adam’s door, closing the portal behind her.

  Katie caught up on a little filing while she waited for the woman to leave before she continued on the article. She really didn’t want anyone to know she would be going with Adam before she had a chance to speak with the detectives and Adam to finalize their plan.

  Once the cleaning lady left, she went back to reading out loud. The door opened and expecting to see Adam, she smiled, but was disappointed to see Jordan with a package for Adam.

  “Hi, saw you this time so
you won’t be scaring me,” Katie told him as he plopped down in the chair in front of her desk.

  “You’re no fun anymore. I heard you talking to someone when I opened the door. Did you start talking to yourself?”

  “No, I read out loud when I’m proofreading something,” Katie explained.

  “What are you writing?”

  “You’ll just have to wait and read the story when everyone else does.”

  “Oh. It’s something for the newspaper. I thought the great man wasn’t going out anymore. Anyway, that’s what the society page said.”

  Katie used her hand to mime pulling a zipper closed over her mouth. “Sorry—not saying anything more.”

  “Fine, I have a package for the great one. Do you want me to put it in his office?” Jordan stood, started to walk to the office, and stopped with his hand on the knob.

  “Yeah, just set the box on his credenza under the Gone with the Wind poster.” Katie didn’t even watch him walk in the door. Her attention already returned to the article. It had to be perfect, giving nothing away. She didn’t want the story overdone. As much as she tried, something about the wording came across differently from the others she had done in the past. Was the problem because this time involved herself, or because she wasn’t really one of “Mr. Romance’s” regular dates? Was she just trying too hard?

  Katie jumped when the door to her office opened. Adam’s long strides took him past her desk. He didn’t even look in her direction. “Hey, Katie Did, anything going on?”

  The door to his office opened as he reached for the knob. Katie gave a little screech as the two men almost collided. Jordan jumped back a little and Adam just stared at him in surprise. “Hey, Jordan, what’s up?”

  “Mr. Russo, I was just dropping a package off. Katie told me to put it on the credenza.” Jordan stepped past Adam and raced out the door.

  Both Katie and Adam watched for a moment after the delivery boy. Then they shrugged at each other and Adam went into his office, a little snap as the door closed. Katie put her chin in her hand, elbow propped on the desk. So much for me worrying about his reaction on seeing me after our hot kiss last night. I could have been wearing a gunnysack, for all he noticed.