by Zoey Kane
“Remember Benny Rivera? The short kid that always followed you around?” Gia asked.
Tony grinned. “He’s not so short now. I still see him around sometimes”
“Really?”
“Yeah, he’s got a wife and two kids now.”
"Wow. I can't believe it." Gia sighed. "It seems like just yesterday we were all running around chasing each other on the playground."
“You mean running around and getting chased by Mr. Gunderson who wasn’t too pleased to find a softball and broken glass in his living room?”
They launched into a fit of laughter.
“I can’t help it if I have a mean swing,” she protested.
“Hey, I wasn’t the one who was throwing a fit with spittle in the corners of my mouth.”
Laughter erupted some more, then slowly died to complete silence. They were transported back to their childhood. Gia wouldn't say it was comfortable, because she knew, beside her, Tony was reliving a nightmare.
“I was at a friend’s house,” Tony started. Gia stiffened, bracing herself for what was about to be said. “I wasn’t supposed to stay late. But I had lost track of time. So I ran home.”
Gia moved her head to the side, watching his profile. His face was shadowed.
“I came through the back door... out of view of the kitchen doorway just in case she—my mother—was cooking. I didn’t smell anything, so I thought I was in the clear. You know, I’d made it before dinner was ready.” Tony paused for a long moment.
Gia entwined her fingers through his, a silent message for him to continue.
Tony’s grip tightened. “I quickly slipped upstairs and dropped off my backpack. I was thinking of some lame excuse.” He smirked at the memory of his teenage self. “When I came downstairs and walked through the kitchen—I saw them.” Gia wrapped her arms around his thick bicep as he continued. “I saw my parents. On the floor, lying there by the fridge. I thought something had rolled under it and they were trying to get it, but as I moved closer I saw the blood.”
Tony’s Adam’s apple bobbed. It saddened Gia that he no longer saw the rich dark-blue sky and its beautiful shining lights, but the red-stained kitchen. “I don’t remember calling the police. It happened so fast. All I knew was that my parents were hurt and they needed help.”
“You did the right thing, Tony—”
“I shouldn’t have had to. If I had been home, I could have prevented it—”
“How?” Gia frowned.
“I could have stopped him.” He rounded on her then turned away. “On the day of my mother’s funeral, I kept thinking why? What possible reason did my father have for ending my mother’s life?”
There was unmistakable anger in his voice. Jade heard too and left her game with Petey to lie down next to Tony. Petey did the same, but instead of lying next to Gia, he heaved himself onto her chest, causing the wind to be knocked out of her. No more chicken treats. The four of them were quiet for the remainder of the evening.
Since Tony’s arrival in Greenville, her friendly feelings for him deep down had manifested into romantic attraction, and it was hard, in this very second, to set that aside and focus on what she had promised her friend. She would never forgive herself if she missed a valuable piece of evidence in Amanda’s murder all because she let her personal feelings get in the way.
On the ride home, Tony felt raw. The wall he had built to block the heart-searing memories collapsed like a dam, flooding his head with images of that day. He was drowning, and it left his lungs burning. But he didn’t regret opening up to the woman beside him. Gia had always been an easy person to talk to. For now, he needed to focus on finding Thomas Nelson.
As he drove back into town, Tony’s eyes scanned the people on the sidewalks. Was Thomas among them? Tony glanced over at Gia. She was snoozing softly in the passenger seat. He’d make sure she wouldn’t get hurt… and come to terms with his feelings for her later.
<<<>>>
In the morning, a note was left on the kitchen counter from Tony, saying he’d gone to the police station. Gia fed the dogs and then let them out in the backyard. She was about to start the coffee machine when she oddly felt like a housewife, waiting for her husband to return. She chuckled at the ludicrous thought.
Then an anxiety attack came on. A housewife? Was she going to start the laundry next? Mop the floors? Pack lunch for their nonexistent kids? Nope. Not gonna happen. The conversation about her going back to her apartment was about due. No doubt the discussion would become a yelling match. But she had a few good points to lay on him. 1. It was crazy for her to pay rent for an apartment she wasn’t living in. 2. For the sake of his sanity, Petey needed to know that said apartment was his real home. And 3. Heaven forbid her mother find out she was shacking up with a man who—let’s be honest—had no intentions of putting a ring on her finger.
Shutting off the coffee, Gia opened the screen door and called out to Jade and Petey. “Kids! The bus is here!”
The dogs looked at her, confused.
“Sounds weird, right?” She rolled her eyes and went to boot up her computer.
Hello all! It’s another gorgeous day here in Greenville! If you are also experiencing beautiful weather, it’s perfect for BBQ’s, outdoor birthday parties, or simply enjoying chips and dip on your deck. Comment below with what Good Eatin’ you plan on preparing today. :)
Tony returned, bearing coffee and a white box with “Pamela’s Pastry Palace” written in pink letters on the top.
“I’ll get some plates,” Gia said.
She set them on the table and lifted the box lid. Fluffy, flaky croissants and pillowy, diamond-shaped strawberry Danishes topped with sliced strawberries. She cut a Danish in half, and the warm jelly oozed onto her plate. Hmm. Maybe sticking around a little while longer wouldn’t hurt.
“A dark-green pickup was abandoned at a gas station not far from your apartment,” Tony said out of the blue. Gia stopped mid-chew. Tony continued. “The fender had some dents and scratches. Red paint from your car was found on the fender too.”
“Did anyone see who left it?” Gia asked.
Tony shook his head. “Don’t know. The detective isn’t saying much to me. I’m still considered a suspect.”
“How?” she argued.
Tony just shrugged nonchalantly and grabbed another croissant.
Gia was floored at Tony’s behavior. She was disappointed that he didn’t care—. No. His acting this way had something to do with last night at the lake.
“Get dressed.” He stood and threw away his trash. “I’ll be waiting in the car.”
<<<>>>
“Mark is acting different,” Jennie huffed.
“Why do you think that?”
"He's being mysterious. Like he has something to hide, or maybe he's just trying to play hard to get, all of a sudden."
“A challenge.” Gia wiggled her eyebrows and bumped hips with her friend.
Who was Gia kidding? She had bumped her hip into Jennie’s thigh. Short Girl Problems #3. They were standing side by side at the serving counter at In The Box bistro.
“Sounds like your type of guy,” Gia said.
Jennie shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s more that he’s just being aloof.”
Gia glanced at the closed office door. “Yeah. I know what you mean.”
Upon arriving at In The Box, Tony had made a beeline for the office, mumbling something about catching up on paperwork. That was hours ago. He still hadn’t come out.
The crowd was like an ocean current throughout the day. Coleslaw was today’s special, mouthwatering on roast beef paninis, chili hot dogs and buffalo-chicken sliders with blue cheese. Greta left the front door open, not to release the appetizing aroma into the courtyard, but because the line was so long.
Gia moved swiftly to appease the crowd. Jennie didn’t look pleased to hear Gia talk about her near-death car accident and her suspicions that the husband of the murdered woman was involved.
“I�
�m really happy you weren’t hurt, but can we go back to you never telling me that you were investigating Amanda Nelson’s murder?” Jennie frowned at her. “Why are you doing so, anyways?”
The guilt for not keeping Jennie in the loop came easy for Gia. “I’m helping Tony. He’s not the bad guy people say he is,” she said.
Jennie threw up her hands in frustration. “Now that’s just fantastic. I should have known— ”
Since she was the only one at the counter for the moment, Jennie informed Gia about a conversation Caleb had over the phone. “A bank statement with Thomas’s name was found in an empty truck this morning.”
Gia wasn’t too surprised. She told her cousin that that was the same vehicle that ran her off the road. Just like Gia, Tony, and Detective Evans had previously asked, Jennie wondered, “Why would Thomas come after you?”
8
Tony had finally come out of the office and went to go chat with Greta at the far end of the counter. Gia let her eyes follow him. She had a new theory. Even though he looked tough, Tony had a protective and trusting way about him. A way that could draw people to him—at least, people who don’t know his reputation.
For instance, a scared woman could easily be drawn in.
Especially a woman who was fleeing an abusive relationship and wanted to be shielded.
Was it possible that Thomas Nelson was there that night when Tony picked her up? Did he see his wife leave with a handsome man—thinking that his wife was cheating, and he’d just witnessed who her lover was?
Except, that night, only two people knew the truth. Unfortunately, one of them was dead.
It was possible that jealousy and anger drove Thomas to kill Amanda.
“But why come after me?” Gia said under her breath. She watched Tony smile widely at Greta before walking back to his office. Why hadn’t Thomas gone after the man who had driven (literally) his wife away?
The sun was on a mission to set, turning the sky the color of buffalo sauce. In other ways, today had been a very successful day. People had loved the coleslaw specials and happily suggested new ideas.
“G.” Tony rushed up to Gia, pulling her to the side, his face serious. “Now, don’t freak out—”
“Oh, jeez, Tony. Everybody knows when someone tells them ‘Don’t freak out,’ they end up freaking out.”
“Just listen. An anonymous tip came in saying a man was seen trying to get into my house,” he said.
Gia felt her knees go numb. “Petey.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper. Her body jolted in fear, frightened for her dog. “I need to go see him—”
“G, he’s fine. He’s all right. The police have the person. I’m going there now to see who. Don’t worry.”
“But—”
“The police checked the dogs. They’re unharmed.”
“I want to go with you,” Gia said, her voice stronger. She turned away to grab her purse.
“No. I don’t want you anywhere near this guy.”
Gia’s eyes widened. “Thomas?”
“I believe so. I’ll be back to get you.” Tony bent to kiss her forehead. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Petey is fine,” he assured her before leaving.
Julian came up beside her. “I couldn’t help but overhear,” he said, scratching behind an ear. But Gia saw the glint in his eyes. The same glint her mother gets when obviously eavesdropping. “What was that about?”
Gia didn’t know if he was referring to the kiss or Tony’s hasty departure. She picked the latter. “Someone tried to break into his house,” she answered.
Julian snorted. “If I’ve learned anything since Tony got back, it’s that he’s not a dude to be messed with.”
She agreed, not feeling bad for Thomas.
A group of high school football players came in. Their coach came up to the counter and ordered a round of hot dogs with caramelized onion, chopped bacon, BBQ sauce, white cheddar cheese and spicy brown mustard.
“My boys are extra hungry!” the loud coach said, rubbing his hands together. “I’ll take five extra-large fries too!”
Greta snapped Gia’s butt with a rolled-up rag.
“Ow!”
“Get a move on! We got mouths to feed!” she ordered. Not wanting to face the wrath of Greta, Gia set aside her worry, trusting Tony to take care of Petey. She felt a sudden peace. It had to have been Nelson trying to find her or find Tony. Since the police detained him, the whole case could be put to bed. Nelson was finally caught. She tied her apron back on and got to work.
Once the order was done, she and Jennie made several trips from behind the counter to tables, passing out trays of food to hungry teenage boys. The loud bistro quickly quieted as the boys stuffed their mouths with the sloppy dogs. This would be a really good picture and post to upload.
Inside her purse was her small digital camera. No, to capture everyone in the low lighting, Gia needed her larger pro camera with its wide lens. It was in her apartment. "I'll be right back," she told Julian and skirted the counter.
“You can’t leave now! You heard Greta. We’ve got mouths to—”
“I’ll be right back! It won’t be long.” She dashed out to hurry home. She had a reasonably good explanation as to why she’d left. Hopefully Tony would understand, or maybe she’d make it back before he returned after clearing up the whole situation.
<<<>>>
Tony and Detective Evans arrived at Tony’s house at the same time. The two men sized each other up.
“Santino.”
“Evans. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Tony arched a brow.
The detective joined him on the curb. “Since it involved you, I figured I’d check it out for myself.”
“I’m flattered,” Tony said dryly.
Evans rolled his eyes and joined the small gathering of officers surrounding a man on the ground, handcuffed. As Tony got closer, the man detained on the ground seemed a lot older than Thomas Nelson had looked in his photo. No way could Thomas have aged in just a few days. Nor could he have grown red and grey curly hair and shrunk in height. This was not him.
“Who do we have here, officers?” Detective Evans asked.
“Just Jenkins again, sir.”
Tony turned to Evans. “Who?”
“Local homeless man. He’s harmless.” Evans looked down at the homeless man. “Though this isn’t like you to be trespassing on other people’s property, Jenkins.”
“I was just trying to help a friend,” the old man smiled a toothless grin.
“What friend?”
“My new friend. He told me to look after his dogs. I really do like them. They’re so furry. I like the way they smell too. He told me I can babysit his dogs.”
Evans and Tony glanced at each other. “Your new friend said that he lives here?” Evans asked.
“Yeah. He said I can take care of the short and the big dog." Jenkins nodded.
Evans pointed to Tony. “Is this your new friend?” he asked.
Jenkins waved his hand. “No. That ain’t him. He doesn’t live here. My new friend does.”
“Can you take a look at this picture?” Evans showed him a photo of Thomas Nelson.
Jenkins’s face lit up. “Hey! Yeah! That’s my friend. He’s my new friend.”
“Did he say where he was going?” Tony cut in, earning a glare from Evans.
Jenkins frowned, thinking hard. “Nope. He kept mumbling to himself. ‘She’ll pay,’ he said. I guess he went to go find some lady that owes him money.” Jenkins shrugged.
Tony frowned. Why would Thomas Nelson tell Jenkins to babysit his dogs? Unless Thomas was trying to distract Tony. She’ll pay. Did Thomas mean Gia?
Tony dug out his phone and called the restaurant. Julian picked up. “I need to speak to G.”
“Uh, she’s not here. She just left—”
“What do you mean she left? I told her to stay there,” Tony growled. “Where is she?”
“She said something about going to her apartment.”
&n
bsp; Tony cursed loudly and hung up. He sprinted to his car. “Santino!” Detective Evans shouted. Tony wasn’t listening. His heart was pounding in his ears as he slammed on the gas. He needed to get to Gia.
9
Sadness overcame Gia as she walked into her apartment. She had hardly spent a week in her new home. But that’d change soon, now that Thomas had been arrested. She’d be back sitting at her desk by the window, Petey at her feet.
She grabbed the camera from the coffee table, and as she turned back to the door, she heard a floorboard creak behind her. “I was expecting you much later,” a gravelly voice said. “I figured once you thought that man’s house wasn’t safe enough for you and your dog, you’d come back here.”
Gia turned to see the deranged man from the mugshot Russell had sent. Instead, Thomas looked a lot scarier in person, especially pointing a gun at her. It was too good to be true to think that Thomas had been arrested at Tony’s house. Knowing that it wasn’t confirmed, she had gone ahead and believed that this was all over.
Her palms dampened as she gripped the camera. Tony had to be on his way. Not exactly. He would be on his way back to the bistro where she should have been.
“You don’t need to do this—”
“Shut up! Shut up!” Thomas flared his nostrils. “Don’t speak. My Amanda is dead. Because he took her away. Just like he took you away from someone else.” Thomas glanced around. “No woman should be living by herself. She needs a man in her life, and that’s how I know what he did to Amanda is what he’s doing to you.”
“Tony?” Gia guessed that was who Thomas was referring to.
“He killed her!” he shouted, causing Gia to flinch. She was scared out of her mind but still had the courage to talk. “Tony didn’t kill Amanda. You did.”
From the look in Thomas’s eyes, she figured he wasn’t completely sane. He blamed Tony for Amanda’s death, but Thomas didn’t understand that he was the one who actually killed her.
