Windy City Mistletoe (The Damaged Series)

by Barrett

  Windy City

  Mistletoe

  Barrett

  Nuance Vignette

  Bedazzled Ink Publishing Company • Fairfield, California

  © 2012 Barrett

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

  reproduced or transmitted in any means,

  electronic or mechanical, without permission in

  writing from the publisher.

  Cover Design

  by

  TreeHouse Studio

  Nuance Books

  a division of

  Bedazzled Ink Publishing Company

  Fairfield, California

  http://nuancebooks.bedazzledink.com

  For the many wonderful readers who have supported the launch of my four book Damaged Series and for the many new readers who may fall for these wonderful characters who’ve become my good friends.

  I want thank Casey, my editor, Bedazzled Ink, my critique partner and the artistic skills at TreeHouse Studio. And for the inspiration—Vicki, thanks.

  ~Barrett 2012

  Chapter One

  AS THE GARAGE door rattled up, Zeke could see Anne shifting boxes on the industrial shelving near the door. She pulled in and pushed the button to close the door.

  “Hi what’re you doin’ out here?” She kissed Anne’s cheek and stepped back as she pulled another box.

  Anne gave her a smile. “I thought I’d get an early start on the Christmas decorating. Every year I swear that I’ll start before it gets cold, and every year I end up freezing my ass off hanging the outdoor lights.”

  “Let me change, and I’ll help you.”

  “You’ve got a deal, and in return I’ll cook your dinner and be your love slave.”

  Zeke kissed her again and opened the back door. She hung up her jacket and ran up the stairs to her open-air office on the landing outside their bedroom. She knew she was grinning as she opened the top drawer. There was an innocuous brown envelope labeled “tax receipts.” She pulled the travel wallet from her blazer pocket and peeked at the airline tickets. It would be hard to keep her secret for very long.

  Since Anne’s promotion at work, their time together had become more valuable, and Zeke made every effort to amplify those special times. Anne had done the same thing, and the result was more quality and less quibbling.

  Corduroy slacks and a heavy wool shirt should work to keep her warm enough. Even after year in New Mexico, her then Biloxi blood hadn’t adjusted to the higher elevation and cold temperatures.

  “What can I do?” She rubbed her hands together vigorously.

  Anne stood with their arms folded and her head cocked as she inspected several dozen stringers of Christmas lights. “We need a plan. I think we should separate them by color and then test each one. They should be okay since I bought most of them last year. But I don’t like surprises in my decorating.”

  Zeke forced herself not to smile, but she loved watching the woman she loved so dearly absorbed in the minutiae of a simple project. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”

  Without looking up, Anne pointed to a shelf near the door. “Would you please look in the box with the extension cords, and see if you can find the one with all the outlets, what do you call those things?”

  “Surge protectors?”

  “That’s it. We can use it to test them, and then it’ll be perfect to connect to the house.”

  It was dark by the time they finished with the testing and organizing. Zeke convinced Anne that it would be easier to do it in the morning. They had all weekend to complete the task.

  “I’m faint with hunger. Maybe you could describe your design over dinner.” Zeke stood behind Anne and wrapped her arms around her waist.

  Anne turned around and kissed her. “You know you’re a terrible distraction and your lips are cold.”

  “You could fix that.” Zeke demonstrated her suggestion.

  “Don’t you think that would be more effective in a warmer place?”

  Zeke smiled and began to unbutton Anne’s jacket while kissing her neck. “You’re just full of good ideas.”

  Anne pulled back. “In the house, I meant. Come on, you lecher.”

  ZEKE SET THE table and poured the wine while Anne dished up a delicious smelling beef stew. “That smells incredible. Is it the new recipe?”

  “Yes, it was much easier than I thought it would be. I’m sure glad you got me that crock pot.” Anne handed Zeke a basket with warm rolls. “And I hope you’re hungry.”

  “How were the annual reviews today?” Zeke sipped her wine and helped herself to a roll.

  Anne swallowed her first bite and nodded. “Okay, I guess. I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a manager. I don’t mind a scheduling or doing the budget, but evaluating staff members is really difficult. Even some of my best employees don’t understand why they don’t have perfect scores. I’ve tried to explain that the quicker you get to the top of your pay grade the fewer raises there will be. They don’t always understand.”

  “I’m sure it doesn’t help, but we had the same problem in the agency. Personal performance evaluations are just a tool, and they don’t always reflect the truth. Some of the best field agents don’t show the best scores. I think it’s impossible to evaluate some of the innate human factors involved in doing a good job.”

  “You’re right. My best nurses are the ones who take the time to listen and care. There’s no section for that on the eval. How was your day?”

  Zeke got up and refilled her bowl. “Can I get you some more?”

  Anne shook her head.

  “The scuttlebutt around the office was that the U.S. attorney thought he had enough evidence to prosecute the local dealers we arrested. There will be more just like them, but it may slow things down for a little while.”

  Anne stopped eating. “Honey, don’t you get tired of that endless loop?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know we haven’t been together long enough to know all the details but it seems like you spend hours investigating and interviewing, then when and if there’s an arrest warrant and prosecution, they’re out on the street before you know it.”

  Zeke smiled. “It does sound futile, but the more we do it the more we learn. And that makes it harder for the bad guys because they have to dream up a new plan which slows the traffic down.”

  Anne swirled the wine in her glass a little before taking a sip. “I suppose. Do you remember our awful trip to Phoenix? Do you remember me telling you that I wanted to run away to an island for just the two of us?” She gave an impish grin, and her eyes twinkled.

  Zeke was powerless when Anne turned on her charm. She smiled and nodded. “I do.”

  “I don’t think we ever took that trip. Pretty sure I’d remember palm trees and soft summer breezes.”

  Zeke’s heart rate picked up at the vision and the thought of what was in her desk drawer. “I think I’d remember you in a two piece bathing suit. Would you like me to do some research?”

  “Yes, I would.”

  First things first. They cleared the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. Zeke rehearsed dozens of different lines in her head. By the time they were ready to turn in, she was a nervous wreck. She waited while Anne put laundry away and slipped the tickets under the pillow.

  Anne turned off the lights and slipped into bed next to Zeke. “Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise, where’s that dashing FBI tee shirt?”

  Zeke moved closer and traced her fingers up the outside of Anne’s leg. “If I remember correctly, you suggested that it would be more effective to move to a warmer spot.”

  Anne laughed. “Another reason I love you so m
uch—your wonderful memory. That and . . . your insatiable desire.”

  Zeke pulled her close and kissed her. “I was going to wait, but I just can’t.”

  Anne kissed her back deeply. “I know . . . neither can I.” She pulled her nightgown over her head.

  Zeke was sure a flash-bang had exploded in her chest. She sucked in a deep breath and held the tickets in front of Anne’s face.

  “What the . . . ?” Anne turned on the reading light.

  Her expression was priceless. Her dilated pupils quickly constricted as she stared at the festive-colored envelope. Then her jaw dropped.

  “Last year we were struggling through some tough times. Christmas was not what I wanted it to be for you, so this year I want to do a little something special.”

  “Are we going on a trip?”

  “If you want. Neither of us has much time, but I checked with your supervisor and figured a way to get a three-day weekend over Christmas.”

  “You are so amazing.” She kissed Zeke. “Where are we going?”

  THE LIMO DRIVER held the door, and Zeke stepped out.

  Anne took her hand and stepped over a small pile of snow on to the curb. The entrance to the Ritz Carlton dazzled like a glittering snow globe. Twinkling white lights covered the portico and dozens of decorated evergreens lined the carpeted walkway.

  “This is breathtakingly beautiful . . . and look, the whole street is lit up. In all the years I had lived here, I never came here. What a perfect choice.”

  “Good evening, ladies. Welcome to the Ritz Carlton. My name is Henri. If you’d be so kind as to sign this registration, our bellman will escort you to your premiere room.”

  The grand marbled lobby glistened with holiday decorations. Some lovely music played very softly in the background while everyone went about his or her business in a sort of hushed reverence as though they were in the Louvre. Anne glanced at Zeke, who simply smiled and winked at her. The long thickly-carpeted hallways were nearly silent. It was almost too much to take in.

  The bellhop unlocked the door and switched on the lights. The beautifully decorated room provided a comfortable and welcome retreat, but the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Michigan astounded her. In a rush, a deluge of memories flashed through her mind. From her earliest childhood to the heady days before college graduation, the lakefront had always played a part of her life. Her eyes misted and her throat swelled . . . home.

  She heard Zeke thank the bellman and latch the door. She turned into Zeke’s warm embrace. Those arms were her new home.

  “What’s the matter? You look like you’re crying.” Zeke stroked her face.

  “Nothing is wrong. In fact everything is better than wonderful. I don’t know when I’ve ever been this happy.” Anne pulled Zeke closer and kissed her cheek. “This is the best Christmas present I’ve ever had—to be in this beautiful place, alone with you.”

  “I’m glad. Your happiness is the most important thing to me. You endured some of the worst kinds of hell because of my job, and you never quit. I owe you my life, and I give you my love.”

  Anne cradled Zeke’s face for several moments, lost in the tenderness she saw in those beautiful eyes, and then kissed her. “I love you, very very much. Come and look at this view.”

  The reflection of the setting sun painted a line of distant clouds multiple shades of pink and orange. In the foreground, whitecaps broke as they rolled into shore. From their high vantage point, Anne could barely recognize the Lilliputian-size figures walking near the lake.

  She sighed. “When we first came in, and I looked at this view I had a strong visceral reaction. It was kind of like my life flashing before my eyes, but in a good way. Lake Michigan has always been a character in the story of my life. I can vividly remember endless summer days spent at the beach on big blankets. The sand was so hot they had sprinklers to keep it cool enough to walk on.”

  Zeke kissed her forehead. “Sit with me and tell me about little Annie. You never talk about those days.”

  “I guess I don’t.” Anne curled up next to Zeke. “My childhood always seemed so far away, ancient history, as though I was a different person. Funny, when I had that flash of memory, I could almost feel the childhood excitement of playing at the beach. My mom didn’t work, and sometimes we went every day. I learned to swim in that lake, which now seems unbelievable.

  “Then came high school shenanigans and those almost-naughty parties at the lake. Looking back, I don’t think we did anything too outrageous, but there was drinking, driving around aimlessly, and sneaking home well after curfew.”

  “It doesn’t sound terribly different from my own escapades. The real difference was me sneaking off a military base and cavorting in the sand along the gulf shores.” Zeke kissed her again. “How come we live in the desert?”

  Anne laughed. “That’s a good question. I moved out there because of a job and then set down roots. With the gift of hindsight, I probably should have moved back after the divorce and reestablished myself here. But I don’t have many connections with old friends. My fault, I got married. And soon, it was my entire focus. Lesson learned, huh?” She interlaced her fingers with Zeke’s. “But more important than anything, I wouldn’t have met you.”

  “I’m happy too. Would you like to take a walk and see if we can find some romantic little bistro for dinner?”

  “That sounds great, let me change my shoes. I think it was starting to snow when we arrived.”

  Chapter Two

  THE SNOW WAS falling lightly as they approached Michigan Avenue. On the other side of the street, they passed the landmark Water Tower. Traffic picked up considerably since they arrived, then Zeke remembered it was rush hour on a Friday night. They agreed to window shop for a little while until they saw something that interested them.

  “The city looks much different than the last time I walked these streets. First of all, I’m not dirty and dripping sweat. But with the festive lights, the Christmas music, and the snow falling, the City of Chicago feels welcoming and exciting.”

  Bittersweet memories revolved for Zeke as they passed familiar streets. As they crossed east Huron, Zeke pointed to her left. “I spent more than a fair share of time at that fine hospital.”

  “The University Hospital? Was that where you were a patient?”

  “Well, yes, but it was also where we finally tracked the bad guy. He was on staff. We got him indicted, and then he fled the country. It took a lot of inter agency cooperation, but we caught up with him in Europe, and he was unceremoniously detained at Gitmo. The scene of the grisly murders was just west of here.” She looped Anne’s elbow and smiled. “But you already know how that story ended.”

  “Yes I do. And I’m glad it ended. Do you want to walk down there?”

  Zeke shook her head. “Not really. That’s a chapter I’d like to close.” She did pause and gaze at the enormous facility. She thought about Shayla Graham—the innocent victim—one of several innocent victims. “On the other hand, would you mind if we did?”

  They entered the bustling lobby of the hospital. Zeke led them through a crowd of people to the small information desk. Friday night on a cold winter night, this was the kind of place her homeless buddies looked for whenever they needed a warm spot. “Excuse me, I wonder if you could tell me if Louise L’Heure or Kate Ramsey still work here?”

  “One moment.” The harried receptionist answered another call as she scrolled through a database.

  “Were those people you worked with?” Anne said.

  “Both of them were contacts for our undercover op. We got to be pretty close friends. Kate was the one who recognized me after the accident and introduced me to Shayla Graham.”

  Anne nodded. “She was your friend who died.”

  “Both names are listed, but I’m afraid they’re not here tonight. Would you like to leave a message?”

  “No thanks. You have a Merry Christmas.”

  They walked outside as a gust of wind swirled a co
lumn of snow past them.

  Zeke steered Anne back toward Michigan Avenue. “This may sound non-Christmassy, but I noticed another Chicago landmark, and my favorite pizza place. It’s on our way back. What would you say to beer and pizza for dinner?”

  “My darling, I would happily dine on street vendor hot dogs if that was your desire.”

  Zeke took her hand and smiled. If it was possible, the butterflies in her chest felt warmer. She never could have imagined a year earlier that she and the love of her life would be back in the city of Chicago and enjoying it. Both had difficult memories, but tonight with beautiful snowflakes blanketing the city and the love stretching the seams of her heart, she felt blessed.