Beauty and the Thief

by Jeff Shelby

  Aidan nodded. “He was thrilled he could take her boxes off his delivery route.”

  I could barely contain my excitement. “Do you think he might have been the one who broke in and destroyed her stuff?”

  “At this point, anything is possible.”

  Well, anything except thinking of Anne as a suspect, I wanted to point out. Aidan had made it perfectly clear that he thought that idea was off the table.

  But I stayed quiet about that. “We need to figure out a way to talk to him.”

  “I think he’s already finished his deliveries for today,” Aidan said. “His truck was outside when I was wheeling Louis back to his apartment after breakfast.”

  I frowned. It was Friday, which meant Rudy wouldn’t be back to Oasis Ridge until Monday. I didn’t want to wait that long to talk to him.

  “Great. So now we just sit and wait,” I muttered. “Until Monday.”

  “Maybe not.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “I might know where to find him,” Aidan said.

  “How?”

  “A while ago, he was running late with deliveries,” he said. “He’d had problems with his truck so he was way behind schedule. He actually showed up here in the afternoon instead of the morning.”

  “Okay…” I wasn’t seeing where this was going.

  “Anyway, he was worried that he’d be late for his bowling league.” He paused. “A bowling league that meets Friday nights…”

  I felt a surge of hope. “You think he still plays?”

  Aidan shrugged. “No idea. This was a few months ago. Back in June, I think. But we could find out.”

  I nodded. “And there’s only one bowling alley in town…”

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

  I smiled. “That we should go check out the bowling alley tonight?”

  Aidan returned the smile. “Exactly. Looks like we have another date.”

  FIFTEEN

  Megan stared at me wide-eyed as I brushed through my hair.

  “So you’re going on a date and going bowling?” she said. “With Aidan.”

  “It isn’t a date.”

  Megan cocked her head. “Hmm. It’s Friday night and you’re headed somewhere with the opposite sex. Someone you find attractive. That isn’t a date?”

  I checked my reflection in the mirror. Megan perched herself on the edge of my bed, watching me like a hawk.

  “No, it’s not,” I responded. I dragged the brush through my hair again, wondering if I should take the time to straighten it. “We’re looking into something. You know, about the woman whose apartment was broken into.”

  “On a Friday night, with someone you like,” Megan said, smiling. “It’s most definitely a date.”

  I just shook my head. Aidan had used the same word, and it still sent the same kind of thrill through me as it had when he’d first uttered it in the utility closet at Oasis Ridge.

  “You look nice,” Megan said. “For your date.”

  She wasn’t going to drop it.

  “This is no more a date than when we met for burgers,” I told her, exasperated.

  “What?” Her eyes rounded. “When was that? And why didn’t you tell me?”

  I bit my lip. Had I forgotten to mention that to her?

  She sat up straight on my bed. “Tell me everything,” she ordered. “Where did you go?”

  I sighed.

  She waited, her arms crossed, peering down her nose at me.

  “We met at a restaurant,” I finally said. “Just to catch up on stuff. About the break-in,” I added.

  She smirked. “And that’s something you can’t do at work?”

  “Our paths hadn’t crossed that day and we needed to talk.”

  “So you went on a date.”

  “It wasn’t a date,” I gritted out.

  “Did you kiss?” she asked. “Have sex?”

  “No!”

  Megan looked disappointed.

  “It wasn’t a date,” I repeated for what felt like the millionth time. “Just like tonight isn’t one, either.”

  She folded her arms and pouted. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

  I almost smiled. Of course she would shift her focus to that part of the story. “You weren’t home,” I said. “And I didn’t think you would care that I met someone for a burger so we could discuss potential suspects involved in the break-in. You know, since you don’t know June and because you haven’t expressed any interest in what happened to her.”

  “I care more about you and your love life.”

  “I’m aware,” I said dryly.

  I stared at my reflection, analyzing my features. I’d tried to strike a balance in my appearance. I didn’t want to look dressed up or overly made up, but I also didn’t want to look as though I’d just rolled out of bed, either.

  “You should put more makeup on,” Megan said. It was almost as if she could see exactly what I was thinking about. “A little more eyeliner. Some darker lipstick, too. And maybe change your shirt. A V-neck or something.”

  I glanced down at my scoop-necked t-shirt. It was a heathery green, which I knew would bring out the color in my eyes, and I’d paired it with dark denim shorts. My legs weren’t exactly tanned, but they were about as dark as they were going to get, considering summer was over.

  “This is fine,” I said, as much to Megan as to myself.

  I grabbed my purse and slipped into a pair of black sandals.

  Megan got up from my bed. “I want a full report. Every detail.”

  I just shook my head and smiled. “And I want you to find something to hyper-focus on besides me and my so-called love life.”

  She swept past me, a wicked smile on her face. “I’m gonna get you set up with someone if it’s the last thing I do. It’s now my life’s mission.”

  I just rolled my eyes. She needed a new life’s mission because I hated being the singular focus of her attention when Dylan wasn’t around.

  Knowing Megan, something else would eventually come along that would capture her attention. I just hoped it happened sooner rather than later so the spotlight shifted away from me.

  Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into the bowling alley parking lot. I spotted Aidan right away. He was standing in front of the entrance, his phone in his hand, his eyes glancing at the screen every couple of minutes.

  I parked the car and hurried toward him. As soon as he saw me, he grinned.

  He’d cleaned up nice again, I thought. He wasn’t dressed up, just wearing navy blue shorts and a simple white t-shirt, but the lightness of the shirt complemented his tan.

  “You look nice,” he said, a little awkwardly.

  I blushed. “So do you,” I told him, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. Was that even a thing I was supposed to say?

  “You have a bit more clothing on than the last time I saw you,” he said with a chuckle.

  I was sure my face was fire engine red now.

  He noticed. “Sorry,” he said. But his eyes twinkled and the tone of his voice told me he was more amused than apologetic.

  He held the door open and gestured for me to head inside.

  The bowling alley looked like a relic from the seventies. Threadbare gold carpeting covered the floors, and the wood paneling on the walls created a cave-like feel. The dim lighting didn’t help. A restaurant and bar area occupied the front half of the building, with the bowling lanes tucked behind. Multiple television screens in the bar broadcast a football game, and I caught Aidan sneaking a peek at the score.

  I walked toward the check-in counter for the bowling lanes. A digital screen mounted above it listed the teams playing that night. The neon green letters illuminating the screen were the only physical signs that we were still in the 21st Century.

  I scanned the lanes, looking for Rudy. There were plenty of people crowded around seats and monitors, unzipping small cases and pulling out their personalized bowling balls. Several groups wore matching outfi
ts, including an elderly group of women dubbed The Pink Ladies.

  “Do you see him?” Aidan asked. He was taller than me by a few inches and I knew he was searching, too.

  “No.” I couldn’t hide my disappointment.

  “Me, either.” Aidan made a face. “Maybe he doesn’t play anymore?”

  “Maybe.”

  I kept scanning faces. I knew that I’d come to the bowling alley with no clear plan of what to do once we found Rudy. My intention had been to talk to him, of course, but I hadn’t figured out exactly what I was going to say.

  And now it was looking like I didn’t need to.

  “Why don’t we go grab a drink?” Aidan suggested.

  “Why?” It seemed pointless to stay, as far as I was concerned. Rudy wasn’t here. We were out of luck.

  “Because we’re here,” Aidan said simply. “And because I’m thirsty.”

  It was a good enough answer for me.

  I followed him back to the bar area. Most of the tables were full but there was a two-seater by the entrance that was free and Aidan hustled toward it before anyone else could sit down.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked as he reached for one of the menus stacked on the table.

  I shook my head.

  He didn’t open it. “Me, either.” He paused. “Maybe we should bowl.”

  I looked up at him.

  “What’s wrong with that?” he asked when he saw my expression. “We’re at a bowling alley, aren’t we?”

  “I don’t bowl.” I actually couldn’t remember the last time I’d been bowling, but I was pretty sure I’d still been in elementary school.

  “It’s easy to learn,” he said. “We should play.”

  A waitress appeared by our table. She looked as old as my mother, with dyed black hair and penciled in eyebrows. “What can I get you?”

  “A Diet Coke for me,” I said.

  “What do you have on tap?” Aidan asked.

  She rattled off a list of unimpressive domestic beers.

  Aidan grimaced. “I’ll stick with Diet Coke, too,” he said. “Hey, do you happen to know if any lanes are free tonight? Or all of them reserved for league bowling?”

  The waitress glanced toward the bowling alley. “Usually just league bowling on Friday night. They tried keeping a few lanes open for regular folks but no one ever showed up to play.”

  I almost smiled. So much for that idea of Aidan’s.

  “But if Deliverance has to forfeit, there’ll be a lane open,” she said. “I’d check at the desk in about ten minutes if you two are really itching to play.”

  “Deliverance?” I repeated. It seemed like a weird name for a team, considering the only deliverance I knew was an old movie I’d watched in a film class in college.

  Our waitress chuckled. “They’re a bunch of delivery drivers.”

  I sat up a little straighter. “Oh?”

  She nodded, her black curls bobbing up and down.

  “Any particular company?”

  “VIPS,” she said. “And I think a couple from the postal service.”

  Aidan and I exchanged looks.

  “Why would they have to forfeit?” Aidan asked.

  Our waitress shrugged. “Think they’re missing a couple of players. I just got back in from a smoke break and heard a few of the guys talking.” She tapped her pen on her order pad. “I’ll go grab your drinks. If you think you wanna play, you might want to head over to the alley and see if you can claim a lane. I can bring your drinks over.”

  Aidan thanked her and she headed toward the bar.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I asked.

  He nodded.

  I smiled.

  Maybe this wasn’t going to be a bust after all.

  “You wanna know what I’m thinking?” a voice asked from behind me.

  I froze.

  Because I recognized that voice.

  “I’m thinking what the heck are you two doing here?”

  SIXTEEN

  Rudy’s gaze swept over us.

  I offered a weak wave. “Hi.”

  His brow furrowed. “What are you guys doing here?”

  He looked a lot different out of his VIPS uniform. Or maybe it was because he’d swapped one uniform for another. Instead of his navy blue pants and work shirt, he was wearing pressed white slacks and a black silk shirt. His dark hair was still slicked back, but he’d added some gold chains around his neck, and his shirt was unbuttoned just enough so that a thick tuft of dark chest hair was clearly visible.

  “Just grabbing a drink,” Aidan said. “Our waitress should be back any minute.”

  “A drink?” Rudy’s frown deepened. “At the bowling alley? This place is sort of a locals only place. No offense.”

  “None taken,” Aidan said lightly. “Actually, we came here to bowl, not realizing it was league night.”

  “Every night is pretty much league night,” Rudy said. “People don’t bowl like they used to.”

  Aidan nodded. “Yeah, it’s kind of sad. I actually played back in high school.”

  I looked at him, hoping I could tell if he was telling the truth.

  He had a good poker face; I’d give him that.

  Rudy looked reluctantly impressed. “You play?”

  “A little.”

  “Learn something new every day,” Rudy said. His eyes narrowed but his smile remained in place. “I didn’t know you two were a couple.”

  I opened my mouth to respond but Aidan’s elbow dug into my side. With his free arm, he wrapped it around my shoulder and pulled me toward him.

  Rudy chuckled. “Well, whaddya know?” His gaze shifted to me. “How long you two been together?”

  I was having a hard time concentrating. Aidan’s arm was firm, taut with muscle, and oh so warm.

  “A couple of months.” Aidan responded for both of us since I had clearly forgotten how to speak.

  Rudy’s eyebrows shot skyward. “I had no idea.”

  “No one does,” Aidan said quickly. His arm tightened around me. “It’s sort of been our little secret.”

  “Ahh,” Rudy said with a nod. “You guys sure do like your secrets there.”

  I finally found my voice. “What do you mean?”

  He gave me a swift smile. “Can’t talk now. I need to go look one more time for Frank. If he doesn’t show, we have to forfeit.” His eyes lit up and he zeroed in on Aidan. “Hey, why don’t you play in his place?”

  “Me?”

  Rudy nodded. “You said you played in high school, right?”

  “Well, yeah, but—”

  “And we need a player.”

  “I don’t know,” Aidan said. “It’s been a while since I’ve played.”

  “It’s like riding a bike,” Rudy insisted. “It’ll all come back to you the minute you pick up a ball and stare down the lane at all those pins.” He winked. “I’ll go check the parking lot one last time. And then I’ll see you over at the lane. Number nine.”

  Aidan dropped his arm from my shoulder as soon as Rudy left, and I tried not to feel too disappointed.

  Thankfully, it was pretty easy to do because I was focused on something else.

  “Are you going to play?”

  Aidan frowned. “I don’t think I have a choice.”

  The waitress returned with our drinks and Aidan handed her cash. “Keep the change,” he told her.

  He stood up with his drink.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “Going to lane nine.”

  I grabbed my drink and stood, too. “You’re going to play?”

  “If this Frank guy doesn’t show, then yeah.”

  I trotted behind him as he headed toward the bowling lanes. He stopped at the desk and swapped out his shoes for a pair of bowling shoes. I watched as he sat down and laced them up.

  He was really going to do this, even though I could tell he didn’t want to.

  Because we wanted answers from Rudy and the only way we were
going to get them was to stick around at the bowling alley and find a way to ask him questions.

  “Are you any good?” I asked.

  He stared down at his freshly laced bowling shoes, then looked up at me and smiled. “Guess we’ll see.”

  SEVENTEEN

  I couldn’t keep any of the names straight.

  Rudy had fired off the names of his bowling teammates like ammo from an assault rifle, and I’d only caught a couple. Bruce. Larry. Mitchell. They all wore the same white slacks and black silk shirt that Rudy was dressed in, and they all came ready with their bowling bags.

  I watched as they unloaded glittery bowling balls and set them on the rack. A couple of the guys did some stretches, raising their hands in the air and touching their toes, doing knee bends and twisting their hips from side to side.

  “They take this seriously,” I whispered to Aidan.

  He licked his lips. He was suddenly looking a little nervous. “Uh, yeah.”

  “So,” Rudy said, slapping Aidan on the back. “You ready?”

  Aidan managed a feeble nod.

  I had a sinking feeling in my gut that this was going to be a total train wreck.

  “You’re up after me,” Rudy told him. He picked up a neon green ball and held it up reverently, like a priest might hold a chalice. “Isn’t she a thing of beauty?”

  I glanced at the ball Aidan had selected from the alley’s collection. It was solid black, with a couple of small dings visible. Definitely not on the same level as Rudy’s shining green orb.

  Rudy took up his position at the lane. The team the Deliverance was playing, The Grunts, all fell silent. A couple of them were nursing drinks but all eyes were now on Rudy.

  He took a deep breath, made the sign of the cross, and held his ball in front of him. He took a few steps, holding the ball tight, and then released. The ball sailed down the center of the lane, downing all but one pin.

  I was impressed.

  His team let out a collective groan.

  Red-faced, he picked up the ball on the return and repositioned himself. This time, the ball slid to the right and ended up squarely in the gutter.

  He returned to his seat, a dejected look on his face.

  “Do me proud,” he said to Aidan.