# Queen of Hearts Cyndi Redding Published 2004 ISBN 1-59578-017-3 Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © 2004, Cyndi Redding. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. Manufactured in the United States of America Liquid Silver Books http://lsbooks.com Email:
[email protected] Cover Art byMinnie Sukthankar This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental. Chapter One Seething, Audrey Lawless returned to her cubbyhole-sized office after her regular Wednesday meeting with the Newport, Rhode Island Chief of Police. She was tempted to knock the pile of research she had slaved over onto the floor, but knew she would just have to pick it up and reorganize everything. She raked her fingers through her long, dark hair and caught a snarl, pulling out a few wavy strands. “Ouch! Great. Add injury to insult.” Audrey shook her head in resignation and heaped the research results onto her limbo pile. Her telephone rang, and she knew who it was without caller ID. The chief probably wanted to explain the budget in greater detail. She was familiar with financial constraints nixing her recommendations and didn't feel like hearing it again, especially when the proposals they'd deep-sixed were for the safety of Newport's finest. What if her suggestions could have changed what happened to Sam? Maybe having one more cop to
back him up would have saved her husband's life. Audrey hung her head, observing a moment of silence as she remembered her dear husband—a decorated detective in the same police department. And they say he committed suicide.Bullshit. Someday, when my kid graduates from college, I'll marry some musty old millionaire who's ready to kick. This was a good time to take a break. She grabbed her purse and khaki trench coat, exited her office, and locked the door muffling the sound of the ringing phone. She rethought her retirement plan as she marched through the wide hallway to the “cop shop” and out the door. No. She wouldn't settle for less than love and great sex. Audrey headed downtown, hands jammed in her pockets, bracing against the cool, early May breeze that blew off the ocean. Almost every day she stopped at the same deli and ordered a salad. Today, she needed to walk off her frustration. It was lonely at the top, all right. She was privy to information she couldn't share with anyone, so venting her feelings, even to a trusted friend, was out of the question. She passed the sub shop and thought she heard Schneider, one of the veteran cops, calling after her. “Audrey!” Yep. She heard correctly. She was tempted to keep walking, but she knew what it meant when a cop tried to catch her away from the station. They didn't want to face the taunts of Detective Lieutenant Boyle for believing in what he called her “Voodoo”. She called it her gift. “Audrey! I was hoping to run into you.” The older, overweight cop was panting by the time he caught up with her. “I need your help with something.” She sighed and tried to smile. “Hi, Schneider. What is it?” “I haven't been able to get anything on that car thief until now. I found an empty six-pack of Zima on the floor of a Jag. It went off the road and into a tree in that heavy rain the other night. We found it abandoned.” “Zima? You mean that lemonade with a couple drops of alcohol in it?” “That's the stuff. I was hoping you could go down to the evidence locker and touch one of the bottles. See if you get any of your 'psychic detective' vibes. We lifted prints, but there were no matches.” “Are you sure they belong to the perp? Maybe he had a girlfriend along for the ride.” “Hey, I'd settle for the girlfriend at this point.” She shrugged. “I'll see what I can do, but you should know I've been blocked lately. I might not be able to sense an elephant standing behind me.” Schneider laid a sympathetic hand on her arm. “From what I hear, you've been working too hard. You really shouldn't drive yourself like that.” Audrey nodded. “Thanks. I'll see what I can do, Schneider.”
**** Refreshed, and feeling a little better after a long lunch hour, Audrey returned to the police station ready to tackle the next of several items requiring her attention. Detective Lieutenant Boyle looked up from the duty roster as Audrey strolled in. His swaggering stature, deep facial scars, and gray buzz cut gave an air of the quintessential hard-ass cop she knew him to be. “Nice of you to join us, Ms. Lawless.” One side of his thin lips curled. “I've asked you before, Lieutenant, please call me Audrey. I prefer it.” “Okay, Ms. Lawless, anything you say. You're the boss.” He sauntered off looking pleased with himself. She rolled her eyes and hoofed it down the wide staircase to the basement, muttering under her breath. “He's not going to get to me. He's not going to get to me. He's not…” When she reached the bottom of the stairs and rounded the corner, she crashed into Officer Dan Picolo. “Whoa!” Picolo, younger by nine years, with shining blue eyes and dark curly hair, was impossibly handsome. He grabbed her by the shoulders and held her steady. Just his touch sent warm, exciting tingles radiating from his hands up and down her arms and chest, finally fluttering into her abdomen where they lingered. “Are you okay, Audrey?” “Yeah, fine.” “Good. Do you have a minute?” He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “I want to show you something.” His voice was masculine and as smooth as suede. She sucked in a deep breath. It seemed as if every time they were together and alone, he would come as close as he could to her without crossing the fine line of inappropriate workplace behavior. Trying to sound casual, she said, “Sure, Picolo, what did you want to show me?” “It's upstairs in your office.” “In my office?” “Where were you going? I'll walk with you and wait.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and gently guided her in the direction she had been headed in the first place. She stopped. “Actually, I think I've changed my mind. Schneider wanted me to look at a piece of evidence to see if I got any psychic vibes, but I'm tired. I'd be more effective after I'm rested. I'll pop back later.” She tried to shrug out of her trench coat but her elbow caught. Dan helped her and folded it over his arm. “What were you saying as you were coming down the stairs, Audrey? Someone's getting to you?”
“Just saying my mantra…” He gazed at her with his riveting, sapphire-blue eyes surrounded by thick, dark lashes that matched his hair. She couldn't ignore or lie to those eyes. “Lieutenant Boyle's getting to me. I find it harder and harder to let all of his crap roll off my back.” “I heard him.” He walked beside her up the wide stairway. “Yeah. He must find my last name amusing, but I'm not amused.” When they reached the room marked Research and Development, he sauntered in right behind her and closed the door. He stood close, although standing far away would have been difficult in the tiny, cluttered, one-person office. She thought she felt his warm breath on her neck, but, no. She turned toward him and realized the heat was rising from her own body. “So, when are you going to let me take you out to dinner, Audrey?” Hoping her olive skin would cover the flush that must be invading her cheeks, she walked around her desk and fiddled with a locked drawer. There were the obvious pros to a man like Dan Picolo, like the way she shivered every time he came a little too near and brushed against her, and how she melted inside when she fantasized about what his muscled, nude body would look like. No one had affected her like this since she was about eighteen years old and had met Sam. Was it odd to be reacting this way at the age of thirty-seven? The key clicked in the lock, but Audrey couldn't open the drawer. “Here. Let me get that for you,” Dan said, and he started to walk around to her side of the desk. “No. Stay there. I can get it. There's a trick to it.” She pushed on the higher drawer as she pulled harder on the stuck drawer. She needed to keep him on the other side of the desk so she could think. Clear your head. A little casual sex would be pretty fantastic about now, but he's a cop. I already lost a cop in the line of duty. I sure as hell don't need to put myself through that again. Plus, I'm older, and I'm Admin. I don't understand why he seems so determined to seduce me, unless it's the whole conquest thing. “Look, Dan. You're cute as hell, but that's part of the problem. I know you have a large fan base, and if I actually got attached to you, that could be a potential nightmare. I may be the jealous type, you know.” She began banging on and yanking the file drawer. He shook his head. He had stopped on the opposite side of the desk when she asked him to, but now he approached. “You don't have to worry, Audrey. I'm a one-woman man.” “Well, maybe one at a time. I don't really know how you handle your personal life, Picolo, but I've heard the rumors.” He strolled around the desk. “You said it. Rumors. That's all they are, I swear.” “If it doesn't work out, we'll either have to avoid each other, or we'll have to look at each other from
time to time, and one of us might be hurting.” He hung her trench coat on the coat rack behind the desk. “I would never hurt you, Audrey, and I'm a big boy, now. I can handle being dumped if you're dissatisfied.” He was standing next to her, and she had to fight for focus to recite her misgivings. “It's not just that. There's the age difference.” He stepped in front of the drawer and gestured toward the handle. “Younger men come with advantages, too, you know.” She sighed and pushed her chair away from the desk, letting him step into her space. In doing so, he pulled open the drawer with almost no effort. Audrey covered her mouth with her hand to hide her embarrassment. He gently removed it and began to lean toward her mouth. She knew he intended to kiss her. “You know how I feel about getting involved with co-workers, right?” Dan straightened, walked back to the door and locked it. “I risk my life every day I put on this uniform. I'd like to enjoy my life on my own time. You deserve to enjoy your life, too. I've watched you struggling for a year and a half. You carry so much responsibility on your shoulders, alone. I think we'd be good for each other. C'mon, Audrey, I won't let anybody know about us if you'd rather I didn't.” She stood and moved closer to him, preferring to discuss the proposed liaison quietly. “I guess I could stand to have a little fun.” “Oh, so you're thinking we'd have fun together?” He grinned. “That's a good sign.” Audrey cursed herself for the slip. “We'll see. You've been hitting on me long enough. I'll have to do something to convince you that you don't know what you're getting yourself into.” He drew his finger up her bare arm to the edge of her short sleeve. Audrey shivered, though she was still overheated. “So, when's your next day off?” she said. “Tuesday.” He slipped his arm around her waist. Placing his hand gently behind her head, he pulled her to him and stunned her by kissing her full on the mouth. His lips were soft and, though insistent, there was nothing about their first kiss that wasn't pleasant. He smelled fresh, like soap and evergreen trees after a hard rain, and he didn't try to ram his tongue down her throat. She might have pushed against his chest harder, but it was the best kiss Audrey had had in a long time. Other than a peck on the cheek from her teenage daughter, it was the only kiss she had had in a long time. Almost two years. He teased her lips with his tongue, and she opened to him. The visceral reaction she was experiencing was something akin to the sensation of falling in love for the first time.Oh, Christ. This isn't happening! He held her firmly and though retracting his tongue, he didn't release her. Instead, he moved his mouth over hers. She felt his warm breath as if he were breathing renewed life into her. Planting gentle little
sucking kisses first on her upper, then her lower lip, she surprised herself again when she followed his lead, and let herself revel in the wonderful sensations, returning each of his overtures. When they reluctantly separated, she took in a deep breath and fought her way back to reality. “So, what was it you wanted to show me?” “Ohhh,” he groaned. “I thought I just did.” “Sorry.” She sighed. “You're barking up the wrong tree.” “I don't think so. Or, maybe because I'm a lowly patrolman, and you're high on the totem pole…” “Of course not!” “How am I going to show you how I feel about you?” She tried to buy a bit of time and think of a clever answer, but nothing brilliant was popping into her mind. She could barely think at all when he was this near.Say something Audrey—anything, for God's sake. “So, you aren't worried that I might cry sexual harassment?” “Not at all.” “Why is that?” “Because you might like to kiss me again sometime.” “You're awfully sure of yourself.” She couldn't suppress the smile that crept up despite her attempt to regain her professional demeanor. He leaned closer and adjusted her crisp shirt collar. She caught her mind drifting back to their secret kiss and, yes, she wanted more. “Are you sure you want to try an older, wiser woman, Dan?” She opened the door for him to leave, but he stared into her eyes with his riveting gaze and didn't move. “Positive.” She glanced into the hallway, and seeing no one there, she continued the conversation in a hushed tone. “I won't follow you around like a puppy dog or giggle at everything you say.” “Thank God.” She placed one hand on her hip. “Don't pretend you don't just love it when your groupies corner you.” “I only have eyes for one hot woman, and that's you, darlin'.” Positioning one finger under her chin, he tipped her head up until they were almost nose-to-nose, holding each other in a fixed stare. “Okay. Meet me someplace on Tuesday,” she whispered. “It has to be someplace where we won't be
seen, though. My policy is that I don't date cops.” She glanced at the hallway again. Still, no one was out there. “Is one o'clock okay with you?” He smiled and his incredible dimples made her want to starve to death in bed with him. “Shouldn't we go to dinner, since you have to work on Tuesday?” “Nuh-uh. Lunch. Broad daylight. I'll take a long lunch hour.” Picolo kicked the door closed, stepped closer and whispered in her ear. “I'll meet you at your place at one o'clock on Tuesday, and hopefully I'll whisk you off to a dark, secluded hideaway later.” He pulled her into his strong grasp, and his lips trailed almost imperceptibly down her neck to the hollow where her neck met her shoulder. Audrey caught her breath when he kissed her there with just a hint of suggestive suction. She struggled to form her thoughts but dared not open her mouth and utter something incoherent. Picolo finally seemed satisfied. He opened the door and stood there, framed like a gorgeous centerfold against the light of the hallway. With his thick, dark hair, glowing tan skin, and bright blue eyes, he was cuter than a grown man had a right to be, and Audrey suspected that he knew it. He delivered one of his incredibly broad, dimpled, white smiles, winked, and strolled off to the bustle of the main work area. Good Lord, she reflected. I should probably have my head examined. Yet, she couldn't stop her tingling mouth from curling into a gentle smile. A moment later the lieutenant's voice could be heard, yelling, “Hey, Picolo, it's about time. I was ready to send the cops after you!” Audrey's enchantment vanished, and she gripped the doorknob. Aggravated out of her blissful mood merely by hearing the lieutenant's voice, she was tempted to slam the door shut. She counted to ten, took a deep breath, and composed herself. Why allow him to steal her joy? **** Audrey's daughter, a freshman home from college for R&R and some peaceful studying, had come downtown to have lunch with her. Audrey wondered if she had picked up on her pleasant mood and decided to spend more time with her new, improved mother. After salads at the deli, Audrey suggested a stroll. “You know, Mom, most people work off their lunches jogging by the side of the road or in an aerobics class, not walking through the cemetery,” said eighteen-year-old Patience Lawless. “I'm sure you're right, but by now you know I'm not most people.” Audrey smiled and continued walking the cement path with her daughter through the Newport cemetery. “Okay. I guess I can see one or two advantages to walking in a place like this. It's safer than the street, and the locals don't bother you. Or do they?” “Not often. Most of the spirits here are probably resting comfortably in another place, and if they're not, I try to help them move on.”
Both women wore their long, wavy, dark hair loose. Their tresses were blowing in the ocean breeze, when they paused in front of a large, elaborate plot belonging to an entire family named Markham. “I had a psychic newsflash at this plot once,” Audrey said. “But it seems undisturbed now.” Patience snapped to attention. “Why would you stand there, of all places? Do you see why you creep me out, Mom?” “Oh, for heaven's sake. It's broad daylight.” She turned her head away from the memorial and scrutinized her daughter. “I thought I raised you to be brave and fearless.” Patience shrugged. “I'm going to take a closer look at this headstone and check out that huge, marble angel. Geez, that must have cost a fortune.” Audrey, in high heels, stepped carefully over the chain that enclosed the ten-by-fifteen foot plot. “I think I'll just stay over here if you don't mind.” “Suit yourself. The Markham family was probably one of the elite back in their day.” Audrey walked closer to examine the angel statue. It seemed to be watching over the bones that had lain there for decades. As her foot landed on the well-maintained grave of the family patriarch, she staggered backward and tripped over a smaller headstone, landing flat on her back in the soft grass. Patience gasped and ran over to her. “Are you all right, Mom?” “I'm fine.” Audrey stood and brushed the grass off of her khaki trench coat. “Someone in this area isn't, though.” She reached for her daughter's hand, and Patience helped her step over the chain onto the cement path. “That was the damnedest thing,” Audrey said. “What happened? And, by the way, can we get out of here now?” Patience glanced all around and appeared to be having a bad case of the willies. Audrey nodded. As soon as they were headed back to the cemetery entrance, she did her best to explain the situation. “Well, my dear, one of the occupants just sent me a telegram. I'd say someone in there is pretty ticked off.” Patience snapped her head around to look behind them. Audrey chuckled. “We're not being followed, fearless one.” “Jesus, Mom. I wish you wouldn't tell me things like that.” Audrey shrugged. “You're an adult now. I prefer to treat you as an adult.” “Okay. Speaking of adult behavior, won't they be ticked off if you don't get back to work? You've been on your lunch break for more than an hour.”
Audrey continued her leisurely stroll. “Yeah, yeah. As soon as I'm good and ready, I'll go back down the street and sit at my computer. I could use a good nap.” “You know you were lucky to land that job. You might try taking it seriously before you get fired.” “Kidding, honey. Your mom works hard. Newport is a high-profile town and without my constant gathering, logging and analyzing the right information, the wrong number of cops would be in the wrong places at the wrong times with outdated methods. I don't even want to think about being blamed for risking their lives. They depend on me, and I don't let them down. I'm not going to lose my job.” Draping an arm around her daughter's shoulder, she looked her in the eye. “Besides, how many psychic researchers do you know around here? It's not like I'm easy to replace.” “Look, I know the lieutenant has it in for you, but he seems to be the only one. The others really like and respect you. You could try being on time for them. Besides, the lieutenant might be Captain Boyle someday and, then, guess what? He'll be your equal.” Audrey sighed. “Patience, have faith in divine order. I'll lose my job when the powers-that-be feel I'm ready to move on to the next heart-stopping adventure.” “Sometimes I wish I could have a little more of your cavalier attitude, but only a little.” “Listen to you, college girl. What an amazing vocabulary and work ethic you're developing. Okay, I guess it's time to return to work, so I can keep you in school.” The two of them exited the cemetery and strode toward the police station. “Have I told you that I'm very proud of the responsible young woman I raised?” Audrey gave her daughter an affectionate squeeze. Patience rolled her eyes. “You're one in a million too, Mom.” **** As mother and daughter reached the police station parking lot, Dan was about to step into his cruiser. He looked up, saw them, and waved. “Beautiful spring day,” he called. “Looks like it decided not to rain after all.” Audrey's eyes lit up when she spotted him, and she altered her path in his direction as if pulled by a magnet. “Afternoon, Officer Picolo, are you off to fight crime in the dangerous streets of Newport?” He couldn't help noticing the coquettish expression on her face and in her voice. Dan hung his head for a moment, and knew he was grinning like a smitten schoolboy. Patience shifted uncomfortably. “Uh, Mom? I'm going back home now. I've gotta study some more.” “Hi, Patience, what are you studying?” Dan asked. “Physics.”
“Wow. You picked a tough subject. Have fun with those trajectories.” “Yeah. It's starting to make sense.” “That's scary,” Dan teased. She smiled, looking more relaxed, waved to both of them, and scampered off to her car. “She seems like a great kid.” “Yeah, she is. She's what's been holding me together for the past couple of years.” Dan had witnessed her struggle through widowhood and wished he could help. He wanted to make her life easier, less lonely, and he knew he could. “Patience has your coloring, but her features are different from yours. Do you see a lot of Sam in her?” Audrey's expression turned serious, or perhaps gloomy. “More in her personality than anything. She looks like my father's side, but she has Sam's logic and intelligence.” Her voice seemed low and wistful. Dan looked at the ground. “I'm sorry if bringing up Sam made you sad.”What an idiotic thing to say. I finally have a date with this woman, and I bring up her late husband. Picolo, you deserve to lose out on the opportunity you've been waiting for. “No. That's okay, Dan. I can finally talk about him.” “Well, the last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable.” “You make me more uncomfortable when you're kissing me at work.” Without raising her face, she looked at him through long, dark lashes. Her smile grew slowly, but soon it matched the dimpled grin on his own face. “I'm glad that thinking about my kisses makes you smile. I want to make you smile more.” “I'll bet you do.” She turned to leave but before she did, she winked. He hopped into his cruiser and caught himself whistling. Perhaps he was finally getting somewhere with the lovely Mrs. Lawless. **** Seated behind her computer Audrey tried to pull up some Internet information on the discontented Markham patriarch buried in the Newport cemetery. An hour later, still sitting there, staring at the monitor, she was so puzzled that she spoke out loud. “C'mon, Mr. Markham, you must have been a prominent man with the sizable grave you have. Why can't I find a bio, a photo, or an old newspaper article? It's like you didn't exist!” Walking in without knocking, two uniformed officers startled her. The older one, with kind blue eyes, spoke first.
“Sorry, we should have knocked. We didn't mean to interrupt your concentration. Audrey, I'd like to introduce you to our new rookie.” “That's okay, Peterson. I was just preoccupied, but it was nothing important. Go ahead. Introduce us.” Turning to the young man, Peterson said, “Audrey is our resident psychic, along with being our full-time research department. She looks into the latest technology, figures out the kind of staffing we need and where we need it, in other words, she looks out for us.” He pointed at the rookie with his thumb. “Audrey, this is 'Jack'. That's not his real name, but that's what we're calling college boy to remind him how much he knows about real police work right now.” “That's not very friendly, Peterson. So, kid, what's your real name?” “I thought you were psychic. Shouldn't you know that already?” joked the blond, green-eyed, fresh-faced young man. Audrey snorted. “Nice to meet you, Jack,” and she turned her attention back to her computer monitor. “Ha, don't worry about her, kid. She's a civilian. Can't hurt your career, but don't piss her off either or you'll have to answer to me. She's the mother of my only godchild. Even though 'godfather' is an informal role I appointed myself to after Patience lost her father. Audrey smiled, gratefully. The rookie fidgeted. “Sorry, ma'am.” “Don't worry about it, kid. I'm used to taking little potshots because of my unusual gift. Just don't make a habit of it, okay?” “Sure. But isn't it more of a burden than a gift?” She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms. “It can be emotionally draining, but I don't consider helping crime fighters to be a burden.” “She really does have a gift,” Peterson said. “Last year I couldn't get a shred of evidence on this slime-ball mugger. He was smart, and nothing turned up on his person or in the pawnshops. She visited his target areas with me and was able to tell me what went down like she was there or watching it on a movie screen or somethin'. She told me where he stashed his souvenirs. So we staked out old Fort Adams and caught him in the act of putting his latest haul in a box under a loose stone.” “Good work, Miss…” “Audrey. Just Audrey.” She extended her hand and they shared a friendly handshake. “Ned Wright,” he said. When the two officers excused themselves and headed for the door, she overheard Peterson, who was slightly deaf, whispering her entire sad story to his rookie. “Audrey was married to a good cop, Detective Lawless. He was killed a couple of years ago.”
“Line of duty?” the kid asked. “Not officially…” was the last thing Audrey heard him say, but she was sure Peterson would tell the kid everything. By now the sharp stab to her heart should have lessened a bit, but whenever she was reminded of the questionable circumstances surrounding her husband's death, she had to swallow hard and try to suppress the tears that threatened to follow. A year and ten months didn't ease her anguish. The amount of grief she felt over the loss of her husband had been compounded by the supposition of suicide. They had quarreled that night, but why would an otherwise happy family man and decorated detective kill himself? It didn't make sense. Audrey unlocked and slid open the top drawer of her desk as noiselessly as she could. Reexamining the confidential folder for the thousandth time, she dearly hoped some new clue would spring up and hit her in the face. If she continued to think his spirit was not at rest, the suffering in her own soul would never stop. Every time she thought about the outlandish circumstances under which he had died and been found, the lump in her throat formed, and her heart hurt. Chapter Two That night, Patience set the table as Audrey finished making dinner in the kitchen of their small contemporary condo. The large, revamped, Victorian-era mansion had been converted into several similar condo units. It was a bit too modernized for Audrey's taste. If only the builders had left more of the charming alcoves and nooks that existed before they got their hands on it. It was roomy enough for Audrey and Patience when they had sold their memory-filled home and moved into it a year ago. More importantly, it was affordable in otherwise pricey Newport. The only thing Audrey really missed from their modest Cape home was a dining room. They now had a dining area. Just an area, separated from the living room by a half-wall. The galley kitchen, located next to the dining area, had a large pass-through. The open floor plan made it easy to talk from room to room. “So, Patience, what are your plans for next week?” Audrey tried to sound more nonchalant than she felt, considering her date with Dan. Patience hesitated. “Plans? Next week? This from the original 'live for today' woman?” “Yeah. I'm turning over a new leaf.” As Audrey topped the casserole with breadcrumbs, she heard giggling. Patience's voice from the dining area clearly uttered the word,Bull. “Is there any particular day you want to know about?” “Yeah, Tuesday. I was wondering if you were going to be around on Tuesday.” “I can be—or not,” Patience said. “Not would be better, but I don't want to interrupt your plans if you're still studying for finals.” Audrey carried a bowl of salad and a small basket of warm rolls to the table. Dinner smelled delicious. To keep the feel of a dining room, the table was covered with an ivory tablecloth and matching cloth napkins. Patience rearranged the fresh carnations positioned between them. “I can go somewhere with
my friends on Tuesday. Would that be convenient?” “I'm making lunch for someone, so that would be very convenient. Thank you.” Audrey returned to the kitchen, humming, and she brought the steaming casserole to the table. “Sure, no problem.” A sly smiled appeared on the younger woman's face. “You know, Mom, if you want me out of the way so you can have Dan Picolo over, just say so. I think I'm old enough to handle it.” Audrey almost dropped the casserole. How the hell did she know? “How did you know it was Dan coming over?” “Oh, you've got to be kidding me.” Patience chuckled. “It was only a matter of time. Anyone can see the way you two look at each other.” “And just how do we look at each other?” Audrey asked, even though she dreaded the answer. “With glowing eyes and big sloppy grins on your faces, that's how.” Audrey had been about to put the serving spoon in the tuna casserole but instead playfully swatted her daughter's arm with it. “It's not nice to make fun of your mother!” “Or Mother Nature,” Patience teased, and she rubbed the spot where the spoon tapped her arm. “Don't worry, Mom. I understand these things.” She placed her elbow on the table and her chin in her cupped hand. “If you want to, we can use the same code that my friends use at the dorm.” “Uh-oh—and what is that?” As Audrey spooned the casserole onto their plates, her daughter shared information that shouldn't have stunned Audrey, but it did. “If we have someone of the opposite sex over, and we're attracted to him, and it might be 'inconvenient' to walk in on us, we hang something on the doorknob. A bookmark or a sock or something. Basically, if anything odd or out of place is hanging from the doorknob, all who wish to enter must knock and wait to be invited in. Better yet, they go down the hall to a friend's room until the item is gone. It's sort of an impromptu 'Do Not Disturb' sign.” Audrey raised her eyebrows, and then shook her head. At least her grown-up college girl was honest about life in the dorm at nearby Roger Williams University. “A privacy code? Sounds as if it might be a good idea in the distant future.” “So you and Picolo, huh?” Patience sat back and grinned. “Yeah. Are you all right with that?” “Sure. I'm glad for you. You've finally decided to date again. He's really nice, not to mention hot as hell…” Audrey felt her cheeks warm, yet she tried to contain her amusement. She sensed there was more that her daughter wanted to say and asked, “But?” A moment later Patience cleared her throat and began to outline possible drawbacks. “Well, he's years
younger, probably closer to my age.” “Don't get any ideas.” “Ugh. Don't worry, I won't. That's so Jerry Springer!” “Okay, anything else besides the age difference?” “Well, maybe. He's another cop, Mom. Do you think you can handle that, again? Do you want to?” Audrey shrugged. “I thought of those things, but I guess I won't know if I don't try.” “Yeah. I guess you're right.” Patience tried a mouthful of casserole and pushed it aside in favor of the salad and rolls. “So, I want to hide the fact that we're dating, and that means we'll be meeting here sometimes. Are you okay with that?” “Yeah. Sure. I'm fine with it as long as you're happy.” Patience reached for the rolls. “If he hurts you though, I may have to assault an officer. Pass the butter, please.” Audrey slid the butter dish over. “If he makes me unhappy, I'll consider it a learning experience and move on, but what if it works out? Can you handle that?” The mouth-watering scent of freshly baked rolls still permeated the air, and Audrey reached for one. Patience raised her eyebrows. “You mean if he winds up being my stepfather?” “I wasn't thinking that far ahead, but what if that did happen? Would you feel odd about his taking your father's place, not only on the job, but also—in other ways?” Audrey couldn't quite bring herself to say, “in my bed.” She waited an anxious minute while Patience appeared to mull it over. “Well, unless there's anything like basic incompatibility or something, I say strap a condom on him and go for it.” Audrey couldn't hold onto her composure any longer and burst out laughing. “I can't believe we're having this conversation. I didn't mean…” “Why? Because you're always lecturing me about safe sex, or because I'm your daughter, or because I'm enjoying this?” Audrey, poised with her fork in the air, looked at her lap and shook her head. “All three.” To Audrey's great relief, the conversation turned to a less personal subject. “About the cop thing,” Patience said. “That's not a problem for me. I'm kind of used to it, but is it for you?” “Well, not really. If the guy isn't all macho and throwing his body in front of bullets, I guess not.” “You know, Mom,” Patience twirled her fork in the air, as if her mind were wrapping itself around this
problem. “I never understood how you and Dad got together. You were so opposite. I still can't see you going for that type.” “Your father wasn't a 'type', sweetie. If I went for the real macho-cop type, I'd be dating Lieutenant Ape Face.” Patience leaned back in her chair and laughed. “Don't hold back, Mom. Say what you really think.” “I always do.” The two women concluded the uncomfortable topic of conversation and finished their meal. As they cleared the table, Patience said, “Mom?” “Yes?” “Don't serve Dan tuna casserole if you ever want to see him again.” Audrey stopped in mid-stride and turned around. “I wasn't planning on it, but since you brought it up, why not?” “Remember how Dad said he liked everything you cooked?” “Yeah.” “Well, he was just being polite.” Wearing an evil grin, Patience ran from the table. “Hey!” Audrey rolled her eyes, grabbed the glasses, and finished clearing. She called out in the direction of her daughter's hasty exit. “So when will you have your paper and studying finished?” “In other words, when am I going back to school?” “Yeah.” “Monday morning.” “Excuse me? Wait a minute. You dragged my plans for Tuesday out of me knowing the whole time that you were going back to school on Monday?” Patience appeared at the door to the kitchen. “Yeah, I did.” She grinned like a chimpanzee. “Don't smile like that. I felt so foolish explaining the whole thing to you.” Audrey rinsed the dirty glasses in the sink. “Just for that, I'm going to hang something from the doorknob all the time, just for the hell of it.” “Do that, and I might ignore the signal when you really mean it,” Patience teased. “Do that, and you'll be more embarrassed than I, little girl.” **** The next morning, Audrey walked past the squad cars on her way into the police station. As she cut
between two of them, the passenger side door swung open blocking her path. It startled her, and she bent down to see who had thrown a car door in her way. “Hi. I waited for you.” “Why, Officer Picolo!” Audrey smiled, glanced around to be sure no one was watching, and sat in the front seat next to Dan. He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I'm afraid we have to change our lunch date, gorgeous.” She was becoming used to his endearments, even though they made her slightly nervous, especially since she was enjoying them so much. “Sure. Did something come up?” “Yeah, my conscience. Listen, I know Boyle's been looking for reasons to hassle you, and I just want to be sure he's not keeping track of your late lunches in a little notebook. I hope you don't get fired. You're the only eye candy in this otherwise ugly place.” He touched her hair. “I'd miss your exotic beauty and dark sultry eyes, not to mention our stolen kisses.” Audrey melted, remembering their first, alluring kiss. “Well, thanks for thinking of my welfare, but you should probably watch those public displays of affection.” “You're right. I can't help it, though. When I'm around you, I just can't keep my hands and lips to myself.” Dan dragged his fingers up and down her arm so softly it made her shiver and close her eyes for a moment. “Dan, don't. Not now. You're going to ruin my concentration. I'll be thinking of you all day, and I won't get anything done. Boyle would just love to catch me staring off into space.” “I wish I could do something about him. Maybe his problem with you is just a misunderstanding or something. If that's the case, it could be fixed.” Audrey stared at her lap. “I don't think you can fix his problem with me. I'll just have to put up with him. Besides, there's one like him everywhere you go.” “Well, at least he's the only one. Everyone else thinks you're the balls.” Dan's face reddened, and he stammered. “I—I'm sorry. I didn't mean…” “You can say I'm 'the balls' if you want to.” Audrey chuckled and mussed his dark hair. “I won't swoon, you know.” “I know. That's one reason you're so cool.” Dan picked up a strand of her long, dark hair and gazed at the way it naturally zigzagged across his hand. “But, as corny as it sounds, I want to treat you like a lady—my lady.” Audrey smiled and squeezed his strong arm. “You just keep on being corny. Don't change a hair for me.” Glancing in the rear-view mirror, he combed his hair back in place with his fingers. “So can I see you for dinner, Tuesday evening?”
Audrey realized that she was very much looking forward to it. “Yeah. How about sevenish?” “Great. I'm going to take you someplace as classy as you are, so you might want to dress up a bit.” “That's sweet, Dan, but we really shouldn't be seen together on a date. How would I explain it? 'Oh, we both got all dressed up and just happened to bump into each other, so we decided to sit at this intimate table for two?'“ Audrey took his hand and squeezed it. “I'll cook. Do you like Italian food?” “As long as it's not like Mamma used to make.” Audrey laughed and smiled, mussed his hair again and stepped out of the police car, right in front of Lieutenant Boyle. His face contorted into a menacing smile. **** During her lunch hour, walking alone, Audrey returned to the cemetery and back to the Markham area. She was deep in thought but not about the gravesite. She was fantasizing about making love with Dan Picolo. In her vivid imagination, he was just about to enter her when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped and whirled around. “My God, Peterson. Don't you believe in clearing your throat or saying 'excuse me' before you startle someone?” “Oh, sorry. I didn't realize … Were you in a psychic trance or something?” “No. I was just off in outer space, I guess.” “Oh. You looked like you were deep in thought. Is everything all right?” “Yeah, everything's great. I just needed some fresh air after sitting in my cage all morning.” Peterson put a paternal arm around her and gently guided her away from the gravesite toward the cemetery entrance. “My godchild told me about your choice of places to take walks. Don't you think it's a little dangerous for someone as sensitive as you are?” “It was a mistake to take Patience with me. She's young, and death is still something that she prefers to deny, even though—or maybe because—it's touched us so closely.” Peterson patted her arm in a gesture of support. “Yeah, well. It's been a couple of years, Audrey. Are you having trouble moving on? Is that why you come here?” “No.” She sighed and shook her head as they continued their slow stroll. “First my daughter and now you. Why is walking in the cemetery so wrong? Death is part of life. I thought cops understood that pretty well.” She paused and stooped down to pull a dandelion out of a crack in the cement walk. “We do, but life is part of life, too.” He cleared his throat. “You know the state park down by the ocean? Doris and I like to walk there on my days off.” “Geez!” Audrey looked at the sky and raised her arms and her voice. “I'm just getting some air, and the
cemetery is near the cop shop. That's all!” “Okay, okay. I'm on your side, remember?” “Yeah.” She sighed. “You've been very good to us. I didn't mean to overreact.” “Don't worry about it. You should give Doris a call sometime. She loves to walk in the early evening, and I'm too pooped by then. She could arrange to meet you at the park.” Audrey wondered why he was so persistent. She sensed worry in his voice but didn't want to fight with him, so she didn't answer. The two of them walked on in silence until they reached the sidewalk. Peterson smiled and let his arm drop from her shoulder. “Hey, I hear you're seeing Picolo.” “Boy, news travels fast. We haven't even had our first date yet. So who told you? My daughter or Picolo?” “Relax, Audrey. It doesn't matter how I heard about it. I just think it's great. Can I walk you to the door?” “Sure, if you want to. Listen, please keep my date with Picolo our little secret. I don't want the others to find out.” “Why?” “It could turn out to be a one-night stand, and then my flawless reputation would be sullied.” She smiled like a regular, single girl. “Plus, I'd like to keep my private life at least semi-private.” “Hey, don't worry. Your secret's safe with me.” He took both of her hands and faced her squarely. “All I want to say is, I'm happy for you. Dan's a great guy, and you deserve some pleasure after all this time.” “Thanks, Peterson. I thought you might think I was robbing the cradle.” Peterson laughed, walked with her to the back door and opened it for her. “Maybe I just think you've still 'got it'. Have a nice afternoon, Audrey. Remember, Sam would want you to be happy again.” “Yeah. He and Dan would have hit it off. It's too bad they couldn't have met before…” Audrey couldn't quite bring herself to say,before Dan replaced him. Peterson offered her his kindest gaze and nodded in knowing compassion. **** Saturday evening as Audrey was sitting alone in her living room, wearing blue silk pajamas and reading, the doorbell rang. She couldn't help being curious but figured it must be Patience without her keys, so she strolled over to answer it. She never expected to see Dan Picolo standing in her entryway holding his weapon pointed at the ceiling with a red rose sticking out of it.
Audrey chuckled. “Is it Tuesday already?” “No, but I couldn't wait until Tuesday. I wanted to see you tonight.” He handed her the rose and holstered his weapon. “Thank you. It's lovely.” She buried her nose in the sweet-smelling flower and smiled. “Well, you're in luck. I love surprises, and I happen to be home. But, what would you have done if you'd dropped in, and I wasn't here?” “I'd have cried all the way home.” “Oh, you're too sweet. Come on in.” She was about to close the door behind him when she remembered something. “Oh, would you mind taking off your shoes?” “Sure.” Dan pulled at his laces and glanced at the plush, ivory Oriental rug covering most of the hardwood floor. “That's a beautiful carpet. Better to keep it that way.” As soon as he had removed his shoes, she said, “Now your socks.” “Huh?” “Just the socks. We'll stop at that for now.” Dan grinned as he followed her train of thought. “Okay.” As soon as he had removed his socks, Audrey grabbed them, tied them together and hung them over the doorknob. “There, now we won't be disturbed.” “I use foot powder. I don't think they smell that bad.” His mouth curled up in his dimpled smile. Audrey closed the door, leaving the socks right where she had placed them. After retrieving a silver bud vase from her hutch, she nodded toward the gun belt. Picolo looked down at it. “Now you want my belt off, too, I suppose?” “That would be nice. I don't think you'll have to resort to self-defense here.” “Damn.” He winked and removed the belt and hardware. As she was filling the vase with water in the kitchen, Picolo glanced around, taking in the little touches—clues to her personality and taste. Cushy furniture, a plaid wool throw, a grandfather clock, mahogany bookshelves filled with novels. Baskets and pottery offered color and warmth to the cool white walls and modern lines. Spice. He smelled spice, but it was stronger as he faced the kitchen. He inhaled deeply and thought about asking what she was baking, but no. She could take that the wrong way. He wasn't interested in her domestic skills. He'd rather cook up something spicy in the bedroom. Thinking about a tryst with Audrey, he could feel himself growing rigid. “Nice place. Looks new inside, but judging from the ivy covering the bricks outside, I'd say the building is probably over a hundred years old.”
“It is,” she said. “It used to be one of the mansions belonging to a self-made millionaire.” She returned from the kitchen. Dan couldn't help noticing the silk pajamas clinging to her alluring curves. He caught his breath.Good God, she's beautiful. She apparently didn't notice his reaction as she looked around the room and continued to address his interest in the building. “When the family didn't want the upkeep any longer, they sold the whole lollapalooza to a condo developer.” Dan ran his fingers along the sensuous fabric of an upholstered easy chair, wishing he could be gliding his fingers over her silk-clad bust line. He cleared his throat. “How many condos did they put in here?” “Seven in the main house. There's a carriage building on the grounds with two more, and an outbuilding that an artist rents as a studio, but it wasn't converted to living space. He just paints there.” “So nine, plus.” Picolo noticed that she was looking down at her pajamas. If he didn't act fast, she'd probably want to change, and he wanted her to stay exactly as she was. He stepped in close to her and placed one hand behind her head as the other one glided around her silky waist. He drew her to him. She let her hands run over his biceps and around his neck. He kissed her gently on the mouth, then enveloped her in a warm hug. Stroking her back, he could feel the length of her spine uninterrupted. Ah. No bra. As he imagined the feel of her soft breasts, he forced himself to gaze over her shoulder, looking for something neutral to comment on.Timing, Picolo. It's all about the timing. There was a large fireplace about which the main seating clustered. It looked like it had been modernized to fit the contemporary theme, but seemed to announce that the fireplace was still proud and important. “Outside, it looks like they kept the original chimneys. Is that a functional fireplace in front of the sofa?” “It should be working fine.” She stepped back, and Dan was able to think clearly again. “I haven't used it lately, but Patience and I tested it last winter.” “May I?” He gestured toward the wood and kindling sitting on the hearth in a metal container curved like a cradle. “It's a cool evening, and I used to be pretty good at building a warm fire when I was a Boy Scout.” “Be my guest.” Audrey smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Can I get you a beer? Glass of wine?” “Sure. I'll have whatever you're having.” Audrey strolled over to the corner hutch and selected two crystal wineglasses. As she walked toward the kitchen, she thought, hmm, red wine for beef, white wine for chicken. She glanced over at his well-built, mouthwatering good looks. He was rolling up his sleeves, preparing to work on building a romantic fire. She grinned. He seems like beefcake to me. He certainly ain't chicken. When she returned with two glasses of Merlot, the wood was stacked over the kindling and newspaper,
and Dan pulled out a lighter to set it burning. “So you used to be a Boy Scout, huh? Isn't that cheating?” she nodded toward the lighter as she sat on the couch. “Aren't you supposed to rub two sticks together?” Dan smiled and sat close to her. “I never cheat.” The kindling crackled, and the fire made the room smell woodsy. Accepting the glass of wine she offered, he put his other arm around her and stroked her shoulder. “Thanks for the wine. So, I thought we might get to know each other better. I don't know what you like and dislike.” He whispered in her ear, “I want to know how to please you,” and kissed it. She sucked in a quick breath. When she could speak, she said, “Is that so?” “I had to contain my urge to flirt with you until it seemed as if enough time had passed since your husband's death, and then I had to act.” He sipped his wine. “I couldn't let a beauty like you get snapped up by some old, rich guy.” “Oh, really?” He reached across her and put his wineglass on the end table. “Yup. I can be a patient man sometimes, but I know when to act. I've admired you from afar long enough. What else would you like to know about me?” Audrey put her glass of wine next to his and thought, I want to know if I can get more of those warm hugs and masterful kisses, and then add some harmless making out before I implode, but answered, “All I really need to know right now is if you want what I want.” “What do you want?” he asked. Audrey stood, strolled over to the light switch and dimmed the lights until the living room was almost entirely illuminated by the flickering fire. When she sat beside him again, he was grinning. The shadows brought out his deep dimples even more. He took her in his arms and brushed her hair back behind her ear. She moistened her lips and her breathing quickened. He touched her jaw and lured her mouth to his, then pressed his lips to hers in a deep kiss. She felt warmth grow and spread through her.Oh God. This could lead to more than harmless making out. Should she break the contact when everything inside her was begging her not to? She had to. The visceral force tugging at her vagina threatened to overpower her reason. With all the self-control she could muster, she pulled away from the glorious gentle pressure of his lips. Snuggling closer to him, resting her head on his strong shoulder, she let her eyes wander toward the erection in his pants. She imagined that he would be well-endowed and hoped someday she'd find out. Dan's fingers stroked her neck and caused her to tremble. Moments later, his hand traveled over her arm to her tummy. She warmed wherever he touched her and the heat spread throughout her body. At last, his hand moved upward, cupping her generous breast, gently lifting it a couple of times as if to appreciate the weight. He slid his thumb over the nipple a few times, and she let out an involuntary moan. He shifted and lowered her to the couch. With both of his hands under her shoulders, he was kissing her again with greater pressure. Both of them were breathing heavily. He freed his hands and caressed both
of her breasts at the same time. Audrey's skin tingled as he fondled her breasts through the silk. Prickly excitement coursed through her. She wanted to feel his hot mouth sucking her nipples. As if he could sense it, Dan was soon pulling at her silk-covered buttons. Perhaps breaking the sensuous contact brought her to her senses. “Oh, man. I hate to say this, but could we slow it down? Just a bit?” “If you hate to say it, don't say it,” he whispered. His lips covered her mouth again, and his hand fondled her blue, silk-covered thigh. Oh, dear Lord. I really don't want to slow down! I haven't been kissed or touched like this for… The door suddenly opened, and both of them sat up, surprised. “Oh!” Patience exclaimed when she caught sight of them on the couch. “I—I'm sorry. I thought you were joking.” She gestured to the socks on the doorknob. Audrey laughed. “Don't worry about it.” “No, of course not. Everything's cool. Hi, Dan.” She waved, and he waved back. “I was just stopping in to get a few things. I'm going to sleep at Darlene's tonight. There's a party there, and some of us were invited to stay over.” Patience rarely babbled so fast. Audrey suspected that she was still unnerved. “That's fine. You don't have to make it a sleepover if you don't want to, though.” “No, I want to! I'll just go and get my things and stuff, and then I'm off. You go ahead and, um…” The awkward loss for words was filled in by Patience's hand waving in a circular motion until she gave up trying to speak and bolted for her bedroom. She came out minutes later with her backpack, and Audrey smirked. “I told you that you'd be more embarrassed than I would.” “I'm not embarrassed,” she said, blushing. “Bye. See you tomorrow, Mom. See you later, Dan.” As soon as Patience had hurried out the door, Dan asked, “Is she all right? I mean, did I … um…?” Audrey helped him say what she imagined he was trying to verbalize. “Surprise her by almost taking her mother right on the couch?” He nodded. “We talked, and I thought she was okay. She even suggested we'd be having sex soon. Not that we will! I'll talk with her again, just to be sure she's not too freaked out.” One side of his mouth curled into a smile. “You can talk about our having sex, soon. It's all right with me. In fact, I think it's a great idea.” Audrey's cheeks reddened and heated. She bit her lower lip. “I can't just yet.” “Okay. Well, now that the mood's been broken anyway, can I ask a question?”
“Sure, what do you want to know?” “What really happened to Sam?” Audrey felt as if a lightning bolt had passed through her. “Wow. That came at me out of the blue. What made you ask?” “I'm sorry, but I've heard rumors. The guys said something wasn't right about the scene. Something about his body in a strange place, and it hadn't been moved. Different sets of footprints, and something else was suspicious, but I don't know how much you know or how much you want to know.” She sat quietly for a moment and then decided to tell him the truth. “I desperately want to know what really happened. All I know for sure is that Sam didn't kill himself. I want everyone to know that. I owe that to him. We had an insurance policy that didn't cover suicide. I never in a million years thought that would be a problem when we bought it. This isn't about money, though. There's more to it, and someday I might tell you why.” Chapter Three Dan nodded, even if he didn't completely understand. He'd find out more in the near future. However, right now, in the nearer future, he wanted to comfort her. There was something about a woman who was loyal to the end—beyond the end—that completely captivated him. His experiences had never involved much loyalty on either side, and he was ready to see what it was like. She had been hurt so badly already, he was determined not to add to that hurt if he could help it. Dan pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “I'll help, Audrey.” She looked up at him. “You will? How?” “Anyway I can. I'll do some sleuthing and see what I can find.” He smiled to reassure her. “I'm bucking for detective, anyway, you know.” Audrey threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered. “You're the only man who has listened or cared about what I wanted since Sam died.” She choked up and her eyes filled with tears. Dan held her, kissed her hair, and waited until she was able to continue. When she let out a sigh, he asked. “What have you learned, so far?” “Homicide detectives questioned the cemetery employee who dug the grave where Sam's body was found, but apparently he had cleared it hours earlier for a funeral the next day. He said he went home afterwards. His neighbor corroborated his story.” Dan stroked her cheek. “What was his name?” “Morris Adamson. The detectives tailed him for a while. They said he was creepy and nicknamed him the crypt keeper. Of course his footprints were found, but they were supposed to be there. There were other footprints, but he swore he didn't know who they belonged to.” “Where were Sam's prints?” “They led right to the grave. It looked like he kneeled in front of it, and they found his body inside, at the
bottom, like he fell in.” “That's what the guys were referring to.” “I'm afraid so.” Audrey pulled one leg up and tucked her foot under her thigh. “Anything new surface in the meantime?” he asked. “Nothing official.” “How about unofficial?” She adjusted so she could look at his face. “Well, yeah. A couple of things. Sam was a confirmed lefty. Why would he choose to hold his weapon with his right hand?” Dan's raised his eyebrows. “That is strange. I can't imagine why he'd do that. Do you think he was sending you some kind of message?” “Yes. That's exactly what I think.” She cocked her head. “You seem to take my psychic gift seriously. I have to be sure, though. How do you feel about my unique abilities?” He swept some loose strands of her long hair behind her shoulder. “I've heard that you helped solve some baffling cases that way. I'm impressed as hell.” Audrey smiled, but it was a sad smile, and she dropped her head to stare at her lap. “I wish everyone felt that way.” Dan lifted her chin, and looked into her glistening, deep brown eyes. “You know you can't please all of the people all of the time, right? Boyle's an idiot for criticizing you when you only want to assist the department.” “Yeah, I know.” He kissed her but ever so softly. “If it helps at all, you're very pleasing to me and not just because you're beautiful. I admire you. You have a good sense of who you are and what you want. You're not afraid to be honest, and you know how to stand up for yourself.” He massaged her arm and shoulder. “You're a good mother. Even though you've both been through a lot, Patience comes first. I've seen her tease you, but only because she knows that no matter how aggravated you might get, you'll never leave her. She can count on you. We cops can count on you. You're an astonishing woman.” He turned her chin until he was gazing into her eyes, still damp with tears. “And I want you to know that you can count on me. You've carried this burden alone for too long.” This time she smiled with grateful relief, and rested her head on his shoulder. Was she having feelings for him already? It must be because she hadn't been able to talk with anyone about this horror—no one who would listen, anyway. Audrey and Dan talked well into the night. When Audrey started yawning, he asked her if she wanted him to go. To her complete surprise she said, “No. I—I mean, if you want to stay, you can stay. I don't want to be responsible if you fall asleep at the wheel.”
He smiled and kissed her with several sweet, little kisses, and then followed it with a long one. When he leaned back, he trailed his finger across her lips and said, “Well, I'm not sleeping on the couch and in my uniform. What about Patience?” Audrey hesitated, but thought it over. “I doubt if Patience will be coming home tonight, but just in case, you can sleep in my room. Try to behave yourself and bring all of your things in with you.” “Including the socks?” “Especially the socks. If she does come home tonight, she'll sleep late tomorrow. You can sneak out early.” “I'll have to. I'm working tomorrow.” Her eyes opened wide as she thought of something else. “You don't snore do you?” “Not that I know of.” She gave him a sly smile and couldn't resist teasing him about his past. “Mmm. I imagine someone in your harem would have told you by now.” He smiled and rolled his eyes. “So, are you sure you don't mind? I should tell you that I sleep in the raw.” Her breath hitched. She might catch a glimpse of his nude body, after all. That was just too tempting. “I have a king-size bed, so you should be able to stay on your own side.” He grinned and walked over to the door to retrieve his socks, shoes and gun-belt. “Don't worry. I'll probably behave. I'm trying this new thing called maturity. Maybe you can help me realize when I'm slipping.” “One sign of maturity is the ability to recognize your own pitfalls and stop yourself from falling into them.” **** Audrey turned her back as he stripped down to his boxers and got into bed, beside her. Dan lightly spooned her and buried his face in her hair. She smelled like cinnamon. He was encouraged when she didn't pull away and hoped she was noticing his hard throbbing erection gently prodding her silky bottom. Slowly, he pulled her hair back from her shoulder and kissed her neck. He felt her shudder, but still, she didn't pull away. He reached over and turned her toward him, brought his lips to hers and they shared a passionate and stirring kiss.How can I convince her to give herself to me tonight? We both need it. Convincing her wasn't a problem. After several minutes of French-kissing her with fire and passion, he went with his instincts. He clutched her in his arms and pulled, crushing her silk-covered bosom to his chest. Then he scooped her soft, round ass and pulled her closer, right up against his erection. She pushed against him, and he let her break his strong grasp. To his surprise, she sat up on the bed, and pulled the silk pajama top off over her head. Oh, Lord. He knew she'd have beautiful breasts, but he didn't know they'd be so full and round.Damn!
They're perfect. He couldn't wait to suck them, but she was wriggling out of the pajama bottoms. Dan was delighted that she was ready for more and he intended to give it to her. He paused just long enough to grab a condom from the pocket of his uniform where he had surreptitiously placed it before getting into bed. He wanted to dive into her, take her until they both exploded, and then lie beside her—until he would do it all again, but slower the next time. He held himself in check, despite his aching need, realizing he could blow the whole thing if he was that aggressive. Instead, he touched her nude body as if it were a sacred temple he had been waiting to enter his entire life. He stroked her beautiful breasts and lowered his mouth to them so he could suckle her. She arched and moaned, but pulled his head closer letting him know he could take her as he pleased. He sucked harder on her dark rose nipples. His hand found the sweet, sensitive folds of her labia and followed them to the apex. He fingered her clit, and she arched and moaned in response. He stroked her while he continued to suck her rigid nipples one after the other. She writhed and moaned, yet never told him to stop. Dan didn't think he could stop now if he wanted to. Audrey was surprised by what she was going to let him do, but it was too late for her to slow him down. She wanted and needed him. She had to fill herself with him. She reached for his erection, and was delighted to find it rock hard and large, both in length and thickness. Before she had a chance to pleasure him, he pulled away. She couldn't imagine why. He slid down between her legs and licked her, causing her to shudder and arch her pelvis right into his waiting mouth. She moaned louder, preparing to be launched into bliss. He inserted first one finger and then two into her waiting, wet chasm. He maintained contact with her clit until she climaxed with a crashing force that she had never experienced in her entire life. She shuddered and bucked like she was having a seizure. Granted, she hadn't had much experience. There were a couple of boys in high school who persisted until she acquiesced and decided to try some experimental sex—or what she thought was sex at the time. Then there was Sam, who was gentle and considerate. He made sure she had come and then he would continue until his own climax. Dan's talented mouth was back on her clit and she gasped. Lightning shot through her until she thrashed and climaxed again. This type of complete, uninhibited passion with multiple orgasms had never been her experience. And now it was. She could barely move or think coherently. She knew that women of her age were at their sexual peak, but she had never taken it seriously. As soon as she could, she would take Dan's large, erect cock in her mouth and show him that she wasn't afraid to return the favor. He didn't wait for that. He unrolled the condom over his long shaft. When he was ready to mount her she was moist and hungry for him, and she wasn't about to interrupt his plans. He poised over her, looked deep into her eyes, and penetrated her vagina. She moaned in fervent appreciation. He pulled almost all the way back and entered her again with his full length, then pulled back as far as he could without leaving her body. “Tell me what you like, Audrey.” She craved him and couldn't stand it slow like this. She wanted him now. “Anything … Everything … Please…” she begged. “Don't tease me. I can't take it.” Dan smiled and obliged. He thrust in and out of her hard and fast. He purposely bore down on her pubic area, knowing she would enjoy the sensation as much as he. As their pleasure mounted, she grabbed his buttocks and matched his every thrust. He scooped her in his arms and paused only long enough to flip until she was on top of him. She sat up, her bouncing breasts over him. He grabbed them and massaged and squeezed while she moaned in delight. She bent over him so he could take one in his mouth, and then the other. Their rhythm and friction soon built to a frenzied pitch. His thick, hard cock reached her sweet
G-spot inside, and she began jerking with convulsions of joy. The rippling sensations spread throughout her body until she felt as if she had liquefied. Dan reached his fevered pinnacle, grunting and breathing erratically. She collapsed and lay on top of him. He was still inside of her, holding her, silently, until their heavy panting slowed and their racing hearts relaxed. She couldn't have been more sexually fulfilled, as if she couldn't move a muscle. They fell asleep together, coupled. **** Moonlight and fog alternately illuminated and obscured two silhouetted figures. One tall, angular man was standing. The other was kneeling near him. Fog rolled across the surrounding gravestones lending a surreal atmosphere to the panorama. No sound permeated the dark, but a chill of premonition filled her with dread. The silhouette of a large angel statue seemed to be watching over the kneeling man. She found it difficult to see his body or features, yet she could see that he was remarkably still and calm—for someone holding a gun to his own temple. As if watching a black-and-white horror movie, Audrey lay riveted but helpless to stop the dismay that she knew was to follow. The tall man, also holding a weapon pointed it at the kneeling man, said something she couldn't hear and gestured. With the roar and flash of a gun she awoke from a sound sleep, shrieking, and sat bolt upright in bed. Picolo flipped off the bed, grabbed his gun from the holster that lay next to him and pointed it toward the door. Nearing dawn dimly lighted the room. As soon as she realized that she had simply been dreaming, she apologized. “Sorry. Bad dream.” Picolo hung his head between his arms for a moment and then climbed back into bed, setting his gun on the bedside table. “That's quite an alarm clock you have there, darling. Do you do that often?” “No. I'm sorry. I was having a nightmare.” “Oh. Is it anything you want to talk about?” He edged over next to her, took her hand in his and massaged her palm. “No, it can wait 'til morning.” “What time is it?” he asked. Audrey turned to read the digital clock beside her. “It's five.” Dan groaned. “Itis morning.” He started to get up when Audrey felt the need to comment on her decision to let him stay. “Dan? I'm glad you came over last night.” “Mmm, me too,” he said, and he slid toward her to give her a quick kiss, then returned to his side of the bed. Bending over, he picked up his clothes. In the soft light, Audrey couldn't help noticing his tantalizing skin shining in the pale window light, and as
he stood, the shadows defined his incredible, muscular buttocks. When he turned around, the dawn illuminated his biceps, pecs, and six-pack abs. Dan didn't attempt to hide his full-frontal nudity from her. He stood still. She caught herself staring at the Adonis she had just spent the night kissing, fondling and giving her body to, but there was something she had to say, and it wouldn't be easy. For her, last night was utter, blissful release, but this morning she was unnerved, and her mind was a jumble of emotions. Was it foolish to go so far so fast? Would he expect that all the time? Would there be another time? Was this just one of his flings? What did she feel? Guilty? Not really. Perhaps fearful of being a one-night stand or getting used to, and then losing, the joy she'd discovered she could experience? That was closer to the truth. “Last night was very special.” “It was for me too. Of course, it would be. I lived a fantasy. I've pictured us making love at least a thousand times.” Audrey looked down at the rumpled sheets with an unaccustomed shyness. “Um. Was it all that you pictured?” He dropped his clothes and crawled across the sheets to reach her lips to kiss her. “No, it was better.” She held her hand against his chest. If she allowed him to pull her close, they might begin petting, and the passion would flare all over again. Audrey wondered if she would ever be able to control it. “Keep that up, and we'll be doing the horizontal dance, and you'll be late for work.” “Too bad. You're a damn fine dancer.” He reached over surrounding her waist, drew her near, and kissed her. The unmistakable pull of attraction tugged at her, and she inhaled deeply in order to focus her thoughts and stop them from detouring. I have to find a way to slow him down, without stopping him. I haven't felt this wonderful for a long time. “You liked last night, did you?” “I did,” he murmured. “I want more of that.” “So do I—much more, but much later.” She tugged the sheet to cover her nakedness. “Huh? How much later?” “I don't know, but, Dan, I do know that last night was a mistake.” Dan's brow furrowed. “Why?” “I'm not…” Audrey searched for the right thing to say, but words failed her. “What is it? You don't seem to have any hang-ups. Didn't I satisfy you?” “God, yes! It isn't that.” “Can you at least try to explain? I'm kinda baffled, and I wish you wouldn't leave me dangling over here.” She glanced at his exquisite cock that had filled her with pleasure. She had to swallow, hard.
Dan sat on the edge of the bed, and stepped into his underwear. “Is it about Sam?” “I don't think so. If you had asked me out a year ago it would have been difficult for that reason. No, I want to move forward.” “Okay. Is it Patience?” “Not really. Although, when she comes home, I don't want to run her off.” “Fine. I won't stay over when she's around. We can always go to my place.” She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. “I hope you can figure this out and clue me in,” he said. “I think I deserve that.” He stood and continued to dress in yesterday's uniform, letting Audrey think. “All right, it may sound stupid in this day and age, but we went too fast. I don't want you to think of me as a tramp.” “What? You're kidding.” “Um … I got a little carried away last night.” She looked into his astonished, blue eyes. “I've never let go right out of the starting gate like that. It was wonderful, but I had pictured it happening later on in the relationship, like, at least when we knew we had a relationship. Last night I was so turned on that I wound up rationalizing my behavior. I thought I could handle it. It turns out that maybe I can't take casual sex as casually as I had hoped.” Dan stood, facing her squarely. “Okay. It sounds as if we're finally getting to the bottom of it. You know what? It isn't a problem. I'm in lust with you, yes, but I can control it. You're worth anticipating.” Audrey always knew when someone was holding back. “But…” He pursed his lips. “But, you drive me crazy in bed, and I'm going to want you again. Don't make me wait too long.” “What if I do?” “We'll probably have to screw day and night for a week to make up for lost time.” She flopped backwards onto the mattress and covered her eyes with one arm. God, that sounded like a good plan. Dan took in a long breath. “Okay,” he said. “Gotta get home, shower, iron a uniform, dress…” “Gotcha.” She was oddly relieved that he was leaving. She doubted her ability to control her lust when she was around him and anywhere near a bed, or a couch, or a floor. “Well, as I said, I'm glad you came over. It was nice having you.” Dan paused with his hand on the door. “Mmm. It was nice having you, too.” He dropped his head. “I'm sorry. That was crude. I didn't mean to…”
Audrey had to chuckle. “Be so naughty? Don't worry. Ordinarily I love naughty talk, but thank you for the respect, and Dan?” She sat up and dangled her legs over the side, still holding the sheet to cover her. “I'll understand if you prefer to move on to simpler women.” Although, she dearly hoped he wouldn't. “You mean bimbos. I've had my fill of simple women, Audrey. I'm sure that we'll be able to get you past this old-fashioned idea that I might not respect you in the morning.” He strolled over to her but didn't try to kiss her. With his hands on his hips, he said, “I'm not giving up on you.” Audrey's tension gave way to relief, wonder, and gratitude. “I don't think I was giving you enough credit. You're amazingly mature for a guy who's so … No, you're just amazing.” **** Later, at work, Audrey was staring at her monitor, deep in her fantasy of what-ifs, when Lieutenant Boyle walked in without knocking and snuck up on her. Audrey sensed him there, looked up, and saw a giant looming. Startled, she jumped. “Cripes, you surprised me. Peterson did the same thing to me yesterday.” “Good to know old Peterson and I can still sneak up on a suspect.” “Oh? And what am I suspected of?” “Making Picolo late Sunday morning.” Audrey shuffled some papers and tried to look casual. “Oh, was he late? That's not like him, is it?” “No, it isn't, but it is like you. I hope your bad habits aren't going to—ahem—rub off on him.” Audrey could feel her heart lurch and hoped it didn't show in her face. “My bad habits? What are you talking about? Did you ever think that maybe he had car trouble or couldn't find his keys?” “Or more likely, he couldn't find his pants! The night shift saw his truck parked out in front of your place all Saturday night.” She never thought about his SUV. “What makes them think it was his?” “Because there's only one Rhode Island license plate that says 'Fuzzy' on it, and it's his.” “Oh, is that his?” She was trying to sound nonchalant. “Maybe he was visiting one of the other…” “Give it up, Audrey.” “Oh, all right.” She thought fast and came up with a semi-convincing cover story to hide the fact that she had jumped him the first time he came over. The boys would have a field day with that. “Look, he was there, but we just talked until it got late. He was tired, and I let him crash on the couch.” One little white lie. Not too bad, considering. “A cop falling asleep at the wheel wouldn't be a very good example to set, would it? Please don't hassle me about this.”
“I wasn't going to, Audrey. Me and Picolo had a little talk this morning. I guess it's time to bury the hatchet.” “Really? And did you just call me Audrey?” “Yeah. It seems that a little opposition developed between us. I guess I thought you were giving me attitude.” “Oh. I guess I thought I had to be defensive because you hated my guts.” He chuckled. “No, Dan explained that you thought I had it in for you. That's not true.” “Okay,” she said. “I'm glad you talked to Dan, then. He didn't say anything that led you to think that something other than conversation could have happened, did he?” She shot him a pointed look, and her meaning couldn't be clearer. “No,” he said. “Picolo's a gentleman. You don't have to worry.” Boyle began playing with Audrey's clamshell paperweight. “Hell, I might be quiet about it even if I knew you two were bumping uglies. He seems to think you're real good for each other, and if it doesn't affect your jobs, it might help you both to have someone special.” “Wow. You're human, after all.” “Yeah. I can be.” He put the clamshell down. “So, what are you working on?” Leaning over her desk, he squinted at the monitor. “I've been doing some research on the Walter Markham family. They have a huge family plot in the Newport cemetery, but there's absolutely nothing about them.” “Who sent you on this wild goose chase?” “I did. Why? What do you know?” “I know that Markham is a fake name. The name of the Wall Street millionaire under that headstone in the cemetery is Walter Marx.” “You're kidding! Why did he bury his whole family under a phony name?” “He was a Swiss national. Maybe he was afraid of being mistaken for a German in one of the world wars or something. He was an eccentric old man. That's all I really know about him, and that's second or third-hand information.” Audrey stared at him in wonder. “Damn,” she said. “Well, I guess you can close that file. I may have something else for you, though.” “Really, what's that?” She sat up straight, hoping for a first-time acceptance of her psychic gift. “Well, before that, tell me what you're working on already.”
“Nothing exciting. Just entering some data. Why? What do you need me to do?” She gathered up the books she had been searching in vain. “I'll let you know in a day or two. Meanwhile, think about taking a vacation. It seems like a good time to go, and take Picolo with you. He's apt to be useless in his present condition.” “Oh yeah? What's that?” “Happy,” Boyle said. After he left, whistling, she had to rethink what had just taken place. Hmm. Thoughtful. I wonder if he's had an exorcism or something? **** By Tuesday afternoon, Audrey had decided to investigate her only lead, anyway. She pulled up in front of an impressive oceanfront estate and cut the engine. As she stepped out of her car, the tang of the salty air filled her nostrils. Many huge homes faced the breathtaking ocean view not far from Rosecuff, one of the larger-than-life mansions open to the public. Audrey gazed at the wealthy neighborhood. Her goose bumps surfaced. She wondered how many people lived in the very large brick home. Her research showed that there was only one remaining descendent of the Marx family.Well, here goes. Traveling up the endless brick walk, admiring the perfectly manicured lawn, she hesitated. She could still leave and forget about this. Taking a deep breath, she renewed her resolve. No, if there might be a clue, she really couldn't. Before pressing the doorbell, she had one last talk with herself. Audrey, you're being more obsessive than usual. Why not just let it go? She couldn't answer that. Dwarfed in front of the massive oak doors, she pushed the bell and listened to an audible gong on the other side. Several moments later, a young woman dressed in a maid's uniform opened the door just enough to peer out at her. “Hello, my name is Audrey Lawless. I work for the Newport Police Department as a researcher. I was wondering if I could speak to Miss Marx?” “The police? What on earth could you want with Miss Marx?” The maid's eyes grew large. “Oh, yes. Um … I'll just go and check.” She closed the door in Audrey's face. She wondered what that was all about. While waiting, she admired the healthy landscaping. Shade plants encircled the flowering dogwood trees, and perfectly pruned boxwood thrived, lining the brick walk. Several minutes passed. When she began to think no one was going to return, the door reopened. A nurse in white appeared. “Miss Marx isn't receiving visitors today.” Audrey stood mute. She heard an angry, female voice yelling, “I have nothing to say to the Newport Police,” and then the shaky voice launched into a verse fromThe Grapes of Wrath . “Oh, I see,” Audrey said. “May I speak to someone else in the household?” The nurse stared at her for a moment as if annoyed. “If the police wish to meet with anyone here, they
will have to produce a warrant and a better reason than research, ma'am. Good day.” She closed the heavy door with a thud. This lead appeared even more confusing than before. She strolled, preoccupied, back toward her car. At first she didn't notice two Dobermans that had been released from an area behind the house. When they spotted her, they charged. The sharp barking sent a chill through her, and she whirled around to see them running straight for her. Even if she dashed as though her very life depended on it—and it might—there was no way she could reach her Mazda RX-7 in time. Chapter Four Audrey jumped for the lowest branch on a Dogwood tree and hauled herself up. Pure adrenaline boosted her to the next branch and the next. Panic gripped her. In her peripheral vision, she caught sight of a familiar-looking bronze GMC Envoy driving at breakneck speed in her direction. Audrey yelled for help and hoped for a miracle. The barking guard dogs had closed in. They leaped at the dogwood tree's low branches. Driving right over the pristine lawn, the bronze SUV halted directly under the tree. A retractable sunroof slid open. While the driver distracted the dogs, luring them to the other side, Audrey dropped onto the SUV roof and lowered herself into the plush interior barely in time to avoid the jagged teeth threatening to tear her apart. She gasped for air and looked over to see who had acted as her guardian angel. “Dan.” She breathed raggedly. As the dogs jumped, pawed, and barked at the window, Dan shifted into reverse and sped backward onto the street. Once the car was no longer on the property the dogs relinquished their pursuit and retreated, trotting to the rear of the estate. Dan pulled off to the side of the wide street, reached for Audrey and pulled her close. Her heart pounding, all she could manage to say was a breathless, whispered, “Thank you.” “Jesus, Audrey. Are you all right?” “Yeah. Thanks Dan. You must be the one with ESP today.” She straightened up and put her hand to her chest to calm her breathing and her nerves. “I was taking the scenic route to my gym and heard the dogs barking. Geez! How did that happen?” He shifted the car into first gear. “I don't know. I asked for the elderly woman who owns the house and the next thing I knew…” Still shaken, she gazed over at her knight in shining, bronze armor and noticed worry lines crossing his forehead. “I was investigating a tip based on something Lieutenant Boyle told me. Now that I think of it, he seemed a little too cooperative. I guess I know why.” Dan shook his head and drove. “I'm taking you straight home. I'm sure the chief will understand why you won't be back to work today.” “I'll call him and say that I'm not feeling well after almost having my soul ripped out of my body. I think I'll talk to Boyle too. I want to let him know that if you hadn't come along and saved my life, the department would've had another death to explain.”
“Atta girl. Don't downplay it. I'll come in with you. I can corroborate your story as an eyewitness if the chief or lieutenant needs one. I was going to come over tonight anyway, right?” “Oh, right. It's Tuesday.” She slapped her forehead. “Damn. I was going to cook dinner for you. I haven't shopped for the ingredients yet. I planned to get them on the way home so they'd be fresh.” “Don't cook. Don't do anything. I never cook after a brush with death. Let me get dinner—the Picolo specialty.” “You're going to cook?” “No, don't worry. I won't even try.” He chuckled. “You don't need another brush with death today. Do you like Mexican food?” “I love it.” “Okay, after I drop you off and make sure you're all right, I'll go pick up some Mexican food. Dinner is taken care of.” “My hero,” she sighed. Easing down into the comfortable bucket seat, she managed to close her eyes and begin to relax. **** Later that afternoon, Picolo rapped out “shave and a haircut, two bits” on her front door, and Audrey appeared with a smile. Latino music greeted him, and he gazed at her in amazement. She was wearing a beautiful white peasant blouse with blue-and-yellow embroidery, over a long gauzy black skirt that flared. Her hair was done up in a bun. Brightly painted sticks stabbed through it, and held the dark, curly mass off her neck. The large gold hoop earrings completed the look of a Mexican beauty. Damn, she's incredible.Dan entered, grinning. He carried a large paper bag through the living room and paused at the dining area. The table had been set with colorful napkins, an embroidered tablecloth, and three tall candles—red, orange, and yellow. “The table's beautiful. You're beautiful. Christ, I thought I'd find you on the couch holding an empty bottle of whiskey.” Audrey chuckled. “I can't believe you dressed up.” He gave her an appreciative kiss on the lips, walked into the kitchen and set the paper bag on the counter. “I had to do something to get those angry barking dogs out of my head.” Following him, she opened the refrigerator. “Wine?” “Sure.” She took the chilled bottle from the shelf and set it on the counter. Dan grabbed her around the waist, pulled her close, and kissed her deeply. When he let her lips leave his, he held her and murmured into her hair. “I'd rather taste you, though.” He hugged and cradled her in his arms, rocking her gently back and forth. “All I could think of on the way to pick up dinner was, 'We just got together. What if I had lost her?' And all I could think of on the
way back was, 'Thank God, I didn't'.” Audrey leaned back and smiled at him. “I'm glad you didn't too.” Dan pulled her close again and held her in his warm embrace. She seemed okay, no more trembling, but he needed to make sure. Was it the intense experience they had just shared or did his protectiveness mean more? Her hands strayed to his shoulders and pushed on him gently. He released her from his grasp, but only for the moment. Stepping back, she smiled. “Well, even if you don't need a glass of wine, I certainly do.” Dan grabbed the bottle and the corkscrew off of the counter and expertly drew the cork from the sealed bottle. He poured the Chardonnay into two crystal glasses. Audrey sipped as he unloaded the paper bag. Two stoneware plates circled with bright red, yellow, and orange stripes had also been set on the counter. “I'll wash the dishes,” Dan smiled. “Tonight, I'm taking care of you, and don't give me any of that 'I can wash my own dishes' crap. Okay?” “Sure. Part of me enjoys being spoiled.” Audrey picked up both glasses of wine and headed for the dining area. He suddenly felt bad about going to Taco Bell, instead of a nicer restaurant for take-out food, but he opened the wrappers and placed an assortment of burritos, Mexican pizza and nachos on their plates, then said, “I notice you put candles on the table. Let's turn down the lights and imagine that we're at a café, at sunset, in Acapulco.” “Mmmm. That sounds very romantic,” she said. As he carried their plates to the table, spicy aromas swirled around his nostrils. Audrey lit the candles and dimmed the lights. While she was turning down the music, Dan shared his real wish. “Audrey, there's something you should know. I've grown over the past year or so. There are things I need. I need a real relationship with a real woman. I'm through with empty-headed, shallow girls. I want—no, I need—to be with someone I can respect, admire, and really connect with. I want to be open about that and let people know that I'm not interested in meeting any more flight attendants, models, or aspiring actresses. I want to show you my favorite places, take you to dinner, hold your hand and walk down the street with you. Are you sure you still want to keep our relationship a secret?” Audrey peeked over her wineglass at him and smiled. “It's really not a good idea to go public until and unless we have to.” “Fine.” He frowned. “I don't want to mess up the ambiance, but let me say something.” “Say whatever you want.” “I feel like I'm not treating you very well. I want to wine you and dine you and sweep you off your feet. It's what you deserve. It's what I want. I know this isn't a fleeting thing, and yes, I want to make love to
you. Yet, if I try to, I'm afraid you'll say we're moving too fast.” She chuckled. “Probably.” “But we're not. We've known each other for a year and a half. You and I have always hit it off as friends. How long am I supposed to wait to have a love affair with you?” “I don't know.” Audrey took a deep breath and sat in her chair. “Maybe I'm just tense from all the excitement, but I can barely think. I don't even know if I can eat just yet, but I'm sure I need some more wine.” “I'll get the bottle.” “I think I'll sit on the couch and relax for a while.” “Go ahead, beautiful. I can wait for dinner until you're good and relaxed.” Audrey smiled gratefully and settled herself on the comfortable sofa. When he was in the kitchen, she stared at the cold, empty fireplace. “How would you feel about making a fire again, tonight?” she called. “Sure. Are you getting chilly?” “I think it's the kind of chill that happens when your whole life flashes before your eyes.” He returned to her and refilled her glass. After he set the bottle on the end table, he knelt on the floor. As he built the kindling and log pyramid, she watched his strong arms tossing logs like they were toothpicks, and sipped the soothing liquid. It took the edge off. “So, what did Boyle say when you called him?” he asked. “The polite, expected things. They had attack dogs? Are you all right? If I had known…'“ Dan set the kindling ablaze and settled in beside her on the couch. “You know?” she said, “I think I'll take that vacation that Lieutenant Boyle suggested to me last week.” “A vacation? When?” “No particular time. He just thought I might want to take a week off. It's a good time before the tourist season really gets going.” “He said that to me too.” “Really? He actually suggested that I should take you with me.” Dan sat up straight. “Yeah. Same thing. A week, anytime, as long as it's soon … and take Audrey.” “This is suspicious.” He put an arm around her shoulder and leaned closer. “Wecould go away together.”
To Audrey, it sounded like a hopeful question, rather than a mere comment. “I don't know. It's awfully…” “Yeah, I know … soon. You don't have to tell me anymore. I get it.” “Well that, and expensive. I was only thinking I'd take a few day trips. Maybe spend some time digging in my flowerbed. I also thought I'd try to hone my psychic skills. I can't believe they let me down today.” She leaned against him as the wine was taking effect. Dan kissed the top of her head. “I can think of a vacation that wouldn't be expensive for you.” “Still, I'd rather wait until June. I'm not crazy about going away alone, and Patience is working at a day camp this summer…” “Speaking of Patience, is she apt to walk in on us?” “Not tonight,” Audrey smiled. “She's back at school. She finished all of her projects and studying and doesn't need to be home to find peace and quiet.” “So, I was going to say that I could take you to Acapulco, and it wouldn't cost you a cent.” Dan glided a finger up her neck. It tickled and Audrey chuckled scrunching her head and shoulder together. “No. What if we fight? I'd be stuck with you until my plane ticket said I could go home.” “We won't fight.” “How do you know? I can be a typical Pisces. I might get my feelings hurt, then pout. If you don't think you did anything wrong, I'll get mad. If that doesn't get through, I'll cry. Then you'll get sick of my moods, and…” “I'll kiss your tears away.” He kissed her face as if to illustrate the point. When their lips parted he asked, “You're a Pisces, huh? A water sign. No wonder you're sensitive.” “How did you know that?” “You'd be surprised by some of the things I know. You say you want to know things about me, but how can you learn if we don't spend a good amount of quality time together?” “Good question. Here's something I'd really like to know. How did you happen to be in that neighborhood this afternoon? I still can't get over that!” “Simple. It was a coincidence.” “I want to practice my psychic skills. Damn, I'm getting rusty.” “If I knew you were about to be attacked by Dobermans, I'd have stopped you from going.” “Like you could. I wasn't feeling any doom or danger until it was too late.” Dan nodded, took her glass from her hand and set it down. He kissed her again and again. “Okay. What
am I thinking?” “Haven't a clue,” Audrey said, smirking. “Try,” he whispered. Holding her gaze, he took her hand in his, and with the other one he ran the tips of his fingers lightly over her palm. She shivered, feeling electricity pass between them. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes.Good Lord. I don't know how long I can hold out. “Concentrate. What am I thinking?” Her eyes remained closed but a smile crept over her face. “I don't think that's legal in our state.” “It is between consenting adults,” he whispered. “Mmm. However, I'm not consenting, yet, and I don't want to start anything like that. It might be hard to stop. Besides, the après-sex glow might be hard to hide at work tomorrow.” “Okay. There are two ways to handle this. The whispers and knowing looks have already started. We can continue to sneak around, fooling no one but ourselves…” “Or?” “Or the other choice is to flaunt our relationship openly and dare them to taunt us. Let me take you out, show you off, treat you right.” Audrey opened her eyes and asked, “Isn't there something in-between those extremes?” “Sure. You could waltz into morning report, kiss me passionately, and then slap me across the face. That would at least confuse them … or we could elope.” His words struck her in the chest, like an unexpected fly ball, and she couldn't have been more shocked. Once she recovered, she burst out laughing, and nearly choked trying to stop. “Don't laugh at me.” “Sorry. I thought I was laughing with you. You were trying to be funny, right? This is, after all, our first date.” “So?” Audrey loved his outrageous self-confidence, even if it was absurd sometimes. “Regardless, I'm ignoring that. I just know you as a fun person and I like spending time with you, but I don't think we have to be all that serious, yet.” “Okay. How much fun can we have?” He ran his fingers up her arm to her neck and over her lips. The electricity raised goose bumps to the surface. As he leaned toward her mouth, she pulled back and stammered, “I—I need a little fun, some laughs, and I need to give my heart a rest.” “I can give you all the fun and laughs you can stand, but I'm going to try to make your heart warm up to me.”
Her heart was already plenty warm and pounding. “In all honesty,” he whispered, “I'm hoping it will lead us to the bedroom, and I don't care if you know that.” She had to chuckle. “I appreciate the honest approach.” He ran his fingers over her hair around to the back of her head and pulled the sticks out of her bun. With his hands in her falling hair, he drew her mouth to his, kissing her with both passion and tenderness. He shifted his body without letting go of her lips. Audrey experienced the odd sensation of losing control, falling, as he lowered her to the couch. His kisses moved to her ear and neck. He pulled at the ribbon holding the top of her peasant blouse closed. Earlier she had thought about leaving the ribbon untied and letting the top fall open anyway, though she wondered if it might send the wrong message. Now she wondered if it might be the right message, and maybe she was just being stubborn. “I love this,” she moaned as he moved his warm hands into her cleavage, over her breasts, teasing her erect nipples. “Mmm. So do I,” he whispered. “Wait, though,” she pleaded. Dan looked up tentatively. “Why? I was tempting you, not forcing you.” Audrey just wanted to buy a few minutes of time while she slowed the pace. “I—I need to eat. I'm starving.” When she saw the look of disappointment briefly flit over his face, she added, “I want to have the energy to enjoy all this fun you and I are going to have.” Dan grinned and pulled her upright by her hands. Audrey left her blouse untied as she took their glasses of wine to the table. When she noticed how his eyes wandered over her, she had to admit that he made her feel desirable. Over dinner, Picolo once again introduced the idea of the two of them going away. “C'mon. It'll be a blast. I'll take you somewhere we can drive to, and you can even take your own car if you'd feel better doing that.” “It's too soon to go away together.” “I don't understand. You said that you're ready to move on.” Audrey gave him a sidelong look and said, “Move doesn't mean rush. Don't push it.” “Okay. We'll start with a weekend.” “Geez, you're persistent. How about if we start with day trips?”
“Audrey. Yes, I want you, but I'm not going to take you against your will. A couple of relaxing days and romantic nights is all I'm asking.” She heaved a huge sigh and rolled her eyes. “All right. If we must.” He didn't suppress his dimpled grin when she caved. She nibbled on a nacho. “But I'm paying for half of everything.” “No. I can't let you pay,” he protested. “If you want me to go at all, you'll have to let me pay my way. I don't want to feel like I owe you anything at the end of the evening.” She tested the delicious, yet cool, Mexican food. “Let me take these plates to the microwave.” “Okay. Don't feel that because we're going Dutch that you can't change your mind.” “Fine.” She picked up their plates and paused before going to the kitchen. “If I do change my mind, and I'm not saying I will, at least you'll know it isn't out of obligation.” “Okay. I like that idea. One of these days, and I hope it's soon, you'll realize that you've waited long enough. There's absolutely no need to feel guilty, Audrey.” “Who says I feel guilty?” “Your face.” She sat down again, and had to think about that for a few moments. “I don't know if it's guilt, Dan. I have a feeling it's unfinished business.” “With?” “My husband's spirit.” “Uh-oh. I don't know how to compete with that.” “You don't have to. You can help me.” “I thought I was already helping you, but if you've thought of something more I can do, let me know.” Audrey nodded. “I'll tell you in a minute. Let me heat up these dishes.” Audrey disappeared into the kitchen. Dan looked after her wondering what he was doing wrong.There's only one dish I want to heat up, and she isn't cooperating. As he sat there resting his mouth and chin against his fist, he continued to ponder ways he could move her from the dinner table to the bedroom—or if he could. It's my own fault, he thought. I shouldn't have brought up the idea of guilt. In a few moments, Audrey returned with the warm food and placed Dan's plate in front of him. He
caught her hand and said, “Now give me your plate too.” Audrey leaned back and looked at him with a curious expression. She must have known he had something up his sleeve, but she did as he asked. With both plates in front of him and still holding Audrey's hand he slid his chair back and patted his lap. “You want me to sit on your lap and eat?” “Uh-huh.” She hesitated giving him that same strange look. “You're a puzzle, Picolo.” Yet, she eased herself down onto his lap. Oh… Her warmth on his cock felt so good. Dan picked up the burrito. He hoped it would remind her of something else that was hot and bursting with goodness right underneath her. He brought it to her lips, one side of his mouth curling into a smile. He was delighted when she mirrored his devious look in understanding and slid her mouth around the warm, spicy-smelling roll. “Mmm.” She slid her lips back, without biting down, and then licked the melted cheese that had oozed from the burrito's folded end. Dan may have thought of the game, but she had raised the stakes right away. That wasn't all she had raised. She must have been able to feel his hard-on. His cock practically reached up and nudged her, and she was sitting right on it. Dan's other hand slipped between her legs. He was glad she was wearing a skirt, even if it was a long one. He began gathering the material in a bunch on her leg as his fingers walked the slinky material up to where he wanted it—all the wayup. Fortunately, her non-cooperation had ended and she parted her legs. She placed her mouth around the burrito again, and this time as Dan slipped his hand under the skirt, into her panties, and pressed right on her clit she bit down partway and moaned. Audrey didn't know whether to chew or moan, but Dan was stroking her favorite, highly-sensitized erogenous zone and the latter seemed inevitable. As she leaned back, afraid she might choke and ruin the mood, she pulled the battered burrito out of her mouth and tossed it, not even aiming at the table. It flew across the room, landing on the hardwood floor, near the kitchen. Dan didn't miss the hint and pushed the dishes aside. Without stopping his love massage, he managed to place the breakable items on the linoleum floor. Everything else went flying with a sweep of his hand. A moment later, he stopped his pursuit of her pleasure long enough to lift her off of his lap and lay her on the table. He pulled her panties off, sat in his chair, and leaned in to feast on the same electrified area. She rested her quivering legs on either side of his neck and moaned while he teased her tender clit with his tongue. Her mind went blank. She could only concentrate on the jolts of pleasure that promised ecstasy. She held on to the edges of the table as he sent her climbing higher and higher. He was relentless and, God, she wanted him. “Please—please…” was all she could gasp. As if he could sense her powerful build-up, he licked her trembling clit and caressed her body without mercy until she came, and came hard. She thrashed and arched off the table. If he hadn't been holding onto her, she might have rolled off the
table and crashed onto the floor. He finally pulled away and showed his white, dimpled smile, glistening with her succulence while she lay limp and panting. He began unbuttoning his shirt. “This is like eating our food with the wrappers on.” She panted out a weak chuckle, and because she was still drooping over the end of the table, she scooted her bottom backward. As soon as she sat up, she pulled her blouse over her head. Once off, she flung it sideways, not watching or caring where it landed. Dan finished removing his shirt and she watched him pull off his belt and drop his trousers while her chest heaved. He pulled at her skirt and she whispered, breathlessly, “I'll do it. Saves time. Can't wait.” He grinned and removed his underwear in one fast swoop. Damn, he was gorgeous in the nude. His thick cock had jumped up and waved at her as soon as he had freed it. She tugged the zipper of her skirt with such force that she heard a few stitches pop. Oh well. Sometimes in the name of spontaneity, sacrifices had to be made. She whipped the skirt over her hips and kicked it off. Let it fall where it may. Dan climbed onto the table and advanced over her. He stopped to suckle her breasts. She began to moan and pushed at him. “No. It's your turn,” she said. She grabbed his solid body and pulled him forward, forcing him to crawl on his knees until his cock was level with her mouth. She laved his hard erection until it was slick, then took it in her mouth. She swirled her tongue around the tip and down the shaft in an ever-deepening spiral until he tensed all over and moaned. Then she began raising and lowering her head so she could slide her mouth up and down the long shaft with a quickening rhythm. She intended to be just as merciless as he was. His moans intensified as she took him in deep—as deep as she could, and then she sucked harder. “Dear God, woman!” His face attested to the fact that he was deeply enjoying the pleasure-filled torment. “Wait,” he gasped. “I can't take much more of that.” When she opened her mouth he backed down the table on his knees and paused to suckle her breasts again. She cupped his head with her hand and let him kiss, nip and suck her breasts thoroughly until her womb clenched. She arched and moaned, feeling like she might come again, simply from his relentless attention to her breasts. At last, he slid down to the end of the table and stepped off. He grasped her pelvis, and with one swift motion he pulled her hips to the table's edge. She wrapped her legs around his body, and he positioned his reddened penis right in front of her. Testing her wet and waiting vagina with his fingers, he stared intensely into her eyes without blinking. She pulled him toward her with her heels, and he inserted his stiff cock inside her. She arched and moaned as he penetrated deep. Once he had established his rhythm, his thumb found her clitoris again and she trembled. Her moaning and breathing deepened. Dan's face reflected his own mounting pleasure. Her throat made an involuntary gurgling sound as she lost control. She crashed over the edge and shattered into a thousand pieces of bliss. Panting, she tried to recover from her orgasm while he continued to drive in and out of her. Her build-up followed and soon she heard her voice yelling, “Oh, God … Oh, God!” This time they went over the edge together, spasming, shaking, grunting and crying out in unison. When they had recovered from the experience, Audrey gingerly climbed off the table, grabbed her clothes, and headed for the bathroom, running.
Uh-oh, Dan thought. I hope that doesn't mean the regrets are coming. They were. He had put on his pants and draped her panties over the edge of the chair when she returned fully dressed. “Dan,” she began. Her eyebrows furrowed and she folded her arms over her chest. “I don't know what got into me.” “I did.” He tried to tease her in hopes that she'd relax about their lovemaking. “I can't…” She trembled and bit her lip. “I can't believe that all you think about is how to get into my pants, and you seem to have forgotten what I told you I need. I have to resolve what my husband went through. What he might still be going through. Then I can concentrate on pleasuring you.” “Dammit, Audrey. Sam's in a better place. A place where suicides and homicides don't exist. Can't you give yourself a break and enjoy a little harmless humping?” She stared at him, mute for a moment, and he wished he had said the same thing but in a gentler way. Her gaze hardened and iced over. “I think you'd better go.” Dan sighed and shook his head. “Can I have some dinner first?” “Sure.” She stormed off to her bedroom and slammed the door. He grabbed both plates, marched to the kitchen, placed hers in the fridge, and then scraped his own plate into the garbage and left, gnashing his teeth. Chapter Five Dan gave Audrey a day to think things over, and he needed time to think too. He ruminated about whether or not great sex—no, fantastic sex—was worth the emotional upheaval and retreat she slipped into each time. Sitting at his desk, unable to tie up his paperwork until he tied up the loose ends of this relationship, he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against his hand.Each time we make love this happens. Maybe if I can be alone with her without seducing her, she'll begin to trust me. He owed it to both of them to try. With that Dan glanced at his watch and noticed it was almost time for Audrey's lunch hour. He put aside his paperwork and strolled down the hall. The door was open. She looked around her computer monitor. A smile fluttered across her face, then she quickly diverted her eyes back to her screen. “Audrey, can we talk about tomorrow?” “Literally tomorrow, or figuratively tomorrow?” He stopped in front of her desk and folded his arms. “Let's start with the first.” “Okay. Tomorrow is Friday, literally speaking.”
“Our weekend away,” he reminded her. “I still think you need it, and…” “Wait, Dan.” “No, you wait. Listen to everything I have to say, and then if you still think it's a bad idea, I'll listen to you for awhile.” She sighed, folded her arms and leaned back in her chair. “Fine. Sorry I interrupted.” “I've had some time to think, and I realize that you probably need some things from me that I haven't been giving you.” She looked surprised and said, “Go on.” Encouraged, he walked back to the door and closed it. “I haven't really been much help solving your husband's case, yet. I will be. I mean it. I might have been looking at things the wrong way—like a competition I was losing. I'm sorry. I know that was stupid, and I realize what knowing the answers must mean to you. I'll try to keep that in perspective. I want to help you find the truth for your own peace of mind. And I want us to get through this—together.” She unfolded her arms and rested them on the desk, leaning toward him. “Is there anything else you wanted to say?” “Yes. I really do think a weekend away before we delve into this case will be good for you. I promise I won't make a move on you if you don't start it. I want to show you that I can respect your boundaries wherever you set them, and that I like being with you, with or without phenomenal sex.” She smiled. “Okay. I'm glad we had this little chat.” “Anything you want to say?” “Yeah.” She stood, walked around the desk and reached for his hands. He clasped her small soft hands in his and looked into her eyes hoping for a miracle. “Thank you,” she said. “When should I be ready?” **** As soon as her shift ended on Friday, Audrey stopped at the chief's door and poked her head in. “Chief Davidson, you wanted to see me?” Sitting at a desk littered with stacks of paper, he looked up from a thick manual and beamed when he saw her. “Audrey! Come in. Sit down. I heard about what happened earlier this week. Are you all right?” He stood and gestured to the chair opposite. “Sure, I'm fine.” “Thank goodness. We're talking to them about the attack dogs. What you were doing up at the old Marx place?” Audrey sat in one of the two semi-comfortable, upholstered chairs facing Chief Davidson's desk. He sat
down after she did. “Following a lead. I decided to check it out more because of my own curiosity than actual casework. I hoped someone could tell me why Walter Marx was buried under a stone clearly marked, Walter Markham. In fact, his whole family is buried under the Markham alias. I got a psychic SOS from the gravesite.” “Hmm. That's odd. I wonder why he'd do that. I didn't know anything about it.” “Neither did I until I couldn't find news of a Walter Markham anywhere. Lieutenant Boyle clued me in on the name switch.” “Well, if it came from Boyle, it must be true. He's lived in this town most of his life and he knows all the local lore.” The chief leaned back in his chair and appeared to want to chat for a while. “What did you find out?” “Only that the one remaining Marx descendant, Agnes, doesn't like cops and might be, um … mentally compromised.” “Ah. That I had heard. So, no new information then?” “Only that they have a couple of dangerous Dobermans,” Audrey said, still gripped with fear from the memory. “Yeah. Bring someone with you on your next few investigations, just in case.” “Maybe I will, just until the anxiety fades.” She readjusted, trying to find a better spot on the hard seat. “So how is your brood?” “Brooding, I'm afraid. They wanted me to take them to Disney World soon, but I just can't get away right now. Stella might take them without me, though.” “Oh? Are we being invaded by tourists earlier than usual this year?” “No. I just heard the scuttlebutt, and it seems that our rookie isn't very happy here. I was counting on him for traffic control. I hope we don't lose him.” “He's thinking of leaving already?” “Yeah. A big loss, too. College grad. He grew up here and knows a lot of locals.” “I don't think he received the respect he deserved. He was introduced to me as Jack. I was told that the name was meant to remind him what he knew about real police work.” “I know there's a certain amount of razzing aimed at any rookie, but no wonder he's disgruntled. That's rude. New people deserve to be introduced by their real names. Sometimes the insulting name is the one that sticks.” “Of course I'm just guessing. Maybe that wasn't it at all. The job is often routine and boring for the new guy. I heard he did a work-study in Boston. It must have been much more exciting. It might be years before he stops directing tourists to the mansions. The detectives get the interesting stuff.”
“You know it.” The chief scribbled a note to himself. Audrey saw the words, “Talk to Wright,” and then decided to change the subject. “I didn't realize this was a bad time to go on vacation. I wouldn't have requested mine for next week if I had known.” “You're going on a vacation? I knew nothing about that.” He folded his arms. “I can understand not being told about ribbing the rookie, but I should have heard about your vacation, not that you don't need one.” “I stopped by Lieutenant Boyle's desk to thank him for suggesting it, and he said he was on his way over to see you and offered to take the vacation form for me. He didn't give you my time off request?” “No. Let's find out why.” Chief Davidson lifted his receiver and pushed three buttons on his telephone. “Lieutenant, can you come into my office for a minute?” When Lieutenant Boyle appeared at the door to the chief's office, he walked in and saw Audrey. His face fell but only for a moment. He quickly altered his expression and greeted both of them with a smile. “Chief. Audrey. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Audrey wasn't fooled. She didn't need psychic abilities to know what he was doing. Her just-as-accurate intuition told her that his insincerity covered something rotten underneath. “Boyle, why didn't I know about Audrey's vacation request when we spoke yesterday? She said you took it and said you'd deliver it to me.” Boyle shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. “With all due respect, sir, I got distracted, and it's sitting on my desk. More pressing matters must have pushed it to the back of my mind.” “What pressing matters?” “It's all resolved now, sir.” “We'll get to the pressing matters later. Do you know of any reason we shouldn't let her get away for a while?” “No, sir. Audrey's…” Audrey sensed the word 'non-essential' on his lips, but if he intended to say it, he managed to suck it back inside. She squinted, eyeing him, hoping he would volunteer a little of his usual disrespect in front of Chief Davidson. He always managed to keep it in check whenever they were in his superior's presence. “Didn't you say you'd have something for me soon?” Audrey asked. “Got all those loose ends tied up.” He spoke with an unfamiliar softness to his voice. “I guess Schneider had already talked to you about it. Good work, by the way.” “What was that?” the chief said. Audrey shrugged. “Nothing, really. I tried to tie some evidence to the car thief you were dealing with
recently, but it was unrelated. That Jag that was stolen and crashed a couple of weeks ago—it was taken by the guy's mistress, apparently getting even with him for trying to pay more attention to his wife. “Okay,” Davidson said. “Get the form to me when you can, Lieutenant. I'll sign it then. Have a nice vacation, Audrey.” “Thank you, sir.” She rose to leave. Boyle held the door for her. She was used to Boyle's games, more used to those than she was to his nicey-nice act, but she realized it was just that—an act, and it made her stomach turn. “I'll follow up with you, later, Boyle. I've got go meet with some town planners.” “Sure, boss.” He followed Audrey out of the office and came up beside her in the hall. “Don't ever get near my evidence with your hocus-pocus again, Lawless.” “What happened to, 'Good job, Audrey'?” “I mean it,” he growled. “Look, Lieutenant. I don't know what your problem is as far as my gift is concerned, but you have to admit it has helped in certain situations.” “Your 'gift', as you call it, is a situation in itself. We can't have you fingering evidence. If anyone asks what led the police to draw their conclusions, I sure as hell won't be saying I used a psychic.” Audrey knew he had a closed mind, but she sensed hostility too. “The others seem to appreciate the help when they have nowhere else to turn. You might try to get on board before someone thinks you've got something to hide.” “Don't try to psych me out, Lawless.” He spoke through gritted teeth. **** Dan had waited for her, next to her car. “Are you ready to spend a terrific weekend with me?” “More than ever.” She clicked open the lock on her Mazda. “But first, you'd better be sure your vacation was approved.” “Why?” “Well, I just stopped in to say goodbye to Chief Davidson, and he knew nothing about my time off request.” “Really? I got mine signed and approved this morning.” He dug in the back pocket of his uniform trousers while Audrey grabbed the weekender suitcase off of her passenger's seat, and set it on the ground with a thud.
Dan scanned his approval. “Seems okay to me.” “The chief said something about wanting to get away with his family, but this isn't a good time.” Picolo shrugged. “But, I thought it was.” “Well, I'm sure Boyle wasn't planning to 'forget' when he said he'd deliver my request. It just slipped his evil, manipulative mind.” “So he forgot to give it to him, purposely?” “I'm sure of it. What better way to set me up? Mr. 'Let's bury the hatchet' one minute, and as soon as he gains my reluctant trust, he tries to make it look like I took off without letting anybody know. Either that, or he wanted to see how long it would take for anyone to miss me.” She struggled to carry the heavy suitcase. “There were no witnesses. It would have been my word against his. Or maybe the whole department's moving and not leaving either of us a forwarding address.” “Honey…” Dan took the suitcase out of her hand, set it down and almost cradled her in his arms. Audrey suddenly remembered that their embrace was taking place in the parking lot of the police station and took a giant step backward. Dan cleared his throat. “Do you want to follow? I never told you where we were going.” “No.” Audrey shook her head and stared at her relatively new sports car. “It should be okay. I think I'll leave it here.” Dan reached for her weekender. “Careful. That's heavier than it looks.” He chuckled and picked up her suitcase. “I won't even ask why women bring so much stuff.” He put his other hand on the small of her back and escorted her over to his SUV. I'll bet he's done the 'weekend away thing' a lot.Whatever. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of jealousy rearing its ugly head. “I can't believe I didn't see it coming. I almost fell for it. My psychic skills are rusting up badly.” “You said that before, so I planned our getaway accordingly. What I've arranged for the weekend will be just what you need.” She gazed up into his shining blue eyes, eager to think of anything more pleasant. “What did you plan?” “Well, I'd like to be your love slave,” he said with a grin, “but if that doesn't happen I know a game that you may be able to use to sharpen your skills.” He winked and loaded her suitcase into the back of his Envoy so easily, he appeared to be lifting a lunch box. “Still hoping to get lucky?”
“Audrey, I can't wait to get you away from here. I want to give you a chance to let your guard down and think about other things for a while.” “Are we still talking about my psychic skills?” “Those and others, if you like.” They reached the passenger's side, and he brushed her hair behind one ear with his tender touch before he opened the door. “I'm really glad you agreed to rest up a bit before we start our covert murder investigation. It could take a lot out of you, emotionally.” She slid inside. Leaning down, he drew close and kissed her. Audrey felt the same tingle that began wherever he touched her and traveled somewhere deep in her solar plexus. She drew back. Opening her eyes, she caught her breath. “Are you crazy? Not here.” “No one saw. Besides, the added element of danger should be exciting, right?” Once he jogged around to the other side and hopped in, she raised her eyebrows and asked, “So, where exactly is this mystery location?” “Ah, a very old place, a mystical place,” he answered in his most sultry tone. His soft, velvet voice made her melt, like everything else about him. At that moment, Audrey didn't care if he took her to an old Indian burial ground to fool around in the middle of a thunderstorm. “I'm ready,” she sighed. “More than ready.” They drove off together, unaware of several eyewitnesses watching them from the station. **** Five cops were glued to the sight outside the long row of windows overlooking the parking lot. “How long did it take him?” Coleman asked. He was one of the veterans. Swenson, a young contemporary of Dan's, thought out loud. “Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. That's four days. Geez, he's fast!” “You can't count Tuesday.” Officer Coleman said to young Officer Swenson. “Their first date wasn't until that evening.” Boyle leaned against the wall with a satisfied smile. “Tuesday afternoon, evening and night, actually. Audrey called to say she wasn't coming back to work, and Picolo was with her.” “Well, I'm damn impressed,” said Swenson. “If anyone could pull that off it was Picolo. No doubt about that.” “Yup. I never thought I'd see the Ice Queen melt at all, never mind so quickly,” Boyle added. “How much was in the pool, Sergeant?” Peterson pulled a wad of bills from his pocket. “Last time I checked it was a few hundred dollars.” Ned Wright turned away from the windows. “I can't believe you guys did this.” His jaw set, he walked
off in the general direction of the patrol captain's office. Chapter Six That evening, after checking into a quaint bed and breakfast in Mystic, Connecticut, they changed into something dressier than their work clothes. Audrey and Dan drove to the glitzy Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. It wasn't an Indian burial ground—or was it? Audrey had agreed to try her hand at something Dan was no stranger to. Gambling. As they strolled through the various opulently decorated rooms, she stared at the people playing the slots. Credit cards, inserted directly into the machines took care of the time and effort wasted in fumbling with nickels, dimes, and quarters. The patrons' mesmerized faces seemed set in impassive stone and chilled her. She pulled her soft, black sweater tight around her shoulders. “I shouldn't have let you talk me into this. I don't have money to lose, you know.” “You said you wanted to practice your gift. I can't think of a better way to practice, Audrey. If there was nothing to gain or lose you might not worry about getting in touch with your psychic senses and making them work for you.” “Yeah, I guess you're right about that, but what about all these distractions? I'll need to concentrate, but with of all these flashing lights and ringing bells it's impossible. Is there a quieter room?” “Yeah, that's where I'm taking you. I don't think a psychic would have any more luck with the one-armed bandits than these folks are having.” “So where are we headed?” “Blackjack. I'm taking you to the blackjack tables. Do you know how it's played?” Audrey nodded. “I think everyone knows the basics of that card game. I need to make it closer to twenty-one points than the dealer does without going over, right?” “Right.” He set his hand on her lower back and directed her into the next room. “If that doesn't work out, we can try poker. You could probably do more with your psychic senses there, but it's harder to learn. I'm just guessing, but you're not a real poker aficionado, are you?” “Hardly. Sam used to have the guys over for a card game now and then, but I'm afraid I usually read a book in the other room. I only came out to steal pretzels.” He smiled and kissed her hair. “We'll start off with five dollar bets. I believe that's still the minimum.” Audrey stopped short. “Five bucks a shot? What if I need to warm up?” “I'll play a couple of hands. You can see how it's done and get your psychic juices flowing.” He waved to a woman at the craps table and received a friendly wave in return. “You seem familiar with the place.” “I've spent a few evenings here.” Audrey couldn't read him and worried that she wouldn't be able to access her psychic powers for betting, either.
They walked on in silence. Audrey took it all in. Someone had just won at roulette and everyone was cheering. They seemed happy there. Of course, the cocktail waitresses were making sure everyone had a full glass in front of them. That might have had something to do with their happiness. Dan grinned at the winner, and pointed toward his stack of chips. “Quite a haul. Don't worry. All you have to do is sense the dealer's chances. I'll even stake you if you need it.” “I don't think threatening me is a good idea.” Dan laughed and kissed her cheek. “Don't worry, beautiful. It won't hurt. Staking you means I lend you the money, and you pay me back when you win.” “I knew that.” She looked into his twinkling blue eyes. “Even though I have reservations, I said I'd try it and I will.” He guided her into an adjacent room. The bells could still be heard, but at a distance. They weren't ringing in her ears. “I'm still not wild about the idea of borrowing money from you. No obligations, remember?” “How about if you pay me interest? That will help to raise the stakes and ease your conscience. You'll have to win or go even deeper in the hole.” “Holy Moses,” she mumbled under breath. “I don't know.” “C'mon, it'll cost you a long kiss or five percent. You can decide how you'd like to pay. I doubt if you'll owe me anything, though.” “Dan, I'm really uneasy about this. I need to concentrate. How can I do that with jitters in my stomach?” “It's probably just the money that's making you nervous. He squeezed her around the waist. “If you have to fight for concentration, that should strengthen your psychic skills, don't you think?” “It's not a muscle, Dan.” “I'll try to find a quiet table.” Passing several tables with four or five players already there, he eventually strolled up to an unoccupied blackjack table. Dan pulled a money clip out of his gray dress pants. A stack of twenties lay in Dan's hand. The blackjack dealer greeted them with a nod. Audrey stifled a gasp. “Dan, you can't possibly be thinking of staking me that much.” “Hopefully I won't have to.” He smiled and stroked her hair. “I have faith in you.” He replaced all but three of the twenties and returned the clip to his pocket. Audrey looked at the ceiling letting her eyes close. She took a few deep breaths and tried to relax. By the time she opened them, Dan had exchanged sixty dollars for a dozen, five-dollar chips. Should leave if I'm losing? Would it be rude or self-preservation? Dan placed his first bet and received his first card. In front of him was the Queen of Hearts. He grinned, and showed her the dimples she loved.
“Look,” Dan exclaimed. “Lady Love. I think that's a good omen for the two of us.” He leaned over and kissed her. She was too nervous to concentrate on his sweet kiss. She closed her eyes again, descended deep within, and attempted to access her psychic gift. She tried to isolate and sense the dealer's mood without tying into Dan's. The dealer gave himself his first card, facedown. Dan's next card was a ten. The dealer had checked his facedown card, and then drew a King. Dan shook his head, and then he sucked in a breath as the dealer turned over his facedown card. The dealer flipped over an Ace. “Twenty-one. Dealer wins,” he announced. Dan blew out the deep breath and said to Audrey, “Better luck next round, I guess.” The dealer shuffled, dealt Dan his facedown card and then his own. Dan had a five. “Hit me.” The next cards were a seven for Dan and a ten for the dealer. Dan tapped the table. Audrey's eyes widened and she shook her head, but it was too late. The next card was a King. “Twenty-two,” the dealer announced. He turned over his hidden card, which was a four and announced, “Dealer wins.” Dan looked like a kid that had just lost all hope of winning his girlfriend a stuffed animal at the carnival. He sighed and pasted the smile back on his face. Audrey looked up at him with a conciliatory expression. Rubbing the small of her back, he placed another chip in front of the dealer, and cocked his head toward her. “Let the lady play a few hands,” Dan said. The dealer nodded. “Here goes.” Audrey concentrated. The Ace of Spades was dealt to her, and the dealer pulled his first card, facedown. “The Ace of Spades is lucky, Audrey.” “Since when did you become so superstitious?” “I don't think you have to be superstitious to notice signs.” She nodded at the dealer and concentrated as the next round was dealt. Her next card was a five. An ace could be counted as either one or eleven, so another five would equal twenty-one. Anything over that would mean that the ace had to be counted as a one. She could either be well short of the goal or bust. She tapped the table and Dan's face lit up as the next card was dealt. Audrey had two fives and an ace. The dealer had the eight plus a five showing and turned over a nine. Bust. Dan whooped and grabbed her. He kissed her, hard. She noticed that his kiss wasn't the only thing that was hard.Winning must
really turn him on. “Must be beginner's luck. Do you mind if I try to do that again and see what happens?” “Go right ahead.” Dan was beaming. “I can stay all night if your luck holds out.” Two and a half hours later, they had drawn a crowd. Audrey's eyes were drooping. Her usual straight posture sagged with exhaustion. Despite the winning streak, Dan smiled and nodded when she announced that she was worn-out. He scooped up the mountain of chips that Audrey had won. When they were exchanged for bills, he took his original sixty dollars and handed the rest of the cash to her. “There. You've paid me back.” “Wait. I need to sit down for a moment.” Dan guided her to a chair and asked, “Are you all right?” “Yeah. Just tired and a little dizzy.” She closed her eyes and bent her head over her knees. The pile of cash almost fell to the floor. “Are you sure you're okay?” Audrey nodded. “You'd better put that money away. There's over two thousand bucks in your hands.” Audrey was too tired to celebrate. She tucked the money into her black, clutch purse and sighed. “I'm okay now. Let's go.” She let Dan escort her out, past the distracting moans of disappointment and shouts of excitement, past the spinning roulette wheels, past the clicking of the craps dice, through the room with the earsplitting slots, past the eerie-looking sedated faces, and finally toward the entrance. Before they had a chance to leave, Dan spotted a sign that promised a show featuring an erotic hypnotist in only a few minutes. “Hey,” he said, pointing to the sign, “That looks like fun.” He hoped it might provide a rest while getting her in the mood. “Wanna go?” “To tell you the truth, I'm really wiped out, Dan. I feel like I'm gonna crash any second. We can always go some other time. Would you mind taking me back to the inn?” “Not at all. That's fine.” He smiled into her drooping eyes. “I guess it's a good thing we weren't planning on any intimacy tonight.” She snorted and shook her head. “One track mind…” Taking his hand, she let him lead her to the parking lot. “Where are you going to sleep?” she asked. “I noticed there was only one queen-size bed in the room.” Dan had split the cost of the room with her, and now he might have to sleep on the floor, or stay on his side of the bed and try not to burst into flames—not a pleasant prospect. “At my brother's place—if you like.” He paused and put his free hand in his pocket.
“Your brother lives around here?” “He lives down the street from the inn.” Dan extracted his keys. Audrey looked like the walking dead, but kept up her end of the conversation. “No kidding. That's right. You came from around here, didn't you? Weren't you on the New London police force, originally?” “Yup. Sure was.” They walked to Dan's Envoy, through the beautiful starry night, hand in hand. “Why did you leave New London?” He shrugged. “Just needed a change.” He opened the door for her. As soon he jogged around to the driver's side, he hopped in. “So, where did you come from?” “A small town in California.” Grabbing the seat adjustment handle she leaned back in the bucket seat and groaned with what sounded like relief. “Los Angeles. Ever heard of it?” Dan smiled. “Um, yeah. I think so. What part?” Stretching her seatbelt and fastening it, she yawned. “Long Beach.” “Is that where you met Sam?” “Near there. He majored in criminal justice at UCLA … thought he wanted to become an LA cop. Meanwhile, I went to 'Spook U'.” “What?” Dan chuckled and turned the Envoy's key. “Just kidding. That's what my roommate called it. A friend from high school and I rented an apartment at Venice Beach.” Audrey kicked off her shoes and wiggled her toes. “We worked odd jobs, and I met this psychic who fascinated me. She insisted that I had the gift of sight and taught me to use it. That's when we started calling Venice Beach, 'Spook U'.” He smiled at her and pulled out of the space. “That's cute.” This might be a chance to have a relaxed conversation about Sam. She was too tired to react, and they were talking about happier times. “I'm just curious. How did you meet Sam?” “I read his cards. He pulled the Queen of Spades in the destiny position. I told him there was a dark-haired, dark-eyed woman in his future. That's when he asked me out.” “Ha. I would have jumped on that opportunity too.” He reached over and patted her leg as he headed for the highway. “Sam and I must be two of a kind.” “Trust me,” she joked. “You're one of a kind and so was he.” Dan grinned, delighted, but kept his eyes on the road. “So how did you two end up on the East Coast?”
“He told me after the reading that big city police work was more than he'd bargained for he wanted to move back to Rhode Island. That's why he came to me to read his cards … and yes, I had already predicted a long distance move in his near future.” “No need to defend your abilities, darling. I'm one of your believers, remember?” He steered around the traffic expertly, as if he were responding to a call. “So when did you move to Rhode Island?” “Three weeks after I met him.” Dan looked at her, wide-eyed. “You weren't giving him the business about everything being too soon, I guess.” She smiled but answered sincerely. “We knew we were unusually lucky. We discovered in three weeks of togetherness that we were in love, and we knew it was the kind that would last. He asked me, and I agreed to go to Rhode Island with him.” “You had guts, back then.” “You have no idea.” Audrey chuckled. “He was a combination of an enlightened, open-minded guy, as well as a good old-fashioned gutsy cop—like you are, I think. But something told me I could trust him. We stopped in Vegas and got married on the way.” Dan shook his head. “That's amazing.” His smile faded. His expression betrayed an unexpected sadness. “What?” “Sorry.” He shook his head. “No, I want to know.” She immediately trusted Sam, but apparently, still didn't trust him. Maybe it was his past—the ladies' man reputation.I might have to test her. “It's nothing. I'll be picking you up tomorrow morning, early. I want to introduce you to someone special.” “Really? Who would that be?” “Betty Lou.” Dan sounded nonchalant. “Betty Lou, who?” “You'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out.” “Okay.” Audrey crossed her arms across her chest, leaned back and closed her eyes. Dan waited and glanced over at her a couple of times. “What? No begging for hints? No guesses?” “No. If you say I have to wait until tomorrow, then I'll wait.” “You're an unusual woman, Audrey. I'm liking you more, all the time.” Audrey gave him a sidelong glance. “And you're a puzzle, Picolo. Once I stopped putting out, I didn't
think you'd want to waste your time. I'm sure you could get any number of girls in the sack.” Dan hesitated before answering. “Thanks. You're the one I want, though.” Audrey shrugged. “Suit yourself.” “I think with enough persistence and enough time together, you may find a few things to like about me too.” She smiled at him. “So far, so good.” Dan squeezed her knee. “I know you'll enjoy what I want to do with you tomorrow. I think you might be surprised.” “What, park in front of your favorite view of the stars? The place where you compose poetry to me?” He burst out laughing. “Not even close.” Chapter Seven Dan dropped Audrey off at the bed and breakfast and drove down the street to his brother's house to sleep. He was beginning to wonder if she would ever trust him. He wondered what happened to the wild risk-taker in her. She couldn't have changed that much. He tried to console himself by remembering their steamy nights together. Of course, she took a risk or two with him. His brother, an older version of Dan, dark and only a little less handsome, answered the door in his boxers and T-shirt. “Hey, Bro',” he said. One hazel eye was open and he scratched his head. I didn't think you were serious when you said your girlfriend wouldn't let you sleep with her. Are you losing your touch?” “No, I'm not losing anything. Looks like you could be losing your hair though, Ben.” Dan reached over and parted his brother's hair with his fingers. “Get away from me, you goober.” As soon as the brothers were in the house, they hugged and slapped each other on the back with affection. “This woman is important to me, Bro'. Try to behave yourself.” Dan walked into his brother's kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “Me? I'm not the one with all the moves. I'm just the one with the big bank account.” Dan grabbed two beers and walked over to Ben, twisting the tops off. “I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mention my moves. She's aware that she's one of a long string of affairs, but I'm kind of hoping this is the end of the line.” “Holy cow. Are you serious?”
“Yeah. I'm pretty sure. Don't say anything to her though. She's skittish.” They walked into the living room and settled into leather easy chairs. “For some reason, she's resisting my charm.” Dan took a long swig of his beer. “I'm doing what I can to fix that, though.” Ben smiled. “Wow, that's new. So tell me about her.” “You'll meet her tomorrow. I find her hard to put into words. You'll have to wait.” Dan took another swallow of his lager and licked his lips. “Well you can fill me in on the basics, can't you? What's her name? How old is she?” “Her name's Audrey and she's thirty-seven.” Ben sat up straight. His eyes almost bugged out of his head. “That's it. The age difference. The older I get, the less patience I have for young flirts and their games. She may have seen dozens of guys like you by now, and she's immune to your charm.” Dan knew his brother could be taking some secret pleasure in this. “I doubt that. She hasn't had too many partners, and we don't even notice the age difference. We're having a great time together.” “Is she married?” “Please!” Dan sat back and put his feet on the coffee table. “I don't need those headaches. She's a widow.” “Oh. Kids?” “One. She's eighteen and in college.” “Man. This is really a departure from your usual aspiring model type.” “Audrey has this sophisticated, international beauty. You'll see what I mean. She could be Spanish, Italian, Greek, Lebanese…” “The whole Mediterranean Sea, huh?” Ben whistled. “Yeah.” Dan would swim the whole Mediterranean Sea if she asked him to. “I think she makes the young, blond, model wanna-bes pale in comparison, no pun intended.” “So that blond nurse you mentioned is out of the picture?” “What blond nurse?” Dan grinned. “I can't wait to meet this Audrey.” “Just remember one thing. I saw her first.” “Can I have the nurse?” ****
The next morning, Dan appeared at Audrey's door—bright, and a little too early. “I'm sorry I woke you. I just wanted to capture you before you had breakfast. I want to take you out to breakfast, someplace special.” She leaned against the doorframe, wearing a red satin robe, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “You don't have to take me anywhere. Breakfast comes with the room. I already feel funny because you're paying for half of a room you're not even sleeping in.” “I was going to have breakfast with you here, but we've had a better offer. You'll know why in a little while.” Audrey threw her hands in the air. “Whatever. I'll be down in a couple of minutes.” “I'll meet you on the porch.” “Okay,” Audrey yawned and shut the door. Dan tromped down the narrow, wooden staircase and poured himself a cup of coffee. Settling into a comfortable chair, he gazed across the street to the boat docks. Most of the fishing boats had already departed. Mesmerized by the waves stirring and the boats moving in a natural rhythm, Dan lost track of time. He was startled back to reality when Audrey, awake and dressed in designer jeans and a Kelly green sweater, laid her hand on his shoulder. “Wow. Sorry. I must have been in a deep trance.” “Yeah. The sea can hypnotize anyone willing to sit still for a few moments and let it lull them. I've always found it a great place to meditate. Maybe I should get a cup of coffee and join you.” “I'd rather get going, if you don't mind. Could you settle for a cup of coffee to go?” “Sure. Where are we going?” “You'll see.” He enjoyed the mystified expression on her face. “It's totally different from last night. Very peaceful.” “Oh, good.” Dan waited for Audrey to pour herself a paper cup of coffee and took her free hand. They walked side by side down the narrow sidewalk, bumping into each other on occasion. Instead of saying the usual and expected 'excuse me', they just grinned at one another. At the end of the block, Dan guided her across the street to where different boats were docked. The salty ocean air seemed warmer than expected for springtime in early morning, and it promised to be a beautiful day. A few people were up, readying their boats for ocean adventures. “This is where I wanted to take you for breakfast,” he said. He led her to a thirty-foot sloop where a man was attaching a sail. “Audrey, this is Betty Lou.”
The man shot Dan an unappreciative look, but before he could say anything Dan made another introduction. “Benito Picolo, meet Audrey Lawless.” The dark-haired man, resembling her younger date, walked over to her, squinting into the sun that was reflecting off the water. He shielded his dark, hazel eyes with one hand and offered the other hand to Audrey with a friendly smile. “Pleased to meet you, Audrey. I think you're the first date my brother has brought home since his senior prom, and that was for a thirty second photo op.” “Well, I feel privileged. So, you're brothers?” “Yup. Audrey, this is my big brother,” Dan said. “Nice to meet you, Benito.” He and Audrey shared a warm handshake. “Same here.” He shot another loaded look at Dan. “But my name is Benjamin. My little brother's just being a moron.” Dan grinned and jumped onto the deck, landing with the agility of a cat. He turned, and offered his hand, to help Audrey over the side. “Have a seat and drink your coffee. Later you can help me steer.” He indicated the large wheel at the back. When she spotted the fishing poles on the floor, she said, “Don't tell me we have to catch our breakfast.” The brothers smiled at each other. “No, don't worry,” Ben said. “We have a galley below deck, and I'll be making Dan's favorite breakfast and a pot of good coffee when we anchor.” “This is really nice of you, Ben.” Audrey finally remembered her manners. “Nice, nuthin'. I love sailing. Since my dad passed, I've become captain and my brother has had to fill in as deckhand.” “Deckhand?” Dan stopped in the middle of securing a winch and looked up at his brother. Ben's wink in Audrey's direction signaled that he was baiting him. Dan shook his head and went back to the winches, but a slight smile curled one side of his lips. “Is there anything I can do?” Audrey asked. “No, you're our guest,” Dan said. “I'll teach you how to be first mate some other time.” First mate? As much as she tried not to, she liked the sound of that. Audrey glanced at Dan's brother but caught no sign of a reaction, positive or negative. In only a few minutes they were ready. Dan threw off the ropes that had been fastening the sailboat to the dock and took a seat in the back. Using the motor and putt-putting along at minimum speed, he steered them out of the harbor. Once they were clear of the buoys, boats, and all other interference, Dan cut the motor and stepped up to the bow of the boat to help Ben raise the sails.
Audrey watched everything, fascinated. These two worked together as well as a team of experienced mariners. The wind filled the first sail, and as soon as the two of them raised the second one, that filled too. Dan looked over the bow. “I don't think we'll need the jib, Bro'. Not yet, anyway.” “Okay. I'll go below and get the coffee brewing. You two can take turns playing captain.” As soon as his brother was below, Dan stepped over to Audrey, pulled her up by both hands and gave her a long, hungry kiss. “Stay on course, you two,” Ben called out. Dan moved to Audrey's ear and whispered. “Let's go back where we can have some privacy.” He took her hand and helped her to the bench behind the wheel. There was only enough room for the two of them to sit comfortably, side by side. He showed her how to line up the wheel with a mark to stay on a straight course. “If the wind shifts, I may tell you to steer to the left or right until the sails fill again.” “I'd feel better if you took the wheel the first couple of times that happens. I might capsize us.” “First time on a sailboat, huh?” “How did you know?” She smiled into his twinkling gaze and examined how his eyes shimmered in the sun. “You and your brother look so much alike, but he doesn't have your eyes and dimples.” “I probably got those from my father. He was from northern Italy, near Cortina, close to the Austrian Border.” Dan took her hand and placed it on the wheel. “Just steer her gently, like this,” he said, and he let his other hand casually rest on her shoulder. A relaxing warmth filled Audrey as his hand covered hers. There was plenty of chilly wind on the open sea, so she cuddled closer to him. He seemed comfortable captaining the boat, and just as comfortable letting her take the wheel when he released her hand. He leaned back and put one foot on the bench. “Yeah, I thought if I had a baby girl, someday, I might want to name her Cortina.” Is he testing me? Wanting to see what I'd say to the whole baby thing? I never thought of him with kids. “Pretty.” What else could she say? Ben returned with three stackable mugs and a coffeepot. “How do you take yours, Audrey?” “Do you have any sugar?” “Sure do,” Ben said, and he handed the mugs off to Dan. He whipped a sugar packet and stirrer out of his windbreaker pocket. As soon as he poured the mugs three-fourths full, he returned to the galley. “He's sweet,” Audrey said.
“He can be, but don't believe what he tells you about me. It's all lies.” He smiled and kissed her on the nose. Audrey rolled her eyes. “Yup. Like I said, you're a puzzle, Picolo.” Dan's brother returned with one hand behind his back. “I've made Dan's favorite breakfast.” He grinned. When he pulled the box of donuts from behind, Dan groaned. “Very funny, Ben.” “Well, you'd better give me more notice next time!” Audrey observed the brothers. They had the same smile. She also noticed that she was having a very good time. After breakfast, Ben asked, “Okay, so, you're both Italian-American. What else do you have in common?” Audrey said, “Only half. My other half is Spanish Gypsy.” Dan looked pleased. “Cool. That's where the exotic you comes from. We're actually half too. The other half is Irish. Oh, and some Portuguese.” “Really?” “Well, it's not uncommon. All along the ocean in this part of the world, the Irish came down from Boston and up from New York, and the Portuguese are known for being able fishermen.” “So that's what the fishing poles are about.” “Yeah, we're going to catch lunch,” Ben said. “So what else do you have in common?” “Well, there's more than you'd think,” Dan said. “We both work for the same police department, we're fond of nice surprises, and most importantly, we can't live without each other.” Dan smiled with arrogant confidence. Audrey met Ben's smirk with one of her own. Dan turned Audrey's chin toward him and kissed her. “You be careful of him,” Ben said. “He can be charming, but he's no day at the beach.” Audrey laughed. “Tell me about it.” **** The day's sail was perfect. Wonderful weather. Audrey learned to cast a fishing line. By the time they came about and started the return trip to Mystic, the sun was low in the sky, turning it shades of pink and orange. Audrey had already become fast friends with Ben. Dan—content to be the strong, silent type—seemed willing to let them chitchat while he commanded the wheel. They had just concluded a conversation about losing a parent when Audrey asked, “Where's your
mom?” “She's in Mystic, too. She moved here just because she liked the name of the town. She also wanted to be near her sensible, stable son.” Dan turned his head. “Oh, thanks a lot, Ben.” “Don't mention it.” Ben grinned. He had been trying to describe their mother. “Mom's kind of…” Apparently at a loss for words, he turned to his brother. “Help me out here, Dan.” “She's someone you could have met at 'Spook U'.” “Really?” Audrey's eyes brightened. For her, this was interesting news. “I'm confused, buddy,” Ben interjected. “Spook you?” Dan laughed. “Inside joke.” “It's where I received my psychic training. Venice, California.” Audrey bumped Dan's knee, playfully. “No kidding. You might be one of the few who'll get to meet our mom, then.” “Why one of the few?” “She can be scary.” Dan said, “Especially when you don't tell her you're dropping in, and she has your place at the table set and your favorite dinner ready.” Ben laughed. “I used to wonder if she didn't set an extra place and cook up a feast every night just to impress us when we made those unannounced visits.” “Nope. She's got the gift.” Dan touched her arm. “Here, Audrey, take the wheel.” She scooted over, and Dan moved to the bow. She felt like a natural seafarer. With the wind cooperating, they didn't need the motor until they reached the harbor. The brothers lowered the sails, and Audrey watched closely, learning how to refold and store them. Being first mate might prove to be fun. When the boat had been secured to its dock, and the three of them had disembarked, they strolled to the main landing. Ben asked, “So where are you two off to tonight?” Dan said, “I haven't really thought about it.” Audrey folded her sweater and draped it over her arm. “I don't care where we go, but I'd rather not go back to the casino.” Ben's jaw dropped and snapped shut. He looked straight at Dan, with an intensity that Audrey had not yet seen, and growled through clenched teeth. “Tell me you didn't go to Foxwoods last night.”
“Relax, Ben. I was just showing Audrey how to play blackjack. I didn't do anything but watch her win.” Dan glanced at Audrey and reached for her hand. “I thought you were going to stay out of those places.” Ben spat. “Jesus, who are you? Mom? I've paid my back debts, and I know enough to stay out of trouble. Lighten up.” “Yeah, right,” Ben said. Audrey shifted her feet, uncomfortably, and let go of Dan's hand. “I think I should go on and meet you…” Ben reached over and grabbed her arm. “No, you should hear this. He obviously didn't tell you about his weaknesses. I thought he was going to need that 800 number.” “Ben, for God's sake, you're giving her a rotten impression, and it isn't even true.” “He almost moved to New Hampshire until he found out they didn't have casinos there. I suggest you get to know him well before you get serious, Audrey. You're a fine woman, and you don't need…” “That's it!” Dan's eyes flashed in anger. He stormed off in the direction of the inn. Audrey looked from brother to brother and ran after the one she was dating. “Dan, where are you going?” “To pack and go back to Newport.” “No.” Audrey grabbed his hand and stood her ground, stopping his forced march. “Don't leave here like this.” “Well, I'm not staying with my brother tonight, and I can't stay with you…” “Youcan stay with me, Dan. Take the evening and cool off. Things will look different tomorrow morning.” “You'd actually have me within ten feet of you, knowing I was a deadbeat?” “Human being, you mean? We all make mistakes. I'm not going to jump to conclusions. I'd like to hear what you have to say.” Dan looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and respect. He resumed walking at a slower pace and shook his head. “There's not much to say. My brother would have you believe that I lost my shirt because I had to borrow money from him, once. He's a tightwad and remembers where every nickel is. I borrowed a thousand bucks to cover a few idiotic bets. I was so sure of my odds that I thought I couldn't lose. For a while I lost my friendship with my brother. I was young then and full of bravado. I promise you, I don't have a gambling problem.”
“Did you promise you'd stay out of casinos?” “I probably did. I don't remember.” “Do you take all of your promises so casually?” He faced her. “No, I don't. I was just a stupid kid. For God's sake, Audrey, give me a break. My brother thought he had to raise me when my father died, and now he can't stop treating me like a kid. Hell, I still feel—and sometimes act—like a kid around him.” He reached for her hand. “Please believe me. I'm not lying to you. I used to be a young, stupid, arrogant jerk, but I'm not that person anymore.” “I might—if you'll do something for me.” He gazed at her intently. “What?” She dropped his hand. “Don't promise me anything—unless you can remember to keep that promise.” Dan looked up at the sky, sucked in a deep breath, and said, “Yeah. I can do that.” “I hope you and your brother can iron this out before we leave. You seemed to have such a good relationship.” Dan snorted and began marching again but with his hands in his pockets. They reached the inn and ascended the steps. Delicious aromas wafted from the dining room. Audrey was hungry but had more important things to discuss. “Let's eat. A couple of donuts and a little fish for lunch didn't do it for me. I don't know about you,” Dan said, “but I'm starving.” Audrey couldn't help noticing the abrupt change of subject and no promise to resolve the issue in the morning. She stopped in the doorway. “Before we go in and sit down in polite company, I need to ask you one more thing. It might upset you.” “Okay,” he sighed. “Why not? It seems to be my day.” “Is that what you do when you have an argument? Run away?” Dan glared at her but didn't move. “Depends on the situation, I guess. If I'm afraid I might throw a punch, I'll leave.” “How about with women?” “I've never hit a woman, and I never will.” “So, if we have an argument, you won't run out on me? You'll try your best to talk it over and resolve it? The reason I ask is because we both appear to have the 'quick temper' gene in common.” Dan looked attentive, but seemed to be weighing the consequences of his answer. Audrey thought he
understood, but maybe she hadn't given him enough information. She stroked his twitching biceps and lowered her voice. “Sam and I had a huge fight the night he died. We never had a chance…” She couldn't finish what she was saying. She couldn't tell him how she had regretted it every day, since. Dan put his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. “Okay. I understand. Yeah, I can do that,” he said. “Promise?” Audrey waited on the steps declining to move until he answered even if an inordinate amount of time passed. He dropped his head and closed his eyes as if in a moment of prayer. At last, he opened them and focused on her face. “I promise, but I'll expect the same of you.” “Fair enough.” He followed her through the screen door and let it slam behind him. Chapter Eight Saturday night, two silhouetted figures slipped stealthily into Audrey's condo. The full moon shining through the sheer curtains wasn't enough light to illuminate the entire living room. When the grandfather clock struck announcing two a.m., one of them startled and stumbled into an end table, cursing under his breath. The silver bud vase holding Dan's red rose fell to the floor. Silenced by the thick carpet, it went unnoticed. “Will you be quiet?” “Yeah, if I don't fall over something else. I can't see a damn thing in here.” The figure bent over and righted the end table. “Let your eyes adjust to the dark before you go banging into anything else.” “We should have brought night vision goggles.” “I don't have any. What would you suggest—that we borrow some from the department?” Creeping forward, the less agile of the two asked, “What the hell are we looking for, anyway?” “Anything that might throw suspicion off of us and onto her.” “Like what?” “Jesus. You really don't know anything, do you?” “Sorry. First B & E.” “Just look through the file drawers. There's a desk, by the window. Start there.”
“Fine.” The man began with the bottom drawer. Holding the folders up to the light filtering through the curtains, he flipped through from back to front. “Warranties, immunization records, bank statements…” “I'll poke around the bedroom,” the other one said. They were occupied in different parts of the home, and rather than sit in silence the man searching the desk muttered to himself. “Hell, half of these things are in print so small I couldn't read 'em in broad daylight.” He opened the middle drawer. “Batteries, stationary, three by five cards…” At that moment the other man returned from Audrey's bedroom, triumphant. “I've got something.” “What?” “The perfect piece of evidence. Her 9-millimeter.” “What are you going to do with that?” “Fire off a round, hang onto the bullet, and when I accuse her of being the shooter, I'll make the switch. Ballistics will want to see her gun.” “And, they'll match.” “Now you're getting it.” **** Miles away in Mystic, Connecticut, Audrey awoke. A muffled scream escaped from her mouth under the thick quilt. Jerking straight up in the four-poster bed, the quilt slipped off of her shoulders revealing her red satin nightgown in the soft moonlight. Dan bolted upright beside her. She squinted at the clock on the nightstand. “Audrey. Are you all right?” “Yeah.” She breathed hard. “I had another nightmare.” Combing her fingers through her hair, she realized that her long tresses were probably wild from tossing and turning, but at the moment, she didn't care. She sighed and said, “Sometimes I wish I could be somebody else.” “Talk to me.” Dan extended his arm to offer a comforting hug. She eased into the warmth of his body. “I don't know why this is happening to me. I've never had this particular nightmare before. It was nothing I could see. Everything was dark, but I know I felt violated—personally violated.” She shivered and moved closer to Dan's strong embrace. He held her tighter. “I swear I've been asleep, but I apologize if I couldn't keep my hands off of you. I love touching you, whether awake or asleep.” He smiled and she caught him gazing at her curves in the red negligee.
Despite the late hour, his cock had risen to the occasion. Audrey didn't respond to it. “Don't try to tease me out of this. Just hold me,” she begged. Gathering her tighter in his strong arms, he whispered, “If I could take these nightmares away, I would.” She relaxed slightly as his warmth reached her and slowed her shivering. “This dream wasn't like a dream at all. It was more real. Like a vision. I was somewhere dark. What little I could see was accompanied by the most awful sensation. I could feel something very wrong—someone trying to probe my mind or something like that.” Her voice sounded foreign to her own ears, soft and trembling. “I saw a gun, but that's when I woke up.” Dan pulled the quilt up higher and asked, “Were you about to be attacked?” “No. Not physically, anyway. I felt—helpless, vulnerable, and something awful was about to happen. It's hard to explain.” He stroked her arm, kissed the top of her head, and waited for more. Audrey sighed. “It's two o'clock in the morning, and I can't even describe the damn thing, so let's try to get back to sleep.” “I'm here for you, Audrey. You know that, right?” “Dan…” She turned to face him and slipped her arms around his neck. The moonlight smiled on them as if they were contented lovers. His sympathetic, deep blue gaze reached her in the soft light and melted her heart. She let out the breath she had been subconsciously holding. Leaning in, she kissed him tenderly. When she didn't pull away, he cradled her head in his hand and deepened the kiss. Their lips parted, and she kissed his jaw and neck. She laid her head on his shoulder and murmured, “Thank you, and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put a damper on our weekend with my ridiculous nightmares.” “They're not ridiculous if they frighten you, and don't worry about putting a damper on our weekend.” He whispered, “I love being with you.” His warmth was so welcome and she became aware that hugs and kisses weren't the only things she was craving from him. Dan held her beautiful body, feeling his desire grow. He wanted to reach for her firm, full breasts, but settled for stroking her shivering arm. His lust for her was mounting. He closed his eyes and tried to push it out of his mind.She gave herself to me before. Why is she torturing me like this? He pictured himself ripping the spaghetti straps of her satin nightgown, a flimsy barrier to his objective, and taking her right there and then. He would pin her arms to the pillows and devour her breasts, and then, still holding her arms against any protest, he would pry her legs apart with his knees and thrust his… Wait! What am I doing? Good Lord, I wonder if she can read my impure thoughts? “Audrey, I…” Dan exhaled and thought a moment. I've got to get my mind back on track. “I don't know if this will make any difference to you. It might not be the right time, but I have to tell you a couple of things. First, I wanted you to meet my brother so he could see that I've finally matured, met a real woman, and that I'm serious about her. I think it might have backfired. Now, instead, you know how immature I used to be. I really want to say something else to you, but I'm afraid you won't believe me.”
“Go ahead. I'm listening, not judging.” He took a deep breath, ran his fingers over her smooth skin, and continued. “Being with you—not just being in bed with you, but that too… It hasn't been just about sex for me. We made love last week. It wasn't anything to feel guilty about. You said you wanted to know if we even had a relationship. Well, we do. Our relationship feels pretty damn good, at least to me, and I want it to last.” She glanced down at his obvious hard-on, and said, “I guess so.” “Audrey, when I'm with you I can't help it. I'll respect your wishes, but I still want you. Love and happiness are always a gamble, but I think we have a chance together, one worth enjoying to the fullest.” Audrey wanted with all her heart to believe what she was hearing. She gazed at the attractive, surprisingly sensitive man before her. She realized she was drawn to him not only for his handsome face and body but also for his courage and honesty. At least, she hoped it was honesty. Intellectually she knew that he might be telling the truth, or he might not. Deep in her gut she sensed his sincerity, yet there was something he wasn't saying. “I sense there's more to it, though,” she said. “There is. Audrey, I want you so much, and I'm not sure how long I can hold myself back. Just now, even though you were holding onto me because you were scared, I could feel myself losing control. I don't know if you felt a premonition of being violated because of me desiring you and wanting to take you, right here, right now. Maybe you're afraid ofme and my, um, 'gun'.” Audrey sat back on her heels, surprised, but not uncomfortable. A smile crept across her face. Looking down at the rumpled quilt, she found his hand and entwined it with her own. Kissing his knuckles, she joked, “It's your felony.” “I'd rather it be mutually consensual, and not just for the obvious reasons.” He inhaled deeply, and she knew that whatever was coming wasn't easy for him to say. “I'm falling in love with you, and wanting to make love is a natural, normal, beautiful yearning. Trying so hard not to feel this passion and excitement is very unnatural.” Audrey looked into his eyes for a clue to his seriousness. She expected to find some sort of ruse born of lust there. Instead she found only the soft, shining look that she had known from her one previous, mature love. He's the first since Sam. There could be others.Could this be the real thing? The tug of her own desire, plus the confusion of her emotions, had her churning inside.Does it have to be? She placed her hands on either side of his strong jaw, and pulled his mouth to hers, offering what was meant to be a tender, understanding kiss. The moment to pull away came and went and the kiss continued, deepening and igniting something instinctual within her. She wasn't sure what it was she felt but it was a long time since she had felt it. Secure? Desired? Maybe loved? Joy flooded and spread throughout her heart and soul. Dan's hands caressed her soft shoulders and arms, moved to her back and then around to her breasts.
As he touched and gently squeezed her nipple, an unmistakable clenching took hold. He reached down and found the slit in her nightgown that let him move his hand freely upwards along her smooth leg to her soft buttocks. Audrey knew she couldn't—and wouldn't—stop him now. Finally his fingers slid into her longing labia. Her resistance dissolved with every breath. She found herself desperately wanting him to make love to her again. This is not an impulse, she told herself. It isn't wrong. I've wanted this too—all of it. He's just brave enough to admit it. “Dan,” she murmured as she tried to leave his lips. Still, she didn't pull away. He clasped her body so close to his, that she could feel his chest swelling, his heart racing. Her own began to pound in her ears. Soon, she forgot whatever it was that she had been trying to tell him, and simply let him continue their arousing, fiery kiss. She slipped her arms around his neck, allowing him to lower her onto the mattress. He covered her with his naked, muscled chest. She let go of his neck and let her hands caress him. She felt the well-developed area around his biceps, and couldn't help becoming aware of his hard erection crushing down on her between her thighs. If he weren't wearing his boxers, they'd be minutes and millimeters from fulfillment. Finally she managed to pull back long enough to gasp, “I consent!” Dan grinned and rolled off of her to one side, then he slipped her red satin spaghetti straps off of her shoulders. She raised her back a few inches, which allowed him to pull the top of her nightgown down low. He held still for a moment, staring and breathing heavily as he took in the view. At last, he devoured one of her breasts. As she arched, he helped her to remove the tantalizing red gown, then returned to fondle her with one hand and slide off her red satin panties with the other. She clawed at his boxers and eased them over his engorged erection, finally forcing the barrier of black silk down to his ankles. He removed them the rest of the way with his feet. Working themselves into a fiery frenzy, they clutched and kissed hungrily. They moved over one another's nude bodies feverishly with responsive fingers, lips and tongues. “Oh, God,” Audrey uttered over and over. Dan had found her most sensitive area, and his fingers were relentless as he zeroed in on her favorite erogenous zone with a zealous rhythm. His overt pleasure while watching her writhe was evident, and his intense sapphire stare told her he wasn't going to stop until he sent her over the edge. Her feverish vibrations climbed to the summit and took off. It was as if her mind had escaped her body for a while as she soared into seventh heaven. At last she returned to her panting body and blessed the day he came into her life. He was all she could have asked for. She wanted the same release for him. He closed his eyes and moaned as she stroked his swollen, erect penis. She soon regained enough strength to crawl between his legs and take his cock in her mouth. She slid her lips over his shaft as far as she could go and sucked hard as she withdrew. He moaned louder and writhed. Soon, he said that she'd better stop. She continued until he cried out, “For God's sake, Audrey, stop or I'll shoot!” She giggled and he begged her to come back up and lie beside him. He appeared temporarily paralyzed as she moved to his side and ran her fingers through his chest hair. Soon he pushed his body onto his knees and moved to her anxious, waiting apex. He concentrated on her clit with his tongue, refusing to let up until he had repeatedly satisfied her while she shook and tried to stifle her moans. By the time he poised his hard cock over her parted legs, they were both desperately craving their anticipated coupling. She wanted him so badly that she thrust her pelvis toward him as he penetrated her, and the depth of his reach sent her reeling. She met his every thrust with one of her own,
and they fell into a rhythm that created thrilling sensations and a voracious desire for more. After several patient minutes, Dan moved in and out of her as if in a trance until she felt the vibrations and overt shock waves ripping throughout her body. At the same time Dan scaled to his highest peak. She wanted to scream out in joy. The walls in the bed and breakfast were thin. She forced a pillow over her mouth just in time to drown out her loudest yelp. Ripples of blissful pleasure passed through her from her hair follicles to her toenails. They collapsed together, panting and gasping, as if they had just climbed Mount Rainier. “Audrey…” Dan, lying on top of her, breathing heavily, turned his head to the side, and kissed her temple. “I love you.” Audrey, stunned, wasn't sure if she had heard him right. She let her mind instant replay the words. He had said it. Was she ready to say it to him? “Oh, Dan. Let's not complicate it, not now. I want to fall asleep with you inside me. I don't want to think.” “Don't think. I just want you to know. I can't help it, Audrey. I can't pinpoint exactly when it happened, but I've fallen.” **** The next morning Dan awoke first. Audrey was curled up next to him with her arm draped over his torso. He didn't want to disturb her. Lying on his back, he watched her breathe and contented himself with how peaceful and relaxed she seemed. Soon, as if sensing him staring, her dark eyes fluttered open. “Morning, beautiful,” he whispered. She smiled, closed her eyes and cuddled closer to him. Dan couldn't remember feeling this happy when waking up with a woman. He cast his arm over Audrey's waist, pulled her closer, and kissed her forehead. “I wish we could stay right here for days,” she sighed. “Me too.” They held each other, lying quietly, until she adjusted so she could look in his eyes. “Dan. Do you remember your promise?” “I promise I meant what I said.” “No, that's not it. This one's harder.” “Uh-oh. Are you going to upset me first thing this morning?” “No. At least I hope not.” She sat up and stretched. His eyes followed the curve of her buttocks to the small of her back and up to her—Oh, God. She's turning around. “Dan. Last night was fabulous.”
Inhaling deeply at the sight of her breasts, he simply stared and nodded. Looking down at her body she appeared to realize how she was affecting him and smiled. “But…” “Oh, please don't say, 'but' anything.” Grabbing Audrey around the waist he tackled her and kissed her repeatedly, covering her giggled protests with his mouth. When they stopped kissing she continued. “I just want to say one thing.” “All right.” He sighed. “What is it?” “I really want you to talk to your brother—today.” Dan rolled off of her and let his back slam onto the mattress. “Why?” “Because of what I told you. Because Sam and I left each other in anger, and I haven't been able to forgive myself. Because you and your brother are close, and that's something too important to lose. I have a sister somewhere, but I don't even know what state she lives in. And if that's not enough, then just because I asked you to.” Dan sat up and hung his head. “That's not the way we Picolos do things.” “Listen. You were mad because you thought he would ruin our relationship, right?” “Yeah.” “Well, obviously, he didn't,” she whispered. Dan turned and smiled down at her. “You're pretty smart. I like that about you.” “Mmm. You're smart, too.” She sat up next to him and rubbed his back. “Please show me that you can be the man I think you are.” “I will. I promise.” He leaned down and kissed her again. In moments the kiss evolved into incredible passion. They naturally gravitated to one another and spent the better part of the early morning hours making love again and again. **** They stood on the stoop and waited for Ben to open the door. “Audrey! Nice to see you again.” In a much less enthusiastic voice he added, “Dan, I didn't expect to see you so soon.” He stood awkwardly on the step next to Audrey. “May we come in?” “Sure.” Ben stood aside and held the door. Dan waited for her to enter, first. As they walked in, Dan felt as if he had been led to the gallows. The tension between them was palpable. Might as well get this over with. Dan and Audrey sat next to each other on the leather couch, their arms, hips and legs touching. Ben dropped into the matching chair next to Audrey's side of the sofa.
“I'm not sure what to say, but I don't want to walk away in anger,” Dan began. His brother raised his eyebrows and nodded. “I'm impressed. This is new for you.” “Yeah. Although, I'll admit it was Audrey's idea.” “Then she's a good influence on you.” Ben leaned back in his chair and looked more relaxed. “Hang onto her.” Dan squeezed Audrey's hand, turned to her and smiled. “I intend to.” When she didn't say anything, an uncomfortable silence settled over the room. Uh-oh. Now what? Maybe since Audrey's psychic she'll know this is awkward for me.Audrey, help… She fidgeted in her seat, seemed to pick up the vibes, and came to his rescue. “You two have such a close relationship. I don't know if you realize how lucky you are.” Ben nodded, but avoided eye contact with Dan. Dan willingly picked up and followed the lifeline that Audrey had tossed. “I know we are. It's hard to be the 'little brother' all the time, though, Ben. I'm twenty-eight, not fifteen, and I'm a cop now.” “Uh-huh. I heard.” Dan leaned forward. “So, I'd appreciate it if you'd realize that I'm trying to act my age.” Ben met Dan's gaze. “Yeah. You are. I can see that.” “I know I've been a jerk in the past. I probably had no way of living up to your perfect example, so I didn't even try.” Ben laughed. “Perfect example, huh?” He sat up and leaned forward. “I guess I was a little jealous of all the friends and fun you seemed to have. You have to realize, I got stuck being the man of the house.” Dan nodded. “I know. I'm sorry.” He felt Audrey link arms with him. When he looked over at her, she was smiling, and her eyes were shining. Dan smiled and gazed into her soft, melted-chocolate eyes. Ben laughed. “I can see where this is going. Congratulations, guys.” “On what?” Dan asked. “Just don't screw up, Bro'. This could be what you said you wanted.” Chapter Nine The drive home to Newport was a quiet one. Audrey was daydreaming about more great sex with Dan—where they could go as well as what new positions and toys they could try. Hmm. Maybe she could buy a boat.
When he interrupted her thoughts, she was jarred her back to reality. “You said that last night's dream was different from your usual nightmare.” He glanced at her. “Do your usual nightmares have a common theme or event?” “Yeah. It's a recurring dream I had shortly after Sam died. Now it's happening again.” Audrey fidgeted as if she was uncomfortable, but knew it was purely emotional. “Are you okay?” “I'm all right.” She settled down. “Can you tell me about the dream? The one you usually have?” “Yeah. I should. You still intend to help me solve Sam's murder, right?” “If you'll be able to sleep again, I'll do anything.” Dan slowed when they reached Route 138 and headed for Newport. “Okay. I'm watching fog rolling through a cemetery. It's dark and things are barely visible. Two men are in front of that Markham or Marx gravesite. I can't make out much of anything but the angel. Everything is in silhouette.” Dan nodded. “Go on.” “Then I see one man kneeling. The other one is standing near him, and he's tall and angular. I can see the tall one talking and gesturing with a gun in his hand, but I can't see his face or make out any words. I get the sense that he's angry. Then the kneeling man puts a gun to his own head. I wake up as a gun goes off.” “What do you think it's about?” Dan's face reflected a mix of compassion and concern. “I think it's about murder, not suicide.” “As hard as this is to hear, I have to ask—could it be just a dream? Something your imagination conjured up from information you've gathered over the last couple years?” “You mean, am I'm imagining it or am I seeing it with my second sight?” “Yeah. Can you always tell which one it is?” He glanced at her and then turned his eyes back to the road ahead. She stared at the scenery passing her window. “Yes, I can tell the difference. I think it's Sam and whoever made him do it.” “Jesus. How sure are you?” “About ninety-nine percent.” Dan's cell phone interrupted the conversation.
It took him a minute to unhitch it from his belt. “Yeah?” He listened for a few seconds and asked, “Are you really hard up? I guess I can come in, but I'm not looking forward to it.” Half a minute later he sighed. “Yeah, okay. I'll be there.” “What's up?” Audrey asked. “The captain asked me to postpone my vacation. Landry's pregnant, Wright gave his notice, Swenson broke his ankle, and Carlson's sick with something contagious. Crap. I wanted to spend more time with you.” “Don't worry about it, Dan. I need to work in my garden anyway. Somehow I can't see you tiptoeing through my tulips.” **** Audrey's key clicked in the lock, allowing them to enter her condo when they arrived that afternoon. Audrey dropped the keys into her pocketbook, removed her coat and tossed both over the nearby chair. Dan carried her suitcase into her bedroom. “I just want to call Patience,” she said. “Sure. I'm going to use your bathroom.” When Dan returned to the living room, Audrey had the receiver to her ear, waiting for someone to answer on the other end. She put her hand over the mouthpiece and whispered to him, “Thanks again for the great weekend. I do feel more relaxed.” He smiled and sat on the armrest of the chair. “Sometimes getting away for a little while can make a big difference.” He reached over and swept her hair back. “I'm glad you talked to your brother before we left. After you two straightened things out, you seemed more relaxed too.” “Yeah. You were right. It helped.” After a long pause, Audrey rolled her eyes and said, “I hate dorm phones. No one wants to get up and answer.” As soon as she finished saying that, someone must have picked up the other end. “Oh, hi. Is Patience Lawless there? Is that you, Kristin? Oh, sorry, Jen. You sound just like her roommate. Yeah, it's her mom. Thanks.” Audrey tipped her head from side to side keeping time with the ticking grandfather clock. A few moments later she said, “Patience? Oh, Kristin. Hi. How are you? Great. Is Patience around?” A look of concern crossed Audrey's face. “Not since yesterday?” She looked at Dan, eyes opening wider as she continued her conversation with Kristin. “Do you know where she might be? She didn't say? When you see her, would you ask her to call home as soon as possible? No honey, I'm fine. I just need to talk to her. Thanks.”
Dan sat at attention as Audrey replaced the receiver. “Is something wrong?” “I don't know. I've had an unsettled feeling ever since that nightmare I had last night.” “Do you think it has something to do with Patience?” Audrey tried to act casual, taking her coat to the closet and hanging it up more for her own composure than for the coat's benefit. Her emotions tumbled inside. “She said she was okay with us going away for the weekend. She said she'd be staying at the dorm. How could she go somewhere without letting me know?” Dan strolled over to her, as Audrey spotted the vase and rose on the floor. “Someone has been in here,” she said. “Are you sure?” Audrey picked up the vase, and laid the wilted rose on the table. “Positive.” Dan glanced around. “Could there have been a party here?” “No.” She shot him a jagged look. “My daughter respects my rules, and it's not that kind of energy.” She began to quiver inside. “It feels sinister. I think it's something to do with my latest nightmare. No wonder I felt violated. Somebody broke into my home.” “Let me look around.” Audrey let Dan search the rest of the place while she crossed to the cupboard and pulled out the silverware drawer. There sat her complete silver service. She glanced around at the rest of the living room, but nothing appeared to be missing or disturbed. She heard Dan call from the back door, “No sign of forced entry.” She waited nervously for him to finish the search. When he said it was all clear, she met him in the kitchen. “My daughter hasn't been seen since yesterday, and my home has been entered, but nothing is missing…” Her voice shook, and she hugged herself. Dan was in front of her in an instant and enfolded her in his arms. “Try to stay calm,” he said. “Maybe Patience came home for the weekend or to get something for another sleep over.” “Those aren't the vibes I'm getting.” “Okay. Say someone got in. They didn't take anything obvious. Let's say Patience is fine and at a girlfriend's house. Is there anything else of value that someone may have been looking for?” “I have a locked drawer in my desk.” Audrey proceeded to her roll-top desk with Dan behind her. The drawer was still locked. “Is the key to that drawer in the house?”
“I keep one with me and the other one at work, in my locked desk drawer.” Audrey strode to her purse and yanked out the key ring. Walking just as quickly back to the desk, she clicked the key in the lock and opened the drawer. The drawer held papers, and the packet marked “Confidential” didn't appear to have been disturbed. She checked the contents of the packet, which was complete, and relocked the drawer. “Do you think someone could be messing with your head?” “Yeah, and it's working.” Her lip quivered and tears began to fall. “Audrey, don't panic. Can you focus your energy and try to tap into your gift for some sort of clue?” “You're right. I should.” She took a deep breath. “Let me concentrate on Patience, first.” Proceeding to the table in the dining area, Audrey sat in the chair that Patience always used. She closed her eyes tight and waited. She stayed in that pose, waiting, for quite a while. When she realized it was no use, she broke her concentration, opened her eyes and pounded the table. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” “Couldn't that mean that this has nothing to do with Patience, or that she's perfectly safe?” Dan straddled the chair next to her. “Yeah, that could be. But, why am I still sensing something wrong?” Dan put his hand over her balled fist that was resting on the table. “Okay. Let's try it the old fashioned way. Does anyone have a key to the place besides you and Patience?” “No. The only spare house key is taped to the top of my locked drawer at work. That's probably why the damn drawer wouldn't open that day.” “So we might have dislodged it, then?” “Maybe. I got caught up in something and forgot to check it later. Oh, yeah. It was you.” “Hey, I didn't know about your hiding place. Don't try to blame it on me. Why did you keep it there, anyway?” “If I lock myself out of my house, I can always get it from there, night or day.” “Does anyone at work know about it?” “No. I've never had to call and ask anyone to bring it to me. Neither has Patience.” “Never locked yourself out? Man, you're good. Most people lock themselves out once in a while. Even I've done it. Asking my landlady to let me in at midnight was embarrassing.” She knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but was only able to give him a weak smile. “Can I make you a cup of tea, or something?”
“No. That's okay.” She slumped down in the chair and put her head in her hands. “Are you sure? I feel like I need to do something. If nothing else, I can boil water.” “Okay. Tea sounds good, then.” Dan left her to go to the kitchen. “You'll find the kettle in the lower cabinet next to the fridge.” A few moments later, Dan called out to her, “I found the point of entry. Your intruder may still be in the house.” Audrey jumped up, shocked. She edged her way to the kitchen and peeked around the corner. Dan was on his hands and knees in front of an open cabinet when he noticed her. “Do you have a flashlight?” he asked. Frowning at the odd point of entry she stammered, “Uh, y—yeah. I'll get it.” Audrey opened the cabinet above Dan's crouching position, and watched him as he tried to peek under the stove. Feeling something soft, which was moving, she shrieked and jumped backward. Instead of the flashlight, she pulled a mouse out of the cabinet. The poor furry creature flew across the room into the sink, and as it tried to scurry across the counter, Dan lunged for it. Audrey gasped when he caught the terrified mouse in his hands. “Man, impressive reflexes,” she exclaimed. Dan, grinning, held the mouse captive. “How would you like me to dispose of him?” “Oh, let him go, but outside, please.” Dan carried the prisoner to the back door with Audrey following. They let him go on the small patio and watched him scurry under the budding rose trellis, off to freedom. “I'm glad you caught him. I could never have managed that, and somehow a mouse trap seems so cruel.” He stood and wiped his hands on his blue jeans. “I'm here to protect and serve.” He smiled, and his dimples appeared. “Dan Picolo. I could fall in love with that smile, alone,” she said. “Why don't you?” Reaching for her, he pulled her close and gave her several of the sweet little kisses she was growing so fond of, and then he hugged her. For some reason, Audrey noticed the pink rose buds promising to bloom on the white trellises and arbor. Nature's beautiful life cycle beginning again in her semi-private backyard suggested a new beginning to her. “I might,” she said, with uncharacteristic shyness. Sending Dan home was going to be hard, but she knew that overdoing the togetherness might not be the
wisest thing at this point in the relationship. She kissed him tenderly, hugged him around his neck and said, “Now get out of here before I come to my senses.” “Don't come to your senses. Come with me.” He led her to the opposite side of the trellis where they could only be seen by the most observant peeping Tom. The evening was breezy and he plied her with kisses and slipped his hand under her sweater. “Can you guess what I'm thinking?” “Here? On the dirt?” “No. Standing up.” He held her tight around the waist and massaged her buttocks. Whispering in her ear, he said, “I'm perfectly willing to go inside and make love, but outdoor sex can be lots of fun too.” His warm breath on her neck seemed to penetrate her body and heated her on the inside. She gazed up at him with what she hoped was an impish smile. How would he react if she showed her aggressive side? Hmm. It might be fun to find out. “Do you want to try just fucking this time?” Dan grinned. “Turn around, and let me see that dazzling ass of yours.” She giggled, removed her stretchy trousers and panties in one swoop, and turned to lean against the brick wall. She flipped her sweater up to expose her buttocks. “Should I 'spread 'em'?” She heard Dan suck in a deep breath and unzip his pants. Eventually he answered, “Uh-huh.” He slid his huge, hard cock up and down her buttocks, and fingered her clit from behind while she tried hard not to moan. Her deep intake of breath was followed by several short expirations and a whimper. “Do you like this?” After a moment's hesitation, unsure if she could speak, she panted out the words, “You know … I do.” A low groan escaped from her throat when he teased her opening with his fingers. She was already wet and hot for him. “Please do it. Please, before I can't be quiet anymore.” He lost no time positioning himself to enter her from behind. She wore heels, which elevated her almost to the right level, but she leaned in and pushed her buttocks out and up in invitation. He pushed his cock into her opening, and she moaned softly as he moved in and out of her tingling vagina. He reached around and massaged her clit as he pumped harder and faster. Her low moans and whimpers didn't reflect the fire burning inside. She wanted to gasp and scream out her joy. In only a few, short minutes, they were both ready to come. Audrey began to shudder and her elbows buckled. Her face pressed up against the cool brick in sharp contrast to the heat that radiated throughout her body.How could I live without this? “Oh, God.” Both of them were bucking fiercely by the time Audrey exploded in her shattering orgasmic release, and Dan followed shortly after. They panted breathlessly, resting against the solid, silent wall. Audrey felt as if little pieces of her were flittering down her legs. How she needed this release! It was as if all the tensions and frustrations of life were blasted out of her. The all-encompassing peace that came
over her filled the empty space within, each time. He kissed her ear and whispered, “You're an awesome woman, Audrey.” “You're pretty awesome yourself, lover.” Dan chuckled and nibbled her earlobe. He touched her hair and murmured, “So soft. Every part of you is perfection.” He hesitated, then said, “It's more than just physical, isn't it?” “Yeah,” she breathed. “It is.” He withdrew his cock, turned her around and kissed her with a depth and passion that began as fire, then gentled, and sent a warm, tender sensation through her entire being. Iam falling in love, she thought. I still can't say it, but I know it, now. **** The next morning Audrey awoke to the sound of her telephone ringing. She groped for the phone and pulled it under the covers with her. “Hello?” she croaked into the receiver. “Hi, beautiful. I was just wondering if you heard from Patience.” Audrey sat up and yawned, but was happy to hear Dan's voice and his concern. She heard a lot of noise in the background too. “Yeah.” When the cobwebs cleared, she continued. “She was at the Petersons'. Not a mile and a half away.” “I'm glad to hear that,” he said, and then she heard his voice muffled, as if partially covering the receiver as he yelled, “Hey, can you guys shut up?” “Where are you?” she asked. “In the middle of the friggin' hall. We just got out of morning briefing.” “Oh, yeah. You're working,” she remembered. “Yeah. Looks like you were right about this not being a good time to go on vacation. In addition to everything else, George threw his back out again, and he'll be out for a while. They aren't having much luck hiring any new people, either.” The noise in the background became so loud that he had to pull the receiver away and yell again. “Guys! I'm on the phone…” Meanwhile Audrey could hear parts of the background conversation. She could make out pieces like “You're the man, Dan.” “Hey, Stud. Give me some pointers sometime.” She heard what sounded like some backslapping too. “What's going on there?” She asked, chuckling. “So, my vacation and all others are on hold until we can beg, borrow or steal a little more help.” Dan
had either ignored her question or couldn't hear it. “Geez, I'm sorry. But why does it sound like there's a party around you?” “It's a little crazy here. I guess the guys are glad I gave up my vacation without a fight.” “Oh.” “Can you meet me for lunch? I figure if I'm working instead of vacationing, I can probably take a decent lunch hour.” She didn't hesitate. “Sure. That would be terrific. Where and when?” “The take-out place—'Clambakes to Go'? Do you know it?” “Yeah, great. I love seafood that I don't have to catch and clean.” “Okay. One o'clock. We can eat outside, since it's such a nice day. If I'm late, I'm catching bad guys.” Audrey heard more laughter in the background just before he hung up. She shook her head. All she had planned on was sleeping late and working in her garden. Might as well get up. **** Audrey had dressed nicely in a bright blue Chinese silk shirt over some white slacks and had piled her hair on top of her head with a flattering cloisonné clip holding it. She looked even more exotic and beautiful than usual. Arriving early, she left her car in the parking space she was lucky enough to find, and decided to window shop while she waited. Spotting Ned driving toward her, she waved and caught herself thinking of him as Jack. He drew up beside her. “Hey, Ned. I heard that you're leaving us.” He rested his elbow on the open window. “Yeah. Sorry about that. I guess some of the guys lost vacations because of me.” “Oh. Don't worry about it.” She checked her watch. “Why did you decide to go?” “I went through five years of college at Northeastern University, did a work-study in Boston's third precinct, and I'm treated like a wet-behind-the-ears kid.” His mouth and eyes had narrowed into an expression that looked resentful. “Oh, no. I thought that would stop. I think it's tradition to give the new guy a hard time, but they don't mean it.” Audrey shifted her pocketbook to the other shoulder and put a hand on his arm. “Yeah, I know. Still, I found out I was going to be directing traffic and answering tourists' stupid questions all day long, and I called the old precinct. They seemed to think I could get hired there pretty easily.” “Boston has plenty of tourists too, and talk about traffic…”
“Yeah, well at least they seemed to trust me to do my job.” “Gee, I'm sorry, Ned. I really am.” Just then, Picolo pulled up behind Ned in his squad car and leaned out to talk to her. “Hi, beautiful. I'm really sorry about this, but they have me directing traffic around some new construction on the main drag coming into town.” Audrey nodded. “I understand. Hey, did you get any lunch yet?” “No. Looks like I won't, either.” She smiled, seeing an opportunity to finally return some of the thoughtfulness he had shown her. “I'll pick something up and bring it out to you.” “That would be great. Here,” he said reaching into his back pocket, “let me give you some money.” “No. I'll take care of it. You just get out there and protect those construction workers.” Dan smiled broadly and gave her a quick salute. As the car pulled away, Audrey turned back to Ned. He was staring at the departing squad car, and his mouth was open in surprise. “I didn't think you two would still be going out after…” Audrey looked at Ned in confusion. She saw the look on his face suddenly shift, and he said, “Oh, no. I blew it.” “Blew what?” “Never mind.” He checked the mirror and began to move away. “Don't think you can get away with that, Ned. I just read your face like a book.” She reached out and grabbed his arm. “Tell me. What happened?” He stopped the car. “I shouldn't tell you. Or—I don't know, maybe I should. You seem very nice and you don't deserve this.” “Deserve what? C'mon.” Frustrated she demanded, “Tell me, right now!” “It's Picolo. I wouldn't trust him if I were you.” “Whoa. You've got to give me more than that.” “He won a bet this morning.” Audrey didn't react, but simply stared at him. Ned spoke nervously, but continued to talk. “You don't look surprised about the bet. I guess you were probably in on it, then. As a matter of fact that makes more sense to me.”
Audrey tried as hard as she could to keep a poker face. Fidgeting, he said, “Hey, it was nice to see you, but I've gotta go.” “Wait,” Audrey said, but he drove off in his patrol car before she could catch him. Looking across the wide street, she spotted the take-out restaurant and mulled over this new information as she crossed to it. He won a bet. Ned didn't think we'd be going out after this. I thought he was through taking stupid bets. Oh, no. Audrey paused with her hand on the door to the restaurant. **** His cruiser was parked, but running. Audrey knew cops often did this so they could keep the blue-lights flashing to warn oncoming traffic to slow down. While a small crew fixed potholes in the road Audrey pulled off to the side and parked near the cruiser. She tried to hide the anger brewing just under the surface so she could drop her bombshell and observe his first reaction. He caught sight of her and smiled as he waved cars around the workers. Audrey had an inkling of what the bad news might be, but she was going to find out before she gave him any reaction—not that she had planned one yet. “Gee, you look gorgeous,” Dan said, gazing at her as she neared him. “I might even let you off with a warning for jaywalking.” Dan was about to take the bag from Clambakes when Audrey pulled it away. “So, tell me,” she began. “How about that bet?” Dan's face couldn't have registered any more shock if she had assaulted him. When he didn't answer, she went on to ask, “Is that why you were being congratulated, 'Stud'?” “Oh, no.” Dan hung his head. “I hoped you'd never find out. What did Ned tell you?” “Enough.” She was bluffing but he bought it. “Look, Audrey. I'm sorry. I never knew about it.” “Exactly how did you win it, then?” “I wanted to ask you out anyway, but I knew how you frowned on those interdepartmental things. Lt. Boyle saw the attraction and encouraged me to pursue a relationship with you. He and the guys made the bet after that, but I just found out about it this morning.” “Oh. I see. So we're splitting the jackpot?” “Look,” he said, opening his thin wallet. “I gave all the money to the widows' and orphans' fund.” “So how much did you win, and exactly what did you have to do?” “I'd rather not say. I swear Audrey…” She lowered her face but not her eyes. They glinted an intense obsidian black. “What did you win and how?” she repeated.
“A few hundred bucks. Some of the guys saw you getting into my truck, saw me putting your suitcase in the back, saw us kissing, and put two and two together. I never told them we spent the night together.” Audrey gawked, and it quickly turned into a glare. “You expect me to believe that? Hmm. And some people think cops are stupid.” As she began to strut away, Dan lunged and grabbed her wrist. “Wait. What about that promise you made to me?” “What?” She whirled around, yanked her arm free and shot him an incredulous look. “You promised never to walk away mad. We have to talk about it, Audrey. Even if you dump me, and I pray you won't, we have to discuss this together, and…” He stopped talking as a car slowed opposite them and called out, “Excuse me, Officer?” He walked into the street to answer the tourist's questions, and she marched toward his cruiser with her jaw set. The kids in the back seat of the stopped vehicle watched silently as she opened the door to the running cruiser, hopped behind the wheel and put it in drive. Dan whipped his head around, saw the car moving, and raced to the sidewalk. Audrey stepped on the gas and drove. “Hey! Audrey! Stop!” In the rearview mirror she saw him following on foot as fast as he could. When she didn't stop he flagged down the next car driving in her direction. The car followed, but was well behind her. When they finally caught up with the stolen cruiser, her purpose must have been horrifyingly apparent. She had driven it to the nearest boat ramp, stopped long enough to shift it into neutral, opened the door, and removed her foot from the brake as she jumped out. Several people—including Dan—watched, dumbfounded, as she let the cruiser roll into the ocean. Chapter Ten In Chief Davidson's office, Audrey sat with her back to a drenched Dan. Her legs were crossed away from him, with the top one wagging about a hundred times a minute. “I don't believe this,” Dan mumbled. He was bent over, his head in his hands. Audrey didn't answer. She was still fuming. She hadn't said a word to Dan from the time the cruiser went headfirst into the Atlantic and he caught up with her, aghast. Peterson had picked up and delivered them both to the station. Sheila, the dispatcher, promised she wouldn't say anything about it to anyone else. Peterson looked at the two of them. “I've gotta go get the chief and prepare him for this. Are you two going to be okay if I leave you alone together?” “Don't worry,” Dan said. “If we didn't kill each other before, I don't think we're going to now.” “Audrey? Are you going to be okay?”
“I'm going to be absolutely wonderful, Peterson.” She tossed her now unbound hair over her shoulder and stared in the opposite direction. “You know you have to talk to him, Audrey.” “Who? The chief, or him?” she asked, tossing her head in Dan's direction. “Both.” Peterson patted her shoulder. “Now don't be pig-headed. I know you're hurt and angry. I don't blame you, but look, I went along with the bet too. Lost twenty bucks.” “What?” Audrey gasped and whirled around, shooting daggers at his sad, blue eyes. “Audrey, you know I love you. I was happy for the two of you, wasn't I? We only wanted your happiness. All of us. Now stop being a spoiled brat, will you? I'm going to get the chief.” When Peterson left, Audrey returned to her previous posture facing away from Dan, but this time she crossed her arms too. “Did you hear what he said, Audrey?” “Yeah. That he's getting the chief. If it were you and another cop he'd get the captain, but now…” “No. Peterson said that he loves you, and that nothing was meant by it. Everybody only wanted us to be happy.” When that brought no reaction, in a softer tone he added, “I love you too—even if you get me fired.” She broke her silence to cough, then quietly said, “No. I should be the one to go. I'm not happy here anymore.” “Audrey, I don't want either one of us to go. All I want is a chance to make this right. I swear I'll keep trying until I make it up to you, somehow.” He tucked a playing card on the corner of the chair she was sitting in. She looked down and saw the Queen of Hearts. Her voice broke, but her only response was, “Get out of my life.” The two waited in agonizing silence for what seemed like an hour. When Chief Davidson entered his office he stood opposite the guilty parties with his hands on his hips. He did not look happy. “Close the door, Peterson. Better stay on the other side of it too. I don't care how loud I might yell, don't let anyone in or out.” “Yes, sir.” Peterson rolled his eyes as he closed the door. “Now, what do you two have to say for yourselves?” “I'm sorry, Chief Davidson. It won't happen again,” Dan mumbled. “Jesus, it better not!” The chief paced back in forth in front of the two guilty parties. “In fact, I don't know why you two shouldn't be fired. Can you tell me why that wouldn't be an appropriate reaction to
this?” Dan shook his head, but said nothing. After an uncomfortable pause, Audrey spoke up. “I can tell you why you shouldn't fire Dan. It wasn't his fault. I was the one who parked the car in the harbor.” The chief dropped into his chair and stared at Audrey for several seconds. She held his gaze without blinking. “Officer Picolo? What do you have to say to that?” he asked. “Not much, except that I'd have probably done the same thing if what happened to her happened to me.” “Elaborate, Officer Picolo. What did you do to her?” “Me? The guys made a…” His voice was raised, then he coughed and started over. “Without my knowledge, the guys made a gentlemen's bet, sir.” Audrey burst out laughing. “Gentlemen?” She was about to sputter some more sarcastic thoughts when Chief Davidson boomed in his most authoritative voice, “It's not your turn to talk, Mrs. Lawless.” The chief folded his arms. “I'm none too happy about what I'm hearing. Tell me, what were all the particulars of this bet, Picolo?” Dan took a deep breath. “Can I give you some background to help explain, sir?” “Not unless absolutely necessary.” “Okay. I—I had this reputation.” “I'm well aware of your reputation with the ladies, Picolo. It was only your reputation as a police officer that offset it. Continue.” “Yeah.” Dan squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. “I kinda liked the reputation at first, and the guys got a kick out of it. But lately I've been feeling like it's time to settle down, and that feeling only gets stronger all the time. As much as they may have been enjoying the stories about my weekends, I wasn't enjoying any of it anymore. Finally it got to the point where I realized that I wanted what they had. I wished I had a stable loving relationship with a woman I could enjoy on different levels. Someone I could respect.” “Get to the bet, Picolo.” The chief drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. “Sure. I'm sorry. This is what happened. They hadn't heard about any wild weekends for quite a while. Six months ago I was just starting to get serious about a nurse I was dating, and I got burned. So I was taking some time off from women.” Audrey looked over at him, with raised eyebrows, but didn't open her mouth. “I had always wanted to go out with Audrey, but I didn't want to chance it.”
“Chance what?” “Well, dating someone at work, for starters.” “That was wise, Picolo. They say, 'Don't spit where you eat,' and look what happened. So, what changed your mind?” “I couldn't stop thinking about her, sir. She had all of the qualities I admired, so I decided to go for it. Besides, I was encouraged by Lieutenant Boyle.” “So where did this bet come from?” Chief Davidson's eyes were boring into him. Picolo squirmed. “Lieutenant Boyle, sir. He … well, it was his bet. I think the guys went along because, well, he's the lieutenant.” “That's an interesting piece of information,” the chief said. “Continue telling me about the bet.” “The guys really like Audrey, sir. No one wanted to hurt her. I really think they wanted us to get together and enjoy a little fun. They knew I liked her.” The chief sighed impatiently. “Hurry up.” “If I have to spill my guts, sir, then I'm going to say how I feel as well as what happened.” Dan's back had straightened. Suddenly he remembered to whom he was talking. “Um, with all due respect, sir.” “Minimize the violin music. Now exactly what happened?” “A couple of weeks ago, Lieutenant Boyle brought it up among the other guys. He wanted them to bet that I couldn't get Audrey Lawless to sleep with me within a certain amount of time and, from what I hear, he was calling her the Ice Queen.” Dan looked at Audrey, and icy was an apt description of her expression at the moment. He dropped his head and stared at his feet. A small puddle had formed on the wooden floor underneath him. “I guess, because it was the lieutenant starting it, all the other guys jumped on the bandwagon—I didn't know how to react when they told me about it this morning.” Dan turned his gaze toward the chief and confessed with shame, “and I had no intention of ever telling her…” He took another deep breath and humbled himself totally. “I know how chauvinistic and immature it was, but I couldn't defend her honor and refuse the winnings even though I'm in love with her. I wanted to, but I couldn't spoil their fun.” “How about it, Audrey? Do you have any more questions for Officer Picolo?” “Yeah. I want more details. What was this 'certain amount of time'?” Dan frowned and looked extremely uncomfortable. “I guess everyone signed up for a different time period. They signed me up for the first slot without my knowledge, I swear.” “How long did they give you and what did you have to do?” He turned to the chief for help. “I'd really rather not say. I don't want to hurt her anymore than she already has been.” The chief stared right through him, offering no support. Damn. She'll be devastated. “Are you sure you want to know, Audrey?”
“Yes, I do. What exactly was it and how long did they give you?” “Well, the bet was for the length of time it would take you to sleep with me. They gave me five days from our first date.” “Five days!” Audrey yelled. Everyone sat in stunned silence as she shook her head, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. “They saw you getting into my car and saw me putting your suitcase in the back. Peterson got the rest of it out of Patience.” “Maybe we should split the money after all.” Her voice shook. “I made it awfully damn easy for you, didn't I?” “Please listen, Audrey. This relationship didn't start recently. For me, it started with an overwhelming attraction to you when I first met you. I knew I couldn't do anything about it back then. You had just lost Sam, and you were in no shape… But, it's all different now.” He knew he was begging, but he didn't care. “Oh, it certainly is.” The chief, sensing that things might escalate if he didn't interrupt, said, “Picolo has to have a chance to ask questions too, Audrey.” “Thank you,” Dan said. “Audrey. I just want to ask you to look into my eyes—get as deep into my psyche as you can—and tell me if I'm lying to you about anything that's happened or how I feel. Tell me that I'm not totally crazy about you. Tell me that I'm not going to suffer if we can't fix this. Tell me that I wouldn't do anything to make it right.” He waited in silence. She sat staring at the chief's desk. “Look at me, Audrey. Am I lying?” She huffed and rolled her eyes. “I wish the ground could swallow me up right now.” “Audrey.” Chief Davidson spoke with authority and snapped her out of the black mood she was sinking into. “Are you listening?” “Yes. I am.” She uncrossed her arms and folded her hands in her lap. “And, no, he's not lying.” “Isn't that worth something?” Dan asked. Audrey looked up at the chief. “It's my turn for a question, isn't it?” “Not yet, Audrey. First, it'smy turn for a question.” “Go ahead, sir,” she said.
“Not that it's my business, but do you have feelings for Dan?” The lump grew in her throat. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and she glanced at him only long enough to catch his hopeful expression. “I did,” she whispered. “I didn't hear you,” Chief Davidson said. “Yes,” Audrey declared. After an excruciating silence, she asked. “Is it my turn, now?” The chief gestured with one hand, indicating, “Go ahead.” “Dan, didn't you think it was weird that Lieutenant Boyle was in favor of the relationship? Didn't you think he might be up to something?” “No. He said that you needed some sort of pleasant distraction. You were working too hard and he said that it was coming out in negative ways. I knew exactly what he meant. You two were butting heads. He seemed to be pushing your buttons and instead of ignoring him you were getting more and more upset. He was hoping I could—well—help you relax.” “A pleasant distraction? Help me relax?” “Well, that's what he said to me.” The chief stood up. “I'll ask him about that. I'm talking to him next. The rest of the department will be addressed regarding gentlemen's bets too. You can count on that. If anything like this ever happens again, I'll put everyone who participated on suspension. If I did that right now, I'd have only one guy with integrity left, and he just quit.” “Thank you, Chief,” Audrey said, evenly. “You two seem to be discussing this in a more calm and appropriate fashion now. Can I count on your maturity from here on in?” They both nodded. “Good. Then you're suspended for three days without pay, Picolo. If there are no more incidents, arguments, or angry accusations, I'll let you keep your job, but I'll be using your three days lost salary for repairs to the cruiser.” “Yes, sir.” Dan breathed a sigh of relief. Audrey was pushing at her cuticles with her fingernails, awaiting her judgment. The chief probably wouldn't let her off the hook completely. She knew he considered her a valuable employee.Yeah, I'll probably get suspended too, but so what? I'll live. She would sometimes space out, subconsciously, during moments of extreme tension as a defense mechanism, exactly as she was doing now. When she pulled herself back to the present and listened to what the chief was saying, she realized she had missed about three seconds—three important seconds. “So, in that case, Audrey won't be working here anymore. We can't have anyone in this department jumping to conclusions and acting on emotions like that.” Shockwaves ripped through her. “Did you say 'Audrey doesn't work here anymore'?”
Chief Davidson's eyes darted back to Audrey and then to Dan. “Yup. You're fired, Audrey. Feel better now, Picolo?” Dan glanced over at Audrey, face pale, as if he were feeling sick and shook his head. “No, of course not.” The chief turned to Audrey next and asked her, “Feel better now, Audrey?” “I felt better as soon as I stepped out of Dan's cruiser and took my foot off the brake.” Chief Davidson shook his head and sighed, “Audrey, Audrey, Audrey…” He walked over to the door and opened it a crack. “Before I let you two go, I want to give you both one last word of advice. Put yourself in the other person's position. Think about it. Try to understand how the other one must have felt. Stay away from each other for the next few days, too. Dismissed.” Before the two of them left the room, Dan turned to her and said, “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'll give you a call tonight. We'll think of something.” “No. I'm going away for a few days, with or without any more paychecks.” “Okay, I'll call you toward the end of the week, then.” Dan leaned in and whispered, “I'll work alone on the case now that…” She raised an eyebrow. “I've got to make this up to you somehow. There's only one thing you've ever asked me for. I'll put every spare minute into it and, hopefully, you'll learn what you need to know—and then, hopefully, you'll be able to trust me again.” “Don't bother unless you tell every officer, dispatcher, lieutenant and captain what you just told the chief. If anyone thinks you were in on it, I'm out of Newport for good.” Dan stopped moving and stared at her. Clearing his throat, he replied, “Don't pack. I'll call you Friday afternoon.” “Sure, and if I give a damn, I'll answer the phone.” She tossed her purse over her shoulder and walked out with her head held high. Chapter Eleven Early Friday morning, when Picolo deemed it was finally safe to talk to her for a few minutes, he appeared at Audrey's front door in his uniform with two coffees and a bakery box. “I've got to get a peephole installed in this door,” Audrey mumbled. Wearing a white terrycloth bathrobe and slippers she turned and schlepped back inside, but left the door open. Dan figured that was the best invitation he was apt to receive, so he followed her in. “Mornin', Audrey. You look rested.” He was trying his best to get the conversation off on a good foot. She sat in her chair at the dinette. Dan placed the coffee with sugar in front of her, and the black coffee
opposite, and then he set the box of muffins on the table. “May I sit down?” he asked. She shrugged. “I have to go in and meet with the patrol captain at nine this morning, but I have a few minutes, and we need to talk.” When Dan didn't move, she blew out a long breath and said, “Fine. Sit.” He straddled the chair on the opposite side and waited for her to look at him. When she finally did, he held her attention by speaking slowly and deliberately. “I've called, or spoken in person, to every officer, sergeant and lieutenant on the NPD. I did what you asked me to. The chief told the captains and they lectured the department on betting.” “Congratulations.” Audrey's dry tone let him know that she was not particularly impressed. She took the plastic lid off of her coffee and blew on the hot liquid. “Audrey, I told every single one of them that you and I are for real … or were, until you found out about that stupid bet. I told them that I donated the money to the widows' and orphans' fund. I told them that you were hurt and this whole thing damaged our trust. I even humbled myself totally and said I'd never participate in betting of any kind and told them not to include me on sports betting or even baby pools. Some of the guys laughed at me, but you know what?” She didn't answer. “I'd listen to them laugh at me every day if it would get you to forgive me. Come back to me, Audrey. I miss you.” His voice was low and velvety. He leaned toward her and reached for her hand. “I could barely stand being away from you all this week. Did you think about me—at all?” “Did you mean what you said about doing anything to make it up to me?” “Yes. I've done some work on the case, and I have some information.” “If you find out something that solves this thing, I'll give you another chance.” “I want to do a little more digging. Right now all we have is a suicide with no hard evidence to the contrary.” The look on Audrey's face would have stopped a parrot from talking. “He was murdered.” She sat back in the chair and crossed her legs. “Yes. I didn't mean that he wasn't.” Dan didn't know what to say anymore. She seemed ready to pounce on him for the slightest thing. Audrey finally broke the tension by changing the subject. “So have they hired anyone to do my old job?” “I hear they're talking to Landry.”
Audrey's face betrayed surprise, but only for a moment. “Poor Landry. I thought she was going on maternity leave soon.” “Well, they decided that she can train for a few weeks, and maybe try to work from home until she gets back. If it makes you feel any better, I hear she doesn't want to take your place.” “Humph. I wish they had let me work from home.” “Getting back to the case, can I borrow the official file you have?” “Dan, forget the official file. It's useless. I have more information than HQ does right here in my head. But, if you really want it…” She stood up, stretched, walked over to her purse, and fished out the key to her desk drawer. “You know what? I've looked at this information in my home dozens of times. I think I'd like to take it all to the scene of the crime and see if I can prompt my psychic sense to drive anything else to the surface.” “Okay, Audrey. What would you like me to do?” **** Sunday evening, Audrey and Picolo stood in front of the large Markham plot at the Newport Cemetery. Audrey held the thick manila folder and extracted several worn pages, some of them dog-eared, Xerox copies. Some of the pages were hand-scribbled notes. She thumbed through everything. How many times have I gone through this? I think I have every page memorized by now. She showed the pile to Dan. “This is everything I have, so far.” “Geez, Audrey. When you go after information, you're thorough as hell. Remind me to use your services when you get rehired.” She looked up at him with out raising her head. “Are you living in la la land? After what I did?” “You're getting your job back. I've been talking to the captains and the chief. I'll hound them for months if I have to.” “Thanks,” she said, and flipped through the pages offering him a few that were flagged in red. Dan turned away from the setting sun and scanned the pages. Meanwhile, Audrey stared at the angel atop the Walter Markham—or Marx, headstone. “When did this happen?” Dan asked. “Fourth of July.” “No. What time?” Dan paced beside the family plot. “Sometime between nine p.m. and eleven p.m.” “Of course. The shot was probably mistaken for fireworks.”
Audrey nodded. “Yeah, I already thought of that.” “It sounds like it was premeditated.” “I know, but I can't think of anyone who would have any reason to set him up.” She thought about how well-liked Sam had been. He didn't have any enemies, and the only argument he had had with anyone before the incident was with her. Audrey sighed, strolled across from the family graves and half sat, half leaned, on a headstone opposite the plot. “Isn't that disrespectful to the dead?” “I hope not, but I want to meditate in front of that angel and see what happens. You can look through the rest of the folder, if you want to.” “Okay. Meditate away.” Audrey closed her eyes. She could hear the papers being shuffled for a few moments, and then she went into her trance and was unaware of any sounds around her. Figures appeared in a blur and left in a blur. Nothing of significance seemed to be coming through. Nothing made any sense. When she opened her eyes it must have been quite a while later. Dan stood silently, all the papers were back in the envelope. He watched the sunset beginning to spread across the sky. Audrey cleared her throat. He turned toward her and smiled. “Welcome back. Any news from the mind's eye?” “Nothing. Not a single clue.” She straightened up and brushed her coat off. “Ugh,” she felt a lump clinging to the fabric and tried to turn and pull the back of her coat around to see what she had sat in. “What is it?” Dan walked behind her. “Oh, no. It's brown.” “Let me take a look.” He pulled her coat taut and scraped it off with his finger. “Dan, that's disgusting!” “No it isn't,” he teased. His eyes twinkled as he placed his finger under his nose inhaling deeply as if he were smelling French perfume. Dan stuck his index finger toward her. “Here, lick me.” Audrey leaned over backward and wrinkled her nose. “It's chocolate.” She finally broke into a smile. “You're a lunatic.” As their merry eyes met, Audrey drew in a deep breath, sighed, dropped the manila envelope on the ground, and slipped her arms around Dan's neck. He pulled her into a long, warm hug and buried his face in her hair. As they held each other, a figure approached from the shielded plot behind the Markham
stone. “I'm glad to see that you guys made up.” Audrey and Dan jumped away from one another until they identified the strange voice. “Ned,” Audrey breathed. “Where did you come from?” “Right behind the bushes, here.” He indicated the hedges planted behind the Markham stone, delineating the back border of the plot. “I was having a tête-à-tête with my father.” They walked around to the modest stone behind the impressive Marx plot, finding a much smaller family plot marked by a polished, granite headstone, bearing the name, “Wright.” “Oh.” Audrey said. “I'm sorry if we disturbed your visit.” She read the inscription out loud. “Jackson Wright. 1955 to 2002. He was so young. I'm sorry, Ned.” “Yeah, thanks. It hurts a little less with time.” Dan put a supportive hand on Ned's shoulder. “I'm sorry, man. I didn't know you lost your father so recently. My dad died several years ago. Life without him isn't the same. He was always a good listener and advisor. I still miss him.” “Mine, too. Sometimes I talk to him, like when I'm here. First I check around to make sure no one's listening, though. That's when I found the two of you. Just now, I was about to ask him if I should go back to Boston or tough it out here. I've been having second thoughts. Hey, Audrey. Step closer to my dad's stone,” Ned suggested. “See if you can get an answer for me.” “I don't know, Ned.” She approached the Wright headstone. “The spirits don't always stay at the gravesite, but if he was meeting you here, then possibly…” As soon as Audrey set foot on the grave, an anomalous push threw her right into Dan's arms. Catching her in his strong grasp, he held her until she was steady and set her upright. “What was that?” “Wait,” she shuddered. “This is the right spot.” She looked at the stone. “I was looking at the angel from the other side. This is the…” her voice trailed off. “I need my packet.” She rushed to where it had fallen, grabbed and leafed through it and walked back over to the two curious men. “Audrey?” Ned sounded anxious. “What did you sense there?” “Don't worry, Ned, it's probably nothing to do with your dad.” She yanked a small drawing out of the packet and showed it to the two off-duty cops. “This is the nightmare I've been having ever since I discovered the unrest in this area. I'm sorry it's not more detailed. This is all I could see.” Both men studied the crude sketch and looked up at the Wright plot. It was an outline only.
Ned frowned. “What nightmare?” “I've been witnessing a murder, Ned—over and over again—in my dreams. It wakes me up, sometimes screaming.” She reached over and held onto Dan's arm. “Ned, when did your father die?” “Two years ago, July 3rd. My family bought the plot a long time ago, but we thought it wouldn't be needed for years.” Looking directly at Dan, she whispered, “Sam's here.” Dan didn't know what to say. He couldn't think of any response that would be appropriate. Especially since it seemed that Sam had just pushed her into his arms. The silence was stretched out for far too long. “Then that's it.” Dan murmured. “This must have been the open grave that they said Sam fell into when he was killed.” “Or was pushed into.” Audrey's eyes filled with tears. Dan dropped the drawing, pulled her into his strong embrace, and she held on tight. Ned grabbed the drawing off the grass, and looked back and forth between Audrey's drawing and the plot belonging to his family. “You're right. This looks like the place in the sketch,” he said. “There's something else you should know.” Audrey wiped her eyes and sniffed. “What is it?” “The grave was dug much longer and deeper than necessary. It looked almost like a trench except that part of it was underground—a tunnel.” “What the… Let me see that,” Dan said, reaching for the picture. “There's nothing like that in the drawing,” Audrey said, stunned. “I didn't know about that.” Dan studied the picture out loud. “The man on his knees is in front of hedges, above him, the silhouette of an angel atop an obelisk-type headstone. The Wright headstone wasn't there yet. Ned, what direction did the tunnel take?” “Straight back, toward that stone with the angel on it.” Audrey nodded, then suddenly held her stomach and began to double over. “I need to sit down,” she whispered. Dan helped her over to a nearby granite bench. “Are you all right? Maybe this isn't good for you.” “I'll be all right. Don't try to pull me out of this—not right now.” She closed her eyes and after a moment of concentrating, whispered, “I'm getting something. A face.” The lump in her throat began to form, and
she squeezed her eyes tighter. “Oh, Dan. It's the creepiest face.” She shuddered and abruptly opened her eyes, sucked in a deep breath. “I can't stand looking at it any longer.” “Audrey.” Dan placed an arm around her, pulling her to his side and, as he held her tight, he looked over to the Wright plot again. Ned seemed to be rooted to the ground in front of it. “Sweetheart,” Dan whispered. “We will figure out the identity of the man who's standing next to him. I promise.” “I don't know if you can.” She choked up and the tears began to spill. “If I've had all the access of my position at the department, plus my gift, and couldn't do it…” Audrey threw her arms around him and her voice broke. He held her tight, murmuring into her ear and stroking her long hair. “It'll be all right. We won't give up. Not now. We're getting closer and closer, honey. We'll get to the bottom of this. I'll do whatever I can.” Ned came over and asked, “Can I help?” “No, thanks, man. I think she's had it for today. I'll take her home.” **** Once Dan had her in the front seat of his Envoy in the police station parking lot, she seemed to have regrouped and calmed down. He imagined he would have to probe deeper into the situation even though it was a sensitive subject. Unless he could uncover the truth, it would always be touchy. “Tell me everything you can remember about the dreams, Audrey. Don't leave anything out, even if it seems insignificant.” She inhaled deeply and let out a long, slow breath. “I've witnessed his death dozens of times, now. I had the dreams right after he died, then there was a period of time when the dreams stopped.” She dug around her handbag for a tissue. “When did they start up again?” “About the same time you started flirting with me.” “Tell me more.” “Each time it's the same. Some tall, thin, gangly man stands next to him. Sam has a gun in his right hand, held to his right temple, and he's kneeling at the exact spot I showed you. Nothing happens for several seconds. Clouds move across the full moon. The standing man's jaw moves as if he's talking. Then he stops talking, the picture goes black, and then I see a flash and hear a gun go off. That's when I wake up.” Dan held a tissue ready. “So you've never seen the murderer wiping the gun and placing it in Sam's hand.” “No.” There was a long silence and then she sniffed. “I have to try to stay objective—but it seems impossible.”
“Maybe Sam's showing you all he knows. Maybe even he doesn't know who pulled the trigger. Or maybe he wanted me to help you answer your questions.” He handed her the tissue. It looked as if tears were about to spill but she squeezed them back. Sliding his arm around Audrey's shoulder, he stroked her arm, brushed her hair back and drew an invisible line along her jaw. Staring at her lap, she took a few deep breaths and then looked into his eyes. “Go ahead,” she whispered, her voice steady. “What?” “Go ahead and kiss me. You do want to kiss me, don't you?” “Audrey, you can be a little scary with that sharpened ESP of yours. Are you gonna hit me if I try?” “Not hard.” She smiled weakly. Dan chuckled, put his index finger under her chin and tipped her face up to meet his. “It's worth the risk,” he murmured, and then he kissed her for the first time in a week. She tasted like salt and yet it was the sweetest of kisses. She let him deepen it and he inhaled her perfume. Why would she wear perfume if she didn't care anymore? Why would she let me kiss her like this? As though she had read his mind, she said, “I still love you, even though I don't want to,” and sniffled. Dan sat up straighter and looked her in the eye. “You never said you loved me before.” “I know. I was sure you'd back out long before this. I didn't think you were willing to take it this far. I know you said I could count on you. I'm finally starting to believe it.” “Believe it,” he said. “I'll take this as far as I can.” He smiled into her large brown eyes and hoped this was the beginning of a better, more loving, trusting relationship. “Frankly, I thought I'd have to serenade you every night and send you flowers every day before you'd come back to me.” “Nope. Your help in my husband's murder case is what I want.” “And maybe what I deserve. I can see how much Sam is missing.” The thought tugged at his heart. “You two must have had a very deep and special love. I'll admit I'm jealous of that in a way. I wish I could have the same kind of relationship with…” he thought he'd better not make any assumptions, “…someone, someday.” “Dan, I loved Sam with all my heart, and whatever I find in the future will never be like that. I might have happiness again, but I know it will be different.” “I'd like to be there with you, discovering whatever that is, then.” “Well, you're beginning to convince me that maybe you don't deserve the impact of a blunt instrument.”
Audrey noticed movement by the back door of the station. “Oh, it's some of the guys. Let's get going.” “Why? I want them to see us together, Audrey. I want them to know we're getting through this.” “Don't do it for me, Dan. If you…” Dan grasped her and kissed her as deeply and passionately as she would let him. She tried to stop him by pushing against his chest, but her effort soon weakened. Before she knew it, she was melting into his warm, tender kiss. After a minute or so, every thought she had of stopping failed and she let herself be swept away. He moved to her cheek and neck only long enough to whisper endearments, and then back, kissing her mouth while he cradled the back of her head and twined her hair in his fingers. The guys exiting the building couldn't have missed it, but they never called out to them or made any jokes or remarks. Apparently they had decided to respect the couple's privacy. In the moment that followed their breathless release, Audrey's eyes fluttered open. She gazed past Dan and let him hold her in a long hug. “I'm glad Boyle wasn't among that group.” “Yeah, I'd never hear the end of it.” “What is it about him, Dan?” “I can't figure him out, either, hon. Maybe I can come up with something as I do a little more snooping around.” “I wouldn't, sw…” Every muscle in her face froze. “Say it.” “Say what?” “You're not the only perceptive one, Audrey. You were going to call me something besides my given name, weren't you?” Audrey smiled and looked away. “Yeah, but I'm still not sure what it was going to be.” “You mean naughty or nice?” “Yeah. When I figure out exactly what you are, then I'll know what to call you. Meanwhile, I think you should back up a few paces so I can see you objectively.” “Well, if you spend your time trying to figure me out, then you'll never figure out this mystery.” “You're right. I was losing sight of the goal.” She heaved a deep sigh. “I guess you'll just have to trust me.” Dan drew his finger up her arm, and she tingled. She also realized how much she missed making love. Dan hopped out, walked around the car, opened the door for her and escorted her to her RX-7. “I'm
off Thursday. I'll do some more digging and, if you're free, I could come over Friday night.” “Fine, as long as we can just relax. I still don't want to go out on the town, but now, at least, it's just because I'm not in the mood.” “I hope you'll be in the mood for some exercise and deep relaxation afterward.” **** At home in her bedroom, Audrey pulled Sam's old uniform out of the back of her closet. It still smelled faintly of her late husband, or was she imagining it? She sat on her bed and held the jacket close to her chest, smoothing it and gazing at it. “I wish I could talk to you, Sam. I wish I knew what you thought about all this.” Her eyes began to well up with tears, and the familiar lump began to form in her throat. No matter. She had to say some things to her husband and she desperately hoped that he could hear. “I think you're trying to communicate with me. Why now? What are you trying to say?” Audrey waited, but nothing happened. “What do you want me to do?” She held the uniform as close to her heart as she could, closed her eyes, and concentrated. When nothing happened, she opened her eyes and sighed. Perhaps she was trying too hard. She closed her eyes again, cleared her mind and let her thoughts wander wherever they wanted to go. She hoped they would wander to where he could communicate. First, her mind saw Dan. His smiling eyes and happy dimpled grin filled her with warmth and joy. She was tempted to pull herself away from that image, as if she knew that was not where she should be, but she didn't fight it and allowed it pass through her mind. That was how she had been trained. Give the mind free reign, no agenda—follow and see what unfolds. At last, it traveled to a happier time. She saw Sam and a young Patience, her family, building a sandcastle together on the beach. The picture seemed like a movie, and the camera closed in on one of them.Patience. Audrey wanted to hold the picture, but she had to let it go when it faded. Soon she viewed another picture, another little girl and a boy. Two small, tanned, dark-haired children were building sandcastles on the beach. They were with a tan, dark-haired man. He faced the other way, toward the ocean. They all wore bathing suits. The older child was a boy of about six, and the younger one, a girl, about three. As a wave splashed up toward the castle, the man stood and swooped the little girl up in his arms, kissing her cheek. As she giggled and grinned, she revealed the most adorable dimples. She hugged him around the neck. The boy stood up and put his little arm around the man's strong, muscled leg. The man reached down to tousle the thick, dark hair on the boy's head. She couldn't see the man's face since he was still facing the horizon, but his strong, well-developed body was already familiar. Audrey knew, and maybe Sam was trying to tell her, that she should be in that picture. She wanted to be part of Dan's future more than she had realized. Chapter Twelve Dan, in his off-duty clothes—jeans and a polo shirt—entered the State Medical Examiner's office. He hoped to find the coroner there, rather than having to locate him in the middle of an autopsy. A faint odor
of disinfectant and chemicals permeated the air. Dan was relieved to find the medical examiner in his office sorting through a filing cabinet, and not in one of his more ominous hangouts. “Morning, Doctor. I wonder if I could get some information on a cold case.” The man turned and frowned. “How long ago?” “Almost two years.” The coroner left his file cabinet, walked over to his desk and sat in front of the computer. “Who's it for? Family?” “Yeah. A fellow police officer who was found July fifth, shot late on the fourth.” “You cops are all related, aren't you? I swear it must be genetic. What was the name?” “Samuel Lawless.” Dan realized the doctor had mistaken the affirmative answer as if it meant blood relative, not “brotherhood of cops” as he had intended it. He let the man think what he wanted and positioned himself so that he could lean against the wall, make casual conversation, and view the computer screen over the coroner's shoulder. “So who else is related?” “Down in Newport? Well, there's Sheila Munroe and Sean McIntyre. I think they're twins.” “Oh, yeah. I guess I knew that, but I must have forgotten. Who else?” Dan asked, more to pass the time than anything. “Well, Peterson and Boyle. Brothers-in-law.” Dan was glad the Coroner was facing the other way and didn't see his eyebrows shoot up. He controlled his voice so that his neutral tone didn't change. “No kidding,” he remarked, casually. It was interesting news but he'd wait until the following night and pass it along to Audrey then. He wondered if she knew. “Okay. I have the case here,” the coroner said. “Yeah. I remember.” He shook his head while staring at the screen. “Too bad. Couldn't quite make heads or tails of the aftermath. Probable suicide. No motive, though.” He brought up another screen looking for more information. “No money problems, no dirty dealings of any kind, beautiful family. According to the people close to him, it didn't seem possible. I suppose the media could have been looking for a more interesting angle, they hinted at foul play, but I can't imagine they'd make it all up and put the family through that.” “That would be pretty sick.” “I agree with you. I can't base my reports on circumstances. My reporting is clear.” “What was the cause of death?” “A single gunshot to the head. The time of death was around 10 p.m. He wasn't discovered until early the next morning.” “Who found him?”
“I don't know. He was transported here from Newport Hospital.” Dan mulled it over. Hoping to get more information, he tried to keep the coroner talking. “So he was DOA at the Newport Hospital?” “I assume so. Rigor mortis had set in, and he was curled into a ball and covered with dirt.” The coroner turned to look at him curiously. Dan shifted positions against the wall. “What else can you tell me?” “What else did you want to know?” “Where was the bullet's point of entry?” The coroner double-checked the screen and nodded. “Right temple.” “The exit?” “Straight across. The bullet had to be fired at close range.” The coroner tapped two spots on the left and right side of his own head. “So that wouldn't have been impossible for him to manage by himself.” Dan took a deep breath. “The angle of the weapon had to be like this.” He held his index finger directly against his right temple and felt an odd chill.I couldn't do that without the most desperate of motives. Why the hell… “But could he have held the weapon farther away, like this?” Dan pulled his invisible weapon away from the spot, but his hand was still less than a foot from his temple. “Sure.” “Anything in there about what was reported to forensics? Any residue on his hands?” The coroner checked the computer screen. “Not much. The size, shape and position of the bullet holes are noted. The weapon may have been his, but there's one more thing that was a little strange.” “What was that?” “I remember a couple of circumstantial things from that case, but like I said, those things don't make it into the report unless I can physically discover some clue to corroborate it. His widow insisted that he couldn't have used his right hand to pull the trigger. An x-ray of his right hand and fingers revealed an old broken bone that wasn't set properly. It is odd that he'd be squeezing the trigger with that finger, but not impossible.” He scrutinized Dan. “The injury wasn't apparent. Did you know anything about it?” “Hmm? Yeah.” Dan tried tied to be as cool as he could. “So, the distance was an estimate right?” The doctor nodded. “The estimate could be off by inches. Someone may have manipulated the hand that pulled the trigger, or the victim could have been shot and had the weapon placed in his hand after the fact.”
The coroner nodded. “If it wasn't suicide, I'd vote for the second of those opinions. Another person could have been wearing gloves and their prints wouldn't be found on the trigger. So it's a reopened case, and they're looking into the possibility of a homicide?” Dan remembered he had said there were a couple of pieces of circumstantial evidence. “What else was there that you couldn't corroborate physically?” “Two cops came to see the body. I thought I heard them arguing coming down the hall. I thought I heard one of them degrading the other, and the other voice, louder than the first, said, 'I had to do it'.” “Did you ask them about it?” “Hell, no. They could have been talking about swerving off the road to avoid a squirrel, for all I knew.” “Who were they?” Dan didn't think the coroner would tell him, but to his surprise he did. “Peterson and Boyle. That's when I heard they were brothers-in-law. Peterson said, 'if you weren't my brother-in-law…' Then he saw me and shut up.” Two guys. In her dream's version, Audrey had only seen one other man. Still, there was something more convincing about the idea of a cop losing an altercation with two armed men rather than one. That explanation sounded more likely to Dan. If it were a one-on-one situation, why wouldn't Sam just turn the gun at the last moment and shoot the other man? Only an idiot would let a police officer keep his weapon and expect him to use it against himself. Therefore, there had to be at least two of them. Peterson and Boyle, brothers-in-law. Could they have been pulling the good cop/bad cop routine with Audrey? One to piss her off and push her out the door, and the other privy to her secrets and plans? “So, what brings you here two years later?” Dan tried to sneak a look at the monitor. “His widow. She needs some kind of closure.” “She has my report. I didn't know she was still questioning the autopsy.” “She isn't. She just wants to be sure the case isn't forgotten.” Dan was thinking on his feet, but he was also on firm ground. Other than allowing the illusion of being a family relation, he didn't have to lie. “It's already a bit of an embarrassment to the force.” He looked down and scuffed the floor. “I understand.” “I think she suspects they might prefer to sweep it under the rug if no new facts are presented. Can you think of anything else that might help?” “I'm sorry. I wish I had more to tell you.” “No, that was helpful. Thanks.” Dan stood up straight and shook the man's hand. He managed a quick glance at the screen and saw that Internal Affairs was taking over the investigation. Damn. I'd like to know what's in the Internal Affairs file. “Isn't his widow the psychic that the department sometimes uses?”
Dan was surprised that the coroner would know about her gift. The department didn't advertise it. “Yeah, Audrey Lawless.” “A beautiful woman. Is she seeing anyone yet?” That threw Dan for a moment. Jesus. This doctor remembers her from two years ago and is still interested. “Uh, yeah, she's seeing someone.” **** The following morning, Audrey awoke with a start to the sound of a pouring rain, and gasped. Her psychic radar had picked up something horrible. “Dan! God, no!” She whipped around and glared at the clock. “Nine a.m.? How the hell did I sleep that long?” Grabbing the phone, she hit one of her speed-dial numbers and waited an agonizing two rings to hear a female voice answer. “Sheila. It's Audrey. Have you heard about an officer down?” Her voice was trembling. “Yeah, I know you're not supposed to, but damn it, I know this is happening, and you know I know. Who is it?” She waited on hold and heard her own panting breaths. Consciously, she slowed her breathing, so she wouldn't hyperventilate. She mumbled under her breath, “Please let me be wrong…” When her excruciating wait ended and Sheila came back, Audrey squeezed her eyes shut and prayed. “Yeah, I know you're not supposed to tell me! Wait, what if I guess?” Calming herself, Audrey thought she could still get the information one way or another. “Okay, let's play twenty questions. The good news is that there might only be a couple of questions. Is it Dan Picolo? Yes? Is he alive? Is he on his way to the hospital? Bless you, Sheila. I never heard it from you.” Audrey flew out of bed without hanging up the telephone receiver and ran to the laundry room. Grabbing the clean things she had washed the night before, but hadn't ironed or folded, she threw on some mismatched underwear and her jeans. She was about to put on a rumpled cotton blouse but thought it would take too long to button, so she threw on a white Roger Williams University sweatshirt that belonged to Patience. Running for her purse, she grabbed it, threw it over her shoulder, and headed for the front door. Audrey paused, to lock up even though every little thing seemed like time wasted. I have to get to Dan. I want to tell him that he has to live through this. I'm not going to lose another man I love this much. Not again. **** Audrey reached Newport Hospital and abandoned her car in an illegal parking place. Flying into the emergency room she must have looked like a witch without her broom. “The police officer…” She managed to force the words out with her labored breath, “Where is he?” “We just got the phone call,” the triage nurse said. “He hasn't arrived yet.” As Audrey stood there, staring, the busy staff halted in their tracks, appearing to hear her desperation. She sensed the screaming of sirens. “Oh, they're here,” she exclaimed, and she ran to the entrance, opening the automatic doors and leaning on the button to hold the doors open. God forbid one second
be wasted waiting for doors to slide open. The triage nurse had alerted a physician and both hurried to meet the ambulance along with Audrey. “Are you family, ma'am?” the nurse asked. “Yes.” She reacted without a nanosecond's thought. “Do you know his blood type?” the doctor asked. She shook her head. As another nurse appeared, he called to her. “Have the O-neg ready. They said he's lost a lot of blood.” The nurse turned and ran back into the ER. Audrey's head started spinning and she felt sick. The doctor patted her shoulder. “The OR is being prepped, as we speak. Everything that can be done will be done for him.” “I know.” Her voice was trembling as much as her body. The ambulance screamed up to the entrance. One man jumped out of the driver's seat as the other one in the back threw open the doors from the inside. The doctor and a nurse waiting at the door tried to stop Audrey from running to the ambulance, but leg irons wouldn't have helped. As the two EMTs pulled the stretcher out, Audrey fought her way to Dan's side. His unconscious face was covered with an oxygen mask and blood pooled under his left side—so much blood. His uniform was drenched, and Audrey wondered how long he had been lying in the rain. His color was poor, but at least she knew he was breathing. She spoke as coherently as she could while running alongside the stretcher. “Dan, you've got to make it through this. You have to live. I can't…” almost choking on her words, she cried, “I can't lose you!” The staff had taken charge and whisked him down the hospital corridor. Audrey knew that she wouldn't be able to convey any more to him until he was out of surgery. She just hoped it was enough. She stood alone in the hallway, her hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her face, as she watched the team and their patient fly past the inside double doors. The doors drifted closed, shutting her out. “Be kind…” she murmured to the air, hoping there was a deity and that her words might be heard if she said them out loud. “I know I haven't appreciated him nearly as much as I should have, but I will. I promise I will.” She broke off her prayer with racking sobs and leaned against the corridor wall. The same triage nurse who met her in the emergency room found her slumped against the wall a few minutes later. “Are you all right? I'm sorry. I never got your name before.” “Audrey,” she said. “Are you his wife?” the nurse asked, but before Audrey could answer, the nurse's eyes widened. “Wait a minute. Two years ago when I worked the night shift—weren't you married to that cop who was
brought in…?” Audrey broke into the most gut-wrenching sobs, and slid down the wall. The nurse, kneeling beside her, threw her arms around Audrey's trembling shoulders. Grabbing the white uniform, she held onto the comforting human being, trying to calm down. She couldn't. Convulsing sobs emitted from somewhere deep in her core, and she gasped for air a few too many times. The air grew thin and lightheadedness infiltrated her brain just moments before the world went white, and she spun into unconsciousness. Chapter Thirteen She came to—slowly. Audrey heard her name called, faintly at first, and as it became louder, she could feel herself being shaken. “Audrey!” the voices yelled, until she opened her eyes and tried to sit up. “Whoa. Take it easy,” said the nurse. “Just lie here for a minute and breathe slowly.” “What happened?” Audrey mumbled. “You fainted, hon.” “Oh, Lord. You're joking. I never faint.” “Well you did just now,” another nurse commented. “I can sit up now, really,” Audrey said. “Take it slow and let us help. You just had an awful shock.” Audrey felt silly but allowed the staff to help her into a sitting position on the floor. “Stay there for a minute or two, and get your bearings,” said a third woman in white. “I've got them. Honest. I feel so stupid. I can't believe I fainted.” Audrey was helped to her feet and she brushed off the back of her blue jeans and Roger Williams sweatshirt. The staff led her to a chair in the emergency waiting room. “Where's Officer Picolo?” “Dan? That was Dan Picolo?” One of the nurses gasped. She and Audrey stared at each other with an odd recognition for two people who had never met. The nurse stepped back. She was tall, willowy and as blond as a Swedish travel poster model. Audrey found her voice and managed to whisper, “You're that nurse he was…” “And you're that psychic…” she interjected, wide-eyed.
Audrey was surprised. “How do you know about me?” “This isn't the time or place to discuss it,” the nurse said. “You have enough to think about.” Audrey wanted to stop her as the nurse strode away through the double doors to the inner sanctum. She had enough to think about all right. Moments later, Peterson and Boyle appeared at the ER desk. “How's our boy?” Boyle asked. “He's being attended to. I'm afraid I don't have any details,” the triage nurse replied, “but there's someone in the waiting room you might be able to help.” She pointed to Audrey sitting on her hands in one of the nearby chairs. The stricken look on her face must have said volumes more than words could convey. Peterson walked over and sat next to her while Boyle leaned on the ER's chest-high counter and watched. “Audrey. You knew it happened without a phone call, didn't you?” Peterson asked. She nodded, tears streaming from her closed eyes. “You must be going through déjà vu hell.” “Oh, God, yes,” she cried, leaning into his shoulder. “Once in a blue moon, a man I can love with all my heart comes along. Why this—again?” He put an arm around her. “Is there anything I can do?” She nodded, quivering. “Pray hard.” She looked up at Boyle's face. It only added to the puzzle. What was that expression? Pity? Worry? Guilt? He turned back to the triage nurse, and they whispered in low tones. Boyle finally strolled over to them. “It's going to be a few hours at least. Peterson needs to get back out there and look for the scumbag who did this. Why don't you go on home, Audrey? I'll call you when he's out of danger.” Her head jerked upright. “He's in danger?” “I don't know. They really don't know his condition at the desk yet. I just prepare myself for the worst and hope for the best.” Boyle offered her a weak smile. “Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.” “Yeah.” She sighed. Boyle's voice softened. “Peterson can drive you home, Audrey. You're too upset to drive.” “I don't think I could go home now. I could use a little cool air, though. Maybe I'll take a walk. I don't care if it's raining.”
“Sure. Whatever helps,” Peterson said. Audrey stood and paused to be sure she was steady. The lightheaded feeling had faded considerably, but a sort of numbness remained. “I'll be back.” Peterson stood up with her and sent her off with a solid hug. Audrey wanted to stop by the desk and ask if they had any information on his condition, but she knew they probably wouldn't have any more now than they had thirty seconds ago. As she was about to turn away, the blond nurse entered the room and called to her. “Miss…” “Audrey.” She walked over to her and nodded, offering her what little information Audrey was likely to get. “His condition is critical, but only because of blood loss. The bullet missed his heart and lungs. We have a good team of surgeons here. I think he'll be okay.” “Oh, thank God! Thank you for telling me,” Audrey said, and on impulse, she hugged the woman. The nurse returned the hug, and when they let go the tall blond looked at the floor. “I—I shouldn't tell you this, but he and I broke up several months ago. My friend was dealing drugs and I covered up for him. Dan couldn't believe I'd lie to him to protect a friend. I saw Dan a few days ago when he brought in a drunk who fell and cut his head. He told me all about you.” “What did he say?” She smiled. “He thanked me for dumping him.” Audrey didn't need any more than that. She smiled at the younger woman and whispered, “Thanks from me too.” “Go ahead, Audrey,” Boyle said. “I'll call your cell phone when he's awake.” “I don't have my cell phone with me. I'll just stop back in a little while. Thanks, though, Lieutenant.” **** Audrey strolled, head down in the rain, past the hospital parking lot to Broadway. Her mind was a jumble of unrelated thoughts, as if her brain's electrical impulses were all firing willy-nilly. What if he's crippled after this? It wouldn't change how I feel. I wish there was more information. Maybe I should call Patience. No, burdening her at school would just be selfish of me. I don't want to go through this alone. Waiting is hell. Oh, God. He has to make it.I love him so much! She wondered if her eyes were red before she reached the busier part of Broadway, so she stopped walking for a moment and dug through her purse for a small mirror. Funny, I almost never cry, unless it has something to do with vicious bastards shooting the cops I love. A police cruiser pulled up next to her and the passenger's side door swung open. A worried voice called out to her.
“Are you all right, Audrey?” She bent over to see Ned Wright. “Ned. Hi. I don't know if I'm all right, and I won't know until Dan's all right.” “They told you what happened?” “They didn't have to.” She steadied herself by leaning against the open doorframe. “I'd drop you somewhere, but…” Ned cocked his head to the side and squinted up at her. “Hey, Audrey, if I took you to the crime scene, could you tell us anything about the shooter?” “Yeah, maybe, but I don't work for NPD anymore.” “I know, but don't let that stop you. We all want to nail this asshole. Get in.” Audrey, grateful to get out of her own head and do something to help, jumped in and slammed the door. “Who's in charge at the crime scene?” “Don't worry. It's Detective Kolinsky, and if he has a problem with your help, I'll call in a favor he owes me.” “No. Kolinsky's all right. You can probably hold on to your favor.” She rested her head against the window, as if it weighed too much for her neck to support. “Oh, but you won't need any favors, later. You're leaving, right?” “No. I'm not leaving, Audrey. I decided not to and rescinded my notice.” **** Ned pulled up across the street from the 7-Eleven parking lot. It was taped off in the too-familiar yellow crime-scene tape. Kolinsky waved to the cruiser, but did a double take when the passenger's side door flew open and Audrey stepped out. The place was swarming with activity—and cops. Audrey stopped where she stood on the opposite sidewalk, folded her arms over her soaked sweatshirt, and waited in the rain for Ned and Kolinsky to talk. There was plenty of whispering and head shaking going on between the two. At last, Kolinsky looked toward her and waved her over. As she approached, he met her at the boundary of the yellow tape. “I can't let you inside.” Lowering his voice a bit, he added, “but tell me whatever you can.” The hard rain had washed the blood away, and she was relieved not to see it. As a bonus to the situation, Audrey was almost unrecognizable. Her dark, wavy, soaking-wet hair lay flat and straight, plus her usually stylish attire had been replaced by that of a college student. “They think the shot came from behind that fence, Audrey.” Ned pointed to the right. “No.” She shook her head. “The shooter was in that general direction, but he was never near the fence. You're looking for a sharp shooter. Check out those third floor windows of the houses behind it.”
“If he was a sharpshooter, why is Picolo still alive?” Kolinsky crossed his arms in front of his chest. Audrey was used to this. Cops questioned her conclusions based on their logic, frequently. She didn't hesitate to state her own account. “He wanted to miss. He may have wanted to scare him, or temporarily disable him. I don't sense any intent to kill.” Kolinsky's eyes scanned the windows of the small in-town colonials above the fence. “Audrey, I probably can't give you credit for this one. I'm sorry. I'll say it came from an anonymous source and investigate, but only if you're sure.” “I'm sure, Detective.” Kolinsky took an authoritative stance and spoke fast. “Okay, Wright. Get her out of here before someone recognizes her. Call in your anonymous tip and I'll assign a couple of guys to get into those houses. Say you questioned a woman walking in the neighborhood, but she'll only talk to you and me. Got that, both of you?” “Thanks, Kolinsky. I hope you nail the bastard.” “I'll check back with you, Detective.” Ned grabbed Audrey's arm and hurried her across the street and into his cruiser. “Where can I drop you, Audrey?” “About a block up.” She didn't bother fastening her seatbelt. When she looked up, he was staring at her and the car wasn't moving. “Where I sensed the shooter. Let me see if I can narrow it down.” Ned cleared his throat. “Don't you want to get to the hospital?” She glared at him and paused for emphasis. “To do what? Slowly go crazy? I can do more good by looking for the shooter.” “Okay. I understand. We're all going a little crazy, Audrey. I was hoping to drop by the ER and see if they might have any news on his condition yet. That's all I meant.” Ned drove up the street, toward the neighborhood in question, and pulled over next to the sidewalk. “One of the nurses told me that the bullet missed everything important. She sounded optimistic. Before you go, Ned. Can I ask you a tremendous favor?” “Of course. If I can help, I will. What is it?” She stepped out of the cruiser and leaned down so she could see his face. “Can you drop by the hospital gift shop and see if they have a deck of cards? If they do, buy it and ask one of the nurses to put the Ace of Spades on his pillow, and tell him it's from his Lady Love.” Ned grinned. “I'll be happy to, Audrey. Are you okay to walk from here?” “I'll be fine, Ned. Thanks for all your help.” She closed the car door, and patted the wet hood as she strolled by and headed up the hill. Chapter Fourteen
Patience exited the police station by the back door and opened her umbrella. Someone among the parked cruisers tooted a horn, so she looked up. Peterson. She smiled and waved as she trotted over to him. “Hi!” “Hi, sweetheart. How's my girl?” “I'm fine, but something weird is going on in there.” She turned, pointing to the station behind her. “Weird, how?” Peterson locked the vehicle and walked over to her. “It's like nobody can talk, there're hardly any cops around, my mom's not there, and everyone's rushing off in different directions.” Peterson inhaled deeply and put a paternal arm around her shoulder. “Oh boy, I guess you haven't been in touch with your mother lately.” “No. I've been studying for some major exams. I just aced the last one and came home to celebrate.” Her expression grew serious and she began to tremble inside. “What's wrong?” “Nothing serious, honey, but I should fill you in since your mother hasn't. It's a bit too complicated to explain in the rain. Come inside with me.” He guided her inside, and even though he said it was nothing serious, she knew it wasn't good news. Once at his desk, he offered her a soda. When she declined, he sat down with her. The patrol captain saw Patience and stopped in his tracks. He motioned to Peterson to come over to where he stood. Patience turned away and pretended to be rummaging through her backpack for something, but she listened acutely for any clue as to what was going on. “We've got more trouble.” The captain dropped his voice lower but Peterson repeated a few words and asked a few questions. Because of his audible range disability, he overcompensated and whispered a little louder than necessary. Patience could hear his side of the conversation. “Sharpshooter? One of ours?” After another minute of conversation Peterson shook his head. “She came to see her mother. Apparently, she doesn't know, yet.” Patience felt a tightening in her throat. What don't I know? Sharpshooter? Unable to sit and wait for another second, she whirled around. “Did somebody shoot my mother?” The two cops looked startled. “Your mother's fine,” Captain Porter said, quickly. Peterson added, “I just saw her a few minutes ago.” The captain, wearing a sad expression, turned to Peterson. “Before we worry her any more, you'd better fill her in.” Her heart was racing. “What the heck is going on?”
Peterson settled into his chair behind his desk again, and sighed. “Your mom probably didn't want to worry you, Patience. She lost her job.” “Oh, no.” It wasn't good news, but at least it was better than what her whirling mind had initially imagined. Peterson appeared uncomfortable, but continued to explain. “She and Dan had a fight. She was really angry and reacted rather foolishly.” “Uh-oh. What did she do?” Peterson sighed and rolled his eyes. “She drove Dan's patrol car down a boat ramp and let it roll into the ocean.” Patience, stunned, was momentarily unable to speak. Her mouth dropped open and stayed that way for several seconds. When her vocal chords managed to function again, she said, “That's outrageous, even for her! What happened to make her that angry?” Peterson fidgeted in his seat. “I'm not sure what to tell you about that. I wasn't there. She and Dan had a fight. I think they've made up, though. You'd better ask your mom, and if she wants to tell you…” “No. You tell me. I know that you know more about this, and if he hurt her in any way, I'll kill him.” “Someone already tried.” She gaped at him, again. “Your mother's been at the hospital. Dan was found shot in a convenience store parking lot. He was answering a call about a robbery.” “Oh, God,” she breathed. “Is he going to be all right?” “We all hope so, honey. Every cop is out there looking for the shooter. That's probably why you thought the atmosphere was a little weird in here.” “Yeah.” Patience slumped down in her chair. The news affected her deeply. “I know Mom's got to be thoroughly freaked out! Is she still at the hospital?” “She went for a little walk to clear her head, but yes, she's probably still around there.” Peterson patted her hand. “Why don't I call Doris and tell her to expect two more for dinner?” “That would be very nice of you. Make sure it's no trouble for her, though.” “Always so considerate of other people.” He picked up the telephone receiver. Why don't you wait for me for a couple of minutes and I'll go over to the hospital with you?” “Sure. It would be nice to have some company. Maybe we can talk more on the way.” Peterson nodded and called his wife. While they spoke, he winked at Patience. “How does Doris' famous Chicken Kiev sound?”
“Sounds wonderful, but tell her not to go to a lot of trouble just for us.” Peterson put his hand over the receiver. “I wouldn't mind having Chicken Kiev myself. Don't blow my big chance.” When he thanked his wife and concluded the call, he smiled apologetically. “Can you give me a few minutes to make another call in private? It's police business.” “Of course.” She stood and wandered toward the far wall. “I'll just look at the latest wanted posters.” “Atta girl.” Peterson turned his back to her and dialed again. He kept his voice low at first. With fewer cops around, and less background noise, she could make out some of what he said. In a few moments, his voice rose with agitation. “Yeah, now we're down another guy. One of the best, too. What the hell were you thinking?” Patience pretended to be fascinated with the latest postings. Peterson didn't pay her any attention while he was on the phone. “A phony call? Couldn't you have thought of something else?” His voice dropped for a few seconds and then rose again. “Well, the captain asked me to locate you.” She heard one more thing that partially identified the person on the other end, although she didn't realize who it was. “If you weren't my brother-in-law…” A moment later Peterson slammed the receiver on its cradle. **** The rain had let up when Audrey made her way back to the Newport Hospital. There were no nurses at the desk, but Lieutenant Boyle was there, pacing. “Any word, Lieutenant?” “Not much. They got the bullet out. I'm waiting to bag it and take it to forensics.” “Good. I hope it helps identify whoever did this.” Should I tell him what I know? I doubt if he'd be any more of a believer now than he was last week. “Audrey. You really should go home. You look exhausted.” He put a hand on her shoulder in a gesture she could almost misconstrue as soothing. “Thanks, but I'll stay.” Audrey took a seat in the waiting room. Boyle's large frame sagged, and he looked none too pleased. A few uncomfortable minutes later, a surgeon in green scrubs walked through the double doors and approached the lieutenant confidently. His mask hung around his neck. Audrey could see his glad expression and sat up straight, filled with hope. Regardless, she was unable to move or breathe. “It went quite well,” the surgeon stated. “Minimal injury. We just had to remove his spleen, and the good
news is that folks can live long, productive lives without their spleen. He should heal well in a week or two. Someone young and strong like him will be back on the job before you know it.” Lieutenant Boyle let out a long breath and his face betrayed something more than relief. Was that pride? That's either incredible luck or some damn precise shooting, Audrey thought. I wonder what Boyle did in the Vietnam era? The bagged bullet was transferred from the surgeon's hand to Boyle's. Peterson and Patience walked into the waiting room. The surgeon turned to leave and Audrey was temporarily distracted as she announced the good news. Patience and Peterson took turns hugging her, and their sighs of relief were audible. Boyle took advantage of the moment and switched the bag with another one in his pocket. Audrey caught an odd vibe and peered over Peterson's shoulder. Her eyes swept the area and saw Boyle at the precise moment of the switch. It was so quick that she questioned her own vision, but her psychic vision told her she was right. Boyle looked in her direction, but she immediately grabbed her daughter and flung her arms around her for another hug.What should I do? Grabbing Peterson for a second hug, she positioned herself so she could whisper in his ear without being seen. “Check Boyle's pocket.” Peterson's didn't react. Damn. He probably didn't hear! Audrey had to take matters into her own hands and fast! Hoping she could pull it off, she charged the lieutenant. “Lieutenant!” He straightened up to his full six foot four inches and his eyes grew wide. She crashed into him, hugging him around his waist. “Isn't that great news?” She had caught him by surprise and almost knocked him over backward. He had to stop himself from falling by grabbing onto the high counter. A moment later, Audrey had the right bullet. She stuffed her hands in her jeans pockets and acted as if she suddenly remembered her professionalism. “Oh! Sorry.” She backed up a few steps looking at the floor, hands still in her pockets as if she had to hold them down. “I guess I'm just a little excited.” “Well, I—I guess you would be,” he stammered. “It's perfectly understandable. Excuse me. I have to get this evidence to the lab.” Peterson strolled over and shook the lieutenant's hand. “Good news, eh, boss? I'll call the captain.” “Yeah, thanks,” Boyle said, and he strode out of the ER. Peterson went immediately to the pay phone on the other side of the waiting room, and Patience grabbed her mother's hand. She led her back to the chairs and whispered in urgency. “There's something I have to tell you, Mom.” “Go ahead.” They kept their voices low, and it was pretty certain that Peterson couldn't hear. “Mom, Peterson knows something.” She glanced up at the desk. Seeing no triage nurse, she said, “Go on…”
“He was talking to someone on the phone earlier, and I heard him say something about going too far this time, and now they're down another cop.” “Jesus,” Audrey breathed. “Thank God, Peterson didn't hear me.” “Didn't hear you what?” Patience leaned in closer. The triage nurse had just returned to the desk. “Didn't hear me whisper in his ear to check Boyle's pockets. I saw him switch the evidence.” Patience opened her eyes wide. “The bullet?” “Yeah.” Audrey leaned her back against her chair and fished in her jeans pocket to be sure it was still there. Patience gasped. “Is there anything we can do?” “I already did it.” Audrey grinned and patted her pocket. “You picked his pocket? That's why you…” Audrey saw her daughter's face light up as she apparently put it together. “What are you going to do with it?” “Take it to the chief or detective captain, but not until I see Dan.” “Are you sure you should wait?” “I have to.” Audrey's heart reached out for him as she stared at the double doors. “I have to see him for myself. I have to talk with him. I have to…” Patience nodded in understanding. “…tell him you love him.” Audrey turned a surprised look toward her daughter. Patience touched her mother's shoulder calming her. Audrey sighed and kissed her bright daughter's cheek. Several minutes later, an unfamiliar Asian nurse, wearing blue scrubs, breezed into the ER and up to the desk. The triage nurse looked up. “Hey, Trish, what can we do for you?” “Have you got someone named Audrey down here?” Audrey shot out of her seat at the same time the triage nurse pointed to her. Trish leaned against the counter and smiled. “I guess you must know the cop who's been asking for you every time he wakes up.” “He's awake?” “Well, off and on. He's out of recovery and on the way to his room now. I promised I'd try to find you at the very first opportunity.”
“Oh, thank you.” She raked her fingers through her hair. Her wet hair hadn't had a comb pass through it that day, but it didn't matter. “Can you tell me where he is?” “I'll do better than that,” she said. “I'll take you to him.” Patience had made her way to her mother's side. “I'll wait a few minutes and join you—unless the door's closed with a washcloth on the handle or anything…” Audrey was so happy she was able to grin. “Thanks, sweetie.” Meanwhile, she scrounged through her purse for her brush. **** Audrey entered Dan's room to find him sleeping peacefully. He was facing away from her, so she dragged a chair around to the other side of the hospital bed. She didn't care how long it took him to wake up. She'd be content simply to watch him breathe. His color was better already, and she silently thanked the anonymous blood donors who had saved his life. No sooner had she settled into the blue, vinyl chair than she spotted the Ace of Spades clutched in his hands. She stared at her folded hands, and a tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. “What? Did I die?” a sleepy voice asked. “Dan!” She wanted to hug him but the cold metal bed rails stood in her way. She grabbed the hand that wasn't hooked up to an IV and kissed it, fervently. “I was so scared,” she breathed. “How do you feel?” “Lousy. I guess I was down a quart, but they've dripped some blood into me and now that you're here I feel better.” “Your face was so white, it looked like you lost a gallon of blood. You also lost your spleen.” “Oh, well. I never cared much for my spleen anyway.” She bent down as low as she could and whispered to him. “I love you.” He tried to sit up, but winced and lay down again. After a few long breaths, he asked, “Did they get the guy who robbed the convenience store?” “No, Dan.” She paused long enough to walk over to the door and shut it. His eyes followed her. “You were set up. There was no robbery.” “Hell. I guess I'm lucky he wasn't a better shot.” She found his hand and held it, tight. “No. He was a perfect shot.” She lowered her voice even more and leaned closer. “It was a sniper out of a third story window behind the fence.” “Damn.” He closed his eyes.
She stroked his jaw as she bent over him stretching as far as she could to plant a kiss on his lips. The door flew open and three cops walked in, grinning. Eastley, one of his contemporaries, yelled out, “What happened, Picolo? Hell, we thought bullets bounced off of you!” “Nah. I usually catch 'em in my teeth, but I caught this one with my spleen.” “Audrey. Nice to see you,” Eastley said, in a respectful tone. The other two, Andersen and Giancola, echoed his sentiments. She was happy to see them too. Maybe she was just happy to see how glad Dan was to see them. He'd be pleasantly occupied for some time, so Audrey decided it was time to go. As she tried to walk away, Dan reached out and caught her hand. “Are you leaving already?” “I should get home, shower, and change clothes. I look awful.” He squeezed her hand. “You look absolutely gorgeous.” She laughed and shook her head. “Yeah, well I'd better clean up before the anesthesia wears off. Enjoy your visit with the guys.” She leaned over, kissed him and whispered, “Don't worry. I'll be back.” “You'd better be. You're my good luck charm,” he smiled, waved the playing card, and let go of her hand, reluctantly. Audrey managed to get out of the room before reacting to her swirling emotions. She leaned against the wall next to his room, closed her eyes, and took in a few deep breaths. The elevator doors whirred open and Patience stepped off. She carried a vase of daisies. Walking over to Audrey, she had a concerned expression on her young face. “What are you doing out in the hallway? Is everything okay in there?” “Yeah. He's gonna be fine. He's just visiting with his buddies right now, and I thought I'd better get over to see the captain.” “Yeah. That's a good idea. Maybe I'll come back later.” “No. Go ahead in. I'm sure he'd love to see you.” Patience peeked around his door. The three cops were just filing out. “Take care, Super-cop,” Andersen called. “See you later,” said the other two. Patience gave Audrey's hand a squeeze and entered the room with a smile. Audrey nodded to the guys, walked into the elevator and leaned against the wall, feeling the vibrations as the doors closed—or was she still shaking? What if this thing blows up in our faces and next time the SOB kills Dan? Oh, Audrey, stop! Don't even think that way! In the parking lot, she found her car ticketed. She tossed the ticket on the floor and started her RX-7. Listening to the purr of the engine, she revved it, but had to think about in which direction she should drive. To the police station to speak to Detective Captain Evans, in person, or home where she could call
him on the phone and get herself together first? Sitting behind the wheel, paralyzed, she uttered a prayer for guidance. While she was at it, she asked for Dan's speedy recovery and proceeded down Broadway. **** Much later, when she arrived at her home, she unlocked the door, turned the knob and walked into the now dark room. When she closed the door and switched on the lights, she felt a prickly sensation travel up her spine. Whirling around, she saw Lieutenant Boyle waiting for her in the easy chair across the room. “Lieutenant! What are you doing here?” “Did I frighten you?” he asked, standing. “God, yes!” “Good. You should be frightened.” He moved toward her with a slow gait, adding to his menacing appearance. “People who can't seem to mind their own business should always be frightened.” He looked more horrific than ever, but she attempted to appear un-intimidated. “Not necessarily. What are you talking about?” “I'd like the package you lifted out of my pocket this afternoon, please.” “What package?” He continued toward her, slowly. “Oh, I think you know what I'm referring to. The package containing a certain 7.62 caliber bullet. I know you have it.” Audrey began backing up, toward her kitchen. “I really don't know what bullet you're referring to, Lieutenant Boyle.” “Of course you do. You seem to know everything. How did they know which house to search, and why did they tear it apart until they seized a sniper rifle?” Audrey had backed into her kitchen. Passing the knife rack, she glanced in its direction. “Let's sit down, and let's talk about this. I'm really not aware of anything that's been found.” “Nothing to talk about, Lawless.” He drew his pistol and advanced slowly toward her. “You have it. I want it.” She grabbed a knife, but he knocked it out of her hand and took hold of her long hair. Twisting it around his fist, he forced her to the floor. “What have you told them, Audrey?” “Nothing! I don't know anything! Why won't you believe me?” she wailed. “Who else would know? No one could have put that information together. I used a special optical sight so I could see the target under the worst weather conditions.” “You shot Dan Picolo?” she gasped.
“Somebody had to.” “What? Why?” She slid backward along the linoleum, but still he advanced toward her. “You two were making me damn nervous—poking around and looking for Sam's murderer. I told you he shot himself, but you wouldn't leave it alone. I'd hoped you'd forget about it when you and Picolo got together, but instead you just pulled him into it, and yesterday he was seen talking to someone from Internal Affairs. I heard enough about it to know he was interested in Sam's case.” He had her cornered. “Since you want to know what happened to Sam so badly, and you're about to join him, I guess it doesn't matter if I tell you. I had to kill him. It was his own damn fault. He thought he was busting a drug deal, but our little party in the cemetery had nothing to do with drugs.” He pushed the knife over to her with his shoe. “I'll tell you all about it, but first take this knife and place it over your wrist. Try to do anything else with it and I'll shoot.” She batted it away. “Pick it up!” he commanded. “Why should I? If I'm about to die anyway, I won't make it easy for you.” “That's what your husband said.” He sneered. “I said, pick it up! You're going to need it to slit your wrist, which you'll do if you want your little daughter to live through this.” “Leave her out of this!” Audrey choked back a sob. She absolutely had to keep her wits about her. “She knows nothing about any of it!” The front door crashed against the wall in the living room, and she froze. Boyle spun around. “Halt right there!” yelled a female voice. A female cop, pointing her weapon at Boyle, plus Wright, Detective Captain Evans and Detective Kolinsky burst into the home and rushed the kitchen. Kolinsky grabbed Boyle's arm and pointed it toward the ceiling. A gun blast followed and Audrey cringed and closed her eyes for a couple of seconds. In that amount of time, Boyle was disarmed. Kolinsky and Wright placed handcuffs on him. The woman continued to cover them with her weapon drawn. “Nice work, people,” said Captain Evans. He sauntered over to Boyle and looked into his angry face. “We knew something was rotten in Newport.” The female officer helped Audrey to her feet and introduced herself. “Benson. Internal affairs.” “How did you know?” “Some important pieces came together and we were finally able to make the bust. When cops shoot other cops and try to cover it up, we get involved.” Audrey stared at the woman. “I always knew it was him, but I had no proof.” She looked over at the captain, then back to Benson.
“We suspected him too, Audrey, but no one could let on.” The captain shook his head. “It doesn't help if the cop being investigated gets suspicious and careful. We like 'em nice and sloppy. We also hoped that you might be able to pick up on something using that sixth sense of yours.” “I don't know how helpful I was.” “You kept him uncomfortable—off balance. That's why he made mistakes.” Boyle tried to wriggle out of the grasp of the three police officers, but he was pushed to his knees and subdued. Captain Evans walked over to Boyle and stood in front of him. “Why, Boyle?” “Not a word without my lawyer,” Boyle spit. The captain shook his head. “IA will nail your ass one way or another. You know that. Read him his rights and get him out of here,” Evans ordered. Chapter Fifteen Lieutenant Boyle was removed to the monotone drone of his rights, which he must have recited to others hundreds of times. The captain walked over to Audrey and put a hand on her shoulder. When the door clicked shut, he asked, “Are you all right?” “Geez, I thought you were never gonna come through that door!” “Sorry, Audrey, and thanks for wearing that wire. We had to get him to admit to something that would connect him to both shootings. We can't let that sick son of a bitch get off.” Audrey let out a deep sigh. “I know. I don't want him around any more than you do, believe me.” She shuddered and hugged herself. Captain Evans leaned against the kitchen counter. “It's been almost two years of hard work to put this all together, and I believed you the whole time. I hope you know that. I couldn't go around saying so until we had more to go on. Thanks to you and Picolo, we got what we needed.” “Yeah. I'm glad he called you when he did. God, it's been a rough two years, though.” Audrey closed her eyes and tipped her face toward the ceiling. “Why me?” “The chief assured me that your reinstatement will come with a good-sized raise. I hope that helps.” “It might.” She smiled. “It was Peterson who spilled the beans about Boyle. He had been covering for him because he threatened Peterson's wife.” “No! Doris?” “Yeah. Boyle's sister-in-law.” Evans shook his head. “Of course it'll take time to get all of the pieces put
together, but I'm positive we can have Boyle locked up and out of the way while you and Dan make your wedding plans…” “Huh? We're not even engaged.” He smiled like he knew something she didn't. “You will be.” She cocked her head and looked at him sideways. The captain laughed. “Don't worry. He'll ask you.” She squinted at him. “What makes you so sure? Has he said anything?” “No. He didn't have to. The chief asked me to give you this.” The captain reached into his pocket and produced a playing card—the Queen of Hearts. “You think we can't spot a man with a shattered dream?” Audrey didn't know what to say. She'd never thought of herself as anyone's dream. “Well don't rush it,” she cautioned. “I'd like to let it happen naturally—if it's going to.” The captain nodded, still displaying that lopsided smile. “I'll see you back at work.” “Absolutely. Thank the chief for reinstating me.” “How could he not? You're our secret weapon.” With that he winked and looked like he was about to walk toward the door, but stopped. “Audrey? I'd like you to know something. But, keep it quiet for now.” “What's that?” “Your tip about the sniper was dead-on. Detectives found a Russian-made Dragunov sniper rifle stashed in the house that you told us to search. Now we just have to match the bullet you gave me.” She nodded. “It'll match.” “I'm sure it will.” He smiled and headed toward the door, but then he turned around as if he remembered something else. “The house belonged to a man named Adamson. When we were investigating Sam's death we called him the crypt keeper. He digs graves at the cemetery. If he's had a role in this from the beginning, we can probably get a confession out of him for a little leniency.” “Talk to Peterson too, Captain. I want to understand his involvement. I want to know everything.” “We will.” **** Audrey felt a hundred and ten percent better after she showered. She reached into her closet and found the outfit she would wear to visit Dan. She donned a red Ann Taylor dress with a low neckline and watched as it draped nicely over her curves. Standing in front of her mirror, the front door lock clicked and she whirled around. “Patience?”
Her daughter called from the other room. “It's me, Mom.” Her voice sounded odd. Audrey walked into the living room and saw Patience's mottled nose and puffy eyes. “What's the matter?” “Peterson. He knew what happened to Dad all along.” Patience sagged and dropped her backpack on the floor. “We don't know exactly what he knew yet.” Audrey walked over to her daughter and gave her a hug. “Yes we do.” Patience wrapped her arms tight around her mother. “I told Dan what I heard Peterson say on the phone, and he said he had to call the station. He thought I had stepped out to get a coke, but I was listening at the door.” Audrey's eyebrows shot up. “You mean you were eavesdropping?” “Yeah.” She pulled back enough to see her daughter's stricken face. “Tell me what you heard.” Patience wandered over to one of the easy chairs facing the fireplace and flopped into it. “They already suspected Peterson of knowing something about it.” Audrey followed her to the couch and sat down near her. “Dan told the captain that he hated to think Peterson had anything to do with it, but that he and Boyle were talking about it, and it was certain he knew something. He figured that Boyle threatened him, or that the two of them were playing good cop/bad cop with you.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Audrey went to the kitchen and returned with a box of tissues. Patience blew her nose and continued. “After Dan and I talked a while, he convinced me to go to the station and tell the detective captain exactly what I heard. He said they'd need my statement. He also thought you might be at the station after what I told him about you having the bullet.” “I was. The captain and I were trying to locate Boyle. You and Dan provided the information about Peterson, and Peterson was questioned. He wasn't happy about it, but he told us where we might find him.” “I stayed at the station for a long time waiting for the captain. When he finally showed up, he had Boyle and put him in a cell next to Peterson.” A large tear rolled down her cheek. “Peterson's an accessory.” “I know.” Audrey walked over to her trembling daughter and held her. “It gets worse,” she rasped. “Everyone was so busy, and they were all running around. I was still waiting for the captain, so I kind of snuck over to the cells to talk to Peterson, but I overheard him and Boyle getting their stories straight. Boyle said to blame it on someone called the crypt keeper.”
Her back stiffened. “Keep talking.” “Now I have to testify.” Patience blew her nose. Audrey tried to think of the right thing to say to her distraught daughter. Nothing she could come up with was enough, so she simply stroked Patience's hair from the top of her head to the middle of her back. “Now he's supposed to say that he didn't do it and Boyle didn't do it—that the crypt keeper was the one who killed Dad. They were all in on something big together, and Dad found out.” Patience began to shake, and she pulled her knees up to her chest. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I thought Dad really did kill himself.” Tears welled up in Audrey's eyes. She sat on the arm of the chair, hugged and rocked her daughter. “No, sweetie. Oh, no. He would never have done that.” “I know that now.” Patience choked on her sobs. “I didn't even believe it back then, but nothing else made sense.” Audrey stood up, her body shook, but she tried to stay calm for her daughter. What she really wanted to do was to roar down to the police station and tear Peterson and Boyle apart. She'd probably have enough adrenaline left to find the crypt keeper and rip his heart out too. **** The next day Audrey walked into Dan's hospital room, wearing an understated gray suit. Under the circumstances, the sexy, red outfit seemed inappropriate. He was gazing off in the direction of the windows, but when her heels clicked on his floor he whipped his head around and gave her an ear-to-ear grin. “Audrey! I was beginning to get worried.” He looked shocked when he saw her face. “Are you all right? You look exhausted.” Audrey sank into the chair beside his bed. “I am exhausted. I was up all night.” She kicked off her shoes. “I spent the whole evening talking to Patience. I didn't sleep at all after that. She's pretty troubled. I couldn't leave her until I was sure she'd be all right. Today we're going to see the EAP for counseling.” He nodded. “You two have been through a hell of a lot.” He reached for her. She leaned forward and took his hand through the rails. “Thank you for investigating and putting the pieces together as quickly as you did, and for getting IA to help. Your work cracked the case and probably saved my life.” He was flipping the Ace of Spades around in the fingers of his other hand. “I guess someone found out that I went to IA and didn't like me very much after that.” “Hopefully that someone will be put away for life.” Audrey let go of his hand and touched the metal rail. “Does this thing come down?” “Yeah. There's some kind of catch at the top, I think.” Audrey found the catch and lowered the rail. She scooted her bottom up on the bed next to him and
leaned over his broad chest. “I'd love to give you a proper reward, but for now this is all I can do.” She bent down and brushed his lips with hers. “C'mon. I won't break,” he laughed. She leaned over, put her hands on either side of his wide shoulders, and kissed him harder. He put his arm around her waist, pulled her closer, and then he yelped, “Ow!” She jumped. “Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?” “No.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I'm tough, remember?” Audrey sat up and started to move away. Dan pulled one of her hands back to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “Don't go,” he whispered. “The only thing that could really hurt me now is if something happened to you or Patience. She and I talked for a long time yesterday. She's such a sweet kid.” He pointed to the daisies. “She brought me those.” Audrey smiled and scanned the rest of the room. “I'm kind of surprised you're not inundated with flowers.” “The guys aren't likely to send flowers to another cop. They've been promising me Taco Bell, though. From what I hear of hospital food, I'll probably be grateful for it.” “What about your fan club?” “It was much exaggerated, and Ned's the new teen idol now.” Audrey laughed. “Well, good. Maybe that's what convinced him to stay in Newport.” “Yeah. I was glad to hear that too.” Audrey moved her position so she could touch and stroke Dan's hips with both of her hands. His hospital gown turned into a tent. “Need a blanket?” “Yeah, if that's the best you can do.” Audrey giggled, jumped down, and closed the door. When she returned to him, she slipped her hand under the sheet and stroked his hard-on. “I love you, Dan. Don't ever get in the way of another bullet.” “I love you too—and not just because you turn me on, even when I'm laid up.” She moved her hand under his hospital gown, followed the path that led to his erection, and stroked him harder. He moaned with what sounded like pleasure, and then winced in pain. She stopped and sighed. “If I thought we wouldn't get caught and it wouldn't hurt you, I'd take care of you in some creative way.” “When I get out of here, we'll find a way.” He grinned.
“You know, there's something else I need to talk to you about.” “What's that?” Audrey smiled. “I got my job back.” “That's great!” “Yeah, but I said I could only come back part-time.” Dan nodded. “That's probably a good idea. You need a rest and Patience could use the extra time with you.” Audrey fished for something in her pocket. “She starts her day camp job right after the end of the semester, but I was actually thinking…” Producing the Queen of Hearts from her pocket she placed it on top of the Ace of Spades, “…maybe you and I could spend a little quality time together. Someone is going to have to look after you until you're fully recovered.” “Mmm. I'm a lucky man.” “You'll be getting lucky all right.” **** A few days later Dan was discharged from the hospital, and Audrey drove him to his apartment. As he unlocked and opened the door, she said, “So I'm finally going to see the lair?” He laughed. “There's not much to see I'm afraid.” She walked in, turned, took in the entire small but neat studio in one second, and said, “Where's the rest of it?” “Like I said…” She gazed around in disbelief. “Where's the big waterbed, the mirrored ceiling, the trapeze?” He shook his head and chuckled. She stared at a wooden futon with a thin beige pad that doubled as a mattress, a stereo and TV topping a dresser, a tiny kitchen and a dining area smaller than hers. “I told you it was mostly hype.” Her mouth hung open. “Just where do you plan to recover?” “Where I sleep. On the floor.” Audrey shook her head. “Oh, no. No, no, no. That's a terrible idea. Besides, you'll go stir crazy in here.” “Not if you visit me a lot.” He came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. She whirled around and held onto him.
“You're moving in with me.” She said it more as a fact than an invitation. He was speechless for a moment. “What about Patience?” “She's always telling me that she's an adult now. Here's an adult problem that I'm sure she'll understand. I can't leave you here.” He shrugged. “I'd love to stay at your place, but maybe you should talk to her first. I can stay here tonight.” Audrey shook her head. “Your stitches will be ruptured in the morning.” He smiled and pulled her into a hug. “You worry about me too much. I'm a tough guy, remember?” “Yeah. You looked real tough when you were bleeding to death.” She stepped back and pleaded. “Seriously, Dan. You wanted us to spend some quality time together, right?” “I still do.” “Why don't we pack what you need, and I'll talk to her as soon as she gets home this afternoon? She's a good kid, like you said. She'll probably insist that you stay with us.” “What can I say? As long as she agrees, I'd love to stay.” He walked over to his closet, took out a duffle bag and looked over at Audrey. “How much should I pack?” “How about a lot?” She moved in front of him and slipped her arms around his neck. He dropped the duffle bag and held her close. “I love you, Dan. I want you to stay as long as it's working out for everyone.” He kissed her enthusiastically. When he pulled his head back enough to look in her eyes, he whispered, “Let's do this right.” He dropped down on one knee. “Shit!” He gasped a few times until he was able to speak. “I shouldn't have moved like that.” She was stunned, and tears sprung to her eyes. Before she could respond, Dan added, “I know what you're thinking. It's too soon, but listen…” He slowly tried to stand and winced in pain. “Oh, Dan. Here, let me help.” She held him under his left arm while he braced his right hand against the closet door. Together they heaved him to his feet, and he groaned. “Don't do that again.” “Get down on one knee or try to propose?” “Either,” she chuckled. “Audrey, I don't think I could ever love any woman as much as I love you, and I don't want to settle for second best. You're the one. And even though I'm not your first great love, I want to be your last.” She bit her lower lip, smiled and nodded.
“You can have as long an engagement as you want. Just let me show you what our life can be like if we're together. I know we'll both be happy.” Finally finding her voice she asked, “What if it doesn't work out?” “It will. I told you once before that I wouldn't hurt you and I won't. I'd rather face another sniper than lose you.” Dan held her and kissed her all over her face while she cried tears of joy and gratitude. **** Two months later, as Dan was making a snack in the kitchen, he heard someone come through the door in a rush and slam it. “Hi, Dan,” Patience called out in a loud voice, then he heard her giggling and panting. Dan walked into the living room, wiping his hands on a paper towel. “Wow. You seem to be in a hurry.” “Yeah, I was teasing Mom.” Suddenly the doorknob rattled. “Uh-oh.” Dan saw that the door was dead-bolted, turned his head and looked at Patience askance. With arms folded and a smirk on his face, he said, “You're going to have to let her in, eventually.” She flashed a mischievous grin. “How about if I barricade myself in my room and you let her in?” Dan walked over to the door, but didn't take his eyes off of Patience. “What in the world did you say to her?” She yelled over her shoulder as she ran toward her room, “I just made a crack about her age.” Dan shook his head and opened the door. Audrey's eyes were narrowed, and she walked in, fuming. “Where is she?” “Where's who?” Dan asked, feigning ignorance. “My rotten daughter, that's who.” Audrey stomped her foot and looked around. Dan sauntered over to her. “A hurricane blew in here a minute ago. Was that Patience?” “Probably. She was running like the wind.” “Let her live, darling.” He drew her into a hug and kissed her. “Whatever she said couldn't have been true. You're a young, vibrant and beautiful woman.” “Oh, I know that. Tell her.” “What the hell did she say?” “She said it was a shame that I was too old, because she would have loved to have a little brother or sister.”
Dan reared back and laughed. He held Audrey in his strong grasp and whispered. “We'll just have to prove her wrong.” Audrey's face cracked into a smile. She chuckled and stroked his arm. “I love how you console me.” “Come here.” He escorted her to the couch. “I have something to tell you.” “What's that?” She dropped her purse onto the floor and they sat close together. “My brother said he'd be happy to be my best man. My mother said she's known about our September wedding since May.” “Well, then, she's a better psychic than I am. You caught me completely off guard.” “Good to know I can surprise you once in a while.” She nuzzled him on the neck. “I got in touch with my sister. She's flying out from Oregon. She can't wait to see me and meet you.” “That's great. Did you have any doubt?” Dan ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her face to his. “Do you still want to get married in September? That isn't too soon?” “The sooner the better, as long as you're the groom.” He kissed her with passion and opened her mouth with his tongue. They were in a tight embrace, breathing deeply and kissing hard, when opening one eye, he saw Patience sneaking over to the door and waved to her as she made her escape. Audrey couldn't help grinning and thanking her lucky stars for the wonderful man joining their lives. “Are you still mad at Patience?” he asked. “Mad about what?” she teased. Then she had to tell him more good news. “I found out something interesting today.” “What was that?” He finger-combed her long, wavy hair. “Peterson is singing his little heart out.” “Didn't they just have the Grand Jury indictment this morning?” “Yeah. He wants to make a plea bargain to get off with a lighter sentence, and guess what else?” “What else?” He moved his fingertips to stroke her cheek. “So does Adamson. Apparently both the Marx grave and the Wright plot did figure into the whole scheme of things.” She paused for a moment to delight in the fluttering sensation in her abdomen as he ran his fingers down her neck. “Mmm. I love it when you do that.” “Then I'll keep doing it while you keep talking.”
“No, I can't concentrate. Why don't you stop just long enough for me to tell you the rest?” “Okay, we'll pick this up in the bedroom as soon as you finish what you have to say.” “Yeah. Let's. Anyway, before old Marx died, he made a strange but deliberate request. Apparently he asked his lawyer and business partner to bury him with his money.” Dan chuckled. “And they say you can't take it with you.” “Well, listen to how he took it. His business partner was sworn to secrecy but before the partner died, he confessed what he did. Apparently he couldn't stand the old coot, and he hated the fact that he was cheating his family, so he converted most of the liquid assets and had the body weighted down with gold bricks, probably to make sure the bastard never surfaced again. He told the Marx daughter that she could exhume the body and retrieve her inheritance, then the secret was out.” Dan sat up straight. “Did the lieutenant know about this?” “You betcha.” Audrey picked at the plaid wool blanket while she continued. “He was— ahem—becoming very friendly with the last remaining Marx daughter, thinking of leaving his wife for her, etc. Probably trying to get rich quick.” Dan rolled his eyes. “Apparently Peterson's pretty fed-up with him too. He knew Boyle was a louse and a cheat, but didn't dare stand up to him because he was afraid. Boyle had threatened to arrange an accident for Peterson's wife and her sister.” Dan put his hand to his forehead. “What a psycho. Anyway, go on.” “Well, then he discovered that Miss Marx only had a portion of the money, not the whole shebang. She told him where the bulk of it was and that she had no intention of digging up her dead father, so he dumped her and decided to concentrate on getting to the coffin some other way. She pulled her feet up on the couch. “He talked to the guy who digs the graves and cut him in on the deal if he'd help him get to the coffin. They decided that the best way of getting to the gold bricks without being discovered was to tunnel into it from the nearest vacant grave. In other words, from the Wright plot. Ned's father may have been murdered.” “Oh, no.” Dan frowned and adjusted in his seat. “Ned just told me that his father's car had been tampered with. Ned was keeping it quiet and took the job here so he could investigate.” “He must feel a little better knowing they've got the perps behind bars.” She looked at her lap. “Yeah. Apparently, before the heist, Peterson knew something was going on, but he wasn't sure of all the details. He called in an anonymous tip about a drug deal in the cemetery. He didn't know they'd send Sam or that he'd be alone. But with every other cop tied up in the holiday happenings, well, he took the overtime. That's what our fight was about. We had to cancel some special
plans for the evening at the last minute. It was our anniversary.” He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. She sighed and finished the story. “Sam saw two guys, called in the location and asked for back up. I still don't know why he went in alone.” Dan said, “Maybe Boyle spotted him and took him by surprise, or he saw Boyle and thought he was undercover.” He shook his head. “Peterson knew all of this? Was he there?” “No. Boyle wanted an alibi, just in case anything went wrong or he was double-crossed by the crypt keeper. Anyway, he cut his brother-in-law in on the take provided he'd swear that they were together. He was supposed to say that they were in his fishing boat all evening and well into the night, watching the fireworks and drinking beer. He figured they'd believe another cop. Knowing that Peterson wanted to retire, but couldn't afford to, he gave him a choice. Cooperate, get rich and retire in the Caribbean or something might 'accidentally' happen to Doris and her sister.” Dan sucked in a deep breath and slowly expelled it. “Holy crap, Audrey. He probably threatened to hurt you and Patience if Sam didn't put the gun to his own head.” She nodded sadly. “That seems to be his MO. He threatened Patience if I didn't co-operate.” Dan clenched his fists and the veins in his neck stood out as his face reddened. “It's a good thing he's behind bars for his own protection, or I'd be tempted to arrange an accident.” “As it is, he'll be going away for a long, long time. Even with leniency, Peterson will get some time to think about obstructing justice and letting himself be manipulated. So will the crypt keeper.” Audrey grew quiet and pensive. “What is it, darling?” “Peterson. Now I have to wonder if he was looking out for us out of concern, guilt, or his own self-interests.” “I know, and I'm not saying I can soften the blow, but I'll do all I can to be a friend to Patience and a good husband to you.” Audrey placed her head on his shoulder. “What did I do to deserve such a wonderful man?” “Mmm,” Dan murmured into her hair. “I don't know, but I know what you can do tonight.” “I'd love to.” She sat up and turned to kiss him. Before their lips met, she could see he was wearing his impish grin and his blue eyes were dancing. “What?” “After that, we can celebrate my promotion to Detective.” She shrieked, and threw her arms around him. “And, this weekend, we can begin house hunting.” She pulled back to look at his happy face. “You mean it?” “Absolutely.”
“Oh, that would be fantastic. Would you object to something Victorian and full of cute little details?” “As long as it isn't pink or purple.” “I don't think I could handle pink or purple either. But there's this beautiful, dark blue fixer-upper near the beach…” “A fixer-upper, huh?” He leaned back, his eyebrows rose and his forehead creased. “Yeah. With the new insurance money as a down payment we shouldn't have a problem affording it. Is the little bit of work it needs a deal-breaker?” He smiled into her eyes. “No. Not if it's what you really want. You, me, and the kids can work on it together for years.” She couldn't help grinning. “You're the best. I'm going to enjoy being married to you.” Dan stood up, looked at his fingernails, and asked, “So, who won the latest baby pool?” “What, are you nuts? Knowing how the department feels about that sort of thing?” Dan shifted his feet apart and crossed his arms in an “I'm not moving from this spot until you tell me” stance and stared at her. “Oh all right—I won.” The End About the Author: Cyndi Redding grew up in the suburbs of Boston. Moving to the city, she attended Massachusetts College of Art and majored in Fine Art. When motherhood demanded a more lucrative career, she started over. This time she graduated from the Newton Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing and the University of New Hampshire. Cyndi worked as a registered nurse for many years in the field of mental health. She put in a few more years with the American Red Cross Blood Donor Program after that. She met fascinating people in both fields and insists she never had a boring day. Having come from a scriptwriting background, she has written several screenplays and is currently utilizing some of these stories to inspire book-length fiction. Cyndi currently lives in New Hampshire with her real-life hero husband, and her daughter, still her most amazing creation. Visit with Cyndi at http://www.cyndiredding.com We invite you to visit Liquid Silver Books http://lsbooks.com for other exciting literary erotica romances.
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