Ryan
It was a quiet drive to her home. He’d made a mess of things, that was for sure. Ryan knew all the right things to say to get a confession from a criminal, but talking to a member of the opposite sex left him feeling less than cool.
When he pulled into her driveway, the woman was out of the car faster than a bank robber fleeing the scene. Unbuckling his seatbelt, he jumped out of the car and followed her up to her door.
“Thanks for the ride but I’m good now.” Her hands shook as she fumbled for her keys and they fell to the ground.
“Here, let me help.” Ryan bent at the same time as Val and they bumped heads.
“Ouch.” They both came up rubbing their foreheads and starring at each other.
Ryan broke the silence first. “This is stupid.”
“What?”
“This whole situation.” He held out his hand, palm up. “Give me the keys. Let’s go inside and talk.”
“Why, is that another bet?” She tossed her keychain into his hand and he unlocked the door.
“There is no bet. Can I come in?”
“Yeah. I guess.” It was said without conviction but he’d take it. Val turned on the lights and his eyes automatically lowered to her shapely calves as she wandered over to the living room and took a seat on the couch. The room had similar colors to her office, warm burgundies and dark wood. It suited her and it gave warmth to the room, something that she was not giving him.
He took off his hat. Why didn’t he just leave the damn thing in the car? “I’m not good at this stuff, okay? I don’t like dating, and if you knew the story of my parents, you’d understand why I haven’t gotten involved with anyone for more than one night.” Ryan paused to let that sink in but it just seemed to make her more confused. “Like I said, I’ve always thought you were the most beautiful woman in the world and way out of my league, but I would like to take you out, if you’ll have me.”
Her lips parted but still she was quiet. He took that as a sign to continue.
“I don’t care what your brother thinks and I don’t care who your father is or what he’s done. I’m interested in you and only you.”
This time she bit her lip in a cute but sexy way. Her legs crossed and uncrossed. He could almost hear the gears turning in the smart brain of hers.
“Well, what’s your verdict, counselor?” Ryan swallowed as Valentina reached down to slowly remove first one and then the other shoe. Those stupid high heels made him worry that she would break her neck, yet he loved the way they made her legs look. Once the stilettoes were off, she stood up and strolled his way.
“My verdict is,” she crossed her arms in front of her chest and studied him from head to toe, “that you have a lot of work to do. At first, I was very excited to go out with you, but now I don’t trust you. I need to get that back.” Her dark brown eyes shone.
“You know you can trust me.” He pointed to his badge.
“All I know is that I’ve had a school crush on you for way too long,” Valentina confessed. “It’s time to grow up.”
He glanced down at her bare feet “We’re not in school anymore.”
“No, we’re not.” She reached behind him and pulled open the door. “Thanks again for driving me home. Good night, Officer Ryan.”
He put on his hat but wasn’t ready to leave just yet. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“Good night.” This time she gave him a shove, but at least there was a smile on her face.
“Okay, but lock your door behind me.” He stepped outside. “And if you hear anything or need anything, just give me a call and I’ll be back in a flash.”
“That won’t be necessary.” She pulled the screen door shut.
“I’m serious. Two women have been killed in less than a week.”
The smile died on her lips. “I have a gun and Roman sent me a text that a couple of the guys would be here soon.”
“Maybe I’d better wait until they get here.” The words had barely left his mouth when a dark SUV pulled up out front. The mob squad was here. It killed him to leave but Valentina would be better protected than just about everyone else in Genoa. She had a private security team courtesy of her brother or father any time she needed it.
The woman was basically mafia royalty, if there was such a thing. A knot started to from in his gut, or maybe it was an ulcer. He was an officer of the law and he was standing on the front porch of the daughter of a crime boss. There was no place in this world that a relationship with her would work out, but he was going to make it come true.
“I guess I’m not needed, then.” The words had barely left his mouth before he felt the sweet touch of her lips on his cheek.
“The whole town needs you.” Valentina stepped back and her cheeks were pink. “Thanks again for looking out for me.”
“I’ll still pay for that window,” he insisted.
She reached for the door and half stood behind it. “Just prove that your intentions toward me are honorable. That’s all I ask. I don’t give a darn about the window.”
“You’ve got a deal.” Ryan waited until she closed the door and he heard the click of the lock before leaving.
On the way to his car, he stopped at the black vehicle and knocked on the window to make sure it was really Roman’s men. Once the dark window came down, he relaxed when he recognized them. It was a given that they were hired killers, but so far none of this group had done anything to cause any problems. In fact, they seemed to keep things a little quieter. No one wanted to be on the bad side of the Caponellis.
Ryan got in his squad car and started the engine. He should be tired after such a long day, but he was pumped with energy. Having a killer on the loose had him on edge. Thinking about Valentina wouldn’t get him any rest either. There was no sense in going home just yet.
Even though he was off duty, he drove around town to check for things that didn’t belong. As he turned down one street, his headlights caught the reflection of a slow-moving vehicle. It was Lucky Bauer. He was sixty years old, looked like he was ninety, and had been married eight times. The nickname Lucky could be taken many different ways, but his luck ran out a few years ago when he hit a mailbox and lost his driver’s license after too many DUIs.
Ryan pulled along the guy’s riding lawnmower and lowered his window. “Lucky, isn’t it a little too late to be out and about?”
“What’s it to you? I’m not breaking any laws.” It had been Ryan’s misfortune to be the arresting officer at the mail box incident. The man had blamed him for his loss of driving independence ever since.
“I’m just concerned about someone coming along, not seeing you, and running you over.”
“Well, you’d be the only one,” the man mumbled.
“Can I give you lift? It’s getting cold out.” No one should be out at night driving a lawnmower through town.
“Nah, I’ve only got a couple more blocks to go.”
“All right, Lucky, but I’m going to follow along so people can see you.”
“Do what you want.” The man shrugged him off but Ryan could tell he seemed grateful. Despite all the marriages, the guy had no family to speak of. He let him get ahead and pulled over to the side of the street. The car’s headlights helped guide the way. Four blocks down, Lucky pulled into his driveway and waved as Ryan drove by.
Everything seemed quiet in this part of town, so he headed toward the strip mall area. All the businesses were closed but light shone through the brown paper covering the windows of a vacant store just past the cluster of shops in the strip mall. He parked in front of the store, looked around the parking lot, and got out of the car.
Peeking through a spot where the paper had fallen back, he spied the shadow of movement coming from a back room. He went over and knocked on the front door. No one answered. He knocked again. “Anyone in there?” he hollered. “Can you open the door, please?” Still nothing. “It’s the police. Open up.”
Finally, someone shouted that they were coming.
The door opened and the last person he expected to see inside poked her face out.
“Arianne?” Ryan tried to see behind her. “What are you doing here?”
“Uh, it’s my new place.”
“Place for what? You opening a store?” There was plastic on the floor and a few boxes scattered around.
“I was thinking about opening a fitness center but it’s taking a bit longer than expected with the financing and all. I don’t have any equipment yet either.”
“I hear ya. Banks aren’t very eager to give out money these days.”
She put one shoulder on the doorframe and pulled the door tight to the other. “No, they aren’t.”
“Anyway, I saw the light on and thought I would just check and make sure no one was here that shouldn’t be.”
“I’m flattered that you’re looking out for me with that killer on the loose and all, but I assure you, I’m perfectly safe.”
“And what do you know about a killer on the loose?”
Her eyes got big. “Everyone knows about it. Crazy stuff. It’s all the talk. You can’t keep a secret in a small town. Who would do such a thing?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out.” Ryan leaned against the wall and surveyed the parking lot again. A plastic shopping bag skimmed across the blacktop before the wind picked it up and tossed it in a tree. He zipped his coat up a little higher.
“Feels cold enough to snow.”
“I’d invite you in but…” She nodded to the back of the store and winked.
“So you’re not alone?” Was this a meeting place for her and someone who didn’t want to be seen out in public?
“I’m never alone.” She wrapped a strand of hair around her finger.
“Well, I just wanted to make sure everything was good here.”
“Everything is good. Night, Officer.” Arianne shut the door and the lock clicked in place.
Taking a step away from the door, Ryan shivered. He hurried to his car and settled in the seat.
Was everyone hiding behind locked doors just like Arianne? The engine hummed to life and he warmed his hands by the vents. Fall had come too fast and now winter was trying to push its way in. He took one last drive around town. Danny waved as he passed her out on patrol. It was a given that she’d harass him next time she saw him about being on the job twenty-four hours a day.
His drive took him past Valentina’s home again. All was dark but it was comforting to see the glow of a cigarette in her bodyguard’s vehicle out front. He drove past her office to see if Dominic had finished the window. Her creepy, long-haired handyman was just testing the lock and it appeared to be pretty much done.
Keeping a low profile, Ryan drove the rest of the way down the street. All was quiet except for the antique store Danny and he were going to check out tomorrow. He stopped a block away and turned off his lights. Inside, there was movement, but with all the stuff in the window it had been hard to see. Lack of sleep started to hit and he gave in to a yawn. Ryan leaned forward in the seat when he noticed the lights flick off in the store. Soon, a man exited. He was dressed in all black. He looked both ways down the sidewalk, locked and tested the door, and was clutching a money bag tightly to his chest. His collar up and head bent, the man hurried to a dark van parked across the street.
Damn. Ryan tapped the steering wheel with his fist. It was too far away to read the license plate but it was from out of state. He’d drive by tomorrow and get it. Hopefully, the vehicle would be in the same spot. After the van disappeared down the street, Ryan drove slowly by the store. It was called Bygones, and by God he would be back tomorrow to see what was going on and who that man was.