by Freya Barker
Interesting, and if I weren’t in a hurry to get this resolved, I might’ve left him with the illusion he’s getting away with the denial. As it is—and as I’m sure he’s already figured out—his connection to the Albero family may well be at the root of the disruptions at the winery.
“Cut the bull. Don’t forget I stood right there when Angelo Sarrazin peeled out of your parking lot. Do you want this problem solved or what?”
“Fuck!” He hauls back his arm and pelts his coffee mug across the room, where it shatters against the wall. “That fucking asshole.”
Well, that escalated quickly.
Bree
“Can you talk?”
“Hang on.” I hear rustling on the other end and wait for Bill Evans to get back on the line. “Go ahead.”
I spoke to Bill earlier today as well. He’d called for Yanis but Lena told him he was out and passed him on to me instead. The autopsy report was in and he’d managed to obtain a copy. There was no ambivalence around the cause of death—overdose—but the ME was hesitant to label Bobby Lee’s manner of death as accident, suicide, or homicide and instead had gone with the more obscure undetermined.
As it turns out, not everyone had been happy with the report. He mentioned getting called into his chief’s office and told to back off Bobby Lee’s case since it was out of his jurisdiction. He was asked to hand over his file and the evidence Delbert had handed to him on the spot. Bill concluded someone high up in the Aspen PD must’ve called his boss, and that made him very suspicious.
It did me too, especially when Bobby Lee’s domicile was very much in his jurisdiction and so was my abduction and the dead body found in the reservoir. Besides, even though Bobby Lee was found dead in Aspen, you’d expect the police departments to collaborate.
“I just wanted to make sure you got my email with the attachments,” I ask him.
He mentioned this morning putting together a file of his own with what he could remember and was looking for the pictures of the notes and gifts he sent on Monday.
“I did. I also got that profile you did. Very helpful. Won’t be able to do anything with it until I get home. I’ll send you guys copies of my notes then too. Can’t risk it now. I have a feeling there are eyes on me.”
Jesus. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes. We just dealt with some corruption here in the Grand Junction PD we helped uncover, but at least the chief is a stand-up guy.
If you put everything together and add the missing evidence from that fire poker I hung on to for dear life, things are starting to stink to high heaven. Somebody would have to have a lot of power to be able to exert that kind of influence.
“Anything we can do?” I ask him.
He scoffs.
“Any openings for a seasoned detective in Grand Junction? It would have to be without a reference because I have a feeling I won’t get a good one.”
He makes it sound like a joke but I’d bet my right hand he’s dead serious. Heck, if I were him, I’d want to get the hell out of Dodge too.
“They just did an entire revamp of the department, so you’re about six months late, but I have other connections I can tap into.” The name of a former Denver commander of major crimes I had some dealings with in the past pops in my head. He’s now chief of police in Durango and last I heard they were looking. “Actually,” I quickly add. “Did you ever work with Benedetti?”
“Benedetti? On occasion. Why?”
“He’s chief of police in Durango. I heard they were looking. I can put in a call for you if you’re serious?”
“Fuck, I might take you up on that, once I get to the bottom of what’s going on.”
“Be careful out there.”
Bill’s chuckle sounds bitter.
“Yeah. Thanks, don’t be too worried though, I’m pretty tough.”
“No doubt,” I appease him.
“Mazur is a lucky bastard,” he mumbles before ending the call.
Another reason to like the guy, but I’m genuinely worried. Hope Yanis is back soon because I get the sense his friend is in over his head.
I don’t actually see Yanis until I’m outside the office, sitting on the step, waiting for Uber to come pick me up, when his Yukon turns onto the parking lot.
We only talked briefly on the phone earlier but I could tell he was in the middle of something and figured I could fill him in on the situation with Bill later.
“What are you doing out here?” he asks when he gets out of his vehicle.
“Waiting for an Ubhmph…”
He swallows the rest of my words when he pulls me to my feet and swoops down for a kiss.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll drive ya.”
“The Uber driver’s already on his way.”
“So? Cancel your order.” He hands me his keys. “I won’t be long. I just want to check in with Lena and grab my laptop. We’ve had quite a few developments at the vineyard.”
He disappears inside. Sounds like we’ve both had informative days.
I unlock the Yukon, get in the passenger seat, and pull out my phone to cancel the ride. Then I try to figure out what to do for dinner, but before I can decide whether I want to pull something from my freezer or pick something up, Yanis gets behind the wheel.
“Wanna hit the diner? We can find a quiet booth and eat and talk at the same time,” he suggests as he starts the engine.
“Sure.”
I wouldn’t mind a baked mac and cheese with meatloaf. It’s been a while.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re in the booth closest to the kitchen, mostly because no one ever seems to want to sit in that section.
“Had a little talk with Flynn this morning,” he starts as soon as we put our order in. “Dropped Patria Holdings on him and he tried to play off like he’d never heard of it, so then I ended up calling him out about his buddy, Angelo Sarrazin. Turns out those two had a beef years ago, Joe thought it was smoothed over, but it looks like maybe our mob prince still has some hard feelings.”
The waitress shows up with our beers so he waits until she moves on to another booth before he leans over the table.
“Sarrazin is the one who introduced McNeely. Claimed one of his guys at the scrapyard had a sister in Palisade who was ill, and did Joe maybe have a job for him at the winery. Joe thought he was doing a good thing.”
“So you figure McNeely is Sarrazin’s plant? What is this, some kind of revenge thing? What was the beef?”
Yanis sits back and shakes his head.
“Won’t tell me more than it was over a woman.”
“Interesting. Looking at them, you wouldn’t guess they’d have the same taste.”
“I wouldn’t know, I’ve only ever been interested in one woman.”
He gives me a smarmy grin and a wink. He sure is in a chipper mood, although I’m not so sure that’ll last, once I tell him my news.
“Smooth, Mazur. Nice tricks you’ve got.”
I grin and shake my head.
“Glad you approve. I’m working on expanding my repertoire.”
Again with the jokes. Who is this man?
“So did you get the cameras set up?”
“Yup. All installed. Shep and Radar are both staying the night there, in case something goes down it’ll be good to have the backup. We still don’t have conclusive proof McNeely was responsible.”
“Even more important now the freaking mob may be involved,” I conclude.
“Bingo. And one more interesting tidbit Joe mentioned. He said McNeely wasn’t the only recommendation Sarrazin made. Apparently, he’s the one who suggested PASS.”
“What? We’ve never done work for them, have we?”
“Fuck no. I have no clue how that came about, but I do find it interesting.”
“I’d say.”
The waitress is back and slides our food in front of us. One million calories in that little oven dish but it’s so worth it. Best mac and cheese I’ve ever had.
“Quit making those sou
nds,” Yanis grumbles as he digs into his own.
“I can’t help it, it’s so fucking good. You won’t mind if I pack on a few pounds, right? I could eat this stuff by the vat.”
I shove another bite in my mouth and hum my bliss.
“Why don’t you tell me how your day was?” he asks, a little annoyed at me.
Yeah, that’ll be a sure way to get his mind off my humming.
“Something’s dirty in Bill’s department.”
His fork stops halfway to his mouth.
“You’re kidding.”
“Not even a little.”
Chapter Seventeen
Yanis
It’s been a crazy week.
We’ve collectively been juggling a heavy workload and by Friday night the strain is showing.
Lena left ten minutes ago and gave Bree a ride home. As eager as she’d been to get back into the swing, she was plum worn out and I had to put my foot down when she started nodding off at her desk.
The guys and I are in the conference room, trying to sort out coverage for the weekend, and Dimi and Radar just got into it. I’m not even sure over what exactly, one minute we’re trying to divvy up the schedule and the next those two are nose to nose. I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s been a crazy week.
Ironically, these are two of my more levelheaded guys and don’t often get their noses out of joint, but there must be something in the air tonight.
“Knock it off!”
I cranked up the volume and both heads turn my way.
“What the fuck is with you two?”
Radar is the first to pipe up.
“Been home a net total of two fucking nights in the past seven days.”
Dimi scoffs.
“At least you got to sleep two nights. Haven’t fucking slept in weeks.”
“All right, enough,” I cut them off before they get into it again.
Last thing I need is my guys at each other’s throats when I need everyone on top of their game.
“Jake, Kai…are you good to cover Saturday and Sunday night? I’ll take tonight’s shift at the winery.” I point my finger at the other two. “You two take the weekend off and fucking rest up. We don’t need this shit right now.”
“What about Bree?” Dimi wants to know. “Who’s gonna keep an eye on her?”
“Bree,” I answer, sounding more confident than I feel.
A month ago, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it, but it eats at me now. Guess this is my first challenge to see if I can be both her man and her boss. Trust, she said…well, guess it’s time I put my money where my mouth is.
“She’s a trained professional. Let’s not forget that.”
“She’s hurt,” Dimi fires back.
“And you’re missing a leg,” I lob back, getting pissed on Bree’s behalf. “Yet you don’t see any of us doubt your abilities.”
That shuts him up.
“Bree can look after herself,” Jake confirms, and with that the discussion is done.
“Go home,” I direct at my brother and Radar. “Don’t wanna see you back until Monday.”
Twenty minutes later, I lock up the office and as soon as I get behind the wheel, I dial Shep’s number.
“I’m coming in to relieve you. You good hanging in until nine?”
“Got nothing planned but my bed, Boss. It’ll hold.”
“Good.”
Then I drive straight to Bree’s apartment, she doesn’t even look surprised when I let myself in.
She’s in the kitchen, hobbling around without her crutches, which are leaning against the couch. Something smells good.
“Whatever that is, got enough for two?” I ask.
I poke my head over her shoulder and slide my hand around to her belly.
“Stir-fry and yes, there’s enough.”
She twists her neck to look at me and I use the opportunity to plant a kiss on her mouth.
“I thought you were going to be late at the office tonight?”
“Mmm. I was, but plans have changed.”
I let my lips graze a strip of bare skin on her shoulder before I step back and lean a hip against the counter so I can look at her.
“How so?”
“Dimi and Radar both need a break so I’m heading to Palisade tonight. Kai and Hutch are taking the next two nights. Shep’s gonna need a break soon too.”
“I can take a shift at the winery,” she offers, her face hopeful.
I resist the knee-jerk temptation to shut her down and pretend to give it some thought.
“It may come to that if this drags on any longer, but mobility is gonna be an issue. You catch anything on the monitors you’d have a hard time chasing someone down on crutches.”
I hate seeing her face fall.
“Yeah, good point. Fuck, I hate feeling useless.”
“You’re far from useless.” I brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “With the rest of us in and out, I need someone with their wits about them at the office. I’d like to scratch one item off our plate, but things seem to keep adding on. It helps to know you’ve got things covered there.”
Her face turns my way, a smirk on her lips and an amused sparkle in her eyes.
“Smooth, Mazur. Positive reinforcement. Making me feel essential. You’re getting good at this psych stuff.”
I grin back.
“I learned from the best.”
“Don’t overdo it,” she cautions with a smile, before turning back to her wok. “Grab some bowls, will you? I don’t want to overcook this.”
Quality time has been hard to come by this past week, and since it looks like the weekend is just going to be more of the same, I don’t want to waste the hour—at most—we have together with work talk or anything particularly heavy. It sucks, because I’d hoped maybe she’d relax enough this weekend to open up about some of that baggage accumulating the past fifteen years, but it looks like that’ll have to wait.
The food is great and I tell her so, which seems to please her. She doesn’t complain when I clear the dinner dishes and quickly wash them up and is content to watch from her kitchen table.
I’m gonna have to hustle if I’m to relieve Shep at nine.
“Any chance I can get you to crash at my place?” I ask, wiping my hands on a towel.
Her eyebrows snap together in a puzzled frown.
“Why?”
Good question, one I don’t really have a proper answer for, other than it would make me feel better about leaving.
“I don’t know. Maybe I like the idea of you in my bed, even if I’m not there.”
“Mmm,” she hums, smiling as she gets up and hobbles over. “That’s kinda sweet, Yanis. You keep surprising me.”
She slides her arms around my neck and fits her body against mine. My arms close around her, one hand slipping down the curve of her ass.
“I surprise myself,” I admit, which makes her laugh.
I love it when she laughs, her head back and slender neck exposed. Her eyes close, the lines around them a little more prominent. Her mouth stretches wide, offering a glimpse of those small white teeth, and the sound escaping comes from the gut.
Bree laughs with conviction. It doesn’t happen often but when she does, it’s as if the world stills around her.
Then she reaches up as she pulls my head down for a kiss.
“Maybe another night. I have some things I want to do around here.”
Not an unexpected answer and I’m not going to argue it now, I’m already going to be late.
“Sure.”
I go in for another lip touch and then reluctantly let her go.
“Lock up behind me, okay?”
She throws me a mock-salute.
“Will do, Boss,” she tosses back.
She’s wrong, this is not me bossing her, this is me loving her.
Bree
“Benedetti.”
I couldn’t settle down after Yanis left, so I’m finally following through on the conver
sation I had with Bill Evans earlier this week.
We’ve only spoken a few times since Joe Benedetti left the Denver force for Durango, but I make it a point to check in from time to time with all my law enforcement contacts. It makes it much easier when and if a case pops up where we need their support or input.
“Joe. It’s Bree Graves. Sorry to call you at home.”
“You actually caught me in the office. Bree Graves, how are you?”
“I’m good. Burning the candle at both ends again? Don’t you have a wife waiting at home?”
Benedetti lost his first wife not long before he left Denver, but was lucky to find love a second time around.
“Ha. She’s off at some horticultural conference in Salt Lake for the weekend, and I have a desk piled so high I can’t even see the door anymore.”
“Still short-handed?”
“Yeah. One of my officers recently took the detective’s exam, but even with him added, the schedule’s tight. Seems to be an ongoing struggle to keep this department staffed.”
“That’s actually what I was hoping to touch base about,” I capitalize on the opening I finagled. “Do you remember a detective by the name of Bill Evans from your time in Denver?”
“Evans? Wasn’t he in Littleton? Or Englewood?”
“Littleton,” I confirm. “It’s possible he’s looking. Ran into a bit of a fishy situation.”
“Fishy, how?”
I spend the next half hour filling Benedetti in on what happened to me in Denver. I brush off his concern and share what I know about the situation Evans finds himself in.
“I haven’t personally spoken to him since Wednesday, but I know he’s not feeling too comfortable where he is now. He spoke with my boss.”
“Don’t blame him,” Benedetti agrees and then falls silent.
I decide to wait him out, give him a chance to process. It doesn’t take long.
“Got his personal number?”
Quickly putting him on speaker I find Evan’s name in my contacts and message it to Joe.