by Regan Black
Tired of waffling and acting as if she wasn’t in control of her life, she pulled out her phone and sent Leo a text message that she’d meet him for dinner. He replied immediately with the restaurant and time, making her wonder if he’d been staring at his phone waiting.
That was a delightfully flattering image. Smiling, she had a bounce in her step as she contemplated what she’d wear tonight. Half a block from a chair and a break from winter’s bluster, her radio crackled with an emergency. The smoothie shop was being robbed.
She called in her response as she broke into a brisk jog, darting between people on the sidewalks and cutting through an alley to get there faster. It took a brave or foolhardy soul to rob any of the businesses that clustered around the police station, but to hit one frequented by so many cops? The perp would have had to work to find a time when the place wasn’t serving one of Philly’s finest.
A few people were gathered across the street, watching the scene play out through the big front window of the shop. She urged them to stay back as she approached the front door. A man wearing a faded navy blue down coat over a black hoodie and black sweatpants held a gun at arm’s length, aimed at the woman behind the counter. His tennis shoes were worn and a clown mask hid his face, but not the lanky brown hair pulled into a ponytail.
Carefully, Aubrey eased closer. The robber held his weapon on Tina, who trembled like a leaf as she emptied the cash drawer into a canvas bank bag. Most days Tina left by two so she could be home to meet her kids after school. Her husband worked at the nearby college. This job was something fun and lively that got her out of the house regularly and padded the family vacation fund.
All of those details flitted through Aubrey’s mind as she pulled her service weapon and reached for the door. “Lower the gun,” she said calmly, as the bells tinkled merrily over her head. “And let’s figure this out.”
The man held the gun steady on Tina as he glanced at her over his shoulder. “A lady cop?” He snorted.
“A police officer asking you to stand down,” she said. “No one needs to get hurt.”
“You’re gonna need backup, lady cop.”
Not her first rodeo with a belligerent or sexist perp. Most of the time, the perps she dealt with were struggling, physically or mentally, due to drugs or illness or circumstance. This guy didn’t fit into any one of those boxes. His clothes had seen better days but they were clean. His shoes, too. Even his voice was clean, no sign of impairment.
She pegged him as a bully looking for a soft target. Tina definitely matched the soft target description. The young wife and mother was friendly and sweet to a fault and working alone in a small storefront that did a brisk business.
Aubrey did her best to talk down the robber, who was now demanding the bank bag from lunch. How had he even known there would be one? Despite Tina’s protests and Aubrey’s insistence, the man wouldn’t be swayed, wouldn’t lower the gun. She could fire, should fire at this point, but there were customers behind him huddled between the tables. She couldn’t risk hitting a bystander by accident. One by one, the frightened customers were inching toward the restrooms at the rear of the shop. She shifted, drawing the criminal’s attention as she sought a better firing angle. She was losing faith that she could end this without bullets flying.
He wagged the gun at Tina. “Hurry it up! I want those tips, too.”
Tears glistening on her cheeks, Tina upended the tip jar into the bag and shoved it across the counter.
“Go get the rest of it,” he demanded.
“That’s all, I swear,” Tina cried.
“What’s your exit plan?” Aubrey asked.
For the first time, he really looked at her. Maybe he was high if he hadn’t noticed she blocked the door.
He turned back to Tina. “You.” He waved the gun. “Come here or I’ll shoot you.”
She shook her head, pressing back against the prep counter. He repeated the order and she refused again. Points to Tina for courage, though she continued to quiver like a leaf in a hurricane. The robber took aim at her. “I gave you a chance.”
Hearing the perp’s voice crack, Aubrey knew he’d made his decision. “Get down!” she shouted at Tina.
Lunging at the gunman, she caught him hard in the hip as he pulled the trigger. The bullet meant for Tina tore through the ceiling tile. The man dropped his gun and wrestled Aubrey for control of hers.
She prevailed, getting a hard knee into his gut and flipping him to his stomach while he gasped for air. Holstering her weapon, she pulled out her handcuffs. Once his hands were secured behind his back, she read him his rights.
There was movement all around her as Calvin and two more officers came into the store.
“You okay?” Calvin asked as the others checked on the customers.
“Fine.” She patted down the would-be robber and shoved up his sleeves in a search for any gang tattoos. When she removed his mask, Tina sucked in a breath.
“Wes?” Tina swore and hurried around the counter, fury on her face.
“You know him?” Aubrey asked, holding her back.
“Have mercy. He’s my cousin,” she said. She looked up at the hole in the ceiling. “A cousin we will write off for good now.” She crouched down and yanked his hair, forcing him to look her in the eye. “You lousy excuse for a human, coming in here and pointing a gun at me.”
“Blanks,” he said.
She swore at him and turned his head so sharply Aubrey feared for his safety. “That doesn’t look like the work of a blank to me. You lying, cheating ass. You’re pathetic.” She dropped him hard, his forehead bouncing off the tile. Standing, she dusted off her hands. “I’m going home to my children.”
“We’ll need a statement,” Aubrey said, stalling her. They would have to investigate to be sure the robbery wasn’t some botched team effort, though Aubrey was already ninety-nine percent certain Tina had nothing to do with it.
Tina gave her statement as swiftly as possible to Calvin, practically gleeful as she shared Wes’s history of minor offenses and troublemaking. While she called her husband to let him know she was all right, Aubrey asked one of the responding officers to drive Tina home.
Outside, there was a cheer as Wes was hauled out to a waiting police car. Aubrey didn’t follow, turning instead to the seating area where customers had witnessed the ordeal.
No one was there. She supposed they must have filed out while she and Calvin were talking with Tina. She walked between the rows of tables, noticing the items that had been left behind as people sought cover.
“Aubrey?”
She turned toward Calvin, showing him what she’d found. “The shop will need a bigger lost and found box. Why did so much get left behind?”
“Escape was the priority,” he replied. “There’s a line of folks asking to come back in for their stuff.”
“Good.” She looked at the array of cell phones, a small purse, a tablet and a handheld game. “Do we need any of this for evidence?” Calvin shook his head. “All right, let them in. We can keep them away from the counter area.”
“Sure thing.”
“How did anyone get out?”
Calvin tipped his head to the door between the employees-only area and the public space. “A couple of witnesses say they went through that door and out into the alley.”
The door was protected by a deadbolt with a ten-button panel. It was her understanding those locks were automatic and on at all times. She tested the handle. Secure, just as it should be. Someone in the dining area must have known the code. Maybe this had been a team effort after all.
Hearing footsteps, she turned and saw Leo striding up behind Calvin. “What are you doing here? Who let you in?”
“I did,” Calvin said. He carried several of the abandoned items to a table near the front door.
Leo stared at her long enough that her p
ulse throbbed in her ears. “Are you all right?”
She rolled her shoulders back. “Absolutely. Situation resolved safely, perp in custody. Only one shot fired and no perp or bystander injuries. It’s a good day.”
“You don’t look happy.”
“I’m confused.” Her gaze drifted back to the locked door. “How did the customers get out?”
“Enter 2-5-8-0,” Leo said.
She punched each button in turn and heard the click as the lock released. “How do you know the code for this shop?”
“It’s often a standard code programmed on locks like this one. Employees don’t have to remember anything but to go right down the line if they’re under duress.”
“That seems like something I should know,” she said. If they’d covered it in training at the academy, she didn’t recall it now.
“I’m worried about you, Aubrey.”
That wasn’t something she wanted to hear and she sure didn’t want any of her colleagues overhearing his concern. “I’m good. Just processing.” She gave the lock another long look. One of the customers must have known the trick Leo mentioned. “At least I didn’t have to fire my weapon.”
“That is good news,” he agreed.
“Saves me hours of paperwork,” she said. Leaving her free to ponder what to wear to dinner. Did she still want to go? Did he? The adrenaline rush was fading and she needed something to soothe the rough patches left behind. Being well trained and professional didn’t mean being unaffected by events.
“How much of your shift is left?” he asked.
“I’m done as soon as the initial report is in,” she replied as they walked out of the shop.
“How about I pick you up?”
“That’s him!” A voice soared over the general chatter and city noise surrounding them. Aubrey followed the sound to see a man pointing at Leo from across the street. He bounced a little girl on his hip and she clutched a smoothie cup to her chest with one hand, waving wildly at Leo with the other.
A cheer went up as others spotted him and Tina’s boss, Ray, rushed toward them. “What did you do?” she asked under her breath.
Ray nearly tackled Leo, bypassing a typical handshake in favor of a bear hug. “Thank you! Thank you!” He stepped back, shaking his head. “I can’t believe it.” He met Aubrey’s gaze. “This man needs a medal.” He smacked Leo on the chest. “Whatever you give to citizens who go above and beyond, he deserves it. This man led everyone out the back door. He saved every last one of my customers today.”
“That’s wonderful,” she managed. Beside her, Leo tried to step away from the attention. “You were in the shop?”
He nodded. “I was restless and went for a walk. They serve a half hot cocoa, half coffee blend Lara likes.” He finished with a shrug.
Too many options to fill in the blank left by his unfinished thought. Had he been too restless after meeting with Grant, after asking her out or after she’d agreed to go on what couldn’t be labeled as a date? More than likely he’d just been seeking a connection to his sister.
People pressed close, the customers who’d been caught up in the robbery attempt showering Leo with gratitude and praise. Pushed to the fringes by Leo’s admirers, Aubrey sought comfort in the routine of crime-scene protocol. She and her fellow officers finished up and informed Ray of his options. Aubrey then hopped into one of the cruisers rather than walk back.
Not five minutes later Leo walked in, looking for her. “Officer Rawlins.” His gaze locked with hers. “You slipped away while I wasn’t looking.”
“I’m sure you don’t mean for that to sound as stalker-ish as it does.” She couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips. “Thanks for being a hero today.”
“Just doing the right thing.” He rocked back on his heels. “About—Oh.” He didn’t finish the thought, apparently realizing where they were and how many eyes and ears were nearby.
If they’d been somewhere private, she would’ve been delighted to be the object of his attention. She would’ve been happy to return that attention, as well. The man made her long for the feel of his hands on her skin, the tangible expression of that heat in his eyes.
“Your sister’s case is still front of mind,” Aubrey said quickly. “I will be in touch as soon as there is something to share.”
“Right.” His demeanor shifted to something more professional, less personal, and she scolded herself for inwardly bemoaning the change. “Take care out there,” he said.
Then he was gone and she was missing his face, the warmth that had been in his eyes and the masculine scent that was all Leo with a crisp layer of winter.
Were they on or off for dinner? She cursed the ordeal with her ex on principle. Without that black smudge on her record, no one would pay any attention to her speaking with a civilian, case or no case. But Leo was the hero of the moment and she had a reputation for being too trusting. Didn’t matter that the rep was based on more rumor than fact; it was what she was stuck with.
Dealing with reports and processing for the attempted robbery kept Aubrey longer than she’d intended and when she finally left, darkness had fallen and she only had an hour before Leo was expecting her at the restaurant across town.
She checked her phone and scolded herself for being disappointed at the lack of any voice or text messages from Leo. Probably best to forget dinner tonight. Hopefully, he’d be willing to try again another evening. Like maybe to celebrate finding Lara when Grant’s infallible super-network found her.
Little flurries of snow spun up whenever the wind zipped along the street as she hurried home. Though this wasn’t the coldest of nights, she was chilled through when she reached her apartment.
She stripped out of her uniform and stepped into the shower, eager to wash off the day and dress for a date. She’d go to the restaurant, just in case. Visiting Grant made her feel slimy, though he was more sincere in person than she’d expected. The tremors and sticky sensation on her skin now were a direct result of nearly shooting a man who thought his gun was loaded with blanks.
If a reporter picked up the story, it would be interesting which side they plopped her on. Would it be the side where a female cop hesitated to use her weapon or the side of the argument where she’d demonstrated expertise in a crisis?
She wasn’t holding her breath for the latter choice when another option occurred to her. The press coverage might just focus on Leo and the heroics of one special tourist. That would give the department some welcome relief. Feeling fresher and more settled after the shower, she dried her hair and left it down while she debated what to wear.
Leo, with his dogged persistence and heroic tendencies, wouldn’t renege on a dinner invite. Especially when he considered it some kind of atonement. She checked her phone, almost ready to call and beg for a rain check. That was only giving in to the post-adrenaline crash.
She expected Leo would handle the cancellation graciously, but she’d feel like a coward. Her stomach rumbled. A hungry coward. She picked up her phone and started a text message asking about the dress code when the device rang in her hands.
The caller ID showed his hotel and she scrambled to answer, worried something had happened. “Hello?”
“Aubrey Rawlins?”
“This is she.”
“Wonderful. I’m the concierge. Leo Butler has asked us to send a car for you and I wanted to confirm your address.” The one he read out was correct, though she wasn’t sure who had provided the information. “The pickup time I have listed is in thirty minutes. Is that sufficient?”
She arched a brow at her reflection. “Sure. Do you know the dress code?”
“Upscale and elegant.” Aubrey could almost hear the woman on the other end of the phone smiling. “Do you have a little black dress?”
Thanks to her mother’s rule that every woman should, “Yes.”
“That will be perfect. I’ll have the driver send you a text message when he arrives.”
Aubrey ended the call and pulled out the dress, sliding into the silky material that made her feel powerfully feminine. She chose black heels and onyx earrings framed by marcasite for a subtle sparkle that would contrast with her blond hair.
She was just sweeping on lip color when she saw the driver’s text message. She smiled at her reflection and dashed down the stairs, eager to see what the evening would bring.
* * *
Leo knew how to behave in public, how to be still and calm. His mother often said he’d been born restless, though. As a kid he was always on the move, unless he was fishing with his dad or grandpa. He’d driven his mom to distraction; his teachers, too. School had been an exercise in all that was tedious, though he craved the thrill of learning new things. He couldn’t recall a time when he didn’t want to move or go or do something. His clearest memory of the car accident that had killed his father and grandfather was trying to scramble out of the wreckage, desperate to help. Though he’d been too small to make a difference at the time, that need to try went bone deep. Tonight he felt like that restless little kid again, fighting to remain poised and use his best manners as each minute ticked by without Aubrey.
Being here, being a tourist in the city, made things worse. Philadelphia, with its wealth of history and warrens of neighborhoods, kindled that dreaded sense of smallness in his mind and heart. How would he ever find Lara? His body was convinced he could outrun the feelings of loss and helplessness and futility if he just got moving.
He took a sip of water, rested his fingertips on the cool handle of the fork near his plate. Aubrey would be here. They’d have a nice dinner. The flyers were out there, and Grant was mobilizing his people. Leo only had to wait and trust. His two biggest weaknesses.
Another sip of water. Life couldn’t be so cruel as to take Lara from him, too. Logic said this situation with Lara wasn’t his fault, though he wondered time and again what she’d missed by growing up without their dad. Leo had enjoyed the benefits of all that paternal pride and protective instinct during his early childhood. Their mom had done her best by Lara, but knowing their father would surely have changed Lara’s outlook as well as her view of herself and her talents.