Rory: Hope City, Book 7

by Maryann Jordan

  Walking past the reception desk, she waved toward Heather.

  “Bet you’re glad to not need a hard hat anymore,” Heather joked as she waved in return. “See you at the opening.”

  Stepping out into the sunshine, she headed to her SUV, her mind already filled with what else was on her to-do list for the day.

  Rory, Shania, and Bobby pulled to the front of the modest apartment building. The nine-one-one call had come in indicating an expected death, unquestionable. Keeping their equipment outside, he and Shania made their way into the apartment, making as little noise as possible. He was not surprised to see a nurse walking into the living room to greet them, a hospice nametag on her uniform.

  “It was to be expected,” she said. “Mr. Tonika’s family only called us in last week, but he’s had a home visiting nurse checking in on him for the last month. She was here when he passed, along with myself.”

  The apartment was small, and she waved toward the door leading to the bedroom. “There’s not a lot of room in there, so I’ll stay out here.”

  Radioing for Bobby to bring in the stretcher, he stepped into the bedroom, seeing the elderly man on the bed. Someone had taken care of his appearance, his hair combed and his pajamas neat and clean. The home nurse was sitting in a chair next to the bed, her hands folded in her lap and her head bowed. He cleared his throat, careful to not surprise her, but the shock was his own when she turned around.

  “Erin?”

  She stood and walked to him and Shania, her gaze darting between the two. “I had no idea you’d be coming.”

  “It never dawned on me that you’d be here, either.”

  She shrugged and said, “It’s a good job to have while I finish getting my RN degree. I checked in on him daily to make sure he was getting his medication and had eaten. I called his son who lives in California last week, and he made the call to hospice.”

  “I’d like you to meet my partner, Shania. This is my twin, Erin.”

  “I’m sorry we have to meet like this, but it’s wonderful to meet another one of Rory’s siblings.”

  Shania shook her hand and Erin smiled in response. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  A sound at the doorway had all three turned to see Bobby enter. With dignity, they carefully placed Mr. Tonika into a body bag, and then onto a stretcher. A small group of apartment residents had gathered outside, reverent in their soft whisperings as he was rolled to the street and placed into the back of the ambulance.

  Erin had followed them out, and Rory turned to her. “Are you going to be okay?”

  “The hospice nurse and I will stay together here to make sure the apartment is secure and the manager puts a lock on the door. Mr. Tonika’s son is flying in today.”

  He leaned down to hold his sister’s gaze. “Erin, I didn’t ask what you were going to be doing. I asked if you were going to be okay.” She didn’t speak for a moment, and he hesitated, knowing he needed to get the body to the hospital but not wanting to leave her.

  Finally, she nodded. “Yes, Rory, I’ll be fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen death, you know.”

  Knowing her experience as a combat medic was similar to his, her words were very true. She had seen death. But it didn’t mean it got any easier. Reaching out, he squeezed her hand. “I’ll talk to you later. I want to make sure you’re okay.”

  She offered a sad smile, then jerked her head toward the ambulance. “You’ve got to get going, and I’ve got work here to do. I’ll talk to you later, bro.”

  With a final squeeze of her fingers, he jogged to the driver's side and climbed in. Shania was on the radio to the hospital, giving the details and their ETA. Looking to the side, she asked, “Your sister is beautiful. And seems real sweet.”

  “She is. I lucked out. I’ve got three sisters, and all are wonderful women.”

  “Yeah, but you’ve got that look in your eye. You seem worried.”

  “I was just surprised to see her here, that’s all. It took her a while to figure out what to do when she got out of the Army, but when she decided to go for her nursing degree, she started working at a free clinic. That job went bust when the doctor in charge was caught dealing drugs.”

  “Oh, lordy!”

  “When she told me she was going to be a home health nurse, I guess I thought more in terms of checking people’s weight and blood pressure in between their doctor’s visits. It didn’t dawn on me that she’d be sitting bedside vigil with someone who’s dying.”

  “It takes a special person to be able to do that,” Shania said, shaking her head. “If your sister has got that kind of heart, she’ll be fine.”

  Rory remained silent as he continued driving to the hospital but hoped Shania was right. As soon as they re-entered the station, his phone vibrated. Grinning, he answered. “Hey, beautiful.”

  “I hope you look at the caller ID before you answer that way, or I might be jealous that you’re calling everyone who calls you ‘beautiful’.”

  “Only you, babe. What’s up?”

  “I’ve just gotten off the phone with one of the city’s buildings inspectors. That was a lesson in futility.”

  Her exasperation came through loud and clear. “Look, Sandy, I know what Dad told us has you all spun up, but those days were a long time ago. I’m not naïve. I know there are payoffs and handoffs and illegal dealings, but what makes you think Partridge Tower wasn’t inspected correctly?”

  “I don’t really have any proof, you know that. Just suspicions. I heard crackling behind one of the light switches, so I took pictures behind wall plates and fuse boxes. I talked to the head of inspections and told him that the building was soon going to be occupied, and I thought it should be looked at by someone in charge.”

  “You need to be careful,” he warned, feeling exasperated.

  “I’m sure they get lots of calls daily. They’ll probably just count me as one more concerned citizen and ignore me. Anyway, how’s your day going?”

  He sighed heavily, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension. “Not bad, but I just saw Erin. One of her home patients had passed away, and even though it was expected, I’m sure that was hard on her.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said, concern evident in her tone. “I’ll wait a day or so and then invite her out. Maybe I can even get her to go to the Celtic Cock with me. I think Torin would like that.”

  Blinking, he jerked. “Torin? Why the hell would he care if you’re there?”

  “Down, boy,” she laughed. “I was referring to Erin. I caught the two of them secretly trying to ignore the other.”

  “Did you ever think that maybe they were actually ignoring each other?” He had been raised with three sisters but still found the workings of the female mind to be somewhat of a mystery. “And anyway, don’t try to play matchmaker with my sister! She’s had—”

  “Rory, I’m not playing matchmaker. I’m simply observant. And if Erin’s ready to join the land of the living, then I think we should all be supportive.”

  Another call came through. “Gotta go, sweetheart. Be careful and I’ll see you tonight.” With quick vows of love, he disconnected, answering the next call. “Kyle, what’s up?”

  “Wanted to let you know that a man has been arrested for attempting to roofie a woman at a hotel bar near the harbor.”

  “You’re fuckin’ kidding me! You got him?”

  “Not me, not my case. And we don’t know if it’s the one from the Celtic Cock. I heard the man lawyered up as soon as he was pulled in. I know the investigating detective has talked to Torin—”

  “Shit, I should warn Sandy!”

  “Sandy said she never saw the man’s face, only the back of him. I don’t know that the detective is going to talk to her again, but I wanted to give you a call just in case.”

  “I appreciate it, bro. I’ll talk to her.” He heaved a sigh but didn’t know if it was one of frustration or relief. Maybe both.

  “I figured you’d rather do that than have h
er caught off-guard by getting a call from a detective.”

  Thanking Kyle, he disconnected and scrubbed his hand over his face. With the opening of the Tower looming, he hated to mar her excitement.

  He stopped by the Celtic Cock after his shift, glad to see it wasn’t crowded and Torin was behind the bar. Walking over, he leaned his forearms on the polished wood, gaining Torin’s attention.

  “You look like a man who has something on his mind besides ordering a drink.”

  Chuckling, he shook his head. “Man, as long as you’ve been running this bar, you can probably take one look at a person and know what’s on their mind.” Deciding to get right to it, he said, “Kyle called to let me know they picked up someone. I know you’ve been talked to, but I haven’t told Sandy yet. I wanted to do it in person, and the detective doesn’t think she can help identify the man who was here.”

  Torin’s jaw was tight, a muscle twitching as he grimaced. “If I can get my hands on that fucker, he wouldn’t have any part of his anatomy left to even think about assaulting a woman.”

  “I hear you. Feel the same. Listen, I told you this before, but it bears repeating. What happened wasn’t on you.”

  The two men were silent for a moment before Torin grabbed a dish towel off his shoulder and swiped at a nonexistent spot on the polished bar. “My great-great-grandparents came over from Ireland in the 1800s. Landed in Hope City and never went anywhere else. Worked on the docks and anywhere else they could make a living. My great-grandfather sold bootleg whiskey during prohibition.” Torin grinned, shaking his head. “Damn, I would’ve loved to have seen the old man stay one step ahead of the law.”

  Laughing, Rory said, “That’s fuckin’ hilarious. I had no idea.”

  “My grandfather opened this place right after he got back from fighting in Europe during World War II. Soldiers and sailors were pouring back into the city, the factories and docks were booming, bars and pubs were popping up everywhere. There was always a lot of Irish in the police and fire departments, and they loved coming to this place. He put his heart and soul into the Celtic Cock, handing it over to my dad who, in turn, handed the reins to me and Maeve. Other than a few fights that are easily broken up, we’ve never had something like that happen here. At least not that we knew of.” He held Rory’s gaze, his jaw tight again. “Thank God for Sandy recognizing what happened to that woman.”

  Rory’s gut clenched at the secret knowledge of why Sandy was so quick to understand but simply nodded instead. Sliding off the barstool, he rapped his knuckles on the wood before saying goodbye.

  25

  It was time. Finally. The night of the Partridge Tower grand opening gala. A time for Carmichael Designs to show off their work as well as attract other clients. Sandy walked across the lobby of Partridge Tower, her stiletto heels clicking on the tile floor that had been buffed to a brilliant shine. She caught her reflection in the wall of mirrors behind the reception desk, pleased with her outfit. The jewel-tone blue dress was fitted through the bodice, the V-neck flattering but high enough to show no cleavage. A satin ribbon in the same color was belted around her waist. And the multilayered silk skirt flowed to just above her knees. Elegant and yet professional. Her long hair was pulled into a low bun with wavy tendrils loose around her face. Small diamond studs graced her ears and her grandmother’s thin diamond bracelet encircled her wrist.

  Having arrived early, she walked through the lobby and noted the caterers setting up their tables and servers being prepped. She waved at the interior designer who worked on the condos and nodded toward Heather who was commandeering the new reception staff that she had trained.

  Hearing more steps behind her, she turned and smiled as Todd and Barbara walked into the lobby. Todd, resplendent in his tux, had his elbow crooked with Barbara’s hand resting lightly on his arm. Her modest black dress was perfect for the image Sandy wanted her company to present.

  “Sandy, you’re gorgeous!” Barbara gushed. “I hate that Rory isn’t here with you.”

  She shrugged, sliding the chain strap of her evening bag over her shoulder. “I know, but I’m going to be all over the place, and I hated for him to be here alone, not knowing anyone. He’s working a shift tonight anyway, so he would’ve had to have made shift-switch arrangements.”

  “What about you?” Todd asked Barbara.

  She wrinkled her nose while shaking her head. “I haven’t had time for a boyfriend!”

  “Well, I always make time for my boyfriend,” Todd exclaimed before pursing his lips. “But I also told him to stay home since I was going to be working tonight.”

  “How’d he take that?” Sandy asked.

  He lifted a perfectly arched brow. “He said as long as I was working and not working the room, he was fine!” As the three laughed, their attention was snagged by several others coming in to oversee some of the night’s events before the guests arrived.

  “I can’t believe the night is finally here,” Todd said. “I know the Partridges started on this building long before we were hired to work on the interior, but the last few months have been such a thrill.”

  “I hope we meet some potential new clients tonight,” Barbara added, her smile wide.

  “I’m sure we will. The Partridges have invited many of the upper echelons of Hope City. I know Anthony would like to finish selling the condos and leasing the office spaces.” Looking around, she added, “Barbara, you take the first floor and just make sure everything’s the way we left it yesterday. Todd, you take the third-floor office model, and I’ll hit the one on the eighth floor.”

  With nods of agreement, Barbara headed to the far side of the lobby toward the first-floor model office they had ready for the gathering, and she and Todd stepped into the elevator. He alighted on the third floor, then turned and put his hand on the door to stop it from closing. She looked up and cocked her head to the side.

  “I always think there should be a perfect time to say great things.” Chuckling, he shrugged and held her gaze. “But I find in life that if I’m always waiting for the right moment, it sometimes passes by, and I don’t say what I should. So, I’ll take this moment standing at the doorway to the elevator, probably getting ready to sound off all kinds of alarms, to just let you know that working with you is a dream come true.”

  Surprise and pleasure shot through her, but before she had a chance to respond, he continued.

  “You took a chance on an unknown designer straight out of school and gave me huge responsibilities when we got this contract. I learned a lot from you, and I learned a lot from this job. But mostly, Sandy, I want to thank you for your friendship. Truly, you are the best boss and friend.”

  Her eyes filled with tears as he bent and kissed her cheek. Then, waving his hand in front of his face, he said, “Now don’t start crying, or I will. After all, I’ve got a model office to check!” With that, he stepped back and the elevator doors closed.

  The air rushed from her lungs as her smile spread across her face. Before she knew it, the ding of the elevator sounded just before the doors opened, and she stepped out onto the eighth floor, still smiling. The gala gathering was not going to be walking around all floors. Anthony had allowed her to choose several offices that would be available to see as well as several of the condo models.

  The eighth-floor lobby was well-lit, but not knowing who might be in the building before she arrived, she’d had the office model locked. Stepping inside, she flipped on the lights and breathed a sigh of relief when there was no crackling sound coming from the switch plate.

  She walked around the office scanning every detail. It had been hard to choose the one they wanted to present for the gala considering that office interiors reflect the business as well as the clients' own personal aesthetic. That was why she chose three very different models. The one on the first floor was designed with dark, heavy furniture and a warm color palette. Todd’s model was sleek chrome and white modernistic furniture, and the color palette of black, white, and silver, w
ith the occasional splash of red.

  But the one she’d chosen was her favorite. Eighth-floor views of Hope City, including a large corner office that overlooked the Inner Harbor. Dark floors with furniture in a mixture of dark and cream. In the area that would encompass office space for several employees, she shunned the idea of cubicles but also equally shunned the idea of a wide-open space that gave no one a sense of privacy. Workers might need to band together for the sharing of ideas and projects, but everyone deserved a space they could call their own. She discovered a company that offered five-foot sectional walls with locking wheelbases. They could easily be moved to create any shape or design needed. The desks were also sturdy but lightweight, and with their lockable wheels, the room could be altered and changed in multiple ways within a few minutes, allowing for desks to be pushed together or separated as needed. The color palette of cream and blue was her favorite, one she’d used in her own office.

  Everything looked perfect, and she flipped each light switch on, flooding the area with brightness before leaving the door open and moving back to the elevator. The doors opened, and she jolted seeing Todd. “Is everything okay?”

  He reached out and grabbed her hand, gently pulling her into the elevator. “Everything is perfect. I just talked to Barbara and the first-floor office already has a few early goers looking at it. I decided to come up and escort you back downstairs.” Leaning down, he offered a sneaky grin. “Plus, people are starting to arrive and the servers are passing around food. There are champagne cocktails, and the shrimp puffs are divine!”

  “I can’t believe you’ve already scoped out the food,” she laughed, looping her arm through his.