Seams of Destruction

by Alene Anderson

  Mitch turned his attention to her, enjoying the sparkle in her green eyes.

  “Let’s go to Verona and see Romeo and Juliet’s house.”

  “You mean Romeo and Juliet were actual people and they had a house? I thought they were only a figment of Shakespeare’s imagination.”

  “They were, but there is a house in Verona that claims to be theirs and it’s fun to see. Also there’s a great market nearby and we can have something to eat.”

  “You know I’m always up for eating,” Mitch said.

  “They have wonderful gelatos.”

  “You’ve talked me into it. How long will it take to get there?”

  “It’s on the train line between Milan and Venice. If we take the fast train, it takes about an hour and twenty minutes and will cost us eighteen euros a piece, each way. But if we take a regional train it will take about two hours but it will be half the price.”

  “You’re always trying to figure out a way to save money,” Mitch teased. “Let’s take the fast train. Then we’ll have more time to spend in Verona. It will be my treat.”

  Jade agreed and they headed for the train station. Mitch had to admit he enjoyed riding the train since they were something new to him. He wondered why the United States hadn’t developed a network of trains throughout the country that would compare to what Europe had.

  After they were seated, Jade turned to Mitch. “I know it’s none of my business, but you never seem to worry about money the way I do. I’m sure you don’t make that much as a cop.”

  “You’re right about the wages of a cop.” He smiled. “I don’t do it for the money. I’m a cop because I love it.”

  They rode in silence for a short time and then he said. “When my mother died, my brother and I inherited the money she had received from my father’s life insurance policy. She worked after my father was killed and she never touched what she had received after his death. I invested my share in real estate and stock and Matt invested his by starting his consulting business, buying a house, and some stock.”

  “So, from what you’re saying, I guess you don’t have to worry about money,” she said.

  “Not really. Most of my real estate is rentals so I get a monthly income from them. Then I have a good stock portfolio which adds to my monthly income. Add both of those to my salary as a cop and I live very comfortably.”

  “You probably wonder why I seem so frugal about some things.”

  He nodded and then smiled as he said, “Everything except dresses, bags, jewelry, and shoes.”

  “The day is going to come when I will be too old to be a fashion model so I would like to have a nice nest egg to retire on. I had always hoped when that day came, I would be married to David, but that obviously isn’t going to happen.”

  “Maybe you’ll find someone else,” Mitch suggested.

  “After what David did, I don’t think I’m going to find it very easy to trust again.”

  “All men aren’t like David,” he protested. He hoped she didn’t think he was at all similar to her ex-boyfriend.

  Jade didn’t reply. Instead, she looked out the window at the scenery that was flying past.

  The train stopped in Verona and they joined the crowd of people walking toward the main plaza of the town.

  “Look at that old coliseum,” Mitch said as they reached the plaza and they saw the remains of the old building.

  “That’s the Arena di Verona,” Jade told him. “We don’t have time to take the tour, but I can tell you a few things about it. It was built in 30 AD. Back when it was first built, it could hold 30,000 spectators who came to attend games and shows. A lot of it was destroyed by an earthquake. Then it was rebuilt and plays and concerts have been held there since the middle 1800s. The acoustics were so good that until the last few years, they never found the need to install an electronic sound system. Now they only allow 15,000 people to attend the performances.”

  “Why is that?”

  “For safety reasons.”

  “Well, I’m ready for lunch, so take me to the market.”

  “I think you would rather eat than sight see,” she teased.

  “I can’t help it. I love the food here in Italy.”

  The market was one long row of covered counters, stretched across the plaza. Individual white canvas held up by slender poles sheltered each table from the weather. There were offerings of fresh fruit, sandwiches, and various flavors of gelatos.

  Mitch chose a sandwich with slices of meat and several kinds of cheese and a plate of fresh fruit. Jade ordered only a plate of fresh fruit, saying she was saving room for a gelato.

  After Mitch ate his sandwich and Jade finished her fruit plate, they went to the table which was serving gelatos. Mitch chose to have a pistachio flavor. Jade chose a cioccola all’ arancia.

  “You’ve got to have a taste of this one,” she said, holding out a spoonful of gelato.

  He let her put it into his mouth and as she slipped the spoon back out, he thoughtfully tasted it.

  “Is that a candied orange peel I taste in the chocolate?”

  She nodded. “Isn’t it delicious?”

  “It is.”

  They finished their gelatos and Jade said, “Let’s go to Romeo and Juliet’s now.”

  They found a crowd of people at the entrance of the tunnel that led into the courtyard of the house. The line moved slowly and when they finally entered the tunnel, Mitch looked around in amazement.

  There were hundreds of papers stuck to the walls of the tunnel. When Jade saw the puzzled look on his face, she explained them to him.

  “Lovers write the vows they make to each other on them. Tradition has it that if they stick them on the walls of the tunnel, their love will last a life time.”

  “I want to do that,” Mitch said, smiling down at her.

  “Do you have a lover?”

  “No, but we can pretend you are.”

  She frowned at him. “I don’t know if that will work.”

  “Let’s try it, anyway. Do you have paper and pencil in that bag of yours?”

  In response to his question, she rummaged in the large bag which hung on her shoulder.

  “You go first,” she said, handing him a small pad of paper and a pen.

  He took them and stared thoughtfully at the white sheet. Then he began to write.

  To my lover, Jade,

  I love you with all my heart and soul. There

  will never be anyone for me, but you. I love

  your beauty and your kindness. I promise to

  care for and protect you as long as I live.

  And beyond.

  Mitch

  “Let me read it,” Jade said as he signed his name with a flourish.

  “Okay. But after you write your vows, I want to read them before you stick them on the wall.”

  “While I’m writing mine, chew this piece of gum so we will have some way to stick it up.”

  He obligingly took the piece of gum she handed him, unwrapped it, and stuck it in his mouth.

  While he looked over her shoulder, Jade began to write. Mitch was stunned as he read what she was writing.

  Dearest Mitch,

  All my life I’ve wanted to find someone like you.

  I can’t believe I finally have. I love you as much

  as you love me. I promise I will always be faithful

  to you.

  Eternally yours,

  Jade

  She folded the paper and handed it to him.

  “Stick the gum on it and press it to the wall,” she instructed.

  Mitch was too overcome at the moment to do anything but obey.

  Had she meant what she had written or was it just a game for
her?

  He didn’t dare hope.

  By the time they were sure the paper was secure, they walked on through the tunnel with the laughing and chattering crowd until they reached the courtyard. There was a line of people in front of a statue of a young girl.

  “Is that supposed to be Juliet?” he asked Jade.

  “Yes. There’s a superstition that if you put your hand on her right breast, it will bring you good luck in finding your true love.”

  Mitch smiled in amusement as men walked up to place their hand on Juliet’s breast. People were snapping pictures and laughing at those who had the nerve to place their hand on the designated part of the statue’s body.

  “Give me your camera,” Jade ordered. “When it’s your turn, I want to take your picture.”

  “But I’ve already found my true love,” Mitch objected.

  “But you told me before we wrote our vows that you didn’t have a lover.”

  “That was then. This is now.”

  Jade pouted. “But I want to take your picture.”

  “All right. If you insist,” Mitch said, stepping up to put his hand on Juliet’s breast.

  Jade started laughing and at the look on his face, she laughed even harder. She was unable to hold the camera up to take his picture.

  “Come on, Jade. People are waiting.”

  She finally got control and snapped the camera. She had to check the digital photo before she would let him leave the statue. She smiled in satisfaction and he took the camera from her so he could have a look.

  “I can think of places I would rather put my hand,” he said in a low voice as they left the courtyard.

  They boarded the train for Milan at the scheduled time. They found two seats together, and Mitch sat down and leaned his head on the back of the seat.

  Another great day with Jade. Would there be any more when they returned to Los Angeles or would Chief Castillo immediately book her for the murder of Reannan as he had indicated he would be doing?

  Chapter 8

  They had taken a late-night flight from Kennedy Airport, which allowed them both to sleep as the jet flew non-stop to Los Angeles. Jade had cuddled up against Mitch, laying her head on his shoulder and slept the entire five hours.

  “Do we have to stay at my apartment?” Jade asked when they were landing at the LA airport.

  “We don’t have to,” Mitch replied.

  “I would rather stay at your house.”

  “I would think you would prefer your own apartment with all its amenities.”

  “It has such bad memories for me now.”

  “What difference can it make since you said you no longer love David?”

  “You’re right, it shouldn’t.”

  “I don’t have a problem with staying at my house. I do have that one room fixed up with a few pieces of exercise equipment.”

  “And then we can always jog in the morning.”

  “And if I hurry and order it, I can get a pool installed,” Mitch teased.

  “All right, we’ll stay at my apartment.”

  “Let’s try it at my place for a few days and see how it works. I do have some things to do around the place.”

  “I’ll have to pick up more clothes at the apartment,” she said.

  “I have a washing machine and you can wash what you took to Milan with you. That should last you until we can get over to your apartment.”

  The first thing Mitch did when they reached his house was call the Los Angeles Chief of Police. His assistant, Megan Steele, answered his private line and told him Grant was out. Mitch told her he wanted to set up an appointment to talk to him and she offered to look at Grant’s calendar and find an hour of free time. He knew he would have to take Jade with him but she could sit in the reception area with the Chief’s assistant, Megan, and read a book or a magazine.

  “Do I have to go with you?” Jade’s question was almost a whine when he told her.

  “It’s either that or stay home handcuffed to a piece of furniture.”

  She gave her grudging consent to go with him.

  “Jade, if there’s any possible way of proving your innocence, it’s necessary for me to have a meeting with Castillo.”

  “I know, I know,” she said. “I just didn’t want to go back to the police station. They might put me back in jail.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  She was silent for a minute, her forehead creasing in lines of worry, making Mitch sorry he had been impatient with her.

  “Show me your laundry room and I’m going to wash my clothes so I’ll have something clean to wear. Do you want me to wash yours?”

  “If you would, I’d appreciate it.”

  Jade felt very domestic as she started the laundry. After she had put the clothes into the washer, she stepped outside and looked at the back yard. The lawn needed to be mowed.

  Mitch came to stand behind her. “I see I have my work cut out for me.”

  “Why don’t you have a lawn service?”

  “I like doing it. Good therapy.”

  “I can’t imagine you needing therapy.”

  He smiled. “Sometimes tracking down and catching those bad guys gets to me.”

  “You have some beautiful flowers.”

  “My mom planted those when she was alive and I’ve tried to keep them blooming in honor of her memory.”

  “Was this her house?”

  “Actually, this is the house Matt and I grew up in. I’ve kept it for sentimental reasons. I was living in another house that I owned when Mom died. When I decided to move in here rather than sell it, I rented out the house I was in. Which reminds me, one of the things I have to do this week is go check on my rentals and make sure they are being kept up the way they should be.”

  “How many do you have?”

  “Ten houses and an apartment building.”

  “That must keep you busy.”

  He nodded. “I’m lucky. I’ve been able to keep good renters in my properties so I haven’t had much upkeep. I’ve known of some owners who have renters that really beat up their property.”

  “I looked in your frig. I would say we need to go grocery shopping.”

  “Let me take you out for dinner tonight and we’ll shop tomorrow.”

  “All right, if you insist.”

  “I insist. Unfortunately it’s going to be nothing like the food we’ve been use to eating in Italy.”

  “What are you offering?”

  “There’s Chinese, not far away. We could even get takeout if you wanted. There’s a Mexican one. The Yard House, which has sea food and chicken on their menu, is the closest one.”

  “That sounds good. Let’s go there.”

  “Okay. I think I’ll get out the mower and cut the lawn while I have an hour or so.”

  “After I get the clothes in the dryer, I think I’ll lay down for a nap. Five hours of sleep in an airplane just doesn’t do it for me.”

  Mitch smiled sympathetically. Opening the garage door which was situated next to the laundry room, he went in to get the lawn mower and Jade went to check on the laundry. A few minutes later she heard a mower start up, and looking out the window, she watched as Mitch walked behind it, back and forth across the yard.

  Mitch hadn’t handcuffed her, Jade thought. She had a feeling he was beginning to trust her. She certainly hoped so. Maybe he believed she was innocent after all.

  Mitch was enjoying the domestic scene taking place at his house that day. He couldn’t help but wish it could continue that way from now on. Jade had begun to appear very affectionate toward him the last few days, holding his hand, putting her arm around him, and cuddling up to him on the trip home from Milan. Now that they were back in LA, he wondere
d if it would continue.

  He was sure she was innocent of the murder of Reannan. He hoped he wasn’t letting his feelings get in the way of doing his job. How ironic that Grant Castillo had picked him for the job of escorting Jade to Italy because of his attitude about women. He had done exactly what Castillo hadn’t wanted him to do. He had fallen for her. Fallen hard.

  He had to find a way to prove her innocence. He needed to see the autopsy report and the report the arresting officers had filed. He found it hard to believe that while they had been in Italy something hadn’t been found to prove Jade hadn’t killed Reannan. Unfortunately, the other two suspects had a solid alibi for the night of Reannan’s murder.

  But as Jade had said, the arresting officers had been so sure she was the guilty party, the investigation hadn’t gone much farther. If his emotions weren’t involved, he wondered if he would have done the same thing. Let her be tried and convicted of the crime.

  He finished cutting the back lawn and moved around to the front. Before he started cutting the grass, he went into the house to get a drink of water and check on Jade. He didn’t see her in the laundry room or the kitchen. He walked down the hallway toward the guest bedroom and found her asleep on the bed. Standing at the doorway, he stared at her for a minute. She looked so peaceful with all the lines of worry erased. They hadn’t been there in Italy, but had appeared as soon as they arrived back in Los Angeles.

  For the hundredth time, Mitch vowed to prove her innocent of the charge against her. He looked forward to his appointment with Grant Castillo the next day.

  Mitch and Jade walked into the office of the Chief of Police. Grant’s assistant, Megan, told him Grant was in his office and he should go right in. He nodded and waited until Jade sat down and took a book out of her hand bag.