“Remember what I said about this being the most dangerous time? The murder of the man we found today proves it. Now’s when we need to be hyper-vigilant.”
“You mean I shouldn’t have been standing by the curb when you drove up?”
Exactly, but she seemed to get the idea, so he didn’t need to spell it out. “Hey, I have an idea. Since you had such a hard day, and I know that sandwich I fixed you must have worn off by now, why don’t we stop for a good dinner on the way home?”
Home? Now the cabin’s home? Maybe, it was as close as he’d come for the last week.
“Won’t that be dangerous? Being out in public and all?”
Probably, but the place he had in mind was dark, and had high-backed booths. He’d see any trouble before it saw them.
“I think we’ll be okay.”
They drove for almost an hour before he turned off I-45. Towering pines left the narrow country lane in deep shadow, blocking what little was left of the evening sun.
Ruben scrutinized the area ahead, watching for deer or other forest creatures darting across the road. He also glanced at the rearview mirror every few seconds, watching for a different type of creature.
After ten minutes, he pulled into the driveway of a secluded house. He parked to the side, behind a large oak.
Tessa looked around. “Did these people invite us to dinner?”
“Not exactly,” he said, taking her hand. No electric currents surged up his arm, just a feeling of familiar warmth.
Their shoes crunched on gravel as they approached the front door. Inside, the aroma of spaghetti sauce and garlic bread greeted them.
“Ruben, It’s been too long.” A deep voice boomed across the room.
A small man with a big grin and a pot-belly approached them, his hand out. “I’ve missed you. When are you going to take me fishing again?”
Ruben grabbed his hand and pumped it like a thirsty man at a well handle. “Tony, when are you going to teach me to make ravioli?”
“That ravioli is a family secret, going back generations. You’ve heard of the Mafia? They’ve got nothing on my family when it comes to keeping secrets.”
“The directions to that fishing spot are my family secret.”
“No one else in your family fishes.”
“Exactly.” A laugh bubbled up from deep inside. Tony was right; it had been too long. “This is my friend Tessa Reyna and we’re both hungry.”
Tony held his hand out toward Tessa, but she had twisted sideways.
“Are those your paintings?” She pointed to the far wall. “The scenes of Tuscany could have come from a museum.”
Tony dropped his arm but grinned even bigger. “No, no. I’m no artist. Those are by my daughter.”
“Tony’s an artist in the kitchen. You’re in for a real treat tonight.”
He kept his hand on the small of Tessa’s back as Tony led them to the farthest booth. As she gathered her skirt and slid across the leather bench, Ruben leaned down and whispered in Tony’s ear. “Let me know if anyone you don’t recognize comes in.”
Tony nodded, but didn’t answer.
“Why don’t you bring Tessa a glass of Chianti? Rumor has it she’s had a hard day.”
When the owner reappeared with a bottle and two glasses, Ruben held up his hand. “None for me. I’m driving and this road is too dark. I might fall asleep.” He unbuttoned his coat and hooked it behind his Glock.
Tessa studied him over the rim of her glass. “So you cook?”
Even as a kid, he’d known he would be alone and had made it a point to learn basic cooking techniques and a few recipes from Mamacita.
“I can put together a few meals. I don’t do it often. With this job I never know what time I’ll be in or how long I’ll be gone. On the weekends I’m not on call, I might mix up two or three meals and stick them in the freezer. I find it relaxing, and it’s fun to try new dishes. You paint, Adam builds things, I cook.”
“And fish.”
“That’s not a hobby. That’s a religion.” Maybe he shouldn’t have said that. Not after all their discussion of Wicca.
If his comment bothered Tessa, he couldn’t see any sign of it.
“What kind of fish do you catch around here?”
“The usual; bass, crappie, catfish.”
Her eyes got wide and she leaned forward. “Ooh, catfish. Have you ever done that noodling thing I saw on TV?”
She actually looked interested—in fishing.
“I’ve seen that, but I’m not sure I’m brave enough to try it. Sticking my hand down in muddy water and feeling under logs and things? There are creatures in this lake that bite.”
“You have to admit, they make it look fun on TV.” She took a sip of wine and settled back in the booth, a mischievous smile on her face.
“I’ll tell you what. You try it, and I’ll wait in the boat to rush you to the hospital.”
Ruben laughed more over the next hour than he had in years. He’d finally found someone he could talk to about music and art, even fishing. She liked some of the same TV shows he did, and they’d seen many of the same movies. She wasn’t crazy about football, but nobody was perfect. Still, she came damn close. The knots eased in his neck each time Tessa smiled. Even without a glass of wine, he was more relaxed than he’d been in days.
Tessa pushed her plate away. “This was nice. Almost like a date.”
It was nice. Better than any date he’d been on lately. But not so nice that he had a drink or took his eyes off the door.
Chapter 31
Her lungs screamed in pain as she tried to force air into them. She kicked and thrashed, but the sheets twisted around her body and wouldn’t let go. If only she could open her eyes, everything would be okay.
“Tessa. Tessa. Wake up.” Ruben’s voice cut through the fog and she forced her lids to open.
He sat next to her, his hands rubbing her arms. “It’s just a dream, honey. It’s just a dream.”
She threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, for once not worried about what she’d see or feel. Sobs shook her body. He kept one arm around her while the other stroked her hair. His voice, soft as night, whispered, “You’re fine now. It was nothing but a dream.”
“No, it wasn’t a dream.” She shook her head. “It was my old friend.”
“Your friend?” Confusion coated his words
“The nightmare. I’ve had it for years, since I was a kid. Only I thought I’d finally gotten rid of it. I hadn’t had one in at least six months, and the last few had only been bad dreams, not full-blown nightmares. Now I’ve had two in a row.”
Only this one was different. This time she wasn’t afraid of the dragon. Something else shot terror through her heart.
Something black. Something hidden in the shadows.
“I spent years trying not to fall asleep because I knew what would happen. I would read under the sheets with a flashlight, or sit up and watch the stars out my window. When I did sleep, I would slip out to the sofa, or lay on the floor. But that didn’t help, the nightmares came anyway. Plus I’d get in trouble in the morning for not staying in bed.”
Ruben leaned away from her and she clutched tighter. “You’re not going to leave me?”
“I’m just reaching for a tissue.” He handed her one from the box on the bedside table.
She released one hand long enough to wipe her face and nose. She must look a fright. I don’t care. I don’t want to be alone.
Her heart rate slowed to near normal and the tight band around her chest eased.
He kissed the top of her head and lowered her to the pillow. “Do you think you can sleep now?”
“Only if you stay here, next to me. Don’t let go of me, please.” Each breath ached as she drew it in.
“I’ll be right here. I’m not going anywhere. Not until you kick me out.”
She shivered as he pulled the blanket around her. “Where’s your gun? Is it close? What if someone comes in?”
“I’ve got it, right here.” He pointed to the table. “I didn’t know for sure why you were screaming.”
He lay on top of the covers, in blue jeans, socks, and a T-shirt.
“Here,” she said, pulling the blanket back. “Get closer.”
His jeans were coarse against her bare legs, and his belt buckle dug into her stomach. She slipped her hand under his shirt and the warmth flooded into her and she felt safe.
She lifted her head and kissed his lips, then kissed him again, harder.
For a moment, he kissed her back. His arm tightened around her. His tongue slid between her teeth. Then he pulled his head back.
“Tessa, don’t. We can’t do this.”
“Why?” she sobbed. She knew it. All her life, she’d tried to be Little Miss Perfect, and it hadn’t worked. No one had ever loved her. Now she was at her worst; crying, blotchy faced, red nose. No wonder he didn’t want her.
“You’re hysterical. It’s no different than if you were drunk and didn’t know what you were doing. You’re just scared. I can’t take advantage of you like this.”
“I’m calm now.” She took a steadying breath.
“But I’m still on duty. It’s my job to protect you. Even from me.”
Tears fill her eyes, and she felt her heart break. “Are you going to leave me?”
“I promised I’d stay. I’m here until you kick me out.”
“Tessa.”
She felt Ruben’s voice, soft against the side of her face.
“I need you to wake up, honey.”
She snuggled closer against his chest. So strong. So warm. How long had it been since she’d slept so deeply? Felt so rested?
His hand stroked the side of her face. “It’s time for you to get up.”
Her eyes opened to slits. A faint light lit the room and she saw his face, scruffy with an early-morning beard. His hair stood up in back.
She reached out her hand and smoothed his hair. “I’m awake, and I’m not hysterical, I’m not scared, I’m just lonely.”
“And I’m still your bodyguard.”
He wasn’t going to turn her down again, was he? “You could guard me better if you came closer.”
He didn’t answer her.
“It’s almost five o’clock. If anything was going to happen tonight, it would have by now. I’ve got to get at least a couple of hours sleep. Can you keep watch till seven? Call me if you hear anything. Anything.”
“You haven’t been asleep at all?” No wonder he looked so tired.
“Only my arm.” He pulled it from under her head. “I promised I’d stay until you kicked me out.”
“I’ve asked you twice now. I won’t ask again.”
“Don’t worry, next time, I’ll do the asking. I’ll beg if I have to.”
She wrapped the top blanket around her as she left the room. “You’ll have to. That’s my promise.”
Adam wasn’t used to Ruben being grumpy. He was the one with the reputation for being short-tempered. Six months ago, the squad took bets on how long it would take to make him growl.
Now his cheeks hurt from grinning, and Ruben growled every time he was asked a question.
Rubin didn’t look much better than the old man at the gym, and that was before he died. Adam wasn’t sure what he’d been doing at that cabin, but it damn sure wasn’t sleeping.
“Did you get Tessa over to Jillian’s?” That should at least start a conversation.
Ruben glanced up from his computer. “Yeah, thanks for suggesting that. She definitely ought to be safe above a gun store. And with Jillian having a carry permit, that’s even better.”
“Jillian suggested it. She wanted the company and liked the idea of getting to know Tessa.” So far, so good. Ruben had frowned, but hadn’t bitten his head off.
“Tessa was nervous about spending all day with someone she didn’t know, but Jillian put her right at ease. Made her feel welcome. I thanked her, but would you tell her again how much I appreciate that?”
“She was kind of excited about it. Working and taking care of her father, she never had time to make many friends.” Adam hesitated. There were things about Jillian’s past he’d never said out loud. How much did Ruben suspect?
“I gave Tessa a shooting lesson Sunday, but Jillian promised to give her another one today. She needs a lighter weapon, so I left her my back . . .” Ruben glanced around the squad room. Hard Luck Luchak stood at the next desk, talking to Remy Steinberg. “I left her an extra one I had at the cabin.”
Adam smiled. Back-up pieces were against the rules, but he’d never met an officer who didn’t carry one. He stopped himself from reaching down to check his own.
The printer on the other side of the room groaned and spit out papers. Ruben shoved his chair back and sprinted around desks and chairs, and trashcans, to grab the pages as they came out.
Adam watched as a smile spread across Ruben’s face for the first time in more than a week.
“Got it. Warrant’s here. Let’s go check out that apartment.”
Adam grabbed his jacket. ‘Bout time they did some real police work. He needed this case settled. He wanted his partner back.
The insistent screech of the alarm hurt Ruben’s ears and set his teeth on edge. Damn techies. Took their own sweet time about everything. If they’d gotten on the fingerprints faster this would already be over with.
The door to the next apartment opened and Trophy Wife stuck her head out. “Can’t you do something about that alarm? It’s driving me insane,” she shouted over the noise.
He glanced at her sequined top, leggings, and thigh-high boots at ten in the morning. Short trip, lady.
“Sorry for the inconvenience. We’ll have it turned off any minute now.” The noise didn’t bother him nearly as much as it had moments before.
The alarm stopped, like stepping into a soundproof building during a hurricane. One minute it was all consuming, the only thing you could see, hear, feel, think about. The next minute, it was over, as if it had never been. Except for the pain in his ears.
“Bad news, Detective.” The techie stepped up to him.
What, that you were too dumb to disconnect it the first three or four tries?
“This was one high-tech alarm. The best I’ve ever seen. And it has a remote sensor.”
“The alarm heard us at the door?” It didn’t go off when he’d pounded on it the day before.
The techie had the nerve to chuckle. “The owner can check to see if it’s been activated while he was away.”
“So you’re saying we better find something that tells us where his hidey-hole is and get there before he checks his emails or whatever?”
This time the tech actually laughed.
Ruben’s fists clenched. He’d love to wipe that superior smirk of the techie’s face. Let’s see what happens next time the guy need help with a parking ticket.
“The owner doesn’t need to wait until he’s home to get the message. It probably came to his cell phone. He likely knew before we had it turned off.”
Son-of-a-bitch. He’d bet his left nut that Jacinto was grabbing everything he needed and scramming right now. Well, he’d bet Adam’s left nut. If they could close this fucking case he had plans for his own.
Adam, apparently unaware that one of his nuts was being wagered, grinned like he’d been doing all week. Another smile he’d seen enough of this day.
“Ready?”
Ruben growled and followed him into the apartment.
Chapter 32
On the surface, Jacinto’s apartment was nothing like Triple D’s room. Everything was spotless. No unpleasant aroma filled the air, no drugs or porn magazines were scattered about.
The pills were there, only lined up in the medicine chest, as if they were completely legal. The porn magazines were neatly stacked in a bedside cabinet.
Ruben took one out and started studying it.
“We’re here to work, not get our jollies.” Hard Luck’
s voice came from behind him. “If you need something to help you get it up, that’s your hard luck, buy your own. Those are evidence.”
“This guy wasn’t buying these for the articles. Not unless he speaks French.” Ruben handed the magazine to his lieutenant.
Hard Luck thumbed through the pages, but not as fast as he could have. “Ooh la la. I’ve never seen this publication before. He may be a skag, but he’s a skag with good taste.”
“I’ve never seen it either. So where did he get it? They don’t carry anything like this at Barnes and Noble. He must order it.”
Hard Luck turned the magazine over and studied the front and back covers. “There’s no label on it.”
“I doubt that comes in clear plastic. That’s the type that’s delivered in a plain brown wrapper.” And he wouldn’t have considered picking it up if he didn’t have gloves on.
“So how does that help us? We already know the address here.”
“We’ve been searching this place for two hours and haven’t found one thing that’s of any help in figuring out where he’s hiding.” Or was hiding until the alarm went off.
Ruben raked a hand through his hair. “We can wait for two days until the Great Master Forensic Gods work their magic on his computers, and we may, or may not, find out where his safe house is. Or, we can try calling this publisher and see if he has the same magazine delivered to another address.”
Hard Luck sucked on his teeth and Ruben contemplated shaking him until his glasses fell off. He tried persuasion instead. “Everything in this place is top quality. He doesn’t strike me as the type to do without just because he has to hide. And judging from the number of these things, he’d give up his TV before he’d give up his viewing material.”
“I see two problems with that,” Hard Luck finally muttered.
Ruben gritted his teeth. “And they are?”
“One, even if we find his safe house, he won’t be there. He’s been warned. And when we do find it, which we will, how’s that going to help us find him? He could be in Mexico now, for all we know. ”
The Witch On Twisted Oak Page 19