Andreas took a sip of the scotch he had poured. “Yes, that would definitely give us the break we need.” He hoped Tony’s team had been able to narrow the playing field. It would give them a place to start looking at least.
Just then Blaze and Bella walked in. Blaze was also dressed in a tuxedo, while Bella wore a black roman style gown that flattered her expanding waistline. She was nearly five months pregnant, and she was glowing. The morning sickness she had been experiencing finally passed.
“You look lovely, Bella.” Andreas approached and kissed his sister-in-law on the cheek.
“Yes, you do,” Gio agreed and was right behind his brother to greet her.
“She is gorgeous,” Blaze added his own appreciative comments, although he had told her, and showed her how beautiful she was before they had come downstairs. Blaze was proud of his wife. She was everything he ever dreamed of, and she had come out from under a very tough year. Today, they just found out the sex of their baby, and he couldn’t be happier. They planned to tell the others tonight.
“Hey, now. Bella, you look amazing.” It was Nikko coming in with his Ronnie on his arm. She wore a scarlet gown that clung to her curves. Her blond hair was piled high on her head, soft ringlets framing her oval face.
All greeted the stunning Ronnie when Johnny came through the door to announce his mother and Catarina would be coming down soon, and that Angela had just arrived.
“I’m here,” Angela joined the growing crowd in the library. “I brought movies, and snacks,” she announced.
“Yes!” Johnny fist pumped the air.
“I hope not scary movies,” Lisa called from behind the door followed by Cat who made her entrance then.
“Is there any other kind?” Angela teased and rolled her eyes in Johnny’s direction.
“Mom, I’m almost eleven. Stop babying me.” Johnny shook his head.
“I brought a comedy and one scary movie, but I watched it, and it’s not that scary,” Angela leaned in to show Lisa the titles and she nodded her approval.
“Both of you look stunning.” Gio crossed the room to greet his wife who wore a one-shouldered gown in emerald green. Her ginger colored long hair loose in soft waves that trailed down her backless dress. He kissed Cat softly on the cheek and then took his wife in his arms.
Andreas remained rooted to the spot. Cat was by far the loveliest woman in the room, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He watched as each of his brothers greeted her and kissed her warmly. It reminded him of his thoughts of yesterday. She was perfect. Perfect for him, and he knew his family would accept her. They all had their own pasts, and they would not hold hers against her. In fact, it made her fit in all the more.
Nikko slapped him on the back. He leaned in and whispered, “Shake your head, your eyeballs are stuck.” Andreas glared quickly at his brother for using the juvenile expression, but his wife Ronnie who suited him so well, quickly added. “Don’t forget to pick your jaw up off the floor or flies will fly in.” Then she elbowed her husband.
It was enough to shake Andreas from the stupor he was in. He went to her then. Her dress was the simplest of them all. It was a dark steel grey, a simple satin. It skimmed her tiny figure, but did not cling. It was modest in the back, and the front had a simple square cut design. The only daring feature was the slit that went up one side of the dress that revealed her perfect legs. He remembered the black six inch heels and he was sure his eyes sparkled. Cat wore her long thick hair down; it glistened and shone. Around her neck she wore a simple silver chain and from it was adorned a blue stone. Matching earrings completed her outfit. Classy. Mascara made her eyes pop, and he noticed the deep grey of the dress matched her eyes perfectly.
“I love the dress,” he whispered in her ear. “And you do look stunning,” he added as he pressed a light kiss along her cheek.
“Well, you better run along,” Angela pushed them out the door. “Johnny and I have a date with some ghosts, and a kid who had a very bad day.”
Andreas led the way. Taking Cat by the elbow, he nodded at the security man who opened the door for them. Out front, there was a limo waiting to take them to the General’s Ball.
* * *
The limo dropped them off in front of the Officer’s Club. The General had gone all out for this year’s event. He had invited over 500 dignitaries from the base itself and the local Tampa Bay area that served the needs of the citizens and soldiers who either lived on base or nearby. The tree out front was decorated festively for the holidays but also in patriotic colors. The red carpet outside was a nice added touch, and photographers and news camera persons waited patiently to get pictures of those who entered. Andreas had a moment’s hesitation and almost had the limo drive round to the side of the building, but Cat’s slight touch and smile made him relax. The police had cleared her name, and the sound bite had been mentioned on several news stations. If the paparazzi wanted to take her picture, then so be it. “I’m okay, if you are,” she leaned in and whispered, guessing correctly why he had suddenly become tense.
“I’m good.” He kissed her cheek as the limousine pulled up in the queue.
They were only a few cars back, and they could already see the flashing lights as couples made their way inside the officer’s club for the dinner and dancing. Then the evening would end with the Bachelor’s auction. Andreas had briefly considered withdrawing his name but hated to disappoint the General. He hoped some old Tampa socialite bid on him this year. Last year, he had not been so fortunate. The woman who placed the winning bid had been a sexually depraved widow. He had been happy to oblige her. She had been a few years older, but a stunning blond bombshell. Her bid had given the Fight for the Fallen ten thousand dollars.
When their car stopped before the center of the roped off area, Nikko and Ronnie, who were the closest to the exit stepped out first. Flashes of light immediately ensued. Only six months earlier, Ronnie had been an escaped fugitive of the law, unjustly framed for drug smuggling. The photographers didn’t stop when Bella and Blaze emerged from the car. Bella had her own difficulties just months earlier when she had to testify against a local mobster. Gio and Lisa’s entrance did not garner as much chatter from the paparazzi, although she too had demons in her past. Her troubles hadn’t made the papers in Florida to the extent that her sisters-in-law’s had.
They were up next, and Andreas got out first. He held out his hand as the photographers began to snap pictures of him. It was blinding. When Cat stepped out, the lights were brilliant turning night into day and she had to momentarily shield her eyes. But smiling, she ignored the whispers of the cameramen and reporters as they made their way down the red carpet.
They were almost inside when one particularly aggressive reporter reached his microphone over the cordoned rope and called to Cat. “Miss Stone, any idea who is killing your, er, ‘girls’?” he stammered.
She looked in the direction of the question. “Not at this time. But I want him brought to justice more than anyone. Thank you,” she nodded and kept walking. Andreas was proud of her for her quick thinking. They did not want to reveal too soon that they had a possible lead. The reporter was not satisfied however, and called loudly even though another couple was coming up behind them. “Mr. Marino, are you and Miss Stone involved? Is Romeo going after her because of you?”
Andreas stopped dead in his tracks, and turned. His smile was brilliant, white teeth flashing. “Yes, Miss Stone and I are dating. I do not know yet why he is targeting her. Our relationship began after two of the murders. But this time, I will catch this sick bastard.” Like Cat, he nodded and waved back any further questions. He wasn’t sure if his statement was a mistake or not, but he felt the need to let the world know that Cat was his and warning Romeo may have not been a good idea, as it might incite him, but it could possibly scare him.
He looked down at Cat to see what her reaction was, and she smiled up at him showing her support. But he saw the worry lines in the corner of her eyes. After they ducked
inside, and waited in the receiving line to meet the General and other dignitaries, she confided her fears. “Do you think that was wise, Andreas? You may have inadvertently triggered him to act.”
“This psychopath, my love, is a serial killer. He does not need me as an excuse to kill.”
She nodded, but did not seem completely satisfied with his answer.
“I hate to think that I started all of this.” Her teeth worried her bottom lip as they stood in the line to greet General Melendez.
“Honey, you were just the first person to show him kindness, and were in the wrong place at the wrong time. That is not your fault.” He saw her looking inward. He hated to see her feel guilt over this. “Cat, really. It’s not your fault. You saw an abused young man, treated horrifically by his own father. You spoke to him kindly. There is no crime in that. You were both victims initially.” She nodded, but still looked upset. He continued. “But the difference is he made the choice to kill. You made the choice to help others.” Her eyes pierced him in that moment. “You are a remarkable woman,” he added.
“Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me that you see the good in what I have done, and in the choices I have made.”
“I do.” He kissed the side of her face briefly. Gio in front of him was greeting the General and they were up next. “I think in those few years you had with your great grandmother, she must have ingrained in you the value of helping others, I mean she herself had been victimized, but she made the most of it as did you.” He saw the tear in her eye, and quickly used his thumb to wipe it away. “As I said, Cat, you are remarkable.”
“And, I agree,” came the booming voice of the General Melendez. Cat gave Andreas a brilliant smile before turning to meet the General.
“Thank you, General Melendez. It is so nice to see you again.”
“It is nice to see you as well, my darling. And I guess this young man, here, has stolen you from me permanently.” Cat had told Andreas before that the General had been one of her clients, a respectful man who had wanted a pretty woman to accompany him on some of his social obligations. He lost his wife who had succumbed to her battle with cancer four years earlier.
“Well, we are seeing each other now General,” Cat admitted. Andreas had just told the world. She figured it was okay to confess that to the General.
“Very good then.” The General boomed now shaking Andreas’ hand. “It’s nice to see two young people find one another. Now I admit, I hope that does not mean I can’t use him in my auctions. He helps bring in some very much needed funds for our soldiers.”
Cat beamed. “Not at all, General. In fact, I plan on bidding on him myself tonight.”
“Oh, well, then this could get interesting. Ms. Stevens, who bid on him last year is here. Rumor has it she plans on bidding on him again.” He winked and rubbed his thumb against his index finger and middle finger.
“Oh,” Cat raised one perfectly manicured eyebrow, “can I be so bold as to ask how high the bidding went last year? I brought my check book, but I may need to transfer some funds,” she teased.
The General laughed but told her. “It was ten thousand I believe. And a check is fine.”
“General,” Andreas reached for the man’s hand one more time before they made their way into the festively decorated ball room.
“Enjoy yourselves tonight,” the General called after them.
* * *
Dinner was served almost immediately and everyone was happy when the music started. General Melendez had hired a band that played thirty minute sets of classic rock and pop songs to keep the party lively, interspersed with a DJ who played more contemporary music to entertain the younger set. The girls were really enjoying themselves. Andreas was too. He especially was surprised that Cat led the charge on the dancing, leading the girls out for the first song of the night while the men held back. But Nikko joined them half way through the first song not wanting to miss the fun, and seeing the opportunity to tease his older brothers while he danced with all their women.
After a few songs, Blaze joined them worrying that it was too much for Bella, but instead of getting off of the dance floor she pulled him on to dance with her. Gio, sipping on his tonic just enjoyed the music and watching, but soon he too, elbowed Andreas and pulled him out onto the floor, when Lisa crooked her finger his way. It wasn’t that he disliked dancing that held him back, it was that he was looking for Tony Alvarez who was working this party’s security detail. The man must be busy, or just that good because he hadn’t spotted him yet.
Not wanting to leave Cat the sole one alone, he joined the other couples on the floor, and just as he reached her, a relatively new song started, one that would allow him to take Cat into his arms. It was Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding. It was perfect. It was how he felt with her. She had brought him back to life. The moment he had her in his arms, and they began to move to the ballad, he knew he needed to let her know how he was feeling. As soon as her head relaxed on his shoulder, he kissed the top of her head. “Cat,” he started. “When this is all over, I know we talked about continuing to see each other. But I think I am going to want more.” It was the hardest thing he had ever said in his life.
Her answer was simple. She squeezed him, and whispered in a tremulous voice. “I want more too.”
All of the couples decided to call it quits for a bit and have some refreshments. The boys headed to the bar to fetch them, while the girls returned to the table.
As soon as they returned, Andreas who was still scoping out the hall for Tony, finally saw him. Tony must have spotted him too, as he was approaching their table.
“Tony, how the hell have you been?” Andreas was out of his seat to greet the massive Special Forces commander.
“Good, Andy. Great in fact. Gio, Nikko, Blaze,” Tony responded heartily before greeting the woman. Pulling the small mic out of his ear he pulled out a chair and joined them at the table. “I’m on a break and have Jobe running the show right now. But I thought I would fill you all in on what we have found so far.”
“Glad to hear it. I was looking for you earlier; I couldn’t spot you.”
Tony laughed. “Well, when I don’t want to be seen, you know,” he shrugged nonchalantly. Andreas knew the man was good, but he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him. The two times he worked with him in the past, he had been the epitome of professionalism.
“Can I run and get you drink?” Nikko asked.
“No. No thank you,” he smiled. The man was dressed impeccably in a suit, as were the other members of the security team Andreas noticed, but their black dress shirts underneath helped them to fade into the background in the darkened hall. “So, I have two of my team members back home working on this thing. Lily and BJ. They are my best technical analysts and programmers. I gave them all the information you gave me. They started out broad, and did a search on all recent hires in the area in the locations you mentioned and in the fields you think might likely be his career choice. That turned up over four thousand names.” Andreas saw Cat’s eyes go round. He knew what she was thinking. A needle in a haystack. But Tony’s next words provided a bit more hope. “We then narrowed it down to age parameters. Your guy is in his mid-thirties, Caucasian, and so we pulled from that list, only identifying those between the ages of 25 to 50. That cut it down to half.”
“Why such a large age span?” Cat asked leaning forward in her chair.
“Make-up, a disguise, wrinkles, scars, disfigurements, and people can change their appearances to appear younger or older. Older is easier.” He was polite addressing her, taking and treating her question seriously and earnestly. She nodded her understanding.
“But two thousand is still a lot of people.”
Tony smiled. “Oh, but we were not finished yet. We then looked at those names, and Lily, our computer programmer created a program to pull up those people by their SSNs. We are assuming the guy has one, or stole someone’s identity. So we ran a search on their living situation accord
ing to the DMV. We wanted to see who was switching jobs, and who had recently moved to the area within the past two years. We did great there. It narrowed our search down to 214 names.”
“That’s great.” Andreas was impressed. His tech people were the best. He had used them before when his local guys hadn’t been able to access all that Tony’s people seemed to be able to. “Thank her for me, please.”
“Oh, I am still not finished.” His caramel colored eyes sparkled. He pulled out a thumb drive and handed it to Andreas whose eyebrows quirked up questioningly. “DMV photos and addresses. Lily said if you can get her some good quality photos of Sal and Spiro, she has some awesome new face detection software she is itching to try out.”
Andreas was elated. This could be it. Tony’s team had given them a place to look. “This is incredible. Yes, I have pictures of Sal. I put in a call to a friend in Washington, and he is trying to get me some pictures of Spiro. I had already thought of that. I will get those pics of Sal to Lily tomorrow. And if I get anything from Connor McGee, I’ll send those too.”
Tony pushed back and stood. “Well, you and Cat take a look at those DMV photos when you get a chance. See if anything strikes a chord with either one of you. I need to get back.” His head gestured towards the party scene behind them.
“We will,” Andreas nodded and reached out to shake Tony’s hands as he got up.
“Okay, I need to get back to my team. It was great to see you all again, and I’ll keep you posted once we get those photos.”
* * *
The auction of the Bachelors was approaching. Several times Andreas saw Ms. Simone Stephens try to catch his eye. She was still a remarkably beautiful woman at forty-five. She was athletic, tall, sinewy, and fit. He’d enjoyed their date that had turned into more. But this year was different. He had a big case to solve and Cat to think about.
The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set Page 85