“Good morning, Inca. I trust you slept well?”
Ignoring the heat in her face, she nodded. “Thank you, yes.”
“Have some breakfast,” Debbie said, setting down a plate of freshly baked croissants. “I’ll be making some eggs in a second. Would you like some?”
“Yes,” Inca smiled at her. “Thank you.”
She sat down opposite Raffaelo, who poured her some juice. She thanked him, watching as he also took the coffee pot and filled another mug for her. “I feel spoiled.”
Raffaelo laughed. “It’s just breakfast.”
“How are you enjoying living here, Raffaelo?”
She watched as he considered. “I’m not as gregarious as Tommaso, so I find it difficult to meet new people. Also, my English is not as good.”
She smiled at him. “I was wondering about that.”
He nodded. “Tommaso attended Harvard; I did not. In fact, this is my first time in America.”
Inca was surprised. “Really?”
Raffaelo smiled. “I know it is surprising, but my heart lies in Italy. Tommaso persuaded me to come with him, to open some American clubs as a way to expand the business. Not that it needed expanding.”
“I have to be honest,” Inca said, sipping her coffee. “I’m not someone who goes to clubs.”
Raffaelo’s smile widened. “I don’t blame you. Terrible places.”
Inca laughed at his mischievous smile and the tension in her chest eased a little.
“Hello.” They both turned to see Tommaso watching them from the doorway. Something in his demeanor made Inca’s smile falter, but he came to kiss her temple and sit down with them.
Inca swallowed her sudden nervousness. “Raffaelo was telling me it’s his first time in the States.”
Tommaso smiled. “I think maybe he needs a guided tour from the best guide in Willowbrook.”
Inca smiled at Raffaelo. “I’d be happy to when the weather improves.”
Raffaelo nodded, glancing quickly at his brother. “If you don’t mind, I’d like that.”
“Good,” Tommaso said, seemingly approving, then he leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Well, not exactly like the tour you gave me.”
The meaning in his words was clear, and Inca’s whole body flushed with embarrassed heat. Was this the way it was going to be? Tommaso marking his territory?
I don’t think so, Mister.
Inca gritted her teeth, and smiled at Raffaelo, who, she noticed, was studiously ignoring his brother.
“It’s really no problem. Come by the Sakura soon and we’ll go from there.”
“Thank you, Inca.”
After breakfast, Raffaelo disappeared into the big house and Tommaso and Inca sat in the living room, watching the weather close in. Inca bit her lip, frustrated. “I’ll have to try and get back into town today.”
Tommaso shook his head. “It’s too dangerous, Bella. Stay here for as long as you like.”
Inca sighed. “You are very kind, Tommaso, but I have a life to get back to. I have the business, and I have to start looking for somewhere to live.”
“Oh?”
She told him about the apartment. “It was such a shock, you know? For weeks, I was the only bidder on the place and then boom. Another buyer slamming in a ridiculous offer at the last minute. It kind of broke my heart. I know that’s ridiculous, but it’s my home, you know?”
Tommaso stroked the back of her neck. “Bella, say the word and I will buy it for you. Just say the word.”
Inca was horrified. “No! No way! My God, did you think that’s why I told you? Believe me, Tommaso …”
“Inca, calm down. I know that wasn’t your reason for telling me. I’m making the offer anyway. Say the word.”
Inca was gaping at him. “Tommaso, we barely know each other. We’re not even in a relationship.”
“We’re not?” His green eyes were soft; they dropped to her mouth in a way that made her belly flutter with desire. Inca relaxed.
“Tommaso, even if we’re at the tentative stages of … something, I’m still not ready for that kind of offer from you, however kind. And it’s unbelievably kind, but no, thank you. I can find somewhere on my own.”
He stroked her hair. “You could always move in here. We have plenty of room.”
Inca smiled at him and kissed him gently. “Again … way too soon, but you are a sweet man, Tommaso.”
He grinned wickedly, his eyes crinkling, and he moved quickly, pulling her onto his lap and tickling her. Inca screeched with laughter. “Oh, you lunatic …”
Tommaso suddenly stopped tickling her and pressed his lips to hers. “You intoxicate me, Inca Sardee … I’m completely under your control.”
She tangled her fingers in his hair. God, he was gorgeous …”Take me back to bed,” she whispered, nuzzling her nose to his. “Take me to bed and fuck me into next Tuesday …”
Olly fought his way over to the Sakura, not expecting it to be open, but inside he found Scarlett, alone. “Why are you open?”
She grinned at him. “If you expected me to be closed, why did you come?”
Olly shrugged. “You got me.”
“Well,” Scarlett turned to get him his usual Americano, “you’re officially my only customer.”
Olly looked around. “No Inca?”
Scarlett grinned. “Nope. She drove up to the Winter place to return something to Tommaso Winter. She called me a little while ago. She got snowed in up there and is staying until it’s safe to drive back.”
Olly nodded. “Okay, then.”
“Jealous?”
Goddammit, Scarlett never let up. Olly tried not to grimace.
“Not at all. If you hadn’t noticed, I too have moved on.”
“Snippy.”
Olly gave up and grinned. ’You are a pain in the ass.”
“That’s me.” Scarlett studied him. “Seriously, though. She’s fine; so what’s your thing with the Winters?”
“Who says I got a thing?”
“I know you,” Scarlett said. “You’re not sure about them.”
Olly sighed. “It’s not really the Winters bothering me. It’s the murders. Scarlett, in my ten years of being a cop, I’ve never seen anything so depraved, so brutal. I can’t shake the image of those girls … and the fact that they’re Asian-American. You can see why I’m a little antsy about Inca’s safety.”
“She’s a big girl,” Scarlett said gently. “And she can look after herself.”
“It’s my job to make sure you’re all safe.”
Scarlett shrugged. “Fair enough. Just don’t get too controlling. You—”
“Don’t have that right anymore. Gotcha. Look, Scarlett, why don’t I walk you home. No-one’s going to come in today.”
Scarlett shook her head. “I’m good. I have stuff to catch up on, stock-checking, stuff like that. Thanks, though.”
Later that night, Olly shouldered his way into his apartment and flicked on the lights. He snagged a bottle of water from his refrigerator and opened the door onto the small balcony. The snow had finally stopped and now the night was calm, but still bitterly cold. The apartment overlooked the harbor and the ferry landing and he saw now that the last ferry of the day was waiting. He had thought the weather would stop the ferry service to the city, but no, he saw the lights of the ferry bobbing in the water.
He was surprised to see a familiar figure striding along the jetty. One of the Winter twins— he couldn’t tell which one—jogged up the gangway and disappeared into the ferry.
Where the hell are you going at this time of night?
Olly frowned and glanced at his watch. A quarter of twelve. Olly pondered for a moment and shrugged. No business of his what they got up to after hours. He drained the water bottle and headed inside. He showered and brushed his teeth and collapsed gratefully onto the bed.
In the morning, he woke to the news that another woman had been murdered in the city. As he watched the news briefing, a shock drilled th
rough him as they showed a photograph of the dead woman. She looked so much like Inca that it took his breath away. The victim was older than the others, an Indian-American woman in her early fifties who had been released from a mental health facility earlier that day. She had been stabbed to death like the others, but this time, a message was carved into her skin.
Police are not releasing the details of the message but say it could help them in the search for this vicious and merciless killer.
Olly felt sick, but not as sick as an hour later when Knox called him and in a flat voice told him that another girl had been found dead. He drove out to the site and saw the horrific scene. The body was frozen; the girl’s terror forever etched on her face; her clothes pulled up to reveal just what her killer had done to her as well as the carved message on her skin.
Olly looked at Knox and saw he was as shocked and horrified as he was. It was what Olly feared the most. The carved letters in pale skin.
Inca.
Inca drove home alone, despite Tommaso’s insistence that he should come with her. She had gently declined. “I have so much to do, Tommaso, to get back to work and find a new place. Thank you for everything.”
She’d been at the Winter home for two days before the weather had settled enough to return home, but she had to promise Tommaso she would keep the dress he had bought her and wear it to dinner that night. Smiling, she kissed him goodbye. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He slid his hands around her face. “I’ll miss you.”
She opened the door to the Sakura to find it busy and Nancy and Scarlett run off their feet. “I’ll be down in one minute,” she promised them before running upstairs to change.
“More like ten minutes,” Nancy grumbled when she returned, but she kissed Inca’s cheek. “How was your sojourn at the billionaire’s mansion?”
Inca rolled her eyes. “Very pleasant, thank you. We burned one hundred dollar notes for warmth and made the servants race naked in the snow so we could bet actual gold bullion on them.”
“Sarcastic minx.” Nancy tried not to grin. “Get to work.”
“Yes, boss.”
Apparently, the entire town of Willowbrook had been going stir crazy at home during the storm and they had all descended on the teahouse that day. Inca, Scarlett, and Nancy didn’t get a break all day, and when evening rolled around, they were all exhausted. As they were closing, Olly and Knox came in. Inca locked the door behind them. Both men looked shattered.
“What’s going on?”
Inca went to make them some hot sandwiches as they told the women about the new murder victim. Nancy watched them carefully. “There’s something else you’re not telling us.”
Olly sighed and Knox looked uncomfortable. “You all better sit down.”
The woman exchanged glances but sat down as requested. Olly took a deep breath in. “The body we found, and the one found in Seattle … both had been stabbed to death and then mutilated. A name had been carved into the dead women’s stomachs. A warning. A threat.”
“What name?”
Inca already felt a heavy dread settle over her as both Olly and Knox turned to her. “Just say it,” she said in a low voice and Olly nodded.
“I’m so sorry, Inca. Yes. It was your name.”
Inca put her head in her hands. Nancy looked shocked and sick. “Are you sure whoever it was, meant …?” She nodded towards her daughter. Olly patted her hand.
“No, we can’t be sure, of course. It’s just, with the ethnicity of the victims, and the location of the deaths, and the relative uniqueness of your name, Inks, especially in the county, we have to assume that it could be a death threat.”
Inca threw up her hands. “But, why? I don’t think I have any enemies.”
“Could be someone who’s fixated on you. Anyone could have come in here and seen you. Or maybe there’s someone from your past?”
Inca shook her head, silent, shocked. “I don’t think so.” But in the back of her mind, there was something, something she had never told anyone, not even Nancy. Something she had forced herself to forget.
Olly was studying her face. “Inks, you okay? Look, we’re going to be on this twenty-four seven until this guy is caught.”
“Who says it’s a guy?” Scarlett wondered. “What if it’s a girl?”
“Unlikely,” Knox said, and Scarlett scowled at him.
“A woman is just as able to …”
“Scarlett. We know it’s a man, okay? Just leave it at that.” For once, Knox was without his usual swagger; he just looked shell-shocked. Scarlett opened her mouth to argue, but then took pity on him, squeezing his hand.
“There’s something else.” Olly looked at Nancy and Inca. “The woman who was killed in Seattle … this one was different. She was older, a former mental health patient. Inca, her resemblance to you is undeniable. We would like to take a DNA sample from you to test against the dead woman.”
Nancy gave a distressed cry and Inca stared at Olly in horror. “What?”
He nodded. “I’m so sorry, Inca, but we have to investigate the possibility that the woman murdered in Seattle was your birth mother.”
Olly looked up as his sister Luna came into the police station balancing two cups of coffee. “Hey, haven’t seen you around for a while.”
Luna gave him one of the cups and sat down opposite him. “I’ve been staying in the city.”
“Okay.”
Luna was never very forthcoming about her movements and Olly couldn’t help feel concerned about his younger sister. She was the same age as Inca—twenty-eight—but somehow seemed so much younger. Her dark blue eyes and black hair made her stand out in a crowd, but Luna always seemed to be trying to avoid any interaction with her peer group. Only Inca had ever broken through Luna’s high walls, and now that she and Olly were no longer a couple, Luna seemed to be backsliding. It bugged Olly.
“Thanks for the coffee. You go see Inca?”
Luna shrugged. “She’s out to dinner with the billionaire, apparently.”
Olly grinned at his sister. “Don’t be judgy. You know Inca’s not a gold-digger. Why are you taking our split out on her? I’m the one who instigated it.”
Luna sighed. “Then you’re the idiot.”
“Sweets, we couldn’t have stayed together just for you, you know.”
“Don’t be patronizing; that’s not why I’m pissed.”
“Then, why?”
“Because she’s the best thing that ever happened to this family and you blew it.”
Olly blinked, surprised at the venom in Luna’s voice. “Wow.”
She relented. “Sorry, just keeping it real.”
“Luna … God. What the hell? Luna, I think you need to get used to the fact that Inca and I are not together. I have Molly; she has Tommaso Winter; but we both still love you.”
Luna rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You met the billionaire?”
“No, actually.”
Luna gave him a sly grin. “Scarlett told me Inca’s bringing him back to the Sakura later. Wanna go check the rich guy out?”
Olly glanced around the empty office. “Knox?”
His deputy poked his head out of another door. “Yep?”
“You good here? Okay if I step out for a time?”
“Go for it, boss.”
Olly stood and hitched his pants up. “Right. Time for a little stakeout.” He winked at Luna and together they crossed the street to the Varsity.
Inca and Tommaso were just leaving Levi’s restaurant. Tommaso had his hand on her back. Olly stopped. He couldn’t breathe for a moment.
“Wow.”
Luna pulled him into the coffee shop. Olly, walking backwards, collided with a table just as Inca came in. She grinned at him. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. The pale pink against her golden skin was luminous; the lights of the teahouse glinting off the beads threw tiny strands of light onto her face, into her eyes. Tommaso walked in behind her, a proud look on his face.
“Hey dude.” Inca touched Olly’s arm, breaking the spell. She walked behind the counter and grabbed the coffee pot. She filled three mugs and passed one to each of them. She grabbed a soda from the cooler for herself.
“Wow.” Olly repeated and she flushed. Tommaso sat down at the counter. Olly eyed him and nodded at Inca.
“That’s a nice dress.”
Tommaso bowed his head. “Just a little token of my esteem.”
“Uh-huh.” Olly suddenly didn’t like this guy; he was way too confident.
Tommaso smiled. “Chief Rosenbaum, I feel I haven’t had the chance to get to know you properly.”
He offered his hand and, after a hesitation, Olly shook it. Inca beamed.
“I don’t want to offend you, Tommaso, but I’m just going to go out back and change. I’m terrified of spilling coffee on this dress.”
She gave them both a smile and disappeared. Scarlett went to clear the tables and close the door. Luna sat in silence. Olly couldn’t resist.
“Personal. A dress.”
Tommaso nodded. “That’s what Inca said. Perhaps it was inappropriate.”
Olly was taken aback by the other man’s admission. He thawed a little.
“How long do you think you’ll be staying?”
Tommaso smiled. “At the moment, we have no plans to leave. Plenty of time to get to know everyone.”
Olly nodded. “Sure.”
Tommaso leaned over and refilled his coffee. He offered the pot to Olly, who shook his head. Tommaso looked at the other man.
“Perhaps you and … Molly, is it, would like to join us for dinner one night?”
Olly felt his conciliatory mood disappear at Tommaso’s proprietary tone. He stood up. “Uh-huh.” He knocked on the backroom door. “Inks, I’m going now.”
Tommaso smirked into his mug and Olly gave him a withering look. Inca poked her head out of the door.
“Okay, night, then.”
Olly touched her face and smiled. “Night, darlin’.”
He walked towards the door.
“Goodnight, Chief.”
Olly nodded at Tommaso, curt and annoyed. He waved to his sister and went out into the night.
Winter Page 5