“Tell him all about it, Lucia,” Ryan said softly, and he crossed his arms over his chest, waiting.
CHAPTER 7
The older officer was the one to speak first. “Ryan, you say you’ve got a body?”
Ryan shrugged and turned toward Lucia. “Lucia, this is Sergeant Mahoney. Sergeant, Ms. Lucia Lorenzo. She saw the body. I called in for her.”
The sergeant’s eyes fell on her accusingly. “A body, huh? Where is it?”
Lucia stiffened and indicated the beach. “It was there. It’s gone now.”
“Uh-huh.”
Her temper flared. “Sergeant, I’m telling you the truth. There was a body on the beach.”
“Lady, I’ll bet there were a lot of bodies out on that beach today. Good weather draws them.”
“A dead body, sergeant.”
His partner came up behind him. He was a young officer, really young, without a single line on his face. He stared at Lucia in fascination and smiled shyly. “Don’t worry, ma’am,” he said. “Lots of people kind of look dead, but then you know that they’re alive ’cuz they just get up and walk away.”
“Look,” Lucia snapped furiously, “I am not a fool—”
“Ms. Lorenzo,” Sergeant Mahoney drawled, “just how many dead bodies have you found in your lifetime?”
“None. I mean one. The one that I found—”
“And would you happen to know who the dead man was?” Sergeant Mahoney asked.
Lucia opened her mouth quickly, then closed it slowly. It was gone. The body was gone. Maybe she had been crazy. Maybe Lopez hadn’t been dead at all, and maybe he had picked himself up and walked away before the tide came in.
Maybe the tide had washed him away.
Whatever had happened, wasn’t it for the best? What if someone in her family had murdered Lopez?
No. None of them was a murderer! All right, what if one of them had accidentally killed Lopez? That sounded better. In self-defense. Lopez had put him or her into a life-threatening situation, and he or she had responded….
It couldn’t have happened. It just couldn’t have happened. But still, the body was gone. The tide was in, and the body was gone. It made no sense whatsoever to give the police a name for a body that didn’t exist.
She looked up. Ryan was staring at her, his eyes narrowed. He hadn’t offered the sergeant a name, either.
The members of her family hadn’t been the only ones arguing with Gino Lopez. In fact, the actual death threats had passed between Ryan and Lopez. Ryan, who was staring at her, who was keeping his mouth shut, who was watching her, waiting for her lead.
Sergeant Mahoney was staring at her, too, as was his young partner. Her tongue seemed to grow thick in her mouth. She had never lied to the police before. She’d never had any occasion to do so. She couldn’t seem to bring herself to do so now.
Ryan spoke up at last. “I don’t think Ms. Lorenzo spent time inspecting the body for any identity, sergeant.”
Sergeant Mahoney lifted one brow doubtfully. “Ms. Lorenzo, are you sure that there was a body—a dead body—on the beach?”
Yes, she was sure. Damn sure. But if they wanted to doubt her, it would have to be their problem. “There was a body there. But the tide has come in since I saw it.”
“Perhaps you gentlemen could watch for a body washing back up on shore over the next few days.”
“Sure, Ryan, we’ll do that,” the sergeant said. He was still looking at Lucia as if she were slightly addled. Even the younger officer, who had stared at her so flatteringly, seemed to doubt her sanity.
The sergeant shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Lorenzo.” Lucia was certain that he actually winked at Ryan. “And we’ll keep our eyes open, Ryan.”
“Thank you, sergeant. We’re sorry to have disturbed you, but we did think—”
“It’s our job to come out,” the sergeant interrupted. Lucia clenched her teeth. It had been her own decision not to push the point. “Good night,” the sergeant told them both.
“Good night,” his partner echoed. He flushed a furious shade of pink. “It was a pleasure, Ms. Lorenzo.”
Lucia smiled. “Likewise, officer, I’m sure.”
The two policemen walked away. Neither Ryan nor Lucia spoke until the two men had climbed into their patrol car and driven out of the parking lot.
“Why didn’t you tell them the identity of your corpse?” Ryan asked Lucia.
“Why didn’t you?”
“I asked you first.”
“I didn’t tell them because you didn’t tell them. You seemed to have some reason for not wanting to.”
“Lucia, I never even saw a corpse.”
“Oh! So you think I’m imagining things, too!”
Ryan turned around and leaned over the wall, looking down into the water. “The tide is high, but I’m not sure that it would have been strong enough to carry away the body of a full-grown man.”
“Ryan, I’m telling you—”
“All right, all right.”
“You still don’t believe me!”
“Lucia, I believe that you believe you.”
“What does that mean?” He sighed, and Lucia’s temper flared. “Ryan, I asked you—what does that mean?”
“I mean that I’m certain you’re convinced that you stumbled onto Gino Lopez, and that he was dead. But…”
“But?”
“Well, Lucia, it’s true, you don’t deal with corpses on a daily basis. Maybe it was Lopez, but maybe he was just sleeping, and when you came tearing up to my apartment, maybe he woke up and saw that the tide was coming and walked away.”
She locked her jaw, staring at him. “Good night, Mr. Dandridge,” she said stiffly. Squaring her shoulders she turned to walk away, but he caught her elbow, spinning her back.
“Good night?”
“That’s what I said. And I didn’t just think that I said it, I really did!”
“Amusing, Lucia, but—”
“The whole thing is just hysterical.”
“Is it?” He held her arm tightly, watching her eyes. “You know, you never did answer my question. Why didn’t you tell Sergeant Mahoney that the man you found was Gino Lopez?”
“Because…” She hesitated, lowering her eyes. She couldn’t admit to him that she was afraid—just a little bit—that someone in her family might have been pushed to a point where they might have been responsible for the man’s demise. She couldn’t do it. She didn’t really believe it, so she couldn’t possibly say it.
On the other hand, Ryan could be as guilty as any member of her family….
“What difference did it make? They thought I was crazy. Why give them a name?”
“Is that the real reason?”
“This whole thing has been absurd. Of course it’s the real reason. They didn’t believe me, so why bother to go on? Now, if you don’t mind…”
He shook his head. “I do mind.”
Lucia stared down at her arm where he held her; then she stared into his eyes. Sometimes it just seemed so incredible that he was back in her life. But for such a short span of time…
“What?” she murmured.
“Where are you going?”
“To my room. To take a shower.”
“And then?”
“What do you mean, and then?” Lucia asked carefully.
He smiled. It was the smile that had snared her from the very first. It was a satyr’s smile, wicked and sensual, but it was warm, too, and filled with charm. “I’d like to ask you, Ms. Lorenzo, to have dinner with me.”
“Dinner?”
“Dinner. It’s a meal people eat at night.”
“You’re inviting me out? On a date?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing. Everything. Oh, Ryan, I don’t know.”
“My apartment. I’ll cook. No, we’ll cook.”
“I—I don’t know, Ryan. This doesn’t seem right. I am telling you the truth. I found a body—”
&nb
sp; “Lucia, what can we do? It’s gone now.”
“You still don’t believe me, and you think that I should come for dinner?”
“I do believe you.”
“You lie like a rug.”
“Lucia, I am not lying to you.”
She hesitated, staring into his eyes. She had waited for him all day; she had longed to see him. Last night had been a fantasy, and she wasn’t sure that she could deny herself the opportunity to let the fantasy continue. She was still in love with him. With distance she could bear the separation. When they were in the same building, she simply couldn’t.
“Do you really think that’s such a good idea?” she murmured.
“I’m not thinking at all, Lucia. I’m asking you to be with me tonight.”
“For dinner.”
He shrugged and smiled again. “For dinner. And… whatever.”
She had to smile in return. “I’ll be up in an hour. Does that give you enough time?”
“An hour is perfect.” He released her arm at last. She smiled vaguely; then her smile faded and she turned and headed for the elevator. He didn’t follow her, but she felt his eyes on her. His gaze warmed her, and she suddenly felt a sweet trembling excitement racing through her. She didn’t want to think, either. She just wanted this night. She wanted to bathe luxuriously and dress up and sip wine with him while they puttered around together in the kitchen. She wanted to eat by candlelight, listening to soft music, and she wanted to lie in his arms, and she was incredibly excited, knowing that the evening could end with the two of them making love.
It would all end soon enough. She didn’t want to think. Tonight she just wanted to laugh, to feel.
The elevator brought her to the second floor, and she wandered toward her own door. Dina opened it. “Hey, there you are. Are you coming out to dinner with us tonight?”
“No.”
“No? Lucia, now come on. You can’t sit around by yourself every night.”
“I’m not going to sit around by myself.”
“Well, then?”
Lucia smiled sweetly. “I’ve got a date.”
“A date?”
“A date.”
Lucia went into her own bedroom. Dina followed. “A date?”
“A date.”
“With Ryan Dandridge?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh!” Dina sat on the foot of the bed.
“You—you don’t mind, do you?” Lucia asked, suddenly worried.
Dina laughed. “Mind? Not at all. There always did seem to be something between you two. And I’m a family-oriented woman. If I can’t have the man myself, I’ll gladly see him with you. Wow. I am so glad!” She jumped up and kissed Lucia on both cheeks.
“Dina, I’m having dinner with him. I’m not marrying him or anything.”
“Why not?” Dina teased.
Lucia reached into her closet for the dress she intended to wear and laid it out on the bed. “Ryan? Ryan doesn’t want to settle down. He’s not a commitment-type person.”
“How do you know?”
“He told me so.”
“All that—when he’s just asked you out for a first date?”
“Dina…”
Dina stood up, stretching, then wagged a finger at Lucia. “There’s more here than meets the eye, little cousin. But I’ll let you off the hook tonight if—and only if—I get to hear all about it tomorrow.”
“Sure.”
“All about it. I want the juicy parts, too.”
“Dina!”
“I’m leaving. If all else fails, we’ll be at the smorgasbord, then at the hotel for drinks and dancing. And if he gets fresh, the aunts and uncles are all going to be playing whist at Mom’s apartment.”
“Is that a reminder or a warning?”
“It’s whatever you want it to be!” Dina laughed. She winked, and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Lucia nibbled at her lower lip, then smiled. She wasn’t going to worry about tomorrow. Not tonight.
She walked into the bathroom, peeling off her wet suit as she went, and decided to sink into the tub. A half an hour there, and a half an hour to dry her hair and primp. She was determined that it was going to be a very slow and luxurious evening.
* * *
In his penthouse apartment Ryan rummaged through the refrigerator and freezer, tossed a head of lettuce on the counter, Idaho potatoes in the oven and two New York strip steaks in the microwave to defrost. Then he glanced at his watch and determined that he had given Sergeant Mahoney and his young partner plenty of time to return to the station.
He picked up the phone and sat with it on the couch. First he dialed the number of the hotel where Lopez had been staying. He asked for the man’s room, and a male voice answered the phone.
“Is Gino there, please?” Ryan asked.
There was a slight hesitation. “No, I’m afraid he’s out right now. May I help you?”
“Is this Ron?”
“Yes, who’s this?”
“Ryan Dandridge. Your father came by to see me today. I’ve changed my mind about something. If he comes in, will you have him call me?”
“Sure. But you know him. I have no idea where he went, or when he’ll be back.”
“Right. But when he does come back, have him call me.”
“Sure.”
Ryan hung up. He hesitated a minute, then dialed the police station. Mahoney was back, and he came on the line.
“Joe, it’s Ryan.”
Joe Mahoney didn’t answer right away. “What, more bodies?”
“Joe, this is serious.”
“All right. Shoot.”
“I just want you to take this seriously.” He hesitated. “Lucia thinks she saw a man named Gino Lopez.”
“So? Who’s he?”
“Well, up in Boston he has a record longer than Pinnochio’s nose. Loan shark, petty crook. He’s been linked to a few mysterious disappearances and the like.”
“Sounds like he’d be a suspect, not a victim.”
“Yes, but men like that make enemies.”
“Do you think that woman really saw him dead?”
“She isn’t the hysterical type, Joe. Yes, if she thinks she saw him, I think it might be true. And he does sound like suspect material. But if he is dead…”
“Maybe the old geezer just went from a heart attack or something like that.”
“Maybe. But I’m still feeling a little bit wary. Will you keep your eyes and ears open?”
“Sure. Can you give me anything else to go on?”
“Yes. He came down here with his son, Ron. You might want to check with the man and see if he knows anything about his father. I tried calling Gino, and Ron answered.”
“You know this supposed corpse fairly well, then?”
“A lot of people know him fairly well. But not as a friend. Gino would have sold his own folks for profit.” Ryan glanced at his watch. He wanted to shower and straighten up the place and set out some candles and open the wine so it could breathe. He wasn’t sure why he had called Joe. He still didn’t know whether or not he believed that Lucia had seen Gino dead. She’d probably seen him in a heavy sleep. But just in case he had been dead…
There was just a nagging suspicion that disturbed him. If Gino was dead, he might have been killed. And if someone had killed Gino and he or she thought that Lucia had seen him, it might be dangerous for Lucia. He just felt a little safer, talking to the police. Joe Mahoney was a good cop. He might have doubted Lucia’s story at first, but if there was even an inkling of truth to it, then Joe would run it down.
“Joe, I’ve got to run.”
“Hot date, huh?”
“Something like that.”
“She’s a beauty.”
“Yes, she is.”
“All your women are beautiful.”
Ryan put the receiver away from his ear and stared at it with annoyance. “All my women?”
“Sure. Well, I’ll get right on this, R
yan. I’ll keep my eyes peeled, and I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”
“Thanks, Joe.”
Ryan hung up the phone, but he stayed on the couch, frowning. Joe’s words had disturbed him. And they weren’t true.
Maybe they had been true—once. He had always thought of himself as a fairly even dealer. He didn’t make promises. He hadn’t ever been ready to settle down, and it seemed to him that a broken promise was a lot worse than one that had never been given. At first there had just been too much work. He’d worked construction by day to get himself through college by night. That was when he had fallen in love with architecture and building. There was something satisfying about working with his hands, but it was even more exciting to have a vision and see it through to completion. It hadn’t been easy at the beginning. No one had wanted to lend money to a poor kid right out of college.
That, he reminded himself dryly, was how he had first met Gino Lopez. The banks hadn’t wanted anything to do with Ryan, and he had heard through a friend that he could borrow from a nice guy named Gino. The interest rate had been exorbitant, but Ryan had been filled with confidence.
He had paid Gino back, too. But a year later, Gino had started asking him for “favors.” Just little things. Once it had been a nephew who had needed a job. The kid had seemed okay, and Ryan had hired him. But then he had discovered him up on a steel beam, high as a kite on cocaine. Ryan had fired him on the spot, warning him that he had a problem he had to solve.
He hadn’t minded trying to give a hand to Gino—Gino had given him a loan when no one else would. But he didn’t owe Gino any shady deals. He was friends with most of the code inspectors in the city of Boston—but he was friends on an honest level. Gino had been threatening him now because one of the big new hotels that Gino had invested heavily in was about to be closed down for faulty construction.
The damn thing should be closed down, Ryan thought. It was an accident waiting to happen. Half the support beams in the place hadn’t even been set to specifications. Ryan had told Gino so, but Gino just didn’t give a damn. He was a dollars-and-cents man, and that was the final line. Gino Lopez wouldn’t have cared if a whole floor had gone down, killing a hundred people.
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