"Like a fungus," they said simultaneously, then laughed.
Danni grew serious and split the papers into two piles. She handed Nick one. "Look for luxury, high-end vehicles. When you find one, jot down the date and address of where it was stolen." She pushed a pad of paper and a pen at him.
Nick nodded and set his empty coffee cup aside. An hour and a half later, Danni and Nick stacked six months of scrutinized auto theft records in the middle of the desk. Danni had compiled a list of twenty-seven. Glancing at Nick's amazingly neat handwriting, she noticed he had almost as many.
Nick rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. "I never realized how many cars were stolen each day."
"It's a national pastime," Danni said absently. "Our next step is to figure out if there's any pattern as to when and where they were stolen."
Nick sighed, but bravely began reading off addresses so Danni could enter them in her computer. Forty-five minutes later, two facts became evident.
"Most of them were stolen from their homes, and they were stolen at night," Danni said.
"Isn't that common?"
Danni picked up a paper clip and straightened it. "It's more common for automobiles to be taken from public places, like mall parking lots or parking garages. It's usually too difficult for a thief to sneak into a neighborhood— especially an upscale one—to steal a car from the owner's garage."
"So this tells us what?"
Danni tossed aside the ruined paper clip and picked up a new one. "One, that the thieves knew the addresses of their targets, which means they were either under surveillance or somebody tipped them off. Two, they knew how to bypass the security systems."
"How do we know the victims had security systems?"
"Because anyone who has money for expensive toys also has a security system these days."
Nick grunted. "I'll buy that. Is there a three?"
Danni dropped yet another straightened paper clip on her blotter. "Not yet. I think this is where we need Alex's help." As if on cue, the intercom buzzed. "Yes?"
"Alex Levin on line two," Cathy announced.
Danni arched an eyebrow in Nick's direction, then punched the blinking light on her phone. "Thanks for calling back, Alex."
She went on to explain the favor she needed. Her friend was more than willing to help, and since he was at a terminal, she started feeding him the information.
Half an hour later, her hand was cramped from writing, but from the twelve thefts Alex had called up on his computer, one thing became glaringly obvious. She looked at Nick's anxious expression and gave him a thumbs-up. But before she ended the call with Alex, she had one more question for her friend.
"Last night, I got the first three letters of the license of the person who broke into my truck. Detective Rearden is running the list, but there's one person I'd like to check. Could you punch Paul Gilsen's name into Motor Vehicles and take a look at his plate number?"
Alex grumbled, but she could hear his fingers tapping unevenly on a keyboard.
"What're you doing?" Nick asked quietly. "If he and Gilsen are in this together, you've just tipped them off."
Danni covered the phone and opened her mouth, but closed it abruptly when Alex spoke.
"Looks like he has only one car—a 2002 silver Audi." The policeman spoke in a low voice, like he didn't want anyone to overhear him. "Number is Edward, Charles, Union, three, nine, two."
Danni's heart hammered against her ribs, but she kept her voice even. "Thanks, Alex. I really appreciate this."
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Alex asked.
"Sorry. Too soon. Once we've got our ducks in a row, I'll explain. Honest."
"Just don't get your ducks shot off."
Danni smiled. "We'll be careful. Thanks again."
After exchanging farewells, Danni ended the call and gave Nick her undivided attention. "There wasn't enough time to check on all the thefts, but out of the dozen he pulled up, eleven of the cars were taken when the owners were on vacation."
Nick tilted his head. "How did the thieves know they were out of town?"
"Exactly," Danni said as excitement thrummed through her. "Someone involved in the ring must have some connection to a security firm—or firms—which would make sense since at least one of the thieves would have to know how to bypass the system." She paused as another possibility struck her, and her enthusiasm wilted. "Or they have someone within the department feeding them the information."
"How—"
"People often inform the police when they'll be out of town. When I was on patrol, we'd make sure to check on those places at least a couple of times each shift." She brightened as she thought of another possibility. "People stop their mail and newspapers when they go on vacation. What about someone from one of those places passing on information?"
"Not very likely. My money's on a dirty cop," Nick said quietly.
Although she was no longer a police officer, she felt a loyalty toward her former brothers in blue. However, her gut was agreeing with Nick. More than likely, some cop was taking bribes for giving the ringleader the dates and addresses of vacationers.
And now she was fairly certain who that ringleader was.
"Care to guess what letters Paul Gilsen's license plate starts with?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
Nick didn't look pleased; he'd obviously figured that one out. "It'd be easy enough for him to make contact with different cops at the center," he said. "Feel them out. Find out which ones might be open to a little graft."
Danni sighed. As far as she was concerned, her gut instinct about Gilsen had been validated by the matching partial plate. However, she didn't enjoy hurting Nick. "I'm sorry. I know you and Paul were friends."
"A long time ago. I guess he didn't escape the neighborhood after all." He glanced at his watch, his face an expressionless mask. "It's three-thirty. I have to go back to the house to let Gus out."
"We should change for dinner, too." Danni gathered their notes and the printouts and slid them into a large envelope.
Nick picked up Danni's backpack and slung it over a muscled shoulder, while Danni carried the papers.
Cathy was busy on the telephone again and merely waved as they left.
When they arrived at Paddy's twenty minutes later, Danni scanned the neighborhood with a practiced eye but saw nothing that roused her suspicions. Nick let Gus out in the backyard while Danni checked the answering machine for messages and found the light blinking.
"Danni, it's Karen. I heard you and Nick were staying at Paddy's. I just wanted to tell you how much I respected your father. He taught me a lot about being a police officer. He also talked my ear off about you." Quiet laughter. "I really hope you can drop by Hennessy's later. I know your dad will be there in spirit."
"Who was that?" Nick asked as he and Gus came in the back door of the kitchen.
"Karen Crandle, just reminding us to stop by Hennessy's."
Nick leaned against the counter and crossed his arms, while Gus went to sit by Danni's feet. "What do you want to do?"
As she considered his question, Danni unwrapped the second burger she'd gotten for lunch and squatted down by Gus. She tore a chunk off the cold sandwich, and the dog took it from her fingers. "She was Dad's partner."
Nick nodded but didn't speak. It seemed he was conceding this decision to her, just as she'd given him the choice to trust Alex Levin earlier.
Danni gave Gus another piece of the burger. "It wouldn't hurt to drop by on the way to Sam's."
"And maybe Paul Gilsen will be there."
"Do they know each other?"
"They both volunteer at the center."
Duh. If Danni didn't have a mangled burger in her hands, she would've struck her forehead in exasperation. "We might be able to ask him some questions. He'll be less likely to try anything in a bar surrounded by cops."
Nick glanced down at his feet. "You didn't ask Levin why he lied to us last night."
It took Danni a
moment to recall what he meant. She fed another piece of hamburger to Gus before speaking. "About seeing Gary in the computer room?"
He met her gaze steadily. "Yes."
Danni forced herself to hold his gaze. "If he's at the party, I'll ask him then."
Nick's attention shifted to Gus, who was staring at the remains of the burger in Danni's hand. "Go easy on that, Gus. We're going to be gone a few hours this evening."
Danni looked at the dog, who stared at them with pleading, liquid brown eyes. "Don't turn those baby browns in my direction—beam them at your master."
Gus let out a short bark, then nosed Danni's hand.
"All right. Just one more," Danni said. She fed her the last chunk of meat, then tossed the wrapper and the remnants of the limp bun in the garbage.
"You may have a mess to clean up when we get back tonight," Nick warned.
"She's your dog."
"You're the one who gave her the burger."
"But she's your dog." She glanced at the ugly teapot-shaped clock above the stove. "We'd better get ready if we want to stop at Hennessy's first." Suddenly feeling more lighthearted than she had in some time, Danni charged out of the kitchen, hollering, "First dibs on the shower."
Five minutes later, Danni felt a cool breeze as the shower curtain was pushed aside and Nick joined her beneath the steaming spray. Muscled arms wound around her waist from behind, and she leaned into his welcome warmth.
She tipped her head back against his shoulder and gazed up at his sinfully sexy smile. "Is that your rifle, soldier, or are you just glad to see me?"
He nuzzled her ear with his nose and whispered, "This rifle's locked and loaded, baby."
Laughing, Danni turned within his embrace and put her arms around his neck. "Fire at will, soldier."
"Yes, ma'am."
Nick then proceeded to earn his sharpshooter's badge.
Danni shifted on the passenger seat of Nick's Jeep, her body still humming with lingering pleasure. Shower sex wasn't new, but shower lovemaking definitely was a novel—and fulfilling—experience.
Nick glanced at her, a knowing grin on his freshly shaven face. "Something wrong?"
Danni searched for a snappy comeback, but her body and brain were too content to dredge up a sarcastic retort. "Not a thing, unless having this strange urge to shower again is wrong."
He chuckled and reached over to clasp her hand, which rested on her thigh. "It must be contagious; I've got the same urge."
"We're both out of luck. No urges satisfied until we get back to the house."
"Is that a threat?"
"A promise."
Nick's gaze fastened on her lips, and his eyes smoldered.
Danni glanced out the windshield to see the curb growing closer. "The road, Nick."
He jerked his attention back to driving and smiled sheepishly. "Drive. Now. Urges. Later."
Danni's cheeks warmed, and she lowered her window to breathe in the cool, damp air. It took the remainder of the trip to Hennessy's to bring her body temperature down to normal.
After Nick found a parking place a block from the popular police hangout, he and Danni got out of the Jeep. Danni glanced at her backpack on the floor between the two seats.
"We'll only be there a few minutes," Nick said, obviously guessing her thoughts. "And I don't think we had a tail over here."
Danni granted him a quick smile. "How would you know? You barely kept us on the road."
In the late afternoon shadows, Nick's flush was barely perceptible. "I didn't see a light-colored sedan following us."
Danni took pity on him. "I didn't either. And nobody knows where we're parked." She shut the passenger door, leaving the backpack inside the SUV, and joined Nick on the sidewalk.
He took her hand in his, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Danni curled her fingers around his without a ripple of awkwardness. It felt... natural.
Hennessy's was as full as Danni had ever seen it. She paused just inside the door, frozen for a second by the deja vu of familiar faces and shoptalk. Phrases and tones sparked memories of coming here after work with her former partner Scott.
"Danni?"
Nick's gentle voice enticed her out of the past. She squeezed his hand, silently thanking him. He smiled down at her.
She allowed him to tug her through the crowd as she kept her face down, hoping no one would notice her. She hadn't even considered how difficult it would be, being around her former colleagues again.
"Danni?"
She glanced up at the sound of her name and spotted Joe Tygard directly in front of her. "Joe. How are you?"
He frowned. "Is that all I get after all this time—'How are you?'" The husky redhead picked her up and hugged her tightly. "Damn, it's good to see you again. Alex told me he's talked to you a few times this week."
"He answered some questions for me," Danni said, embarrassed. "I'm really sorry I haven't kept in touch, Joe. It's just..."
"I know. You, me, Alex, and Scott—the four musketeers. Nobody could stop us."
"Only a bullet." Danni's throat constricted as she remembered that night when she'd failed her partner. She blinked back moisture and suddenly became aware of Nick's scowl directed at Joe. "Joe Tygard, this is Nick Sirocco. Nick, Joe Tygard. We went to the Academy together."
Nick shook Joe's hand, the grip lasting longer than usual. She shook her head at the sterling example of male posturing.
"Tygard," Nick said.
"Sirocco," Joe said.
They finally ceased the arm wrestling contest.
"I didn't see you at Dad's funeral," Danni said to Joe.
"I was out of town with my fiancee. Visiting the future in-laws," Joe replied.
"I didn't know you were getting married."
Joe ducked his head as his face reddened. "Alex said I should call you."
She punched his arm. "You should've."
Joe surveyed Nick from head to toe. "So, this your latest?"
It was Danni's turn to flush. "Not exactly."
"Yes," Nick said a split second later.
She glared at Nick. "We're investigating Dad's death."
"I thought it was ruled a suicide," Joe said, puzzled.
"That's the official ruling, but we believe he was murdered." Danni paused. "Is Alex here tonight?"
Joe shook his head. "I saw him in the locker room before I came over here. He and Helen are going up to a B and B in Seattle for the weekend. They were leaving as soon as he got home."
Danni hid her trepidation. "Alex didn't mention that when I talked to him earlier."
"I'm not surprised. He told me it was Helen's idea. He wasn't too keen on it, but you know how Helen can get sometimes."
Danni did know how stubborn Helen could be.
"He'll be back Monday?" Nick asked.
"He said he would be. Anything I can help you with?"
Danni shook her head. "No, but thanks." She smiled. "It was good seeing you again, Joe. You'll have to introduce me to the future Mrs. Tygard."
"Maybe the four of us can go out together some evening."
"We'd like that," Nick said smoothly.
"Later, Danni," Joe said and disappeared into the crowd.
"So Levin skipped town," Nick said.
Despite her bad feeling, she couldn't help but defend her friend. "He went on a romantic getaway with his wife."
"Getaway. Appropriate word."
Uncomfortable with Nick's—and her own—misgivings, Danni clasped his hand and tugged him forward. "Let's find Karen, say our good-byes, then get out of here."
They found the tall blond standing in the center of a small circle of patrolmen. She spotted them immediately and excused herself from the group. Wearing hip-hugger black trousers with black chunky-heeled boots and a snug green knit top, she looked more like a college student than a cop. "I'm glad you two could make it."
Nick smiled. "I doubt you would've even missed us with this mob."
She donned a pout an
d put an arm around Nick's waist. "I'm hurt you'd think that."
Danni, smelling the liquor on the woman's breath, released Nick's hand and took a step back. How many times had Danni drunk too much here at Hennessy's with her coworkers? Scott had always made sure she made it home safely.
"We just wanted to wish you the best of luck in Denver," Danni said, suddenly wishing to escape the world that had once been hers.
"Thanks, Danni," Karen said warmly. She reached over to clasp Danni's hand. "I wish my dad was half as proud of me as yours was of you."
There was no mistaking the envy in Karen's voice, and Danni's breath stammered in her throat. "I never realized he talked about me so much."
Karen shook her head in tolerant amusement. "You were his favorite topic."
Nick smiled tenderly at Danni. "I keep telling her that, but she won't believe me."
Uncomfortable being the center of attention, Danni changed the topic. "Was Paul Gilsen going to drop by?"
Karen's brow furrowed. "Who?"
"Paul Gilsen. He volunteers at the center in the computer room," Nick explained.
"Is he the nice-looking, dark-haired man who supervises the computer room?" Nick nodded, and Karen continued, "I've seen him around, but didn't know his name. I doubt he'll be here. Why, are you looking for him?"
"We just want to ask him something," Danni replied, stifling her disappointment. "Good luck in Denver, Karen."
"Good luck to you, too, Danni." Karen hugged her, then Nick. "Good-bye."
With the awkward farewell behind them, Danni and Nick made for the exit. However, they were stopped half a dozen times by officers offering belated condolences to Danni for the loss of her father. Once on the sidewalk, Danni breathed deeply of the cool, fresh air.
"I don't want to go through that again," she murmured.
Nick shrugged. "It could've been worse."
"How's that?"
"They could've ignored you completely."
Danni wasn't so certain that would have been worse.
Chapter Nineteen
Because of their stop at Hennessy's, it was 6:15 when Nick pulled up to Sam's house.
He gazed at the home with its white siding, front porch with a glider swing, well-trimmed lawn, and fenced backyard. A sharp yearning pierced him. More than Paddy's, this house emanated warmth, coziness, and merry Christmases around a tree decorated with ornaments handed down from one generation to the next. All the things he'd never known.
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