Incognito

by Adrienne Giordano

  It wouldn’t be a hardship.

  “You gotta be kidding me,” he said.

  Lucie smacked the menu on the table. “Hey, I’m sorry. She’s my best friend. And I didn’t call Mattie a scammer. That was Ro.”

  “Blah, blah.” Ro waved a hand, her French manicure glowing in the sunlight. “Scammer or not, when do we meet her?”

  Tim shrugged. “Guessing soon since we’re all probably having dinner together.”

  Dinner. Oh no. Uncle Henry wanted to take them sightseeing and then to his favorite restaurant. Now they’d have four extra people and who knew if Uncle Henry would appreciate the, um…quirks…of Lucie’s family.

  “It better be someplace good,” Dad said. “I don’t eat in crummy restaurants.”

  “Speaking of Uncle Henry.” Tim pointed over Lucie’s shoulder.

  She angled back to see Henry striding toward them. Even in the midday heat, his long navy shorts and crisp white button-down appeared freshly pressed. Unrumpled, as usual.

  “Hello,” he said, reaching the table with a bright smile that showed off his tan. “You made friends already?”

  Ha. Friends.

  “Uncle Henry,” Tim said, “this is Joe and Theresa Rizzo. Lucie’s parents. And the maniac on the end is Roseanne, Lucie’s closest friend. She dates Lucie’s brother, Joey.” Tim jerked his thumb. “He’s in the pool.”

  Henry’s eyebrows hitched.

  Tim gave him a sarcastic smile. “And, no, we didn’t know they were coming.”

  “Huh.” Henry’s green eyes sparkled. “Isn’t that nice?”

  Hellos and handshakes were exchanged, and Lucie pointed to the empty chair beside her. “Sit, Henry. We’re ordering lunch.”

  “I can’t. Mattie just called. Her car broke down forty minutes from here and she needs a ride. I’m on my way to get her, but Aphrodite needs to be fed and walked again in an hour.”

  “We’ll do it,” Tim said a little too fast.

  Henry’s head snapped to him. “I hate to ask.”

  “You didn’t. I offered. Happy to help.”

  Now, he was laying it on thick. Tim was a good man, an exceptional one really, but this had nothing to do with his character. Walking Mattie’s dog meant access to her home. And if Lucie knew her inquisitive detective boyfriend, he might be snooping while they were inside.

  Still in her white swimsuit cover-up and smelling like coconuts, Lucie led Tim through Mattie’s front door. Aphrodite leaped up, throwing herself against Lucie and knocking her back a full step. Seeing the dog’s launch angle, Tim slid behind Lucie and kept her from going over.

  “Off.” Lucie put a little alpha, I’m-in-charge in the command, but the dog leaped again. “Why does that always work for Joey and not me?”

  “Uh, maybe because he’s more than a foot taller and weighs at least two-twenty?”

  Once Lucie was steady, Tim stepped around her, body blocking the dog and claiming the space enough that Aphrodite took the hint and sat. Territorial or not, the dog knew Tim had just elected himself pack leader.

  Showoff.

  Lucie grunted. “I’ll feed her.”

  Aphrodite trotted alongside her as Lucie entered the mudroom. After yesterday’s frenzy, she made sure not to mention the B word. Particularly since this was lunch.

  “While I feed her, grab the leash out of the cabinet near the sink. The one on the left.”

  “Is that where you found the envelope?”

  An iron fist gripped Lucie’s stomach. She’d known all along Tim wanted to snoop. Knowing it and hearing it were two different things.

  “Come on. Really? This is your uncle’s girlfriend. He loves her. You can’t rifle through the woman’s stuff.”

  “Sure I can. It’s not like I’m going to steal it. And, when you let someone into your house, you gotta know it’s a risk.”

  Oh, please. Nice try, detective. “I didn’t snoop the first time I was in your house.”

  Tim eyed her.

  “Well, not totally.”

  “Exactly. Now where’s the envelope?”

  Her man obviously wasn’t going to give up on this. Rather than have him look through every cabinet and really violate the woman’s privacy, she pointed. “The one on the right. Middle shelf. I don’t agree with this, Tim.”

  “Noted.” He opened the first cabinet, grabbed the leash and tossed it to her. “Walk the dog while I do my thing.”

  He slid on a pair of plastic gloves he’d swiped from the bartender at the pool and opened the cabinet. A second later, he’d snatched up the stack of envelopes and flipped through them. Unbelievable.

  “The fact that you’re wearing gloves is a good indicator you shouldn’t be doing this.”

  “You gonna tell?”

  She just might. “Whatever. Aphrodite and I will be gone about twenty minutes. If you get caught, you’re on your own.”

  “Once again, noted.”

  Aphrodite appeared in the mudroom doorway, spotted the leash, and pounced.

  “Down.” Lucie held her hand out just as the dog landed at her feet, swatting at her toes in some sort of excited dance. “Silly, girl.”

  She clipped the leash on and led Aphrodite out the front door, leaving Tim to his nefarious activities.

  Without question, he’d lost his mind. In the past, she may have been a wee bit obsessed with what Tim called her screwball investigations—dogjackings, restaurant fires, art fraud—but those were isolated incidents where she’d been accused of wrongdoing. Lucie had needed to prove her innocence. And she’d done it.

  This? This was nuts and completely unmotivated.

  Aphrodite stopped in front of the neighbor’s house. “I don’t know, Aphrodite. Something about your mom is off, but I don’t like invading her privacy.”

  The dog squirted on the tree, then peered up at Lucie, obviously hoping for recognition. Lucie gave her a vigorous rub behind the ears and added a nuzzle. “Good girl. You’re so smart.” This earned Lucie a lick or five. Apparently, Aphrodite had accepted her. She moved in for another nuzzle with a kicker of baby talk. “So sweet, you are. Yes, you are.”

  Ready to continue on, Aphrodite moved toward the next tree. Whoever leash trained this girl did a decent job. Not even a hint of pulling. Made walks so much more pleasant.

  The hum of a car engine lifted Lucie’s gaze to a black SUV cruising down the block. She recognized the front end as a Lincoln. One of the guys at Petey’s had the same model.

  Two men sat in the front seat. Were they staring at her? Did the driver just slow down? She’d already been dogjacked—several times—and was in no mood for that. She could also be paranoid. After the ninja bitches had been snatched, she tended to take the security of her clients to another level. One that rivaled Secret Service protection.

  “And me without my pepper spray.”

  She gripped the leash and Aphrodite’s ears went straight back.

  That fast, Lucie’s energy shot right through the leash and put her on edge. Dog trainers worldwide would be horrified. She exhaled, rolled her shoulders and loosened her grip.

  No tension, no tension, no tension.

  “We’re fine, girlfriend. Keep moving.”

  Lucie made eye contact with the man in the passenger seat. Dark slicked back hair, mid-thirties. Paranoid or not, at least she had a description. Something told her these guys were up to no good. Being a mob princess, she recognized suspicious behavior.

  The SUV passed, and Lucie glanced over her shoulder. Brake lights.

  “Oh no.”

  Aphrodite’s head whipped around. Damned energy. Breathe, breathe, breathe.

  The passenger door flew open and the dark-haired guy jumped out. Tall and broad-shouldered, he ran straight at her. Again? Seriously? Did she have a neon “dogjack me” sign over her head?

  Well, this guy could screw off. Pepper spray or not, she would not let him take this dog. No way.

  Run.

  Lucie dropped the leash and burst into a s
print. “Run, Aphrodite!”

  With the man’s longer legs, he’d catch Lucie in a heartbeat, but Aphrodite had a chance. A rock solid one. “Run, girl. Go!”

  Aphrodite shot off, her powerful legs creating enough distance that the man would never catch her. “Good girl.”

  Lucie pumped her legs, pushing hard, but…ach. A giant hand landed on her shoulder, pulling her back.

  “No! Help! Help! Aaaaahhhhh!”

  The piercing scream did nothing, zippo, for her. Jeez, who was this guy?

  Panic exploded, sending a blood rush that blurred Lucie’s vision. She broke free, started running, her feet slamming the pavement hard enough to jar her back. At least until two long arms locked around her from behind and lifted her off her feet.

  No, no, no.

  Arms trapped, she kicked downward, managing to connect with the guy’s shin.

  “Ow. Dammit,” he said. “Quit that and you won’t get hurt.”

  Sure. Right. As if she’d believe that.

  “Help! Someone! Please! Tim!”

  Seriously? What kind of neighborhood watch did these people have when a girl could get snatched right off the street.

  Not happening.

  Every self-defense tip she’d heard streamed through her mind. No second location. That was the biggie. If this guy got her into the car and took her somewhere, she’d most likely die.

  And Joe Rizzo’s kid wasn’t going out that way. Not on vacation.

  She kicked again. “Oh, someone’s getting hurt. But it won’t be me.”

  “Ow.”

  Kick, kick, kick. Damned flip-flops didn’t make for a great weapon, but she’d keep at it until her toes broke.

  Then she started screaming again, employing that high-pitched wail from childhood she’d use on Joey when he tormented her.

  That thing could summon wolves.

  The man dragged her toward the car and she kicked again. And again. Mattie’s neighbor, a beefy older guy in a T-shirt and shorts, opened his front door. Finally.

  She should be dead by now.

  Her relief came in a hard burst, but she kicked again. Just to show this joker who was in charge. Even if she was two feet off the ground.

  “Hey!” The neighbor bolted from his small porch. “Let her go. I just called 911.”

  Cops. Excellent.

  Suddenly, more people filed from their homes. One guy carried a baseball bat. It reminded Lucie of the ones Joey and Dad kept in their trunks.

  “Lucie!”

  Tim’s voice. Oh, thank God. The guy held on, dragging her toward the SUV, so she kicked again.

  “Ow! Stop that.”

  “Whatever, dude. You’re going down.”

  More shouts came from people suddenly filling the street and…wait. What was that? Music.

  O Sole Mio.

  “We’re coming, Luce!”

  Oh. My. God.

  Lucie wrenched her head around, peering down the block. Three houses away the Escalade golf cart carrying Ro, Dad, and Joey closed in.

  Fast.

  From behind the wheel, Ro hit the horn again, unfurling another chorus of O Sole Mio. She’d already changed the damned horn since the pool.

  “Baby girl,” Dad shouted.

  With the golf cart still in motion, Joey hopped off, his big body moving easily into a run toward her.

  “Now you’re screwed,” Lucie said. “That’s my brother. He’s a maniac.”

  “Get your hands off my sister!”

  Joey drew closer, looming large. Who knew, with his size, he could move that fast?

  The guy tossed her. Just hurled her in Joey’s path. She crumpled to the ground, her knees taking the brunt of the sidewalk. Ach. That hurt. They’d be a mess now. On vacation. When she’d planned on wearing shorts and dresses.

  Dirty. Bastard.

  But Joey. Yikes. Roaring straight at her too fast to avoid a collision.

  “Whoa.” She rolled sideways, clearing the way before he leaped over her. “Jerk,” she yelled at the SUV guy.

  Ooh, she hoped she bruised him for a month.

  The passenger door of the SUV flew open and he hopped in. He looked back at her and pointed. “Tell your mother Paul knows where she is.”

  My mother? What did she have to do with anything?”

  Lord, if this was another Butcher Bob deal, Lucie would lose any sanity she had left. Her not-so-saintly mother could be forgiven for one transgression. Two was pushing it.

  Then they were gone, roaring down the street. Tim, coming from that direction, ran straight at it, but the driver sped up.

  Lucie scrambled to her feet. “Tim! No! Out of the—”

  The vehicle whipped to the left, swerving into the wrong lane, barely missing him. Tim reached for the handle, but slipped and stumbled, giving the driver a second to hit the gas.

  Joey rattled off some numbers and letters, then repeated it as he typed something into his phone. “Got it.”

  License plate. Please, let it be.

  Ro zoomed up, hitting the brake on the golf cart so hard Dad flew forward in his seat, coming halfway out before grabbing the roof rail to stop his momentum.

  “Whoa,” Dad said. “Are you nuts or what?”

  Joey flapped his arms. “Roseanne! You nearly killed him.”

  “Well,” she said, “I was trying to save your sister. Besides there should be seat belts in these damned things.”

  Tim ran to Lucie, throwing his arms around her, squeezing tight. “Luce, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you. I’m so sorry.”

  She let out a hard breath. “I’m okay,” she said.

  He rested his chin on top of her head then kissed the spot. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. They just drove up and I thought they were trying to steal Aphrodite.”

  Tim scanned the area. “Where is she? Did they get her?”

  “No. I sent her running off.”

  “On it,” the neighbor said. “We’ll put the word out. The community patrol will pick her up.” He turned and threw his arms wide. “Everyone fan out. Find that dog!”

  The residents retreated. Some on foot, a few in carts, others in cars in search of Aphrodite.

  Lucie backed away from Tim, but needing his solid presence, stayed hooked under his arm. She faced her family. “Where’s Mom?”

  “Still at the pool,” Joey said. “She’s reading. We figured we’d drive over and give you a lift back. Who the hell was that guy?”

  “I have no idea. He said to tell Mom that Paul knows where she is.”

  Joey turned to Dad. “Paul? Who’s that?”

  “I don’t know. But we’re gonna find out right now.” Dad whipped out his phone, held it a full arm’s length away. “Jesus Christmas, I forgot my glasses.” He handed it to Joey. “Call her.”

  Shaking his head, Joey tapped the screen and held the phone in front of him. Two rings in, Mom picked up the call.

  “What is it?” she asked, by way of greeting.

  “It’s me. Joey.”

  As if the woman who called her only son “my sweet boy”—gag—wouldn’t know his voice?

  “Joseph, why are you calling on your father’s phone? What happened now?”

  Poor Mom. When it came to Dad, there was always something.

  “Forget that. Do you know someone named Paul?”

  “Paul? Well, there’s the one who owns the deli on Franklin Avenue. The Patrones. Nicest people in the world. They always give me free pickles.”

  Probably because of Dad’s reputation. Let’s keep the mob boss happy by giving his wife free food.

  In the distance, a siren sounded. Had to be the cops the neighbor had called. “Uh,” Lucie said, “I’m guessing it’s not the Patrones.”

  “What is she talking about? You know, all I wanted was a few days of peace.”

  “Hey! It’s not my fault.”

  “Boo-hoo,” Joey said. “Someone just tried to snatch her.”

  Three seconds of silence e
nsued while Mom processed what Joey said. Any second now she’d fly into her motherly concern and pepper her with questions. Might as well head that off.

  “I’m fine. But the guy said to tell my mother Paul knows where she is.”

  “I have no idea what that means.” Mom gasped. “What if it’s mistaken identity? I see that all the time on the crime shows. Next thing you know, someone is dead. D-E-A-D.”

  Lucie rolled her eyes at Tim, but he was too busy staring at the phone, thinking face firmly in place.

  Please. He couldn’t be buying into this.

  “She might not be far off,” he said.

  Lucie grunted, only to have him hold out a hand. “You were walking in the neighborhood. Maybe they thought you were someone else.”

  “I don’t like it,” Dad said. “This Mattie. It was her dog. Does she have a daughter?”

  Mattie as the target? The thought might put an already suspicious red-haired detective over the edge.

  Lucie patted air. Time to quiet the crazies. “Hold on there, Dad. Let’s not make assumptions. We don’t need conspiracy theories. Besides, Mattie doesn’t have kids.”

  Ro clucked her tongue. “She could be lying.”

  And another one. So much for calming the crazies.

  A patrol car with lights and sirens at full blast screeched around the corner. Took them long enough. If they’d relied on Paradise City’s finest, she’d be a corpse by now.

  “Okay,” Tim said. “Everyone stay quiet. Let me do the talking. Please.”

  Ha. Good luck there. He’d been to this rodeo before. He knew the havoc this crew could create.

  The cruiser came to a stop and a middle-aged cop slid out. Before he got too close, Tim raised a hand. “I’m Tim O’Brien. Chicago PD. I’m down here visiting my uncle. I don’t have my creds on me. We were at the pool.”

  The cop eyed them, stealing a glance at everyone’s hands. No weapons here, officer.

  “We got a call about a possible abduction?”

  Tim waved Lucie over. “Yeah. My girlfriend. This is Lucie Riz—”

  “Hi.” Lucie cut him off before he could say her last name. Who knew if folks down here were aware of her Dad’s reputation. This was already a visit to Looneyville without throwing that into the mix.