Incognito

by Adrienne Giordano

  “No,” he said. “I’m not having you in the middle of it if this guy comes back. I’ll do it.”

  “You? How?”

  “I’ll say he’s my brother.”

  Speaking of, Joey had apparently grown tired of circling and pulled up next to the driver’s side door. Ro leaned over and knocked on the window.

  Exasperated, Tim gave Lucie a hard stare. “Does she think I can’t see them?”

  He rolled the window down. “What’s up?”

  “We’re ready,” Ro said. “Let’s do this.”

  “Joey, pull up. I can’t get out of the damned car.”

  “Sorry, dude.”

  Joey hit the gas too hard and snapped all their heads backward.

  “Joseph be careful! I’ll have whiplash before this is over.”

  “Sorry, Ma.”

  Tim slid out, shutting the door behind him. “I’m going to the office. I’ll tell the clerk Sonny is my brother.”

  Lucie hopped out and hustled around the front. “I’m going. If there’s two of us, it’ll be more distracting, so Dad can do his thing. We have to be careful with him.”

  As protective as Tim was, he had to see the logic in that.

  “Fine.” He started toward the office where a red Vacancy sign blinked. “I’m doing the talking though.”

  A minute later, they rushed inside where the rattle of a window unit air conditioner drowned out the tippety-tap of the clerk’s fingers against the desktop computer’s keyboard. The clerk jumped back, putting his hands up. “Don’t shoot! There’s no money.”

  What. The hell?

  “I swear,” the clerk pleaded. “They picked it up two hours ago.”

  “He thinks we’re robbing him,” Lucie said.

  Not two minutes into this thing and she’d already blown the mandate to let Tim do the talking.

  Tim turned to her. “Ya think?” He went back to the clerk. “Do you see a gun? Forget that. My brother is in room 225. He’s not answering. He’s been depressed lately, and I need to get in there. Give me the key. Sonny Peppers. 225.”

  “Please,” Lucie said. “Hurry. He’s not answering his phone either.”

  Apparently satisfied Bonnie and Clyde hadn’t busted in on him, the clerk turned to the pegboard where plastic key rings holding actual keys hung. “Are you sure he’s in there?”

  Go, Tim.

  “He told us to meet him here. Look, dude, his wife just left him, and he’s been batshit crazy.”

  The clerk lifted the key from its peg. “I can’t give you the key, but I’ll check on him. You’ll have to wait here.”

  Uh-oh. Talk about spoiling the plan.

  Tim set both hands on the counter and leaned in, his big body looming over the scrawny clerk. “Either you’re giving me that key, so I can check on my brother, or I’m kicking the door in. Got it?”

  To add a little urgency, Lucie pulled her phone out. “Forget it. I’m calling 911. So help me, if anything happened to Sonny, we’re suing. We’ll take the owners of this place to the cleaners.” She tapped the screen and punched in her passcode. “He could be dead in there and we’re wasting time.”

  The clerk held up the key. “225 you said?”

  Much better. Funny how the threat of lawsuits and dead bodies motivated people.

  Tim nodded. “Yes. Sonny Peppers.”

  The guy made quick work of checking his manifest and the name of the guest. “Follow me.”

  As he hustled around the desk, Lucie met Tim’s eye and winked. Her man gritted his teeth. Clearly, he hadn’t appreciated her contributions. Lucky for him, she didn’t need a lot of stroking when it came to her successes.

  The clerk hit the outside steps with Lucie and Tim on his heels. “Thanks for doing this,” Tim said, the words rushed enough to indicate a low level of panic. “He’s been unstable these last couple days.”

  No kidding. Unstable might be the perfect descriptor of someone willing to kidnap a woman off the street in daylight.

  They reached the second floor balcony and Lucie glanced at the empty Escalade golf cart. By now, Dad would be hiding in the breezeway just beyond room 225 with Ro stationed at the opposite end. Joey? Anyone’s guess. But he’d promised to keep an eye on his phone and warn them if Sonny decided to return.

  The clerk paused at Sonny’s room and stared at the door as if the weight of the situation had finally hit him. Guilt hit Lucie like a kick to the ribs. They’d made this poor guy a pawn in their little investigation, lying to him about a potential dead body.

  Just as she opened her mouth, to assure him he didn’t have to go in, he turned, key at the ready in his trembling hand. “Since you’re not listed on the room registration, I can’t let you in. You’ll have to wait outside.”

  Tim gestured to the clerk’s hand. “Are you sure you want to do this? I can go in.”

  “Company policy. I have to.”

  Hopefully he wouldn’t wet himself while adhering to that policy.

  Squaring his shoulders, he shoved the key in the lock, flipped it, and pushed the door open before removing it again. Light spilled from the room and the clerk peered inside.

  “Hello?”

  No answer. As expected. Still, Lucie eased out a breath that wasn’t for the clerk’s benefit. If there’d been someone in the room, they’d have explaining to do.

  Tim held the door open while the clerk checked the bathroom. Lucie peeped inside the wood-paneled room and found it empty except for a duffle bag on top of the green and yellow swirled bedspread. The whole thing was straight out of a seventies sitcom.

  Lord, the owners needed to upgrade more than the facade.

  Papers were strewn across the long dresser next to the television and she nudged Tim, who’d locked onto the same items. “I know. Looks like a boarding pass.”

  A second later the clerk reappeared. “He’s not here.”

  “I’ll kill him,” Lucie said. “He got us all worried and he’s not even here.”

  Tim held a hand up to silence her. Total Golden Globe-nominee action right here. “He said he’d meet us here. Maybe he got hung up somewhere.”

  Continuing the performance, she tilted her chin up in defiance. “Well, the least he could do is let us know. I swear, your brother is an inconsiderate moron.”

  “Wow,” the clerk said. “Major league harsh since you made me bust in here to check on him.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. He got us all worked up, though. I don’t know what to think right now.”

  The guy waved them from the threshold. “We need to get out.”

  “Hey!”

  Roseanne’s voice. Right on cue, coming from the end of the walkway.

  Pulling the room key from the lock, the clerk whipped around, ignoring Tim’s big hand still holding the door open.

  “Are you the guy from the desk?” Ro flapped her arms. Even in the dark it was impossible to miss her bouncing boobs. “This vending machine just stole my five bucks.”

  The kid groaned. “Not again. I hate that thing. Coming!” He faced Tim. “We need to close the door.”

  “I’m calling the cops!” Ro shrieked. “I want my snack or my money!”

  Lucie slid out of her flip-flop, nudging it inside the doorframe. Who needed Dad and his criminal ways when she had a shoe that could get the job done?

  Tim let go of the door. “Thanks for the help.”

  “Yeah. Sure. Glad we didn’t find anything bad.”

  “Me too.”

  “Me three,” Lucie added from behind the two men.

  If this clerk looked at her feet, they were cooked. Cooked!

  Whoopsie! Lost my shoe somewhere. In that door? Really? How on earth?

  “Sorry to bother you, handsome,” Ro said to the clerk, “but I’m starved.”

  Then she made a little rowrrrr noise that put a definite pep in the kid’s step. “No problem. Come to the office and I’ll reimburse you.”

  “Swear to God,” Tim said, “she’s nuts.
Totally certifiable.”

  Before descending the steps, Ro waggled her eyebrows. “Keep him busy,” Lucie whispered.

  Ro hefted her boobs and saluted. “I’m on it, sister.”

  As soon as the clerk entered the motel lobby, Tim and Lucie hustled back to Sonny’s room, where Joey and Dad had already made themselves useful by searching it.

  In full cop mode, Tim stepped inside, slipped his hands into the latex gloves they’d picked up at the pharmacy, and rifled through the bag on the bed. “Anything?”

  “No,” Dad said. “Drawers are empty. Boarding pass on the dresser. He flew in yesterday. I used a tissue to open the drawers.”

  “Good. Although, with all the people in and out of here, the place would be a nightmare to get prints from.” Tim held up a small spiral bound journal and handed it to Lucie. “Take pictures of the pages while I finish looking in this duffle.”

  Fully gloved now, Lucie snapped photos of the notes on each page. A kidnapper that kept a diary. Fascinating.

  Tim held up the boarding pass for Lucie to snap a picture. “Boston to Palm Beach.”

  After getting it, Tim set the boarding pass down

  “The place is clean,” Joey said.

  “Luce, you done?”

  “Last page.” She held it flat and snapped a photo. “Done. Let’s scram.”

  Ten

  Dad and Joey filed out of the room followed by Tim and Lucie. If they got out of here without the clerk seeing them, it would be a first for Team Rizzo. Well, Team Rizzo/O’Brien because, holy smokes, Tim had gone along with it. A first for sure.

  And, eh-hem, how many people could actually pull off that scam?

  Not that it was anything to be proud of, but here she was with her cop boyfriend, mob boss father, and degenerate gambler of a brother talking themselves into some lowlife’s hotel room.

  Damn, we’re good.

  “Let’s go,” Joey said, “before Roseanne pops a few buttons and I gotta beat the crap out of this weasel clerk.”

  Dad shook his head. “I’ll tell ya, she’s a pip.”

  A pip. Seriously? If Lucie had ever flashed that much skin, Dad would chain her to the basement post.

  “Hey!”

  A man strode away from an SUV in the far lane of the parking lot, his muscular, black-clad form moving like some sort of phantom under the dim lights.

  “Dammit,” Joey said. “He got back quick.”

  All Joey had to do was watch his phone and warn them of Sonny’s impending return. That was it.

  Tim grabbed Lucie’s hand, half dragging her down the remaining stairs to the lot. “One job,” she hollered at Joey.

  “Argue later,” Tim said.

  If only she’d had her stun gun with her. She’d zap this jerk and be done with it. It was the least he deserved after his attempted kidnapping.

  O Sole Mio sounded—ohmygod with that horn—and Ro zoomed up with Mom in the passenger seat gripping the roof rail hard enough to snap a few fingers.

  “Hop in,” Ro said to Dad and Joey. “Let’s roll, people!”

  Tim grunted. “They’re planning a getaway in a golf cart. I’d like to say it’s unbelievable, but with this bunch? Anything’s possible.” He glanced back at Sonny Peppers, still bearing down on them. “Joey, you’re with me. Luce, you and your Dad go with Ro. No arguments.”

  Dad puffed up his chest. “I’m staying with my son. I’ll knock this guy’s lemon in.”

  Oh, boy.

  She glanced back at Tim whose shoulders seemed to expand ten feet. They must teach that in the police academy. Talk about command presence. This Hulk routine definitely gave the impression he didn’t like Dad’s plan. “Joe, we need you to stay with the women. Take care of them. Luce! In that cart.”

  Way to go, O’Hottie. Clearly, she needed to marry this man. Anyone who could order Joe Rizzo around—and survive—was a keeper.

  Dad grabbed her hand and she jumped into the rear seat. She slid over, leaving enough room for him, but before his butt even landed, Ro hit the gas, snapping everyone’s head back.

  “Ho! Take it easy,” Dad said. “You tryin’ to kill us?”

  “Hey,” Sonny Peppers yelled again.

  “Hey, what?” Joey held up a hand. “Right here, pal.”

  Roseanne whipped the cart around, its driver’s side wheels lifting from the pavement. Mom crossed herself. “Hail Mary, full of grace…”

  They’d need more than prayer for this. “Dad! Lean left.”

  In time with her father, Lucie threw her weight left. Eee-doggies. The ground beside them came closer.

  “Hang on,” Lucie said.

  Bhu-bump, the cart’s wheels landed, and Ro did another hairpin turn. Maybe Mom’s plan wasn’t a bad one.

  Hail Mary, full of grace…

  “Hey, dopey,” Ro hollered at Peppers, drawing his attention from Tim and Joey.

  She whooshed by him, flipping him off as she went. Sonny returned the gesture, and Dad started screaming about proper ways to address women. All of it gave Tim and Joey time to move in.

  Wheels planted, Ro zoomed into another tight turn around Sonny. Why did this feel like gladiators in the Coliseum?

  “Get me in there, Roseanne,” Dad said.

  “You got it, Mr. R.”

  What? Hang on. “Forget it, Dad, you’re on parole. It’s a miracle they even let you leave the state. You can’t get into a fight.”

  “She’s right, Joe. Stay put.”

  Ro cut the same direction again. “Joey! I’m coming back around.”

  Great. Let’s just tell the bad guy our plan.

  Sonny lunged at Tim, who sidestepped and did a quick sweeping move with his leg, knocking Sonny to the ground. Her man. O’Hottie indeed.

  “Yeah!” Lucie did a little fast clap.

  Sonny hopped to his feet and Ro zoomed by him again, this time way too close. He reached up and grabbed onto the rear roof rail right beside Lucie, his legs bicycling to keep up with the speeding cart. Not one to be taken alive, Ro swerved right, then left. Right, left, right, left. Momentum sent them bouncing like some jacked-up gangbanger’s car.

  Lucie glanced at Mom, whose hair had blown straight back, making her hazel eyes look huge in her head. “Mom, hold on.”

  “I am,” Mom said. “I should have stayed home. Joe, I swear, life with you is never dull. I’m so sick of it.”

  “This time it’s your daughter’s fault.”

  Gee. Thanks, Dad.

  “Roseanne,” Joey shouted. “Slow down.”

  Lucie glanced over her shoulder. Tim and Joey gave chase, dodging left and right while Roseanne perfected her golf cart acrobatics.

  Pain rocketed through Lucie’s skull straight down her neck. “Ow!”

  Sonny, in an amazing display of athleticism, held onto the rail with one hand and yanked on Lucie’s hair with the other. What the hell was he doing?

  Dad slid sideways, chopping at Sonny’s hand. “Let go of my baby girl. Do you know who I am?”

  Ro did that swerving thing again, which only made things worse. “Ow, ow. Ow!”

  “Don’t worry, Luce,” Ro said, “He’ll pay. Believe me.”

  Sonny yanked again.

  Enough. She was Joe Rizzo’s kid and not about to sit here and let this animal rip her hair out. Knees. Tim always told her to go for the throat or knees.

  She kicked out—boom—blasted him.

  He cried out, but still held on. Strong sucker.

  “Hit him again, baby girl.”

  Between Dad’s yelling and the adrenaline, Lucie saw red. Boom. She kicked him a second time, feeling something in his knee give.

  Sonny howled, a long agonizing wail that should’ve cracked every car window in the lot.

  Ro hooked a sharp right, sending him sailing. He hit the pavement with a thump then rolled. Tim and Joey cut left, away from the cart, and stood over Sonny.

  The lowlife rocked back and forth, holding his knee. “I think she busted my kneecap.”<
br />
  “So,” Tim said, “call a cop. In fact, let’s do that. Joey, dial 911. We’ll tell them we caught the guy who tried to abduct Lucie. They’ll love it.”

  “On it.”

  Before Joey even touched his screen, Sonny’s eyes bulged. “Wait. Hold on.”

  “Yeah. That’s what I thought.” Tim said. “Instead of doing that, we’re gonna help your sorry ass up to your room. And then you’ll tell us what the hell you’re doing here.”

  Inside Sonny’s crappy motel room, Lucie, Mom, and Ro huddled by the door. Tim and Joey sat on the edge of the long dresser. Dad had taken the only chair and sat with one ankle propped over his other knee.

  Just a regular night for the Rizzo crew.

  Tim crossed his arms and focused on Sonny, sitting on the bed, his back against the headboard and his legs stretched in front of him with a pillow under his knee.

  Sonny met Tim’s gaze. “I don’t know.”

  Always the impatient one, Joey threw his hands up. “Do you think we’re idiots?”

  Dad put both feet on the floor and pointed at Tim. “Give me five minutes with this guy.”

  “Joe,” Mom said, “knock it off. You’re always looking to rough someone up.”

  “Now we know where Joey gets it,” Ro quipped.

  Lucie snorted, and Tim shot her a look.

  “Everyone pipe down.” Tim levered off the dresser and walked to the side of the bed, getting right into Sonny’s space. “Look, before I unleash these maniacs on you, you’d better start talking.”

  Sonny looked at Dad and found himself on the receiving end of his famous death stare. Wisely, Sonny went back to Tim. “How the hell did I know she was Joe Rizzo’s kid? I was sent here to grab Natalie’s.”

  Now that was truly insulting. “Do I look like I’m in high school?”

  He lifted one shoulder. “You kinda do, yeah.”

  Ro sighed. “I knew you were a dumbass. I really did.”

  Tim angled back to them, his jaw locked. Her man obviously didn’t appreciate the chatter.

  “Sorry,” Ro and Lucie said in unison.

  Tim faced Sonny again. “Dude, this freak show is making me nuts. Do us all a favor and come clean. Someone hired you. You expect me to believe you don’t know who?”