“We’ll see about that.”
No one heard the Lieutenant enter the room. “Enough with that kind of talk! This isn’t a high-school football game. I want that sucker as much as the rest of you, but we’ll do it by the book. Carry on a full-scale investigation leaving nothing to chance. Got it? We’ll put Mr. Rhondo away for the rest of his life, and we’ll do that by working together. Now, about him having a particular grudge with Aurora.”
"Tell me." Aurora silently dared the others to ignore her demand.
Ham stepped up. “The kid waited to tell Kai when they were on the way to the hospital about Rhondo's bragging. He didn’t want to scare you. Said Rhondo had repeated how he’d like to…ahh…get into your pants. His words, not mine.”
Cory captured his eye and Kai knew his friend read the rage he’d tried to hide. They shared a moment of complete agreement where two men who care about one sassy woman unite as protectors. “Not gonna happen! She’s never alone. You hear me?”
Aurora cut in. “Christ, Cory! Two floors down heard you. I’m an experienced detective and don’t need you chauvinists turning all macho on me. I can take care of myself.”
Kai heard the frustration in her voice and saw the way her hands hit her hips—as if she had to do something with them or else she’d be strangling a lieutenant.
“Fine, so’s you know.” His voice had returned to its normal pitch. Back to being well groomed in a lightweight suit that spoke bucks, the tall man took command. “I want everyone here working this case putting it first. We’ve got to get Rhondo into custody. The Sheriff’s been onto me since early this morning. The tourists are starting to make noise and the media are having a slow day. You know what that means. We’re hitting the front page. ”
Ham spoke, his disgust evident. “I read some of the reports and they’re giving El Shmucko way too much space. He must be loving it.”
“Yeah, well that puts the onus on this department. Faster we get Rhondo off the streets, the better for all of us. The asshole has taken up enough of our time and finances. So, get him! Soon!
Kai watched Cory stomp from the room. They were all aware that he carried the worst burden. Poor sucker had a new baby and couldn’t afford to stay away from the office.
Aurora interrupted his musings. “Let’s brainstorm and see what we can come up with. We’re missing something, I know it.”
Chapter Twenty-two
After a frustrating day following empty leads, talking to victims who hated cops and getting nowhere fast, Aurora decided to pay another visit to Luke and see if he’d come up with anything. He’d left a message for her earlier, but she been out of the office getting coffee. When she’d tried to return the call, there was no answer. Not unusual since he’d be catching up on his sleep and had most likely called before he’d hit the sack.
Slipping away from Kai had taken some ingenuity. He’d begun acting like they were crazy-glued at the hips. Thankfully, his mom had called, and rather than interrupt his call, she'd waved and left.
Suspicion appeared on his features for a minute until he realized that she’d left her usual lightweight jacket hanging over her chair, her gun in the drawer and had picked up her favourite Coyotes coffee mug.
She felt weird leaving him behind, after all he was her partner, but a snitch was personal. Too many people aware of his status and it could be dangerous for his cover. So the fewer people who knew about him, the better. And other than Ham and Debbie, it would stay that way until this crisis had ended.
As she drove, loving the air conditioning that kept the inside of the vehicle bearable, she enjoyed the darkened desert scenery that bespoke of a paradise for tourists and a hellhole for residents. The temperatures that day had soared to well over a hundred and the sleeveless top she’d yanked from her drawer this morning still clung to the sweaty areas.
A speeder, who didn’t know how lucky he was that she was on a mission, cut her off. She radioed in the licence number and hoped he’d get his in the next few blocks, as someone was sure to pick him up.
Once at Luke’s building, an annoying tune began in her head, starting low, but with each floor reached, the sound amplified. “Christ no!”
At a dead run, she got to his apartment. When the normally locked door gave way, a sickening reaction started in the pit of her stomach. Reaching for the back-up gun in her ankle holster, she pushed slowly inward. With both hands hugging the pistol, she cleared the hallway and then the kitchen, working her way towards the living room and then the bedroom. Prayers churned in her mind. Please Lord…let him be sleeping peacefully.
A thud following by a muffled sound warned her that her instincts and the loud ding-dong in her ears had a point. Something wasn’t right. She hesitated but affection for her guy drove her on. Two more steps and she’d almost cleared the bedroom doorway. A groan warned her just in time as a knife appeared in her peripheral vision. Instinct drove her gun carrying hand upward to connect with a face and her booted heel backwards to clip the knee.
A big male body stumbled into her space. Swivelling, her empty hand reached upwards between his legs to give unbridled pain to the stupid bastard who thought muscle would win over training.
The knife dropped and the scream almost deafened, but still she held on. She even lowered her body as his knees gave way. Maybe she became too cocky. She didn’t see the fist that hit her on the side of her head. Nor did she react when Rhondo crawled towards his knife. But she did react when he lunged towards her.
The gun, steady in her hand, was aimed right between his eyes. “Please keep coming. Pretty, please.” Her tone begged.
Still prone, her body felt like attached weights hung from every limb. It was all she could do to pull her knees under her and try to gain her feet.
During the ruckus she’d instinctively turned to protect the victim. Luke, tied in a chair with gray duck tape to keep him from moving, had some safety from her being between him and the maniac whose nose turned up in disgust while hatred poured from sneaky eyes.
Knowing he judged his chances of fight or flight by the quick looks in every direction, nervous gestures and growling sounds, she inched backwards.
“Time’s up. Knife on the floor slowly. Then get down on the ground, hands on your head.”
The stare he threw at her meant to intimidate and would have weakened a lesser opponent. Perhaps if she hadn't grown up seeing that look most days of her young life, she might have been affected.
“Make no mistake; I really want to shoot you, Earl.” She used his name on purpose to make it more personal. “Please! Give me cause.”
The mean smile turned meaner. “Not today sweetheart. Another time.” He dropped the knife. Then just as he began to stretch out, noise from the hallway caught their attention.
Too late! Aurora shouted to stay back, but Ray’s frizzy-head appeared as he ambled into the room. “Hey, the door…
Chapter Twenty-three
Kai was pissed off. No other word for it. Partners either trusted each other, or they didn’t work together. He stomped to the other end of the building and burst into Cory’s office mad as hell.
“She’s taken off again.”
Cory’s hand automatically covered the mouthpiece on the phone and waved Kai to the chair in from of his desk, which Kai ignored. Instead he chose to walk over to the window. Hands gripping the sill, he leaned forward, ground his teeth and waited.
The activity below caught his eye. Uniforms rushed to their squads while others were returning. Laughter and sarcastic quips, being thrown back and forth, were emphasized by the stillness of the evening. Hustle and bustle, the vision soothed his ruffled feathers. He stopped gasping breath through his clenched teeth. His neck relaxed and the pain in the knotted muscles eased.
Cory’s soft laughter warned him he’d interrupted a personal call. A few seconds later, he heard the receiver being replaced and he looked sideways to gauge his friend’s mood.
A silly grin still lingered. Good, he’d get
away with breaking and entering. Shit, he wished his temper didn’t take over his common sense. He’d put it down to lack of sleep Never used to happen—not until he’d given up normal to become a bounty hunter. Exchanged regular courtesy for meanness and basic politeness with his need for revenge.
He broke the silence. “Are Debbie and the baby home?” Cory made him wait while he straightened papers on his desk, sat back in his chair, and crossed his arms.
Not a good sign at all. He rubbed his neck and tried to look innocent of acting like a dick. It didn’t work and he heard himself utter the apology he didn’t really mean. Or at least he didn’t think he meant it until the words left his lips and he heard them echo back.
“Really, boss. I’m sorry. I presumed on our friendship. Can’t get used to you in the big-boy’s chair. I’m still thinking we’re equals.” That was all the sorry Cory was going to get. The wall of hardness began rebuilding.
“Your choice, Kai. You’ve been asked many times to take on a leadership role. It’s your own stubborn want to stay on the streets that’s kept your status at the Sergeant level not the system’s.
“I like working the streets. But I like working with a partner I can trust, or better yet, I’d really like to work alone.”
“Forget it. What’s she done this time?” Cory’s grin finally appeared.
“Took off! And after you told her no. In LA partners don’t just leave. We work together to solve cases. Co-operate with each other.”
The harsh laugh caught Kai unaware and made him flinch. “Christ, look who’s talking. You’ve been angry about been saddled with her since the beginning. Now you’re mad because she’s leaving you out of the loop? By the way, she wouldn’t do that. What she finds out, she’ll share. You gotta trust her. Did you check with Hampton as to her whereabouts? She'd have left word with him—office rules. No one goes anywhere without letting the team know where and with whom.”
Kai rubbed his face to hide the blush that warmed his cheeks. Dammit that woman drove him crazier than a shit-house rat. Made him look like some fool babysitter who'd lost track of his charge, instead of a professional.
“Kai, she’s a good girl. Here in the office, we all understand her ways. You’re the new guy. The woman is smart. I don’t mean intelligent, though she is, I mean people smart. She’s a natural profiler, can pick out a phony in an instant and a bullshitter even quicker. But she’s got a soft core that she covers with a mass of hard grit. You hurt her and you’ll have the whole dam department biting at your ankles—”
“Hurt her? Why the hell would I hurt her? I’m trying to keep her from getting herself killed.” His voice rose with the same speed as Cory’s eyebrows.
“Hey, stand down and remember who you’re talking to. You came begging to me remember? Play by our rules and fit into our ways. This isn’t LA hotshot. This is my world.”
Kai plunked down in the nearby chair. “Yeah! Well it was you who said you didn’t want her left alone.” Voiced at a much lower octave.
“I always say that and she always ignores it. Says she knows what she’s doing, and I have to agree. “Look, she’s either checking out her snitch, a kid she’s taken under her wing like a mother hen, or she’s finally playing it smart and headed home. Ham, or one of the team will know for sure.”
Kai got up to leave.
“And Kai, the answer to your earlier question is no. Debbie just called from the hospital to say she’s gotten a small infection in her….ahh lower stomach area and they want to keep her there at least until I can leave the office tonight. They’re starting a round of antibiotics, says it should be cleared up with in a few hours.” Worry hid behind the words and Kai stopped.
“Should you be concerned?”
“She’s says no. It’s common for lots of women, and with the proper medication, it’ll be gone by tomorrow.”
His partial acceptance registered. Cory used to talk about being a husband and a father when they were rookies. He’d always said there’d only be one woman for him, and once he found her, he’d make sure that his priorities were healthy. Babies, a nice house, he’d have it all. After seeing him and Debbie together, Kai couldn’t imagine what he’d do if anything happened to her…or his new son.
***
“She didn’t tell you?” Kai began to freak.
Ham’s cranky look also appeared until he checked the pad near the front of his desk. Then his expression calmed. “It's okay. Lassie’s gone to see her snitch.”
Kai glanced over and saw the message ‘Star Wars” and a big swirling A underneath the scrawled words.
“Star Wars?” It had to be some kind of code.
“Her kid named himself Luke. He’s a star war freak. Calls in sometime and always starts the call with ‘May the force be with you’. If you don’t give him the code, boyo hangs up.” The gray-haired cop in the short-sleeved white shirt and half undone tie leaned back in his office chair. He looked at home in his surroundings of bulging filing cabinets with excess files placed everywhere on the floor. His desk was covered in ledgers and his monitor sat on a few more.
Kai found himself drawn to this old-timer. Respect for the wisdom that shone from his customary twinkling eyes had him willing to give the man the time of day. “Are you going to tell me the code?”
“Can’t you guess?”
Re-thinking the words, Kai knew at once. “And with you.”
Ham nodded and added. “If you don’t play his game, he’ll hang up. The skinny little Eejit, he’s a bold one, he is.”
Kai laughed and unwound. “Sounds like a character. He live on the streets?”
“Used to until Aurora stepped in. She got him the place to live—he found a job. Not one she approves of, but it’s actually worked out in our favor. A Polack called Big Mike owns the Hangout, the bar where Luke works. He treats the kid pretty good. Of course the warning Aurora had us pass on might have helped some.”
“Don’t tell me.” Kai got it. “It’s a hang-out for some of Las Vegas’s upper crust.”
“My arse upper crust. We’re talking wealthy, way past the upper crust level. These dudes are rich bastards and stink to high heaven from the drugs they’ve sold to get there. Not to mention the rest of their dirty baggage.”
Kai’s interest spiked. “This Luke have any news on Rhondo?”
“I have no doubt that’s what our little missy is finding out right now…” His cell’s buzzing broke off the rest of what he had to say.
“Hampton. Speak.”
Kai watched the grin disappear under a black cloud. Oh-oh. He knew he wasn’t gonna like the news.
Ham slammed the phone down and sent his chair flying as he shot to his feet. “Shots were fired at Luke’s address.”
He was right.
Chapter Twenty-four
“I’m sorry Rory. I didn’t know.”
“Shut up Ray. She can’t hear you. Did you call the number I told you to?
“Yeah, they’re on their way. This is all my fault.”
“You shoulda known something was wrong when you saw my open door. I never leave it unlocked.” Luke's voice cracked under the stress of his emotions.
“I didn’t think, Luke. Rory’s car was in the lot out my window and I figured if she was here, you know… things would be okay.”
“They were okay until you busted in. Hurry up with the tape. You sure she’s breathing?”
“She’s breathing, just out cold. That asshole really whacked her a good one. My shoulder's still stinging where he threw me back against the doorjamb. It could be dislocated.”
“Quit your fucking whining. You gave him the opportunity he needed to get away. She had him. Jesus man, get me loose."
Aurora heard the squabbling, but it sounded as if it came from a long distance, like maybe the next county. Her head hurt so bad that the thought of pain pills turned her on more than a chocolate sundae smothered with whipped cream— her all-time favourite treat.
Talking was out of the question
yet, so she moaned her request for quiet. It worked for a few seconds until Luke lean over her and pushed the hair aside to view the wound. Gently he straightened out her head, and she wanted more than anything in the world, to sink away from the excruciating pain.
Ray’s yapping wouldn’t stop. It was as if his inner battery had to wear down. “I saw her head hit the bed frame. No wonder she’s unconscious. I didn’t mean to knock against her. He threw me and I couldn’t stop.”
“Can you shut up? Hey? Can you just do that?”
Good boy, Luke. Please get him to stop. My head…
Footsteps heralded company and the thud warned of a heavy body. Rhondo’s back!?
Kai’s clipped voice sounded close.
No, not Rhondo… worse.
“Police! Step away from the body. Lie on the ground and put your hands on your heads. Now! Do it!”
Chapter Twenty-five
He brought her home after she refused to remain overnight at the hospital. Since none of their arguments had worked, an ultimatum was issued. Either Kai stayed with her, she stayed with him or they'd find her a bed on the busy ward.
“I’m fine, Kai. Even the doctor said he didn’t think I had a concussion. I never really passed out, things just got fuzzy for a while.”
What she didn’t say was that the pain had rescinded once she’d doubled up on her over-the-counter prescription. Mind you she felt a bit out of it, actually woozy. Like she’d drunk too much wine but without the fun of losing her inhibitions that normally came with the alcohol.
Feeling shy, she plumped her bright red, hand-made throw pillows and covertly rubbed the water stain off the glass coffee table. The she grabbed the vase of dead daisies and headed for the kitchen. It had been days since she’d had the time to play at little Miss Homemaker and her place showed the neglect.
Roll the Dice (Vegas Series) Page 10