by Tara Randel
CHAPTER SIX
DANTE LEFT EARLY the next morning to meet up with his contact, Ben, who had gotten him an interview at Battles Auto Repair. The plan entailed his contact playing up Dante’s mechanic skills since he knew the shop owner, along with dropping the hint that Dante was willing to operate in gray areas of the law. The hope was that the owner would ask Dante to participate in any of the illegal activities Dante’s contact suspected about the garage, leading Dante to answers about the auto thefts.
His cousin had just left, so there he was in the stifling business office with Rico Battles.
Rico, five foot nine, muscular, with a bandanna tied around his midnight-black hair, wasn’t what Dante would call welcoming. “So, Dan, you just moved here from Jacksonville?”
“Yep. Got married and, let’s just say, we needed to put some distance between us and her family. Ben and I are pretty close. He said he’d try to hook me up with a job.”
“Been working on cars long?”
“Since I was fifteen.”
“Can you change oil? Do a brake job?”
“Please. In my sleep.”
“Rebuild an engine?”
“Any day of the week.” Thanks, Dad.
“If I put you on the Ford engine we just took into the shop, you won’t let me down?”
Dante cracked his knuckles. “Just show me where, man.”
After long consideration, Rico picked up his application again. “Smith, huh?”
“I know, not very original. You’d think it was a made-up name.”
Rico stared at him. Dante stared back, recognizing a power play when he was the target of one.
Finally, Rico spoke again. “Me and Ben go way back, so I’ll take the chance. For now. By Friday, I’ll let you know if you’ve got the job.”
Dante rose and extended his hand over the messy desktop to seal the deal. A paper cup had tipped over, staining the invoices underneath. It had dried, the paper wrinkly, making Dante believe the cup had been sitting there for some time. Who ran a business without keeping paperwork in proper order?
“Thanks, man. I can use the work.”
Rico jutted his chin toward the door. “Find Mac. He’ll show you the project I’m talking about.”
“Got it.” Dante reached for the doorknob.
“Wait up.”
Squelching a frown, Dante spun around.
“You live on Orchard?”
“Yeah. Renting a place.”
Rico looked down again. A sly smile curved his lips. “Three doors down from me.”
“No way.”
“Yeah.” He tossed the application omto the disorganized desktop. If ever an office needed sorting out, this was it. Hopefully her organizational skills were a way to get Eloise on the inside. “I’ll be looking for you around the neighborhood.”
It sounded like a veiled threat, but Dante just grinned. “Newlywed, so...” He shrugged.
Rico laughed. “Get outta here.”
As soon as Dante stepped into the garage, the familiar scents of oil, gas and rubber greeted his nose like a long-lost friend. A generator started up, its grumble echoing in the open bays of the garage. Dante’s fingers itched to hold the tools of the trade again. Once he knew the job was locked down, he’d bring his own tools from home. It would prove his claim to be a mechanic since most purchased their own.
Two cars were already on lifts. In the back of the shop, a bald guy rummaged through a drawer in a tall red box, muttering as he tossed tools around, while another man, slight build with long, stringy hair, sipped from a cup.
“One of you guys Mac?” Dante called out before joining them.
The bald guy, muscular and rough around the edges, said, “Yeah. Who wants to know?”
“Rico sent me back here. Told me to get started on the engine rebuild.”
Mac suspiciously looked him up and down. “Yeah? Since when?”
“Since about five minutes ago.”
Stringy Hair sauntered over. “Stop givin’ him a hard time, Mac. You know we’re a guy short.” He set his cup down, grabbed a towel from the pocket of his coveralls to wipe up before sticking out his hand. “Ramsey.”
“Dan.”
Ramsey nodded to the heavy engine hanging on the stand. “Rebuild, huh?”
“Guess I’m being tested.”
Mac grunted and stomped to the office.
“Don’t mind him,” Ramsey said. “He’s not very comfortable around new hires.”
“Personal problem?”
Ramsey laughed. “The last guy who worked here ran off with his girlfriend, so yeah.”
“That stinks.” Dante held up the finger with his wedding ring. “Happily married. I won’t be running around with anyone but my wife.”
“Good for you.” Ramsey looked around Dante. “No tools?”
“Wasn’t sure the gig was a sure thing. I can bring ’em by later.”
Ramsey nodded. “Word of warning. Mac don’t share.”
“Noted.”
“But you can take whatever you need for now from my chest.”
“Thanks.” Dante walked over to the engine stand and rested his hands on his hips as he studied the piece of machinery. “Yeah. I can get this done.”
“Like I said, we need help. We’re starting to fall behind.”
“Business must be good.”
Ramsey tucked the towel into his back pocket and picked up his cup. “We’ve been lucky. Rico picked up overflow work from a dealership.”
Score. “Which one?”
“Marcus King.”
“The Car King of the South? He’s got car lots all over the place.”
“And we got extra work. Hope your wife don’t mind you working overtime.”
“If it turns into extra cash, she won’t mind a bit.”
Ramsey chuckled. “You said you just got married. Don’t know many wives who would put up with her man not being home.”
“Ellie’s busy with her own job, so I don’t see a problem.”
“Sounds like you got a good one.”
He did. Eloise had been all-in on this case from the minute Chambers had assigned them. Even went as far as a makeover. While he was floored, in a good way, by her change, that hadn’t kept him from putting in his two cents about her role in the op. Smooth, Matthews. He appreciated her more than she knew. Needed to show her, he supposed.
“But also spoken from a guy with little marital experience,” Ramsey scoffed.
“And you have some?”
“Been married four times.”
Yikes. “Then I’ll make sure not to ask you for advice.”
When Ramsey just blinked at Dante, he thought he’d overstepped. Gone a little overboard in the new-guy camaraderie department. Then a smile split Ramsey’s craggy face and he came up behind Dante to slap him on the back. “Glad to have you.”
Dante smiled. “Glad to be here.”
“Enough chitchat, ladies,” Mac called as he stomped from the office. “Let’s get some work done. We got a bunch of cars coming in this week.”
Dante hunkered down and examined the engine again. His connection was right on target, suggesting he land a job here. Right now, he pondered the stained invoices. Did Rico’s revenue stream come from another source besides regular auto maintenance from the general public? Cash flow that didn’t involve receipts and detailed records? If so, the cars they worked on day-to-day were most likely their legitimate income. He’d have to discover if the cars coming from the dealership were off the books. By the end of the week, he hoped he had more information to pass on to Eloise. Or get her a job in the office.
Mac’s booted feet appeared in his peripheral vision. He stood, raised a brow.
“You’re overdressed for a mechanic,” he griped.
; Dante glanced down at his new indigo jeans and blue-and-white button-down shirt. “Hey, I thought this was just an interview. Had no idea Rico would put me to work.”
“Make sure you show up in something less flashy tomorrow.”
Flashy? Dante held back a snort. Compared to Mac’s grungy tank top and soiled blue pants and Ramsey’s grease-stained jumpsuit, he did indeed look flashy.
“Will do,” he called after Mac’s retreating back, his mind back to the assignment.
Over breakfast this morning, he and Eloise had discussed the ramifications of him landing this job. She was up for infiltrating the shop if need be. Just thinking about her facial expression when she entered the messy office in the future made him chuckle. Not only was Dante expecting the shop to provide good intel, but if Rico hired Eloise to work in the garage office, the entertainment value would skyrocket. Rico wouldn’t know what hit him after Hurricane Eloise cleaned up.
Either way, he liked the idea of having Eloise around. Not just at home, especially after the tasty omelets she’d prepared this morning, but here at work so they could compare notes and see if this place might actually have a tie with the theft ring. His gut was screaming yes and his connection’s intel was spot-on. It was just a matter of time before they ferreted out the truth.
They. Together. A team.
He hadn’t ever enjoyed working with a partner before, but with Eloise? This time was different. And if he was smart, he’d focus more on the op and less on her sweet perfume and sassy smiles.
It occurred to him that he had more at stake here than finding the bad guy.
* * *
THE MORNING DRAGGED ON.
First day on the undercover assignment and there wasn’t much to do. Getting acquainted with her computer system after Dante left, Eloise had pulled up background information on Rico Battles. He had a record; petty theft in his early twenties. But the guy was thirty-five now and had been clean since. Married. Two children. Owner of Battles Auto Repair.
She collected any available information on the garage. Records showed that for the last two years, Battles had not paid his taxes. A lien had been filed against the company earlier this year, but removed when the amount owed had been paid in full, six months ago. Hmm. This was interesting. She dug around for another hour, but couldn’t find the source of the money used to pay the tax bill. No loans. Hadn’t filed for bankruptcy. But the lien was removed, and fines, penalty and charges were paid. Battles had come up with the money. But where? Or better yet, from whom?
A grisly old colleague she’d met her first year on the job had always repeated the mantra “follow the money trail.” Good advice, but she couldn’t find one. The sooner Dante got the job at the garage, the sooner the owner could be convinced that he needed her help and she’d hopefully have access to his records.
Afterward, Eloise read over the reports from previous car theft cases. Same MO in each case.
With a sigh, she went to the kitchen to top off her coffee, ready for a break. A movement in the backyard caught her eye and she looked out the window. A cardinal jumped from limb to limb on a nearby oak, its deep red coloring a bright giveaway in a sea of green leaves and brown branches spreading over the backyard like its own personal umbrella.
Last night, after grocery shopping and a quick dinner, Eloise had unpacked her boxes, but it had grown dark outside before she had a chance to investigate. In the bright morning light, she could inspect the backyard at her leisure.
She unlocked the back door, the upper-half window covered with white, puffy cotton curtains. Mug in hand, she stepped into a tropical paradise. A warm breeze greeted her, carrying a touch of damp earth, lightly touching her skin. Dressed in shorts, a short-sleeved blouse and flip-flops, she exhaled a breath. The spring temperatures of Florida were made to savor.
A large stone paver patio ran the length of the house. Under the branches of the trees, mottled light filtered through the leaves onto a round wrought-iron dining table and four chairs. A grill, covered up against the elements, rested against the back of the house, under the kitchen window. A vision of Dante wielding a spatula, wearing a cooking apron while he grilled the steaks last night, flashed across her mind. She chuckled, remembering his running commentary as he cooked up dinner, surrounded by smoke and the mouthwatering aroma of barbecue.
A brick fire pit with four low chairs took over the opposite side of the patio. Very nice for entertaining, she thought, but the rest of the yard took her breath away.
Enormous palm trees towered over two corners of the fenced-in yard, the fronds swaying gently in the morning breeze. Fragrant flowers bloomed along the side of the privacy fence, a riot of colors and shapes. Eloise stepped into the rich green grass to investigate, her feet sinking into the thick, comfy sod. She noticed sprinkler heads scattered around the yard.
“That explains the noise I heard this morning,” she said to herself, sipping from the second cup of strong coffee she’d brewed.
A sweet fragrance lured her deeper into the yard. “Jasmine,” she whispered as she spied the spreading shrubs of green leaves and fragile white blossoms draped along the entire back fence. She reached out to run a finger over a petal, excited to know her favorite scent would greet her each morning, ushering back memories of her beloved grandmother, who had shared Eloise’s love for the flower.
She studied the surrounding flora, recognizing the blue plumeria and hibiscus plants, but others had her stumped. Grammy Beth had small containers with bright pink-and-white impatiens on her screened-in porch, but that was the extent of Eloise’s floral training.
Inhaling deeply, a sense of peace comforted her. Eloise had always loved the springtime. A time of rebirth. New beginnings. And the possible promotion? It would fall into that category, a much-needed boost to her career.
But what if Dante landed the job? What would it mean for them?
She shook her head, not knowing what to think of “them” together. Partners. A couple. Stop. This was an assignment. Dante had no inkling of her one-sided feelings for him, which in the end, if he found out, could be very embarrassing once they went back to the squad room.
Focus on the promotion, she reminded herself. At least that was a reality that could actually transpire.
A bird chirped overhead, a car door slammed somewhere in the distance. Since she’d started on the police force, she’d been on the run, never taking time early in the morning to sip coffee on the porch of her apartment and welcome the day. She hadn’t realized all she was missing.
She turned to stroll back to the patio, her eyes lighting on the grill again. She couldn’t wait until Dante showed off more of his mad grilling skills. But that would have to wait until he got home from work.
Supposing he got the job.
Glancing at her watch, she saw it was only nine thirty. If he hadn’t come home by now, he must have been successful.
Taking one last sweeping glance of the yard, she was about to go inside when she heard a low voice.
“You come back here right this minute.”
Eloise glanced in the direction of Mrs. Jamison’s house. A spry, orange tabby jumped onto the fence. She kept her almond-shaped cat eyes on Eloise, flicked her tail and scurried down the top of the fence to jump into the yard directly next to hers.
“Pumpkin? Where have you run off to?”
Eloise walked over to the fence, trying to peer in through the slats. “Martha?”
“Oh, my dear,” she heard. “I didn’t disturb you, did I?”
“No, but I don’t think Pumpkin will be returning soon. He took off in the opposite direction.”
A metal jiggling sound came from the fence and suddenly a piece moved inward. Martha poked her head into the Smiths’ yard.
“He’s not exactly my cat, but he sure doesn’t shy away from the food I leave out for him.”
Eloise blinked. “Ho
w...”
“Janice and I sweet-talked Ted into putting a gate between our properties. Makes it much easier to visit.”
She hadn’t noticed a handle. “I just wasn’t expecting the fence to move.”
Martha chuckled. “It sure is nifty.” She glanced at Eloise and her sunny expression sobered. “Unless you think I’m imposing.”
“No. Actually, I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
Martha made her way to Eloise, cane in hand, squinting against the sun. “Admiring Janice’s handiwork?”
“Talk about a green thumb.”
“She spent many happy hours arranging her landscaping.”
Eloise looked over Martha’s shoulder. “And your yard?”
“Not as lush, but it’ll do.”
They walked to the patio. Eloise pulled out a chair for the older woman.
“I saw your husband out running early this morning,” Martha said as she lowered herself to the cushioned seat. “He must be a health buff.”
More a way to control nervous energy, Eloise thought, but said, “He takes his morning run seriously.”
“And you don’t join him?”
“Not if I can help it,” Eloise said as she took a seat opposite Martha.
“You’re the picture of health.”
Eloise thought about the hours she’d missed at the gym recently. “This move has played havoc with both our schedules.”
“Where is your husband, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“Job interview.”
“How about you?”
“I already have a job. Computer tech. I work remotely.” Eloise chuckled at Martha’s blank expression. “That means with a computer in the house, I can work from home.”
Martha’s face lit up. “So you’ll be home during the day.”
“As of right now.” Eloise set her mug on the tabletop.
“Things are so different from when I was a young bride. I stayed home, took care of the house and, later, the children.” A faraway look came into her eyes. “My husband, George, worked for the county. But that was many years ago.”
“Where are your children?”
“Scattered about,” Martha said with a wave of her hand. “They call every weekend.”