The Normal Kind of Crazy (Crazy #1)

by L. J. Voss

  We make it to my car without any incidents. I pull out and start heading to the safe house. We’ve been driving for five minutes before she starts.

  “Are you really FBI? And if so, then what in the world do you want with me?”

  “Yes, I’m FBI. Once we get to the safe house I’ll explain everything.” I take my phone out, effectively ending her questions, and hit the speed dial for the field office.

  “Agent Thomas.”

  “Sir, it’s Murphy. I have Imogen Jones and we’re in route to the safe house. There’s a mess that needs attention at the café.”

  “Very good, Murphy. Report back after you arrive.”

  “Yes, sir.” I hang up and glance at her. She is staring straight ahead holding onto that damn pig like he’s a life raft. I can’t let myself feel bad for her even though I know she’s in shock. And it’s only going to get worse when I tell her everything. This is a job and I have to keep it that way. I can’t do my job unless I push away my emotions.

  Luckily the apartment complex is only about forty five minutes away. I pull in and turn the car off. “I’m going to head up first and make sure it’s clear. Then I’ll come back and get you. Stay here. Lock the doors.”

  I head towards the building and do a sweep of the perimeter. Inside I do the same thing to the stairs and the apartment. Everything is clear so I go get Imogen. She’s in the same position and doesn’t look like she’s moved an inch. I tap on her window and she jumps as she looks over at me. I unlock the doors and open hers. “It’s clear. We can head up.” I grab her bag from the back seat and the bag of litter and head towards the building. “We’ll take the stairs. Third floor.”

  We get to the right door and I unlock it and lead her inside. Inside are the typical generic bare minimum furnishings. I head to the second room and put her stuff down and head back out. She’s standing by the front door uncertainty on her face. Her head turns towards me and her blue eyes connect with mine, “This is your room. I need to report in.”

  She nods as she heads into the room and shuts the door. I call the field office again. I’m looking out the window when he answers.

  “Agent Thomas.”

  “Sir, it’s Murphy. We’ve arrived. Everything is secure.”

  “Good. Back up will be in position in the morning. Will you be okay solo for the night?”

  “Yes, sir. I did a sweep everything; is clear.”

  “All right, Murphy. Report back at oh-six hundred.”

  “Yes, sir.” I hang up and set the phone on the dining table next to me as I continue to look out the window. It’s not the most secure location. The street is right below us and there are multiple windows facing it. I shut all the curtains and head into the small kitchenette to see what supplies we have. If I’m going to be up all night I’m going to need coffee. I’m sure she could use some too now that the shock of tonight has set in. All I find is the instant crap. I guess this sludge will get the job done.

  She opens her door and comes out. Gone is her dress and now she’s in a tank top and a pair of shorts that could pass as underwear. Why couldn’t she sleep in those long old lady nightgowns? I definitely didn’t plan on her being half-naked while I babysit her. I appreciate the view but I’m really going to be testing my willpower. I mentally shake my head to clear it and remind myself of the promotion I’ve been waiting my whole career for.

  I’ve these assignments dozens of times. But the people I’m usually in charge of protecting are old sweaty guys or old sweaty guys’ wives and families. And none of them had a body like her. I shouldn’t even be on this case. If it wasn’t such a high profile witness and my boss promising to give me a recommendation I wouldn’t have taken it.

  “Here,” I say as I hand her a cup of coffee, “it isn’t the stuff you serve but it works.”

  “Thank you,” she says as she sits on the couch and tucks her legs under her.

  “Where’s your pig?”

  “Mr. Darcy, he does have a name. He’s asleep from all the, for lack of a better word, excitement tonight.”

  I nod as if a pig sleeping in the next room isn’t crazy. I take a deep breath as I start, “Imogen, what do you know of your father?”

  “My father? I don’t have one. Well, I mean, I have one, obviously, but not in the sense that most people do. To me he was more like a sperm donor and I don’t know anything about him or who he is. My mom never told me before she died and she didn’t tell June. Why?”

  “Does the name John Graziano sound familiar to you?”

  “Of course it does, I don’t live under a rock. He’s the mob boss who runs Boston. You’re not telling me he is my father? You are out of your mind if you think my mom would have been with a mob boss. Nope, no way.”

  “I know it must be a shock, but John Graziano is your father. Your mother was a waitress near The L Street Beach. Your father was with friends before taking over the family business. At the end of the summer your father went home and your mother left for New Orleans. This leads us to you and why you are here. Your father was threatened, which isn’t something new for someone in his position, but then they sent him photographs of you. There were notes threatening you and claiming you’re his daughter. Turns out they weren’t just claims because proof of paternity was sent. We’re assuming they went through your garbage or apartment to find your DNA. Your father is a big family man and doesn’t take kindly to someone threatening his family, known or as in your case unknown. That was about four and half months ago. He came to us a little over a month ago with evidence against the person doing the blackmailing if we promised to help keep you safe. I’m assuming he was having a hard time getting to the person doing the blackmailing, or he wouldn’t have approached us. The person blackmailing him is Manuel Rodriguez. Are you familiar with him?”

  She gulps down some coffee as she manages to look up at me, “No and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to be.”

  “He’s the main Boston drug lord and actually has some territories outside of Boston. We’ve been watching you for the last couple weeks and things looked like they were going to work out in our favor. No one had made a move and the trial is coming up in a few days. Then tonight…well, you know the rest. We need to keep you here for the next week or so while the trial is going and then after that and look at witness protection if we need to.”

  She takes a swig of coffee as she processes what I just said. “Wait a second, you’re saying I’m going to be stuck here for a week? Or longer? No. No, that can’t happen. What about the café? I can’t be gone for a week! Who will cover? I’ll lose my customers! That is if I even have any customers left after they hear about someone being murdered there. Oh no, who’s going to clean up all the blood? And what about the body?”

  “The FBI have people cleaning up and making a cover story in case anyone witnessed anything or heard the gunshots. He was someone trying to break in and rob the store. An off duty unnamed cop witnessed it.” I try for a reassuring voice and pat her knee. That’s reassuring too, right?

  “Well, that’s awfully convenient. It still doesn’t solve the whole who-is-going-to-cover-me problem. I’ll have to call Kelly and ask her to run the café while I’m gone. What I’m going to say to her? I’m assuming telling her my father, who I never knew anything about, is actually, as it turns out, a mob boss. Oh and just wait, Kel, it gets juicier, there is a drug lord threatening him, by threatening me and the FBI have kidnapped me to keep me safe while he testifies against the drug lord is probably out of the question?”

  “No, no you can’t say that.” I say through a smirk.

  “Well, she’ll never in a million years believe that I took a vacation and I can’t say it was an emergency with June because she’d just come help.”

  “You’re going to tell her you have a family emergency.”

  “The only family I have are here and she’s a part of it. I guess I co
uld make up some obscure aunt.” She reaches for her phone and I stop her and hold out mine.

  “This line is secure. They’re probably tracing yours. We actually should have left it at your place. Turn it off for now and I’ll get rid of it.”

  “Things just keep getting better and better don’t they? You are not ‘getting rid’ of my phone, my whole life is in there! All my work contacts, everything. I may not be some tech genius but I’m pretty sure I know they can’t track a dead phone. So I pinky promise not to turn it back on. In fact, you can keep it, just do not ‘get rid of it.’ I know what that means. You’re lucky Kelly answers her phone even if she doesn’t know the number, just in case she wins one of those contests she’s always entering.” She snatches my phone out my hand, stands up and moves towards the kitchen. I can hear it ringing and then can barely make out a voice I’m assuming is her friend.

  “Hey, Kel it’s Imm. Sorry to call so late but I need to ask you to cover the café. I have to head out of town for at least a week. My mom’s sister, apparently I have an aunt, is in some trouble and I have to go and help sort things out.” I don’t know what her friend is saying but I can tell by Imogen’s expression that she isn’t buying. “Yeah. I just found out about her, the police called and I’m the only family she has.” Another pause and she puffs out the breath she just took. She glances at me and I see the corner of her lip turn up before she continues, “Fine, Kelly, you’re right, I’m lying. My mom doesn’t have a sister. I’m going on a sexcation.” Another pause. “Yup. Well, that’s the thing. I’ve sort of been on a few dates with Wall Street. And life keeps getting in the way so he’s sweeping me away to have his way with me.”

  I choke on the coffee I was just drinking. I have to give it to her, she still has her sense of humor. And there’s that name again, Wall Street; I’ll have to remember to ask her about it when she gets off. I hear her friend’s high pitched screams on the other end as Imogen nods her head.

  “Yes, Kelly, I promise I’ll tell you everything when I get back. I’m sorry for lying to you it’s just that it’s recent. And things aren’t really serious so I didn’t know what to say. I was just wanting to wait to see where things went. And then with Rice and everything, it was just easier to keep it to myself. I don’t know if I’ll have cell coverage but I’ll call you as soon as I get back. Oh, and I have Darcy with me so you don’t need to worry about him.” Rice? Who is Rice and what kind of name is that? I haven’t seen her go out on any dates and I know she doesn’t have a boyfriend. She barely has any friends. Her friend says something I can’t make out and she answers, “I know but it was his idea; he just loves Mr. Darcy and didn’t want to leave him out. Will you tell June for me? He’s wanting my undivided attention if you know what I mean.” Leaning against the kitchen counter she ends the call, “Always. Love you too, Kel.”

  She pushes off the counter and sets the phone down. Turning towards me I can see the smile on her lips. “So about that, sorry but she knows I don’t have any family. She’s been dying for me to go out on a date and I knew that if I told her I was with somebody she would shut up and wait to ask questions until I could give her all the juicy details.”

  “As long as she bought it and you can calm down. I heard you say it before, what’s Wall Street mean?”

  Her cheeks turn red as she turns to the coffee pot to pour herself some more coffee, “Oh that, well, when you first started coming into the shop we didn’t know your name. We took turns guessing what you did on your computer all day and finally we decided that you looked like you could work on Wall Street with your suit and stuff. And maybe you traded stocks or worked the stock market on your computer. That and you have impeccable manners and are super friendly so that seemed like a profession that someone like you would do.”

  “You gave me a nickname? You noticed me enough to give me a nickname?” I don’t even care she basically just called me an ass. I know I can’t do anything about it but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one enjoying the view. I head towards her and the kitchen.

  “Well, I mean, have you looked at yourself? Have you seen the other people who come into the shop? Of course we noticed you, we’re females.” She finally turns back towards me with the coffee pot in her hand. She raises it, asking if I want more. I nod my head and just as she is about to pour my cup, the pot shatters.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  - Imogen -

  I’ve barely even registered that the coffee pot I was holding is now just a handle before I’m flat on my back on the kitchen floor. Calder is on top of me pinning me to the floor. His weight is the perfect pressure and he smells remotely of mint and cedar. His hands roam up and down my body a couple times and I hear him let out a breath I didn’t know he was holding. Then he is off me with a gun drawn as he leans against the wall and peeks out of the window. It’s about this time that Mr. Darcy comes running out of the room squealing. I snatch him up and rub his ear which always calms him down.

  I see Calder lower his weapon and pick up his phone. This time he doesn’t wait for the person on the other end to speak. “We’re compromised. At least one shot fired, suspect fled, no injuries. Requesting a new location,” he rushes. His jaw clenches and his hand runs through his hair. “What do you mean you don’t have an alternate location? This is top priority!” He pinches the bridge of his nose and then his demeanor changes and I know that the first person he was talking to wasn’t his boss but the person he’s talking to now is.

  “Yes, sir. I’m not sure what you want me to do, sir.” He nods his head then continues, “I don’t think we can wait a few days. They’ve already made two moves in one night.” Pause. “Yes.” Another pause. “I agree. I have a place we can go tonight and lay low for the next few days, until the next location is set up.” He glances at me as he nods, “Yes. Yes, sir. I’ll report in on the road.”

  He puts his phone back in his pocket then comes over and grabs the hand that isn’t holding Mr. Darcy and helps me up. “We’re leaving. Grab your bags. You have two minutes.”

  “But I heard something about another location not being ready? Where are we supposed to go?” This all feels like a bad action movie starring some fighter turned wanna-be actor. “Why is someone doing this? They have to know I don’t know my dad so why would he care what happened to me? I’m not much of a bargaining chip. This all has to be some crazy dream.”

  “Imogen. We don’t have time. My job is to keep you safe and I plan to do that. I can’t do it here so we have to go. I’ll explain where we’re going once we’re on the road. Right now, I need you to go grab your stuff so we can go. I’ll carry you and forcibly take you to safety if I have to.”

  “You wouldn’t dare!”

  “Like I said, it’s my job to keep you safe and I plan to do that. Any means necessary. One minute left.”

  I weigh my options for another couple of seconds before I see that he is in fact very serious. I scramble and grab my stuff. Luckily I didn’t unpack anything when we first got here. I just laid on the bed trying to come to terms with the fact that I was in the custody of the FBI and then changed my clothes. I grab my dress and stuff it in my bag and I’m done in the nick of time.

  “If you want us to get to the car fast you might want to help with my stuff,” I say pointing to the bag of kitty litter and my bag. Without another word he grabs them off the floor and is at the door. He still has his gun drawn and opens the door slightly while looking right and then left. Then he, not even joking, motions me forward with his fingers like we are on some covert operation and I’m going to understand what his hand signals mean. I come up behind him cradling Mr. Darcy in both arms across my chest and whisper, “If you think I know what your little hand signals mean, you are out of your ever-loving mind.”

  He looks over his shoulder at me and answers, “I’m going to be in front making sure the coast is clear. You stay behind me and only come when I motion for you.”
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  Getting sick of his condescending tone, I do a mock salute as I whisper back, “Aye, aye captain.” The look he gives me goes to prove that he doesn’t have a sense of humor and I am thinking it’s a shame his looks are wasted on someone who is so uptight. I mean someone’s tried to kill me, kidnap, and who knows what else not once but twice in one night. The only reason I’m not a complete emotional wreck is that I’m still hoping I’m going to wake up soon, that and my complete hilariousness.

  We make it down the stairs and to the lobby, where he has me wait with the bags, while he goes and makes sure the way to the car is clear. He comes back and grabs the bags and tucks me under his free arm and we run hunched over to the car. I dive in the front seat as he swings my door open. Throwing the bags in the back seat he gets in, he starts the car, and takes off.

  He’s about to get on I-12 heading east when I feel my eyelids start to get heavy. I glance at the clock and notice it’s three in the morning. I turn my head towards the window. A small fifteen minute nap is all I need.

  I jerk awake and it takes me a moment to orient myself. Everything that has happened tonight crashes back to me and I realize the car has stopped and we are in front of a small convenience store. I can see Calder through the windows paying the cashier and heading back towards the car with a couple of bags on his arms.

  He opens the back door and sets the bags down then climbs in and starts to buckle his seat belt. “I didn’t want to wake you. I figured you needed the sleep and it would be better if people couldn’t ID you. I got supplies for the next couple days.”

  I sit up and look around as he starts to back out. “Where are we? Where are we going?”

  “Right now we’re in Covington. We are heading to my grandpa’s cabin. Technically my cabin since he left to me. It’s a good chunk of land along the Tchefuncte River. We’ll only be there for a few days while they get the next safe house ready. I haven’t been up here since he died, so sorry if it’s a mess.”