Her hasty retreat caused her to trip on the last step, but she didn’t slow down until she burst through the swinging door to the bar. Benny was heading behind the counter at the same time and caught her as she stumbled into his arms.
“Whoa, sweetheart, slow down.” Benny grinned.
Sunny wiped her brow with the back of her hand as she balanced the small crate of beer she’d brought up from the basement against her leg and gave Benny an enthusiastic smile.
“Sorry. I was low on these.” She kneeled to restock the cooler beneath the bar, unable to look Benny in the eye, fearing he’d know what she’d discovered in his office file cabinet. Disgust with herself for doubting him churned her insides. He’d never hurt Karina, but now she knew for sure. No man would keep all of those letters and pictures unless he had been in love, and was still in love after all of these years.
“Not a problem. I’ll mix a few drinks and get you caught up.”
From there the night moved along like any other except for the hairs on the back of Sunny’s neck never relaxed, and neither did her heartbeat. Not only had her run in with Slater unnerved her, but she still couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.
After they closed, Benny waited while Sunny finished restocking the liquor and wiped down the counters. It’d become his habit to walk her and the dancers to their cars. Because it had been busy she’d parked at the far end of the lot tonight, although that had been her last choice. Despite Benny’s presence, Sunny swallowed and turned to her right. Something didn’t seem right. Did she see a shadow move or was it her imagination? Her flesh prickled with goose bumps. Relief raced through her when a stray dog scuttled by chasing an empty food container blowing in the wind.
“Thanks again for seeing me to my car, but I’m a big girl and would’ve been fine.” Just hearing her voice, even when she doubted her words, chased away her fears.
“Sweetheart, you’re only a big girl in your mind. You can’t weigh more than one hundred pounds soaking wet with a brick strapped to your ankle.”
“I think you’re exaggerating a wee bit, Benny.” Sunny giggled.
“Well, you had an admirer tonight, and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t out here waiting for you.”
Sunny stopped short. “What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you see the guy in the booth Slater usually sits in?” Benny looked down at her. His brow creased. The rough life he’d led showed in wrinkles lining his leathery skin like a well used road map. He appeared at least ten years older than his actual age.
“No, I guess I didn’t pay much attention, but we were kinda busy tonight.” Sunny’s gaze darted around the parking lot. Her chest constricted and she fought to inhale.
“I watched him and he couldn’t take his eyes off you. Even when one of the girls took a break from dancing and tried to chat him up, he brushed her off.”
“What’d he look like? Was he cute?” Sunny chuckled in an effort to make light of the situation. Benny laughed too, but they both sounded tense. If it turned out one of her brothers was onto her and had slipped into the bar to spy, she didn’t want to alert Benny.
“Actually I couldn’t see him too well.” He rested his arm over her shoulder and hugged her to his side. “He was large, dark, and wore a cowboy hat, so I couldn’t see his face, or much else.”
“Hmm, tall, dark and mysterious. Sounds like my dream guy.” Sunny managed a smile, but no laughter this round.
“Not funny, girlie.” Concern filled every line on his face. “It’s probably nothing, but I wanted to give you a heads up.”
“Well, I’ll pay more attention from now on. More than likely it was a one-time customer checking out the scenery. Let’s not worry about it.” Too bad that was easier said than done.
The next time she worked, she’d make sure to check out every person in the place. It unnerved her to think her brothers were onto her. She’d almost prefer an enamored customer.
“Either way, this isn’t a good neighborhood, you know, especially at this hour. No matter what, I’d prefer it if all of you girls were walked out after closing.” He held her arm above the elbow as they resumed their pace. “Plus, I wanted to thank you for sticking up for me before we were taken to the cop shop the other night.”
Sunny unlocked her car, and glanced sideways at Benny as he reached into his pant pocket and pulled out a small box. She took her place behind the wheel, smiling up at him.
When the bar had been raided by the misinformed officers, Sunny had been the first one to step forward to tell them they had it all wrong. The girls weren’t going completely topless, not that night or any other night. Nobody would listen and the bar was closed for business on the spot, the few remaining customers were asked to leave and any employees that wouldn’t go willingly and without a fuss were cuffed and brought down to the station for questioning. Or, in her case, a family pow-wow.
“No big deal, I wanted them to know you hadn’t done anything wrong.”
“Here, I made you a little something.” He held out the plain white box.
Inside, tucked in a soft square of fluffy cotton, lay a pair of dangle sterling silver earrings with beautiful blue stones twinkling on the ends. “Oh Benny, they’re beautiful.” She glanced up at him, her vision blurred by the threat of tears. This former trouble maker was really nothing more than a teddy bear, and nobody would ever convince her otherwise. “You made these?”
Benny shifted his glance around the parking lot before his gaze finished on her face. “I knew the blue would match your eyes as soon as I saw the lapis lazuli stones. And, yes, I made them, but that’s between you and me.” His quiet chuckle endeared him to Sunny more and she patted his hand through her open widow.
“You’re secret’s safe with me.”
“I’ve polished stones every since my dad bought me a rock tumbler as a kid. Karina came up with the idea of making jewelry. I gave her the first pair I ever made, actually the same type of stone as these.” He cleared his throat, his emotions too near the surface. “Your eyes are the same shade of blue as hers.”
“Thank you so much. I’ll treasure them.” Sunny squeezed his hand. “They’re exquisite.”
“I’ve only made a handful of pieces since Karina was killed. The desire of doing it isn’t there anymore. But, when I came across these stones, I knew they were meant for you.”
“I’m just glad everything at the police station worked out.” She pulled the hoops from her ears and replaced them with the pair Benny had made. She tapped the interior light and inspected her reflection in the rear view mirror. “They’re perfect.”
“Drive careful, sweetheart.” He thumped the roof of her neon yellow Mustang signaling the end of their conversation.
Sunny slipped her car into reverse. The engine purred as she shifted into first gear and pressed the accelerator. A shiver ran threw her body when she spotted the familiar form of Slater in her side mirror. He stood outside the back door of the bar illuminated in the mercury light. The red tip of his cigarette glowed as he sucked in a drag. He turned his head to follow the direction of her car as she roared down the road out of his view. His image stayed with her all the way home.
****
Sunny had to work at the bar tonight. It was her last afternoon off of a five day stretch, and she hadn’t heard one word from Judson that whole time. Had he changed his mind and decided not to work with her after all? Her stomach sank at the idea.
Yes, she could be a pain. Her mouth had a mind of its own at times, and he might have decided he didn’t want to deal with it, or her. Her stomach flipped again, but she ignored it as she slowed, downshifted, and turned her sports car onto her narrow street.
Her visit with Mr. DeVito had been short; she hadn’t wanted to tire him out. He’d left a message on her phone the night before to let her know he’d found another envelope filled with more photographs from the crime scene. He didn’t know if they’d help, but Sunny went to pick up the package anyway.
A breeze tousled his hair so a section rested over one eye and he brushed it back without blinking. She sucked in a quick breath, jealous her fingers hadn’t been given the chance to mess his hair first. Almost a week with no word, he had some nerve showing up now. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
She hated the fact her insides turned to a gooey blob at the sight of him.
His tall athletic build moved slowly across the pavement. Snug black jeans smoothed over his well formed thighs, a deep growl rose up her throat and she swallowed it. Her gaze traveled up his legs and past his flat abdomen to rest on the expanse of his broad chest. The stark white tee shirt stretched across his upper body, contrasting with his dark skin tone and the muscles underneath rippled with his every movement.
He looked so hot her eyes burned. Her body stirred as she envisioned his powerful arms wrapped around her naked body. She blinked, licked her lips and looked away releasing a shaky breath before turning back to continue ogling him through the fan of her lashes.
How different things would be if they were in another place at another time.
She stepped from her car, and the urban noise faded into the background. Images of him dressed in nothing but a loin cloth and moccasins, full eagle-feather war-bonnet adorning his head, as he stood on a cliff with the sun setting in the distance. Her blood rolled through her veins like waves crashing against rocks.
“Glad I caught you.”
All too soon she plunged into the present when her hunky, hot, and dangerous Indian chief spoke. As his face came into focus she refused to give up the picture of him in a loin cloth, her hands reaching to lift soft, pliable leather. She didn’t speak. Couldn’t speak.
“Glen called to let me know you’d just left his place. I’d like to go through the envelope together.”
“Sure, come on in.” Damn, just when a girl was in the middle of a good daydream.
She turned from him to catch her breath. They stepped onto the porch and she unlocked the door before grabbing her mail from the rectangular box with her name on it.
“I haven’t even opened it yet.”
Damn, I’m awesome, I actually sound normal.
“I got here at the right time then.”
“You could say that.” She turned toward him to wave him inside. The fantasy still fresh in her mind didn’t stop her annoyance. Too show up after almost a week. Unbelievable.
Sunny tossed her keys and the mail onto the small table by the entrance, then gestured him to follow her. “In here, I’ve got an office where I’ve set everything up.”
She led him into the small room off the hallway between her bedroom and tiny bathroom. Judson walked toward the large dry erase board which covered the length of one wall. An outline of Karina’s last day, in vivid detail, filled almost every available space in neat cursive writing.
“You’ve been busy.” He turned to her.
“And that surprises you?” Sunny lifted her chin. “You don’t think much of my abilities.”
“It remains to be seen.” Judson fastened his hands over his hips.
They stood regarding each other for several tense moments, and then Sunny cleared her throat. “I wasn’t sure I’d see you again.” She rested her weight on one foot, while the other tapped the wooden floor in perfect rhythm. “I thought we’d get together sooner than this. We’re working a case where every second counts, and if you can’t let me know when you’re going to be here, then we have a problem.”
“Hey, don’t go all boss lady on me.” Judson lifted one brow and stepped toward her, humor dancing in his eyes. “Next you’ll be cuffing me to drag down to the station like a common perp.”
“Not funny, Judson.” Her voice rose. “If you’re going to treat this like a joke, let’s forget it. You can go back to the precinct, and I’ll continue with what I was doing in the first place, before everyone decided to run my life.”
“Don’t make me regret my decision to help you.”
“Please. You act like you’re doing me a favor, like I’d be lost without you.” She waved him away with a flick of her wrist.
“Whoa, Wildcat, you’re acting like I hand-picked you to work with.”
“I’m serious about my work—and quit calling me Wildcat.” She walked to the small round antique table in the corner and tossed the envelope in the center. “It’s been five days since I heard from you. What am I supposed to think?”
“You have my number.” He rocked on his heels. “If you were so concerned, you could’ve called.”
“Why should I be the one to call? You said you’d be in touch.”
“Well, if you had called you’d know I was finishing up some paperwork so I could devote all of my attention to this.” His hand encompassed the room.
“Is that your attempt at an apology?” She raised her chin.
“Will that make you calm down?”
“It’ll be a start.”
“In that case, I’ll go one step farther. I apologize for not keeping you better informed.” He grinned.
Her posture relaxed. It would be next to impossible to stay angry after he’d apologized, even though it wasn’t the best apology she’d ever heard, but topping it off with his knee melting grin pushed her over the edge. She blew out her breath; apologies aside she needed him to have access to the information at the precinct, especially the evidence box. “When I didn’t hear from you I thought you backed out on me.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Not that I’m admitting I own these traits, but you might think I have a bossy attitude and a big mouth.” A sliver of a smile curved her lips.
“Wildcat, your attitude and mouth don’t scare me.” His long hair fell over his forehead. “I should’ve known better. Whenever I work with a girl—woman—I should check in more often.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Her brow creased.
He shook his head and pushed the hair from his eyes. “You’re just like my last partner.”
“We are not partners.”
“Call it whatever you want. Either way I had a bad habit of not keeping her up to date on my whereabouts. It was a sore spot between us.”
They sounded close. Her stomach tossed and tightened. “Smart woman.”
“She was.” His voice lowered. “She was the best.”
Sunny’s heart thumped against her chest. His face hardened, his eyes dulled. It didn’t take a detective to realize there would be no discussion about his last partner. She wouldn’t push the issue, at least for the moment.
“Okay, let’s start over.” Sunny lowered her eyes to the package on the table. “I’m sorry, you’re sorry, we’re square. Sound like a deal?”
“Deal.” His husky voice eased the weight on her heart.
“Let’s check this out.” Sunny smiled at him. “I’m dying to know if any of these pictures will help us.”
“Glen said they’re all shots from outside of Karina’s apartment complex. He forgot he had them.”
She opened the brown document sized envelope and the pictures spilled over the surface of the table, along with a thin white envelope stuffed full of several sheets of lined paper. Sunny pushed it aside as she sifted through the photographs.
“Looks like people standing around, nosy neighbors, and shots of the police working the scene.” She picked up a few pictures to examine them. “Here are some pics of the neighborhood.”
Judson pulled a partially hidden picture from the pile. It was larger than the rest and looked like a professional portrait. Sunny whistled and blinked in quick succession as she took the glossy print Judson offered.
“This deserves a place of honor. It’ll be a constant reminder of why we’re doing this.” Sunny plucked a thumb tack from a tray and secured the glossy picture onto the wall, off to the
side by itself. She wanted it to stand out from the others, so it’d be the focal point when she came into the room to work. Karina’s face smiled back at her. She wore her graduation cap and gown, her face full of hope, excitement and the future.
“Good thinking.”
Sunny stepped back, her vision blurry, sniffed and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. Judson came up beside her, resting his arm across her shoulders. They both stood in silent respect.
“Karina was so beautiful.” Sunny’s hushed voice quivered. “I wish I’d gotten the chance to meet her.”
“It’s the perfect spot for her picture, Sunny. Glen said she’d been valedictorian of her class.” Judson’s fingers caressed her shoulder. “Don’t turn all girly on me now. Let’s get to work.” He squeezed her upper arm.
“I know, I know.”
He pulled a chair from the table then held it out for her. “After you, Wildcat.”
Not that she’d let him know, but she liked his nickname for her. He’d singled her out to make her special.
Heat oozed through her body as she took the offered seat. “I don’t have a lot of time, Judson, I have to be—somewhere in a couple of hours.”
She almost messed up and revealed her secret. Sunny looked away when he sat beside her, hoping he hadn’t noticed her pause.
He didn’t miss a beat. “What time do we have to be at Benny’s?”
“What—what are you talking about?”
“Sunny, Sunny, Sunny,” he drawled, dragging out her name each time he said it.
“Judson, Judson, Judson.” She swallowed, and tried to win him over with her exaggerated smile.
It didn’t work.
“I thought I warned you against playing me for a fool. Although your charm is quite effective, I won’t be swayed. I’m not under your thumb like your brothers and dad.” His slow smile warmed her from head to toe.
She wiggled in her seat and looked away. Needing a distraction, Sunny grabbed the white envelope from the table stuffed with papers; the pressure from her fingers bent the corners as she mumbled, “Nobody’s under my thumb.”
“Come clean, you might as well fess up. I know you’re still the resident bartender at Benny’s.” He snorted. “I’ve seen you there.”
Some Like It in Handcuffs Page 5