by Judi McCoy
Sam stepped away and waited while Ellie held the same one-sided conversation she usually did with her pooch. She never seemed to mind it when people said she was crazy, so it didn’t pay to try to stop her.
He pulled out his shield and walked to the crowd of officials, who were huddled around the beefy guy he’d downed, the younger man who’d rescued the date book, and the woman Wheeling was arresting.
Ellie left the dogs and walked next to him. Loud sobbing made them both turn their heads. The woman in red was still on her knees, hugging the shredded painting and wailing like a banshee.
“What the heck is she crying about?” he asked Ellie.
“I think she just realized she wasn’t the love of the dead man’s life. He used her precious painting as a hiding place for records of his drug transactions.”
“This place is a zoo. Are you all right?”
Stepping closer, she snuggled against his chest. “I am now.”
It was then Wheeling sidled over and smiled grimly. “So you’re the poor Joe in Ms. Engleman’s life.” He shook his head. “You have my deepest sympathy.”
“You always run a three-ring circus when you wrap up a murder investigation?” Sam asked in return.
Wheeling cocked his head in Ellie’s direction. “You can thank your girlfriend for this over-the-top performance. We had nothing to do with it.”
“But she helped you nab the right suspects, correct?”
The detective shrugged. “Looks like.” He still had a hand on the woman he’d arrested. “But it’s going to take a while to sort it all out.”
Ellie leaned back in the sofa. For the past hour, the McCready family members had been questioned, one at a time, by the police. Though it wasn’t the lengthy grilling they’d received the night Dr. Kent had died, it ate up plenty of time.
With Ellie’s encouragement, Viv had spent most of the evening with her sisters and her parents. She imagined their talk would focus on the best place for Adrianne to take her “private vacation” for the next three months. Knowing that if she disagreed she’d be immediately cut loose from her security blanket, Adrianne would take the deal, Ellie figured.
And as much as she disliked the middle sister, she had to admit that Adrianne’s idiotic escapade had done some good. Without that painting, Agent Bond might never have found the elusive record book that incriminated Dr. Bordowski and Michael Forrest, as well as a couple of unscrupulous pharmaceutical reps.
Detective Levy and a cadre of cops had taken Dr. Bordowski and Uncle Mickey out with orders to book them both on murder. Now, with the living room in disarray, all five dogs were alongside her on the couch. Rudy dozed at her thigh, Mr. T was next to him, and the Boston Terriers slept at the end.
Somewhere in the back of the house, a door slammed. A moment later Rosa and her daughters arrived and began putting things to rights. “You were so cool,” Maria told her for the tenth time that evening. “What a great way to capture the real killer.”
Ellie smiled, but kept mum. She’d tried to explain to the girls, and Rosa and Julio, and Tomas, and anyone else who would listen, that she hadn’t planned on Adrianne carting the painting in, and that’s what really opened things up.
But no one wanted to hear it. They were positive she was the star of the night, and Viv, too, for corralling the doctor and holding her in place when the brawl broke out.
Viv, of course, took her kudos with a bow, and gave Ellie a cat-who-ate-the-cream smile whenever their eyes met.
Sam, on the other hand, figured out exactly what had happened and razzed her about her big unveiling. He’d gone down the hallway a while ago to lend the local cops a hand, and she hadn’t seen him since.
“Ms. Ellie,” said Rosa, standing beside her. “How can I thank you for saving my son?” She dabbed a tissue over her damp cheek. “You are an angel.”
“You don’t owe me a thing.” She ruffled Rudy’s ears to let him know he was the real hero of the night. “Just take care of Arlene. She’s going to need you and Julio in the next couple of months.”
“Sí, we will. But Ms. Adrianne, she is not so lucky. She is carrying a lot of pain, and she still lets the bad medicine rule her.”
“That’s why Arlene forgave her. And her parents are going to see to it she gets the help she needs.”
Dressed in his usual khakis with a chocolate brown knit shirt, Agent Bond entered the living room from the hallway. He’d been in the background for most of the evening, but he had retrieved Dr. Kent’s personal records, exactly what he needed to conclude his investigation.
“I guess you’re feeling pretty proud of yourself,” he said when he got to the sofa.
“I’m not the kind of person who says ‘I told you so’ very often, but . . .”
“You were right. About Tomas, at least. Something tells me you were as surprised as everyone else to find that Sabrina Bordowski was the killer.”
“Tell him you knew it all along,” Rudy whispered, waking from his nap.
She put a hand over his muzzle. “I figured it was either her or Mickey. When he ratted her out, it made things easier.”
Jim put his hands in his pockets. “I met your boyfriend. He seems like a nice guy. And a good cop.”
“He’s a doofus dick, just like you.”
Tightening her fingers around her boy’s snout, Ellie grinned. “We think so.”
“And you’re happy living together?”
“Not me. I wanna—”
She clamped her hand tighter and gave Rudy a shake. “So far, so good.”
Agent Bond’s lips thinned. He pulled out his shield protector, removed a card, and passed it to her. “If that ever changes, call me.” Bending down, he kissed the knot on her temple. “And take care of yourself.”
He left the room with the same cocky attitude he’d had all week long, and Ellie sighed. Men!
A moment later Wheeling and Sam strode into the room.
“Looks like it’s all over but the shouting,” said Wheeling.
She broke out in a smile. “And everything lines up?”
“I’ll leave your friend to give you the report. I’m on a hunt for Ms. Millman.” He glanced around the room. “I take it she’s upstairs with her family?”
“I think so,” said Ellie, jutting her chin toward the foyer. “You know the way.”
Wheeling left, and Sam scoured the dog-encrusted sofa. When he snapped his fingers, Mr. T and the Bostons took off after the detective and Rudy jumped on Ellie’s thighs. Sam sat and put his arm around her shoulder. “You sure do know how to have a good time on vacation.”
Still holding Agent Bond’s card in her hand, she nestled into Sam’s hard, warm chest. “I could have done without the murder, but everything else was fun.”
“We’d have a better end to our vacation if Detective Demento left for home,” grumped Rudy. “The sooner the better.”
She scratched a furrow down her yorkiepoo’s back and around to his belly. “Viv says you’re spending the night.”
“I’d like to.”
“She said Arlene’s offered us a room upstairs with a big comfy bed, a triple-sized shower, and a great view of the ocean.”
“Sounds nice.” He pulled back and gazed at her face. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look like a war mask from some now-defunct African tribe.” He touched her temple. “The DEA agent, Jim Bond, told me how it happened. Does it hurt?”
“Not so much. The way I understand it, Michael Forrest was the steam engine that ran me down.”
“So Wheeling said. Apparently both Forrest and Dr. Bordowski wanted that book, and each of them argued with Kent the night of the murder. I gathered from listening to Bordowski and Mickey Mouse argue that timing was the key. Dr. Kent had people coming after him one by one.” Sam held her hand. “First that Mexican kid, then Forrest, then Bordowski. She’s into some martial art and she confessed the killing was an accident. Bordowski broke in on him and Mickey Mouse arguing and gave Kent a shove to break
them apart. Kent spun backward and tripped on Mickey’s foot. Next thing she knew, he fell and smacked his head, and that was it.”
“That part had me confused. Adrianne practiced martial arts, too, Tomas was a street fighter, and Forrest had already mowed me down. The way I first figured it, any one of them was strong enough to push the doc backward and kill him.”
He cupped her chin. “I won’t repeat this because I know it’ll come back to bite me in the ass, but I’m proud of you.”
“Hey! What about me?”
“Don’t forget Rudy,” she said, gulping down a breath. This moment was a high point in their relationship. She wanted to be certain she had it right. “You’re really proud of me?”
“Don’t get too complacent. There’s a lot about this ordeal that has me ticked.” He turned her head so they were eye to eye and began counting out her errors. “One: You didn’t tell me there’d been a murder. Two: You decided to investigate it on your own. Three: You put yourself in danger and almost—”
“Viv helped, and so did Rudy.”
“Same difference, as far as I see it.” He put a finger on her lips when she started to protest. “I don’t like it when you put yourself in the line of fire, yet that’s where you always manage to end up.”
“But Rosa needed my help, and so did Arlene. Viv asked me to get involved. How could I say no to her?”
Sam’s lips quirked, but he remained silent.
Rudy raised his head. “You two gonna talk all night, or can we go to bed?”
“Did you bring your overnight bag?” Ellie asked. Rudy was correct. It was late, and they were beat.
“It’s in the car. Maybe I should go get it?”
She grinned. “Maybe you should.”
He leaned back and stared at her, running his thumb along her bump, then following the bruise down her nose to her cheek. “Too bad I didn’t know about this when I decked that Mickey Mouse slug. I would have given him what he did to you, only double.”
“That was my job, bozo-brain,” said Rudy.
When he jerked to a sit and glared at Sam, Ellie set him on the floor, then stood and pulled Sam to his feet. “Get your bag and meet me upstairs. And wait until you see this room . . . this house . . . the beach. It’s amazing. Can you stay a few days?”
“The captain said I was free for three. That gives us time to explore the Hamptons.” He headed for the foyer. “Just you and me.” He gave Rudy a look. “Alone.”
“So says the Defective Detective,” her boy grumped.
Sam grabbed her and drew her to his chest. “I’ve missed you. Since you left, I learned that I don’t like being alone.”
Dipping his head, he gave her the welcome kiss she’d been hoping for, tender yet demanding. Ellie tingled from her head to her toes. Crushing Jim Bond’s card in her hand, she let it fall to the floor. She already had two perfect men in her life; she didn’t need a third.
They separated but stood forehead to forehead, breathing in tandem. “You dropped something,” he said, his eyes searching the tile.
“It’s not important. Rosa or the girls will pick it up.” She inhaled a breath. “Go get your bag. It’s time for bed.”
Sam left and she headed up the stairs with Rudy at her heels. “We’re lucky. This room has a king-sized bed.”
“Where’s Detective Demento supposed to sleep?”
“You’re cute when you’re cranky.” They talked as they walked down the hall. “I’m going to get some stuff from our old room. You can either stay there for the night with Viv and T, or join Sam and me. Arlene has a nice fluffy dog bed nestled in a corner of the new bedroom.”
Rudy waited while she opened and closed drawers, gathering her things. When she was finished, she squatted in front of him. “Have you decided where you want to sleep?”
“I can’t believe you’re askin’ me that,” he gruffed. “Where else do I have to be, but with you?”
Ellie raised her eyes to the ceiling. Her boy always knew the right question and the right answer to everything. The Q-and-A that brought tears to her eyes and tugged at her heart. No matter how things turned out with Sam, Rudy was her fella. The only male she couldn’t live without.
Dropping to her knees, she pulled him near and he licked her cheek. “Are you cryin’ again?”
“Of course I am.” She swallowed a sob. “You are my guy, forever and always, and no one can take your place.” She kissed the top of his head. “Remember that forever.”
“Ahh, that’s what I want to hear.” He slurped his tongue across her fingers. “Lead the way to our room. Detective Demento is gonna love that doggie bed.”
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Epilogue
It was Labor Day weekend, the end of a long summer of excitement. Ellie and Viv sat outside their usual Joe to Go, enjoying Caramel Bliss coffee and blueberry muffins while Mr. T and Rudy huddled under the table nibbling biscuits from Sara Studebaker’s new doggie bakery, the Spoiled Hound, located right next door.
“Look what arrived in yesterday’s mail,” said Viv, holding up a postcard. “Arlene’s in Mexico with Rosa, Julio, and Tomas. The girls stayed home to take care of Myron and the dogs.”
She passed the card over and Ellie read the note:
Hi, Vivie,
Let Ellie know that Tomas and Julio fulfilled their manda by crawling on their hands and knees up the center aisle of the Catedral Metropolitana as a thank-you for Tomas being cleared of murder charges. Rosa and I cried like babies as we stood and watched. You and Ellie should have been there.
Love,
Arlene
“Sounds intense, doesn’t it?” asked Viv, returning the card to her bag.
“It certainly does.” Ellie sipped her coffee. “I don’t think I told you—Rosa promised me something special for helping to free her son.”
“Really? What was that?”
“An entire year of prayers, just for me. I’m covered until next summer.” She grinned. “I told Sam and he went ballistic. Said he was the only one who would cover me. Then he told me I couldn’t leave the city again unless he was with me.”
“And you’re going to buy that?”
“Of course not. Wherever I go, Rudy will be with me, and he’s all I need for protection.”
“You got that right,” said a voice from under the table.
“Protection?” Viv rolled her eyes. “Are you planning another murder investigation?”
“Who, me? Absolutely not.” She sighed. “Just like I didn’t plan this last one.”
“I already explained to Sam about a dozen times that you only got involved because Arlene, Rosa, and I begged you.” Viv drank the last of her coffee and set her mug on the table. “But I don’t think he believed me.”
“He did. He just didn’t want to hear it.” Hoping her smile wasn’t too smug, she peeled the paper cup from her muffin. “Arlene sent me something, too.”
Viv leaned back in her chair. “How dare you hold out on me?”
“I wasn’t holding out, I was waiting. We haven’t exactly spent much time together this week.”
“I know and I’m sorry. I had to go to that big animal rescue fund-raiser with Dave. Then there was the company emergency meeting. I had to take an important client to dinner, and on and on. There was no way I could miss any of it.”
“I understand, and it was fine.”
“Enough about me. Let me in on what Arlene sent you.”
Ellie dug in her tote bag and pulled out a manila envelope. After opening it, she drew out a few sheets of fine paper and passed the first page to Viv. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Viv held the astrological chart at arm’s length. “Wow. Big sis did a great job. You do realize something this involved and intricate takes a couple of days to compile?”
“I do,” said Ellie, thrilled that Arlene would spend so much time on her. “She was a doll to do it.”
“It’s nice to see that she’s living up to her promise to
change her ways. She’s even back to talking to Adrianne.”
“How’s that going? Has middle sister moved out? Found a job? Got her life in order?”
“In a manner of speaking.” Viv returned the chart. “I don’t want to talk about Ms. Bossy Boots. Let’s hear what Arlene had to say about you.”
Ellie held up the first of three more pages. “I’m skipping over the negative stuff, because the way Arlene explains it, I should focus on the positive and do all I can to make it happen.”
“I already know your quirks, pal. I’ll listen to whatever you want to tell me.”
“Okay, here goes.” She cleared her throat. “Ambitious, courageous, impulsive, and enterprising, you are a free spirit and you must be first in everything you do. Very self-confident and passionate, you radiate positive energy. Quite gregarious, you enjoy being with people and their animals.” She grinned. “How true is that?”
“So far, so good. Continue please.”
Wriggling in her seat, she set her elbows on the table and held up the page. “Your mind is curious and inquisitive, always seeking information on a wide variety of topics. You are known for being blunt, honest, and truthful, even if it hurts your best friend.”
Viv cocked her head, her smile wide. “You’d never do that to me, would you?”
“I would if it was for your own good.”
“Hmm, okay, go on.”
“Mmm . . . mmm . . . mmm . . . nothing you need to know,” Ellie muttered, moving to the next page. “Oh, yeah, I love this part. Idealistic by nature, you will be in the forefront of humanitarian attempts to help the ‘underdog,’ whether canine or human. And you are comfortable with the philosophy of improving the lot of those in need of assistance.”
“Has Sam heard that one?”
“I read it to him, but I don’t think he paid it much attention.”