The Throwbacks

by Stephanie Queen

  “Shit!” David dropped the dog and ran for the door. Luckily, he’d slept fully clothed—for a variety of reasons.

  He ran down the stairs and made a sharp turn to the right when he banged through the door to the street. He saw the man at the corner and for a split second they looked at each other before the man turned and bolted. David started after him, gun drawn, and pulled his phone from his pocket to call in backup. He was in good shape, but not street-chase shape—not like the old days, he thought as he pressed the number for the police HQ and told them to get a car out there.

  “Make it quick. I’m in pursuit and he’s starting to lose me,” he grunted as the man took a turn down an alley. David’s advantage was an intimate familiarity with Beacon Hill, including this alley. He knew there were a dozen doorways and gates the man could disappear into and wasn’t surprised when he made the turn and the man was nowhere to be seen. He retreated to the street corner and called the police again to let him know where he was. He’d wait for them to get there.

  “Noodles! Here, puppy!”

  “Bloody hell!” David’s heart nearly stopped when he heard Grace’s voice. She wasn’t far from him—and the would-be intruder. He raced in her direction, looking everywhere and frantic that the intruder might get an idea and find her first. He rounded the corner two blocks from her building and bowled into her.

  She screeched and fell backwards, but he caught her against the brick wall at the edge of the sidewalk before she collapsed against him.

  “What are you doing out here, Grace? On the dark streets with intruders running around is no place for you to be, especially in that get up.” He kept her back against the wall, standing in front of her and letting the wall hold them both up. He held onto her shoulders with an iron grip and noticed her short robe covered only the black nightie, leaving far too much skin exposed. Sure enough, when he looked down he saw she had bare feet.

  “Your white skin is like a siren out here calling to every man with an ounce of evil lurking in his mind—and that includes me, by the way.” He took a large breath because he realized he was all out of wind.

  His pulse was beating fast, and he went into breathing regulation mode to calm himself. The sirens were finally heading their way.

  “Noodles got out—I don’t know where,” she said in a sob and leaned closer. He wrapped an arm around her and guided her back toward her front door.

  “Let’s go back inside and regroup. I’ll talk to the police and enlist their help to find Noodles. He scared the intruder away, you know—he did what he had to do to protect you when the chips were down.”

  “You realize Noodles is a girl, don’t you?”

  David smiled but turned away when he noticed the tears escaping down her cheeks. He needed to stay professional now more than ever. Even if he would like to do nothing more than console this woman right now. But she needed his protection more than anything else—even more than Noodles.

  The police car pulled up beside them as they reached her building. They hadn’t spotted the intruder, but they did get another call of a disturbance in the area and figured it was him on the run. They hadn’t seen Noodles.

  “Let’s go back inside,” David said. When they opened the door, they were met with shouting.

  “Ouch! You damn dog! You’re out of here!” A man’s voice came from the hall just inside the front entrance.

  “Oh no.” Grace blanched with fear. She hadn’t shown anything besides concern up until then.

  “What is it?” He was about to draw his gun when he heard the familiar barking.

  “Noodles,” she breathed, less than happy. From the hallway, a man stomped toward them with Noodles in his outstretched arms. He shoved the dog at Grace, who took Noodles and squeezed the dog into her chest. David stepped in front of her to block the man’s view of her chest and her legs and everything else she might have exposed. The man did not look friendly.

  “Ms. Rogers, I can see that this is your dog and you know we do not allow dogs. I, along with other tenants, was rudely awakened in the middle of the night.” He paused and looked at his watch. “At 4:00 a.m., to be exact.”

  “I’m so sorry, Mr. Lord. I’ll take care of Noodles—”

  “No, I’m sorry, Ms. Rogers. A mere apology is not enough. You will need to move out. Immediately. By the end of tomorrow. I’ll have your eviction papers ready in the morning.” He glared. “I have tenants lined up to rent this place for more money than you pay—and they don’t have pets!” He stomped off down the hall and back into his apartment and slammed the door.

  David looked at Grace. She was white, her mouth open and mute. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks and Noodles whimpered, sensing her distress and licking her face. He wanted to embrace her, but something held him back. He’d like to think it was good sense, or at least self-preservation. But he was afraid it was pure fear.

  If he did anything right now, he would be lost to her because he wouldn’t be able to prevent himself from jumping in with both feet and vowing to take care of her for the rest of his life.

  The problem with that, of course, was that his life was bound to be far shorter than hers. Then where would she be?

  “I’m sorry, Grace,” he managed to say while keeping his distance. Only his hand remained on the small of her back because he couldn’t seem to move it. He couldn’t let himself pull her into a hug, but he couldn’t bring himself to step away and remove his hand from that highly magnetic spot.

  He was saved from pondering further what to say or do when the door crashed open and Dan O’Keefe walked in. His erstwhile lifesaver in action.

  “What the hell happened, Sherlock?”

  Chapter 16

  “NOODLES chased an intruder off. Let’s go upstairs and I’ll fill you in.” David was glad to be back in detective mode where he belonged and felt at home. He’d worry about that being his singular identity later. Someday. When he could afford to take another look in a mirror without keeling over from horror.

  “Outdone by a dog, eh?”

  David chose not to respond to that comment. They all walked up the stairs to Grace’s apartment. He sat with Grace on the couch. Dan walked the three steps to the other side of the room and took a seat in the small chair. Grace clenched Noodles to her chest, barely letting the small pooch room to breathe. David couldn’t stop himself from thinking the obvious—what a way to go. If it weren’t for her sniffles and bowed head, he would have plunged into the details of the unfolding investigation right away.

  He put his arm around her, still wary about getting too close, but not heartless enough to ignore her pain.

  “Don’t worry, Grace. We’ll make sure you and Noodles have a place to stay first thing in the morning,” he said.

  “Why? What’s going on? And by the way, in case you haven’t noticed, it pretty much is first thing in the morning.” Dan glanced out the window and pointed at the emerging sunlight.

  “My landlord evicted me because Noodles woke everyone—but she was scaring the intruder away—weren’t you, Noodles?” she said. Then she looked up with her teary eyes.

  “Strictly speaking, I’m not supposed to have a Noodles in this apartment, so it’s better that we move. We’ll be okay. It’s just that I’ve lived here for the last ten years. Since I graduated college.” She turned to David. His heart melted completely and whatever had been holding him back gave way.

  “I’ll arrange a mover to put your things in storage. You can pack a bag of essentials for you and Noodles for now and we’ll book into the Parker House Hotel. I know the manager there and he won’t mind Noodles at all. We’ll get the two-bedroom ‘Mayor Curley’ suite if it’s available. I’ll be staying with you until we lock up everyone involved in this case.” He didn’t give her a chance to say yes or no. Then he looked at Dan, who merely nodded his approval.

  “Sounds like a good plan for the duration. I’m sorry to say, Grace, you’re a target and you will need the kind of protection David can provide.”
Dan leaned forward in the chair, bracing his forearms on his knees. “As for the case, any idea who intruder number two is—the mysterious man in the shower? We haven’t had any luck with Arturo Diego giving us info. He’s insisting on silence until he talks to his attorney, who will of course tell him to keep quiet.” Dan frowned.

  “By the way, I would get skewered by my wife if I didn’t remind you that tonight we’ve planned the so-called get-together to celebrate your exoneration. They’re supposed to make it official this morning sometime—right?”

  David nodded but didn’t add his thought that a celebration might be jumping the gun. He didn’t know if he’d get a clean exoneration, but he didn’t mind—as long as the ordeal was over and he could put it all behind him.

  “Of course you are invited, Grace,” Dan added.

  “I would be delighted! That instantly puts me in a better mood. I’m sure I can finish packing up my things here quickly. But Noodles…”

  “Don’t worry. You can bring Noodles along to the celebration,” Dan said in a softer voice, one that David knew would make Esther proud.

  “Back to the case at hand—have you already run down all the suspects on Oscar’s list? Do we know their whereabouts?” David asked, knowing the answer, but not one to put the cart before the horse.

  “Mmhm. Nadda. They’re all clean.”

  “Casting our net a bit wider then, there were a few players not on the list who know something about all of this,” David said. He smiled at Grace. He didn’t want to name the archeologist’s name in front of her, but Dan would catch his meaning.

  David thought about the other people they knew were involved and settled on one in particular. The Inspector from Peru. But before he could share his hunch with his sidekick, his cell phone rang again. He pulled it from his pocket with the resignation of necessity and held it in front of Grace. She read the number for him and he was surprised to learn it was his barrister’s line from the UK flashing at him. He looked up at Dan, who was shaking his head, frowning as he looked between Grace and him.

  “Well, this is it—my verdict is in. I’d forgotten the UK is ahead of us,” David said as he put the phone to his ear.

  “Only ahead of us on the sun dial,” Dan said with a smirk.

  “Hello, Roland. Give me the news.” David mentally held his breath. He realized in that fraction of a second that he didn’t know what to expect. All the moralizing, support of his friends and John Q Public aside, he knew about politics too. His spine straightened to a rigid posture from the relaxed comfort of the cushions and Grace’s warm body. He felt the separation from her magnetic field more than anything and gave her a quick look. She took his hand before he could move away any further from her.

  “Good—then you haven’t heard.” Roland’s voice vibrated with purpose. “I’m glad to be the one to tell you.”

  “Out with it. Either way, you can be sure I’ll take it like a man—stiff upper lip and all that,” David said in a quiet enough voice so that no one could mistake his words for sarcasm. He heard Roland take a deep breath on the other end.

  “It’s a bit of a mixed bag. Naturally they found no cause to press criminal charges because after all, the killing was in self-defense. But I’m afraid they’ve found against you on the charges that you engaged in inappropriate activities as Chief Superintendent of the Flying Squad. The upshot is that your assignment as director of the exchange program with the Boston Police Department hangs in the balance,” Roland said.

  David paused to let the news have its way with him. He waited for the despair and felt none, at least no more than he’d already had blanketing him for the past two years since his wife died. Neither was there any relief. “Who the bloody hell decides that and on what basis?”

  “Since Internal Investigations has finally finished their job, it’s back in the commissioner’s hands. Word is they’ll watch and see how you do with your case—give you a month maybe—to see that you stay in line.” Roland stopped talking.

  David grunted. More pressure. Funny, he didn’t feel it. In fact, he had a hard time feeling anything at all. Until he looked up at the faces staring back at him. He signed off and placed the phone on the coffee table in front of him.

  On their behalf he felt a deep and abiding disappointment and a need to protect. After all, he was still the same man who’d felt the need to protect all of the UK. And he did so admirably. All except his wife.

  That was when the hammer blow hit him. He kept his face steady, if solemn, but his stomach roiled. He was not invincible after all; even he had his limits to what level of emotions he could accept. Apparently no amount of despair could get to him; no amount of praise or castigation from the press or the powers that be made any effect. But his own guilt could very well do him in, courtesy of the ghost of his dead wife—the one he had to protect at all costs and the one he had not.

  Avenging her murder was no substitute. Starting fresh at this moment seemed impossible. He didn’t change his expression for his friends, didn’t move at all.

  “Well?” Dan said. Grace squeezed his hand. Their kindness would kill him, he thought, if his own guilt did not.

  “They’re not going to toss me in jail,” he said, leading with the good news for Grace’s benefit. Dan knew the implication of his statement, of course. He looked David in the eye with the same pain he felt and bowed his head, because neither of them could stand the intensity of the gutting made worse by the fact that it was shared.

  “I never realized there was a question that you’d be jailed,” Grace said. She was trying to look him in the eye, so he turned and faced her. He was a brave man, and this proved it like nothing else.

  “There never really was, so it is a small consolation after all. I have been reprimanded by the prestigious Scotland Yard for disregarding their rules and their orders. Now my future as Director of the Scotland Yard Exchange Program with the BPD hinges on how I well I behave while disposing of this case.” He couldn’t help his ironic smile. He squeezed her hand back as it tightened.

  “Then you have nothing to worry about, I’m sure. You’re doing a damn good job. Besides, this is your home now—you have Mabel and Dan.” She took a breath. “And you have me,” she said without as much oomph.

  “I’m glad I have you,” he said to rescue her. Then because he saw the delight on her face and couldn’t stand being a complete cad. One who would toy with her feelings, he had to temper himself. “I have the best damn decorator in town for my new home.” He didn’t add that he had the best damn body to guard this side of the Atlantic.

  She ripped her hand from his and stood, grasping Noodles closer than ever to her beautiful breasts. “I meant as…as a helper on your investigation…” she said, then sighed and sat back down with a sad look.

  Rescuing damsels in distress was turning out not to be his strong suit. He never would have guessed this from his promising beginnings. Dan snorted across from him and he turned to his friend.

  “You’ve been a Boston Brahmin forever,” Dan said. “They’d never find anyone better for the job. It’s about time you took back your place here and embraced your role.”

  “Most important of all—you have family here,” Grace said. He met her eyes and saw the unmistakable glisten lighting them. “Excuse me,” she said before she stood and ran to the bathroom carrying her puppy. It was not lost on David that Noodles was just about the only family she had, unless you counted the collection of friends she’d adopted along the way. He always thought she had counted them, but maybe it wasn’t the same.

  “The stress must be getting to her—can’t blame her. She’s been a trooper, considering her friend Lester was murdered and she discovered his dead body and is now being stalked. Maybe you should decide if you’re going to romance her or leave her the hell alone, because one thing is for certain—there is no halfway for you two. That much is perfectly clear even for an imbecile like me.” Dan blew out a breath. “Sorry. It had to be said.”

  “Ti
me to get out of here,” David said.

  “Look, if you want I can assign a detail for Grace. You don’t have to personally look out for her—”

  “Of course I have to personally look out for her. Because it is personal,” he said. “In the meantime, I have an idea about that celebratory dinner you have planned. We invite everyone involved, and have it at the Newbury Street restaurant where the original murder attempt took place. You’ve had it under surveillance, right?” David leaned forward, keeping his voice low.

  “Yes. I see where you’re headed,” Dan said.

  “We can make sure Diego knows about it, make sure he thinks it’s a replay of the previously interrupted rehearsal party—with the party gifts present as well as the guests—including Grace,” David added.

  “We can make sure he has a chance to tell his attorney and whoever else he wants to know and keep our eyes and ears on him.” Dan grinned.

  David could see the spark of excitement in the man’s eyes. He’d always loved a good sting operation.

  “Can you arrange undercover waiters and make sure the place is watched closely to prevent any bombs being planted?”

  “Consider it done.”

  “Make sure it all looks legit. We don’t want the bad guys to know it’s a setup, after all,” David teased sitting back into the cushions again. He felt good having a plan and not waiting around like sitting ducks.

  “No kidding? And here I was thinking I’d recycle that police party banner your aunt has,” Dan said. “But seriously, a replay of the rehearsal party is the perfect cover. Are you sure you want to put Grace in the line of fire?”

  “We won’t be—we’ll get a police woman to dress up in costume.”

  “Whatever you say. But I don’t think she’s going to go along with that—and we will need her cooperation. We can’t hold her prisoner,” Dan pointed out with a heavy dose of skepticism in his voice.

  He was right, but David couldn’t contemplate that right now. “We’ll cover the loft and Grace’s old apartment because they’re just as likely to go after the artifacts as they are their witness, and we’re not sure where they’ll be looking for the vase now. We’ll make them believe that we believe Diego is the killer and not involved with anyone else,” he said. “And one more thing—we should let I.C.E. know about it. That’s an official call from you.”