SecondSightDating

by Marianne Stephens

  “Sorry. I’m still suffering from high-pitched ringing in my ears. I’ll be lucky if the blaring racket from tonight hasn’t left any hearing loss. Lots of dogs howling and people yelling at each other or for their mutts to quiet down.”

  Serena’s eyes widened as she straightened her head and attempted to focus her attention on the two other people crowding her living room. “So, you two. What’s new?”

  “We had a pleasant dinner—very quiet I might add—and we’ve done some serious talking.” Michael winked at Annemarie and grabbed her hand.

  “I think he finally realized I’m not going to wait forever for him to come to his senses,” Annemarie added.

  “And?” Serena questioned, hoping for some happy news.

  Michael grinned. “You’ll be happy to know we can’t and won’t live without each other.”

  With a broad smile overtaking her face, Serena ventured to ask, “Are congratulations in order?”

  Michael pulled Annemarie into his arms and kissed her. “See, sweetheart? My sister really is psychic.”

  Serena grabbed a pillow and tossed it at Michael. “Very funny. It didn’t take any special abilities to see you two should be together. If you weren’t so pigheaded, Michael, you guys wouldn’t have wasted so much time. Count your blessing that Annemarie never gave up on you.”

  “I know, I know. Anyway, we’re together now and we’ll go from there.”

  Annemarie joined in, saying, “We’re thinking of getting married in June. Nothing really big, just family and some friends.”

  Serena caught the sparkle in the woman’s eyes as she spoke and the look of pure joy on her brother’s face. “Can I do something to help? Tie my brother down so he doesn’t change his mind?”

  Michael let go of Annemarie and approached his sister. Towering over her where she sat, he teased, “Not very nice, Serena. Hmm. What can I do to convince you I’m serious and get you to handle your own love life?”

  “I believe you. Really I do. Now, you two lovebirds, go away. I need to collapse and gather my strength again. I’ve had a crazy night.”

  “Annemarie and I are heading to see her parents. I’ll be in later. I’ll wake you so we can talk.”

  His comment and the look on his face left Serena with no snappy comeback. She would have to discuss Dan and the evening’s disaster. Déjà vu. That’s all she seemed to be doing lately.

  She couldn’t stop a yawn from escaping. “I love you dearly but please go away. I’m exhausted and need to space out for a while. I promise we’ll talk later. And, congratulations. It’ll be nice having a sister in the family. We’ll be able to gang up on Michael when he’s bad, Annemarie.”

  With a smile and a wave, Serena watched the two lovers leave her apartment. It took monumental effort to get out of the chair and drag herself into the bedroom. But, after the night she’d had, she’d earned some self-pity time and a good cry.

  * * * * *

  Dan watched from his car as Gino and a woman left Serena’s apartment building. He’d planted himself within view of her door from a location across the street after following her home. He knew she’d entered the apartment earlier and assumed she’d been alone until Gino and friend had waltzed in without knocking but by using a key.

  So, now what? Who was the woman appearing so chummy with Gino? They’d kissed a couple of times before entering Serena’s apartment. Only stayed a few minutes, then left like lovebirds again.

  Gino had smiled and laughed at the brunette all the way to what Dan figured was his car. They’d practically tumbled in while still embracing and let loose with more passionate smooches once inside.

  Dan eyed Serena’s door and the windows he could see. Lights were being turned off one by one and from his glimpse of her apartment’s inside the other night, he figured she was heading for the back rooms. Maybe even going to bed while Gino hit the town with—whom? His date? Someone Serena set him up with?

  Making a snap decision to follow the man parading around as Gino Conti, Dan started his car’s engine and pulled out of the parking lot, planning to tail the lovers. He knew enough to stay within sight but well behind the tan Mazda. Too many nights of surveillance work keyed his brain to act on instinct.

  After a twenty-minute ride, the Mazda pulled off the highway and onto residential streets in Leawood. Dan followed them into an older subdivision, one called Twin Timberlake Estates. They parked outside a modest two-story home so he drove down to the corner to avoid suspicion.

  Dan turned the car around and drove past the house, keeping his speed low so he could copy the license plate number and view the house number as well. He then turned the car around once more so he could park behind the Mazda but a few houses down and facing in the same direction.

  Hunkering down for comfort and to stay out of sight, Dan planned to stay put for however long it would take for the lovers to emerge. He hoped this wouldn’t take all night. Sleep beckoned him as a means of escaping the howling dog sounds still echoing in his head.

  Dan grabbed his phone and called his department. He needed to convey the license plate and house numbers so names could be revealed. He hoped to find out Gino’s true identity.

  What the hell was going on inside? Some type of love fest? Innocent fun? Was Gino trapping an unsuspecting Second Sight Dating client into a sinister game, or was the woman baiting him as one of Serena’s sex-for-money beauties?

  A call from Johnson in his department interrupted his thoughts. The house belonged to a family named LaRosa. And, the car was not registered to Gino.

  The car’s owner, Annemarie LaRosa, had to be related to the occupants of the house. Hmm. Wasn’t there a LaRosa in Napoli’s organization? Was the LaRosa family actually mob members living/hiding out under the guise of average residents in a quiet suburb of Leawood?

  Maybe they carried out Serena’s true business modus operandi from a modest home in a thirty-year-old housing subdivision. Sure. Could be. Gino and Annemarie could get info from Serena, relay it to the LaRosas in the house and either they called the shots, ran the scam, or reported to Napoli and the mob.

  Dan’s brain accelerated into high gear. What if the real Gino relinquished his name to phony Gino under mob pressure? Could be Napoli wasn’t too happy with Gino’s getting involved with the mayor’s daughter. Maybe he figured putting in a replacement, a smooth character the new Gino appeared to be, would tone down any ripples of trouble that could develop.

  Napoli wasn’t stupid. He’d been around long enough to know that skirting the law, staying under the radar, made his operation run more easily. The real Gino threatened his business.

  Shit. This Gino, the one he’d been tailing, could be anyone.

  After waiting an hour for the lovers to emerge, Dan finally noticed them coming out of the house, arm in arm and get into her car. He followed them back what appeared to be the reverse route they’d taken before as they headed for the highway. Dan did likewise.

  Confused, Dan found himself right back at Serena’s apartment. Both got out of the car and glued themselves together body to body and mouth to mouth for what seemed like forever. Gino opened the driver’s door for Annemarie, she got in and then drove off while Dan and Gino watched.

  Gino then walked to Serena’s door, took out a key and let himself in.

  Huh? Frustrated, Dan sat for a solid minute wondering what the relationship could possibly be between Gino and Serena. He’d never seen them kiss like lovers would, but, did the guy live with her? Gino lip-locked with Annemarie like a desperately in love couple would, but she’d let him leave her car to return to Serena’s apartment.

  Did Gino have two affairs going? One? None? What had his high-school-aged niece called it? FWB? Friends with benefits? Sex but no strings? Nothing? Totally open arrangements for his ménage á trois?

  “I need sleep.” Dan spoke out loud, trying to keep himself awake for the ride home. He rubbed both hands over his face. Exhaustion was taking its toll. Maybe in the morning his head wou
ld clear and he could fit the puzzle pieces together.

  Or, they’d multiply into triple the amount of pieces and screw with his brain even more than before.

  Damn her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The next morning Serena’s head still buzzed with the relentless sound of barking dogs. She poured herself a cup of coffee, hoping massive doses of caffeine would wake up her sleepy mind. She’d need a clear head to tackle the day before her.

  Michael had come back around eleven and woke her for their next discussion. He’d been lenient on her, listening to Serena ramble on about her latest dating fiasco without passing a quick judgmental comment. He told her that even though she’d verified his employment and no police record appeared on the county’s listing, it was time for her to let him step in and do some background checking of his own.

  He also insisted he be her next date when Dan met Miss “X”. He was fully prepared to take on the role of private investigator and tail her troublesome client if needed.

  Serena had resigned herself to accept any decision Michael offered. She’d done all she could think of doing and was still no closer to unraveling the mystery surrounding Dan’s true motives. Resorting to putting her brother’s expertise to use loomed ahead as the only viable solution in finding out if Dan was a fraud. Her heart skipped one tiny beat and she knew the outcome of Mike’s investigation might not be to her liking.

  She’d set up Dan’s final matchmaking date for the next evening. No doubt existed in her mind as to whether or not Justine, his Miss “X”, would agree to meet him. The woman had pestered her for a month about finding a match. Trouble was, no male client Serena had tried to fix her up with had shown any interest in meeting the slightly offbeat, eccentric lady.

  Yep. Justine would jump at the chance for an introduction to Dan, sight unseen, as soon as she understood there was a match ready and eager to meet her.

  Sight. Strange word for Serena to use. It used to flow freely in her conversations, a staple part of her identity, a word in the name of her business. It now seemed unclear, awkward, not something descriptive about her. “Sight” now tumbled off her lips like an unfamiliar entity. Her sight was being tested and she was failing miserably on all levels.

  Maybe her gift was fading.

  There goes the business.

  Serena shuffled over to her coffeemaker and poured a steaming cup of coffee. Stress made her jumpy, nervous about her future and work. She could be losing it all, sight, job and confidence in doing anything right. How could she trust her own judgment about whatever came up?

  She didn’t trust Dan and now couldn’t depend on herself. Michael might find something sinister about her unusual client, or he could determine nothing was wrong with him. That would leave her…where?

  Questioning her gift, the very basis for her business, could lead to an unhappy ending. Why was this happening? Was Dan the catalyst to her sudden change in fortune? Fate, something she respected and swore no power over, now ran her life and all she could do was go along for the ride in whatever direction it took her.

  She slammed her half-empty cup down on the counter. Damn. A powerless feeling invaded every inch of her body, something she hadn’t been accustomed to. She hated allowing fate to control her destiny, but vowed not to go down without at least putting up a fight. And take a possible two-faced man named Dan with her if he proved to be a fraud.

  Energy level revived and geared for battle, Serena marched into her bedroom to dress and plan for the day. She had some serious mind games to arrange for Dan. Maybe playing up to his charm would get him to reveal a darker side. Putting temptation in his path, namely, more of her files or made-up information about clients, could show his true colors.

  She could doctor records as well as anyone else, if needed. She’d allow him to sneak peeks at files written to tempt him, make him display his real motives in coming to Second Sight Dating. Dan would find files for a woman or two of his dreams, complete with all his interests and wealthy enough to fascinate any gigolo looking for money.

  Let’s see how well you do with temptation, Dan Reese.

  * * * * *

  As expected, Justine, Miss “X”, gushed over the opportunity to meet Dan. Serena out and out lied about Dan’s enthusiasm in drama and theatre arts, something he’d listed in his profile as having only a faint interest in. His next date’s life revolved around theatrical work and although assigned only minor speaking parts in ten productions, she’d busied herself with backstage work.

  Justine’s current job—that of waitress/actress/stage helper—kept her tied up almost every night at work. She’d suggested the foursome meet at her current job’s location, a dining hall where her dinner theatre group performed. Food, entertainment, blue-and-purple-streaked-haired Justine would be present. What more could Dan ask for?

  Serena agreed to Justine’s suggestion, planning to pay Dan’s way if he balked at the unusual meeting place. She snorted. At least no four-legged pets would be involved this time.

  She placed a call to Dan, eager for his reaction.

  “Dan, your next date would like to meet at a dinner theatre show. The whole thing shouldn’t last longer than three hours. We’ll get time to talk, eat and be entertained. It’s not a musical so maybe it won’t get too loud. I think it’s a mystery of some kind.”

  Dan’s hesitation in replying pinched a few raw nerves in Serena’s body, causing her to tap her foot as a way to expel any anxiety building inside her. How could he not agree? What would she do if he didn’t?

  A calming sensation relaxed her as he gave his blessing for the next date encounter. He added how he hoped only human diners would be around this time and gave a quick laugh over the phone. An attempt at humor?

  After reassuring him theirs would be a people-only dinner, he’d hung up, no further conversation offered. She hadn’t mentioned how their dinner meeting would be a venture into the world of interactive theatre where staff, actors and guests got involved and participated in the play. He’d find that out soon enough.

  The combined number of people involved with the actual acting parts would be under fifteen, but not all guests would be given a character to play for the evening. Luckily for Serena, she, Dan and Michael would be there as Justine’s special invitees. The wannabe actress promised to take extra special care in assigning them roles in the upcoming murder mystery dinner they’d sit through the next evening.

  A cringe of uneasiness tensed her body as she tried to seek contentment with the peculiarities enhancing the upcoming date. Justine had asked for guesses at their sizes and said it had something to do with “costume props” Michael, Dan and Serena would don as part of their roles.

  She prayed for minor garment additions. Michael would go with the flow for the evening, as would she. How would Dan react to playing dress-up for his acting debut role?

  Acting. Roles. Everyone was already involved in playing a part in her life. She was running a business, but had taken on the role of detective where Dan was involved. Soon, she’d be throwing temptation in his way, testing his honesty with falsified, made-up files. But, she’d have to resort to dishonesty to accomplish her plan.

  Dan still made her feel like he might be telling the truth. She just couldn’t account for his snooping around her files and that made her uneasy. And, the thing about his cringing when she asked him about exes in his life made her wonder. Had he hidden something from her? What role was he already playing in his attempt to gain her approval?

  Then there was Michael, her policeman brother. He was playing the role of Mr. “Eight”…that Gino character she’d dismissed from her files after Julia filed a complaint about him. She’d thrust Michael’s cover as Gino upon him and it would work to their advantage in the quest to out Dan’s true motives.

  No one was as he or she appeared. All the players had something to hide, some reason to hold back truthfulness and function at some level of dishonesty. This night of make-believe might bring out Dan’s true nat
ure. She knew her brother and she had nothing to hide, but Dan could reveal something while pretending to be someone else.

  Actually, he could be deeply entrenched in doing that already and may have been ever since he walked through her office door.

  Bring on the mystery. I’m ready.

  * * * * *

  “You and dogs. Should have called me. I’d pay to see that.” Dan’s boss laughed and waved him into the office. “I got your message and wondered if you’d need a day off to recover.”

  “If this woman is legit, her business savvy stinks. How could she come up with two mismatches and get me on some supposedly quiet date that turns out to be a nightmare of an evening?”

  “Don’t know, friend. Any more info turn up?”

  Dan shifted in his seat opposite Steve. “Yeah. I followed ‘Gino’ and a woman from Serena’s house to a home in Leawood. She’s Annemarie LaRosa…got her name from her license plate…and the house apparently belongs to her parents.”

  “And?”

  “She and ‘Gino’ are real friendly, more than he was with Serena. Aren’t there LaRosas in Napoli’s organization?” Dan shrugged. “Could be a connection between Napoli, the LaRosas and Serena related to her business.” He ran a hand across his face. “I’ve gotta get into that house and talk to the LaRosas somehow. Maybe take Fitzgerald with me. I could always use the excuse that we’re investigating reports of thefts in the area.”

  Steve gave a nod. “Go for it. See what you can find out.”

  “One more thing. I’m working on two files I accidentally picked up at her office the other night. One’s for Gino, the other’s for some unnamed guy but he doesn’t have a number, only a letter. Could be a slip-up on her part.”

  Morgan frowned. “You think maybe she forgot to give him one?”

  Dan let out a loud exhale. “Shit. I don’t know. He had to be important, though. She wrote lots of intimate stuff in his file, more than what I’ve seen in Gino’s.”