“What time do you think Vito quits work at the shop?”
“Forget it! I’m telling you, he’s gone too,” he insisted.
“You’re becoming a real pain in the ass with that negative attitude of yours. You know it?” she said entering the vehicle.
“I’m just saying.” Zach slipped in behind the steering wheel. “Do you want to drive?”
“Do I look like I want to drive?” she barked.
“Sounds like you have a bug up your butt. What’s going on?”
“Well maybe Vito is gone, but unlike you, I’m not ready to give up on finding the truth, dammit. Somebody out there knows something, and we’re going to find out who does.” He slowed the car down ready to make a right turn into McDonald’s.
“And as for food, I’m not having another high calorie burger. We’ll go to Lizzie’s and get a table where we can see Vito when he walks down the hill. If you want a greasy burger, you can get it there. At least I have an option of what I want to eat.”
He shot her a look. “Yes, ma’am,” he saluted again. “So, I guess that means you don’t have any plans for tonight. Is that right?”
“What does going to Lizzie’s have anything to do with whether I have plans for tonight? And what if I did?”
“You’d cancel them for me, right?” he said, trying to lighten her mood.
“Of course, Zach,” she snapped back. “You know I’m only here to please you.”
“Yeah, that’s kinda what I thought.” He reached for her hand. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a prick. I just want to catch this guy so bad, and I’m frustrated there are no good leads.”
“Like I’m not?”
“I know. Let’s just leave it at I’m sorry.”
“Okay.”
“Even though I get angry with you,” he said, “I do appreciate when you set me straight.”
“Yeah, I can tell.”
Tip Jackson was already sitting at the counter drinking coffee and flirting with the waitress when they entered Lizzie’s Diner. The waitress handed him a piece of paper, and he shoved it into his breast pocket.
“I’m amazed he’s all over town and not where he’s supposed to be. He must be book making. What do you think was on that piece of paper Blondie just handed him?” Jessie asked.
“Shhhh,” Zach said, and gently shoved her toward the other side of the diner away from Jackson’s range of view. “Maybe it’s a good thing he is here. He hasn’t seen us yet, and I’m hoping to catch him in the act.”
“Act of what? Flirting?”
“No. I can’t shake the fact that he’s up to no good. I don’t have a good grasp on it yet. He was the first on the scene at the crime scene where Lenny was shot, and this afternoon, he just happens to be in the area when he’s not supposed to be on this side of town? It just doesn’t add up, Jessie. I wonder if he’s waiting for Vito too.”
The food no sooner arrived than Vito strolled down the street headed toward the subway. “There he is, Jessie,” Zach said, tossing the car keys on the table. “I’m going to catch up to him.” He took off like a bolt of lightning toward the subway. Jessie summoned the waitress and requested the food in take-out containers, paid the bill, and headed out to the car. Jackson never looked up. Her cell phone rang.
“No luck, Vito made me and took the first train that pulled up.”
Jessie sighed, shaking her head from side to side. “Okay, not much we can do about it. Have Santori or Paige said anything to you about their stakeout?”
“I haven’t heard a thing. I’m sure they’d call us if they had any updates.”
“Are they still staking it out?”
“That’s another good question. We’ll ask the Lieutenant when we return to the precinct.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Vito abandons the place too. Of course, he’s not thinking about his fingerprints being all over the joint.” She placed the containers in the back seat. “Okay, see you in a few.” She disconnected the call and slid behind the steering wheel.
Jessie spotted Zach walking back by the time she was able to get through the heavily congested area. He waved his hand when he saw her and stopped to wait for the car. He was panting from the unexpected run.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. I’d like to tell you I’m breathing like this because of you, but hell, I’m getting old.”
“You’re out of shape, hotshot. I think you need to start joining me at the gym.”
“Mmm, is that an invitation?”
“No. It’s a necessity.” She grinned. “Your food is in the back seat.”
“Bless you. Thanks.” He twisted on his side and tried stretching his arm to reach for the containers without much success. He turned and knelt on the seat and grabbed both containers, then slid around and popped the lids. He carefully placed hers on the seat near his leg in hopes that her hand would touch his, then took a huge bite of his burger and chewed.
Jessie shoved a handful of fries in her mouth. He gave her a surprised side-glance.
“What?”
“I thought you didn’t want a high caloric lunch today. What do you think those fries are worth in calories?”
“Well, these were already cooked when you called, so I changed my order. I guess one more day isn’t going to matter.”
Zach resumed eating his burger. A drop of ketchup fell from his roll onto his white shirt. He reached for the napkin and tried wiping it. “Damn it. Now, I look like one of those fat, flat-footed cops who spills all kinds of shit on themselves.”
Jessie laughed. “Reach inside my case. There’s one of those bleaching pens.”
“You’re shitin’ me, right?”
“No.”
“How about that? She’s ‘Little Miss Domestication’. I really like that.”
Jessie barreled down the hall toward Zach and Harwell. “You are not going to believe who just called,” she said breathlessly.
“Try us,” Harwell said.
“Vito Lorenzano.”
“And?” Harwell said, his hand twirling in a circular motion, “what did he say?”
“He wants to talk about Sawyer.”
“Hot damn!” Zach said with effervescence. “Chalk another one up for our team. Where are we meeting him?”
“He wants us to meet him at six o’clock by the Vincent van Gogh exhibit in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”
“Where?” his voice raised an octave.
“You heard me right.”
“Who would have ever figured Vito even knew about the Museum?”
“I think that was the whole idea.”
“Good,” Harwell said. “By the way, I pulled Paige and Santori off the stake out. Three days and nothing was happening. Anyway, get out of here and get his story.”
“Did you check the museum’s hours of operation?” Zach asked on their way out. “I think they close at five thirty tonight.”
“No, they’re open until nine o’clock on Friday’s and Saturday’s.”
“Oh crap,” Zach snapped his fingers. “I forgot it was Friday. I have a heavy date, but I guess I can reschedule it for tomorrow.”
Jessie looked away; a sudden sinking feeling attacked her insides. She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of him having a date. But then, they weren’t exclusive. She did tell him to forget about her.
“Are you okay?” Zach asked.
“Sure,” Jessie responded, nodding a little too vigorously, and exited out the back door of the precinct. “Why wouldn’t I be?” She gave him a brief side-glance and noticed a grin on his face. Resentment flooded through her like a wind-swept fire in a forest.
“I don’t see him, Jess,” Zach said standing next to the van Gogh exhibit. Jessie scanned the area with her eyes. Groups of people walked around with a docent whose presentation was so well rehearsed it sounded like a recording.
“I hope he didn’t crap out on us,” Zach said wryly.
“Here you go again.” She shook her he
ad baffled by his attitude. “He’ll be here,” Jessie argued.
Zach removed his wallet from his back pocket, pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and waved it in her face. “Twenty bucks says he bailed.”
“You still haven’t learned, huh, hotshot. You’ll see.”
“Uh, I really hate to burst your bubble Jess, but I think you’re going to be disappointed.”
She gave him an arched brow and continued scanning the crowds. Jessie noticed a tall woman with long dark hair, dressed in jeans and a sweater viewing a work of art in the next room. The woman gradually made her way over beside Jessie to view the van Gogh exhibit. As the woman turned, her large handbag whacked Jessie in the arm. Jessie’s mouth took on an unpleasant twist, annoyed with the woman’s disregard for those standing close by.
“I beg your pardon,” Jessie countered with sarcasm until she recognized the woman as Vito.
“It’s me,” the familiar voice whispered.
Jessie grinned and snatched the twenty-dollar bill out of her partner’s hand. “Next time, hotshot, you’ll trust my judgment.”
19
“You can pull up right in front of this house,” Patrick Sawyer said to the cab driver. He paid his fare and slowly walked up the steps to Maria’s house. With his hand on the knob, he swallowed hard and pushed the door open, hoping he would be able to console his daughter when she heard the news about her mother.
Gabi sat, angelic-like, on the sofa in the living room watching her favorite show on television. Maria sat in a chair opposite the young child, a cup of coffee in her hand. They both turned when Patrick stood in front of them.
“Daddy, where have you been?” Gabi asked, running toward him. He leaned down to hug her.
“You know Daddy loves you more than anything in the whole world, don’t you?”
She gave him a strange look. “Of course I do, silly. I love you too.” She scanned his face, seeing eyes that were staring back at her with a blank look. “What’s wrong, Daddy?” Tears erupted and ran down her cheeks. “You’re scaring me.”
Patrick held Gabi in his arms tightly then placed her down on one of the upholstered chairs and knelt down in front of her. “I have something I need to tell you, pumpkin.”
“What?”
“It’s about your mother.”
“Yeah.”
“Your mother is missing, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, she’s in Ohio?”
He shook his head. “No, sweetie. No one knows where she is right now. I’m not even sure she made it to Ohio.”
Gabi began to wail and scream. “Then, where is she, Daddy? Is that why those detectives were here?”
“Yes, sweetie. I didn’t want to tell you until I was sure they were telling me the truth.”
“Daddy, let’s go home. Mommy won’t know where we are when she comes home.”
“The police won’t let us go home yet. They have to do an investigation first.”
“Why? What kind of investigation? Will they find Mommy?” she shouted hysterically.
“I don’t know, sweetheart, but if Mommy comes home, a police officer will be at the house to tell her where we are.”
“But what are they investigating? Maybe she’s at gram’s house, Daddy,” she said frantically. “Let’s call her.”
Maria moved closer and bent down to dry Gabi’s tears with his thumb. She held her while the child sobbed into her shoulder.
“What happened?” Maria mouthed.
He shrugged and made a face. “The police say Amanda’s missing, and right now, they don’t have any leads.” He smoothed his hand over Gabi’s shoulder while she was still embraced in Maria’s arms. She sobbed more vigorously, the tears rolling down her cheeks like an avalanche. His voice lowered. “They think someone broke into the house and did something to her.”
“But you saw her leave, didn’t you?” Maria asked.
“I did. I’m guessing whoever did this forced her to return home. The police said there were no signs of a forced entry, but the house is a mess. Amanda would never have left the house like that—she was a ‘neat freak’.” He stood upright and paced back and forth. “I can’t believe this.” His eyes focused on Gabi who was visibly upset, then squatted down and hugged her again, this time whispering words of encouragement. He’d expected her to be upset, but this felt worse than he’d imagined—it was like a stake had been driven through his chest, and the life was being sucked right out of him.
Maria tilted her head toward Gabi and whispered a cautionary suggestion to Patrick about halting the discussion in front of her. He nodded and sat back on his heels.
Gabi wrangled herself free from Maria’s hold and shouted. “Daddy, this is all your fault.” She pounded her fists against his chest. He wrapped his arms around the child to console her, but that only caused her anger to flare. “You never should have let Mommy go. I hate you, and I’m never going to forgive you.” She ran for the stairs and raced up to her room.
Maria stood to go after her, but Patrick pulled her back.
“It’s okay. She’s upset. Let her have a good cry. She’ll be okay.”
Gabi rushed into the bedroom, slamming the door, threw herself on the bed and cried into the bedspread. She wouldn’t believe her mother was gone for good. She just couldn’t. “Mommy, you have to come back home,” she shouted as though her mother could hear. She lay in the center of the bed trembling with fear, and wondering what was going to happen to her. She had always loved her father, but this was so confusing. “No,” she shouted, “I hate him. This is all his fault.” A few seconds later, she slid down off the bed and got on bended knees to pray. “Please, God, let Mommy be okay.” Her stomach hurt. Her heart ached, and she was scared. “God, if I make a vow never to eat ice cream for the rest of my life, or ride my bike again, will you promise to bring Mommy back?” The tears rolled down her checks like a dam bursting. Gabi knew she was wishing for a miracle, but surely God would answer her prayers if she prayed hard enough. She wished she had her rosary beads, but she didn’t really need them in her hands because she knew the order of the prayers. Sister Mary Catherine made the class recite them every day.
Gabi closed her eyes, pictured the rosary beads and began to say the prayers associated with each group of beads, but an image of her mother begging for help flashed through her mind. She felt like someone was trying to yank her heart right out of her chest. She rolled over into a sitting position, placed her face in her hands and sobbed. Bitterness welled inside her chest, aimed at her father. She’d never forgive her father if her mother didn’t come home. Her T-shirt was soaked from crying, but she didn’t care and wiped her nose on it anyway. She had to finish the rosary so God would know she was serious. She couldn’t give up hope.
“Are you okay, Sonny?”
“I don’t know, Maria. I don’t know how I’m going to deal with Gabi’s grief. I guess I’ll have to call Amanda’s parents. I’m sure they’re pretty upset too.”
“You should go to them, Sonny. They’re your family.” She gave him a sympathetic glance. “Can I make you a cup of soup or tea?”
“No. I’m not hungry.” His facial expression changed. “I’d like a Bourbon on the rocks though.” Maria stood to leave and he reached for her hand. “You might just become a mother, after all.” He looked lovingly into her eyes. “Would you like that?”
Maria stared at him with astonishment and pulled back. “Sonny. Stop talking crazy stuff. I know you’re upset, but be careful about what you say. You don’t want Gabi hearing you write her mother off so quickly.”
“But if you could take care of her, would you?”
“Of course, I would,” she shot back. “You know that.” She swallowed hard and crossed her arms. “You know how much I’ve always wanted children. I’d welcome her with open arms,” Maria said as she rubbed her hands up and down her crossed arms. “But, let’s not discuss this right now. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
He leaned in and kissed her p
assionately. A sick feeling erupted in her stomach. Maria shoved him away, unable to comprehend what was going through his mind at a time like this. “My God, what are you doing?”
He held his strong hands tightly around hers. “You know I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
“Please, stop this right now. Gabi should be your first concern, not me.” Maria jerked back away from him and rushed to the kitchen, her heart pounding from his erratic behavior. She questioned his kiss so soon after he’d learned his wife was missing. Sure, they’d wanted to be together for a long time, but not this way. She inhaled and exhaled a few times in an effort to control her racing heart, then convinced herself he needed her understanding right now. She’d never really thought this day would come, but now that it was here, it scared the hell out of her. She convinced herself to overlook the kiss and chalk it up to his emotional state of mind over Amanda’s disappearance. But was he really that upset? Sure, he seemed sincere but he didn’t act all that upset except when he was consoling Gabi.
Maria filled a glass with Bourbon and chugged it down hoping to calm her nerves. The liquor burned as it eased its way down her throat. She stood for a long while and stared out the window, a mixture of emotions rushed through her mind clouding her thoughts. The liquor gave her a nice glow, and she headed back to the living room. He needed her. She was his anchor right now.
Her hands smoothed her skirt down as she headed for the door, then something made her stop mid-way. She wasn’t ready to go back into the room and face him—she needed more time to clear her head. He wasn’t thinking clearly right now, and it was up to her to help him and Gabi deal with their loss. Maybe Amanda wasn’t really missing. Maybe she was hiding out somewhere. But leaving Gabi? From all the things he’d told her about Gabi and Amanda’s close relationship knowing she left without her daughter just didn’t make sense.
Maria had dealt with his broken promises for many years. She knew when she signed on to the affair it would be difficult, but like most women, she’d talked herself into believing that having him part-time was better than not at all. She’d been able to handle the second fiddle part, but learning to accept the fact that she’d never have him around for special holidays, or for more than a week at a time pushed her to the limit and she’d lost patience. That’s when she’d started nagging him about moving faster. God. Was she the reason his wife was missing? Did she push him into doing something to her?
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