“Juan is undercover in the Gang Investigations Unit here in Stillwater.” Mitch took a sip of his coffee. “I went through the academy with Juan in the city. We go way back. Isn’t that right, Juan?” Mitch shoveled a forkful of omelet into his mouth and groaned.
“Absolutely.” Juan eyed Mitch curiously as he ate like he’d just gotten off a season of Survivor. “We were both a part of the Homicide Unit before my partner bailed on me for the small-town life.” Juan let a mock scowl transform his face before growing serious. “He’s one hell of a cop, but I get why he had to leave.” Juan’s gaze locked onto Mitch’s, and Mitch nodded once with obvious emotion. Juan focused back on me. “I switched to the Gangs Unit, but I never thought I’d end up in this neck of the woods. We’ve been after the Rebel Riders for a while now. I know all about Gunther Corp and Ray Simone.”
“We were hoping you would say that.” I pulled out my own notebook and pen, earning an amused smirk from Mitch. “What can you tell us about Ray?”
“Well, he joined the gang a few years back. He has a record, mostly juvie stuff—a few misdemeanors, petty larceny, not really that big of a deal. Gunther was the badass. He’d been in and out of jail on felonies for most of his life, but he knew how to work the system. The gang had been putting a lot of pressure on local businesses, but none of the business owners would press charges. Those who did felt defeated. Nothing ever came of it, so ‘why bother’ became the common attitude.”
“You think he has someone on the inside?” Mitch asked with a frown.
“Internal Affairs has been investigating our office. Officer Adam Burrows works the beat that a lot of the businesses are on. He claims not to know anything, but my guess is he’s been turning a blind eye to a lot that’s been going down in Stillwater for a cut of the action.”
“Really?” I asked. “What are you thinking?”
“Rumor has it the man likes to gamble and he likes women, both of which are expensive hobbies.” Juan looked around the restaurant before continuing. “Once IA got involved, things calmed down for a while, then suddenly the Rebel Riders moved on to Divinity. Corp probably got sick of waiting for the green light from Burrows, but Adam wouldn’t like missing out on any action if he needed the money. Not to mention Corp could bring Burrows down with him if it came to that. Adam just might have been desperate enough to do something about that.”
“Do you think he was in Divinity at the time of the murder?” Mitch asked.
“My guess is yes, since he called in sick the day of the murder. You might want to check into that.”
Mitch made a note then met Juan’s gaze. “What about Simone? Any news of him? He left Divinity pretty quickly.”
“I heard he’s back in Stillwater. Doesn’t surprise me. It was common knowledge that he wanted to be the leader of the Rebel Riders.”
“Did he want it badly enough to kill Gunther to get it?” I chimed in before sipping my tea.
“It’s hard to say.” Juan took a sip of his coffee. “Gunther treated Ray like he was nothing, even though he was second in command. That has to wear on a man over time. Not to mention Gunther was becoming increasingly unstable. Taking chances. Making mistakes. My sources say a lot of the gang were getting tired of it.”
“Know where we can find Burrows or Simone?” Mitch asked.
“Well, the gang’s turf is on the east side of town, and where the gang is, Burrows tends to follow. Though I have to say they’ve all been lying low. Not sure how much more info you’ll find. Careful out there, buddy. Weather’s nasty, and it’s not gonna get any better.”
“Thanks, Juan.” Mitch drained the last of his coffee, stood, and held out his hand. “I’ve been through worse.”
“Roger that.” Juan stood as well, and shook hands. “Anytime, partner. Though it looks like you’ve got a new partner these days to help you through the storm.”
“Sure do, and she’s a whole lot better looking than my old one.” Mitch winked.
“I can’t argue with you there.” Juan chuckled and gave me a smile.
I blushed to the roots of my pale blond hair over Mitch’s compliment.
“In all honesty, it was a pleasure to meet you, Sunny.” Juan bowed gallantly.
“The pleasure’s all mine,” I replied with sincerity. Anyone who brought out the lighter side of my fiancé was a treat to be around. “Can you let us know if you learn anything new?” I handed him my card.
“Will do.” He grinned at Mitch and held my card up as if it were a trophy. “Look who’s got her number now.”
“And I’ve got yours.” Mitch pointed at him with a mock scowl, slipped his arm around me possessively, and guided me out of the diner, calling over his shoulder. “She’s already taken.”
Detective Torres laughed behind us every step of the way.
Hours later we cruised around the east side of Stillwater for the umpteenth time without much luck. Normally I didn’t like male bravado and all that, but I had to admit, a warmth had infused my every cell when Mitch had staked his claim on me. No matter how archaic it might be, it had felt fabulous. But that incredible warmth had faded as Juan’s prediction came true. The weather didn’t get any better, it got worse. The plows weren’t able to keep up with the rate the snow was falling, and the roads were a mess.
“This is nuts. I’m cold, I’m tired, and I’m hungry. I don’t know how you do this on a daily basis.” I pouted in the seat beside Mitch.
“You should have eaten at the diner,” Mitch replied, as if talking to a child.
“I wasn’t hungry then.” I knew my tone was whiny, but I couldn’t help it. My name was Sunny for a reason—I was full of sunshine and warmth. I hated the snow and cold.
“And now we’re on the case when it’s not convenient to stop and eat,” my fiancé pointed out, ever the logical being.
“I can’t help that,” I grumbled, knowing I probably sounded like a child. I was not being a very good partner right about now, but a big part of me knew my whining didn’t have anything to do with this case. It had everything to do with our unresolved issues that were really starting to get to me.
“And I can’t help that a lead didn’t pay off.” Mitch looked at me helplessly. “Welcome to police work, Miss Meadows.”
“Funny.” I scowled.
“I try.” He smirked.
“Any chance you can try harder?” I looked over at him with the utmost sincerity, all traces of kidding aside.
He rubbed the back of his neck, then finally responded, “Alright, let’s call it a day and go get some linner.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Linner?”
“Well, brunch is breakfast and lunch. We’re way beyond that, but we’re not quite at dinner. I figure linner must be lunch and dinner.”
“I take it back. Seriously,” I snorted, “you’re so not funny.”
“I know, but I repeat. At least I try.” This time he was the one to sound sincere.
I softened with a tender smile on my face and a heart full of love for this complex man. As much as we kidded around and as many hurdles as we had to overcome, I couldn’t imagine my life without him. “And I love you for it.” I blew him a kiss.
His gaze locked on mine, but he didn’t say the words back. My smile faded as uncertainty set in once more. Would love be enough for us, or would I indeed have to learn to live without the love of my life? Mitch gunned the car to do a U-turn, and it started to slide. I squealed, grabbing onto the bar above my head, and he cursed as he fought to bring her under control to no avail. We spiraled until we slid off the road, coming to a stop in the ditch.
“Oh!” I slapped my hands on the dash. “Oh, my. What now, boss?” I looked around helplessly. What the heck had all that been about?
He clenched his jaw on a wince and smacked the steering wheel once, then responded without giving anything away, “Now we call for help.”
Ten minutes of awkward silence later, a tow truck came to help.
A big burly man stepped out
of the truck and started walking toward us. If I didn’t know he was here to help, I would be terrified. He had a bald head, a big bushy beard remnant of the band ZZ Top, and a big belly, but his massive height made up for it. In fact, I was pretty sure this guy was taller than Sasquatch. I shot a glance in Mitch’s direction, looking for reassurance. When his eyes widened and mouth fell open, my stomach dropped.
Mitch cleared his throat and climbed out of the car, while I followed his lead. He held out his hand. “Detective Stone,” he said, emphasizing the detective part. My fiancé was anything but stupid. The snow fell even harder now, dusting our clothes immediately. I felt like we were in the middle of a snow globe. Normally, I thought those were beautiful… now, not so much.
“Ralph Peters.” The man grasped Mitch’s hand with his huge paw and shook hard. I had to give Mitch credit. He didn’t so much as wince. “It’s a doozy out here. Gotta watch these roads this far north, though I have to say, your car’s stuck in here good. Looks like you spun her out, almost as if you were avoiding something.” He looked around the empty road and scratched his beard.
“Oh, he was avoiding something, all right,” I muttered beneath my breath, but Mitch heard, judging by the stiffening of his shoulders.
“My foot slipped, and I hit the gas,” Mitch responded, with a tone that brooked no argument.
“You’re not from these parts, are you, Detective?” Peters reached under the car and hooked a chain up to it. “I’ve lived here all my life. I’d know if you were,” he added as he stood and eyed Mitch curiously. “What brings you ‘round these parts?”
“Official business. Since you obviously know everything that goes on in this town, I’m sure you’ve heard that Gunther Corp was murdered.”
Everything about the monster of a man changed. His curious amicable expression hardened, his muscles stiffened, and his eyes filled with hate. “No offense, but I say good riddance.”
“None taken, but why would you say that? Was Mr. Corp not well liked around these parts?”
“He was the leader of the Rebel Riders. He got off on terrorizing pretty much everyone in town.”
“Except you.”
“Do I look like I scare easily?” The giant’s face was hard and unsmiling.
“No, I can’t say that you do.”
“Corp knew better than to mess with me. Problem was he didn’t know enough not to mess with my wife.”
Mitch studied the man. “Did he harm her?”
“Not physically, but he preyed on her emotions and seduced her.” A muscle in Peter’s jaw bulged.
“Last I checked, it takes two to tango.” Mitch watched him intently.
“And only one to commit murder,” Ralph growled.
“Are you confessing to the crime, Mr. Peters? Maybe you found out they were having an affair and killed him for it.”
I sucked in a breath. Was Mitch nuts? He had to know he was playing with fire by baiting the man.
“And maybe this cold has addled your brain, Detective.” Ralph clenched and unclenched his fists. “Why would I stay in town if I committed murder?”
Mitch shrugged, donning an innocent expression. “Stranger things have happened.”
“I suggest you get someplace warm and thaw out so you can start thinking straight again.” Ralph unhooked the chain from Mitch’s car. “Will you look at that? The darn thing broke.” He threw it in the back of his tow truck before letting us see.
“Wait, where are you going?” I asked, ready to throttle Detective Stone in the name of justice.
“You’ll have to call someone else,” Peters said over his shoulder, not looking back even once as he revved the engine.
“Why would a tow truck driver not have extra supplies on his truck?” Mitch hollered after him suspiciously.
Ralph turned around long enough to shrug innocently, but there was a definite sparkle in his eye as he replied, “Stranger things have happened, Detective,” and then he was gone.
7
“Well, I have to say it’s a cold day in hell.” Mitch zipped his black leather jacket up all the way as we stood outside the front door of the inn.
I had to agree. It had been freezing the past twenty-four hours, and we’d definitely gone through hell after Peters had left us in the ditch. It had taken forever to get someone else to pull us out, and by then it was too dark and the weather too bad to drive home to Divinity. The only place that had a room in Stillwater was a dive of a motel, but we had made do.
Only to return home this morning to no groceries in the house, a missing Morty, and a heater on the fritz. But who was I kidding? I knew the “cold day in hell” Mitch was referring to was when I suggested we go to the inn and beg for mercy. It might not be open for business while my mother remodeled, but they had plenty of room and people who knew how to cook. Besides, neither one of us could face Jo and Cole, and there was no place else to go. These were desperate times, and I wasn’t too proud to admit it.
“Ha ha. I have to say I miss my family. Or at least Granny, anyway. I will learn to cook if life ever calms down, I promise.”
“I’m not marrying you for your cooking, Tink.” He winked down at me with a soft smile tipping up the corners of his lips.
A little thrill zipped through me over his words, and the look full of promise blazing in his dark eyes. And a small voice whispered he might not be marrying me at all if he didn’t want children. I decided to keep our truce and block out the voice for now. We would have to deal with it eventually, but I planned to wait until the whisper became a roar.
“Really, now? I can’t imagine what skills I could possibly possess that would be worth marrying me over.” I blinked up at him innocently, but I couldn’t quite hide the twinkle in my eyes.
“Maybe I’ll have to refresh your memory.”
“If you’re lucky, maybe I’ll show you just exactly how talented I am.”
My mother chose to open the door right as I was speaking. A perfectly plucked eyebrow crept up into her artfully styled, golden blond hairline. “Talents? And what would those be, darling?”
I tried not to grind my jaw. “Fortune-telling, Mother. I thought maybe I could read yours and see how well this place is going to do for you?”
“Surely you jest!” My mother brushed a hand over her paint-splattered coveralls, managing to make them look like designer wear. “My sweet child, I have exquisite taste. This town is going to adore what I have planned.”
“This town isn’t New York City, Mom. I just don’t want you disappointed if your new business venture doesn’t work out exactly as you plan.”
“I’m not worried. I have lots of help.” She harrumphed. “Not so much from your father and Harry. I fear the grounds will never be the same, but I’ll deal with that when spring comes. And Granny and Fiona still haven’t quite mastered the art of cohabitating peacefully, but at least they have help now. All I can say is, thank goodness for Sally and Frank. At least I can count on the inn being clean and nothing breaking down.”
“As interesting as this conversation is, Mrs. Meadows,” Mitch said with a shiver, “would it be too much to ask if we might come in?”
“Of course, you can,” my father boomed as he joined my mother in the doorway. “Vivian, where are your manners?”
“They’ve gone ice fishing with your sanity apparently,” she muttered all flustered-like, and for the first time I realized she wasn’t as confident as she tried to act.
Dad pushed the door wide open so Mitch and I could walk through with our overnight bag. “Honeymoon over already?” Dad chuckled. “Don’t tell me our fine detective here is returning you to your family. All sales are final with this one, as she’s about to expire.” My father winked at me.
“Cute, Dad, but Vicky is my house, remember? I would be the one returning Detective Stone, which I have no intention of doing anytime soon.”
“Thanks, I think,” Mitch chimed in, and closed the door behind us, adding, “Heater’s on the fritz and the fri
dge is pretty empty. Any chance we can stay here for the night? I have a call in to a friend who agreed to fix it first thing in the morning.”
“Of course, you can stay.” My mother searched the area. “Might as well have the whole family together. Morty’s around here somewhere.”
“Morty’s here and you’re not shrieking in terror?” I stared in shock. Wow, hell really had frozen over.
“I’m not saying we’re best buddies or anything, but we’ve formed a sort of truce after he saved my life.” She hoisted a thin shoulder, acting like it was no big deal, but I knew better. She’d softened toward him, and he’d accepted her. “Besides, we both know that cat of yours does what he wants to anyway, so why fight it.”
“That’s true,” I responded, and just like that, Morty appeared from out of nowhere, wearing a snowflake bowtie.
Granny Gert must have made him a new one, since I was slacking in that department as well, after promising I would keep him outfitted properly after she left. I couldn’t cook, couldn’t clean, and couldn’t clothe my fur baby. Who was I kidding? I was beginning to doubt what kind of mother I would make. I chewed my bottom lip.
“There you are, you little stinker.” I reached down to scratch him behind the ears, and he flinched.
Morty never flinched.
My gaze shot to Mitch’s, and he looked just as confused as I was. “Morty skittish. That’s a first.”
And now I’ve made my cat jumpy. Morty stared hard at me, then turned up his nose at Mitch as he walked away, though he stumbled and wobbled a bit before disappearing out of the room.
“Skittish and unsteady.” I pursed my lips. “What did you do to him, Mother?”
She scoffed. “Absolutely nothing. He hasn’t acted like this all morning. Not until you arrived, my dear. If anyone’s to blame, it’s clearly you.”
“Now, now. No one’s to blame. He’s probably just getting old,” my father reasoned.
Hazard in the Horoscope Page 6