Craving Vengeance

by Valerie J. Clarizio

  “What’s he talking about, Nick?” Shannon asked. Her voice squeaked.

  He knew he needed to look at her, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do so. She tugged at his arm. “What’s going on?”

  He shifted his gaze to her. Her eyes pleaded with him. “We’ll talk about it in the car.”

  Chapter Ten

  Spinelli held his hand out. Shannon dropped her car keys into it. He opened the passenger door to her vehicle, and she slid in. He climbed in on the driver’s side.

  He’d hardly shut the door before she began questioning him. “What was Uncle Bernie talking about? Are you undercover?”

  Spinelli started the car and flipped on the heater. He wasn’t sure why he turned it on, the heat emitting from his pores was surely enough to heat the car. He cleared his throat and expelled a breath. “I think Bernie was probably referring to the cupids that were murdered today. It was all over the news. Didn’t you hear about it?” he asked trying to keep it light.

  “When would I have had time to watch the news? I worked all day then I went to the church to help with the fundraiser, and I’ve been making deliveries until now,” Shannon snapped.

  “So you worked all day?”

  “Yes.”

  “You didn’t leave your office at all during the day?” Spinelli questioned before considering the consequences.

  Shannon’s eyes watered and her lips quivered. Did she know why he was questioning her? It certainly didn’t look good that she knew one of the dead cupids and that he had seen them leaving the government building together just hours before the body was found. That coupled with the fact that Bethany put his time of death at around 2:00 p.m. didn’t help matters either.

  Spinelli thought about their first victim who’d been found at 3:45 a.m. Bethany had placed his time of death at shortly after midnight. Could Shannon have had anything to do with the death of Mike Carter? Spinelli’s chest tightened. He had arrived home at about that same time, midnight, to find Shannon sleeping in his bed. He hadn’t been surprised to find her there since they’d spent nearly every night together since they’d started dating. He’d gotten home so late because he, Walker, and Marsh were held up at the precinct closing a case. He wondered what time she’d arrived at his house. He hadn’t given it any consideration earlier, but a shadow of doubt now hovered over him. Exactly what time did she arrive at his house? Where was she prior to that?

  A vision of Tony Rosso’s dead body surfaced in Spinelli’s head. Tony had been found at 8:00 a.m. Bethany estimated his time of death at about 4:00 a.m. Hah! Shannon was in my bed at 4:00 a.m.! He could verify she’d been in his bed since at least midnight. There was no way she had anything to do with Rosso’s death. Spinelli’s mind spun. What in the hell am I thinking? Get it together. This is Shannon. Sweet, innocent Shannon. Good God, how am I going to tell her Joshua Meyers is dead? Was he really her fiancé? Shannon’s nostrils flared. “Nick, why are you grilling me? Why are you really here? And why were you such a jerk to me earlier today?”

  He stared into her furious eyes, debating his response. He glanced into the backseat to find the flowers and candy they’d yet to deliver. She’d never be able to finish the deliveries if he told her now of the death of Joshua Meyers or if he confronted her about witnessing their kiss.

  “Fine. Do what you always do. Clam up. If we don’t talk about it, it will just go away, and you won’t have to deal with it,” Shannon snapped as she shifted her body and stared out the front windshield. She clicked on her seat belt and crossed her arms over her chest.

  Spinelli grabbed the clipboard where he’d fastened the paper containing the additional addresses Sister Pat had given him. The next delivery was several blocks away at another restaurant. He hoped there wouldn’t be as many patrons in this restaurant as there were in Billy’s BBQ. He was so embarrassed singing in front of all of them. He wasn’t in the mood for singing love songs when this whole escapade started, let alone now.

  He parked in the parking lot next to the restaurant and had hardly cut the engine before Shannon bolted from the car. Spinelli grabbed the flowers and chocolates from the backseat and in a couple of quick steps was on her heels. She stepped up to the hostess station and asked for Naomi. Her tone was soft and sweet, far different from the last time she’d spoken.

  He went through his routine. He’d never get used to this. Only one more to go then he could get on with dealing with Shannon and Dr. Joshua Meyers.

  They climbed back into the car. Shannon’s smile had disappeared along with the warmness in her eyes. Spinelli grabbed the clipboard from between the seats. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

  Shannon’s cold eyes cut to him. “What’s so funny?” she asked in a tone sharper than a samurai sword.

  Spinelli’s throat constricted choking off his chuckle.

  He swallowed the lump in his throat. “The next stop is at Madam Layla’s Lingerie Shop.”

  Shannon shook her head and shifted her eyes forward.

  Spinelli pressed the accelerator to the floor. He wanted to get this over with.

  He parked on the street in front of the store. Through the plate glass window he could see several customers milling about. Both men and women shuffled through the racks of lingerie. Last minute shoppers he supposed.

  Shannon opened the door and sprang out like a jack-in-the-box on speed. Evidently she wanted to get this over with as well.

  He followed her into the shop and zoned in on the older woman behind the counter. He assumed her to be Madam Layla.

  He figured her to be in her early sixties. She stepped around the counter to help a young gentleman with his lingerie choice. Her leopard patterned leggings and matching five-inch spike heels caught his attention. She looked like an ex-Las Vegas dancer with her long thin frame, tall flowing hair, and heavily painted face. Her tight black sweater clung to her large breasts and small waist.

  When she finished ringing up the young man’s purchase, they approached her. She raked over Spinelli, not just once, but twice. “What can I do for you?” she asked, keeping her gaze fixed firmly on him as if Shannon weren’t even there.

  Shannon cleared her throat drawing Madam Layla’s attention. “We’ve been sent here by Harold.”

  The woman let out a girlish giggle. “That sweet man. Will he ever give up?” she asked as her eyes floated back to Spinelli.

  He handed the bouquet of roses to her. She leaned over the counter and took them from him as she eyed the entire length of him. He broke into what had become his routine. He wasn’t even nervous this time, of course the store wasn’t nearly as occupied as the restaurants and bar had been.

  During his entire performance, Layla’s seducing eyes never left him. When he finished, he handed her the box of chocolates. She reached forward and snatched the chocolates with one hand and set them on the counter. With her other hand, she latched onto his wrist. “I’ve got something for you,” she glanced at Shannon, “and for your cute little friend, too.”

  Layla kept her grip on him and pulled him along. Shannon hesitated but followed.

  She led them to the back of the store and sifted through a few garments hanging on a clothing rack. “Ah ha, here they are. These would be perfect for such a nice looking young couple.”

  Spinelli instantly hardened at the vision of Shannon wearing the skimpy garment Layla held high in the air. He could easily see the hot pink lingerie contrasting against Shannon’s milky white skin, and her small, pale, round breasts partially exposed over the top of the low-cut fur-lined bodice. He imagined the smooth feel of the fabric under his fingertips. He pictured himself plunging his hand between the silky material and her soft smooth skin. His groin tightened with need.

  Layla’s other hand held a hanger with a pair of silky red boxer shorts. Large, hot-pink, heart-shaped buttons held the fly shut. Hearts, the same color and size, lined the waistband. He wouldn’t be caught dead wearing those. He reconsidered. Perhaps if Shannon agreed to her garment, he’d agree
to his. The vision of her wearing the lingerie with a pair of thigh-high fishnet stockings and spiked heels would likely make him agree to anything, especially if she were to add a set of wrist cuffs and a rose tipped whip like the ones he saw on the shelf near the checkout counter.

  Layla glanced about the store. “Hmm,” she flipped her long poufy hair over her shoulder and then fixed her eyes on Shannon. “You know, dear, I’ve got the perfect accessories over here to go with these,” she said as she motioned for them to follow her.

  Shannon hesitated and stepped back. Her normally pale cheeks were as red as the boxer shorts Layla held in her hand.

  “Oh, sweetie, you need to loosen up a bit and have some fun,” Layla said as she shifted her gaze to Spinelli and winked, “and I bet this handsome fella here would be more than willing to help you along with that.” She undressed him with her eyes again, “If I were thirty years younger, I would be giving him an open invitation before someone else did.”

  Spinelli took the garments from Layla’s hands. “We’ll take these. What else is it you want to show us?”

  He didn’t need to look at Shannon to know her disapproving gaze was on him. He welcomed her discomfort, just as she welcomed his during the whole singing cupid thing.

  He followed Layla to the display he’d seen earlier, the one that held the wrist cuffs and whips. It was as if Layla could read his mind. She snatched them off the shelf and set them on the checkout counter.

  Spinelli reached into the small makeshift pocket sewn into the inside of his toga costume. It was barely large enough to hold is badge, ID, two bills and a credit card, but he was thankful it was there so he didn’t have to wear his badge around his neck during this cupid escapade.

  His groin had nearly made him forget he was angry with Shannon and that they still needed to resolve the Dr. Joshua issue. But he was too far into the purchase to turn back now, so he slapped his credit card on the counter. He knew Shannon was glaring at him, but he couldn’t bring himself to return her gaze. She sighed heavily.

  Madam Layla bagged the items and handed the bag to Spinelli. She flashed him a wink. “You kids have a nice Valentine’s night.”

  “You, too.”

  Spinelli spun on his heel and headed out the door. Shannon huffed behind him. If she wasn’t pissed enough before, she was surely pissed enough now.

  By the time he’d tossed the lingerie bag into the back seat, Shannon had already slid into the passenger seat. Spinelli climbed into the driver’s seat and cranked the engine. The smoke billowing from her ears made it difficult for him to see out the windshield.

  Spinelli signaled and pulled into traffic. He drove fast. He glanced at the clock on the dashboard. He pressed the accelerator closer to the floorboard shooting over State Street; the street he should have turned on in order to head back to the precinct.

  Shannon fixed her confused gaze on him. “Where are we going? We’re done with the deliveries. Isn’t your truck at the precinct?”

  “Yeah, it is. But I have one quick stop to make yet.”

  “Where?”

  Spinelli’s cheeks heated. He’d wanted to make this particular stop earlier in the evening, when he was by himself, but time just didn’t allow for it.

  * * * *

  The car shot over Juneau Street before Shannon realized where they might be heading. Was he really going to the foster home of the Washington kids?

  The Washington home was the first home she and Spinelli had visited when he’d been assigned to help in the Social Services Department. At that time, the Washington kids lived with their parents in a dilapidated apartment building on Cherry Street, a gang infested area. Not only was their dad a drug dealer, he was also physically abusive to their mom. And though he beat her, she’d refused to leave him because she needed to keep close ties with her cocaine dealer. As a result, Shannon and Spinelli removed the kids from the home on that particular day and brought them to their new foster home where they’ve lived ever since.

  Shannon recalled Spinelli’s evident apprehension during the entire process. Certainly, nobody is happy or comfortable when removing children from the home of their parents, but Spinelli’s anguish during the whole ordeal was like none she’d ever seen before on such a call. She’d later found out that Cherry Street was the very same street where he grew up; in an environment not so different from the Washington kids.

  A few days after the kids were placed in foster care, the foster mom had brought them to the mall to visit Santa. Spinelli just so happened to be playing Santa that day because he was working his undercover assignment. Somewhere during this chain of events, Spinelli and the eldest of the Washington kids, Lesha, age seven, had developed some sort of bond.

  Spinelli pulled up to the curb of the foster home and cut the engine.

  Shannon glanced at her watch. “It’s kind of late. The kids might be sleeping.”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Sandi knew I was coming, so she was going to keep them up. I texted her earlier.”

  He texted her?

  They slid out of the car and walked up to the front door of the older well-kept, two-story home. It was a nice, clean home; far different from what the Washington kids had previously been accustomed. And as for Sandi, Shannon really liked her. She was a loving and caring woman. She and her husband Al, both in their mid-forties, never had kids of their own, but they saw to the needs of many foster kids through the years.

  Spinelli knocked on the door. Al answered and gestured for them to enter as he eyed Spinelli who still wore his cupid costume.

  “It’s a long story,” Spinelli said before Al even said a word.

  They walked through the small entryway, and the second they entered the living room, the kids’ eyes lit up at the sight of Spinelli. Sandi smiled in his direction.

  Lesha jumped off the couch and ran up to Spinelli with her arms open. He scooped her up and gave her a hug. She kissed him on the cheek before he set her back down. Lesha’s brother, Darius, age three, kept his distance. Samuel, a foster child from a different home, who’d been with Sandi for some time now stood next to Darius. Christina, the youngest of the Washington children at eleven months, was nowhere to be seen. Shannon assumed she was already in bed.

  Shannon watched and listened as Spinelli interacted with the children. Her first impression of him, when she’d met him a little over two months ago, was so incredibly wrong. At that time, he’d seemed cold and harsh to people, especially children. But it didn’t take her long to realize that was just his exterior layer. His warm and caring interior layers, hidden firmly beneath the surface, didn’t take long to emerge once the outer tier had been penetrated.

  Spinelli handed each of the children a valentine and one to Sandi, with Christina’s name printed on the envelope. Shannon recalled seeing the envelopes lying on the back seat of her car earlier but hadn’t really given any thought as to whom they were for.

  Judging from Lesha’s smile that stretched from ear to ear, she’d realized her valentine included a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. She looked at Darius’ and Samuel’s valentines and then explained to them what those certificates meant. Their eyes lit up, Samuel’s a bit more than Darius’. At just three years old, Darius always seemed leery. Shannon hoped he’d shake it someday and enjoy a carefree childhood.

  “Do you guys have something to say to Mr. Spinelli before you go to bed?” Sandi asked as she glanced at each one of the children.

  Each child, in turn, thanked Nick.

  Sandi flashed a warm smile as well. “Thank you, Nick. The children always enjoy seeing you.” She shifted her gaze to Shannon. “It’s nice to see you, too.”

  Shannon returned her smile then glanced at Spinelli. His normal olive colored skin tone looked red. Was he blushing? She thought about Sandi’s words. The children always enjoy seeing you. How often does he stop here? And when?

  She wondered how she got so lucky; the man’s heart was truly made of gold. Her heart ached at the thought of what happened tod
ay with her and Joshua. She truly didn’t mean to kiss him. She desperately needed to fix this with Nick. She had to make him understand and forgive her.

  Spinelli cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for getting here so late. We’ll get out of here so you can get them to bed.” He shifted his gaze to the kids. “You guys be good now, okay?”

  The kids nodded.

  * * * *

  Spinelli opened the car door for Shannon, and she slid into the passenger seat. He hustled around to the driver’s side and climbed into the car. Though the temperature hovered around twenty-five degrees outside, he was sure the thermometer would read in the teens if he wasn’t so warm. The whole while they were in the foster home, he could feel Shannon’s heated gaze on him. He knew he’d have some explaining to do. She wouldn’t be able to just let this go and not grill him about why they stopped there or why he stops there regularly.

  He wondered why himself. He’d been visiting them once a week since the foster mom had taken the kids to the mall to see him as Santa. The Christmas wish Lesha shared with him that day nearly broke his heart in half. He recalled how she climbed up onto his lap and whispered in her sweet little voice. I would like a new mom and dad for me and my brother and sister, then maybe Darius wouldn’t be scared and cry all the time. You know, maybe a mom like Ms. O’Hara or the new foster mom, one that would love us and take care of us.

  He hoped those kids would never have to go back to their parents. He’d give his right arm to make her wish come true. His chest tightened. He knew the truth. From his own past experience, he knew in all likelihood those kids would bounce between their parents and foster care more times than he’d care to know. Though he hated the flawed system, he figured it was better than no system at all.

  “Nick, why didn’t you tell me you visit the Washington kids?”