Authors: J. M. Griffin
"So, what brings you in search of me?” I asked again.
My mother's eyes widened at my tone and the use of his name, but her smile remained in place. My father seemed aware of an undercurrent and sat silent as his eyes flicked between me and Marcus. Dad most certainly was interested to see if I'd be handcuffed and hauled away. He undoubtedly considered how much cash he'd have to cough up for a bail bond. Geez.
"Nothing of major importance, I wondered if you've had any further luck with that issue we last spoke of."
The measured words left the subject wide open. Anything could be made out of it, but I knew what he wanted to know.
"As a matter of fact, I did come across some new information for you earlier today. Why don't you stop by later or tomorrow?"
"Sure, I'd be glad to.” His attitude was polite and he knew he'd won my mother over in a heartbeat. She was a sucker for good manners. My father was another matter altogether.
In a gruff voice, my father addressed the trooper.
"Has my daughter been involved in something we should know about?"
Richmond scanned my face a moment with a glint of humor in those shrewd eyes and then smiled at my father. He shook his head and said, “Not at all, she's assisting us in an ongoing investigation. Lavinia is very qualified in the field of criminalistics. But I guess you know that."
"Mmm, she's good at her job. What investigation do you mean?"
"I'm not at liberty to say, sir. But Vinnie's been most helpful to us."
"Huh, I thought you guys didn't need anybody's help. But if you say so, I'm good with it."
By then I'd finished my pie and coffee. Both Marcus and I rose from the table. My mother stood and packed leftovers for me to take home. When she handed me the bag, I left on the heels of Richmond.
Outside, I bounded down the three steps to the driveway and tucked the goody bag in the car. I turned to Marcus, who leaned against the side of the car rear quarter panel with arms folded, waiting for me.
"What the hell are you doing here?” I whispered. “My parents are paranoid enough that I live alone, have a male tenant and work in the world of criminal justice. Criminy, you don't have to complicate my life further, Richmond."
"You have a male tenant? Last night you had no tenant. Things change fast around you, I see.” His smirk widened into a grin.
"Yuh, I have a male tenant and what's it to ya?"
"Nothing to me, but who is this new tenant? Have you checked him out?"
"Cripes, now you sound like my father.” My hand was on my hip and I stepped into his space.
He leaned back a bit and must have realized I wasn't enjoying the joke. His smile slackened and a gleam entered his eyes as they rested on my lips. He ran his fingers lightly up my arms, and I felt a shiver start deep within my body. I took a quick step back, my eyes locked onto his.
"I'll see you at the house later. I have to go back to Scituate around ten, if that's not too late?"
"Right, I'll be there.” I turned, opened the car door and slid inside, my nerves all a jingle. The motor rumbled as I started the vehicle and waited for Marcus to back into the street.
He drove away with a brief wave of his hand, and I headed home. I made a short stop at the market to pick up toilet paper and additional cleaning supplies. I remembered my promise to clean the upstairs before Aaron took residence.
A good way to kill time until Richmond showed up
.
The bathroom surfaces sparkled and the entire apartment was spotless when the downstairs door knocker thumped. I swiped the kitchen countertop one last time and raced through the dark rooms to peer down into the driveway from the second floor windows. The Crown Vic sat parked beside my car and Marcus Richmond stood on the doorstep.
I peeled latex gloves off my hands and sped down the stairs to open the door. It swung wide while I stepped aside as he entered the foyer and strode on into my apartment. With nerves taut, I closed the heavy front door and followed him. He glanced around a moment and then sat in the soft arm chair near the fireplace.
I'd simply tossed my goody bag and purse on the desk inside the living room door in order to save time and get the upstairs apartment straightened out. He glanced at the bag and then at me.
"Would you like some coffee or more pie?” I asked.
"No, just any information you've held back."
His short clipped words told me he was annoyed about something. I bristled at the change in attitude. My guess was that whatever had happened took place in between his two visits.
"I haven't held back. I had every intention of calling you, but you saved me the effort by stopping by my parents’ house."
"I guess it's a good thing I did, Lavinia."
Wow, he was annoyed, he'd called me by my formal name.
"What is it you think I haven't told you, Trooper Richmond?” Two could do this, I thought, slightly irked myself.
He stood and paced the room. It was apparent there was an issue, but he wouldn't share. I leaned against the wall and waited. When he didn't speak, I strode from the room and entered my bedroom to get the stones.
Aghast, I stood in the doorway. The room had been tossed and stuff was flung everywhere. The window next to the bed yawned wide open and the summer breeze flowed in. I knew I'd closed the window before I left, but I couldn't remember locking it.
Shit.
I waded through the debris toward Livvy's trunk. It squatted on the floor, the same as before and I panicked over the small parcel of gems I'd tucked just under the trunk edge. I stared around the room and then back at the trunk.
Papers, photos and letters were strewn in a haphazard manner over the entire room. Tiny boxes and lids lay askew, tumbled in wild profusion across the bed. If they'd had any contents to begin with, they were empty now.
Marcus stood close behind me and I felt his warm breath tickle the hairs on my neck.
"What's this, don't you clean up after yourself Vinnie?"
At the sound of his voice, I uttered in bewilderment, “I went through the trunk today and found an item that I put aside for you. It took hours to look this stuff over and it'll take days before it's all done. But now, I guess we know someone else wanted a look."
I kneeled at the corner of the trunk, lifted it and slipped my hand underneath in search of the pouch. The small puffed envelope fit snug just under the bottom between the rim and the trunk floor. The trunk lid stood open when I'd left and still was. Apparently the searcher decided there was no sense in moving the trunk since it was open. Lucky for me, I thought as I withdrew the packet.
His gaze never left me as I turned to him, the envelope of brilliants in my hand. I stumbled over the corner of the rug and stones chucked across the room. Richmond's eyes flew wide as a shower of color coursed through the air, some bounced off him while others flew beyond.
Strong arms caught me as I headed south, dragged me to him and held on for a moment. The look in his eyes changed a tad, leaving me breathless.
Now what?
His hands dropped from my arms and snuck to my waist where they sat light and warm above my hips.
A squad of butterflies attacked my stomach. My body heat rose as Marcus leaned forward and brushed my lips with his. The sensation was pure pleasure. I stifled the urge to tear his clothes off and stepped back instead while my inner voice yelled warnings in my head. It was difficult to listen, but I did.
"Sorry about that, I didn't see the corner of the rug. Help me with these gemstones, will you?” I stooped and started to toss them into the padded packet.
We scrambled around the room and found about half of the little darlings when I realized they'd also flown into the kitchen. I entered the room and turned on the overhead lights to see better. Stones lay scattered in every direction and I knew it would be impossible to retrieve every one of them tonight. Scooping as many as I could find, the wonderful sparklers slid into the pouch before I handed it over to Richmond.
"Where did you find these?” he asked with soft spoken curiosity as he fingered the little beauties.
"They were mixed in with some papers in the trunk."
"Any note like the box?” His eyes strayed around the bedroom and then back to me as I wandered toward him.
"Yeah, it's similar to the other. A few words, but no signature or postmark. It must have been hand delivered.” The note sat folded on the floor with a few other papers. I stooped to pick them up and tucked the note into my pocket.
"Would you like to tell me what this is all about or do you plan to keep me in the dark forever?"
"I can't say at the moment, Vinnie."
My temper soared as I gazed around the room. Someone had broken into my home, tossed my bedroom and I was supposed to be happy with the phrase “I can't say"? Not likely in this lifetime.
"Well then, I guess you should leave.” Pissed off and put out, I stood with a hand on my hip. I glared at this police officer whose earlier testy mood matched my newfound anger.
The gaze that turned to mine was cool and his cop persona was in place. I'd seen this before in the field when I'd worked with other cops. They could be nice and pleasant, funny even, but when the shit hit the ground things changed dramatically and they were all business.
"Not until I've looked around outside and in here, too."
"Huh, that's one way to avoid the issue at hand, I guess.” I baited him and he knew it.
With a sidelong glance, he walked past me and peered through the open window.
"Did you leave the window open while you were gone?"
"No, I don't think I locked it though. I usually leave the front ones closed. The back windows are most always wide open for air, however, tonight I closed it."
"You didn't lock it and you teach criminal justice? Lavinia, what are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking the house sits in the middle of the damned village and this is Scituate not the inner city, for Chrissake.” My temper was on a roll now.
"Just because you live in a country village doesn't mean there are no robberies, let alone more serious crimes. You, of all people, should know that."
Tired and angry, I turned away from him and slumped onto the stool at the kitchen counter in a sulk. I watched as Marcus inspected the remaining rooms and went outside with a flashlight. The motion sensitive overhead lights should have come on, but they hadn't. Through the French doors I could see the flashlight bounce over the ground.
The beam settled on the surface several times before he sauntered back inside. He set the flashlight on the counter and went back into the bedroom.
"I don't want you here by yourself. Can someone stay with you or can you go to your parents’ house for the night?"
I gawked at him as if he'd spoken Chinese. No way would I run home to my parents or even ask someone to sleep over. Good God, I wasn't twelve. The only person I'd consider was Lola Trapezi, but she worked a bazillion hours a week at the deli, so that was out of the question.
"That isn't necessary, I assure you. Whoever did this has either found what he wants or will wait for another opportunity, but it won't be tonight. Besides, I'll lock up tight and I own a baseball bat."
Thick eyebrows hiked a bit as Richmond's facial expression said he didn't believe it for a second. Glaring at him, I watched as he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorjamb to stare at me in silence.
He was a thick headed snot
.
"You can stare all you want Richmond, I won't give in. Anyone who wants to mess around had better be ready, that's it,” I said with false bravado.
With a shake of his head and a snort of disbelief, he sauntered over and picked the packet of jewels off the kitchen counter. A few spilled out as the puffy envelope tipped. We both stared, mesmerized by the little beauties.
The glittering, polished cut stones dazzled my eyes in the light. They were rich in color and I had no idea of their quality or their worth. There were a host of things I wanted to know about these gems and the others. The state police still held them in their possession, along with the first message.
"Do you have the note that was in here?” he asked.
I pulled the paper from my pocket and dropped it into his outstretched hand.
"Thanks, I'll take this stuff to headquarters and put it with the others. Don't worry, the jewels will be safe."
"I don't know if I should allow you to leave without a straight answer. Tell me what the hell is going on and why you are so secretive?” I wanted to know just as much as I'd wanted to tear his clothes off earlier. Well, maybe not as much as that, but close enough.
"I said I can't tell you right now, but you'll know as soon as I can. There are good reasons, believe me, Vin."
First I was Lavinia, then Vinnie and now Vin. A pattern had formed and I wasn't sure how well I liked it. When he was angry, I was Lavinia, when he wasn't, I was Vinnie and now his attempt to placate me resulted in Vin. Huh, pain in the ass men.
"Fine, then I'll tell you what's going to happen. If I don't get some answers pretty soon, Richmond, there'll be no further cooperation, understand?"
"You might rethink that idea if you're smart and I know you're very smart, Vinnie. This isn't a game and it sure as hell isn't a class subject for your students. The problem is real and cooperation is paramount. Keep that in mind when I have more questions."
The sparkle of the jewels in his hand matched the angry glint in his eyes. Richmond picked his hat off the chair in the living room and strode toward the door.
I stepped behind him to lock up and before I knew it I was in his arms once again. He kissed me in earnest this time and sparks flew through me like the Fourth of July. My body pressed against his as he held me. His lips played over mine and my breath caught in my throat. Hell, this man tempted me.
With a ruthless grin, he stepped back, nodded and left me in the hallway with my mind in a muddle and my inner voice reprimanding me for my actions. I tried to turn off the nagging, but the voice insisted I was making a horrific mistake with this Five-O.