Death of a Chorus Girl (The Delacroix Series Book 1) (8 page)

Empathy Delacroix: Gala Rehearsal

“W
hy are the tickets so expensive?” I ask Tom at the last rehearsal for the Emergency Responders Charity Gala.  It’s a loaded question because I had hoped to see Richard there.  When I learned he wasn’t coming because he couldn’t afford the ticket, I resolved to confront Tom about it.

Tom gapes at me and speaks with deliberate inflection.  “Because we’re trying to raise a lot of money for the responder’s fund.  Can’t do that if the cost of the ticket only covers the expense of the event.”

“I realize I’m just a glorified dancer but I get basic economic principles.  Can’t we offer a discounted ticket to the service men and women?  Shouldn’t they be able to bask in our appreciation?  After all, it’s our responders we’re celebrating.”

He sighs and puts a hand on my arm.  “I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t understand.  You know I think more of you than being a step above a chorus dancer.”  He gives me a smile that says he thinks the matter resolved and turns to the event coordinator to finalize some seating arrangements.

“You didn’t answer my question though,” I call him out when they finish.  “Why don’t we make this event more accessible to those we claim to be supporting?”

He becomes rigid at my words.  I’m aware of his frustration, but this is important and is something that needs to be addressed.  “Is this about all of them or
one
of them, Em?”  I drop my eyes due to embarrassment.  But does it really matter, in the end, if it benefits them all?  “I can’t do anything about it this year but I promise to take it under consideration for next year’s event, alright?”

Richard Giordano: Off the Coast of Manhattan Beach

“Thanks for adjusting the time,” I say as Joe starts the boat and takes us out to sea.

“No problem, little bro,” he replies with a wink.  It is our pop’s boat, which he purchased the month before he died.  We couldn’t bring ourselves to let it go, it had been his dream, so we share ownership of it.

A can pops.  It isn’t shocking that Bobby is starting early.  “Tell me again, Dicky, why we had to get up before dawn?”  I cringe at that name.  Dick I barely handle; Dicky drives me nuts, which is why he uses it.  Joe is the oldest and five years my senior.  Bobby and I were practically born back to back and most treat us as if we are twins.  The way our birthdays fall, we were in the same grade in school, even though there are eleven months between us.

Where Joe and I are very similar which makes us close, Bobby is the exact opposite.  He always teased me growing up.  We aren’t the best of friends, and he definitely isn’t a guy I’d leave my girl alone with if I have any worries about keeping her, but he’s family.  To me, that means something.  Bobby has his flaws, and I know better than most the extent of them, but if I need something, he’s there.  No questions asked.

“Got a last minute mandatory invite to the Emergency Responders Charity Gala tonight,” I answer while snatching the beer Bobby tosses me out of the air and setting it to the side.

“You seriously going to make me drink alone?  Joey?”  Joe shakes his head and keeps his eyes trained on the water.  “Your loss then,” Bobby concedes as he takes another swig.  “Thought you couldn’t afford that thing?”

“I can’t.  Came down the chain. Our unit was invited personally by the organizers.  Can’t imagine why.”  But does it matter?  Em is going to be there.  It will be the first time I’ve seen her since the interview in her office almost a month ago.

“You see that, Joey?” Bobby comments with suspicion and sarcasm.

“We’re not far enough out yet for the bass,” Joe answers.

Bobby stands, walks over to us, and grips my jaw in his beefy, free hand.  “No, here.  I think our baby brother has himself a girl.” 
Shit!
  I planned to talk to Joe about it, but not Bobby.  I need some advice.  “Good thing too.  I was starting to wonder about you.”

I grab Bobby’s wrist and remove his hand before shoving him away from me.  “Get off.”

“Is it that foxy ME you dated after Sara?” Bobby continues.  “Steve said you two have been thick as thieves lately.  You back together finally?”

Damn Steve and his damn big mouth!
  Don’t know why I’m surprised.  Steve and Bobby are poker buddies.

There is no way I can let Bobby know about Em.  If he finds out about her, he will worm his way into her life.  People think we’re twins for good reasons; there is more than your basic brotherly resemblance.  Being so close in age adds to the illusion.  I am well aware that when given the choice outside of looks, Bobby typically has the better credentials.  He is an assistant district attorney and lives in Manhattan.  Plus, he loves the theater and is always going to their functions.  He and Em would be well matched.

“She’s going with me to the gala tonight, yes.”  I can’t bring myself to say outright that Frisco and I are together when we aren’t but I can let Bobby believe whatever he wants.  “How come you aren’t going?”  It isn’t going to immediately change the subject, but he will see right through me if I completely back away.

“I have my reasons,” Bobby hedges as he looks out over the water.  “Saw no reason to part with that much of my hard earned money.”  I can’t blame him for that.  Those tickets are two thousand dollars a pop.

Joe parks the boat and announces that we have reached our destination.  We gather around the deck, bait our hooks, and cast out, hoping to catch some sea bass.  An hour of glorious silence passes before Bobby bites into me again.  “Always liked that ME chick.  She packed a punch and could hold her own with us three.”  There is no three, just Bobby.  “Bet she knows a thing or two.  What’s it like laying on the table while she examines you?”

I refuse to play into his game and ignore him.  “How’s Mel?” I ask Joe about his wife.

“She’s good.  Been wondering when you’re going to come by for dinner.  She missed you at Mama’s last month.  Not like you to miss stroganoff.”  That’s because I was tucked away in Em’s office fighting all of my carnal urges.

“Tell her I’m off Tuesday and Friday this week.  She can take her pick.”  Unless we finally catch a break in Annie’s case and I can take Em out.  “How’s the school?”  Joe’s a principal at a Brooklyn high school.

“School’s good.  I was going to mention to you up there, when you were talking about the Broadway people; they actually reached out to us last week.”  He tugs on his line to check the hook.  It’s empty, so he re-baits and casts out again.  “It was the weirdest thing.  I’d heard they run a program in the city where they go into schools and offer workshops to the students.  The assistant to one of the program directors called and asked if I was interested in letting them expand the program to Brooklyn.  Said we were selected, along with a handful of other schools, by the program director.”

“That’s great.”  I’m only half listening.  The fish have stolen my own bait off my hook.

Joe signals for a beer now.  I hold his rod while he opens the can.  “I think so.  But I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was until I went home and told Mel the name of the first volunteer we got.  She freaked out.  Said the lady is some big shot cardio… corgeo… dance designer.”

“Choreographer?!” 
It’s impossible!
I drop the rods but luckily, Joe snatches his as Bobby grabs mine before the ocean can claim them.  I inquire after her name once I recover.

“Why does her name matter, Dicky?” Bobby asks.

At the same time, Joe says, “How’d you know that term?”  I don’t know what to say, so I shrug my shoulders.  “It is uncommon, I know that much.  Anthene?  Ephily?  Delgado?  Sorry, Rich, I guess I don’t.  Mel will know right away and I have it written down at home.  You want me to text it to you when I find it?”

There is no need for that.  I already know her name. 
Empathy Delacroix
.

The sun reaches its peak in the sky and it’s time to head back.  The event starts at six, but it is a thirty-minute ride back to the docks.  I still have to pick up my dress uniform, shower, shave, and drive into Manhattan.  We pull in our lines and pack away our gear and spoils before heading back to the controls.  Bobby’s loud snores overpower even the motor within minutes of him sprawling out on the bench seating as he sleeps off some of the alcohol he consumed.  Not the ideal environment but I need to talk to Joe.

I approach him, but he beats me to it.  “What’s on your mind, little bro?”  I plan to tell him the truth but find myself tongue-tied.  “Not a case.  Bobby is right.  Those bags are from a girl.  My money isn’t on the charming Theodora, though.  Who is she?”

Joe should have been a detective himself.  He’s a keen observer and not much gets by him.  Most people think him slow on the uptake because he is reserved and quiet.  Most people are wrong.  “I can’t tell you her name.”

“What’s she do?” he asks next.

“Can’t tell you that either.” 
Not now, anyway, since it would be a dead giveaway
.

“How’d you meet?”

“Can’t tell you that,” I respond.

“Are we going to get to meet her?”

“I hope so.”

“When?” he questions.

“Don’t know.”

Joe takes his eyes off the water to narrow them at me.  “Have
you
met this woman?  Don’t tell me this is an online only relationship.  You haven’t sent her any money, have you?”

Jesus, I’m not an idiot!
  But I can’t blame Joe for thinking that.  My answers are downright evasive.  “Yes, I’ve met her.  No, not online.  And no, I haven’t sent her any money.”

His penetrating gaze returns to the water after thoroughly examining my face.  “What can you tell me, then?”

“She’s phenomenal.  I don’t know what it is or what to do.”

“Sounds like love.  Have you told her?”  I wave him off.  It is too soon for that.  “She’s not married, is she?”

This is not going how I want.  If I don’t do something fast, Em isn’t going to stand a chance with my family when she finally meets them.  The problem is that I know what I tell Joe will make it to Mel who will eventually tell my mama.

“No, she’s not married,” I mumble.  I sink into the nearest seat and press my palms into my eyes.

“Rich, this woman obviously has you tied up in knots and for some reason you want to talk to me about it but you aren’t.  I don’t do this often, but if you need me to because you need someone to confide in, I won’t tell Mel.”

I leave my sight buried in my hands.  “Your choreographer, her name is Empathy Delacroix.”

“Yeah, that’s it!  How’d you know?”

“She’s the girl.”  The boat jerks to the right and Bobby stops snoring for a moment.  My head pops up to see Joe recovering from whatever reaction my admission caused.

Neither one of us say anything until Bobby resumes his deep snores.  “Not quite who I anticipated,” Joe picks up where we left off without missing a beat, “not that I thought I would know the name of whoever she is.  How’d you two even meet?  Mel said she’s a big deal on Broadway.  No offense but I can’t figure out how your… paths… crossed.”  Yup, nothing gets past him.  “Shit!  That murder in the theater back in July.  You can’t date her because she’s a part of the case.  She’s not your prime suspect, is she?”

I jump to my feet and go back to the controls.  “Yes.  No.  Damn it!  Give me a sec.” 
Get your thoughts in line!
  “Right now she’s classified as a material witness.  No one actually saw the murder, but she seems to know more than everyone else does and has given me our best leads.  She’s not officially been cleared from the suspect list, but I know she didn’t do it.  And before you ask, I haven’t put my job in jeopardy.  We’ve only met for business reasons.”

“Then how’d she get her hooks so deep into you?”  He is still suspicious of her.

I shift uncomfortably.  “We have common friends and we’ve flirted…”

“Are you a damn fool?  You’re going to get caught!” Joe growls at me in a heated whisper so as not to wake Bobby.

“Let me finish.”  His jaw grows square as he holds back whatever charge he wants to level at me next.  While none of this is pleasant, this is why I depend on him.  It doesn’t matter to him if I like what he says or not.  He is always going to give it to me straight and stand by me no matter what.  “We’ve had no contact since my last interview.”  I watch him swallow the words that are on the tip of his tongue.  “I knew then I was a goner.  Steve runs down most of the leads on that case now.  I’ve been distancing myself from it to protect her and myself.  The problem I need your help with is she’s going to be there tonight.”

“And you’re going to be drawn to her like gravity.”

“Yes,” I say simply.

He glances out over the water, not giving me his full attention until there are no other boats on the horizon.  “This case is going to end and you’re sure she’s not working you to protect herself?”

“I am.  Look, I get that I sound crazy right now, but it will all make sense when you meet her.”

“Right,
I am
going to meet her.  Tell you what, you and me, we’re making a deal.  You need to maintain your professional distance from this woman and that includes tonight, Rich.  When I meet her, I’ll call you and give you my honest opinion.  And if it’s that you need to get the hell out of dodge, you
will
cut ties with her.  I’m not going to watch my brother get dragged down by some manipulative broad.”