Victoria (15 page)

Victoria frantically looked around to make sure no one saw him or had heard.

"Don't yell at me, Tod. I'm sorry, but I'm dating him and that's it.” Victoria turned to walk away.

Tod grabbed her by the arm and pulled her against him. “That's not it, Tory. This is not over by a long shot. He's going to hurt you. He doesn't care about you. He only cares about his money and his power."

Victoria pulled her arm away from Tod. Shocked by his reaction, but she chose to simply dismiss it as jealousy and anger, nothing more.

"I'm a big girl, Tod. I know what I'm doing, and I'm sorry that I hurt you."

Tod placed his hands on his hips. Her words seemed to sink in.

"And if he hurts you, I suppose you'll go off to Steven first?"

Victoria sighed as she stared toward the ground. This wasn't easy and there was no way around it.

Tod moved closer, and she felt his hand caress her right arm.

"I don't want to do this. Today has to be tough for you and I don't want to be the cause of more pain or controversy. Just watch out for Bret. Don't let him fool you. I'll be here for you if you need me."

Victoria looked into Tod's eyes. He was a great guy, but she was in love with Steven. Perhaps, if things were different, she would turn to Tod, confide in him, or be what he wanted her to be, but she couldn't.

"Call me later if you need to talk."

"Thanks, Tod.” She watched him walk away before she headed back to the crowd of people.

As Victoria entered the gardens, she saw her mother's facial expression. It was shock and Victoria immediately knew the news was bad. She pushed her way through the crowd of people, determined to get to her mother's side.

"Is it true, Mrs. Mardullo, that your husband was having an affair with Linda Delaney and that the police are now looking for a jealous lover?” one reporter called out and soon the others joined in.

"Do the police have a suspect?” another called out.

"How does it make you feel to know that your husband was an adulterer instead of the man you thought he was?” another reporter shouted.

Victoria and her family were shocked and outraged.

Catching Bret Collins facial expression as he smiled wide, Victoria realized that he was resourceful and more then likely staged the line of questioning.. It was good to have friends in the media and news business, especially young, money-hungry reporters. In his line of work, it was probably routine procedure. He immediately took his cue as one particular reporter began to interview him as if Bret were a lead source. Watching, Victoria prepared for her part. Another role but this time the consequences would surely be disastrous.

"The information the Mardullo family has recently received is a total outrage. The police department has been spending a lot of time investigating this case as well as the others in this community. They are underpaid and forced to work shorter shifts without the proper, up-to-date equipment. They can't possibly conduct a thorough and professional investigation without the right tools. If elected Town Supervisor, I can promise the much-needed changes for our police force and community. We have no forensics lab, no organization and proper homicide training. It's an outrage, a disgrace,” Bret Collins said as the crowd gathered around.

Victoria moved forward, waiting for Bret to call her over as planned earlier.

"So, Mr. Collins, do you believe that the police are not doing a good job investigating the Mardullo murder?” the reporter asked.

"I think a better person to ask is a family member. Victoria, would you mind?” Bret asked.

Victoria held her breath and took position by Bret. She could see her family cringe and knew this would be the straw to break the camel's back.

"Thank you. I believe what Mr. Collins says is true. The police department has not been doing a thorough job investigating my father's murder. The system ... the department has failed. They're reaching at straws, at dead end leads, undocumented, guessing scenarios because of departmental procedure, lack of updated resources and equipment. Now, with no leads to go on and poor investigating by those in charge they have created and alleged my father was an adulterer, caught in a despicable act, unacceptable to the professional position he was in. This is not true.” She knew her family would hate her for saying it.

"What proof do you have, Miss Mardullo?"

"I have been conducting my own investigation, along with some colleagues, and have found a witness who can testify that my father and Linda Delaney were not having an affair."

The media went crazy along with Tod and Don Phelps, now cornered by the reporters. Victoria slowly disappeared as Bret gave his speech about “If I am elected Town Supervisor,” and the media ate it up.

Victoria felt her arm grabbed and pulled into the back door of the police department.

"I've fucking had it with you! What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you realize what you have done? How could you stand up there and beat up Tod, Don, and your family for that asshole and his political agenda? Damn it, Tory!” Peter yelled at her. She knew he would react this way.

Warren told her if she were convincing enough, her family would have this reaction, and they would hate her. Bret had already spilled the beans to Victoria about the corruption in the police department and on the board. He named at least ten individuals that could end up with charges on federal offences. This information would come out as soon as she could prove Bret had something to do with her father's murder.

Uncle Patrick, Brian, and Steven joined them in the hallway.

"I'm sorry that the truth hurts, Peter. I was shocked myself, but the evidence is clear. I just hope my own family isn't involved in some way."

"What? Now he's got you believing we're the bad guys?” Peter obviously wanted to rip Bret's head off, and he nearly got his chance when the department exit door opened.

"Are you all right, Victoria?” Bret asked.

Victoria could hear the growls coming from her family behind them then Peter lunged forward, aiming for Bret. He punched him in the jaw, sending Bret against the metal door. Steven stopped Peter from doing further harm, along with Uncle Patrick. Both men held him back.

"Bret, are you okay?” Victoria asked.

"I'm fine. It's you I'm concerned about. You ready to leave with me?"

"I'm fine, Bret, and ready to go back outside."

"Don't bother coming to the firehouse, only family and friends are coming,” Peter added, and his uncle tried to interrupt.

Victoria reached out to Bret. “That's fine with me.” She took Bret's hand and walked out the door.

Everyone remained silent for a few seconds. Then Peter looked at his uncle and Steven. “I can't stand that guy. What does he have on Tory? What?"

"I don't know, son. I just don't understand."

Steven placed his hand on Peter's shoulder. “Nice right hook to the jaw.” He smirked.

Peter smiled then stretched his hand and knuckles. “You think so? I should have gone for his nose."

They began to laugh.

"That would have made a pretty picture on the front page news,” Patrick added.

"Let's get back outside, Mom's probably worried.” They headed out the back door.

[Back to Table of Contents]

"That stupid son of a bitch thinks that he can get away with this? I'm gonna fucking kill him, but first, I have to get rid of you.” Ronnie Chappa lay in the trunk of the car. The killer continued his tirade and wrapped Chappa in the blanket but not before smiling at his latest victim.

Ronnie's eyes widened with fear. There wasn't a thing he could do but just lay there, hands and mouth bound.

"Killing you right now is going to be risky.” He knew many people on the force were looking for him. Chappa was a cop even though he was a bad one. He was still top priority in the small, shit-ass police department.

The killer walked around to the driver's side of the car and started the engine. Anger flowed through his veins. He thought he would explode. Instead, he focused on the task at hand. He was determined to send a clear and frightening message.

The night was dark and cloudy, overcast but warm, evidence that the summer temperatures were here and soon, some record heat waves. He turned on the radio to hear the report.

"
Officer Ronnie Chappa is still missing, and the police department has no leads. If anyone has any information, please call our tips hotline.
"

He flipped open his cell phone, pretending to dial the number.

"Oh, yes, I know where he is. He's right here, the stupid fuck!” He started laughing, a sick, spine tingling laugh as he enjoyed the ride to the police department.

"Right under their noses—what fun this will be."

Victoria stopped Bret from kissing her. She had to spend the entire afternoon with him, hurt her family, and destroy her future with Steven, and for what, a corruption case and Federal charges for ten community leaders and still no proof of her father's killer.

Convincing Bret to drop her off at home, he accepted her excuse of a migraine and reluctantly left. The migraine wasn't entirely a lie. The damage she caused today would take millions of apologies and physical proof she was working undercover for the good guys.

She closed the door and walked to the kitchen to fill the kettle with water. Her thoughts remained on this afternoon and Peter's right hook to Bret's jaw. One for the good guys and she had to pretend it had angered her.

The living room was dark. She thought about turning some lights on but didn't bother because she wanted to hide. She was ashamed for what she did today. Her heart ached and it was a terrible feeling she began to know too well.

Her cell phone rang, and she retrieved it from her purse to answer it.

"Hi, Investigator Warren. Yes, everything went exactly as planned."

"You were fantastic, Victoria, even Colt was convinced. He's all ready to arrest those ten individuals tomorrow. Once they're arrested, we'll pull in Collins for questioning, and hopefully, the interrogation process will make him talk."

"I hope I didn't do all this, hurt my family and friends like this, for nothing?"

"Don't say that, Victoria. Without you, we wouldn't have put a stop to the corruption and money laundering, nor would we be able to convict Bret Collins. He owes the government millions, and besides that, you know your father wasn't having an affair. Bret was the one who took the picture."

"But we still don't know what their relationship was."

"We told you. Linda Delaney was into fine art. She was an artist and did some personal portraits on the side. Your father had her paint a picture of his and your mother's wedding portrait. It was going to be his anniversary gift to her. He met Linda a couple of times at the restaurant. Then she confided in him one day that a friend of the family's was harassing her, even though she'd broken up with the guy. It turned out to be Bret Collins. That picture was taken before your father had knowledge of Bret's intentions with Linda.

"Apparently, Bret broke into her apartment and forced himself on her. She didn't want to report it because she was afraid no one would believe her since they had slept together and were involved at one time."

"How do you know all this?"

"Witnesses, Victoria. She had stayed silent all this time, but the right questions were asked and when people hear
FBI
, they freeze a bit."

"FBI? What are you talking about?"

"Right before Ronnie Chappa went missing, the DA informed an associate of his in the Bureau. The DA wants everything to go down smoothly, and he wants to put everyone who is involved away for good. We feel there is a connection to the murders. We had to bring in the FBI. They'll be working with us, side by side."

"Oh, my God, so maybe he did kill my father out of anger or revenge?"

"I don't think he actually pulled the trigger, Victoria. Which means our killer is still out there."

"How much longer do I have to play this game? Do you have any suspects, yet?"

"No suspects yet, but I think once we get Bret into questioning and the FBI gets through with him, we should be closer to finding the killer."

"What about the rest of my family? Will the FBI or the DA's office protect them until the killer is behind bars?"

"I think your family can handle themselves. As soon as we tell them how you have helped us and where we are in the case, you and your mother will have twenty-four hour protection."

"What about the officer who's missing? Does it have something to do with Bret or my dad? Was Chappa working for the killer?"

"We're looking into that, Victoria. There could be a connection, but we'll have to question Bret and some others beginning tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll come up with some concrete answers and a connection."

"Do you think the killer has Chappa, the one you're looking for?"

"It's a good possibility. I'll let you know as soon as we hear something."

"So I guess I'll just sit back and let my family hate me a little longer."

"Everything is going to be all right. You've done a great job.” Warren hung up the phone.

Victoria put the phone down and sighed. The thought of a killer loose in River Point made her scared to be alone. She had seen the pictures from Linda's crime scene. She knew what the killer was capable of doing.

She reached for the teakettle, realizing she never turned on the stove. Feeling the overwhelming urge to cry, she bowed her head. Suddenly, she heard the floor creak behind her. There was movement in the living room. Stunned, she watched the figure move closer.

Victoria reached back to the wooden knife block and grabbed the largest one. Her heart pounded. She was instantly scared as thoughts of an unknown killer entered her mind.

As the figure paused in the doorway, the light illuminated his face. She was shocked to see Steven standing before her. She froze as he closed the space between them and now, stood a few feet in front of her, all she could do was stare at him.