Chance Collision (11 page)

Lee’s laugh made him meet her dark eyes. “She’s not a fan. What’d you do to her?”

Pete shook his head. “Nothing. She’s my witness for the shooting so we’re kinda…glued together right now. Caselli’s scum saw her. Lucas thinks she could be a target. I’ve got to get her to a safe house in a bit. We were on the way, but my day got thrown a curveball.”

Her gaze was keen, and she nodded. The brown of her eyes was a beautiful colour, darker than Nikki’s. He preferred Nikki’s, but ignored that little revelation.

“Want some company?” Lee asked.

“Well, I’d say yes, but I got it. She’s gonna be…temperamental when I tell her I’m not keen on taking her to see her grandmother at the place where the shooting occurred. It’s a rehab centre. Nikki’s grandmother is recovering from a stroke.”

“Lucas briefed me, but I’d like to see the site if it’s all the same to you.”

“Okay. Maybe it’ll work out so Nikki can see her gram after all.”

“I got your back, Detective.” Lee patted her sidearm, and Pete smirked. “Lucas said something about a surveillance video?”

“Yeah. We need to see if we can get it. I don’t think the grocery store will be uncooperative, but who knows.”

“All right. Let’s talk, then I’ll go with.”

“Sounds good.” Pete resumed his original course of heading to the kitchen. “Coffee? I could use some caffeine.”

“Yeah, couldn’t hurt. Hey, where’s my old partner anyway?”

“Hopefully checking
my
partner and their new baby out of the hospital. Today’s the day.”

“Ah. I forgot to say congrats.” Lee’s dark eyes flashed with what looked like pain, but she schooled her expression quickly and put a smile back on.

Hmmm…what’s that about?
She wasn’t married, at least she didn’t wear a ring. Pete wouldn’t pry. “You can tell him later. He wants to review the footage.”

Her smile slid into a genuine grin. “Of course he does.” Lee laughed. “Cole Lucas couldn’t let anyone else do
his
job.”

“Nah, not at all. But he’s helping me out, so I’m not complaining.”

“Yeah, I’ve had to call him from time to time. He’s done the same for me.”

Pete poured coffee in an APD-logoed travel mug and started a new pot while he cream and sugared up.

Soon they settled into chairs at his cubicle in the CID room. “So how’s NYC treating you?”

Lee smiled, taking a sip of her coffee. “Not so bad. Work’s great. Me and Downs are taking them down one by one.”

“Good deal. Like your partner?”

“Clint Downs isn’t as pretty to look at as Cole Lucas, but he’s all right. A little stuffy from time to time.”

Laughing, Pete shook his head. Cole had told him Lee wasn’t shy. His partner’s husband always referred to Lee as
get-what-you-see
. She didn’t have issue with saying how she really felt. Rather refreshing, actually. Working with her was going to be fun. “Does that translate to
he always follows the rules
?”

“To a tee. Not many grey areas, if you know what I mean. But what can I say, he’s my partner.” Lee shrugged. “We work well together. Kicking Caselli-ass and taking names.”

“That’s awesome.” He and Andi were the same way. They’d been working together so long they always anticipated the other’s moves, sometimes even thoughts. Andi and Pete made a true team.

He gestured to Lee’s shirt. “I see you changed teams, traitor.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Never was a Rangers fan, truth be told.”

He gasped and clutched his chest. “How dare the native Texan say such a thing.”

Lee laughed and Pete grinned. She was lighthearted and a part of him needed that. Maybe she’d even keep Nikki out of his inappropriate thoughts.

Nah
…
Not likely.

“So what’s going on in Antioch? Tell me about this curveball to your day.”

“Well,” he sighed. “A body with holes in it.”

* * * *

“He said
what?
” His partner’s brows shot up.

“Keep your voice down, please,” Pete said, gesturing with flat palms. He glanced over his shoulder, but no one entered the kitchen.

Andi frowned, rocking the tiny dark-haired baby in her arms when Micah whimpered. She didn’t look away from Pete. “Seriously. I’ve seen him flustered. Frustrated. Yelling. Angry. Hell, even ornery. But to
threaten
you?”

“Chief didn’t really threaten—”

Disbelief flashed across her blue eyes. Andi shook her head, chestnut ponytail dancing around her shoulders. “You said he used the word
badge.
”

“I didn’t take it as a threat. He’s just worried about her. Chief got a taste of Caselli last year, too. He wants her safe. Protected. She’s as good as family to him.” Pete wasn’t going to go into what Chief Martin had said about Nikki’s parents the other day in his office.

His partner’s frown deepened. “I don’t like how you’re defending him.”

Pete swallowed and shrugged, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

That I kissed her. Then I barely pushed her away when she kissed me. That it
is
a struggle to keep my hands to myself.
“Nothing, partner. Just that I can’t leave her alone. She’s…stuck with me.”

“Uh-huh…” Andi nodded slowly, still appraising him. Her pointed stare was a change.
He
was usually the more perceptive of the two of them. But she knew him well—too damn well.

Pete forced himself to stand still. “Hey, I didn’t really get a good look at the little guy.” He gestured to the infant in her arms.
Please buy the distraction.

A brilliant smile lit his partner’s beautiful face. “He’s perfect,” Andi whispered.

“Lemme hold him.” Pete strode forward and gently took the sleeping baby from his mother.

Micah didn’t stir as Pete nestled him closer to his chest. Andi grinned when he glanced at her. The baby was beautiful, like his parents. His hair curled at the ends, instead of all over like his older brother, and it was dark brown. Pete could see Andi in his little nose, but Cole’s stamp was all over the kid. His mouth moved in his sleep and the hint of dimples was visible in both cheeks. “Damn, he does look like Cole.”

Andi laughed. “Yup, he sure does. I hope his eyes settle into grey like Cole’s, too. But Cole wants him to keep the baby blues.” She pointed to her own eyes.

Pete’s gaze swept her form and he had to smile. His partner radiated happiness. She glowed, gorgeous despite the fatigue under her eyes and the outfit of cotton pyjama pants and matching pale blue tee with overlapping hearts on the front of it.

“Time will tell,” Pete whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from Andi.

They’d been through too much to name together, but he was so glad she was happy again. Remarried to a great guy and the mother of two adorable little boys. Andi was made for Cole, as much as she was made to be a damn good cop. How she balanced everything was something to admire.

His partner had always fought for what she wanted. For her it was love… Family.

Nikki’s smile flashed into his head and Pete frowned, making himself focus on the tiny bundle in his arms.

“Something wrong?” Andi asked, taking a step closer to them.

“Hmmm, no.” Pete met her eyes. “He’s beautiful and I’m so happy for you, partner.”

She smiled, but still studied him. Like Andi didn’t believe a word out of his mouth. “Thanks. I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”

Pete chuckled. “Not even for a full night’s sleep?”

“I’m not desperate quite yet. He’s only three days old. Catch me in a few weeks.” Andi winked.

Laughing again, he shook his head. “No thanks. You make Cole help you this time.” He didn’t want to say more. Didn’t want to wipe the teasing from her expression by mentioning Ethan’s infancy or how many nights Pete had helped her after she’d lost her first husband.

“As if he has a choice.” Andi raised her voice and giggled as Cole leaned in the kitchen doorway.

“Hey, I heard that,” Cole said. He grinned, flashing dimples.

“Did I lie?”

“No, but you didn’t admit you order me out of bed at gunpoint when it’s my turn.”

Pete chuckled. “I believe it.”

Andi mock-glared, hands on her hips.

“I have the video set up if you want to check it out,” Cole said. “Had an actual reason for coming in here. You know, didn’t want to invade partner time.” Amusement rippled across his expression.

Andi rolled her eyes as she gently retrieved their son.

Micah fussed as he awoke and she rocked him. “I’m gonna feed him in the bedroom before he starts wailing.”

Pete nodded and kissed her cheek.

Cole caressed his son’s little head and planted a kiss on his wife’s mouth as she walked past him. He made like he was going to swat her ass, but she glared over her shoulder. Pete held back a laugh and Cole chuckled.

Nikki sat on the couch, her arms crossed over her breasts, and threw a dirty look at him when he followed Cole into the living room. Lee leaned against the wall and offered a nod as Cole grabbed the remote.

Great. Still irritated at you, dude.
Pete assumed she was jealous over the way he’d interacted with Lee. From the first thing that morning, all she’d had was a tight expression for him. When he spoke, she answered curtly, in the fewest number of words possible.

What gives?
The previous evening they’d shared had been pleasant. He and Lee had taken her to see her grandmother then they’d had dinner together—takeout from Dixie’s—before Lee had headed back to The Covington.

Being alone with Nikki hadn’t been so bad, though he’d had to glue his hands to his sides and scream at himself not to reach for her. He’d sat on the opposite end of the living room of the big house on Montgomery Street as they’d watched the late news and they’d parted ways at about eleven to get some sleep.

Separate bedrooms.

Close so he could protect her, of course, but not close enough.

Pete had imagined her naked beneath him before chiding himself and finally falling asleep. He’d had vivid dreams where he’d done a hell of a lot more than kiss her. Morning wood had been annoying, but he’d not given in to the urge for a quick release because Nikki was down the hall. Unfortunately, the condition had only worsened when he’d heard the shower in the master bedroom running.

Calling himself every name in the book, he’d managed to ignore his erection through his own shower in the guest bathroom, banishing the image of a bare Nikki with water sluicing down her supple form.

Put the brakes on that thought train. Right now.
A tight crotch was never good…especially with an audience.
Think about the case, dammit.

That morning, they’d met Lee at Marty’s to get the surveillance DVD from the owner, so he hadn’t taken Nikki to the station yet, despite the fact that she was dressed for work, in a pretty pink flowy skirt that stopped at her knees.

Her top matched, though it had a few different shades of pink all over it. The neckline dipped low enough to make him want to look harder. He kept making himself stare at her shoes. Even her stilettos matched.

Gorgeous
didn’t really cover it. The outfit gave her an air of innocence, though the way her brown eyes flashed irritation when their gazes met suggested otherwise.

Yesterday, Chief had had her spot-train one of the rookies to take her place until the case was over. Both Officer Tommy Nelson and Nikki had been less than pleased with the situation. But the PD day-to-day didn’t stop because she’d witnessed a crime.

With jerky movements and abrupt statements, she’d shown the kid how to use the complicated phone system and told him where she kept everything.

Mysteriously, Chief had stayed in his office the whole time, without a word to say on the matter. Pete had perched himself in a chair to watch the interchange. Poor Nelson was going to be afraid to come to their boss’s office when this was all over. Nikki’s attitude fairly shouted
my territory
even though she wasn’t actually rude to the young cop.

Pete would have preferred she remain at the station, safe inside when he had to be out working the case, but Chief really did want her with him.

Cole hit play and Lee came closer towards the sizable flat-screen hanging on the wall, her hands behind her back.

He took a seat beside Nikki, who stiffened and scooted away. He sighed.
No use pushing her.

Looking at the screen, Pete shifted to the edge of the couch. The recording was clear, much more high-tech than he would have expected of a mom-and-pop grocery store that’d been in Antioch going on fifty years. It was even in colour. Had to be HD.

Wow. Hopefully we’ll get what we need.

Cole fast-forwarded the first images—the manager opening for the day, cashiers coming to work, the first customers of the day. He didn’t stop until the time stamp in the right-hand corner said sixteen thirty. A half-hour before Nikki got off work.

People came and went, until Pete saw a familiar figure. “Stop. There’s my dead guy. Billy Madden.”

Cole rewound a few seconds then punched play with vigour.

They watched Pete’s now dead CI walk into the store.

He wasn’t alone.

Nikki gasped and inclined forward.

Less than two steps behind Billy Madden, two men entered Marty’s like they owned the place. Both were dressed in dark clothing. Both wore sunglasses. Both had dark hair, one short, the other scraggly.

“That’s them. It’s really them,” Nikki breathed.

Pete reached for her hand and squeezed. Instead of pulling away with a snide comment like she’d done all day, she let him stay close, entwining their fingers. He wanted to throw his arm around her shoulders and pull her to his side, but he didn’t. Her hand would have to be enough. At least he could comfort her.

“What the hell?” Cole muttered, his gaze intent on the three men frozen on the screen.

“Billy’s with Caselli’s guys?” Pete mused.

“Guess now we know what his
big score
was,” Lee said.

Cole got inventive with curse words, shaking his head.

Pete smirked, glancing at his buddy, then back at the giant TV. He didn’t need to ask if Cole recognised the two thugs with his former CI.