Deadly Aim (21 page)

A
ngel awoke to the ringing of the doorbell and peered through the peephole. Tim.

“Hope I’m not disturbing anything.” His questioning gaze took in her disheveled appearance as she opened the door.

“I was taking a nap.” She yawned. “What do you want?”

“Is that anyway to treat your favorite brother?”

Angel rolled her eyes and gestured him inside. Instead of entering, he stepped aside and ushered in an attractive brunette with eyes that sparkled like aquamarine gemstones. She wore jeans and a classic white shirt topped with a navy jacket, and carried a black leather briefcase.

“Angel, meet Rachael Rastovski.”

The woman grinned, revealing a deep set of dimples, and extended her hand. She shook Angel’s with a firm grip. “Nice to meet you, Angel. I’ve heard a lot about you. I hear you’re looking for an attorney.”

“Peter and Paul told me you needed one,” Tim offered. “Um—I mentioned your dilemma to Rachael, and she’s agreed to represent you.”

“Did they also tell you I couldn’t afford to pay you much?”

“Hey, it’s not a problem, honest. Tim and Susan and I have a great working relationship. He provides the space, Susan feeds
me, and on occasion I get a paying client so I can actually pay the rent.” She chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll work it out.”

Angel rubbed her forehead. “Tim, I wish you’d called me first.”

“Hey, if you’ve found someone else, no problem.” Rachael waved her hand.

“It isn’t that, Rachael; it’s just that my brothers tend to take over, and I really like to make my own decisions.”

“We just want to help,” Tim said. “Is that so bad?”

“I understand totally.” Rachael’s dimples appeared again. “I have two older brothers. They can be incredibly bossy. Listen, we can send Tim away and you and I can talk. If you don’t like me and decide not to hire me, it’s okay. I can take it.”

Tim started backing away. “I’ll wait in the car.” He turned toward the door then turned back. “Hey, your place is all fixed up. Looks great.”

“Like you didn’t know. Come on, fess up, you got your congregation working on the place, didn’t you?”

He looked surprised. “I didn’t. I’d planned to ask for donations, but with Dad sick and all, I didn’t get around to it. I’ll ask around, though. Maybe my team went on ahead of me.” He grinned at her then turned to Rachael. “Just come down to the car when you’re ready.”

“Why don’t you go back to the office?” Rachael suggested. “I know you have a lot to do. I can take a cab back.”

Tim was reluctant at first then acquiesced. “All right. If you’re sure.”

“I am.”

When Tim had gone, Angel offered Rachael coffee then set about making it.

Rachael wandered over to the sliding glass door. “I assume you want to know something about me.”

Angel nodded. “I heard you’d worked in L.A.”

“Yeah. Criminal law. I didn’t much care for living in L.A. though. It was about as appealing as going to the dentist every day. I’d visited the Northwest a few years ago and fell in love with it. So I quit my job and moved.”

“Where do you live?”

“I bought a little house on Cliff Road. It’s only two blocks from the beach, and I love it.”

“This must be quite a change for you. Do you work alone?”

“Yeah. Except for Sherlock.”

“Sherlock?”

Rachael laughed. “My cat.” She turned to look out at the ocean. “I had a chance to work for a prestigious law firm here in town but decided not to.”

“Which firm is that?”

“Michael Lafferty’s.”

“Really. And you turned them down?”

“I’ve had my fill of the big guns,” Rachael went on. “Too restrictive. I want to be able to handle any case I want, regardless of whether or not they can afford to pay the big bucks. I like working for myself.”

“You’re hired. When can you start?” Angel poured coffee into two mugs and handed one to Rachael.

“Thanks. How about now?”

“Great.”

“Let me get a pad and we can get started.” Rachael retrieved a legal pad and pen from her briefcase, and the two of them settled on the couch. Rachael asked questions, and Angel answered the best she could, relating the shooting incident and everything that had happened in the aftermath.

“Angel,” Rachael said, picking up her half empty cup. “If you don’t remember shooting more than once, then maybe you didn’t. I’ll get the autopsy report and talk to Callen.”

“You mean Detective Riley? Do you know him?”

“We’ve met.”

Angel got up and took her cup to the kitchen and rinsed it out. “I don’t think it’ll do much good. Someone made off with the evidence.”

“Yeah, but he should have something.” Rachael chewed her lower lip. “In the meantime, get some rest. You look terrible.”

“Gee, thanks.”

Rachael waved her hand. “Don’t mention it.” She glanced at her watch. “Oh, wow. It’s almost 6:00. Want to catch a bite to eat? I’ll buy if you take me home after.”

“Sounds good, but I’m having dinner with my family.” She paused. “Why don’t you come along? You’d fit right in.”

“Really? Hey, I’d love to if you’re sure it’s okay.”

“More than okay. You already know Tim and Susan. And you must know the twins—Peter and Paul. They told me about you.”

“Oh yes. The twins.” She smiled. “I met them once. They’ll be there?”

“Uh-huh. I take it you approve.”

Rachael placed a hand over her heart. “Approve? Angel, I have died and gone to heaven.”

Angel shook her head. “Sounds like you have it bad. Which one are you in love with?”

“In love?” Rachael chuckled. “I don’t know either of them well enough for that. I only saw them once, and that was very brief. But the memory is definitely lasting.”

“Hmm. I think you had the same effect on them. Especially Paul.”

“No kidding. Which one is Paul, the fast talker or the quiet one?”

“The quiet one.”

“Mmm. Things are looking up.” Rachael set her briefcase on the coffee table. “Um... did you want to take a shower or something before we go?”

“I guess I should. You’ll be okay out here?”

“Go ahead. I want to make some more notes.” Rachael went back to her pad and began writing.

Angel showered and dressed in fresh jeans and a pale blue T-shirt, then pulled a bulky sweater over it.

“Ready?” Angel took a jacket out of her closet and draped it over her arm.

“More than.”

They left the apartment and were halfway down the stairs when Angel noticed several members of the press back on duty. “Oh no. I thought they’d given up.”

“Are you kidding? You’re a big news item. They’ll never give up. Want to talk to them?”

“No.”

“Then let’s go. Just keep moving. They tried to talk to Tim and me on the way up.”

Angel and Rachael reached the car at about the same time as the members of the press. Angel ducked into the driver’s side and shut the door. Several cameras flashed. Bodies pressed against her car. She honked her horn and shifted into reverse. One reporter tapped on her windshield. Another went around to the passenger side, intent on talking to Rachael.

“I can’t believe this. They won’t even let me back up!”

“Just do it.”

Rachael rolled down the window a crack and pulled out her cell phone. “I suggest you all move out of the way. I’m calling the police. I’ll have you all arrested for harassment.”

“Angel!” one of the reporters shouted. “We’ve heard rumors that the DA is about to bring formal charges against you. How do you feel about that?”

“She has no comment!” Rachael yelled back.

A tall angular man leaned over and peered into the passenger side window. “Rachael Rastovski, is that you?”

“Last time I checked. Hi, Sam.”

“You representing Angel?” Sam asked.

“Maybe.”

“Talk to me.”

“Hey, Sam, do me a favor. Clear these guys out of here, and I’ll give you an exclusive interview in my office tomorrow.”

Sam grinned. “Yeah? Is that a promise?”

“Word of honor. Tomorrow at...” Rachael glanced at Angel, giving her a play-along-with-me look. “What time can you be at my office?”

Angel shrugged. “Ten, I guess, but...”

Turning back to the reporter, Rachael repeated the time and rolled up the window.

Angel blew out a frustrated sigh. “What did you do that for? I don’t want to talk to these guys!”

“Of course, you don’t. And you don’t have to. I’ll talk to him.”

“But you told him I’d be there.”

“Uh-uh. I asked what time you could be there—not that you would be. And I promised him an exclusive. He’ll get that.” She grinned. “From me. It’s better if you don’t say anything anyway. Could cause problems down the road.”

As she backed the car out, Angel decided that she liked Rachael. She inched her car forward as the reluctant news crews stepped out of the way, and a smile crept to her mouth. Maybe, just maybe, things were beginning to turn around.

A
few minutes later, Angel and Rachael pulled into the restaurant parking lot. Her brothers were already there and had secured a large table in the banquet room. Angel couldn’t help but notice Paul’s approving gaze as it settled on Rachael.

Taking the seat beside her, Paul reached out his hand.

“You’re Paul, right?” Rachael said before he could open his mouth. Her dimples deepened as she shook his hand. “I’m Rachael Rastovski.”

“Right. We met about four months ago. I didn’t think you’d remember.”

“I’m good with names.” She cleared her throat. “And faces.”

“Glad you could join us, Rach.” Tim looked from Angel to Rachael. “You two strike a deal?”

Rachael nodded. “She’s agreed to let me represent her.”

“Listen,” Paul said. “Pete and I talked about it, and we’ll cover the attorney fees.”

“You will not,” Angel insisted. “I’m perfectly capable—”

“Come on, Angel. This is no time to get all weird on us. We have the money. You want Rachael to get paid, don’t you?”

They had her there. “Okay, you can pay up front, but I’ll pay you back.”

“Fine.”

Angel wondered if the twins had anything to do with fixing up her apartment, so she asked them. They both denied it, and Tim told her no one on his board had done it either. So who had? Angel couldn’t stand not knowing and had to get to the bottom of it.

“Where’s Ma?”

“Susan’s bringing her from the hospital.” Tim glanced at his watch. “They should be here any minute.”

“What about the girls? Aren’t they eating with us?”

“They’re with Susan. There’s a day care at the hospital now, so she picks them up when she gets off work. Very handy.”

Angel nodded. The girls would prove a sunny diversion from the black cloud that had been following her of late.

“I wish more workplaces would offer child care,” Rachael said. “Takes the stress level down for kids and their parents to be at the same place.”

“Susan worries less—I do too. The care is excellent.”

The restaurant door opened, and two adorable girls rushed in ahead of Susan and Angel’s mother. “Girls,” Anna scolded, “behave yourselves. Remember what your mother told you in the car.”

“Yes, Nana.” Heidi, the oldest, glanced back over her shoulder as she slowed to a jog.

Abby, the four-year-old, made a beeline for Angel. “I get to sit next to Auntie Angel.” She squealed as Heidi pulled out the chair.

“No, I do. It’s my turn.”

“Hey,” Tim said, getting to his feet. “No arguing.”

Abby climbed onto Angel’s lap, her lower lip protruding. “I said so first.”

“You can both sit beside me. Heidi, scoot over one.” Angel set Abby on her chair then waited while Heidi moved into the next spot. “There.” She squeezed each girl’s hand and turned to Heidi. “How’s school?”

“Good.” Heidi beamed. “My teacher told me I could help her teach some of the other kids to read. She said I had to wait until the other kids had a chance to answer questions before I did, cause I always know the answer. I can read the Bible already.”

“I can read too.” Abby got to her knees and leaned into Angel.

“Already?” Angel gave the girl a hug. “You’ll both have to read something to me next time I come over.”

Susan and Anna had been seated during Angel’s interchange with the girls. Anna looked pale and glanced at Angel as if to say,
I don’t want to be here
.

“How’s Dad this afternoon?” Tim asked.

Anna filled them in on Frank’s condition then picked up her menu. “I promised we’d stop to see him after we ate.”

The waitress arrived with water and tea then began taking orders. After much ado, they settled on family style with salad, rolls, appetizers, soups, chicken with peanut sauce, game hens cooked in clay pots with coconut milk, and sticky rice.

Probably because of the girls, the conversation stayed away from talk of the shooting, for which Angel was thankful. If not for her father’s absence, it would’ve seemed like a normal family gathering. Even Rachael seemed at ease and talked freely with everyone. Angel already felt like she’d known her a lifetime.

After dinner, they stopped at the hospital to check on Frank. He looked better and was delighted when the nurse let Susan bring the girls in. But by the time Heidi and Abby had taken their turns, he looked tired and pale.