For Love of Livvy (17 page)

"Can we talk about the gems in a rational manner? I think things could get sticky if I don't get them back from you. Besides, there's no proof they were stolen, is there?” I left out Aaron's secret since I figured Richmond might already know.

A dark look passed over his features as he started to pace again. With an abrupt halt, Marcus faced me with his back to the French doors.

"I shouldn't tell you this, but if I don't you'll just bungle your way into something more dangerous than you already have. All the stones originate from the same place and were part of a shipment from South America. They were to be delivered and funneled through the Providence shop."

Unable or unwilling to grasp the concept that Livvy was in truth a smuggler, I sat and stared like a fool at the man. It was one thing to suspect someone. To have the proof offered to me, well that was different. Real different and hard to swallow, I might add.

"Are you saying Livvy really was a smuggler and distributor?"

"We can't prove it, but she did have possession of the three bags and each of them contained better quality and larger sized stones than the one before it."

His face was an emotional wreck. He didn't want to hurt me, I could see it in his eyes. In an effort to warn me off my own inquiry he'd told me what he thought I could handle. Well, he was wrong, dead wrong.

"The jewels were hidden, not delivered to the shop. It must mean something more than what you think. I bet Frankie and Kenny are in this up to their crummy, beady little eyeballs. If Livvy thought they'd smuggled stolen or illegal goods, she might have kept them and tried to figure out a way to make things right. That could be it, couldn't it?"

His bleak expression made me feel worse than I already did. Tears rolled from my eyes and slid down my cheeks as I choked back emotions roiling through me like a freight train. In one step, Marcus reached me, enveloping my body in a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you,” he whispered into my hair and held me close. I cried for a woman who'd loved me, cheered me on when nobody else did and worst of all, had died alone.

After I managed to stop sniveling, I moved away from him. This lawman, the bringer of bad news, the man I wanted more than I ever thought imaginable. Some dilemma, huh?

"I'll take your warning under advisement. Thanks for sharing with me. I know you're not supposed to tell me anything. If the creep calls again, I'll let you know right away,” I said, as I accepted the paper towel he handed me and blew my nose.

"So where is Romeo this morning?"

This must be an attempt to change the subject.

"It's a weekday so he must be at work. I never heard him leave, but then he moves like a stealth bomber so it's no surprise. Why?"

"Just curious. Do you know any more about him than the fact he rents the upstairs?"

It was an offhand question and I wondered where it had originated. Was he jealous or did he want to know if I was aware of what Aaron really was?

"Yeah, he works for the gaming commission. His parents used to rent a beach house in Narragansett when he was a kid. He has siblings and is charming. He never mentioned WWF though, so that's still up in the air.” I grinned a bit when I spoke and he chuckled. Lying by omission was alive and well in my household.

"I never thought he was WWF, but the gaming commission fits the license plate."

"Did you run him through the registry?"

"Yep, nothing came back, so I guess he's okay."

He stood next to me, ran his hands over my arms and kissed the top of my head. My heart flip flopped and my tummy tingled. Great, here we go again.

Marcus strode toward the door and turned with a grin.

"I'll be by tonight for dinner around six. What are we having?"

"Whatever my mother gives me,” I retorted with laughter and watched him leave.

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For the remainder of the day I sifted through the debris and papers in Aunt Livvy's trunk. I found nothing of significance and profound disappointment lay heavy in the pit of my stomach. How could I prove her innocence if there weren't any clues? Livvy had to be innocent, she just had to.

I slouched against the side of the bed, then got off the floor and strolled into the living room. I gazed at the lion for a long time. Lifting it onto the sofa, I laid it on its side. The pieces of his body were well blended blocks. I tried to figure out how Livvy had designed and put him together. The beast was solid and intricate in design. My fingertips played over the smooth surface. I peered at the places where the wood melded together.

The leg twisted, and the safe opened. I wondered how long the bag of gems had lain hidden before Marcus and I found them. Try as I might, I couldn't wrap my mind around Livvy as a smuggler. It just didn't fit.
Primarily, because you don't want it to
, said my inner voice. Damn straight, I mumbled.

My hand folded like a spear and I slid it into the empty leg cavity until the tips of my fingers touched solid wood. The space was relatively small, only enough room for one or two bags and withdrew my hand.

Again, I studied the splendid animal. His mouth was open in a defiant snarl. Powerful front legs arced and the wide paws splayed, ready for combat. I stroked the beautiful creature in hopes that something from him would come through to me. Only cobwebs filled my mind at the moment. With a weary sigh, I reassembled the lion and placed him on the pedestal.

With a quick glance at my watch, I realized the day had flown and it was too late to go to Cranston for leftovers and even later to start cooking. The fact that I had no groceries was also an issue. There was only one logical answer to my dilemma. I could get a delectable meal from Lola at the corner deli.

Hustling to the kitchen, I grabbed my shoulder bag and keys, and headed out the door. I started the rickety old Volvo and listened to it huff and puff. One of these days I'd trade her in, but not today. Since traffic always picks up between three and six in the afternoon, I had to wait to make a break for it out of the drive way. Cars slowed and allowed me onto the street, probably out of pity. I made it to the corner and whipped into the parking lot alongside Lola's building.

The Mini Cooper squatted in the lower level lot. Lola would have something tasty I could feed Richmond for dinner. I rushed up the steps into the deli. Two local women were involved in a deep discussion over tea while a truck driver sucked down a bowl of chowder and clam cakes. A well dressed man read the paper, sipped a latte and chewed a puff pastry as I sauntered past.

Nobody looked up when I had entered and my spirits lifted. The last thing I needed was someone to ask me about Livvy, the state police and my new tenant. There are no secrets in the village.

I sauntered past the counter, around the bread baskets into the back room. Heavenly Italian food smells issued from simmering pots on the massive stainless steel stove. Glancing around the room, Lola was nowhere to be seen.

Mouth watering aromas accosted my nostrils. I thought drool might be running down my chin, so I wiped my mouth to make sure. That's when Lola popped around the door from the storage room, her arms laden with containers of beans and bags of pasta. I guessed Pasta Fagioli was on tomorrow's menu. Ah, fart food!

My eyebrows perked upwards and Lola laughed.

"What are you doing here?"

"Richmond came over this morning and invited himself to my place for dinner. I've been working my way through the trunk and have no groceries, so help me out here, will you?"

Laughter crinkled her eyes and pearly white teeth glistened as she tossed the pasta and beans on the counter. She lifted the lid off the largest pot and my gaze slid over the bubbling sauce. Meatballs and sausage filled the other pan and when she opened the oven door, I thought I'd died and gone to culinary heaven. The long rectangular pan was filled with peppers and eggplants sliced in half and mounded with a meat mixture. I could smell the garlic and turned to grin at this petite chef.

"Give me some of everything, and I'll forever be in your debt."

"That goes without saying, now go sit down and have a cup of tea while I get this ready for you."

"I've got to pick up some wine, so I'll get this stuff on my way back,” I said.

She nodded her head and shushed me out the door. I headed to the parking lot and the Volvo huffed and puffed all the way to the liquor store. The manager was his usual affable self and recommended a suitable wine to offset the meal. I paid for it and left the store at a dead run to pick up the delicacies from Lola.

It was right on six that I heard a knock on the apartment door. A glance out the side window revealed Richmond's truck parked next to my Volvo. Aaron hadn't come in or out all day as far as I knew and for a second I wondered where he was. I scooted to the door and unlocked the handle.

Marcus strolled inside with a wide smile on his face. He could smell the food, and I knew I'd done the right thing. Hell, it was the only right decision I'd made in ages.

"Mmm, that smells almost as good as you do,” he said as his hands slipped around my waist. He nuzzled the soft curve of my neck and my reaction was instant.

In one swift movement, I was all over the man. My hands skimmed down his chest and around his waist, sliding down over his buns. Man he had a tight butt. My hips nestled against his and the fit was perfect. I could feel Mr. Winky stand to attention through the material separating us.

He backed me through the bedroom door and I kicked the door closed. We tripped over the rug and landed on the bed with a rush of air from the two of us. Laughter welled up inside me and I chuckled over my inability to stay upright around Marcus Richmond. Before long I was so lost that I knew I'd never be the same again.

We lay tangled together, sweaty and satisfied. My eyes flicked over the craggy planes of his face and caught the gleam in his eyes. Raised up on one elbow, I stared at him for a moment and said, “I thought this was going to wait until the case was solved."

"Vinnie, you drive me nuts. One minute I'd like to shake the shit out of you and the next I find I can't get you out of my head. I just can't help myself when you make me crazy.” His grin was lascivious and we were on for round two as his hands slid over my naked parts, unleashing the molten lava inside me.

Quite some time later we ambled into the kitchen for real food. Mr. Winky was happy, I was happy and Marcus looked happy too. Life was good for the moment.

Marcus opened the wine, I ladled out dinner and we sat to eat at the counter. I have a formal dining room, but only use it to correct school work. The kitchen works for me and the atmosphere is better. At least my mother says so and who am I to question her about that?

I pulled a hunk of Italian bread from the loaf as the phone rang. It never occurred to me that my dangerous late night caller might be on the other end of the line when I answered. My bread hung in the air as I gasped in surprise.

The familiar scratchy voice wheezed into my ear. My eyeballs grew wide and Marcus stopped eating. He watched me before he leaned across the counter to listen while I shared the call.

"Did you get the gems back yet? The state cops will give them to you if you ask. Have you asked, Lavinia?"

"I have asked, and they're considering it,” I lied. “The gems are locked up, and the cops are reluctant to just hand them over. How do I know they belong to you anyhow?"

"Just take my word for it. We want ‘em back and if you know what's good for you, you'll get ‘em. Don't think the thug upstairs can save you because he can't and neither can the trooper."

The line went dead. I cradled the phone onto the charger. My gaze slid to Marcus and we were silent for a matter of minutes. I broke the stillness first.

"What do you think of that?"

"At least he's consistent. Have you had any other calls from this crazy today?"

"No, nobody called. You're serious about not giving me the gems, aren't you?” Shivers stiffened the hair on my arms. I folded them across my chest for warmth as I considered the phone call.

"We can't give them back to you, but you shouldn't take any chances either. I'll have someone keep an eye on the place. Have you gone through the trunk again? I noticed there are papers strewn around on the floor."

"Uh huh, I did that today after you left. It was a crummy day and got crummier as I went through everything. At least it's done now, though. There was nothing of use, mostly old photographs and receipts for clothes she purchased a bazillion years ago. I found that my aunt was a packrat, a keeper of things. Too bad she didn't keep the very things we need to prove her innocence in all this."

"You're convinced she's innocent, aren't you?"

"Damn right I am. She worked hard all her life and didn't live beyond her means. There's no way I will believe she was a crook."

"Okay, okay, I was just asking.” He raised his hands to ward off any possible blow I might toss in his direction. “Let's finish dinner and watch a movie. What do you say?"

No longer hungry, I pushed my food around. My glance strayed toward him. “I guess that sounds like a plan. There's dessert if you want some. I'll just put the coffee on."

His smile widened, but he said nothing.

In the living room, we parked on the sofa and I nodded off during the show. Awakening, I found my body entwined with Richmond's. He was asleep and I stared at his relaxed features. Gosh, he was comfy and warm. Too bad he was a cop. I'd broken my own golden rule of never ever sleeping with one. Now I knew my weakness was his strength.

With a gentle movement, I snuggled into his warmth with no thoughts of heading to my bedroom. My head nestled into the crook of his neck. I waited for sleep to rescue me from this madness. I must have been more tired than I thought since I never felt Marcus leave though I did feel a kiss on my brow.

Heavy eyes popped open to wince as daylight played across the floor through the slats in the window shutters. Hastily, I arose, showered and dressed. My mother and I needed to have a discussion over my cousins. The two dummies were sure to be under surveillance by the state police. Cripes, my Aunt Josephine would have a heart attack in earnest if she knew.