Peggy Dulle - Liza Wilcox 05 - Till Death Do Us Part (17 page)

“Hey, do you have a ‘saw your partner in half’ box,” Kenny asked the clerk that was stocking the back wall with rope tricks.

“No, we sent it back. It just didn’t work as well as it should have,” the clerk said with a straight face.

Kenny and I laughed and then Kenny asked. “How about I just saw her arm off?”

The clerk smiled and responded, “I think I’ve got one of them in here, someplace. It’s only been returned twice. I’ll see if I can find it for you.”

We laughed and then continued to peruse the store.

“Look, Stretch,” he held up a black top hat, “They’ve got a ‘watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat’ hat.”

I took it from Kenny and said, “This is cool. Is this something a ten year old would like?”

“I did. Magic is cool!”

“I think I’ll call Tom and see if it’s something his son, Michael, would enjoy.”

“That’s the kid you haven’t met yet that you’re soon to be his wicked step-mother?” Kenny laughed.

I nodded as Kenny was expressing some of my own concern.

Tom answered on the first ring, “Hi, Liza.”

“Hi, Tom. How’s your day going?”

“Busy, as usual with …,” he began.

I finished, “paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.”

He laughed. “How’s your day going?”

“Great. I have a question for you.”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Does Michael like magic?”

“He never has tried it, but magic is cool. I think it is something he would like.”

“Great, I’m at Pier 39 at the magic shop and I thought I’d buy him a few things.”

Silence.

“Tom?” I asked. Where had he gone?

“Liza, why are you at Pier 39?”

“Well, Kenny came home a day early. He actually took a plane home instead of driving. We wanted to do something, so we decided to come over to Pier 39 and go to the aquarium. We took the ferry.”

“Is Art with you?”

I laughed. “You think I slipped my bodyguard?”

Kenny laughed.

“Is Art with you?” Tom asked again.

“Of course. He’s been with us the entire time. Actually he thought it wasn’t a bad idea, he figured it would be a good place for Santana to try something, so Art brought lots of extra FBI guys.”

“And did Santana make a grab for you?” Tom’s voice lowered a bit, each word slowly asked.

“Of course. Art’s really smart. But it was fine and now Santana’s in custody and we’re at the magic shop. Do you think Michael would really like magic stuff?”

“Could I please talk to Art?”

“You want to talk to Art?” I repeated.

“Yes, please.”

“He’s at the front of the store watching the door. Do you really need to talk to him right now?” I said as I glanced through the crowd watching the magician and spotted Art standing at the front door.

“Yes, please,” Tom repeated his earlier words but his voice had deepened. Damn, he was mad at someone. I wonder if David and his girlfriend got into another fight. For once, it couldn’t be me – I was perfectly safe and having a great time.

I shrugged and held up the phone to Kenny. “Tom wants to talk to Art.”

Kenny looked through the crowd, which had doubled since we first entered the store. The magician must be really good or doing some fantastic tricks.

“You want me to take him the phone?” Kenny asked, scanning the crowd.

“Yes. Tom thinks Michael would like some magic tricks, so I’m going to gather a few up for him.”

“Let me do this.” Kenny took out his own phone and pushed several buttons. A few seconds later, Art glanced down, and then turned toward us.

Art made his way through the crowd which seemed to just open up as he walked through. Maybe they all instinctively knew he was an FBI agent and carried a gun.

He came up to us and asked, “What’s up?”

“Tom’s on the phone and he wants to talk to you.” I handed Art my phone.

I watched as Art’s entire body stiffened.

“No, sir,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” he said.

As he continued to stiffen and repeat those words over and over again, I grimaced.

“I think we got Art in trouble,” Kenny whispered.

I frowned at Kenny and then at Art.

“Yes, sir,” Art said, then held the phone up. “Ms. Wilcox, he’d like to talk to you.”

My frowned deepened. I had gone from Liza to Ms. Wilcox, again.

“It’s
Liza
,” I told him, forcing a smile I didn’t feel. How dare Tom get so mad at Art when it was Kenny and me who had insisted upon going to Pier 39!

“What’s going on, Tom?” I said.

“Nothing, honey. Could you do me a really big favor?”

“Maybe,” I said, then added, “Your voice sounds strange.”

“I am trying
very
hard not to use that tone of voice with you that you don’t like.”

“The one that makes me do the opposite of what you
want
me to do?” I asked, my own back stiffening.

“Yes, honey.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I would really appreciate it, if you could go home as soon as you can. I’m not asking you to leave Pier 39 immediately, just as soon as you can.”

“Okay,” I said slowly.

“Could I speak to Kenny for a minute?” Tom asked.

“You want to speak to Kenny?” I asked.

Kenny’s eyebrows rose and he shook his head.

“Yes, please,” I heard Tom’s voice but was looking at Kenny.

“I don’t want to talk to him, Stretch,” Kenny said, backing away from me.

“Kenny doesn’t want to talk to you, Tom,” I told him.

“Ask him, please.”

“Tom says, can he
please
talk to you?”

Kenny put out his hand and nodded.

“Hi, Tom,” Kenny said as nonchalantly as he could, but I could hear the slight tremor in his voice.

How did I get involved with someone who could have this effect on people?

“She’s fine, Tom.” Kenny said into the phone.

Silence.

“No, really. Art had it under control.”

Several minutes of silence as Kenny listened to Tom. His eyes drifted from Art, to me, and then to the door.

“Our plans are to get on the three forty-five ferry. It gets into Jack London Square a little before five. That puts us back in San Ramon by six, depending on traffic.”

A few more beats of silence.

“Okay, I’ll probably see you later. I’ll give Stretch the phone back.”

As soon as I got the phone, I said, “What’s going on Tom?”

“I am just concerned for your safety, Liza.”

“Spill it, Tom, or I’ll make sure we miss the next ferry and then we’ll spend the rest of the evening at Fishermen’s Wharf. Of course, that also means that I’ll make Kenny and Art get on a public bus to get home.”

I heard Tom take a deep breath. I had to admit he was doing well at trying to control his voice.

“Carlos and Santana have a younger brother. He’s never been arrested because he’s smarter than his two older brothers. Angelo’s also meaner and deadlier. He’s better trained because he was in the army for six years until they threw him out. He won’t make some half-ass grab for you, his plan will be thought out and you’ll get hurt. I don’t want you hurt. Could you
please
go home?”

I took a breath myself. My instincts were to head for the wharf. I hated anyone, even this Angelo person, dictating what I could and couldn’t do. But I could see the logic in going home.

“Okay, Tom. We’ll get on the ferry and head home.”

Tom let out the breath he had obviously been holding and said, “Thank you.”

“What kind of magic stuff should I get Michael?”

Tom chuckled. “I’m sure he’d love anything you would pick out.”

“Okay. I’ll see you tonight, Tom.”

“I love you, Liza.”

“I know you do, Tom, and I love you, too.”

I bought a 101 Easy Magic Trick set for Michael, it was not that expensive and it included a DVD with instructions, magic cards, ball and vase, magic snapper, cups and balls set, sponge balls, and a magic wand. I also bought the top hat. Any self-respecting magician had to have a top hat. Tom could buy the rabbit.

The ferry ride home was very different. Art insisted we sit inside and all four other FBI agents were in the room with us. It’s amazing how quickly his demeanor transformed from a fun-loving guy back to the serious FBI agent and I wasn’t sure I liked it. Kenny and I were seated next to each other, with our feet extended and crossed.

“I feel like a celebrity,” Kenny said, glancing around at our entourage.

“Rock star or royalty?” I asked.

“Can’t I be both?” Kenny asked.

“Sure. How about a prince that plays in a rock band?”

“No, I like country music better. And if I’m going to be royalty, I want to be king.”

I laughed. “I’ll be your best groupie.”

Kenny turned his body and took my hand in his. “You could be my queen?”

I frowned. Kenny and I didn’t have that kind of relationship, did we?

“Excuse me?” I looked into Kenny’s eyes. The love we felt – was it more than best friends?

Kenny stopped being Kenny for a moment and we looked into each other’s eyes. There was something there. It was more than friendship but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was as if Kenny and I were two halves of one whole. Together we made one person, I just wasn’t sure if it was the person I wanted to be.

Kenny reached over and stroked the side of my face with his hand.

“Kenny?” I leaned forward and so did he.

We got within a few inches of each other, both our mouths slightly open. Were we really going to kiss? A real kiss?

Chapter 20

Kenny shook his head, seeming to shake himself free of whatever was pushing the two of us together.

“Or maybe my consort or escort?” Kenny finished, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.

I blew him a raspberry.

He laughed.

We both sat back and rode the rest of the way in silence. I thought a lot about the person I wanted to be. I always tell the kids in my class that you have to make goals in your life, even small ones that you conquer and then move on to the next one. Where did I see myself in five years? Ten years?

I glanced over and looked at Kenny. Where would I be in five years with him? Ten years? And with Tom? It was two totally different life paths and I just wasn’t sure which one was better for me or which one I truly wanted. I twisted the ring on my finger. This didn’t make sense at all. I was marrying one man and thinking about what life would be like with another. That wasn’t right.

Kenny took my hand, again, and squeezed it. “Don’t think so much, Stretch. Things work out as they were meant to be, don’t stress.”

“But…” I began.

He put his finger over my mouth, stopping my words, and shook his head. He put his arm around me, and I leaned my head on his shoulder. We sat like that until the ferry docked in Jack London Square. I validated my parking ticket, and we walked the few blocks to the parking lot. Kenny and I held hands while Art and the other FBI agents scanned the street and flanked us on all sides.

We got into my Jeep and the four other agents got into a black sedan. It followed four cars behind us the entire way to San Ramon. When we got home, Art and the agents went immediately into Fed mode, getting out of their vehicles, checking the street and surrounding area. It was like a scene from a movie. I just hoped it wasn’t one from a movie where the FBI agents check out the area and the protected witness still gets kidnapped, hurt, or worse.

When I got out of the Jeep, Kenny kissed me lightly on the cheek saying, “I’ve got to make a few phone calls. I’ll order Mexican take-out, okay?”

“Sounds good,” I said, then to Art. “What do you want? And should we order enough for everyone?”

“Yes. Let’s get inside, I want to check the video displays that were installed while we were gone and then I’ll get everyone’s order.”

“Great,” Kenny said. “Call me when you’re ready.”

I gathered up the bags from the magic shop and walked up my walkway. I could hear Shelby barking.

“We’re coming, girl,” I told her as I put the key in the lock.

“Let me go first,” Art said, sliding in front of me, turning the key and opening the door. He and another agent went into my house. The other two went around to the back.

I felt ridiculous! How dangerous could this Angelo be?

Art came out a few minutes later and grabbed my bags. “It’s all clear, Liza.”

“Thanks for calling me Liza.”

Art smiled. A glimpse of the fun-loving guy we had seen today was back. He put the bags on my kitchen table while I petted Shelby.

Finally I said, “I’m sorry that Tom got mad at you.”

“No, he was right. In my defense, I didn’t know about Angelo. Chief Owens just found out about the younger brother a little while ago. I knew Santana was an idiot so I wasn’t worried.
If I had known about Angelo, I wouldn’t have let you go to Pier 39. We would have stayed here.”

I laughed.

Art frowned.

“
We
might have not gone to Pier 39, but Kenny and I would have.”

“No,
we
would have stayed here.”

I patted Art on the shoulder. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Art glared at me.

Time to change the subject. “Can I see my new video equipment?”

“Sure.”

I followed Art into the spare room. It didn’t look any different for having a man living there. White metal daybed covered with a quilt I had gotten from my class last year. A side table and armoire from a previous bedroom set I owned before buying the one I use in my own room. Art walked over to the armoire and opened the top cupboard. Inside were nine small video displays. I could see my front door, my front yard all the way to Kenny’s door, my driveway, a block in both directions of my street, and every inch of my backyard.

“Thanks for putting it inside here.” I pointed to the display.

“Sure, I just thought about where my wife would want them if I insisted upon putting them in our spare bedroom.”

“Good thinking.”

We watched as a white van pulled up in front of Kenny’s condo.

Art immediately called the other FBI agents. I saw them open the car doors and get out of the sedan. It was just at the outside edge of one of the video displays.

A tall, lean woman dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt got out of the van carrying some kind of carrier.

I watched as Kenny opened his door and the three FBI agents picked up their pace.

It was like watching a movie on mute. Kenny saw the three men. He immediately pulled the woman behind him and stood in front of her.

One of the men said something to Kenny and he shook his head and pointed to the carrier.

The agent nodded and the three of them walked back down the street.

“No sound?” I asked, curious as to what was in the carrier.

“No, we just put in video.”

Kenny took the woman by the hand, pulled her into his arms and kissed her. My stomached tightened. What was I feeling? Was I jealous? Did I want to be
that
woman? When he released her, both their faces were lit with smiles. They talked for a few more minutes and then she left. Kenny picked up the carrier and headed for my house.

I left the spare room and went to the front door.

“What’s in the carrier?” I said when I opened the door and Kenny came in.

“I’ve got a surprise for you, Stretch.”

“Really?” I said cautiously.

“Well, it’s mostly a surprise for Shelby.”

“Huh?”

He brought the carrier into my living room. Shelby came into the room barking, which made the dog in the carrier start barking.

“Kenny, I don’t need another dog.”

“This is not your dog.” He frowned at me.

“Whose dog is in the carrier?”

“It’s mine.”

“You have a dog?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of dog?”

“Zoie’s a beagle.”

I bent down and looked into the carrier. She was a little beagle with black, white, and brown splotches of fur. Her tail was going a million miles an hour and she was barking.

“Let’s take her out into your backyard so she and Shelby can get acquainted.”

“Okay, then you can tell me when you got a dog and how come you haven’t mentioned her before.”

Kenny brought the carrier outside, then slowly opened the door. Shelby put her nose into the carrier and the little beagle
rushed right past her and out into the yard. My dog took off after her as if she was shot out of a cannon.

As they raced around the yard, I turned to Kenny, “Okay, let’s hear it.”

“I got Zoie a couple of years ago.”

“She’s not a puppy.” I looked at the little dog in my yard, then continued, “She’s very little for a beagle.”

“She was the runt of the litter but she’s a jewel.” Kenny beamed.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had a dog?”

“I don’t know, it just never came up.” Kenny sat down on one of my Adirondack chairs.

“Where’s she been?” I sat on the other.

“I boarded her while I was out here deciding whether I wanted to stay in California or not. But once I found out you were here, I told the kennel I would pick her up on Friday and drive back to California.”

“But you decided to fly.”

“I knew if I didn’t get on the first flight, I’d never do it. There wasn’t time to retrieve her and get her on the flight, too.”

“So how’d she get here and who was that woman?”

Kenny’s face looked puzzled and then he nodded. “The video cameras?”

I nodded.

“Is that why Art’s friends came running?”

“Yes, the white van stirred them up.”

“That’s Shirley,” Kenny replied.

“Your therapist from Nashville?”

“Yes, I called her when I got on the plane and she agreed to go and get Zoie, take her to the airport and then I’d pick her up. She surprised me by bringing my dog herself.”

“You looked happy to see her,” I said.

“I am. She’s getting herself settled into her hotel and we’ll spend the day together tomorrow.”

“In her hotel room?”

Kenny laughed but shrugged, without giving any kind of an answer.

Art came out to the back room, holding a piece of paper. “Here’s all the Mexican food orders. Do you want to give me your orders and I’ll call?”

“If you call Rosita’s, they know Kenny’s and my order.”

“Perfect.” Art went back into the house.

“I’m starting to feel bad about eating on the government’s credit card,” Kenny said.

“Me, too,” I said.

Then we looked at each other and laughed.

“Maybe not,” Kenny said when we finally stopped.

“I’m just thinking of it as payback for all those years I worked before I became a teacher. I still don’t have access to any of that social security money.”

“Okay, I feel better. I’ll eat up part of yours, too.”

We sat and watched the dogs play. They were immediate friends.

“It took Shelby a lot longer to get used to Tom’s dog, Duke.”

“Police dog?” Kenny asked.

“Yes. He was hurt on the job, so now he mostly hangs out at Tom’s house.”

“Shepherd?”

I nodded.

“Those dogs like to be in charge all the time, like their cop owners.”

“That’s true.”

“Zoie is a pack animal so she doesn’t want to be in charge. She wants to be part of a group.”

“Even a group of two?”

“Any group will do. In Nashville, my neighbor had a couple of Pekinese and she adopted them right away. I put a dog door in the fence between the two yards. The dogs ran around both yards and Zoie was very happy.”

“You can do that here, too.” I pointed over to the fence.

“You’re going to move in a month, Stretch. I’m not sure the person who buys your house will want my dog in their yard.”

I had just found Kenny, I wasn’t ready to give up my best friend again. What would we do? Go to every other weekend visits, as if Tom and I did in the beginning? Long conversations on the phone? And I needed to sell my condo. I should contact a
realtor, get it on the market, and let people see it. Did I really want to get rid of my condo?

“Stop thinking so hard, I can hear your mind spinning. You didn’t think that far out, did you, Stretch?” Kenny asked, breaking up my whirling thoughts.

I turned to him and said, “I’m not losing you again, Kenny.”

“I’m not losing you again, either,” Kenny replied.

“Does your law firm have an office in Gainesville?” I asked.

Kenny laughed. “I don’t think so, Stretch.”

“Sacramento?”

Kenny shook his head.

“Fuck a duck,” I exclaimed and I meant it.

Kenny grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “We’ll figure something out, Stretch.”

Art stuck his head out of the door and said, “Dinner’s here.”

“Thanks,” Kenny and I said together.

“You want it outside or are you coming in?” Art asked.

“We’re coming in and we’re leaving the dogs outside. Zoie has an annoying habit of begging at the table.”

“Somebody must have fed her table scraps at one time,” I suggested.

“Yeah, well, it was cute when she was a puppy but now she’s a pest.”

We closed up the dog door in my sliding glass door and went inside. My kitchen was filled with FBI agents.

“Why aren’t they in their car eating?” Kenny asked the words in my mind, too.

“It’s too hot and Mrs. Crasten already called the cops on us and reported a suspicious car with three suspicious men in it,” one of the agents from the car said.

“What did you tell the cops?” I asked. The last thing I needed was the local cops to know that I might be kidnapped because my father, an ex-environmental terrorist, is testifying against some of the violent men in his group.

“Nothing. We’re the FBI and we don’t have to tell them why we are here,” Art stated.

“What did you tell Mrs. Crasten?”

“Nothing,” Art repeated.

“Then Mrs. Crasten will keep calling them.”

“That’s why the sedan is parked in your driveway. She already called them three times,” another agent said.