PENITENCE: An Andi Comstock Supernatural Mystery, Book 2 (95,893 words) (16 page)

“More for you than for me.”

“Not really. Dawna wanted you out of the way so she could get me.”

Andi didn’t necessarily agree with him, but she didn’t disagree, either. It was just that in Dawna’s case, there was a little more to it than that. “Why can’t I think of a logical solution to Clem’s screw up?”

“Babe, how many times do I have to remind you that solving crime is my domain, not yours?”

“If I hadn’t taken matters into my own hands, would things have resolved like they did with Dawna?”

His internal struggle to admit what she already knew to be true was almost comical. “Probably not,” he admitted, “but that doesn’t mean you need to get involved this time.”

“Too late. Clem involved me first, remember?” She sucked in her cheeks, thinking. “Clem confirmed Dex Moran is an alias.”

“What? When?”

“Yesterday. I guess I forgot to mention it because we had already figured that out.”

“Did he know who the guy really is?”

“I don’t know. He was playing games and then he disappeared before he told me anything significant. I was hoping that EPD would find something, but if they haven’t by now, they won’t.”

“I’ve never known you to be so cynical.”

“You’ve never known me not to be able to stop someone from being murdered, either.”

“Andi—”

“I don’t know why Clem didn’t come back and tell me
who
Dex Moran is. He’s such a jerk.”

“From all you’ve told me, I can’t disagree.”

She snicked her tongue in disgust. “I get so sick of him not being straightforward! He came to me for help, so why doesn’t he give me everything he’s got, instead of making me drag it out of him?”

“I wish I knew.” He rubbed his knuckles against her cheek. “Drink your, toddy, babe, then let’s go over and talk to Father Riley.”

“He’s not always the answer to my problems.”

“I know, but maybe he can help ease your worries.”

“I doubt it, but if you insist, we should call first. He might be busy.”

Jack whipped out his phone and dialed. “Are you busy, or would like some company? … Good, we’ll see you in half an hour.”

“Aren’t you just the efficient little counseling moderator.” She could tell the barb stung by the way his eyebrows shot up, but she didn’t feel like apologizing.

“I’ll give you a pass on that bit of unnecessary sarcasm because I know you’re stressed.”

Andi didn’t have the heart to tell him he wouldn’t know what stressed was until she was
really
stressed. That would come on Monday, Clem’s birthday. And Denise’s last day on earth if they didn’t do something to stop The Liquidator.

. . .

Father Riley was putting a jigsaw puzzle together when they got to the rectory. “I find it relaxing,” he said by way of explanation.

Andi studied the photo on the top of the puzzle box, which was a frenzied mass of road signs. “Looks to me like you’re hoping to avert a meltdown by taking your repressed aggressions out on a puzzle.” She realized immediately that her words were laced with sarcasm, but she didn’t care.

Father Riley exchanged an amused look with Jack, who said, “I believe she’s armchair-psychoanalyzing you as an example to me of why I shouldn’t have done it to her.”

The priest laughed. “I’d say that doesn’t make a bit of sense, except it does.”

“I’m glad you both get it,” Andi groused, though she was feeling more lighthearted already. She tugged off her coat and threw it over the back of the sofa. “Let’s get busy on this puzzle.”

An easy camaraderie was established without much trouble. They were three friends, all of whom understood they shared a common worry. The evening passed without any further counseling or even a discussion on how to proceed with finding Clem’s hitman. Around eight, Father Riley made popcorn and by ten, the final pieces of the five-hundred-piece puzzle were in place.

Andi and Jack pulled it apart while Father Riley took their glasses and dishes to the kitchen. By the time they said goodnight, Andi felt as if the crushing weight on her had been lifted.

They were about to climb into Jack’s vehicle, when Father Riley called out from the rectory porch, “Andi, when you get home, look up Saint Jerome Emiliani. Perhaps he can shed some light on your internal quandary.”

Andi thought it a little odd that he’d waited until she was out the door to provide her with a possible piece of wisdom, but called back, “Thanks, I will.”

Jack walked her up to her apartment door, and after a long and leisurely kiss, said he’d pick her up at eight-forty, so they could make nine o’clock mass. “Want to go get breakfast after?”

They didn’t have to be back at the chapel until two for the wedding. “That sounds good.”

He waited while she unlocked her door and stepped inside.

“Jack?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“Thank you.”

He gave her a crooked grin. “I should be thanking you. Forcing you to go over to Riley’s was good for both of us.” He tapped the end of her nose. “Have a good sleep, sunshine.”

“You, too. See you in the morning.”

Knowing she wouldn’t be able to nod off after a three-hour nap, Andi climbed into her PJs, then turned on the gas-log fireplace and plopped down in front of it with her book on saints. She’d opened it so often, the pages had already begun to show wear. Father Riley could be blamed for that, with the frequent saint references he always somehow tied directly to her and her life.

She’d bought the book not long after she’d met him. His comparison of her to St. Jeanne d’Arc, because they both heard voices, had both intrigued and frightened her. He’d also connected her to St. Gemma Galgani, for whom St. Gemma’s church was named. Gemma had died on April 11, Andi’s birthday, and she was known for always speaking to her guardian angel. Andi, too, had a guardian angel who had come to her aid the day she’d saved Jack from Dawna’s clutches.

And then there was one other tie-in to saints by way of Jack’s LT. Stacy, whose full name was Anastasia, had been named, not for the famous duchess, but for St. Anastasia. Andi had looked up the saint in her book and discovered that her benefaction was to protect the faithful from poison and other harmful substances, which had been particularly ironic, since Dawna had poisoned Sherry.

Andi checked the index for Saint Jerome Emiliani, then flipped through until she landed on his page. According to the narrative, he’d been a dedicated soldier in the city–state of Venice. Captured in a insignificant battle and imprisoned, he’d been forced to reevaluate his former life and what lay ahead of him once he obtained his freedom. Ultimately, he had reached the conclusion that, while his previous life was at dead end, if he opened his eyes and put away his frustrations, he would discover alternate life paths at his disposal. Upon his release, he resigned the military, joined the priesthood, and spent his life helping others.

Andi reread the page over and over. Dead ends. Alternatives. Seeing what’s in front of you.

Father Riley was a crafty one. Had he spent hours searching for exactly the right saint for her particular internal dilemma?

How had he known, without her telling him, that she needed St. Jerome Emiliani’s lesson?

When you reach a dead end, look beyond the obvious and consider the not-so-obvious.

Seven centuries later, the message still packed a wallop.

. . .

The benefit of going to an early mass was that you didn’t have to sit through a sermon. It wasn’t that Andi didn’t like Father Riley’s sermons. She did. Most of the time.

But on this morning, feeling refreshed in every way, she just wanted to pray. She thanked God for bringing Father Riley O’Shaughnessy into her life. And Jack Harmon. And a host of others who made her existence complete. When she was finished giving thanks, she asked for guidance. She prayed for help in opening her mind to
all
the possibilities pertaining to Clem and what he’d planned for Denise.

For a brief moment, she experienced a surge of overwhelming frustration, but the feeling fled and in its wake came a sense of serenity.

It was an old idiom, but appropriate for the time being, that she couldn’t see the forest for the trees. Once she took a step back and considered the bigger picture, she’d be able to see the forest
and
the trees.

Andi knew then that everything would be all right. She’d be able to keep her promise to Denise, no sweat.

In a few hours, she’d be standing up for Gerd as she joined in holy matrimony with Orion. What a joyous occasion, in spite of, or maybe because of, the speed with which the relationship had escalated. Deep down inside, she knew that Gerd and Orion would have a long, happy, and loving life together, with many children to show for it.

After breakfast, she and Jack went to collect the wedding present they’d picked out for the couple, pleased with how beautifully it had been wrapped. They went by his place after that so he could change into his black suit.

He pulled on white shirt and laughed when Andi produced a tie that she informed him coordinated with her dress. “I thought this was a black-tie affair.”

“It is, and I think the suit more than qualifies you in that regard.”

“I’ve never tied one on to match a maid of honor before,” he teased.

“Aren’t you just clever with words today?” she shot back, grinning.

Then it was time to go back to Andi’s so she could dress. Jack sat on her bed, watching her apply makeup as the transformation from Andi-the-church-goer to Andi-the-maid-of-honor began. She should have shooed him out of the room, but she liked having him close by and she also kind of liked the way his blue eyes heated up as he watched her every movement.

She messed with her hair, gathering it loosely on top of her head the way she and Nat had practiced it, and secured it with the beautiful beaded clip. She had to admit, it looked pretty good.

Jack confirmed it when he said, “I like your hair up like that.”

“You do?”

“Absolutely. I’ll have extra good access to your neck.”

“Don’t tell me you’re developing fangs like Bunnicula.”

“For a chance to nibble you, I’d grow them in a New York minute.”

Andi giggled and pulled her new lingerie ensemble from the drawer. A moment later, the black garter belt that matched her panties and new bra was hooked into place and on came the stockings.

“Be still my heart,” Jack murmured, watching with rapt attention.

“You can help me get out of all this later.”

“Promise?”

“Guaranteed.”

Finally, she stepped into the lavender dress, rather than pulling it on over her hair. The tulip skirt landed about three inches above her knees. “Can you zip me?”

Jack sprang up off the bed to do her bidding. Once the zipper was up, he planted kisses against her exposed back and neck, sending shivers of delight through Andi. The dress was perfect in more ways than one.

He released her and she moved away to slide her feet into the heels. She turned toward him with one hand against the bureau in case she tottered. “What do you think?” she asked with uncertainty. The square neckline exposed more skin above her breasts than she’d ever exposed before.

“God, Andi, you look beautiful.”

His eyes blazed with passion that seared through her, leaving her speechless.

“I can’t wait until we’re alone again. It’s going to be amazing undressing you.”

She flushed with pleasure and turned so she could examine her reflection in the full-length mirror. “You don’t think it’s too revealing?”

“It’s perfect, babe, and it’s not revealing at all.”

“I don’t usually have so much skin showing.”

His eyes slid over every inch of her.

Bare arms. Bare back. Bare neck. Partially bare chest. Andi started to squirm.

“I’d ravish you right now, if I could.”

Despite her reservations about how much the dress revealed, Andi chuckled. “Ravish. That’s an old-fashioned word for a new-fangled guy.”

“Believe me,” he said, his hot gaze sweeping over her again, down to the heels on her feet, and back up to her face, “in this case, ravish is exactly what I’d like to do.”

The wedding ceremony
,
though attended by only the bride and groom, their attendants, Jack, Stacy and her husband, and Brent and his wife, was beautiful. Andi, who never cried, cried.

Gerd was gorgeous in an exquisite floor-length white gown of beaded lace. Orion was handsome as all get-out in a black tux. Vaughn also had on a tux, and Andi’s dress and Jack’s tie complemented the flowers in the bride’s bouquet, and Andi’s, perfectly.

Afterward, the wedding party, Father Riley, and all the guests followed the limo carrying the bride and groom to Orion’s home for a catered dinner.

Over hors d’oeuvres, Orion told Brent that, as of the next day, Andi would be his boss, rather than his subordinate.

“Thank goodness!” Brent said, hugging her. “I was beginning to worry that you’d up and leave us because we’re too slow or boring for you.”

“Not likely,” Andi said. “I’m happy as the proverbial clam being at Orion’s Belt.”

“If you like that news,” Orion went on, “you should also like that Vaughn’s coming in as our financial partner.”

“Thank goodness again!” Brent said, his sincerity apparent. “We can certainly use an infusion of cash, not to mention the expertise. Welcome to the Belt, Vaughn.” He extended his hand to the new partner.

“More good news,” Stacy said. “Gerd is joining EPD as our newest detective. She’ll be part of the Violent Crimes unit when she returns from her honeymoon.” She glanced at Jack. “I understand she’ll be a major asset, saving our detectives not only from the criminals, but from themselves, as well.”

Jack rolled his eyes at the LT, even as the others laughed and offered their congratulations.

Gerd, who had changed into a stunning floor-length gown in a deep shade of lavender, clapped her hands. “All this good news is amazing. Everyone
here
is amazing! Thank you all for making this such a happy day for Orion and me.” She reached for her new husband’s hand. He gave it to her along with a lengthy kiss.

After dinner, Vaughn pulled Andi aside. “I’ve been giving this whole thing with Denise a lot of thought.”

“You and me both,” she said.

“I’m still wondering if the person who responded to your text message is
not
The Liquidator.”

Andi’s gaze locked with Vaughn’s. “I didn’t consider it possible when you mentioned it before, but I had a change of heart last night.”

“How so?”

“Father Riley suggested I look up a saint, Jerome Emiliani. His light-bulb moment, in a nutshell, was to look beyond the obvious to the not-so-obvious.”

“You ever read Sherlock Homes?” Vaughn asked.

She wondered where he was going with the nonsequitur. “No.”

“I’m a big fan. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave old Sherlock fantastic powers of deductive reasoning. Case in point, Holmes opined, ‘Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.’”

“It’s almost the same lesson.”

He nodded.

“But…we haven’t eliminated the impossible or the obvious yet, have we?”

He jammed his hands into his trouser pockets. “I suppose “that remains to be seen.”

“Yes, I suppose it does.” Andi tried to process the implications, but her mind had taken a brief respite from Clem and Denise for the wedding festivities. Her mind was having a tough time making the transition back again.

Vaughn pulled one hand out of his pocket and jammed his fingers through his hair, spiking it. “I’m probably way off base. After all, Holmes is a fictional character and his creator was a physician. What the hell did either of them know about real-life hitmen?”

Andi offered him a weak smile, torn by her desire to just relax and enjoy the rest of the evening and her renewed unease concerning Denise’s fate. “I don’t know, but St. Jerome Emiliani was a real person and he probably didn’t know about real hitmen, either.”

“I guess it’s back to the drawing board.”

“I guess so.” She grinned and leaned toward him, whispering in a conspiratorial manner, “Does Jack know you’re playing sleuth?”

He grinned back. “Who says I am?”

The party broke up by seven so the newlyweds could get on with their wedding night.

If anyone was concerned about the bride and groom’s impetuous decision to marry a week after they’d met, no one mentioned it.

Overall, Andi decided, as she and Jack drove back to his place, the day had been amazing. In fact, the weekend had been amazing. To keep it that way, she forcibly pushed Vaughn’s words into a far corner of her brain for later consideration.

With that accomplished, the night only got better.

. . .

Andi met Orion and Vaughn at the contracts attorney’s office at ten sharp. Preston Kido was meticulous with the contract details and provided a detailed review of every line of text. Any concerns were addressed and all questions were answered. In the end, no changes were made to the verbiage, including the clauses that dealt with buyouts or partner death. Everyone was satisfied.

Orion signed everything he needed to sign then said, “I’m off. We have a two o’clock flight to Chicago. We’ll spend a couple of days there, then head to Dubuque to pack up Gerd’s place and get her house on the market. DPD is also throwing a farewell shindig for her next weekend, then we’re off across the pond.”

“Where are you going?” Kido asked.

“Italy. Neither of us has ever been there.” He grinned sheepishly. “We thought it would be a great place for two romantics to honeymoon.”

Everyone laughed. “God speed,” Andi said, hugging him, “and love to both of you. Have a wonderful trip and don’t forget to send us a postcard.”

He saluted her. “Will do, partner.” He looked at Vaughn. “You two will be in charge. Don’t screw things up while I’m gone.”

Vaughn grinned. “I think Brent can keep us on the straight and narrow, if we stray too badly.” He shook Orion’s hand. “Safe journey.”

As soon as Orion took off, Andi and Vaughn gathered their things.

“A minute?” Kido asked. He motioned for them to retake their seats. “I’m meeting with Denise Naylor this afternoon at two. She wondered if you would mind attending.”

“I can be there,” Vaughn said, looking at Andi. “What about you?”

“Sure. I’m going back to the Belt from here, but I can definitely be at Denise’s by two.”

“Good, good.” A Japanese American who stood as tall as Vaughn, but was much lankier, Kido had played professional basketball in Japan for four years after college, gone to law school after he’d landed on his knee one time too many, and was now specializing in contracts law. He had taken and passed, with flying colors, the Multistate Bar Exam, so he was in high demand in a number of other states.

Andi knew all this from information she’d gleaned from Vaughn and what she’d learned on the Internet.

“Denise has informed me that I am authorized to discuss all matters pertaining to the partnership contract of Benz Giustina and Naylor with the two of you. Have you both read it?”

They nodded.

“Good.” He stopped his pacing and leaned against the tabletop. “To put it bluntly, they’re trying to screw her over. I don’t like it when bullies go after people they perceive to be weak.” He flexed his jaw and his expression hardened. “I’m going to wipe the floor with these jerks.”

Vaughn stood. “Sounds like a plan to me, Preston. I’ll help get you there any way I can.”

“Count me in,” Andi said, also standing. “Has Denise mentioned anything else about her…current situation?”

“If you mean, did she tell me her husband put a contract out on her life, yes. She said she thought I should know, since there are cops and security people there. She also told me why he’d done it. I admit to having my investigator verify her story.” One side of his mouth quirked up. “He tells me it’s a beautiful portrait. I hope she lives to finish it.”

Andi hadn’t given a thought to actually checking out Denise’s account of her whereabouts. Having Clem give her the straight scoop had pretty much clenched that for her at the beginning, but then Preston Kido didn’t know that part of the story.

Kido straightened and gathered his paperwork, sliding it into his messenger bag. “Just so you know, I’ll be armed when I get there.”

“As will I,” Vaughn said. He glanced at Andi.

“I have a PepperBlaster,” she said. “Shall I bring it?”

Vaughn grinned. “Andi Oakley and her PepperBlaster. Let me know when you want to learn how to shoot a real gun. I’ll give you some instruction.”

“I’m ready any time. You’ve mentioned before that I should get a concealed-carry permit.”

“I have and it’s not a bad idea,” Vaughn said. “Have you discussed it with Jack or Father Riley?”

“No.” Andi was pretty sure Jack would want to be the one to teach her how to shoot.

As for Father Riley, he’d no doubt embark on an immediate search for the patron saint of gun-totin’ game-app writers.

. . .

Jack was sprawled on Andi’s sofa, his head in her lap. She played her fingers through his hair.

“I don’t get why Kido wanted you and Vaughn to sit in on the discussion with Denise,” he said.

“I got there a little early and asked Denise. She said it was because I communicate with her husband. She thought Kido might bring up something that I needed to ask Clem about for clarification.”

“And did he?”

“I’m not sure. It was a pretty intense two hours. I took some notes, which I plan to go over later, but right now, I guess it’s all still percolating in my brain.”

He looked up, meeting her eye-for-eye. “I love your brain.”

“I love you brain, too.” She bent forward and kissed him.

“Umm, you have nice lips, too.”

“Thank you. So do you.”

“I like these, too,” he said brushing a hand over her breasts.

“I’d say I’m partial to yours, but you don’t have any,” Andi said, giggling.

“I have other parts you like, though.”

“True.” She leaned sideways, sliding her hand down toward his zipper.

The sound of her phone vibrating against the kitchen counter interrupted her exploration.

“Geez, who could that be?” She glanced at the clock on the mantel as Jack raised himself to a sitting position so she could stand. She turned the ringer back on before she accepted the call. “Hi, Vaughn.”

“Hi, Andi. Sorry to be calling so late, but I need a favor.”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“You know how Trev wanted stitches because Micah has some?”

“Oh, no! Is he hurt badly?”

“I don’t think so, but he disobeyed me and pulled a Micah, only he hit harder. I need to take him to the ER, but Dotty has gone to see her son for a couple of days before she has her knee surgery, and Eddie and Sally are at a concert, so I can’t reach them. Would you be able to come over and sit with the other kids until I get back from the hospital?”

“Sure. I can….” She had a sudden brainstorm, remembering how long he’d had to wait in the ER before. “I have a better idea, but I’ll tell you about it when I get there.” She disconnected without saying goodbye and speed-dialed her sister, who was a pediatrician. “Nat, it’s me. Can you do a house call on a three-year-old who needs stitches?”

“Hello to you, too,” her sister said. “What’s wrong with the ER?”

“It’s my friend Vaughn. He has three other kids and no available child care at the moment except me.”

“Oh, so you’re afraid of kids now?”

“No, I’m still headed over there, but he’s gone through a lot these past few months and he just took his other son to the ER a few days ago and had to wait hours to be seen. I just thought, if you’re not busy, you might be able to help out.”

“Two visits to the ER in a week. Is there something going on I’d need to report?”

“No! Micah leaped off the stairs and had to have stitches and his twin, Trevor, not to be outdone, wanted some of his own.”

Natalie hesitated, then said, “Vaughn? Isn’t he the husband of your old friend Sherry, who was murdered?”

“Yes.”

Her sister heaved a sigh. “Okay, I’ll do it. I’m always a sucker for a sad story.”

“You’re the best, Nat.” She gave her sister the address and said she’d meet her there in fifteen minutes.

“Guess we’re going on a road trip,” Jack said.

“You don’t have to come, if you have something else to do,” Andi said.

Jack’s eyes lit with amusement. “My other plans suddenly got cancelled.”

Andi grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re a good sport, Jack.”

. . .

“Thank God,” Vaughn said as he pulled the door open.

Ashley, Etta, and Micah were huddled around Trevor, crying. Trev, however, wailed louder than any of his siblings.

“I’m saving you a trip to the ER,” Andi said. “My sister Natalie is a pediatrician. She’s pulling up right now.”