Project Produce (10 page)

Cat Woman eyed it warily. “Get real. I just wanted to find my cat, okay?” Cat Woman flipped her long brown braid over her shoulder.

“Whatever you say.” What a strange place. Not at all like I had expected. Then I noticed Cat Woman stood taller than me. I didn’t see that too often. Deciding she looked safe enough in spite of her black-on-black attire, I lowered my backpack and held out my hand.

She assessed me and shook my hand until my fingers lost all feeling.

“Wow, that’s one heck of a grip you got there,” I croaked, pulling my hand away, minus its mitten, and shaking feeling back into my fingers.

“Sorry,” Cat Woman answered, then handed the mitten to me with a sheepish smile.

“I’m Callie, and you are?”

“Busted, uh, Busty.” The woman gave me a goofy smile and added, “Nickname.” Her pocket started talking. She jammed her hand inside and muffled the sound, acting like it hadn’t happened. I let it go but could’ve sworn I heard, “Brat.”

“Well, Busty, nice meeting you. I hope you find your cat. Sorry about your head. I seem to be a bit paranoid lately.”

“Don’t sweat it. And hey, be careful, okay?” Busty, who really was busty--lucky woman--gave me a quick wave, did a few stretches, and then sprinted around the corner without another word about her cat.

Shaking my head, I let myself into my apartment once again, and the kitchen phone rang. I set my backpack on the table and picked up the receiver.

“Hello?”

“How’d it go? Did the chicken fly the coop?” said a male voice.

“Look, Detective, I’m not a chicken and I can handle Queens just fine. Is there something you wanted?”

“Mac?” he sputtered.

“Who else would it be?”

“Uh, wrong number. But since I have you on the line, how are you? Need any help getting tucked in for the night?”

“I’m fine, really. And I’ve been tucking myself in for thirty years. I’m pretty sure I’ve got it covered.”

“That’s right. You made that perfectly clear the other night. My mistake.”

“Can you blame me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing.” I didn’t have the energy to get into it. No matter how nice he seemed, I wasn’t prepared to get involved with anyone. “I’m just glad we’re still on the same page.”

“All right, then. Take care.”

Clunk. Dial tone
.

“Dylan?”

Still dial tone.

“Unbelievable.” Hot Britches had taken ‘no’ pretty easily.
My
no, anyway. I should be happy, but it had me thinking maybe there was something wrong with me. Maybe my eggs really were rotting, and I had dried up since the scandal. I hadn’t pictured any of this when I’d decided to start a new life.

Pickle-flashing molesters.

Sex-addicted Detectives.

Karate-chopping Amazon cat women.

Welcome to the life of Callie MacDonald, unsuspecting tenant of the freaking Twilight Zone. Twilight Zone or not, I vowed to stay put and figure my life out, make a fresh start.

No more running for me.

***

That afternoon, I stepped into the ritzy hotel where I now worked and nodded to the manager. The same reaction I always got every time I walked through these doors hit me hard, taking my breath away. I stared in appreciation at the oversized paintings and gleaming surfaces of the lobby counters. My surroundings sure were improving. The place reeked of money.

Walking across the fancy ceramic tile floor, I trailed my hand along the back of several pieces of overstuffed furniture arranged around plush throw rugs. The walls were painted in a swirling pattern of browns. Bet the people who stayed here hadn’t even heard of Norman Bates.

And no pickle-flashing psychos in sight, thank God.

After storing my things in the coatroom, I wandered behind the front desk and waited for my shift to start. Check-in didn’t begin until three, so things were slow at the moment. Classical music filtered through the speaker system, and I found myself bored, wishing I could slip a little salsa music on. Liven things up a bit. Somehow, I didn’t think that would go over too well.

Staring up at the lobby’s enormous, rotating chandelier, I admired the way the crystal teardrops caught the sunlight, sending rainbow-colored rays dancing about the room. I’d never seen anything so gorgeous. Glancing outside, I blinked.

Never say never, Cal
.

Hot Britches had pulled up in front of the hotel, and the darn bongos started up in my chest again. He climbed out of Big Betty, wearing his trademark ponytail, faded jeans, black leather jacket, and snakeskin boots. As he tossed his keys to Eduardo the valet, he jogged up to the door, his thigh muscles flexing all the way.

Franz the doorman shook Dylan’s hand, letting him into the lobby as he asked, “How’s your grandmother? Heard she was ill.”

“Nah, you know Grandma Cabrizzi. Can’t hear worth a damn, but she’s as feisty as ever.” Dylan pulled off his shades and slipped them into his coat pocket, chuckling. “I’ll tell her you said hello.”

“You do that.” Franz smiled and closed the door.

“Detective?” I managed. I hadn’t expected to see him again so soon.

His electric gaze swiveled around, locking onto mine, and my breath caught in my throat. God, he looked good. In only three days, I’d forgotten just how good. I thought about that amazing kiss and wondered if it had crossed his mind at all. But then I remembered how easily he’d accepted my no. It didn’t matter anyway. I didn’t want to be in a relationship, couldn’t afford to until I had some answers. So why did I have to keep reminding myself?

“Mac.” He gave nothing away.

“What are you doing here?” I strolled around the front of the counter and crossed my arms over my chest.

“I came to see how the job was working out and to update you on the case. Do you have a minute?”

I glanced at my watch. “Only a minute. Check-in starts soon.” I led the way to the sitting area, and he placed his hand on the small of my back to guide me. The heat from his palm seared my skin and I flinched, so he grabbed my elbow to steady me. Our eyes met, and he lowered his gaze to my lips. After a moment, I cleared my throat and sat.

He dropped his hand and sat across from me as he said, “I wanted to let you know we’re getting close, but we still haven’t caught the Midnight Molester yet.”

“I appreciate the update, but you could have told me this over the phone.”

Dylan looked down at his notes. “I could have, but I was in the area. Some of us have been busy trying to keep this city safe from creeps like him. He might come back, you know. You’re the only one who’s managed to outwit him. That makes you special.”

I stared beyond Dylan out the lobby windows and could’ve sworn I saw another Trench coat. Probably paranoia again. Being around Hot Britches tended to do that to me. I looked back at Dylan. “I realize Flasher Freak is dangerous, but I don’t need a man. I can take care of myself, same as any other single girl in the city.”

Dylan peered over his shoulder in the direction I’d been looking and then returned his attention back to me and frowned. “Unfortunately for you, this creep isn’t attacking just any single girl. He attacked another tall blonde, only this time a lot closer to the campus. He’s tracking you, Callie, and I’m afraid he won’t stop until he finds you.”

It suddenly hit me why Dylan had shown up instead of calling. “Unbelievable. You think he’ll come by today, don’t you? That’s why you’re here. You want to be the one who arrests him when that happens, and you’re using me to do it.”

“Sure, I’d like to be the cop who gets the bust. I’ve worked my ass off to catch this creep.” Blue fire blazed from his eyes. “But not at the expense of someone else getting hurt. Like it or not, I care about what happens to you.”

Part of me wanted to believe him, but I just couldn’t. I wasn’t ready. Besides, I’d seen the proof with my own eyes. I knew exactly what he cared about, but no way would he get it. “Thanks for letting me know. I promise to be more aware of my surroundings. Are we done now?”

“Is something bothering you?”

“No, I’m fine.” I started to glance at the door again but caught myself. He’d think I was nuts if I told him about Cat Woman, and then he’d never back off. Besides, Flasher Freak hadn’t been there. It had only been my paranoia, just as I’d suspected all along. Just as it probably was today.

“Look, if something’s up, you need to tell me. I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s wrong.”

“I won’t have you hovering over me like a bodyguard.”

“It’s my job to put this guy behind bars and keep this city safe.” He stared into my eyes, his frustration evident.

“Then stop worrying about me and find the creep.”

“I’m working on it,” he ground out. “Has anything unusual happened to you since Friday? Anything out of the ordinary?”

“Nope. Nothing at all. Everything’s just peachy.”

“Really?” The corner of his lip tipped up a bit. “Have you suspected anyone of following you lately?”

“Nope, no one.” I could feel the heat flood my face straight up to my hairline. Darned fair complexion.

He glanced at my forehead, and his eyes narrowed. “That’s a nasty bruise for someone who’s fine.”

I’d forgotten about the bruise from bumping heads with Cat Woman. I fidgeted with the material of my navy blue trousers and couldn’t stop my eyes from shifting left and right. I forced my gaze back to his. “The darnedest thing happened. I got up to use the bathroom in the dark last night and bumped smack into a wall. Still not used to living in someone else’s apartment, I guess.”

“Right.” He sighed. “Do you at least know how to fight?”

“I could hold my own if I had to. I’m not exactly petite.”

He glanced over my lengthy torso and down my long legs. “Not exactly petite describes you perfectly.”

“You don’t say.” I glared at him.

He grinned. “Thin, but a whole lot of woman.”

“Oh.” Why did he have to be just like Bob? Maybe it was because they both had zucchinis.

Note to self: Having a zucchini is obviously too much for any man to handle
.

“Anyway, being tall may not be enough. At least come to my gym. I’ll show you a few moves, show you how to throw a punch in the ring,” he suggested.

“I don’t know. I really don’t have time--”

“Make time.”

“You don’t give up, do you?”

He hesitated, staring into my eyes. “Not on something I really want, no.”

Man, he was good. I blew out a breath. The Angels hadn’t had any luck in finding a zucchini to interview, so that left Hot Britches. Maybe being obsessed with sex was a part of a zucchini’s personality. Only one way to find out. “I guess I could meet you during my lunch break tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow it is.” He wrote down the address to the gym and handed it to me.

I stood up and stuffed the piece of paper in my pocket, then a couple entered the lobby. “That’s my cue. See you tomorrow.” I turned around and slipped behind the counter without another word, but I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder to catch him checking out my big ole insecurity. There was nothing petite about that body part, that was for sure.

Maybe the gym wasn’t a bad idea, after all.

***

“See you tomorrow, Franz. Oh, and tell Gloria I’ll call her later.” I waved to the doorman at the end of my shift.

“Will do.” He tilted his head in acknowledgment and closed the door.

As I stepped out into the hustle and bustle of the city sidewalk during rush hour, I marveled at the crowd. I’d never seen so many people, but I had to admit this new schedule worked so much better than the other one. Except I didn’t get to see Gloria as much, since she worked during a different shift and went clubbing all night as she tried to land a record deal.

Gloria was my only friend, here or back home. Oh, I’d had a few friends during high school, but they’d long since gotten married and moved away. No one had time for a third wheel, so I’d pretty much thrown myself into running the store. I’d talked to the locals every day and had convinced myself that was enough, but now that I had a real friend again, I realized what I’d been missing. And now I barely got to see Gloria.

I still had Dylan, but he wasn’t exactly a friend. None of my friends had ever kissed me like he had. Well, darn it, I didn’t need him. Didn’t need
any
man. I had to keep reminding myself of that, and I’d be fine. It would be a heck of a lot easier if he wasn’t so nice and so irresistible.

I smiled at a stranger who walked by, but the woman didn’t smile back. I sighed. God, I missed having someone to talk to. I nodded to another stranger and this time sparked a smile. Figured. The stranger was a man. I walked a few more blocks to the subway and took a moment to enjoy the way the sun sparkled off the fresh-fallen snow.

Soon the pearly white would turn a dingy gray from all the foot traffic. I missed my hometown’s wide-open spaces and pretty countryside. Still, I had to admit the city held a certain beauty of its own, with its talented street performers, amazing architecture, and impressive skyscrapers. And at night, the city lit up like it celebrated Christmas every day.

I stepped onto the packed subway, grabbed a pole for support, and then scanned the car. I froze when I saw the man in the back.
Him!
The strange man I’d seen skulking about during my shift at the hotel this afternoon. My heart raced. I had to stop letting men push me around and start standing up for myself. I focused on breathing and tried to think.

I’d become a lot more aware of my surroundings after Flasher Freak, so I’d thought it odd at the time when this guy kept wandering in and out of the hotel as though casing the joint. He wore an overcoat and a hat, but at least he had pants on. In fact, he looked a lot like Inspector Gadget.