Roll the Dice (15 page)

 
“Really, boss. I’m sorry. I
presumed on our friendship. Can’t get used to you in the big-boy’s chair. I’m
still thinking we’re equals.” That was all the sorry Cory was going to get. The
wall of hardness began rebuilding.

“Your choice, Kai. You’ve been asked many times to take on a leadership
role. It’s your own stubborn want to stay on the streets that’s kept your
status at the Sergeant level not the system’s.
  

“I like working the streets. But I like working with a partner I can
trust, or better yet, I’d really like to work alone.”

“Forget it. What’s she done this time?” Cory’s grin finally appeared.

“Took off!
 
And after you told
her no. In LA partners don’t just leave. We work together to solve cases.
Co-operate with each other.”

The harsh laugh caught Kai unaware and made him flinch. “Christ, look
who’s talking. You’ve been angry about been saddled with her since the
beginning. Now you’re mad because she’s leaving you out of the loop? By the
way, she wouldn’t do that. What she finds out, she’ll share. You gotta trust
her. Did you check with Hampton as to her whereabouts? She'd have left word with
him—office rules. No one goes anywhere without letting the team know where and
with whom.”

Kai rubbed his face to hide the blush that warmed his cheeks. Dammit
that woman drove him crazier than a shit-house rat. Made him look like some
fool babysitter who'd lost track of his charge, instead of a professional.

“Kai, she’s a good girl. Here in the office, we all understand her ways.
You’re the new guy. The woman is smart. I don’t mean intelligent, though she
is, I mean people smart. She’s a natural profiler, can pick out a phony in an
instant and a bullshitter even quicker. But she’s got a soft core that she
covers with a mass of hard grit. You hurt her and you’ll have the whole dam
department biting at your ankles—”

“Hurt her? Why the hell would I hurt her? I’m trying to keep her from
getting herself killed.” His voice rose with the same speed as Cory’s eyebrows.

“Hey, stand down and remember who you’re talking to. You came begging to
me remember? Play by our rules and fit into our ways. This isn’t LA hotshot.
This is my world.”

Kai plunked down in the nearby chair. “Yeah! Well it was you who said
you didn’t want her left alone.” Voiced at a much lower octave.

“I always say that and she always ignores it. Says she knows what she’s
doing, and I have to agree. “Look, she’s either checking out her snitch, a kid
she’s taken under her wing like a mother hen, or she’s finally playing it smart
and headed home. Ham, or one of the team will know for sure.”

Kai got up to leave.

“And Kai, the answer to your earlier question is no. Debbie just called
from the hospital to say she’s gotten a small infection in her….ahh lower
stomach area and they want to keep her there at least until I can leave the
office tonight. They’re starting a round of antibiotics, says it should be cleared
up with in a few hours.” Worry hid behind the words and Kai stopped.

“Should you be concerned?”

“She’s says no. It’s common for lots of women, and with the proper
medication, it’ll be gone by tomorrow.”

His partial acceptance registered. Cory used to talk about being a
husband and a father when they were rookies. He’d always said there’d only be
one woman for him, and once he found her, he’d make sure that his priorities
were healthy. Babies, a nice house, he’d have it all. After seeing him and Debbie
together, Kai couldn’t imagine what he’d do if anything happened to her…or his
new son.

***

“She didn’t tell you?” Kai began to freak.

Ham’s cranky look also appeared until he checked the pad near the front
of his desk. Then his expression calmed. “It's okay. Lassie’s gone to see her
snitch.”

Kai glanced over and saw the message ‘Star Wars” and a big swirling A
underneath the scrawled words.

“Star Wars?” It had to be some kind of code.

“Her kid named himself Luke. He’s a star war freak. Calls in sometime
and always starts the call with ‘May the force be with you’. If you don’t give
him the code, boyo hangs up.” The gray-haired cop in the short-sleeved white
shirt and half undone tie leaned back in his office chair. He looked at home in
his surroundings of bulging filing cabinets with excess files placed everywhere
on the floor.
 
His desk was covered in
ledgers and his monitor sat on a few more.

Kai found himself drawn to this old-timer. Respect for the wisdom that
shone from his customary twinkling eyes had him willing to give the man the
time of day. “Are you going to tell me the code?”

“Can’t you guess?”

Re-thinking the words, Kai knew at once. “And with you.”

Ham nodded and added. “If you don’t play his game, he’ll hang up. The
skinny little Eejit, he’s a bold one, he is.”

Kai laughed and unwound. “Sounds like a character. He live on the
streets?”

“Used to until Aurora stepped in. She got him the place to live—he found
a job. Not one she approves of, but it’s actually worked out in our favor. A
Polack called Big Mike owns the Hangout, the bar where Luke works. He treats
the kid pretty good. Of course the warning Aurora had us pass on might have
helped some.”

“Don’t tell me.” Kai got it.
 
“It’s a hang-out for some of Las Vegas’s upper crust.”

“My arse upper crust. We’re talking wealthy, way past the upper crust
level. These dudes are rich bastards and stink to high heaven from the drugs
they’ve sold to get there. Not to mention the rest of their dirty baggage.”

Kai’s interest spiked. “This Luke have any news on Rhondo?”

“I have no doubt that’s what our little missy is finding out right now…”
His cell’s buzzing broke off the rest of what he had to say.

“Hampton. Speak.”

Kai watched the grin disappear under a black cloud. Oh-oh. He knew he
wasn’t gonna like the news.

Ham slammed the phone down and sent his chair flying as he shot to his
feet. “Shots were fired at Luke’s address.”

He was right.

“I’m sorry Rory. I didn’t know.”

“Shut up Ray. She can’t hear you. Did you call the number I told you to?

“Yeah, they’re on their way. This is all my fault.”

 
“You shoulda known something was
wrong when you saw my open door. I never leave it unlocked.” Luke's voice
cracked under the stress of his emotions.

“I didn’t think, Luke. Rory’s car was in the lot out my window and I
figured if she was here, you know… things would be okay.”

“They were okay until you busted in. Hurry up with the tape. You sure
she’s breathing?”

“She’s breathing, just out cold. That asshole really whacked her a good
one. My shoulder's still stinging where he threw me back against the doorjamb.
It could be dislocated.”

“Quit your fucking whining. You gave him the opportunity he needed to
get away. She had him. Jesus man, get me loose."

Aurora heard the squabbling, but it sounded as if it came from a long
distance, like maybe the next county. Her head hurt so bad that the thought of
pain pills turned her on more than a chocolate sundae smothered with whipped
cream— her all-time favourite treat.
 

Talking was out of the question yet, so she moaned her request for
quiet. It worked for a few seconds until Luke lean over her and pushed the hair
aside to view the wound. Gently he straightened out her head, and she wanted
more than anything in the world, to sink away from the excruciating pain.

Ray’s yapping wouldn’t stop. It was as if his inner battery had to wear
down. “I saw her head hit the bed frame. No wonder she’s unconscious. I didn’t
mean to knock against her. He threw me and I couldn’t stop.”

“Can you shut up? Hey? Can you just do that?”

Good boy, Luke. Please get him to stop. My
head…

Footsteps heralded company and the thud warned of a heavy body.
Rhondo’s back!?

Kai’s clipped voice sounded close.

No, not Rhondo… worse.

“Police! Step away from the body. Lie on the ground and put your hands
on your heads. Now! Do it!”

He brought her home after she refused to remain overnight at the
hospital. Since none of their arguments had worked, an ultimatum was issued.
Either Kai stayed with her, she stayed with him or they'd find her a bed on the
busy ward.

“I’m fine, Kai. Even the doctor said he didn’t think I had a concussion.
I never really passed out, things just got fuzzy for a while.”

What she didn’t say was that the pain had rescinded once she’d doubled
up on her over-the-counter prescription. Mind you she felt a bit out of it,
actually woozy. Like she’d drunk too much wine but without the fun of losing
her inhibitions that normally came with the alcohol.

Feeling shy, she plumped her bright red, hand-made throw pillows and
covertly rubbed the water stain off the glass coffee table. The she grabbed the
vase of dead daisies and headed for the kitchen. It had been days since she’d
had the time to play at little Miss Homemaker and her place showed the neglect.

"The pizza’s still hot and the mushrooms and cheese smell
delicious. Do you want to plate it and I’ll get us something to drink. Coke for
me, but I have beer if you’d like."

“Sure, I’ll have one. Where do you keep you’re dishes?” Kai stepped into
the kitchen's small space and looked bewildered.

“Over the dishwasher. The glasses are next to them if you want one. I
never use a glass, but some people prefer it so I always ask.”
Shut off the blabber—he’s going to think
you’re losing it.

“I don't use em either. How much do you want to eat?”

“Just a small plate. My appetite’s gone.”

A distinctive sound had her looking at him.

“Stop worrying. It’s not the injury. I never eat much when I'm on a big
case.”

Her hand automatically worked at the small bandage over her left ear.
Again she fumed that the idiot doctor had cut off so much of her hair.

Kai stepped into her space and lowered her hand. “It’s hardly
noticeable, and it’ll grow back. It’s kind of girlie—you so worried about your
hair.”

“Fuck you!”

“Ahhh, there’s our sweet little Aurora in person. I missed you.”

She laughed and noticed that he relaxed his shoulders. It hadn’t dawned
on her that he might be fretting over her being injured. But instantly, she
realized something. Ever since he'd found her, he’d behaved like a worrywart,
concerned about her comfort and constantly watching her for signs of
affliction. Something soft began to ease into the tight controls she kept in
place.

Logic told her she needed to keep the barriers up, save herself from the
heartache he foreshadowed. Loving this man would be a foolish—really stupid
move, and not being a stupid or foolish woman, she knew it.

They carried their drinks and pizza into the cozy family room and sat
together on the beige leather sofa. Automatically, she put her bare feet onto
the low table and her gold ankle bracelet tinkled against the glass. She saw
his gaze follow the sound, and he stared at her feet, all pink nail polish and
toe rings.
 
Wearing fancy boots hid this
habit from most and knowing he saw this feminine side to her escalated her own
awareness to his masculinity.

She reached for the remote at the same time as his fingers grabbed the
item. Her quick withdrawal ramped up the tension between them—had him
quizzically holding the article towards her. "Sorry. It's a man
thing,"

"No. It's fine. Go for it." She picked up the pizza and shoved
it in her mouth to prove she didn't want control. The food titillated her taste
buds and it dawned on her, she was starving.
 

He flipped on the news channel and then took a bite from the savoury
slice in front of him. "Humm. Good pizza. I love this stuff."

"My favorite gourmet meal." She grinned at him and his
reaching fingers wiping at the sauce on the corner of her lips didn't faze her
whatsoever. At ease for the first time in his company, she let down her guard.

"This is an All Points Bulletin. Anyone who sees this man, Earl
Rhondo, should get in touch with Crime Stoppers or the local detachment of the
LVMPD. Consider him armed and dangerous.
 
Detective Aurora Morelli with the Las Vegas police was brutally attacked
today in the commission of her duties. She saved the lives of two youths—"

"Hey, why'd you turn it off?" Kai, wearing a frown, leaned
towards her.

"Same reason you would. It's all blah, blah. You can't explain
reality in a three-minute sound bite. The truth was that I thought Luke had
been killed. And I died a little more with every step I took inside that place.
Then to see him tied up like a piece of garbage with his poor face beaten, my
adrenalin almost choked the hell outta me."