Roll the Dice (17 page)

 
She'd backed off before he could
put his plans into practise. Made his breakfast with a flippancy that had him
gritting his teeth and then grabbed her keys and left him fuming to make his
own way back to work. Said she had to talk with Cory. Left him sitting with egg
on his face, literally, and next thing he knew, she moseyed into the room
without a care in the world looking like a model on the front cover of Cosmo.

"Stop that infernal humming." He couldn't bite off the words
so instead he followed them up with a mean look.

"I wasn't." The little witch smiled.

"Yeah, you were."

"A little moody today?"

He nodded. "Meet the new me."

"Luke, stop trying to sit up. Be comfortable. I'll move the chair
so we can talk." While Aurora arranged the seat close to the bed, she
stared hard at the floor to hide the shock in her eyes.

Her informant looked as if he'd fallen face first on a pile of rocks.
Battered and bruised, Wayne and him could be twins. Rhondo, that bastard,
clearly took pride in his work.

Speaking hurt, established by the wince when he tried to say hi. He
pointed at the glass of ice water. She picked it up from the side table and fed
him the straw so he could take a sip. It helped, and he moistened his lips.

"The bugger worked me over good." With each word, his voice
gained strength.

"I should of shot him." Regret sat on her, weighing her down.

"Your punishment worked. He'll be sounding like a girl for a
while." He laughed deep in his chest and it came out warped, but it still
made her feel better. He hadn't lost his quirky sense of humour nor had his
spirit been broken. Body's healed, but take the heart out of a man, and he'd
never recover.

"Tell me a story." She leaned in so he didn't have to talk
loud. "How did he connect us?"

"My fault. Stupid. He came with a bunch into the bar. I'd decided
to call you again and got sloppy. Mike flipped me a tray cause he wanted me to
clean off some tables before I left—as you know, I'd worked a double and was
beat. Not paying attention, I missed my pocket when I dropped in the phone and
Rhondo picked it up just as you returned my call. He must have seen the caller
I.D."

"You didn't use my name?" Shock had her voice rising.

Luke's expression slid from earnest to awkward that instant.
"You'll be pissed."

"Tell me."

"It says Robocop."

"I still don't understand. How did he connect that with me?"

"Snoopy bastard must have searched out some of the old texts I've
sent you. Your e-mail address includes Morelli. That's why he followed me home.
Hit me as soon as I opened the door."

"Then he beat the living shit outta you."

"Uh huh, he wanted your address."

"I'm so sorry, Luke. I never meant for you to be in danger."

"My fault, Rory. I got careless."

"You can't go back to work there, you know that. I'll spot you for
the police academy this fall. Seriously, Luke, it's time." She'd make him
listen.

"No need. I've saved enough. As long as I work part-time, I'm
good."

She didn't realize how tightly her stomach muscles had constricted until
she heard those words. As if a ton of weight had lifted, the knots in her
shoulders eased. A smile lit her insides and pride joined the happiness.

"I'll be holding you to that, my friend. Can't wait to have you on
the team, wearing a badge.

Tears clouded over the pain in his eyes, and he turned away. "I'll
make you proud."

"Look at you! I've never been prouder of anyone in my life."
She cleared her throat and squeezed his fingers. Then changed the subject
before they both ended up bawling.

"You know I'll be paying a visit to Big Mike. We need to have a
chat."

"Yeah, I kinda figured. Tell him to send me my cheque. I won't be
back."

"He knows your address?" Aurora didn't like that at all.

"You kidding? I got a box number. You did teach me some things.
Look, you'll need a new source. There's a patsy by the name of Eddie—don't know
his last name. He saw Rhondo with my phone and was standing there when he
passed it back to me. The guy's a two-time loser, heading for three counts.
Always carries a bag of weed in his shirt pocket but never smokes any. If you
squeeze him, he'll burst like a bubble. Thing is, he can be your eyes on the
ground if you work him right."

"Oh make no mistake. I'll have Eddie eating out of my hands by day's
end."

"I've no doubt." Her grin answered his as she lifted the water
glass.

Her and Kai had split up at the hospital. She'd headed straight for
Luke's room and Kai went to Wayne's. Needing to get moving now that she'd
talked with Luke, she went to collect her partner.

"Hey Mike, how's it going?"

The officer sitting near Wayne's door had two empty coffee cups and a
pile of magazines near his chair. He looked bored as hell and she didn't blame
him.

"Nice to see you, Detective Morelli. It's been quiet."

"Glad to hear it. Is Detective Lawson still here?"

"Yes. He left to buy some coffee, but he's back now."

"Thanks."

Mike opened the door for her to step inside the room. Kai sat relaxed
near the bed, one leg balancing the other in the typical male slouch.
 
She moved closer and could see Wayne's
recovery had begun.

Contusions, having been red and swollen before, were now darkened with
yellow and purplish tones. The swelling around his eyes had diminished somewhat
and he no longer looked like he's just gone twenty rounds with Mohamed Ali.

Broken ribs weren't apparent.
 
They'd take longer to heal—she knew that from experience. But being that
he was young and healthy, she hoped he'd be back to his old cheeky self soon.

"Hi Wayne." She winked when he smiled lopsidedly. "How's
it going?"

"Hello Detective. Other than Darlene is making me crazy cause she's
so jumpy, things are better."

"If Rhondo figures to get anywhere near you, he's got to get
through the armed guard on the floor who's watching for him day and night. Plus
the hospital staff have been warned. Darlene is coming here straight from work,
right?"

"She's sleeping here also. Bout drives me nuts."

"Quit your whining. You're lucky to have a sister who gives a
dam." Only half kidding, Aurora called his bluff and enjoyed his backing
down.

"I guess I don't mind. At least I know she's safe." It dawned
on her then that the kid had wanted to look macho in front of Kai.
 
She had caught the shared look passed
between the handsome hunk and the beaten boy.

Time to go! "Kai you ready?" She passed the remote over to
Wayne and added. "Here, watch the idiot box. It's probably time for your
favorite reality show." She patted his hand and turned to leave.

Whispered words and Wayne's chuckle slowed her down but only for a
minute. No time to play. She had better things to do.

***

After driving in silence the short distance, they pulled up in front of
The Hangout, Big Mike's tacky bar. In a depressed neighbourhood, the neon lit
building stood out. Surprised he'd taken the passenger seat without any
comments; she carried on her usual inspection and became aware of his observing
everything also. A good cop always knew where they were, and who and what was
near them.

A quick glance in the mirror to show that no last minute repairs were
needed, she pulled the trunk lever so they could get the bullet proof vests
from the back. Her gun, strapped on her hip today, would be used as a last
resort, but who knew when the last resort might be the first solution. Then she
reached into the special compartment for her taser.

His raised eyebrows asked the question.

"Just to be on the safe side. I don't trust this crowd."

Retrieving the vests, she handed one to him and made sure hers fitted
over her short-sleeve, tailored white blouse. She tugged unsuccessfully at the
sides, knowing the posers inside would appreciate the snug fit over her
impressive chest. "You ready?"

"I would be if I knew what to expect."

"Right, sorry." She flipped her hair back and caught it up with
a hairclip to be piled on the top of her head.

 
"Luke, my guy worked here.
Last night when Rhondo arrived with a bunch of his friends, Luke tried to call
me. His boss interrupted, threw a tray at him to clear some tables with. In
order to catch it; he carelessly dropped the phone in his pocket, except it
didn't make it. Just his bad luck that Rhondo picked it up off the floor, saw
the caller ID, and linked it to me. He followed Luke home and the rest you
know."

"This guy, big Mike. Has he got a record?"

"Not anything recent. Years ago, he ran with a bunch of losers and
did some time, got a rep, but once he got out, he's kept his nose clean. Came
into some money when his parents died and bought the bar. Far as we know, it's
clean. Mind you, his element of clientele leaves a lot to be desired."

"I see. Okay, I'll take it from here."

"Sure, no problem. And the little woman will follow a foot behind,
kissing your ass all the way. Screw you, Kai. This is my show."

A non-verbal tug of war lasted only a few minutes, but by the time
Aurora headed into the place with Kai close behind, ice had time to settle in
her veins. She was pissed. No one better had mess with her now.

"If it isn't our classy Detective Morelli. What can I do for you
today?" A huge man whom Kai supposed was Big Mike schlepped a five-gallon
soda keg behind the bar and lifted it as if it weighed nothing.
 
Three other fellows sat at the counter
nursing beers and two tables were full of card-players who swept the tables
clean of the cash the instant after Kai and Aurora stepped inside.

While Aurora walked steadily forward, her swaying hips caught his
attention. She moved sensuously, shoulders back, and her trim figure had drawn
all the eyes in the place. She looked competent and he felt the need to strut
just a little. One thing he did do and it sure as hell didn’t come easy—stand
behind her so she ran the show.

She'd put him in his place earlier, and he'd deserved it. Never before
had he treated a female colleague so insanely wrong. Hell he'd trained many of
them as rookies, and highly respected their abilities.
 
Had been heard to say previously that he'd
rather ride with a woman than many of the puffed-up young males joining the
force nowadays. They had more sharps and many of them had more balls.

So why did this protective bullshit emerge for competent Aurora Morelli?
He didn't want to probe the reasons. No more than he'd let himself review their
night together. He'd deserved to get slapped down. And trust the woman standing
in front of him to do it well.

The stench of old cigarette smoke, spilled booze and bad breath filled
the space and made one wonder how anyone could spend too much time in this
atmosphere. Walking from the blinding heat outside to the coolness inside
didn't come close to making up for having to breathe in the fetid air.

"How's things Mike? Have you visited Luke in the hospital
yet?"

The keg clanged loudly as it hit the floor. Everyone had watched Kai and
Aurora walk in, but tension hadn't peaked until the noise rang through the
building.

Kai saw the worry in the other man's face, worry he hid as soon as it
appeared. But it had been there, which gave Kai hope that they'd walk out of
the place without having to fight their way to safety.

One of the players at the bar leaned out so far to eavesdrop that he
toppled over. His dishevelled appearance, dirty torn t-shirt, long hair, and
large earring hanging from his right ear wouldn't earn him any points for style
but he did fit in with everyone else.

Mike waved a big paw towards him in a menacing manner and said.
"Eddie, you can't stay on the stools, you can't stay in the bar. Either
sit yourself down or get the hell out." The tone and glare let everyone
know Mike meant every word.

Eddie wobbled over to the stool closest to Aurora, climbed on and
sneered in her face. "Your lyin. Luke worked here last night."

"Then he went home and had the shit kicked out of him by Earl
Rhondo. Now he's in the hospital. You know anything about that?" She'd
started out answering Eddie but ended up talking directly to the owner.

Steel entered grey eyes that hardened in a scary way. "You say
Rhondo beat him up?"

"That's what I'm saying. But more importantly, that's what I saw.
Only I got there too late."