Scent of Gardenia (Scott Tucker Series) (3 page)

Chapter 4

I felt I
needed to get to the pub and have a beer before Mercedes arrived. I took a seat
at a tall table in the back and waited for service. I recalled the many times
Mike and I came here while we were on the two task forces together. Mercedes
even joined us several times.

Two arms
circled me from behind and squeezed me so tightly I could feel breasts pressing
into my back. I recalled the scent, realizing it was Maggie.

I felt a
kiss on my neck. “Scott, where have you been keeping yourself?” She came around
the table, adjusting the top of her skimpy outfit.

It was
hard not to notice her ample bosom. “Well I’m still working with Paddy O’Brien
and Mike Miller, but it’s been a long time since we’ve been in here.” I noticed
the wedding band on her finger. “You’re still married, I see.”

“Yes the
little bugger finally got off his duff and made our sexcapades legal. He’s been
after me to quit my dancing gig, but I’m still doing that and working here.
That reminds me, you never came to see me dance.”

“No I
never did, but maybe someday.”

“I’d
really like to
dance
for you. You’re still as handsome as ever, but you
look a little tired or worried. You okay?”

“Thanks
for asking. I lost my wife two years ago and I haven’t been the same. However,
I’m okay.”

“Oh, I’m
so sorry to hear that. What can I get you? Is Mike coming?”

“You can
bring me a draft beer, but Mike can’t make it. Mercedes Strong, you might
remember her…the tall redhead—she’s coming.”

She
shook her head. “You don’t need me to dance for you if you’ve got her.”

“It’s
nothing like that. We’re meeting for business.”

She leaned
across the table and whispered, “
That
is a real shame.” She shook her
head, strolling away accenting her wiggle for my benefit.

Everybody
but me knows what I should be doing. What’s wrong with me?

I
thought about my conversation with Paddy about Charlotte’s letter. Actually I
didn’t say much—Paddy did most of the talking. Without me saying anything he
made it perfectly clear how important the business focus was to the office. He
said he was sorry she sent the letter to me, but it’s really not up to ‘us’ to
get involved down there. He even offered to send her a letter from the office
explaining our situation. I owe him an answer as to what I want to do about
that.

The background
noise in the pub stopped abruptly. I looked toward the entrance to see Mercedes
heading my way. She looked more beautiful than I remembered.

*.*.*

I stood
up and gave her a hug. She kissed me on the cheek. In one quick second my
senses were rewarded with the scent of Gardenia. I really missed that. Images
flashed through my mind.

“Scott,
you look as handsome as ever,” she said, lifting herself onto the high stool.
Her legs were still as long as ever. She must have noticed me looking. “Yup,
they’re still attached to the rest of me, but you must remember those details,
right?”

“You
don’t lose your touch, do you Mercedes?”

“Is that
something you’re asking, or is it research?” she said, leaning across the
table. “I’m sorry Scott. I just love the way you react to me, and I just can’t
help pressing your buttons. Why don’t we start anew…I’m glad you could meet
with me tonight, and thank you for the compliment on my legs.”

I could
feel the immediate blush. Maggie’s arrival saved any further sinking on my
part. “Mercedes, you must remember Maggie?”

“Hello
Maggie. Congratulations on your marriage,” Mercedes said immediately.

Maggie
looked at her ring. “You detectives don’t miss anything, do you? Welcome back Mercedes,
what can I get you?”

“A draft
would be fine. Scott looks like he needs another to change his complexion.”
Mercedes laughed, and Maggie added hers when she looked my way. Maggie nodded
and wiggled away.

Mercedes
watched her motion. “You know Scott another inch and she might not be in that
outfit. However, you hadn’t noticed that…or, had you?”

“There’s
no way I could have missed it. You know she’s an exotic dancer, and maybe she
likes to advertise.”

“Well I
like what I’ve got; it’s not too much of a good thing.” She paused, adding, “Once
again I’m sorry. My lips are going faster than my brain. I’ve had two years to
think about our time together and honestly I have to ask you—why haven’t you
called
me?”

Maggie
brought our beer and must have sensed she was intruding. When she left I took a
deep breath, trying to think of an answer. “Mercedes, for the life of me I
don’t know why I haven’t called you. It’s not that I haven’t thought about you,
as I have. Some images I can’t get out of my head.” I shook my head and she
held her glass across the table.

“You say
some nice things. That was one of them. Here’s to the future and not the past.”

“I’ll
drink to that.” I smiled at her over my glass, but instead of the beer I could
smell her perfume again. “I’ve really missed the scent of Gardenia.”

She gave
me a soft smile. “Now you’re racking up extra points. Keep it up and you may
just win the Kewpie doll. I wanted to say something else, but I didn’t want you
to turn red again…at least, not yet.”

“Mercedes,
you really are one of a kind.”

“Why,
thank you. I’m also a profiler, and I probably know
you
better than you
know yourself. However, there have been some times when you’ve surprised the
hell out of me…like the time at the cabin. I’ll leave you to think about that,
right now I have to use the ladies room. If you’re hungry order us something…I
haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.”

I tried
not to notice her legs as she stretched for the floor, but I saw her smile. Her
mention of the cabin brought some indelible pictures back.
God she’s
gorgeous—maybe that’s why she makes me so nervous.

Chapter
5

When she
came back she moved her stool over next to Scott’s. He had a questioning look
on his face.

“Don’t
worry Scott I’m not going to bite you. I have some things I need to talk to you
about, and I don’t want to share them with anyone else.” She flipped her hair
behind her ear, lifting her glass with her other hand.

She
watched him studying her and she liked the interest he was showing. She held
her glass with both hands. She could tell he was staring at her fingers and red
nails.
If you only knew how I want to wrap those fingers around you. Wake up
Scott and smell more than the perfume.

“So
Mercedes, what do you have to discuss with me?”

She
turned toward him resting her knee against his leg. She detected his expression
change like she had just turned on a switch. He didn’t move his leg and she
wondered what he was thinking.
She was thinking about their time at the
cabin and how close they were. What are you thinking Scott?

*.*.*

She was intently
watching me. Neither of us said a thing. I could feel her eyes drilling into
mine like she was staring into my mind. I wanted to look away but she had them
locked. I knew she could see the pain of losing Lisa. I could sense her
loneliness. We both needed the closeness of each other. I wanted to be with her
but not here.
I was thinking of our time at the cabin…

She finally
broke the silence. “Thanks Scott. I needed that, I really did.” She started to
cry, turned on the stool and headed toward the ladies room.

I sat
there spinning my glass, staring at the bubbles.
I don’t totally understand
why I can’t express what I’m feeling. Maybe it’s the fear that I can’t hold the
emotions in any longer.
I tried to focus on something else in the pub. I
spotted Maggie near the bar giving me that ‘go ahead’ expression. She repeated
it again, and then her eyes focused over my shoulder and turned quickly away.

I knew
Mercedes was returning based on Maggie’s reaction, but I also sensed the
fragrance of Gardenia again. Mercedes climbed up on the stool without looking
at me and whispered, “I’m sorry about that Scott. I don’t know what came over
me.”

She
started to reach for her glass. I put my hand on hers and she looked over at
me. “Mercedes, there’s no need to apologize. I guess we’re closer than either
of us realize. If anyone should be apologizing it should be me. I should have
called you at least one of the times I thought about you. I didn’t want you to
feel I was using you to fill a void. I should have thanked you for attempting
to save my life. I owed you that.” I took a deep breath, retreating from her
eyes.

She
flipped her hair away from her face, responding after some thought. “The fact
you thought of me, and thought of calling, makes me happy. If I had lost a loved
one, I would be hesitant as well, but Scott…in my own way, I did lose someone
too. Our time at the cabin was precious and I’ve replayed it many times…it was
like the best movie you’ve ever seen—you can watch it over and over.”

I
studied her, realizing her strong façade was just a well-designed defense
mechanism. “Thanks Mercedes. A long time ago you asked me if we could be
friends, and possibly date. I don’t think I could or did answer you then, but
if you’re still interested, I would really like that.”

I
witnessed the twinkle in her eyes, and her immediate smile. Her hand was
shaking as she reached for her glass. “You lucky boy…you just won the Kewpie
doll.” She added, “I wish I wasn’t going out of town tomorrow.”

“We
still have tonight.”

She put
her glass down, turning so that we were touching under the table again. “No
Scott, our next time together is not going to be
that
rushed. I’ve
waited over three years for you to answer that question, and I’m going to enjoy
our next time together. Maybe you will too.”

Maggie
came over to the table with another round of drinks. “Judging from the look on
her face—she said yes.”

I smiled
at Maggie. “Yes, I guess you could say that. Thanks for the refill.”

“The
manager sent it over as a thank you for coming back in to see us. I think he
still has a thing for redheads, because he doesn’t do that very often. I also
think he wants you back…well, maybe you can come too Scott.”

*.*.*

“Scott,
it’s getting late and I need to talk to you. That’s not to say I haven’t
enjoyed our conversation so far.” She took a sip of her beer, then continued,
“Two things. The first is my dad, as you know, is in real estate. Well he
continues to complain about the process the Real Estate Board uses for new
listings and updates. He has some ideas and wants someone to help him document
the current process and help determine a better way of doing business. He’s got
the ears of the Real Estate Board, but needs to do it up professionally, and
that’s where you come in.”

“The
second thing is much more complex, relating to a case I’m connected to. Without
going into too many details; rich young men are coming up missing. Our hands
are pretty much tied because, as near as we can tell, the men are last seen in
and around Bermuda. They just vanish, never to be heard from again. I’m
involved from a ‘profiler’ point of view. I have some suspicions. To be honest,
I haven’t shared all of them with my colleagues at the Bureau.”

She added,
“As a matter of fact, I’m headed to Bermuda for a few days to meet with the
authorities there to see if I can learn anything that hasn’t already been
shared. Here’s how this might relate to your office. Larz Nielsen, who is the father
of the latest missing man, lives in Brookline and wants his own investigation.
The family is very wealthy. The father is pushing the authorities in Bermuda and at the Bureau for more action. That’s why the Bureau is popping for my trip.
They want to make sure there’s nothing that will reflect poorly on us.”

“Anyway,
I’ll know more after my visit, but this family wants to do their own investigation
into the son’s disappearance. I’m in a position to recommend Paddy’s office to
them. Larz Nielsen also knows Victor Young, the Attorney General, and is
campaigning with him for some additional help.”

“Thanks
for sharing all of that. I will be glad to talk to your father about the real
estate listing process.”

She
reached into her purse and handed me a card. “Here’s my dad’s office
information, with his direct number on the back. He obviously knows about you
from all that happened years ago, but he also knows about the expansion of
Paddy’s business. Anyway, he’s primed for your call and looking forward to
you
touching base with him.”

“That
sounds great. Thanks Mercedes. Do I need to be concerned about what happened
with your sister and her disappearance?”

“No. If
anyone should feel uncomfortable about that—he should. After all, it was her
that was trying to kill you.” Her expression changed to a smile. “Well actually,
when I interrupted her, she was engaged in what looked like a more pleasurable
endeavor. She did have your precious parts in her hand if I remember
correctly.”

I could
feel my face turning red. “Mercedes, what she was doing was not at all
pleasurable…well at least not for me.” I wanted to change the subject.
“Mercedes, related to what’s happening in Bermuda—I received a letter from
Charlotte Williams, who you might remember was held hostage and almost killed.
Well, her brother is one of those missing men.” I pulled the letter out of my
pocket and handed it to her. She read it quickly and handed it back.

“This is
exactly why we’re trying to take a more active role there. My suggestion is;
take Mr. Nielsen up on his request for a private investigation and incorporate
her request into it.”

“With
that I have to run. But it does give us a starting point, doesn’t it?” She
laughed, climbed off the stool to straighten her short skirt. “I can tell you
still like my short skirts, don’t you?” She put her arms around my neck and
kissed me on the lips. “Scott, give me a week. Then call me to let me know how
things are progressing. Thanks again for seeing me on such short notice, maybe
the next time it won’t be so short,” she said, winking at me.

“I’ll
call you,” I said.
I liked the sound of that.