Snapped (6 page)

But as much as she tried to concentrate
on paperwork, she couldn't get Nick out of her head. She even lay awake half
the night staring at her ceiling, thinking about how she'd handled the
situation.

She drifted off to sleep around three and
got up when her alarm beeped at eight. After a jog and breakfast, she dressed
in black tailored pants, a matching jacket and conservative ankle boots. She
stood in front of the bathroom mirror and applied some lipstick and eyeliner
then rubbed her hands through her hair. She styled it into a sleek do and
fluffed out the ends. Back in the bedroom, she picked up a leather shoulder bag
and placed her purse, a notebook, pen and pepper spray inside, then checked the
result out in the mirror. She looked like a businesswoman, exactly the look she
was after for a visit to a grieving widow and client.

Janet Mollino probably wasn't grieving
too much but she'd need to keep up appearances, especially around her late
husband's extended Italian family. Lucy wanted to pass along her condolences
and if Janet just happened to give her some information that might help Nick's
investigation then that would be a bonus. No doubt Nick had already questioned
her, but for some reason people found Lucy easy to talk to, especially her
female clients, and she couldn't imagine any woman relaxing around Detective
Dante or his jerk of a partner.

Lucy locked her apartment, took the
stairs two at a time and hopped into her Honda. She took Swan Street and the
back roads to MacRobertson Bridge then zipped up Grange Road, past all the high
security fences that hid Bellerae mansions to the Mollino house.

The long gravel drive was lined with
BMWs, sports cars and Mercedes'. Lucy parked her Honda at the end of the queue
and hopped out. She nodded at the security guard watching her from the fence
and he lifted his head in response. Obviously he wasn't there to stop people
from arriving or leaving, just keeping an eye on things.

She rang the doorbell and the door was
promptly opened by a thirty-something man dressed in a dark suit.

"I'd like to offer my condolences to
Mrs. Mollino," she said.

The man, swarthy and solidly built, eyed
her closely. He had a handsome face and heart-shaped lips that lifted a little.
In approval? "And you are?"

"Lucy Hudson, her...friend." No
need to go into details.

He nodded and led her through to the
formal living room where she'd been received by Janet on previous occasions. The
room was filled with elderly Italians dressed in black, staring at the floor
and dabbing their eyes. A few looked up as she entered but most just continued
to stare. A sob or two punctured the eerie silence and Lucy was glad to leave
that room.

"Sorry about that," said her
guide in a soft voice as if any sound could disturb the dead. "The mourning
rituals aren't very pleasant, especially because my cousin wasn't an old
man." He paused outside another door. "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce
myself earlier. I'm Rocco Mollino, John's cousin."

"I'm very sorry for your loss."

He nodded and thanked her, his gaze
lingering longer than necessary on her face. He opened the door and she
followed him into another living room, this one less formal than the antique
and lace of the last but no less elegant. Janet sat on a low chaise under the
window, speaking quietly to an elderly woman dressed in black. She looked up
when Lucy approached and smiled her dismissal to the relative.

"Leave us, Rocco," she said. "Take
Zia
Maria with you. And no more visitors until Ms. Hudson leaves."

Rocco took the aunt by the arm and led
her out, casting another glance at Lucy as he closed the door. Janet sighed
loudly and sagged against the arm of the chaise.

"I'll be glad when all this is over.
Death is hard work in an Italian family." She was dressed in black skirt
and jacket, her blonde hair pinned neatly into a chignon, her makeup perfect. Too
perfect for a widow.

"I just came to offer my condolences,"
said Lucy sitting in a large gold brocade chair opposite.

"Oh, don't Lucy, I've had enough
condolences to last me a life time. My next husband certainly won't be Italian,
that's for sure. I had no idea they'd get so morose. It's not as if John liked
any of them. He used to say they were a bunch of parasites."

"Oh?"

She sat up straighter and crossed her
long, shapely legs. "They were always asking for money or employment and
when he didn't give it to them, they'd say nasty things about him." She
offered Lucy a mint and poured her a cup of tea from the steaming pot. Janet
had been a catwalk model before she'd met Mollino and the poise still showed. "Not
a single one of them out there is sad that he's gone. They're only upset
because now they'll have to find other relatives to sponge off. After the
inevitable fights over the business of course."

"Isn't the beneficiary in his
will?"

"Yes, but they'll still fight. The
business is going to Rocco, his cousin." She nodded at the closed door. "But
one of the others may try to take the company from him. They're all greedy
enough to do it."

"Really?"

She nodded and handed the cup of tea to
Lucy. "Help yourself to milk and sugar. Rocco's nice enough but he's not a
leader. He likes the money, of course, but he hasn't got what it takes to run Mollino
Corp."

"I'm surprised it didn't go to
you."

She shrugged. "I don't want it. Construction's
not my thing. I like fashion. With the money I'll get from John's life
insurance policy, I can start my own boutique in Bellerae Road." She
smiled into her cup and glanced at Lucy. "The Mollinos can fight over the business
all they want. I don't care. Besides, Rocco was John's vice-president so it's
natural it should go to him." Janet sipped her tea. "Tell me, Lucy,
why are you here? I'm sure it's not to offer me sympathies on the death of the
husband who was cheating on me."

Lucy liked this woman. She was elegant
and beautiful but sharply intelligent. She'd probably run Mollino Corp better
than Cousin Rocco if she wanted to. Then again, getting out was probably the
smart thing to do if family politics were about to get nasty. In-fighting
wouldn't do the company any good and it wouldn't be long before it was ripe for
a take over.

"You're right," said Lucy. "This
isn't just a social visit. I came to tell you that the photographs of your late
husband and his ... lover have been borrowed by the cops as evidence. I can't
give them back to you." No point telling a client who could recommend her
services to other wealthy, scorned wives that the photos hadn't turned out.

"Ah, that gorgeous Detective Nick
Dante has them." She smiled. "Now there's someone who knows what he
wants."

Or doesn't want. And just when she'd got
him out of her head, Lucy was reminded of him all over again. His hard body,
his dark eyes and sinfully delicious lips.

"I suppose you've met the Detective
and his weasel of a partner?" asked Janet.

"I helped them as much as I
could."

"I see. I suppose they told you that
John's lover is the prime suspect?"

"Yes."

"I don't think she did it."

Lucy raised her brows. "Really?"

"Why would she suddenly kill him? She
could have done it weeks ago. No, I think there's something else going
on."

"Have you got any theories?"

"Something to do with fraud, since
Detective Dante's card has him working for the Fraud Squad." She tilted
her chin and glanced at Lucy. "He never mentioned he was investigating
anything other than the murder, however."

Lucy took a chance and decided to trust
her instincts where this woman was concerned. "You're right. Your husband committed
securities fraud but they were trying to find out who else was involved. Probably
Nick'll get around to telling you once all other leads on the murder don't pan
out. Right now, they want to keep it quiet."

"Then why are you telling me?"

"Because I think you're a discreet
woman and you might be able to offer some insights."

Janet lifted one shoulder. "The only
insight I have to offer is to investigate Mack Thompson, the accountant at
Mollino Corp."

"Not Rocco?"

"He wouldn't kill his own cousin. They
were like brothers. And I doubt he's got the intelligence for securities fraud.
Mack, on the other hand, wasn't very close to John, but he did like to dabble
in the stock market. It wouldn't surprise me if he convinced John to do
something illegal for some extra money."

Lucy stood and thanked her, then left. Rocco,
hovering in the hallway, led her outside.

"You and Janet go back far?" he
asked. "I haven't seen you around before."

"We're not close anymore, but I
wanted to see her in her time of need."

"Of course." He hesitated,
still holding her arm. "Um, this might be a little strange right now, but
I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me." He smiled down at her. "I
noticed you aren't wearing a wedding ring, so..."

"I'm single," said Lucy. "But
some other time, perhaps."

Like next millennium.

It didn't make sense. She
should
want to go out with this man. He passed all the criteria she had for her dates—he
had a pulse and all his own hair—but for some reason she just wasn't interested.
She couldn't picture herself with him. The only man she could picture herself
with was Nick Dante.

Who was striding up the Mollino's
driveway, his step full of purpose. He and Dave O'Connor both wore dark suits
and blue ties. Dave looked ridiculous in his, but Nick looked suave and
dangerous, especially with the five o'clock shadow and slightly unkempt hair. Never
had a man in a suit sent her pulse racing like this before.

"Lucy?" Nick stopped at the
base of the steps. His gaze took in Rocco's hand on her arm then met her eyes. "What
are you doing here?"

CHAPTER
5

"I'm paying my respects to the
widow," said Lucy, straightening. She didn't like the implication in Nick's
tone that she shouldn't be there. She could go where she damn well pleased. "We're
old friends." She tried to convey with her eyes that he shouldn't mention
her real relationship with Janet in front of Rocco but she wasn't sure if the
message got through. Probably he just thought she was coming on to him.

"You know these cops?" asked Rocco.

Lucy withdrew her arm and started down
the steps. "Not very well. It's been a pleasure, Gentlemen, but I have to
go."

"I'll walk you to your car,"
said Nick, taking the arm Rocco had just released and steering her away from
the steps.

"I can walk on my own thanks." She
jerked her arm away but regretted the loss of his touch immediately. Stupid
pride. If she wanted to get this man into bed—and oh, did she want to do that—then
she should let him take the lead. It was good for his ego. And giving a man an
ego boost was the surest way to get him to do what she wanted. "I'm
assuming you're not being chivalrous."

"No. I want to find out what the
hell you're doing here." They reached her car and he stood in front of her
door, arms crossed. He was big and burly and didn't look like he was going to
budge any time soon. Fine with her. She could play his game for a little
longer. "If I find out you're interfering in this investigation—"

"Relax, Nick." She leaned in
close, drew his woody scent into her lungs. Mmmm, heady. One of those scents
that made you want to taste the source, like coffee or freshly baked bread. "I
was paying my respects. But I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Rocco that I
was doing a job for Janet. He thinks I'm just a friend."

Nick glared down at her. "Yeah, I
could see how friendly you were being."

"Jealous?"

He made a humphing sound. "Don't
push it, Lucy. We called a truce remember."

"That was then," she leaned in
further, pressing her breasts against him, "this is now." Something
zinged between them in that moment of touching, something electric and hot,
something dangerous.

But it didn't last. He shifted and
gripped her arms. His breathing was heavy and she bet if she looked down,
there'd be tent pole in his pants.

"Don't. I'm not in the mood."

"Are you ever?"

"Not with you."

"Ooh, them's fightin' words. I love
a challenge."

He moved away from the car door. "Too
bad you won't get the chance. The body of Annabelle Smith turned up in the
Yarra River last night. She fits your description of Mollino's girlfriend
perfectly. Once you give us a positive ID we can cross her off our list of
suspects. Which means you won't be required anymore. So," he smiled smugly
down at her, "since O'Connor can take you to the morgue, it looks like
this is goodbye, Lucy Hudson."

Goodbye? Oh. Not words she was ready to
hear yet. Not where he was concerned. Not when her appetite needed quenching
and the only man to do that was Nick Dante.