The Throwbacks (26 page)

“Oh no! I forgot all about the plumbers!”

“Plumbers?”

“Yes—we have to get over there right away. I’m so sorry. I left a message but I forgot to tell you that the plumbers would be working on your bathrooms and kitchen for a few days. Your townhouse won’t be livable until they’re done.” Grace looked into his eyes as if for a sign. He could think of no response, so he laughed.

“So I’m homeless and, more importantly, showerless?”

“Yes, I’m so sorry. You can use my shower of course…” She eyed him. “You’re taking this awfully well.”

“Would you rather I rant and rave?” He raised a brow. “Let’s go and check on the plumbers and then I’ll take you up on that offer of your shower.” He reached out to put his arm around her back and his hand in its familiar spot and glanced over his shoulder to see Dan shaking his head and stifling a smirk.

“I’ll talk to you later, David. Thank you for your help, Grace. Let me know if anything else comes up.” Dan called behind them.

“I’ll see you again soon, I’m sure, chief.” Grace smiled.

David observed that she was in a lighthearted mood and he had to make sure that he didn’t burst her bubble. He didn’t want her to know the level of danger she was in—from either him or the smugglers.

They were about to leave when David’s cell phone buzzed. He wanted to, but he knew he couldn’t ignore it. Both Dan and Grace watched him with interest as he answered the call.

“Hello, Oscar—news?” he said. Now Grace was wide-eyed with interest, and Dan rose from his seat to come closer.

“I have a location for the soccer player. I suggest you check him out as soon as possible—unofficially. He’s staying in Chelsea at the City Line Motel. The word is he’s looking for the artifacts and in a frenzy because they’re missing.” Oscar’s voice sounded tight.

“You’re right. He paid a visit to Rick Racer’s loft, so he knows who had the vase last. He didn’t get in, so he may be back,” David said. Then he picked his words carefully because Grace hung on them. “Grace helped us by identifying him. Apparently she’s met him before.” David turned so Grace wouldn’t hear Oscar’s response.

“Shit! That’s not good, David. You keep her under wraps and I’ll have someone follow the mark. If he makes a move toward her, I’ll let you know. But he’s in deep with an organization and I’m not sure who they are. Be careful.”

“Done. I’m in transit now.” He shut his phone and slipped it back in his pocket. He turned to Grace and smiled.

“You got an address?” Dan asked. He folded his arms across his chest.

“Yes.” David told him. “But there’s not much you can do with it unless he’s at home, so I thought I’d check it out first and let you know.” David eyed his friend. Dan paused and considered the proposition.

“Good idea. By the way, Rick already spoke with the mayor. You’ve been given a reprieve, but he made it clear the future of the program is entirely resting on this case.”

“So what does this all mean?” Grace looked from one man to the other. David caressed her back to reassure her with his award-winning smile in place.

“For you, it means nothing. But thanks to your positive identification, as soon as we find the man Dan can bring him in and charge him, and hold him for a long time to question him.”

“Is the case wrapped up then?” She looked excited.

“No,” he and Dan spoke at the same time.

“Oh.” She deflated.

“We’ll need more evidence to attach him to the murder.” He didn’t mention the rest of the smuggling organization that they needed to find and deal with. “Did the crime scene guys get anything?” David asked Dan. Dan shook his head.

“I didn’t think they would. Everything points to a professional operation. Oscar is right that Arturo is…not alone.” He had to choose his words carefully. “Probably hired someone to kill Lester,” David said, and Dan grunted in understanding.

“Oh,” Grace said with knitted brows. “Then how are we going to catch them?”

David caught an alarmed look on Dan’s face and gently turned Grace to finally go out the door. With a kind voice he told her.

“You aren’t going to catch anyone. Your help has been invaluable, but now it’s up to the police.”

They stepped into the hall and he punched the down button for the elevator.

“And you. You’re still in charge of the case,” she said, but she didn’t sound too happy.

“Yes, I am. I suppose I should count Oscar as my consultant—maybe I’ll pay him a fee for his services,” he said and stepped into the elevator with Grace, still holding her proprietarily with his hand on her lower back. He intended to keep his hand there for the duration. He vowed never to be farther than arm’s length from her until this mad soccer player was caught. He smiled into her upturned face with the lovely almost pout on her lips. He supposed he should be concerned about why she might be pouting, but he was too bemused by the picture she made to care—for the moment.

“If you’re still on the case, then I am,” she said and folded her arms. “And maybe you should put me on the payroll as a consultant too—after all, I found Lester Lump and Dr. Doris for you, didn’t I?”

“And all this time I thought you were helping for the pure enjoyment of it,” he said. She bopped his arm.

“I was—I am. I don’t really want to get paid. I just want to be appreciated. After all, you have to admit, I’ve contributed to the case. Haven’t I?”

He had no chance to do more than nod in agreement before she continued.

“I don’t want to be shut out now,” she said. The elevator doors opened and he guided her out, back to the street and to her parked car, which, he was astounded to see, did not have a parking ticket on it.

“Home, James,” he told her as he opened her door for her to get in, all the while his eyes sweeping the area for anything or anyone out of place. He quickly got in his side.

“Well?” she whispered the word and didn’t bother starting the car. He realized he would not be able to gloss over the danger. She was too smart.

“You can’t be involved with the case any longer. You’re not a trained professional, and it’s gotten very serious and dangerous.” He kept his voice firm without any gentling of the nasty truth. His smile was automatic.

She didn’t speak for a moment, but her face spoke volumes. He was not surprised to see not an inkling of fear. She was concerned and adoring and serious.

“I repeat, if you’re in danger, then I’m with you,” she said in the same soft whisper as before with no hint of flirtation or fluff.

“That’s actually my line, sweetheart. You are in danger. So I’ll be sticking with
you
—literally. You may consider me your bodyguard.” He reached over and turned the key in the ignition for her, winked and put his seatbelt on.

“Home, James,” he said again. She hadn’t said more but opened her mouth, which then formed a slow smile. He had a feeling she’d be okay with him as her bodyguard. He reminded himself to redouble his efforts to not take romantic advantage of the situation. She was far too vulnerable. And Oscar would kill him.

T
HEY walked into his townhouse to the sound of loud equipment, the clanking of pipes and several men shouting, cussing and otherwise carrying on. David banged the door closed and preceded Grace into the hall toward the bathroom, motioning for her to stay put. He shouted to the men, announcing his presence, and some of the noise stopped. One of the men followed him back down the hall, where they found Grace sitting on the barstool at the kitchen counter with a perky smile on her face and one long shapely leg crossed over the other.

“Hi, Frankie. How’s the job going?”

“On schedule. We start on the kitchen tomorrow. Should be out in two days,” Frankie said.

David didn’t know how Frankie found the strength to tear his eyes from the vision of Grace, but he did and turned to David. “Can you find somewhere else to stay until then or will you be back to sleep here at night? I can have the fellers clean up a bit for you and turn the water on at night for the kitchen faucet…”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” He looked at Grace with anticipation on his face.

“Mr. Young has a place to stay,” she confirmed. She glanced at David and then caught him in the pull of her gaze. Frankie looked back and forth between them. It was not David’s imagination that the very air had become heavy with anticipation.

“Okay, then. I’ll get back to work.” Frankie took off back down the hall.

“I, uh, need to check…” Grace slid from the stool, still with her eyes on David. He nodded and watched the sway of her shapely hips as she walked down the hall. He didn’t know what she was checking—probably something to do with decorating. Brilliant detective work, he chided himself. He used the moment to reign himself back in and resolved to sleep on her couch no matter what.

David was alarmed to find, upon walking in Grace’s door to the yapping greeting of Noodles, that the only place to sleep in her entire apartment was on her couch. He hadn’t realized she lived in a tiny studio—not far from him. He realized she was talking to him as she fluffed Noodles’s fur and picked him up to cuddle him close to her breast. Lucky dog.

“I pay extra for the parking, but I’m lucky to have it. This is a perfect location even if it is tiny.” She grinned at him and waved an elegant, creamy-skinned arm around as she spun in a circle. “My place.”

“It has charm, naturally. As everything associated with you must.” He meant it, taking it all in and forcing the professional in him to take over. The worst thing about her apartment was its accessibility by fire escape, even though it was on the top floor. It had an abundance of windows. That may be great for the sunlight and escaping from fires, but it was bad for security. The décor was colorful, bright and warm and made him smile, like she did. He could see everything except the bathroom from where he stood in the middle of the room. He could probably not walk more than ten paces in any direction without hitting a wall.

“Would you like to see my roof deck before taking a shower?”

“Perfect,” he said, but he meant anything but. One more point of entry for a potential security breach. He followed her to a door, up some narrow stairs and out another door onto a small cedar roof deck. Wrought iron railings surrounded a charming compact space complete with seating, table and a grill. There wasn’t much room for walking around, but he checked the perimeter and was pleased to find the likelihood of access from other rooftops to be remote.

“Lovely. Like everything about your home—and about you,” he said. He knew he’d said too much when he heard her breath catch. She stood no more than a foot away. He stepped closer so that he was almost touching her. He drew his arm around her and pressed her in.

“I’m glad you like it,” she said in the most breathy voice he’d ever heard.

“How could I not? I am very serious about protecting you, Grace. It’s no secret that I’m rather…fond of you. Even if Oscar is right and I’m too old for you, I believe you are precious and deserve a lifetime of love and happiness. I am making it my mission to see that you have that.” With someone else, he thought. But he wasn’t courageous enough to say those words out loud right now.

She tilted her head up and pressed her lips to his. They were pliant and moist and the scent of her was heady enough to cause him to part his mouth in return, to taste her at length. Her satisfied sigh mingled with his and he felt his blood temperature rising at the soft sound. This was the time to regain control and remember his promise not to take advantage of her affections.