Victoria (19 page)

Smiling, he leaned back against the headboard, opening his legs while the bimbo did her thing and helped him to relax. He felt a little tense, and his muscles were sore after setting up the crime scene just right this morning. Ronnie Chappa was heavier then he had looked. Closing his eyes, he imagined someone else beneath the sheets, a woman of class, sophistication, and sweetness. Never once did he think his Victoria was capable of such secrecy and investigative intuition. Not being one to underestimate anyone who entered his playing field, he would be sure to keep a closer eye on her.

Moving his hips, imagining Victoria waiting for him with open arms, he thought about the upcoming weekend and smiled. He was confident that the investigation would be over in the next few days.

The afternoon flew by, and Victoria still had no inside information on Colt and Warren. Getting info on them proved to be harder than she thought, but she did find out more about Flip Walker.

He was truly on the straight and narrow and definitely won her vote. She found out he had made accusations about Bret and some others on the board last year. Nothing came of it. There were no charges and all accusations dismissed.

Begging her mind for answers and for alternate routes to uncovering the information she needed, the thought popped into her mind. Victoria's Aunt Jane worked in the town hall with the parks and recreation department. She would have known about any gossip or accusations of such. Victoria gave her a call.

Her aunt had plenty to say after they discussed Bret Collins, and Steven being the better choice. She tried to share all the information she knew about Bret, both personally and professionally.

"I wish you had called me sooner. I knew you would figure out he was no good. I hope the sex was worth it,” Aunt Jane said as she continued to share information.

"I never slept with him, Aunt Jane, but it's nice to know that my family thinks I'm easy,” Victoria snapped, and her aunt became silent.

"What can you tell me about Flip?"

"Flip is a great man."

Her aunt continued to carry on about Flip and him being the better choice for town supervisor. She mentioned the accusations, how a few of the board members had suddenly come into some extra money and the accusations dismissed. Victoria knew Bret paid them off and now things were coming together. Flip didn't give up.

"I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Flip was the one who called the FBI as soon as they found out the corruption had spread to the police department. You should call him, Tory. He was a good friend of your father's,” Aunt Jane said.

Victoria did just that.

Flip Walker turned out to be a really nice man. He apologized for all the trouble and her involvement, but was glad she was safe. He also had no idea who could have killed her father.

Victoria's next call was to Bret. He had left three messages on her voice mail while she was on the phone with Flip and, he sounded desperate.

She needed to set up a time and place to meet then contact Colt and Warren. In-between, the FBI would wire her, and she would investigate Linda Delaney as well.

Bret wanted to meet Victoria in Boulder Point at six that night. She'd meet the agents at five.

Everything was set and Victoria continued to type away on her laptop, pulling together her article, her evidence, and proving her father's innocence.

By four thirty, Victoria's head spun. She received phone call after phone call, pulling together her information, the facts. Now, the media was onto the local corruption story. Her boss nearly fainted when she told him she needed to leave for the night to take care of something. She informed him that the article was close to completion. He could take portions of it and send it to an associate at the local newspaper. The full article would run in this month's edition of the summer issue of
Search and Seizure
.

As Victoria left her office, her cell phone rang.

"I missed you. Where are you headed?” Steven asked, and she had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"I missed you too. I've been real busy today. I suppose you've heard about Bret and Ronnie Chappa?"

"Who hasn't? I'm at work right now. I just wanted to check up on you. Where are you off to?"

"I'm ... uh ... meeting Bret for drinks. I really can't talk right now, there's a lot going on and I don't think discussing it on an open line is smart.

"You're what? Why would you be meeting him for drinks? I thought the FBI had a hold of him already. Victoria, where are you headed?"

"Sorry, Steven, but this is how it has to go down. Please, don't worry about me. Colt and Warren, along with a few other agents, will be at the place watching,” Victoria told Steven as she got into her car and closed the door. She could hear the anger in his voice.

"Baby, I don't like this one bit. What if he tries something? Are you going to let him?"

"Steven, please don't make this harder than it is. I need to focus or he'll know I'm not interested in him. It's just an act, Steven, nothing more."

Steven was silent a moment. Victoria could hear him breathing. He was worried and so was she.

"I just don't want him touching you. I can't stand the thought of what this guy is capable of or that he really wants you. I can't help but worry, Tory. I don't like this."

"I know you don't. I really have to go. I promise to call you as soon as I'm done. I love you."

"I love you too and please, be careful."

Victoria actually felt better hearing from Steven. He had no idea how much strength she pulled from their relationship. She couldn't wait for everything to be over. She figured she would confront Colt and Warren with her new information and demand they help clear her father's name and make his innocence public as soon as they had Bret and the others behind bars.

"Victoria, all you need to do is keep Bret talking. He'll want to use you somehow and we need all this on tape.” Colt secured the wire.

"It was Flip Walker who called you guys in, wasn't it?” Victoria asked.

Colt and Warren exchanged glances. They obviously knew Victoria was good at her job. She was a journalist and came from a long line of law enforcement officers. It wouldn't be long until she figured things out. They explained everything. They were the ones who were surprised to find out that Linda Delaney was a con artist. Not even the detectives had figured that one out.

"So, she was planning on framing your father for something, along with Bret Collins?” Colt released a surprised and exasperated sigh.

"Yes, that was the plan. They first tried to bribe him, but that didn't work. I'm sure that was before the nice picture of them was taken,” Victoria added.

"It's interesting how that picture wound up in Linda Delaney's apartment,” Warren added.

"It's also interesting that Ronnie Chappa was at the apartment as well, and now, he's dead,” Warren stated and both Colt and Victoria looked at him.

"Holy shit, maybe Bret is the killer. He offed Danny for figuring out he was up to no good, taking bribes, corrupting officers like Ronnie Chappa who was on his payroll.” Colt attempted to rub the kinks from his neck.

"And the woman who called me said Linda had a drinking problem. She was probably talking too much. He had to kill her. But why wouldn't he make a run for it right now with all of you investigating him?” Victoria asked.

"That's a good question and we'll have to ask him, but for now, we need to know what else he wants from you. We'll be watching the whole time. They'll be other undercover agents there, as well. Just keep him in the restaurant. It will be easier for us to keep an eye on you and also, more likely that he won't try something.” Colt tested the microphone.

Victoria entered the restaurant, scanning the dining area. She caught sight of Bret at a corner table near the bar.

She carefully made her way over to him as she unconsciously smoothed down her blouse, feeling uncomfortable knowing that their conversation was about to be heard by many agents.

Bret rose from his chair. “Victoria, thank you for coming. I wasn't sure you'd show up.” He kissed her on the cheek then she sat across from him.

The waitress came over. Victoria naturally ordered a Gin Martini, two olives. She needed the drink and Bret was way ahead of her. Once she sat down, she noticed his pale complexion, tiny droplets of perspiration near his hairline, and no tie around his white dress shirt. He was feeling the pressure from the FBI; that was obvious.

"Of course, I came, Bret. I care about you ... about us. Tell me how I can help.” She gently touched his wrist while his hand held a half-empty glass of bourbon.

He looked into her eyes, staring a moment, and Victoria held her pretend sincere look. She was getting better and better at this.

"They got to you already, didn't they?” he asked.

Victoria refused to give into it that easily. She continued to deny it.

"Why would I help the FBI, the police department, or any of them? What have they done but make accusations about my father? They've practically destroyed his case and any hopes of finding out who killed him. No, no way would I help them. None of that has anything to do with you, with us, right?” Victoria held his hand and gave Bret a look of desperation.

"No, baby, this has nothing to do with your father's case. You're right. I can trust you. We're a team after all.” Bret smiled.

Victoria smiled in return.

"I have nowhere to turn, Victoria. I need your help. I need an alibi for the night Ronnie Chappa went missing, as well as last night after midnight."

Victoria tried to hide her disgust, her hatred for the man before her. He was the killer. He killed Ronnie Chappa, Linda Delaney, and her father.

The agents listened in. This was huge. Perhaps Bret was the killer. They would be solving more than one crime in the small town of River Point, thanks to Victoria Mardullo. Now they hoped she didn't blow it.

"Don't look at me like that, Victoria. I didn't kill him, nor did I kill Linda or your father. Someone is trying to frame me. I love you, baby. I need your help."

"I don't know, Bret. I want to believe you, but lying to the FBI is a bit much.

"Is that what's bothering you? Or, is it the fact that Steven may think we're lovers?” he challenged her.

He caught her off guard with his strategic way of getting her to help him. He was good, but she would be better, especially if he was a murderer.

"Why would that bother me? I told you, Steven and I are through. I'm here with you, aren't I? What do I need to do to prove this to you?"

"Tell the FBI that you and I were making love all night long the night Ronnie Chappa went missing. Tell them you love me. Then this weekend, we'll make it all come true.” He held her hand and squeezed it.

"I think you love me, Bret, but where were you really?” she asked.

Bret fell silent a moment, but Victoria stood her ground.

"Promise me you won't be angry?"

Bret caressed Victoria's hand as he looked down at the dark green tablecloth. She was onto his tactics. He was thinking hard. She could almost see the steam, but when he looked up into her eyes, she saw something completely different.

It was guilt. He explained his true whereabouts and the fact he had been with another woman.

"It was a completely innocent meeting between old friends. Nothing more, Victoria, I swear to you."

Victoria stayed silent. She couldn't make things too difficult for him, yet she couldn't come off too easy, either.

"I refuse to be lied to. Steven lied to me, used me, and left me heartbroken, alone. I refuse to be treated that way again."

"I swear to you, Victoria, it will never happen again. I love you. You'll see this weekend just how much."

"The lies, the other women, it all ends right here, Bret, if this is what you want, then I'll do it. You've been here for me when my family wasn't. They took a stranger's side over mine.” She forced a tear to escape her eye. She thought about holding the hand of a man who was capable of murder.

"Why are you crying, baby?” He reached across the small cocktail table and wiped the tear away.

"I never thought I would ever fall in love again,” she lied to him, and he rose from the table, taking her into his arms to embrace her.

"Come home with me tonight. Right now, baby. I need to feel your body next to mine. I want to consummate this relationship. Make you all mine."

Victoria wanted to puke, smash his face in, kick him, something, but her mind spun for a way to avoid this.
Think like a cop, like a detective working undercover. Prove to Steven that you can handle this.

"Do you really think that's such a good idea? We probably shouldn't let anyone see us together. For all we know, they could be watching us right now."

Bret looked around the restaurant all bug-eyed.

"Think about it, Bret, the FBI might think we're collaborating on a story, and I don't know about you, but I sure as hell won't be able to handle an interrogation."

"You won't have to. You're right, Victoria. You're a fast learner, too. We shouldn't take the chance of anyone seeing us together. You testify that I was with you and we'll meet on Friday night, head up to the cottage."

"I can't this weekend, remember, my family obligation."

"Then we'll head out Wednesday and return on Friday in time for your family obligation."

He touched her cheek with his hand.

"Wednesday then,” she said and hoped that Colt and Warren had Bret behind bars before then.

Victoria left the restaurant and headed to the meeting location. The FBI had the place covered as well as a tail on Bret.

"You did fantastic, Victoria. I'm sure that was the toughest thing you ever had to do,” Colt placed his hand on her shoulder and gently gave a squeeze.

"Almost.” She thought about how she had been lying to Steven and her family.

"We got him now, Victoria,” Warren added with a confident smile.