Victoria (6 page)

"Wait, wait, wait. Right there. Holy shit! Isn't that?"

"Detective Danny Mardullo, right?” He snatched the picture of Danny whose arms were around a much younger Linda Delaney.

"Let me see that. Let's put everything in an envelope, especially those letters and this picture. Damn, I wonder how these two knew one another.” Phelps asked.

Chappa didn't say it out loud, but he thought that sometimes a picture could say a thousand words. He knew Mardullo wasn't as straight as everyone thought.
Family man, my ass.

They gathered a few other things, but nothing struck them as out of the ordinary or in need of removing. The other officers questioned the neighbors, and no one seemed to know anything or to even care.

"Victoria, we're going to be late for this luncheon! Will you move it?” Debbie snapped at Victoria as they got out of Debbie's car.

"I hate these things when I have a deadline, you know? Why couldn't you go alone?” Victoria pushed her hair behind her shoulders, and a warm breeze caressed her cheeks.

Debbie smiled at Victoria. She wore a nice, pale yellow business suit, minus the jacket. The blouse she wore, along with the snug yellow skirt, was gorgeous, and anyone with even a miniscule amount of fashion knowledge would know it wasn't cheap. She wore a lovely set of genuine pearls around her neck and a matching pearl bracelet to go along with her delicate, dangling pearl earrings. Debbie had commented earlier in the day about how classy and sophisticated Victoria looked.

Victoria was shocked to see so many people at the luncheon. Numbly, she followed Debbi over to greet their boss John.

The conversations dragged, and Victoria just couldn't get her mind off the cases she had been looking at earlier. All she wanted to do was leave this restaurant and get back to the office. She was a little embarrassed and caught off guard when she felt a warm breath and whisper in her ear. Her body tensed immediately. She sensed the large presence behind her.

"Are we boring you, Miss Mardullo?” she heard him say as she quickly turned toward Bret Collins.

She gave an apologetic and caught-in-the-act kind of look as Bret smiled wide.

"Don't worry, I don't think anyone else noticed a thing. I'm curious, Miss Mardullo, how do you come up with the questions you ask when you're about to interview a criminal, a killer? Your questions last week were definitely out of the ordinary."

"Thank you, Mr. Collins, and please, call me Victoria. I hate to be so formal. I enjoy what I do, so the questions come easily."

"You're impressive, and the same here, Victoria, please call me Bret."

"I suppose that would be all right, until you become town supervisor and all?” she asked in hopes of getting to know him better.

"It's a good possibility, but we'll see how much closer you and I are by that time.” He flirted with her. Caught by his charm and immediately attracted to him, she attempted to hide her warming cheeks by turning her head away to glance at the crowd around them.

It was strange and rather childish, having to avoid eye contact with him.

The mundane conversations, which normally would have put her in a comatose state if it weren't for Bret, continued around them. His one line whispers in her ear, or near her shoulder, kept her entertained.

The restaurant manager announced lunch would be served soon and to locate a seat.

Victoria began to excuse herself and try to find Debbie, but the handsome, soon-to-be town supervisor looped his arm around hers and led her toward a large table where the local politicians and some county big shots sat.

"Please come join me, so I too will not be caught with the same bored look you had only moments ago,” he whispered and Victoria laughed.

Victoria exchanged pleasantries with others at the table. Soon they were absorbed in her every word and details about her job. Bret stared at her, watching as she answered each question. She asked a few questions of her own as the food arrived at the table.

Bret whispered in her ear, “I think you just sold a few extra copies of
Search and Seizure
. You have a knack for sales, as well."

"I hope you'll buy a copy and let me know what you think.” She flirted back a little and actually enjoyed it.

"I already have a copy, Victoria. Maybe I could interest you in signing it for me. Perhaps, we could get together for dinner Friday night?"

Victoria was surprised by his quick move, and before she even thought about her answer, the word ‘yes’ escaped her lips and plans were made.

The luncheon was a great success with over fifteen thousand dollars raised for the young child, Marty, who was fighting leukemia. The ten thousand from the magazine she worked for definitely made a difference. She was proud to be part of such a company and to have a great boss.

After a quick trip to the ladies’ room, Victoria made her way through the crowd.

"You only have a few more weeks, and it will be deadline time. Are you almost finished?” Her boss John sipped his glass of lemon water.

"Don't crowd me, John. You know how I work, and you know I'll be ready."

"You're right. I'm sorry to suggest otherwise. I guess I'm just impatient, and I look forward to another award-winning article.” He winked at her and took another sip.

She smiled at him. He had been very supportive over the years and understanding of her personal struggles.

As Victoria finished her conversation with her boss and Debbie, Bret interrupted, asking to have a moment with Victoria before she left.

Victoria was a little embarrassed and knew that by the way Bret flirted with her all afternoon, others would assume they were already involved. She could just imagine the shit she would hear from her family.

"So let me give you my card, and on the back, I'll write my pager number and home number. How does six o'clock in the evening sound? Maybe we can eat at Luigi's. Do you like Italian?"

"That sounds wonderful."

"I look forward to it."

"And thank you for the entertainment."

He winked, and she felt the light flutter in her stomach. She watched him, absorbing his distinguished features and blatant sex appeal. He was very charismatic and sophisticated. His dark hair, the defined lines near his eyes, and his tanned complexion, he reminded her of a movie star, older, worldly, yet there appeared to be youthfulness about him. She was certain at that moment his looks combined with the intoxicating cologne he wore played a major role in his long line of mistresses. Feeling the nervous sensation deep within at the idea of her being considered a mistress, made her wonder what exactly she just accepted an invitation for.

Bret got all of Victoria Mardullo's information, including address and slowly shook her hand goodbye.

"It was a pleasure spending the afternoon with you, Victoria. I'm certain that Friday evening will be unforgettable, as well."

Victoria watched Bret make his way through the crowd, saying goodbye to other people as he left and not even noticing the looks and stares from the female admirers.

"Girl, you are playing with fire. Bret Collins has a big thing for you,” Debbie whispered in her ear.

"What are you talking about? We just met."

"Honey, he's a wolf, and the look in his eyes said he wanted to devour you right up."

"Oh, Debbie!"

Victoria giggled a little as she thought about what Debbie said. ‘Devour her up'—now that would be something else. She got chills when she thought about the possibility of getting intimate with Bret. In an instant, she saw Steven and her heart ached something terrible, damn him for his ability to hold her down this long. He didn't care about her or love her anymore, and she had a right to move on, forget him no matter what it took. Maybe, just maybe, a no-strings-attached, older man like Bret Collins would be the medicine she needed.

Bret Collins drove his silver convertible BMW down the small town streets of River Point. He absorbed the uplifted feeling as he took in the sights of his small town.

It was quaint, where the center was a mere one-block vicinity and on that block stood typical storefronts with businesses that were barely making it. The bigger, more famous stores were located fifteen minutes down the highway and more of the locals were willing to travel because of the product variety in those stores. These small town shops just weren't making it, but Bret had his ideas.

It would involve a bit of reconstruction, adding a few necessary shops, and expanding the center of town by a three-block radius. Every time he thought about it, he became excited. He didn't have the position of town supervisor yet and his competition was breathing down his back. As he thought about Jack ‘Flip’ Walker, he became angry. The guy was currently the head supervisor of the town highway department. He had it in big with the local cops as well as many old timers in the community.

They had once been friends who shared their ideas, hopes, and potential plans for reconstructing River Point.

Flip had a lot of great ideas but less money and influence than Bret. Together, they could have made a great team, but Flip was also too straight and unwilling to take money under the table. He felt the corruption and payoffs were the main reason the town was falling apart.

Bret thought differently. As long as he kept a few people in the right positions on his payroll, then he would remain successful.

Once he made the decision to let a few business dealings slide under the table, there was no turning back.

That was fine with Bret but the new connection he made, had him a bit nervous. He was a ticking time bomb and apparently incapable of following directions. Bret never wanted anyone to die but it had happened. It was over and his career took off.

Bret was ecstatic that Victoria Mardullo seemed attracted to him. He'd be a fool not to jump on that. She fit the image he had been trying to portray for so long—handsome, successful, older man involved with a young, successful, attractive woman, both local residents. With their combined connections, they could own this town together. He smiled at himself in the rearview mirror, knowing so much would ride on their first date tonight.

The attraction was mutual, so at least he didn't have to fake it. Their personalities were similar and they were both intellectually compatible. Therefore, they shouldn't clash in any way. He probably had more money than she did, but he'd been at it longer than she had. “Yes, yes, yes. She's perfect, absolutely perfect.” Bret continued to drive down the road.

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"Do you want me to take care of this part of the investigation, Tod? I know how close you've become to the family.” Phelps asked, as the two men stood in the hallway back at the department.

"No, don't worry about it. The Mardullo case is my case anyway, and if Danny's death is somehow connected to Linda Delaney's, then I need to keep on top of things.” Tod added two packets of sugar to the black, stale coffee.

"Can I ask you a personal question, Kafrey?"

Tod took a sip from his cup then made a nasty face. “Yuck! That's the nastiest coffee ever. Go ahead, Don, tell me what's on your mind."

"Do you have something going on with his daughter?"

"You mean, Victoria?"

"He only had one daughter. What's the deal?"

"No, we're just good friends, that's all. Why do you ask?"

"Inquiring minds want to know, man. She is gorgeous, successful, a disciple of us cops. She's got it all.” Don smiled wide and watched Tod.

"She does have a lot to offer. Everything you say is true. So, who's interested? Anyone I know?"

"The list is long, my friend, but at least now, if someone asks me if you two are involved, I can give them a straight answer. Let's get back to the case.” Don patted Tod on the back and walked back toward his desk.

Tod wasn't sure how to react. He had no right to be jealous. Victoria said she was attracted to him, but just not ready to date. There was no way anyone else would get her to go out with him, not as long as the Marine stayed in her heart.

Tod headed over to his desk, grabbing a piece of spearmint gum and popping it into his mouth. He tried to blame the bad taste in his mouth on the stale coffee, but he wondered if it were from his conversation with Don. Tod shook the thoughts from his head as his cell phone rang. He answered it, surprised by the information he received.

He closed the phone and called over to Phelps.

"Hey, I got some information on the picture,” Tod said as Phelps came walking over.

"What's up, man?"

"Well, it seems that the picture was taken at Mallorie's Bar and Grill in Pascack, New Jersey. The detectives there questioned some of the waiting staff and apparently, Mardullo and Delaney were regulars, every Thursday, around noon time for a few weeks or so."

Tod wondered how Victoria and her mother would react to this information if it leaked out. Danny had a solid reputation as a family man, devoted to the ‘love of his life,’ his ‘high school sweetheart’ as he referred to Sherry. Victoria worshiped him.

"Damn it, man. There has to be more to this. Mardullo doesn't seem like the cheating kind."

"Who knows what goes on behind closed doors? I guess we'll have to look at this case a little differently.” Tod waited for Don's response.

"Yeah, like maybe our killer is a jealous boyfriend and the Delaney case and Mardullo case are connected. If that's so, then who knows what we're dealing with."

"Let's keep this information between us for now. I'd like to avoid speaking with Sherry Mardullo for as long as possible. I don't even want to think how Victoria is going to react to this, never mind the rest of the family."

"You're not kidding, and remember the anniversary of his death is only a few days away. This new information would be torture for them."

Tod didn't have to respond. He agreed with Don completely, and he wondered how he would talk to Victoria.