Читать книгу From Bags to Riches - Sandra D. Bricker - Страница 10

Chapter 2

2

Danny twisted his hair into a short ponytail at the back of his head and grabbed Carmen—his favorite surfboard—from the rack on the outside wall. Frank stopped to stretch all of his lanky, hundred-and-twenty-some pounds from his pencil-thin tail to the perfect point of classic cropped ears standing erect at the top of his head. The dog shimmied at the close of the task, lips flapping like a flag in a strong wind, and he took his place next to Danny, smiling up at him.

“Ready to hit the waves, buddy?”

As he led the way across the sand, Carmen tucked under his arm and Frank matching him stride for stride, Danny thought about the day he’d come across the dog limping up the lonesome mountain road between Yucaipa and Big Bear. The stark black-and-white of his Harlequin coat had been lost under a thick layer of dirt that made him appear solid gray, and his dark eyes—now wide and bright—gave Danny one lackluster flash when he pulled over to the side of the road and offered the dog a bite of his sandwich to lure him into the Jeep. He’d had to pull over yet again to close up the open Jeep after Frank had tried to make a break for it around the first of many sharp turns.

Tossing his board to the sand near the water’s edge, Danny sat on it and stared out at the churning waves. When Frank dropped next to him, mirroring his position and towering a good three inches taller, Danny snaked his arm around the dog’s neck. He set his slobbery chin to rest on the slope of Danny’s shoulder.

“There they are. A boy and his dog,” Riggs called as he crossed the beach toward them, and Danny chuckled. Frank had given up barking at Aaron Riggs’s arrival many mornings ago. Ruffling the dog’s ears, Riggs added, “Morning, Frankenstein. Sup?”

“Squat a minute,” Danny said, and his friend dropped his board and flopped down on it.

“What’s going on?”

“I want to talk for half a minute.”

“Must be important if you’re making ten-footers wait on you.”

Danny grinned. “I asked Jessie to marry me.”

Riggs didn’t flinch, his focus trained straight ahead on the beckoning waves. Finally, “You did what now?”

“Yeah, I popped the question.”

“She pop an answer back at you?” he asked, turning sideways on his board.

“Sure.”

“And?”

“She’s thinking about it.”

Riggs let out a belly laugh and smacked Danny on the shoulder. “Welcome to the world of waiting on chicks. She give you any indication when she might get back to you?”

“Nope.”

After a long moment of thought, Riggs asked, “Hit the waves now?”

“Oh yeah.”

The two of them catapulted to their feet, grabbed their boards, and took off toward the blue-gray Santa Monica waters whispering their names, leaving Frank looking after them, paw-deep in the foamy surf.

***

Leaning against Piper’s Jaguar, Jessie peered through the streak-free front window, watching Amber inside as she collected the remnants of their marathon cleaning session.

She glanced over at her friend. “It looks so shiny and new,” she remarked, twirling the handle of the broom she’d just used to clear the sidewalk in front of the store.

“Just like the fresh start it’s giving you. Do you feel like getting some dinner?”

Jessie giggled. “We do eat a lot together, don’t we?”

“Hey. It’s the solid foundation on which this friendship is built.”

Jessie pushed herself to her feet. “I’m tired. Nothing fancy, ’kay?”

A shiny green four-door sedan rolled into the parking lot and slowed behind Piper’s car. As the driver’s window lowered, an increasing wave of dread bubbled inside Jessie’s chest.

“Oh no.”

Dark, squared sunglasses, thick waves of hair, familiar chiseled jawline . . .

“Jessie. Talk to you a minute?”

“What is he doing here?” she seethed under her breath.

Piper jumped and reeled to get a better look and, without a moment’s hesitation, dug into her pocket and produced her cell phone.

Jessie took a few short steps toward the hybrid Accord, stopping at the back door of Piper’s car. “Jack, you’ve got to stop this.”

“I’d like to speak to Rafe Padillo, please,” Piper bellowed from behind her. “It’s urgent.”

Jessie suppressed the surge of amusement threatening with the tickle of a smile.

“I won’t even get out of the car,” he said. “I just wanted to tell you—”

“No!” The volume of her objection surprised even Jessie herself. “Stop it. Get out of here, and don’t ever come here again.”

“Yes. Detective Padillo, it’s Piper Brunetti. Danny Callahan gave me your number and said we should call you if Jack Stanton showed up again.”

Jack lowered his head and sighed. “Jess. Come on.”

She spun on one heel and marched toward Piper. “Give me the phone.”

“Thank you,” Jack muttered, and she realized he’d jumped to the wrong conclusion, thinking she planned to put a stop to the call.

Grabbing the phone, she spoke loudly enough for Jack to hear every word. “Rafe, it’s Jessie Hart. Jack just pulled up in front of my store and says he wants to speak to me.”

“He’s nothing if not persistent,” Rafe commented. “But stupid trumps persistent every time. Is he in the same rental?”

“Yes. Dark green Accord.”

“Good. Go inside and lock the door. I’ll have someone there in minutes.”

“Thank you, Rafe,” she said, disconnecting the call. Snagging Piper’s arm, she headed straight for the door. “Let’s go. Lock the door.”

“Jessie,” Jack shouted as the door’s bell jingled. “Come on.”

Once inside, Jessie bolted the locks and glared at him through the shiny window. Her heart stopped as he shook his head, raised the window, and peeled out of the parking lot, tires screeching.

“What is wrong with that jerk?” Amber cried, and Jessie realized Piper must have filled her in.

“Danny says he’s learning impaired,” Piper replied with a bitter chuckle.

“What did he want?”

“Does it matter?” Piper asked.

“Guess not.”

Jessie knew better than to admit in this company that her curiosity actually felt somewhat piqued. What on earth could keep Jack defying a court order, even while wearing that ankle jewelry and with federal charges pending?

Two police cars appeared on the other side of the window, fragmenting her wonderings. Several officers emerged, along with Rafe, and Jessie eagerly unlocked the door and opened it.

“Rafe. Thank you for getting here so quickly.”

“Did you see which direction he went when he left?” he asked directly.

She nodded. “He left the parking lot over there,” she said, pointing after him, “and made a left.”

Rafe nodded at the officer standing next to him, and two of them headed immediately back toward their cruiser.

“This is Officer Brank,” Rafe said of the policeman left behind. “He’ll take your statement. You’ll want to tell him every word Stanton said, from the moment he pulled up until the time he left the lot.”

“Okay. Come on inside, both of you.”

Jessie remained at the front of the store with the uniformed cop who reminded her a little bit of the actor who married Tori Spelling before coming undone. Rafe joined Amber and Piper at the back counter.

“There’s not a lot to tell,” she said. “We were out front—”

“We?” he broke in.

“Oh, sorry. My friend Piper,” she clarified, pointing at her. “My store is opening tomorrow, and we were just tidying things up. That’s when Jack pulled into the lot and called out to me.”

“What did he say?”

“He said he just wanted to talk to me for a moment and wouldn’t even get out of the car, but he had something he needed to say.”

“What was it?”

“I have no idea. Piper called Rafe—I mean, Detective Padillo—and we came straight inside and locked the door behind us, just like he told me.”

“So that was all the contact you had.”

Jessie took a moment to replay what had happened. “He said something like, ‘Oh, come on,’ but we just went inside and closed the door.”

“How long before he left?”

“Just a matter of a minute, I think.”

He scribbled on the pad inside a small leather folder. “Good that there was no altercation. You didn’t give him the opportunity. That was good work.”

Jessie sniffed in amusement at what sounded like a job assessment. “Thanks.”

Piper made her way toward them and nudged Jessie’s arm. “Do you need anything from me, Officer?”

“I think we’ve got what we need. I’ll radio and see if he’s been located.”

The instant the door jingled behind him, Piper leaned close to Jessie and whispered, “Check it out. I think we have a love connection here.”

Jessie followed the subtle nod toward Rafe and Amber, and she chuckled. Amber’s face—stained bright red—glowed with a beaming smile. What was more, Rafe radiated unmistakable captivation in return.

“Huh,” Jessie clucked. “Never saw that coming.”

“They’re cute, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah. They are.”

Adorable, actually.

A distinct sound came from Rafe’s cell phone, and he checked it. When he made his way toward Jessie and Piper, Amber timidly followed.

“Do you have any idea what he may have wanted to discuss with you?” he asked.

Jessie sighed. “I can’t imagine anything that still needs to be said.”

“My guys have picked him up, and I’m going to meet them at the precinct. I’ll try to get some insight about it. But not before making a clear impression on him about what a restraining order means.”

Piper touched his arm, but looked at Jessie. “Thank you so much. You don’t think Jessie’s in any danger, do you?”

“I doubt it. But keep your phone on. I’ll be in touch as soon as I have a chance to press him for some information.”

“I appreciate it, Rafe,” Jessie told him. “I’ll wait to hear from you.”

Rafe made his way to the door before turning back and smiling at Amber. “Good to meet you, Amber.”

“You too, Rafe.”

To Jessie, he added, “Good luck opening up again tomorrow. I hope it all goes well for you.”

“Thank you so much.”

A lock of dark, glossy hair fell over Rafe’s forehead as he nodded one last time and pulled open the door. “We’ll talk soon.”

The instant the door fell shut again, Amber swooned. “Okay, all drama aside, may I just say he is dreamy.”

Piper chuckled. “Yes, he is. All drama aside.”

“I think he might have thought you were a little dreamy, too,” Jessie teased. “We saw the way you were blushing at one another.”

“Shush,” Amber said before her face transformed. “Wait. You think he’s interested, too?”

“Blind much?” Piper joked. “He’s enamored.”

“What should I do?”

“Maybe if there were a mutual friend who could get the wheels in motion.” Piper grinned at Jessie.

“Me?”

“Not you. Danny.”

“Oh. Well, I might be able to mention it to him.”

“Would you?” Amber exclaimed. “That would be so great. I mean, he’s really—”

“Dreeeeamy,” Jessie and Piper harmonized.

“Well. He is.”

***

Most of the messages in Danny’s voice mailbox that morning had now been returned, and he stopped to pour the last of the coffee from the pot in the kitchen before getting to that last one. Rosemary Somebody from the Hollywood Daily.

“I can’t tell you how much work it’s taken to track you down, Mr. Callahan,” she’d said. “But now that I have, I hope you’ll give me a few minutes of your time. I think it will be worth your while.”

Danny dialed the number he’d scribbled on the pad, and she answered on the first ring. “Rosemary Stiles.”

“Ms. Stiles. Danny Callahan returning your call.”

“Oh, Danny,” she exclaimed. “Thank you so much for calling me back.”

“Sure. What can I do for you?”

She paused a moment—one of those pauses women seemed to enlist just prior to an unusual request . . . or a demand. “I presume you noticed we used your photograph on the cover of our paper after the FiFi Awards.”

FiFi. There’s a word I didn’t think I’d hear again.

He thought back to the headline they’d used: “Mystery Man Turns Heads on Red Carpet.” The accompanying photograph had reached to both sides of the fold.

“Did you know you were on the cover of The Daily?”

“Yes,” he muttered. “I am aware.”

“Good. I want you to know we’ve received a lot of reader response to that photograph, Danny. People want to know who you are.”

Was he supposed to respond? Good for me.

“Really,” he said instead.

“Yes, really. And in my follow-up research, I’ve learned that you’re a private investigator. So I’m wondering . . . what would a family values group need with a private investigator, Danny?”

“I was hired as part of their security team.”

She waited in silence. Then, “And?”

“And I did my job.”

Rosemary chuckled. “Despite the challenge I see that it might present, I’d like to interview you. I want to feature you in a follow-up piece.”

“No.” After a beat, he added, “Thank you anyway.”

“A lot of people are interested in—”

“Ms. Stiles,” he interrupted, “I don’t have a story interesting enough to sell papers. I’m just a working stiff doing a job—”

“Come now.”

“—and that job involves the need for a good bit of anonymity. I’m sure you can understand.”

“Yes, but—”

“I appreciate the interest,” he fibbed. “But I can’t have my face plastered all over a Los Angeles area newspaper and then expect to be able to conduct my job without raising notice.”

“I suppose—”

“So, thanks for calling. Have a nice day.”

He disconnected the call and leaned back against the leather chair in his office until it creaked. He shook his head and gulped down the last of his coffee—now tepid—as Frank meandered toward him and rested his heavy chin on Danny’s thigh.

“Welp, buddy,” he said, scratching the dog’s head, “that just happened.”

When his phone rang again, he considered not answering. With a quick glance at the Caller ID, he shifted gears.

“Rafael. What’s up, amigo?”

“You talked to Jessie this afternoon?” Rafe asked.

“Not yet. We’re having dinner out at the marina tonight. Why?”

“She had a visit from Stanton earlier.”

Danny’s blood churned, hot and angry. “You gotta be kidding me. And she had to call you for backup?”

“Her friend Piper did. They were over at her store when the guy showed up.”

“What did he do?”

“Nothing to speak about,” Rafe replied. “We picked him up a few miles away and brought him into the precinct so I could have a talk with him.”

Danny closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of the chair. “I’m sure that was a pleasure.”

“Schooled him on the seriousness of a restraining order. And just a heads up: the guy filed for the divorce everyone thought he already had.”

“From Patty.”

“Right. He says he went over to tell Jessie that he was doing the right thing.”

“Too little, too late.”

“Thing is, Callahan,” Rafe said, “I get the feeling he’s doing this with an end game in mind that involves a reconciliation with Jessie.”

Crickets chirped from a mile down the beach.

“Not that it matters. I mean, she’s got her head on straight where he’s concerned. I just thought I’d let you know. It’s likely there’s some more trouble brewing, that’s all I’m saying.”

Danny groaned. “Yeah. Thanks.”

“In other news . . .”

He waited a few beats before prodding Rafe. “Yeah?”

“Jessie’s friend Amber. She seems cool.”

“Uh. Yeah. I guess.” The words rolled around his brain for a moment before he caught on. “Oh. You’re interested.”

“She . . . seeing anybody?”

“I have no idea.” Danny chuckled. “The only thing I really know about Amber is she makes Jessie’s life infinitely better.”

“Make an inquiry? Let me know if there’s a shot for me?”

“You got it,” he replied. “Stay tuned.”

“Oh, I will.”

“Let me know if anything else comes up with Stanton, will ya?”

“You know it. Later.”