Building Ties (Military Romantic Suspense) (SEAL Team Heartbreakers Book 4) (12 page)

“I’ll get the cart.” Brett strode toward the carts only a few feet away.

When he returned, Tess looped her arm through his while they turned right toward the produce section. “I don’t think we’ve ever shopped together. How are you at clothing stores?”

He shot her a deadpan look. “I’d rather have bamboo shoots hammered under my fingernails. That’s why they issue me uniforms.”

Tess laughed. “I happen to know you do on occasion wander inside a store to buy jeans, shorts and T-shirts.”

“Babe, a man’s idea of shopping is going into a store, picking out five pairs of pants or shirts of the same style in different colors, then double-timing out of there as quickly as possible.”

Tess shook her head at him. “I’d never have guessed you have such an aversion to shopping. You always look well dressed.”

He grinned. “I’ll tell my mom and sisters you approve, since they’re the ones who dress me.”

“Really, Brett.” She let out an exasperated breath, then caught his smile and wasn’t really sure if he was shining her on or not.

A woman was stocking the vegetable cooler with fresh broccoli. Tess focused on her. “I thought we could use some fresh vegetables for a salad. I’m going to talk to her.”

“I’ll do some lettuce reconnaissance and give you some time.”

She shook her head again. Only Brett could turn a shopping trip into a mission. She slipped up next to the woman and reached for some broccoli flowerets from the bin she was stocking. “These smell fresh.”

The woman, who looked to be about twenty years old, smiled. “They just arrived this morning.”

Tess reached for a plastic bag and put four stalks into it. “I read about the robbery in the paper. I hope everyone is recovering from the scare.”

The woman’s smile wavered. “Yes. Everyone is fine.”

“Were you here when it happened?”

Every expression that flitted across the woman’s face was so open, her relief was easy for Tess to read.

“No. Thank goodness.”

“I heard it was an honor roll student who robbed the store.”

“Daniel Delgado was arrested. But I can’t believe it was him. He’s always been one of the best workers here.”

“Why would he do it, then?”

“He wouldn’t. Whoever it was wore a mask.”

No one had said anything about a mask before. “Did someone recognize his voice?”

“I don’t know. It was Mr. Gordon, the manager, who said it was him.” The woman looked close to tears.

Tess nodded. “I’m sorry your friend is in trouble. But it sounds like there’s some doubt about the manager’s identification. It may never go to trial.”

“I hope so. Daniel wouldn’t do this.”

“Look, I’m a reporter with the San Diego paper. I’m very interested in this story.” Tess plucked a business card from her purse and offered it to the woman. “I know one of the employees was there with the manger when it happened. I’d really like to talk to whoever it was. If Daniel is getting a raw deal, maybe I can help get the truth out there. Why don’t you give my number to the other employee and have her, or him, call me.”

The woman hesitated for a long minute. “I’ll see she gets it.”

Tess murmured a word of consolation and wandered back to Brett.

Why would the police arrest Daniel if the perpetrator had been masked? How had the manager identified him if his face was covered? Did he have some kind of identifying mark the manager recognized?

Brett raised his brows in inquiry when she reached him.

“Curiouser and curiouser.” She filled him in on the conversation.

“Something doesn’t add up, does it?” Brett commented.

“No. But the woman wasn’t here when the robbery went down and she’s just repeating gossip. I’ll need to speak directly to the manager who was here that night.”

“Let’s wander around to the customer service department so you can set up a meeting,” Brett said.

Tess studied the buggy’s contents. It contained every vegetable in the department. “I didn’t know we were really going to shop.”

“After weeks of MREs, I had a craving for fresh vegetables. We can drop them at my apartment before we go to the hospital.”

He’d consumed the stir-fry she’d fixed the day before like it was candy. The thought brought an ache of emotion to her throat. Tess slipped an arm around his waist and leaned into him. “Okay. I’ll fix a big salad for lunch and we’ll get a rotisserie chicken from the deli. Let’s go pick one out.”

They circled around to the deli and got the chicken and some sweet Italian bread, and then headed for the customer service department.

“I’ll go pay for this while you’re busy,” Brett said and pushed the cart toward the checkout line only twelve or so feet from the counter.

“Mr. Gordon isn’t here right now. He’ll come in about five, if you want to come back.” The assistant manager tag the woman wore on her jacket identified her as Leslie Hill. About forty years old, Ms. Hill had streaked blonde hair pulled into a ponytail and wore a flowered blouse tucked into dark blue slacks, with a navy jacket.

Tess produced her business card. “I will be back, possibly tomorrow. I’m looking for some information about Daniel Delgado’s work history with the store.”

Leslie Hill’s lips compressed as she studied the card. “Daniel was an exemplary employee. He never missed a night of work, and he often trained new employees. He’s worked in every department.”

“In your opinion, do you believe he was the man who held up the store?”

“I wasn’t here. I can’t state one way or the other. Mr. Gordon said he was.”

“So he was able to identify Daniel even though the robber wore a mask?”

“So he said.”

“How?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him. The police must have believed him, though, since Daniel’s still in custody.”

“And Daniel’s brother is a known gang member who has avoided prosecution several times in the past.”

“We all know Daniel’s background.”

“Yet you still hired him?”

“He had excellent letters of referral from three of his teachers.”

“And?” Tess encouraged.

The woman remained silent for a long moment, then finally volunteered, “If you’re providing a livelihood to family members, the gang is less likely to cause issues with the business where they work.”

“Yet the boy who has every reason to avoid trouble, who has a scholarship to University of California in the fall, just decides to hold up the store?”

Leslie’s lips compressed once again and she leveled her gray-green gaze at Tess. “That’s what Mr. Gordon said.”

And he identified him despite a mask. “Does Daniel have any identifying marks on his hands, arms, or face?”

“No. Mr. Gordon will be here at five tomorrow, too, if you want to talk to him about the robbery.”

“Thank you. Just one more thing, is the other witness here today? I’d like to interview her.”

“Antonia hasn’t come back to work since the robbery.”

Tess nodded. It would have been traumatic to have a gun stuck in her face. The arrest record said armed robbery, so it had been either a gun or a knife. She’d need time to recover. Maybe she could find the woman’s address and go to her home. “I’ll be back to discuss this with Mr. Gordon.” Tess offered the woman her hand and they shook.

She met Brett at the exit. He had positioned himself so he could watch her, but be out of the way of customer traffic. After she’d given him a rundown of their conversation, Brett said, “Maybe you shouldn’t have warned him you were coming tomorrow.”

“She won’t tell him. She doesn’t believe it was Daniel who held up the store.”

“Why do you think that? It sounded like she spouted the party line.”

“Gordon is not a beloved boss to the rank and file. Both the women I spoke to have a tone in their voice when they say, ‘Mr. Gordon said so.’”

“He’s probably an ass. What about the other employee who was a witness?”

“She hasn’t been back since the robbery. I’ll have to hunt down her info and talk to her at home. It may take some time for me to get her name. I’ve left my card for the manager and gave one to the girl in produce. She promised to pass my number on to the witness.”

“You’ve done everything you can, Tess. Let’s go get the groceries put away and I’ll take you to the hospital.” He put an arm out to stop her from walking forward. “It would be safer for you to stay here among the customers while I go out and check the car and put the groceries in the trunk. Then I’ll park in front of the door and come in and get you.”

“Are you really afraid they’d try and do something in a grocery store parking lot?”

Brett’s expression grew grave. “If I weren’t, I’d allow you to walk out with me. Had one of the guys from my old team been available, I’d have them riding along with us. I’m not taking any chances with you, Tess.”

Her stomach and heart spiraled downward and she pressed her hand against her midriff. She’d been trying to block out the seriousness of her situation. Brett would confront whatever they faced head-on. He’d station himself between her and any harm. “I’ll go stand right over there.” She pointed to a spot close to the registers, out of the way of the customer traffic. “I’ll be able to see the car pull up.”

“Don’t come out. Let me come in and get you.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

She grasped his arm as he turned away. “I know you deal with things like this all the time, but just knowing you’re putting yourself between me and anyone who would hurt me—” Tears blurred her vision. “I should lock myself in the apartment until things are resolved.”

Brett studied her face. “You can’t give up your life, babe. When you do that, the bad guys win.” He kissed her. “I’ll be back.”

But if something happened to him because of her, she’d never be able to live with herself.

‡

B
rett scanned Hawk’s
back yard, taking in the group of people who’d come together to welcome him home. The rush of back slaps, handshakes and hugs had passed and they’d settled down to breaking bread pretty quickly. The smell of grilled meat still hung in the air, though the steaks, hamburgers, and chicken had all been consumed with the speed of hungry locusts. The men had come in off a hard training day with appetites to match. Someone had started up an MP3 player with a personal collection of songs. Blues drifted on a breeze that was just now turning cool.

Langley’s three kids, Tad, Anna, and Jessica took Joy, Flash’s girlfriend’s daughter, inside to play video games while the adults hung out in the back yard.

During a quieter moment, Brett’s thoughts lingered on these men, friends he’d served with for nearly four years.

Bowie, the Latin lover of the unit, had surprisingly arrived solo, although he usually had a date for every occasion. He stretched back in a lounge chair talking to Kelsie Tyler and Greenback. Greenback who cuddled his new baby boy, Micah, against his chest and adjusted a blanket around him with loving care.

Langley and Hawk seemed deep into discussion with Jeff Sizemore, the new sniper of their unit, and Jack Logan, their communications specialist. Hawk held A.J. in the crook of his arm and periodically rubbed the toddler’s back. The twenty-month-old sucked his thumb while Hawk did what Zoe called his daddy dance, the dip and sway motion he used to sooth his son. The child was nodding his way off to sleep in a hurry.

Where had the time gone? When he’d left A.J. was barely walking, and now he was running around like a speed demon, talking clearly enough for him to figure out what he was saying. His favorite word was
no
.

The makeup of the team had changed with the loss of Brett and Flash, and Derrick Armstrong’s implosion. New members had been transferred in to take their places. But it was more than that. Because of Hawk’s marriage to his sister Zoe’s, he’d have been transferred out anyway. The way the change had come about had delivered more of a punch than a gentle nudge out of this team and into the next. He still had moments of regret, and homesickness hit him hard on occasions like this. Their original unit had a special bond.

Arms slid around his neck from behind and a soft, familiar cheek pressed against his. “Get enough to eat?” Clara asked.

“More than enough, Mom. I’m full as a tick.”

“Good. I’m so glad you’re home.”

She didn’t have to tell him. She’d teared up the moment she saw him and held onto him for nearly five minutes. He patted her arm.

“Tess is as tough as you are. She’s going to be fine.” Clara brushed her lips against his cheek.

“I know. She’s doing good. I’m making sure of it.”

“If you two need anything, just give me a call.”

“Will do, Mom, and thanks. Love you.”

She slipped away and settled next to Russell Connelly on the glider. She rested her head against his shoulder and he ducked his head to press a kiss against her temple.

Though being in a coma for two months hadn’t been on Brett’s to-do list, he
had
survived, and a lot of good things had come out of it. Had Zoe not come to stay with him until he shook free of the coma, she’d have never met Hawk, gotten married and had A.J. Had he not been Russell’s patient, he and his mom might never have met. Though they weren’t married yet, he could see things were moving in that direction.