Veiled Threat (6 page)

nine

Frank and Jimmy looked
at Giulia. Jimmy turned back to his monitor a moment later.

“You may be right. I spent more time on the police reports.” He clicked page after page, reading pieces of each.

Giulia drummed her fingers on her lap. Frank finished his Coke. Giulia restrained her desire to kick his shins. She still couldn’t fathom Frank’s less-than-urgent attitude.

Jimmy leaned back. “All right, I concede your timeline. This puts us in a miserable position. We don’t have time to run down the other possibilities: the bank accounts, the hospital databases. The resort fits the potential timeline of targeting the first two victims and learning their movements. The time elapsed between your friends’ vacation and their kidnapping is short by comparison, but”—he forestalled Giulia’s protest—“that could have been triggered by them changing their vacation dates.”

Giulia didn’t care if her face showed her relief. “How can we help?”

Frank made a restless movement next to her.

Jimmy said, “This is actually the point where the police take over again. Please don’t think I’m dismissing you, Giulia. Without your insistence, Poole’s negligence would have relegated this investigation to his back burner. Now we’ll be able to do our job.”

“Then I’m glad you invited us here,” Frank said. “Thanks for lunch, Jimmy. Call me or Giulia if you get any more news?”

“Of course.” Jimmy stood, holding out his hand to Giulia. “Thank you again, Giulia. This case is mine personally now. I’ll do everything I can to get your friends’ baby back safely.”

Giulia shook his hand.
What’s happening? Why is Frank hustling us out of here and why is Captain Teddy Bear acquiescing? What am I going to do? I can’t lock the door and refuse to leave till they make me part of this investigation.

Frank opened the door for her and she went through the crowded detectives’ room ahead of him. Poole, thank goodness, wasn’t in sight. The pseudo–Bond Girl nodded at them as they buttoned their coats.

Giulia chose silence on the ride back; lunch traffic and winter roads didn’t lend themselves to conversation. Frank didn’t curse any drivers, not even the city bus that fishtailed when a light turned green and sent the Camry’s anti-lock brakes into overdrive.

You’re railroading me, Frank. Captain Teddy Bear’s okay with us helping—or he was. Why are you dead against it?
She stared at the dashboard, mentally pasting Frank’s and Jimmy’s faces onto it.
Did Frank send him some kind of signal left over from their partner days? The Captain was willing to let us help until I pointed out the resort link. It can’t be professional jealousy. I’m a detective—almost. I’ve trained myself to spot connections. The police have multiple cases and emergencies pulling them every which way all the time. I’m focused on Laurel’s baby. It only makes sense that I’d see some details before they would.

It wasn’t till they got trapped behind a whale-sized SUV apparently driven by someone’s grandmother that Giulia realized her teeth were chattering.

“Frank, heat?”

“Sorry.” He diverted part of the blower from the windshield to their feet. He visibly shivered even after the switch, and cranked the heat all the way. “Perfect time for the heater to go on the fritz.”

Silence filled the car again. The air blowing on Giulia’s toes never climbed above “tepid.” She thought about calling Laurel, but what was the point? They had nothing useful to report. Telling Laurel about the resort connection would only give her and Anya another obsessive hamster wheel to run in.

Giulia and Frank climbed the back stairs to the office several minutes later, still in silence. She toed off her boots as Frank opened the door. Sidney had her coat on before Giulia reached her own desk.

“This is perfect timing because my mom’s picking me up so we can try on my dress. Did I tell you I’m wearing my grandmother’s wedding gown? I know I did. The seamstress messed up the alterations the first time, but she called just now and we want to see it ASAP in case something else has to be fixed because it’s Tuesday already and I think my head’s going to explode.” She inhaled like a vacuum cleaner. “It’ll only take an hour, I’m sure. Nobody called when you were gone. See you!” The door closed behind her.

Frank and Giulia grinned at each other.

“She is the best hiring decision you ever made,” Giulia said.

“No. You are.” Frank crossed the room and embraced her. “I know I’m being an ass—sorry—a jerk. I know I’ve been treating you like you’re a computer program I can open and close at will. Let me explain, okay?”

He turned Giulia’s client chair around and leaned on the back. Giulia sat in her own chair and waited.

“It’s a lost cause,
muirnín.
”

Giulia didn’t say anything.

“I know you don’t want to think that, but I know what I’m talking about. I worked on four kidnapping cases while I was still a cop, three with Jimmy.”

Giulia pinched her lips together.

Frank’s mouth worked but the smile still showed. “You look like Sister Regina, um, Coelis when you do that. Don’t get mad.”

“Francis Xavier Driscoll, I am not Sister Mary Regina Coelis anymore. I have not been her for twenty whole months. I curse the day we decided that me going undercover in the convent two months ago was a good idea. I could swear you still see an invisible veil on my head.” She ruffled her frizzy brown curls. “See? Hair. And what does any of that have to do with your sudden desire to let me down easy?”

“I know you want to keep your friend’s spirits up. I know you’re always optimistic, but the plain fact is that kidnappings don’t end well.”

“Statistics?” Giulia let disdain creep into her voice.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. The general statistic for kidnappings by strangers is 57 percent are returned unharmed and 43 percent aren’t. We both know what happens to the 43 percent.”

Giulia set her jaw. “You are deliberately applying the worst possible outcome. How many of the 43 percent are infants?”

“I’d have to look it up. That doesn’t mean—”

“It does mean that there is a chance for Katie to come home. A good chance.”

“No. Listen to me. You can discount teenagers running off together and non-custodial parents never returning the kid from their weekend visit.” He gripped the top of the chair. “I don’t care if the guy who took your friend’s baby quotes half the Bible over the phone while he implies they’ll get the baby back if they come up with the ransom. The most likely outcome is he’s already sold the baby to a hetero couple, if he’s serious about the biblical trash-talk.”

“So what? You’re a detective. We’re detectives. We can find out who has Katie now and get her back.”

“It’s not impossible. Whatever we can do on top of what Jimmy’s doing, we’ll jump on it.” He put a hand over hers. “But I want you to face this fact: the statistics are skewed. This is a non-parental kidnapping by perps with a two-part agenda: God and money. It will not end well.”

“How can you think that?”

“Real-world experience. Not just mine. Talk to experienced cops. They’ll tell you the same thing—that your friends need to prepare for failure. I know this. Jimmy knows this. It’s not pessimism. It’s realism. We’ll put everything into finding the baby because we’re professionals, but that timeline you worked out? It doesn’t exist. No amount of hopeful prayers will change that.”

A piece of Giulia that had been twisting into knots all through Frank’s stories finally snapped.
He’s right
, an evil voice whispered in her ear.
Facts can be one-sided
, a calmer voice whispered in her other ear. She sat quite still in her chair, imagining angels and demons from old
Tom and Jerry
cartoons, her hands still under Frank’s.

“So what exactly have you been doing since I brought Laurel in here on Monday?” she said at last. “Humoring me?”

“No, no, nothing like that. I’m just trying to let you down easy.”

“I am not a sixteen-year-old whose boyfriend is dumping her for a cheerleader.”

Frank said, after a second, “What?”

“I am not fragile. I don’t know where you got that idea.” She moved her hands.

Frank tightened his grip. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t think you’re a sheltered kitten who doesn’t know enough to come in out of the rain.”

She gave him the “Precious Moments” eyes again.

“Stop that. You’re doing it on purpose now. I don’t want you to break your heart over this. It’s doomed to fail.”

Her eyes crinkled in the beginnings of a smile. “I don’t believe you.”

His mouth hung open a moment. “Why the hell not?”

ten

Giulia let the curse
slide. The Tom-and-Jerry imps on her shoulder popped into nonexistence. She wasn’t fighting a pile of statistics; she was fighting Frank’s pessimism sinkhole. The way he skewed to the worst possible conclusion no matter what. This was a familiar adversary.

“Remember how you reacted to those vile Photoshopped pictures Don Falke created of Blake and me?”

“Huh? What does that have to do with kidnapping stats?”

“Not with kidnapping statistics, with you. Remember how a character in old cartoons would get a tiny angel on one shoulder and a tiny devil on the other, giving advice? If you were in a cartoon, you’d always be listening to the devil. I’d find pricks from the pitchfork tines in your neck if I looked.”

Frank leaned back in the chair. “Is this code? Should I have a translation key?”

“Only if you need to translate the way your own mind works.”

His cynical detective face morphed into something plain and simple. Giulia loved that face. It was the face of the Frank Driscoll who first said hello to her when she was a barista in Common Grounds downstairs. The face disappeared when he learned she’d been a Sister of Saint Francis, but as they got to know each other, the face had become the familiar one she saw every day.

“I wish I had a mirror for you to see yourself. Frank, the difference between you and me is which side of a problem we choose to see.”

“Don’t get all sappy greeting card on me. The world is a darker place than you want it to be.”

“It’s also a brighter place than you want it to be.” She scrunched up her face. “You’re right. That belongs on a sappy card. Not my style.” Her hands slipped out from under Frank’s. “I don’t agree that because the statistics about kidnappings skew negative, it automatically means this kidnapping will fall into the negative side.”

“Christ help us, things will not come up sunshine and roses just because you want it to happen.”

“Of course they won’t. That’s not what I’m saying. And please stop cursing.”

“Sorry. You’ve got to be realistic about this. Jimmy might not call us in to help. Don’t pretend you aren’t hoping he will—I saw it in your face when he shook your hand. He likes you and he wants you to replace that manicured piece of fluff who answers the phones, but he’s not getting you.”

“You don’t own me, Frank Driscoll.”

“I know. It’s a figure of speech. I mean that even though he wants to hire you out from under me, he’s not going to do anything underhanded like bring you in on this case and feed you information to keep your hopes up.”

“Do you expect me to lie to Laurel for the next three days?”

“No, because I know you won’t. But you might want to hedge. Tell her that the police have all the information and that they’re keeping things to themselves. That’s how they usually work, so it’s not lying.”

Giulia stood. “Sin of omission, Mr. Driscoll. No thanks.”

Frank dropped his head into his right hand. “How do you manage to do this job so well without compromising your Franciscan-ness?”

“I don’t think that’s a word.” She laughed, but it faded with her next breath. “Stop looking at me like I’m a plaster saint, because I’m not. I’m angry at Captain Jimmy and worried about Katie and disappointed in you. I’m going to prove you wrong. Before the timeline is up I’m going to hand Katie to Laurel and Anya and make you eat your words.” She made shooing motions at him. “Get out of my client chair. I have work to do. I wish I knew how I could want to yell at you one minute and kiss you the next.”

He stood up and the next moment he was kissing her. Thoroughly. Angry Giulia flounced to the curb. The Giulia in Frank’s arms returned the kiss with all the frustrated passion of the last several barren weeks.

When Frank broke the kiss, he said, “This is one of the times I don’t think you’re a plaster saint.”

“About time,” Giulia said, and kissed him again. The empty office, the wind rattling the windows, the hum of the computer fans didn’t make a dent in the very pleasant shivers running through her body. Frank knew how to kiss. It more than made up for her inexperience.

A door slammed downstairs and they jumped apart. No footsteps ascended the stairs, but Giulia didn’t return to Frank’s arms.

“I need to fix my face,” she said, going into the bathroom behind her desk. The light makeup she used was intact; she hadn’t worn lipstick because of the weather.
My hair’s mussed. So is my sweater. That man is dangerously charming. No, more than charming. He’s captivating. I need to be careful.

The imp on her shoulder whispered, “Careful is for old maids. You’ve got years of celibacy to make up for.”

The angel on her other shoulder didn’t reply. Giulia almost looked for it. She shook her head.
My brain hates me. Both sides of it want me to give in to Frank.

“You almost done?” Frank’s voice, right outside the door.

She opened it. “Polite humans give each other privacy in the bathroom.”

“I wanted to apologize for not coming clean to you about the realities of kidnappings.”

“Accepted. I will expect another apology when Katie gets home.”

Frank made a frustrated noise, but cut it off. “If it happens, I’ll apologize. Look, will you come to my folks’ for dinner tonight?”

“I—uh—I’ll have to make sure there’s coverage at the soup kitchen.”

Frank made that same noise.

“I’m not going to leave them hanging so I can go out to dinner. Let me call someone.”

“Fine.” He loomed over her. “You’re right about one thing: I’ve been treating you like furniture. I’m … well … an
a
madán
. Sorry. That means ‘idiot.’ I’ll work on it. Deal?”

“Deal. Let me fix your tie. We don’t want to scandalize Sidney.”

He raised his chin. “When she’s on her honeymoon we should do this more often.”

She smiled. “What will the boss say?”

“I’ll keep him out of the way.”

Sidney returned half an hour later.

“It’s perfect! Wait till you see it. Mom says I look just like my grandmother in it—and my grandmother was so beautiful and happy in her wedding pictures.” She tossed her coat at the coat rack and unlocked her screen. “I’m starving. Everyone talks about brides dieting for the wedding, but that’s nuts. Sure, I’m in shape, but the stress’ll make you lose three or four pounds at least. I can’t wait till it’s all over.”

“I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful day,” Giulia said, not smiling even though she wanted to.

“Oh, I guess, if I can remember to enjoy it instead of worrying that I’ll drop the flowers or trip over my shoes—if it were summer I swear I’d wear white flip-flops.” She unwrapped a wheat bagel and nibbled the scrambled egg and tomato sticking out of the front. “Mingmei downstairs says she has a Christmas present for you, and when can you get together?”

“I’ll stop by tomorrow morning.” Giulia dialed another phone number and held up a “wait a sec” finger toward Sidney when it rang. “Audrey? It’s Giulia. I have a huge favor. Can you take my turn tonight? … You’re the best … Let me know when you want me to fill in … New Year’s Day? Of course I’ll take it for you … He is? That’s great … He is? Are you sure? … I’ll stop by the day after to admire the ring. Congratulations in advance …Bye. Thanks again.”

Sidney gave Giulia a “dish it” look.

“Frank asked me to dinner at his parents’ house tonight. I work at the Stage Door Kitchen on Tuesdays, so I had to get a sub.”

Sidney shook a finger at her. “Dinner with the folks is one of the Three Big Signs, you know.”

Giulia’s cheeks heated up. “I don’t know.”

“Trust me. My aunt is like the world’s biggest matchmaker. She’s always giving us tips and rules and signs.” She drank from her spring-water bottle. “It’s about time, too. You’ve been sort of dating for what? Four months?”

“Stop it.”

“You’re blushing. I can see it. Hah! You think it’s about time too. Maybe Mr. D. will propose to you for Christmas.”

“What?” Giulia stopped halfway to Frank’s door. “We aren’t anywhere near that stage, if we’ll ever be.”

“Uh-huh.” Sidney turned her concentration to her lunch.

Giulia knocked on Frank’s door.

“Yeah?”

She went in, leaving the door open. “I switched nights, so I’ll be happy to come to your parents’ house for dinner.”

Frank grinned. “Great. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Good. I’ll have time to take out all of today’s frustrations at the gym.”

The phone rang.

Frank said in a low voice, “So why’d you leave the door open?”

Giulia stuck out the tip of her tongue.

Sidney rolled into the doorway. “Captain Reilly on line one, Mr. D.”