13. Lost Your Touch
Chapter 13
Lost Your Touch
Whitney
Mensa brought me back to Hard Pressed at five minutes after two. Unlike this morning, he didn’t stick around.
Aunt Nadia stared out the glass door after he left. “You best be careful, Whitney. No matter what either of you says, that biker looks at you like his world revolves around you.”
“That’s dramatic, Aunt Nadia. Besides, that’s only because right now, I’m tied up in something that’s turned his own world upside down. Keeping me safe benefits him in a big way.”
She laughed her high-pitched, gravelly laugh. “You go with that, sweetheart.”
The double-beep of the alarm sounded. I twisted my head to the front door and saw my brother, Wyatt, striding inside.
“Well, hey there, handsome boy,” Aunt Nadia said.
Wyatt gave her a look that said only she could get away with calling him ‘boy’. “Aunt Nadia. You think you could go to the back? Maybe rustle me up a glass of your tea?”
Aunt Nadia’s lips twisted into a slight pout. “You’re standing right there, which means your legs aren’t broken. Go rustle up your own glass. I’m not giving you two a second of privacy.”
Wyatt closed his eyes and heaved a deep breath. I fought laughing because he knew better. Aunt Nadia was as nosy as could be, and even when people called her on it, she didn’t give a damn.
My brother stepped closer to me. “Why were you at Twisted Talons when gunfire broke out?”
My head reared back. “How do you know—”
“I chased you out of there.”
Once the words registered, my jaw dropped open. “You shot at me!”
He shook his head. “No. The asshole next to me shot at you, then he ordered me to chase you.”
I put my hands on my hips. “But why chase us so far out of town?”
Wyatt crossed his arms. “Because I didn’t want Mensa bringing you back to the bar or your apartment.”
“He had no intention of going back to the—”
“I couldn’t know that, but I do know you’d have pestered the hell outta him about it.”
He knew me too well.
I crossed my arms. “Do you know who stole my car?”
Wyatt’s posture relaxed and he shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “Rod recognized you when you entered the bar. He called his road captain and ordered him to do that.”
I straightened as I realized my focus was on the wrong thing. “Why the hell did you let Biloxi PD question us? You know Corrupt Chrome burned down DeeLight’s.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know that. The fire’s a local crime, which has to be investigated by the local authorities. I’m working a different case here. It doesn’t overlap with Biloxi’s case, at least not yet.”
My head tilted. “If Corrupt Chrome didn’t burn down the restaurant, then who did?”
His expression cleared. “I don’t know.”
“Sounds like BS,” I muttered.
He pulled his hands from his pockets and put them on his hips. “No. It sounds like me doing my job. If you want any kind of future in law enforcement, you gotta take care of your reputation and stay away from Mensa.”
“I got bad information, Wyatt. Hitting a bar for karaoke night isn’t something a future employer will hold against me.”
Wyatt’s lips twisted to the side. “You know that he works there. That’s more than enough reason for you to stay away.”
I put my hands on my hips. “I should have stayed away from Twisted Talons, but at the same time, I should be able to let my hair down when I’ve been told his shift had been cut short. Believe it or not, the more I try to avoid him, the more I run into him.”
My brother stepped forward and leaned into a hand on the counter. “Word is Fortner and Robinson found you two at a hotel.”
I glared at him. “Yeah, because you ran us out of town and Block felt like my place was being watched.”
Wyatt turned his head away so sharply, it was a tell.
“Why the hell were you watching my place? You’ve lost your touch.”
He glared at me. “I haven’t lost my touch, Whitney. I watched your place because Corrupt Chrome assigned me to it after I went back and said I’d lost Mensa.”
I nodded once. “Did they get my address from my car registration? Were you the one who tossed my place?”
Wyatt’s head moved as though he just stopped himself from shaking it. “You know better. When was it tossed?”
“Surprised you don’t know about it, but it happened yesterday around dinner time.”
Wyatt straightened from the counter. “And you slept there last night?”
“No.”
He looked at Aunt Nadia and to me. “Her place?”
“No, sir,” Aunt Nadia said before I could shrug.
Wyatt arched a brow. “You hit the hotel again? That shit gets expensive.”
“Don’t worry about that. I stayed away last night. I’ll be in my own bed tonight.”
“You got a gun?”
“Yes.”
“You sure? Why didn’t you have it Monday night?”
“I switched purses for the time being. Plus, why would I carry a gun on karaoke night?” I asked, though this conversation reminded me I’d needed to switch back to my Boho bag.
His eyes narrowed a touch. “That almost makes sense.”
“That’s a load off my mind.”
“Whitney—”
“Why are you really here?” I asked, softening my defensive tone.
“I wanted to know about your connection to Mensa. And… let you know exactly how curious Rod is about you.”
Great .
After a closed-lip smile, I asked, “Did you do anything to kill his curiosity?”
His lips tipped up. “I’m a hang-around, but I did what I could without blowing my cover. If you had plans to go back to Jackson – now would be a great time to do that. Let him forget about you.”
I dipped my chin. “The heads-up is appreciated.”
He shook his head. “Don’t get stubborn. I’m trying to protect you from this.”
“I heard you, Wyatt.”
“Whitney—”
Aunt Nadia stepped closer to me. “Leave her be, Wyatt. She’s got enough goin’ on right now.”
Wyatt’s expression turned questioning. “She does? From where I’m standing, she’s got nothing going on right now.”
I glared at him for being so insensitive to Aunt Nadia. “Learning the ropes of Hard Pressed is far from nothing, Wyatt.”
His eyes slid to Aunt Nadia. “I didn’t mean it that way, Aunt Nadia.”
She gave him a small nod. “I know you didn’t.”
He lifted his chin at her, then locked eyes with me. “Are you sure about this? You’re giving up after almost five years?”
I pressed my lips together for a moment. “I put in my resignation. Been a long time since I had such clarity. As for Hard Pressed, I won’t know anything if I don’t get in here and see what I’m in for.”
Wyatt pointed at me. “That’s another reason to get back to Jackson. A decent amount of Aunt Nadia’s business is with bikers. You don’t need to run into the asshole here.”
I turned to Aunt Nadia. “How often do you see actual members? Don’t they usually send someone else? A woman?”
Aunt Nadia gave me a patient nod. “Normally, but on rare occasion, the bikers come in here themselves. I’d much rather see you be safe than sorry, Whitney.”
My brows furrowed. “We don’t know that Rod’s gonna figure out I spend my time here.”
“He knows where you live, but he doesn’t know where you work. He told me and five others to keep an eye out for your car.” Wyatt glanced out the windows. “Speaking of that, where is your car?”
I smiled. “I caught a ride. My car needs to be cleaned. It’s gonna be a bitch to get rid of all that fingerprint dust.”
People said twins often shared an almost telepathic connection. Wyatt and I didn’t believe that very much. But I sensed he knew I was bullshitting him.
Seriousness filled his eyes. “Watch your back, Whit.” His eyes softened when he turned to Aunt Nadia. “Love you Aunt Nadia. I gotta go.”
“What? You don’t love me?” I asked.
That earned me a dry look. “Got no choice where you’re concerned,” he said, then leaned in and gave me a cheek kiss.
Aunt Nadia and I worked quietly for two hours after he left.
She stood from her sewing machine, put her hands to her lower back, and arched for a stretch. “If that boy’s right, you should go back to Jackson until this dies down.”
I saved the spreadsheet I was updating and sat back in my chair. That would be sensible, but I hated the idea.
I sighed. “I’ll keep that in mind, but for now, I can’t stomach the idea of running away.”
Aunt Nadia nodded. “I understand that, but it would only be for a little while. Far better to have wounded pride than a physical wound.”
“That’s very true. And, I’m sorry Wyatt was so insensitive to you earlier.”
She scoffed. “He wasn’t being insensitive, sweetie. He loves you and doesn’t want to watch you do something you could regret. I suspect he believes you bailing out on law enforcement is a doozy of a mistake.”
Hearing it put like that, my mouth ran away from me. “Do you think I’m making a huge mistake?”
Her lips curved into a patient smile similar to Mom’s. “What I think doesn’t really matter, does it? But ignoring your own safety isn’t just a mistake, it’s all kinds of foolish.”
“I’m not ignoring my safety, and to be fair, even if I go back to Jackson, clearing out my apartment will only take a few days. Is that enough time? There’s no telling how long I’d have to stay away to really be safe.”
She nodded. “You’re right, my dear. But you better keep your gun with you.”
“Of course.”
After a pause, she said, “How about you answer your own question.”
I shook my head. “What do you mean?”
She gave me a sly smile. “Do you think you’re making a huge mistake?”
I didn’t even hesitate. “My gut tells me I’m not making a mistake at all.”
She turned her hands out in front of her. “There you have it. Now, head back to Jackson tonight or tomorrow. All of this will still be here when you get back.”
I contemplated that. Thinking about Jackson made me think about Ben, and how everything got twisted. That brought Mensa to mind, and it hit me that a big reason I didn’t want to go back to Jackson was because he wouldn’t be there.
What was that?
I never hesitated about going somewhere, and certainly not because of a man. That didn’t change the fact that I wanted to take Mensa with me. Show him more of the real me because my apartment in Biloxi wasn’t full of my personality. It was strictly a place to reside until the next case which could be anywhere in Mississippi.
Why did I want to drag Mensa up there? We were all wrong for each other and we both knew it.
Wyatt’s concern for my safety couldn’t be ignored. Jackson was the safest place for me right now, and putting some distance between me and Mensa would do us both good.
I stood and gave Aunt Nadia a hug. “You’re absolutely right, Aunt Nadia. All of this will be here next week.” I checked the time on my phone and smiled. “It’s four o’clock. Think you can close up an hour early today, and take me to my place? If I get on the road by five, I’ll be in Jackson by eight.”
Her lips twisted. “Girl… I don’t like you making that drive alone at night.”
“I know, but what have you always told me? ‘The sooner you start, the sooner you finish.’ If I wait, I’m gonna have to convince a biker to let me be on my way.”
“That’s another reason for you to hold off. Maybe take Mensa with you.”
“He was told not to leave town.”
Her eyes widened. “And wouldn’t you have been told the same thing?”
I shrugged. “Funny thing is, I wasn’t told that. This keeps me and Mensa both safe.”
She sighed. “As good as you are at manipulating me, I’d say you ought to consider politics for your next career, but this little shop won’t give you the mountains of money needed to get elected.”
I chuckled. “That really isn’t a compliment, Aunt Nadia.”
“I know.”
I laughed. “Will you help me?”
“Yes, but for the record, I’m doing this begrudgingly.”
“So noted.”