Chapter Nineteen #2
Seth caught his mother’s eye over Heavenly’s head, seeing the love and acceptance there. The irony cut deep. Mom had embraced Heavenly completely as Seth’s fiancée. If she knew Heavenly belonged to Beck every bit as much, what would she say?
At ten past two, Seth stepped into the hotel’s swanky bar, striding across the marble floor.
As he searched for Tony Marconi’s familiar face, he took in the refined elegance around him that screamed old New York money.
Rich crown moldings and pale walls gleamed under soft lighting.
Crystal decanters lined mirrored shelves behind an ornate bar.
Leather banquettes in deep emerald green provided intimate seating, whispering of discreet conversations and billion-dollar deals.
Since Seth didn’t see his former partner yet, he settled into a corner booth with his back to the wall. Here, he could watch the entrance—a must since being back in the city tended to make him edgy, like he had eyes on him.
When a server stopped to welcome him, he ordered a beer and settled back to wait, studying the faces around him.
As soon as his beer arrived, he lifted the bottle to his lips. His cell phone chimed with a message, so he swallowed, tapped the screen, and read the text from the Realtor his mother had recommended. She could meet him at his former house at four-thirty. Good.
For weeks, Seth had pondered listing the place “as is” so he’d never have to step foot inside again.
After his panic attack a few weeks ago, he’d been reluctant to return.
But if they were going to have a baby, they needed a new house—which meant getting top dollar for this one.
He’d get a list of repairs from the agent that would maximize the sale price, grab whatever he couldn’t bring himself to throw away, then close that chapter of his life for good.
The plan was logical. That didn’t mean it wouldn’t be hell.
For now, he compartmentalized that chore and glanced at his watch. Beck and Heavenly would be in the ballroom by now, the surgeon launching his speech while their girl snapped pictures, determined to capture the moment like a proud fiancée.
“Hey. There you are, Cooper.”
Seth looked up to find Tony approaching. For a moment, the years fell away. His former partner looked more weathered around the edges—hell, he did, too—but the guy’s cocky grin was the same.
“Hey, Marconi.” Seth stood and gave him a back-slapping bro hug, then gestured for him to sit. “Glad you could make time today.”
“Me, too.” Tony sank onto the green leather bench, flagged down the server, and ordered a club soda. “It’s good to see you, man, especially since we didn’t get much time to talk last month. How’s life been?”
“Crazy.” Seth took another pull from his beer. “Since I saw you last, I found out I have another son…who’s sixteen.”
Tony’s eyes bulged. “No shit? God, you were a teenager.”
He nodded. “When I came home from New York last month, the kid was at my house with my girlfriend—well, fiancée now—waiting for me. Hudson—that’s his name—is now living with us. We’ve been getting to know each other.”
“Wait. What? Not only do you have a son, you proposed to your girlfriend? Congratulations, man! Obviously she said yes. What’s her name?”
Seth couldn’t help but smile as he whipped out his phone to show his pal a picture. “Heavenly. She’s a nursing student from Wisconsin. And she’s every bit as sweet as she sounds. Smart as hell, too. Works harder than anyone I know.”
He didn’t mention Beck. Besides Tony knowing some of the cops his mom still talked to, he was a practicing Catholic. Chances were high gossip could get passed on. Or Tony wouldn’t understand.
His former partner raised a brow. “Damn, she’s gorgeous. How did you meet a girl from Wisconsin in LA?”
“She moved out there for family.” Seth opted for the simple version. “And we met through mutual friends. She’s incredible. I never thought I’d find someone like her.”
Tony grinned. “You’re clearly in love.”
“Yep, I’m totally gone,” Seth admitted without embarrassment.
“When’s the big day?”
Seth shrugged, hedging. “We’re still deciding. There’s no rush, and she’s in her last year of nursing school.”
When the server set down Tony’s club soda, he thanked her before sending Seth a wry grin. “Your life sounds anything but boring.”
“You got that right. What about you and Megan? You still planning to make an honest woman of her come spring?”
Tony’s face lit up. “Yep. We found a venue, and she’s got a dress on order. We’re working on the rest. We found a house in Queens—nothing fancy, but it’s got a yard and good schools for when we have kids.”
“That’s great, man. I’m really happy for you.”
His former partner raised his glass. “Here’s to finding the right women and some happiness before life kills us.”
They clinked glasses, and Seth couldn’t help but wonder… “You ever think about leaving the force?”
“Every damn day.” Tony’s smile faded. “Especially lately.”
Seth leaned in and dropped his voice. “Last time I saw you, you mentioned that things at the precinct had gone south.”
Tony scanned the nearly empty bar, his shoulders tense as he checked for unfriendly ears. “Like I said after the nine-eleven memorial ceremony, things have changed, gotten more political. It feels…corrupt.”
“Fucking shame,” Seth murmured.
“And getting worse every day.”
“We’ve always known there are a few dirty cops at the station who—”
“This is bigger. Darker.”
His dad would be rolling over in his grave, Seth thought sourly. “What do you mean?”
Tony glanced around the bar again, this time even more cautiously.
“Good cases are getting tossed. I’m talking slam-dunks, especially drug dealers having their charges dismissed over bullshit technicalities.
But it’s not like the place has gone soft.
Some dealers are getting skewered with felony charges for what should be minor possession. It’s shady.”
Seth frowned. “That could be shitty lawyers or overworked assistant DAs.”
“I thought that, too. At first. But witnesses started disappearing.” Tony’s knuckles were white around his glass.
“Key informants started turning up dead, execution style. Their deaths were ruled suicides. Makes no fucking sense. And it’s not just informants.
Cops, too. Good cops who asked the right questions got transferred or demoted. Or dead.”
His gut tightened. “Someone’s offing cops?”
“You remember Patrick Kowalski? Narcotics detective, worked Vice for a while?”
Seth nodded. “Younger guy. Sharp.”
“Yep. Patrick came to me about three weeks ago. Said he had something huge that would blow up half the precinct. Next morning, his body turned up in an alley a few blocks from the station with three bullets in his chest.” Tony drained his club soda.
“The detective in charge of the case called it a robbery gone wrong, but I’m not buying it.
Street thieves want shit to sell, not bodies to hide.
Bad for business. Patrick’s wallet was still in his pocket, cash and all. ”
That sounded sus as hell…like his dad’s death being ruled a drug deal gone wrong. Different people and different situations, but corruption always left behind the same stench.
“Yeah, that sounds fishy as fuck.”
“Exactly. Maybe I could believe it was random, but not right after Patrick said he’d uncovered something big. I’ve been a cop too long to believe in coincidences like that.”
Seth, too. A chill went up his spine. “Be careful.”
“I am.” But Tony’s hand shook slightly, belying his words. “I’ve done some digging but—”
“Unless it’s your case, you should stop. Have you discussed this with the higher-ups?”
“Of course. But nothing changed—except that I feel like I’m being watched now. Followed. Maybe that sounds paranoid but…”
Tony had always been too level-headed for that.
Besides, Seth felt the prickle of unseen eyes now, too.
Unease crept up his spine as he scanned the bar again.
He didn’t see anyone obviously watching them, but that just meant that whoever observed them was damn good.
“And you have no idea who’s pulling the strings? ”
“None. That’s what scares me.” Tony’s voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “Whoever this is, they’ve got friends in high places and the kind of power that buys silence.”
The only person with that much power was the chief. The guy was a prick. He’d always been unpopular around the precinct. Even Gene hated him.
Shit. “Be careful, man. Different scenario, but if you’re right, I’m living proof that—”
“Anyone can get to you or the ones you love at any time. I know.” Tony’s stare darted to the entrance again.
“My gut’s telling me there’s danger everywhere and I should keep my head down.
Stop asking questions.” He met Seth’s stare, looking rattled.
“Like I said before, it’s a good thing you got out when you did.
We didn’t talk much about it when we were partners, but I knew the rumors about your dad being dirty were bullshit.
Everyone did. Michael was one of the good guys—solid, a damn good detective, and as honest as they come. ”
“Thanks. That means a lot.”
“I know it wasn’t easy to stop digging when you did. You and your dad were tight. But I’m starting to think you’re right and that I should take a page from your book.”
Tony didn’t know that Seth hadn’t stopped digging—that he’d hunted down Silas, spent four days torturing the murderer before executing him. That the page from his “book” had been one of the bloodiest chapters of his life. God willing, he never would.
“It would be safer,” Seth pointed out.
“Probably.” Suddenly, Marconi forced a bright smile and stood. “I should check on Megan and get back to work. But hey, text me your address and we’ll send you a wedding invitation, okay? Maybe you and Heavenly can make it back for the ceremony.”
“I’ll see if we can work it out.” By the time he had to RSVP for the event, the fact that he shared Heavenly with Beck would be out in the open.
Smiling, he stood and clasped Tony’s hand, before pulling him in for another slap on the back. “Take care of yourself, man. Seriously.”
“You too, Cooper. And hey, tell your mom congrats on her wedding.” Tony nodded. “See you around.”
“See you.” Seth tipped his chin and watched Tony—shoulders tense and head on a swivel—hurry out of the bar.
With a frown, Seth glanced at his phone. Their conversation had wrapped up earlier than expected, and now he was alone with his churning thoughts and a growing sense of apprehension.
Same shit, different day. But the systematic rot of corruption Tony had described made Seth doubly glad he’d given up his badge.
After finishing his beer, he paid the check and strolled out of the bar. Beck’s speech would likely run another hour, but after Tony’s revelations, Seth felt the urge to look in on Heavenly, make sure she was safe.
He crossed the opulent lobby toward the elevators, rounded the corner—and stopped dead.
There, Heavenly stood, looking wide-eyed and just a bit afraid at the massive, tattooed figure looming over her, pressing her against a wall.