Chapter 19 #2
It was Dr. Torres, the sleeve of his suit jacket torn and sweat along his hairline. For a man who did cutting-edge research and had real-estate holdings all over the city, he didn’t look boardroom ready right now.
“Can I help you?”
Torres came over, stopping a few feet away. “I was looking for you and Dr. Yassan. Hoping you’d help me.”
“The police are looking for you. We actually thought you’d been kidnapped,” Luca said. “What’s going on?”
“I’m afraid I was backed into a corner and didn’t make the right choice.”
“Is the patient in danger?” Maybe he’d given Francisco Abalos a substance that would kill him.
Torres shook his head. “I would never endanger a patient.” He seemed affronted by the idea. “I’m referring to some business dealings with unscrupulous people in town. This…shadow syndicate.”
Luca said, “You know who they are?”
“I’ve had communication with them. But I can’t talk to anyone except the Marshals, and not without some assurances.” Torres lifted his chin. “If I don’t have that, my life will be in danger.”
Luca nodded. “I understand. I can call Deputy Marshal Butler and have him come here. The two of you can work something out. Does that sound good?”
Torres nodded. “I was hoping you’d be able to connect us. I seem to have misplaced my phone.”
“What happened at your house?”
“I haven’t been back there in days,” Torres said. “I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re referring to. It’s my vices, you see. They get the best of me on occasion, when I need to solve a problem. Or when the ideas in my mind need to quiet down so I can rest.”
Luca motioned to the cabin. “Let’s go inside so you can sit and wait for Butler. I’ll make the call, and you can talk to Kira.”
“Thank you.” Torres nodded. “For your help.”
A week later, Kira finally felt rested enough to speak to Destiny Rousseau. Luca drove, acting like there was nowhere he’d rather be than chauffeuring her around the city so she could see her friends. Acquaintances.
They’d spent long days together, and apart from after that one late evening with their friends, each time, at night, she reluctantly went home.
Even if he hadn’t mentioned it, she wondered if they would be one of those couples who had a short engagement.
A small wedding, maybe at Wiltmore House, with their closest friends.
Jordan could come out and be her bridesmaid, proving that she was wrong about Luca and Kira—they fit.
Her friend just needed to see it with her own eyes.
After the wedding, they would go somewhere fabulous for a week or two.
“Ready?”
She shifted in the front seat so she could look at him. All that strength and skill, and he was determined to use it to protect her. To make sure she always felt safe. “Thank you for driving me.”
Luca leaned over and kissed her. “Let’s go figure out if Destiny is in this shadow syndicate.”
Kira rolled her eyes. “That’s not why we’re outside her house on a random afternoon. Anyway, have you heard from Butler about Dr. Torres? Has he said anything?”
“Unfortunately, the Marshals don’t invite me to their briefings.”
“Bummer.” She pushed open the car door, listening to him chuckle, loving the sound of his amusement and knowing she was the one who brought lightness to his life. Enjoyment. A little bit of peace that was wrapped in the gift of God they were to each other.
Holding hands and walking into a church service together this past Sunday had been the best feeling. Kira felt like she was riding the biggest high of her life—and it was all because of Luca.
He walked with her to Destiny’s front door and pressed the doorbell that echoed through the house like stately country church bells. “Not the tone I’d have chosen.”
“I’m going to get one of those doorbell cameras. You never know who might come by with juice, trying to tempt you with a chocolate pastry.”
A loud crash echoed through the house.
Luca tried the door, and it opened. He pulled out his gun and thumbed off the safety. “Stay behind me.”
She knew the drill by now but was still surprised when he didn’t order her to stay in the car or something like that. Kira stuck with him, matching his pace and sticking in the protected spot right behind him.
From deep in the house, Destiny screamed and a gun went off.
Luca started running. Kira fought to keep up, racing up the stairs and down the hall through the open doors of the main bedroom. Destiny stumbled back toward the door in the corner, a smoking gun in her hand.
“Mrs. Rousseau, put the gun down.” Luca rounded a body leaking blood into the plush fabric of the carpet.
Kira knelt and pressed two fingers against the man’s carotid. Nothing. “He’s dead.”
She retrieved her phone from her jacket pocket and called 911, asking for Detective Michael Martinelli and reporting a dead body.
Kira stood and gave the body a wide berth, moving to where the other woman would be able to see her. “Destiny? Put the gun down, please.”
It tumbled to the carpet. The other woman gasped, her face pale. Hands shaking. Her blouse rumpled as if it had been tugged away from her body. One cheek red like she’d been slapped.
“Destiny, are you hurt?” Kira kept her voice soft, easing toward the other woman.
She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes glassy.
“The police are on their way.”
Luca squeezed Kira’s hand, passing her and moving back to the body. “This is Antonio Abalos.”
She glanced at him. “Francisco’s nephew?” The one who’d forced him out of the cartel. What was he doing in Destiny’s house?
“He was going to kill me.” Destiny gasped again. “The cartel still wanted to deal, but if Ralph could stand up to them, then I wasn’t going to back down. No way.”
“Let’s go into the hall, okay?”
Destiny moved with her, and Kira led her out of the room. Luca stayed with the body but came out when the cops showed up with Mike right behind them. The detective said, “I need to see the victim, then I’ll be out to speak with Destiny.”
“All right.” Kira nodded.
Destiny had a bench beside the bookshelves at the top of the stairs, so Kira led her to it and had her sit.
“Can I get you anything?” She didn’t know what else to do but get a glass of water. “I could call Roger for you.”
Destiny shook her head. “He’s on a trip.”
Kira frowned. “It’s okay to ask him to come home to be with you.”
The other woman looked away. Mike came back from the hallway. “Mrs. Rousseau, is it okay if I ask you a few questions?”
Destiny sniffed, nodding slightly.
“How did that man come to be in your bedroom?”
“Well, you don’t have to ask like that. As if it’s something sordid.” Her red-rimmed eyes flashed with anger. It seemed out of place since Destiny had just taken a life. “He was an associate of Ralph’s. At least, he was trying to be.”
“Can you explain that?”
“The cartel wants to get a foothold in Renegade, what with it being so close to Denver. And the airport and freight train network. They want to use it as a hub to transport drugs or something.” She shook her head.
“I don’t know anything about it. All I know is that they were trying to force Ralph to turn over some of his businesses to them.
They hacked the foundation accounts and his business accounts, all to make it look like we were in league with them. So we looked dirty.”
“Trying to force you to cooperate?” Mike looked up from his notepad.
“They said if we agreed, they’d leave us alone.” Destiny sniffed. “Ralph refused to back down. That’s why they killed him. Antonio said it was a deadly plant from Roger’s homeland so the police would think that the son poisoned his father.”
Kira shook her head. “I’m so sorry. That’s terrible.”
Mike said, “Antonio killed your husband?”
Destiny nodded. “Because he wouldn’t agree. And neither did I, even when he was taking my foundation from me.” She lifted her chin, tears in her eyes. “If Ralph wasn’t going to give in, then I never would. But he grabbed me. I had the pistol in my dresser, and I used it.”
Kira started to speak. She didn’t want to question this woman, but now that she was seeing through the facade, the whole story just seemed kind of convenient.
Destiny stood up, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I have to go downstairs. I need some air.”
“This officer will go with you.” Martinelli motioned to one of the uniformed cops standing nearby.
The guy nodded and followed Destiny down the stairs.
Kira waited until she was out of earshot before she said, “This is unbelievable, right? The cartel trying to gain territory here in Renegade.”
Mike shrugged, heading for the bedroom with his suit jacket flapping. She walked beside him. He said, “Maybe not as unbelievable as you might think, what with a shadow syndicate trying to maintain power. People caught in the crossfire. It feels like a turf war.”
“Well, you heard Destiny. She and Ralph didn’t want anything to do with it.”
He glanced at her and nodded, then stepped into the main room.
“One shot, point blank.” Luca shifted out of his crouch and stood, pulling off gloves that matched the officers.
“I’ll get the crime scene techs in here.” The uniformed officer moved to the window and got on his radio.
“Fits her story.” Mike squeezed the back of his neck.
Kira looked at the scene. “She’s distressed. Maybe she’ll remember more details in the next few days.”
“We usually conduct a follow-up interview.” Mike glanced at her. “This isn’t something you need to get into.”
“Don’t worry.” Kira held up her hands. “I’m due back at the hospital tonight, and I’m more than ready to work.”
Luca’s expression softened. “All this ties it up neatly, huh, Martinelli?”
Mike shook his head. “I guess. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Because you still don’t know who the syndicate is?” Kira said.
“Looks like our case is…” Luca glanced at Mike. “What is it you guys say? Oh yeah. It’s ongoing.”
“Guess you’d better get used to being on retainer.”
Luca clapped him on the shoulder. “Wouldn’t miss it. Except today. Kira and I have plans.”
“Sure, leave me to all the details and paperwork.”
“What’s that?” Luca put his arm around Kira’s shoulder and walked her away from the murder scene. “Can’t hear you.”
“Get lost.” After a second, Mike said, “I’m happy for you.”
Kira smiled up at Luca as they walked together down the hall to the stairs. Destiny was on the phone in the entryway. As Kira approached, the other woman waved her away. The officer mouthed, Her lawyer.
Luca said, “We can come back tomorrow.”
Kira nodded. “All right.” But she wasn’t sure she wanted to visit soon. Maybe after she had settled back at the hospital and was in the swing of her normal life, this time with Luca as a welcome addition.
The past three weeks—she couldn’t believe it had been that long—were unlike anything she’d expected.
They stepped out into the afternoon light, and Kira raised her hand to shield her eyes. “We have plans?”
“Only in the general sense. Want to get an early dinner?”
“After seeing that?”
Luca shrugged. “Does it bother you?”
“Not really. I didn’t know the guy, and there was no chance to save him.”
Luca touched his lips to hers. “Let’s go for a walk in the park.” He beeped the locks on the car. “You sure you’re good after that?”
She stopped by the car. “You were there. I wasn’t afraid. I’m just sad that Destiny is going through so much, and I’d like to help her, but I don’t know how.”
“You’ll figure it out. Or she’ll call and ask.”
He had so much faith in her. Kira said, “Thanks.”
He came over and kissed her softly. “Anytime.”
“A walk sounds nice.” And normal.
Life didn’t always have to be danger and investigations. Sometimes it could be a quiet movie night or coffee on the porch under the stars. Spending the day together just enjoying each other’s company or one another’s space. Meeting friends for dinner and playing cards with their family.
All things she hadn’t had in so long…maybe ever.
But now they were hers. A gift of God she’d never expected.
Each day was a blessing, and she hoped that she and Luca had many of those to come.