Chapter 18
Eighteen
Michael grunted and tossed the stupid bow tie on the bed. He’d have to get Dani or someone else to tie it. Right now, he needed to get ready so he could pick Dani up in time for the Save the Rhino event.
A knock sounded, and his father walked in.
“Pops? What’s wrong?”
His father chuckled. “Why does something always have to be wrong, Michael?” He picked up the tie and looped it behind Michael’s neck.
“There’s always something wrong or something that needs fixing.”
“Yeah, there’s a lot of brokenness in this fallen world. But we can also look for the things that are good. The evidence of God at work. Because He is always at work, no matter how dark it seems.” He started the knot at Michael’s throat. “And that, my son, is why I wanted to talk to you.”
Oh. Michael relaxed his shoulders but stayed still as his father continued tying.
“I’m proud of you.” Pops tugged on the ends of the bow and smiled.
“You are?”
“I was so happy when I heard you were going out with Dani tonight.”
Michael’s spirits sank a bit. “Aw, Dad. I gotta be honest. I am going out with her, and believe me, what I feel for her is real and true. But this party is actually a work thing.”
“I know. But you’re beginning to find a better balance, son. You’re making room in your life for someone else. And I think you and Dani are a good match. Your mom always thought so too.”
“Mom? How?”
His father nodded. “She called it from the time you broke your arm catching her when she fell from the trellis. And she was right about your job too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you would be a healer. I loved that you wanted to be a doctor and would’ve reveled in having a practice together. But she knew. You were born a defender. A defender of your siblings. Your friends. And now your city.”
“So you don’t hate that I became a cop?”
His father sat down on the bed. “Of course not. You’ve worked so hard to defend your mother’s honor these last five years.
And it probably felt like I didn’t respect that.
But it was only that I saw you losing yourself and losing your faith.
You were searching so hard for truth in the dark that you forgot to seek the light.
But it’s back. I see it in you again. And I thank God for it. ”
Wow. Michael’s eyes stung. “But I still haven’t found justice for her.”
“Maybe not in your definition of justice. But you’ve come back to life. And that’s more important. So even if you never find who killed her, you’ll be okay.”
He was right. Michael wasn’t going to stop investigating, but he wouldn’t let the case consume him anymore.
His father stood and pulled an envelope out of his pocket. He held it out. “I have this for you.”
“What is it?” Michael took it.
“A little something to help and to thank you for all you do here.”
“Huh?”
“I saw listings for apartments nearby on the computer downstairs.”
“Yeah, Pops, I didn’t mean for you to find out ye—”
“I only wanted to say, it’s about time.”
“Wait. What? You want me to go?”
“Yes! Go live your life, Michael. We’ll be okay.” He squeezed Michael’s shoulder before he turned to leave. He paused at the door and looked back. “Besides, I already agreed to rent your room to Dani Kim. You’ve got two weeks to move out.”
Michael laughed. So maybe the Martinelli household wouldn’t fall apart without him. But he did have a job to do tonight, and he was in danger of running late if he didn’t leave now.
He drove to Josh and Lily’s house. He’d already had the awkward talk with Josh about his feelings for Dani earlier in the week. His friend’s response: He’d laughed and also said “About time.”
So there was nothing more to do than to grab Dani and head downtown. Michael parked in Josh’s driveway and knocked. He was early, so he might need to wait—
The door opened. Whoa.
He’d witnessed plenty of Dani’s dress-ups and funky outfits over the years. He’d seen her in princess gowns and zombie makeup and everything in between. But he’d never seen her like this.
She stood in the doorway, draped in a fire-red strapless gown. The silky dress hugged her curves like it was custom made. Her smooth skin shimmered in the porch light, her hair swept up high on her head. Full lips he couldn’t wait to kiss matched her dress. She was a knockout.
Dani quirked an eyebrow. “I’ll take that gaping jaw as a good sign.”
Uh, yeah. “It’s going to be hard to focus on Victor Bellmont tonight when all I want to do is this.” He moved in and kissed her.
She kissed him back for a moment, then pulled away. “We’ll have time for that later, but right now we need to get to work.”
He pretended to frown. “But I’m trying to find a better work-kiss balance in my life. With all the overtime this week, the kissing part is way behind.”
She laughed and dragged him off the porch. “Let’s go, Martinelli. Work first. Then play.”
In the car, they went over the plan again.
“So we arrive, mingle and scope out the place, and meet Victor,” Michael said. “Finn will be there for backup if needed. He should’ve planted weapons for us by the time we get there. No way we’d make it through security with them.”
“Kumar herself is there to help clear the way too. She’s providing the tech.”
“Salvador said the warrant came through, so once we’re set, we’ll plant the bugs in Bellmont’s office. Then tomorrow, we’ll regroup with your team and mine and figure out how to build a case against him.”
“Shouldn’t be too hard. We might have enough time for dancing too.”
Michael wasn’t much of a dancer, but with Dani, he’d definitely make an exception.
They arrived at the downtown skyscraper with a throng of people in evening wear exiting limos and sports cars.
Michael scanned the crowd as they waited in line to go through security.
Dani gave him a flirty smile and straightened his bow tie.
Probably, she was watching his back and studying the security guards at his six.
“See anyone we know?” he asked.
“Not yet, but the night is young.”
“Hopefully Finn made it.” And had been able to sneak their weapons in with the caterers. Not knowing who to trust on the police force meant they were keeping those in the know to a select few.
Once they finally made it through the line, they stepped into the main event.
The ballroom had been transformed into a tropical rainforest, complete with real trees and a system spraying a light mist into the air.
Servers wearing all black carried trays of canapés and champagne flutes.
Along one wall, a bar was laid out to look like a jungle outpost.
“I’m not seeing Finn, but I do see Martha over there by the stage area.” Michael gave a slight nod in that direction.
Dani picked up on it and turned to stand beside him. She snagged a glass from a server walking by and held it without taking a sip. “I bet this is the good stuff. No box wine here.”
Michael smiled. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
She bounced on her toes. Not enough that anyone else would probably notice, but he did.
“I can’t help it. This is kind of my dream-come-true moment as I live out the scene from every spy movie ever. The hero and heroine undercover at a gala full of the rich and famous.”
He laughed. Man, he loved this woman.
“But back to the mission, let’s go talk to Martha.”
He led the way slowly through the room, stepping around other couples, smiling and chatting as if they were only here to have fun. But on the way, he counted eleven security cameras and fifteen armed men probably meant to be a blend-in security force.
“Martha! I love your dress.” Dani stepped over to the executive assistant and looked around in awe. “And this is amazing. I can’t imagine all the time you put into this event.”
Martha looked taken aback. Her dark-green formal dress matched the flora around them, almost as if she were trying to fade into the background. “Ms. Kim? I didn’t expect to see you. I don’t remember you being on the guest list.”
“What can I say? I was so inspired by what you said about Victor Bellmont. I really want to meet him.”
“Yes, of course, but how did you manage to secure an invitation?”
“My boss, Silas Lochlear, had an invite and he couldn’t come. When I mentioned how bummed I was that I couldn’t interview Mr. Bellmont, he gladly gave me his. So, is Mr. Bellmont here?” Dani made a point of scanning the room.
“Uh, he still hasn’t decided if he’ll make an appearance or not. He doesn’t want to detract from the worthy cause we’re supporting tonight.”
Or the rich guy didn’t want to be bothered to show up to his own event.
Martha waved to someone behind them. “If you’ll excuse me, I see Senator Graves, and I need to speak to her. But please, enjoy the party.” She quickly left them and melded into a group of men and women by the bar.
Michael continued to track her until he caught sight of Finn in the same vicinity. Finn scratched his right ear, their code to meet.
“Looks like Finn has something for us. He’s moving toward that grove of palm trees in the corner. Let’s intercept him.”
“Oh, good. He has a tray of food. If I can’t drink on the job, at least I can get something delicious to eat.”
Dani had worked so hard to be ready early for the op that she’d missed dinner, so it wasn’t difficult to peruse Finn’s tray of fancy appetizers, giving them a chance to speak.
“I’m sorry, Mick, but I couldn’t get the guns smuggled in.” Finn barely moved his lips as he spoke. “I did get the bugs. Check the men’s restroom. Last stall. Tank of the loo.”
“What about the card access to the seventeenth floor?” Michael popped a crab pastry into his mouth and followed it with a swig of bubbly.
“Right pocket.” Finn kept his bland stare into the distance and lowered the tray to cover Michael, who slipped the key card into his own jacket. “My access only reaches to the eighth, where the laundry is kept.”
“If I have to walk up nine flights of stairs, I’m taking three more of these.” Dani grabbed two shrimp puffs and a pastry topped with asparagus. “What about surveillance?”