Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Tori doesn't know what crazy person inside her decided to call Liam. She must have lost her mind. When that detective told her about Mable, she burst out crying. Right afterward, she searched for his number on her phone.
She glances over. His hands are firm on the steering wheel. Apparently he already knows the way to the impound lot.
Calling him was the right thing. She knew it the moment she saw him standing on her front porch. Despite everything, her instincts tell her he's the kind of man you want around if there's trouble.
And then there was his expression when he petted Lita. Something about it reminded her of the kid he was in high school, but not in a bad way. Before he ruined that night for her, back when she still thought he was cute.
Eventually he pulls into a parking space in front of a chain-link fence. "We’re here," he says, turning the engine off. There are bright street lights, and she can see the lot in front of them is filled with cars. His voice is low when he asks, "Are you ready to go inside?"
"Thanks for bringing me."
"It’s okay."
"And for not acting like I'm a freak. Even though you probably think I am."
"I don't think that."
She glances out the window. "I know most people aren't like me. They don't give their car a name and treat it like it's a member of the family."
"Some do."
"I'll bet you don't."
He smiles at little. "No, but sometimes I wish I was that sort of person."
"Really?"
He nods. He looks like he wants to say more but doesn't.
They regard each other in the truck’s quiet, his scent tickling her nostrils. Clean and male.
"We should go inside," she whispers, though she doesn't move.
He doesn’t move either.
Their eyes meet. They might not like each other, but she senses the pull of him. There’s something in the air between them, something primal. It’s giving her a funny feeling inside.
Finally, she turns and reaches for the door handle. It doesn't open until Liam clicks a button, unlocking it.
Once outside in the night air, she takes a cleansing breath. I'm just emotional right now , that's all .
They head over to the police building, which is small and well-lit. She follows Liam, who thankfully seems to know where to go and what to do.
Once they’re inside, he assumes control and speaks with the officer at the front desk as she hangs back. She was raised to distrust cops, and it makes her awkward around them.
Tori shows her ID and has to fill out some paperwork. The officer tells them her minivan might have been used in a crime. She can see Mable, but isn't allowed to retrieve any personal belongings, and they won't be releasing the vehicle to her yet.
She nods, a sense of disbelief settling over her. A part of her still doesn't understand how this could have happened.
Meanwhile, Liam is asking more questions about the crime. Things she never would have thought of. Smart things. Questions about how they found Mable and whether there were any location hits on something called ALPRs, which she now remembers him explaining. He confirms the name of the detective in charge of the case and obviously plans to call him.
She watches his handsome profile as he speaks. Whoever thought she'd be glad to have Liam by her side?
Finally, the officer leads them out to the impound yard.
She's nervous. She knows Mable is just a minivan, but that's not how it feels. It feels more like Mable is a helpful friend, always taking her where she needs to go. She's been a part of Tori’s life for the past eight years.
"Here we are," the officer says.
But Tori has already stopped walking. She spotted her van ten feet away. That light metallic blue color, her familiar stickers on the back—"Animals on board" and "Happy Pet Nanny."
It’s Mable.
The two men watch as she moves closer, walking around the outside in disbelief. The front end is bashed up, and there are dents all over the side. The panel door is wide open, and when Tori sees the interior, she sucks her breath in with horror.
It's a blackened hole .
Someone torched the inside of Mable.
She bursts into tears. She can't help it. Just stands there with her face in her hands sobbing.
Liam is beside her, hugging her shoulder. "It's going to be okay. We'll fix it."
"No, we won't." She sobs some more. "This is too much. Just look at her."
She's surrounded as he pulls her in close. If she wasn't so upset, she'd probably notice how good his muscular body felt against hers, how his smell is even better with her nose pressed into his shoulder.
She tries to gain some control over herself. "There's nothing more to be done," she chokes out. Pulling away, she walks closer to her minivan and lays her hand on Mable's metal exterior. "Goodbye," she whispers.
Liam is quiet behind her.
When she turns around, her big purse hits his arm as she tries to find a tissue. "We can go now."
The three of them head back to the police building. It isn't until they're inside that she realizes Liam was holding her hand. She only notices it when he lets go and she loses his warmth.
The officer says they'll call and let her know when she can retrieve her van. He mentions a couple of local towing companies, but Tori doesn't pay any attention.
It's a relief when they're finally back in his truck.
"Please just drive," she says. "Get me out of here."
He starts the engine, and soon they're headed away from that horrible place. Away from poor Mable. Her eyes sting with more tears as she hiccups.
Neither of them speaks. The only sound comes from the road noise and her hiccuping.
"I think if you hold your breath and count to ten, they'll go away," he says. "That's what I've always heard."
"Peanut butter," she croaks.
"What?" He glances at her .
She wipes her wet cheek with her palm. "A spoonful of peanut butter is the best hiccup cure."
"Really? I didn't know that."
"I always get them when I cry, so I've tried every—" She hiccups again. "—thing. When we were kids, Road used to jump out of the closet in my room trying to scare them out of me."
"Did it work?"
"No." She smiles, remembering the way her brother used to fly out, yelling, "Boo!"
Liam chuckles. "I used to do that to Elena, though it wasn't to cure her hiccups. It was mostly for fun."
Tori tries to imagine Liam jumping out of a closet. "What did she do?"
"Scream and chase after me. I was too fast for her though. Our whole family did it."
She looks over at him. "Did what?"
"Jumped out of closets or any hiding place."
"You're kidding me."
"I'm not. We enjoy startling each other."
"Seriously?" She smiles. "And I thought I was weird. I guess you're even weirder."
He chuckles. "I've never thought of it as weird, but I suppose it sort of is. Your family didn't do that?"
"No." Tori thinks back to how she grew up. Her mom and her loser boyfriends were always throwing parties of one kind or another. It could be a rough crowd with everybody drinking. If you jumped out of a closet, you'd probably get yourself shot. But then she remembers something else. "Isn’t your dad in the FBI too?"
"Yes, he is. So was my grandfather."
"Really? Three generations?"
He nods. "In fact, my grandfather was one of the first Latino agents."
"Wow, so all these law enforcement guys packing a gun raised you. How did that work with all of you jumping out of hiding places?"
Liam laughs out loud, his white teeth flashing at her. "Happily, it was okay. It's not like we don't know each other. Also, none of us wear a sidearm at home."
And it's not like you're all drunks either . "Liam isn't a Hispanic name," she points out.
"No, my mom's family is Irish."
"And Elena's your only sibling?"
"Yes, she's a year older than me. You remember her from high school, don't you?"
Unfortunately, she does. Elena was a cheerleader, and after the milkshake thing happened, she made it a point to bad-mouth Tori every chance she got.
Liam takes the turn onto her street. Her house sits on a cul-de-sac. She's glad to see her little home again, glad to be back with her animals. Except her heart aches. If only Mable were here too.
He pulls into her driveway to let her out. Tori's still sad, but the conversation with him was a good distraction. Which must be why she says the next thing that comes out of her mouth. It must be the gratitude talking.
"Would you like to come inside?"
He seems surprised by the invitation, though she can tell he's trying to hide it. "Sure, I'd like that."
"Just for a quick lemonade," she clarifies. "Or maybe a beer. I think there's still some in the fridge."
"Sounds good."
"It's only as a thank-you for helping me. Nothing more."
His lips twitch.
"And you can't stay long. I have my date with Dr. Adrian tomorrow."
His lips do a gymnastics floor routine.
They get out of the truck. As soon as she enters the front door, her dogs scramble to come greet her .
"Hi, boys," she coos at them, petting each one. "You guys didn't have to get up for me."
Liam is right behind her, and this time he reaches down to pet them too. Tori smiles, watching him from the corner of her eye.
"Let me see what I have in the fridge," she says. The dogs all follow her into the kitchen, hoping for a second treat. Liam follows too. The only thing he's getting from her is a refreshing beverage.
"How long have you lived here?" he asks, leaning against the counter. The dogs have gathered around him with curiosity.
"About twelve years. I inherited the house from my uncle Lance." She opens the refrigerator. "There's beer, lemonade, almond milk, or water. I have vodka in the freezer too."
"I'll take a glass of lemonade."
She glances over at him. "You can have a beer if you want. I don't mind."
He shakes his head. "It's late, and I'm driving."
She pours them each a glass of lemonade. The beer is for visitors. She rarely drinks the stuff. Something stronger sounds tempting, especially after seeing Mable, but she wants to keep her wits about her when she's with Liam. He has a way of confusing her.
She hands him his glass, and they both head back into the living room. He takes a seat on the sofa, and she sits in one of the opposite chairs.
"Your hiccups are gone," he points out.
"They are. Sometimes they go away on their own."
He sips his lemonade. "This is good. Did you make it?"
"I did. I usually make it during the summer months."
"I taste spearmint."
"Yes, I grow it in my backyard. I like to add different flavors each time."
He takes another drink from the glass, then licks his bottom lip. It's plump and fuller than his top one. A peculiar desire to bite it comes over her.
She turns her head in a wash of guilt. What's wrong with me? It's like she's cheating on Dr. Adrian, and they haven't even started dating yet. She tries to remember what his bottom lip looks like.
"What are you thinking about?" he asks.
"What?"
"You look deep in thought. Is it about Mable?" He tells her how he's sorry the police didn't find her van sooner, how he could help her look for a new vehicle.
She nods, distracted by that sensual mouth. By his dark eyes and that black hair. She wishes he were ugly. Why did he have to be this hot? Her gaze drifts lower, remembering how it felt when he hugged her earlier, his body hard and solid.
"I'd be happy to help," he continues.
Thank God she didn't have anything stronger to drink. She tries to remember all the reasons she dislikes him. What he did to her at homecoming. The things he said to her at his house yesterday. She tries to think about Dr. Adrian too but can barely remember what his face looks like.
But then finally she does remember something. She leans forward and puts her glass on the table. "How was your date tonight?"
Liam's brows shoot up. He seems surprised at the change in subject. "It was good."
"What did you guys do again? You went to a baseball game?"
He tells her about the game and how they met a friend of his afterward. Some guy who's a pitcher for the Seattle team. "Are you into baseball?" he asks.
"No, I'm not into sports."
He doesn't seem surprised.
"My brother is though, and so is my cousin Brody. They're both huge baseball fans."
"Road is into baseball?"
"I like the uniforms." She ponders it. "They're pretty cute, actually. Does that count?"
Liam stares at her and doesn't seem to know what to say .
She leans forward in her chair. "So, I want to hear more about your date. Are you going to see her again?"
"Maybe." He seems to think it over. "She's nice, and we seem well matched."
A dark emotion twists in her. "Well matched how?"
He shrugs. "We like all the same things."
"Did you and Rachel like all the same things too?" She knows she's being overly nosy but suddenly finds herself intensely curious about these women.
He stares into his drink. "Let's not talk about that."
She's planning to continue her nosy questions anyway but hears Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" coming from inside her purse. "That's my phone. I better get it."
She gets up and goes to where she left her purse by the front door. It takes her a moment to dig it out. There's a pocket inside, but she always forgets to use it.
The ringtone is halfway through the song's chorus, so she knows it'll go to voicemail soon.
But then she sees who's calling. "Oh, no. Not again."
"What's wrong?" Liam asks from the couch. He puts his glass down. "Who is it?"
Tori only shakes her head. This is the last thing she needs right now.
Liam watches as Tori answers the phone, her voice changing to one of false cheerfulness.
"Hi! What can I do for you, Donna?" Tori pastes a fake smile on her face. "I'm so sorry. I know you have to be up early in the morning." She pauses. "I understand. I'll head over right now." She nods and listens. "Thank you. I appreciate you not calling them too."
Tori puts her phone back inside her purse. "Shit. "
"What's wrong?" From what he's observed, she rarely uses swear words.
"Nothing."
Her body language says otherwise. Where moments ago she had some of her usual bright energy, it's now gone dim.
"I have to go deal with this," she mutters. She looks directly at him. "You have to leave now."
"Okay." Though he doesn't move. "Can you tell me what's happening?"
She shakes her head and looks to the side. "It's my mom."
He's confused. "That was your mom?"
"No, that was her neighbor." There's a hard edge to her voice. "She called to tell me my mom is in her front yard making a spectacle of herself again."
"What does that mean?"
"She's drunk."
"I see."
Their eyes meet, and there's honesty in hers. He can see she's carrying a burden, a heavy one.
But then it all changes as a mask slides into place. "Listen, thanks for everything tonight." There’s a false lilt to her voice. "I really appreciate it."
"Let me take you to your mom's. I can help."
"Oh, that's not necessary." She tucks her hair behind her ear and gives him a fake smile, one that's almost convincing. He suspects she's had years to perfect it. "It's really no big deal. She'll just sleep it off. Actually, it’s nice that Donna calls me."
He watches her. This act probably fools most people, except he's not most people.
"Sorry to cut the evening short like this. I’ll text you about pet sitting next week."
He stands. Obviously she’s trying to get rid of him. "Let me at least drive you over to your mom’s."
"No, thanks. I've got this under control." She's already at the front door, opening it for him. "Believe me, I deal with it all the time. It's really nothing."
"How will you get there without a car?"
"What?" This seems to give her pause. She looks out to her driveway like she expects a car to materialize. "Wow, I forgot."
"Come on," he says. "I'll give you a ride."
She appears to be thinking it over. He's practically holding his breath.
"All right, fine. You can drive me, but that's it."
He waits by the door for her as she puts the glasses in the kitchen and checks on her dogs one last time. He scrolls through the messages on his phone. It's not quite midnight. There are only two new texts—one from his sister asking how his date went, and one from Matt asking the same question. Apparently Shelby texted Amy while they were at the game and told her how much she liked him.
That should make him feel like a million bucks, but it doesn't. Instead, he feels guilty.
Tori comes out from the kitchen and walks toward him. Despite his guilt, he can't pull his eyes away. The jeans hug her hips while her sparkly T-shirt shows off every curve. Her blonde hair isn't pulled into its usual ponytail but flows down her shoulders and back.
If a person could personify sunshine, Tori Church is the closest thing to it he's ever seen.
There's a sweetness about her, and of course, she's sexy as hell too. He watches as she grabs that huge Mary Poppins bag of hers, then looks at him.
"What?"
He shakes his head. "Nothing. Are you ready to go?"
She calls a goodbye to her animals and they head out. Her neighborhood is surprisingly lively at this hour. He hears someone's music through a window, and there are people sitting on their front porch talking. She waves hello to one of her neighbors.
Once they're seated, he smells tangerines and wonders how long her scent will linger in his truck .
Hopefully a long time.
"Take a left turn out of my neighborhood," she tells him.
He follows her directions as they drive and tries to get her talking some more, but she's not having any of it. A quiet resolve seems to have settled over her.
Eventually they pass a trailer park, and Tori has him take the next right. It's a neighborhood a lot like hers with mostly small older homes, many of them in need of repair.
"It's that rambler there on the end of the street," she tells him as he drives slower.
He sees the house she's talking about. He can't tell the exact color, but it's some light shade with a single car garage. There are two vehicles parked in the driveway, and one more in front.
"It figures," Tori mutters.
"What?"
"Wayne's here."
He pulls his truck across the street since there's no other parking. There's a graveled area to the right, but he's not sure if that's the neighbor's. "Who's Wayne?"
"My mom's boyfriend." She stares out the window at the cars in the driveway. "That's his yellow Charger over there."
"What's wrong with him?"
She snorts. "Everything."
Liam studies the house and sees the car Tori's talking about. "I'm coming inside with you."
"No." She shakes her head. "I told you that's not necessary. I've dealt with this plenty."
He studies her face. Her skin is pale in the darkened cab, almost fragile, amplifying a shadow beneath her eyes. Despite her appearance, he suspects Tori is a lot tougher than she looks.
There's yelling outside and they both turn toward it.
A woman with bleached blonde hair is by the front door dressed in a tight leopard-print nightgown. She's holding something in her hand, swaying on her feet as she walks outside. She yells again, but Liam doesn't understand her.
"I have to go," Tori says, pushing on the truck door. "Can you open this thing?"
"I'm coming with you."
" No . I just told you."
"There's no reason for you to deal with this alone."
There's more yelling. This time it's a man's voice. Liam turns and sees some guy in his forties. He's tall and skinny, wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. Both his arms are covered in tattoos.
Tori watches the guy with irritation.
"Is that Wayne?"
She nods.
"I don't care what you say." He unsnaps the lock on his seat belt. "I'm coming."
"Fine." She huffs. "Whatever."
They get out of the truck and cross the street together. Liam glances around the neighborhood but doesn't see anyone else. He wonders which house belongs to Donna.
As they walk up the driveway, the guy yells again, "Goddammit, woman, I said get back in the house."
"Go fuck yourself, Wayne!"
Liam watches the two of them squabble. They're making quite a racket. It's a wonder none of the other neighbors have called the police, but then this is obviously a regular thing.
He doesn't have much experience with domestic disturbance since that's not FBI territory. Though he worked Violent Crime four years before transferring to White-Collar, so he's seen some crazy stuff. He scans the front of the house and wonders if anyone else is inside. He doubts he'll need it, but he's still glad for the snug weight of his sidearm.
It isn't until he and Tori are up on the lawn that Wayne suddenly notices them. "Tori?" he calls out. "That you?"
"Yes, Wayne, it's me. "
"Who do you have there with you?"
They continue to walk closer. Liam keeps his eyes on Wayne, assessing the man. He's about six feet tall and wiry. He doesn't appear to be armed, though Liam would bet money the guy has done time somewhere.
"This is my friend Liam," she says.
Her mom turns around now, stumbling to maintain her balance. "Tori?" Despite wearing a nightgown, she's also in extremely high-heeled sandals. She's holding a tumbler of what looks like whiskey in her hand. "What's my baby girl doing here?"
"Visiting you."
"Isn't that… sweet." Her mom smiles, and it's obvious she's drunk. Liam tries not to look at her middle-aged body, which shows clearly through the nightgown's thin material. Her breasts are almost falling out. "And you brought a friend?" She smiles at him too, but then as he moves closer, her smile fades. Instead, her eyes grow wide as saucers. "Are you kidding me?"
"What is it?" Tori asks.
For a second, he wonders if her mom recognizes him from years ago. He certainly recognizes her. After the milkshake incident, the principal called their parents into the school to have a meeting. He'll never forget the way Tori's mom came strolling in there with a short miniskirt and high heels, her blonde hair piled on top of her head like a cross between a movie star and a stripper. She didn't look like anybody's mother he'd ever seen.
"You brought a fucking cop to my house?" her mom shrieks. "Have you lost your mind?"
Wayne's body stiffens, and his eyes flash over to Liam. "Calm down now, Lori. We don't know who that is."
"Liam's not a cop," Tori says.
But her mother shakes her head. She points at him, yelling, "You think I don't know a cop when I see one?"
"He's not a cop," Tori repeats. "Trust me."
"Then what the hell is he? "
Tori glances at Liam, and he thinks he detects the hint of a smile on her lips. "He's an FBI agent."
Lori's eyes pop out of her head. "That's even worse!"
Wayne's mouth drops open. His eyes pop out too. They're both gaping at Liam like he's going to arrest them any second.
"What the hell?" Wayne seems to have gone on high alert. His long arms flop around. "This makes no goddamn sense. You really a fed?"
Liam nods. "I am."
Lori and Wayne continue to gape. Wayne looks scared, while Lori looks like she's ready to grab a garden rake and chase him off her property. If this whole thing weren’t so pitiful, it would be amusing.
"Mom, he's just a friend of mine," Tori tries to calm her down. "That's all."
"Since when do you have friends who are… in the FBI?"
"It's no big deal. He gave me a ride," she explains. "Someone stole Mable, remember?"
This seems to get Lori's attention off of him. Her expression changes. "Of course I remember, baby girl." She rubs her cheek, words slurring. "What a terrible thing."
"Let's go back inside the house." Tori's voice is measured. She reaches down and takes her mom's glass. "Here, I'll refresh that for you."
Her mom glares at Liam with comical suspicion but follows her daughter's lead. "It's a tragedy what happened to Mable. A real tragedy."
The four of them head inside with Liam walking in last.
He wonders how many years Tori's been dealing with this. It saddens him to even think about it.