Chapter 16
"You know, he's the only one who's asked us how she was killed," Jack muttered as we walked down the sidewalk.
I nodded.
I texted pictures of Fletcher and Patrick to Christy, the girl who lived across the hall from Sydney. [Are either of these the guy you saw the night of Sydney's murder?]
After a few minutes, she texted back. [I don't know. It was late, and I was tipsy. I can’t say for sure.]
We stopped in Totally Tubular to grab lunch. I went with the wipeout wrap, which was basically a steak burrito with a mystery sauce. Jack went with the fish tacos. We filled our bellies and kicked around theories about the cases.
In the afternoon, we headed over to the warehouse for band practice. The usual group of miscreants loitered out front, smoking cigarettes and drinking beer. We chatted with them a bit before heading inside.
We walked down the dim hallway as the dull rumble of live music seeped through the walls.
In the practice room, Dizzy noodled on guitar while Crash thumped on bass. Styxx held down the rhythm, beating on his candy-apple-red drum kit.
The guys ran through the set, tightening some of the newer additions. We would hit the recording studio soon for a new album. It was about time.
Afterward, we took the guys to dinner at the Prime Grill and feasted on juicy steaks, seared to perfection.
Fat and happy, we strolled down the boulevard to Red November and had a drink. The submarine-themed bar always drew sufficient eye candy.
We weren’t there long when JD pointed to a gorgeous redhead at the bar. "Periscope up."
It was Shane’s sister, Riley.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, I have an investigation to continue," I said, leaving the group behind. It wouldn't take them long to round up groupies in a place like this.
The club wasn't totally slammed yet, but a bachelorette party kept the bartender busy, mixing fruity cocktails.
I squeezed next to Riley at the bar and leaned against the counter.
She looked me up and down with uncertain eyes. "What does a girl have to do around here to get a drink?"
"It helps to know the right people," I said with a wink.
I waved to the bartender, and he gave me a nod of acknowledgment. Perks of being a cop and a regular. I figured we were next in line once he poured the sugary hangovers into glasses for the ladies.
“Are you the right people?” Riley asked.
“We’ll see.” I looked around, but didn't see Shane or his brother, Wade. "Are you here alone?”
"No, I'm with Amber," she said, pointing to a luscious blonde near the dance floor, talking to two guys.
"She's cute," I said.
"I can introduce you, if you like?"
"Her friends might not like that," I said, nodding to the two guys.
"Do you care?"
I grinned. "Nope."
"I didn't figure you for the type to back down from competition."
"Who says they’re competition?”
She smirked. "Well, if we ever get our drinks, I'll make the introduction, and the games will begin."
"The game has already begun, hasn't it?" I said, staring into her emerald eyes.
She lifted a curious eyebrow. "Is that what this is? A game? Are you keeping score?” She bit her lip, squinting into my eyes. “Maybe you’re trying to win both of us.”
"I'm not opposed, but I think one will do.”
"Which one?" she asked coyly.
The bartender finally arrived. "What will it be?"
"She’ll have a…"
"Cosmopolitan and an apple-tini.”
"A glass of Wild Fury whiskey, if you’ve got it. Rocks.”
The bartender worked his magic.
"What about my brother?" Riley asked. "Isn't that against bro code?"
“I’m just talking to you. Nothing wrong with that. Besides, I like to think I’m a decent, upstanding gentleman. You could do worse.”
“I’m sure I could.”
"But I guess that leaves me no choice but to date your friend. Wouldn’t want to upset Shane.”
She sneered at me playfully.
The bartender slid the drinks across the counter. I gave him a wad of cash and told him to keep the change. He smiled appreciatively and dropped the tip in the jar.
“I guess you’re the right person to know around here,” she said as she lifted her glass.
“The job comes with certain perks.”
She toasted, “To perks.”
We clinked glasses and sipped our beverages. Her full lips stained the glass.
"How is your brother, by the way?”
"I would imagine he's hungover and probably remedying that with a little hair of the dog."
“Is he staying out of trouble?”
She gave me a curious look. “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him?”
“Is he staying with you, or has he taken up a more permanent residence in Coconut Key?”
“He’s staying with Wade at the moment. I can’t imagine he’ll be here long-term. Shane could never sit in one place for too long.”
“Prison must have been exceptionally hard for him.”
She gave me a look. “It was.”
"Tell me about his conviction.”
“You ran background on my brother. Don’t you know?”
“I want to know what’s not in the file.”
Her eyes narrowed, trying to see where I was going with this. “You always investigate your friends?”
“When there’s a reason.”
“You have a reason?”
“I have a hunch, and I hope I’m wrong.”
"What’s your hunch?”
I took a deep breath. "I know Shane did eight years for burglary. Ripped off a club owned by Tony Conti. I think your brother’s lucky to be alive."
"Why is that? I mean, I can think of many reasons why he should be dead. But what's your theory?”
"I looked into your brother’s case. It seems Conti was the kind of guy that people didn’t steal from.
Your brother always did have questionable judgment.
But as fate would have it, Conti suffered a fatal heart attack a week after the robbery.
Otherwise, I think Shane would have gotten shanked in prison. ”
Riley sighed. "That's my brother. He's got nine lives, and he's used up 11.”
"Now I'm pretty sure he didn't do that heist alone, but he kept his mouth shut and did his time. I also find it coincidental that Wade bartended at Conti’s club.”
Riley took a breath, a little tense. "Are you interested in me, or my brother?”
I chuckled. "Maybe I’m interested in both. For different reasons, of course.”
“Of course.”
She took a sip of her cosmopolitan. "I guess I should bring Amber her drink. It would be a great opportunity for you two to meet.”
Riley didn't move.
"What if I like it here?”
"What if I don't?”
"You're free to leave at any time.”
She didn't.
"There was a robbery at the Vault the other day,” I said. “A guard was shot and killed.”
Riley swallowed. “I heard something about that.”
“What did you hear?”
“Just what they say on the news.”
“Is that all?” I asked, probing.
"What are you suggesting?”
"I'm not suggesting anything." After a pause, I said, "I just find it a little odd that the minute your brother gets out of prison and into town, there's another robbery."
"There are plenty of criminals on the island. My brother is reformed."
"I hope so."
"And Wade doesn't work at the Vault. If you know Shane, you know he’s not smart enough to crack a safe."
"Unless he has the code.”
Her eyes narrowed at me. "You think my brother did it?”
I shrugged. "I don't know. You tell me?”
"And here I thought you were flirting with me.”
"Maybe I still am.” I grinned.
“Interesting way to flirt.”
We stared at each other for a moment.
“How will I know what your true motivations are? Maybe you just want to get close to me because you think my brother is a thief.”
“Is he?”
That hung there for a minute.
"All I know is Shane came into town a few months ago. Promised me he was on the straight and narrow. After nearly a decade away, I’m glad to have my brother back. The three of us are all that's left. Mom and Dad are gone.”
"I'm sorry to hear that.”
She frowned and took another sip. “Look, I’m not my brother’s keeper. I don’t know what he does on his time.”
I exhaled, “Well, I suspect even if you did know something, you wouldn’t tell me.”
“Blood is blood.”
“I also looked into Wade’s background.”
“Did you look into mine as well?”
“Not yet.” After a pause, I said, “Wade’s a smart kid. He was a computer science major until he got kicked out of college. Investigated by the FBI for hacking. Couldn’t make it stick. Now he works as a bartender, like he’s been doing since he worked for Tony Conti. Make it make sense.”
“Wade doesn’t do well with structure. He’s not really a self-starter. He’s more of a free spirit.”
“I gathered.”
We stared at each other for a moment.
“What about you?” I asked.
“I’m surprised you don’t know all about me.”
“I know you don’t have a criminal record.”
“I thought you didn’t run my background.”
“I just looked to see if you were in the system.”
She lifted a sassy eyebrow at me.
“I really don’t know anything about you. I don’t know where you work or what you do. Half the fun is getting to know each other, don’t you think?”
“I work at Diamond Charters. I’m the director of operations. And I don’t know if talking to a cop who knows all my family secrets is fun.”
“Sorry. I don’t like to get blindsided. Information is power.”
“Well, I feel powerless. I don’t know anything about you.”
“I’m an open book.”
She squinted at me. “No, you’re not. You’re pages and pages of secrets. Walled up and closed off. I know the type.”
“You could be operating under false assumptions.”
She chuckled. “You’re cute, Deputy. But I don’t need any more trouble than I already have.”
“Cute?”
“Sorry. Would you prefer handsome?”
I shrugged modestly. “Keep going.”
She laughed. “You don’t need me to stroke your ego. I think it’s big enough.” She scooped up the drinks. “I’ll see you around, Deputy.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” I said, just to get under her skin.
The offer for an introduction had apparently expired.
Riley returned to Amber, and I made my way back to JD and the gang. They had already attracted a small entourage.
“I see you managed to successfully run her off," Jack said.
I sneered at him.
"Does she know anything?"
"If she does, she's not saying.” I sighed. "Maybe we’re barking up the wrong tree. Maybe Shane had nothing to do with the Vault."
It was wishful thinking, and Jack knew better. "Let's hope so. After eight years in the can, you'd think he'd learn something."
"Yeah,” I snarked. “How to be a better thief.”
"I genuinely hope he's not involved. I like the guy. But he always was a little out of control."
We hung out at Red November for the rest of the night, then brought a small group back to the Avventura for an after-party.
It was around 2:30 AM when the sheriff called. Never a good thing at this hour. I swiped the screen and took the call. "What is it now?"