Catch Your Breath (15 page)

Today, many of the partygoers brought their pets, which made it more fun for Moira.
As soon as her feet hit the sand, she took off her sandals, carried them by the straps,
and walked barefoot. Maybe not the most professional, but again, beach.

A guy ran by with his dog on a leash, both kicking up sand that sprayed her ankles.
She wove through the crowd and tried to decide whom she wanted to talk to. Radio personalities
chatted with guests, and some TV news reporters interviewed shelter workers. She watched
the scene before her and wondered if her job had become irrelevant. Being a reporter
was all she ever wanted to be, but no one had any idea who she was.

Had she expected to be famous? She thought about it for a moment and knew she hadn’t,
but she’d always thought she’d at least be respected, and she didn’t feel she’d accomplished
that.

She felt someone standing behind her, a little too near, seconds before she heard
his voice.

“Hey.”

Jimmy’s low, deep voice made her want to crawl onto him. How did he manage to do that
with one syllable?

“Hi.” She turned and smiled at him. “What are you doing here?”

He rolled his eyes. “My wife Gabby is a huge animal lover.”

Hearing him call Gabby his wife made Moira twitch a little. Knowing it was a lie didn’t
ease the twitch. “I see.”

She turned back to her path toward the party. Jimmy walked beside her.

“Sorry I haven’t been in touch. I did call once. Left a message. Things have been
crazy.”

“I know.”

“Are you pissed?”

“No. Why would I be?”

“I left things a little unsettled between us. I meant it when I said I wanted a rain
check for our date. I just haven’t had a free moment.”

She squinted against the sun as she looked at him. “Believe it or not, I’ve been busy
too. I have better things to do than sit by the phone and wait for your call.”

As soon as the words slipped, she cringed. She hadn’t meant to sound like that.

“See, you are pissed.”

“No, I’m really not. I’m just tired. This is my eighth event this week. I’m talked
out, I guess.”

“I can’t believe Mouthy Moira ever gets tired of talking.”

The childhood nickname brought back childish feelings of being excluded, usually by
him. She pasted on a smile. “Being mean again.”

“That’s not mean. It’s a term of endearment.”

“Better not let your wife hear.”

He rolled his eyes again. “Why have you been so busy? I thought you only did a couple
of these things a week.”

She lowered her voice. “I’ve been looking for that escort woman I told you about.
I know she’s around—”

Moira stopped her feet and her mouth at the look he gave her. The muscle in his jaw
twitched, and she could almost hear his teeth grind. Really not good.

“I told you to stay away from my investigation.” His whisper sounded more like a threat
than a sweet anything.

She straightened her spine. He would not intimidate her. “I’m not doing anything with
your investigation. I know nothing about it. How could I get in the way? I’m working
on a totally different story, one that has nothing to do with you.”

“Moira—”

She backed up and waved at him. “Sorry, have to go. People to interview. Talk to you
later.” Then she did her best not to stomp in the sand.

She wasn’t treading on his investigation. At least not as far as she was aware. He
hadn’t given her enough information to know what was going on. His eyes burned a hole
in the back of her head as she made her way through the crowd. She saw some people
she knew and went to say hi.

After about an hour, Moira caught her second wind. She was having a blast playing
with all of the dogs, throwing Frisbees and discovering all the good the shelter did.
She enjoyed this part of her job most: talking to people who were passionate about
something. It came across in every word they spoke, and their eyes lit with excitement.

She wanted to capture that passion on a page with words. Would she ever be good enough
to accomplish that?

A gentle tap on her shoulder had her turning around. She knew it wasn’t Jimmy before
she turned. The air wasn’t vibrating and she hadn’t felt watched. The guy standing
behind her was from the zoo last week. Mike. “Hi.”

He wore khaki shorts, an olive-colored polo, and thick leather sandals. He smiled
as he pushed his glasses farther up on his nose. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Our walk last week was interrupted, and I’d hoped we could continue.”

Moira felt the burning stare rolling off Jimmy from the other side of the crowd. He
neared, and Moira put her arm around Mike’s elbow, leading him away. Jimmy had to
be more careful or he’d blow his cover.

“I’d like to take you out on a date,” Mike blurted.

“Well, I’m kind of seeing someone.”

“Kind of?”

“We haven’t actually had our first real date yet. You know, life gets in the way sometimes.”
The sand beneath her feet was starting to cool.

“He’s not here tonight, is he?”

“No,” she answered too quickly, afraid she’d blow Jimmy’s cover. They’d moved away
from the crowd and Jimmy. “I’m technically working today, so it’s not the best time
for a date.”

“But we can walk, right? I’m not taking you away from an important interview, am I?”

She liked his thoughtfulness and consideration of her job. “No. I’m about done.”

Jimmy was about to burst through the crowd to follow Moira. He knew it was a mistake,
but his feet kept going. All he’d been able to hear of Moira’s conversation was that
she was seeing someone who wasn’t here tonight. Then he felt Gabby’s hand link with
his and he stopped.

Maybe that’s why Moira was pissed. Not because he hadn’t called, but because he continued
to show up at these parties with Gabby. As long as he was undercover, he couldn’t
be seen with Moira.

“Oh, honey, I saw the most adorable dog. They have a book showing the animals available.
I think we should consider adopting.” Gabby’s voice was a little high-pitched and
whiny. Everything he knew Gabby wasn’t. “Come on.”

She tugged his hand and pulled him in the opposite direction from where Moira walked.

He grit his teeth, but allowed her to lead him.

With a sunny, fake smile on her face, she said through her teeth, “No one is going
to believe we’re happily married if you keep chasing Moira.”

“I know that. And I wasn’t chasing her.”

An eyebrow disappeared behind her bangs.

“She makes me crazy. I can’t think straight when she’s around.”

“Falling for her already? I thought you hadn’t even gone out yet.”

“We haven’t. I’m not falling for her. She keeps butting her nose into the investigation,
and it’s going to be a problem.”

“What are you talking about? She’s been nothing but helpful.”

“Whatever.”

Gabby led him through the crowd and then oohed and aahed over the pictures of dogs
in the book provided. All he could think about was Moira trying to convince him to
adopt a dog. A dog wouldn’t be the worst idea. It would get his dad out of the house
and walking every day. He let Gabby flip pages while he looked at the crowd for Moira.
He didn’t like her running off with some guy.

Knowing it was the same guy from the zoo made things worse. Moira had said she was
going to kiss men until she found the right one. He didn’t want her to even give this
guy a chance. Not before Jimmy got another chance.

Chance for what?

The quiet little question reverberated in his brain, but used Moira’s voice. He didn’t
know what he wanted from Moira or where it would go, but he wanted to see. She was
certain Liam wouldn’t care, and Liam had been his greatest concern. Could Moira be
the woman he’d been looking for?

He had no idea. He didn’t know what she wanted for her life, so it was time to find
out. Scanning the crowd again, he found her on the outskirts, still holding on to
the guy’s arm, but now they faced each other. The guy fingered Moira’s hair, brushing
it from her face.

Jimmy’s blood ran hot and he swallowed hard. He couldn’t keep attending these parties
and focus on his job as long as Moira was there, especially if she flirted with other
men.

“James,” a voice called, and Jimmy looked up to see Stan Decker walking toward him.

None of the usual people had arrived yet, so in a way, Jimmy was relieved to see Stan.
The closer he could get to that clique, the better his chances for drawing out the
thieves. “Stan, I was beginning to wonder if I’d run into anyone I know.”

“The wife likes animals. Looks like it’s the same with yours. Buy you a drink?”

“Definitely.” He looked at Gabby, who nodded. He kissed the top of her head. “Be back
soon.”

As they edged away from the shelter workers, Stan said, “Len told me what was going
on. Is there any way I can help?”

Jimmy stiffened, not sure what Stan thought he knew. All of the victims had been told
not to reveal anything to anyone—especially Jimmy’s role. “What do you mean?”

“I convinced Len to come forward. I know about all of them. I know who you are. I’m
asking if I can help.” Stan ordered a couple of beers. When the bartender handed over
the bottles, Stan tilted his head to get them farther away from the crowd.

At least he wouldn’t be able to see Moira.

“I appreciate the offer, Stan, but I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.” He
drank from his beer and watched the waves on the lake.

Stan studied the label on his bottle as he spoke. “I knew about Len, but I didn’t
know there had been other men. Otherwise, I would’ve pressed him to come forward sooner.
I’ve done some discreet asking and I have this for you.” He reached into his pocket
and pulled out a piece of paper.

Jimmy took it. A list of phone numbers.

“I asked some people I know to refer me to places of business if I wanted some company.
I thought the numbers might help.”

Jimmy tucked the paper into his pocket and sighed. Everyone wanted to butt into his
business, and it irritated him. “Thanks, but I need you to let me do my job. If I
need some help or information, I’ll ask, but the more people that start asking unusual
questions or digging in the wrong place could spook the thieves. I don’t want to drive
them away. I want to bring them to me.”

Stan nodded. “I just want to help.”

Jimmy patted his shoulder. “I know.”

They walked back to find their wives. Jimmy was itching to leave. He looked for Moira
but couldn’t find her anywhere. A sick feeling plunged into his stomach as he thought
she might’ve left with that guy.

He and Gabby said good-bye to Stan and Karen.

“What did Stan want to talk to you about?”

“Len told him everything. He said he helped convince Bitger to come forward. Then
he gave me a list of phone numbers to escort businesses that cater to this crowd.”

“That’s good. It might be promising, right?”

Jimmy shrugged. “If it were that easy, one of the victims would’ve given us a number.
This outfit is too slick. They have a wide enough network of women that they’re not
overlapping.”

They walked to the parking garage and to their separate cars.

“Do you want me to run the numbers?”

“Nah. It’ll keep until Monday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

“You too. Doing anything interesting?” She wagged her eyebrows. “I noticed Moira wasn’t
at the party anymore. Is that where you’re headed?”

“I don’t know. Things are complicated.”

“So what? Loosen up and have some fun.”

“See you Monday.”

In his car, his muscles tightened again. Moira had left the party while he had been
busy with Stan. It didn’t matter that they hadn’t had a date yet—the intention was
there and they’d agreed to go out. Why the fuck would she leave with another guy?

Jimmy sped to Moira’s apartment, determined to find out. He didn’t have it in him
to play games. Her car was parked in front of the building, but she didn’t answer
her door. He knocked again, intent on interrupting whatever she had going on.

Afraid he’d lose his temper and draw attention from the neighbors, Jimmy went back
to his car. Why would Moira bring her car here and then not stay? He called her phone.

“Hello.”

“Where the hell are you?”

“On my way home.”

“From where?”

“Uh . . . North Avenue Beach. I saw you there, remember?”

“Try again. I’m sitting in front of your apartment looking at your car.” He gripped
the steering wheel, anger mounting again.

“I took the bus. I didn’t want to deal with traffic and have to pay for parking.”

He released a slow breath, glad she was alone, but then he realized she was taking
the bus through the city. Alone. “Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

“I’m stepping off the bus now. I’m at the end of the block. Why are you at my house
anyway?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“About?”

“You continuing to flirt with other men. Especially in front of me.”