Coffee & Crime (35 page)

"Shit!" I started the car and got to exit just in time to see Lily turning right onto Pacific Coast. I counted to twenty and then followed her.

According to Joe, the key to a successful tail was to maintain a steady speed and to blend with traffic while keeping your target in sight. Lily drove like a woman who didn't know she was being followed so I guessed I was doing it right. She stayed on Pacific Coast until it turned into Lincoln, then made a left onto Venice Boulevard. A couple of miles later, she hung a left off Venice, onto a side street. Too slow on the draw, I got stuck at the red light.

When the light changed and I turned onto the side street, Lily was out of sight. My choices were to continue straight ahead or turn right or left. Out of instinct, I pulled over, stuck my head out the open window, and listened. The faint buzz of an engine sounded

straight ahead. Keeping my head out the window, I drove slowly, straining to follow the sound. After a couple blocks, I caught sight of the Mini as it hooked right. I sped up to stay with her and turned the corner in time to see brake lights blink off halfway down the block. Switching off my headlights, I coasted forward, scanning for the Mini.

The misty air and dim street lights made it difficult to drive and scan, so I parked and switched off the engine. When an SUV came out of nowhere and lumbered past me a few seconds later, I gasped. Ducking down in my seat, I watched the driver pull over and park. He got out of the car, walked up the street, and disappeared into the fog. Apparently just a guy coming home late and in a hurry to get inside.

I pulled a sweatshirt out of my duffel, tucked it around my sleeping dog, and eased out of the car. Like Boomer, the neighborhood was in for the night — my only guides were a few porch lights and a cloud-shrouded moon. I pulled up the hood of my jacket and zipped it to my chin but the chill air soaked into my bones and made me shiver.

Free to explore, I walked slowly and scanned the vehicles parked at the curb. The neighborhood was middle-class with a mix of single homes, small apartment buildings, and duplexes. There were plenty of trees to offer cover but they also made it harder to see further than a few feet ahead. To my left a light winked on across the street. I glanced up and saw a man, at his window, peering out. I ducked behind a big sycamore and waited until he turned away from the window. Then I stepped out and continued my search for the Mini. A few doors down I spotted it tucked between two SUVs parked in

front of a four-unit apartment building.

I checked left and right then hurried across the street. Using one of the SUVs for cover I scanned again for prying eyes. But I was the only one stupid enough to be scoping the neighborhood at one in the morning. Keeping my head down, I scurried to the front door of the apartment building and used my phone to illuminate the row of mailboxes attached to the front wall. Lily's name was on the last box.

The windows on the front units were dark, so I went to the back of the building to check out the rear units. The walkway that ran along the side of the building was narrow and unlit but it was easy enough to get around to rear of the property. In the rear left unit a single window was lit. I caught the scent of roses and soap and heard water running. Lily showering Jake's smell away?

My phone provided enough light for me to see two dumpsters butted up against the back exterior wall and right below Lily's balcony. An alley ran behind the building and fed out to side streets both east and west. From the alley I snapped a picture of the back of Lily's building, then turned west and walked. Every few feet, I snapped pictures of the alley until I got to the end. Then I snapped a picture of the street sign and headed back to the car. I'd use the pictures to help me find the place again when I returned the next day.

That imaginary spider tickled the back of my neck again but the street was deserted. And paranoia had been my middle name for a quite a while. Still, I felt relieved once I slid into the car and locked the doors.

Awake and jumping around like a jack rabbit Boomer was all over me. I dug a couple of doggie treats out of my bag and lay them on the passenger seat. He settled as soon as he started gnawing on the first biscuit.

Leaning my head back, I considered my next move. If I called Zelda and Joe they'd want to meet, brainstorm, and make a plan. My head spun at the thought of jumping right back into the chaos. At that moment, it felt like this was between me and Lily. For my own peace of mind, I needed to know why Lily had screwed me over. Had it been her plan all along? Why? To hurt me? To hurt George? I'd never be able to move on until I knew. And I'd never know if the cavalry rode out and charged the place.

There was no deadline to drive me. No job or other obligations to concern me. I could let things play out on their own without having to force anything. I could watch Lily as long as I needed to figure out her end game. And so it was settled – that was my plan, such as it was. It was way past my bedtime, and Lily wasn't going anywhere, so I fired up the car and buckled my seatbelt. "Time for beddy bye, eh Booms?"

Boomer wagged his stub but kept gnawing on the biscuit.

I’d seen a motel on Lincoln when I followed Lily and figured I’d crash there, at least for one night. "Okay, motel it is."

Then someone rapped on my window and I screamed.

I screamed loud and kept screaming until I recognized Ted's face at my window. The man had a bad habit of showing up out of nowhere. Sucking in a ragged breath, I buzzed down the window. "You scared the shit out of me," I whispered.

He ducked his head in and I caught a whiff of his freshly showered man smell. "Let me in," he whispered.

I put my hand on his chest and pushed. "Go away. What are you doing here?"

He hurried around to the passenger door and pulled on the handle. Staring at me through the window, he rapped on the glass, and mouthed, "Let me in." Knowing he wouldn’t go away, I surrendered and released the door locks. Like a seasoned spy, he

was in the seat next to me before I blinked.

Through gritted teeth I said, "What are you doing here?"

Ted wagged a finger at me. "What are you doing here?"

"Still nosy as ever, I see." I stared at my hands, trying to stay mad at him. But I'd missed him and was happy to see him
—
I just didn't want him to know that.

Ted peered through the windshield like he was scoping for the enemy. He looked left, right and to the rear, then said, "Pull out slowly and drive."

I scoffed. "Since when are you the boss of me?"

Ted leaned in close and I caught his scent again
—
my body hummed. "I don't want to be your boss, I just want to be your boyfriend again." He touched my hair gently and I almost groaned.
Down, girl
. "Okay?"

Fighting my hormones and the urge to throw myself at him, I pushed Ted back to his side of the car. "What's your deal? Are you stalking me now? Or should I say, again?"

Ted nodded ahead of us. "I'm parked at the end of the block."

I smacked my forehead. "That was you in the SUV? You are stalking me."

He pointed to his black Escalade whose position I already knew. "It's up there."

Grousing, I drove the half block, pulled in front of his car, and idled. "Okay, thanks for dropping by."

Amused, Ted shook his head. "Nice try. We're not finished. I'm going to get in my car and you're going to follow me."

"Did I mention that you're not the boss of me?"

Ted smiled and tweaked my nose. "If you don't do as I ask, I'll just stay right here. All night if necessary." His eyes dared me to test him. Kind of sexy. Kind of scary too. "You read me?"

I pouted, backed up, and positioned my car behind the Escalade. He stepped out of the car and got into the SUV. When he pulled out I followed him. We drove a few blocks to a cheap motel on Venice Boulevard and pulled in. We parked side by side but I stayed in my car. He locked the SUV and came to my window
—
I buzzed it down. "Now what? You going to spank me for being a bad girl? Although that would be better than a lecture."

"I'll take care of the rooms." He nodded his head toward an all-night food truck at the front of the lot. "You hungry?"

<<>>

I met him outside of the motel office with a bag of hot, greasy food and a couple of cups of coffee. Taking me by the elbow, he led to a room a few doors down. I stopped. "Where's Boomer?"

Ted unlocked the door and motioned me in ahead of him. "He's in the room."

Boomer lay on one of the two double beds, gnawing his chewie and barely looked up when I entered. The tacky room was done in the requisite brown and orange motif that all crap motels used. The two double beds threw me though. I set the food down on the table near the door and dropped my bag on the bed where Boomer lay. "Nice. Where's your room?"

Ted took the food out of the bag and laid it out on the table. "They only had one vacancy." He busied himself fashioning serving dishes out of napkins and the paper sack. "Food looks good."

I snickered. "This is how you want to be my boyfriend? You figure you'll seduce me, then I'll be a good little girl and come home?"

Ted continued setting out dinner. "This is how I handle the situation when there's only one vacancy." His eyes met mine. I saw no deception there but I didn't like the idea of sharing a room with a man I pined for either. And I told my hormones to shut the hell up. He pushed out a chair with his foot and pointed to it. "Sit."

The smell of greasy junk food made my mouth water and I plopped into the chair. Halfway through the burger, my blood sugar leveled, and I took a breath. Squirting ketchup on my fries I asked, "What are you up to, Ted?" I looked up at him. "Why are you here?"

He fixed his deep green eyes on mine. "To keep you out of trouble."

I smirked. "Who appointed you my guardian angel?"

"Zelda had concerns."

I pounded my fist on the table, sloshing coffee out of my cup. "I knew it! You two have been talking behind my back." I squinted at him. "How long has that been going on?"

Ted looked away and stared at his French fry so hard that he must've been fascinated by it. "She was worried."

I scoffed. "I'll bet she was." Then I pointed at him. "You’re the one who fixed her window, aren’t you? Don't bother denying it, I already know the answer." I shook my head. "I knew you were plotting with Zelda behind my back."

He looked up with soft, caring eyes. "So was I. Worried that is." He shrugged and grinned. "Can I help it if I'm smitten?"

The electricity between us buzzed in my ears. If I didn't shift gears, we'd end up tangled in the sheets with no hope of escape. "Smitten? Now there's a word you don't hear every day."

Ted pushed his food aside and laced his fingers behind his head. "A man doesn't get smitten everyday either."

I rolled my eyes. "How long have you been following me?"

"Since you left the house tonight."

He reached for my hand but I dropped it to my lap. "What did Zelda do, text you while I was in the bathroom?"

"Scotti, don't be like this. I..."

I jumped out of my seat. "You what?"

"I know about the diner. I'm sorry, I know how much it meant to you. How upset you must be."

I backed away from the table. "Oh, so this is a pity party? I'm like the sad puppy in the shelter cage that you can't resist adopting?"

Ted chuckled softly and leaned back in his chair. "You're funny." He blew on his coffee and took a sip. "You really are."

I glared at him. "I'm funny?"

Ted stood up and crossed the room to me in two strides. Then he put his hands on my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. "I mean you're cute. You're adorable." He cupped my chin. "Sweet."

I scooted around him and sat on Boomer's bed. "What's your plan?" I asked punching the pillows then jamming them against the headboard. "You must have one."

Ted sat on the edge of the bed. "My plan?"

I leaned back against the pillows and stretched out my legs. "Yeah, your mission. Are you going to roll me up in a carpet and haul me back home? Promise me anything to get me to go back? What?"

Ted pulled off my shoes and massaged my feet, which under different circumstances would've been foreplay. "I don't have an agenda if that's what you mean." His warm hands soothed my cold feet, and I could've drifted off to sleep if I wasn't so amped on hormones and adrenaline. "I wanted to make sure you were okay." He looked up at me. "Do you have a plan?"

Oh, I had a plan all right but I wasn't going to tell him. I'll admit that having Ted there was reassuring. At least someone would notice if I disappeared. But he'd try to talk me out of what I had in mind. He could deny having an agenda all he liked, but his goal was to convince me to come home and forget my plan. I yawned and wriggled my feet away from his magic hands. "I'm tired."

He reached for me. "Scotti..."

I pulled up my legs and hugged my knees. "I need to sleep."

Ted nodded and stood up. "I was just going hug you."

He bent down and patted the top of my head then moved to the other bed. When he started to undress my heart thrummed. "Would you mind getting my duffel bag out of the car?" I snuggled down into the pillows. "I'm so comfortable I don't think I can move."