Hardheaded Brunette (21 page)

The police had searched her backyard with blinding spotlights and found nothing but the shovel, a couple footprints, and some broken plants. Whoever had dropped the shovel on the deck took off before the officers arrived. Thayer had lectured her for twenty minutes about getting out of the house to somewhere safe.

Gilda was just glad no one tried to break inside this time. Still, she had a lot of explaining to do about why she was still in the house that night alone. Rather than leave, Thayer threatened to sit on her front porch for the rest of the night to stand guard. It surprised her to see no sign of Gary.

She rolled out of bed and made a quarter pot of coffee before rummaging through the freezer for any sign of bread or bagels for breakfast. Nothing. With a sigh, she popped a couple iffy raspberries into her mouth and poured a cup of French vanilla coffee.

Gilda clutched her cup in one hand then moved aside the curtain overlooking her front porch. Thayer lay sprawled in the porch swing sound asleep. She crept out the back door. As she stepped out into the fresh morning, she shivered and tugged her robe closer. Since the grass was too wet and chilly to walk across barefoot so early today, she found a spot in the sun to keep warm. Her gaze drifted over her fall flowers, then fell on a black overnight bag sitting in the middle of a patch of fiery mums.

"That wasn't there last night," she muttered. If it had been, surely the police would have called in the bomb squad without a second thought, and she'd be in a hotel or at Marion's.

A small part of her itched to set the coffee cup to one side and see what was in the bag. After two break-ins, her more rational, logical side refused to debate the issue. She stepped back into the house to dial 9-1-1, then remembered Thayer.

She dressed in a hurry, leaving the sling on her dresser, then grabbed her phone before she ran out the front door and shook Thayer. "Get up."

He snorted, arms and legs flailing as he nearly fell off the swing. "What's going on?"

"Someone was in my backyard. They left a black bag."

"Get out of here," Thayer said, shoving her toward the sidewalk. "I'll call Fabio."

Before she'd even reached her front gate, Gary flew out of his car and across the street. "You're up early this morning. What's going on?"

The sudden silence was deafening. Gilda blew out the breath she'd been holding for so long she was dizzy. "Someone left a black overnight bag in my backyard."

Gary's mouth twitched as he stared for a heartbeat then pushed past her. "I'll take care of it. Go wait in my car."

She grabbed his arm. "Thayer already went back there. After all that's happened lately, it could be a bomb. Thayer said he'd call for backup. They should be on their way."

"Who do you think left it?" He draped an arm around her to walk her to his Buick.

Gilda welcomed his warmth and hugged her purse to her chest before she realized she'd abandoned her coffee mug alongside the sling on her dresser. Tears welled in her eyes. Her dad had given her that coffee cup for her birthday before he'd been killed. Now it might be blown to smithereens.

"Gilda?" Gary cradled her face in his hands. He was so much like her father. The similarities frightened her. "I think you need to sit down. You look a little pale."

The fake fur blanket was warm and comforting. Gary helped her drape the thick fabric around her shoulders before he forced her to sit in the front passenger seat of his car. The scent of stale coffee and faint cigarette smoke greeted her.

"Don't you ever sleep?" she asked as sirens wailed up the street.

Gary nodded. "I do, actually. I have several trustworthy associates who spell me so I can attend to my business."

"So where were your associates last night when the police were here?"

He merely smiled. "Around. I talked to Fabio later and knew you were in good hands with Thayer here. I thought we all agreed you were not supposed to be in your house alone."

"Yeah. About that. Marion fell asleep and Mick was busy. I didn't really want to disturb anyone else." Gilda shivered. "Did your associates see anything odd last night?"

"No." He frowned. "Whoever left the bag in your yard must have come in from the beach side. Since they've targeted your house and were getting in through your front door before, I never thought to post anyone back there." He paused. "Don't worry, I will now."

She glanced behind the vehicle as two police cars pulled up.

"Gilda?" Thayer ran around from behind her house. "Gilda, where are you?"

Fabio climbed out of the car and gave a sharp whistle. "She's with Gary."

Thayer stopped, grimacing as he ran toward them.

Fabio leaned one hand on the hood of Gary's car and blew out a sigh. "I'm glad you're okay. Where's the bomb?"

"I don't actually know if it's a bomb," Gilda said. "I just found a black overnight bag in my backyard. Considering all the break-ins lately, I didn't want to take any chances."

Fabio nodded. "Good call. Did you let Mick know yet?"

"No." She hugged the blanket tighter around her. "I woke up Thayer, who called you guys while I got out of the house. Gary was already here."

"Was he? Well, that's interesting," Fabio mused.

Gary scowled. "The perp must have come in from the beach side."

"Wow, suddenly you sound like a cop instead of a robber." Thayer folded his arms. "It's a good thing you didn't call Mick. Wherever he goes, his pal Kane shows up to cause even more problems. The less people in the way, the better."

Fabio reached through the open window to pat Gilda's shoulder. "Sit tight, honey. We'll take care of things. I think you should call Marion and tell her you need a place to stay for a while. I don't want you in this house until we catch this clown."

"You don't think it's really a bomb, do you?" she asked.

"No, but I'm tired of worrying about you." Fabio hesitated. "I'd prefer you to be far away from this house and whoever is causing all the problems. You really need to find somewhere safe to stay for a while."

"I have a safe house you're welcome to use." Gary glanced over. "At least it's near the lake, so you'll feel right at home."

Gilda winced. "Thanks, but…"

Thayer waited until Fabio walked away to speak to the other officers before he crouched next to Gilda's window. "You're welcome to stay with me. I'm hardly at my apartment anyway, and no one would bother you there."

She stared. "After all that's happened between us, you're offering me a place to stay? What are you up to?"

"Nothing." He shrugged.

"No ulterior motives?"

"Well…" he said then grinned. "Nope. Cross my heart. I'd be a true gentleman. As crazy as it sounds, I do still care for you, Gilda, and I don't like all this stuff that keeps happening any more than anyone else in town does. I'm just trying to give you an option."

She remained wary. "Thanks. That's actually very nice of you."

When Thayer ran off to join the other officers, Gary turned to watch him cross the street. "Well, that was creepy."

"You're telling me."

Mick's yellow Ferrari passed the Buick and parked farther up the street, just as the police cordoned off the street. Mick climbed out and carried over a tray filled with paper coffee cups. "Gary. Gilda. I picked up coffees expecting to stop by and talk to both of you, plus Marion, this morning. Instead, I find several police cars, a roadblock being set up, and you two sitting here in the middle of everything. So, what's going on today?"

Gary took his coffee and sat back. "Gilda found a black overnight bag in her backyard. The cops called in the bomb squad."

"That's just great." Mick stared, blinking several times. "Gilda, honey, I think it's time you pack your bags and move into my place before things gets even worse."

"That's what we've all been trying to tell her," Gary said. "We've made a long list of safe places for her to go. Even Thayer offered her a place to stay."

"Thayer?" Mick turned away laughing then grew serious. "That's it. Are you coming to my house or should I call Marion?" He closed his eyes. "Where is Marion, by the way?"

"I left her asleep at her place last night." Her shoulders sagged. "Mick, I don't want to go anywhere. This is my house. I want to stay here."

Gary rubbed her arm. "Honey, you're in shock and not thinking straight."

"You don't have a choice anymore." Mick raised his voice. "Gilda, someone is escalating things. They've broken in to search your house twice. Now they've left a bag in your backyard that could have a bomb inside. What more does someone have to do before you take this seriously?"

Gilda frowned. "I don't know. I just keep thinking this is all a big mistake. Maybe they have the wrong house or are after something Charlie left behind that isn't even here anymore. Eventually they'll get the hint, right?"

Mick and Gary exchanged glances.

She winced. "Right?"

"I'll tell Thayer I'm getting you out of here." Mick turned to walk away.

"Fine. I'll go inside, get my things, and we can go to your place." Gilda got out of the Buick and ran around the back of the car to meet him. "What if it's a false alarm like the shovel last night?"

"Shovel?" Mick flared his nostrils and bowed his head. "I don't even want to ask about the shovel. What if there
is
a bomb and your house blows sky high? What will you do then?"

"I guess I'll have to go shopping." Her lower lip quivered as she blinked away tears.

"I'm sorry, babe." He pulled her into a hug. "Don't cry, Sherlock. We'll get this guy. I just don't want to lose you in the process."

She collapsed into his arms sobbing, suddenly unable to speak. His warmth and strength were the only things that kept her from completely losing her mind. He was right, she'd feel much safer at his condo.

Fabio waved from her gate. "Get back to your vehicles. Once the bomb squad clears the contents of the bag, you'll be free to return."

"That's fine." Mick nodded. "Call us when we can get her things. We'll be at my place."

"Good idea." Fabio gave Gilda a nod. "Take Gary with you. Not that I'd miss him, but I wouldn't want to see him blown up either."

Mick buckled Gilda in the Ferrari then told Gary to follow as he drove to his condo around the far side of Ponderer's Point in the newer part of Sandstone Cove.

While the two men chatted over fresh coffee, Gilda sat on the balcony overlooking Lake Erie with the furry blanket still firm around her shoulders and the breeze in her rumpled hair. She could see the tiny dot that was her house across the bay and was glad there'd been no explosions so far. Tears ebbed and flowed as she sipped hot, Irish cream laced coffee from a large red mug, hugging the cup to her chest between sips. Mick had lived in this building for years and it always made her smile knowing he could see her house from his balcony.

Mick brought her a matching red plate loaded with a bagel and fruit. "Knowing you, you haven't even had breakfast yet."

"Until now, I didn't even get coffee yet."

"Good." He held a strawberry to her lips. "Then eat."

"I'm not hungry," she sniffed.

Mick crouched next to her. "Look, Sherlock, I know you're scared and all, but you need to eat and stay positive."

Gilda blinked back tears. "Did you know you can see my house from here?"

"Yes, I did." He grinned. "I've watched you out in your garden a few times through my telescope."

"You're a peeping Tom? Really? How did I never know that?"

"Why would I tell you?" Mick kissed her. "I haven't just had a crush on you for a couple of months, you know. It's been a little longer than that."

She sipped her coffee. "How long?"

"When did you start to work for me?"

Gilda averted her gaze to the lake. "Are you sure you want me here? I could go to Marion's. No one would look for me there. Gary has a safe house near the lake."

"Yeah." He brushed a strand of hair off her face. "I'd love for you to stay here, but you need to stay where you feel safest. Just not with Thayer. Please."

"Definitely not. I'm not sure I feel safe anywhere. I need to know who's doing all this." She sighed. "I just want to feel safe in my house again."

Mick hugged her. "Then we need to help Fabio and his team figure that out. Gary says he can get some surveillance cameras. Maybe we should install them around your house and see who shows up to cause trouble."

"I'm not so sure about that. Apparently people are already spying on me."

"Don't worry about it. We'll make arrangements for the cameras." He kissed her forehead. "You can stay here and wait from afar while Gary wires your house so we can see about catching a bad guy."

"Great." She crunched into her toasted bagel and stared out at the lake.

Across the room, Mick and Gary sat at the table and talked about sensor activated surveillance cameras and what they would like to do to whoever kept breaking into her house. Not all of their ideas sounded legal.

Still shaken, Gilda stayed close to Mick later when he went to the school to teach the lunch hour karate class. Rather than train, she grabbed the notebook Mick insisted students bring to keep track of the myriad of information they were expected to learn and a box of tissues.

Marion grabbed her into a hug the second she set foot in the Phoenix school. "I just heard what happened. Why did you take off and not call me?"

"I'm sorry. I just didn't want to be a burden on anyone."

"You?" She raised her eyebrows. "You're my best friend, you're never a burden. Is everything okay? Do you need a place to stay for a while?"

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do." Gilda swallowed hard. "I'm still kind of numb."

"I'll bet." Marion nodded. "Let's go for lunch after class. You need someone to keep an eye on you."

"She's fine. I'll take care of her," Mick said then jabbed a finger at Gilda. "You've been through enough today. Go sit and take notes. I want you to rest your shoulder for at least one more day."

This wasn't the kind of day she'd hoped for.

Things only got worse when Mena walked past, tightening her crisp white karate belt. "Make sure you come back to yoga once you feel better. The more you injure yourself, the better chance I have to catch up to you in karate."