Midnight Caller (6 page)

“Humor me. What did it say?”

In an empty tone of voice, almost resigned, she said, “Death knows this rose to be as black as your heart is to thee.”

“Death? That’s what he calls himself?”

She nodded.

Tony noted her uneasiness, the trembling of her hands, the quiver of her lips.

He pulled her into his embrace, keeping his voice tender, his touch comforting. “It’s okay. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.” He surprised both of them by brushing his lips across the top of her head. Immediately he loosened his hold and stepped back.

“I want you to make a formal complaint with the sheriff’s office, too.”

Erin shook her head. “I’ve already filed a report. Why do I need to file another one?”

“Sometimes communication fails between the local police departments and the sheriff’s department. Prank calls and dead roses could easily be in a category not considered important enough to pass along,” he said. “But I want you to report the rose and the telephone calls to the sheriff’s department. This could be more serious than you think.” He knew the expression on his face was as adamant as he felt.

“You’re making a big ado about this,” she said. “Truthfully, you’re starting to scare me.”

“Good. Be scared. I want you to take every precaution. Three women have been brutally murdered. Right here in our own backyard. We don’t have a motive. We don’t have a suspect. Unfortunately, we don’t have much of anything right now. But we do know that at least one of them received harassing telephone calls right before she died. So I want you to be careful. Stay alert. Don’t put yourself in any vulnerable situations.”

“I got a few prank calls and somebody thought it would be funny to put a dead rose on my car. Stop trying to make me feel like I’m the next victim in a slasher movie.” The blood drained out of her face, she couldn’t seem to keep her hands busy enough, and he knew she was more afraid than she’d admit.

Good going, Marino. Scare her half to death, why don’t you? Some comfort you are
.

He studied her quietly. “Look, I’m probably coming on a little too strong.”

“Ya think?”

He shrugged. “It’s an occupational hazard. Cops tend to see the worst side of a situation.”

“Exactly.” Her eyes flashed. “I know all about your occupational hazards.”

He paused, choosing his words carefully, trying to think of a way to ensure her safety without scaring her more or making her pull away from him altogether. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s a teenager with too much time on his hands. It’s probably not connected to this case at all.”

Her eyes held the first glimmer of hope.

“But I still want you to file a report.”

Erin sighed loudly.

“And I don’t want you to think that what I’m about to say is my way of asking you for a date. I know better than to try that.”

A tentative smile crossed her lips.

“But I would like to stop by now and then. Make sure the three of you are safe. Just for my own peace of mind. This would be official business only, of course.”

Peace of mind? Around Erin? That’s an oxymoron. There’s never peace of mind around Erin. There’s a ferocious need to protect her. Defend her. Coupled, of course, with a healthy personal interest that just keeps rearing its persistent head no matter how much I don’t want it to. Protect and defend. That’s my job. Male interest. That’s an area I just won’t allow myself to act upon
.

“What do you say?” He smiled widely and winked.

“Well, if it’s official business, Detective, how can I say ‘no’?”

Two weeks later

E
rin ducked her head into the living room to check on Jack and Amy. Satisfied that both children were engrossed in a video, she returned to the kitchen and plopped on a stool.

“Kids okay?” Carol glanced up from the cookbook she’d been perusing.

“Yep. I stood in the doorway for five minutes and they didn’t move a muscle. I can’t understand how they can be mesmerized by a movie they’ve seen at least a dozen times.”

Carol laughed. “Count your blessings.”

“Can you believe it’s been two weeks since Easter? Time’s been going by in a flash and there never seems to be enough of it.”

“I guess a certain detective with a permanent place setting at your dinner table could tend to make time fly, huh?”

Erin rolled her eyes. “Let me guess. Tess has been running at the mouth again.”

“I never disclose my sources. But you can’t deny it. I’ve driven by and seen his car once or twice myself. Looks like you took my advice and decided to give the guy a chance.”

“I am not dating Detective Marino.”

Carol raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not. He’s a professional mooch. He praises Tess’s cooking. He knows it automatically gets him an invitation for dinner.”

“Wow, a winker and a freeloader. There’s no end to this man’s vices.”

Erin shot her a look.

“And after dinner?”

Erin shrugged nonchalantly. “He stays for a while. Sometimes he plays video games with Jack, or he dries the dishes while Tess bends his ear.” Erin lowered her eyes and stirred her coffee. “A few times we’ve sat on the porch and talked. But we are definitely not dating.”

“Semantics, girl. Who do you think you’re fooling? You know you like him. Why don’t you admit it?”

“Of course, I like him. My stomach plunges to the floor every time I get within ten feet of him.”

“So? When does the real dating begin? Or is he just eye candy for you?”

Erin laughed and tossed a rumpled up napkin at her friend. “We have an unspoken agreement. He doesn’t ask me for a date and I don’t interfere with him getting home-cooked meals on a regular basis.”

Carol tilted her head to the side and studied Erin. “And you haven’t claimed this wonderful man as your own because? Let me guess. You’re still in your no-man-in-my-life-ever-again phase. And let’s not forget he’s a cop, too.” Carol’s expression darkened. “I can’t believe you’re so stubborn you’re blowing a potentially perfect relationship over his job. I don’t get it.”

“It isn’t his job…not completely.”

“Wait. Before you say another word about him being a cop, answer one question. What do you think of him as a man?”

“He’s the nicest guy I’ve ever met. There’s a quiet strength and dependability about him.” Erin, lost in thought, stared into space. “He’s so good with Jack. He’s wrapped Tess around his little finger. She thinks the man can do no wrong.”

“Have you had a chance to talk with him about his religious beliefs?”

“No. But I know he’s a Christian. He’s passed all of Tess’s tests and has graduated to saying grace at the table now whenever he’s over.”

“He’s a Christian. He’s good with both Jack and Tess. He’s a nice guy. I get that. But you haven’t answered my question. What do
you
think of the man?” Carol stopped looking at the pictures in the cookbook and stared intently at her friend.

Erin met her gaze. “I’ve never been so drawn to a man before in my life.” Her voice trembled. “If I let my guard down…”

Carol waited for her to continue.

“I could fall in love with a man like this,” Erin whispered. “The forever-kind-of-love where there are no shields and I open my heart. The thought scares me to death.”

Carol squeezed her hand. “Honey, why are you tormenting yourself like this?”

“Because I don’t want to follow in my mother’s footsteps.”

“You’re nothing like your mother.”

“I know. And I’m determined to keep it that way. I remember my parents’ arguments. Smashed dishes. Thrown glasses.” Erin absently rubbed her wrist, remembering other casualties of those past disputes.

“Your mother was a mean drunk. Why do you think I hated coming over to your house?”

“My mother was a
lonely
woman who hated being married
to a cop in a generation when divorce was a dirty word and people lived out their lives in misery. Dad never seemed to be around when she needed him. Every school recital, holiday, most dinners, my mother was alone. Even when he was home, he wasn’t. He’d bury himself in the study and work.”

“Erin, your mother was an active alcoholic who abused her husband, her child and herself. You can’t blame your dad’s job for that or your dad.”

“Can’t I?” Erin knew her voice revealed her pain, but she couldn’t help it.

Carol’s eyes misted. “Honey, you’re carrying around a whole lot of anger and bitterness. It’s time to give that burden to the Lord. He’ll help you if you let Him. You need to learn to forgive.”

Erin sighed. “Easier said than done…this forgiveness thing is the toughest part for me.”

“I know,” Carol said. “But God wants us to forgive. He asks us to love one another and leave the judging part to Him.” She patted Erin’s hand. “Trust me. My own experience has taught me you’ll feel a thousand percent better when you let all that ugly, burdensome stuff go and just turn it over to the Lord.”

“I wish I could. I remember when I was seven we were evacuated for an impending hurricane. My mother pleaded with Dad not to leave us. She was terrified. We both were. But he was a cop. It was his job to protect the public, not his family. So, he left.

“Mom and I drove in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours. The hotels were full everywhere we went until we found a room in this dark, smelly hole-in-the-wall. Mom started drinking heavier than usual. I was scared and I kept asking for Daddy. She got so mad at me,” Erin whispered. “That was my first broken bone. I told the doctor I fell off the bed.”

“Erin, I’m so sorry.” Carol put an arm around her friend’s shoulders. “I can’t believe you never told me. I used to think you were just a giant klutz with all your bumps and bruises and casts. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Erin saw tears in her friend’s eyes and hugged her. “What could you have done? What could anybody have done? I thought it was my fault. And I was afraid if I told it would make my mother madder.” Erin carried her empty cup to the sink.

“Did your father know?” Carol asked.

“I never told him. He never asked. He accepted Mom’s explanations without question.” Memories taunted her. “Except once.” Erin turned toward Carol. “I had my wrist in a cast, again. He stood in the doorway with an odd expression on his face. Like he was bracing himself for something horrible. He asked me if I really did trip over my skates.”

“What did you tell him?” Carol asked.

“I was nine and scared of my mother’s anger. What do you think I told him?” She forced herself to smile. “Anyway, it’s all past history. A closed door I don’t often open.”

“You’re an adult now and a nurse to boot. You can’t really believe your dad’s job caused your mother’s drinking, do you?”

Erin fought tears. “I know it didn’t help. I was seventeen when drunk driving claimed her life.” Erin poured herself a glass of water and took a sip. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. But I often wondered if he had been home that day. Maybe if he had been there…”

Carol’s gaze locked with hers. “Maybe he couldn’t be. Maybe he tried for years and the booze pushed him away until he gave up.”

Erin’s temper warmed her cheeks, but she didn’t reply.

Carol’s voice softened. “If I remember correctly, your dad was there when you needed him. After Jack’s dad took off,
what did you do? You crawled home to Papa. And what did he do? He welcomed you back. That’s what good fathers do, Erin. Just like God. God opens His arms and welcomes us back. He showers us with His love and healing.”

Erin wiped a tear from her cheek, but remained silent.

“Your dad, even though he was a cop, was there for you…and for Jack…at one of the lowest times of your life. What if his job had nothing to do with your mom’s problems? So your dad wasn’t perfect. Who is? He coped with a terrible situation the only way he knew how, even if it wasn’t the best way.”

“I don’t deal with maybes or what-ifs anymore,” Erin said. “I deal with facts. Fact—a cop’s job puts a tremendous strain on families. Fact—cops have a high divorce rate. Fact—marriage is hard enough without starting out with one strike against you. I tried it once with Jack’s father. We both know how that turned out. So, I don’t date cops. I don’t trust men. And I never will again.”

An uncomfortable silence filled the room with a heaviness that couldn’t be seen or touched.

“I’ll pray for you, Erin. That you find your way to forgiveness. Only then will you ever know peace.”

Erin didn’t respond.

After a moment, Carol said, “We’ll just have Tony quit his job and become your personal eye candy. Now, come over here and tell me what you think of this recipe.”

Erin perched on the stool beside her friend and made a pretense of being interested in the picture. After a moment, she sighed deeply. “Personal eye candy. I like that.”

They looked at each other and laughed.

“Don’t touch my cookie dough,” Erin warned.

You’d think the scent of cookie dough and vanilla would
have triggered matronly images in his mind, but Erin could tell from the glint in his eyes that the last thought on Tony’s mind was his mother. She felt his gaze trace her features. Suddenly, she felt like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.

But a hooded look darkened his eyes and she could sense a slight withdrawal. That happened a lot lately. He’d seem on the verge of saying or doing something intimate and then he’d pull back. What was that all about? Did he have secrets of his own? The push-pull of his emotions intrigued her.

Tony scooped a dollop of dough from the bowl on his index finger and held it out. “Want to try?”

“Ewww!” She swatted in the air at his hand. “Are you crazy?”

Tony kept a straight face, but the occasional twist to his lips made her think he was roaring with laughter on the inside. He seemed to love to tease her and didn’t stop until he had succeeded in causing a rush of color to her cheeks. Pointedly trying to ignore him, she asked, “Did your mom bake a lot when you were a kid?”

“Mom baked every Christmas,” Tony replied, “and let me lick the leftover batter.”

Erin glanced at the hand inching her way and snatched the bowl protectively to her chest. “Don’t even think about it.”

He grinned.

“What’s the matter?” Erin asked. “She only bakes for holidays so you’re coming over here to harass me? Have her give me a call. I’ll gladly share my chocolate chip recipe.”

“Mom’s on an extended vacation with her new husband.”

Erin digested the information. “You haven’t mentioned your family before.”

Tony shrugged. “Just Mom, me and my older sister. My dad was a cop, killed in the line of duty when I was three. I
don’t remember much about him. But—” he locked his eyes with hers “—I remember how much I missed having a dad around. I guess that’s why I have a soft spot for Jack.”

She pictured Tony as a little boy wishing for a dad, just like Jack, and her heart melted. Erin sighed. “I wish I could do more for Jack.”

“You’re a great mom,” Tony said. “I have total respect for single moms. They have to pull double duty even knowing it’s an impossible task.”

“Is that how you feel about your mom?”

“Absolutely. Love her to pieces and owe her the world.”

“And your sister? Are you close?” Erin shocked herself at her boldness, but couldn’t seem to stop.

“We’re super close…or as close as a person can be to someone who lives thousands of miles away. Janet’s husband is a Colorado ski instructor. They have three kids, one girl and two boys.”

“Wow, Colorado. That is far. Do you ski?”

Tony laughed. “I can handle the intermediate slopes with my nephews. Those two rascals love to boast that they taught me everything I know.”

“You seem to really like kids. Do you mind if I ask why you haven’t started a family of your own?”

“Boy, this cookie dough is coming at a steep price,” Tony teased.

A warmth rushed into Erin’s cheeks. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so nosy.”

Tony chuckled. “Chill out. I was only teasing. How else are you going to get to know me?” His voice deepened and his eyes darkened. “And that’s what we’re doing, right? Getting to know one another.”

The heat in her cheeks intensified.

“In answer to your question,” Tony said, “I haven’t started a family of my own for a multitude of reasons. My job for one. Sometimes cops don’t come home. I know what that feels like. I never want to chance that happening to one of my own.”

Erin nodded her understanding.

“Not to mention that my Christian beliefs require marriage before parenthood. I haven’t been actively looking for a candidate for that forever-after role. Any nominations come to mind?” He grinned and winked, melting her heart with those chocolate eyes of his.

“Besides,” he said, his tone sobered, “any man can father a child, but it takes something special to be a dad. I never wanted to take the test—and fail.” The honesty and intensity in his expression pierced her to the soul.

The front door burst open and they heard Jack lumber down the hall. “I hate this walker,” he yelled and slammed his bedroom door behind him.

Erin jumped to her feet, but Tony placed a hand on her forearm.

“Please. Let me. Jack told me he was having problems with some boys at school.”

“He told
you?
”

Tony shrugged noncommittally. “It was man-to-man stuff.”

“Man-to-man? Are you crazy? That’s my five-year-old baby in there and you—” Her body temperature rose to lava-spewing levels.

“Erin, calm down.”

“I will not calm down. You have no right to—”

“I know I don’t.”

His sudden acquiescence took the wind out of the verbal storm she was about to unleash.

“I’m not trying to step between you and your son,” Tony
assured her. “I just think, based on my prior conversation with Jack, I might be able to help. Let me try.” He waited for his words to have an impact.