Risky Shot (2 page)

“Thank you!” Kenna jumped up and down and gave her another big hug. “I can’t wait for you to meet him. He’ll be down in a second. But, what is more important at this moment is where you have been? I was worried sick about you after I didn’t hear from you for six weeks! Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am okay. I have been living out of my car more and more and the last couple of months have been pretty busy up there. I didn’t want to risk leaving a stakeout place to find an library.” Dani took a sip of the coffee and melted. It was the first real cup of coffee she’d had in months. She had pretty much been living off water for weeks now since it was the only thing she could afford.

“Stakeouts? Dani, why did you go through all of that? Living out of your car, tailing men, why?” She watched Kenna’s eyes widen at the thought of it.

“Cause, if no one else did we’d be hiding for the rest of our lives. The police and the FBI are in on this, we’d never be able to hide forever. Since you fled New York, I decided to stay and do it. I wanted to know what I was up against at the very least.” Dani pulled out a bar stool and sat. She realized that she sounded pissed, but she was. If she was totally honest she would acknowledge that Kenna hadn’t asked her to stay in New York. In fact, she had told her to leave. But, what she did gave them valuable information and she was ready for this to be over.

“FBI? Do you know who? I have been working with an Agent Cole Parker, did that name come up?” Kenna pulled out the seat and Dani watched as the color drained from her cheeks. Apparently Kenna wasn’t as unaffected as she had thought. Guilt’s hand started to reach for her and she quickly swatted it away.

“No, I never heard the name Cole Parker before.” She took another sip of her coffee and tried not to swallow the whole thing like a shot.

“Good. Like I said, we’ve been working with him and even though he’s a bit of a tight ass he seems like a good guy. So, tell me what you found out then?” Kenna leaned forward in her seat and Dani couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes had narrowed, just like when she was cross examining someone on the stand.

“I’d rather just go through it once. I am assuming Agent Parker will want to hear about it, so why don’t you set up a meeting with all these people you say are working on this and I’ll run through it.” The thought of going over and over it again and again brought on a headache. She was tired and had always hated telling the same story over and over to different people. Hopefully she could get away with one big interrogation and be done with it.

“Of course. That’s a great idea.. I’ll call him now to set it up.” She watched Kenna slide off the stool and head over to the phone.

“Kenna! Stop at the barn and have a talk with your Boots! He’s refusing to leave the barn again. It’s all because of you and your kisses. He has to have one every morning now.” Dani stopped drinking her coffee at the sight of the heavily muscled, very tall, half naked man who strode into the kitchen.

“Oh Will!” Kenna launched herself at the man wearing only a pear of jeans that rode nice and low on his hips. “Dani finally made it!”

She saw him blush when he realized they weren’t alone. Slipping on a white t-shirt he headed over to give her a hug. “I am so glad you finally made it. We were getting worried about you. Will Ashton by the way.” He held out his hand after he let go of her and she shook it.

She was surprised someone as obviously attractive as Will wasn’t strutting around to get her to ogle him. She knew that sounded conceited, but men had a tendency to notice her and act like morons, never caring about anything but her looks. But Will only seemed concerned about what she thought and how comfortable she was. No wonder Kenna said yes so fast. She was happy for her friend. Or at least she would be when she resolved her feelings toward Kenna. Will was already better than all of her other boyfriends who would hit on Dani when Kenna wasn’t around.

“Will, are you free tonight around six?” Kenna asked him.

“Should be done by then, why?” Will stuffed a muffin in his mouth and then offered the box to Dani.

“We’re holding a security briefing so to say. Dani is going to fill us all in on what has been going on in New York. I was just getting ready to call Cole. Do you think you can call him, Ahmed and Mo on your way to the barn? I want to show Dani the town and take her to Miss Lily’s before I have to be in court.”

Dani couldn’t help but snort. “Miss Lily’s? Are you taking me to an old town brothel?”

Will laughed out loud and Kenna tried not too, but failed. “Don’t let her hear you say that. Miss Lily Rae Rose and her sisters, Miss Daisy Mae Rose and Miss Violet Fae Rose have the bed and breakfast and the Blossom Cafe. They’ll all in their late sixties I would guess and swear to be good Baptists as they serve the stiffest drink in down! I think of them as the fairy godmothers from Sleeping Beauty.”

“So, I am staying with one of them?” Dani asked as she grabbed one of the muffins Will had placed in front of her.

“I stayed at the bed and breakfast with Miss Lily up until a couple of weeks ago. It’s really nice and the food is excellent.” That got Dani’s attention. She had already finished the muffin and was reaching for another.

“Come on, grab the muffin and I’ll let you drive me to work. I’ll show you around town as we go. But first we have to stop by the barn so I can kiss a horse.” Kenna reached over the counter and snagged a muffin and headed for the door. Dani was confused about the horse kissing, but the desire for food overrode her curiosity. She thought about going for the last banana nut but decided on the chocolate chip instead. Nothing could beat chocolate disguised as breakfast.

“You two ladies have fun. I’ll see you tonight at six.” He kissed Kenna as she reached for her purse. “I am so happy you’re here Dani. I’ll see you tonight too.” He leaned over and gave her a brotherly type peck on the head. The action was enough to almost get her to cry. Four months of depending on no one and suddenly she felt like she had a sister and now a brother looking out for her.

“I can’t believe this car survived hitting Chad and is still going? How did I not hear the muffler when you pulled up?” Kenna laughed as Dani drove them into town. Dani drove past more cows, more black fences, and more corn until she could see the tops of building. "Okay, you’re going to turn here and
voila
you are on Main Street.”

“This is Main Street? Where’s the traffic?” She peered out her dirty windshield and only saw a street with American Flags on every light pole, overflowing flower baskets right under them, and benches on the sidewalk. “Where’s the traffic lights? Where's the rest of the town?” She started down the street to towards the courthouse and church peeking out.

“Well, there’s one and there’s the other,” Kenna laughed as she pointed to the two stop lights. Kenna then gestured to her right, “And this is the town! That’s my friend Paige’s store.” She pointed to the left, “And that is where my law firm is.”

After just a couple of blocks, an old courthouse came into view. It was a four storied, square limestone structure that looked really old. In the front of the courthouse, a large statue of Lady Justice sat astride a horse. Flower pots were planted and lined the sidewalk leading toward the large double door in the front. “You can let me off here. This is obviously the courthouse. On the other side of the street is the Blossom Cafe. Lets meet there for lunch today. How about twelve thirty?” Dani nodded her agreement but Kenna was already talking again. “Then at the second stop light, turn right and go up the hill. Miss Lily’s the Victorian on your right with the great porch.” Kenna stopped with her hand on the door. “Dani, it’s really great you’re here. I know together we can get through this thing.”

Kenna surprised her by launching herself over the stick shift and squeezing tight. Betsy was really rubbing off on her. “Thanks, Kenna. It’s going to be hard. But you’re right, we need to do it. Have fun in court. I’ll see you later.”

She watched Kenna get out of the car, waving and talking to all the people walking into the courthouse through a glass doors on the side. Kenna had found a new home. She wondered if she could too.

She stopped her car in front of the big white Victorian and stared. Kenna was right, it had a great porch. There were white wicker chairs with pale green cushions that looked thick enough to sink into and never come out, but it was the big porch swing that caught her eye. It could hold three people and was anchored in such a way that you could see down to a great little flower garden.

As she walked up the front stairs to the freshly painted green door she had to fight the urge to curl up and take a nap in the swing. Before she could ring the bell the door was opened and a little woman with beauty parlor permed white hair stood before her.

“Yes? Can I help you, dear?” The woman’s southern voice made the question seem lyrical.

“Um, yes. I need a room. My friend, Kenna Mason, said she stayed here and that you might have a room available.” Dani felt like a giant standing over this little old lady. She was close to six feet and this woman couldn’t be over five.

“Friend?” She asked Dani. “Are you her then? Are you Danielle?” Her eagerness touched Dani.

“Yes, that’s me. I was...” The woman launched herself at her and pulled Dani’s head down into her pillowy breasts.

“Oh my dear child! You poor thing! Oh, bless your heart! Everything you went through and how brave you’ve been hiding in New York City all by yourself. I am so glad you came home to us.” Dani’s eyes started to tear up and even though she was terribly bent in half she relaxed and fell into the woman’s embrace. She was patting her back and stroking her hair and for the first time in four months Dani felt safe and secure. No wonder Kenna had called the Rose sisters the fairy godmothers.

“I am Lily Rae, now let’s just get you inside and feed you, you must be starving. I already served breakfast, but I have a chocolate croissant left over if you’d like that.”

“Thank you Miss Lily. I would love that.” She understood the title of Miss now that Will and Kenna had used. She couldn’t think of this sweet lady in any other way. “I am Danielle De Luca, but everyone just calls me Dani. I am wondering though, how much this will cost me? I don’t have any money right now. My account is still frozen, but I plan on getting a job.”

“You think you can afford a hundred dollars a week?” Miss Lily asked as she led her up a grand staircase that curved upward to the second floor parlor. She pointed to her left, “That was Kenna’s room, but I have already rented it out for the week, so this will be your room.” She opened the door to the right and Dani stopped.

“You sure you want just a hundred dollars a week? Are you sure it’s not per night?” She glanced at the room trimmed in white lace. It was at least twice the size of her apartment in New York. The walls and the bedspread were a matching shade of pale yellow. A window seat overlooked the front yard and one wall featured built-in shelves. They were painted a bright white and housed a television and hundreds of books. She walked past the shelves and into the bathroom. Ah, Heaven. There was a large vanity sink and a huge glass enclosed walk-in shower. To be clean again! She had to stop herself from jumping in right then.

“I usually rent this room out for two hundred a night, but you’re family, so you get the family rate.” Miss Lily winked at her.

Dani turned and hugged her with all she had. “Thank you.”

“Well, aren’t you sweeter than honey? That’s what friends are for, dear.” She felt Miss Lily pat her back. “Now why don’t you unpack and rest a bit. I’ll bring up your breakfast in a jiffy.” Miss Lily gave her one more pat on the back and closed the door on her way out.

Dani looked around the room and eyed the massive king size bed. She unpacked some of her things, but the draw of the shower was too much. She had been right, it was Heaven.

She walked out of the bathroom and found a tray sitting on her bed with lemonade and a massive chocolate croissant. She felt a trickle of drool escape her mouth as she took a big bite. “Hmmm.” She polished off the croissant while standing. After the last swallow of lemonade her energy left her. She pulled her 9mm Glock from her purse and put it in the draw of her nightstand. She took the knife from the pocket of her shorts and placed it under the pillow. She stripped down and climbed into bed. As she snuggled into the cool, soft sheets she decided the South wasn’t so bad after all.

Chapter Two

Dani dreamt of clouds. All she felt was the sensation of floating on a cloud. Until the cloud rear-ended another cloud and the cloud alarm went off. It took a while for her to realize the cloud was really her bed and the cloud alarm was her cell phone reminding her to go to lunch.

She forced her body out of bed, shaky with exhaustion. She only had a couple of clean clothes left, so it wasn’t hard to decide what to wear. She picked out a white cotton skirt that swished around her knees and a bright red tank top with lace trim. She then slid her feet into one dollar flip-flops she got from Walmart.

Downstairs, Miss Lily bustled from one room to another serving food to the three guests. Dani waved and smiled at Miss Lily as she went out the door. She walked down the street, but couldn’t stop the feeling of paranoia. It had turned into a nice day. It was still hot, but a nice breeze had picked up. As she walked past people, they all looked her in the eye and smiled or gave a little wave. Feeling a little awkward she gave a wave back. However, she couldn't help looking at each house, each person, and each car that passed by with a nervous eye. Her paranoia grew even worse when, for some strange reason, each car that passed by honked their horn at her.

At the bottom of the hill, she turned left at one of the two stoplights in town. She looked at the small bank and shops that lined Main Street. She discovered the town had a calming effect on her. The town could only be described as 'quaint'. She spotted Kenna standing outside the cafe, next to the windowsills full of white and pink flowers. She was talking to a pretty woman, a couple inches taller than Kenna with shoulder length light brown hair. The woman was dressed in a short jean skirt and black stretchy top, but it was the belt that caught Dani’s attention. It was bright pink, with green and white interwoven strands. It tied in the front with a perfect bow. She’d kill for that belt. She looked down at her white skirt and red top, both from Walmart and sighed. Kenna and this girl were the fashion plates, not her. At least, not anymore.