Tattoo My Heart (Heroes of Seaside Point, Book 1) (6 page)

She rubbed both hands down her face. Maybe she should just bite the bullet and find Casey. No doubt the man would kick some major ass on her behalf.

No. Not until she had no other choice.

She stood and headed to the front door, determined to get to the bottom of things herself. She stopped only to shove a vial of pepper spray, a roll of quarters, and her cell phone deep in her pocket before she punched the lock on the door and slammed it behind her.

Ten minutes later, she stood in front of an honest-to-God payphone at a real-live-full-service-gas-station and fed quarters into the hungry slot. Thank Jesus for small towns.

She tapped one toe, dialed Los Angeles, and waited for her boss to answer. Anxiety muddled her brain until she heard the other woman’s voice.

“Dorie, hi, it’s Annessa.”

“Annessa! Where are you? I’ve been worried sick!”

“Yeah, so sorry to run out on you like that. I had to leave town for some family business.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, please don’t worry, I just might be gone awhile.”
Hopefully not permanently
.

“No worries. Take your time. I can call in the reserves if I need to.”

“Thanks, Dorie.”

“Oh, the Marcelli family asked for you. They were extremely pleased with the wedding. I gave Mr. Marcelli your cell number.”

The phone fell from Annessa’s grasp while her heart plummeted.
Oh, God
. She grabbed the phone cord, lifted the receiver back to her ear, and lied through her teeth. “Um, actually I don’t have my cell with me. I left it in my apartment.”

“Oh, well that explains why he was concerned he couldn’t reach you. When should I tell him to expect your call?”

“Give me at least a couple weeks. I should be back in Los Angeles by then.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No, thanks again, Dorie. I’ll see you when I get back.”

Annessa slammed down the phone.
Damn, damn, damn, just … damn
! Her head ached all over again and a shudder crossed her spine.

Normally in a crisis such as this, she would run right into the arms of Casey McIntyre and stick out her tongue at the trouble that attempted to attack her. Without fail, he would welcome her into the depths, wrap her with his big, strapping muscled biceps, kiss the top of her head and chase away the evil.

She released a hard sigh and squared her shoulders. Not this time. She glanced across the street, her gaze bouncing from McGill’s on the corner to Sue’s Diner, a couple of buildings down the block. Alcohol or pie. She groaned and headed toward Sue’s – only because alcohol would most definitely bring Casey.

She pushed open the door, the bell overhead announcing her entrance. A petite blonde, not much taller than herself, almost skipped from the opposite end.

“Hi! How many, honey?”

Annessa fought a threatened eye roll. “Just me.”

“Have a seat anywhere.” The waitress waved a hand in the air. “Not much activity right now.”

Annessa barely had time to cram herself into a corner booth when the woman was back, a glass of water and a roll of silverware in hand. “I’ve been meaning to stop in and introduce myself.”

Annessa swallowed hard, not quite sure how to respond. She didn’t recognize the woman in front of her and crossed her fingers and toes the lack of recognition was mutual. Luckily, she didn’t get a chance to speak.

“I’m Cindy Perry. I just moved to Seaside last month and the whole town brags on your baking.” Cindy folded her arms across her chest. “And let me tell ya, your pies sell here like hotcakes.”

Annessa almost fainted with relief. This woman, who talked ninety miles to nothing, had mistaken her for Vanessa. Thank God for small favors. Maybe lying low wouldn’t be so hard after all.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Annessa pushed her hair behind her ears and pushed herself into the very corner of the booth, as if she could hide in the shadows.

“What a lovely bracelet!”

She glanced at her wrist and watched the diamonds twinkle in the light. “Thank you.”

“Can I get you a menu?”

“No thanks, Cindy.” Her mouth watered at the thought of Vanessa’s baking. “I think I’ll just have a piece of cherry pie.”

“Ice cream?”

“Of course. Vanilla, please.”

“Coming right up.”

Annessa took advantage of the small reprieve to look around the diner. Besides the two men who sat at a table across the room, the diner was empty. Suspicion invaded her brain. Tourists? Neither wore shorts or swim trunks, the usual attire of summer visitors to Seaside, nor did they appear red from lounging in the sun. She sunk lower in the booth and gave herself a mental shake. What did she expect? Armani suits and gold pinkie rings? She released a hard breath at her ridiculous thoughts and wiped a hand across her forehead. Cindy probably ran everyone off with her gift of gab. Obviously the woman was starved for attention.

Sure enough, the chatterbox returned at lightning speed and set the pie in front of her. Annessa thought she was home free – the pie would soothe her nerves and give her time to think – until the waitress slipped in the seat opposite her.

She fought the urge to spear her with a fork.

“Are you related to Travis Dupree?”

She nodded. “Yes, he’s my brother.”

“Definite eye candy.” Cindy’s eyes sparkled. “In fact, the whole Fire Department seems to be pretty sweet.”

Annessa gave her a grin as she loaded her fork with a bite of dessert. “Seaside’s finest.”

“What about Sheriff McIntyre?”

Annessa stopped her fork halfway to her mouth. If she lowered it probably half an inch, she’d have perfect aim at a spot right between Cindy’s eyes. “I’m not related to him.”
Thank God and my mother
.

“He and Travis seem to be close.”

“Best friends since almost birth.” Her mouth watered as she opened and placed a piece of the crumbly crust on her tongue.

“Is he involved?”

Her nerves jumped beneath her skin. Something told her she and Cindy would not be
BFFs
. Slowly, she chewed and swallowed.

“Yes,” she lied.

The other woman sighed. “Too bad.”

Annessa silently giggled like a two year old. Being bad was so much fun. Maybe now jabberjaws would back off.

Unfortunately, Cindy continued to chatter like a magpie while Annessa shoveled the remaining dessert into her mouth. By the time she cleaned her plate, her head spun – from sugar overload or Cindy’s gift of gab, she didn’t know. Suddenly she wished she’d opted for McGill’s.

Although she knew it was rude, she finally interrupted when Cindy paused to take a breath. “Sorry, but I need to get home.” She scooted across the seat and then stood. “I’ve got to bake for tomorrow.” Might as well throw that in for good measure.

“I totally understand.” Cindy stood from the booth.

“Can you just add that to my tab?”

The other woman blinked twice and then frowned. “Your tab?”

Annessa swallowed hard.
Uh-oh
. Obviously, that was a completely stupid request. She painted on a big, cheesy smile and giggled. “I’m kidding!”

“Oh!” Cindy chimed in with her own giggle. “Sue would kill me if I charged you for anything!”

“It was really nice to meet you,” she said as she headed to the door. “Drop by the bakery anytime. I could tell you several interesting stories about the Fire Department and Sheriff McIntyre.”

Annessa chuckled under her breath as she stepped outside. Let Vanessa deal with her.

***

“
Why the hell are we packed in this hallway like a couple of sardines
?”

“
Shut up
,”
he growled as he frantically searched his pockets
.

“
You left the pack in the car
.”
The other man leaned against the door to the john and frowned
. “
This is bullshit. Let’s just grab her. She just confirmed she has the package
.”

“
Okay smartass, what about the waitress
?”

“
Always room for one more
.”

“
No way. I didn’t bring a roll of duct tape and that broad talks too damn much
.”

His partner’s face reddened
. “
So what now
?
It’s risky hanging out here. Do you think she made us
?
She seems interested we’re missing from the table
.”

“
Nah, she’s just nervous. Now shut your pie-hole before someone hears us
.”

“
Look, if we screw this up, it’s both our asses
.”

“
Don’t blow a gasket
.”
Damn, he needed a cigarette
. “
She looks like she’s ready to bolt. We’ll follow until she’s alone
.”

“
I’m not convinced that’s possible. These people are the nosiest damn people I’ve ever seen
.”

“
Piss ant town
,”
he grumbled
. “
They all know each other. That’s why she ran here
.”
He had to give her props
. “
Smart lady
.”

“
I don’t know, maybe we should go back to Los Angeles and wait. Nobody gives a damn there
.”

“
You gonna tell Ricci we can’t make the delivery
?”

His partner’s face paled
. “
Hey, I’m just the muscle. This is your operation
.”

“
Okay then, we wait. We stalk her like a tiger hunts his prey. Sooner or later she’ll end up alone
.”

“
I’ll get the car
.”

“
No, dumbass
!”
Now he knew why he was in charge. “We can’t follow her in the car. There’s an exit out the back. We go on foot
.”

***

Annessa stomped all the way back home, racking her brain for answers. The phone call to Dorie confirmed Marcelli was now looking for her and logic told her it was only a matter of time before he found her. Seaside Point was small, but was it small enough to hide her? She stole a quick glance over her shoulder, relieved when the street remained free of traffic. She snorted at her fear. A long black Cadillac with tinted, smoked-out windows and a license plate engraved with
Gun for Hire
would stand out like a sore thumb.

Funny thing was, the men at the diner still struck her curiosity. They just seemed out of place. Damn Casey and his never-take-anything-at-face-value speech; she’d heard it at least a thousand times since the age of thirteen. Yet, this time she couldn’t help but take it to heart. Tourists in Seaside Point were as common as wind in the surf; strangers were the man-eating sharks hidden in the depths of the waves.

It wasn’t until she stood on the welcome mat that she managed to put that particular worry out of her mind. She exhaled hard and reached for the doorknob. The locked one.

She knew before she reached into her pocket that her keys were not in the depths. Calling for help was now officially her only option and her cell phone was her only lifeline.

She exhaled again and dialed the fire department, relieved that Travis answered.

“Travis, it’s me.” Annessa bit her bottom lip. “I need you to come let me back into the house.”

The curiosity in her brother’s voice was obvious. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“Uh … no.” Annessa squeezed her eyes closed. “I locked my keys inside.”

A long silence crossed the line. “Annessa, since when do you lock the door? This is Seaside Point for Christ’s sake.”

“I live in Los Angeles remember?” Annessa held her breath and hoped for once her brother would accept her excuse.

Travis exhaled a long breath. A family trait, obviously. “Okay, hang tight.”

Annessa pocketed her phone and glanced around the front yard, now enveloped in darkness. Tree leaves shook in the slight night wind. Street lamps decorated the neighborhood. There was a time she ran every street in town under a blanket of stars. Nightfall in Seaside Point never bothered her. Until now.

She stuck one hand in her pocket and caressed the thin vial before she turned her back to the street and jiggled the doorknob one more time, just in case she’d been mistaken. Stupid thing wouldn’t budge.

The sound of footsteps behind her caused her to freeze. She allowed herself a cursory glance at the street in her peripheral vision. Her brother’s truck wasn’t parked at the curb. Her mouth went dry at the unusual silence. Where were the locusts? And the neighbors? Mrs. Peters, with her supersonic hearing and unique brand of neighborhood watch, had lived next door all of Annessa’s twenty-four years. Normally, no one crossed the yard without an interrogation. In fact, any one in town would speak as they approached. Now extremely uneasy, she eased the vial from her pocket.

With a sharp intake of breath, she spun around while her index finger pressed the spray nozzle of the liquid weapon and released a rush of the toxic substance. Right into the gorgeous eyes of Casey McIntyre.