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“It shouldn’t be legal to look that good!” Tim remarked to Frank before greeting their coworker. “Looking good, Gina!”
“Thanks.” She turned her head to smile at Tim and Frank but kept on walking.
“Admit it, Frank. She’s hot. I caught you checking her out,” Tim said, resuming the conversation once Gina had moved past them.
“Alright, you got me,” Frank confessed. “Are you happy now?”
Frank grabbed a file and caught up to Gina. He pretended to show her something work-related while he spoke. “It sure looks like you got Tim’s attention.”
“You know the only attention I want is yours,” Gina flirted.
“Well, you got it. You look great, by the way,” Frank complimented.
Gina was looking especially good that day. She was wearing a short skirt with black leather boots that went up to her knees. She looked more ready for a night out on the town than a day at the office. Maybe she had gone a little overboard today, but she liked to look her best. It made her feel good when others noticed her, especially men. She leaned a little closer to Frank and asked nervously, “So, are we still OK after everything I told you last night?”
“Yeah, we’re good,” Frank answered honestly. “I know you took a huge risk telling me what you did.” He paused. “That is everything, right?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“Just making sure.”
“Well, since we’re on the topic of confessions,” Gina began. Then she lowered her voice another notch and moved in even closer to him. “I did shoplift once. I stole some makeup, which I was way too young to be wearing anyway. I got away with it, but I felt so guilty that I put it all back the next day, and I never stole again. Surely, you must have a few confessions of your own?”
“Sure I do, but I’m not foolish enough to share them inside a police station,” Frank joked. “Seriously though, I’m glad you confided in me, and I meant what I said about not letting you down.”
“I know. Thanks for being so understanding. It means a lot.”
Later that morning, Captain Michaels called everyone in the department into the conference room for their weekly status report. Gina took a seat at the table between Sean and Frank. When it was Frank’s turn to speak, she found herself admiring his intelligence and confidence. Frank sure knew how to stand his ground when he felt strongly about something, and he always had a well-thought-out plan of action. She respected the take-charge kind of man he was at work, but she had gotten to see another side of Frank that made him even more attractive to her. He was tough when he needed to be, but he remained a gentleman who cared about her feelings. He could be firm, yet gentle, and knew how to balance the two. There was also something about a man in a suit she found so alluring – this man in particular. She wasn’t sure what it was exactly, but he sure was looking good to her! She studied him thoroughly while absent-mindedly twirling a few strands of her long, dark hair around her finger.
In Gina’s eyes, Frank’s only shortcoming surfaced when it came to showing his affection physically. While she greatly appreciated his respect for her, she wished he would take the lead more often. It seemed like he was holding back, but Gina vowed to keep encouraging him. She had caught glimpses of the passion he kept locked deep inside, so she knew the feelings were there. Maybe he was trying to protect his heart until he was sure she wouldn’t break it. Gina had to admit her situation with Carlos put Frank in an awkward and frustrating position. She had tried to assure Frank he had her heart, but Gina was not truly his. Technically, she was still Carlos’s girlfriend, even though their relationship was now being held together only by blackmail.
When it was Sean’s turn to get up and speak to the group, Gina slipped her hand under the table to rest covertly on Frank’s thigh before giving it a little squeeze. Frank forced himself to keep his increasing level of distraction hidden from others in the room. It was obvious Gina wanted to flirt, so he followed her lead. Frank rested his elbow on the table with his chin in his hand, subtly leaning into her space, while his other hand caressed her knee. Gina brought a pen to her lips and tried to appear interested in Sean’s presentation while she angled her legs toward Frank suggestively. She glanced at Frank, still keeping her main focus on Sean, but Frank wanted her undivided attention. His hand slowly traveled up her leg until he reached her skirt. He paused to give her time to react if she didn’t like where this was going. Gina still wasn’t looking at him, but her hand remained resting on his leg. Was she waiting for something more? The thrill of the moment got the best of him, and his fingers inched their way underneath her skirt until he reached her upper thigh. Now he had her attention!
Gina turned her head in his direction, bringing one hand up to her face so they could exchange a private smile. They stared at each other for a few seconds, unable to concentrate on anything but themselves, until Sean startled Gina by asking if she had any comments to add. She wondered if he had done that on purpose. Maybe the interruption was for the best, but Frank had certainly given her something to think about for the rest of the day.
“Well, I’m headed home,” Sean told Gina after he packed up his things at the end of the shift. “See you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Sean.”
Tim had gone home over an hour ago, leaving Frank to work on his own. When Frank saw Sean leave, he walked over and leaned against Gina’s desk. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Just trying to finish up this report.”
“What’s Carlos’s last name?” Frank asked, quickly changing the subject.
“What are you up to, Frank?”
He ignored her question and proceeded to rattle off his wish list, “Last name, date of birth, address, phone number, employers, work schedule, car he drives, acquaintances.”
“Is that all?”
“Not even close, but it’s a start. I need to know everything about this guy.”
“What’s your plan?”
“That depends on what I find out. If you dig deep enough, you might uncover a few skeletons. It’s worth a shot.”
“Here, I’ll write it all down for you.”
“Thanks,” he replied when she handed him the information.
“But what do you hope to accomplish from it? Blackmail him like he’s doing to me? Whoever has the most dirt on the other wins?”
“Maybe.” Frank turned around, walked over to his computer, and took a seat.
Gina got up and followed Frank to his desk. She stood behind him and gently rested her hands on his shoulders while he stared at the screen. “You feel tense,” she observed and started to massage his neck.
“Thank you. That feels good.”
“It’s the least I can do. You’re all stressed out because of me.”
“Not because of you. Because of him. I think it’s time we find out what kind of man we’re dealing with here. Just how much do you know about his life between the time you knew him in high school and now?”
“Not that much, I guess. We talk a lot more about our high school days since that was the time we spent together.”
“Makes sense, I suppose. Do you think he’s been hiding anything from you?”
“I guess that’s what we’re going to find out.”
“You should go home, Gina. Let me take care of this. I’ll let you know if I find anything. In the meantime, be careful around this guy.”
Frank knew he wouldn’t be able to go home and sleep now. He had to figure out a plan to get Gina away from Carlos and still keep her secret safe, which wasn’t going to be easy. In addition to putting in long hours all week on his usual full load of cases, he would now be putting in extra hours off the clock for Gina. Any man who would threaten his girlfriend the way Carlos had certainly couldn’t be a model citizen. It took a special kind of loser to hold someone in a relationship against their will. If he was involved in any sort of criminal activity, then why keep around a detective girlfriend? It would be too risky, unless he needed her for something. He clearly didn’t love her.
After some investigation, Frank discovered Carlos had done jail time. He began to consider different scenarios, including the possibility that Gina might not be an innocent victim. Was there something she didn’t want Frank to know about Carlos? Could she somehow be tangled up in his wrongdoings? How could he even think such a thing? Surely, he was a better judge of character than that. There was no way he could be falling in love with a criminal, although it was only yesterday she had confessed to committing a felony. So technically, he already had. What else might she be hiding? Perhaps he was letting his imagination run wild.
His quest for information kept him busy late into the night, until he found himself nodding off. His body begged for sleep, but his mind was troubled. He finally went home, but he could not rest. In his hands was a file containing all he knew about Carlos. He looked it over again and eventually set it down on the nightstand. Frank knew there would be many more sleepless nights ahead of him if he couldn’t figure this out soon.
The next morning, Frank decided to give his old partner in Organized Crime a call.
“Detective Martinelli.”
“Hey, it’s your old pal, Frank.”
“Turino? It’s been a while. How’s it going?” Sal greeted him.
“Alright, I guess.”
“Any chance of you coming back to work with us, Frank?”
“I’m afraid those days are over, Sal.”
“What’s the matter? No longer interested in the mafia these days?” he asked before adding, “Oh, that’s right. You’re too good for us now, working in Homicide.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Just giving you a hard time, Frank. We still talk about you all the time. You’re a legend around here.”
“I don’t know about that. You’re the legend, Sal. I was merely your protégé.”
“And I trained you well, no doubt. As I recall, you put away more than your share of crooks over the years.”
“Yeah, and I made some enemies doing it, which is why I had to move on.”
“True, but here you made friends for life. What’s it been, like seven years now solving murders?”
“Sounds about right. So, how are you, Sal?”
“Oh, just looking forward to retirement these days.”
“Now that’s a word I never thought I’d hear coming from the great Detective Martinelli.”
“Afraid so. It’s long overdue. My wife has been begging me to quit for years, preferably before I get myself killed. Now, what can I do for my old partner? It’s good to hear from you, but I have a feeling you’re not calling just to chat.”
“No. I needed to talk to someone I could trust.” Frank proceeded to tell his old partner what he knew about Carlos. “You don’t have anything on this guy, do you?”
“Can’t say I do, but that doesn’t mean he’s not involved in something. He could be working on his own or with a small team. Or, a man of his talents could be working for one of the groups we’re already aware of. We can’t possibly know every associate of theirs. Anyhow, no, the name doesn’t ring a bell, but I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for you.”
“Thanks anyway. I just needed to cover all my bases.”
“Is he connected with a homicide?”
“Not that I know of.”
“So, it’s personal then?”
“Yeah. You could say that. Someone I know could be in danger.”
“I see. So, that’s what this is all about. I just have one question for you.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you in love with her?”
“Sal, I never said...”
“You didn’t have to. We spent nine years in this department together. I was there when you got married. I was there to help you through your divorce. I think I know you by now.”
“Apparently, you’re an expert.”
“If you’re looking for help on this, you know I’ll do whatever I can.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I have a favor to ask of you. Would you mind checking into the casino this guy works at? I can’t take the chance of him recognizing me. I’ve already left quite the impression on him.”
“I’ll bet you have! Anyhow, sounds easy enough. If he’s there, I’ll find him. Now, you also mentioned he filed for bankruptcy a couple years ago. It could just be poor money management, lack of decent employment, or, it could indicate a problem with drugs, alcohol, or gambling. Any leads on that?”
“I’m working on it.”
“A little surveillance into his personal life couldn’t hurt. I’d look into how he’s spending his time these days, who his friends are, and what they’re up to. Just because there are only three convictions on record doesn’t mean he didn’t commit other crimes and not get caught. Anything’s possible, and there’s no telling what he’s up to now. I also wouldn’t completely dismiss the idea of this woman being involved somehow.”
“Sure, Sal. I’ve already thought of that.”
“Have you? You need to be careful, Frank. Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s right in front of us if our good judgment has been compromised. As you know, I’m speaking from experience, but I’m sure your lady friend will turn out to be nothing short of perfection. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“First things first, Sal.”
“OK, I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Thanks, buddy. I owe you one.”
“I do have one last piece of advice.”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“Just don’t get so wrapped up in this investigation that you forget to keep your eyes on this woman and her safety.”
“Of course. That’s my number one priority.”
After their conversation ended, Frank rested his head in his hands. Carlos could be anything from a common thug to a player in organized crime. Gina could either be in great danger, or she might be covering for him. Perhaps she had even been involved in Carlos’s criminal activities. Frank still didn’t know what to believe, and he was worried about where his investigation might lead.
That afternoon, Gina stopped Frank in the hallway. “Hey, Sean’s out for a doctor appointment today, and I was wondering if you had time to ride along with me. I have to give a death notification, and I’d rather not do it alone.”
“Sure. Let me check in with Wallace first, and I’ll join you.”
“Are you alright?” Gina asked after Frank got in her car.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Something’s not right. You seem distant today.”
Frank was so caught up in his own thoughts he hadn’t realized how he’d been treating Gina. “I’m sorry. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”
“Carlos, right?”
“Yeah.”
Frank’s tone told Gina that he wasn’t ready to discuss the matter, but it was impossible for her to think about anything else as she drove. When she pulled up to a dilapidated green bungalow on Elmwood though, her thoughts returned to the matter at hand. She knocked on the door with Frank at her side.
“Mrs. Morales? I’m Detective Gina Walker, and this is Detective Sergeant Frank Turino. We have news about your son. May we come in?”
“Yes, please,” she said, inviting them to come in and sit on the sofa. “Have you found my son?”
“I’m afraid we have. I’m sorry to have to tell you this,” Gina began.
“He’s dead, isn’t he?” Mrs. Morales interrupted. Tears filled her eyes, and she screamed for her son.
Gina grabbed her hand and tried to console her. Frank listened as Gina said something in Spanish only she and the woman could understand. The words seemed to calm and even comfort the woman until Gina started explaining the details surrounding her son’s death. After a few minutes, Gina stopped talking, put her arms around Mrs. Morales, and held her for a moment while she cried. “I’m so sorry,” she kept saying over and over. “You know, all three of us in this room have lost people we love far too soon. A lifelong friend of mine and Sergeant Turino’s own mother were both murdered, just like your son. But I’ve never lost a child, so I can’t begin to know the kind of pain you’re feeling right now. This must seem like the worst thing in the world that could ever happen to you, but you will survive this one day at a time. Cling to the good memories you have of your son, and don’t let his death be in vain. Help us catch his killer so another mother doesn’t have to grieve for her child like this.”
Frank was touched by Gina’s compassion for this woman. They were complete strangers, yet a bond had been formed between them in a matter of minutes. “Can you think of anyone who would want to harm your son, Mrs. Morales?” he asked.
“No. He was such a good young man. I was so proud of him.”
Gina and Frank continued to inquire about the woman’s son until they had enough information to form some leads. “Thank you, Mrs. Morales,” Frank finally said. “We’ll be in touch. Whoever did this to your son will have to answer to us.”
When they got inside the car, Frank could tell Gina was shaken. “Do you want me to drive?” he offered.
“If you wouldn’t mind,” she said, realizing she was not up to the task.
“So, you know Spanish?” Frank asked, changing the subject to give Gina a chance to recover.
“Sure. I grew up around it. I picked it up here and there and used it to impress Carlos. It comes in handy on the job sometimes and helps me connect with more people.” She paused briefly. “There’s nothing worse than having someone you love suddenly taken away. I kept thinking about my father. He’s not dead, as far as I know, but I lost him just the same. Mrs. Morales is going to be hurting for a long time, possibly forever. I just wanted her to know she wasn’t alone, and that someone cared about her and understood what she’s going through.”
“Death notifications are the worst part of this job,” Frank sympathized, “especially when it’s a young man like him, or even worse, a child. It’s like a part of you dies along with them. I’d like to tell you it gets easier the more you do, but it doesn’t. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it no matter how long I do this.” He paused before adding, “You were great in there with Mrs. Morales. I don’t think anyone could have done a better job than you did.”
“Thanks, but I know I’ll need to toughen up a little if I’m going to survive this job,” Gina said, wiping the tears from her face.
“Don’t change a thing. I like you just the way you are.” Frank glanced at Gina and reached over to squeeze her hand. He began to feel terrible for even entertaining the thought that Gina could be involved in Carlos’s criminal activities. But he was a detective, after all, and suspicious of everyone by nature. Thankfully, this experience had told him all he needed to know. “Gina, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“You found out more about Carlos, didn’t you?”
“Your boyfriend has a criminal record. He’s done time for theft, drug possession, and assault and battery. Did he neglect to mention that?” Frank was not as concerned about the first two as he was the third.
“What?” Gina asked. “He never told me he did time in jail.”
“Why would he? He knew you’d never get started with him again if he did, especially once he learned you were a cop.”
“You’re right about that!” Gina replied angrily.
“I’m afraid for you, Gina. He’s already beaten someone. What makes you think he won’t turn violent with you?” Frank warned. “It’s too dangerous for you to stay with this guy. You don’t know what he might be capable of.”
“But you know what’ll happen if I leave him.”
“I think you need to find out if Carlos somehow has any real proof of what you did. Maybe he recorded your conversation, found some evidence, or knows an actual witness. If I were you, I’d also find a good criminal defense attorney. You need to know your options, Gina, just in case.”
“So, as it stands, knowing what we know, I’m still a bigger criminal than he is.”
“Unfortunately, yes. He’s only got a couple misdemeanors compared to your felony, but I have a feeling there’s more to this story. Were you aware he filed for bankruptcy a while back?”
“That I did know. Carlos went through a long period of unemployment. He got a job as a bouncer just before we got back together, but that was sporadic at best. He was only a fill-in guy and made very little money. I actually supported him for a while until he could get back on his feet and find steady work. I knew it was only temporary. Once he got the security guard job at the casino, he started paying me back.”
“Perhaps his lengthy period of unemployment had something to do with his criminal record. What I’m wondering is how does someone with a criminal record even get a job as a security guard, at a casino no less? I’m sure they at least did a basic background check.”
“It doesn’t add up, does it?”
“Nope, which is why it’s worth looking into.”
“I’m just scared, Frank. I’m scared it’s all suddenly going to blow up in my face, and I’m going to lose everything.”
“I know. It’s a difficult situation, but we’ll figure it out, OK? You trust me, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Gina.”
“There is something else about Carlos you should know. He’s a very jealous and possessive man. Seeing you in my apartment the morning after the charity ball was the last straw for him. He demanded to know if there was anything going on between us. I tried to reassure him you were just a friend, and the gap between our ages alone was reason enough not to be interested in you in that way. Of course, that was a lie, both to him and myself. I was plenty interested, as you know,” she said with a slight smile.
“What are you not telling me?”
“He made it quite clear he wanted me to stay away from you, but I told him that was impossible with work and all. He’s been quick to anger and losing his temper with me a lot more lately. He always seems on edge, but he never wants to talk about it. He was quite mad and a bit forceful in getting his point across about you.”
“What exactly did he do?”
“He grabbed my arm and wouldn’t let go until he was sure I’d heard him. He squeezed it really hard and just ignored me when I told him to stop. Carlos knew he was hurting me, but he kept doing it anyway. I was afraid he might break my arm! I guess I could have stopped struggling, but he scared me, and I just wanted to get away from him.”
“Oh, Gina, why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I’m not going to let him control me or stop me from seeing you. He gets jealous when I go out with my girlfriends too. It’s like he’s keeping track of me. Sometimes, he’ll call to check up on me, and if I’m out too late, I never hear the end of it. Yet, it’s OK for him to stay out all night with his friends. Or, he’ll stop by my apartment early in the morning unannounced, like he’s paranoid he’ll find me with another man, even though I’ve always been loyal to him in the past. But, I swear he’s not a violent person. He couldn’t be. I’ve known him since high school. He’s had a hard life, but he wasn’t like that.”
“Maybe not then, but it sounds like he’s changed.”
“Maybe he has, but I still don’t believe he would seriously harm me.”
“Like he wouldn’t blackmail you, give your brother a gun, or cheat on you? That’s just off the top of my head, and that bruise you had on your arm speaks for itself. Did he also make you believe it was somehow your fault?” Frank knew he hit home when he saw the look on Gina’s face.
“You’re right,” she said after a long pause. “I’ve got to stop making excuses for him. Carlos has always been a little intense, but he’s a different man these days. I swear I don’t know him anymore.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of this, Gina,” Frank promised. “We should have more answers soon. Until then, you need to watch yourself. Work will be the safest place for you. There, and with me.”
