“The yard looks great, Erik,” I said as I shut off the engine and stepped out of my car. After dropping Wolf off at daycare, I’d gone into Full Disclosure to do some sketching. I’d just returned home around dinner time.
Jaz pulled in right after me. After the work he’d done on Chloe’s yard, Jaz and I had hired him to change up the landscaping in the front of our house. My whole family used my cousin Yanni for their yards, but we’d specifically requested Erik. It looks like that had turned out to be a smart decision.
“Wow, that looks fantastic,” Jaz agreed. “I love all the flowering bushes and colored stones. It’s so pretty.”
He nodded in acknowledgement, a man of few words I was finding out. Running a hand over his beard then fixing his short ponytail, he looked uncomfortable with praise. “Thanks. Glad you both like it.”
“Detective Stevens’ back yard is a mess. Maybe you can mow for him and put it on my bill,” I said.
“Already took care of it.” Erik pulled his hat down lower over his face to shield it from the sun. “It’s the least I could do for his mother’s recommendation. I’m getting requests all over town.”
“That’s great. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.” I smiled.
He nodded again. “Enjoy the rest of your day, Ladies.” He gathered the rest of his things and stowed them in the trailer attached to the Yanni’s Yards company truck then drove off.
Moments later Nik pulled in the driveway with his old partner, Darnell. They got out of the car and joined us.
“Nice landscaping,” Nik said, looking around the yard and eyeing the new walkway. “Your cousin do that?”
“Actually, that new guy Erik did,” I said. “He mowed your yard by the way. Said he owed you one.”
“That was nice of him.” Nik shrugged, shoving his hands in his sport coat pockets. “I was going to get to it this weekend.”
“Right,” Jaz chimed in. “Even I’m not buying that one.” She smiled wide at Darnell, who actually blushed. “I see you brought your friend home for dinner.”
“I kind of invited myself,” Darnell finally said after shaking off Jaz’s spell. “What can I say. I can’t resist his mother’s cooking.”
“Care to join us after for a drink?” I offered, locking eyes with Nik. “Maybe we can catch up and share notes.”
“It’s a date.” His lips twitched. Nikos was back, pushing the limits as usual.
I rolled my eyes. “See you in an hour for a drink and sharing notes, that’s all.”
I followed Jaz into our half of the house and set my things down while she headed into her bedroom to change. I looked around for my cat but couldn’t find her. That was strange. I happen to glance outside. Ms. Priss was out on the deck with the sliding door closed. I slid the door open and let her in. “How did you get out there, you little Houdini?”
I always let her out when I was home, but I left the door open a little so she could get back in. I would never go to work and leave her outside with the door closed. I fed her as Jaz came back into the kitchen.
“Wow, she’s thirsty,” Jaz said. “Look at her drink all that water. That’s not usually like her. Maybe you should change the brand of food you’re using. Maybe it has too much sodium or something.”
“It’s not the food or too much sodium. It’s because she’s been out in the heat all day long.” I frowned.
Jaz’s eyes sprang wide. “Seriously? You left her outside all day? That’s not like you, either.”
“You know I triple check everything. I did not leave the door open this morning. Did you?” I asked.
“No way. I know what a freak you are about that kind of stuff, especially with a killer still on the loose around town.”
“Then how did she get out?” I didn’t wait for an answer as I looked all around the house. I quickly changed my clothes before coming back into the kitchen. “Jaz, you left the bathroom window open. The screen was pushed out.”
She bit her bottom lip, heating up the takeout she’d brought home for dinner. “Sorry. I thought I closed it. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
I opened a bottle of wine. “It’s okay. I’m just a little spooked after seeing Benny with that guy I told you about from the Precious Gems and Jewelry Fair.” I took a sip of wine. “And I keep feeling like someone is watching me. Wolfgang acted so strange a couple times today, and I’m pretty sure I was followed in broad daylight.”
Jaz brought the takeout to the kitchen table, and we both sat down and took a moment to dig into our dinners. I had made a salad, not trusting the takeout. “I’m going to gain a ton of weight if Boomer doesn’t quit feeding me.”
“Oh, please, you look fabulous. You love the attention. Speaking of which, ease up on poor Detective Johnson. I don’t think the man can handle all of you.”
“I’m not doing a thing. I can’t help it if men get tongue tied around me,” she said. “You know my heart belongs to my hunky detective.”
A knock sounded on our door.
“Speaking of hunky detectives.” Jaz jumped up and opened the door without even looking.
I sighed, shaking my head.
“Come in, gentlemen.” She smiled wide.
Nik and Darnell walked through the door, and Jaz started to close it.
“Not so fast, darlin’,” Boomer said, then kissed her on the mouth, making her jump in surprise. He was the only man I knew who could surprise Jaz. That was why I was pretty sure they were going to last. “Did you save any dinner for me?”
“Always.” She hugged him then joined us in the kitchen.
We all sat around the table. Jaz got them all a beer and poured herself a glass of wine. I filled them in on what had happened so far.
“What do you think it means?” I asked.
“I did some checking like Nik asked me to,” Darnell said, earning narrowed eyes from Boomer toward Nik, but Boomer kept quiet.
Jaz had said if it had been Boomer’s mother, he would be doing the same thing. He just didn’t want to know about it so he wouldn’t have to outright lie to the captain if he asked him for details. Boomer was always around. It was inevitable he would be around conversation regarding the case.
Darnell looked between the two detectives, and then asked Nik, “Should I continue, partner?”
Nik raised a brow at Boomer, who sighed and nodded. “Go ahead, Darnell. The more ears we have on this, the better.”
Darnell continued. “My informants back in the city tell me Benny’s definitely been working with some underground black-market rings. He’s collecting jewelry like Ariana’s and Nina Simone’s late husband’s things, then turning around and pawning them off as genuine pieces for much more than they’re worth, making a huge profit.”
“Do we know who his buyers are?” Nik asked.
“We don’t know who the buyers are, but you can probably guess who is setting up the deals.”
“Who?” Boomer asked, intrigued.
“The Tedesco Family.” Darnell gave Nik a meaningful look.
“Wait. Isn’t that the mob family Benny was linked to when he dated Ariana?” Boomer asked, running a hand through his russet curls.
“One and the same,” Nik said, clenching his jaw. “That’s not a family you want to mess with.”
“It gets better,” Darnell added, then looked at me. “The bald man you saw Benny with sounds exactly like Antonio Tedesco himself. I hate to say it, but if he’s interested in you, that’s not a good thing.”
And just like that I lost my appetite.
Sunday brunch was at my family’s house since Chloe still wasn’t allowed back at her place. Not to mention, Nik didn’t want her to be alone now that he knew Tedesco was hanging around town. He didn’t want me alone either after hearing about my hunch that someone was following me, and that I’d run into Tedesco a couple times already.
“You need to move in with your mama so I can take care of you.” Ma fussed over me, bringing me more food and trying to feed me as if I were still five. “You no eat enough. You’re skin and bones.”
“I’m not moving home, Ma.” I stepped away from her hovering hands. “And I’m not too thin.”
“Bones break down with just skin on them,” Aunt Tasoula said. “I know these things. Cousin Esmerelda had the crack in the bones, the ostyperogies, because she no eat enough. She had no muscle, just skin and bones and rubber bands holding her body together. Her mama fed her too much Jell-O. It’s true.”
“I’m pretty sure her skin and rubber bands and Jell-O aren’t what caused the osteoporosis. It was a lack of calcium, not the amount of food she ate,” I responded. “Doc LaLone says my bones are just fine.”
“The perogies aren’t going to break your bones,” Pop said, manning the grill beneath the gazebo in our back yard. “The mob will if they catch up with you. Mark my words. I don’t like that big bald man looking at my daughter.”
“Big bald man, with the scary big hands, run as fast as you can, singing catch me if you can,” Frona sang as she skipped around the gazebo as if she was on a merry go round, over and over and over.
“Frona, stop. You’re making me dizzy.” YiaYia fanned her face while she sat in a chair off to the side.
“Come help me fix a plate,” Papou said, distracting her.
My life might be a circus in this back yard, but I knew what I was getting. I was genuinely afraid of the unknown world outside this safe haven.
“It’s no crime for him to be in town.” Nik stepped over to my side. “Unfortunately, we have to wait until he does something illegal to make a move. Just be aware of your surroundings, and stay alert.” His gaze held mine. “And stop going rogue. I’m too young to have gray hairs sprouting.”
“Okay.”
“Okay? Just like that? What’s the catch?”
“No catch. I’m actually nervous being alone, and I don’t like that feeling.” I folded my arms over my chest.
“You’re not alone, bestie.” Jaz gave me a hug. “You always have me.”
“Like you would be any better than Kalli at fending off a mobster.” Boomer’s expression looked strained. “I don’t want either one of you alone anywhere. I’m teaching you both self-defense.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Nik agreed. “At least then you stand a fighting chance of saving yourself if you do get attacked.”
“Oh, I want to learn,” Thalia and Eleni both said.
“So do we,” Ma said, more to herself and Aunt Tasoula.
“Nikos already taught me years ago.” Chloe beamed proudly.
“You’re never too old to learn how to defend yourselves,” Darnell said. “The three of us could divide the rest of you all up in groups and finish in half the time.”
“I’m sure Shelly Tarzia will let us use a room in her gym, The Twilight Zone Athletic Club. It’s open twenty-four hours a day. She used to be a cop,” Boomer added.
“Done.” Nik nodded.
The women of all generations squealed excitedly, talking at once, giving me a raging headache. What had we gotten ourselves into?
Just then, Nelson Rockwell came running into my parents’ backyard, out of breath and looking pale.
“Where is she?” he gasped.
“Who?” my father asked.
“Ms. Stevens. Chloe. I must find her at once. I tried calling, but she didn’t answer her phone.”
Chloe stepped forward. “Well, Mr. Rockwell, calm yourself down. You’re going to have a heart attack. I’m right here. I’m sorry, I didn’t hear my phone with all the excitement going on around here. What did you want to tell me?”
“It’s gone,” he said and looked ready to cry.
“What’s gone?” Nik asked, his face looking grave.
“The heirloom necklace. I doubled my security, but it didn’t matter. The Bandit struck again. This time, it was the only item taken from my shop. I’m so sorry, Ms. Stevens, but it looks like the Pagonis family heirloom necklace has been stolen.”