“I knew it!” I said as Jaz and I walked through the front door of Full Disclosure and saw the guilty culprits.
Benny Balboa and Antonio Tedesco were in handcuffs, seated on Jaz’s couch while Detective Stevens, Detective Matheson, and Detective Johnson questioned them.
“You don’t know anything,” Benny said.
“I know we don’t have to say anything until our lawyer gets here.” Baldy glared at me. “You don’t know who you’re messing with, little girl.”
“Knock it off,” Nik growled. “You’re just mad because you got caught in the act. You set the fire as a distraction to draw the whole town out so you could hit up another business. Unfortunately for you, your plan backfired.”
“You got sloppy, boys,” Boomer chimed in. “Your biggest mistake was messing with my girlfriend.”
Jaz joined us after inspecting her entire boutique from top to bottom. “It doesn’t look like they took anything.”
“Because we caught them before they could,” Boomer stated. “It was only a matter of time before they made a mistake.”
“I told you we’re not the thieves.” Benny shook his head, giving Nik a look of disgust. “You’re the one who’s sloppy.”
“Looks to me like you’re the one who messed up, Balboa,” Darnell chimed in. “My sources tell me Ariana stole drugs from your apartment when she dumped you, and then she sold them for enough money to skip town. That had to make you furious.” He studied him. “Furious enough to kill, even.”
“I didn’t kill her. We might have broken up, but I wouldn’t want her to die. I just wanted the drug money, except she spent it all.” His jaw hardened.
“The drugs weren’t hers or yours, were they?” Nik said calmly. “They belonged to the Tedesco Family, and now they want their money.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Benny spat.
“Oh, I think I do,” Nik went on. “You caught up with Ariana and threatened to turn her over to the mob. Why didn’t you?”
“Stupid broad said she could get your mother’s heirloom necklace. She figured it was worth something, but none of us knew just how much it would be worth,” Antonio ground out. “Amateurs. I never should have let them make the plan. It was Benny’s dumb idea to fake a pregnancy to get you to marry her.”
“The idea wasn’t dumb,” Benny growled back. “She always liked me more than him. She never planned to marry him. She just needed to get close enough to steal the necklace.”
“She’s dead,” Antonio pointed out dryly. “I’d say that makes the idea pretty stupid. She got what she deserved for crossing my family.” He leaned forward. “You know the rules, Benny. Someone’s gotta pay for the stolen drugs.”
“Is that why you were pawning the fakes?” Boomer asked. “That idea wasn’t much better. You ticked off some powerful people who will want a piece of you, but they will have to wait in line. You’re going to jail.”
“If he makes it there alive,” Antonio said with a deep deadly tone and a look in his eye that sent shivers across my flesh.
“I wouldn’t look so smug, Tedesco. You’re joining him,” Nik pointed out with relish, the look in his eye one of pure satisfaction.
“We’ll see about that. I have powerful people of my own.”
I had gone upstairs to check out the loft as they talked and came back down. “Why did you ransack my studio?”
Baldy’s hard eyes settled on me, and I tried not to squirm. “I told you to be careful, little girl. I always get what I want.”
“Not this time, pal.” Darnell hoisted Baldy to his feet because he was the only one big enough to do so.
“I got this one,” Boomer said, grabbing Benny and pulling him to his feet. “You messed with the wrong business. It’s gonna be a pleasure taking you to your new home.”
“I’ll meet you guys at the station,” Nik said.
The detectives left, and I breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad that’s over. Antonio killed Ariana for crossing his family. He hit me over the head at your ma’s place, looking for the necklace. He locked me in a building and set it on fire. I don’t think he would have stopped until I was dead.”
“I’m afraid he killed Nina as well. We found her journal saying she was going to apologize to Ma for threatening her about dating Captain Crenshaw. She must have shown up when Ma was sleeping and caught Antonio there, so he killed her before she could turn him in.” Nik breathed out a heavy sigh. “He’s not saying where the necklace is. I have a feeling they pawned that right away. We’ll most likely never see that again.”
“Why mess with my loft if they already had the necklace?” I hated the thought of him violating my private sanctuary. I would have to do a thorough cleaning before I would feel comfortable up there again.
“Antonio likes to send a message. He already told you to back off, but you didn’t listen. He didn’t like that.”
“I know. I felt his presence following me every day.”
“I’m sure he didn’t expect to get caught before they finished. It was a fluke that the boys and I were out looking for leads from the fire when we spotted Antonio’s black sedan hidden in an alley down the street. We went on foot and saw a dim flashlight in the loft window of Full Disclosure. I knew it wasn’t you or Jaz, and we were able to surprise them in the act. You don’t have to worry about either of them anymore.” He hugged me. “We’re good at our jobs, Kalli. We’ll get them to confess to the rest. It’s over, Babe.” Now maybe we can finally get our lives back on track.
A little thrill zipped through me over the word Babe. I’d never been anyone’s Babe, or any other term of endearment, and I kind of liked it. “Nothing has ever sounded better,” I admitted, then took a chance and added, “You still owe me a date, Detective.”
He froze, then leaned back to look me in the eye. “You sure?” Please be sure.
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him in answer. Finally, something is going right.
The next day, I told Nik I would drop Wolfgang off at Dino’s Doggy Daycare for him. He and the other detectives had their hands full, wrapping up the case. Chloe was packing in preparation to move back into her own house.
Life was finally good.
I fed Prissy, said goodbye to Chloe, and walked Wolfgang to my car. Nik had put down a waterproof seat protector in the back, which helped, but I would still need another detail done before I could sleep at night. I put Wolf in the back seat as Rex pulled up in his mail truck. I climbed in my car, and Wolf let out a low growl.
“Oh, you big goofball,” I said, as I pulled out of the driveway and waved to Rex. “Trust me, he’s harmless.” Rex stared at me a little less red faced, then waved back and moved on down the street to the next house.
Progress.
I arrived at Dino’s Doggy Daycare and dropped off Wolfgang. As I came back out, I ran into Milly with Elenore and Olivia’s full-grown poodles. They were gorgeous dogs, jet black with the blingiest of collars I’d ever seen. I chuckled.
“Guess what?” she said breathlessly.
I couldn’t help but smile over her excitement. “What?”
“I took your advice and talked to Nelson.”
“You did? That’s wonderful. And…?”
“And what?” She blushed.
“Don’t keep me in suspense.” I laughed. “What happened?”
“Oh, well, no big deal. He asked me to go to a jewelry show with him today, is all. I’m sure he was just being friendly.”
“That’s amazing. When do you leave?”
“Oh, I’m not going.” She waved me off with her hand.
“Milly,” I waited until she looked me in the eye. “Why on earth would you say no when he asked you on a date?”
“I volunteer at the shelter, but I work at Dino’s. My boss said I could take the rest of the day off, but I already promised the Bennett twins I would take their dogs, Chanel and Versace, to the park and then run them home after. Nelson will already be gone by then.” She shrugged. “That’s okay. At least we’re talking. That’s a start.”
“Well, that’s silly. It’s a beautiful day, and I have nothing to do. I would be more than happy to do it for you.”
“I couldn’t let you. It’s my job.”
“If I can handle Wolfgang, I can handle any dog. I know the twins. They won’t mind, I’m sure. At least go ask your boss. I’ll wait here with Chanel and Versace as a little test. They’re such darling divas.”
The dogs sat like perfect little ladies, waiting for Milly to return. Five minutes later, Milly came running out of the daycare, all wide-eyed and red-faced with a huge smile.
“Dino said yes!” she squealed. “He called the twins and they were completely fine with you walking the girls and dropping them off. The fence to the back of the house is unlocked. They always just have me let the girls in there, but be sure to close the gate behind you when you leave so they won’t get out.”
“Done. Now go get your man.”
She let out an excited giggle. “I already called him. He’s waiting for me.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Do I look okay?” She spun in a circle, wearing average shorts and a t-shirt with her hair in a ponytail. Nothing fancy, but it suited her.
If I’d learned anything about dating, you had to be yourself or it would never work. “You look adorable. From one overthinker to another, stop worrying and just go.”
“You’re right. Okay. Here I go.” She ran to her car, took a deep breath, then jumped in and left.
I looked down, and the dogs stared up at me patiently. Who would have thought I would ever become a dog person? Well, not exactly a dog person, but at least one who could tolerate them now. “Okay, ladies, let’s go.”
The temperature was in the eighties with low humidity and not a cloud in the sky. I walked past businesses, waving to all the people I knew. Chanel and Versace were so well-trained they had a loose leash the whole way to the park. We stopped by Mr. Chew’s ice cream stand for a couple of doggy bowls, and then Mr. Fender’s food truck for a couple of dog treats he kept in there—reserving the hotdogs for Wolfgang. I was actually enjoying myself.
For the first time in weeks, I wasn’t afraid.
Leaving the park, I headed back toward town and turned down the street the Bennett sisters’ house was on. Rex was just putting their mail in the mailbox as I hit their driveway. He started to drive off, but stopped, backed up, and stuck his head out the window. “You just missed the sisters.”
“That’s okay. They said for me to put the dogs in the backyard, but thanks for letting me know.”
He nodded once and then drove off to finish his route.
I opened the gate to the back fence and let the dogs in. Glancing around the yard, I was impressed. The rental house owners used my cousin’s lawn service as well, and I was guessing Erik had done the landscaping. I was beginning to recognize his signature style.
“Aha, there you are.” I saw the dog bowls on the deck.
There was plenty of shade in the yard, and the temperature outside wasn’t too warm, but I didn’t want to leave them without water in case the sisters were gone longer than they expected. I grabbed the bowls and filled them with water from the hose and then carried them back to the deck. The second I set them down, Chanel and Versace stuck their faces in them and drank deep, then plopped down in the shade to sleep.
“Good girls.” I smiled, bending down to pat them on their heads, then I stood back up feeling like I’d really accomplished something.
I was about to leave for Dino’s to pick up my car and go home when I noticed a trash bag on the floor by the trashcan in the kitchen through the sliding door. Tomorrow was trash day, so that wasn’t surprising to see trash. The trash bag was clear, and what was inside was surprising. I tried to open the sliding door, but it was locked. Looking around, I noticed a window that was open to let in the breeze from the beautiful day.
I didn’t hesitate.
I scrambled off the deck and made my way over to the window. It was too high to reach, but I spotted a couple of Adirondack chairs. Putting one right beneath the window and standing on it, I was just able to reach the window. After some wiggling, I managed to get the screen out and pull myself through. The house was in immaculate order. Nothing seemed unusual except that trash bag.
Hurrying over to the bag and trying not to touch anything in case I was wrong, I looked closer through the bag. Sure enough, Aunt Tasoula’s special night cream was in there. She’d ordered a paraben and petroleum jelly free cream with me in mind. No one had tried it yet because she had just gotten the shipment in when her salon was robbed.
I dropped the bag, my hands shaking as I backed away. Following my instincts, I quickly searched the rest of the house, becoming more and more shocked with each item I found.
The biggest item of all…the Pagonis family heirloom necklace.
Benny and Baldy weren’t the Business Bandits. Elenore and Olivia Bennett were. I had to call Nik. I pulled out my phone when Chanel and Versace started barking. Making my way back to the kitchen, I started to open the sliding door to let them in, when an arm snaked around my shoulders.
This time I was prepared.