Camilla’s silence throughout the flight had Heath’s teeth on edge. Oh, she’d answered him if he asked her something. Otherwise she’d stayed inside her head, and it was driving him insane. After she claimed to have a plan, she’d made plane reservations to fly to Charlotte. He had the feeling the only reason he sat by her side on the flight was because he’d insisted.
“Ever going to tell me what your plan is? Because I’ve gotta say, you’re starting to scare me with your silence.”
She blinked, her gaze darting toward his, before ducking her head with a chagrined grimace. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to shut you out; I’ve been making a mental list of what I’m going to need.
“Such as? Sweetheart, I can help. I need to make sure Grimaldi doesn’t get another chance to hurt you. It’s eating me up inside, knowing you’ve been living beside a serial killer and nobody had a clue.”
“Trust me, Heath, I’m having trouble wrapping my head around the facts myself. Mr. Davis, I mean Mr. Grimaldi, seemed like a normal old guy. A little reclusive, but I chalked that up to him being a lifelong bachelor. Makes me wonder if I have the sense the Good Lord gave a goose, because I should have known he was up to something.”
Heath grabbed the hand she waved around as she spoke and brushed a soft kiss against her palm. “I doubt anybody would have seen through the persona he showed the public. Remember, he was in hiding. The cops, the Feds, everybody was searching high and low for Grimaldi. What better disguise than somebody decades older than his actual age, living a quiet, secluded life in the burbs?” Heath shifted in his seat, facing toward her. “How about clueing me in on what you’re planning? I’ll help with anything you need.”
Camilla leaned her head back against the headrest, chewing on her bottom lip. Her eyes held an almost frantic gleam, one that scared him a little. Knowing her, she’d plunge headfirst into danger without a second thought, if it meant putting Grimaldi behind bars. He didn’t have a problem with that notion, as long as she wasn’t in danger. Might be a bit of an issue, because he doubted Grimaldi would go along with the cops peacefully.
“Gator’s watching Grimaldi’s place still, right?”
Heath nodded. “He is.”
“Okay. What about the police or the government? Has anybody told them Grimaldi’s been located?”
“As far as I know, no. I wanted him turned in, but Gator wanted to wait. His gut is telling him something big is about to blow. I trust his instincts; they’ve never been wrong.”
“That works for me.”
“Why? He shot you, sweetheart. I’d think you’d want him behind bars, where he can’t hurt anybody ever again.”
The smile on Camilla’s lips was vicious, one he’d never seen on her beautiful lips before. It scared him because he couldn’t read her intentions. She had a plan, she’d admitted as much, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what she was up to.
“We need to make a couple of stops on the way to my place.”
“Nope.” Heath folded his arms across his chest. He wasn’t allowing her anywhere near her townhouse, not as long as Grimaldi was free and next door. Nuh-uh, not happening.
Camilla’s laughter sounded like the sweetest music. “Poor baby, it’s driving you crazy, not knowing what I’ve got in store for Grimaldi, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I don’t like walking into this blind. Too many things can go wrong. We know he’s got at least one gun, and I figure he’s got a whole lot more. Grimaldi isn’t the kind to allow himself to be vulnerable. Chances are good he’s got an arsenal in his place. You’re not safe going back to your home.”
“The only way this works is if I surprise him. He’s not going to expect me to walk into my place. Especially alone.”
“Cam—”
“Just listen. You and Gator will be right outside. Call in the cavalry, but nobody’s going to believe he’s the person who shot me. Not without proof. I can get that proof. He doesn’t know his real identity has been exposed, so he’s feeling safe. As far as he knows, I’ve been out of town for a couple days and now I’m back. My memories are gone, so he’s in the clear.”
Heath shook his head vehemently. “He’ll never buy it. Cam, he ran one of the major mafia families on the East Coast. The minute you walk through the door to your townhouse, he’s going to contact a hitman to take you out. You’ll never see it coming.”
“I’m not giving him time to call anybody. I drop off my suitcase, and head over to Grimaldi’s place. I’ll wear a wire. I can make him believe I’ve got my memories back. I’ll tell him I know who shot me and get him to admit it. You and Gator, and anybody else you want, can be right outside. The minute he incriminates himself, he’s toast.”
He banged his head several times against the headrest, wondering when Camilla had lost her mind. Because nobody with a brain in their head could possibly think this hairbrained scheme would work.
“You’re kidding. Please tell me you’re joking. Pretty girl, as much as I love you, there’s no power on earth that’s letting you walk into Grimaldi’s townhouse alone.”
At Camilla’s startled gasp, he realized what he’d said. He hadn’t meant to blurt his feelings out like that. No, he wanted something romantic. Candlelit dinner for two, dancing to soft music, and kisses under the stars. Not throwing it out there in the middle of a disagreement. Smooth, Boudreau, smooth. You’re a real piece of work. Can’t even tell the woman you love how you feel without screwing it up.
“Heath? You love me?”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Yeah. Wasn’t quite the way I’d planned on saying it the first time, but—”
“I love you, too!” Her hands flew to her mouth, and the prettiest blush stained her cheeks.
“You do?”
“Of course I do. I think I’ve been in love with you from the first time I saw you all those months ago.”
“Even though I was an obnoxious jerk?”
“How could I not love you? You brought me alive with your teasing and taunting and overall horrible behavior. You infuriated me and befuddled me, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Believe me, I tried.”
He chuckled and flung his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close against him. Or as close as airline seats would allow, which wasn’t nearly enough. When she relaxed against him, he closed his eyes, unable to believe the woman he adored loved him back.
“I want to kiss you, but I’m afraid if I start, I’ll never be able to stop,” he confessed.
“Hold that thought, Goober. I plan to kiss you too, but not until we’re firmly on the ground. For now, let’s figure out how we’re going to get Grimaldi out of my life once and for all.
Camilla sat quietly, watching Heath and Officer Dandridge quietly argue, neither giving any ground. They’d headed from the airport straight to the police station. Heath refused to let her head home, proclaiming they needed to bring the police in on her “brilliant” plan. He’d laid on the sarcasm, but her gut told her they were on the right track. Grimaldi wouldn’t be able to resist doing the whole villain soliloquy once he realized Camilla had discovered his identity and knew he’d been the one to shoot her.
Heath called his Uncle Gator as soon as they’d touched down, even before they’d left the airport, explaining the plan to set a trap for Grimaldi. He’d talked in a hushed whisper, and she’d tuned him out, making her own plans for when she confronted him. No way was she letting Heath or his uncle talk her out of it. She was reclaiming her life.
Letting Grimaldi think she’d gotten her memories back seemed the perfect opening salvo. Oh, she wouldn’t open with that information; she’d need to be subtle. Make him believe she’d simply gone away for a few days to recover. He’d probably offer some phony sympathy, and she’d play along, encourage him in believing he’d gotten away with the attempt on her life.
“Ms. Stewart, please reconsider.” Dandridge leaned on the table between them and stared at her. “You’re placing yourself in an untenable situation, one I cannot condone or approve.”
“I’m not asking for your approval, Officer Dandridge. I’m giving you the opportunity to be on scene when I meet with Mr. Grimaldi. Giving you a chance to help coordinate the capture of a wanted criminal, one who’s being hunted by the police, the Feds, and who knows who else wants a piece of him.”
Dandridge straightened, shaking his head. “I’ve got to bring my captain in on this before you pull this harebrained stunt. He’s gonna blow a gasket, if he doesn’t toss both of your butts in a cell.”
“Wouldn’t you rather get credit for the bust? I bet you don’t want the Feds stealing all the glory.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’ve been watching too much TV. I don’t care who gets the credit. Getting Grimaldi off the streets and into custody is what matters.” He shot her a heated stare. “Of course, keeping you from getting your head blown off sounds like a good plan. You realize if this goes south, Grimaldi’s going to be screaming about entrapment, false arrest, and anything else he can come up with?
Camilla gave him one of her sweetest smiles and patted his hand. “Which is why I came here before we put our plan into effect. I want to do this right.”
Dandridge shook his head. “Let me go get the captain.”
Heath walked over, pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her. Closing her eyes, she leaned against him, willing her body to relax. She’d put up a good front for Dandridge, unwilling to admit she was terrified. But she knew this was a good plan.
“You okay?”
“Yes. I wish people understood this will work.”
“Because you’re basing how you think Grimaldi’s going to react based on the six months you’ve known him. The cops are looking at his record, at the number of people he’s suspected of killing. It’s their job to keep you safe, even from yourself.”
“That’s why we came here first. I don’t want to walk into this without weighing all the options, knowing the risks and benefits. I want all the safeguards in place. I’m not a fool.”
Heath’s arms tightened around her, and she felt the tiny tremor of his body against hers. “If Grimaldi suspects anything, we’re screwed.”
“Heath, I’m doing this to avoid any bloodshed. If the SWAT team or the Feds surround his townhouse, there’s a chance people are going to die. This way, there’s a good chance to keep anybody from being hurt or killed.”
“Except you. Babe, he’s already tried to kill you once. What’s to stop him from doing it again?”
Before she could answer, Dandridge was back with a barrel-chested, graying man who nearly matched Heath in height. From the scowl on his face, and the aura of command, she guessed he must be the police captain.
“You’re Camilla Stewart?” His gruff-sounding voice sound like he chewed rocks in his free time, the low rumble meant to be intimidating. It worked.
“I am.”
“How sure are you the next-door neighbor is Grimaldi? I’m not authorizing a dang thing on a hunch.”
“Are you familiar with what Johnny Grimaldi looks like?” Heath pulled out his cell phone and keyed up the photos Gator sent him. Camilla stood back and let him deal with the captain. Sure, this was her plan and she’d be the one sticking her neck on the line, but Heath worked for the government. Not trying to paint the captain with a sexist brush, but she figured he’d probably deal better with another person in a position of authority, rather than somebody who wrote romance novels for a living.
“Where’d you get these?”
“Confidential source.” She almost grinned at Heath’s refusal to give the captain his Uncle Gator’s name. There was enough evidence, in addition to the photos; Gator could be protected.
“Is this ‘confidential source’ reliable? Somebody whose testimony would stand up in court?”
Heath chuckled. “Not a problem, believe me.”
The captain pulled out the chair opposite where Camilla had been sitting and motioned for her to sit.
“Tell me exactly what you’ve got, and about this cockamamie stunt you’re planning.”
Camilla did.