Part 24 (2/2)
The woman's voice became brittle. ”What is this? A sick joke?”
”No! Not at all. I just-”
The line went dead.
”What happened?” Nikki asked as I slid my phone into my purse.
”The woman on the other end accused me of playing a sick joke on her.”
”She wouldn't say that unless she knew Charlotte was dead.”
”It must be Charlotte's sister!” I hit REDIAL, hoping I could keep her on the phone long enough to explain why I'd called, but this time it went straight to voice mail.
Nikki's pager beeped. She glanced around at Erin, who was gesturing for her to hurry. ”I have to go, Ab. See you at home.” As she trotted up the hallway, she called back, ”Are we still on for our double-date dinner tomorrow night?”
”Sure are.”
”That'll be fun.”
For some of us more than others.
Outside, I found Rafe waiting with my car. I slid into the pa.s.senger seat and showed him the number on my palm. ”I need to find out who this woman is.”
”Let's get to a computer,” he said.
Back at my apartment, Rafe headed toward the fridge for a beer, while I hung my coat on the back of the chair. ”If we can find this H. Bebe's address, Rafe, and it isn't far from here, are you up for another field trip tonight?”
”Just say the word.”
”Let's not bother Marco with the details of our evening, okay? I can tell him Nikki provided the information, but he doesn't need to know we left here to get it.”
”Kind of a quid pro quo deal, then, right?”
”What do you mean?”
Rafe twisted the cap off a bottle and took a swig. ”I mean, I'll keep quiet, but then you owe me a favor.”
Great. Another payback. I tossed my car keys on the counter. ”What's the favor?”
”I met this awesome girl at Hooters, and I want to take her out Friday night, but I don't have wheels, so . . .” He picked up my car keys and dangled them, smiling.
My stomach sank. The speed demon wanted to use my Vette? I'd walked right into that one. It was fair punishment, I supposed, for going behind Marco's back.
I took a deep breath and blew it out. ”Okay. Sure. If you-”
”Awesome.”
”Hold on. I was about to say if you promise to keep the speed below thirty-five, park far away from other cars, and not bring any food or drink inside the vehicle-or make out in it. Because if you put one dent, nick, stain, scratch, or smidge of yucky DNA matter in it-”
”Be cool, Freckles. I've never had a single car accident.” He sat down at the desk and logged on to the Internet. ”Give me that phone number. I'll do a reverse lookup.”
As Rafe worked at the computer, my home phone rang, reminding me that I hadn't checked for messages. What if Marco had called while I was out? How would I explain neither of us answering? As I dashed to get it, I glanced at the red light on the machine, and was relieved to see it wasn't blinking. Whew. He hadn't called. He would have left a message. I'd have to be more careful in the future.
”How's it going?” Marco asked.
”Everything's fine here.” I nibbled my lip, hoping he wouldn't question me about my evening. ”What's going on there?”
”I'm just finis.h.i.+ng up my ledgers; then I'm going to head out to do some surveillance. So Rafe's behaving himself?”
”Yes, he's behaving.”
”I found the address,” Rafe called.
I motioned for him to be quiet.
”What's happening?” Marco asked. ”What did Rafe just yell?”
”He's playing a game on the computer. How late do you think you'll be?”
”Let's see. It's seven thirty now. . . . I'm sure it'll be well after midnight.”
I heard the weariness in his voice and felt guilty once again for being partly to blame. ”That's a long day for you, Marco. I wish you didn't have to get up early to take me to work.”
”It's for a good cause. That's you, in case you forgot.”
I was going to have to tear up that chart. This man was all pluses. ”Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you?”
”I'd rather you showed me,” came his s.e.xy growl.
”Anytime, Salvare. Good luck with the surveillance.”
”Thanks. I'll call you later.”
Eek. What if I was out? ”Marco, use my cell phone if you need to reach me, okay?”
”Sure. Are you still having trouble with your landline?”
”Well-”
”You have to keep on the phone company, Abby.”
”Okay.”
”Love you, babe.”
”Love you, too, Marco.”
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