Crazy About You (26 page)

“Considerate of you, but not my concern.” Wilton’s eyes slid back to Chase with a slight grimace. He squared off in front of him, arms folded across his chest, blocking his path. “Listen, this is none of my business either, but how close are you and Emma?”

Chase narrowed his eyes. “You’re right, detective. None of your business.”

“You seem like a nice guy. Emma lost Daniel a long time ago, and it’s good to see her happy again. But she’s mixed up in something complicated, and if you’re not serious, I suggest you get out now.”

His back stiffened. “Back up a sec. Who’s Daniel?”

Wilton shifted his weight from one leg to the other, eyes scanning the crowds. “She didn’t mention him?”

“Is he someone I should worry about?”

He shook his head. “Her high school sweetheart, and the last guy she was serious about, according to Sean. He’s dead. The crash almost killed all four people in the vehicle.”

“But Emma survived.” He stated it as a fact, trying to keep the shock out of his voice. He knew she had a past. Everyone does. But he couldn’t imagine the sunny woman he knew hiding such a dark shadow.

“She spent a few months in the hospital and rehab, and was able to delay going off to college until the following fall. The family doesn’t talk about it much.” Wilton shifted uncomfortably again. “Look, I know I said not to leave town, but with the FBI taking over, the investigation shifted in an unexpected direction. Since Emma kept you out of it, you’re free to leave. Go back to New York, back to your less complicated life.”

Chase stood rooted to the sidewalk. His lawyer had mentioned the FBI but he didn’t think they’d come here, to Provincetown.
Things must be heating up
. “What does
unexpected direction
mean? Is she in danger?” When the detective didn’t answer right away, Chase took it as an affirmative and asked another question. “What kind of guy would I be if I left her to deal with this on her own?”

“A smart one. She’s in way over her head.”

“All the more reason she needs me to stick around.”

“Listen, I googled you the other day after you and Emma left the station. Your family won’t like the FBI poking around their country club, or wherever it is you rich types gather in Manhattan. You’re better off ending it now before things get serious.”

His words hit Chase like a punch to the gut. Donald’s words from earlier rang in his head.
My father is not going to be happy.
He wasn’t sure how much he cared about that. Certainly not as much as he cared about Emma.

“The agents trailed her out of the station, hoping to catch her with Lenzi and record incriminating conversation.”

How could anyone think Emma was involved with a mob scheme? “Incriminating? You
know
Emma. She might keep secrets, but she’s not guilty of anything criminal.”

“Doesn’t matter. They’ll use her to get to Lenzi, to the Lenzini family.” He jammed his hands in his pockets, the frown returning to his face. “So grab that rental car and keep driving west, right off Cape Cod and right out of her life. Before anyone gets hurt.”

Chase looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “I can’t do that. I’m crazy about her!”

Suddenly Wilton grinned from ear to ear, looking less like a serious detective and more like a goofy older brother. “Really? Man, I’m glad to hear it. To be honest, I’ve been worried about your motives since the online search.”

“Okay. But what do we do now?”

“Come with me.” Wilton steered him by the elbow up a side street. “Did Emma mention I used to work in Boston?”

“I think I heard something about that,” Chase said, thinking back to Wednesday night.
Has it really only been two days since we found Vito’s body?

“I worked homicide in the city and the North Shore for a few years, saw too many bad things. Kind of the reason I wanted to move home. I’ve worked with these feds before and they’re not bad guys, just eager to get their man. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for taking down mobsters and catching the big fish, but I don’t like to see my friends—or their little sisters—tangled up in someone else’s net.”

Chase glanced around the narrow street, one of the many minor roads connecting Commercial Street with the other main road in town, Bradford. Apartments and townhouses lined the way. “Where are you taking me?”

“My girlfriend Meghan’s place is up here on the right. She told me you’re an internationally respected climate change scientist, of all things. And here I thought you were another marine biologist like her, using the CCS labs. Famous scientist—slash—billionaire playboy, if the internet is to be believed.”

Chase halted in the middle of the sidewalk, yanking his elbow from the detective’s grasp. “I’m glad to hear your girlfriend is excited to meet me, but shouldn’t we be helping Emma?”

Wilton groaned, checking his watch before turning to face him. “The other mobsters and the feds all think Emma is Tony’s
goomah,
his mistress. That he’ll cave if they threaten her. But you and I both know it’s not true. When push comes to shove, she’s not his weakness. They’re watching her at Bubeleh’s right now, waiting for her to spill about the feds being onto him. Waiting for Tony to crack under pressure.”

“She’s meeting with him? That’s too dangerous!”

Wilton grabbed his arm again before Chase could head back the way they came.

“Relax, Doc. Nothing’s going to happen in the middle of the day at a busy street café. Not with the feds there playing paparazzi.”

“You don’t understand. This Eco Dawn scam goes deeper than you seem to realize. Millions of dollars deeper.”

The puzzled look on Wilton’s face would have been comical if the situation wasn’t as serious. “What are you talking about?” Chase relayed the information Donald gave him and the detective whistled. “So basically they’re stealing all that donation money.”

His choice of words slammed Chase in the gut. “Lenzi doesn’t work for the mayor, or the company. Emma heads fundraising.” Donald’s questions haunted him, doubt seeping into his mind. How well did he really know her? Could she be part of this scheme, playing him for his money?
No. She can’t be part of this. She didn’t even know who I was until later
. Unless that was part of the lie. He and Wilton stared at one another, weighing the possible meanings.

“She doesn’t know.”

“No,” Chase agreed, and realized he meant it. Lingering doubts faded in the face of the other man’s certainty. Proving it to others, however, might be tricky. At least he and this detective were on the same page. It might be crazy, but everything about this week had been insane in one way or another. He’d do anything he could to keep Emma out of trouble.

Wilton dropped his hold on Chase’s arm and cracked his knuckles. “Let’s get you cleaned up first. Half my wardrobe is in Meghan’s closet so we can find you something decent to wear. I’ll make a few calls and we’ll straighten this out. At least for Emma.”

Which was the only part that mattered.

Chapter Thirty

Emma stirred the iced coffee with her straw, watching the cubes dissolve. She pulled out her phone to check the time again.
Where is Tony?
If he didn’t show up soon, she’d be late for lunch with Chase. She’d been lucky to grab an outdoor table, giving the hostess a generous tip and explaining she probably wouldn’t be staying long enough to eat. The hostess piled menus on the table anyway.

Kallie stopped by with two pitchers. “Was that sweet tea or coffee, Em?”

“Coffee, thanks. Sure is a hot one today.” Emma gestured toward the line of people waiting to be seated. From the looks of things, they’d be waiting a while. “Seems like the busiest week of the season arrived a little early.”

The waitress agreed. “Although, I’m not too keen on this year’s theme. I’ve already heard enough bad Al Pacino imitations to last me a lifetime, and the official kick-off isn’t until tomorrow. At least the manager got us these cute fedoras to wear during work. She originally ordered boas, but the chef pitched a fit claiming we’d get feathers in all the food!” She looked toward the café entrance. “Uh-oh. Don’t look now, but your personal hunka New York cheesecake finally arrived. If you really don’t want him, can I have him next? He looks pretty yummy.”

Emma grimaced and squared her shoulders. “Honestly, Kal? I don’t think you want to go there. The guy’s trouble with a capital T.”

“Sometimes those are the most fun.” Kallie winked, flicking her fedora up a notch before moving on to the next table. Emma waved Tony over to the table. His white button-down shirt looked crisp despite the midday heat, his dress pants still holding their sharp crease down the front. Black Ray-Bans completed the look. She marveled how he always looked so pristine, like he’d stepped straight off the page of a magazine, never a hair out of place or a wayward wrinkle on his clothing.

“Sorry, babe.” He pulled out the chair next to hers instead of across the table, his back to the street. “Had to see a man about a thing.” He leaned in to plant a kiss on her cheek but she shied away. “What? What’s the matter?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Since when do you kiss me hello?”

“Since people are watching.” He grabbed her hand, kissing her knuckles instead, before holding it on top of the table.

“People?” She tried to take her hand back, but he wouldn’t let go. She tugged again. “I need to put more sugar in my iced coffee.”

He released his grip with a muttered curse. “You shouldn’t use so much sugar, babe. It’s not good for your health.” He picked up the plastic menu, running his finger along the sandwich choices until he found what he wanted. He tapped on it triumphantly, turning it for Emma to see. “Told you. I knew they’d have real pastrami on rye in a joint like this. Now I just need a waitress.”

“She’ll be back in a minute, I’m sure.” Emma stirred the sugar into her coffee with the straw and took a long sip. “What’s this about people watching?”

He shrugged. “Forget about it.”

“Okay.” She took another sip, the coffee disappearing fast. “You wanted to talk to me?”

“Yeah. Listen, I’m sorry I got mad the other night. I had no right.”

She shrugged. “I’m over it. With everything else going on, like your cousin…”

“Yeah. About that.” His voice lowered so she barely hear him. “It seems some
stunad
made assumptions about our relationship, on account of Vito and his big mouth. I’m doing everything I can to work this out, but you need to bear with me. Stay patient.”

After a morning of FBI questioning, it frustrated her not to speak more plainly about things. She took another long sip of the coffee, deciding to let him lead. She had no idea how he’d feel about her knowing the truth. “So you think the fire at my parents’ house has something to do with your cousin? Because he told someone I’m your
girlfriend
?”

He leaned back in his chair, studying her. “If I ask you a question, can you be straight with me?”

She cocked her head, stirring her ice a little faster. “I’ve never lied to you, Tony.”

“Yeah, maybe, but how long have you known?”

The straw stopped swirling, the ice bumping into it as it kept going around the glass. She stared into his dark eyes, and finally remembered to breathe before it became a problem. She had no idea how to answer the question, or exactly what question he was asking.

He took her silence for an answer. He lowered his voice to more of a growl. “That’s what I figured. Hell, you told me that first night we met that you grew up in Provincetown. You knew I was lying all along.”

Her stomach tightened into a knot, the sugary coffee burning its way back up her throat. Totally confused and afraid of his angry tone, she found her words. “Tony, it’s not like that.”

“Thing is, you don’t understand my world.” He ignored her protest and kept talking. “Here it’s normal and accepted. Free to love who you love. In my world, that’ll get you killed.”

Emma suddenly realized the focus of the conversation had nothing to do with mafia and everything to do with sexual preferences. The knot in her stomach unwound a few notches. “It’s always better to let someone tell you their own truth. Actually, I thought you might be ready to share when you agreed to spend the week here, in P-town.”

“I admit, sometimes I want a different life.” He sighed heavily, eyes sliding away from hers. “But I’m glad that’s out in the open, at least with you and me. I feel better not having secrets between us. And I appreciate your discretion because like I said, in my world, there is no acceptance.”

She nodded, not trusting her voice. Despite his words, plenty of secrets still existed. One of which she needed to talk about soon, before the FBI beat her to the punch. “Speaking of secrets, Tony…”

“So are we ready to order lunch?” Kallie beamed at them, pencil and pad in-hand.

Emma scowled, annoyed by her friend’s lack of timing. “Can you give us a minute?”

“What are you talking about, babe? I’m starving.” Tony looked Kallie in the eye and gave her a wolfish smile. “I’m dying for a good pastrami sandwich, sweetheart. I hear yours are the best.” He winked for good measure, and Kallie giggled in response.

“Just more iced coffee for me, thanks.” Emma rattled her pint glass of ice. Not that she was jealous of the attention he paid the other woman, but more she wanted to keep Kallie out of danger. Tony equaled danger.

Kallie shot her a look of annoyance before turning a flirtatious smile in Tony’s direction. “I’ll be right back with your order.” She turned and flounced away, her hips swiveling a little more than Emma thought necessary.

She glared at Tony. “I thought you just said you weren’t interested?”

“Never hurts to keep up appearances.” Tony chuckled, taking Emma’s hand and bringing it to his lips. He grazed a dry kiss across her knuckles. “Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?”

She took a deep breath, her eyes trained on where his thumb traced over her fingers. “I’ve met someone.”

His thumb stilled, but he didn’t release her. “Is it serious?”

She nodded, finally raising her gaze to meet his, not sure what to expect. His face gave nothing away, blank and unreadable. “I think it might be. So we should probably, you know, stop pretending to date or whatever.”