Shot in the Dark (6 page)

Dev sat behind his desk, sticking piles of files haphazardly on top of an organizer. He booted up his computer, - waited until the screen loaded and pulled over a pad to jot notes on. Flipping her case file open, he scanned the data.

“Ms. Lombart.” She raised an eyebrow at the formal use of her name, but didn’t say anything. No distractions. No mistakes. “Start at the beginning, from the time your shift started and through the robbery.”

She nodded and looked down at her hands between her knees. “I work at the Naughty Latte espresso stand on the corner of Lankershim Boulevard and Ventura. I’ve been a barista for one year. I work the evening shift, four to nine, Tuesday through Saturday.”

Dev typed the information into the program. “Do you normally work alone?”

She shook her head. “No, we always work in teams of two. It’s company policy for safety. But Becky, the other girl, was sick. She came down with a bad cold and a headache. I told her to go home, and that I’d close the stand.”

“Did you think the man who committed the robbery might have been a customer last night? Had you seen him in the drive-thru that night?”

She shook her head. “No. They were all regulars.” She paused and took a sip of coffee before continuing. “Right before eight, there was a knock on the back door. I was expecting a shipment of milk and knew it would arrive before closing, so I didn’t think it would be anyone but the delivery man. When I opened the door, I couldn’t see the man’s face clearly. It was dark. The light was burned out and Bill, the owner, hadn’t replaced it.” Her gaze dropped. “The man shoved the door open and turned off the interior light, pushing me inside.”

Where had the bastard been? The streets were busy but most of the businesses were closed. If Dev had been
aware
of his surroundings, like he
should
have been he might have noticed something out of place. The robber must have been watching from somewhere close by to know when he’d driven off. He’d probably watched the two of them talk.

But Dev’s mind had been concentrating on Luci’s tits and how she was flirting with him…  not on being a cop.

His voice hardened, “What next?”

Her eyes turned a darker shade of blue with a look in them that said
he knew
what happened next. But she drew in a breath and continued as color bloomed in her cheeks. “He turned me around so I couldn’t see him. It all happened so quickly. He had cuffs in his pocket. He jerked my arms behind my back and put them over my wrists. Then he…” she paused, tears brimming in her eyes, “he sliced off my bikini top with a knife.”

She hadn’t mentioned the knife in her report last night. He’d seen her top discarded with the straps cut. What had he thought the guys used, his teeth?

He’d seen his share of death as an LA cop. Luci could have been harmed much worse. She could have been killed.

“He wasn’t speaking English,” she said.

“You mentioned that in the report last night. You thought he was Russian?”

She nodded. “I tried to get a clear view of him, but he pushed my face down and rubbed his pants against me.” Her voice dropped, “He had an erection. That was when I knew he wasn’t just there for the cash.”

Dev had questioned many,
hell
, hundreds of suspects in the years he’d been a detective. He’d seen the worst mankind did to each other, and this ramped up his determination to catch her attacker. Luci’s nightly conversations with him at the Naughty Latte were Devan’s only glimpse of his old life. He wouldn’t let a two-bit hood take that from him. 

It was a by-the-book interview… but when he heard the tremble in Luci’s voice, he wanted to slam something, break a window, anything to stop the pain in her eyes.

“There was a rap on the window. It was Del. He’s a regular. When the man saw him, he swore in Russian.”

“Are you sure it was Russian? Can you repeat the words?”

“I’m sure he spoke Russian. I have a Russian friend. Then he grabbed the cash box from under the counter and ran out the door.”

“And he also took your purse?”

She nodded. “I hadn’t realized it at the time, but later, after the ambulance left. I couldn’t find it.”

“The man was about 5 foot 9, blond hair.” He leaned forward on the desk. “Is there
anything
else you can remember?”

“He wore cowboy boots. Wait!” Luci’s eyes brightened. “I do remember something. He had on a short-sleeved shirt, and I could see his forearms. He had tattoos. Octagon symbols mixed into a vine.”

Dev raised his own arm and pointed to his skin. “On this side of his arm?” he asked.

“Yes. It was large, at least six inches total. It wasn’t black, it was more blue… it was hard to tell in the dark.” She closed her eyes. “The details are murky. I can’t remember them clearly.”

He picked up a pen and tapped it on the desk. “I want you to contact your credit card companies as soon as we’re finished here.”

“Can I go?” she asked, throwing the empty cup in the trash.

He pressed save, then minimized the screen and grabbed his cane. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

Her face was still tight, but she managed a smile. “See, it wasn’t a complete white lie I told Officer Brady. You
are
a gentleman.”

Dev didn’t answer, only blew out a snort through his nose.

When they reached the side parking lot, Luci turned and jingled her keys in her hand. “I know you won’t take money for carting me around last night, so I want to fix you dinner—tonight. I don’t have to work. Be there about seven. You can bring the bread. I’ll make pasta. Everyone likes pasta.”

Smart girl, she hadn’t worded any of her last sentences in the form of questions. So what was there to say ‘
no
’ to?

Dev tried to think of a way to back out, but then shut his mouth, shocking himself with the fact that he really wanted to see her again. “Okay,” he finally said.

“You know,” she shrugged, adding, “in case I have a meltdown in the shower again. It would be good to have you there. I can’t afford the extra cost on my water bill.” She made light of it, but he could see she was probably still scared shitless being alone by herself.

The overhead sun lit golden highlights in Luci’s blonde and pink hair. Her skin was so perfect, it looked like caramel satin. Her lips were full and pink without gloss.

He reached and stroked his thumb down her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his caress like a cherished lover. He wanted to kiss her again, but even he wasn’t dumb enough to do that in broad daylight outside of the station.

That would really get everyone’s tongues wagging.

Her wide blue eyes drew him in. “Don’t forget the bread. Do you want me to write you a reminder on a sticky note?”

Dev tipped his head back and laughed. “No, I think I got it. Do I need to write you a reminder to call the bank as soon as you get home?”

Her short hair flipped from side to side as she shook her head. “Got it. So now that we’re set… I guess I don’t need to give you directions, since you know where I live.” She looked reluctant to leave as she stuck the key in the lock of the door. “See you tonight.”

Dev turned on his cane and limped toward the back stairs. He could take a few hours of comp-time this afternoon. He had a thousand hours of vacation time built up that needed to be used. He’d go home and take a nap. He hadn’t gotten much sleep… as usual.

He’d get cleaned up. Maybe buy some flowers and a nice bottle of wine.

Stop
. This wasn’t like a
date
. What the hell was he thinking? It was just something Luci was doing to thank him for the one night of his life he decided to be a do-gooder.

Anyway, he’d have to see how far he got searching the data she’d given him. He’d check the files on the other robberies and see if he could tie them together.

Feeling his stomach growl, he pulled four quarters out of his pocket and hit the button on the vending machine for peanut-butter-filled crackers. If he was hungry, those were one of his vices.

One of many… along with baristas who had blue eyes the color of the Caribbean Sea.

He was getting soft in his old age of twenty-nine.

Dev’s body felt strong, both legs powerful. Luci was under him, naked. He nipped kisses down the nape of her neck as she writhed under him, making mewling sounds of pleasure.

Heat licked at every inch of his skin as he pounded into her willing body and felt her sex clench around him. As he sucked the nipple closest to his lips, Luci arched off the mattress. She stroked a hand over his bare butt and pulled at him to drive deeper.

She melted into him as sweat slicked their bodies. He wanted to see all of her, but couldn’t quite make out the lines of her body. His cock throbbed.

Am I in my bed or hers? Did it fucking matter? All that mattered was he was having sex with the hottest woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

Using his legs, he quickened the pace, driving farther as passion fueled him. He was so close, his balls were tight and his cock was as stiff as a rod.

One more thrust into heaven…

The alarm on his phone beeped at maximum volume, jerking him awake. Groggily Dev grabbed it, ready to toss it across the room. But then he’d have to spend full price to replace it…
like before
.

He groaned and sat up. He looked down at the clothes he’d discarded next to the bed where he’d fallen face down to take a nap. 

Stumbling toward the bathroom, he turned on the shower, not waiting for it to warm and stepped under the spray. Icy water made him hiss air through his teeth as he stroked a hand over his still rock-hard cock.

If he’d stayed asleep one minute longer, there would have been a mess to clean up. The cold water stung like needles, but he needed that jolt to clear his mind of visions of Luci.

He had to keep his mind on task. It was just dinner.

He was going to be a few minutes late. He didn’t have a dog to blame, so what was he going to give as his reason for being late?

I was late because I was jacking-off while dreaming of you.

Maybe he should relieve some of the pressure while he was still in the shower. It would be better than this life-sized boner he had whenever Luci was within ten feet of him.

He was there to help her, not hump her.

Deciding against his plan, knowing it would make him even
more late
, he wrapped a towel around his lean waist and stepped out of the shower. He combed his hair with the tips of his fingers and quickly shaved.

He’d run Luci’s credit cards but had reached a wall. Pulling in a favor, he had Wilkins, who was the department’s resident credit fraud expert, see if he could dig up any additional information. But it would take a few days.

He should still be at the station. There was work to be done. The bastard was still out there somewhere. But Luci
had
offered him a home-cooked meal.

Wiping the steam from the mirror with the side of his hand he noticed his eyes weren’t as red as usual. The hour nap he’d taken made him feel like a new man. A horny man, but still, more refreshed and rejuvenated than he’d felt in a long time.

He was ready for the evening. Ready to take on that fun, smart woman who didn’t cut him one inch of slack or let him flip her any shit without giving it right back.

It almost made him feel as though life was worth living.

Dev pulled the Plymouth to the curb in front of Luci’s house. Blowing out a breath, he looked at his watch.

Only fifteen minutes late, not too bad
.

He swung the heavy car door and propped his cane on the sidewalk.

The night was warmer than it had been the previous evening. 
LA should never drop below sixty degrees at night
, Dev thought,
even in winter
. If he wanted it cold, he’d live in Wisconsin.

As he pulled himself up, his gaze scanned the perimeter of the house. Movement caught his eye.

He froze. By the build and gait, it was a man, he could tell from the long strides.

Sliding back in the car he flipped open the glove box and pulled out the small 380 pistol and stuck it in a waistband holster. Quietly he clicked the door closed and took a wide arch avoiding the gate, hoping if he stayed on the grass the man wouldn’t hear the click of his cane.

Dev grew closer, keeping the trees as cover. A young man with blond hair was on his knees peering in the window of Luci’s below ground apartment.

Blood and anger pounded in Dev’s veins.

Positioning his cane one step at a time, Dev inched forward until he was a foot behind the crouching man. Drawing his weapon, he raised the gun at back of the man’s head. “Hands on top of your head, asshole!”

The young man flipped around so quickly Dev took a step back to stay out of the suspect’s reach. He raised the gun higher, now aiming between his eyes.

“Don’t kill me, man.” His eyes were wide with fear. “If it’s money you want… I’ve got fifty dollars!”

“LAPD. Keep your hands on top of your head. Use one hand and pull your wallet free with two fingers. Then toss it on the grass. I’m not robbing you. I’m the cop who’s fucking arresting you.”

The man’s hands dropped like weights as he tossed his wallet to lie on the grass like a hot coal.

Balancing on the silver cap of the cane, Dev tipped forward and retrieved the wallet from the ground. Using his thumb to open the leather, he flicked a gaze at the information on his license. “Jon…
Lombart
?” Dev eyes snapped up, and then narrowed to take a closer look at the man’s blond hair and blue eyes. Suddenly, he saw the resemblance. “
Jesus
… You’re Luci’s brother?”