Third Eye Watch (A Serena Shaw Mystery) (9 page)

“And find Sofia’s killers and make them pay for what they did to my sister.”

Serena’s startled gaze found Fredrik’s eyes and she heard,
“Don’t want to, but if I leave her here alone, she’ll get herself killed too.”

Lena wandered around the shop, stopping here and there, and much like Sam had done the previous week, taking the dagger and running her fingers on it.

Why am I still thinking about him? He hasn’t called.

“Why was he following me?” Serena asked Lena, jerking her head towards Fredrik.

Lena hesitated, looking at Fredrik, then back at Serena. Then she told Serena that the young couple now living in Sofia’s apartment had let her see where her sister had spent her last few days. They had told Lena about Serena, but they didn’t know where the gallery was located, and so Lena had asked Fredrik to follow Serena.

Fredrik had waited outside the apartment’s parking lot, following Serena when she had left her apartment.

“He…uh….he was only supposed to find out where your gallery was. I didn’t tell him to follow you, or scare you,” she looked at Serena contritely.

“But why didn’t he just come inside and introduce himself to me?”

“I don’t know,” Lena shrugged helplessly. Then added, “he’s overprotective of me, and he just wanted to learn more about you before we…” Lena let her voice trail off, looking at Fredrik, who now stood in front of the windows, looking outside, his back towards them.

“Sofia was my only sibling; my older sister by only three years. We were very close. My parents’ marriage didn’t survive; each blamed the other for Sofia’s disappearance. I’m here to find out what happened to her. My family needs closure”. Lena’s continued, her voice filled with emotions.

“I need closure,” she added softly, tears running down her face.

Serena felt a rush of sympathy for her; she couldn’t imagine what they must have gone through. She watched as Fredrik came and put his arms around her, as if telepathically aware that Lena had needed him.

“I’ll make us some tea,” she said, turning away to give Lena time to regain her composure.

They stood around, drinking tea, no one speaking for a few minutes; then Serena recalled Lena’s thoughts of finding the killers and said, “Lena, you know the FBI is actively working on the case. You must have met Audrey, uh, Special Agent Glennon, who is in charge of the case. They will find Sofia’s killers and so…”

“Yes, I have met her. But Sofia disappeared six months ago, and they were not able to find her. Now she is dead, but the police and the FBI have no clues about who kidnapped her, and killed her,” she said, her voice breaking.

“My sister was not an American, so she may not be a, how do you say it…..?”

She searched for the right word.

“Priority?” Serena supplied.

“Yes, priority. She is just another girl, maybe not important. Many girls go missing and many people are killed in Detroit, yes? Before I came here, people told me Detroit is a dangerous city. But my sister was important to me, and I want to know who killed her. If the police cannot find her killers, I will.” Lena accent had thickened, and her voice had risen, and now she openly wept while Fredrik held her.

The wind chimes hanging above the front door sang, and they all turned towards the sound. Serena’s breath caught when he saw who it was.

Sam paused at the threshold, his glance sweeping over the three of them; then strode towards them with a confident gait. The three of them had formed a half circle as they watched him approach and stop next to Serena. Sam swept his gaze once again on Lena and Fredrik; then turned to look down at Serena.
Then, he cleared his throat and with his gaze holding hers captive, murmured softly, “Hello Serena.”

Serena had forgotten to breathe. Now she let out a shallow breath and squared her shoulders.

“Special Agent Raina.” Serena was striving for a frosty tone, but instead, she thought she sounded breathless.

He nodded, grinning at her unfriendly demeanor, then turned to Lena and offered his hand, saying in a quiet tone, “Hello. I believe you are Lena Bardha. I am FBI Special Agent Raina, you’ve met my partner Special Agent Glennon.”

Next, he shook hands with Fredrik. Then, pleasantries completed, he stepped even closer to Serena, his shoulder brushing hers, and watched her with a hunger he didn’t bother disguising.

xxxx

Serena’s felt electrified when she felt his shoulder brushing hers. She fought an overwhelming urge to turn towards him and cling to him.

Don’t forget, he had promised to call but hadn’t.

Pesky inner voices were so trying, she thought. She took two steps away from him, putting space so that her brain could start sending “breathe now” signals to her lungs, and turned to face Lena.

“I cannot imagine how much you and your family must be hurting. But you can’t go around looking for Sofia’s killers; Special Agent Raina here can tell you how the investigation is going and keep you abreast of developments in the future.” She looked at Sam, hoping her eyes conveyed the message that he needed to jump in.

Sam nodded imperceptibly, picked up the thread of conversation, “Serena is correct, we are actively working to find your sister’s killer or killers. What is this about you looking for Sofia’s killers?”

Lena and Fredrik left a few minutes later and Sam followed them outside where he urged them to not do anything foolish, and gave them his card with his cell phone number; telling them to call him anytime they felt the need.

IT’S COMPLICATED

Sam reentered the gallery, walking purposefully towards Serena, who sat behind her desk trying to look busy.

“Hi,” he said, coming around the desk and standing in front of her.

If he thinks I’m going to fall into his arms just because he says hi in that sexy voice, he’s got another think coming!

Then she raised her head and thought sitting down had been a tactical mistake on her part because it gave him an unfair advantage as he stood looking down at her.

She watched in panic as he turned away abruptly; then relaxed when she watched him drag a chair and sit down next to her; so close that his knees touched hers.

She thought he looked tired. The stubble on his jaw gave the impression that he hadn't shaved in days, and his eyes looked shadowy with exhaustion. Even so, he looked dashing, in black jeans, a black polo t-shirt, and a tan sports coat under which she could see the straps of his holster.

He leaned forward, and taking both her hands asked in a gruff voice, “Will you let me take you to dinner?”

Yes, Yes, she wanted to scream. But then she remembered he had said he’d call and hadn’t. No, she had to be tough.

“I already have dinner plans,” she lied.

“Break them.”

She wanted to. She wanted to feel his lips. She wanted him to hold her. She wanted to spend every minute of her day with him. She wanted him, period!

“Please,” his sexy voice pleaded, as he leaned even closer.

Serena resisted for barely a minute before she melted under the fierce tenderness she saw in his eyes. She nodded once. He watched her as he raised her hands to his lips, and kissed each finger lingeringly.

She blushed, then pulled her hands from his grip, and stood up, clearing up her workspace. She grabbed the stacks of paper and threw them in a drawer.

As they walked towards her car, he said, “Can we leave your car here? I’ll give you a ride back here in the morning”.

Serena’s pulse hammered as her mind took flight.
Was Sam planning on staying the night? She couldn’t allow that. Or could she?

They went to Touché, an Italian restaurant in Northville, an upscale neighborhood not too far from her gallery. It was early yet, and the restaurant wasn’t very busy, so they were seated immediately. Instead of sitting across from her, Sam slid into the booth next to her. Serena felt the warmth from his thigh penetrating her skin and spreading throughout her body.
Serena opened her menu but found the words didn’t make any sense. Unless this place actually served chicken flavored chocolate pie?

She blinked, and looked up at Sam who asked, “What’s the matter? Don’t you see anything you like?”

“No, it’s fine, I, um just….”.

The waiter arrived, and she was saved from offering an explanation.

Sam ordered a Heineken, and she chose a vodka martini. Their drinks came almost instantly, and she was glad for something to do. She knew he was watching her from under hooded eyes, but she glanced around the restaurant, strangely unwilling to meet his eyes.

“Serena.” He said her name quietly and waited until she looked at him, then continued, “I’m sorry I didn’t call.” 

“No problem.” Serena said nonchalantly, adding softly, “I’m sure you had more important things to do.”

“Well, Audrey and I were busy working on Sofia’s case. But that’s not why I didn’t call. I…. uh”, he cleared his throat uncomfortably, and then added; “I have a girlfriend.”

“I know.”

He tilted his face to look at her, perplexed, then his face cleared and he said “Ah, Audrey”.

“She didn’t tell me, I….just knew.” She cursed herself for once again tripping.

“So you understand why I had to stay away. I know I already apologized, but I felt guilty for kissing you. I had no right to hold you and….”

“Are you telling me you didn’t enjoy it?” She interrupted, her voice defiant.

“Serena, honey, you know the answer to that,” he said tenderly. “But, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t wrong of me.”

“Well, I kissed you back, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did. But you don’t have a girlfriend”.

“No. No, I don’t. Are you disappointed?” Serena’s asked in a challenging voice.

Serena watched as Sam buried his face in his hands and laughed, his shoulders shaking with mirth. After a moment, she started laughing too. When Sam looked up, she rested her head on his shoulder, and smiled when his arm came around, and pulled her close.
The awkwardness between them disappeared and they talked nonstop, getting to know each other better. Sam was the oldest of three; his brother was a cardiologist, his sister a dentist. He told her he was the black sheep of the family.

“Since my brother is almost a doctor,” she said, “I guess I’m the black sheep of my family too.”

They found they had many things in common, and also found they had many things, not in common. Both loved to travel and both were vegetarians, but whereas Sam was calm and preferred to ponder his actions carefully, Serena liked to jump headlong into things first and think later. Sam was a morning person; Serena was a night owl. Sam loved the outdoors; whereas to Serena, camping meant getting a room at the Hilton.
Sam’s parents lived not to far from Serena’s, and, Serena was shocked to learn Sam lived at home with them.

“I know. Everyone is surprised to hear it. I like being home. Besides, my working hours are erratic, so we don’t actually run into each other much.”

Serena watched as his face softened when he told her about his parents; his eyes softening even more when he talked about his mom.

“A mama’s boy?” she teased.

“I guess I am.” Serena realized that she had a thing for mama’s boys too!

They lingered over coffee, both of them too full for dessert, and were surprised to see that the restaurant had emptied out. They reluctantly got up, after they noticed that waiters were refilling salt and pepper bottles around them, setting up for the next day.