“I’ve got no clothes.” He was still flabbergasted. That was the first thing to come to mind.
Gio laughed and made some off-handed, off-colored comment under his breath that sounded like ‘no clothes . . . no problem’ that got him the evil-eye from Andreas. Blaze just smiled and nodded knowingly.
“Use the business credit card. Get yourself some things. Get a charger. And here,” he stated handing him a manila folder with some papers in it. “File these, let the county cops know what is going on. She is not to leave the state, and I’d prefer it if she would stay in the county.”
He turned to his vehicle and opened the door. Once inside, he started the car, and Gio made his way round to the driver side, and got in. Blaze held back, as Andreas rolled up his window.
“Is he kidding?” Nikko asked his brother, the brother not quite two years older than him.
“Nope, he’s not. But, it seems like he wants you on point for this case, so don’t let him down. You better check in every day. And hey,” he added as he reached for the door handle to the rear seats, “What a case?” he teased, gesturing with his hands the old age expression for a stacked lady, “Poppe!” he gestured with his hands in front of his chest. “If you’re lucky she’ll be stracciamanici.”
Nikko just shook his head at his brother who wished Ronnie might prove to be insatiable, and gave him a dirty look as Blaze got into the car laughing the whole way. Before he had even taken three steps, he heard the crunch of gravel, and his brother’s tires spinning in it. He stopped to give the boys a wave and then began to reach his own car. Looks like he’d be sticking around a few days. Surprisingly, he didn’t mind the assignment, as an image of Ronnie’s “poppe” flashed into his head. He enjoyed the thought just as he heard the door to the house open.
It was Ronnie.
“Hey, I’m glad I caught you before you left,” she muttered as she jogged towards his car, her poppe bouncing enticingly. The sun was beginning its decline and her hair looked like a halo of gold around her, temporarily blinding him.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked, squinting in her direction. He put his hand against his forehead in mock salute to block out the sun. She came into focus.
“Just wanted to say thanks for the ride, and well, tell you maybe you’re not the ass I thought you were,” she teased.
She’d think differently if she knew what he was thinking in that moment. He laughed. “Oh, gee thanks. Actually, I’m staying at the hotel down the road for a few days,” he told her. Better to let her know ahead of time.
“Why?” she asked curiously, suddenly suspicious.
“Big brother just informed me, actually. I have some papers in this county to file.” He held up the folder.
“Those about me?” she asked, peering at the file folder in his hand.
He just nodded gloomily.
“Okay, well bye,” she said as he began to turn.
He needed to stop her if just for a moment. “Hey if you don’t mind, maybe I’ll stop in to say hello while I’m here now and then.” He wanted it to appear nonchalant.
She stopped, and turned. From the expression on her face, she wasn’t buying it. “Checking up on me?” her eyes searched his face looking for the truth.
Again he nodded. He felt the urge to reach up and touch her hair.
She just shook her head a little sadly and shrugged her shoulders. “Sure. Why not? It beats hanging out with the folks and talking to attorney’s all day. Why not?” And with that, she turned again and headed back inside.
Nikko waved to her retreating figure, and when the door closed softly, and she was safely tucked inside, he headed to his car. He had some shopping to do. He also needed to get a charger for his phone.
***
Ronnie woke up Saturday morning to the sounds of birds outside her bedroom window. Missy, her mom’s Golden Retriever, sat at her feet watching her from the side of the bed, big brown eyes waiting for a sign of movement. Ronnie allowed her arm to slip out from under the covers. “Missy!” she exclaimed softly, and the loyal dog was there licking her fingers.
In the joy of the moment, she almost forgot the charges she was facing. This had been her dog from childhood. Missy was getting old, and she enjoyed each precious moment with her.
It was still early, the sun just rising. It was quiet, but she knew her mom would be up, always an early riser. She might as well get up and enjoy some quiet time with her mom.
Plus, Missy’s tail was wagging furiously, and if she didn’t get out of bed soon, the sweet dog she had gotten for her twelfth birthday would give her away.