Making His Baby(179)
“Thanks,” she smiles. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“I think I might be in trouble.”
“Why? What happened?”
“I can’t talk right now. I think I need to take some time off. Can we talk later?”
“Sure, any time. You know that.”
I nod at her and walk out of the kitchen. After approving it with Joanne, I take the rest of the day off to figure things out.
I stop by the bar and I try to re-enact what happened. I question the bartender, but I wasn’t any further in finding out who is behind this.
“There is a camera mounted in the corner.” I point to it with some enthusiasm.
“That hasn’t worked in almost a year. I guess they just keep it up there to make it look like the place is being monitored. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful,” he says.
“It’s okay. Thank you for talking to me.”
“Looks like you could use a drink.”
“I’ll take a glass of wine. Thank you.”
I sit at the end of the bar and watch the other patrons. The only thing I can do is wait and see what the blackmailer wants from me. I pull out my phone and pull up Rocco’s name.
Can you break away? I really need to see you.
When he doesn’t respond, I figure he is still angry. I finish my wine and take a cab home. I plop down on the couch, closing my eyes for a moment. That moment turned into several hours. I wake up to my cell phone going off. By the time I retrieve it from the couch cushions, it stops. I have five missed calls and four texts. I hit the text notifications. They are all from Rocco. I smile until I read them.
Where are you?
I need to know now!
Call me as soon as you can. The restaurant is destroyed.
Maddie, please answer me.
I jump up and quickly look at the missed calls. All but one is from Rocco. The other is from Joanne. I grab a sweatshirt from my room and run out the door.
“Maddie!” Rocco’s voice is urgent over the phone.
“What happened?”
“Thank God you’re okay. I don’t know. The whole place is up in flames.”
The distress in his voice breaks my heart.
“Is everyone okay?”
“As far as I know. I’m here now.”
“I’m on my way.”
The cab driver can’t drive fast enough as I keep my eyes open for signs of the news. When I detect billowing smoke rising up into the sky my heart stops. I can only stare as we round the corner to the restaurant.
“I’m sorry. I cannot go any further.” The cab driver stops the car and I quickly pay him before I jump out and run the two blocks to the flames.
I feel the heat on my face before I notice Rocco on a nearby street corner. Bistro Italiano has flames shooting from each window, threatening and lashing out at the firefighters as they battle the flames with three separate blasts of water.
Rocco sees me before I get to him and he runs to me, throwing his arms around me.
“What happened, Rocco?” I ask, staring at the flames in horror.
“No one knows. Joanne is with the police now.”
“Actually, she is here,” I tell him, nodding to Joanne and two police officers walking to us.
“Joanne, did you find anything?” he asks.
Joanne looks directly at me. “Yes. We did.”
“Maddie Levere?”
“Yes?”
“I am Officer Billows. This is Officer Wright. Can we ask you a few questions?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“Were you here, at the restaurant after hours?”
I feel my stomach hollow out. I feel the insinuation in his voice. I can’t lie.
“I was. Two nights ago.”
“I understand you were given a key for access on days you begin your shift before anyone else is here.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Is it part of your normal work load to be in the restaurant after it closes?”
“No, sir.”
“Why were you here then?”
“I had… forgotten some recipes I was working on, so I stopped by to get them. But that was two nights ago.”
“Were you alone?”
“Yes.”
I didn’t want to lie but pulling Nancy and her father into this wouldn’t have done any good. They had enough to deal with.
“What about earlier this evening?”
“I wasn’t here. I was home. I actually left work a little early because I wasn’t feeling well.” I cast a remorseful eye at Joanne, but she is angry and I feel like it is directed at me. I quickly look down at the ground. Why is she angry at me?
“The surveillance footage shows someone entering the establishment around one this morning, staying for approximately thirty minutes and fleeing just before flames were detected.”