Roll the Dice (4 page)

As a lead, this wasn't much. But they'd follow whatever they had. She
pushed her hair away from her face and wished she'd taken the paramedics advice
about carrying additional pills for the pain. Her arm throbbed almost as much
as her head. But all the pills in the world wouldn't dim the worry now buried
inside.
 

It was time to make their way to the hospital and check up on her new
partner. The man who'd set off warning bells from the minute she'd laid eyes on
his size twelve cowboy boots propped up and taking ownership of her partner's desk.

Spring Valley, the sprawling new center whose ambulance had answered the
call from dispatch, had brought Kai to their facility. The building was big and
fashioned like a casino with a neon name you could see for miles. Fancy pond
designs spiffed up the front of the edifice.

Cory continued to argue as he helped Aurora from his vehicle and led her
to the emergency area. “Why the hell do you have to act like super cop tonight.
You’ve been shot and need to rest. Not be playing like a Joan Nightingale.”

“It’s Florence.”

“Who the hell is Florence and wipe that stupid grin off your face. I’m
serious here and I’m pissed at you.”

“Never mind. Just remember one thing. If it was you in the hospital, I’d
be twice as stubborn.” Her words were her way of telling him he mattered even
more and she saw him relax when it registered.

“Fine. I’ll take you to him. You can see for yourself he’s in good
hands. But then I’m taking you home for Debbie to look after. It’ll give her
something to do cause she’s been going stir-crazy not working and driving me
around the bend.”

His gruff attitude didn’t faze Aurora. She knew he loved his wife
insanely and would do anything to please her. And if bringing home a stray
wounded pal would be important to the woman, he’d drag Aurora with him kicking
and screaming. And sadly, she didn’t have the energy to give him a real battle.
She’d used it all up in forcing him to bring her to the hospital.

Considering Kai had only appeared on her horizon two days ago, why he
mattered so much she didn’t know. All she knew was that something inside
wouldn’t stop nagging until she saw for herself that her new partner would make
it.

One quick peek at his wound earlier had shown torn pieces of skin
intermingled with the pieces of his shirt all covered in blood and gore. It was
turn away or drop. So she’d defused the situation by diverting her gaze to the
desk where he’d pointed. But that short glance had warned that his injury
indicated surgery, and to her that could mean death.

People could die on the operating table. After all, her mother had,
hadn't she? Once she’d decided that a Jack Daniels bottle could be used to
cover two needs—fill an empty stomach, and a handy tool to cut her wrists.

Shaking off the horrible memory, Aurora kept her gaze down on the
institutional white flooring found in so many hospitals. Cory ushered her to
the nurse at the main desk. Asked where they’d taken his officer and in no time
they were in a curtained-off corner decorated with all the paraphernalia needed
to keep a victim alive.
 

Kai sat on the side of the rumpled hospital bed, his stomach wrapped in
bandages. The white gleamed even brighter when it contrasted against the
healthy tan on his muscular chest and back. A hospital gown discarded and
draped over the chair told its own story. So did the blood-soaked jeans
clutched in his hands.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Cory spoke before Aurora
could get the words out.

Kai jerked, glanced at them and then he turned away. His shaking hands
lowered the garment to cover his thighs. “They got the bullet out and sewed me
up. I’m outta—”

Cory’s apoplectic expression should have warned the other man, but he
hadn’t taken long enough to read his boss’s scowl. Aurora, on the other hand,
saw the explosion coming and grinned in anticipation.

“If you don’t get back in that bed right this minute you’re fired. And,
I’ll have your skinny ass on a plane back to LA in the morning.
 
Why the hell I have to be surrounded by the
most stubborn people God ever hatched I’ll never know. Dam-blasted idiots the
pair of you!”

Kai’s raised hand didn’t even slow Cory down. He’d been detonated and
the blast had to happen. Aurora watched as Kai swung back under the covers and
leaned against the pillows. The tension in his body oozing out as he lay back
and let Cory rant. She liked that he gave in once he recognized that their boss
meant every word. His being stubborn hadn’t meant being stupid.

Add to that, the wink he’d shot her way and the small grin that hovered
over his surprisingly full lips made her smile in return, then cough and turn
away before Cory caught them. It reminded her of times when Debbie had
connected with her thoughts—not needing words to express what they both knew.

It felt surprisingly good to be allied with someone she could trust to
know what she was thinking—and vice-versa. Maybe working with this dude
wouldn’t be the trial she’d imagined.
 

The next morning Aurora had a fight on her hands. "Why are you
being so frigging obstinate? Cory wants you to stay home at least a couple of
days." Debbie, pregnant and sassy, meant business. Anyone who'd worked
with her for as long as Aurora knew the signs.

Still, she had to argue her cause. "Forget it! I've got work to do
and…"

"And it's getting done. You know Rhondo. The prick's gone
underground and he won't surface anytime soon." Hatred glared from
Debbie's eyes before she shuttered them with thick, mascara-coated eyelashes.

Sharing the feeling and understanding the reason, Aurora answered.
"Yeah and in the meantime I have that business card I need to follow up
on. Also, I'll check every known associate; put the word out to the
informants…"

"No, you won't You'll let the rest of the team work the preliminary
investigation, gather evidence, and when you're healed, they'll bring you up to
speed. No one's jumping your case and you know it. They're taking care of the
legwork until you're okay to return to the job. Now sit back down, put your
feet up and stop looking at your damn Mickey Mouse watch every two seconds.
Relax!"
 

"I have no doubt in a previous life you were Attila the Hun. I've
never known anyone bossier. As a friend I feel it my duty to tell you. It's not
at all feminine. Nor is it a particularly nice trait for a lady."

"Hey! Are trying to piss me off. Call me a lady once more and
you'll see how ladylike I am with my foot up your ass." The old joke
they'd shared since their first few days together on the job settled the
tension and both girls ended up giggling and remembering the woman who they’d
just mimicked.
    

"That old girl was something else wasn't she? I still miss
her." Nostalgia made Aurora smile.

"Yeah! Maddie could crack me up no matter how bad a mood I'd be
in…just her morning routine of answering everyone's good mornings with "what's
so damn good about it" would set me up for the day. Too bad they forced
the old girl to retire."

"Damn shame."

"I know. I miss her too. Who would of figured her to be
seventy-three. She'd BS'ed her age for over eight years and got away with it.
Then they throw her a bye-bye party, give her a package and a month later she
drops dead with a heart attack. Just isn't right."

"I know.
 
Resting is bad for
one’s health. Which is why I have this burning need to get back to work."

Laughing, Debbie shook her head, blonde curls dancing, and waved a
finger back and forth. "I wasn't born yesterday, my friend. You're going
to relax if I have to sit on you."

Pretending fear, Aurora lifted both hands and backed into the couch
cushions. "Sure! Pull out the big guns. Terrify me! I'll be good,
already."

"Serious Rory, we haven't…"

"Don't call me that, I hate nicknames."

"I've always call you that." Debbie grinned.

"And I've always told you not to. And you always ignore me like I'm
talking to air." Sparks shot from Aurora's eyes, but they didn't cover the
humour and she knew it! The familiar sparring gave her a feeling of happiness
missing since her former partner had taken maternity leave, and then up and
married the boss.

"We haven't had any time to catch up on anything since the wedding.
It's been crazy hectic, and now with your new partner in the picture, who knows
when I'll get to see much of you."

Bristling like a wet cat, Aurora clamped down on a retort she knew would
rattle Debbie's antennae. The woman had a unique talent for picking up even the
slightest female interest Aurora had ever had in any male. Over the years they
worked together, she'd never been able to hide her few attractions because
Debbie had always known.
 
Better to say
nothing. She pretended a nonchalance and hoped being pregnant might have
lessened Debbie's skill.

Then she remembered what always worked in the past.
Turn the tables
on her. Get her to talk about her own stuff and she'll lay off you.

"So, you haven't told me yet how you like married life? Does Cory
still stutter when you two are alone?"

The half grin Debbie couldn't hide spoke more than if she'd babbled all
day. Love made her eyes luminescent, and Aurora's envy burst out and grabbed
hold before she knew it would happen. She'd never be jealous of a person she
loved cause that was just sick. But wishing it was her belly that was full of a
baby, and her life being shared with someone she adored as much as Debbie
adored Cory couldn't be helped. Deep down in a tiny secret place she'd never share
with anyone, having a precious family of her own would be the ultimate.
 

Since she'd never in her life admit to those tender wishes, and no one
would ever suspect her of having them, she felt pretty safe. She knew her
hard-assed personality covered up the real Aurora Morelli. Very few people were
ever allowed to see the soft side she hid so well, but she really didn’t know
how else to protect that vulnerability. Over her growing up years, there’d been
many harsh lessons—to be sensitive and loving was to get kicked in the
heart.
 

Cory and Debbie were probably her closest friends and they had no idea
that buried deep inside the cranky cop was a scared little girl who wanted to
grow up and be a mom—unlike the bitch who raised her.

Debbie broke in and Aurora slammed the door on her earlier soul
searching. "You sure you can handle me gushing."

"Hey, what are friends for? I can give you one minute to a…gush and
then I'll have to stick a sock in it to shut you up. So go for it." She
checked her watch and felt shock that so little time had passed since she'd
snuck her last peek.

"Being married is pretty darn great. I love knowing he'll be there
every night to share the evening and cuddle in bed. Sometimes we start talking
and it's like we have so much to say. Other nights we cook dinner and then
cuddle to watch programs on TV and… Hey I can see your eyes glazing over."

Aurora took the hint and pretended to be snoring. A quick glance told
her that Debbie was enjoying herself immensely and gladness shoved aside the
frustration that ate at her insides.

"How does my buddy Cory feel about being a daddy? Is he excited…?
What? What did I say? Hey, don't turn away from me. What the hell is
wrong?"

Small parcels of fear began to form inside her and Aurora felt a sick
feeling invade. Debbie had turned pasty white and sat huddled at the other end
of the forest green leather sofa. She covered her face with her long fingers
and Aurora saw her friend had gotten false nails. First time for everything and
when a person's nails were bitten to the quick…

She thought back and recognized it was never a habit her partner had
before the attack. Guess if a woman's assaulted and almost raped in her own
home by a sick madman such as Earl Rhondo, then it's to be expected that she
might form some weird new habits.

And then she knew. She just…knew.

"You said I'd gotten there in time. He hadn't raped—"

"I lied." A sob broke loose and tears dripped from between
fingers still hiding her eyes. "I was so ashamed. I'm a cop and the
son-of-a-bitch caught me in my own home. He overpowered me, Aurora. I've never
been so terrified in my whole life. I swear, if I could have killed him, I
would have. But he was strong and mean and…and he loved every minute he had me
under him. He got off on my terror and my pleading." She looked up and
caught Aurora's shock. "I never thought I'd ever beg—either. But a person
does when they know they're going to die."

"It's okay, Deb. It's okay."

"No. It isn't. You wouldn't have begged."

"How can you say that? No one knows what they might do in similar
circumstances."

"You would have let him kill you first." The blunt statement
echoed in the room as she struggled up, and like and old woman plodded into the
kitchen. One hand covered her dripping face and the other holding her belly.
After a few seconds, she returned with a box of tissues under her arm—some held
to her nose.