Roll the Dice (7 page)

“She called me right after it happened. Told me what he did to her, so I
know the details.” He reached for the journal and tugged it from her tight
grip. “Thanks, coffee sounds good.”

She gave him fifteen minutes and returned to slide into the car and fit
the two coffees into the drink holders. He never moved. Sat with his head back
against the rest, his eyes closed and his cheeks still damp.

She didn’t even know the sob would break through, but it did. “I’m so…so
sorry, Kai.” Her hand met his as it reached towards her. They gripped each
other until she thought the pain would make her cry out, and then he relaxed. A
huge breath filled his lungs, and when he released it, she heard the wavering
sound. Her control broke and she turned away, biting her lip, her right hand
reaching to wipe away the evidence.

Seconds after the book landed in her lap, his fist slammed against the
steering wheel. He growled at her—there was no other way to describe his
speech. “What’s that address for the clinic again? I want to talk to every
son-of-a-bitchin doctor in the place until we find the one he called. Aurora,
you gotta know this. I’ll get this fucker if it’s the last thing I ever do.”

The menacing tone evoked another series of shivers, only this time, she
didn’t feel the need for any cautionary talk.
 

Kai couldn’t sleep. He sat out on his balcony wearing only a pair khaki
shorts and a bad attitude. A cooler of beer and three empty cans decorated the
ground next to him.

Furnished apartments were a dime a dozen in this bad economy, and so the
first day he’d arrived, he found exactly what he wanted. Other than the
alcohol, junk food, a coffee maker and his clothes, nothing else belonged to
him. And if a person got picky, he guessed the empty pizza boxes, fast food
wrappers and Chinese holders strewn all over the kitchen would be considered
legally his also.

Exhausted from endless nights of roaming the streets hoping for a
sighting, shut-eye had eluded him and still did. Even when the gravel in his
eyes and his fuzzy-brain warned that he was reaching his breaking point, he
couldn’t clear remembered images of horror and pain long enough to relax.

The sounds of the city could be heard from the distance, and they
soothed him almost as much as the palm trees silhouetted against the blackening
night sky. He saw the odd star when he looked in the opposite direction of the
strip. The full moon caught his attention and seemed so close. Images formed on
the surface and his mind slipped back to when he and Tamryn, his baby sister,
would make up stories as to what those formations meant.

He’d always thought hers were so lyrical. Once she’d determined they
were a reflection of good and evil energy radiating from earth. The few darker
spots would represent the evil. Then of course the lighter swirls would be the
good. And the lighter yet, they would signified the virtuous.

No matter how many times he’d tried to warn her that people weren’t
perfect, she’d argue. They don’t have to be perfect. As long as they’re decent
most of the time, it’s enough.

Naïve child-like creature! He’d loved her more than anyone else in his
world. His parents had doted on her also and were still mourning her
death.
 
Now, their once happy home
sheltered two sad souls with one terrible memory that trounced so many good
ones. The Sunday when the three of them had arrived home from church and found
her. That image wiped out any chance of happiness in oblivion.

He’d urged them to sell up and leave. Move to Palm Springs like a lot of
their contemporaries. Maybe then, they’d learn to laugh again. He’d be able to
visit without the guilt that rode his back that he hadn’t yet caught her real
killer.

A dull noise broke into his trance and he listened. It was someone
pounding on the door. For a few seconds he thought to ignore it, and then he
knew he couldn’t What if it was news about Rhondo?

As a precaution, he grabbed his gun from the hallway desk drawer he
always stuck it in when he arrived home, and called out.

“Yeah? Who is it?”

“It’s me, Cory. Let me in.”

Kai replaced the gun, unlocked the latch and swung the door open. He
leaned against it in a manner that said “talk here cause you’re not allowed
in”.

Cory pushed past and waited for Kai to close up after him. He did so
with a sigh and a grin that read clearly “shoulda known!”

“What are you up to?” Cory peered around the room, obviously not
impressed if his sneer was anything to go by. “Jesus man, this dump is
depressing. Why’d you choose to stay here? I happen to know you’ve got more
money than you know what to do with. There’re lots better places.”

“Hey, it’s cool. Has a balcony and it’s furnished. You know I’ll only be
here for the short term.”

“I want to talk to you about that, but now’s not the time. Get dressed
man. I’ve got two lovely ladies waiting for us in the car and we’re hungrier
than all get out.”

‘Naw! I’ll pass—”

“No. You won’t.
 
Get a shirt on
and let’s go. Move it!” Cory waved toward the darkened hallway and then crossed
his arms. Kai recognized that stance and knew he’d have to literally throw Cory
out because he wouldn’t move until Kai agreed.

He shrugged and moved towards the bedroom. “Who’s the two chicks? And
one better be your pregnant wife or I’m on the phone snitching on you right
now.”

Corny snickered and said. “Debbie and Aurora. They had a ladies night
planned that I butted in on.
 
I gotta
admit that I don’t like that wife of mine to be outta sight. Don’t know why I
get this way. Never thought I’d be the doting kind of husband, but whenever
she’s not with me, I get real nervous.”

Kai appeared wearing a bright blue and green plaid shirt and snapping
the buttons closed. He rolled the sleeves halfway and reached into the desk
drawer for his badge, gun and wallet.

Cory cleared his throat and caught his attention. As soon as he looked
up, Cory stared at the gun still clutched in his hand and then he gave Kai the
evil eye.

“Sorry, force of habit.” He replaced the badge and picked up his wallet.
He had ID there in case he needed it for any reason. Then he slid his gun under
his shirt in the back of his pant and opened the door for Cory.

“Shaking his head with apparent disgust, lips tightened, all he said
was. “You coulda shaved.”

“You coulda called.”

***

Aurora still didn’t know how she got roped into joining them tonight.
One minute she and Debbie had a girl’s night planned, and the next thing she
knew, the three of them were in the car heading to pick up Kai.

“Do you think he’ll join us?” Aurora plucked at the cuffs on her black
shorts and checked out the old apartment building that in its heyday had been
high-end. Just in case he did join them, she felt glad that she’d chosen to
wear moderately longer shorts than her usual attire and a girlie-type silky
blouse, not too low-cut and tied in the front high enough to show off her
rhinestone belly-button ring.

“I’ll bet you ten bucks. You know Cory when he makes up his mind.”

“You’re on. I’ve seen Kai in action, you haven’t and he’s no one’s
pushover.”

“I can’t wait to meet him. I’m glad we’re doing this tonight, even if
Cory is driving me batty. I’ve never known him to act so skittish about
everything. When he was my boss, I thought he had balls of brass. Turns out
he’s a marshmallow like someone else I know.”

In a purposely mean voice, Aurora responded. “You’re cruising, my
friend.”

Debbie giggled and made a face into the back seat. “Truly, he’s worse
than an old mama cat. Always after me about my plans for the day and hates for
me to be out of his sight at night.”

“Can’t blame him. Your time is getting close. In fact you could have
that baby any day now.”

“Tell me about it. Wish the darn kid would hurry up so we can meet.” Her
face fell for an instant and then the car door opened.

Kai slid into the back seat and nodded at her. Debbie held her hand out
towards Aurora, open palm up, at the same time as she smiled at Kai. “Hi, I’m
Debbie, Cory’s wife and Aurora’s favourite partner who she owes ten bucks to.”

With a growl, Aurora slapped the money into her hand and turned away
from Kai’s raise eyebrows. Did every shirt he own have to match the color of
his eyes?

Pretending to watch the passing scenery, she listened to him interact
with Debbie and was pleased at the attentive and gentle way he treated her best
friend.

Cory spoke over his shoulder, breaking in. “I’m taking you all to a
favourite restaurant of mine that serves the best steak you’ve ever had. The
beer is cold, the music great and the waitresses are gorg…not near as pretty as
my wife. I want everyone to enjoy themselves tonight. No shoptalk, nothing but
relaxation and a meeting of old friends.”

He pulled into the front of a restaurant lit up with enough lights to
brighten a small country in Africa, got out of the car and hurried around to
help his wife.

Kai stepped out of his side and Aurora quickly got out hers before he
felt it necessary to assist her. Would’ve been awkward as hell and tonight she
felt out enough of place.

 
Darn Cory, getting her mixed up
in this bullshit. Why he didn’t just take her word for not wanting to come
along, she’d never know. Stubborn as hell, he’d insisted and then used Debbie’s
probable hurt feelings as his final weapon.
Bloody
men!

The place was just the kind of hangout the Aurora liked. Not too fancy,
a packed bar, good music, pool tables and a country atmosphere. As soon as she
stepped inside, she felt the beat of the fast country song ooze in and her
spirits lifted. One thing she loved; and that was dancing.

Five people were getting ready to leave a table near the dance floor and
Cory moved them in that direction. In no time they were seated with a beer in
front of three and a glass of ginger-ale in front of the fourth. Their orders
were placed and a nice atmosphere settled over them as they all breathed a sigh
of relief. Aurora decided maybe it had been a good thing to come along and let
go of the week’s stresses.

Aurora looked over at Debbie and noticed that her friend had gotten her
hair cut shorter so the blonde curls were once more let loose rather than being
forced back into clips. Her makeup had re-appeared to make her seem more like
the girl she used to be before a rapist had stolen her joy.

Being married and pregnant suited her because the woman glowed. One day,
Aurora envisioned, she might be the one rubbing her tummy unconsciously,
protectively—lovingly.

Giving her head a shake, she turned away and caught Kai staring. His
smile spoke to her as if he’d known her thoughts. Hopefully, her self-conscious
glare would back him off. She didn’t wait to find out, but turned away.

As unusual, she skimmed her surroundings, slowing down when she noticed
a cowboy and young woman arguing. She shook her head and continued to scan the
rest of the room. Everything looked in place. Kai’s hand on her shoulder
brought her attention back to their own table where she noticed Cory and Debbie
were schmoozing and Kai looked uncomfortable.
 

“Would you like to dance?”

Since her body hadn’t stopped swaying, it’d be lie if she said no.
“Sure.”

Once his arms went around her, she knew this had been a mistake.
 
It was one thing working beside the man and
keeping it cool. No problem. Came with the territory.

But in his arms on a dance floor, the rules totally changed. He should
be labelled as a dangerous toxin because her body reacted as if she’d taken a
swallow of a poisonous substance. Stuff churned around in her tummy at a great
speed, and her pulse rate hiked up way past normal to alarming—made it
difficult to breath.

He smelled like a man fresh out of a shower and she peeked at his cheek
so close to her own. The whiskers weren’t long enough to be annoying but they
did add to the sexy-guy look.

His hips knew how to gyrate better than hers, and as a contest winner,
she’d always considered herself to be topnotch. He swung her around the floor
in a two-step that with anyone else might have guaranteed him a one-night
stand. Not that it happened very often. Rarely in fact, and years before, but
the few times she’d given in to a relative stranger had always been after a
sweet night of dancing.

Most times she found that men didn’t know how to hold a woman, to take
charge—lead.
 
Kai did. With his arms
cuddling her into his body snugly, hips against hips and legs brushing, he had
it down pat. Without hesitation, she trusted him to guide her so she could live
in the moment, take pleasure in the sensations. They glided around the other
dancers and her head swirled with enjoyment.

His whispered words broke into her mindless pleasure and shot straight
to the point. “You want a baby!” It wasn’t a question.