Valerie Hansen - The Rookie's Assignment

“Can you give us a better description of the truck? Anything? Make, model, year?”

“It was old and rusty,” Nick said, citing a possible manufacturer. “Half-ton. Probably mid-eighties vintage, maybe a little older. The plates weren’t visible. And the driver looked male, although I wouldn’t swear to it.”

“Okay.” Douglas glanced past them to where Hank Monroe was gathering paint scrapings from the creased side of the SUV. “I’ll check it over. Doesn’t look like there’s much damage other than cosmetic. As long as that door still latches you might as well keep driving it until we have a chance to send it out for repairs.”

“This shouldn’t go against Keira’s record,” Nick said. “It wasn’t her fault. There was no way she could have avoided being hit.”

“Noted.” Douglas was eyeing Nick as he spoke and Keira felt compelled to defend him, as well.

“Neither of us is responsible,” she said firmly. “We came here to look at the condo, that’s all.”

“There was no indication of trouble prior to this incident?”

She could tell that her brother didn’t believe they’d had no forewarning so she decided to mention the other truck. “Actually, we had wondered if we were being followed after we left the inn but I don’t think the guy who hit us was the same one we’d been watching, so I can’t see any connection.”

“Followed? Explain.”

“That was my assumption,” Nick said. “I noticed a vehicle behind us and because Keira—Officer Fitzgerald—didn’t recognize it, we were on our guard.”

“And?”

Agreeing with Nick, Keira said, “That’s all there was to it. We thought we saw that particular vehicle parked down by the Smiths’ place so I loaned Nick my radio while he went to check it out. He’d just come back when somebody else decided to remodel my door.” She made a disgusted face as she glanced toward the patrol vehicle.

“We’ve been talking about installing dash cameras,” her brother said. “Maybe this will hurry up the process.” Looking past her, he assessed the scene as he handed her his personal radio. “Here. Take this till you can get an extra for Delfino. Hank and I’ll check the Smiths’ place just in case there’s any evidence over there but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get close enough to see much,” Nick said. “I think that driver took off because he spotted me. I’m just thankful I was back here in time to help Keira.”

“So am I,” the captain said as he extended his hand to Nick. “Thanks.”

“All a part of the job,” Nick replied, accepting the friendly overture. “And while you’re here I may as well tell you that I’ll take the apartment—unless you’ve changed your mind.”

“Fine with me.” He quoted a monthly rate. “We won’t need a long-term lease, will we?”

It didn’t surprise Keira to hear Nick say, “No. I won’t be here long,” but it did take her aback when she felt a twinge of disappointment.

“What do you say we head back to town and grab a bite to eat?” Nick suggested as they drove away.

“Okay. Normally I’d suggest we eat at the Sugar Plum Café but in view of your recent hike up the river, I think it might be best if we went to Connolly’s Catch, down by the marina. It’s a lot more casual and the view of the bay is great.”

“Suits me. You’re driving. Is it far?”

“Not at all.” She was grinning. “I knew you’d like the condo. It has everything a bachelor like you needs. No carpets to vacuum, a simple kitchen, no yard to mow, windows that overlook half the town and two restaurants within walking distance, including the one we’re about to visit. And your neighbor is a fellow cop so there’ll always be somebody to watch your back.”

“What makes you think I need someone to do that? I thought this was basically a safe little town.”

“It was. Until you got here.”

He saw her shiver and decided to keep the rest of his thoughts to himself. After all, she knew about the murderer in their midst and if he mentioned that case too often she was bound to think he was attacking her doctor brother. That was the next person he wanted to meet, Nick decided easily. He’d encountered sociopaths who could skillfully hide their deviant behavior but most murderers were not that clever. If Charles Fitzgerald was half as normal as his sister insisted he was, he’d be easy to figure out.

“Well, here we are. What do you think?”

Nick glanced up at the colorful, enormous sign above the seafood-restaurant roof while Keira parked. “Connolly’s Catch. Interesting. At least it’s not Fitzgeralds’ Fishery or something like that. I was beginning to think there were no other families in town.”

She led the way up the wooden steps and onto the porch before she paused to say, “I have to confess. Vanessa Connolly, the owner, is my aunt. She and Dad are brother and sister.”

Nick smiled and politely held the door for her to pass. “Why am I not surprised?”

“There’s one more brother in that generation, too. Remember? I told you Uncle Mickey is the fire chief.”

“Right. Guess I’d better behave myself, then. You’ve got me surrounded. I think I’m going to need a program to keep all the players straight.”

“You’ll catch on. All you need to remember to stay out of trouble with my relatives is to assume everybody in town is kin. Well, except for the Hennessys and a few other families. Burke Hennessy will probably be Dad’s chief rival for the mayor’s job now that my grandfather has announced his retirement.”

“Hennessy. Hmm. That name rings a bell,” Nick murmured, outwardly directing his attention to the eclectic decor of the restaurant. It was New England kitsch and then some. Nets draped in the corners were dotted with blue-and-green antique glass floats. Harpoons hung crossed on the walls below paintings of whalers in longboats. The jawbone of a whale was suspended above the dining area and the tabletops were reminiscent of the worn plank decks of sailing ships.

“That’s probably because Burke Hennessy was the first one to insist we should blame Charles for Olivia’s murder and he hasn’t shut up about it since,” Keira said softly. “Don’t believe a word that man says. I don’t care what kind of political connections he claims because he’s a lawyer—I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.”

She cupped a hand around the side of her mouth to add, “It might be best if you didn’t repeat what I just said. I’m supposed to be impartial.”

“Yeah. We all are. It’s just not that easy, is it, rookie?”

“Nope. The more I learn about this job, the harder it gets, and the more I appreciate other officers. It’s tough out there, especially when you can’t tell the good guys from the rest.”

“Welcome to the club.”

Her pretend pout was so cute and so appealing he had to chuckle. Keira Fitzgerald might not be nearing the kind of job perfection she’d strove for but there were other aspects of her persona that were certainly endearing.

Not that he’d dare come right out and tell her so. By the time he was through working in her hometown, his name would be mud. In the long run, it didn’t matter whether he judged her department to be innocent or guilty. He’d still be the undercover investigator who had had to lie to them all in order to do his job and that was the criteria they’d judge him by. In their place he’d have felt exactly the same way. Betrayed.

He breathed deeply, turning an intended sigh into a feast of the marvelously enticing aromas that surrounded them.

Keira stood on tiptoe to wave hello to a middle-aged woman with an infectious grin.

“This is Vanessa Connelly,” Keira said as soon as she joined them. “Aunt Vanessa, meet Nick Delfino, a detective from Boston.”