Page 10

Chapter

Nine

Robbie followed the assailant on ground level as the wiry man leaped from balcony to balcony. The dude was quick, but Robbie could easily keep up. What was the guy’s plan? Why hadn’t he shot at him earlier? Because of Price and Merrick closing in?

Price was one of the most impressive men he’d ever worked with. He and Merrick would get Alice to safety so Robbie could focus on capturing their would-be attacker. Could he have a connection to Big Buddha? He’d acted clueless and irritated by the question.

The man reached a waterway. He flipped over the balcony’s edge, swung from the railing, and landed on the bridge, taking off at a sprint. Robbie pushed himself to keep up.

A couple of policemen appeared behind Robbie and hollered, “ Fermati !” He didn’t halt and neither did the assailant. Robbie refused to lose him.

They scrambled down one narrow street after another, flying over bridges and dodging around couples out for an evening stroll. The policemen fell off. No backup. Robbie ran faster. He couldn’t let the man escape.

The back streets were fairly quiet, and the man didn’t pull out his gun again or try to confront Robbie. He just ran and ran and ran .

Robbie thought he was in great shape. Not quite the level he’d been at as a Ranger, but he worked out hard every day—lifting weights, running, biking, and he even forced himself to do yoga to help his flexibility and injury prevention.

This small dude was giving him a run for his fitness level.

Robbie’s legs were tiring, and his breath came in fast pants.

They burst out onto a busier street. The assailant paused and then scurried around a group of tourists. Robbie saw a police officer. The man was searching the crowd, possibly searching for them.

“ Pistola ,” Robbie yelled, pointing at the assailant. “ Pistola. Penale !”

The policeman swung their way. The runner dodged away from the officer. Several in the crowd cried out in surprise.

Robbie took advantage and tackled him onto the stone pavers. The man screeched and tried to scrabble away. Robbie kept him pinned. Women screamed and people backed away.

“ Polizia ,” the officer said as he closed in on the two of them, Berretta 9mm drawn.

Robbie sprang to his feet, grasping the man’s arm tightly and yanking him up.

“This man tried to rob my girlfriend and me.” Robbie didn’t know enough Italian to explain in their language.

He knew Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Some words were similar, but not near enough. “He has a pistola in his pocket.”

“ Mani in alto ,” the policeman commanded. “Raise hands.”

Robbie didn’t want to release the assailant, but he obeyed and raised both of his hands. The man looked as if he’d scamper away, but he also obeyed.

They stood there uneasily for half a minute before more policeman joined in. Luckily, one of them spoke English and Robbie could explain.

They confirmed they’d had a call from ‘American retired military’ and had been looking for Robbie and the assailant, but with so many alleys and narrow streets they had no way of knowing where the chase would go and hadn’t been able to catch up.

They took them both to a police station. Robbie told his side of the story, and he also asked them to question the man about Big Buddha and the murders. After far too long waiting in a sterile room, Sergente Panera returned. “You are free to go, Signore Perrine .”

“Did you get any information out of him?”

“I do not believe he is the man you seek. He is … what you say in English … pickpocket. Thief. He illegally carry the pistola, and he had all manner of wallets and jewelry stuffed in his backpack. He followed you two because your woman looked wealthy and had real diamonds and didn’t see your bodyguards until too late.

He knows nothing of American murders and Big Buddha. ”

Robbie wasn’t certain the last part was true, but he wasn’t in a position to argue with the sergeant. “You’ll detain him and make certain?”

The man smiled briefly. “Of course. He’s broken many laws. He won’t be seeing the sun for many days.”

“ Grazie .” Robbie shook his hand and a few minutes later walked out of the police station. He hurried through the darkened streets, anxious to get to Alice.

He called Price as he walked. His friend assured him Alice was safe in the condo’s living area and all was well.

Robbie shared his side of the story, frustrated that the attempt seemed to have nothing to do with Big Buddha.

He was only a few streets away from the condo when another call came in.

One of Aiden Porter’s research and tech guys, Oliver.

“Hey, Ollie. What’s up?”

“Just touching base with you on the research on Marianne Marshall. She looks squeaky clean—ultra-wealthy because of her husband’s family trusts, huge life insurance payouts when the husband died twenty years ago, and a solid investment team taking care of her money.

She donates to charities and spends a lot of money on her own health care, her house and staff, jewelry, and clothing. Not much else going out, man.”

“Seriously?” Robbie groaned. It was downright awful of him to wish Alice’s mom was the villain. Still, it was disappointing that his hunch hadn’t panned out.

“Sorry, man.”

“Appreciate the help. Take care. ”

“You too.”

Robbie slid the phone into his pocket. He took the stairs instead of the elevator up the twelve levels to the penthouse. His legs felt tired again. At least the pickpocket had been good for something; he had given Robbie an intense cardio workout.

Arriving at the door, he rapped on it. He knew the codes, but they’d have the deadbolts and extra locks engaged.

Merrick opened the door and gestured him through. Alice was pacing in the living area, Curtis standing nearby.

“Hey.” He raised a hand.

“Robbie,” she cried out as if he were her long-lost lover.

Robbie’s eyes widened and his pulse spiked as she rushed across the space and flung herself against his chest. He had no problem wrapping her up tight and lifting her slightly off her feet.

“You’re safe,” she gushed. “Price said the police captured the guy, but I was so worried.”

“I’m fine,” he assured her, a touch annoyed that she didn’t think he could take care of himself and that Price hadn’t kept to the bro code and bragged to her that Robbie ran the guy down, for miles and miles, and was the one who’d tackled him.

That scrawny guy hadn’t stood a chance against him.

Only of out-running him, which Robbie hadn’t let happen.

Price was great, for a Navy guy, but unfortunately not one to brag about himself or anyone else.

Alice drew back from his embrace.

He set her on her feet, released her, and took her hand. “Have you eaten?”

She stared at him as if he’d grown another head. “Eaten? No. I really couldn’t think of food at a time like this.”

Robbie smiled and tugged her toward the kitchen area. “I’m starving, and we need to chat.”

Curtis and Merrick nodded to them and gave them space. Alice let him lead her into the kitchen. He started pulling out pre-made meals. She refused to eat any, so he only warmed up three. As he ate, he told her what had happened and how the guy claimed to have no affiliation with Big Buddha .

“That’s good, right?” she said. “At least we know Big Buddha hasn’t followed us over here and isn’t targeting you.”

“I guess. I want to catch the guy.”

“So do I.” She looked despondent.

He polished off another chicken breast and noticed her watching him. “What?”

“I’m amazed at how much food you can consume.”

“Thank you. I think.” He drained a glass carafe of water. He had to get brave and ask her. “I’ve read all the police reports, but they don’t point to any suspect. They’ve looked into Preston Lavity, but nothing.”

“There’s no way Preston would kill anyone.”

He thought about the pretty boy Preston. The guy didn’t seem capable of murdering three people and a beloved pet. He would be too concerned about getting his next facial or going shopping. But why was Alice defending him? Had she dated Preston or developed feelings for him?

“Are your moms still close?” he asked.

She glanced away. “Preston’s mom is pretty much my mother’s only friend.”

“Do you think … Could your mom have anything to do with the murders?”

“Pardon me?” She whirled on him with fire in her dark eyes.

He shrugged. “I’m just checking every angle.”

“You think … that my mother … could ever hurt me or those closest to me?”

He arched an eyebrow. His opinion probably wouldn’t be helpful at the moment. “She would’ve gladly run a spear through me.”

Alice looked as prim and uppity as he’d ever seen her.

She gestured to the polished clean plates that had contained three meals.

“She thought you were an uncouth ogre. Do you think she wanted a military man with no manners to marry her only daughter, inherit her fortune, and cart me off around the world?”

“No … manners?” Heat filled Robbie’s face. He rubbed at the back of his neck. “My mama taught me decent manners. Did I chew with my mouth open or belch while I ate?” He’d had buddies in the Army who did much worse .

“No,” she admitted. She looked away. “Look. It’s a moot point what my mother thought of you. She hasn’t killed anyone.”

Robbie nodded, though his body felt tight. “I’m afraid you’re right. Aiden Porter’s researcher said the same. No money trail.” He started stacking the plates. Standing, he glanced at Alice and froze at the fury in her dark eyes.

“You had Aiden’s people check into my mother?”

“Yeah,” he said, setting the plates down and spreading his hands. “We’re trying to cover every angle.”

“I know you and my mother didn’t like each other, but you have to believe she would never do anything to hurt me.”

Both of his brows shot up this time. “Alice, please forgive me, but I’d be willing to bet no one but you, and possibly Priscilla Lavity, thinks your mom is anything but a selfish, too-wealthy harpy with nothing to do but make up medical conditions and control you.”

“How dare you!”

He shrugged. “If nobody else is willing to tell you the truth…”

“My mother has horrible health and no one around but me, Priscilla, and her housekeeper Emeline. And you dare to make fun of her and claim she’s still controlling me?” Alice stood, seething and glorious in her anger.

“Did your mom like your boyfriend or either of your best friends, or did she try to get you to dump them just like she always wanted you to do with me?”

She gasped, but then her eyes narrowed. “She didn’t like them or think I should be spending so much time with them. But that doesn’t mean she’d have them murdered.”

Robbie felt he’d made his point. She was probably right that her mom wouldn’t have someone murdered, but the grumpy, sickly lady made everyone around her miserable.

Robbie understood loyalty to family, God, country, and his ‘brothers’, but the way Alice’s mother controlled and manipulated seemed grounds to create some distance. In his mind. Obviously not in Alice’s.

“I know you and my mother hated each other, but I don’t appreciate you accusing her of having anything to do with the murders.”

“Noted,” he grunted .

Alice spun and rushed through the living area and up the stairs. Her door opened and closed.

Robbie picked up the dishes. He was tired, emotionally and physically. He’d made a mess of that. Half an hour ago, Alice had been hugging him fiercely and now she was furious at him.

Her mom had come between them fifteen years ago. Why would he expect it to be any different now?