Page 18 of Deadly Target
Navarro finally looked up, kicking back in his chair. “The SCVC taskforce is under the jurisdiction of Victor Dupé. He won’t let you near any of them.”
Little did he know… “You know Dupé?”
“Don’t you? Weren’t you at that hostage situation he was involved in at Christmas with the children’s hospital?”
So he remembered. Go figure. “We spoke during and after, which is why I believe he will let me interview his team.”
Navarro put on his reading glasses and faced his computer screen. “Looks to me like you better get your admin work completed. I haven’t had an official report from you in the past two weeks. Nathaniel is still waiting for you to sign off on that subpoena you served last Wednesday. You need to sit at your desk today and clean it up.”
That was the last thing she was going to do, but pushing him wasn’t a good tactical maneuver. She knew exactly what was on her desk, and although she hated paperwork, she’d have it done in an hour, maybe less. “I’ll clear it before I leave today.”
He took her statement as compliance and nodded. “Dismissed.”
Happy to bail, she grabbed the door handle and pulled Taz to his feet.
“Fiorelli?”
Damn, she’d almost made it. She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Yes, sir?”
“Do not bring the dog again. This is not puppy daycare.”
She didn’t like making promises she might not keep, so she said nothing, hustling herself and the dog out and closing the door behind them.
She stopped at the vending machine and grabbed a bag of crackers and a diet soda before heading to her desk. Taz was ready for a nap and laid down at her feet as she went to work typing up the required forms necessary to get Navarro off her back.
Forty-two minutes and twenty seconds later, she finished the last report, dropped the empty cracker bag in the garbage, and checked to make sure no one was paying any attention to her. Satisfied, she grabbed her half-drank soda and led Taz to the door.
The noonday sun was bright and hot, too hot this early in April, but she had plenty of time to make it to San Diego and back before dinner with Alfonso. It’d be a fast round-trip, but worth it. She was still determined to tell Victor the truth as soon as possible.
Before she and the dog were on the freeway, she sent Victor a text.On my way. Can we meet?
For long minutes, there was no reply. The lack of response could be due to any number of reasons, she just hoped nothing else bad had happened to anyone on the taskforce. Flipping on the radio, she turned to the Southern California news station, but soon grew frustrated as the lunchtime talk show focused on the recent robbery of an actor in Beverly Hills, rather than pertinent news.
Taz had his head out the window again. She queued up her favorite playlist and glanced at the navigation system that handled all her calls and messages while she was driving. It would ding to let her know about an incoming text, but she kept glancing at the screen anyway, watching for a reply.
She was five miles into the drive before the text finally came.“When you hit town, let me know. I’ll meet you here.”He sent a link to a small mom and pop coffee shop a few blocks from downtown.
Feeling a sense of relief, but dreading the upcoming conversation, Liv reached over and patted Taz before turning up the music in hopes of drowning out the doubt demons swimming in her brain.
* * *
Victor spottedOlivia’s car across the street as he left the coffee shop with two large Americanos in a tray. He’d told her not to come inside but to wait for him. As he darted through traffic, he saw Taz sitting in the backseat with his ears up and tail wagging.
The combination of Liv and the dog was the best thing Victor had seen all day.
Before he climbed in, he did a casual scan of the area to make sure nothing seemed out of place. No one appeared to be paying him any attention, and he quickly climbed in the passenger seat.
Liv leaned across the console to kiss him as she lifted one of the cups from the carrier. “How did you know I needed a large one of these?”
The kiss had been too quick, too brief. After she’d taken a sip, he caught her by the back of the neck, dragging her face into the center between the seats again, where he laid a proper kiss on her, parting her lips and teasing her tongue with his. She tasted of coffee and comfort, desire and encouragement. When he finally let her come up for air, she looked at him with a deep craving in her eyes and a shy smile. He wanted to freeze that moment and carry it with him the rest of the day.
She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
The thought struck him as odd. He had a nice life. He enjoyed his job and had good people working under him. He loved his family, and missed them every day. “I brought you a brownie too, if you want one.”
“Coffee and chocolate? You really know how to woo a girl.”
“Next best thing to beer and cannolis.” He fished the folded paper bag of brownies out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her. Taz stuck his head over the seat, licking Victor’s ear and making him jump, almost spilling his coffee. “Hey, boy,” Victor scratched his chin. “Miss me?”
