All she wanted to do was crawl back into bed, and die. She’d make it up to him this weekend. And damn, she had to attend the board meeting scheduled for ten this morning. She’d lose her job if she didn’t. Kyra willed her limbs to move to the bathroom.
After turning the faucets to the hottest point she jumped into the shower and exhaled. Oh, how she wished she didn’t have any place to go tonight.
It took her almost an hour to get dressed, to look presentable. She put on her red suit, which showcased a little cleavage—the rounded tops of her breasts. She hoped the distraction kept the boys busy during the meeting. With her antacids in hand, she left her condo at nine thirty.
* * * *
Louie didn’t like what he was hearing. The deeper he dug into Donald Kolinski’s life the more depressed he got. Kolinski was a stock broker who hit it big on a few IPOs. To celebrate, he’d started partying with the other brokers. Wine, drugs and women. The more he made for himself and the company the more he partied.
“My son, Sergeant, got caught up in it all. We’re not rich people. When he hit on that first IPO he found himself a millionaire overnight. Everyone wanted a piece of him. His boss gave him a twenty-five percent bonus and expected him to do again. I saw the pressure building. He’d become nervous and agitated. When he hit on the second IPO, the company celebrated him as the new golden boy. The owner even brought him an expensive sports car.” Mrs. Kolinski stopped and stared down at the picture on the end table of her son standing in the trade room at the NY Stock Exchange with his thumb up. “The partying got worse. He’d miss work. And the money started to disappear. At first it looked like he was spending it on the women he was dating, but I found out it was drugs.”
“What did you do about it?” Louie asked.
“When he made his first million, he put me on his accounts. After learning of his drug use, I checked the balances in his checking and savings accounts. I was astounded. He’d gone through two million dollars. Two million dollars, Sergeant, up his nose to escape his success. I immediately withdrew three million and put it into a CD that doesn’t mature for eight years. I hoped that would bring him to his senses.” Mrs. Kolinski’s voice hitched. “It didn’t. He accused me of stealing from him. Said I was no better than his boss. Three weeks later he was fired. With no money, he put his condo in the city up for sale and came home. It’s been a downward spiral since.” Mrs. Kolinski seemed wiped out.
“Do you have other children?” Louie asked.
“No, Don was our only one. I blame myself…”
“Karin, stop that. Don did this to himself.”
Mrs. Kolinski took her husband’s hand.
“If the two of you think of anything else that might help us, please give me a call,” Louie said as he stood. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“We lost him a long time ago, Sergeant,” Mrs. Kolinski said, as she wiped her eyes with the tissue she had crumpled in her hand.
* * * *
Thursday, Jake’s intention to call Kyra lay by the wayside. Tonight was out of the question but he should still call and confirm tomorrow night’s dinner date. Everything he’d read about her on Tuesday night intrigued him. Were the nerves he’d gleaned from her the result of the battle she had with her ex for custody?
He pulled her number out of his pocket and pressed it into his phone.
“What?” she barked.
“Is this a bad time, Kyra?”
“Sorry, bad day.”
“You have a lot of them.”
The woman was a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Call him crazy but the type intrigued him.
“No, it’s your bad luck you happen to be there on the bad ones.” She didn’t elaborate.
“You’re cutting out. Are you driving?”
“Yes, I need to pull over. Hold on.”
Jake waited. He heard the engine quiet as it idled.
“You still there?” she said.
“Yes. I can call back when you get home.”
“I’m out for the evening with friends.”
He wondered if she was on her way to the casino. Gamblers were liars. Was she one? “I’m calling to see if we’re still on for dinner tomorrow night?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
“You like steak or fish?”
“Steak is good.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven? Why don’t you give me your address?” He knew it from his research, but decided not to let her know he’d looked her up.
“It’s Unit 5, at the Laredo condos off of Meriden Road. I’ll be ready.”
“You sure everything’s okay?” She sounded distracted. Was she with her ex?
“I have a headache.”
“Big night?”
“Yeah, I had a pity party last night, got drunk by myself, and paid for it all day today.”
“Been there, done that,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
He hung up. Why was he pursuing her? Kyra wasn’t encouraging his attentions and she wasn’t divorced yet. The woman seemed to have more problems than he did. Why tangle himself up like that? God only knows. But something about her pulled at him. People made mistakes, good people. Jake considered himself an excellent judge of character. It was his nature to poke at something until he got to the source of a problem.
Chapter 6
Joe Dillon stood by the entrance connecting the casino to the garage as he waited for Kyra. Thirty-five minutes late. He wondered if she’d show. He took his handkerchief from his pocket, wiped his brow. Nervous as a bride on her wedding night, Joe hoped Kyra had made the right decision. They didn’t care about the Whale or his needs. They needed her to dispose of Church’s body. The bastard had turned state’s evidence on his boss instead of paying off his debt—not a smart thing to do if a person wanted to live. Now he was frozen in someone’s garage while they figured out what to do with him. It also meant a huge bonus for Joe if he pulled this off.
Phil had summoned him to his office on another matter when he’d overheard Phil speaking on the phone with his lieutenant about the mess Church had caused. It was then he got his nerve to speak up and put Kyra in the mix. He’d never tell her it was he who had thrown her to the wolves. If she picked the fat slob, he’d lose all respect for her. Kyra had it right the other day when she questioned him about picking Garcia. They’d given her a choice, though, she understood it was for show. A semblance that she was in control. She had better select the one they wanted her to. It didn’t matter, either way she’d take care of their body. If she chose right she’d walk away with some money, if not…well, he’d leave the what-if up to Lucci.
Since the day he became her host he’d been intrigued by her job. Who accepted a position where they burned bodies for a living? He’d never understood undertakers either.
Joe had big plans for himself in the organization. This little deed moved him up faster in the organization without him dirtying his own hands. A win-win situation. He’d let Kyra believe his boss was associated with the casino, but it wasn’t true. Yes, indeed, Kyra was going to be an asset to his career. About to turn and head back into the casino, he saw the elevator doors open. Joe watched as she rushed toward him.
“Sorry I’m late, Joe,” she said.
“I was ready to give up on you.”
Kyra held up a hand to catch her breath.