She studied Autumn again. “Are you sure you’re, okay? Ben told me what happened at the crime scene.”
Autumn jerked from where she straightened the file with the report. She pressed her lips together. “It wasn’t his place.”
“Maybe not, but he’s worried this case might be too much for you.”
Autumn gave her a tight-lipped smile. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Reagan inclined her head. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
Autumn knew Reagan wasn’t talking about the case.
“I’m fine,” she murmured.
Abruptly, Autumn turned suddenly and asked, “What do you know about an attorney named Scala?”
“Do you mean Nicholas Scala, the sexiest attorney in the Tri-State area? Related to one of the nastiest men in The Big Three— that Nicholas Scala?”
Autumn narrowed her eyes. “Possibly. He called Captain Alex Newman before I came over here.” She paused for a moment. “Why would he want to talk to the homicide captain in the first place?”
Reagan shrugged as she closed the Casale file. “I don’t follow political bullshit, but it may have something to do with his uncle, a known associate of organized crime.”
“Yeah, Hererra told me something about that.”
“You don’t want to get in Arturo Casale’s way, that’s for sure.” Then Reagan’s demeanor became coy, and she batted her eyelashes. “Be careful if you come into contact with Scala. He’s a lady killer,” Reagan grinned.
Autumn groaned and shook her head. “Why? Were you one of his victims?”
“Let’s just say I let him keep the panties I wore once.”
Autumn rolled her eyes as she walked into the hallway. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she drawled. As she walked down the hall, Autumn heard Reagan’s cackling of laughter.
Chapter 2
OneWeekLater
"Hi Nico.”
“Back so soon, Mr. Scala?”
“My, don’t you look like a shark today, Counselor. Who’s for dinner?”
“Who does Uncle Art want to kill this time, Nico?”
His white teeth shown in the faded light overhead. Dressed to kill in his pressed Armani suit, Nico Scala nodded to the female officers who stood talking amongst themselves. If they didn’t know him by reputation, they knew him in other ways.
“Ladies.” As he walked by, Nico heard their girlish sighs. He couldn’t help it if his nickname were Lady Killer. Figuratively speaking, of course.
Nico stood in front of the desk at the NYPD station. He looked at the formidable clerk. She was not a happy woman. Her rosy cheeks showed, and the circles under her eyes let him know she had long hours at this desk.
Clearing his throat, he smiled at the woman. “Buongiorno, SignoraBernadette.”
Bernadette looked up from the screen she was typing at. One eyebrow rose at his white smile. “What can I do for you today, Nico?”
Nico’s smile dimmed, “I’m here to pick up the Casale police and medical reports.” He showed her the written request.
Bernadette took the paper from him. Her eyes skimmed over the paper with pursed lips. Glancing up, she looked at him with burnt-amber-colored eyes. “Why does that man need to act like an overgrown child? I swear someone should lock him up and throw away the keys.”
Nico gave her a bland smile instead of answering. “The records clerk should have the file ready for me, Bernadette.”
