I checked the frame for blood.None.That told me whoever had squeezed through the tiny frame was a pro, or at least wise enough to knock out all the glass and wear gloves on their hands before coming through.
Her nightstands were open.The contents strewn onto the bed.A photo of her and Allie was tossed carelessly amongst the covers.
A stain peeked out from the jumble of sheets.
I picked up the comforter to see if it was blood.
It wasn’t.And that made things much worse.
While I was out hunting down the men who’d betrayed the Conti family, Johnny was doing more than hunting here.
“Is it okay to come in yet?”
I wanted to tell her no.I dropped the blanket so it would cover the evidence.“Yeah.Grab some things, check what’s missing, and pack a bag.”
Her eyes were wide as she flicked on the light and took in the disorder.They bounced from one disaster zone to another.“Was I robbed?”
Considering they didn’t touch the rest of the house?Probably not.“Check your jewelry.”
She shrugged.“Most of it is cheap.I don’t keep the good stuff on display.”
With that, she crouched down to pull the bottom drawer of her dresser out.She reached inside and pulled out two little canvas bags.After undoing the drawstrings, she dumped the contents onto a T-shirt that had been tossed to the floor.“Looks like it’s all good.They didn’t even get my wedding ring.”
A growl threatened to spill out of my throat.I bit my lip so I wouldn’t say something evil.She wore that damn thing the first two full days of the trip.It sat on her finger like a warning sign constantly reminding me why I shouldn’t feel the things I felt.
But I did.
And she did.
Then I laid down the law.“Take that ring off.You’re not married.And it makes you a target.”It had.Carnival attracted all the tourists, and with them thieves of all varieties.
She put it in that little powder blue velvet box and tucked it into her suitcase.Thank goodness she’d moved it to her stash spot somewhere between landing and now.
Her eyes landed on the bed and they narrowed.“Tell me that son of bitch didn’t—“ she bounced to her feet and flipped the sheets to the floor.
The wet stain glistened in the overhead light.“That motherfucker.”
“Pack your things, baby.We’re not staying here.”
She stared at the spot.The photo of her and her twin canted like an arrow pointing to the history of the event.
Ellie’s mouth fell open to talk, but stayed quiet.She finally mastered herself and grabbed a suitcase.
As she picked through her things on the floor, I got a cloth from her cleaning closet and wiped off the photo frame before handing it to her.“Take this with you.”
Her chin wobbled once, but she stiffened her expression until she’d mastered her emotions.“Thank you.”
I handed her things she’d need, but soon discovered that it was a futile effort.If Johnny hadn’t soiled her clothes with his shoes, he’d violated them other ways.After the third pair of sliced underwear, I gave up and directed Ellie to retrieve her shampoo and makeup.I was done wading through his filth.I dialed another number.
Conti-Messina answered.
I bypassed all the pleasantries we both knew were false.“Who do you have on payroll with expertise in setting up mistresses?”
Ellie bugged her eyes out at me.“Mistresses?Plural?”she mouthed, threatening me with her angry eyes.
As I got the reply, I wrote down the phone number he gave me.
“Excellent,” I said to end the conversation.But he wasn’t done.
