It was noon by the time we got back to Sharon’s and found Robin slouched in the recliner again, looking exhausted. Inspectors Lee and Jaglom were sitting at Sharon’s dining room table carrying on a quiet conversation. Sharon was in her kitchen, cutting something on her chopping-block table in the middle of the large, sunny room. She looked up and smiled, and I had the thought that despite her very real concern for Robin, she would be able to dine out on this story for a long time.
Inspector Jaglom focused his patient eyes on me. “We’ve told Ms. Tully that she’s free to go for now, but she won’t be able to go inside her place for a few days.”
“She’ll stay with me,” I said.
He nodded, then caught Robin’s gaze. “You won’t leave town without contacting us first, will you, Ms. Tully?”
“I promise I won’t.”
Inspector Lee pushed away from the table and stood. “Commander Stone, can we have a word with you? It won’t take long.”
Derek handed me his keys and motioned for me to take Robin down to his car. “I’ll only be a moment.”
“Okay,” I said, grabbing the key ring. Then I turned to the two detectives. “I guess I’ll see you both later.”
“No doubt,” Lee said.
That’s what I was afraid of.
While we waited for Derek in the Bentley, Robin rested in the backseat. An earlier request to pack up some of her clothes and essentials had been refused, so Robin would be stuck using my stuff for a day or so until we could get back into her apartment. I had extra toothbrushes and sundry items she could use, but beyond a sweatshirt and sweatpants, my clothes would be a problem for her. Robin was five feet, two inches tall with great curves, while I was seven inches taller and thinner by a size or two. I could see a shopping trip in our future.
“I bought you red velvet cupcakes,” I said.
“You did?” she said meekly.
“Yeah, four of them.” I held up the bakery box. “We can eat them all when we get home.”
“That was really thoughtful.”
“I know they’re your favorite.”
I heard her sniffle and turned around in time to see her dissolve into tears.
“They’re not your favorite?” I asked.
She laughed through the waterworks. “Yes, they’re my favorite. But I can’t even think about eating. I’m just so sad, and worried, and I don’t know what’s going to happen next. But I’m so glad you’re with me. I’m just so… thankful that you’re hanging with me.”
“Hey, you’re my best bud,” I said, reaching back to grab her hand. “That’s what we do. Right?”
“That’s right.” She sat up, sniffed, and wiped away her tears with her sleeve. “I’m trying to stop crying, but hearing about those cupcakes put me right over the edge.”
“I know. They do that to me, too.”
Her smile was watery. “You’re so easy when it comes to food.”
“I’m sure that’s a compliment.”
“Of course.” She squeezed my shoulder. “I love you, Brooklyn.”
Now it was my turn to tear up. “Oh, honey, I love you, too. We’ll get you through this. You won’t be alone, I promise. I’m not going to leave you to deal with anything on your own.”
Right then, Derek opened the driver’s-side door and slid onto the smooth leather seat. His jaw was clenched so tightly that Robin and I exchanged worried looks.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes growing wider.
As he started the engine, he gave me a somber glance meant to silence me, but we both knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“Derek,” I said, “what happened? What did Inspector Lee say?”
As he pulled away from the curb, he said, “She didn’t get a chance to say much of anything. Before we could begin to talk, Inspector Jaglom received a phone call from police headquarters that caused them both to go ballistic.”
Robin sat forward. “Why?”
He glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “They couldn’t find any identification in Alex’s clothing, but they saw the Russian labels. And from everything you told them about him, the cops are afraid this might become an international incident.”
“That sounds ominous,” I said.
“It is. Inspector Jaglom is afraid your Department of Homeland Security will be intrigued enough by your Ukrainian friend to take over the case.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” I asked.
“It could be. Nate told me the feds in this area have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later.”
“And what exactly does that mean?”
“It means that in an overabundance of caution, the feds might throw Robin in jail.”
Chapter 5
Once we were back at my place, I started water boiling for tea. I didn’t drink tea very often, but I found it comforting when I was feeling blue. Today qualified.
Derek walked into the kitchen, put his arms around me, and spoke quietly. “It might be a good idea if I checked into a hotel tonight. That way, you and Robin can spend time with each other without my interference.”
“I heard that.” Robin came rushing over to the bar that separated the kitchen from the living and dining areas. “Don’t you dare leave on my account. I won’t let you.”
Derek turned. “I thought it would be preferable if-”
“No,” she insisted, “it’s not. I’d rather you stayed. I’ll feel much safer if you’re here. Oh, but…” She pressed her hand to her mouth as though she’d misspoken.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She walked into the kitchen, ignored me, and glared at Derek. “Unless you’d rather stay at your hotel.”
He shook his head. “That’s not-”
“It’s your decision, of course,” Robin went on. “But why are you so anxious to leave? Do you know how lucky you are to have Brooklyn to curl up with every night?”
“I’m astonishingly lucky,” he said, winking at me.
“Hey,” I said, embarrassed now and reaching for the bag of double-fudge Milanos on the counter. “Let’s have some cookies.”
“That’s right,” Robin said, ignoring me as she shook her finger at Derek. “Why would you want to stay anywhere else?”
“Why, indeed?” Derek said nonchalantly.
“Exactly!”
“Um, Robin-”
“Sorry, Brooklyn,” Robin cried, and grabbed me in a tight hug. “But I don’t want to be the excuse he uses to leave you.”
I looked at Derek. “Please stay.”
“Don’t beg,” Robin whispered. “If he hasn’t figured out you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to him, it’s his problem.”
I stared at the ceiling. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Derek laughed. He seemed delighted with the entire conversation. “I’ll stay here tonight, if you don’t mind.”
Robin beamed. “Wonderful.”
“Sounds good to me.” Still slightly baffled by what had just transpired, I held out the bag. “Cookie,
