distance.
Chapter 20
Lia cut a chunk off her Margherita pizza. “So, what’s it like in Colorado?”
“It’s a beautiful state. There aren’t nearly as many people as here, at least where I come from, in the mountains. Some days you’ll see more animals than other people. I love it.”
They sat inside a crowded pizzeria along the river while it poured rain outside. Pizza and cokes and water were served — much needed fuel.
“Have you been there your whole life?”
“Most of it. I was in the military for a number of years right out of high school, then I returned.”
Her eyes lit up. “Really? Where did you serve?”
“I was stationed in Washington.”
“Where did you go?”
He laughed at her intense interest. “Pacific Rim. Mostly Asia and Australia.”
“Oh, wow. That must have been amazing.” She shook her head and sipped her Coke. “Did you see any action?”
“Nah, not much,” he lied. “I was lucky. Just a nice tour of the world.”
She stared at nothing for a beat, then shook her head sharply. “What is your position on the police force there?”
“I’m a…Sergeant”
“Is that a bad subject or something?”
“Well, it’s an interesting time for my career at the moment. There’s a possibility I’ll be appointed to Sheriff on Monday.”
Her eyebrows raised high. “Really? Monday? Wow, congratulations?”
“Yeah, not congratulations yet.”
They sat in silence as he swilled another small glass of water. “That’s if a few things go right, of course.”
“What do you mean? Do you not have the job already?”
“No, I don’t. I have to be appointed by the Town Council, which means I have to be unanimously chosen by all of the members.”
“Yes…and?”
“Well, I hurt a guy pretty bad before I left, and his father happens to be on the Town Council.”
“Uh oh.” She leaned forward on her elbows. “And you are a bit worried?”
“Well, yeah. They could be persuaded to vote for another person as Sheriff instead. Because of what I did.”
“Oh, okay. So, is there another candidate for the job?”
“Yes,” he said. “The guy I hurt pretty bad before I left.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Ah, I get it,” she said. “He may try to convince the others to vote for his son, especially since you just hurt his son. Also, of course there is the matter of your brother here, which you want to make sure is taken care of before you go home.”
They both resumed eating.
She paused. “So, you think that that Town Council member would have voted for
He laughed. “Yeah, it’s confusing as all hell. But, yes. He probably would have voted for me over his own son. That’s probably the reason his son and I got into it the other day.”
She nodded her head as if all was crystal clear, and then she finished her last bite and wiped her mouth. “Alright. So let’s figure this whole mess out soon so you can bring your brother home and go win your job.”
He liked this girl.
Chapter 21
Lia parked the Alfa Romeo right in front of the Albastru Pub, which sat in a piazza that looked otherwise restricted to vehicle traffic.
The pub had a large dark wooden sign with hand carved lettering above the front door, with a blue, yellow, and red square flag hanging from a pole above it. A single deciduous tree grew thick from a small brick square in front.
“Romanian.” Lia pointed at the sign as they got out, answering Wolf’s forthcoming question.
They entered the pub, Wolf noting the nautical-looking clock on the wall that said 2:10 pm. It looked like the bottom rung customers were there at the moment — a few older men slumping over a yellow beer or a brownish clear liquor in their squat glasses. Punk rock music Wolf didn’t recognize buzzed softly from out of the large wall mounted speakers. Two muted televisions showed the same channel, a sports highlight show.
No one was behind the bar, nor was there any indicator bell or anything to telegraph their entrance.
Lia took off her hat. “Buon giorno!”
A thin face with buggy cobalt eyes peaked around the corner from a surprisingly tall height — higher than Wolf’s eye line.
Almost imperceptibly, the eyes widened, then a stringy arm appeared holding up a finger, “Buon giorno! Un momento per favore,” the second half of the sentence retreating away from them. There was a fast clipped conversation just audible over the music somewhere in the back, a door closing, and then the man returned.
He was tall. What Wolf thought to be a man standing on a step stool and peaking around a corner was in fact a man that stood a few inches taller than Wolf’s six foot three height. His head was shaved on the sides all the way to the skin, with tapered ridged spiked on the very top with copious amounts of gel, giving the illusion of even more height. His ears protruded from the side of his head like two open car doors. He had a large nose, with a tight small mouth below it where white spittle had built up on the corners. A gold necklace jostled around his neck, well displayed on his bared chest above his mostly unbuttoned white silk shirt. He hurried over.
“Ciao, sono Cezar,” he extended a huge hand across the bar to Wolf.
A pattern of five dots in between his right forefinger and thumb caught Wolf’s eye as they shook, like a five on a dice. He’d seen the tattoo countless times. All on bad people.
Wolf shook. “Do you speak English?”
“Yes, I speak English, why?” The faint sound of a car engine fired up toward the back of the building, revved, and gradually faded.
“Because I’m from America. I’m Wolf.”
“Wolf! What is that, German?”
“No, actually it’s not,” he said. “Do you mind answering a few questions for us?”
“Of course I do not mind! I’m Cezar.” He slumped down on his elbows giving Wolf his undivided attention. “How can I help you?”
Cezar blinked long and hard while turning his mouth downward, ending the move with a hard sniff. Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out a pack of Marlboro’s in a black box, a type Wolf didn’t recognize ever seeing. He pointed the box in Wolf’s direction. “Would you like one?”
“Uh, no thanks,” Wolf forced himself to say. He held up his brother’s driver’s license. “I need to know if you’ve ever seen this man before.”
Lia cleared her throat next to him.
Cezar paused a pulse with a blank look. “Yes! I know this guy. He and his friend come in sometimes.”
Wolf pulled the license back and Cezar pulled out his cell phone, apparently all his undivided attention used up.
