Dead Wrong Read online

  Both men followed me inside. I turned to stare at them.

  “What?” I asked, when nobody uttered a sound.

  “You know what. It’s not like you to be so bitchy, Vin. What the hell is going on?” Leaning back against the kitchen counter Marcus crossed his arms over his muscled chest.

  My glance darted from man to man. I realized this was an ambush. Marcus had probably called Aaron and, together, they’d harass me until I spilled my guts. Well, that wasn’t going to happen tonight.

  “I’m just tired and the pain is making me cranky, guys. Sorry about that.” I hitched onto a chair and stared at the two men, my lips zipped.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to tell us what the problem is with your brother?” Marcus asked as Aaron nodded in silence.

  “There’s nothing to tell.” I lied. “I’m just tired.”

  It’s not that I don’t adore my twin, I just dislike having to live up to life on a pedestal, as he lives it. My father was certain Giovanni could do no wrong, while I on the other hand could do no right.

  Yeah, I admit I’m unable to mind my own business, which often ends up with me in a jam of some sort. I also know that as a capable person, I can make decisions, good decisions. It’s just that not all of them are the best decisions. Nobody’s perfect, right?

  Coffee brewed as Marcus set out three mugs and the jug of milk. He slid the bowl of sugar and some spoons across the counter. Aaron sidled onto the seat next to me and put his hand over mine.

  His warm brown eyes gazed into my own. He smiled a bit and I was dead certain that Marcus had indeed, called ahead and filled him in.

  “So, your brother is coming here? I’ve always wanted to meet this guy. Maybe you should invite him to dinner.” Aaron’s smile warned me. I knew his game.

  “Oh yeah. Great idea,” I snapped.

  Marcus poured the coffee and watched while I slopped it across the counter. He smirked and wiped up the puddle.

  “It’s been a while since you’ve seen him, right?” Aaron asked.

  “True, but I could do without his visit at the moment.”

  “Why is that?” asked Marcus, a speculative gleam in his stare. “Because you’re planning to investigate the therapy clinic and don’t want his or your father’s interference?”

  Marcus’s eyes bore into mine, in search of an answer.

  “Yes, all right,” I said. “That’s exactly why I don’t want him here. Can’t I have a private thought without you two bugging the shit out of me?”

  “No, you can’t,” Marcus muttered. “Not when it means there’ll be hell to pay afterwards.” His eyebrows knit together as he continued to stare at me. “Do not, and I mean that, do not start poking into this clinic. I’ll check around and see what I can find out, Vinnie. Just don’t do anything rash.”

  Aaron nodded in agreement. He drank the hot brew and toyed with the spoon.

  “If you think there’s something shady about it, then I’ll run a check for you through my office in the morning,” Aaron offered. “Let’s get together tomorrow night, the three of us, and compare notes. What’s got you so hell bent on an investigation, anyway?”

  Within moments, I had explained the clinic, the help and how weird Gristle had acted at my appointment.

  With a nod, Aaron glanced at Marcus and then back at me. “If you’re certain there’s something amiss, then we’ll look into it. You need to stay out of it and concentrate on making your brother welcome. I’m sure it won’t be as bad as you think.”

  My eyes rolled, but I nodded and tried to get a grip on myself. I’d just stay out of it, relax, and heal. If I felt physically better, then I’d be happier about Gio. That’s all it was. Yeah, right.

  These two men had me nailed. I would wait for them to check out the clinic and let me know what they found. Then I’d investigate on my own, if necessary.

  “Thanks for this guys. I appreciate it. I’ll be here tomorrow after classes end. Let’s meet for dinner around six. I’ll have Lola whip up something delicious, okay?” I smiled when the two men nodded with enthusiasm.

  Lola Trapezi owned the deli on the corner down the street. She and I had learned to cook from my father, but Lola had taken the education and run with it. Her very first cookbook for a New York publisher was underway. She used me as the guinea pig for her recipes. Life has its rewards.

  After Aaron left, Marcus rounded the counter. He slid his hands around my waist, pulling me toward him. Warm lips nuzzled my neck, and I grinned.

  “I suppose you’re waiting for dessert now aren’t you?” I asked.

  “Yeah, second dessert. The pie at your mother’s was great, but this is non-fattening so I can have all I want,” he mumbled against my lips.

  “Well, what are you waiting for then?” I smiled between kisses.

  He swept me into his arms and strode toward the bedroom as the phone rang. I sighed and glanced at the caller ID. My brother’s phone number glared bright in the darkness of the bedroom.

  “Marcus, it’s my brother. I should take the call.”

  “Sure, I’ll wait.”

  I plucked the phone off the charger.

  My brother’s tense voice echoed across the line. “Vin, how are you? Mom says you had an accident and your therapy isn’t going well.”

  “I’m really fine, Gio. It’s taking longer than I want to get better. You know how I get,” I said, watching Marcus nod and roll his eyes. He knew how I could get, too. He’d had firsthand experience on more than one occasion.

  “Patience never has been your forte.” Gio chuckled. “I just wanted to call and let you know that I’ll be coming to Rhode Island tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, I know. Dad told me at dinner. What’s going on? Why are you coming home?” My mind was on a roll, and I couldn’t keep my curiosity in check.

  “It’s for a series of medical lectures. I figured I’d stay with Mom and Dad. Get a chance to visit with them for a bit.” His voice remained tense.

  Something in his voice was off. My twin sense kicked into overdrive. We had the twin bond, not like identical twins the way Gina and Cara did, but a strong bond nonetheless. Could this trip be something more personal? Surely a set of lectures wouldn’t cause the angst I heard in his voice.

  “Is Jill coming with you?” I asked and held my breath for the answer. Could his wife be cheating? Maybe he was for that matter.

  “No, she isn’t,” Gio said in a faint and distracted voice. “My plane lands late in the afternoon. I’ll rent a car at the airport and head to the hospital first, then to Mom’s. You’ll be around?”

  “Not tomorrow, but I’ll catch up with you, okay? Call me when you’re settled. Are you sure everything is fine?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” Gio laughed. “You know the definition of fine, don’t you?”

  “Indeed, I do. Don’t make me worry about you, Giovanni. It isn’t a pretty sight,” I said with a laugh.

  “Don’t worry about me and I won’t worry about you.” He lied. “Don’t tell Mom you’re concerned, okay?”

  My brother’s mysterious behavior caused a wave of anxiety to settle over my twin senses. I knew better than to badger the man, though. It had never worked when we were kids and wouldn’t work now.

  Warm hands ran over my back, nestling into the curls of my heavy mane. Marcus awaited my attention, but not patiently. Guess he was more than horny at this point.

  “It’s a deal,” I said to Giovanni. “I have exams to get through with my students tomorrow and then dinner with friends. I’ll catch up to you somehow. I promise, Gio.”

  The line went silent, and I set the phone in its cradle. Marcus kissed my neck as I turned into his embrace. He tugged the heavy sweater over my head. I undid the buttons on his shirt. We’d no sooner finished that when his khaki denim pants started to vibrate. He stopped and sighed. I watched hi
m read the text message on the small-screened phone clipped to his waistband.

  Marcus re-buttoned his shirt while I waited for him to explain. It was a useless wait since the State Police are tight-lipped and never share anything.

  “I have to leave and probably won’t be back tonight. I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow night, right?” He kissed me with intensity, holding me in a tight embrace for a few seconds.

  “Sure thing. I’ll see you then.”

  We walked to the door. I watched him pull away from the driveway and roar up the street. I bolted both the outer and inner doors before making rounds of the apartment rooms to douse the lights. Reaching the office, I saw the exams sitting on top of my valise. I stuffed the papers into the leather case then took them to the kitchen.

  Quickly, I changed into sweatpants and a sweatshirt – my usual sexy nightwear – and slipped under the covers where I lay in the dark thinking. Questions spun across my mind like clouds swirling past the late harvest moon outside my bedroom window.

  Why was Gio really coming to Rhode Island? How long would he stay, and why did he sound so odd on the phone? As opposite-sex twins we shared closeness, but I couldn’t read his mind like Gina and Cara did with one another.

  They thought alike, shared everything and enjoyed time in the company of each other. They’d managed to spend every Christmas, holiday, and birthday together. They never let anyone or anything stand in the way of their relationship. That’s just how it is with identical twins, I thought. Fraternal twins have a bond as well, but the percentage of connection between fraternal twins didn’t compare to that of identical twins.

  My mind went back to Gio and the mixed feelings I’d exhibited earlier in the evening. Marcus and Aaron had no idea how difficult my life’s decisions were when my father compared me to Gio. The ‘good ole boy’ Italian macho attitude had been alive and well during my childhood.

  In fairness to my father, he’d been made aware of this difficulty. Aunt Livvy had apprised him, on more than one occasion, of the fact that he rarely gave me a break. Now that she was dead, I had to rely on my mother to step in when my father and I clashed. My father is a good man, but there are moments I could do without.

  I considered my family. Though I’d had misgivings about Giovanni’s return, I knew deep inside that I’d really be glad to see him. Our separation had been way too long.

  Chapter 6

  Students straggled into the classroom. They picked up an exam, shuffled past me with their Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and mumbling greetings. I balanced against the lectern and mentally flicked off their names as they passed. Dario Ramirez, an undercover Providence cop, slouched into a seat at the rear of the room. He gave me a small wave as my eyes swept past him.

  The door swung open. Porter Anderson, a good-looking, grey-eyed Providence detective, wandered over. With a smile, he handed me a giant coffee and winked. As he passed by I whispered to him to wait a second. The smile widened.

  Every semester, without fail, a cop or two would hit on me for a date. Early in the semester, Porter had made a bet with Ramirez that he could get a date. He’d lost. It was smart not to enter into relationships with cops or students. I had been good at not doing either until I met Marcus. He’d managed to sneak under my defenses and win my heart.

  My inner voice always cautioned me about dating a cop. It nagged incessantly about a broken heart being the ultimate result of any liaison with law enforcement officers. Since Marcus and I never spoke of marriage or the commitment word, I figured I was safe.

  Porter sidled up close and I leaned my head towards his. I whispered, “I need a favor if you can help me out.”

  His eyebrows hiked a notch and his smile broadened. “What exactly do you need?” he murmured in a soft voice, a tentative sparkle in his eyes.

  “Information on a therapy clinic and its personnel. See me after class, okay?”

  “Sure, I can do that.” He walked toward his seat, and I noticed Ramirez staring at us.

  I limped in front of the class to explain the exam requirements. A low hum of conversation buzzed around the room, accompanied by soft laughter. Plainly, these people worked the streets at night. They weren’t their sharpest in the early morning hours. Everyone turned toward me as I briefly explained what I expected and how grading would work.

  Laughter echoed from the back of the room when I finished speaking. My gaze rested on Ramirez. I was sure he’d heard about my debt to Detective Bellini at the PPD after my Aunt Muffy had been arrested along with her racketeer boyfriend. Bellini had let me take the old battle-ax home, but he’d made it clear that I owed him. My brows arched and I waited, sure of what was to come.

  “Hey, teach, how big of a curve are you grading on?” His wide grin brought laughter from the other students.

  “Why? Didn’t you study, Ramirez?” I smirked.

  “Just wonderin’ teach … that’s all,” he chuckled.

  My smile lingered as everyone started the multiple-choice exam. I’d never been able to tolerate exams that required long, drawn-out answers. These people probably felt the same way. Yes or no, true or false, each offers a 50/50 chance of getting the question correct.

  That’s what worked for all of us.

  The hot coffee soothed me. Now if only I had a donut. Leaning back in a chair, I glanced around the room until a cell phone chimed its merry tune. The noise came from within my handbag and I realized I’d forgotten to turn it off. I withdrew it simply out of curiosity. The clinic number glared from the small panel. Heading out the door, I answered the call.

  “Good morning, Vinnie Esposito speaking.” How’s that for businesslike?

  “Ms. Esposito, this is Nurse Crisp. I have changed your appointment. You have been moved up to this afternoon at four o’clock. Don’t be late.”

  The phone went dead. I stared at the unit in my hand. Had I imagined the call? Anger raced along my nerves at the rudeness of the miserable nurse. I took a deep breath, held it for a second, and let it out slowly. Frustration took the place of anger. I couldn’t wait until my therapy ended once and for all.

  The door swung wide as I limped into the room and headed toward the lectern. The crutches were at home. Irritated by the use of them, I’d decided to kick them loose and stop acting like an invalid. It had gotten old real fast.

  I drew the handbag closer and tucked the phone inside. I pulled out my appointment book. The ribbon marker flipped to today’s page, and I turned to next week. My appointment card for the clinic lay tucked between the pages. My appointment had been set for next Friday at four in the afternoon. Hmm.

  Annoyed by Nurse Crisp, I realized that I must be making sufficient progress if the date had been moved ahead. Mollified by the thought, I settled at the nearby desk, waiting for the papers to start coming in.

  One by one, the security personnel – or Two-Point-Fives as they’re called, real Five-Os, and detective wannabe’s filed past, setting their exams before me. Each person took a seat, sipped their coffees in silence, and waited until everyone was finished. Why they worked nights and came to class days could only mean these people had lofty goals. They wanted promotions and raises. It was gratifying to know I made a difference in their lives.

  As I rose from the chair, I gazed around the room to see if everyone was finished. Porter Anderson’s exam lay in front of him on the desk, but he made no move to return it. Dario strode forward and handed me his. I read the first page and realized his answers were all correct. Lifting my eyes to his, I saw a gleam of satisfaction in the black orbs staring at me. I grinned and he nodded as he returned to his seat. This man might act nonchalant, but he was more intelligent than I gave him credit for.

  The next assignment sheets passed from person to person after I handed them to Porter. I glanced at his exam, but he flipped it over. He’d hand it in at the end of class, and I knew why. Dismissing the class for the d
ay, I watched them file out the door, laughing and joking with one another. They relished the treat of being cut loose this early.

  I slipped the suede jacket over my jersey while Porter stepped up. He handed me the exam, studying me for a second.

  “Why aren’t Handsome and Romeo doing the research for you?” He smirked, as though he didn’t know what my response would be. Most detectives don’t ask a question without knowing the answer ahead of time.

  My chuckle met his question. “Handsome and Romeo, huh? Well, truthfully, they have offered to do so, but I want to ensure I’m not being put off. There’s something weird about the place and the employees. It isn’t my imagination either.”

  “I figured as much. You have good senses, Vin, but you don’t know when to back off. That’s what bothers Handsome and Romeo, isn’t it? They try to protect you from yourself.”

  He waited for a response, and when I said nothing he tapped the slip of paper I’d handed him and said, “When I find out anything, I’ll call you.”

  Side by side, we strolled toward the parking area. He strolled while I hobbled, was more like it. As we neared the car park, Ramirez materialized out of nowhere to walk on the other side of me. He grasped my valise and smiled as we walked.

  “You two up to no good, or what?” he asked.

  “Or what,” I said. “Why do you ask?”

  “Just wonderin’, teach.” His dark eyes sparkled as he chuckled.

  “There’s nothing nefarious going on. Honest.” I laughed.

  “One never knows with you, teach. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t being harassed by any of your old acquaintances, like before.”

  “Ramirez, I’m not being stalked, or harassed, or anything else, but thanks for the concern.” Ramirez, while always polite, left me a bit uncomfortable for some unknown reason. I guessed it was just a gut reaction and I usually ignored it.

  “If you say so, teach. Just let me know if you are.”

  He handed over the valise before he walked away. A few minutes later, his truck swept past and he waved. I smiled and waved.