night. Backup, and with it, or close behind it, an ambulance.
“Really,” I said, “I’m not hurt.”
Cars were being stopped and redirected, so traffic no longer was coming down the street—not that there was much at this hour of the morning. A minute or so later, a two-door black Acura pulled up alongside the police cars, and Ben Sato climbed out.
“Ben,” I said his name as a rush of relief passed through me. He was dressed in black pants and a black T-shirt, and he confidently strode over, nodded to the officers and pulled me aside. I gave him the story, and he nodded, not speaking. He stared at me, then whispered, “I’m very grateful you weren’t hurt.”
“You and me both.”
Ben stepped away from me and went over to the officers. He spoke to them at length, though I couldn’t hear what was being said. A paramedic took me to the ambulance and checked my blood pressure and vitals. When Ben returned, he said, “They’re going to file the report. I’m going to take you home.”
Now that I was out of imminent danger, my body betrayed me. My teeth chattered, and I felt cold even though the night was muggy. Ben put one hand at the small of my back and guided me to his car. Bo came along and hopped up on my lap once I was in. Ben laughed—the first time I ever heard him laugh, I thought. “He thinks he’s a lap dog.”
I smiled and leaned my face down against Bo’s neck. I was able to give Ben directions, even though I felt dazed. When we pulled up to my building, he said, “Let me walk you up.”
I shook my head. “Please just let me go up alone.”
He nodded but didn’t ask me any questions. “Call my cell phone when you are in and safe.”
I agreed, grabbed Bo’s leash and went up to my apartment. When I walked in, David stood up, the anger gone from his face and replaced by his usual serene appearance—albeit a little worried.
“One minute,” I told him. I picked up the phone and dialed Ben’s number. “I’m in and okay.”
“Good. Tomorrow we interview Daniel after work. I’ll come to the lab to get you.”
“Thanks.”
I hung up, then turned to face David. “I was attacked. By the killer—or at least the person who’s left me the souvenirs. Bo saved my life.”
“Oh, my God,” he rushed over and wrapped his arms around me, then bent down to pat Bo. He stood up again and grabbed me in a bear hug. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I don’t want to fight, Billie. Please…you’ve got to be careful.”
“I know. He slipped away. But…” I lifted my head and gave a halfhearted smile. “There is one good thing. Bo got a piece of him. Literally. Bo bit him, tore his pant leg, and now we have his blood. We have his DNA.”
“That’s good news. So then the police can catch him.”
“Well, only if he’s in the system. But it’s evidence. Little by little I’m wrapping a noose around his neck.”
“Well, darling, let’s just hope he doesn’t wrap one around yours first.” David leaned in and kissed my neck. “I’m sorry about everything.” He kissed my lips.
“I’m sorry, too.”
“Now will you let Tommy Salami be your bodyguard?”
“Unfortunately, David, I don’t think I have much choice. As soon as my father hears about tonight, Tommy will be on my doorstep.”
Chapter 15
B en called Lewis about what happened that night. Lewis called Mikey. Mikey called Dad. Dad called Tommy Salami.
And the next morning, when I rose predawn for work, Tommy Salami was waiting for me, sitting on the trunk of my car with a huge bag of McDonald’s and two extra-large coffees.
“Egg McMuffin?”
“You know I don’t eat that crap. And you were supposed to lay off it. What about your cholesterol?”
“Eh…I take my Lipitor. I can eat eggs.”
“Whatever,” I smiled at him. “Believe it or not, Tommy, it’s good to see you.”
“You know you shouldn’t drive on your spare tire. It’s a piece of shit. While you’re in the
“Really,” I said, “I’m not hurt.”
Cars were being stopped and redirected, so traffic no longer was coming down the street—not that there was much at this hour of the morning. A minute or so later, a two-door black Acura pulled up alongside the police cars, and Ben Sato climbed out.
“Ben,” I said his name as a rush of relief passed through me. He was dressed in black pants and a black T-shirt, and he confidently strode over, nodded to the officers and pulled me aside. I gave him the story, and he nodded, not speaking. He stared at me, then whispered, “I’m very grateful you weren’t hurt.”
“You and me both.”
Ben stepped away from me and went over to the officers. He spoke to them at length, though I couldn’t hear what was being said. A paramedic took me to the ambulance and checked my blood pressure and vitals. When Ben returned, he said, “They’re going to file the report. I’m going to take you home.”
Now that I was out of imminent danger, my body betrayed me. My teeth chattered, and I felt cold even though the night was muggy. Ben put one hand at the small of my back and guided me to his car. Bo came along and hopped up on my lap once I was in. Ben laughed—the first time I ever heard him laugh, I thought. “He thinks he’s a lap dog.”
I smiled and leaned my face down against Bo’s neck. I was able to give Ben directions, even though I felt dazed. When we pulled up to my building, he said, “Let me walk you up.”
I shook my head. “Please just let me go up alone.”
He nodded but didn’t ask me any questions. “Call my cell phone when you are in and safe.”
I agreed, grabbed Bo’s leash and went up to my apartment. When I walked in, David stood up, the anger gone from his face and replaced by his usual serene appearance—albeit a little worried.
“One minute,” I told him. I picked up the phone and dialed Ben’s number. “I’m in and okay.”
“Good. Tomorrow we interview Daniel after work. I’ll come to the lab to get you.”
“Thanks.”
I hung up, then turned to face David. “I was attacked. By the killer—or at least the person who’s left me the souvenirs. Bo saved my life.”
“Oh, my God,” he rushed over and wrapped his arms around me, then bent down to pat Bo. He stood up again and grabbed me in a bear hug. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I don’t want to fight, Billie. Please…you’ve got to be careful.”
“I know. He slipped away. But…” I lifted my head and gave a halfhearted smile. “There is one good thing. Bo got a piece of him. Literally. Bo bit him, tore his pant leg, and now we have his blood. We have his DNA.”
“That’s good news. So then the police can catch him.”
“Well, only if he’s in the system. But it’s evidence. Little by little I’m wrapping a noose around his neck.”
“Well, darling, let’s just hope he doesn’t wrap one around yours first.” David leaned in and kissed my neck. “I’m sorry about everything.” He kissed my lips.
“I’m sorry, too.”
“Now will you let Tommy Salami be your bodyguard?”
“Unfortunately, David, I don’t think I have much choice. As soon as my father hears about tonight, Tommy will be on my doorstep.”
Chapter 15
B en called Lewis about what happened that night. Lewis called Mikey. Mikey called Dad. Dad called Tommy Salami.
And the next morning, when I rose predawn for work, Tommy Salami was waiting for me, sitting on the trunk of my car with a huge bag of McDonald’s and two extra-large coffees.
“Egg McMuffin?”
“You know I don’t eat that crap. And you were supposed to lay off it. What about your cholesterol?”
“Eh…I take my Lipitor. I can eat eggs.”
“Whatever,” I smiled at him. “Believe it or not, Tommy, it’s good to see you.”
“You know you shouldn’t drive on your spare tire. It’s a piece of shit. While you’re in the
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