Bailed Out (The Anna Albertini Files #2) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,39

was heading to find Tessa right now.

Chapter 14

My sister wasn’t at work or at Donna’s apartment, and she didn’t answer her phone. A healthy headache was already thrumming at the back of my neck as I drove out to Thelma and Georgiana’s to water their plants before heading to my peaceful cottage on the lake. Once home, I filled a crockpot with frozen Irish stew and sat at my kitchen table to read through the sparkly pink file folder while waiting for my sister to call.

Danny Pucci had been arrested several times for assault and battery, twice with a weapon in hand. Once a knife and the other time a gun. He’d also been arrested for burglary, attempted kidnapping, possession of illegal firearms, robbery, harassment, and stalking. Most of the charges failed to stick because witnesses seemed to either change their minds or disappear. Just wonderful. It was no doubt that he’d had many enemies, most of whom probably wanted him dead. The biggest question was why he’d been found in Tessa’s apartment.

Something told me that could be the key to this whole thing.

I finished my stew, cleaned up my kitchen, and sat back down to sketch out a game plan when my phone finally rang. “Hello.”

“Hey. Sorry I missed you earlier. I was with cousin Wanda the shrink and then forgot to bring my phone in from the car,” Tessa said, sounding harried.

My shoulders slowly unfurled from their position up by my ears. “I was an hour away from calling in Donna.”

Tessa snorted. “Point taken. I’ll be more careful with my phone.”

We both knew she wouldn’t be more careful. In fact, Tessa was terrible with her phone and usually left it somewhere in town. Most of the restaurants knew what it looked like and to call her to pick it up after she’d been there. “Kelsey Walker said you had a date with Danny and ended up giving him a split lip and scratched neck the night before he beat the crap out of her.”

Tessa was quiet.

I dropped my chin to my chest. “It’s true?”

“Of course it’s not true,” she exploded. “How could you think that? I did talk to him on the phone a few times, as you know, but I’d never go on a date with that asshole again. He punched me in the face and stole my car, remember?”

I winced. Tessa’s temper was closer to the surface than mine, but it was no less impressive. “Sorry. It’s just what Danny told Kelsey, probably to hurt her feelings. He still wanted you, apparently.”

“He was never going to get me,” Tessa retorted. “Although, I would’ve taken the chance to punch him, you know?”

“Yeah.” I spun a piece of paper around with my finger. “She told the police that, just so you know. I feel like Detective Pierce thinks you’re innocent, but he’ll follow up on any lead he can find.”

“Well, that’s a dumb lead,” she said. “I didn’t go on a date with Danny, and I assume Pierce will find out who really split Danny’s lip. I wonder, though. Who else was he dating?”

I shook my head. “Who knows. He was cute and charming until the asshole side came out.”

“That’s the truth,” Tessa said. “You can apologize now.”

“For what?” I retorted. “I didn’t accuse you. I just told you what Kelsey said.” I could feel her rolling her eyes.

“Whatever. You sound like a lawyer,” she said.

“I am a lawyer.” I grinned into the now darkened night outside my sliding glass door.

She laughed. “Fine. Have you tried the piano yet?”

I glanced to where the upright sat against the wall near the door. It was weathered with a well-played look that did invite me to play. “I’ve been waiting for you to call while reading through a case file about Danny. Now that I know you’re alive and well, maybe I’ll take a break.”

“Anna, I don’t want you to get fired over this,” she said. “I know you want to help, but I didn’t kill Danny, so I’m sure Pierce will figure that out. Maybe you should do what Nick said and stay out of it?”

“Yeah. Maybe I should,” I said noncommittally.

She sighed loudly. “It’s not just me, is it? You’re trying to save Aiden again.”

Was I? “I don’t know. At the very least, I’d love to know what he’s doing.” I’d never been able to turn away from a puzzle, and right now Aiden Devlin was a mystery that needed solving. A hot, sexy, frustrating mystery. “Once you’re cleared