The Thief and the White Knight - 6

"I hope the other person looks worse than you," Marcia commented as she checked out the bruise on Kerry's cheek.

"They do, though not through any great defensive moves on my part. Luckily the bouncer at the bar was right there to do most of the damage they suffered."

"'They' as in more than one? Ouch. What, or maybe who were you fighting over?"

"A woman, and not like you're thinking," he added quickly. "She's very nice, but she seems to have gained the attention of two men who are interested in her for some reason."

"Not in a good way I'd say if you had to defend her. Is she alright?"

Kerry nodded. "She was driving off as they got to the parking lot. I just didn't want them to get to their car and try to follow her."

"A true knight in shining armor. I'm just glad that bouncer was around, because one man you could have handled easily but two—" she smiled, giving him a hug. "Next time, just call the cops."

"The bouncer did, but the punks left before they got there and," Kerry looked a bit pissed, "because I admitted I was the one who started the fight they almost took me in. Luckily with the guys gone and the bouncer backing up my story they let me off with a warning."

Marcia snorted. "Figures. Just be careful, okay, in case they show up there again."

"I will be. Luckily they won't be getting into the bar again according to the bouncer."

"I would definitely hope not," she said with some asperity.

"To change the subject, have the police come up with anything on the robbery?"

"No. I haven't either, before you ask, 'Watson'." She grinned. "My logical powers of deduction have led to absolutely nothing."

"Well damn, 'Sherlock', I thought you'd have it all wrapped up by now."

Marcia laughed. "For some reason the police aren't sharing what information they have with me. Casey also has made it quite clear to me I'm to stay out of it despite the fact that I offered to see if I could find out if there are any collectors out there who might have been interested enough in the pieces that were taken that they'd hire someone to steal them."

"How would you do that?" Kerry asked, interested enough to hear her answer that he leaned against the dressing room door rather than going inside quite yet.

"It's just a matter of knowing who to ask, which to be honest the police are probably already doing. But it would be fun to beat them to it."

"And you're going to try to," he said with a chuckle.

"I might, who knows, but not now, now we have to get ready. Curtain's in fifteen."

* * * *

While Kerry and Marcia were talking about the fight, Pia was in the process of telling Tito what had happened the previous evening. She'd found him, as she'd expected, busy at the restaurant but willing to take time to listen to her.

A few hours earlier she'd had a talk with her contact. He hadn't recognized either of the men from her description but had promised to keep an ear open for any rumors involving someone looking for her.

"You haven't done anything to piss someone off at you?" Tito asked when Pia finished her story.

"Not that I'm aware of, no. I suppose there's a slim chance they belong to someone I've taken something from but that's doubtful. How would anyone know I was the thief?"

Tito smiled slightly. "As far as I know you're the only female B&E specialist in the city and well beyond, so if they somehow knew a woman was responsible for a theft you'd be the natural suspect."

"If," she countered. "But why come to the bar to find me and then just sit and watch?"

"Because they want to follow you to find out where you live? You're not in the phone book and you keep a low profile. If I had to make a guess they either got lucky and happened to see you going in there at some point, or the word's out that they're looking for you and someone at the bar told them you were a regular there."

Instinctively, Pia looked around the restaurant. "I'm a semi-regular here as well," she pointed out when Tito asked.

"True, but here you sneak in the back door."

"I don't sneak, I just—it's easier to use it."

"You sneak, but that's alright. It's hard to break childhood habits." He grinned when she snorted derisively. "Pia, you've always done that and you know it. Papà even used to tease you about it."

"I suppose," she conceded.

"Back to those men, is there anything at all you noticed about them beyond height, weight, etcetera? Anything I can pass on to my contacts?"

"No, but then I really only saw them in the mirror. I'll ask," she shook her head. "Well, maybe not."

"Ask who and why not?"

"Kerry. He's the one who first spotted them, both last night and a week ago. But, well I've been trying to pass it off as just a couple of lechers with a bit too much of an interest in finding some woman to pick up. I can't really tell him the truth."

"No, I suppose not, as long as he's buying that excuse." Tito studied her face for a moment. "This Kerry, you like him?"

Pia sighed. "Yeah, I do. I'm even having lunch with him tomorrow. I don't know quite why I agreed to that. Nothing can come of it."

"Never say never, Pia. Hell, I ended up with a cop."

"But you're not, well you know."

"True enough up to a point. Just remember, fate has a way of stepping in when you least expect it too." Tito chuckled after saying that. "Since when did I start being so—corny?"

"Since forever, but I promise not to tell anyone," she replied, grinning. "Anyway, thanks for listening. If you find out anything you'll let me know ASAP?"

"Of course, and you really should quiz this Kerry, for your own safety and, I hate to say it, for his as well."

"Damn, I never even thought of that. Alright, I'll figure out something." Pia kissed his cheek. "Thanks, again."

"Nessun problema, piccolo."

"Dio, Tito. I am not 'little'," she grumbled.

"Want me to call you shorty instead?"

"Bite me. No, on second thought don't. Your cop might get upset." She grinned and waved as she took off towards the back door. "And I do not sneak."

"Do too," he replied with a laugh before getting back down to business.

* * * *   * * * *

As an aside. Don't forget I have two contests going on as 'Featured Author' for July at Silver Publishing. You can scroll down to find the post and leave a comment there and then go to each of the blogs I'm 'Weekends Blog Hopping' on for more chances to win an ARC of 'Weekends'  - E.