Mob Princess - Tess DiRosa's Story
Copyright© 2025 by Argon
Chapter 7: The Big Skies
The X3 was purring along the interstate, heading westward again. Tess was at the wheel, feeling a little bit tired, but she was nevertheless sporting the promised smile when she recalled the night before. Holly Murdoch had been just what she had expected: an unselfish, undemanding and skilful lover. The whirlpool had gotten another workout as the two women discovered their likes and dislikes, and then focussed on the likes. When they were ready to leave it, both had been on the scoreboard already, and it only got better afterwards. Still, when it was time for Holly to leave, it was with a smile, a kiss and a wave of the hand. No muss, no fuss, indeed.
Tess was now driving through prairies. She passed Rapid City, this time without getting a call, and continued to Whitewood, where she found Route 34. A few miles onward, she switched to Highway 85, and another few miles later, she found Highway 212 to Billings, MT. At a small town named Broadus, she found Seabeck Pizza and Subs and stopped to restock her spent calories. She was not disappointed; the large pepperoni she ordered fit the bill just fine.
Back on the road, she made it to Billings, MT, with daylight to spare, but with a sore butt. Fortunately, the Holiday Inn off I-90 had a single room for her. The culinary options were limited in the vicinity, and she had a small dinner at the hotel restaurant.
She had two days left now, and she set her alarm to 6 o’clock, raided the breakfast buffet and got on the road. A few miles on, she crossed the Yellowstone River, and then kept to I-90, passing Bozeman and Butte, before making one last pit stop in Missoula. Following online recommendations, she found the Double Front Café, just off I-90. When she entered the place, she saw that it must be popular. There were no free tables, but a lone female Deputy Sheriff was sitting at one of them.
“Mind sharing the table, Deputy?” Tess asked.
The woman looked up and Tess was surprised. She knew her. She was the drummer of the band that occasionally performed with one of Tess’s favorite singers, Kylie McAdam. She was at least part Native American, and her name was — Tess thought for a moment before she remembered — Janet Running Elk.
“Fan?” the deputy asked with a wry smile.
“A little. Janet Running Elk, right? I’m Tess Di Rosa.”
“Wait, really? Weren’t you one of Kylie’s witnesses, in Vegas?”
Tess nodded and laughed. “Small world, isn’t it?”
“That’s for sure. Have a seat!” She pointed at Tess’s right hip. “You have a permit for concealed carry?”
Tess parted her jacket to show the badge.
“Well, I’ll be damned. Secret Service? Somebody paid for his chicken with a synthetic beaver pelt?”
Tess laughed brightly. “I imagine that’ll be my bread and butter up here, counterfeit beaver pelts. No, I’m just on my way to Spokane, my first posting. I’m a rookie. You’re with the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office, right?”
“Yep. I made shift leader — well, we renamed it Deputy in Charge — last fall when my dad retired. So Spokane, huh? That’s the nearest field office for us. I’ll remember you if I spot another fake twenty.”
“You do that. I have no idea what I’ll do there, though.”
“Fake cash, fake bonds and shares, and the occasional nutcase who sends a threatening email to the president at three in the morning, after a four-day Vodka binge. The DEA has more frequent business in these parts. We’ve got a lot of deserted farms and homesteads around here; perfect for meth labs.”
“Jeez, that’s not what I associated with Montana.”
“We hate it, we fight it, and sometimes we win a little.”
When the busy waitress showed to serve Running Elk her dish, Tess ordered the same, fried chicken, and a large mug of coffee, black.
“So, what’s happening with the Clearwater Posse?” Tess asked, meaning the amateur rock band, mostly known for joining Kylie McAdam on her studio albums.
“Not much time for that anymore. We all moved up in our jobs. We only do reunions during the holidays now. Kylie and Cliff have some collaborators in LA now, but even Cliff is busy as newbie associate in an entertainment law firm, and Kylie is finishing a master’s degree as a music teacher. Plus, they have a little boy now. That’s seriously cramping their style.”
“I can imagine. Give them my best wishes if you have a chance.”
“Will do. Why’d you pick the Secret Service, if I may ask?”
Tess shrugged as usual. “Of all the federal agencies, they were the most likely to accept me. Can you imagine an Agent DiRosa at the FBI?”
“I can, but I have to giggle when I do. Good point, of course. But why federal, not local law enforcement?”
“Blue is not really my color. Plus, the older cops are still so used to getting bribes from someone named DiRosa, they’d probably hit on me for loans all the time.”
“Must be tough, living with that name.”
“Oh, I can handle stupid remarks. What about you?”
“You mean with my ancestry?”
“Yeah. People are stupid, aren’t they?”
“I handle them all right. Oh, there’s your chicken.”
The waitress set down the plate in front of Tess and refilled her coffee mug.
“This is delicious,” Tess mumbled around the food in her mouth. “You come here often?”
“Wow! A pickup line?”
Tess barely managed to swallow. “Oh, my! Sounded like one. No, I mean, do you have business here in the state capital?”
“Since I’m a DC now, I need to complete a few more courses to finish my criminal justice degree. So yeah, I usually come her once a week. My boss understands and supports me.”
“That’s great. He’s elected, right?”
“It’s a she, and yes, she’s elected, and the folks are happy with the way she does her job.”
“Small town, everybody knows everyone?”
“Almost. We know our troublemakers, well, we grew up with most of them. Doesn’t mean things can’t go pear-shaped in a hurry.”
Tess had to empty her mouth first. “I read about Cliff Henson’s shoot-out. It was somebody he knew, right?”
“A former class mate. A nice enough fellow when sober, but mean as a snake when drunk. Still, he would’ve surrendered if some numb-nut hadn’t lit him up with a Taser.”
“A civilian?”
“Yeah. He’d been rejected by us, and he wanted to show himself as deputy material.”
“Oh, shit!”
“Amen, Sister! Well, the whole thing brought Cliff and Kylie back together, so there was something good coming out of that clusterfuck. Look, I have to get back to Clearwater. Do you mind if I leave you? I really wish you a good start in Spokane.”
“Yes, no problem. Thanks for all the insights you gave me. I appreciate. Drive safely!”
“Thanks. Should you ever be in the vicinity, look me up!”
“Will do, Janet. If you ever spot a three-dollar bill, don’t call me!”
“Good luck with your Chinese-made synthetic beaver pelts!”
Tess, left behind, finished her dish and wiped the plate with fresh bread before emptying the coffee mug. Leaving a twenty on the table, she got up and left the place, climbing back into her car for the last leg through Idaho and into Washington State.
It was close to 4 p.m. when she entered Spokane, and she piloted the X3 to the address of a private house. The owner was letting a furnished room with breakfast included, which Tess had found online. The house was in a residential neighborhood surrounded by a bend of Spokane River, and having called ahead, her new landlady was waiting for her on the steps of a modest, two-story house and directed her to park to the right of a single-car garage.
When Tess got out, Mrs. Albright greeted her with a smile.
“Hi, Miss DiRosa. I’ve been expecting you. Did you make it all right?”
“Yes, as I told you on the phone, everything is fine. I just got held up in Sioux Falls for a day.”
Albright spotted the badge. “Oh, you’re a police officer?”
“US Secret Service, but I’m only a rookie.”
“Should I address you as...?”
“Tess, simply Tess.”
“Oh, great! I’m Lydia.”
“Good to meet you, Lydia. Is there a Mr. Albright, too?”
“There is, but he better not show his face. We’re divorced. I got the house, he got his truck and his hunting cabin. No, it’ll be just us two. I’m saddled with the mortgage; that’s why I lease the room. That, and it beats sitting around alone. Are you single?”
Tess laughed. “What gave me away? I haven’t met the right guy or girl yet, and I’m not actively looking either.”
“Guy or g...?”
“I’ve tried both. Is that uncomfortable for you?”
“N-no. I just don’t know any ... l-lesbians?”
“More likely you don’t know they’re lesbians,” Tess smiled.
“Oh, yes, of course. No, I don’t mind your ... orientation.”
“Great. Are you working?”
“Yes. I’m a legal secretary at a firm in downtown, but I take classes to get my bachelor’s, to become a paralegal.”
“That’s admirable, Lydia. I will check in at the field office tomorrow. After that, I have no idea how my schedule will look like, but I guess I’ll have rather regular hours unless something comes up.”
“Yes, of course. Let me show you the room now, and then I’ll help you move in.”
“Thanks. I don’t have much luggage, but I can use some help.”
The room clearly had been the master bedroom. There was a queen size bed, a chest of drawers with a mirror on top, a simple computer desk with adjustable chair, and a grandfather chair with a small coffee table. There were two doors, leading into a closet and into an en suite bathroom.
“Isn’t this your room?”
“No, I’d rather not sleep in here anymore. I’ve got the other two rooms and the bathroom off the hallway.”
“Oh, okay, if you’re sure.”
“Believe me, I am. Did you bring any furniture?”
“No, just a yoga mat. Would you mind if I bought a gun safe and placed it in here? I’d rather not keep weapons in the open.”
“Oh, no, I appreciate the thought. I don’t like guns.”
“Me neither, but it’s part of my job. I’ll also lock away my swords.”
“S-swords?”
“I’m an Aikido blackbelt. The swords are part of my exercises, but they’re mostly ceremonial. I won’t keep them in the open either.”
“I guess I can live with that. Why are you so ... martial?”