Sam followed his grandmother to the living room and A.J. disappeared down the hallway to his bedroom. The only sound was the clinking and clanging of the old refrigerator as it struggled to keep running.
“I know how you feel,” I muttered as I made my way over to the old appliance. The thing was so ancient that the store it came from had gone out of business more than a decade ago but still she kept on ticking. And, thank God, she did. We couldn’t afford to replace her. Not yet, at least. Dinner smelled delicious and made my stomach growl. It had been a long time since I'd really eaten a good meal.
If nothing else, Andy’s mom was one hell of a cook. Although I’d never admit it to her, she was a far better cook than I and I devoured every meal she served.
Leaving the kitchen, my stomach now growling in response to the delightful smells of dinner, I headed to the living room.
Andy sat half asleep, one eye opened part way as the latest financial information flashed across the tv screen. “Hi, honey,” he mumbled sleepily.
I made my way through the dimly lit room and sat beside him crossing my legs on the sofa cushion. Leaning my head against his shoulder, I looked up at my husband. He looked tired. Not just regular tired but exhausted. The double shifts were wearing him down quicker than I realized.
“Andy? Why don’t you go and take a nap before your shift? You still have a good four hours before you need to get ready.”
“Hmmm… I know I should. I just can’t seem to summon enough energy to get up off the couch.” He attempted to laugh but the sound that came out was more like a grunt.
“What’s in the bag?” Andy asked. I had forgotten the black bookstore bag leaning up against the couch.
“Um… nothing special… just an old romance novel Becca gave me.”
“Becca, huh? I know what she reads. Is it all full of heaving chests and throbbing members?” Andy laughed out loud then and I slugged him on the shoulder.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Aw, come on, Susie! You know exactly what it means! Becca always has her nose buried in that smut! Is your head injury affecting you in strange ways? You into smut now too?” He laughed and even in his laughter I could hear how tired he was.
“Seriously, Andy, you sound beat. You really should go get some sleep.”
He yawned again. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I had a tough day picking up hookers today.”
I laughed at the casual way he described his day. “Another sting?”
“Not exactly. I spent the morning looking up hookers on the local Service and Sales website.”
“Well? Did you find any?” I tried to imagine the postings for that. I don’t recall there being a working girl or sex wanted category on the online site for peddling goods and services. “I thought you were hooking up drug dealers today anyway?”
“I was. But the undercover team has decided to run a prostitution sting and we wanted to find a hot spot. So, I went online and looked on a few social networking sites. Then someone suggested I check classified ads. Found a whole mess of them!”
“I have to admit, I never would have thought of that. Maybe I should take out an ad? Get a little extra cash so I can finally pay off the mortgage.”
“Yeah, right. I wonder just exactly how I would explain that one to the Chief? My wife busted for prostitution. Great idea, honey. Then we would both be unemployed.”
The idea of Andy losing his job if I got arrested made me feel a little bit guilty. My husband was a good man; he didn’t need to go through the rigors of internal affairs. Andy Timmons was the most honest person in all of Virginia Beach. Sort of wasn’t right that he married someone like me.
“Well, at least we would have your mom to keep us afloat, right? When’s she going home anyway?”
“Aww, come on Susie, cut her a break.” His voice echoed down the hall as he made his way to the bedroom. “We needed her when you… when you were … sick and she really came through for me and the boys.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I just want my house back,” I whispered to myself. I knew Andy wouldn’t have heard me anyway. The door to the bedroom had already closed, the echo of it resonating down the empty hallway. From the back of the house I could hear the muted voices of A.J. and Sammy playing together. They sounded so happy. The ignorance of youth was truly bliss. How I missed that for myself.
The phone rang in the kitchen. I stood in the dim light of the living room and listened as it rang several times. I knew Andy’s mom wouldn’t answer it and I just didn’t feel like it. If one of my girls wanted to reach me, they would leave a message. After the sixth ring, the answering machine picked up.
Andy’s voice came on the machine, “We’re not here right now, please leave a message.”
“Susie? Susie! Are you there?” There was no mistaking the nasal voice of Joan Crawford. “Susie! I’m just calling to see if everything is okay. The way you ran off today and all! I will give you a call back dear. Let me know if you need anything!”
The sound of the dial tone rung loud and clear through the house, Joan’s voice still ringing in my ears.
Worried indeed. That woman didn’t care about anything but getting the latest gossip. No way in hell would I be returning her call anytime soon.
10
An Unremarkable Series of Events
By the time the boys were finally asleep and Andy left for work, I was chomping at the bit to get back to my book. He was a criminal but Willie Sutton had also become famous and revered and possibly even respected for his knowledge and abilities. The FBI used him as a consultant—wasn’t that really all we were doing?
I read all night. The pages turned themselves. Mr. Sutton was as good a story teller as he was a master of disguise.
Just as the sky began to lighten on the horizon, I read the last line on the last page. Closing the book on the history of a brilliant man, I was more confident than ever in our plan.
My mother in law moved around in the hallway. She rose everyday promptly at five thirty. Her routine ran as predictable as the tides. Rise at five thirty, pad down the hall to the bathroom, make coffee, eat peanut butter and banana toast. Nothing about her routine ever varied. Nothing in her day ever varied. Andy tried to explain to her every time she visited what a prime target she made herself for violent crime but she never seemed to care.
For not having slept all night, I was surprisingly wide awake. I sat on the bed and listened to the sounds of the house for a few minutes before getting up and heading to the bathroom to take a shower. The house felt chilly; we always kept the heat turned down real low at night. I shivered slightly and ran my hands up and down my arms to warm them a bit.
It only took a few seconds to fill the tiny room with steam so I stripped quickly and dove into the hot spray. With closed eyes, I stood with my back to the shower head, allowing the force of the water to massage my shoulders and upper back.
I needed to go out and find my costume from my favorite episode of I Love Lucy. A simple shirt style dress and basic pumps would do the trick. It should be an easy find at a thrift store. I also planned to hunt down some costume masks for us. Hopefully with Halloween just around the corner that would be an easy task as well.
“Mom!” The solitude of my shower was suddenly destroyed by the panicked voice of A.J. A perfect miniature replica of his father, A.J. had taken to worrying about me incessantly since I returned home from the hospital.
“In the shower, A.J.!” I called through the bathroom door.
The bathroom door slammed open and crashed against the wall.
“Mom! I have been calling and calling! Where were you?”
“Um, in the shower, sweetheart.”
“Oh, right.” His voice suddenly got very small.
Peeking out from behind the curtain, I smiled at my little man. A.J. had such a sensitive soul, stepping on a spider could break his heart.
“What’s wrong, Peanut?” I reverted to his childhood nickname, hoping to see the sm
ile it usually elicited. A.J. was anything but a peanut. Already tall for his age, we fully expected our little boy to one day clear six feet easily.
“Nothing.” He looked at the floor, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
“Come on, buddy. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Well, it’s just that I couldn’t find you. I was afraid… I mean I thought…”
“You were worried I was in a coma again?”
He kept his eyes averted. “Well, yeah. You didn’t answer.”
Letting the curtain close and stepping back under the water, I quickly rinsed the rest of the soap from my hair and body. “A.J.”, I called out from under the water. “You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’m fine now.”
He didn’t respond.“A.J.?”
“I know, Mom. I was just worried. I’m going with Gramma to school now. I love you.”
“Love you too!” I called as he ran from the room.
The slamming of the front door told me the house was empty. I finished my shower quickly and got dressed. A pair of comfortable jeans and a navy blue long sleeved tee shirt under a grey pullover hooded sweatshirt later, I made my way to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. A fresh pot sat on the burner and smelled absolutely delightful. My sleepless night would probably require several influxes of caffeine to get me through the day. I felt good so far but I knew from experience midafternoon would be my downfall without a little kick in the pants.
Two cups of coffee later and I headed out the door. A brisk walk down the street had me at the bus stop just as the large, lumbering vehicle rolled up on the small crowd already waiting there. Making my way to the back, I sat in an empty window seat and watched the city pass me by until we reached Town Center. I decided to start my expedition at the Pembroke Mall and make my way down Virginia Beach Boulevard until I found everything I needed.
A wad of bills stuffed into my jeans pocket reminded me how much we had at stake. The guilt over dipping into my kids’ savings for my shopping trip weighed heavy on my heart. The only reprieve came from knowing that in a few days I could return it all and then some.
Things were quiet in the mall. A group of mall walkers passed by on either side of me, a slight breeze from their accelerated pace ruffling my loose hair. If I were them, I would get my exercise outside in the fresh, salty air so typical of Virginia Beach, not in a stuffy mall.
Within minutes, I found exactly what I needed. The place was empty aside from the clerk, a young man wearing a Bob Marley tee shirt and sporting some serious dreadlocks and a mother pushing a stroller with one hand and dragging a stubborn toddler along with the other.
“Yo.” The clerk greeted me as I entered the store. “You lookin’ for sometin'?”
“I am, actually.” A security camera pointed at the registers so I positioned my body to place my back and shoulder in line with the flashing red light as I stopped to tell the young man what I hand in mind. “I want a mask. The face of Lucy Ricardo. She was the star of…”
“I Love Lucy.” The clerk interrupted with a slow, easy drawl. “Cool show, mon.”
“Yeah, very cool show,” I replied. “Do you have the mask?”
“I sho’ do, mon. Righ’ back thah’, aisle seven.” He gestured toward the back of the store in a slow, easy motion.
“Thanks a lot.” I called over my shoulder as I made my way to the back of the dimly lit store. Witch hats, feathery boas and loose black caps brushed my arms and legs as I moved past them.
A few aisles over I could hear the exasperated voice of the young mother. “No, Cameron! You may not be a fairy princess for Halloween!”
The small voice, definitely belonging to a little boy, answered, “But why mom? Julie is…”
“Julie is a girl, you are a boy.” I could hear the strain in the mother’s voice as she tried to make her son understand the obvious logic.
Chuckling to myself as I remembered a similar conversation with Sammy a couple of years ago, I made my way deeper into the store to a section labeled “T.V.” There in front of me hung the smiling, innocent face of Lucy Ricardo. Mission accomplished!
Digging my cell phone out of my pocket, I dialed Claire’s number.
She picked up on the first ring. “Hullo?” Something seemed off in her voice but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
“Hey, Claire. I found Lucy.”
“Hello, Susie. You really did?”
“Yes and she looks just like I imagined!”
“Are there four exactly the same?” Claire asked.
“Yes, there’s exactly four. It must be destiny.”
“All right then, get them all. I will let the other girls know.”
“Okay. Sounds good. Talk to you later, Claire.”
“Good bye, Susie.”
Following Claire’s instruction, I grabbed the four masks and worked my way back to the register and paid for my find.
“Must be some kinda’ party you all be havin’?” The clerk spoke as he rung up my purchase.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” I mumbled as I paid the bill and grabbed the bag the young man handed to me. Exiting the store quickly, I made my way to the main entry of the mall. I squinted into the brightness of the fall sun as I worked my way along the sidewalk. When I reached a stop light, I waited for the “Walk” sign to flash. I never even noticed the freshly washed Virginia Beach Police Car as it pulled up next me until its occupant called out to me.
“Susie? Susie Timmons, that you?”
I jumped at the sound of my name and with great trepidation turned to find Andy’s best friend Tommy Mathis parked next to me.
“Um… Hey, Tommy. How’s it going? How’s Molly doing?”
“I’m great. Wife and kids are great. Despite the way things have been lately… you know.”
“Yeah, I definitely do.” Did I ever! The way things were going we were all going to be homeless and hungry one day.
“Watcha’ doin’ out here in this part of town? Andy know where you are?”
“Now why would it matter if Andy knew where I was?” I demanded indignantly. “Does Molly report to you on every move she makes?”
“Hey, now! Simmer down, there Susie!” Tommy laughed heartily at my obvious anger. “It’s not like Molly just got out of a horrific MVA. We all been worried ‘bout you, yaw know! I just meant maybe you should be at home taking’ it easy.”
Tommy’s easy southern drawl relaxed me somewhat. Not enough to let my guard down but enough to lose the aggravated tone in my voice.
“You know I spent three weeks in a coma, Tommy! That’s pretty much enough rest, don’t you think?”
“I guess so but if it were my Molly, I would be none too pleased to hear she was walking the length of Virginia Beach Boulevard just days after getting out of the hospital.”
“It’s been months since the accident Tommy. I’m fine. Really I am.” I could almost hear the desperation in my voice as I begged him to believe me. I knew he would tell Andy he saw me and I needed to come up with a cover story quickly. Fortunately, the black bag from the Halloween store had no writing on it. At least I wouldn’t have to explain that.
“I can see you are lookin’ fine but I still think you should be takin’ it easy some.”
“It’s OK, Tommy. I appreciate you worrying about me but I really am fine. I just needed to get out of the house. Andy’s mom is making me absolutely crazy! You know how that is.” I knew that would be very believable. Mother in laws have always been well known for making their daughter in laws crazy.
His trained eye studied me intently as he tried to convince himself that I was indeed all right.
“Well, all right then, Susie. If you say ya’all are fine then I gotta believe you. Andy’s my friend, ya’ know? I gotta be lookin’ out for him… and his family, ya’ know?” He spoke pointedly, a promise he would be letting Andy know about our conversation as soon as he had the opportunity.
“I understand Tommy and I wouldn’t want
anything less. You are Andy’s oldest friend. He thinks of you like a brother.”
“Well, you just take it easy now, Susie. Take care of yourself. My boy needs you.”
I plastered a big smile on my face. “I will, Tommy. You tell Molly I said hello, won’t you?”
“Sure thing, Miss Susie. Be seein’ ya’.” With a nod, he pulled the cruiser away from the curb and joined the steady flow of traffic moving up Virginia Beach Boulevard.
A rush of adrenaline caused my legs to shake as I wiped away the light sheen of sweat on my forehead. Tommy was a great guy but he was as perceptive as hell. He knew I was up to something and he was sure to tell Andy as soon as he could.
Deciding that I would deal with that when, or if, I had to, I continued on my mission. There was a dress and a pair of chunky heels out there somewhere just waiting for me.
11
A Round About Sort of Way
It took less than an hour in the first thrift store to find exactly what I needed. A grey dress with tiny white polka dots, wide white belt and rounded collar that looked exactly like it came from an I Love Lucy episode matched perfectly to a pair of black pumps with the wide heel popular in that time period. I was so pleased with my purchases that I nearly skipped home from the bus stop.
Andy’s mom did not even acknowledge my presence when I entered the house. I could hear her in the kitchen moving around. She must have been ironing again. The sounds of an afternoon talk show made their way to my ears and the smell of spray starch permeated my nostrils almost immediately.
Heading to my bedroom, I remained as quiet as possible so as not to invite any unwanted attention. I was anxious to try on the whole ensemble. Excitement prickled up and down my flesh. When I opened the door though, I discovered Andy sound asleep, sprawled across the bed in his boxer shorts. In my excitement, I hadn’t even noticed his cruiser parked outside.
The Heist Page 5