by Lois Lavrisa
“That’s all we can do.” Going back to my line of sight on the business, I noticed Annie Mae’s car pulling into the pharmacy parking lot. I called her cell phone. “What are you doing?”
“I’m running errands,” Annie Mae answered. “Want to grab dinner later?”
“I can’t. I’m working.”
“I thought you were on vacation.”
“I am.”
“I don’t know if anyone ever told you, but working and vacation don’t go together.”
I let out a forced breath.
When Elias showed up and things went sideways, I didn’t want Annie Mae anywhere around. “Listen, can you get in and out of the pharmacy quickly?”
“How did you know I was here?” Annie Mae asked.
I grumbled.
“Are you doing surveillance on this store?” She whispered, “Is it a drug ring with prescription meds or something? Ooooooh, can I help? Please, pretty please?”
“Yes, you can.”
“Yeah?” Her voice rose. “What can I do?”
“Leave the building.”
“No, I mean really help. Who you looking for?” Her voice was low and quiet. “No one can hear me. I’m being very stealthy by the snack aisle. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be your eyes inside here.”
Now I was dealing with two obstinate women. It was best to get her off the phone. Hopefully, she’d get bored and leave before Elias showed up. If he showed up. “Do you remember the bartender at the Magnolia Club?”
“Yeah. He made me a great margarita.”
“If you see him inside the pharmacy, text me. But I still strongly suggest you get what you need and leave. Quickly.” With that, I hung up.
“I overheard. You’ve got someone on the inside now?” Nowak asked.
I groaned as I looked through the binoculars. The mother with the toddler got into her minivan. Good. All that remained inside, for now, was five employees and Annie Mae.
Nowak continued, “I’ve never had migraines, but I hear they’re horrible. If I had that kind of intense pain and medicine helped, I guess I wouldn’t want to be without it. But why didn’t he pick up his medicine before he tried to blow you up? I have some thoughts on that.”
I looked away from her, hoping that got across I didn’t want to hear her suppositions.
“I bet when he knew you were onto him, he had to act quickly, making the bomb and all. He didn’t have time to think about his meds. Or maybe he couldn’t refill it early. I know insurance is really strict on that.” Nowak sank into the seat.
My neck tightened in irritation. But part of me also filled with pride. She was making valid, logical deductions.
I continued to observe the building, taking note of vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists passing by. Thankfully, no one else had entered the business.
“Another possibility. I bet he wanted to get out of town right after the explosion, but he couldn’t because he needed to pick up his pills. Bet he plans to leave town right after he gets them.”
Nowak was asking and answering her own questions, having an entire conversation with herself. Just like my sisters, who could talk to a wall.
Despite my amusement, it concerned me to no end that both Nowak and Annie Mae were here. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to either one of them. To anyone. I needed to make one hundred percent certain that everyone was safe and protected.
I continued surveying the area.
I hated doing nothing. I wanted Elias caught. Put behind bars. Norman released. Justice served. This all wrapped up. Maybe, just maybe, still have a few days to spend in Miami with my family.
An hour later, a moped pulled in front of the pharmacy. A person wearing a hoodie and who had the same shape and build as Elias got off the vehicle.
The back of my shoulders tensed as my heart race increased.
It was showtime.
Chapter 29
“Target walked in,” I texted Annie Mae as I got out of my vehicle. “Get out.”
She texted. “No, bossy. I’m staying. Got him in my sights. Definitely the same guy who served me the drink at the club. He’s heading back to the pharmacy.”
I texted Annie Mae, “Leave now and don’t make a scene.”
Annie Mae texted back, “I’m being casual by the nail polish rack. Do you think blue sparkly color is in? Or is that too trendy?”
“EXIT NOW. GO.” I hoped that all caps emphasized how serious I was.
“Stay put,” I said to Nowak as she opened the car door.
“Are you sure?” Her legs swung out of the car, but she kept one hand on the door.
My body stiffened. “Call backup.”
“Okay.” Nowak slid back into the car but kept her hand on the handle.
“I mean it.”
She released the handle. “Fine. I’ll stay out here and make sure that if anything goes down the area is secure.”
I ran across the street. The humidity and heat left the air with a smell of thick, murky marsh water. Thankfully, traffic was light, and the only pedestrians were down the block. If Elias was armed, which I suspected he was, I wanted to know who and what was in the area in case of gunfire.
Annie Mae texted, “I’m a big girl, in more ways than one. You don’t have to baby me. I’ll be fine. I’ll text you when he leaves.”
It was no use trying to get Annie Mae to go away.
I put my cell on vibrate and tucked it into my pocket while keeping my focus on the pharmacy’s front door. I made my way toward the front of the building. As I passed the moped, I regretted that I didn’t have time to disable it. Besides, he might notice me then. Meanwhile, I decided to wait outside the front door for him, so that no one inside would be trapped.
I leaned against the outside wall and waited for him to exit. I knew that approaching him outside left it easier for him to get away. It also increased the possibility that innocent bystanders might get caught up in any altercation, or worse, fall into the crosshairs of bullets. I didn’t want to take that chance, either. My gun was in my waistband holster over my right hip. My hand hovered over it.
I stepped back a few feet, out of the direct view of the automatic sliding glass doors but still able to keep my eye on the surrounding area.
Taking in a long breath, I settled into a focused alert state, calming my mind. Training and experience had prepared me for all kinds of scenarios, but in reality, there were no absolutes. Anything could happen.
Clearing my head was critical. Not losing concentration was essential. Every time a bird chirped, a vehicle drove past, a breeze brushed branches overhead, I took it all in while maintaining my focus on the door. I knew that Elias could exit at any time.
I felt as tense as a spring pulled taut. Every cell in my body stood at attention.
My phone vibrated. Not wanting to look away from the door for even a second, I didn’t pick it up, instead assuming it was a text from Annie Mae telling me our target was on the move.
I clenched and unclenched my hands.
Seconds later, the door whooshed open.
I pressed my back against the side of the building, feeling my spine against the jagged bricks as my eyes remained locked on the walkway in front of the door. I needed to make sure it was Elias before I reacted.
He came into my line of sight wearing a dark hoodie pulled over his head. He held a bag in one hand and keys in the other as he walked briskly to his scooter and slung a leg over the seat. As he did, I noticed a telltale bulge in his pant leg. He had a gun. Thankfully, the area was clear of civilians.
Like a panther waiting on its prey, I sprang in front of him with my gun drawn, “Get on the ground. Show me your hands.”
His eyes went wide as he fumbled to turn the key in the ignition.
Fury raged in me. He was not getting away. Not on my watch.
I jumped on him, knocking the moped on its side. A searing pain raced down my arm from the impact of my shoulder hitting the metal frame. Elias let out a grunt as
he crashed to the ground with the moped on top of him. Wriggling out from under it, he cussed.
He reached in his pant leg and yanked out a Glock 19. When I kicked at his arm with all my force, Elias fell backward and the gun dislodged from his hand, skidding with the rattle of metal on cement across the pavement toward the bike rack.
Annie Mae emerged from the building. She picked up the gun and aimed it at Elias. “This is why you don’t carry a weapon. It can be taken and used against you.”
I lunged at Elias and yanked his arm as he attempted to scramble to his feet. Using my bulk, I body-slammed him to the ground. With a thud, he was down. I wedged his belly to the pavement and jerked his arms behind him while reading him his Miranda rights.
Elias was all muscle and rather strong for being half my weight on a slight physique. He put up a fight, wrestling and twisting under me like an alligator trying to get loose.
I struggled to hold him down.
There was no way I would ever let him get free.
Two unmarked cars sped to a stop and parked in front. Backup had arrived.
“Aaron, it’s over,” I said.
“Why didn’t you just blow up like you were supposed to?” he yelled.
“I guess that wasn’t in the cards for me, Maggie.”
Elias spat.
“And another thing—you owe my buddy Norman an apology,” I grunted.
He let out a muffled remark.
“To show you what a nice guy I am, I’ll make sure you have your migraine medicine with you in prison,” I claimed.
Tension drained from me as officers surrounded us. Nowak stood among them. When she caught my gaze, she gave a thumbs-up.
We got him. He wasn’t going anywhere but to the penitentiary. The man with four names, Aaron, William, Elias, and Maggie, would now be known by a number.
“To think you told me and the girls to stay out of police business.” Annie Mae approached. “I guess this means that we shouldn’t listen to what you say.”
Chapter 30
Six Months Later
Miami, Florida
“This is my mom and dad,” I said to Earl. “And, Mom and Dad, this is my partner, Earl.”
My father, back stiff, lips tight, stuck out his hand and shook Earl’s outstretched one. I wondered if it felt as awkward as it looked.
“You are such a handsome man.” My mother wrapped Earl in a bear hug. “Do you like arroz con pollo?”
Earl’s eyebrows rose questioningly.
“It’s chicken and rice,” I laughed.
“Then, in that case, yes, I do,” Earl chuckled.
“Come with me; I made some today. You sit down and have a bowl. It’s not too spicy. Cuban food is good. You’ll like it.” My mother guided him toward the back of the house. “José’s sisters and their families will be over later,” she continued as they disappeared into the kitchen.
“So, Dad, are you sure you’re okay with this?” I sat down on the overstuffed sofa that creaked under my weight. “I mean, you’ve only had a few months to get used to the idea.”
My father took the seat next to me. “Son, you know me. I’m what they call old-style.”
“Fashioned.” I grinned.
“Yes.” He folded his hands on his lap. “You know, it is going to take time for me to get used to all of it.”
“I get it. I do.” I leaned forward and put my elbows on my knees. “But I couldn’t continue living a lie. Mostly to myself. It wasn’t working for me anymore to pretend to be someone I wasn’t.”
My dad looked straight ahead as he gave a slight nod.
“All this time, I convinced myself that I would be ostracized at work. That everyone was homophobic, and it would negatively impact me. You know what?”
My dad shook his head.
“In the end, it didn’t matter. It turned out I was the one judging them, not the other way around.” I paused as I thought about Ray’s volatile relationship with his father, and how his father hadn’t attended Ray’s memorial. “A bigger dread than telling my coworkers was telling you. I thought for sure you’d disown me. And worse, that you wouldn’t be proud of me anymore. Give up on me.”
“No te salva ni el médico chino.” He flipped his hand open.
“Yes, I thought there was no hope for me.”
My dad looked at me. “Son, I could never throw away you or any of my children. But this secret you told us? It’s all new to me. I don’t know what to do with it. But you are still my son.” His voice shook. “And I am outnumbered by women telling me what to do.”
“Yeah, Mom and my sisters are a persuasive bunch, huh?”
He nodded. “Four against one. I didn’t have good odds. But they insisted I open my mind to your—what do you call it?—lifestyle.”
“I could barely accept it myself, let alone expect you to.” I looked around the living room. The same family pictures hung on the wall. The furniture was unchanged and still arranged as it had been since my childhood. When I took in a deep breath, the house had the same familiar aroma of garlic, onions, and spices. “Thank you and Mom for inviting Earl to join me here.”
“Juanita’s idea.”
“Go figure.” I smiled.
“We missed you. It’s good to have you home.” He cleared his throat. “You never made it here last time like you were supposed to.”
“I’m sorry. Like I told you, I had a lot going on.”
He waved a hand as though wiping a spot in the air. “I know. I know. You arrested a bad guy, got promoted to lieutenant, busy busy. Too busy for family.”
“Dad, I’ll always make time for family. You have my word on that.”
He reached out and set a hand on my knee. “Son. I might not understand boy-and-boy dating. But what I do know for sure is that I am proud of you. That I am certain of.”
And I was positive that was all I needed to hear.
BOOK 5: Puzzled by Purple comes out in 2019! To receive an email when it’s available—along with updates on the book’s progress and other news about my novels—be sure to sign up for my free author newsletter at loislavrisa.com/newsletter.
Acknowledgments
Any story starts with an idea and then grows from there. Along the way, many people helped and supported me as I turned my idea into a finished book. First and foremost, thanks go out to my husband, Tom, and our four incredible children: Sean, Melanie, Tiffany and Ryan.
To my many writer friends for the great ideas, encouragement, critique, review and counsel. In addition, to all of my friends who listened to me while I plotted out my stories and talked about characters (as though they were real), thank you for letting me bend your ear. Your input has been extremely valuable in making this book better.
Also by Lois Lavrisa
Liquid Lies
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GEORGIA COAST COZY MYSTERIES
Dying for Dinner Rolls
Murderous Muffins
Homicide by Hamlet
Killing with Kings
Puzzled by Purple
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To purchase, please visit loislavrisa.com/books, or head to your favorite online bookseller.
About the Author
Lois Lavrisa grew up on the rough and tumble South Side of Chicago. She earned a Master’s and Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Communication with a minor in Public Relations. After college, she wrote training programs for a Fortune 500 company, taught many years as an adjunct professor, and was also a professional cheerleader for the Chicago Bulls. She’s been married to her aerospace husband Tom since 1991 and they have four (nearly grown-up) children—two sons and two daughters.
Lois’s first novel, Liquid Lies, was a finalist for the 2013 Eric Hoffer Award. For her Georgia Coast Cozy Mystery series, set in beautiful historic Savannah, Lois was nominated for Georgia Author of the Year.
To get the latest news on Lois’s books, be sure to sign up for her free author newsletter:
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www.loislavris
a.com/newsletter