He hung up and sighed loudly.
“What was all that about, Dad?”
“Lady.”
29
Delay of Game
Dixon pulled his baseball cap down lower and rang the Strattons’ doorbell. This was it. Laura was home alone. No son, no husband, no guest, and no crazy dog. No one. He glanced up and down the empty sidewalk, grateful for the blazing sun that drove people inside during the middle of the day.
As he lifted his hand to ring the bell again, he noticed the bare spots where the screen door hinges had been. He recalled the sound of the wood breaking and the metal bending, and he took a step back from the door just in case.
The dog shouldn’t be home. Auntie said they were all out of the house now except for Laura.
Still, he pictured the beast rushing down the hallway and took another step back.
The door opened. Laura Stratton cocked her head at him as if he were a little boy who had skinned his knee. He wanted to punch her in the throat for the condescension.
“Hate to bother you, ma’am, but I lost my nametag the other day.”
“I’m so sorry. You think you lost it here?”
“Yes, ma’am. When your dog attacked me.” He glanced at the yard and then back at her. “I checked the yard and my car with no luck. My manager went through the roof and told me I’d get written up if I didn’t find it.”
Laura’s eyes grew wide. “That’s terrible. What’s your manager’s name? I’ll call him and explain everything.”
“He’s not a real understanding guy, if you know what I mean.”
Laura scanned the entryway and looked down the hallway, but the floor was empty.
“When I saw your giant dog, I spun around and hit my nametag,” Dixon said. “I remember hearing something bounce off the tile. Maybe I knocked it off and it flew under that wooden thing over there.”
“The hall cabinet? You may be right. Let me check.”
Laura walked over to the hall cabinet. She turned her back to him and bent over to pull the cabinet away from the wall.
Dixon stepped inside. He reached back and grabbed the door handle to push it closed.
Finally. Alone.
But just as he was about to close the door, footsteps sounded in the hallway, and an old lady appeared. She reminded him of a librarian. When she noticed Dixon, she stiffened.
Dixon hesitated as he assessed the situation. There were only two. One would scream, but it wouldn’t be for long. Would it be loud enough to attract attention? There was no way they could outrun him. But how could he make it look like an accident? The car was still here. Maybe he could take them both and drive it into the canal. In broad daylight?
“What is taking you two so—” A large black woman came down the hallway, five playing cards in her right hand. “Why, hello.”
Dixon forced a smile. “Hi.”
“Sorry, girls.” Laura straightened up with a slight grimace and turned back to Dixon. “I’m so sorry, but it’s not here. I’d be happy to explain it to your manager.”
Dixon stared at the three old women, and his hand tightened on the doorknob. Three shots. Grab the package and…go.
30
Leash the Beast
“I’ve seen many visitors with dogs,” Ted grumbled as he paced in the hallway outside Helen Miller’s office. “Frank’s daughter brings those awful poodles with her whenever she comes.”
At the mention of poodles, Lady raised her head and Jack tightened his grip on her leash. “You can’t tell Helen that.”
“I’m not going to name names. All I’m saying is that other people do it, and dragging us down here is ridiculous.”
“Don’t go getting yourself worked up, Dad. It’s not worth it. Worst-case scenario, we’ll stay at a hotel a couple of nights.”
“You’ll do no such thing. This is all Gladys’s fault.” Ted stopped and kicked at a doorstop. Lady looked down and sniffed at the spot. “Seven times.”
“What?”
“This is her seventh complaint. She complained that I left the trash can out at the curb too long. That I trimmed the bushes too low and left the garage door open for a whole afternoon. Which was absurd. The broom fell in front of the sensor when we were leaving, and the door went back up. It was only open for a couple of hours. The point is, she has it in for us.”
“You can’t be sure it was her.”
“I can.” Ted stopped kicking at the doorstop and looked up. “Each and every time she complains, she tells us she did. She wears complaints like medals of honor. There’s a reason she’s the most despised, most—”
“Dad!” Jack held out his palm like a policeman motioning stop. Lady looked up at him, concerned. “Dial it back.”
“She spends more time spying than the KGB. She’s trying to ruin our time with you and Alice. This time she’s gone too far.”
“It’s okay, Dad. Maybe Helen will be a dog lover.”
Lady wagged her thick tail.
Helen opened the door and began to step out of her office, but when she saw Lady, she stopped in her tracks. She glanced back and forth between the men and the dog and cleared her throat. “I apologize for having you come in, but we did have a formal complaint we need to discuss.” Standing there in her Prussian suit with the steel-gray blouse and a serious expression, Helen looked all business.
“A formal complaint?” Ted’s eyes narrowed. “Is this really necessary?”
“Please come in.” Helen held out her hand to four seats positioned before a wide wooden desk. “Will the other guest staying with you be joining us? And what about Laura? I did hope to speak with all of you.”
“I’ll be sure to convey the information to Alice and my wife,” Ted said.
“Certainly.” Helen smiled. “Please take a seat, and I’ll go get the file.” Helen cast a nervous glance back at Lady, exited her office, and shut the door behind her.
Jack pushed back two chairs, making room for Lady to lie down between him and his father. He felt as though he and his dad were two kids in the principal’s office.
“Great,” Ted muttered. “She’s not a dog lover.”
“Dad, shh. And please let me do the talking.”
A moment later, Helen carried in a sizable manila folder. She set it down on the desk. “I do want to thank you again for coming in so quickly.” She sat in the leather office chair behind the desk.
“Is there a rule that guests can’t bring dogs?” Ted asked.
“Well, no. Guests are allowed to bring dogs.”
“Wonderful.” Ted clapped his hands together and stood up as if everything was a done deal.
“But,” Helen continued, “those dogs need to be on a leash and controlled at all times.”
Ted remained standing. “Then we’re compliant. Lady is on a leash, and she is controlled.”
Lady’s head jerked up. Jack patted her neck. Lady cocked her head as if she were listening to something.
Please don’t freak out, dog. Not now. Please don’t.
“Mr. Stratton, the question is really about the safety and comfort of our residents. The complainant is concerned that the dog presents a danger.” Helen opened the folder and read the complaint. “The dog was not on a leash, was barking ferociously, and had to be physically restrained by hand as it made aggressive motions toward another guest.”
“That other guest was Jack,” Ted said.
Helen folded her hands on her desk. “And that’s one of the reasons I wanted you to come in. I see that your dog seems very well-behaved, but it concerns me greatly if Lady did in fact turn against her owner.”
“That’s nonsense. Jack’s her owner, and Lady loves Jack.”
“Are you saying the dog didn’t act aggressively toward him?”
“She wasn’t aggressive,” Ted said. “She was…just trying to get to Jack…so she…could comfort him.”
Helen’s eyebrows arched in disbelief, and Jack felt his own eyebrows doing the same.
Ted stood up straighter. “What if Lady was a support dog? I mean, because…she’s bonded with Jack, who’s a vet, and was simply trying to reach his side. They had just endured a very stressful plane ride, on which they were forced to be apart for the entire flight.”
“Are you saying that this dog is a support dog?”
Helen’s phone vibrated on the desk, and she picked it up. Apparently it was a text, and as she read it, her expression darkened. Her long fingernails clicked as she drummed them on the desk. “How long will your son be staying with you?”
“I don’t see—” Ted started to say, but Jack cut him off.
“Just a few more days. And I just bought a new collar and stronger leash. I can assure you that we’ll keep Lady under complete control. And I think your calling this meeting was very reasonable considering the complaint. You do, after all, have to ensure the safety of the community, and I’m sure you see that everything is, in fact, under control.”
Helen pressed both hands flat on the table. She smiled, but Jack noticed the tightness around her eyes as she glanced back down at her phone. “That is a must. And I’m sorry, but if there are any more incidents involving Lady, then she will be asked to leave.”
“I understand,” Jack said. “You have my word. I’ll keep her on a leash. Thank you for understanding.”
“Of course.” Helen seemed to relax as she stood and shook their hands. “It’s only a few more days.”
31
Loose Ends
Dixon stretched out on the couch in the living room as he waited for his auntie to come home. He was in no mood to listen to her today. He had bigger problems.
A quick glance down at his phone made his throat tighten. He had another message, but there was no need to listen to it. Even though the caller ID read “Unknown,” he knew from the Miami area code exactly who had called and what they wanted. He set the phone on the coffee table, screen side down.
The front door opened, and his auntie hurried into the living room. “You little turd,” she fumed as she tossed down her purse and walked to the bar. “What sent you running back here without the package and your tail between your legs? She was alone, for goodness’ sake!” She grabbed a glass and poured bourbon into it.
“No, she wasn’t. She had her friends over—three of them. Did you want me to shoot ’em all and stick ’em in my trunk? If you do, I’ll go and do it right now.” He jumped to his feet.
“Sit your ass down. They’re all back there now. We just have to wait.”
Dixon held up his phone and waved it back and forth. “I don’t have time to wait. I’ve got Miami breathing down my neck. I don’t want them to think I’m double-crossing them.”
“You’re the supplier; tell them to wait.”
“You have no idea the guys we’re dealing with. They’re psycho and would love an excuse to feed me to a gator. I have to get the package now.”
Auntie finished the glass without taking her eyes off him. With each swallow, the disgust she had for him became more and more apparent. She set the glass down on the marble bar and poured another. “How did my sister ever end up giving birth to such a spineless wimp?”
Dixon stormed across the room and stood nose-to-nose with his aunt. He felt his lips pull back and the spit fly as he spoke. “Say it again! Say that again!”
Auntie’s eyes narrowed. She raised the glass to her lips and sipped the bourbon. “Calm down. I’ve already figured out what we need to do.” She pressed her hand in the center of Dixon’s chest and pushed him away.
Dixon stomped forward. His arms shook as his hands balled into fists. If she weren’t his aunt, he would have already punched her in the face. Still, backhanding her across the mouth was a delightful idea that he struggled to resist. “I need to get that package to Miami by tomorrow, Auntie. I’m not waiting any longer.”
“You won’t have to.”
Auntie walked over to the armchair. She moved casually, but he could see the tightness in her jaw. He had made her nervous.
Crossing her legs, she motioned for him to sit on the couch. Instead, he walked up behind her and stood with his hands on the back of the armchair. “What’s your plan?”
“I think this is a well that’s run dry. We’ll have to lie low for a little while.”
Dixon winced as if she had slapped him. He was looking forward to that truck, and he needed a new engine for his airboat, too. Her announcement meant the money hose had just been shut off.
“However…” She swirled the last sips of her bourbon. “I know a way that we can have Ted Stratton bring the statue to us. Of course, you’ll need to take care of both him and his wife. Is that a problem?”
“Of course not, Auntie.” Dixon leaned against the back of the chair. “How?”
“Sit down, and we’ll discuss it.” She held her hand out to the couch. “Stop hovering over me.”
Dixon leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You know how much I love you, Auntie. You have nothing to worry about.”
Auntie reached back and stroked his cheek. “There is another detail you need to take care of. Our partner is a loose end.”
Dixon walked in long, slow strides to the couch, sat down, and spread his long arms across the back. “Well, there’s one thing you’ve always told me, Auntie. Never leave loose ends.”
32
Swamp Water from Hell
Jack put Lady in Alice’s bedroom and followed his father into the kitchen. Laura, Ruby, and Ginny were seated at the table, all talking at once. When Jack came in, Ruby jumped to her feet.
“It’s gone!” she exclaimed.
“What is?”
“The frog,” Laura said. “Ellie and Carl checked on it before going to bingo, and it’s gone.”
“Gone? It’s still broad daylight. The thief wouldn’t have stolen it in the middle of the day.” Ted pulled a chair away from the table and sat.
“And from right under our noses!” Ginny added. “That bandit is brazen.”
Jack scratched his jaw. “We’ll deal with the frog later.”
“But it’s gone, Jack,” Ruby said.
“I know.” Jack turned to stare at his mother. “But right now I need to know where my girlfriend is.”
“Alice?” Ginny said. “Is she still cleaning Janet’s house?”
“Cleaning—?” Jack stammered. “You’ve got Alice cleaning someone’s house?”
As Jack’s eyes narrowed, Laura turned to gape at Ginny and Ruby.
“We thought we’d surprise you when Alice was done.” Ruby’s shoulders rose, along with her voice. She held up her hands. “Surprise.”
“We did ask you if she could help a friend,” Ginny said.
Jack groaned. “Cleaning a house is a lot more than helping a friend. Come on, Mom. This is supposed to be a relaxing visit with my loving parents. Where is this house?”
Laura hesitated. “We probably shouldn’t go over there. It might raise suspicions. Alice will come back when she’s through.”
“We’ll go get her in a minute, Jack.” Ted turned to his wife. “I have the distinct feeling there’s a lot more to this cleaning favor than your mother is telling us.”
Jack folded his arms. “Oh, really?”
Laura tapped a hand against her chest. “I had nothing to do with this.”
Everyone looked at Ruby.
Ruby gazed guiltily at her teacup. “I thought it was a sound plan. Alice said she had done undercover work before, and a cleaning company made perfect sense.”
“There’s clearly nothing sound or sensible about this plan,” Ted huffed.
“Having my girlfriend go undercover as a cleaning agency isn’t a plan,” Jack said. “It’s a recipe for disaster.”
“It was Laura’s idea,” Ruby said.
“It most certainly was not.” Laura sat a little taller in her chair.
“You always said you wanted to get a look around inside Janet’s house,” Ginny said.
“Mom,” Jack said, “we had a d
eal. I agreed to look into the thefts, and you agreed to not take matters into your own hands.”
“I said that to Ruby before our deal. Honestly, Jack, I didn’t know. I would never ask Alice to go clean someone’s house.”
At that moment, the kitchen door flew open, and Alice stepped in like a gunslinger walking into a saloon. She took two steps into the kitchen, spread her feet wide, and scanned the faces of everyone seated at the table. Her jawline was smudged with dirt, her blouse was smeared with what looked like grease, and her pants had a bleach splash down one leg.
“Whose idea was it?” she demanded.
Ginny pointed at Ruby.
Ruby pulled Ginny’s hand down. “It was both of us, and you know it! We both came up with it—but I thought Laura approved.”
Alice waved for Jack to follow her to the sink.
“You can stop giving me that stink-eye look,” she whispered as she reached for a glass. “It wasn’t my idea to sell me out to clean for free. I just got used, and I am not a happy camper.”
“You didn’t have to go along with it.”
Alice’s green eyes flashed, and Jack took a step back. Alice pushed up the faucet. “Before you yell at me, at least let me get a drink of water. Mrs. Snob E. Vanderbilt didn’t want me sullying her kitchen sink, so I had to get water from the laundry room. It stank like swamp water from hell. I tried holding my nose, and I still couldn’t drink it.” She filled a glass and gulped down the entire thing.
“That’s the sulfur,” Ted said in a fatherly tone. “It’s pretty common in well water here in Florida. It smells like rotten eggs, but isn’t harmful. We use a filter to get rid of it. What a day you have had. I am so sorry, Alice.”
Laura stood and wrung her hands. “Can I get you something to eat?”
“I would love something to eat, Mrs. Stratton.”
Laura cleared her throat. “What did you find out?”
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