“Do you think any of them could’ve been responsible for Earl’s death?” Jonah asked.
Sandy sighed. “I can’t point to a single incident that would make me think any of them were capable of killing Earl, but I wouldn’t have predicted the cruel way they treated him either. You think you know someone until circumstances reveal their true colors.”
Jonah and Rocky spent the next few minutes getting as much information about the Ison family as Sandy knew. “Ava was away at college when Earl died. Dennis Ison was around though. He and Thomas both worked for the area’s biggest concrete contractor.”
Jonah was immediately intrigued to find another possible connection to the kill site. “Do you remember the name of the company?”
“Locke-Tight,” Sandy replied.
Locke? Was the owner related to Royce? Jonah and Rocky exchanged a quick glance, and he could tell the PI was wondering the same thing.
“Would Locke-Tight have poured the foundations and driveways in the subdivision where Earl’s body was discovered?” Jonah asked.
Sandy straightened in his chair. “I never thought about the connection, but yeah. The owner was a young guy who’d inherited the company from his father. There were two sons, Jerry and Eddie. Jerry was younger than Eddie by a few years, but lightyears ahead of his older brother in brains and maturity. Eddie was the kind of guy who pissed away every good opportunity and never lived up to his potential while blaming everyone else for his failures. Jerry, on the other hand, took to the business like he was born for it.” Sandy shook his head. “I can’t believe I forgot this, but Earl worked for Jerry for a short time also. It didn’t work out and was a big source of contention between Earl, Thomas, and Dennis. Then he came out, and they had bigger reasons to hate him.”
Bingo.
“I’ve never heard of the company,” Rocky said. “Are they still in business?”
“Nah,” Sandy said. “The construction industry took a big hit during the recession in the early eighties. The subdivision developer filed bankruptcy, and most of the contractors lost everything, including Jerry. He moved to Florida in 1983 or 1984, I think.”
They chatted a little while longer but didn’t learn anything that tripped additional red flags. Sandy thanked them for looking into his friend’s death as he walked them out. Rocky opened the door to leave and jerked to a stop. A sexy guy with broad shoulders stood on the other side. Based on Kendall’s description, Jonah figured they were gawking at none other than Drew Callahan.
“Drew,” Sandy said, confirming Jonah’s suspicions. “You’re earlier than usual.”
The dark-haired behemoth with pale eyes and an engaging smile looked from Jonah to Rocky before focusing on his uncle. “I wanted to chat with you before you left.”
“Okay,” Sandy said. “I was just seeing my friends out, so I’m all yours now.”
“Why don’t you introduce me to your handsome friends?” Drew asked, studying them carefully.
“Rocky Jacobs,” the PI said, extending his hand. “We just met your uncle today.”
“They’re responsible for the police reopening my friend’s murder investigation,” Sandy said proudly. “Rocky is a private investigator, and Jonah is with the GBI. He also is good friends with Marla.”
Drew smiled when he heard Marla’s name. “She’s such a firecracker.”
“That she is,” Jonah agreed, shaking the hand Drew offered him. “It’s good to meet you.”
“Same,” Drew said, returning his attention to his uncle. “I can come back later if this isn’t a good time, Uncle Sandy.”
“Nonsense,” Sandy said, then faced Jonah and Rocky. “I want you fellas to join me for lunch soon. We have the best chicken wings in town.”
“I’d love to,” Rocky said, not tearing his eyes away from Drew. “I’m embarrassed to admit this is my first visit.”
“Do you have a business card?” Drew asked. “I’d love to call you and set up a private tour.”
“Oh, um,” the usually unflappable man stammered. “I do somewhere.” He patted his pockets, smiling like he’d struck gold when he discovered one. “It has my office and cell phone number on it.”
“Great,” Drew said. “Expect to hear from me soon.”
Rocky and Jonah exchanged farewells with Sandy and Drew, then retraced their steps to the back door.
“Oh. My. God.” Rocky sounded as winded as if he’d just finished a 5k race.
“Going to be okay to drive?” Jonah teased.
“Why aren’t you flustered?”
“He’s a good-looking guy, but he doesn’t crank my gears like he does yours,” Jonah said. “Seriously, do you want me to drive us to the next interview?”
“Fuck you, St. John,” Rocky snarled as he increased his stride. “Just try and keep up.”
Their next stop was Daisy’s Place, where they hoped to find the owner, Daisy Gallagher. Marla said Daisy was another queen from back in the day who’d turned her love of cooking into a successful business. She’d noted that Daisy made the best pies on the planet. Seeing the dessert display made Jonah’s mouth water.
“Do you mind if we get a bite to eat while we’re here?” Jonah asked Rocky. “I’m starved.”
“I could eat,” Rocky said.
“Yo, Dais,” yelled a burly man wearing head-to-toe leather. “I found one of your fake fingernails in my scrambled eggs.”
“The fuck you did, Edgar,” a deep voice said from the kitchen. “Keep it up, and you’ll be digging them out of your ass.”
Edgar’s laughter rumbled and crackled like a Harley Davidson motorcycle. “Oh, baby,” the man yelled back.
A few seconds later, a six-foot drag queen stepped out of the kitchen wearing a cotton candy-colored wig the same hue as her waitress dress. She carried a heavy tray laden with plates and cups, but it didn’t prevent her from stopping at several tables to dish up sass. As she neared them, Jonah saw the name Daisy stitched across one chest pocket.
“You boys sit wherever you like, and I’ll be right with you,” Daisy said, smiling at them. “Don’t pay any attention to my Edgar and me. We’ve been yelling at each other for twenty-five years. Keeps the fire burning, if you know what I mean. I promise you nothing weird is in the food, and I never threaten to shove my fingers up anyone else’s ass.”
Nonplussed, Rocky said, “Good to know.”
Jonah followed Rocky to a booth in the middle of the room. He was aware of curious eyes on them and figured Daisy’s was the kind of place that drew a steady crowd of regular patrons. If Rocky noticed the attention, it didn’t seem to bother him. He flopped down on the bench seat. The menus were tucked behind the condiment holder. Jonah grabbed two, handing one to Rocky before opening his own.
“I want one of everything,” Jonah said to Rocky.
“Just the breakfast menu, or lunch and dinner too?” Daisy asked when she arrived at their table with a pot of coffee in her hand.
Jonah laughed, “I meant breakfast, but now I’m not so sure.”
“Everything is made from scratch, so you can’t go wrong with anything you choose,” Daisy said. “Are you gentlemen drinking coffee, or can I get you something else?”
“Coffee for me,” Rocky said, flipping the mug right side up so she could fill it.
Jonah did the same thing. “Can I also have a glass of orange juice?” he asked.
“Sure thing, love,” Daisy said. “Are you boys new to my diner? I don’t remember seeing you here before, and I never forget a handsome face.”
“Quit flirting and get back to work,” Edgar shouted from the opposite side of the diner.
Daisy ignored him except for extending her middle finger in Edgar’s direction.
“This is our first time eating here, but if the food is half as good as your sass, I see many returns in my future,” Rocky said.
“Aren’t you scrumptious?” Daisy cooed. “Listen, I’ll let you fellas look at the menu for a few minutes while I go squeeze your orange
juice for you.” She used her arms to push her breasts together and did a little shimmy.
Jonah laughed at her antics. He could see how she and Marla had been friends for so long. “Stay,” he said, stopping her before she could leave. “I’m Jonah. Marla might have—”
“Oh my!” she exclaimed, covering her heart with her hands. She sat down in the booth beside Jonah. “I’m so happy to meet you. Marla said you’d be stopping by soon. Thank you, thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”
“Cold black heart,” Edgar said as he approached the table. He extended his hand to Jonah first, then Rocky.
“Want to join us?” Rocky asked, scooting over.
Edgar dropped a kiss on Daisy’s forehead, then sat beside Rocky.
The interview didn’t last as long as Sandy’s because Daisy hadn’t known Earl as long, but she seemed to love him as much as Marla and Sandy had. Daisy refused to let them pay for breakfast and hugged them fiercely before they left the diner.
“I’m so stuffed,” Rocky said on the way to the car.
“That’s what you’ll be saying after Drew Callahan gets ahold of you,” Jonah teased.
Rocky laughed, looked skyward, and steepled his hands in prayer. “Please. I don’t ask you for much.” Once inside the car, Rocky turned to Jonah and asked, “Where to next?”
He gave Rocky the address for Monique Drake’s house. When they arrived, an elderly woman greeted them and said Monique was doing story time at the Carnegie Library at the top of the hour, so they headed in that direction.
Jonah and Rocky stood in the back of the room and observed Monique reading a children’s book to about two dozen five-year-olds and their guardians. Monique changed up her voice for various parts, engaging the children and making them laugh. They all clapped when she finished. Monique stood up and curtsied.
“Thank you, thank you, my little loves,” she said. “You know the routine by now. It’s time for cookies and punch.”
Some of the kids rushed for the cookies and punch while others ran to Monique to hug her. Jonah could tell by the smile on her face she genuinely enjoyed interacting with them.
They waited until the last kid scrambled off before they approached her.
“Monique Drake?” Jonah asked.
She rolled her big green eyes. “What did some religious zealot accuse me of doing now, officers?” she asked. “Lord, I pray for patience every day, but it gets harder and harder to find.”
“We’re not here because of a complaint,” Rocky said.
“I’m Marla’s friend, Jonah.”
“Oh, honey,” Monique said, throwing her arms around his neck before hugging Rocky too. “Who are you, lamb chop?”
“Rocky Jacobs,” he replied.
“The private investigator. I’ve heard about you.”
“Do you have a few minutes to talk to us about Earl?” Rocky asked her.
“Absolutely. My next gig doesn’t start for another hour. Do you mind if we walk down the street to the coffee shop? I need more caffeine.”
Over coffee, they talked about Earl. Monique mostly spoke about her friend and how he made everyone around him feel good. She didn’t offer additional insight into his family or contribute names to their suspect pool. It was still beautiful to hear her thoughts on the man.
Rocky got a phone call on their way to The Dive Bar, where Marla said they’d find Brandy Wyne and the bar’s owner, Willie Monahan. The conversation was terse and brief, and Rocky looked irritated when he disconnected the call.
“Something tells me that wasn’t Drew calling you to arrange your private tour,” Jonah said.
Rocky sighed deeply. “God, how I wish. It was my business partner, Pete. Remember the client I discussed with you the other day?”
“The one who suspects his wife is having an affair?”
“Yeah,” Rocky said. “The asshole isn’t taking my word for it. He’s accused me of being lazy or lying to him.”
“Even after you offered to return part of his retainer?” Jonah asked. “He must be extremely paranoid.”
“His gut says she’s cheating, and he wants the physical proof to back it up. I told Pete the same story I told my client, so he wouldn’t be forced to lie. Pete accepted my word, but the client is adamant that I finish the job. He’s threatening to trash our reputation if we don’t.”
“Isn’t that an odd reaction?”
“Very,” Rocky replied. “Pete insists I meet him now, so we can decide how to proceed. I’ll probably end up tailing her again tonight, looking for the money shot. I don’t want to ruin this woman’s life.” Rocky slammed his palm against the steering wheel and growled. “Hanging around you has made me soft, Boy Scout.”
Jonah snorted and rolled his eyes. “Drop me off at my place, and I’ll do the last interview on my own.”
“Call me later and let me know if you learn anything. We need to interview the construction crew and Earl’s family. You have to wonder if he was dating one of the guys he met on the job.”
“I agree,” Jonah said.
The drive to Jonah’s didn’t take long. He got out and ducked down to look at Rocky. “I hope Drew calls soon.”
Rocky waggled his brows. “Me too.”
Jonah shut the door, and Rocky drove off. Instead of going into his house, Jonah got straight in his car and drove to The Dive Bar. He was expecting a run-down structure with a seedy interior, but the bar was quaint and had a fun vibe in the air. Even though it was early afternoon, there were several patrons inside eating and enjoying the live entertainment.
The bartender looked to be the right age for Willie Monahan, so Jonah strode over and sat in a seat. The bald man with bulging biceps ambled over. “What can I get you?”
“Are you Willie?”
“Depends on who’s asking. Are you the IRS?”
“Not even on my worst day,” Jonah quipped.
The grisly bartender laughed. “How’d you get the scar?”
“Snagged my face on barbwire when I was fleeing vicious dogs.”
The bartender chuckled. “Did the husband come home too soon?”
“Nah.”
“Wife?” he asked Jonah.
Chuckling, Jonah replied, “Burglary gone wrong.”
“Uh-huh. What do you really want?” Willie asked.
“Marla sent me.”
“Well, hell. Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” He reached across the bar and shook Jonah’s hand. They talked for a long time, and when the performer finished singing on stage, Willie waved her over to join them. The singer turned out to be Brandy, the final person on his interview list.
The pair turned out to be great company but didn’t offer any new information. Jonah stayed much later than he’d anticipated but switched to soft drinks after one glass of bourbon. The sky was starting to turn dark with the promise of a rainstorm by the time he said his goodbyes and headed out to his car.
Jonah jerked to a stop when he saw someone had slashed all four of his tires.
“Son of a bitch,” he said, running his hands through his hair as thunder rumbled in the distance.
Jonah had a Triple-A membership, so this was more of a nuisance than anything. They’d send a tow truck out to haul his car to a body shop of his choice, and Jonah knew there was a Tire Discounters nearby. He just needed someone to drive him home. Rocky and Kendall were out. Marla didn’t own a vehicle. He could try Felix or order a ride on his Lyft app.
Or…
Jonah grinned as he dialed.
Avery answered on the second ring. “Hello, Jonah. How was your day?”
“Well, it was going great until I came out of my last interview and discovered some prick had slashed my tires.”
“Oh, no.”
“I need a ride home. Think you can come and get me?” Jonah asked.
“It depends,” Avery said.
“On?”
“You are aware that I’m not just going to drop you off at your house and leave, right?�
��
“I fucking hope not,” Jonah said.
“Text me the address,” Avery said, then hung up.
The evening had certainly taken an unexpected twist, but Jonah wasn’t mad about it.
A fat raindrop smacked him in the forehead as he finished texting his location to Avery, so Jonah ducked back inside The Dive Bar to call Triple-A. They said it would be forty minutes before a tow truck arrived, but he didn’t need to wait around for them. Jonah confirmed which Tire Discounters location he wanted to use, then headed back to the bar to chat with Willie while he waited.
Willie glanced up from drying a glass with a white towel. “Back so soon?”
“Waiting on a ride,” he said. “Some asshole slashed my tires.”
Willie set the towel and glass down. “Oh, man, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t suppose you have security cameras set up?” Jonah asked.
Willie shook his head. “I know the neighborhood is a little rough, but I’ve never had trouble here besides the occasional fight.”
Jonah stroked his chin. “No vandalism to parked cars besides mine, huh?”
“Not that I’m aware of, and I’m sure someone would’ve filed a police report or at least mentioned it to me.” Willie furrowed his brow. “What are the odds you would be the first victim?”
“And on the same day I started asking questions about Earl Ison,” Jonah added. It wasn’t a coincidence. Someone was either pissed about him poking the hornet’s nest or they were trying to scare him off. They’d have to work much harder.
“Since you won’t be driving,” Willie said, “let me pour you another drink.”
“Deal,” Jonah said.
He sipped his bourbon and enjoyed a few of Brandy’s songs in her next set while he waited. Jonah knew the moment Avery stepped inside the bar because the storm inside him surged. For eight months, Jonah had clamped down every urge to touch Avery. Not today.
Once Avery reached his side, Jonah cupped his nape and pulled him into a kiss.
“Mmmmm,” Avery said when they pulled apart. He looked pointedly at the almost empty tumbler on the bar before meeting Jonah’s gaze. “How many of those have you had?”
Ride the Lightning : Sinister in Savannah Book 1 Page 13