Slay Bells

by Hildie McQueen

  It was then Gabriela noticed her name tag. Janet Maloney. Janet was the dead man’s widow. She’d overheard the name while at the station.

  Thankfully, she was saved from saying anything when the short woman guided her to a chair. “Someone will be right with you.” She handed her a circular disc with painted plastic nails. “Meanwhile, pick a color.”

  Back ramrod stiff, Janet went to the reception desk and leaned forward so that her shoulder length blonde hair covered her face.

  Blonde.

  Gabriela turned to look at the door. Janet Maloney was blonde, could she be the woman who’d been at the cabin when her husband had been killed? It could be she was the killer. What if the woman owned the salon and told everyone to go home so she could have privacy and kill her?

  She was about to push away from the table when a young nail technician lowered across from her and grabbed her left hand. “Oh my goodness, your ring is beautiful. We’ll have to do something special.”

  Then again, the woman couldn’t kill her as long as the manicurist remained. Gabriela relaxed into the chair. “Thank you. I’m thinking a pretty cherry red.”

  They chatted about weddings and colors. Gabriela was enjoying herself so much, she almost forgot about the possible killer.

  “Are you the writer who is staying at Lucky Break?” The woman Janet asked. “I hear you found my husband.”

  Thankfully her nails were almost done, so if she had to make a break for it her pictures would still look nice.

  “Yes. I’m so sorry for your loss,” Gabriela said, forcing herself to look up.

  Janet blinked, attempting to look contrite, but failing miserably when she sniffed and immediately checked her reflection in the large mirrors on the wall. “Thank you.”

  A soft bell sounded, and a woman walked in. She wore a bright orange puffy jacket, purple leggings tucked into boots and a thick lime green scarf was wound around her neck.

  It was the old lady from the airport. Her sharp gaze moved across the room only stopping when seeing Gabriela. She turned to Janet. “I see you’re already out of mourning. No surprise there.”

  Janet’s eyes rounded, and she smoothed down the front of her blouse. It was a bit bright of a color for someone who’d just lost her husband, but then again, Gabriela figured maybe people didn’t do the black thing anymore.

  “I have to dress in a way that is flattering for my business,” Janet said guiding the woman to a chair. “You look very bright today.”

  “Someone stole my clothes. Whoever it was exchanged them for these and put them in my suitcase. Criminals on those flights from Orlando. Just got back the day before yesterday.”

  Janet looked out the window and came up behind Gabriela. “Get up, let me move you to another station. I need this one.”

  Not realizing what happened, Gabriela did as told, and was shuffled toward the back of the store.

  “What are you doing?” She asked at feeling a sharp item poking into her side.’

  “Shut up and get in here.” With amazing strength, the woman shoved her forward and slammed the door behind them.

  “Janet Maloney,” a familiar male voice called out from the other side of the door, and everyone in the salon began talking at once.

  “Open the door Janet.” It was Williams. “We need to speak to you.”

  Janet narrowed her eyes at Gabriela. “No. Go away! I will stab her in the eye!”

  “I’m going to have to open the door by force,” Jeremy said.

  Unsure what to do, Gabriela flattened against the wall. Janet stood sideways with the knife still pressed to Gabriela’s side.

  “I’ll stab her if you try anything.”

  “Open the door and let’s talk. You’re only making things worse,” Williams said.

  “What do you want?” Janet said and tears began spilling down her face. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “Are you alright Gabriela?” This time it was Jeremy.

  “Yes,” she replied, unsure what to say exactly. “Except she has a knife.”

  Janet pushed the knife into her side harder. “Stop talking.”

  “Ouch,” Gabriela said and shifted away. “You know they will bust in here eventually. You’ll be in more trouble if you don’t let me go.”

  “I didn’t do anything. He killed him, not me,” Janet whispered. “I don’t want to go to jail.”

  “Then tell them the truth,” Gabriela replied. “They will take it easier on you if you do.”

  “What do you want?” Williams asked.

  “Shut up!” Janet screamed. “I want you to go away!”

  “We can’t do that,” Jeremy replied. “Open the door and no one gets hurt.”

  For a moment, Janet seemed to consider her options and then she lifted the knife, the motion scraping it against Gabriela’s arm.

  “Ouch,” Gabriela hissed.

  The door burst open. Janet shrieked and Gabriela shoved her away.

  The woman stumbled sideways. In one quick movement, he grabbed her arm and twisted her around, slamming her to the wall. The knife fell to the floor.

  With flat cop eyes, Jeremy looked first to Gabriela, seeming to assess if she were uninjured.

  “Janet Maloney, you are under arrest for the murder of your husband Kevin Maloney.”

  While Williams handcuffed Janet, who began screaming, Jeremy hurried to Gabriela. “Are you hurt?”

  “No, but my manicure sure it.” To her horror, she began to cry and was soon sobbing into Jeremy’s shoulder.

  “Come on honey, I’ll fix them,” the nail technician extricated her from Jeremy’s arms. “I can’t let you leave with messed up nails. Come on you’ll feel better.”

  She was guided to a chair and while Jeremy hovered, a glass of water was pushed into her shaky hands.

  A now cursing Janet was escorted through the shop and out to a police car.

  “Don’t I have to go make some sort of statement?” Gabriela asked with a loud sniff.

  “I’ll wait,” Jeremy replied with a soft smile. “You need to have your nails done.”

  If ever there was a doubt he was husband material, that statement erased them all.

  “Okay ready? Let’s get started,” the technician said with a smile.

  Gabriela nodded. “Umm…aren’t you upset about what just happened?”

  The technician shrugged. “She’s getting what she deserves. If she killed her husband, which I wouldn’t be surprised if she did, then hopefully they’ll make her pay.”

  Another technician huffed. “People like her get away with murder,” her eyes shifted to Jeremy. “No offense meant.”

  “I got it all on video,” the old woman from the airport said.

  Jeremy went to the woman and held out his hand. “Let me see it.”

  “You can’t delete it,” the woman said slowly holding out the phone. “I don’t want to have to sue you.”

  “I won’t,” Jeremy said. His studied the video.”

  Jeremy shook his head and went back to the old woman. After a few moments, he handed her the cell phone. “What do you plan to do with the video?”

  “Show it to my book club friends,” the old lady replied.

  As they walked out, Jeremy held her against his side. “You okay?”

  Gabriela nodded. “Surprisingly, the manicure did calm me down.”

  “You have a penchant for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. “Let’s go get your statement down, so you can get some rest. Think you can stay out of trouble if I leave you alone?”

  “Of course,” Gabriela said. “Do you think she’ll stay in jail?”

  “Probably,” he replied.

  “What about the video? The lady might put it up on social media?”

  “It’s so shaky, I could barely make anything out,” Jeremy said. “Besides, Mrs. Houser won’t do anything other than share it with her three friends at the tea house.”

  “You know h
er then?”

  “Yep, and try to avoid her. She’s a mess, always up to something.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Reminds me of someone else I know.”

  “Hmm,” Gabriela replied, pretending to find the garbage cans across the street interesting.

  Chapter Eleven

  Gabriela sat back from her desk in her San Diego apartment and stared out the window. The view was so very different from Montana. Although city life had always energized her, since returning from Montana, it felt sterile and so impersonal. Goodness, was she becoming a country girl?

  Earlier that day at a coffee shop with Mila, she’d gone on and on about the ranch and every detail of her last visit. Although she hated that her best friend had not been there for the engagement, Mila would be her maid of honor whenever they got married.

  It was too soon to set a date. First the decision of where they’d live, get moved and then start planning the wedding. Whether Jeremy came to San Diego or she moved to Montana was definitely the hardest decision they faced.

  Not just her family, but also all her friends were in San Diego. Okay, so her one friend, if she were to be honest. She’d never considered living anywhere else. She researched Missoula to find out the population of minorities in the area was around two hundred or so. In a town of about eight hundred thousand, that was a very small amount. However, she had to admit there were a few ethnic restaurants and she’d never felt out of place when out and about with Jeremy.

  Giving up on writing for the day, she poured a glass of Merlot and went out to the small balcony to peer down to the street below. How would Jeremy adjust to city life?

  Besides the noise and faster lifestyle, there was the element of danger when it came to his job. Crime was much higher in San Diego than it could possibly ever be in Missoula.

  Her doorbell rang and she went to the monitor. Her stomach pitched at seeing her ex-boyfriends face. He smiled.

  “Hi there, had a heck of a time finding you. Can we talk?”

  Thankfully he could not see her. She hit a button ending the communication. How had he found her?

  The bell rang again, and she was grateful for the security of her building. People were not able to get to the elevators until allowed in. She raced to her cell phone to call the doorman’s area.

  “Yes ma’am?”

  “Don’t allow the man in the blue polo shirt in. I have a restraining order against him.”

  She heard the guard speak to someone and there was a series of short comments back and forth.

  “Miss Diaz, he just went into the elevator. Must have slipped in with a resident. Don’t open your door. The police have been contacted and one of our guys is on his way up.”

  So why exactly was she paying extra for security again? Gabriela went to her bedroom and sat on the bed. It wasn’t as if the idiot could get in. But it helped to be away from the front door.

  When knocks on the front door sounded, she practically jumped out of her skin and a strange kind of giggle escaped. Moments later, her phone rang. It was the doorman. “He’s left. The police missed him by a few seconds.”

  “Thanks. By the way, why did you let a non-resident in?”

  “We thought he was with the couple. They were all talking and smiling.”

  “Ugh.” Gabriela hung up.

  Her phone dinged and she slowly lifted it. It was her mother. “Come over for dinner.”

  “So let me get this straight,” her mother said leaning forward from her chair on the back deck of her parents beautiful condo in La Jolla. “You’re having a hard time deciding between leaving your sterile apartment, lack of social life and a stalking ex for living in a beautiful town and eventually settling on a spacious ranch house with a handsome man?”

  Her mother shook her head. “Mija, what is wrong with you?”

  Gabriela slunk down. “When you put it that way, it makes me sound like a dork.”

  She chose to ignore her mother’s raised eyebrows. “Besides. I don’t want to leave you and Papi and Nana.”

  “Your father already has plans to become a cowboy. Besides, we can get a place and spend winters up there. The one time I went to Billings, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it is up there.”

  “When did you go to Billings?” Gabriela straightened and frowned at her mother. “You never told me you’ve been to Montana.”

  With a wave of dismissal, her mother huffed. “I’m sure I mentioned it. I went with your father for a medical convention. Nana and I had so much fun.”

  “What?” This time Gabriela scooted to the edge of the seat. “You’ve all been to Montana and never told me. And why wasn’t I invited? Did Juanito go to?” She asked, referring to her brother.

  “No, he was in Colorado or somewhere doing whatever it is your brother always does. We didn’t invite you because you were so wrapped up with that idiot Rafael and we didn’t want to chance he’d invite himself along.”

  “I didn’t know you all disliked him so much.”

  “We wanted you to come on the Alaskan cruise too but decided to tell you it was invitation only.”

  Gabriela fell backwards on the chair. “I’m so glad Jeremy is coming tomorrow.” She lifted her hand to admire her engagement ring and her lips curved.

  “Now he’s a good man. We like Jeremy. He’s normal.” Her mother stood. “Randolph, not so much. Want another glass of wine?”

  Her ex hadn’t returned, nor had he tried to contact her. Perhaps the fact she’d not hesitated to call for help deterred him. Or it could be he was biding his time and coming up with another plan.

  She’d not seen it at first. Rafael was not in love with her, he was fanatical with them as a couple. The man was an idiot who’d become so obsessive he’d began to plan matching wardrobes. When he’d asked to go shopping together so they could find the same color outfits to attend a dinner party, she’d questioned his sexuality.

  When she’d declined, to say he’d had a fit would be a major understatement. He’d huffed and slumped onto the floor like a petulant child. Which made Gabriela wonder even more if he was gay.

  “Look,” she’d told him, lowering to the floor. “I love gay people. If you’re homosexual, it’s okay.”

  He’d sat up and glared at her. “I’m not gay. I am so in love with you, I want to ensure everyone knows you’re mine and I want us to be the couple everyone envies. I want to be the one couple others strive to be like.” His face had brightened up. “We should start a YouTube channel.”

  “What?” She gaped as he stood and began pacing, a strange wide smile on his handsome face. “I took the liberty of hiring a graphic artist to make a logo.”

  “Stop.” Gabriela got to her feet and shoved him in the chest. “What is wrong with you? Do you need a pill?”

  Ignoring her, he’d gone to the computer and three clicks later she watched an animation of them walking hand in hand, her dog trotting next to them.

  “What do you think?”

  Gabriela pinched the bridge of her nose. “I think this is creepier than when you take pictures of me while I sleep.”

  A week later while he was at work, she’d moved out. Within two hours she and her dog were in her parent’s spare bedroom and most of her belongings packed in her car.

  The San Diego airport was complicated and yet familiar to Gabriela as she pulled into a parking space in the multi-level complex, exited her car and hurried to the terminal.

  After dodging cars in the drop off and pick up area, she managed to get to the escalator and up to where she’d be able to wait for Jeremy.

  Gabriela fidgeted with her purse strap and once again checked the archway where the passengers would be coming out. Jeremy’s airplane had landed and with each passing moment, she became more excited about seeing him.

  Finally, he walked out. At six foot three, it was easy to spot him. His flat gaze moved across the crowd. A pair of women to Gabriela’s left openly gawked.

  When he spotted her, a grin split his face and she could barely k
eep from running to him. Instead, she waited for him to come closer and envelop her in a bear hug. She sagged against him needing the strength he radiated.

  He lifted her face and his mouth immediately covered hers. Gabriela closed her eyes not caring who watched and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “I missed you,” he whispered into her ear, the warmth of his breath making her tingle.

  Jeremy’s hand was wrapped around the passenger door handle, his knuckles turning white as she zigzagged through traffic. “Move out of the way moron,” she exclaimed. “Jeez.”

  “You’re tail-gating,” he said not giving up his hold. “Maybe I should drive.”

  She glanced at him. “You won’t survive. These people are out for blood.” She zipped into a tight space and continued forward. “I think it’s fun. Keeps me on my toes. I’m kind of like one of those Jedi fighters.”

  “Right.” He let out a long breath and pressed back into his seat when they were narrowly missed by a van sliding in front of them.

  “Hungry?” Gabriela changed the subject.

  “Starving.”

  “Good, you’ll love this place.”

  She took the next exit and took a few turns before pulling into a parking space in front of an eatery. “They make the best food.”

  “Flying Biscuit?” Jeremy frowned up at the sign. “Interesting.”

  It was hard to eat with her stomach tumbling over the announcement she was about to give Jeremy. Her mind was made up. She didn’t want him to waste any time visiting the police department there or whatever else he’d planned to do in order to start the process of transferring.

  They walked in and were seated immediately since it was late morning and the breakfast crowd had cleared out.

  “I-I.” Her stomach churned. Damn nerves. Jeremy lifted a brow.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’ve got to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” Gabriela jumped up and rushed into the small eclectically decorated bathroom and stared at her reflection. She really needed to get a hold of herself. Yes, it was a big decision and sure each time she saw Jeremy again her hormones went haywire, but seriously, she was going to marry the man. They would spend the rest of their lives together, no need for so much drama.