West Texas Dead: A Kailey and Shinto Mystery

by Frances Hight

  “Where in the world would you hear that?”

  “My auntie works there.”

  “You’re on. I’m starving.”

  We found a table in the corner. I’d piled my tray with coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and steaming hot catfish, and my stomach growled like a begging dog. I squeezed lemon on the fish, grabbed my fork and speared my first bite when Junior Alvarez walked up. Un-frigging believable. First, he’s mister Q and A and now he’s interrupting my lunch. “Yes?”

  “Catfish? Ooh, I don’t know.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “We’re in Midland, Texas, professor. How could anything be fresh way out here?” Junior smirked.

  Shinto growled as she slammed her tray onto the table. “Learn that in prison? We got lakes, genius. Oh, sorry.” She grinned at me. “Too un-PC?”

  He grinned back. “Go for it,” he said.

  Shinto did. “As I was saying, genius, my auntie works here. She told me this fish is fresh caught and delicious.”

  “What’s she use for bait?” he said.

  Shinto rose from her chair, and I put a hand on her arm.

  “Pieces of students who ask too many questions,” I said. “Cut us a break. And let us eat in peace. We’ll see you Wednesday in class, yes?”

  “Sorry to be a bother. Ladies I mean, officers.” Junior touched a finger to his brow and shuffled off to grab a tray.

  “Students these days.” Shinto obliterated a piece of fish with several stabs of her fork.

  “Oh, he’s not so bad, Shinto. Lighten up. He’s trying to be friendly.”

  “I don’t like his demeanor or attitude. You know who he is, right? From the wreck? We interviewed him in his P.O.’s office? Why the hell would an ex-con take a police procedures class? I’d think he had enough of those to last a lifetime.”

  “Not going to worry about it. It’s a free country, even for felons. Forget him. What do you think of our class? I think I’m loving this.”

  “You are delusional. I’m wondering why I’m even here.”

  “Captain’s idea.” I crunched into a bite of catfish. OMG. Heaven. “Go ask him.”

  “I saw you in there. You’re a natural, girl.” She snapped her fingers. “I know, why not teach it on your own? If you get into trouble I’ll come by and save your ass. Like always. In the meantime, I need to get back to the streets. Still haven’t collared Allen’s shooter. A lot of bad shit going down besides that.”

  I spoke through a mouthful of mashed potatoes. “More than usual?”

  “We’re hearing about a new gang, the Snakes, slithering in to take over Los Demonios.”

  “Slithering in?”

  “See what I did there?”

  “Sounds ominous.” I chomped on some tasty coleslaw. Really tasty. “Have you tried this coleslaw?”

  “I’m trying to tell you. Miguel What’s-His-Face is not a forgiving type. I don’t give a shit about him or his Demonios butt-wads. It’s the innocent bystanders that wind up dead in the crossfire.” Shinto trailed her fork through her potatoes, not eating them.

  “Take it up with the captain. I’m good with whatever you decide.” I gulped some sweet tea and shivered.

  “That good, huh?”

  “This tea tastes like cat piss. I’ll be right back.” I took the tea to the cashier and said, “Tastes like something died in this.”

  “Wonder what it is this week?” She chuckled. Must be cafeteria humor. “Go get something else.”

  I grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler, always a safe choice, turned, and bumped smack into Junior Alvarez.

  “Hey, professor.” He grabbed my shoulders so I wouldn’t fall. “We gotta stop meeting like this.” He patted my shoulder and left me standing with my mouth open. I had no witty comeback. I’d think of the perfect one later. That guy is a piece of work. Better keep my eye on him.

  I went back to the table and watched my co-teacher wipe her plate with a biscuit. “Shinto, if you don’t need me, I think I’ll go over and see how Momma’s doing today.”

  “I’ll be over later. In the meantime, I’ll head to the station and tell the captain you love teaching so much you want to handle this gig by yourself.”

  “Thanks a lot,” I said.

  “Don’t mention it.”

  “Fine. Tell him I got it covered. I’ll sit with Momma while I plan my next class.”

  “You’re the best,” Shinto said. “After me.”

  “Don’t you forget it.”

  She hurried off before I could change my mind. I bussed our trays and headed over to see Momma.

  Twenty minutes later I waltzed into my mother’s room. “Hi, Momma. I’m here. What have you been up to?” I scooted a chair up next to the bed. Silence with an occasional beep from her heart monitor was my answer. “When are you going to wake up?”

  “Maybe I can answer that question for you Miss Carmichael?” A distinguished-looking doctor held a chart in one hand and held out the other for me to shake. “I’m your mother’s doctor, Dr. Bisht.” He said it with a charming lilt to his voice. Sounded like he came from India.

  “Why is my mother still in a coma, doctor?”

  “Because of us I’m afraid. We’re keeping her in a medically induced coma until the swelling in her brain goes down. I know it feels slow, but she has improved. We’re reducing her dosage, and we’ll soon stop the drugs altogether to see how she does.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “We are cautiously optimistic. You should know it will take a while to see what’s involved and what’s happened.”

  “Long as I get my mother back.”

  “Of course. If there are no other questions?” He waited in the doorway.

  “I don’t think so. Thank you, doctor.”

  After several hours and no change, mother slept on. Her color did look better, and she breathed without a tube down her throat. Thank God. I decided I needed some fresh air. “Momma, I’m going to run over to Shinto’s house. Gotta work on some ideas for lesson plans. I’ll be back soon. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” I bent down to kiss her as a nurse came in to give her a bath. Yep, time to go. No one needs to see their mother naked.

  Minutes later I pulled up to Shinto’s house and noticed a car I didn’t recognize in her driveway. Wonder if I should come back later. Nah, it’ll take me a minute, and I’ll have what I need for our next class.

  Rather than burst in like usual, I rang the doorbell and waited. Rang it again and waited. I turned to go, when Shinto came to the door wrapped in a towel.

  “Sorry. Did I get you out of the shower? I want to run some ideas by you for Friday’s class. Funny, I just left momma at the hospital when they came in to give her a bath.” I eyed Shinto’s towel. “Must be the universal time for baths.” I pushed around her and ran smack into Heather standing off to the side also wrapped in a towel. “Uh . . . oh . . . shit,” I stuttered. “I am so interrupting something. Crap, this is awkward.”

  Shinto wrapped her arm around Heather. “Not in the least. You are the first to know.”

  Heather smiled.

  “After Terri.” Shinto hugged the petite woman.

  “Your friend Terri. We ate at Big Bubba’s.”

  Shinto nodded. “You can stop trying to worm stuff out of me. I would have told you then. I wanted to. But we’re kind of paranoid about the department. If word ever got out—”

  I held up a hand. “Say no more. I’m an idiot. And I am so damn happy for you. For you both.”

  “Thanks Kailey,” Heather said. “Shinto tends to be a little paranoid.”

  “Shinto tends to be a lot of things. If she ever gets out of line, you call me.”

  “Oh, I think I can keep her in line.”

  They both blushed and I thought it might be the sweetest thing I’d ever seen.

  “We’ve been together for a few months,” Shinto said. “I’m trying to get her to see the logic of moving in and dumping her apartment. Grab a cup of coffee while we g
et dressed, and then we’ll talk.”

  Heather returned before Shinto. “Shinto is changing her bandages, and I’m fixing breakfast.”

  I stood.

  “No. Sit. I’ve got this. Shinto told me about your mom. I’m so sorry, Kailey.”

  “Thanks. Any progress on finding who shot Shinto and Allen?”

  Heather got out eggs, green onions, chorizo, cheese, and potatoes. “We’ve got the bullets and the dead kid gangbanger. Lots of evidence to process. I’ve heard he’s illegal. Shocker. We’ll be tracking any relatives. You know how that goes. Is a communal frittata good for you?”

  “Perfect.” I couldn’t sit still and jumped up to get the plates and silverware. “It’s for sure gang related?”

  “Ninety-nine point-nine percent. Another shooting went down last night.”

  “I hadn’t heard. Let’s change the subject. I noticed a difference in Shinto lately. Her friend Terri mentioned it too. Now I see why.”

  “Thank you, Kailey. It’s been amazing, but not without challenges. You know I was married.”

  I found the salt and pepper and put them on the table. “Yes, to Larry. Wasn’t he a pilot?”

  “Still is. We haven’t been what you call close our whole marriage. Last June he asked me for a divorce. Come to find out, he got a woman he met in Dubai pregnant, and he is so happy. He’s wanted a baby for a couple of years. I didn’t. I’ve felt this distance and yearning for other women that I’ve suppressed all my life. When he asked me for a divorce, I felt it was a sign.” Heather plugged in the coffeepot.

  “I can well imagine, if you weren’t being your authentic self, as those pop shrinks would say.”

  “After my divorce I waited awhile and then asked Shinto to go to a movie. I was scared shitless.”

  “Me too.” Shinto came into the room wearing a tank top and shorts. “Hell, I thought she wanted to go to a movie as friends. Not a date.”

  “Then I kissed her. In the movie. You should have seen her face, Kailey.” Heather laughed and gazed at Shinto.

  Shinto blushed. Second time inside fifteen minutes. “Oh, she surprised me, all right.”

  “I’ve known Shinto for so many years. You won’t find a better person, Heather. Man or woman.”

  “Don’t I know it.”

  Shinto piped up. “I am starved y’all. How about we eat before I die? We’ll talk over your lessons for the little kiddies while we chew.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Junior

  I munched on a piece of fish. Flaky, light, it actually did taste amazing, and watched my two teachers jaw back and forth. Who knew introduction to police procedure would be so interesting? That hot cop next to the ball buster didn’t hurt. Yeah, interesting was definitely the word.

  I finished lunch and headed home, walking with my armload of books. Me, Joe College. Who woulda thought it? I got to the corner and I kicked a rock, waiting for the light to change. This education thing might actually be my ticket.

  Or, not.

  The little green pedestrian light flickered on and I stepped off the curb. A car zoomed by, horn blaring. Missed me by inches. I didn’t flinch, didn’t curse his mother. What the hell? I needed a beer, weed, something. Maybe a party? Hell, there’s always a party at Miguel’s place.

  An hour later, four in the afternoon, and the party at Miguel’s already raged. I recognized a few of the guys from college. I walked over to one. Blond kid dressed all imitation vato. Poor dude couldn’t be more preppie.

  “Hey, I’m Junior.” I stuck out my hand.

  He fist-bumped me like a real O.G. He must watch a lot of TV. “Hey, Junior. Levi. How’s it hanging?”

  “It’s hanging.”

  He nodded. “I hear that. What classes you taking?”

  “Got a late start on this college stuff. Still playin’ catch up with the core classes. You?”

  “Mom insists I take advanced calculus. I’ve been brushing up on my shit so I can get into SMU; her alma mater.”

  “SMU?”

  “Southern Methodist, dude. My mom and dad got married in the friggin’ chapel there. It’s been their dream that I follow their footsteps.”

  “So you’re engaged?”

  “That’s funny.” Levi laughed and slapped his leg. “No, man, not that far gone. If I get in, you ought to come to Dallas. I’ll show you around.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” I said. “At the moment though I need a cerveza.” We did the obligatory fist bump. I briefly hoped he’d get out of this party alive to get to SMU. Yeah, well. Not my problem.

  I walked up the porch and into the house to grab a cerveza from the fridge. Yolo, Manuel’s chick, stood talking with a dark-haired, dark-eyed young woman wearing a bright yellow dress. As out of place as my fake vato outside.

  “Junior,” Yolo said, “this is Elizabeth. She works for me at the bank.”

  “Hey there, Elizabeth, good to meet you.” We solemnly shook hands. “What do you do at the money store?”

  She tugged on an earlobe. “I’m a teller, Junior.” She blinked her long eyelashes several times. “What do you do?”

  “Tryin’ real hard to be a college student.” I grinned, and she blushed. Yep, I thought, still got it.

  Yolo wandered away and Elizabeth leaned on the kitchen counter, sipping her beer. “I’m starving,” she said. “How about you?”

  “I could eat. Probably nothing worth eating here. Not until they fire up the grills out back. We could hit up Taco Villa or walk down to Rosa’s, but I must confess I’m a starving student with no job and crappy prospects. If we go it’ll have to be Dutch treat. I’m also cheap.”

  She giggled. “You’re different Mr. Junior. I like that. How about I treat you? Since I have a job and you are starving.”

  “Oh, and I don’t have a car either.”

  “My, my. You are a problem child. Guess we’ll use mine.”

  She’s sexy as hell, has money and a car. I’m in heaven. “Lead the way, chica. It’s a date.”

  We finished our beers and headed out back to a red BMW convertible. “Sweet ride.” I hopped into the passenger’s side.

  “My folks gave it to me for graduating college early. I love it.” She squealed tires pulling away from the house. “What’s your pleasure?”

  “We are still talking about food, right?”

  “Down, boy,” she said, but her smile hinted at other possibilities. “Like cold pizza? I have half a pie from last night.”

  “My favorite.”

  She shifted into third and hit the accelerator.

  I grabbed the handhold over the window as she slid into the next corner. She got the car straightened when—

  BANG. BANG. BANG.

  “Those are gunshots,” I yelled. “Get the hell out of here.”

  She turned right, and we flew down Big Springs Street for about a quarter of a mile. Sirens wailed ahead of us, and she pulled to the curb. Two cop cars and a rescue wagon blasted by. She grabbed the rearview mirror and angled it to look around. “Wonder what the heck happened?”

  “Sounded like guns popping off,” I said. “Coming from the party. When we left I saw some gangbangers headed toward the house in a black lowrider. I thought they were part of the posse that hangs out there.”

  “I saw that car, too. It bounced like on springs. I thought that only happened in the movies. Want to go check it out?”

  “How about that pizza? There’s nothing we can do there. Be cops everywhere.”

  “I want to cruise by, see if everyone is okay.”

  “Go for it.”

  We drove by the house without saying a word. Police crawled all over the place.

  “Oh, shit,” I said.

  “What?”

  My imitation vato lay on the sidewalk where we’d stood talking a half an hour before. A bullet hole formed a tidy black dot in the middle of his forehead.

  “I knew that kid,” I said. “Levi. Had SMU on his mind. Now he doesn’t.”

  �
�Junior.” She put her hand over mine. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I didn’t know him. I mean I met him earlier, but still—”

  Jesus, what a waste. He’d seemed like a good kid. Several other kids were down on the ground. Some moving. Some not. I heard moans. Kids were having a party, for God’s sake. I heard more wailing sirens. Another ambulance rounded the corner. I saw movement on the grass and spotted the ballbuster cop from my intro to police procedure class.

  “Son of a bitch,” I said.

  “What?”

  “That’s my teacher. Dyke-looking one? Yep. That’s her.”

  Just then Shinto, I think that’s her name, glanced over and saw us.

  “Tell you what. Let’s leave before we get caught up in this shit.”

  “I hear you,” Elizabeth said and pulled slowly from the curb as if afraid one of the cops might run over to write her a traffic ticket.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw my cop-teacher head our way and then stop as we pulled off.

  We got to the end of the street and Elizabeth turned left and drove onto Loop 250. About three miles later she turned into a large housing complex. We passed large houses wound around a golf course to the condo side. She passed several buildings and headed to a covered parking structure without saying a word. After she parked and got out of the car, I followed her around a path to a condo on the end of a building. She let us in and collapsed on a light gray sofa. I flopped down next to her. I scooted over and took her in my arms and we sat like that for a long while, both of us numb. When it got dark she got up and motioned for me to follow her to the bedroom.

  I followed, part of me amazed at what was happening, part of me not wanting to examine it too closely.

  We undressed in the dark, quietly. Purposefully. We found one another under the sheets and the feeling of another human being, not as a quick lay or a bar pickup or a conquest, not even lust, really guided me. We moved gently. I felt her skin. I kissed her cheek and then her neck. I traced my finger down her belly as it rose to meet my touch. I followed my finger with my tongue. Her breasts stood erect when I kissed them. She moaned. I’d never listened to a woman before, focused on my own needs. The more I pleased her the more aroused I became.