by B R Snow
“Yeah, I wanted to get out of there before the ambulance arrived.”
“Ambulance? I’m gonna need a bit more, Suzy.”
I told him the story. When I finished, I focused on the road and waited for him to respond. When he didn’t, I continued.
“Are you still there, Chief?”
“I’m here. I’m just trying to process what you just told me. He tried to drop a hundred-pound bag of fertilizer on you?”
“Yeah, but he missed and got Larry,” I said, slowing down to go past a couple of dogs that were wandering around the edge of the road.
“How bad is the guy hurt?”
“Let’s just say that Larry has probably had better days. I’m gonna guess at least a broken jaw and a severe neck injury,” I said, accelerating as soon as I could see the dogs in my rear-view mirror. “And a lot of stitches. Oh, and teeth. He’s gonna need a whole bunch of new teeth.”
“I think I’ll wander over there and arrest Carl.”
“No, don’t do that,” I said.
“Why on earth not? He just tried to kill you.”
“Yeah, but we’d never be able to prove it. And we want him out walking the streets until this thing plays out, don’t we?”
“I guess you’re right. But I don’t like the idea of somebody thinking they can get away with trying to kill one of my best friends.”
“Aren’t you sweet,” I said as I glanced down at the speedometer and realized I was going eighty. I took my foot off the accelerator and chastised myself.
“What’s the matter?” Chief Abrams said, hearing my grumble.
“I think I’m turning into my mother,” I said, slowing to sixty.
“You could do a lot worse. You think this guy Larry is handling distribution on our side of the River?” Chief Abrams said.
“Yeah, I do. When you get a chance, see if you can come up with anything about Larry’s Landscaping doing work in metropolitan areas.”
“Good idea. I’ll start with Rochester and Syracuse. If we come up dry with those two, I’ll add in Buffalo and Albany.”
“My money is on Syracuse,” I said. “That’s the closest city with a population big enough to support the amount of product they’re probably moving. And these guys seem to like doing the least amount of work possible.”
“I’ll make some calls,” Chief Abrams said. “Are you heading home?”
“No, I thought I’d take advantage of Carl being tied up at the moment and pop in on Jolene.”
“Interesting. You want some help?”
“Let’s keep you out of it for as long as we can,” I said. “I thought I’d try sympathetic confidant. I can’t do that with a cop standing next to me.”
“Okay, but call if things get weird.”
I laughed into the phone.
“Yeah, let me rephrase that. Call if things get dangerous. We already know it’s going to be weird. But who knows, maybe Jolene’s dying to chat with somebody other than Carl. She might feel the urge to unburden herself.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for. She’s definitely on the edge, but that could just be all the meth she’s doing. But I’ve been thinking about it, and I don’t think she killed her father.”
“Maybe not,” Chief Abrams said. “But she knows who did. Be careful.”
I ended the call and placed another. Josie answered on the second ring.
“Hey,” she whispered.
“I’m heading over to see Jolene, so I probably won’t be back for another hour or so. How’s it going over there?”
“Oh, it’s fine.”
“What’s the matter?” I said, grinning. “You sound really down.”
“Maybe a little.”
“Well, eat something. That’ll make you feel better.”
“Disagree.”
She hung up, and I made a mental note to stop by Mrs. Sawyer’s for another round of alterations. I knew I was having way too much fun enjoying Josie’s discomfort, but after her stunt with the Cessna, she deserved it. Or at least that’s what I told myself with a self-satisfied nod into the rear view mirror.
Then I saw a sign for Defereit and accelerated.
I parked in front of the house and stepped onto the porch. I immediately felt a surge of anger when I saw the spot where the lab had been laying. I knocked on the screen door, and it fell off one of its hinges. I tried putting it back where it belonged, then gave up and knocked on the door behind the screen. The door opened partway, and Jolene frowned and blinked several times when the sunlight hit her eyes. Then she recognized me and opened the door a bit further.
“Suzy, right?”
“Hi, Jolene. How are you doing?”
“Fine. What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I just thought I’d stop by and let you know that Carl might be a little late getting home.”
“Good,” she said, then caught herself. “I mean, why is that?”
“Larry had a bit of an accident at his place, and Carl is making sure he gets to the hospital.”
“What sort of accident?”
“An ill-conceived and poorly executed one.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Do you mind if I come in?”
She glanced back over her shoulder, then tried to refocus on me. But she ended up looking past me off into the distance.
“I guess that would be alright. But the place is a bit of a mess,” she said, standing aside to let me pass.
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” I said, stepping inside. “Messy is my middle name.”
I stared in disbelief at what can only be described as a Before and After photograph. Before; if taken just prior to the arrival of the demolition crew. After; if shot subsequent to the bomb going off. Then the smell hit me. I glanced around then looked at Jolene who was tossing a variety of items off a chair onto the floor to provide a place for me to sit.
“You guys have a cat?” I said, taking half-breaths.
“No.”
“Okay, then,” I said, easing myself into the chair.
“You want something to drink?” Jolene said, scratching the inside of her arm. “We got beer and tequila.”
“No, I’m good, thanks. I think Larry is going to be okay. Eventually.”
“What?” she said, sitting down on an unoccupied corner of a ratty couch. “Oh, Larry, right. What happened to him?”
“I’m sure Carl will tell you all about it.”
“I doubt it. He’s not much of a talker. Carl’s more of a yeller.”
“Got it. By the way, where did you two meet?”
“Rehab,” she said, scratching her arm harder.
“When was that?”
“When I was in rehab, or when I met Carl?” she said, frowning. Then her face flushed red with embarrassment, and she giggled. “Duh. Same difference, right? It was about two years ago.”
“And you moved here right after you met?”
“No, we’ve bounced around a lot. And I doubt if we’re done.”
I nodded and glanced around the room, then stared at what looked like dozens of baked beans stuck to one of the walls. It was an interesting pattern, but probably not a decorating choice I would have made.
“Oh, that,” Jolene said, following my eyes. “Carl got upset the other night.”
“And he threw a pot of baked beans at the wall?”
“Actually, he threw it at me, but he missed,” she said, shrugging. “I told him I wasn’t going to clean it up.”
“Nice to see you sticking to your guns,” I said, unable to come up with anything better. “This is really none of my business, but I’m going to ask you anyway. Does Carl hit you, Jolene?”
“Not yet.”
“And if he does?”
“He’ll be in a world of hurt,” she said as a simple statement of fact.
“Maybe it’s time you started thinking about doing another stint in rehab,” I whispered.
“You sound like my dad,” she snapped as her eyes grew wide. She glar
ed at me defiantly. “Are you just offering advice, or are you also going to put on a demonstration?”
“What on earth are you talking about?” I said, bewildered.
Before she could decide how to answer the question, we both heard a car. Jolene got up and started for the door.
“It’s probably Carl,” she said. “If it is, you should probably get going. He doesn’t like you very much.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured that out.”
I got up and tried to peer through a window. Then I wiped a section of glass with my sleeve and tried again. I noticed the Canadian license plate, then recognized the guy getting out of the car.
“What the heck is he doing here today?” Jolene said, from the doorway before heading outside and closing the door behind her.
I watched her start down the steps and stumble forward. But she caught herself before she fell, and she quickly strode toward the car to meet the man at his car. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and made the call.
“Hey, Chief. It’s me.”
“Is anything wrong?”
“No, I’m fine. But you’ll never guess who just showed up at Jolene’s place.”
“You’re right, I probably wouldn’t. Who is it?”
“Tommy Nostril.”
“Really? That’s interesting. You think he’s looking for his hundred grand?”
“That’s my first guess,” I said, peeking through the window. “They’re standing outside by his car.”
Jolene was leading an animated discussion, and she pointed at my car, then at the house.
“She just told him that I’m here,” I said.
“Are you safe?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Does it look like she’s in any danger?”
I continued to watch the scene play out, then made a face when I watched them lock lips for an extended deep kiss. Then Tommy Nostril let his hands roam, and Jolene pressed herself tightly against him.
“Suzy?”
“What?”
“Is Jolene okay?”
“Apart from the risk of catching an infectious disease, I think so.”
“What?”
“I’ll tell you later. I gotta run.”
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and headed for the door, car keys in hand. I bounced down the steps just as they released each other, and both of them studied me closely as I walked toward them.
“I really need to get going,” I said, coming to a stop next to Jolene. “Besides, you’ve got company. Hi, I’m Suzy.”
Tommy Nostril returned the handshake and nodded. “How you doin’?”
“I’m good,” I said, rocking back and forth on my feet. “If you ever need anything, or want to talk, just give me a call, Jolene.”
“What would she need to talk to you about?” Tommy Nostril said.
“Oh, you know, just girl stuff,” I said, getting behind the wheel.
I turned the car and slowly headed up the long dirt road. Through the rearview mirror, I saw them heading into the house arm in arm.
“Weird is definitely the word for it,” I said to myself when I reached the highway.
I drove slowly and replayed the visit in my head. Her comments about Carl being violent didn’t surprise me. And the squalor of the house told me everything I needed to know about her priorities and what little regard she had for her own life. At first, I was taken aback by the fact that she and Tommy Nostril were hooking up, but then remembered they shared a common fondness for crystal. Then I wondered if they might also share a common contempt for all things Carl.
I passed the long stretch of billboard ads for things to see and do in Clay Bay, including one for C’s. We still weren’t sure if the roadside ad was having any impact on business, but it was something my mother had strongly encouraged us to do. Then I remembered Larry’s aversion to advertising and wondered, just for a moment, how he was doing. I returned to my conversation with Jolene and her reaction when I’d gently suggested a return trip to rehab.
Then the neurons in my head exploded. I slowed down and let the idea begin to formulate.
“Put on a demonstration?” I whispered to the windshield.
Chapter 24
Josie stood on the dock, hands on hips, giving me a defiant stare. Captain and Chloe were sitting on the back seat that stretched across the stern, watching her with cocked heads and an expectant look on their face. Captain woofed once at her to hurry up, and Josie glanced down at the Newfie.
“Don’t you start,” she said, then looked back at me. “I can’t believe you agreed to do this without consulting me.”
“Relax, it’s just dinner. And I’ll be there the whole time. Now get in the boat.”
“I don’t want to go,” Josie said, shaking her head like a petulant three-year-old. “Besides, I’m not hungry.”
“That’s fine. More for me. Now get your butt in the boat.”
Josie climbed into the boat, gave both dog’s a quick head scratch, then sat down in the seat next to me.
“You look very nice,” I said, giving her a small smile. “And you’re wearing your favorite jeans.”
“Yeah, barely,” she whispered.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I hid my grin as I slowly drove the boat to deeper water. I’d picked up the jeans earlier today and put them back in her closet while she was in the shower. As instructed, Mrs. Sawyer had removed half of the elastic she had put in the jeans, and I laughed when I heard Josie grumbling while she was getting dressed.
“Man, is this water level ever going to start going down?” I said. “This is getting ridiculous.”
“It certainly is,” she said, keeping an eye out for floating objects. “As is the political rhetoric.”
“Yeah, the conspiracy theorists are having a field day. They just can’t accept the fact that all that rain we’ve had filled Lake Ontario. And unless I’m missing something, before the water can reach the Atlantic, it has to flow through the St. Lawrence.”
“So, it’s all Mother Nature’s fault?”
“Yes, I’m sure it is,” I said, veering around a chunk of wood that was partially submerged. “And for some reason, she’s mad at us.”
“And you know his how?” Josie said, finally managing a smile.
“Because Mother Nature is just like all the other mothers in the world.”
“Is she now?”
“Yes, if you make her really mad, she’s liable to do everything she can to make your life miserable.”
“Oh, so, you’re speaking from experience?” Josie said, laughing.
“Yeah. And I’ve learned it the hard way.”
“I do like her idea of the zoo,” Josie said.
“Yeah, me too,” I said, nodding. “But let’s leave it all to her for now. If she’s serious about doing it, she’ll just run with the idea. And when she gets laser-focused on something, it’s best to stay out of her way. Besides, with our two projects in the Caymans, we’ve got enough on our plate at the moment.”
“Agree,” she said, nodding as she stared back out at the water. “I want some penguins.”
“Oh, great idea. I love watching those little guys.”
“And maybe some stingrays.”
“Not a chance,” I said, glaring at her.
I pulled into an empty slip in Summerman’s boat house, and Josie tied the boat off. Captain and Chloe hopped out of the boat and immediately spotted Murray. They tore down the dock and raced out onto the massive lawn that surrounded the house, a multi-story structure built with stone, wood, and glass. I got out of the boat and waited on the dock for Josie to follow.
“Are you coming?” I said, glancing down at her.
“I’ll be up in a minute,” she said, tugging at her jeans.
I left the boathouse and followed the path that led up to the house. I stepped onto the wraparound verandah and watched the three dogs roll around on the grass before knocking on the front door. Summerman opened
it and beamed at me.
“Hey, I’m glad you made it,” he said, glancing around. “Where’s Josie?”
“She’ll be up in a minute. I think she’s making a few last-minute adjustments.”
“Okay,” Summerman said, confused. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s really nervous. Please, try to go easy with her.”
“Of course. Come on in. Doc and Merlin are in the kitchen. I’m getting dinner ready.”
“Merlin, huh?”
“Don’t worry, he’ll grow on you,” he said, laughing.
I followed him down a long hallway and was impressed by the open layout and the high ceilings. A grand piano dominated one of the sitting areas just off the kitchen, and I stepped inside and joined the two men sitting at the granite island. I caught a whiff of something delicious and spotted the vertical rotisserie where a large stack of meat was slowly rotating.
“Suzy,” Doc said, pulling the stool next to him out. “It’s good to see you.”
“Hi, Doc,” I said, then glanced to my left. “Hello, Merlin.”
“Suzy,” Merlin said, cool and distant. “I take it you didn’t get run over the other day.”
“No thanks to you.”
“Did you find who you were looking for?” Merlin said.
“I did.”
“You’re welcome,” Merlin said, taking a sip of what looked like wine then frowning and pushing the glass away. “Geez, this stuff is horrid.”
“Yes, it is,” Doc said. “They say it’s an acquired taste, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen.”
“That sounds like someone I know,” I said, glancing at Merlin. “What is it?”
“Retsina,” Doc said, also pushing his glass away.
“Yeah, it is pretty bad,” Summerman said. “But since we’re having Greek food tonight, I thought it was worth a shot.”
“It takes like a pine forest smells,” Merlin said.
“How about I open a couple bottles of Pinot?” Summerman said.
“Perfect,” Doc said.
“I love Greek food,” I said, pointing at the rotisserie. “Are we having Gyros?”
“We are,” Summerman said, glancing around the counters. “But we have quite a menu. Let’s see, what else do we have? For starters, we got Dolmades, Tiropites, Spanakopita, and Tzatziki with fresh Pita. But be careful not to fill up on appetizers.”