Best Enemies (A Triple Trouble Mystery)

by Lynn Emery

  “Jack asked him not to say anything to you. Said you’d just worry since he was in the security business.” MiMi shrugged. “Actually you weren’t getting along too well with Jack back then. Maybe he was afraid you’d turn Anthony against him again.”

  “I never slammed Jack to either of the children,” Willa protested with enough heat to melt glass.

  “Hmmm,” MiMi responded. “Anyway, Anthony knows about some of Jack’s business dealings. Those Strafford people know this, Willa. If they’re sweating me about the money, well you figure it out.”

  “What money?”

  “Jack got a large cash deposit for services that were never rendered or something or other. The money is missing.” MiMi wore a grave look. “A chunk of which is my money and I want it back. Of course I’ll be willing to consider giving up my percentage of the agency in return for— ”

  “You have no percentage,” Willa broke in.

  “If you pay me back the amount I invested. Thirty thousand.” MiMi cleared her throat. “Plus the interest Jack promised. And the profit. That brings the total to around seventy-five thousand.”

  Willa burst out laughing while MiMi gazed at her. She picked up a folder from her desk and fanned her face to cool off. When she finally gained control Willa sat down at her desk again. “I can’t be angry with a woman who is clearly off her medications and delusional.”

  “Girl, I’m not playing with you, not about my damn money.” MiMi waved a forefinger in the air as she spoke.

  Willa barked out another laugh then covered her mouth. “Sorry, right. I see you’re serious.” Still she giggled one last time.

  “See, I’m trying to be reasonable. But you can bet your life them other folks won’t be. Think about Jack and if you really want to make that kind of bet,” MiMi said with grim expression.

  Willa squinted at her. “Threats don’t scare me.”

  “Well these people should. I don’t think they’re your everyday same old-same old businessmen.” MiMi tapped a foot nervously. “They called Anthony yet?”

  “Okay, don’t keep pushing that button. Even if what you’re saying is true there’s no reason for them to think Anthony knows anything.” Willa tried to keep the worry from her expression.

  “You hope,” MiMi shot back. “We both have an interest in finding that money and giving it back to those guys. Of course we could just do business with them as usual. At least we’d find out what the heck Jack was up to. What do you think?”

  “The same thing I did a few minutes ago-- that you’re crazy,” Willa replied. “First, all this is just what you say, and news flash- I don’t trust you. Second, if, and this is a big if, Jack was dumb and greedy enough to hook up with gangsters we’d be even more stupid to do the same thing.”

  MiMi did the hand flip again to sweep away Willa’s comment. “Listen to my logic. Jack was business smart. He must have brokered a smart deal with minimum risk to him. We could complete this one transaction, get paid and then shut it down.”

  “Living at that deluxe address is expensive, huh, sweetie?” Willa wisecracked.

  MiMi gave Willa the evil eye for a few seconds as she huffed in anger. Finally she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  “If I want my money this bad just think about those other guys and what they’re willing to do to get it back.”

  “Okay, that’s enough. I’m done visiting your version of fantasyland. Some whacked-out crack addict killed Jack for pocket change. There is no big conspiracy and you don’t own a piece of my company. This has been an entertaining break in my day. Now it’s over.” Willa waved goodbye to MiMi and pointed to the door.

  “You best wake up, Mrs. Crown. We need to handle this before they show up on our doorstep.” MiMi stood. She gathered the papers together and grabbed her purse.

  “Yeah, sure. Have a nice day.” Willa turned to her computer screen and opened a file.

  “One last thing, you better hope they don’t decide Anthony knows something. So I suggest you find out if he does.” MiMi stomped to the door and went out then came back seconds later. “I’m sure you’ll be in touch with me. Since you’ve probably done a background check, you have my phone numbers and my e-mail address. You have a nice day.”

  The door slammed shut hard and loud making Willa start. Her heart and mind raced as she considered the firebomb MiMi had tossed as she’d left. After a short knock Cedric came into her office.

  “Is everything okay?” Cedric glanced around office as though checking for damage.

  “Yeah,” Willa replied, though she wasn’t at all sure. “I didn’t break any furniture over her head or commit a felony assault. Thanks for asking.”

  “So did she know anything about Strafford, Inc.?” Cedric placed his hands on his narrow hips. “We really need to find out more.”

  “No, she didn’t— ” Willa stopped cold and then closed her eyes. “Damn.”

  “That sounds like bad news.” Cedric’s dark eyebrows pulled together as he gazed at Willa.

  “She claims Jack left her a safety deposit box and hinted the answer is in there.” Willa threw up both hands when Cedric’s frown deepened. “I know. She's so annoying my brain stops functioning and the urge to slap her crowds out rational thought.

  “Yeah, well learn to tolerate her, at least until we find out what we need to know. So I’m guessing she wants to form an alliance with you.” Cedric walked to the window and gazed at the scenery outside without really seeing it.

  “Something like that,” Willa replied.

  “Smart move.” Cedric glanced at Willa over one shoulder then looked through the window again.

  “And my reaction wasn’t. You don’t have to say it,” Willa put in when Cedric turned around to protest.

  “Since she’s willing I say get in touch with her, but not right away,” he added quickly. “Best not seem desperate or she’ll use that to her advantage.”

  “Just the fact that I call her will let her know she has a valuable bargaining chip,” Willa replied. She rocked her chair back and forth thinking.

  “You were pretty hard core with her, huh? Look, when emotions are involved it’s hard to be all cold and logical. I mean she and Jack were… involved. ”

  “I don’t care if she and Jack swung from chandeliers. I was done with him long before he died.”

  “I’m just saying—”

  Willa let out a long-suffering sigh. Just like a man to assume two women would always battle over one of them.

  “For the last time, I’m not mad at MiMi cause she was with Jack. She’s the type that I dislike-- spoiled bourgie Black princess who thinks the world tilts on her axis.” Willa snorted. “I had to deal with her kind in high school and college.”

  In fact, girls like MiMi had made Willa’s life hell. Willa’s adopted parents had helped her get an excellent education when they’d enrolled her in private school. Papa Elton had joked, “Well look at it this way, you’ll get plenty of practice using them anger management skills.” College had been another rich source of practice. Cedric’s throat clearing brought Willa back from her school daze.

  “About this whole deal with Strafford, Inc., I’m still tracking it down. I’ve got a couple of leads. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I’m starting to think I’m chasing shadows.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “This company has a few offices, and seems to put out a couple of products. But all those divisions, foreign branches— looks like a set of stage props to make them seem like a real company. I’m tempted to fly to Hawaii to check out their headquarters.” Cedric wore his intense investigator expression.

  “Whoa, we don’t have that kind of expense account cause if you go I’d have to come along,” Willa joked with a sideways grin.

  “That wouldn’t be a bad idea. How are your surfing and snorkeling skills?” Cedric’s lips curved just enough to suggest a sexy smile.

  Willa looked into his eyes, deep and black as coffee. She had to remi
nd herself that like MiMi, Cedric had his own agenda. Still that buttoned-down version of sexy tugged at her gut. He was looking at her as though he imagined them both in swimsuits on a tropical island. Willa shut down that hot image in her head. She affected a forced laugh.

  “We better find a faster and more cost effective way to deal with Ms. Landry’s claims.” Willa straightened her spine to appear more like a boss rather than an overheated desperate housewife. “MiMi keeps saying Strafford is some kind of shady outfit. So we have two possible threats to this business.”

  That seemed to jerk Cedric’s attention from the beach. He scowled. “Yeah. We deal with agencies in other states. Not Hawaii, but I’ll bet Jay with J & J Investigations in Los Angeles can recommend somebody.”

  “Really? We farm out work?”

  Cedric nodded. “Like you said, we’re cost effective. Computers, phones and e-mail go just so far. Sometimes there is no substitute for direct observation.”

  “I know what you mean. That is true for talking to people. Face to face you can read body language. Sometimes that gives you as much valuable information as what people say.” Willa thought back to her talk with Jazz. Her baby sister hadn’t told her everything. She didn’t need MiMi to tell her that much.

  “Back to MiMi,” Cedric said, cutting into Willa’s thoughts.

  Willa turned from one troublesome female in her life to another. She hissed her displeasure. “Right, MiMi. Jack sure loved flashy troublemakers.”

  “Ahem, with one exception,” Cedric put in.

  “Thanks,” Willa replied with a restrained smile. She looked away from his smoky topaz gaze. “Guess she was right. Looks like I have to call her.”

  “You can bet she’s going to use that key as a bargaining chip,” Cedric said.

  Willa nodded and rocked her chair for a few seconds. She stopped and smiled at Cedric. “But she doesn’t know where the box is. Otherwise she wouldn’t have come to us. So why not go hire another private investigator to find it?”

  “Yeah. She either knows or suspects they might uncover something illegal.”

  “So?” Willa glanced at him.

  “No investigator will risk his license and keep his mouth closed if he uncovers a crime.”

  “Except an investigator who wouldn’t want that information to come out anymore than she would,” Willa replied. Her gut tightened. Jack wasn’t much by most standards, but he was everything to Anthony and Mikayla. And the last thing she wanted was her kids exposed to scandal and danger.

  Cedric crossed his arms. “I know you want to protect the kids, but we have to follow wherever this thing leads us. Otherwise we risk losing this company. Without a license this place will close. Period.”

  “Yes, of course we have to do the right thing,” Willa replied and closed her eyes. She rubbed her temple in an attempt to ward off a giant headache. “But MiMi doesn’t know that. So let’s do it.”

  “And if Jack did get into something illegal?”

  “I know, I know. We report it to the authorities. But only if we have solid evidence indicating he committed a crime. Not that he might have but never got a chance to. Agreed?”

  Cedric shook his head slowly. “We can’t play chicken with the truth, Willa.”

  Willa stood. “Don’t be such a tight end, and I’m not talking football. Do you see any colors other than black and white?”

  “Very witty,” Cedric clipped. Still his rigid wide-legged stance and taut expression made him look like an uncompromising drill sergeant.

  “Who’s to say Jack wasn’t on the verge of going to the cops but he was killed first?”

  Cedric blinked as he considered her words. “Okay.”

  “Right, and—” Willa tossed around for a way to convince him. “We shouldn’t be too quick to hurt the agency. We’ll bleed money if even a rumor gets out Jack was into something shady.”

  “You have a point, a fine one, but still. However if we find evidence of criminal activity we have to report it.” Cedric let out a long slow breath. “Then deal with whatever hits the fan.”

  “If we find hard evidence of crimes we’ll absolutely do our duty,” Willa replied with a sharp nod.

  “Because the alternative is a crap load of trouble way beyond losing business,” Cedric said and pointed at her. “Agreed?”

  “Yes. But if we only suspect something fishy after putting two and two together.” Willa started to go on but Cedric held up a palm like a traffic cop.

  “We report it,” he finished for her.

  “Cedric, my kids need Jack’s good name and good memories more than they need his money,” Willa said quietly. “If we’re not sure Jack was involved…”

  Cedric followed Willa’s gaze to the large photo on her desk. Anthony and Mikayla sat posed for the camera in their best clothes. Anthony had a protective big brother arm draped around his sister’s slender shoulders. Willa looked back at Cedric. His stony expression had vanished. He pulled a large hand over his face and sighed again.

  “Yeah. Let’s do this.” Cedric headed for the door.

  “Thanks,” Willa called out.

  Cedric turned around and walked back until he stood close to her. “I’m doing this for the kids, and you.”

  Willa gazed into his eyes. He was breaking one of his rules for her. That’s what she read in his face. She also knew he didn’t break his rules for just anybody. Unable to take the heat she took the nearest exit out of the kitchen. She looked away and he left.

  ***

  That night over instant macaroni and cheese, rotisserie chicken and salad Willa tried to make life seem normal. Willa considered having her serious talk with Anthony, but figured a frontal assault would only make him rebel. Maybe what they all needed was a break from serious. So instead she asked the kids about school. Anthony did his usual monotone short sentence answer then shoved another yeast roll in his mouth. Mikayla gladly filled in his vacuum. She gave what seemed like an hour by hour account of her day, including some story involving a kid named Justin and a salamander.

  “And all the girls were screaming like crazy. I just told them to stop acting like squealing idiots. Then I helped Justin catch Sal.”

  Willa blinked hard and stopped sneaking looks at Anthony. “Sal?”

  “Justin’s salamander, Mama,” Mikayla replied with annoyance in her tone. “Are you even listening?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I hope your teacher made you apologize for calling your friends idiots. That’s not very nice.” Willa moved into the role of vigilant mother with ease.

  “Mama, I didn’t call them idiots. I said they were acting like idiots,” Mikayla reasoned. “There’s a difference.”

  “Not by much, little lady. So don’t try that precocious line of logic on me. I’m not— “ Willa stopped before completing the sentence.

  “I know. You’re not daddy. He would have just laughed and said, ‘Baby girl you’re gonna be a lawyer’.” Mikayla did her best effort to imitate her father’s baritone voice.

  “Yeah,” Anthony said and laughed. “You sound like him.”

  Mikayla grinned at him. “You do it, Anthony. Talk like Daddy.”

  Anthony launched into one of Jack’s favorite lectures about kids being too spoiled. He imitated how Jack would stutter when confronted with the fact that he was a spoiled brat growing up. Then he did his imitation of the elder Mr. Crown. Anthony had them laughing until they were breathless as he went on to mimic both men.

  “Then old Mr. Crown would chime in with, ‘You kids don’t know anything about earning a living’,” Anthony finished in a gruff, irascible tone. Then he pretended to cough loudly and hitch up his pants like Jack’s father.

  “You better not let Grandmother see you doing that,” Mikayla finally gasped.

  “That’s enough now. We shouldn’t make fun of Mr. Crown.” Willa managed to stifle another round of the giggles as she dabbed at tears in her eyes.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Mikayla and Anthony said in unison then winked at
each other.

  “You have an assignment, baby girl. No playing video games first,” Willa warned.

  “I promise,” Mikayla replied and bounced from her chair then skittered off full of energy. “I’m doing a paper on dinosaurs. It’s fun looking up stuff on that!”

  Since it was his week to help in the kitchen, Anthony got to work clearing the dishes. He shook his head at his sister. “Hey, KayKay. Don’t forget, no making fun of the idiots.”

  “Promise,” she called back. Mikayla turned around to wink at him one last time. She giggled with one hand over her mouth then continued on her way

  “That girl is weird. Happy to do homework.” Anthony let out a snort.

  “Yeah, well you could do with some of that weirdness, mister man,” Willa retorted. She wiped the table with a damp cloth the worked on the counter tops.

  “Yes, ma’am. Hey, I’m doing better. You haven’t gotten any calls or notes from the teachers. Right?” He glanced at her over one shoulder.

  “Knock on wood.” Willa smiled when he scowled at her remark. “Okay, okay. Credit where credit is due. Your teachers report that you have a better attitude.”

  “Thank you.” Anthony finished dumping leftovers from the plates. He started loading the dishwasher.

  “Now I’ll be doing back flips if you bring those grades up by the next nine weeks report.” Willa used a kitchen spray to clean the cook top.

  “Man, will it ever be enough?” Anthony heaved a long-suffering sigh.

  “Sure. When you get a law degree, a PhD or graduate from medical school the pressure will be off,” she joked. “Mama will let you take it from there.”

  “Dang,” Anthony muttered. “Cut a young brother some slack. Darnell’s mama is happy he just shows up for class and gets Cs.”

  “You want to be average?” Willa replied, gathering steam for a lecture on achievement.

  “Read the memo, Mama. I am average. Just an average dude trying to get by.” Anthony went to a small closet near the pantry entrance. He took out a broom and dustpan.