by Lynn Emery
“I’m sorry about all the let downs you’ve had, including from Jack,” Cedric said, his voice muted with sympathy. “All men aren’t alike you know.”
Willa waved a hand. “Don’t reach for the box of tissues. No tears and no rage. My adopted father and uncles redeemed your gender. So thank them that I’m not a female serial killer taking my pain out on you guys.”
“I will definitely thank Mr. Elton next time we meet,” Cedric quipped as he pretended to wipe sweat from his forehead.
Willa laughed harder. This more relaxed joking side of Cedric made him look even more handsome. She wondered about the women in his life, not relatives. But that would be getting too personal.
“So what about your family? You got them handled, huh?”
“My mother is the original drama queen. Two of my sisters are just like her. The middle one, Daneese, has sense, thank the Lord. Mostly my brother and I just keep a low profile at family gatherings.” Cedric grinned then turned back to his search.
“You don’t have any pictures up. Nephews, nieces even?” Willa kept her voice casual.
“At home. Most of my family album is on a digital photo frame that holds over a hundred images. I’m not into a lot of clutter.”
“Hmm, not the sentimental type.” Willa watched the screens change as computer keys clicked.
“Not exactly a cold-blooded animal either. I’m loyal, trustworthy and dependable.” Cedric looked at her
“A regular Boy Scout,” Willa said, unable to take her eyes off his mouth, brown and tempting, like cinnamon. She felt that pesky tug he seemed to inspire at the wrong times. His deep laugh increased the pressure to move close. Willa leaned toward him more. Or maybe Cedric made the first move. His face was suddenly less than an inch from her breast. She could feel his warm breath through the thin cotton shirt she wore.
“Troop forty-nine at your service, ma’am,” Cedric teased with a grin. His amused expression softened into something different.
“How many badges did you earn?” Willa tried looking away from his mouth and failed.
“A lot. I got two for knowing how to start a fire.” Cedric raised an eyebrow at her.
Willa gazed back at him. “Oh I believe it.”
“Knock, knock. Girl, where is that efficient assistant of yours? I’ve been wandering around this place forever.” MiMi arched an eyebrow at the two of them. “Well, what’s new in your world?”
Cedric’s gaze narrowed when he looked at her. “We’re into something right now.”
“I can see that. Uh-huh.” MiMi was about to go on, but one look from Willa stopped her.
Willa stood ramrod straight and marched across to her. “We’re busy,” she hissed.
“Y’all ‘bout to get busy you mean,” MiMi whispered low. Then she leaned to the right and waved to Cedric. “I’m afraid this can’t wait. I’ll have steal her for a minute.”
“No you won’t,” Willa said, but MiMi pulled her by the arm into the hallway.
“I started to go get my nails done, but I got a call and I just have to tell you the news.”
“We’re working on something very important, MiMi. Seriously,” Willa said through clenched teeth. She jerked free when they were almost to the lobby.
“This is me you’re talking to, hon. I’ve used those moves myself a time or two. You had ‘do me, baby’ written all over you.” MiMi gave Willa a stern look.
“You’re lecturing me? This is a joke.” Willa stood legs apart with both fists on her hips.
“Okay, I know it’s been awhile since you’ve done the love monkey screech.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“You know, when a fine man hits the spot, and you sound like a spider monkey on crystal meth.” MiMi nodded and turned to walk toward Willa’s office. “Girl, Jack used to do this thing. Oh, but you must know.”
“If you weren’t pregnant I’d whip your crazy butt,” Willa said, her voice getting higher and louder as they reached the lobby.
“You’ll thank me later for rescuing you,” MiMi said.
Kay was back at her desk. “I told you Ms. Crown was in conference.”
“Conference over, sweetie.” MiMi flashed a grin at her and went into Willa’s office.
“If you hear screaming it’s me totally losing my mind. So hold my calls, ” Willa said to Kay then went into her office and shut the door.
“Before you rip into to me— ”
“Listen carefully, Ms. Landry. My son is a murder suspect, my sister is missing and my business is facing serious cash flow issues. So I don’t have time for your spoiled princess games.” Willa jabbed a finger in the air between them.
“Our business is in trouble? But, but I need us to be profitable. I don’t have a job.” MiMi gasped and sat down on the sofa in Willa’s seating area.
“Try to break out of your usual ‘it’s all about me’ mode,” Willa snapped. “I’m scared about what might happen to two people I hold dear.”
“You’re right. Blame it on the selfish genes I got from my mother. You’ve been under a lot of stress, too. Here, sit and I’ll fix us a cup of coffee.” MiMi went to the pot set up in Willa’s office and poured two mugs.
“MiMi you don’t have to— ”
“You’ll need this because I have news about where Jazz might be. And I think she’s got some kind of connection to Jack’s shady deal with Strafford or whoever’s involved.”
“Number one, I already figured that out. Number two, stop playing The Preggers Detective.” Willa sniffed the fragrant Louisiana dark roast in the mug then sipped. MiMi had put in just the right amount of sweetener and cream.
“Hey, I like that-- The Preggers Detective.” MiMi grinned then grew serious. “But we need to sort out this mess quick. So I applied for a job at Candy Girls. Talked to the bartender and one of the other dancers. You okay?”
Willa couldn’t answer because she was too busy choking on hot coffee.
Chapter 13
Willa hacked until she could croak a reply. “I’m speechless. Just talk.”
MiMi looked around Willa’s office, found napkins then mopped up the puddle of spilled coffee on the floor. She took the mug with the Crown Protection logo from Willa’s hand and filled it again. She talked as she poured in more cream and sweetener. Willa still sat in a chair in the seating area working on recovering. MiMi patted Willa on the back then handed her the mug and sat down on the sofa.
“Well, I was worried about you, girl. I mean my sisters can be bitches and all, but if either of them disappeared with a dead dude left behind I’d be a little concerned,” MiMi said.
“A little?” Those two words made Willa coughed again.
“Uh-huh. Of course if it were my oldest sister Raquel I’d totally believe she’d killed him. Tell you about her some time. Anyway, I went by Candy Girls just out of curiosity at first. I’ve never seen a strip club before. It wasn’t as seedy as I’d imagined. Actually it’s pretty nice. Must be a catering to middle-class guys.”
Willa had recovered the power of speech after a few moments. In fact, she had to give credit where credit was due. “That was gutsy.”
MiMi waved a hand. “Nah, not really. It was in the day time and that part of town isn’t so bad.”
“Yes it is,” Willa corrected. “Easy Town looks deceptively quiet sometimes.”
“I didn’t see a lot of skuzzy types hanging on the corner.” MiMi looked at Willa with skepticism.
“The city is trying to clean up the rough neighborhoods. But the dealers, wannabe baby gangstas and crack heads are there. Trust me. You just have to scratch the surface.” Willa nodded at her.
“Wow, you describe it just like one of those Paula Woods mystery novels.” MiMi stood and walked around the office. “Of course it would help if you had a seedy office in a tough neighborhood. The new décor makes it a bit too… nice. You ever think of writing a novel?
“No, now get back to the point.” Willa crossed her legs and
waited.
“I can understand why nobody is loitering around Candy Girls. That bartender Andre and the bouncer must weigh a ton between them. I mean they’re both like seven feet tall. So when I went in Andre was like, ‘We ain’t open and you can’t sell us nothin’. The words ‘I’m applying for a job’ just popped out before I knew what I was saying.” MiMi laughed.
“Remind me to lecture you on making smarter choices.”
“Yes, mother,” MiMi shot back and rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Lorraine the boss wasn’t there, but Andre called one of the dancers and— ”
Kay knocked once then came carrying a folder. “Sorry to interrupt, but I need your signature on these purchase orders.” She glanced at MiMi. You need anything?”
“We’re fine. Really,” Willa added when Kay looked at her with skepticism.
“Okay. It’s almost eleven-thirty. Let me know if you want me to order lunch for you, or something.” Kay lifted her eyebrows as a signal.
“Thanks so much,” MiMi piped up and smiled at Kay. “You’re such an asset around here.”
Kay blushed. “Well, I— ”
“No, I mean it. Willa is right to put so much trust in you. And anyone can tell that you help this place hum along like a well-oiled engine. Right, Willa?” MiMi
“Right. Thanks, Kay,” Willa said and pressed her lips together. She signed the papers then at MiMi after Kay left. “That was laying it on a bit much.”
“I don’t want her to see as the enemy. Besides, I meant every word.” MiMi sniffed.
“Now getting back to Candy Girls and your little escapade,” Willa prompted.
“I talked to this dancer Nyeisha. She’s sort of like Lorraine’s assistant.”
Willa nodded. “She’s worked there the longest, almost six years now. She and Lorraine are tight.”
“Yeah, she said the boss trusted her to do like a first interview. Anyway, we got along very well. I can put people at ease. Excellent people skills, which is why I’m good at sales.”
“Right.” Willa tilted her head to one side and pursed her lips.
“Okay, I’m getting to the point. We talked about twenty minutes then she gave me a tour. I did a few moves.” MiMi frowned at Willa’s expression. “What?”
“You did a little bump and grind?” Willa pursed her lips to keep from laughing.
“I can drop it like it’s hot. Of course I didn’t do anything too daring.” MiMi put a protective hand on her stomach. “Nyeisha even said I was a little too chubby around the middle.”
“With your charm school manners and designer rags Nyeisha must have known you were a sorority girl. She had to have been suspicious,” Willa insisted.
“I told her I really needed the money, that I’d only just lost my job and my college degree wasn’t helping pay the bills. I really poured on the desperate.” MiMi sighed. “She was nice. I kinda feel bad about lying to her.”
“Please.” Willa put a hand to her forehead.
“Back to Jazz. Nyeisha and I ended up talking for almost two hours. They need another girl since Jazz disappeared and they had to fire another dancer. Drugs. Half the time she didn’t show up. Plus her crazy boyfriend who would deal weed in their parking lot while he was waiting for her to get off work.”
“Like I told you that’s a rough neighborhood,” Willa said.
MiMi nodded. “Point taken. As for Jazz, seems Nyiesha’s theory is that she took off with her boyfriend. But get this-- Jazz met him through Ike and the good reverend.”
“Reverend Fisher?” Willa’s mouth dropped open.
“Yes, girl. Her Latin lover’s name is Felipe Perez by the way. He and his buddy Kenton were part of this male mentoring program at Abundant Love Ministries. Ike was the program director. He and Felipe got to be buddies and started hanging at Candy Girls. They had a few private parties, too. And they were spending freely on good liquor and lap dances.”
“So Reverend ‘Spread The Love’ has a taste for raunchy ladies.” Willa snorted.
“Nyeisha didn’t specifically mention his name, but you figure it out. I didn’t try to ask for details about those particular customers in case she got suspicious. Plus I wanted her to talk about Jazz,” MiMi said.
“Smart move.”
MiMi looked pleased. “Thanks. So Jazz hooks up with Felipe and presto, she has a new car, expensive new clothes and they’re traveling. They went to Costa Rica or the Caribbean whenever Jazz has four days off. Did you know that those girls work sort of like those offshore guys? Nyeisha told me that. And Jazz made good money dancing, too. Seems your sister is a local star.”
“Lovely,” Willa retorted. “Get back to the part about Jazz traveling to the Caribbean.”
“Mention of the islands made my ears perk up. Of course Nyeisha wasn’t sure which islands. She’s jealous of Jazz. She just kept going on about Jazz thinking her you-know-what don’t stink.”
“To tell you the truth Jazz can be an uppity heffa. Mean and selfish, too.” Willa had gone from worried about Jazz to being pissed off with her. “Let’s check to see if the police have released the name of the dead guy.”
“KeVon Latham, aka Von, aka Skim,” MiMi said. She opened her handbag, took out her smart phone and tapped the tiny keypad. “Here’s the Channel Two news website. Read for yourself.”
“Thanks.” Willa took it from her. “Twenty-four years old, been arrested for possession, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated burglary. Nice people she’s hanging with.”
“I know she’s your sister, but— ”
“Jazz isn’t a killer. She’s got plenty of faults. I could list them, but we don’t have all day,” Willa muttered. “But like I said she’s not a killer.”
“What does Anthony say about all this?”
“He denied being there. A shoe-print isn’t solid evidence according to Cedric, and he should know. That made me feel a whole lot better.”
“Leaning on Cedric’s strong shoulders these days, huh?”
Willa ignored her dig. “Besides, the police had to admit that it wasn’t a clear impression. They got the insignia from a partial shoe-print. The fact that Anthony wears the same brand fits their neat little theory.”
“You probably don’t want to hear this, but we have to be realistic here. Anthony isn’t telling you everything.”
“I know my kid better than you. If Anthony knew more he would tell me.” Willa felt angry that MiMi had hit on her secret fear just when she’d convinced herself Anthony had told her everything.
“He’s been keeping secrets from you,” MiMi said, pressing on in a firm tone. “You found out he saw Jack that night, which means that shoe print might be his. Then you discovered he’d been hanging out at Candy Girls.”
“Shut up,” Willa said. She went to the office window to escape the voice of reason from an unlikely source.
MiMi joined her at the window. “Being in denial can be even more dangerous for him, and for Jazz. We better get the straight story before the police.”
Cedric knocked once and then came in. “Sorry to barge in, but I have to tell you something.”
“Wait Cedric, you should hear this, too. Jazz got involved with some ‘business deal’ with Felipe. Nyeisha says everybody knows Felipe smuggles drugs.” MiMi backed up as she talked. She inched behind Cedric as if seeking protection. “I’m just telling you what she said. I don’t like saying it, but Jack might have been involved.”
“This is crazy talk!” Willa waved her arms in the air. “Jazz wouldn’t get involved in something that dangerous. And Jack was a lying skirt chaser. He liked being slick, but he was no criminal.”
“Willa, you need to listen,” Cedric said in a loud voice to get her attention. “I tracked Jazz’s financials. She’s been spending a lot of money, almost seventy-five thousand dollars in the last six months. Jazz also opened a savings account for Anthony.”
Willa closed her eyes and opened them again. She looked at them both. “This nightmare just won’t
end.”
***
An hour later all three of them were at Willa’s house. She’d signed Anthony out of school early. Given the fact that the news of the dead body being found in his aunt’s condo was all over his school, the assistant principal did not object. The ride home was tense. MiMi and Cedric were waiting for them when they got to the house. MiMi and Cedric exchanged glances as Willa led the way into the kitchen.
“Sit down.” Willa pointed to the table. MiMi and Cedric took seats quickly. “I meant Anthony.”
Still standing Anthony licked his lips nervously. “Something bad happen? I mean pulling me out of school early and stuff.”
“Bad. Let’s see. My soon to be ex-husband was murdered. I’m a suspect at first. My sister runs off and leaves another dead man in her apartment. Now my son is a suspect. Just what is your definition of bad, Anthony?” Willa’s voice had risen to a shriek.
“All I meant was— ”
“Don’t even start with that wide-eyed ‘what did I do?’ act,” Willa cut in shouting at him.
“Let’s all take a deep breath and calm down.” Cedric stared hard at Willa. “We need to know all of the facts. I’m sure Anthony can explain.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but y’all tell me and I’ll try to help.” Anthony looked to Cedric as if he sensed an ally.
Willa was about to talk, but MiMi pulled her aside. Cedric and Anthony continued talking to each other. MiMi dropped her voice low and spoke rapidly. “He’s right, Willa. Anthony may be too scared or pissed to talk if we don’t handle this right.”
“Yeah. Sure.” Willa steadied her breathing in an effort to calm her temper. They both went back to where Cedric stood with Anthony.
Anthony glanced at his mother nervously. “You pretty mad, huh?”
“I am. So if you know what’s good for you start talking. It better be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but,” Willa said, her voice rising.
Anthony fidgeted under Willa’s hot glare. He looked at Cedric. “Okay. Dad… Jack said I could handle the responsibility so he opened a money market checking account in my name. He said we could invest the thirty thousand dollars together, but later on.”