Death Comes in Threes

by Marja McGraw

  “But—”

  “David, stay here!”

  I casually sauntered over to the bar where the two men were sitting and ordered a drink from the bartender, trying to get close enough to hear them.

  “Hey, fella,” Draper said. “Got a light?” He stuck a cigarette in his mouth.

  “No. I don’t smoke,” Stanley said softly, his voice a notch higher than normal. He was visibly shaking. He glanced at a No Smoking sign over the bar, but the look was lost on Draper.

  “I got a message for you,” Draper said quietly, leaning closer to Hawks. “Beck ain’t gonna give you much more time.”

  I could see Draper’s knuckles turn white as he placed his hand on Stanley’s shoulder and squeezed. “Got that?” he asked.

  “Who’s… Who’s Beck?” Stanley asked timidly. There was pain on his face as Draper applied more pressure to his shoulder.

  “Don’t try to be cute, pal. It don’t suit you.”

  Poor Stanley was blinking rapidly and looked close to tears, and his left eye twitched. He tried to pick up his drink, but knocked it over.

  Draper jumped but never loosened his grip on Stanley’s shoulder.

  Enough was enough. Time to take action.

  “Stanley,” I said loudly. “Stanley Hawks! How are you? I haven’t seen you in ages. Mom was just asking about you the other day.”

  “Get lost bitch!” Draper snarled at me.

  Stanley’s head swung back and forth between me and Draper.

  “That’s no way to talk to a lady,” I said belligerently. “Didn’t your mama ever teach you any manners?” I had a brief visual of the photograph we’d seen in Draper’s room – the woman with the long eyebrow.

  Draper stiffened and I wondered briefly if I should have left his mother out of it, but I forged ahead anyway.

  “Who is this creep?” I asked, turning back to Hawks.

  Before he could reply, I motioned to the bartender and asked, “You have a bouncer in this place?”

  The bartender narrowed his eyes and didn’t reply. He continued to dry a glass. This was just a quiet little neighborhood bar.

  Stanley appeared to be relieved that I’d stepped in, and he played along with me. “It’s so good to see you,” he said, his words coming out in rapid fire. “Really, really good to see you. How’s your mother? Sit down and let’s discuss our lives. Tell me what’s new. There must be lots to talk about, right? Oh, it’s so good to see you!”

  “Don’t overdo it.” I gave him a hug and whispered in his ear, but I knew he meant what he was saying. He’d never been so glad to see anyone in his entire life.

  “Excuse me,” I said, almost spitting nails at Draper, “but would you please move down a seat so I can visit with my old friend?”

  “I was just leaving. I’ll catch up to you later,” he said, poking Stanley’s chest with his finger.

  It wasn’t until Draper was out the door that Stanley’s breathing slowed down.

  “Thank you,” he said gratefully.

  “What happened?”

  “Just a minute.” He ordered another drink and took a big gulp, choking when it went down. “I was walking home from the market and that man was following me, as usual. Only this time he started to catch up. He never actually tried to catch up before, so I came in here, thinking if there were people around maybe he wouldn’t bother me. I’m so thankful you were here.”

  “So am I,” a voice said from behind me.

  Whirling around, I found my partner grinning at me. “Pete!”

  “Hi! After I talked to you I drove over to Stanley’s place to see if anything was going on. I followed him to the store with Draper between us all the way. I saw you at your table when we came in here, so I sat at the far end of the bar to see what would happen.”

  I glared at him.

  “You handled that very well.” He was grinning like a fool.

  “For crying out loud, why didn’t you step in and help me?”

  “You seemed to have things under control. You didn’t need my help.”

  David joined us and put his hand on my shoulder.

  “Oh! David, I’m sorry. I forgot about you for a minute.” Wrong thing to say. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

  “No problem. I didn’t want to intrude,” he said.

  “Could you wait at our table for a few minutes? I’d like to talk to Mr. Hawks privately.”

  “Sure. I just wanted to be sure everything was okay,” he said, glancing at Pete.

  “David, this is my partner, Pete Goldberg,” I said, taking the hint. “Pete, this is David Smith.”

  They acknowledged each other but didn’t shake hands. I wondered if I should tell them to go to neutral corners—or to go stand in the corner. I sighed and shook my head in resignation, although in a way I was enjoying the attention.

  “Nice to meet you,” David said half-heartedly, just before he turned and walked away.

  “Yeah.” Pete spoke to David’s back.

  “Pete,” I whispered, “there’s no reason for you to act that way.”

  “Yeah? What about him? He wasn’t exactly Mr. Congeniality.”

  Ignoring him, I turned my attention to Stanley. “Who’s this Beck person Draper referred to?”

  “I honestly don’t have the foggiest idea. I’m as much in the dark about this as you are.”

  “Okay. But if you think of anything, let us know. In the meantime, I’m sure Pete would be happy to escort you home.”

  I glanced at Pete and he rolled his eyes at me.

  “Sure, Stanley. Come on and I’ll give you a lift. You don’t want to walk home alone tonight.” He glanced toward David. “On second thought, why don’t you finish your drink first? Maybe it will help settle your nerves.”

  “Righto. And please call me Stan.” He cheerfully reached for his glass and knocked over another drink. Shrugging his shoulders, he ordered a beer for Pete and a glass of wine for himself.

  I could feel Pete’s eyes boring into my back as I returned to the table.

  ~ * ~

  “The next day Pete told me he saw David lean back in his chair and watch what was happening like he wished it would escalate – like he was enjoying what Stanley and I were going through. Of course I didn’t believe him. I guess that shows how dumb I can be sometimes.”

  “You didn’t know, honey.” My mother smiled, trying to make me feel better.

  “Stan said later that David struck him as not quite right. If I recall, I think he said David struck a nerve and seemed off the beam.”

  Felicity shrugged her shoulders. “I still haven’t heard anything Stan might not want me to hear. What you’ve told us sounds just like my Stan. Although, it does tell me more about David and what we’re up against.”

  I nodded. “I’ll tell you the rest of the story another time. Right now we need to start putting our plan, such as it is, into action.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  As the sun lowered from view and shadows began to disappear, we went back into the house and tried to eat dinner. None of us was hungry, so we snacked.

  “We can’t do this on an empty stomach.” My mother never considered doing anything on an empty stomach because, as she said, hunger can be distracting. Her reasoning made sense in a way, but what do you do when nothing sounds good?

  We laid out crackers and spread, along with chips and dip. It kept us busy and actually helped keep our minds off what might be coming. I noticed no one cracked a joke or laughed, though. We were very quiet. The thought of David was like a heavy fog engulfing us.

  Even Bubba was subdued. I set out his dog food and he ate, but not with his usual gusto.

  After glancing at her watch several times, Felicity stood up and threw napkins and paper plates in the trash. “I think it’s time we get moving, Livvie. Don’t you?”

  “I’m so torn! I know we’ve got to do this, but I don’t want to leave Sandi alone.”

  The doorbell rang before either of us
could respond. Mother and Felicity followed me to the living room.

  After peeking out the peep hole, I opened the door to Officer Hernandez. He wasn’t smiling. “I spoke to Rick Mason. He wants me to watch your house.”

  “I thought the idea was to keep it under wraps,” I said. “You know, not let David know you’re watching me.”

  He stood with one hand resting on his holster and the other holding the microphone, or mic, on his shoulder. “Ms. Webster, I wish I could hide out across the street and watch you twenty-four/seven, but I can’t. I’m actually hoping Smith is watching. First of all, seeing a police officer at your door may be a deterrent. Secondly, if it’s not, at least he’ll see me leave and think I’m on my way to another call. I dropped another officer off behind the houses across the street and he’s watching from beside a vacant house. I’ll be joining him, but you have to understand that if we receive a call, we’ll have to leave.”

  I felt deflated. “I can only hope if David decides to pull something he does it before you get called away.”

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Webster, I really am. I understand the situation you’re in but we’re short-handed. Let me have your phone number and if I have to leave I’ll call to let you know I’m not across the street. If Smith shows up, call 9-1-1 immediately.”

  “Not to worry, Officer,” Felicity said. “I’ve got my gun and I know how to use it – and I have a valid license to carry it.”

  Hernandez looked upset. “Do you know how many people are shot with their own guns?”

  Where had I heard that before? Oh, yeah, from my mother.

  Felicity looked angry. “What do you expect us to do? Sit calmly and let him kill Sandi?”

  “No, but… I just hope we don’t get a call before Smith shows up. And don’t go shooting your gun. You could accidentally hit one of us.” He swept his hand around to include all of us and the officer across the street. The way he was waving his hand, I knew David wouldn’t catch on.

  I needed to defuse the situation and the only way I could do that was to change the subject. “Officer Hernandez, we have a plan. I want to fill you in so you don’t give us away.” I went on to tell him about my mother and Felicity sneaking next door, leaving me as bait.

  Hernandez shook his head. “I think you’re wrong to handle it this way, but I can’t stop you. You women need to think this through a little further. You might as well leave the back door open with a welcome mat on the porch.”

  “Not a bad idea,” I said. “Except I’ll leave the front door open, and that way you can see him if he tries to come inside.”

  Hernandez rolled his eyes. “Lady, I’ll apologize later if this works, but for now I want to go on record saying that I warned you not to carry this out. Honestly? You’re making my job a whole lot more dangerous.”

  “You’re on the record, and I appreciate your concern,” I said. “I just can’t go on this way anymore. David is a pimple on the face of humanity, and I need to pop him.”

  Mother poked me. “Well, that created a disgusting picture. I hope I can get it out of my mind.”

  Hernandez walked away, still shaking his head. He climbed into his patrol car and took off, probably a little faster than he should have. It was my fault and I knew it. I also knew he was right. We were inviting disaster, but it was coming my way whether we invited it or not.

  I turned to my mother and friend. “Are you two ready?”

  Suddenly they didn’t look so sure of themselves.

  “Wait! We need to change into dark clothing,” Felicity said.

  I waited while they went upstairs and changed clothes, thinking about how much I cared for them. Thankfully my mother had packed some darker clothing and Felicity was already wearing black slacks, so she loaned Felicity a shirt. They returned in less than five minutes.

  “It’s not too late for the two of you to head over to Felicity’s house and get out of this. I mean it. I wouldn’t think any less of either of you.”

  “I’m still in.” My mother turned to Felicity.

  “Me, too. After all, he wants you, not us.” Felicity’s eyes widened and she spoke rapidly. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, Sandi. I just mean that he’s coming after you. He won’t be expecting us.”

  “Of course he’ll expect us,” my mother said. “Haven’t we been by Sandi’s side almost every minute of the day since this started? He just won’t expect us to be effective. But we will be – effective, that is. Somehow knowing there are two officers hiding across the street makes me feel bolder. We can do this.”

  “You sound like a cheerleader, Mother. I know I talk big, but I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to do this alone. I’m so glad you’ll be next door.”

  “We’ll call for help when he shows up, but we’re also going to come running as soon as we see him sneak into the house. We may be small, but we’re mighty.”

  “Okay, okay. I get it. As a team we can conquer anyone or anything.” They didn’t realize it, but they were making me feel a whole lot better.

  “Are you really going to leave the front door unlocked?” my mother asked.

  “No. If I make it too easy for him, he’ll know it’s a trap. However, I think I’ll leave one of the windows between the two houses slightly ajar.”

  Mother took hold of Felicity’s hand. “Let’s go.”

  Felicity nodded.

  “Wait until I turn on some lights.” I left them and turned on inside lights in the office and the downstairs bathroom. They should be illuminated as they sneaked over to Dolly’s house. It had to at least look like they were trying to be sneaky, sans the dark clothing.

  “I really don’t want to leave you alone, sweetie.” My mother was making one last attempt to change my mind.

  “I know, Mother, but we’ve got to do this. Otherwise David will keep calling and trying to terrorize me. Eventually he’ll come after me. It’s got to be on my terms, like it or not. Have you two got your walkie talkies?”

  They each held one up in the air before we checked one last time to make sure they were still working. I called to Bubba and he came. He didn’t seem to want to go with my mother, but she coaxed him with a treat and some sweet talk.

  Mother and Felicity opened the front door and edged out onto the porch. They kept close to the house and helped each other off the far end of the porch before slinking across the yard with Bubba. They were careful to make a little noise to draw David’s attention, should he be watching.

  Picking up my gun, I stuck it in the back of my waistband, checking to be sure I could easily reach it. I whipped it out a couple of times, practicing for speed. Feeling silly, I stuck it back in place and left it alone.

  There was no doubt in my mind that he saw them. I couldn’t figure out where he was watching from, but he seemed to see everything that went on at my house. Hopefully he hadn’t seen where Hernandez went from his vantage point.

  I watched out the side window while my mother and friend approached Dolly’s house. Felicity tripped and fell. I wasn’t sure if she’d really tripped or if that was a way to get David’s attention. I had a feeling she’d really tripped.

  Unlocking the window, I raised it just enough so David could see it was open. Maybe a quarter inch or so. I turned off the lights nearest Dolly’s house, but left the lamp on the end table burning in the living room.

  Sitting down on the sofa, I began what I was afraid would be the longest wait of my life. Checking my watch, I saw it was only six-thirty. I was too wound up to sit so I stood and began pacing. Realizing I needed to listen for the window opening, I sat on the floor in the hallway.

  I heard static coming from my walkie talkie. “What?”

  “How’s it going over there?” Felicity asked.

  “I need you and my mother to stay off the walkie talkies so I can listen. I need to hear what’s going on outside.”

  “Okay.”

  The walkie talkie went dead. Not a good thought, so I revised my thinking to the walkie tal
kie went silent.

  Time passed slowly. I shifted my position because my back was beginning to ache. My eyes had adjusted to the semi-darkness. Glancing at my watch told me that only twenty-two minutes had passed since the last time I looked.

  Standing, I quietly shuffled down the hallway. Realizing the movement made my back less painful, I paced from one end of the hall to the other. Making a quick decision and a turn into my office, I lifted the desk chair and set it in the hallway. Much smarter than sitting on the floor. I could stand and defend myself with more ease than if I were sitting on the floor.

  Listening intently, I couldn’t hear anything unusual. A horn honked somewhere off in the distance. I heard voices as someone walked down the street, but they faded quickly. A large dog barked, but the sound wasn’t deep enough to be Bubba. I thought it might be Pumpkin, Mrs. Lott’s dog.

  I wondered how Pete and Frank were doing and hoped they were having a good time. I thought about how much I loved Pete, and briefly recalled the time Pete and I had spent in Wolf Creek, the ghost town I’d never forget. I wished with all my heart that I was there with Pete now instead of waiting for a killer to come after me.

  My back began to ache again and I thought it was probably because of all the stress in my life. What had ever possessed me to become a private investigator? I’d never dreamed my job would lead me to so much death and destruction. Would I have done things differently if I’d had a clue? Probably not. I was doing what I’d always wanted to do, and that included solving murders. I just didn’t want my name added to the list of the dead or dying.

  Time continued to drag.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  I realized how David had affected my judgment when I glanced at the open window and saw what a good target I was. I knew better. I wanted him to come after me, but I didn’t want to make myself a sitting duck. With that thought in mind, I stood up and moved my chair into the office doorway. I could peek around the corner without being seen.

  After leaning around the doorway and checking the window, I took a chance and used the walkie talkie. “Mom, how are things going over there? Are you two okay?”