“Me and this stun gun can handle a Ho.”
I put the wire in Mona’s hair with the earpiece in her ear.
“Can you hear me?” Mona grabbed the earpiece away from her ear.
“You trying to cause me to go deaf. Yes, I can hear you, turn it down.”
“We gotta do something about your false eyelash, every time you blink it hangs on your brow.” Mona wet her finger and pushed it down. “That should do it.”
I readjusted the volume and placed the earpiece back in her ear. “I’ll let you know my position.”
Mona crawled out of the Explorer stumbling over her stilettos. With every step she was pulling down her micro mini shirt and pulling up her top over her double ‘D’s. She made it to her lamp post and wiggled herself in position. She actually looks good in that Ho outfit. The Ho’s start standing at their post around ten o’clock. Mona stationed her self at Buffy’s pole around nine thirty. A couple Ho’s walked by and told her she best get off Buffy’s post. Mona told them this was her post. They left laughing and kept walking calling back. “You’ll be sorry sister.”
Ten o’clock sharp Buffy walked up to Mona.
“Hey girl, you standing at my lamp post. This is were I work every night. You best get on down the street.”
Mona looked around and up and down the post. “I don’t see your name on this lamp post. You must be mistaken.” Mona adjusted her weight to the other foot and smacked her gum in my ear.
“Listen to me. My John’s know where to find me and I’m standing here. You get on down the street.”
“Honey, I’m not going any where.” Mona stomped her feet and leaned against the post.
Buffy put her face in Mona’s face. Mona stuck the stun gun in Buffy’s belly.
“You want some of this?”
Mona pressed the stun gun and nothing happened.
“What are you doing?” Buffy’s stilettos hit the pavement. Mona was in hot pursuit. Buffy lost one stiletto and then the other one. Mona kept at her back trying to take her down but with Buffy barefoot and Mona in her stilettos she couldn’t catch her. I jumped in the Explorer and made my way past them. Buffy ran across the lawn of the local church and headed for the alley. I raced into the alley and came up the alley with Buffy’s head hanging and her hands on her knees.
Mona grabbed her by the arm, turned her around and wrenched her wrist with the cuffs.
“What are you two doing?”
“You didn’t show up for court and we are going to show you the way to jail. Now get your sorry butt in the Explorer.”
“Can you go back and pick up my stilettos? I hate to go to jail without my stilettos.
I rammed Buffy in the Explorer and joined her in the back seat. Mona retraced our tracks and picked up Buffy’s stilettos.
A couple of Ho’s were standing at Buffy’s lamp post. Buffy yelled out the window. “You get your sorry ass away from my post. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
We turned Buffy in to the court and got the papers signed.
One officer wanted to book Mona. I persuaded him she was working under cover. He said. “I bet she works well under cover.”
TWENTY-NINE
Daddy had the Edsel ready for me to use. Mona and I were on our way over to pick it up when my phone rang. I took my phone from the case on my waist. It was Hayden.
“Hi Hayden. What’s up?”
“You busy?”
“No.”
“Good, meet me at your folks house.”
“I’m on my way over there to pick up the Edsel. Thought I would use it until I get the insurance money on my Blazer.”
Hayden was setting in his Chevy Lightning pick-up in front of my folks place when we drove up. Mona pulled to the curb and parked.
Hayden stepped from his pick-up. “Tiffany, I want you to go for a walk with me. Do you mind Mona.” He asked Mona knowing Mona would be on our heels if he didn’t excuse us.
Mona shrugged her shoulders and walk toward my folks front door. Hayden took my hand and briskly walked down the street.
“I’ve been remodeling my parents old house on the corner and I wanted you to be the first to see the finished project.”
He pulled a single key from his jean pocket, unlocked the door. Stepped back and I stepped in.
“Hayden this is beautiful.” My eyes traveled from wall to wall, from the living room right through to the kitchen with black granite counter top and stainless steel appliances. The house was fully furnished.
“Hayden, you did a great job on remodeling this old place.” My eyes were busy looking and my feet were busy walking all over the house. I thought I heard Hayden say something about me liking the color scheme.
“What did you say?”
“Do you like the colors? I had you in mind when I chose the colors.”
Hayden handed me the key. “What’s this?”
“Looks like the key that fit’s the front door. I want you to live in the house.”
“I can’t afford a house like this and with it completely furnished. Hayden that’s a nice gesture but…”
“I don’t need any rent for the place. I need some good tax write offs and I don’t want to get rid of my folks place. There’s too many memories for me to turn loose of this place. You and I have some good memories in the garage.”
“You mean when I was five and you were seven and we played doctor?” I put my arm around him.
He wrapped his arms around me. “Exactly, good memories. Say you’ll move in. No, strings attached. It’s yours to live in as long as you wish.”
“You sure about this?”
“Positive, you okay with it? You would be near your folks and they are getting older.”
“Okay, I’m speechless.”
Hayden took my hand and walked me back to his pick-up and hopped in.
“You can move in when ever you‘re ready.”
“I’ll need to shop for linens and such before I can move in.”
“Guess you forgot to check out the linen closet. Oh, and the chest of drawers has a few of my items in the bottom drawer.” Hayden smiled and drove off. I stood on the sidewalk with my mouth open. My hand was grasping the key. I unfolded my hand. There lay the key in the palm of my hand. The key to my new home. I screamed and ran toward my folks front door.
“Momma, Daddy, Mona you won’t believe this.”
“What honey?”
“I’m going to be living down the street in Hayden’s childhood home.”
“That so?” No one seemed to excited.
“It’s gonna be a while before I have the Edsel ready for you to drive.” Daddy folded his arms across his chest.
“But…I thought you had me come over to pick it up?”
Mona jumped up from the sofa. “Show us your place.”
We walked to the house. I put the key in the keyhole and turned. It unlocked the door to my new place. Everyone looked around not seeming to excited.
“Did he remodel the garage?” Dad started for the detached garage.
We walked to the back of the yard and stood looking. I pulled on the handle and the door was locked. I tried to find a keyhole but there wasn’t one.
“He didn’t mention the garage.” I stood looking at the freshly landscaped yard. The sidewalks were winding throughout the yard.
I started to walk back in the house when the garage door started to roll up. I turned around. The door was open and inside was a black Honda CR-V.
“What’s this all about?” I ran over to the Honda and peeked in the windows.
“It goes with the house.” Dad said as he handed me the garage door opener. “Oh, here’s the keys.”
My heart jumped up in my throat. Why would anyone treat me so nice? I sat down on the kitchen step and shook my head. Tears flooded my face leaving a puddle on the stoop. I wiped snot with the back of my hand.
“Girl, we gotta get back to the apartment and get your stuff together.” Mona headed toward her Explorer with me on her heels.
I turned and waved at Momma and Daddy.
An afternoon of shopping was in order. I purchased jeans, shirts, dress pants, a couple of nice blouses, undies and jammies. And a few pair of shoes, sneakers and new boots. Then to the make-up counter where I picked up lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow and blush. Then to the hair accessory department. A hair straightening iron for my curly locks. A few pony elastic holders, a large clip to hold my hair up for showers. Then to Wal-Mart to pick up toiletries, and food to stock the cupboards.
Mona, Bailey and I christened the house with a bottle of champagne, pizza and a movie on the forty two inch TV in the living room.
I pulled the drape to the side and looked to the street. Setting across the street in the shadows was the Jeep. I immediately dropped the drape. “Mona, the Jeep moved with me.”
Mona looked out. “I’ve a mind to confront that sucker.” She slowly dropped the drape while peeking from behind.
“That could be dangerous.”
Mona looked again and the Jeep was gone. “He must have seen the drape pull back and figured we spotted him.”
“Hayden said the windows and door have good locks and there’s an alarm system.”
“Let’s check the doors and windows and when I leave you set the alarm.”
“I’ve got Bailey. He’ll let me know if there’s a noise.” Bailey’s ears popped up.
THIRTY
I popped a piece of wheat bread in the toaster, took the Cheez Whiz jar from the cupboard and a knife from the drawer. The toaster zinged and up popped a perfectly toasted piece of wheat bread. I scooped a hunk of Cheez Whiz from the top of the jar and smeared it on my toast. I filled Bailey’s food and water bowl and he gobbled down his breakfast and slurped up his water. Bailey was looking at the door in anticipation of his morning jog to the park. I found his leash on the coffee table, hooked him up and out the door we flew. I immediately stopped and went back in the house. Grabbed my new ring of keys, put my phone in the case on my waist band, set the alarm and headed out the door.
We jogged past my folks place. Daddy was watering the lawn. I waved a hello and kept jogging. He sprayed the water in my direction but I was past his reach.
“Good morning, Tiffany.”
“Morning, Daddy.”
The park is three blocks away. I unhooked Bailey and walked around the park. Bailey did his hike and poop and I picked it up and tossed it in the can. My mine raced back to days gone by when I played in the park. The big old ten foot silver metal slide is still standing. When I was about four Daddy climbed the stair with me, set me on the slide and gave me a gentle push. I remember sliding down to Momma’s arms. The swings are made of steel, long chains and a six inch by two feet strip of rubber for a seat. Daddy would swing me so high I thought I was going over the top. My sister, Kimberly mastered the monkey bars long before me. It took me a while but soon I was swinging from one bar to the next. Memories…flooded my mind and tears flooded my face.
I looked around for Bailey. He was on the other side of the park playing with a Beagle. I yelled for him. He came running. I hooked him up and we jogged back home. This time I took the back alley route and didn’t go past my folks place. Momma would probably be out front working in her flower garden and I didn’t have time to chat.
I picked up Mona in my new Honda. I guess I should say Hayden’s Honda. Mona met me on the street.
“What do we have on the schedule today?”
“Let’s stop at a phone booth and get a phone book.”
“So that’s where you get your phone books?” I looked over at Mona and shook my head.
“Okay, you rip it off and I’ll be the get away driver. Good way to initiate the Honda
“Phone booths are getting hard to find. Since everyone has a cell phone.” Mona said.
“The drug dealers and Ho’s still use phone booths.”
I spotted a phone booth, made a quick turn into the Chevron parking lot and came to a stop next to the phone booth. Mona stepped from the Honda into the phone booth closed the double hinged door, placed the phone near her ear holding it with her chin with pretense she was on the phone. Mona took her fingernail file and popped the wire from the book. Walaaaa! With book in hand she pushed the hinged door out and hopped in the Honda.
Mona continued with the list she started days ago. “We still have a few massage parlors to visit. I’ll try to keep them in order where we won’t be back tracking. I hope we find her before long.”
“Do you mean before she kills again?” I’ve been thinking she may be the one killing the massage parlor owners.
“You think she’s the killer?” Mona’s set up in her seat and leaned over to look me in the eyes. “You really think she’s the killer?”
“Dang, we’ve got a tail.” I took the next right turn onto the highway and put the accelerator on the floor.
“Let’s see what this baby will do.”
“Have you put the pedal to the metal?” Mona yelled while trying to turn looking over her shoulder. “Looks like they are going to push us off the road if you don’t take the middle.”
“This is all she’s got.”
I cut my wheels to the left taking my half out of the center of the road. On coming cars were running off the road. The black sedan was on my rear end. He bumped my back bumper jolting our heads back.
“That sucker. Can’t he see this is a new vehicle?”
After passing an eighteen wheeler I swerved to the right in front of him and hit the side street leaving the black sedan in the middle of the highway.
“Whoohoo, we ditched um.” Mona set back in her seat. “Girl you are good.”
Mona had a list of massage parlors to visit. First on the list was Carolina’s Massage Parlor located in the middle of the block. I drove down the alley. There were cars up on jacks, hoods raised, old furniture stacked in piles ready to be burned. If not disgusting enough, kids were added to this mess. Carolina had a dirt parking lot off the alley. I opted to drive to the front. I didn’t want to get my new Honda dirty. It had already been jostled from the rear by the black sedan. I parked on the curb about ten feet from the fire hydrant or so I thought.
Mona rang the door bell. A nice looking black lady in her fifties with golden orange nappy hair answered the door.
“What cha’ want child?” She was dressed in a black dress with a big white broach of an angel pinned at the neck opening of her low cut dress. Her earlobes were stretched giving her enormous lobes holding large white dangling earrings that looked like angels in flight.
“We are looking for Natasha McGuire a local massuese. Seems she left her last place of employment and is probably looking for a new parlor for employment. She didn’t leave notice of where she might be going.” I smiled up at the lady in black.
She looked eerie. Maybe voodoo goes on in that parlor. Maybe they have séance or something weird like that. My mind was racing and I was thinking. I don’t want her to invite us in.
“Come in, child, come in. I see you have worry in your heart.” Mona walked in the parlor and I followed wrenching my hands. She must be a fortune teller or a witch.
“No, no worry. Just looking for Natasha.” I stepped back pressing my shoulders to the door. My mind said run but my legs wouldn’t move. Like one of those dreams when you want to run from the axe murderer and your legs are too heavy to move. That’s me.
Mona was walking around the parlor picking up angels, voodoo dolls, she tapped on a bongo drum, and then let out a blood curdling scream.
“Mona, what’s wrong?” I couldn’t imagine what she had found.
“A snake!” Stretched out in the corner of the living room lay a big long boa constrictor.
“He won’t hurt you unless his hungry and I just fed him two rats. His busy digesting them. No need to worry.” The black lady stroked his belly and gave his head a pat.
Mona hastily made her way out the front door.
“You seen Natasha McGuire?” I was backing out the door and Mon
a was already in the Honda.
“She worked a few days but she didn’t like my Larry and left shortly there after. My powers showed me she is an evil lady and my Larry tried to hug the life out of her. She was lucky I had a few rats to feed him or I wouldn’t have been able to release her from his embrace.” Carolina was standing at the door finishing her sentence when I jumped in the Honda.
“Sheesh! What was that?” Mona was fanning herself with the phone book.
“One good thing we can write her off and know Natasha won’t be back.” I cranked the steering wheel away from the curb and noticed something on my windshield.
“What could be on my window? A note from my stalker?” I opened the door and stood leaning forward to reach the note secured under the windshield wiper.. I sat back in my seat and unfolded the yellow paper.
“A citation for parking within ten feet of a fire hydrant. And Randy’s signature is on it.”
“Doesn’t he have better things to do than write parking tickets?” Mona grabbed the ticket and wadded it up and threw it in the back seat.
“Mona I have to take care of the ticket.”
“You can call Randy and he can take care of it. He doesn’t know you have the new Honda.”
“Sure he does he ran the plates. He’s being ornery. I haven’t told him about my move or the Honda. His upset because I haven’t told him about the changes in my life.”
“Do you think his showing some jealousy of you and Hayden? We need to take a right at the next street. Beatrice’s Massage Parlor is on this street.”
I followed Mona’s directions and took a right turn. My mind was on Randy not on looking for the next massage parlor on Mona‘s list.
“Stop! Here it is.” Mona closed the phone book and placed it in the floor. She gathered up her clipboard and checked off Carolina’s and wrote down Beatrice Massage Parlor and clipped the pen to the clipboard.
We parked on the curb and walked through a white wooden archway of climbing red roses leading us up the winding walkway. Climbing ivy covered the house. Two old white weathered rocker’s sat on the porch with a crocheted afghan thrown across the ladder back of each rocker.
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