The Devil's Dwelling

by Jean Avery Brown

“He took me to his condo. It’s really nice.” Mona seemed to like Brad or is it the stuff she likes? I wondered.

  Mona dropped me off at the office. I stopped at the market and picked up last weeks apartment rental magazine and took a look at the apartments for rent. I knew I needed to get my own place. I marked the address on an apartment and took a drive by. It was so me with the red brick and white trim, I couldn’t resist checking it out. I pushed the buzzer at the side of the door. I could hear it loud and clear.

  A frail small lady leaning on a cane with white hair on top her head in a little bun with silver combs holding the sides from stringing down answered the door. “Ms. Wilson?” I asked.

  “Yes, but who are you?” She questioned looking over her reading glasses.

  “Tiffany .” I told her. “Do you remember me from third grade?”

  “Tiffany, I hear you are a bounty hunter.” She looked me over. “You here to see the apartment?

  “Yes, I saw your ad and it looked so beautiful I thought it might be a good place for me.” I looked around the foyer and saw an elevator at the end of the foyer.

  “Could I see the apartment?”

  “Well, of course. My building is pretty quiet. There are quite a few retired teachers living here. It‘s a quiet apartment building. Guess that‘s because we don‘t have any young blood living here.”

  She pushed the elevator button. We stepped in and she hit number 4.

  “The available apartment is on the fourth floor?” I questioned.

  “Yes, I have another one available but this one is special and I won’t rent it to just anyone. You don‘t bring your work home, do you?” She didn’t give me time to answer her inquiring questions.

  We entered the apartment and I fell in love with it.

  “Ms. Wilson, this is beautiful. But I don‘t have a lot of funds and it‘s probably more than I can afford. I’m sure the other apartment must be less. Maybe you should show me the other one.”

  “You might be surprised.” She winked and we walked around the apartment. “Gordy and I lived up here when he was alive but I prefer living on the first floor.”

  “I have one problem. I have a dog. He’s a German Shepherd mix.”

  “Is he house trained?” She asked looking up at me over her glasses.

  “Yes, I take him out in the morning and again at night. I noticed there’s a park just down the road. That would be perfect for us.”

  “What about barking?”

  “You won’t hear Bailey barking unless there’s an intruder or something wrong with me.”

  “Bailey sounds like a good dog. Gordy had a dog when we were living on the fourth floor. He liked running around on the roof during the day. Your Bailey will be fine.”

  She gave me the same monthly charge for the fourth floor as she charged for the other apartments. I wrote her a check for the security deposit and the rent for two months and signed the one year lease.

  “Ms. Wilson, this is very nice of you.” I shook her hand and she held on to my hand. Tiffany, I know you will be a good tenant. The money doesn’t matter.”

  My heart was overwhelmed with emotion. I walked out of the apartment feeling like a new woman. Finally, a place of my own.

  I got in the Honda and headed home, well, that is to Hayden‘s place. I noticed the black sedan in my rear view mirror. I wondered what they were doing following me. I hit speed dial and called Randy.

  “Hello.”

  “Randy I’m traveling down Main Street going to Hayden’s and the black sedan is following me.”

  “I’m probably five blocks behind you. Drive slow and I’ll pull them over. You drive on a couple blocks and pull around the corner and wait for me.”

  I heard the blaring of Randy’s siren and saw the flashing red lights. The black sedan pulled over. I continued to drive on and parked around the corner and waited for Randy. A few minutes passed and Randy pulled in behind me. I rolled my window down as I saw Randy walking up to my rig. He put his hands above the window and leaned in.

  “The McGuire boys wanted to talk to you and apologize for harassing you. They said they thought you were Gayle Perkins. Seems they think Gayle Perkins did away with their sister.”

  “I hope this takes care of them following me.”

  “I told them I would apologize for them and to stay away from you.” Randy stood tall and spoke with authority.

  “Thanks Randy. I hope I’ve seen the last of that black sedan.”

  “I’m off duty in a half hour. How about dinner at my place?”

  “That sounds good to me. Can I bring something?”

  “No, I’ll pick up something on my way home. You hungry for anything special?”

  “No, surprise me.“

  He took his house key off his key ring and handed it to me. Call me when you get to the gate. I can buzz you in from my cell phone. Go on in and make yourself at home. The alarm code is….”

  I took the key and placed it in my bosom. Randy smiled and shook his head back and forth.

  “You’re such a tease.”

  I drove up to the gate and called Randy. The gate opened and I drove in. The yards in the neighborhood are manicured to perfection. No big wheels, bicycles out front and no basketball hoops over the garage doors. The garage doors are all down. This is not a kid friendly neighborhood. Most of the residence have lived here for many years. They raised their kids here and the kids have moved on. Randy’s grandparents owned the house for years. His grandmother died shortly after his grandfather passed on and she left the home to Randy. Randy sold all the furniture and refurnished it with his furniture and a few new pieces.

  I inserted the key in the door and the door unlocked. I pushed it open and wondered what it would be like to live here. Some days I would like to commit and other days I don’t want to loose my freedom. I’m sure Randy feels the same. We haven’t been able to commit to each other since high school.

  I closed and locked the door behind me and turned off the alarm. I moseyed around the house and out the back door. The rose bushes were blooming with an array of color against the back fence. Randy’s grandfather was very good with roses. He tended them with much care. His grandmother liked the perenial flowers and always had something blooming. I stood gazing at the beauty of the flowers, the trees and the arbor in the corner of the yard covered with leafy grape vines.

  Randy approached me from behind. “Oh, your startled me.” I turned to him.

  “Grandma and grandpa sure knew how to make a yard beautiful. I’m thankful I have a good gardener to keep it beautiful.”

  “It is beautiful.” I smiled.

  Randy put his arm around my waist and we walked back to the house.

  “Yummm.” The brown bags with the tops folded in the triangle Chinese origami style to keep them closed smelled of Chinese food.

  Randy filled the teapot with water and put it on the burner. He set two cups on the bar and a basket with a variety of teas. He took plates from the cupboard and spoons and forks from the utensil drawer. I opened and inserted a big spoon in each wire handle box.

  He laid a couple of napkins on the bar. I filled my plate and Randy overfilled his plate.

  The teapot whistled and Randy poured each a cup of water. I fumbled through the tea basket and chose Blackberry tea and handed the basket to Randy. I climbed on the bar stool and Randy straddled his stool and pulled it up to the bar.

  We shoveled Chinese food in as we talked.

  “I have some news for you.” I was anxious to tell Randy of my new apartment. I knew he would be pleased I was moving out of Hayden’s place.

  “I rented an apartment today.”

  “You rented an apartment? I thought you liked living at Hayden’s.”

  “Did I ever say I liked living there?”

  “No.”

  “No, you just took it for granted.”

  “Guess I did. I’m sorry. I guess that’s the jealousy coming out in me.”

  “No need to be je
alous,” I smiled and put my arm around him.

  Randy was standing at the end of the bed the next morning when I woke.

  “What are you doing?” I asked rubbing the bright sun shining in from the open drapes from my eyes.

  “Admiring you.” He smiled and crossed his arms.

  He was dressed in a GI Joe uniform. Okay, it‘s a Sheriff uniform but the way he fills it out he could be GI Joe. “I have to head out but I don’t want to go.”

  “Yeah, some day’s work is the pits.” I pulled my knees up to my chin and tucked the sheet between my legs. “But somebody’s gotta do it.” I said looking up at him batting my eyelashes.

  Randy walked around the bed, leaned over and kissed my forehead. “That’s all you get. Any more and I would be late for work. There‘s coffee in the pot.”

  He turned and walked out the door.

  I hopped from bed and pulled Randy’s tee shirt from my body. Turned on the shower water and stepped in letting the water splash against my body. The water was refreshing. I lathered up and rinsed off. I put on my dirty clothes, brushed my hair, found lipstick in the bottom of my bag and wiped it across my lips and smacked my lips smiled and rubbed the lipstick from my front tooth.

  I walked into the kitchen and laid my bag on the counter. I took a piece of bread from the bread box, dropped it in the toaster and found the Cheez Whiz jar in the cupboard. I poured myself a cup of coffee and set down at the bar. The toast popped up. I took a knife from the drawer and dug into the Cheez Whiz jar. I spread the toast with Cheez Whiz and laid it on a napkin.

  The newspaper was laying on the counter. I slid the rubber band off snapping my finger. “Owe!” I yelled.

  I unfolded the paper. My eyes fell on the headlines. “On my Gawd, another murder.”

  The headlines read. Woman Found Shot to Death.

  Donna Dugan found shot to death in her Massage Parlor. I read on…

  Sheriff Randy has declared we are dealing with a serial killer. The victims seem to be owners of massage parlors. He warns all massage parlor owners to be aware of their surroundings. The article read on with the particulars on Donna Dugan and the other victims.

  I finished my coffee and toast. Laid Randy’s house key on the counter. Randy didn’t leave a note but I thought I should leave one. I took the pad and wrote. Thanks for the nice dinner and evening. Love ya, Tiffany I set the alarm, threw the strap to my bag over my shoulder and pushed the button to lock the door and closed the door behind me.

  Mona’s was waiting at the office setting on the sofa reading the newspaper when I arrived. When I walked in she jumped up from the sofa.

  “Did you hear about Donna Dugan being shot in her massage parlor?” Mona asked.

  “I read the paper this morning. Randy didn’t tell me anything about it.”

  We drove by Donna’s Massage Parlor in the Honda. The Sheriff’s deputies were removing the yellow crime scene tape.

  “We can come back after dark and search the place. I wonder if Natasha McGuire is working here?” I tapped the steering wheel. “I bet we will find her file in there somewhere.”

  “Let’s have some lunch and I want to take you by an apartment building.” I told Mona.

  “You planning on moving out from Hayden’s place?” Mona looked at me like I was crazy.

  “Yes, I’ve been there long enough. I need my own place. When I’m with Randy I feel guilty and when I’m with Hayden I feel guilty.”

  “It’s difficult having two men at one time in my life.”

  “ I guess it could get to be a problem. I’m not saying I wouldn’t want to try it. Brad‘s enough man for me.” Mona laughed and gave me her big grin.

  “I have an apartment building I want to show you.“ I drove down Eighth Street and pointed out the large apartment building on the corner.

  “Tiffany, I love the red brick and the white trim.”

  “The parking is in the back.” I turned the corner to show her the parking and parked in

  4-A’s parking space.

  Mona got out of the Honda and turned her head upward. “This apartment is four stories high. You gonna be on the top floor?” She was shaking her head. “Just thinking of walking four flights of stairs makes me tired.”

  “To answer your first question. Yes, I will be on the fourth floor and no I won’t be walking the stairs. There’s an elevator in the building.”

  “I’m liking it better.” Mona said.

  “Let’s go inside. I rang the bell and Ms. Wilson answered the door.

  “Come in Tiffany.”

  “Ms. Wilson, I would like you to meet my friend Mona. We work together.” Mona extended her hand.

  “Nice to meet you Ms. Wilson.” Their hands clinched and a smile came upon each ladies face.

  “I want to show the apartment to Mona.”

  We rode the elevator to the fourth floor. The elevator opened up to a large foyer. Ahead was a big white door marked 4-A. I put the key in the lock and twisted the knob to open. I stepped back for Mona to go in first.

  “My word girlfriend. This is beautiful!” Mona walked through the apartment. Windows covered two exterior walls of the apartment.looking over the city. To the left is the master bedroom and bath. In the corner is the kitchen open to the living and dining rooms. Another bedroom is on the right side of the living room with a bathroom for guests. The windows were from floor to ceiling and didn’t have window coverings.

  “Tiffany, this place doesn’t have drapes.” She looked out the windows. “Guess you don’t need any this far up.”

  “The windows face north and east so the apartment will get the morning sun. There are shades on the bedroom windows.” I told her.

  Mona opened the French door to the deck area. “Now this is living. You could sun out here. Do the other apartment have access to the deck?”

  “This is the only apartment on the fourth floor.”

  “What! This would be all yours?” Mona danced around the deck.

  The railing was five feet high so no one could fall over.

  “Mona, this is my new apartment. I’ll be moving in on the first of the month.”

  “Girl, you don’t have any furniture.”

  “I know, but I will round up a few pieces to get by with.”

  “There’s still a few pieces at my parents place of Granny Wiggins. You want to drive over there with me to take a look?”

  “Sure, but you can have any of the pieces I have of your Granny’s.”

  “No, that’s all your stuff now.”

  I hit speed dial and called Momma.

  “Hello Tiffany. We haven’t heard from you since your house blew up. You doing okay. You know there’s another murder at a massage parlor? Do you have any news for me? The ladies are asking and I don‘t know much yet I guess I could adlib just a little.”

  “Yes, Momma adlibbing won‘t hurt anything. Mona and I are coming over to check out the Granny Wiggin’s furniture in the basement.”

  “There’s not much left. Why do you want it?”

  “I rented an apartment and I need some furniture. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  I flipped the phone shut. It rang right back.

  “Tiffany, we lost connection. You’ll stay for dinner. We have plenty. Kimberly and the boys were coming over but Clay got a belly ache from eating too much cake at a birthday party so they aren’t coming over.”

  “Just a minute.”

  “Mona, dinner at my folks okay with you?”

  “Sounds great to me. I love your momma’s cooking.”

  “We’ll be there for dinner. See you in a few minutes.’ I snapped the phone shut and turned the Honda toward my folks place.

  Kimberly’s rig was in the driveway when we drove up.

  “I wonder why the change of plans?” I looked around to see Clay chasing Winston with a stick.

  “That’s no stick, it’s a golf club.” Mona said.

  The front door swung open and Kimberly flew out the door goin
g in the opposite direction to head them off at the pass. Kimberly grabbed Winston and swung him up on here hip. She put her hand out and stopped Clay.

  “You could kill him if you hit him with that.” Kimberly dropped Winston and swatted Clay on the rump.

  I parked at the curb, hopped out and locked the doors. Mona followed me in the house.

  “Hello, anyone home?” Daddy peeked around the corner.

  “Yeah, your Momma’s got me stirring the gravy.” He had a white apron tied around his chubby belly. “Momma thought I might splash gravy on my pants.”

  “Daddy you look handsome in an apron.” I giggled a little and gave him a hug.

  “Clay’s tummy ache is better so they decided to come on over. No need to worry I always cook way too much.” Momma bent over, opened the oven and waved the heat away with her hand. She took the pot holder from her apron pocket. “Stand back I’ve got to get this roast out of the oven.”

  Everyone stood back giving Momma plenty of room.

  I took plates from the cupboard and set the table. Mona followed behind me with the napkins and silverware.

  Kimberly rounded up the boys and set them at the table. Daddy was waiting with a dish towel tucked in his shirt, knife and fork in each fist on each side of his plate ready to eat.

  .

  After dinner we made our way downstairs to look over Granny Wiggin’s furniture. There wasn’t much to look over. I decided on a chest of drawers and a trunk for a coffee table. I wouldn’t be needing to borrow Hayden’s pick up the couple pieces of furniture will fit in the Honda.

  “I’ll pick up the stuff on the first when I move in.” I told the folks.

  Mona and I bid farewell to the family and I drove Mona home.

  I drove to Hayden’s home, hit the garage door opener and watched the door go up. I drove in and the door automatically closed behind me. I knew I was being watched and I also knew I would be telling Hayden this would be moving to my own apartment.

  The elevator door opened and Hayden was standing in the elevator. I stepped in the elevator with him. He turned off the camera and gave me a kiss.