by Kim Smith
“Wonderful! I’ll get on the phone with Sissy and have her call you to make an appointment to see some of your work. Your advertisement sounds perfect.”
I smiled and patted her hand. “We’ll take good care of her, Mrs. Crachett.”
She returned the smile and we all sat there savoring our drinks. Then I saw the shiny white Escalade roll past the window with Thelma Lunsford Denaldo leaning forward in the passenger seat.
The man in the driver’s seat threw napkins at her, obviously displeased. Her terrified look spoke volumes. She was not enjoying this little jaunt in the fast lane. His rude actions and her fearful reaction made me gasp with surprise, and when I did, I sucked in some of the iced coffee I’d been slurping.
Pounding me on my back, Katie told me to lift my arms over my head. I complied, but still hacked and coughed until my eyes watered and snot ran like sugar maple sap. Staggering to my feet, I hauled out of the shop toward the drive-thru, Katie on my heels.
“It’s that Denaldo woman!” I finally managed to croak.
“Where?”
I looked at each car, but the Escalade had vanished. “Nowhere now. She’s gone.”
“Are you sure it was her?”
“Oh yeah, and she was with someone and they were not friendly.”
Dejected, we went back inside, and collected our purses from Mrs. Crachett’s table. She seemed curious about the hubbub.
“It was a client I have been trying to catch up to for a few days. I can’t believe I missed her again.”
She made soft murmurs of apologies on behalf of my misfortune. I shook her hand and we left.
Once safely in the Bronco, I exclaimed, “Damn shit, hell and damn.”
“Can you call somebody? Jim?”
“Yeah. I will when I get back. She’s gone now, nothing to do for it. Damn.” I continued cursing my bad luck for a few minutes.
Katie never said anything to me about my attitude, unlike Dwayne, who would have laughed at me until I sulked.
###
After Katie dropped me off at my car, I went back to the office and called Jim.
“Hello?” he answered, sounding happy.
“Jim, it’s Shannon. I need to talk to you. Your client, Mrs. Denaldo was just up in Memphis at the coffee shop on Germantown. Saw her in the drive-thru, in a white SUV as a passenger. ‘Course, she split before I could even get to the car.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“Did you make out the driver?”
“No. Not really. I was so shocked to see her that the driver paled in importance. It was a man though. I feel like a complete failure and wouldn’t blame you if you fired me.”
He laughed. “You’re not fired.”
“Do you know a man she would be with?” I asked.
“Aside from her lover? Not really. But then again, I’m not working for her, either.”
“Oh, yeah.” So, maybe the man was her lover? This was getting good. I recalled he was bald.
Jim didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, “She must have decided to leave the house. Maybe she gave up? My client will be thrilled.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. This man she was with, I wouldn’t exactly say they were friendly. He threw napkins at her and she looked pretty frightened.”
He let out a loud breath. “Uh oh. That sounds bad. Maybe I’ll try Rob Denaldo again and ask if he knows of anyone she might be driving around with. This is getting weirder and weirder.”
“Did you get the contract back?”
“Not yet, but I will. Or I can give you a copy I have, and I’ll try to get a check to you today. You’ll earn it eventually never fear. I always get my man.”
“Or woman?”
“Yeah. Talk to you soon.”
I placed the phone gently on its cradle and sat back. Sheesh. I guess the money was mine. Well, ours. Video Angels and I and my partner were like one
Dwayne slammed the front door to the office as he rolled in laden with bags and boxes from a chain chicken joint.
“Hungry?” he asked, plopping them down on my desk.
“Starved.”
He pulled out containers of potatoes, gravy, and cole slaw. “You’ve been missin’ a lot lately. Hangin’ with Katie?”
“Yes. And trying to drum up business. And trying to finish unfinished business.”
He unwrapped plastic forks and napkins. “Oh really? Good. I was hopin’ you wasn’t plannin’ on leavin’ me for some skirt and heels job with that Adams dude.”
I stopped in the middle of opening the biscuit container. “What? Dwayne Brown. You didn’t really think that?”
He shrugged and went to get cups from our small closet that housed a coffee pot and supplies. When he returned, I stood up and went to him, patting him on the back. “Dude. I am so sorry. You know I would never do that. We’re partners you know, Shaft and Shadow. I’m in this for the long haul.”
He gave me his million-dollar smile and nodded. “Awright, awright. It’s cool.”
I walked over to the credenza, pulled out the company checkbook and tore off a deposit ticket, laying it in front on him. “That is for the two grand we are getting for the job with Jim. He considers it a retainer fee, and promises we will earn it even if we never get to work with Mrs. Denaldo, which by the way, I saw her today. She seemed like an unwilling passenger in a monster-sized truck. If you ask me, she’s in trouble. It looked like she was really scared of the guy driving. Lord, I don’t know what I’ve gotten us wrapped in this time.”
“You still think she’s been kidnapped?” The deposit slip disappeared into his pocket and he resumed serving our dinner.
“Or something. I’m going to talk to Sal about it. Maybe do some more digging. Something is making my hair fuzzy on this one.”
“Did they see you?” He stopped mid-air with the container of mashed potatoes.
“I don’t think so. I was inside the coffee hut place up on Germantown and they were in the drive-thru.”
“Well, that’s a relief. Maybe your fuzzy hair is a natural occurrence for once? Nothin’ a beauty shop can’t fix.”
I ignored him. “Anyway, I also spoke to a woman today whose daughter is getting married in August. She needs a videographer and is going to give our info to her for her to call us. Her name is Crachett.”
He raised his eyebrows. “No shit?”
I smiled and stuck out my hand for the plate he had just made. “No sheet.”
###
About seven o’clock, we called it a day. There had been no calls, and we were both tired of looking at computer screens. I had finally taught myself how to compress video and create a format that made viewing it on the web easier. It would be ideal for our website if we ever got one put together that we could both agree on.
“Wanna come over and watch a movie?” Dwayne asked as we walked to our cars where they sat next to each other in front of the building.
“What’re you going to watch?”
“True Lies.”
I laughed. “I’ve seen that one. Several times. Arnie isn’t too shabby-looking in it.”
“I’m sayin’ he ain’t! Maybe I have worn that one out. You got any new ones?”
“Nope, but I got that streaming service, so....”
He sighed. “I need a man.”
I did not want to hear about the needs of gay men. I made a motion like locking my mouth and threw away the key, climbed in Betsy and tried to start her up. Nothing happened.
“Uh oh.”
Dwayne had just closed his car door, so I jumped out to rap hard on his passenger side window. He rolled it down.
“Car won’t start.”
“Shit.”
“Damn, Dee. What do I do?”
He sighed and got out. “Besides shootin’ it and puttin’ it outta its misery? Pop the hood.”
I pulled the lever under the dash and waited while he tinkered. He went back and forth from his car to mine, hooking up battery cables, and start
ing engines. Soon, he lifted his head and frowned at me. “I think it’s the battery.”
I sighed. “Okay, so now what?”
“I’ll take it to that all night auto place and have them check it. If it’s dead, you owe me some bucks for a new one. I can take it out of the money we’re puttin’ in the bank from Adams. We don’t have many auto expenses.”
Relief washed over me. “Great. Thanks, Dee.”
“Might as well go on back in the office though, and wait on me to call you. It’s gonna be a minute.”
“Okay.” I tossed my tote bag over my shoulder and headed back to the office. He was putting my battery in his trunk when I closed the door. Just because I’m paranoid, especially after hours, I locked the door and double-checked it. The phone rang as I walked to my office and I hurried to answer it, hoping it would be the Crachett girl calling about her wedding videography needs. I would have to do the best I could to answer her questions, but I really wished Dwayne was there to cover me. Selling was not my strong suit.
“Video Angels,” I answered, sitting down.
“Leave Thelma Denaldo alone. Don’t go to her house, don’t try to find her. Your involvement might get you dead.”
I looked at the now silent phone incredulously before replacing it in its holder. Then my mind kicked in. A man’s voice. A man who knew I was looking for my old teacher. Frightening and interesting all at the same time. How the hell did he get my work number? Cold chills covered my arms and quickly became chill bumps.
Picking up the phone again, I dialed James Adams, lawyer extraordinaire. He barely said hello before I jumped on him. “Jimmy! Some man just called me here at the office and warned me off finding Mrs. Denaldo. Who the hell knows about that besides you, Dwayne, the cops and Mr. Denaldo?”
“Nobody that I know of. When you say warned you off, what do you mean?”
“Warned me to leave her alone. Don’t try to find her, don’t go to her house. He told me my involvement might get me dead.”
“What? That’s crazy, Shannon. I’ve been trying to call Rob Denaldo, but he isn’t answering his number, and to be honest, this is sort of out of my league. I mean I don’t usually get this involved with a case. I do civil junk, not criminal, and this is sounding more like the latter. If you’re being threatened, well, I say let’s drop this one and leave it for the cops.”
“No way, Jimmy. Hell, no. I’m mad now. Meaner boys than that one has tried to kill me. I’m not scared.” I lied through my teeth, but I sounded convincing. “Now it’s personal.”
“Well, why don’t you call up your buddies at the PD and let them know about this anyway. I think you’re over your head, and maybe we ought to take the caller’s advice. It’s not worth you getting hurt over.”
I scratched my chin and thought it over. I wasn’t too excited about taking this threat to Sal. He had enough on his plate. But I did want to tell him about seeing Thelma at the coffee shop.
“I’ll be careful, Jim.”
We disconnected and I wandered to the front door to look for Dwayne. He wasn’t back yet, so I pulled my cell out of my bag and called him.
He answered right away. “Damn it, Wall-ass, I told you it would be a minute.”
“I’m not calling about the car.”
“Well, what now? Did the coffeepot quit, too?”
I sniffed. “Not that I know of. But I answered a scary call from someone who doesn’t want me to find Mrs. Denaldo. The word ‘dead’ came up.”
He emitted a low whistle. “Damn it. I knew it! I knew you were barterin’ trouble when you agreed to work for that connivin’ con artist law man.”
I rolled my eyes heavenward and waited out his storm.
“Okay, let me think. Are you okay to stay there alone?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m locked up tight.”
“Good. Let me finish this battery business and get back there. Don’t you go anywhere either, Wall-ass. I mean it. And keep that damn cell phone out and ready. Where’s your little friend?”
He called all firearms, little friends. That said a lot about what he and I had gone through together. “Here, at the place.”
“Good, keep it handy, too.”
I agreed and we disconnected. He worried as much as I did. I strolled back toward my desk and was about to make a pot of coffee, when someone rapped on the front glass door hard enough to rattle the glass.
Chapter Six
Video Angels’ windows and glass front door sported the latest in mini-blinds, done in a sort of flesh tone. When they were closed, the ability to see a caller outside was hard to do. I hoped it was likewise for anyone trying to see in.
Slinking to the front part of the reception area, I pulled my .38 out of the middle drawer in the pseudo front desk where we hoped to seat a receptionist someday, if, and when, business allowed it. Dwayne didn’t like the fact I kept my gun there, but I wasn’t going to humor him.
Being a target did things to your self-confidence.
He still thought I would end up shooting off my foot, or a body part belonging to an innocent victim, even though he was the guru who helped me to obtain it. At any rate, I would only shoot if out of other options.
I moved to the left of the doorknob and peered between the plastic blind slats just a hair.
It was Sal.
I snatched the door open before he could rap again.
“Oh, thank God!” I said in a huff as I pulled him inside by his shirtfront. His face brightened, as we stood nose to nose. He wrapped an arm around me logistically to keep us both on our feet. His body heat made my nerve endings jump.
When he saw the gun, his cop-face fell like a mask. “What’s up?”
I pulled away, shoved the gun back where it had been. “You go first.”
“I came to check if you were in here, the lights were on. It’s later than you and Brown usually hang out, and I saw your car here, but not Brown’s. I didn’t know if you were here alone, or what, when I saw someone moving around. What can I say? I’m a cop. Your turn.”
“Betsy wouldn’t start, and Dee took her battery to find out if it was dead. I came up here to wait for him to get back and got spooked.”
“Something in here spooky?” He looked around.
“A telephone call. Someone threatened me.”
He strode to my office, and I trailed behind. He checked the caller I.D. on my desk phone, but it came up all zeros.
“Blocked?” he asked.
“Or something.”
“What did the caller say exactly?”
“Wants me to quit looking for Thelma Denaldo or else.”
I rubbed my arms with both hands and noted I was now shivering. The air conditioner had kicked in or I was more frightened than I thought.
“Wonder why your caller cared? And how he found out so fast?” He tapped the phone with one finger. “Any ideas?”
I shrugged and moved to the closet to make some java in our old reliable pot. “No. None. Except…I mean…I saw Mrs. Denaldo today in a big Escalade up in Memphis. She didn’t look like she was joyriding, either. I was so shocked to see her that I didn’t get a good look at the driver, other than his being male and bald,” I paused. “I don’t think either of them saw me.”
“Make enough coffee for three,” he said, sticking his head around the corner of the door. “I’m staying until Brown gets back. Are you sure they didn’t see you?” He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.
“No. It’s really strange, Sal. The caller was a man, but no men know about my affiliation with Mrs. Denaldo aside from you, Dwayne, Jim Adams, and Mr. Denaldo. None of which would want to threaten me over all this mess.”
“Maybe this caller is protecting her for some reason? Maybe it was your Escalade driver? If they saw you…”
“I don’t think so, we never interacted. And how did he know to call the office? But listen, it seemed like Thelma needed protecting from him, though. He threw something at her, napkins, I think, and although
I wasn’t watching him really, I saw her face get all twisted like she was scared witless. She threw her arms up like she was warding off a fist or something.”
“Natural reaction to things flying at you,” he said, thoughtfully. “Do you think she’s being held against her will?”
“Yes, I do. Her purse was left behind. I guess you heard? No woman does that, Sal. I tried to tell Dee, but he wouldn’t listen. Her spilled purse is like a big red flashing sign to me. And if she isn’t being held against her will, why is she hiding? There was a murder at her house.”
He uncrossed his arms and his emotions played over his face. The reminder of Dan was unwelcome. He finally spoke, voice depressed and sad. “Your caller could be someone who followed the news story. It’s breaking pretty good now.”
“Oh.” I nodded, dropping my gaze. He had a good point. Our faces were photographed. I remembered the flashes.
He paced for a few moments before pausing to give me a look of haunted thoughts. “This is the worst day I’ve ever lived. It was Dan. Dammit. My partner. Not some random person that I can just walk away from, or work from afar and not think about. Not like I can slip the case in a drawer and forget about it,” he said, voice rough. “I owe him.” Then, “Ah, damn. Can we just have a cup of coffee and make small talk for a while? I feel sort of stressed right now.”
Tears welled, blurring my vision, and I wiped them away. “Oh God. I’m so sorry, Sal. I know this has to be hard.”
He nodded and he’d never looked more vulnerable. I wanted to pull his head to my chest to comfort him like I would a small child. Shaken at such tender thoughts, I shut the lid on the coffeemaker and moved to go around him. He put out an arm and pulled me close. Tender thoughts must paint themselves on my face like makeup.
“Shannon, we’ve let too much time go by between a night in college, a few goodnight kisses, and now. When are you going to relent and let me get to know you again?”
I made my worst mistake right then by looking at those deep soul-sucking brown eyes. He lowered his head to kiss me, and God help me, I would have let him, but Dwayne’s knack for worst timing than mine showed up.
He shoved the door open, and the moment disappeared. I pulled away.