by Kim Smith
###
I thanked them again for being so sweet and feeding me as I fled the house with a covered plate of leftovers including enough Karo pecan pie to give me tooth rot. As I waddled to the car, thoughts of how fat I would be if I still lived at home clouded my mind. It was probably my laziness and slothful thoughts that caused me not to notice the car parked down the street under the streetlight. I wasn’t aware of it until it came streaking along the street, screeching to a stop behind my car blocking me in.
“What in hell…” I stood like a deer caught in a lightning storm, not knowing whether to run or stay. All the strange near-miss accidents that had been happening to my aunts came swiftly to mind.
The sound of squealing tires brought my aunts flying to the door and when the hooded assailant grabbed me, forcing the plate of food out of my hands, I knew we were all in a passel of trouble.
“This is a gun in your ribs, right? Yes, so just walk really slow right back to the house, and smile at those two nice old ladies.”
I didn’t know if it was the mask he wore hiding the lower half of his face, or the fact that my eyes were as big as saucers, but whatever it was, Aunt Nancy knew something was wrong, and she shoved Tillie out of the way, and shut the door, bolting it securely.
“What the hell?” I heard my attacker mutter. He took the words right out of my mouth.
Chapter Twenty-One
While he was occupied with scratching his pea-brain, I used the time to figure out how to get out of my current situation. My gun was at the bottom of my purse, and of no use. Stomping on his foot would meet with no success in flip-flops and elbowing him in the gut was out as there was no room to get a good aim.
The best thing I could do at this point was lead him up the front steps and then back quickly up and take him off his feet. I called out to my aunts as I took the steps, one, two, three. On the top step, I crowded close to the glass door and waited until he pushed against my back with his gun poking my ribs.
Then, I took one huge gulp of air, and one very short prayer, ducked at the waist, and shoved backward with my butt. Unexpected movement in that direction brought about the desired result, and with flailing arms, he pin-wheeled off the front porch.
The gun went one way and his body the other and the distinct sound of all the air in his lungs being expelled was my cue to move. I dove off the porch, rolled to the gun, which just happened to be an exact replica of my own, and breathed a sigh of relief when I came up with it, cocked and ready to blow his face off.
“Now, asshole,” I huffed. “You just move one half-inch and you’re dead.”
He held his hands up and blinked at me. My silhouette must have been wild, hair all array, gun gripped with both hands, legs in a wide-legged stance like some badass.
“Aunt Nan, call the cops!” I screamed as the door squeaked open behind me.
“Done,” she said softly, appearing at my elbow. She held a pistol in one hand, aimed right at the man’s baby-making gear.
“Where did you get that?” I asked, grinning.
“Same place you got yours. Dwayne has good connections there.”
I kicked the man’s foot. “Take off that mask, asshole.”
“Yeah, you loser,” Aunt Tillie growled as she arrived to rip the mask over his head none too gently.
We all gaped. The masked man was none other than Jerry Alexander. Suddenly, it came to me what had been going on. He’d been watching my movements ever since the murder, when he’d seen us leaving the Denaldo house. He’d been in the crowd, and had even spoken to me.
“What crap is this? It’s you? You’ve been calling and following and messing with my car? What the hell is up with you?”
He forced himself up to a sitting position, throwing up an arm in defense to indicate he was not going to try anything. “I knew you were the ones who found the body, and you were probably the only person who knew the full story. I figured you would lambast Mrs. Denaldo as the killer since it happened in her house and that’s what you do, right? I was going to hound you until you got too scared to say anything. I won’t let you endanger her!”
“At gunpoint?” Aunt Nancy yelled, kicking his leg. “You lousy, good for nothing jerk, my niece would never lower herself to accuse anyone unfairly. Even if she did lambast Thelma, as you put it, then she probably deserved it.”
“I hope they toss you in the pokey,” Aunt Tillie added, turning at the sound of sirens approaching in the distance. She strode to where my leftovers languished in the driveway and picked it up before some unsuspecting cop stepped in it.
Soon, a patrol car skidded to a stop in front of the house with sirens and lights in full array. The neighbors began peeking out at the ruckus and some even paced the perimeters of their yards to ogle the activity.
“Sorry for the mess,” I told my aunts. “Looks like you guys will be the talk of the night.”
“Should be great for the breakfast rush tomorrow,” Aunt Tillie replied, unfazed. She pretended to stumble, and dropped the leftovers, including pecan pie, onto Jerry’s head. He yelled and tried to dislodge the gooey mess out of his eyes.
The first patrolman to arrive, quickly unsnapped his gun holster when he saw Aunt Nan and I with guns. He ordered us to put them down in a voice that brooked no argument. We complied instantly and raised our hands like good little scaredy cats.
“He’s the baddie,” Aunt Tillie told him, waving at Jerry.
His partner strode up, grabbed Jerry by his shirtfront, and hoisted him to his feet in order to cuff him. The resulting food that besmirched his hands sent him from working public servant to grumpy city cop in a flat second.
“Good God,” he muttered, wiping at the sticky confection.
Sal’s unmarked car slid in front of the patrol car, and his tall form emerged. He strode over, explaining who we were as he came. “Don’t worry Hill, I got this. These people are my friends.”
Hill, aka the-voice-that-must-be-obeyed, nodded and turned to Aunt Nan. “Take those firearms indoors, immediately.”
She did.
“Everything okay?” Sal asked, gently placing his hand on the small of my back.
“Yep. We’re just dandy.” I gave him the once-over, taking in his faded jeans and the black tee shirt plastered perfectly over bulging biceps and rippling abs.
His attention went to the patrolman talking to Jerry, before he turned it on me.
“Admirer of yours?”
“As if!”
“She’s a mite touchy about that fellow at the moment,” Aunt Tillie told him. “I’m going in the house. There’s some more pecan pie, we always make extra, you know, in case company drops in.”
“Love some,” Sal said, smiling at her. “Right after Shannon and I chat.”
He peered at me like a cat at a mouse. “What? He’s somebody I knew from high school, and the only person he’s been admiring lately is Thelma Denaldo. He’s the one who’s been calling me with threats and tearing up my car. He thought I was endangering her, of all things. I’d be willing to bet he’s the same blonde fellow who attacked Dwayne last night…oops.”
“Oops, what?”
I looked down and refused to answer.
“Great. Now who’s keeping secrets?”
I wanted to remind him he had been keeping more than us, but refrained.
“I don’t think I want to know about this at the moment. Congratulations on your collar, Detective Wallace.”
He sounded so sarcastic, so angry it broke the floodgates of my restraint.
“You rat! He was the one who peeled up on my aunts’ property, gun at the ready. I defended us. You can be nasty about it if you want to. I’d do it again in a minute. And, before you launch into another one of those long tirades about not being able to protect me if I am going to act irresponsibly, save it. Dwayne and I survived the situation last night just fine without you.”
I turned away and started for the house, but he reached out and took my arm, holding me in place.
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“I wasn’t trying to be nasty, Shannon. I truly wasn’t. I came over as soon as I heard the broadcast.” He had a weird look on his face like he’d swallowed sour gummy worms without chewing. He pulled me close to him. “I was just worried. Dan’s funeral is set for Monday. The autopsy results came in today. I was worried, Shannon, really.”
At that moment, all my anger left. I recalled he had lost a close friend to a still unknown murderer, and I softened. I had been in his shoes before. He’d been very kind to me then. I owed him the same.
“I won’t ask the details for now. I can tell you’re not up to it. But, we’re fine, Sal. You can go on if you were just checking things out. I’m…I’m going in for that pie now.”
He nodded, and stroked my arm. “Good. That’s good. Okay, I’m going to help Hill and Johnson get your gunman loaded up, and then I’ll be in. I’m not leaving you three alone just yet.”
I tried to act nonchalant. Gently pulled out of his grasp and headed toward the house, but somewhere south of my navel, an attachment grew to that warm soothing hand that had held on for a moment too long.
###
Sal, good to his word, didn’t leave us alone for a long while. We consumed two bowls of my Aunt Tillie’s pecan pie with vanilla ice cream and sat in the family room, television on. None of us watched it, but we kept looking at each other with interest.
“So,” Aunt Nancy started. “You’re becoming a regular fixture in Shannon’s life.”
He nodded. “Yes ma’am. I try my best to protect and serve.”
I choked and sputtered, reached for my glass of water.
“You must like helping people,” Aunt Tillie added, not looking up from her bowl. “That’s really nice.”
“Yes, I do. I love my job, except when it requires my involvement in crimes like murder. Then it gets kind of rough. But keeping Shannon safe is important.”
“Well, guess you need to get back to it, huh?” I asked, clearing my throat one final time before standing to give him a pointed look. He’d worn out his welcome.
“Oh, no. I’m off duty.” His grin dazzled me with its brilliance. “But I’d be honored to follow you home. As part of my job to protect you, of course.”
Damn him. He was going to ask to come up and have a romantic chat as sure as I was standing there. I had to think of something fast before we made a mistake we’d both regret.
“How very sweet, Mr. Ramirez. But I’ve decided to stay with my aunts this evening since all this has transpired. Your assistance isn’t required.”
He stood and stared down at me. “I see. Then, I will be happy to stay outside in my car and do a bit of surveillance on the house until such a time as another officer can take over for me. You should feel quite safe.”
Double damn. He knew my plan would be to bolt for home as soon as he turned off the street. Now he wanted to hold me captive. He would probably tell one of his officers to follow me if I set foot outside the house.
“There’s really no need, Sal. You have the guy in custody. No more boogeyman, right? These brave ladies have an alarm system as well. We’ll be snug as a bug in a rug.”
“Snug?” he asked.
“As a bug,” I answered, smiling.
“I see,” he replied, defeat evident in his voice. “Well then. I’ll be going. Thank you for the pie, ma’am.” He kissed Aunt Tillie’s hand and started for the door. “If you need anything, do call, won’t you?”
They both murmured that they certainly would, and he left.
I sat down hard in the recliner, energy gone.
Aunt Nancy fanned herself with the Tribune. “That man makes hot flashes seem like a stroll in Iceland.”
Aunt Tillie leaned toward her to get some of the air. “Times two.”
I snickered. They weren’t the only ones feeling his heat. Soon evading his pursuit would be impossible. I grabbed the paper and fanned all three of us even harder.
###
In the middle of a great dream where Sal fed me ice cream and truffles, my cell blared from under my pillow. Heart pounding in my chest, I grabbed it and answered.
“Shannon? Wake up, girl!”
“Huh? Dee? What’s up?”
“I’ve got news. You have to come and join me.”
“Where are you?”
“Midtown, of course. Where are you?”
“At the aunts. I’m sleeping. What did you find? Just tell me.”
He exhaled loudly. “All right. Well, let me go outside.” I heard bar noises get louder for a moment before they subsided and then it got quiet except for Dwayne’s breathing.
“Now,” he said. “I’m in the car. It’s quieter in here. So, anyway. I’ve been at a bar in Midtown over by the fairgrounds. Our buddy, the Harp, rode in a while ago, and has been runnin’ his mouth ever since. He’s tryin’ to scrape up some money for a venture he’s involved in.”
“What sort of venture?”
“Mostly prostitutes, but there’s some talk of a big movie deal. I think he’s found someone in the industry to take him seriously.”
“What about Thelma? Has he mentioned her? Does anyone know where she is?”
“Yeah, girl. She’s in on this shit. Sure as I’m sittin’ here, she’s in on it.”
“Really? So you think she’s still hanging out with Harp?”
“Could be. I’ve got to keep my ears open. Maybe someone will let that info fly, you know what I mean?”
I sat up and rubbed my eyes. The bedside clock time read three minutes after midnight. “You better find out something fast, Dee. They’re going to be closing soon.”
“Nuh uh, Shan. This place’s a late-night bar. I’m here for the duration, ‘cause if Harp’s hidin’ Denaldo, involved or not, we gotta have somethin’ concrete to take to Sal, so, I’m diggin’ in.”
I sighed. “Okay, Dee, but please be careful. I’d be willing to bet Harp doesn’t want to let on where she is. I don’t think she’s involved. She went to a lot of trouble to sound like an innocent victim in that news story. I wonder just how much Charlotte knows and how much she’s not talking about.”
“You know she’s dumb as dirt about it all. She’s only after one thing, Shannon. An exclusive story about the porno industry leaders, and she got it. The rest ain’t vital to her.”
“But it is to the cops. They want to find Dan’s killer.”
“Yeah, but since when did cops and reporters ever find themselves on the same page?”
He had a good point. After making him give me the address to GPS, and making him promise to keep me posted until I could get there, we disconnected. I flopped back on the very soft down-filled pillows and considered what to do. If the Harp found out Dwayne’s scheme, he could be in a lot of trouble. I would be no help at all, unless you called beaning someone with a chair to the head any help. It was likely a bad idea to include Katie on something like this. There was only one other person I could think of.
I dialed Sal’s number.
He answered on the second ring. “You’re killing me over here.”
“I’m sorry,” I replied. “Listen. I have something to tell you and the only reason I’m calling is because I’m worried. Dwayne is down in Midtown, at a late-night bar, trying to drum up business for the case. He’s already found out that the guy who shot at us—that Harpoon creature—is trying to raise big money. He wants me to come down there. Shouldn’t you go, too? We could be his backup. I need advice.”
I heard rustling, and when he answered, his voice sounded rushed and breathy, “Fantastica! That’s the best news I’ve gotten all day. Get dressed and meet me outside. I don’t want to have to sweet talk you away from your steel magnolias.”
I laughed at his reference to my aunts and broke the connection. Dressed in capris with pockets, a tee shirt that mentioned something about making art not war, my tote over my shoulder, and my phone in hand, I quietly closed the door to the Mamas house and walked outside.
A swipe of stars danced overhead in a
clear summer sky.
It was a good night to go dancing at a bar in Midtown.
Too bad my date was a cop.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The club sat on the corner of two residential streets in Midtown, and looked like a coffee shop from the outside, complete with tables and people sitting at them, talking and drinking.
I gaped a moment as we passed. “I thought it was against the law to drink alcohol outside?”
Sal smirked. “You need to get out more, chica.”
We entered through the narrow doorway greeted by the usual smoky interior where only bar signs illuminated the tables and dance floor. Multicolored lights that you would usually see at Christmas ringed the bar. A man sat on a tall bar stool at a corner of the dance floor strumming a guitar and singing plaintively about the unfairness of love.
Dwayne was nowhere in sight. I tapped my foot in frustration, and waited. When he didn’t appear in a few moments, I said, “Maybe he went to the restroom?”
Sal leaned down to hear me over the noise and when I repeated myself, he shrugged and took my hand to pull me along the bar toward a booth in the back. We nestled in on one side in case Dee showed up and wanted to sit with us. We had a great view of the nearest side of the bar, the front window, and part of the doorway.
There was not a huge crowd from what I could tell. Glancing at the time on my phone, I realized it was going on two in the morning. No wonder they were all gone. Strangely, I wasn’t sleepy.
“Where is he?” I muttered, craning my neck. The man at the bar must have thought I was looking for service because he grabbed a drink menu and came over.
“Hey,” Menu Man said.
“What’s up?” Sal intoned.
“Not much left to eat at this hour, if you’re hungry.”
We shook our heads. Sal ordered two beers for us and the guy wrote it down, patted his order pad, and sauntered back to the bar.
I poked Sal in the ribs. “Go to the bathroom and look for him.”
He nodded and took off. I drummed my fingers on the tabletop and worried. The place wasn’t that big. One skinny black man couldn’t be hidden that well.