by Kim Smith
The singer ended his song on a mournful note and the silence was palpable. The server returned with our beers and a couple of bar napkins that had the bar’s name embossed on it. He gave me a short smile and returned to his station behind the bar.
Stubie’s, as the bar napkin touted, was not a happening place. I wondered how a person could keep awake after midnight there. In a few moments, I squirmed around and wondered where Sal had gone. What the hell was going on?
Straining my ears, I heard faint noises somewhere on the other side of the bar like someone playing pool. I rose to my feet and wandered to the other side of the bar. Down a short hallway an ugly green door stood ajar and the distinct thwack of pool cues against balls came back to me louder than before.
The barkeep wasn’t paying me any mind, so I assumed anyone could go in. I eased down the hallway and gently looked around the door. Dwayne idled at the far end of the nearest pool table facing me, and Sal stood guard behind him. Dwayne’s opponent’s dreadlocks jarred loose a memory. My buddy Dwayne was playing pool with none other than Donzell Harper, aka the Harpoon.
My heart turned to stone in my chest, and my danger antennae went all the way up.
I turned around as silently as possible and headed back to the table. Time to make a plan. If I barged in, something fragile could be upset and endanger lives. They were all carrying guns, and at least one of them had professional training to back up the metal, but a trigger-happy someone could ruin all our days.
I took a hefty slug of beer and did what any forward-thinking female would do. I called their cell phones, starting with Dwayne.
“Yo yo,” Dee said.
“Yo yo yourself! What the hell is going on back there? I’m sitting out here trying to be cool and fearing the worst.”
“No way man, you better bring my car back up here, you hear me?” And he hung up.
It had to be code. Maybe he wanted me to bring his car around to the front of the building? Without a key? I gulped another swig of beer and tried to decide what to do.
Maybe I would fare better with Sal.
“Hello?” He sounded engrossed in the pool game.
“Would you care to explain what he just said? Does he mean for me to bring the car around? What the hell do I do?”
“Yes, I think he means it. Bring his car back or he’ll be in jail for killing someone.” And he hung up as well.
Throwing my phone through the wall in hopes of hitting one of them square in the head entered my mind. How the hell was I to get his car started without a key?
I drained my glass, looked fetchingly at Sal’s beer (which had languished), rose to my feet, shouldered my tote, and considered options. Then, the bartender came up, handing me a key chain with a Kringle’s grocery fob.
Dwayne’s keys!
“Dude around back said some guy was gonna be by to get his car and to give you the keys,” he said, with a shrug.
My mouth worked. Which dude was anyone’s guess. I didn’t care. I had the keys.
That Dwayne was slick as chrome.
I aimed for the front door, figuring there was no time to lose. Halfway there, I heard angry voices coming from the poolroom and took off running for the cars. It didn’t take long to get to the Toyota, rip the door open, throw my purse inside, and get the engine going.
It must have taken even less time to piss the Harp off, because before I could back out, he shoved Dwayne out the back door at gunpoint. Dwayne had parked his vehicle right in front of it giving me a front row seat. Good thing I was slow, or I’d be in front of the building and he’d be screwed.
I hunkered down, hoping to be invisible.
Sal eased along the brick to my left, already on his phone, most likely to the MPD for backup. He moved carefully toward the door. It was one of those moments where you don’t know what to do. I pulled out my gun, nestled it in my lap, and hoped I wouldn’t have to use it.
“Shit! Shit, shit, shit!” I moaned.
Dwayne staggered down the single step of the back door and landed back first on the hood of his car.
Harp followed, leaning close to him, gun at his nose. “You messin’ wid me, boy?” he shouted, eyes wild.
Dee tried to shake his head, but Harp clutched his shirtfront and shook him. “You been in there hustlin’ me for over an hour. What da fuck you want, huh?”
Before Dwayne could formulate an answer, sirens wailed in the distance. I gaped at Sal loping along behind cars, aiming for Harp. Just as he reached the back of the Toyota, Harp stood straight, alert. His eyes registered fear of capture as it crossed his mind. He let go of Dwayne, aimed at Sal, and shouted something. I didn’t hear his shout because at that instant, I pressed down on the horn.
A Toyota horn is a terrible thing to behold. The loud beep when expressed is not only mind–numbingly annoying, but if unexpected, can make one jump out of one’s skin, or even better, off one’s feet, as was the case with Harp. He didn’t know I was in the car, wasn’t even looking at me. The horn scared him so much he lurched away from the car and tripped backwards over the parking slab.
Dwayne scrambled onto him while he tried to recover, and knocked his gun away. Sal came forward to assist. I never budged from the car. Too much testosterone going on out there.
The Memphis cops arrived, wheels screeching and doors slamming. My two favorite heroes rose from the ground, disheveled, but happy, with their target in tow.
It played like a movie scene, and I wished I had a remote to hit replay. But then again, life never played fair. I figured I’d get to relive it again, over and over, in the days to come, as Sal would tell his side, and Dwayne would follow up from his point of view. It would be exciting for a while, that was sure.
###
Sal let us go as soon as Dwayne finished giving his statement. “Take Shannon home, and do not leave her alone. I’ll be by as soon as I can.”
We rolled away and Dwayne relayed all the info from his encounter since he had hung up the phone that morning.
“Donzell Harpoon had been selling drugs, and involved in porno and got the attention of a high roller in Memphis. You know, one of those dudes who has fingers in everything including stuff down in Tunica at the casinos. At any rate, big money exchanged hands between them. Harp was gonna make movies out in LA thanks to the deal.”
“He was in the bar partying, and shootin’ off his mouth. My friend tends bar there for the afternoon shift, and he was the one who told me to come in. Said Harp would be there as he usually is on Friday night.”
“Good thing you put out feelers, huh?” I said.
“Yeah. Well, so when Harp rolls in, he tells my friend to give him somethin’ expensive and tasty and proceeds to relay his good news, not payin’ little ole me any mind. I just kept quiet, listenin’.”
I struggled not to laugh. Dwayne didn’t keep quiet at anything.
“When he took off for the back room, I called you, and then I followed. Figured it would be easier to keep tabs on him and find out more if I played some games.”
“Good thinking.” Not what I would have done, most likely, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “So, I played him, all the while droppin’ questions every so often. Like, what’s your movie gonna be about? And, who’s gonna star in it? Yadda yadda.”
“Did he mention Thelma?”
“No. But he talked about his partner being a crazy old coot who had the whole world fooled. I figured he was yakkin’ about her.”
“Sounds like it. She’s old and she’s crazy. I’ve known that since high school.”
“I was just about to close in for the kill and get the name of the money bag when Sal showed up. Damn, he spoiled it all. That fool just looks like a cop. He needs to let his freakin’ hair grow out.”
I made a derisive noise. “As if. He’s supposed to look like a cop. He is a cop.”
“Yeah, well, next time you come to save me, leave him at home, will ya?”
“So you didn’t get the name?”
“Yes, Wall-ass. Ain’t I a PI in the makin’? Just as he was shovin’ a gun in my face he let loose the information.”
“Great timing, Dee. So? Who is the money man?”
He yawned and wiped his eyes before answering. “Robert Denaldo.”
I had never been so alert.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Aunt Nancy was reading her newspaper when I arrived back at the Mamas’ house, so I filled her in on the events. She laughed out loud at the news that Dwayne had captured a dangerous criminal. She also listened—not laughing—when I told her Robert Denaldo was involved in the case.
Exhaustion wrapped itself around my body and mind. I passed out on their sofa while Aunt Tillie puttered in the kitchen making coffee and getting ready to head off to the restaurant. My cell phone woke me in the late afternoon with its strumming guitar sounds.
“Why am I always left out of the fun?” Katie asked. “I’m going toward the Denaldo house, you want to ride along? I hear there’s going to be some police activity.”
“You’ve been listening to the scanner again,” I mumbled.
Silence.
“Sure. I’ll ride. I wasn’t doing anything but sleeping anyway.” I didn’t tell her it would help me sleep better to know Thelma was in custody and not out to even the score.
Since Dan’s death, I had gone the gamut of emotions over my former teacher. First, I wasn’t crazy about even facing her, and then I was obsessed with her innocence, now I was incensed at her involvement. Well, her and her trashy husband.
I hopped up and shuffled off to the shower. With no clean clothes to drag on, I just redressed in yesterday’s outfit. It smelled like stale bar odors and smoke.
When I slid onto the back of Katie’s bike, I knew this trip was a big deal because she wore real biker wear.
“What’s with the getup?” I asked, sliding her spare helmet on my head and attaching the strap under my chin.
“Cute cops notice biker chicks.”
“Oh, my freaking God.”
She laughed and then we took off.
Finally, Katie turned onto the Denaldo’s street. As we roared up toward the house, it was obvious we had missed the party. There were no cops anywhere on the street or at the house.
“What’s up?” I yelled at the back of her head.
She shrugged and pulled in the driveway, cutting the engine. Trying to consider what to do now, I glanced at the front of the house. The curtains were still moving from where someone had quickly pulled them aside and let them fall again.
“You wouldn’t happen to have a gun on you, would you?” I asked her, taking the helmet off.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Somebody’s inside and since there are no cops around, it may be someone who would like to do me bodily harm. Thelma knows I am involved in this case up to the ears by now.”
“Okay,” she said, pulling her tight black leather pant leg up a bit exposing her holster. “I’m ready. Want me to wait out back so she can’t escape?”
“No. For once, I want to be the back-door man. You go up and knock. Keep her busy while I enter the back.”
“What if it isn’t her?”
This thought made my knees weak. “I’ll be out back, either trying to get in quietly, or waiting for you to let me in. Whatever happens.” Even after the words left my mouth I knew they sounded utterly ridiculous. I should be going in the totally opposite direction.
I never listen to me.
Climbing over the Denaldo’s fence was anti-climactic this go-round, and I stood on the other side of it, remembering the last time I’d been there. Thelma had been as elusive as a greased seal.
I paced the yard considering what she would do if confronted by Katie dressed in all that black leather. The worry that my buddy might end up on her butt in the flowerbed made me stroll toward the back door. But my hesitation took too long.
Katie pulled open the door, grinned at me, and then joined me outside. “You’re really a lucky woman, Shannon.”
“Why? What do you mean?”
“That man has it for you bad.”
“Oh, no. No Thelma? Oh, damn. Not Sal?”
“Yep. He’ll be out soon to talk to you.”
“No. No. No. We have to go right now.” I jogged back to the fence and started climbing. Before I could get one leg anchored, he came out of the back door and charged across the patio toward me.
“What are you doing?” His voice sounded gruff.
My heart dropped like a stone and I bit my lip to keep from screaming. He was going to arrest me this time for sure.
Katie grinned sheepishly, gaze going from one of us to the other like a spectator at a tennis match.
Sal crossed his arms over his chest. “Get down, please.”
I landed near him with a small grunt. He dangled a key in my face, moved around me, and unlocked the gate. “Miss Henderson, if you’d be so kind as to go away, that would be very helpful. I will personally make sure Miss Wallace makes it to her home.”
She scurried out like a mouse dressed in black, and he waited until the unmistakable roar of her motorcycle reached us.
“Do you like the Denaldo’s house?” he asked, anger making his eyes snap.
“Um.” I looked down at my feet.
“You’ve been here a few times. I’m assuming you like it a lot. You’ve even gone so far as to break in.” He walked toward me, and I backed up a bit closer to the patio.
The little boy who lived behind the Denaldos played some childish game at the top of his lungs.
“You’re mad. I don’t want to talk to you when you’re mad.”
He pointed at the door behind me. “Inside.”
There was nothing else to do, but obey. I knew I had gone too far this time, and I didn’t have anyone to blame but myself. I entered the back door and waited on him to follow.
He did, taking time to lock the door behind him.
“If you’re going to arrest me, just go on and do it, Sal. I’m sure I deserve it.”
He took my arm and led me toward the front door. “I’m not arresting you, Shannon.”
“Why? What’s the deal anyway? What are you doing here? I thought you had this case wrapped up. Where’s Thelma?”
“Your timing is unbelievable. We’ve got a trap set for Thelma, and you, my dear, have nearly cooked my goose.” He moved the curtain aside with one finger and looked outside. “No time now. It’s too dangerous. If Mrs. Denaldo even suspects cops or anyone else are around here, she’ll bolt. I guess you’ll have to stay.”
“But I don’t want to meet with her,” I whined.
“I’m sure you don’t. Robert Denaldo felt the same way when I showed up here. While my back was turned, he bailed, leaving me here all alone, waiting for him to return. But now I believe he’s a bit tied up with some of mis amigos downtown, so, you’re stuck with me and his wife, if she shows.”
“Great,” I moaned. “Maybe she’ll forget where she lives. Maybe she won’t come back here…”
“Too late, Shannon, she’s just arrived.” He let the curtain fall and pulled me along with him as he ran for cover. “Vamos!”
The unmistakable sounds of a car engine going silent intensified the sound of our breathing as we rushed for an area he’d made behind the couch. In a few moments, a key rattled in the door lock and it eased open and closed quickly behind the person entering. Footfalls traveled across the tiled floor to the dining room and then on to the kitchen.
Sal placed his finger up to his lips to make sure I knew to be quiet.
He didn’t have to worry. I held my breath, terrified of discovery. He eased his gun out of its holster and clasped it, barrel down, listening to the sounds the visitor made.
It wasn’t long before my old, school teacher was heard talking on the phone. I could picture her in the kitchen, puttering around making some tea, maybe a bite to eat, while we crouched behind her couch, muscles cramping.
Then, rustling got louder as she mov
ed toward us, sat down on the couch. “Rob had no idea I worked with Donzell. He thought it was just a lucrative business. He didn’t even consider it might be illegal. Stupid idiot. I hid out for a hot minute, but I’m here now. Do you have the books? What about the movies?”
She paused, waiting on the answer.
“Good. Put that stuff in a safe deposit box and bring me the key. I’ve moved all the money to a new bank. Maybe we should think about something down in the islands?”
She sipped her drink, and listened. Then, “Yeah. Okay. Well, I’ve got to go. I figure it’s only a matter of time before the cops start hunting me again. They probably think Donzell is the one they wanted. Arresting Rob was just a good stroke of luck for me.”
She laughed at something the other person said. “Yeah. I watched them haul him in. They’ve been busy. Oh. HA! If only.”
Then, she disconnected and tossed the phone onto the coffee table. Sal motioned for me to help him turn the couch over on the count of three. We shoved as hard as we could, lifting it up and over on top of her, effectively capturing our crook.
When Sal had her in cuffs, and called for backup to move in, I breathed easier.
“Shannon Wallace. You’re a total waste of good air,” Thelma snarled at me. “I knew you would be a waste when you were in my class.”
“Hey, excuse me? Who’s doing what here? I’m with the good guys and you’re trussed up and headed to jail. I’d say that the wasted airspace belongs to you.”
“I don’t care what anyone thinks. I’m an educator. Sex is not evil.”
“Maybe not. But if it leads to other stuff like drugs and making book, it’s a big time length of stay in the pokey. You’re busted, Witchy-poo.”
She closed her eyes and refused to say more.
I felt great. I loved lobbing that nickname at her one last time. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
I sashayed away to find Sal directing officers in the kitchen. When he found a stopping place and came to my side, he said, “Good job, Shannon. Thanks for your help.”
“Thank me later, I need to go home.”