“Relax, Steele, maybe the place is as deserted as it looks. If so, what better time than now to check it out, especially with everyone focused on the club and Marvin?”
“Please say you’re not considering breaking and entering.” Steele looked about to have a stroke. I didn’t answer.
Sally opened a storage area between the two front seats and extracted a small handgun. She checked it and slipped it into her waistband.
The gun kicked Steele over the edge. “Holy shit, Kipman! Do you have a license for that thing?”
“Of course I do, Steele.”
Steele didn’t look convinced. Me, I’m scared snotless by the sight of any gun—legal or not.
“A license to carry a concealed weapon?” he pressed. “Because that gun looks concealed to me.”
“Relax, Steele. I’m an expert shot with hours of training in firearm safety.”
He sat back. “Why am I not surprised?”
“The big surprise,” Sally said to Steele with a straight face, “is that I didn’t use it on you earlier.”
Sally looked at me, her face serious. “Considering the jams you get into, it would do you good to learn how to use one of these.”
“Um, no thanks. And I’d prefer it if you’d put that thing away.” I got out of the vehicle. “In fact, both of you just stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Sally got out on her side. “No way I’m letting you go up to that building alone.”
“Me neither.” Steele opened his door and set a foot on the ground.
“Damn it,” I swore, keeping my voice down. “How inconspicuous can I be with a parade following me?”
“I’m coming with you,” Sally insisted.
“You can only come if you leave the gun here.” I stood on the sidewalk, my hands on my hips, giving her my best Zee stance. I didn’t know if it would work, especially in the dark gray of the evening and against a woman with a gun—friend or not.
“But—” Sally started.
“I’m with Grey on this one,” added Steele.
I snatched off the wig and tossed it inside the vehicle. Combing my fingers through my flattened hair, I whipped my head around to Steele. “As for you, you keep your butt in the car. If you see anything wrong, call for help. We don’t need all three of us tramping around up there. And I’m certainly not putting your law license in jeopardy.”
The two of them looked at me, weighing whether I meant what I said. For good measure I added, “Or you can both go home and I’ll go it alone on this. Just Sally, no gun, or no dice.”
The two of them looked at each other, then at me. Swearing under her breath, Sally removed the gun and put it back into the storage compartment. Stretching across the seat, she popped open the glove box and pulled something else out. “But I’m taking this.” It was a flashlight.
I nodded. “Now that’s a good idea.”
Steele pushed a button on his watch and it lit up. It wasn’t the thin, fancy one he usually wore to the office but a serious watch with gadgets. “Okay, but I’m not getting back inside. I can watch you two from here. You have ten minutes.”
I protested. “Ten minutes isn’t enough time to blink, Steele.”
“Make it twenty.”
“Thirty,” I countered.
“Twenty-five, but not a second more.” He pushed another button on his watch. “When my watch buzzes, I’m calling for help.”
Steele stuck his hands into his pockets and leaned against the SUV. To someone who didn’t know him, Mike Steele looked bored and barely interested, but the silent yet nervous tapping of his shoe against the pavement didn’t escape my notice. Nor did the tightness of his jaw. I hoped my crazy mission was a quick one, because if Steele clenched his teeth like that for twenty-five minutes, he was going to crack some caps.
Keeping to the shadows, Sally and I crept back to Rambling Rose and slithered along the wall of the building to the back windows. The sills hit me about the height of my chin, which was great for keeping us out of sight but not so great for snooping. Both windows were covered by semi-closed vertical blinds. A dim light was on inside the building—probably some sort of low-level security light.
Standing on tiptoes, I peeked over the edge. Being quite a bit taller than me, Sally had an easier go of it.
The dim light we’d noticed seemed to be coming from the hallway. It cast a dull light into the room, leaving most of it in shadows. Gripping the edge of the window, I stretched myself upward as far as possible on my short legs and looked over the sill. It took a second for my eyes to adjust and to piece the scene together through the openings in the blinds. It was a large office with bookcases.
“Do you see anything?” I mouthed to Sally.
“The room looks messy,” she whispered, “but it’s difficult to tell in this light if it’s just clutter.” She directed her flashlight through the slits in the blinds. “Really, Odelia, I think this room was ransacked.”
That sounded ominous, especially considering Marvin Gunn’s office had been tossed and so had Shirley’s home.
With stealth, Sally moved over to the next window. I followed. The faded light from the hallway showed us this room was also an office. Although as large as the other, it was more plainly decorated. I didn’t notice anything in the low light.
My calves and feet were getting tired of standing on tiptoe. I lowered myself and shook out the muscles, vowing to kick my exercise walking up a notch or two starting next week.
The back door had a small window at a lower height and no blinds. Next to it was planted a well-trimmed bush that matched those at the front of the building. Slinking my way down the length of the wall, I made my way to the door. It was then I saw the car. The parking lot wasn’t empty, as we’d thought. There was a wide space between the end of the building and the fence separating the property from the commercial building next door, making a single parking spot unseen from the street. Parked in it now was a dark Lexus, either black or dark blue, I couldn’t tell. I had no idea what kind of car Clarice drove, but it was the type of car that would suit her.
I edged to the back door and looked through the window. The small amount of light allowed me to make out a kitchenette with a round table and two chairs, a refrigerator, and what looked like assorted small appliances arranged on a short counter. It was likely the employee break room and where they made refreshments for clients. There was no sign of Clarice or anyone else. I started to put my hand on the doorknob.
“Pssst,” hissed Sally, stopping me. Sally had flattened herself against the end of the building and faced the direction of her SUV, ready to signal Steele if she had to. She scooted closer to me. “Be careful, there’s probably a security system.”
Great, a little something that had totally slipped my mind. I withdrew my hand and fretted about lost time. I looked at the car again, pointing it out to Sally. “If Clarice or someone is in there, wouldn’t it be disarmed?”
“Probably. You ready to take that chance?”
I wasn’t sure which would be the lesser evil, breaking in and having a security alarm go off or breaking in and surprising a possible killer. Whoever had killed Shirley and/or Marvin had been skillful with a knife, and it could have been Clarice. I certainly thought years ago she was capable of putting a hit out on her husband. I took a second to weigh whether I wanted to put Clarice’s slicing and dicing talents to the test.
Sally edged back along the wall and looked into one of the windows again. She glanced my way and signaled for me to join her.
Hoisting myself up a few inches, I surveyed the plain office again. I didn’t see anything. I lowered myself and shrugged at Sally. She ducked down and indicated for me to look to my right. With a deep breath, I grabbed the sill and stretched up as far as I could, stretching bone, sinew, and skin to their limit. I cast my eyes in the direction she’d directed. Sally joined me and used her flashlight like a spotlight.
Just inside to the right of the door, it appeared a large, long bundle w
as lying on the floor. It was difficult to see through the narrow vertical slits of the almost-closed blinds, but something was definitely there. I lowered myself, rested, then up again I went like a jack-in-the-box, this time zeroing my eyes immediately in on the target. I dropped to the ground again. It was either a trussed body, a rolled-up rug, or a world-record-holding cigar.
Sally popped up again and stared at the bundle several moments before waving me to join her. Again I pulled myself up. In the small bit of light, I saw the heap moving slightly. It wasn’t a cigar or a rug or even, thankfully, a dead body. The light was too dim to get an idea of identity or even sex, but whoever it was, they were still alive but not moving with any speed.
Sally was pantomiming to me again. This time, I think she was scolding me for not letting her bring the gun. I was beginning to think that had been a wrong move on my part myself. Whoever was in there was in trouble. I motioned to Sally that she should return to Steele. I made a calling motion.
“Call for help,” I told her. “I’m going in.”
“Not without me, you’re not.”
I hung my head. “Did you bring your cell?”
She shook her head. “I was worried it might ring. Even the vibration is loud. You didn’t bring yours?”
I patted down the pockets of my capri pants and shook my head. “It’s back in my purse.”
Our options were to go back to Steele and the SUV and call for help or go in and help whoever was inside now. “It makes more sense,” I reasoned with Sally, still keeping my voice in a whisper, “for one of us to go call for help and the other to check on whoever is inside.”
Sally didn’t budge. “There might still be someone in there, Odelia.”
“Well, alarm or not, I’m going in.” I moved toward the back door. Sally followed, sending a pantomime message to Steele to make a call, though it was so dark and he was a half-block away, I doubt he noticed anything.
I tried the back door’s knob. It didn’t move. I was looking around for a rock or something with which to break the back window when Sally noticed that we didn’t need to break anything. The back door was an old-fashioned kitchen door, probably left over from when the building was a private residence. The window had a screen over it, and the bottom portion of the window had been raised to allow fresh air to come in. Now I just needed something to cut the screen.
Like magic, Sally produced a Swiss army knife and opened it, revealing a nasty-looking serrated blade. “If that window is open like that, chances are the alarm isn’t armed.”
I was beginning to worry about Sally.
Taking the knife, I ran the blade along the lower edge of the old screen. It parted like butter left in the sun. After running the blade along both sides, I was able to curl the screen upward. I handed Sally back her knife and slipped my hand through the opening, feeling it scratch my arm as I blindly reached for the door lock. It only took a few seconds to unlatch the door, but it felt like an hour. I half expected to hear Steele’s watch alarm go off in my ear.
Once inside, I made tracks for the plain office. It was the one nearest the kitchen. Behind me was Sally with her knife in one hand and her flashlight in the other, though we didn’t need the flashlight. The hall light was plenty. Then I noticed Sally was holding the flashlight like a club.
I felt for a light switch in the office, then changed my mind. If anyone other than Steele wandered by, they might notice the increased light. At my feet, the bundle grunted and moved with more energy, scooting toward me like an inchworm. I knelt down, and Sally swept the bound figure with her light. When the beam landed on the face, I gasped.
It was Clarice.
“Sally, check to see if anyone else is here.”
Before leaving, Sally flashed the light around the room. Seeing no obvious threats, she grasped the flashlight tighter and went on her mission.
Not caring now about the light, I snapped it on, making Clarice flinch. Her hands were tied behind her, and her ankles were bound. Her nose was splotched with dried blood and there was a gash on her lip, which the gag in her mouth was pulling in a painful direction. Her eyes were huge, but I couldn’t tell if Clarice was pissed off or scared. One shoe was missing. She wore a cream-colored linen tunic with matching pants, both dotted with blood.
Sally returned a few seconds later. “No one else is here,” she reported. “But I was right about that other office. Someone ransacked it good.” We looked around the room we were in. It also looked worked over.
Spotting a phone on the desk, I picked it up. The line was dead. Damn.
I undid Clarice’s gag, then worked on her hands. Sally undid her ankles. Clarice moaned when we moved her but was alert.
“Go away, you stupid cow.” The words were harsh, softened only by the weakness of her exhausted voice. “I fired you.”
“That’s a nice way to thank someone.” Sally matched Clarice’s tone snit for snit.
“Who did this to you, Clarice?” I asked. She didn’t answer.
I assisted Clarice into a nearby chair.
“Go away,” Clarice ordered again through cracked lips. “Get it through that fat, thick skull of yours: I don’t want your help.”
Sally left and was back in a jiffy with a bottle of water. “Here,” she said, twisting the top off and handing it to Clarice. “I found it in the fridge. Not that you deserve it.”
Clarice took the plastic bottle within two shaking hands and gingerly held it to her lips. I cupped her hands in one of mine to hold the water steady.
“Who did this, Clarice?” I asked again. “Was it Shirley’s killer?”
She didn’t look up. She took another drink of water. It dribbled down her chin and onto her ruined pantsuit. After a couple more sips and a few deep breaths, she looked me in the eye and said, “I told you to leave, and I mean it. I don’t want you here.”
I put my hands on my hips. “We just saved your snotty ass, and you’re throwing us out?”
Clarice started to say something, but Sally cut her off. “Doesn’t anyone say thank you anymore?”
Clarice took another drink, making a point of ignoring the comment.
I put a hand on each arm of the chair, trapping Clarice in her seat. “Tell me who killed Shirley Pearson,” I demanded.
“That’s none of your business, Odelia. Not anymore.”
Sally stood nearby, feet slightly apart, the flashlight once again gripped like a weapon. I could tell she was as enamored of Clarice as I was. “Humor us.”
Clarice mustered her strength to shoot Sally a death ray of a look before turning her bruised, hard eyes to me. “Who the hell is she?”
“A friend of mine. She can be trusted.”
“I said, it’s none of your business.” Clarice shot a dagger at Sally. “That goes for both of you.”
Sally glanced at her watch, then reached out and tapped me on my shoulder. “Let’s get out of here, Odelia. Leave the bitch to her own devices. It’s worked so well for her so far.”
Clarice indicated Sally with her chin. “She’s obviously the smart one.”
I was a finger snap away from throwing Clarice to the floor and tying her back up, starting with the gag to her mouth. Needing answers for Joan stopped me.
“Shirley may not be my business, but Alfred Nunez is. Remember Alfred? Or I guess you knew him as Alfonso.”
“He’s none of your business either, not anymore.”
Taking my hands off the arms of the chair, I stood up straight. “That’s where you’re wrong, Clarice. The death of Alfred Nunez is very important to me.”
Clarice let out a gasp. A hand went to her swollen mouth. “He’s dead?”
“For a second time.” I crossed my arms. “You see, I recognized him from your photo. Several years ago, I attended that man’s funeral—or should I say the funeral for the man burned in the car accident in his place. I’m a close friend of Alfred’s daughter.”
“You know Joan?” The splash of surprise on her blood-splattered fa
ce came off as lurid.
“Yes, quite well. And her mother. When Alfred was found murdered recently, Joan asked me to look into his life, specifically what he’d been doing for all these years. I haven’t been working for you, Clarice, but doing a favor for a friend.”
Clarice let out what might pass for a muffled sob, squelching it before it turned to more. “How? How did he die?”
“Gunshot. Dumped in a dumpster in Santa Ana with no ID.” I loosened my tough stance. Being a badass was uncomfortable. “The police identified him from fingerprints. Imagine how surprised his family was when they got the call.”
After staring at the wall for a minute, Clarice said in a shaky voice, “If I tell you about Alfred Nunez, will you go and leave me be?”
I stepped forward, wary but all ears. “We’ll see.”
Clarice shot a hand out and grabbed my forearm with surprising strength. “Promise me, Odelia. I’ll not have you on my conscience, too.” Her eyes grazed over my scraped cheek. “It looks as if you’ve already had a brush with something … or someone.”
Sally looked at her watch again. Clarice noticed. “You have a bus to catch, blondie?”
Ignoring Clarice, Sally said, “Dump her and let’s go. She’s not worth it.”
But I couldn’t leave just yet.
Pulling up a chair, I sat in front of Clarice. “We have a friend who is going to call for help if we don’t show soon. So tell me what you know and do it fast.”
Clarice looked at the wall behind me, struggling with her decision. She cleared her throat, filling the room with the sound of loose, soggy mucus. “Alfonso—or, rather, Alfred—came to us after he got into trouble with a bunch of hoods.” Her eyes left the wall and moved to my face. “He had a gambling problem, Odelia. I don’t know if Joan knew that or not. Mostly horses.”
I had asked Joan if her father had any reason to disappear. She’d said she hadn’t known of anything. Lying didn’t come naturally to Joan, so I was going with the assumption that she didn’t know. But it might explain why Alfred and Joan’s mother had been on the outs.
Twice as Dead Page 19