RUN FASTER: A Hallie James Mystery (The Hallie James Mysteries Book 2)

by DK Herman

  "Which means Myron was there alone, most of the night." I paused to gather my thoughts. "Myron has a wife with rapidly progressing MS, and hospital bills out the wazoo. He needs money and should be on the suspect list.

  But there are others more likely than him. For instance, Jason Brady was working with Andy the night the drugs went missing. And he found Marlowe's body, minutes after he was murdered, in a very isolated place."

  Liv came into the room and refilled coffee cups before joining us at the table. "Go on," she said. "I heard most of what you said. What's this world coming to when people can be so evil?"

  I took a sip of fresh coffee. "Jerry Dalton is a druggie. Ben and I let ourselves into his shack and found evidence of drug use. And he's been arrested for possession, but the evidence disappeared."

  "And he' s from Queens, just like Marlowe," Karl pointed out.

  "Right." I took a deep breath before revealing my next suspect. "Ben and I tried to talk to the owner of the body shop, near where Ben found the dead chemical engineer. He was uncooperative and guess who protected him from me?" I paused. "Detective Kasey. And the garrotes being used, are fashioned from piano wire!"

  "The plot thickens," Aunt Jeannie said. "His wife is a piano teacher."

  "The man is vile. I wouldn't put it past him," Gram almost snarled.

  "I want to speak to his wife," I said. "But I need an excuse to go to their home."

  "I could go with you," Gram offered. "I didn't invite her to the wedding. I could claim I'm there to apologize for the oversight."

  "Only if I go along," George said sternly.

  "Of course, dear." Gram took his hand. "We can be ready in a half hour, Hallie."

  "What time is Andy's hearing?" I asked Karl.

  "Eleven," Karl l replied. "By this afternoon, he should be a free man."

  "Great!" I said.

  All I'll have left to do, is break up the meth ring that's being protected by a cop. And save Woody from a psycho, who enjoys strangling people with piano wire. All in a day’s work.

  I sighed. “I’m going to go upstairs to freshen up and call the office." I wiped my mouth and stood up.

  "I'm coming along," Liv insisted.

  "Sure. I'll meet everyone who's going in a half hour."

  Liv sat in my front passenger seat. Gram and George were in the back with a garment bag spread across their laps. I'd agreed to stop at Ernie's on the way to town. Ernie is going to be George's best man, and Gram had bought him a suit.

  I pulled into the seniors only, apartment building lot and parked in a visitor's space.

  "Would you mind, running it in to him, Hallie? His apartment is 3C," George said.

  "Sure." I got out of my SUV and opened a back door.

  Gram handed me the garment bag. "Tell him to try it on, right away, and call me if it needs any alterations."

  I nodded, and draping the garment bag over my arm, I headed across the lot.

  The building was ten years old, and still in good shape. I went up the short walk, free of trash or cigarette butts, and went in one of the double, safety-glass doors.

  A small lobby sported a wall of mailboxes and two elevators. I got inside one of them and punched the button for the third floor. The elevator doors opened, and I went down the hallway, three doors, and knocked on 3C.

  The door opened immediately, by a seriously ugly woman in a metallic, bejeweled dress. She had black hair with bangs cut straight across her forehead. There were golden chains and more jewels in her hair and around her neck. She wore gladiator sandals on her big hairy feet. It had to be a costume for a party.

  "Is that my suit?" A man's deep voice asked me.

  Holy crap! It was Ernie! "Ah... Yeah. Um....Gram said to try it on, and let her know if it needs alterations."

  "OK. Tell her thank you."

  I nodded, just wanting out of there. "See ya," I said. I made it into the elevator before I was overcome with laughter.

  I got back into my car, and giggles were percolating from me every few seconds.

  Liv watched me curiously. "What's so funny?"

  "Was Ernie in one of his costumes?" George asked. "When he has beer for breakfast, he thinks he’s famous, reincarnated people."

  I had another fit of giggles and nodded.

  "Who was it this time, Napoleon or George Washington?" Gram asked shaking her head.

  "Cleopatra, “I said pounding the steering wheel and emitting loud guffaws, which set off everyone in the car. It felt good to laugh, but I hoped Ernie wasn't watching.

  When our laughter died down, Liv handed out tissues to wipe our eyes and blow our noses before we continued on our way.

  " I hope he has eggs for breakfast, Saturday morning, " Liv said. "He's partnered with Hallie at the wedding."

  "Huh!" I gripped the steering wheel. "You're kidding""

  "Well, he's the best man," Gram said. "Jeannie is paired with Karl, Poppy with Woody, and Laura with Jack."

  "No freaking way," I muttered under my breath. Besides wearing the orange, carnation nightmare, I had to walk down the aisle with a man who likes to dress up as an ancient Egyptian Queen.

  I shook my head in disbelief. Why me, damn it? I never ran over old ladies or kicked puppies. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and reminded myself how much I love my grandmother.

  NINE

  Ann Kasey seemed delighted to see us. She invited us inside and served tea and coffee cake in her living room.

  Ann is slightly taller than me with a figure just starting to grow plump. She has short brown hair and a soft pretty face.

  A jolt of anger slammed through me when I saw the black eye and bruised jaw that she tried to conceal with make-up. But I pretended not to notice. Gram introduced us, and we shook hands warmly.

  " Your home is lovely, Mrs. Kasey," I said ingratiatingly.

  "Thank you, Hallie." Ann Kasey looked around the room. "We redecorated last spring."

  "I love your piano," I enthused. "What kind is it?"

  "A Steinway Grand M," she replied. "Do you play?"

  "No. Unfortunately, I have no musical talent. But I enjoy Chopin and Beethoven."

  "You have excellent taste. Would you like to hear a little?"

  I smiled. "If you wouldn't mind."

  She sat on the bench and pushed up her sleeves. Her arms were long, and her hands, larger than mine, had graceful, slender fingers. "I'll play Beethoven for you."

  The music was beautiful. Ann Kasey is truly talented. It was a shame she gave up her career, for a life of being beaten by her husband.

  She finished to our applause and smiled before joining us on the sectional couch. "So, what can I do for you?"

  "I was going over the guest list for our wedding and realized, you were accidentally, left off the guest list." Gram lied smoothly. "George and I wanted to stop in to personally, invite you and apologize."

  "Thank you, Susan," Ann said. "Your wedding is Saturday, isn't it?"

  Gram nodded. " Two p.m. at our church, and the reception is at the West Gate fire hall."

  "I'd love to attend both." Ann smiled and poured more tea into our cups.

  "Will your husband be with you?" Gram asked innocently. "I need to tell the caterer."

  "I hope so, but he's very busy," Ann looked at the floor.

  I saw my opening. "I saw your husband yesterday." I imitated Gram's casual attitude. "He was at that body shop, just out of town."

  "Marv Deeter's place." Ann sipped her tea. "He stops in there a lot. Because...well... this isn't common knowledge." Ann's voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "But, Marv is my husband's nephew... from the wrong side of the blanket.” Ann sighed. “My husband's sister, Lorna, was quite wild in her youth. She had Marv before she was eighteen.”

  Ann sighed dramatically and continued. “The boy who fathered the child, asked his parents to raise Marv, and they agreed. They already had a large family of their own. The mother was widowed and remarried, and she had children with both husbands
. I never understood why they'd want another mouth to feed."

  After I scraped my jaw off the floor, I tried to control my expression. But Detective Larry Kasey just became a prime suspect, maybe not for the murders, but it was likely he was part of the drug ring. I wondered if Chief Woods knew about the Deeter-Kasey connection. I made a mental note to tell him, and report how Kasey threatened me, to keep me away from the body shop.

  "Well thank you for having us this morning, Ann," Gram said. "But Hallie is so busy."

  "I've heard!" Ann exclaimed. "You opened a Detective Agency."

  "Yes ma'am, and my assistant is in the hospital." I wondered how Ben was doing. I called when I woke up, but he was still sleeping.

  "Well, that's too bad. I hope he recovers soon." Ann showed us to her front door.

  "Thank you, everyone," I said when we were back in my car.

  "You're welcome," George said. "What's next?"

  "I need to go see Ben." I started the engine. "Would you all, like to go with me?"

  "Let's go see how the boy's doing," Liv said happily. She liked Ben. She always made a fuss over him when he visited.

  I drove to Herville Medical Center and dropped them off at the main entrance. After parking in a far lot, I took a shuttle bus back to meet them.

  With George in the lead, we found Ben's room. "Ladies first," George said pushing the door open wide.

  Ben was standing a few feet away with his back towards us. There were two female nursing assistants making his bed. His broad shoulders caused his hospital gown to gap in the back, fully exposing his well-formed buttocks to our view.

  George blushed, and Gram quickly turned her back. Liv took out her cell phone and snapped a picture.

  Ben heard us and turned around, causing a spate of giggles from the women making his bed. "Hi," he said, trying to pull the back of the gown closed. But with one hand, it was impossible.

  "Hi, yourself." I stepped behind him and tied the middle tie as best I could. I didn't blame Liv for taking a picture. The view was exquisite.

  The women finished their task and on their way out of the room, reminded Ben to ring the bell if he needed anything.

  Ben gave them one of his dazzling smiles, and climbed back into the hospital bed. I pulled the top sheet up to his chest and waved everyone into a chair.

  "Sorry I opened the door without knocking," George said. "I didn't mean to show the women your hiney."

  Liv and I burst into laughter while Gram hid her face behind her hands.

  "That's OK, George," Ben said through a giggle. "These things happen when you're in the hospital."

  "Now, you're even," I whispered into Ben's ear.

  Ben giggled again, remembering the time he'd walked in on George, in a hospital room, and was treated to the sight of his hiney. "Thanks for coming to visit me."

  "It didn't look like you were lonely," I said dryly.

  "Everyone's been very nice." He scrooched around uncomfortably.

  "I'm glad. Any word when they're going to let you out of here?" I adjusted the pillows behind Ben's back.

  "The doctor said, maybe tomorrow," Ben said. "They don't want me to tear open my stitches."

  "You can stay at the house with us until you heal," Gram offered.

  "Thanks, Gram. I think I will," Ben said.

  "I'll get your room ready and make all your favorite foods,” Liv added eagerly.

  "Even sticky buns?" Ben's eyes gleamed.

  "Dozens," Liv agreed with a smile.

  It was after twelve when we left the hospital. I called to check in with Jessie, and I assured her I would keep my two o'clock appointment.

  I drove to the police station to have a word with Chief Woods. I parked across the street and ran in by myself. Going straight to the Chiefs office, I knocked on the open door.

  "Come on in," he answered.

  I closed the door and sat on a chair in front of his desk. "You've heard about Ben?"

  "Yes, how is he?"

  "He'll recover, thanks." I gathered my thoughts and came straight to the point. "I need you to search Deeter's body shop.”

  The Chief looked at me over his reading glasses. "Why?"

  "I think Woody and the meth lab are there."

  Quickly, I told him everything. Including, Marv Deeter's attitude, and Detective Kasey protecting the building. I finished with Ann Kasey's admission that Marv is Kasey's illegitimate nephew.

  "I can't make any promises, but I'll see if I can get a warrant," Chief Woods said. "If not, I'll lean on Deeter to cooperate."

  "Make sure Kasey doesn't know, or Woody could be in worse danger." I stood and zippered my jacket.

  "I'll be in touch," Chief Woods promised.

  There was a loud knock on the office door. Chief Woods nodded, so I opened it.

  Andy strolled into the room. He needed a shower and a shave, but there were no shackles on him. "I'm free, Chief. When can I get back on the job?"

  I threw my arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. "It's great to see you, Andy."

  He hugged me back. "Thanks for your help, Hallie."

  Over Andy's shoulder, I saw Detective Kasey glaring hatefully at me. I turned away. "I have to go. My family's in my car, but I'll see you soon," I said to Andy. "Call me if you can arrange it," I told Chief Woods.

  I ran back out to my car and apologized for taking so long. "Is anyone hungry?" I asked as I turned the key in the ignition.

  "I could eat," George said.

  To Liv and George's delight, I drove through Burger Bistro. Gram ordered, but she wasn't as enthused as the rest of us. We got a lot of extra burgers and fries for whoever was at the house, and we took our fast-food feast home.

  Everyone gathered in the sunroom again. The sun had come out, and the room was bright and cheerful. I sat at the table, between Poppy and Aunt Jeannie, eating a cheeseburger and fries.

  Karl had to be in court this afternoon, but Gram had talked Peter into eating with us. He sat at the far end of the table. Liv, Laura, Jack, and George sat across from us as we enjoyed our lunch.

  I was distracted by Buddy and Princess playing in the backyard. Then the dogs froze, their ears standing straight up, before they barked excitedly.

  "Somebody must have pulled into the driveway," Liv said, getting up to answer the door.

  Soon, there was a ruckus in the hall. A man's voice was yelling obscenities, mixed with Liv's protests.

  "I said, I want her now. I'm not waiting in the living room. Where is the nosy bitch?"

  I recognized Detective Kasey's voice and hurried to the hall. "What do you want, officer?" I asked calmly.

  "I'm arresting you," he spat.

  "For what?" I raised an eyebrow.

  "Obstructing an investigation,” he screamed. "First, you fuck up my case against Andy Ross, and now, you're going to my house and asking my wife questions!"

  "I didn't know that finding out the truth was obstruction," I said as Gram, George, and Aunt Jeannie arrived at my side.

  "And the only question your wife was asked, was would she like to attend my wedding," Gram said hotly.

  "Shut up, and stay out of this, you old bat!" Kasey screamed at Gram.

  George took two steps and railed Kasey in the face. His fist connected with a thud, and the cop collapsed onto the hall floor.

  Holy crap! George decked him! It was as pleasure to watch, but would Kasey cause trouble? The wedding is only days away.

  My train of thought was derailed when a small, furry crocodile charged out if the living room. Rupert! He took Kasey's sleeve in his mouth and shook his head madly. We all froze in shock when the little dog lift his leg and peed on Kasey's shoulder.

  Peter appeared from behind us. He patted George on the back before bending down next to Kasey. He calmly scooped up Rupert. "You deserved worse than what you got, Larry," he said. "Why do you act like such an ass?"

  Gram picked up the cordless phone in the hall and dialed. She spoke to someone about what ju
st transpired with Kasey and walked toward him. Peter had handed Rupert to Liv and helped Kasey to his feet, but Kasey still looked unsteady.

  "Someone wants to speak with you," Gram said coldly as she handed the phone to Kasey.

  Kasey glared at Gram but put the phone to his ear. I couldn't hear the words being spoken to Kasey, but I cringed at the tone of the man's voice.

  "But, sir," Kasey said. As Kasey listened, his face changed color from pink, to red, to purple. "Yes, sir. I'll apologize and meet you at your office. Ten minutes, I'll be there."

  He handed the phone back to Gram. "I'm sorry for disturbing everyone, and Mrs. James, I'm very sorry if I insulted you." Kasey's mouth said the words, but his eyes seethed with fury. He turned on his heel and left the house.

  "Who did you call, Susie?" George asked.

  "The mayor," Gram said. "I told him, if his police officers continued to treat my family this way, there would be no more contributions to his reelection fund."

  I grinned. Gram was great, and so was George. He loved her dearly.

  "He should be fired," Aunt Jeannie said.

  "I think the mayor would prefer to do that in person," Gram smiled mysteriously.

  "Too bad," Peter said. His wife's my cousin, but I'd pay to see the look on his face when he gets the boot."

  Things settled down and I crammed the rest of my fries into my mouth. Chewing, I ran up to my bathroom to brush my hair and teeth before powdering my nose.

  I ran downstairs to tell everyone goodbye before I left to return to my office.

  TEN

  The afternoon went by quickly. I saw clients at two and three o'clock. Afterwards, I called Ben to tell him about Kasey.

  "I wish I could've seen George deck that creep," Ben said.

  "It was magnificent." I giggled. "Any word about when you're getting out of there?"

  "It sounds like you miss me."

  "I do," I admitted.

  "The doc was in after you left. He said he'd discharge me tomorrow afternoon."

  "Call me. I'll pick you up and take you to my house," I said. I want you to rest until the wedding, so I don't have to dance with the queen of the Nile."