by J R Pearson
“Wow… that’s… disturbing, and thanks so much for the unwanted mental image.”
“No prob. Any job plans?” I would’ve suggested Enzo’s but I quickly shot down that idea. Damn pun. I winced.
“I got in touch with Brad, an old friend of mine. He’s helping me get a position at In the Box Bistro with him.”
“Oh, yum! Since we’re family, do I get a discount on hot dogs?”
We laughed and continued to catch up. Her more than me.
“Jen, I’m the only one who’s doing all the talking. What’s up with you?”
“Nothing really,” I chewed my thumbnail.
“You’re lying. Spill.”
“Okay, fine. Hypothetically speaking, you stumble upon a dying person and are told by said dying person to ‘watch your back.’ Then the dying person downgrades to dead-person-slash-murdered-person. So now you’re freaked out, lusting after a delicious-looking detective, and suspicious that a third person, who was supposed to be present when discovering the body, is missing, and you think may be responsible for the death. What do you do next?” I’m pretty sure I nailed achieving subtlety.
“Besides knocking back a glass of wine?” she said after a long pause.
“Did that already—I mean, hypothetically, that’s already been done.”
“Mmm-hmmm.” She let it slide. “To me, this third person is sounding some alarms. I’d try to figure out where he or she is and talk to them about what happened, where they were, maybe get some insight as to why my hypothetical self needs to watch my back. Is the delicious-looking detective saying anything about the third person, whom I’m assuming has a name?”
“Hypothetical third person’s name is Luca. And the detective isn’t offering info, which I suspect is very little.”
“Maybe Luca saw something and is in danger and now is simply hiding,” my cousin stated.
In hiding?
“That’s not an option to do as well in this scenario,” I said. I’m not gonna huddle underneath my bed. Screw that.
“Understandable. We get stubbornness from our moms—er, I mean our hypothetical moms.” Josie chuckled. “I’d track down Luca and ask what the hell is going on. I was born as a human being with the difficulty of finding a decent bra size. No way do I resemble a sitting duck.” Yeah, we were definitely related.
“And if he ends up confessing to being the killer? What then?” I asked.
“Abort mission and run like hell.”
Mandy arrived shortly after my phone call, arrest warrant-free and with the expression of pure satisfaction. Smears of frosting decorated her top.
“How did the job hunting go?” I bit my lip to keep from smiling.
“Very well, actually.” She stuck her tongue out and swatted me with her purse.
“So I’ve decided to try and find Luca,” I announced.
“How are you going to do that?” she asked, eyes wide. “Where do you start?”
Good point. On my phone, I scrolled through my contacts. Finding Debbie’s number, I sent her a quick text asking if she knew Luca’s home address.
“I’ll start by knocking on his door,” I said to Mandy. She rolled her eyes.
“Uh, hello? According to my TV crime show knowledge, I’m pretty sure a person who disappears during a murder investigation is automatically the first police look at. They must’ve already busted down Luca’s door.”
Another good point.
Mandy-1, Jennie-0.
Looking for a possible witness, which Luca could be, was already on the police’s to-do list. And looking for a possible suspect, which Luca might be, was number one on that list. I had no doubt Caleb was a good detective, even though I’d just met him the day before, but sitting in my apartment twiddling my thumbs, not doing anything, was unacceptable to me.
“...you don’t need to worry over this...”
“Watch your back.”
Vzzt. My cell buzzed. Debbie replied with Luca’s address. The neighborhood she named was new, containing mini mansions with pools and tennis courts.
Hmm….
“Got the address,” I told Mandy.
Vzzt. Debbie again.
— Anthony’s wife is having a quick memorial service in the parking lot at Enzo’s. Tomorrow @ 1.
Suddenly, I felt like I ran into a concrete wall. So much for thinking this was all a really bad dream.
“What’s wrong?” Mandy noticed me stiffen.
“Anthony’s wife is having a service tomorrow,” I said.
“Already?”
“Yeah.” My voice sounded far away. I shook my head. “Anyways, I got Luca’s address. I shouldn’t be long.” I turned to the door.
“Wait for me!” Mandy picked up her purse. “I’m going with you.” She had her “don’t argue with me” face on. I didn’t plan to. Always counting on her support, I gave her a big squeeze.
“Thank you.”
“Before we set out on our little adventure, we should stop by Danny’s Deli and get some cold cuts,” she suggested.
Mandy-2, Jennie-0.
She’s on a roll today.
I pointed the car toward Danny’s Deli, and soon we were loaded up on pastrami sandwiches, salami cold cuts, and a container of speared pickles.
Getting to the new neighborhood was simple; however, I ended up driving circles for half an hour before finally coming upon Luca’s home.
“I should have become a cook a looooong time ago,” Mandy said. “This place is nice.”
I squinted up at the massive house. Red brick, about a dozen windows, driveway half a mile long, no cars parked. Beautiful bright green lawn with perfectly cut bushes.
I didn’t think the cooks at Enzo’s were paid that much. Did I miss a lottery drawing?
Chapter Five
“Maybe his family has money?” I thought out loud.
“Is he married?” Mandy asked.
“I don’t know, why?”
“Just wondering….” Her voice was high. I frowned at my friend.
“Stop it! He’s like three times your age, and he could be a murderer!”
“Well, someone has to look after the house when he gets dragged off to jail.” She set aside the container of pickles and got out the car.
“Where are you going?” I gestured to the empty driveway. “He’s obviously not here.”
“I just want to look around.”
“Mandy!”
“He probably has a hot tub in the backyard!” She turned and trotted up the driveway.
I groaned. This was a bad idea. All I wanted to know was if Luca was at Enzo’s Thursday morning, and if he saw something or knew anything. I watched Mandy go crazy with the knocker, then peek through a window. She waved at me before dashing around the house, toward the backyard.
Great.
I quickly caught up with her on the back deck. She was peering through a set of glass French doors.
“It’s dark in there.”
“Because no one is home. Let’s go.” An eight-foot wooden fence and a few trees separated us and the house next door. I wasn’t sure if anyone occupied it.
“I knew it! Hot tub!” Mandy squealed. She pointed to the far end of the deck. Impressive, Luca. It was huge. We circled the tub, brows raised. I didn’t see the object until I tripped over it.
“Huh?” I looked down at the empty black duffle bag. I shifted it aside with my foot. Underneath, dark red spots dotted the wet wooden panels. Large puddles of water surrounded the tub.
“What is that?” Mandy pointed to a red smear on the lid of the tub. “I hear bubbling. Is this thing on?” I broke out in a cold sweat. My eyes went from the red spots to the damp ground, and then widened at the tub. Panic gripped my throat.
“Mandy, help me get the lid off,” I said as I began to push.
“I just wanted to see if he had a tub, not get in it!”
“Dammit, Mandy, help me!” Without another word, she joined me. We finally had the lid halfway across the tub.
/>
Unfortunately, that was enough.
A clothed, gray-haired man floated facedown in the bubbling water. The water was bright red like boiling lava. Mandy gasped beside me.
“Call the police,” I said to her. I couldn’t take my eyes off the body. It was like finding Anthony all over again, seeing all the blood. I reached for Mandy’s arm as we backed away slowly.
“Holy donkey shit, Jen. Is that a dead body?”
“Did you hear what I sai—”
“Yeah, yeah, I will... when I’m done throwing up.”
“How can you eat after seeing that?” I asked Mandy. She shoveled salami into her mouth. After notifying the police, we sat in the car and waited.
“I’m a stress eater and you know it.”
“You can’t be a stress eater and be a stress vomiter at the same time. Pick one!” I snapped, slumping in my seat. I was pretty sure we were going to get in trouble for trespassing on someone else’s property. Would the cops believe me if I said we were invited? Probably not.
Was it Luca floating in the tub?
“Quick! Move!” Mandy tossed aside the sandwich and shoved me into the door.
“What? Why? Ow!” She wormed over the console and onto my lap, pressing into the car horn which blared. “Mandy!”
“Get out!” she shouted, her body squashing me against the door. I opened it and fell onto the hot asphalt. She slammed the door shut and started the car. She better not—
“Are you about to leave?” I smacked the window. She rolled it down an inch.
“I can’t stay here, Jen. You know about my cop-phobia. Look, I’m itching already.” She began scratching her arm and behind her neck.
My patience was wearing thin, and I certainly did not have the time to explain the difference between phobias and itch-causing allergies without ending it by strangling her. Surely that’d be a sight to behold for when police arrive.
“You just can’t leave, you psycho! They’ll want us to answer questions, give statements—” Sirens shrieked behind us. I turned to see an ambulance approach, followed by several police cruisers. I faced Mandy to continue to reason with her, but it was too late. She shoved part of a cold cut in her pie-hole and then floored my car in the opposite direction.
Along with my purse, wallet, and the other half of my spicy mustard-pastrami sandwich.
Damn. Car doors slammed behind me.
“Jennie?” a deep voice said. I winced. Double damn.
It was Caleb. He walked up to me, frowning. “What are you doing here?”
I opened my mouth to answer when he raised his hand cutting me off.
“Please do not tell me you’re the one who called this in.” He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
So much trouble. I nodded.
“Hot tub.” I scrunched my own nose. “Back deck.” Caleb cursed loudly, then signaled his officers to follow him.
“Don’t move. Jenkins! Make sure she doesn’t go anywhere,” he ordered. That wasn’t going to be a problem. My ride had already sped off into the sunset.
Caleb returned, his face grim.
“Is it Luca?” I asked.
“Why are you here?” he countered.
“You already know the answer to that. Is it Luca?” I pressed, not backing down.
Caleb sensed it and blew out a breath.
“Yes. We found his driver’s license in his pocket.”
My whole body deflated. What was I to do now? I’d made no progress at all. I looked up at Caleb, a line between his brows. Something was bothering him.
“Is there a problem?”
He stepped closer to me and took out a baggie from inside his jacket.
“I’m afraid so. This was found in the bottom of the tub.” The bag held a smart phone.
“Luca’s?”
“Most likely. It seems he was in the middle of a text conversation before he died. Luckily, the screen is partially visible.” It was frozen on an open messaging thread. My mouth dried at the sight of the last outgoing message.
A grainy picture of… me.
“I’ll send the phone to the lab in West Emily,” he said. “Better equipment there. They’ll be able to piece together what’s left and find out who Luca sent the picture to.” I merely nodded.
“I’ll get to the bottom of this,” Caleb reassured me, laying a hand on my shoulder.
“I know. I trust that you will,” I expressed. Caleb’s face softened and his hand moved down to mine. It would appear that my words really touched him. Deeply. Have to explore that further one day.
Beep! Beep! My car screeched to a stop in front of Caleb and me. Mandy dropped the window.
“Wowzers. Who’s the hunk in the suit? He the cop you ditched me for?” she shouted. “If so, I am not mad, girl. He’s smokin’.” Nearby Officers looked over at the sudden commotion. Caleb narrowed his eyes at her, stepping away from me.
“Uh, Caleb, this is my friend Mandy. We both found the body.”
“Is that so?” He lifted a perfect eyebrow.
“No, it’s not so! She’s lying to you!” she argued. “I didn’t see anything. I don’t know anything about no creepy dead guy in a beautiful hot tub. In fact, I’ve never seen that woman before in my life.” She pointed to me.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Mandy.”
“I only came back to give you this, Jen-I mean, stranger I’ve never met before.” She tossed me my purse and threw some pickles at my feet. “Eat those sparingly. Jail food taste like shit in an assbucket. I saw on a documentary once that the inmates clip their fingernails into the chili.” She mimed a telephone with her hand and mouthed, “Call me later,” then drove off. Caleb was silently laughing beside me.
“Sorry, she’s never like that. Wait no, she’s always like that.”
“She’s also right about the chili,” he said. “I’m guessing your ride just drove away?” I nodded. “Well, you’re in luck. I’ll take you home.” He guided me to a shiny black truck and boosted me up into the passenger seat.
“I’m also going to guess that she’s the one who puked all over the patio steps?”
“Sorry about that too.” It was “national apologize for your best friend” day. Caleb shrugged it off.
“It’s okay. Just let her know to send a new pair of shoes to the station. Officer Robinson will be glad to have them.”
Chapter Six
The drive back into town was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts. Out the window, I watched the scene turn from houses to green valleys, and then to shops. People walking their dogs, laughing with one another, going about life. Completely oblivious to what had occurred just a few miles away.
I turned to Caleb. Remembering he was new in town, I asked him how he liked Greenville.
“Besides getting handed a double homicide the second I walk into town?” he said. “Or meeting a woman who doesn’t do as she’s told?” He arched a brow at me.
“You sound like my mom,” I mumbled. Caleb grunted.
“It’s been all right. I will say this morning has been hectic.”
“How so?”
“Residents have been calling, asking for me specifically, to come to their homes and investigate the craziest things.” We stopped at an intersection. “After a resident said they had a shark sighting in a bathtub, I was done responding.”
“Wait a minute. Were all these people women?”
“Yeah, how—”
“Come on, it’s obvious. You’re the new hot guy in town. Of course they’re going to make false reports so they can get a chance to see you.” Why were men so clueless?
“You think I’m hot?” He flashed a wicked grin, making my heart beat faster.
“Oh, please.” I silently urged my lady bits to calm the hell down. He chuckled.
“Besides all that, Greenville is growing on me. It’s a lot calmer than West Emily.”
“How long had you lived there?”
“Since I was born.”
“What m
ade you come here?” We continued to drive through town, getting closer to my apartment. Caleb remained silent until pulling into the parking lot. Shutting off the car, he turned to me.
“I needed a change.” He shrugged. “Thinking maybe it’s time to settle down.” His tone revealed more, though. Again I saw the sudden shift in his eyes. The way his jaw clenched. The car’s large interior suddenly seemed smaller.
“You picked the perfect place. The folks here may be a bit nutso, but it’s a charming little town. The food is also amazing here. I don’t know if you’ve been to Triple B’s. The three Bs stand for burgers, bacon, and brew. Awesome onion rings. You definitely need to check it out. You’ll grow to love it here,” I said.
Caleb looked thoughtful for a moment, his eyes holding mine.
“I’m sure I will.” He then leaned forward, arm stretching toward me. His face was just inches from mine.
Is he about to kiss me? This soon? Does my breath smell like pastrami? Should I kiss him back? What—
He glanced away, and the arm that came toward me opened the car door. “I don’t want to see you at another crime scene, got it?” he said.
Poof! Back to reality! Get a grip, Jennie.
“Believe me, neither do I.” As I scooted out the seat, my foot lost its grip, and I slipped down onto the ground face-first. The second time today on asphalt.
“Jennie! Are you okay?” His face appeared above me. I could tell he was trying really hard not to laugh. I gave him a thumbs-up from the ground.
“I’m good.” Life was really good for me right now.
“Maybe you can show me around town sometime. Starting with Triple B’s one night.”
It just got better.
The sun had set a while before, leaving the apartment dark but cozy. I took a hot shower and lay stretched on the couch. Mandy had texted me saying she and ex-coworker Josh were out on a date and would be home later. At least one of us was enjoying some romance. I didn’t know whether or not to consider Caleb’s invitation to Triple B’s a potential date, let alone if it would ever happen.