Rick Cantelli, P.I. (Rick Cantelli, P.I. Detectives Book 1)

by Bernard DeLeo

“I should have known when we saw him at the beach house in swim trunks.” Shelly reduced her tone to a whisper. “Aw, crap! Here comes Miss Jadie, our mistress of pain.”

  A hand strokes across my shoulders as our aerobics instructor joined us from my backside. “You looked good today, Rick. This can’t be your first class.”

  “It’s my first class, but I work out with a disc at home.” I feel Jadie’s hand drift down to my waist and stay there.

  “Well, a self motivator,” Jadie says, giving me a little hug. “I like that. You two ladies did very well. I know this is a little tough to get used to, but you’ll both be right up to speed in no time. Was your back okay today during the workout, Ms. Madigan?

  “Call me Lois. I like to be on a first name basis with my torturer. The back was fine.”

  Wentworth laughs, giving me another squeeze. “It’s Jadie then, Lois.”

  “I’m Shelly. You’re spending a lot of time with us, Jadie.” Shelly is less than amused with Jadie’s familiarity. “I’m sure your other students will need some encouragement.”

  “I noticed on Lois’s application for class she listed Madigan and Cantelli Security and Investigations for you three. Is that like a private detective business, Rick?”

  “Lois and I do investigations, security, some escort work, and some bond retrieval. Shelly is our office manager. We’re all staying in shape while keeping Lois’s back on the mend. We also do security systems if you’re in need of it.”

  Jadie turns serious, and looks around at the emptying workout area. “We’ve had seven break-ins this past six weeks. Nothing has been taken.”

  I see Lois’s face become more animated. She’s already calculating as she starts her interrogation. “What’s your suspicion, Jadie? It is rather unusual for break-ins without theft.”

  Jadie shrugs. “I’m at a loss. We haven’t seen any lurkers around. We’re open from six in the morning until midnight.”

  “How about disgruntled customers,” Lois asks.

  “None that I’m aware of. I’ll ask around though. We thought maybe one of us has a stalker we don’t know about.”

  “Sure,” Lois agrees, “but why break in when no one’s around unless they’re going through the girls’ dirty laundry? A stalker would follow the target home, and then concentrate on that. Tell you what, Rick and I will do a walk through, including your office if you’d like.”

  “That would be great. Right this way.”

  I’m not normally impressed with one of these places, but this one’s big. There are plenty of every type exercise machine known to man in there, and best of all for Jadie, there are plenty of people around using them. It looks like one of those hip crowds too with the prime age groups represented, many of whom seem to know each other. I see flirting and hookup potential everywhere I look. That’s a moneymaking chemistry, which gives me an idea.

  “Jadie, do you have much in the way of competition in the area?”

  That stopped her. She hesitated long enough for Lois to flash me the raised brow look. Shelly was too uncomfortable in her sweat-stained gym outfit to pay attention. She was mesmerized with the number of mirrors in the place, and depressed.

  “A new 24 hour place opened just half a mile away,” Jadie answered finally. “Why do you ask?”

  “How long have you owned the place,” I persisted. Lois and I have been around long enough to remember the video rental wars, which technology has changed into on-line wars. We did a lot of security work back in those days. With the new fitness craze, the war zone has changed venues.

  “Three years.”

  “How many accidents have you had happen here?”

  Jadie immediately goes on the defensive. “Every workout place has accidents. If-”

  Lois did her Jeopardy wrong answer buzzer noise. Yeah, she gets a little impatient. She takes over. “Jadie, tell us. We have a reason for asking.”

  “Just a couple until… shit… I see where you’re going with this.” She walked away from us, hands on hips. Lois gave me a little pat on the cheek. A moment later, Jadie walked back over looking like Shelly after the workout - deflated. “We’ve had problems with our treadmills and stair-climbers. They’ve speeded up and stuck on. Luckily we avoided anything serious because my desk manager has an emergency shutdown. I had the maintenance guys from the companies that supplied us with the machines check them over, but they can’t find anything.”

  “How do you know you’ve been broken into,” Lois asked.

  “Our alarms off when I come in. It has a trip that once shut off, only I can turn it back on.”

  Not bad. “That’s a good thing. Otherwise, you would never have known. What about new employees. I’m betting you have a pretty high turnover for employees.”

  Jadie nodded. “It’s one of the bad parts of this business. I know of three who were hired around the start of the break-ins. Should we question them?”

  “No,” Lois answered. “Give us all your employee records so we can do a thorough search and see if we can make a few connections to your competition. How far apart have the break-ins been spaced?”

  Jadie considered that one carefully. “Between three and five days.”

  “When was the last one,” I ask.

  “Four days ago.”

  Aw crap. I see Lois’s face brighten with a financial wellbeing glow. That means if Jadie agrees to terms I’ll be staying overnight. I saw her office. It looked comfortable, but I had a date with Lois’s movie star half sister tonight. I shrug and nod at Lois. The deal is sealed without a word. Lois takes Jadie by the arm, walking her toward the office.

  “Let’s go talk over security costs,” Lois says.

  “What did you just agree to, Rick?” The deflated Shelly has livened up a bit, only not in a good way. Her brow is furrowed, and she has that irritated tight lipped slash going on at her mouth.

  “I need to stay and see if I can be here filming when the break-in occurs. I’ll install our cameras tonight the first hour the place is closed. This is serious business, Shell. Someone could have been killed. The PD will have to be brought in with sterling evidence gathering. Why? What’s got your nose out of joint?”

  “I see that aerobics bimbo sneaking back over to put you through another workout.”

  Shelly has been less than pleased with my suddenly more active love life. She brought over a home cooked dish two nights ago unannounced, only to find my old classmate Stacy with me. Shell of course ratted me out to Lois, so I had to go through an hour of harpy hell the next morning. It had been in my plans to let Lois discover my seeing Stacy again so I could watch her head explode, but I hadn’t planned on Shelly outing me quite so quickly. It was still fun. My next immediate transgression was a date with hated sister Karen. Yeah… I admit it – easily entertained.

  “You know I don’t fool around on the job. I understand you’re hacked off at me because I’m in better shape, and for some reason, I’ve entered the Twilight Zone in my love life. You’re the best office employee we’ve ever had. Keep this crap up with the Cantelli watch and when I make Lois choose, it won’t be you, kid.”

  That stunned Shelly a little, because I think she’s been having visions that she’s Lois, and she can tag me anytime she thinks I’m getting out of line. I don’t think so. There’s only so far I’ll go to keep a great employee.

  “I…I’m sorry, Rick.”

  “That would be I’m sorry, Mr. Cantelli.”

  “Sorry, Mr. Cantelli.”

  “Go get your shower, Ms. Fontenot. I’ll let Ms. Madigan know where you are.”

  Shelly got that hurt look she reserves for special occasions. “Thanks. I can’t afford to lose my job, Sir.”

  “Carry on then, Ms. Fontenot.” Yeah, I ain’t letting go quite that easily. I enjoy her trek to the showers.

  I’m getting looks from the women working out around me. I smile at them. This streak I’m on is getting very entertaining. I know it’s driving everyone else mental, but man, the reacti
ons to my mysteriously upgraded love life are actually better than sex. What can I say? I’m a geezer. I don’t look at age through rose colored glasses. I’m absent the delusions. When I get looks, I smile. I see Lois and Jadie coming at me with agreeable tones of contract signed on their faces. Jadie walks over to talk to one of her assistants while Lois clues me in.

  Lois fronts me. “It’s a go, Rick. Can you stay tonight?”

  “Sure. Shelly hit the showers. Can you have Steve run a set of cameras over for me to install tonight? I’ll shower, go get some dinner, and then be back by closing.”

  Lois immediately moves over close to my ear. “You bang my sister on your break… there will be blood!”

  Damn it! “I want a divorce, Lo! You need to get the hell out of my head!”

  Lois cackled in her usual annoying way. “I have something else for you, Spanky. Jadie wants to do a sleep over with you to catch these dastardly guys.” Lois leans in close. “Damn, Rick, what the hell is going on with you lately?”

  “First off… no and hell no on the sleep over. I’m getting a giggle on all this Cantelli pheromone knifed in by the media on our goofy business life, Lo. It’s been a laugh with me and your sister finding our way into the entertainment newspaper rumor mill on a regular basis. It’s possible Jadie reads the fluff and rumor pages. You and I have been together a long time, partner. Let’s drop all the crap. Your guess is as good as mine on what’s happening with me, Lo. I backed Shelly the hell off just a moment ago. I know you’re there for me. I don’t want to lose Shelly, but she is close to crossing the line.”

  Lois shrugs. “I hear you. Let’s do this without the crap.”

  “Agreed.”

  Jadie walks back over with us, putting an arm around my waist. “How about it, Rick? Did Lois explain I’d like to be on hand if those guys show up tonight?”

  I uncouple from her with a pat on her shoulder. “She did, but it doesn’t work that way, Jadie. When I get the evidence, the PD will have to be brought in. Those accidents could have done a lot more than ruin your client list. I’ll get the cameras in place first thing after closing, and work on making connections in your employee files. If a break-in happens tonight, this could get dangerous.”

  Wentworth ain’t getting it. “I’ve read about you, Rick. You’re gaining notoriety for getting bad guys. I noticed you’re getting into the celebrity sheet with Karen Bastille. I thought maybe we could get to know each other. Lois doesn’t mind.”

  “If Rick says no, Jadie, it’s no,” Lois cuts in. “He’s right. This is serious business. If he has to front these clowns in here at night, it could get ugly. They know they could be on the hook for attempted murder if caught.”

  The facts are sinking in as Jadie loses the flirtatious face. “Oh… I hadn’t thought of it that way. I have another class starting soon. I’ll see you before I go home when you get here, Rick.”

  “See you then.” I look at Lois after Jadie walks away. “Let’s get a shower. Since I have to cancel with Karen, I’ll retrieve the cameras needed and my super notebook. I can get started on the employee checks here. Maybe I can make the connections before the sleepover.”

  Lois nods. “Sounds good, including you blowing off that tramp carrying around my DNA. I’ll have to admit it. You’re on a roll. Between killings and sharing the glamour page with sister slut, you certainly are getting name recognition.”

  “For our business too,” I point out as we walk toward the locker room. “It seems our Ms. Wentworth follows the scandal sheet, and it got us this gig.”

  “Yep. Might as well ride the wave into the rocks, Ricky,” Lois agrees.

  “Better yet, I’ll ride the wave onto a nice sandy beach scene with your sister.”

  Lo whips around on me, her fist shaking in my face. “One of these days… one of these days! Whamo! Right to the moon, Spanky!”

  Heh, heh, heh.

  * * *

  Jadie sent everyone home at ten, so I could get our cameras installed and surveillance gear running in her back office without being seen by possible culprits working for her. She handled the fitness center supervision alone until closing. Before closing I was well into the employee record sheets, doing back traces on a few professional databases on-line. I cross referenced the names with everyone I found listed as owning the new fitness center nearby. It didn’t take long to find a match: Brittany Sarrington. She was the tall brown haired assistant that had helped Jadie do her workout class. I found out she shared the same address as William Culver, one of the new fitness club owners. Lo wanted a FaceTime call if I found a match.

  “Damn Rick, you found a match already?” Lois looked rested on the iPhone screen, so I figured she’d taken a nap in anticipation.

  I stood up and stretched my legs. “Brittany Sarrington. She helped out today at our workout. She’s cohabitating with one of the new fitness club owners, William Culver.”

  Suddenly, Lois’s eyes widened as if she’d seen a ghost sneaking in on me. “What?”

  She grinned. “Look behind you Rick.”

  Uh oh. I turned around at the desk to face the office entrance. It was Jadie without anything on but a black thong bottom. Lois laughed, seeing my stunned expression. Jadie smiled at me, posing slightly.

  “Sorry, Rick. I didn’t mean to interrupt your call.”

  I recovered a bit, holding my iPhone so Lois could wave at Jadie. “Hello there, Jadie. Nice outfit.”

  Jadie squealed and backed out of the office with Lois cackling big time. “Rick, you dog! You’re still surfing in uncharted waters I see.”

  I faced her smirking mug once again. “Yep. For a moment there I forgot what the hell I was doing here. Man, I hope those burglars show tonight. I better go. I still have to install the cameras now that I’m sure by Jadie’s outfit everyone must be gone.”

  “You getting some midnight delight before the install?”

  “I’m old enough to be somewhere between her father and grandfather. I don’t think so.”

  Lois cackled once again. “Call if you need back up. Goodnight, Rick.”

  “Okay, Lo.”

  I picked up my bag with the installation cameras. They’re small, wireless, low light, HD beauties, easily mounted anywhere with wide range coverage. The red faced Jadie was standing in the outer office with her robe on.

  “You didn’t have to FaceTime me with Lois!”

  “She’s the one that spotted you coming in behind me, kid. I’ve got nearly thirty years on you. I have a serious job here to do, and I have news. Your mole is Brittany.”

  Jadie’s mouth dropped open. “She’s my best assistant. Are you sure?”

  “She’s living with one of the new club’s owners so that would be a yes.”

  “You’re really good at this.” Jadie opened her robe. “I don’t care about the age difference.”

  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I shook my head. “I’m going out to install the cameras and test the feed on my laptop. Get your clothes on, Jadie. This is not happening.”

  I slipped by her without waiting for an answer. I made sure she’d closed all the metal shutters so I wouldn’t be on display while I did my install. I didn’t need a lot of light, so the few lights Jadie left on were plenty. By the time I finished the install about fifty minutes later, Jadie was getting ready to walk out. She waved at me a little sheepishly.

  “If you ever change your mind after this is over Rick, give me a call.”

  Not happenin’. “Thanks, kid. That was very flattering for a geezer like me. Goodnight. Set the alarm when you leave just like always.”

  She started to say something, but thought better of it. I went in the back office to my laptop and checked my camera feeds. They looked perfect. I’d get a full frontal and head shots of them coming in, and then a nice pan shot as they approached their targets: the treadmills and stair machines. I was all set. The motion detector I had put on near the door would vibrate my iPhone if I had visitors. I doubted I’d be that lucky. Jadie had a nice
couch, so I took my iPhone over and got comfortable with my utensils within reach: Ruger 9 mil ready in my clip on, Mace, and stunner nightstick.

  Dead to the world, I dreamed of Jadie. What can I say? I’m not actually dead, and man, did she look fine in that thong. My vibrating iPhone launches me off the couch reaching for my tools. A quick look at my notebook screen reveals two guys with small tool boxes heading for the machines. They look like Mutt and Jeff. One is short, squat, and nervously peering around. The other is tall, thin, and uncaring of his surroundings. They expertly begin to get into two of the machines separated by six others. As I zoom into the tall one’s activities I can see he’s switching one of the circuit boards. It’s two thirty in the morning. I call Lois. I’ll let her get the cavalry.

  Lois answers on the first ring, wiping at her face tiredly. “Yeah, Rick.”

  “I got two bozos working over the machines, Lo. Tell the PD I’ll have them in custody, and not to shoot me.”

  “Are you sure you want to take them, Rick?” Lois is awake and moving.

  “Yeah. I’d like to get some background on whether it’s all the partners over at the new place or just Carver.”

  “Got it.”

  * * *

  “Hello, boys.”

  I shocked the crap out of them. The small guy actually yelps and drops his tools. The other one spins to face me.

  “I just have a couple questions for you two before the PD gets here.”

  “We ain’t tellin’ you shit,” the tall one informs me. He points at my Ruger, I’m holding casually at my side, because I’ve left about twenty feet between us. “You ain’t shootin’ that thing so you might as well put it away.”

  Actually, I had the Ruger out so in case one of these clowns was packing. Big boy steps towards me, and I let him have a nice stream of happy juice right in the face. He’s on the floor crying out and puking as I back away a little. I motion for the other guy to come over to me.

  “Lock your hands behind your back and walk backwards toward me.”

  “O…okay… just don’t shoot that shit at me!” He does as he’s told and I plastic tie his hands while his partner rolls around in real distress.