Disrobed for Death

by Sylvia Rochester

  “When I drove by your complex and saw the yellow police tape, I thought maybe he had come through after all. That was until a passerby told me a doctor was shot but was expected to survive. I couldn’t believe the idiot had botched the job.”

  “If you were looking to collect on my insurance policy, it wouldn’t have done you any good.”

  “I didn’t know that at the time, but the insurance company notified me this morning that I was removed as the beneficiary.”

  “So, why are you here? You have nothing to gain by killing me.”

  “Oh, yes I do. I’ll have the satisfaction of seeing you six feet under.”

  “You don’t need to do this, Clarissa. We can work something out,” Jack said.

  With his gun drawn, Wesley stepped into the doorway and drew down on Clarissa. “Drop your weapon,” he shouted.

  “No,” Susan shouted, fearing for his life.

  Clarissa had the barrel of a revolver pointed at Jack’s forehead. Wesley’s sudden appearance startled her, and A. K. took advantage of the moment. She lunged forward, grabbed Clarissa’s arm, and thrust it upward. The gun fired into the ceiling. Screams filled the hall. As the two struggled, Wesley bolted across the room and wrenched the revolver from Clarissa’s hand.

  “It’s over, Clarissa,” Wesley said, turning her around and pinning her against the wall. Pulling the cuffs from the back of his belt, he cuffed her. “Susan, get help for the nurse.”

  A few minutes later, hospital personnel rushed into the room and lifted the wounded nurse.

  “Let’s get her to the ER,” one nurse said, applying pressure to the wound.

  An orderly stuck his head into the room. “Everyone okay in here?”

  “We are now,” Jack said.

  “Thanks for implicating Gary,” Wesley said to Clarissa. “We had no hard evidence against his involvement. But I think you should know Gary didn’t shoot Jack. He was long gone on a flight to Atlanta.”

  “Then who—”

  “You can read all about it in the newspaper.”

  From the far corner of the room, a whimpering Ramona made her way to Jack, her face drained of all color, her hands shaking. “I’ve never been so scared.”

  Susan hurried to the bedside and put her arm around Ramona while Jack took his sister’s hand. “I love you, too, Sis.” He held out his other hand to A. K. “Looks like you saved my life.”

  A. K. glanced at Susan. “Seems we both did…with Wesley’s help.”

  Jack drew A. K. closer. “I’m indebted to all of you. Wesley, what about Vera? Where did you find her? What did she say?”

  “I’ll let Susan tell you. Right now, I have to take care of business. Susan, I’ll call you as soon as I wrap this up.”

  Wesley escorted Clarissa out of the room. “Clarissa Evans, you’re under arrest for attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. You have the right to remain silent….”

  The pandemonium in the hall swallowed up Wesley’s words.

  “I hope this puts an end to this nightmare,” Ramona said.

  Jack nodded then turned his attention to Susan. “So, what happened with Vera? Did she say why she wanted to kill me?”

  Susan told them how they found Vera at her husband’s grave and how Herman talked her into surrendering. “He poured out his heart to her and promised they could see this through together. His love convinced Vera into surrendering. Had he not been there, I’m sure she would have taken her own life.”

  “I had no idea she blamed me for everything. Was I so wrapped up in my work, so indifferent to those around me? How did I become that monster? I don’t want to be that Jack Evans any more, and I don’t want Vera to spend her waning years in a prison cell. Do you think it would help if I refuse to testify against her and asked the judge to consider leniency?”

  “It can’t hurt,” Susan said.

  “Guess I should start by apologizing to you, Susan. I’m sorry I dismissed your vision. Next time, I won’t be so quick to ignore things I don’t understand. Thanks for not giving up on me.”

  A nurse came into the room. “You’ve had more than enough excitement for one day, Doctor Evans. In fact, we all have. It’s time you get some rest.”

  “Rest? I could use a little of that,” Susan said. “Could someone give me a ride to pick up my car? I left it at Vera’s.”

  “I will,” Ramona said.

  A. K. turned to go, but Jack kept hold of her hand. “Please, stay a while longer.”

  Susan gave A. K. a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the boutique.”

  “I suppose one visitor would be okay,” the nurse said, “if you promise you’ll rest, doctor.”

  Ramona kissed her brother goodbye, and she and Susan walked down the hall. “You and Wesley seem tight. Any chance it’ll lead to a permanent relationship?”

  “I hope so.”

  “I still think about his partner. That had to have been horrible.”

  “He has a new partner now, and while he’ll never forget Terrance, he can’t let it jeopardize his performance. He owes his best to the new man. In their line of work, seconds count.”

  “Call me a coward, but I don’t know if I could ever get serious about someone who faces danger every day,” Ramona said.

  “You’re not a coward. You’re normal. I’ve struggled with that but have come to the conclusion I’d rather be with him than without him.”

  “Well, Palmetto’s not accustomed to all this excitement, and I’m looking forward to it returning to the sleepy little town it’s always been, albeit, one with a Bawdy Boutique.” Ramona smiled. “Things sure have changed since you opened your shop.”

  They reached Ramona’s car and climbed in.

  “Talking about the boutique, A. K. and I are going in together and opening a costume shop next to it. What do you think about that? I’m going to see if Melanie would be interested in working there. The money from the fundraising won’t last forever, and I hear the police pension plan really sucks.”

  “Oh, a costume shop should do great. I’m tired of having to go to New Orleans to find something. And if Melanie isn’t interested, I might be. It sounds like it would be a fun place to work.”

  “You? I wouldn’t think you’d need a job.”

  “I don’t, but sometimes I get tired of the social scene. Regardless, I’ll be sure to spread the word. What’s it going to be called?”

  “That’s up to A. K. Last I heard, she was thinking about Incognito, but that’s not a given.”

  “Talking about A. K., I’m thrilled she has my brother interested in dating again, but I know so little about her. I’d hate to have him hurt.”

  “They do seem to be moving at light speed, but you have nothing to worry about as far as A. K. is concerned. Deep down, she’s honest to a fault and has very strong convictions about what she wants in a relationship. Lots of guys have shown interest in her, but this is the first time I’ve seen her really interested in anyone.”

  “Jack’s good looks attract women, but most of them run after him because he’s rich.”

  “Believe me, A. K. is not after his money, but she does have an eye for a good looking man.” Susan pointed down the highway. “Slow down. The next driveway is Vera’s.”

  Ramona dropped Susan at her car. “Be sure to keep me posted.”

  Susan said she would and climbed into her Camaro. For a while, she sat staring at Vera’s house, wondering what the future would hold for her and Herman. A quick glance at Gary’s house turned her stomach.

  “Your time is coming,” she muttered.

  Once inside her apartment, she drew a hot bath and shed her clothes. Marmalade circled in and round her legs, giving her a welcome home greeting, but the cat shied away when Susan stepped into the water. Easing back, she inhaled the sweet smelling oils. She likened the warm water to a liquid cocoon and was content to lie still, not moving a muscle until the water cooled and her fingers pruned. Before getting out, she turned on the showe
r and washed her hair.

  She emerged refreshed, as if all the turmoil of the past had washed down the drain. Wrapped in a bathrobe, she dried her hair. In the bedroom, she slipped into a silk gown, a wool robe, and a pair of slippers. Only thing left now was to satisfy her appetite. A serving of chicken salad and a cup of hot chocolate hit the spot. Holding a mug with a refill of cocoa, she curled up on the couch. Marmalade curled up beside her.

  Picking up the remote, she turned on the TV. Already, a Hammond news station covered the news of the incident at the hospital. Nothing was mentioned about Gary, and she wondered if a warrant had been issued. As if in answer to her question, Wesley called.

  “Where are you?” she asked, turning off the TV.

  “Just got home. Wish you could have seen Clarissa posing for her mug shots, none of which I’m sure will appear on the society pages. Does that woman ever shut up?”

  “People who are full of themselves never know when to stop talking. What about Gary? Are you going to get a warrant issued for his arrest?”

  “D.A. said it wouldn’t be a problem, thanks to Clarissa incriminating him. Since the incident with Jack seems to be winding down, I was hoping we could spend some time together, but it doesn’t look that way.”

  “Why not?”

  “My new partner starts tomorrow. I’m going to have to get to know him and show him how we do things around here. His name is Dylan Powell. It’s going to take a while to go over the pending cases and the few cold cases I’ve been working on.” Wesley paused. “My job would be lots easier if I didn’t keep seeing Terrance sitting across from me.”

  “Give it time, Wesley.”

  “You won’t believe how many times I’ve heard that. About Gary—once the warrant’s issued, the Atlanta police shouldn’t have any problem finding him, especially since he doesn’t know we’re on to him. As soon as they have him in custody, Dylan and I will go pick him up.”

  “What’s the latest on Vera?”

  “The jail seldom has someone of her age into custody, and they took special care with processing her. Maybe they saw something of their momma or an older relative in her. After she was fingerprinted and photographed, they put her in a separate cell. I’m sure her attorney will talk to the D.A, if he hasn’t already. In turn, the D.A. will talk with the judge who’ll set bail in the morning. As soon as Herman can post it, he can take her home.” Wesley gave a long yawn. “I don’t know about you, but I’m beat.”

  “Try a hot bath. It worked wonders for me. If you get a chance, swing by the boutique tomorrow. I’d like to meet your new partner.”

  “I’ll do that. Good night, sweetie.”

  She couldn’t wait to get back to her business and especially to get the costume shop up and running. Stretching out on the couch, she crossed her arms behind her head, stared at the ceiling, and pictured how she wanted the building to look. Color, she wanted lots of color across the front of the building but couldn’t decide what type of architecture would work best. She’d pick A. K.’s brain for that and for final determination of the name. For now, the sign in her mind remained blank.

  Incognito? Nah. That was too mundane for A. K., who was shrewd when it came to marketing. Knowing her, she’d come up with something totally ridiculous, something that would have customers coming in just to find out what was behind the name.

  Susan and Wesley saw little of each other over the next few days. Each had a job to do, and Susan felt she had neglected hers way too long. Friday morning, she called everyone in early.

  “I’d like to discuss some changes with the business… or should I say businesses. The contractor tells me the costume shop is on schedule and should be completed by next month. That means we’ll have to order merchandise now to have it delivered in time for the grand opening. A. K., I’m leaving the selection of the costumes and accessories up to you, but I’ll be glad to lend a helping hand.

  “As you know,” she said to Debbie and Sheila, “A. K. and I will be partners in the costume shop, but with the stores connected to one another, the businesses will fall under one big umbrella. I’m excited and feel the stores will be a draw for each another. But—and there is a but—in order to get things up and running, we’ll need experienced workers. That means one of you will have to work for A. K. The pay and hours will be the same, and we’ll add a new employee in both stores. In fact, I’ve called Melanie Oliver and asked if she would be interested. She’s coming in for an interview later today. If you know of someone else you’d like to recommend, let me know. The faster you train the new employees, the easier your workload will be. Okay, who’s willing to work in the costume shop?”

  Debbie and Sheila looked at each other and shrugged.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Debbie said. “You pick. Once we get the hang of how A. K. wants to do things, we could swap. That way, one could always cover for the other in case of an emergency.”

  “That’s a great idea.” A. K. laughed. “Of course, you’re going to have lots more fun in my shop.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Susan said. “Debbie, you’ll start with A. K., and we’ll see how things go. The only thing left to do is to decide on a name. You still plan to use Incognito?”

  A. K. gave an impish grin. “Not even, I’ve decided to call it the Purple Pickle.”

  “What?” Debbie and Susan said in unison.

  “That’s exactly the reaction I want,” A. K. said. “I’ll explain to the customers that if I can disguise a pickle, I can certainly hide their true identity.”

  “You are weird, my friend,” Susan said, “but a smart weird. It just might work.”

  “I love it,” Sheila said.

  All heads turned when someone rapped on the front door.

  “You open?” Wesley’s muscular body all but covered the newly replaced glass in the front door. Another man in a suit stood behind him.

  “We are now,” Susan said, unlocking the store for business. “We had a meeting this morning, but we’re through. So, what brings you by so early?”

  “We’re following up on a case, and I wanted Dylan to meet all of you. Ladies, this is Dylan Powell. He’s a transplant from Gulf Port, Mississippi, and could use some new friends.”

  Sheila, Debbie, and A. K. all gave him the third degree, and their expressions all said the same thing—oh, yes. Dylan stood about six foot three, taller than Wesley with a slender build. He reminded Susan of a long-distant runner with blond hair, streaked by the sun, a tanned complexion, and eyes plucked from a summer’s sky. She’d guess his age to be in his late twenties.

  “Glad to meet you, Dylan,” Susan said. “This is A. K., my manager and soon to be partner in our under-construction costume shop.” Pointing to the gawking girls, she said, “And this is Debbie and Sheila, my invaluable personnel. If you’d like to shop for someone special, they’d be more than glad to help you.”

  “Nice to meet all of you,” Dylan said. “Thanks, but there’s no one special, and from what I can see, this is strictly a girly store.”

  Debbie didn’t let that bit of information stop the conversation. “You fish?”

  “I’ve been known to wet a line.”

  “Palmetto’s hosting a tournament next Saturday to raise money for a new park. It would be a great way to meet some of the locals. Sheila and I are going on my brother’s party barge, but there’s room for all of us.”

  Dylan glanced at Wesley. “What do you think?”

  “Sounds like fun. I could use a break from police work.”

  “You think Jack would join us?” Susan asked A. K.

  “Maybe. He’s home and ready to go back to work, but vowed this time he wasn’t going to be a slave to his job. This trip would be a good way to start.”

  “Okay, what time and where do we meet?” Dylan said.

  “Launch time is eight o’clock at the Rum Runner Marina on Blood River. It’s about ten miles from here,” Debbie said. “James will have the party barge in the water and ready to go when we get ther
e. We can meet here about seven if that’s okay with everyone.”

  “Beside our gear, what should we bring?” Dylan asked.

  “Make sure you dress for the weather. It’s always ten degrees colder on the water, and don’t forget your fishing license,” Susan said. “We want to be legal.”

  Dylan held out his hands, palms up, indicating he didn’t have one.

  “You can get a license at Walmart. A. K. and I will bring sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Oh, and the Bawdy Boutique is paying the registration fee for everyone. Since the community was good to support my benefit, it’s only right I do the same.”

  “Do you even own a fishing rod?” Wesley asked Susan.

  “I will by tomorrow, and considering that snide remark, I’ll bet you five dollars I catch a bigger fish than you.”

  “You’re on.”

  “I want some of that action,” A. K. said.

  “I got a better idea,” Wesley said. “Let’s all kick in five dollars, and the one who catches the biggest fish wins the pot.”

  “Hmm, I could use that forty bucks,” Debbie said.

  Susan shook her head. “Don’t you mean thirty-five?”

  “Don’t forget James. He’ll want in, too.”

  “What kind of fish can I expect to catch?” Dylan asked.

  “Uh, y’all go ahead and talk fishing,” Wesley said. “I’d like a word with Susan and A. K.”

  Susan tried to read his face, but couldn’t. She knew it had to do with Clarissa or Vera, and she sure wasn’t in the mood for bad news. “Let’s go into the office.”

  Wesley closed the door behind him. “Atlanta police found Gary last night.”

  The first thing that hit Susan’s mind was the money. Had he heard about the big donation to Melanie and put two-and-two together? Had he made plans to steal it from her? She shook the thought from her head and silently admonished herself. There was no way for him to prove that was his money. Nevertheless, a chill crawled down Susan’s back. “What’d he say?”