She sat up primly. “No one knows Wade. I can’t find a single person who knew him. The family line ended with him. No brothers or sisters that I can find. Parents and extended relatives are dead.”
Mrs. Janowski frowned before turning to Sylvia. “What did you find out?”
“There are closed case files. I have no idea what the details are other than their listings.” She looked down at a piece of paper in front of her. “Two were for disorderly conduct and one for a domestic dispute case.”
Mrs. Janowski wrote notes on the whiteboard and then circled domestic. “Let’s find out about this one first. Did he have a girlfriend or wife?”
“Not that I’ve been able to find,” Edna said. “We’ll have to ask either Hank or Ida. But Hank isn’t answering his phone, and . . . well, we already know we won’t find Ida anytime soon.”
“I can swing by his place on my way over to Kym’s,” I said. There were Hog items I needed to discuss with him anyway. “Do we need to know anything else?”
“Yes, find out what’s in the time capsule,” Mrs. Janowski said. “Whatever’s in there could cause a real problem for Ida.”
“I’ll see what I can find out.” I stood and swung my purse over my shoulder. “Right now I have to look at lighting for Rand. Then I have to meet with Jack and a kitchen rep.”
“Sneak in a few questions to Jack,” Mrs. Janowski said. “We’ll need a report on anything he might have overheard as a kid, past memories, anything.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” A few words between friends might provide something useful, but I wouldn’t press the issue.
Mrs. Janowski nodded. “Good luck. Check back in tonight.”
Tonight? I had been hoping Brett and I might go out for dinner. I wanted to scope out a bar and grill a town over. But Brett’s nights seemed to steadily grow busier. He might not even come home.
I didn’t want to sit at home with Emily.
“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll come over, but it might be a quick stop. I’ll text you updates until then.”
“Ten-four,” Mrs. Janowski acknowledged.
I left, knowing I had to hurry to keep all my appointments. Lighting was a mandatory first stop, otherwise Rand’s threats to fire me might hold weight.
* * *
Later that day, Jack and I met at a small Mediterranean restaurant downtown. The scent of spices and oils had me eyeing the menu with interest. Since Jack was the one who picked out the spot, I was curious to know if there was a reason behind it.
“When is the kitchen rep scheduled to arrive?” Jack asked, picking up the menu to peruse it.
“In about fifteen minutes.”
He nodded then waved the server over. “One of everything, but keep it in order. Appetizers first, entrees, and then dessert.”
The pen that she had at the ready stalled on the pad. “Everything?”
“Everything.”
“Anything to drink?”
“Just water.”
She turned to me with questioning eyes. “Anything for you?”
“I’ll take water as well.”
With a nod, she took off toward the kitchen.
“Hungry?” I asked Jack.
“Inspiration.”
“For the Hog?”
“Maybe a little.”
He was lying. “It has nothing to do with the Hog and everything to do with Andrea.” I stared at him in wonder. Just how far was willing to go to win their long-standing culinary feud?
He shrugged.
“I see you haven’t worked out your differences yet.”
“I tried at first. I was nice, didn’t retaliate when she became . . . Andrea.” He grimaced. “It was extremely difficult.”
“She knows what buttons to push, especially yours.”
“She pushed every single one several times.”
“And now you’re trying to outdo her?”
“There’s a contest to make an authentic meal with one significant twist. She expects to win.”
“Did you bet her?”
“A month of kitchen duty is riding on this. I have to win.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks, but I’m not sure if I’m up for it now.” He looked around the seating area, studying the large photos of white-sand beaches and turquoise water. “I suppose you heard the news.”
“About the body found at the Hog? Yeah, I heard. How’s Hank holding up?”
“He’s worried. He’s positive it’s Wade, which makes me worried. What if Grandpa becomes the main suspect?”
“What does Ida have to say about this?” I asked innocently.
“I don’t know. I left a message telling her, but she never called back.”
I nodded, already suspecting as much. “Did Hank or Ida ever tell you any stories about Wade?”
“Not Grandma. She never talked about him. But Grandpa did.”
“Anything stand out to you from those stories?”
“What do you mean?”
“Did Hank ever tell you stories that . . . I don’t know . . . Did Wade make anyone angry? Did he have a girlfriend?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Well, if you do think of something, you might want to share it with the police. It may take some heat off Hank.”
“I’ll head over to Grandpa’s later and see if he can remember anything.”
“I’m going there after our meeting. Do you want to go together?”
“Why were you going to see him?”
I twiddled a fork on the table. “Just a few questions from Rand.” There were still a few loose strings in the transfer of ownership that needed to be addressed. So while it wasn’t a lie, it felt like one.
The door opened, ringing the tinkling bell hanging from the doorknob.
“I think that’s the rep,” I said, waving at the man who scanned the dining area. When he saw me, he gave a nod and walked over.
Back to business.
Chapter 7
I was glad I hadn’t had to twist Jack’s arm to go to Hank’s house with me. He had volunteered of his own free will, which worked in my favor. Hank never turned Jack away, but it was very likely that he’d slam the door in my face, especially if I started poking around in his memories. Plus, I had never been to Hank’s house before and he wasn’t the most welcoming of people even on a good day.
While following Jack over to Hank’s house, I tried to come up with a strategy. I had to get information without being obvious. I was sure there had to be something in Wade’s past that could help divert attention from Hank and bypass Ida, but how could I ask Hank without seeming nosy?
Jack slowed his truck to a crawl as he pushed through a group of reporters staked out on the road in front of the house. Jack parked near the garage and motioned for me to park alongside him.
Before I could exit, reporters swarmed both vehicles. Cameras pressed in the windows. Questions shouted. I couldn’t tell one from another. Thankfully, Jack had managed to escape from his truck and wedge over to my door, blocking them. Cracking open the door, I squeezed out. He wrapped his arm around me, undeterred, and forged ahead to the front door. However determined, we moved slowly, batting away cameras to gain ground. I couldn’t see the front door in the confusion.
Two shots fired. Everyone stilled, except for a few who scurried away. Jack and I didn’t have that option. We looked for the source. It quickly became apparent who shot those rounds. Hank stood on his porch with a rifle pointed in the air.
“Get off my damn property!” he barked.
No one moved. They all stared at him as if they weren’t sure what to do. It only took Hank lowering his rifle to the crowd for them to all take off running every which way. It gave Jack and me a perfect opportunity to dash for the door.
As soon as we were inside, Hank backed his way in and then slammed the door and locked it.
“Damn media,” he muttered.
“How long have they been here?” Jack asked.
“
Since I was called in for questioning.” Hank propped the gun by the door and took a seat on a faded orange easy chair that faced a bulky square television. “Have a seat, if you want.”
Jack sat on the couch and kicked up one foot on the coffee table. It had been on the tip of my tongue to scold him for abusing furniture, but by the look of things, all the furniture had a long life of abuse.
On my way over to sit next to Jack, I passed family portraits. Not many, but a few that had Hank, Ida, and Jack. There was a young lady as well. One of her photos must have been a senior high school picture. She was prettily dressed for the decade in which it was taken. Maybe thirty years ago. I’m not sure why I stopped to look at her. Perhaps it was because she was the only one I didn’t recognize. Or maybe it was because of her light-brown eyes that matched the unique gold necklace she wore. The gold looped and swirled around her slender neck.
I wanted to ask who she was, but I knew I wouldn’t get a straight answer from Hank. He never shared anything personal. And there were more important things to discuss.
Taking a seat next to Jack, I slowly sunk into the couch.
“That side lost its springs awhile back,” Jack said. “Use the middle cushion.”
Struggling to shift over, I gripped the armrest to heave myself out.
“Grandma threatened to burn the couch,” Jack said when I finally wiggled free and plopped down next to him.
“She should have,” I said, winded from the exertion. I didn’t think I was that out of shape, but perhaps I should join Mrs. Janowski at the senior center gym more often.
“The couch stays,” Hank stated. “What do you two want?”
“Mars has Hog questions,” Jack said.
“And you?” Hank raised a brow at Jack.
“I’m seeing how you are.”
“Fine. Now you can go.”
“I’ll wait and leave with Mars.” Jack put his hands behind his head and made himself comfortable. “The reporters might attack again.”
“I can take care of them.” He jabbed his thumb over to the gun.
“I’m staying.”
“Suit yourself.” Hank frowned and then looked at me. “What questions?”
“Um.” I couldn’t think of anything. Nothing. How could I pry into Hank’s life and not have it sound as such? “I can’t recall.”
“Then get out.”
“Stop being a grumpy old bastard,” Jack muttered as if he’d said it a thousand times before.
“Aw, tah hell with you,” Hank replied with the same lackluster tone.
“Should I come back later?” I asked.
“Don’t bother,” Jack said. “You’d get the same reception.”
“Yes,” I leaned over to whisper. “But he might be grieving.”
“Grieving?” Hank overheard my words. “Why would I be grieving?”
“I just thought that since they discovered Wade’s body—”
“Did they make it official?”
“I don’t know.”
Hank shook his head. “It ain’t him.”
“But you said he disappeared.”
“Probably pissed off a woman and had to clear out.”
“Wouldn’t he tell you he was leaving?”
Hank shrugged.
“Did he make many women angry?” I asked, thinking of Ida.
Hank chuckled. “Every day.”
“What did he do?”
“To piss off women?” Hank clarified. When I nodded, Hank scowled and said, “It was a different time back then. Men ruled the roost, and sometimes Wade forgot that there was a line you don’t cross. He crossed many.”
Wade must have trampled through a major line for Ida to kill him.
“Why do you care?” Hank asked.
“I was just curious.”
“I know how a woman’s mind tends to jump to conclusions. You were probably thinking an angry woman killed Wade and buried him.” Hank gave a small chuckle. “The only woman with that much brass is Ida.” He laughed again and then stopped as if remembering something. He turned to Jack. “Have you talked to Ida recently?”
“No, I left a message, but she hasn’t returned my call yet.”
Hank stood and shuffled over to the door. He picked up the shotgun and peered out the window. “Time to go. I need to check on something.”
Jack stood. “Are you sure you want to go out there?”
“They won’t be a problem. You get to your vehicles first, and I’ll follow behind.”
“Is this about Grandma? I’m sure she’s fine. I heard Mrs. J has another club. She’s probably busy with that.”
Hank opened the door. “Out.”
I followed Jack to the door. He stopped to address Hank before leaving. “Call if you need anything.”
“I won’t.”
Jack shook his head with a resigned sigh and walked out. I followed, hurrying to my car as Hank waved his gun back and forth, warding off the flock of reporters.
Shifting into reverse, I slowly backed down the driveway and through the reporters. It was like swimming with jellyfish. The reporters swarmed the car, only allowing me to move inch by painful inch. It wasn’t until I had backed out far enough that they then turned their attention to Jack.
Sorry, Jack.
I sped down the farmland road, distancing myself.
If Mrs. Janowski wanted to help Ida, she had to hurry. There wasn’t much gained from my talk with Hank. And after his quick departure, I had the feeling even Hank was on to Ida. The police would be next.
My phone rang loudly, jarring and unwelcomed. Without looking at the caller ID, I answered.
“I saw you on the news going into Hank’s house,” a man said. “Give Ida a message for me. Tell her what happens next is her fault.”
“What do you mean? Who is this? Hello?” I shook the phone as if that would bring him back on the line. “Hello?”
With a curse I slammed the phone down onto the passenger seat.
The phone rang again. I snatched it up. “Who the hell are you?”
“It’s Kym. Why are you yelling?”
Taking a deep breath, I apologized. “I thought you were someone else.”
“I sure don’t want to be that someone. Who made you this mad? I’ve honestly never heard you yell like that.”
“I’m sorry,” I apologized again. “Right before you called I got off the phone with a creepy guy. I thought you were him.”
“Oh, I hate those calls. Was he breathing heavy and asking what you were wearing?”
“Not quite.”
“Did he ask you to send a naked picture of yourself?”
“No, it wasn’t one of those calls.”
“Then what kind of call was it?”
“I can’t describe it. Not right now, anyway.”
“Oh, okay. Well, maybe you can later.”
“Yeah, later,” I agreed absently.
“Mars, you do remember that you have to see me later too, right?”
“What?”
“You said you’d visit me and Aaron this afternoon. I was just calling to see what time.”
“Oh!” It wasn’t that I had forgotten about the visit, I had just been momentarily sidetracked. “I’ll be there in an hour,” I said. “We can do whatever you want.”
“Good! I was hoping you didn’t forget.”
“I’d never forget a promise to Aaron.”
“I know.”
After hanging up with Kym, I wondered what I should do. I wanted to tell Mrs. Janowski about the odd call, but she had a tendency to confuse me, and I needed a few moments to process everything.
I thought about calling Rand for advice, but he was busy with his other work and I didn’t want to disturb him. He would assign me a task or bite my head off, depending upon his mood.
So, I drove across town to hopefully get a chance to see Brett if he wasn’t too busy with his new client.
Twenty minutes later, I parked next to Brett’s Viper. My car was an ug
ly monstrosity next to his sleek, shiny car. Fitting, since that’s the way I felt standing next to his sculpted form.
Walking through the security office’s front door, I found Emmy at her desk in tears.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s that blonde witch,” she sniffled, snatching a tissue from the box. Judging from the wadded tissues scattered all over her desk, the box had to be on empty.
Emmy didn’t have to explain who the blonde witch was. “What did Emily do?”
“She’s taken over the office. I can’t even go pee unless I get a pass from her.”
“That seems a bit over the top.” Even for Emily. “Are you sure it’s as bad as that?”
Emmy held up a ruler. “I only get three of these a day.”
I reached over to take the ruler. Flipping it around, I read, “Good for one bathroom break.”
“I drink a lot of water,” she sniffled. “It’s good for my skin.”
By the look of it, her skin was currently well hydrated by the steady stream of tears.
“Did you talk to T or Brett?”
“They’re never around.”
“Where are they? Brett’s car is here.”
“They’re with one of our clients working on a staffing problem. T drove.”
I dialed Brett’s number and waited. After being sent to voicemail, I hung up.
“T never answers his phone either.” She grabbed another tissue.
“But you live together, right? Can’t you explain this to him when he comes home?”
“I’m normally asleep by then. I tried to wait up last night, but by the time he came home, I was passed out. I have no idea when he left again this morning.”
“Brett did the same thing.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Give me the address of the new client.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Well—”
“Emmy!” Emily scolded as she rounded the corner. “I didn’t give you permission to take a break. Get back to work.”
Emmy sniffed but did as she was told.
“You have no right to order Emmy around,” I stated.
“Yes, I do. I’ve been hired as the office manager, and she is under my direct supervision.”
Fearsome Foursome Page 6