Saints & Sinners Ball

by Stacy M Jones

  “Hattie, I hope all is well with you. I’m calling to check on Harper. I want to make sure she’s behaving herself accordingly.”

  Hattie rolled her eyes. “Harper’s fine, Maxie. She’s not a child. Why don’t you call her yourself?”

  Hattie heard her brother cluck his tongue at the name she had called him all through childhood to annoy him. Max brought out the worst in her. Frankly, he could bring out the worst in anyone. Hattie thought he was insufferable.

  “I’ve tried calling Harper several times, she doesn’t return the call,” he barked.

  “Well then, Harper’s not ready to talk to you. And after how you treated her, I can’t say I blame her.”

  Max sighed. “I was only doing what I thought was best for her. Her birthday is coming up. Tell Harper to call me.”

  “I will, but I make no promises. She’s a grown woman,” Hattie said flatly. “Don’t you even ask how I’m doing? I’m your only sibling, Max. We are the only family we have.”

  “I assume you’re fine. You’ve got your shop and your lifestyle. You know I don’t agree with how you live,” Max groused at her.

  Hattie laughed. “You know I don’t agree with how you live so I guess we’re even.” She softened her tone. “Actually, I’m glad you called. I need some information. Do you happen to know where Greg Borger is these days?”

  “Fr. Borger,” Max corrected, “is at a parish in Austin, Texas. He is semi-retired but is helping the parish there. What do you need with our old school friend?”

  “Nothing, really,” Hattie skirted the truth. “I haven’t caught up with him in years. It would be nice to talk to him. Do you have his number by chance?”

  Hattie waited while Max went through his phone and provided her Fr. Borger’s phone number. She thanked him, promised again to remind Harper to call, and they said their goodbyes. Hattie checked the time. It was nine-thirty and far too late to try Fr. Borger tonight. It was lucky he was in Austin. Hattie hoped he’d be a good resource for Harper and Jackson.

  Hattie turned the television back on and pulled the throw blanket around her. There was a chill in the air tonight. She had just started to doze off when she heard movement behind her chair. Calling over her shoulder, Hattie squawked, “Tucker, don’t you dare sneak up on me.”

  Tucker poked his head around her chair. “How’d you know it was me?”

  “How many other ghosts do you think I have bothering me?”

  “Well,” Tucker started, “I’ve seen at least five around here, but I don’t know who they are. They don’t seem to want to talk to me. I’m not a part of the ghost clique.”

  “My husband and his family,” Hattie explained. She sat up farther in the chair. “What can I do for you?”

  “Did you solve my murder yet?” Tucker asked eagerly. But before Hattie could answer, he complained, “They still have my body lying on a cold slab at the city morgue. I’d like a proper service where I can watch everyone mourn for me, and say nice things. Isn’t anyone getting close to solving who killed me?” Tucker planted his spiritual body on the couch, across from Hattie. Her dogs sniffed at him, but then went and laid down on the rug near Hattie’s chair.

  “No, the police don’t seem close. I have no idea, but Harper and Jackson are hard at work,” Hattie assured him. “You don’t remember any more from the night it happened?”

  “I’ve been trying to think. Bits and pieces come to me, but it’s just flashes I can’t make any sense of. I did remember standing there arguing with a man in a devil mask. That was clear as day, but I don’t know who he is or what we were arguing about. That felt like progress though. That mask also looked familiar, but I couldn’t place it.”

  “You have to remember him,” Hattie said a bit excited. That was more than progress for him. “That’s who shot you. Keep focusing on that memory and maybe more will come.”

  Tucker sighed loudly. “I saw Roxy. She was confused. Didn’t even know she was dead. I tried telling her, but she just stared at me. She’s not any smarter here on the other side.”

  “That’s not very nice.”

  “But it’s true,” Tucker lamented. “I haven’t seen her since. I don’t know where she went. I can’t find her. Do you know where she could be?”

  “No, I don’t know how any of that works on that side.” Hattie yawned absently. “Just focus on the memory of the man in the devil mask. If you can remember, we can solve your murder.”

  “Lizzie can’t see me. I’ve been hanging around the house, but she can’t see me. She doesn’t seem too upset I’m dead though,” Tucker complained.

  Hattie was growing tired. Talking to spirits zapped her energy. Beau never stayed for long for that very reason, but he usually brought positivity. Tucker was just weighing her down, and Hattie was starting to fall asleep.

  “You weren’t the best husband. Maybe you can find a way to make amends.”

  “If I could do anything, I’d drag her brother to this side. Drew is nothing but trouble,” Tucker said sternly, and he then disappeared.

  That worried Hattie since Harper and Jackson were watching Drew tonight. She sent Harper a quick text and confirmed they were okay, and then she went to bed.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Harper was sitting on the passenger side of her own Land Rover, and she was bored. She had no idea that going out on surveillance would be quite as boring as it was proving to be so far. After leaving Hattie’s earlier that day, she and Jackson had gone home, eaten dinner and headed out for the evening. Harper let Jackson drive although she had given him a hard time in the driveway. Jackson won. He seemed to always win and that vexed her.

  Jackson drove them straight to Lizzie’s house and found that Drew’s car was gone. They hightailed it down to Murray Park. No one was technically supposed to be in the park after dark, but it was rarely enforced. Jackson and Harper were sitting in her parked Land Rover in the parking lot near the boat ramp. There were a few other cars scattered in the lot, which was good so they didn’t stand out.

  Then the waiting game began. Sitting in such quiet, dark confines, the conversation had turned personal quickly. They talked about their childhoods growing up. Jackson’s youth seemed much more normal than her own. He had siblings and parents that were together. Jackson explained he grew up in Richmond, Virginia. His father had been in the Navy and then ran his own woodworking business. His mother was a schoolteacher. Jackson played football in high school and studied criminal justice in college. He joined the Army instead of becoming a cop and the rest is history. Harper looked at him across the console knowing there was far more to the story than that, but she let it go.

  “What about you?” Jackson asked, shifting the focus back to Harper. He tapped the steering wheel with his finger, staring straight ahead, only occasionally stealing a glance at her across the SUV.

  “Nothing about my childhood seems normal to anyone outside of Manhattan, but it’s all I knew at the time,” Harper explained. “My mother passed away when I was very young so I was raised by my father. He was strict but consistent. Not very loving or fun but present. I had the best education money could buy and a life that was plotted out for me. I met all the right people, took all the steps in life he wanted me to take. I made all the decisions he wanted me to make and went to work for our family’s magazine.”

  “That doesn’t sound very fun,” Jackson suggested.

  “It wasn’t at times. I visited Hattie here during the summers and on school breaks. She was my fun. Her and my Uncle Beau, they were my outlet. I could run and play and be messy.”

  “You could be a kid.”

  “That’s right,” Harper said. Then she added wistfully, “I loved it here, even though as I got older, Hattie’s witchy ways seemed odd to me, but still, it was the best part of growing up.”

  Harper grew quiet. After a few moments, she said, “When my life fell apart, my father blamed me and banished me from the city. He’s been calling since I arrived here. I haven’t called
back.”

  “Are you going to?” Jackson asked, looking directly at her. His eyes were soft and full of concern. Jackson shifted his body so he was facing her.

  Harper smiled at him. “Eventually. I’ll call. I’m not really sure what I’d say to him right now. Plus, I’m still angry with him.”

  “Understood.”

  Harper started to speak, but then noticed off in the distance by the picnic tables, there was a man with his back turned to them. Harper turned to Jackson and whispered, “I think we may have something.”

  Jackson was looking at Harper intently, his eyes searching her face. “I think we do, too,” he said, his voice catching.

  Harper nudged Jackson in the stomach. “Not us,” she groaned, “over there!” Harper took hold of Jackson’s chin and directed his face towards the picnic tables.

  “Oh.” Jackson laughed, embarrassment in his voice. “I think you’re right. Who is that?”

  “I don’t know.” Harper pulled out the binoculars she had borrowed from Hattie. Jackson had his own, and they were significantly more official and high-end than hers.

  “Steal those from the Army?” she teased, breaking the tension that hung in the air.

  “No,” Jackson replied. “He’s clearly waiting for someone.”

  Out of the passenger side window, Harper saw the headlights from a car entering the park. They wound their way through the curved road of the entrance and came to a stop near the man. The man walked to the back of the car, which looked to be a four-door sedan of some generic brand. Harper couldn’t be sure. The driver got out and they both went to the trunk. Because they were standing side by side, Harper couldn’t get a good view of what was happening.

  “Can you see anything?” she whispered.

  “Not much. It’s too dark and the angle is bad. But that’s definitely Drew.”

  “Where did Drew park? He just kind of showed up out of nowhere.”

  “I don’t know. I think they are exchanging something. It looks like the guy has some sort of case he’s opened,” Jackson explained.

  “You think it’s jewelry?”

  “Maybe,” Jackson said. “Did you see that?” He nudged Harper with his elbow. “Drew handed the other guy something that looks like it’s wrapped in cloth, and the guy handed Drew what looks like a thick envelope.”

  “That looks exactly like what I saw Fr. McNally hand the guy who said he was his brother. Cash, maybe?”

  “I think so,” Jackson confirmed.

  Harper watched for a few minutes longer. Then she started to panic. Drew was walking off in one direction and the other guy in the car was looking directly over at them. He quickly got in his car and was headed right for them. Harper dropped her binoculars at the same time as Jackson. Harper turned to him, “What do we do?”

  Jackson hesitated for a second. Then in a flash, Jackson leaned into Harper and wrapped his arms around her. He slipped his fingers into her hair and pulled her face closer to his. “Kiss me,” he breathed.

  Her eyes few open. “What?”

  Jackson’s only answer was to close the distance between them himself. He kissed her, softly at first and then more passionately. Their lips moved against each other’s, Jackson’s tongue teasing hers. Jackson cupped Harper’s face, traced his thumb down her jawline.

  Harper lost herself. It was one of the best kisses she’d had in her life.

  After a few moments, Harper regained her senses. She pulled back slightly and whispered, “I think he’s gone.”

  Jackson looked at her, his eyes full of passion. He seemed to hesitate not sure what to do. Then Jackson sat back, but his hand remained on her, his fingertip tracing over her bare arm. He cleared his throat. “Good, good,” was all he said.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Harper swallowed hard, not sure what to say to Jackson. Her lips felt swollen and well-kissed. She stared ahead, hoping he’d say something, but he didn’t. He just sat there. Finally, Harper said, “We should go. See if we can find Drew someplace. He clearly didn’t park here, but maybe he walked from the Riverdale area.”

  Jackson started the Land Rover. He looked over at Harper and started to speak, but stopped. He put the SUV in drive and took off. They drove out of Murray Park and took a left on Rebsamen Park Road. They got five minutes down the road and saw Drew walking. Jackson pulled over into an apartment complex and watched him. Drew walked to a parking lot that housed commercial buildings and office space. Jackson edged the SUV closer to the road so they could keep an eye on him. When Drew pulled out, so did Jackson.

  “I’m surprised we found him,” Harper remarked, hoping to break the ice.

  “Hopefully, we can keep up with him, and see where he’s going,” Jackson responded. He looked over at Harper as he drove. “Should we talk about that kiss?”

  “I don’t know,” Harper said honestly. But she didn’t stay quiet for long. “I thought at first you were kissing me so we could pretend that we were just a couple making out in the park…”

  “I was,” Jackson interrupted. He kept one hand on the wheel and reached for her hand with the other. “That’s why I kissed you because that was the only thing that came to mind to get us out of the situation. I couldn’t just take off because then that guy would have known we were watching them. I wasn’t sure what else to do so I kissed you. Then…” Jackson didn’t finish his thought.

  “I know,” Harper offered, letting him off the hook. “We got carried away. I haven’t kissed anyone in a long time.”

  “Me either,” Jackson admitted quickly. “You just felt so good in my arms. Your lips were so soft…” he trailed off again.

  Harper let out a nervous laugh. “I think we’re being silly. We are in our forties, well I’m nearly forty. This isn’t a big deal. We said we were going to be friends, and we kissed. People do this all the time.”

  “What? Make out on surveillance?” Jackson teased. He looked over at Harper and smiled genuinely at her for the first time.

  “Right.” Harper laughed, too. “Let’s just keep the kissing to a minimum right now, and focus on finding out where Drew is going with whatever is in that envelope.”

  Jackson cleared his throat and looked at her with eyebrows raised. “A minimum right now? So, there will be more kissing?”

  Harper smacked him on the arm and then put her face in her hands, embarrassed. She felt like she just gave herself away. “I just meant…”

  “I knew what you meant,” Jackson said. “We’re good, cookie.”

  Pointing at Drew turning right on Kavanaugh from Cantrell, Harper said, “Look Drew’s nearly back into the Heights. Where do you think he’s going?”

  “We can find out. I don’t think he has any idea we’re right behind him.”

  They continued to follow Drew through the Heights, past Hattie’s shop, all the way to the light at University. They took a right and turned into the Heights neighborhood. At Z Street, Drew took another right and then abruptly pulled over. Jackson drove up University, passed Z street and then took a right and doubled-back coming down Pierce Street. Jackson pulled over and waited. The tree-lined streets were narrow with large homes on either side. Within minutes, they saw Drew crossing Pierce right in front of them.

  “What do we do?” Harper asked. “We can’t follow him in the car.”

  Jackson debated for a second. Then said, “Let’s take a walk in this wonderful evening air.”

  The two got out and started walking. They turned down Pierce in the same direction as Drew. They had no idea where he was at the moment, but they kept walking. Harper was all ready to pretend they were out for an evening stroll if they happened upon him.

  “We actually aren’t that far from home, right?” Jackson asked. “I don’t think I’ve driven this way too much, but I think we’re close.”

  “We are, just a couple blocks down is Hawthorne and then a few blocks down on Hawthorne is your house.”

  They kept walking, keeping an eye out for Drew. Most of th
e houses had lights on. It was only ten o’clock. One house at the corner of Pierce and W Street caught Harper’s attention. It was a large home on the corner lot. It was completely dark, but there was a light shining from the inside. The beam bounced from spot to spot, not staying still. Harper grabbed Jackson’s arm and pointed.

  Jackson looked in the direction of the home. He whispered, “I think he broke in. Looks like he’s using a flashlight. Do you have your cell? We need to call Det. Granger. If we can’t reach him, then 911.”

  Harper pulled out her phone and immediately called Det. Granger. He picked up on the third ring. He sounded like Harper had woken him from sleep. She didn’t waste any time. “Jackson and I are walking in our neighborhood. We think Drew, Lizzie Reese’s brother, is breaking into a house at the corner of Pierce and W.”

  Granger seemed to go from nearly asleep to awake in seconds flat. His voice clear and strong, he commanded, “Stay out of sight. I’m sending a unit right now. I’ll be there, too.”

  Harper and Jackson walked back up Pierce and ducked out of sight in the trees between two houses. If the owners had seen them, they probably would have called the police, thinking Jackson and Harper were up to no good. She hoped no one saw them.

  “You think the cops will get here in time?” Harper whispered.

  “I don’t know, but Drew has to walk back this way so if it’s him, we will definitely see him. How do these houses not have alarms? You’ve got million-dollar homes back here, and the burglaries have been all over the news.”

  “I don’t know,” Harper said, moving closer to Jackson. The normally safe neighborhood felt ominous tonight. She shivered. Jackson put an arm around her and pulled her close. Harper looked to him and said, “I guess Lizzie was right about her brother. She must really be tired of him to rat him out like that.”

  “You never know with some people. Maybe Lizzie just wanted to do the right thing. Drew’s obviously been in trouble with the law many times before. Lizzie said he’d been a drain on her and Tucker, maybe she was just tired of it. She’s grieving too, which people can do funny things when they are faced with death.”