Madison Westin 02-Deception in Paradise

by Deborah Brown

  Joseph’s breathing was labored, his face pale. “I’m feeling better now that I sat down. You know it’s day by day with me.”

  “How about more sun and less beer and cigarettes?” I suggested.

  “You’re not my doctor.”

  “No, I’m not, but I’m your friend.”

  He gave me a strained smile. He looked as though he needed a pain pill. “Byce told his employees if they want to stay employed, not one word about Pavel. He’s got your husband in his sights and doesn’t want to hear about anyone else. Doesn’t look good. You’re smoking the Kool-Aid if you think you can go up against Byce and win.”

  “Why wouldn’t he want the real person to be charged?”

  “He thinks Jax’s the shooter. I don’t know why.” He shook his head. “Everything I’ve heard, doesn’t add up to me.”

  I sighed. “Any good news?”

  “Nope. Pavel’s girlfriend left town, and in a hurry. Kym was seen yesterday morning picking up her paycheck, and then she packed her shit and left no forwarding.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “I heard she was walking home with Apple the night after the accident, both of them sloppy drunk, needing the other to stay upright. They were overheard saying that Pavel’s murder was planned. That went down the docks like wildfire.”

  “Do you believe that?” I needed to keep antacid in my purse.

  “Just sayin’. Word has it, Kym trashed the place where she was living, taking only what she wanted. A couple of Pavel’s friends went over to check on her and found her gone. The dumb bitch left the two dogs locked in the apartment.”

  “Are they okay?”

  “Good thing Pavel’s buddies went when they did,” Joseph said. “The dogs were out of food and water.”

  “What happens to them now?”

  “Lilly the rescue chick has them, and she’s frantic to find them a home. They’re high maintenance. Do you know anybody?”

  “I’ll call everyone I know.” The dogs didn’t know it, but they were better off without Kym.

  After seeing how she left them to fend for themselves, I hated to think where they might’ve ended up if she’d taken them with her.

  “Cathy down at the Back Room Bar told me that when Kym came in for her last check, she was acting weirder than usual.”

  “Any luck with finding someone to talk who worked with Pavel?”

  “There’s a guy who worked on the docks with Pavel. He says he’ll talk to you, but wants money for a trip out of town. Wants to go back home.”

  “Does he have anything worth paying for?”

  “Don’t know that. He’ll probably give you an earful on both Sid and Alexander Byce. Hates them and hates working for them.”

  “Give him my number. Tell him to call me and we’ll work out an agreement. I want to hear a sample before I pay.”

  “Good idea. You stay here and vandalize the beach.” Joseph sucked in his breath when he stood up. “Keep me out of all this.”

  “Thanks, Joseph. Go home and take a nap.”

  “Yeah, yeah. You owe me.”

  I watched him hobble up the beach. I continued to sit there and sift through the seashells. I thought about everything Joseph had said. Byce had a hatred for Jax, nothing new there. Kym splitting town makes her what? Scared or guilty. And last but not least, a disgruntled employee. One-step forward was one-step back to where I had started.

  CHAPTER 26

  “Anybody home?” I called out. A small meow greeted me. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t anyone sitting in my living room or kitchen. “Just you and me,” I said to Jazz, picking him up and scratching his neck. “This has been a long day, black cat. I didn’t find out one thing that would help Jax.”

  Fab walked through the French doors. “You went to the pawnshops without me, didn’t you?”

  “I handled the whole thing really well. Everything is back at The Cottages and locked up with a more intimidating lock.”

  “How did you get the riding lawn mower back?”

  “I had to pay Robert twenty dollars to drive it, and then I followed him, just in case.”

  Fab pouted. “I wanted to drive the damn thing.”

  “I thought you were working. You can go over anytime, pick the lock, and drive it around the neighborhood.”

  “You paid him?”

  “Yes, and he wanted the money up front.”

  “Now that I like.” Fab shook her head. “If something goes south, what do you care? You have your money.”

  “Those two owners are scary. The man told me not to ever to come back. He thought Robert and I were a couple and we were trying to scam him.”

  “I’m tired of missing the good stuff.”

  “Please, I’m always one step behind. I need your help on Jax’s case.”

  “Almost forgot. Jax’s in jail.”

  “Aah!” I pulled the ends of my hair. “Now what?”

  “Kev says they picked him up this afternoon. He’s now the number one person of interest. Harder’s offering a deal to reduce murder one charges to manslaughter in exchange for a full confession.”

  “And if he doesn’t confess?”

  Fab shrugged. “He goes to trial, a good lawyer will get him off, case closed. Shuts up the folks demanding an arrest.”

  “What happens now? He sits in jail until the trial? How long will that take?”

  “You know Tucker as well as anyone. He’s a good criminal lawyer. My guess is he represents him pro bono.”

  “Tucker and free aren’t synonymous. I say we rip a page from Tucker’s playbook, the one that says, ‘Use him and screw him.’”

  “I want in on this,” Fab said.

  I told her everything Joseph had told me.

  She shook her head. “That’s a bunch of useless nothing, except the dock connection.”

  “With Kym gone, there’s one less person to testify who could corroborate Jax’s story.”

  “Pavel was very drunk that night,” Fab said. “He had a .28 blood alcohol. Jax didn’t blow, but the other two did, and their blood alcohol levels were in the low twos. They proved to be too drunk and too stupid to keep their mouths shut. The statements they gave the police were rambling and disjointed, rendering them useless. A good DA will use that to their advantage.”

  “Five people on board, and no one sees or hears a drunk go overboard? Explain that. It’s amazing someone that drunk managed to get to shore and not drown.”

  “Pavel didn’t have his pants on.”

  “He was naked?”

  “His belt was unbuckled, and his pants were down around his ankles when they fished him out. This is a small town,” Fab pointed out. “Everyone knows everyone else’s business even if you’ve only lived here five minutes. Someone gets murdered, and no one knows anything. Big red flag!”

  “No one’s talking openly about Pavel or the murder. That’s why we need to talk to an insider, friend or co-worker. The girlfriend would’ve been nice. Her skipping town caught me by surprise.”

  “Normally, murder would be the talk in every bar in town,” Fab said. “A local bar is a great clearinghouse for information.”

  “Unless they’re afraid they’ll end up the same way. More likely afraid it’ll get back to Byce.” My phone rang. “It’s Joseph,” I said.

  “The guy I told you about doesn’t want to talk anymore. He’s leaving town.” Joseph sounded agitated. “Something spooked him, and he’s hanging for his paycheck on Friday and going back home.”

  I covered my phone with my hand. “Joseph’s friend from the docks doesn’t want to talk,” I whispered to Fab.

  “Tell him I’ll meet him out of town so no one will know,” I said to Joseph.

  Fab shook her head no to me. “I’ll find out who he is. Hang up on that ass.”

  “He was firm,” Joseph said.

  “Thanks for trying,” I told Joseph.

  “You remember I told you about Pavel’s dogs?” Joseph asked.


  “What’s going on with that?”

  “They need a new home right now. Crystal was taking care of them, and they’re too much for her. They’re here at my place, and there’s not enough room for the three of us. Apple said she would take them, but she can’t take care of herself.”

  “They can’t stay at The Cottages,” I said. “You know the rule, one dead cat per household.”

  Fab and I laughed.

  “I’m on my way over,” I told Joseph and hung up the phone.

  I turned to Fab. “Don’t roll your eyes at me. You’re coming.” We took my SUV. There was no room for two big dogs in Fab’s sports car. Besides, she wouldn’t let a dog in her car, even if it were an ankle biter. “I have a crazy idea.”

  “That’s shocking.”

  “Sarcasm doesn’t become you, and it isn’t necessary.” I picked up my phone. “Dickie, this is Madison Westin.”

  “Did someone die? We can send out a car to pick them up, and you can come in tomorrow to make arrangements.”

  “No, no one died. This isn’t a business call.”

  Fab started laughing.

  “Sssh,” I told her.

  “Do you remember the dogs at Pavel Klaus’s funeral?”

  “Yes,” he said. “They were great dogs.”

  “Long story short, they need a home. Did anybody show an interest in the dogs at the funeral?” I was hoping he’d offer to take the dogs, since I didn’t have the nerve to ask him outright.

  “Raul liked those dogs. He’s mentioned them a couple of times, wondering how they were doing. We’ll take them.”

  “How soon could you pick them up?”

  “I can go now,” Dickie said. “I just finished dressing Mrs. Weathersby. I didn’t think the dress was the right choice, so I adjusted her makeup so she’d appear more natural and not so pale.”

  “Dickie, about the dogs. Are you sure? Pavel’s girlfriend left town, leaving them behind. They need a stable home, and it’d be nice to keep them together. At some point, I fear they’ll end up at the pound.”

  “Give me the address, and I’ll go get them. I’ll surprise Raul. Moonshine, our Labrador, died about a month ago, and this will be a great surprise.”

  “Dickie, I forgot to ask the dog’s names.”

  “Don’t worry, I wrote them down. This will work out fine.”

  I gave him the address of The Cottages and told him I’d call Joseph, so he’d be expecting him.

  Joseph answered on the first ring. “I found them a permanent home. Dickie’s on his way to pick them up.”

  “That cretin from the funeral home?”

  “Stop it. Those two dogs just hit the jackpot with Dickie and Raul as their new owners.”

  “I suppose,” Joseph said.

  I knew Dickie creeped him out, but I also knew the dogs would shortly drive him over the edge. “This is the perfect solution for the dogs. Dickie’s on his way now. Promise me you’ll be nice.” I made a U-turn in the intersection and headed back home.

  “You’re finding homes for dogs now?” Fab asked.

  “Those dogs deserve a good home, and they got one. Every animal should be so lucky.”

  “Softie.”

  “You make it sound like a skin condition or something.”

  CHAPTER 27

  “Hi, honey. I’m home,” Zach said as he walked in the same doors Fab had come through earlier. “What are you two up to?”

  “Getting drunk in the middle of the day,” I said, holding up my iced tea. “Any news for me?”

  Fab and Zach did the silent dance. They glared, looked one another over, nodded, and relaxed. I felt guilty that I was the one to put a wedge in their relationship. Zach disapproved that Fab and I had become such good friends; he complained all the time that Fab was a bad influence.

  “I took Slice off the case and assigned Winston to investigate. He hasn’t come up with anything new,” Zach informed me.

  “So that’s it?”

  “In the meeting this afternoon, the consensus was stranger murder,” Zach said.

  “Stranger murder?” I shook my head. “Are you saying that the murder might never get solved? This isn’t the way to get me to stop asking questions.”

  “What questions?” Zach demanded. “You promised to stay out of this case.”

  “I asked Joseph to ask around, and he knows as much as you do. Nothing!” So what if it wasn’t the truth? “Who the hell is Winston, anyway?”

  “New guy. Good connects,” Zach said calmly. “He did a thorough job, looked into Pavel’s life and background, and came up with no reason for someone to shoot him. Hence, the stranger angle. And he’s not going to make up information just to satisfy you. Your mother was happy that you asked me to investigate.”

  “What about my mother?” I asked.

  “She was worried you’d go snooping around and get in over your head. I reassured her you were letting me do the investigating, and that calmed her down.”

  “How nice you two could reassure one another. I don’t need rescuing, and it’s getting old,” I told him. “Aren’t you supposed to be a top-notch investigator?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I mean you have zero information. What do you charge your clients for work like that? Even the reports that Anoui sent over were useless. She couldn’t even include a decent photo of Pavel; I had to print it off the internet.” I could see he was struggling to stay calm.

  “Look, I know you want to help out Jax, but he’s only charged with BUI, and he’s guilty. It is what it is. My company isn’t going to manufacture evidence to get Dick Weasel off. Let him man up and handle his own problems.”

  “Breaking news: Weasel’s in jail on a possible murder one charge,” I said.

  “There’s no other viable suspect. I’m not going to accuse someone else to make you happy.” His jaw clenched. “Shouldn’t you be at home waiting for Marco?” he asked Fab.

  Fab gave him the finger and slid off the stool.

  “Sit back down,” I told her. I turned back to Zach. “She’s spending the night. So you’re telling me there’s nothing. Case over. Any dock gossip?”

  “Like you said, this case is closed,” Zach said evenly. “You’re pretty involved with someone you divorced.”

  “It’s not that simple.” I sighed. “He was a part of our family, and he has a family of his own who are worried. No one wants him going to jail for something he didn’t do. In a small town, the story would forever be that my ex-husband murdered someone on the family boat. Do you think Pavel’s murderer should walk away? What happens if the person kills again?”

  “Do you mind if we have some time alone?” Zach asked Fab.

  Fab picked up Jazz. “We’ll go out by the pool.”

  Once she left, I said, “You like Fab. Why are you being so rude to her?”

  “I do like her,” Zach said. “She’s better backup than most men I know. What I don’t like is you two running around asking questions. You take crazy chances when you’re with her.”

  “I don’t need to be reprimanded like I’m six years old. I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.”

  “You woke up one morning, said to yourself, ‘I’ll go with Fab while she jacks a car from a felon who owes Brick money.’”

  “I don’t believe he had a record, and there was no jacking involved. Besides, we had a key.” I would’ve lied, but he knew too many details.

  “What if rich boy had caught the two of you?” Zach demanded.

  “He didn’t. Besides, he stopped paying for the rental, which makes it grand theft auto under Florida law. Are you sticking up for that?” Good thing he hadn’t heard about the shooting.

  “Seriously, you must not be smart enough to know when you’re in a bad situation. Or you don’t give a damn. Is it all fun and games for you to worry your family constantly?”

  I stared at him, shocked. “It must be my stupidity.”

  “Don’t sulk. You k
now what I meant. Let’s table the discussion on Fab. I want to spend what’s left of the evening with you. We could go back to my place. I thought you could start spending more time there.”

  “What are you talking about?” Suddenly, I felt claustrophobic. He was tightening the reins, and I didn’t like it.

  “Taking our relationship for a test drive,” Zach said. “Spend more time together, as in living together.”

  “At your place?” I squeaked.

  “We would have privacy, and no people walking in and out.”

  “Hmm. Well, I… uh… hmm.” He was definitely off his game if he thought I was going from occasional dating to being guarded.

  He glared at me. “That’s not quite the response I expected.”

  “I thought maybe we could go bowling, eat more Mexican food.” I hesitated. “You just sprung it on me. I need time to think about the idea.”

  “How much time?”

  “I don’t know. That’s a big decision to make in five seconds.”

  He leaned forward. “Come home with me now.”

  “I can’t. I’m not bailing on Fab, and I’m waiting to hear about two dogs I’m trying to find a home for.”

  His look told me he thought I was lying. “What dogs?”

  “Kym, Pavel’s girlfriend, abandoned his two dogs. They needed a home, and I think I found them one.”

  Zach threw his hands in the air. “Why does it have to be you? If you were living at my place, I could help you with the word ‘no,’ and you wouldn’t be bothered with these kinds of calls.”

  “It’s not a bother. I love animals. Just because my choice is cat over dog doesn’t mean I wouldn’t help if I could.”

  “One of Pavel’s friends would’ve stepped forward,” Zach said.

  “I found the dogs a better home than going home with another drunk.”

  “You can’t meddle in everything in town.”

  “How does living at your place control who I say yes or no to? Are you going to lock me up and take away my phone?” Zach lived at the top of an old warehouse, modern, slick, and fifty steps straight up to the front door.

  “You’re deliberately picking a fight.”