Angela: And thus the reason he has no idea about your part-time gig as a dancer—or an amateur sleuth.
Cyndi: I wouldn’t go that far.
Angela: Does Jason know about the investigating you’ve been doing?
Cyndi: You know he doesn’t.
Angela: Then I say that makes you an amateur sleuth.
Cyndi: LOL Okay! I get it! I found something else on Friday.
Diana: Something to help find your friend?
Cyndi: I am not sure.
Jessy: Well, spill—what happened?
Cyndi: I might have found a possible murder weapon.
Diana: Your friend was murdered?
Cyndi: I have no idea.
Jessy: But you just said you found the murder weapon?
Cyndi: I said possible murder weapon.
Angela: What is it?
Cyndi: A tire iron.
Angela: You can find those anywhere, Cyn.
Cyndi: Not this particular one. It has since disappeared.
Diana: I am getting confused.
Jessy: Yeah, me too.
Cyndi: Let me back up. Remember the purse I found with Angela?
Diana: Yes.
Jessy: Uh huh.
Cyndi: Okay, well, when I went to work, I had to go in through the back. Company policy—if there is a line, employees enter by the alley. Roxy Feathers, one of the dancers, was back there, and when she heard me coming she freaked out and grabbed a tire iron to defend herself—said she found it by the back door. I thought I saw something on it, so I went back outside after my shift to take it home to Jason, and it was gone.
Jessy: Maybe someone happened by and took it to use?
Cyndi: I suppose it is possible, but not likely. The alley is off the beaten path.
Angela: Yeah, I was back there. No one would just stumble on it. They have to be heading there intentionally.
Diana: So what are you thinking, Cyn?
Cyndi: Well, I had another note on my car.
Diana: What?
Cyndi: It said stop asking questions.
Angela: So someone you work with killed the girl you used to work with?
Cyndi: I don’t think so.
Diana: A patron at the club, then?
Cyndi: That is what I was thinking. Someone who is there a lot and might have had a thing for her.
Diana: Don’t you think it’s time to tell Jason?
Cyndi: Tell him what? That I think one of the hundreds of men who frequent the club, which he doesn’t know I work at, might have killed one of the dancers—who is known to be a runaway—with a tire iron that I no longer know the location of?
Angela: When you put it like that, it does sound a little nutty.
Cyndi: Exactly.
Diana: Well, nutty or not, the guy seems to have his eye on you and that worries me.
Cyndi: Don’t worry. Jason taught me how to defend myself.
Diana: Did those lessons include fending off a tire iron-wielding psycho who appears to kidnap young runaway strippers?
Cyndi: LOL Of course, Di!
Angela: Did you get a chance to ask any more questions about Jade?
Cyndi: Not really, no one really wants to talk about it. Roxy tried to talk me into quitting though.
Jessy: Which one is Roxy?
Cyndi: The one with the man voice and never-ending supply of feather boas.
Jessy: Oh, right. I always confuse her with the one who likes to wear women’s underwear.
Diana: Such a colorful crew over there, Cyn.
Cyndi: They are a little odd, but they are mostly good people. Johnny has a brilliant mind, so what if he likes the feel of satin on his skin?
Jessy: I got no problems with that. To each his own. I am more curious as to why Roxy tried to get you to quit.
Cyndi: Not too sure. She has been supportive up until now—taught me most of what I know—except the dancing. Years of private lessons took care of that. I know Mom and Dad would be proud! LOL
Diana: Well, what are you going to do?
Cyndi: About what?
Diana: Are you going to quit?
Cyndi: Um, no. Why would I?
Angela: Things are getting a little strange, don’t you think? I mean, beyond the obvious.
Cyndi: Even if I wanted to, I can’t. Someone needs to keep an ear out about Jade. Obviously someone is trying to get my attention. If I leave now, we may never know the truth.
Diana: Or…we could turn the whole thing over to our cop husbands and let them look for her. That’s what they do you know, search for missing persons, solve crimes…
Cyndi: Someone needs to eat a chocolate bar or something…snippy much?
Diana: I’m just saying, this might be out of your league. What if the creep who keeps leaving notes on your car does something crazy, like, I don’t know, kidnaps and murders you?
Cyndi: You need to stop watching cop show reruns, Diana.
Diana: You need to stop play acting like you are Angela Lansbury. This isn’t “Murder, She Wrote,” you know. This is real life.
Cyndi: What’s eating you?
Angela: I think all she is trying to say, Cyn, is you are putting yourself at risk. Aren’t you worried about your safety? I mean, there was blood on that purse we found. I don’t think she broke a nail and then decided she didn’t feel like carrying her purse anymore.
Cyndi: I know, something happened to her. I gave Jason the purse. The lab identified her blood on it. I don’t know any more than they do at this point.
Jessy: Does Jason know about the notes?
Cyndi: Of course not.
Angela: Then they don’t know everything.
Diana: What if they have fingerprints on them? You should turn them in.
Cyndi: Why? No one has threatened me. All they did was tell me to stop asking questions. I intend to—for now.
Angela: Cyndi, I think it is time for Jason to know about your job.
Cyndi: Um…hell no.
Jessy: How long do you think you can keep it from him? When he finds out he is going to be pissed. I mean, really pissed.
Cyndi: That doesn’t even begin to describe what he will be. That’s why I am not telling him yet. Once I have enough money saved, I will quit.
Diana: Saved for what?
Cyndi: I figured I could get some money put aside for Christmas and maybe a few bucks for emergencies. I mean, we do okay, but it would be nice to have a little cushion, you know?
Diana: I guess I can’t argue with that. Most of my phone sex money goes into a savings account for Jackson’s college fund. The rest for a rainy day.
Angela: That’s why I keep working dispatch. I hope to have a good nest egg to carry us through should I ever be lucky enough to have a baby.
Jessy: Hey, Di, how are you going to explain to Jack that you earned his college fund getting old guys off with your voice?
Diana: I will tell him I was into telemarketing, not a lie entirely.
Jessy: Well, I guess I am the boring one…my online shop for my sewing has been doing well, hubby knows all about it, and I have no secrets. I think I need a real job soon though, I have to get out of this house once in a while.
Diana: Everyone has secrets, Jessy dear…
Jessy: Nope. Not me. My only secret is I have been sitting here yawning for the last ten minutes…time for me to call it a night.
Angela: Yup…pretty tired over here too. I’m signing off as well. Night, ladies.
Diana: I guess I will turn in also. Cyndi, think about taking your friend’s suggestion and calling it quits.
Cyndi: I know you have good intentions, but please try to understand why I just can’t right now.
Diana: *sigh* There are a lot of crazies out there you know…just promise me you will watch your back.
Cyndi: I promise. But you have my permission if anything ever happens to me to tell Jason everything.
Diana: You can absolutely bet your life on it that I will. Good night, Cyn.
; Cyndi: Good night.
Chapter Ten
Diana’s warnings weighed heavily on Cyndi’s heart the rest of the night. She tossed and turned, dreaming of shadowy figures wielding tire irons that dripped blood. By the time Harper appeared at her bedside, Cyndi was ready to throw in the sleep towel and escape the torture.
As she stood in the kitchen willing the coffee maker to heat up more quickly, she yelped when strong arms wrapped around her from behind. She spun around, meeting her husband’s lips with her own.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” he whispered against her ear, and made his way down her jawline with tiny kisses.
Cyndi let out a large yawn.
“You don’t even let me get started before you get all bored.” Jason stepped back, a little hurt in his blue eyes.
Cyndi rested her forehead against her husband’s chest, stifling another yawn. “It’s not you, J.J., I promise. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Hang out with your girls for too long?”
“No. Bad dreams.”
“You should’ve woken me, I would’ve chased them away for you.” Grinning slyly, Jason leaned down and captured her lips with his own once again. She was just too tired for what he wanted.
“Harper’s awake, you know,” she murmured, pushing against Jason with the palms of her hands.
“She is watching cartoons. I’ll be so quick she won’t even know we are gone.”
“Listen, speed king, I don’t have it in me to make it to the finish line right now. Maybe later, when Harper is napping.”
“No can do, babe. I got that undercover training today. Did you forget?”
“Of course not, J.J.” She had forgotten. It wasn’t such a bad thing though. If Jason was gone all day, she’d get in a nap when Harper took hers. Cyndi let out a big yawn. A nap would be a very nice thing; especially a dreamless one.
“I’m heading out right after lunch and won’t be home until late this evening. Not reminding you or anything—I know you didn’t forget.” Jason winked and shot her a playful grin that told Cyndi he definitely knew she had.
“Once I get a little caffeine in me, I’ll make you some breakfast. I’m feeling a little domestic this morning.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Jason leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I’m gonna hit the head and get a shower. Be down in thirty.”
“Follow the smell of bacon—you know, a little pig!” Cyndi called after him.
“Hey! I resemble that remark!”
“I know you do.” Cyndi filled her cup with coffee. Bacon jokes were one of her favorites. Being married to a pig—a common slang term for cops—definitely gave her license to toss out a joke once in a while. The way their life ran sometimes, Cyndi had to crack a little fun at it, or she would lose her mind.
Jason reappeared exactly thirty minutes later, as Cyndi dished up a pile of breakfast for him.
“Man, this smells delicious. I sure did marry well!” Jason picked up a piece of bacon and popped it into his mouth.
“Don’t you know it, baby. Harper! Turn off your program and come have breakfast with Daddy.”
“Okay, Mommy!” In less than a minute, the little girl had climbed into her seat at the table and attacked a plate of scrambled eggs.
“So, what are my girls going to do today?” Jason asked in between bites of bacon and eggs.
“I was thinking we would take a walk down by the oceanfront. It’s supposed to be pretty warm, and the sun looks bright already.”
“How’s your ankle doing?”
“Just about as good as new.” Cyndi kicked her leg out and rotated her foot enough for Jason to get a good view of the purple and yellow bruising. “Doesn’t even hurt at all.”
Jason probed the bruised area lightly. “Swelling seems to have gone away.”
“I told you it doesn’t hurt.”
“Well, then.” Jason winked at Harper. “You two have fun.”
“We will, Daddy. ’Specially if Mommy lets me have ice cream.”
“I will have a talk with Mommy about that while you are in the bathroom washing your hands and face, and brushing your teeth.”
“’Kay, Daddy.” Harper skipped away as Jason winked at Cyndi.
“Are you going to spoil our little girl with an ice cream cone today?”
“I just might. The walk will do us both good. Nothing like sea air and sunshine to revitalize a weary soul.”
“Are you a weary soul?” Jason studied her with a worried look.
“I'm tired, J.J. Nothing to worry about. Bad dreams, remember?”
Jason planted a kiss on her forehead. “Yeah, I remember. I’m going out in the garage to clean my weapon. That’s the first thing they always seem to inspect at training.”
“I’ll clean up in here and grab a shower. We won’t leave until you do.”
“Sounds like a plan, babe.” Jason disappeared through the door into the garage.
Cyndi stacked the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and headed to her room, stopping by Harper’s. “Mommy will be in the shower, and Daddy is in the garage. You stay here and play with your toys until I am done.”
“Okay, Mommy.”
“If you need me, come in the bathroom, the door will be unlocked.”
“’Kay.” Harper waved her off as she returned to what she was doing.
“Maybe we do need to have another baby,” Cyndi murmured to herself. “That girl needs someone to play with.”
She wasn’t sure she was ready to mother two little ones. It would mean giving up her job. Not that it should matter—they didn’t need for her to work. If only she didn’t enjoy it so much.
“You are getting too old to be dancing around like that, Cyndi Mills,” Cyndi chastised herself as she stepped under the hot spray of the shower. The heat felt fabulous against her tired muscles, and by the time she was done, Cyndi was wide awake and ready to hit the beach with Harper. She wanted another chance to see that alley in the daylight. Maybe she had missed the tire iron in her haste to get home the other night.
When she wandered back to the kitchen, Harper was still happily entertaining herself, and Jason was rooting around in the fridge.
“Didn’t you eat enough breakfast?”
Jason’s response was unintelligible from inside the refrigerator.
“I said, are you still hungry?”
Her husband backed out of the fridge, smiling and looking as guilty as sin. “No…”
“Then what are you doing in there?”
“I remembered that there was still a bit of cake left in the back, and I had a sweet tooth craving.”
Cyndi laughed. For someone so fit, Jason was always hunting around for something sweet.
“Well, enjoy it, then. I am going outside to check the mail and grab the newspaper.”
Jason reached in and grabbed the cake pan with a big grin. Cyndi laughed again and headed to the front door. The sun was bright when she stepped onto the front porch, forcing her to shield her eyes until they could adjust. Holding the rail, she felt her way down to the sidewalk and walked to the mailbox at the end of the driveway. The daily paper was in the plastic box attached to the mailbox post, but the mailman hadn’t been by yet that day.
Grabbing the paper, Cyndi turned around to make her way back to the house. Her eyes adjusted to the brightness in time to see the old rusted tire iron propped against the side of her rear tire.
“What the hell?” Cyndi stepped forward to examine the tool. It was definitely the same iron from the alley.
Straightening, she made a slow circle, inspecting the entire neighborhood. A few trees rustled their leaves and the happy voices of children in someone’s backyard echoed down the empty street, but not a single person was anywhere in sight. She turned her attention back to her car, walking a slow circle around the vehicle. Someone had obviously left the tire iron for her to see, but why?
As she moved around the front end to the passenger’s side, she figured it out. The tire had
been sliced and lay flat as a pancake against the asphalt. Cyndi spun around on her heel, checking the street again, but all was still quiet. Returning her attention to her tire, Cyndi let out a low curse. So much for her trip to the beach with Harper; the only place they were going was to get a new tire.
What was she going to tell Jason? There was no way to explain the rusty tire iron without telling him what she had been up to. Maybe she should just tell him everything. Things were obviously getting personal if she was being stalked at her home.
Kicking angrily at the destroyed tire, Cyndi walked to the back of her car and over to the back wheel on the driver’s side where the tire iron sat propped against it.
“Damn it all,” she muttered, aggravation washing over her in waves. As she moved back to the damaged tire, debating on what to tell Jason, her husband suddenly appeared beside her.
“What the hell happened?”
“I have no idea, J.J.” Even she could hear the frustration in her voice. At least she sounded believable.
Undercover in Six Inch Stilettos Page 9