Two Ways to Die: A Java Jarvis Thriller

by Erin Wade

  “Regardless, I want you two to team up for everything,” Java addressed Barbie and Chris. “Don’t even take trash to the dumpster alone. Understood? I want everyone armed. I want to see blazers over holstered Glocks.”

  “Do we have anything new on The Basher?” Karen asked. “I’m getting hammered from all sides after the citizens had their little version of gunfight at O. K. Corral.”

  “We haven’t been able to talk to Ames,” Java informed the group. “We’ll make another visit to his church when we leave here.”

  “Chris and I are heading to the restaurant from here,” Barbie said.

  “We’ll be there as soon as we visit the Sanctity Church,” Java added.

  ##

  Kat took Java’s hand as they pulled from the FBI parking lot. “Baby,” Kat said softly, “I truly think you should take a closer look at Déjà vu in The Basher killings.”

  “I know,” Java inhaled deeply. “She has the height and strength.”

  “We need to find out what she did with the hundred voodoo dolls she ordered,” Kat added as Java headed the car toward Déjà’s store.

  “Déjà isn’t here,” Kat noted as they parked in front of the priestess’ store. “I’m going in with you.”

  “Okay, but if she comes in you need to go to the car,” Java agreed. “I don’t want to referee a fight between the two of you.”

  Kally was in the back when they arrived but limped to greet them. “Miss Java,” she beamed, “It is so good to see you.”

  “Good to see you too,” Java smiled. “You look great. Being on your own seems to agree with you.”

  “It is a blessing from the gods,” Kally giggled. “It is so nice to have my own home. You should visit me. It’s so clean and neat. No one to mess it up or bother me. I’ve never been happier.”

  “Where’s Déjà?” Kat asked.

  “She’s gone to the buyers’ market,” Kally replied. “We’re out of burlap squares and a few other things. The tourists really spent their money over the weekend.”

  “I’m doing inventory,” Kally volunteered. “But I can stop and make you a cup of coffee.”

  “Oh no,” Java smiled. “You’re busy but I do need a couple of those voodoo dolls you sell.”

  “I think that is one of the things Miss Déjà vu is buying at the market but let me see if we have any in the back.”

  After Kally left the room, Java thumbed through a ledger lying on top of the counter. She caught her breath when she saw the tally marks on the pages. Four straight lines then a diagonal line to count in groups of five. The bloody tally on the wall of the last crime scene flashed through her mind. She flipped toward the front of the book to last year and tore out a page stuffing it into her jacket pocket. She closed the book before Kally returned.

  “No ma’am, were plum out of dolls right now,” Kally informed her, “but Miss Déjà vu should be back around four this afternoon.”

  Java picked up the ledger as if seeing if for the first time. “Don’t tell me Déjà keeps a handwritten ledger,” she laughed. “I thought the store was computerized.”

  Java let the ledger fall open. “You use the old-fashioned tally method to take inventory?” She asked casually. “This is your handwriting, isn’t it?”

  “Oh, no ma’am,” Kally exclaimed, “I didn’t realize that was lying around. That’s Miss Déjà vu’s personal way of tracking things. She doesn’t trust computers.”

  “I understand that,” Java placed the ledger back on the counter. “Sometimes ours go down and it’s chaos.”

  Kat’s cell phone dinged as a message arrived. “We’d better go,” she said. “We have an appointment in half an hour.”

  They bid Kally goodbye and strolled to their car.

  “What was that all about?” Kat asked buckling her seatbelt.

  Java drove the car down the block then pulled the ledger sheet from her jacket pocket. “Does this look familiar?”

  “The wall,” Kat gasped. “That’s the way The Basher tallied his kills at the last crime scene.”

  “You’re right,” Java scowled, “Our killer is Déjà vu.”

  “We’ve got to build a case against her,” Kat thought out loud. “We can’t use this ledger sheet. You did obtain it illegally.”

  “Oh, yeah, I guess I did,” Java grinned sheepishly.

  “Let’s pull her in for questioning,” Kat suggested. “If she has no alibi for the last murder then she’s our killer. We should get a search warrant and search her premises—both home and shop.”

  “We have to handle this with kid gloves,” Java mused. “If we stir up her followers and we’re wrong there will be hell to pay.”

  “You need to drop me at my place so I can pick up my things and my car,” Kat said. “Everyone will begin talking if I continue to arrive and leave everyday with you.”

  “As much as I hate to let you out of my sight, I know you’re right,” Java grinned.

  ##

  Java walked into Kat’s home checking all the rooms and closets. “All clear,” she called as she entered Kat’s bedroom. “What can I do to help you pack?”

  “Why don’t you go to the restaurant?” Kat suggested. “It will be good for you to arrive a little ahead of me.”

  Java pulled Kat into her arms and kissed her sweetly. “Hurry, I hate being away from you.”

  “I will,” Kat promised.

  CHAPTER 47

  The dinner crowd was already filling the restaurant when Java walked through the back door.

  “Where’s Kat?” Barbie asked.

  “I dropped her off at her home,” Java replied. “Is there a problem?”

  “No, Lindy Rochelle has been demanding to speak with her,” Barbie said. “She says Kat was supposed to have dinner with her.”

  “Where is Lindy?” Java grumbled. “I’ll talk to her.”

  “At her usual table,” Barbie gestured toward the table closest to the bandstand.

  Java walked to Lindy’s table and welcomed her to the restaurant. “Is the staff taking good care of you?” Java asked.

  “Oh, yes,” Lindy stood and held out her hand to Java. “I’m just missing Kat. She is supposed to dine with me tonight.”

  “I think she had car trouble,” Java mumbled, “but she’ll be along later. How about an appetizer on the house while you wait?”

  “That’d be nice,” Lindy smiled sitting back down. “So, you’re okay with me dating Kat?”

  “Dating?” Java raised an eyebrow. “Surely you don’t consider her having dinner with you here, dating?”

  “I’d take her other places,” Lindy groused, “if you ever gave her a day off.”

  “She works seven days a week because she needs the money,” Java blurted.

  “Really?” Lindy narrowed her eyes, “I thought you paid her well.”

  “She’s supporting a sick mother,” Java lied. “Her mother’s doctor bills are horrendous. She’s also married.”

  “I like dating married women,” Lindy smirked. “They don’t make demands on you.”

  “I’ll send someone to take your appetizer order,” Java turned and walked away before she planted her fist in Lindy’s face.

  ##

  Java strolled into the kitchen sniffing the air. “Umm, something smells incredible,” she complimented the chef.

  “Miss Kat requested it tonight,” the chef grinned. “It’s her favorite.”

  “Have you seen Kat,” she asked Chris.

  “I don’t think she’s here yet,” Chris replied, “which is very unusual. She goes on in thirty minutes.”

  “I’ll check the parking lot,” Java frowned trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

  A search of the parking lots surrounding the restaurant verified Java’s suspicions that Kat wasn’t on the premises.

  Java pulled her cellphone from her pocket and tapped the number that would connect her to Kat. The call went into voicemail. “Honey, I’m getting worried about you
,” Java recorded. “Please call me immediately.”

  Java returned to the hostess stand where Chris and Barbie were talking. “She’s not here and I can’t get her on the cellphone,” Java reported.

  Jody Schooley pushed his way through the customers waiting to be seated. He pulled Melody behind him. “I have reservations,” Jody barked.

  The maître d' turned to Java.

  “As do all the people you just shoved past,” Java glowered. “If you’ll return to the end of the line, we’ll seat you in less than five minutes.”

  The hostess continued seating those in line.

  Melody slipped her arm through Java’s. “Surely you can take care of us now,” she smiled lowering her voice to a whisper. “I could certainly take care of you right now.”

  Java pulled her arm from Melody’s. “The hostess will seat you shortly, but you must get back in line.”

  Java took the elevator upstairs and set down at the table overlooking the diners in the main room. She called Kat’s phone again and left another message.

  “God, please let her be okay,” Java prayed as she walked into her office, holstered her Glock and headed back downstairs.

  Java’s mind was going in a hundred different directions. What if The Decapitator has gotten her? What if—

  When the elevator doors opened, Kat walked out.

  “Oh, thank God,” Java gasped. “Kat I was so worried about you. Where have you been? I’ve been calling you.”

  “The battery’s dead on my phone,” Kat explained. “I fell asleep after you left and didn’t set an alarm. I didn’t realize I was so tired.”

  Java pushed Kat back into the elevator and wrapped her arms around her. “I was so scared you’d been kidnapped or worse.”

  “I’m fine baby,” Kat said. “I can take care of myself Java.”

  “I know you can,” Java breathed. “I still worry about you. I’d die if anything happened to you.”

  Kat lightly brushed her lips against Java’s. “You can tell me how much you’d miss me tonight,” she giggled. “Right now, I must sing for your guests.”

  Java’s arms tightened around the brunette. “No,” Kat murmured. “You’ll destroy my lipstick and I don’t have time to reapply it.”

  She shoved Java from the elevator and pushed the button that would take her to the main floor.

  Java watched as Kat sang her first set then joined Lindy at her table. Lindy had downed several straight scotch drinks and was in a playful mood.

  “Let’s blow this joint,” Lindy murmured in Kat’s ear.

  “You know I can’t do that,” Kat frowned. “I have to sing again in an hour.”

  “What I have in mind shouldn’t take an hour,” Lindy grinned salaciously and slid her hand up Kat’s leg under her dress.

  “I don’t think so,” Kat pushed Lindy’s hand off her leg. “You’re drunk.”

  Lindy slid her arm across the back of Kat’s chair. “Don’t you think you’ve toyed with me long enough?”

  “I’m not toying with you, Lindy,” Kat insisted. “I’m married and I don’t fool around.” Kat slid back her chair and stood to leave but Lindy yanked her back into her seat.

  Java considered going downstairs and throwing Lindy out of her restaurant but was mesmerized by the look on Kat’s face.

  Like a choreographed dance Kat stood. Sliding her hand behind Lindy’s neck she slammed the woman’s face into the tabletop rendering her unconscious.

  “Ouch,” Java mumbled “That’s what I’ve wanted to do to the pig all night.”

  Java sprinted down the stairs and directed two of her bouncers to quietly remove Lindy.

  “I think you broke her nose,” Java informed Kat as she handed the bouncer a handful of cloth napkins. “Try to contain the blood, please.” The man nodded and the two bouncers carried Lindy out the back door.

  “Seems you’ve lost your dinner partner,” Java chuckled. “Want to join me upstairs?”

  “I’d like that,” Kat laughed.

  CHAPTER 48

  The next morning Kat and Java made another attempt to see Reverend Driscoll Ames, but he was still out of town.

  “Do you have a number where I can reach him?” Java asked.

  “No ma’am,” the secretary answered. “He was supposed to be back two days ago.”

  They thanked the secretary and walked to their car. “Let’s visit the buyers’ market,” Kat suggested. “Maybe we can learn more about Déjà. I don’t know much about her.”

  “Neither do I really,” Java grimaced. “I do know she comes from a long line of witches. Her great grandmother was Marie Laveau.”

  “Seriously,” Kat raised a perfectly arched brow. “I didn’t realize that. We should be more careful.”

  “Don’t tell me you take that voodoo stuff seriously,” Java teased.

  “I never underestimate any religion or its followers,” Kat said seriously. “More atrocities have been committed in the name of religion than for any other reason.”

  “For instance?” Java encouraged Kat to back up her statement.

  “The Catholic Church’s massacre of the Protestant Huguenots in France,” Kat quipped. “Um, the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre where Catholics murdered some three thousand Huguenots gathered for a royal wedding. The carnage spread throughout the countryside where rampaging soldiers wiped out entire Huguenot villages. Some 10,000 protestant Huguenots were slaughtered before it was all over.

  “They didn’t just butcher them, Java, they drove sticks into the eardrums of children killing them. How can one human do that to another, especially a child?”

  A shiver ran through Java as Kat described the fiendish acts committed in the name of the Catholic religion.

  “Do you believe The Basher is acting out of some twisted religious conviction?” Java asked.

  “I don’t know,” Kat fretted. “The religious aspect was introduced in the last two murders. I feel like it was just used to confuse us.”

  “That’s my thought too,” Java agreed.

  Java’s car phone blared, and she pushed the speaker phone button to connect them with Chris. “What’s up?” She asked.

  “Jody Schooley’s here,” Chris whispered into the phone. “He claims one of his ladies is hiding here.”

  “On our way,” Java replied. “Get him out of the restaurant. I don’t want our customers hearing his drivel.”

  Java disconnected the call then glanced at Kat. “Sounds like your boyfriend has lost one of his moneymakers.”

  “She’s probably wised up and headed home,” Kat declared. “I’ll never understand why women voluntarily sell themselves.”

  “Sometimes they’re working under duress,” Java noted.

  “True, but some of them prefer that line of work instead of an eight to five existence.” Kat replied. “When it comes to men, I can’t even imagine being with several in one night.”

  “I can’t imagine being with anyone but you,” Java smiled.

  “Aren’t you the silver-tongued devil,” Kat chided. “You’re the only one I ever want to be with,” she said seriously.

  Chris and Jody were waiting on the employee parking lot when Java stopped the car.

  Jody stepped back as the blonde approached him. “I’m not trying to cause trouble,” he said. “I just want my girl.”

  “Which one is missing?” Java asked.

  “Melody,” Jody barked. “She said she was coming to see you and I haven’t seen her since.”

  “I haven’t been here all day,” Java frowned. “Chris said she isn’t here.”

  “Maybe she got smart and returned home,” Kat suggested.

  “She wouldn’t do that,” Jody assured them. “She actually enjoys her job.”

  “That’s what all pimps say,” Kat snapped.

  Jody’s glare alarmed Kat. She couldn’t recall anyone ever looking at her with such animosity.

  “Why don’t you file a missing person report with the police?” Java asked.<
br />
  “I’ll find her,” Jody groused. “I don’t want the police involved.”

  “I bet you don’t,” Kat smirked.

  “Maybe you’d like to take her place,” Jody snarled. “I’ll bet you’d be good at her job.”

  “She’s not here,” Java stepped in. “You need to leave.”

  Jody kicked at the ground trying to control his temper. “If you have her so help me, I’ll—”

  “You’ll what?” Java moved into Jody’s space.

  Jody backed away from her remembering how quickly she had decked him a few months earlier.

  “Don’t mess with my girls,” Jody shook his finger in Java’s face.

  CHAPTER 49

  “What a day,” Java sighed as she locked the doors to the restaurant. “Let’s park your car in the tunnel beneath Harrah’s and you ride home with me. I hate being away from you for even a short time.”

  “I know, baby. It’s much more pleasant to ride with you,” Kat said touching her car to unlock it. “I’ll have to follow you. I don’t know anything about a tunnel beneath Harrah’s.”

  Java nodded and hurried to her car.

  They parked Kat’s car in the underground parking space used by Harrah’s clientele. Kat was happy to be with Java. Both the cases they were working were beginning to give her the willies.

  Kat watched out the passenger side window as Java guided her vehicle from the dimly lit parking garage. “What is this place? It’s huge and gloomy.”

  “One of the city council’s biggest screw ups,” Java snickered. “1.3 million tax-payer dollars for a giant coffin.”

  “Is Harrah’s sitting on top of it?” Kat asked.

  “Part of Harrah’s is built over it. See those huge steel piers,” Java motioned toward the beams supported by the piers. “They hold up Harrah’s and the casino keeps the tunnel from floating to the surface. Talk about something built on shifting sand.”

  Kat giggled at her lover’s explanation.

  “It’s true,” Java insisted.

  “I believe you,” Kat smiled. “You’re just so damn cute when you talk about things most people never heard of. Not only do I find you sexy as hell, I think you’re one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.”