Two Ways to Die: A Java Jarvis Thriller

by Erin Wade

  Java basked in the brunette’s approval. “Have I ever told you how good you make me feel both mentally and physically,” she murmured. “Just one of the many reasons I love you.”

  Kat caught Java’s hand and pulled it onto her lap. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t let me forget to stop at that little convenience store at our exit,” Java said. “We’re out of coffee.”

  “We must have coffee,” Kat teased. “The sun won’t rise without it.”

  “I’m glad you understand,” Java laughed.

  ##

  Java parked the car in front of the convenience store. “I’ll be right back,” she informed Kat.

  “I’ll go in with you,” Kat shrugged. “I need to wash my hands.”

  Java paid for the coffee and waited at the counter for Kat to return from the ladies’ room. Three unshaven young men sauntered into the store. “You got beer?” One of them bellowed.

  The clerk pointed to the back of the store and all three men swaggered toward the beer cooler. Kat came out of the bathroom to find the isle blocked by the three thugs.

  “Whoa,” the largest one exclaimed. “Umm um, you are really something, mama.”

  “Excuse me,” Kat mumbled and tried to walk past the men.

  “Not so fast,” the largest man snickered. “I was talking to you.”

  “I’m in a hurry,” Kat drawled. “Please let me pass.”

  “We’re getting beer,” the man announced. “You should go for a ride with us. We’d have some fun and bring you back here.”

  Kat assessed her situation. She didn’t want to destroy the convenience store. She nodded her head and allowed the man to take her elbow. An evil grin crossed his face.

  “Don’t let them take your friend,” the clerk warned Java.

  “They won’t,” Java assured her.

  The large man and his friend walked Kat outside while the other man paid for the six pack of beer.

  Java watched the large man talk to Kat as they waited for the third man to join them. As the man left the store the clerk ran around the counter. “Coward,” she spat at Java, “you’re just going to stand here while they take her. Do you have any idea what they’ll do to her?”

  Java caught the clerk’s arm. “Watch!” She commanded.

  As the three men crowded around her, Kat took the six pack of beer by the handle and pulled one of the bottles from the carton as if she would drink it.

  “I really do need to go,” Kat reiterated.

  One of the men grabbed her arm and dragged her toward their car. “You can leave when we get through with you,” he crowed. “And that will take a while.”

  Java watched closely. Kat was always so fast Java was never certain what happened when she went into action.

  Kat broke the beer bottle over one man’s face and shanked the broken bottle neck into the throat of the large man.

  As the third man reached for her, she swung the carton of beer against the side of his face knocking him down. A perfectly aimed kick to the groin sent him into the fetal position as he howled in pain.

  “Jesus,” Exclaimed the clerk. “She’s a one-woman wrecking machine.”

  “Yeah,” Java grinned, “and she’s being very nice right now. You have any zip ties?”

  The clerk went behind the counter and handed Java a handful of zip ties. “There’s more if you need them.”

  “This’ll do,” Java grinned heading out the door to secure the would-be rapists.

  “Nice job, baby,” Java beamed at Kat. “Someday, you’ve got to show me how you do that.”

  They bound the three criminals as the clerk called the police.

  Java opened the car door for Kat then sprinted to the other side of the car. “What should I tell the cops?” The clerk yelled.

  “That it happened so fast you didn’t get a good look at us, but you’re certain we were two redheads,” Java grinned.

  Kat called Beau and filled him in. “You need to take over the case so we can file charges,” she said.

  “I love it when I get a collar without leaving my office,” Beau laughed.

  CHAPTER 50

  Waiting for the DNA analysis to complete Penny examined the latest head one more time. The machine began beeping and she walked to the screen to see who the latest victim was.

  “Delores Ruiz,” she mumbled typing the name into the missing person database.

  Ruiz had a long history of arrests for prostitution and had worked for Pender Crane. She had disappeared several months ago, but according to Penny’s forensics she had only been dead about a week. Penny called Java and Beau on a conference call to report her findings.

  “Beau,” Java said, “was she one of Jody Schooley’s girls?”

  “For a short time,” Beau reported, “but Jody said she was one of the girls he sent home. Her boyfriend filed a missing person’s report and I investigated it.”

  “I think it’s time we paid Jody a visit,” Java declared. “Ruiz isn’t a redhead, so this continues to break The Decapitators mode of operation. We must assume he is targeting prostitutes in general and not just redheads.”

  “You want me to do it as the police or do you want to do it as an interested person?” Beau asked.

  “Interested in what?” Penny laughed.

  “Not funny, Penny,” Java barked. “I’ll handle it, Beau.”

  “I still think you should send in Kat,” Beau added. “She can handle herself and she can get close to Jody.”

  “I’ll discuss it with her,” Java huffed hanging up the phone.

  Java looked up as Kat entered her office, closed the door and locked it.

  “I recognize that look,” Java blushed.

  “Good, then you won’t waste time with small talk,” Kat smiled as she sat down in Java’s lap.

  ##

  “That was unexpected but very welcomed,” Java tried to catch her breath as she fastened Kat’s bra.

  “You know how sometimes you have an overpowering urge?” Kat murmured.

  “Umm-hum,” Java kissed Kat on the neck. “Please, always feel free to act on those urges.”

  Kat didn’t move from Java’s lap. She leaned her head against the blonde’s chest as Java cradled her like a child. “What’s on the agenda for today?” Kat asked.

  “I must visit Jody Schooley’s house of ill repute,” Java laughed.

  “Oh! You must visit Jody’s,” Kat snickered. “You’ve been dying for an excuse to go there. So, what’s your excuse.”

  “The head thrown into my little piece of heaven belongs to one of Jody’s girls,” Java replied. “I think that gives me the right to ask Jody about it.”

  “Who is it?” Kat asked.

  “A woman named Delores Ruiz,” Java said. “She worked for Pender Crane before Jody took over his operation.”

  “Did Beau ever arrest anyone for Pender’s murder?” Kat moved from Java’s lap and straightened her skirt.

  “No. They never had a suspect. The trail was cold on that one before Pender was.”

  “May I tag along?” Kat asked.

  “It might be better if I go alone,” Java gulped. “I don’t want to overwhelm Jody.”

  “You’re probably right,” Kat agreed. “I need to mend fences with Lindy anyway. It’s difficult to get information from someone you’ve knocked out.”

  CHAPTER 51

  The antebellum mansion on Esplanade Avenue dominated the neighborhood. Java paused to admire its architecture. How can anything so beautiful house things so vile, she thought.

  She rang the doorbell and waited. After a respectful amount of time she rang the bell again. The sound of high heels clicking across marble floors preceded the opening of the door.

  Melody opened the door. “Java Jarvis,” she smiled seductively. “I wondered how long it would be before you came to see me.”

  “I’m here to see Jody Schooley,” Java announced standing on the veranda.

  “Come in,” Melody opened the door wider
and stepped back.

  Java was almost intimidated by the size of the great room. Large enough to be a ballroom, the elegant space housed priceless antiques and handwoven rugs. The area was well lighted and pleasant. Tastefully arranged seating areas were sprinkled around the room. Not at all what Java had expected.

  The great room rose to the ceiling through three stories of bedrooms and bathrooms. A cupola topped the third floor forming a fourth story.

  The house was elegance personified. Everything smelled fresh and clean. The mansion lacked the usual whore house odor.

  “Mr. Schooley isn’t here right now. He should be back in an hour or so.” Melody informed her. “May I offer you a drink?”

  “Coffee would be nice,” Java smiled.

  “I just put on a fresh pot,” Melody smiled back. “You can wait here if you like or you’re welcome to follow me into the kitchen.”

  “I’ll keep you company,” Java said.

  “What brings you to our home?” Melody asked as she poured the coffee. “As I recall you like your coffee black.”

  “Yes,” Java nodded. Surprised that the woman knew her preference in coffee.

  “Why don’t we relax in the sitting room?” Melody placed the coffee, sugar and cream on a tray and led the way to a smaller room. “It’s more intimate.”

  Melody sat on the sofa and patted the seat beside her. “If you’ll sit here, I’ll serve your coffee.”

  Java retrieved her coffee and saucer then sat down in a chair across from Melody.

  “Do I make you nervous Java Jarvis?” Melody asked

  “No, not really,” Java replied. “Why do you always call me by my full name?”

  “I like the way it feels on my tongue,” Melody laughed. “Java Jarvis. Java Jarvis. It tickles the tongue. I have a very sensitive tongue.”

  Java squirmed in her chair.

  “Oh, I’ve made you uncomfortable,” Melody giggled. “Good. I meant to. You didn’t answer my question, Java Jarvis. What brings you to our home?”

  “I’m looking for a woman named Delores Ruiz,” Java shrugged. “She worked for me as a waitress and I need an address for her. IRS W2 forms that sort of thing.”

  “Humm,” Melody shook her head and openly appraised Java from head to toe. “You’re a beautiful woman, Java Jarvis.”

  “As are you, Melody . . . I don’t know your last name.”

  “Rogers,” Melody supplied.

  “Melody Rogers,” Java repeated the name. “It has a nice ring to it.”

  “Kinda’ rolls off your tongue,” Melody grinned salaciously. “Silky.”

  “You didn’t answer my question, Melody,” Java steered the conversation back on track. “Do you know Delores Ruiz?”

  “I think Mr. Schooley got her from Mr. Pender.” Melody furrowed her brow as if trying to recall something. “I was Mr. Schooley’s first girl then he acquired Mr. Pender’s women, but they didn’t stay long.

  “Mr. Schooley brought in new girls like me. Younger, prettier than the ones he had. He gave all the girls that wanted to leave a thousand dollars and a bus ticket to anywhere in the United States. I took them all to the bus station.

  “Delores took the money and the ticket. She hung around for a couple of days then left.”

  “Do you have a forwarding address for her?” Java sipped her coffee.

  “You’ll have to ask Mr. Schooley about that.”

  “Excuse me Ms. Rogers,” a man dressed in old-South butler attire entered the room. “You have a gentleman caller.”

  Java raised her eyebrows. “I’ll just wait here for Jody,” she said.

  “I’ll keep you company,” Amanda, the brunette Jody often had hanging on his arm joined them.

  “Don’t let me keep you from your business,” Java quipped. “I can entertain myself.”

  “I’m free,” Amanda smiled. “Would you like to go to my room. It’s quieter and more private there.”

  “I think Java Jarvis prefers to wait here,” Melody snapped. “I won’t be long, Java. Please make yourself at home.”

  Java waited until Melody left the room then began to question Amanda. She was certain Melody was the smarter of the two women and hoped to glean more information from Amanda.

  “Amanda how many women were here when you came to work?”

  “Nine, I think,” Amanda surmised. “Maybe ten. I’m not sure. Melody has been here the longest. She’ll know.”

  “Where did they go?” Java repeated the question she had asked Melody.

  “Mr. Schooley gave all the girls that wanted to leave a thousand dollars and a bus ticket to anywhere in the United States.” Amanda repeated the same thing Melody had said.

  “Did anyone stay?” Java pushed.

  “Four or five hung around for a few days, but they finally left.”

  “Did this woman stay?” Java showed Amanda a driver’s license photo of Delores Ruiz.

  “For about a week,” Amanda verified. “Why?”

  “She waitressed for me in January of this year and I need to mail her a W2 form for her tax return.” Java responded. “Does Jody have a list of forwarding addresses for the women?”

  “You’ll need to talk to Mr. Schooley,” Amanda advised.

  “When did you go to work here?” Java asked.

  “Last October,” Amanda said. “We all went through rigorous schooling and testing.”

  “Why?” Java frowned.

  “Mr. Schooley said we had to be perfect. The best in Orleans. He taught us how to talk and walk and how to please a man or a woman.” Amanda cocked her head and looked at Java. “You’d be amazed at the things we do and how good we are at our trade.”

  “I’m sure,” Java smiled slightly. “How many work here?”

  “There are eleven of us,” Amanda replied. “We have our own private bedrooms and baths. It’s very nice. We clean constantly and make sure everything is sterile and smells nice.”

  Java noticed the fading sunlight. “I guess Jody is running late today,” she noted. “Would you tell him I came by and need to talk to him?”

  Amanda walked Java to the door. “You really should pay me a visit sometime,” she whispered closing the door.

  CHAPTER 52

  Kat was working on a new number with the band when Java entered the restaurant kitchen through the back door. She picked up two glasses and a bottle of wine as she passed through the wine closet and headed for her office.

  She stopped to watch Kat sing. She couldn’t imagine life without Kat. Kat made her laugh and sing. Sometimes the brunette made her want to scream but only because she wanted to hold her and couldn’t. Kat was her world.

  Kat looked for Java in the shadows of the balcony and smiled when their gazes met. Java knew the brunette loved her as desperately and completely as Java loved her.

  Suddenly nothing in the world was as important as getting home and spending time alone with Kat.

  Java held up the two wine glasses and gestured toward the balcony. Kat nodded and continued her rehearsal.

  Java turned toward the elevator but stopped when she saw Lindy at the hostess stand. She walked to the woman.

  “Can I help you with something Lindy?” Java asked eyeing the splint across Lindy’s nose.

  “I just need to see Kat,” Lindy mumbled looking down at her feet.

  “I don’t think she wants to see you,” Java advised.

  “I really need to talk to her,” Lindy insisted. “I owe her an apology. I was a bastard last night.”

  “Um,” Java shook her head. “Come back in an hour. We have no reservations open right now. I’ll try to smooth things over for you.”

  “Really,” Lindy questioned, “you’d do that for me?”

  “Sure.” Java shrugged pushing Lindy toward the door. “Come back in an hour.”

  As Lindy went out the door Jody and Melody entered. “Java,” Jody bellowed, “Melody says you want to talk to me.”

  “Yeah,” Java looked around for a table wh
ere they could have a private conversation but found none. She grabbed two more wine glasses and motioned for Jody and Melody to follow her into the elevator.

  Jody flopped down in the chair that gave him the best view of Kat. Java briefly entertained the idea of throwing him off the balcony but remembered he was there at her request.

  “I need to talk to you about a woman named Delores Ruiz,” Java started. “I need a mailing address for her.”

  “Delores Ruiz?” Jody pretended he didn’t recognize the name.

  “She was in the group of women you inherited from Pender Crane.” Java jarred his memory.

  “Oh, yeah,” Jody drawled. “She didn’t work for me long. I sent that entire stable packing. They were either too old or so young they were illegal. I run a clean operation. I don’t want any trouble with the law.

  “All my employees look like Melody here,” he gestured toward the brunette. “All American, beautiful, girl-next-door women.”

  “Do you have forwarding address for any of the women that left?” Java pushed for information.

  “Nah,” Jody shook his head. “All my dealings with them were in cash. So, no IRS forms and all that malarkey. Say, you got a john up here?”

  “Downstairs,” Java said. “Go to your right as you get off the elevator. It says ‘Gentlemen’ on the door.”

  “You keep an eye on Melody,” Jody frowned. “Don’t let anyone bother her.”

  “There’s no one up her but me,” Java pointed out.

  “Wouldn’t you like to bother me?” Melody glanced at Java as Jody got on the elevator.

  “No,” Java choked as she sipped her wine.

  “Liar,” Melody grinned. “You’d love to know the things I’d let you do to me.” She dropped her voice to a whisper, “And the things I’d do to you.”

  “No,” Java squeaked as Melody trailed her long fingers across Java’s cleavage.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kat demanded as she stomped from the stairwell. “What is she doing up here?”

  “Kat! Thank heaven,” Java piped. “I was just asking Jody about—”

  “And yet Jody isn’t here,” Kat stormed. “Only this . . . this . . . hooker.”

  Melody stood to face Kat.