Two Ways to Die: A Java Jarvis Thriller

by Erin Wade

  “Believe me, you don’t want to do that,” Java pulled Melody back into her chair.

  Melody narrowed her eyes and looked Kat up and down. “What’s she to you?” She asked Java.

  “She works for me,” Java replied hoping Kat wouldn’t explode.

  “I’ll bet she doesn’t take care of you like I will.” Melody poured gasoline on the fire named Kat.

  Kat grabbed Melody by her hair.

  “Kat,” Java snapped. “The band is playing your introduction.”

  Kat glared at Java but backed down. “I’ll talk to you later,” she glowered heading for the stairwell.

  “She works for you?” Melody reiterated.

  “Yes,” Java tamped down her anguish. She hated having words with Kat.

  “I can sing,” Melody informed her. “Anything she does for you I can do better.”

  “Are you trying to change jobs?” Java asked.

  “No just locations.” Melody assured her. “I could show you things that will blow your mind Java Jarvis.”

  “My mind is pretty blown most of the time,” Java laughed trying to change the subject.

  “Why don’t you take me seriously?” Melody asked.

  “I do,” Java retorted. “The truth is I have a woman and she more than takes care of me in every way.”

  “It’s her isn’t it?” Melody tossed her head toward Kat.

  “Can we dine up here?” Jody bellowed as he charged off the elevator.

  “No,” Java said. “You’ll need to be on the main floor where someone can take your order. I appreciate you stopping by to see me. I’m sorry you don’t have any forwarding addresses on the women.”

  “Nature of the business,” Jody shrugged. “You can’t keep up with hookers.”

  “Hookers,” Melody repeated the word as if she’d just comprehended it. “You don’t like hookers, Java Jarvis?”

  “I like hookers just fine,” Java sputtered. “I just don’t want one.”

  Melody’s face seemed to crumble. “You don’t want me because Jody has made me a hooker?”

  “Jody,” Java pleaded with the pimp. “Why don’t you take your date downstairs and have dinner on the house?”

  “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day,” Jody crowed pulling Melody to her feet. “Come one Mel, let’s order a filet. Java’s Place is renowned for their fine steaks and wine.”

  Java stood to walk her guests to the elevator. Melody pulled her arm forcing Java to lean down as the brunette whispered into her ear. “I will have you,” she murmured.

  Java exhaled slowly as she watched the elevator door close on her two visitors. The look in Melody’s eyes was unfathomable—almost desolate. Java was thankful they had avoided a cat fight. She knew the two women would tangle eventually. Melody had no idea what she was getting into when she confronted Kat.

  CHAPTER 53

  “I’m going to leave you to lock up,” Kat tiptoed to kiss Java. “I need to fill my car with gas. I’ll meet you at your place.”

  “I wish you would wait for me, honey,” Java pleaded. “I’m crazy anxious when you’re out of my sight.”

  “Silly, woman,” Kat chided. “Surely you know by now that I can take care of myself.”

  “You did make quick work of those three thugs,” Java chuckled. “I’ll see you at the lake house.”

  “I’ll have a cold beer and the hot tub ready when you get there,” Kat promised.

  ##

  The next morning Chris opened, and customers flooded into the restaurant. The crowd was made up of locals and tourists anxious to try the food they’d heard so much about and meet the restaurant’s owner who was a local legend.

  “I heard your Java Jarvis single-handedly ended the reign of terror perpetrated on business owners in the French Quarter,” one woman engaged Chris in conversation while waiting to be seated.

  “She is pretty persuasive,” Chris agreed.

  “I can’t wait to meet her,” the tourist enthused. “Is she here?”

  “No,” Chris frowned. “She’s running late this morning.”

  “What about your blues singer, um Kat Lace?” The woman inquired.

  “Kat’s first show is at six,” Chris responded leading the group to a table.

  Chris returned to the hostess stand and looked around for Barbie. The blonde was in the club setting up the bar. “Please take over,” Chris asked the maître d. “I need to talk to Barbie.”

  Before Chris could voice her question, Barbie asked, “Have you heard from Java this morning? It’s not like her to be so late.”

  “I was just coming to ask you that same question,” Chris grinned. “I haven’t heard from Kat either. I’m going to call Java.”

  Java’s phone sent Chris straight to voicemail. She was dialing Kat’s number when the brunette walked in the back door.

  “Where’s Java?” Kat demanded.

  “I just called her,” Chris said. “But it went straight to voicemail.”

  “I can’t reach her either,” Kat scowled. “She didn’t come home last night.”

  “How do you know?” Barbie chirped.

  “We’re on the buddy system, remember,” Kat smirked. “You two watching each other’s back and Java and I teamed together.”

  “So, why don’t you know where Java is?” Chris asked. “When did you see her last?”

  “I left ahead of her because I had to get gas for my car,” Kat explained. “She was locking up when I left. I fell asleep waiting for her and didn’t realize she hadn’t come home all night until I awoke this morning. That’s when I started calling her cellphone. I was certain she would be here.”

  “Should we notify Beau?” Barbie asked.

  “Do either of you know how to trace a cellphone?” Kat asked.

  “No, Java’s the MIT grad,” Chris scoffed.

  “I’m calling Karen and Beau,” Kat said dialing Karen’s number.

  CHAPTER 54

  Java lay still trying to determine where she was. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t see anything but total darkness. The rapid dripping of water told her she was in something where water was seeping into a pool or a well. The stench proclaimed the presence of rotting animals. Probably fell in here and drowned, Java thought.

  She tried to sit up but lay back down when her feet met thin air. Obviously, she was on a ledge. She inched her fingers in one direction and met cold cement. She ran her hand as high as she could ascertaining it was a wall. Sliding her hand in the other direction she soon found the edge of the shelf she was sprawled on. She had no idea how she had arrived at her present location.

  She had a splitting headache and raised her hand to find the source of the pain. She whimpered as her fingers touched the back of her head and a knot the size of a golf ball. I remember, she thought. I was hurrying to catch up with Kat. I was locking the door when someone hit me from behind. I never saw it coming. No matter how good one is, when someone gets the drop on you, you’re a dead woman. Maybe I am getting too old for this job.

  Lying on her stomach she moved her hand over the edge of the ledge hoping to touch something solid. Instead her fingers plunged into cold slimy water.

  “Dammit,” she cursed jerking her hand back from the frigid blackness.

  She had enough room on the ledge to sit up. The cold dampness made her shake uncontrollably. It must be early morning, she surmised. Hopefully the temperature won’t drop any lower and maybe the sunrise will cast some light into this place.

  She searched her pockets hoping to find her cellphone. No such luck. Her wristwatch was missing too. She wondered if she’d been robbed but felt her wallet and ballpoint pen inside the pocket of her leather jacket. They took everything that would produce any light, Java thought. They want me in total darkness to disorient me.

  She fought the desire to sleep. She was certain she had a mild concussion and knew she should stay awake. She kept nodding off and knew this was a battle she would lose. She welcomed the escape of sle
ep.

  ##

  “We found her Mustang,” Beau informed Kat. “It was parked on Harrah’s parking lot. Our patrol officers were scouring the town for it as soon as the BOLO went out. Do you have an extra set of keys?

  “We towed it to Penny and she’s dusting it for prints now.”

  Kat sat on the bar stool and silently cursed herself for leaving Java alone. In all the years she’d known the blonde it’d never once occurred to her that Java might get into a situation she couldn’t get out of.

  Java was invincible, only she wasn’t. “Who would kidnap her?” Kat squeezed her eyes closed fighting back tears. FBI agents didn’t cry. It was an unwritten law.

  “She has her fair share of enemies,” Beau noted. “The Roche brothers, Jody’s no fan of hers. Then there’s—”

  “You’ve made your point,” Kat interrupted. “Can we talk to Jody Schooley? She was at his place most of the day yesterday trying to find out what they knew about Delores Ruiz and he and his harlot were here last night.”

  “I’ll go,” Beau agreed.

  “I’m going with you,” Kat insisted. “I know Schooley has something to do with this.”

  “You’re a bit of a hothead,” Beau pointed out. “It might be best if I go alone.”

  “I’ll keep quiet,” Kat insisted. “I’ll just listen and assess.”

  “Okay,” Beau agreed.

  ##

  The visit to Jody’s mansion produced nothing. Jody insisted he’d availed himself of Amanda’s charms all night and Amanda confirmed his statement.

  “It has to be someone we were getting too close to,” Kat insisted as Beau drove back to the restaurant. “Beau, we’ve never been able to talk to Reverend Driscol Ames. Can we go by the church and see if he has returned from his trip?”

  “Works for me,” Beau nodded turning his car around. “God knows I have no place to start.”

  Ames was in his office when the two showed up at the church.

  “He’s in a meeting,” the secretary informed them.

  “I noticed Déjà vu LaBlanc’s car out front,” Kat said. “Is she with him?”

  Beau flipped out his badge and ID before the woman answered. “It’s a crime to lie to a police officer,” he scowled.

  “Yes,” the rattled woman blurted.

  “Good we need to speak to both of them” Kat said.

  “I’ll tell them you’re here,” the secretary backed to the door keeping an eye on Beau and Kat.

  “Reverend Ames,” the secretary opened the door. “There’s a policeman here to see you.”

  “Send him in,” Ames commanded rising from his chair.

  Beau led the way into the office, flipping out his badge and ID. “Reverend Ames, I apologize for showing up unannounced,” Beau’s tone was relaxed and nonthreatening. “Miss Déjà vu, what a pleasant surprise to see you too.”

  Ames extended his hand and shook Beau’s. Kat entered the room and Déjà vu puffed up like a spreading adder.

  “Please have a seat,” Ames gestured toward a sofa across from him. “What can I do for Orleans’ finest?” he smiled.

  “I’m the lead investigator on The Basher and The Decapitator murders,” Beau pulled two photos from his file folder and placed them side by side on top of Ames’ desk. “The last two crime scenes have had biblical verses scrawled on the wall. I wondered if you might know of anyone who has a bee in their bonnet over mixed race marriages?”

  Ames studied the two photos then read the verses out loud. “These verses would indicate your killer has a problem with mixed race offspring,” he agreed. “But I have no one in my congregation with such feelings. Um, is this written on the wall in blood?”

  “Yes,” Beau affirmed handing the photos to Déjà. “What about you Miss Déjà? Do you have any thoughts on who might be our killer?”

  Déjà raised a brow. “You must be desperate, Detective Braxton.”

  “I am,” Beau admitted pulling Delores Ruiz’s photo from the file. “This head was thrown in front of Java Jarvis’ home. Now Java is missing. We think she’s been kidnapped.”

  “Java, kidnapped?” Déjà scoffed. “She’d never let anyone get the drop on her.”

  “Do either of you know Delores Ruiz, the woman in this picture?” Beau held up the photo so they could see it clearly.

  “She’s one of Pender Crane’s prostitutes,” Ames wrinkled his nose in distaste. “She did attend our Sunday service every Sunday.”

  “Last I heard she was working for Jody Schooley,” Déjà volunteered. “I thought she went home to Mississippi.”

  “Obviously, she never left town,” Beau slid the photos back into his file.

  Beau and Kat thanked Ames and Déjà for their time then walked to Beau’s car.

  “What now?” Beau asked.

  “Damned if I know,” Kat choked.

  CHAPTER 55

  Java awoke to a clanging sound. Her headache had ramped up to blinding. Not that it mattered, she was still in total darkness. She held her hand in front of her face to see if she could see it. Her hand covered her face, but she never saw it.

  She struggled into a sitting position and leaned against the wall. The gnawing feeling in her stomach reminded her of how hungry she was. Her mouth was so dry she could summon no moisture. Something moved on her left. It didn’t touch her, but it was definitely there. Nails scratched against the concrete. She considered extending her hand to touch it but decided she might get bitten by a large rat.

  A single beam of light cut through the black and shown onto something akin to a lunchbox about ten feet away from her. Java wondered if it had food in it. Maybe this was her captor’s way of feeding her. She slowly stood up the wall careful to maintain her balance.

  Once Java felt steady, she began to inch her way toward the light beam. She tried to see if it would cast light on anything else, but it didn’t.

  When she reached the lunchbox the beam of light disappeared. She slid down the wall and crossed her legs Indian style cradling the box in her lap. Her fingers found the clasps holding the box closed. She took a deep breath and flipped up the clamps. When she opened the lid, she prepared herself for something to leap from it, but nothing happened.

  The scraping of nails on concrete reminded her the critter had followed her down the ledge to the box. She prayed she wouldn’t have to fight it for food.

  She fumbled her way inside the container and felt a sandwich shaped object. It wasn’t wrapped in anything only held together by a wooden toothpick. To her delight, she discovered she had a sandwich filled with thick ham, mayo and tomato slices. She had never tasted anything so good in her life. A Ziplock baggie was filled with potato chips. A bottle of water almost made her cry. She slipped the toothpick in her pocket keeping anything that might be useful later.

  The varmint whimpered, then growled menacingly. Java tore a piece of the ham from her sandwich and placed it beside her. The animal moved closer and snapped up the meat. Java held her breath as she felt coarse hair graze her arm then the thing moved away from her.

  Java munched her potato chips trying to make sense of her predicament. She recalled Penny’s proclamation that women in Louisiana had two ways to die. The Basher or The Decapitator. She was certain she was now the prisoner of The Decapitator.

  She could hear the critter inching toward her. Its breathing was getting louder. She placed several chips beside her and sat motionless as it moved nearer. Jaws snapped and teeth gnashed as the animal devoured the chips.

  Java placed her hand palm down on the cement ledge. To her surprise a soft, wet tongue licked it. A whimper came from the animal.

  “You’re a dog,” Java spoke softly. “How did you get in here?

  “Come here, boy. Come on,” Java cooed. “Who put you in this hell hole?”

  The animal leaned against Java and she put her arm around it. It nuzzled into her side. She welcomed its warmth. She shared the rest of her potato chips with the dog as she felt his back and sides.
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  Java could feel each of the dog’s ribs. He obviously was starving. She was amazed he hadn’t attacked her for the entire sandwich. He had short hair and short floppy ears.

  “Judging by your condition,” Java talked to him, “you can’t get out of here either.”

  Java was shocked that she was getting drowsy. She hadn’t been awake very long. She stretched out on the ledge and was surprised when the dog crawled along the edge and stretched out against her body. Java wrapped her arms around him and pulled him against her wrapping her jacket around him. She had a feeling it was the first time both had been warm since their incarceration.

  “I’m going to name you Ares,” Java mumbled, “God of War because I think we will fight one hell of a battle to escape this place.”

  ##

  Again, Java was awakened by the clanging of metal against metal. She tightened her grip on Ares so he wouldn’t fall over the edge. When she was certain he was cognizant of his surroundings she relaxed, and he crawled forward until she could sit up.

  Once again, the beam of light directed her vision to a lunchbox ten feet away. She pulled herself into a sitting position then pulled Ares across her legs to the other side of her.

  She knew the light beam served two purposes: to direct her too the box and to put enough light into the area for night vision goggles to work. Java knew night vision goggles could not work in absolute darkness. They needed a light source no matter how weak.

  Java knew she was now being observed like a rat in some cruel experiment. She shook her head. She felt groggy. She struggled to her feet and carefully moved toward the lunchbox.

  She moved slowly feeling her way to make certain her foot was on solid cement before moving the other one. When she reached the lunchbox, she sat down and cradled it in her lap. The light beam went out.

  Java halved her sandwich and fed Ares half, making him eat slowly. They shared the chips. When she opened the bottle of water Ares began to whimper.

  “Are you thirsty boy?” Java purred. “I bet the water in here is vile.” She poured the entire bottle of water into the lunchbox and listened as Ares lapped it. He drank until the box was empty.