I had heard a vague story once from Jake about the use of the cutters, and their abilities to snap off one finger at a time.
Fab hissed and I knew his threat would be excruciatingly painful, and was to be avoided at all costs. “What assurances do I have that you’ll not kill us?” I surprised myself by not emptying the contents of my stomach onto the flagstone.
“My word.” He bared his teeth.
I was out of options and I hated this position. I turned to Fab. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Love you.”
She nodded back and mouthed, “Me too.”
“That’s fucking sweet, now sign. I’m out of patience and you’ll find that I’m extremely disagreeable when that happens.” The man behind him flexed the pliers open and closed.
I clicked the pen, scanned the page, and signed at the bottom of the first page. I ran my finger over the next couple of pages, speed reading, slowing for legal terms that jumped off the page. “This contract is for the entire block, which I don’t own. Jake never had anything to do with Clean Bubbles.”
“You will own the block soon enough, thanks to Ivers, and the contract covers those provisions. Consider it payment for interest and my inconvenience.”
I wanted to stall for time but to do what? Jazz looked at me and meowed. I ran my hands along his back and, thankfully, he laid his head down and went back to sleep. I flipped to the last page, for the last two signatures. I hoped he would keep to his word and not kill us, barring that a quick bullet beat torture.
“Hey, over here gentlemen.” Creole came through the back the same way as my uninvited guests.
The two bodyguards whirled around, brandishing their weapons, and both were shot from different directions. Fab flew off the lounger and inserted her foot in the leader’s chest, kicking him backward off his chair, a resounding crack to the back of his head, spattering blood on the cement in more than one place.
Didier came through the French doors, and sat his smoking gun on the patio table. He swooped Fab off her feet and into his arms and pressed her hard to his chest so that all you could see was her long brown hair.
So this is what Creole looks like undercover; I watched as the scruffy-looking thug handcuffed both men on the ground. They screamed when he jerked their arms back. He wore his baseball cap slung low coupled with dark glasses that concealed the rest of his face. His blue jeans and T-shirt were ripped and torn and he had the dirtiest bare feet I’ve ever seen.
“You’ll pay,” one of the guys on the ground said. Creole answered with a hard kick to the ribs.
“Fab, call Harder.” When she hesitated, Creole yelled, “Now. And speak only to him.” He cleared the space between us and pulled me into his arms. “You so owe me,” he whispered.
I clung to him. He was lethal and impressive in action and I liked it. And disappointed, didn’t death survivors get kissed? One of his kisses would distract my mind from the blood trickling down the face of the man lying on the patio.
Fab handed Creole her phone and he walked away so that no one could hear the conversation. Fab had other intentions, and when she took a step in his direction, Didier drug her back to his side. His blue eyes bore into her and he said something in French, and from the tone of his voice he wasn’t kidding around. She stretched up his torso, locking her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
Fab stage-whispered, “I told the woman who answered, ‘This is Madison Westin and I need to speak to Harder personally.’”
“You couldn’t say Mr. or Detective?” I asked. “If you’re going to impersonate me, at least be polite.”
“Like he’d take a call from me,” she snickered.
I jumped off the chaise and pointed to the ringleader who up until now lay still, but had started to groan and move. “This one’s coming around.”
This time Didier let Fab go, and she dashed into the house, returning with a pair of cuffs. Creole intercepted her, turned the man over, cuffed him, and left him face down. “Their ride will be here in a few.”
“Thanks, Didier,” Creole said, exchanging some kind of secret guy code thing back and forth. “He drove up, saw these three prowling around and called. Since I wasn’t far away, I cut my business deal short and instructed him to wait. Nice shot, by the way. Who would’ve thought that a pretty boy such as yourself could shoot and hit something?”
Fab gave Creole the finger. “How dare you,” she said. If Didier hadn’t gripped the back of her shirt she’d have launched herself on Creole.
“Cherie,” Didier said quietly.
“He insulted you by insinuating you’re a sissy.” She turned and yelled at Creole. “I don’t think so.”
Didier turned her face back to his and gave her the biggest smile I’d ever seen out of him, swooping down on her mouth with a crushing kiss.
Two blue jean-clad cops strolled into the backyard, badges hanging from their waist, 9mm Glocks holstered to their sides. They nodded to Creole. They each jerked a man off of the ground and drug them out the side fence. It didn’t take long before they were back for the main guy.
“Do I have to worry they’ll be back?” I asked Creole. “Why is there no ambulance and a bunch of sheriff cars?”
“The Frank brothers are getting the VIP treatment. We’ve wanted them, have them, and we’re not sharing with locals. They have a laundry list of charges that will keep them in jail for a long time. They’re being hand-delivered to Harder at the jail hospital, who’s salivating at their arrival,” Creole said. “I have to go back to work. Are you okay?” He looked me over.
“I’m fine.” I had a really crappy day, and now that the adrenaline had worn off, I turned away, blinking back tears as I walked into the house. Couldn’t he just figure out that I needed another hug on his own and not make me ask for it?
I walked into the house, everything eerily quiet. Fab and Didier were nowhere in sight. I grabbed my phone off the kitchen island. “Would you come spend the night?” I started to cry.
Chapter 19
The bedroom door opened. Mother blew in and flopped down onto the bed, hugging me. “The house has never been this quiet. Fab has that ridiculous ribbon on the door knob.”
“This has been an awful day. Another brush with death.” I put my head on her chest and gave her the gritty details of the trailer park and Professor Crum; saving the best for last—three suited men holding guns to extort me for Jake’s old debts, avoiding any details about Creole except to say that he and Didier were life savers.
Mother rubbed my back as I related the details, a super power she’d used since I was a kid to calm me down; works every time, like a kiss to a skinned knee or a cut finger. “Thanks for coming.” I kissed her cheek. “Would you go to The Cottages with me? New tenant, new problem.”
“I’ve got my Beretta,” Mother said, and patted her purse. “My friend, Jean, got her concealed license and we both take target practice once a week. You should see the instructor, bulging muscles, dimply smile.”
“Spoon know you have a wandering eye?”
“You better not tell him,” she laughed.
* * *
I cruised into the driveway of The Cottages and drawn into the middle of the asphalt with chalk was a hopscotch diagram; Mac was jumping the squares, Shirl cheering her on, holding a beer.
“Aren’t they a little old for that game?” Mother said, watching in fascination. “Their boobs are taking a beating, both of them are under-supported.”
A cool breeze blew in off the Gulf as we got out of the SUV, and I surveyed the property. Joseph waved from his chair in front of his door, Svetlana straddling his body. Mother didn’t know about the new girlfriend, so I’d have to introduce them and watch her reaction.
Shirl put her arm around Mac. “We’re working off nervous energy. Mac thinks you’re going to fire her.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m considering tying Mac to a chair and making her stay here 24/7.”
Both of them made faces.
Kathy’
s red pick-up truck blew into the driveway with her behind the wheel. Two men were crammed alongside her, one being her elusive husband. I waved and walked in their direction. Ron grabbed Kathy’s hand and met me halfway.
“This is my husband, Ron,” she introduced. To look at them together you’d never guess the twenty-year age difference; drugs had taken their toll on him, and he looked older and haggard.
Ron looked like he’d slept on the beach and was in desperate need of a shower. He mumbled something unintelligible and looked bored. “Nice to meet you,” he finally said, like a recalcitrant child. Kathy looked in better shape with a knee-length, form-fitting cotton dress, no underwear, the back tucked between her butt cheeks.
“I just received a phone call from my bank that your cashier’s check is fraudulent,” I told her, waiting for a reaction.
Kathy never flinched, showing no emotion, she smiled. “I found out about that myself and I’m on way to the bank.” She patted Ron on the shoulder. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you, don’t worry I’ll take care of it.”
I found it surprising that Ron, for the first time hearing about a bogus bank check, had no reaction. Kathy had honed her acting skills.
“How did this happen?” I asked. “My bank would like to know the same thing and is investigating.”
Ron’s phone rang; he looked relieved. Nodding at Kathy, he ran to their cottage and slammed the door.
“He’s expecting an important call,” Kathy said. “I’ll take care of the check today.”
“You’ll have to pay in cash. And another thing I may have failed to mention, The Cottages has a no drugs policy, unless its prescription, and I don’t know of a doctor along the beach that prescribes cocaine.”
Her eyes flinched. “Those charges will be dropped before the preliminary hearing; it’s a case of mistaken identity. I can assure you that neither of us do drugs.”
This woman lied like a second language, very skillfully. I’d bet her hair extensions we didn’t know the half of this devious couple.
“If there’s going to be a problem with paying your rent I’d appreciate you moving out without any drama. I do have an effective eviction service that bypasses all that pesky legal paperwork.”
Her brown eyes hardened. “I’m sure we can work everything out without threats.”
Kathy flounced back to her cottage, and once again, I noticed the price tag hanging from the back of her dress. She must be one of those annoying people who purchased clothing, wore it, and then returned it.
I waved my arms at Mother to join me, and crossed the driveway to where Joseph sat hanging on to every word. “You know, Joseph, I’ve been amazingly tolerant with all your bullshit since you’ve lived here, legal and otherwise, and never said no to picking you up at the jail, even in the middle of the night.”
“You make my head hurt. What do you want?” he whined, sucking down the last of his beer and crushing the can with his foot.
Mother placed her hand on the small of my back and stroked soothing circles.
I narrowed my eyes. “How about a better attitude and some appreciation? Explain to me how you know nothing about your new neighbors while living directly across the driveway from them. I want to know everything about those two and you’re the perfect person to dig up every piece of lint.”
Joseph jerked up in his chair and started coughing, running his hand through his dirty, thinning brown hair.
“Mother, I’d like you to meet Joseph’s girlfriend, Svetlana.” I stepped back, so that she could see the overly endowed, skimpily attired attractive brunette sitting next to Joseph. The last time I’d seen her she’d been a blonde.
Mother stuck her hand out and jerked it back. “This looks like a hum…a…I like her manicure.”
“Yes, Mother, Svetlana is an anatomically correct rubber doll.”
Mother stared at her another second and then burst out laughing. She turned and continued to laugh, walking back to Mac and Shirl who looked annoyed they hadn’t been invited to listen.
I should be nicer to Joseph since the doctors insisted he’s half dead, and even as infuriating as he could be, he’d better not die without notice. I’d miss him. “I’ll be hearing from you soon?”
“Svetlana and I need a nap.” He jerked her up by her arm and disappeared inside his cottage and kicked the door shut.
Mother stuck her fingers in her ears. She didn’t appreciate that Miss January sat rocking on her porch belting out an old show tune, Kitty on her lap. I sort of recognized the melody but she couldn’t remember all of the words. It didn’t help that her electric cigarette wiggled between her lips. Her true desire was to chain smoke, but she managed to stick to a pack a day and sucked on the electric one in between cigarettes.
“We need to have a meeting in the office so no one can hear. You might as well come along,” I said to Shirl, “save Mac from repeating everything.”
“Shirl’s my best friend,” Mac said, and pouted.
She unlocked the door and sat at her desk, passing around her stash of bubble gum. It shocked me that Mother took a piece and then dropped it in her pocket.
“Have you seen Svetlana naked?” Mother asked.
“I tried to flip her skirt one day but Joseph started yelling. I looked at the rubber girls online and you can get pretty much anything you can afford to pay for and the body parts aren’t cheap,” Mac said.
“Meeting comes to order,” I said, leaning against the corner of the desk, thinking I needed a gavel or a princess wand. “Kathy will be bringing you cash today for the fraudulent cashier’s check and I want a call when it happens.”
Mac sat straight up in her chair. “Why didn’t I know anything about this?”
“If you didn’t know about the check then why am I going to be firing you?” I asked.
Shirl cleared her throat and spoke up. “I just updated her about the late night activity with the new tenants.”
I covered my eyes with my hands and shook my head. “Tell me the sheriff hasn’t been here?”
“No and not a word of complaint out of the neighbors,” Shirl said. “I peek out the blinds and watch the cars come and go, starting about ten and all through the night. Kathy bounced over one night and invited me to dinner, but I turned her down and now she’s not all that friendly. No loud music or fights, only the constant traffic in and out.”
“Liam told me Kathy and her friends always bring the party to the pool, she gets up early every morning and cleans the area. Bags the beer cans and cigarettes and walks them down the street to someone else’s trashcan,” Mac said. “I tried to talk to Joseph, since his unit backs up to the pool. He told me to mind my own business, that Kathy and Ron were ‘good people.’”
“Kathy walks dinner over to him every night,” Shirl said. “I check on him every day to make sure he’s still breathing so all I hear is Kathy this and that, and it’s annoying.”
“Make me a copy of their application, I’ll check them out myself,” I said to Mac. “Let’s hope we can get them out of here before they kill someone.” The Cottages had a poor track record in renting to locals, choosing only the ones who turned out to be big bags of trouble.
“Good news is that the other guests like her, she’s friendly, flirts with the men when their wives aren’t looking, so no complaints.” Mac handed me the Stones’ file.
“Meeting adjourned.” I slipped off the desk top. “Come on,” I said to Mother, “let’s go get lunch.” I decided on a princess wand for the next meeting, now to find one.
Mother looked over to Miss January’s cottage. “I think she’s probably passed out. At least she’s stopped singing.”
I looked at my watch. “No worries, she naps every day at this time.” I handed my phone to Mother. “Let’s call in a take-out order.”
* * *
Fab—in a silk deep-purple teddy, trimmed in wide black lace—came rushing into the kitchen where Mother and I sat finishing our pizza and salad. Didier was right behind her.
He had on black silk pants and a short-sleeve silk shirt, must be date night. She hugged Mother and asked me, “Why aren’t you getting dressed?”
“I’m not the one in my underwear,” I said.
“Hurry up. Didier hates to be late,” Fab said. “Did you forget the opening of Rockstar in South Beach?” It was the newest happening in-spot to be seen and charged obscenely high prices for drinks.
“No, I didn’t forget because you didn’t invite me.” I held up my hand. “Stop. I won’t bore you with an elaborate excuse. Not going.”
Mother patted my arm. “Sounds like fun, you might meet someone. I’ll go home and you can call me in the morning, tell me all about it.”
Didier arched his brow at Fab. “Well I thought I told her,” she mumbled.
“I’d rather spend the evening with Mother. I’m in need of spending money, so I’ll be cleaning her out after a few friendly games of poker.”
Mother winked. “I may let you win a hand.”
“Bring me back a pair of blinking flip-flops,” I said.
The South Beach sidewalks were crammed with entrepreneurs selling anything they could find that lit up along with all the usual tourist stuff.
“Don’t forget your appointment in Brick’s office tomorrow,” Fab said, and shook her finger at me. “Fresh start. You don’t bring up old news and he won’t either. You two are to kiss and make up because I don’t want another cat case.”
“That’s another thing you failed to mention.” I frowned at her.
“This I thought was better to spring on you last minute. You’re not telling your very best friend no, are you?” She stared at me.
Didier tapped his watch. “Get dressed, Cherie.” He kissed Fab and she ran upstairs.
“Thank you for being more gracious than the last time,” I said to Didier.
Greed in Paradise (Paradise Series) Page 10