“Eliot?”
“What, Trouble?”
“You know I love you, right?”
Eliot stilled. He’d managed to cover a decent amount of ground despite my best efforts to anchor him. “I know you love me.” He seemed oddly serious. “I’m not doing this to embarrass you … or ruin your story … or even make you see that you’re not omnipotent when it comes to your enemies. I’m doing this because I love you right back.”
It was a sweet sentiment, but there was no way I would let him utter it and then walk away to beat the crap out of someone – especially when we didn’t have proof of guilt. “You can’t go over there.”
Eliot sighed. “Why not?”
“Because we don’t have anything tying him to the murders besides our gut instincts,” I replied. “That won’t hold up in a court of law. Trust me. I know. I once had to sit through a case that was so long and boring I actually interrupted it one day to declare the guy guilty. Do you know what happened?”
Eliot answered automatically. “The judge held you in contempt of court.”
“And threw me in a holding cell.”
“That’s terrible.”
“I had to sit there until Derrick pulled a string or two and got me out a few hours later. That wasn’t before I had to use the communal toilet. I still have nightmares.” I shuddered.
Eliot cradled the back of my head as he kissed my cheek. “You survived that. I’ll survive this.”
I wasn’t particularly worried about Eliot surviving. Jess was another story. “You can’t. We’re not ready to confront him yet. You know I’m the first one to go running into a situation and start flinging accusations so I can see what sticks. We can’t do it this time, though.”
“That’s not what I’m going to do.”
I couldn’t help but be surprised. “It’s not?”
“Nope.”
I loosened my grip on his waist, but only slightly. “What are you going to do?”
“Explain to him in graphic detail what will happen if he ever looks at you again,” Eliot answered, taking advantage of my momentary confusion to slip out of my grip and leave me in his wake. “I’ll be right back, Avery. Everything will be fine.”
I didn’t believe that for a second. Sadly, now that he had a lead, I had only one option. “I’m sorry about this.”
Eliot was too distracted to register the full meaning of what I said. “You’re sorry about what?”
“This.” I launched myself at him, jumping on his back and wrapping my legs around his waist from behind. “I’m sorry for making a scene and I know you’ll hate me for this, but I would rather people think we’re doing some sort of kinky dance than have you become a potential suspect in a future murder.”
“Son of a … .” Eliot did his best to dislodge me … and failed. He did manage to get his hands on my hips and shift my body in front of his, which was exactly what I wanted. I waited until I was positioned correctly before letting my body go limp in his arms, essentially becoming dead weight.
“Oh, come on!” Eliot made a growling sound as he struggled not to drop me on the pavement. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? What if I didn’t manage to catch you? You would’ve cracked open your head on the pavement.”
“Oh, this is better than Days of Our Lives,” Andre called out. “My Mom watches that. I thought it couldn’t get crazier than back-from-the-dead parents and evil twins. Man, was I wrong.”
“Shut up,” Eliot barked, annoyed. “Come over here and help me with her. She’s your partner. I need you to watch her while I take care of this other matter.”
Andre didn’t respond. After a few moments of silence, I got curious and twisted my head around so I could stare at the bench. It was suddenly empty. It didn’t take me long to figure out why the boys from the bad neighborhood ran from one guy and his deranged girlfriend. It seemed the top county cop was in the neighborhood, and he didn’t look happy.
“Hey, Jake.” I kept my body limp as I met his curious gaze. “Nice afternoon, huh?”
“What’s going on?”
“Take her,” Eliot ordered, trying to shift my body to Jake. “She’s being a complete and total idiot.”
“From where I’m standing, you’re both being complete and total idiots.” Jake hunkered down so he was on an even level with me. “Your face is red from all of the blood rushing to your head. Do you feel smarter?”
“Look at me,” I deadpanned. “Do you think I feel smarter?”
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
I saw no sense in lying. “Off the record, I’m afraid Eliot might kill one of the carnies, and this is the way I chose to stop him.”
“Good choice.” Jake grinned. “This is a classic. If I remember correctly, this is how you stopped me from breaking into the high school to get the pot I lost when the gym teacher confiscated it. Thanks to you I got to have a career in law enforcement because I wasn’t arrested that night.”
“Are you going to take her?” Eliot sputtered, weakening under my added weight.
I solemnly shook my head. “Don’t do it.”
“Will you explain what’s going on if I don’t?” Jake asked.
I nodded. “If you get Eliot to go to the diner with us, I’ll explain whatever you want.” I realized too late what I’d said. “Within reason, I mean.”
“Oh, no, it’s too late for that.” Jake’s grin was evil as he straightened. “Let’s get a late lunch. It’s on me.”
“YOU SIT by me.”
Jake shoved me into the booth and sat next to me, making sure I couldn’t escape, and that he was between Eliot and the door should my boyfriend make a break for it.
“I have no problem sitting by you,” I sniffed, avoiding Eliot’s steadfast glare as I grabbed a menu. I’d eaten at the diner so many times I’d lost count, but I needed something to focus on besides Eliot’s ire. “But if Eliot runs toward that door I expect you to tackle him.”
“I’ll consider it.” Jake got comfortable next to me and locked gazes with Eliot. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
“He’s being unreasonable,” I answered.
“I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to Eliot.”
“Well, great. I’ll just sit here and look pretty then.” I made a disgusted face, which caused the corners of Eliot’s mouth to twitch. He clearly wasn’t ready to forgive and forget, but I had no doubt he would get there eventually.
“What’s going on?” Jake repeated.
“Well, for starters, Avery made friends with a gang from the other side of Gratiot and conned them into acting as a security force for the festival,” Eliot volunteered.
My mouth dropped open. “Fink!”
“Why would you do that?” Jake was flabbergasted when he turned to me. “Those neighborhoods aren’t safe.”
“I was there interviewing Lee Davidson,” I explained. “Andre approached me last night when I was returning her photographs. He seemed nice enough – he talked about himself in the third person and I called him a douche, but that’s hardly a deal breaker – and I asked him a few questions about Teyona and her walking patterns.”
“I see.” Jake sounded grave. “Did he give you anything useful? Before you answer, by the way, remember that you agreed to tell me everything if I stopped Eliot from going … wherever it was he was going.”
Oh, well, great. This would be another example of my big mouth getting me in trouble. “He didn’t say anything that would lead to a killer. He did say that Teyona wasn’t afraid to walk home because the city’s pretty safe, and once she crossed Gratiot she was on their turf.”
“Would this be Andre Spittle we’re talking about?”
I stilled, running the name through my head. “No wonder he told me he had one name like Cher. What is it with people having hilarious names these days?”
“That wasn’t an answer to my question,” Jake prodded.
“I don’t know his last name,” I admitted. �
�He was watching Eliot and me from the bench by the clock right before you showed up. I’m guessing they bolted when they realized you were here to handle the situation.”
“Andre and I go way back.” Jake shook his head. “The good news is I doubt he’d hurt you. He’s got his fingers in a few marijuana and meth pies in the area, but he’s not a suspect in any homicides.”
“That doesn’t exactly make me feel better,” Eliot complained.
“You were fine leaving me with him when you decided to beat the crap out of Jess,” I reminded him.
“That’s because it’s daylight, and Jess is a bigger threat than Andre.”
“I’m going to start calling him Spittle to mess with him.”
“No, you’re not,” Eliot shot back. “You’ve already called him a douche more times than I’m comfortable with. I don’t want you testing your limits with this guy.”
“Well, there goes my weekend.”
“Keep pushing me and you won’t like what happens,” Eliot warned. “You’re already on my naughty list.”
“That will last only until you see my new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Underoos tonight.”
“I … we’ll see.” Eliot inhaled deeply through his nose, trying to calm himself as he rested his palms on the table. “Anyway, Andre watched the festival set up all afternoon and noted that this Jess guy was talking up a bunch of girls. He’s Avery’s favorite suspect in the murders right now.”
Oh, my … . “Double fink!” I couldn’t believe he announced that in front of Jake. He was clearly out for payback.
“Is this the guy who was talking to you when you got into it with Tad?” Jake asked, curious.
I nodded. “He’s that rare breed of hot carnie no one can explain.”
“Stop saying he’s hot!” Eliot ordered.
“Stop finking on me, you … fink!”
“That was one of your weaker efforts,” Jake noted, sipping his water. “Why do think this guy is a killer?”
I eyed Eliot a moment, practically daring him to finish his betrayal. “You started it. You should probably finish it.”
Eliot looked caught for a moment, but then squared his shoulders and returned his gaze to Jake. “We met him that first night in Port Hope. Avery totally ticked him off because she refused to use the darts he gave her and insisted on picking her own. While I threw away a ton of money on the basketball game, she spent three bucks and won the big prize. She then messed with him – as she’s prone to do – with her mouth while I continued to throw money down the toilet.”
“Carnival games are rigged. You should know that.”
Eliot rolled his eyes. “Thanks. That really helps.”
Jake held up his hands. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t necessary. Continue.”
“Avery kind of badgered the guy into giving her a stuffed shark, too, and then we left,” Eliot explained. “I thought that was the last we would see of him, but then the same carnival showed up here. I didn’t know he was there during the Ludington fiasco until she admitted it after the fact.”
“Okay, I can see where you wouldn’t like a carnie hanging around with your girlfriend, but … .”
“Hot carnie,” I interrupted.
Jake didn’t bother hiding his smirk. “I can see where you wouldn’t like a hot carnie hanging around with your girlfriend, but why the sudden urge to kill this guy?”
“Because Andre was watching him and said that he showed a lot of interest in the girls but didn’t act overt or threatening until he saw Avery head into my store,” Eliot replied. “He followed her and stared from the street. He’s clearly interested in her.”
Jake rubbed the back of his neck as he absorbed the information. “That still doesn’t explain why Avery thinks he’s a killer.”
“I don’t think he’s a killer,” I said. “I just think there’s something off about him, and I want to find out what.”
“I wasn’t going to kill him … or beat him up,” Eliot offered. “I was going to have a calm discussion about him staying away from my girlfriend. I wanted to make him aware that there would be ramifications if he didn’t, that I wasn’t going to sit back and ignore a potential threat to her safety.”
“Why do you get to make Jess aware that there are ramifications if he wants to talk to me, but I can’t do the same with Fawn?”
Eliot made an exaggerated “well, duh” face. “Do you think Fawn is a physical danger to me?”
“I think Fawn is the type of woman who watches Lifetime movies and thinks they could really happen,” I answered. “She seems just the type to drug you, strip you naked, and climb into bed and pretend you did the dirty while trying to trap you by saying she’s pregnant.”
Jake coughed as he inadvertently snorted into his water. “Did the dirty?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Okay, fine.” Eliot heaved out a heavy sigh. “Fawn is just as dangerous as Jess. You’ve got me.”
“Thank you.”
“I was being facetious.”
“I’m still going to wear the new Underoos for you tonight,” I offered.
This time I was sure that Eliot’s smile was legitimate.
“I don’t even want to know what kind of dirty game you guys are talking about,” Jake said. “As for this Jess, we’ll conduct a background check on him. We’ll take a closer look. I’m pretty sure we’ve already done a cursory run on him, but nothing stood out.”
“I’m not saying he’s guilty,” I argued. “I only want to watch him.”
“Now I want to watch him, too.” Jake looked smug as he reclined in the booth seat. “After all, you’re looking at him for a specific reason – even if you won’t volunteer what that reason is.”
Crap! Eliot definitely screwed the K-9 pooch this time. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lied.
“I’m sure you don’t.” Jake signaled for the waitress to take our orders. “Let’s get some lunch, kids. I have a lot of research to do this afternoon. If Avery Shaw is on the case, I want to know what she knows.”
Yup. This day just keeps getting worse and worse. I blame Eliot. What? There’s no way any of this is remotely my fault.
23
Twenty-Three
Eliot calmed down – mostly – by the time we got home. He wasn’t happy about keeping his distance from Jess, but with Jake and I coming at him from both sides he finally relented. He added the stipulation that he would only consider it if Jess didn’t so much as look in my direction again. I didn’t think that was likely because I had every intention of poking Jess to the best of my ability, but I opted to keep that to myself for the time being.
I romanced the crap out of Eliot to completely eradicate his poor mood, and then helped him load the vehicles without complaint the next morning. He was in a much better frame of mind than I was by the time we reached the new house Friday morning. I spent the next hour grumbling to myself as I unloaded boxes and carried them inside.
I was down to my last box when a group of women – all in matching yoga pants that left little to the imagination – took a break from their morning power walk to introduce themselves.
“I’m Sarah Strudel.”
Huh. Another name I could make a hundred jokes about. The universe is clearly trying to punish me for some reason. I have no idea why. I’m an absolute delight.
“Avery Shaw.” I extended a hand in greeting, fighting the urge to roll my eyes when I saw the pink Fitbit on her wrist.
“We’re so happy to have you in the neighborhood,” Sarah enthused. “This is Patti Dobson. That’s Patti with an I.” Like that was somehow important. “And this is Rebecca Struman, Alicia McAdams and Caitlyn Drew.” Ah, there’s always a Caitlyn in these neighborhoods.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I said the words even though I thought the exact opposite. I could think of hundreds of things I would rather do beside meet the locals. These were locals I had no intention of getting chummy with, mind you. “I’m sorry I don’t hav
e a lot of time to chat but … .”
“You’re moving,” Sarah said, nodding sagely. “I understand you’re busy. But once you’re settled you can join our daily coffee and gossip session.”
That sounded like a special brand of torture. “Um … sure. On the days I don’t work, I mean.”
“You work?” She seemed surprised by the possibility.
“I’m a reporter.”
“Oh, for television?” Sarah looked hopeful and her cohorts beamed at one another. I could practically see them plotting to get on the local news somehow. I could see the headlines now: “Local white girl posse annoys Macomb County’s top reporter to death.”
“No, for The Monitor. Television news isn’t real news.” I totally believe that. Television and print reporters hate each other for a reason. Television reporters believe they’re hard workers and print reporters know they’re not. It’s a real thing. I’m not making it up.
“Oh, is that the newspaper that’s in Mount Clemens?” Sarah drew her eyebrows together. “I didn’t know newspapers like that still existed. I thought that particular newspaper went out of business years ago.”
“Uh-huh.” Someone shoot me now. “Many daily newspapers are struggling, but The Monitor has managed to maintain circulation, so we’re doing okay.”
“Oh, that’s great.” Sarah cooed as though I’d just told her I’d won a Girl Scout badge. “Does your husband mind that you work?”
This had to be a joke. There was no way this was legitimate. I knew there would be some culture shock moving from a white trash area where pot dealers lived across the street and a chop shop operated on the corner, but … come on. “I’m not married.”
This time Sarah couldn’t hide her shock nearly fast enough. “You’re not married? But … I saw a man moving things into the house with you.”
“He’s my boyfriend.” Something occurred to me, an easy way to make sure these women never bothered to invite me to their gossip circle again. “We prefer living in sin. It’s hotter that way.”
“I see.” Sarah exchanged a look with Patti … with an I. Seriously, that could be more annoying than the pink Fitbit. “But you want to get married, right?”
Off the Record (An Avery Shaw Mystery Book 10) Page 21