* * *
It was mid-afternoon and everything was quiet around The Cottages, not a face in sight, which I appreciated. The troublemakers were either not home or staying inside and out of trouble.
Mac had called when she got released. It had taken most of the day because she had to be fitted for an electronic monitor. Cruz informed the court she’d be staying at The Cottages, and her intention was to stay with Shirl. I let her know that she had another option: number ten was available and reserved for her.
I hustled to the grocery store and put together all the foods she liked, including her favorite beer, and had them arranged in an electric-blue enamelware bucket I knew she could find a use for once she’d eaten everything. I also grabbed a bouquet of flowers, shoving them in a vase and putting them on the coffee table.
* * *
Shirl called to let me know that they were back and to thank me for helping her friend. They’d stopped for dinner on the way; Mac had complained about the food served in jail and said she was starving. When she got to Shirl’s place, she took a long hot shower, scrubbing off the cooties; she told Shirl it would take more than one shower. Afterwards, she promptly fell on the bed and went to sleep.
I told Shirl to tell Mac that her job was waiting for her and if she even thought about quitting, I’d sic Fab on her. I needed her and appreciated that she kept the property from being overrun with undesirables.
Chapter 35
Several days went by with no unpleasant surprises. One day, after Didier left for a meeting, Fab and I hit up the Taco Wagon. We ordered more food than we could possibly eat, bringing it home and spreading it out across the island. I retrieved pitchers of flavored water and iced tea out of the refrigerator, filling our glasses with ice.
We were half-finished with lunch when Fab groaned, putting her taco down, and crossed to peek out the kitchen window. “Kevin’s coming up the driveway. He blocked in both our cars, so our only option is to sneak out the back and down the beach. That’s worked for more than one felon with an outstanding warrant.”
“We’re neither felons nor wanted,” I felt compelled to remind her.
There was no mistaking the pounding on the door. A cop knock had a distinct sound all its own.
I tugged at Fab’s wrist as she started to stand. “He’ll go away eventually.”
“Wouldn’t count on it.” Fab took another taco from the tray. “You kill anyone lately?”
Kevin pounded louder and longer.
“Could be another felony, but I haven’t even jaywalked lately. Are we compelled by law to open the door just because he’s making a racket?”
“I’m certain he has to announce, ‘I’m kicking your door in,’ and that ‘warrant’ has to be in the sentence somewhere.” Fab downed her iced tea, tossing Jazz a piece of shredded beef.
Both of us jumped off our stools when the banging moved to the garden window, rattling the potted plants on the shelf. “Open the door,” Kevin bellowed.
I princess-waved and turned back to my lunch.
“You know he’s going to be family one day,” Fab reminded me.
“If you’re trying to ruin my lunch, talk like that will do it.”
“He’s going to break the window.” Fab stood up. “I’m letting him in.”
“Not without a warrant.”
Fab cracked open the door, sticking her nose out. “What do you want?”
Oh man, I love that girl. I should tell her more often, but then she’d be more insufferable than ever.
Fab stuck her hand through the opening and said something I couldn’t hear. Probably that she wanted to see the warrant. To my surprise, she stood back, opening the door and ushering him in with a brush of her hand.
“Mac here?” Kevin barked, looking around.
I bent over and looked around the bottom of the island. “Nope. Not here.”
“When he mentioned that it was about Mac, I thought we should hear him out.” Fab shrugged and telegraphed, Sorry.
“She’s at The Cottages, which I’m sure you already know,” I said.
“Mind if I look around?” Kevin started in the direction of the patio.
“As a matter of fact, I do.” I stuck my leg out, trying to scoot forward to affix my toes to the cupboard and block his way. “You might get better cooperation from me if you didn’t call me a liar and accuse me of felonies whenever we run into one another.”
Fab stepped between me and Kevin, forcing him to deal with her. “Mac isn’t here. Is there a problem?”
“She’s missing,” Kevin grunted.
“She’d never violate the terms of her bail.” I frowned. She’d go back to jail and not get out. “She has an ankle monitor that will give you her location.”
“She’s not at The Cottages and not here, unless you’re lying, and if I find out you are, I’ll be back to arrest you on an accessory charge. Any idea where else she might have gone?”
His lack of response about the monitor didn’t go unnoticed. I knew he’d never share information, and I didn’t expect him to, but it had been worth a try. Judging by his reaction, he’d checked the monitor already and hit a dead end. Why?
Fab slid the keys across the countertop and into her pocket. “This has been fun, but we have to meet a client. If we see Mac, you’ll be our first call.”
The only problem with Fab’s words was that they lacked sincerity.
I stored the leftovers in record time, looking at my watch. “I know, call her lawyer. Maybe she’s with him. Do I look okay?” I twirled in front of Fab. “I forgot about the appointment.”
“Can’t you be cooperative just once?” Kevin seethed. “I’ll be back.”
“I know you won’t believe me, but we’ve been truthful,” I said. “If you come back on business, make sure it’s all legal-like, as Creole will be here and he’s a stickler for the rules.”
Fab crowded in behind Kevin, giving him no choice but to move toward the front door. She was so close on his heels that if he stopped suddenly, her nose would be planted in the middle of his back. I was right behind her.
Once everyone was outside, I double-locked the door and checked the knob twice, then ran to the SUV, jumping in. “What appointment?” I asked as Fab gunned the engine, glaring out the rearview mirror as she waited for Kevin to move.
“Something’s up with Mac. The cops should know exactly where she is unless she’s no longer wearing her ankle monitor. For that to happen, she’d have to have removed it, which we know isn’t easy to do. Maybe with a knife. You and I know she wouldn’t do that.” She opened the driver’s side door and laid on the horn. “Kevin’s enjoying this.”
“Start at The Cottages,” I said as soon as Kevin’s car slowly backed out, unblocking the driveway.
Fab went down the street in the opposite direction of the way she usually did. My guess was she wanted to lose Kevin so he wouldn’t know where we were headed.
“Mac would never run,” I said as she turned onto the highway. “She didn’t kill anyone. When she found the body, she reacted like an innocent person, calling in and reporting it.” I tossed my phone on the console. “I texted Creole; Mac’s phone is turned off.”
My phone rang, and it was Cruz’s office. This can’t be good.
“This is Susie. Mr. Campion would like to know if you know where his client, Macklin Lane, can be found.”
“We’re looking for her now. Any reason she’d run off?”
“Mr. Campion says, ‘Find her.’” She hung up.
I stared at the screen. “What did I ever do to that woman?”
Fab laughed and listed off: “Snuck behind her back to speak to her boss, ambushed him in court… You know she’s territorial—no one talks to him without going through her—and you’ve eluded her several times.”
“It’s been a while; she could get over it.” I sniffed.
Fab careened into The Cottages’ parking lot. “Kevin will be here any minute. He was sitting down the street, hiding in some
one’s driveway. I want to know how he got ahead of me.”
“If he asks about the meeting, we’re waiting for our client in the office. We can’t help it if the person is a no-show.”
Fab hit the steering wheel. “I knew I didn’t have to worry and that you would think of something.”
Fab was right; Kevin pulled into his parking space a moment after we pulled up. He got out and stood, arms crossed, at the bumper of his cruiser, glaring at us. After a minute, he ambled into his cottage.
“That was anti-climactic,” I whispered.
“He’s a bastard when it comes to us, but he’s a good cop.” We both got out, slamming the car doors. “Never mind him for now. How are we going to find Mac?
I tossed my head towards the back of the property. “We’ll start with him.”
Joseph was leaning back in his chaise, baseball cap pulled down over his forehead. Svetlana occupied the chair next to him, surveying the property. If she could speak, I bet she’d be the best source of gossip on the block. And reliable. Joseph appeared to be asleep, but I knew better. There was too much activity going on around him; he’d want to be in the know so he could brag at the bar, sell his tale for a beer.
“Where’s Mac?” I asked, jerking his hat off and dumping it in his lap. His eyes were already open, darting first one direction, then another.
“She cut off her ankle monitor, left it on the floor, and split. She ain’t gunna like life on the run.” He held out his palm. “That was your freebie. I’m out of cash, or I would have finessed you some.”
Fab jerked him upright by the back of his collar and peered down into his face. “You worm.”
Kevin’s door flew open. “You need assistance, Joseph?” he yelled.
Fab dumped Joseph back in his chair.
“No, I’m fine,” he shouted back.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Kevin continued to stand in his doorway. I knelt next to Joseph, whispering, “You actually see Mac leave?”
Fab waved to Kevin and moved behind me, blocking the deputy’s view.
“This better be good and truthful,” I told Joseph. “There are worse things than letting Fab come back and kick the hell out of you. Such as calling Spoon,” I threatened, having grown immune to the feeble-old-man routine.
Joseph’s grizzled skin paled at the mention of Spoon. It never failed to scare the hell out of anyone who knew the man’s reputation, and most knew better than to test out what he would or wouldn’t do.
“I do need a few bucks,” he whined. “It could be a loan.”
I flashed him my mean-girl stare, crossing my arms in a fierce stance, and did my best not to laugh at myself.
“Yeesh, I’m a sick old man.” He glanced up, checking to see if I was in a pushover mood. After a long pause, he spit out, “Oh, okay. Two deputies showed up here about an hour ago. Mac’s door wasn’t locked, and as you know, there’s not a lot of places to hide inside, so they were in and out.”
“Unlocked? Then what?” Fab growled at him.
“They went door to door. The tourists that were home hadn’t seen anything, but afterwards lingered on their front stoops. Crum, who I know was inside, didn’t open the door; haven’t seen him since yesterday afternoon. Miss January was drunk on the porch. She had a hissy fit at being woken from her stupor, mumbled incoherently, and stumbled inside.”
“What about Shirl, she at work?” I asked. He nodded. “You see anyone lurking around her place?” Upon her arrival, Mac had opted to stay with her friend.
“Since Mac got out of jail, she’s kept to herself.” Joseph’s eyes continued to dart around. “First time you get out, it takes a while to shake the jittery feeling of not knowing what to expect next.”
“You call me if you hear anything, and don’t screw me.” I fished my ringing phone out of my pocket. “Creole,” I mouthed to Fab and pointed at Joseph, rubbing my thumb and forefinger together.
“Go.” Fab waved me off. “I’ve got cash for a change; I’ll take care of our extorter here.” She cracked her knuckles.
Didn’t her mother ever tell her that doing that would give her man-hands? Mother had threatened me with that, and I stopped.
“Find Mac yet?” Creole asked. He knew I’d never abandon a friend in need.
I caught him up on the events of the day, updating him on my conversations with Kevin and Joseph. “Can I go into her cottage and look around? I wouldn’t give it a thought, but Kevin is here and standing watch.”
“Legally, no. Sneak around the block and enter from the side the apartment building is on. Climb through the hedge, and Kevin won’t be able to see you. Did that a few times when I lived there.” He chuckled. “Or call Shirl, get permission, and still sneak around so you don’t have to answer any questions from Kevin.”
“I’m happy you didn’t suggest climbing in the bathroom window.”
“I still can’t believe how many of your old tenants used that as a getaway option.”
“I’ll call you later.”
“Hold on a second. If you need help with anything, and I mean anything, you call. Promise me.”
“Promise.” I blew a kiss through the phone. “After we check Shirl’s cottage, we’re headed home; nowhere else to look. We’re out of options. All we can do is wait for Mac to show back up or call. Unfortunately, when she does, she’ll be going directly to jail.”
Fab finished with Joseph and came to stand by my side as I was ending the call. “Creole know anything?”
I shook my head. “He said to be careful sneaking into Shirl’s cottage.”
“That’s good advice.” She smirked. “What? You’re thinking too hard.”
“Mac’s truck is parked in her space. Why? Any reason to think she’s guilty?” I asked, not waiting for an answer. “Or scared and doing something stupid? She could get a long way, just by swapping out the license plates from some old beater car. That means she had to have help. I never heard her mention any friend other than Shirl, and she would’ve talked Mac out of such a bad idea. She has mentioned a drunk or two she’s befriended lately, but they’re horribly unreliable. Doesn’t feel right.”
“I called Shirl. She’s working a longer-than-usual shift due to a couple of sick nurses. She knew nothing about any escape plans and is just as worried as we are.” Fab looped her arm in mine. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Fab led me down the street in the opposite direction of the way I wanted to go. “Stop struggling.” She jerked on my arm. “We’re going to cut around the corner and trespass through old man Rodney’s property and end up one house over across the street. If he’s out sunning with a washcloth over his goods, we’ll whistle and yell hello.”
“Washcloth?” I scrunched up my nose. “How do you know this?”
“I know every property on this block that has a cut-through path.” Fab sniffed, in a “duh” snit. “He’s into nude sunbathing but doesn’t want to get his… you know… burned.”
“Isn’t he a hundred?”
“He’s sixty-six and just retired. I had a talk with him, told him the leathery look was ruining his skin and sunbathing might shorten his life if he got skin cancer.”
“If you used that same sunny personality on everyone, people would like you instead of being wary when they see you coming.”
“Being liked by everyone is overrated. Let’s hustle around the next corner so no one knows which way we went.”
As we cut down the side path along Mr. R’s property, I slowed and craned my neck to look around the yard. “You promised entertainment, and there is none.” I pouted.
“Next time.” Fab sprinted across the street. I followed and steered her away from the bushes, showing her the slim break where the hedges came together. She peeked around Mac’s cottage—coast clear. She tried the knob, and I was surprised to see that the door was still unlocked.
“It appears that Mac was living out of a suitcase.” Fab lifted the lid and ran her hand through the contents. “Wouldn’t
she want to take a change of clothes? Running from the law is stressful enough as it is.”
“Look at this.” I pointed to the flowers I had bought, now lying on the floor surrounded by broken glass.
“Don’t touch anything. The sheriff’s department might not be done here.” Fab took two pairs of gloves from her back pocket and tossed me a pair. She held up a set of keys, having scooped them off a side table. “These are Mac’s; who else has a troll doll key ring?”
From behind the recliner, I dragged out an overly large purple canvas tote bag. I turned it upside down, knowing it had a false bottom, as I had the exact same bag in leather. “No way in hell she would go anywhere without this,” I said and held up the Beretta, displaying it on the end of my finger.
“It appears she walked out the door, leaving everything behind, including her gun, identification, and money.” Fab walked around the room, opening drawers, tossing the place in her well-organized way. “Let’s go find out if Crum’s home and what he knows.” She peeked out the door. “Kevin’s car is gone. Must have been the one I heard go by earlier.” She pointed to my gloved hands. “Save those. You might need to use them again.”
I tugged on her shirt, forcing her to come to a halt. “You don’t think Mac could be so distraught that she’d kill herself?” The idea had ebbed its way into my thoughts earlier, but I’d dismissed it immediately. Now I wondered… “I don’t want to believe that she was that upset and I didn’t notice.”
“Stop it.” Fab shook her finger at me. “She’d leave a note. A list of instructions for a grand send-off. She’d want Dickie to do her proud: a funeral that was the talk of the town.”
I knocked on Crum’s door. Not waiting for an answer, I beat on it, administering a couple of kicks, taking out my frustration and worry. Not hearing anyone milling about inside, I knocked again.
Fab cupped her hands against the window and strained on tiptoes to catch a glimpse through the cracked blinds, moving from window to window around the side of the building. Seconds later, lockpick in hand, she reappeared from the back of the building. “He’s either passed out on the floor or dead,” she whispered.
Executed in Paradise (Florida Keys Mystery Series Book 9) Page 23