by Wendy Byrne
"I think we might have a second destination on our trip today."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I'd definitely taken a trip down insanity lane bringing them with me. But I couldn't say no. At least I'd convinced them to wait inside the car while I skulked around the perimeter of Stan's house only to find the doors and windows locked tight with no easy way of access without breaking a window.
Now what? Breaking and entering didn't sound like a great idea.
"Did you check under the flower pot? The mat by the front door?" Alice asked.
Of course. What was I thinking? Folks in Iowa had a cavalier attitude about home security. But who was I to judge? I would have thought that by now burglars would have gotten that memo. But apparently not.
The ladies had come out of the car to assist me. I knew keeping them cooped up wouldn't last long, and it hadn't. This whole expedition was headed downhill fast, and I had no way of stopping it. They swarmed around like bees looking for the keys at the usual hiding spots and coming up empty.
Just as I was about to give up, I spotted a business card stuck into a bush along the front of the house. Paul's Pawn Shop with an address and phone number written on the front. When I turned it over, my father's name was scrawled across the back—identical to the one left at my father's house.
"I think we might be onto something," I whispered as they all gathered around.
After they piled back in the car, I keyed the address into my GPS and followed the directions. The ladies were suspiciously quiet, making me a little nervous. "What's going on?"
"Gabe spotted us leaving, so he called Nate, and now they're both texting me to see where we are," Viola responded.
"Crap." I spotted several texts and a voicemail from Gabe on my phone. I wasn't going to tell her to lie to him but knew telling the truth would mean a whole other set of problems.
"Just tell them we went for a drive, and leave it at that," Dolly said.
"I say, tell the two of them to MYOB. Geez, they're acting like we're kids," Alice countered.
"They're only worried about you." I was afraid this would happen, and of course it had. But instead of keeping a low profile, I called Nate first. "The ladies are with me. I suppose that's what you're so eager to find out. And they are not children. And they are also not senile, or fragile, or any of those things you think they are. And neither am I. So stop treating us all like children. We are not doing anything dangerous or weird or crazy or anything resembling all of the above. So knock it off, and tell your friend Gabe to do the same."
After I disconnected, a hush permeated the car. Maybe I'd gone too far, but my nerves were frayed, and I was tired and worn thin and beyond frustrated. My phone rang just before we pulled in front of Paul's Pawnshop.
Gabe's number showed up. I should have known. They were tag teaming me.
"Why don't you all get out, and I'll handle this with Gabe?" They piled out and walked toward the pawnshop while I called Gabe. "I already talked to Nate, so you can get the gist of what I said from him."
"Wait. Don't hang up."
I was curious enough to listen. "You've got thirty seconds."
"Somebody was hanging around your father's house this afternoon."
"And you told Nate."
"I wanted to talk to you first."
I thought about how to tiptoe through the rest of the information gathering. "I don't get it. If you spotted someone suspicious, why didn't you call Nate? Why call me instead?"
"Because whoever it was drove a Mercedes. The guy came and knocked on my door and I figured he might have been your ex-husband."
"Why would you think that?" I couldn't imagine why Joseph might be in Iowa, or even how he might have found out I was there, but him showing up couldn't be anything but trouble.
"The guy asked for you by name, and the way he was dressed, what he drove—he wasn't from around here."
I shook my head even though Gabe couldn't see me. The idea that Joseph might have come looking for me didn't make any sense. The man wanted nothing to do with me the last time we talked and said something like "if I never see you again, it would be too soon for me." Ouch. That jab kind of stung even as I rehashed it in my mind.
I finally came to terms with Joseph as a person—and I didn't like him very much. I didn't like myself when I was around him either.
"I got the car in the divorce and Joseph usually had a driver. I guess if he came this way, that would be the type of car he'd rent, but I can't imagine why he might…" My mind drifted to the wine bottles I'd lifted from his cellar. Surely, the guy wouldn't have gotten on a plane and tracked me down for that. But still the thought lingered as I knew Joseph could be vindictive. "It must have something to do with my father." And if I said that enough times maybe I'd believe it as well. "Do you think it was a lawyer or someone trying to serve him? What did the guy look like?"
"Thirty-ish. Tall with dark hair."
I shook my head. "That sounds like Joseph, but I can't imagine why he'd come looking for me." Except for those darn wine bottles, but that seemed like a stretch.
"Whoever they were, they asked specifically for you."
If this had to do with Joseph in some way, shape, or form, I didn't have time for that mystery to add to the others already swirling around my head.
"There's no reason for Joseph to seek me out."
"Maybe he's hoping to reconcile."
"We both burned enough bridges during the process of separation and divorce to make that pretty much impossible." I chewed my lip. "Did the guy leave after that?"
"Haven't seen him since then."
I spotted the ladies banging on the door of the pawnshop and knew trouble was sure to follow. "I've got to go." I clicked off the phone and quickly went to join the ladies.
Ramona was the first to grab my arm. "Look. There's your father's necklace in the window."
I got a sinking sensation in my chest as I spotted the gold chain with the dice and the rabbit's foot that I'd seen in the pictures. Was my father dead after all?
"We don't know that it's his for sure," Viola reassured. I could tell she didn't believe what she'd said by the way she avoided looking me in the eyes.
"But Tony never took that thing off. Everybody knows that. I think his father gave it to him or something, but it's special, that's for sure." Dolly patted my hand as if she were already offering condolences.
"That must have been a ghost last night, not a dream like you thought," Alice said. "Darn it. I would have loved to have been there."
"We can't make assumptions," Viola added. I appreciated her being the voice of reason—even if it was more than likely misguided.
"We need to know if it's Tony's. They'd have a record of some kind of how to get ahold of him, right?" Alice added.
"Only if he gave them accurate information." I had a sinking sensation in my gut. As much as I hated to admit it even to myself, the ladies could be right in their dire assumptions. "What are the hours of this place?" The urge to get the information nearly overpowered me. To have at least one question answered would allow me to put one thing to rest.
"It says they're open now, but the place is closed up tight. That's why I started pounding on the door hoping to get someone to answer." Ramona banged again. "Maybe we should go around the back."
I led the charge as we meandered behind the building and spotted a black Mercedes sedan. Was it the same car Gabe had seen? The driver's door was open but empty. I couldn't help but snoop inside and satisfy my curiosity.
He was nowhere to be found, but what I saw made me stop the ladies in their tracks. "Don't get any closer. We need to call the police."
"Is there another body?" Ramona asked with more than a hint of excitement in her voice as she tried to peer over my shoulder.
"No, but there's blood." I didn't say any more before I punched in 9-1-1.
With Viola's help in keeping their curiosity at bay, we waited in front for the police to arrive. I spent the next two hours a
nswering questions from the local police and even more time fielding phone calls from both Nate and Gabe. This day was definitely on a downward spiral into crazy at breakneck speed.
Now that I was getting close, I intended to plow forward in this perilous journey come hell or high water.
Besides, Nate wanted me to drop off the ladies and swing by his office. I pretty much knew that was code for his lecturing me once again about police procedures and attempting to get me to toe the line. Poor guy still hadn't figured out that "toeing the line" wasn't in my DNA.
I walked inside, and he was sitting at his desk looking like the weight of the world had pressed upon his shoulders. I felt a little sorry for him, but I suspected it would pass as soon as he started in on the lecture.
"I'm going to be straight up and say that I'm pretty sure my father's necklace is in the window of the pawnshop. Any word on Paul?"
"I spotted the necklace but haven't been able to find the records." He shook his head. "The substance you spotted in the car was confirmed to be the same blood type as Paul's, which probably isn't good news."
"I imagine there are unsavory types that hang around those places." I couldn't figure out why he wouldn't come out and say what he needed to. From my experience, he wasn't the type to beat around the bush.
"We have surveillance tape from the crime scene." He still hadn't looked at me, which was so contrary to what I'd come to expect I became even more nervous. "Can't tell the identity of the perpetrator since they must have been aware of the cameras and avoided them."
Finally I couldn't take it anymore. "Please come out and say what you're trying to say because I'm about to go bonkers worrying about what you haven't said but want to."
"I got a phone call saying your life is in danger and you should leave town. Normally I don't put much stock in that kind of thing. But after everything that's happened I have to take it seriously."
I nodded my agreement even while a sinking sensation settled in my gut. "Why?" I struggled getting the remainder of my question out. Finally, I cleared my throat and sucked in a deep breath and spit it out. "Why do you think that? Was it because it might have been Paul who tried to see me before he was…went missing?" I almost was afraid to ask while at the same time I wanted to know, if only to satisfy my curiosity.
He had a scowl when he nodded. "There was a note in his car with your name and your father's address on it. There's some talk around the area that Paul's connected."
"As in to the mob? Like there's a hit out on me? There was a business card in the door of my father's house as well…" My voice squeaked while my imagination took flight to an area I didn't want it to go. What had my father been involved in? What were those pictures of him beaten up all about even if they were years ago? Was it some kind of blackmail? Should I tell Nate about it? Questions circled my brain until I wanted to scream.
He held up his hand as if he knew the crazy thoughts inside me. "I have no actual verification."
"Well it's not like the mob would have a typed-up contract signed by a notary." What could I have stumbled upon that would put me in somebody's crosshairs?
He gave me a tight smile. "And I have no reason to believe it's credible, nor do I think anyone knows you're Tony's daughter, but since Gabe mentioned somebody suspicious hanging around your father's house, that sounds like it might have been Paul. I have to believe there's a connection and need to warn you to be cautious."
Ick. Dislike I could handle, but dead didn't sound too good.
"The same person who attacked Paul is after me? Or do you think Paul was at the house to kill me?" I hated the way my voice went up on the end, but nerves were showing themselves with or without my permission.
"Everything is up in the air, and I'm trying to track down the rumor to get more clarification. But I want to err on the side of caution until we figure out if there's a connection between Paul looking for you and his disappearance."
"If someone's after me, you're right. I don't want Viola to get caught in the middle. Maybe I should…" I tried to think of a solution, but it all involved disappearing for parts unknown. "A hotel? Is there some place I can stay that wouldn't put anyone else in danger?"
"That could be an option, but they're not very secure. Iowa City is an option. I know you were planning on going there for the art show in a couple of days. Maybe you could leave early."
I should leave town. That thought pulsed inside me, but as soon as it surfaced, I pushed it back down. I didn't want to give into fear.
"Or maybe you could stay at Gabe's place," he offered.
"Gee, that wouldn't be too awkward. Hey Gabe, do you want to have a sleepover? No, that's not weird at all."
He chuckled. At least we could find some humor in me being nearly dead in Iowa. "It's the only solution I can come up with other than leaving town until we can get it figured out."
"I'm sure Gabe would want to stay at Viola's tonight in case whoever is after me follows the trail to her house." My body did an internal shiver at the idea that Viola could potentially get caught in the crossfire.
"We have that covered. Doc is going to invite her to stay with him while Gabe paints her house. They've been planning on doing that for a while, so Gabe moved up the date to suit the situation."
I thought about his idea, and it made sense. No doubt the two of them had been conspiring about it since everything went down this afternoon. And apparently part of that plan was to have me safe and secure at Gabe's house. Not. Going. To. Happen.
"I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine going to Iowa City early. I don't run away from trouble. I'm a New York girl, remember?" I wasn't sure that made me bulletproof, but it sounded good. I was channeling my inner Angelina Jolie again.
I smiled and hoped a little of that worry across his brow would dissipate. Maybe good old Nate had started to grow on me. Sometimes he acted a little like he had a stick up his rear, but it was the nature of the job, so I should give him a pass. Just because we didn't see things eye to eye and he thought my dad could possibly be a criminal—I needed to let that go.
Besides all that, I agreed. I couldn't contemplate anything happening to the Qs. Their need to hover and get into my business was A-okay with me, but not if they were caught in the middle. They were the grandmothers I'd longed for my entire life. And I wouldn't let anything happen to them.
"If I had a bigger force, I could ask somebody to sit outside your dad's house, but to be honest, that's not possible, even if I pulled in help from a neighboring town." He shook his head. "I don't think the threat is credible, but I'd hate to be wrong. I wish I could do more, but…with…Emily, I can't take a chance of you coming to stay at my place."
I smiled. He seemed so uncomfortable in his decision it was hard not to feel sorry for him. "I'll be fine in Iowa City. By the time the show is over, I'm sure you'll know more." I sounded more confident than my insides led me to believe.
* * *
If I was going to go to Iowa City early, I needed to grab my suitcase from Viola's. I'd already packed a few things in preparation for the weekend anyway. I threw my daily stuff in my small suitcase and trudged down the stairs. Without the Qs or Viola around, the quiet house kind of creeped me out, and I was anxious to get out of there as quickly as possible.
I closed and locked the front door. When I turned, Gabe was ambling up the front porch. "Are you okay?"
"At least this time I didn't find a dead body, just a little blood." While I tried to make light of my discovery, the ache inside my chest resisted. This thing had gone from bad to worse, and I seemed to be ground zero for trouble.
Disappearing to Iowa City had some advantages. I could hook up with Jefferson and Mason, do some more investigating, and maybe get my mind off the craziness.
"You're not babbling, so that's got to mean you're devising a plan of action."
While I hated the way he could read me so easily, I shrugged it off. "Just tired." My stomach growled. "And maybe a little hungry."
&n
bsp; "How about pizza at my place? I've got dough ready. It won't take long to cook, and you can still get to Iowa City before it gets too late." He grabbed my bags and put them in the trunk of my car.
My gluttonous mouth watered. It didn't take much to acquiesce and follow him to his house.
Ten minutes later I stood at his kitchen island rolling out the dough while he stir-fried some mushrooms and peppers for toppings. Nothing could help my clumsy skills in the kitchen, but he didn't seem to mind my misshapen circles. Next, I ladled on the sauce and pepperoni, and he spread on the veggies and then topped it with loads of cheese. The second pizza followed the first, laden with straight cheese and veggies.
"I assume Nate suggested this impromptu dinner idea."
He held up his hands in surrender. "That's part of it. But the other part is I was going to ask you over tonight anyway. I felt like we needed a do-over after last time."
"This isn't your ploy to get me to spend the night, is it?"
"Never."
"I'm not sure if I believe you, but pizza is my weakness so you get a pass."
"I'll have to remember that." He gave me a quick kiss. "Plus I told Nate I'd make sure you were safe until you left for Iowa City."
"He originally wanted me to sleep over at your place, so I guess this is his idea of a compromise." I chuckled. "I've got to admit it was kind of fun to see him squirm through the suggestion."
"So are you?"
"What? Sleeping over?" I shook my head. "Don't you have better moves than that?"
"Never been accused of being subtle."
"I got the message that subtlety wasn't your forte that first day when you strong-armed me." Somewhere between that first night and now, I'd learned to relax around Gabe.
"You know us small town folks don't like big city strangers." He smiled and picked up the pizzas while I grabbed two bottles of water and followed him outside.
The weather had turned cooler during the evening hours, and a steady wind added to the slight chill. The clean, fresh air felt like a welcome relief to my anxiety-ridden day.