Sarah Woods Mystery Series (1-6) Boxed Set

by Jennifer L. Jennings

  “Well, you might as well help me eat these,” I said, giving her the box.

  “Sure.” She seized the untouched cupcake, peeled back the paper, and shoved half of it into her mouth. She made a moaning sound, as if she were having an orgasm. “Oh my. Delicious. I really shouldn’t be eating this.”

  Jackie, on a perpetual diet, never seemed to lose a pound. “Do you have any idea who these could be from?”

  “I think it must have been some kind of mistake.”

  “Well, I’m glad you decided to share.”

  “You enjoy them. I’m heading out for a run.”

  “Are you working on a new case these days?” she asked, licking her fingers.

  “Yeah.”

  “Does it have to do with that missing woman I saw on the news?”

  “I can’t discuss it.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  “Sorry. I’m not allowed to say anything.”

  “I know. Hey, you should come over tonight and have a glass of wine. I can’t wait to tell you about this guy I went out with last night. He has a freakishly small penis, but thankfully, he knows how to use it.”

  I held up a hand and backed out of her door. “Sorry. Max is sick. I think I’m bringing dinner to his house tonight. Maybe tomorrow you can bend my ear about the new stud-muffin.”

  * * *

  Around noon, I decided to stop in to the police station on my way to lunch. Detective James looked worn out, his wrinkled clothing and stale coffee-breath an indication he’d been working straight through the night.

  “Kenneth still hasn’t said anything?” I asked him.

  He chuckled. “Oh, he’s said plenty. He’s threatening to sue the whole Bridgeport Police Department. His lawyer should be here any minute.”

  “Where’s Katrina? Back at her motel room?”

  “Yeah. We have her testimony on video just in case she decides to bolt, but I have a feeling she’ll stick around to witness the demise of her ex-husband.”

  “Of course,” I said. “She’ll want a front row seat. Do you think you’ll have enough to convict him?”

  The detective raked a hand through his hair and smiled wearily. “That’s the tricky part. We don’t have much evidence. No body and no weapon. And our witness is an ex-con. But we have a pretty strong motive. I’m hoping if I put enough pressure on him, he’ll confess to something.”

  “He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who will give in that easily.”

  “It’s funny,” he said. “Sometimes it’s the guys with all the ego that give in the quickest. You never know what someone will do when faced with life in prison. By the way, thanks again for your help. If you and Carter hadn’t followed him to the rest stop, we’d still be chasing our tails.”

  “My pleasure. I wonder if I should stop by Alice Rossini’s place and give her an update.”

  “I’d wait until we’ve officially arrested Mr. Parker. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”

  “Okay. Look, I’m gonna grab some lunch. Can I pick something up for you?”

  The detective rubbed his stomach. “Thanks anyway. I just had a granola bar from the vending machine. I’m not feeling so well.”

  * * *

  Kari was bartending for the lunch crowd. Dressed in her usual form fitting attire, she grinned ear to ear when she saw me. “Sarah, I was hoping you’d stop by.”

  I claimed a stool and leaned forward, palms on the bar. “Oh really? Why me?”

  She leaned over the bar and spoke in a discreet tone. “One of the regulars mentioned he was looking for a private eye. He didn’t give me the details, but he’s very interested in talking to you.”

  “I’ll give you Carter’s number. I’m kind of working for him until I get my license.” I wrote the number down on a napkin and slid it across the bar. “You met him when he came in here last week.”

  “That’s right. The guy with the black leather jacket.” Kari tilted her head and shot me dubious eyes. “You guys aren’t doing it, are you?”

  “Doing what?”

  “You know … nooky-nooky.”

  “First of all,” I said, wagging a finger at her nose “who the hell says nooky anymore? And secondly, we are not sleeping together. He’s my mentor.”

  “He’s kind of hot for an older guy.”

  “Fifties is not that old.”

  “See? You’re even sticking up for him. I mean, you talk about this Carter guy a lot more than Max.”

  “No I don’t.”

  She admonished me with her glare. “Whatever, girl. So, are you here to drink or just grabbing some lunch?”

  “Just lunch. The usual.”

  Kari punched my order in on the computer pad, then got busy making drinks for other customers. I sipped on my water with lemon, enjoying the faint mariachi music playing in the background.

  “Hey, Sarah. Mind if I sit here?”

  I turned to find Joshua Limp smiling at me. His hair seemed different. It wasn’t as greasy as before. Maybe he’d washed it. “Hi Joshua. It’s a public place. You can sit wherever you’d like.”

  “Thanks,” he said, obviously taking it as an invitation. He made himself comfortable. “I wanted to see if you liked the gift I left outside your door this morning?”

  I spun my head around to face him. “Joshua,” I said, lowering my voice, “how did you find out where I live?”

  He giggled like a little boy who had slipped a dead mouse into his sister’s bed. “I followed you home yesterday.”

  I sighed heavily. “Look, Joshua, that is not cool.”

  “But you love cupcakes. And I love cupcakes. We have so much in common.”

  Kari came back and refilled my water while giving Joshua a scowl. “Well, well, look who’s stalking.”

  Joshua gave her a feeble smile. “I’ll have what she’s having.”

  Kari rolled her eyes. “Dude, what is up? Are you harassing my friend? Let her have some lunch in peace, will ya?”

  Joshua’s smile turned into a quivering pout. His eyes glazed over with tears. He stood up, and without saying another word, walked out of the bar.

  I turned to Kari. “That was a little insensitive. He’s not a bad guy.”

  She set a plate of food in front of me. “He’s a creep, Sarah. A leech.”

  “He’s … troubled, that’s all. Look, can I take the burrito to go?”

  “Why? Are you in a hurry or something?”

  “Yeah.” I lied.

  Kari dumped the food into a Styrofoam container. “Okay. If you say so.”

  “Thanks,” I said, handing her a ten-dollar bill. “I’ll see you later.”

  * * *

  I looked around outside, but couldn’t find Joshua in the parking lot. I hung a left toward the alley. The dumpsters smelled like week-old guacamole and rotten shrimp. I spotted Joshua sitting on a crate; head hung low, his chin practically touching his chest. I ambled toward him.

  “Leave me alone,” he said like a petulant child. “Go away.”

  A young Mexican boy was standing in the alley smoking a cigarette. He must have sensed an argument coming on and he moved to the other side of the building. I approached Joshua and handed him my take-out container. “Here, have this. Bet you’re hungry.”

  He refused to look up. “No, thanks.”

  “Come on. Don’t be that way. Kari means well. She’s just protective.”

  Joshua looked up and eyed the container in my hand. “I guess I am kind of hungry.”

  “It’s all yours,” I said.

  He got to his feet. “I have another gift for you, but I don’t suppose you want it now.”

  I sighed. “Look, I appreciate the kind gestures, but I have a boyfriend.”

  “You don’t even know what the gift is? Come on, let me show you.”

  Joshua led the way down the alley where his dark blue KIA SUV was parked. The dent Kenneth had put in the door was still there. “You should get that fixed,”
I said. “It’ll get rusty.”

  Joshua opened his rear door and reached in. When he turned back to face me, a baby kitten was cradled in his arms. “It’s a coon cat,” he said. “She’s yours.”

  “She’s adorable,” I said. “But I’m allergic. Maybe I can help you find someone who will adopt her.”

  Joshua looked hurt. “Can’t you at least hold her? Come on, she’s real soft. Don’t hurt her feelings.”

  There was something odd about the look in his eyes. The pitiable softness in his expression had changed. There was an edge to his voice. Urgency.

  “I don’t think you can hurt a cat’s feelings,” I replied.

  His brown eyes narrowed. “You don’t care about anyone’s feelings.”

  I backed up a step. “If I didn’t care about your feelings, I wouldn’t have come out here to offer you my lunch.”

  “You’re patronizing me just like Mari.”

  “Okay, Joshua,” I said, reaching into my back pocket for my phone. “Just take it easy.”

  He dropped the cat. It was then I noticed that he was holding a gun. “Get in my car,” he said.

  I froze. “This isn’t like you, Joshua.”

  “How would you know? You never took the time to get to know me.”

  I searched the alley as discreetly as I could, keeping very still.

  “There’s nobody around to help you now,” he said. “If you scream, I’ll put a bullet in your brain.”

  “Joshua, let me help you.”

  “Shut up,” he hissed, moving closer, the gun pointed at my head. “I gave you a chance to accept my gifts. Mari didn’t want the kitten, either. I can’t imagine someone rejecting a sweet, innocent little kitten. What did that kitten ever do to you? It just wants to be loved and cared for. Is that so difficult?”

  “Kittens make me sneeze,” I said. “But I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take the kitten because it means a lot to you. Please, let me go get her before she runs away. I promise to take good care of her.”

  “She’s already gone,” he said. “It’s too late. And it’s too late for you.”

  He lunged, the butt of his gun collided with my temple.

  Chapter 17

  The first thing I noticed: I was freezing. Second, my head hurt like a son of a bitch. I opened my eyes, felt the lump on my temple, and tried to sit up. The concrete floor was damp; the fetid stench of mold and urine stung my nostrils. I let my eyes adjust to the darkness while fighting the urge to vomit. A small sliver of light shone through wood slats above the rafters. Where was I?

  “Help” I yelled out. “Is anyone there?”

  A slight movement caught my eye. I made out the silhouette of a human being about twenty feet away. As I approached, I realized a woman was sitting on the floor, knees to chest, facing me, but I couldn’t make out her face.

  “Don’t be alarmed,” the woman’s voice said. “We’ll find a way to get out of here.”

  I blinked a few times before her image became clear. “Mari?”

  She nodded. “How did you know my name?” Her accent was thick, but she spoke perfect English.

  “Where are we?”

  “I’m not sure,” she said. “But I can tell you one thing: it’s not a country club.”

  I was encouraged by Mari’s sense of humor, the situation anything but amusing. I inched toward her on hands and knees. “I’m Sarah. Are you hurt?” I asked.

  “Not badly,” she said. “How about you?”

  “I’m fine.” As I got closer, I noticed remnants of dried blood streaking her forehead. Her clothing was wrinkled and grimy, her dark hair dangling in clumps around her face. “Is there any water?” I asked, my throat parched.

  She gestured to a dog bowl. “I’m sorry. I drank the last of it this morning. Or maybe it was yesterday. I’ve lost all sense of time.”

  I got to my feet, steadied myself, and tried not to panic. “We have to find a way out.”

  “Don’t bother,” she replied in a weak voice. “I’ve already tried. He’s got the door padlocked.”

  I checked my back pocket for my phone: it was gone. I checked my other pockets for my keys: they were gone to. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been here?” I asked.

  “Not long” she said. “About an hour or so.”

  I threw my shoulder against the door. It wouldn’t budge. I felt along the walls for any kind of hole, latch, or weak spot. “Why does Joshua have you here?” I asked. “Has he told you anything?”

  “Only that he will kill me if I try to escape.”

  “He must have some kind of plan,” I said. “There must be a reason he’s keeping you alive.”

  “He calls me his bad little kitty cat,” Mari said. “I have to relieve myself on the floor in the corner like some wretched animal.”

  “I’ll figure something out,” I said, trying to convince myself while reassuring her.

  “You never answered my question,” she said. “How do you know my name?”

  I continued to search the room in near darkness. There wasn’t a single piece of furniture. Just a filthy concrete floor, a bowl, and the blanket Mari was wrapped in. I finally went to sit next to her, but her body odor was offensive. I tried to ignore it. “Alice Rossini hired me to look for you.”

  Mari sucked in a deep breath. I sensed her strength was beginning to crumble. “I was supposed to spend the day with her. She must be so worried.”

  “Don’t concern yourself with Alice right now,” I said. “She’s fine.”

  “So who are you?” she asked. “A private investigator?”

  “Close enough,” I replied. “Look, I hate to be so blunt, but has Joshua raped you?”

  She shook her head. “I fully expected it, but every time he comes back, it’s only to bring a little water and some cat food. I ask him, I plead with him to tell me why I’m here. He only says the same thing. I’m a bad little kitty.”

  “Is it because you refused his gifts?”

  “How did you know about the gifts?” she asked.

  “Because I refused his gifts, too. After Alice hired me, I found out from your husband that you had a stalker. Kenneth didn’t seem too concerned about him, but I tracked him down anyway. I didn’t really suspect him of anything, but I thought maybe he had some idea of which spa you went to.”

  “Spa? Who said I went to a spa?”

  “The text you sent Kenneth Saturday morning after your meeting with Katrina Waters.”

  She paused. “I never sent a text. In fact, I never wanted to speak to him again after what his ex-wife told me.”

  “Joshua must have sent that text to your husband to throw him off.”

  Mari turned her head and wiped her eyes.

  I realized I should try to keep her talking. Crying would only make her dehydration worse. “Mari? What happened that morning after the party when you met with Katrina Waters?”

  She turned back to face me and straightened her posture. “Before I left the house that morning, I’d snuck into Ethan’s room and took the gun he keeps in his closet. I didn’t trust Kenneth’s ex-wife, so I stashed the gun in my purse. I drove to the warehouse around eight. Katrina was already there waiting. We talked for a while and I gave her back the recording. I promised to think about things before making any decisions. I got back in my car. I was so upset I didn’t know what to think. Katrina left and I just there. I didn’t want to go home because I knew Kenneth would try to defend himself when I told him I had talked to his ex.” She took another breath and wiped her nose. “A few minutes later someone knocked on my window. It was Joshua. I hadn’t even seen him walk up to my car. I rolled down my window and asked him what he was doing there. I guess I sort of snapped at him. My life was falling apart and I just couldn’t handle him at that moment. I told him to leave me alone, took the gun out of my purse, and pointed it at him.”

  Mari stared at her feet. “The look on his face … well, it broke my heart. I realized how horrible it must have been to have a gun pointe
d at him like that. I got out of the car to apologize, and that’s when he...” Mari took in a deep breath as if she might start sobbing. She composed herself and said, “I’m not sure how he got the gun away from me, but once he had it, he knocked me out. The next hour was kind of fuzzy. I remember being inside of a trunk but I couldn’t see very well. The next thing I knew, I was lying on a cold floor.”

  “The police think your husband killed you,” I said. “He’s in custody right now.”

  She nodded. “The irony is … he did kill me. Our life together was all that mattered to me. But how could I forgive him for what he did to his ex-wife. No one deserves that.”

  “So you believe his ex-wife?”

  “I’ve had a lot of time to think about this in the past few days.” She hung her head. “My husband’s greed far outweighs any good he’s ever done. All his help with my charities did nothing but stroke his ego. He was physically abusive to his son. I was so stupid to think the therapy would help.”

  I wrapped my arms around my torso in an effort to stay warm. There was a draft, which meant there had to be an opening. I looked up at the wood slats again. “It looks like that wood is rotting up there,” I said. “Bet it would break easily.”

  “It’s too high up,” she said.

  “If we work together, we might be able to reach. I’ll get on my hands and knees. You can stand on my back. Try and punch your fist through it.”

  “I’m probably too weak. At this point, I don’t think I can even stand on my own.”

  “You have to try,” I said.

  She slowly got to her feet and leaned against the wall for support. I watched her legs wobble. I knew it was futile.

  “Even if I was able to break through that wood, I’d never have the strength to hoist myself up,” she said.

  “Maybe I can stand on your back,” I said. “If we do this against the wall, I’ll be able to balance better. Once I get a grip on one of those slats, I can shift my weight off of you.”

  Mari looked around the room as if there might be another way. I saw the hope dissipate from her eyes. “I’ll do my best.”