The Devil's in My Bathroom
Page 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: Peanut Butter Kisses
Debbie had taken the afternoon off again. She was getting ready for rehearsal when she got a phone call.
“Hello?” she answered, as pleasant as possible.
“Please, don’t hang up,” pleaded Tony.
“Eat shit and die,” said Debbie, as she slammed down the phone.
Andie’s meeting with Judge Jacobson went as planned. The case was thrown out and the judge made a pass at her. She handled the judge with dignity. She was taking a long, hot bath in her apartment when the phone rang.
“Hello?” she answered. “Andie, this is Harold. I’m afraid I’m going to have to cancel our, um, appointment this evening.”
“Why?” Her voice couldn’t hide her obvious disappointment.
“Peter needs me to work late tonight on this case for Carlos. I can’t get out of it.”
“I’ll be up late tonight. You can come over later.”
“No, I’ll be burning the midnight oil. I have to have some things ready by morning. Maybe tomorrow night?”
“Sure, that’ll be fine. Don’t work too hard.”
“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow,” said Harold.
Andie was frustrated but was still riding high from her meeting with the judge. This gave her something to look forward to for the next night.
Benny was reading the latest issue of Billboard when his phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Is this Benny Myers?” said the sexy voice.
“Yes, it is.”
“Hi. This is Julie Templeton. I’ve heard a rumor that you would like for me to work on a video for The Cramping Violets.”
“Why, yes,” said the excited Benny. “I was expecting a call from your agency.”
“Well, I wanted to call you personally. I’ve heard a lot about this band and I would love to be in their video. My agent doesn’t think it would be a good idea, so that’s why I’m calling you myself.”
“He doesn’t know you’re calling me?”
“Right, and I would like to keep it that way. He doesn’t want me doing anything but BreastMaster commercials right now. I’m ready to try other things.”
“I don’t know about going around an agent. If you have a contract with him, it’s not exactly legal.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk to you directly. I have an exclusive contract with the BreastMaster people. If I do the video for free, would that take care of any legal hassle?”
Benny was elated. “I’m sure I could arrange something.”
“Great. When and where do you want me?”
He thought of about twenty different lines to say right there before saying, “We’re going to shoot the video right here in New Lake City. We’d like to start as soon as possible.”
“How about tomorrow?”
“That would be great,” said the smiling Benny. “I’ll call the airlines and arrange a flight for you. Where are you calling from?”
“I’m in L.A. A morning flight would be fine. Let me give you my home phone number and you can call me right back with the details.”
“Great,” said Benny. This is like a dream, he thought.
The phone rang at the little studio in Chicago
“Hello?” said Barry.
“Are you still there, Daddy?” asked Shanice.
“Yeah, sweetheart. We been jammin' all afternoon.”
“Well, it’s way past afternoon. You were supposed to be meeting us for dinner tonight.”
“I know. I’m sorry, baby. That cracker you sent to see me last night is all right. He’s been laying some wicked licks on this old guitar that’s been laying around the studio for a while.”
“You mean the one you bought for me?”
“Well, you sure as hell ain’t using it.”
“I know.”
“Just like the sax, and the piano, and the…”
“I get the point, daddy. You know I’m happy doing what I do now.”
“I know, sweetheart. I just like giving you a hard time.”
“Is Nick doing anything tonight?” she asked.
“He’s supposed to be looking for a rock drummer. I don’t think he’s going to find one here.”
“Why don’t you bring him along? My darling husband is treating us. Meet us at the Toulouse Restaurant. You know where that is?”
“It’s that fancy French place on North Lincoln Park, ain’t it?”
“You got it. See you both about eight. Love you, Daddy.”
“Love you, too, sweetheart.” Barry hung up the phone. “Okay, guys. I gotta call it quits now. Nice jam session.”
“We still sailing tomorrow?” asked Sammy.
“Damn straight,” said Barry. “Just like every Thursday.”
“Why don’t you bring along our new buddy. I like hangin’ out with him,” said Sammy.
“You pretty popular for just being in town for one day,” said Barry. “Shanice wants me to bring you along with me tonight to have dinner with her and her husband.”
Nick was flattered. He hadn’t made new friends like this in quite some time. “I’d like to accept both invitations, guys, but I’m here on business. I need to find a rock drummer.”
“Where’s your next stop?” asked Barry.
“I leave for New Orleans on Friday.”
“That’s where you’ll find your drummer, son. Enjoy Chicago while you got the chance. New Orleans has got lots of crazy crackers who can be your next drummer. You ain’t gonna find him here.” Barry grabbed his jacket. “Let’s go eat, son. We’ll both see you tomorrow, Sammy.”
The phone rang at Chief Bushman’s home in New Lake City.
“Hello?” he said, as he swallowed his mouthful of Jack Daniels.
“Sir, this is Lieutenant Elderberry. Please don’t hang up.”
“What are you doing calling me at home? And where in the hell are you?”
“I’m still in this ratty Chicago jail. They were kind enough to let me use the phone. What is this business about choking on a piece of pizza?”
“That’s just what I said. He choked on a piece of pizza. It’s plain and simple,” said Bushman.
“Did you notice where the pizza box came from?”
“I believe it was Presto Pizza.”
“Did you notice the location?”
“We didn’t bother. It was just a damn piece of pizza, Elderberry. Why don’t you just go back to your cell and we’ll talk about this tomorrow.”
“Sir, wait. It came from the location near the campus.”
“What’s the big deal about that?”
“That’s some ten miles from Zipper Down’s apartment – and fifteen miles from the Grand Ballroom, where he was last seen alive.”
“Elderberry, what are you getting at?”
“Sir, Pel-tire is the one who ordered that pizza. I checked the records. It was delivered to his apartment on Maplewood. It wasn’t delivered to Zipper Down’s apartment. It was brought there by Pel-tire. There’s got to be some connection.”
“Okay – maybe you’ve got something there,” Bushman said. “I’ll call Captain Richards in the morning and have him let you go.”
“In the morning? Are you goddamn crazy?”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Elderberry.”
“I’m not spending another…”
Bushman slammed the phone down. He grabbed his JD bottle and looked at his beagle, Corporal Punishment. “You know what, Corp? That Elderberry sure is a pain in the ass. I think he’s about to figure out the whole thing.” Corporal Punishment jumped on Bushman’s lap and started licking his face. “There, that is such a sweet puppy. Give Daddy a big kiss.” He put peanut butter on his lips and let the happy beagle lick away.
The phone in Nick’s apartment started ringing. Andie wanted someone to talk to. There was no hello to be heard.