CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT: Great Balls of Fire
Gary Bell found Wainwright’s story rather amusing. Kristi didn’t seem to find humor in the situation.
“Just how many men did this woman have?” she asked.
“Not any more than you do, sweetheart,” said Bell, as he started drinking brandy from Wainwright’s bar. “You don’t think I love you for your monogamous tendencies, do you?” he laughed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Kristi.
“Oh, come on, baby. I know all about that musician you have living with you. I also know about the construction worker, the doctor, the congressman, and the dance instructor.”
“Oh yeah? Well, I – okay, I admit it. I haven’t been the best girlfriend.”
Gary laughed. “It’s all right, babe. I just want you for one thing, anyway.”
“You are really starting to piss me off, Bell,” said Kristi.
“Right,” laughed Gary. “What are you going to do - kill me? I’m surprised you had it in you to kill that drummer.”
Wilcox raised his eyebrows. He was itching to pull his gun from his pocket, but wanted to see what other information was being dropped in his lap.
“I don’t like you telling people that,” she said.
“Don’t worry,” said Bell. “Our two friends here aren’t going to be repeating any of this.”
“What do you mean by that?” asked Wainwright.
“Come on, Willie. You don’t expect me to let you go after all this? I kind of like this house. When I get back from Argentina, I’m going to make this place my main home.”
“Why are you going to Argentina?” asked Wilcox.
“It’s just someplace far from here that I can hide until this mess blows over.”
“I’m not going with you,” said Kristi.
“Of course you are, sweetheart,” said Bell. “After we get Julie, all three of us are going to Argentina.”
“I’m not going.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I meant exactly what I said.”
“Look, bitch, you’re really starting to piss me off right now.”
“I’ve had enough of you talking to me like that,” said Kristi. She pulled a gun out from her purse.
“And just what do you think you’re going to do with that?” asked a surprised Bell.
“I didn’t kill Zipper Down,” she said, as tears started rolling from her eyes. “I couldn’t go through with it.”
“It’s all right, baby. These guys aren’t going to be around to say anything. You don’t have anything to cover up.”
“No, I’m serious. I couldn’t do it.” She kept the gun pointed at Bell.
“Put the gun down, sweetheart,” said Bell. Kristi put both hands on the gun and aimed it at his face. Gary raised his own gun and pointed it at her. “Don’t do it, baby,” said Bell. “I don’t care if you killed him or not. He’s dead. That’s all that matters.”
“You keep putting me down,” cried Kristi. “The only thing I did right in your eyes was to keep you satisfied physically and kill Zipper Down – and I couldn’t even do that right.”
“I don’t care,” said Bell. “Just put the gun down.”
“You’re not mad because I didn’t kill him?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “If you didn’t do it, somebody did it for you. Just give me the gun.”
Kristi slowly handed Bell the gun. He clumsily grabbed it with his prosthetic hand and shoved her against Wainwright and Wilcox.
“You were right,” said Bell. “You couldn’t do the one task I needed you to do. You’re pretty freaking useless.”
“That’s no way to talk to a lady,” said Wainwright.
“Shut up, old man,” said Bell. “You’re making it easy to decide which one of you I’ll kill first. Now I want all three of you to walk slowly into that closet over there and keep quiet. I need to figure out how to do it.” Wainwright looked at Wilcox, who just nodded in the direction of the closet. All three of them crammed in.
“He might try to shoot us now,” Wilcox whispered into Wainwright’s ear. “On three, I’ll shoot the handle off, swing the door open, and catch him by surprise.”
“I’ve got a better idea,” whispered Wainwright. He reached behind Kristi in the darkness and pulled a lever. The back wall of the closet opened up. He grabbed Kristi and Wilcox and led them out the back. They were in a secret passageway, which led to the back of the mansion. As soon as they got outside, they heard the gunfire. Bell opened the closet door, expecting to find three dead bodies. Instead, he found several overcoats with bullet holes in them. The next thing he heard was the sound of Wilcox’s Dodge speeding away.
“You were right about him shooting us,” said Wainwright, who was struggling to catch his breath.
“I don’t know why you have that secret passage, but I’m glad you did,” said Wilcox.
“I have ten of them. A man can’t be too careful,” said the proud Wainwright. “I definitely have to replace that front door, however.”
With a sobbing Kristi still in the back seat, Wilcox pulled off to the side of the road. He maneuvered the car into some bushes near Deville Creek. He jumped out and hid behind a tree. He knew Bell would be right behind them. As soon as Bell’s Jaguar got even with him, he shot out a front tire. The car sped out of control and went off the road. It hit the guardrail of a bridge crossing the creek, and flipped into the air. After the second flip, it hit a tree and reversed its rotation. It came down on the guardrail, burst into flames, and then slid into the creek. Wainwright and Wilcox walked to the bridge and watched the car burn. Kristi shuffled up behind them.
“You think he’s dead?” she asked, between tears.
“I think that’s a safe bet,” said Wilcox.
“Are you a cop?”
“Yeah.”
“I really didn’t kill Zipper Down. I was supposed to but I really couldn’t do it.”
“Would you happen to have a clue as to who did?” asked Wilcox.
“I really don’t,” said Kristi. “You’ll have my full cooperation – as long as I don’t have to deal with that asshole.”
“You must mean Elderberry,” said Wilcox. “I’m sure we can use you. We can cut some kind of deal if you help us. Let me call in about this incident and we can go to the station.”
“If you don’t mind dropping me off at home, I’d really like to take a hot bath in my own tub,” said Wainwright.
The Devil's in My Bathroom Page 60