by Lucy Quinn
“Sunshine,” Evie cooed. “What is it girl?”
The dog moved one paw, eyed her mistress, and then let out a heavy sigh as if she was exhausted as she covered it again.
“Why is she doing that?” Dora asked as tape tore from a package she was opening.
Evie shook her head, wondering if her precious girl wasn’t feeling well. It had been hot outside. “Maybe she got a little overheated?”
Dora got up and fetched Sunshine a bowl of fresh water. She placed it next to the dog and said, “Go on, Sunshine. Take a drink.”
Sunshine slowly got to her feet, lapped up a bit of water, but then laid back down in the same position.
“I guess she’s fine,” Evie said, knowing that if Sunshine wasn’t feeling good, she’d have some sort of symptoms other than petulance. But she didn’t understand why her girl was acting so strangely. “She’s not panting or vomiting or anything like that.” Evie checked her gums, knowing to check for signs of dehydration. Her gums were pink and looked like they always did. “I think she’s fine. Maybe she’s still out of sorts after seeing Charles.”
Sunshine didn’t move but she did let out a little growl.
Evie laughed. “That must be it. Okay let’s get going on these packages.”
Five designer purses, two vintage trains, three rose-colored vintage vases, a full set of Waterford china, and a dozen other random items later, and they were no closer to finding the Buddha. Evie let out a frustrated sigh. “I can’t believe it didn’t show up today.” She glanced up at Dora, who looked near tears. “Oh, honey. No. We’ll find it. I promise.”
“Maybe, but now we’ve broken the law again,” Dora huffed out and sniffled.
“Huh?” Evie frowned at her friend, wondering what the heck she was going on about.
“Mail fraud! We opened someone else’s mail, Evie. I don’t look good in orange. It is definitely not the new black. And if we don’t end up in the same prison, I’m going to be cleaning the latrines. You know someone like me always has to. And… and I’m also the type the top dog will bully. I—”
“Stop!” Evie held her hand up, torn between laughing and crying. Mail fraud? Really? Who was going to bust them for that? “You’re panicking. No one is wearing orange, and no one is going to bully you. Relax, Dor. We aren’t stealing anything. In fact, let’s put all of this stuff away so it’s not lying in the middle of the floor.”
Dora stared at her with unseeing eyes.
“Dor!” Evie waved her hand in front of her friend’s eyes and snapped her fingers. “Breathe, babe. All that happened here today is that we didn’t find the Buddha. Come on. Work with me.” Evie sucked in a deep breath. “Breathe with me.”
Dora’s scared eyes met Evie’s, and she could tell her friend was moments from a full-on panic attack. But as she sucked in another deep breath, Dora joined her. After a few minutes, Dora dropped her gaze and mumbled, “Sorry. I really thought we were going to find that Buddha.”
“I know.” Evie placed a couple of the handbags into Dora’s hand. “Put these away and we’ll regroup, okay?”
Dora nodded while Evie launched into her speculation. “You know, I’m beginning to think Gertie was only a hoarder. And that means the Buddha might actually be here somewhere. Do you think she hid it under the bed or in a medicine cabinet or something?”
“I think we’ve already looked everywhere,” Dora said, hanging the handbags on the end of the garment rack.
Sunshine suddenly got to her feet, barked, and ran into the guest bedroom.
Both Evie and Dora stared after her. Then when the barking didn’t stop, Evie shrugged and followed the dog into the other room. Sunshine sat in front of the floor-length drapery, scratching and barking.
Evie walked over to where her dog was having a meltdown and pulled the curtain back, revealing a single-door closet next to the window they hadn’t realized was there during their search.
“Do you think there’s a dead body in there?” Dora asked, sounding serious.
Evie scowled at her. “Of course not, Dor. We would’ve smelled it by now.”
Dora shuddered, but Evie rolled her eyes. It wasn’t often, but when Dora was upset, she could be so dramatic. With a flourish, Evie pulled the door open and a pile of priority mail boxes fell out, along with sheets of bubble wrap and a mountain of packing peanuts. “Well, holy crap,” Evie said. “Look at that. She is a hoarder.”
Apparently it was not what Dora wanted to hear, because her friend slumped down on the floor in tears.
Evie got down on her bottom with her and wrapped her arms around her best friend. If anyone needed to have a meltdown, it was Dora. Over the past few weeks the poor woman had experienced more traumatic events than most people did in a life time. Not only had Dora uncovered a money laundering scheme her boss and his son were involved in, but when she confronted her boss about it, he ended up dead from an accidental gunshot wound, making it look like Dora killed him. To top it all off, when Dora trusted a man who she thought was a good friend to help her out of her mess, she discovered he was a crooked cop.
Evie subscribed to the theory a good cry could help, so she rubbed Dora’s back and said, “That’s it, honey. Let it all out.”
And boy did she. Evie’s shirt was soaked with tears and likely a little snot by the time Dora was done. She got up to go blow her nose while Evie changed her shirt. When Dora returned from the bathroom, she said, “I think it’s time to face the facts. We’re never going back home, Evie. The Buddha is lost in the mail, and we can’t exactly put a trace on it. I don’t have a shred of evidence that Steve’s death was accidental, and we’re going to be on the run for the rest of our lives unless I turn myself in.”
This was precisely the place Evie had hoped her friend would not end up, and she certainly wasn’t going to let Dora stay there. “No. We’re going to figure this out, Dora. I’m sure of it.”
“How can you be so sure? I’m going to go to the police. You shouldn’t have to spend the rest of your life living with my mistake. I—”
Sunshine let out a yip and then whined. When they looked at the pup sitting on the bed watching them, Evie swore she was rolling her eyes. “Look at that Dor, even Sunshine knows you’re being dramatic. We haven’t worked this hard to quit now. Besides, don’t you feel even the slightest responsibility to solve Gertie’s and Myrtle’s murders? Because if we don’t who will?”
Dora let out a sigh. “You’re right. Those two sweet old ladies deserve justice. I suppose I’m am being a bit dramatic.”
“Good. Like I said, we’re going to clear your name and live long and productive lives, preferably as neighbors. How else are we going to be the two crazy old ladies pinching young men’s butts and driving the old men wild?”
Dora cracked a smile. “I suppose it hasn’t even been a week since we mailed the package. It could still arrive.”
Evie went over to the bed to pet Sunshine. “Exactly. You know what? I think it’s time for a walk and more beignets. What do you say?”
Dora smiled a real smile. “I think that’s a good idea.”
“That’s the spirit.” Evie ruffled the top of Sunshine’s head, relieved Dora had come to her senses. “Let’s get beignets. There’s not much a sugar rush can’t make better.”
Sunshine jumped off the bed and landed with a thump before she scurried to the door, wagging her stubby little tail and panting with excitement. Apparently, the tiny bite of donut they’d allowed the dog a couple days before had made her crave the treat too.
Dora chuckled. “It appears we don’t have a choice.”
“We don’t.” Evie hooked her arm in Dora’s, and they walked to the door.
Once they were outside, they headed down Decatur Street toward Café Du Monde for the powdered-sugar treats. Evie was looking over at a shoe store that had the cutest steampunk-style boots when Dora stopped in her tracks. “Evie.”
“I know. How much money do we have? Because those flowered ones are calling
my name.”
“What? No!” She grabbed Evie by the shoulders to physically turn her to look at a sign. “Look. I think Trace’s band is playing at House of Blues. Right now.”
Evie’s jaw dropped. “Deadfish? Playing here?”
“Yes,” Dora grabbed her hand and tugged her into an alley where they stopped in front of a doorway painted in a variety of bright colors.
Still in a daze, Evie grabbed the pink and green railing for support as they climbed the stairs. Was she really going to see the man she had come to realize she loved more than she usually allowed herself? When Dora and she went on the run, they’d decided keeping the men in their lives in the dark was the best plan to keep them safe. Evie had tried to keep that promise. It wasn’t as if creating Sunshine’s Instagram account as Sushi and friending Trace was telling him where they were. Even if many of Sushi’s hashtags included the string neworleanslife.
There wasn’t any music coming from the restaurant, and she asked, “Is Trace really here?”
“He is, Evie. Are you okay?”
Evie nodded. “It’s just…” She’d missed him. A lot. And she was afraid that it was too good to be true. She’d managed to put her feelings for Trace in a box she’d kept tucked away for private time, and she feared she’d fall apart the way Dora had over the missing package if she discovered the Deadfish band that was playing wasn’t Trace’s.
Cool air wafted toward them when they stepped into the rustic restaurant with exposed beams overhead, and they were greeted by a hostess who asked if they’d like a table. “Yes, please,” Dora said. “One that lets us see the band. Are they on break?”
“They are. They should be back out in less than ten minutes, though.”
Evie grabbed the hostess’s arm. “Is this band from Florida?”
The girl frowned at Evie’s hand, making her loosen her grip, “I believe they are.”
Evie finally released her. “Sorry.” She offered a sheepish smile. “I really love the band, and I can’t believe I’m going to see them.”
The hostess chuckled. “I’ll seat you as close to the stage as I can.”
They ended up seated about four tables back from the stage, and when the waitress came by, they each ordered a beer. They hadn’t taken more than a few sips when Deadfish came on stage, and the moment Evie saw her broody bass player with the long bangs in his eyes, she sighed in relief. “It’s really them, Dor.”
“I know,” her friend said kindly, and Evie settled in to listen to music that warmed her heart.
15
Dora took one look at Evie’s face when Deadfish began to play and knew her bestie was head over heels in love with Trace, despite her best attempts at denial. She sat back to listen to the band play, wondering how long it would take for Trace to notice them. Not long, because Dora decided to get up with the intention of going to the bathroom, but instead stood behind Evie and waved her hand in the air to get his attention. When he looked over, she made exaggerated pointing motions to Evie. Trace frowned for a second before he recognized first Dora and then Evie. The smile that covered his face was all the reward Dora needed.
It was clear to her that Trace was just as in love as Evie was, and when he put his guitar down mid-song to rush over and scoop Evie into his arms, Dora took her cue. She set money down on the table and left the lovers to reunite.
Disco music blared from a pedicab as Dora walked back toward Gertie’s, and she smiled when she saw a man and woman dancing in their seat as LED lights flashed when they went by. It seemed love was all around her, and a wave of sadness flowed over her as she imagined Luke being there. But she didn’t wallow in it, because while she didn’t have him close at least Evie had Trace, and she could be happy for her friend.
Evie deserved love and Dora was beginning to think Trace might be her forever man. But he couldn’t be if Evie and she were on the run for the rest of their lives. She sighed over the fact the Buddha was still missing and once again toyed with the idea of turning herself in. Of course, she wasn’t going to do that until they had found the person, or people, who had killed Gertie and Myrtle. As a planner, though, Dora couldn’t help but begin to form a strategy that would keep Evie safe.
The keypad to enter Gertie’s building beeped once Dora entered the code Myrtle had given them a couple days earlier, and she let herself in. As she walked down the hall toward Gertie’s apartment, she couldn’t help glancing at Myrtle’s door, and sadness for the woman’s death made her chest tighten with the urge to cry. When she was about to turn the corner to go down the hall to Gertie’s, she heard a door open. She glanced back and realized someone was exiting Myrtle’s apartment. Dora quickly moved behind the wall and pressed up against it to peer around the corner and watch. “That little snake,” she said when she recognized Ricky, the cleaner Gertie had hired. He had the same duffle bag he’d had when he stopped by Gertie’s, only this time it was stuffed full. Full of valuable goods that belonged to Myrtle, she suspected.
Tempted as she was to call out his name and chase after him, Dora remembered she wasn’t strong enough to take him down. She didn’t have a weapon either. Alerting Ricky to the fact she knew what he was doing wasn’t such a smart idea, and she wasn’t exactly in a position to turn anyone over to the police, either.
When Dora heard the elevator door open and then whoosh shut, it occurred to her there was something she could do. She decided to follow Ricky and find out where he lived. Perhaps Evie and she could do a little snooping around later and find out what Ricky was up to. She rushed to the stairwell and jogged down the stairs, arriving just as she saw Ricky push his way out the front door.
Making a note of which way he turned, she waited before stepping outside and following him at a safe distance. It was easier to remain unnoticed than Dora had expected. Most people don’t look over their shoulder if they have no reason to, and it made her move closer to her target. But getting comfortable with her ability to tail him undetected was a mistake.
Ricky stopped and pulled out his keys, and Dora nearly cheered, delighted she now knew where he lived. But then he glanced around as if he knew someone was following him. Dora reacted as quickly as she could, but he squinted at her before she managed to duck into a doorway hoping he hadn’t recognized her.
“There you are!” cried a man as he grabbed her by the arm. While Dora had no idea who the man thought she was, she wasn’t about to claim she didn’t belong there, and she let him pull her into the building.
Breathing out a sigh of relief that she’d escaped detection from Ricky, Dora took in the space she now occupied. It was dimly lit, but she could see bright light peeking out from under a curtain, and she thought she might be backstage.
The man grabbed her arm and whispered loudly as if he was annoyed with her, “It’s your turn to go on.”
“Oh. No,” Dora said as he pushed her forward toward the curtain. “I’m not—” She stumbled forward when he shoved her through the fabric panels, and she found herself on a stage. Bright light made Dora squint, but she could still see enough to realize she was way overdressed for her appearance. There were four other people sitting in chairs onstage, and not one was wearing a stitch of clothing.
An older woman, who was naked as a jaybird, stood in front of a microphone and said to the audience, “Welcome our final poet, Amity.” The woman frowned at Dora before a huge smile covered her face. “Today she’ll reveal more than her body to you. In “Pieces of Me,” she’s also going to bare her soul.”
Dora stood completely still in total shock. She wanted to turn and run, but she had a feeling Ricky would be peering out his window looking for her and she couldn’t take the chance. No. She was going to have to figure out how to come up with a poem on the fly as well as find the nerve to get naked. Bare my body, she thought.
She reached up and clasped her fingers around the strand of pearls she was wearing, and the audience let out a collective sigh. It was as if they knew Dora’s secrets weighed heavily on her a
nd how reluctant she was to share them. She couldn’t share them. But…
She knew she should just explain there had been a mistake, back into the curtains and run out of there. That’s not what Dora did, though. With a shaky hand, she reached for the top button on her silky blouse, the plastic hard in her fingers as she slowly worked it open. The moment the fabric fell away from her throat, it was as if someone had opened a window in a stuffy room. She took a long slow breath before moving to the next button, and she thought about how she had involved Evie in an elaborate scheme that was endangering the very life her best friend deserved.
As each button came undone her lungs opened up more, and she shed the blouse like a snake sloughs off dead skin. Dora straightened a little as she thought about the way she and Evie had always been there for each other. No matter what. It occurred to Dora that her best friend was doing what exactly what Dora would do for her, and that their close tie meant neither of them would have it any other way. Evie was with Dora voluntarily. While she’d known in her heart that was true, Dora had still packed a suitcase full of guilt over it to carry. With the collective “ahhh” from the crowd, she tossed the blouse aside as if she’d discarded that piece of luggage.
The waistband of her linen shorts was warm under her thumbs as she slid them underneath to unclasp the hook and undo the button. She recalled the way she’d brought Luke, her mad crush, into her troubles as well. A man she worried she’d taken advantage of when he’d offered to help her escape the clutches of her crooked-cop neighbor, Brian, and get out of town.
The zipper of her shorts hummed as she tugged it down slowly, and she remembered how skilled Luke had been in his assistance. He was clearly no stranger to the world she’d suddenly been thrust into. In fact, Dora thought as her shorts slithered down her thighs to the floor in a soft whoosh, he seemed to enjoy the excitement she’d caused in his life. When she stepped out of the pile of linen it was as if she’d unpacked her travel bag after a long trip and was ready to put away the vacation clothing. She was ready to move on.
