by Lois Lavrisa
The other trainees snickered.
I asked, “Nowak, what went wrong?”
Nowak stood, straightening her clothes as she wiped her hands on her slacks. Her light blue T-shirt was soaked dark with sweat. “I cut the wrong wire?”
On second thought, maybe Howie was right and she was an idiot.
It took every bit of strength I had to compose myself. But I did, saying, “And let’s thank our actress, Chantal.”
Chantal rose and took a dramatic curtsy. “Thank you, thank you, and thank you!” She shimmied as she waved her hands over her body. “Thank goodness that was only pretend. I’d hate all of this to be scattered around.”
“Let’s give her a round of applause.” I opened my arms wide toward Chantal.
Everyone applauded as Chantal flashed a big smile.
Howie said to the group, “And let’s hear it for Sergeant Rodriguez, the finest bomb maker in Savannah—hell, the whole Southeast for that matter.”
“Aren’t you glad I’m on your side?” I asked. “Everyone take ten. Then we’ll regroup and go over what went wrong and what Nowak should have done differently.”
Chapter 2
A minute later I entered the men’s restroom.
“But, Dad, I got the promotion.” A voice rose from behind a wall divider. It sounded like Ray, only with a groveling tone rather than his typical arrogance.
“I’m still your superior. Call me sir. And it’s about time, girly boy. I made chief by your age, so don’t think you’re anything special,” came a muted voice that sounded as though it emanated from a speakerphone. “Who’d you sleep with to get it?”
“No one.”
“That’s hard to believe.” His dad snorted.
Ray cleared his throat. “Sir, I work hard.”
“Ha! That’d be a first,” Ray’s dad said.
“I do. Remember the guy I put away for murder for shooting a cop?”
“Yeah, I remember the cop died. That was, like, fifteen years ago. So, what about it?”
“The killer got lethal injection today. It was my case that convicted him, even though they didn’t find the gun. I’m good at my job, sir. I am. I wish you’d give me credit.” Ray seemed to plead his case to his father, like a child begging for a parent’s approval.
“What have you done recently? You can’t rest on one case.”
“I don’t. It’s just that I thought you heard about it on the news today, and that you’d be—”
“Be what? Are you looking for an attaboy for freaking doing your job?”
“No, sir. It’s just that I thought—”
“Are you talking back to me?”
“No, sir, I’m not. I never would.” Ray’s voice lowered.
“Good. Don’t you ever disrespect me. Ever!”
“Sir, I gotta go.” Ray sounded downtrodden.
I finished my business and then stood at the sink, washing my hands as Ray emerged from behind the divider. His eyes were red-rimmed and they widened as he spotted me. Our gazes locked.
Not knowing what to say, I nodded toward Ray, actually feeling sorry for the guy.
“What’s your problem? You trying to see my junk?” Ray kicked the trash can on the way out and then slammed the door behind him.
I’d always thought that Ray could be really handsome and attractive if his personality weren’t so ugly.
The trainees and I began debriefing the drill session.
Ray strolled over to the group and slung an arm around his niece. “Hey, kid.”
Officer Nowak beamed like a child getting attention from a parent.
Ray added, “You all keep an eye on my niece. She’ll be moving up the ranks.”
“More like blowing up,” a trainee muttered under his breath.
The other trainees laughed.
I took a deep breath. I made a note to speak to the trainee about his inappropriate comment.
“Who said that?” Ray glared at the group.
The male trainee slowly raised his hand.
“What do you mean by that crack?” Ray demanded.
“Just that Officer Nowak failed the simulation, Lieutenant Murphy, sir. I was making light of that, sir.” The trainee stood at attention, back stick straight, shoulders back, and head held high. I could almost smell the fear emanating from his pores.
Ray poked a finger toward him. With his face red, he moved within inches of the man. “You have a problem with Nowak, then you have a problem with me. And you never want to have a problem with me. Ever. Got it, rookie?”
“Yes, sir. I do. I’m sorry, sir.” He lowered his eyes.
Looked like Ray had beaten me to the reprimand. But these were my trainees, and I was in charge of them. Not him.
Ray added, “I take my job seriously. I don’t have time for wisecracks. I suggest you all follow suit.”
The trainee mumbled something.
“Back off!” Nowak shoved the trainee. “I heard your smart-ass comment about my uncle.”
The trainee pulled his hand back as though he were about to hit Nowak.
“Enough.” I stepped between Nowak and the trainee. “Nowak, stand over there, and you”—I pointed toward the trainee—“keep your mouth shut. I think it’s gotten you in enough trouble already.”
“Obviously, you didn’t listen to me when I said not to mess with my niece.” Ray punched a finger at the trainee’s face.
The trainee hung his head and apologized.
When he finished dressing down my trainee, I pulled Ray out of earshot of the group. “Listen, Ray, when one of my trainees steps out of line, I take care of them, not you.”
“I wouldn’t have to if you did your job,” Ray retorted.
“You jumped in before I even had a chance to speak to him.”
“Then be quicker next time.” Ray turned and left.
Ray was a ticking bomb. Just as unpredictable, and just as dangerous.
Chapter 3
“I got hung up at work. Sorry I missed dinner.” I plopped into one of the antique dining room chairs. It creaked with my weight. My group of friends, Bezu, Annie Mae, and Cat, sat around Bezu’s dining room table. We met once a week for dinner at Bezu’s house. Bezu, the gourmet cook of the group, was a genteel Southern belle. She almost always wore sundresses on her tall slender frame. Her porcelain skin was just a few shades lighter than her blond hair. Although I loved seeing my friends, it was getting more and more difficult to prevent their conversation from revolving around my secret and what I should do about it.
“What was going on at work that made you so late?” Annie Mae asked. Sixty-five and widowed, Annie Mae, a black semi-retired college professor, was by far the most outspoken of the four of us.
I took in a breath, giving me a whiff of the lingering scent of Cajun shrimp jambalaya. “I’m trying to turn a fumbling rookie into a bomb squad hero.”
All that remained of the meal was dessert plates, coffee cups, and a couple of partially full wine bottles. I picked one up. “Riesling?”
“I have a merlot I could open, or I could get you a beer,” Bezu offered.
“Thanks, but I don’t have time.”
“Where are you heading off to?” Cat asked.
“To see a buddy of mine perform at the Magnolia Club.”
“Your buddy being the Sanders’ Tavern bar owner, Norman?” Annie Mae asked.
I nodded. “Tonight he’s Sweetie Pie, the headlining drag queen.”
“What’s with the frown?” Cat asked.
Not realizing that I had a tell which gave away what I was really thinking, I claimed, “Nothing.” I leaned back in my chair. “Annie Mae, would you like to go with me?”
“I love live performances!” Annie Mae exclaimed, but then she raised an eyebrow. “Hey, wait. You aren’t using me as a cover, are you?”
I avoided eye contact with Annie Mae. Shifting in my chair, I glanced at my phone.
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Cat opened her arms wide. “You’r
e still hiding? Haven’t we gotten to you yet about just being you and not giving a damn what people think?”
Despite her petite, athletic build, Cat had an imposing, bigger-than-life attitude. She seemed to have unlimited energy, taking care of her two sets of twins and running a business. Besides that, she was tough.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Good gracious, in this day and age, why don’t you just come out?” Bezu folded a linen napkin.
This subject always caused my chest to tighten and gut to clench. “So, you going with me or not?” I locked eyes with Annie Mae.
“Yes. But I think you’re wrong for keeping the real you a secret,” she replied. “You gotta stop pretending to be someone you’re not.”
All three sets of eyes glared at me. It reminded me of when I’d get ganged up on by my three older sisters. Just like my sisters, these women weren’t going to back off.
I put a hand up. “The police department is different. It’s a brotherhood.”
“So?” Annie Mae raised an eyebrow.
“Trust me. They wouldn’t get it.” I looked down at the floor.
“What I don’t get is why you’re being such a weirdo about this. In today’s world, I think people are way more open-minded, with all the media coverage on LGBTQ acceptance and all. Mind you, a decade ago, that wasn’t the case,” Annie Mae said. “But you should have no problem coming out now.”
“Not to my peers. If I tell them I’m gay, I bet I’ll have people ignoring my calls for backup.” I stood, hoping that would end the conversation. “It’s complicated.”
“I’ve been telling you this for years, I think your excuse is catawampus.” Bezu tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. “I think we are right, but I will respect your decision, for now.”
The others nodded in agreement.
“Time to go.” I held my hand out to help Annie Mae stand from her chair.
“Such a gentleman.” Annie Mae accepted my hand. “I’m looking forward to some entertainment. I’m going to party until I drop.”
“Something tells me I’m going to regret taking you.” I grinned as I pushed in the empty chair.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Annie Mae patted her short black hair. “I’m an angel.”
“An angel with horns who sticks her nose where it doesn’t belong.” I shook my head, still smiling.
“I have no idea what you are referring to.” She smoothed her blue silk shirt over her black dress slacks. “I don’t stick anything where it doesn’t belong.”
“Oh, you don’t? I remember what happened at your last summer theater camp.”
“Who could forget that? She solved two murders,” Bezu said.
“Yes, I did. And before that, you solved one, Bezu,” Annie Mae replied. “I’d say we are quite the amateur sleuths.”
I let out a long, deep breath. They thought just because they happened to have been successful, it meant they were skilled at what they did. Sure, they were all intelligent, very competent ladies, and I loved them like my own sisters. But they were not trained police. What they didn’t realize was that their so-called crime solving had amounted to a lot of luck. Had one thing gone the wrong way, they could’ve died.
“And one for me, too.” Cat held up her hand with her thumb tucked in. “That’s four altogether. You got to admit, that’s pretty good.”
I pointed at all of them. “I prevent murders by defusing bombs. So I win.”
“But we are good, you have to admit that. I think us gals should form our own detective agency,” Annie Mae declared, high-fiving Bezu and Cat.
“No way, no how is that a good idea. Wipe that from your minds.” I felt my neck stiffen and my veins stick out. They thought it was a joke, but each one of them had nearly died. I would never forgive myself if anything ever happened to any of them.
I lowered my voice’s volume. “I’m going to say this one last time. Stay out of police business. Got it? End of subject.” I put my left elbow akimbo. “Let’s go, Annie Mae.”
She threaded her arm through mine. “Okay, grumpy pants. But you better change your attitude. ’Cause I’m gonna have a hoot tonight. Just watch me.” Annie Mae wiggled her full figure. “All this is going to have a great time.”
Chapter 4
Annie Mae and I entered the Magnolia Club just as speakers blasted the last chorus of “I Will Survive.” The wall-to-wall tables were packed, and those who couldn’t find seats lined up at the back bar. Strobe lights punctuated the darkened room. The air was thick with the smell of stale beer and bargain perfume.
Applause saluted the Diana Ross drag queen, who exited behind the red velvet curtain.
The announcer on stage said, “Thank you, Delightful D. Ross, for that incredible performance. Now, for the debut of her new act, let’s all give it up for Savannah’s Southern-fried and sassy, always entertaining, the one and only Sweetie Pie.”
“Looks like we got here just in time,” I told Annie Mae. We threaded our way through the crowd to a small table near the stage with a reserved sign.
The pounding rhythms of “It’s Raining Men” filled the room as Sweetie Pie, looking fit, lip-synced and danced around the stage.
At one point, Sweetie Pie came out into the audience to mingle with the crowd, who hooted and shouted their approval. Upon arriving at my table, she wrapped a fuchsia feather boa around my neck. My chest squeezed. I felt the urge to duck out before anyone could see me getting singled out.
At that very moment, I saw Ray standing off to the side. We made eye contact.
I turned my back to him. When Sweetie Pie finally exited the stage, I touched Annie Mae’s arm. “I’m going to the bar. Can I get you anything?”
“Something sweet and salty like me,” she answered.
“Margarita it is.”
“I’ll meet you there, but I have to go to the ladies’ room first.” Annie Mae stood.
I made my way to the bar and placed my order.
A minute later, Ray was next to me. “I know why I’m here.”
“And why are you here?”
“Not that I have to tell you, but I’m checking IDs, making sure the place isn’t serving minors. So why are you here?”
I felt my stomach clench. “I’m watching a friend perform.”
“I don’t see any performers here.” Ray snickered.
I held back the urge to haul off and hit him.
The bartender put the drinks in front of me. I noticed he was tall and thin, clean-shaven but with long hair. He next placed a bowl of nuts beside the drinks.
“Jeez! Get these away from me,” Ray screamed.
The bartender grabbed the bowl just as another patron reached an arm in front of him, causing the nuts to flip over onto Ray.
“Idiot!” Ray grabbed his throat as he jammed a hand into the pocket of his battered leather jacket. He yanked out an EpiPen. Sweat beaded on Ray’s forehead as he clutched onto the bar, his chest visibly rising and falling. A few moments later, he put the unused device back in his pocket.
“Are you all right?” I asked. Even though I didn’t like him, he was obviously in distress.
“I’ll shut this place down! And fire you!” Ray shouted at the bartender, ignoring my question.
The bartender’s eyes were wide.
Looking at the bartender, I said, “Ignore him.” Then I turned to Ray. “What’s your problem? It’s not like you’re wearing a sign around your neck that says you’re allergic to peanuts. How in the hell is he supposed to know?”
Ray glared at the bartender. “He’s lucky I didn’t go into anaphylactic shock.”
The bartender shook his head as he wiped the countertop.
Barking at him, Ray ordered, “Get me a glass of water.”
“Doesn’t it get exhausting?” I asked Ray.
“What?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Being you,” I replied.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to. I’m just doing
my job. More than I can say for you.” Ray huffed as he grabbed the glass of water from the bartender. He took a chug.
A man with a thick build and auburn hair came over to us, apparently the bouncer. “Legally, you can come in and check IDs,” the man told Ray. “But you’re not allowed to berate anyone. I think you need to head on out the door.”
“Did you just give me an order? I’m here on official business, and you have no right to tell me when I have to go.” Ray puffed out his chest and set down his glass.
“For months now you’ve been trying to find us in violation of whatever, and you haven’t. So why don’t you just leave us alone?” The bouncer stood chest to barrel chest with Ray.
The veins on Ray’s neck stood out as he shoved a barstool away. It looked like he wanted to punch the bouncer. “I can get you fired! I’ve done it before, and I can do it again.”
The bouncer squared his shoulders as though he were preparing for battle.
Needing to defuse the tense situation and avoid a brawl, I slid between Ray and the bouncer. “Hey, Ray, let’s take a step back. Enjoy the show.”
“I’m not done with you,” Ray snarled at the bouncer.
“I’ve got this,” I told the bouncer.
The man nodded.
Ray changed his stance as he glared at the bouncer.
“Leave it alone, Ray. Relax.” I held my hands up.
“You got my drink?” Annie Mae had joined us. She took a quick glance at Ray, looked toward the bouncer, and then back at me. “What’s going on here? Looks like a rumble is about to break out.”
“Nothing,” I claimed.
The bouncer nodded toward me and then walked back to his post at the nearby door.
Ray grabbed his glass of water and emptied it.
I handed Annie Mae her drink.
Sweetie Pie walked over to us. “I heard someone’s messing with my bartender friend, Elias.”
Elias smiled at Sweetie Pie as he filled a mug from the beer tap. He shot a glance toward Ray.
“It’s under control,” I claimed.
Sweetie Pie wrapped her pink feather boa around Ray’s neck. “It looks like I’m not the only drama queen here.”
