That explains a lot. And it also gives Henrick a motive for murder. Enya hinted that Duncan was suing someone, but she wasn’t sure who. She tossed out Karen’s name. I thought maybe Lorelei was a prospect, too. But then according to Lorelei, Enya was the one given a few big checks—one of which topped a hundred and twenty K.
“Henrick, do you know if Duncan was in the habit of giving loans out to people?” I ask. “For very large sums?”
He takes in a breath, and his chest widens. My guess is, yes, he knows something indeed.
He nods my way. “Let’s just say, Duncan liked the ladies—especially ladies in distress. He did loan out money, but rumor had it, he expected a pound of flesh in return.”
Carlotta slaps her hands together. “The man was a gigolo.”
Henrick shrugs. “Something like that, but he worked in reverse as well.”
He lent out money in exchange for his body? Is that what was going on between Enya and Duncan? She did say they were set to make an amicable transaction and then something about being humiliated.
“What about Karen and Lorelei?” I ask in haste, half-afraid he’s going to pass out if he stands in the sun another moment.
Henrick does a quick visual sweep of the area as if checking to see if they were around.
“What can I say? You’re right, Carlotta.” He nods her way. “Duncan was nothing more than a common gigolo who would do anything for money. He had an entire line of women. Duncan once bragged to me that Karen Collier paid him for something precious, and that she was feeding his bank account a steady diet of hush money.”
“Hush money?” Carlotta looks my way. “There’s your culprit, Lot. I know firsthand, hush money can get mighty expensive even if you are finding creative ways to pay. Her best bet would have been to peg him for a crime and get him locked up for life.” She blows a breath out at the lake. “But with a plea deal and time off for good behavior, he would have ended up in Honey Hollow in no time.”
Why do I get the feeling that was yet another piece in the Rooster-shaped puzzle?
“Henrick,” I lean in, “what did Karen pay him for?” And then offer up hush money? It almost doesn’t make sense.
“Who knows.” He waves it off. “He could have been pulling my leg.”
“What about Lorelei? I heard she worked for him doing secretarial things or his books.”
“All I know about Lorelei Mulligan is that her husband up and left her last year. Took off with his own secretary.”
“But I heard she was left with a place not too far away, the Flat Iron Ranch?”
His brows furrow. “I didn’t know that. I am familiar with the Flat Iron, though.” His eyes widen a moment before he gives an aggressive shake of the head as if trying to rid himself of a toxic thought. “Carlotta”—he pulls a card out of his pocket and hands it to her—“there’s my number. You just text me your address, and I’ll come by whenever you like and we can walk, run, or find more interesting things to do with our bodies.” He winks her way. “And if not tonight, I’ll see you both at the redemption ball this Saturday night. Without Duncan there to muck it up, it’s going to be a night to remember.” He steps over to put in his order, collects his cookies, and takes off.
“Don’t you dare call him, Carlotta,” I tell her. “Not only is he a viable suspect in an active homicide investigation, but he’s not Mayor Nash.”
“You’re right, Lot. It’s bad enough I’ve got Rooster wanting a piece of Carlotta pie. There’s only so much of me to go around.” She ticks her head my way. “Have you ever cut a pie into thirds?”
“No.” I’m about to reiterate the need for her to keep away from a murder suspect lest she wants to fall victim to his charms and perhaps his infernal devices, i.e., his ability to inject her with potassium chloride, when I spot Noah and Everett headed in this direction.
“Look who’s on their way, Lottie?” Lily calls out as she steps on over. “Boy, they look heated.”
My heart thumps unnaturally. “It’s just hot, that’s all.”
Carlotta moans, “I don’t know, they look lean and mean, Lot, and all of their anger seems to be laser-focused on you.”
“Pfft,” Suze huffs as she observes the two of them. “They’re always laser-focused on her. That must be some spell you’ve cast on them.”
Lily begins to pant. “What I wouldn’t do to have two hot men looking at me like that. They look as if they both want to have their way with you.”
Carlotta takes a step in their direction as she does her best to observe them. “I’ve seen that look in a man’s eyes before. They want to take you over their knee and teach you a lesson.”
Lily fans herself with her fingers. “They look downright angry.”
Suze gives them a sideways glance. “Noah looks fit to kill. Maybe this is it? The big one.” There’s a sudden touch of glee in her voice. “Whatever debacle you’ve gotten yourself into now, Lottie, it appears it’s jarred them both back to their good senses.”
“You mean they’re gonna share her?” Carlotta looks hopeful.
“No,” Suze flatlines. “They’re going to dump her.”
Noah growls as he and Everett step up to the booth. Everett is in a suit as if he just flew over from work, and Noah is in a T-shirt and jeans with the scruff on his face a little longer than usual as if he didn’t have time to trim it. And I’m suddenly alarmed by their presence—because I just so happen to have a sneaking suspicion what this could be about.
“Lottie,” Noah growls.
“Lemon.” Everett has his chin dipped just enough to give him that demented yet unfairly comely look, and just about half the women at the lake are craning their necks in this direction at the two of them.
And to be honest, I’d rather these two heated hunks were giving anyone else the stink eye but me.
What am I saying? If anyone around here should be giving anyone the stink eye, it’s me—to them.
“Noah, Everett,” I chirp. “What a surprise. What can I do for you gentlemen today?”
Everett’s lips curve, and he looks stone-cold wicked. “You’re coming with us.”
Noah nods. “And we’re leaving right now.”
Noah
It turns out, Miranda is taking care of Lyla Nell, and we decide to keep it that way.
Everett and I walk Lottie over to an abandoned picnic table far enough from the crowds where no one can hear a thing we’re about to say.
“What’s this?” She lifts a brow my way as she takes a seat across from us. “An impromptu lunch date? And yet there’s no food. I wonder what the two of you are up to.” She gives us both a sharp look.
Everett and I may have shown up with daggers in our eyes, but I have a feeling Lottie is about to usurp us in the anger department.
“Well?” She bites the air as she says it. “Just what is it the two of you are up to?”
I take a breath and glance to the sky. “All right.” I lift a hand. “I’ll admit it, I’m more than relieved that it’s you who made that briefcase disappear. Look, Lottie, I can explain everything, but there are some things it’s best you don’t have to worry about.”
A silent laugh bounces through her, and I can tell she doesn’t find a single thing funny in this scenario. Believe me, neither do I.
“Everett?” She flashes her eyes his way. “Say something.”
A tiny growl emits from him. “Unlike Noah, I had no doubt you moved the money.”
“No doubt?” She gives a long blink and smears it with sarcasm. “Why, it could have been Evie, it could have been Carlotta, or any number of Carlotta’s midnight suitors. It could have been my mother, who has become a frequent visitor to our home, or Wiley.” She tilts her head as she studies the two of us. “Just what the hell are the two of you up to?”
Everett sighs as he glances my way. I know that look on his face. He’s reluctant to let this get any further.
“All right, Lottie.” I lean onto my elbows. “Where’s my briefcase, an
d where is the money? At the house? Under the bed? In my gun safe? We get it. You’re angry, and you have every right to be. Just tell us where you put it.”
“I’ll tell you my secret if you tell me yours. You go first.” She folds her hands and sheds a satisfied smile.
Everett leans back. “I trust wherever you put them, those items are safe. I trust you, Lemon.”
“That’s funny.” Her lips twitch. “Because I don’t know that I trust either of you. Noah, please tell me you’re not sidestepping into a drug running business.”
“I’m not.” Although I’m not entirely sure if that’s the correct answer either, and judging by that look in her eye, she’s not so sure either.
“Everett,” she spits his name out. “Is that your money? The money you were using to pay Manny for protection when Lyla Nell was born?”
“No.” Everett doesn’t hesitate with the truth.
“Knew it.” She shakes her head. “I found it the day you went back to work. You went into the shower, and I saw that briefcase lying by your side of the bed. I thought it would be nice to sneak a note into it, to give you something to put a smile on your face when you got to your desk. Boy, was I ever surprised.” She grunts, “And then I thought maybe it was the money left over from the funds you were using to pay Manny off. But then you never took it to the bank. You came home with that briefcase full of cash night after night. And when I happened to mention to Charlie and Carlotta that I found a briefcase that I didn’t think belonged to you, Charlie asked if I had seen Noah’s briefcase.” Her lips bleed a cold smile my way. “I can’t believe you shared that with my sister.”
“I didn’t share anything with her. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The exact same position you just put yourself in, Lottie. You have seen something very nefarious with your own two eyes. You are culpable. This is the exact reason I didn’t want to share this with you. This is not a good idea.”
A choking sound comes from her. “Charlie says you’ve had that briefcase well over a week. You are an insane man if you think that’s a good idea. And what about you, Everett? Would you like to lecture me on what is and what isn’t a good idea as well?”
“No, Lemon.” Everett’s cheeks flicker as if he was about to go toe to toe with her in the sarcasm department. “I don’t think a lecture is going to do any one of us good. I’m going to lay it out for you. I found out about Noah’s briefcase. I told him I was in a similar dilemma and that I would take care of both of our problems.” His voice is tight. “So all I need you to do is tell us where you put our belongings and we’ll forget you ever saw a thing.” He glares at her with such intensity, a part of me wonders if this will break them. “I’ll take care of Carlotta and Charlie.”
She frowns over at him. “I’m not giving anyone anything back until I have the full story. And what do you mean you found out about Noah’s briefcase? I honestly thought the two were related. I want to know what the two of you have gotten yourselves into, and I’m not giving anything back until I get the whole truth.”
“No,” Everett says without wavering. “I’m not going to do it, Lemon. And neither is Noah. We’re not putting you in any more danger, filling your mind with a single ounce of fear. There’s no point. Just know that the sooner we get possession of those things once again, the safer we’ll all be.” He looks my way. “I have a plan, and I’m ready to put it into motion this afternoon. In fact, Lemon, why don’t you point me in the right direction, and you and Noah have a nice lunch while I take care of things? And when the time is right, and we are far away from any hint of trouble, I promise you, we will tell you everything.”
A hard groan rips from her throat as she tosses her head back in frustration.
“I am so tired of being coddled.” She slaps her hand over the table as if to annunciate the point. “Don’t the two of you know that I can take care of myself? And don’t the two of you know it’s too late to ask me not to worry? It’s bad enough I have to worry about Lyla Nell growing up in this world. Do I really have to worry about the two of you keeping potentially lethal secrets from me?”
I close my eyes a moment. “Give him the money and my briefcase, Lot. And we’ll give it a few days and we’ll tell you everything this Sunday.”
“This Sunday?” Her eyes flit toward Everett as if they were negotiating. “I will give you the briefcase and the cash, but only if, no matter what happens, I will be told the truth from the both of you. And I’m not looking for the abridged version either. I want you to take me the long way.”
Everett’s chest deflates as he lets out a breath. “Deal,” he says, and there’s not an ounce of enthusiasm in it.
“One more stipulation.” Lottie wipes her face down with her hands. “I want to take a moment to talk about the investigation.” She shrugs and looks adorable as she does it.
A smile tugs on my lips. This is how I always want to remember Lottie, with the willow tree blowing in the fiery breeze behind her and the sunshine dappled over her, turning her hair a brilliant shade of gold. Lottie is beautiful no matter what mood she’s in, but I’ll admit, she is sublime when she’s feisty.
“I can’t help it.” She wrinkles her nose. “It relaxes me. Besides, Henrick Dayton just stopped by my booth a moment before the two of you arrived with your chests puffed up. To be honest, I’m offended that you thought you could keep something from me.”
Everett clamps his hand over hers. “I’m sorry we even tried, Lemon. But it was purely with the intent to protect you. We care about you. Lyla Nell should be your only concern at the moment.” He raps his knuckles over the table as if they were his gavel. “Now let’s talk about the investigation for a bit, then you’ll tell me where to go and I’ll take care of this once and for all.”
My phone pings, and it’s a text from Ivy.
“Well, how do you like that?” I ask as I wag my phone at the two of them. “There’s been a new development in the case.”
Everett
“All right, what’s the new development?” I ask, knocking against the table one more time.
I can’t help it, I’m anxious as heck to get this over with so I can get Jimmy’s coke and Luke’s cash back where it belongs—to them. I’ve already made up my mind. Noah and I are going to barter with Manny. At least when I was dealing with Manny, I didn’t have the feeling a noose was tightening around my neck.
I realize that Manny’s stipulation to helping me out was giving him an in with Charlie, and hell, if that’s what it takes, I’ll buy the two of them surf and turf dinners every night for the next five years. If anything, Carlotta will coerce her daughter into taking the deal. Heck, I’ll buy Carlotta and Mayor Nash a couple of pricey dinners, too. I’d put the entire damn town on a meal plan tied to my credit card if I knew it would protect my family.
Noah stares at his phone a moment. “Ivy just gave me a spreadsheet of Duncan’s bank records. We got a judge to give us the fast track to the guy’s checking and savings. Nothing out of whack there, but he had a business account and that’s where things start to get wild. It seems he was pulling out some hefty sums of money pretty regularly. More than he was depositing, that’s for sure.”
Lemon nods. “I think I might know why. Henrick just told me that he loaned money out in exchange for a pound of flesh.”
“A man of ill repute.” I nod. “This doesn’t shock me. Who were the takers?”
“I can’t be certain, but Enya Cristóbal might have been one. Lorelei mentioned that she saw a check for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars made out to Enya and that there were other payments as well. And when I spoke with Enya, she said she and Duncan had made an amicable transition, but that he didn’t come through with his end of the bargain. And then she mentioned that she was humiliated in the process.”
Noah shakes his head. “But he gave her a large sum of money. And according to Lorelei, more than that.”
Lemon shrugs. “Maybe there were many amicable transactions, maybe Duncan was o
n a payment plan, or maybe he decided to skip out of the rest of what he owed her. Regardless, that sounds like a motive on her part.”
“Agree,” I say. “Who’s next?”
Lemon raises her brows my way. “Anxious to move things along, are we, Judge Baxter?”
Her lips flicker as she tries to hold back a smile, and she looks like the exact vixen she is. But I’m not here to play bedroom games with her. And I’m not nearly as fuming as she might think I am. I’m simply terrified of how many variables are still able to go wrong. And in this case, wrong can be deadly.
“Yes.” The word comes out a touch more aggressive than I’ve ever spoken to her.
Lemon is playing with dynamite, and if we wait one moment too long, it might just take out everyone we love.
“Who’s next?” I growl at Noah.
He lifts a finger as he looks to Lemon. “Lottie, did Henrick say anything that would make you believe he had a viable motive himself?”
“Oh yeah. He said he couldn’t stand Duncan Spears. He called him a gnat that was always getting in his way. Henrick bought up all the land around Duncan’s shack so he could put in more restaurants, but Duncan was a holdout. It turns out, Duncan was suing him. And that if he won, he would have made off with the lion’s share of Henrick’s real estate holdings. He said he offered him twice what the land was worth and even offered him a percentage of his first year sales, but he wouldn’t budge. Duncan told him that he felt as if he were being bullied and threatened to sue. He said he would tie him up in court until every one of Henrick’s bank accounts was bleeding money. Henrick indeed thought Duncan could have made off with the lion’s share of his business if he played his cards right.”
Key Lime Pie Perjury: Cozy Mystery (MURDER IN THE MIX Book 34) Page 17
