Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series (Books 4 - 6)

by Tanya R. Taylor

  “We’ll be fine, trust me,” I said. “This isn’t our first rodeo.”

  “There’s no changing your mind about this?” Theodore asked. “If you give the police time to work on this case, maybe they’d surprise all of us.”

  I shook my head. “I have great respect for law enforcement officers in our country and around the world because they’re the guys who risk their lives every day to keep us, the public, safe. However, our little department here in town leaves a lot to be desired. That whole department needs to be revamped with new, energetic, brilliant officers who actually give a damn about justice and who’ll go about it the right way. I can’t sit by and not at least try to get Glenda the justice she deserves. She was one of my best friends in this world and even risked her life to help me out. I can’t say her last good gesture towards me is what caused her death, but I have to find out. I wouldn’t be a true friend to her if I don’t.”

  Theodore stood up and shoved his hands into his jeans’ pockets. “Although I don’t like this one bit, as usual, I support you and I’m here for you, and I know Anthony is too.”

  “You’ve got that right,” Anthony affirmed.

  “Thank you, boys. You’re the best.” I smiled.

  “I’m gonna take a shower and turn in early,” Theodore said, before leaving the room.

  Anthony turned my way, while running his fingers through Nilla’s fur. “Why do I feel like living with you is like living on the edge?”

  I chuckled. “Is that a hint that you finally want to move out?”

  “Not a chance! I honestly can’t see myself living anywhere else. I think you’re stuck with me.”

  The boy actually had a sense of humor.

  4

  _________________

  Against David’s wishes concerning her driving so soon after being discharged from the hospital, Merlene took it upon herself to drive over to my house the next day so we could have lunch together.

  “I refuse to be cooped up in that house like I was in the hospital!” She barked at me as if I had something to do with her being there in the first place. Sure, I had a hand in her being admitted, but both hands were clean when it came to the incident that caused me to have a hand in her getting admitted to the hospital. Okay; I know you know what I mean.

  “He’s just looking out for you, Merlene. That boy went through hell enough already, so try to be understanding,” I told her.

  “I do understand, Lucille, but I’m not an invalid. I was hurt—yes—but I’m much better now. There’s nothing preventing me from getting behind the wheel of my own car and driving to where I want to go. Besides, I don’t want to always have to rely on David; I don’t want to be a burden. I’ve been enough of a burden while I was in hospital.”

  “Why would you say a thing like that, Merlene?” I rested my cup of tea on the glass table. We were out on the back porch with a couple of pastrami sandwiches and hot coffee, and Nilla was asleep at my feet. “You were not a burden to him.”

  “Yes, I was.” She lowered her head. “Going to the hospital every day for weeks was a lot on him. ‘Course, he never said that, but I know from experience. When my mother was dying, I went to the nursing home every day for months to be with her and to make sure she was well taken care of. That’s all I wanted to do, but I didn’t realize until she passed away how much of a toll it had taken on my body. Everything almost shut down; I got so sick and for the longest time, the doctors didn’t know what the problem was. In the end, they said I was exhausted and stressed to the point where my body almost gave up. Caring for a loved one is truly an honor, but it can be quite a burden, as much as I hate to say that. But would I change a thing when it came to showing my mom I cared by the sacrifices I was making every day in spite of everything else I had to deal with?” She shook her head. “The answer is no—I wouldn’t change a thing. I loved my mother and I would do it again if I could, despite what might follow, and I know David would for me too. I might not be physically to the point I was before the kidnapping and I might have some pain here and there, but I will be independent again and will not burden my son as long as I can help it.”

  I patted her knee. “I can’t argue with you.”

  “Good.”

  “And I do admire you for that.”

  “You do?” There went that suspicious gaze of hers.

  “What? I can’t give a simple compliment to my best human friend?” I asked.

  Merlene cracked a smile. “Sure, you can, old lady.”

  She’d told me previously that Detective Lance Matthews and a Cheryl Greene from the DA’s office had been to the house and they all discussed the matter concerning her ex-husband, Roy, and his accomplices. They questioned her about her recollection of the events involving her kidnapping and she seemed quite satisfied that the case was progressing well—and was even impressed by the Greene lady.

  “They’re trying to get a date set for trial,” she told me before biting into the last half of her sandwich.

  “Wonderful! The sooner you can face those brutes, the better. They should be strung up by their ears for what they did to you!”

  “I couldn’t have put it better,” she agreed.

  Suddenly, we heard a knock at the door.

  “I’ll get it,” she offered.

  “No, Merlene. Let me do that.”

  “It’s all right, Lucille. I’m not an invalid, remember? I can still get around.”

  “It’s not about that.” I got up. “I’ll explain.”

  I walked back inside through the living room and as I approached the door, Carla came into view from the other side.

  “She can surely pick her timing!” I muttered. She must’ve recognized Merlene’s car parked in the driveway. I was surprised she didn’t just turn around and leave, considering her nemesis might be inside.

  “Give me a sec. I’m coming!” I hollered.

  “Okay,” she answered softly.

  I opened the door and just like the last time, she rushed in, then hurried over to the window and peered outside for a few moments.

  “Lucille, it’s me—Carla.” She came over to me.

  “Yes, I know. I recognized the voice outside of the door. What is it, Carla?”

  “I think I’m being followed.”

  “Followed?” I grimaced. “Are you sure?”

  “I think so.” She was nearly out of breath. “I’ll go get a drink of water if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. Go help yourself.”

  I followed her and stood at the kitchen door.

  She took a glass and instead, filled it to the brim with orange juice, then drank it all down in one gulp.

  “You wanna say hello to Merlene before or after we talk about who may or may not be following you?” I asked.

  “Merlene’s here?” She appeared surprised, putting the glass down.

  “Yes! Didn’t you see her car in the driveway?”

  “No, I didn’t! I was rushing so much, I didn’t notice.”

  “No worries. You two can say a quick hello and maybe even become friends.”

  “I don’t think so, Lucille.” She’d lowered her voice almost to a whisper. “I know she still hates me, but right now, I’m not worried about that. My main concern is that I might be tailed!”

  “Come on, Carla. I was just about to fill Merlene in on everything and keep it between us three.”

  Carla shook her head, vehemently. “I don’t think you should do that, Lucille. I just don’t. Besides, I can’t trust her. If she finds out who’s following me, she might make it easier for them to get me—like when I’m home in bed at night or travelling a deserted stretch of road to the bakery to get my favorite snacks at steep discounts.”

  I couldn’t believe my ears. As shaky as she was already, she could still think of her stomach. I really wondered if there was any hope for Carla.

  “Look, Carla…” I spoke softly as well. “Merlene has to know. She’s my right hand and she can help us get to the bott
om of this whole thing.”

  “There’s no us, Lucille. I told you that before! I’m not getting involved in this; it’s just too dangerous.”

  “So, what’re you doing here then?” I asked bluntly. “Why are you running to me instead of the police?”

  She thought for a moment. “You know I can’t do that! I wouldn’t know who to trust down there.”

  “That’s why you, Merlene and I need to put our heads together and maybe we can get to the bottom of this, and life for you and me would return to normal. I can imagine what Brittany’s going through living with you like this. I’m assuming you’re just as panicky around her!”

  There was a long pause.

  “I try my best to act normal around Brittany, although it’s so hard.” She sighed. “Okay…whatever you say, Lucille. I trust you.”

  “Good! I thought you’d come to your senses.”

  Merlene was not happy to see Carla at all, but the big baby would’ve just had to deal with it. I invited them into the sitting room where we all sat together with the understanding that we’d have to speak quietly. Nilla, still outside on the back porch, opened her sweet little eyes slightly, but didn’t move an inch more.

  Carla quickly got up and made sure the front door was locked before we proceeded.

  “What’s this about, Lucille?” Merlene wasted no time.

  “We’ve got a problem,” I replied.

  “Another one? What’s it this time?”

  I wasn’t too keen about her reaction at all. You’d have thought she had no idea why we’d—yes, I did say we’d meaning she and I—found ourselves embroiled in one odd thing after the next.

  “It has to do with Glenda,” Carla told her, much to my surprise. She’d barely gotten a hello from Merlene a few minutes ago, but probably thought by speaking to her more it would break the ice between them. “She had her creepy little black book mailed to me after she died.”

  “What? You mean she sent a special delivery to your mailbox directly from heaven or wherever she’s at?”

  “Merlene…Merlene. Allow Carla here to explain,” I begged.

  And believe me, Carla surely did with all the gestures she could drum up. At some point, she even stood up to demonstrate how she’d reacted after she’d read the book and the accompanying note inside the envelope; and how she’d barged in here scared to death with intel she wanted absolutely nothing to do with. And that was certainly alarming considering the time she’d invested over the years being heavy into people’s business.

  Merlene was astounded. “Well, that’s something…” is all she could muster up after Carla had the floor the greater part of fifteen minutes.

  “She thinks someone’s following her now,” I told Merlene. Then I asked Carla, “Did you see anyone in particular that looked suspicious?”

  “I’m gonna be honest with you, Lucille. Right now, every living soul I don’t know looks suspicious to me. Doesn’t matter if they’re at the gas station, the grocery store, the tanning salon or driving behind me. I’m suspicious of everyone.”

  “You’ve got it bad.” Merlene glanced up at her somewhat cynically.

  “I do! I feel like I’m going crazy.”

  Merlene gave me that look which clearly said, She hit the nail right on the head!

  “I heard you were at the funeral,” I said to Carla. “And that you were disguised.”

  “I surely was!”

  She sat down again opposite Merlene and me who were sharing the couch.

  “I had to find some way to pay my last respects to Glenda. After all, we’d known each other for so many years even though we weren’t as close as you two were.” Then she got a revelation. “Hey! How did that person recognize me? I did everything I possibly could to disguise my appearance! I hope no one knew it was me behind that tent.”

  “From what I’d heard, you did a really good job. The person only knew it was you when your wig flew off your head when you were almost at your car.”

  “Oops!” She giggled. “Yeah, that did happen.”

  I knew it was Carla from the second I’d spotted her. Those mannerisms of hers and all were a clear giveaway. I still respected her for all the trouble she went through though.

  “You didn’t bother to attend the repast?” I asked her.

  “Oh, no! That would’ve been too up close and personal for me. Keeping my distance in the graveyard was as safe as it was gonna get.” She shifted in her seat. “Did you go to the repast?”

  “I did. Merlene and Theodore too. Anthony couldn’t attend the funeral since he was working.”

  “I see. Heard the repast was at Glenda’s house.”

  “Yes. Her sister, Chloe, did a fine job. She’s a wonderful girl; actually a few years younger than Glenda.”

  I decided to excuse myself at that moment and went upstairs to retrieve the little black book. I imagined Merlene and Carla must’ve felt quite awkward being left alone in each other’s company like that, but I thought it was a good opportunity for them to get used to each other a bit and mend the proverbial fence even if was just by quietly being civil inside the living room.

  To my surprise as I descended the staircase, I found them chatting about none other than Nilla who’d joined Carla on the sofa after her nap. She didn’t hang around long though, but ventured over to her bowl of dog food I’d set down for her near the stairs.

  “I heard what happened to you, Merlene,” Carla said, which I thought was so nice. “I’m sorry you had to experience such a terrible thing.”

  “Thanks,” Merlene replied.

  “I hope they throw away the key on those criminals.”

  “Yeah. Me too.”

  “So, are you much better now?” Carla asked.

  “Yes, much better.”

  Merlene’s responses were short, but I’m certain Carla understood that trust is something that must be earned. Surely, she couldn’t expect Merlene to ever forget that it was her who first spoke the words that cast suspicion on her son, David, after his girlfriend died.

  Sitting next to Merlene again, I handed her the black book and told her to read it.

  Carla and I sat quietly, giving her time to digest the information in front of her.

  “This can’t be…” Merlene uttered softly, minutes later. “But knowing Glenda, I have no doubt it’s all true.” She looked at both of us. “The people—the prominent names, the conspiracies, the crimes, not to mention some of the affairs they’re involved in are mind-blowing. How in the world did Glenda get all this intel?”

  “She knew a lot of people in high places; that’s for sure,” I said.

  “I mean…the information in here is enough to wreck these people’s lives and their families’,” she continued. “It’s kind of frightening for a person to have all this dirt on people who could retaliate. For goodness’ sake, some of these people are alleged to be mobsters or at least have some affiliation to the mob. Was Glenda afraid for her life?”

  “She didn’t seem to be,” I returned, “But of course, I didn’t know she was this informed. Toward the end though, there was something in her voice. She sounded a bit off and the more I’ve replayed it my mind, I’m convinced she had an idea that her life was in danger. It can’t be mere coincidence that after she filled me in on Mayor Bradley’s dirty little secret in order to twist his arm to help me out with the Indians that she ended up dead.”

  Merlene was nodding in agreement.

  “And Carla, you might not be so paranoid after all…” I said.

  “Okay…but what do you mean?” Carla asked.

  “After we got home from the repast, a strange car was parked in front of my driveaway. Theodore said a man wearing a cowboy hat was at the driver’s seat. The moment we pulled up, he took off down the road. The thing is…Theodore swore he recognized that same car from the repast, but had no idea if the guy was a guest inside.”

  “Strange that someone from the repast would show up at your house, Lucille, and even beat you here…�
�� Merlene noted, “…which means, he had to have already known where you live.”

  “I wonder what he wanted?” Carla said. “This is very disturbing.”

  “I’ve got a hunch it has to do with Glenda’s death and this book,” Merlene replied. “Maybe somehow he found out about your close connection to Glenda; knew she had this book and at least suspect that you might have it in your possession.”

  “But why be suspicious of me? She has a sister,” I reminded her. “Wouldn’t it make sense that if he’s looking for the book, he’d suspect it’s inside of Glenda’s house where her sister’s now at? Wouldn’t he have checked there first?

  “Who says he hadn’t?” Merlene replied.

  “Chloe didn’t mention that there was any break-in.”

  Merlene shook her head. “Lucille, you know fully well that people can break into other people’s homes without leaving the slightest trace that there ever was a forced entry—the neat guys, at least. The slobs would just rummage through stuff and toss them all over the place.”

  “We have to get to the bottom of this whole thing as I’m not about to let Glenda’s death be a cold case—one that never gets solved. And I’m certainly not going to allow any of those undesirables in her book to think they can stake me out for any reason.”

  “I’m in,” Merlene frankly stated. “Whatever we have to do, let’s do it.”

  Carla sighed heavily. “I guess I’m in too. I don’t think I have much of a choice. Either go to battle or keep running and hiding, and right now, all this running and hiding I’m doing is taking a toll on me.”

  “Don’t worry,” I told her. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. We’ll find out who had it in for Glenda enough to murder her and what, if anything, they want with us.”

  “How do you propose we do that?” she asked.

  “For starters, we go through the book and eliminate suspects. Right now, everyone in there is a suspect and that’s well over a couple dozen people.”

  The girls were put to work right away and we discussed every name, one by one, also checking the date of entry attached to the intel and gravity of the misdeed.