Checkered Crime: A Laurel London Mystery

by Kappes, Tonya

  “Just a fill in,” I mumbled over the seats.

  The Holy Rollers were the old blue-haired women who made up the bible group that met in the undercroft of the Friendship Baptist Church and the same women in charge of preparing all the food that was consumed after a funeral.

  They were spry and good bowlers. They were first in the league while we were in second. In fact, they spent any and all of their free time at Lucky Strikes. They were the league champs two years in a row.

  “It doesn’t matter who you have because we are going for the three-peat.” Sharon Fasa held up three fingers in the air.

  All the Holy Rollers chanted three-peat right along with her.

  “So how did your lunch date with the hippie go the other day?” Gia popped down next to me when the twins took their turn to bowl. “I totally forgot to ask.”

  “Just because he drove a VW didn’t make him a hippie.” I jerked back toward Gia.

  “He’s never going to be happy with anyone you date.” Gia raised a brow and glanced over my shoulder at Derek.

  She was right. Any time I suggested a possible boyfriend, Derek always had something negative to say.

  “It didn’t work out.” I turned my lip up. “On an upswing, I do have a cocktail date with Bob sometime this week.”

  Jax came over and sat down next to us. I did my best to ignore him.

  “What happened to lunch?” Gia never liked me using the dating sites either.

  She said that you never could be too sure about people and she was afraid I was going to get what she called “Laurel-napped.”

  “We are meeting up at Benny’s. I’m sure I’ll be fine.” I took a swig of my beer. I nudged her with my elbow. “You’re up.”

  Perfect timing too. I didn’t want to have to explain why I decided to do cocktails instead of lunch.

  The night went along just fine. Derek sat on one side, Jax on the other and I bounced all over the place trying to keep the peace with everyone, even the Holy Rollers when things started to heat up after they won the game. . .again.

  “See y’all next week,” I said after putting my ball back in the ball rack.

  “Better luck next time.” Sharon Fasa winked before she blew on her knuckles and pretended to polish them off on her shoulder.

  “Did you see Trixie Turner with that foil on her head?” One of the other blue-hairs shook her head. “Crazy.”

  “Ignore them.” Gia rushed over and grabbed me before I could go all ape shit on them. “Old people think they can say whatever they want. They are the crazy ones.”

  “I want to beat them.” My blood pressure rose as I tried to keep it together. “Do not ask anyone else to join our team. Got it?” I jerked away and headed toward Shelia to return my shoes.

  “Yeah. Fine,” Gia called after me.

  I put my shoes on the counter for Sheila and tried to get the hell out of Lucky Strikes. I didn’t want to be interrogated by Derek. I didn’t want to fight with old women. And I certainly didn’t want to talk to Jax Jackson.

  Poor Derek had an off game. He had several gutters, which I hadn’t seen him do since we used to sneak out of the orphanage and sneak into Lucky Strikes in the middle of the night and play a couple rounds.

  Derek didn’t seem to care because he looked pretty content watching Jax’s every move. Alex and Adam were pretty good bowlers. Carmine and Gia not so much, but Gia was my best friend and Carmine was her appendage. Jax Jackson didn’t do so bad either, every frame he either had a strike or a spare. Too bad he’s only here for the details of the festival. I hated to admit that the team could use him. He could be the extra member.

  “Come on.” Derek tilted his head toward his truck. He fiddled with his keys. “I’ll give you a lift.”

  “Nah. It’s a beautiful night.” I ran my hand down his arm. “Thanks but it’ll be good to walk off some of the beer calories.”

  “Suit yourself.” Derek glanced around. The door swung open and Jax walked out. “You sure?”

  “Yeah.” I found it cute in a big brother kind of way that he was looking out for me. I waved bye to him after he jumped into the truck and sped off.

  The parking lot was thinning out. I walked faster. Not that I was scared, but I could feel the stare of Jax Jackson.

  “Hold up!” Jax yelled.

  I ignored him until he jogged up next to me.

  “You can drive me back to the Windmill.” Jax assumed I was his taxi service while in town.

  “I don’t think so.” I flung my bag over my shoulder and continued to walk outside. “Besides I walked.”

  The stars dotted the night sky. The temperature was perfect for a nice walk. It made me happy that I had chosen to walk instead of drive.

  Gia and Carmine beeped when they drove up with the top down in their red Jeep Wrangler. Gia was lucky. Her parents gave her whatever she wanted. The Jeep was a present when she and Carmine had gotten married along with a house.

  “You want to grab a beer from Benny?” Gia asked me and Jax.

  I could see excitement at the prospect of something going on between me and Jax.

  “No thanks. I’m tired.” I waved her off and didn’t even wait for Jax to answer.

  “Call you tomorrow!” Gia screamed out, grabbing the rollover bar when Carmine peeled out of the parking lot.

  “Wow!” Jax gasped and stood right in the middle of the parking lot as cars tried to pass him.

  “Get out of the way.” I shook my head and continued to walk. “You’re going to get killed.”

  “Look at that sky.” He rushed up next to me.

  The smell of his cologne circled my head making me dizzy. I bet it was some high-dollar fancy New York City department store cologne. Definitely nothing they sold in the locked counter behind the make-up department at K-Mart.

  I took a few quick breaths to keep me grounded.

  “What?” I looked up thinking the stars were falling or something.

  “I have never seen stars like that,” he said. “Beautiful,” he whispered so low, I barely heard him.

  The moonlight dripped down on Jax like the night was meant for him. In the light, his hazel eyes shone like bits of gleaming porcelain.

  “I…I’m glad you came to join us tonight. Too bad you can’t come next week.” There was a tingling in the pit of my stomach. I picked up the speed. For some reason I had to get out of his presence. It was making me lose all sense of control.

  “Who said I was leaving anytime soon?” He kept pace with me. “Where are you going so fast? Got another date with the likes of Antonio?” He chuckled.

  Abruptly I stopped, way before he noticed, knocking him into me. It only made him laugh more.

  “Listen, I don’t know who you are. But I do know that you are somehow watching me. You have been nasty ever since I picked your sorry ass up. Without me, you would have had to try to figure out your own way to Walnut Grove. I don’t work for Porty Morty anymore. You can deal with him about the Underworld Music Festival yourself. So stop following me everywhere I go!” I jabbed my finger into his rock hard chest, which didn’t help my stomach any. My mind whirled with wild images of what was under there. “Are you really with the festival? You better come clean or I will ask Morty myself.”

  He stared at me like he was assessing the situation. I ran across the street and through a couple of yards to make it over to Second Street. He ran after me. Right in front of the bank, Jax grabbed my arm. He twisted me around. His gaze was as soft as a caress. I jerked away.

  “Laurel, I know you are on the mob payroll.” His jaw clenched. His eyes slightly narrowed.

  “Mob?” I threw my head back and a roar of laughter came out. “The Mob of Walnut Grove. Ohhhh!” I waved my hands out in front of me. “Yep, we use Lucky Strikes to make our plans. That is why I went ballistic when I saw you there.” My words dripped with mockery of his idiotic remark. “Here For The Beer is our undercover name.”

  “I’m not kidding Laurel. I saw Trigger Finge
r Tony get out of your car. Not to mention the cash he threw at you. No less to keep your mouth shut.” Jax was not joking. His eyes were hooded like those of a hawk. “You might as well go on and tell me. It will be much better in the long run. I’m sure we can get you a plea deal.”

  “Plea deal?” I chuckled but stopped when the seriousness of his words stung me. “Mob? You’re joking right? Tony is definitely not a mob guy.”

  He reached around to his back pocket and took out his wallet. In a flip of his wrist, the wallet flung open exposing a large shiny metal badge that clearly read FBI across the top.

  “Have you ever heard the FBI ever to joke?” His words left his mouth but to me it was in slow motion.

  “Shit! Does that mean I have to give back the money?” I stomped around in a circle, not a care in the world that I had been an accomplice in some sort of mob interaction.

  “You are admitting to it?” Jax Jackson threw questions at me left and right. “How do you know Trigger Finger Tony? When did he first contact you? Is there somewhere we can go because you are probably being watched.” Jax looked around as if he was expecting someone to pop out with loaded guns.

  “Whoa!” I put my hands out in front of me. “I don’t know that guy. He was like you. He thought I was a taxi and paid me to take him to the Airport Hotel. That’s it.” I gripped the handle of my hobo bag and turned toward the bank. “Why is he called Trigger Finger Tony?”

  The thought of his name struck a sudden fear in me. My mind twirled with all the images of famous mob families and their minions that offed people. Was Trigger Finger Tony in Walnut Grove to off someone?

  “He is the head of the Cardozza family. That is why I know something big is going to go down.” He waited to see my reaction.

  My mind might have been going a million miles a minute, but my game face was on. Jax Jackson didn’t realize he was standing right in front of the biggest con in Walnut Grove.

  “How did he get the name?” I wasn’t stupid.

  Everyone and their brother had heard of the different mob names, most outrageous, and there were always reasons behind the name. Having the name Trigger Finger didn’t sound so good to me and truly made one thing come to my mind…a gun.

  “Let’s say he loves piranhas. We, the FBI, always know when he’s made a hit because his victims usually loose a finger or four to his family pets.”

  “Family pets?” I gulped, afraid to hear the answer.

  “A tank full of piranhas. So do you want to come clean with me now?” he asked. “According to Louie Pelfrey, you are your own little mob. When I asked about you, he told me to stay as far away from you as possible,” Jax said, following me close behind.

  “That’s because I have a little bit of a past.” I used my finger and thumb to create a little space between them. My finger looked good on my hand. I liked my fingers. All of them. I couldn’t scrape the image of a bunch of sharp fish teeth chomping on it.

  “A little? Should I refresh your memory? Conned a preacher. Classic.” He paused and pointed at the Walnut Grove Savings behind us. “Stole money from the bank. Federal offense. That is enough for me to arrest you right here.” His voice escalated as he read off the past I had been working hard to forget from his little notebook. “Listen, Laurel. Trigger Finger Tony eats girls like you as a snack. He wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet through that pretty little head of yours and out of your gorgeous eyes. It wouldn’t cross his mind a second time if he killed you. One wrong move and you’re dead. Understand? Dead!”

  “You don’t know a thing about me. I’ve been working really hard to be on the level.” I made it around the bank and stomped up the steps, even though he called me pretty and referred to my eyes as gorgeous.

  “Oh, and are we back to robbing the bank tonight?” He continued to climb with me.

  “If you were really with the FBI, you’d know I live here numb nuts.” I got my keys out of my bag and opened the door. Henrietta ran under the couch.

  “Nice. Real mature, Laurel.” He stopped at the door and put a hand on each side, leaning into the efficiency. “So are you going to let me in?”

  “No!” I slammed the door in his face, not caring a bit if I chopped off a finger or two.

  Chapter Nine

  There wasn’t a need for me to set my alarm. My mind kept me up all night wondering if everything Jax had said was true. The FBI part, not my past. Hell, everyone in Walnut Grove groaned when they heard my name and would be more than happy to tell anyone that would listen about my past. I had become sort of like an Urban Legend around here. Flattering at times, but not this time.

  After dumping Henrietta a can of food in her bowl, I decided it was time to get ready and face the man Jax called Trigger Finger Tony.

  I threw the skinny jeans from last night on because they weren’t dirty and laundry wasn’t at the top of my list these days since I had to go to Trixie’s to wash and fold, plus I wasn’t good at it. I found a blue sweater and sneakers to throw on before I headed out the door.

  “Morning, Laurel.” Sally Bent had parked her car next to the Old Girl in the back of the bank parking lot. She was a teller and took every advantage to tell me she had a real job. “I heard you got a new car and that you just might have a new job. Sorry about Morty.”

  I couldn’t swear to it, but I think there was a twinkle of pleasure in her eyes. I knew she was referring to the prostituting thing Louie was spreading around.

  “Tell your brother to keep his mouth shut,” I said through my gritted teeth. “Because if he doesn’t,” I paused. “Well, you don’t want to know what Laurel London has up her sleeve.”

  Rarely did I refer to myself in third person but it seemed to have more of an effect when I did. Besides, scaring Sally Bent was one pleasure I did have at the orphanage after she would run and tattle on everyone.

  “I don’t know who you think you are, but you can’t go around threatening people all of your life.” Sally walked fast toward the bank, clutching her fancy high dollar hand bag to her chest like I was going to rob her or something. “Grow up, Laurel London! You aren’t at the orphanage anymore standing behind Trixie. You could get into real trouble threatening people.”

  “I think you have forgotten who saved your ass from that horrid Foster-Scissorhands!” I screamed, reminding her how she had been sent to a foster home where the mom had cut Sally’s long black hair so short, you couldn’t tell if she was a Sal or Sally.

  It was the most pitiful thing I had seen when we saw her on our weekly Salvation Army donation dump in the parking lot behind the Dollar Store. Sally couldn’t bring herself to look at us. She was miserable and I could see it in her eyes. I took matters into my own hands when Trixie wouldn’t and kidnapped Sally in the middle of the night, bringing her back to the orphanage.

  Trixie didn’t have the heart to send her back. Shortly after that was when the Pelfreys adopted her.

  “That was years ago!” she screamed back, flinging that long horse’s mane over her shoulders like she was somehow better than me. Her hair was so long, I put money on it that she hadn’t had it cut since.

  If she hadn’t disappeared into the bank and if I wasn’t banned from going in there, I would have knocked her out.

  “Bitch,” I murmured and got into the car. My mind was full of questions for Trigger Finger Tony, if he was even who Jax Jackson claimed the guy to be.

  I had tucked the money in my bag so I could give it back to him. If he was Trigger Finger Tony, I didn’t want my fingerprints on any illegal crap. Though the money would come in real handy until I found a job.

  “The Underworld Music Festival my ass.” I pulled out of the lot and headed south on Second Street before I took a left and parked in front of The Cracked Egg. I had to grab a cup of coffee before I did anything.

  It made more sense than ever how Jax Jackson asked me all of those questions about the festival and the note I had dropped off in New York. He didn’t have any of those answers. He must’ve seen T
rigger get out of my car and put two-and-two together. He was good.

  “Morning!” Gia screamed over the counter. The breakfast crowd was there in full force.

  I nodded a few hellos as I made my way to the counter.

  “So,” Gia chomped on her gum. She stuck the pen from her hand into her bun. “Did you get a good night kiss from Mr. New York City?”

  “A…no,” I said with my mouth and eyes wide open. I took a couple dollars out of my bag. “I need a large coffee to go.” I laid the cash on the counter.

  “I don’t want your money.” Gia pushed money back toward me. “I want you to dish. Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight? Carmine is working late. You know…,” she leaned over the counter. Her hair smelled like I had stepped into Bath and Body Works. Gia stocked up on all that lotion and stuff whenever she went shopping in Louisville, even though she had a closet full and could open up her own Bath and Body store. “Carmine said he has never seen Jax Jackson at Porty Morty’s. In fact, the only one Morty has been dealing with was the woman with the chopsticks in her hair.”

  “Did he know her name?” I asked in case I did decide to tell Jax about her. It seemed like a good lead.

  She shook her head. “Dinner?” she asked again.

  There was a lot I wanted to ask her about this chopstick lady and a lot I had to tell her but The Cracked Egg wasn’t the place. “Yea, dinner sounds great. I’ve got something to tell you about Jax Jackson.” I grabbed my cup of coffee.

  “Oh! I can’t wait.” Gia rubbed her hands together before she waved me off. “See you later.” I watched her grab the coffee pot and fill all the customers’ cups lined up down the counter with a big smile on her face before I left.

  My mind was rolling around all sorts of crazy situations about the woman with the chopsticks and how she could or couldn’t be related to the whole Trigger thing. I kept telling myself it wasn’t my place to figure it out, but I couldn’t help myself.

  My mind was going as fast as I was driving the car. Mob? What was the mob doing in Walnut Grove? What was there that they wanted? Trust me, I had been all over that town, legally and illegally, there was nothing there. Did Trigger and chopstick girl have something to do with each other?