A twinge of pain twisted my heart to see Philip so distressed. “Don’t worry, Robert and I grew up together. He played quarterback preceding the renowned Bullet Bounts at Triville High. He left here only to attend North Carolina State and earn a degree in public administration. When you explain what happened, he’ll understand. He knows how the residents gossip.” I pointed to a road just before the next stoplight. “Make a left on Dogwood Lane.”
Philip switched on his blinker and turned.
“You can’t change what you did eight days ago. I’m sure Robert will agree you’re doing the right thing now. You’ll hand over a couple car thieves. Judging from the number of stolen parts at the warehouse, they’re probably part of a larger ring.”
“That might make a difference.” Philip wheeled into a space at the front of a huge parking lot, cut the engine, and let me out.
We climbed wide cement stairs and entered the one-story, brick building. I shivered as I passed through the metal detector. Only places with people up to no good needed such bold devices. We passed by straight chairs lining the walls on either side of the room as we walked to a police woman behind a window shielded with black bars.
“Hi, I’m Philip Wells and this is Eve Castleberry. We have an appointment with Chief Grimes.”
How did I not know this lady with the round face and big blue eyes? She must’ve transferred from another town. I smiled at her and tried to hold my tongue, but I couldn’t. “Where are you from?”
“I’m sick of telling everybody my life history.” She smirked. “I’m from South Carolina. I relocated here three weeks ago. If you must know, I separated from my deadbeat husband. This place was just as good as any to move to. Nobody cares about anybody no matter where you live.”
There seemed to be more than black iron bars separating us.
Philip poked his hand into the small opening between the counter and the bottom of the bars. “Philip Wells. Triville grows on you.”
How kind of Philip, and his words...my heart fluttered like a humming bird. Was the dream I was too afraid to dream coming true?
She extended her chubby palm. “I’m Mary Jane. I can tell the two of you aren’t criminals. I have good instincts.” She pointed to a couple of chairs on the left. “Have a seat over there. He’ll be right out.”
I couldn’t walk away without chatting, trying to make Mary Jane feel more welcome. “Eve Castleberry. Stop by Bob’s Diner. I guarantee one of those nosey people will come up to your table and keep you company.” I reached in my purse, pulled out a card, and laid it on the counter. “Come over to Eve’s Clips, and I’ll create a gorgeous “law enforcement special” hairdo for you.”
She grasped it then gazed at it as though it was more than a connection to a hairdresser. “Hey thanks, I’ll call tomorrow and make an appointment.”
“Great.” If a person wasn’t a devoted Triville citizen when she moved here, we’d make one out of her.
A steel door to the right opened and Robert stuck out his head. His dark hair color and athletic build remained the same as they had been in high school. “Eve Castleberry, why would you need to see me in a business capacity?” He sounded friendly, but confused.
“This is my friend, Philip Wells.”
Robert gave Philip a robust handshake. “So you’re the guy Eve’s been hanging out with at the diner. It’s good to meet you in person. Here to see Mr. Jacobsen, aren’t you?”
Philip’s eyes snapped wide. “Yes.”
Everybody here knew everyone else’s business, and I thought by now Philip realized that. Of course, the police chief in New York probably wouldn’t have such information.
We followed Robert through the doorway. The lock clicking behind us reminded me I trod where hoodlums passed, and I stiffened. Philip took my arm as Robert escorted us to the first cubicle on the right. A picture of Jewel, his wife, sat on his mahogany desk. Seeing her image made the surroundings seem more familiar, and some of my anxiety dissipated.
“Have a seat.”
We sat down on two chrome chairs as Robert sank into a black leather office chair. He pushed strands of hair off his forehead. “What’s up?”
“Two things. Philip had a little trouble about a week ago. We looked into the problem ourselves.” The muscles in Robert’s face tightened, and his irritated expression jarred my nerves. I crossed my legs and slung my dangling foot back and forth. “I know we shouldn’t have, but we thought we could handle it.”
“What kind of trouble?” He leaned forward.
“Let me finish first. While taking care of Philip’s situation, we ran across a car theft ring.”
Robert’s mouth gaped. “You what?”
I’m sure he couldn’t imagine how I’d done such a thing. My stomach churned, but I had to make him understand the entire situation.
“Start from the beginning.”
“All right.” I took a deep breath.
“I’m listening. Take your time.” He leaned back.
“You know how everyone noses into everybody else’s business in Triville.”
“Yes.”
“It’s extremely important to Philip that no one discuss this problem.”
Robert sat straight up. “For crying out loud, Eve. What is it?”
The tone of his voice sounded the same as when we were in high school and I’d accidentally made a date with someone who wasn’t Jordan. I’d asked Robert to help me solve the dilemma. I recalled that he thought I should’ve had better sense. I went mute.
Philip scooted his chair close to the desk and looked Robert straight in the eyes. “Someone stole Mr. Jacobsen’s money.”
“I see.” Robert drew out his words. Then he asked, “Eight days ago?”
I held in a gasp of disbelief.
“Yes. How did you know exactly when the theft occurred?” Philip’s voice sounded matter-of-fact, but he peered at Robert with wide unbelieving eyes.
Robert tapped his forefinger on his lips. “Just say it was a lucky guess. I assume Corley gave it to you to invest, so what happened next? What did you do with it?”
If I knew Robert, he had a reason for answering Philip’s question with questions.
“I drove to the motel, went inside, and laid it on the bed while I arranged my flight to New York. Then, I slipped into the bathroom. Without sleeping, I flew home to put the money in a bank. When I reached my condo and opened the satchels, they held only toilet paper. I went numb. The words Get back the investment screamed in my head, and I could hardly think straight. I took the first plane out of New York to Merchantville. Eve and I figured whoever swiped the cash made the switch at the motel.”
“Ah. Hmm. That makes sense.” Robert’s eyes held a look of satisfaction as though he was convinced he was right about something. “What’s this about a car theft ring?”
Philip pressed his lips into a straight line and gazed at me.
This was the perfect time to use our leverage. “Promise us you won’t say anything about Mr. Jacobsen’s missing cash. If he hears Philip lost it, he’ll drop his account…” I bit my bottom lip “…at best. He might even sue Philip. No one knows it’s gone except us and the thieves who took it.”
Robert’s eyebrows shot up.
“I know how people make deals with law enforcement, so I figured you and I go way back. We’re friends, right?”
“Yes, we are.” Robert’s voice sounded calm and steady.
“I thought if we told you where to find the car thieves, you’d get Mr. Jacobsen’s cash when you arrest them and give it to Philip.”
“I’ll look into your accusation. That’s what policemen do. We catch the bad men and take care of the good guys.” Authority rang in Robert’s voice.
“Can you just give the cash to Philip and not tell the newspaper or anyone else?”
“That’s not how we do things.”
I wasn’t asking for a crash course in criminology. I glared at Robert.
“I have to verify it belongs to Phi
lip via Mr. Jacobsen. Then, with luck, the local district attorney will say it’s all right to give it back.”
Philip scooted to the edge of his seat. “I can’t tell Mr. Jacobsen. That’s why we found the creeps instead of coming to you in the first place.” Fear and pleading lined his voice.
Had Robert paid no attention to anything I’d said? I wanted to stand up and shake him.
He reached for a legal pad on his desk and picked up a pen then handed the items to Philip. “Give me the exact amount of money and denominations. Describe the packaging. Were the bills marked? Tell me anything and everything you remember.”
Philip started writing.
Robert directed his gaze at me. “You should have come to me to start with.” A tinge of anger lined his voice.
“We know that. That’s why we’re here now.” My voice had an edge to it, and I didn’t care. I’d helped take care of his little girl, Annie, when Jewel had to return to the hospital not long after she was born, and Jordan had built the nursery.
Robert relaxed his broad shoulders. “I believe I can recover the money.”
His words blew me away. “We haven’t told you where the thieves are.”
Robert picked up another pad and pencil. “I don’t think the car thieves you found have Mr. Jacobsen’s money, but I’m very interested in their whereabouts. If they’re the two I’m thinking of, they’re career criminals and extremely dangerous.”
I nearly fell off my chair. “Who do you think stole Mr. Jacobsen’s money?”
“I’ll let you know. Give me the information you have on the car theft ring.”
At least he appeared to be connecting with me. He made notes as I told him about the two strangers we’d followed from the diner while Philip continued to write on the pad.
“Whew.” Robert put down his pencil and rubbed his forehead. “Don’t go back over there. It’s a wonder they didn’t kill you. If they’d seen you around that big warehouse, you wouldn’t be sitting here now.” His voice was like iron.
I shook inside. “No, we won’t.”
Robert had the same look on his face in eleventh grade when I told him Jewel had eyed a necklace with a heart-shaped dangle, and he should purchase it for her birthday. My skin tingled with excitement. “This is important information, isn’t it?”
“You know me too well. I’ll be straight with you. The FBI’s been after Joey Hargrove and Jack “Redhead” Climmer for years. They’re part of a large, multi-state operation stealing cars in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina. The Feds will be glad to have this.” Robert patted the notepad. “I’ll give the information to them right away. I’ll probably assist with the operation.” He puffed out his chest, and I knew the significance of what I’d just told him. I wasn’t about to leave without a commitment. “So, you’ll call us to pick up Mr. Jacobsen’s cash?”
“If Philip’s notes match the details of the money, and if my plan works, I’ll do that and not reveal Philip and Mr. Jacobsen’s names to the newspaper, or tell anyone outside the courts. That’s the best I can offer. The important word is if.”
Philip handed Robert the pad.
“Coming from you, that’s enough. Thank you.” Robert was great at his job, and his word was as reliable as the sun coming up each morning.
“You’re welcome.”
We stood, and Robert accompanied us to the steel door and held it open.
But when would he call about the money? And who stole it if it wasn’t the two car thieves?
23
I bumped into a large concrete planter with pink azalea bushes next to the cement steps outside the police station. “Ouch.”
Philip guided me across the asphalt parking lot.
“Let’s stop a second.” I bent to massage my shin then hobbled to the car. “Robert will help us.”
“I hope you’re right.” Philip’s lips turned down as he opened the door for me.
“Don’t you believe me?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Of course, that’s what you know in your heart, but I need to hold the cash in my hands.” He scooted in and rubbed his hand along the steering wheel. “Want to go with me to turn ‘er in?” A hint of melancholy lined his voice.
“Sure.”
He drove to Lloyd’s garage in silence, pulled up and parked. “She’s dependable.” He patted the dashboard.
“Great for detective work.”
“I can’t believe we thought those car thieves wanted by the F.B.I. took Mr. Jacobsen’s money.” Philip laughed. “The way Jack and Joey kept looking at each other when we asked about it.”
I chuckled.
“No wonder they didn’t offer to give us the money.” Philip guffawed. “Not that they would’ve if they’d had it. I’m glad we found them though. I think Chief Grimes appreciated our help.” Hope rang in his voice.
I stopped snickering. “For sure. I’ve known Robert a long time. The look on his face when he talked about Jack and Joey…umm. He wants those guys. He’s probably on the phone with the feds right now.”
“Maybe he will work out his plan and give me the money.” Philip rubbed his palms together. “Let’s go in and pick up the other car.” He scooted out and opened the passenger door then put his arm around my waist. “How’s your shin?”
“Much better, thank you.” We wandered into the repair side of Lloyd’s, the smell of motor oil greeting us.
Three cars sat in the service line in the back. Lloyd wrote on a paper at the tall desk at the front. He grinned and touched the ends of his dark hair. “I know. I haven’t called. It’s been busy.”
“You’re still handsome. Make an appointment when you can.”
“OK.” Lloyd pulled back his shoulders and looked toward Philip. “Let me get the key from you.”
Philip pulled it out of his pants pocket and gave it to him. “That’s quite a car. At first I thought it might stop on me for good.”
Lloyd added the key to a pegboard over his desk. “Yeah. The girl has a few kinks I haven’t ironed out. It’s always on loan, but I’m glad you enjoyed driving her. If we can settle up, I’ll call for the rental that tore up on you.”
Philip and Lloyd made the transaction. Then Lloyd picked up the in-house phone. “Bring up the dark blue sedan.”
It blazed into the left lane and stopped. The driver, who wore a blue shirt with Elmer stitched on the pocket, grinned as he turned the key fob over to Philip.
“Thanks, buddy.” Philip said. Then he and I got in the car. “Want to celebrate with lunch at Bob’s Diner?” he asked as he pulled onto Main Street.
“Absolutely. Then we can have brownies for dessert at my place.”
“Now, that’s a party.”
We sailed up the hill, parked, and entered the restaurant to the aroma of fresh brewed coffee and cheeseburgers.
“How ya’ll doin’?” Bonnie Sue said from behind the counter. “Just sit anywhere. I’ll be right over.” She winked at Philip.
He gave her a half smile as I plunked down in the first booth facing the entrance.
Philip sat across from me, grabbed a menu from between the mustard and ketchup bottles, and peered at it.
“Look at your lap. Quick.”
Philip moved as though he intended to turn around.
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
My nerves vibrated as I rummaged in my purse for a pen. I snatched a napkin out of the holder, scribbled Jack and Joey, and shoved it across the table with a shaky hand.
Philip slumped in his seat.
Jack and Joey leaned against the wall beside the shelf where the cook set to-go orders. In my mind I heard Robert saying they would’ve shot us if they’d seen us. I trembled in my seat. They were free in the woods they lived in now, but not for long. “They’re getting take-out. We’re all right.” I spoke so softly I barely heard my words, but Philip nodded.
Jack meandered toward us.
My hands grew sweaty. Lowering my head, I pretended to search in my
pocketbook. “Look at the wall.”
Philip moved his entire body away from the aisle.
I caught a glimpse of Jack headed toward the men’s room.
Bonnie Sue sashayed over. “Sorry I kept you waiting. What can I bring you, handsome?”
“Cheeseburger and a soda.” Philip mumbled without even glancing up.
Her lips turned down. “What about you?” She stared at me with puzzled green eyes.
Having Jack and Joey so close gave me the willies, and it was hard to think. Without considering the menu I said, “I’ll have the same. Thank you.”
Jack headed to the check-out counter, but Bonnie Sue shielded us from his sight. Joey squinted and looked our way. My heart skipped a beat. I could only hope he checked out Bonnie Sue? Bonnie Sue. What would cheer her up? “It’s been a difficult morning for him.” I nodded toward Philip.
She put her hand on her hip. “At least you’re friendly. Why are the two of you scrunched down like turtles?”
Could the seat swallow me? “Just tired.”
“All right. I’ll get this out right away.”
Joey picked up a to-go bag. Then they left.
My muscles relaxed. “Whew!” I let out a big sigh. “They’re gone.”
Philip sat up. “Yeah. Soon they’ll be gone for a long time, and the world will be a better place.”
“I can’t help but wonder why they’re hanging around Triville. Do you think they’re planning to steal from Lloyd’s garage? In addition to the rental service, he also has a few new vehicles for sale.”
Philip held up his hand. “Whoa. We need to let Chief Grimes take care of those creeps from now on. He knows they’re staking out something in the area. He’ll put it all together. Whatever it is.”
“That’s true.”
“You’ve done enough sleuthing. Your shop’s in order. You can go back to rolling up hair.”
“Yeah, but I can’t stop thinking about the case. I’ve worked hard to solve it. My inner detective’s on alert.”
Philip laughed loud.
Bonnie Sue set Philip’s plate in front of him, wrinkles creasing her brow.
Hair Calamities and Hot Cash. Page 18
