by Cat Clayton
“Fine,” I said.
“Fine, what?” Nick leaned back, the chair squeaking under his weight.
“Fine, I’ll stay out of it.” I bit my lower lip.
Cuff whined. Yeah, sure you will.
“Fat chance of that happening,” Daniel mumbled.
Nick turned on him, seething. “You’re not innocent in all this bullshit. So, I’d advise you to keep quiet.”
“Ugh!” Daniel pouted, slumping in his chair, his nostrils flaring.
“You’d think the two of you would have enough to do running the shop. Guess I will put a tail on y’all,” Nick threatened.
Now we were both being treated like children.
“You would not have me followed!” I bolted out of my chair, holding Cuff and my bag in one hand and stabbing the other fist on my hip. “Why don’t you have Mr. Schirmack or Mr. Peters followed? They’re both acting suspicious. And Mr. Peters was at the shop earlier looking for his lost hammer. You know, like the hammer found near Mrs. Schirmack’s body? Or even the new guy in town, Seth Welton! Maybe try finding the black car and putting a tail on that!” My heart pounded. “And even though nobody around this department cares, I am committed to finding Virgil, and now, Ranger!”
Yeah! Shaking, Cuff growled. I slung my bag over my shoulder and carefully lowered him inside.
“Committed, now I can arrange that,” Nick said, sneering. “Cleo Peters? Flora’s husband, the grieving widower in financial ruin right now? Seriously, Steely? Please.” Nick glanced out his office window onto a bay of cubicles. “And keep your voice down. People are staring.”
“What they’re probably staring at is a jerk who threw his girlfriend out!” With an exaggerated harrumph! from me, and a serious snarl from Cuff, I barged out of Nick’s office. I’d had enough of his bullying for one day.
“Let’s go, Daniel,” I snapped.
Seeing double and barreling down the hallway, I ran smack into none other than Officer Jackson.
“S’up, buttercup?” he said in a husky voice, his eyes amused.
“Bite me,” I said. Shaking so hard my teeth chattered, I pumped my petite legs as fast as they would carry me, Cuff bumping against my hip inside my bag.
Wait! Hold it! Ouch! I have fragile bones, Chiquita!
“So, was that your way of sharing our list of suspects with Nick?” Daniel said as he scurried after me.
I didn’t dare answer until we were safely outside. On the sidewalk, I spun around. “Happy now?” I asked him.
“Not really. And Nick may be good-looking, but when he’s an ass to you, his ugliness shows. Now, take the new dark and dangerous Officer Jackson; he’s hot and honorable,” he said.
“Oh, for cryin’ out loud, Daniel! Would you stop thinking with your—” I couldn’t finish. “Arrgh! Forget it!”
Daniel burst out laughing and slapped both knees with his palms. “You’re adorable. You can’t even bring yourself to say the word!”
“This is not funny!” I walloped him a good one in the arm and stormed off down the sidewalk toward the Bug with Daniel in tow and Cuff bouncing on my side.
WE STAYED IN OUR RESPECTIVE corners of the shop for the rest of the afternoon, both of us licking our wounds. Daniel up front answering the phone and me at my desk. Nick had followed through with his threat. A police car arrived after we’d gotten back and parked across the street to monitor us and the shop.
Around four o’clock, Daniel put a call through to my office phone. Maybe it’s Nick wanting to apologize and ask me to come home. I picked it up on the second ring, my fingers crossed.
“Scrubadub, Three Pups in a Tub, this is Steely.”
“Miss Lamarr, this is Lois over at the retirement center.”
Ugh. I’d forgotten to call them back.
“I’m afraid we have a big problem with your grandmother,” Lois said.
“What’s she done now?” Please let her have spilled a glass of milk or something equally minor. But something told me to brace myself. I said a little prayer to the big guy upstairs, or whoever was listening.
“Well, we got her to admit she was cheating at Bingo last week,” Nurse Lois said, popping her gum in my ear. “And yesterday we caught her on the computer at the nurse’s station. Your father didn’t answer his phone, so we called you. Again. Miss Lamarr, we will not tolerate this behavior at Bluebonnet Hills.”
“Maybe she needed to use the Internet,” I said, hoping Lois would calm down.
“She claims to have hacked into our main system and gotten everyone’s social security numbers. And I’m afraid that’s not all.” I heard a weighted sigh come across the line. “We discovered her stealing from Jerry Joe’s donation jar last night, and she refuses to give his money back.”
Jerry Joe visited the retirement center and other various locations around town and played his guitar and sang folk songs. For the retirement center music, he took donations only. Still putting his two children through graduate school, he made his money where he could these days.
Sheesh Louise. Did Gertie have any lines she wouldn’t cross?
“May I speak with her, please?” I asked.
“She’s right here,” Lois said.
I heard shuffling as she passed the phone to Gertie.
“How’s my baby girl?” Gertie’s gravelly voice from years of smoking came over the line.
“I’m okay. How are you?” I asked.
“Fine,” she said.
“They said you took money from Jerry Joe. Did you?” I asked.
“Yes, but he owed me money,” she said.
Good grief. Better me than Pop.
“Gertie, you can’t go around stealing money from people. How much did you take from the jar?”
“Sixty bucks,” she answered.
I envisioned her sitting there, twisting in the nurse’s chair with a smug look, her dangling feet barely touching the ground, arms crossed over her busty bosom, and her bejeweled reading glasses on the bridge of her nose.
“Where’s the money?”
“Tucked somewhere safe and I’m not giving it back. He owed me from a poker game back in 1996,” she said.
“Gertie, give it back.”
“Over my dead body. And stop calling me Gertie.”
Oh jeez. I’d had enough dead bodies lately. Time to bring out the big guns. “If you give it back, I’ll bring you Blue Bell Buttered Pecan ice cream.” I crossed my fingers. There’s not much on this planet Gertie loved more than ice cream now that Grandpa was gone.
“Hmm...” I imagined her drumming her fingers on the desk, contemplating my offer. “How much we talkin’?” she asked.
“A pint,” I said.
“A half-gallon,” she wagered.
“Deal,” I said.
“And nobody in the center eats it but me,” she said, upping the ante.
“Good. Now, hand over the money and I’ll bring the ice cream,” I told her.
I heard more shuffling, as Gertie must’ve been removing the cash from inside her bra. I knew where she stashed her cash. I’d been on one too many gambling jaunts with her as a kid.
“Here. Tell that crook, the only reason he’s off the hook is because I get ice cream. Otherwise, he’d be out the money,” I heard her tell the nurse. “See you soon, baby girl.”
Click.
Lord help me.
Cuff, who’d slept through the entire phone call, lay nestled in a basket of freshly washed towels on the floor near my desk. On the top of the invoice stack in front of me, Seth Welton’s name caught my eye. In all honesty, I didn’t think he was guilty. He did yoga for the love of Pete. Yoga people didn’t commit murder. Besides, he didn’t have a motive.
I pulled up a Google search page anyway and typed in Seth Welton. There were a few Facebook pages I snooped around, but came up empty-handed. After a half hour of web browsing and searching, I gave up.
At 5:00 PM, Daniel popped his head in the doorway of my office. He came bearing gifts.
“Chocolate malt from the Burger Palace?” he asked, handing me a large cup. “Still sulking?”
I hadn’t even heard him leave the shop. “I’m not sulking. I’m frustrated. There’s a difference.” I shut down the desktop computer and packed my things to leave.
“Did you know before Nick I was a virgin?” I admitted to Daniel.
His sapphire eyes widened. “Well, I’d suspected, but I didn’t know for sure since I was away for a couple years. If it helps, I’m sorry he hurt you.”
“I’d been saving myself for the right one, you know? Mama always said I should wait for someone I loved. I thought it was Nick,” I said. I took a long sip of my chocolate malt. Heavenly goodness in a cup. “Thanks for this.” I waved the cup at him. He knew the way to my heart. I took another sip.
“I can bring over Mamma Mia! and we can dance our butts off in your Pop’s living room. It’ll make you feel better,” Daniel said, waggling his eyebrows.
I smiled at the thought. “Rain check?” It sounded nice. But I needed to do some soul searching.
“Sure,” Daniel said. “Some other time.”
Cuff crawled out of his makeshift bed and rose with an Arruu! arching his back like a cat.
I am not like a cat. Cuff grumbled.
Sensing his own safety since I hadn’t bitten his head off yet, Daniel plopped down in my office chair while I tidied my desk from the opposite side.
“Sorry for earlier, about going to Nick,” he said and fiddled with the papers, shuffling them into a neat stack. “You must’ve felt betrayed, and I didn’t mean for you to feel that way. I’m just worried about you.”
I shrugged. “To be honest, I’m glad the truth is out.”
Daniel puttered with miscellaneous objects on my desk. Stirred the pens and highlighters in my pen jar. Picked up a large quartz rock I used as a paperweight and set it back down. Three times.
“Daniel?” I raised an eyebrow. “Do you have something else on your mind?”
He avoided my eyes. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“What is it?” I flipped off the floor lamp beside my desk. I hoped this didn’t take long. I wanted to go home to Pop’s and get into some comfy clothes and veg in front of the TV. And I still had to go deal with Gertie.
“What’s the deal with you and Officer Jackson?” Daniel asked as he sauntered over to the sofa and plopped down. He pulled his straw out through the plastic lid halfway. It made an obnoxious squeak.
Yeah, I’ve been wondering the same thing. Cuff peered up at me.
I shot him a frosty glare. I really didn’t want to be having this discussion right here and now.
“There’s no deal,” I said.
Your nose grew a half-inch, Chiquita. Cuff trotted over and hopped up onto the couch next to Daniel.
“Well, there’s some serious sexual tension between you two,” Daniel said. He winced, waiting for the blow. When it didn’t come, he continued. “And if you want my opinion, he’s a much better fit for you than Nick. Sorry, not sorry.”
Hallelujah! Cuff lifted his paw at Daniel for a high-five, but he didn’t notice.
I furrowed my brows at Cuff, warning him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But I felt it, too. Whenever Officer Jackson was near, a stirring began in my toes and it jolted through my entire body. Electric and undeniable, an attraction was definitely there. Yet, he also set my temper on fire. And then, there were the feelings I have toward Nick.
Daniel continued. “I couldn’t help but notice he gets to you. But there’s a spark in your eyes when you’re around him, Steely.”
I see it, too, Chiquita.
They knew me all too well.
“‘Gets to me’ would be the understatement of the year. For the record, I find him infuriating.” I looked Daniel straight in the eyes. “And the son of a gun should’ve kept his mouth shut at work. Said he wasn’t trying to get Nick in trouble. Really? What did he think would happen? That the chief would turn the other cheek? And...” I froze mid-sentence and slammed my malt down on the desk.
“And what?” Daniel asked.
“And he flirts with me!” I said.
Squeaky voice. Cuff reminded me.
“Oh, the shame,” Daniel said, teasing.
I wadded up a piece of paper from my desk and chucked it at him, hitting him in the head. The wad of paper bounced onto the floor.
“Touchy subject?” Daniel chuckled. “So, let me get this straight. Are you upset Officer Jackson got Nick in trouble or that he’s flirting with you? Or better yet, are you irritated because you have feelings for him?”
I snapped my head in his direction, glaring. “I do not have feelings for him.” I spoke in a clear, even tone, trying my hardest to convince him. And myself.
Chapter 13
Daniel squinted at me. Again, he slid his straw up and down through the plastic lid. The sound grated on my last nerve.
“How long have we been friends?” he asked.
“Don’t ask ridiculous questions. And stop making that sound,” I said.
“How long?” he asked, setting his chocolate malt down on the floor. He folded his arms and tapped his fingers on his biceps, waiting for an answer.
“A freaking long time, what does that have to do with anything?” I asked.
Throwing up jazz hands, he said, “Exactly! And I know you. Probably better than you know yourself.”
“Please get to the point.” Being in the hot seat was getting old quick.
He crossed his legs, swinging his foot back and forth and pretended to inspect his nails. “You’re attracted to Officer Jackson. Bottom line. And it bothers you.” He grinned.
“Nope.” I hated when he was right, but I hated when I was wrong more. “The guy makes my skin crawl.”
“Yeah, with excitement.” Daniel’s grin spread.
I glared at him. “He makes my blood boil.”
“With lust,” he said.
I agree! Cuff barked.
“Would you stop it, please? You’re supposed to be on my side. Instead, it’s like you’re attacking me and making me feel plain awful,” I said, pacing in front of my desk. “Tell me what to do. I’m not supposed to be attracted to him. I’m supposed to be working things out with Nick.” I sounded like a blubbering idiot, which only escalated my frustration.
“Well, according to my mother and the rest of this conservative community, I’m supposed to be attracted to females, but...” He snickered.
I wadded up another piece of paper and threw it at him.
“This is no time for jokes. I’m trying to be serious!” I said.
“Look, dear, I’m on your side. But you need to be honest with yourself, Steely.”
Your Mama always said honesty is the best policy. Right, Chiquita?
I stared at my dog. He and Daniel were spot on. I had feelings for Officer Jackson, but they confused me. It’d been a long day, and I was too tired to think about it anymore.
“Fine. You’re right,” I said, picking up my bag. I slung it over my shoulder. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to go home.” I didn’t intend for my tone to sound so abrasive. “I’m exhausted. And I still have to go deal with Gertie.”
“Okay, okay.” Daniel got up and padded to the door.
“Hey, Daniel?” I said, scooping up Cuff, balancing him on my hip.
Daniel turned. “Yeah?”
I let out a heavy breath. “In all honesty, I feel very conflicted.” I shrugged. “Things have been weird since I first met Jackson the other night, and now with all this trouble with Nick, I don’t know what to think or do. I’m sorry for being so cranky about it.”
“No worries, it’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to,” Daniel said.
“Let’s get out of here.” I switched off the light and followed Daniel out the back door, locking it behind me.
Daniel opened my car door and patted Cuff on the head. “Goodbye, little guy.”
Goo
dbye, my human friend.
“I could be off here, but I’m good about recognizing a man when he’s making his move. And I feel that’s exactly what the good officer is doing, even though he seems a bit out of practice,” Daniel said.
I couldn’t say my heart didn’t skip a beat at Daniel’s words. A part of me wanted Jackson to make a move, but the other part was cautious. I didn’t want to get hurt by another pompous jerk.
“I’ll consider that as a warning, friend,” I said, smiling and climbed into the car. “See you tomorrow.”
With a “toodles” Daniel headed to his Miata.
Cuff curled up on the passenger seat with a grunt. He peeked up at me with protruding cinnamon eyes. If it means anything, Nick is a crazy fool, Chiquita.
“Thanks, little buddy,” I said, reaching down and patting Cuff between the ears.
AS I PULLED OUT OF the parking lot, I spotted the black Buick pulling into the used car lot down the street. Interesting. The owner of the car lot was a real dirt bag, and everyone in town knew he did shady business. I made a mental note to check it out soon. I had ice cream to buy.
I made a quick run into Buckleville Foods and headed over to Bluebonnet Hills. With its lights flashing, a fire truck sat parked outside the front doors of the center. Uh, oh.
I packed Cuff in one arm and the container of ice cream in the other. I entered through the front doors with caution, keeping an eye out for smoke or flames. I sprinted down the front hall as three firemen breezed past me, shaking their heads, laughing. Obviously a false alarm. When I approached the nurse’s station, a flock of ladies in moss-green scrubs accosted me.
“That’s it! She’s gonna have to go!” one nurse squealed.
What now? “Who?”
Tucked under my arm, Cuff yipped.
“Her!” another nurse said, pointing down the hallway.
There stood Gertie watering a large potted Ficus tree. All of four-foot-eleven, she really was cute as a bug. She kept her hair cropped short and choppy like mine, except hers was silver.
I turned on the gang of angry nurses sharpening their claws.
“Since when is watering the plants against the rules around here?” I was beginning to think maybe the nurses had it out for Gertie.
