A Dead Nephew

by Anna Celeste Burke

  “Just like you!” my sweet friend said as she smiled at me.

  “Don’t I wish. I enjoy money far more than Sacramento did. I would fit in better in his parents’ world than the one he was searching for or hoping to help create. Woe is me. Now, I’ve shifted from griping to a poor little rich girl pity party.”

  “Come on, Princess Anastasia. Let me get out of these work clothes, and then we’ll go for a walk.” She grabbed the leash and tagged along. When we got to my room, Anastasia dropped the leash to roughhouse with a stuffed toy in the middle of my bed. She kept me laughing while I slipped on leggings, a roomy boyfriend shirt, and sandals.

  It was almost seven by the time Anastasia and I started our walk. The sun had sunk low enough that is appeared to rest upon the mountaintops. A light breeze made it a pleasant evening to walk. The sunset spread its color, turning the wispy clouds above us into puffs of pink cotton candy. Tiny bats not much bigger than Monarch butterflies flitted above us and mourning doves cooed, roosting for the night.

  “This is as good as a hot bath, isn’t it?” Anastasia was delighted to be outside and appeared pleased with my steady stream of talk. The happy pooch had only been in my life a few weeks when I found myself talking to her as if she were human.

  “You’re a very good listener,” I said a few minutes later as we wandered along the edge of the golf course. It wasn’t dark yet, but there wasn’t enough light to play golf, so the course was empty. In the August heat, diehard golfers preferred to get up early and be finishing their round by ten o’clock. It was quiet and peaceful.

  “Are you ready to turn around and go home?” I asked. Anastasia woofed in agreement. When she stopped woofing, I could have sworn I heard someone laugh. Had a neighbor overheard me having a conversation with my dog?

  I glanced behind me and froze as a shoe disappeared into the bushes lining the golf path. Rustling followed, and a head poked up. All I could see was what appeared to be the top of a hoodie above a streak of lighter color—perhaps hair or a forehead. Whoever was in the bushes was closer now than when I’d seen the shoe disappear.

  “Let’s go, Anastasia.” She held her ground, staring at the bushes. They were shaking, and it wasn’t the breeze doing it. Whispering made it clear that more than one person was hiding in them. I reached in my pocket for the pepper spray I’d grabbed from my purse at the last minute.

  “Come,” I commanded, shifting as far from the bushes as I could, and dragging Anastasia along with me. Outdoor lights had come on in the house nearest to me. I searched for a way to get into the yard. Surrounded by a fence like the one I’d had installed to keep Anastasia from wandering away, there was no way to enter except through a gate that was closed.

  When I heard more rustling in the bushes, I turned and aimed my pepper spray. I wasn’t sure what I was seeing as two figures emerged, not wearing hoodies, but baggy jumpsuits. One wore headgear with a long tube that resembled an elephant trunk. The other had a clear plastic face cover that didn’t hide his bright red hair.

  “Tommy!” Anastasia looked at me as if I’d finally lost my mind when I called the thing standing in front of us by that name. “Whatever you’re doing, stop it now.”

  “Take me to your leader, earthling.” Tommy raised his arms shoulder high and began slowly walking toward me chanting. “Brains! Brains! Brains!”

  “We wanted to show you…” was all I could hear from the second person before Anastasia lunged at Tommy. She was barking and growling as she knocked the creature to the ground. More lights had come on, and I heard a sliding door open. Someone was running toward us with a flashlight with the beam bouncing wildly.

  “Don’t just stand there,” Tommy pleaded. He was rolling on the ground, trying to yank his sleeve free from Anastasia, who was growling and shaking his arm the way she’d done with her stuffed toy.

  “Anastasia, stop! It’s me, Tommy, el hombre bailando, cachorra! Sit!” She didn’t let go, but she did stop yanking on his arm and tilted her head to one side. When the second person stepped toward Tommy to help, Anastasia barked and snarled at him.

  Whoever had come outside retreated into the house and turned the lights off when Tommy’s accomplice took off running with Anastasia chasing him. The hose had come loose and was swinging wildly from side to side.

  “Thank goodness it’s you, Jerry,” I said when he reached Tommy and me, breathing hard. “I wasn’t sure how I’d explain this to a neighbor since I’m not sure I understand it. We need to help el hombre, who is flat on his back, get up so we can rescue his pal. That must be Brien on the run, right?”

  “Who else could it be? These two wanted to surprise you by getting dressed up in that gear. I swear I didn’t see them sneak outside.”

  “We mean you no harm,” Tommy said, after getting up on his feet by himself. “I wish I could say the same about Anastasia. Why did she act like that? It’s as if she didn’t know who I was.”

  “She can’t see or smell you, and your voice is strangely breathy. How was she supposed to know it’s you?” I asked as we hustled toward home.

  “Anastasia, it’s okay. It’s Brien!” Kim shouted when we were a little closer. Jerry and I ran for it, leaving Tommy to fend for himself. When we were nearly at the house, the patio sliders opened.

  “Why are you yelling, Kim?” Kim didn’t say anything, but there was lots of splashing. “Never mind.”

  “Brien Williams quit playing around and get out of the pool. Why are you wearing that crazy suit?”

  Jerry and I came rushing into the backyard and ran around the pool to where Kim was kneeling. She was trying to help Brien climb out of the pool but was laughing so hard that she wasn’t much help. It didn’t appear as if Kim could get a grip on whatever fabric that suit was made of. When she lost her grip, Brien fell backward into the pool and splashed us.

  “How did this happen?” Jerry asked, laughing now too.

  “He came running in here with Anastasia chasing him,” Kim said, trying to catch her breath. “I thought they were playing, but she charged him, and he fell into the pool.”

  With Kim’s help, Brien got one leg up onto the side of the pool. Jerry and I bent down to grab his leg when Anastasia came charging after him again. He flopped back into the pool and blew water from the hose.

  “I’ll get some towels,” Bernadette said. “Does he have anything on under that getup? Never mind, I’ll bring a bathrobe.”

  “Why doesn’t he just climb up the steps?” Jerry asked. Kim started laughing again.

  “Anastasia won’t let him.”

  I grabbed Anastasia’s leash and calmed her down with soothing baby talk. I unhooked her leash and led her toward the sliders by her collar. We’d taken no more than a step or two when Tommy came huffing and puffing around the corner, stumbled through the gate very dramatically, and stopped on the patio. I should have kept going, but Bernadette paused at the door and turned to look at Tommy.

  “OMG, I’ve lost five pounds running in this thing. They don’t really use this in combat, do they?” Then Tommy realized Brien was slowly climbing out of the pool using the steps.

  “What are you doing in the pool?” Tommy asked as Anastasia yanked free and bolted.

  “Whoa!” Brien yelped and stepped lower into the pool. Anastasia dashed past him and ran straight for Tommy like a racehorse headed to the finish line. “Look out, dude!”

  “Oh, no! It’s the she-beast with a pompadour!” Tommy wailed as he made an awkward attempt to run away but slipped. Anastasia grabbed the back of his jumpsuit and spun him around. Up on her hind legs, she pushed him into the pool. Then she ran back and forth along the edge of the pool, barking at him.

  “Is this a sport I’ve never seen before?” Auntie Agnes asked. I hadn’t noticed that she and a man I didn’t know were watching from inside the house.

  “Sí, los juegos del burro,” Bernadette muttered.

  “The donkey games,” Kim chortled. “That’s a polite way to put it.” Jerry was ha
ving a good laugh too. I tried hard not to join in. I didn’t want to encourage them to pull a stunt like this again.

  “Stop laughing!” Tommy cried. “Call off the attack poodle so I can get out of here. See if I ever ask you to dance again, Anastasia.”

  I gave up and laughed as tears filled my eyes. Bernadette shook her head, muttering something under her breath in Spanish as she opened the patio doors. When she stepped inside, Peter stepped out.

  “What is going on?” he bellowed. Anastasia loved it and was at his side in an instant. I’d never heard him shout that loud before, and I cringed, wondering how much more my neighbors would take before calling security or the police. Either Peter’s shout or Anastasia’s bark got to Brien, who’d made it to the top step, and instead of climbing out of the pool, he headed back into the water.

  “Uh, nothing,” Brien finally responded.

  “What do you mean nothing? How do I get out of here before I drown?” Tommy asked, treading water. “Help!” Glub-glub. “Help!”

  “Get him,” Peter said quietly, and in a controlled way.

  “Will do.” Then Brien paused. “None of this was my idea.”

  “Go!”

  “Thanks for bringing order out of chaos, Peter. I’m going inside to answer the door when the police show up,” I said.

  “Police?” The man standing with Auntie Agnes asked.

  “It’s okay, Manny. She’s probably talking about her man. He’s a detective, and so is her friend, George. I’m not sure what the big man, Peter, does, but he’s sort of like the police, isn’t he, Jessica?”

  “Yes, Auntie Agnes,” I replied, feeling a little confused. “Is this Manny Ortiz?” I asked. Dumb question, I thought as soon as the words were out of my mouth. I must have lost more than a few IQ points witnessing los juegos del burro.

  “Of course, it is.”

  “Welcome, Manny. I’m so happy to meet you. I’m Jessica Huntington.”

  “I’m happy to be here. One of the women I work with at the resort and casino said her friend, Bernadette, asked me to call about something important. I was surprised when Agnes answered the phone until she told me you’re a lawyer trying to find out who killed her nephew, so Louie Jacobs won’t go to prison for life.”

  “Thank you, Bernadette,” I said as she bustled by with an armful of towels.

  “It’s no trouble, although when they act like burros, they don’t get the really good towels,” Bernadette replied.

  “Thanks for the towels, but I was talking about getting a message to Manny.”

  “Oh, that was no trouble, either. When you mentioned that he worked at the casino, I called a few friends I needed to catch up with anyway. I’m working to find other people for you too.” With that, she was out the door.

  Bernadette must have kept every friend she’d ever made. Forty years ago, before I was born, she started working as a housekeeper. By the time my parents hired her, she’d taken courses and had become an excellent cook. When my parents began having marital problems, Bernadette stepped in to run the household, which included managing the household budget and me.

  Even though my dad made her a well-paid estate manager, she still mingles with “the help” wherever she finds them. In true upstairs-downstairs fashion, she’d taught me that there’s plenty to learn from the help.

  “May I offer you a drink?” I asked Manny. “We have sodas, wine, and beer in the kitchen. Or I can pour you something stronger if you prefer.”

  When the sliders opened, the soggy wet burros entered, still braying. I retreated down the hallway leading to the front door and motioned for Manny and Auntie Agnes to follow. I stopped at the entrance to the great room.

  “We’ll never be able to talk with that racket going on. There are cold soft drinks in here too.” I said and stepped into the most amazing room in the house my father had designed and built. “I also have two great sipping tequilas if you’d like to try them and give me your opinion.”

  “Let’s have tequila, Manny. Doesn’t that sound good?”

  “Yes, it does,” he replied.

  “Let’s sit at the bar,” I said and led them to comfy club chairs while I stepped around behind the bar to pour our drinks. I pulled out the two bottles. “Which one should we try first?” Manny walked over to check out our options.

  “This one says it’s aged in cognac barrels. I’d love to try it.” Manny set the bottle he’d picked up to examine back down. After I poured a round for the three of us, Auntie Agnes held up her glass.

  “To los juegos del burros!”

  “May the games never be held again!” I added, making Manny and Auntie Agnes laugh.

  “Ah! That’s smooth, and it tastes like caramel,” Manny said and took another sip before abruptly changing the subject. “What do you want to know about Sacramento? My friend didn’t say, but when Agnes answered the phone, I knew someone wanted to speak to me about Sacramento. That was even before Agnes invited me to dinner and told me you’re Louie’s attorney.”

  “I’m glad you could join us and were able to arrive early enough to catch the pre-dinner entertainment. I have lots of questions for you, but let’s start with an important one about a recent issue. Was Sacramento Lugo killed because he discovered someone submitted a false environmental impact report for a development project that’s being planned?” Manny had gone back to sipping his tequila and swallowed hastily when I asked the question. I watched him struggle to compose himself.

  “Why do you ask?” For the first time since he’d arrived, he looked me in the eye. I’d already figured his subservient, mild-mannered friend-of-the-family demeanor was an act. This was a savvy man who’d made a career for himself as Indian gaming hit it big. He’d also landed on his feet, hanging onto his career after a run-in with John Lugo.

  “We found a report Sacramento had hidden. It doesn’t match the official one that’s on file. There’s also a letter missing that Billy Castro’s extremely anxious to make sure never reaches the person to whom it’s addressed.”

  “Aha! That’s why Billy Castro was arrested at the hospital where Louie’s being treated.”

  “Sheesh! Have his whereabouts been announced on the six o’clock news?” I asked.

  “Members of the tribal communities talk—especially if the topic is about a murdered member of their tribe and an attempt to free his killer,” Manny replied. “I’d say Billy Castro is desperate since he threatened Sammy Keanu and tried to kill Louie. If I did know something about the report or a letter, why would I tell you? I left that rat’s nest at Lugo’s casino to get away from Billy and Timothy and the people who let them do whatever they want. I don’t want them to be ‘anxious’ to find me, do I?”

  “Shame on you, Manny.” Auntie Agnes snapped. She set her glass down in front of me and pointed to the bottle of tequila we hadn’t tried yet. I rinsed her glass and dried it as she continued chiding Manny. “You were Sacramento’s friend. He defended you when those guys went after you. How do you know they didn’t do that because they found out you were helping Sacramento dig up bad news about the casino?”

  “How could I help Sacramento? Whatever dirty deal was going on was beyond me. I worked in the card room at the casino, looking for cheaters, not in the board room.”

  “Let’s say that’s true. Do you want me to believe Sacramento never confided in you about what he’d found or who helped him find it?” I asked. He picked up the new drink I’d poured for him, swirled and sniffed it before tasting it. When he didn’t reply, Auntie Agnes spoke again.

  “What is wrong with you? Jessica and her friends are trying to help Sacramento get the justice he deserves. He’ll never rest easy until the injustice Louie’s suffered has been undone. She’s not braver than you are, is she?” Manny eyed me again. “She even faced John today.”

  “What did he want?”

  “The truth,” I responded.

  “Are you jerking me around? That bum wouldn’t know the truth if it jumped up and bit him on t
he…”

  “Rear end,” Auntie Agnes interrupted, finishing Manny’s sentence for him.

  “I won’t argue with you about the kind of man he is, given the way he cheated on his wife and belittled his son. Even an unprincipled man appreciates the truth when he’s the one being deceived.”

  “John’s being deceived?” Auntie Agnes asked.

  “About some things, yes. I’m not exactly sure which ones or who’s deceiving him,” I replied. “If he orders the exhumation of his son’s body and asks for an autopsy, it’ll be clearer to me.”

  “Don’t hold your breath. John Lugo had those two jackals, Timothy and Billy, watching everyone and reporting back to him. He didn’t care whether what they reported was true or not. I told Sacramento they set me up and blamed me for missing poker chips. When Sacramento confronted his dad about it, John Lugo didn’t deny it.” He fixed me with a gaze filled with anger and grief. “They were watching Sacramento too. I was with him more than once when they tracked him down and forced him to go home. He wasn’t doing anything or bothering anyone; those guys just enjoyed embarrassing him.”

  “Have you ever wondered why they’d do that to the boss’ son?” I asked. “From my conversation with him today, I don’t believe John was getting anything like the truth about Sacramento from them.”

  “Why would they take a chance like that?” Manny paused to consider what I’d said. “Are you saying they were working for someone else?”

  I nodded and shrugged.

  “There aren’t too many men who could get away with that.”

  “I agree. Give me a name or two,” I urged him, although I figured one had to be the man whose name was on the report along with John Lugo’s.

  “I’ll give you one—Lenny Morgan.” He quit sipping and tossed back the rest of the tequila in his glass.”