Tequila and Sunrise

by Madison Johns

  I laughed. “Don’t make me laugh. You couldn’t fight your way out of a paper bag.”

  I stood up to leave when Anna lunged at me and slammed me to the sand, a foot to my throat. “I was just leaving,” I said calmly.

  “What is going on here?” Irma said as she pushed Anna back. “Have you lost your ever-loving mind?”

  “She started it.”

  I crawled to my feet and wiped the sand from my clothing. “Whatever, blondie,” I said as I walked inside.

  “I told you she’s not good enough to be with my grandson.”

  “I can’t believe she flipped me like that.”

  “I can’t believe you let her flip you.”

  “I didn’t see it coming I suppose.” I laughed. “I think she actually believes I’m interested in Taney.”

  “She’s not the brightest light bulb in the box, although Anna has my grandson under her spell at the moment.”

  “I can’t imagine why when she can barely form sentences.”

  Irma led me in the direction of the dining room. “You know you’re beginning to grow on me.”

  “You too… when you’re not hitting me.” I smiled.

  Taney frowned as he handed me a handgun in his hotel room. “Ruger American, 9mm, semiautomatic.” I smiled as I eyed the sight. “I couldn’t have chosen a better handgun. I had a Ruger once when I was in Europe, but I never felt comfortable carrying it around with me, especially if I was stealing jewelry.”

  “I want you and my grandmother to be safe.”

  “Believe me, I’d never pull a gun I didn’t intend to use, and I’ll make sure your grandmother knows I’m carrying it.”

  “I already told her.” Taney then handed me a small holster for the back of my pants. “I couldn’t help but notice you don’t carry a purse.”

  “Purses get in the way if I have to make a hasty getaway.”

  Taney sighed and put his hand on my shoulder. “Be careful out there, and call me if you get into trouble.”

  “Don’t worry, if I get myself into trouble I’ll have to figure out a way to get myself back out.” I grinned. “I can handle myself. I’ve been doing it since I was sixteen.”

  “I understand your grandfather is on the run.”

  “In Europe I believe, but he could be anywhere now since he broke off all contact with me.”

  “Probably for the best.”

  I frowned. “I really wish.” I clamped my mouth shut for a moment. “That I had a better chance at life. My parent’s death changed all that.”

  “I’m a good listener.”

  “It doesn’t matter, after this case you’ll never see me again.”

  Taney met my eyes, and I almost believed I saw emotion in them as if he wanted to say something further but didn’t.

  “I better pry your grandmother out of the hotel before she finds herself another diversion.”

  “Please do. She has way too many of those since my grandfather died.”

  “She mentioned he was murdered.”

  Taney ran a hand through his hair. “She did?”

  “Yes, but she didn’t go into detail. I’m sorry I mentioned it.”

  “It’s really her story to tell.”

  He opened the door, and I left wanting to say something further. Taney tightly restrained his emotions, and his walls were too high to climb. It made even less sense that he and Anna were a couple.

  I used the bathroom and placed the holster in the back of my pants. It felt weird, but at least I wouldn’t blow a hole in my rear end, not that I ever planned to use it. But it did offer me some security.

  “It’s about time,” Irma said. “Half the day will be gone before we make it out of the hotel.”

  I rolled my eyes. “It’s not even nine o’clock.”

  “Good, because we’re going to have a long day today if we want to solve Bev’s murder.”

  “Oh, were we doing that today?”

  “It makes sense.”

  “Except that we can’t get anything out of the cops about the case without looking more suspect.”

  “You know how closemouthed cops can be. That’s where my grandson will come in. He’ll be able to clue us in.”

  “Not unless he plans to reveal our investigation.”

  “Do you think the ruby is long gone?”

  “No. I don’t even know if it was found where Bev was staying,” I said as we left the room and took the elevator down.

  The elevator opened, and Anna stood there with a buxom brunette.

  Anna’s smile faded. “You,” she said.

  “Excuse me,” I said loudly so she would be sure I meant for her to move out of our way.

  Anna narrowed her eyes, and Irma stomped on her foot when she exited the elevator. “Sorry,” Irma said, and she gave Anna a wave as we passed.

  “Keep moving,” she whispered in my ear. “I have your back.”

  In other circumstances, I wouldn’t worry about a cream puff, but Anna was making it blatantly clear that she wasn’t about to back off, and I had no idea why.

  Irma and I walked up the main strip. Most of the shops weren’t open for the day, which is how I planned it. We were soon at the jewelry store, and I rapped hard on the door.

  Irma pointed out the doorbell and rang it. The ring vibrated from the inside speaker box, and a moment later the door opened a crack.

  The man I spoke with yesterday looked at me for a moment and tried to slam the door closed again, but I managed to put my foot in the door before he had the chance. I winced painfully as the door pinched my foot, and Irma shouldered the door open so we were able to slip inside.

  I closed the door behind us and faced the man down. “Who are you and what makes you think you can slam the door in my face?”

  “You’re a crazy person.”

  “Yes, but I haven’t done anything as of yet that would make you come to that conclusion.”

  “Emphasis on the yet,” Irma said.

  “I didn’t catch your name yesterday when we were here.”

  “I’d rather you not know my name; it’s safer for me that way.”

  “It’s strange that you say that because I have a bone to pick with you, several actually.”

  “So move into the store,” Irma said as she pointed a finger in the man’s chest.

  “Fine, no need to poke me. But in my business it’s better if people don’t know my name.”

  “Well, that’s off the table now so spit it out.”

  “Fine. My name is Ramon, but that’s the most you’re getting out of me.”

  “That’s where you’re mistaken. We’re getting far more out of you than that.”

  “We’re not too happy about our friend’s death last night,” Irma said.

  “And right after we left your store, voilà! I found out someone murdered her,” I added. “So you can understand why we’re so upset.”

  “I swear I didn’t know!” Ramon gasped.

  “For all we know, you had the woman murdered so you could try to steal the ruby that you told her you weren’t able to fence for her.”

  Irma nodded. “It makes sense to me.”

  “I swear I was here all day yesterday. I had a few business deals I handled that kept me very late.”

  “So you say,” I said. “All I know is I need to find that ruby before Rico becomes impatient with me.”

  “Rico is all about results.” Irma nodded.

  “Where is your doorman?”

  “Holding Killer,” the doorman said as he walked into the shop with the snarling pit bull.

  Irma squealed as she hid behind me, and I casually removed my handgun and pointed it at the dog. “You might want to take the dog in the other room.”

  “Don’t you dare shoot my dog,” Ramon said as he jumped in the line of fire.

  “I don’t want to unless I’m forced to.”

  “Put the dog in the back, you fool.”

  “And come back out here after you do,” Irma said from b
ehind me.

  Ramon walked behind the counter, but I waited for the doorman to surface from the back. I pointed the gun until the man came back with his arms raised and backed up until he was leaning against the jewelry counter.

  I noticed the half-empty glass case. “You planning on going somewhere, Ramon?”

  A response froze on Ramon’s lips.

  Irma’s brow shot up. “I see what’s going on here. Ramon is up to his brows in the murder.”

  “I’m most certainly not!”

  “Why are you closing up shop?” I asked.

  “Isn't it obvious,” Irma cut in with a shrug. “Ramon here is closing shop because he's involved in Bev's murder.”

  “That’s not true, but it never hurts to be cautious.”

  “Especially when Rico is madder than a wet hen.” I brushed my fingernails against my shirt. “We thought we’d give you a courtesy call before giving Rico all the details.”

  The bodyguard swung his arms wide. “Why would I tell you where to find Bev if I murdered her?”

  Irma’s eyes bulged. “Give me your wallet.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “I was talking to him, not you.”

  “I-I don’t have my wallet with me.”

  “You don’t have any idea who you’re messing with! I’ve been in the game too long to believe that.”

  I put a hand on Irma’s shoulder. “Calm down, we can’t have another incident.” I turned back to Ramon. “She’s mad-dog crazy, and I’m not sure I can hold her back much longer.”

  “My wallet is in the back.”

  “Then you won’t mind if I pat you down,” Irma said.

  “Suit yourself, lady. I ain’t got nothing to hide.”

  Irma nudged me. “Pat him down.”

  “Why do I have to do it?”

  “Because I told you to, that’s why. You won’t like me if I lose my cool.”

  I rolled my eyes and walked over to the bodyguard. “Pull your front pockets out.”

  “Make me.”

  I buried my hands in his pockets and yanked them out, only coming back with lint. “Hands against the counter. I imagine you know the drill.”

  “I’m no criminal.”

  “No way you have a clean record; your eyes are too shifty.”

  The man turned, and I swallowed hard and averted my eyes from his plumber crack. I yanked out his wallet, and he shoved me to the floor and hightailed it out the back door.

  “Well, I didn’t see that one coming,” Irma said.

  Ramon grabbed fistfuls of jewelry and tossed them into a black bag and screamed as he too ran out the door.

  “So much for questioning them in a civil manner.” I laughed. “Now we’ll never know if they had anything to do with Bev’s murder.”

  Irma pursed her lips. “I think we better get going while the going is good.”

  I knelt and picked up a diamond ring. “Seems like they left us a tip.”

  “Put it down,” Irma demanded. “I won’t have you slipping on my time.”

  “We could use it to find Bev’s killer.”

  “How will a diamond ring do that?”

  “If Taney can find out where it was stolen from, we might be able to find someone who could give us information about Ramon.”

  Irma smirked. “I don’t believe that’s the reason you want to take the ring.”

  My hands slipped to my hips. “Do you honestly believe I was planning to pocket it?”

  “You’re a jewel thief.”

  “Correction, I was a jewel thief.”

  “Put the ring down. I’ll call my grandson to handle the scene from here.”

  “What are we going to do about Killer? He’s still in the back. I can hear him scuffling back there. They must have tied him up or put him in a kennel.”

  “Only one way to be sure.”

  “You’re crazier than I told Ramon you were because if you think I’m going back there with that pit, you’re nuts. I value my life too much for that.”

  Irma inched forward and flicked on the light. Red eyes of the snarling pit changed over to brown. He was tightly chained to the far wall.

  I frowned at the scars and scabs on the dog. “He might have been used for fighting. See that heavy chain. That’s how they get pits to muscle up to fight.”

  “Why use a fighting dog to guard the place.”

  “He’s practically foaming at the mouth. He’d kill anyone who tried to break in.”

  The room contained three floor safes with the doors ajar. I entered the room, keeping a careful eye on the dog on the far wall. I pulled the door to one of the safes with my foot. The shelves of the safe were empty as were the other safes.

  “They’ve been planning to relocate since we arrived last night.”

  “And you really think they believed we work for Rico?”

  “We’re not sticking around to find out. Go ahead and call Taney. We’ll leave it up to him to decide if the police need to be called.”

  “Of course he’ll call him. This is a crime scene.”

  “We don’t know if Ramon or his bodyguard had anything to do with Bev’s murder at this point.”

  “The bodyguard is more of a viable suspect if you ask me.”

  “Maybe. But we made Ramon nervous when we asked him about the Ruby and Bev. Jewelry stores that fence jewelry rarely stay around long. They would risk being discovered by the cops.”

  Eight

  We met Taney down the street at a coffee shop to discuss the jewelry store while agents Gunther and Flynn checked out the scene.

  I explained what had happened at the store today, leaving out the mention of getting ahold of the bodyguard’s wallet.

  “You think the jewelry store owner had something to do with Bev’s murder?”

  “Maybe, maybe not. He told us he couldn’t fence the Imperial Ruby, but he could have easily followed Bev back to where she was staying.”

  “Or more like the bodyguard,” Irma said. “Don’t forget he told us where to find her.”

  “He might have known she was already dead when he gave us the tip.”

  “We can’t be sure the killer stole the ruby. I don’t think Bev would keep it with her.”

  “You didn’t think that way last night when you ransacked where she was staying,” Taney said.

  “Nope. But I’m thinking about it now.”

  “How are we supposed to know where she might stash it?” Irma asked. “Our window of opportunity was lost. We should have kept at it yesterday instead of coming back to the hotel.”

  “Look, the places I wanted to check out, I didn’t want to do in broad daylight. It’s easier to do it in the cover of darkness.”

  “I’d agree normally,” Taney said. “Except that Bev is dead now.”

  “Dead men tell no tales,” Irma agreed.

  “So where do you go from here?” Taney asked.

  “You’ll know when I know.”

  I picked up my coffee and walked to the door and waited for Irma to join me. The street was bustling with tourists for so early in the morning. If I had my way, I’d head back to the hotel for a little shut-eye. I was so tired I was seeing double at this point.

  “Let’s go somewhere private,” I said. “I haven’t had a chance to see the contents of the bodyguard’s wallet.”

  Agent Gunther pulled up and motioned us over. “Meet me at the pier. We need to talk.”

  “I don’t know why tourists keep asking us for directions,” Irma said loudly. “We’re tourists ourselves.”

  I raised an eyebrow, and we walked into a bikini store, exited through the beachside door, and continued along the sidewalk.

  “I was wondering for a moment if you were planning to buy a bikini,” I joked.

  “I’ll have you know I can rock a bikini. I do Pilates.”

  “At the senior center?”

  “You know it wouldn’t hurt you to get in shape. I’d think jewel thieves would keep in shape so they can outrun the cop
s.”

  “Maybe if I got caught before I took part in the museum heist.” I grinned. “I have the luckiest hands in the business, or I did before I decided to live my life on the up-and-up.”

  “Call it what you like, toots, but consider yourself lucky that you were even given a deal.”

  “If I had known you’d be tagging along, I might have decided differently.” I winked.

  The smile faded from Irma’s face. “On a serious note, am I the only one worried about meeting up with Agent Gunther?”

  “Nope. I wonder why he wants to speak with us. I thought Taney was our only contact.”

  “That was my impression too, but you know FBI agents always want to be the center of attention.”

  “I’m not sure they want to be that visible, but they certainly are able to worm their way into an investigation.”

  “They make a nuisance of themselves when they take over a case.”

  “Do you know something I don’t?”

  Irma hastened her pace and I had to catch up to her.

  “Why are you walking so fast?”

  “Trying to prove I can do more than keep up with you.”

  “Oh, I thought it was because you don’t want to tell me the truth about who you are?”

  Irma stopped and tapped her foot. “There’s nothing to tell. I’m just a run-of-the-mill grandmother with free time on her hands.”

  “For some reason I don’t see you sitting in a rocking chair and knitting.”

  “People see what they want sometimes. And I didn’t murder my husband if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “I wasn’t.” It was hard to swallow when Irma had suggested her mother-in-law murdered her husband but left out the details.

  “Good. Because I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Not even to tell me if the person responsible was brought to justice?”

  Irma groaned. “Absolutely not! Don’t worry yourself about me. I’m a closed book.”

  “I can see it’s going to be hard to get to know you.”

  “What’s the point? Once you find the ruby, we’ll part company. Now if you don’t mind, I’d rather walk to the pier silently.”

  “I didn’t mean to make you—” The word upset was left unsaid as Irma power walked ahead of me. I hit on a sore spot, and it made me even more curious about the specifics of Irma’s husband’s untimely death.