Trouble in Paradise

by Brown, Deborah

  “If you need help, let me know.”

  “I’m checking out the warehouse situation today. If I have to follow very many trucks up the turnpike, I’m going to want some company.” Fab chopped up an apple, smearing peanut butter on the slices. “What about Tolbert?”

  “Just because I asked Slice not to kill anyone, he was supposed to make it clear they were never to come back. Fingers crossed that the bus is an easy fix. The inside needed a makeover anyway. The seats were uncomfortable and falling apart.” I grabbed the last clean apple slice.

  “We’re not one step closer to even a possible suspect for Cosmo’s murder,” Fab said.

  “I don’t have a good feeling about this one. We need to be careful. It took out of control rage to beat Cosmo that way. And I think it’s definitely a ‘he’ that we’re looking for.”

  “I agree. We haven’t started poking the hornet’s nest yet but, when we do, neither one of us leaves home without our guns,” Fab said.

  “The few people I’ve asked would never tell that I’d been asking questions. Word is no one even mentions Cosmo’s name.” I scooped up Jazz and headed up the stairs.

  “A few well-placed threats will get us what we want,” Fab called up the staircase.

  * * *

  Damn Boyd Lincoln’s men for invading the peace and quiet of the Wild Bird Farm. Half of the parrots that had lined the tree limbs on my last visit were gone, probably scared off by last night’s antics.

  Grover came running at the sound of my SUV, sitting patiently for me to open the door.

  As soon as I put my feet in the ground, he jumped up to lick my face. “Sit,” I told him and bent down wrapping my arms around his neck. “Happy to see you didn’t forget me.” I scratched his neck.

  Tolbert walked over, looking relieved to see me. “What a mess.” I pointed to the charred remnants of the bus, the burnt smell filling the air. “A friend of mine is on his way over to assess the damage. If anyone can fix it, it would be Spoon.”

  “I’ll have to cancel Sunday,” Tolbert said sadly.

  “We’ll get you a loaner. You’d be surprised what can be borrowed.” I squeezed his hand. “So what happened?”

  We settled in the wicker chairs on the front porch, and I grabbed an extra pillow. A tray with a pitcher of tea, glasses, and a bowl of ice sat on the table. Grover laid his head in my lap, nudging my hand for continuous petting.

  “Boyd showed up here last night with his band of thugs. Not sure what he wanted or how far they were willing to take their plan. They succeeded in scaring the heck out of me,” Tolbert said, still looking shaken.

  “What about the kids? The animals?”

  “My grandchildren slept through everything. This morning, I distracted them on the way out of the driveway so they wouldn’t see the bus. No problem with the animals, everyone comes in at night. Cats stayed in the house today; they’re asleep on the bed. Whenever I leave the property, I take Grover with me.”

  I held an ice cube out to Grover and he snatched it up. Fab would be happy to hear he still loved ice. And I thought she was crazy feeding him ice. “I’m sorry they came back. They set the fire and left?”

  “Boyd and one other man came to the back door, fiddling with the knob. I didn’t wait for them to kick it in or shoot the locks off. I racked my shotgun, which you know is an unmistakable sound. Next thing, Boyd’s partner in crime yelled, “Let’s get out of here!”

  “Good thinking with the shotgun. That sound stops anyone with half a brain.”

  “It was only filled with buckshot.”

  “Owwey if you get a butt full.” I refilled my iced tea. “I feel like I let you down.” They don’t get to terrorize an old man or worse. I don’t give my word and not keep it. “It was spelled out very clearly to them, not to come back. Did you report them to the sheriff?”

  “Boyd called right before the sheriff and fire department arrived. He told me he’d blow up my house with me and the kids in it if a sheriff came snooping around.”

  “I keep my promises,” I said. “Boyd Lincoln won’t be back.”

  “I uh…,” Tolbert started.

  A large flatbed maneuvered its way into the driveway. Three beefy men hopped out. Two of them were bald, looking like relatives of Mr. Clean, complete with hoop earring. The other one was rail thin and looked mean as stink, as my grandmother would say. I assumed Spoon had workers but I’d never seen any.

  Grover stood up and planted himself between me and Tolbert.

  “Those are friends of yours?” Tolbert whispered.

  “I can’t vouch for the bald twins and the other one, but the one who just got out of the pickup truck smokes cigars with my mother and is a good guy, as long as you don’t screw him. Come, I’ll introduce you.”

  We met Spoon halfway. “Thank you. This is Pastor Rich.”

  They shook hands. “My cousin Lolly is a regular of yours,” Spoon told him. “I think she has a crush.”

  “Lolly is a lovely woman,” Tolbert told him.

  “No she isn’t, but I appreciate your saying it anyway.”

  I bit my lip not to laugh. I couldn’t wait to meet Lolly.

  “A quick look over tells me your bus is toast. I’ll haul it away and see if there’s anything salvageable but I highly doubt it. I did make a couple of calls just in case and I have a line on a used school bus.”

  “We’re lucky to cover expenses. Even a used bus isn’t in the budget,” Tolbert said.

  “It wouldn’t kill me to do something nice, especially for a church. You put in a good word for me; maybe wipe a sin or two off my long list.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Tolbert touched Spoon’s arm.

  “Oh I do,” I said. “That would be great. I can get some contributions for this bus. And he needs it for Sunday, or a loaner, please.”

  “Madison,” Tolbert whispered. “I couldn’t ask…”

  “The loaner will be here Saturday night.” Spoon winked at me. “I’ll have it picked up Sunday night. Your permanent ride may take a couple of weeks to locate and for me to make sure it’s in good running order.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you,” Tolbert said.

  “Just remember the absolution prayers. Don’t thank me, thank her. She can get all the crusty men in The Cove to do her bidding. Generally, they don’t mind. The bus is loaded, so we’re off.” Spoon shook hands with Tolbert. “Here’s my card, you’ll be hearing from me.”

  “Thank you, Spoon.” I smiled.

  “Oh you so owe me.” Spoon laughed and walked to the tow truck.

  “Thank you,” Tolbert called. “What do you owe him?” He looked worried.

  “A favor of some sort. Don’t worry, no sex, nothing illegal. I’m so excited that you have a bus for Sunday. When I first met Spoon, he told me he could fix problems and he’s a man of his word.”

  CHAPTER 16

  “What’s up?” Slice put me on speaker.

  “Unfinished favor business,” I snapped at him. “I thought you were this big scary guy, you look at someone, and they run to the next state.”

  “I have those super powers. What happened?”

  “Remember the guys you moved out of Pigeon Key? Well they came back last night, set fire to Tolbert’s church bus and then attempted to break into the house while his grandchildren were asleep.”

  Total silence. “I’ll take care of it. You tell the preacher that there will be no more late night visits.”

  “I don’t know where they went.” I wouldn’t want to be Boyd and his crew.

  “I don’t need directions.”

  “Thank you, Slice. Your IOU has been reactivated.” We hung up.

  * * *

  Could a person mainline caffeine? My SUV magically appeared in front of The Bakery Café. My plan included a double caramel latte, extra whip and a cinnamon roll. And not one of those new bite-size ones either. Today called for jumbo size.

  Tucker and I both had the same thought about needing coff
ee, and we came face to face as I got out of my car. “Oh look, you’re still alive. When’s your shooter going to trial?”

  “Gentry Swain died in jail two days ago,” Tucker said.

  “You must be next. Not nice knowing you,” I said and tried to go around him.

  “I dumped him as a client a few days prior to his murder. The Famosa brothers had nothing to with him being gutted.”

  Tucker had my attention now. “I take it he wasn’t able to make friends in jail?”

  “Gentry marched to the voices in his head and they continually gave wrong turn messages. He dated a Southside gang member’s sister and was given clear cut instructions to stay away. Apparently, she didn’t get the same memo and went to visit him and he was found dead the next day.”

  “Thanks for the update.” I didn’t mean a word of it, but what does one say?

  “After our conversation, I cancelled the subpoena. I knew you wouldn’t show up anyway and decided Gentry could find himself another lawyer. If you tell anyone I said that, I’ll tell people you’re a psychotic liar.” Tucker looked me straight in the eye for an extra beat or two, then turned and practically ran down the sidewalk.

  “A few bucks for food?” a homeless woman asked, lounging nearby on the sidewalk on a ratty purple beach towel.

  Turning, I stared into the eyes of Apple Manning. I once referred to her as the sympathetic drunken muse of my ex-husband, Jackson Devereaux or, as my family called him, Dickhead. “Apple? Are you homeless?”

  “Things didn’t work out between me and Elmore.” Apple’s looks had changed dramatically.

  When I first met her, years back, she’d been a vibrant brunette. Now her hair had thinned considerably and hung in a greasy mess; her complexion yellow-grey, eyes sunken.

  “Come on, I’ll get you a meal.” In the past, I had actively disliked this woman, but none of that seemed to matter in the moment.

  “Food makes me sick. I want money for cigarettes and liquor. Not beer. It fizzes around in my stomach, causing an explosion, then I heave and get bad shakes.” Apple held her stringy hair in one hand off her neck. “I lost my scrunchy.”

  “I’ll give you money if you do something to help yourself. Use my cell phone to call your mother. She’d help you.”

  Fear drained Apple’s face of all color. “She… she’d help me right into the mental hospital,” she stuttered. “I didn’t think I’d get out of the loon bin the last time. It took four months, until I convinced the doctors I’d be their puppet and do what I was told, and wouldn’t have an independent thought.”

  The commitment law in Florida is a little too easy in my opinion. “You have substance abuse problems, you’re not mentally ill. How did she get away with that?” I’d heard stories about how controlling her mother could be, but commitment took it to a new level.

  “She’s a registered nurse, knows everyone at the local hospitals and she’s a woman who always gets her way,” Apple said, clenching her hands together to control the shaking.

  “What about your sisters?” Those two were both functioning drunks, somehow managing day jobs while being hung over every day.

  “No thanks. I’ll just take the money.” Apple held out her hand. “If they find out where I’m at, they’ll tell her.”

  “There’s a convenience store on the corner, let’s walk over there.” Buying liquor for a drunk seemed wrong but I couldn’t bring myself to go all high and mighty and say no. “What happened with Elmore?” He was an older man she met at the Jumpin’ Croc bar, a hangout for undesirables. In exchange for house cleaning and sex, he’d keep a roof over her head.

  “As long as he stayed drunk, we got along good. One day, he decided to sober up, and then he couldn’t stand the sight of me, no matter how hard I tried.” Apple started to cry. “He slapped me around some; it got to where I could stand the pain. He never hit me in the face, so I could cover my bruises with clothes. One day he came home and beat the hell out of me, drove me into Miami, and shoved me out of the car.”

  “You’re not my favorite person; it’s hard to get the image of you rolling around on the floor with my husband out of my mind. But leaving you standing on the corner with a bottle doesn’t seem right.”

  “You were always way too nice. I took advantage and Jax was worse.”

  The sympathetic look on her face made my jaw clench. We entered Lucky’s, which was run by a quiet Asian couple. They didn’t tolerate any trouble. Both packed and everyone around knew it. Mrs. Lucky had shot dead two would-be robbers.

  Apple chose a cheap carton of cigarettes and a bottle of dark rum. “Do you mind if I get a crossword book and a pen?”

  That’s what shocked me about her. Apple was the only person I knew that could do the Sunday crossword with no cheat books by her side.

  “Get a new scrunchy,” I said.

  “If it eases your mind any, I don’t want help. I’ve gotten used to life on the street and found myself a safe place to sleep. What you just bought means I can take a couple of days off panhandling.” One step out of the door, she unscrewed the top off her rum and took a long swig. “I have a business proposition for you.”

  The whole encounter with Apple depressed me. This ought to be good. “Let’s hear it.”

  “I hear stuff and I’m willing to sell you the information when I get something good.”

  “What kind of stuff?” I refrained from rolling my eyes.

  “Here’s a freebie for what you just did for me.” Apple wiped her mouth with her fingers. “That snotty-ass Kyle kid snuck up on Miss January while she was sleeping, took her cat and threw it in that ugly orange flowerpot across the street from The Cottages. In front of that rental house that’s now vacant.”

  “You heard this how?”

  “Stupid kid can’t keep his mouth shut, he’s bragging to all his friends. I always liked Miss J. You can go get the dead ratty thing back for her.”

  There wasn’t enough caffeine for this day. “Seriously, thank you. Miss January is special to me. I’ll retrieve the cat and take care of Kyle,” I told her. I reached in my purse and handed her a cottage business card and cash. “You call me, I’ll pay.”

  “I’ll keep this but I don’t have access to a phone. I’ll leave a note at the office and let you know what corner I’m working. Promise me you won’t tell anyone anything I ever tell you. I don’t want to get beat up or worse.” During the whole conversation, she constantly looked around, switching from one foot to the other.

  “I promise. You take care of yourself. If you change your mind and want help to get off the street, get in touch.” Apple disappeared around the corner in a blink.

  I passed on the coffee, my stomach suddenly severely nauseous. I wanted to go home and nap.

  * * *

  “Where are you?” I asked Fab, when she answered the phone.

  “Your house, feeding Jazz. Uh-oh hold on.”

  Now what?

  “Sorry, Jazz was about to barf on me. You’ll be proud of me. I just caught cat puke in a paper towel, I watched you do it a couple of times and figured if you could do it so could I. Guess he doesn’t like those cat treats I bought.”

  I covered my mouth so I wouldn’t laugh. “Will you meet me out front with a garbage bag and a pair of gardening gloves?”

  “Wouldn’t miss this.”

  Just as well Fab didn’t ask for any details, since I’d have to lie to get her to go with me. “I’ll be there in five.”

  Turning the corner onto my street, Fab magically appeared on the sidewalk.

  “What are we doing?” Fab asked, getting into the passenger seat.

  “You know how we’re such good friends?”

  “Stop this car I want out!” Fab yelled.

  I hit the lock button and stepped on the gas, cruising through the yellow light. “You don’t have to do anything but give me moral support.”

  “Why, why, why don’t I ask ahead of time?” Fab grumbled.

  “It wouldn’t do any good
, I would’ve lied to you.”

  “I’m such a bad influence.”

  The office parking space at The Cottages was empty. I pulled into the spot, then grabbed the trash bag and gloves, and got out of the car.

  “What are you two doing here?” Mac walked out of the office towards us, her tennis shoes lighting up with each step. “We have another problem?”

  “Good question. I’d like to know the same thing,” Fab said.

  “Miss January?” Mac asked.

  “How did you know?” I asked. “Where is she?”

  “She thinks Kitty ran away. She wobbled around drunk and crying, so I helped her inside, and she passed out on her bed.”

  “Think ‘best friend’ and ‘moral support,’” I motioned for Fab to follow. I pulled the gardening gloves on as we walked across the street. I breathed a sigh of relief: at the bottom of the orange pot lay Kitty.

  “What the hell?” Fab said, looking in.

  “We have that hideous Kyle kid to thank for this.” I took a deep breath, picked up the dead cat, laid it on the plastic bag and wrapped it up.

  “He needs his ass kicked,” Fab said. “Let’s have a talk with his father.”

  I carried Kitty back across the street. “Do you have the key?” I yelled to Mac, who stood in the driveway watching us.

  Quietly we entered Miss January’s cottage; I heard loud snoring coming from the bedroom. I unwrapped Kitty, and put her onto the couch where I’d seen it a few times before, arranging it to look natural. For a drunk, she kept her cottage spotless; a few pieces of furniture, not a single knick knack.

  “How did you know where to find Kitty?” Mac asked me when I walked back outside. Fab stood next to her, having ditched me after I retrieved Kitty. She’d had enough of moral support.

  “A drunk told me,” I said. “Just so we’re clear, anything I tell you is confidential.”