Deadly Dirty Martinis

by Nicole Leiren

  With one hundred percent charge, I turned on the flashlight in my phone and started walking. I'd walked maybe a quarter of a mile or so when I saw him. He was doing exactly what he said he wanted to do. Standing on the edge, looking down into the water. I approached quietly with the light pointed down to the ground. "Tommy?"

  He didn't turn around. "What do you want?"

  "Everyone is looking for you. What are you doing out here?"

  His laughter resonated with regret rather than humor. "What do you care?"

  That one was a little harder to answer. I did care about him—as a person. "Johnny was looking for you. He was worried. Aren't you two rock-and-roll bros or something?"

  "Come over here, and I'll explain."

  Yeah, I don't think so. I may be young, but I wasn't stupid. "I'm good right here. Fear of heights and all."

  He moved faster than I gave him credit for and grabbed me, causing the phone to drop to the ground. Of course, it would have to be flashlight down so we were cast in darkness. He pulled me to the edge. The ocean air nipped through my jacket, leaving goose bumps over the entire surface of my skin. Fear in its basest form might have contributed to those bumps as well.

  "Tommy! What are you doing?"

  He leaned me over so I was staring directly into the fathomless depths below. "Showing you what happens when you get involved in things that aren't your business. You've been upsetting people I care about."

  The goose bumps turned to ice. Liza had warned me about the same thing. Hope had also cautioned me to proceed with care, but here I was facing a potentially terrifying death—all alone. My tombstone would read: She died because she was stupid. If I was going to die, I wasn't going to go quietly. "But this was my business. Donny Z died on tavern property while the owner was away. As acting manager, that makes it my business. And, let's not forget, they charged my mother with the crime first."

  At the mention of Harmony, his grip tightened. "She's a bigger fool than you are."

  Was that a compliment or an insult? I couldn't be sure. Might as well clarify so I didn't have to go to my grave wondering. "How so?"

  "She's been following Brock for twenty plus years now, like some sick puppy dog, while he's off flirting with every female who crosses his path."

  I shook my head. "That's all part of the image. It's just a role he plays. He loves my mother."

  "Then why the hell won't he stay away from Liza? She's as bad as he is—flirting with anything with a Y chromosome." He shook me with each word he spewed out of anger.

  Okay, now things were making sense. As I thought back to all the times I'd seen Liza when she wasn't with Brock or Freddie, she'd been with a man in denim. I'd bet my entire bank balance that had been Tommy. "She can be yours. I'm telling you, Brock admires her musical ability and the chance she gives the band to get to the next level. That's it."

  "You think you know everything, don't you?"

  Well, in all fairness, I'd been spot-on so far. That thought made me chuckle a bit, despite the graveness of my circumstances. Harvey had rubbed off on Hope, and she had rubbed off on me. Too funny.

  To punish my levity, Tommy gave me another look over the edge. I swear I could feel the mist on my face from the water hitting the rock. This was going to be a terrible way to die, as I'd have entirely too much time to think before I started swallowing saltwater. Not good at all. Time for some of the contriteness Mandi is always promoting when dealing with difficult people. "No. I swear I don't know everything."

  He lowered me a little further. My feet started to slip in the damp grass. Any humorous thoughts or sarcasm dissipated in the chill of the night. I'm not ashamed to admit I was willing to beg for my life. "Please, Tommy. Don't kill me too."

  He jerked me upright until I was staring into his gaze. Dark eyes surrounded by anguish. Not a look that screamed killer to me. Instead, intense pain and, perhaps, loneliness. "I was wrong. You are a bigger fool than your mother, and you don't know everything. I was going to kill Donny, but someone else beat me to it. When I got there, he was already dead."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Tommy's revelation brought home the fact I didn't know everything. I'd been totally convinced he was the culprit. And, in all fairness, I would've been right if someone hadn't beaten him to it. "Let me get this straight. You went to kill him, but you were too late?"

  He laughed. This time the sound resounded with a touch more humor. Which, I had to admit, bothered me more than the anger and bitterness from earlier. The man had just confessed to me he'd wanted to kill Donny. Not sure why that was funny. "Yes, and when I bent over to make sure he really was dead, that's when I bumped up against the shed and ruined a perfectly good pair of jeans. The very first gift I'd received from Liza." The last part was added with a touch of sadness and regret.

  I thought about pointing out to him that I could've shared research on how to get that out without destroying the jeans but didn't think it was appropriate time for a home economics lesson. Since I was going to have to pay for a DNA test that would prove Tommy wasn't the killer—unless he was lying about that detail—I figured I could ask some more questions. Well, one burning question I hadn't been able to come up with an answer to myself. "Why?"

  He released me and sat on the ground, staring off into space. "That is none of your business. Now get out of here."

  "Yes, Lilly, let's get you out of here…now!" Tanner's voice interrupted my seeking the truth. Tommy didn't even look in his direction.

  "You're still coming to the meal tomorrow, aren't you—before you leave town?" I had no idea why I was inviting the man who'd given serious consideration to tossing me into the ocean… Oh wait, I did. I wanted another shot at asking him about motive. Something wasn't adding up.

  "You are relentless," Tommy offered.

  Tan leaned down and grabbed my cell phone from the ground. It was easy to spot, as the flashlight created a halo of light in an otherwise dark night. He then slid his warm hand around my bicep and gently pulled me away from Tommy and the edge. "You have no idea how relentless she can be, man. See you tomorrow."

  Tommy waved us off. Once we were a safe distance, Tan released my arm to grab my bike.

  "How?" I whispered.

  "The stalker app I made you put on your phone. I double checked it to make sure you made it home." He cut me a glance, indicating displeasure. "Imagine my surprise when it pinpointed your location out here."

  "How long have you been here?"

  We walked a fair distance before arriving at his mom's pickup truck. He lifted my bike to place it in the bed and then opened the door for me. Once we were safely away from the area, he pulled over to the side of the road. When he turned to face me, his normally tan skin was a ghostly white.

  "What's wrong?"

  He shook his head. "I don't understand why you continue to put yourself in dangerous situations. Why would you go looking for him alone? Do you have any idea how terrified I was when I saw him hanging you over the edge?"

  I shrugged my shoulders. To be honest, I wasn't sure why I did that. It had happened before, and I couldn't promise him it wouldn't happen again. "I'm sorry I worried you."

  "That? That's what you're sorry about? Unbelievable. I…" He shook his head and then faced forward. He put the truck in drive. "I'm going to take you home."

  "Tan?"

  His head continued to shake. "Not right now. We'll talk later."

  To allay the tension of the silence stretching between Tan and myself, I texted Bree and asked her to let Johnny know where I'd last seen Tommy. Leaving him probably wasn't the best option, as he was either a cunning killer who had lied his way out of my questions or bordered on suicide. It felt irresponsible to leave him, but Tan's insistence and my internal safeguards working together convinced me to go.

  A few minutes later, we pulled up to Hazlitt Heights. Once Tan had secured my bike, he leaned over and kissed me on the forehead. Not a good sign. "Good night, Lilly. I'll see you in the morning."
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  I opened my mouth in an effort to find words to explain, but nothing came out. So I nodded. "Thanks for the ride home. Good night."

  As I stood under a hot shower, I tried to figure out why I'd gone looking for Tommy in the first place. I'd suspected he was the killer. If so, my internal warning system should've reminded me that doing so alone was not a great idea. The best I could come up with was that my curiosity far outweighed my caution. My luck with those scales was due to run out any day now.

  Despite the shower and my favorite herbal tea, my bed kept producing lumps, making me toss and turn. Why did I keep putting myself in those situations? Why did Tommy want to kill Donny? If Tommy didn't, then who did? I was out of suspects—viable suspects anyway. The only people left besides a mob hit were Brock, Liza, and Johnny. Two out of the three had motive, but despite the strength she'd displayed when she bullied me earlier this evening, I still wasn't convinced Liza could overpower Donny.

  Deep in my heart of hearts, I refused to believe Brock had killed him. He tried to play rebel-loving rock-and-roll guy, but he'd been polite to strangers, loved my mother, been reasonably kind to me, and listened to The Piano Guys. There had to be some psychoanalysis that proved anyone who loved that group couldn't be capable of murder. Maybe Mandi would know.

  My phone buzzed with an incoming text message. Please let it be Tan. Instead, it was Abe. Marshals called. Expect extraction in next 8-12 hours.

  What? No! That meant he could be gone before our meal. This meal meant a lot to me for so many reasons, I couldn't even name them all. I texted back: Not before our meal. Please…

  There was a long delay before he responded, far longer than I liked. Finally, the phone buzzed. Will try. No promises.

  I tossed the phone onto the nightstand and wrestled with my pillow and the covers. Other than my mother being released and the extra turkeys showing up at our door to provide a chance for our holiday get together, this day had drained a considerable amount from my PLH account. Tan was upset with me. My parents were leaving tomorrow. Donny's killer was still on the loose. And Abe would be gone soon. At this rate, it would be a long time before things got back to normal. And there was something pecking at the back of my brain. Something not adding up.

  * * *

  I didn't need the alarm in the morning. I'd been awake most of the night. A hot shower had helped a little, but I'd have to call in the big guns to make myself presentable today. Thirty-caliber concealer and pistol-packing powder would be added to my makeup regimen. Though I usually kept it casual, today was a special day—at least I wanted it to be. A navy blue with white polka dot dress was chosen for the occasion. It was vintage, late fifties/early sixties, my favorite era of clothing. A white sweater was also necessary since the dress was sleeveless. The shoes were a little more challenging. I slid on a pair of black dress boots, not the best choice for the dress, but sandals didn't feel appropriate for this time of year and none of my flats really worked either.

  A knock on the door pulled me away from too much self-recrimination in the mirror. Mandi was standing at the door with a to-go cup, of what I hoped was strong tea, and a beautiful smile on her face. I found comfort in the fact that she would still be my BFF when this day was over. At least I hoped so. I took the cup she offered. "To what do I owe this morning surprise?"

  "Mom's driving us to work today. She said by the end of the day, we'd both be too exhausted to walk, much less pedal our bikes. She's waiting downstairs. You ready?"

  I grabbed my purse and jacket. "Your mother is an incredibly smart woman. I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

  Ashley was waiting by the door when I arrived. I took that as a very good sign of her willingness to work hard. Maybe she'd turned over a new leaf. I unlocked the door. "Morning, Ashley."

  "You look like crap."

  Or maybe she was the same crumbly old leaf she'd always been. I forced a smile as I let her in. "Thanks. That was the look I was going for."

  "I mean…your dress looks…nice. You just look…tired." The way she stumbled over her words brought me a small measure of joy.

  "Not sleeping will do that to you."

  "You aren't sick, are you? My brother told Mom he didn't sleep well last night either. I told you that you two should stop kissing."

  I had zero energy to deal with all of this. Mandi came to my rescue. "Come on, Ashley. Let me take you to the kitchen and show you around before you get yourself terminated for insubordination. Clara and Tara should be here shortly, and they can get you started."

  "We'll do your paperwork at the end of the day." Provided she continued to be employed at that time.

  The next hours flew by. I stayed busy by handling the bar and helping out in the dining area so Mandi and Freddie could help in the kitchen. Clara and Tara were the best at delegating and coordinating everything so it would be hot and ready all at the same time. Tan and I worked seamlessly ensuring the patrons who came in for lunch were attended to. He'd yet to say anything besides good morning to me. I wanted to fix the rift between us but couldn't, or wouldn't, make promises I knew I couldn't keep.

  At one thirty, I posted a sign out front to indicate we'd be closed for a private event for the next three hours. Tan and Freddie rearranged tables while I helped in the kitchen. By helped I mean carried plates, cutlery, and glasses to set the table. That's about the extent of what Gram would let me do for meals as well.

  I'd just finished setting the tables and admiring my work when Ashley came from the kitchen. "Lilly, there are two policemen at the back door. One of them reeks of pizza. He's asking for you."

  Nothing like Detective Pizza Guy to kill the tiniest bit of good mood I'd built over my table-setting skills. "Can you please make sure there's enough ice in the bin behind the bar for all the glasses while I see what he needs?" Maybe if Officer Faria was with him, he'd be more reasonable. Doubtful, but a girl could dream.

  She grinned. "Sure thing, Boss Lady."

  Had I mentioned how much I was looking forward to Hope's return? I preferred her having that title as opposed to it being used on me. I was still up for being boss someday, but after this past week, I was sure more training was in order. I grabbed my jacket and headed toward the back.

  Freddie stopped me. "Hey, Lilly. I asked my dad, and he agreed to show. He said he'd extend the rental one more day, but that was it. He's ready to go home to Chicago."

  I nodded. "As long as he understands Danger Cove is your home."

  Freddie smiled and headed back to the dining room. I motioned toward Danger Cove's finest and stepped outside. Whatever they wanted to say to me, I didn't want the others to hear.

  Officer Faria's expression couldn't be characterized as a smile or a frown, which didn't unsettle me nearly as much as Detective Marshall's smile. He rarely smiled at me. He typically wore a frown through most of our conversation.

  "Afternoon, Officer, Detective. What can I do for you?"

  "You look very nice, Ms. Waters. I understand you're hosting a shindig for some of your friends and family this afternoon." Detective Marshall started with a pleasantry. Very disturbing.

  "Yes, we had a surplus of turkeys delivered. Seemed the reasonable thing to do." First a smile, then a compliment. He was up to something.

  "I wanted to be the one to deliver this to you." He handed me a sealed envelope. The return address listed Quality Labs in Seattle. This had to be the bill for the DNA testing. That explained his good mood. "I hope you still have enough in the bank account after your party to pay this. It wasn't Tommy's DNA on the guitar strings."

  I swear his chest puffed out more with each word. Time to deflate him for safety reasons. "I know."

  "What? How?" The smile disappeared and his face turned red. "You better explain, missy."

  This was the detective I knew and loved. "He confessed to me last night that he was going to kill Donny, but someone else beat him to it."

  While he launched into his normal rant about me getting involved and not calling the poli
ce, I thought about the time line. In my head, I reran the tape from the first twenty-four hours after finding Donny behind the shed. The pecking at the back of my brain had grown into full-blown pounding.

  I realized Detective Marshall had stopped talking. Everyone seemed upset about last night. Why couldn't they understand I didn't do this on purpose? Someone had to find the truth and stick up for the underdog. "For the official record, I didn't poke my nose in. I went for a late-night bike ride and ran into Tommy."

  "And he confessed to you? Just like that? Shared all the details of his plans to you?"

  "I regret to inform you he did not share everything. He wouldn't tell me why he'd planned to kill Donny."

  "Planning to kill someone isn't a crime." Officer Faria joined the conversation.

  "Agreed." If that was the case, our prisons would be more overpopulated than they already were.

  "Do you have any other leads or information you aren't telling us?" Detective Marshall's aggravation resonated loud and clear.

  I weighed my answer carefully. I had a hunch. Did that constitute a lead? Remembering the lectures Pizza Guy had given me about bringing him ideas without proof, I decided to share my thoughts after I could confirm them. "Sadly, no."

  Detective Marshall looked to Officer Faria. "We're going to have to start at the beginning. Re-interview witnesses and wait for the rest of the DNA results to come back." He glared in my direction, "Unless you'd like to pay for some more priority testing?"

  I shook my head. "Nope, I'm good. I really thought it was Tommy. That's the only reason I pushed so hard. Sorry."

  "Amateur." Detective Marshall huffed. "You ready, Faria? Our shift is almost over, and my wife is insistent I not be late so I can help get the house ready for holiday company. Aren't I a lucky guy?"

  Officer Faria smiled. "I'll catch up with you in just a minute. I'm going to see if they have any desserts I can purchase to take to my friend's house tomorrow."