Peril in Pensacola

by Lucy Quinn

  Brian let out a sigh with a pained expression. “The force is full of corruption right now, and from what you’ve told me, I’m worried the Franklin scheme might be bigger than we know. You’re going to hide out at Evie’s until the thumb drive arrives. Call me the minute it does, and I’ll get you to a safe house. I’m going over to the restaurant to get the security tape footage that will prove your innocence. I don’t trust it will get into the right hands, and I want to make sure what really happened doesn’t get erased.”

  Dora’s heart stopped when it occurred to her the tape wasn’t the only thing Marco would want to erase. She picked up her glass of whiskey and downed the contents. Tears burned in her eyes, but they weren’t from the drink. Dora had a sinking feeling that life as she knew it was going to be forever changed.

  “Dora!” Evie called as she heard her best friend open the front door of her cottage and close it again. She carefully set the margarita glasses out, and added, “I hope you brought the big bottle of tequila. It’s been one heck of a day.”

  Footsteps sounded on the tile floor of Evie’s small cottage as Dora made her way through the house.

  “You won’t believe what happened,” Evie continued as she dumped a generous helping of tequila into a shaker. “You know who Nancy Lemon is, right? Lemon Fashions? Anyway, she came in today and was not pleased with my unsolicited advice, and—” Evie, who’d just turned around and spotted a white-faced Dora, stopped mid-sentence, her insides turning cold with trepidation. Dora was the steadiest person she knew. Her best friend never let anything get to her, but in that moment, Dora looked like she’d just seen a ghost. “What happened?”

  One lone tear rolled down Dora’s face, and her bottom lip quivered as she whispered, “It’s Steve… he… I...” She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

  “What?” Evie blinked at Dora, her ire up. “What did that jackhole do to you? Please tell me you kicked him in the nads. Did he get handsy?” Steve had always given Evie the creeps.

  Dora slowly shook her head, her mouth working but no words escaping her lips. The faint tap, tap, tap of dog nails on the tile filled the silence as Sunshine, Evie’s dog, trotted into the room. The little bichon ran up to Dora and jumped on her leg, desperate for attention. Dora glanced down at the little dog for just a moment and snapped out of her horrified trance. But instead of picking up the dog as she usually would, she ran over to the kitchen window and quickly lowered the blinds. “Help me close all of the blinds, Evie,” she ordered as she ran to the dining room and started yanking on the cord to lower the blinds on the French doors. “I can’t be seen here. It’s too dangerous for both of us.”

  “Whoa, Dora. Come on. Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a little?” But even as she asked the question, she helped Dora get the windows covered. If it was important to Dora to sit in the dark after whatever happened with her boss, Evie was down for it. She’d do whatever Dora needed. Ride or die. Dora and Evie were besties for life.

  Dora paused before disappearing into the living room and turned sad eyes on Evie. “I wish I was, honey. But I…” The words got caught in her throat and she just shook her head and hurried into the other room.

  Not sure what else to do, Evie ran into her bedroom, where the blinds were already closed, and grabbed a handful of candles out of the drawer that housed all of her date-night supplies. After searching through a handful of condoms, lube, and silk ties, she finally found the lighter that was hiding in the back. A small smile played on her lips as she recalled the month before when her on-again, off-again boyfriend Trace had gotten really creative with the red silk and melted caramel. Who knew that caramel was better than candle wax?

  “Evie?” Dora’s frantic voice called from the other room. “I think someone’s watching the house.”

  Evie slammed the drawer shut and ran into the other room to find Dora peeking out through the blinds, one hand pressed to her throat. “What do you mean someone is watching the house? Why would they do that? Because you kneed your boss where the sun don’t shine? Wait. Knowing him it might have considering he went to—"

  “Evie! I didn’t knee him, I killed him. And now people are looking for me.” Dora’s eyes were wild, and she turned a putrid shade of green.

  The candles landed with a thud on the coffee table where Evie dropped them, followed up by a softer thud when one rolled off and hit the floor. Her eyes went wide as her friend’s words started to sink in. “You did what? You can’t be serious.”

  Another tear rolled down Dora’s cheek as she just nodded and turned her attention to the window again. Her shoulders sagged as she let out a heavy sigh. “Oh, thank goodness. I think the person outside is your neighbor. He just disappeared into his house.”

  Evie blinked at her, trying to keep up. “Long black hair? Tattoos covering both arms? Hotter than Trace’s spicy martini? I swear if I wasn’t already dating a rock star—”

  “That’s him.” Dora sank into the couch and sucked in deep breaths.

  Evie shoved some candles aside and sat on the coffee table in front of Dora, leaning down to pick up Sunshine. She needed the soft pooch to settle her rattled nerves. She looked her best friend in the eye and said, “Tell me everything.”

  Dora stared at the little dog and started to talk. She filled Evie in on how she’d broken into Marco’s computer, uncovered a money laundering scheme, and how she’d been confronted and threatened by Steve. “That’s when he pulled his gun on me.”

  Evie let out a gasp. “No!”

  “Yes.” Dora took Sunshine out of Evie’s hands and cuddled the dog tight to her chest. “We fought. The gun went off. He’s dead, and I was too scared Marco would come up and I’d be next, so I just left him there.”

  “It’s self-defense then.” With her heart pounding against her ribcage, Evie jumped up and ran to grab her phone. “You have to tell the police, Dora. If you don’t, you’re going to end up in an orange jumpsuit. And we both know orange is soooo not your color.” A shudder rolled through her as she imagined Dora locked up in a maximum security prison with women named Cue Ball and Pinkie Pearl as cellmates. Dora couldn’t kill a fly; she’d never survive life in the big house. “We’ll call them now and explain everything. Surely they have security cameras that will show what really happened.”

  Dora popped up off the couch and yanked the phone away from Evie. “I already talked to Brian. He said to lay low until tomorrow. He went to get the tapes.”

  “Why?” Evie frowned. “Don’t they want your statement? And if Brian knows, then why are all my blinds drawn?”

  “Evie,” Dora said in a hushed whisper. “He said there is corruption at the Pensacola police station, and he doesn’t know who we can trust. So I’m to hang out here and lay low.”

  “Corruption?” Evie placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. “I always did think Leonard Kemp was on the take. Did I ever tell you about the time he tried to get me to polish his knob in exchange for not giving me an indecent exposure citation?” She shuddered again. “Old pervy bastard. He’s over seventy years old.”

  “He wanted you to wax his vintage T-bird, Evie,” Dora said, rolling her eyes.

  “No, he didn’t. I specifically remember him leaning against his red—oh. T-bird.” She tsked, secretly pleased that she’d seemed to calm her friend down enough to at least correct her on the indecent exposure story. “Well, I still think it was a euphemism.”

  Dora moved toward the window again, no doubt to peer out at the street, but before she got there, someone knocked on the front door once and then barged right in, the door banging open. Dora flung herself against the wall, flatting herself to the sheetrock.

  “Hey, baby,” Trace, Evie’s long and lean rocker and sometimes boyfriend, called as he kicked the door shut. “I’m back! Ready for another hot night of caramel and orga—”

  “Dora’s here!” Evie said brightly, waving at her friend behind him. Her heart swelled as she stared at Trace’s perfect backside.
It had been more than three weeks since she’d seen him last. He was a bass player in a local band, and they were on the road a lot. It wasn’t unusual for him to surprise her when he rolled back into town.

  Trace turned his brilliant blue eyes on Dora and gave her an easy smile. “Ahh, hey, Dora. Didn’t know you were going to be here.”

  “It’s margarita Tuesday.” Dora blew out a breath and slid down the wall.

  Trace’s eyebrows rose as he turned back to Evie. “Isn’t today Thursday?”

  “We both needed to blow off some steam.” She linked her arm through his and pulled him into the kitchen. Once they had a bit of privacy, Trace pulled Evie into his arms and gave her a searing kiss that made her tingle all the way down to her toes.

  “Missed you, babe,” he muttered against her lips.

  Man, her rocker was yummy, but now wasn’t the time. Evie pressed a hand to his chest and gently pushed him back. “Me, too. But it’s not going to happen. Dora needs me tonight.”

  Disappointment flashed in his soulful eyes, but he quickly switched gears and gave her a lopsided grin. “So, no caramel?”

  “It doesn’t look good. Sorry.” She chuckled as Sunshine ran into the kitchen and started yapping at Trace. “Looks like Sunshine’s a little jealous.”

  Trace reached down and pulled the bichon into his arms. “How are you doing, Sushi?” he asked the dog as she licked his face.

  “Her name is Sunshine,” Evie said, just as she always did when he called her dog Sushi.

  “Come on, Evie. She looks like a little ball of rice.” His voice changed to the universal baby-talk tone nearly everyone used for pets. “I could just eat you up in one bite!” He pressed his lips to Sunshine’s head and gave her a kiss. Then he grinned at Evie.

  She shook her head at him, wondering what all his bandmates would think. But then she remembered the redwood tree-sized drummer who talked that way to Sush—Sunshine!—when he’d met her too. “Whatever. But if she stops responding to her actual name, you’re the one who is taking her to obedience school.”

  “Just roll with Sushi and everything will be fine,” Trace said, winking at her.

  Evie took Sunshine from his arms and tucked her against her chest. “Okay, rock star. Time to go. It’s girls’ night, and we have margaritas to drink.”

  Trace gave her a remorseful look. “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure. Dora’s having a bad day.”

  He nodded. “All right. Call me tomorrow?”

  She set Sunshine on the floor and then pressed up onto her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss.

  He pulled her in and deepened the kiss, making it clear he wasn’t thrilled about leaving. She wasn’t either to be honest. Trace was one heck of a good time, and it had been weeks. But Dora was her bestie and she needed her.

  “It’s margarita time,” she said, pulling back.

  “I could be one of the girls,” he teased even as he let her lead him toward the front door.

  “Trust me when I say that’s entirely untrue.” Evie swept her gaze down his body, letting her attention linger just below the belt.

  He laughed. “Night, Dora. Watch her as she mixes the margaritas. She’s been known to be heavy-handed on the tequila.”

  “I need it,” Dora muttered. Then her head snapped up. “You never saw me here, right, Trace?”

  “Uh…”

  “Dora doesn’t want anyone to know she’s here,” Evie said quickly. “She’s laying low for a bit. Just don’t say anything if anyone asks where I am.” If someone was looking for Dora, no doubt they’d check at Evie’s house, but there was no need to broadcast her whereabouts. And if they did look for her at the little beach cottage, all of the blinds were closed, and the lights would be out. It would look like no one was home.

  “Sure thing.” He mimed tipping a hat and disappeared out the front door.

  “Come on,” Evie said, pulling her friend to her feet. “First we’ll get the margaritas. Then I’ll read your palm, and we’ll finish with Bridget Jones. She always makes you feel better.”

  Dora blotted her eyes and sniffed. “She is a hot mess.”

  “The best kind.” Evie tugged her friend into the kitchen and pressed a margarita into her hand. “Drink up. We have a lot to get through tonight.”

  But what Evie really meant was that Dora had a lot to set aside for the night. If they could just make it through to the next day, and Brian managed to clear Dora of any wrong doing, then she was sure her friend would be all right. Until then, Evie had work to do.

  5

  Dora sat at Evie’s table and glanced at her watch for what seemed like the hundredth time. It was early afternoon, almost a full forty-eight hours after the incident—as Evie had taken to calling it—at work. Dora had spent the entire previous day waiting for Evie’s mailman to show up with the flash drive, only to have him skip them due to no mail. She’s been tormented when she realized she had to wait another whole day. “What time did you say your mail carrier usually gets here?”

  Evie sighed and focused on the nail she was filing. “Would you relax? He’ll get here when he gets here. Billy is the best.”

  “You’re just saying that because he has a crush on you,” Dora said, tapping her fingertips on the table while trying to be careful to not smudge her freshly painted nails. She wasn’t usually the fidgeting type, but that afternoon she was ready to jump out of her skin.

  Evie shrugged. “No, I’m not. He won me over when he saved Sunshine from Mrs. Pickett. She’s a speed demon on her motorized wheelchair, and she was trying to scoop up Sunshine to take her to her lair. She kept talking about dressing her up in princess outfits and letting her granddaughter roll her around in a stroller just for their entertainment. Can you imagine Sunshine enduring that nonsense?”

  Dora glanced at the pup in question. Sunshine stared up at Evie, her amber eyes sullen and then covered her face with a paw as if to say, No, Mom, I can’t imagine that.

  “I know, sweetie,” Evie said to Sunshine and chuckled. “I’d never let that happen to you. And thanks to Billy for saving you from that horrible fate.” She glanced at Dora. “Sunshine is just like my first boyfriend. She hates clothes.”

  “I remember,” Dora said, recalling the numerous times Danny stripped at the beach to go skinny dipping even when no one cared to join him. “Speaking of boyfriends, what’s going on with you and Trace?”

  “What do you mean?” Evie asked.

  “How’s it going?” Dora asked, mostly to just distract herself from her own troubles.

  “Fine. You saw him last night. Didn’t we look like we’re good?” She moved her file to another nail.

  “Sure. But when is he gonna get around to putting a ring on it? You two have been dating for what? Two, three years?”

  Evie sucked in a breath and gave Dora a warning glance. “Two and a half, but he’s gone a lot. Neither of us are worried about making anything legal.”

  “Right. Because then you’d have to make a commitment. Can’t have that,” Dora said in a slightly teasing voice. Evie pretended to be all free love and no commitments, but she knew her friend was head over heels in love with her bass player. And he was just as gone for the free spirit who was so commitment-phobic she couldn’t even hold a job for more than six months. Honestly, Dora wasn’t even worried that Evie had lost her job at the dry cleaner. It was just about time for her to make the switch anyway. “You’re gonna lose him one of these days, Evie. You know he wants to marry you.”

  “No one needs a piece of paper, Dora,” she said, frowning. “I’m here and not going anywhere. Why do I need to legally bind myself to another person? That’s so… eighteenth century.”

  “Oh, Evie. You know I love you, right?”

  The other woman nodded but averted her eyes, obviously aware a but was coming.

  Dora reached out and grabbed Evie’s hand. “You’re just scared. Not only is he the best thing that’s ever happened to you, he also adores you, E. You should
probably try to get over that before he gets tired of waiting.”

  “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Evie said, holding her friend’s gaze.

  Dora’s heart swelled. “I love you, too, but I’m not going to be warming your bed anytime soon.”

  “Anyway…” Evie checked her nails and nodded as if she were satisfied. Then she grabbed Dora’s hand and tsked. “Look what you did to your nails already.”

  “Darn it.” Dora glanced down at her right hand and winced when she saw she’d smudged two of her freshly painted nails. Even though no one had shown up at Evie’s looking for her, Dora was still really jumpy. It was just a matter of time before someone realized she’d killed Steve, right?

  Evie soaked a cotton ball with nail polish remover and got to work, redoing Dora’s messed-up manicure. “After this, it’s pedicure time.”

  Dora curled her toes and shook her head. “You know I don’t like it when anyone touches my feet.”

  Evie gave her an are-you-kidding-me look. “Please. The last time I got my magic hands on your toes there was a lot of moaning and sighing.”

  Even Dora had to admit that Evie was the best at mani-pedis. One of her many, many jobs included working at a local nail bar. “Fine. Just don’t tickle my arches. That drives me crazy.”

  “I’ll do my best.” Evie finished up Dora’s two smudged fingers and then admired her handiwork. “I do rock at the French tips, don’t I?”

  “You do.” Dora sat back and tried to not touch anything. As much as she liked mani-pedis, she never managed to sit still long enough for the polish to dry. There was an eight in ten chance that she’d smear at least one more nail before they were done.

  “Let’s do your toes in the living room. It will be comfier,” Evie said, getting up from the table.

  Dora didn’t argue. She got up, and with Sunshine at her heels she moved to the other room and sat on the couch. The dog jumped up and settled into her lap. As Dora petted the little dog, she started to feel as if the day before had been some sort of dream. Like it wasn’t real. She hadn’t really killed someone, had she? It was surreal to be in the house Evie inherited from her grandmother, letting Evie pamper her, while Steve was dead and not one police officer had come looking for her. Not even Brian.