Peril in Pensacola

by Lucy Quinn

  “I’m on it,” Dora said as Sunshine lifted her head, watching as Evie sauntered over to the counter. True to her word, within moments she’d lured the cashier over to the massive display of fake penises and batted her eyelashes at him while she asked about size, speed, and customer satisfaction.

  Dora chuckled to herself and tried to appear invisible as she snuck into the back room. It was just a cluttered office with an attached bathroom that smelled so bad it made her eyes water.

  “Oh no, Sunshine,” she said to the little dog. “I’m afraid of what we might find in there.”

  Sunshine let out a small whimper and tucked her nose into Dora’s chest.

  “You said it, sister,” Dora said. She took a few steps back from the bathroom, sucked in a deep breath, and then strode forward, pushing the door all the way open.

  The bathroom was empty. The only thing that remained was a broken toilet that appeared to be clogged with human waste. “Oh, gah! Gross.”

  Sunshine whined.

  “I know. We’re going,” Dora whispered to the dog. After checking a small storage closet that was filled to the gills, Dora slipped back out into the store, careful to step silently until she made it to the corner next to the register as if she’d always been there.

  “You know,” she heard Evie say. “I think I’m going to sleep on it for a night or two. Then I’ll be back.”

  “It’s going to be the Mr. Sparkly,” the clerk said with a fair amount of confidence. “It always is.”

  Evie giggled and flipped her hair. “Do you have personal experience with this bad boy?”

  The clerk’s pale face turned bright red and he started to stammer.

  Dora felt a pang of sympathy for the young man, having been in a similar sticky situation moments ago. “Evie, we better get going. We’re going to be late.”

  “Right.” She gave the clerk one last flirty smile, and then met Dora near the front door and leaned in, whispering, “No luck?”

  Dora shook her head. “No luck.”

  12

  The cool sea breeze chilled Dora’s skin once they made it back outside. And she was the one wearing a sweatshirt. Poor Evie wrapped her arms around herself and started to powerwalk toward her little bug. She was moving so fast, Dora, who was the taller of the two, was having trouble keeping up.

  “Jeez, slow down, would ya?” Dora said, trotting to catch up with her and doing her best to not jostle Sunshine. “I’m carrying precious cargo.”

  Evie glanced over at her pup and her eyes softened. “She’s such a good girl. Can you believe how sweet she is when we’re out?”

  “She a natural at the car rides, that’s for sure,” Dora said, walking around to the passenger side of the car. “But I think her adventure is over for the night. None of the other businesses are open right now.”

  “All right. Let’s get home and—”

  “Hold it right there,” an angry voice called from the shadows.

  Dora froze, squinting into the darkness, trying to make out who was there while Sunshine’s entire body vibrated as she let out a low growl.

  “Get in the car, Dora,” Evie demanded, already reaching for her door handle.

  A gunshot fired, and Dora’s heart nearly stopped as she heard the bullet whiz by, thankfully missing both of them. “Let’s get out of here!” she yelled as she tried to pull her door open.

  “I said to stop right there.” Footsteps echoed on the pavement as the man approached them.

  “We don’t want any trouble,” Evie said, holding her arms up in the air. “But we don’t have any money. We’re broke. There’s nothing to take.” She glanced at her little car and winced.

  “The only thing I want is the flash drive,” Brian said, finally stepping into the light shining down from the lamppost.

  “What?” Dora asked, eyes widening as she held up her hands, trying to make it seem as if she was shocked, which wasn’t hard because she never expected him to hold her at gunpoint. “Brian? Why do you have a gun on us? I—I told you, the guys who robbed Billy got it.”

  Brian narrowed his eyes at her and sneered. “Cut the act, Dora. I know you’re not stupid. Don’t insult me by assuming I am.”

  “I—I’m not—”

  “Yes, you are. Now just tell me where the damn flash drive is.”

  Slowly, Dora shook her head and tried to scan the area. Was Brian alone? Where was his patrol car? And why had he fired at them? To scare them? She prayed that was all he’d intended. Though she knew that firing his gun without cause was a gross violation of the police force, and if anyone cared, he’d be in big trouble.

  “I don’t understand, Brian.” Dora asked. “Do you think I’m in on the scheme?”

  “I have my suspicions, Dora.” Brian jerked his head back toward the shadowed area of the parking lot. “The patrol car is just over there. Let’s say we go down to the station and get this sorted out.”

  Fear turned Dora’s insides cold. If they got into Brian’s car, would he really take them to the station? Or would she and Evie end up in some warehouse, tied up on a stone floor until they told him where to find the flash drive? Because she was pretty sure he was the dirty cop.

  “Can’t you just take her statement?” Evie asked, her voice strangely calm.

  “We’ll all be more comfortable and”—he scanned his gaze over her barely dressed body—“and a little warmer I suspect. That’s a little scandalous even for you, isn’t it, Evie?”

  “It’s my new look,” she said defiantly. If there was one thing Evie hated, it was when men tried to tell her how to dress or shamed her for her short skirts. “Got a problem with that, Officer Brian?”

  “Nope. But I bet Trace won’t appreciate his girl walking around like a two-bit hooker,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Why you—” Evie lunged for him, her arms outstretched as if she was going to tackle him or scratch his eyes out.

  “Evie! No!” Dora called, her heart in her throat as she watched her bestie try to assault an officer of the law.

  “Arf!” Sunshine jumped out of Dora’s hands and ran toward Evie, but just before she reached her mistress’s side, she turned and also lunged for Brian, her teeth bared. Unlike Evie, Sunshine actually made contact, and Brian let out a yelp and kicked out, catching the dog’s back end with his boot. Sunshine went flying about ten feet.

  Evie spun just before she got to Brian and changed course, reaching down to pick up her small dog, who was now panting and glaring at Brian.

  “That’s it,” Brian said, recklessly waving his firearm in Evie and then Dora’s direction. “Both of you, in the car. Right now, or I’m calling back up. If that happens, then your chance to tell your story will be delayed, and you both will be processed through the system.” He glared at Sunshine. “And that one will end up at animal control. If you’re lucky, they won’t adopt her out before you’re released.”

  “Why, you no good, dirty, piece of monkey spit!” Evie said, clutching Sunshine. “What is wrong with you, you sick bastard?”

  He sneered at her and then held out his leg. “Looks like your little beast drew blood. I believe they kill dogs who bite around these parts.”

  Dora stared down at his pasty white ankle and rolled her eyes when she saw the tiniest trickle of blood. “You probably scraped your leg on Sunshine’s collar when you kicked her.”

  “Shut up and get in the car.” He circled around, still holding his gun, so that Dora and Evie had no choice but to walk toward the cruiser that was still sitting in the shadows.

  13

  The back of Brian’s patrol car had an odor of urine so strong even Sunshine crinkled her nose. Dora gave the pup a sympathetic look.

  “Jeez, Brian,” Evie said. “Get an air freshener already. Maybe one of those candle ones, like ocean calm. Or if fruity is your thing, they have a Tahiti sunset that has the relaxing aroma of coconut. Might chill out the perps, you know what I’m saying? There’s always new car smell, too.” She chuckled as B
rian pulled out onto the highway.

  Dora’s stomach sank when she realized they were headed in the opposite direction of the police station.

  Evie continued her riff, “But that’s such a crock, right? Who even knows what that smells like? Because no fool buys a brand-new car these days. Although…” Evie took a moment to glance around at the torn leather of the back seat and frowned as her gaze fixated on a dark stain on the carpet that Dora really hoped wasn’t blood. “Have you seen the state of this back seat lately? It might be time for you to trade this puppy, no offense Sunshine, in. Or at least get it de—”

  “Shut! Up!” Brian finally yelled.

  Dora and Evie exchanged wide-eyed glances, and Dora knew her friend was rambling this time because she was nervous. She reached over and grabbed Evie’s hand to squeeze it tight, and Sunshine let out a small whine as she laid her head on her paws in Evie’s lap.

  Dora asked, “Where are you taking us?”

  “Hmpf,” Brian’s eyes appeared darker than Dora remembered as he glared at her in the rearview mirror. “You see far too much for your own good.”

  Dora was afraid that wasn’t entirely true, because if she’d had sharper eyes, she would have noticed the money laundering scheme of Marco’s a lot sooner and figured out Brian was a crook instead of the nice guy next door.

  Evie let out a huff of exasperation. “You really have to stop underestimating people.” She winked at Dora. “Even I know you’re not taking us the right way for the police station.”

  Dora never liked the way Evie downplayed her intelligence, especially when she was feeling depressed about her latest loss of employment, but she had to admit Evie did know how to use the fact that most people thought she was a ditzy blonde to her advantage. And it might come in handy. She nudged Evie with her elbow and mouthed, Way to go.

  She eyed Sunshine, who was fast becoming a solid member of their team. Dora still wasn’t sure how the tiny dog knew how to sort mail, but she was positive everyone would underestimate the little ball of fur too.

  Her mind raced as she tried to figure out the best way to get them free. While she didn’t think Brian would kill them, she also hadn’t believed he’d hold her at gunpoint either. No, it was best if she prepared for the worst. Glancing down at her shoes, she recalled how earlier she’d joked she could use one of the stilettos she was wearing as a weapon, and at the moment, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

  She reached down, pulled a shoe from her foot, and gripped it tightly in her hand as Brian slowed the car. Evie was wearing heels too, although they were platforms, but she took Dora’s lead and removed a shoe as well.

  Brian pulled into the strip mall where Evie used to work and drove around back to the service entrances. He parked the car close to a door that read, Price Dry Cleaners, where Evie had worked until two days earlier.

  Evie’s jaw dropped. “Fred is on the take?”

  Brian turned to look over his seat at Dora and chuckled. He tapped his temple as if they were still buddies. “Rocket scientist, that one.”

  Sunshine growled at Brian as Dora gripped her shoe tighter, and she felt her anger flood her veins along with the adrenaline she was going to need to help her overpower the jerk who had just insulted her best friend.

  Brian was still laughing to himself as he got out of the car and greeted a man who’d emerged from the dry cleaners. The guy was wearing a T-shirt that was so tight it was on the verge of ripping if he flexed, and the solid mass of muscle it revealed, as well as the gun strapped to his side, made things very clear. Two high heels were not going to be effective weapons.

  “Damn it,” Dora muttered. “Put your shoe back on.”

  Evie let out a sigh. “I was so looking forward to a little blunt trauma. Might have improved Brian’s attitude toward women.”

  Sunshine let out a yap of agreement as the hulking man pulled Evie’s door open and leaned in to take a look at them.

  “Jock?” Evie asked. The man’s smile became a lecherous grin as he made no attempt at hiding the fact he was scanning Evie’s assets in her red dress. “Unbelievable,” Evie scoffed. “And to think I bought your misunderstood-for-your-appearance act. You are the thug everyone thinks you are.”

  He grabbed Evie’s hand to help her out of the car and bit his lower lip once she was standing and he could get a good look at her. “And your story doesn’t pan out either. You’re every bit the sexpot I expected.”

  “Ugh, I definitely should have swiped no-way-in-hell on your dating profile when I had the chance.”

  During Evie and Jock’s exchange, Dora managed to get herself out of the car to stand next to her friend. Brian pulled the door to the dry cleaners open and waved his gun at the women before he said in a tone dripping with sarcasm, “Ladies, after you.”

  Dora and Evie were led to an office, and Brian instructed them to sit in the two chairs. Dora went to sit behind the desk where there was a chair with roller wheels, but Brian waved to a plain stationary chair with no arms and barked out, “Over here.”

  Evie took the rolling chair, and Sunshine jumped out of Dora’s arms to sit in Evie’s lap, making her think the little dog knew which seat would be better equipped for breaking them free.

  “Now,” Brian growled out. “If Dora here can tell me where to find the flash drive, this can be a painless experience.”

  Dora jumped when she heard the rip of duct tape being pulled from a roll and saw Jock bite off a long strip. She said, “If I had it, I’d give it to you, I swear.” She needed to buy time and added, “You got Billy’s mail bag. If it wasn’t in there, then maybe it will be in Monday’s mail.”

  Brian glared at her, but Dora could see he was considering what she’d said, which was good because the way things were headed, she thought she just bought Evie and herself two more days of life. But as she looked over at Evie and took in her skimpy red dress, she remembered what they’d been doing out of hiding in the first place, and it occurred to her that Billy might not have the same amount of time.

  14

  “You’d better hope that flash drive is in Monday’s mail,” Brian said to Dora. He leaned in so close that she could smell the garlic on his breath, and it made her stomach turn. “Because I got a good look at the security tapes from Two to Mango, and it seems like you killed Steve Franklin.”

  “But she didn’t!” Evie cried.

  Brian stepped back from Dora and grinned at her before he looked at Evie and shrugged. “Along with a cop’s expert testimony, no jury would have a reason to believe otherwise.” He sneered at Dora. “You’ve got yourself in a pickle, young lady. But you can make this nightmare for you and your friend go away. All I need is the flash drive.”

  Real tears burned in Dora’s eyes, because she was going to jail either way. Without that flash drive as evidence, she had no doubt Marco would pin her for the money laundering scheme instead of Steve’s death. She whimpered and then repeated, “If I had it, I’d give it to you. I swear!”

  It was not the answer Brian was looking for, and he barked out to Jock, “Restrain them.”

  Jock approached Evie first, and Sunshine growled. Brian said, “Do the mutt, too.”

  Evie gasped and clutched the dog tighter. “You can’t use duct tape on Sunshine! It’ll rip her fur out.”

  “She’s right,” Dora said. “You can’t possibly be that cruel. There must be another way.” She glanced around the room, panicked for the little dog, and spotted a necktie laying on a filing cabinet. “How about that tie? You can loop it through Sunshine’s collar and then tie her to the leg of the desk. She won’t be able to go anywhere then.”

  Jock said, “She’s right boss.” He tilted his head at Sunshine, who did the same to him, and in that universal dog voice nobody would ever expect from a guy like Jock, he said, “I won’t hurt you, little cutie wooty.”

  Dora managed to cover her snort of laughter with a cough, while Evie eyed Jock with skepticism.

  Brian rolled his eyes to the ceil
ing. “Just restrain them.”

  Five minutes later, Dora and Evie were taped to their chairs and Sunshine was on a short leash.

  When the men left them, Dora yanked on her arms and legs with the hope the tape would give, but after struggling for a few moments all it proved to her was that she wasn’t getting free. “Evie, can Sunshine bite the tape on your arms or ankles?”

  The dog strained against her collar, but she’d been tied to a front leg of the desk and couldn’t quite reach Evie. Dora’s hope was deflated, and she let her tears fall in hot streams down her cheeks. She’d been so determined to save Evie and herself she hadn’t let frustration take over. But now… “Evie, I’m so sorry.” A sob escaped before she got control again. “You’ve been the best friend ever. Nobody else would have stuck through this with me, and I”—she hiccupped—“I can’t believe we’re going to end like this.”

  “You don’t think they’re going to kill us, do you?”

  Dora sniffed, “Not yet, but how are we going to get out of this one?”

  “I don’t know, but I do know that giving up is not the answer,” Evie said with authority. “Don’t you wimp out on me now, Dora Winslow.”

  Dora didn’t want to. She was used to being the strong one, although, Evie was just as strong in her own way. While she usually let Dora be the bossy one, she had proven she could take the lead when necessary.

  Evie gasped. “We may not be able to escape, but I know how we’re going to get some information. Sunshine, it’s time for doggy and me yoga.”

  “What?” Dora shook her head. “Look, I know you think communing with your inner chi or whatever might provide insight, but you aren’t seriously going to make your dog practice yoga right now, are you?”

  “Yes,” Evie said with authority. “And let me tell you why. Fred loved to spy on me. See that TV screen on the wall?”