Poof!

by M. Lee Prescott

  “It’s Katie,” my companion said. “Why don’t I get the drinks and you two sit and chat?” She winked at me and disappeared not even bothering to ask us what we wanted.

  “For a big woman, she moves fast,” he said as we watched Katie head off.

  “So about your dear friend, Wade. Do you know much about his business, Meridian Imports?”

  “Not a lot.”

  “Do you know about the school that was run on the premises?”

  “Nope. You sure you’ve got your facts straight? Meridian’s an import business. What’d they want with a school?”

  “They were teaching English to young Asian children, mostly girls.”

  “Well good for them.”

  “The children have disappeared, some of them as young as five.”

  “I haven’t the faintest clue what you’re talkin’ about.”

  “How well do you know Wade Pullman, Mr. McCann?”

  “We roomed together at Yale. He went his way, I went mine, but we get together from time to time. My wife can’t stand him, never could, so we tend to do guy things. You know what I mean.”

  “As a matter of fact, I don’t. Could you enlighten me?”

  “Guy things—you know like golf, fishing trips, and other stuff.”

  “Other stuff?”

  “Look, Ms. Steele, I wouldn’t even be talkin’ to you if I weren’t half in the bag. Outta courtesy to your dad, I’m playin’ nice, but what I do with my buddies is none of your goddamn business. Where is porky Jean with our drinks, anyway?”

  “Her name’s Katie and I will find out about your friend’s dirty business, one way or the other. Your roomie’s not a nice guy.”

  “Look, I gotta go. Tell Katie thanks for nothing.”

  With that he staggered off toward the street. I hoped his wife had taken the car and he would be forced to walk. I turned to spy Katie talking with Lolly and Alice, no sign of the mythical drinks. Time to call it a night and hang out with my friends.

  Chapter 37

  As the last of the guests straggled out, Dad asked us to come in for a nightcap. We settled in the solarium, brandies all around.

  “What a night!” Rita said, plunking beside my father on one of the wicker sofas. She did have good taste, my stepmother. The muted pastels of the fabrics covering the very comfy matching wicker set blended perfectly with the colors of the ocean views surrounding us. “The damage to the lawn doesn’t look too bad, after all. As soon as they remove those dreadful Porta-Johns things will be back to normal.”

  “Did you girls have fun?” my father asked, gazing around at us.

  “It was delicious,” Alice said, “and what a gorgeous setting. I hope they made lots of money.”

  “The auction bidding was pretty lively,” Lolly said.

  “You got something, didn’t you?” he asked.

  “One of those beautiful bird carvings of the blue heron. My husband Ron will love it.”

  “And you two are going on safari, how fun,” Katie said. “Bob and I have been three times. Can’t get enough of it!”

  “Actually,” Rita said, setting down her glass. “We bid on the safari for our... my daughter, Cassie. She’s going with a friend to take her mind off her recent heartache after the break-up with her boyfriend. Thank God, the Peabodys were out of town tonight. I couldn’t have faced seeing them and I’m sure it would have been very upsetting for Cassie!”

  “Tell me a little about the Annex,” I said, deciding a change of subject was in order.

  Rita rolled her eyes. “Billionaire row. Fifteen mansions that make the rest of the Bluffs look like Shanty town.”

  Yeah, right. What universe was she living in? “Do you guys socialize much with that crowd?”

  “As I said before, they mostly keep to themselves, but we see the Ramsays once and a while. He’s a bore and so is his do-gooder wife. I saw you talking to Muffy and Flip Richardson. They’re the youngest residents over there.”

  “They’re friends of Katie’s from Connecticut,” I said.

  “We’ve heard good things about them, but they’re new. Just built their house a year or so ago. Not my taste, too Greco Roman. I mean columns at the beach?”

  “Rita,” my dad said. “These are friends of Katherine’s.”

  Rita waved her hand. “No offense, I bet it’s spectacular inside.”

  Katie laughed. “No offense taken. You should see their house in West Hartford! And her parents’ house next door is almost an exact replica of the Parthenon!”

  “What about her uncle, Barry McCann and his wife? Do you see much of them?”

  My father opened his mouth to speak, but Rita beat him to it. “She’s a doll. Very successful attorney. Office is in Providence. He’s filthy rich, but drinks too much and is grossly out of shape. We had to call the gatekeeper to get someone to drive him home tonight. Sarah just left him here. Don’t blame her, but really—what an imposition!”

  “And his business is?”

  “Yacht broker to the stars,” Rita said.

  Dad nodded. “His company, McCann and Herrington manufacture some of the most expensive boats in the world. He’s been incredibly successful.”

  “You name a celeb who has a giant, ostentatious boat and I guarantee it’s a McCann and Herrington,” Rita said. “Now, girls, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a headache and I think I’ll head up to bed.”

  “Of course,” I said. “We should be going too.”

  We all hugged them and made our way out. As the others headed for the car, my father held me back. “Be very careful, my dear. The kinds of people you’ve been discussing are incredibly powerful. I have no idea what they’re mixed up in, but they have the money to cover up anything. I also imagine they have the means to stop anyone as well.”

  “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll be fine.” I hugged him and turned away. Who was I kidding? In a moment’s notice, any one of the jerks on Billionaires’ Row could make me disappear without a trace!

  Chapter 38

  Alice was the designated driver as we drove out of the Bluffs. The rest of us were slightly tipsy when we arrived home. Lolly suggested a nightcap on the deck to which we all agreed. A curvaceous blonde plastered to his side, Vinnie waved as we made our way in. Frank parked in his usual spot, giving me a slight nod as I checked to see if he was there.

  Once we were settled in, Alice began the inquisition. “Okay, Rick, give. We want to hear every detail about Dr. McDreamy.”

  Katie nodded. “Don’t leave out a thing.”

  Lolly sat back, smiling. Our conversation at the bake had already satisfied her curiosity. She has been at me for years to find a man. She’s also met many of my previous beaus and was never impressed until now.

  I took a deep breath, surrendering to the inevitable. “There’s not much to tell. He’s just moved into the neighborhood. We’re friends, but it might develop into something more. I try not to get too excited since you know my dismal relationship history. His daughter, Mike, is working for me, temporarily, Vinnie’s working on his house. That’s about it, end of story.”

  “End of story, my eye,” Alice said. “And what is that obnoxious music?”

  “Ice cream truck. Come’s by three or four times a day all summer. Seems late tonight, but who knows. Katie, you haven’t told us anything about Bob, your girls and the grandkids. How are they all—“

  Katie sat up, pointing her finger at me. “Don’t think you can change the subject that easily, Missy. We have all day tomorrow to catch up on my humdrum news. Now, let’s hear more about Charlie.”

  “Better tell ‘em Rick,” Lolly said, raising her wine glass in my direction.

  I glared at Lolly, who was really enjoying herself. “There’s nothing to tell! Lolly’s just playing with you.”

  Alice turned to her. “Loll, you knew about this?”

  “Not till tonight.”

  Why did everyone derive so much pleasure in nosing into my love life? “Okay, okay, enough. Charlie�
��s great. We’ve been out a couple of times, strictly first base kind of stuff. I’m attracted to him. Maybe something will develop. He’s determined to see that it does. But, as you observed tonight, he’s not my type—way too nice and respectable. I suck at relationships, as you well know!”

  “Do you hear yourself? That’s crazy!” Lolly said, waving her arms. “What’s that weird noise. Do you hear it”

  Alice nodded. “Rick, your cat might have cornered a rat.”

  I was about to say that Beaky was not a ratter, when I heard scuffling sounds from inside the house. Goosebumps crept up my spine. “Put down your drinks,” I whispered and go through the gate to Vinnie’s, now!”

  In a flash, Katie whipped a can of pepper spray from her jacket pocket. “Not without you, Rick. Damn, I left my purse inside.”

  “Me, too,” I said, “now move it. I’m right behind you.”

  A glint of light and a huge gun appeared on the edge of the porch attached to a dark haired, sinewy figure, ripped tee shirt, black jeans, arms and neck covered with amateur looking tattoos. Before I could move a muscle, three others surrounded us.

  “Move,” tattoo guy said, waving his gun barrel toward the house. “Inside, all of you.”

  Where the hell was Frank? “Let the others go,” I shouted. “They have nothing to do with this!”

  “Shut up, cunt, or say goodbye to your friends.” He nodded to one of his associates. “Get the pepper spray from Tubby there and herd ‘em inside.”

  “You’ll be sorry,” I said. “I have protection and in thirty seconds this place’ll be—“

  “If you mean Tacoma, he’s been neutralized. Now move it!”

  “If you hurt Frank, you’ll be in a shitload of trouble,” I screamed in the loudest voice I could muster. “The police watch this house and—”

  “Shut the fuck up,” were the last words I heard, then everything went black. When I came to, I was trussed up as were my three friends, all of us duct-taped to my dining room chairs. My head pounded as if someone was hammering on it.

  “Boss, the ringleader’s awake.”

  I gazed through a fog at my friends. Lolly’s eyes were wild with fear, Alice’s watchful and Katie’s resolute. Why hadn’t I tried harder to persuade them not to come? “These chairs are antiques. They were my mother’s. If this duct tape mars the finish, you’re paying,” I said, glaring at Mr. Tattoo.

  “Shut your mouth, cunt or I’ll shut it for you.”

  “Wanta know what I think?” I said.

  “No.”

  “I think you wouldn’t dare touch us. You’re just a lackey.”

  With lightning speed, he was behind me, hands round my neck. As he squeezed tighter, I saw stars and wondered if this really was the end.

  “Leave her alone, you bastard!” Katie said, as we all turned to stare. Katie might be resolute and strong, but she almost never swore.

  “Shut your gob, Tubby or you and the rest of the Golden Girls are history.” As he spoke, he loosened his grip around my neck slightly.

  A click. That’s all it was and my bedroom door swung open with a bang. Vinnie stepped into the room brandishing what looked like an Uzi. Beside him, Fulty held what appeared to be a Revolutionary War musket.

  “Drop ‘em, assholes,” Vinnie said, in a low growling voice I’d never heard before. “If you don’t, your buddy here dies along with the rest of you.”

  “Fat chance,” tattoo said. “Now we got Gramps and the Fonz?”

  Before we could blink, Vinnie knocked him down, using him as a shield as Fulty aimed his musket at one of the other’s head. Another of our assailants stepped forward gun raised, when Lolly’s foot shot out and tripped him. As he headed toward the floor, his gun flew from his hand across the floor and under my china cupboard. The other two ran out the open door to the deck and disappeared into the night.

  We watched as Vinnie tied up the other two, who lay side by side on the floor. With shaking hands, Fulty untied us one-by-one.

  “You okay?” Vinnie said, eyeing what was no doubt a nasty welt on the side of my face.

  “Fine.” I walked over to stand beside tattoo man. “Who sent you?”

  “Fuck you.”

  Vinnie kicked him, hard. “Answer the lady, asshole, or your kneecap’s history.”

  “Fuck off, Fonz.”

  Vinnie stepped closer, gun pointed at his knee. “I’m counting to three. One, two, ...”

  “We don’t know!”

  “Bullshit,” I said.

  “It’s the truth,” he said. “None of us know.”

  “How does that work?”

  “Someone calls, we take the job and do it.”

  “Are you the guys that buried me in Oak Grove?”

  “Nope. If we did that job, you’d still be buried. In fact, that’s where you and the blue hairs were headed when we were done with you.”

  “Blue hairs!” Lolly said, glaring at him.

  “This blue hair has a stun gun, buddy,” Katie said, “and I know how to use it.”

  Calm and cool as a cucumber, Vinnie said. “This Fonz is gonna take you two for a ride and Gramps here will blow off your head if you move a muscle. He doesn’t hear well, buts vision’s fine.” He held up their guns. “These’ll be at the bottom of the river, if you need them. Now, does the name Chaz mean anything to you dickheads?”

  The two looked like they might pee in their pants.

  “Thought so. Well, if either of you morons or your friends come near this house or neighborhood again, you’ll answer to Chaz or me. Comprende? We can have you vaporized without a trace faster than you can say help.”

  I stared at him. “Why didn’t you call the police?”

  He waved his gun. “Well, maybe this isn’t quite legal and you can bet Fulty’s musket won’t pass muster. We’ll get them loaded into the truck and –“

  “You’re not going to kill them?” I said, horrified.

  “Naw, we dump ‘em somewhere and hope the rats get ‘em before they wriggle out of their restraints.”

  “Yuck. Wait, where’s Frank? What did you do with him?” I asked.

  “Sleepin’ like a baby,” I’d guess,’ tattoo said. “Your mini hulk out there likes ice cream.”

  Incredulous, I stared at him. “You shanghaied the ice cream truck?”

  “Like takin’ candy from a baby.”

  “Well, it seems your other two goons drove off without you,” Vinnie said. “Lucky we’re givin’ you a lift.”

  As Vinnie drove one, then the other man out and threw them in the bed of his truck, Fulty hugged each of us. “You gonna be okay, gals.”

  “Thanks, Fulty,” I said, tears in my eyes.

  As Fulty guarded the trick bed, Vinnie came back in. “You okay?”

  I nodded. “Thanks, Vin.”

  “Call Wilda and get another guy out here. Frank’s awake, but he’s really groggy.”

  “Will do.”

  I closed the door and sighed, before returning to the living room. “Sorry, ladies. I did try to warn you.”

  Katie stared at me, jaw set, hands on hips. “Okay, I’m pissed now. What’s our next move?”

  “A drink, then bed,” I said. “I’ll lock up and wait for Spike to get here, but you guys get a drink and watch the stars.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief when Spike arrived. He came to the door, checked in and informed me that Josh was secured for the night and Wilda was with Mike.

  What the hell was I going to do now?

  Chapter 39

  I had just settled into my deck chair eyes gazing upward at a blanket of stars, when one of the cell phones from my collection rang. “Ms. Steele?” The woman’s voice was unfamiliar. “This is Betty Bell. I work at Meridian.”

  The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. There really was there no hiding from these people. “How did you get this number?”

  “Ruth gave it to me. She suggested I call because we can’t reach Dennis and she thought you might have been in
contact?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Could I meet you somewhere? I’m not sure it’s safe to speak by phone.”

  “Earnshaw’s under the bridge, do you know it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Twenty minutes?”

  “Yes.” She clicked off.

  “Are you crazy?” Lolly said, without even knowing the details.

  “I picked that diner because it’s always crawling with cops. Besides, I’ll have Frank with me.”

  “We’ll have Frank with us,” Katie said, already up and arming herself.

  “You guys can stay here. You should stay here,” I said.

  “No way, Jose,” Katie said. “I hope you’re bringing your gun.”

  Jesus Christ, I thought, what have I gotten us into? “Against my better judgment, yes.”

  Alice hopped up. “Count me in!”

  We all looked at Lolly, who sat arms crossed in her chair for thirty seconds before giving in. “If you think I’m staying here alone, you’re crazy!”

  I phoned Wilda, then filled them in as we drove. I insisted upon taking my car. After explaining the fate of my jeep, they all agreed it might be best. Wilda and Spike had both managed to infiltrate the air-tight security at the Bluffs and were both watching Josh and Mike. She informed me that Mike was at the Peabodys for the night. Apparently, she and Josh had spent the day at the beach and she had been invited for a sleepover. How cozy. I suggested to Wlida that she might want to join us at Earnshaw’s and she clicked off.

  At first I thought Betty was a no show, but then spotted a small figure in black hooded sweatshirt at a booth in the corner. The place was deserted except for a couple of patrol officers at the counter and two couples in booths near the front. By prior arrangement, the girls headed for the counter to order coffees and I slipped into the booth opposite Betty.

  “Hey,” I said, peering into the recesses of her hood. “That you, Betty?”

  “Thanks for coming. I got freaked. I can’t reach Dennis and he was supposed to be in touch hours ago.”

  “What about the police?”