"But—" I opened my mouth to protest, but Ramirez cut me off, laying one hand over mine.
"I've already fished one woman's body out of a swimming pool. I don't want to make it two. Please. Go home."
I froze. Not so much from the warning, but the heat of Ramirez's hand over mine. I gulped, trying to tell myself I wasn't thirteen and this was not some hunky football player.
"I can't just forget about all this." I didn't add, because I may be carrying his child.
Ramirez put on his Bad Cop face again, the softie side of him swallowed up just as quickly as it appeared. He shook his head at me and muttered something in Spanish before leaving to the tune of a little Asian woman in clogs singing the Macarena.
Then he was gone.
I stared at my empty glass. It was good advice. Go home. He was right, I didn't know what I was doing. Maybe Greenway was on a plane to the Caribbean. But then again, maybe he wasn't. Maybe he was tracking Richard down right now, closing in on him, gun drawn, waiting to pounce. The heroic part of me that grew up wearing Wonder Woman Underoos wanted to grab my golden lasso and save Richard from possibly ending up face down in a crystal clear swimming pool. But the chicken-hearted part of me that had run like hell from room two-twelve knew Ramirez was right. If I kept stumbling along, I might end up stumbling into the barrel of a gun. Was Richard even worth all this?
Last week it would have been a resounding, yes. Today, I was having serious doubts. While I couldn't ignore the Cinderella factor, I couldn't totally write Richard off without hearing his side of the story either. I mean, we'd been together for four months. Most of them really, really good. Okay, so we hadn't had that deep we're-spending-the-rest-of-our-lives-gazing-into-each-others'-eyes talk yet, but I did spend at least three nights a week at his place and we had an understood Friday date-night exclusive.
So, the question was, what to do now? I jiggled the ice cubes in the bottom of my glass. I had no leads, no gun, no CSI guys of my own. I didn't even have a pocket sized pepper spray.
But I did have one thing. A pregnancy test. And with my whole boyfriend status about as hazy as July in the Valley, the thought of facing a murderer was a whole lot less scary than the thought of facing a pink line.
So, I did the only thing I could. I threw a ten on the bar, grabbed my purse, and ran for my red Jeep before Ramirez got too far ahead of me.
* * *
I was the first to admit that the last time I'd tailed Ramirez hadn't exactly been a great success. I really didn't want to encounter any more dead bodies. So, I promised myself I'd stay in the car. But contrary to Ramirez's sexist ideas, I wasn't just going to wait around for things to get worse. And I had a bad feeling things were going to get worse before they got better. Sure it would be great if CSI Guy found a trail leading straight to Greenway, but I didn't think Greenway was that stupid. Or that I was that lucky.
So instead of sitting at home, watching the perky news reporters tell me the cops had no current leads, I was taking my fate into my own hands. I was being proactive. Yes, proactive. That sounded so much better than "interfering in an investigation." Besides, if I just stayed in the car I wasn't really interfering at all. Just spying.
That and I had to admit I was still a little miffed about the girly comment. And what the hell was a fregadita?
I pulled back onto Van Nuys and caught up to Ramirez's black SUV at the next light. I stayed two cars behind in the next lane over, willing my Jeep to look small and unnoticeable. As expected, he took a right on Vanowen, heading in the direction of the motel. I let him pull ahead a few more car lengths, feeling reasonably confident I knew where he was going. I lost him as we drove under the 170, but as I slowly cruised past the Moonlight, I saw his SUV parked under that same scraggy palm my Jeep had been only an hour earlier.
I circled the motel and parked down the street under a streetlamp that was blinking its last dying bit of light. Even though it was still a balmy seventy-nine degrees out, I kept the windows rolled up and the doors locked. If the Moonlight had seemed creepy before it was downright horror movie-ish now. I had visions of that scene from Urban Legend where the unsuspecting woman sits in her car while an ax murderer springs up from the backseat and slashes until the car fills with red dyed Karo syrup. I shivered. I wanted to keep all my syrup right where it was, thank you very much.
I squinted through the darkness as Ramirez got out of his SUV. There were two black and whites in the lot now, one officer talking into his car radio while the other swept a flashlight along the license plates of the other cars in the lot. Ramirez walked up to the cop with the flashlight, conversing for a moment with the uniform who kept gesturing up to room two-twelve.
I followed Ramirez's gaze up the stairs. The door to the room was open now and I could see the light on. Forms outlined against the ratty curtains, presumably CSI Guy and his many little black bags. The half dressed neighbors on either side of room two-twelve had come out of their rooms, milling around the doorway like moths to a flame.
Ramirez left the uniform and took the stairs two at a time, making long, purposeful strides to Greenway's room. He disappeared inside for a minute, then quickly reemerged. He went back down the stairs and crossed the cracked blacktop to the office. I allowed myself a little smirk at the thought of Metallica cowering under Ramirez's evil eye.
Five minutes later Ramirez emerged from the office and got back in his SUV. The lights turned on and he backed out of the lot, pointing his car down Lankershim in the direction of the freeway. I made myself count to three Mississippi before chasing after him.
More than likely he was just going back to the police station. But, on the off chance Metallica had shared intimate knowledge of Greenway's next destination, I figured it wouldn't hurt to take a little joyride. Besides, though I hated to admit it, my studio was suddenly sounding kind of empty. After the chilling experience tonight, coupled with the knowledge Greenway was still out there somewhere, the thought of being alone wasn't all that appealing. And I didn't even have anyone I could call for a chickenhearted sleepover. Dana was off in hot tub land, and of course Richard was AWOL. I guess I could have called my mom, but then I would have had to spend the evening hearing about her upcoming bachelorette party at Beefcakes and just how many twenties she was taking with her. Which was almost as creepy.
I know it was crazy, but as long as I had Ramirez in my sights, I felt safe. Funny how the taillights of an SUV could be so comforting.
So, I continued to follow Ramirez down Lankershim to the 134. He got on going east, toward Pasadena, but turned off at the 5 south. He drove fast, like he was late for something, weaving in and out of traffic down the 5, chasing it all the way to the 60 east toward Pomona. I struggled to catch up while simultaneously trying to keep at least one semi truck between us. I was determined to be in stealth mode tonight.
My dash clock read seven thirty before Ramirez finally pulled his SUV off the freeway and exited at Azusa and into the residential neighborhood of Hacienda Heights. The houses here were modest, single-family homes that looked like they'd seen generations of children come and go. Originally cookie-cutter tracts in the fifties, the street was now dotted with garage conversions, siding from Sears, and the occasional second story addition. The landscaping was mature, the lawns neatly clipped and littered with big wheels and soccer balls.
Ramirez led me past a house with a baby swing tied up to a tree in the yard and a crisp picket fence outlining the lawn, and I had a moment of suburban panic as my possible future flashed before my eyes. Was this what a pink line meant?
Okay, so I'm not so neurotic as to have a mental breakdown at the mere thought of settling down in soccer mama land. But the thought of giving up my studio (dinky as it may be), of, gulp, cohabiting with Richard, (yes, I was ignoring the Cinderella factor) and becoming Florence Henderson made my hands sweat. With one broken condom was I really ready to give up my whole life for suburbanitehood?
And I hated to admit a teeny tiny (very teeny tin
y, mind you) part of me kind of wanted to. I blamed my Cabbage Patch kids for the sudden maternal wistfulness. I'd been programmed since I bought Barbie her dream house, complete with the perfect accessory, her Ken doll, to want all this. And yet as it stared me in the face, I broke out in a cold sweat.
So complete was my fear that I realized I'd lost Ramirez.
Shit.
I circled the block, turning at the corner to retrace my steps. On the second go round, I finally spotted his SUV parked on the opposite side of the street under a leafy oak.
I parked at the corner, well away from the dim glare of streetlamps, and slid low in my seat. I could see from here that Ramirez's SUV was empty. He'd already gotten out and presumably gone into one of the houses while I'd circled the block. Crap.
I quickly scanned the two houses on either side of his car. One was completely dark. The other was a squat ranch style with yellow shutters and the blue light of a television set flickering through the front window. The yard was dotted with yucca trees and hula-hoops. Rose bushes lined the walkway, mingling with baseball mitts, Tonka trucks, and an abandoned Raggedy Ann. All of which didn't strike me as the type of hideout Greenway would choose. I silently wondered what Ramirez was doing here.
Then he yanked my psychic thread again.
"Looking for me?" Ramirez's face appeared in my window.
I yelped like a terrier, jumping back in my seat.
"Geeze, you scared the crap out of me."
His eyes crinkled in a half smile, as if he'd meant to. "You're beginning to be a real pain, you know it?"
"We girly girls are like that."
"Don't suppose I could persuade you to go home now, huh?"
I put on my best tough chick face. "No, you can't. I don't know what makes you think you can just order me around like this. It's because I'm a woman, isn't it?"
His half smile widened. "Actually, it's because I carry a badge."
Right. Well, I guess he did have a point there.
I decided to change the subject. "So, where are we?" I asked, gesturing to the sleepy neighborhood.
He glanced at the hula-hoop house. "Nowhere important."
Uh huh. Like I believed that for a second. "Who's in there?" I asked, craning in my seat to see past the yellow shutters.
Ramirez shook his head. "Trust me, you don't want to know."
"There you go again. Telling me what I want and don't want. Do women really go for this sexist pig thing you've got going on?" But even as I said it I had no doubt that they did.
Ramirez got that I'm-gonna-arrest-you-and-I'm-gonna-like-it twinkle in his eyes again. "Okay. You really want to know?"
I was wavering. But, I hadn't come this far just to be intimidated by some man who thought he could boss me around just because he was sexier than Brad Pitt in a toga. I squared my shoulders. "Yes."
"All right. Let's go in."
This was too easy. There had to be a catch. But, after the stink I'd made, I could hardly chicken out now. (And I had to admit, going to Destination Unknown with Ramirez still sounded better than sitting in my studio alone, waiting for Greenway to jump out and spill my Karo syrup.) So, I grabbed my purse and locked my Jeep, following as Ramirez led the way across the street and up the rose lined path.
The front door was painted a vibrant red with an orange stained-glass window. Ramirez gave a familiar shave-and-a-hair-cut knock and opened the door without waiting for an answer, pushing me in ahead of him.
The air was warmer than outside and smelled like tamales, Pine Sol, and sugar cookies. Music played from somewhere deep in the house, and a chorus of children's voices all vied for attention just beyond my vision. Ramirez walked me into a cozy living room that looked about to burst at the seams with chotchkes of every variety. Colored glass vases, a collection of Anaheim Angles bobble head dolls, homemade afghans in bright greens and assaulting pinks, and glass candle holders painted with pictures of the Virgin Mary filled every conceivable surface. A man in a worn work shirt and jeans dozed in a burnt orange La-Z-Boy in the corner, a black cowboy hat resting on the coffee table beside him. The television I saw from the street was muted, playing a John Wayne western.
Just beyond the living room I could see a kitchen done in baby blue Formica, bustling with round women chattering in rapid Spanish.
I had serious second thoughts about coming in with Ramirez. I'd envisioned questioning a suspect under blaring lamps, breaking into a suburban crack den, even squeezing information out of Greenway's second cousin's neighbor. But I had a sinking feeling I'd walked into something much scarier.
"Hello?" Ramirez called.
The Spanish ceased and five little faces popped out of the kitchen. All were a warm, tan color, topped by waves of thick black hair. One woman seemed about my age, while the other four wore soft wrinkles and streaks of gray through their locks.
The shortest one (and none of them seemed over five feet) clapped her hands in front of her as she spied Ramirez. "Mijo, you came!"
"Of course I came." Ramirez walked over to the woman, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. "You didn't think I'd miss your birthday, Mama?"
Mama? Uh oh. Sinking feeling realized.
I tugged at the hem of my dress, wondering if I could make it grow about three inches if I just wished it hard enough. I wasn't fond of meeting anyone's mother dressed like this, let alone one who baked sugar cookies. Maybe if I backed up real slowly I could just disappear out the front door with some shred of my dignity left.
As if he could read my mind, Ramirez said, "Mama, this is Maddie."
I froze as five pairs of deep brown eyes turned on me. So much for backing out the door.
Mama looked me up and down. She raised one thick eyebrow at Ramirez. The other women simply stared at me, their eyes as big and round as their soft faces. All except the younger one. Her eyes narrowed into a tight line and she pursed her lips together.
"Maddie, this my sister BillieJo, and The Aunts—Swoozie, Cookie, and Kiki."
The Aunts stared. BillieJo glared.
"Hi," I said. I did a little one finger wave. No one waved back.
I felt the word "hooker" flashing on my forehead like a neon sign. "I, uh, don't usually dress like this," I said quickly, my cheeks burning brighter than Rudolph's shiny nose.
Mama gave me a slow once over. Her gaze lingered on my hemline. Self-consciously, I gave it another tug south.
"Nice legs," she said.
"Uh…" I looked to Ramirez for an appropriate response. No help there. He crossed his arms over his chest and rocked back on his heels, a smirk pasted on his face that clearly said this was payback for following him around town.
"Thanks," I finally managed.
"I used to have legs like that," Mama went on. "Before I had babies. Babies ruin your legs. Varicose veins, cellulite. It's not pretty. You have any babies?"
"No. No babies." Yet.
"Good for you. Keep those legs as long as you can. I had my first baby when I was seventeen. How old are you?"
"Um. Twenty-nine," I answered. Only it sounded more like a question, as if I was hoping I'd gotten the right answer on the pop quiz
"Oh." Mama leaned in and pseudo whispered. "Are you barren?"
I think I heard Ramirez snort.
"No! No, I'm not barren. I'm just…I have a job."
"Oh. Well, then. Good for you. A career girl. I always wanted to be a career girl. I thought I'd make a really good firefighter."
I tried not to laugh as I pictured Mama's portly frame hauling someone from a burning building.
"So, what do you do?" she asked.
"I design shoes."
Mama looked down at my acrylic chunky heels.
"Not these," I added quickly. "I design children's shoes."
Mama perked up. "See, she does like children. This one's good. I like her." Mama gave Ramirez a pat on the cheek.
"Glad you approve," he said. He really was enjoying this too much.
Mama gave me a pat
on the cheek too, for good measure. Then she gestured to Ramirez. "Make him use condoms. You gotta keep those legs as long as you can."
I think I swallowed my tongue. I looked to Ramirez to dispel his mother's idea that we needed condoms. But he was trying too hard not to laugh.
"Well," Mama said to the room at large, "tamales are ready, let's eat."
I blinked hard, watching Mama's stout frame waddle back into the kitchen. The Aunts followed as one, BillieJo bringing up the rear with one last glare at me over her shoulder.
I was still contemplating whether it was too late to bolt for the door when I felt Ramirez's breath on my neck.
"I told you, you didn't want to come in here," he murmured. He shot me a grin to rival the Cheshire cat's as he grabbed my hand and led me into the kitchen.
I was so going to get him for this.
Chapter Ten
Ramirez led me outside to a spacious backyard that made my paltry window box of geraniums look downright pathetic. Three picnic style tables were set up on the lawn, covered in brightly color tablecloths. Mismatched chairs and benches surrounded them, while piles of fragrant tamales, chilies, and empanadas sat atop. Strings of lights had been hung between the tall oak trees and a battered piñata swung from one of the lower branches. A handful of dark haired children sat beneath it, lollipop sticks protruding from their mouths.
"Uncle Jack," one of them yelled, flying at Ramirez. Two more little girls followed suit and soon Ramirez had candy fingered rug rats permanently affixed to both his legs.
My turn to smirk a little. "Uncle Jack" was about the last role I'd have picture Ramirez in. But, to his credit, he didn't even grimace as one of his nieces made a chocolate covered handprint on his white shirt.
Mama came out carrying another tray of tamales and sat down on one of the benches. This seemed to be the signal as suddenly a swarm of people appeared from nowhere. BillieJo and three other young women came out the sliding glass doors, followed by the man I'd seen dozing in the La-Z-Boy. Two men came around the side of the house, both with an unmistakable resemblance to Ramirez, though one was a little pudgier and the other wore his dark hair in a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
Spying in High Heels (High Heels Mysteries #1) Page 11
