by Lori Avocato
I joined in his laughter. “What’ll it be?”
Spanky stood near the door, wiggling. The poor thing. I wished he’d learn to bark when he needed to go out. One day I knew I’d find him standing there with his little paws crossed, trying not to wet the floor.
“Coffee.” Goldie said, following me into the kitchen. “Oh, boy!”
“What? Oh boy what?”
I swung around. Had somebody climbed the brick wall and taken Spanky? “What!”
He nodded at the sink. “Wait till my Miles sees that.”
“I’m going to finish cleaning up. As a matter of fact, I was going to go for a run, then clean up. Have you heard from him today? Is he working the day shift?”
Goldie nodded. He took a piece of bacon from a plate and nibbled on it.
“Yuck. Why don’t you nuke that?”
“It’s fine. A run sounds fine too. I’ll join you.”
Taken aback, yet not wanting to be insulting since Goldie didn’t strike me as the running type, I nodded. “Okay. If you really want to.”
After he helped me clean up, since the dirty dishes bothered him as much as they’d bother Miles, I went upstairs to change, and Goldie changed into his running clothes in the downstairs bathroom.
We did our stretches in the living room and went out, but not before I checked about a hundred times to see if I had my key, and about two hundred times to see if the door was locked.
Goldie followed me out the front entrance, through the parking lot and over to the jogging run that had been made for the condo association members. I was impressed that he kept up without labored breathing.
When we turned the corner to the only area that was surrounded on both sides by woods, I slowed. Goldie came up from behind.
“What’s … wrong ?” He kept jogging in place as I did.
Don’t be foolish, I told myself. No one is following us. “I thought I heard something in the woods. Must have been a squirrel.”
“Varmints are everywhere.” He took a deep breath. “Race you back!”
“You’re on!”
He was off before I could answer. I gave a quick look around behind me and ran my little size sevens off.
I’d never run so fast in my life. I tried to tell myself it was my competitive nature driving me forward onto Goldie’s heels, but if I were true to myself, I’d admit it was dumb fear that someone was following me.
Maybe it was Jagger.
Yes, I liked that thought.
We made it to the parking lot in record time. Goldie first, with me on his heels. Damn it. He raised his hands and danced around like Rocky.
“Don’t get … carried away. You had a head start.”
“By … about … a second.”
Amid laughter, Goldie kept blowing out loud breaths and bending at the waist. “I’m … beat.”
We cooled down by walking slower around the parking lot, which had now thawed completely. Puddles covered the cement, and we jumped over them to get back to my door.
Once I’d opened it and we walked in, Goldie collapsed on the sofa. I chose the stuffed chair cause it was closer to the door. “Thanks.”
“For what, suga? Beating the pants off of you?”
“No.” I smiled at him. “For … being you.”
He nodded.
“Only a friend like you would show up on a day off and jog with me. You’re a doll to think of coming over here since you knew Miles wasn’t here. You have no idea how much I needed that.” Then I told him about Linda.
Goldie bit at his lip and ran a long red nail over it. I guessed it was too much work to take off the nails when he didn’t dress in drag. He looked up at me. I’d never seen him so serious.
It scared me.
Of course, I was way too touchy lately. To be a professional in my field, I had to toughen up. “What is it?”
“I … I like you too much to lie.”
My heart started to speed up. “Lie?”
“I didn’t just come to visit you.”
Suddenly I felt disappointed and, truthfully, a bit hurt. “Oh?”
“Look, suga.” He got up and came over. Without an argument, I let him take my hand and lift me from the chair. Now I wasn’t liking this one bit.
“What is going on? Why did you really come here?”
He gave me a hug, which had my stomach in knots.
“Jagger told me to.”
After I’d gotten over the shock that Jagger felt it necessary to send a “bodyguard” over, Goldie and I shared a beer even though it wasn’t noon yet. We didn’t talk about how much he knew about the case I was helping Jagger with and it really didn’t matter.
I reminded myself that Jagger was no slouch for thinking about my safety—until my internal devil’s advocate said that maybe the reason Jagger didn’t want anything to happen to me was that he was still using me for the case.
Just how dedicated was Jagger?
Twenty-four
I tried to contemplate Jagger sending Goldie over to act as my protector. Partly I was pissed that Jagger thought I couldn’t take care of myself. Then I realized I couldn’t—in the face of murder. Partly I was pissed that I couldn’t. Maybe I really did need a gun.
That thought scared the bejeevers out of me.
Goldie kept looking at his watch. I figured he had someplace he’d rather be than babysitting me, so I said, “You don’t have to stay, you know.”
He looked from his watch to me. “I’m lots of things, suga, but stupid isn’t one of them.”
“Hmm? I don’t get you.”
“Jagger told me to—”
“Ah. Now I see. But he doesn’t have to know—”
Goldie chuckled. “He always knows.”
Yikes. Had no comeback for that.
A chill flew up my spine. Just as I felt this unbelievable sense of calm and safety when around Jagger, I also felt he really did know far more than he should. I tapped my nail to my tooth. “How do you think he does that?”
Goldie shook his head. “If I knew, suga, I’d be chasing the big bucks that he does.”
I leaned back on the couch. Spanky jumped at my leg so I lifted him up, and he promptly snuggled under one of the black-and-white-striped pillows that Miles had gotten when he did the living room monochromatically. He didn’t count the white as a color. “You think he does it all for the money?”
With a shrug, Goldie said, “I have no fucking idea. Excuse my French.”
“Actually I asked him something similar, and he said it wasn’t for the money.”
Goldie all-out laughed. “I’m not sure you, or anyone for that matter, can believe what Jagger says. The guy gets us all believing what he wants. That’s been my take on him since meeting him about five years ago.”
“I guess you’re right. But you still don’t have to stay. Are you meeting Miles for lunch?”
The usual sparkle in Goldie’s eyes brightened.
“I see you are. Please don’t stay—”
The doorbell rang. We both jumped. I figured Goldie might not be the best babysitter for me, being preoccupied with Miles. We sat, silent, for a few seconds.
“I’ll get it.” He stood and walked to the door.
I really wanted to remain on the couch, hidden behind the pillows like Spanky, but I repeated my mantra that I was a professional and had to act accordingly. So, I sat up straighter and decided in a few seconds I’d stand.
Goldie peeked out the beveled-glass side panel. I could see his shoulders relax. “Some hot-looking babe with dark hair. Not a one out of place either.”
Ack. My shoulders tensed. Vance. If any other guy had said a hot-looking babe, I would have thought it a female, but this was Goldie’s take.
I got up and looked out the window. The bell rang again. “Vance. Never known for his patience.”
Goldie unlocked the door and said, “Hey.” He stepped aside, but Vance stood there like a fool, staring.
I mentally shook my head so as not to
appear rude. “Hey, Vance. Come on in.” Goldie and I moved farther to the side.
“Hello,” Vance said, still staring at poor Goldie.
For a few seconds, I thought Vance might be wondering about Goldie’s feminine appearance, but then I realized he was scrutinizing him. The damn fool was jealous. Then I also realized I couldn’t tell Goldie that Vance and I had dated, and I use that term lightly, for many—far too many—years.
So, I went with, “Goldie Perlman, this is Doctor Vance Taylor. He is one of the orthopedists who works at the group where I’ve been filling in.”
Vance looked pissed at the introduction.
Goldie looked mildly amused that Vance looked pissed, and being the astute investigator I knew him to be, also looked as if he knew my explanation was very incomplete. But I couldn’t go into any detail.
Vance finally came in and stood in the middle of the room. Spanky slithered farther into the pillows. I’d always been convinced the dog didn’t much care for Vance, although he’d never been mean to him. Actually, he didn’t pay any attention to the little guy. Not like Jagger.
Don’t start! I told myself.
“What brings you here?” I asked Vance and noticed he was carrying a white paper bag.
He held the bag closely and looked from Goldie to me. “I … brought lunch. Thought since yesterday was such a horrible day with you finding—” He sucked in a breath.
One would think a doctor would deal better with death. Although, to be fair to Vance, orthopedic surgeons don’t often face death with their patients, and the murder of an employee, make that two employees, wasn’t exactly a usual occurrence.
Let’s hope not, I thought.
“I’m fine about yesterday. Not that Linda died, but I can handle my being there. It’s sad though.”
Goldie nodded as if he’d known Linda, but Vance, with his usual stiff upper lip, merely stood there, holding the stupid bag. But I was hungry so I said, “What’d you bring?”
“Two Rubens. Two.”
Goldie grinned. “Sounds delicious.”
I think Vance tightened his hold on the bag.
Then Goldie, being the kind individual I’d come to love as a friend, said, “Too bad I can’t stay.”
I could actually see Vance’s body relax. Goldie knew if Vance was here, Jagger wouldn’t get pissed, so this was his golden opportunity to escape. I smiled and said, “That was great fun running together, Gold. We need to do it more often. Enjoy your lunch with Miles.”
He politely said goodbye to Vance and scurried out. I followed Vance into the kitchen and got out some china dishes. Vance never would go for the paper plates. Spanky, who would normally be fast on our heels at the scent of food, remained sequestered on the couch, pillows camouflaging his five pounds.
“Yummy,” I said with a mouthful. “Where’d you get these?”
Vance looked at me as if to say Don’t talk with your mouth full, but said, “That coffee shop over by the mall. In the little strip mall by the printers.”
I knew the place well after stalking Tina there. Which reminded me: Today would be a perfect day to get her on film. I had to finish the case soon, even if I didn’t turn it all in to Fabio, since Jagger had me going back to the office. “I’ve seen the place. Good food.”
Vance hadn’t touched his. Wow. He usually ate everything on his plate when we went to dinner. I always assumed it was because he didn’t want to waste food that he was paying for. I wondered if his parents made him “clean his plate” as a kid and if they were as rigid as Vance. My best guess from the few times I ate dinner there was they weren’t. Vance wasn’t much like his father, a prominent wealthy neurosurgeon; but Vance himself wasn’t poor by any means. Frugal, no doubt.
Not poor, like I would be if I didn’t get rid of Vance and go find Tina. Where the heck was Jagger? I wondered. He should be here to help me finish my case and meet his deal.
Several strings of sauerkraut had fallen from my sandwich onto my dish. I finished my sandwich and busied myself picking each one up and eating it. With the last one held to my open lips, I looked across the table.
Vance sat staring. Today must be his staring day, I thought.
“Sorry,” I said and popped the sauerkraut into my mouth.
He shook his head. “Your eating habits aren’t on my mind right now, Pauline.”
Oh God. I hope he didn’t come here for that.
“Oh?”
“I mean, Pauline, someone killed Linda and Eddy. Why do I have such bad luck?”
“I’m not following.” I got up and took a glass from the cabinet. “Water?”
“Beer if you have one.”
Wow. Beer for Vance? He was upset. Poor guy. Guess it was a bummer to switch jobs and find out the practice wasn’t exactly what you had in mind. I got him a Budweiser, saving the last Coors Light for myself. I figured I’d need it after Vance left. Hopefully soon. But I couldn’t chase him out in the rotten mood he was in. I handed him the bottle.
He looked at me. “Pauline, you’re not yourself today either. A glass?”
“Oops.” I got him one of the good ones with the gold rim that I hated since they couldn’t be put in the microwave. Actually, there wasn’t anything I’d nuke in such a fancy glass, but I still didn’t like them. They were Vance. The beer bottle was me—and Jagger.
Vance poured his beer into the glass and took a sip. “I don’t know what to do, Pauline. I came here to see what your thoughts were.”
“On?”
“On my leaving the practice.” He took a long sip. A mustache of foam settled above his lip. It took several seconds for him to pick up a napkin and wipe it off.
Vance really wasn’t himself. I actually felt sorry for him. “Geez. You just started there.” Knowing what I did about the investigation, I couldn’t be too objective. “Then again, there have been two murders associated with the practice. I—”
His eyes widened. “You think my life is in danger?”
Damn. With the sense of security I felt with Jagger, I hadn’t thought about that. I wanted to say no since he’d only started there, and according to Jagger, the perpetrators had been involved in fraud for a long time. “I don’t think so.”
“Did you see anything, Pauline?”
“Nope. Just a dead Linda. Now back to your job dilemma. I’ve found out that if you don’t like your job, or something about it, you need to do something about that.”
He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. “Yes, but you quit nursing since you were burned out and what do you do? Take a nursing job.”
Yikes. It did look stupid, but I couldn’t say it was because I was investigating there. I snorted. Not very ladylike, but enough to get any ideas of that out of Vance’s mind. “It does seem odd, but truthfully, I only did it to help out Tina. You know we went to school together.”
“Yeah, I know. Donnie and I were residents together, too. But that doesn’t answer my question.”
“It’s not an easy one, Vance. I think if you’re not happy or you’re concerned, then you need to move on to something else.”
“It’s not easy to just up and leave a practice, Pauline.”
“I know that, but you asked my opinion.” Geez. He was annoying me and not only ’cause I wanted him to leave so I could follow Tina.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. Maybe I should take that staff position at Saint Greg’s.”
“They offered you one?”
He nodded. “Several months ago, when I mentioned to Doctor Greenstern, the head of Ortho, that I wasn’t happy in a two-man practice.”
“But, Vance, would you be happy on staff? You’d have to deal with interns and residents, and the pay can’t be the same.”
He stiffened. Money always did that to Vance. “That’s the main drawback.”
“The pay?”
“No, the interns and residents. They could mess up my patients. I really don’t like someone interfering in my treatments.”
I knew that to be
true. Plus Vance had little patience and wouldn’t do well teaching. But, I still think the money issue wasn’t far from the truth either. “Well, then it’s back to staying put. I’m sure the police will get everything straightened out and find out who is responsible.”
He nodded. “I guess I shouldn’t be too hasty. I spoke with Donald and Charlene. They’re not thinking of leaving.”
Why would they? I thought. They might be making millions on fraud. “Then it’s settled.” I got up and cleaned off the table, hoping he’d get the hint. “Look, the sandwich was great and I hope I helped you, but I need to …” Damn. Need to what? I really wished I could be a faster-thinking liar. “I … Did I tell you my parents and Uncle Walt went to visit my aunt Florence in Pennsylvania for two days?”
He looked at me as if I were nuts. “Why would you?”
True. “Oh, I thought I’d mentioned it. Anyway, I have to go over and feed Uncle Walt’s bird, Perry. He’s a canary so Uncle Walt named him after Perry Como. You know the singer—”
Vance got up, most likely annoyed with my rambling with all that was on his mind. “I know who Perry Como is. How about dinner tonight?”
“I … I promised my mother I’d eat what she left so it won’t spoil. You know how she worries that I don’t eat enough.” No, he probably didn’t, but what the heck. “You could join me.” Perfect out. Vance wouldn’t be caught dead at my parents’ house. I’d taken him there once back in 1998, and I think he suffered some kind of culture shock. We never discussed it, nor did I ever invite him to the split-level that smelled like kielbasa and kraut again. Hey, I told myself, I was getting better at these lies.
We said our goodbyes and after a quick peck on my cheek, Vance was out the door. The sun was brilliant now. The roads dry. And I was heading off to find Tina Macaluso.
Good thing I’d started that lie to Vance, because my parents really were away. I didn’t have to feed Perry since Uncle Walt, in fact, didn’t have a bird, but I could “hide out” at their house and not have to worry or have a babysitter over the weekend. And that meant Goldie and Miles could be alone.
I drove back and forth between the Macalusos’ two houses three times, cursing Jagger all the way. How did he know where to find her? And where was he? I kept looking for him to pop out from behind a tree while I sat waiting for Tina, who could not even fit behind a tree. I couldn’t even use the same ruse Miles had, when he’d dialed her up from his cell phone. If I called her, she’d see my name on caller ID.
