“And I can’t believe you talked about my sex life with Griffin in the middle of a public park,” Aisling fired back. “We all have our crosses to bear.”
Dad’s cheeks flushed with color. “That was not my idea. That was your boyfriend’s fault.”
“It was not.” Aisling was agitated. “He was minding his own business when Cillian brought up the morning-after jilting. It’s really his fault.”
Of course she would think that … and how did she hear that conversation when I could’ve sworn she was nowhere near us? “Thanks, Ais.” I flashed her a thumbs-up. “I’m so glad you’ve decided to dump everything on me.”
Aisling merely shrugged. “You’ll live. Now, come on. We need to talk to Louis. We’re finally getting somewhere.”
“Yes, we’re just about ready to arrive at Crazy Town,” Dad drawled. “It’s been an absolutely lovely ride.”
LOUIS DORSEY SEEMED confused when we approached, the questions regarding our identities and purpose in approaching him flying fast and furious. Aisling tried to get Griffin to flash his badge, which he steadfastly refused to do, and ultimately resorted to half-assed flirting to get him to focus on her.
“We’re just looking for a little bit of information,” Aisling said easily. “I understand that you’re the head of the Shakespeare troupe.”
“I think you’re giving me a bit more power than the position entails, but that’s essentially correct.” Louis gave Aisling a long once-over, his lips curving. “Has anyone ever told you that you should be an actress?”
Griffin let loose a low growl that I managed to cover with a cough.
“She’s always been theatrical,” I supplied. “She has a certain way about her, doesn’t she? Do you think she would be a good actress for your group?”
Aisling shot me a quelling look, but I managed to keep a straight face … just barely.
“I think she would be perfect for our group,” Louis said enthusiastically, holding up his hands in a circle as if he were a director staring through the lens of an imaginary camera. “I see you as a young Lady Macbeth.”
Whatever she was expecting, that wasn’t it. Aisling narrowed her eyes. “Didn’t Lady Macbeth convince her husband to kill the king so he could take over the throne?”
Louis bobbed his head. “It’s a magnificent role.”
“And didn’t she commit suicide off screen?”
Louis nodded again. “Such a tragedy.”
Aisling made a face. “I’ll pass.”
“Oh, don’t be too hasty,” Griffin teased. “I think you would look cute in one of those little costumes.”
Aisling mustered a withering look. “I’ll wear nothing but feathers for you later if that will help.”
“That sounds delightful.”
“Don’t ever say anything like that again in my presence, young lady,” Dad warned. “You’re going to give me a stroke.”
Aisling ignored him. “So, back to the troupe, Louis,” she prodded. “What can you tell us about the props?”
Louis’s gaze bounced between faces and I could practically see his mind working. He was attracted to Aisling, but her intensity made him nervous. He sensed something off about Griffin and worried the man would smack him around if he got too close to Aisling. He was terrified of Dad, who would definitely smack him around if he got too close to Aisling. That left me. Whether he saw me as a contemporary or lifeline, I couldn’t say. He latched onto me, though, when he started talking.
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” Louis hedged. “We have a closet at the theater where we keep the props. It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s obviously a big deal,” I said. “One of your co-workers is dead because there was some sort of mishap with one of the props. If you don’t mind me asking, where did you get the props? Could there have been an error when that particular piece was purchased?”
Louis jumped on the potential explanation right away. “I’ll bet that’s it!” His voiced hopped so high I cringed. “I didn’t even think of that, but I’ll bet you’re right. We bought two new swords at the start of the season. We must’ve accidentally left with the wrong one.”
“That doesn’t make much sense,” Aisling argued. “Even if you tested the sword at the store and somehow it was switched for one that looked exactly the same but was real, that doesn’t explain the fact that you guys rehearsed with the new sword and didn’t kill anyone then. That means it had to be switched out recently.”
“I … well … huh.” Louis scratched at his chin. “Are you sure? I think the other story makes a lot more sense.”
“And not just because it would make things easier for him,” Griffin muttered.
“I think it’s likely that Aisling is right,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “I think someone would have had to switch out the swords relatively recently. When was the last rehearsal at which you used the sword?”
“Um … .” Louis shifted from one foot to the other. He was so nervous I couldn’t help but wonder if he was about to bolt. The constant movements made me suspicious. It was obvious from the look on Aisling’s face that she felt the same.
“Did you switch out the swords, Louis?” Aisling asked.
My eyebrows flew up my forehead. “Aisling!”
Griffin rested his hand on Aisling’s shoulder, whether as a form of solace or a warning to Louis that should he try to move on her he’d be sorry I couldn’t say. “She asked you a question, Louis,” he prodded. “You seem extremely agitated. Perhaps there’s something you want to tell us. You know, get the truth off your chest.”
Louis’s eyes turned wild. “I did not kill him!”
“I’m not sure I believe you,” Aisling mused. “You seem far too nervous for me to believe you don’t know anything.”
“I didn’t say I don’t know anything,” Louis clarified. “I said I didn’t kill him.”
Oh, well, now we were finally getting somewhere. “And what is it that you know?”
“I know that I saw someone in the closet yesterday.” Louis tugged on his tunic to straighten it. “I know that the individual I saw in the closet seemed nervous. And I know that this individual hated Tim with a fiery passion.”
“I believe that could be said for almost anyone who ever met him,” Aisling pointed out. “He was a groper, grabber and general nuisance. My understanding is that you didn’t like him either.”
That was a bold bluff, but I was mildly interested to see how it would turn out. “That’s the word going around the park,” I agreed. “People are saying you hated Tim with a fiery passion and wanted him away from the group.”
“I definitely hated him,” Louis agreed, unruffled. “I thought for sure he was a lawsuit in the making because he refused to keep his hands off the women.”
“So why didn’t you didn’t fire him?” Dad asked.
“There’s an old saying,” Louis replied. “I can’t remember it right now, but it has something to do with publicity, any publicity, um, being a good idea. I thought if Tim got arrested that people might come out to our performances because of the notoriety.”
I couldn’t hold back my laugh. “You’re a Shakespeare troupe, not a cadre of gangsta rappers.”
“Yes, well, it was a guess.” Louis wrung his hands. “I didn’t kill Tim. I didn’t like him, but I didn’t kill him. I have no motive. I was waiting for him to be caught by a husband or father who would kill him. That also would’ve brought publicity. He was no good to me dead.”
“I’m not so sure,” Aisling argued. “His dying on the stage is definitely good for publicity.”
“It is,” Louis agreed, “but I didn’t think of it. I kind of wish I had – even though I can’t see myself carrying out a murder under any circumstances – but it wasn’t my plan.”
“Okay, let’s say we believe you,” Griffin said. “Who did you see coming out of the closet yesterday and acting weird?”
“The only other person with a key,” Louis answered. “It wa
s Gerald. He hated Tim more than anyone because he believed Tim was the reason Cindy wouldn’t go out with him. If you’re looking for a suspect, he’s the one you should focus on.”
“And where is he right now?” Dad asked.
“Right over there.” Louis pointed for emphasis and I followed the line of his finger, my stomach twisting when I realized the person he indicated.
“Him?” I felt sick to my stomach.
Louis nodded. “He’s the dangerous one. I’d bet money he’s a murderer.”
“Well, that’s just great,” I griped. “He’s probably a murderer and he just so happens to be standing next to my girlfriend. We need to get her out of there right now.”
10
Ten
I was halfway across the park expanse, ideas of ripping Gerald’s head off before he uttered a single word pulsing through my head, when Dad grabbed my elbow to slow my pace.
“We have to come up with a plan first,” Dad instructed.
My heart rate picked up a notch as the notorious Grimlock temper came out to play. “I want Maya away from him.”
“I understand that.” Dad adopted a pragmatic tone. “I want her away from him, too. We need to think of a way to do it without causing a scene and putting other people in danger.”
“We don’t know he’s guilty,” Aisling pointed out. “Just because Louis the loser says that it’s him, that doesn’t mean he’s telling the truth.”
“Aisling is right,” Griffin started.
“Of course she’s right,” I snapped. “You always think she’s right.”
Griffin cocked an eyebrow, practically daring me to pick a fight with him. “She’s right on this – and, no, I don’t always take her side. But this time I agree with her.”
“He definitely doesn’t always take my side,” Aisling said. “Sometimes I think he argues with me because he likes to fight.”
“I like to make up, not fight,” Griffin clarified.
“Ugh. I can’t wait for this night to be over.” Dad pinched the bridge of his nose and looked upward. “All right, we need to find a way to get Gerald away from Maya and then turn him over to the police. Then we need Aisling to head back to the bathroom and absorb the perverted soul so we can get out of here.”
“This has to be a first,” Aisling deadpanned. “My father is pointing me in the direction of a pervert. My how things have changed since I was a teenager and he warned me about anyone wearing a trench coat in seventy-degree weather.”
“That’s still a good rule of thumb to follow,” Dad said. “As for Maya, she’s helping those most upset by what happened on that stage. She’s following her training. I don’t think Gerald is going to suddenly snap and go after her.”
“But you don’t know that he won’t,” I pressed. “We need to get her away from him. I don’t want her in danger.”
“Welcome to my world,” Griffin noted. “I never want Aisling in danger, yet she always seems to end up in crazy predicaments.”
“Maya is your sister,” I snapped. “You should want her safe, too.”
Griffin was clearly close to blowing a gasket, but I couldn’t stop myself from pushing him all the same. “I want her safe more than anything else right now. That doesn’t mean that I think we should barrel up there and create a scene. That won’t go over well with this crowd.”
“He’s right.” Dad’s voice gentled as he rested a hand on my arm. “If we make a mistake Gerald could see us coming and take Maya hostage or harm her. Do you want that?”
The suggestion had a sobering effect on me. “Of course not. I … no. I just want her away from him.”
“We don’t know he’s guilty,” Aisling said again. “Even if he is, it sounds as if he only went after Tim because the dude was a total jerkwad. He doesn’t look armed, so that’s one thing we have in our favor.”
“What’s the other?” I asked.
“You have me.” Aisling beamed as Dad and Griffin groaned in unison. “I’ll go up there and very discreetly direct Maya away from the stage. I’ll send her to you.”
“And then what?” Griffin challenged.
“I’ll get him to confess.”
“You will not.”
“I will so.”
“You won’t!”
“I will!”
“Oh, geez, knock it off,” Dad ordered. “Sometimes I feel as if you’re my sixth child, Griffin. You’re just as bad as my kids when you dig your heels in.”
Griffin was taken aback by the statement. “That’s either the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me or the worst. I can’t decide.”
Dad smirked. “Just stop bickering with Aisling.”
“She’s not going up there so she can question that guy until he snaps,” Griffin said. “That’s not how we’re doing this.”
“Then how are we going to do it?” I challenged. “Just for the record, sitting around and talking about it for ten minutes is not acceptable.”
“We’re not going to do that either,” Griffin said. “The answer is right in front of us. We don’t have to be sneaky and underhanded. Maya is part of our group. It makes sense that we would want to reunite the group.”
“So … just walk up there?”
Griffin nodded. “You need to be nonchalant. So do you, Aisling.” His gaze was weighted when he pointed it at my sister. “We’ll head up there, strike up a conversation, and then herd Maya and the others away from Gerald. The goal is to isolate him so he has no choice but to deal with us and only us.”
I hated to admit it, but the plan was so simple it would probably work. “Fine.” I exhaled heavily to steady myself. “Let’s do it. Let’s get Maya, collect our soul and get out of here.”
“I’m not leaving until I ask that guy a few questions,” Aisling pressed. “You promised I could solve the mystery before leaving.”
“I don’t believe any of us made that exact promise,” Dad countered. “For now, Maya is our top concern. For once, you’re not the one in danger. I know it’s difficult for you when you’re not the center of attention, but you need to focus on Maya. She’s our priority.”
Aisling made a face. “I’m asking him if he’s the bad guy. You can’t stop me.”
“Watch me stop you.” Dad was fed up. “You may be an adult, but I’m still your father. I say the way things are going to be and this is the way they’re going to be. I’m done spoiling you for the day. Do you understand?”
Aisling’s eyes lit with murderous intent. “Oh, I understand.”
“Good.” Dad straightened his shoulders. “Now, let’s get Maya and be done with this.”
WE APPROACHED THE stage with easy gaits, doing our best to appear relaxed while studying the people surrounding Gerald. He stood at the back of the platform, arms crossed over his chest, and he seemed to be surveying the mayhem. He didn’t talk to anyone and no one spoke to him.
I found that suspicious.
“Aisling and I will take the right side,” Griffin said, Aisling’s hand clasped firmly in his in case she tried to make a break for it. “You guys take the left. Herd the people off the stage. We want to make sure Gerald is the last one there when we start talking to him.”
“And why are we talking to him?” Dad challenged.
“Because Aisling needs answers and you’re not the one who has to go home and share a bed with her tonight,” Griffin replied, matter of factly. “She pinches when she can’t sleep, and if she doesn’t get what she wants no one is going to sleep. I’ll make sure of that.”
Dad made a sound in the back of his throat that was halfway between a growl and sigh. “Fine. She can ask three questions. That’s all I’ll allow.”
“Oh, big man,” Aisling muttered. “I like how you’re going to limit how much talking I do.”
“Please, if I could do that your childhood would’ve been much different.” Dad split off with me and walked toward the stairs on the left end of the stage. He cast a final look in Aisling’s direction and I was surprised to fi
nd mirth lighting his eyes.
“You think she’s funny when she acts like this, don’t you?” The question was out of my mouth before I could think better of it. “You like it when she gets bossy and pouty.”
Dad instantly sobered. “I do not. Why would I like that?”
“I don’t know.” That was the truth. “You do, though. You like watching Aisling act out sometimes. I don’t get it.”
“You’re confusing several things here,” Dad said, trudging up the steps. “I like watching Aisling stand up for herself because I want all my children to be strong. That goes double for her because she’s a girl.”
“I love that you don’t even bother denying that she has separate rules from the rest of us because of her gender. You used to make up elaborate lies to cover that when we were kids, but you don’t now. You just flat out say that Aisling is different so she gets special treatment.”
“She is different and she does get special treatment,” Dad agreed. “As for the rest … what can I say? She makes me laugh. The kid has charisma. I don’t know where she got it from, but she has it in spades. Sure, it’s massively annoying at times, but it’s also hilarious. There’s never a dull moment when she’s around.”
“No, definitely not,” I agreed.
I was careful when we hit the top of the stage. Dad immediately set to work talking to the distraught people gathered there and subtly pushed them toward the stairs. I heard him mention that the police wanted to question people before ushering a group of women toward the exit.
“I’m sure you can go home as soon as you answer their questions.” Dad’s voice was kind, but his eyes were dark as he watched Gerald.
Griffin worked to empty the other side of the stage, while Maya remained oblivious. She knelt on the stage, helping an extremely pale woman collect her breath.
“I know this has been an ordeal,” Maya said. “It’s a terrible tragedy and you’ll probably have nightmares. You need to calm yourself, because I think you’re making things worse in your head than they really are.”
I offered up a smile when Maya lifted her chin. It was as if she sensed my presence. “Hi, honey.”
Now & Grim: A Grimlock Family Short Page 9
