I came up behind her. “Frankie?”
She whirled around and grabbed her chest. “Dear Lord, Darwin, you startled the hell out of me!”
“Sorry,” I jerked my head in the direction of the park. “Who was that character?”
“Oh,” she stared at me for a moment, thinking and then frowned. “That was Scary Harry.” She watched my eyes widen and rested a hand on my shoulder. “The world is complicated, sweetie. Come on up to my place and we’ll have a glass of wine and some girl talk.”
Her place turned out to be the entire top floor of one of the Vinoy Towers. We rode an elevator that opened right up into the five thousand square foot penthouse. Stepping inside nearly took my breath away. The gold and red walls, the huge chandeliers, the marble fireplace that sprouted from glossy cherry wood floors...the view!
“Holy Heavens,” I managed through my gaping mouth.
“Here we go, home sweet home.” Frankie smiled and bent over to pat Itty and Bitty as they ran up to us yipping. “Shush now, Mama’s home. You gals hungry?” She moved toward a granite and stainless steel kitchen the size of a restaurant. “Let me feed the babies. Go on and have a look around.”
I stood for a moment taking in the wide span of living space filled with décor fit for royalty and then my eyes moved straight out the massive windows to the blue sky and ocean.
“Oh, Frankie, it’s simply amazing.” I weaved my way through the leather strewn living room, drawn like a moth to light, to stare out through the glass. The entire side of the condo was glass. I had a tiny dizzy spell as I gazed out at the wrap around terrace. “Do you ever get tired of this view?”
“Haven’t yet,” she chuckled from the open kitchen. “We can sit out there and have our wine if you want.”
“Sure.”
“Go on out, I’ll be there in a sec.”
I opened the sliding door and stepped out into the warm evening breeze. It truly did feel like you were on top of the world here. As I settled into a wicker chair—grateful for the four foot curved glass barrier between me and a very long fall—I breathed in the salty air. It was such a blissful moment, I almost forgot why I had agreed to come. Almost.
“Couldn’t you just die happy out here?” Frankie stepped out and handed me a full glass of chilled white wine. Itty and Bitty were at her heels. They circled her feet, then each other, finally settling down together on a large pink pillow in the corner.
I wasn’t sure I liked her word choice, but she was right. Every bit of stress just melted away like a dream. This balcony was a bubble surrounded by sky and water that reality just couldn’t touch.
We sat, sipping in silence for a few minutes before I finally had to break the spell.
“So, Scary Harry?”
She stretched out her legs and pushed the red heels off with her toes. “I know what it looked like. Like I was consorting with the enemy, right?”
“Yeah.”
“See, the thing is, the man is mean as a snake. He’s not gonna stop messin’ with my family at Pirate City. And the police aren’t doing anything about his harassment. So,” she shrugged, “I’m paying him off.”
“You’re giving him money?”
“Well, no, not money per say—liquor. He likes expensive liquor, so I agreed to buy it for him once a week and he agreed to leave Pirate City alone. Tell you the truth, I hope he drinks himself to death. Waste of human flesh, that man.”
Well, that was a relief. Pirate City was safe, at least from Harry, at least for now. Something nagged at my thoughts. I went back over Frankie’s words. Oh, yeah…expensive liquor.
“How long have you been giving him this liquor?”
“Oh, we just struck the deal this week.”
“Oh, okay.” It was worth a shot.
“Why’s that?”
“Well, when they found Mad Dog, there was a bottle of Bacardi 8 rum lying in the grass. I thought maybe we could connect it to Harry.”
I could feel Frankie staring at me, I turned to her. “What?”
“Did you say Bacardi 8?”
“Yeah?”
“Huh. Well, I did have a bottle of that go missing, but it was weeks before Mad Dog got killed. Still, there’s not many of those bottles floating around.”
“Who do you think took it?”
“I chalked it up to Vick. I mean, I didn’t really care, he knew he could take it if he wanted it. Just seems like a big coincidence.” She got lost in thought.
“Frankie?”
“Hm?”
“Please don’t get mad at my next question, okay?” I seemed to be saying that a lot lately. “I’m just trying to cover all the possibilities. But, do you think Vick could have had something to do with Mad Dog’s death that night?”
“No. And don’t get me wrong, I know he’s not the most moral guy in the world, he’s got his faults. But, he was here all night. He left in the early morning, to go back to his place, and called me when he passed Mirror Lake and saw all the police cars.”
I nodded, remembering she had told me that before. “How are y’all doing? You and Vick?” I wanted to ask what in heaven’s name she saw in him, but I remembered my manners.
“I don’t know. He’s been acting kinda weird lately. We got in a fight at the benefit and since then, he’s been standoffish.”
“Well, you’re great fun to be around, Frankie. There’s plenty of other fish in the sea.”
“Thanks, but you know the hardest thing about having money is dating. You can’t trust anybody. You always have it in the back of your mind that they’re only in it for the money.”
“And Vick is different?”
She nodded and took a sip of her wine. “I knew him before I had money. Plus, he’s got his own money. Of course, that was a big part of our fight. I wish he’d give up his business. I don’t like it one bit.”
“His computer business?”
She glanced at me sideways. I recognized the action. She wanted to tell me more but didn’t know if she could trust me. So, I prodded a bit. “You said he sells stuff online? Is it not legal? Is that why you don’t like it?”
“Oh, it’s legal.” She shook her head and squinted out at the blue sky. “Damn well shouldn’t be.” She squirmed in her chair and then pushed herself up. “Hey, I’ll just get us a snack. I’ve got some fresh sushi and watermelon in the fridge.”
I started to protest, but she had already slipped inside. Itty and Bitty jumped up to follow her. I sighed. Probably wouldn’t be able to get her back onto that topic again tonight. Now she had me really curious, though. What in the world could Vick be selling online that was legal but upset Frankie enough to fight with him about it?
“Here we are.” She appeared back through the door with plates of fresh food, laying them out on the glass table between us. “Go lay down girls, this is for the big people.”
“You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.”
“Are you kiddin’? This is no trouble. Glad to have the company.”
I smiled at Frankie as I popped a juicy piece of watermelon in my mouth. She really did seem like a kind soul. Someone who just wanted to enjoy what life had so thoughtfully tossed into her lap and share some of that good fortune with others.
“Oh!” I swallowed. “I haven’t told you the latest news. So, I went and visited the guy who confessed to killing Mad Dog in jail and it was Hops!”
“Hops?” Frankie frowned. “I can’t imagine him killin’ anyone.”
“I know! So, he basically told me he confessed so he’d have a roof over his head and three meals a day. Can you believe it?”
Frankie’s eyes saddened. “Yeah, I can, sugar. He was gettin’ pretty desperate. Couldn’t find work. It gets tough out there. So, you’re really convinced he didn’t kill Mad Dog then?”
“Well, I was.” It was my turn to frown. “Until Will told me that Hops turned in a weapon, homemade brass knuckles that matched the impact points on Mad Dog’s head and side exactly. So, I guess he
must have killed him. But not at the lake like he said. Why would he lie about that?”
“How do you know it wasn’t at the lake?”
Oops. “Oh, um, just something he said. Made me think that.” Squirm. “So, anyway, I just can’t let it go yet. I have to know for sure that Mad Dog’s real killer is the one paying for the crime. Hops as the killer just doesn’t feel right.”
Frankie wagged a finger at me. “You know, if you were a dog, you’d be a pit bull, Darwin. You just sink your teeth into something and don’t let go. I’ll remember that next time I have a problem that I’m not gettin’ solved.”
We laughed together and munched a few California rolls in silence. Then Frankie sighed, “Maybe you could find out where in Hades Maddy’s gone to. Now her phone is cut off. I even went by her apartment and she’s moved out.”
I thought about the card with her name on it in Vick’s truck and the vision I had of Vick with his hands around her neck. “Sounds like she has some personal problem she’s running from. Sometimes you just have to go somewhere and start over.”
“I know. But, I wish she would have at least kept in touch with me.” She took a deep drink and drained her wine glass. “And while we’re on sad topics. You remember Junior, the junkie who fell in the pool at the charity event?”
“Of course.”
“He overdosed. Pops got him to the hospital but it was too late.” She shook her head. “I really tried to help that kid. Sometimes it’s too late before you start.”
I guess I shouldn’t have been shocked, but I was. I thought back to the time I first saw him at Pirate City, then at the Mirror Lake morning breakfast and then Will pulling him out of the pool. “So, he got out of the hospital and went right back to drugs?” Was this reality here? I wasn’t used to all this death.
“Yep.”
“He was so young.” Where was his family? “Was there a funeral?”
“No. He had no next of kin written on the Pirate City wall. He’ll be cremated and I’ve asked for the ashes so we can have a proper goodbye and give him to the Bay. He loved boats. Always talked about wantin’ one someday.”
“Will you let me know when you have it? I’d like to be there.”
“Sure thing. If I can pick up his remains tomorrow, I’ll rent us a boat Saturday morning.”
“Okay.” Night was falling with our mood. “Well, I should get home to let Karma out. Thanks for having me over, this place is amazing.”
Frankie stood up and walked me to the door. So did Itty and Bitty. “Anytime, sugar. I’ll let you know about Saturday.” We hugged and I stepped back into the elevator.
The walk home seemed lonely and I almost called Will. What could we talk about though? All my energy right now belonged to finding out the truth about the night Mad Dog was killed, and he considered that topic closed.
Instead I went home and fell asleep with one arm draped across Karma, whispering to him that I was still keeping my promise. He stopped snoring and licked my arm. At least somebody thought I was doing the right thing.
CHAPTER THIRTY
True to her word, Frankie called Friday to say that she picked up Junior’s ashes and had chartered a boat. I was to meet her and the others at the Municipal Marina at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. She said I could bring Karma along, so we headed to the marina to find the crew.
As we walked the docks, surrounded by a sea of sailboats, I spotted Frankie waving to me from the deck of a ginormous white boat. I waved back. A gentleman in a white uniform helped me and Karma aboard.
Frankie hugged me tight. She wore a black silk suit, flats and oversized dark sunglasses.
“Glad you could make it. The gang is inside.” She turned to the man. “This is Captain Manning.” We shook hands and he patted Karma. “Okay, Darwin is our last expected guest. We can shove off.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I followed Frankie into a living room of sorts, all warm and decked out in cherry wood and crème leather furniture. A bundle of white roses lay on the glass coffee table. Despite the fact that they were sitting around on what was probably a million dollar yacht, the gang was in a solemn mood. Mac was there. On either side of him sat Minnie and Pops. The kid with the blonde dreadlocks sat beside Pops and there was a young Hispanic girl I didn’t recognize. They looked uncomfortable, sitting around on the couch with their hands in their laps. The only one who seemed at home was Vick. He was leaning on the glossy wood bar two steps up, looking down at us. His usually pulled back hair hung free, a gold cross glittered in the V of his open shirt. I quickly decided to ignore him for as long as I could.
“Hi, y’all.” I held up a hand and offered them a consoling smile. “So sorry about the loss of Junior. He was so young.” Some of them nodded or smiled back. Karma sniffed around on the floor and then moseyed over to Pops, head down, tail slightly wagging.
“Hey, Snow White.” Pops rubbed Karma’s back. “And Karma. Good to see you, boy.”
I noticed they had all done their best to dress nicely with combed back hair and scrubbed faces. I was kind of disappointed not to see G among them. He always made me smile and I wanted to thank him for giving me Mad Dog’s sketch book and let him know how important it had turned out to be.
I took a seat on the edge of the curved couch. Karma came over and plopped down at my feet. “Where’s G?” I asked Frankie.
“Oh, he’s afraid of boats. Couldn’t get him to come.”
Minnie reached in her pocket and pulled out a blue bandana. “G asked me to throw this in the water for Junior. It was his favorite.”
The pirate boy made a hissing sound then said, “Waste of a perfectly good bandana.”
“You hush up, Rufus.” Mac growled. “Have some respect for a brother’s wishes.”
“Can I get anyone coffee, juice or water?” Frankie moved toward the steps.
Most of them asked for coffee. The girl I didn’t know asked for orange juice. I opted for water. Vick followed Frankie passed a formal dining area and into the dark granite kitchen. I felt the boat rumble around us as it began to pull away from the dock. It was a strange sensation.
I noticed a beat up guitar leaning against Rufus’ leg. “You play guitar, Rufus?”
“Yeah.”
“He wrote a song to sing for Junior,” Minnie said, while Rufus glanced at me uncomfortably.
“That true?” I asked.
“Yeah. No big deal.”
“Well, I think that’s nice.” I offered my hand to the girl next to me. “Hi, I’m Darwin Winters.”
“Oh, Aleece.” Her hand was soft and damp. “Nice to meet you.”
I didn’t remember seeing her at Pirate City. “You were a friend of Junior’s?”
“Yeah, we hung out. He was nice to me.”
I automatically checked her arms to look for signs of drug use. There were none and then I felt bad. “Well, I’m sorry you lost your friend. I know how it feels. I lost a friend from Pirate City, too. He was murdered. This was his dog, Karma.” I patted Karma’s head and, panting, he rolled his eyes in our direction. “I promised him I’d find out who took Mad Dog away from us.”
“You promised the dog?” she asked.
I nodded. Frankie and Vick came back down with the drinks.
Aleece frowned at me. “Junior told me that Hops guy confessed to killing Mad Dog during a fight. That he’s in jail for it.”
“Yeah, I know.” I accepted the water bottle from Frankie. I could feel the yacht picking up speed, pushing forward through the water. “I’m not convinced that’s what really happened though.”
“Oh.” She took a glass of orange juice from Vick’s hand. “Thanks. Wow, really?”
I happened to glance over at Mac and his eyes were locked on me. He shook his head slightly and sipped his coffee, still staring at me over the cup. Was that a warning?
Everyone seemed to get quiet. Frankie finally broke the silence.
“Now’s a good time to be thinking if you want to say a few words whe
n…you know, we let Junior go. I know Rufus’s got a song and Aleece has a poem she wants to read.” She smiled kindly at Aleece. “The captain will stop in about fifteen minutes and we’ll go on up. Apparently, the law says we have to stay within three miles of shore.”
It only took about ten minutes for the yacht to cut through the open sea to a place where it was legal to release human remains. We each took a flower off the table and filed past the kitchen and up the couple of plush stairs to the birthing area on top. The sea sparkled around us and the salty breeze tugged at our clothes. I tried my best to block the waves of sadness coming at me from all directions but it was hard. The surrounding water was like an amplifier for their emotional energy.
Frankie led the group, carrying the box containing Junior’s remains. We all gathered around solemnly in front of her as she stopped at the railing and turned to face us. I noticed Vick had wandered over a few feet away from her and stayed facing the ocean. I guess he wasn’t one for ceremony.
“Thanks, everyone, for coming to say goodbye to Junior. The kid had a tough life. I hate that it had to end like this and I know you do, too. I’m sure he’s lookin’ down on us now, smiling and happy to know that he had people who genuinely cared about him. Aleece, why don’t you start us off with the poem you wrote for him?”
Aleece nodded and took a few unsteady steps to stand beside Frankie. She unfolded a piece of paper she had been clutching and began to read.
“To my friend, Junior,
We never know when we’ll find
A person who is thoughtful and kind,
And even though you had no home
You made me feel like I wasn’t alone,
You listened to me and made me smile
I didn’t know that all the while
Your time on earth was almost done
I’ll miss you more than anyone.”
She folded the paper back up, wiped at her eyes and transferred a kiss from her hand to Junior’s makeshift urn.
Karma's A Bitch (A Pet Psychic Mystery) Page 14
