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2 Last Diner Standing

Page 15

by Terri L. Austin


  “Have you started emulating Michael Jackson?” he asked.

  “What?”

  He pointed at my hand. “The one glove. Trying to bring that back?”

  “Funny. I lost it.”

  He resumed his watch on the building and I spent my time updating my list of possible suspects.

  Little Donnell, Asshat’s brother.

  Marcus Walker, Asshat’s friend. Together with LD, they were mixed up in some kind of stolen car parts ring.

  Brenda, the bank teller. Asshat gigolo’d her, stole her money, and gave her gonorrhea.

  Brenda’s husband. Ended the marriage, maybe it wasn’t enough (considering he also received the gift of gonorrhea), beat Asshat in a jealous rage?

  Vi, the hairdresser. Also gave her gonorrhea, stole her credit card and left her with a hefty debt.

  Diane, the stripper with the kid. Crystal stole her boyfriend, but how did Asshat and the money figure in?

  Clay Davidson and Stuart Weiner, strip club owner and his sidekick. Not sure how they connected, either, but Asshat was flashing cash at their club right before his attack. Maybe Asshat stole Clay’s money?

  I re-read my short list, then carefully drew a line through the name at the very top of the list: Crystal, aka Chicken Licker, and sent the whole thing over to Dane.

  Still no sign of LD or Marcus, so I played an online word game with Roxy in which I kicked her ass. Henry had made her a grilled cheese sandwich, and she had gotten a ride home from Ax.

  After finding Crystal’s body, I still didn’t have an appetite. And all this sitting around left me too much time to think.

  At close to an hour, I was ready to march up to LD’s apartment and demand some answers. But just when I thought I couldn’t sit there another minute, LD and Marcus emerged from the building and climbed into a dark Explorer with LD behind the steering wheel. “There they are.”

  Sullivan didn’t say ‘I told you so’ but I could feel it.

  I kept my headlights off until we hit the street and I tailed them down the Boulevard, trying to keep two cars between us at all times. It was harder than it looked, keeping an eye on LD’s truck and the bustling holiday traffic.

  I turned down the heat and shifted in my seat.

  “You’re doing well,” Sullivan said. “Just stay with them, don’t let them get too far ahead.”

  LD drove to the muffler shop, which was closed up for the night. Following them into the small lot was impossible if I wanted to remain undetected, so I pulled into a bar two doors down and parked facing them, then cut my lights.

  “What do you think they’re doing? They haven’t gone inside.”

  “Look.” Sullivan pointed and I saw a figure get out of the SUV and head around the side of the building. A minute later, the tow truck pulled out of the lot. The Explorer and tow truck took off in separate directions.

  “Who do we follow?” I asked.

  “We know where LD lives,” he said. “Follow the tow truck.”

  “Try to keep an eye on him.” I couldn’t watch for the tow truck and merge into traffic at the same time. After waiting forever, I saw an opening and gunned it, pulling out on the street, and narrowly missed getting reamed by a minivan. But no sooner did I drive a few feet, that I got stuck at a red light. Damn.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll catch up.” Sullivan ran his hand down the length of my ponytail and tugged. I glanced over at him and he smiled. Boy, he looked good when he did that.

  The light turned green and I sped through the intersection, wove around slower moving cars, and finally caught sight of the tow truck. At least I hoped it was the same one. I eased up on the gas and kept him in my line of vision, but once again put a few cars between us.

  “I don’t see LD’s truck so I assume this is Marcus driving,” I said.

  “That’s my guess. And if this doesn’t lead to anything, we can always go back to LD’s apartment and you ask him anything you want.”

  That made me feel marginally better. I liked having a backup plan.

  The tow truck led us to the mall, which was even more crowded than it had been yesterday afternoon. Multicolored lights outlined the perimeter of the building and the light poles. I stayed two aisles over as Sullivan navigated the truck’s position.

  “He’s turning left,” he said.

  I turned left and rolled through the lot, watching for hustling pedestrians and cars backing out of their spots.

  “He’s stopped.”

  So I did, too, and put the car into park.

  Sullivan tapped the window. “Right there.”

  I unbuckled my belt and leaned toward him. My breast brushed against his arm and our cheeks almost touched. Being this close to him, I had to force myself to focus.

  The tow truck backed up to a midsized sedan. Marcus hopped out and quickly hooked the car to the truck, jumped back in the cab, and sped off.

  I glanced up at Sullivan. “What the hell just happened?”

  “Marcus stole a car.”

  “Are we sure?” Even in the dark, I could feel his eyes on me.

  “Only one way to find out. Let’s head to LD’s garage.”

  “Shouldn’t we call the police?”

  “No,” Sullivan said.

  I settled back into the driver’s seat and re-buckled. “The same thing happened to my car. How is that owner going to feel, coming out of the mall only to find their car missing? And, of course, the police won’t give a shit.”

  “Neither do I. We have more pressing matters.”

  I really hated it when he was right.

  I slowly made my way out of the mall traffic and hit the highway, taking the exit for LD’s garage.

  I parked across the street. Five minutes later, the tow truck backed up to the garage and honked the horn. The bay door slid up and I saw LD outlined against the bright light.

  Marcus slowly backed the car into the garage and LD released it from the truck. Marcus drove to the front of the building before walking into the garage. When LD slammed down the bay door, the street was dark once again.

  “Janelle was right, Marcus is shady. So what now? We leave?”

  “Let’s wait a while longer. See what happens, where they go.”

  I crossed my arms and hunkered down. Even with the car running, it was still cold. “That’s what Officer Hard Ass thinks happened to my car. Older cars get chopped for parts. It’s so sleazy.”

  “There are better ways to make a living.”

  “You don’t get to judge here. Your hands aren’t exactly clean in the criminal department.”

  He slid his arm along the top of my seat, his fingers idly stroked my hair. “I don’t force anyone to play. People want to gamble, I provide a service.”

  “It’s that easy, huh? You don’t take into consideration their families or the fact they could lose everything? That it might ruin them?”

  “If they don’t care about their families or their reputations, why should I?”

  How could I argue with that? “Why did you go the criminal route anyway?” He was a smart, talented guy. Why not have a legit business instead of all the illegal crap?

  He leaned toward me, his lips almost touching my ear. “Are you hoping to reform me?” His deep voice caused goose bumps to rise across the surface of my chilled skin.

  Honestly, the thought never occurred to me. I knew I didn’t have that kind of power over anyone, especially him. I turned my head and our lips were inches apart. “If I was going to reform anyone, I’d start with myself. And maybe get Ax off the doobs.”

  “What would you change about yourself?”

  I studied his shadowed face, but in the dim glow of the streetlight, I couldn’t read his mood. My breathing became shallow with him so close, our
lips within kissing distance. I itched to touch him and gave into the temptation by rubbing the back of my fingers over his stubble-covered chin. “My indecisive career goals. I can’t figure out what the hell I’m going to do with my life and I’m not getting any younger.”

  He laughed and leaned his forehead against mine. “Yes, you’re ancient.”

  I moved my fingers from his chin, across the hollow plane of his cheek, and plunged them into his silky hair. “It’s not funny.” Touching him could get addictive.

  “Come work for me.” His thumb danced along my jawline.

  I pulled back a bit. “Doing what, running illegal card games? I don’t think so.”

  “I could always use an assistant. Or you could manage one of my properties. I have some legal angles.”

  I let go of his hair and put my hand back in my lap. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  “Your call.” He gave me a chaste kiss on the forehead before returning to his side of the car. “What do you want out of life?”

  That was the million dollar question. “I’m not sure. I only seem to know what I don’t want.”

  “That’s a start,” he said. “And you’ll figure it out.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “Because you’re Rose Strickland, that’s why.”

  Well, he had me there. Feeling restless and full of pent up energy, I shifted in my seat and watched the garage. Two minutes later, an SUV pulled up to the building.

  “Someone’s here.” I shut off the ignition and sat up straight.

  The garage door lifted and I got a good view of the chopped car. It was now a metal shell of its former self. The tires were gone, the doors were missing, even the hood had been taken off. “I didn’t realize they could break it down so fast.”

  “Doesn’t take long to get the parts they need.”

  Stuart Weiner emerged from the SUV. I’d know that slick-haired weasel anywhere. He approached LD and Marcus.

  LD wiped his hands on a rag, pulled a white envelope out of his back pocket, and handed it to Stuart.

  Stuart opened the envelope, appeared to check the contents, then climbed back into the SUV and sped away.

  “A pay off?”

  LD walked back into the garage and came out with two beers, handing one off to Marcus. The men drank and lit up cigarettes while Sullivan and I watched.

  Fifteen minutes later, they’d finished the beer, but stood outside the garage talking when a flatbed truck approached. It backed up to the auto bay where LD and Marcus winched the car remains, hoisted some chains, and it drove off into the night. Then LD hopped into his Explorer, Marcus climbed into the tow truck, and they left as well.

  “So LD’s paying off Clay?” I asked. “Do you think Clay is the real owner of the garage, like he is with the strip club?”

  “Seems like a safe bet.” Sullivan pulled out his phone and said a few terse words.

  I put the car in gear and headed for the highway.

  “Before we go back to Axton’s, I need to make a stop.”

  I glanced away from the road. “Where?”

  “The police station.”

  Chapter 19

  “Are you serious?”

  “Very.”

  He didn’t elaborate and I knew if I asked all the questions swirling around my head, he’d just ignore me, so I said nothing and drove to the police station.

  “Pull around back.”

  I did as he instructed, but couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer. “What the hell, Sullivan? Are you going to ask for police protection?”

  He hit the unlock button and the back door opened. A young, dark-haired man in a police uniform climbed in, slamming the door behind him.

  “Mike Goedecker, Rose Strickland.”

  I turned in my seat. “Hey, I know you.” This was the cop I’d talked to the day my car was taken.

  He pointed at me and smiled. “Right, the stolen car. How’s that going?”

  “I think it’s gone for good.”

  “Stolen cars are pretty common around here,” he said. “But I know a guy who can get you a good deal if you’re in the market.”

  “Goedecker, cut the bullshit,” Sullivan said. He didn’t turn around in his seat, he simply angled his head toward the back. “What did you find out?”

  “You were right. Someone used an accelerant on Penn’s. Your name’s being floated around. Detective in charge wants to question you. Best keep your head down. Also, your guy, Marcus Walker, is a regular at the pawn shops in town. Has a record for unloading stolen merchandise. Anything from jewelry to tennis rackets to clothes.”

  “Good, stay on top of it. Also keep an eye on Donnell Johnson. Owns a chop shop off of Oak.”

  “Will do.”

  Mike was gone as quickly as he entered.

  I twisted in my seat and stared at Sullivan. “You have your own informant on the police force? How much does something like that cost? I am so jealous right now.”

  He laughed before capturing my face in his hands and kissing me hard on the mouth. It left my lips tingling and my heart pounding.

  “What was that for?”

  “A consolation prize for not having an informant.”

  Consider me consoled.

  The next morning, diner business was steady. By eleven, the lunch line had a waiting time of twenty minutes. Janelle pushed through the standing room only crowd at noon.

  “What the hell’s going on, Rose?” she asked, glancing at the mob of people.

  “What?” I asked over the loud chatter. I filled two glasses with Coke, one with water and wound my way through the throng to the table in the far corner. Janelle followed.

  “What’s with all the people standing around?” she asked, raising her voice.

  I set the glasses down and grabbed the order pad from my apron pocket. “Ma’s doing lunch specials. Buy one, get two free.”

  “That’s what we want,” said the water man.

  I jotted it down and smiled. “Be right back.” I jerked my head at Janelle, so she’d follow me behind the counter. “Three lunch specials,” I yelled at the pass thru window.

  I stopped and took a second to fill Janelle in on the process and the prices. Then I let her shadow me for thirty minutes before I felt comfortable enough to leave her alone. “You’ll be fine. Ask Roxy if you have any questions.”

  Roxy blew by us in a blur of black and white tartan. She slammed three specials on a tray. “So help me, if I get stiffed on a tip again, I am ripping someone’s head off.”

  Janelle elbowed me in the ribs. “Remind me not to piss her off.”

  I handed her my pad and pen. “Good luck.”

  “I’m not sure I want to do this,” she said. “Those people waiting to eat are getting their dicks in a knot.” She nodded to the front door where two future customers glared at existing customers.

  One of the men grabbed Roxy’s sleeve as she passed. “Can’t you hurry these people along? Those two are just sitting there, drinking coffee.” He gestured toward Bob and Bob, two geezers who ate here every morning.

  Roxy snapped her gum. “You don’t like it? Get out. Go to Rudy’s and choke on it.”

  They seemed shocked by her rudeness, then spun around and squeezed their way through the crowd and out the door.

  I patted Janelle’s arm. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Just try and hold it together.”

  I grabbed my purse and slipped into the kitchen. Ma attempted to haul a big tray of chicken and noodles out of the oven. I grabbed the hot pads from her and took it out myself, setting it on the counter. She must be a hell of a lot stronger than she looked, because that tray was heavy.

  “Thanks, toots. My arms are getting sore.”

  “
Where’s Dillon?”

  “He’s not out front bussing tables?”

  I didn’t bother to bitch about the new kid. No time. “I left Janelle out there with Roxy. You might check on her once in a while. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  She sighed. “All right, but hurry. They customers are getting restless. We’re going to put that Rudy out of business.” She didn’t have any enthusiasm as she said it. She’d pushed the sleeves of her reindeer sweatshirt up past her wrinkly elbows and her normally spiky hair lay limp against her head.

  I didn’t know who would crack first, her or Rudy.

  I left the diner and hopped into Axton’s car, making it to McDonald’s with five minutes to spare. Sick of chicken, I ordered a burger and fries from the dollar menu and walked to the play area.

  Saturday afternoon and it was crammed with screaming kids bouncing in the balls and scrambling through the tunnels. Every table was in use—babies, diaper bags, and half-eaten food covered the tops.

  But at one table near the tunnels, a thin woman with large breasts and highlighted hair wore a pink track suit.

  “Diane?” I asked.

  Without makeup, she was pretty. I’d bet when she put on her g-string and false eyelashes, she raked in the cash. When she stood, her zipped jacket rose to show a taut, tanned stomach. “You’re Jane?”

  “Nice to meet you.” I held out my hand and we shook. Her acrylic nails were alternately tipped with red and green glitter. Very ho ho ho.

  I placed my sack of food on the table and sat down. “Thanks for meeting with me.”

  “The girls said you were looking for dirt on Crystal.” She pointed at the ball area. “Josh loves to bounce around in that thing. He actually takes a nap when we get home.”

  I watched a toddler with light brown hair pick up a ball and hurl it at a little girl in diapers. When it hit her in nose, she howled. “Yeah, he seems like a sweetie. What can you tell me about Crystal?” I dug into my sack and grabbed the fries, offering one to Diane. She declined and watched me nibble them, one by one.

  “Crystal’s a man-snatching whore. That’s basically all you need to know.”

 

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