by Tonya Kappes
“Dial the number.” She hands me my phone while she holds the device, the cord between us.
I thumb through the history and find the number where I had dialed the blocking option.
Just like magic, the address scrolls across the little screen on the black box. She pushes the green button on the screen and sends the address to my phone, and then presses my off button before anyone answers it.
“There you go.” She unplugs the device and sticks it back in the box. “We know that one works.” She smiles and leads me out of the warehouse and to the back door. “Now you owe me.”
“I always owe you.” I wink.
“I mean really owe me.” She holds her hands out, inspecting her fingernails. “I want to date William.”
“Oh, Vive.” Sarcasm drips from my voice. “Buddy? Really?”
“There is no way that sweetheart of a man killed that woman.” She rests her hands on her hips, her boobs nearly toppling out of her low-cut top, while her aura turns a sultry red.
“And how do you know that?” I ask, trying to shield my eyes from her boobs and aura.
“I know it just as much as I know you didn’t do it.” She glances over my shoulder as headlights turn the corner of the building. “Is that Officer Joel?” A wicked grin crosses her lips.
“Zip it,” I tell her, but I can’t help but smile as he steps out of the car. I prop myself up against the building, just in case his blue aura makes me pass out. I take it as a good sign that it doesn’t.
If he is really mad or unhappy to see me, his aura would change or dull in color, but right now, it’s as bright as the Caribbean Ocean.
My soul feels like it has just been kissed.
“Did you just sigh?” Vive pulls back and turns her lip up. Waiting for confirmation from me, she taps her high heel against the pavement.
“Shh,” I try to hush her when I see Joel walking toward us.
“I’m telling you to fix me up.” Suddenly her shoe taps faster, making the sound echo through the alley. “He hasn’t called me.”
“Fine.”
“Good evening, ladies.”
Those green eyes; my inside does flips just looking at his beautiful eye color and aura, mix and twirl right in front of my eyes.
“You two go have fun,” Vive chuckles and chomps at the same time. If she happens to choke, I’m not so sure I’d save her at this moment. “And I mean some real fun.” She flails her spirit fingers in the air and excuses herself back into the Surplus.
“What was that about?” Joel asks as I follow him to his car.
“Oh, Vive?” I ask so it will buy me some time. “She’s just so…Vive.”
He jumps in the driver’s seat while I stand by the passenger door waiting. Waiting for him to open it like he always has, but he doesn’t so I get in.
“What were you waiting for?” He puts the car in drive. “We are meeting someone at the Pete’s.”
“I was waiting for you to open my door.” Suddenly my mood shifts. If I did have some hope that we were going to get back together, I am afraid I am sorely mistaken. Plus, Pete’s Pizzeria is our place.
“It’s not like we are on a date.” He stares over. His aura tarnishes to a yellow. He is definitely in the cop mode. “You are under an umbrella of suspects. And I really shouldn’t be discussing this with you.”
“It must be really hush-hush because Aunt Matilda didn’t even know about 4Play until she read my aura.” I glance over to see how he reacts to me bringing up the aura. “Carl tells her everything.”
“He can’t tell her what he doesn’t know.” He doesn’t take his hands off the steering wheel.
“So you are doing this to help save me?” There is hope in my soul.
“You are the one who stuck your nose into an open murder case.” He pulls the car in the parking lot, putting the car in park by the spot nearest the door. “It will all become clear very soon.”
Without a word, we walk into Pete’s Pizzeria, where I’m used to getting a very giddy feeling, but not today. It’s more of a sick feeling. I’m not even sure if I can eat a piece of pizza today.
“Joel, over here.” The long blonde-haired woman waves her hand in the air. Her bright smile matches her white aura. If she wasn’t so attractive in her skinny jeans, black knee boots and tan cardigan sweater, I might like her.
Joel weaves in and out of the café tables that dot the inside of Pete’s to get to her, as if on a mission.
She stands up when we get to the table. I try to figure out if her white aura is for protection for her love of Joel, or for her sake, because I might have to deck her.
“Olivia, this is Christy.” He pulls out a chair and sits down like I should know her.
Oh no, he did not bring me to meet his ex-girlfriend. If he wants to hammer it home that we aren’t dating anymore, I get it.
“Joel,” Christy laughs and a sweet melodic tune fills the air, “there is no way she recognizes me.”
I close my eyes, trying to recognize her voice...”
“Wait.” my mouth drops open and I point to her. “You are Angela? Big boob Angela from 4Play?”
Shock and awe sweep over me. I know I was passed-out cold when Aunt Jill and Joel were talking about Christy that day at the Dude Ranch, but I’m sure I didn’t hear that she was involved in those erotic films.
I look back and forth between the two of them, their auras not changing. Is Joel really not who I think he is? Is he really an exotic film star? Did they have something to do with Linda’s death?
My stomach curls as I realize that my aura reading skills have taken a dive. It’s not a secret that as a psychic gets older, her skills might wane. Evidently there is no waning in me---they have flat-out hung me out to dry.
“The look on your face is priceless.” Christy pulls out the chair next to her and pats it for me to sit down.
“I don’t like what is going on here.” I remain standing and grab my cell out of my bag. “I’m calling for a ride.”
“Olivia, sit down,” Joel demands, standing up and helping me into the chair next to Christy.
An image of her beautiful blonde bombshell self, sitting next to my frumpy self is one that replays in my head. I wonder if Joel is seeing the image in his head.
“Christy is an undercover FBI agent, too” He pushes my shoulders down into the chair and goes back to his seat. “I’m really with the FBI, using Park City Police to work on some leads in the area about a drug smuggling ring.”
The room starts to spin. My stomach curls in a knot. I put my hand on my belly, trying to keep it together. It’s not that I care that they are undercover, it’s that she…she…she’s the ex.
“And that means that you are now under our control.” Angela…er…Christy’s white aura becomes murky as she throws her authority around. “You stuck your nose in an investigation that has nothing to do with the death of Linda Minx. So you will work with us on our case and we will see what we can do to get your charges lessened in Linda’s death.”
All of this is too much. I close my eyes and try to envision happier times, but my blood is beginning to boil.
“Wait one second,” I sputter between my gritted teeth, “you think I killed Linda Minx? What would my motive be?”
“I’m not saying you did it, but I do think that someone saw what happened at the Dude Ranch when you smacked her. That makes it convenient for them to pin the death on you.” He clears his throat when the server comes over to take our order.
Forget about not being able to eat a piece of pizza, I think I can eat an entire pie on my own.
He continues when the server walks away, “Carl knows that I’m undercover, but Linda’s death puts a whole new spin on it.”
“We don’t know if her death is related to the drug smuggling, but we do know that someone in 4Play is involved. That is why we are undercover there. We want to infiltrate and see what we can find out.” Her eyes narrow, still making her look pretty. “Luckily for you, we can
offer you a deal as long as you help us.”
“Deal?” I question, running my hands through my hair and then resting them in front of me. Calmly, I inform them, “I did not kill Linda Minx.”
“You…” Christy starts, but Joel puts his hand out to stop her.
“Olivia, that is something I’m going to figure out too.” He leans in and takes my hand “But I have to tell you that I became a client of Color Me Love because of the drug smuggling ring.”
My mouth drops open. Is Karma taking a hold of me? Is this the payback I get from breaking all of those hearts using Splitsville.com? No wonder love never works out for me.
I pull my hands away, lean back in my chair, and cross my arms in front of me.
“Linda had confided in Angela, that she was using Color Me Love’s dating service to find real happiness.” He takes a deep breath. “I thought if I could score a date with her, then that was my in. Only I didn’t get to because you didn’t match our auras.”
I smile, wondering if he is starting to believe in my gift.
“So I had to go undercover as a porn star.” He stops as the server puts our drinks on the table and he takes a long sip from the straw. When the server walks away, he continues, “Linda ended up dead before she even knew I existed. So, I had to get into 4Play somehow. I wanted to be the security guard, but they told me they needed a star, and here I am.”
“Our plan was for me to work from the inside of 4Play and Joel to get into Linda’s life and work that angle. If there was something going on, Linda was such a big part of 4Play, she would know who was dealing what drugs and who was moving them.” Christy pulls out a file and hands it to me. “I made you a copy of the file because you are now going to help us.”
Trying to avoid eye contact, I put the file in my bag.
“Olivia, come on. Be nice.” Joel warns her. “We didn’t find anything on your car either, so I’m having the tow company drop it off here so you can take it home.” He puts my keys on the table and I grab them before he can take them back.
“I have to go to the bathroom.” I excuse myself and create a plan to get the hell out of here. I have to sort everything out in my head. Am I a suspect? Is Joel really Joel? Is he dating Christy?
One thing I know for sure, I didn’t kill Linda Minx.
I glance over my shoulder on my way to the bathroom and see that Joel and Christy are huddled together as if they are coming up with some grand scheme.
I make a detour and head straight out the door. The Toyota is parked in the back of the parking lot. I never thought I’d be so happy to see that hunk-of-junk.
I smack the dash. George Jones belts out He Stopped Loving Her Today.
“I know how you feel, George.” I turn the radio up and don’t even look in the rear-view mirror.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“That was a quick dinner.” Erin shoots off the couch when I get home. Michael is rummaging around in the kitchen looking for something to cook. “Are you okay?”
I toss my bag on the couch and plop down next to it. Exhausted. Mentally drained.
“You definitely aren’t okay.” Erin sits next to me with a look of concern on her face. “Tell me what happened.”
Herbie jumps up in my lap and licks the tears that start flowing down my cheeks.
“Hey, guy.” I rub my hand down his soft grey fur. “You are the only boy I need in my life.”
“I’ve heard that before.” Michael wanders in with a big glass of wine and hands it to me. “Looks like you need this.”
“I need a good lawyer is what I need.” I take a gulp and move the magazines off the coffee table to create a spot to sit the glass down. The cottage was clean a few days ago, but has since become a lot more cluttered.
“Did he take you to dinner to interrogate you?” Erin’s brows cross in anger. “What a jerk.”
“No, nothing like that.” I have to tell Erin and Michael since they both know what is going on with 4Play. “Do you remember Angela from 4Play?”
Erin nods and so does Michael. I’m sure Erin has told him everything.
“She is an undercover FBI agent and so is Joel. 4Play is under some sort of criminal investigation for drug smuggling. Joel used Color Me Love services to score a date with Linda Minx so he could infiltrate her inner circle while Angela worked on the inside at 4Play.”
By the look of shock and awe on their faces, I can tell that I didn’t need to go any further.
“One good thing is that I got my car back because they didn’t find any remains of Linda on the bumper.” I shrug, grab my glass and take a gulp…big gulp.
“Does this mean you are cleared of all charges?” Michael is the only reasonable one here.
“No.” I shake my head. “Linda’s murder was in Park City, which means that I’m still a suspect because I smacked her and people saw it. Carl knows that Joel is undercover and pretend-hired him to work in Park City as a cover.”
“I see.” Michael paces back and forth. “What did he want with you tonight?”
“That’s the best part.” I picture him and Christy sitting at the intimate table at Pete’s sharing that delicious pizza and looking into each other’s eyes with a string of cheese attaching their lips like The Lady and The Tramp. “Angela is really Joel’s ex-girlfriend, Christy.”
“Really?” Erin sits on the edge like I’m getting ready to give some sort of juicy gossip. “She’s also FBI. Or did I say that?”
Spies Like Us chirps at the bottom of my bag. I grab the bag, pulling out the file and retrieving my phone. It’s the same number that keeps calling. Wrong night to prank me.
“Who the hell is this?” I answer the phone. “Did you know that I’m under investigation for a murder I didn’t do? And if you keep calling, I will be under investigation for another murder that I might do.”
I wait for a peep, sound, buzz, anything.
Silence.
“Hello? Did you hear me?” The click on the other end lets me know they hung up.
Oh, oh, what do you do Paul belts out of the phone. Before checking to see who it is, I answer, “I told you that they will find you dead on the side of the road if you keep calling!”
“Olivia?” Joel questions on the other end. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Oh, Joel, I’m so sorry.” Great, now I just told an FBI agent that I’m going to kill him. Perfect. My life is so great. “I have a prank caller and I’m fed up with it. With the night that I have had, I flew off the handle, thinking it was the prankster again.”
“No, it’s me and we can find out who that is later.” His voice is reasonable. “I’m sitting out in front of your house. Can I come in?”
I get up and pull the curtain away from the window that faces the front of the house. Sure enough, he is parked on the street in his Park City police car.
“Is she with you?”
“Christy?” He questions me like I’m stupid for thinking she might be with him. “Is that why you left?”
“No.” I unlock the door and turn off the phone.
“We are going to get lost.” I hear Michael tell Erin. “Let’s go grab something to eat.”
They head out the door just as Joel comes in.
“They didn’t have to leave.” He points over his shoulder. “I’m sure you’ve told them everything, but the less they know the better.”
“Obviously,” I mumble under my breath. He wasted no time telling Christy everything about me.
“I’m sorry if you feel like you were ambushed tonight.” He hands me a Pete’s Pizzeria takeout box. “I took the liberty of ordering you a personal veggie pizza.”
If I wasn’t so hungry, I would throw it out the door, but I don’t. I take the box and sit back on the couch with Herbie on one side and my glass of wine on the other.
“Can I sit down?” He takes a seat without waiting for my answer. “When you told me about the whole Jen-verses-Olivia thing along with the aura reading, I got a little freaked. Especially sinc
e I’m under cover.”
I take another big bite and blankly stare at him, trying not to give in to the sky blue aura.
“I’m glad I didn’t get matched with Linda Minx.” A smile crosses his lips.
“Before you say anything else, I think that we need to get my end of this out of the way.” I’m not sure where he is taking the conversation, but my heart won’t be able to take it if he doesn’t hear the full story.
“I think I’ll have one of those.” He points to the glass of wine.
“I’m sorry about the messy house, but I’ve been a little preoccupied with saving my ass and I haven’t had time to clean.” Okay, so what is one more little lie going to hurt? He doesn’t need to know about my messy side, just yet.
Herbie doesn’t seem to mind Joel at all. A Pink aura surrounds him, meaning he is happy. Unfortunately, Herbie liked Bradley too and we see where that got us.
“Traitor,” I call over my shoulder at Herbie as it warms the bottom of my heart to see him in Joel’s lap with Joel rubbing his ears.
I bring back a glass of wine, and make a spot on the table next to my glass and set his down.
My nerves are shot. I can’t sit or I might explode. Pacing back and forth between the couch and kitchen, I begin to tell Joel exactly how we met.
“So you love my blue aura?” He sat quietly until I was finished.
“Yes. I’m a sucker for a blue aura man.” I intertwine my fingers. “I had no idea that Erin was setting me up, but I knew I didn’t want her to set you up. When she told me that ‘Jenn’ wasn’t able to come, I knew it was my chance to get to know you.”
“That day at Pete’s, you knew I was going to be there waiting on this ‘Jenn’ who really isn’t real, but you didn’t know that only Erin knew it?” He tries to repeat the entire situation.
“Yes, basically.” I sit down next to him. “Erin didn’t know that I had already met you at the Color Me Love, so I kept it a secret. Voila, it worked. Only the joke was on me, which you knew, but not the aura thing.”
“And the Splitsville.com thing.” He reminds me.
“Oh, and you can be all goody-goody with the entire Park City Police act, when in reality you are a FBI agent.” Technically, we have lied to each other to get things we both want. “Is your real name Joel?”
