Textual Relations

by Jamie Lee Scott

  I heard him say, “Are you sure about this?”

  It’d been way too long for me to question whether or not I was sure about anything. I just knew I needed to have sex, and Nick seemed like a good candidate.

  I’m pretty sure we hadn’t been in the bedroom for a full minute when I heard a familiar sound.

  “You have got to be freaking kidding me!” I was nearly shouting.

  “Just answer it.” Nick rolled over onto his back.

  My cell phone rang, then Nick’s, then mine again. I reached over to the nightstand and grabbed my phone. “What!”

  “Are you with Nick?” It was Charles.

  “Why?” I was irritated and I didn’t care who knew.

  “Oh, no. Oh, shit. This is really bad timing, isn’t it?”

  The words were sincere enough, but the chuckle in his voice didn’t sound like he cared that he was interrupting.

  “What is it, Charles?” I nearly spat the words.

  “You’re going to kill me, but I need you to come right now.” The chuckle was gone.

  I sat straight up. “What’s going on?”

  “You said to keep an eye on Leonard. Well, I followed him when he left his house. You are never going to believe where he went.”

  “Where?” I was already out of bed and putting my shoes on. Yes, just my shoes.

  “To some barn, I think it belongs to Stephanie.” The name hung in the air.

  “Are you there now?” I asked Charles. Then to Nick I said, “We’ve gotta go.”

  Nick was out of bed, dressed, and pulling on his shoulder holster. He grabbed his keys and I kept talking to Charles as we headed out to the car.

  “Not anymore. I’ll text you the address so you can put it in Nick’s navigation system.”

  Charles disconnected, and I had a text a moment later. I looked at it, then at Nick. “Prunedale?”

  CHAPTER 16

  If you’ve never been in a cop car with the lights and siren on, cruising along at 110 miles per hour, I’m here to tell you, it’s a rush. It’s also scary as hell, but I just white knuckled it with my seatbelt firmly in place, and prayed like I’ve never prayed in my life. “Dear God, please let Nick know what the hell he’s doing and not get us in a wreck.” Not sure He was listening, but we did make the turn off at San Miguel Canyon Road in record time with a clear path in front of us.

  Nick turned off the lights and siren when we turned off San Miguel Canyon Road to a small street. He slowed to a crawl as we looked for Charles’ car. Even though we hadn’t reached the address sent in his text, I saw his car parked on the shoulder of the road. Knowing how much Charles loves his car, I knew this had to be important, because it had to be life or death for him to leave the Spyder on the shoulder.

  Nick had called his partner before we left town, telling her to meet us. Piper was a faster driver than Nick, because her car was parked in front of Charles’.

  Nick pulled in behind the Spyder, and we both got out. I pulled out my cell and called Charles.

  “We’re here. Where are you?” I whispered, though I’m not sure why.

  “Walk up two houses, then look in the row of bushes. Piper and I are hiding, watching the barn,” Charles whispered. “And for goodness sake, be quiet. We don’t want you announcing your arrival.”

  I disconnected and stuck my tongue out at the phone. I motioned for Nick to follow me, and we walked along the gravel shoulder for about 500 feet. When we got past the two houses, I realized I had no idea which side of the street Charles would be on. Nick pointed. It was the mailbox for the address Charles had provided. I looked to my left and saw just a barn.

  It was an older style wood barn that looked like it had been refurbished. There was perfectly manicured lawn around it, with a gravel driveway that led to a walk-in door. The huge double doors of the barn creaked with the wind, but looked to be only decorative.

  Nick headed into the row of bushes and I followed. We crouched down low and sidled up next to Charles.

  “This better be good,” Nick said. “You have no idea what I’m giving up to be here.”

  Charles winked. “Oh, I think I do.”

  I blushed.

  Charles pointed. “She was already here when he arrived, but both Leonard and Stephanie were in there.”

  “I don’t see any cars.” I started to stand and take a closer look, but Charles yanked me down.

  “Stephanie left already. Leonard’s car is parked around the back. I’ve been around the perimeter, but I didn’t want the neighbors calling the cops until you were here to vouch for me.”

  “You wanted me to vouch for your voyeurism?” Nick spoke to Charles, but his eyes never left the barn. “How long ago did Stephanie leave?”

  Piper put her hand on Charles’s shoulder. “I’ll vouch for you.”

  Charles nudged her and she nearly toppled over. Their chemistry was cute.

  “Five minutes or so.” Charles answered. “I haven’t seen any activity. No lights, but then it’s still fairly light out, so maybe I just don’t see them.”

  I stayed crouched, but I left the bushes. Nick tried to grab me, but I was out of his reach.

  I stayed low and approached the mailbox. What the heck, I’d just see who this property belonged to. I looked around for oncoming traffic on the deserted street, saw no one, so I stood and opened the box.

  There was only one piece in the box, addressed to It’s Soy Good Candle Company. I put the letter back in the box and scooted back to the bushes.

  “It’s a candle company.” Proud to offer up the tidbit.

  “I know. I ran the address before we got here.” Nick said.

  My bubble properly deflated, I let my knees rest on the dirt and leaves.

  “Now that you’re here, I’m going down there to snoop a little,” Charles stood tall.

  Nick said, “Why did you wait for us if you’d planned to go in all along?”

  “Because if he shoots me, or I shoot him, I need witnesses, and someone to call the ambulance.” Charles didn’t even go back to the road. He just approached the building from the bushes.

  As Charles hiked down to the barn, I saw Leonard get in his car and drive away. He must not have seen Charles because he didn’t stop, and he wasn’t looking around as he drove out the driveway.

  “I told you there was more to him than he let on.”

  “I just wonder exactly how well he knew Stephanie before all of this stuff happened with Garrison.” Nick reached up and scratched the back of his head.

  I scratched mine, too, but because it itched. Then the thought of ticks came to mind and I scrambled out of the bushes, toward the barn. I swear I could feel things crawling on me. Gross.

  “Mimi, no.” Nick whisper-yelled behind me.

  As usual, I didn’t listen. I followed Charles right down to the barn. Within seconds, I could hear Nick following behind me.

  “I won’t be an accessory to trespassing or breaking and entering. Stop,” Piper said, then she came down behind Nick anyway.

  I kept walking. When I got around to the other side of the barn, I saw Charles looking in a window. “See anything interesting?”

  Charles looked disappointed. “It looks like a candle making facility.” He pointed back to the window. “I like their label.”

  I didn’t bother looking. “What now?”

  Nick had caught up. “What now? I’ll tell you what, you two are leaving. I’m not going to be the one to explain this to the cops, and believe me, I’m sure the neighbors are suspicious by now.”

  A voice came from the driveway. “We sure are.”

  A bulky woman of about fifty, wearing a housedress in a faded paisley print marched down toward us. She held a twelve-gauge shotgun across her chest. “Who the hell are you, and what are you doing on my property?”

  Nick reached down to pull out his badge, and the woman leveled the shotgun at him. He put both hands up. “Hold up there, ma’am. I’m just getting out my identification. I’m wi
th the Salinas Police Department.”

  She lowered her weapon. “Fine. But, just like they say in the movies, slowly.”

  Slowly, Nick pulled out his badge. He held it at arm’s length for her to see, even though it was way too far away for her to tell what it said. “I’m investigating a homicide, ma’am.”

  “Homicide? You smell any dead bodies around here?” She had dropped the shotgun to her side and continued down the driveway toward us. “You best not be snooping on my private property without a warrant. I know my rights.”

  “I have reason to believe someone we’ve questioned in our investigation has something to hide here.”

  “You believe, huh? And who are these yahoos with you?” She used the shotgun as her pointer, when she indicated Charles, Piper and me.

  Nick took a minute before responding. “My partner and some people I work with.” Without explaining further he asked her, “Do you own this barn?”

  “I own the property, but it’s leased to It’s Just Soy Good. What’s it to you?”

  Nick ignored her question. “You know Leonard Crowhopper?”

  The woman laughed. “What the hell kind of name is that?”

  “So you don’t know him?” Nick’s frustration was evident in his tone.

  “I don’t know. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. So who’s dead?”

  “Right now, we’re looking for a missing girl. We’ve already found the dead person.” Piper pulled out a picture of Tiffany. She stretched her arm out, but didn’t approach the woman.

  The woman approached Piper as if she were a rattle snake and took the photo from her hand. “This the missing girl, or the dead body?”

  “Missing girl.”

  In all of this exchange, I was surprised by how quiet Charles and I were being. We’ve never been known to let someone else take the lead, but that shotgun had us firmly in place with zipped lips.

  “Huh, never seen her.” She handed the picture back.

  “Do you have a key to this barn?” Nick sounded a bit friendlier.

  “Nope,” she shook her head. “What would you be wantin’ in there for?”

  “This Leonard person my partner asked about, he was here earlier. I was just wondering what interest he had in this barn.” Piper carefully pocketed Tiffany’s picture.

  “Don’t know no Leonard. A Stephanie Garrison is the president of the candle company, maybe he’s a friend of hers, or an employee.” The woman’s body language had relaxed a bit.

  Nick reached in his pocket and pulled out a business card. “Ma’am, I’m Homicide Detective Nick Christianson. Please take this card. And if you see anything suspicious, please call me right away.”

  She snatched the card and tucked it in between her breasts. She said, “Irma Tucker.”

  “Nice meeting you. We’ll be on our way, Mrs. Tucker. Please, if you see anything, call me, and I’ll come right back.”

  “Like I said, I ain’t seen no suspicious activity. Sometimes that Stephanie woman is out here at odd hours, but that ain’t nothing. Being self-employed means you don’t get no regular nine to five.”

  “True,” I said.

  Irma’s chubby neck nearly snapped when she turned to look at me. It was as if she just realized I was standing there. I knew better, but I wasn’t sure as I watched her gape at me.

  “I’m sorry, it’s just that I’m self-employed, too. Crazy hours we keep.” I gave a self-deprecating smile.

  “You should be at home making babies. Where is your man that he doesn’t provide for you?” She snapped.

  I contemplated the answer to that, and then said, “Ma’am, he’s dead.”

  Her face softened. “What?”

  Nick and Charles now looked at me the way Irma had been. Charles looked to Nick, as if indicating maybe he was my man.

  Well, he was wrong. Nick wasn’t my man. Dominic had been my man, and he was dead. Nick might be my new partner in fun, but he definitely was not my man. Yet.

  Irma said, “Just how many men do you have, sweetie? ‘Cuz these boys look a bit confused.”

  “None. My husband died a few years ago. It’s just me now.” I looked down and scuffed the dirt with my foot.

  Changing the subject, Nick said, “So you don’t have a key to this barn?”

  “Not without a warrant, I don’t.” She hiked the shotgun over her shoulder. “But I promise, if I see anything suspicious, or I see the precious girl you showed me, I’ll call.”

  With that, she turned and headed up the drive.

  We all started to converge when she turned back around and yelled, “Now get the hell off my property before I call the cops. You’re trespassing.”

  She waited at the road to be sure we left. As I walked by her, I handed her my business card.

  “A P.I., huh?” Irma tucked the business card in with Nick’s, and laughed. “More liked P.I.T.A.”

  CHAPTER 17

  Nick decided he needed to get back to the police station and find out a little more about Stephanie Garrison, so I got a ride home with Charles.

  Once again, my day hadn’t gone as planned. I wanted to call Jackie and see if she’d found out anything from talking to Catey, but I knew if she had something to share, she’d call me.

  I hadn’t spent nearly enough time with Lola over the last few days, so I decided to make some popcorn and spend the evening in. I’d never gotten around to finishing Lauren Silke’s novel, Prey, so I took the bowl of popcorn into the living room, curled up on the corner of the couch and started reading.

  It wasn’t long before Lola climbed up next to me, stuffed bear in her mouth, and lay down. As hard as I tried to concentrate on the novel, the events of the week kept running through my head. This was apparently not my day for a relaxing read, either.

  William and Stephanie had a tumultuous relationship because of his ways. I couldn’t bring myself to even think the words for what he was. Stephanie visited William often enough that Leonard knew her. Or did Leonard know her in some other way?

  Why is it that families are in such denial about their relatives? Did Anna’s mom really have no idea about William? And what the hell was wrong with Stephanie that she didn’t stop them from getting married and having kids? I’d never understand family dynamics, but this one really baffled me.

  I held the book open in my lap, but I kept finding myself staring off into space. There had to be something I could do on my own. Something I could do that wouldn’t be breaking the law, or endanger the investigation. I looked down at the words on the page again, and this time I saw Tiffany’s face.

  She was alive. I felt it in my bones. That girl was still alive. Terrified, and probably alone, but I could feel her breathing. Maybe she’d been the victim at the time of William’s demise. Someone had saved that girl. A teenage girl could never have inflicted that much damage on a man, no matter how enraged.

  I knew Stephanie had been keeping a closer eye on William than she’d admitted. Or maybe Anna had seen the relationship with Tiffany and her father go too far. What was Anna capable of doing?

  I picked up my cell phone and used Switchboard to search Stephanie Garrison’s name. Nothing. Shit. Then I searched the name of her business. Bingo, two numbers. I could just hope one of the numbers was her cell phone.

  I started to dial the number, then disconnected. I pushed Lola off my feet and said, “Wanna play?”

  I loaded Lola up in the car and took her to Tiffany’s parents’ house with me. I looked at my watch. Not too late. I could justify my arrival at such a late hour.

  I braced myself and knocked on the door.

  Julie answered, looked at me, and immediately slammed the door in my face. I guess I should’ve expected this reaction after the things Charles said.

  I knocked again, harder. “Mrs. Anderson, please. I’m alone.”

  She opened the door again, but just a crack. “Are you here to insult my family again?”

  “Hey, I didn’t insult anyone. I was just along for the ride.” I
raised my hands in surrender. When I saw her start to close the door again, I said, “I think I may be able to find Tiffany.”

  She looked wary, but opened the door a bit wider. “What can you do that the police can’t do?”

  I turned and pointed to my car. I had the passenger window down, and half of Lola’s body was hanging out the door. She wanted to get out in a big, bad way, but she had just enough discipline not to jump out of the car.

  “Lola used to be a tracker. Not a professional, mind you, but I trained her for possible use at my detective agency.”

  “So?” She wasn’t having any of it.

  “I was hoping I could borrow a piece of clothing that belonged to your daughter to see if Lola’s skills are up to par.” It was worth a shot.

  “The police dog didn’t find anything.” Julie Anderson started sniffling.

  “I know the police have worked very hard on this case, but I’m not limited by the laws they are, and I have an idea.”

  “What’s your idea?” Julie relented and let me in the door.

  Within minutes, I had Tiffany’s dirty skirt from the laundry, and was on my way to Leonard Crowhopper’s house. I just knew that girl had been there. But, if I was right, what was I going to do about it?

  On the ride over, I let Lola play with the dirty skirt. She sniffed and tossed it in the air, and then she curled up on the seat with it tucked between her front legs.

  When I arrived at Leonard’s, I took the skirt from Lola, put it to her nose and said, “Suchen.”

  I put the skirt in the backseat, snapped a leash on Lola, and took her to Leonard’s front door. Lola was a spoiled brat, but once on the leash, she was all business. She walked calmly beside me, with her ears erect.

  I knocked, and waited. Leonard didn’t take nearly as long to answer the door this time. Only, he opened it without unlatching his inside security chain. I wanted to tell him that chain wasn’t any good because I could kick that door open before he knew what hit him, and Lola would be standing on his chest with her canines bared.