The Middle Finger of Fate (A Trailer Park Princess Cozy Mystery Book 1)

by Kim Hunt Harris

  Sylvia was one of those full of life people. She's always the first person to talk, the first to say hello, the first to compliment you, and says your name three or four times when she talks to you. She was nice to be around, and yet it made me kind of tired, too. She was really intense.

  “How sweet that you want to help Tony. I always knew you had a good heart, Salem. I hate that things went so badly for you and Tony, but I knew you had a good heart and no matter what anyone said, you never meant to ruin Tony’s life.”

  “Ummm…thanks.”

  “How did Josie seem when you talked to her?”

  Shrieky. Borderline maniacal. Standard Mrs. Solis. “Very upset. Scared for Tony, mad at the police.”

  Sylvia nodded and reached for a glass of iced tea sitting beside her chair. “I know it has to be so hard for her, dealing with this. Bless her heart, Tony’s always been such a good boy and not given her any trouble at all, except for –” She threw me a quick glance and looked away. “She’s just not used to dealing with anything like this.”

  I figured if anyone would be used to dealing with trouble from their son, it would be Sylvia. Her boy Rey was the same age as Tony and had been nothing but trouble as far back as I could remember. If something was broken or stolen or vandalized, you could bet Rey had a hand in it. If you were inclined to play a game of Compare the Kid, Josephine Solis won hands down over Sylvia.

  “Of course, who would be able to deal with this? It would be difficult for anyone to believe their son was guilty of murder.” Sylvia took a sip of her tea. “Would you like some ice tea?”

  “No, thanks. Do you know why Tony is a suspect?”

  Sylvia nodded. “Something about something of his being found there. I’m not sure what, but he was there that night, at the church. The security guard saw him go in.”

  “But if his company cleaned the place, wouldn’t that give him reason to be there?”

  Sylvia shrugged. “From what I understand, he wasn’t usually there. He went there occasionally to make sure everything was being done right, but he didn’t go there every day, just his workers.”

  “That still doesn’t seem like enough to charge him.”

  “Well, I don’t know the whole story, of course –” and she gave a look that made me think she did indeed know the whole story and a few other things besides – “but there’s something about motive, like I said –a personal belonging at the scene of the murder, but I don’t really know. I know it’s hard to believe he’d actually do that, but you know what they say, crime of passion.”

  “It’s impossible to believe,” I said. It was kind of getting on my nerves that Sylvia wasn’t more adamant in Tony’s defense. Not that I wanted her to be like Mrs. Solis, but still… “Why would he have a motive to kill that girl? Why would he do that?”

  “I don’t know, but Tony was very fond of Lucinda. He had taken to her, you know.”

  “And?” And I had no reason at all to be jealous. I had never felt anything except attraction and maybe a little fondness for Tony, and certainly I didn’t have any claim on him now, even if I was still his wife.

  “If she rejected him, he could have been very hurt by that. People do strange things when they’re hurt.”

  “Did he tell you he was in love with her?” I held my breath.

  “He didn’t have to tell me. It was plain from the way he cared about her.”

  “Tony’s a very attentive person. You know that. It doesn’t necessarily mean he was in love with her.”

  “And we’re not really concerned with whether or not he was in love with the girl. We just want to know if he killed her or not,” Viv said.

  Oh, yeah. That. “Are the police saying it was a crime of passion?”

  “Sweetie, I don’t really know. I’m sure justice will prevail, no matter what Josie rants about. If Tony didn’t do it, he won’t be convicted.”

  “Tell that to all the falsely convicted sitting on death row right now,” Viv said.

  Death row. I rubbed the chill bumps on my arms. “I wish I knew exactly why they thought Tony did it. Maybe somebody could help him if they knew more…”

  “Well, he does have a lawyer, and I think they have an actual investigator.” She tossed a quick look from me to Viv. Did we look as stupid as I felt like we did?

  “That’s good,” I said. Stupid-looking or not, finding proof myself would make me feel better. As much as I didn’t want to, I asked Sylvia to tell me more about Lucinda Cruz.

  “The paper said she lived in Mexico until a few months ago?”

  Sylvia nodded. “Actually she’d been up here before, when she was twelve or thirteen, but her family had to go back and then she stayed down there until a few months ago. Her third cousin is mine and Rosie’s aunt, and she called and said Lucinda needed a job, so Josephine asked Tony to hire her.”

  “She’d been working for him for a few months?”

  Sylvia shrugged. “I guess. Not very long.”

  “Was she a good a worker?”

  “I suppose. I didn’t really know her that well.”

  “You said it was clear that Tony cared about her.”

  “Yes, you know how Tony is, very attentive, like you said. He made sure she took care of herself and got plenty of rest, and didn’t lift anything too heavy and didn’t mess with any of the chemicals they work with. He was really concerned about the baby.”

  “Baby?”

  “Didn’t you know? Lucinda was pregnant.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Pregnant?” Close your mouth, Salem.

  “About four months, from what I understand.”

  “Two people were killed,” Viv said. She flattened her lips.

  Sylvia nodded slowly. “Exactly. Tragic.”

  My mind spun while I tried to find a cubbyhole in my head to put everything. Tony – the Tony I’d seen yesterday, older and more mature, steady and rock sure in the face of a murder charge, his hysterical mother and his ex-wife showing up after almost a decade – becoming “fond” of the beautiful, wide-smiling Lucinda. Lucinda, who carried a baby.

  The question was out of my mouth before I could decide if it was really in my best interest to know. “Was it Tony’s baby?”

  “Oh, no, she was in Mexico then. That’s why she came up here, because she wanted a place to raise her baby. Her mother called Josie, and Josie spoke to Tony, and he offered her a job and a place to stay.”

  I wiped my hands on my legs. “Sylvia, do you think that’s what happened? That he was in love with her or something? That he was jealous and lost his temper?” As far as I could remember, Tony didn’t have a temper.

  That’s what bothered me, I realized. The idea that Tony could have been so hurt that he’d fly into a jealous rage and actually commit a crime of passion. He hadn’t lifted a finger to keep me – his wife, the girl he’d committed to being with for life – from walking out. There were no violent fits of rage, not so much as a stomped foot.

  Not that I had wanted Tony to stop me from leaving, but it hurt my ego. Was I choosing to be blind to the possibility that Tony could be passionate, simply because he hadn’t been passionate with me?

  “Sweetie, I just don’t know. I know the police wouldn’t charge him unless they had some reason to suspect him. But I also know that if he’s innocent, he’ll be okay.”

  Tango pushed his cold wet nose under my hand. Don’t get me wrong, I like dogs or I wouldn’t hang around them so much. But sometimes I really don’t want a cold wet nose sliming around my skin. I scratched his curly ears and he thumped the chair beside me. “I hope you’re right. What about the baby’s father?”

  “Who?” Sylvia raised penciled-on eyebrows.

  “Lucinda’s baby’s father. Is he back in Mexico?”

  Sylvia took a long drink of her tea. “I have no idea. I doubt she knew where he is or even who he was.”

  I cast a quick glance over at Viv. Whatever Sylvia said about barely knowing Lucinda, obviously there was no love
lost there.

  “You didn’t like her,” Viv said. Subtle as a ton of bricks.

  “I didn’t know her. I don’t really know what she was like. I just know what I hear and what I see and I’m smart enough to figure out the rest.” Sylvia shifted in her chair.

  “If she was the type of person to run around and be wild, then she was likely to have enemies.” I should know. I was as wild as they came and probably a couple dozen people would have been happy to strangle me at some point.

  My mind did a quick flash on Trisha and Scott. If something gruesome ever happened to me, I was sure Trisha’s name would turn up on a list of possible suspects.

  “We need to make a list of known associates,” Viv said, apparently following my same train of thought and throwing in some lingo she’d picked up from CSI Miami. “If the police have focused in on Tony so soon, it’s possible they’ve ruled out someone else who needs to be looked at more closely.”

  Sylvia stood and patted my shoulder. I got the feeling that meant it was time for me to go. “You’re so sweet to want to help Tony. I’m sure he’ll be very touched by it. But I honestly don’t know what you could do. Lucinda had only been here a few months, she didn’t have many friends here. Good luck, Salem. I hope you find something to help Tony.”

  “You said Tony had offered her a place to stay. Was it with him?” Quit praying for a negative answer.

  Sylvia shrugged. “She stayed with me, actually. I let her use Rey’s old room.”

  “You said you barely knew her.” Viv crossed her arms over her chest.

  Sylvia gave her a stony look and I wondered briefly if I ought to throw myself between them. Man, two near catfights in the space of an hour. Viv rubbed some people the wrong way.

  I waited, though, to see what Sylvia would say. She took her time answering, and when she did she stared straight at me and spoke slowly. I was suddenly reminded that she was Mrs. Solis’s sister. The resemblance was pretty definite in that moment.

  “She stayed with me in my extra bedroom. She was quiet and kept mostly to herself. She went to work and she hung out with a few friends and she came home. I appreciate that you want to help Tony, but I don’t see how interrogating his family is going to do him any good.”

  I squeezed Sylvia’s arm. “I’m sorry if we’re getting intrusive. Like you said, we just want to help. Forgive us for being nosy.” I narrowed my eyes at Viv, but it was mostly for Sylvia’s benefit.

  It was just as well, since it was totally lost on Viv. She continued to size Sylvia up like maybe she’d killed Lucinda and framed Tony for it.

  “I’ve got to hit the restroom and then we’ll get out of your hair.” I stood and turned to Viv, handing Stump over to her. “You and Stump can wait in the car.”

  Viv started for the door, and Sylvia pointed to a closed door next to her office. I turned that direction, and she said, “No, not that one, that goes down to the basement. The next door.”

  I scrubbed the dog saliva off my hands and wondered if Sylvia was testy because she had something to hide, or if Viv was just getting on her nerves. I had been a little intimidated by Viv when I first met her, too. She was one of those people who just looked like they have a lot of money.

  I could see how that would rub some people the wrong way, like G-Ma, who’s unceasingly vigilant against anyone who might think they’re better than she is. And maybe Sylvia too?

  Or else Sylvia knew more than she was sharing. And while I could understand why she might think it a waste of time to indulge Viv and me in our quest to free Tony, where was the harm?

  There was one shred of paper towel on the roll and it wasn’t nearly enough. I opened the cabinet under the sink and rummaged around, my nose filling with a vaguely familiar scent. I knocked over a green cologne bottle and wrinkled my nose as I righted it. Polo by Ralph Lauren. Hello, twelfth grade. Sylvia’s son Rey used to take a bath in Polo every morning before school. You could get high just standing near him.

  I found a roll of paper towels and opened it, putting it on the holder in the hopes that the small gesture would undo any damage our questions had done to my relationship with Sylvia. I didn’t want to alienate her. She was my only friendly link to Tony and besides, irritating or not, Tango got me a ten dollar tip every three weeks. I couldn’t afford to make Sylvia mad.

  “How is Rey?” I asked when I came out. I sidestepped Tango and reached for the door.

  Sylvia was folding towels at a table, and she finished and patted the fabric smooth before she answered. “He’s okay. He’s coming in tonight for Lucinda’s funeral.”

  “Tell him I said hi.”

  “I will, sweetie.” She reached into her smock pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. It looked like it had been torn off the back of an envelope. “This is Tony’s information. His home and business addresses, phone numbers. You should call him.”

  Was it my imagination that she emphasized the word him? Like, “Call him instead of bugging me.”

  I wasn’t really comfortable with that. It went against every fiber of my passive-aggressive being.

  “Thanks. I’ll do that.”

  I joined Viv in the car and sighed as I fastened my seatbelt. Thinking about Rey kind of put me in a bad mood – the slimy creep.

  Viv put the car in reverse. “She’s hiding something.”

  “I know.” I told her about Rey and the bottle of cologne I’d found in the bathroom. “I’d bet my car that was a fairly new bottle of cologne. I don’t think it was eight or nine months old. But she said it had been that long since she’s seen Rey.”

  “So it was Rey who killed that girl and her baby!” Viv slapped the steering wheel.

  Okay, so apparently it was up to me to play Devil’s Advocate. “I’m not saying it was Rey. I’m just saying that Sylvia seemed to be hiding something, and I think the something she’s hiding has to do with Rey. I suppose the cologne could be that old. Or it might not even be Rey’s, it could be someone else’s.”

  But whatever I had that passed for intuition kept snagging on Rey. Probably it was just me wanting Rey to be guilty because he was such a disgusting jerk. When Tony and I were married, he’d come over to our little house one day while Tony was at school and tried to get me into bed, into Tony’s and my marriage bed, and with me five months pregnant.

  I’d been scared and furious at the same time, because Rey was a lot bigger than I was, and the look in his eye had me wondering if he was going to take no for an answer. I yelled at him and called him a slimeball, and wanted to know what kind of person would try to get into bed with their cousin’s wife.

  “Come on, Salem. Everybody knows there’s no way you’re not going to screw around on Tony. You are you, after all. I think the whole family would be relieved if it was me you were with, because at least that would keep you from rolling around with half the guys in town.”

  Something in his tone or the look in his eye spoke volumes to me. What he had said was true. My promiscuity had been discussed at length and in detail, probably by everyone in the county. I was me, after all. How could I possibly be faithful?

  Ten years later I was still somewhat satisfied to remember that I’d clocked Rey right in that smug smile and split his lip. He had come at me with rage in his eyes, and I had run out the front door. He hadn’t followed me far; I had looked back two blocks later and seen him spit blood onto the ground and get into his car, driving off the other way.

  I couldn’t have told Tony, because he would have felt so betrayed by Rey and I couldn’t have borne to be the one to do that to him. In the back of my mind was the knowledge that Rey, creep that he was, had only spoken the truth. No one would ever believe that he’d been the one to come on to me. Rey had been a jerk, but I had been a slut, and that was way worse.

  We were two blocks from the police station when I realized where Viv was going. “Are we sure we need to do this now?”

  “You told him you were coming in, right?”

  Coming in. It sound
ed too close to turned herself in for my comfort. “I don’t think he was serious, though” I said. “I mean, it was more like a suggestion. Probably he would be okay with a phone call. An email.”

  “After we get through here,” Viv said, completely ignoring me and turning into the police department parking lot, “let’s find her friends. Sylvia said she had a few, but she didn’t know who they were. Let’s get some names from this cop of yours and see if we can talk to them.”

  That didn’t seem like a very good idea to me. I mean, finding her friends wasn’t a bad idea, but using the police to find out didn’t seem like our best bet.

  “Maybe we should just talk to Tony. He’d probably know more than the police would, as far as that goes.” I was only marginally more comfortable with the idea of seeing Tony than I was with seeing Bobby.

  “Oh, Tony’s on the list – don’t worry about that. But we might as well not go to him empty-handed, right?”

  “I guess.” I said a quick prayer that Bobby was out on a case or had gone home to bed with a stomach bug. I doubted God would smite Bobby with a stomach bug just to help me avoid an awkward moment.

  I prayed anyway, but as Les was fond of telling me, prayers prayed without faith are basically a lot of hot air.

  I lugged Stump up to the same bicycle rack I’d tied her to before, and she craned her neck around to glare up at me. This time she didn’t bother with the dramatics, she just stared stonily at me, and I could practically see a list of my favorite things that she was planning to shred in retribution.

  Bobby was walking by the reception area and saw us as soon as we came through the door.

  “There she is,” he said.

  “Is that your ex-boyfriend? You’re right, he is a hottie,” Viv stage-whispered.

  Bobby lifted an eyebrow at me.

  “I never said that,” I said quickly. “She’s old and doesn’t hear very well.”

  “You never said which? That I was your boyfriend or that I was a hottie?” He folded arms across a well-muscled chest.

  “I – I, uh…mmmm…” Now see, this was why I didn’t want to see Bobby.