Peggy Dulle - Liza Wilcox 01 - Death Is Clowning Around

by Peggy Dulle

  “Oh, those are my goons. And they did exactly what I told them to do.”

  “Oh. What do you want?”

  “Where did you go today?” Her jaw was tight.

  My heart was pounding so hard, I was sure she could hear it. I took a breath. “In and Out Burger.”

  “Why?”

  “Have you ever eaten there?” I smiled.

  “Yes.”

  “Then you know why. It’s the fries.”

  “Did you make a call while you sat in the parking lot?” Her tone was irritated and angry.

  “Of course.”

  “Who did you call?”

  “My new boyfriend. It’s really hard to talk sweet to him in the lobby of the motel.”

  “Who’s your boyfriend?”

  I thought about lying, but for some reason I knew she already knew the answer. “Tom Owens.”

  “Cop from Gainsville?”

  “Yeah, he’s a sheriff there. He’s kind of a stick-in-the mud. A real square, if you know what I mean. I don’t know if the relationship is going to go anywhere. He likes to be in charge all of the time.” I was rambling and I couldn’t stop. “I don’t like to be controlled by anyone. But he was fun to play with in Gainsville and he’s a great cook. Do you know him?”

  “My husband and I are from Gainsville.”

  “I didn’t know that. When Carl and I talked he told me that his brother was from Gainsville and that he visited there but he didn’t say you both were from there, too. It’s so sad about your niece, Jessie.”

  “Yes.”

  I could tell she was trying to figure me out. Was I telling the truth? Could I be trusted?

  She sat down on the edge of the desk. “Did you hear what happened to Tony?”

  “Yeah, Henry told me that he was coming to see me. Do you know what he wanted?”

  “No.”

  “I checked on the kids, but they seem to be doing okay.”

  She went around and sat down in her chair. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to see you.”

  “What can I do for you?” I leaned forward. My stomach was finally settling down.

  “I need someone to take over the kid’s program. At least until I can hire a new handler for them.”

  “What does it entail beyond what I’m already doing?”

  “Staying with the kids while they do their activities.”

  “That means I can’t go to my own sessions.”

  “It should only be for a day or so. I’m having a child handler sent from one of our other compounds.”

  “I didn’t realize you had more than one camp.”

  “I have four of them. I’d be willing to pay you a thousand a day until the new handler comes.”

  Wow! Pornography must be a profitable business. “I can only do it until the end of the week. That’s when my Spring Break is over and I have to go back to school.”

  She leaned forward. “How about this. I’ll pay you each day and when the new handler comes, I’ll let you finish your two days of the camp.”

  I stuck my hand out. “You’ve got a deal, Beverly.”

  She took it. “Thanks, Liza. I appreciate the help.”

  “I don’t mind, and I could use the money. I’m a teacher, after all. We don’t get paid very well.”

  “No, you don’t. I like you, Liza. I think you and I are going to work well together. We make a good team. If I were you, I’d get rid of your new boyfriend. From what I remember, he’s definitely a control freak and you’re better off without him.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.” I got up. “But he isn’t the type to let me go easily.”

  “Make something up.” She put her arm around me and whispered. “We women are good at that.”

  I smiled. “Yeah. So when do I start?”

  “Now.” She handed me a blue badge.

  “Thanks.” I took the badge and left the room.

  What level is blue? Tony and I had orange. Carl’s badge was green. It looked like I was making my way up the clown chain of command.

  Chapter 17

  As I left the auditorium, I finally breathed a deep sigh of relief. Calling Tom twice a day wasn’t possible. In fact, this evening’s call was going to have to be the last. And since the phone in the lobby is obviously bugged, I needed to end our relationship. That would make Beverly happy and seal our partnership.

  Tom won’t understand. He’ll either be extremely upset with me or he’s going to come up with the whole police force behind him. I needed to find a way to do it without either scenario happening.

  I stopped by the kid’s dorm but they were gone, probably to their afternoon activity. I wandered around the compound looking for the kids. Finally, I followed the screams of delight and found them at the bumper cars. I proudly displayed my new blue badge, nodded my head to Henry and walked over to the other man who’d helped me before with the kids.

  “My name’s Liza and I’m in charge of the kids until they find a replacement.”

  “Great, I’m Dan and I’m really tired of these brats. I need a break. They’re all yours.” He waved and left the area.

  I went over by Henry. He was talking to Matt, the runner, I’d put in charge of the kids a few days ago.

  Henry was bent down eye to eye with Matt. “Well, what do you think, Matt?”

  “I think the kids have had enough of the bumper cars. Can we do something else?”

  “Sure. What do you think they’d like to do?”

  “I’ll go ask them.”

  Henry stood up and Matt went off toward the kids.

  “You still have him in charge.”

  “Oh yeah, he ran away three times before you had us put him in charge. Now he’s a regular sergeant, ordering the kids around, but he sticks close to us and that’s all I care about.”

  “You seem to like the kids.”

  He smiled. “They grow on you.”

  “What about Tony? Did he like the kids?”

  “Oh yeah. I think he liked working with them more than I do.” His smile broadened. “If that’s possible.”

  “Do you have a life outside of clown camp?”

  “Of course. I’m studying to be an actor. I thought that this would look good on my resume.”

  “It probably will.” As long as you don’t get arrested with the rest of them, I thought.

  “Plus I have a great new girlfriend. Her dad was a clown so this is really going to help with her family, too.”

  “Must be rough having a new girlfriend and not being able to talk to her, except for the phones in the hotel lobbies. Or do the employees have phones?”

  “No, but I use my cell phone.” He glanced back toward the kids.

  “Wait.” I put my hand up. “Your cell phone works in this canyon?”

  He chuckled. “As long as I’m standing on a roof, it does.”

  That was good to know. I needed to call Tom and pretend to end our relationship - sound convincing so that the people listening would believe it. It would be great if I could call him back on my cell phone and explain.

  I stood with Henry and we watched the kids. Matt came over a few minutes later. “The kids want to go swimming. Does this place have a pool?”

  “No, but it has a fountain. Will that do?”

  “Yeah, that’s cool. I’ll go and tell them.”

  “What fountain?” I asked after Matt left. “I’ve jogged all over this compound. I haven’t seen a fountain.”

  He laughed. “There isn’t one. But I’ve spent enough time with these kids to know they always hate the first suggestion I make. But I’ve got four boxes of water guns.”

  “Oh, you are good. They’ll love them.” I’d love them too. Electricity and water didn’t go well together. If the cameras got wet, would they short out? “All these kids need a shower, so how about we give them the guns and let them have some fun.”

  “Great idea. A few of them are getting rather ripe. They’ll get clean while they play.”

  “Get
the guns and take them into the dorm showers. Find Dan and have him help you. I’ll bring the kids over in a few minutes.”

  He saluted and grinned. “You got it, Boss.”

  Several minutes later, Matt returned. His face was drawn.

  “They won’t come?” I asked.

  “No, some of them said they didn’t bring their suits. A few others hate the water.”

  “It’s okay.” I used my fingers to whistle. All of the kids turned and looked at me. “Water fight with water guns?”

  Their eyes lit up as they ran toward me. As they got close, I shouted, “Line up!”

  Immediately they made a single file. It’s amazing how quickly they do what you ask when they want too. I led them back to the dorms. As we walked through the door, Henry and Dan handed each child a fully loaded water gun.

  “Hit the showers, kids!” I shouted and they all went running. I took a gun from Henry and followed the boys to their showers. The game was in full swing and water was flying everywhere. I slid around on the floor and pummeled the ‘deodorizers.’ After shooting three of the units, I saw a red light go out, and then another.

  It was time to move on to the girl’s showers. I shot a few boys as I was leaving. By this time I was soaked but I still had a job to do. The girls were almost entirely wet. They’d be stripping down and showering up soon. The red lights were still on in their ‘deodorizers.’ I shot at the girls and the ‘deodorizer,’ falling down on the slippery floors in the process. Soon their red lights went out too. Mission accomplished.

  It was time to get back in control. “Older girls, would you please help the younger one’s cleanup, and then I’ll take them into the dorm and you can shower.”

  I made the same announcement in the boy’s shower.

  Thirty minutes later, everyone was wearing clean clothes and smelling sweet, thanks to vanilla scented shampoo and soap.

  It was too early to take the kids to dinner, so they stayed in the dorm and played. A few watched television, some went back to the videogames I’d seen them playing earlier, and a few even opted for reading a book. It was my opportunity to call Tom.

  “Henry, I’ve got a call to make and need to change into some dry clothes. I’ll be back before dinner.”

  “No problem, Boss.”

  All the way to the phone I juggled scenarios. What would he buy? We’d rushed into a physical relationship I wasn’t ready for? I’d found someone else? I was joining the clowns? I had a dark secret I hadn’t shared with him? I was already married? Maybe a combination of a few of these might do the trick. But knowing Tom it needed to be an elaborate story or he wouldn’t buy it, not one little bit.

  Tina was still sound asleep when I went back to my room. The blanket was on the floor. I picked it up and covered her, again. I could hear the clown chanting on her headphones, so I slid them off.

  I changed into dry clothes, got a diet Coke and a handful of Peanut M & M’s, and went into the lobby. The young woman smiled at me as I came through the door.

  “You’re a blue badge now?” She sounded guarded.

  “Yeah, I got a promotion.”

  “Did you come to use the lobby phone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Would you like to use the phone in the office?”

  Apparently a blue badge came with a certain amount of power and privileges. I liked that. “Sure.”

  She led me into the office. I went over and sat down in a large leather chair. She nodded and closed the door as she left.

  With my feet on the desk, I took a deep breath and dialed Tom’s number. The phone was probably still bugged but at least I was comfortable and everyone in the lobby wasn’t overhearing my conversation.

  “Tom Owens.”

  “Hello Tom.”

  “Another new number?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How’s clown camp?”

  “I’m actually having a good time. They’ve invited me to run the children’s program for a few days.”

  “I thought you wanted a break away from kids?”

  “At a thousand dollars a day, I can make an exception.”

  Tom let out a long sigh. “Wow.”

  “Besides, it’s only until they can bring a person from another camp to watch the kids.”

  “That’s nice.”

  Silence. I waited. I knew he’d ask.

  “What’s the matter, Liza?”

  I drew my mouth in tight and continued. “I’ve been thinking.”

  “About what?”

  “Us.”

  “Happy thoughts?” I’m sure he was smiling. That wouldn’t last long.

  “No, not really.”

  “No?”

  “I feel bad.”

  “Why?”

  “I never told you about Greg.”

  “Who’s Greg?” he asked crisply.

  “The man who walked out on me a few days before we met.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah. I was feeling so bad and you made me feel so good, but it isn’t fair to you. I’m not really over him. I used you and it wasn’t fair.”

  He cleared his throat. “I don’t know what to say, Liza.”

  “Don’t say anything, Tom. Just give me some time.”

  “Will you call me?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Goodbye, Liza.”

  “Goodbye, Tom.”

  I hung up the phone. That went well but it still felt bad, even though I knew I was lying. Now, I needed to undo it. I walked briskly out of the office, waved to the clerk and went to the roof. I quickly dialed Tom’s number.

  “You better be calling me to apologize for that last load of crap you just gave me or I’m coming up there and dragging your ass away from clown camp and locking you in my house.”

  “What do you mean? I thought it sounded very sincere.”

  “It did, and you scared the hell out of me. I was just hoping it was crap and that’s why you were calling back.”

  “Beverly, Carl’s wife, knew your name and that you were a cop. She told me you were a control freak and that I should dump you.”

  “She’s calling me a freak with all the things she’s into? That’s rude.”

  “She’s more than just rude.”

  “I wanted to call her something else, but I was being nice.”

  “Did you find out about Uptown finances?”

  “Wait a minute. Before we get back to clowns and their dirty little secrets, I want a retraction.”

  “I don’t know anyone named Greg. I had a wonderful time with you and I’m looking forward to seeing you again very soon.”

  “Okay, that will do. The finances on the Uptown Clowns looked clean. I have a friend at the FBI and he’s got their technical department digging deeper.”

  “According to Beverly, they have four other facilities.”

  “They’re probably involved in the same activities. I’ll try to find out where they are. Maybe the authorities can hit them all at the same time.”

  “Can you wait until I get out of here?”

  “Let’s hope so. Speaking of that, according to the judge I saw this morning, we need more physical evidence besides your word before he’ll authorize a search warrant for the camps.”

  “There’s already been a murder here. Isn’t that enough?”

  “Except your friend’s death was listed as a suicide. According to the ambulance drivers, they found him in his room. He hung himself and left a suicide note. And to top it all off, his body has already been cremated.”

  “What!” I bellowed. “I saw his body. His throat was cut open and there was blood all over the stairs.”

  “I’m sorry, honey, that’s not what the official report says.”

  “They’re powerful enough to pay off the ambulance drivers and the coroner?” And then it hit me. Did he just call me honey?

  “Yep. I made a call and was told to back off by the local Santa Dominga police. It would be your word against theirs and I’m afraid they carry
more weight.”

  “If they’ve paid off the local police here, do you think they’ve done it where the other camps are located?”

  “Probably. I think I’ll call my FBI friend back.”

  “Tony’s mom thinks he committed suicide, doesn’t she?” I was near tears. I couldn’t imagine what Tony’s mom was going through.

  “Yeah, I suppose so.”

  “Can you call her?” I pleaded.

  “Leave it to you to be more concerned about a stranger than your own skin.”

  “Please, Tom.”

  “I’ll call her.”

  “Thanks. I’ll try to get you the evidence you need for the search warrant.”

  “Only if you can do it without putting yourself in danger.”

  “I’m a blue badge now. I have the power, remember.”

  “Tony was probably a blue badge, too. He’s lost his power.”

  “No, he was only an orange badge. I’m higher than that.”

  “Well, okay blue badge person. Still you need to be careful.”

  “Okay.”

  “How are you doing in your search for Jessie?”

  “I’m not any closer than when I started. But I’m sure these clowns didn’t kidnap her to make her a porn star. They’ve got buses loaded with kids who come every week. They don’t need to kidnap them. It’s got to be personal. Would you look into something for me?”

  “Sure.”

  “Beverly and Carl adopted a child a month after Jessie was kidnapped.”

  “That sounds convenient, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah. I saw pictures of her. She could be Jessie, I suppose. Children change so much over the years. After you get the information about the adoption, would you have them ‘computer age’ Jessie’s picture? I’d like to compare it to Lori, the McGowan’s daughter.”

  “I can do both. When are you going to call me back?”

  “Tomorrow sometime.”

  “Okay, stay safe Liza.”

  “I will.”

  “Goodbye, honey.”

  “Goodbye.” He said it again. I’ve never been called honey by anyone in my life. It sounded weird but nice. Time to get back to the kids and the clowns.

  Chapter 18

  Back at the dorm, the kids were definitely getting restless. It was easy to figure out why – they were getting on each other’s nerves.