I flinched at the pain in my shoulder but looked up at Justice. He glanced back and forth between me and Fifi . I had seen that look before on Mom's face. He's not buying a word. Please don't ask any more questions, I pleaded telepathically.
Justice cleared his throat. Apparently, he didn't accept incoming calls. Okay, then. Fine.
Change the subject.
"So tell me, Detective, what brings you here again?" My words trailed off. Auh breeze! Sheesh, me and my big mouth.
Andreas hadn't known the police were here the first time. Until now, that is.
"Again?" Andreas slipped his hands under the flaps of his suit jacket and into his pockets.
If I started telling him everything, how could he see me as anything but a liability? Lie number two had just about finished brewing. I hoped Justice would play along. "Yes, the detective was here—"
The familiar prickle pulled at my nose. I sneezed into my arm. Good save. That got me out of the subject.
The front door opened and the two technicians from Brinks stepped into the store loaded down with their toolboxes and electronic equipment. The shorter of the two men set his toolbox on the floor and slid a coil of wire labeled Romex from his shoulder and onto the box. The taller and wider of the two approached the counter.
"All done, ma'am. The new system is installed. It's the same as in here, so I left you a refresher book on setting the codes. Here are two sets of keys for the new locks." He slid the key rings across the counter to Fifi .
"Thank you." Fifi plucked the keys from the counter and tossed them on the desk. Both slid toward the back edge of the smooth surface, tinkling as they tapped my mug and then the key tray.
"New locks and the police?" Andreas eyed the men in Brinks Security uniforms as they left. His gaze alternated between me and Justice. "Did you have a robbery or something?"
Aha! Relief washed over me as I rose from the chair. "I had an additional security system and locks installed upstairs today. Just precautionary after Verlene's fiasco."
I needed Justice to take my cue and stick to that subject. I turned to him. "But I'm confident that this busy detective was about to tell us some new development in Verlene's robbery."
Please, please stick to the script. "And thank you for getting us help in Egypt."
I hoped that the babbling would cover up my earlier gaffe, and that Justice was not here with any info on the rat.
He hesitated for a second then looked directly at me. "You're welcome." His eyes softened. What was that about? He continued. "I came to relay a development in your Aunt Verlene's case, like I promised."
Heavy sigh. Thank you, Lord.
Andreas moved forward. "What happened to Verlene?"
"You were in and out of here so fast yesterday, that I didn't get a chance to tell you. She was robbed at home, at gunpoint, the day before yesterday."
"Is she all right?"
"Yes, she's mostly just annoyed that she wasn't more careful with locking the front door." He was so sweet to care about Verlene! He barely knew her.
"Is that why you are changing your locks?" Andreas looked genuinely concerned.
No, not exactly, but . . . hmm. Did it count as a lie if you didn't actually say it? "I was nervous that my security was not up to par." That was a true statement.
Andreas put his hand on my shoulder. The pain in my neck muscle shot up through my head and I reflexively scrunched my neck, relieving my shoulder of his hand.
He stared. Great. Now he thinks I don't want him touching me.
Justice stared. There's an odd look on his face that I can't decipher.
Fifi stared. Girlfriend, if you say a word to either of them we are going to throw down.
I glanced at each of them in turn. "What? I want to sit down." I reached for the chair and slid onto it. "So what development do you have, Detective?"
"There were two hits in Bed-Stuy at local bookstores."
"So then you have them. Or at least you know who they are?"
"No, unfortunately, neither owner was interested in antique books so they didn't get their contact info." Justice pulled a folded sheet of paper from his inside breast pocket and unfolded it. "But both of them later received this flyer that the patrols were handing out, and that's why we got the calls."
I accepted the flyer and scanned the details. Somehow they had even come up with a pretty close facsimile picture of the book. "Yeah, I wouldn't expect them to be stupid enough to leave their names and numbers anyhow. I mostly just prayed for a takedown."
"Well, the flyers have been distributed in Bed-Stuy. All we can do is hope."
"But we didn't get any here in Fort Greene. Or at least I didn't."
Justice slid one hand into his pants pocket. "We started on their home turf first. We figured they'd be more comfortable trying to fence it that way. Besides, there are only two stores in the Greene that would buy antique books. I'm visiting them after I leave here."
"Then including me, that's three."
"Including you what?"
"I buy and sell antique books here." Justice lowered his head and raised his eyes. "Very interesting. I wasn't aware of that. You stay out of this, and call me if there's even a hint of trouble."
He looked so serious that I couldn't resist. "Aye, aye, Sir!" I signed off on "sir" with a quick salute.
Andreas drilled dagger looks into Justice. I felt the urge to explain . . . something . . . anything. "Detective Justice is being so nice to us because he is the partner of Verlene's friend, Detective Derby Weller."
Andreas remained tight-lipped, not acknowledging the explanation.
Justice gave a flatlined smile to Andreas and nodded to me and Fifi . "I must be going. Please keep me informed." He started to walk away but turned back. "And please stay out of trouble. No more confronting criminals." He turned to the door and left.
Well, thanks for nothing, buddy. I could feel Andreas's eyes on me. Here it comes . . .
Andreas looked me. "Confronting criminals? What criminals?" He glanced at his watch.
I winced.
He didn't miss a beat. I could tell he was in a hurry. The watch thing always gave him away. If I could stall long enough, he'd go back to work.
"Sloane!"
I jumped. "Okay. We just happened to run into some women at the beauty salon."
He looked at his watch again.
"I had my hair done there. Hey, you haven't said anything about my new hairstyle. I think it's really chic and for my age I think that I carry it off well." Now that I thought of it I was sorta miffed that he hadn't commented on it yet.
"Listen, I'm late for an appointment."
I smiled. It had worked. Safe for now.
At the door, Andreas turned and pointed his finger at me. "I want a full accounting of this situation when I return. I'll be back in a couple hours, and you'd better be ready with the rest of the explanation." Andreas breezed out the door.
But hold up! Excuse me? What was all that "I want a full accounting or else" attitude about? I frowned. What had I become? A wayward child? Come to think of it, I wouldn't even let my own daddy, God rest his soul, speak to me like that. Why was life conspiring against me today?
32
BUSINESS WAS SLOW THIS WEEK. IT WAS HOT WITH EXTREME HUMIDITY AND everyone preferred the beach to staying in town. Even Barbara had left for the day. I wonder where she went because she usually acted as though this was her only place to go. I had never asked her again where she was living. I was afraid that the answer would be her car. I didn't want the responsibility once I knew she didn't have a home. Why did I always feel responsible for other people's welfare?
I absently glanced up as I thought.
Fifi stared at me, arms crossed.
Her rigid Gestapo stance caught my attention. "What?"
"I can't believe how you get away with this stuff." She shook her head and almost bent over laughing. "You double-talked both of them and I don't think either of them caught on."
&
nbsp; I tipped my head. "I dunno. I think Justice was on to me, but Andreas is pretty easy. He's always distracted by his practice." I chuckled. "If I didn't know better, sometimes I'd think he doesn't care!"
Fifi scrunched up her nose. For a blooming second I thought the rat had returned. "Yeah, right." Her face straightened.
"You heard from Verlene today, sugah? She's usually 'round here long before now."
"Come to think of it, I haven't. I should check in, just in case she's worked her way into more trouble."
Fifi picked up a stack of books and headed toward the non- fiction section.
My chest tightened. I'd been so self-absorbed with my own problems that I hadn't even noticed her absence. I should have. Time had just gotten away from me. I reached for the phone and dialed with shaking hands.
One ring, two rings . . . where is she?
My throat started to close.
Three rings.
Verlene picked up on the fourth ring.
"Where have you been?" I was close to shouting. Well, okay, it was probably closer to the eighty decibels of a garbage disposal, but at least I was trying to remain calm.
There was a moment of silence.
Verlene cleared her throat. "Sloane, are you all right, honey?"
"Of course, I'm all right. But I need to know that you're safe." It suddenly occurred to me that if she saw the condition of my face at this moment, there'd be a whole 'nother conversation going on and it would be my feet to the fire.
She chuckled. "I got robbed, honey, not beat up."
That hit a nerve.
"What are you doing today?" I was careful not to invite her over. It would take a few days to cover these bruises. Unless I was ready to lie some more. God, I really need to repent to you. I know you have a lot to say about my behavior lately.
"Honey, I'm creating a gourmet recipe for deep-frying a turkey."
"A turkey?" Good grief! That happens in one of those big cookers. Ack! "Verlene . . . is that why you bought all of that cooking oil?"
"Yes, my darlin', it is. Now I have to get back to the cooker. My oil is heating."
"Verlene, where do you have that cooker?" Please don't let her say it's in the house.
"It's in the backyard. Gotta run. Luv ya, honey."
"Verlene!" The phone disconnected.
I rested my chin in the palm of my upturned hand as I leaned on the desk. I need to go see what she's up to, but I can't go looking like this. I huffed and ran my hand across my forehead. She's going to burn down her house. And then I'm going to have her living with me. I know it, sure as shootin'. Ugh.
Fifi walked back to the desk.
Speaking of shooting . . . "How often do you go to that shooting range?"
"It costs money for every visit, so we only go there once a week. Why?"
I leaned back in the chair. "I was thinking that I need more practice."
Fifi smiled. "Well, I never thought I'd ever hear you say that, sugah. What brought about this change of heart?"
I shrugged, remembering last night. "I need to learn not to close my eyes."
Fifi burst out laughing. "I could say that should be a necessary requirement, but you didn't do too bad last night."
I put my hand up to my mouth, and closed my eyes. "I should be saying that I can't believe it has come to this, but I do believe it. The strangest part is that I feel . . . well, calm."
I had probably been knocked senseless last night. No brain, no pain. No sense, no feeling.
I slapped my pocket. "It doesn't even feel strange to have this gun with me. That should bother me, but it doesn't."
Fifi smirked.
The front bell jingled.
We both looked up at the same time. Two thug-types bebopped into the store, dressed in standard street attire. Homeboy jeans, slung so low that their jockey shorts stuck out the top by about five inches, and pure white wife-beater T-shirts. One wore a white nylon Windbreaker and a sideways ball cap. It amazed me how such miscreants could wear white clothes and never have a spot on them. When I wore anything white, grime jumped on me as I walked by things like I was a dirt magnet.
The one wearing a sideways ball cap with a flat duckbill brim sidled up to the counter. "Yo, Mama, how's it shakin'?"
Fifi suppressed a snort of laughter and turned her back to the counter. She knew how I felt about disrespectful kids.
I narrowed both eyes into slits and rested my hands on the counter. "I am not your mama, and whatever I have shaking is none of your business." Please don't tell me that this little kid had seen my big Jell-O backside walking down the street.
The other one smiled, displaying a gold-plated front tooth. "Chill. Dial it back, woman, before I feel the need to bounce."
I was just about to reach out and touch someone when he reached inside the Windbreaker and pulled out a paper bag.
My hands came off the counter and I backed up, bumping into Fifi . She looked up at me, noticed my big eyes, and turned to face the counter.
"My uncle passed away this week and he left this to my moms, and she's lookin' to sell it." As he talked, he removed a package from the bag.
My heart began to pound. I recognized the wrapping. It was Verlene's book.
I watched his hands unwrap the package.
I glanced at Fifi . She raised an eyebrow. I did a slight nod. My heart thumped against my ribs so hard that I was sure these guys could hear it.
Lightning-fast thoughts raced through my mind. No time to call Justice. No time to call for an RMP. These two would be gone before a motor patrol made it here.
"So?" He glared defiantly. "Your sign says you buy books. Do you want to buy this book?"
I swallowed hard, full of indecision. "What are you asking for it?" I needed a stall, and time to think.
The two guys acted like they had hit pay dirt. Broad grins and fist bumps. Ball cap hitched himself up by the pants and rolled his shoulders as though he were a winning prizefighter.
"We heard that it's worth a lot of money," said Gold Tooth.
"Yeah, boo-coo bucks," crooned Ball Cap.
Gold Tooth laid it on the counter in front of me. Neither of these kids were from Fort Greene. Or at least I didn't recognize them, and I knew most of the grown-ups in the neighborhood, and their kids, whether it was just by sight or an acquaintance.
They must hear my heart pounding. I constricted my ribcage trying to make my heart stop the drum roll. I looked at Fifi. She directed her glance down to my side and then back to my eyes. I understood.
I heard the imperceptible tinkle of Fifi's bracelet. Almost in unison, we pulled our guns, and aimed at the would-be felons. Both of them jumped back from the counter.
Fifi's presence bolstered my courage. My hands held steady on my weapon but my elbows were doing a rock 'n' roll. My lungs pushed out breath so hard I could feel the warmth on my upper lip.
Gold Tooth reached for his jean pocket. His eyes held a glint of danger.
"Don't do it," said Fifi . "I'll blow your hand off, sugah."
His fingers flicked, but he didn't take his hand away. He lowered his head so that his deep-set eyes peered out from the cover of his eyebrows.
"I'll give you to three," she said, calm and collected as could be. From the corner of my eye, I saw her plant her feet.
I stanced, as well, and froze my face into a stern expression, mindful that my face hurt so intensely at the moment that even trying to smile would only produce an even nastier grimace.
His glance traded between the two of us. He stared into Fifi's eyes but still didn't move his hand. His left eyelid twitched.
"One . . . two . . . two and a half . . ."
He lowered his hand. I guess he believed her. I would have too.
"The price of this book is probably going to be free, since you stole it," I said, feeling braver every second.
"Yo, we didn't steal nuttin'," said Gold Tooth. A bead of sweat formed on his upper lip below his nose. He sucked in and pushed out his lips
a couple times.
"So then you just borrowed it to sell. Is that it, sugah?" Fifi glared.
"Yeah, that's how it was." Ball Cap grinned. His feet moved, but he wasn't going anywhere. Gold Tooth backhanded him across the chest with his fist.
I tensed. We had this tiger by the tail, but what were we to do with it now? This was not a well-thought-out plan.
Fifi slowly pulled the book out of their reach. Windbreaker guy tried to beat her to it but wound up with his nose only inches from the barrel of her .38. "Don't make me ventilate your face, sugah."
He backed up.
Suddenly they jerked and bolted for the door.
We let them go.
My mouth dropped open and I turned to Fifi. The words came out as a whisper. "Did we just do that?"
She nodded several times, her eyes wide with surprise.
"We really just did that?" I was bouncing from foot to foot and hyperventilating.
She nodded again and grinned.
I screamed and stomped my feet. "We really did that!"
I am woman! thoughts raced through my head.
Fifi wrapped her arms around me, one hand still clutching the book. We laughed until we cried. My tears washed away the sheer terror I had felt. We plopped into desk chairs and stared at the book in her hands.
Fifi raised her eyes, her voice raspy with surprise. "Don't that beat all? We just robbed the thieves." She shook her head slowly. "Well, I never."
"Me either." I perked up. "Auh, breeze! We have to call Griffen Justice. He needs to know that they're in Fort Greene."
Fifi's voice rose an octave and she clucked her tongue. "They won't be in the Greene any longer than they can possibly manage. They may be clear over to Jersey by now."
We roared peals of laughter.
I slipped the gun into my pocket. It no longer felt foreign. It felt comfortable. Like a friend. "When that one character reached for his pocket I thought he was going for a gun."
"Those thugs were only wannabe gangsters. They didn't have any guns or they would have pulled them when we first drew down on them."
I looked at Fifi with a new level of respect. "How do you know that?"
"Me and your ma have been in the business long enough to know which thugs are packin' heat, and which we could just run outta here. That's why I pulled the book out of their reach. You saw the one with the Windbreaker try to grab it. That's when I was sure they didn't have weapons."
Cooking the Books: A Sloane Templeton Novel (2012) Page 20
