There Will Be Fire

by Mark Von Kyling

Parminter was flabbergasted. “But she was supposed to start telling people about us.”

  “Well, that’s between you two, but this restraining order was issued because she says you’re stalking her.”

  Parminter was speechless. Finally, he was able to speak. “Did she have to apply for it? Or can someone else?”

  Robin took a deep breath. “Technically, she does. But you know how this town works.”

  Parminter shook his head.

  Robin grabbed his hand. “John, I hate to tell you that I told you so, but I did. I told you about how you needed to be careful about these people. They can do whatever they want.”

  Parminter nodded. “You can tell that by looking at my head.” Then he told her about his meeting with Fox the previous day.

  Robin exhaled and shook her head. “I just don’t know what to say.”

  “I know. You were right. They’re terrible,” he said.

  She leaned against the door. “I don’t really think that he can do that to Freddy and I. I think it’s just a threat. We’re in the union. It wouldn’t be that simple. I mean, he could make trouble but cops usually stick together. It would take a lot of people sticking their necks out for him to really do anything to us.”

  “I was sort of thinking that, but I didn’t want to bring it up with you unless I had to.”

  She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You should have said something. I might have been able to do something about this.”

  “So there’s something that can be done about the restraining order?”

  “Yes. People get them falsely issued all the time. They do it for spite or whatever. Regardless, it happens. You can probably get it rescinded.”

  “Really?” Parminter felt better about it.

  “But first we need to look at the bigger issue. Why doesn’t this Morris Fox want you around?”

  Parminter exhaled. He couldn’t really think of anything obvious. “That fucking Morris Fox…”

  36

  After Robin left, Parminter was served with the restraining order just as she had said he would. While tempted to dodge it and not answer his door, he went ahead and accepted it. He knew that the sooner he took it, the sooner he could get it rescinded. After the deputy had left, he looked it over. It was indeed genuine and from the appearance of it, it would seem that Nicole herself had requested it. He had to stay one hundred feet from her, not call her, email her, text her or initiate any contact with her in any way whatsoever. If he did so, he would go to jail. He sat down on his couch and mulled over his situation some more and it wasn’t too many minutes before he decided to violate it. He had to find out. He picked up his phone and called Nicole. She answered on the second ring.

  “John,” she said cheerily. “I’m so glad you called. I was wondering what you were going to wear tonight when we went out. I was thinking about wearing this new dress I have, but I thought if you decided to dress casual I would stick out like a sore thumb.”

  “Uh huh,” he said. Either she didn’t know about the restraining order or she was the best actress in the world.

  Then she laughed. “Actually, I was calling because I wanted to strongly hint that you wear something a little more formal tonight so I could wear my dress.”

  “Uh, huh,” he said again.

  “John, what’s wrong?”

  “So, you don’t know?”

  “Don’t know what?” she asked.

  “About the restraining order?”

  “What restraining order?”

  He then went into the details of the restraining order. He explained how her name was on it and that he would go to jail if he saw her again.

  “Oh, no! Oh, no! John! I didn’t do that! There has to be a mistake!” she said.

  “Well, then who did?” Parminter said, already knowing the answer.

  “It has to be Morris.”

  “I thought so,” Parminter said.

  Nicole exhaled. “I wasn’t going to say anything about it, but after we were together yesterday, he called. He said that he has concerns about you and that I need to get as far away from you as possible.”

  “Did you tell him about us?”

  “Yes, I did. He didn’t care. He said that it was an insult to Raoul for me to be seeing someone so soon after his death.” She started crying. “He said that people would think that I was no better than a whore if this ever came out.”

  Parminter just then had a thought. “Does he know about Clement Boatman? Does he know that we were there?”

  “Of course, he does.”

  “Why did you tell him?

  “Clement was his client too. I panicked and called him before we knew what was going to happen. I had to be ready in case someone saw us there.”

  Parminter was dumbfounded. Maybe she wasn’t as strong as he had thought.

  Nicole continued. “He said that being with you was the absolute worst thing I could do to myself, my reputation and his firm at this time.”

  Parminter shook his head. It made sense, the restraining order. But it added a whole new wrinkle to things. It also gave Fox a lot more leverage against him should he find the need to use it. “Then what did he do?”

  “He said that he was going to do something about it.”

  It was Parminter’s turn to exhale. “Well, I guess we know what he did.”

  “I just can’t believe that he would go to those lengths. And to pretend that I was the one who requested it?”

  “He did it to hurt me. So that I would stop calling you.”

  They were silent for a second. “John, you have to believe me. I would never do anything like this to you.”

  Parminter paused then started speaking. “I know. I know you wouldn’t.”

  “Is there anything I can do to make it better?”

  “Robin said that it could be rescinded. She said I could go to court and prove that it was issued falsely but I personally think it would be a lot easier if you went and did it yourself.”

  “Whatever you want, I’ll do, John. You can count on me,” she said.

  “I know.”

  She then took a breath. “I know it’s been tough being with me, but I promise that when all this is over, it’ll be a lot easier. We’ll have fun and we’ll be a regular couple.”

  Parminter laughed. “Nothing in my life is ever normal.”

  He felt a lot better about things after talking to her, but wondered what Fox would do next. He had just started feeling a little more relaxed when his doorbell rang again. After the last two visitors, he was a little nervous about answering it, but figured how bad could it be? On his way to the door, he bumped into an end table and his bad leg almost gave out on him. It just hadn’t been his day so far and when he opened the door, he saw that the trend was continuing.

  “Hey, buddy,” Howie said and walked in the door.

  37

  Parminter was quite surprised when he saw Howie standing there. He was even more surprised when he walked in.

  Lately, whenever he had seen Howie, he always half-expected him to pull out a gun or jump on him and start attacking him. As a result, Parminter braced himself for craziness. He noted that Howie still looked quite disheveled and smelled like he had been gargling with Scotch. His eyes were bloodshot and upon closer inspection it appeared that he had leaves in his hair. Had he been sleeping outdoors? Parminter wasn’t going to ask unless Howie volunteered this information because he knew that any inquiry about Howie’s reduced circumstances could bring about a wild tirade. He just didn’t think he could deal with that now. Not after what had been happening to him.

  After he opened the door, Howie walked into his house and made himself at home. “It really sucks about that restraining order, doesn’t it? I tried to warn you about that bitch, but you wouldn’t listen.”

  Parminter was taken aback. “How do you know about the restraining order?”

  “Ratledge told me.”

  “Ratledge? How the fuck does he know?” Parminter asked. Thi
s situation really was beginning to get confusing.

  “That fucker Fox told him. They’re thick as thieves nowadays.” Howie then plopped down on the couch.

  “That figures,” Parminter said bitterly. Was the whole world against him? He then looked at his clock. It was a little past twelve o’clock. Then he looked at his liquor cabinet. Fuck it, he thought. “Do you want a drink?”

  “Do you even have to ask?” Howie said.

  Parminter poured them both a whiskey. Howie drank his immediately and Parminter poured him another. Then he remembered the sandwich that he had been making when he had first heard from Robin. “Do you want something to eat?”

  “Sure,” Howie said. “That is, if it’s not any trouble.”

  Parminter went into the kitchen and made them some sandwiches to go with their drinks. Howie ate with relish, as though this was the first thing he had eaten in days. Parminter noticed that as he ate Howie truly did look crazy. Like an animal that have been rescued after being tied up and left to starve. And once he started talking, Howie did nothing to dispel this impression.

  “You know, you should have listened to me, John. You had it coming, you know?”

  “What do you mean?” Parminter asked uneasily.

  “Fucking her. You should have known that her and that rat, Fox, were going to try to screw you.”

  Parminter hesitated for a second. “I wasn’t fucking her. I thought you said you were just saying that to irritate me. ”

  Howie snorted. “I was lying. Everybody knows about it. Ratledge sure did.”

  Parminter shook his head. “How the fuck does Ratledge figure into this?”

  Howie shrugged. “He’s just a bottom feeder. He’s trying to get a piece of Raoul’s business. He’s been to lunch with Fox a lot so he hears shit.”

  “Well, he heard wrong about me and Nicole.”

  Howie shrugged. “Whatever.”

  “Is he in with Abercrombie?” Parminter asked.

  “How the hell should I know. You’ll have to ask him,” Howie said and burped.

  Parminter gave up. This was getting him nowhere.

  Howie finished his glass again. This time he went up to Parminter’s liquor cabinet himself. “Do you want another?” he asked Parminter.

  “Sure,” Parminter said. “What the hell?” He thought it a bit forward for Howie to make himself so comfortable in his house, but didn’t say anything.

  After Howie had poured them another drink, he came over and sat down again.

  “You know what we need to do? We need to teach that bitch a lesson.”

  “C’mon, Howie, don’t talk like that.”

  “No, I’m serious. She and that fucker Fox are going to steal my money. They’re ruined me and now they’ve ruined you, too. I know just the thing for her. She needs to learn her fucking place.”

  At that, Parminter became very uncomfortable.

  Howie continued. “Look, buddy, I don’t blame you for fucking her. She’s a hot little piece. Who wouldn’t? You just need to wake up and remember who your friends are.”

  Parminter didn’t say anything. He wasn’t about to implicate himself unnecessarily.

  Howie then leaned in and grinned. “You all thought I was just joking the other night when I was talking about getting her back, but I wasn’t. I’m serious. A bitch like that needs to know that she just can’t fuck with a man’s life the way she has.”

  Parminter remained silent. He was contemplating throwing Howie out, but was curious about just where this was going.

  “I would think that you would be behind me on this.”

  “I just don’t think it’s a good idea, Howie. It’s not her fault. She’s going to get the restraining order rescinded. It’s Fox that’s the problem. Not her. “

  At this Howie started laughing. “Whatever, John. Keep fooling yourself.”

  Parminter was tempted to punch him at this point, but held his temper.

  Howie then leaned over to him. “Look, John, you don’t have to do anything but give me your blessing. I mean, I don’t need it, but it would be nice to know that you’re behind me on this.”

  “I’m sorry, Howie, I can’t do this. You need to rethink this. You could really fuck things up. She’s just a woman who’s lost her husband. You need to back off.”

  “Sure, whatever,” Howie said a little angrily. “But what about Fox? Are you going to say he’s a victim, too?”

  “No, he’s a bastard. I just don’t think you need to do anything. You could really mess your life up.”

  “Like that hasn’t happened already?”

  They sat in silence for a few minutes.

  “Okay, John. I’ll let it go. But when the estate is settled and I get nothing, all bets are off.”

  * * * * *

  A few hours later, Howie had finally drunk all of Parminter’s liquor. He then staggered out the door and down the street, presumably to Ratledge’s since Parminter didn’t see his car parked anywhere outside. Parminter needed a breath of fresh air so he decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. He closed his door and began walking. His head wasn’t hurting and his leg felt fine so he meandered on the walking trail down the street and all over the immediate neighborhood. He wasn’t even thinking at this point because the complication that his life had become was just too overwhelming.

  After a while, he decided to sit on a picnic table in the common area. Some kids were playing frisbie with a dog and he just took in the fresh air and sunshine. He looked at his watch and realized that he needed to call Nicole to see if she had been able to get the restraining order fixed. He felt for his phone. He had left it at his house. He was just beginning to get up when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

  “Mr. Parminter?”

  Parminter whipped around. “What?”

  “Hello, my name is Paul Ramos and I would like to talk to you.”

  Parminter was immediately on guard. It was him. The guy in the Mercedes. The guy whose picture he had been carrying around in his cell phone.

  “Why?”

  “If you let me sit down with you, I’ll explain.”

  38

  “I think there are a few things that you ought to know,” Paul Ramos said as he sat down. He lit a cigarette. “I would offer you one, but I know that you’ve quit several times already so I don’t want to tempt you.”

  Parminter nodded. He looked across the table at Ramos. The guy was probably around fifty. He was wearing an ill-fitting suit which didn’t really give much indication to his standing in the world because from the looks of it, it was a fairly old one. It looked expensive, or at least had been at one point. Now, however, it was a little worn out and appeared to be in need of dry cleaning. He took a breath. “I would like to know why you’ve been watching me,” he said.

  Ramos laughed. “That’s a good one. Well, the answer is that I haven’t been watching you.”

  “So why do I keep seeing your car everywhere I look.”

  Ramos laughed again. “First of all, let me explain what I’m doing here.”

  “I know. You’re a private investigator.”

  “Sort of.”

  “Sort of?”

  “More specifically, I’m a private investigator who deals with suspicious fires. I mainly work for insurance companies and fire departments.”

  Parminter was a little surprised. “So you’re investigating Howie? Do you think had something to do with the fire that killed Raoul? If you do, then that’s ridiculous. Because if anyone had anything to do with the fire it was Charles Abercrombie.”

  Ramos stubbed out his cigarette. “Well, he is the most obvious suspect.”

  “So the fire was deliberately set? I thought it was an accident.”

  “Well, it wasn’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Ramos looked around and seemed to get momentarily distracted by some kids kicking a soccer ball. Then he turned back to Parminter. “How well do you know these people?”

  “Well..
.I went to school with some of them.”

  Ramos shook his head. “I know that. But how well do you really know them? The people they’ve become?”

  “I don’t know. I mean, I knew Raoul through Howie. So, not really, but about as much as anybody knows slight acquaintances. And I don’t know Abercrombie at all.”

  At this Ramos took out his card and began writing down something. He pushed it over to Parminter.

  “Here. Call this number and you’ll find out everything you need to know.”

  Parminter looked at the card puzzledly.

  “Call it.”

  Parminter shook his head. “So you think…?” he said at last.

  Ramos laughed again. “I’m not saying anything. I just want you to come to your own conclusions. The truth has been right in front of you ever since you first looked at the house.”

  Parminter still looked a little confused.

  Ramos sighed. “Just take my advice and start talking to the right people. After that, you can form your own opinions.”

  “Okay. But…?”

  “Listen, I’m not telling you anything else. Besides, it wouldn’t be ethical for me to discuss the details of the case.”

  “I just can’t believe this.”

  Ramos looked at him like he was the stupidest man on earth. “You can believe whatever you want. Just call the number. If what everything checks out, then fine. If not, then at least you know. It is only to your benefit to call it.”

  “Why are you talking to me then? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell what I find out?”

  “You won’t. You’re not stupid. You know that this isn’t what it appears.”

  Parminter was silent. Ramos was right. He wasn’t going to say anything until he found out more.

  Ramos sighed again and distractedly watched the kids playing soccer. “Do you believe in karma?”

  Parminter shook his head. He had seen too many people do too many bad things only to prosper. He could no longer count himself as a believer.

  “Well, I do. I think that if I do have the power to do something good for someone, I need to do it. I might need someone to do something for me sometime, you understand.”