by Kieran York
The three of us simultaneously grinned. “Rach,” I joked, “she’s been miserable without you. We’ve missed you, too.”
“Me, too,” Rachel said as her eyes teared. “I didn’t figure I’d ever see this good ship again. And Pluma,” she added.
That set Pluma off. She was officially back to her old self. She jabbered, “Pendejo. Puta, puta, puta,” she screeched. “F-ing crackers!”
Rach neared the cage. “I’ve missed you, Pluma. With your cursing, your caterwauling, and all your outrageous behavior. I’ve missed you.” Pluma was out of her corner, and sticking her beak between the bars to touch the love of her life – Rachel.
“We’ve always eluded death,” I spoke softly. “This time it was a faceoff between us and mortality. Our Team. We only do what we do because we’re together.”
Rachel beamed. “I promised Hanna I would rest.” She made her way to her stateroom. Summer and I followed after her. On a high standing tray, we had set up her phone, computer, and any office files in which she might find pertinent case information. She laughed. “Great, you two fixed up a little satellite office for me. I’ll do my research and searches from here.”
She sat on the bed, leaning back against the wedge and pillows. “Rach, don’t overdo,” I cautioned.
Rachel teased, “I know Hanna is pretty opinionated, authoritative, and…bossy. But don’t be afraid of her. I’ll handle her.”
“Sure, you will,” I joked. “Okay, I’ve got to get my day’s schedule planned.”
Summer scanned her list. “I thought I’d take a float down around the area behind Perrault’s Mansion. Tom claims all the security film has been collected, and it shows only a very dark area, with a small unidentifiable boat. No enhancements for additional identification.”
I went back to the office, to check out which part of the list to begin first. I wanted to drop by Perrault Cosmetics. I would be looking for Glenda, Ross, and certainly Curtis Rhodes. Where was Doc Curtis spending his money?
My phone rang, disturbing my agenda. The voice on the other end was panicked. “Beryl, it’s Evan. Please come quickly. To my apartment. Now.”
“What’s wrong?” I rushed to the doorway.
“A bomb,” she answered.
“I’m on my way.”
I shouted to Summer, “Emergency!”
“What’s up?” she’d heard the distress in my voice.
“Summer, it was Evan. There’s a bomb. We’ve got to get over there to her apartment.”
“Her apartment?”
“Yes. I’ll meet you there.”
Rachel called out, “I’ll get authorities. Let me know when you get there.”
I ran to my car, and Summer had already started her motorcycle. She’d reached the main road before I had. When we’d crossed the bridge to West Palm, we went different way. On cycle, there were ways of taking shortcuts.
As I arrived in the parking lot of Evan’s apartment building, I spied billows of smoke and flame from her burning Jeep. Evan was leaning against an unmarked vehicle. I could tell she had cuts and abrasions. There was the undercover guard next to her. Two squad cars were just arriving. I heard the sirens, obviously, the bomb units and fire department were also heading to the area. Follow the smoke, fellas, I thought. The plume of petrol fueled smoke was over twenty feet high.
As I reached her side, the ambulance arrived.
“Are you okay?” I questioned.
“Fine. I moved away from the Jeep quickly enough.” Her hand reached for my arm. I could feel her trembling. Stark fear covered her face.
“What happened?” the inquiry stuck in my throat.
“I came outside, started to get into the Jeep, I looked down at the ignition through the door’s window. There was a small crack between the key casing. I hadn’t noticed it there before. I’d only had the door open a couple inches. I quickly shut the door. As I backed up, I heard something – a wispy flash. I began to take a dive. That was when the bomb when off. It threw me several feet. My wounds are from falling on the ground.”
Looking at the inside of the car, as the fire was being doused, I saw the entire interior was burned. A cinder, I thought. “My God, you would have been killed.” I held her to me.
“Beryl, I was thinking that yesterday you said I should be observant, and cautious. Another few moments and the wires that were connected to the ignition would have detonated it. I’m lucky that my police shadow had arrived.”
I smiled, “You’re lucky you and your tail didn’t get blown away. Your guard was at least there to call an ambulance. I’m glad you were observant.”
While Evan was being swabbed, and taped, I nosed around to see what the bomb squad was saying. It was a very unsophisticated bomb. However, it was powerful enough to take out the entire vehicle and everyone that would have been inside it.
I’d wondered what had happened to Summer. When I saw her skidding around the corner I was relieved. “What took you so long?”
She was out of breath. Quickly she dismounted, and rushed to me. “Copy these numbers.” She called them out from memory.
I had flicked on my phone’s memo system and repeated the plate number. “Got it.”
“As I was riding, I spotted a car two blocks away. It was being driven erratically, and fast. Coming from this direction.” Summer gasped for air. “Trev, it was a small convertible carrying one driver. Red. I followed, trying to chase it. He knew he was being followed, so he’d slam on the brakes – trying to make me slide. Trying to lose me. But I got his tag.” She was breathless, gasping as she leaned against my car. “I spotted him while he was attempting elude a vehicular homicide,” she chided.
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
Before the medical responders finished patching Evan, I phoned Rachel with the information. She had pulled the plate number immediately. Owned by and registered to John Hodges.
Summer questioned, “Did registration come up?”
Perplexed, I frowned. “It did. John Hodges.”
“John Hodges. The hog-rich real estate developer?”
I glanced back down at my phone. “Must be the same one. The address is his mansion. I recall the address because I’ve been there. When I was practicing law, I went there to see him and his fleet of financial attorneys. It was ten or twelve years back. My law firm was smallish, but known for doing great work. He wanted me to work for his company on a case. I went to talk with him. When I found out that he wanted me to work on a women’s rights issue. It sounded really dirty. He wanted me to tear a woman up while she was testifying. I told him that I thought a male attorney might be a better selection. He said he wanted a woman attorney so that would strengthen his company’s case. The woman had been harassed and fired. Wrongfully.”
“And you told him to flip off.”
“I did. Admittedly, I’ve done my share of springing bad mutts. But I wasn’t going to protect a man who had a woman in his cross fires.”
“Right on, sister,” Summer said with a smirk.
“Something like that. It was the smarmy way he went about it. I didn’t like the guy. What I don’t understand is what he would be doing with a sports car when his drive of choice is his elegant limousine.”
“Maybe it’s his child’s toy. It was a younger man driving. Maybe the plates and ownership is his name, for his son.”
“I think he had a son and daughter. Kids back then. I haven’t kept track of him.” I paused. Evan was walking toward me. “Look, I’m going to take Evan inside and pack up her belongings. I’ll take her back to the yacht. She can work from there. She’ll need a new rental car, and she’ll need to keep out of sight.”
“I’ll pull a report on John Hodges. See what his son is up to,” Summer said.
“Summer, be careful. We’re all on the danger playboard now. He knows Evan, he knows you. And he knows we’re after him.”
It seemed natural when Evan walked into my arms. We then took everything from her apartment, loading it caref
ully into my car. I’d notice she’d set up a small lab. As we dismantled it, we put it into a large cardboard box.
“You’ll have room enough to set up your lab in the spare bedroom.”
“After I get a different rental car, I’ll just return the lab equipment to the university. I have a small office there. Right now, I’m working on reports and don’t even need the set up. With a different vehicle, I can go directly to the university lab to work. Stay out of the limelight. It should be okay for a few weeks.”
“We have some information on the man that could be responsible for killing Pixy. And we’re at risk now.” I explained about Summer’s encounter.
“Can’t the police pick this guy up?”
“It might not be so easy. John Hodges is a very influential man. If it is his son, there’s a possibility he’ll buy testimony. He can buy witnesses. And conversely, buy off witnesses. Eye-witnesses are needed to win in court. At this stage of the game no prosecution would take the case to a grand jury. Not enough evidence.”
“I wish I could give a positive I.D. Someone tried to kill me today. I wish I could help in some way.”
“One thing, Evan. What we share about the cases we are working on is to remain strictly confidential. Whatever you hear from the Team can’t be told to anyone. That includes police, or anyone. We can’t chance it.”
“I’m fine with that. I rather assumed that to be the case.” She smiled. “No consorting with the cops.”
Amused, I said, “Just be careful. Don’t take chances. We’ve come this far, and we can solve it from here. I’ve never wanted to solve two cases as much as I want to solve these. Both are personal.”
Naturally, I was aware that the more personal a case is, the more dangerous it is.
Evan nodded affirmatively. “I want you to be very careful. And for my new roommates on the yacht to be careful, as well.”
“And,” I said shaking my head, “it appears that Doc Hanna will be spending time on The Radclyffe-Hull. She’ll be watching after Rachel.”
“Won’t she need the extra bedroom”
“I think she’ll be sharing with Rachel.”
“Ohhhhh,” Evan said. She then burst out laughing. “Isn’t Hanna the one with a rather domineering spirit?”
“I’m guessing before the sun sets, she’ll have appointed herself skipper of The Radclyffe. Or empress of Florida.”
When we arrived at the marina, Evan and I each took a load of her belongings onto the yacht, and into the spare stateroom. I asked Rachel, “Do you think Hanna would prefer to stay in the guestroom?”
“She often works overnight and stays at the hospital, so I’m sure she’ll be fine bunking with me.”
My smirk matched hers. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t want you disturbed. Or to be disrupted.”
“Hanna is a controller, I’ve accepted that,” Rachel’s answer acquiesced. “But she’s an angel. My angel. Do you think Summer’s upset by Hanna’s abrasiveness?”
I answered, “Do you think there’s saltwater in the sea?”
“And how about Evan?”
“Evan has the evenest temperament of any of us. She’s low key. And yes, she’s a lovely woman. She’ll get along with everyone.”
“It amuses me to think a woman like you might end up with a tranquil, sweet-tempered woman.” Rachel rubbed her eyes. “This medication is making me a tranquil, sweet-tempered woman.”
“Probably not a true conversion. Rach, are you falling for Hanna because she saved your life?” I inquired.
“I have feelings for her. Beryl, I was nearly killed. I’m not questioning my emotions. I’m just enjoying the fact that I still have feelings. Hanna is a good person.”
“And you, Rach, are one of the best women in the world.”
As she always did when praised, she saw that it was overridden by a topic change. “Oh, I checked on John Hodges. He has a son that just turned twenty-one. Sounds like a kid that would like a red sports car. His name is Ryder John Hodges.”
“It may be a bingo. Can you check Harvard for class photos of Ryder? Email them to Tess Norris. See if she might recognize him.”
“Will do. I’m pretty sure Tom hasn’t got this information. Want me to hold it until we’ve got something solid.”
“I think we should keep the lid on it. We’re dealing with one of the wealthiest families in Florida. I don’t want to give anyone a head’s up and go in too soon. A leak could only endanger us more, and the case.”
“I agree. Right now, we’re only dealing with the punk kid. Privileged kids usually dislike authority. It isn’t relative to them. Their families sweep up after them. I’ll check on priors. But if the kid was part of bullying and building bombs, all traces probably will have been swept clean. This will be a touchy one.”
“A media story about a busker getting beaten to death isn’t news. A billionaire’s son having committed the murder becomes a major news event. This needs to remain a very independent investigation.” Finding a murderer is one thing. Having proof positive – well, detective work is needed by the boatload. Money buys off truth. Amicus curiae, I considered – friend of the court. Bucks sometimes buy these friends. They turn into enemies of the court with money in their pockets.
“Anything else?” Rach asked.
“It’s just so good to see you home.” Our smiles comingled across the room. The spirit smile was some mystical helix between hearts. “And anything you need, let me know. I’ll be out scrambling around trying to find something, somewhere.”
“What about Evan? Would she like to borrow my car?”
“Evan is going to have a rental car delivered. Then she’s going to the university to work on a report for the rest of the day. She’ll let me know for sure. You might tell Tom. We’ll get the new rental’s information to him. We’d appreciate it if he could give Evan another shadow for when she’s on the road.”
“I’ll let you know when I hear from Tess. I’ll also mention it is confidential information.”
“Great. We don’t want this getting out in front of us. And please instruct Summer to stay far away from the ruckus. That kid knows who she is. He’s got her made. We just don’t want to show our hand until we’ve got a fist filled with proof.”
Rachel looked up from her computer’s screen. “Beryl, this case is a new experience - the bomb being set off and all.”
Grinning, I teased, “That’s right. We’ve only dealt with guns, knives, fists, cars ramming us, and boats overrunning us. And what’s your point?”
Rachel knew I need a good chuckle. “This case is bombastic!” she sputtered, grabbing her sides as she began laughing.
“I’m telling Hanna you made yourself laugh.”
Quickly I debarked the yacht. When safely in my car, I snickered, bombastic!
Chapter 9
“You want to see me, Chief?”
I had been summoned to chat with the good Tom Powers. In his office. He got right to it, and in my face. “What’s Evan Finch got to do with all this murder and mayhem! She ran around with Pixy What’s-her-name. But she says she couldn’t identify anyone. So why would Pixy’s killer try to bomb the hell out of Evan?”
“I’m guessing Pixy’s killer believes she could I.D. him. Or them.”
“Come on, Trevar. Don’t try to give me everything the chicken delivers except the egg.”
My grin converted to a snicker. “Tom, Tom, Tom. If I had anything more, you know I’d love to enlighten you. You have access to all the same people we do. You should be way out ahead of us on the investigations. What do you have on the case?”
“Somebody tried to shove a bomb up somebody’s rear. I think you probably know who it was.”
“I have all kinds of ideas. If I knew, I’d be knocking down some doors. Look, both of these homicide cases are perplexing. The Perrault murder looks like a contract killer.”
“And Pixy?”
“We don’t even know her name. Usually it takes knowing the victim so a motive c
an be traced to a perp. We’ve got very little. I’ve been hanging out in the lesbian bars, and there aren’t any suspects. These are the women that helped Pixy. Watched out for her.” I leaned back. “Now then, come on, let’s be having some of your suspicions.”
“The first homicide. I’m thinking one of the Perrault employees. Or the wife, Glenda. She’s quite a looker. Maybe she found a new, young gentleman friend. Or an older gentleman with a larger bankroll.”
“She’s not high on our list, Tom.” I didn’t want him steered off course. “From all the interviews, it seems she loved the guy.”
Tom played with the pen on his desk. He had recently given up cigars, so he took to chewing pencils and pens. “If you knew how many times over my career I’ve heard that it was a perfect marriage. One gal was pouring poison down hubby’s gullet while she was professing her love. Naw, whatever the hell a perfect marriage is, it usually isn’t.”
Tom’s appraisals of whatever his point was, always reminded me of Yogi Berra.
“Hey,” I giggled an intro to my sentence. “You’ll enjoy this. Summer called on Olga Carleton.” I saw Tom’s face crinkle into disapproval. “Anyway, Summer claimed she must be directly from the devil’s scrotum. I figured you’d like to hear that one.”
“Your partner is a character,” he challenged. “But I have to say, she nailed that one. I’ve gone through four detectives. Nobody wants to go back for a second interview with Olga.”
“You still think it could have been the wife, Glenda?”
“It could be. You can rarely go wrong by guessing the spouse.” Tom tossed some papers around on his desk. A hint that he was tiring of our talk.
“Tom, the motive is weak. She depended on Wendell to run the business, while she fronted and hawked the cosmetics. She hates running the business. And I don’t see any love interest.”
“What about this guy, Ross Milton? His name keeps coming up.”
Tossing Tom a bone was like performing a force-feeding. I’d give it another shot. “Tom, I didn’t see any chemistry between Ross and Glenda. Just trust me on this one.” I wasn’t outing Ross to prove my point.
