Eventually Rita had straightened up, found a job, and moved in with her mom to help her pay bills. I’d followed up with her in the months after to make sure the kids were safe. Through that, we’d developed somewhat of a professional friendship.
“Holly,” she started.
“Rita.” I rose and pulled her into a hug. “It’s been a long time.”
She fidgeted nervously, apprehension shooting from her like solar waves. “It has been.”
I patted the seat near my desk. “Thanks for coming.”
Her bloodshot eyes met mine. “I’m glad you reached out. No one else has seemed to care.”
“Do you want some coffee? Something to eat?”
“No, I’m fine. Thank you, though.”
I leaned on my elbows toward her. “I know you were probably surprised when I called you. I just happened to see your address when I was going through some crime reports. Someone broke in and stole some jewelry?”
She swallowed hard and lowered her eyes. “That’s right.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“It was my mom’s. She passed away three weeks ago.”
I reached forward and squeezed her arm. When I saw the tears glistening in her eyes, I handed her a tissue, and she fisted it in her hands.
“Oh, Rita, I’m so sorry,” I murmured. “I know the two of you were close.”
She nodded, her chin trembling and her hand still clutching the Kleenex. “I miss her terribly.”
“I’m sure you do. She was a wonderful person.” And she had been. Their relationship had been estranged when Rita was deep into the drug culture. But her mom had been waiting for her with open arms the moment Rita decided to walk away from that life. “How are the kids handling it?”
Rita shrugged and wiped beneath her eyes. “As well as can be expected.”
I waited for her to gather her thoughts—perhaps her courage.
Finally, her weary gaze fluttered up to mine. “Last week I went into a local pawnshop to look for an iPad for my teenager. I was hoping I could find one for cheap.”
“Smart thinking.”
“As I was there, I couldn’t help but look at the jewelry. It’s always a temptation to buy something for myself, but I never do. I just don’t have the money.” She paused for long enough to draw in a deep breath. “Anyway, I saw this bracelet. It was beautiful and gold with jade stones on each of the links. My mom had one just like it. In fact, she wanted to be buried with it.”
A feeling of dread dropped into my stomach. I thought I knew where she was going with this, but I really hoped I didn’t. “Is that right?”
She nodded. “So, of course, I wanted to see it, just for the memory if nothing else. It reminded me so much of my mom. I nearly burst into tears right there in the shop. The man took the bracelet out of the case and let me see it. As I turned it over, I saw an inscription on the back.”
I held my breath, waiting for her to finish.
Please let me be wrong, Lord. Please.
“You can imagine my surprise when I saw my mother’s initials there, along with the date it was given to her by my father.”
I closed my eyes, wishing what she’d told me wasn’t true. “Oh, Rita. I’m so sorry.”
“Me too. I just had no idea. I wasn’t expecting it.”
I waited until two coworkers walked past before responding quietly with, “You obviously reported it.”
Her face twisted in a frown. Not a pouty frown, but a frown that came from somewhere deep inside her soul. “I did. But you know how I feel about the police. They may be good guys, but I’ve had one too many run-ins with them. As soon as they see my rap sheet, they don’t take me seriously.”
I’d heard this story one too many times. Too many people in the inner city viewed the cops as enemies. It was a shame on so many different levels.
“I understand,” I whispered. “But I’m glad you reported it. Did they follow up?”
She shook her head. “Not that I can tell. They didn’t seem that interested.”
And that was also a shame on so many levels. “Did you talk to the pawnshop owner to see if you could get information from him, at least?”
“He said it came in last week, and that it was from one of his reputable sellers.” She frowned as she remembered the conversation.
“Did he give you a name?”
Rita shook her head, tears threatening to overflow from her eyelids down her cheeks. “No, he refused. He didn’t seem to take me very seriously either. I’m not naïve. I know people think I have no power. I look poor. I don’t speak proper English. Anyone would know I don’t have money to fight any legal battles. I don’t even have a good reputation.”
My heart panged with compassion toward her at the helplessness in her words. My phone began ringing. I didn’t recognize the number, so I let it go, not wanting to interrupt this conversation.
Her weary eyes met mine. “Do you think you can help me? I know this isn’t a big deal for most people. But it’s a big deal to me. Someone shouldn’t be getting away with this.”
“I’m definitely going to look into this.”
“I’ve heard about your reputation.” Her voice lost some of its gentleness. “I only know you through your social work, but I know that you’ve helped people in the past. Helped people like me.”
Her words inspired me. She was right. I was passionate about helping others, whether it was through anonymous financial donations or cleaning their houses or helping them put their questions to rest.
“I’ll be happy to do whatever I can,” I said.
“Oh, thank you.” She reached toward me and gave me another hug. The scent of cigarette smoke and cheap shampoo filled my nostrils.
I leaned back, tapping my fingers on the desk as I pondered the situation. “When was the last time you saw this jewelry?”
“It was in her room when she died. It was her favorite bracelet. The piece wasn’t extremely valuable, but she loved it.”
“Who had access to the room after she died?”
She shook her head. “Me and my kids mostly. We didn’t host anything at our house. Instead, we went to my aunt’s place.”
“That makes it hard to know how someone would get it. Were there any break-ins recently?”
“No, there weren’t. But I do have one theory. You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
“Please, tell me. You’re not crazy.”
“On the night my mom died, we had this company transport her body. One of the workers was acting really funny. I had a bad feeling about him.”
I closed my eyes as the truth hit me. “What was the name of the company?”
“I’m not sure. I called the funeral home, and they’re the ones that set everything up.”
I nodded, understanding the injustice of it. She didn’t have to convince me. “What funeral home did you use, Rita?”
Her bloodshot gaze met mine. “That one over on Eighth Street.”
All the fluid drained from my face. “You mean Wilford?”
She nodded. “That’s the one.”
Chapter Seventeen
I leaned back in my seat and sighed. I’d escaped to my car during lunch break. It was the only place I felt like I could find my sanity for a moment. I needed quiet to digest all that I’d learned and to figure out my next step.
Perry Como crooned from my speakers, encouraging me to catch a falling star and put it in my pocket. Yes, I’d been on a Perry kick lately, and I made no apologies about it.
I’d promised Rita before she’d left that I would try and get to the bottom of what had happened. But that meant I’d be entering some murky waters in the meantime. I’d been there before. But I also had to keep in mind that I’d almost gotten killed before in the process.
I knew one thing: there was a good chance I’d stumbled upon some answers. I just needed to verify a few more things before I told Chase. I needed to know why Travis had targeted me. He’d picked me as his date on purp
ose. I also needed to know why Chuck had whispered, “Be careful.”
To think that all of that was planned with some ulterior motives didn’t bring me any comfort.
Just then, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and saw it was Alex. I knew exactly what she was calling about. As I grabbed my phone, I noted the dried grass stuck in my carpet and made a mental note to clean the car this weekend.
“Hey, sis,” I said. “What’s going on?”
“I just got the criminal background check back on Blake,” she started. “I thought you’d want to know she’s clean.”
“That’s good news.” Despite that, my sister still sounded uncertain.
“Blake Hallowell does appear to be her real name. The bad news is that we can’t look into the details of the adoption. It was closed, so I have no way of verifying that story without a lot more digging.”
“Also good to know.” Momentary relief washed through me. At least one person in my life had checked out. I wasn’t sure about the rest of the people who’d come into my life recently.
“That still doesn’t mean we can trust her.” Alex’s voice was firm, leaving no room for question or doubt. “I still find it strange that she’d want to connect with us.”
That was Alex. She saw things in black and white, and she was very slow to change her mind once she made it up.
“People like to have a sense of family,” I argued. I would have done the same thing in Blake’s shoes. Maybe that’s why I felt such a connection to her.
“That’s the thing. She has a lot of family. I really don’t know why she feels the need to find more.”
“It seems like human nature to me. Most people are naturally curious.” Except Alex. Well, she was curious, but only when it came to professional development. It was never just because.
“Maybe you’re right.” It had probably pained her to say that. “But I suggest we tread with caution until we know more.”
A splash of irritation hit me. I just wanted life to be simple, but life never seemed to be simple when there was more than one person involved. “We won’t know more about Blake until we get to know her.”
“That’s true. But we should cautiously get to know her.”
I was about to argue again, when Alex continued.
“Do you want to see if she’d like to meet with all of us? Maybe for dinner this weekend?”
Well, that was a surprise. Shocking, actually. “Sure, I’m sure I can arrange that.”
“Sounds good. I’ll let Ralph know. And don’t talk to her again without us.”
Should I tell her the truth? That Blake was staying with me? I decided not to. I was a big girl. I could make my own choices, whether my brother and sister liked it or not.
And I really, really hoped I didn’t have to eat crow and admit at any point that I was wrong.
Before I went back inside, my phone buzzed.
It was another text from Travis’s phone.
I held my breath as I read the words there.
Still being nosy? You’re wearing on my patience. Back off. Last warning. Next time I follow you I won’t be so polite.
After work, I picked Jamie up from her house, and we headed to the pawnshop where Rita had found her mother’s bracelet.
Jamie was always up for coming along for the ride, especially if there might be trouble. She’d just been promoted to crime reporter for a local community newspaper. I supposed this would give her insight into what was going on, and she could later spin it for her column. Win-win, right?
As we drove there, I gave her an update on everything I’d learned today, ending with the latest text I’d received—and, of course, I’d reported it all to Chase, as promised.
“You’ve been busy,” she said, slipping on some oversized sunglasses that made her look oh so glamorous.
“Tell me about it.” I gripped the steering wheel, my conversation with Alex still echoing in my head. I didn’t want to be bothered by it. I really didn’t, but I was. Now I had to figure out what to do about it.
Jamie settled back against the seat as the city streets blurred past. “I will say that life is never boring around you, Holly Anna.”
“I’m not sure if I should apologize or say thanks.”
“Me neither.” She made a face.
I made a face back.
“And get this. I emailed Luke.”
I snapped my head toward her. “Luke who ditched us on the night of the murder?”
“The one and only. I asked him where he went. I may have said some other not so nice things.”
“And?”
“He apologized,” Jamie said. “Said he ran into an old friend, and they started catching up. At that point, we were already talking to the police, and he figured our date was doomed. His words, not mine.”
“He still should have come back. It’s common decency.”
“I agree. He was a loser.”
I stole another glance at my friend, trying to read her expression. “So, are you going to continue your online dating spree?”
She shrugged, an aloof air about her. “I haven’t decided yet. There is one other thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Wesley is back in town.”
I gripped the wheel, really not expecting that news. “Is he? Have you talked?”
Jamie had liked him. She’d liked him a lot. I had also. I thought the two of them were good together.
“He wants to meet this weekend,” Jamie said.
I sucked in a breath, knowing the emotional turmoil this could cause my friend. “And?”
She shrugged. “I’m thinking about it.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
Even with her sunglasses on, I could sense her mood darkening. “Because he didn’t think I was worth waiting around for, that’s why.”
I heard an edge of hurt in her voice. “You think he was hoping to meet someone else on this cross-country bicycling trip?”
She offered a terse shrug. “Maybe he wanted to keep his options open.”
“Or maybe he really was just trying to be fair to you.”
“Maybe.” She sounded unconvinced.
I glanced back at the road in front of me, trying to remember where I was supposed to turn. “Well, I think you should meet with him.”
“And I think you should go out with Drew again.”
My bottom lip dropped open at her subject change. “Oh, and I see what you’re doing. You’re turning the tables on me.”
“Of course. I’m deflecting. But it’s a good kind of deflecting. The kind that takes the attention from me.”
I thought it through, honestly surprised by her words. I’d always thought she liked Chase. “Don’t you feel like you’re betraying Chase by saying that? I mean, you liked him too. I thought you thought we were perfect together.”
She released a long breath. “I don’t know. I mean, I did like him. I mean, I do like him. But that relationship has a dead-end sign at the end of the road. I would have broken up with him also if I were in your shoes. Your goals for the future don’t align, and that’s a serious problem.”
“He’s had a difficult life.” Why was I defending him? “I mean, his mom left when he was six. His dad raised him—if that’s what you’d want to call it. And then Chase found out he had a brother because his dad was a cheater. One year after meeting him face-to-face, his brother is murdered.”
“I’m not saying he hasn’t had it tough. And I know you want to be there for him. But you don’t have to date to be there for him. I’d like to see you look out for yourself every once in a while, instead of trying to fix everyone else.”
I pulled into the pawnshop parking lot just in time to freeze—car and all. “What do you mean?”
I stared at Jamie, wanting to see her response so I could measure her sincerity and the truth in her words.
Jamie practically snorted, not the least bit affected by her jarring words. “Don’t tell me you don’t know that’s what you
do. You’re drawn to broken people. You want to help them, to make their lives better. It’s like your mission in life. But that’s not what a forever relationship should be built on. That’s why I like Drew. He has his act together.”
I wasn’t quite ready to agree with her. “Or so it seems. I mean, two of his associates were murdered.”
“He probably had nothing to do with that.”
“Probably being the keyword here.” Or did he? Another sense of dread shot through me.
I remembered what Ronald had said about Drew valuing his reputation. Would he be willing to go as far as murder to protect his good name?
I really didn’t think so. But I’d be a fool not to consider every fact.
“Okay, Ms. Crime Reporter.” I reactivated my body and finished pulling into a parking space. “Let’s do some more digging.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the pawnshop owner said.
He practically pretended we weren’t there or weren’t worth his time. He continued to check some inventory against a list in his hands, barely making eye contact with us.
“There was a bracelet with jade stones here earlier this week,” I explained, irritation growing in me. I leaned on the glass display case, my fingers leaving their prints over the very glass he’d been cleaning as we walked in. “Did you sell it?”
The man, a gruff-looking male with frizzy white-blond hair and a scraggily mustache, paused for long enough to give me a death stare. He wore a stained T-shirt, had yellow teeth, and his eyelids drooped.
His expression was all business as he deadpanned, “Yep. Sorry.”
Irritation continued to rise like lava in an erupting volcano. Didn’t this man know about the importance of eye contact during conversations? “Who brought the jewelry in?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss that.” He placed a check mark in one of his columns. “Privacy and all.”
“Did this person bring anything else in?” Jamie asked. “Any other jewelry?”
“I can’t say that either.”
I turned to my friend, deciding to try a different approach. Now I just hoped that Jamie would play along. “Even if they did, the police would have taken that also, right? You’ve done stories about instances like these before.”
Random Acts of Fraud (Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries Book 5) Page 13
