by Judi Lynn
“Who is it?” Jazzi could feel his good mood drain away.
“My sister.”
“Then answer it. It will hurt her feelings if you ignore her.”
He walked to the kitchen to talk to her. Jazzi sat on the step and stayed where she was to listen. The conversation got straight to the reason for the call.
Ansel’s voice sounded stern. “You don’t owe them anything. How much did you give them?” After a short pause, he said, “That must have been everything you’ve saved so far.”
Jazzi could see his reflection in the front windows. His shoulders stiffened, and he said, “I’m not driving there to help them, and I’m not sending money. I’ve made a life here. I’m happy.”
He listened more, then sighed in exasperation. “I understand how you feel, too. And I’m glad you still love me, but I’m not changing my mind. They can figure this out on their own.”
When he hung up, he called, “I’m getting a beer. Want to sit out on the back patio with me?”
She looked at the clock. It was getting late. She’d been in the mood to have her way with him, but it wasn’t going to happen. Adda had crushed his libido before Jazzi could get him upstairs. She heaved a long-suffering sigh and traipsed into the kitchen to pour a glass of wine.
Chapter 8
When Jazzi and Ansel pulled into Olivia and Thane’s drive the next day, Leo was on his riding lawn mower, cutting his grass. He stopped to give a quick wave when he saw them. Jazzi had to admit, for a man in his early eighties, Leo certainly kept active.
They went inside, pulled on gloves, and got straight to work with Thane, tearing up carpet. The widow who’d lived here before them must have had a small dog with a bladder problem. There were too many stains to count. The padding smelled foul. George found a spot to supervise as far away from the action as possible.
Jerod didn’t walk in the house for another half hour, and when he did, Jazzi was glad to see him. The thick pile carpet was heavy, easy to pull up, not so easy to carry out.
“Sorry I’m late, but I drove Franny to a house to pick up a bunch of antiques. She saw them advertised in the paper—everything for a hundred bucks. The owners just wanted to get rid of them.”
That piqued Ansel’s interest. “I saw that ad, thought the pieces must be mostly junk.”
Jerod pulled on his work gloves. “No, we got some really nice stuff.”
“Like what?” Ansel wrinkled his nose when he reached a particularly smelly patch of padding.
“A whole dining room set—buffet, table, and chairs.” Jerod picked up his cutter and sliced off a huge section of carpet, then tugged on it. “Three double beds, a chest of drawers—nothing fancy, but solid.”
Ansel whistled. “Franny hit the jackpot.”
“She’s in refinishing heaven. When I left, she was looking through all of her stains with a gleam in her eye.”
Jazzi laughed. Jerod couldn’t have found a better wife than Franny. In her mind, the girl looked like a grown-up version of Anne of Green Gables—with carrot-colored hair almost always up in a ponytail, gray eyes, and a face full of freckles. Add in a big heart, a practical nature, stubborn willpower, and Jerod didn’t stand a chance.
Jerod rolled up his section of carpet and carried it outside to throw in the dumpster. “I bet she started on the buffet the minute I left for work.”
Ansel gripped a large section of carpet and looked at Thane. “Do you like antiques?” Thane grabbed his side, and they tugged, peeling one big piece from the far wall to the front door. “I like whatever Olivia likes. It doesn’t matter to me.”
Jazzi blinked. Ansel was easygoing, but not that easy. She went to pull up the padding under the carpet they’d just removed. “We got lucky. There’s a sturdy subfloor.”
They had a good enough start. Ansel and Thane decided to continue yanking together and ripping up big pieces. Jazzi would follow, removing the padding and tack strips, and Jerod went to strip the indoor/outdoor carpet out of the kitchen. By eleven, all of the carpet was gone, and they started cleaning up to get ready to install new floors.
Even with the faded, stained carpet out of the house, the kitchen looked so dated, Jazzi was surprised it didn’t use a wood-burning stove. The two bathrooms were just as bad. One of them, with no shower, offered lots of Pepto-Bismol pink.
They’d swept up enough carpet scraps to fill a big black trash can, which Jazzi carried outside to toss in the dumpster. She was turning to go back into the house when Leo called, “I’d like you to meet my wife.”
Nuts. Leo wasn’t usually outdoors at this time of day. She turned to see Olivia’s neighbor pushing a woman in a wheelchair across the street toward her. Cocoa’s leash was tied to one of the wheelchair’s handles.
The woman held out a hand, and Jazzi hurried down the driveway to shake it.
“Hello. I’m Louisa. Leo’s talked so much about you, and it’s such a pretty day, I asked him to take me for a small walk. I hoped I might meet you.”
Louisa wasn’t what Jazzi had pictured. In her mind, the woman was stooped and frail. In real life, she was plump, with white, permed hair and sparkling brown eyes.
“I love what you’re doing to Della’s house,” she told Jazzi. “Della and I were close until she couldn’t care for herself anymore and had to move. We used to play gin most afternoons. I miss her.”
“It’s hard to lose a friend. I hope she’s found a group of card sharks at the nursing center. I bet she misses you, too. Have you gone to visit her?”
Louisa shook her head. “It’s hard for Leo to load my wheelchair in our car. The thing’s heavy and awkward. It’s such a bother, I just stay home anymore. Seth’s promised to take me soon, though.”
Cocoa tugged on her leash to start walking, but Louisa reached out to pet the Lab. “Give me a minute, girl.” She looked at Jazzi. “Leo said he told you about the boy who disappeared a while ago. I used to work at the courthouse as a paralegal for a judge. I sorted through lots of crime photos to get things organized for court dates. Know a lot of cops and lawyers. I asked them to look for Miles, but they’ve hit a dead end.”
“I hope they find out something, one way or another. It’s easier to heal if you have answers.” Jazzi thought of all the years her mom and grandma had worried about Aunt Lynda.
Louisa nodded. “Leo says you’re working on your sister’s house. It’s nice to have family in town. Our daughter lives in South Carolina, married with two grown kids and two grandkids. We only get to see her once in a while, but she calls once a week. We try to stay in touch.”
Jazzi glanced at the house. Louisa liked to talk as much as Leo did. She wished someone would stick his head out a door and call for her, but no one did.
Louisa went on. “My sister’s boy lives in town, and he’s good to me. My sister and her husband retired to Arizona, but Seth stops in to see me once a week. I’m crazy about him, even though Leo won’t give the boy a chance. Some friends drop in once a week to play bridge, and Miriam—an old friend of mine—stays to have supper with us.” She smiled and reached up to pat Leo’s hand. “And no one could have a more wonderful husband than my Leo. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
Leo smiled, and Cocoa tugged on the leash again. “We’d better move on, but I’m glad you got to meet Louisa. You young folks have a good afternoon.” He tipped his head to Jazzi and started off.
Jazzi let out a long breath and hurried back into the house. She frowned at Jerod and Ansel. “It would have been nice if one of you had come out to rescue me. Those two can talk a long time. The only thing that saved me was Cocoa. She wanted her walk.”
Jerod shook his head. “We thought about it and decided we’d just get caught, too. We decided to sacrifice you instead.”
“Thanks for nothing.” She gave Ansel an evil glare. He grinned and went to the fridge to get her a beer. Really?
He thought that would be enough to get him out of trouble? But she took the beer.
“What if Jerod and I get the hardwood floor started while you cool off?”
She tipped back the beer and took a long swallow, then smiled. “That’s a fair trade-off.”
He bent to kiss the top of her head. “We’ll lay the first few rows, and then we can all work on it together.”
While they concentrated on that, Jazzi went to the refrigerator and made sandwiches for lunch. Olivia had bought deli meat and cheeses and left out a loaf of bread. The guys carried the wooden table that served as an island back into place and came to join her when she lined their lunches up on paper towels.
Thane grimaced. “Sorry. I forgot to buy paper plates. Olivia was going to make the sandwiches, but she left early this morning to give someone a perm.”
“Doesn’t matter to us.” Jerod reached for the chips.
After lunch, all four of them got busy on the floor. When Jazzi touched the first piece, she frowned. “This doesn’t feel like wood.”
Ansel pointed to the box that held the pieces. “It’s porcelain that looks like wood. I told Thane that you put it in your bathroom, and it’s a good product. He liked the idea.”
Jazzi nodded. It would be great in a kitchen. “I love mine. It’s durable, will last forever.”
The talking stopped, and they all focused on the work. By four, they were done.
“You guys are lifesavers,” Thane told them. “We can start on the bathrooms tomorrow, and then all the big, heavy jobs are done.”
Jerod snorted and glanced at the kitchen. “Really?”
Thane ran a hand through his longish, auburn hair. “I forgot about that, but you’re right. Anyway, we can quit for now and dig in on the bathrooms tomorrow. We should have the kitchen done by the end of the week.”
“Yes, master.” Laughing, Jerod grabbed his gear to leave.
Ansel teased, “I see how this goes. He’s last in, first out.”
“Only because you’re slow.” Jerod nodded to Ansel’s tool belt. “Grab your stuff, and let’s go home.”
Jerod was already gone when Jazzi and Ansel loaded their stuff into the van. Ansel lifted George onto the back seat and had slipped behind the steering wheel when another white work van pulled into the driveway, blocking them in. The driver jumped out and rushed toward Jazzi, waving a baggie in the air.
“Does the old guy who left this in my yard live here?” he yelled.
Chapter 9
The man stopped in front of Jazzi, waving a bag of poop in her face. She could guess what had happened. “Someone told me the chocolate Lab lives here.”
Jazzi pushed his hand away, motioning to George inside their van. She wasn’t about to rat out Leo. “Nope, we own a pug.”
Mr. Blow Hard was her height—five eight. He leaned toward her. “You don’t own a Lab?”
He was starting to annoy her. “That’s what I just said.”
He was so thin, she wondered if he had a problem with his metabolism or just didn’t eat. His dark hair was going gray, and his pointy features conjured a mental image of a ferret. Ferrets were cute, though. He wasn’t. “The old guy usually cleans up after the stupid dog, but he just left it in my yard today.”
“What? Do I look like an old man to you?” Jazzi didn’t appreciate bullies. She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him. “No old man lives here, and you’re rude. So go away.”
He stepped closer to her, trying to intimidate her. That irritated her more. “Look, lady, do you know where the old man lives? If you do...” He raised the bag again.
She’d be darned if she’d tell this idiot where Leo lived. She took a step to close the space between them and pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “I don’t like people who threaten me. Get in your van and leave now, or I’m calling 911.”
The man stared at her. He looked furious, but confused. “Why won’t you tell me where he lives?”
“Because you’re out of control. Go home and cool off.”
He stood there, uncertain. Then he raised the bag again. “What about this?”
Ansel swung out of the van and stalked to Jazzi. He wedged himself between her and the man. Clamping his hand on the man’s forearm, he shoved the bag down. “If you wave poop in front of her face one more time, you’ll regret it.”
The guy stared up at him and took a step backward. “Sorry, man, but some old timer let his dog take a crap in my yard and just kept going. He’s the same old geezer who parked in front of my house when I was arguing with my wife.”
“Does my girl look like an old geezer to you?” Ansel looked threatening. He’d never once struck her as intimidating. She didn’t know he had it in him. She was wrong. His arm curled around her waist, a clear message that if the guy bothered her more, he’d wish he hadn’t.
The man stumbled over his words. “No, but I asked her about the dog. Someone in the next neighborhood, well, he might have gotten it wrong. Anyway, he said he’d seen the Lab in front of a red house, so I figure she knows who owns it, and I thought maybe...”
“I don’t care what you thought.” Ansel squared his shoulders. “We don’t have a chocolate Lab. And we have zero desire to help you, so go away.”
“Do you know where he lives?”
Ansel glowered and took a step toward him, his hands balling into fists. “If I did, I wouldn’t tell you. You have anger issues. I don’t want to see you again.”
The guy took another step back but kept arguing. “It’s not me, man. I’m telling you, it’s the old guy that’s the problem.”
Thane walked out of the house to join Ansel. The two of them towered over the man. Thane frowned down at him. “Who in blazes are you?”
“Ed, from two neighborhoods down. You live here?”
Jazzi rolled her eyes. Why didn’t Ed just give up and go away? Did he have a death wish?
Thane plopped his hands on his hips. He didn’t look happy. “Yeah, I live here. So what? You have a problem, mister?”
“I’m looking for a man who owns a brown Lab.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard...over and over again. But you’re the guy who seems like a nutso to me, a certifiable wacko. Wanna wave poop in front of my face and see what happens?”
The man swallowed. “I picked the wrong house. The wrong people. Look, I made a mistake, all right? I lost my temper. Sorry I bothered you.”
Thane just studied him. “Seems to me you’re only sorry ’cause we could kick your butt. If you ever bother my Olivia, I’ll come looking for you. You don’t have any right running around screaming at people. If I see you again, it had better be a lot more pleasant.”
The guy nodded and scurried back to his van. It was white, like Ansel’s, but had a company logo on the side. Gutter repair and siding.
As soon as the man was gone, Jazzi let out a long breath. “What a jerk! I’m going to Leo’s place to warn him to stay away from that freak.”
“I’ll come with you.” Ansel turned to Thane. “Keep an eye out for that one. He’s weird.”
Thane straightened his shoulders. “If he ever bothers Olivia, he won’t have any teeth. He needs to see a counselor.”
Ansel went to pet George. “You were worried, weren’t you? We’re fine. You stay, and we’ll be right back.”
The pug lowered his head onto his front paws and gave a deep sigh. Jazzi wondered if the dog ever whisked into protective mode and bared his teeth. But Ansel was his owner. Maybe George thought Ansel could take care of himself.
She and Ansel knocked on Leo’s door and told him what had just happened. “I wouldn’t walk in front of his house for a while,” Jazzi said. “He didn’t strike me as stable.”
Leo nodded. “He thinks his wife is cheating on him. That’s what they were arguing about. She didn’t make him feel any better.”
“Well, he’s on the edge, barely holding it together,” Ansel said. “I’d avoid him if I could.”
Leo nodded. “Thanks for the warning. I always clean up after Cocoa, carry bags in my pockets, but Louisa was tiring fast, and I wanted to make sure I got her home.”
On the walk back to his van, Ansel said, “I sure hope Leo listens to us. That guy was volatile, ready to blow.”
Jazzi hoped Leo and the man with the guttering van never met. The man was looking for someone to release his venom on. Leo looked like a perfect candidate.
Chapter 10
Besides not liking to cook, Jazzi’s sister, Olivia, wasn’t fond of gardening either. Jazzi helped the guys gut the two bathrooms, but when it came to installing new drywall, moisture barriers, and floors, the rooms were small enough that Jerod said, “We can handle this. Why don’t you clean up the landscaping a little? Pruning shears will make a big difference.”
Fine with her. The temperatures had dropped to the high seventies, so it was a perfect day to work in the yard.
She’d played with the idea of tearing into the kitchen, but Olivia and Thane had to empty the cupboards and refrigerator first. So she concentrated on the flower beds. The yard had beautiful landscaping, but it was all overgrown. Azaleas, boxwood, forsythia, and hydrangeas grew in lush curves in front of the house. Jazzi was on her knees, weeding, when Cocoa trotted up to her, took hold of the hem of her T-shirt, and tugged for her to follow her.
Jazzi reached to pat the dog’s head but hesitated. Matted blood caked the area close to her left ear. Was she hurt? Jazzi gently pressed her fingers under the dog’s fur, and Cocoa whimpered. Dirt darkened her entire left side, and a boot print showed near her left leg. It looked like someone had kicked her.
Had Ed found Leo and Cocoa? Did he kick the dog and then hit her head so hard that he drew blood?
Jazzi sat back on her heels and looked up and down the street for Leo. Where the old man went, so went his dog. But Leo was nowhere to be seen. Had Cocoa slipped out of the house without him? And why was her left side covered with dried dirt? She looped her hand around Cocoa’s collar and led her to Leo’s house. She knocked, but no one answered the door.
