Blue Flower Red Thorns

by Ted Clifton

  With that, the huge woman turned ashen and fell to the floor, blood seeping from her mouth.

  “My name is Lieutenant Daniels, with Las Cruces Police.”

  It was a cop Vincent hadn’t dealt with yet. He’d been waiting in the cramped interview room for a while now, and the plastic chair made his back hurt.

  “Just got word on Joyce McGregor,” Daniels continued. “Looks like she was hurt pretty bad by someone—internal injuries—but they think she’ll make it okay. Could be a long recovery from that kind of damage, though. That was a hell of a story you told us, Mister Malone. And I have to admit, we weren’t real sure about you. But we talked to the police chief in Santa Fe, and everything you said checks out. The gun that killed Gloria Taylor was registered to her son, Trent. Our people are saying that preliminary results indicate she shot herself, just like the daughter told you. There were powder burns on Gloria Taylor’s hand. Anyway, at this point, we have nothing further we need from you—you’re free to go.”

  Vincent left, feeling low. It seemed like suffering and death were following him everywhere. He felt a deep sadness and a need to be home in Santa Fe.

  “My god, Vincent she could have killed you.” Nancy wasn’t at all pleased after he gave her the details.

  “Maybe, but it was odd. It didn’t feel risky. Old Trent will be deader than dead if he ever runs into his sister again. But I was pretty sure she wasn’t going to hurt me.”

  “So, everything’s settled?”

  “I’m not sure. I think Ilse and Bobby are still at the Inn, but her mother and manager went home. In theory, Clive and Francis could have some problems with this forgery business, but I don’t see that turning into much now. So, in some ways, I guess stuff is settled. Or maybe I’ve gotten tired of thinking about it. I’m just glad to be home.”

  “Cindy, everything is so beautiful.” Nancy was almost in tears. The wedding was a touching ceremony, with two lovely young people making a lifelong commitment. The back yard and gazebo had been specially decorated, and looked like a photo shoot from a bridal magazine. Cindy really did have talent for event planning.

  “I understand you almost got yourself killed by a female professional wrestler. That would have made one hell of a story, Vincent. Might have missed your big chance to become famous.” Tucker’s smile seemed to say he was kidding, but Vincent wasn’t entirely sure.

  Rick had asked Jerry to be his best man. It was a kind gesture, and seemed to have touched Jerry deeply. He and Cindy had turned their business venture into a warm and caring place for people to live or visit, and the goodness of their hearts was obvious to everyone.

  The bride was absolutely gorgeous, and the groom could not stop smiling. Mary and Hector were beaming. Mary had cried for most of the day, but now that they were actually married, she seemed overjoyed. She kept hugging Mariana, saying how beautiful she was and how lucky her son was. Hector stood off some, observing, but clearly very proud of his newly expanded family.

  The ugly grief that Vincent had been forced to see for so many days had never touched the lovers, who were in their own world, and their happiness filled the air. Vincent surprised himself by feeling jealous.

  “Do you think you’ll ever want to get married, Nancy?” He had no idea how the words had gotten out of his mouth.

  “Is that some kind of weird proposal?” Nancy was smiling, but looked concerned, too.

  “I don’t know. Maybe. If it was, what would you say?”

  “You can’t propose that way. Hey, if I asked you to marry me, what do ya think you might say? Vincent you’re a grown man, not some high school kid. You can do better than that.”

  “Nancy McAllen, would you do me the honor of being my wife?” Vincent actually knelt. He felt a little foolish with everyone watching, but he did it, anyway.

  “Yes. I would love to be your wife.”

  Mary began to cry all over again, and this time Cindy joined her.

  Vincent really hated being roused by the phone at seven in the morning. He answered it, anyway.

  “Malone.”

  “Sorry for the early call. This is Younger.”

  “No problem.” Yes, there is. “What’s up?”

  “Ken Simpson’s body was found in the mountains outside Durango. Shot once, execution-style. Cops contacted me because of the Flores case. Wanted to know if I knew anything. Which I don’t. Asked about you and Tucker.”

  “Shit.” I knew it, things were going too well. “Not sorry the bastard’s dead, but that’s going to land on my doorstep with a thud.” Vincent paused to think about how it could cause problems. It wouldn’t take long for the Durango cops to make a connection in Denver, and if they could be found, there would be several people willing to talk about his nose-busting visit. “Just as a precaution, I think I need to hire you. You have any inside information sources in the Durango police force?”

  “Not really. I used to date a court clerk, but even when we were on good terms—which we aren’t, right now—she was always tight-lipped regarding the police and the courts. Other than your not-so-friendly conversation, any reason for this to point to you?”

  “I had a history with Simpson that wasn’t pleasant. The Denver cops are going to be aware of that. And they’d be more than pleased to have a chance to cause me a little grief. On the plus side, I haven’t been in Colorado since my trip to Denver to bust his nose, and he was alive and breathing when I left. I should be able to provide an alibi for whenever they determine he was killed.”

  Younger seemed to think about that a moment. “I’d bet my best dog this is directly tied to Max Franks Junior. My lowlife buddies tell me he thinks he’s a mob boss. So, executing Simpson would fall right into his screwed-up world. The biggest problem with that is he apparently has some connections within the area’s law enforcement, and possibly into the DA’s office. He’s one dangerous prick.”

  “Suggestions?”

  “Number one, hire a good lawyer. You’ve done that. Number two, do nothing. This does not go away, but until we know how they’re going to proceed, there’s nothing to do. Just be aware there appears to be a shit-load of grief on your horizon.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks. Check’s in the mail for the retainer.”

  Fuck!

  Fine time to have my life blow up, again! Marriage—what the hell was I thinking? Calm, happy, bliss-filled married life. No way, with all of the baggage I carry around. At this point, this will be my secret. Who knows? Maybe it will just go away.

  Yeah, right!

  Ilse De Vries. Once she’d signed a new financial agreement with the Howard Marks Gallery, Ilse received a substantial sum as her share of the sales. She agreed to let Clive and Francis handle the remaining shows as they’d originally planned, but made it clear that she would be reevaluating the relationship going forward. With plenty of money in the bank, Ilse gave herself a break. She spent a lot of time with Bobby in Denver, but eventually went home. She bought a new apartment in Amsterdam and made it clear to her mother that she wasn’t welcome, not even for a visit. She became active in the thriving art scene in the capital city, and reconnected with several art professors from the University of Amsterdam. They enticed her into a lecture series about the role of contemporary art in the modern world, and she became something of an attraction. With this boost to her ego, she began painting again, and the rumor had it that she was producing some of her best work.

  Bobby Hawkins. He was reluctant to make the ultimate commitment to Ilse. He knew he loved her, but just wasn’t sure he wanted a life devoted to managing an artistic ego, unless it was his own. He was questioned by DEA and FBI officials about his relationship with a sex-and-drug club operating in New York City and LA. While he admitted he’d joined the club years ago, and may have used some drugs in the past, he claimed he hadn’t known the “social club” itself was illegal. The feds didn’t believe him, but didn’t have evidence to charge him with anything, either. Bobby knew he’d dodged a bullet, and swore
to himself he’d be a better—and more careful—person. With his business thriving, he became one of the richest men in Colorado, and then took things in an unexpected direction by buying a minority interest in the Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball team. Even people who knew him hadn’t expected it. No one had even known he was a baseball fan. He soon became the public face of a very popular team, and rumors began to circulate that he might run for mayor.

  Trent Taylor. He never resurfaced. Most people connected with the murder case were convinced he was the killer, but since he was never found, and therefore never charged, the investigation remained officially open. There were multiple sightings of Taylor in Mexico, Canada, Texas, and various South American countries. Santa Fe PD investigated some of the reports, but as time passed, they began to ignore them. The Santa Fe police chief told several people he thought Taylor was dead. When pressed on why he would think so, he said he had his sources, but never elaborated.

  Joyce McGregor. Joyce’s recovery time was long, and her internal injuries healed slowly. She lost a lot of weight, so that when she was released, the nickname of “Bad Ass Mama” could have been amended to “Bad Ass Babe.” With a new image, she returned to wrestling, and soon became a sex symbol with an entirely new fan base. She accepted several engagements in Mexico and became a star in the very active professional wrestling world south of the border. Lesser known was the fact that she spent a great deal of time and money on research and investigators trying to locate her half-brother. No one knows if she found him, or what happened if she did, but rumors persist among her fan base that she was successful, and ended his misery—permanently.

  Clive Walton. Clive and Francis talked about marriage, but Francis always seemed to want to wait, and would never commit to a date. Clive suspected it had something to do with Francis’s new found wealth. Clive managed the final shows for the De Vries paintings, and sales exceeded expectations—the controversy around Anna’s death hadn’t hurt prices any, and the paintings sold for record sums. Based on that success, Clive was offered a senior management position at a large art dealer in New York City. He talked to Francis about it, and he told Clive that he shouldn’t pass up the opportunity. Clive’s final words to Francis were, “Fuck you!”

  Francis Mitchell. Francis went through several emotional breakdowns in a single year. He knew he’d been close to losing his mind, but inheriting and then running the gallery had given him focus and brought him back to earth. He’d never felt so empowered and important, and began to make his own decisions about the business. He knew Clive had been much of the driving force behind the gallery’s success, but he was ready to step up and take more responsibility. Some of it had to do with Francis finding out about an affair Clive had had with a very attractive up-and-coming new artist. It crushed him at first, but he knew Clive was just being Clive, and if he wanted something else, he’d have to move on. It helped that, with his new financial status, some very attractive young men had begun flirting with him. Clive had opened a door in Francis’s world, and now he was ready to walk through it.

  Bente Smit. Ilse made it clear she wanted her mother out of her life. Bente cried for days, but cheered up after she discovered her daughter had deposited a substantial sum into her bank account. She called Ilse several times to thank her, but never got further than voice mail. She was on her own. Even with a fat bank account, it was scary. She asked Dirk to marry her, and let him know she had money. He said it wasn’t enough—he was fed up with her and her daughter. He left. She cried.

  Almost everyone else will return in the next Vincent Malone novel: Fiction No More.

  Ted Clifton has written mystery novels which feature the settings of New Mexico and Oklahoma, places where Ted spent considerable time. One of his books, The Bootlegger’s Legacy, won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin award and the CIPA EVVY award. Today Ted and his wife reside in Denver, Colorado, after many years living in the New Mexico desert.

  Learn more about Ted and his books at www.tedclifton.com, or email him at ask@tedclifton.com.

  The Bootlegger’s Legacy

  (Prequel to the Pacheco & Chino mystery series.)

  When an old-time bootlegger dies and leaves his son Mike a cryptic letter hinting at millions in hidden cash, Mike and his friend Joe embark on a journey that takes them through three states and 50 years of history. What they find goes beyond money and transforms them both.

  This is an action-packed adventure story that partially takes place in the early 1950s. It all starts with a key, embossed with the letters CB, and a cryptic reference to Deep Deuce, a neighborhood once filled with hot jazz and gangs of bootleggers. Out of those threads is woven a tapestry of history, romance, drama, and mystery; connecting two generations and two families in the adventure of a lifetime.

  Winner of the IBPA Benjamin Frankling Digital Awards (2016 Silver Honoree).

  “The Bootlegger’s Legacy takes the reader on a wild ride through Oklahoma’s bootlegging history. It makes for a wonderful escape into a fascinating, dangerous, and strange world filled with characters your mother warned you about. Most readers will only ever interact with these types in make believe, but while the ride lasts it’s a rollicking good time.”

  —Self-Publishing Review, 4 Stars

  “Although the mystery elements in this novel are certainly engaging enough to keep readers turning pages, it’s Clifton’s superb character development that makes this story a transformative journey of self-discovery. The noteworthy narrative also includes vivid backdrops, brisk pacing, and a meticulously researched, historically accurate account of the Prohibition era in Oklahoma and Texas. A tale with an authentic, immersive setting, inhabited by well-developed, endearing characters.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  https://www.amazon.com/Bootleggers-Legacy-Ted-Clifton-ebook/dp/B014TFC9AK/

  Dog Gone Lies

  (Pacheco & Chino Mysteries Book 1)

  Sheriff Ray Pacheco returns from his introduction in The Bootlegger’s Legacy to start a new chapter as a private investigator, along with his partners: Tyee Chino, often-drunk Apache fishing guide, and Big Jack, bait shop owner and philosopher.

  The trio are pulled into a mystery immediately when an abandoned show dog appears at Ray’s cabin and the dog’s owner is reported missing. Ray and his team pursue leads that bring them into confrontations with the local sheriff, the mayor, and the FBI, while in the meantime two bodies are found—neither of which is the missing woman.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Lies-Pacheco-Chino-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B019IZZO6M/

  Sky High Stakes

  (Pacheco & Chino Mysteries Book 2)

  Tired of spending his days fishing, Ray Pacheco takes on his second assignment with his partner Tyee Chino when the state Attorney General asks them to find out just what the hell is going on in Ruidoso, New Mexico. With the town’s sheriff in the hospital with a mysterious illness, acting sheriff Martin Marino is running rough-shod over everyone around him.

  What seems like a simple assignment becomes more complicated when Marino is found dead, shot at close range while sitting in his patrol car on Main Street. The suspects include most of the town, from Dick Franklin, manager of Ruidoso Downs racetrack, to bar owner Tito Annoya, to members of the local law enforcement.

  At the same time, Ray has an uneasy feeling that the AG is withholding critical details about what exactly is going on in Ruidoso—and why the state was so slow to respond.

  It all comes to a surprising conclusion with the involvement of a Spanish princess, a drug lord gone mad, and a few other lowlifes . . . and leaves Ray wondering if maybe fishing wasn’t so boring after all.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F2LPVHS/

  Murder So Wrong

  (Muckraker Mystery #1, with Stanley Nelson)

  After his first day as a political reporter in 1960s Oklahoma, Tommy Jack
s finds himself investigating the murder of a competing reporter at the state capitol. The mystery becomes a story of intrigue, love and tragedy, involving a would-be mentor, a gorgeous lover, a jailed father, an adopted mom, and shocking violence.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  www.amazon.com/Murder-Wrong-Muckraker-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B076VV23TN

  Murder So Strange

  (Muckraker Mystery #2, with Stanley Nelson)

  In an exclusive residential neighborhood, a U.S. Senator’s wife has died. Tommy Jacks and his fellow journalists don’t believe the police chief’s story blaming it on natural causes. It has the smell of a crime. So begins a new journey set in the 1960s involving numerous dead bodies, high-tension political intrigue, police corruption, the drug underworld and unsavory hidden pasts. Tommy has a lot to write about in his My View political column.

  Only in his second year as a political columnist, he finds new romance and emotional healing among a chaotic mixture of characters, from his new mother and his recently out-of-jail father to his acerbic journalistic mentor and antagonist and a foul-mouthed lawyer of questionable ethics, all wrapped inside the saga of two competing daily newspapers still at war.

  Lurking in the shadows is the powerful and corrupt police chief, who seems to think it might be best if Mister Jacks, even so young, was dead.

  Murder So Strange continues the 1960s saga of Tommy Jacks: Muckraker.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  www.amazon.com/Murder-Strange-Muckraker-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B07B6CPYFD

  Santa Fe Mojo

  (Vincent Malone Mystery #1)

  Washed-up legal investigator Vincent Malone has come to Santa Fe in search of a new life. Instead, he finds himself drawn into a murder investigation when a high-profile LA sports agent turns up dead at the B&B where Vincent has found work.