Hot Rocks (23 page)

fifty-eight

Bob wasn’t on his
corner. Bridge was. I edged up to him and asked, “Where’s Bob?”

“Bar. Worried about you. Go there.”

With that said, he turned his back and returned to hawking papers.
Guess Dot was right. He was a man of few words. Either that or he found me boring.

I edged away from his position and, when the light changed, worked my way to the right so I could turn into the Bobby’s Bar parking lot. Only received one horn toot so I figured I crossed the three lanes without insulting anyone. As on my previous trips, there were a few cars in the lot. Thinking about it, I decided there always seemed to be more cars than patrons in the bar. I resolved to ask Bob about it. Maybe he was selling park and ride spaces. If so, I needed to congratulate him. It kept cars off I-95. That meant fewer accidents bringing traffic to a halt and saved a few lives along the way. Too bad there weren’t more park and ride lots. I parked and walked into the bar.

Judy was on duty and gave me a wave and a smile. “Hi, ma’am. If you’ll just have a seat, I’ll get Bob. He told me to watch for you.”

There was that damn ma’am bit again. However, I opted to let it go. Judy’s parents had obviously taught her to respect her elders.

I went to the booth Bob called his office and settled in on the side facing the door. I had enough irons in the fire—the police, Tomasco, and Bruce. I wanted to be the first to see who entered the place. I was so busy covering that angle I didn’t see Bob until he came from the rear and tapped me on the shoulder. So much for my super surveillance powers.

“Glad to see you in one piece,” Bob said. “When you didn’t contact me yesterday, I was afraid you might have gotten into more trouble.”

“No. I thought you might need a day off.”

“When you’re a homeless bum, every day is off.” His smile told me he was pulling my leg. “Anything new happen?”

I thought through the previous day and decided there was little worth sharing. “I did check in on you. Judy said you and Dot were asleep so I left you alone. Nothing happened.”

He gave me a look. “Since you look so much more refreshed than you did the last time I saw you, I assume you and the doctor had a chance to renew acquaintances.”

I smiled, couldn’t help myself. “There are some things a lady does not discuss.”

He gave me a knowing look, then said, “So, why are you here?”

My intent had been to tell him my suspicions about Bruce and my conversation with him, but my cell phone stymied that. It rang. The number brought a feeling of accomplishment.

“Hello, Bruce. Have you come to your senses about our little talk?” I said as I punched the speaker on so Bob could hear.

“Maybe. But first, what did you do with Tomasco?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Like I told you, the last time I saw him he was a picture of health—a little confused maybe, but healthy.” Remembering Tomasco’s stagger into the bathroom, I couldn’t help but smile.

Bob’s grin said Dot had briefed him on our time with Tomasco.

“Uh-huh,” Bruce said. “I’ll believe that when he shows up and tells me himself. Did he mention any traveling plans?”

“No. He wasn’t all that talkative while I was with him. Mostly just mumbled. Now, why don’t you quit playing games and tell me what’s up? Together, we might get somewhere. Separately, we’ll just keep jabbing at one another.”

Bruce’s sigh came through the phone. “Tomasco has disappeared. The cell number I had for him is out of service, abandoned. I had Lodo cruise past his place, then knock on the door. The house appeared empty so Lodo took a quick look on the inside. Place looks abandoned
…
and abandoned in a big hurry. Clothes strewn around, dresser drawers hanging open, but not like someone was searching. Like someone was packing and didn’t much care what he threw in the bag. As far as I know, you were the last to be with him. What did you do?”

“Maybe he went to visit his mother.”

“Knock off the bullshit.” Bruce’s voice showed strain. “If you wasted him, fine. He’s no friend of mine. But I don’t want him popping up at a bad time.”

“You mean, like when you have his briefcase filled with diamonds in your hands?”

There was a moment of silence. “Yeah, something like that. If you want my cooperation, you’ll tell me what you did to him.”

I pondered a moment, wondering just what had happened to Tomasco. Had I scared him so badly he dashed for a safer clime? Knowing how Sonny-the-Bunny worshiped himself, I figured it was a possibility. If someone had threatened to neuter him by bullet, he’d still be running. “Okay, Bruce. I’ll just say I put the fear of God in him—or more accurately, the fear of Beth. It’s quite possible he hit the road, never to be seen in these parts again.”

There was heavy breathing into the phone, and I pictured Bruce engaged in argument with himself. Was I really so ferocious I could cause a scumbag like Tomasco to bolt? Or was I blowing smoke, trying to take advantage of Bruce’s nervousness and lack of information? The former must have won.

“I’ll pick you up at your house at eleven-thirty tonight,” Bruce said. “Come alone and dress sexy—no jeans and T-shirt. A short skirt, the shorter the better, and a top that shows lots of cleavage. If your legs are full of cellulite and varicose veins, wear panty hose. And fix your hair. You have to look sexy enough to get through a door without the man questioning his good luck. Understand?”

I definitely understood, but didn’t like it. “Suppose I don’t choose to fit the hooker profile?”

“Then we have no deal. I grab the diamonds, get the hell out of town, and leave you to worry about the nasty people who want you dead. And after I rip them off, they’ll be more pissed off than ever. Remember, you came to me for help. Not the other way around. I can hire a dozen women on a moment’s notice to get the door open. It’s your call.”

I hesitated long enough to figure out Bruce was still my only option. But he needed me, too. Probably because whoever had the diamonds knew him by sight. Somewhere along the way, that would play to my advantage. “Okay, but I’ll meet you and follow you to the destination. I want my car with me.”

“You heard my deal. Take it or leave it.”

“I bet you pulled the wings off butterflies when you were a kid. Okay, I’ll play your game. My place. Eleven-thirty.”

Bruce’s next words filled me with dread. “No funny stuff. I want those diamonds. Whether you live or die means nothing to me.” The phone went dead.

fifty-nine

I closed my phone,
feeling the frown that covered my face.

“Interesting conversation,” Bob said. “I gather you and Bruce aren’t as good friends as when I last saw you together.”

“You might say that.” I caught him up on my meeting with Bruce earlier in the day. “He’s an opportunist. My feeling is he saw me as a way to cause Tomasco to look the other way while he grabbed the diamonds. This call,” I pointed at my phone, “tells me the thieves might recognize him. That could end up in a shoot-out with the bad people having the advantage. He thinks they’ll open the door to a slut, and he’ll be able to charge in while they’re admiring my … uh, packaging.”

“Works for me,” Bob said through a chuckle.

I glared at him.

“Hey, it wasn’t my idea,” he said. “But, seriously, it has worked for thousands of years. Why not again tonight? Man has always disengaged his brain when confronted with a woman’s
…
uh, packaging. But the bigger question is what happens after that. Will Bruce be content to leave you and the others as witnesses to his theft? And will the others simply give up their treasure trove? Sounds like an intense situation to me.”

“Damn. I bet you pulled wings off butterflies, too.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “You’re probably right though. Guess I’ll just have to come up with a plan to bring down the thieves while keeping myself alive. No big deal. Should be a snap.” I forced a smile, while attempting to snap my fingers. They didn’t cooperate.

“Want my help?”

“Yes
…
and no. I’ve put you and your friends in enough danger. I choose to ride this one out alone.”

“Be sure. And don’t give our futures much thought. Remember, most of my friends have none. They live from handout to handout. Helping you has given them something to be proud of, to look forward to.”

“Thanks. I truly appreciate everything, but, to throw your words back at you, it could get intense. If bullets start flying, I don’t want any innocent people caught in the crossfire.”

Bob sat for a moment, his mouth opening then closing. Finally, he said, “Okay. It’s your decision. Sure hope you’ll be around for a beer tomorrow.”

_____

Dinner with David that evening did not live up to my expectations of earlier in the day. He was not thrilled we could not have a sleepover at his place. That was the positive. The negative was he told me how stupid beyond stupid I was to meet with Bruce.

His exact words were, “Beth, for one so beautiful, so desirable, and so smart, you have to be the dumbest woman ever born. Are you sure you’re not a blond? I’ve heard dumb blond jokes with subjects smarter than you’re acting. You—”

I’m not sure how long he would have gone on, but didn’t want to find out. I cut in on his diatribe. “David, please trust me. There are things here you can’t possibly understand. If I don’t track these men down, I’ll never be able to live with myself. Every time I look in the mirror, I’ll see a quitter. Would you hire a quitter to investigate a problem for you?”

He opened his mouth, but closed it when I charged on. “No.
I don’t think you would. That means I’d have to turn in my PI
license—and that would hurt as bad as anything I’ve ever done.
I love being a PI. I love the feeling of helping people—even if it’s only to help a spouse trap a two-timing partner. It means a lot to me, David. Can’t you accept that? Can’t you trust that I’m doing what I must?”

I stopped talking and squeezed his hand between mine. I’d done all I could. The future of our relationship dangled precariously in the next few moments.

He lifted his hand and kissed my knuckles. “I suppose there have been things in my life that consumed me the way your lifestyle does you. But then again, maybe not. In any case, I’ll try to understand. You’ve become very important to me.”

I returned his gesture by kissing his fingers through a smile. “Thank you, David. I knew I’d picked a winner the moment you first felt the lump on my head. I mean, a man with a touch as gentle as yours has to be a keeper.” If we hadn’t been in a public place, I’d have done more than caress his fingers—far, far more.

He took my hands in his. “I’m on call tonight, but that can be from anywhere. All I need is my cell phone. I’ll go with you.”

I hoped his words meant I was as special to him as he was to me. But it didn’t matter. He couldn’t go. No way. I’d have enough on my mind without worrying about him. “That’s sweet of you, David, but this isn’t your kind of operation. If blood spills, it won’t be because a doctor used his scalpel to save a life. It’ll be bad people ripping at one another. I know how to take care of myself. And the first rule is to concentrate on me and me only. With you there, I’d be concerned about you, and that could get both of us dead.”

He frowned. “So you think I’m a wuss, a softie who can’t take care of himself? That’s certainly reassuring. Anything else I need to know before we start picking names for the children?”

“No. That’s not what I meant. You’re more than enough man for me.” I ran my index finger across his palm. “But going face to face with criminals is not your bag. Your bag contains medical instruments and prescriptions. Mine holds weapons and handcuffs.”

David concentrated on his meal, his eyes locked on his steak. It was obvious I had hurt his feelings, but that was better than getting him killed. I’d make it up to him later, if there was a later.

His goodnight kiss—on the wrong side of my front door again—was dry, lips only.

sixty

I watched David drive
away, a feeling of loss overwhelming me. What a stew I had brewed myself into. My desire to be the kind of woman David wanted and my insatiable drive to solve the case put me in a dilemma, but there was only one path I could follow. Someone had tried to frame me, and that someone had to pay. I didn’t want to consider one of the payers might be me—if I lost David. The proverb
Pride goeth before a fall
came to mind. Damn, I hoped it was wrong. Failure was not an option. Not when I had so much riding on success.

David turned the corner and his taillights disappeared. I opened my door in time for the phone to catch me with its ringing, jerking me back into the moment. I rushed to it and picked up without glancing at the caller ID.

“Hello, Beth Bowman here.”

“Are you okay? Is everything alright? I fell asleep on the couch and had a horrible dream. We were walking along the beach. And you were being pigheaded like always. I told you not to go in the water, but you insisted. Then a big wave came along and washed you out to sea. I tried to run, but couldn’t get to you. My feet sunk into the sand up to my ankles. Each step was like wading through a pool of molasses. You—”

“Mom,” I said. “Slow down. Everything is fine. It was only a dream. I’m nowhere near the beach.”

“Thank God,” she said. “It’s just that … that it was so real.”

“All your dreams seem real. And everyone of them are about bad things happening to me. Maybe you should write a book. You could call it
Dreams of a Frantic Mom
. I bet it would sell a million copies.”

“Quit making fun of me. You know how I worry about you. You took that horrible job and moved to South Florida, the crime capital of the world. I watch the news. I see what happens there. Shoot-outs and car chases and dead bodies everywhere. Plus, people driving into canals, and … and alligators eating people. I have every reason to worry. Why can’t you lead a normal life as a wife and mother? You know I want grandchildren.”

I sighed. Things had returned to normal. Every one of her lectures ended with my failure to give her grandchildren—like they were something I could purchase at Penney’s and put under her Christmas tree. Her next question caught me off-balance.

“Why are you home at this hour? You should be out enjoying yourself. Is your special doctor with you?”

“Uh, no. He has patient visits in the morning,” I said with my fingers crossed. “He dropped me off and headed home to get some sleep. We had dinner at a delightful restaurant. I’m going to turn in early.”

“Is that all you have planned for tonight—sleep, I mean? You sure you’re not going to the beach—or some other place else you can get hurt? You don’t fool me with your paper-pushing stories about your job. I bet you’re always involved in a fracas, putting murderers in jail, getting involved with the dregs of society. Doing things I never taught you to do.”

Dregs of society, I thought. Many label the homeless with that tag. Mom’s premonitions weren’t so far off-base.

“Wrong, Mom,” I countered, “although some of the paper cuts make it look like I’ve been in a knife fight. Tonight, I’m going to read in bed. It’s been a tiring day. Bet I’m asleep ten minutes after my head hits the pillow.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. I did plan to read to kill the time—after I decided on an appropriate slut outfit.

“So if I call later tonight, you’ll be there to answer? My dream had the beach scene occurring about midnight. You won’t mind if a worried mother wakes you, will you?”

Damn. If she called and I wasn’t home, I’d really have to come up with a whopper. Should I piss her off now or tell her a huge lie later? Irritation was better than lying, or so I equivocated. “Yes, I will mind. Please don’t call. I promise I’ll be sound asleep. I may even take a sleep aid. I need my rest.” Once again, I crossed my fingers behind me. I was a firm believer that crossed fingers erased lies told to mothers. After all, I read it in a book—somewhere.

“Go to bed, Beth. I’ll try not to bother you any more with my mother’s love.”

The phone clicked in my ear. I suspected she was not thrilled with me. It’s not easy being the only daughter of a woman who dotes on you and believes she has special sight. And, as much as I hated to admit it, she was too often right. A slight tremor circled around my spine. Tonight, I had to make her wrong.