Almost Too Far (Almost Bad Boys #3) (7 page)

SEVEN

 
“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”
 

Robert A. Heinlein

Oh, crap. If Helga got in her head to run off to either of these places tonight, we weren’t about to easily and quickly find her. But I have a strong feeling that with Stella involved, a Vegas trip would take precedence, with Niagara Falls falling into a “some other time” category.
 

“Would she have an access to money to fly to Vegas?”

“She has her own checking account and two credit cards, so… yes, I’m afraid so. But I can’t possibly imagine she would just take off from the party and go to Vegas.” Libby’s eyes are wide open, and her chin starts to tremble.
 

“Stella seems like a crazy-enough companion to talk Helga into such an adventure.”

She exhales with force. “I’m afraid so.”

“Are you authorized on her credit cards? Or do you know her passwords?” I ask, hopefully. Thank you, Dad for passing the “investigative gene” onto me.
 

“Yes, I am. And I know her passwords. She’s really bad with remembering to pay the bills, so I’m in charge of that.”

Phew. Thank you, Fate. Or maybe Karma—whichever of you scary bitches feeds the old ladies such crazy-ass fantasies.
 

“Great. So I assume you have both of these cards in your name too?”

“Of course. I don’t use them though—”

“That doesn’t matter,” I interrupt gently. “Please get both cards and call each customer service. See if there are any new charges, and if so, where were they made.” CSI in full swing, baby.
 

Libby goes upstairs and comes back with two credit cards. She sits back down by the phone and dials the number from the back of the Chase Visa. I text my girlfriends to share the progress in my investigation.
 

Svetlana texts back: “Let me know what u find out. I can send my guys to track her down. They r really good.”

I know they are, but I shudder, remembering the long, ugly scar on Vadim’s face and his readiness to
pop
Razor. Oleg, the other goon, seemed more civilized and in control.
 

Libby is writing on a large notepad while talking on the phone with the credit card people. I ponder upon Svetlana’s offer and consider taking her up on it. Her hooligans might somehow prove themselves useful in finding the adventurous old ladies.
 

I call Colin, anxious to see what’s up with him. A gentle, warm feeling spreads in my chest when I hear his low, raspy voice, “Hey, babe. Any news?”

“Nothing yet, but we are checking her credit card activity for clues.”

That gets his attention. “Good idea. What did you find out?”

“Libby’s on the phone with the bank, so I’m not sure just yet. How about you? Where are you?”

“At Franklin’s house. He’s complaining about some pain in his chest. I called the ambulance to take him to the hospital. His nurse is here, but he wants me to go with him.”

“Are you going?”

He sighs heavily. “I want to find Helga, but I need to help him.
 
He’s… you know, one of my grandpas.” Colin chuckles. “I was a lucky kid to have more than one. Anyway, stay with Libby.”

Ugh, I hate when Colin thinks I will get into trouble. Well, I might, but I can handle it.

“Yes, I
am
with Libby,” I mollify him.
 

I am
now
, but I won’t be soon. That’s something he doesn’t need to know. My subconscious lifts her frowning gaze to pin me in place with it. Yeah, yeah, I know… I’m appeasing Colin with half-truth, withholding the plans to leave as soon as Libby gives me Helga’s credit card activity update. I’m getting really good at ignoring my subconscious. Hey, the nag deserves it.
 

“I’ll call you later. The ambulance is here,” Colin says. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I hang up and put the cell phone in my wristlet.
 

Libby is finally off the phone. “So there is nothing new on her Visa. The last charge came through a week ago. It was from Target. I took her shopping there. But the MasterCard has two new charges. Look at this,” she points to the paper pad, and I sit down, leaning forward to read it.
 

“A gas station in Shoreline? So they are driving north, not to the airport. Unless, they’re picking someone else up and then will turn around to go south.” I rub my forehead. “What’s the second charge?” I can’t read Libby’s handwriting.
 

“Lula’s restaurant in Lynnwood.” She shrugs. “The bank person gave me Lula’s phone number. I’m gonna call to see if they remember two old ladies.”

“Great. We’re getting somewhere with this. It looks like they’re continuing farther north.”

My cell phone rings. It’s Caroline, and I pick up.
 

“Natalie! What the crazy shit is going on there? Is Colin’s grandma okay?”

“I hope so. It’s his great grandma Helga. Libby, his grandma, is here with me. So Helga took off with one of her friends without telling anyone. Just like that. She disappeared from her own birthday party.”

“Do you have any idea how to find her?” Caroline asks. I can hear the music and a crowd of people in the background. She must be still in the Black Horned Beast bar.
 

“Libby just got some leads from the credit card charges.”

“Okay, listen. Can you get here? We’ll help out.”

“Sure. I’ll grab a taxi. I’m on Alki Beach, so it might take a bit. Just stay where you guys are.”

“We’ll be waiting. Just hurry, Davenport. Those three nutcases are driving me crazy. Too much estrogen flying around.”

I laugh. Yep, it sounds like our girlfriends. I bet they’re the center of attention without even trying.
 

“Lula’s is a small diner in Lynnwood, from what I gathered,” Libby tells me, putting the phone back in its cradle. “They let me talk to the waitress who was serving Helga. Stella
is
with her. The waitress described both of them, and there is no doubt it was Helga and Stella, just like you thought.”

“Bingo!” I grin. “What else? Did they say anything about where they’re heading?”

“Actually, yes. That waitress said they were chatty and very friendly. She called them
sweet little ladies
.” Libby rolls her eyes. “Sweet little ladies my ass. They’re going to Point Elliott Casino, can you believe it?”

I exhale. “That’s actually so much better than flying to Vegas.”

“Agreed, but what in heavens has gotten into their heads? Stella, I can understand. That’s totally down her alley. But Helga? Well, she used to have her wild side, but she’s been acting her age for a long while.” Libby paces around the kitchen, arms crossed over her chest. “I’m gonna have a word with her, just wait and see.”

I don’t doubt that. Although I really doubt Helga’s worried about being scolded by her daughter. A
wild side
, eh? No surprise here!

EIGHT

 
“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg though he knows that you are slightly cracked.
 

Bernard Meltzer

Ten minutes later the taxi picks me up from Libby’s house. I beg her not to tell Colin, unless he calls her and asks. I hope he’s preoccupied with Frank and won’t contact her any time soon.
 

Libby wants to go to the hospital when she learns about Frank’s condition, but I convince her to stay put. There are still many of the party guests searching the neighborhood, and someone needs to let them know that Helga’s already miles away. No need to continue the search, at least not in West Seattle.
 

Libby reluctantly agrees to stay. I tell her to continue monitoring the credit cards, and suggest doing that online instead of calling.
 

“Text or call me right away if you see any new charge coming through.” A friend of mine who works in the banking industry explained to me once that the charges hit the bank only when a vendor sends the daily batch out. Nobody submits separate transactions because of the banks’ fees. So we might not see Helga’s next purchase until tomorrow, if we’re lucky. But with the information gathered from the Lula’s waitress, I know where I’m heading.
 

The Black Horned Beast bar is smack in the center of downtown Seattle. I pay the taxi driver and get out of the vehicle. It’s raining, so I run to the door. As soon as I open it, the music mixed with loud conversations and laughter filters out. I spot my friends at a table close to the bar and stride straight in their direction.
 

“Hey, Davenport!” Ali yells, scrambling from her chair. She throws herself onto me, squeezing me in her death-grip bear hug.
 

I wince. “Easy does it. Ali… Ali, fuck, you’re gonna flatten me like a pancake.” I’m gasping for air.
 

“Sorry,” she slurs, letting me go. “I had too much to drink.” She hiccups and laughs.
 

“You’re wasted, girlfriend. No more booze for you tonight,” I command.
 

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jena hugs me, half-leaning from her chair. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I shrug. “I know where Helga’s heading.”

Svetlana and Caroline hug me briefly, demanding to know more.
 

“To a casino, of all places.” I chuckle.
 

“Which one?” Jena asks. “Muckleshoot?’

“Point Elliott,” I say.
 

Ali giggles. “That’s hilarious. Grandmas are sneaking out to gamble!”

I can’t help but laugh too because it’s a funny thought. “I know, right? But I need to find her and drag her ass back home, before Libby has a heart attack. She’s not amused.”

“Okay.” Svetlana rubs her hands together. “Let’s go then. Oleg and Vadim are ready.”

“You’ve got them on call or something?” Ali muses. “I wanna have a guy on call.”

“You had a guy on call before you started dating Ash, remember? Your fuck buddy?” I remind her. “But you’re better off now, trust me.”

“They are not fuck buddies, you crazy. They are my bodyguards,” Svetlana huffs indignantly. It’s comical how she pronounces
fuck
and
crazy
in her harsh Russian accent. “I have a boyfriend, and he actually pays them a nice salary to be around when I need them.”

“We have a freakin’ celebrity here.” Jena downs her drink and puts the glass down. “Bodyguards.” She snorts.
 

“What else should I call them? Escorts?”
 

That earns Svetlana a round of hoots and high-fives from Ali, Caroline, Jena, and me.
 

Jena’s grinning with approval. “Yeah, escorts sound so much better. Although that would be pretty much the same as fuck buddies.”

Svetlana takes a sip of her drink. “Andrei would kill me and them if that was true. Don’t even joke about that.”

“Okay, okay. The big, bad Mafioso wolf.” Jena pretends to shudder.
 

Ali goes to the bathroom, and I ask the girls, “So what’s up with her? Why did she get so wasted?”

Caroline shrugs. “Not sure. I don’t think there is a reason. She just had one too many.”

“It’s not like her to get drunk. Now we need to haul her ass home. She can’t go with us,” I say.
 

“Good luck with that.” Jena rummages in her purse and takes a lipstick out. “She’s gonna be fine. You’ll see.”

“Okay.” I’m not convinced, but I know that arguing with Ali would be pointless. “Is anyone driving tonight?”

They all shake their heads, and I’m relieved since they’ve been drinking. But now how are we going to get to that casino? “We need a big taxi to fit all five of us.”

“A party bus!” Svetlana clinks her appletini glass with Caroline’s.”

“Oh, oh, or let’s get a limo,” Jena pipes in, excitedly.