Bouquet of Lies (29 page)

“You think you’re so smart. You think I haven’t been paying attention to what you do?”

He laughed. “If your life is so boring that you need to focus on mine, go right ahead.” He didn’t sound spooked. “Look, I have to go.”

“I found something,” she blurted out.

“What are you talking about?”

“I found something.”

“You found what?”

“We’ll talk about it.”

There was a pause.

“Just tell me what it is,” Randy said.

“No. When you get back. When Darla’s awake.”

“She won’t be awake for at least another hour. Maybe two.”

“Fine. I have some errands to run. When should I expect you?” Lacey rubbed Kitty’s ear.

“I have something I have to take care of and then I’ll be there.”

“When?”

“I don’t know.”

“Darla’s Reverend Irene called,” Lacey said, giving her nudge a jab.

“She did?”

Lacey could tell she’d thrown him for a loop.

“Darla was asleep, so I talked to her.”

“Why?”

“She seems to know you.”

“Now I know you’re lying. Or you’re imagining things.”

“No. She knows you. She said as much.”

There was an icy silence before Randy spoke again. “I doubt that. I’ve never met the woman.”

“She has visions.”

“Right. Then there’s your explanation.”

“What do you think of the Reverend? You think she’s a charlatan?”

“Yes. I do.”

“She said she talked to you.”

“She never talked to me.”

“Charlatan.”

“Lacey. Did you happen to tell her your mother is really alive?”

Lacey smiled. “No. It didn’t occur to me. And she did most of the talking.”

“What did she say exactly?”

Lacey wasn’t sure how far to take this and decided she’d said enough. “Right now I have to go.” She cut Randy off.

He called her back. She didn’t answer. She stroked the cat and smiled. “Bet he’s as nervous as I am now.”

The cat mewed. She picked up the phone and called Dan and told him she thought Randy was on his way.

Thirty-seven

THE NAME ON the lease was Bonnie Malone. The name on the mailbox was Reverend Irene.

Inside the apartment with his uncle and two deputies, Ames and Jackson, Dan wore latex gloves even though he wasn’t helping with the search. He was the boyfriend of the victim’s daughter. If anything incriminating was found, anything that ended up in court, his uncle didn’t want him to be the one to find it.

“Lawyers love to blow smoke up jurors’ asses. You’d be the kindling they’d light a fire with,” his uncle grumbled.

Dan’s cell phone rang just as Uncle Carrick opened another drawer in the desk he was searching.
Lacey.
Dan answered quickly.

“Are you okay?” he asked, walking a few steps away from his uncle.

“Of course,” Lacey responded. “Have you found anything?”

“Not yet.”

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed. “Well, he didn’t say where he was going, but if I were to place a bet, I’d bet Randy’s on his way.”

“Is that the warning bell?” Uncle Carrick looked up from the desk.

Dan nodded. “Randy left the house. She thinks he’s coming here.”

“Better move the squad car. Why don’t you do that?” Uncle Carrick went back to his search.

Dan heard the directive, but his mind was on Lacey. He wanted to take the cell phone and hole up in some corner and find out how she was really doing and what she was up to. “So everything is fine there?”

“Yes.”

“I wish you’d tell me what you’re doing.”

“I’m talking to you.”

He sighed. She wasn’t going to share. “Lacey. Whatever you’re up to, please be careful.”

“You be careful. He’s headed for your neck of the woods.”

His uncle tossed a pile of IDs on the desk. “Well, lookie here.”

Dan didn’t want to hang up. If he kept her on the line, it felt like he was keeping her safe. He wasn’t though, was he? Now they’d found evidence and he needed to move the car.

“Lacey . . .” He wanted to tell her he loved her, but instead told her to be careful again and ended their conversation. He moved to his uncle at the desk.

“Fifteen fake IDs,” his uncle said.

Ames entered carrying something lumpy and flesh-colored. “There’re a lot of wigs in her bedroom closet. And clothes, all styles. This is my personal favorite.” He held up a fat suit and pressed it against his body. “Think it does anything for me?” He laughed.

“Now that’s evidence,” Uncle Carrick said. “Take it. Hell, take all the clothes and the wigs.”

“And the shoes,” Dan added. “Lacey said the Reverend Irene was tall.”

“Shoes.” Ames nodded and went out.

The detective spoke without looking at his nephew. “Probably be able to connect some of those outfits to other scams.”

Jackson got to work dismantling the PC on top of the desk. “Let’s hope she was sloppy.”

“Thought you were going to move the car.” Uncle Carrick glanced at Dan. Jackson tossed him the keys. Dan went out.

The street was a quiet cul-de-sac with lots of shade trees and four other apartment buildings. Vehicles crowded the curb. The unmarked car his uncle drove wouldn’t attract Randy’s notice, but the black and white stuck out like a sore thumb. He drove it around the corner in the opposite direction from the busy boulevard Randy would be coming from.

He hurried back, walking through the courtyard, past the pool. Her apartment was in the rear on the ground floor. The living room and kitchen faced the courtyard; her bedroom and another that served as an office faced the boulevard.

He found his uncle at the kitchen table perusing papers in a manila folder. “We got her.” His uncle chuckled. “We got her.”

Dan stepped closer. “What is that?”

“Stark’s missing file. He may have been a maggot, but he was one hell of an investigator. Finding Crystal was a cakewalk compared to what else he dug up. That Edward. He was a piece of work.”

“What?” Dan asked.

“Are you ready for this? A few years back there was this hit and run the department never solved.”

“Edward?”

“Looks like it. That bastard ran down a woman in a crosswalk. Killed her. On purpose, witnesses said. Look at the victim’s picture.”

Dan stared. The victim resembled Lacey and Darla’s mother. “You think he was trying to kill Crystal?”

“Maybe she threatened to proceed with the divorce and Edward wigged out. We’ll never know. But this explains why Edward would pay Stark.”

“How was it Maggot, or Stark rather, was able to solve it?”

“He was working from the other direction. You know. Looking into Edward, he stumbled upon things Edward did and looked into why. Like, here. Edward sold a car around then. Stark checked into it. Talked to the buyer. Found out it was a great deal and that the car had just been painted. Stark asks himself, why? And why was Edward selling it and not Henry, the chauffeur? That would have been part of his job. See?”

“Well. It’ll be nice for the victim’s family to know who did this. Guess his murder will be some kind of justice for them.”

“Yeah. Small comfort.”

Ames and Jackson entered the kitchen. “Are we done here?”

“Not quite. Hopefully, Randy will show up soon.” Uncle Carrick looked at Ames, then Dan. “I should have thought of this earlier. You two switch clothes.”

“You want me in uniform?” Dan said.

“I want Ames in street clothes.”

Five minutes after Dan and Ames exchanged outfits, the doorbell rang. Dan checked the peep hole and moved back to the kitchen. “That’s him.”

Uncle Carrick motioned to his team and they moved deeper into the kitchen. The detective spoke softly. “Best scenario, he uses a key and walks in.”

Randy rang the bell again.

“He may not have a key,” Dan said.

Randy knocked this time. Hard.

“Ames. Go. Watch. If he walks away—”

“I’ll open the door.” Ames walked over and looked out the peep hole. He swung the door open immediately. “Hello.” Ames said.

Randy’s voice: “Ah, hi. I thought this was the Reverend Irene’s apartment.” He sounded unsure of himself.

“It is. You been here before?”

Dan smiled. It was a great leading question. But Randy didn’t bite.

“No. I, um. Who are you?” Randy asked.

“Who are you?” Ames replied.

There was a pause.

“She’s not here?” Randy said.

“You just missed her. She should answer her cell phone. Unfortunately, I don’t know the number.”

“Who are you again?” Randy asked.

“I was a client, but ah. Well, you know how those things can go.”

“A client. What’s your name?”

“Kind’a nosey, aren’t you? Look, I’ll tell her you came by if
you
want to tell me
your
name.”

“So she’ll be back.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Then give her a message for me.”

“No problem.”

“Tell her to stop hounding my wife.”

“Damn,” whispered Uncle Carrick.

“He’s quick,” Dan said softly.

“Hounding?” Ames questioned.

“Tell her to leave Darla alone from now on. And she doesn’t need to be talking to Darla’s sister either.”

Dan and his uncle looked at each other.

“Think you can do that?”

Ames chuckled. “It’s a tall order.”

“Then just to be sure, have her call me on my wife’s phone. I’ll answer. She has the number.”

“And your name?”

“Tell her to call Darla’s phone.”

“I heard you the first time.”

“Good.”

Ames closed the door on Randy’s retreating footsteps. He moved to the kitchen. “Tried to get him to call her.”

“You did good,” Uncle Carrick said. “He’s just slippery.”

“Think he was warning her to stay away? And when did Lacey talk to her?” Dan said.

“She might have just told him that. He sure wants to talk to her.” Uncle Carrick started in on the Tums. “He knows he’ll get to if she calls Darla’s number. And it still won’t connect her to him.”

Dan nodded. “How did he know where she lived? I mean, if they aren’t in cahoots, how would he explain it?”

“If we asked him, he’d just say Darla gave him directions.”

“But Darla wouldn’t know. I mean. It’s unlikely. She’s pretty much housebound, according to Lacey. Unless she goes out with someone.”

“Well, he’ll claim it, and get Darla to back him up.” Uncle Carrick popped a Tums.

Dan sighed. “Now what?”

“We’ll head back to the station and review what we’ve got.”

Thirty-eight

THE TENSION LACEY felt waiting for the next shoe to drop grew unbearable. Darla was still asleep and Kitty had wanted out. She was alone in the big quiet house, unable to make the next move. She needed Darla to wake up so they could talk. But Randy had said she’d be asleep for another hour at least.

Jake called. It was a welcome distraction. He needed to talk face to face after his night out in the cold. She hurried to the apartment above the garage.

Normally Lacey would have made suggestive remarks when Jake answered the door without a shirt on, but she wasn’t feeling sassy. In silence, she watched him throw a tank top over his head and pull it down over his torso as he led the way into the kitchen. He grabbed his left shoulder with his right hand and twisted. She heard his back crack.

“I don’t recommend sleeping over a tree root,” he said as he grabbed his right shoulder with his left hand and twisted in the opposite direction.

Lacey spotted an open jar of salve on the table. She picked it up and took a look. “You should see a chiropractor.”

“Yeah? That’s miracle cream you’ve got there. Says so on the label.”

Lacey frowned. “It says snake oil.”

“You should get your eyes checked.” He took it from her and screwed on the lid.

Lacey didn’t crack a smile. “You’ve got a lot of knots, huh?”

“Well. It’s just a back. Darla’s neck was on the line. She’s worth it.”

Lacey sighed. “I know she’s worth it. I’m just . . .” She shook her head.

“What’s the next step?” Jake asked.

“What do you mean?” She tried to sound nonchalant.

Jake eyeballed her. “Okay. I know that tone. There has to be a next step. You’re up to something.”

She didn’t want to tell him what she was planning. There was nothing for him to do. It was up to her, and she didn’t want him to interfere.

“You’ll know what I’m up to when the time’s right.”

Jake rubbed the side of his face and his attitude shifted. “I don’t like this. I never used to have to worry about you.”

“Well, don’t start now.”

“It’s hard not to.” He snorted. “You know what that arrogant bastard said to me when he left? To get off his property.
His
property. What a joke.”

“You tell him to go to hell?”

“Nope. I figure guys like that want you to lose your cool. It makes them think they’ve won. So I just smiled and said, ‘I don’t know what planet you’re living on, but any similarity between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.’”

“What?”

“I read that somewhere.”

“Yeah. Because it doesn’t sound like you.”

“I’m not sure he got it.”

“I’m not sure I got it.”

Jake laughed. “Well. Whatever. At least he looked confused.”

Lacey smiled and then looked at him thoughtfully. “I think you need to stay longer than the summer.”

“Yeah?”

She moved to the counter and leaned her back against it. “Darla’s going to need someone once this is over.”

Jake didn’t say anything.

“She’s going to need you.”

Her phone rang and she checked the caller ID. It was Randy. “Speak of the asshole. Hello?”

“Listen,” Randy’s voice was urgent. “Where are you now?”

This was it. For Randy to call her and ask her that, he was about to make his move. It was probably best to lie. “I’m out. I needed to go for a drive.”

“Well, get back there. I’ve been thinking. I don’t want Darla left alone. She should be awake by now.”

Lacey thought about making a snide remark about having Randy’s permission to speak to her sister, but decided against it.

“Sure,” Lacey said.

“Good. How long before you can get there?”

“Not long.”

“Ten? Fifteen? I need to know.”

Why did he need to know?
Lacey frowned. “Twenty minutes, I guess.”

“Okay. I should be there in twenty-five.”

It sounded like he wanted her to be alone with Darla. Good. If she was awake, it gave her time to talk to her. But it also gave Randy time for his plan.

She hung up and put the phone back in her pocket. “I have to go,” she told Jake.

“I’ll come with you.” He started for the front door.

“No. That’s not a good idea.”

Jake stopped and turned toward her. “Why? You’ve got something up your sleeve.”

Lacey stuck out her arms. “I’m not wearing sleeves.”

“Funny.”

“So much so, you didn’t laugh.” She stared at him. Then she reached out and gave him a hug.

“What’s that for, Miss Priss?”

“Last night. Watching out for Darla. Being there when we were kids. Take your pick.”

She pulled back. She didn’t look him in the eye. He might see the tears starting to form. “There’s just one more thing. If you hear something loud like a bang coming from the house, don’t worry.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry.” She realized something. “And now that I think about it, you can help me.”

“Sure. Anything.”

“When Randy drives up, call me. Let the phone ring twice and hang up. But don’t come in the house.”

“I don’t like the sound of this.”

“Just trust me. Please.”

Darla stared out her bedroom window while she listened to her husband on the cell phone.

“I screwed up, Darla. I screwed up. Your sister called and I don’t even remember what she said that made me see red. I told her we were on to her. It was the worst thing I could have said. She’s on her way home.”

“Home?” Darla frowned. She could see Lacey’s car parked in the motor court. Why did he think she wasn’t home?

“She’s out driving around. But she’ll be at the house in twenty minutes.”

Darla watched Lacey exit Henry’s apartment and start down the stairs. Oh, she’d been talking to Jake. Darla felt a twinge of jealousy. Why should she be jealous? She was married to Randy.

“I can’t get there soon enough. She’s coming to get rid of that mask and wig. You’ve got to stop her. Do you understand?”

“You’re scaring me.”

“Good. I want you to be scared if that’s what it takes. Now tell me what you need to do.”

“I’m supposed to stop her.”

She watched Lacey cross the motor court until a projection of the house hid her from view.

“Remember what we talked about. Lacey is dangerous. Lacey is greedy. Lacey is a murderer. I shouldn’t have left you alone with her.”

Yes. Why did you leave me alone if she’s so bad?

“Let that fear drive you to action. Do what you have to do. You have the gun.”

“I have the gun.”

“Protect yourself.”

“Protect myself.”

“I’m sorry I’m not there.”

“I’m sorry.” Her mind was cloudy, dull.

“It’s up to you now. It’s all up to you. Darla, your sister means to hurt you. You can do this. For us.”

“For us,” Darla repeated.

“I’ll be there soon.” He hung up.

Like a zombie, Darla went to the dresser and took the gun from the drawer.

For us.

She walked out of the room and as she headed down the stairs, she found Lacey coming up. They both froze. Darla clutched the gun close against her side.

“What are you doing here?” Darla spoke softly.

“I live here, remember? And I was coming to check on you.”

“Why?”

“Because you were sleeping when I left.”

Darla looked to the side, thoughtful. “You were here earlier.” She remembered the feeling of being held. She remembered Lacey’s voice.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star . . .

“I was here and Randy went somewhere.”

Here is Lacey. Here is Dar.

Darla looked at her sister again. “Where did he go?”

“He didn’t say.”

“It’s up to me,” Darla said.

“What’s up to you?”

“I’m supposed to stop you.”

“Stop me from doing what?”

“You know.”

“I don’t know. What’re you talking about? Tell me.” Lacey stepped closer and spotted the gun. “What do you need that for?”

Darla looked down at the weapon.

“Darla, what are you doing with that gun?”

“I have to stop you from going into your room.”

“Why? What’s in my room?”

“Proof.”

“Proof?”

“That you killed Father and Grandfather.”

“You think I killed them?”

“Randy said you killed them. He said it wasn’t me.”

“He’s right about that. It wasn’t you.”

Darla put her fingers to her mouth. “Then it was . . . ? You don’t have blond hair.”

“Darla, neither of us killed anyone.”

“I killed Mom.”

“No. Our mother is alive.”

What had she just heard Lacey say? No, she couldn’t believe that. If she believed that, if she didn’t do what she was supposed to, she’d have to go back to the hospital. Her body shook.

“I don’t want to go to the hospital.”

“Who said anything about the hospital? You’re not going to any hospital.” Lacey took another step.

“I’m not?”

“I won’t let anyone put you in the hospital.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. I love you.”

“Randy loves me. I’m married. Did you come here to kill me? Does money mean that much? Randy says . . .” She swallowed.

“I could never hurt you. You know that. Down deep I know you know that. It isn’t me you need to worry about. It’s Randy.”

Anger exploded in Darla like an old fashioned flashbulb. She raised the gun, the barrel aimed at Lacey’s head. “Don’t say that.”

Lacey put a hand up. “I won’t. I won’t. Be careful.”

Darla gripped the gun. A thousand thoughts ripped through her brain. Finally the song became dominant.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

She began to sing aloud. “Here is Lacey. Here is Dar. Up above the world so high. Watching children from the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. Here we are. Here we are.”

Lacey stepped even closer despite the gun. “That’s right. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. You heard me.”

“Randy wants me to shoot you.” She aimed the gun. A couple of seconds passed in silence. “But I can’t.” Darla turned the gun on herself.

“No, Darla.” Lacey raced to her and put her hands on Darla’s hands.

Jake paced the living room and occasionally looked out the window.
Miss Priss. Why did she have to be so cryptic?
He wanted to go to the mansion and pound on the door and make her explain. But he didn’t. She had her reasons for doing whatever it was she was doing and he didn’t want to mess things up.

Ten minutes passed. Fifteen. Twenty. Twenty-two. He heard the motor of a car and looked out. Randy was pulling in. He called Lacey just like she’d asked. He let it ring twice and hung up.

Five seconds later he heard a gunshot and jumped out of his skin.
What the hell?
She’d told him not to worry if he heard a bang. But that was more than a bang!

He ran outside and down the stairs and saw Randy taking his sweet time walking toward the back door.

“Did you hear that?” Jake shouted at him.

“I did. I’m just going to check.”

“Yeah? Next week?”

“I thought I told you to get the hell out of here. You’re trespassing,” Randy snarled.

“I don’t care what you told me. Something’s going on. Something’s happened.”

Randy put his key in the lock. “Whatever it is, I’ll take care of it.”

“I’m calling the police.”

“You do that.” He slipped inside.

Seated on the stairs, Darla kept one arm stretched over Lacey who lay face down on her lap. Red liquid soaked her slacks and white blouse. She rocked back and forth singing, “Twinkle, twinkle. Twinkle, twinkle . . .” Her other hand rested on the stair, the gun loosely in its grip.

Randy appeared in the foyer below. He looked up at her.

“Darla.”

She stared at him. “Are you proud of me?”

“Darla, what happened?” He ran up several steps and paused.

“I did what you said.”

Randy climbed the rest of the way. He reached for Lacey’s pulse. “Well. Not quite.” He took the gun and stood erect. He aimed and calmly fired at Lacey’s head.

Darla screamed and fell over her sister’s body, hugging her tight.