Disrobed for Death (19 page)

“Tempting, but I still have to decorate the donation box. I found one the right size and stuffed it in my car.”

A. K. stared at the bundled checks and cash. “The Rain Tree is on the way to your apartment, so I’ll follow you home. I’d hate for someone to rob you after all our hard work.”

“Good idea.”

Heading to their cars, A. K. nudged Susan. “Aren’t you curious to know what Wesley bought?”

“You know?”

“My name’s on the sales slip. He didn’t give me a chance to suggest anything. He knew exactly what he wanted—satin sheets.”

Susan burst out laughing.

About fifteen minutes after Susan arrived home, she opened the front door for Herman.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, handing her a shoe box.

“Absolutely.”

Herman’s cell phone squawked in his pocket. After checking caller ID he flipped it open and mumbled a greeting. A few seconds later, his eyebrows shot up in surprise. “He what? Okay, thanks. Call me the minute he shows up.” He closed the phone and faced Susan, the frown on his face quickly elevating to a scowl. “Gary left a little after I did.”

“You think he followed you, suspects you had something to do with the missing money?”

Herman went to the front window and peaked out past the drapes. “I don’t think so, and he sure as hell can’t hurt you if I’m here.” He pulled out his phone punched in a name. “Vera, I’m staying with Susan until I hear from you that Gary’s back at his house.” He slipped the phone in his pocket and grunted his disapproval at the situation. “That crazy nut, ain’t no telling what he’s up to.”

“Look, I’ll be okay. I’ll lock the door and won’t open it for anyone.”

“Save your breath. I’m not leaving till I know where that snake is. You go ahead with whatever you were going to do. I’ll make myself comfortable.”

Susan had no choice. Under the watchful eyes of Herman, she spent the next hour decorating the box. Pink paper covered the outside and top. Then she glued red hearts all over the box. In the top, she cut out an opening so last minute donations could be added.

“What do you think?” she asked Herman.

“Looks great. I—” His phone rang. “Gary’s back? Then he wasn’t after me or Susan. Good. I’m on my way.” He looked at Susan and shook his head. “Just cause he’s at home is no reason for you to let down your guard. He’s sneaky. Keep your door locked and don’t open it unless you’re sure who’s on the other side. I’m going to have someone watch your place tonight.”

“You really don’t have to do that. I—.”

“Yes, I do. Don’t worry. He’s one of my employees. I have to pay him anyway. He’ll have an easy shift tonight.”

He wrapped his big burly arms around her in a hug and kissed her forehead. “You lock up now.”

“Yes, sir.”

After he left, Susan threw the dead bolt and leaned against the door. Dang, the box did look terrific. She could hardly wait for Melanie to open it.

After a bath, Susan slipped on a gown and crawled into bed. “Almost over,” she mumbled and reached for the light.

Susan chose a pale green crepe dress and matching shoes for the ceremony. While not the traditional black garment, the subdued color would be appropriate. Diamond stud earrings and a small gold cross necklace finished the ensemble. She applied a mauve lipstick and gave a final lift to her hair. As she took one last look in the mirror, she heard Wesley’s voice.

“You ready?” he asked, tapping on the door.

“I think so,” Susan said, letting him in. After slipping into her camel haired coat, she pointed at the donation box. “It’s cumbersome to get into my car, but it should fit in your extended cab.”

He didn’t bother to look at the box. He was interested only in her. Like invisible fingers, his gaze started at her head and crept downward. She could all but feel his gentle touch sneaking beneath her lace panties. A shiver of delight rippled through her.

“How is it you always take my breath away?” he asked.

She cleared her throat and reined in her imagination. “Glad to hear that I do. So, will the box fit?”

He lifted the colorful creation. “No problem.” Seeming to weigh it in his hands, he gave her a quizzical glance. “It’s heavier than I thought. How much did you collect?”

“Lots. It’s going to be a surprise. Other businesses agreed to deposit their donations at the door, and at the end of the ceremony, a bank employee will give us a total.” She glanced at her watch. “We might be keeping some donors waiting, so we’d better get going.”

She hustled him out of the apartment and locked the front door. Clutching her purse in one hand, and Wesley’s arm with the other, they scampered down the sidewalk to his truck.

The Hammond’s Sheriff Department had agreed to let Terrence’s hometown of Palmetto host the memorial service, and by the time they reached the high school auditorium, cars packed the parking lot.

“No telling where I’ll find a place to park,” Wesley said. “Why don’t I drop you at the door?”

“Thanks. I’ll wait for you out front.” She glanced up at the clear sky. “At least, it’s not raining.”

Susan thought back to the miserable weather on the day of the funeral, and more of the same was forecast for tomorrow. Would it make the stakeout more difficult? Surely it would hinder visibility. Regardless, she believed Wesley could handle any situation.

Wesley’s black Tundra exited the parking lot and pulled into a vacant space on the street. With the box in hand, he strode down the sidewalk toward her.

The front door to the auditorium opened and Mayor Hightower called to them. “Hey, the box looks great. I have a table set up to receive donations.”

He held the door for Susan and Wesley to enter.

“How you doing, Karl?” Wesley asked.

“Not so good. Terrance was a fine man. I feel so sorry for the family, but I’m glad you survived the blast. I hear Terrance shielded you.”

“I owe him my life.”

“Where should we place the box?” Susan asked.

“Right here,” he said, pointing to a linen draped table some twenty feet from the door. This nice young deputy will keep an eye on it for you.”

At the front of the auditorium, Melanie and her children sat at another table covered with a white tablecloth. To the left, a large picture of Terrance looked out at the audience from an easel.

Karl made his way to Melanie’s table where he picked up a microphone.

“If I could have your attention,” Karl said, his voice booming over speakers. “Anyone wanting to make contributions please do so in the donation box in the foyer.”

Muffled conversations turned to shuffling feet as groups of people made their way toward the entrance. Though Susan had only a brief encounter with Clarissa, she recognized her voice above all—a little higher, a little louder, and meant to draw attention. Had she not said a word, she still would have stood out in the crowd. Her fitted royal blue dress left nothing to the imagination. A diamond pendant in the shape of a flaming torch hung from a chain and dangled between her ample cleavage. Teardrop diamond earrings added sparkle, as if she needed more.

Tapping an envelope against her palm, Clarissa approached Susan who stood beside the donation box.

“I didn’t get a chance to stop by the boutique, but I want to make a contribution.” She dropped her envelope into the donation box. All the while, she kept staring at Wesley. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“Wesley Grissom.”

“Oh, so you were Detective Oliver’s partner. That must have been horrible.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Ma’am? And here I thought we looked about the same age. Please, call me Clarissa.”

Wesley shot a quick glance at Susan, who wondered if he saw Clarissa for the vixen she was; that he might be facing the person behind a murder-for-hire conspiracy. Susan was curious about Clarissa’s appearance. Was she looking for another possible contact, another gullible stooge desperate for money, someone she could con into doing her bidding? After the fiasco with Gary, she had to be frantic and making other plans. But how, when she was supposed to be broke?

“When are you leaving for Paris?” Susan asked, stopping Clarissa from undressing Wesley with her eyes.

“In a couple of days. I do hope to get by your shop for last minute items.”

Either the woman was a good liar or she had money stashed away. Had she already made other arrangements to take care of Jack?

“Oh, there’s the mayor,” Clarissa said, batting her eyes and waving at Karl. “I really need to speak to him. Excuse me.”

“Well? What do you think?” Susan asked, looking at Wesley.

“She’s certainly full of herself, but I can’t arrest her for being flirty.”

“She’s not fooling me. Under that frivolous façade is one vicious woman.”

“Some of the guys from the sheriff’s office are motioning to me. If you don’t need me for anything, I’d like to join them for a while.”

“Sure, I’ll catch up with you when the service begins.”

Susan turned her attention to the incoming crowd and thanked each person for their contribution. She turned around when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

“I can’t believe she’s here,” Ramona said, pointing to Clarissa.

“Me either, but we have to play it cool. Don’t let on that we suspect anything. We have her and the suspected killer under surveillance.” Now was not the time to tell Ramona about stealing the blood money and that Clarissa’s plan was unraveling. Wesley would stop whoever approached Jack’s place.

Susan hoped Ramona believed everything was under control, because Susan wasn’t sure of anything now.

“Did you find out if Jack took Clarissa off his insurance policy?”

“He said that he had, and that his attorney was going to notify her. I hope he meant it and wasn’t just putting me off.”

“Well, you’ll have lots to tell your brother when this is all over.”

The doors to the auditorium opened, ushering in a gust of cold air. Arm-in-arm, Myrtle and her sister, Lorraine, approached.

“I’ll see you later,” Ramona said and made her way through the crowd.

“I thought another donation would be nice,” Myrtle said, dropping an envelope into the box.

“I’m sure Melanie will be grateful. Good to see you both. So, are you adjusting to Palmetto, Lorraine? I assume you left a bigger city.” Susan asked.

“I was a hostess for one of the large hotels in Biloxi.”

Susan had no problem picturing Lorraine greeting guests, especially dressed as she was, today. Her black fitted dress reflected an air of professionalism, and the black and white scarf draped around her neck was just the right touch. Susan recognized it as a Bawdy Boutique purchase, the one Myrtle had bought as a gift for her sister.

“I’m sure your job was rewarding, but all the money in world can’t beat family. Right?”

“Exactly,” Lorraine said.

Myrtle glanced at her sister with loving eyes.

“Have you thought about what you’d like to do now?”

“I thought maybe I’d open a spa. Like you, I could draw clientele from the Hammond area.”

A spa would involve a good deal of capital, and here she was thinking Lorraine might have come home due to financial problems. Was a hotel hostess that profitable a job? “Well, if I can be of any help, please let me know.”

“Sister, I see the mayor,” Myrtle said. “I think we should let him know you’ve come back home.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Something in Lorraine’s voice gave Susan pause. More than likely, it was because Susan’s imagination was in overdrive with the funeral and everything else going on.

The ceremony commenced with the mayor thanking the community for all their hard work. After paying tribute to the fallen officer, the mayor concluded with the presentation of the Metal of Honor to Melanie.

“Now, while everyone enjoys refreshments, graciously provided by Tilly’s diner, bank employees will tally the donations. Whatever the amount, I know all contributions were given with love.”

While the donation box was moved from the back of the auditorium to the speaker’s table, Susan noticed Clarissa leaving. It looked like she just wanted to make an appearance.

A teller opened each envelope and counted the money while another recorded the amount and the name of the donor on a separate sheet. Finally, one of tellers stood and indicated that they had finished.

“Mr. Mayor, we’ve opened all the envelopes, and so far the total comes to $50,375.”

A cheer erupted.

Tears rolled down Melanie’s cheeks, and she hugged her children.

“Excuse me,” the teller said getting everyone’s attention. “I said, ‘So far.’ That’s the total from donations in the envelopes. There’s a shoe box at the bottom of the box that’s tagged, ‘From an Anonymous Donor.’”

“Well, anonymous is accepted here,” the mayor said. “Let’s see what’s in it.”

The teller set the shoe box in the center of the table and cut the strapping tape that secured the lid. Oh’s and Ah’s exploded from the front of the room.

“What is it?” someone shouted from the back of the auditorium.

“It’s full of hundred dollar bills,” the mayor said. “Move back and give the tellers room,” he said as the crowd pressed around the table.

“Yes, we have all hundred dollar bills here,” the teller said. He laid out ten stacks, all bundled and of equal size. Looks like there are twenty-five bills in each stack. If that’s correct, you’re looking at $25,000.”

The auditorium erupted in pandemonium. So many hands patted Melanie on the back, Susan thought she might be black and blue. Everyone was asking, ‘Who?’ But no one had an answer…nor did they really seem to care.

Wesley stood behind her. His arm circled her waist, and he whispered in her ear. “I wonder who it could be.”

Susan knew he wasn’t asking. While she didn’t want to lie to him, she also didn’t want him to arrest her or her accomplices. If she kept Herman and Vera out of it, and told the truth that she didn’t know who stole the money, the most he could charge her with would be trespassing. Or was there such a thing as Attempted Breaking and Entering or Conspiracy to Commit Burglary? She hoped not.

As the people filed out of the auditorium, Susan made a point to speak with Melanie. “All the money in world can’t make up for your loss, but maybe it can take some of the financial worries off your mind. I don’t know what your plans are for the future, but if I can help in any way, please let me know. I can always use another employee.”