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Authors: Elaine Viets

Murder With All the Trimmings (21 page)

BOOK: Murder With All the Trimmings

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“I hope not.” Alyce headed west, toward her home in the Estates at Wood Winds. They were out of the cemetery, driving past strip malls and fast-food franchises.

“The detectives would hound me forever if they knew about Nate’s drug money stash,” Josie said. “I think that’s the real reason Nate came back.”

“If I were you, Josie, I’d clean out that storage locker fast,” Alyce said. “The police aren’t stupid. Don’t underestimate them. Especially the older guy.”

“He did seem smarter than his sidekick,” Josie said. “I’m impressed by the way you handled those detectives, Alyce. How do you know so much about antifreeze?”

“It’s a hot topic in my subdivision,” Alyce said. “The Wood Winds homeowners association tried to outlaw traditional antifreeze, because ethylene glycol has a sweet taste that can attract pets and children. As little as a teaspoon can kill a cat. Two tablespoons can kill a toddler.

“The homeowners were up in arms over the proposed ban and voted the board out for even suggesting it. This subdivision is crawling with lawyers, and half of them threatened to sue. Some parents care more about their cars than their kids. Jake takes no chances. He uses Sierra, the so-called safer antifreeze.”

“I know antifreeze can be dangerous,” Josie said. “I kept it locked away when Amelia was little.
Stop!
”

Alyce hit the brakes and the SUV screeched to a halt. Her already pale skin looked like it had been dusted with flour. “What’s wrong?”

“Forget the cookies. We need to get Amelia,” Josie said. “Right now. I can’t leave her alone with Mitch. O’Connell’s is close to too many major routes. Mitch could grab my daughter and run.”

“Now you’re talking,” Alyce said.

Chapter 22

Alyce made a U-turn to a chorus of angry horns and raised middle fingers. She gave the drivers a ladylike wave.

“We’ll be at O’Connell’s in twenty minutes,” she said. “Sooner if I hit enough green lights. Anyone else we have to watch out for besides this Mitch?”

“Yes, Harvey, the drunk who sang ‘Frosty the Deadman’ at the memorial service.”

“He was a piece of work,” Alyce said. “Was he like that when you were dating Nate?”

“Is that your tactful way of asking if Harvey was always an insensitive drunk? He was always over the top. But I was twenty years old—a really stupid twenty. You look at your friends differently when you don’t have children.”

“I sure wouldn’t want Justin pulling some of the stunts Jake and I did when we were single,” Alyce said. She sailed through a red light to furious honks.

“Please, Alyce,” Josie said. “Don’t get a ticket on my behalf.”

“My husband is a lawyer,” Alyce said. “A ticket is nothing when a child’s safety is at risk. Josie, how are you going to get rid of this Mitch guy? I don’t think he’ll be scared of you.”

“Maybe if I got a tattoo,” Josie said.

“Or sent Mike to threaten him,” Alyce said.

“No, I do my own dirty work,” Josie said.

“You look really scary to me,” Alyce said. “What do you weigh—a hundred and ten pounds?”

“One twenty,” Josie said.

“And you have a black belt in karate.”

“I have a black belt from Donna Karan, but it was on sale. I can make my way around any mall in the city, but I don’t think that will impress him.”

“Josie, he’s going to stick to you like white on rice for that money. How much is in there—thousands?”

“At least. Maybe hundreds of thousands. Possibly as much as half a million. I’ve never been there, and have no idea. But he wants it bad. I’m going to tell Mitch that Nate gave me some incriminating information and if he doesn’t leave me alone, I’ll turn him in to the police.”

“I saw that
Miami Vice
episode. Everybody got killed except Crockett and Tubbs. Josie, even if you have some useful information—and you don’t—it’s at least ten years old. The statute of limitations could have run out by now. You don’t want the money, right?”

“No. It’s dirty money.”

“But you could find clean uses for it.”

“It’s bad karma, Alyce. I really believe that. I don’t want it, and I don’t want the murder and the pain associated with it.”

“Then give Mitch the money.”

“But Nate didn’t want him to have it.”

“Nate’s dead, Josie. And you’re going to be, too, if you don’t let go of something you don’t want. Nate wouldn’t want anything to happen to you or his daughter. Get rid of Mitch. He’s dangerous.”

“You’re right,” Josie said.

She pulled the storage-locker key out of her purse, wrote down the address and unit number, wiped the key clean with a tissue, and stuck it in her coat pocket. She put the address and unit number in her other pocket.

Josie sighed. Nate meant well, but this gift was more trouble he’d brought into their lives.

“Are you okay?” Alyce asked.

“I guess,” Josie said. “Nate was so wonderful in the hospital. It was like the man I loved was back. But he was a devil when he drank. I wished that drunk Nate dead, but I also lost my Nate.”

“Josie, your Nate was gone long ago, if he ever existed.”

“I know, I know. He was selling drugs when I was dating him, and I was too dumb to know that. God knows what else he was doing. I’m better off away from him, and so is our daughter.”

Alyce turned into the pub’s crowded parking lot. “What’s the plan?”

“Circle the lot. I’ll be out as soon as I get Amelia.”

Josie stood at the doorway inside the dimly lit bar. Her black outfit seemed to melt into the shadows. Jack was laughing, playing darts and drinking with his son’s friends. Jane was nowhere to be seen. Amelia was sitting with Mitch, sharing a basket of crispy fries. The table next to them was piled with thick-bottomed beer steins and empty food platters.

Great, Josie thought. How am I going to get Amelia away from Mitch?

She picked up an empty, lipsticked beer stein and marched over to Mitch’s table.

“Amelia, we have to go. Right now.” She held out her hand.

“Mom?” Amelia looked confused. “Is something wrong? I was just talking. Mr. Mitch knew Daddy.”

Mitch smiled, showing those crooked-tombstone teeth. His eyes were flat and yellow, like a goat’s. “Aw, don’t be mad, Josie. I was telling my little friend a few
key
facts about her daddy.” He hooked one huge hand around Amelia’s arm. A Rolex watch glowed on his wrist. Josie could tell it was a fake by the jerky movement of the second hand.

“Amelia,” Josie said. “We have to leave.”

Mitch gripped Amelia’s arm tighter. “We’ve had an interesting conversation. I didn’t realize you still live in your mom’s house in Maplewood. I could drop in anytime and surprise you. And your daughter. I’ve got lots of stories about her daddy.”

The yellow goat’s eyes narrowed. “Give me the key, Josie.”

Josie threw the tissue-wrapped key on the table and it slid across the top. Mitch let go of Amelia’s arm to reach for it. Josie slammed his wrist with the heavy beer stein. His fake watch crystal cracked.

“Oops,” Josie said. “It slipped. I’m so sorry.” Insincerity dripped from her voice like acid.

“Ow,” Mitch said. “Shit. That was a Rolex.”

Josie threw a twenty on the table. “It was a fake, Mitch, just like you. This should buy you a new one. If you want a real Rolex, I’d head out to that storage locker soon. You’ve got twenty-four hours before I call the police and they impound the cash.”

Josie bent down and whispered in his hairy ear, “If I catch you talking to my daughter again, there won’t be enough of you left to bury in an envelope.”

“I won’t forget this,” Mitch snarled, rubbing his wrist and removing the shattered watch.

“I hope not. Amelia, tell your grandfather good-bye.”

Amelia and Josie both hugged Grandpa Jack. Jane emerged from the restroom. “Mom, I’m taking Amelia home. You can drive my car, okay?”

Josie and her daughter headed for the door. She passed Harvey throwing darts.

“Josie!” Harvey cried, loud enough so the whole bar could hear him. He came over and gave her a hug and said, “You aren’t mad at me, are you?” The stench of beer on his breath nearly knocked her over.

“Harvey,” Josie said, “why would I be mad at you? Listen, keep an eye on Mitch. He has the key to Nate’s storage locker. I think he’s going out there very soon, probably sometime today.”

“You kidding me? I’ve been looking for that place for ten years. I’ll give you a cut of the cash.”

“No need,” Josie said. “Nate left us well provided.”

“How can I thank you?” Harvey asked.

“Your surprise will be thanks enough,” Josie said, and virtually pushed Amelia out the door. “Quick! There’s Alyce.”

Alyce had the SUV’s engine running. Josie nearly threw Amelia into the backseat. She noticed her daughter was carrying a blue velvet box, but there was no time to ask about it. Josie jumped in the front, then slammed and locked the door as if the devil were after her.

“Drive off,” Josie said. “Hurry!”

“Where to?” Alyce asked.

“Home,” Josie said. “I mean, my home. Maplewood.”

“Josie, are you and Amelia going to be okay, or do you want to stay with Jake and me?”

“We’ll be fine,” Josie said. “Mitch has an errand that should keep him busy the rest of today and most of tomorrow. I know you have to bake those cookies, but do you have time to swing by the Galleria?”

“Are we having a shopping emergency?” Alyce said.

“I need to go to the California Pizza Kitchen,” Josie said.

“Yay!” Amelia said. “Pizza for dinner!”

“Somehow I can’t see you in a hurry for a chopped salad, Josie,” Alyce said. “Don’t worry about the cookies. Come over tomorrow if you want.”

“I’ll call the restaurant now for our order,” Josie said. “What would you like, Alyce?”

“Nothing, thanks. I’ll take a rain check.”

“I want a pepperoni-and-mushroom pizza,” Amelia said.

“You have your mother’s same love of healthy food,” Alyce said.

Amelia looked puzzled.

Josie placed her phone order while Alyce threaded the traffic-clogged streets to the mall. Josie studied the traffic behind them, making sure Mitch or Harvey wasn’t following them. She saw only matronly minivans and sedate SUVs.

Alyce turned into the Galleria mall parking lot and stopped in front of the California Pizza Kitchen entrance. Josie jumped out.

“I’ll circle around until you’re out again,” Alyce said.

Amelia started to follow her, but Josie said, “Stay with Alyce, please. I’ll only be a minute.”

Josie headed for the pay phone just inside the mall’s lobby doors. She dialed information and asked for the St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers number. Then she dialed it.

When a woman answered, Josie interrupted her. “I only have a minute. I don’t want a reward and I can’t give my name. Some dealers have been keeping large amounts of cash and drugs in a storage locker by the airport. One is dead and the other two are after his money. Here’s the address.”

She read the information, then said, “Hurry. It will be cleaned out in the next twenty-four hours.”

Josie hung up, feeling frightened, triumphant, and ashamed. She’d never reported anyone to the police before. She was turning into Mrs. Mueller. But Mitch had threatened her daughter. She’d cut his heart out with a dull knife before she’d let him hurt Amelia.

Josie raced into the restaurant, paid for her order, and ran out again, waving down Alyce. The whole transaction took maybe ten minutes.

“Look what Grandpa gave me,” Amelia said, when Josie settled into the front seat with the pizza box.

She held out a small crystal heart that looked like Waterford.

“It’s beautiful, honey,” Josie said.

“It’s Daddy,” Amelia said. “Grandpa said I could have some of him.”

Josie saw the gray-white ash and bone chips through the glass and felt queasy. This was a spoonful of Nate.

“That was very—” Very what? She searched for the right word. Sad? Morbid? Freaking weird?

“Grandpa said this way I could always have my daddy with me. I’m thinking of burying him in the backyard, by the roses, so he’ll have his own grave.”

“Just like a pet cat,” Josie said softly.

“What?” Amelia said.

“It’s such a pretty crystal heart,” Alyce said. “Maybe you’ll want to keep it in your room. That way you’ll have your father close to you. When you grow up and move away, you can take him with you.”

Josie didn’t know which was worse. Having a spoonful of her drunken ex buried in the backyard was creepy. But so was keeping a fancy ashtray of dear Daddy on her daughter’s dresser.

“Do you really think Daddy’s heart is inside this box?” Amelia asked.

“If that’s what your grandfather told you,” Josie said.

“It is,” she said. “When I visit my grandpa in the summer, we’re going to take the rest of Daddy to his favorite place.”

BOOK: Murder With All the Trimmings

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