A Brilliant Ride (24 page)

“He’s been agitated lately. I don’t want to do anything that’ll make him suspicious. I have to think very seriously about my next move. I need some time to process all of this,” I said. “It’s a lot to take in.”

Just then I heard the door. I turned and saw Sam standing in the doorway smirking.

“
Pen, who’s that on the phone?”

“Oh, Sam,
you’re home early. I’m speaking with Mother,” I lied. “I was just telling her not to hurry back.” My voice cracked. “Yes, okay Mother, see you later,” I said calmly into the receiver.

“Pen, be careful,” Cla
udia whispered and clicked off.

Sam walked
over and stroked my hair.

“You seem nervous. Is anything wrong?” he asked in an unnerving voice. “You don’t seem quite yourself?”
His lip curled just the slightest bit.

“It’s just…I have so much to do,” I answered quickly. “Actual
ly, I have to dash.” I glanced down at my watch. “I have to pick up the kids. Blossom will be back soon. She’s making a roast for dinner. See you later.” I hurried past him, holding my breath.

I could feel his eyes on me, as I grabbed my coat and bag from the hall closet and dashed out of the house for my car. Safely inside, I locked the doors and let out my breath. I couldn’t start the car fast enough. My hands were shaking, and I couldn’t remember how to drive for a moment. Trembling, I put the car in gear and sped down the long drive, glancing back to make sure he wasn’t following me. He wasn’t.

“I need a plan,” I mumbled, looking in the rear view mirror. Sam looked suspicious. He had that look in his eyes. “That look means trouble.”

I headed straight
for Jackie’s house. When I pulled into the circular drive, I noticed Phyllis’ car parked on the side of the house, back behind the hedge. I made my way up the grand stone staircase leading up to Jackie’s large contemporary and rang the bell several times; Phyllis answered.

“Well, hey
…Jackie, look who’s here,” she yelled out. “Come on in, Pen; we’re having a little party,” she snorted and showed me into the living room.

As soon as I e
ntered, I knew something was wrong. Jackie was sitting up stiffly in her white leather chaise, her eyes blazing. Without saying a word, she motioned over to the phone with her eyes. I turned and set my gaze on Phyllis. She seemed odd, and her speech was thick and slurred.

“Come on Pen; take a load off. Have a seat. Jackie and I were just getting started.” She walked over to a tray of drinks and downed one.

“None for me,” I said politely.

“Come
on, Pen; stop being such a buzzkill.”

“I’ll have one,” Jackie said. Phyllis ignored her and set her gaze on me.

“What’s this all about? Are you two having a little impromptu girls’ night? Starting a little early, don’t you think? Too bad Claudia isn’t here. Oh, but that’s right, she’s still recovering. You know…from her overdose,” I stammered.

“Yes, she is; the poor dear,” said Phyllis flatly. “It’s really
too bad about Claudia. We almost lost her.”

“Thank God for Debbie.” I stared her down.

It’s amazing how someone can change right before your eyes. Phyllis had taken on the look of a hardened woman. She looked ugly to me, now…
like a rodent
.

“Oh dear, things have really escalated. Our sweet little village…so much drama,
and
so much bad energy
,” she sneered. I looked over at Jackie. She was staring at the phone, not saying a word.

“What’s wrong, Jackie, speechless for once?” Phyllis laughed.

I started for the phone. “I have an idea; let’s call Claudia and see if she’s up to joining us. What do you say, girls?”

I got half way there, when Phyllis hauled off and slammed me across my face, knocking me to the ground. “I’d think twice about making any calls, if I were you.”

Jackie shrieked, “Get away from her, you maniac,” and jumped up to help me. It was useless. Phyllis spun around like a ninja and kicked her hard in the stomach, causing her to fall back against one of her giant canvasses. Breathless, Jackie let out a moan and crumbled to the ground. I was horrified. Phyllis was totally out of control. What’s more, she reeked - a horrible combination of scotch, patchouli oil, and perspiration. She was sweating like a pig.

“Phyllis,
what’s wrong with you?”

Turning quickly, she
grabbed me by my throat, unleashing a maniacal laugh. “You two are pathetic,” she snarled.

She pushed me over to wher
e Jackie was lying on the floor and threw me on top of her. Jackie held me close and put her mouth up to my ear, “She has Trevor tied up in the back; she hit him over the head.”

“Poor Trevor; Phyllis is certifiable.
” I managed to shift my weight off of her, and we sat up clutching each other.

Phyllis stood over us, glaring. “Stupidly, yo
u all misjudged me. I have big plans for the two of you,” she sputtered. “Same goes for that mental midget, Claudia. She’s going down, too. She had a good thing going with that dishy tennis pro, but she had to get all righteous and uptight. She’s a liability, just like Todd and that stupid carcass at Magnolia.” Her eyes flashed. “I had to get rid of them, you see. They were getting sloppy; talking too much. It was so easy - a perfect plan. A few pills and they were off to La La Land.”

“Phyllis, what are you saying?” I held my heart.

“You see, I had to do it; I had to keep them quiet. They were very naughty.” Her eyes glazed over. “I couldn’t take any chances. It was very simple, really.” She grinned. “I’m such a genius. Ha, ha ha…it won’t be long before the police are knocking on your door,” she spewed at Jackie, “with a warrant for your arrest. You see, I was very clever giving you that ring to wear. Everyone’s seen you wearing it,” she squealed. “That ring is packed with pills…the same pills I used to kill the waiter and Todd.
Too bad Claudia was rescued by
that nit wit
,
Debbie
,” her face contorted. “I’ll be sending that ring to the Police Department, later today…with a little note. Maybe I’ll even get a reward,” she snickered.

“I don’t think so, Phyllis. You see, I have the ring…right here in my handbag. I found it in my basement,” I said, tightening my fist.

“Hmmm, that does present
a little problem
,” she sniffed. “I thought I had it in an envelope…”

“Ha, you mean that envelope stuffed with cash. The one you and Sam hid behind the steam pipe in my basement? I found that too, Phyllis. You’re not as buttoned up as you think.”

“How did you get that ring back? I thought I lost it,” Jackie hissed.

“I went to your place and took it,” Phyllis said flatly. “Your housekeeper let me in.”

“Remind me to fire her,” Jackie grumbled.

“Actually, this is perfect,” Phyllis chirped. “Now it has your fingerprints on it, too, Pen. It’s almost too good to m
e true. Now, hand the ring over!”

“You set me up,
” Jackie wailed.

“Yes, and it was fun; I must admit,” sai
d Phyllis, her face contorting. “I even sported a trampy red wig the night that waiter got his just deserts. Oh yes. It’s just a matter of time before everyone puts two and two together. Ha! And that brooch they found in Todd’s car…I picked it up in a little consignment shop two towns over. It looks a lot like the ugly garbage you wear; don’t you think, Jackie?” she whinnied like a horse. “Do you remember when I popped over to your place, the day after that waiter got what was coming to him? I asked you to look at a brooch I bought for my sister. You held it in your hands, putting your fingerprints all over it. Do you remember? You have to admit, I’m on the ball,” she cackled.

“
You are one sick puppy, Phyllis.” Jackie shook her head.

“And you!” Phyllis turned to me, her eyes glowing like two hot coals. “What a pathetic excuse for a woman. Sam should have his head examined for spending a second of his time with a whiny little wa
ll flower like you.”

“Um, I’ll take that drink now,” Jackie said, staring at the tray.

“So, it’s Sam, is it?” I laughed. “Sam is the one you’re hot for? Please, you can have him.”

“Don’t worry, I know that,” she replied quickly. “
You lame brain
; he’s been mine all along. We’ve been thinking of ways to get rid of you for ages. You’re like a pimple that won’t go away. Not to worry, though.”

“So, you and Sam are responsible for the murders and for Claudia floating in that damn fountain? What kind of sick…”

“Hey, I’ll take credit for that, thank you. I’m the star in this production,” she boasted. “He knows nothing about that. I’ll do anything to stay in control, anything. If anyone gets between Sam and me, or the operation I’ve built, you bet your sweet ass I’ll take them down. I’m in charge, not him. Poor guy; he’s got his hands full with you.”

I felt my stomach heave again and steadied myself against the wall.

“Get it straight,” Phyllis ranted on. “This operation is bigger than your miniature mind can imagine. I’ve got an organization in Europe that’s twice the size of what I have here…in this one horse town. Trust me, I’m big,” she gloated, shaking like a leaf. Perspiration ran down the side of her face, and she wiped it away with the sleeve of her Indian print tunic.

“Welcome to
Crazyland
,” Jackie mumbled.

“Phyllis, you’re a Cowl! You can’t be serious. You don’t need money; you’re loaded. You’ve got connections, an important family…a noted blood line. You’ve got
necklines
named after you, for crying out loud.”

“It’s not just the money,” she moaned, rolling her eyes. “It’s the excitement; I haven’t felt this alive in years! The power of running such a massive secretive operation is irresistible, so naughty and delicious.” She licked her lips. “Then there’s Sam,” she purred like a cat. “What a thrill it was to steal him away…right from under your
Nose Job
. Ha! That part was easy.”

“You had your nose done?” Jackie studied my face.

Phyllis rolled her eyes and poured another scotch. She downed it with one loud gulp. “It’s the excitement,” she babbled on. “It’s so damn boring in this stupid town. As a matter of fact, my whole life has been pretty frigging boring; all mapped out for me by my pathetic family
, that pack of
scarecrows
. Pleeeeeze, I need adventure and intrigue.”

“What about Frank?
Is he involved too?”

“Don’t make me laugh,” she sputtered. “That
meatball
; I just used him for his warehouses and all those goons he has working for him. Those guys answer to me; he’s nothing. He has no idea…such a bonehead”

“Frank, that poor lug,” Jackie said, shaking her head.

“He’s a meatball,” Phyllis ranted.

Jackie looked kind of grey. “Um, about that drink…?”

“You can’t keep us here forever, Phyllis,” I snapped. “Look, you can have Sam and
your massive operation
. Just let us out of here. We don’t care what you do or what you’ve done. We won’t mention a word to anyone. You can trust us…right, Jackie?”

“Um, there’s a bottle of Pinot Grigio on the bar. If I could just…”

“You must take me for a real fool.” Phyllis laughed and wiped her bright red lipstick off with the back of her hand, leaving a crimson streak across her face. Her tunic was soaked with sweat, her bottom lip was quivering, and red blotches were popping up all over her face and neck.

Phyllis was a hot mess
.

Suddenly, a moaning sound emanated from the back room, distracting Phyllis.

Jackie and I seized the moment.

We jumped up and charged Phyllis with everything we had.

It didn’t work. As soon as we popped up, she shoved a large revolver at us.

“Whoa, whoa…calm down. Let’s not get crazy, Phyllis!”

“Yeah, just take a freaking cleansing breath, you fruit loop…be logical,” shouted Jackie. “Put the gun down, Phyllis!” Jackie took my hand, and we backed away slowly.

“Not a chance! One wrong
move and I’ll blast a nice big hole in the two of you. Now get moving; in the corner.” She waved the gun over her head. “I have to tie you two up, so I can get the hell out of here.”

“Use your head; Phyllis. I think you’ve co
me undone…like that nut Saffron. Snap out of it!”

“Ha! Saffron is on my payroll, you idiot. You should have listened to her, Pen. You should have taken her warning more seriously. I tried to spare you…tried to get you to leave on your own. Now it’s too late. I have to deal with you myself.
My work is never done
,” she fumed.

“You’ve lost it Phyllis.”

“
I’m in total
control
,” she shrieked, waving the revolver.

I tried to steady my breath and bit my lip. I prayed for Brilliant to come swooping in and save us, but that seemed unlikely at this point.