Highlights to Heaven (21 page)

“Goat!” It came to mind that Vail had been using her as bait. She didn’t mind, now that the threat was gone. Wyeth hadn’t survived his stab wound. She wouldn’t think about that now. “Where is that rascal? And why did he wait until tonight to make his reappearance?”

“He was afraid of Wyeth and of being framed for Yani’s murder. I guess he decided his future was less important than protecting you.”

“What a sweetheart. I can’t wait to see him.” She felt a tug on her heartstrings. “Is he all right? You didn’t arrest him, did you?”

“Nah. He cooperated willingly, told us everything we needed to know. The shmuck just wanted to protect animals but got carried away by the scent of money. He was responsible for the anonymous tip I received about the dead man in his house. Your neighbor wanted someone to find the body.”

“What about Kenya? Did you locate her, too?”

“She ran off to stay with her sister. Your phone message scared her enough to make her wary.”

“Good for her.” She paused, reflecting on his revelations. “When can I reopen my salon?”

“The techs will be finished by Tuesday,” Vail reassured her. His craggy face relaxed into a smile as he placed a hand on her good shoulder. “I’ll follow you home.”

“I’m going to visit Goat,” Marla announced the next morning when Vail stopped by to check on her. She felt refreshed after eight hours of sleep. “Wait here, I’ll get Spooks.” Marla left the detective standing on her front stoop while she attached the dog’s leash.

Goat strolled out of his house as they neared. Her assessing glance took in his straw-colored hair, moussed into spikes, with no remaining traces of his temporary black dye; his beard that had grown thicker, making her wonder if he’d applied some of the formula to his jaw; and his knobby knees that showed below baggy shorts worn with a Hawaiian shirt.

Marla hugged him tightly, surprised when he patted her on the back in return and said, “I was so worried about you. I’m glad you’re safe.”

“No, I’m glad
you’re
safe,” she responded. Goat drew back abruptly, his face reddening.

Vail beamed at both of them.

“Uh, want to come in? I cleaned up the place,” Goat said with a hopeful expression.

Spooks tugged on the leash as though anxious to enter. Curious, Marla strode inside. Goat had opened the windows, she noticed, inhaling the strong smell of Clorox. Barking came from behind the closed door to the spare bedroom. Spooks pulled in that direction.

“I have a new friend,” Goat said. “Ugamaka, ugamaka, chugga, chugga, ush,” he chanted, dancing a jig. “Colors mix and match, black and white in flight. Guess who I mean, or she’ll take a bite.”

Marla laughed. “I give up.”

Vail jabbed her. “
I
know,” he said with a wink.

Goat pranced ahead and opened the side door. Out bounced a black poodle with short, curly hair, long ears, and soulful dark eyes. Spooks trotted up to the other poodle. The two evenly sized dogs sniffed each other eagerly. “Her name is Rita,” Goat said proudly.

“Oh, no. Spooks is in love!” Marla moaned.

“They wouldn’t let me keep Gertrude.”

“I doubt owning a goat is in our homeowner’s agreement. Now tell me how things went so wrong for you.”

Goat wrung his hands. “I took the formula so Evan and his cousin couldn’t torture any more animals,” he said in a more somber tone than Marla had ever heard him use. “But then I felt-and this is bad, I know-they might be willing to pay to get it back. I set up a meeting with Evan to make the exchange. Yani showed up, but so did Wyeth after I stupidly informed him of my plan. I felt an obligation to him, you see.”

“Did Wyeth mean to kill both of you?”

“Yep. I threw an iguana on him and took off in Yani’s car. Wyeth followed on his cycle but lost me on Nob Hill Road when I turned onto 1-595.”

“That’s the motorcycle Hector said he’d heard. Giorgio, I mean Wyeth, never drove it to work.”

“He tracked me to Siesta Key. That day I saw you at our beach house, I followed you to the restaurant. I’d hoped to warn you about him. But he spotted me, and I had to take off. I left Jenny’s car behind and took a bus to Fort Lauderdale. A friend loaned me a car and a place to hide. Then I decided to set fire to the lab,” Goat continued, confessing as though she and Vail were priests. “I meant to destroy Yani’s notes.”

“But you still have the sample, right?” she asked, amazed at how well Spooks was getting on with the other miniature poodle.

Goat gave a sheepish grin. “Well, Junior happened to get thirsty one day and slurped the stuff. Want to see?” He retrieved his snake.

“Look at this patch of hair. Colder temperatures activate the formula. It must contain some kind of genetic re-sequencer for hair follicles. Yani’s sample was the only prototype. Detective Vail said his notes were encoded. No one can figure them out. So it’s the end of the hair tonic.”

“Oh, my.” If men were willing to kill for such a thing, wasn’t it best left to history?

“Did you tell Moss and the others that you were back? Everyone has been concerned about you.” Marla gave him an admonishing glare.

“I will. Thanks for coming by.”

She realized by his expression that he was embarrassed. She’d have to work on his shyness.

“Maybe there’s someone I can fix him up with,” Marla muttered to Vail on their walk home. “He needs a good woman to straighten him out.”

“So do I.” Vail reached into his pocket, halting on the sidewalk.

“Here’s the house key I promised you.”

Marla held tightly to the dog’s leash, realizing Vail offered more than just a key. “I’ll take it on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

She gave him a coy glance. “You let me teach Brianna about makeup, and she’s allowed to shave her legs.”

“Sweetcakes, you drive a hard bargain.” His gray eyes danced with merriment.

“Oh, I finally found a chess set that’s a close match to yours, and it comes with a board. I’ve ordered it from a gift catalog.”

“Good. Now make your decision. You’re only delaying the inevitable.”

“Oh, all right.” She snatched the key and stuck it in her pocket. “Someone has to look after the two of you. But don’t think I’m moving in yet. I intend to keep my own place.”

“Naturally.” His grin broadened.

She hated his self-satisfied smile. At the same time, the feeling of the key in her pocket warmed her heart.

“Don’t expect me to cook meals. Or to play chauffeur. Or to attend school functions.” She shuddered. What am I getting into?

“I know. You’re a busy woman. You have your career.”

“That’s right.”

“So tell me,”-he paused to give her a fierce kiss-“what’s for dinner tonight?”

At her change of expression, he laughed. “Just kidding. If you didn’t make other plans, how about taking the day off to visit South Beach? We can have lunch and then hit the shops. They have some neat stuff down there.”

Was he offering to take her shopping? Asking her, rather than telling her, about their plans for the day? That was a switch from her prior experiences with men.

A slow smile spread across her face. If he was willing to cross the bridge in her direction, she should make the same gesture. It was time to put the past to rest while recognizing what remained important to bring with them into the future.

“Sounds like a great idea,” she agreed, taking his hand in hers.