The Devil's Dwelling (19 page)

After dinner the guests scattered around the house and garden. Hayden and I took a walk around the gardens.  We made our way back into the house and excused ourselves and went to our room.

Hayden dimmed the lights and put on one of Norah Jones sultry CD’s and we danced…

TWENTY-THREE

The parking lot was dark when I arrived home. I grabbed my bag and my Coach overnighter and headed for the apartment. I pushed on the door with my butt and it freely opened.  Mr. Sinclair was at the door assisting me.

“Looks like you have your hands full. You been on a trip?” He tried to take my Coach bag but I pulled back.

“I’ve got it.” I took a couple of steps and turned around. “Mr. Sinclair, Is there something you want to tell me?”

“I don’t like to be nosey but that blonde woman came by your apartment yesterday and again today.”

“It’s okay she’s my friend. She came over to take Bailey for a walk.” I continued walking up the stairs looking back at him. “Is there more?”

He removed his cap and scratched his head and put his cap back on. “But she didn’t take Bailey for a walk today. She didn’t come out of the apartment. Her Explorer is in the parking lot.”

“What!”  I ran the remainder of the stairs. Took my Glock from my bag. The door was unlocked. I turned the knob and pushed the door open.

“Mona,” I yelled.

I ran to the bedroom. Mona wasn’t there.

“Shit!”  With Glock in hand I slowly opened the door to the bathroom. There lay Mona in a bubble bath, with earplugs and a black mask covering her eyes.

“Mona!”  I yelled. “What are you doing taking a bubble bath in my tub.”

Mona didn’t move.  “Shit, she’s dead.” I screamed holding my mouth.

I yanked the mask from her face and pulled the earplugs from her ears.

Mona sat straight up in the tub. “What’s going on?”

“You scared the pee outta me. What are you doing?” 

“Taking a bubble bath. I’m sorry I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you being gone.” Mona stood up with bubbles dripping off her took a towel from the towel bar and wrapped in it. I can get the towel around me two times but Mona is challenged at one time around.

“I thought you were dead.” I turned and walked out of the bathroom. “It’s okay, get dressed.”

Mona walked out of the bathroom with a sheepish look on her face. “I don’t have a bathtub at my apartment.  Since you were gone I thought I would enjoy a bubble bath. Guess I fell asleep.”

“You can take a bubble bath at my place any time. Just don’t scare me like that.”

Bailey was pacing at the door.

“Sheesh, I forgot to take Bailey out. I sure didn’t take care of my duties like I promised.”

I ran down the stairs, open the foyer door and told him to do his job. Before I had a chance to close the door Bailey’s all fours were hitting the pavement heading for the park.  I heard a bang and ran out to see what all the commotion was about. Bailey had the big woman cornered against the apartments dumpster.

“Bailey! Stand back.” The big woman was picking herself up. Bailey was barking to high heaven.

“What are you doing in the parking lot?” I asked with my hands on my hips wishing I had my Glock in my hand.

“I’ve been jogging for the past couple days trying to get in shape for when we start jogging.”  She was panting about as much as Bailey.

“Tell you what lady. You and I are not going to be jogging. So, take yourself home and don’t you be coming around here.”

“Bailey, go do your job.”  Bailey backed off the big woman and ran toward the park.

By this time Mona had my robe on and was standing behind me with her 38 in hand.

“Yeah! I don’t want to see you around here again.” Mona yelled.

The big woman hung her head and walked toward the park. 

“Now I feel bad she must not have any friends.”  I ran to catch up with her. Out of breath I jogged up beside her. 

“That wasn’t nice of me. I’m sorry. I know you mean well.”

Bailey ran past me heading home.  I turned from the big woman and jogged back to the apartment. Bailey beat me up the stairs.

Mona was dressed setting on the sofa. Bailey was in my bed already asleep.

I sat down on the sofa. “Anything go on while I was gone?”

Mona opened the front page of the paper. Handed it to me pointing at the headlines.

I read…Chelsea Smith murdered in her massage parlor. I read on…she was shot numerous times in the chest.  “Oh my Gawd, another victim, same MO.”

“Do you think Marty killed Sassy and Chelsea thinking maybe one of them killed Maxine?  Since they all own massage parlors.”

“That’s it!  Marty is mad, like a mad dog he is getting revenge.” I folded the paper and slapped it on the coffee table. 

“Where are we going wrong? We gotta bring Marty in before he kills again. He’s absolutely gone bonkers.”

“If we can find the maroon Chrysler we can find Marty.”

Chelsea’s funeral would be in a couple of days.  A good time for us to check out the attendance.  I called Thompson’s Mortuary and got all the info on Chelsea’s funeral.  Visitation would be from six to eight tomorrow.

Mona and I put on our black clothes and headed for the viewing.  Chelsea’s people wouldn’t know us. They would probably think we knew her from the massage parlor. 

The parking lot next to Thompson’s Mortuary was full.  I pulled the Blazer around the corner and parked on an empty lot. Mona was dressed in her black micro skirt with a tight black tee shirt and black stiletto’s carrying her floral garden bag..  I wore black jeans and a black tank top with a black jacket. We walked across the street just as the maroon Chrysler turned the corner almost hitting Mona. Mona swung her bag at the car and hit the side view mirror leaving it dangling in the wind. I ran back to the Blazer. I started up the Blazer, drove across the dirt parking lot stirring up a cloud of dust and picked up Mona who was now carrying her stiletto’s. Mona grabbed the door handle and swung herself into the rig.

“That sonnabitch almost killed me.”  Mona was buckling her belt. “Dang I can’t get this thang buckled.”

The marooned Chrysler made a U-turn in front of us. “What’s that fool doing?” I made a left turn and went around the block to meet Marty head on. We both screeched our brakes and came to a dead stop. Marty threw it in reverse and backed down the street until he came to the entrance to the interstate.  He made another U-turn and merged onto the interstate. I followed but lost him in the evening traffic. 

“He could have killed us when we met head-on.” Mona was fanning her face and trying to take in oxygen. 

“I don’t think he wants to kill us. He must have another motive up his sleeve. Maybe he thinks we will lead him to Maxine’s murderer.”

TWENTY-FOUR

My cell phone rang. I looked at caller ID it’s Momma.  I wonder what she wants. Oh crap, it’s Friday. My sister Kimberly and her sons Clay and Winston always have Friday night dinner with our folks.

“I flipped the phone open.  “Hi Momma”

“Tiffany, I’m fixing pot roast for dinner. Can you and Mona make it?”  I’ve been cooking all day. I made your favorite homemade rolls.”

“Momma knows I can’t turn down her homemade rolls.  I’ll call Mona but for sure I will be there. Set a place for Mona too.” 

I hit speed dial and Mona answered the phone. “You up for pot roast at my folks place tonight?”

“Pot roast, I love pot roast. You want me to pick you up?”

“Sounds like a plan.  How about five thirty.  Dinner is usually ready at six. I‘ll have time to take Bailey out for his hike and poop.”

There was an old brown van in the parking lot when I arrived home. Probably a maintenance worker. I double stepped it up the stairs. Unlocked my door and met Bailey ready to do his job. I hooked him up and I double stepped it down the stairs. I wonder where Mr. Sinclair might be he always greets me. Bailey and I jogged to the park. The mysterious Jeep was parked across from the park. I looked around only seeing the usual crowd of dog owners.  I took a walk over to the area where the Jeep was parked and couldn’t see anyone in it. The owner must be someone in the park.  I unhooked Bailey and walked around taking a good  look at everyone.  Everyone was friendly although when Bailey came close they grabbed their kids putting them either on their hip or on their shoulders. 

“Bailey won’t hurt anyone. He’s just friendly and likes to romp and lick.”  I assured the parents.

“Yeah, he jumped me a couple of times. He’s just friendly.” The husky voice came from over my shoulder.

I turned and yes it was the big woman.  It looks like I may have to take Bailey on another route to do his hiking and pooping.  She is really getting on my nerves.

“Bailey,” I yelled. Bailey came running up to me. I hooked him up and we headed for home. I could hear sirens blaring in the distance. The siren got closer and flew past me. It was Sheriff Randy.  I noticed flames coming from the vicinity of my apartment.

“Oh my Gawd my apartment building must be on fire.”

I ran as fast as possible when I got to my apartment building flames were shooting out my bedroom window. Firemen were climbing the ladders, dragging  hoses  and  blasting the flames with their high pressure hoses.  One fireman was on the roof chopping a hole.  Sheriff Randy came running out through the foyer door.

“She’s not in there, is the building clear of people?” He leaned over holding his knees and gasping for breath. His face was smeared and smoke streaked. He wiped his face with his forearm and shook his head. “It was hot in there. If she would have been in the back of the apartment when the fire started she wouldn’t have made it.”

“The fire chief came over to Sheriff Randy. “Yes Sheriff, the building is clear but you shouldn’t have run in that burning apartment.”

“I had to make sure Tiffany and Bailey were not in there.”

I ran over to him. “Tiffany! You okay?”  He picked me up and gave me a relieved hug.

“Bailey and I were jogging home from the park when you went past us. I saw the  flames. What happened?”

We’re not sure and won’t know for a couple days. The fire chief will have the arson team out to investigate.”

Mr. Sinclair was laying on a gurney being lifted into the ambulance. “Is he okay?” I asked the EMT.

“He’ll be fine. He inhaled some smoke while getting everyone out of the apartment.” Mr. Sinclair waved and gave me a thumbs up as they closed the back door to the ambulance.

“The fire was pretty well contained to your apartment.  Did you leave something on?”

“No, I just got home and took Bailey to the park.”

Mona drove up, jumped from her Explorer. “What happened, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but my apartment and everything I own has gone up in flames.”

“You can stay with me. And you can wear some of my new Fredericks clothes.” Mona was pacing with hands on hips. “How did this happen?”

“I don’t know the fire investigators will check it out and let us know.”