The Devil's Dwelling (20 page)

Randy got my attention and motioned for me to meet him on the other side of his SUV.

I walked over looking back at the burning apartment, my home. I was about to cry but pulled myself up by my boot straps and sucked it up.

“Whatsup” I asked.  “You can stay at my place. You can have the guest room. And it won’t cost you any favors.”

“That’s sweet of you Randy but I already made plans to stay at Mona’s place. For tonight anyway I’ll go over there. We’re suppose to have dinner at my folks. They’ll want to know all about it. You know how Momma wants to be the first to get the gossip.”

My phone was ringing. I looked at caller ID and it was Momma.

“Hi Momma.”

“I’m so glad to hear your voice.”  Her voice trembled.  “Are you okay, is Bailey okay, did anyone die in the fire?”

“Momma, Mona and I will be over in a few minutes and we can talk then, okay? And Bailey to I don‘t have anywhere to leave him.”

“I’m putting dinner on the table the boys are about to drive me crazy.”

I clapped the phone shut. “Guess we can’t do anything here. Let’s get out of here this smoke is getting to me.”

The boys were chasing each other around the house when we arrived. Mona pulled up in front of my folks place bouncing off the curb and coming to a stop.

“Clay, Winston you boys get washed up for dinner.” Kimberly yelled from the front door.

“Hi Mona, hi Sis.”  She waved at us, turned and the door slammed behind her. The boys rushed past us pushing and shoving each other through the door.

“The boys must be high on sugar tonight. Should prove to be an interesting evening.” I open the door to the house filled with chatter, boys running, TV blaring, Momma yelling for everyone to be seated.

“Dinner is on the table. You better get seated before it’s too cold to enjoy.” 

Momma fixed Winston a hot dog and chips and set it on the table at his place.

Dad had a dishtowel tucked in his shirt, fork and knife in hand with his fist at each side of his plate on the table.  The boys set on the back side of the table between Dad at the end of the table and Kimberly at Winston’s side. 

“You got those damn candles lit again. You know how Winston is about fire.” Kimberly fanned the fire sending the blaze to the centerpiece of silk and dry flowers. The flowers sparked a flame. Everyone pushed back from the fire and Momma grabbed the pitcher of milk and splashed it over the blaze. Winston was doused with milk, jumped up tipping his chair over crashing to the floor and ran from the table screaming.; “I didn’t do it. I didn‘t do it!”

Kimberly chased after Winston going in and out of the bedroom, through the kitchen, out the back door, around the  house until Winston ran out of steam collapsing on the freshly mowed lawn. Kimberly red faced bent over holding her knees trying to deep breath. 

After the foot race Winston climbed up in his chair Momma had set up, without saying a word.  Kimberly pulled herself up the back steps, stumbled through the kitchen and politely placed her butt on the chair. Smiled. “Pass the pot roast please.” 

Will and Bill knocked at the door at dessert time.  “Come on in.” Daddy yelled. The twins were already walking through the living room heading for the table.  Bill brought the chair from the bedroom and Will pulled the chair up to the table from the living room.

“You guys want dessert?  Yeah, we smelled chocolate pie when we were walking past the house.

Momma what’s for dessert?”  Daddy leaned back in his chair with fork in hand. “Bring me another dish towel. I sopped up the milk with the other one.”

“Chocolate meringue pie, Tiffany’s favorite.” Momma headed to the kitchen with me following. 

“Glad I fixed two pies. Those twins are always here on Friday evening for dessert so I just plan on them.” 

“Momma I think that’s nice of you. They probably wouldn’t get any dessert if it weren’t for your generosity.“

Momma removed  the screen domes from the pies and lifted the pies from the window sill fanning the flies away.  I took the pie server and cut the pie slices. 

“Give Clay and Winston a small piece. They always play with it and waste most of what they don’t get in their face goes on the table cloth. Chocolates hard to get out of the tablecloth even with using Spray and Wash.”

Momma took three plates of pie to the table giving the boys and daddy the first  pieces.  I followed behind with three pieces and Momma brought the rest in serving everyone.

“How’d the fire start, tell me what happened, any body dead?” Momma wanted all the details.

“Fire! I didn’t do it! I didn’t do it!”  Winston yelled jumped up from the table knocking his chair against the wall and the chase was on. Kimberly made three sweeps around the house before collapsing on the lawn. I ran out to give her mouth to mouth. “Kimmy are you okay?”  Kimmy wasn’t moving.  Momma came running with a pitcher of water and splashed it in Kimmy’s face. Kimmy shook her head.

“What are you doing? My face is all wet and my hair a mess.”

I helped Kimmy to her feet and walked her in the house. Winston was setting at the table playing with his chocolate pie. Kimmy dried her face on daddy’s dish towel and shoveled pie in her face.

I explained to everyone we didn’t know much about the fire.  “I’m homeless and without clothes.  But Mona has offered to loan me some clothes and I can stay at her place.”

“She took me in now I can repay her.” Mona pushed her chair away from the table and loaded her hands with plates carrying them to the kitchen. She was scrapping plates and blowing snot when I made it to the kitchen.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m just thankful for knowing you and your family.” She wiped her nose on her wrist and pushed her hair away from her face. “This is my sentimental side coming out. Us girls all have them you know.”

I patted her on the shoulder. “ We are pretty much a dysfunctional family but we are okay. You are part of us now like it or not.”

Momma pushed the swinging door knocking me back. “Whoops, we need to knock before pushing the door.”

“I need to get this kitchen cleaned up. I’ve got calls to make. Everyone is wondering about the fire. I took the phone off the hook where we could get through dinner.”

“Momma, Mona and I will clean it up. You go on make your calls you’ve done enough. Don’t make it too bad. Remember I’m alive.”  Momma waved back at me as she pushed through the swinging door.

Mona washed the dishes. “Look, here’s one I don’t have to wash. It’s been licked clean.” She tossed it in the dish pan.

TWENTY-FIVE

My neck was in a  crick when I woke from sleeping on the sofa. I twisted it from side to side pulling on my chin. It popped and felt better. My phone rang. Caller ID, it’s Hayden.

I flipped my phone open. “Hi Hayden.”

“What’s up?” I said with not much concern in my voice.

“What happened? Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. I wasn’t home when the fire started. We haven‘t heard from the arson investigation team.”

“I talked to Randy. A bomb went off in your apartment. You are in danger. Someone is trying to kill you.”

“No way. Why would anyone want to kill me?”

“It may be Marty Martin. He doesn’t want to go to jail and you are on his heels.”

“Randy said you slept over at Mona’s last night.  You need to stay at my place where you’ll be safe.”

“Randy invited me to stay at his place.”

“Randy would like that.”

“I’ll let you know what I decide. I’ll probably stay at Mona’s place.”  I snapped the phone shut. “Can I stay at your place for now.”

“Why of course, I would like that.”

Mona took two bowls from the cupboard and a quart of milk from the frig. “You want cereal, right? I don‘t cook it‘s cereal or donuts around here.”  She took a box of Cheerios and Sugar Frosted Flakes from the cupboard. “Your choice.”

“Cheerios for me. Since I was a kid I‘ve been hooked on um.”

I poured the Cheerios in a bowl and filled it to full with milk. Spooned a couple teaspoons of sugar and started to stuff my face when Bailey nudged me with his wet nose.

“Dang, I forgot to feed Bailey last night.” I pushed the bar stool back and started to give Bailey my Cheerios. 

“I fed him last night when you were sleeping on the sofa. I went to the Pet Store and bought him dog food, treats and a couple of bowls.” Mona pointed to the corner of the kitchen.  There sat Bailey’s food and water bowl and a big fluffy dog bed..

“Mona you are a jewel. Thanks.”  I pulled myself back on the barstool and gobbled down the Cheerios, As I drank from the bowl the milk dribbled down my chin.  I wiped my hands and face on a paper towel.

“I bought a blow up mattress last night too. You were sleeping so well on the sofa I didn’t wake you. Tonight we will blow it up and you’ll have your own bed.

“Looks like I’ll be staying at your place for a while.”

“We are partners and friends. That’s a good combination.”  Mona picked up the dirty bowls and put them in the sink and started running the water. She dropped a little soap in each and swished them out, rinsed and dried them and put them in the cupboard. She washed the spoons and put them in the drawer. “All done.” She said slapping her hands.

I hooked Bailey up. “Is there a park near by?’ Bailey was already at the door.

‘Two blocks over there’s a dog park. I don’t know much about it. I saw it when I was driving around.”

I grabbed my bag and Bailey and I headed for the park. A slight breeze was picking up the leaves that had fallen during the night and scattering them down the street. A gentleman was mowing his lawn, another was hedging a nice looking bush and I past a lady dead heading her rose bush. Looks like Mona found a good neighborhood to live in. The park covered a full city block.  Trees lines the streets surrounding the park. Picnic areas were set up beside large trees giving good shade for the table and barbeque pit. There were nice sidewalks meandering through the park. Kids were playing ball and flying kites. The dog park was situated at the corner of the park. I found the gate, unlocked it and took Bailey inside. I unhooked Bailey and he romped all over the park. He hiked and pooped. I raced across the park to pick up the poop. I bent over and heard a voice from behind.

“Good to see you cleaning up after your dog.“ The voice came from an elderly man in a uniform. On his shirt it read Bill Dog Park Ranger. “Some people think the park is for someone else  to clean up after their dog.”

“I always clean up after Bailey.” I put my hand out. “I’m Tiffany. Nice to meet you.”

“Bill.” I shook his feeble hand. Bill looked frail.

“You been the Dog Park Ranger for a while?”

“Just since I retired. I volunteered for the job. I bring my Schnauzer, Buster with me and we clean up what others don’t. Gives me something to fill my time. And I love dogs and meeting people.”

“I’m living a couple blocks away so I will be seeing you. Nice to have met you.”  I jogged to the gate and yelled for Bailey. Bailey came running. I hooked him up and reached across the gate to unlock it. My eyes rested on the Jeep. “Damn how did the Jeep know I was here?” I said aloud.

“Something wrong ma’am?” I heard Bill’s voice from behind.

“It’s nothing.” I smiled at Bill and jogged back to the apartment looking over my shoulder.

Mona took me over to my apartment to get my Blazer. The guts of the building was ashes and burnt timbers. The plaster was singed and falling off the walls. My Blazer was covered with ashes. I asked the neighboring apartment manager if he knew what happened to Mr. Sinclair. The gentleman told me he had gone to an Assisted Living Facility.  I was relieved to hear he was being taken care of.

“Tiffany, you’ve got to take your Blazer to the car wash. I need to wash my Explorer too.” 

I started to hop in the Blazer and remember Randy told me to always check the rig for bombs. I looked in the front and back seats and the rear. It all seemed clear. I opened the door and I could hear a ticking. I ran to Mona’s Explorer. “Get away from the Blazer it’s got a bomb in it.”