The Devil's Dwelling (30 page)

We parked down and across the street.

“Let’s take a look at what’s going on in the house.”  I told Mona.  “You have your 38 ready?” 

I pulled my Glock from my bag and we stepped from the pick up. Marty stepped out of the house empty handed. We immediately ducked behind the pick up. He got in his maroon Chrysler and headed out.

“Let’s go ahead and check the house.” I said walking toward the side of the house.

Mona made her way through the overgrown shrubs to the side window.  She motioned for me to come and take a look.  I peered in the window.  A man was emptying the box.  It was a case of cigarettes.  We made our way back to the pick up.

“What’s he doing delivering cigarettes?”  Mona said.

“I would guess those cigarette cartons do not contain just cigarettes.  They are probably laced with drugs.”  I started the pick up and took Mona home.  Mona hopped from the pick up and looked through the window back at me.

“Well, stake out the Oasis again tomorrow.  I think this will lead into something.”  I said.

“And we can nab Marty one evening when he is leaving the bar.”

“You got it and to have more on him will be good for the authorities.”  I told Mona and put the Chevy in gear and drove toward Hayden’s, the place I call home for now.  The drive through the city was quiet.  Not many cars on the surface streets.  I noticed Marty’s Chrysler parked in front of The Oasis as I drove past.  I wondered what he was up to.  I circled the block and parked down the street with Marty’s Chrysler in full view. I waited for a couple of hours.  I drove around to the back of the bar.  There were three men including  Marty unloading a van truck of boxes.  The boxes looked like the box Marty took over to the house a few nights ago.  I drove back to the front of the bar and parked waiting for Marty to finish up with the unloading.  My phone rang. I looked at caller ID and it was Randy.

“Hi Randy.”

“What are you doing?”  He asked.

“I’m…” He stopped me in the middle of my sentence from fibbing to him.

“I know where you are.”  He said.

“Get away from there.  My guys have the place staked out.  We are getting a lot of good evidence on Marty.  You can pick Marty up another time.”

“You got it.  I’m heading out right now.”  I told him.

“Where are you?”  I asked.

“I’m about three blocks down the street.  How about meeting me at my place?” 

“I’m on my way.”  I told him thinking Randy needed some assurance there was nothing going on with Hayden and me. 

Randy waited for me at the gate.  I followed him through the open gate and into the neighborhood. I parked in the driveway behind Randy.  He met me at the pick up and walked me to his home.  We walked in the house neither of us saying a word.  Randy opened the door and stepped back for me to enter first.  I walked in and turned around and fell into Randy’s arms.

“Randy caught me, wrapped her arm around my waist and began to kiss my neck.  His lips felt smooth and tantalizing on my neck.  I kissed his cheek and nibbled at his ear. My libido was rising and Randy was walking me to the bedroom.  He reached around my back and unhooked my bra, pulled my tee shirt over my head.  My nipples were hard and Randy nibbled on them sending me to places unknown.  He unbuttoned my jeans while running his tongue around my nipples.  I stepped out of my jeans as Randy pulled his shirt off. I unbuttoned his pants and they fell to his knees.  Randy kicked off his pants and briefs and picked me up. He carried me to his bed and laid me down. He lay beside me and rolled over to me pulling me close to him.  It felt good to have my skin touch his.  His hands smoothed across my body.  His kisses were passionate as he made love to me.

“You are so wonderful.”  He told me.

“You make me feel so good.” I smiled at him burying my head in his chest.  We lay for hours in each others arms.

I woke to music coming from the living room.

I put on Randy’s tee shirt and stepped from the bedroom.

“What are you doing?”  I asked.

“Fixing us breakfast before we have to leave for work.” 

“What time is it?’  I asked rubbing my eyes.

“It’s only six, you go ahead and get yourself showered.  I’ll have breakfast on the table by the time your are ready.”  He flipped the bacon over and gave me a grin.

I showered and put my clothes from yesterday on.  Brushed my hair and put lipstick on. I walked out of the bedroom to the smell of bacon and eggs.

“You looked refreshed.”  Randy said.  He put a vase with  a beautiful yellow rose he picked from his rose garden on the table.

Randy had already showered and was ready for work in his GI Joe uniform.  He looked masculine and desirable.

Randy pulled out my chair and I set myself down.  We enjoyed breakfast together.  Randy sipped his coffee and looked over at me. “You make me very happy. Maybe we should talk about you moving in here after we catch the bomber.”  Randy said with that boyish grin he can give me. 

“We can talk about it later.  Right now lets savor the moment.”  I said smiling over my cup of coffee.

“You’re right.  Time will take care of everything.”  Randy smiled.

We finished with breakfast.  I carried the dishes to the sink and rinsed them out.  Randy loaded the dishwasher.  I dried my hands on the kitchen towel and tossed it to Randy. He dried his hands and hung the towel on the oven door.

Randy walked me to the door. “Thanks, I enjoyed my time with you. I’ll see you Friday night.”  I gave Randy a kiss on the cheek, turned and walked toward the pick up.

It’s Friday night and I’m ringing Randy’s phone for him to open the gate to his neighborhood.  The gate swung open and I drove in. Randy was standing on the porch when I drove up.  I walked up to the porch.

“Good to see you Sweetie.” He said as he put his arms around me and pulled me close. 

We walked into the house. He kissed me on the cheek and walked me to the sofa.

“Good to see you too.”  I sat on the sofa and Randy joined me.

“You’ve been on my mind a lot lately.”  Randy pushed my hair from my face.  “You are so beautiful.” 

“You say that to all the curly red headed girls.”  I laughed and pushed him away as he tried to kiss me.  “You think you can have your way with me just because I came over for pizza and a movie.” 

The phone rang. It was the pizza delivery guy waiting at the gate.  Randy buzzed him in and within moments the pizza guy was at the door.  Randy took the pizza and put it on the table and paid the delivery guy.

“Thanks, thanks a lot sir.”  He pushed the money in his pocket, grabbed the insulated pizza case and headed out the door.

Randy took two plates from the cupboard and set them at the bar.  He opened a couple bottles of beer and set them on the bar.  I pulled myself up on the bar stool, twirled around and picked up a piece of pizza.  The cheese stuck to the box and I had a cheese string hanging.  Randy leaned over and bit it off and continued chewing up the string of cheese to my pizza.  I laughed and he smiled up at me with pizza sauce on his chin.  We both giggled. He took another piece from the box and gave it to me.  We ate pizza and swigged down a beer. Randy closed the box and put it in the fridge.  He took me by the hand and led me to the sofa.

“What’s it gonna be romantic or funny?”  Randy asked tossing me the movie jackets.

“Let’s do funny. Things have been pretty hectic in my life and I think laughing would be good  for the soul.” 

I’m sure Randy is somewhat upset with me moving in with Hayden.  It’s probably best we watch something funny.

“Chevy Chase, Vacation.” I tossed the video back at him.

He put the video in the player and we snuggled up on the sofa.  It took Randy a couple of minutes to get comfortable before he put his arm around my shoulders.  I snuggled close to him laid my head on his chest and pulled my feet upon the sofa.  He patted me on the hip.  It felt good to  know he cares for me.

I fell asleep on the sofa in Randy’s arms.  I woke with Randy carrying me to his bed.

“Hmmm, a girl goes to sleep and you carry her away to your bed.”  I kissed and nibbled on his ear.

The sun was shining across the bed when I woke. 

“Morning.”  I reached behind to pat Randy.  My hand moved over the sheets. I didn’t feel Randy and flipped over.  I was alone in bed.  I hopped up and looked down. I was wearing Randy’s old Razorback tee shirt from his college days.  I walked into the kitchen and found a note.

I need to get to work.  Hope you were able to sleep in. Love, Randy.

I turned the water on and slipped out of Randy’s tee shirt.  I stepped in the shower and made a couple of turn arounds.  Pulled a towel from the rack and dried off.  I dressed in the same clothes I wore yesterday, brushed my hair back in a ponytail and dug a lipstick from the bottom of my bag and gave my lips a sweep of color.  Smacked my lips together and was ready for the day.  I grabbed my bag and headed for the office.

THIRTY-SIX

Mona’s Explorer was out front when I arrived at the office.  I parked and made my way inside.

I walked in the office. “Good morning everyone.”  Linda was powdering her nose and Mona was trying to decide on a donut.  I stepped in front of her and took a glazed donut.  Poured myself a cup of coffee.

“Peewee in his office?” I asked Linda as I took a sip of coffee.

“Charley went in a while ago.”  Mona ran to the door putting her ear to the door.

“Shhhhh,” She waved back at us.  “You won’t believe this. I think it’s the monkey dance.” She whispered.

“No way, not Charley!”  I rushed to the door and wiggled myself into Mona’s position. “You are right.”  Mona and I danced around the office sipping our coffee.

“Quiet.” Linda warned. At that moment Charley walked from the office straightening her holster and pulling at her pants.

“Morning Charley.”  I sipped on my coffee trying to keep a straight face.

“Morning ladies.”  Charley picked up a couple of files from Linda’s desk and walked toward the door.  “I’ve got ‘no shows’ to pick up.  You ladies have a good day.”

Peewee had a smile on his face when we entered the office.

“When are you two going to pick up Marty?”  Peewee’s pencil was tapping on the desk. 

“We are staking him out. Seems he is hanging out at The Oasis Bar.”  I told Peewee as I flipped a chair around and straddled it.

“His a tuff one to capture.  He chases around town in his maroon Chrysler trying to intimidate us.”  I told Peewee.  “We’ll have him in a few days.”

“I’m not going to give you any more files until you bring Marty in.  My bank account is hurting from him not being in court.  Now you ladies get with it.”  Peewee turned his chair around to face the wall.  This means he doesn’t want to talk about it.

Mona and I walked out of the office.

“Looks like we better pick up Marty if we want a job.”  I waved bye at Linda and headed out the door with Mona on my heels.

“Let’s take my Explorer today. That toy pick up can’t haul anyone in.”  Mona said taking her keys from her floral print bag.

We hopped in the Explorer. “Where are we heading?” 

“I’m thinking we should take a look at Marty place.”  I buckled up and Mona sped toward Marty’s.

We pulled up at the back of Marty’s.  It seemed quiet.  I peeked in the garage.  Marty‘s Chrysler wasn‘t in there.  I took the front door and Mona took the back door.  I knocked on the front door.  There wasn’t a sound coming from the house. I walked around to the back of the house  Mona was pounding on the door.

“Open the door Marty Martin!”  She pounded again and again.

I heard some commotion. “Quiet, his in there.”  Mona kicked the door trying to break it down. I ran to the front of the house in time to see Marty running down the street.  He jumped in the maroon Chrysler parked a block away and sped off.

When I got back to the house Mona had kicked the door in and was roaming around in the house.

We looked through drawers looking for clues to who might have murdered Maxine.  The bottom drawer to her desk was locked. 

“Mona you got a file I can use to unlock this drawer?”  Mona looked through the kitchen drawers and found a file.

“Here. This should work. If not I’ll blow it off with my 38.” 

I took the file and boogered up the lock. “I’ve got it.”  I pulled the drawer open.  We started going through the stack of files.  Maxine had a file on all her employees with a picture of each attached to the inside of the file.  We got to Natasha McGuire’s file.  There was a picture of the red head that answered the door on our first visit before Maxine’s murder.