You're Busting My Nuptials (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 2) (15 page)

“You’re pretty damn smart,” he said.

Tizzy pushed her nachos away. Jinx finished off his quesadillas. Synola turned up her bowl of wonton Soup and slurped the remaining liquid.

Jinx and Tizzy gaped at her.

“Whut? I’m sorry. I know that’s not ladylike, but for some reason I’m starving. She pointed at Tizzy’s plate. “Are you done with those nac
hos?”

“Yes, take them with my blessing.” Tizzy pushed the dish across the table.

Synola popped one in her mouth. Cheese dangled from the chip like last season’s Christmas lights on a mobile home.

Tizzy focused on Jinx. “Do you think the guys today are the clowns from the other night?”

“More than likely.”

“Every time we go to Ramona’s they show up. What’s that about? If they want something from the house, why don’t they just go in and get it?”

“I think it’s Gwynn they want and not necessarily alive. They may be staking out the house hoping she’ll eventually return.”

“If they’re interested in Gwynn, why are they chasing and shooting at us?”

“My guess is they don’t want us to find her first. Even though we found a journal, now that Ramona’s out of the way, we should go back and get Gwynn’s computer.”

“What good will that do? We don’t know her password.” Synola finished off the last nacho.

“We’ll take it with us. I have a guy who can get into anything,” Jinx said.

“Sounds like a plan.” Synola wiped the corners of her mouth. “Let’s order dessert.”

Jinx ran a finger down Synola’s cheek. “None for me, thanks, I had dessert earlier.”

Synola swatted his hand away. “That dessert was a mistake.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

Synola gave him a dirty look and changed the subject. “I wonder how the Rangers are doing.”

“They’re laying the groundwork today,” Jinx said. “Every investigation starts with what you know and what you need to find out as it relates to who, what, where, when, why, and how.

“They’re most likely getting a list of every place Gwynn worked and every one of her fellow strippers. One by one, they’ll interview them all. Right now, the bad guys don’t have any idea the Rangers are involved, but by tomorrow they will.”

Synola pulled out her notebook and made an entry. “What happens then?”

“The stakes get higher for Gwynn
not
to be found.” Jinx took the spiral from her and read aloud. “Luscious Leg Jeans fit your ass as smooth as glass.”

“Will they put that on a hang-tag?” Tizzy asked.

Synola giggled. “Probably not, but I couldn’t resist.”

The waiter appeared with Synola’s dessert and set the Margarita Pie in front of her. “Tizzy, you might want to think about adding this recipe to Sweet Thang’s menu. It’s delicious,” Synola said.

“Good grief, Synola. The last time I saw you eat like this was in eighth grade, after you made out with Kentrell Washington during that sex education video.” Tizzy grinned.

“Well, as soon as Synola can
satisfy
her appetite, let’s head back over to Ramona’s and get the computer.” Jinx said.

“You are just asking for it,” Synola snipped.

Jinx gave her a toothy smile. “If memory serves, I recall
you
asking for it.”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up, already,” Synola huffed.

Jinx tormenting Synola caused Tizzy to think of Ridge and how he loved to tease her. Nothing pleased him more than getting the best of her. She missed him so much her heart ached.

She pulled the bag holding the journal from her purse. “Tonight, I’m going to
read this and pray for a clue.”

Synola picked up her notebook. Y’all want to hear some other entries for Luscious Legs?”

“Sure,” Tizzy said.

“I gotta tell you, Tiz; this investigation is giving me a ton of material.
Don’t clown around when it comes to Jeans, Luscious Legs fit like they were painted on.
That one came from the car chase the other night.”

“This one, I got from Ramona.
Ohmigod! It is not a coincidence you’ve chosen Luscious Leg Jeans. They offer the perfect fit for the perfect body . . . yours.”

Synola smiled.
“Today, Mr. E furnished this idea.
Luscious Legs Jeans are pos-i-tively the best fitting jeans available. And then this one
.
Luscious Leg Jeans hug your body like a hot embrace.
”

“Hot embrace, huh? Bet I can guess where you got that one.” Jinx said.

“Oh puh-lese, don’t flatter yourself, Romeo.”

“I don’t need to, Gumdrop, you’re putting it on a tag for the world to read.”

“Nobody will know it’s about you, smart ass.”

“So . . . I
was
your inspiration for that one.”

“Oh shut up. You think the sun comes up just to hear you crow.”

“Damn, Sweet Pea, you can’t help yourself. There you go with a cock reference.”

Thirty minutes later, Tizzy and the closet buddies were back in Gwynn Skylar
’s bedroom. While Jinx unhooked the computer, she and Synola searched more drawers.

Tizzy opened a door and glanced at Synola. “Do you want to search in here since you have closet experience?”

“Very funny, Tizzy. I think I’ll let you. I’ve had all the closet time I can tolerate for a while.”

“Oh come on, Sugar Britches, you know you liked it. I don’t understand why you won’t admit it.”

Synola wheeled around and put her hands on her hips. “This is the last time I’m going to say this. You and me,” she growled, flipping her finger back and forth between them, “was a mistake. You caught me in a weak moment.”

“Whatever you say, Dumpling.”

“Damn straight, whatever I say.”

“Hey, y’all, look at this.” Tizzy held up a shoebox and lifted the lid. “This is full of keepsakes from high school. Hard for me to think of Gwynn the stripper, as Gwynn the clarinet player.” She held up a band picture.

Synola grinned. “Ah, entertainment was always in her blood.”

“There are more pictures, some junk, and an old orchid wrist corsage,” Tizzy said.

“Think I should take this?” Synola asked, holding up a jewelry box.

“Yeah, bring both of ’em, and this too.” Jinx passed a notepad to Tizzy. I think we have enough. Besides, you look worn out, so let’s go.”

Before they got to the car, Jinx’s phone chirped. “Okay. Okay,” he said, then ended the call.

“Who was that?” Tizzy asked.

“Howard Benson.”

At the mention of his name, Tizzy’s knees buckled. Jinx caught her before she hit the ground. “Oh my God,” she gasped. “Did he . . .” her voice trailed off.

“He didn’t say, but they found something. We need to get to the lake. Let’s drop the computer off at my friend’s on the way. It’ll only take a few minutes, he lives close by.”

~~*~~

By the time they arrived at the Eddy, Howard Benson and his one-man crew worked with a winch. Tizzy followed Jinx’s instructions to stay with the car until he checked the progress. The truth was if Ridge was inside, she couldn’t bear to see him.

Synola peered back toward the road. “Ah-oh, we got trouble now.”

Tizzy jerked her head around in time to watch Dan park his patrol car, climb out, and amble toward her.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Tizzy spat.

“I’m the goddamn sheriff, Tizzy. You think you can drag a lake and nobody’s gonna call my office and want to find out what the hell is going on? I also spoke to Frank Reynolds. Seems you called him about the discovery of Ridge’s gun. That’s not proper protocol. You report to the local police, they contact me and
I
notify the Rangers.”

“I came to you, Dan. You wouldn’t do anything.”

He threw his hands in the air. “You stop right there! I didn’t refuse to help you. I told you to bring me proof. All you had to do was tell me about the gun. That would have been enough for me to give this some attention.”

“So, if I had reported the discovery to your office, you would have agreed to drag the lake?”

“On the word of a crazy old fortune teller’s
vision?
Hell no. But I would have opened an investigation into a Rangers’ suspicious disappearance.”

“The
Ranger
has a name you ass, and if he’s alive he’s going to be my husband and you won’t be able to do a damn thing about that.”

“Simmer down,” Saint said, stepping between them.

Tizzy had been so caught up in the argument she’d not heard her dad drive up.

“You stay out of this, Daddy,” Dan said. “I should arrest her for interfering with an investigation.”

Tizzy’s voice rose along with her temperature. “I’m not interfering. You’re not investigating anything. If I want to spend my money to drag a friggin’ lake I can.” She stepped past her dad and poked Dan’s chest. “You just back the hell off!”

“Goddammit,
Tizzy! You are pissing me off!”

“Well, better to be pissed off than pissed on!” Tizzy shouted back.

“Okay, that’s enough! If you two are going to act like children, I’ll treat you like children. You’re both right,” Saint said, turning his attention to Dan.

“If Tizzy wants to drag every lake in Texas, she can.”

“See there, Dan,” Tizzy snipped.

Saint continued. “And Tizzy, you should have called Dan to report the gun. Right is right, and you understood full well when you didn’t call him, he’d be mad. So, don’t act like this is all some big surprise to you.”

“Sonovabitch,” Dan said. He looked over his sister’s head at the lake. “Tizzy . . .”

She cut him off. “Don’t bother to apologize. I’ll let you know when I’m ready to talk to you and it is
not
now.” When she noticed Dan holding his gaze, she turned toward the lake in time to see Ridge’s truck crest the surface.

“Oh no,” she said and lost her footing.

Saint grabbed her and held on tight. Tizzy squeezed her eyes shut. “Go look, Synola. Then come back and tell me.”

Synola made it half-way before Jinx waved her off.

The last thing Tizzy heard as her legs went limp was the sound of Howard Benson’s voice.

“We got a body!”

Tizzy felt like she’d fallen into a well. Her heartbeat amplified to the point she thought her eardrums would burst.

Only out for a few minutes, it seemed much longer, because when she opened her eyes lawmen were everywhere. Dan talked to one of his deputies. Captain Reynolds and Officer Fisher stood next to Jinx. Bubba and Chief Ramsey studied a map. Saint and Synola stared down at her.

She tried to lift her body, but Synola held her in place. “Whoa, Tizzy. Don’t get up.”

“That’s right, Sweetie,” Saint said. “We should get a doctor to check you out.”

“What happened?” she asked, and then remembered. “No, I’m fine, Daddy.” She lurched forward and peered toward the lake. “Oh my God! The body—is it?” She clutched her throat.

“No, not Ridge. A woman,” Synola answered.

Tizzy fell back against the seat. A wave of relief washed over her, but as quickly as it came, the feeling left. “A woman? Oh no—it’s Gwynn.” Tizzy shifted her body in the backseat of the sheriff’s patrol car. “How’d I get here?”

“Dan carried you. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You’re not, Tizzy. You fainted. You haven’t eaten a decent meal in days, not to mention your lack of sleep.”

“I’m okay. Really.” She got out of the car and braced against the door.

Down the dirt road a siren announced the ambulance and right behind them, the Justice of the Peace.

“I need to see the body.” She staggered a few steps toward the lake.

“No, you don’t.” Saint grabbed her by the shoulders and held on.

“Yes, I do, Daddy. I can identify her. She’s Gwynn Skylar and someone will need to tell her sister. Poor Ramona will be devastated.”

Dan stepped forward. “Wait, Tizzy. Let the JP pronounce her, then you can go.”

Tizzy didn’t answer. She stared past him to Captain Reynolds and Officer Fisher. “What are they doing, Daddy?”

“They’re calling in more officers from the surrounding area to help with a search.”

“I’ve got Layton Knowles coming with his hounds,” Dan said. “Do you have something of Ridge’s with his scent? A piece of clothing?”

Tizzy rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, some of his laundry is at the house.”

“We need you to get it. The dogs will be here soon. We’re gonna divide up into teams and search the woods. Cabins are all around the lake. He could be in one of them and the only way to find out is by going door to door. With the hounds, if they pick up his scent, they can reduce our search time.”