You're Busting My Nuptials (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 2) (16 page)

Someone called Dan’s name and as he walked away Saint hurried after him. Tizzy moved closer to Synola. “I need to sit down,” Tizzy said, leaning into her.

Synola helped her to the van and they climbed inside. Tizzy rested her head against the seat. Her heart pounded. Her head ached. If she’d had anything in her stomach, she’d be puking.

“Hey, Tiz, you want me to go get Ridge’s clothes?” Jinx stood next to the open car door.

“No. As soon as I identify Gwynn, we’ll all go.”

She needed to get away from here. Maybe because she’d come to care about Ramona and now she had to tell her Gwynn was dead. Perhaps she felt guilty about blaming Gwynn for Ridge’s disappearance. She shivered wondering what Gwynn’s last thoughts were.

“Tizzy, you don’t have to do this. I can identify Gwynn,” Jinx offered.

“I know, but I should be the one.”

“You’re not fooling me,” Synola said. “You want to
talk
to her and that’s just creepy.”

“She may know where Ridge is. So, yeah, I’m going to ask her.”

“When I’m with you and there’s a corpse around, I experience one of those
Sixth Sense, I talk to dead people moments.
Don’t you ever get weirded out by communicating with ghosts?”

“They’re not ghosts. I don’t
see
them, I only
hear
them and I’ll admit, in this particular case, I am creeped out a little.”

Tizzy and everyone else stood and watched as the JP confirmed the death and the paramedics loaded the body onto a gurney.

Jinx stepped forward and took Tizzy by the arm. “I called Pattiecake. She’s going to bring Ridge’s laundry from your house. She should be here shortly.”

Tizzy trembled and Jinx wrapped his arm around her waist to support her. Synola did the same from the other side and all three of them started the long walk to the ambulance.

“Why would they kill Gwynn and not Ridge?” Tizzy asked.

“The only thing I can think of is maybe they need Ridge for some reason,” Jinx answered, then added. “You should prepare yourself, Tizzy. Just because he’s not with Gwynn, doesn’t mean he’s still alive.”

“Hey!” Synola snapped. “Could we just concentrate on some Positive Jesus? I agree with Tizzy. If Ridge was dead, he should be in the truck. It makes no sense for him not to be.”

“I understand, Synola, and I hope you’re right.” Jinx cocked his head. “Why are you smiling at me?”

“This is the first time you and I have had a serious conversation. You called me by my name. What happened, you run out of cute pet names?”

“No, but maybe it’s time I reveal my serious side,
Sugar Baby.”

“And he’s back,” Synola said.

They tightened their hold as they stepped to the gurney.

“I’d better warn you,” the paramedic said. “She’s been in the water a while and she looks bad. Are you sure you want to do this?”

Tizzy nodded.

The EMT unzipped the body bag to reveal her distorted face, blanched, swollen, and wrinkled.

Synola squeezed her eyes shut.

Jinx whispered,
“Oh man.”

Tizzy gasped. “Oh my God. It’s Tawny.”

Synola opened her eyes. “Say whut? Tawny? The stripper who warned you about asking too many questions? What the hell?”

“Oh no, what if they killed her because she talk
ed to me the night at the bar?”

“No, that can’t be the reason,” Jinx said. “She didn’t talk to you more than any other customer. There’s got to be something else.”

Tizzy reached out and placed her hand on the body bag covering Tawny’s chest. The plastic was cold and stiff. Tizzy gazed down at her and whispered. “Talk to me, Tawny. Who did this to you? Where’s Ridge? Where’s Gwynn?”

Tizzy waited. She closed her eyes and everything fell away until her mind suspended in time and space. She had the sensation of floating. The crisp October air lifted her body until she hovered weightless above the scene below.

One by one, sounds came:

Birds chirping.

Water lapping.

Mumbled voices.

Hounds barking.

Tawny whispering.

When Tizzy snapped out of her trance, she faced Jinx and Synola. “Let’s go. Ridge isn’t here.”

Dan approached. “Do you recognize her? Is she the woman you mentioned?”

“No. It’s someone who worked with Gwynn. Her name is Natalie Taws. She strips under the name of Tawny. You’re wasting your time with the hounds. Ridge isn’t here and neither is Gwynn.”

Dan shook his head. “Did she
tell
you that?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll do the search anyway. Police work moves forward as the clues point the way, and right now, we’ve got his truck and a dead body. Stands to reason we search here.”

“Fine. I just thought I’d inform you. Try to help you save taxpayer money and all, since you’re so concerned about your job.”

“Listen, Tizzy. I’m sorry. Maybe I didn’t pursue this quickly enough for you, but I have rules to follow. Now that we have proof of a crime involving Ridge’s truck, I’ll put every man I can spare on the case.”

“I appreciate it.” Tizzy took off in a trot toward the van and motione
d for Jinx and Synola to hurry.

When they caught up to her, she spoke as she ran. “Let’s go to Momma’s house.” She sucked in a quick breath. “When I asked about Ridge, Tawny said
the box.
There must be something either in the jewelry box or the shoe box we took from Gwynn’s room. I want to go through them again. We must have missed something the first time.”

Tizzy reached for the door handle, jerked it open and slid in behind the wheel. “I feel good about this. Renewed even.”

Synola slid into the back seat. “You’re the only person I know who can be around a dead body and get a good feeling. You know people think you’re weird, right?”

Jinx slammed the passenger door and sent Tizzy a narrow eyed gaze. “You may feel good, but you don’t look so good.”

He’s right,” Synola said. “You’re white as a sheet, Tizzy. All this hocus-pocus-mumbo- jumbo-shit must zap your energy.”

Tizzy dismissed the statement and started the van. She backed out and sped off toward the main road, leaving a trail of dust and gravel behind her.

Synola leaned forward from the back seat. “Let me get this straight. Tawny was alive and well on Saturday night. On Sunday, Aunt Eldora saw a ‘cold death.’ So, was she seeing Tawny already dead in the lake on Sunday or was she predicting a death that took place later?”

“I talked to the paramedic and he guessed she’d been in the water at least three days. That puts her dead on Sunday.” Jinx said.

“She tell you anything else?” Synola asked.

Tizzy shook her head. “She wanted me to notify her family. They’re worried about her. She didn’t mention Gwynn.”

“She say who killed her?”

“No, the thoughts faded away before I got to that part. I was interested in where Ridge was and she was interested in her family. The connection usually only lasts for a few seconds.”

Jinx turned to face Synola. “When we get to Pattiecake’s, you go through the jewelry case, and Tizzy, you search the shoe box. I’ll check in with my friend about what he’s found on the computer.”

Fifteen minutes later, Tizzy parked in her parents’ drive, pulled on rubber gloves again and retrieved the two boxes from the back seat. With Synola right behind, she pushed the front door open. Gracie sat at a small table with crayons and paper. “Momma, I’m coloring a picture for Trooper Cooper.”

“That’s good, Baby.”

Annie Mae stuck her head in from the kitchen. “Any news on Mr. Ridge?”

Listening with half an ear, Tizzy set the two boxes on the counter. “No. Annie Mae, hand us a couple of kitchen towels, please.”

As if reading her mind, Annie Mae, spread them out on the counter. While Synola put on her gloves, Tizzy dumped the contents of each box onto one of the cloths and then they began sifting through the items.

Jinx came in from the porch and stuck his phone in his pocket. “According to Gwynn’s bank account, the only deposits made have been her paychecks. All the debits are standard expenses. My guys’ running her credit card now.”

Synola zeroed in on Jinx. “Your man was able to access her bank account and
credit card? What is he, FBI?”

Jinx smirked and ignored the question. “She has a current balance of fifty-six dollars and fourteen cents.”

Tizzy wilted onto a barstool and hung her head. “There’s nothing here.” She raked the contents back into the jewelry case.

“Nothing here, either,” Synola said. “I’m sorry, Tizzy. Maybe you misunderstood what she said.”

“No, Tawny distinctly said
box
. There has to be a clue here.” Tizzy dumped the contents again. Piece by piece, she examined each item. “Pins, earrings, an old chain, a hair clip.” She named each article as she dropped it in.

Jinx’s phone chirped and he walked out to the porch again.

She faced Synola. Tizzy felt her face go hot. “Are you sure there’s nothing in yours?”

“See for yourself.” Synola did the same as Tizzy. She identified each object as she held them up. “Band picture, old corsage, ticket stubs, friendship necklace, rabbit’s foot.”

Tizzy lurched forward. “Stop! Give me the necklace.”

Synola passed the necklace to her. The chain, along with a heart, broken in half was tarnished silver. Printed on half the heart was the word
Best
and on the other
Friends.
Between the two jagged pieces, hung a key. “This is it!” Tizzy shouted. “Now all we have to do is find what this opens.”

Jinx walked back into the room. “I may be able to help with that. According to Gwynn’s credit card charges, she paid two months rental to
Discount Storage
out on Naples Road. Does the key have a number?”

Tizzy turned the key over. “W14.”

You familiar with the business?”

“I know where Naples Road is.” Tizzy opened the door and shouted over her shoulder. “Annie Mae, we’re leaving.”

Annie Mae came into the room and picked Gracie up. “Give your momma a big hug.”

Gracie threw her arms around Tizzy’s neck. “Momma, can’t you stay for supper?”

“No, Sweetie, I can’t. I think I know where Ridge is, so I’ve got to go get him.”

Gracie offered her artwork to Tizzy. “Take him my picture.”

Tizzy put the paper in her bag. “Thank you. I’ll see you in a little while, okay?”

As the door closed behind them, Tizzy pitched her keys to Jinx. “Maybe you should drive.”

“Okay. Your dad got a crowbar?”

“In the shed. Why do you want one?”

“If this isn’t the key, and we can locate the unit she rented, we’ll need a way in.”

Tizzy lifted her eyes to the sky. Dark clouds billowed in the wind and a fine mist started to fall. A chill ran through her as she got into the passenger side.

Twenty minutes later, Jinx pulled to the entrance of Discount Storage and discovered he needed a code to enter. “Damn. I didn’t think about this. Codes are usually four digits, so let me make a call.” He punched in a number on his phone then spoke when the party answered. “Hey man, give me the month and day of Gwynn’s birth.” Jinx tried the date with no luck. “Let’s try the last four digits of her social.” Again, no prize. “What about her DL number.” Jinx tried a couple of combinations, without success. “Phone number—dammit.”

“Hey,” Tizzy said, squirming in her seat. “Ramona’s favorite number is four.”

Jinx punched in 4-4-4-4. It didn’t work.

Tizzy bounced both knees in anticipation. This was the place. She could feel it in her bones. She rubbed her hands across her pants, drying the perspiration from her palms. “Try threes.”

“But three is her unlucky number,” Synola said from the backseat.

Jinx punched them in and the gate moved. “Damn, Gwynn has a sense of humor.”

“Hurry, Jinx. I know he’s in there. I can feel it. Where’s W14?” Tizzy asked, breathless from excitement.

Jinx didn’t move.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry!”

Rain came in torrents, wind whipped against the windshield, making visibility minimal at best. The units were all one-story metal. Posted on the end of each building was a large letter of the alphabet.

“Okay, looks like the alphabet starts at the far left and tracks to the right in groups of three,” Jinx said.

He counted off with his fingers how the letters should fall in order of the arrangement of the buildings. “V-W-X should be three aisles over and to the right.”

Tizzy nodded in agreement and Jinx moved forward.

When they found the building marked with a W, they drove to the unit marked fourteen and parked in front of the door. The sky split wide open and rain poured harder. Jinx took the key, jumped out of the van with Tizzy and Synola a few steps behind. He stuck the key into the padlock, and with one turn, it popped open. He removed the metal clasp and rolled the door up. Inside sat a black pickup truck with a wooden crate in the bed.