You're Busting My Nuptials (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 2) (22 page)

Tizzy finished her notation and spoke to Ridge. “You said once you came to, no one ever returned to the unit. Why did they leave you there?”

“I think Jinx is on the right track. They planned to take me somewhere, but for some reason it didn’t happen.”

Quiet until now, Synola spoke up. “If we can answer that question, the whole case will be solved.”

Ridge pointed to the board. “We know Gwynn’s from Baltimore and hooked sometimes. But we staked out the area where her car was found for two nights and got nothing.”

“Yeah, I’ve had a man watching during the day also, and she’s a no show,” Jinx said. “Looks like she just dumped the car there.”

“I’ve read most of the journal,” Tizzy said. “So far, I haven’t found anything. She mostly writes about wanting to start a new life.”

Rayann leaned forward. “You think she went back to Baltimore?”

Tizzy shook her head. “I can’t believe she’d leave Ramona.”

“Here’s what we should do,” Ridge said. “Bubba and I will follow up with questioning at the strip club where Gwynn and Tawny worked.” He picked up a file. “Officer Fisher already started the interviews, we have the statements he had so far.” Ridge laid the folder on top of the television. “Fisher also found out the truck was a recent purchase. Jinx, you go to the dealership and find out who bought the truck.”

Tizzy held up her hand to get Ridge’s attention. “What do you want me to do?”

“You girls visit all the businesses with cameras on Naples Road. See if you can get them to give you the tape for the date in question, without a warrant.” Ridge grinned at Tizzy. “I bet if you smile just right, they’ll hand them over.”

“We may want to take another look at her computer and cell phone calls. Also the names of her regular lap-dance customers,” Rayann said.

“I think we should ask about new clients too,” Synola added. “Old boyfriends need to be checked out as well.”

“Let’s not forget to examine files from when you were a cop in Philly,” Jinx said. “We thought there could be a chance someone from your past was behind this. Can you think of any cases where they vowed to get even?”

Ridge nodded. “Yeah, all of them.”

“What about Tawny?” Bubba asked.

Ridge looked at him. “For now, I’m concentrating on Gwynn. If we can solve my case, then I think Tawny’s will fall into place. I don’t have a clue what her connection is other than Gwynn’s friend.”

“We should definitely question Ramona again,” Rayann chimed in. “It’s been days since Gwynn went missing and as much as she obviously cares for her sister, maybe she’s made contact with her.”

“She’s on my list,” Ridge said.

Jinx set his cup on the desk. “There’s one more thing we need to address.”

“What’s that?” Ridge asked.

“Clowns.”

“Yeah, we had clowns chasing and shooting at us and I didn’t like it.” Rayann shook her head.

“Good idea. Tizzy, add to the board to contact the local chapter and get a list of all the clowns who registered for the conference,” Ridge said. “We can run background checks on them. Maybe we’ll come up with something there.”

Synola wiped icing from her mouth. “Don’t forget about the second SUV. They were the ones doing the shooting.”

“She’s right,” Jinx said, “but the odd thing is, I don’t think they were shooting at us. They were shooting at the clowns.”

Once the men left, Synola and Rayann sat at the kitchen table and finished off the cinnamon rolls while Tizzy stared into empty space, lost in her own thoughts.

Grunt work.
She understood the assignment offered the least amount of risk, but she wouldn’t complain. Ridge including her in the investigation in any capacity was a start down the right road as far as she was concerned.

She brought the mug to her lips and took a sip of steaming hot cocoa. Securing videos today, apprehending bad guys tomorrow. Well, if she was honest, he’d probably never approve of her doing face-to-face time with suspects.

“Hell-o? Earth to Tizzy,” Synola said.

Tizzy blinked at her. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something.”

“The case?”

“Yeah. More than likely, whoever picked up Gwynn would be taking her one of two places, home or work. Don’t you think?”

Rayann and Synola nodded.

“Since Gwynn’s house and work place are east of Discount Storage, I think we’ll be wasting our time gathering videos toward the west.” Tizzy took a sip from her mug and smiled. It occurred to her Ridge probably thought the same thing, and by adding the other direction, the assignment would keep her busy longer.

“So, you’re saying only get videos eastbound down Naples Road, and disregard Ridge’s instructions?” Rayann widened her eyes and tilted her head. “You think that’s a good idea?”

“We can always go back and cover the west later. Ridge won’t care. He’s just looking for something to keep us busy and me out of his hair.” Tizzy’s fingers hovered over the box of pastries and she decided to eat one more. “We’ll get better results if we travel east from the storage unit, then turn north and head toward Gwynn’s house and her last place of employment, Double D’s.”

Synola stood, went into the office, and returned with a sheet of paper. “Here’s the list of security cameras covering every direction for six blocks. Three businesses east and four going north.”

Tizzy finished off her last bite and took another sip of chocolate. “To save time, I thought we’d split up. I’ll take east and the two of you, the north.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Synola said. “As soon as I pee, I’ll be ready to go.”

Rayann frowned. “I vote no. I want us to stay together.”

Synola jerked her head around. “Good grief, Rayann, if we run into something you’re afraid of, I’ll protect you.
Grow a pair of ovaries
, for God’s sake.”

“See, Tizzy, Synola’s attitude is why we shouldn’t split up. Clearly, I can’t depend on her.”

“Not true!” Synola threw her hands in the air. “I said I would protect your little fraidy-cat-whiney-hiney, and I will. I’m just saying you need to toughen up.”

“Enough.” Tizzy snapped. “We’ll stay together, but we should get going. I need to be back for a Fall Festival meeting scheduled for later this afternoon.”

“Don’t volunteer me for anything,” Synola said.

“I won’t. I thought both of you could go with me while I do the Twilight Cemetery Tour.”

Synola laughed. “Lord, if anybody is gonna take
live
people to visit
dead
people, it’s gonna be you.”

“Oh hush up,” Tizzy said. “It’s a historical tour. Now, go to the bathroom so we can leave.”

~~*~~

In the early afternoon, with all seven videos in hand, Tizzy, Rayann, and Synola returned home. Tizzy unlocked the door and the two followed her inside.

“When we left this morning, the same car was parked across the street. What’s that about?” Synola asked.

“I arranged twenty-four hour surveillance on the house,” Tizzy said. “Whoever took Ridge might try again and I can’t let that happen.”

Tizzy stepped to the fridge. “There’s also guys watching Mom’s house and tailing me and Ridge. He doesn’t know about the tails, so don’t say anything. Y’all want something to drink?”

“Yeah, a glass of wine,” Synola said.

Tizzy nodded toward Rayann. “You too?”

“No, I better not drink any.”

“Oh my God! Are you knocked up?” Synola asked.

“No—maybe.”

“Really?” Tizzy asked, her voice raising an octave.

Rayann shook her head. “I’m late, so I could be.”

“Well, crap, let’s get you to pee on a stick and find out,” Synola said.

“Do you want to be?” Tizzy walked to Rayann and slipped an arm around her shoulders.

Rayann burst into tears. “NO! I’ve only been married a few months.” She buried her face in Tizzy’s chest and sobbed.

“You’ll be okay,” Tizzy said, pulling her closer. “I had Gracie nine months after I married and everything turned out okay and I did it without a husband.”

“How the hell could this happen if you didn’t want it to?” Synola said. “Haven’t you been careful?”

“Don’t fuss at me, Synola.”

“Well, one thing’s for sure. Apparently, you ain’t afraid of a penis!”

They all burst into laughter.

“Synola has a point,” Tizzy said. “I thought you were on the pill. Did you miss one?”

Rayann wiped her eyes. “I am, but you remember when I had the sinus infection? I didn’t think about how some antibiotics make your birth control pills ineffective. So, I may have gotten pregnant then.”

Tizzy moved away from Rayann. “While I’m gone, y’all buy a test. Okay?”

They both nodded. Tizzy picked up her purse and dug for her keys. “I’m going to talk to Boone before my meeting.”

“Oh my God. Maybe we should come with you,” Rayann said.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen a fight between a ghost and a woman,” Synola joked.

“There won’t be a fight,” Tizzy said.

~~*~~

Fifteen minutes later, Tizzy parked her car at Jenkins Cemetery. Her surveillance guy stopped near the entry. She took a deep breath, got out, and walked to Boone’s grave. “Boone?” When he didn’t answer, she called again, this time more stern. “Boone.” Still no reply. “Boone! I have a bone to pick with you.”

“Don’t say ‘bone to pick’ to a dead person.”

She ignored the remark and gathered her wits. “You know why I’m here?”

“
It’s almost Halloween and you want me to haunt someone for you?”

“Quit joking around, Boone. I’m
extremely upset with you.”

“Yeah? Well, what are you going to do, kill me?”

“Stop laughing! This is not funny. You are not to appear to Gracie ever again. Do you understand me?”

“She looks just like you.”

“I’m serious, Boone. She’s only four years old. You’re going to scare her.”

“
Did she say I scared her?”

“No. As a matter of fact, she hasn’t mentioned your visits to me. She told Ridge.”

“How is the new husband?”

“I’m not here to discuss him.”

“Does he make you happy?”

“Oh, God. When you’re visiting Gracie, can you —?”

“You mean can I watch the two of you in the bedroom?”

“Stop laughing, Boone! There’s nothing funny about any of this.”

“Yeah, there is. I should let you drive yourself nuts not knowing, but I can’t be mean to you. No, I can’t go anywhere but Gracie’s room. Unless you invite me.”

The thought of Boone watching her have sex with Ridge unsettled her. He
’d be able to tell in an instant Ridge was a better lover and that was a discussion she never wanted to have.

Tizzy started to breathe again. “Let’s get back to the subject. Promise me, you’ll stop.”

“We knew each other forever. You only met him a few months ago. I need to know you’re happy . . . and that he’s good to you.”

“He’s a wonderful man. He loves me . . . and Gracie.”

“She loves him too.”

Tizzy heard the sadness in Boone
’s voice. Tears formed behind her eyes. She looked back toward the road. The security guy had out his binoculars.

“
Who is that guy?”

She regained control of her emotions.
“It’s okay. I know him.”

“Well, he must think you’re nuts, talking to a grave.”

“Speaking of that, you’ve never had this much conversation with me before. In the past, I’d just get bits and pieces. Thoughts really, not complete sentences. What’s brought this on?”

“
My connection to Gracie, I think. Things are different now. After I’ve been with her, I have a short period of emotional energy.”

“Well, I need you to promise me you won’t show yourself to her again.”

“There’s only a small window of opportunity, Tizzy. Right now, Gracie isn’t afraid. She thinks I’m a dream or an imaginary friend.”

“Why can’t I see you?”

“Would you want too?”

“No. That would be freaky.”

“Yeah, well, that’s why. The adult mind is different from a child’s.”

“What if you’re wrong? What if you cause her some sort of psychological damage?” A tear escaped and trickled down Tizzy’s cheek.

“She’s my daughter, Tizzy, but I’ll never be her dad. Your new husband gets that privilege. You know the worst part of being dead? It’s not what you give up, but what you’ll never have. So, don’t ask me to stop, because as long as Gracie wants to see me, she will.”

Damn Boone Donovan! If he wasn
’t already dead, I’d kill him.
Tizzy slid behind the wheel of her car, glanced back toward his grave, and immediately regretted the thought. She waited until all the other members of the tour committee drove away and gave her earlier conversation with Boone more attention.