One Deadly Sister (Sandy Reid Mystery Series #1) (34 page)

“And the other reason?”

“Embarrassment, the date-rape thing. I wanted to link her forever with Barner, start people talking about a sex scandal, dream girl carrying on with the repulsive town creep. The rumor would ruin her. No brains or breeding yet she sailed through life because Al wanted to keep her magical boobs within reach.”

“They were lovers?”

“Of course they were lovers. He’s a man isn’t he? She turned him against me with all her jiggling around.”

“You just admitted you planned to murder him.”

“I admit I was thinking about it. Norma Martin saved me the trouble.”

“That’s too wild. You’re telling me you planned this whole scheme, then Norma Martin conveniently came by that afternoon and shot him for you?”

“Lucky me.” She shrugged. “And the town won’t be laughing at me anymore. They were saying the Mensa babe wasn’t smart enough to hold her man. He had millions and they thought I would end up with only a piddling monthly alimony. They thought the good life was over for me. Did you see the faces on the town bitches at the party, when I left with you? Half hated me, half were cheering me on. And all knew they would be home in bed with their snoring pot-bellied old man while I was merrily getting laid by the eager young guy.”

“This isn’t just about jealousy and revenge. You’re hurting for money and you stand to gain big bucks out of his death. Furthermore, I’m going to prove you did it.”

She was definitely annoyed at that. Ray jumped back as she abruptly pulled away.

A fascinating confirmation of his suspicions, and he needed to hear it to clear his mind. However, it wasn’t recorded so it would do no good toward her prosecution. He’d give Sandy the details. She wanted everyone together that night to discuss all that was known.

And Sandy has a proclamation...says she knows who the killer is.

“J
ust give me the rest of my money and I’ll get out of here.” Sonny Barner felt awkward sitting on the white-cushioned porch chair across the table from the woman. Sitting like socializing, he thought. Like the dumb bitch actually wanted him in her house one second longer than necessary. Why have him sit anyway? Couldn’t she see his dirty coveralls?

“Stink kinda bad today, Mrs. Dellin. You know, the chemicals.” Why talking nice to her anyway, like she cares what shit he gets into.

“You smell to high heaven, and you’ve been drinking.”

“Had to crawl around under some guy’s house to treat scorpions. Got special stuff that I use. Dumb guy said he’d been throwing old boards into his crawlspace for years. Said you never know when you might need a piece of lumber. Okay by me if he wants to breed scorpions under his house, and then pay me to kill them.” Barner thought that was sort of funny, but she didn’t even smile. When she hands him the money she can go fuck herself.

“Did you carry any of them in here, in your cuffs, in your shoes?”

Should tell her tough shit if he did. Hold off until the cash is in his hand. Feeling good about things. Stopped on the way over here and had a couple shots and beer. Anybody would need something under his belt to face this woman. Would really celebrate later. Stop at Discount and buy a case of Daniels. Can buy it by the case now. Go home spread that pretty green paper all over the floor: twenties, fifties, lots of hundreds. Flip them up in the air, if I want.

“The money...Mrs. Dellin.” Should call her by her first name, she can’t stop him. Call her Loraine like she’s nothing special, see how that grabs her. Loraine, I’m sitting on your white fucking cushion, Loraine. What’s she gonna do, tell him to bring the senator back to life? She’s the one has to play nice now.

“I’ve got your money. Do you have my gun?”

He put his palms on his cheeks, pretending to act surprised. “The gun?”

“Don’t play with me, Sonny. You know the deal. I want that gun back. No gun, no money.”

He knew what she’s thinking, knows that gun ties her in. Maybe he’ll just keep it for insurance. Let her worry about the gun turning up someday, and then needing to give him more money or else explain it to the police. Physical stuff like a gun is damn good. Not a bunch of words. Just keep that little .38 she bought. The one out of the gun box she had him plant in Tammy’s closet. Hold it over her head. Who’s the dumb one now, rich bitch? Get on your knees and beg. Get more money out of her. She’s getting millions anyway. Feeling good now.

She said, “You know that gun must be destroyed.”

“Maybe I got rid of it already.”

“Not good enough. I want to
see
it destroyed. If you don’t have that gun, buster, you just blew ten thousand dollars. I don’t know what you think you’re pulling, but you better consider whether it’s worth ten thousand.”

She was serious. He frowned. Okay. He reached in his pocket and came out with the gun pointed directly at her head.

“Idiot!” She reached across with both hands and grabbed the gun, pointed the muzzle away and pulled it from his hand. She flipped open the cylinder. “Chambers are empty, where are the bullet casings, Sonny? I gave you the gun with five bullets and told you to leave the spent casings in the cylinder.”

“Forgot that part, thought I was supposed to throw them away.”

“You know those little casings can carry fingerprints? Did you think of that? I wiped each cartridge before I loaded the gun. Where are they? Are you sure they won’t be found?”

“Look lady, I took them out. I didn’t set them down on the floor in the middle of his apartment.” Stupid woman.

“How many did you fire?”

“Couple.”

“Police said he was killed with one shot.”

“Maybe it was only one.”

“How could you not know? Not advanced math. You started with five. How many did you use on Al and how many were left?”

Talking to him like he’s some child. He’ll get even with the bitch. “Well, guess I was nervous, you know confused. Don’t remember.”

“What did he do when you pointed the gun at him?”

“Don’t want to talk about details, okay? He’s dead ain’t he?” She wanted the senator dead. So he’s dead. Why doesn’t she just shut up? “What, you writing a book?”

“You’re right, it’s done. We each got what we wanted.” She pushed her chair back and stood. She put the gun in the pocket of her short terrycloth robe. “Okay, Sonny, celebration time. What’ll you have?”

“My money.”

“No problem, my friend. Now we’re square.”

He watched her get up and walk across the porch to the kitchen. She opened a cabinet and took out a bottle of Chivas, pinched two small glasses in her fingers and brought them back to the table. He looked at the bottle and up at her. Without a word, she walked back into the kitchen, opened the freezer and removed a Ziploc bag. Carried it back and set it in front of him.

“Ten thousand in that bag.” She poured two drinks. “Drink up, Sonny. It’s your big payday.”

He pulled the bag close to him and took his drink in one large gulp. First time he’d ever seen her smile, grinning like a little girl.

“Count it out. Life is good.” She refilled his glass.

He didn’t know if there was some fancy way to count out ten thousand dollars. He wiped his hands on his pants and pulled his chair up closer. They were all hundreds. He slowly counted to ten and stopped. That would be one thousand. He moved those bills to the side and counted to ten again. He made ten piles. Was that right? Yeah, that seemed right. He took a deep breath and leaned back in the patio chair.

He reached over and emptied his glass. Easy money, he said to himself. He put the bills back in the bag and stuffed it deep into his coverall pocket. “Yeah, life is good.”

She walked back over behind the kitchen counter. She slipped the revolver out of her pocket and held it out of sight below the counter. “What did you do with the first ten thousand, Sonny?” She opened the counter drawer. The bullets were there at the front. She plugged them into the cylinder and quietly snapped it shut. “You didn’t buy a new truck or something useless such as that.” She put the gun back in her pocket. She came back to the table and topped off his drink.

He shifted in the chair. “Been looking at them.”

“Should stay away from new truck dealers. Not call attention to yourself. I hope the first money isn’t in your house.”

“Remember police got the damn warrant and searched my house. Every little thing I owned throwed out on the floor. Every room, everything, out on the floor, then they walk away like hey not their problem. You hear any shit about ten grand being found at my place?”

“Nasty mouth. Well, I told you to bury it. Bury it and don’t go near it for six months. Did you bury it?”

“It’s safe.” None of her damn business where it is. Now shut up woman. “I’m leaving, Mrs. Dellin. Don’t think I’ll be doing bugs for you anymore either. Think we should stay away from each other.” Not all of that came out clearly, but he knew she understood.

“What’s your hurry? Finish your drink.”

He drank it and stood, his hand feeling around some before he found the back of the chair to lean on.

“Stick around. I’m going in the pool now. Why don’t you join me for a moonlight swim? You know what skinny dipping means?”

He made a small nervous laugh. What the hell she talking about, like she’s really gonna get naked in the pool with him. That
would
be something.

“After I’ll make us some coffee, you shouldn’t be driving.”

“Naw, drunk a lot more than this and always got home.” He helped himself to one more drink just to show the dumb woman. Doesn’t want to hang around there, got big money in his pocket, knows just who to find and where to find her. He’ll say how much and this time the flashy woman won’t laugh at him and say, ‘More than you got, shithead.’ Let’s see how fast she spreads ‘em now.

He watched Loraine kick off her shoes. She tossed off her headband and her long red hair fell free. Then she stared right at him while she untied her robe letting it hang loose in front. It flashed open as she turned and walked out onto the pool deck. In the light from the porch, he could see her shake off the robe.

Sonafabitch, just took her damn robe off pretty as you please, with me standing right here. Bare back too, no bra. Must have been walking around here talking all that time, jugs just hanging loose under there. Look at that little white skirt. Never realized her ass stuck out cute like that. Maybe call to her, she’ll turn around and put on a show.

“Mrs. Dellin?” His voice was weak.

“Come on,” she said, without turning. “Bring the bottle if you want.”

He stumbled out after her. Yeah, she wants me over there, gonna let me see those babies. Walk right up to her with her damn titties sticking right out. Sonafabitch, I’ve been all the way to Vegas never seen nothing like this.

Over at the edge of the pool now, in the shadows. Look, she’s grinning at me. Damn woman wants to mess around. Better than some damn porn. Wiggling around in that tiny skirt. That gonna come off too? Take it off, woman. Ten thousand dollars, to see what you got under there. He say that out loud? Not sure. Just kidding lady. Yeah, the ten thousand. He patted his pocket. Where’s she now...bending over...titties hanging down...saying something about clothes...can’t see. Titties...money...dumb woman. On the grass...coveralls stuck...can’t help you...get them off...can’t get up...can’t walk—.

When Barner hit the water, he came out of the darkness. But it wasn’t right. Something heavy. Get off woman. Heavy clamped tight on his back. Bare legs locked around. Two hands tearing at his hair pushing down. Don’t! Don’t! Can’t breathe. Head held under. Stop! Head pushed down, again and again. Stop it. Can’t shake her off. Choking. Get head up. Damn woman, strong, doesn’t stop...clamped on...just keeps going and going. Please, please….

Darkness…nothing.

Loraine swam to the ladder and climbed out. She found her robe and took the gun out—a bit of insurance in case he came at her. But she hadn’t needed it at all. He was weaker than she had expected, still had put up a lot of fight for a drunk. She stood watching his floating naked body. No movement. He was dead. Just the way she planned. Give him some booze, show him some bare skin, and he folded.

She took the Ziploc bag of money out of his coveralls and arranged his clothes as though he had undressed for a sneaky midnight swim. Taking off his stinking shoes and socks was worse than getting him out of his baggy underwear. What a filthy person to touch, to undress. She’d have to drain and clean the pool as soon as the accident investigators were through. Always something.

She picked up her robe and hurried inside, she needed a shower to wash away the stench. When she was drying off after the long shower, the thought returned—he had touched her body. She had clamped onto his naked back like a leech with her legs locked under him, her hands clutching his dirty hair. He had squirmed and his body rubbed against her. He had grabbed her legs with his grubby hands trying to get free. That man’s hands on her bare legs. Yuck. It nauseated her to think about it. The tragedy of this whole affair was the necessity of touching him. She shuttered. She sat down quickly until the wave of sickness passed. She stepped back in and washed her hair and body a second time.