Mouth of the Rat (A Samantha Jamison Mystery) (8 page)

After I closed the box and was locking it with the key, I heard from behind me, “Well, isn’t this a coincidence?”

Was it? They always materialized out of nowhere.

I turned. “Hi,” I greeted, happy to see them. I needed something hard and fast, something concrete.

“We were just talking about you,” said Sylvie.

“Did you hear about Sidney?” Bunny asked.

Okay… maybe this was my lucky day.

“He died, didn’t he? What was it, poison?”

Sylvie gaped. “Die? Who said anything about dying?”

“You mean he’s still alive?”

“Of course!” she said. “I heard he had a heart attack.”

“This sounds terrible, but thank goodness!” I said.

“You can say that again,” said Sylvie. “Otherwise we’d be short one more widower.”

“Yes,” said Bunny. “The ratio factor in this country club is skewed. I had no idea when I first bought here.”

“You know,” said Sylvie. “They should have it in those flashy brochures when you’re looking, so you know what you’re buying into. After all, this is quite an investment.”

“Anyway,” said Bunny, “seeing you like this worked out perfectly. I saw something that might be important.”

“Oh? And what was that?” I asked her skeptically.

“Who do you think I saw after my book club meeting?”

“Who?”

Bunny looked around and lowered her voice. “Marco’s girlfriend leaving the spa.”

Unaware of Mona’s marriage to Marco, Bunny probably spotted her when Martha and I trapped her outside the spa.

What was the big deal about that?

I still played it safe. “…And?”

“I never expected to see that redhead again.”

Mona’s a brunette, so where’d this one come from?

“What redhead?”

Sylvie was surprised. “You didn’t hear about that one?”

“Hear what?”

“She almost killed Marco, that’s why,” said Bunny.

“How?”

“I believe they referred to it as food poisoning.”

“Word spread like wildfire at our club,” said Sylvie.

“That this girlfriend tried to kill him,” added Bunny.

This whole thing was getting interesting. What did they expect me to say? “Maybe she was just a bad cook.”

Could she have killed Marco? Who was she?

Chapter 31

Killing Time

Rather than flood them with questions, I decided to hear what they had to say first. So I stood there waiting for them to continue. I could tell they were dying to say something more, but there seemed to be an underlying caginess as they kept looking around. I even looked myself.

“Want to go by the pool area to talk?” I asked.

Sylvie peered over the wall. We all did. It was vacant.

“Well, it might give us more privacy,” she admitted.

Bunny started walking toward the gate. “Come on.”

We stood by one of the round tables under an umbrella in a corner area. I kept a constant eye out for Thug One.

“I’ve been real nervous lately,” said Sylvie.

“I’ve felt a little skittish myself,” said Bunny.

“There’s more, isn’t there?” I asked, edging closer.

Sylvie lowered her voice. “We might have omitted some details about that night Marco was killed.”

“Yes,” said, Bunny. “We should have told you, but…”

“But…?”

“But nothing,” said Sylvie. “I insisted we had to tell you. The night Marco was shot, I ran into Bunny crossing the lawn at the exact same time I was walking out after hearing those two popping noises because of all the arguing earlier, but wasn’t sure about what was being said.”

“I heard it, too,” said Bunny, “and came down from my deck to sneak a look at what was going on over there.”

“We almost collided in the dark,” said Sylvie.

“Why didn’t you tell me before this at the pool?”

“Because,” said Sylvie, “I’m a little more jittery now.”

“Why?”

“Since I phoned Bunny to tell her I was getting calls.”

The ladies room conversation at their club I overheard.

“What calls?” I asked innocently.

“They were very disturbing,” said Sylvie.

“I started getting them too, right after Sylvie told me about hers,” said Bunny. “It’s alarming to say the least.”

The first thing I asked was, “Male or female?”

They glanced at each other, then back at me.

“Why ask that?” Sylvie asked.

“Because it might be important.”

“It doesn’t matter,” said Bunny. “We don’t have a clue.”

“Why not?”

“No one spoke, that’s why.”

“What do you mean, no one spoke?”

“All they did was breathe heavily,” said Sylvie, “then they hung up while I was still asking who it was.”

“Did you see someone that night?”

“We didn’t see anyone, just each other,” said Bunny.

“But I found this,” said Sylvie, opening up her hand and giving me some kind of business card.

It was for the Down Under Club, the same as Mona’s.

Now that was curious.

Chapter 32

Flipping Over & Flipping Out

I turned the card over. An address was written on the back of it. I filed it to memory and handed it back to Sylvie.

“It should be easy for
you
to check out,” Sylvie added.

My brow raised in disbelief. “What do you mean,
me
?”

“Of the three of us, you’ve had more experience. How can you expect us to? We might get hurt! Besides, you’re the sleuth, right? It might be an important clue.”

I rubbed my forehead. “Well…”

Sylvie pointed at the card. “It could’ve been dropped by whoever shot Marco. We’re afraid to be linked to this.”

“It’s also possible they saw you two.”

Both of them took a step back from me.

Sylvie’s hand flew to her throat. “You think so?”

“Sam’s right,” said Bunny. “Maybe they’re watching.”

Sylvie quickly glanced around. “You mean, right now?”

“Hey, relax,” I said. “I don’t think it’s that bad.”

“Look,” said Sylvie. “A guy was shot in cold blood right next door, FBI, the police, and God knows who else were walking through here, and now we’re getting phone calls most likely because they think we know something…”

“…Or saw something,” I said.

“Why did they write that address down?” Sylvie asked.

“Maybe that’s who hired them,” said Bunny.

“That’s a stretch,” I said. “Could be a million reasons. But if the killer did come back, no one would know with all the spectators milling about, would they? The killer could even have been someone walking a dog to blend in.”

“Do you think they’ll come back again?” Sylvie asked.

“Only if you gave them a reason to,” I said.

Neither spoke. I had a feeling there was something more they weren’t telling me.

“…What?”

“There’s one more thing,” said Bunny.

I knew it!
“And what’s that?”

“I now carry it with me so it won’t get stolen,” she said.

Sylvie nudged Bunny. “This might be important, go ahead and show her what you said you found that night. It could be evidence of who else was out here:
the killer
.”

Bunny handed me a tube of lipstick, saying, “I realize I ruined the fingerprints on it, but it was dark, and after stepping on it… Well, go on, open it and read the label.”

I opened it. It was blood red. “The Kiss of Death.”

“That shade’s popular. Even Sylvie uses it,” said Bunny.

“It’s a creepy calling card,” said Sylvie. “Like they’re telling us they are the one with the kiss of death.”

“I bet his redheaded girlfriend came back,” said Bunny.

“To make sure he died this time,” Sylvie added.

Bunny put it back in her purse. “You’ll let us know?”

“Sure,” I said,
but that depended on what I found out.

“Be careful,” said Bunny. “There’s a killer out there.”

Could that be a decoy to deflect the killer’s gender?

Chapter 33

Driving Toward The Truth?

My trio stood dressed from head to toe in black even though it was a humid eighty degrees outside.

“Uh-uh,” I said, shaking my head no.

“What do you mean, no?” Martha said, frowning.

“You heard me. No! I will not take the responsibility of having to worry about the three of you hurting yourselves.”

“An element of risk is exhilarating,” Betty countered.

“That’s not why you three are here. You’re seniors, for God’s sake! I will not put your life at risk. You are here to strictly mix and mingle with the other seniors for info.”

“But that isn’t any fun,” said Hazel, crossing her arms.

“Well, on my watch, murder and fun don’t have much in common, do they?” I said, dismissing their disappointment.

Martha knew me. “You gonna tell Mona about this?”

“I don’t think Mona would intentionally lead us into harm’s way, but Mona is Mona. If it moves her agenda forward, she’s all for it, regardless. So the answer is no.”

“Then you going it alone isn’t smart either, is it?”

Got me!
“Okay,” I said, “but understand the three of you have to stay close. Don’t veer from our goal for tonight.”

“…Which is?” Martha asked, now smiling.

“To get a license plate number, nothing more, okay?”

“Did you find out where this is?” I asked, pointing to the address on the card Sylvie reluctantly gave back to me.

“I already mapped the address,” said Martha, smiling.

“It’s over by the Intracoastal Waterway,” added Hazel, “in a development called Boca Bay Colony.”

Reading my mind, Martha nodded. “And no gate.”

“And with no gate,” said Betty, “easier access.”

Hazel held up plastic gloves for us. “No fingerprints.”

Betty held up her iPhone. “For evidence and notes.”

Martha held out her key chain with its mini light.

And I said a silent prayer we didn’t screw up.

“We’ll do a drive-by to check out the place. I’ll drop you off, hopefully behind some bushes, park a block away then walk back. No one, and I repeat, no one is to wander off on their own. Is everyone on board with this?”

“Do we have a choice?” asked Martha sarcastically.

I was adamant. “Take it or leave it, ladies.”

Betty headed for the garage. “My goodness, she sucked the air right out of what could’ve been a great adventure.”

“Sounds like her way or the highway,” muttered Hazel.

“I’m taking my iPod so I won’t get bored,” said Martha.

“Complaining won’t change my mind either,” I added.

Betty turned back to the other two. “You know, I just read an article on the net about false fingerprints…”

“You mean the kind that peel off?” asked Hazel.

“How about that one on tripping retinal scanners using false lenses?” Martha added. “They’d come in real handy.”

What made me suddenly think this was a mistake?

Chapter 34

Sneaking Up & Sneaking Off

I crept up behind the bushes where I left them and came up short. As I expected, Martha was swaying, listening to her iPod, but there was a major problem. She was alone.

I ripped one earphone out. “Where are they?”

She jerked back and fell to the grass. “Good God!”

I pulled her back up. “Well?”

She broke away from my grip. “Why’d you do that?”

“Where are they?” I asked, sick with worry.

She whipped around when my words sunk in. “Uh-oh.”

“What happened? I asked you three to stay put.”

“They saw something and told me to wait here for you.”

“I had to park further away than I thought.”

“I’m not surprised. The street is lit up like a runway. We were going crazy waiting. Where’d you park?”

I pointed down the street. “Down toward the church.”

“It sure took you long enough.”

I scanned the dark, shadowy areas in the moonlight.

“Where could they possibly be?”

“You can’t tell with those two,” said Martha. “Hey, don’t you think it’s odd this property is so dark inside and out? Think it’s so you can’t see who is coming and going?”

“Maybe, but it’s perfect for playing to our advantage.”

“How so?”

“Because we’re going to have to sneak up there and look around for Sherlock Holmes and Watson, that’s why!”

“Whatever you do, don’t sneak up on those two like me or you’ll be waking up the dead with all their yelling.”

“That’s all I need,” I said, shoving off toward the house.

We quickly darted around hedges, checking the front.

“Nothing!” Martha said. “Think they’re out back?”

We were staring up at a seven-foot stucco wall.

“I need a rope, ladder, something,” I said frustrated.

“Why not use the gate?” Martha said, walking right in.

I caught up to her at the edge of the patio.

She whispered, “Look at that swimming pool! And get a load of that large boat tied to the deep-water dock!”

As we stood there, admiring it, I realized we still hadn’t found Hazel and Betty. I pivoted, searching for shadows.

Martha resumed walking. “Where the heck are they?”

As we edged along the pool, Martha jolted forward.

“What’s the matter?” I whispered, catching her.

“Call 911! …I think I’m having chest palpitations.”

“Our phones are on vibrate, remember?”

“For a second I thought my ticker was going.”

“Answer it,” I whispered. “It might be them.”

She pulled it out of her shirt, hit talk, and listened.

“Exactly where?” she asked, then hung up.