Full Blast (19 page)

“You only took a few bites of your prime rib.”

“I guess I’m a little nervous,” Vera confessed, her gaze falling on the small glass-enclosed candle between them.

John reached across the table and touched her hand. “I feel very fortunate to have met you.”

Vera shifted in her seat. “John, may I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“In your ad, you said you wanted to meet a woman for a discreet relationship. Why are you so concerned about discretion?”

He didn’t answer right away. “I’m a very private person, Vera, and the last thing I want people to know is that I ran an advertisement in the newspaper to meet a woman. I know it’s silly, but that’s how I feel.”

“Yes, well, my minister would certainly frown on that sort of thing.”

“I’ve dated a couple of women in town, and I could tell up front that nothing would come of it, but I must say, you and I seem to have a lot in common.” He grinned. “Anybody who drives a pink Mustang is definitely my kind of woman.”

Vera smiled. “It’s a new acquisition.”

“Plus, if I might say so, you’re very attractive.”

Vera patted her hair. “Why, thank you, John.”

The waiter brought their check. John Price pulled out a credit card and handed it to him, and the man hurried away. “I hope we can get together again soon,” John said.

“I’d like that, too.”

“Is tomorrow night too soon?”

Vera laughed. “Well, gee, I guess tomorrow is okay.” She paused in thought. “You know, I wouldn’t normally do this, and I don’t wish to sound forward, but how would you like to come to my house for pot roast tomorrow evening? Everybody always brags about my pot roast.”

“Wow, a home-cooked meal. It sounds great to me since I eat out so much. I’m afraid I’m not much of a cook.”

Vera pulled a small notebook from her purse on which she wrote out her address. “I’ll expect you around seven.”

John walked Vera to her car and waited until she climbed in. “I’ll see you tomorrow night,” he said.

She started her engine and pulled away. She was humming a tune under her breath as she turned onto the highway leading home. She did not notice that she was being followed.

“I CAN’T BELIEVE DEE DEE JUST UP AND LEFT ME,” Frankie told Max. “We’ve never had a serious argument in our life.”

“Your wife is pregnant,” Max said. “She’s going to be moody once in a while. She needs you right now more than she’s ever needed you before.”

“What can I do when she refuses to come home?” Frankie asked.

“Jewelry might help.”

Frankie seemed to ponder it. “I’ll take care of it first thing in the morning. I need to run by the bank as soon as it opens. I’ve got something in my safe-deposit box that just might do the trick.”

.  .  .

MAX, JAMIE, DEE DEE, AND BEENIE SHARED A gourmet dinner in Jamie’s small kitchen that evening. Once the chef and his assistant finished up, Max suggested he and Jamie take a walk. It wasn’t until they had cleared Jamie’s yard that Max spoke. “You’ve been awfully quiet this evening,” he said. “I can tell something is wrong.”

Jamie told Max about Larry Johnson’s visit. She sensed his anger before he even responded.

“I’d like to get my hands on Johnson and show him what it’s like to fight a man,” he said, “but I have a feeling I wouldn’t stop until it was too late.”

“Too late for what?” Jamie asked.

“Never mind.” He stopped walking. “Look, Jamie, I want you to come back to the hotel with me tonight.”

“And leave Beenie and Dee Dee?”

“Larry Johnson isn’t interested in hurting them. I’ll ask Tevis to keep an eye on the place. Besides, Frankie is coming over in the morning, and I think he’ll be able to convince Dee Dee to come home this time.”

Jamie smiled. “Meaning diamonds will exchange hands.”

“Something like that,” Max said, but he didn’t look amused. “Either way, I’m not leaving you alone tonight. You’ll have to stay with me or I’m camping out on your sofa.”

“I’ll go to your place,” she told him, “as long as you don’t mind having Fleas along. I don’t think he likes sharing our place with Choo-Choo.”

“BUT I’D FEEL GUILTY RUNNING YOU OUT OF YOUR own house,” Dee Dee said when Jamie broached the subject of staying with Max at his hotel. “It’s bad enough that we just showed up on your doorstep without warning.”

“Not to mention completely redecorating her house without her permission,” Beenie said.

“Which was very sweet of you,” Jamie told her. Even though it would take her time to adjust to her new surroundings, Jamie knew her friend had had good intentions. “You’re my best friend,” Jamie told her. “Of course I would expect you to come here.”

Dee Dee suddenly looked sad. “Frankie hasn’t even called me.”

Jamie could see that her friend was truly in pain, but she was sure Dee Dee’s pride would not let her call him. “I think Frankie’s feelings are just hurt,” she said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up on my doorstep tomorrow. In the meantime you need to rest.”

Dee Dee nodded. “I think it’s great that you and Max will have a chance to spend some private time together. Will you be taking Fleas?” she asked hopefully.

“Yes. I’ll make sure you and Choo-Choo have the bedroom all to yourselves tonight.”

Jamie packed a small bag and climbed into Max’s car a few minutes later. Fleas sat in the back seat. “They’re not going to allow us to have a dog in the room,” Jamie said when she saw that Max had booked a room in one of the nicer hotels.

“See, that’s where being rich comes in handy,” Max said. They went inside the hotel with Fleas on his leash, and although they were awarded several stares from the staff, nobody said anything.

“How much did you have to pay to get permission to bring my dog in?” Jamie asked Max.

Max looked at her. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Not everything comes with a price tag,” she said as they waited at the elevator.

“You’re right,” he said. “You can’t pay for what’s really important. I did what I had to do because I wanted you with me tonight. I was afraid for you.”

Max’s cell phone rang as soon as they stepped inside his room. From the conversation, Jamie could tell it was Destiny calling. Max hung up a few minutes later. “Destiny said Larry hasn’t been in tonight. I’m calling Lamar to make sure they’ve got someone on his tail.” Max placed the call. Once he was finished, he hung up and faced Jamie. “Brent Walker left town today. Agnes Aimsley told Lamar he had to return to school.”

“I don’t know whether to be worried or relieved,” Jamie said.

“Lamar has already informed the police in Atlanta. Walker will be questioned.” He paused. “You look exhausted.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly on the lips. Finally, he raised his head and smiled. “I’m crazy about you, Swifty,” he said. “What do you think of that?”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

JAMIE STARED BACK AT HIM. SHE DIDN’T KNOW what to make of it.
Crazy
was a not the word she hoped for. “It’s the sex,” she said, trying to sound flippant so he would not read the disappointment in her eyes.

“The sex is fantastic, but that’s not why I like you so much. I like your spunk, and the fact you’ve never been a quitter. I like that you stand up for what you believe in, like when you rallied to keep Maxine’s store open.”

“I suppose you know the feeling is mutual,” she said, determined to keep it light.

“Like I said, you’re going to be seeing a whole lot more of me in the future. No more three-week intervals.” He kissed her again. “So what do you think? Think you’d like to see more of me?”

She nodded. It was a start.

.  .  .

FRANKIE ARRIVED AT JAMIE’S HOUSE BEFORE EIGHT A.M. the following morning. “Dee Dee, I can’t live without you,” he said to his wife, who was still in her nightgown. They both looked tired from lack of sleep. “I promise to get more involved with the preparations for the baby, but I need for you to come home. It’s where you belong.”

Dee Dee gazed lovingly into his eyes. “I feel the same way. I’ve been miserable without you.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. “I brought you a gift.”

“Oh, Frankie, you didn’t have to do that. I would have come home anyway.” Dee Dee opened the box. “Oh, my, it’s the ring I saw in Tiffany’s.”

“I’ve had it for some time,” he said. “I was saving it for a Christmas gift, but this seems the perfect time. After all, we’re celebrating a baby on the way.”

Dee Dee looked genuinely touched. “I have a lot of luggage with me.”

“I brought some of the staff,” Frankie said. “They’re waiting outside.”

“You’re mighty sure of yourself,” she teased.

“Oh, I was planning to convince you to come home no matter what,” he told her. “Even if I had to pick you up and carry you out.”

“Oh, Frankie, that’s so romantic.”

He pulled her into his arms for a kiss.

Beenie came into the room, still wearing his silk pajamas. “Oh, thank God you’ve made up. I’m ready to go home. I can’t sleep on cotton sheets. They irritate my skin.”

MAX AND JAMIE HAD AWAKENED EARLY AND MADE love, only to spend the next hour cuddling and talking. As Jamie showered, Max ordered room service, and they took their time enjoying breakfast together. It was almost nine by the time they climbed into Max’s car and started for the office. Muffin came on right away.

“I’ve done some more digging on John Price, and I think I may have hit on something.”

“I’m listening,” Max said.

“Price was questioned by the Atlanta PD six months ago about a murder that took place in his neighborhood. The woman lived two doors down from him. The reason it didn’t show up when I checked to see if he had a police record is because he was one of about ten who lived in the area that were questioned. I would never have found it had I not thought to look for murders in Atlanta over the last couple of years. And get this. Same MO. Somebody bashed in her head.”

Max looked at Jamie. “Very interesting.”

“Not only that, I found the service provider he uses for his cell phone. The reason it took so long is because the company is brand-new. It’s called In Touch Communications. They weren’t in the telephone book; the Better Business Bureau doesn’t even have them listed yet.”

“Oh, crap,” Jamie said. “I completely forgot about them. They ran an ad with me a couple of weeks ago offering free phones for those who signed up. Muffin’s right, they just opened for business. As a matter of fact, they’ve got salesmen going door to door.”

“They obviously convinced Price to try their service because that’s who he’s using,” Muffin said. “But I’ve been saving the best for last. Price was in touch with Luanne Ritter only three days after his personal ad hit the newspaper. She must’ve written to him immediately, probably the same day his ad came out.”

“Bingo,” Max said. “What about Maxine Chambers?”

“No record of a call placed to her number, but he could have called from another phone. I haven’t found her name listed with any service provider in the area. As hard as it is to believe in this day and age, she must not have had a cell phone.”

“Anything else?”

“I followed up on the dentist, the chef, and the mechanic. The dentist and chef checked out fine, but the mechanic, Carl Edwards, had had a run-in with the police. Seems he and another guy got into a fist-fight outside a bar a couple of years ago. Nothing serious; just a couple of good old boys who had too much to drink and one of them accused the other of cheating in a pool game.”

“How come it didn’t show up on his record?” Max asked.

“I suspect the cops just talked to them and sent them on their way because neither of them was officially charged. I found the information by checking on calls made to the dispatcher in the last three years. They list complaints in the computer, even if there are no arrests made.”

“Good work, Muffin,” Max said. “From here on out I want you to make Price your top priority. Find out why he left Atlanta so soon after the murder in his neighborhood.”

“Will do.”

“By the way, did you happen to get anything else on Sam Hunter?”

“Nothing looks suspicious. No police record, not even a parking ticket. He kept the same job for ten years. His cell phone records indicate that he was somewhat of a ladies’ man, but all his ex-girlfriends are alive and well and working in New York City. Max?”

“Yeah?”

“After we figure out who committed these murders, I’m taking some time off. I don’t feel so good.”

“Muffin, you are
not
pregnant,” Max said. “You’re just having the symptoms because Dee Dee fed you the information.”

“Then why are my hormones acting up?”

Max sighed. “You don’t have hormones, you’re a computer.”

“Yeah, and you programmed me to have emotions. I do too have hormones. Just ask my friend at MIT. He’s accused me more than once of having PMS. Just this morning, as a matter of fact.”

“I thought the two of you broke up.”

“You know how it is, on again, off again. I can’t get him to make a commitment. I think I intimidate him, but what can I say? Besides, he’s just a laptop, and he’s not being fed information from experts around the clock like I am. He needs an upgrade; somebody needs to install more memory in him.”

“Let’s just try to concentrate on the case, okay?”

Muffin sounded testy when she spoke. “I’ve never once let my personal feelings get in the way of my work, but I do need a life.” With that she was gone.

Max looked thoughtful. “I’ll inform Lamar about Price, but I think it would be a good idea to drive by his house tonight and see if there’s any activity.”

“Only if you promise not to break in again,” Jamie said. “I don’t think my nerves can take it.”

“Deal,” Max said.

“Well, Destiny will be relieved that Sam looks clean,” Jamie said, changing the subject. “I think she has a crush on him.”

“Don’t get her hopes up,” Max said. “Until we find the murderer, everybody is a suspect.”

MAX AND JAMIE WORKED THROUGHOUT THE DAY, breaking only for lunch, which consisted of sandwiches at Maynard’s.

“Is it me or does Vera seem to be in a really good mood today?” Jamie asked as they left the sandwich shop and walked back to the office.

Max grinned. “Maybe she’s getting laid.”

“Max!”

“Well, you asked.”

THEY LEFT THE OFFICE AT SIX P.M., ONLY TO FIND that the night had not cooled.

“This has been the hottest summer I can remember,” Jamie said. “No wonder people are acting kooky in this town, Vera included. There’s definitely a change in her.” Jamie was almost certain the woman was wearing padded bras.

They arrived at Jamie’s house and found a note from Dee Dee saying she had made up with Frankie and gone home. “Well, that’s one less thing to worry about,” Jamie said.

“Frankie must’ve taken my suggestion and bought something nice for her,” Max said with a grin.

“I don’t think Dee Dee is as materialistic as you think, Max,” Jamie said. “She genuinely loves Frankie. Twenty years is a long time to stay married these days.”

“Not if two people work at it,” Max said. “Do you think you’d want to be with somebody that long or longer?”

Jamie couldn’t have been more surprised with his response. Had Max Holt just made a favorable comment about marriage and commitment? She felt like pinching herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, and then realized he was waiting for her answer. “I wouldn’t get married unless I was prepared to do just that,” she said.

There was plenty of food in Jamie’s cabinets and refrigerator, thanks to Dee Dee. Once they’d eaten, Jamie took a shower and changed into shorts while Max made calls to Holt Industries. They waited until dark before getting into Max’s car. “We’re going by John Price’s house,” he told Muffin.

“Speaking of Price, I discovered a few more things you might find interesting,” Muffin said. “His divorce a year ago was less than amicable.”

“Most divorces aren’t real friendly,” Max said, although his had been, thanks to his generosity.

“Yeah, but listen to this. Price swore out a warrant shortly after the separation, claimed his ex was stalking him. The police checked into it but no charges were filed for lack of proof.”

Max looked thoughtful. “How soon can you get me a complete file on her?”

“I’m about to send it through the printer now. She has an apartment in Atlanta, but her employment history is spotty. She obviously quit work after she married Price because I can’t find anything after that.”

Max was thoughtful. “If Price thought she was stalking him, that might explain the guard dogs and the expensive security system.”

“I wonder if he’s afraid she’ll find him,” Jamie said. After a moment, she changed the subject. “We should probably check in with Destiny.” Max made the call. He was frowning when he hung up. “Larry Johnson is there with a woman.”

Jamie felt a chill race up her spine. “I hope she’s armed.”

“Sam Hunter is sitting at the bar. Destiny says they’ve really hit it off.”

“I wonder what Ronnie is making of Destiny’s crush on Sam,” Jamie said, if for no other reason than to lighten the mood. She could see that Max had a lot on his mind. “Maybe Ronnie will finally take the hint and be on his way. Toward the light,” she added with a smile.

They drove by John Price’s house twenty minutes later and found it dark. Max frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Jamie asked.

“Something doesn’t seem right here. I get the feeling we should be someplace else.”

JOHN PRICE ARRIVED AT VERA’S HOUSE AT PREcisely seven o’clock carrying a bouquet of flowers.

“Oh, John, how thoughtful,” she said, as she put them into a vase with water. Vera had put the pot roast in a Crock-Pot that morning before leaving for work, then cut up new potatoes, carrots, and onions and placed them in the pot on high so they’d be ready in time. Although her house was kept neat, she’d dusted and vacuumed before freshening her makeup. It was obvious she’d wanted to make a good impression.

“May I offer you a glass of sweet tea?” she asked John.

“I would love something cold after coming in from that heat,” he told her, wiping his brow. “I took a shower before I left the house, but I was perspiring before I got to my car.”

“This has been the hottest summer we’ve had in years,” Vera said, “and the humidity doesn’t help. I dread seeing my power bill because I’ve used my air conditioner so much this season. Now, why don’t you take a seat on the sofa, and I’ll get us both something cold to drink. Dinner should be ready soon.”

“I’m in no hurry,” John said. “I’d much rather get to know you better.”

“I’m afraid my life would sound boring to you,” Vera said, returning with two tall glasses of iced tea with lemon. She took the chair opposite him. “I’ve lived in Beaumont all my life. Never traveled more than a couple of hundred miles away, and that was with my church friends. I’m sort of a homebody.”

“I used to do a lot of traveling with my job,” John said. “My ex-wife didn’t like my being gone so I tried to cut back as much as I could.”

“She obviously missed you while you were gone.”

John shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “She was somewhat, um, possessive. She liked being able to put her finger on me at all times.” He took a sip of tea. “I’m sorry; it’s rude of me to discuss her with you.”

“Oh, no, I don’t mind. How long were you married?”

“A year.”

Vera looked surprised. “That’s all?”

“The marriage was doomed from the beginning, but I fancied myself in love. She was quite a bit younger than me. Plus, it was a second marriage. I hadn’t been divorced all that long before I met her. I was married to my first wife for twenty-seven years. I regret that we drifted apart.” He sighed. “Anyway, I married Celia less than three months after I met her. I guess I was just lonely after the divorce and wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Do you have children?”

“Oh, yes, a beautiful daughter by my first wife. She studied business at college and graduated with honors, and then decided she wanted to go into nursing. She graduates in the fall.” He glanced around. “Your place is very cozy. You have a real eye for decorating.”

“Thank you. I study the latest magazines for ideas. Luckily, I sew,” she added proudly. “I was able to make the slipcovers for the sofa and I made all the draperies, as well. But you’re probably not interested in hearing all that.”

He smiled. “On the contrary,” he said. “You sew, you cook, you decorate, and you’re a devoted employee. I’m beginning to think there’s nothing you can’t do.”

Vera blushed. “Oh, I have my faults,” she said. “I’m a very impatient woman. I want things done right away because I don’t believe in wasting time. People at the office will tell you I can be quite demanding at times.”

Price nodded. “You’re obviously a hard worker.” He paused. “Vera, I’d like to continue to keep our friendship discreet for a while longer.”