Love Crazed (The Corny Myers Series) (5 page)

I never considered Steve wouldn’t believe me.

“I guess…. Umm, I saw her kiss you today,” I said. I was scared, yet determined, to hear what he’d say.

“You saw her kiss me and she’s not road kill?”

I didn’t say anything.

“The kiss didn’t mean anything. Why didn’t you let us know you were nearby? I could’ve introduced you two.”

Steve tried to make light of the situation, but that didn’t solve the problem.

“I have no desire to meet her and you walked away before I could recover from shock. I did consider using a scouring pad on your cheek, while you slept, though.”

“Ow! I love you and your sense of humor. I’ll talk to Celeste. I’m sure there’s an explanation. This has been one long day. I’m going to bed. Are you coming?” Steve asked.

“Not quite yet. Pete is pretty upset. I’m going to spend a little time with him.”

“I promise we’ll get all this straightened out. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Come on, Pete. You’re going to learn how to use the speakerphone and speed dial.”

Sounds fun. Why am I learning this new trick?
Pete asked.

“If Celeste lets herself into our house again, we’re going to show Steve her true colors. Come over here.” I moved our house phone to the floor and we both sat down.

“All you have to do is hit this button, which puts your call on speaker. You won’t have to talk directly into the phone. Hit the number ‘1’ button and that will dial my cell phone. Let’s practice.”

Sounds easy enough.

We practiced for an hour. At first he’d hit several buttons at once. But he got the hang of how the buttons worked.

“Okay, Pete, if she shows up again you know what to do. Do me a favor: don’t engage her. You won’t win.”

Okay. I won’t.

“Do you have your paws crossed behind your back?” I asked. That was my move.

I’m tired. I’ve got a big day tomorrow. I’m going to catch a psycho.

Pete scurried down the hall to his pet condo. I bet he dreamed of a ferret police badge.

CHAPTER NINE

I’d only been at work for a couple of hours when my cell rang. “Hello,” I answered. I heard music in the background and a familiar voice as she sang along to, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’ I panicked.

“Pete, if you can hear me. Hide! I’ll be there as fast as I can. Tap on the phone if you understand me.” I heard a click and the phone went dead. If she hurts Pete… I couldn’t think about that. I needed Steve’s help. He’d better answer his phone.

“Hi Corny. I’m in the middle of a meeting. Can I call you back?” Steve asked.

“No! Celeste is in our house right this minute. I think Pete’s in danger. I’m heading home. If you ever had any faith in me, you’ll meet me there.” I hung up. Steve called several times on my way home. I didn’t want to hear that he didn’t believe me and wouldn’t come.

I pulled up to our house. A black SUV was parked in the driveway. I assumed the vehicle belonged to Celeste. She didn’t even try and hide her car.

I parked across the street, in my neighbor’s driveway. My hands shook as I climbed out of my car and crossed the street. I heard a horn honk and looked up the street.

Steve… he believed me. I started to cry. I was such a baby. He pulled in behind me and rushed over.

“Hey, honey. What’s going on? I couldn’t get ahold of you,” Steve said with concern in his voice.

In-between sobs I said, “She’s in our house, Steve. What if she hurts Pete?”

“Baby, we’ll talk about how you know all this later. I recognize Celeste’s rental car. I saw her in the SUV this morning. I can’t imagine what she’s doing here.”

“You saw her this morning, huh? What, did you have a nice breakfast with her?” I was at the end of my rope.

“No, Corny. She stopped by to see an old friend at the station. I’ll go find out why she’s in our house. You stay out here, out of sight. I’ll be right back.”

“I love you. Be careful.” I sniffled and wiped my nose on my sleeve. Steve used his key and opened the front door.

I couldn’t wait here. I snuck around back, where I had a clear view of the inside of the house. She must’ve played the same song over and over again because I could still hear, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’. A chill ran down my spine.

There were packed boxes littered all over the living room. They were labeled, ‘Corny’s things’ in large red letters. She’d packed my belongings. Celeste planned to move me out and herself back in.

When Steve let himself in, Celeste turned off the song. He rarely lost his temper, but I could hear him yell.

“What do you think you’re doing, Celeste?”

“I’m helping Corny move out. My things will be arriving next week,” she calmly answered.

Celeste took a picture of me and Pete off the wall, and tossed the frame and all into a box. I heard glass break.

“How did you get in our house?” Steve asked.

“With the key you gave me. Why are you upset? I thought you’d be happy I’m helping out,” she replied.

She leaned in for a kiss and Steve backed up. He looked shocked.

“You need to leave. I told you, I love Corny. She’s my life. She’s not moving out and you’re not moving in,” he said forcefully.

Celeste’s face turned red. She grabbed a lamp off the end table and tossed the thing at Steve. He jumped out of the way as the lamp smashed against the wall. Her body deflated and she started to cry hysterically. Talk about manic behavior.

“You’re all the same. Pigs. Pigs! Everyone leaves me,” she yelled.

“You need help, Celeste,” Steve replied in a calmer voice.

“No, no, no! I got suspended the last time the FBI tried to help me. They call the extra help and supervision I received, ‘rechroming.’ What a bunch of shit. After next week’s class they’re transferring me to El Pasco, Texas. My supervisor wants me out of Quantico. All because of Jim and his conniving bitch of an ex-wife. He told me he loved me, but he left me to get back together with her. He won’t answer my calls anymore. I had to trick him. I used your cell, but he hung up on me.”

That’s why she asked for Steve’s phone at lunch. I bet she answered my call because she thought the call was from Jim.

“Celeste, what you’re doing is against the law. You could lose your job.”

“No, I have the key you gave me. I didn’t break in,” she answered.

Celeste sounded like a little child, trying to justify bad behavior.

She patted Steve’s arm and said, “Well, I’m leaving now. I’ll be back to finish packing later. I hate the color of the walls. I’ll pick up a couple gallons of paint on my way back. Oh, by the way, please get rid of that pesky rat, he tried to bite my leg. Bye, honey.”

She waved at Steve and walked out the front door, like nothing happened. Steve looked shell-shocked. I knocked on the slider and he walked over and let me in.

“Holy crap, Steve. She’s nuts. Can I get the locks changed now?” I asked, knowing the answer.

Steve looked around our house. “Yes, please. I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming. I feel awful for the way I treated you and Pete last night. I need to go and make some phone calls. She needs major help and I don’t want her showing up with a bunch of paint.”

“Oh my God. Pete! What did she do with Pete?”

I frantically looked around. Before I freaked out; a nearby box’s top popped open and Pete’s small nose and beady eyes peeked out.

Was I right or was I right? Crazy….
Pete said.

“Crazy is right! You did great with the phone, but why did you hang up?”

When I heard your voice I got excited and stepped on the button again. That’s when crazy lady saw me and started chasing after me. I gave her a good run for her money, though. But she put me in with a bunch of your clothes. I want to wash her smell off me. Crazy smells bad.

“Come on, let’s get you a bath. Steve needs to contact headquarters and get a straitjacket for Celeste.”

No, no bath. I can’t swim. Kari, my old owner figured that out. Put a small amount of water in the sink and I’ll take care of the rest.

I sat on the toilet seat to keep an eye on him. He seemed unfazed by the whole incident, unlike me. Celeste scared the crap out of me. I can handle the mob, but a crazy woman—not so much. Steve walked into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub.

“How’s Pete?” Steve asked.

“Fine. I never realized he was such a clean freak. What’s going to happen next?”

“Jim reported her phone calls and her supervisor has been trying to get a hold of her ever since yesterday. She was supposed to get her butt back to Quantico. After this incident, they’ll officially take her in and get her a psychological assessment.”

“What if she comes back here before they can throw a net over her?”

“Patrol units are being sent over. It’d be best if you stayed in the house until she’s found.”

“Steve, what if she finds out you had something to do with her getting in trouble again?”

“I’m not worried for myself. But she’s unstable, which means she could come after you, in hopes of hurting me.”

“Great. Celeste is after me and the mob could be after Halo.” I shook my head in amazement.

“Why is the mob after Halo?” Steve asked with a clenched jaw.

I needed to get Steve a mouthguard for his teeth. He seemed to grind them a lot lately. “Halo went to Vinnie, the loan shark’s home, in hopes of getting her uncle’s dog back. Her intentions were good, but she told everyone her name. Later, w
e
recovered the pooch, but Vinnie might come looking for revenge.”

“Crap,” he said and rubbed his temples with his fingertips.

“Crap is right. I’ll keep my eye on her.”

“Who’s going to keep an eye on you?” Steve asked.

“Brenda has Bertha, her taser.”

“Please do me a favor and keep in touch, until Celeste has been contained.”

“You bet. I could sure use a couple dozen donuts.”

“Me too.”

Celeste never showed up with paint cans, but our house phone rang several times—all hang ups. Neither one of us slept much. I expected a Molotov cocktail to crash through our front window.

CHAPTER TEN

First thing the next morning, I called Brenda. “Good morning, sunshine.” I didn’t feel sunny, but it helped to pretend.

The phone was dropped, picked up and dropped again. “What’s going on? Why are you calling me at six o’ dark?” she asked.

“I didn’t sleep much and was anxious to talk to you. Listen, make sure Bertha is fully charged and bring her into work today. I’ll give you the details later, but keep a close eye on Halo. Vinnie the loan shark could be a little perturbed at her.”

“How does he know how to find her?” Brenda asked.

“Vinnie’s boys asked who she was and she told them everything about herself and more. I guess I forgot to tell her to lie in dangerous situations.”

“Don’t feel bad. Halo’s a sweet girl, but sometimes she doesn’t make the wisest decisions. Anything new on the ex?”

“Yeah, keep an eye out for a slim, blonde, psycho with a badge. I’ll give you the details later, but unless the FBI has been able to corral her, she might stop by to say hi.”

“Corny, you lead such an exciting life—not one I’d want, but exciting all the same.”

“Thanks. I think. Get your butt out of bed; we’ve got work to do.”

“Got it boss, see you soon.”

Great. Brenda called me boss now. Steve walked into the kitchen and gave me hug.

“Corny, please be careful today. I’ve got a bad feeling about Vinnie,” he said.

“What about Celeste? What’s your gut feeling on her? Will they find her soon?”

“I don’t know. Patrol units will be watching the house and your office. Can you be extra careful today? Please?”

After a long, slow kiss I said, “I’ll do my best.” And that was the truth.

****

Behind the wheel of my bright red Mini Cooper, I zipped into Green Hornet Investigations, as Halo’s bright pink Volkswagen Beetle sputtered in, with a blue stream of smoke in her wake.

Brenda and I sandwiched Halo between us as we checked closets, the bathroom, and the kitchen. No Celeste and no Vinnie; this could be a good day. We declared all clear and Halo made lattes with happy faces in the foam—the eternal optimist.

Around noon, the door opened and a large man with a huge bouquet of yellow, orange, and red tulips, walked in. We’re such suckers for flowers we never looked at his face until he dropped the pretty petals on the floor and shoved a large, black pistol to Halo’s temple.

Sweat dotted his forehead and spittle flew out of his mouth as he said, “I’m Vinnie and I want my dog back.” He looked around frantically. “Is she here? I don’t want to hurt you, but I will, if you don’t give my sweet baby back to me.”

He wiped his wet brow with his free arm. He mumbled to himself,
“My idiot goons… what are they good for? They let my precious baby run right out the front gate.”

He nudged the barrel at Halo’s head, which made her tilt her head at an odd angle.

“Am I going to have to blow your cute little head off, or are you going to give me my dog?”

He looked like a rabid dog, with all the spittle collected at the corners of his mouth. Halo winked at me and collapsed, without hitting her chair or desk.

Vinnie looked at Halo and shook his head. “I want my dog. I don’t care who gets her for me.”

He pointed his gun in my direction. Spittle sprayed out of his mouth. “You. Get over here. Tell me where Fifi is. I’m not messing around here,” Vinnie yelled.