Madison Westin 02-Deception in Paradise (19 page)

“Fill it up with gas, and I’ll ride it back,” Robert offered.

“I don’t trust you not to stop at another pawn shop and hock the thing again.”

“Give me twenty for my trouble, and I’ll give you my word.”

“Your word!” I snorted. “You’re hilarious.”

He looked at me suspiciously. “This isn’t an ambush is it, where I end up in jail?”

“No, Einstein. Then how would I get my stuff back?”

“I’d have to tell the cops about Jax’s part in this; he’s a co-conspirator.” Robert had that sneaky smile on his face that made me want to beat him senseless.

“You’re dumber than a bag of barber hair. And here’s one of the many differences between you and Jax; he doesn’t steal. Your signature is the only one on the receipts, so it looks like your co-conspirator left you hanging.”

“Jax knew if you found out, you wouldn’t call the cops,” Robert said.

“You lucked out because I want everything back, and I don’t want to wait until you’re in jail.”

He looked over at me. “I like fat fuck.”

“What?”

“You used to call me fat fuck. I like that better than fat prick.”

I laughed. “I’ve cleaned up my language post-divorce.”

“I remember when I first met you and what a prissy chick you were. After a year with Jax, you were using ‘fuck’ three or four times in a sentence. It used to impress me how you could load a sentence with four-letter words and have it make sense.”

“Those were the good old days.”

Pawnshops all looked alike and operated the same. The first two were uneventful, no drama. All they wanted was the money. I paid cash, Robert showed his identification, and signed the paperwork. I got back my garden tools, blowers, and a push mower. They’d paid him next to nothing. The interest was loan shark rates that I didn’t know were legal.

Our last stop was Star Pawn. “I’m back,” I said in a loud voice when Robert and I were buzzed in the front door.

“Hi,” I said to the woman as I walked past to her husband.

She glared at me and started in my direction. Her husband walked in front of her, grabbing her arm. “I’ll take care of those two.”

“I was in the other day…” I started.

“I remember you. I didn’t figure I’d be seeing you again.”

“This is the thief who stole my lawnmower, and I’m here to pick it up,” I said.

He eyed Robert. “I want to see the cash first, then the paperwork. I planned on keeping that mower for myself.”

Teflon Robert smiled. He couldn’t have cared less about anything going on. He didn’t concern himself with legal or otherwise.

I opened my purse, pulled out my reading glasses, the cash, and handed it to the pawnbroker. “I bought it at Home Depot. They still have them in stock.”

The owner turned away and went in his office. I was ready to start screaming, ‘Where the hell are you?’ when he reappeared.

“Robert, sign here,” the man said.

“I didn’t know you wore glasses,” Robert said to me.

“I need them for the fine print.”

“I love the librarian look you have going. Sexy.” Robert winked.

“I knew this was some kind of scam,” the pawnbroker hissed. “You two figured you’d walk in and say the mower was stolen, and you’d get it back. Doesn’t work that way, girlie.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“You two are banging each other. Robert here looking at you, licking his lips. You thought you’d concoct this story, thinking you were going to screw me.”

“I need the key,” I told the guy.

He slammed the key on the counter. I picked it up and handed it to Robert. “I’ll meet you at the gas station on the corner.”

“You say he stole the damn thing, and then you give him the key to ride away on it. Get out of here, and don’t either one of you come back in my store again.”

“Thanks for all your help.” I pushed open the door and left quickly.

I waited for Robert to come riding around from the back. “Madison!” Robert yelled. “Not that I don’t trust you, but I need the twenty up front!”

“You’re a piece of work.”

“My mother taught me to get paid before doing work.”

“Your mother?” I was surprised because he never mentioned his family.

“I know what you’re going to say, you can save it,” Robert said. “If she was here and I told her I had nothing to do with this and you were a liar, she’d kick the crap out of you.”

“I didn’t know you had a mother. For some reason, I thought you were found under a bush.”

“As much as my mother would like to downplay it, she’s completely at fault for making me the pretentious son of a bitch that I am today,” Robert said.

That bit of honesty left me speechless. “Here’s your twenty.” I ripped it in half and handed it to him. “You’ll get the other half when you deliver. I’m going to follow you back, so take Gulf Boulevard. The nearest gas station is two blocks down.”

He waved his half of the twenty, smiled, and put the mower in gear.

The drive back to The Cottages was slow, going down side streets at one mile an hour. I backed into the driveway and stopped in front of the garage.

“Drive it in here!” I yelled to Robert. “Then help me unload this stuff.”

“Is there extra pay for this?” He held out his hand.

No, there isn’t.” I pulled the other half of the twenty out of my pocket and gave it to him. “Consider yourself lucky I don’t throw your clothes in the road.”

Between the two of us, the work took less than five minutes.

“Thanks for helping.” I’d forgotten how easy going he could be. Nothing bothered him. In the past, many times his charm had worn me down, and we would sit and laugh it up. “Let me make this clear. You steal from me again, and I’ll have you arrested
after
I have both your arms broken.”

“I enjoyed our little outing.” He winked. “We should do it again.” He turned and went out to the beach.

“Robert!” I called. “See this?” I held up a large lock. I’d already given Mac a key. He laughed and kept moving.

I hadn’t cleared the driveway when Joseph walked out, waving his arms. I pulled back in and got out of my truck.

“I’ve got an update. I’ll meet you out on the beach. I don’t want anyone to see or hear us.”

I took off my shoes, threw them in the back of my car, and pulled out a bucket. I couldn’t wait to get out to the beach.

“We’re talking, not picking up seashells,” Joseph said.

“We could go down by the water and do both.” It felt good to sit on the white sand, digging in with my toes and fingers and letting it sift through. “Are you okay?” I asked.

Joseph’s breathing was labored, his face pale. “I’m feeling better now that I sat down. You know it’s day by day with me.”

“How about more sun and less beer and cigarettes?” I suggested.

“You’re not my doctor.”

“No, I’m not, but I’m your friend.”

He gave me a strained smile. He looked as though he needed a pain pill. “Byce told his employees if they want to stay employed, not one word about Pavel. He’s got your husband in his sights and doesn’t want to hear about anyone else. Doesn’t look good. You’re smoking the Kool-Aid if you think you can go up against Byce and win.”

“Why wouldn’t he want the real person to be charged?”

“He thinks Jax’s the shooter. I don’t know why.” He shook his head. “Everything I’ve heard, doesn’t add up to me.”

I sighed. “Any good news?”

“Nope. Pavel’s girlfriend left town, and in a hurry. Kym was seen yesterday morning picking up her paycheck, and then she packed her shit and left no forwarding.”

“Why would she do that?”

“I heard she was walking home with Apple the night after the accident, both of them sloppy drunk, needing the other to stay upright. They were overheard saying that Pavel’s murder was planned. That went down the docks like wildfire.”

“Do you believe that?” I needed to keep antacid in my purse.

“Just sayin’. Word has it, Kym trashed the place where she was living, taking only what she wanted. A couple of Pavel’s friends went over to check on her and found her gone. The dumb bitch left the two dogs locked in the apartment.”

“Are they okay?”

“Good thing Pavel’s buddies went when they did,” Joseph said. “The dogs were out of food and water.”

“What happens to them now?”

“Lilly the rescue chick has them, and she’s frantic to find them a home. They’re high maintenance. Do you know anybody?”

“I’ll call everyone I know.” The dogs didn’t know it, but they were better off without Kym.

After seeing how she left them to fend for themselves, I hated to think where they might’ve ended up if she’d taken them with her.

“Cathy down at the Back Room Bar told me that when Kym came in for her last check, she was acting weirder than usual.”

“Any luck with finding someone to talk who worked with Pavel?”

“There’s a guy who worked on the docks with Pavel. He says he’ll talk to you, but wants money for a trip out of town. Wants to go back home.”

“Does he have anything worth paying for?”

“Don’t know that. He’ll probably give you an earful on both Sid and Alexander Byce. Hates them and hates working for them.”

“Give him my number. Tell him to call me and we’ll work out an agreement. I want to hear a sample before I pay.”

“Good idea. You stay here and vandalize the beach.” Joseph sucked in his breath when he stood up. “Keep me out of all this.”

“Thanks, Joseph. Go home and take a nap.”

“Yeah, yeah. You owe me.”

I watched him hobble up the beach. I continued to sit there and sift through the seashells. I thought about everything Joseph had said. Byce had a hatred for Jax, nothing new there. Kym splitting town makes her what? Scared or guilty. And last but not least, a disgruntled employee. One-step forward was one-step back to where I had started.

CHAPTER 26

“Anybody home?” I called out. A small meow greeted me. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t anyone sitting in my living room or kitchen. “Just you and me,” I said to Jazz, picking him up and scratching his neck. “This has been a long day, black cat. I didn’t find out one thing that would help Jax.”

Fab walked through the French doors. “You went to the pawnshops without me, didn’t you?”

“I handled the whole thing really well. Everything is back at The Cottages and locked up with a more intimidating lock.”

“How did you get the riding lawn mower back?”

“I had to pay Robert twenty dollars to drive it, and then I followed him, just in case.”

Fab pouted. “I wanted to drive the damn thing.”

“I thought you were working. You can go over anytime, pick the lock, and drive it around the neighborhood.”

“You paid him?”

“Yes, and he wanted the money up front.”

“Now that I like.” Fab shook her head. “If something goes south, what do you care? You have your money.”

“Those two owners are scary. The man told me not to ever to come back. He thought Robert and I were a couple and we were trying to scam him.”

“I’m tired of missing the good stuff.”

“Please, I’m always one step behind. I need your help on Jax’s case.”

“Almost forgot. Jax’s in jail.”

“Aah!” I pulled the ends of my hair. “Now what?”

“Kev says they picked him up this afternoon. He’s now the number one person of interest. Harder’s offering a deal to reduce murder one charges to manslaughter in exchange for a full confession.”

“And if he doesn’t confess?”

Fab shrugged. “He goes to trial, a good lawyer will get him off, case closed. Shuts up the folks demanding an arrest.”

“What happens now? He sits in jail until the trial? How long will that take?”

“You know Tucker as well as anyone. He’s a good criminal lawyer. My guess is he represents him pro bono.”

“Tucker and free aren’t synonymous. I say we rip a page from Tucker’s playbook, the one that says, ‘Use him and screw him.’”

“I want in on this,” Fab said.

I told her everything Joseph had told me.

She shook her head. “That’s a bunch of useless nothing, except the dock connection.”

“With Kym gone, there’s one less person to testify who could corroborate Jax’s story.”

“Pavel was very drunk that night,” Fab said. “He had a .28 blood alcohol. Jax didn’t blow, but the other two did, and their blood alcohol levels were in the low twos. They proved to be too drunk and too stupid to keep their mouths shut. The statements they gave the police were rambling and disjointed, rendering them useless. A good DA will use that to their advantage.”

“Five people on board, and no one sees or hears a drunk go overboard? Explain that. It’s amazing someone that drunk managed to get to shore and not drown.”

“Pavel didn’t have his pants on.”

“He was naked?”

“His belt was unbuckled, and his pants were down around his ankles when they fished him out. This is a small town,” Fab pointed out. “Everyone knows everyone else’s business even if you’ve only lived here five minutes. Someone gets murdered, and no one knows anything. Big red flag!”

“No one’s talking openly about Pavel or the murder. That’s why we need to talk to an insider, friend or co-worker. The girlfriend would’ve been nice. Her skipping town caught me by surprise.”

“Normally, murder would be the talk in every bar in town,” Fab said. “A local bar is a great clearinghouse for information.”

“Unless they’re afraid they’ll end up the same way. More likely afraid it’ll get back to Byce.” My phone rang. “It’s Joseph,” I said.

“The guy I told you about doesn’t want to talk anymore. He’s leaving town.” Joseph sounded agitated. “Something spooked him, and he’s hanging for his paycheck on Friday and going back home.”

I covered my phone with my hand. “Joseph’s friend from the docks doesn’t want to talk,” I whispered to Fab.

“Tell him I’ll meet him out of town so no one will know,” I said to Joseph.

Fab shook her head no to me. “I’ll find out who he is. Hang up on that ass.”

“He was firm,” Joseph said.

“Thanks for trying,” I told Joseph.

“You remember I told you about Pavel’s dogs?” Joseph asked.

“What’s going on with that?”