Opal Fire (3 page)

The dog food went flying and my hand caught just enough rail to land on a case of wine. I tried to jimmy free but my ass was stuck. And wet.

“Who’s down there?”

Not sure how he did it, but Leo managed to shine a beam of light right at my face.

I delivered my sexiest smile. Which was the only part of my body not covered in muck.

He shook his head and put a finger to his mouth.

That was the second man that had shushed me in the space of five minutes.

“All clear, Mayor. Must be a mouse.”

A mouse? There were mice down here? Son of a bitch! I hate rodents. But- oh, he probably just meant me. Duh. A little bit of that Northwestern degree chipped away each day I lived in this town. Man, I needed a drink. Which was ironic since I was sitting on a box of them.

“Leo, I thought I told you to ward off the building. It’s wide open back there,” the Mayor said.

Mayor Ritsos is Leo’s uncle. He brought Leo in from Chicago to appoint as chief after Cin’s father died. Uncle Deck was the chief of police in Amethyst for years, which may have something to do with my cousin’s anger management problem.

The Mayor was not my biggest fan. It was not clear why. But if I had to guess, I would say he felt Leo’s involvement with a woman whose family danced naked under the full moon on mid-summer’s eve, might hurt both their careers.

Who could blame him?

“What do you mean?” asked Leo. “I had caution tape across there.”

Oops.

“Well it’s not there now,” the Mayor said.

“I’ll take care of it,” Leo said.

“See that you do. I don’t want anyone wandering in here and getting hurt. I want this place locked up until I get a report on what caused the fire. Tommy, what do you think?”

Tommy Delaney was the fire chief. He was a few years ahead of me in high school.

“Can’t say yet. I suspect an electrical short. There’s a busted fixture down there and some burned out wires.”

Electrical. Huck was right.

“Well,” the Mayor said, drawing out the word. “Find out for sure.”

“Yes, sir.”

“All right, let’s go.”

The footsteps tapered off.

“Just let me secure this entrance. I’ll catch up,” Leo said.

He ducked down into the basement, shined the light, and said in a low voice, “Do you stay awake at night trying to invent ways to try to get me fired?”

“Sorry,” I whispered.

“Get that burn looked at,” he said.

“Already did.” I tugged at the cape, indicating my family had taken care of things.

Leo nodded. “See you later.” Before he turned away he smiled. Uneasily.

Like he’d won the lottery but lost the winning ticket.

CHAPTER 4

I extracted my fanny from the box and snuck out the back door. Thor was waiting near the dumpster and trotted over to me when he spotted the cans of dog food.

“Hope you’re happy,” I grumbled.

Thor thumped his tail as I used the bar tool to open the cans of food. His water dish was still outside so I dumped the food in there and he gobbled it up in about three seconds. Then he belched and wiped his face on my cape. The slobber contrasted nicely with the wine stains.

By the time I got to Angelica’s house, Cinnamon was pissed. “Where the hell have you been?” The scent of vanilla and almonds indicated that Angelica was still baking.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I told my cousin. “I want to change and go get a drink.”

“Your clothes are in here.” Cinnamon handed me a brown paper bag. “Bye, mama!” she called.

“Wait, I want to change,” I said as Cinnamon dragged me out the door.

“Change at the bar. We’ll go to Down and Dirty. Tony is keeping my mother occupied so I can escape for a little while. She’s trying to convince me that we should lend Mario our guest room for a few weeks.”

Halfway to the bar, Cinnamon lit a cigarette.

“You’re smoking again?” I asked.

“I’ve had a rough day.”

Thor trotted along in front of us and I said, “Monique will not like this. How are we going to convince her to let Thor in the bar?”

“Easy. I’ll promise not to kill her the next time she hits on my husband.”

That might work. Monique Fontaine had been a splinter in Cinnamon’s behind since we were kids. Her real name was Monica, but she likes French perfume, French toast, and French men. Not to mention Spanish men, Italian men and African-American men, but you get the picture.

Monique has had the hots for Tony for years, so when he married Cinnamon it really steamed her up. She takes every opportunity to try to seduce him when Cin isn’t looking. Of course he’s so in love with his wife that he tells her every time. Which only fuels Cinnamon’s anger. Monique finally realized that her facial features were exactly where she wanted them so she needed a new way to antagonize my cousin. Hence, the bar Down and Dirty. It’s located directly across the street from The Black Opal.

Cin said, “I’ll have to check it out sooner or later. Might as well be tonight.”

My mouth dropped open when we stepped inside.

The walls were papered in burned-out red velvet, gilded gold frames anchoring them, with various burlesque paintings in each. Several cubby-holes lined the left side of the room, harboring loveseats with sheer gold curtains hanging above that could be drawn for privacy. Tiny tables supported by miniature Eiffel Towers filled the center of the room, each with little lamps in the shape of a woman’s leg complete with fishnet stockings.

“Unbelievable,” I said.

“I’ve died and gone to Cabaret Hell,” said Cin.

“You think this is what the inside of Monique’s head looks like?”

A young woman dressed like a Las Vegas showgirl approached us. “You want to get down and dirty?”

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“It’s a shot. Down and Dirty. Like the name of the bar. They’re only a buck.” She snapped her gum and held out a tray.

“I’m already down,” Cin said.

“I’m already dirty,” I told her.

The girl skipped away.

Thor parted the crowd as Beyonce belted from the speakers.

We circled the half moon bar and I scanned the place for a bathroom.

“I see two seats in the back,” Cinnamon said. She patted Thor to steer him in that direction.

“Son of a bitch,” Cin said, when we got closer.

“What?”

“Scully’s here.”

She was over to Scully in two seconds flat. He was sitting in front of a beer tap shaped like a boob.

I squeezed in behind her and held my guard.

“How could you?” Cin demanded, smacking his back.

Scully’s face crumpled like a paper bag.

“You weren’t open. I wanted a beer,” he said.

“He’s got you there, Cin,” I said.

She darted her eyes at me. Then she looked down. “Is that my goddamn stool?”

Scully glanced around as if the stool had suddenly formed beneath his butt. He sipped his beer and said, “It’s my stool.”

“That stool is from the Opal,” Cin said.

It did seem out of place as the only wooden bar stool in a stream of black lacquered ones.

“See for yourself.” Scully thumbed behind him.

Cin and I looked back. Etched in the wood was SCULLY.

Cin slapped his back again. “But why would you come here? You know I hate her.”

Scully shrugged and pointed in front of him.

Above the bottles of wine and scotch was a flashing neon sign that read
Every Thursday- Free Viagra for the Elderly
.

Hmm. I thought the crowd was a little gray.

Cin leaned in and said, “You better just pay the bar tab you owe me if you want to use any of it.”

Scully’s face lost all color. He knew she meant it.

We settled in a corner table and I was just about to change and wash up when Monique waltzed over to us.

“What the fuck are you two doing here? And why is that beast in my bar?”

“Nice to see you too,” I said.

Thor growled. Or maybe that was Cin.

“Jesus, Stacy. Why do you always look like shit?” Monique asked.

Monique was wearing black spiked heels, fishnets, a strapless one-piece with gold tassels and a top hat over her bleached hair. She was also carrying a whip and had enough makeup on to enter the witness protection program.

“Do you talk to all your patrons like that or is it just when the circus is in town?” I asked.

Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll let that slide because I know you’ve both had a rough day. But hey, your loss is my gain, right Cin?” She smiled and jabbed Cin with her whip.

Cin looked down at her arm. I held my breath.

She must have been tired because instead of jamming the whip down Monique’s throat, she stood up and in a very even tone said, “If you think you’ve seen me mad before, imagine what I could do to you when I’ve just lost everything.” Monique’s face froze. “Now unless you want me to take that thing and make a s’more out of you, I suggest you turn around and leave me the hell alone.”

Monique swallowed and straightened her back. “You can stay. But don’t make a habit of it.” She disappeared into the crowd.

We ordered drinks and appetizers from the waitress and I went to change and wash up.

The food was on the table when I returned, wearing spandex pants and a sequined tube top that screamed ‘I grew up in the 80s.’ I couldn’t believe I even owned these clothes, let alone that Tony had dug them up. I ignored Cin’s subtle chuckle and helped myself to a nacho. I told her what I had overheard the fire chief say.

“Really? That’s strange because I just had my yearly inspection. They didn’t find a thing wrong.”

“Maybe they missed it,” I said.

“I guess,” Cin said, sipping her beer. “The insurance guy is meeting me tomorrow. You want to go for coffee first and then come by the bar? I could use the support. Tony has a long day at the shop tomorrow and we can’t afford not to take the work.”

Tony runs an auto body shop on the other side of town.

“Sure.”

The lights were still on at the B&B when I got home, but I had enough spell casting for one evening. I slipped into the cottage, discarded my clothes, and fell into bed.

I can’t breathe. It’s dark. Cold. I can’t lift my head. He’s too strong.

The alarm clock jolted me from the dream. Thor had a paw slung across my neck and I pushed him off and padded to the shower.

I blew my hair dry, slapped on some makeup and climbed into a pair of jeans. I finished the outfit with a black turtleneck, my amethyst necklace, and leather boots. Moonlight and Thor were in the kitchen waiting for breakfast so I popped open a can of food for each of them, let Thor out quickly, and headed to Muddy Water Coffee House.

Like everything else on Main Street, Muddy Water was in walking distance so I left the Jeep in the drive and hoofed it. My phone blinked three new messages. One was from Leo, telling me to call him back. One was from my boss, Shea Parker, telling me to get my ass to work and one was unknown. No message.

Cinnamon was already sitting at a table when I got there. The coffee house was set in an old 1800s bank, with fluffy couches and earth toned walls. I draped my jacket over a chair across from Cin and placed an order with Iris at the counter.

“You see that man over there?” Iris asked as she handed me a latte. Her reading glasses dangled from her neck.

I started to twist my head, but she whispered, “Don’t look.”

I swayed forward and asked, “Then how can I see him?”

Iris ignored me. “He’s been asking a lot of questions.”

“Like what?”

“About the town. About the tourism. About you.”

“Me? What about me?”

“Just little things. Like how long have you lived here. How old are you. Who your family is. What you do for a living.”

“Iris, you’re creeping me out.”

“I just thought you should know, honey. Never saw him in here before. He must have seen your picture in the paper. Now he’s sweet on you.” Iris made a kissy face.

“Don’t do that,” I said.

“Probably just a tourist.”

I took my coffee and scooted around the rope in front of the counter. The man in question was hunched over a mug near the window, reading the paper. He was wearing a baggy black suit, felt hat, and gloves. A wool coat was slung across his lap. I couldn’t see his face, just sunglasses and a mustache.

I flipped through my mental Rolodex to see if he seemed familiar. There was something about him that rang familiar. Bells were chiming in my ears telling me I knew this person, but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out from where.

I made a note to pick up some pepper spray. Or maybe Thor.

Cin was going over her paperwork at the table.

“You think my premiums will go up?” she asked, only half joking.

“I don’t know. But hey, you were going to remodel anyway,” I pointed out.

“Yep. And I took out a big fat loan to cover it.” She gave a disgusted look.

“Ouch. Who was going to do the work?”

“I was leaning towards Eddie McAllister for the outdoor patio and stone fireplace.”

“Slow Eddie? He’s still in town?”

Cin nodded. “He’s a great mason and the city always approves him. I was waiting for other bids to filter in and Kirk was helping me sort through them.”

Kirk is Eddie’s brother. He’s also the city inspector and in a town with eighty percent of its buildings on the historic register, every job is subject to approval.

I sipped my coffee and glanced at Mr. baggy pants. I got the feeling he was eyeing me, but he buried his face in the paper quickly. “Why didn’t you just hire Chance?”

“Because although your high school sweetheart is a great carpenter, he’s not an expert in mason work. He was on the list for building out the new bar, though. Plus I was going to remodel and expand the bathrooms and re-finish the floors.”

I flitted my eyes to the man again. Cin caught me and followed my gaze.

“What’s that about?”

“Nothing,” I said. “What time are we supposed to meet the insurance agent?”

Cin looked at her watch. “Half an hour.”

“I’m just going to run and get Thor. I’ll be there ASAP,” I said, picking up my coat and coffee.

“You spoil that damn dog,” she said.

“So did you,” I said as I pushed through the door.

As I led Thor down the steps that trailed to Main Street, I could see my cousin waving her hands and yelling at a short, bald man with wire-rimmed glasses. I checked the clock on my phone. I was on time. They must have arrived early.

Also in front of the Opal stood Tommy Delaney, Leo, and a man I didn’t recognize dressed in some kind of uniformed coat. The McAllister brothers were there too.

The short bald man was doing his best to ignore Cinnamon, taking notes, and talking to Eddie and Kirk.

“So you were hired to do the work?” Baldy asked Eddie.

Eddie was wearing scuffed up work boots and a five o’clock shadow.

“You betcha. That was me,” he said.

I inched up to the curb and motioned for Thor to sit.

Baldy tilted his head to peer over his glasses at Kirk. “And you approved it?”

“Yes, I did.” Kirk was taller, older, and sharper than Eddie.

“How long have you been doing masonry work?”

“Twenty years,” Eddie said, beaming.