The Grey Tier (30 page)

Chapter Forty-Four

AS YOU KNOW, liquid courage is one of those things I am rarely dependent on, but lately I seemed to be breaking my own rules with disturbing frequency. I fixed myself a Jack and Coke as soon as I got to the bar.

Joshua came over and put a friendly arm around me. “I’ve noticed you don’t usually drink much. I hope you aren’t stressed out from last night. And . . .” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “I hope you laid off the Ambien.” He gave me a friendly wink.

Candace’s shot me a glance. I groaned inwardly. Clearly she’d heard the whole thing.

I smiled innocently at Joshua. “Not stressed out at all. And I really do appreciate you checking on me last night. Oh, as for the Ambien, I won’t be going there again, that’s for sure. I spent a big chunk of last night feeling completely out of it.”

He nudged me gently with his elbow. “Got it. So why the drink?”

“Guess I just felt like it. And they’re on the house . . . right?” I grinned up at him. “I think I’ll go back and see if your mom needs some help in the kitchen. Oh! And my friend, the one I told you about, will be by tonight.”

“Great!” His eyes lit up. “I am looking forward to it.”

I headed back to the kitchen to find Becky over the fryer. This was not a conversation I was looking forward to, but c’est la vie.

“Hi Becky,” I said, thinking I would start this off as nice and easy as possible.

She glared at me, spatula in hand. “What do you want? I’m busy, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

Ah, yes. I could see this was going to go well. Not. “Oh, just checking in. We haven’t spoken much lately.”

She propped her hands on her hips, looking about as interested in talking to me as I was in talking to her. “About what?”

“First off, why have you gone from liking me to hating me?”

She dropped her arms and sighed. “I don’t hate you. But I think you’re too nosy for your own good, and you could get hurt. Also . . .” She chewed her lip for a moment. “Well, the truth is, I think you and my son don’t make a good pair.”

Although I was a little hurt by the remark, I laughed. “I hate to be the one to break it to you, Becky, but we aren’t a pair.”

She glanced at me skeptically. “I see the way he looks at you and how you look at him. I don’t like it.”

“We’re friends, Becky. That’s it.”

She shrugged. “Keep your distance.”

This wasn’t going how I had hoped. But the whiskey was starting to fan the flames of irritation, and I decided to throw caution to the wind.

“First off, last I checked, your son is an adult and perfectly capable of making his own choices regarding who he does, and does not, befriend. I’ll keep my distance from Joshua
when he asks me to.
” I glared at her, giving as good as I’d been getting lately. Her eyes widened a tad and I knew the arrow had hit home. But I wasn’t finished with her yet.

“Secondly, I know what happened to Roger Hawks.”

Becky sucked in a breath of air and an ugly flush spread across her face. “What?! What are you talking about?”

“I know he had an accident falling into the pool and hit his head. But I also know he fell because you pushed him . . . after telling him you were pregnant.”

Becky crossed her arms tightly in front of her chest, backing up to the stove behind her.

“You are out of your mind!”

I looked at her, long and hard. “Am I? I don’t think so.”

“You have no proof of anything! You’re a crazy young woman, and I want you out of my bar!”

As much as I hated confrontations, this one was kind of fun. I titled my head to one side, bringing a finger to the side of my chin. “Technically not your bar, but your son’s. Whatever else you may have done, you’re obviously a doting parent, and I am sure it’s been hard having Joshua away for so long. Killing Nick would bring your son back because he’d inherit the bar. Is that why you killed him?”

Her expression darkened with rage. “You are crazy! I did not kill Nick! I loved him!”

“Like you loved Roger Hawks?” Zing!

She slammed down the spatula and started towards me, hands fisted into tight balls. Had Joshua not walked through the kitchen door at that moment, I’m pretty certain we would have looked like a couple of crazed banshees bashing each other over the head.

“What’s going on? I can hear you guys all the way out in the bar!” He looked from his mom to me.

Becky ran over to his side, pointing angrily at me. “She is trouble, Joshua! Trouble! Get rid of her!” She tore off her apron and stormed out of the kitchen, leaving Joshua staring at me, wide eyed.

“Uh . . . so . . . what was that all about?”

I bit my lower lip, hard. Then I shrugged. “She doesn’t like me.”

“I can see that.” He sighed heavily. “She’s never liked anyone I date.”

“But we’re not dating!”

He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Yeah, I know, but try and tell her that. She’s like this with any woman who spends time with me, regardless of our relationship.” He hooked his thumbs over his jean pockets and sighed again. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to her, see if I can’t calm her down.”

I nodded, feeling not a little guilty. After all, the reason Becky was so wound up was because I’d confronted her and made some pretty heavy accusations. Chances were slim to nil she’d be calming down any time soon. On top of it, I couldn’t tell if she had been lying or telling me the truth about Nick.

I walked over to Joshua and placed a hand on his arm. “Look, I’ll manage the kitchen.” Since it was pretty obvious we weren’t going to see Becky again that evening.

He nodded. “Okay . . . but people are going to want to hear you sing tonight.”

“Who else do we have out there who can cook?”

He looked at me as if I were missing something obvious. “Uh, I can. Remember?” Duh. “You tend bar and play some sets. While you’re playing, I’ll tend bar and we’ll close the kitchen. Simple solution.”

“You sure?”

“Yes,” he insisted.

“You’re not getting rid of me?”

He laughed. “No way! Like I said, I will handle my mother.”

So Joshua took over the kitchen, and I went out to tend bar.

Candace was waiting for a new drink, and Mumbles continued to nurse the one in front of him. Candace leaned across the bar towards me.

“What happened in there? We heard raised voices, and then next thing I knew, the bitch stormed out like a Tasmanian devil on crack!” She could barely contain her glee at the apparent turn of events.

Oh what the hell . . . I was on a roll, why stop now? “I accused her of murdering Roger Hawks and Nick.”

Candace’s eyes widened. Mumbles set down his drink for the first time that evening. “You did?” she said.

I nodded. “Look, I don’t believe the theory that George and Pietro killed Nick. And I don’t like to leave questions unanswered—especially when it concerns people I care about.”

“That is noble of you, honey,” she said. “I wouldn’t put it past that woman. Never knew what happened to Roger, but I’ve always had my suspicions, and it sure is convenient that after Nick died, her kid now owns this place!”

I placed my elbows on the bar and rested my chin in my hands. “I agree, but I don’t know if I am completely convinced she did it.”

Mumbles picked up his drink again and gazed into it as if he might find some answers in there. Candace raised clear eyes to me and cocked her head to the side. “If it wasn’t Becky, who else could have done it?”

And here is where I really should have made some sort of noncommittal response and mixed myself another drink. Unfortunately, I didn’t.

“Well, there’s you.”

“Me?” She laughed, her eyes wide and amused.

“And Mumbles.”

He didn’t even bother looking up, instead choosing to suck down the remainder of his drink.

“Oh, honey, you are priceless.” Candace continue to chuckle to herself as she swirled her drink around slowly. “What makes you say that?”

“You loved Nick, for starters, and he hurt you. The way I see it, you’ve been pining away for him for years. And sometimes, people snap.” I looked back at Mumbles. No reaction.

Candace’s laughter stopped abruptly. “You do have a way with words, missy.” She shook a finger at me. “I’ve never killed anyone, ever! Which is a lot more than the bitch can say. And Mumbles, well, he’s as gentle as a goddamned kitten.” From the looks of it, she appeared to be working herself into a fine state of agitation. She sat her glass down with a sharp rap and glared at me steadily.

“I suggest you get your head on straight and rethink this whole thing. This man here,” she said, pointing at Mumbles. “He’s your biggest fan, always looking out for you! And, I, well, I think of you like a daughter, but now you’ve royally pissed me off!”

Right about then I felt like a class-A heel. “I’m sorry, Candace, I was only looking at the facts and—”

“Your facts suck!” She slid off the bar stool and grabbed Mumbles by the hand. “Come on. We’re going somewhere else tonight.”

“Candace, wait.”

She didn’t turn back, but Mumbles did, and when I looked into his eye, I realized I had crossed a line. He didn’t look angry or sad, but he did look hurt. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt anyone. But it appeared I’d failed in more ways than one that evening.

Chapter Forty-Five

YEAH, OKAY, SO I was making enemies fast. But the way I figured it, someone had to ask the tough questions . . . because as far as I could tell, the cops had pretty much given up on Nick’s case entirely. I hoped once the real killer was found, I’d be forgiven my behavior and things would get back to normal again.

After Candace and Mumbles left the building, I played a few sets to get my mind off all the drama I’d created. After I wrapped up and just before I was getting ready to go back to tend the bar, I noticed an older gentleman sitting in the back, in the spot Jackson used to hang out in. He looked distinguished—expensive dark suit, silver hair, nice jewelry, but not over the top. And he was wearing sunglasses. Why was it people in LA thought it was so chic to wear their sunglasses at night? Simone did it to help disguise her from the press. Maybe this guy was doing it for the same reason? And if so, who was he?

I was about ready to go ask him if he needed a drink, to try and get a read on him, when Simone came in with Dwight on her heels. She wore a long, red wig, reading glasses, a beret, a pair of torn jeans, and a baggy, white poet’s blouse. Simone wiggled her fingers at me and walked up to the bar. I stepped around the counter as she leaned over and whispered, “Call me Alanis tonight.”

Dwight smiled at her as she plopped onto a bar stool. There was plenty of room now that Candace and Mumbles had fled.

She winked at me. “So, Evie, what do you think of my disguise?”

“It’s, uh, poetry in motion.”

She laughed, surprised, “Hey, that’s pretty good!” And then she glanced around the bar.

“Where’s the guy I’m supposed to meet?” she asked.

Oh, right. “He’s in the kitchen cooking. Would you like a drink? Joshua should be out in a minute.”

“Ooh, Joshua . . . sexy.” She glanced back over her shoulder at Dwight who was still standing. “Dude, sit the fuck down. You’re making me nervous!” He dropped onto the stool next to her like a rock.

I rolled my eyes. Poor Dwight. “So, what do you guys want to drink?”

“I’ll take a long island iced tea, and my driver here will have a regular one.”

Dwight nodded. I fixed up the drinks and slid the boozy one over to Simone. Then I handed Dwight the iced tea. I made a point of touching his fingers when he took the glass from me.

At first, I got nothing. But then, boy did I get something. Something I never expected. It was a flash of light. Bright, crisp, and instant. I tried not to yank my hand away. Maybe he had been in an explosion? A fire? When I looked into his eyes, he smiled at me and seemed calm, relaxed. So maybe I had helped ease whatever pain Dwight had. The closest I’d had to that experience was when I touched Mumbles and got blasted with sound and pain . . . yet my vision with Dwight was very, very different. Huh.

Just then, Joshua walked through the kitchen door and Simone’s face lit up. I had never seen her look like that before, and I immediately found myself regretting this whole deal.

“Hey, Evie, who are your friends?” Joshua asked, smiling politely at Simone and Dwight.

Dwight reached his hand out towards Joshua. “Dwight Jenkins.” He had a slightly grim look on his face, and I wondered if he’d seen the same thing I just had on Simone’s face.

Joshua clasped Dwight’s hand and smiled politely, “Joshua Styles.” They both turned to Simone who leaned forward and reached out her hand.

“Tonight,” she said in a low voice. “You can call me Alanis.” She flashed her amazing smile at him and he smiled back in a way that clearly said he liked what he saw. I felt sick. And then I felt bad for feeling sick. Fact is, I had no right to feel this way at all. First, there was Lucas, and while I was attracted to Joshua, I’d made no effort to take things any further than friendship.

“Maybe we should go into the kitchen and talk in private,” Joshua suggested.

My stomach flip-flopped again.

“That would be great,” Simone replied. Then she turned to Dwight and touched his arm. “I’ll be back.”

He smiled smoothly at her but as soon as she turned to walk into the kitchen with Joshua, the smile dropped off his face completely. Hmmm.

“Great weather we’ve been having,” I said. Yeah, I know . . . lame. But at least I was trying.

Dwight nodded, looking distracted. “Yeah. So I hear you think I murdered your friend Nick.”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who wanted to cut to the chase tonight. I held up a finger at him and quickly fixed myself a second drink. After taking a nice, long sip, I responded.

“Yep. I suppose I did.” I sighed, thinking of all the folks I’d managed to upset this evening . . . wondering if I would soon be adding Dwight to the list.

“Did?” He laughed. “You don’t anymore?”

Another sigh, another long sip. “Honestly Dwight, I have no idea what to believe lately.”

He shook his head and smiled at me, and for the very first time ever, Dwight didn’t seem creepy or slimy. His smile was sincere and warm, and I found myself crack a semi-smile back. Or maybe it was simply the booze going to my head. I shot a suspicious look at the glass in my hand . . . I was starting to see just how easy it was to slide into drinking. Was this how Candace and Mumbles got started?

“I didn’t kill Nick,” Dwight said, interrupting my thoughts. “But can I ask why you would even think that? Believe it or not, I’m a pretty passive kind of guy. I don’t like violence. Not my thing. I’d prefer a Disney classic over a shoot ‘em up any day.”

Boy did I ever peg him wrong!

“You know, some of those Disney movies can be pretty violent. Look at Bambi, for instance. And, what about 101 Dalmations? I mean, Cruela killing puppies for a coat?! What twisted and sick individual came up with that idea?”

He shook a finger at me, laughing. “I didn’t know you had such a good sense of humor! I guess tonight’s the night to learn some new things about each other, eh?” He winked and took another sip of his iced tea. “Enlighten me. Why would you think I murdered your friend?”

Guess it was time for Blunt Evie to come out and play again. “For Simone.” He made a face. “You
are
into her. It’s obvious! And she told me she threatened Nick because she thought he was stringing me along and using me. She can get a bit possessive about her people.”

He nodded in agreement, sighing. “True. But her bark is a lot worse than her bite. She would never ask me, or anyone else for that matter, to kill someone. And even if she did, I would
never
do it. As far as being
into
her, I am, but maybe not as much as you think. Simone isn’t one of those women you can tie down. She’s very special to me. But some day I want a wife and a family. That’s not Simone’s cup of tea, and even if it were, she wouldn’t want to go down that path with me. We have some fun together but that’s it.”

Wow. I guess tonight really was a night of revelations. Just not the ones I expected.

“Really? Then how come you follow her around with that look on your face?” I made a sad, puppy dog face.

He smiled again. “Please tell me I don’t look
that
bad.” He tilted his head to the side. “Fact is, I worry about her. She may seem like she’s a tough cookie and in charge, but actually, she’s just a big softie on the inside and very vulnerable.”

I laughed, thinking of the day when she’d given both Dwight and her director a major piece of her mind after the jaguar incident. “For someone so vulnerable, she sure has an interesting way of showing it!” I shook my head. “So you really didn’t kill Nick?”

“Nope.” He set his now empty glass of tea down on the bar, glancing over at the door leading to the kitchen.

You know what? I believed him. Maybe it was the Jack Daniels. Maybe it was the naiveté I brought with me from Brady. Or maybe I really didn’t want to believe he would have killed Nick for Simone. In any case, he was now officially off my list of suspects.

A little while and another glass of iced tea later, Simone came out of the kitchen smiling and cheerful with Joshua, who beamed as if he’d won the lottery. In spite of my better intentions, I think I pretty much could have strangled her right then and there.

She sat back down at the bar and leaned over the counter. “We have a deal.”

“You do?”

“Yes. Joshua and I are officially in business together.”

“That’s great,” I said, trying so hard to sound sincere. Actually, it was great for Joshua and I felt pretty happy for him. But still . . .

Dwight excused himself to the restroom and Simone asked for a glass of champagne. “We don’t carry anything expensive,” I cautioned her, knowing the brands she was used

to drinking.

“That’s all about to change.” She reached across and grabbed my hand, squeezing it. “Isn’t this so exciting!”

“Yes.” I nodded as enthusiastically as I could, which was not very.

“Hey, ladies,” Joshua interrupted. “I’m going to go take that group’s order.” He turned to Simone. “Thanks so much for meeting with me and it was a pleasure doing business with you.” He shook her hand, and she actually blushed! Would miracles never cease?

He walked away, and she abruptly turned to me and asked, “You and him?”

“What?”

“Are you and Joshua seeing each other, messing around, anything like that?”

“Um, no.”

“You like him, though.”

Here was my chance for total honesty. “Uh, no. Definitely not.” I shook my head vehemently. Way to go, Evie.

“You sure? Because I wouldn’t want to step on your toes.” She stared after Joshua’s retreating figure. “People like me, we don’t fall in love. We just don’t, and certainly not at first sight. But he is, I don’t know . . . I’ve never seen or met anyone like him.” She grabbed my hand again, tightly. “Now, are you
sure
you don’t have a thing for him? Because when you talked about him the other day, I sensed something, and I can understand why. If you do, I will back off, because I don’t do that to my friends.”

I found myself staring at her, not knowing what to say. I couldn’t even get a handle on my own feelings, let alone describe them to someone else. I had to admit to myself there
was
something intriguing about Joshua . . . and if Lucas hadn’t been there, well, who knew? But at the end of the day, I didn’t have any right to stand in the way of whatever might happen between Simone and Joshua simply because I wasn’t sure about my own feelings.

Finally, I blurted out, “He’s all yours. I’m seeing someone.”

“What?” Her jaw dropped. “You are? Really?!” For a moment she looked hurt. “You promised you would tell me. Who is he?”

“It’s, uh, it’s long distance.”

“Long distance? Like from back home?”

I paused a second. “Yes, actually, I guess you could say that.”

Simone looked positively giddy at the news. “I’ll fly him out here for you! I want to meet him!”

Oh, heck. “No, no. He’s super busy with work and, well, we like it this way.”

She cocked her head to the side, a confused look on her face. “I see. Well, what does he do?”

“He’s a, he’s a detective of sorts. Kind of a private eye, I guess.”

“You guess?” Her look of confusion was rapidly shifting to one of skepticism. Uh-oh.

“Hey, tell me about your business deal?”

“No way! I’m much more interested in hearing about your guy.”

Dwight returned about that time and Simone looked at him. “Evie has a boyfriend!”

“You do?” he asked, looking as surprised as Simone had been.