Trouble in Paradise (24 page)

His name tag read ‘Nickel,’ and he checked me over in
efficient fashion. “We’re going to transport you to the hospital to be checked
over and possibly get you an MRI. Head injuries are nothing to fool with.”

“What about the dead guy?”

Nickel looked over his shoulder. “He’ll be there for a
while. The sheriff needs to finish his investigation. After that, the coroner
comes out, signs off and then the guy can be moved. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait! How long does that take? Dead bodies are bad for
business.” But he was already out of earshot.

Brad came up beside me. “Kevin said he’ll talk to you
after,” he stressed, “
after
you’re released from the hospital.”

Veta Lindsey stared out of Joseph’s kitchen window. “I need
to stop at Joseph’s before we leave.”

“What’s so important?” Brad asked.

“Come with me.” I made my way slowly to Joseph’s cottage,
hanging on Brad’s arm, pounding on the door.

“Damn, you’ve got a better cop knock than cops I know.” Brad
laughed.

Veta looked out the window; a second later the door opened.
“Is it necessary for you to knock like an offensive person?”

“You’re lucky I don’t kick your ass,” I yelled. Brad grabbed
the back of my shirt. “You were home the whole time. You had to hear me
screaming and you did nothing, not even a call to the sheriff.”

“Don’t you…,” Veta started.

“You listen to me. Get off my property now and if you ever
come back, I’ll have you arrested. I’m getting a restraining order tomorrow.”

Brad put his arm around me. “You bitch,” he hissed at Veta.
“Kibble was going to kill her. What did Madison ever do to you?”

Joseph came to the door. “What’s going on?”

“How long have you been home?” I asked.

“Just. Kibble was already dead,” Joseph said.

“Your girlfriend is one of the reasons Kibble came after me.
She told him I was asking questions about Cosmo’s death. In fact, she’s been
going all over town asking questions about me, spreading gossip. Do you know
that today she was home while I was screaming for help? And ignored my pleas?
Get her off my property and she’d better never come back.”

Joseph looked at Veta in disgust. “I’m sorry, Madison,” he
said.

Brad’s phone rang and I handed it back. Nickel helped me
onto the stretcher. I noticed Brad holding the phone away from his ear.

“Your boyfriend’s not happy,” Brad informed me as he walked
along with the stretcher. “Hard to make out all of his words since he yelled
until he hung up on me. Zach’s headed to the hospital. I’ll take care of
everything here.”

“You get to call Mother,” I told Brad as the back doors of
the van closed.

The nice thing about arriving at the ER in an EMS van, you
cut to the front of the line. I immediately got rolled into my very own cold
cubicle and left to stare at the ugly green walls. “The doctor will be right
with you.” Despite the fact that the waiting room had been filled to overflow
capacity, behind the scenes was surprisingly quiet.

A hand tossed back the white curtain. “What are you doing
here?” I asked Dr. A, a friend of Fab’s. My past had suddenly caught up with
me. Dark haired and dark eyed, he made you feel like you were his only patient.
He’d checked me over once after an adventure with Fab that went awry. “What’s
the ‘A’ stand for anyway?”

“Ardzruniannos. I vacation here and fill in on occasion when
they’re short staffed and I’m available. My sister is the hospital
administrator. She’s hard to say no to.”

I interrupted. “We have the doctor-patient thing don’t we?
Not one word to my boyfriend Zach that we know each other, how we met or
anything else? Oh and not one word about knowing Fab.”

Dr. A arched his eyebrows looking at me like I needed a
psych consult. “Why is it you’re black and blue when we meet up? Tell me what
happened this time?”

“A few bruises are better than what Kibble, my attacker, had
planned. He slapped me, used his fists… I put up a fight but my vision went
blurry when he beat my head against the wall.”

“I’m ordering an MRI and if that comes back normal, you’ll
stay overnight and go home tomorrow.” Dr. A shook his finger. “Try to be a good
patient.”

“I’ll do whatever you say… but at home. I hate hospitals;
they make me anxious. Yes, I’m a grown adult but I want to be taken care of by
my mother. It’s better for it to be your idea than for me to sneak out the
door. Keep in mind, if you’re going to be living here, there’re perks to
knowing me.”

“Is this your polite attempt at blackmail?”

“I hear Zach’s voice. The boyfriend is here, remember your
promise,” I said.

“What the hell happened?” Zach blew into the room, a force
to be reckoned with. His hand got tangled in the curtain and he almost jerked
the rod down.

Dr. A sized up Zach. “You have two minutes and then she’s
going for tests,” he said, before retreating to the other side of the curtain.

“Kibble happened. He confessed to killing Cosmo and some guy
named Batty.” I related the details to Zach. “Can Barbie be prosecuted for her
part in a murder that happened because of her lies? She had to know the chaos
she was setting into motion.”

Zach kissed my forehead. “No wonder I could barely
understand your message; look at your face! I know your lips are probably
painful but I’m thinking nasty thoughts about them.”

I rolled my eyes, but smiled. “It hurts to laugh.”

“Kibble’s lucky he’s dead,” Zach said. “He got off easy with
a couple of bullets. I checked and he was never on anyone’s list of possible
suspects. There are no secrets on the docks. Why would they protect him?”

“Fear possibly. You know the tendency of people around this
town to mind their own business at the wrong time.” A nurse walked through the
door pushing a wheel chair. “Don’t go anywhere, I need a ride home.”

“I’m sure they’re keeping you overnight,” Zach said.

“Take me by The Cottages please.”

Zach clenched his jaw. “I don’t know what you had on that
stupid doctor that he let you leave the hospital, but I’m taking you home and
you’re staying there.” He swerved to miss a pothole.

“Slow down a little! I didn’t cheat death to die in a car
accident.” I stuck my chin out. “If you don’t take me, then I’ll get there on
my own. Dr. A said I didn’t have any permanent damage, broken bones or anything
else. Said my body would force me to take it easy because everything I did
would be painful.”

“Don’t go all pouty; it only irritates me,” Zach said,
scowling. “Why can’t this wait until tomorrow? Kibble hasn’t been hauled away
yet.”

“A shooting and a dead body are bad for business. I need to
make sure the guests aren’t freaking out. I thought maybe a gift card to a
local restaurant for each of them would be a good way to say sorry for the
inconvenience.”

Zach shook his head. “That’s your idea? Dead man on the
property and you come up with food.”

“Do you have a better one?” He pulled into The Cottages
driveway and parked next to my SUV. No one was hanging around like I thought.
“Thank you for bringing me here.”

“You’re only here because I want to know what’s going on
myself. You will take it easy and you’re not staying long. Got it?” Zach helped
me out of his SUV. I winced at every step.

“I told you so,” Mother said to Zach, coming out of the
office. “Damn I should’ve had money on this. I’m sorry I didn’t shoot him when
I first had the chance.” Mother got teary. “Can’t you ever stay out of
trouble?”

“I’m so happy to see you.” I laid my head on her shoulder.
“I swear to you, everything got ugly so fast. I pulled my Glock, but Kibble
anticipated that move.”

“Come on, sit over here in the barbeque area where you can
see everyone coming and going. I had Brad pull a chaise over from the pool; you
can put your feet up.”

Zach’s phone rang.  “Damn, I have to go check this out. 
I’ll be back.”  He said to Mother, “If she moves, you call me.” Kissing the top
of my  head.

A warm breeze blew across the Gulf and I wrapped my arms across
my chest. I felt like shouting, “Hey I’m alive!” I wanted to run down the beach,
jump in the waves and feel the salty water run down my legs.

“Mother, before I sit, I need to check on the guests; make
sure they’re not going to cut and run and spread bad reviews.”

“Your mother took care of everything,” she said, brushing my
hair back. “Brad blocked the view of the body with his car and then I went door
to door, schmoozing with everyone. The Rashleigh’s from the UK thought it was
very exciting. Do you know he wears a skirt when he’s tipped a few?”

Miss January tottered up. “Bet he’s in hell already,” she
cackled. “Miserable bastard. Do you suppose there will be free liquor at the
funeral?”

“I’m happy to see you out and about,” I told her. She looked
sober, which surprised me and probably her as well.

“I need to mooch some cigarettes,” Miss January said, making
puffing sounds with her lips. “Liquor store doesn’t deliver until later this
afternoon.” She waved. “Got to feed Kitty. Happy you’re not dead.”

“Kibble!” Barbie screeched his name. His body, encased in a
body bag, was on a stretcher being wheeled towards the coroner’s van. Barbie
threw herself across the stretcher howling and crying.

“I need to talk to Kevin,” I said to Mother. “Before the
widow runs off.”

Kevin pulled Barbie off Kibble. She threw herself in his
arms and sobbed uncontrollably. Angie stood, oddly calm in the doorway, holding
Kibble Junior.

I rolled my eyes. “Kevin’s being awfully nice to the widow.”

“Have you seen enough?” Mother asked. “Time for you to go
home.”

“I want my cell phone back and my Glock that Kibble kicked
under the dryer. I’m not leaving until I talk to Kevin.”

“You’re going home whether you like it or not,” Mother
admonished as she went for reinforcement.

A black SUV with tinted windows pulled into the driveway.
Harder stepped out. He must have gone shopping; he traded in his mom jeans for
black linen shorts. His tan legs surprised me. I would’ve bet they were putrid
color.

“You look like crap,” Harder handed me the most gorgeous
bouquet of pink hydrangeas.

“These are beautiful.” I leaned forward. “I’m happy to see
you,” I whispered.

“None of that crying crap. Sorry we weren’t on to Shiner
before he did this to you.” Harder held out his arm. “You can wipe your eyes on
my sleeve but not your nose.”

Suddenly, my adrenaline rush took a crash, leaving me
exhausted. “Take me home. I hate to admit it but I can barely sit here a moment
longer. I’ve been waiting for Kevin but I’d rather tell you what I found out.
You’re just the tough ass this case needs.”

Harder helped me off the chaise. Turns out getting my ass
kicked made me tired.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Mother rushed back across
the driveway.

“Tell her I’m under arrest,” I whispered.

He looked at me, a slight smile at the corners of his mouth.
“I need to question Madison. She consented for me to do it while I drive her
home.”

“Do it tomorrow,” Mother barked and put her hands on her
hips.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get her home, no detours,” Harder said.

“I’ll meet you back at the house,” I said to Mother.
“Where’s Brad?” I asked.

“He’s helping Kevin with… uh things.” Mother hugged me. “I
don’t like this,” she said in my ear.

“What have you got for me, girlie?” Harder drove along the
coastal highway sticking to the speed limit, unlike last time.

“In addition to Cosmo, Kibble says he killed a man named
Batty. Do you remember a torso washing up on shore five years ago?”

“That was a gruesome find. Poor bastard; never really
figured out exactly what happened. No family to report him missing, so it took
a while to identify him.”

“Kibble told me he took him out on his fishing boat, pushed
him over alive and conscious, knowing full well he couldn’t swim.” I had
empathy for Harder; his job was all about dead people and chasing killers.

“Did he happen to brag about why he killed these two men?
I’d like to know what his plans were for you.”

I shook my head. “Have you met Barbie Shiner?” My brain
wasn’t as scrambled as I thought. I remembered everything the dead Kibble had
said and related the details. “Barbie set up Cosmo to die. The person to ask is
Angie; she would know the truth. Since the Shiners moved in, whenever Kibble
goes fishing, Angie never leaves Barbie’s side. Barbie’s slippery and will try
to go one on one with you, but Angie wouldn’t last five minutes under your
scrutiny.”

“I’ll bring Angie in, threaten her with a possible first
degree murder charge and spell out that whoever talks first, walks. I’ll need
more corroboration than your conversation with a dead man. If I get the info I
need to make a case, let a Florida jury decide Barbie’s fate. We have a
ninety-five percent conviction rate. If she set this up, she’s guilty of murder
and she will get convicted.”

“Barbie’s manipulative and used to getting her own way,” I
warned.

Harder pulled in my driveway, next to Fab’s car.

“I heard you pulled a shotgun on Brick,” Harder said,
looking amused.

“I’ll need to call my lawyer before answering any
questions.”

“Don’t worry. Brick’s not pressing charges. Would be a black
mark on his macho image. A jury would hear about the kid and then the dogs and
they’d put him in jail. I told him if it was me, I’d have shot his nuts off.”

Fab ran out of the house and jerked the car door open. “You
promised to stay out of trouble. Look at you! Damn good thing that bastard
Kibble is dead.”

“If Madison cries again, I’m arresting you, Merceau,” Harder
told Fab.

“What are you doing back early?” I tried to smile but it
hurt.