Chapter 7
On Thursday, Raymond pulled in front of the security building at the edge of the driveway on New Double, exited his truck, and went up the steps. He grinned when Yvonne and Kevin looked at him with shock.
“What’s up?” Yvonne asked as she looked up from filling a travel mug. She looked at her watch, and stared at him with a worried expression. “It’s a bit late.”
“Yeah, but I’m going to Colorado Springs with you.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to talk to Amelia about a couple of things. I’ll be with you as backup only when you meet up with Betty, I’m not stepping on your toes there, but after you get what she’s collected, I’m going to Amelia’s place.
She knows I’m coming. Tonight are her late hours.
She’s working the same hours as Betty.” He looked at the couple before him with a wide grin.
“I’m taking her to dinner when she’s off work. ”
“Are you two a couple?”
“No,” Raymond’s response showed his shock. “I know nothing about her. I only met her last weekend when she came out to talk to Shay about what was going on at work.”
“Oh.” Yvonne didn’t know what else to say, then she shook her head. “Sorry, none of my business. I do have a question though.”
“What’s that?”
“If you’re taking Amelia out to dinner, then I take it we’re driving separately?”
“Yes, I’ll follow you, then come back home later tonight.”
“If it gets too late, don’t be ashamed to get a hotel room. There’s no reason to hurt yourself if you don’t have to. Not that you would, but you’re not familiar with the roads going that way, yet, are you?”
“No, and thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I bet there are more hotels in Colorado Springs than in Fool’s Gold.” They all shared a laugh and agreed with each other.
“Well, I’m ready. Do you need any coffee for the road?”
“No, my cup is in the truck. I just wanted to stop and let you know I’ll be behind you. Also, I’ll be standing near the dumpsters, hidden, just to be sure.”
“Are you wired?” Kevin asked.
“No.”
“Come back to my office,” he said and turned on his heel.
He looked at Yvonne, and got her nod that they still had enough time.
Ten minutes later, the two went out to their separate vehicles and it didn’t take them long to get underway.
An hour and ten minutes later, they were parked a block away, and made their way to the alley for the pre-determined location.
“Wait,” Raymond said, and they stopped. “Where will you be taking the items once you get them?”
“I’ll be going directly to Jake Cogburn at Brotherhood Protectors.
Kevin and I called him, and we both agreed that we can cut us out, so that if anything happens, we can say we didn’t do the DNA tests.
I believe it’s Stone that’s married to a Deputy Sheriff, they will be running the DNA tests at their labs. ”
“Good, then it’ll be legal, and their lawyers can’t say we used a fly by night lab to do the testing.”
“Exactly.” Yvonne pointed. “That’s the alley we have to go down.
” They went down it together, and when Raymond saw the gun in Yvonne’s hand, he didn’t say a word, but he did look around, and became more alert to his surrounds.
He had just gotten to his position behind the dumpsters when a back door opened, and Betty came out, carrying several clear plastic garbage bags.
She tossed three inside the dumpster before she looked around, and called out quietly, “Yvonne?”
“I’m here,” Yvonne came forward, but still held her gun down at her side as she slowly approached. “How did it go?”
“Good, Ervin and Perkins left the clinic around five, and had us clean the entire building. They even told us to cancel their later appointments and because Amelia is still here we stayed open.”
“Okay, Raymond is with me, he’s behind the dumpsters.”
“Come on out, no one is here,” Betty called out.
Raymond joined them, and that’s when he saw that Yvonne had a dark garbage bag that she opened and Betty placed the clear plastic bag inside.
“There are coffee cups, I poured the liquid out of the opposite side they drank out of, and there are several pairs of gloves in there also. I have no clue which pair belongs to which person. All I can tell you is that Perkins prefers the black ones, and Ervin prefers the white ones. Us nurses use the blue ones.”
“That’s got to be good on the inventory.”
“Yeah, but the black ones are almost five dollars more a box than the blue ones, and the white ones are more also, anyway, that’s neither here nor there. These were all taken from Ervin’s office about an hour ago.”
“Where’s Perkins’s office?”
“He’s waiting for Amelia to leave before he takes hers.
He’s already moved half of his crap in it, and he’s trying to tell her that before she leaves tomorrow, she has to unpack his boxes.
She didn’t say the swear words, but she basically told him to go fuck himself.
He’s not a happy camper. This is just me, but I fear he’s going to go after her former patients hard.
” She shook her head and raised her hand.
“I know, I’ll be careful, and Amelia and I discussed an out. ”
“What do you mean?”
“Amelia is going to wait for six months before she lists her house for sale. I live in an apartment. I took Erin’s advice, and I have three suitcases in my trunk, if Perkins or Ervin tries anything, I’m going to her house, I have a key, then I’ll wait a couple of days to come to her at Broken Two.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, and I’ve been talking to my landlord about my lease.
I didn’t mention names or specifics, but I told them I was having trouble at work, and there’s a man that might cause problems. My landlord is a woman, and she says I can leave with only a few hours’ notice if I have to.
Since I told her ahead of time, she was understanding of my situation.
I’ve been cleaning and packing with the intent of leaving soon. ”
“Call us if you need anything, even if it’s to come and help you move.”
“I will, now go, I have to get back and close up.”
“Is Amelia still here?”
“No, she left about twenty minutes ago, she said she had a dinner date.”
“That’s with me,” Raymond said, and gave Betty a small side hug. “It’s nothing too heavy, but I have a couple of questions for her. I thought I would discuss what I’ve been doing on my end of the case so far.”
“Yeah, right, keep telling yourself that, Raymond. You’re here to see her.
I know we’re all beyond our teenage years, but do us all a favor and stop lying to yourself.
” She grinned to soften the blow of her words.
“Besides, Amelia will see right through that, and she doesn’t suffer fools lightly.
If you like her, tell her, don’t pussyfoot around, or she will never give you the time of day. ”
At first, Raymond was offended, but when he understood what she said, he threw his head back and laughed.
“Yeah, I can see that. You’re right, I am here to discuss something I came across, and I’m doing it…
” He stopped when Betty held up her hand, like she was stopping traffic, and shook her head at him. “What?”
“What you do is your business, you don’t have to explain anything to me. I’m sorry if I’m coming across harsh, but I deal with assholes every day, and someone’s potential love or dating life isn’t really my business.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, and again, I’m sorry to run, but I have to finish up inside and get home, it’s been one hell of a day.” She turned on her heel and walked away.
Raymond looked at Yvonne, and she only smirked and walked away.
He hurried his steps to catch up with her, and walked her to her vehicle, staying there to watch as she drove away.
When he couldn’t see her vehicle any longer, he walked the block to where he’d left his, climbed in, accessed Amelia’s address and headed to her place.
Raymond hadn’t realized he was nervous until he reached to ring the doorbell, and felt his palms were sweaty. He quickly wiped them on the thighs of his jeans, and then rang the bell. When he thought no one was home, he jerked when the door was opened and a wild woman stood on the other side.
“Amelia?” Raymond asked in shock when he caught her expression and appearance.
He couldn’t hold back the smirk, then the grin, and finally a belly laugh that burst from his chest. He laughed so hard that he had to lean against the doorjamb to keep himself upright.
“What the hell happened to you?” He sobered enough to reach up, to run his hand through the strands of hair that stuck up all over her head, when he pulled his hand away, there were cobwebs and dust bunnies stuck to his hand.
“Come in,” Amelia said with a heavy sigh and stepped back. “Don’t mind the mess.”
Raymond stepped into the room, and paused when he saw the open boxes that seemed to take up every surface, and he saw the stacks of items he assumed needed to be packed into the boxes. They were all over the floor.
He followed Amelia to her kitchen and grinned when she picked up a glass of wine and took a gulp, but glared at him.
“What?”
“Why do you look so put together?”
“Because I’ve been sitting on my ass reading files all day, then I had the hour drive here.” He grinned when she actually stuck her tongue out at him.
“What has you so frazzled?” he asked as he studied her.
“It’s been a week from hell at work.” She sipped her wine again, and without asking, went over to the counter and grabbed an empty glass. “Would you like some? Before you answer that, I’m expecting a food order. I hope you like Thai?”