Chapter 18
W ith her morning coffee in hand, Michelle strolled into the plus-size clothing store where Margarita worked. The bell jingled as she entered.
“Good morning.” The woman’s sing-songy voice floated through the store.
“Miss Smith?” Michelle watched her stiffen like most people did when she was in uniform.
“Is he dead?” The beautiful woman stood stock still. The only movement was the deep heave of her chest as she inhaled.
“I checked with the hospital this morning. Mr. Garmen was in stable condition.”
The woman’s breath rushed out. The strength holding her shoulders fled, and she slumped to the counter. “They wouldn’t let me see him after surgery.”
Cliff was under police protection. No visitors. “It’s procedure. I have a couple questions for you. When did you hear about Mr. Garmen’s condition?”
“I was at work and an officer came in to ask questions. A big guy. Getting him to say who was shot was like peeling leather pants off after a set. Slow and painful.”
Michelle raised a brow. “He told you? ”
“Hell, no. I even tried my best sexy voice. Nada.”
Michelle bit back a smile. That would never work on Brannon. She gestured for her to continue.
“When I called Cliff to pick me up, he didn’t answer. I’m as nosy as the next girl and was hanging out by the police tape to gather some deets, when I realized the phone ringing in the alley was Cliff’s.”
“You had no idea that Cliff was in the alley that night until after the shooting?”
“No.”
“When did you last hear from him?”
“Earlier that evening. Before my first set. He called and said he was sorry for ghosting me this week. Said he had something big go sideways and needed to chill for a while.”
“Did he say what?”
“No, just that he would swing by when I was off.”
“That was it? Did he say where he was going to be that evening?”
“Only that he was going to meet up with a buddy and he’d see me after.”
By the grief in the woman’s eyes, Michelle was inclined to believe her. But she’d been fooled before, so she asked a couple more questions, then rounded back to the drink with a buddy comment. “He didn’t tell you what he was meeting with Junior about?”
“Junior? That’s who he was meeting with?” Her hands fisted on the curve of her hip. “That idiot. Was he trying to bust his parole?”
“Junior or Garmen?”
“Cliff. I don’t give two hoots about Silver. He gets Cliff in more trouble. And now he’s been shot.” The anger in her eyes turned to big, fat tears. “Well, crap. Now I need to fix my face.”
“Junior got Cliff if to trouble before? ”
“Not bad shit, but you know. Things that his parole officer would frown on.”
Michelle could think of a few, but would have to talk to Junior or Cliff about that. She pulled out a card and handed it to Smith. “If you hear or remember anything, please give me a call.”
Margarita pulled a tissue from her bra and blew her nose. Time for Michelle to go.
“What do you think?” A deep voice asked.
Michelle turned to find Nick leaning against the brick wall. “Not sure. She could be involved… or not. If she is, she’s one hell of an actor.”
Nick fell into step with her. “What’s next?”
“It might be you in a Santa suit riding a reindeer.”
“Fuck that.”
She smirked. “Well, I do have an idea to flush out the killer.”
“By the look on your face, I’d say I’m going to hate it.”
“You will, but it might be our last chance to find the killer before the festival next weekend.” At his grunt of acceptance, she pulled out her phone and called her brother, Jim.
***
“No way this will work.” Nick mumbled from the passenger seat.
“Just keep the hood up and slouch. The vest gives you some bulk.” She helped him with the seatbelt.
“But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a few shades lighter than Garmen… or a few inches taller. ”
“Keep your head down. You have gloves and a hat. No one’s looking at your height.” She slammed the door. Rounding the car, she climbed in, and started the engine. “You could have let Jim be the decoy.”
Hell no . Jim was a good detective, but Nick was the one with the training for this. Undercover was only part of his assignments over the last twenty years. Not that he would let them know it. Besides, no way he would let Mickey be a target if he couldn’t be right there to watch her back.
Not that he had admitted it, but he had a vested interest in her six. He just needed to get through this festival, then he would sit down and discuss where they were going from here.
“How did you talk Jim into letting you do this?” At his shrug, she mumbled. “I really need to check into your past.”
Good luck. Most of his ops were classified.
The radio squawked. A second later, Jim’s voice cut the tension in the car. “You picked up a tail.”
“I got him. Three back on the left.” Michelle’s gaze bobbed between the rearview mirror and the road.
Nick checked the side mirrors. “Junior?”
“I’m not sure, but Jim made sure he knew Cliff was getting released. It could be anyone. I made sure to let Margarita know I was escorting Garmen home. If we’re lucky and my hunch is right, Towers will be part of the welcoming committee, too.”
“My money’s on Junior. He’s involved up to his bony shoulders. If he were in any deeper, he’d be under water.” Nick scanned for other vehicles.
She made a sharp turn at the last minute and the car went straight.
“He didn’t follow. But if it’s our guy, he knows where Cliff lives.” Nick kept an eye out for others. “I’m sure someone will be coming to find out what Garmen said to the police, if nothing else. ”
“Exactly, that’s why I think this will work.”
The ride was quiet for the next few blocks, then Nick asked, “Do you believe he’s innocent?”
“Garmen? Of murder? Yeah. He was scared out of his wits. He willingly handed over the keys to the place he was staying.”
“What about Jonny or the theft of the sleigh?”
She rolled her eyes. “He claims to know nothing about the theft or the murder. He and Jonny picked up the sleigh. Cliff had a date with Margarita and left early. Jonny was supposed to drop off the sleigh as far as he knew.”
“You believe him?”
“About as much as a five-dollar hooker who claims she thought it was an Uber.”
He snickered. “You’ve had that happen?”
“More than once.” She pulled into the trailer park and did a circle of the block before pulling into Cliff’s double-wide.
She shifted into park and craned her neck side to side, canvassing the area. “Well, I’ll be a lucky monkey. Is that what I think it is?”
“If you are referring to the white van with the dented bumper tucked behind the trailer, then yes. You’re luckier than any monkey I’ve known.”
“You’ve known a few, have you?” She eyed him carefully.
“I spent some time in tropical regions. That’s all I’ll say.”
“Fine. For now.” She directed her focus back to the van. “If this is the van that caused your father’s accident, why would Garmen want to hurt Russ?”
“Money? Some people would do just about anything for the right amount of money. ”
“Unless it wasn’t Garmen driving it at the time.” Michelle pursed her lips for a moment, then clapped her hands. “Okay, let’s get this party started.”
“We must be the first to show up.” He slouched and faked a limp as he walked to the door. He hoped the shooter showed up soon. He had to pick up Ava in an hour. Maybe he should see if Mrs. Washington could take her to the bake sale before their sleepover. He was still learning how to maneuver carpools and playdates.
Michelle rested a hand on his elbow as they entered.
“Nice touch. Making sure anyone watching would think you were helping Cliff inside, but also making sure he didn’t sneak off.”
“Hell, I was just trying not to wipe out on the stairs. I didn’t realize it hadn’t been shoveled in over a week. The ice is as thick as my thighs.”
Nick wagged his brows. “I’m kind of partial to your thick thighs.”
“Good to know. Now let’s check the house before we get too comfortable.” She dropped his arm and canvassed the back half of the house, while Nick took the front. The inside was as worn and in need of repair as the outside. The only thing that looked to be new was the state-of-the-art gaming system hooked up to the seventy-inch television on the wall. Nick would bet it was new in the last couple of months.
He stopped and opened the fridge on the way by. “Whoa! Garmen definitely hadn’t been eating anything in here for the last week.”
“About the same time as Jonny’s murder.” Michelle pulled her shirt collar up over her nose and slammed the fridge door. “We may need to call in a hazmat team.”
He turned on the stove fan. A death rattle filled the room.
“Nope. Not going to use that.” He flipped the switch off. Grabbing her arm, he led her into the living room .
“The place is clear. I’ll drive out of the park, circle around, and come in the back door.”
He snagged her arm and pulled her in close. Words filled his head, but he didn’t speak. Stroking her cheek, he let his actions say all the things he wanted to tell her. Be careful. I can’t lose you. Not now. Not ever.
His kiss was deep. She leaned in. Message delivered.
Scanning the surroundings, she walked out. She needed anyone following to know that she was leaving.
Nick listened for movement. Frequent checks of the windows showed it was clear.
Ten minutes later, she slipped through the back door.
“That was fast.”
“Jim gave me a ride from the coffee shop two blocks over. I told him about the van. He will have it pulled in for processing when we’re done here.” She handed him a takeout mug. “It might be a while.”
He took a sip and pulled out his phone. “I better line up someone to pick up Ava.”
“I already did that.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry. Your father is on the list for pickup, right?” She pulled a bagel from the bag.
He nodded, but his forehead crinkled.
“Jim called Liz when we were in the car. She’s a child advocate. Trust me, there is no one better to be with your child. I can’t wait to see them with their own someday. She’ll take your father over to pick up Ava and then stay with them until you get back. Ava met her on cookie day.” Her words tumbled out at a high rate of speed. No doubt, trying to assure him his daughter would be safe .
He watched the concern in her eyes. She’d thought of Ava, her wellbeing. His chest warmed at her actions. “I trust you. I’ll call the dance studio so they know what’s going on.”
After he talked to the instructor and his father, Nick turned on the television. She glanced over her shoulder from her lookout at the window. Her brow rose.
“We might as well make it look like he’s home.”
She gave a nod. He dropped the remote on the coffee table then moved to the window on the opposite side of the room. He checked his watch.
Michelle dropped the blind. “I’m going to check the other windows.”
“You won’t find anything in his drawers.”
She stopped mid-step. “You searched the house while I was out?”
He shrugged. “I’m not a cop. And he gave us the keys.”
“He gave the police the keys.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Were you going to snoop?”
She frowned. “Yes, but that’s not the point.”
He smirked. “What is?”
A frantic rap on the door had Michelle putting her finger to her lips and her hand to her holster.
Nick reached for his concealed weapon but didn’t pull it out.
“Cliff, it’s me. Open the fucking door. We gotta get out of here.” More knocking accompanied the words.
“Junior,” she mouthed and relaxed her stance. Crossing to the door, she pulled it open. “Where are we going?”