Bob Moats - Jim Richards 01-03- 3 for Murder Box Set (22 page)

I ran to Penny, covering her with a blanket from the side of the bed, and untied her hands. She was sobbing and shaking worse than I had seen her shake. I held on and whispered, “It’s all over, baby, it’s all over.”

Buck and Deacon came to the edge of the bed, and then they heard a noise behind them. Julia had risen, aiming her gun at Penny. She fired just as Deacon jumped in front of the bed. Buck brought out his .38 and blasted Julia. Deacon was on the floor, but took the gun I used and fired until the gun was empty. Julia fired again, but this time at the ceiling as she was dropping backwards to the floor.

Deacon was hit in the groin towards his hip. He looked up and said, “Are we done now?”

*

Chapter Eighteen

Trapper was beside himself after he got there. The Southfield police let him have lead since the mess was attached to his series of murders. They took charge of the gate guard’s murder, but said that the bodies of Morgan and Waters could be transported to Clinton Township for autopsy and processing.

The EMTs were busy putting Penny on a gurney. She was under sedation, so she wasn’t really aware of her surroundings. Then they were busy trying to figure where they would get a gurney big enough to handle Deacon. We all laughed. They did manage to get him out to the ambulance and hauled him off.

Trapper had Buck and me in an office in the building. It was now about 2 A.M. Everyone was tired, but we answered his questions and gave him our statements. He interrogated Deacon before they took him off to the hospital. He said he was going to base his findings on that but wanted to hear our side.

We related everything from the incident at the New Baltimore bar to the shooting of Julia Waters. Trapper said to downplay Buck’s involvement in the shooting. It would get complicated for him. We got our stories together and called it a night.

I asked one of the Southfield cops where they took Penny, and he said they were transporting her to Mt. Clemens General Hospital. I asked Buck to drive me there. We got to the hospital around 3 A.M., and they let us go into the room. Trapper had called the hospital and said that we were coming there to protect Penny, so that allowed us in after hours. Buck crawled onto the empty bed next to Penny’s. I pulled a chair over to her, took her hand and held it tightly. I could feel her hand squeeze mine and then relax. I slept with my head on her bed.

Around 8:30 A.M. Trapper came in and shook me. Penny was still sleeping, and I didn’t want to disturb her. We woke Buck and went to an empty waiting room. He had worked on his report all night as he wanted to get it finished.

“So the only thing I’m a bit fuzzy on is Sue Carter’s murder. Who was the old lady?” He posed the question to us.

I offered, “Maybe Julia was in make-up. It definitely wouldn’t be Morgan.”

“I thought that, but in my investigating, which I am authorized to do,” he said, smirking at me, “we found out that Waters was in a motel in Warren, doing the bump and tickle with John Stafford, the murdered renter they lived with. We found receipts for the motel in his car, and the clerk verified they were there.”

I was puzzled. “Why didn’t they just use his house? Why a motel?”

“My assumption was that Davey was there, and she didn’t want him to see. That’s all I can figure, and maybe why Stafford was killed. Davey was jealous and found out about the tryst. We’ll never really know now since they are all dead. But that still doesn’t answer about the old lady murderer. I guess it was Davey in a very good disguise. That’s going to be in my report.” Trapper stood and said he was going to visit Deacon on the next floor. He told us Deacon’s hipbone was shattered. He might not be the same again, would always walk with a limp. He gave us the room number, said to visit, and we said we would. He left, and Buck and I went back to Penny’s room.

We walked in to find a nurse preparing a hypo. She looked startled when we came in, then she kept her face away from us. I asked what she was giving her, and she mumbled something I couldn’t hear. I moved closer and saw a strand of black hair hanging down from her gray hair. I could see she was well wrinkled, reminding me of the description of the old lady who killed Sue.

I turned away, got on my cell phone and hit speed dial for Trapper. When he answered, I said, “Get down here, fast,” and hung up. I turned back and said to the nurse, “I’d like to call a doctor to get a second opinion on the shot.”

She whipped around and had a gun pointed at us. I looked at Buck and said, “And I thought this was over.”

She pulled off the wig she was wearing and yelled, “Damn you, Richards, you were a smart ass in school, and you haven’t changed! It will be my pleasure to kill you, too.”

I looked closer at the hag in front of us, and suddenly it struck me. Alice Stone! I said, “Why, Alice, everyone thinks you’re missing.”

“They can all go to hell. I waited years to exact my revenge on the damn cheerleaders for what they did to Nathan. He made me swear to leave them alone, made me promise. I waited until I heard he was dead before I made my move. Julia was already a wreck over her father’s confession, and it took me a lot of talking to convince her to follow my plan. My stupid son was all primed for the kill. He was always a bit sadistic. I plotted out everything. I had Julia already involved in one murder, and she went along with the rest. The woman was a whore. She did anything for a bit of dick. But I did it, killed five of them. Now I’m going to finish off Wickens, and I can finally be happy.”

“You killed Sue Carter, didn’t you?” I asked.

She smiled. “That bitch was my one greatest kill. I wanted it for myself. She hounded Nathan and me whenever we tried to be alone, stupid little bitch. I enjoyed slitting her throat.”

“Your son’s death doesn’t count for something?” I asked.

“Yes, makes me want to kill you all the more!” She raised the gun to fire just as Trapper burst in from a side door, calling for her to freeze. She turned the gun at Trapper. He fired twice, and she went down.

The shots brought nurses and doctors in. Trapper, holding his badge up, told them to all get out of the crime scene. He got his cell phone out and called for backup.

Penny stirred and said with her eyes still closed, “Can I have some quiet here?”

I went over, kissed her lips and said, “Anything for you, babe.”

The End

For every ending, there’s a new beginning.

Copyright © 2009-2012 by Bob Moats

New Edits as of
Sept 03, 2012

Cover design by Bob Moats

All rights reserved.

By Bob Moats

 
 
 
Chapter One

The dark figure carefully moved to the row of lockers in the dressing room of the Las Vegas casino showgirls. The theatre was dark tonight, so the person was able to search for one particular locker without being seen. The person looked at the small post-it note for the locker number and searched down the row until the right locker was found. There were no locks on the door, so it was easy to open and remove the can of energy drink from the shelf. The figure pulled a syringe from a pocket and carefully pulled up the tab of the drink can until a small hole opened up. The syringe was inserted into the hole and the contents of the syringe were injected into the can. The tab was put back in the original position and the can was set back on the shelf. All was now set for the quick death of a showgirl.

~~*~~

It took about a month for Penny to finally get past the terror of the classmate murders. She hurt deeply. The evil half-siblings, Waters and Morgan, were both dead and gone, along with their leader in crime. I stayed by Penny every day, nursing her back to normalcy. Buck visited us at her home a couple times a week to see how she was doing, talking to her about everything else, distracting her from the original subject.

Deacon wanted to come by but was still recovering from numerous surgeries to replace his hip and joints and would be in therapy for a while. Penny and I did visit Deacon as often as his schedule allowed since Penny owed her life to him as did the rest of us. After each visit to Deacon, Penny would get a little depressed, seeing Deacon in such a way. I always reminded her he was a cop, they can get hurt in any number of ways, and they accept it. That’s why he took the bullet meant for Penny. It helped a little, but she needed to heal.

I finally convinced Penny to go back to the studio and do her show again. It was time for her to get back into the good life she had before the bad. It would also help to take her mind off things best let go.

The first day we rolled into the studio, she was nervous, but her make-up groupies were there to make her beautiful, the crew welcomed her back with a big cake and the audience love was there. Her faithful viewers wrote supporting letters after hearing about her ordeal, and her biker fan club came to her first show to cheer her on. Luther gave her a big bouquet of flowers from the gang. Penny broke down on camera and cried. She was going to be all right.

When the story about the murders broke to the news wires and networks, we were contacted by a few production companies who felt it might make a good cable movie. Buck wanted Hulk Hogan to play him. Penny thought we were all nuts, but added she’d like to see Jaclyn Smith play her part. I wanted to play myself. Everyone laughed at that idea.

I decided to write a book about the murders so I sat down and started banging it out on my laptop while it was fresh. My mother read it as I wrote it and said she was glad I didn’t tell her when it was happening. My brother agreed to take over my duties at our parents’ house helping with our ill father, and I sort of moved in with Penny. Sort of, meaning it wasn’t a permanent move, yet, because Penny and I wanted to take it slow. At first I was there to take care of her, and then it just felt comfortable.

Newly promoted from homicide Sergeant to Lieutenant, Trapper helped me to enroll in a course at the local community college towards getting a P.I. license. I just had to do it. He gave me his blessing and also helped get me a CCW permit. He and I spent a good number of days in the shooting range at his precinct, and he had to admit I was a good shooter. I couldn’t carry a gun yet, till I finished the course. That was one of his conditions for helping me. Penny thought I was living out some adolescent fantasy, a hero worship for Magnum, P.I., sort of thing. I just wanted to do this before I died of old age. Which I felt I was getting closer to everyday.

One afternoon Penny came home all excited. She told me that there was interest in putting her show into syndication nationwide. Her studio had been working towards it since she was now known across the country for the ordeal we went through, and they had reserved a booth at the big NABP convention in Las Vegas.

I lived in Las Vegas for about sixteen months back in 2003, and I knew something about the National Association of Broadcast Programming conventions. Stations across the country go to promote their shows to the networks, and the networks try to promote their shows and sign up stations to become affiliates. That’s a simplification, because it is more than just broadcasting. The NABP Show is attended by leading media, entertainment and communications professionals to share their ideas for the next generation of video and audio, from television, radios and computers to phones, the big screen and beyond. A real potpourri of what we see and hear in our daily lives and the effect it all has on us.

Penny said they were sending her and me out to Vegas, all expenses paid, to work and promote her show. She said I was going along to protect her from harm. She laughed. I was offended. We had about four months to get her ready for the big event, and it would give me time to finish my course. She said that she would start to get more important guests on her show now to add some flair to promote it. In the past, she would occasionally book big name stars when they came into Detroit, but now the stars wanted to get on her show to meet Penny. I hoped all the hoopla over the classmate murders didn’t die out before we got to Vegas. Stories come and go and are soon forgotten.

Buck began to bring Deacon with him on his weekly visits to Penny and me. Deacon had been released from the hospital but was still doing therapy for his hip and had a cane to walk with for the time being. He bought a heavy, black cane with a serpent’s head on the top. It suited him.

“Vegas, Baby!” Buck yelled when he heard our news.

I grinned and said, “Don’t get too excited, you weren’t invited.” Buck looked crushed.

Penny came in as I was saying that, and offered, “Well, Buck, we’re being flown out on the corporate jet, so if you wanted to go, it would be a free ride. But you’d have to find a place to stay out there. I’m not sharing my luxury room at the MGM Grand with anyone but Jim.”

Deacon, who was sitting on Penny’s couch, spoke up. “If I can get the same offer for the flight out, Buck and I could stay at my sister’s house. She lives in Las Vegas. I’d like to visit her.” Buck’s eyes went wide, and he sat there with that walrus smile of his.

Penny smiled. “Deacon, the plane has a weight limit.” She giggled.

“You know, I’m getting a little tired of all the big guy jokes. Besides, I’m not big, you’re just all puny.”

“OK, Deacon, you’ve earned our respect. We will no longer make jokes at your expense. OK, King Kong?” I joked.

He grabbed a book off the couch and threw it at me. It missed and came crashing down next to the sleeping cat, startling it out of its dreams. The cat snarled and ran off.

“Oh, good, I’m not the only one who annoys cats now.” I laughed.

Penny stepped in before we started fighting. “Deacon, I’ll check with the studio and see, but I’m sure you and Buck could hitch a ride with us.”

Buck whooped and said, “Sin City, here we come!” He paused. “Deacon, what’s your sister look like?”

“Just stay away from her. Besides, she’s an amazon and a showgirl,” Deacon warned.

“Showgirl? Does she do the nude shows?” Buck’s mouth was hanging open.

“No, and I’d strangle her if she did,” he growled.

“Murder doesn’t become you, Deacon,” I said, and then whispered something to Penny. She nodded.

“Buck, can you help me get some luggage out of my garage and let the kids sit here and fight?” she asked.

“I’d be glad to.” He got up and followed Penny out.

I moved over next to Deacon on the couch. I sat for a minute, not really knowing what to say. I’m not a very open person. I finally said, “Deacon, I asked Penny to get Buck out of here for a while since I wanted to talk to you. I just wanted to say I really appreciate what you did for Penny, jumping in front of that bullet. I honestly know I would have lost it if I had lost her. You saved me as well as Penny. I just wanted to say a big thank you.”

Deacon was quiet for a bit then said, “My pleasure. I would have missed both of you.” He smiled.

“So, your sister lives in Vegas?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Yep, about ten years now. She works at the Tropicana in one of the shows.”

“Deacon, I lived in Vegas for about a year and a half. The Tropicana showgirls do go topless,” I said.

Deacon smiled. “I know, I just didn’t want Buck to know. He’d hound me for details until we got there.”

We both laughed. I continued, “I really miss being out there. I came back due to homesickness and my Dad’s health. For a while I wished I’d stayed.”

“What took you out there?” Deacon asked.

“I was offered a job for one of the shows. I lasted about six months, got fed up with the guy I worked for and quit. I’ll tell you more about it sometime. I have a low threshold for arrogance, couldn’t stand the guy after I got to know him. Then I worked there for one of the chain magic shops until I moved back here.”

“Magic shops? You did magic?” he inquired.

“Yeah, I did shows for local parties and such for over forty years. I stopped after I got back here,” I said wistfully.

“I love magic. You’ll have to teach me a few tricks,” Deacon stated, like a small child.

“You got it, big guy.”

Penny and Buck came back in the living room carrying six suitcases. They plopped them in the middle of the room. I looked at them and said, “Just how long are we going to be out there?”

“A woman needs many changes of clothing, just in case,” she remarked.

“Don’t forget to pack warm clothing,” I joked, remembering the daily 100 plus degrees it got in the summer in Vegas. However, in April, when the convention was, it was sometimes cool.

“Smart ass,” she retorted, knowing how hot it gets there. “I’m filling one suitcase with tank tops and short shorts.” Then she stuck her tongue out at me.

Deacon said, “Hey, Buck, did you know Jimmy was a magician?”

Buck smiled. “Yeah, he told me all about it when we used to work together.”

Penny stopped, looking like her brain was actively engaged, and finally said, “That’s right, you did magic shows during classes back in high school. I remember seeing a couple. I was impressed. Can you do something right now?”

I smirked. “I can make your bra disappear.”

She grinned. “I don’t have a bra on.”

“See? It worked.” I chuckled.

“Still a smart ass.” She tsked and went off towards the bedroom carrying two suitcases.

“She holds up nice for not wearing a bra, eh?” I said admiringly.

Buck looked towards Deacon and said, “I want to know more about your sister. Got a picture of her in your wallet?”

“Yes, I do, but I’m not letting you drool all over it,” he answered.

I asked, “Can I see it?”

Deacon took his wallet out, opened it and showed it to me. Buck ran around the back of the couch and looked over my shoulder. The picture was of a very attractive woman in one of those fancy feathered showgirl outfits.

“Wow, she’s a looker!” Buck was just about drooling.

Penny came back into the room, and I said to come look at Deacon’s sister. She studied the picture for a couple seconds.

“Hmm… I better not find you chasing after her,” she threatened.

“Baby, I only have eyes for you.” I grinned.

“It’s not your eyes I’m concerned about,” she snapped, then smiled. “You can look all you want, just keep other body parts away.”