Common Enemy (16 page)

“You lost the case. I’m not paying you anything.”

“You’re the one who went apeshit in the courtroom and lost the case.”

Bobby Ray tossed the duffle bag into the back seat of his beat-up car and slammed the door.

“I don’t even have enough money to get home. What do you expect me to do?”

“Call your wife,” Bobby Ray shrugged. “She’s your cash cow, isn’t she?”

“What am I supposed to tell her? I’ve been gone for weeks and I don’t have anything to show for it.”

“Call her, right now, be creative.” Bobby Ray reached under his shirt and pulled out Nita’s gun. “Put it on speakerphone. I want to hear every word.”

Bennett’s hands shook so badly he nearly dropped the phone as he opened it and punched in his home number. His voice was remarkably calm when he spoke. “Hi honey, listen, I’m stranded down in Ft. Myers. The car broke down and it cost me a fortune to fix. I need you to wire me some money to get home.”

“You’re not coming home, Jerry.” His wife’s voice sounded dull. Butler wore a phony surprised expression.

“Of course I am. I’m finished with my business here and I just need some money to get home. I think my credit cards must have gotten ruined, none of them work anymore.”

“What business are you finished with, Jerry?” She didn’t seem to have heard his last statement. “The legal business or the prostitution?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know damned well what I’m talking about. I’ve got your medical records here from the prison.”

“Listen honey, all kinds of things happen to people in prison. You know that.”

“The report tells everything, Jerry. You were HIV positive when you got there. You started the medication the year before. When were you going to tell me? Now, I have to be tested. I’m not sending you a dime,” she sobbed. “I don’t want you to ever come back here. I may be dying because of you. You married me knowing your condition and never said a word. You didn’t give me a choice, Jerry.”

“Do you think I had a choice, Deb?”

“You made your choice the first time you accepted money for the disgusting things you did.”

“Well at least one of us is good at it,” he snapped.

Butler didn’t say anything, but his shoulders shook with quiet laughter.

“You sound proud to be a prison bitch.”

“I’ve never been anyone’s bitch, honey. I was paid too well, even by you. And that was the hardest one to take, you ugly pig.”

“I’m bringing charges against you, Jerry. You’d better stick with the prostitution because I’ll make sure you never practice law again.” The phone went dead.

Bennett stood, frozen in place, still holding the cell phone in his hand. His pale face actually took on a green tone.

“See you around, bitch.” Bobby Ray laughed as he tossed his keys in the air and caught them.

Chapter Eighteen

Jordan kept picturing Bobby Ray, walking through her front door and up the stairs. What if Lizzy had been in that bathroom when he opened the door? She had to stop thinking that way. Lizzy was safe with Connor and Caleb there. They wouldn’t let her out of their sight. She was sure of that. Surer then she’d been of anything in her life. They loved her.

Her heart warmed when she went into the kitchen to make breakfast. Connor and Lizzy were at the table slurping bowls of cereal while they watched cartoons through the living room doorway.

When Gram had died, Lizzy was the only reason Jordan had to get out of bed in the mornings, the only reason she had to draw her next breath. She hadn’t expected to add to her little family so quickly. At that moment, she felt content.

Caleb came in search of his first cup of coffee. Now that she’d gotten used to him, she hardly noticed his amazing resemblance to Connor.

“Uncle Cal!” Lizzy exclaimed. “I got to sleep with Mommy and Daddy last night.”

“Good for you, sweetheart,” he replied with a grin. The importance of his brother’s new designation hadn’t been lost on him.

Connor’s smile grew with pride. She hoped it was the right thing to do, letting Lizzy call him Daddy. Bobby Ray would never hold that title for Lizzy. Knowing that, a little piece of his presence in their lives dissolved.

She decided to carry her coffee out to the barn. Now that it had been repaired, she’d started thinking about what they could use it for. Large animals didn’t appeal to her. If Connor was going to live here permanently, perhaps he could use the space as a workshop or something. He approached. It would be a good time to discuss it with him.

As he came closer she noticed stiffness in his gait. His dark expression caused concern.

“Where’s Lizzy?”

“She’s in the house with Cal. She’s fine,” Connor informed her. “I wanted to tell you what I just saw on a news report without her overhearing and asking questions.”

“Have they found Bobby Ray?”

“No, they found Bennett, his attorney, dead in his car at the beach in Ft. Myers. They’re sure it was a suicide. I can’t help but wonder if it had something to do with the outcome of the court case.”

“It seems strange for me to even think this,” she replied, “but I feel bad for him. Suicide is a horrible act of desperation. The man must have had redeeming qualities at some time during his life, no matter what kind of worm he became later. He may have even had a family.”

“That’s why I love you so much.” Connor kissed the top of her head as he hugged her. “You’re struggling to find something nice to say about the guy. That’s damn generous of you, considering he tried to help Butler take your daughter a week ago.”

“You have to forgive people or it eats at your soul.”

“Do you forgive Butler? Do you honestly think I should?”

“That’s a whole lot harder. We’re still dealing with him. Someday, maybe we can put it behind us. I can’t say that I hate him. Hate is too hard to live with. But that doesn’t mean I won’t do anything I have to, to protect my family.”

They entered the house to find John sitting in the living room with Caleb. Both men looked up with serious expressions. A chill ran up her spine.

“Where’s Lizzy?” she inquired for the second time.

“I sent her to her room to play for a while,” Caleb told her. “There’s been another development.”

“What’s going on?” Connor asked.

John stood to pace while he thought about how to tell them what he had learned. He hadn’t finished telling the story to Caleb, but he started over from the beginning. “You know, I have contacts with the police department back home. I had asked one of my friends to give me a run-down on the woman who’d picked Butler up from the prison.”

Connor interrupted, “Yeah, the hooker, Doris something, right?”

“Right, well, her name just came up again. My friend remembered me asking about her, so he called me this morning. It seems her body was found in Bradford County, not far from the prison. Some teenagers were four-wheeling out on a service road and came across her remains in a stand of trees. It was pretty disgusting Jordan, you don’t have to hear this.”

“No, go on. I need to know what we’re up against. This obviously involves Bobby Ray.” Jordan suddenly felt cold and leaned against Connor.

“She suffered massive head trauma. The rest is hard to say. She’s been dead for a while. They’re guessing she was killed just after he left the prison. They found a large rock with traces on it near her head. Her clothes were scattered in the brushes by the road.” John took a deep breath. “They also found a man’s shirt close to her body. In the pocket was a note with your name and address on it, Jordan. Their pretty sure it was the one Butler left the prison wearing.”

Connor stood and headed for the phone. “There may be more evidence in the car. It’s still at the police impound lot.”

“One more thing, Connor.” John looked at him, and then Caleb. “My friend didn’t have a number to reach me. He left a message at the office.”

“Do you know who he talked to?” Caleb asked.

“Does it matter?” John smirked. “Everything goes across the old man’s desk.”

“We’ll deal with that later if we have to.” Connor called information for the number of the Ft. Myers police department.

“He got away from us during the party, Saturday,” John said to Caleb. “But we plan to find that son of a bitch again.”

“You and Ted had better just watch your asses. This guy is getting crazier by the day.”

****

Bobby Ray sat at the end of the bar where it curled around and tucked into a dark corner near the door. He kept his head down, his face covered by the shadow of a baseball cap. No one in Mayville knew what he looked like except the people who’d been in the courtroom in Ft. Myers. No pictures had appeared with the short article in the local paper. Still, it was a risk coming here. The way he figured though, the cops wouldn’t expect him to be so close.

He’d blow town tonight, but first he wanted to hear the gossip. He didn’t have Bennett to take care of that anymore, the stupid fuck.

The story of Bennett’s suicide was on the front page of the Ft. Myers paper. He’d finally gotten his fifteen minutes of fame. Bobby Ray had placed the paper in front of him on the bar, but it wasn’t getting any attention. He’d thought it would set tongues wagging, but it had been a bust. Instead, the bartender talked to the handful of customers about the high school football team’s chances of making the play-offs in the coming season.

Bobby Ray laid ten dollars on the bar to pay for the two beers he’d drank, figuring he may as well leave. As he was about to stand, the door opened. Jackpot! It was two of the people who’d been at Jordan’s house the night he carved up the cat.

The old man and the flashy blonde bimbo sat at a table in the back. He waited for them to order their drinks before moving to a dartboard nearby. It was closer and quieter than one of the pool tables. He’d be able to hear their conversation even if anyone else decided to play.

“Do you want to tell me what’s on your mind?” the bimbo asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“Have I done something wrong?”

Maybe it has something to do with your fashion choices
. Bobby Ray chuckled quietly.

“No, I think I have… I’ve been thinking, ever since the party at Jordan’s house. All those young people were running around and having fun, and there you sat, tied to an old goat like me.”

“You know I don’t think of you that way. We’ve had a lot of fun together.”

Surprise, surprise, they’re knocking boots
.

“It’s been a lot of years, Joyce. Why’d you do it? You knew there wasn’t any future with me.”

“Did you see the doctor again?” Joyce asked. “Have there been any new developments?”

“What developments are you expecting? I explained to you before, I’m not going to get any better. Why waste your youth this way? Why spend time with a dying man. You should be out having fun and finding someone to spend the rest of your life with. I never should have started anything with you, knowing that I wasn’t going to be able to see it through”

Could the old guy get any more pathetic? So he was dying, aren’t we all?

“Fifteen years ago you weren’t dying,” she reminded him. “And, who else would take a second look at a crazy hair stylist who lives with her mother? I knew from the beginning that you’d never feel the same about me, as you did Ms. Holbrook. She was a great lady.

“I’m the one who was selfish. I should have made you tell her how you felt, right from the start. I don’t have a life. I own a business that takes every minute of my day. Then, I take care of my mom all night. I sneak away maybe once a week to keep you company. You’ve been a good friend, Arnie.”

So their names are Joyce and Arnie…and they are equally pathetic
.

“Well, I’m going to try to be a better friend,” Arnie stated. “I don’t want you to do this anymore. I want you to start going out and looking for someone you can hang on to. I’m serious, Joyce, I don’t want you to come around anymore.”

“You don’t mean that, Arnie.”

“Yes, I do.”

Good old Arnie took off and left Joyce, the bimbo, sitting alone in a bar. Classy
.
Bobby Ray stepped to the pool table. Now was a good time to be noticed. The woman felt vulnerable and in need of affection. It wasn’t beyond him to take advantage of an opportunity.

But then the waitress ran over squealing like a pig at feeding time. “Joyce! We haven’t seen you in here in a coon’s age. I was just telling my sister today that I needed to call you for an appointment. My roots are grown out so badly, I look like a skunk pulled wrong side out.”

“I’ve got some time at two tomorrow, but for now, how about a light beer?” She looked at the bar again. “It sure is slow in here tonight.”

“Yeah, but that cutie at the dart board is keeping me busy just watching him.” Allison pointed behind her. “You should go over there. He’s been playing solo for over an hour. I bet he could use some company.”

Okay, he’d been noticed by the wrong person, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t play. When Joyce looked around at him, he plastered on a big smile for her, like he’d have anything to do with the sleazy skank.

“Hi,” he said. “Haven’t I seen you around town?”

“I’ve lived here all my life, you may have. I don’t remember seeing you before, though. I think I would have remembered.”

“You can call me Al.” He sauntered over, knowing he must look good to her after the old man she’d been with. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Joyce. I own the beauty salon here in town.”

“Oh, a businesswoman, I see.” He poured on the charm and flattery. “This must be my lucky night. I’m new in town. Maybe you could show me around a few of the hot spots.”

“There are no hot spots in Mayville, honey. This is it.”

“Then why don’t we go to the diner for a cup of coffee?”

A look of alarm knit her brows. Had he gone too far?

“I really can’t, I just stopped by to wait for friends. We’re going to a movie tonight.”

“A night out with the girls?”

“My friend and her fiancé are setting me up with his brother. It’s kind of a double date.”

In your dreams, bitch.
Who did she think she was fooling?

“Tell your friend hello for me. As a matter of fact, you could give her a note.” He picked up the cocktail napkin from her table, pulled a pen from his shirt pocket, and scribbled a single word. He folded the napkin back to the way it had been and placed it on the table.