Peril for Your Thoughts (Mind Reader Mystery) (15 page)

His face registered a mix of shock and horror. “You’re both crazy.”

“Where were you on the night of the murder?” Detective Stevens asked, pulling out his notebook and pen.

“With my sister, going over last-minute details for our trip. Ask her.”

“All night long? Because the murder happened in the middle of the night just before dawn. Was your sister awake then to verify you were still at her place?”

Sully’s jaw hardened. “I didn’t kill anyone, and I would certainly never do something like that to Jaz.”

“You would if you were sleeping with Anastasia Stewart,” I blurted, and Nik just shook his head.

“You son of bitch!” a deep voice boomed, and before we knew what was happening, Johnny Hogan launched himself at Sully Anderson, hitting him square in the jaw.

The men fell to the floor, landing blows and rolling about on the ground. I jumped out of the way, making sure no drops of blood landed on me. I searched my skin for any cuts, shuddering to think of what would happen if someone else’s blood mixed with my own. God forbid I ever needed a blood transfusion. I seriously don't think I could handle it.

“Break it up, you two,” Nik bellowed, stepping between them and pulling the big blonde giant off of Sully.

They slowly rolled to their feet, battered and bruised and panting heavily.

“What the hell gave you the idea I was sleeping with Ms. Stewart?” Sully asked.

“First of all, you flirt with her all the time,” I said, pointing out the obvious. Nik just tossed his hands in the air and gave up trying to stop me.

Sully shrugged. “Truthfully, I flirt with everyone. It’s just my nature.”

“Well, I saw you Monday morning at the
back
of her store, when for every other store you pulled up out front.”

“You followed me?” he asked, looking stunned.

“Never mind that. She’s working with me,” Detective Stevens covered for me. “Why pull into the back of Vixen?”

“Because Ana—I mean Ms. Stewart—had a private delivery she didn’t want anyone to know about.” Sully looked at me to drive his point home. “Same as Ms. Alvarez has had me do in the past. You of all people should know that.”

“Then why did Ana give you this?” I asked, thrusting the note that had fallen out of his pocket that day at her shop. Nik gaped at me like he couldn’t believe I’d kept it instead of turning it over to him.
Whoops
, I mouthed, realizing at that moment I really didn’t know much when it came to investigating.

Sully remained oblivious to our exchange as he took the note and read it. “I was wondering where that went,” he said, not looking surprised in the least. “This isn’t mine.”

“But I saw her give it to you when I was in the dum—”

“When she was with me,” Nik amended. “We know it’s yours, so cut the act.”

“It’s not his,” Johnny said, taking the note from Sully. “It’s mine.” He looked at Sully apologetically. “Sorry, man.”

The detective and I looked at each other in surprise. Sully Anderson wasn’t the one who was having the affair with Anastasia Stewart. Johnny Hogan was.

“Freeze!” Detective Boomer Matheson yelled as he barged into Banks Construction.

“Boomer, what the hell are you doing here?” Detective Nik Stevens ground out.

“I called the police,” Ronald Banks said, adjusting his glasses.

“I
am
the police,” Nik growled.

“Looked like you needed backup to me.” Ron shrugged, then gestured to Sully and Johnny. “I didn’t need these two gorillas messing up my office.”

“Put your gun away, Boomer,” Nik said with a sigh. “I’ve got everything under control.”

Jaz poked her head around Boomer’s back, her honey-brown curls bouncing as she spoke. “What on earth is going on?”

Boomer did a double take, then slid his gun in its holster. “Jazlyn Alvarez, I thought I told you to stay in the car. Are you ever going to listen to me?”

“Probably not.” She patted his shoulder and then stepped around him. “Kalli, what’s going on?”

He shoved a hand through his russet hair and then dropped his palms to his hips as he looked at Nik, who raised his own hands helplessly, looking as though he felt his pain.

Ignoring them both, I filled Jaz in on what had just happened. And that’s when World War III happened.

“You’re sleeping with Ana?” Jaz shrieked, launching herself at Johnny.

He caught her mid-air and pinned her arms to her sides. “You’re the one who broke it off with me.”

“I don’t want you back, you big buffoon. I just can’t believe you fed that bottom sucker my spring collection. It was bad enough you trashed my car.”

“Easy, there, Hogan.”

“Me? Talk to your girlfriend. She’s the psycho.”

“I’m not his girlfriend, you traitor,” Jaz spat and hit him again.

Boomer pulled Jaz away from Johnny and kept a firm grip on her so she wouldn’t attack again.

“I didn’t feed Ana anything, and I didn’t trash your car,” Johnny said to her. “You’re delusional. I’m glad I’m in a relationship with her and not you.”

“Relationship? Ha! She’s using you, and you can’t even see it. It’s kind of sad actually.”

“Kind of like you used me? I’d say you’re the sad one.”

This time Sully launched himself at Johnny. “That’s no way to talk to a lady,” he said, as his fist connected.

“She’s no lady, and you’re downright pathetic if you think you stand a chance with her. You’re probably the one who leaked her spring collection to Ana, but she turned you down too. How’s it feel to know nobody wants you?” Johnny replied, following his words up with a punch of his own.

They tumbled to the floor once more and rolled around, each one trying to get the upper hand. Johnny was bigger, but Sully was faster.

“For the love of God,” Nik said, this time pulling Sully off of Johnny.

“You’re all nuts,” Johnny said, backing up a step like he might make a run for it.

I reacted without really even thinking about what I was doing or how much trouble I was going to get in or how mad Detective Stevens was going to be as I pulled his gun from its holster and shot the ceiling. “You’re not going anywhere, Mr. Hogan.”

Everyone froze as little particles of sheetrock floated down from the ceiling.

Then chaos erupted as their shock turned to shouts and reprimands and lectures and arguments and accusations. Boomer tried to calm everyone down, while Nik tried to convince me to give up the gun. Everyone talked over each other, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I did the unthinkable and pulled the trigger again, this time taking out a ceiling light.

“I’ll tell you where you’re all going,” Ron thundered, running into the room with a shotgun. “Straight to jail.” And then he picked up the phone.

A couple hours later, Jaz and I sat in a holding cell at the police station. Her for inciting a riot, and me for discharging a police officer’s weapon. One cell over, Sully and Johnny were in for disturbing the peace. Meanwhile, Boomer and Nik were in their captain’s office, getting a stern talking to by the sound of the raised voices down the hall behind closed doors.

I’d take the cell any day, although I wasn’t about to sit on the moth-eaten cot or touch anything within the small space

The detectives finally emerged from the room down the hall, and I was thankful for the bars between us. That was a thought I never imagined having. They stopped in front of our cell and just stared at Jaz and me, clearly furious with us both. We both took a step back and exercised our right to wisely remain silent.

Sully and Johnny weren’t so smart.

“Hey, let me out of here,” Johnny yelled. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I am an innocent victim in all of this.”

“You’re a lot of things, Hogan, but innocent isn’t one of them,” Sully replied. “I’m the one who didn’t do a thing wrong. This whole thing is ridiculous.”

“Yeah, well, you weren’t the one who had a gun pointed at him. I should sue you all for the emotional damage you’ve given me.”

“You big overgrown baby. I still don’t get how any woman could possibly find you appealing.”

“Keep it up, you two, and neither one of you is going anywhere,” Nik said.

That finally shut them up.

Boomer pulled out a key and unlocked the door to our cell.

“What are you doing?” Jaz asked.

“You’re free to go,” he said, a muscle in his jaw bulging.

“Both of us?” I asked hopefully.

Quiet grumbles came from the cell next door, but the occupants didn’t say a word.

“Apparently so.” Nik nailed me with a hard stare. “Ron Banks decided not to press charges, so long as you pay for the damages to his ceiling and replace the overhead light.”

“Done,” I said, stepping forward and walking out of the cell before anyone could change their minds. Jaz quickly followed, and we both stayed as far away from the detectives as we could.

“You took the word right out of my mouth, Ms. Ballas,” Nik said with a controlled but obviously angry tone. “We are definitely done.”

Well, that didn’t sound good.

“That’s right, ladies,” Boomer added, a lot less controlled than Nik. “There is no more
we
. Not if
we
want to keep our jobs. If
we
see either of you anywhere near this investigation, you’ll find yourselves right back in here for obstructing justice. Do
we
make ourselves clear?”

“Crystal,” Jaz said, barely suppressing an eye roll as she took my arm and pulled me toward the door. I could hear she had a comeback that was dying to slip out, but the woman wasn’t stupid. She knew when to shut up and get the heck out of Dodge.

“I can’t believe we got off without any punishment,” I whispered to Jaz on our way out.

Apparently, not quietly enough.

“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far, Annie Oakley,” Nik said from behind me, sounding more than satisfied. Even a little pleased, if I wasn’t mistaken.

My steps faltered, but I didn’t turn around as I asked, “And why’s that, Detective?” fearing the words I suspected were coming.

He didn’t disappoint as he uttered with unmistakable delight, “Your mother’s right outside.”

My stomach dropped. “What about Sully and Johnny?” I asked, desperately stalling, not wanting to face the music.

“Yeah, what about us?” Johnny asked, sounding much meeker this time.

“I have a route to finish,” Sully said earnestly.

“We still have some questions for them both before we release them,” Boomer said.

“But—” Johnny started.

“Shhh,” Sully hissed.

A minor scuffle ensued, and then they were quiet.

“I suggest you worry about yourself,” Nik said to me, “and what’s on the other side of that door,” he added, and with that, they were gone.

“Well, kiddo, have fun with that.” Jaz patted my arm and turned around.

“Where are you going?” I sputtered.

“My mama didn’t raise no fool. I’m heading out the back.” Her high heels clickety clacked as she disappeared down the hall.

I contemplated following her, but knew my family wouldn’t rest until they tracked me down. Knowing Nik, he’d probably called her out of spite. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and walked out the front door with my head held high. Dark clouds had rolled in, looking gloomy and ominous, threatening a doozy of a storm.

“You see?” Ma pounced on me immediately, her polyester pantsuit making a swishing noise with her every movement. “Even God is unhappy with you.” She pointed toward the sky. Her beehive of hair swayed about as she inspected every inch of me. She knew better than to touch me, but she had no qualms about invading my personal space. Her face was literally an inch from my body.

“I’m fine, Ma.” I stepped back a foot, and her face fell a little. I knew it bothered her, but she understood I couldn’t help it. If only I had been more like the child she so wanted and needed. “How did you hear I was in jail?” I asked, trying to distract her from my actions.

“That’s not important,” she said confirming my suspicions. “Mamas know everything, you know that. And you don’t fool me. You’re not fine. First with the fever, and now with the rabies. I told you this would happen.”

Thunder rolled off in the distance, making me nervous. Lightning could be nearby. The odds of surviving a hit by lightning weren’t good.

“I don’t have rabies, Ma, but I am tired. I’d like to go home.”

“See, you’re sick.” She looked at me knowingly as she tsked. “Why else would you shoot up poor Mr. Bank’s construction office? Only the rabies would make you do something so crazy. I know these things. It’s only a matter of time before you lose your mind, just like cousin Phelix.”

“Ma, I didn’t shoot up the office. It was only two shots, but mostly I was pointing the gun at Mr. Hogan to stop him from leaving.” Whoops. I regretted the words the second they slipped out.

My mother made the sign of the cross and said a quick prayer, looking ready to faint. “My baby’s a criminal. This is going to send Yiayia right to the hospital with heart palpitations.

“Yiayia is going to outlive us all, and you know it.”

“That’s it. You’re coming home with me. We’ll stuff you good, then smother you in aloe and wrap you in duct tape. That will cure this fever of yours.”

No worries there. Nik had already cured it by turning into Nikos and calling my mother. “You’re supposed to feed a cold and starve a fever. Not the other way around, Ma.”

“You already starve yourself, and look where it’s gotten you. Skinny and sick.”

“I’m not skinny, and I’m not sick.”

A streak of lightning lit up the sky, making me jump. My heart raced, and my breathing picked up, and I was pretty sure my face had grown pale.

“Mmm, hmmm. I’m not taking any chances. Let’s go.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the parking lot. My car was home, and the lightning worried me. Having no other choice, I let her drag me along.
I hope they keep that awful woman behind bars. First murder and now this. I bet she’s the one who gave my baby girl the rabies in the first place. Someone needs to put that looneybin out of her misery.

There was no point in arguing with my mother. She was too stubborn to listen to reason, and I knew from a lifetime of experience that she wouldn’t leave me alone until she got her way. So with lead in my feet, I stumbled along to her waiting car, trying to block out her thoughts. It wasn’t hard to do because my thoughts wouldn’t stop reminding me of exactly what the rest of my evening would entail …

A date with a jar of aloe, a roll of duct tape, and a stomach ache from consuming way too much food.

“Hang on a sec, Ma.” I pulled away. Two could play at this game. “Everyone who’s in jail is allowed one phone call. I never got mine,” I said, as an idea came to me.

“But you’re out now, and I’m here to take care of you. What do you need a phone call for?”

“Oh, I don’t, but trust me, someone else does. And you’re so right. Everyone needs their mama in times like this,” I said, opening my cell phone and dialing a number that had been added to my contacts whether I’d wanted it there or not.

“Hi, Kalli, I’m so glad you called. I’ve been meaning to catch up with you, but you’ve been so busy lately,” said a female voice through the earpiece of my phone. “How are you feeling?”

“I’ve been better, Chloe,” I said, trying to keep the smile out of my voice and sound grave. “Thank you for asking. I must say your son has been better too.”

My mother’s whole face brightened when she realized whom I was talking to. She nodded, patting my head in total approval of what I was doing. She just had no idea about the real motivation behind my call: payback.

I continued with my own amount of satisfaction as I said, “Did you hear the news … your son is in big trouble?”