The Queen of Cool (23 page)

Lo could only blink at the young man. He was
jumping through hoops she hadn’t presented yet.

“
And you don’t have to tell
me that I cannot block your daughter’s access to her family,”
Richard said. “Ali told me the list your mother gave Don. I’ve had
it memorized since college. I will make every effort to fulfill
every requirement and any others you present.”

“
Good,” Lo said.

“
And she’s done with
school, so I won’t keep her pregnant and ignorant like some dumb
breeding heifer,” Richard smiled.

Lo smiled. Her mother could be so
expressive.

“
You have to understand,
Mrs. Downs,” Richard said. “Alisha is my life’s breath. She has
been for a very long time. I’m not going to blow this over
something or someone stupid.”

“
You’d better not,” Lo
said. “Mutt loves Alisha, and he’s full blood Romani. People who
hurt those he loves always wish they hadn’t.”

Nodding, Richard swallowed hard. Glancing
up, he noticed Alisha and Amanda approaching with his bag. He took
a breath. He glanced away from Lo, then back at her. He said:

“
I have some requirements
of my own.”

Q

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“
What
are
your
requirements?” Alisha asked. Standing a little
taller, he turned to look at her.

“
I’d rather not go into
that in a public place,” Richard said.

“
Fine,” Lo said. “We’ll
talk in the car.”

Alisha and Amanda looked at Lo and then at
each other. After years of experience, they knew better than to
argue when she was “on the war path.’

“
It’s this way,” Lo
extended her arm in the direction of the car. Over Richard’s
shoulder, she wiggled her eyebrows at Alisha. Alisha smiled at Lo.
Richard put his arm around Alisha and they walked to Amanda’s BMW.
Amanda took the passenger seat so that Alisha and Richard could sit
in the back.

“
What are your
requirements?” Lo asked.

“
I want Jaden Sadler out of
Alisha’s life,” Richard said.

“
Rick,” Alisha said. “I’m
done. Really. He won’t be a problem.”

“
He’s a problem for me,”
Richard said. “I don’t like the way he manipulates every situation
to his advantage. To that end, my father and I would like to invest
in the Queen of Cool as our first project in Fort Worth. I have a
check in my pocket. With our investment, you should be able to pay
him the money he let you borrow, plus any interest. I want him off
the board. My father has already hired a Dallas estate lawyer to
take over Don’s estate work.”

“
Rick,” Alisha shook her
head. “He’s treated Lo the same way he treats me. She’s able to
stay away from him. I can too.”

“
Have you ever been seduced
in word or act by Jaden Sadler?” Richard asked.

“
No,” Lo said. “I always
thought he was a snake. But he was the only person we had when
everything fell apart.”

“
Another situation he
manipulated to his advantage,” Richard said. “I’m sure there are a
thousand people who’d love to help you.”

“
I don’t have any money to
pay them,” Lo said.

“
So what?” Richard shook
his head. “Any attorney would get a percentage from the
estate.”

Lo turned to look at him.

“
Jaden told you otherwise,”
Richard said.

Lo nodded.

“
That’s what I mean,”
Richard said. “He turns every situation to his
advantage.”

“
But…” Alisha
started.

“
I’m very clear on this,”
Richard said. “I’m sick to death of that… snake taking advantage of
people I care about. He’s out as your lawyer, as Alisha’s mentor,
and out of the air conditioning business. Period.”

“
I’m flattered that you
want to be involved, Richard,” Lo said. “But outside of some
gesture to get on my good side, and stick it to Alisha’s ex, I’m
trying to figure out why you’d want to be involved in the Queen of
Cool.”

“
Dallas-Fort Worth is one
of the fastest-growing economies in the country,” Richard said.
“Air conditioning is mandatory for life here. We’ve reviewed your
advertising campaign and find it appropriate for the market. Our
guess is that you’re booked solid. Is that correct?”

“
We’re booked for the rest
of the month and some of next,” Lo said.

“
I’m sure,” Richard said.
“My father is bringing his accountant with him to go over the books
and the estate. We’d like to meet with the other board members
individually. This is no friendly gesture, Lo. Once the garbage is
taken out, the business is sound.”

“
Jaden said he was taking
out the garbage when he threw Mutt out,” Lo said.

“
Of course he threw Mutt
out,” Richard said. “Mutt is a truth teller. Mutt knows that
bastard is a liar and a cheater.”

“
How can you be so sure?”
Alisha asked.

“
About Mutt? I’ve met him,”
Richard said. “He came to see Ali a couple of times a year. He
always said that Don sent him, but it always seemed to me like he
was checking up for himself. He’s been a loyal friend to Alisha,
and I trust him.”

“
No, how can you be so sure
about Jaden?” Alisha asked.

“
I know the type,” Richard
said. “I have a cousin who’s just the same. Dad had to fire him
from his company. He sued. It was a disaster for everyone
involved.”

“
He’s not going to go
lightly,” Lo said.

“
Are you concerned about
that?” Richard asked.

“
Not at all,” Lo said. “I’m
concerned about Alisha.”

“
If Alisha agrees, of
course, my hope is to spend a few days in Fort Worth getting
business and life settled,” Richard said. “Then, I’d like to head
out with Alisha on the horses. Alone. I think we need some time. If
everything works out, we’ll be back next Monday ready to get to
work. What do you think?”

He turned to look at Alisha. She flushed
with fear. Insecurity followed fear across the landscape of her
face. She glanced at Lo in the rearview mirror. Lo gave her a nod
and a smile. She nodded to Richard.

“
By the time we get back,
I’m pretty sure Mrs. Downs and my father will have taken care of
Jaden Sadler,” Richard said. “If not, we’ll be in a stronger place
to deal with him ourselves.”

“
I agree to your
conditions,” Lo said.

“
I agree to your
conditions,” Richard said. “That just leaves one thing…”

Richard turned to Alisha. He took both of
her hands. They looked at each other for a moment. Amanda turned
around in her seat to watch. Lo was glued to the rearview
mirror.

“
Alisha Downs,” he said.
“Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

“
Yes,” Alisha
said.

Amanda and Lo cheered while Richard and
Alisha hugged. Lo felt her grief hammer at the wall she’d placed
around it. But she refused to let this moment be about anything but
Alisha. She felt a wave of gratitude for her mother who allowed her
and Don their own engagement moment so soon after her father had
died.

“
But I’m not taking your
name,” Alisha said.

“
I don’t care,” Richard
fumbled in the pockets of his jacket.

“
I’m not having kids right
away,” Alisha said.

“
I don’t care,” Richard
continued to fumble.

“
I want to live in Fort
Worth,” Alisha said.

“
We can live wherever you
like,” Richard began digging into his right jean’s
pocket.

“
And we can’t stay at the
apartment,” Alisha said. “It’s too small. But my home will always
be with Lo.”

“
I reserved a room at the
Ashton,” Richard said. “They have a car waiting for us. I checked
after we landed. We can look at property this
afternoon.”

“
We’re going to help our
friend Yazmin this afternoon,” Alisha said. “She needs permission
to marry Mutt.”

“
Great. I’d love to help if
I can,” Richard scowled at himself and realized he hadn’t checked
his left jeans pocket. “We can look at property in between. If you
find something you like, we can ask Lo and Amanda to check it
out.”

He found the ring box in his left pocket.
Clearly relieved, he pulled out the blue Tiffany and Company ring
box.

“
Anything else?” Richard
opened the box to a Tiffany Novo – a brilliant round diamond
solitaire in a platinum setting with pave diamonds down the
side.

“
Not that I can think of,”
Alisha said. “But I reserve the right to add more
conditions.”

“
I reserve the right to say
no,” Richard said.

Alisha smirked and Richard laughed. Lo’s
eyes misted with tears as he put the ring on her finger and kissed
her. She hugged him close. Amanda cheered.

“
Ready?” Richard asked
Alisha. She gave a shy nod. He kissed her. Turning to Lo, he said,
“Let go start our life as a family.”

Smiling, Lo started the car and began the
drive to Alisha’s new life.

Q

Sunday evening—6:45 p.m.

Fairmount Historic District, Fort Worth

Days: 42

“
Manrod!” Mutt yelled to
Manny as he, Mindy Sue and their children walked up the driveway to
join the impromptu barbeque.

Lo waved them toward her. He raised his
hands to show a twelve-pack of beer and ice. Mindy Sue was carrying
a homemade bundt cake. Their dog Truman barked and ran up to his
old family. The kids ran to join Vera and Lisa’s kids. Truman
circled the kids with joyous barks. Mindy Sue set the cake down and
gave Lo a hug before going to find Yazmin. Manny stopped to chat
with Mutt, who was manning the barbeque. Lo smiled when she saw
Mutt turn down a beer. Manny patted his back and went to find the
coolers.

The barbeque was Richard’s father Vaughn’s
idea. They wanted to meet everyone. They bought the meat and
everyone brought the rest. Lo and Lisa prepared the space, and Mutt
did the barbequing. It wasn’t anything fancy, but for the first
time in forty-two days, everyone celebrated. Mutt and Yazmin had
weathered the storm and were on their way to getting married.
Alisha and Richard were engaged, and the Queen of Cool was taking
off the next day. They had a lot to celebrate.

Lo took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
With her arms crossed over her heart, she tried to hold in her
desperate longing for Don. He’d never had an impromptu barbeque
before knowing her. They were her father’s specialty. Her father
would start on the barbeque and welcome whoever arrived. The
neighbors showed up with whatever they wanted cooked and some extra
stuff. At least once a month, her childhood house was filled with
laughter, barbeque, music, and sometimes even dancing. They’d eat,
laugh and party until well after dark. Don loved these parties.

After they married, Don started having
similar parties in their backyard. Their Hillcrest parties were
more sedate but very fun none the less. Lo smiled.

Richard’s father Vaughn seemed to love these
parties too. Lo put her hand to her heart as a way of keeping her
sorrow locked away, for now. Noting her distress, Yazmin gave her a
hug before being pulled away by another well wisher.

Hearing a cheer, Lo looked up to see Mrs.
Williams, her mother’s long-time next door neighbor, making a slow
journey up the driveway with one of her amazing sweet potato pies.
Earl, Lisa’s husband, went to offer help. Mrs. Williams gave him
the pie but waved away his offer to help her walk. Lisa walked at
her side the rest of the way. Mrs. Williams gave Lisa a CD of Jazz
music for the boom box. Smiling, Lisa went to put the CD into the
player. Yazmin gave Mrs. Williams a hug and Mutt waved. Lo was so
focused on the crowd that she was startled when Manny touched her
arm.

“
Detective Rodriguez?” Lo
smiled.

“
Mrs. Downs,” Manny
laughed.

They hugged.

“
Hey, not too much,” Manny
said. “I don’t want Don to get jealous.”

“
Don?”

“
You don’t think he’d get
me from beyond the grave?” Manny laughed.

“
Probably,” Lo smiled. It
was the first time she’d smiled or laughed about Don. She had to
look away to keep her desperate pain in its tight box. “I’m glad
you came. Can you believe we’re old enough to see Alisha getting
married?”

“
It’s as wonderful as Mutt
and Yazmin!” Manny leaned in toward Lo. “How is it to have these
celebrations in the middle of…?”

“
Turns out, the world
doesn’t revolve around me,” Shrugging, Lo smiled. Manny smiled and
took a drink of his beer. “Were you able to talk to your Captain
about Will?”

“
I wanted to talk to you
about that,” Manny took her arm. They walked to a quiet corner of
the yard.

“
What’s going on?” Lo
asked.

“
That’s what I wanted to
talk to you about,” Manny said. “I don’t know what’s going
on.”

“
I thought it was no big
deal to get Will off our case,” Lo said.

“
It usually isn’t,” Manny
said. “I called this morning. About an hour later, my Captain
invited me to his home. He met me at the door and we went for a
walk through his neighborhood. When he tried to remove Will, he was
told ‘Detective William Wallace was not to be removed.’ That’s a
quote. He went as far up the chain as he could…”