You're Busting My Nuptials (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 2) (7 page)

Jinx stopped short, grabbed his sides, and doubled over laughing. “Damn, Tizzy, what are you going to do, aerosol them off?”

“Jinx! You almost made me pee my pants!”

“Sorry,” he said, trying to get his breath back. “I thought I’d run with you this morning, but I got a late start. I called out to you, but you didn’t hear me.”

“God, I almost peppered you.” She placed her hands on her hips and took deep breaths.

“Sorry. Re-holster the can,
MacGruber,
and let’s go.”

Tizzy slipped the can back into her jacket and they took off toward the graveyard. Within a couple of minutes they entered the gates of Jenkins cemetery and slowed their pace. Tizzy walked to Boone’s grave and Jinx went to their maternal grandparents’ burial site.

After a few moments, Tizzy joined him. She slipped her arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I miss them,” she said.

“Yeah, me too. Some of the best memories of my life were spending time with them.”

“Uh-huh. The best.” Tizzy sighed.

Jinx patted her shoulder. “Go ahead, ask them about Ridge.”

“What?”

“I know you want to, so do it.”

Tizzy shook her head. “They won’t know anything.”

“Why not? They helped solve Ridge’s first case.”

“Yeah, but that was different. That murder happened here. They all witnessed the crime. They were telling me all along about Freddie Holt. I just misunderstood their message. I thought they were saying . . . ranger, whore. You know, calling me a whore for sleeping with Ridge. When they were actually trying to warn me I was in danger.”

“Ranger—danger—whore—Holt, do sound a lot alike. Plus you add in a guilty conscience and the message is easy to misinterpret.”

“I deserved guilt for carrying on with Ridge during an investigation with me as a suspect.”

“Well, it can’t hurt to ask them, so go ahead.”

A little bit of sadness always bubbled up from the bottom of Tizzy’s heart when she spoke with her loved ones. They had been such an important part of her life. She was thankful, that even in death; the connection to them had not been broken. She took a step back and closed her eyes and as she felt their joy for her presence, the sadness fell away.

“I was supposed to get married yesterday,” she began. “But Ridge didn’t show up. I think something has happened to him, so if you have any information, I’d appreciate you telling me.”

Tizzy prayed for a response. But none came. No thoughts. No messages. No voices. From anyone. She wasn’t disappointed. She’d not expected an answer. “Well, I guess it was worth a try. C’mon, let’s go.”

“Wait.”

“Boone?” Tizzy turned back toward his grave. “Do you know something?” She couldn’t suppress the hope in her voice.

“No. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. You deserved a wedding day, since you didn’t have one with me. I always felt bad about that. I shouldn’t have rushed you to City Hall. We should have at least gone to a church.”

“That’s okay, Boone. You may not have given me a church wedding, but you gave me the most wonderful thing in my life. Gracie.” With everything else going on, he picked now to bring up their wedding? She couldn’t bear it. “I’m sorry, Boone. I really can’t talk about this right now. I’m too emotional. I hope you understand. I’ve gotta go.”

Tizzy took off running before Boone had a chance to say anything else.

Jinx, right behind, called out, “He
y, wait up.”

Tizzy slowed down and he ca
ught up to her. “Are you okay?”

She stopped running and began walking. “Yeah, I’m okay. I just couldn’t talk to him anymore. Of all days, he chose now to try and make amends. C’mon, let’s get home and decide what we can do.”

“That’s one reason I came to run with you. Yesterday, I noticed a house at the end of the block wrapped with toilet paper. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t like that when we brought Ridge home from the party. If we can find the kids who did it, they may have seen something.”

Twenty minutes later Tizzy and Jinx walked up the drive to Tizzy’s house and found Synola sitting on the front steps.

“You’re out early,” Tizzy said. “Where’s Rayann?”

“She told me since Bubba’s working the night-shift; she wanted to spend some
quality
time with him when he got home this morning. She’ll come over later.”

Tizzy sat down next to her. Jinx walked to his Harley, took a t-shirt and pair of jeans from the saddle bag, and then joined them. He sat next to Synola.

Tizzy couldn’t help but feel a little glimmer of hope. Maybe they could locate who wrapped the house. If they did, it might lead to their first clue. “Jinx suggested we find the kids who rolled the house down the block. He thinks they may have seen something.”

Synola leaned back and propped her elbows on the step behind her. “That’s a good idea. How was your run? Did you
talk
to anybody at the cemetery?”

“I tried,” Tizzy said, “but they didn’t have anything to tell me. Why?”

“You were so disappointed last night when you found out we couldn’t check out the strip club with the pictures until Monday, I got an idea of something else we should try.” Synola cocked her head. “Ever think about using other methods of supernatural power?”

The words sounded odd to Tizzy. She never thought o
f her ability as power, super or otherwise. She’d been having conversations with dead people since she was seven years old. “Whataya mean?”

“Maybe you can call on spirits outside the graveyard.”

Tizzy narrowed her eyes. “You mean like a séance?”

“Yeah.”

“No. That’s crazy.”

Synola wagged her head. “Oh, and talking to the dearly departed ain’t some crazy-ass
shit? Well, ‘scuse me, sista.”

“You’re right, but I don’t call the voices up. And, things don’t happen every time I go. I don’t control them. So, what makes you think I could conjure random spirits?”

“Wouldn’t hurt to try,” Synola said.

Jinx shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with her.”

Tizzy slumped her shoulders. “I wouldn’t know the first thing about how to do it.”

“My auntie can help us,” Synola said.

Tizzy thought back to when they were children. “Aunt Eldora
?
I thought you always said that was just talk. The only real power she had was the ability to remove warts and a cheating husband’s manhood.”

Jinx grabbed his crotch. “Ouch.”

Synola tilted her head toward Jinx. “No need for you to worry. I’m sure your little Gherkin is safe. Not big enough to waste her power on.”

“Buttercup, just knowing you’re thinking about my pickle gets me hot.”

“Shut up.”

“I guess we could try,” Tizzy said. “Call Eldora and arrange a meeting. In the meantime, we’ll try to track down the kids who wrapped the house. If I wanted to place a wager, my money would be to start with that little trouble-maker Jimmy Wayne Higgins.”

Jinx folded his arms across his chest. “One more thing. I didn’t want to scare you last night, so I didn’t mention it. But I’m pretty sure we picked up a tail when we left Double D’s.”

Tizzy liked the idea of finding out who papered the house. What she didn
’t like was Jinx’s suspicion of someone following them. That little bit of news worried her, but also made her believe in her theory even more. Ridge was in trouble.

After she took a quick shower and changed clothes, Rayann arrived and the three ladies loaded into Tizzy’s van and started across town. As her car crested the railroad tracks on Avon Road, she couldn’t help but remember the last time she had contact with Jimmy Wayne Higgins.

On that hot summer day, while making a bakery delivery, she’d parked her car on the street in front of his house. After delivering the pies, she returned to find all four tires on her van flat. It was only a silly prank. But when the temperature is a hundred and thirteen degrees it’s hard to see the humor.

Today, Tizzy parked in the Higgins’ drive and Jinx angled his Harley in next to her. She’d agreed to let him handle the kid’s interrogation, while she, Rayann, and Synola hung back.

Jimmy Wayne came from the backyard and Tizzy locked eyes on him, surprised by his appearance. Dressed in jeans and a wrinkled plaid shirt, he was taller, heavier, and beginning to lose his little
boy
looks. Dark brown eyes, beneath a mass of blonde hair, glared back at her.

“Oh crap, the bakery bitch,” he said half-aloud.

Jinx dismounted and swaggered across the yard to where Jimmy Wayne stood. “What did you say?”

“Nuthin’.”

Jinx moved forward until he was close enough to Jimmy Wayne for his breath to crawl across the boy’s skin. “Listen to me, kid,” he said, eyes fixed and lips tight. “A lot of things in Texas deserve your respect. Three of ’em are Willie, whiskey, and women. Now apologize to the lady.”

Jimmy Wayne lost all his color. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

Jinx stood only about six feet tall, but his attitude loomed at a good ten. When unshaven, like today, and as long as he didn’t smile and flash his dimples, he was intimidating.

“Say it like you mean it,” Jinx snarled.

Jimmy Wayne averted his eyes and drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

Jinx tilted his head to the side and took a little of the edge off his voice. “That’s
better. Do you know who I am?”

The kid took a step backwards and stared down at the ground. “You the law?”

“Look at me, boy,” Jinx demanded and Jimmy Wayne did. “No, I am
not
the law. I’m the guy who doesn’t give a crap about you or a rat’s ass about your rights or your age. What I do care about is my time. I don’t like to waste it.” He stepped closer to Jimmy. “I’m going to ask you some questions and I want answers. You understand?”

“Yeah.”

Jinx dipped his head down. “What?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Now, somebody wrapped a house on Browning Street early Saturday morning and I think you know who did it. I don’t care about the wrapping. I’m interested in what they may have seen during their little paper party.”

Jimmy Wayne’s eyes brightened. “They’re not in trouble?”

“No.” Jinx glanced at his watch.

Jimmy stuck his hands in his pockets. “Okay. Me, Denny, and Lance wrapped the house. But we didn’t see nuthin.’”

“You know where the Texas Ranger lives?”

“Yeah.”

Jinx cupped his ear. “What?”

“Yes sir.”

“Much better. What time did your activity take place?”

“Don’t tell my momma, okay? Me and Denny spent the night at Lance’s house, and we snuck out.”

A screen door slammed and Mrs. Higgins stepped onto the porch. “Hi, Tizzy. Is Jimmy in trouble?”

Tizzy reassured her with a smile. “No, no, Mrs. Higgins. We just want to talk to Jimmy Wayne about something.”

“Okay,” she said, eyeing Jinx.

He stepped forward and dimpled her. “Hello, Mrs. Higgins. I’m Jinx Monroe, Sugarpie and Sam’s son. I want to talk to Jimmy about mowing my Nana’s yard.”

“Oh, thank you. He’d appreciate the work. Tell your mom hello for me,” she said, turned and went back inside.

Jinx focused on Jimmy again. “While y’all wrapped, any cars go by?”

“Yeah, I mean, yes, sir. Two trucks. A white one and a black one.”

“Did you see the drivers?”

The boy shook his head. “We thought the white truck was the Ranger, so we ducked down behind some bushes.”

“You didn’t notice anything. License plate? Bumper sticker? Damage to either truck? Could you tell if a man or woman was driving?”

“No—sir.”

“What about the model and make of the trucks? Full size or compact?”

“When I saw ’em coming, I crouched down and didn’t look again. All I know is one was white and one was black.”

Jinx moved away from Jimmy Wayne and studied him for a second. “Okay. Thanks for your help.” Jinx started to leave, but stopped and turned back to the boy. “Oh, you want to mow my Nana’s yard?”

Jimmy smiled. “Sure—sir.”

“Fine. She’s Mrs. McAlister. Lives out on Lavender Road. You know the place?”

Jimmy Wayne nodded.

“You got transportation?”

He hung his head. “No, sir.”

Jinx put his hand in his jeans pocket and pulled out his key. “I’ll send somebody for you. How about Wednesday after school?”

Jimmy Wayne’s face lit up. “Wednesday’s good.”

“Be ready at four.” Jinx walked back to his bike, straddled the seat, and turned the engine. The women got in the car, waited for Jinx to pull out, and followed him across the tracks.

Once they arrived back at Tizzy’s house, she looked at Jinx. “That was nice what you did for Jimmy.”