Authors: J. M. Griffin
"I know, sorry. It's just that the story made me thirsty and besides, I forgot where we were going."
"Fine, let's go back to Hartford Avenue and look at what they have there for cars.” I sipped my latte and held on tight as the dynamic little car scooted into traffic.
Bright shiny cars, SUV's and pickup trucks lined the lot. How would I ever make a choice? We stepped from the Cooper and with iced coffees in hand, Lola and I started the hunt.
"Any favorite color or style car in mind, Vin?” She asked.
"Uh uh, I just want a reasonably priced and decent car to get me back and forth to work and around town. Nothing fancy, just a run of the mill car.” My eyes glazed over at the sight of so many choices.
We walked up and down the aisles until I couldn't see straight. I stood with my hand leaning on the surface of a bright red Taurus. It was a previously owned model, or second hand as far as I was concerned. Of course, I knew the salesman would tell me it belonged to some eight hundred year old lady who'd only driven it to church and home. Yeah, right.
"Let's look at this one,” I said and walked around the low slung car peering into the windows. It was clean, and the price wasn't bad either. Yep, this was the baby for me.
A gravelly voice asked, “Can I get you the keys for this car, Miss?"
I turned and stared at a guy with mustard snot on the front of his necktie and a suit that had seen better days. His eyes flickered over me like I was on the dinner menu. I glanced at Lola. She took in the details of his attire and stepped forward.
"Why yes, you may.” The Julia Roberts smile blinded him and he stood star struck.
The salesman scurried back to the showroom to get the keys. He must have realized he had a live one on his hands and wanted the sale.
This woman may be tiny, but she packed a wallop with that brilliant set of snags. I turned away with a chuckle and walked around the car, giving it the once over. It was a beauty, and I'd fallen in love with the rich colored exterior of it. Maybe I'd have better luck with this car than my last two.
Keys jangled as the salesman approached. His affable grin didn't fool me for a second, since I knew my money was all he was interested in. This wouldn't be a lifelong friendship. I stepped forward with my hand out.
He set the keys in my palm and said, “Just take her for a spin and see how she handles. I'll be right here when you get back.” He handed me his card and I expected it to have mustard snot too, but it was in pristine condition.
A smile hovered around my mouth, and I nodded as he turned to Lola with a wide grin.
She might be on the menu too
. We slid onto the smooth leather interior and buckled up. The motor turned over and the car purred like a satisfied cat. Lola and I grinned at one another. I slipped the shift into drive and we took off.
The slinky car maneuvered onto the nearby highway as we picked up speed. Before we knew it, we'd passed several exits and were nearly into Massachusetts. At the next exit, I turned back toward the dealership and drove at a reasonable speed.
"What do you think, Lola?” I asked with an excited grin.
"It's perfect, you should buy it."
"Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm hungry, let's do the paperwork and get something to eat."
"Okay. We can get a burger or whatever."
For someone so small, Lola could hold her own in the food department. How she managed to be slim is unfathomable to me. We headed into the car lot and noticed the salesman pacing back and forth. I chuckled and Lola laughed at the man.
"Guess he's a tad anxious, huh?” Lola asked.
"Yep, safe to say. Let's break the good news to him, shall we?"
I stepped from the car, handed Mr. Mustard Snot the keys and told him I wanted the car. His eyes lit up as he hustled us inside to start the paperwork. We haggled over the price for a while, but I won out. By the time I left, he was just glad to be rid of me, but no more so than I was to be gone.
With several burgers, fries and drinks tucked into bags on the front seat of the Cooper, we headed toward Scituate. Lola pulled into the driveway and parked next to Aaron's truck. Her car was so short that the enormous truck loomed over it in comparison. We'd just walked around the huge vehicle when the back door opened, and he stepped outside with a look of surprise on his face.
"I was wondering where you'd gotten to. It kind of made me worry since I had invited you out for a burger.” His charming smile showed none of the earlier chagrin when I'd tossed him and Richmond out of the house.
"We've got burgers, why don't you join us?” Lola asked with a bright, shiny grin.
God, what have I done to deserve all this?
Lola was hot for Aaron and was determined to clear the air, it seemed. Hefting the bag of food onto the counter, I set out napkins and glasses to share the drinks. I felt Aaron's eyes follow my actions as he and Lola kept up a light banter. Finally, I turned and looked him square in the face.
"Sorry I was rude earlier. I was a bit angry at everyone over the fact that you guys haven't quite been as open as you could be.” Begrudgingly, I shoved a burger toward him with a tiny smile. “Eat your burger."
He nodded and dug into the food like a starving man. Good thing we'd bought extra, but then maybe Lola had this in mind all along. My eyes strayed to her as I munched a couple of fries. Her eyes sparkled as she stared back. Yep, she'd planned this.
"Have you spoken with Richmond?” I asked as my gaze traveled the handsome features of the man.
"He called to find out if you'd tossed me out of my apartment. Marcus figured you were angry enough to do that, but I didn't think you'd be that rash. I wasn't wrong, was I?"
"No, you can stay. After all, I might need your help when I have another burglar or something equally dramatic happens. I'll tell you one thing, I can't take much more of this drama crap.” So I lied about the drama, so what?
Replete, the three of us lounged outside on the deck and chatted about stupid things, avoiding the events of the day. Aaron stood with a grin and said good night. He left Lola and me outside alone.
"You didn't mention the car, why?"
"It's none of his business or Richmond's either for that matter."
"Does this mean you're still angry with them?"
"Not angry, just put out. They've been secretive, and I don't like it. I'm supposed to tell them everything, but it's a one way street, you know? Kind of ticks me off. I thought Richmond and I had something good going, but I'm not so sure now."
"Like, what kind of a good thing?” Her fine eyebrows waggled up and down.
Laughter gurgled from my throat, and I nodded at her.
"That's the kind."
She stood and stretched with a wide grin on her face. “I've got to go back and close the deli out. Want to come or have you about had it for the day?"
"I'd come with you, but I'm beat. Thanks for your support today, I needed it.” I smiled and asked, “By the way, did you call Aaron and set up this supper thing we just did?"
Wide eyes, the caught in the headlights kind of eyes, stared at me a moment and then she burst into laughter. “Guilty as charged, I'm afraid. I didn't want you to cut both men out of your life at this dangerous juncture. I hope you understand."
"Yeah, I do. Thanks."
I watched her leave and stayed outside alone until it was pitch black and all that shone were the stars in the night sky. In my mind I could see Frankie and Kenny as they plotted my demise. Discomforted by the thought, I went inside to lock every door and slide all the bolts in place.
I heard the phone jingle on the nightstand. Ignoring the sound, I slid down into the bed and covered my head with a pillow. Let the answering machine pick it up.
With great intentions, I rose early. Coffee brewed and my housework was done by seven. Wandering through the six rooms, I had a sense of satisfaction. Plans had formed while I dusted, vacuumed and washed everything in sight. If something untoward happened to me, then the house would be clean and my mother proud.
The phone jingled and I reacted with a start. I glanced at the number displayed on the small screen, lifted the receiver and said hello. Lola's voice came across the line and I smiled at her words.
"You know what I was thinking? We might go back to Providence today and grill those two women who work in the shop. We never had a chance to do that and if we apply enough pressure, then maybe we can get them to give up some info. What do you say?"
"Good idea,” I said with a chuckle. “We might look into the two dummies’ business if we don't get any answers from the women."
"Are you sure it's a good idea to taunt them? They seem dangerous and have no sense of remorse."
"I know, but it's worth a try, don't you think? Besides, I've tried to get Richmond to give me the stones so I could be a decoy, but he won't go for it."
"I'm glad he won't. We can bypass that though with some junk stones from the craft store if you think we could get away with it."
"That idea had occurred to me as well. If there's no response from the women and we can't find anything out from the dummies, then we'll use that as a last option."
"Right, I'll pick you up shortly. When will your new car be ready?"
"The dealer said around two would be the best time."
I hung up, showered and changed my clothes. No sense in smelling like a moose herder when I questioned the women in the shop. It occurred to me that they might not know anything, but on the other hand, they may be at the bottom of the entire plot.
The door swung shut behind me with a thud as I skipped down the front steps toward the sidewalk. My cell phone rang and again I looked to see the number displayed on the tiny screen. Lanky Larry's number popped into view and I flipped the phone open.
"Hey Larry, how's it goin'?"
"Vinnie, things couldn't be better. I got to thinking about you and wondered if everything was all right?"
"I'm fine and things are great,” I lied. No sense in worrying him since he was on an all time high with his new love affair. “I bought a new car yesterday, a red Taurus. Really sweet and fast, too."
"What happened to Livvy's Volvo?” Worry tainted his voice.
"It died and couldn't be revived, so I sprung for a new one. It was time anyway."
As Larry shared the news of him and Liz, I chuckled. I stood on the sidewalk talking as Richmond drove past without a glance. My disappointment landed like an anvil. The call ended with a promise to get together soon. I hustled toward Lola's car as she pulled alongside the sidewalk and I slid into the front seat.
The phone tucked in my handbag, I relaxed into the soft leather and closed the car door.
"Did you see Richmond? He just went by without even a wave. He must be ticked off over being thrown out yesterday."
Her gaze drifted over my features as she nodded. “He waved to me as I pulled into traffic from the deli. You've got it bad, haven't you?” She grinned that Julia grin and I had to smile.
"Yeah, I guess. My little voice keeps screaming at me to stay away from cops, but I haven't listened very well.” Resigned, I stared out the window as we sped into the city. “If we can't get anything from those women, we'll stop by and see Frankie D. at the PPD, okay? I'll ask him to check into the two dummies. That way I don't have to talk to them."
"Great idea,” Lola said.
Traffic on South Main Street was always a challenge during the week. Parking is a premium and the meter molly's are always out in full force, tearing tickets off their pad and tucking them under windshield wipers. I watched them hand out fines for illegal parking. Lola swung the car up Power Street and into a RISD parking lot. Rhode Island School of Design owns most of the area and has parking lots scattered all over the east side. I knew Lola would be tagged, but it wouldn't cost us anything like a ticket from the meter molly.
"We can scoot down those stairs and cross South Main to the shop.” Lola pointed to the two story steps in front of the lot.
"I can see you've thought this through.” I giggled.
"Are you nervous? I'll do the talking if you are."
"Not really. I just want this summer from hell to be over and done with. It's imperative that I prove Aunt Livvy is innocent. Not just for me, but for my parents as well. We have all had a difficult time over Livvy's death and to think she had committed a crime is beyond the scope of our understanding."
"It's not an easy time,” Lola said as we turned on the elongated stairs and skipped down the second level to the street. The shop lay about two blocks down on the right. We hustled along, avoiding the traffic as we crossed the street.
The prison bus was headed toward the Superior Courthouse nearby. The inmates, who were shackled and chained together, yelled profanities at us out the windows. I flipped them the finger, and Lola grabbed me by the arm as we continued down the sidewalk.
"Vinnie, knock it off. We don't need to draw attention to ourselves. What if Marcus has had us followed or something?"
"You're right, sorry. He and Grant conferred yesterday, and he said that the state police would cover security for me. I do feel like I'm under a microscope."
We stepped up to the exquisitely dressed, wide windows of Inspirata and peered inside. Marcus and Aaron stood in deep conversation with the two women. One woman looked scared and the other was talking in rapid sentences. Her lips moved in conjunction with her well manicured hands. Aaron nodded and Marcus stood with arms folded while he glanced around. Lola and I stood outside and just as we turned away, I caught Richmond's eyes on me.
In one quick motion, I grasped Lola's arm and dragged her back the way we'd come. She struggled a bit until she glanced across the street and saw the grey Crown Vic parked in front of a stately old office building. Her pace quickened and we beat feet to the car lot.
Once inside the small vehicle, I let out a heavy puff of air. The stairs were easier going down than coming up, but that wasn't the worst part. We'd been seen by Marcus and that meant trouble for me, I just knew it.