Karma's A Bitch (A Pet Psychic Mystery) (13 page)

“I need a doctor,” he breathed out.

“You need rehab.” She bent down to look into his eyes.

“Well, I’m calling the police,” the woman with newly minted boobs spoke up.

“Yeah, Frankie, don’t get too close, he might have a gun or somethin’.”

“He’s stoned out of his mind.”

“Get him out of here!”

“Hey!” Junior yelled, spit flying at their glittering costumes with his words. “You bitches shut up. What do you have to complain about? You don’t know what problems are! Just shut up!”

All right, this was getting out of hand. I either had just enough of everyone’s crap or just enough champagne, but it was my turn to speak up.

“Hey, Junior.” He turned and focused his anger and pain on me. I stood my ground. “Just because people have money doesn’t mean they don’t have problems. Betrayal, addictions and pain aren’t reserved for the poor.”

“You tell him!” Someone yelled.

I whirled around. “And y’all should be ashamed of yourselves. Stop staring at him like he’s some zoo animal. This is a human being and the very reason that we are all here tonight. For him.” I pointed at Junior. “Y’all need to stop judging each other.”

Just then there was a splash, then screaming and chaos. Junior had fallen into the pool.

Will threw off his tux jacket and jumped in the pool after him. Some of the tea light candles went out, some sank.

“Now you can call an ambulance,” I told the redhead.

***

Will kneeled on the Mexican tiled patio, chlorine water dripping from him, pumping Junior’s chest until he rolled over and threw up water. I grabbed some cloth napkins, folded them up and placed them under Junior’s head to cushion it from the tile. His body was shaking pretty badly and his eyes weren’t focusing on anything in particular.

“Is he gonna be all right?” I asked Will, who was untucking his white dress shirt and wringing it out at the bottom. I caught a glimpse of smooth skin over taut muscle and turned away. The heat crawled up my neck anyway.

“Don’t know. Ambulance should be here soon, though.” We could hear the sirens getting closer.

“I’ve got a car here.” Vick leaned over us, assessing Junior. “I can take him to the hospital.”

I glanced up at Vick. Frankie was holding onto his arm, her eyes wide. What in the world does she see in him? “That’s kind of you, but sounds like the paramedics are here.”

Sure enough, a few moments later, two paramedics were carrying a stretcher on wheels up the stairs and then toward us.

As they assessed Junior and put him on the stretcher, Will relayed the events in the typical detailed cop fashion.

“All right, everyone.” Frankie clapped her hands after the drama was over and Junior was on his way to the hospital. “I’m glad you got to see that.” Everyone quietly turned to her. “That poor boy is a victim. He’s a victim of a society that doesn’t take care of its own people. Darwin’s right. We all treat our pets better than we treat each other.” Er, I didn’t say that. But, she had a point. “If that boy was perfect--not addicted to drugs, had a safe place to live and food to eat…then he wouldn’t need us, right?” A few people murmured. “I said…right?!”

“Right!” a chorus of voices answered.

“That’s right. He needs us. That’s why we are here tonight. So, let’s get this auction started and help that poor boy and the others that need us!”

As everyone made their way over to the table of items to be auctioned off, Will turned to me.

“I really hate to do this, but I’m going to have to cut out early.” He motioned to his soaked clothes and frowned. Then he slipped his hands in mine with a slight grin. “You could come with me?”

“To your house and watch you strip off a newly ruined tux?” I laughed, though the image caused unfamiliar flutterings in my stomach. “I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of trouble.”

“Fair enough.” He leaned in and kissed me softly. I could taste the chlorine but I didn’t care. I sighed. He groaned. “When can I see you again?”

Oh heavens. I was getting in so over my head here. Losing control. Was that a bad thing? There was no stop button on this crazy ride and I was already dizzy from the spin. “You know where to find me.” I smiled, shook my head and then went to find Sylvia. It took all my self control not to look back.

She had found a lounge chair and was sitting with Landon, watching the auction. Her black heels had been discarded below the chair and Landon had his jacket off. They looked so comfortable—with themselves, with each other. I was envious.

“Ah, there you are,” she said, as I approached and plopped down in the chair next to her. “Your Romeo has left you?”

What was the saying? The cat who ate the canary? Yeah, she was smiling at me like that.

“Alas, yes,” I sighed for added drama. “He had to go peel off some wet clothes after his heroics in the pool.” I looked at her sharply. “And no comment about him undressing.”

Landon laughed at that and stood. “I’ll get you ladies a refill and leave you to your girl talk.” He kissed Sylvia’s cheek and she whispered something in his ear that made him feign shock. He winked at me before heading off. I still couldn’t decide if I trusted him or not.

“So?” Sylvia turned her full attention to me.

I groaned in frustration. “Yes. He’s amazing. He’s smart and funny and has those incredible blue eyes and that smile that makes my heart tumble and...and…” I threw up my hands.

“And he is crazy about you, too. Good.” She eyed me. “What is problem?”

“I don’t know what to do with it all. These new feelings and I don’t know how I’m supposed to be around him. Am I letting things move too fast? I mean, I feel like I’m on a roller coaster.” And I can’t let him get too close. I can’t let him know about the parts of me that would make him run screaming in the other direction. Really, I couldn’t let Sylvia in on those parts of me either. I suddenly felt tired, spent and alone. “I’m sorry. I’m just overwhelmed.”

“Darwin, you just be you. Just Darwin. Everything else will be what it is, too.”

I smiled. “So, things are going good with your magician, I see.”

“And speak of the devil.” Her eyes lit up as Landon returned with three fresh glasses.

Okay, I wasn’t the only one on the roller coaster. I didn’t feel so lonely after all.

***

By eleven o’clock, the auction had ended and we had all made the trip from tipsy to tired. I strolled over to say good night to Frankie; strappy heels in hand, the warm night air like a comforting blanket around me.

“So, a success?” I hugged her. She looked as tired as I felt. Her hair had frizzed at the edges from the humidity and her makeup had melted. But she did look happy.

“Absolutely, sugar. Guilt does wonders on the conscience. We’ll have to get together with my accountant this week and figure out how much we have to spend and what the camp needs.”

“Sounds great. Any updates on Junior’s condition?”

“Well, I called and they’re keeping him overnight. He’s stable, though. Me and Vick are gonna go see him first thing in the morning.”

I glanced at Vick. All I could picture was his hands around Maddy’s neck. I swallowed the distaste that rose up in my throat but held his eye contact. “That’s very kind of you to care.” Then I turned to Frankie. “Have you been able to talk to Maddy yet? Find out why she left you so abruptly?”

“She’s still not taking my calls,” she sighed. “It’s breakin’ my heart.”

“That’s so strange. Don’t you think, Vick?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “Since her and Frankie were so close? Any ideas?”

I thought I detected a sharpening of his attention on me, like he had suddenly sat up and looked at me for the first time. His eyes narrowed. “No. None.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll get to the bottom of it eventually, Frankie,” I said, still staring at Vick. I smiled. He didn’t. “Speaking of that. Maybe when y’all visit Junior tomorrow, you could get to the bottom of his injuries. See if you can get him to tell you who’s beating him up. He trusts you, Frankie. Maybe he’ll talk to you.”

“He’s a homeless junkie,” Vick scoffed. “He’s hurtin’ himself.”

“Well, we can certainly talk to him.” Frankie shot Vick an annoyed look. “Don’t forget where I came from.”

“Course not. I’m just sayin’, he’s probably into more stuff than just drugs.”

“And I’m just sayin’ that Mad Dog had the same injuries and he wasn’t into drugs.”

“Mad Dog?”

“Yeah, the homeless guy who committed suicide at Mirror Lake a few weeks back. Only…” Frankie looked from me to Vick. “Darwin doesn’t believe it was suicide. She thinks somebody killed him.”

“That so?” Vick said. He looked me up and down. “You knew him?”

“Yes. He was my friend.” I said friend with extra emphasis because I knew where his slimy mind would go.

His thin mouth spread into an amused grin. Reminded me of a snake. I waited for a little forked tongue to shoot out. But, instead, I got a shot of his attempt at humor.

“Friends don’t let friends drink and swim.”

Okay, it was time to go. This guy was really ticking me off. I turned my shoulder toward him and said good night to Frankie.

I heard them begin to argue as I walked away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Not one for being patient, I decided the next night, Sunday, would be as good a night as any to break into the town house. Or, at least do some serious spying. Again, the hardest part was deciding what to wear. I mean, I couldn’t go strolling down the street in all black…or could I?

I settled on black yoga pants and a dark purple t-shirt. Oh, and an olive green knitted cap to hide my hair, which glowed the same color as moonlight in the dark.

“What?” I rested my hands on my hips and stared back at Karma. “You worried, big guy?”

Kneeling down in front of the bed where his paws and chin hung off, I slid my hands underneath his floppy ears. “You’re such a sensitive soul, aren’t you? Don’t worry about me. I’ll be careful. A promise is a promise, right?” He lifted his head and licked my forearm. I wiped it on my shirt. “Thanks. Now, you promise to go easy on the pillow drool. Stay on the towel. That’s an order.” I rubbed his head one last time and stood up. Time to go.

It took longer to get there since I opted to walk instead of worrying about a bike. I didn’t realize how vulnerable I would feel walking in the dark, especially without Karma by my side. No fast getaways tonight.

I lingered in front of the house, trying to spot any movement. The sunroom in front was all windows and dark inside. Glancing up and down the sidewalk, I decided my best bet would be the back door. Hurrying between the houses, where a path had been worn in the grass, I circled around back and pressed myself against the house, praying no one was home because the drum beat in my chest would surely give me away.

Muffled music boomed from the house next door, competing with the nasal calls of tree frogs and chirping crickets, but all seemed quiet inside. Okay, deep breath…. it's now or never.

I crept through the overgrown weeds to the brown door above cement steps and peered through the window into the kitchen. No signs of life. Unfolding the penknife on my keychain, I shoved it between the crack and door frame. After a bit of clumsy jiggling, the door clicked open. Well, what do you know, it worked! Thank you, internet.

I tiptoed in and shut the door behind me. Only then did it hit me the place could have had an alarm. The blood drained to my toes and I listened—silence except the sound of the refrigerator running. Whew. Got lucky, but I’d have to be more careful. This breaking and entering stuff was nerve-wracking. I stood still until my breathing was normal enough to hear movement above the sound of my own fear. The plan was in and out. Find something, anything to figure out who lived here and why Mad Dog had been here that night.

I shined a pen light around the kitchen. The counter between the fridge and stove was packed with liquor bottles. I ventured in and opened the drawers. Empty. I opened the fridge. Two cases of beer, one half empty. So, this place probably wasn’t being used as a home. What then? A bar? Well, the name Frat Boys, Inc. was starting to make sense.

I moved into the next room and hugged the wall so I wouldn’t run into anything, making it to the first window. Heavy material hung under the curtain. Same with the second window. Slowly, as my eyes adjusted, I could see a few shapes to my left. I swept the pen light in that direction. Just then I heard a car door shut outside. I flicked the light off and stood frozen, listening. Was that voices? If they came in the front door, I could probably make it back out the kitchen door. What would I say if they caught me? Sorry, wrong house? My mind was scrambling as fast as my heart.

A car started. Drove away. I released the breath I had been holding. Okay, Darwin. Hurry. I moved toward the shapes, wishing I had brought a bigger flash light. Some kind of chest sat against the wall. I tried to open it. Locked. Next to it sat a big silver case, also locked. A tripod stood next to that. Getting frustrated, I crossed the empty room—the wood floor squeaking under my steps—and into the first bedroom. Nothing of interest, just some barbells and weights stacked to one side. The next room had a desk. I slipped in and sat down in front of the monitor. A computer, yes! Oh please be on. I wiggled the mouse and the screen lit up. My heart sank. Password required. I shuffled around in the desk, but it was empty. Someone was being very careful.

The third and final room had a blow up mattress and stacks of sheets, towels and pillows. Weird. Somewhere for people to sleep off all that alcohol, maybe?

Time to get out of there. I was really starting to feel like I was pushing my luck.

I hurried back out through the kitchen door—not realizing how cranked up the air conditioner had been in there until the steamy night air hit me—back between the houses and crossed the street. That’s when the car pulled up.

I hopped behind a palm tree jutting up from the sidewalk. The little black sports car stayed running but the headlights flicked off. Someone, a female, stepped out of the passenger side. I peered out, hoping the driver behind the tinted glass wouldn’t spot me.