Rescued By A Kiss (The New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles Book 1) (13 page)

“I’m sure your mother remembers.” Stan said as he looked at me sideways. “I remember. That’s unfair. Brandy, you know I can’t say no to you.”

I smiled. Just then one of the attorneys stuck his head in the break room and said, “I think they found the car, the station wagon.”

“Great!” I jumped up. “Where? Can I go get it?”

“Uh, the police found it in the Desire Housing Project. It’s been stripped and burned out.” The young attorney read off the report.

Stan pushed the chair back under me. I sunk back down into it.

“Maybe it isn’t the right car. Maybe they have it confused with another one, maybe . . .”

Stan read the sheet faxed from the NOPD and said, “It’s the right car. The police don’t make a mistake on an ID once they find a stolen car. They make a positive ID from the VIN number. This one seems like it was easier than most since it was left somewhere to be found. They rarely find them while they are still in once piece. Sort of like a shooting victim. When do the police find someone before they get shot? They don’t. They find them after. It makes their job easier. By then the car isn’t going any place and neither is the body.” Stan handed me the faxed police report.

I read it and I caught my breath. Handing the fax back to Stan I said, “Look who wrote this. Recognize the name? He’s Dante’s partner, Joe.”

“Let me see that. You’re right and this is why it was found so fast. He knew where they took it. I know this guy. He grew up down in the parish with Tulhman. I bet he knows them or is working with them trying to intimidate you and Heinkel.”

“People are lining up to kill me. My mother will be first in line. Then Dante, or his partner, Joe helping the guys who stole the car . . .” Every molecule in my body was trying to process what I learned. I felt overwhelmed. Stan took command and helped me up from the chair.

“I am not going to let anyone hurt you. I have an idea.” I followed him to his office.

“Okay. You are going to pick up Heinkel as planned. Take him somewhere public, go to lunch somewhere and sit outside. If any of these guys see you, they will contact Tulhman or those guys who took your car. I want you decked out, high heels, wear something striking. Short, tight, low cut. You get the idea. For you that should be easy.” Stan always with the compliment.

“I’m flattered, but are you crazy? We’ll be sitting ducks. I don’t have a gun, and I don’t think Heinkel will be in any condition to protect me since he is being released from the hospital with,” I paused for him to get the full effect, “
a gunshot wound.
”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be close by.”

I didn’t say it, but I’d feel better if Stan wore the Duck Man costume and brought the Quacker with him.

I
don’t know
what had me more anxious, meeting Jiff to see where this was going or bumping into Ratty and his friends.

I changed into one of the outfits I grabbed that morning when leaving home. It was a snug fitting, red V-neck sweater dress and I wore my four-inch black pumps. Stan approved. I picked up Isabella and Stan followed at a safe distance behind me. I didn’t know how I was going to push that wheelchair out to the car in these heels, so I parked Julia’s Mercedes on the emergency ramp at the back of Charity Hospital on Cleveland Street. I left it with Isabella locked inside a few steps away from the ER entrance. I didn’t think cars were stolen from the drop off ramp. It seemed like a good idea given the hostile environment of the neighborhood. Stan was parked down at street level where he could see me get out of the car. He had a good view up the ramp to see when I returned with Heinkel.

I found Jiff in his room sitting in the visitor’s chair by the window. He stood up when I entered. He was dressed in khaki slacks, a blue button down, long sleeve oxford shirt with one button open, leather tassel moccasins, and he looked ready to go. There was a folded up wheelchair against the wall. He said with a big smile, “Thanks for coming. I hope I am not keeping you from something or someone. You look too nice to be picking me up from the hospital.”

“No, of course not, I said I would meet you. I’ll bring you home or anywhere you want to go. I parked right outside and Isabella is in the car waiting for you.”

“You look stunning,” he said. I could feel my face flush at the compliment. “I would like to take you to lunch to thank you for all your help. I ‘m checked out of here and I’m all yours.”

I liked the sound of that and felt lightheaded but went on, “That’s not necessary, but we do need to talk about what is going on because of you.”

“I hope I haven’t complicated your life.”

“I wouldn’t say complicated, but some very interesting events have taken place over the last twenty-four hours I think you need to know about. First, I would like to ask you something,” I ventured.

“Anything. Ask me anything.” He sounded sincere.

I started to set up the wheelchair to give me something to do and said, “I am wondering why you picked me out of the crowd.” I felt awkward and vulnerable and knew he was watching me.

“Here let me help you with that.” He pushed a call button and an orderly appeared. “Maybe I should wheel you out,” Jiff said. “I don’t know how you plan to push a wheelchair in those shoes.”

His smile only made him more handsome. I could feel my knees getting weak and for a second I thought he might actually have to put me in the wheelchair.

The orderly wheeled him out for me. “Where are your clothes, the tux you had on when they brought you in?” I asked.

“I called my assistant and asked him to bring me a change of clothes this morning. I sent the tux back with him. I don’t think I’ll be wearing that one again unless bullet holes in tuxedos become fashionable.” He flashed his handsome smile.

Well, why didn’t you ask your assistant to come take you home? Julia might be right and he might have a lady friend.

As if reading my mind, he said, “My assistant’s name is Tom, and he takes his family to the parades on the weekends since he works late almost every night. I couldn’t ask him to give up his day with the kids.”

Was this guy for real? At the phone company where I worked, if you needed surgery they wanted you to schedule it after hours and be back the following day.

At the hospital’s ER entrance, the double doors opened automatically. Isabella spotted us and went crazy wiggling and barking for her owner. Jiff rose from the wheelchair. He thanked the orderly taking my arm to escort me to the driver’s side of my car and opened the door for me. Once I was seated, he closed the door and walked to the passenger side and got in. Isabella was in his lap giving him doggie kisses in delight.

“What a good girl you are, Isabella. I hope you haven’t given this lady any trouble,” speaking to the dog. Then to me he said, “Nice ride. I didn’t picture you as a sports car kind of girl.”

“This isn’t my car. That brings me to what it is I need to talk to you about. First, tell me why you picked me out of the crowd. Do I know you from someplace?” I started the car and headed for the Towers at the Lakefront.

“No. We, you and I, have never met. You might have heard of my family. My dad and my brothers don’t do much to stay out of the news. My family is from Plaquemines Parish and all my brothers still live there. My dad and I are the black sheep since we chose to move and live in Orleans Parish. Dad moved to New Orleans after my mother died. I live in the Towers at the Lakefront, with Isabella. Oh, but you know that by now. Yeah. How do you know that?”

“No, no, no. You first. You answer a question for me, then I will answer one for you. Why did you pick me out of the crowd to kiss? Did I look good after you and your pals had been drinking all day?” I tried to keep it light.

“That’s two questions. I didn’t have anything to drink that day. There’s a lot going on at my office and with my family so I didn’t have any alcohol. I wanted to keep my wits about me. That’s another story. Why you? One day I saw you bringing Sam that Schnauzer. Sam talks so much about Einstein that I can’t get in a word to tell him how wonderful Isabella is. He said I should get a companion for Isabella and I should call you. Sam sings your praises about the good work you do for animal rescue and he thinks we have a lot in common.”

Oh boy. Depending on how this turns out I’m either going to kiss Sam or kill him.

“I wanted to meet you so I asked Sam for your phone number. I was trying to figure out a good reason to call and ask you out. We never formally met, so I figured you would blow me off. Then I saw you at the parade and I thought I would take a chance on getting you to take a flower. I never planned on the kiss, it just sort of happened, like, like . . .” he was looking for the right word.

“Magic.” I finished for him.

“Yes. Like magic.” he said.

“I have never kissed a guy in a parade before. Flower or no flower.” I said.

“You exceeded my expectations on our first encounter. I asked you to meet me at the end of the parade to ask you out. When I got shot all I could think of was who would know to take care of Isabella. It isn’t what I had in mind when I asked you to meet me at the end of the parade.”

“Well, how did you know I would meet you at the end of the parade?” I asked.

“If you felt what I felt during that kiss, I knew you would,” he sounded sincere. “Now, it is your turn to answer my question. How did you find out where I lived or where to go find Isabella? Did Sam call you?”

“Okay,” I said, “but this is a long story. Where are we going? Am I taking you home or somewhere else?” I forgot for a moment that I was supposed to stay very visible with Jiff per Stan’s instructions. I guess he was following us. I forgot to check I was so mesmerized by Jiff.

“Take a right turn on Carrollton and go to Ye Olde College Inn. We can sit at one of the outside tables with Isabella. I know the owner, and the place is dog friendly.”

College Inn was located in a school zone, across from the Seminary, near the two uptown universities and one block from Jesuit High School. It was a local favorite with an easy atmosphere and fun clientele. The place appealed to the business lunch crowd.

I told him everything about Charity and getting his name off the police report. I left out Dante and the Duck Man part. He had not seen or known me as Duck Man and I wanted to keep it that way. I might tell him if we got to know each other better. I didn’t want to scare him off thinking I was a nutcase.

When I told him about his condo, Sam and the guys with guns, he started watching the rear view and side view mirrors and spotted Stan. “I see someone following us. Is that one of the guys you saw at my place?”

“No, he’s an attorney friend of mine. His name is Stan and I have known him since we were kids. I went to him and asked for help when those guys showed up at your place. I wasn’t sure how to get into Charity to get a message to you because I thought they would follow me. You had two guards, no, two guys in full SWAT uniforms at your door. He was afraid those guys who shot at you might be waiting for us when we left the hospital.”

“My dad hired off duty police to guard my room. Dad is a little over the top with security.” Jiff was still watching the rear view mirror trying to get a good look at Stan. “Is that guy following us your boyfriend?”

“No. He’s a good friend.” I said.

“What’s Stan’s last name? I think I know him.” he said.

“You don’t know him because he doesn’t know you.” I said.

“Fontenot. His last name is Fontenot, isn’t it? He and his firm or his dad’s firm, won that big tobacco law suit.” Jiff said.

“It’s his firm now, his father retired but still goes in a couple of hours a day. I guess he likes to stay busy. Yes, that’s his last name. Stan Fontenot.” I was feeling proud of Stan and protective of him as well. “I called Stan to help me after you were shot.” I left off the part where I already had Isabella and I needed Stan to help me sneak into the hospital past the police.

We stopped at a red light and he made a friendly wave at Stan via his side view mirror. Stan nodded back. He said, “I remember that case. The Fontenot firm won beaucoup money on that class action. Everyone should have received a good settlement. Turn on Carrollton. College Inn will be on your left. I would like to thank him for helping you and me.”

“I know where College Inn is, I live here, remember? I am not from way down in Plaquemines like you.” I took a sideways peek at him and he was smiling. So was I.

He asked me how I got into rescue. I said, “I think I inherited a love of animals from my dad. I don’t understand how people can give up their dogs after they have them. Don’t they get attached? My dad and I get attached in about three seconds. I only rescue Schnauzers people no longer want and find a good home for them. Most of rescue work is fun and I meet wonderful, loving people who adopt the dogs, like Sam. People who surrender their pets always have a lame excuse for giving them up. Usually they aren’t taking good care of their dogs so it’s in the pets’ best interest to find another home.”

“Oh, I bet there are some doozies. What’s your favorite, or rather least favorite, excuse?”