Crazy in Paradise (14 page)

“Keys!” He stopped short of yelling. “Why do you want them? I’m responsible for the keys, and I’m not comfortable with anyone else having a set. I’d insist on Tucker’s written authorization to protect myself.”

“Fine. Check with Tucker. I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Today, I want a key for Ten.”

He stomped into his unit and slammed the door. I wasn’t leaving without the key. I waited and waited. Two more minutes and I was pounding on the door.

Finally he opened the door and handed me the key. “I’ll need the relative’s name.”

Oh no, I’d forgotten to ask Spoon. “I’ll give it to you when he gets here.” As I walked back to my SUV, Miss January was sitting on her porch, snoozing with Kitty in her lap. She was sleeping anyway. I refused to think about that cat.

I called Spoon. “What’ve you got for me, Miss Madison?”

“The key to Cottage Ten for your friend. I’ll drop it off.”

“I’m in Miami for a meeting and I won’t be returning until late tonight.”

“I’m going to stop by Tucker’s office, and afterwards I’ll drive to the body shop and put them in the mailbox.”

“Girl, you need a better attorney,” he shook his head.

“So, I’ve been hearing.”

“Watch yourself,” he said still laughing when he hung up.

Chapter 18

When I arrived at Tucker’s office, I was surprised Ann wasn’t standing by the door. She must have left for the day, but I could hear Tucker’s voice from down the hall. I took a seat in the waiting room. I scanned the back parking lot, and realized Tucker and I were the only ones here.

I could hear Tucker speaking to someone, but I didn’t hear anyone respond. I was about to knock on his closed office door, to let him know I was here and would be waiting in the reception area, when he yelled, “You better listen up! If you want to get the most out of your divorce, you’ll do exactly as I say. Make a list of all the items in the house you want, and where they’re located. Take your wife out to dinner. I’ll have my man parked outside, and as soon as you leave, he’ll go in and retrieve everything. When you get home, call the police, report the break-in, and make sure you get a report number.”

My legs buckled as I leaned against the wall. Tucker was planning a crime. I wish I hadn’t heard anything, and I didn’t want him finding out I was here.

“Who’s the lawyer here? Do you think this is my first divorce?” he yelled. “You worry too much. No one will connect you to anything, especially if you keep your mouth shut, and do as you are told.” His voice had gone ice cold.

“Calm down. Don’t overreact. Forget murdering your wife. Why do that when you’re going to get everything you want from the divorce? Besides, it’s much more satisfying to screw her over and leave her with nothing,” he laughed.

His laugh chilled me. I needed to get out of here. What if he found me listening?

“Looks like my original plan for acquiring the property we need isn’t going to work. We have to discuss other options, figure out another strategy. I could easily kill the bitch myself. She’d already be dead if it would get us what we want, but I need her alive. I’m thinking of a two-pronged attack. First, we terrify the hell out of her, and at the same time throw some complicated legal issues her way.”

He was suddenly silent. Whomever he was talking to was finally getting a chance to get a word in.

“In the end, I hope she gives us what we want, and at a bargain price. If she’s lucky, I’ll just run her ass out of town. Every time I see her, she’s a bigger pain than the time before. After we’re done with her, there are a couple of other people that’ll need persuading, but they’ll be the easy part.”

That was the last of his conversation I heard before slipping quietly out of his house/office. Safe in the car, I took a deep breath, my hands shaking, and forced myself to drive calmly away.

Chapter 19

I’d ignored my mother’s calls for two days, and it was time to forgive her. She’d spent the morning psycho-dialing me, and I was tired of hearing the phone ring.

“Hello,
Madeline
.”

“Don’t call me that. On the other hand, at least you’re finally speaking to me.”

“Don’t ever, ever fix me up again.”

“He’s young, good-looking, successful what’s not to like? Besides, when we started talking about you, he insisted on meeting you.”

“Good grief mother, he’s creepy. Thank God he’s never called back.”

“That surprises me.”

“I’m pretty sure Zach had something to do with it.”

“Zach?” Her radar kicked into high gear.

“Yes, Zach. He didn’t think much of your choice of a blind date. In fact he warned me about Connor’s bad temper.”

“I thought you two would make a good couple,” she insisted.

“Mother, he’s a control freak with a temper.” I was exasperated. Did she think I’d change my mind? “By the way, he said he’d talked you into quitting smoking. You’re on the patch.”

“Well…”

“Well, what? You’re smoking now. I can hear the sucking noises.”

“Honey, I did listen when he talked about quitting. Why does it matter that I smoke? You don’t smoke, so I didn’t see a problem.”

I laughed. “Mother, you’re hilarious.”

“What can I say? I like a good cigar. How did the date end?”

“I left him at the restaurant, he went wherever and I came home. End of story. So far, no calls and if it doesn’t stay that way you’re going to be the one to tell him to take a hike.”

“I’ll do better next time.”

“Two minutes ago you promised no more fix-ups,” I reminded her. “I can find my own dates. You do that to me again and I’ll walk out, and it’ll be a long time before I speak to you.”

“What do you know about Zach?”

“I know I like him, and I enjoy his company.”

“We should invite him to dinner.”

I rolled my eyes. “Mother, maybe, we could wait to see if we become a couple. This discussion of my love life is over.”

“Honey, I need a favor. Can you come pick me up and take me to Mr. Spoon’s? My car is ready. I’m not exactly sure where he’s located.”

“You had car trouble? How did your car get to Spoon’s?”

“If you’d pick up your phone and talk to me once in a while I could tell you what’s going on. I got in the car the other morning, turned the key and nothing.”

“Okay, mother. I feel bad now. What happened with Spoon?”

“I called him and when he found out I was your mother, he went out of his way to be helpful. He sent out a flat bed to pick up my car.”

“That’s some service. I’ll be over in an hour to pick you up.” Wait until mother meets Jimmy Spoon.

* * *

The traffic in South Miami is killer. Whichever way you’re driving, all of the cars are going in the same direction. I was happy to be on the freeway headed out of town, to the Overseas Highway and back toward the Keys. This time of the year, the landscape is lush and vibrant green from the summer rains.

Mother turned to me. “Has he done work on your Tahoe?”

“He comes highly recommended,” I said, explaining how I met him. I omitted all references to Zach.

“He asked me to put in a good word with you. He obviously likes you.”

Just great
. I wonder what else those two discussed.

I drove through Tarpon Cove and took the last street off the main highway, then a short drive down to the docks.

“Where are we going?” Mother asked.

“Spoon’s place is back on the water.”

The area was a mixture of old abandoned buildings and warehouses. No new construction down here. Everything standing had survived the ravages of hurricanes, Mother Nature at her fiercest.

“It would’ve taken me awhile to find his place. Really, Madison, this is a terrible area.”

“It’s not so bad. Besides, Spoon is the law back in here. Nothing’s going to happen to us.”

Spoon’s business was located on an inlet of water off the Atlantic Ocean, in the heart of the fishing district. The boats unloaded their catch and sold to nearby seafood houses. Businesses along here were primarily family-owned, passed down generation to generation. What they all had in common was electric gates and fencing. From the street, it would be anyone’s guess as to what went on behind the gates. In this tough area, people minded their own business, and expected others to do the same. Not doing so wasn’t worth the trouble.

“Don’t worry so much,” I patted my mother’s arm. “We’ll be fine. Besides, we both know finding a good mechanic can be as hard as finding a hairdresser. He has a superstar reputation.”

I parked in front of a plain, two-story brick building, where I rang the bell.

“I don’t think the bell works,” Mother said, sounding doubtful.

“He knows we’re here. Trust me.”

“Hello, girls,” Spoon said as he opened the door.

“Spoon, this is my mother, Madeline Westin.”

“Nice to meet you, Madison’s mother.” He leaned in and kissed my mother’s cheek. “Your daughter broke my heart.”

My mother looked at me. “When did that happen?”

“Enough, you two. We’re here to pick up her car.”

“My guys are finishing up the detailing. Give them five minutes. Can I get you a drink?” He led us into a reception room with comfortable leather furniture and a small kitchen. Not your typical body shop waiting area.

“I’ll have Jack, rocks?”

“Mother, really?” I shook my head.

“Jack it is,” Spoon winked at my mother. “I have a fully stocked bar. What about you Madison?”

“I’m fine.”

“Cigar?” My mother held out her silver case.

“You’re my kind of woman, Madeline Westin,” Spoon flirted. And, she was enjoying herself, giggling. I poked her in the side.

Spoon’s phone rang. “I need to take this call. I’ll be right back.” He walked out into the work area.

“What are you doing? You’re flirting with Spoon?”

“I like a man who smokes and drinks.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re too much. Please try and behave yourself.” I had to admit it bothered me to watch my mother flirting, and with Spoon, of all people. I needed to chill; it was harmless.

“How did you break Mr. Spoon’s heart?”

She never forgot anything. “I didn’t break his heart. He’s being dramatic.”

“Okay ladies, your car is ready,” Spoon said when he walked back in. “Any problems, call me, I’ll fix you up.”

“Thank you, Spoon. I appreciate your looking after my mother.”

“Anytime, Madison,” he said.

Mother and I returned to our cars. “Do you like him?” she asked.

“Yes, I do. Now stop, there’s nothing going on. How about I take you to dinner?”

“I can’t. Poker night’s at my house tonight. I need to pick up the food before the deli closes. Why don’t you come over?”

“Next time.” If these women were anything like the last bunch, they’d be ruthless. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Mother flew out of the driveway and down the street. She drove like a crazy woman.

I sat in front of Spoon’s trying to decide what I should pick up for dinner. My only other choice was to go home and cook. Who was I kidding? Cooking for me these days consisted of me buying something that I could easily heat in the microwave.

A black Escalade with dark tinted windows and a big antenna on top blew by. Had to be Zach; no one else in town had an SUV like his. What was he doing down here? I hesitated, then rolled out of the driveway and followed him.

In the distance, he slowed, made a right turn, and I followed. Before the electric gates closed, I caught a glimpse of the Thunderbird.

What the heck was this place? From the exterior it appeared to be a pair of run-down warehouse buildings. I looked for a sign, but I already knew the businesses down here weren’t much for advertising. I made a U-turn in time to spy Zach walking up the stairs. He opened the door at the top and disappeared inside. The security gates were the only way in, with no buzzer, no intercom. On each corner of the top of the buildings were security cameras.

I wanted to make another U-turn, but I didn’t want to get caught on one of the cameras, so I drove home. His offices? Who was this guy? It wasn’t fair he knew a lot about me, and felt free to walk in and out of my house at all hours. Where did he live? I have a pretend boyfriend who has no time for a pretend girlfriend, let alone a real one. One evening out, one sexual romp – what was that, anyway? One thing for sure, it had begun to feel like a one night stand.

In my driveway, I remembered I had forgotten all about dinner. Thank goodness for frozen waffles.

Chapter 20

I floated around in the warm water on a Styrofoam noodle. Nothing is more satisfying than a swim on a warm summer night.

“Watching you float naked is better than watching you bent over a fan.”

I looked up to see Zach smiling down at me. “I need to stop thinking I live here by myself and can swim naked.” I slid off the noodle and into the water. “You come in and out so much you don’t even scare me anymore.”

“When did I scare you?” he looked amused.

“Turn around, so I can get out.”

“I’ve seen you naked.”

“This is different. Toss me my towel.”

“No, I’ll hold it for you. Maybe I’ll even close my eyes.”

He held the towel out and, as I stepped out of the pool, he wrapped it around me. All the while, he had a grin on his face.

It took a lot of courage to come out of the pool like some kind of sea nymph. I hadn’t reached that level of comfort with him. “What’s up?” I tried to sound casual.

Zach straddled the lounger and pulled me down in front of him. “I came to tell you the case is finished.”

“And Dario?”

“Dario stepped so far over the line this time I almost couldn’t save him. Then I had to lie for him. When I told him that I was finished coming to his rescue, he laughed in my face. I wanted to beat the hell out of him,” Zach’s voice was filled with anger, his eyes turning black.

“One of my biggest accounts is security operations for a state-wide chain of home improvement stores. They brought me in to put a stop to the staggering amount of missing inventory.”