The Hitwoman Hunts a Ghost (14 page)

“I just finished speaking with Candace and I’m not happy.”

“But I found Ghost.”

“Yes, but you were charged with finding him and delivering him.”

“He’s locked up in the pound. I asked about getting him out, but there’s a hold on him for four days.”

“We don’t have four days. Time is of the essence,” Ms. Whitehat said. “I thought I’d made that clear.”

Something didn’t sit right with me, so I asked, “What makes him so valuable?” There was a long silence and I wondered if the call had been dropped. Glancing at my screen, I determined that didn’t seem to be the case. “Hello?”

“You were hired to do a job, Ms. Lee, not ask questions.”

Annoyed that I was being given the run around, I asked, “Hired? Does that mean I’m being compensated?”

“You’re being compensated with the freedom of yourself and Mr. Mulligan. If that’s not enough for you and you’d like to renegotiate, you’re welcome to try,” she replied coolly.

A shiver snaked down my spine as I remembered the power she held.

“I don’t know what you want me to do. She’s locked up in the pound. Should I have attacked the animal control officer and dognapped Ghost?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you upset with me? I found the dog. I can’t legally claim the dog. There’s nothing else I can do.” I may have raised my voice a bit, but I was upset that she was threatening me.

“You can deliver the dog to me tomorrow,” Ms. Whitehat.

“How?”

“I’m sure you’ll manage.”

With that, she hung up.

I considered throwing my phone down the nearest sewer grate.

“Okay?” DeeDee barked again.

Without turning to look at the dog and lizard, I gave them a thumbs-up, squared my shoulders, and continued toward the pawn shop. Normally, going into a pawn shop and dealing with a fat, greasy, unsavory type would have made me nervous, but I had more pressing matters on my mind.

When I walked into the shop, there was no one there. At least I don’t think there was. It was kind of hard to tell because the place was chock full of assorted crap, everything from kid’s games to old Playboy magazines to counters filled with jewelry.

“Hello?” I called out.

But at that instant, a dozen cuckoo clocks started chiming so my voice was drowned out.

“I’m in hell,” I muttered, moving farther into the shop.

When the clock noises were done, I called out again. “Hello? Anybody here?”

“Just a sec,” a male voice called from the back of the shop. “Feel free to look around.”

Since I wasn’t there to shop, I walked up to one of the counters and waited, trying not to get freaked out by the multiple stuffed and mounted deer heads whose glossy black eyes seemed to stare at me. Instead, I looked down at the newspaper spread out on the counter, but it held no interest for me since it was open to the Sports section.

“What can I do you for?” a man asked as he made his way toward me from the back of the shop.

He wasn’t fat, or greasy, or unsavory... He was somehow familiar, but I couldn’t tell why.

“I—” I started to say.

“Maggie?” The man’s face broke into a wide, gap-toothed grin.

It was the smile that gave him away. “Rudy?”

Skirting around the counter, he gave me a quick, tight hug, before stepping back to get a good look at me. “How are you? You look great.”

“Thanks,” I said, suddenly feeling like a shy teenager. I’d nursed a massive crush on Rudy back in high school. “So do you.” And he did. He was in great shape, still had all his curly brown hair, and the years had been kind to him. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

“Work here. Own the place.”

“Really?” I’d always imagined him living a more interesting life.

He shrugged. “Family business. What about you? What do you do now?”

I could have told him that I was a glorified dog catcher and a paid assassin, but instead I went with, “I work at an insurance company. Boring stuff.”

“Hey, maybe you could get me a better rate. Every time I have a break-in, my premium goes up.”

“Sorry. I work in automobile claims.”

“Oh well, can’t blame a guy for trying.”

An awkward silence stretched between us.

“I saw in the paper about your sister and the car accident a while back,” he said finally. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

The mention of Theresa caught me off guard. A painful lump rose in my throat and I couldn’t speak, so I just nodded.

“Her husband was a regular customer,” Rudy revealed.

“He was?” I asked, though I wasn’t surprised. I’d never liked Dirk the Jerk. There’d always been something suspicious about him.

“But that’s ancient history,” Rudy said smoothly. “What brings you to my humble business? You need to pawn something? Need a unique gift for someone?”

I shook my head. “There was an older guy in here a couple of minutes ago.”

Rudy’s grin faded. “I’m not in the habit of discussing my customers’ business with other people. Folks who come in here are kind of looking for some anonymity if you know what I mean.”

I nodded my understanding. “The thing is, Templeton’s engaged to my Aunt Loretta and I’m worried about her... about what he might be into.”

“Oh.” Rudy moved around the counter and busied himself with folding up the newspaper.

“So I thought maybe you could tell me why he was here,” I said hopefully.

Rudy considered the request for a long moment. “He was pawning something, but honestly, I know he’ll be back for it.”

Imagining that Templeton had pawned some of Loretta’s jewelry, I frowned. “What makes you say that?”

“He’s a regular. He always comes back to collect what he’s pawned. Like clockwork the guy is.”

That confused me. “What did he pawn?”

“I’ll go get it,” Rudy said. “Look around for a minute and I’ll be back.”

Flashing me a quick grin, he disappeared into the back.

This time, I looked around the shop.  A faded box with bright pink plastic tiles caught my eye.

“No way,” I murmured, moving closer to see if it was what I thought it was.

It was. Fashion Plates.

Marlene and Darlene had owned a set of these when they were little kids. I could still remember how they’d giggle as they played with the set for hours. The memory made me smile.

I picked up the box to examine the content.

“You like that?” Rudy asked.

“My sisters had these when we were kids,” I replied. “It brings back nice memories.”

“Are you sure? That’s not too old for them to have played with?”

I nodded. “I’m sure.” I remembered distinctly since it was the year Dad had won big at a horse race or poker game or something and to “celebrate” had brought all of the kids to a garage sale where we were allowed to get anything we wanted. Theresa had gotten a baby doll, I’d gotten a Nancy Drew mystery, and the twins had gotten a box of colored pencils and the toy I held.

“It’s for sale if you want it,” Rudy offered.

“How much?

He glanced at the box. “Fifty bucks.”

I stared at him incredulously. “For a game that’s forty years old?”

“It’s got all its parts. That’s important.”

“Nothing in my life has all its parts, but I still don’t see how it’s fifty bucks.”

“That’s a great price,” he said defensively.

I put the box down.

“Really,” he insisted. “Look on eBay. Those things, in mint condition like that, can go for a hundred.”

“Then why are you selling it for fifty?”

“I call it the ‘old friends’ discount. Want it?”

I shook my head. “What I want is to know why Templeton was here.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Maggie.” He motioned for me to return to the case. Putting down a thick piece of cloth, he spilled out the contents of a black velvet bag onto it.

I expected to see a pair of Loretta’s earrings or maybe a ring, but that wasn’t what fell out of the bag. What came out was some sort of military medal.

“What is it?

“It’s an old Purple Heart,” Rudy explained. “It’s pretty valuable if you can find the right buyer for it.”

“Why does Templeton have it?”

“He said it’s been passed down through his family.”

“So why’s he pawning a family heirloom?”

“I don’t ask why,” Rudy said. “I just fill out the paperwork, take the item, and see what happens.”

I frowned at the medal. God was right. There was history here. “That’s all he pawned?”

“Yup. It’s his regular piece. He pawns it and then comes back in two or three weeks, repays me, pays my interest, and takes it back home with him.”

“And you don’t find that suspicious?”

“No more suspicious than you coming in here and trying to figure out what he’s up to.”

I shrugged. “I’m looking out for my aunt. Listen,” I said, the kernel of an idea forming, “if I give you my phone number, will you call me if he brings anything else in?”

Rudy frowned. “I’m not sure how he’d feel about that.”

“He wouldn’t have to know.” I gave him my best coaxing smile. “Please?”

“And what do I get out of the deal?”

I blinked, unsure of how to answer.

“Go for coffee with me, Maggie, and I’ll call you if or when he brings something else in.”

“I can’t,” I said a tad too quickly.

“Why not? It’s just coffee. We’ll catch up, maybe have a laugh or two. I’m not looking for a lifetime commitment, just a coffee date.”

I stared at him for a long second, thinking I had to steal a dog and kill a man and didn’t have time for a date of any kind. “I can’t because my dog is in the car.”

Rudy threw back his head and laughed. “I didn’t mean now. I’ve got no one to watch the shop. I meant maybe next week, or the week after.”

“Oh. That I could do,” I said sheepishly.

“Great. Write your number down.” He pushed a pad of paper and a pen in my direction.

I scribbled the digits.

The store’s phone started to ring.

“I’ll give you a call,” Rudy promised, running to grab the phone. “See you around!”

“See ya,” I said, casting one more longing look at the Fashion Plates before leaving the shop.

“Gotta! Gotta!” DeeDee whined the moment I opened the car door.

“Let her out,” God groaned. “Please let her out before she pushes me over the brink.”

“Brink of what?”

“Sanity!” he shouted.

“Too late,” I chuckled, opening the back door to let the mutt do her thing.

“I told you giving her potato chips was a bad idea.”

“Oh,” I countered. “Do potato chips suddenly have diuretic properties?”

Having relieved herself at the nearest fire hydrant, DeeDee returned, panting, “Hungry.”

“We’re going to Patrick’s,” I reminded her, patting her rump as she jumped back into the car.

“Why are we going there?” God whined as I slid behind the driver’s seat. “Why can’t we just go home? I’m tired and need a nap.”

“Because I have to let him know I found DeeDee.”

“The felonious feline found her,” the lizard reminded me.

Ignoring him, I continued, starting the car and driving in the direction of Patrick’s place. “And since I can’t call him, the best chance of him getting the message is if I show up on his security tape with her in tow.”

“Oh,” God said quietly.

I took my eyes off the road to look at him suspiciously. “Oh?”

“Oh.”

“You think it’s a bad plan?” Returning my gaze to the road, I squeezed the steering wheel nervously, wondering what catastrophe he foresaw that eluded me.

“Actually,” he admitted, clearing his throat, “I think it’s rather clever.”

“Was that a compliment?” I asked, astounded.

“It was merely an observation,” he assured me.

“Well thanks for the observation.”

We spent the rest of the ride in silence. Parking a block away from Patrick’s apartment, DeeDee and I left the lizard to nap on the dashboard.

While we walked, I asked the dog the million dollar question. “How did you end up at the pound?”

“Van took lady me.”

It took me a couple of paces to translate that. “The lady took you in her van?”

“Yes.”

“From the hospital parking lot?”

“Yes.”

“So you did stay like I asked you to?”

“Course of,” she huffed, sounding offended.

“Good girl.” I patted her head as we arrived at our destination. “Smile for the camera.”

The Doberman bared her teeth.

I raised my hand to knock on the door but before my knuckles made contact, it swung open.

“Hi, beautiful.” Patrick beamed.

I wasn’t sure if the greeting was meant for me or the mutt.

DeeDee bounded inside without an invitation.

Patrick grabbed my still-raised hand and tugged me inside. “I just got some bagels. Hungry?”

“Hungry! Hungry! Hungry!” DeeDee barked excitedly.

Patrick laughed. “I know you’re hungry, girl. You always are. Let me see what I’ve got for you.” He strolled toward his fridge. “Close the door behind you, Mags.”

I did as I was told and turned around just in time to see him tossing what appeared to be leftover fried chicken to DeeDee.

“How’d you find her?” Patrick asked.

Since I couldn’t tell him that Piss had been the one to discover the dog’s whereabouts, I gave him a truncated version. “I went to the pound.”

“Oh. Did you meet Tara?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Nice lady. A little desperate, but nice.”

“How do you know her?”

“I’m a cop. I know every crime scene technician, firefighter, EMT, and dog catcher in town.” While he talked, he sliced a couple of bagels and tossed them in the toaster.

“That makes sense.”

“I’m also pretty familiar with every garbage man and some of the crime scene cleaners. Butter or cream cheese?”

“Aren’t they the same thing?”

“Butter and cream cheese?”  He gave me a sideways look that indicated he thought I really was crazy.

“No. You said crime scene technicians and cleaners. Aren’t they the same?”

“Nope. Techs investigate crimes and testify in court. Cleaners do the clean-up… whether a person dies of foul play, suicide, accidents, or natural causes.”