Tied With a Bow and No Place to Go (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 3) (28 page)

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In Jay Roy’s absence, the service remained calm and somber,
so Ridge slipped out and headed to the tavern. When he arrived, Jinx and Synola
stood behind the bar placing glasses on trays. Rayann and Tizzy arranged finger
foods on a serving table. Willie sat quietly in his cage at the end of the
counter. “You got the boy sequestered?” Ridge asked Jinx.

“Yep, he’s in your new office. He’ll wait there until you
come for him.”

“Come rain or shine. Come rain or shine.”
Willie
said.

“I’m glad you’re getting used to your new home,” Ridge said
to the bird.

“Home away from home! Home in San Antone! Home is where
you’re happy!”

Soon after three o’clock, the tavern contained a full house.
Jay Roy’s family, including his mother, made their way to the back of the bar.
When they passed Willie, the bird called out.

“Hello, Mrs. Hobbs. Hello, Mrs. Hobbs.”

The elderly woman looked toward the bird, smiled and waved.
Mr. Hobbs rolled his wife’s wheelchair close to the cage and parked her there.

“Help, help! I need to pee!”
Willie said.

At the sound of the bird’s request, Ridge reminded himself
Willie previously lived at the nursing home where Mrs. Hobbs resided. Smart
bird.

Mr. Hobbs stepped to the bar and spoke to Jinx. “I don’t
want any of those sissy drinks you’re serving. Give me something stronger. A
boilermaker. Whatever beer you have on tap, with a shot of Jack.”

“Beer for my horses! Bubbles in my beer!”

“Yes sir, Mr. Hobbs. It’s on the house,” Jinx said and
placed a mug in front of him and dropped in the shot.

Ridge focused on the crowd. Kassie, wife number one, moved
to Mrs. Hobbs and hugged her. The woman stared into Kassie’s face with no hint
of recognition. After a few whispered words, Kassie reclaimed her seat near the
entrance.

Ridge refocused his attention back to Doyle and Lounell.
They were laughing and talking until he caught Ridge’s eye. The lawyer’s smile
faded. He tightened his lips, held his gaze for a moment, then gave his
attention back to his wife. Ridge tipped his hat and fought the urge to ask
about his recent accommodations.

Out of the corner of Ridge’s vision, Molly walked toward
Mrs. Hobbs and squatted to look the old woman in the face. She spoke in a
hushed whisper, so Ridge couldn’t hear what she said.

“Hello, Molly! One time too many. Second Fiddle!”

Molly stood, face reddened, and rattled the bird’s cage.
“Shut up, you prattling Polly!”

Ridge’s phone chimed. He accepted the text from Rita and
read it. Really? He read it again. That woman had never been on his radar—but
she rented a silver Nissan Altima. Excellent. Now, if Pruett recognizes her
voice—case closed. Ridge made his way to the office to bring the boy up to
speed. Fifteen minutes later, satisfied he had him prepped, Ridge rejoined the
crowd.

Deborah, wife number three, leaned over Mrs. Hobbs and
caressed the woman’s shoulders. Molly was back in her seat. Doyle and Lounell
continued to chat with Doyle’s secretary, Ginger Beth. Ridge pulled out his
cell and texted Pruett to make an appearance.

Within a minute, the boy came in from the back of the bar.
At first, there was no reaction, but when Deborah saw him, her eyes went wide
and she jerked to her feet. She rotated one way and then the other, as if
trying to decide her next move. She whirled around, grabbed the door to the
bird’s cage and opened it. Willie flew out and began to circle and screech,
“Fly
me to the moon. If I could only fly!”

Deborah ran toward the door. The parrot swooped at her,
still squawking. Ridge sprinted in pursuit. She grabbed a chair and threw it
behind her to block the way, opened the door and ran into the street.

Ridge called over his shoulder to Jinx, “Don’t let anyone
leave.” He kicked the chair away and raced after her, trailed by Tizzy, Rayann
and Synola.

Up ahead, Deborah hiked up her black funeral dress, tucked
it into the top of her panty hose, and ran faster.

Hoping to stop her, he called out. “You don’t have anywhere
to go, Deborah! I know you hired the Pruett boy to make the delivery!” His
warning didn’t slow her down.
I’ve got to start wearing athletic shoes.
Cowboy boots are not conducive for chases.

She took a side street, stepped into a hole and broke the
heel from one of her shoes. Without reducing her speed, she kicked out of the
pair, and headed toward the back parking lot at Sweet Thangs.

Hell, I’m fifteen years younger, have a longer stride and
the bitch can still out run me.
He stopped and drew his weapon, released
the safety, and fired into the air. “Stop! Or the next bullet goes into you!”

Deborah halted in her tracks, put her hands in the air, and
started to cry.

Just as he put cuffs on Deborah and recited her rights,
Tizzy, Rayann, and Synola caught up, out of breath. “Why are y’all here?” he
asked.

“I thought you might need help,” Tizzy said.

Holding her phone up, Synola said, “I didn’t want to miss
the excitement. I think I got some good footage.”

“I go where they go,” Rayann said.

“Mm-mm. Sure. Hold on.” Ridge called Jinx. “Hey man,
everybody still in the bar? Good. Keep them there. I’ll bring Deborah in the
back way.”

Once settled in Ridge’s office, Deborah wailed, “I didn’t
kill him!”

Ridge leaned against the wall and wished for furniture. “I
don’t believe you. I think you were willing to do anything to stop him from
marrying Molly again.”

Deborah cried harder.

“Bawling won’t help. But I’ll tell you what will. You tell
me the truth and I’ll go easier on you.”

“It was Molly!” Deborah said. “I didn’t know she planned to
kill him!”

“Start at the beginning,” Ridge said.

Deborah leaned against the wall for support. “It was Molly.
All Molly. It started when Jay Roy kept whispering Paula Kay’s name when he was
with Molly. She thought he was seeing Paula, so she followed him. That’s how
she discovered he was seeing me and Kassie—and Lounell. Molly came to me and
Kassie and said Jay Roy didn’t care about any of us and how he’d never loved
us.” Deborah sniffed and wiped her nose on the sleeve of her dress. “And we
should teach him a lesson.”

“Go on,” Ridge said.

“She told us since Paula was the one he’d always wanted, we
should convince him she was coming to meet him and then we’d show up to
confront him. Kassie bought the liquor and delivered it to Molly. Molly gave it
to me and I arranged for the day worker to get it delivered. We didn’t have any
idea Molly poisoned it. She said the plan was to make a fool of Jay Roy.”
Deborah took a deep breath. “But Molly never called. Kassie and I thought she’d
changed her mind. Then we found out he’d died. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!”

“Have any idea where Kassie bought the liquor?”

“No.”

“Where Molly got the drugs she used to kill him?”

“No.”

“How’d you convince Jay Roy Paula was willing to meet him?”

“Molly called him and pretended to be Paula. She used a
pre-paid phone, so when he called, she’d know it was him.”

The hair on the back of Ridge’s neck began to prickle. He
texted Bubba and minutes later, the deputy arrived and transported Deborah to
the station. Next, he texted Jinx to send Kassie for questioning. While he
waited, he grabbed folding chairs from the work area and moved them into his
office. When Kassie arrived, he motioned for her to take a seat.

“Okay. I’ve heard Deborah’s version of how you murdered Jay
Roy, so now let me hear yours.”

“I didn’t murder him! If she said I did, she’s lying. All I
did was buy a bottle of whiskey. She’s the one who had it delivered.”

“Tell me the whole story. Where you bought the liquor, how
you got it to Deborah, who came up with the plan—every detail.”

Kassie closed her eyes and folded her hands in her lap. She
swallowed hard and looked at Ridge. “Molly came up with this plan to make Jay
Roy pay for his sins. At least that’s what she called it.”

Ridge listened and it matched Deborah’s version. Once Bubba
returned and ushered Kassie to the station, Ridge sent for Molly.

When the door opened, Doyle led Molly in and she sat in the
seat Kassie occupied minutes before. “Well, here we are again,” Doyle said.
“I’m representing Ms. Hix and she won’t be answering any questions.”

Molly relaxed against the back, opened her purse, and
retrieved a tube of lipstick and compact mirror. Then she ran the frosted stick
over her lips, rubbing them together to spread the color. She replaced the
cover on the tube, snapped the mirror shut, and smiled at Ridge. “Well, I told
you from the beginning those two did it.”

Doyle wagged his head. “Not a word, Molly.”

Ridge ignored him and spoke to Molly. “Interesting. That’s
exactly what they said about you.”

Molly laughed. “Don’t be silly. Why would I kill Jay Roy? We
were going to be married.”

“Molly, I’m warning you,” Doyle said. “Don’t answer any of
his questions.”

“Hush, Doyle,” Molly said.

“According to Kassie and Deborah, you planned the whole
thing.” Ridge said. “So you may want to tell me your side.”

“Since I didn’t have anything to do with his death, how can
I possibly have a side? As for them blaming me, it’s well established those two
hate me. If you recall the scene at the bakery and then there’s that whole
tawdry incident at the funeral home shown on the news.”

Ridge moved closer and stared down at her. “Molly, within
the hour, I’ll have investigators going over every inch of your residence. Tech
guys will scrutinize your computer, phone records, credit cards, bank accounts,
and every other part of your life. Before I’m done with you, I’ll know
everything from the color of your hair dye to when you take a crap. So
regardless of what your attorney tells you, it will be in your best interest to
cooperate.”

Molly crossed her legs and smoothed the skirt of her dress.
“Knock yourself out. I have nothing to hide. As a matter of fact, I’ll wager
that you don’t find a single thing to connect me to Jay Roy’s murder. I’m a
victim falsely accused by two hateful women who were carrying on with my future
husband and were willing to do whatever to stop him from marrying me.”

Doyle grasped Molly’s elbow and brought her to her feet. He
glared at Ridge. “If my client isn’t being charged, this interview is over.”

An hour later, Ridge sat on the back porch with Tizzy and
watched the sun set.

“So Molly was the mastermind behind the whole thing?” Tizzy
asked.

“According to Deborah and Kassie she was. But Molly’s smart.
She got Kassie and Deborah to do the dirty work. Other than their word, nothing
ties Molly to the crime. Kassie bought the liquor. Deborah arranged to have it
delivered. There’s going to be a lot to sort out. We’ll have to find a
connection between Molly and the poison or the phone number. If we don’t,
she’ll go free.”

“Even with Deborah and Kassie’s testimony against her?”

“Unfortunately, Molly’s right. It’s their word against hers
and the TV coverage of the incident at the funeral home documents her claim of
how much they hate each other.”

“Do you believe Deborah and Kassie?”

“I do. But without a single piece of hard evidence against
Molly, I’m not sure their word will be enough.”

“Well, you won’t stop until you find something to link her
to the murder.” Tizzy pulled a small wrapped package from behind her. “I’m so
certain, I bought you a congratulatory gift.” She pushed the present toward
him.

He eyed her and tore the package open, lifted the lid and
removed a roll of blue satin ribbon. “Jesus. You’ve got to be kidding me.”

~*~THE END~*~

Chocolate Whoppers

Ingredients

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons

¼ cup sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking powder

2 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped

1 cup walnut halves, broken into large pieces

Directions

Move oven rack to middle of oven.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Microwave both chocolates and butter in a medium microwave
safe bowl on high for one minute, then stir. Repeat at 30 second intervals until
melted and smooth.

In another medium bowl, with mixer on high, beat the eggs,
sugar, espresso powder, vanilla, salt and baking powder until lighter in color
and bubbly.

Reduce speed to low and beat in chocolate mixture until
blended.

Add remaining ingredients and beat at low speed until
incorporated.

Use a 1/3-cup measure, scoop a cup full of dough and drop 5
mounds onto each baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.

Bake 13-15 minutes.

When done, tops will be slightly cracked and shiney.

Slide the parchment with cookies onto wire racks to cool
completely.

Makes 15 large cookies.

***Don’t let the lack of flour in this recipe scare you from
trying these cookies. They are delicious.

Green—Calmness, wealth, and generosity

Red—Passion, energy, fire, love, sex

Yellow—Imagination, joy, happiness

Orange—Energy, stimulates activity