Tied With a Bow and No Place to Go (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 3) (4 page)

Ridge waited for her answer, but instead of speaking, his
wife reached for the flute of champagne on the nightstand, brought it to her
lips and sipped. She appeared downright regal, leaning against the massive
burled oak headboard. Because remembering the past was so important to her,
she’d decorated the house with period furniture. Her soft and feminine side
showed through her choices of lace curtains and floral wallpaper, while the
leopard printed sheets proved he never knew what to expect from her. Especially
in the bedroom. The woman drove him crazy—in a good way. “Did you hear me?”

Tizzy licked her lips. “Answer my question first. Who is
she?”

“She’s nobody. The dispatcher in Gun Barrel. I’ll ask again.
How do you know her?”

“She called me.”

He straightened and thinned his lips into a tight line.
“What do you mean—called you?”

“Just what I said. She called. Wanted to speak to you. When
I suggested leaving a message, she told me to say Vienna called.”

“When—what time?”

“Ten o’clock last night.”

His chest tightened and heat rose in his cheeks. He hoped
Tizzy didn’t take it for embarrassment, because he was mad as hell. Vienna knew
he didn’t leave Gun Barrel PD until nine-thirty and there was no way he could
have been home. He studied Tizzy’s expression, soft and relaxed. Her hair
falling in tangled strands. His anger cooled. “I kind of like that you’re
jealous.”

She laughed. “Me? Jealous? Of a woman named after a potted
meat stick? I don’t think so. But understand how this works. When a woman calls
a man’s wife and asks to speak to him, but doesn’t say what the call’s about,
she’s sending a message. You say she’s nobody. That call tells me she wants to
be somebody and she’s the type who will do whatever it takes to achieve that.”

He pulled Tizzy into his arms and whispered in her ear. “I
do understand, but you have no reason to worry.”

She leaned away from him. “My grandma Perry always said a
man can be sorry, but there ain’t nothing as sorry as a sorry woman. Vienna
wants you, so be careful.”

He lifted her chin and stared into his wife’s eyes. “Don’t
waste your worry, Darlin’. Not on her—wait a minute. Just now, was that anger
sex?”

“Ohhh, no. I’m not angry.”

“So it was wild sex? Because it felt wild and you sure as
hell sounded wild.”

Her mouth twisted into a grin. “I’ve barely seen you in the
last two weeks. I’d say desperation sex.”

Aroused again, he shoved the shirt off her shoulders and
pulled her against him. “I’m feeling’ kind of desperate myself.”

Later, Tizzy shuddered one last time then rolled off him and
rested her head on his chest. “Well, I’ve sure had an interesting day filled
with sausage, both big, little…”

He yanked a lock of her hair. “Watch it.”

“You didn’t let me finish. I was going to say, both big,
little, and now perfection. Stay here. In bed. Naked with me. You can start the
case tomorrow. He’ll still be dead.”

“Oh, Darlin’, I wish I could, but I need to visit the crime
scene and talk to the CSI. It’s supposed to rain tonight, and I want to make
sure everything’s processed. Dan said you were there when he arrived. Bubba
gave me a few details, but you got anything to add?”

“Best I could tell through the binoculars, there wasn’t any
blood and Jay Roy looked mighty happy, so he must not have struggled. Given his
state of undress, if it is murder, could be the killer is female.”

“Since you didn’t get close, I don’t suppose you had any
conversation with him?”

“No. Sorry.”

“Well, if it does prove to be a crime, I have a list of
possible suspects.” Ridge stroked her back with his fingertips. He tensed and
said the one sentence he’d been dreading. “Pattiecake is on the list.”

Tizzy sat up and glared at him. “Why question Momma. She
wouldn’t kill anybody.”

“I know that, but it’s procedure.”

Her eyes went cold and he braced for the emotion responsible
for her nickname, but instead, she kept her voice soft and steady. She pulled
knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “I don’t appreciate you
calling her a suspect.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Yes, you did. You said you have a list and Mom is on it.”

“Let’s not argue. At this point, we don’t know if it’s a
murder for sure. If it turns out to be, I’ll ask her a few questions. She’ll
provide an alibi. That’ll be the end of it.”

“So now she needs an alibi?”

He reached for her, but she leaned away. “Damn it, Tizzy.
Let’s not do this.”

“Do what?”

“Get into a fight over nothing. It’s my job to question
everyone listed and I will, including your mother. I have no choice, and you
know that.” He reached for her again and this time forced her into his arms.
“God, I love you so much. I’m glad the Gun Barrel investigation is over and I’m
home again. Let’s please not fuss. Okay?”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. Are you sure you don’t want to
stay?”

“Try to convince me.”

As Ridge got dressed, he thought about Vienna. What a bitch.
Tizzy was right. The woman wanted him. She’d made that clear. On the prowl to
find Mr. Right Now, he’d tried to make her understand he wasn’t interested, but
apparently she didn’t get the message. He buttoned his pants and Tizzy wrapped
her arms around him from behind, pressing her bare breasts to his back. “Get
away from me, you horny woman. Three times is my limit.”

“Oh c’mon. Let’s go for four.” She kissed his neck, moved to
his earlobe and sucked it into her mouth.

He groaned. “Dammit. Stop. You’re killing me. I promise I’ll
come home early.”

“You swear?” She reached for her shirt.

“Scout’s honor. You plan to cook for me?”

“Why? Is that part of the deal? No home cooked meal, no
whoopie?”

“No, but I’ve been missing your cooking. I’ve been missing
everything.” He kissed her again.

She drew a ragged breath. “You keep kissing me like that,
and I may handcuff you to the bed.”

He sat, pulled his boots on, then gathered his gun, hat, and
badge.

Tizzy threaded her arms through her shirt sleeves. “Do you
have a request for supper or do you want to be surprised?”

“Surprise me. So far you’ve done an excellent job of that
today. By the way, is that my shirt?”

“Yes.”

He smiled. “It looks good on you—and off.”

“Oh, I did notice something this morning.”

“Like what?”

“I’m sure you know about the picnic basket. Right?”

“Bubba mentioned it.”

“None of the grass was mashed like when it’s wet with dew
how it flattens when you walk on it?”

“Yeah?”

“It didn’t appear anyone had been near the body.”

“So what are you saying? That he committed suicide or died
of natural causes?” Ridge had told her many times how she’d make a terrific
cop. Paying attention to detail was a skill she’d learned from three
generations of lawmen in her family. Although he didn’t want Tizzy getting
involved with his cases, he did find it helpful to use her as a sounding board,
with reliable results.

“It’s strange. Because of the two glasses and liquor, he
either met or planned to meet someone.”

“What about the bow?”

“You mean the significance, or who tied it?”

“Both.”

“The way I see it, there are three choices, either Jay Roy,
his date, or the killer.” She shimmed into panties. “That is, if it turns out
to be murder. But if the killer and the date are the same person, then you’ve
narrowed to two choices. As for what it means, no clue. Unless...” Her voice
trailed off and she stared into space.

“Unless what?”

She stood in the middle of the room, with one hand on her
hip. “Maybe Jay Roy considered his penis a gift. A big gift. A really big gift.
A really, really, big gift.” Her eyes went wider with each ‘big.’

Ridge shook his head. “I get the picture.”

“I’m just saying. It was scary big. The biggest one I’ve
ever seen.”

“God, I’m sorry I brought up the subject.”

She strolled over to him and ran her hands around his neck.
“Well I’m no expert when it comes to that particular appendage, but yours gets
me where I need to go every time. If you know what I mean.”

“You started out on shaky ground, but made a good save. I
think mine grew an inch just from your compliment.” He whispered a laugh.

“You’re sexy and funny.” Her eyes drifted south.

“What are you doing?”

“Just checking to see if it’s still growing.”

He flopped her back on the bed. “God, you are such a tease.”

She pulled him into a kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, babe.” He straightened and pulled her up
with him.

“Okay, back to the case. My theory answers both questions.”
She cocked her head to one side. “Why are you smiling?”

“I’m thinking how great it would be if he tied the bow and
died of heart failure. Case closed.”

“That still leaves a problem.”

“What?”

“If that’s true, why didn’t the person meeting him there
report it?”

On the way to the crime scene, Ridge worked his tongue
between two teeth trying to dislodge a strawberry seed, and dug in his glove
box in hopes of finding a toothpick. No luck on that front and the damn thing
was driving him crazy. Eyes on the road, he scavenged the console for a piece
of gum. After a few minutes, he gave up, angled his car to the side of the
asphalt and stopped.

Veteran Crime Scene Investigator, Ted Mitchell, tall and
lean, his thinning brown hair glinting in the morning sun, lumbered across the
field carrying his bag.

Ridge met him halfway. “Hey Ted, how’s it going?”

Ted, stone faced, removed his glasses and stuck them in his
shirt pocket and shook Ridge’s hand. “Fair to middlin’. How ‘bout you?”

“The same. Got anything for me?”

They walked to the car and Ted set his bag on the ground.
“Not much at this point. The body has gone to the coroner’s office. Time of
death happened between nine and midnight. No ruling on cause of death yet. From
the field examination, I didn’t find any blood, wounds, bruising, or injection
marks. I’ll know more once I’m done with the complete exam in the lab and test
the quilt, bow, boots, strawberries and whiskey.”

Ridge cocked his head. “Strawberries and whiskey? Odd
combination.” He found the strawberry seed again with his tongue and thought
back to his earlier rendezvous with Tizzy. “I think women prefer champagne with
strawberries, so maybe he wasn’t meeting a female.”

“Well, there wasn’t much whiskey left in the bottle, so
perhaps the fruit was for a woman and the liquor for him. However, there were
two glasses, both unused. He must have drunk straight from the bottle. The box
of chocolate-covered strawberries came from your momma-in-law’s bakery. I also
found a cell phone.”

Ridge slapped the back of his neck with his hand. “Damn. The
mosquitos are bad out here. How’d you gather evidence without being eaten
alive?”

Ted knelt, opened his bag and pulled out a can of insect
repellent and handed it to Ridge. “I’ve been in this business long enough to
come prepared for everything.”

Shaking the can, Ridge sprayed his clothes, then another few
squirts on the back of his neck. “Well, the bakery box gives me a starting
point. If Jay Roy made the purchase, it’s possible he mentioned the name of his
date.”

Ted replaced the can into his satchel. “Yeah, and if I’m
lucky, I’ll get DNA from some of the items. The tech department will check out
the phone and get that report to you ASAP. I’ve sent a couple of guys to the
Vic’s house and I’m headed there now. You wanna go?”

“Sure, I’ll be right behind you.”

Within minutes, Ridge parked next to Ted’s car, then took
the opportunity to text Tizzy. He couldn’t get her off his mind. The things
she’d done to him earlier caused his skin to warm. He pushed the thoughts away
and joined Ted. An older man came from the porch to meet them in the yard.
“Morning, I’m Merlin Hobbs, Jay Roy’s dad.”

Ridge stepped forward and offered his hand. “I’m sorry for
your loss, sir.”

Merlin shook it and looked at him with red, puffy eyes.
“Thank you.”

After introductions, Ted excused himself and went inside,
while Ridge gave Merlin his full attention. “Let’s talk on the porch.” As they
walked, Ridge removed a small notebook from his shirt pocket. He should be
using his iPad to make notes, but he still found it easier to make hard copies
and transfer them later. He liked being old school.

Merlin sat in a ladder-back rocker and pointed to its twin.
Ridge sat. “First, let’s start with Jay Roy’s health. Did he have any issues
with his heart?” Ridge watched the old man’s face wrinkle. This was the part
Ridge hated most—intruding on the saddest time of someone’s life.

“No.”

“Any kind of medical problems? Like high blood pressure?”

“No.”

“Was your son having trouble with anyone? Personal or in
business?”

Merlin ran a hand across his face. “Dan told me this
morning, because of the way Jay Roy was found, you’d have to treat it as foul
play.” The man’s voice trembled as he said the words. He glanced away for a
moment, then back at Ridge. “Do you believe it was?”

Ridge leaned forward and softened his tone. “Right now, it’s
too early to speculate. We’re not convinced it’s murder, but Dan’s right.
Because your son died outside of a hospital or hospice, Texas law says we have
to treat it as such, until the autopsy proves otherwise. Did he have any
financial problems? Any co-worker who might have been unhappy with him?”

Merlin slumped forward and rested his hands on his knees.
“It was just me and him running the chicken houses and we have a kid from the
high school work program. He comes three afternoons a week to help.”