For Old Crime's Sake (Chase Charley Mystery Book 1) Read online

  What did I have to lose by offering a refund? It wasn’t like it was my tour.

  “Yes, we would like a refund,” she said.

  “No problem,” I said over my shoulder as I walked away.

  I’d barely gotten away from the courtyard when I spotted Doug and Russ coming toward me. I had to get out of there before they caught up with me. The guests would probably point me out. After all, they weren’t very happy with the way the tour had turned out. I raced away from the guests.

  “Where is she going?” one of the tourists asked.

  I made my way through the gates. The sun was setting and it would be dark soon. I had to get back to the house.

  After the long trek I finally spotted my car. It had never looked so good. Just a little bit more and I would be safe within its confines. I had just a few more steps and I would be home free.

  I’d just reached my car when I saw the men. I fumbled with the keys and finally pushed the button for the car to unlock. The car beeped and I wished I could have shut it up. The last thing I needed to do was draw more attention. When I glanced back, the men were running toward me. It was time for me to get out of there.

  I jumped in the car and cranked the engine. They’d made it to the back of my car when I pulled away and out onto the road.

  It took the whole ride home before I finally calmed down a little. Of course I was still nervous, but at least I’d put distance between us.

  Chapter Nineteen

  As I drank my coffee and read the morning paper on my iPad I almost dropped the mug. How had I not gotten this news before it was published? The owner of the house where I’d first seen Officer West was missing. That explained a lot. It had to have been his body Officer West carried out. Did Dangerfield already know? He was probably already on his way to the house. He had a knack for finding out things before me.

  I ran for the shower. After a record speedy shower, I slipped into my khaki pants and white button-down blouse. It finished the outfit with my favorite pink shoes with the green alligators adorning the tops and my pearl necklace. My hair was still wet, but I had no time for styling it now. I grabbed my purse and rushed out the door. I didn’t want to garner too many strange looks, but I still loved dressing in eighties fashions. My favorite style was preppy with plenty of pink, green, pearls, plaid, and khaki. I stopped short of wearing a sweater tossed over my shoulders.

  I had to find out more. My neighbor was waiting for me.

  She waved the sticks through the air. “Look what I found again. When is this going to end?”

  I grabbed the sticks from her. “With any luck it will end very soon.”

  “Well, it had better,” she said.

  I didn’t look back as I walked out the door into the bright sunshine. My latest plan was for a visit back to the scene of the crime. I would snoop around and see what I could find. There had to be information that would lead me to the missing owners inside that house.

  The police wouldn’t take me seriously because they were involved in the crime. Sure, Marc would try to help, but he was one cop and a new one at that.

  Of course I could always come up empty-handed. But then I wouldn’t be able to say I hadn’t attempted. Trying was better than doing nothing at all.

  It was a big house and I wasn’t sure how I would get through the rooms. Heck, I didn’t even know how I would into the house.

  I couldn’t walk right up to the door though. That would probably not go over well. That was when I decided that I needed a disguise. There wasn’t a lot of options in the disguise department. Sure I couldn’t put on a wig and sunglasses, but they would want to know why I wanted in the house. I needed a disguise that would let me in the house for a good reason. A uniform of some kind was what I needed. Now if I could just think of what. Maybe Courtney could help me.

  I arrived at Courtney’s house.

  “The door’s open,” she called.

  I walked inside to find Courtney staring absentmindedly at my television.

  “Have a seat and watch this with me.” She tapped the leather chair beside her.

  Tori Spelling was on the TV talking about her husband cheating on her. Courtney couldn’t get enough of reality TV shows. I slipped into the chair and watched a few seconds of the show. As interesting as it was to watch their lives displayed for everyone to see, I had to get on with my plan.

  “You know what I need?” I drummed my fingers against the arm of the chair.

  “What?” Courtney asked without looking away from the TV.

  “A disguise when I go back to that house,” I said.

  She finally looked over at me. “You mean you are going back there? Why would you do that?”

  “Because I need to look around for a clue.”

  “You know that isn’t a good idea,” she said.

  “That’s why I need the disguise. It gives me an excuse to be there. What do you say? You have any ideas?”

  She tapped her index finger against her chin. “You could dress up as the cable person. Tell them that you need to go in and work on their cable.”

  “What if they don’t have cable?” I said.

  “It’s a big house, I’m sure they have cable. But if you don’t like that idea, maybe we can think of something else.”

  “Okay, let’s hear what you got,” I said.

  She tapped her index finger against her chin. “Hey, what about a police officer?”

  I shook my head. “Bad idea.”

  “Hey, I have another idea.”

  I hoped this one was better than her other ideas. With all the bad ones she was due for a good one. “What’s your idea?” I asked, almost holding my breath.

  “I have a friend who works at this bakery. She could get you one of their uniforms.”

  Hm. I contemplated what she’d suggested. “You know, that is a good idea.”

  “See, I knew I would come up with something that you like.”

  She dialed the phone and I waited with bated breath. It was tough listening to a one-sided conversation. I wanted to know what was being said.

  “I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble,” Courtney said.

  Uh-oh, it didn’t look as if this plan was going to work. What would I do if this didn’t work? I’d have to go back to the beginning and think of another plan. Maybe I would have to try the cable delivery after all. What kind of uniforms did they wear?

  She hung up the phone. “We’re all set.”

  “Does that mean you are going with me?” I asked.

  “I will go with you to pick up the uniform.”

  “Good, because since I don’t know this person, I would feel awkward asking for their uniform. Are you sure it isn’t a problem? I don’t want her to get into trouble, or even worse get fired.”

  “No, she said it was fine. Just make sure to bring the uniform back. Oh, and don’t tell anyone that she did it.”

  “I don’t have anyone to tell,” I said.

  We hurried across town to pick up the uniform. I waited in the car while Courtney went inside. After a few minutes she came out with the black and white uniform and two glazed doughnuts. When she got in the car, she handed me the uniform and the doughnut.

  “Bless you,” I said.

  “Be careful when you go back there.” Courtney licked the icing off her fingers.

  I wiped my mouth with the napkin. “I will be extra careful.”

  “I should probably go now. Are you sure you will be okay?” She pulled up in front of my apartment and I climbed out.

  “I’m peachy,” I said as I waved over my shoulder.

  I slipped into the pants and the shirt and studied my reflection. It wasn’t bad as far as uniforms went. It could have been better, but could have definitely been worse. I couldn’t go there without a delivery of something. I couldn’t go all the way back across town to pick up pastries from this place—I would have to stop somewhere else for the items. I’d probably get some strange looks buying food from another bakery in this
uniform.

  I made the short drive to the house where all of this had started. It was a risky move, but I wouldn’t gain anything by not taking risks. Since the cop was now threatening me, I had no choice but to find out what kind of trouble he was into.

  Looking both ways, I crossed the road. I just knew that Dangerfield would show up here soon. If he didn’t already know about the missing homeowner I’d read about in the news, he probably would soon. I made to the courtyard. I paused and looked down the sidewalk.

  I peeked inside the window. It was dark, but I didn’t think anyone was in the room. I hoped that they didn’t have a guard dog, but they probably had an alarm. It wouldn’t matter because surely I wouldn’t be able to get inside. This was a wasted trip.

  It was too silent and I felt at any moment someone would walk through the door. My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I gazed around the room. There was a desk by the far window with two leather chairs in front of it. This was probably the office. Where was everyone?

  The desk had a pile of papers on top and I had to know what was in that stack. Surely no one would leave a clue on top of the desk. What made me think that I would find anything?

  As I stood there with the papers in my hand a noise sounded from the hallway. Male voices and footsteps sounded as if they were headed my way. As the footsteps grew closer I ran toward the French doors that led back into the courtyard.

  Where would I hide? I didn’t have many options. I figured they’d see me behind the potted plant in the corner of the room. This room didn’t have a closet, so it looked as if my only option would be to hide behind the sofa. Maybe I could ease out the door once hidden.

  Doug and Russ walked over to the desk. I assumed they sat down, but I wasn’t about to stick my head up in order to find out.

  As I knelt on the floor, a gigantic spider headed my way. If that thing got on me I wouldn’t be able to silence my bloodcurdling scream.

  What were they talking about? Why did they have to speak as if talking in code? Didn’t they know that I couldn’t understand them? Have a little compassion for the person snooping around where she shouldn’t be.

  “We’ll meet the men at the location tonight at eight. They won’t walk away from there.”

  I had no idea who they were talking to, but it didn’t sound as if that person was having a good day.

  Doug and Russ stood. Their footsteps sounded across the hardwood floor. If they caught me behind this sofa I would be a goner. I would meet the same fate as they had planned for the men they were meeting tonight. I had to stop it before it happened.

  Once the door closed, I let out a deep breath. It was time for me to get out of there. I eased to my feet, still unsure if Doug and Russ would return before I could get out of there. When I didn’t hear their footsteps I rushed for the door.

  I’d barely made it across half the courtyard when Doug and Russ’s voices sounded. I glanced back and saw that they were now in the courtyard with me. So far they hadn’t seen me, but I knew it was only a matter of seconds before they spotted me.

  I pulled on the gate. How could it have been open when I came in and now it was stuck? Of all the damn luck. I pulled on the gate again, but it still wouldn’t budge. I kicked it as if that would help, but it only hurt my foot.

  I jumped and reached for the top of the gate, but tumbled to the ground in a pitiful display. I wished I had spent more time in the gym. I glanced over my shoulder and Doug and Russ had almost reached me. It was now or never, so I made one more attempt to get up.

  One of them wrapped his hand around my arm and yanked me to my feet.

  “Well, what have we here?” he asked with a wicked grin.

  I glared at him. “Take your filthy hands off of me.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “You’re coming with us,” Doug said as he yanked on my arm.

  “Thanks just the same, but I’d rather not. As a matter of fact, I was just leaving.” I jerked my arm, but couldn’t break free.

  The man practically dragged me back to the door where I’d entered the house. I stumbled a couple times and he just yanked on my arm harder.

  “Take her back inside,” he ordered Russ.

  Once we were back inside the room, he threw me down on the leather sofa. My head hit the arm and I groaned.

  “Is that any way to treat a lady?” My voice was muffled since my face had landed on the cushion.

  “Sit down and shut up. You talk too much.” Doug sneered at me.

  I managed to right myself and scooted to the edge of the sofa. I blew the hair out of my eyes. “You weren’t saying that a few days ago when you wanted to talk to me about Dangerfield,” I snapped. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so sassy with them, but they’d ticked me off.

  “We need to tie her up, man,” Russ said.

  “Don’t let her out of your sight. I’ll be right back.” Doug hurried out of the room.

  “There’s really no need to do any of this. Look, I don’t know what you all have going on here, but let’s just pretend I wasn’t even here. I’ll leave and there will be no reason to ever discuss this again.”

  “I don’t think that would work.” Russ walked around behind the sofa where I couldn’t see him.

  I looked over my shoulder. He stood right next to the sofa and just over my shoulder. Of course this increased my anxiety by one hundred percent.

  After a few minutes, Doug came back with rope in his hands.

  “Let me guess, that is for me?” I smirked. “I’m not sure all this special attention is necessary, guys. It’s flattering though.”

  “If you think being cute will get you out of this, then you are wrong,” he said as he grabbed my arms.

  “Gentle, gentle. You don’t have to be so rough,” I said.

  Doug took the rope and wound it around my wrists. Lucky for me, it didn’t feel too tight. Maybe there would be a sliver of a chance for me to escape. When he wasn’t looking I twisted my hands behind my back again. The rope moved slightly. The men didn’t seem to notice what I was doing as they discussed what to do with me next.

  Once they focused their attention on me again, Doug asked, “Now are you going to tell us why you are here?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? I came to take you up on your offer to watch Mr. Dangerfield.” I shifted my gaze from Doug to Russ, trying to gauge whether or not they believed me. By the looks on their faces, they didn’t believe a word I said. “I’ve had time to think it over.”

  Maybe there was a little bit of doubt in their minds now though, so I would keep up with that story.

  “That seems unlikely to me.” Doug stepped closer to me. His nearness made me uncomfortable as he leaned down, stopping mere inches from my face. “I don’t believe you.”

  I tried to back away from him, but there was nowhere to go. “Ever heard of a Tic-Tac?”

  Russ reached his hand back as if he was going to smack me, but Doug grabbed his hand in midair.

  “Are you going to tell us the truth?” Doug asked.

  “I am telling the truth,” I said.

  He narrowed his eyes and just as he was about to speak, his cell rang. Now I had a moment’s reprieve.

  He moved over to the door and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Russ. He’d stepped from behind the sofa and now stood next to the big desk on the other side of the room.

  After a few seconds, Doug said, “Phil, yeah, we’ve got her here.”

  Phil? Was that short for Phillip? As in Officer Phillip West? That wouldn’t be much of a shock to me. Of course they were involved with the cop. He had been at this house on that first night when I’d gotten into this mess. I just hoped that the cop wouldn’t show up here tonight. I knew he was involved with this, but this just confirmed it for me.

  But how deeply was he involved? Considering he’d gotten rid of a dead body, I’d say pretty deep. But just exactly how was he involved. Was he the ringleader? And the ringleader of what? I still wasn�
��t sure what was going on, although I was sure it was illegal. I had to think of a way to get out of there before the cop showed up.

  “The boss is staying here now. We got rid of the other one,” Doug said.

  The other one? Did he mean Michael Hook? And who was the boss?

  Obviously the person on the other end of the line was doing most of the talking, so I wasn’t sure what they were planning. Doug continued the conversation, but stepped out into the hallway. This left me alone with Russ. He didn’t look all that sharp, so maybe I could figure out how to get away. One man would be much easier to escape than two.

  Russ leered at me when I looked back at him. He seemed pleased that we were now alone. “So why don’t you tell me why you are here?” he asked. As if I would confide in him.

  “I already told you. I want to take you up on that offer to look into Dangerfield.”

  He sneered at me. “Yeah, right.”

  As I sat there wondering what I was going to do to get myself out of this situation, I glanced to my right. Two eyes were staring back at me from the other side of the patio door’s glass. Dangerfield was watching me from out in the courtyard. What was he doing here? He waved as if I was going to open the door. Sure, come on in and join the party.

  In spite of how crazy I thought Dangerfield was, I couldn’t help but smile knowing that he’d shown up here. Had he come to help me? Then I remembered that he probably hadn’t come for me after all. He was there for the same reason as me. But whatever the reason, I hoped that he could help me get out of this debacle. How would he get in?

  I would have to make sure Russ didn’t see him. This was my only shot at getting away.

  Russ had moved over behind the desk. He plopped down in the leather chair behind the desk and then leaned back as if he was perfectly comfortable. A smug smile spread across his face. It made my skin crawl.

  “Do you live in this house?” I asked, trying to cause a distraction.

  He flashed a toothy grin. “I don’t think you are allowed to ask any questions.”

  “I am allowed to do anything I want,” I said with a smirk. That wasn’t exactly true considering that my hands were currently tied behind my back. “What happened to the owner of this house?” I focused my attention on him.