Found Dead in the Red Head Read online

  “I’m a detective. Nothing gets past me.”

  Relaxing, I sat back wondering if my crush was noticeable. Surely, he’s seen my girlish blushes which aren’t hot flashes.

  “You and Sandy are just alike. A good nurse and a better detective.”

  “Yuck. You’ve insulted me. Get to the gest of your story.” He motioned in a circle to hurry me along.

  “The gest of the matter is, Belly had his lawyer change his will because he included Bangor Floyd in it.”

  “You’re joking, right?” Teddy frowned.

  “No joke. I haven’t read the will, but Walker’s determined to carry out his last wishes.”

  “And those are?” Sniffing, he readjusted and leaned on the sofa arm trying to appear nonchalant.

  I stifled a chuckle. Belly’s death wasn’t in the least humorous, but his last wishes might raise some eyebrows.

  “He wants to be cremated and his ashes mixed into the paint to use on the restored Shelby. Crazy, huh?”

  Closing his eyes, he shook his head, and I gave him a moment to think about Belly’s last wishes.

  “Ah. I… doubt human cremains can be mixed into paint and sprayed onto a sports car. Sounds impossible. What’d Walker say to that?”

  “He said he’d ask his painter if it was possible.”

  “Pfft. No way. Not gonna happen.”

  “Even if it doesn’t work, Belly wanted the car restored and auctioned. The funds going toward Bangor Floyd’s education. The kid wants to become a diesel mechanic.”

  He squinted, clinching his jaw and breathing hard through his nose. “A diesel mechanic? Does he want to learn that in prison reform school?”

  “I’m tellin you. I got it from a good source…”

  Pausing, I gathered my thoughts. I must go slow and not say Belly told me about the car, and earlier, Walker confirmed it when we talked. Of course, blurting Fanny helped Belly communicate with me before she sent him on to the Beyond wouldn’t be a good idea either.

  Sitting back, I considered my words before I spoke. “A good source told me— there’s something else—something secret like Bubba said—about that car. Who knows what’s in it?”

  “Haha. And those sources are?”

  I shook my head. “Let’s just wait and see what’s in the Shelby’s trunk.”

  “Better be small. A Mustang’s trunk isn’t big enough for a dead body.”

  “Don’t think such awful thoughts.”

  Ralph, Fanny’s ghost friend, said he was buried underneath a car not stashed in a trunk. If he was buried there, no telling what other secrets lie in the Floyd’s junkyard.

  “What year is the Shelby?” He stood, hitching up his britches. “Where’s the toilet?”

  “Down there.” I pointed. “Be quiet. Don’t wake the baby.”

  Behind my chair, he stopped and leaned looking down upon me. “What baby?”

  Moving my head to see his face, I said, “Whoops. Ah… I was going to tell you. Guess it slipped out.”

  “Hang onto that thought. I’ll be right back.”

  With a moment alone, I took a deep breath, because it felt good to give Teddy my problems.

  Almost everything about Belly’s murder was out of the bag, except who actually committed the crime. If Gretchen hired someone to kill Belly, they did a thorough job not producing any clear-cut evidence. Who knows, maybe it was an inside job, one of the men who worked for Belly who was familiar with his habits. Very few people, other than his employees would know the security cameras didn’t cover the back part of the building.

  He came back with his shirt neatly tucked in his pants. “Now, where were we?” He grinned. “Who has a baby?”

  I was hoping he’d forget about that little slip of my tongue. Pursing, I stuck out my bottom lip. “It’s Ally’s baby. A little girl—Allison. It’s also Walker’s baby.”

  “Ah-ha. What a surprise?”

  Leaning, I whispered. “She’s wearing dreadlocks. Can you imagine?” Tsking, I shook my head.

  Ally hollered. “Stop it, Mom. We can hear you guys.”

  Teddy snickered, but quickly turned serious. “Listen. Tomorrow can go two ways. We can either get Dick involved and a search warrant. Or Walker can play dumb, make the will his reason for looking at the car. Maybe a treasure hunt to see what’s so special about it that made Gretchen Floyd murder Belly.”

  I cast glances weighing the choices. “Ah… ah…”

  Walker padded into the room, carrying Allison in the crook of his arm. “I say we go out there right now. Open the Shelby and see what’s up.”

  “Walker.” Teddy stood offering his hand. “Congratulations on your new baby girl.”

  “No. That’s a bad idea. After dark. No way, I won’t allow it.”

  Walker sat on the end of the sofa. “Thanks. She’s pretty awesome, isn’t she? I want another one right away.”

  “I’m putting my foot down.”

  Both guys looked at me. “Argh. Not about another baby. About going to the shop at this time of night. No telling who’s lurking out there.”

  “You know what, you’re right. It’ll wait until tomorrow. If Jimmy Hoffa’s in the trunk of that Shelby, we’ll need a good night’s sleep.” Teddy grinned at the prospect. What detective wouldn’t want to find Jimmy? It’d be a life-changing accomplishment.

  “Oh you? Always cracking jokes.”

  Allison mewed and Walker asked, “Who’s Jimmy Hoffa.”

  Teddy smirked, huffing. “Believe me, if he’s in the trunk of that car, you’ll know who he is right away.”

  Chapter 30

  Jimmy Hoffa

  Teddy insisted our safety wasn’t in question and went home. I was only slightly disappointed he turned down my offer to sleep on the couch, but having him spend the night would be too intimate. Besides Anita would know if he had, and she’d chide me endlessly about my crush on him.

  With him gone, I also saved myself from first-thing in the morning bedhead and my cranky I need coffee disposition. In his presence, my ongoing infatuation with him wouldn’t allow me the luxury of looking and acting like a grumpy old woman.

  Before he left, we agreed to meet at Belly’s shop at ten a.m. to open the Shelby. If Jimmy Hoffa’s bones were in the car’s trunk, we could call Dick with the news. If there wasn’t anything important in the car, we’d let Dick know about Belly’s will and he could investigate.

  Even so we were risking tampering with evidence, especially if Bangor made a statement about the car.

  Teddy thought getting there before Dick would be a good idea. If a search warrant was issued, it’d be after lunch or later before investigators arrived to search the car.

  Walker left after I got up, whispering see you later and bounding down the stairs.

  I was dressed and ready to leave when Ally came into the kitchen. “Are you going to the shop?”

  She poured the dregs of coffee I left in the pot. “The Row or Belly’s… I mean Walker’s.”

  “Either. If you’re going you better get ready—”

  “Walker’s picking us up… we’re going home with him… is that okay?”

  Yes. It was okay. Ally didn’t belong in this condo with two batty old women clucking over her and Allison. “Your place is with Walker. It always has been.”

  I picked up my purse and put on my coat. “The Weather Channel said another front is bringing rain. You bundle that baby up.”

  Ally rolled her eyes. “Mom? Sheesh.”

  “No, I won’t stop. I’m a grandmother now. Grandmothers rule the world. Get used to it.” I pinched her cheeks between two fingers and planted a sloppy smack on her forehead. “You want Sandy to make an appointment with her new hairdresser? She looks oh-la-la now.”

  “Eew. No. Get out of here before I barf.” She hugged my shoulders, pushing me toward the door.

  I’ve always wanted to be able to click my heels together, but I’ve never managed to jump up, tap my heels and not fall down. Trying a time or
two when I was a kid, I always landed on my butt, not my feet. Today, if I could, I’d click my heels together.

  Shedding my coat as I walked into the Row, I called, “Mornin’.”

  The showroom lights were on and the new coffeemaker was filled with water.

  Sandy poked her nose over the swinging doors. “Is that you? You sound uh… happy. What’s got into you?”

  The doorbell tinkled, and Sandy huffed, stepping back out of sight. Cheerfully, she singsonged Merry Christmas and welcome to the Row.

  I glanced at the online orders and answered her question. “I’m so glad everyone is healthy and happy.”

  Well, not everyone was healthy—Anita had congestive heart failure, but she wasn’t dead yet. I would not reveal that tidbit to Sandy, she’d spend hours suggesting witch-doctor cures for an incurable ailment. Belly went on to the Beyond, and I was happy for him.

  I made a cup of coffee, talking to myself. “I love this new coffeemaker.”

  With a fresh cup of coffee in hand, I pulled the bath bomb mixing boxes and ingredients out to make a new batch. The bubbling bath bombs recipe was taped to the upper mini-kitchen cabinet awaiting my attention.

  Murmuring, I read the ingredients and tapped my toe to the Christmas music playing on the stereo. “You go girl, you got plenty of time to mix a batch of bombs before you solve the Shelby Mustang mystery.”

  “Gahd! It’s about time you showed up.” Fanny paced in front of the workbench flittering the tissue papers. “She’s driving me nuts with all this happy stuff.”

  She put her fingers in her nearly invisible ears. “I can’t stop hearing her.”

  “Pfft. Not to worry. Christmas will be come and gone before long.”

  “I’m gonna go upstairs until Christmas is over. I’ll poke her with a needle if I’m not careful.”

  “Don’t fret. Everything is going to be okay.”

  She faded into a hazy grayscale and disappeared. “Ehh! You’re happy too? I can’t stand no more.”

  Ten minutes later, I finished mixing Death Star bath bombs. Watching the clock, I molded them and set them too dry on the rack.

  “My case of bah humbug has been cured.” I glanced up looking for Fanny. “You around?” She wasn’t sitting on the loveseat’s arm or pacing in front of the workbench.

  Walking in carrying ingredients for a gift box, Sandy asked, “Can you do this real quick? She’s waiting.” She hitched her chin over her shoulder.

  “Your hair looks beautiful.”

  Pausing, she looked back. “You think? Anna, that’s the girl who did it, showed me how to blow dry and brush it into place. I couldn’t tell if I did it right or not.”

  “Looks like you just walked out of the salon. Listen, I got an appointment at ten. An important meeting. Can you…”

  “Sure. Of course. How’s the baby?”

  “Wonderful. I’ve got good news in that department, but I’ll share it later. I’ll be right out with the box.”

  The customer gushed over the beautiful box. “Just what my friend needs. Christmas season always gets her down.”

  Sandy slid her credit card in the machine. “I know what you mean. I was so blue I had my hair done in a new style.” She lovingly patted her bob.

  Sandy was feeling bah humbug? I was wrapped up in my own problems, I hadn’t noticed hers. She hadn’t acted sad, maybe a bit grumpier, but that’s not unusual.

  “We’ve just had a granddaughter… I mean Patti’s daughter had a baby. We’re so excited.”

  The lady took the gift basket. “There’s nothing better than a new baby to cheer things up.” She turned toward the door. “Oh, do you have an email list I can join? I’d love to know about your sales and specials.”

  “We sure do,” I nodded at Sandy because we don’t have a list, but we would after she added the customer’s name to it. “Thank you, I gotta run. I’m late for an appointment.”

  Sandy said, “You go ahead. I’m fine.”

  I grabbed my coat and purse heading for the backdoor, but Fanny popped up between me and it. “Oh, no you don’t.”

  “Yes, I am. Belly told me to go with you when you opened the trunk. It’s important for me as well as you.”

  “Get outta my way.” We stared into each other’s eyes, but I looked away first.

  Fanny’s eyes projected a century of loneliness and pain. Did Belly tell her more news about Willie? Was he buried in the Floyd junkyard? I don’t know if I could handle learning Willie hadn’t lived a long life after his mother was murdered.

  She dissolved going through the door, and I put a hip into the emergency handle following her out.

  Chapter 31

  Shelby

  Parking near the bay doors, I prepared my warnings, but before I could tell Fanny to leave her sewing needle on the dashboard, she pulled it from her blouse and laid it down.

  “I promise to be nice.” Excited Fanny’s Technicolor flashed in blinding neon colors as we walked… she floated beside me toward the shop.

  “If you don’t calm down, I’m gonna wear my sunglasses to look at you.”

  “I can’t help it, I already know what’s in the car’s trunk.”

  “You do?” She was happy which meant Willie’s bones weren’t stashed in the Mustang. Which was a good thing, but did it mean he lived happily ever after, after all?

  Walker, Ally and Allison stood outside the closed bay. Behind us, Teddy’s truck rumbled into the parking lot, and Belly’s mechanics stood in the open bay doors, watching our group gather.

  “I do. I want to see the wee babe again.” Fanny dashed ahead and I couldn’t possibly run that fast.

  “Mornin’.” I greeted Ally smiling at Allison’s cherub face bundled in blankets. “It’s crisp this morning.”

  “Mornin’,” Walker asked, smiling. “You ready?”

  "Yeah, you?"

  Teddy walked into our group holding a takeout coffee from Coffee Corner. “How’s things?”

  Walker shook his hand. “Good. Solving the Mustang mystery.”

  Ally sniffed her runny nose. Cold air always made her nose drip. “It’ll be a dud. Nothing in that trunk.”

  Teddy sniffed too. “Let’s get on with it before Dick arrives. He’s got a search warrant.”

  He gave me a look which I took to mean he didn’t expect to find anything of interest in the car. The real mystery was why Belly wanted to help Bangor Floyd. He was benevolent, but stealing a junkyard car from the most dangerous group of hoodlums in Hot Springs got him killed.

  Walker didn’t waste another moment pulling a set of keys from his pocket. “Guess now is a good a time as any.”

  “Yeah, I’m freezing.” Ally snuggled Allison close.

  “There’s no heat in that part of the building.” Walker added fumbling with the keys.

  Ally shrugged. “Great. Help me with this.” She pulled the scarf, a sarong of sorts, out and I helped her adjust it to hold the baby.

  “There.” She flipped her dreadlocks over her shoulder, and I resisted the urge to complain about them.

  At a decent distance, Walker’s employees gathered around the bay door and their curiosity about what was happening showed.

  “Here take this.” Teddy handed me his coffee, and he helped Walker wrestle up the door.

  “These door rollers need to be greased.” Walker tossed a command in the direction of his employees. One guy turned and left the group as the others murmured and moved closer to the opening.

  The Red Head and the trailer holding Myra’s bathtub were impounded by the crime investigators. To me nothing else looked out of place, and thankfully I didn’t see any blood splatter.

  Teddy waved at the yellow police tape surrounding the scene. “Don’t touch anything or go near that area. Is there another way into the back bay other than here?”

  “No. This is the last bay. There’s a safety exit on that wall.” Walker pointed into the dark depths of the bay. “You can’t open it from the outside.”

&
nbsp; Teddy took his coffee, examining the scene, musing quietly. I followed him wanting to fire off questions, but stayed quiet letting him silently investigate the scene.

  “How’d the Mustang get back there?” he asked looking up at Walker.

  Walker shrugged. “Dunno, guess Daddy cleared a spot for it, then moved all the junk back.”

  From the amount of automobile parts stacked between the area and were Walker thought the car sat, someone helped him move it.

  I asked, “Maybe Bangor helped move the stuff?”

  “Heck yeah, they used a dolly on the big stuff.” Walker looked at me. “Who told you Bangor helped with the car?” He hitched his chin into the bay.

  “Ah… ah… an anonymous source.” If I wasn’t careful, I’d blab my sources and end up in the loony bin.

  He grimaced, but didn’t dig deeper. “Guess I’ll find a way into there. Y’all stay here.”

  Sucking in his belly, he turned sideways to get past the yellow police tape without touching it.

  Ally whispered, “Be careful.”

  Fanny barged through the yellow tape without moving it in the least. “I’ll get in no problem.”

  I almost blurted stop it, but didn’t.

  Walker swore, squeezing into the cluttered bay, then he said. “Holy, it’s here.”

  Teddy put his coffee cup on the ground, skinnying into the narrow path and asked, “You comin’?”

  I wasn’t about to miss this and asked Ally. “You okay out here?”

  “Mom. I hitchhiked from Little Rock, I’ll be fine.”

  Soon, I would give her a stern talk about the horrors of hitchhiking, especially with my new grandbaby. Hopefully, Walker’s opinion would also dampen her wild whims.

  I sucked it up, brushing my boobs, which wouldn’t suck, against the yellow tape, hurrying to catch the menfolk.

  Teddy whistled. “She’s a beaut.”

  Walker spoke, but I couldn’t understand him, and I squeezed into the opening space, dusting what I thought were cobwebs away, even though I hadn’t seen any.

  A large tarp lay to one side of the Mustang, but I couldn’t see a single thing beautiful about it or her, as Teddy said it was a she.