It was nearly eight by the time we got to Alvin’s, and it was packed, even more so than usual for a Saturday night. I figured the word about Billy’s death was out and the curious and the ghoulish were gathering. I introduced my mother to Tanya and Marissa, and then we moved to the far end of the room when a young couple stood and vacated one of the tables.
My mother took a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from her purse, and when I reminded her she couldn’t smoke inside, she ran her tongue along her upper lip and gave me an agitated look. I ignored her, stood, and walked over to the bar. I waited for Tanya to finish with her customer, ordered a Miller Lite for myself, a glass of Merlot for my mother, and at the same time ordered a couple of burgers with onion rings.
When I returned to the table, my mother was scanning the room. I knew she was registering everyone and everything in her mind for future reference. She appeared amused by the crowd, and when her gaze settled on Tanya she said, “She’s quite attractive for a black woman.”
“Her father was white,” I said.
“Still makes her black.”
I shrugged. “I guess so. And yes, she’s very attractive.”
“I wondered what would keep you tending bar in a place like this. I should have known it was a woman.”
“She’s my boss-nothing more.”
My mother laughed. “You seem to forget, Wes. I’m also a detective. I saw the way you looked at her when you introduced us.”
I felt myself turn red and I looked away. “And you object to my being interested in a black woman?”
My mother studied me for a moment. “Not at all. But I don’t think she’s as sweet as she appears. I think you need to be careful with her.”
“Is that the detective talking in you, Mother? Because to be honest, you don’t know her.”
“I know we’ve had our disagreements, but I don’t want to see you get hurt. I think she’s got it in her to hurt you.”
“Now you’re a psychic?”
To my surprise, she gave her head a little shake, reached over, and laid her hand atop mine. “Not a psychic, a mother. Just so you know; I’ve had a lot of time to think about things these last couple of days. You may not believe it, Wes, but I do want what’s best for you.”
I was shocked, and a little suspicious of my mother’s attitude. I was saved from having to cope with this new side of my mother by the arrival of our burgers.
Tanya set them on the table before us, added a bottle of ketchup, and looked at my mother.
“I’d love to sit and talk with you, but you can see it’s swamped in here.”
My mother turned on her most gracious smile. “I can see that. Perhaps we can get together for lunch before I leave?”
I groaned and spoke up before Tanya could reply. “I think you’re going to be pretty busy, Mother, what with making arrangements for Nick and all. Besides, Tanya’s got a business to run.”
I’ve never experienced two women turning on me at the exact same time and it wasn’t pleasant. They both glared at me so I shut up. They continued to glare until I picked up my burger, then my mother reached for her purse.
“Here’s one of my cards. My cell phone number’s on there. If you want to call me tomorrow, we can make arrangements.”
“I will.” Tanya started to walk away, but stopped and looked back at me. “By the way, Wes. Gail called earlier. Said she wasn’t going to make it in tonight. She said if you could meet her later to give her a call.”
“Sure,” I said. As Tanya hurried away, I added for my mother’s benefit, “Gail is the woman who Frankie wants us to find. He would have referred to her as Destiny when he hired the firm.”
“I figured that out.” My mother took a sip of her wine and then cut her burger in half. “I’ll get a cab back to the hotel after we eat. I’m tired, and you can do whatever you have to in order to get this damn thing settled.”
Chapter 14
After my mother left I grabbed another beer and headed for the back room. Tanya was out taking care of customers and it was the only place in the bar where I could carry on a phone conversation. I dialed the number I had for Destiny, but wasn’t surprised when she didn’t answer. She’d been pulling my strings since I met her. I cursed her under my breath, took another swig of my beer and tried the number again. If I had learned anything working as a detective it was the value of persistence. I tried her number another half-dozen times before leaving a message asking her to call me. After that, I went back to my table to wait for her call. A little after one I gave up waiting and said my good-byes. I was barely out of the door when my phone rang.
The number was blocked, but I knew it had to be Destiny, Frankie, or Bob. Who else would bother blocking their number? I was pissed enough with the whole situation that I almost didn’t pick up the call, but curiosity overcame my good judgment and I snapped it open.
“Who the hell is this?” I asked.
“Is that any way to talk to me, Wes?” Destiny asked. “I thought we were friends.”
I decided not to remind her friends don’t steal from friends. “I’ve been trying to call you all evening.”
“I’ve been busy. You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had,” she said. “But I did manage to get the diamonds back.”
“You did, huh. From who?”
“I told you I gave them to Elvis.”
“And Elvis told me he didn’t know anything about the diamonds,” I said. “I’m beginning to think you’re not being truthful with me, Destiny.”
My comment was met with silence. While I waited for her to say something I watched a long black limousine turn off of Duval. It made its way down Caroline, and when it passed Dirty Alvin’s I felt a strange itch between my shoulders. I wondered if Frankie and Bob might be watching me from behind those tinted windows. If they were, they didn’t stop. A few blocks further down the car turned and vanished from sight.
Destiny still hadn’t said anything and I asked, “Are you still there?”
“I’m here shit head.” Her voice was frosty, and I felt a grin play across my lips. Maybe if I got her pissed enough, she’d tell me the truth for a change.
“You got a problem?” I asked. “After all, you called me, remember?”
“I don’t like being called a liar.”
“I didn’t call you a liar. All I said was that there are some discrepancies between what you told me and what Elvis said.”
“He’s lying,” she said.
“Someone is. I can’t seem to get a straight story from either one of you.” Again there was silence on the line and I was beginning to wish I hadn’t answered the phone. Finally I said, “If you’ve got the diamonds why don’t you call Frankie and tell him you’ll give them back to him. While you’re at it, you could return my twenty-five hundred bucks too.”
“I’m afraid of Frankie. I want you to return them for me.”
“I’m a little afraid of the guy myself,” I said. “Besides, you’ve stolen from me, kicked me in the balls, and lied to me. Why should I do anything for you?”
There was another short pause. “I’ll return your money if you do this.”
I wasn’t much in the mood to bargain for money that was mine to begin with. I was willing to bet I’d never see the money unless I cooperated with her, and even then I had my doubts. Considering my limited options I asked, “You still have the money?”
“Most of it.”
“What do you consider to be most of it?”
“Seventeen hundred dollars,” she said.
“You spent eight hundred dollars of my money in a day?”
“If you don’t lower your voice when you’re talking to me you’ll never see the rest of your money,” she said. “I had to eat. I needed some clothes. You’re the one who told me not to go home. Now deal or no deal?”
The itch in the center of my back that was making me feel like a target was getting worse. I was afraid if I said no, not only would I be out the seventeen-hundred dollars, but I’d spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder for Frankie and Bob.