Confound It Page 16

  Mayes’ competence was a burr in Wayne’s ego. “No problem. I’ll take the dogs.”

  I had no kennel facilities at home, plus I already owned three dogs and a cat. Four additional dogs, which may or may not be house-trained, would wreak havoc in my household. Plus two groups of dogs equaled two dog packs. There would be a skirmish for pack leader of the combined group. One of my dogs might get injured.

  “Nothing wrong with the shelter,” I said.

  “Your call. Just take the blasted dogs, Bax.”

  Minutes later, I hit the road with four healthy hounds in my truck. With no animal crates in my truck, I’d leashed them all and hooked the leads to my tie-down ring in the truck bed. To my surprise, the dogs seemed well mannered once they were released from confinement. This might not be a total disaster.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  I stopped off at the abandoned airfield to evaluate Dixon’s hounds. I couldn’t tell them apart just yet, since their appearance was nearly identical, but Dixon made it easy for me by engraving the names of the Fab Four on their dog collars.

  John, Paul, George, and Ringo responded individually to the basic commands of heel, sit, stay, come, down, and quiet on leash and off. I turned them all loose in the field, and they romped and played together under sunny skies. They also responded to my basic commands off leash. Ringo appeared to be the alpha dog of the pack. I could remember that easily enough. Ringo was the ring leader.

  They were nice dogs. As long as they integrated with my pets, they could stay with me.

  The hounds chased tennis balls until their tongues hung low, and I felt I could easily introduce them to my pets now. My three dogs were over at my parents’ place with my daughter. I couldn’t leave these dogs unsupervised in my home on their first visit, and I couldn’t fetch my animals and force them to get acquainted in the truck. We had to go to my parents’ house. I loaded them in the truck again and was headed that way when Charlotte called.

  “I know something is happening,” Charlotte said. “Every emergency vehicle left town like they were chasing a tornado. Is this about the case?”

  “Domestic violence in the county, but there may be a newsworthy twist soon.”

  “Dish.”

  “Can’t. Ongoing investigation.” “That is spiteful and mean.”

  “Not necessarily. You’ll have first dibs on the breaking news. Meanwhile, where are you and Duncan?”

  “We were headed to your parents’ place to commune with the pigs. Why?”

  “I could use a few extra pairs of hands for some dog clients I unexpectedly acquired today. Turns out I’ll be fostering them until their owner gets out of jail.”

  Charlotte giggled. “Poky puppies?”

  “More like full-grown hounds. I recall Duncan has hunting dogs. It’d be great if he was there when I arrived.”

  “Seeing as how we just turned in the driveway, I’d say that’s gonna happen. Bring ’em on.”

  * * *

  Duncan and the hounds took to each other like sand to plastic wrap. These dogs were used to a male authority figure, and it showed. Duncan, Larissa, and I introduced them to our dogs. There was plenty of sniffing and tail wagging and romping. Duncan put on an obedience show for Larissa, urging Dixon’s hounds through their paces. Mom and Dad decided to start a pot of soup, giving Charlotte and me a rare moment of privacy.

  I stretched and yawned as I joined Charlotte on my father’s favorite bench. He called it his thinking place because it was hard to be concerned about worldly matters with so much nature around you. These woods were special, exuding a peaceful, centered sense of well-being.

  “Is your weekend everything you’d hoped?” I asked.

  Charlotte beamed. “Couldn’t be any better. We’ve got a homicide case about to bust open and at least one other promising big story on the horizon.”

  “I was talking about your, uh, personal life.”

  “That’s great, but I’m half afraid Duncan will wake up and realize he can have any woman he wants.”

  “He doesn’t appear to be asleep to me.”

  “Nah. He’s full of energy and life.”

  “So are you. That’s what makes you two well matched. You look happy together.”

  “I’m trying not to stress about the future, but I’m already behind the power curve. If I want a husband and children, I can’t wait much longer. All the good eggs will be gone.”

  I wasn’t sure if she was referring to men in general or the number of unfertilized eggs remaining in her ovaries. Better not to ask. “How was lunch? Did you introduce yourself to the new outlet-mall manager?”

  “Sure did. Snapped a picture of her with Wayne that I already sent to my boss. Alicia wore this clingy red sheath and that popped really well in the photo. She wasn’t available for a feature today, but she let it slip that she has a degree in marketing and intends to implement more universal good business practices in all the outlet stores.”

  “She sounds sharp. Wonder how long she’ll last?”

  “About five minutes after Dottie Thompson finds out Alicia had her hands all over the sheriff. Wayne was soaking up the personalized attention too. What’s wrong with him? I thought he and Dottie were going strong again now that she decided to get out of her sick bed.”

  A few years back, Dottie decided everyone would wait on her, hand and foot. As time went on, she lost interest in getting up. Consequently, her weight soared and her health declined. I kept meaning to go over there and congratulate her return to wellness, but I didn’t want to be Dottie’s best friend.

  “Wayne is …” I trailed off. I could get in trouble for gossiping about my

  boss. But this was Charlotte. I chewed my lip.

  “I hate it when you do that,” Charlotte said. “When you realize you can’t tell me something because of our jobs. I resent being shut out of your world. I hate that crime fighting and newspaper reporting drives a wedge between us. You’re my best friend. This isn’t right.”

  Mourning doves cooed in the distance. A light breeze stirred the air enough to keep the heat from being unbearable. Even so, the natural environment didn’t soothe Charlotte’s distress.

  “I’m used to telling you everything, so it’s hard on me as well,” I added, my voice breaking as I spoke. “I won’t comment specifically on Wayne, but it’s my observation that people don’t truly change. If their personality is one way, and they try to be something else for a while, they can maintain that alternate identity for only so long. Sooner or later, they show their true colors.”

  Like the sharp cookie she was, Charlotte pieced it together. “And Wayne Thompson has always been a tomcat.”

  I let the silence speak for itself.

  “Anyway, Alicia wants to meet you,” Charlotte said.

  Charlotte sounded so energized, so excited about meeting this woman. I wasn’t. Strangers who took an interest in me always wanted something. “How does she even know me? I barely know her name.”

  “She called you ‘our resident psychic.’ She knew about the cases you’d solved. Seems she’d read my articles in the Marion Observer .”

  Now that I was a police consultant, I was highly suspicious of everyone, especially people I didn’t know. “I don’t like it. Was Wayne talking about me?”

  “Wayne was surprisingly mum about you.”

  Good. At least Wayne hadn’t totally lost his mind. “Then how did my name enter into the conversation?”

  “She knew we were best friends.”

  I shook my head. “How would she know that? I hope you didn’t tell her anything about me. I don’t trust strangers.”

  “I would never betray you, Baxley. I didn’t talk about you at all,” Charlotte said. “Alicia lives in Macon, but her business is in a town near there.”

  I drew in a long, contemplative breath. “Figures. Seems like the women we get from upstate all want a piece of me.”

  “What about you and Mayes? You two glow when you’re near each other. Some
thing happened, didn’t it?”

  That something was private and would remain so. “Mayes is a nice guy. Decent. Hardworking.”

  “You forgot that he’s sexy as all get out and crazy about you.”

  I sighed. “It shows, doesn’t it?”

  “At least you’ll never have to guess what he’s thinking. When it comes to you, he’s crystal clear.”

  “Which is something of a problem for me, but interestingly, a solution may be in sight.”

  Charlotte’s grin vanished as her eyebrow raised. “Do tell.”

  “This stays between us. No Duncan. No newspaper. Right?”

  My friend nodded. “Pinky swear.”

  Though we were alone in the yard, I leaned in close. “We know what it’s like to be among the living, and lately I’ve become familiar with the dead. The problem is I can’t find Roland in either world. Mayes suggested, and my parents think his idea is worth pursuing, that Roland is in yet another, alternate realm.”

  “Like the place where the Nunne’hi live?”

  When we visited the Georgia mountains, the Nunne’hi had kidnapped Charlotte, Deputy Duncan, and the state archaeologist for a day. Their ploy forced me to produce Rose, my mentor on the Other Side. Rose worked out a deal which benefited her nicely, and we’d gotten our people back in the land of the living.

  “Something along those lines,” I said. “Am I a complete whack job for even considering this?”

  “Your dreamwalking and our travels have broadened my horizons. I’m open to possibilities.”

  I snickered. “You’re such a Renaissance woman.”

  “Ha. Good one.” We both laughed and relaxed on the bench, the balance of our friendship restored. “So what’s next, Bax?”

  Though Wayne had told me to wait before pursuing my next lead, I felt like I’d spent all day doing his bidding or waiting for him. I decided to follow up on a personal matter. “I was thinking about having my palm read. Wanna come?”

  “Do I ever!”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Cipriona Marsden blocked her doorway as effectively as a linebacker. The statuesque palm reader wore spiky heels and an over-one-shoulder short dress that reminded me of a caveman’s wife from the funnies. Her glossy black braids curtained her broad shoulders. Another bag of herbs graced her neckline, the dime anklet still clasped around her ankle. “What are you doing here?”

  “Following up.” I stood on the second riser of her steps, Charlotte below me on the ground, her trusty miniature tape recorder in hand. “You were concerned about your granny, remember?”

  “Can’t do nuttin’ about Granny. I done tried everythin’ I know to save her from a life behind bars.”

  I raised a plastic grocery bag in my other hand. “You left these suspenders at my house the other day. I’m returning them.”

  When I held out the bag, she shrank away and waved me inside. “Drop it on the coffee table,” Cipriona said.

  I edged past her into the small home. The pungent smell hit me first. Some form of incense, and a lot of it, had been burned in here. The place reeked to the point where my eyes watered. Deep-purple swaths of batik fabric edged the narrow windows. Fat squatty candles occupied almost every flat surface. One corner of the room seemed to be made of black fabric. Perhaps that curtained alcove was where she did her readings?

  Not a single voodoo doll in sight. Drat. I’d hoped this would be easy.

  After setting down my parcel, I turned to Cipriona and asked, “Why didn’t you wait until I came out of the dreamwalk for my report?”

  She shrugged. “Got spooked.”

  A big fat lie. I couldn’t let it stand. “Are you sure? Because I thought you might’ve waited until I was otherwise engaged and then took what you really came there for. A hank of my white hair is missing. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

  She shook her head fast, and her tongue thrust forward through her teeth.

  A negative response and a case of nerves. I pressed my advantage, hoping she’d admit her misdeeds. “I know what you’re about, Cipriona. I know what you are.”

  She retreated a step. “You know nothing about me.”

  I heard Charlotte’s clothing rustle over by the doorway. It wouldn’t do for her to interrupt, so I motioned with my hand for her to stop. “You tried to hurt me with voodoo. Tried being the operative word because I blocked you. Whatever you’ve been doing, it won’t work. Wards are in place. Leave me alone.”

  Her brown eyes rounded as if she were truly afraid. “You have to stop.”

  “I don’t have to stop anything, but humor me. What is it you think I should stop?”

  “Everything. If you don’t, he’s going to kill me.”

  “He who? Did someone pay you to hurt me?”

  Cipriona shook her head too fast, her long braids flailing, end beads clacking. “I done said too much already.”

  “Does this have anything to do with Mandy Patterson? Did you kill her?”

  “I ain’t killed nobody.”

  Another lie. A whopper by the dissonance in her tone. “I don’t believe you.”

  “I don’t give a flying flip what you believe. Take your sorry hide and get out of my house.”

  “Did you know Mandy?”

  “I said get out.”

  She muttered some words under her breath that I feared might be more mischief. “I can help you, if you’ll tell me who you fear.” I reached for her, hoping for a contact read, but she recoiled as if I carried the plague.

  “You can’t be here,” Cipriona said, “and you danged sure can’t touch me.”

  My tattoos heated. Rose. My spirit connection on the Other Side. What did she want? No way was I doing a dreamwalk in this place. Rose had to wait. But since Rose wasn’t good at waiting, I edged toward the door. “I’m not the enemy. If you change your mind about talking, you know where to find me.”

  Cipriona snorted in triumph. “Like that’s gonna happen. Git yourself gone.”

  Charlotte and I hurried to the truck, and I saw the questions in her eyes. “Not now,” I said.

  Soon as I cranked the truck, Charlotte whipped out her notepad. “That was intense. She isn’t what I expected. Are we going to arrest her? She killed Mandy, right?”

  “Put the notepad away. You can’t write any of this down.”

  Charlotte huffed her displeasure and stuffed the notepad in her tote. “She’s involved in the case. I knew it.”

  “Wrong. We don’t know anything about her except she’s a bad liar.”

  “And she’s afraid of some guy. What guy would that be?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You were trying to get the answer by touching her, weren’t you?”

  I smiled for a second. “Can’t blame me for trying. She was too skittish.” “Yeah. I got that. Why’d you let her win?”

  “I got another call.”

  “I didn’t hear the phone ring.”

  I turned off and drove to a deserted riverside park. “Not that kind of call.” I shut off the engine by the river. “Switch places with me. I shouldn’t be out more than ten minutes. If the dreamwalk goes on any longer, call my parents. Don’t move the truck, okay?”

  “You sure got bossy all of a sudden, and you welched on our deal. I was supposed to get my palm read.”

  “Got a news flash for you. If I delay this dreamwalk any longer, both of us will have short lifelines.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  “Took you long enough,” Rose said. She was biker-girl casual in her leathers and tats. The steady tapping of her booted toe caused the murk of the Other Side to roil and billow. Even a blind woman would know Rose was in a foul mood.

  “I came as quickly as I could. I had to extract myself from a conversation and drive to a safe place before I could make the transition to meet you. What’s going on?”

  “Why haven’t you closed this case? I need you for something else.”

  “Sorry. Didn’t know there was a wait list
for my services. What do you need?”

  Rose growled and looked away. “I can’t tell you until you discover Mandy Patterson’s killer. You are doing it all wrong because you should’ve collared your suspects by now.”

  “I’m doing the best I can. A voodoo priestess attacked me, and thanks to you, I’ve got a man who thinks he’s my boyfriend.”

  Rose’s lips turned up the slightest bit, like a grinning cat. “We need him.”

  “ We don’t need him. I’ll decide who I sleep with and when.”

  “Don’t trifle with me. You’re more powerful with him around, which means I have access to his power now that you’re emotionally bound.”

  “Is that why you had us become intimate? To get your hooks in him too? Here’s a news flash. He doesn’t think much of you.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Long as he’s in lust with you, he’ll do my bidding.”

  “My sex life is off the table. Anything else I can do for you?”

  “I wish,” Rose snarled, “but the boss is watching me. I gotta abide by his rules. Strictly a hands-off policy on Earthly matters. For now.”

  Rose had been reprimanded? Wonders never ceased. “May I talk to Mandy? Will you take me to her?”

  “Can’t.”

  “But she’s a spirit. On your turf. She’s not in the human realm any longer.”

  “Your problem is in the human world. You’re the go-between, Dreamwalker. You have to find ways to reach her on your own.”

  “I was at her place this morning, but I came up empty. Dreamwalks there didn’t yield strong leads.”

  “You’re making excuses.”

  My patience boiled away. “Look, we’ve got a greedy sister, a mixed-up son, a controlling boyfriend, a neighbor who isn’t who he says he is, and the voodoo woman.”

  “And …?”

  “And what?”

  “Do I have to spell it out for you in toe taps? Who else is new in town and taking up your time?”

  “You can’t mean Mayes and Duncan. They never met Mandy Patterson.”