Black Butterfly Page 21

  I could hear an “and” in his voice.

  “And?” I asked.

  He took a deep breath and tried to shift to make himself more comfortable, but it wasn’t easy.

  “And someone needs to find out who really killed Grandfather. I haven’t been here long, but I’ve heard stories about you two already. Would you look into it? Do you think you could find the truth? I’ll pay you, whatever you want.”

  I didn’t know how to answer him.

  Chris did. “You come into our town and stir up trouble. That’s not acceptable. Yes, I’ll look into it, and then you and your family will take a powder or take your lumps. Your choice. Oh, and we don’t want your money.

  “As far as Meredith, I’ll make sure someone watches her – like the coppers.”

  “Do you have to drag the cops into this?” Frankie asked.

  “Yes,” I said. “We do. Meredith is our friend and I’m not going to sit by while your brother hurts her.”

  Chris scratched his chin. “Is he planning on using our restaurant to get to her?”

  “No. Grandmother humiliated him last night. He doesn’t want to see that place again. He’ll go after the old lady when she’s alone. He figures the cops aren’t watching her house anymore. After all, he didn’t shoot her. The gunshot was a warning, so to speak.”

  “They’ll arrest him if they catch him,” I said.

  “I know, but he won’t do that much time if you can stop him before he does something stupid. Oh, and don’t tell my grandmother about this. She’s harder on him than she is on me and Tony.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Chris said.

  “He’d rather face jail time than your grandmother. Is that the way it is?” I asked.

  “Pretty much. Even though Gran’s in her eighties, you don’t want to mess with her. She’s a tough ol’ broad.”

  Chris stared at the man in the hospital bed for another moment. “Frankie, are you sure he won’t come back to the restaurant? I mean, one hundred percent sure? My son and some relatives will be there tonight.”

  “I’m sure. He won’t involve outsiders. Trust me.”

  Chris finally couldn’t stand it anymore and rolled his upper lip under. “Yeah.”

  Uh huh. Like Chris was going to trust a gangster.

  “Anything else you want to tell us?” Chris asked.

  “No.”

  We left the room and stood in the hallway, talking.

  “We’ve got to tell Janet that Jimmy’s still here,” I said.

  “I know.”

  “That’s pretty cold that he walked away from the accident and left his brother bleeding and broken in the car.”

  “Uh huh. Cold.” Was Chris really listening to me?

  “What are we going to do? We can’t solve a murder that took place in the fifties in Las Vegas. We don’t have anything to go on.”

  Chris nodded.

  “Wait,” I said. “Maybe we do.”

  My husband watched me while my brain placed a few puzzle pieces in the right places. He didn’t interrupt my thought processes.

  “Sophia knows who did it.” I spoke slowly and thoughtfully.

  “How do you know that?” he asked.

  “Janet told me. Did you see the look on Sophia’s face when I told her I wouldn’t share what Frankie told us?”

  “Yeah. So what?”

  “Janet said that’s her tell. When she asked Sophia who murdered her husband, that was the look she got. She said there’s no doubt in her mind that the woman knows who killed Tony. I don’t know how we’re going to put that knowledge to use though.”

  Chris’s face lit up. “I do.”

  He took my hand and pulled me along behind him, heading for the Waiting Room, suddenly in a better mood.

  He told Janet about Jimmy still hanging around and that he was going to go after Meredith again.

  He didn’t tell her about Frankie’s request for us to solve the murder. I knew he had a plan, and she’d try to stop us.

  She pulled out her cell phone and left us sitting while she walked down the hallway to make a call. I knew the cops would be watching over Meredith like a flock of hawks now.

  The hefty nurse stepped into the Waiting Room. “All done with His Majesty?”

  “You bet,” I replied. “He’s all yours. Be gentle though. He’s been through a lot.”

  She rubbed her hands together and laughed before heading for his room.

  “He’s about to learn that sometimes it pays off to be nice to people,” I said.

  Chris nodded, but his eyes told me he was a thousand miles away.

  “What are you going to do, Bogey Man?” I asked.

  “What needs to be done.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Wait and see.”

  I didn’t like being left out.

  We’d talk later.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  When we arrived home we found a police car sitting in front of Meredith’s house.

  There was a message waiting for us on the machine. Our neighbor had called to tell us about the cops keeping an eye on her. They’d explained the situation to her before planting themselves in front of her house.

  I called her back.

  “Meredith,” I said, “everything’s going to be okay. We need to talk to you, though. Have you got time if we come down now?”

  “What else have I got but time? I’ll be waiting for you.”

  She waited for us just inside the door, with a pack of cigarettes in her hand. She waved us out to the back patio, grabbing an ashtray on her way through the kitchen.

  We sat down at the table and she lit up.

  Chris grabbed the pack and pulled out one of the cigarettes, stuck it between his lips and let it dangle, which was funny because he doesn’t smoke.

  Smoke was drifting into Meredith’s face and she narrowed her eyes while she watched my husband.

  “You know what they call that, don’t you?” she asked.

  “Call what?” I asked.

  “Letting the cigarette hang from his lips.”

  “It’s called Bogeying the smoke,” Chris replied, gritting the cigarette between his teeth while he spoke. “I’m familiar with the term. If I smoked this would be the time for me to light up.”

  Meredith chuckled. “You must have a lot on your mind.”

  “We need some information,” I said. “We need you to tell us everything, no matter how inconsequential it might seem, about the time before Tony was killed. Jimmy won’t leave you alone until we figure out who really murdered his grandfather.”

  Meredith sneered. “If he knew what Tony was really like he might leave things alone.”

  “Start talkin’,” Chris said.

  “I can give you the basics, but that’s about all. You know he tried to turn me into a hitman. I’m pretty sure he believed I killed what’s-her-name, Daisy, out in the desert, and I think I would have been okay if I hadn’t seen him do a hit of his own the night I left town.

  “And you know he was abusive to Sophia, even if he tried to make outsiders believe he adored her. They had one son, but he was just a baby when I left. I don’t think he would have bothered the child. Tony wanted an heir to his so-called empire.”

  She laughed, which surprised me.

  “Little did he know that Sophia would take over. He was probably spinning in his grave when she stepped up.”

  “If you had to guess, who do you think murdered him?” Chris asked. “You were in a position to know all the players.”

  “A lot of people held grudges against him, but most of them were too afraid of him to try anything. I don’t believe Sophia did it, but I do believe she never grieved for him. I think she was probably glad when he disappeared. No matter how mean he was, his family members were thick as thieves. His own mother tried to say Sophia deserved what she got from him. I was still in Las Vegas when the old bat died. No one grieved for her, either, except Tony.

  “Gabe could have
done it, but I don’t want to believe that. He was a cop through and through, although if you’d have met him back then you wouldn’t have believed it.”

  She was quiet for a moment.

  “Is that it?” I asked. “There’s no one else?”

  “Of course there were others, but Tony ruled with an iron fist. Everyone was afraid to cross him, and he encouraged his men to rat on each other.” Her eyes looked faraway. “Although, there was one guy. His name was Kurt something. When Tony’s back was turned, well, if looks could kill Tony would have died a hundred deaths. The look would be in his eyes, and when Tony turned around Kurt would look at the floor or over Tony’s shoulder. Yeah, I remember now. I always thought he had a crush on Sophia. When Tony got physical, Kurt’s hands would turn into fists. I wonder what ever happened to him.”

  “You could ask Sophia,” I suggested.

  “I think I will.”

  “Anyone else?” Chris asked.

  “Take your pick. They all hated him, but he was the boss.”

  “What does Gabe say?” Chris wasn’t going to let up.

  “He says Tony just disappeared one day. He figured someone had bumped him off, but until his body was found, no one knew for sure. As far as suspects, he doesn’t have any more ideas than I do. He told me there was talk about Tony’s body being left in the desert, but it was just a rumor.”

  Aha! Now I knew what the comment about a body in the desert was all about.

  Chris glanced at me and I knew he’d picked up on that comment, too.

  “Well,” he said, “at least we have a starting point. That gives me some idea for when I talk to…” He shook his head and stood, ready to leave.

  Meredith looked up at him, rubbing her hands together. “In all honesty, I don’t like talking about those days, or at least about Tony. The good ol’ days are one thing, but he’s another. He wasn’t just mean; he was cruel.”

  She took a drag off of her cigarette and inhaled deeply, letting her breath out slowly. She jammed her cigarette into the ashtray with a vengeance, and lit another one.

  I patted her back and we left her sitting on the patio, looking skyward. I heard her coughing behind us and shook my head. I guess at her age she didn’t care if smoking was hazardous to her health or not.

  We waved to the cop sitting in front of the house and headed home.

  “Chris, who are you going to talk to?”

  He smiled. “You’ll figure it out.”

  He could be so frustrating sometimes.

  Sammy and Gabe drove by and we waved at them, too.

  “I think Gabe is still smitten with Meredith,” I said.

  “Yeah, he’s got it bad. Kind of like when I met you, cookie.”

  It was my turn to smile. “I think our meeting was meant to be. Foreordained. Fate.”

  “Uh huh. We might as well get ready and go to work. The reporter from the news station wants to eyeball the joint before setting up. We need to put our best foot forward tonight, so to speak. She wants to have a late lunch at Bogey Nights, too, to get a taste of what our spread is like.”

  “She wants to try our food? I’d better call Nate and tell him to fix something special for her.”

  “Don’t be a cream puff. She’ll eat what we’ve got and like it.”

  “Is that putting our best foot forward?” I asked.

  “Of course. You can’t beat our food.”

  Chris changed quickly and hurried downstairs to make a phone call. He wore his best 1940s-style black suit and vest – not the one with pinstripes. Thanks to the restaurant, he had a closet with several suits to choose from, and he had a choice of fedoras on the shelf.

  I chose a simple black dress. I could turn it into a fancy black dress with my choices of jewelry. Looking in the mirror, I changed my mind. If we were going to be on television, I wanted an eye-catching dress. It was time to knock ‘em dead.

  I pulled a dress I’d been saving for a special occasion out of the back of the closet. It was a 1940s floor-length, form-fitting (translates to tight), forest green off-the-shoulder velvet dress with a camel-colored tie belt around the waist. The sleeve length hit midway between my shoulder and elbow. I had shoes that closely matched the belt. Gold jewelry and a bracelet with green stones that were slightly lighter than the forest green dress set off the look.

  I looked at myself in the mirror. I’d definitely wear my long auburn hair in a style with gentle, soft curls. Maybe pull one side back and clip it with a fancy barrette. It didn’t take long to brush.

  “Are you ready yet?”

  Chris stood at the bottom of the stairs, checking his watch when I made my grand entrance, descending the stairs like a movie star.

  “Hubba hubba, babe. No one’s even going to notice the restaurant once they eyeball you. Where’d you get that number?”

  “At an estate sale last year. I’ve been saving it.”

  He grinned. “It was worth the wait. Let’s go.”

  We arrived at the restaurant and I made my way through the kitchen to my office to put my purse away.

  On my way through the kitchen, Nate made a clicking sound out of the side of his mouth and winked at me. “Looking good, Pamela.”

  Grinning, I said, “Thank you,” and tried to make a small curtsey which almost landed me on my behind. The dress was a bit tight for that type of move, or most other moves.

  Nate grabbed my arm and steadied me.

  “Put your eyes back in their sockets,” Chris said from behind me. “This is going to be an interesting night.”

  Our luncheon chef laughed. “Hey, I’ll be here tonight to listen to Lila sing.” Lila and Nate had taught me that you’re never too old for love.

  My dress taught me a lesson, too. There really is such a thing as “too tight.” My first hint was when I had trouble getting in the car at home.

  The reporter and her cameraman showed up and we treated them both to lunch. It never hurts to score a few points early on, and they loved the food.

  While Chris showed them to the cocktail lounge where they talked, I prepared the Reservation Desk for a busy night. Glancing up every once in a while, I could see my husband pointing things out.

  I was pleased that the reporter, Shauna Drake, wasn’t rushing things. She wanted more than just a short story.

  Tony arrived with his brother, Frankie, helping him hobble to the cocktail lounge, saying his mother would join them later.

  Mikey came in with Danny and his parents fairly early.

  Danny’s mother was dressed to the nines in a 1940s cocktail dress. “This is going to be fun,” she said.

  Her husband smiled indulgently.

  “I hope so,” I said, surreptitiously glancing at the Messinas.

  I smiled and gave them the best table in the house.

  Chapter Forty

  The reporter got a kick out of Mikey and Danny helping seat people and she made a point of getting them on film. I had a fleeting thought about the Child Labor Laws, but laughed it off. This was a matter of two kids getting their fifteen minutes of fame.

  The Church Ladies arrived and, per their reservation, they were seated at a table in the cocktail lounge.

  “Great dress, Pamela, and God blessed you with the figure to wear it,” Jasmine had said.

  Scott, the band leader, had surprised us and brought in a few extra musicians. He said they were another band and didn’t care if we paid them or not. They just wanted a chance to be seen on the news so the two bands were combining into one for the night. We couldn’t have asked for better music, and we’d do something for the extra musicians. They, too, were all dressed in forties duds.

  Lila and Judith kicked off the entertainment with Puttin’ on the Ritz.

  Lila followed up with God Bless the Child making me want to sit down and just listen. The two women then sang It Don’t Mean a Thing, giving swing music a plug.

  I sighed and made myself turn away from the show.

  We were slammed, with people wait
ing outside for tables. Unfortunately, none of our current customers were in a hurry to leave.

  Shauna, the reporter, grabbed Chris’s hand and dragged him out to the dance floor after she gave the cameraman orders to film her dancing.

  While Frankie enjoyed mixing with people in the cocktail lounge, Tony claimed a table for four. He was in for the long haul, waiting for his mother, Meredith and Gabe, and I was surprised when I saw him tapping his foot under the table. Music seemed to be his weak spot. Maybe that was his tell. He was actually responding to something.

  Lila and my mother-in-law sang a couple of swing songs and then slowed things down with Summertime. Lila carried the song and Judith backed her up.

  At the end of the song the women excused themselves and took a well-deserved break.

  Lila walked out to the Reservation Desk. “I’m not twenty-five anymore.” She laughed. “This is wearing me out, but I’m having the time of my life. Judith said the same thing.”

  “Well,” I said, “sometime during the evening I want you both to take a longer break and have some dinner.”

  “We ate early this afternoon with the girls. We can’t eat and perform, too. I’d probably pass out or throw up.” She laughed again.

  She really was having the time of her life.

  Sophia appeared to try to make a grand entrance, but people were so excited and into the entertainment that the flurry she seemed to expect didn’t happen. Mikey showed her to her table where Tony waited for her.

  Chris left Shauna and joined me at the desk. “Have you been watching our employees?”

  “No, why?”

  “Take a good look.”

  I looked around and saw Phyllis, Gloria, Donna and Duke dancing from table to table.

  “What on earth?” I asked.

  “They got together and practiced, according to Duke. I think Bogey Nights has become The Place to be.”

  My heart was racing – too much excitement. “I can’t believe what’s happening here tonight. Chris, I think we’ve made it.”

  “Take a break, babe. Just wander around and listen to what people are saying. You’ll be amazed. Oh, and Shauna is recording everything. She has an idea for a spot on the PBS station.”