The Bogey Man Read online

  I turned back toward my own home.

  Bubba did his duty and wandered back to the house, ready to take another doggie nap. He scratched on the back door and waited. Nothing happened. He scratched again and waited patiently. I recalled the night Bubba had shown up at the back door for the first time. He’d thumped on the door instead of scratching. I smiled again. Needing to clear my head of all the reminiscing, I shook it and concentrated on my house.

  Why hadn’t my mother opened the door to let Bubba back in? I was sure she wouldn’t have gone to sleep in the chair.

  The kitchen light flicked on. I was puzzled. She knew she needed to stay in the shadows, so why had she turned on the light?

  Bubba scratched noisily at the door, sniffed around the frame, and growled. Not a good sign. Bubba never growled at the air.

  “I think something’s going on,” I whispered into the walkie-talkie. “Stay where you are. I’m going to check it out.”

  After hearing several clicks and a lot of static in response, I half expected Pete to speak up and tell me to wait for him. He kept his mouth closed, apparently trusting my judgment.

  I cautiously slipped out of the bushes and made my way toward the house. How could I see inside? We’d closed all the drapes and curtains.

  The back porch light came to life, exposing me.

  Bubba was beginning to act agitated. He bounced from one foot to the other, and growled again, finally running down the steps and around the side of the house toward the front. I was amazed at the speed my huge canine could muster when he wanted to.

  Giving up all pretense of hiding, I raced to the back door and shook the knob. The door was locked. “Mother?” I yelled. “What’s going on?”

  The back door slowly swung open. Mother stood just inside, her eyes large and scared. She held the towel that had covered her hair in her hand.

  “I’m sorry, Honey,” my mother said. “It’s all my fault. I started to let Bubba out the front door, but he wanted out the back way. I forgot to relock the front door.”

  A seemingly disembodied hand reached out and pulled her away from the door.

  “Come in, please,” said a familiar voice.

  I clicked the button on my walkie-talkie several times and then held it down so my friends could hear what was about to happen.

  Walking into the house, head held high, I turned to face the enemy. “I never would have taken you for a killer, but I suppose it makes sense in a weird sort of way.”

  The door slammed behind me.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  “Hello, Ms. Webster. Too bad your housekeeper forgot to lock the front door.”

  Joshua King stood next to my mother with a knife in his hand.

  “Her housekeeper? I’ll have you know I’m Sandra’s – .”

  “Not now, Livvie.” If Joshua knew she was my mother it might make things worse. He could use her to threaten me further. Or worse, he might hurt her.

  He pushed her away from his side, focusing on me.

  “Why don’t you just let her leave?” I asked. “My housekeeper isn’t a part of all of this.”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? She’d call the police. I’m afraid you’re both going to die. With all the threats you’ve had they’ll never figure this out. Especially since the prime suspect, Jolly, is dead. Who else could possibly want you dead? They’ll figure this is a totally unrelated crime. And I have no connection to this. I’m Purity’s grieving lover, remember?”

  “How did you get into the house?” I asked. More to the point, why hadn’t any of us seen him?

  He pointed toward my neighbor’s house, the one on the other side from Dolly. “I was waiting for the right opportunity when your housekeeper opened the front door. She closed it and I watched through the window. I saw her let that dog outside and checked the door. She hadn’t relocked it.”

  Mother shook her head and squared her shoulders. She casually slid her feet and took a step away from Joshua, turning slightly. His eyes followed her.

  “Cupcake, this goon thinks we’re bullet bait, but I don’t see no gat in his hand. Nope, no lead poisoning for me.” She took another step, turning a bit more. “It’s aces with me if you two have a beef, but I ain’t a part of it. I ain’t goin’ home feet first. So I think I’ll just hit the bricks and let you two beat your gums without me.” Another two steps and her back was to the living room.

  Joshua had been so taken with what she was saying that he side-stepped with her, turning as he did so and facing the living room.

  “This guy ain’t no heavy,” my mother said, “he just thinks he is.”

  “Dummy up, Livvie,” I said, gritting my teeth. What was wrong with her? This wasn’t the time for Bogeyese. I had to admit though, she was up to something. Her steps made that clear to me, even if Joshua didn’t pick up on it.

  She rolled her eyes and looked past me. I shrugged, not knowing what she was thinking.

  Joshua’s eyes lit up. “I can play this game, too. You ain’t goin’ nowhere, you dizzy broad. But you are makin’ me goosey, so go sit down and shut your trap while the glamour puss and I jaw a little.”

  “How’s about I make some joe. You two can drink the java and I’ll just head on home.” Mother wouldn’t let up.

  Joshua curled his lip, apparently having second thoughts about my mother. “You sound like that freak who stole my girl from me.” I saw suspicion in his blinkers. Uh, eyes.

  Who stole his girl? That was Jolly, and he didn’t talk like Chris. And Chris didn’t know Purity. Did Joshua know about Jolly and Purity or not? He wasn’t making sense, unless… Maybe there was something about Chris I didn’t know.

  Glancing at my mother, I saw frustration on her face. She was still making eyes at me, willing me to understand her, and she looked over my shoulder again. Joshua’s attention was concentrated solely on me, but not for long. At least he hadn’t seen my mother trying to communicate with me.

  “Ya big gunsel, why don’t you go pick on some cream puff? That’d be more your speed.” She looked at me and rolled her eyes again, obviously meaning for Joshua to see it this time. “I think this hotsie-totsie actor has bats in the belfry.”

  Back in character, Joshua scrunched up his face and refocused on my mother. “Why, ya dirty rat. I oughta plug ya.”

  I pursed my lips. “Wrong actor, Joshua. That wasn’t a Bogey line, at least that I can recall.”

  “And I ain’t Bogey. So shudup, you crazy broad.”

  Mother reached out and took hold of my arm. “You come stand by me, Babycakes. I think this guy belongs in a cackle factory.”

  “Cackle factory?” I repeated. What was this little woman up to? She was only aggravating the situation.

  “Yeah, the nut house. You know, the looney bin.”

  That’s when I saw Chris. Mother had pulled the curtain aside on the window in the back door when I’d come inside. Chris was waving his hands at me, trying to get my attention. He had it. He made a motion as though plunging a knife into something and added a turning motion.

  I got it! Stick the knife in and twist it to keep Joshua off balance – figuratively, of course.

  Chris’s head disappeared and was replaced by Stanley’s. Stanley appeared to be pushed aside and Chris was back in my view.

  “If I’m crazy, then I’m crazy like a fox. I’m getting rid of everyone who can bring me down.”

  “How can I bring you down, Joshua?” I asked. “I have no idea what’s going on. What’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing’s wrong with me. Purity’s no longer a threat to my career, thanks to Jolly.”

  “Then why did you kill Jolly?” I asked. “He wasn’t any threat to you.”

  “Hey! Maybe I didn’t want Purity, but Jolly cut into my territory. Nobody does that to me. What’s mine is mine, until I decide to throw it out. He got Purity pregnant before I kicked her out.”

  “Is that why you and Purity fought?” I asked.

  “No one is goin
g to make a fool out of me and get away with it. Purity told me that witch Mavis knew, and there was no way the old biddy could keep her big mouth shut. So, you see, Ms. Webster, you’re going to have plenty of company. When I’m done here, I’ll be making a visit to Mavis. She’s going to have an accident. And after that I’m going to hunt down that Bogart impersonator. Then it’ll be done.”

  “You’re going after Chris? Why?” I was astonished.

  I knew Chris could hear what Joshua was saying because I could see confusion on his face through the window, and suddenly there was a look of understanding.

  “I told you, no one takes what belongs to me.”

  I got it. “Chris’s appointments.”

  “What?” My mother sounded confused.

  “Chris’s appointments. He was seeing Pamela, wasn’t he?” I looked at Joshua for confirmation.

  He nodded. “She’ll be taking a permanent nap, too. The cops are going to have their hands full with all the accidents in this town tonight.”

  “Who’s Pamela?” Mother sounded even more confused. “I realize I came into this late, Sweetie, but that’s a name I haven’t heard before.”

  I kept my eyes glued to Joshua’s.

  “Pamela is a waitress at the Red Barn. Felicity invited her to the costume party, and she was flattered by Joshua’s attention. It didn’t take her long to figure out what a jerk he is though, and she gave him the bum’s rush. Enter Chris, a nice guy who cares about her and doesn’t think of her as his personal property.”

  “She shouldn’t have given me the… What did you call it? The bum’s rush? She shouldn’t have done it. That Bogey freak doesn’t have anything to offer her.” Joshua’s hand tightened on the knife.

  Glancing at the window again, I saw that Chris had disappeared and Pete had taken his place.

  Bubba was at the back door again and barked his low and menacing threat, and Pete’s face disappeared.

  “Shut that mutt up, and do it now. We don’t want the neighbors to think anything is wrong.”

  Joshua stepped back and dropped his knife into the sink. He pulled a gun out of his pocket. “Time to quit playing games.”

  “You’re going to plug us?” Mother asked. “Then what was the knife all about?”

  Joshua chuckled. “Sandi is going to stab you, and then you’re going to shoot her. Neat and clean. A domestic dispute, so to speak. You are a housekeeper. Domestic dispute. Get it?”

  “I’m her mother.”

  “So much the better.”

  Joshua didn’t care what our relationship was, just so we both died.

  Bubba barked again. The deep sound seemed to set Joshua off.

  “I said to shut that dog up!”

  “Bubba, be quiet,” I yelled. His barking was making me more nervous, too, and I needed to be able to think rationally. The last thing I needed was for Joshua to go over the edge.

  As if reading my mind, my mother whispered, “This guy’s nuts. What are we going to do?”

  Bubba barked once and I could hear him running around to the front of the house again. Joshua spun toward the door, grabbing for the knob, ready to shoot my dog.

  As he pulled it open, I lunged for him, jumping on his back.

  Pete was squatting outside the door. Joshua fell over Pete and down the steps, taking me with him.

  Pete leaped from the porch, flying over the steps and landing on the pile of people, me and Joshua.

  Someone pulled me out of harm’s way. I looked up and Chris pulled me to my feet.

  “He’s got a gun,” I yelled at Pete.

  “He dropped it,” my mother said, waving the gun.

  I grabbed it from her, aiming it at Joshua.

  The two men rolled over, struggling, and Pete’s back was to me. I dropped my hand.

  Pete threw a punch. It connected. Joshua’s head snapped back. Pete pulled his arm back and landed another one. Joshua tried to fight back, but he was on the bottom. No control. He brought his knee up but Pete was too fast for him. Pete rolled to the side.

  I could hear Bubba barking nonstop at the front door.

  The two men jumped up. Joshua swung at Pete. Pete ducked, coming back up with a right, then a left and another right.

  Joshua bent over, hands on his knees, out of breath. Pete pulled his arm back for one last punch.

  “No, let me,” Chris said, stepping forward.

  Pete hesitated too long and Joshua flew up and swung his fist.

  “You’re mine,” Chris said, blocking the jab. With that, he pulled back his arm and threw an uppercut that was the end of Joshua.

  Bubba ran around the corner of the house and planted himself on Joshua’s chest, making sure he couldn’t move. The dog glared at the actor, a threateningly low growl coming from deep inside.

  There was a voice from behind me. “What’s going on here?”

  Turning, I found Rick standing behind me. “How’d you know to come?” I asked.

  “Your neighbor called me. Said it looked like you’d caught yourself a killer.”

  Rick motioned to a couple of uniformed cops to take Joshua into custody. They looked at Bubba and hesitated.

  “Come,” I said to the dog. Grudgingly, he stood up, but he wouldn’t come to me. His ears were back and he watched Joshua intently.

  “Come,” I said again. With a backwards look, he finally trudged over and sat down next to me.

  Pamela came running around the house and threw herself into Chris’s arms.

  “Where’d you come from?” I asked.

  “She’s been at my house,” Dolly said, joining the crowd.

  Breathing hard, Pete put his arm around me. “I knew I’d be here to save your bacon one of these days.”

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  After the police left, we all gathered in my kitchen and talked about what had happened.

  “I can’t believe the ego of that guy,” Pamela said. “I guess we were all supposed to fall at his feet and drool.”

  Dolly stood at the counter, making a pot of coffee. “Pamela? I’m surprised at you. I honestly thought you’d fallen for that killer.”

  “I found someone who’s killer, but not a killer.” Pamela turned to Chris and brushed her hand down the side of his face.

  “Huh?” Dolly said.

  “It’s slang,” I explained. “When something is killer, it means it’s good. Actually, it means it’s great.”

  Dolly raised her eyebrows at me. “I’ll have to remember that one.”

  Pete had been staring at me ever since we sat down at the table.

  “What?” I asked. “Why are you staring at me?”

  “I think you’re the cat’s pajamas,” he replied.

  Grinning, I took hold of his hand. “You couldn’t think of anything better than cat’s pajamas?”

  “I can, but I’ll save it until we’re alone.” He squeezed my hand.

  Felicity sat forward in her chair. “Why did Joshua and Jolly want the photos that Stanley took at the party?”

  Stanley raised his hand in the air and waved it around. “I can answer that one, I think. For one thing, neither of them was in the photographs I took outside. That meant they didn’t have alibis. And secondly, after the fire I took more inside. Looking back on things, I recall that Joshua looked upset when we came in, and Jolly had disappeared.

  “If Joshua had murdered Purity, he would certainly appear upset. Of course, with the scene Purity had caused, he was upset. If Jolly had murdered Purity, he might not have had time to return to the living room. Either way, it didn’t look good for the two men.”

  “You’re probably right,” I said. “It’ll be interesting to hear what he tells the police.”

  Felicity stood up. “Well, I have to admit, I’m exhausted.” She turned to Stanley. “Are you ready to leave?”

  “Yes, let’s cheese it.”

  We all turned to Stanley. “Well, I watch old movies, too, and when they say cheese it, they mean it’s time to leave.”
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  “Yes, they do, Stanley.” I walked my two friends to the door, telling Felicity that I’d see her over the next couple of days.

  Returning to the kitchen, I noticed Chris seemed deep in thought. I didn’t ask him what was on his mind.

  “Maybe I was wrong about you,” Pete said, looking Chris in the eye. “You’re a good Joe after all.”

  ~*~

  Pete sat at the kitchen table with Chris and me. It was the day after Joshua’s arrest. Mother was still sleeping.

  Pete watched Chris closely, studying him. “L.A. doesn’t need another P.I. Are you still thinking that’s what you want to do?”

  “I’m not sure,” Chris replied.

  “Chris, listen to me,” I said.

  He pulled an unlit cigarette out of his pocket and stuck it between his lips.

  I sighed. “Sometimes it’s very distracting to watch you. You’re so… So Bogeyish.”

  He pulled the smoke out of his mouth and grinned, his overbite prominent.

  I tried to put my thoughts in order. “You don’t want to be Humphrey Bogart, Chris. You may look like him, and you may talk like him, but what you really want is to be Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe, or somebody like that. Those are fictional characters. You want to be a hard-nosed private eye. Trust me, you aren’t cut out to be hard-nosed, and you aren’t private eye material. You need to stick with what you know. And what you know is how to be a mailman.” My words sounded harsh and I tried to soften them with a smile.

  Chris sat up straighter. “I have a good job with the Postal Service, but in all honestly, it’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have a plan for another direction, and it’s something I’ve thought about for a very long time. I’ve made some good investments that will carry me through.”

  “What’s your plan?” Pete asked.

  “I’m not quite ready to talk about it yet, but you two will be the first, or almost the first, to know. I’m going to be busy for a few months, so you won’t see much of me. I think you’ll like what I’m going to do though.”

  Chris wouldn’t tell us anything else. In fact, he was quite secretive about it.