Mustard on Top (15 page)

Ben nodded as he debated whether to tell her about Jeremy’s current state. “The good news is: he’s awake. The bad news is: he’s high on heroin.”

Helen’s eyes opened wider. “What do you mean?”

“He shot up this morning,” Ben admitted. “I destroyed his stash.”

She blinked a few times. “Wow… I never imagined… I mean… I knew… I never thought. I’m naїve, aren’t I?”

Willfully naїve
, Ben thought, but said, “You’re a trusting soul.”

“He’s okay right now?”

“Oh, he’s happy for now. I left him with food and water. His taking drugs actually bought us some time to prepare.”

Helen shook her head. “What can I do?”

“There’s nothing to do right now.”

Helen blew out a breath then push out of her seat. “Okay. I need to put these groceries away then get to work.” She began to load her fridge with plastic wrapped bags of meat.

“I’m curious, where do you take the meat after you cook it?”

“To Bruce’s Smokehouse in Cretin. They smoke and pack it.”

“Ah. I was wondering. You leave with these huge pots then magically the hot dogs appear at Hot Diggitys.”

“Now you know.”

Helen turned away and retrieved her five-gallon pan from the cupboard. Ben caught himself enjoying her rounded rear. She had good posture and, being on her feet all day, toned legs. He loved her work ethic and attitude toward life and wondered if his attraction and their easy friendship could lead to more.

Ben reminded himself he was in Nalley for Theo’s sake. “When I went to the room to pick up my laptop, I told Theo I’d be staying longer, he asked about working more on his car,” Ben said. “How do you feel about Theo being here with me during the day?”

Helen grew rigid. “That makes me nervous.”

“We’ll draw less attention if we carry on like normal.”

“You’re assuming the bad guys know what normal is.”

Ben’s argument was selfish, but he had confidence in his ability to protect Theo or Helen. “I would never let anything happen to him. I just want to spend time with him.”

“He’d like to spend time with you too,” Helen said with her back to him. Her shoulders raised and fell as if she’d taken a deep breath, and she turned to face him. “I’m sure Theo would be disappointed if he missed the opportunity.”

A grin, starting at Ben’s heart, crept up to his face.

“You don’t think Jeremy will get out of the basement somehow, do you?” Helen asked. “People high on drugs can be super strong.”

Ben thought a high wind could blow away Jeremy’s scrawny body. “Jeremy grabbed my arm when I took his drugs away. He has the strength of kid. There’s no way he’s getting up the stairs.”

“It’s all so strange.” The corners of Helen’s mouth turned down. “What about when he goes into withdrawals? Will he become super human then?”

Ben shook his head. “From my research, he’ll be even weaker.”

Helen tilted her head to the side. “How are you researching drug withdrawals?”

“The internet.”

“On my computer?” she asked suspiciously.

Ben laughed at her assumption. “No, on mine.”

Helen eyed his laptop. “How? You’re not connected to a network.”

“I’ve got a 4G connection.”

Helen’s face went blank. “4G? Now I feel like a techno-idiot.”

“Don’t. Technology changes constantly. Hey, I was thinking I’d like to take you to Hot Diggitys and pick you up after work. That way nobody can ambush you. I’ll do the same with Theo. I think that would be the safest thing.”

“Why would someone ambush me?”

“I doubt anybody would, but I’d feel better knowing you’re not alone in a dark parking lot every night, especially with those loonies so close by. A safety in numbers thing.” Ben hated her walking to her car alone at night. With her schedule and the public nature of her job, she was easy prey.

Helen scowled. “I don’t need protection.”

Ben her anticipated her arguing. “There’s nothing wrong with being safe. I’m suggesting we all stick together until we get Jeremy is out of here. Just in case Moe figures out he’s here.”

“What about you? Who’s going to take care of you?”

At six-feet-two-inches tall and 220 pounds, Ben wasn’t worried. Having played sports all his life, followed by making a living in a courtroom, he could intimidate the white off rice. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“Right.” Helen sounded is if she’d tried for sarcasm, but failed. “What about my car? If someone is watching us, they’ll wonder why you’re driving me around.”

“Does your car need a tune-up? Here’s the perfect opportunity.”

Helen considered she shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me I guess. My car needs a zillion-mile-maintenance check no doubt, but right now I need to get to work.”

“Me too.” Ben reached for his laptop and tried to remember what he’d been working on. His email program, with a half-typed response, popped onto his screen. The message seemed shallow, meaningless. 

****

Agatha’s private investigator, Henrick Gregory, was sitting in her office, when her phone rang. The caller ID was blocked, and Agatha pointed to a second phone sitting on her desk. Simultaneously, they picked up the receivers.

“This is Agatha,” she answered.

“Sorry, I couldn’t wait the three days to call you,” Moe purred.

Agatha faked a smile. She’d once read if a person smiled while they spoke on the phone, the smile could be detected in their voice. “Pardon me? Who is this?”

“I’m disappointed. It’s me, Moe.”

“Oh, Moep” Agatha put some warmth into her voice. She was curious whether he’d broach the topic of Jeremy. “What’s this about three days?”

“I’m talking about dating etiquette. The man is supposed to wait three days before calling the object of his desire for another date. Otherwise, he comes off as desperate.”

Agatha arched an eyebrow at Henrick and chuckled. She laughed not at Moe’s flirting, but how he must be burning to talk about Jeremy. “Oh? Perhaps I missed that class. Fill me in. What am I supposed to do if you call too early?”

“You must show your annoyance at my eagerness,” he said. “Clearly anyone who calls back so soon isn’t good enough for you.”

“That is probably true.” Agatha teased.

“According to the authorities anyway.”

“Had you waited the three days you’re supposed to wait, how should I respond?” Agatha said.

“You should sound happy, but not overly happy.”

“Thank you so much for the tips.” Agatha checked the display on her phone tracer. Confirming they’d been able to trace Moe’s number, she winked at Henrick. Her tone changed to sound as if she’d been waiting an hour to return a faulty, vacuum-cleaner bag. “So, Moe. What can I do for you?”

Moe’s laughter seemed genuine. “Very good. You learn quickly.”

“Thank you.” She pinched the words.

“I had a terrific time last night, and I’d like to see you again. Would you do me the honors?”

Agatha sighed audibly. “I don’t know. I’m thinking I may be too good for you.”

“You certainly are, but listen, I’m going on a business trip next week, and I can’t imagine going two weeks without seeing you again.”

Agatha looked at Henrick with arched eyebrows. He nodded.

“Advise here Moe, what do I do when faced with begging?”

He laughed again. “If I weren’t the one on the phone, I’d say hang up. Since you’re obviously needing guidance, I advise you to agree to a second date.”

“I do seem to need help. I suppose I’d be delighted to spend more time with you.”

“Have you had lunch?”

Agatha’s heart raced at the prospect of seeing Moe again so soon. She looked to Henrick, who nodded. “Actually, I am a bit hungry.”

“Wonderful. I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes for a late lunch.”

A shiver of dread mingled with anticipation. Henrick scribbled on a sticky note and rotated the note toward her.
Where are you going?

“Agatha?” Moe asked in the pause.

“Isn’t it proper etiquette for you to tell me where we’ll be going?”

“I was thinking of a picnic.”

“Oh?” Agatha said. “Where?”

“Mount Rainier.”

Henrick shook his head no. Agatha wondered if Moe was trying to get access to her house again. “Sounds marvelous, but that’s a four-hour drive.”

“A whole day of your loveliness would suit me fine.”

“How about the Nalley boardwalk? We can take a walk. There are Japanese gardens on the east end.” Henrick smiled his approval.

“Sounds good. When can you be ready?”

“Are you bringing the picnic?”

“Yes.”

Agatha shrugged and looked at Henrick. He mouthed thirty minutes, and Agatha repeated. “Thirty minutes?”

“Thirty minutes is fine,” Moe said.

Chapter 9

Ben drove Helen to Hot Diggitys. He needed to make a dozen phone calls, and had an angry client to appease, but instead of returning to Helen’s house and his laptop, Ben parked his car and took a stroll on the boardwalk. Until his trip to Nalley, his life had centered around his law practice. His job, once a security blanket, felt suffocating.

He wanted to spend more time with Theo. Plus, Helen was worried sick over Theo’s future, and Ben wondered if he could make a difference. Ben returned to his car and headed to his hotel, knowing he’d pay a steep price for blowing off work.

At his hotel room door, Ben heard muffled voices coming from inside.

He knocked and a minute later the door swung open. “Hey,” Theo said, and slapped his hand into Ben’s palm for a sloppy handshake. “Come on in.”

Ben followed him inside to where Emma sat on the edge of the bed.

“Hi Ben.” Emma stood. “I guess I’ll talk to you later, Theo. Are you still going to my sister’s party?”

“Sure.”

“’Kay.” Emma grabbed her jacket and her purse.

“Don’t leave because of me,” Ben protested.

“I’m not. I have stuff to do anyway. Besides, Theo wants to work on his car.” The way she said
car
, like it was a disease, made Ben think they’d been arguing.

Theo walked Emma to the door, giving her a peck on the lips before she left.

“Things okay between you two?” Ben asked.

“Sure.”

“Can we talk for a minute?”

“Sure.” Theo plopped into a chair facing the television, so Ben sat at the desk across from him.

“I was hoping we could discuss plans for your future.”

Panic crossed Theo’s face, before he averted his gaze. “Mom wants me to go to college somewhere. She’s been saying so my whole life.”

“You don’t want to go?”

Theo studied the toe of his Converse shoe. “I’m not very good at school. Besides…” the word drifted off.

Ben recalled Helen telling him Theo had been tutored throughout school. Even so, Theo was bright. He’d invented a hot dog maker and rebuilt an engine. Perhaps he had a learning disability and could be helped if he were diagnosed properly.

“Besides?” Ben asked.

“Nothing.”

“Besides what?”

“Nothing,” Theo said more firmly.

“Didn’t you tell told you’d like to own a vintage car shop?” Ben asked.

Theo looked up and smiled. “Wouldn’t that be cool?”

“How would you make money?”

Theo splayed his arms wide. “Sell the cars.”

“To whom?”

“Lot’s of people buy vintage cars. I see them sold on the internet all the time.”

Ben nodded. Theo wanted this more than he let on. “Let’s think about this,” Ben said. “How would you sell the cars?”

“I’d sell them on eBay and on my website. I could do cross-country delivery.”

Theo’s answer confirmed what Ben thought: Theo had a dream, but lacked confidence and money. “Do you know of any other businesses doing it?”

Theo nodded. “A few.”

“Are they making money?”

“One sells between four and five cars a month. The other, two or three. They must make twenty- to thirty- thousand dollars a car.”

“Sounds like you’ve thought a lot about it.”

Theo seemed to check his growing enthusiasm. “Once in a while.”

“How would you prepare yourself to run this type of business?”

Theo’s features pinched like saying the words aloud hurt. “I’m sure a business degree wouldn’t hurt, but what I really need is engineering. Maybe I could improve the cars, increase power, decrease fuel consumption. Of course, there are those purists who wouldn’t buy them altered. Others might appreciate an upgrade.”

“Are there a schools specializing in what you’re talking about?”

“There’s an auto engineering school in Detroit.”

Jackpot. Ben cheered inwardly. “I’d be happy to pay the tuition.”

Theo looked wary. “No.”

It seemed they were back to Theo’s discomfort with school. “Has a doctor evaluated why learning is hard for you?”

“I learn fast enough, but I’m a slow reader.” Theo’s face reddened. “Give me something to do with my hands and I’m fine.”

“Maybe the problem is your vision. Have you been tested for dyslexia?”

“Can we drop this conversation?”

Ben didn’t want to drop the topic; he wanted to march Theo into a doctor’s office. Theo’s discomfort made him back off. Ben decided to do some research and broach the topic another time.

“You ready to work on Matty?”