The Season of Sin (Peace In The Storm Publishing Presents) (4 page)

“Hey!”

Bruce stopped but didn’t turn around.

“Bruce it would be in your best interest to cooperate.”

“Look I don’t need to be dragged into this shit. I’m trying to keep my life straight, Detective Kemp.  Next year I’ll be thirty and look at me.” He shook the radio. “I’m still right where I was at nineteen, doing the same shit I was doing then. I haven’t accomplished a damn thing. I don’t wanna be a fuck up my whole life.  People around here treat me like shit and I wanna prove to them I’m not.”

Brianna shielded her eyes from the sun. “I hope you really are trying to get your life straight.”

“Look I lost the most important thing in my life because I didn’t fight hard enough. I’m not losing anything else.”

“You mean Dylan?” Steven stood beside Brianna.

“See I did everything to make her happy and it still didn’t work out. Shit they say you gotta work for what you want, well I did and got screwed anyway.”

Brianna watched him. “Fighting for someone you love is anything but easy.”

“Just so much shit has happened you know?” He scratched his hair. A line of grease trailed down his forehead.

“Yeah well don’t let anything stop you when you’re in love.” Steven glanced at Brianna. “Sometimes it’s worth it to keep fighting for it.”

Bruce swatted at a fly.  “We’re getting off point here. I didn’t kill Nadia. I told Matthews that and now I’m telling you.”

“Jayce’s been here?” Brianna asked.

“Yeah and he was getting on my nerves more than you two are. There is no way you can put Nadia’s death on me because I didn’t do it. So please leave me alone.”

The detectives gave Bruce their cards and went to Steven’s car.

Bruce watched them leave then headed inside.

Swaggert tottered from behind the counter. “Dey gon’?  They was tryin’ to pin Hollister’s murder on ya’ huh?” He spit.

“You should know.” Bruce put his radio on the bucket behind the counter and sat in Swag’s chair. “I’m sure you were listening.” He rested his feet by the computer.

Swaggert laid his scrawny arm on the counter. “Why you smiling like that? Oh hell.  I know what you’re thinking and if you had half a brain, you’d cut it out now.”

Bruce popped in a piece of gum. “And what am I thinking since you know so much?”

“Don’t be a bigger fool than you are, Bruce. You thinkin’ now that the doc is outta the way it’s free season on her daughter’s pussy.” He spit. “But cha’ wrong.”

“You’re an old dirty, perverted dog, Swag.”

“Shit you thinking with momma out the way you can start banging her daughter again with no hassles and problems. Well you forgot how much trouble all that shit caused?  You been whining about changing things, moving on and having a better life.” Swaggert got the broom from the corner. “And not to mention getting out of this hell hole.  You keep your mind on that and off that girl you’d be better off.”

“Why don’t you just stay out of my business, old man?”

“Oh yeah I’m old when I ain’t saying what you wanna hear right? But I ain’t old when you need somebody to bail your ass outta jail. Or when you need rent money. I ain’t old then.”

“You think you know everything. It’s not easy to just stop loving someone. I’m in love with her. I always will be.”

“And what the hell’s so special about that bony, weird-looking girl?  Look how she dresses and acts. Wear all that scary black eye shadow. All them damn piercings.” Swaggert motioned with his hands.  “Girl got mo’ holes in her than a sifter.  Remember when you first met her she had that green hair.” Swaggert shook his head.  “I thought the bitch was on crack or something. It ain’t normal.”

“She’s from the artistic crowd. They’re different.”

“Look at cha’. Got stars in ya’ eyes already.  Don’t let your dick lead you into misery, Bruce. Forget her. She ain’t worth it believe me. Go out and get you a tall sexy blond who’s dumb as a brick and won’t talk back.” Swaggert swept dust. “You’ll be better off believe me.”

“Nah. I like my women with a brain.”

“Why? The brainless ones are all right to me.  Ha, ha!”

Bruce took off his oily shirt and got a clean one from under the counter.

“Can I knock off now for lunch?” Bruce took out his car keys.

“Oh, man.  See I knew it.”

“Can I?”

“You going to see that girl?”

“Maybe.” Bruce swung the keys. “Maybe not. That’s my business.” He hopped from behind the counter.  “I’ll be back in an hour.”

“Bullshit you got work to do!” Swaggert hobbled out of the garage behind him.

“And it’ll be here when I get back.”

“Don’t be a damn fool, Bruce.”

Bruce slammed the door of his white Mustang. Pearl Jam blasted from the radio when he revved the engine.

“Turn that mess down!  You know I don’t like all that loud music!”

He waved out the window. “I’ll be back later!”

“Don’t open up old wounds!”

Bruce sped toward the gate with a trail of dust behind him.

“Forget her!” Swaggert hollered in his hands. “Dylan Hollister ain’t nothing but trouble!”

CHAPTER FIVE

Friday

Jasmine flung plates of Red Velvet cake and glasses of punch to her sisters, Donna and Sandra.  They smiled at Brianna and scampered out of Jasmine’s kitchen to serve the guests.

Jasmine carried a giant tuna casserole to the table that already spilled over with food. “Would you like another piece of pecan pie, Detective Morris?” She dumped globs of casserole on the antique plates.

“No I’ve already had two pieces.” Brianna did a half-twirl in her snug dress. “That’s my limit.”

“Limit?” Jasmine grabbed plates from the cabinet. “I swear your waist is smaller than one of my thighs.” They laughed.  “Besides, we’ve gone through the worse part of the day so we can at least celebrate Nadia’s memory by enjoying the food.”

“The funeral was lovely. It’s so nice that you invited Steven and me.”

“It was Dylan’s idea. I mean, I’m glad you came too of course.” Jasmine got homemade sauce out of the refrigerator. “It meant a lot to Dylan that you came.”

“Why?” Brianna moved out of Jasmine’s way. 

“Well she likes you. You also meant a lot to Nadia. She says that you guys are making this much easier for her to handle.  You and Zoë.”

“So they’re real close huh?”

“Zoë’s like a sister to Dylan.”

Brianna bit into a peanut butter cookie. “Uh, she’s very pretty.”

“Zoë?” Jasmine chucked balled up napkins into the trashcan. “The girl’s gorgeous.”

“Yes she is.” Brianna found the cookie harder to swallow. “She takes over a room. Can’t help but notice her.”

“And that body. Heck when I was in my twenties I had a great body but I didn’t look like
that
.”

Brianna faked a smile.

“Did you see how all the men were looking at her?” Jasmine licked vanilla frosting off the spatula. “Here we are trying to bury Nadia and those pigs are looking up and down Zoë’s dress. Even Pastor Hill ought to be ashamed.”

Brianna dusted cookie crumbs off her hands. “Boys will be boys I guess.”

“But there’s one man who wasn’t looking.” Jasmine filled glasses with juice. “Detective Kemp didn’t seem to notice Zoë’s dress, or lack of it.”

“Oh please.  Believe me he noticed big time. Did you see when he tripped coming out of the church?  His eyes were glued to Zoë’s behind the entire time.”

Jasmine shrugged. “Okay well we can’t blame him. He is a man. Still he seemed more interested in the lady standing beside him. I think we both know who that is.”

Brianna flushed with warmth.

“I’m sorry.” Jasmine put the juice away. “That isn’t my business.”

“No you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I embarrassed you didn’t I?”

“No I’m not embarrassed.”

“I just can tell that there’s more than business between you.”

“So it’s that obvious?” Brianna searched the cookie tray for an oatmeal and raisin. “Steven and I were together for a long time.”

“You see I could tell.” Jasmine sucked frosting off the spatula. “You two ever think of rekindling the fire?”

Brianna went to the other side of the kitchen. “Uh, everything, uh really was lovely.”

Steven walked in. He’d devoured his bowl of chocolate pudding.

“Speak of the devil.  Detective Kemp.” Jasmine gestured to the snacks. “Feel free to have some more of anything you like.”

He scraped the sides of his bowl to get the remainder of pudding. He’d combed his hair so neatly Brianna could see the teeth marks.  His Indigo suit made his eyes stand out more than usual.

“Whoo, wee!  Ms. Hudson that pudding hit the spot. I love anything chocolate.”

Jasmine sucked in a chuckle.  Brianna covered her grin.

“What’s so funny? Did I miss something?”

“No. Would you like some tuna casserole, Detective Kemp?”

“Oh naw.” He scrunched up his nose.  “But I’ll take a tuna sandwich on wheat.”

“Uh, I don’t have any tuna sandwiches but I can make you one.”

He set his bowl in the sink. “That’s cool.”

“Steven.” Brianna bumped him. “Instead of asking for a sandwich why don’t you help out?”

“Oh and is you eating all the cookies a form of helping out?” He moved the cookie tray.

Jasmine laughed. “I must say you two are keeping my mind off Nadia and I appreciate that.” She got two plates, winked at Brianna and left.

Steven stirred a fruit cup.  “What the hell was that about?”

“Nothing.” Brianna sipped juice. “It’s a woman thing.”

“Jayce left a message on my cell.” Steven gobbled a spoonful of fruit. “Boy does he want your head on a stick ‘cause of those journals. I hope you weren’t blabbing info about the case to Jasmine.”

“We weren’t even talking about that.”

“So what were you talking about then?”

“Nothing.” She got a napkin.

“Didn’t seem like nothing to me.  I could tell you were talking about me.”

“Jasmine said she could tell we’d been together that’s all.  She thought we were still a couple but I told her we weren’t.”

“And whose fault is that?”

She scooped onion dip on a chip.  “Don’t start.”

“I’m not starting anything.” He moved closer. “Jasmine’s a smart lady.”

“She said she could tell by how you were looking at me during the funeral.”

“Oh?” He caressed her shoulder.  “Did she notice how you were looking at
me
?”

“What?” She swallowed the rest of the chip.  “I was not.”

“You were.”

“I wasn’t.”

He laughed. “Since you can’t admit you’re still in love with me then I’m not surprised you’d deny you were looking at me.”

“Stop it.” She washed her hands. “What have you been doing?”

“Checking out some of the guests and looking for clues. Where’s Dylan?”

Brianna opened a jar of sweet pickles. “I think she’s resting.”

“We need to talk to her in private. Shit can’t get a word in with Jasmine around.”

“Let’s give her space today out of respect.”

Steven got a piece of pecan pie. “I’ll look like Michael Moore by the time we leave here.”

“A lot of tension at the funeral wasn’t it?” Brianna lowered her voice when some of the church members passed the kitchen door.

Steven nodded and chewed. “I was talking to that skinny neck lady in the pink hat. She said when Nadia’s parents died the siblings went at each other’s throats.”

“Really?”

“Mmm hmm.” He sucked on a pecan.

“You think they could’ve been involved in her death?”

“I don’t know but you said you read she had some secret in her journal right? Well the hat lady said that Nadia had been hiding something.”

“No shit?”

“Nope. That secret might have something to do with her family.”

“Well it definitely has to do with Dylan. Nadia kept writing she had something to tell Dylan but knew it would ruin both their lives. What kind of secret could be that powerful?”

Steven shrugged.

“Get out of my house now!” Jasmine yelled from the living room. “You’re not welcomed here!”

“What the hell?” Brianna put the pickles down.

“Come on.” Steven held the kitchen door for her.

When they got into the living room the guests were staring at the scene with their mouths opened and eyes wide. Donna and Sandra stood in the doorway like soldiers. Jasmine waved a spatula at the man in front of her.

“Get out, Bruce!”

“Go to hell, Jasmine. I’m not going anywhere.” He looked at Brianna and Steven. “What are you guys doing here?”

Jasmine swung her hand. “They were invited unlike you.”

“You are an ingrate, Bruce McNamara.” Sandra flung her arm.  “How dare you come here? You have no shame. You can’t even respect our wishes on this day?”

“I came to pay my respects.”

“Ha!” Donna jumped in his face. “Who the hell do you think you’re kidding? We all know you hated Nadia. What do you want?  For us to tell you where she’s buried so you can break dance on her grave?”

“I don’t give a damn what any of you think.” He glanced at the guests.  “I came to see Dylan and I’m not leaving until I do.”

“The hell you’re not.” Jasmine snapped her fingers. “Detective Kemp please get him out of here.”

“Gonna sic the cops on me now, Jasmine? Get off your damn high horse. You’re a bigger fake than Nadia.”

“You watch your mouth.” She swung the spatula.

Bruce bucked up to her. “And you better get outta my face.”

“Hey.” Steven got between them. “Cool it, Bruce.”

“So what now that Nadia’s dead you’re gonna step in as the designated pain in my ass, Jasmine?”

“Get out and don’t ever come back here or I’ll have you arrested.”

“I’m not scared of the cops and I’m sure as hell not afraid of you.”

“Get…out…now.”

“Well.” He sized up Jasmine.  “I guess being a bitch runs in the family?”

“And being a bastard probably runs in yours.”

“You bitch.”

“Get out!”

“Okay you’ve had your fun, Bruce. Don’t let your anger make you do something you’ll regret.”

“Oh believe me I won’t regret it, Detective Kemp.”

“You’re an animal. My sister had every reason and right to keep you away from Dylan and you can bet I’ll pick up where she left off.”