Full Tilt

  "Some of those diamonds must go. They flash like a Kmart blue light special when you walk into a room."

  Deedee reared back as though afraid he would try to snatch them from her. "Forget it, Beenie. I didn't say I wanted to dress like Mother Theresa."

  Beenie shot Jamie a look of pure exasperation. "You would think I was asking her to give up a kidney."

  Jamie chuckled, happy to see Deedee and Beenie focused on a new project. Anything to take their minds off what was happening downstairs. "Why don't I let the two of you slug it out? I need to call Phillip." She suspected she'd better tell him about the latest events herself instead of letting him find out from Lamar.

  "Try to rest for a few minutes," Beenie told Deedee. "I can ask the chef to slow down dinner. He'll want to bite my head off and shove it down the garbage disposal, but I don't care."

  "Maybe I will rest for a moment." Deedee looked at Beenie. "Where's Choo-Choo?"

  "Last time I saw him he was curled on a rug in front of the kitchen fireplace. I think he was cold, poor baby. Let me get him for you."

  * * * * *

  Lenny walked into the motel room where Mitzi was watching General Hospital. "Where's Vito?" she said.

  Lenny sat down on the other bed. He was dirty and sweaty, his brown hair plastered to his scalp. "Dead."

  Mitzi bolted upright. "What the hell are you talking about? Is this some kind of joke?"

  Lenny shook his head. "No, man, he's dead as hell. Some bad-ass dude on the security team got him. Got a black patch on his eye and all these scars on his face." Lenny shuddered. "I saw the whole thing." He drew a line across his throat. "It was nasty."

  "Did you finish your business and collect the money?"

  He shook his head. "Hell, no. Everything happened so fast I barely had time to get out. I'm telling you, this dude would have gladly cut my heart out if he'd known I was with Vito."

  Mitzi slapped him hard. "Listen to me, retard.

  I've gone through pure hell waiting for you guys to pull this thing off. Now my husband is dead and what do we have to show for it? We're not going anywhere until the job is done, and we're paid. You got that?"

  "You don't understand," Lenny said. "Vito and I were supposed to kill someone."

  Mitzi gaped at him. "Vito was serious about that?"

  "Yeah, man. Only we couldn't get close enough to the target to off him."

  She took a deep breath. "Then you and I will have to do it."

  "The police are looking for me, Mitzi. They'll recognize me the minute they lay eyes on me."

  "Not when I get finished with you." She pulled a pair of scissors from her suitcase. "Sit."

  * * * * *

  "Has anyone seen Choo-Choo?" Beenie asked once he'd searched the kitchen and several other places the dog enjoyed sleeping.

  "I haven't seen him," the housekeeper said.

  "Do I look like a dog-sitter?" the chef snapped.

  Beenie planted his hands on his hips. "No, you look like a nasty old grouch who hasn't been laid since Julia Child started cooking." He looked at the man's assistant who shook her head sadly.

  "I haven't seen him, either," she said.

  Jamie came downstairs a moment later and found Beenie still searching. "Should we look in the other bedrooms?" she asked. "Choo-Choo may have become frightened with all the people in the house."

  "That's the problem with this place," Beenie said. "There are far too many bodies around. I should ask Big John if he's seen Choo-Choo." Beenie shivered. "I keep wondering how he got the name Big John, know what I mean?"

  "He's a large man," Jamie replied.

  "Large is what I've been thinking as well."

  They searched the other bedrooms. One of the security guards helped. The little dog was nowhere to be found.

  Finally, Beenie and Jamie knocked on the door to Frankie's study. They found him, Max, and Lamar deep in discussion.

  "Choo-Choo is missing," Beenie said. "I don't know what to do."

  "Oh, hell." Frankie's shoulders sagged. "This is bad."

  Jamie heard footsteps behind her and turned. Deedee had come downstairs, obviously wondering why Beenie hadn't brought up her dog.

  She glanced around at the serious faces. "What's going on?" she asked.

  Beenie burst into tears.

  * * * * *

  Phillip entered the living room quietly where Jamie was trying to comfort Deedee. Although Deedee's housekeeper had dispensed with the burned rug and drapes and cleaned the area from top to bottom shortly after the small fire, the smell of smoke lingered.

  "I thought I'd stop by and see how things are going," he said. "I hear the pooch is missing. Any ideas?"

  Jamie shook her head. Two hours had passed and there was still no sign of Choo-Choo or the man called Lenny Black. "Security is still searching the grounds," she said. "We think Choo-Choo may have slipped out of the house unnoticed and could be hiding on the property. He's not used to all these people."

  "He's gone," Deedee said. "Whoever is doing this terrible thing took my dog, too."

  "Honey, why would anyone bother with an innocent pet?" Jamie said.

  Deedee met her look. "Because this person is cruel and obviously very sick and doesn't care who he hurts."

  Jamie wished Frankie were there for Deedee, but he and Max were still holed up in the library with Lamar. Security Chief Duncan and Big John were at the police station giving their reports and looking at mug shots in hopes of finding Lenny Black's picture. Swamp Dog had been questioned at length and was now walking the grounds, a hero in the eyes of the other security guards. Jamie didn't trust him, had no idea whose side he was on or whether he was playing both sides, and as the sky darkened outside, she became even more concerned. She could only hope that Max was having the man watched.

  Beenie came into the room, twisting his handkerchief, his face shrouded in guilt. "Can I get you anything, Deedee?"

  Jamie felt sorry for him. "Why don't you prepare Deedee a Frappuccino?" she suggested, knowing Beenie would feel better if he kept busy.

  "I already fixed her one," he said. He glanced around and sighed. "Lord, my head is all screwed up. I must've left it in the kitchen." He hurried away. When he returned he carried a small silver tray bearing a tall mug. "It was on the library table in the foyer," he said. "I don't even remember putting it there. I just don't know what's come over me." He set it on the table beside Deedee. "Some of the ice has melted. Do you want me to prepare a fresh one?"

  "No need," Deedee said.

  Beenie stood there for a moment, wringing his handkerchief. "Deedee, I know you hate me, but I truly am sorry about Choo-Choo. I'm going to keep looking, though. I just know I'll find him."

  Deedee looked up. Her eyes were sad. "It's not your fault, Beenie. You love him as much as I do." She reached for her mug and took several long sips. When she lowered it, something metal scraped the inside. She peered at her drink. "There's something in here." She took a spoon from the tray and stirred her coffee. "Yes, there's definitely something—" She pulled up the spoon and paled at the sight. "Oh, my God!"

  Jamie turned. "What is it?" She felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle as Deedee lifted Choo-Choo's collar from the glass. "He was inside this house," she whispered.

  The glass slipped from Deedee's fingers and shattered on the floor.

  * * * * *

  The door to the library was flung open a second later. Max and Frankie hurried out, Lamar right behind him. "What is it?" Frankie asked. He glanced in the direction Deedee pointed.

  "Somebody put Choo-Choo's collar in Deedee's Frappuccino," Jamie told him.

  Max muttered a four-letter word. "This is bullshit. How could this have happened? Who has been in this room?"

  "I just got here," Phillip said.

  "It had to have happened in the kitchen or while it was sitting on the library table," Beenie said, explaining how he'd forgotten to bring in the drink when he'd made it. He mopped fresh tears. "I can't seem to do
anything right."

  Max strode purposefully from the living room to the kitchen. Jamie followed. The room was empty.

  "Where is the kitchen staff?" Max demanded. All at once there were footsteps on the stairs leading from the wine cellar. The chef appeared, a bottle of wine in each hand. He stopped abruptly at the sight of them.

  "May I help you?"

  "Did you see anyone come into this room?" Max demanded.

  "I've been downstairs choosing wine. Not that it will matter. Everything is overdone and will taste like rubber by the time I serve it."

  "Where is the woman who normally helps you?"

  "She quit on me. Said she wasn't used to working in such a crazy place. I don't blame her."

  "You didn't see anything out of the ordinary?" Jamie asked.

  The chef scowled at her. "I've got people traipsing in and out of this kitchen all day," he snapped. "I can't get anything done for all the traffic."

  Max shoved through the swinging door with Jamie right behind. Frankie and Deedee were on the stairs. "Deedee and I want to be alone for a little while," Frankie said.

  "Good idea," Max said, as Duncan and Big John came through the front door. The men paused as though sensing a problem, but Max waited until Frankie and Deedee were gone before pulling Duncan aside. "Is there another way inside this house that I don't know about?"

  "There's a cellar door that opens up near the back hedges. But nobody can get in or out because I put a lock on it."

  "I want to see it," Max said.

  "I've got a flashlight."

  They started once more for the kitchen where the chef, clearly annoyed at being questioned, was banging pots and pans together as he prepared dinner. Outside, several security men looked up from their posts as Max and Duncan searched through the hedges.

  "It should be here somewhere," Duncan said. "I scattered leaves and pine needles over it so it wouldn't be noticeable." He stooped beside an area and began raking brush aside. Max peered over his shoulder as the area was cleared and a wooden door came into view. Duncan trained his flashlight on the lock.

  "Shit." He picked up the lock and handed it to Max. "Somebody sawed right through it. He could be in the house right now for all we know."

  "Where's Swamp Dog?" Max asked.

  "He watches the back of the property. Says he doesn't trust anyone else to do the job right."

  "Find him. And I want the cellar and house searched from top to bottom."

  Max returned to the kitchen and found the chef opening the bottles of wine.

  "Throw everything out," Max ordered.

  "Excuse me?" The man looked at Max as if he were crazy.

  "I don't want this food served."

  "Are you nuts? I've spent all day preparing this meal. Do you have any idea what tuna steaks cost?"

  "Someone had access to this kitchen who shouldn't have. He could have tampered with the food. If you still want to serve tuna, then I'd suggest you serve it from a can."

  The chef opened his mouth to protest, but the hard look on Max's face must've changed his mind. "Whatever."

  Security personnel began filling the house. "I want the search done as quickly and quietly as possible," Max told Duncan, "and keep the men away from Mrs. Fontana's room. I'll check it personally."

  Duncan nodded. "I've got men in the cellar now. Swamp Dog is still at the back of the property, reclined against a tree, holding a high velocity assault rifle and wearing night vision gear." He shook his head sadly. "He's got booby traps along the back fence. I've cautioned my men. You ask me, I think the guy is whacko. He's the one we need to watch."

  Max nodded. "Make sure you do that."

  It was after midnight before the house was battened down for the night. Jamie had already seen a very worried Phillip out. Max and Duncan were discussing security at the kitchen table, where tuna sandwiches and pasta salad had been the evening fare. Snakeman stood guard at the door.

  "We found more evidence inside the cellar of someone coming through the access door," Duncan said. "It's clear now. I've got a guard down there. As for Lenny Black, I think he's long gone."

  "Frankie and I searched and secured the master bedroom while Deedee was taking a bath," Max said.

  Duncan sighed. "I've never worked a job where I had no idea who the enemy was."

  "How long have you owned your security company?" Max asked.

  Duncan shrugged. "Ten years. I took early retirement from the police department."

  "How come?"

  "I figured I'd make more money this way."

  "But you were only a couple of years from retiring from the department, weren't you? You lost your pension."

  Duncan met his gaze. "You had me checked?"

  Max nodded at Snakeman, and the wrestler stepped outside.

  Duncan rubbed his eyes. "Okay, so I was forced to take an early retirement, but I was never convicted of any wrongdoing. I was cleared."

  "They found drug money in the trunk of your car."

  "It was planted there. I'd just busted a big-time dealer, and he was determined to get even."

  "So instead of fighting it you moved a thousand miles away and started your own security company."

  "I could have fought it in court, but the media had already tried and convicted me. It didn't matter that I had spent twenty years on the force and had a perfect record. My neighbors refused to speak to me, and no matter how many times I had my phone number changed I continued to get crank calls."

  "Your wife left you over it, didn't she?"

  Duncan nodded. "Our relationship had been over for years anyway so that was no surprise, but it only made things worse when she walked out." He met Max's gaze. "If you have a problem with me you're free to get somebody else. I've told you everything."

  Jamie came into the kitchen and stopped short when she saw the two men talking. "Is this a private conversation?"

  Max shook his head. "You're free to join us."

  She sank into one of the chairs. She was depressed. Not only was her relationship with Phillip growing even more tense, she no longer knew what to expect from one minute to the next. She was edgy after all that had happened and wired from drinking too much coffee. "What a night," she said.

  "Is Deedee asleep?" Max asked.

  "Yeah. Frankie refuses to leave her side." She asked both men, "Do you think the person who took Choo-Choo will kill him?"

  Max and Duncan exchanged looks.

  "Don't lie to me," Jamie said. "I want the truth."

  "I think it was just a scare tactic," Duncan told her, "but dogs make noise, and this person isn't going to risk a barking dog."

  "So the answer is yes," Jamie said.

  Max shifted in his chair. "I don't think we can automatically assume the dog is dead, Jamie, but we need to be prepared for the worst."

  "Like what?"

  Duncan didn't look up from his coffee cup. "We could receive a body part."

  Jamie heard a gasp and realized it had come from her own mouth. She felt sick. Tears stung her eyes. "Oh, God."

  Max took her hand and squeezed it. "He's giving us the worst-case scenario, Jamie."

  She met his gaze. "Promise me—"

  "Deedee will never know," he said softly. Max looked at Duncan. "I'm counting on you to see that nothing comes into this house until it's checked carefully."

  * * * * *

  It was after three a.m. when Beenie pushed through the swinging door that led inside the kitchen where Choker sat at the kitchen table reading a wrestling magazine. His gun lay on the table. Beenie shivered. "You must be on the night shift."

  Choker didn't respond.

  "I couldn't sleep," Beenie said.

  "Then be quiet so the others can," the man replied without looking up.

  "I need air."

  Beenie opened the back door and stepped outside. A security guard stood nearby. "What the hell are you doing out here again?" the man said. "We've got enough problems on our hands without you wandering all
over the grounds this hour of the morning looking for some stupid mutt."

  "I'm going to do one last search." Beenie left the back steps and walked along the hedges. "Choo-Choo," he whispered. "Come to Papa. I know you're hiding because you're scared of all these strange men, but it's okay to come out. Your mama misses you terribly." Beenie peeked into the hedges. "Come on, sweet boy. Uncle Beenie will take care of you."

  Beenie continued searching. He rounded the house and came to an abrupt halt when a man stepped from the shadows. "What are you doing out here?" the man whispered in a menacing tone.

  "I'm looking for Choo-Choo." Those were the last words out of Beenie's mouth before the butt of a pistol slammed against his skull. He fell to the ground with a thud.

  * * * * *

  Max walked into the kitchen a few minutes later. "Ready for me to relieve you?"

  "I'm okay," Choker said. He shifted in his chair. "Beenie has been out looking for the dog again. He's been down several times already. Driving me crazy. He came through about ten minutes ago."

  "I'd better go out there," Max said. He started for the door. It was flung open before he could reach for the handle.

  "Hold it right there!" Choker said, aiming his weapon. He lowered it at the sight of one of the security men.

  "We've got trouble," the guard said. "That Beenie fellow—"

  Max pushed past him and raced outside. He followed the sound of voices and hurried around to the side of the house where he found Duncan and several others kneeling beside Beenie.

  "He looks bad," Duncan said.

  Max pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed nine-one-one.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jamie sat on one side of Deedee, Frankie on the other, as they waited in the visitor's lounge of the ER for word on Beenie. Deedee had cried on and off since the ambulance had awakened her to more bad news.

  "I'm so scared, Frankie," she said. "I can't lose Beenie. He's like a sister to me."

  Max almost smiled in spite of the seriousness of the situation. "He's got a lot going for him, honey. He's young and healthy. That helps."

  "We'll find the person responsible for this," Lamar said, having arrived at the hospital only minutes after Beenie had been taken into the emergency room.