Always Room for Cupcakes

  “Fucking bitch!” he yelled as he bent to cradle himself, his fingers loosening enough for me to break free.

  I didn’t look to see how he was or if anyone was chasing me. I ran flat out, as if the hounds of hell were at my feet. Jumping in my car and starting it before my door had even shut behind me, I took off, fishtailing out of the storage lot and speeding down the street, grateful that no one was behind me, but not willing to relax yet.

  I drove straight to the police station and parked in their lot, figuring it was the safest place I could be, then shot a text to Cade, telling him everything that had just happened.

  Next, I sent basically the same message to Moose, except I added that he was going to need to pay me extra due to the terror I’d just faced, and that I wasn’t sending him the pictures until he sent the money.

  Finally, I texted Amy May and Bea, telling them that I needed a Ladies’ Night, STAT.

  My phone started pinging as replies came in:

  Done. Stop by and I’ll give you the cash and get the pictures. I need them yesterday… And, Lila, don’t get used to demanding shit.

  I rolled my eyes at Moose’s reply, mentally telling him to Go fuck himself.

  Then I opened Amy May’s: Sounds great. Followed by Bea’s reply: Set it up tonight. I’ll be there.

  Finally, I opened the one from Cade.

  Shit’s escalating. I don’t like him putting his hands on you. Talk to your ex about taking the kids until this shit gets wrapped up. I want you at my cabin.

  My initial reaction was irritation at Cade’s bossiness, then I realized the merit of his demands. If Hector somehow found out where I lived and something happened to my kids, I’d never forgive myself, so sending them to their dad’s was a good idea. Even if I hated the thought of being away from them, their safety came first. And the fact that Cade wanted me at his place so that he could protect me didn’t suck either…

  I texted everyone back, then decided I’d better call The Douche and tell him what was going on, rather than trying to tell him everything in a text. Then I needed to get to Moose’s, get my money, and unload these photos. Finally, I needed to to have a drink with my girl’s and talk all of this shit out.

  Damn, I needed a vacation!

  I walked up to Moose’s decaying house in the not so nice section of Greenswood, planning to make this as quick as possible. I didn’t like to be at Moose’s any longer than necessary. It wasn’t that he wasn’t nice to me, usually, and an okay boss, it’s just that something about his place gave me the creeps.

  I walked up the cracked cement steps and pounded on the ripped screen door. I heard “Come in,” shouted between a fit of coughing and wheezing.

  Oh goodie, I thought as I opened the door. Sounds like Moose is all phlegmy again.

  “What the hell?” I muttered as I walked into the entryway, down the hall, and through the kitchen. Moose’s house was never neat and tidy, but it wasn’t usually as bad as this.

  Trash thrown literally on the floor, dirty dishes everywhere, and a smell I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to identify assailed me as I hurried toward his back porch, where I knew he’d be stationed.

  “What’s going on, Moose?” I asked as I entered his makeshift office.

  He turned to me and I stopped, shocked at the state he was in.

  Big and tall, Moose was six foot two, three hundred pounds on a good day, but he looked like he’d gained weight since the last time I saw him. And his hair, which was balding on top, but usually kept trim on the back and sides, was long and stringy. Greasy from not being washed. His clothes were filthy, with food stains and sweat rings, and his face was ragged, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

  “You got the pictures?” he asked, not even looking my way.

  “Yeah, but, Moose, are you okay?” I asked, pulling the card out of my camera and placing it in his offered hand.

  He popped it in his computer without answering, then let out a relieved sigh when the pictures showed on his screen.

  “Finally,” he bit out softly. “Maybe now he’ll have what he needs and move forward. Get off my back.”

  “Who?”

  “Carlos Chavez, head of a Columbian drug cartel and older brother to Hector Chavez. He’s our client.”

  I let that information whirl around in my head, then I grabbed Moose’s meaty arm and screeched, “What? You took a drug lord as a client? Are you fucking crazy?”

  “He’s pissed that his little brother is sneaking around behind his back, trying to start up his own business here, on the side. Carlos doesn’t take kindly to being played, especially by his brother, so he hired me to find out exactly what Hector is doing in town.”

  “And you didn’t think to let me in on this little tidbit of information before you gave me the job? Shit, Moose … I have kids.”

  “Look, Lila, shit just got out of hand. I thought he’d be happy with the initial shots of the women Hector was targeting, but he always wanted more. He wanted to be sure of his brother’s betrayal before he sends his guys up here to take care of the situation.”

  “Take care of the situation? What does that mean? And there are more of them coming here? What the hell are you thinking, Moose? You’ve gotta tell the cops.”

  Moose shook his head, then pulled out a canvas bag and threw it at me.

  “Too late for that, Lila, the job is done. Once I send these pictures over to Carlos, he’ll have the final piece he was looking for. He’ll get Hector and the drugs out of Greenswood, and things will get back to normal.”

  I opened the bag and looked inside. There were piles of cash rubber banded together. I threw it back at Moose like it was on fire and said, “I can’t take that. It’s drug money, Moose. You may have lost your mind, but I haven’t. I can’t believe you’d put me in danger like this.”

  Moose’s beady eyes hit mine and he assured me, “It’s fine, Lila. Carlos promised me he wouldn’t touch you. He’s grateful for the evidence you found. It’ll be fine,” he said again, and I began to wonder if he was drunk.

  “No, Moose, it isn’t fine. Not until Hector and Carlos are out of town and out of our lives. I’m getting my kids to safety and hiding out until this all blows over. I think you should do the same.”

  Not waiting for his response, I got out of there as fast as I could, shaking my head as I went over everything he’d just admitted to me.

  What a stupid fuck!

  The sad part was that I didn’t think I’d be able to work for him anymore, not after he pulled shit like that, and I really enjoyed my job. I’d have to figure out another way to make money, something that didn’t involve drug cartels and drug-dealing bimbos.

  I called Bea as I drove away, telling her everything I’d just learned from Moose. She said she’d look into Hector and Carlos and put everyone at the station on alert.

  “Are you sure you still want to go out tonight?” she asked.

  “Hell yeah,” I replied, desperation clear in my voice. “Moose is sending the final photos to them now, and they’re all the way in Columbia. Nothing’s going to go down tonight, and tomorrow we’re all going to go off the grid for a while. I really need tonight with you and Amy May to blow off steam and have some girl talk.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you then, and, Lila … Be careful.”

  “This is so lame,” I whined as I picked up my dirty martini and took a sip.

  “What?” Amy May asked, smiling at me over her Cosmo.

  “It’s six thirty on a Thursday night,” I explained. “When I said I wanted a Ladies’ Night, I meant go out, get drunk, stir some shit up. Not dinner and drinks and home by eight.”

  “We’re not in our twenties anymore,” Bea responded. “We all have to work tomorrow and have families at home … We have to be responsible, not go out and get blitzed, then have to deal with the horrors of a hangover the next day.”

  I pouted because she had a point, and that sucked.

  “Hey, if it makes you feel better, we can just order
appetizers. You’ll get a buzz quicker that way,” Amy May said, always thinking ahead.

  I grinned at her and said, “Deal,” then laughed. “Remember when we used to be able to stay out all night drinking, then go right to work the next day without getting any sleep?”

  “Yeah, now if I don’t get my full eight hours after just one glass of wine, I can’t even function,” Bea said sadly, and both Amy May and I nodded in agreement.

  “Ugh, try running a bakery. If I’m not in bed by eight, I’m a bear in the morning. Jason says I’m worse to get up than the kids.”

  “Are you ladies ready to order?” the hot young waiter asked us, pulling us out of our depressing conversation.

  “Can we get the spinach dip?”

  “And the potato skins?”

  “Oh, and those little taquito things?”

  “Sure, anything else?”

  “Another round, please.”

  “Got it … Dirty martini, Cosmo, and red wine coming up. And I’ll get those apps right in for you.”

  “Thanks,” I said, then watched his butt as he walked away.

  When I turned my attention back to my friends, they were both staring at me.

  “What?”

  “Didn’t you ask us here to tell us about Cade?” Amy May asked, taking the lime peel out of her drink and running her tongue around it in what I assumed was supposed to be a sexy move, but just came off as creepy.

  “Stop doing that,” Bea said, causing Amy May to drop the peel.

  They were right, I did bring them there to talk about Cade, so I laid it all out. Catching Bea up on the stuff she missed, then telling them both about the night he broke in and all the stuff he said about me being the one for him, and the business about calling people darlin’.

  “I really like him; when can we go on a double date?” Amy May asked, picking up a loaded potato skin and biting it with a moan. “These are so good.”

  “Uh, I don’t know,” I replied, wondering what Cade would think about going on a double date. “That doesn’t really seem like his scene. Maybe we could plan a barbecue or something … a few months from now.”

  “A few months?” she asked with a scowl.

  “Could you let me get used to this first? He hasn’t even met my kids or anything yet, and I was the first person he ever dated … I’d like to hold off on throwing him into the fire with my friends.”

  Bea hadn’t said anything, so I turned my attention to her and asked, “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m not sure yet, the jury’s still out.”

  “Why?” Amy May asked.

  “Because, Amy May, the fact that he’s a man who gets things done kind of freaks me out. I’m not positive he’s on the right side of the law, even if this time he’s working on keeping drugs out of our city. Plus, he’s breaking into her apartment, and bossing her around all the time. I’m not certain he’s the guy for Lila, so I’m reserving judgment until I know more.”

  “It doesn’t sound like you’re reserving judgment; in fact, you sound very judgy,” Amy May argued, and I just sat back, munching on taquitos and sipping on my martini as I watched. “He makes her feel safe. He likes her, like, really likes her. He’s never dated anyone before, yet now he’s dating her. He’s a big mountain of Hawaiian hotness, who gets her off like no one has before, especially The Douche, and badass motorcycle man with a dog and a cabin. What the hell’s not to like?”

  “We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one, okay, Amy May?” Bea said, running her hand over her short hair and causing it to spike up. “I’m sorry, Lila, I want you to be happy, I do. I just want to make sure you’re thinking with your head, not your loins.”

  “Her loins?” Amy May guffawed, falling sideways in the booth and bumping Bea’s shoulder.

  “Shut up,” Bea said with a laugh. “You know what I mean.”

  “You need to stop reading those old historical romance novels,” Amy May teased, and I knew their argument was over.

  I was okay with the fact that Bea didn’t jump on board the Pro-Cade train right away. I knew she was just looking out for me, and as a cop, wanted to make sure I wasn’t getting involved in anything dangerous.

  Well, more dangerous than what I was already involved in with Moose, Hector, Carlos, and the Coke Club. I’d agreed to send her all of the pictures I’d taken so far, along with any information I could think of that Moose had given me over the course of the last few weeks.

  “I will say one thing,” Bea said as she finished the last of her wine. “Cade’s right about the kids staying with The Douche and you staying with him. I’ll feel better knowing you’re all safe until we can find Hector and get him off the streets. Hopefully, before his brother finds him. The last thing we need is a drug war in the middle of Greenswood.”

  “I talked to him earlier. He’s picking the kids up after school tomorrow, and then I’m going to Cade’s.”

  “Another round, ladies?” the hot waiter asked, coming up to clear our empty plates.

  “Nah, we’re old,” I said with a chuckle. “We have to get home and go to bed.”

  The waiter laughed, probably thinking I was joking, and said he’d be right back with our bill.

  “Hey, how’s it going?” a happy voice chimed in and we all turned to see Carmen Santos approaching the table.

  Well, maybe not so much approaching as hopping. She was once again smiling happily, her long, two-toned hair straightened so that it fell almost to her waist. She was wearing a maxi skirt and a tank top, with bangles adorning her wrists.

  “Hey, Carmen,” I said, smiling back. I looked around to see my friends smiling at her too. So either it was because her smile was infectious, or we each had a good buzz. “These are my friends Amy May, and Bea.”

  Carmen gave a little finger wave, then said, “Best cupcakes in the world, and toughest cop in town.”

  Amy May and Bea both practically beamed at Carmen’s praise, and I realized she was probably the most positive, uplifting person I’d ever met.

  “Carmen’s a reporter,” I added, completing the introductions, although Carmen seemed to know who everyone was.

  “And a blogger,” she amended cheerfully. “I’d love to do a post about your bakery, Amy May.”

  “Really?” Amy May asked, obviously pleased.

  “Really,” Carmen mimicked. “Oh, and a piece in the Lifestyle section of the Gazette. That would be awesome!”

  “I’d love that, thanks!”

  “Sure thing! I just saw you gals over here and wanted to stop by and say, what’s up … I’m actually on a date,” she said, pointing over her shoulder toward the bar.

  We all leaned in to look around her and toward the bar. There was a younger man wearing jeans, a Batman T-shirt, and a hoodie, giving us nervous glances from his stool.

  “First date?” Bea asked, her nose scrunched up.

  Uh-oh, I thought. Even though Bea didn’t know Carmen, she was Bea and she’d had two glasses of wine, so it wouldn’t occur to her not to give her opinion.

  “Yeah, Jonathon,” Carmen replied with a nod, her eyes on Bea. “Why?

  Now she’d done it…

  “Well,” Bea started. “First of all, who wears a hoodie on a first date? The batman shirt I’ll give him, but wear it under a nice jacket or blazer, with some jeans that aren’t ripped. And for crying out loud, do something with your hair.”

  We all turned to look at Jonathon, who looked liked he’d just rolled out of bed and hadn’t bothered to comb his hair, which hadn’t been cut in a few months and looked poufy. And not in a good way.

  “Second of all, how old is he? Twenty? He looks like a slacker, and again, not in a good way.”

  “He’s, ah, twenty-two, I think. Lives in his parents’ basement and works for some online company.”

  I winced, knowing Bea was not going to be happy with his status, then all of a sudden the situation hit me and I got the giggles.

  “How old are you?” Bea asked,
ignoring my giggles.

  “Thirty-two.”

  “Go, girl,” Amy May said, at the same time I asked, “Really?”

  I would have guessed her to be twenty-six at the oldest. The giggles fled me as I wondered how she looked so youthful and happy and she was only three years younger than me.

  “I dig the younger man thing, but you can do better. A pretty woman like you, with a positive attitude and a disposition that lights up the room…” Bea trailed off as Carmen’s eyes widened and she looked at Bea like she was the sweetest person in the world.

  “Really?” she whispered, and we all answered, “Really!”

  Carmen graced each of us with a smile, and when our hot young waiter returned, not even bothering to hide his interest in her, she said, “Well, I guess I’d better get back and let you guys go. It was good to finally meet you all. Maybe we could get together for drinks one night,” she added shyly.

  “That sounds great,” Amy May replied.

  “You got it,” Bea said, then added, “And dump the loser.”

  The waiter smiled and I could tell he wanted to agree and apply to be her replacement date, but kept it to himself.

  “I’ll call you,” I said, causing Carmen’s light to shine on me before she turned and bounded back to the bar. I’d said it not just because the thought of all of us having drinks sounded like a blast, but because I thought maybe I should talk to Carmen about Carlos, Hector and the Coke Club, and have her write an expose on what the country club set had been planning to do in our town. I’d need to be kept anonymous, of course, but the town deserved to know what was going on right under it’s nose.

  Bea and I said bye to Amy May, then Bea drove me home. Shannon had stayed with the kids while we went out, so Bea was picking her up and they were going home after dropping me off.

  I had to pack the kids and my bags, and I wanted some snuggle time with my babies before I told them that they were going to their dad’s for a while and why. I figured it was also time to bring up Cade, since I was going to be staying at his house, and with the way things were progressing, they’d probably be meeting him soon.