Patty paced the carpet at Jesse’s house waiting for the eight pregnancy tests she took to be done. They had bought more than that, but Patty could only pee so much at a time.Jesse had invited Patty and Carter back to his house for breakfast and for her to take the tests in peace. Jesse’s house was the first house going into town and the last one leaving town. His closest neighbor was half a mile away. Several old shacks and a few sparse trees camouflaged Jesse’s property. Nobody would know Patty and Carter were there unless they intentionally came to Jesse’s place. Andy was sitting on the sofa watching Patty pace. Carter had taken Rufus outside to play. Jesse was in the kitchen cooking breakfast. The timer on Andy’s watch went off. He cut off the alarm and sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Patty went stiff. Andy had set the timer to indicate when the tests were done. Jesse walked in the living room and went to th
Sheriff Matt Kirby was reviewing arrest reports from last week when he heard Patty’s dog barking. Matt ignored him because Rufus barked when someone walked into the station that he didn’t know. It was probably the delivery guy. Rufus kept barking. Matt looked up from the reports. Rufus only barked once or twice to alert them that someone was in the building then he would stop. He didn’t stop this time. “The hell?” Matt mumbled and stood up. He walked to his office door which was already open. “Patty?” Rufus quickly trotted to the end of the hallway and looked at him. He barked again and then whined. He turned in a circle and looked at Matt with wide eyes. That dog does not whine.“Patty!” Matt yelled as he trotted down the hallway. His hand went to his side arm out of habit. Rufus started barking again. Matt could hear someone running up the stairs from the basement. “What’s wro
Jackie was going over her to-do list for Billy and Gabriella’s engagement party on Friday. She felt a lot better about the pregnancy. Her first appointment with the OBGYN in Phoenix was tomorrow. Jackie was excited about it. She hoped she would be able to see the baby on the sonogram. Her cell rang. She looked at the caller I.D. It was Nick. She quickly pressed the answer button. “Hello, handsome,” she answered cheerfully. “Hey, gorgeous,” Nick said. “Calling to tell you that I should be back in Arizona on Thursday - couldn’t get a flight out until then. I would love it if you could pick me up at the airport in Phoenix.” “I would love it, too. What time does your flight land?” Jackie asked with excitement. “Ten o’clock in the morning,” Nick chimed. “I can’t wait to see you. I feel like I haven’t seen or touched you in a year.” “I know. I feel the same way. Are Gia, Walker, Rodriguez, and Albertson coming with you?
Patty was lying on the stretcher that was decorated like a bed at home. The cushion was soft and comfortable. The sheets on the stretcher were light blue and soft. The wallpaper in the examination room had small pink roses on it. The nurse actually gave her a white examination gown that was comfortable and tied perfectly around her. Carter paced around the room looking at the pictures on the wall. “Are you nervous?” Carter asked. He had insisted on driving Patty to the doctor’s office. He was afraid she might get light headed again while driving to Phoenix. “A little,” Patty admitted. “Yeah, I am, too. I don’t know why. It’s not like I’m the father,” Carter said and scratched his head. Patty couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do all ladies’ exam rooms look like this? This is cozy,” Carter asked. “I don’t think so,” Patty said. “I mean not the ones I’ve been in, but this is the first time I’ve been
Patty and Carter walked to Patty’s SUV. Carter lifted the hatch to let Rufus out to stretch his legs. They were in the doctor’s office longer than expected. Patty didn’t know Dr. Johanson was going give her a thirty minute orientation or a very large basket full of stuff. Dr. Johanson gave it to all her patients who were going to be first time mothers. She called it the mother-to-be congratulatory basket. Good Lord, that woman loved her job. Dr. Johanson strongly suggested that Patty read the book inside called, What to Expect When Your Expecting, asap. Patty had to admit it wasn’t a bad idea because she had no idea what she was doing or what was going on with her mind and body. “Here,” Carter said and reached for the basket. Patty gave it to him. “I’ll put it in the backseat. Can’t have this too close to Rufus. He’ll think it’s for him and rummage it open as we’re driving down 501,” Carter said and opened the back door.
Goldman had called Patty on her cell as soon as she and Carter parked in her driveway. He had said he got off of work early and wanted Patty to come over his house. He had a surprise for her. She had told him she would be right over. Patty was planning to see him after he got off from work, anyway. She was going to tell him she was pregnant. It was going to be hard for her because she didn’t know how he would respond to it. It was going to be twice as hard to tell him that they were having twins. She had pictures of the sonogram in her purse so she could show him babies A and B.Rufus trotted beside her as she strolled up the walk. She didn’t know what kind of surprise Goldman had for her, but she was positive it was nothing compared to the surprise she had for him. She knocked on the door.Goldman opened it. “Hey, beautiful,” he greeted and pulled her against him.She smiled. Just seeing him made her feel good and happy. She placed her hands on his thick, strong shoulders. “Hi, did
Goldman and his father, Wayne, were sitting on the folding chairs on the back deck drinking beer. They were watching the sun set over the horizon.“So, what do you think of Patty?” Goldman asked.“I like her. Hell, I liked her a couple of years ago when I met her,” his father answered and sipped his beer. “I love a woman who can pack it away.”“What do you mean?”“Hell, she kept up with you and me eating at the table; topped it off with a Kit Kat from her purse. Gotta love a girl who knows how to eat.”“That’s a recent development. Normally, Patty will eat a small lunch. Like a salad or soup. I took her to lunch the other day at the diner. She had ordered a T-Bone, a double order of mashed potatoes, and a vanilla milk shake. She topped that off with a Kit Kat.”“I know what to get her for Christmas. A bag of Kit Kats,” his father said with a smile.“That’s new, too. I’ve never seen her eat those things before.”“Son, things are different, now. For ages she was your co-worker. Now, she
Patty was hornier than a whore at a Chippendale show. She just had to have sex. For the past two days, Goldman and Patty had been busy working and spending time with Mr. and Mrs. Goldman that they barely had any time alone.Patty’s hormones were raging for satisfaction. It was 10:55 p.m. Wednesday night when she prowled the halls of the station. There were only two people on duty for graveyard shift. The switchboard operator and a deputy. One of the college students were on the switchboard for the night.Patty walked down the hall downstairs. Lawrence was coming out of the locker room. He had changed into plane clothes. “Hey, honey. What are you doing here?”“I was hoping to catch Goldman before he started his shift. I just need to talk to him real quick.”“Oh, he’s in the locker room changing,” Lawrence said and smiled. “You can wait out here if you want, but no one else is there.”“You think it will be okay?” Patty asked shyly. Truth was she didn’t care if someone else was in there
After Juan had left, Cindy had asked Mindy to grab items to put on her Nicolette persona before they left for Phoenix. Cindy wouldn’t tell her why. She had said they were going somewhere that she needed to see and it was a surprise. Five miles outside of Phoenix, Cindy stopped the SUV at a rest area, grabbed a bag out the back, and told Mindy she had to go to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, Cindy returned, but she didn’t look the same. Cindy had on a pile of make-up and a red-wig, and it wasn’t the red wig Mindy had given her. When Cindy got back in the car, Mindy asked what was going on and where were they going. Cindy begged her patience and assured her that everything would become clear. They were in the downtown area of Phoenix. They parked on the street. Cindy walked Mindy to a building that looked like it had glass for walls. They got on the elevator and went to the twelfth floor. There were two businesses on the floor; Grass
It was late Tuesday morning. Mindy was packing a gift basket. She was going to drop it off as she and Cindy rode out of town. Cindy wanted to go shopping in Phoenix. Of course, Mindy couldn’t afford to buy anything but she didn’t mind keeping Cindy company on her shopping trips. Cindy walked in. “Whoa,” she said as she took in the basket on the kitchen table. “That’s a big thank you.” “Well, it is from both us. Can’t have it skimpy,” Mindy said. Cindy shrugged and opened the refrigerator to retrieve a can soda. There was a knock on the back door. “Who in the world could that be?” Mindy asked. Cindy walked to the door and opened it. The man raised his head so they could see his face from under the wide brim baseball hat. “Hey, girls,” Juan greeted. “Juan, come in,” Mindy said with a smile. He darted inside and closed the door. “I parked my car two blocks away and walk
By the time Matt had found out what was going on, it was over. He and Jodi were having a hot romp in the kitchen when Patty tried to call him. He had left his cell in the living room.Two ambulances, the forensics van, two cruisers, and Williamson’s truck were outside. Matt and Jodi walked into Garvey’s bar. “Son of a bitch,” Matt sneered as he put his hands on his hips, taking it all in.Otto was taking pictures of the body on the floor. Goldman stood tall as he was taking notes while Mindy and Cindy Pandock sat at a table talking to him. Juan was sitting at the bar looking like he had never been more relieved in his life as Carter took his statement.“Oh my god,” Jodi said with a shocked look. “I’m going to check on Juan.”“All right, just don’t interfere with the questioning. I’m heading for the lobby to see what else is going on,” Matt said seriously.Jodi nodded and walked away.Matt strode to the lobby doors which were propped open. There was a body on a gurney covered by a shee
Tyrone told Juan how they had tracked Chip down in Chicago. It wasn’t hard. Chip had left a rowdy drunk trail so anyone who wanted to find him could. Tyrone described how they worked Chip over for thirty-six hours. After being beaten for that long anyone would tell what they knew. Chip had given Juan, Sam, and Zeke up. He had even told them where he hid his cut of the money. During the conversation, Tyrone had given the girls more change to play more tunes on the box. Just like before, Chavez had walked with them. When they returned, Ginger got back in the booth and Nicolette remained standing next to a table. She didn’t look as petrified as before. Tucker James had taken a seat at the table with Juan with the gun still on him. Juan guessed he got tired of standing just as much as Nicolette got tired of sitting. It wasn’t hard for Tyrone to track down Zeke either. At least Zeke didn’t lose his mind with the money. He was enjoying a comf
Juan had gotten Tyrone to chat a little. He got detailed about how Sam suffered before he died to Juan, Nicolette, and Ginger’s horror. Tucker even had the nerve to say that at least Sam wasn’t a rat - if it was any consolation to Juan. Now, he was talking to the girls as Nod Ya Head by Will Smith played on the jukebox. Chavez was bobbing his head to the song. “Are you two sisters?” Tyrone asked. “You look like you’re related.” “Cousins,” Nicolette choked out. “Ah,” Tyrone said with understanding. “It’s shame we didn’t meet under different circumstances. You two are cute. Oh, well, back to our friend Juan. So, Juan, where the hell is my twenty million dollars?” Mindy and Cindy’s eyes bugled. “I’ll tell you, but I have to know something first,” Juan said. “Yeah, what’s that?” Tucker said and put the barrel of the gun to Juan’s temple. “How’d you figure out it was us?” Juan asked ask he foug
Tucker had Juan sit down in a chair out on the bar floor. The silence made the situation more terrifying. Tucker pointed his pistol at his chest. How the hell did they figure out it was us? “Ladies, do you want to listen to some music,” Tyrone asked. “Huh?” Ginger said. “Music,” Tyrone repeated. “No reason for the situation to be unpleasant for you because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. What kind of music do you girls like?” Nicolette shrugged stiffly. “Some country and . . . I just started to listen to some hip hop lately.” “Okay,” Tyrone said as he nodded his approval. “What about you, babe?” he asked Ginger. “Same including R&B,” she answered. Tyrone dug into his pocket and pulled out some change. He took Ginger’s hand and placed the change in it. “Play some hip hop. I don’t like country music – oh, and no Eminem, Justin Bieber, or Justin Timberlake. I hate t
It was Sunday morning, and Juan was feeling pretty good despite what had happened last Sunday. No one in town or the surrounding areas knew about Sam being found dead at the hotel, which surprised Juan because he was sure the EMTs would have talked, but it didn’t seem like they had. Juan just thanked his lucky stars.Matt and his team were still working on Sam’s case. Forensics believed Sam’s death was an accident per cloth fibers that were found on his body and the ice bucket bag. Matt tended to agree based on the staff statements and security camera footage from the lobby and exit doors down stairs. He did have Juan come in to look at some of the footage that Matt found suspicious. Juan identified the two blondes Sam had been with. They had appeared to be in a hurry and they went out the side door exit. Juan only knew their first names. Matt had put in the Arizona state police database that they were wanted for questioning, but he didn’t suspect them of foul play. Sam’s valuables ha
Monday afternoon, Juan prepared himself for the verbal assault as he settled in the office with Jodi and Jackie. He had asked Matt not tell the twins about Sam Ellis. Matt had said that it should come from Juan since they still own a part of the business, so they had a right to know. Juan didn’t want them to know because he knew they would blame him somehow. Sam was Juan’s friend not some random guest off the highway. In the end, Juan had refused to call them about it and told Matt to do what he felt was right in regards to informing the twins. “What’s up?” Juan asked. “I think you know what’s up,” Jackie said. “Jackie, what happened yesterday couldn’t be avoided. I don’t know how you think I could have prevented -” Juan began. “Of course, you couldn’t stop it,” Jackie interrupted. “We came here to see how you were and how we can help.” “Yeah. You can’t stop someone who really wants to kill themselves – or partici
The forensics team combed the room over while Matt and Juan waited in a room across the hall, so Matt could take Juan’s official statement. Both room doors were propped open. Otto was able to just walk a few feet to give Matt immediate need to know information.Matt noted Sam’s license information on a pad so his license could stay in an evidence bag. Sam had one suitcase filled with clothes, normal toiletries in the bathroom, a bottle of aspirin, a hundred and fifty dollars in his wallet, a paper bag with eight thousand four and thirty dollars in it, no credit cards, a cell phone, a photo of a woman, a man, and three girls, a key chain with a car key, two regular keys, and a lock key, and a few business cards.“Do you know why he had so much cash on him?” Matt asked.“Sam still lived the life of a drifter,” Juan said. “Plus, he liked casinos. He stopped at a couple in Arizona before he came here. Probably had a good run.” “Hmm,” Matt mused. “Yeah, but to keep that much cash in your