“I’m over seventy. No man is going to do anything for me without some manner of sex.”
He believed that was the first honest statement of her feelings he had heard from her. “That’s not true,” he said. “You’re just afraid to find out.”
“I’m getting what I want my way.”
“You tried to get my fingerprints on that gun box in the motel room, didn’t you? How did that box end up in Tammy’s closet?”
“Now, wasn’t I clever? I caught Barner going through some things in my bedroom when he was there exterminating months ago. I told him to never come back. When I failed to get your prints on the box, I called him. I bluffed him saying I knew he’d been pilfering things from customer’s homes. He begged me not to turn him in. It would ruin his business. I told him I needed a favor. Such an ignorant man.”
“You blackmailed him into leaving that small shopping bag in Tammy’s closet when he serviced her place the next time. Naturally she would look through it and get her prints on the gun box.”
“Yes, apparently he found time in between smelling her panties.”
“Why did you bring Tammy into it anyway?”
“Two reasons, the first is strategic. If you’d just gone to see Towson and left, no one would know you’d been there. I couldn’t count on you leaving fingerprints. I couldn’t even count on him letting you in. My plan needed Tammy. I knew you’d find her and tell her you’d gone to Towson’s. Then she’d give evidence you were at the crime scene.”
“And the other reason?”
“Embarrassment, the date-rape thing. I wanted to link her forever with Barner, start people talking about a sex scandal, dream girl carrying on with the repulsive town creep. The rumor would ruin her. No brains or breeding yet she sailed through life because Al wanted to keep her magical boobs within reach.”
“They were lovers?”
“Of course they were lovers. He’s a man isn’t he? She turned him against me with all her jiggling around.”
“You just admitted you planned to murder him.”
“I admit I was thinking about it. Norma Martin saved me the trouble.”
“That’s too wild. You’re telling me you planned this whole scheme but Norma Martin conveniently came by that afternoon and shot him for you?.”
“Lucky me.” She shrugged. “And the town won’t be laughing at me anymore. They were saying the Mensa babe wasn’t smart enough to hold her man. He had millions and they thought I would end up with only a piddling monthly alimony. They thought the good life was over for me. Did you see the faces on the town bitches at the party when I left with you? Half hated me, half were cheering me on. And all knew they would be home in bed with their snoring pot-bellied old man while I was merrily getting laid by the eager young guy.”
“This isn’t just about jealousy and revenge. You’re hurting for money and you stand to gain big bucks out of his death. Furthermore, I’m going to prove you did it.”
She was definitely annoyed at that. Ray jumped back as she pulled away.
A fascinating confirmation of his suspicions and he needed to hear it to clear his mind. But it wasn’t recorded so it would do no good toward her prosecution. He’d give Sandy the details. She wanted everyone together that night to discuss all that was known.
And Sandy has a proclamation—says she’s figured out the killer’s identity.
Chapter 35
“Just give me the rest of my money and I’ll get out of here.” Sonny Barner felt awkward sitting on the white-cushioned porch chair across the table from the woman. Sitting like socializing, he thought. Like the dumb bitch actually wanted him in her house one second longer than necessary. Why have him sit anyway? Couldn’t she see his dirty coveralls?
“Stink kinda bad today, Mrs. Dellin. You know, the chemicals.” Why talking nice to her anyway, like she cares what shit he gets into.
“You smell to high heaven and you’ve been drinking.”
“Had to crawl around under some guy’s house to treat scorpions. Got special stuff that I use. Dumb guy said he’d been throwing old boards into his crawlspace for years. Said you never know when you might need a piece of lumber. Okay by me if he wants to breed scorpions under his house and then pay me to kill them.” Barner thought that was sort of funny, but she didn’t even smile. When she hands him the money she can go fuck herself.
“Did you carry any of them in here, in your cuffs, in your shoes?”
Should tell her tough shit if he did. Hold off until the cash is in his hand. Feeling good about things. Stopped on the way over here and had a couple shots and beer. Anybody would need something under his belt to face this woman. Would really celebrate later. Stop at Discount and buy a case of Daniels. Can buy it by the case now. Go home spread that pretty green paper all over the floor: twenties, fifties, lots of hundreds. Flip them up in the air if I want.
“The money—Mrs. Dellin.” Should call her by her first name, she can’t stop him. Call her Loraine like she’s nothing special, see how that grabs her.
“I’ve got your money. Do you have my gun?”
He put his palms on his cheeks, pretending to act surprised. “The gun?”
“Don’t play with me, Sonny. You know the deal. I want that gun back. No gun, no money.”
He knew what she’s thinking, knows that gun ties her in. Maybe he’ll just keep it for insurance. Let her worry about the gun turning up someday and then needing to give him more money or else explain it to the police. Physical stuff like a gun is good, not a bunch of words. Just keep that little .38 she bought, the one out of the gun box she had him plant in Tammy’s closet. Hold it over her head. Who’s the dumb one now, rich bitch? Get on your knees and beg. Get more money out of her. She’s getting millions anyway. Feeling good now.
She said, “You know that gun must be destroyed.”
“Maybe I got rid of it already.”
“Not good enough. I want to
She was serious. He frowned. Okay. He reached in his pocket and came out with the gun pointed directly at her head.
“Idiot!” She reached across with both hands and grabbed the gun, pointed the muzzle away and pulled it from his hand. She flipped open the cylinder. “Chamber’s empty, where are the bullet casings, Sonny? I gave you the gun with five bullets and told you to leave the spent casings in the cylinder.”
“Forgot that part, thought I was supposed to throw them away.”
“You know those little casings can carry fingerprints? Did you think of that? I wiped each cartridge before I loaded the gun. Where are they? Are you sure they won’t be found?”
“Look lady, I took them out. I didn’t set them down on the floor in the middle of his apartment.” Stupid woman.
“How many did you fire?”
“Couple.”
“Police said he was killed with one shot.”
“Maybe it was only one.”
“How could you not know? Not advanced math. You started with five. How many did you use on Al and how
