Florida Heat Read online

  “Goddamn I hate these bugs.” Brett Wilson looked up at the sky then slowly scanned the deserted picnic area. “It’s nearly 100 degrees and you couldn’t pick some nice air-conditioned restaurant for us to meet?”

  Rodriguez smiled, his eyes hooded in pleasure. “Nah man, not good for us to be seen together. Here,” he gestured again, “take a drag. You must have missed this shit.”

  Wilson stiffened. “I missed my freedom more.”

  “Yeah, well shit happens and you’re out now.” He pulled a small bag from his shirt pocket and tossed it. “Here, consider it a welcome home gift.”

  Wilson caught it one-handed. “You think a nickel bag is going to make things square?”

  Rodriguez shrugged. “You know there’s always more where that came from. I take care of my friends.”

  “Friends?” Wilson stepped closer.

  “Sure man, we’re best buds. Now take a drag and mellow out. You’re getting on my nerves.”

  “That’s rich. I spend months in a cage and I’m getting on your nerves.”

  “Christ man, stop with all the drama. It’s over, you’re out, forget about it.”

  “I can’t fucking forget about it and it’s not fucking over.” Wilson’s fist clenched around the bag. “I had to report to the Clerks Payment Office at the Courthouse today. It’s not enough I spent a year in jail. Now they want me to pay a $25,000 fine. The bitch gave me a damn coupon book, like I'm buying a car or something.” He shook his head. “Where the fuck am I going to get that kind of money? I lost my job, my apartment, everything. Thanks to you I have nothing.”

  “Look, don’t pay the fine,” Rodriguez shrugged. “It ain’t like they gonna put you back in the joint.”

  “No they just take away my driver’s license.”

  “So you drive without a license. People do it every day. You know what your problem is? You worry about the small stuff.”

  “Coming up with 25 grand is hardly small stuff. Where am I going to get that kind of money?”

  “Look Bro’, we all lost out on that deal. Do you know what those birds were worth? Don’t cry to me over a measly 25 grand. Those African grays were worth three big ones each, and the macaws would have gotten another 2500 for each delivery. This flub up cost me a quarter mil.”

  “Yeah, so you set me up. You found out the police were closing in and you fucking set me up. Hey buddy, do me this little favor,” he sneered, “just take in a few packages for me and watch my pet birds while I’m out of town on business. You didn’t bother to mention the birds were hot.”

  Rodriguez shrugged again. “Ah, man, give it a rest. You’re out now. Put the past behind you like I did.”

  “You did? What are you talking about? I’m the one who went to jail.”

  “Yeah, you screwed up and got caught but you’re still alive. The little fucker who ratted me out is dead.”

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass about who squealed on you and I wasn’t the one who screwed up. Do you know what it’s like?” Wilson’s voice held quiet fury. “One year – 12 fucking months,” With a snap of his wrist he tossed the bag at Rodriguez’s chest.

  “Yeah, man,” Rodriguez caught the bag and slipped it back in his pocket with an irritated jerk. “I fucking know what it’s like. And with my record I would’ve been put away for a hell of a lot longer than a measly year. So stop whining. I got the lawyer to deal it down to a misdemeanor instead of a felony for you, didn’t I?”

  “You got the lawyer….”

  “Yeah, I know people who know people. Some green in the right hands and it’s a done deal. Besides, jail ain’t nothing compared to prison which is where I would have landed. And I told you I’d make it up to you.”

  “How are you going to give me back a year of my life?”

  “Hey man, I got a good deal cooking and I can cut you in. Few months you’ll be sitting on easy street.”

  “You’re going to cut me in on a deal? It was your fucking deal that got me sent to jail in the first place.”

  “Man, consider it a vacation. No fucking work and three meals a day – what are you crying about?”

  Feeling the delicious buzz finally kick in, Rodriguez missed the darkening of his companion’s eyes or how the knuckles of his fists were white from rage.

  “You knew from the start I was going to get caught and you didn’t care.”

  “Of course I care, man. That’s why I agreed to meet with you.”

  “You son of a bitch. I’m….”

  “Quiet!” Rodriguez snapped, suddenly alert. “Somebody’s coming.”

  Chapter Two

  Jo heard them before she saw anyone angry voices that competed with the chatter of the birds. Here the sweet aroma of marijuana hung heavy in the humid air. As the jogging path left the trees and curved into another picnic area, Jo saw the smoker. Wearing a red cap, his once white undershirt a sorry companion to the gold chains that hung around his neck, he sat on top of a picnic table. His companion, a white male with a shaggy crew cut and baggy jeans stood nearby. Both men fell silent and turned to look at her as she passed. She heard their angry whispers resume and resisted the urge to turn back and stare. The hair on the back of her neck pricked but Jo kept her pace steady and her eyes straight ahead. As soon as the path wove its way back into the trees, Jo sidestepped off. As quietly as she could, she crouched behind a giant oak. The voices had stopped. Now she kept perfectly still as she listened for footsteps. Using the shelter of the trees she made her way back toward the picnic area, but when she was close enough to see the picnic tables she froze.

  The white guy was nowhere to be seen but his Hispanic friend lay sprawled across the table with a knife protruding from his chest. Throwing caution to the wind, Jo left the shelter of the trees and moved quickly toward the table. She was only a few steps away when she realized the man wasn’t breathing. Knowing not to contaminate the scene, she turned back to the jogging path and took off at a dead run.

  Drenched with sweat and out of breath, Jo didn’t stop until she reached the park’s exit. Darting across the street to the convenience store, she pushed ahead of the line at the counter. “I need your phone,” she gasped, pressing a hand to the stitch in her side.

  “Hey, lady, there’s a line here.” A pudgy man in shorts juggled a six-pack and three bags of chips. “Get in line like the rest of us.”

  Jo turned and the look in her eye had the man stepping back and bumping into the woman behind him. “I’m not buying,” she snapped impatiently, then turned back to the clerk. “Now give me the phone so I can call the police.”

  Pacing outside the store, Jo downed the rest of the water the clerk had pressed on her. She took her first easy breath when the black and white pulled up and she recognized Mitch Sullivan and his partner Lucy.

  Lucy hopped out of the car and greeted Jo with sloppy kisses. “Hey, girl, how you doing?” She rubbed the German shepherd’s head and scratched behind her ears. “Have you missed me?”

  Mitch rounded the car. “Lucy, down.” The dog immediately flopped down to sit on her haunches, her tail still wagging.

  “Hey, Caz, what’s happening? The 911 call was kinda confusing. You got a body?”

  Jo nodded. “In the park.”

  Mitch eyed her in confusion. Her dark brown hair was plastered to a face still flushed from heat, her violet eyes huge and troubled. “You out jogging in this heat? What? Are you crazy? It’s pushing 100 today.”

  Jo shook her head. “My car broke down so I cut through the park. Saw these two dudes smoking a joint in the picnic area. White male, shaggy brown hair, blue cap and baggy jeans. Hispanic male, sorta wild hair, red cap, dirty white tee, black pants and boots. And I think the Hispanic guy had some sort of tattoos on his neck and chest. I wasn’t close enough to see what they were though.”

  Mitch smiled and shook his head at her description. “You should’ve been a cop.”

  “Anyway something felt off. So I doubled back to take a look.”

&nb
sp; Now his smile faded. “Without calling for backup?”

  “Forgot my phone at work. Anyway, when I go back the white dude is gone and his friend is sprawled on the picnic table with a knife sticking out of his chest.”

  “Christ,” Mitch snapped. “Get in the car – Lucy, in,” he ordered. “Are you sure the guy is dead?”

  “I didn’t touch him, didn’t want to contaminate the scene. But if you’re asking me, I’d call the coroner and not an ambulance.”

  “Right,” Mitch sighed. “Why is it, Cazimer that you always seem to find trouble?”

  In the car, Jo turned the air-conditioning vent to blow full on her face. “It’s not like I go looking for it. I was just taking a shortcut home ‘cause the car conked out on me.”

  “Alright, let’s go find this body of yours.” Mitch followed Jo’s directions staying on the jogging path. But when the car reached the picnic area Jo gasped. The body was gone.

  Mitch turned to stare at her. “Are you sure this is the section?”

  Jo nodded silently, her eyes scanning in all directions.

  “I mean this is a big park, are you sure you didn’t get turned around? And with all this heat….” Mitch followed Jo out of the car. “Lucy, stay,” he ordered.

  “This is the section. I’m positive. You can still catch a whiff of their dope.” And that’s not all, she thought as the metallic scent of blood danced on the still air.

  “Caz, stay back,” Mitch ordered, his voice had gone cop hard. “The table’s covered with blood.” Reaching for his shoulder mike, he called for backup.

  * * *

  Hours later Jo eased out of the black and white. Thankful she was finally home and not at the police station looking at mug shots, she climbed the steps of her front porch. The craftsman style yellow bungalow was tucked between two massive palm trees that stood as watchful sentries on either side of the house. White rockers graced the front porch and she barely resisted the urge to just drop into one. She didn’t know what she wanted more, a shower, some food, or to just crawl into bed and close her eyes blocking out this day. But the tap of nails on the hardwood floor inside had her reaching for the door.

  “Hey Blitz, boy, how you doing?” She reached down to pet the Jack Russell terrier that was anxiously bumping her legs and sniffing at her feet. “I know I’m really late, but Jody gave you your dinner didn’t she?” With the word dinner, Blitz took off for the kitchen. Jo smiled at Bella. Ever the lady, the huge German shepherd sat patiently waiting for her turn. Her tail thumped excitedly but she didn’t move until Jo gave the signal. Then her paws hit Jo’s shoulders and she, too, lavished loving kisses. “Okay, okay,” Jo eased Bella aside. “Do you smell Lucy?” She rubbed Bella’s head as the two walked to the kitchen. “I saw your sister today and you’d be proud of her. She’s doing great.” They came from the same litter but Bella hadn’t had the temperament needed for police work and Jo had inherited a playmate for Blitz.

  Jo scanned the note that Jody, the dog sitter, had left and cocked her head at Blitz who sat hopefully in front of his dinner bowl.

  “Oh no, you big faker. Jody left a note. I know you’ve already had your dinner.” Which I haven’t, she thought as her stomach rumbled. She held up the yellow post-it note. Blitz gave a doggie sigh and laid down. “Oh, don’t pout,” Jo smiled. “You know I’m good for a treat.” And at the word treat, both dogs immediately came to attention. Jo took the box of dog biscuits from the cupboard along with a jar of peanut butter for herself. When treats had been dispensed and her sandwich made, she sat at the kitchen counter and punched the button on the answering machine. The first message was from the garage telling her they had picked up her car. Thank you, Mitch, for calling that in for me, she thought. Then Kate asking for a call back. Jo picked up the phone and dialed.

  “Well, you’ve had an interesting evening,” Kate stated. “Trying to match me with dead bodies?”

  Jo set her sandwich down. “It’s not been a night I’d want to repeat.” She absently scratched a mosquito bite on her arm.

  “It never is,” Kate’s voice held both sympathy and understanding. “You doing okay? Want me to come over?”

  “No, I’m okay and I’ve got my two buddies here.” As she looked down both tails started to wag. “But I could use a ride to work tomorrow.”

  “Consider it done.”

  “Did you find Aggie?”

  “Yep, she was three sheets to the wind in the Sundown Bar when we finally located her.”

  “Oh, crap. Kate, she’s still on probation.”

  “Well, we didn’t make an arrest. Do you still need to violate her?”

  “Since she wasn’t driving and you didn’t arrest her, I can let it slide this time but not without a warning that it is a violation. Where is she now?”

  “She’ll stay in holding until tomorrow morning. I’m hoping we can get a decent statement from her before she decides to lawyer up.”

  “Do you think she did it?”

  “Too soon to tell. But she fled the scene and I’ve got to wonder why.”

  “What about their kid?” Jo pushed her sandwich around on her plate.

  “Well here’s the kicker. Seems the little boy was the one who found Danny. And let me tell you it wasn’t a pretty sight. He called 911. He’s calm as a cucumber but she comes home, sees all the cop cars, snatches up the kid and takes off.”

  “What the hell?”

  “Yeah, my thoughts exactly. She was lucid enough to tell us she dropped him at a friend’s house. We verified, and he’ll be okay there until tomorrow. The kids are in the same class at school so the mom will make sure they both get there. And if Aggie didn’t have anything to do with the murder, she’ll be out in time to pick him up after school. If not I’ll contact the Department of Child and Family to step in.”

  “That little guy is only eight years old. He sees his father dead and his mother drops him off at a friend’s house? What was she thinking?”

  “I don’t think she was thinking – more like what was she drinking.”

  “That poor little guy.”

  “Look, kiddo, you can’t save them all and tonight you can’t do anything anyway. Stop worrying about this and get some rest, okay? You sound beat. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

  Jo hung up and stared at her plate. Her appetite gone, she divided the sandwich between the dog's dishes. She pushed the answering machine’s button but the rest of the messages were hang-ups.

  Flipping off the light in the kitchen Jo made her way to her bedroom with the dogs in her wake. Not even bothering to dry her hair after taking her shower, she crawled into bed and was asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

  Jo woke when Blitz hopped off the bed and started to bark at what she assumed was the early paper delivery. But when Bella started her low growling, Jo felt gooseflesh crawl up her arms. Completely awake she slipped out of bed. The moonlight cast the house’s interior in shadows but as Jo moved from room to room she found nothing amiss. Bella’s growling had stopped and when Jo returned to the bedroom she found both dogs comfortably settled on her bed.

  “If this was a way to claim a better space, I’m not impressed.” She shoved at Bella and nudged Blitz with her foot from under the blanket. “Now both of you go to sleep.” But for Jo the rest of the night was filled with fitful dreams that refused to grant her peace.

  The morning found her cranky and exhausted. Two more times the dogs had pulled her from sleep. A raccoon prowling around the house she thought irritably. Now as she sipped her coffee in the kitchen, the dogs sat angelically on the floor at her feet. She was going to have to do some serious training. “One does not bark at raccoons,” she said sternly.

  Suddenly alert, both dogs turned and made a dash for the front door. Jo rolled her eyes and sliding off the stool she started for the living room. Her heart jumped and her breath caught when she heard the front door open. Feeling foolish at letting the dogs spook her that way Jo continued down the
short hallway to the front room.

  Kate stood from greeting the dogs when Jo entered. “You look terrible.”

  “And good morning to you, too. I see you used your key.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  Blank, Jo stared over her coffee mug at her friend. “Okay, I’m running a few steps behind this morning. These two,” she looked down at the dogs, "kept me up most of the night.”

  “And you didn’t think you should call me?”

  Jo shook her head. “Obviously, I’m missing something here. Why would I call you because these two morons barked at raccoons all night?”

  “Because it wasn’t a raccoon they were barking at.”

  “What else?” Jo felt the beginning of a tension headache inch its way up the back of her neck.”

  “We have a big problem here,” Kate said. “And before you say anything, I’ve already called it in.” She turned back to the front door and slowly pulled it the rest of the way open.

  Hanging from a strip of silver duct tape was a single sheet of paper. The words had been cut from a newspaper or magazine, the message very clear:

  I KNOW WHAT YOU SAW

  Chapter Three

  Kate stood outside the interview room and watched Aggie through the two-way glass. The woman’s head was propped in one hand while the other clutched a paper cup of coffee like her life depended on it.

  “That is one pitiful sight,” Mitch Sullivan stepped up beside her. “I just came from Holding. Jenkins told me that when they tried to wake her up this morning she puked all over his shoes.” He tried unsuccessfully to hold back a grin. “Sometimes this job has unexpected perks.”

  Kate frowned. “You have a problem with Jenkins?”

  “Naw,” Mitch rocked back on his heels. “He’s okay. But you should have seen his face.”

  Turning back to the window Kate watched Aggie and tried to keep her mind from Jo and the note taped on her door. For the moment her friend was safely tucked in her office. But if she knew Jo that would only last until her car was fixed. “Okay let’s go. I want to nail this down.”

  “You think she did it?”