Али Брэндон - Double Booked For Death

“That’s pretty much what the record says . . . except that it was Lizzie and not her husband who got hauled down to the station that night. The report mentioned something about her threatening him with a big-ass butcher knife.”

Jake had rung off after that, leaving a shocked Darla to wonder what she was going to do about her employee now. No way could she risk keeping someone who had no qualms about sabotaging a store event. And with what Jake had just told her about Lizzie’s apparently violent history, who knew if her behavior might one day escalate—if it hadn’t already? But given all that, what would Lizzie’s reaction be when Darla told her she was fired?

She had phoned Jake back a few minutes later for advice. The other woman’s response had been blunt.

“Does she have a key to the store? Okay, don’t worry about trying to get it back,” she’d said when Darla nervously answered in the affirmative. “Ted’s brother, Barney, is a locksmith. I’ll give him a call and tell him you need him out there before end of business today. Wait until the new locks are on before you call Lizzie to tell her she’s out of there. I doubt she’ll be too surprised, but this way, she can’t come in after hours and trash the place or anything.”

“But what about when we’re open?” Darla had asked, feeling suddenly vulnerable.

She’d heard Jake’s humorless chuckle on the other end. “Don’t forget, kid, I’m still your official one-woman security firm, plus you’ve got all the cameras hooked up to record any problems. Call me as soon as you’ve told her, and I’ll come up to keep an eye on things.”

“I’d appreciate that,” she’d replied in true relief. “And, yes, send Barney over as soon as possible.”

Recalling that conversation now, Darla told James about the locksmith. “And Jake will be hanging out here the next couple of days, just in case.”

“Sensible precautions on both counts,” he agreed, downing what remained of his coffee. “And now, I had best finish fronting the shelves. That last gaggle of old women wandering the mystery aisle were little better than barbarians.”

As James left to tidy the books, the bells at the front door jingled. Darla gave a reflexive start, visions of a knife-wielding Lizzie springing to mind. No weapons were in evidence, however, only a blond bulldog who, judging by his resemblance to Ted the security guy, had to be Jake’s locksmith.

“Name’s Barney,” he said, introducing himself, “and it’s your lucky day. You need it picked or changed, I’m the guy for you . . . except when it comes to noses and babies. Badda boom.”

Unlike his brother with his finger pistols, Barney punctuated his bon mots with a bit of air drumming. Despite her unsettled mood, Darla couldn’t help but smile back as she took him on a brief tour of the store and showed him the various doors needing attention.

Barney completed the job far more quickly than she had expected, though not without sharing additional cringe-worthy jokes. He tested all three doors a final time and then handed her a set of keys and a bill that made her gulp only slightly as she reached for her checkbook.

“Pleasure doing business, ma’am. Tell Detective Jake hello for me,” he said with a tip of his ball cap. He pocketed her payment and left whistling a tune that sounded suspiciously like “Jingle Bell Rock.”

“Seasonally challenged and desperately in need of new material, but efficient,” was James’s conclusion as the door shut behind the locksmith. Then, with a wry look at her, he added, “Under the circumstances, I will not be offended if you prefer to keep custody of all the keys . . . at least, for a while.”

“Thanks, I think I will. And now, I’d better make that call to Lizzie.”

She carried the cordless phone upstairs to the break area for a bit of privacy. James was far too polite to stand around and listen to the call outright, but she knew he’d have an ear cocked in her direction. It was going to be hard enough to conduct her first official firing without her remaining employee silently critiquing her performance.

Like the lock changing, however, the call went better than she’d anticipated. Lizzie answered on the first ring, as if she’d had her hand on the receiver all afternoon. Before Darla could get more than a “hello” out, the woman sighed and said, “I suppose you’re calling to fire me, aren’t you?”

“I am,” she admitted, relieved not to have to beat around the bush. “I’m not saying I think you’re guilty of anything beside really crappy judgment, Lizzie, but I can’t have you work here anymore after what you did, trying to sabotage the signing like that.”

“I understand.” Another sigh. “Sorry I was such trouble for you. And thanks for the attorney’s name. If Detective Reese ends up arresting me, I’ll give him a call. I don’t suppose I can come by later for my check?”

“Well—”

Remember, they found her with a butcher knife , she told herself as she felt her resolve momentarily waver. That mental image was enough to restore her backbone.

“Not a good idea. I’ll have it in the mail to you today. Good-bye, Lizzie, and good luck,” Darla finished and hung up the phone before her guilt over canning the woman got the better of her. Then, as instructed, she promptly dialed Jake.

“Good job, kid,” Jake said once Darla recapped the brief conversation for her. “It sounds like she took it okay, but I’m still going to hang out with you for the next couple of days. How did Barney work out for you, changing those locks?”

“Easy as changing a baby. Badda boom.”

Her reply drew a commiserating laugh from the other woman. “Yeah, he and his brother are something, but believe me, the guys know what they’re doing. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

The rest of the day proceeded without incident. By the time Darla closed the store at her usual time, she was satisfied that, if she hadn’t made a profit, at least she’d covered the electric bill for the day.

“See,” Jake proclaimed from the beanbag. “I told you things would get back to normal soon enough. And even Hamlet behaved himself this afternoon.”

“You’re right,” Darla answered in a wondering tone. In fact, she hadn’t seen whisker nor tail of him since his little book snagging incident that morning. Was he still lounging in the apartment, or had he snuck downstairs and tucked himself away in one of his favorite hiding spots? She only prayed that his absence didn’t mean he’d been off playing more cat tricks on her.

“So, wanna grab a bite at the Thai place again?” Jake asked.

Darla considered the offer a moment and then shook her head. “Thanks, but after this whole thing with Lizzie, I don’t think I’ll be good company. I’ve got a date with a container of yogurt and my pillow.”

“Suit yourself, kid.” Then, turning to James, who was packing up his coffee thermos, she asked, “What about you, James? Care to go Dutch over some pad thai?”

Darla waited for him to dismiss the invitation in his usual aloof manner, but to her surprise, he said, “I shall go you one better, Ms. Martelli, and purchase dinner for you.”

To Darla, who was staring at him in amazement, he added by way of explanation, “My auction last night ended quite favorably, and so a small celebration would not be amiss.”

“Well, let’s not let that cash burn a hole in your vest pocket,” Jake declared with a toss of her frizzy hair. “Darla, if you want to hand over one of your new keys, I’ll give the store another look when I get back. And then I’ll check in with you, if you think you can keep your eyes open that long.”

“Believe me, the idea of you and James out on the town together is enough to keep me awake all night again.”