She was right. Blue’s impromptu lunch invitation was the day after we’d returned from our Thanksgiving holiday. And I’d told Christian about it that night. But I was so caught up in describing Blue’s heartfelt apology, I’d forgotten to mention the call from the realtor.
Peace settled over me that could only be described as heaven sent. Christian wasn’t here because he wanted to be the club leader. And he wasn’t here to get laid. Christian loved me. He’d always loved me, and he reminded me of it every single day. I saw it in his eyes, I felt it in his touch. He could dissect my thoughts with a glance. He knew me better than I knew myself. And if he knew me that intimately, then I knew him too. And I knew he wasn’t here because he wanted to be. Debbie had said he started coming right after Thanksgiving. Right after our visit to the mountains. What if he was here because of something to do with my father? What if he was letting Krystal on his lap for show? I preferred that scenario over the others and decided I would walk back in and ask him to come home.
“Have you even heard a word I said?” Debbie screamed at me.
“No, I guess I haven’t. I’m going back in and getting my husband, and I’m going to ask him to come home with me." I shook my head slightly before adding, "Using the club as an excuse to step out on your woman isn't acceptable." I didn't know why Krystal was sitting on Christian's lap, but I also didn't believe that he was cheating on me, and only made the last comment as an encouragement to Debbie. She shouldn’t be putting up with Joe being unfaithful, if that was the case.
“Then you’re as brainless as you are barren,” she huffed. “No woman tells their man what is and isn’t acceptable.”
“What did you just say to me?” I asked, my eyes narrowed.
“You heard me,” she spat.
“You called me barren. How would you know that?”
“Because I told her.” The voice wasn’t familiar and I spun around and recognized the man who’d been with Nigel the night Christian had beaten him. He was leaning up against the car next to mine. His arms were crossed, and he was smoking a cigarette. What was his name again?
"Shut up, Dennis!" Debbie yelled.
Yes, that was it. Dennis.
There was a nervous edge to Debbie's voice when she asked, "And what are you even doing here? I thought you were arrested."
"Yeah, can you believe it? First time ever. And I've been sitting in there for almost eight days without a friend in the world to bail me out." He spit on the ground.
Debbie looked at the ground where he'd spit and said, "You should've called Nigel."
"I was in Tallahassee begging money off me sister. I lost a lot of income because of you and that fuckin' show you wanted to put on."
I immediately recognized the Australian accent. Turning to where the voice came from I saw Nigel walking up from between the cars. He stood with his hands in his pockets and cocked his head to one side. In a mocking voice he said, "You'll probably have to take a couple of punches to make it look real. But it'll be worth it. I'll make sure when Joe is club prez you'll move up the ranks."
Debbie began to stutter, and took a few steps back.
Before she could reply, Nigel said, "He put me in the fucking hospital. I couldn't work, and Blue tossed me out on me ass so I'm no longer part of the crew."
"You...you can be part of the club again when Joe gets promoted," she stammered.
"You don't think I haven't heard on the street about Bear showing back up here? He's gonna be prez and you know it. It all backfired on you. Even the notes you had Dennis leaving on her car didn't work." He paused and nodded toward me before finishing. "You said they would be a distraction and get under her skin enough so she wouldn't want anything to do with the club. You said that Bear loved her enough to walk away. Apparently, Grizz's daughter doesn't scare so easily and had a little more backbone than you'd anticipated."
"It was you," I interrupted, as my eyes cut to Debbie. "You were the one trying to railroad me this whole time. All because you thought Christian was gonna be made club leader?"
"Not because I thought it!" she cried. "Because I knew it. And you were so stupid, Mimi. You immediately thought Autumn was sending the notes. I tried to play along. I even hinted more than once that they could've been coming from someone here." She waved her hand back toward The Alibi. "But you were so focused on that stupid bitch, you could barely see past her."
That part was true. I was certain the hateful notes were from Autumn because she'd sent that letter so many years ago.
"All of this because you want Joe to take over the club for Blue?" I slapped my hand against my thigh. "You could've asked me, Debbie. You could've just been up front and asked if Christian was interested? If anyone is stupid, it's you."
"I did ask you, Mimi. I was always dropping hints, but you never said a word. You just smiled and pretended like you couldn’t have cared less."
I could feel Dennis and Nigel's eyes on us as Debbie and I went to war with words. Dennis even jumped in and cleared up some things that had been nagging at me. If this was just a small fraction of what it would be like to live the club lifestyle, I was more than glad I was out. Still, none of this explained why my husband was inside with Krystal on his lap.
"Enough of this bitching!" Nigel yelled. "I'm here on unfinished business."
I stiffened because I knew what was coming. He was mad for what Christian had done to him and I was going to be on the receiving end of his wrath. I scanned the parking lot. Not a soul in sight. I was a decent runner, but was I fast enough to get to the back door of the bar, and if I did, was it unlocked?
A couple of options were scrambling around in my head when Nigel walked menacingly toward Debbie. She placed her hand on her chest and said, "Wha..? What do you want?"
"I only came here tonight to tell Christian about your little scheme, and then ask Blue to take me back in the club. But having you right here in front of me with no witnesses." He paused and looked around the parking lot. "I think me plan has changed." His tone was low and menacing making his Australian accent even more pronounced.
He wasn't targeting me or Christian. He was after Debbie.
"Mimi is a witness," she said with more bravado than I knew she felt. "And why are you coming after me? It was her husband who beat you senseless. If anything, you should be taking it out on her."
Gee, thanks for that, Debbie.
"You're the one who told me to pick that fight with him. I'd never seen Bear in action before, and neither had you. You should've done your fucking homework. He beat me within an inch of me fuckin' life, and based on what you told me to say, he had reason to."
Then Nigel looked at me and said, "I was supposed to hurt Christian to scare you away. I think we all know how that shitstorm ended."
"You can't touch me," Debbie managed to squeak out. "Mimi will see everything."
"She has more reason than I do to want to see your arse in that boot," he countered as he pointed to an old Oldsmobile sporting a huge trunk.
I felt a shift in the air at the same time Dennis said, "Trouble."
Just like when I'd been getting ready to go up on stage to accept my diploma, I felt him. I didn't have to turn around to know Christian was coming up behind me.
Chaos descended as I tried to wedge myself between Nigel, Debbie, and an outraged Christian who came barreling at us with Joe and Isaac in tow. There was some initial shoving and shouting, but it was squelched before it got too out of hand.
Blue and some of his men had pulled up on their bikes at that point. He quirked a finger at me and said, "Come here." I walked toward him, grateful that I would be given a chance to explain without any bloodshed. Christian started to follow, but Blue said, "Not you. Not yet."
I heard Debbie snicker.
I don't know if it was her snicker or Blue's words that infuriated Christian. He stomped toward me and Blue and growled, "Nobody gives me orders. She's my wife! Not yours!"
Two of Blue's guys grabbed Christian, but Blue held up his hand to
stop them. "It's okay. He's right."
Blue gave orders for his men to escort Nigel, Dennis, Debbie, Joe, and Isaac through the back door of The Alibi to wait in the storeroom. The same storeroom where Krystal had invited Christian all those months ago. The reminder of what I'd seen less than twenty minutes earlier slammed into my chest.
Christian and I followed Blue to the back office of The Alibi. Apparently the bar's owner, Ken, had no problem with Blue using it. After closing the door behind us he hefted his hip on the end of the desk and pointed to two chairs.
"Who wants to tell me what the fuck that was in the parking lot?"
I raised my hand. "I'll go first."
Chapter 63
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 2007
Neither man interrupted as I unloaded on them the events of the past several hours. As I'd suspected, Christian was furious that I'd never told him about the notes left on my car. And I was upset that he'd not told me about the video our neighbor Tom had showed him of the grainy figure who'd been living in the attic next door. Instead, Christian asked Slade to hire someone to watch me when he couldn't be with me.
"You could've come to me," Blue interjected, giving Christian a hard look. He turned his gaze on me. "And you could've too."
Christian shook his head. "My gut told me he was connected to the club, but I didn't know how. I'm not saying I didn't trust you, but the less people who knew I was looking for someone, the better."
Blue nodded his understanding.
Christian explained why he lied about the overtime. He'd basically been hanging at The Alibi to see if he’d recognize the man in the video. He hadn't seen a face, but he was certain that if he saw the walk, the mannerisms, it would trigger a memory. But that didn't happen because Dennis hadn't been back to the bar. I could see disgust in his eyes as he realized his ability to recollect details had failed him this time.
"When I first got here, I saw Krystal sitting on your lap."
"It was all part of the ploy, Mimi. I had to make it look like I wanted to be here."
"Exactly how much did you make it look like you wanted to be here?" I asked.
He knew what I was asking, and he reached for my hand. "Not that much, baby." He kissed my hand. "Not what you're thinking. Not even close."
"Debbie was shooting you daggers with her eyes when I showed up. I thought it was because you were cheating on me. Now I know it's because she was angry you were coming around again."
"And she's the one who put the note on your car today?" Blue asked. "And put the chess piece inside?"
I nodded. "Yep. Razors is close to the museum. I walked there the day you invited me to lunch. She must've run over on her break today and gone through the alley to the back parking lot."
"Which was probably why the P.I. never saw her, right?" Blue asked Christian.
"Was he at the museum today?" I scrunched my nose.
"I just finished telling you he follows you, Mimi." Christian rubbed a frustrated hand down his face.
"Which explains why I felt like someone was watching me since we got back from Thanksgiving." I rubbed my arms as if to ward off a chill.
"Except you lost him today when you tore out of the museum going the wrong way!" Christian yelled. "He tried your usual places before he called Slade to let him know something had upset you, and you got away from him."
That was true. I'd gone to the mall. And I'd been thirty minutes late to girls’ night out so the P.I. had missed me. That explained why Slade called me in a panic wanting to know where I was. And I'd hung up on him. I dropped my head, too ashamed to meet my husband's eyes.
"Did Slade call you? Is that why you came out to the parking lot when you did?" I asked without looking up.
"He tried calling and texting, but I didn't hear it." Christian blew out a frustrated breath. "Tonight was the night Ken decided to replace their old jukebox with a fancy sound system. Slade finally called the bartender who told me to check my phone."
That explained why I thought the music was unusually loud.
"What I'm hearing is that Mimi has been getting nasty notes on her windshield since you two started hanging here?"
I nodded at Blue. "And the night Christian planned to stage the fight with Isaac coincided with Debbie's plot to have Nigel pick a fight with Christian to scare me off."
"I remember it was her comment that caused Nigel to say what he did," Christian remarked.
"Exactly!" I said as I sat up in my chair. "And things were quiet for a month because we stopped coming here. There were no more notes and no weird things happening at the house."
"What weird things?" Blue asked.
"Before you and Christian showed up in the parking lot, Dennis, the man living in the attic next door, told me a little bit more of what he'd been doing."
I told them how Debbie denied any involvement in Dennis's decision to live next door. After the first time he left the note on my car at the grocery store, he followed me home. When he noticed that house was empty, he decided staying there was more convenient than his back seat. He left his car parked a few streets over and nobody was the wiser.
"He's homeless?" Blue asked.
"Yes, and he would let himself into our house when we weren't there." I sensed Christian stiffening. He'd already told me how our neighbor’s tapes revealed the stranger's intrusion, but Christian hadn't understood his motive.
"Dennis wasn't trying to mess with us. He was just sloppy. When he was explaining the events that had occurred, I asked about our bed. Apparently, he took a nap and made it afterward.” I made a mental note to go home and have a bonfire in the back yard with our bedding. “He listened to our CDs and put them back in the wrong cases. He stole food he didn't think we'd miss. He accidentally put the milk away in the cupboard when he thought he heard one of us pull up. And he apparently availed himself of our huge tub more than once because he used all my bubble bath. He thought throwing the empty bottles away was too obvious so he put them back under the counter." I shuddered. How many times had I climbed into the tub after he'd used it?
"He put diesel in your gas tank, Mimi!" Christian spat.
"A misunderstanding," I assured him. "He was making his way through the yards one night when he came across a full gas jug in someone's open carport. He thought he was being nice by filling up my tank to pay us back for the stuff he'd been using." I sighed. "He said that's all it was, and I believe him."
I waited for one of them to say something, and when neither did, I piped up. "When you think about it, if Dennis hadn't been living next door, we wouldn't be sitting here now. Even though Debbie wasn't involved in him stalking our home, she was still secretly targeting me." I gave Christian a pleading look. "You seeing Dennis on the video fueled you to come here. You would've eventually figured out what she was doing." I knew Christian wanted to get his hands on Dennis. I didn't want that to happen.
Circling back to Debbie's motive, Blue looked at me and asked, "This only started up again after Christian started coming back to The Alibi without you?"
"The notes did. I don't think Dennis has been in the attic for a while now." I looked at Christian who nodded his agreement. "And think about it. Not only did Christian start coming back here, but you invited me to lunch at your restaurant. Debbie had to have been thinking that you were lining something up for Christian to step into your shoes. You must know that there's a buzz about you leaving."
"What did she mean by barren bitch on the note?" Blue asked.
I quickly explained about my surgery. I told Blue that Dennis had been in the attic listening the day Christian and I walked through the vacant house, and ended up sitting on the carpet and discussing our future. We'd talked that day about our dreams, and if we wanted to give Abby a little brother or sister. And of course, we touched on my inability to carry a child, and whether or not we might want to pursue adoption or seek a surrogate. That conversation had happened before my cousin Rachelle made her offer. And apparently, Dennis had heard it all a
nd reported it back to Debbie.
Just thinking about Dennis eavesdropping from the attic made my skin crawl.
Blue didn't say anything, but I knew his thoughts were racing. It was a lot to take in. But it also wasn't that big of a deal. Let’s face it. I never felt like my life was in danger. All of Debbie's tactics had been to upset, not harm. Yes, it had caused me months of aggravation and brought to light a ripple in my marriage—Christian and I had both kept things from each other under the misguided notion that we didn't want to worry or burden the other. We both vowed in front of Blue not to let that happen again.
Blue tugged on his beard. "I'm not hearing anything that points to Joe's involvement."
"I don't think he knew," I said before looking over at my husband for reassurance. I knew that Joe and Blue went way back. After my father went to prison Blue had given up his job with the phone company and had gone into the home security business. Blue was the one who'd introduced Joe to his current job.
"Doesn't sound like it," Christian added.
"Debbie and Dennis will be dealt with," Blue informed us.
"But it's all over. It was a childish scheme on her part. I'm not happy she put me through this, but truthfully the relief in knowing it's over is enough for me to walk away from this." I swiped my hand through my hair. "And Dennis didn't do anything wrong."
"Yes, he did," Blue corrected. "He invaded your privacy, and he saw what was written on the notes he delivered. He knew who he was messing with." He gave my husband a respectful glance. "You have no say in this, Mimi. They'll both be dealt with."
I cast a pleading look Christian's way, but he sat stone-faced.
"Now, to change the subject."
I looked back at Blue.
"The rumors are true. I'll be stepping down soon. But not until I deal with this mess." He cut his eyes to Christian. "After I get this shit handled, you want my job?"
Chapter 64
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 2007