Date: 2011-05-30T00:00:00+00:00
Description: Closing in on a suspect is easier said than done for the Olive Branch garden crew. While Pone and Shroom use up their last "get out of jail free" card, Spaz has Bean stashed under the bed at the Hunnicut mansion. Val’s mom, Silvia Hunnicut arrives home unexpectedly. What does this hold in store for Frankie’s weekend plans? Cash plays the inside guy, Pone and Shroom grab their monkey suits and go under cover at a formal dinner, and Bean is about to flip his purple wig. He and Spaz are both up to their high heels in trouble! The cops finally have their warrant, but will it be a corpse they find
Publisher: Echelon Press

An Olive Branch Mystery

Episode #3

Kill Me Over the Garden Gate

by

Gale Borger

Kill Me Over the Garden Gate

An Olive Branch Mystery #3

An Echelon Electric Short eBook

First Echelon Press Publication / May 2011

All rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2011 by Gale Borger

Cover Art © Karen L. Syed

Echelon Press

9055 G Thamesmeade Road

Laurel, MD 20723
www.echelonpress.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address Echelon Press LLC.

eBook 978-159080-829-0

Published by Echelon Press LLC.

Chapter 1

"This is not what I had in mind when I said I'd help find a murderer."

Bean squeezed under a potting bench in a greenhouse owned by Franklin B. Hunnicut IV. He knew Pone and Shroom ran like heck for the garden gate. The security guards were after them when Bean ducked into the greenhouse. His friends hoped to make it to the gate they'd broken to get in. Bean dove under the potting bench to hide. The security guards ran past him. They chased Shroom and Pone. Last seen, Shroom had almost made it to the gate. Bean sure hoped they made it.

He waited. His leg cramped. Musta been about a half hour ago, and he still didn't hear screaming. I wonder if they got away. He peeked out from under the bench. He listened. No sound. Where are those guys? Bean slowly crawled into the aisle. He sat on the floor. "So do I wait for those guys to come back or what?"

Bean got to his knees and looked out a dirty window. No one in sight. He saw some plants sitting in plug trays on top of the bench behind him. He peeked out the window one more time. Nothing. Bean stood and grabbed a tray of four-pack flower pots. "Why not? Might as well plant. Pone will come for me when it's clear."

Bean poked the bottom of the plug tray. The tiny plant popped up. "Petunias. I like Petunias." Bean filled the four-pack from the pile of soil mix on the counter. He scraped off the tops of the trays with a wooden ruler. The extra planting mix fell to the table, the tops of the pots now even. He then took a pencil and poked a hole in the middle of each pot. Popping each plug out of its tray, he dropped one in each pencil hole. He pressed the dirt around each plant and watered it in. He set aside the first tray and picked up the next.

Several trays later, Bean ran short of compost for the plant mix. He poked his head out the door. No one was coming. Where are those guys? I hope Pone comes soon.

No noise could be heard in the yard. Bean grabbed a bucket and snuck around the corner of the green house. He lifted the tarp that covered the compost pile. He scooped the compost with his hands. The bucket was almost full when Bean's hand caught on something. He shoved the bucket into the pile and hit something hard.

Digging in the pile, he found a piece of cloth. He began to dig like a dog for a bone. Dirt flew between Bean's legs. It landed about ten feet behind him. He stopped suddenly. He heard moaning sounds and didn't realize he'd made it.

Finally, dripping sweat and out of breath, he fell back. A shoulder and arm hung out of the compost pile. Bean stared. His mouth hung open. He blinked, and waited for breakfast to creep up his throat. Nothing happened. He reached out and poked the arm. It moved but did not bend. Bean scrambled backward. He shoved the arm with a foot. Compost dribbled down the pile, but the body didn't move.

"Oh crap…Hah, Crap, compost. You kill me, Beaner. Knock it off now. No compost jokes." He touched the arm again. "Hmm, been dead awhile." Bean leaned forward and knocked more compost off the body. He grabbed an arm and pulled. It didn't budge. He emptied his bucket and used it as a scoop. When he'd cleared the compost off the upper body, he pulled the body out of the pile.

"Hoo-whee, another dead chick. I gotta call Pone's dad." He dug out his cell phone. He went through his contacts, but didn't find Big Mike's number. "Damn. Now what?"

Bean texted Pone to get his dad out to the Hunnicut place, there was a body in the crap pile behind the greenhouse. As he pushed send he heard a noise. He almost wet his pants, but sucked it up and grabbed the tarp. He yanked it over the dead chick. Crawling on his hands and knees, he scrambled around the corner and slipped inside the greenhouse. Since it had worked the first time, Bean crammed himself onto a lower shelf and held his breath.

At the sound of footsteps, he wished he'd gone to the bathroom earlier. The steps slowed. Bean squeezed his eyes shut. Like that's gonna make me invisible? "Bean you are such a loser!"

The greenhouse door creaked. Bean nearly exploded as a foot scraped on bare dirt. The sweat ran down Bean's face. Oh no. The murderer must have come back for the body. He tried to make himself smaller, and his hand brushed against a can.

It was totally silent. Bean prepared himself to die. I hope I don't pee myself when I kick off. A rustle of clothing had Bean prepared to open an eye.

Chapter 2

"Bean!" Something smacked his head and both eyes popped open. Spaz stood about a foot away from him. "Yo, Bean, snap out of it." A hand cracked across his cheek.

"Ow. Damn, girl, that hurt."

"Bean, what the heck are you doing here? Why are you hiding in the greenhouse? Where are the other guys? Did they make it out? Bean! Bean, why don't you speak?"

Bean grunted and dragged himself out of his hiding place. He fell into the aisle and sucked in a deep breath. "I couldn't get a word in. That's why I didn't speak. Geez girl, chill. Last seen, Pone and Shroom, running toward the garden gate. Security was after all of us. I hid in here. That's the last I know."

"We heard sirens, and I thought the cops got you."

"Not me. Uh, not yet, I mean." He brushed dirt off his pants. "Holy cow, I forgot for a second. I found another dead chick."

"Oh my God, where?"

Bean pointed out the door. "Around the corner, in the compost pile."

"Let's go see."

Bean grabbed her wrist. "No! Don't go out there. We gotta get out of here."

Spaz shook off his hand. "Not me, Beanie Boy. I stay. Old man Hunnicut will know I went missing. I wanna see the dead chick. Maybe I know her too."

"I don't think so."

"Outa my way, Beaner." She walked around the greenhouse. Bean peeked around the corner and watched Spaz stare at the dead girl. She dropped the tarp on her. "Yeah, I've seen her around, but I don't know her name. I wonder who offed this one."

"Spaz, there's no question Hunnicut is the murderer. That body out there proves it."

"Don't murderers kill each person the same way?"

"I think I heard serial killers have a pattern, why?"

"Because this girl has a bullet hole in her head. Amy didn't. She was strangled and hoed, remember?"

"I don't care. Come on, we're getting out of here."

Spaz grabbed his shirt and yanked him close. "Listen, Bean Brain. I am not leaving. Got it?"

She shoved him away and he stumbled against the potting bench. "But, Spaz."

She pulled at her skirt. "But nothing, Beaner. I stay, you go."

"I'm staying. Let me see that chick again."

"Spaz, don't. She's really gooey."

Spaz dropped the tarp. "Yuck. You're right. She's gross. Better call Pone's dad."

"I don't have his number, but I texted Pone to get Big Mike out here right away."

Spaz looked down at the tarp and let out a sigh. They went back inside the greenhouse. "I gotta go. You can either take a chance at the side gate, or let me try to sneak you into the house. What's it going to be?"

Bean had an urge to run–almost as bad as the urge to pee. But could he leave Spaz? Another no brainer. "I stay too. I can pose as a florist or something. Or I could hide in your room. What do you think?"

"I think you're an idiot. That's what I think. You are also brain dead if you think you are sleeping with me, pal."

"Oh man, I didn't mean–"

She slugged him in the arm. "I know, but I'll have to hide you somewhere. Let me think."

Bean perked up. "Good. You go think. I'll get some pictures of the dead chick and email them to Pone."

Spaz lifted a brow. "I knew you had a brain in there somewhere. I'm impressed."

Bean grinned. "Watch the master at work."

Spaz rolled her eyes. "Spare me, fat head."

Bean tossed her a quick smile and turned away. Spaz caught herself smiling and quickly wiped all traces off her face. She drew circles in the dirt on the table. "What am I going to do with this idiot?" She doodled in the dirt and thought. Suddenly, Spaz jerked her head up and smiled an evil grin. "I got it! Man-o-man, old Bean Pole is gonna be pissed."

Bean came back through the door. He stopped and stared. Spaz looked around. "What?"

Bean backed up a step. "Uh, you're smiling."

"So what?"

"It's kind-of scary. You never smile."

"Scary is my middle name, Bean-o."

"You also look kind of beautiful when you smile."

Spaz scowled at him. "That's cuz you're a moron, and don't know no better. Come on, Moron, we need to get out of here."

Bean emailed the pictures to Pone to get them to his dad. "Okay, I'm ready."

"You'd better be."

Spaz and Bean snuck out the door. They headed for the hedge row which led to the big house. They kept low and moved quickly. Spaz led Bean to a side entrance and shoved him through the door. Bean stood against the wall. Warm smells of cooking food filled his nostrils. He sucked in his gut when a small person dressed in black whizzed past him. "What the–?"

"Shush." Spaz grabbed his hand and dragged him down the hall. She stopped when the wall ended and Bean crashed into her.

"Oops."

"Shh." Spaz waited a second more and dashed across the opening. Stairs led up to the second floor. Bean felt her tug his arm and followed her. Spaz barely paused and ran up another flight. Out of breath and very confused, Bean leaned on the wall behind him. Spaz tugged on his arm again. "Come on, and don't say anything!"

Bean shuffled along behind her as Spaz hurried down a hall, turned right, and went down another. Turning right one more time, Spaz stopped. She looked both ways, pulled a key out of her skirt pocket, and shoved it into the lock. The door clicked open and Spaz slipped into the room. She grabbed Bean by the shirt and tugged him inside. She looked out the door one more time. Then closed and locked it.

Chapter 3

Bean was looking around and stopped by the window.

Spaz tackled him. "Get down!"

Bean looked up from underneath her body. His chin rested in her cleavage. Spaz stretched to peek out the window. She looked to see if anyone saw Bean. She heard his muffled voice. "Uh, Spaz? Not that I'm complaining, but could you uh, move a little to the left, please?"

She looked down her front and saw only his eyes. His eyebrows waggled up and down. Spaz couldn't help but laugh and rolled to her side. "Sorry, Bean. Didn't mean to smother you."

Bean smiled back. "Oh, it's okay. Smother me some other time though. What are we doing here? And where are we?"

Spaz pushed to her feet and closed the blinds. "We're in my room. I don't exist. He keeps me and a couple other girls up here until play time."

"Play time?"

Spaz looked away. "You don't want to know."

Bean stood. "Yes I–"

Her head snapped around. "No. You really don't!"

Bean could feel the anger boiling up in him. He took her by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. "Yes. I. Do. I'm a big boy, Spaz. I can take it."

She bit her lip and looked away. "But–"

"But nothing, girl. Look at me." She glanced up. Bean shook her. "Evie, Look at me!"

She looked up. Bean relaxed the hold he had on her. "I am your friend. That means I care about you. Friends can tell friends the good and the bad." She began to pull away, and Bean held on. "Spaz, stop. Talk to me. Let me help. Everyone needs someone to unload on. Let me be your friend, dammit." He watched her eyes squeeze shut. "I'll even wear the purple beanie again." She smiled a small smile. Bean walked over to the bed. Spaz stood frozen where she was. Bean looked confused and realized it was because he'd sat on the bed. Bean's eyes grew wide. "Oh. Sorry. I get it. Don't worry about me, Spaz; I'm one guy who's perfectly safe."

Spaz stared at him. "Are you kidding me, man?" She stepped forward. "Ya coulda fooled me. I'd have never taken you for–"

Bean patted the bed. "Really? And here I thought I was an open book."

Spaz sat next to him and patted his knee. "This is great. Now I know my idea will work."

Bean smiled. "What plan? You got a plan? Great. Tell me, tell me! Can I help?"

Spaz grabbed his hands and pulled them into her lap. "Beanie Boy, you are the plan."

"Huh?"

Spaz squeezed his hands. Bean looked down and swallowed hard. She ran her thumb over his knuckles. She didn't notice the sweat break out on his forehead. She kept talking. He barely paid attention to what she said.

"So, Abby is really tall. We can use her tights."

Bean cleared his head. "Tights?"

Spaz bounced on the bed. She was warming to the idea. "Yeah shoes too. We can use one of her dresses. It will be long enough to cover your bum. You look skinny enough–"

"My what?"

Spaz looked at Bean. She slugged him in the arm. "Didn't you listen to anything? Your bum, Bean! You don't want your butt hangin' out there, do you? Of course the tights will help, and we can tuck your uh, stuff away too. I got enough makeup to take care of your homely face. Yup, it just might work."

Bean dropped her hands. "Wait a minute. Spaz, what are you talking about?"

Spaz scowled at him. "The plan, you moron! What do you think I'm talking about?"

"You plan on putting me in a dress? Are you nuts?"

"Not according to Dr. Browning, but she could be wrong, why?"

Bean hopped off the bed. "You're not putting me in a dress. No way, no how!"

Spaz giggled. "You sound like the Wizard of Oz."

Bean was really worked up. He paced and sputtered. "Well, girl, you are from Oz if you think I'm going to walk around dressed up as a girl. What good would it do, anyway?"

"Well, it would give us an excuse to be together. We could look for clues. You can sleep here. We could check out the gardener's cottage by the greenhouse. You'd be handy if I get into trouble. I'll be there for you too. Starting tomorrow there's going to be a house party. A bunch of rich guys are coming to golf. There're extra wait staff hired. Extra girls like me for the old farts."

"Spaz, no one is going to touch you if I–"

"Aw, come off it, Bean. I can't help being a ho any more than you can help being gay."

Bean's mouth dropped open. He sucked in a breath. His mouth moved, but nothing came out. Spaz went on. "So you see? It will work out great!"

She looked at Bean. His mouth was still moving and his hands waved in the air. "Bean, what's wrong? You look like a fish doing the tuna flop." She snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Bean. Snap out of it! Cripes, what the heck is wrong with you?"

Bean grabbed her fingers and choked. "Spaz, why do you think I'm gay?"

"Because you told me, dumbass."

"I never!"

"Yes you did! You sat right on my bed." She batted her eyelashes and struck a pose. "Oh, Spaz, I'm one guy that's perfectly safe, blah, blah, blah."

"That doesn't mean I'm gay! Geez! Get a grip. I only meant that friends never crawl into each other's pants. I didn't say I was gay!"

"Whoa, Bean, you know it really doesn't matter to me. I'm cool with the gay thing. In fact, it's better knowing I don't have to be on the lookout for–"

"Lookout? For what? Ahhhg–never mind. Let's just forget it."

"Good. Now that we have that issue out of the way, we can get started." She patted his cheek. "Leave it to me, Baby Cakes. You wait here." The door slammed behind her.

Bean closed his eyes. "Baby Cakes?" Maybe I'll wake up and this will have been a bad dream.

Chapter 4

He opened his eyes. He could still see Spaz's smile. Bean rolled his eyes and groaned.

She patted my cheek, for God's sake. Well hell, if it makes her feel better to think I'm gay for awhile, so what? Maybe she's right about the disguise thing too. Beats the crap out of hiding under a potting bench.

The door opened again and Spaz popped her head in. She came in and hopped on the bed.

Bean sighed. "Okay, where do we start?"

"Well, for starters, I have to do your make-up. I texted Abby, so she should be back any minute."

"Are you sure about this?"

She jumped off the bed and grabbed her huge purse-thing. "Yup. I'll be right back–don't move!"

The door slammed behind her again. Bean flopped back on the bed. He slapped a hand over his eyes. "Oh my God-what have I gotten into?"

A knock on the door had Bean bolting up. "Spaz wouldn't knock on her own door."

The doorknob rattled. A girl's voice said, "Kelli? Are you in there?"

Bean slid to the floor. "Oh crap, now what do I do?"

The doorknob rattled again and Bean dove under the bed. The door opened and Bean saw female feet step into the room. "Kelli? Hmm, that's weird. I could have sworn I heard…oh well, I'll just leave her a note."

The female feet moved to the table. "Oh, look at those cute shoes." Bean hoped she didn't mean the ones next to the bed. The strappy little-heeled things looked like they'd hurt. Don't bend down, girlie. Just go away.

Bean held his breath. He saw the girl's weight shift. Her heels rose as she leaned on her toes. Oh no, she's bending over!

He pressed himself against the wall, trying to make himself smaller and squeezed his eyes shut. He cracked open one eye and saw a hand slowly reach for a shoe. Bean held his breath.

Just then the doorknob rattled again. Bean heard Spaz squeak. "Abby."

The hand by the shoes stopped. It rose slowly out of sight. Abby Whatever stood and faced Spaz. He breathed a sigh of relief. He scooted closer to the girls. Abby bent to pick up a shoe. She nearly hit Bean in the nose. He backed away just in time.

Spaz looked around the room. "I was just looking for you, Abby." The door closed and Spaz slid the bolt home. She walked across the room and closed the closet door. Bean could see the girls in the mirror on the door. He hoped they couldn't see him.

"What is it, Kelli? Why did you lock the door? Are you okay?"

"I'm good, Abby, but I need your help, and you can't tell anyone."

"Wh-what is it? I can keep a secret."

Bean blew a dust ball away from his nose. Oh no, Spaz is going to spill the beans. He smiled at his own joke. Hah! Spill the Beans.

"Swear on it."

"What?"

"Swear you won't tell anyone."

Abby looked around. "Sure, Kelli, I swear."

Spaz sighed and patted the girl's hand. She looked around the room. She wondered where Bean hid. She bit her lip and tried to think. "It's uh, my boy. I mean it's my friend. No. It's m-y-y-uh, brother. Yeah my brother. No, my sister. He, uh, she flew in from New Jersey. I mean Nebraska."

"So what is it, Kelli? Your brother or your sister from New Jersey or Nebraska?"

Spaz giggled and then cleared her throat. "My sister is from Nebraska. My brother is from New Jersey. My sister flew in at the last minute, and I told her to come here. She didn't bring any clothes and she's tall like you. I wanted to sneak her into the party. She's tall like you. I wanted to ask you if she could borrow something to wear."

"Sure, Kelli, but are you sure you want her at the party? You know those old geezers. Why not dress her up like the wait staff? That way the men will leave her alone, and you can visit at night."

"Great idea but where do we get clothes?"

Abby winked. "Leave it to me. Just let me borrow those shoes."

Spaz snapped up the sandals. She pressed them in Abby's hand and got her out the door.

Spaz sighed. She wandered across the room. She whispered loudly. "Bean." She moved a pile of clothes. She looked behind the chair. No Bean. She walked to the closet. She put her hand on the knob. "Psst. Bean!" She dropped the blouse she was carrying and bent to pick it up. She looked in the mirror and saw Bean smiling under the bed.

Abbey knocked twice and opened the bedroom door. "Hey, Kelli, I just wanted to know…are you okay?"

Spaz slammed the closet door open. She stood stiffly in the opening. She tried not to look like a freak with a friend hiding under the bed. She failed most miserably. Abby raised a brow.

"Kelli? What are you not telling me?"

"Me? Ah, uh, why do you ask?"

Abby stood. She walked over to Spaz and looked down. Spaz bit her lip. "What?"

"Spill it, ho bag."

Spaz grabbed her by the blouse. "You swear on your life you will never tell a soul?"

"I already told you I–"

Under the bed, Bean sucked in a breath. Abby froze. "Kelli, did you hear that?"

"Uh, hear what?"

"That noise!" She jumped to her feet. Bean scooted back. His toe caught the bed skirt and Abby screeched. "Under the bed! Something is under the bed."

She turned to the door and Spaz grabbed her. "Wait, Abby. It's only Bean."

The other girl struggled. Spaz swung her around and threw Abby across the bed. Abby sat wide-eyed and scared. "What bean? Lima beans? Green beans? Mexican jumping beans for God's sake? Geez, Kelli, something moved under there."

"Yeah, I know. It's my stupid friend, Bean." Spaz picked up the bed skirt. She bent down. Abby did as well.

Bean twiddled his fingers at them, a cheesy smile on his face. "Hey, Spaz."

"Bean, you butt head, come out from under there."

Bean slid out. He looked at Abby, who still cowered in a corner. "Uh, hi, Abby. I'm Bean."

"Is Bean your real name?"

Bean turned pink. "Uh, They call me Bean 'cuz–"

Spaz broke in. "Because he was such a bean brain, he and another stupid friend of his were drunk and sitting in a tree. Bean looked down at a skylight in a roof and said, 'Duh, I wonder if someone could break into a house by breaking through the skylight.' Then his friend, Mr. Stupid, said to this dumbass, 'Duh, why don't you find out?' and pushed dumbass here out of the tree. Bean fell onto the roof. The skylight broke, and Bean got arrested for breaking and entering and burglary. He got probation." Spaz smiled. "The judge considered anyone stupid enough to fall out of a tree too stupid to survive in jail."

Bean punched her arm. "That's not true!"

Spaz shoved him aside. "It's true, I swear."

Abby crossed her arms. She raised a brow. "Well, if my boyfriend got drunk and fell through a skylight–"

Spaz and Bean spoke at the same time.

"He ain't my boyfriend, are you nuts?"

"No way, she's not my girlfriend, are you nuts?"

Abby smiled. "You guys are pretty loud. I think maybe too loud."

Spaz opened her mouth and Abby held up her hand. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone he's here."

Bean started to correct her and Spaz threw an arm around his shoulders. She stood on his toe. Bean swallowed whatever he was going to say. He gritted his teeth and grabbed Spaz by the waist. Spaz smiled at Abby. "That's right. Old Beanie is my uh, b-boy f-f-friend. I just didn't want anyone to know."

"I think he's adorable." Abby grabbed them both in a hug. Spaz nearly jumped out of her skin. Bean patted her back and she calmed. Abby jumped back. So did Bean and Spaz.

"Good. Then it's settled. Let me borrow your shoes and I'll take care of the rest."

Bean and Spaz could only nod. Abby unlocked the door and danced into the hall. "Don't worry about a thing. I'll be back in a jiff."

The door slammed and Bean looked at Spaz. "What's a jiff?"

Spaz laughed. "Other than peanut butter, I don't know, but I think she means not too long. Come on, sit in this chair. Let me see if I can perform magic."

Bean eyed the hairbrush in her hand. "Spaz? Should I be scared?"

Spaz grinned. She patted the chair. "You bet your butt you should be scared." She pulled out her make-up box. Bean almost cried.

Chapter 5

Shroom pace back and forth. "I got a bad feeling about this, Pone."

Pone looked up from his computer screen. "What? What do you think is going to happen?"

Shroom rubbed his forehead. "Can you say jail, revoke my probation, get caught by those goons again? Get beat up by the cops? I can't believe we are going back."

Pone pounded on the keyboard. "Cash said Silvia Hunnicut, Val's mom, is flying home early. That means those party girls will be at the house when she gets there. All hell is going to break loose. Do you want Spaz to get hurt? We've got to get her out of there. The cops won't do anything without a warrant, and the judge hasn't signed one yet."

"What about Bean? Shouldn't we wait for him?"

"Bean might still be there for all we know. Cash is invited to some dinner party there and promises to look for him."

"And we just sit here on our sorry butts?"

Pone looked up and smiled. "No way. You're going to love this."

Shroom scowled. "Aw geez, that means I am going to hate it, right?"

Pone laughed. "Probably. But you hate everything, so I'm not too worried."

"You're quickly being added to my hate list, yo." He sighed. "Okay, let me have it."

"Waiters."

"Waiters?"

"Yeah, waiters. We dress like waiters and go back–"

"Go back, are you effing kidding me? We were almost toast the last time. Don't you remember?"

Pone logged off. "Because you had to wiggle your hips at the swimming pool when you were supposed to be trimming hedges, moron."

Shroom sniffed and lifted his chin. "I was overcome."

"And we were almost overcome by jail, because of you."

Shroom grinned. "So you'd better leave me here, mi amigo."

Pone stood and grabbed his sweatshirt. "No way, pal. I've got a better idea. Come on."

Shroom looked at the floor. "Like I said. I've got a bad feeling about this."

Chapter 6

"Hi, Mom, how was your flight?"

Silvia Hunnicut stumbled. Val grabbed her mother's arm. She picked up the carry-on and stood. Sylvia shook off Val's hand. "Let go of me! I can do this." She grabbed the small bag out of Val's hands. She brushed her skirt and patted her hair. She stepped forward and wobbled on her low heels. She glared at Val. "I need a drink. And don't call me 'Mom' young lady."

"Yes, Silvia. Why don't we just go home? You can get a drink there."

Silvia Hunnicut did not like to be told what to do. She stopped in the middle of the crowded airport. She faced her daughter. The crowd parted and people bumped into each other. Silvia Hunnicut didn't care. The crowd was supposed to part for her. "Valerie Hunnicut, if I say we stop now, we stop now!"

"But Chad is waiting in the no parking zone."

"Chad Fitzsimmons? Oh, Valerie, you can do better than Chad Fitzsimmons!"

"His dad is a famous plastic surgeon and his mother is a lawyer. Chad is going to Princeton this fall."

"His grandfather was a farmer."

Val sighed. Her mother had had more to drink than she'drealized. "His grandfather owned like, half of Montana, Mother! Your grandmother was a butcher's daughter. You married money, Chad's family worked for it."

Silvia's hand struck lightning fast. Val's head snapped as Silvia's palm made contact with her daughter's face. She gritted her teeth and evil poured off her in waves. "Don't you talk to me about money, Valerie Michelle! Chad Fitzsimmons is not worthy to wipe your shoes."

"His father was sure good enough to do your face lift last year."

Her mother looked like she was going to turn purple. She struggled to remain calm. She brushed her skirt again She shouldered her way past Val, patting her hair.

Val listened to the click of her mother's heels on the tile. She put a hand to her hot face and sighed. "Some things never change." Val shouldered her purse and trailed after her mother.

Silvia slipped through the sliding doors of the airport. She left Val to pick up her luggage. A valet helped Val pile the cases onto a cart. He wheeled the cart to Cash's car. Val tipped the valet. She and Cash loaded case after case into his father's car. Her mother sat in front. She never offered to help, but sat there unscrewing a bottle of airplane booze.

Cash closed the trunk and looked at Val. He gently touched her cheek. "I see Sylvia still has good aim."

A tear slid down her face. "It doesn't matter what I do or how good my grades are, she still hates me." She looked away. "She still drinks."

"She hates herself Val. She owns the problem. The booze owns her. Look at your future. College starts in two months. You'll be gone."

She smiled a small smile. "When did you get so smart?"

"I learned it at The Olive Branch in group. I never knew I needed counseling. It took going to jail to kick start me into tomorrow. This is the new me."

Val laid a hand on his face. "I like the new you. Come on. Let's get the Wicked Witch of the West back to her castle."

They climbed in the car and headed for the Hunnicut estate.

They pulled into the drive and met with total chaos. Trucks loaded with food, tents, and tables blocked the way to the front door. Men in colored sweaters and white shoes strolled across the lawn. Cash drove onto the lawn. He pulled around the mess and stopped at the front door just as it opened. Several members of the household staff gathered. The car doors opened, and the trunk emptied. Cash and Val hauled Silvia from the seat. She threw their hands off and smoothed her skirt. She patted her hair and slowly wobbled her way to the front door.

"Sorry Val, but she is one cold woman."

Val gently touched her cheek. "One mean woman too."

Cash put an arm around her. "Two months, Val. Then you'll be rid of her."

Val leaned her head on Cash's shoulder. "Mmm hmm, for a while at least."

They headed for the house. "Cash, do you think she came home early just to cause trouble?"

Cash messed up her hair. "Doesn't she always?"

They stepped through the front door. A tall, blonde maid stood holding a tray. Val took a cold glass. "Thank you." She looked up and stopped. "You must be new. Hi. I'm Val and this is Chad. Thank you for bringing these for us."

She looked at the tall maid. The maid nodded and turned to leave. Val touched her shoulder. "Wait a second." The maid froze. Val moved around front. "You're very pretty. Your eyes are lovely. What's your name?"

Chad looked up. His mouth hung open. The maid smiled at Val. "Bu-Beth, Miss Hunnicut, Beth Ann Scott."

The maid shuffled away. Val watched her go. "Funny, she reminds me of someone." She turned to Cash. He tried to keep a straight face.

He knew the maid was Bean as soon as he'd smiled. "Yeah, she looks like someone I know. Maybe she's his sister."

Val stared after Bean. "Hmm."

Chapter 7

"Lay off me, Pone. I ain't doin' this. No way, not no–"

"How. Yeah. I know, Shroom. You're going to look great. You have to know a few things before we can blend in. Now one more time. Plated food."

Shroom crossed his arms and scowled.

Pone zipped his black dress pants. "Shroom, do you want to help, or are you going to pout like a girl?"

Silence.

"Those are our friends, Shroom. We don't even know what happed to Bean. Are you in or out?"

Shroom spun and paced the room. He stopped in front of the mirror. He looked at his slicked back hair, his white shirt, black jacket, slacks, and shoes. "I look like some sorta wetback penguin. No one is gonna believe I'm for real."

"Shroom, people believe what they think they see. They don't look at the servants. But we can't stand out. Here. Put these in."

Pone held out his hand.

"You are kidding me, dawg."

Pone looked him dead in the eye. "Put them in, Dawg. Your eyes stand out. These contacts will make you look like everyone else."

Shroom opened the package. He popped the dark brown contacts in his eyes. He looked in the mirror and smiled. "Look at that. Now I will blend in. Like one of those lizards that change color so he blends in with a tree or leaf." He scratched his head. "What are they called? Kamilee…come-a-long? No, that ain't it."

"Chameleon."

"What?"

"Ka-mee-lee-on. Chameleon. The lizard that changes to the color of whatever he's sitting on. Very cool, now what side do you serve from if you have food in a bowl?"

Shroom stood straight. "The left."

"Why?"

"Cuz most people are right handed and they reach with their right hand to scoop out whatever crap they're being served."

"Yup. Which side if the food is already on a plate?"

"The right, because rich morons eat with their right hand."

Pone oiled his very short hair and turned to pick up his small duffel. "And when you take away the dishes?"

"When Uncle Jimmy gets drunk and falls into the potato salad."

Pone rolled his eyes.

Shroom picked up his duffel. They both left the room and slid out the back door. "Pick up food from the right. Fill the glasses from the right. The water glass is bigger than the wine glass. It may have a stem. Watch the other servers. Napkin in the lap. Remove the plate and the fork each course. Do not speak to a guest. Do not help a guest. Do not correct a guest. If I don't know an answer, pretend I don't speak-a-da-English, nod, and find you."

Pone dug keys out of his pocket and unlocked Cash's truck. They threw the duffels in the back seat and climbed in. Pone slapped Shroom on the back. "Great. You know, you could do this for a living."

Shroom laughed. "No way, man. Rich people suck."

Pone laughed. "Yeah, they do. Let's go."

They drove to the Hunnicut mansion. Pone stopped at the gate, but they let him pass without stopping him. He drove around the side and parked next to the tent rental truck. There they waited. Soon another car drove up and a guy in all black got out. They followed him to a side door and into the servant's area. They waited quietly behind the other guy. Another guy in black leaned into the room and said, "Two for indoor cocktails."

Two silent workers stepped forward and followed the person in charge.

They waited some more. Twice Shroom poked Pone and wanted to say something. Pone stepped on his toes and shook his head. Shroom fumed and stayed silent.

"One for housekeeping." Shroom stepped forward and a small Hispanic woman pushed past him. Pone had him by the jacket. He whispered "Women only."

Shroom scowled. "That's discrimination."

"Shush."

"Hey, you two." The big guy flicked a thumb behind him. "Now."

Shroom looked behind him. Pone yanked on his sleeve. He dragged Shroom behind him. They followed the big man in black down a hall into a room buzzing with sound and people.

"Hey you two, over here."

Pone and Shroom looked up as a silver tray, a white towel, and a wrapped bottle was placed into each of their hands.

"Follow them."

Shroom looked around and Pone tapped him on the shoulder.

The man in black stopped. "Hey, boy, doesn't your friend speak English? I said I didn't want any beaners who don't know the language." He slapped his forehead. "Why can't those idiots get anything right?"

Pone choked on his bitter reply. The man turned to go and Shroom spoke. "Yo."

All sound stopped and the man turned back. Shroom stood stiffly. He raised his chin. "Sir, I speak English better than you. And I would prefer if you did not refer to my co-worker as boy, and my people as 'beaners', if you would be so kind."

With that, he followed the other workers out the door. Pone hurried to catch up. "So much for not drawing notice."

The server in front of them turned to Shroom. In accented English he said, "Good for you, amigo. I, for one thank you."

Shroom grinned large and followed the others into a huge dining hall. "Holy cow, this is a football stadium!"

"Shh."

Pone peeled off to the left and Shroom went right. He watched as the other waiters poured wine. White towel draped over the left arm and pour with the right. I got it. He focused on his duties and made the rounds with only one goof. He almost ran into a tall, clumsy maid. She pulled back a drippy water pitcher and almost fell over Shroom. He stopped and used his extra towel to wipe the pitcher before she dripped water on a guest.

She smiled her thanks and froze in mid pour. Shroom looked up into eyes he knew well. Bean? He was stunned. He was surprised. He was relieved and confused all at once.

Bean's not dead, but he's turned into a girl!

Another waiter nudged him from behind. Shroom realized he held up traffic and silently moved on. He heard someone say, "Beth." He figured Bean now called himself Beth. Shroom sighed.

Back in the kitchen area, Shroom caught Pone. "Did you see–"

Pone gritted his teeth. "Yes. Shut up about it. Grab a cart."

"But, but…"

Pone grabbed a cart with salad already plated. Shroom did the same. They followed the others back to the dining room and proceeded to serve (from the right) the salad. They barely had time to breathe before the next cart with the next course was served. In and out they hurried. It seemed every other person had a gripe about something. Special orders were whipped up and served in seconds. Shroom had no time to think as he rushed from one task to the next.

Chapter 8

The next two hours became a lesson in constant movement and demanding people. By the time the crowd began to move into other rooms, Shroom had had enough. He threw his little white towel on a countertop and went in search of Pone. He found him in the dining room taking the tablecloths off the tables and tossing them into laundry bins.

"Hey, Pone."

Pone flipped a cloth past him. Shroom pushed the bin forward and followed Pone. A maid took the bin from him and went through a door. The two boys stood for a moment.

Pone smiled. "Was that wild, or what?"

Shroom nodded. "It was worse than weeding the 'Garden of Weeden'. I never saw so many demanding people in one room. How do the workers stand it?"

"They stand it so they can feed their families. Most don't have a choice."

"I would never do this for a living."

"I don't think it was obvious we don't do this for a living."

Someone spoke behind them. "It is obvious to me you don't do this for a living. So what I want to know is, where did you two boys come from?"

Pone spoke. "Well sir, the thing is–"

Shroom stepped in front of him. "The thing is, my cousin Jose was supposed to work tonight and is very ill. His wife is ill as well. Their kids are hungry. I asked my friend, uh, Bill to help out. This is all on me. He was just trying to help Jose not lose his job. I hope we didn't mess anything up. We'll go now, and thanks for not kicking us out."

Shroom and Pone turned to go.

"Wait boys." They turned back. "I wanted to tell you two things. One, I am sorry for what I said earlier. I couldn't believe the agency sent me children to do a man's job. Second, I thought you both did a great job tonight. I wanted to pass on tips I received on your behalf. This is most unusual, but you impressed a few of the guests. It might help out your cousin, or give you spending money for college this fall.

He held out his hand and Shroom took the bills. "Thanks, man. We will be sure to spend it stupidly. Cousin Julio would thank you."

"Julio? I thought it was Jose?"

"Yeah, uh, Jose is Julio's brother. I always get them mixed up."

Pone rolled his eyes. "Thank you, sir, and don't worry about what you said. Mario here tends to be touchy about the race thing."

"Well, no harm done then. Mario, Bill, thank you."

"Bye."

Shroom stuffed the money in his pocket. They left the hall. At the truck, they grabbed the duffels and stripped off their white shirts and jackets. They stuffed the black clothes back in the truck and put on black sweats.

Shroom smiled. "Mario?"

"I thought it was dashing."

"What are we doing now?"

Pone smiled "Get into stealth mode."

Shroom dragged a black sweatshirt over his head. "Stealth mode my butt. We'll be lucky if we don't get caught and hung. How are we going to get to Spaz? I thought she was a guest. I don't want to give that money back. There must be twenty or thirty bucks in my pocket!"

"Focus, Shroom. While you were making time with the old broads, I was gathering info. I know where Spaz's room is, and how to get there."

"But how?"

"You do know that tall chick you ran into was Bean, right?"

"Yeah. What's with him? Is he fulfilling some sick fantasy or what?"

"My guess is he's undercover."

"Hey, no one is going to get under any covers with that ugly dude."

"Not under the covers, you dumbass, undercover, like in disguise, or in costume-like a spy. Spaz must have fixed him up. I wonder where she found him."

"Couldn't even guess. At least he's not dead."

"Right."

"Now what?"

Now we wait. I scribbled a note and passed it to Bean. If anyone saw me, they'd think I was making a date with a maid."

"Good idea. What'd the note say?"

"Gardener's cottage at midnight."

"Pretty lame."

"Yup. Servants pretend to be. No one likes a smart servant."

"Guess not. In the meantime, what do we do?"

"We wait. Come on. Let's go before someone sees us."

"Lay on, Macduff."

Pone looked at him. "What did you say?"

Shroom smiled. "That's Shakespeare. Act 5, Scene 8–Macbeth. Most people say 'lead on', but that's wrong. They were talking about war, not taking a nap."

Pone stood there open-mouthed.

Shroom shrugged. "What? I'm not a total imbie."

"I never said you were. But Shakespeare?"

"So? I paid attention. Shakespeare is cool. They make most of you guys read crap like Romeo and Juliet. Some of his other stuff is way cool. Taming of the Shrew? Funny. Macbeth? Murder and guys getting their heads chopped off. He wrote about loonies, goonies, bad guys, and idiots, too."

"Holy crap."

"Yeah, never judge a Mexican-Swede by his cover."

Pone wiped his brow. "Or a gang-banger by his tattoos."

"And I thought you above profiling."

"Never again."

Shroom suddenly smiled. He pounded Pone on the back. "Mikey, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"Don't tell me you watch old movies, too. That line is from 'Casablanca'."

"My mom loves them."

"So does my dad."

They started off across the darkened part of lawn. Anyone listening could have heard them, but security was busy elsewhere. A lone girl stood on a balcony. She watched them walk toward the gardener's cottage. She listened as their voices drifted across the lawn. "You know, I once saw one with this guy who stabbed a lady in a shower…"

Chapter 9

Big Mike and a small crew of county deputies gathered outside the greenhouse. They stood staring at the ground. Their flashlights swept the area. They finished digging through the compost pile. Then they loaded its contents onto a flatbed trailer. They stared at the bare ground.

"No body."

"I can see that, Sheriff Green. My son is not a liar."

J.J. Green pushed his hat to the back of his head. "Never said he was, Mike, and I know you're not. This just means Judge Avery took his sweet time signing the warrant, and our murderer moved the body."

"Now what?"

"Well, it's late, I'm tired, and our corpse disappeared. I'm done for the evening."

"I don't kno–"

One of the deputies tapped Sheriff Green on the shoulder. "What is it, Moe?"

"S-someone is coming."

Another deputy said, "Shh. Two someones. They're coming down the slope to the left, see?"

"Okay, Larry. Contact Shemp. Radios on, men. Flashlights off. No outside noise. Larry and Curly, circle around. Moe, you're with them. Mike, you and me, in back of the greenhouse–go everyone. Now!"

Mike followed J.J. behind the greenhouse near the cottage. "Moe, Larry, Curly and Shemp? You have the three stooges working for you?"

J.J. covered his microphone. "Sometimes. I can't ever remember their names. This is easier."

"I see."

J.J. smiled. He lifted his mic to his mouth. "Do not move in. I say. Observe only."

It stood silent for several minutes.

"They're closing in on the cottage, J.J."

"10-4, Larry. Observe only."

"10-4, wait. Another figure moving this way. Someone is moving fast down the same slope."

"Get out of sight, Moe."

"Yes, sir. Wait. A door opening on the big house. Is someone else coming down here? What the heck are they doing? "

"Sheriff. A golf cart. Moving in from the west. Cannot make out the driver."

"Maybe because it's a 9-Iron, ha-hah. Get it? Driver? 9-iron?"

"Can the golf jokes, boys. Watch the subjects. How close to the greenhouse–"

J.J. stopped when he heard Big Mike suck in a breath. "Mike?"

"My son. One of the chatterboxes is my kid, J.J."

He started to stand and J.J. caught his arm. "This is part of an on-going investigation, Mike. We'll take every precaution. I'll get him out as soon as I can."

"Sorry, I forgot for a minute. I'll kill him later. Don't worry about me, J.J. I'm good. But where there are two, there are more of them."

J.J. warned the others. "We have two juveniles, gentlemen. At least two kids involved. Proceed with caution. I repeat, proceed with caution."

Pone and Shroom slowly approached the cottage. They split up and crept around the outside. They met by the back door.

Pone realized the sound of their voices might carry across the golf course. He pulled Shroom close. "I tried the windows on my side. No luck–they're all locked. How about yours?"

"Locked up tight. What now?"

"I don't want to break in."

"I agree. Wouldn't do for Frankie to find his love nest toe-up."

"Toe-up?"

"Sorry, I slip into 'street' when I'm nervous. Torn up is what I meant to say."

"I don't want to break any laws, man. I just want to save our friend."

"Well, you bein' the B & E expert, I thought you'd have this part figured out."

The cops behind the shed smiled. One snickered. Pone froze. "Shroom, did you hear that?"

"Hear what? Don't go freakin' on me now, dawg. Chill and think. Did you try the door?"

"I thought you tried it."

"I didn't try the door. You were here first, moron. That was your job."

"Why was it my job? It's locked up anyway. Why don't we just sit and wai–"

The quiet snick sounded loud in the darkness. Pone's mouth dropped open. Shroom's teeth glowed in the night as he smiled. "The master at work." He bowed low as he opened the door. "What a lame crook you are, Mikey. No wonder you got caught."

"Just open the door, big mouth."

Shroom did, and swept his hand toward the house. "After you, my fine, fumbling, freaky friend."

"Shut up, dumbass." The two stepped inside.

Shroom giggled. The cops smiled. Sheriff Green poked Big Mike in the side. "That's your kid?"

Big Mike sighed. "Do I have to claim him?"

Green's shoulder shook while he silently laughed.

Big Mike grumbled. "I'm glad you think this is so funny."

"Aw come on, Mike. Even you must see the humor."

"Maybe in twenty or thirty years. Right now I just see one kid who will be grounded for the rest of his natural life."

A voice in the dark piped up. "If he lives that long."

J.J. sighed. "Shut up, Moe."

"Okay, Sheriff." Then they heard a muffled, "How'd he know it was me?"

"Because it's always you, Moe. Now shut your pie hole."

"Uh, yes sir."

Chapter 10

With the boys in the cottage, the cops focused on the lone person making his or her way to the cottage. Big Mike made to move. Sheriff Green touched his arm and pointed. Two other figures exited the big house.

Big Mike sighed. "Two more? What is this, some sort of party?

Silently, the figures ran toward the cottage. Curly whispered on the radio. "By their shadows, the two new subjects look like girls. Oops, one just fell off her shoes. Wait. The other one stopped and picked her up. Okay they're on their feet and headed your way."

They rounded the corner of the greenhouse. In the light, Big Mike could see their faces. "The girl in the park. She's the one the kids call Spaz. The one they're here to rescue. What the heck is going on?"

J.J. pressed closer. "Who's the other one?"

A voice piped up again. "I don't know, but she sure has some ugly legs."

"Moe?"

"Uh, yes sir, shut my pie hole."

"They're approaching the back door, and they...are...in."

J.J. looked into the night. He saw no other people.

"Where's the lone person? Larry? Report."

Silence on the radio.

"Curly? What's the 10-20 of that subject?"

No answer.

Sheriff Green called them again, but no one answered. Silently, he crept around the back of the greenhouse. He tried to make out the shadows of his deputies. Nothing moved in the inky blackness.

"J.J., get back here, now. Lone subject is near the cottage. Looks like a man."

Big Mike fought to stay where he was. Sheriff Green scooted back into position.

"The kids are inside."

"I know, but if we move on this guy, we have nothing. Come on, Mike, you and me. We'll go in. Everyone else, hold your positions."

They crept forward. Nothing moved. The men stood on either side of the back door. J.J. Stood up, Big Mike went in low. Guns drawn, they listened. On J.J.'s nod, they slipped through the door. Inside they found themselves in a small kitchen. They heard talking in the other room. They stood inside the door and waited.

Shroom slammed his fist on a table. "My God, Spaz. Listen to us. We're getting you out of here. The garden gate is just to the east of where we are now. I can find it in the dark."

Spaz looked at the floor. "But I'm closing in. I only need a little more time."

Bean grabbed her arm. "Don't do this, man. Leave it for the cops. We're all in enough trouble. We don't need more."

"The cops ain't gonna do nothin'. That bastard is not going to get away with murder."

Pone looked at the floor. "My dad is bound by the law. He'd be here if he could. He's a great cop and he keeps his word, which is more than any of us did."

Bean spoke up. "Pone's right, Evie. You know you'rere going to get hurt or killed if you stay here."

"So says the kid wearing a skirt and a wig."

Shroom smiled. "I don't know, man. He looks pretty good for a dude in a dress."

The front doorknob rattled. They all stood for a second, frozen in place. Shroom dove under the bed. Pone ran for the closet. Bean and Spaz stood in the middle of the room. They watched the knob turn and stop. They grabbed each other's arms. The door creaked on old hinges. It swung slowly out. Franklin B. Hunnicut the Fourth stood in the opening, breathing hard and looking wild.

"What the– Kelli! What are you doing here, and with that maid?"

"I-I thought you and I were going to meet. I uh, thought I might clean up a little. I brought a maid to help."

Bean smiled and nodded.

Hunnicut wiped his face and trembled. "I told you to never come out here without me." He looked around the room. "That makes me very angry. You know how I am when I'm angry."

"Wait, Frank. I-I can explain." Hunnicut walked slowly across the room. Big Mike and Sheriff Green moved closer to the door. J.J. silently screamed. Move kid! Get out of that room. I won't have a clear shot.

Bean stepped forward. "Wait a minute Mr. Hunnicu–"

Hunnicut blasted him with a back-hand. Bean thought his eyeballs exploded. He slammed against the closet door. Sliding to the floor, Bean slumped and stayed there.

Spaz backed away from Hunnicut. Her legs came up against the bed. Hunnicut grabbed her hair and yanked her head back. "What kind of game are you playing, bitch? Who are you meeting out here?"

Tears squeezed out of her eyes as she felt her hair rip out of her head. ". No one, I swear. I don't know what you're talking about, baby. I–"

"Liar!" He slapped her and she fell on the bed. Grabbing her blouse he jerked her up. The fabric tore and Spaz fell back. Hunnicut stumbled backward.

Bean slowly stood. "Don't touch her again, Hunnicut." His voice sounded deadly flat.

Hunnicut loosened his tie. "And what are you going to do about it, girly?" He turned to Spaz. "Is this why you came out here? To be with her?" He took off his jacket and threw it on the floor.

"No, Frankie, no! Listen to me. You know there's no one but you."

In the kitchen, J.J. and Big Mike moved toward the door between the rooms. The voices grew louder. Come on, kids. Get out of there!

Bean stared at Hunnicut. "Just tell me why you did it, Hunnicut. Why did you kill her?"

"Kill who? What are you talking about?"

"Amy. The hooker. We know you did her. We just don't know why."

Bean moved toward Spaz. Hunnicut backed up against the front door. "What is this? Who are you? I don't know any hooker called Amy."

His hand rested on the knob. He was crazy mad and screamed. "You don't know what you are talking about! She liked it rough. It got a little crazy. I left her here. She was alive, I tell you. Alive!"

The lights went out. Spaz screamed. Bean jumped and grabbed her. "Spaz, down!"

"Boom."

The door to the kitchen burst open. Flashlights shined on Franklin Hunnicut. He still stood in the door. He raised his hands. "Police! Police! Everyone down. Down, down! On the floor! On the floor! Hunnicut, on the floor. Hands where we can see them! Kids, where are you?"

Hunnicut lie face down on the floor. He cried and shook. Big Mike held him down. He dragged his hands behind his back. Sheriff Green cuffed him. They flipped him over. There was a telling wet spot on his pants. Hunnicut babbled nonsense.

Big Mike yelled. "Michael? Michael, are you all right?"

The lights came back on. Moe the deputy showed up at the front door, gun at the ready. "I flipped the main back on."

"Whoa, Moe! It's okay. We got him."

Chapter 11

Pone banged on the closet. "Dad?"

Big Mike ran to the door. The old lock had stuck. Big Mike kicked the plate and the key turned. He yanked the door open. Pone stood on the other side looking at the floor. "Dad, I–"

Big Mike grabbed him with both arms. He crushed him in a bear hug.

"Dad, I'm sorry."

"Thank God you're okay." Big Mike backed up. He pulled out his handkerchief and mopped his face. "Where is everyone?"

"Under here." Shroom slid out from under the bed.

"Under him. Get off me!" Spaz's hands flapped from under Bean. He had taken a flying leap and tackled her. They landed on the bed. He still covered her body and didn't move. She patted his arms.

"Come on, Beaner, it's over. Get off me, you're gonna wrinkle your dress." She pushed on his shoulders. "Hey, moron, I mean it. The party's over. I can't breathe. Get up."

Big Mike moved toward the bed. "Wait, don't move. Something isn't right."

"What do you mean? Get this clown off me before I knee him in the–"

Shroom grabbed her hand. "Chill, girlfriend. Listen for once. I think Bean's hurt."

Big Mike gently moved Bean and he groaned.

Shroom helped lift him off Spaz. He looked at her. "Holy c-c-c...Oh my God. Spaz, are you okay?

Blood covered what was left of her blouse. She looked at Shroom. Then she looked at Bean.

"Of course I'm okaaaaa–Bean. Ohhh, Bean. He's hurt, he's hurt. Oh my God help him!"

Big Mike lifted Bean from the bed and Spaz scrambled off. Big Mike gently laid him down and probed his shoulder. Spaz ran to the kitchen. Shroom knelt beside the bed. Pone passed out in the corner. Big Mike pulled out his pocket knife. "Moe! Call for an ambulance. J.J. pat down Hunnicut. Look for a gun. Small caliber. Boys, move back." He looked around and saw Pone in the corner. He sighed. "The kid never could stand blood."

Spaz bounded back into the room. She had a stack of towels. Big Mike worked on Bean. He cut away his shirt. He folded a towel and pressed it to the wound. Bean groaned. Spaz placed her hand next to Big Mike's. "Here. I can do that. You can help Sheriff Green."

"You have to push hard. He's already lost a lot of blood. If you need help–"

Spaz looked down at her shirt. "Yeah, I'm hip about the blood, but I'm good. I got it covered, Detective."

Big Mike smiled. "I can see that." He turned from the bed. "Find anything, Sheriff?"

J.J. stood. He held up a pistol. "Yup. A .22 in his front pocket."

Shroom stared, big-eyed. "Whoa. The bastard really shot Bean." Rage washed over him. He rushed over to Hunnicut before anyone could grab him. "You rotten SOB, you shot my friend!" He kicked Hunnicut in the head. He kicked his arms, his ribs and stomped on his stomach before J.J and Mike could stop him. Mike pinned his arms back.

"Slow down, son." Tears flowed down Shroom's face. He turned and stared into Big Mike's eyes. "I swear if anything happens to Bean, I'll kill him. I swear to God I'll kill him!"

A siren screamed in the distance. Big Mike put his arm around Bean. He led him into the kitchen and talked to him in low tones. Pone came to. He struggled to his feet. "Sheriff Green, Is it all right if I, uh..." and stumbled out the door. J.J. smiled and pulled Hunnicut to his feet.

Moe appeared in the door. "Larry has TASER hooks still in him and Curly will have a big head ache in the morning. They're both fine. The kid on the bed is the only one hurt bad."

"Did you see anyone else out there tonight?"

Moe thought. "I thought I saw a shadow by the window, but I looked again and it was gone. Must have been a trick of the lights going on and off."

J.J. thought a second. "Hmm. Check around the cottage, would you? Focus on the area right outside the door. And look for that golf cart, would you?"

"Okay, boss."

"Make it quick. The ambulance is coming. Those guys will stomp all over anything left out there."

Moe turned on his flashlight. "I'm all over it."

"Good." J.J. hauled Hunnicut out the door. He keyed his radio and told Curly to bring the squad around. "Mr. Hunnicut? I am pleased to inform you that you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, and you'd better get a good one, pal..."

The squad bumped through the garden gate. J.J. tucked a crying and wet Franklin B. Hunnicut the Fourth in the back seat. "Good thing the seats are vinyl."

The ambulance followed the squad through the gate. It pulled up by the front door. They had to peel Spaz off the bed in order to see to Bean. She and Shroom stood silently off to the side. They watched as the EMTs strapped Bean to a stretcher. Spaz grabbed Bean's hand and walked along side until the EMTs loaded him into the ambulance.

Pone joined Shroom and Spaz as they watched the ambulance turn and head for the hospital.

Big Mike walked up and put his arm around Pone. "I'm finished here, kids. Can I give you a lift to the hospital?"

Three miserable faces stared back at him. "Okay then. My car is up by the big house. Let's go."

The three of them trailed behind Big Mike. When they neared the house, Cash bounded out the back door. "Where did you guys run off to? I had to wait for Val, and oh My God, Spaz what happened to you?"

She looked down at her blood encrusted chest. "Long story. If you can tear yourself away from your girlfriend, we'll tell you all about it. Come on."

Cash fumed. "Now look, sweetheart. There's no reason act like Queen Bitch–"

Pone grabbed Cash by the collar. He shoved his fist under Cash's chin. Spaz got in his face. "Bean saved my life tonight, Peckerwood. He got shot doing it, too. So if I'm a little out of sorts, please forgive me. I'll bow to your greatness after I see if Bean is going to live or die!" She punched him in the chest and Pone dropped him.

Cash stood and sucked in a breath. "Oh my God, I sorry. And I was–oh my God! Let's go."

They all piled into the Crown Victoria and sped down the street.

Chapter 12

"How long are they going to be?"

Shroom blew on his nasty hospital coffee. "Take it easy, Ollie. It's only been a couple hours. I was in the hospital one time. They kept me waiting for a couple hours before they even saw me."

"Oh. Were you sick?"

"Knife fight." He was quick to add, "But I don't do nothin' like that no more."

Ollie looked away so Shroom couldn't see her smile. "Oh. Well, good."

Shroom left Ollie and strolled over to the other kids. "Whazzup, yo?"

They looked up and Pone grabbed his sleeve. "We were just talking. Bean is shot. Hunnicut is in jail. But there are a couple things bothering me."

"Like what? I thought we were done here."

Spaz spoke up. I swear Hunnicut did not have anything as big as a gun in his pocket before the lights went out."

"So? It was probably in the dresser."

"No. He was over by the door. He couldn't have moved that fast. It happened as soon as the lights went out."

"So, uh, what are you saying?"

"That uh, maybe Hunnicut didn't shoot Bean."

"Then who the hell did?"

Pone smiled. "That, my friend is the million dollar question."

"Did you guys tell the cops what you think?"

Pone shook his head. "Nope, not yet. But there is another thing."

Shroom groaned. "I'm not going to like this, am I?"

Pone put a hand on his shoulder. "I think you're going to hate it."

"It's okay, dawg. What it be?"

"What happened to the dead girl in the compost pile?"

Shroom rolled his eyes and slapped his forehead. "Oh, crap."

"You can say that again!"

Suddenly the doors to the surgical ward flew open. A man in scrubs walked over to Bean's parents. They spoke for a few minutes. Bean's mom dried her eyes. She stood and came over to them.

"I thought you'd like to know he came out of surgery okay. He lost a lot of blood, so the next forty-eight hours are critical. He–"

A loud bell sounded and the overhead pager blared. "Hospital alert. Code Blue, Emergency Room, Code Blue, Emergency Surgery, please."

They all turned numbly toward the swinging surgical room doors as Bean's doctor hit them running.

Gale Borger has been involved in law enforcement for over twenty years. This gives Gale an endless source of background material for her books. Growing up in a screwball household also gives her a sense for the zany and the bizarre. Gale writes what she knows, and she knows bad guys and funny stuff—but not necessarily in that order!

Gale lives in Southeastern Wisconsin with her husband and daughter, a Dogue de Bordeaux, two cats, about 1500 tropical fish, an African Horned Toad, a side-neck turtle, two dwarf hamsters, and a leopard gecko.

When Gale is not writing, she and her husband breed and swap tropical fish. Gale is also a Master Gardener and after work can usually be found in a flower bed up to her ears in weeds, or volunteering at a local gardening event.

Totally Buzzed is the first book in the Miller Sisters Mysteries.

See what’s up with Gale at
www.galeborgerbooks.com

check out her blog at
www.galeborgerbooks.wordpress.com

or contact her at
galedborger@gmail.com