Текст книги "Alibi High"

Автор книги: Jeff Shelby

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Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 15 страниц)

THIRTY EIGHT

“We got regulars,” Al explained as we walked back down the corridor past his office. “People we see all the time. Same days, same time, whatever. And you can just tell when they're in trouble.”

“And that's when you go to them?” I asked, not bothering to hide my disapproval. “When they're in trouble?”

He looked back over his shoulder. “More or less . You can just tell .”

I bit my tongue so as not to lecture him.

“About two weeks ago, I was walking the floor,” he said, reaching the end of the corridor and the far end of the gaming floor. “That's when all of this went down.”

If it was possible, the casino floor had grown more crowded and noisier since we'd gone outside. People were shoulder to shoulder, the conversation level had risen a notch and the slots seemed to be dinging even louder. Not exactly my idea of fun.

“This customer always sits at the same table,” Al explained, leaning closer as we walked the perimeter of the floor so I could hear him. “Total regular.”

Goosebumps popped on my neck as we walked and I felt a little sick to my stomach.

“Just can't stay away and bets a lot of money,” he said, then stopped and pointed. “Right over there.”

I followed the direction he pointed in, his finger aiming at a poker table on the edge of the gaming area. There were five seats at the table and all of them were occupied. Two men and three women. The woman on the end word jeans and a light blue sweater, her long blonde hair pulled back, her expression a mask one of total concentration as she watched the dealer.

Charlotte Nordhoff looked totally immersed in the game.

As soon as Johnny told me that Nate wanted us to go to River Star, I'd immediately thought of Charlotte and what I'd heard at Prism about her. I hadn't wanted to believe that she had anything to do with the computers, but it was hard to shut out my those thoughts as we drove. Now, seeing her sitting there, concentrating on whatever she was doing, I couldn't say that I was terribly surprised. Disappointed, yes. But not surprised.

“You know her?” Johnny asked.

I nodded. “Yes. Unfortunately.” ”

Al looked entirely uncomfortable standing there, shifting his weight from foot to foot, glancing in multiple directions.

Nate looked bored, like he wanted dinner or something.

“You think she's the one , then?” Johnny asked.

I nodded again . “Yes. Unfortunately.”

“ Alright then,” Al said, looking at each Al looked at both of us. “So we're cool , then?”

Johnny looked at me.

“Yeah,” I said. “But I want those computers.”

His shoulders slumped. “I know, I know.”

“You wanna go talk to the woman?” Johnny suggested. “I can work out the logistics on getting the computers back with Al and Nate here?”

I hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”

“Let's go back to your office,” Johnny said to Al. “Get it worked out.”

“You're not gonna burn m e e or my brother, though, right?”

“No burn,” Johnny said. “Promise.”

Al and Nate exchanged looks, shrugged, realizing they couldn't do much else and headed down the corridor, Johnny right behind them.

I turned back to the table. Charlotte was still studying her cards, then she chucked several chips into the middle of the table. Other people tossed chips, then cards were flipped over. Charlotte grimaced and I made out a profanity on her lips. She tossed her cards toward the dealer and sat back in her chair, her arms folded tightly across her chest, frowning at the dealer.

That seemed as good of a time as any to confront Charlotte.

I took a wide berth around the table, ducking into the rows of slot machines and circling around the table she was sitting at. The gentleman next to her got out of his seat, collected his chips and walked off , shaking his head , leaving an open chair next to her. I hesitated for a moment, then slid into it.

She didn't notice me at first.

The dealer, a short man with wide shoulders and a bow tie tight at his neck, smiled at me and said , “Good evening, ma'am. You'll need to ante.”

“I have no idea what that means,” I told him. “And I'm not here to play.”

Charlotte turned to me. “Oh.” Her face flushed crimson. “Oh.”

“Hi , Charlotte,” I said.

“Daisy,” she said, glancing around. “Hello. I didn't know...didn't know you came here.”

“I don't.”

“Ma'am?” the dealer said. “If you're going to sit, you have to ante.”

“I'm not playing,” I said again.

“Then you can't sit.”

“I'll just be a minute,” I told him, then turned to Charlotte. “You winning tonight?”

The corners of Charlotte's mouth twitched. “ Um, no. Not really.”

“Bummer. Hey, can I ask you a question?”

“Ma'am,” the dealer continued. “If you are going to sit – ”

“Heard you the first time,” I said, showing him the palm of my hand. “Give me a minute. I need to ask my friend a question here.”

Charlotte blinked, played toyed with her chip s. s. “Okay.”

“Did you steal the computers from Prism?” I asked.

“I'm gonna find another table,” the guy on the other side of me grumbled.

“Because Al just showed me a whole bunch of computers and he said he got them from you,” I said to Charlotte. “Is he telling me the truth?”

Charlotte busied herself with stacking her chips, but didn't look at me refusing to meet my gaze . “Computers? Al? I'm not sure I know what you're talking about.”

“The ones that disappeared from Prism?” I said. “The ones that Al tells me he received as payment from you? Does that help clear it up?”

Her face was the color of a fully ripened tomato now . “I don't know what you're talking about .” ,” she repeated.

“Maybe we should go talk to Al , then?”

Her hands started to shake as she gathered her chips and stood. . “I have to go .” ,” she s aid, hopping to her feet.

I looked at the dealer. “Now I'll get up.”

He rolled his eyes.

I stood and followed Charlotte as she walked away from the table. “Are you seriously going to tell me that , even after Al pointed you out and showed me the computers in a trailer out back , that you don't know what I'm talking about? Really?”

She didn't say anything, but just kept walking.

“I mean, everyone at Prism mentioned your gambling issues,” I continued, walking keeping pace next to her. “And Al told me that you delivered the computers to him because your line of credit got so big. And now that I think about all of this, you were the one pointing me in the direction of other people at Prism who might've had a hand in stealing the computers. I think the one thing I really need to ask Mrs. Bingledorf at this point is if you had access to the building on weekends. Because, right now, I'm betting that you do. And if you, then —”

“Oh my God!” Charlotte yelled, coming to a scree t ching halt. “Shut up already!”

She sounded like one of my kids.

“Yes, I took the computers,” she hissed at me. Her blond locks stuck to her sweat-dampened cheeks. “I had to. I didn't have another choice. I owed this damn place so much money, I didn't have another choice. But I was about to win it all back tonight and then I would've donated it to Prism to buy new computers, except you interrupted the run I was about to have.”

“You looked like you were losing.”

“It was about to turn around!” she hissed again spat at me . “I was on the verge! But you ruined it.”

I didn't think I'd ruined anything. Her words sounded exactly like the words of someone with a gambling problem. I wanted to feel bad for her, but I was too angry with her at that moment .

“I'm taking the computers back,” I said. “I've already arranged it with Al.”

The blood drained from her face. “What? No.”

“Yes. My friend is setting it up now.”

“You can't,” she said, her demeanor quickly morphing from anger to fear. “You can't. I don't have the money to pay him.”

“ That's not my problem I don't care ,” I said. “And when I report you as the one who stole the computers, I think that's going to just be one of your be pretty low on your totem pole of problems.”

Her mouth quivered and she looked like she was going to cry. “You can't, Daisy. Loo k. L k , l et's make a deal. Anything I win, it's yours. If you don't say anything.”

“I don't want your money.”

“What do you want then? Tell me.”

“Just the truth,” I said. “Which I think I have. And the computers back at Prism. Where they belong.”

“But I don't have anything to pay Al with!” she said, stomping her foot. “I'm broke. I can't pay what I owe!”

She seemed so desperate. Normally, I had sympathy for someone expressing desperation. I thought back to Olga and her quest to find out what had happened to her brother, Olaf. I thought about Delilah and her desire to save her flound ering campground. I'd taken pity and showed empathy to both of them.  But I couldn't find any of those feelings for Charlotte. It didn't seem as if she'd taken her job seriously, calling out sick and playing on her computer while she was there. She'd used her position at school to steal the computers. And then she'd purposely tried to steer suspicion toward other members of the school community. she was just making it all worse for herself. There was nothing sympathetic in any of that.

“ That isn't my problem I'm sorry ,” I told her , not really feeling sorry at all . “ I'm sorry. You can talk to the police about it.”

Her face started to glow turned red again. Then she shoved me to the side and ran past me. I stood there for a moment, watching her try to maneuver through the people. I didn't know where she was headed. Maybe to hide. Or to try and strike a deal with Al. Whe re ver she thought she was going, I didn't want her to get there.

So I took off after her.

She turned and saw me trailing her, trying to move quicker through the throngs of gamblers and watchers. She'd jog a few steps, then look back to see where I was at.

Which wasn't too far behind.

She found an opening in the crowd, close to the edge of the rows of slot machines and took off. I found the same opening and chased after her.

I could see that we were going to reach the end of the floor and she'd be able to disappear outside or down another corridor at the end of the hallway. I didn't doubt that I could prove to the police that she was responsible for the theft, but I didn't want her to escape. I didn't want her to get out of that casino.

As she neared the last row of machines, I recognized a familiar face at the slot machine on the very corner.

Brenda, her pursed strapped diagonal over her body, her eyes wide, tapp ing ed hard at the screen on the slot machine in front of her, oblivious to the chaos that was coming her way.

“Brenda!” I yelled. “Stop her!”

Charlotte turned, her legs moving as fast as they could carry her.

Brenda looked up, saw me, then moved her eyes to Charlotte, running in front of me.

Then she stuck her leg out.

Charlotte tumbled over Brenda's outstretched leg, sprawling onto the floor of the casino. I reached her and tumbled down on top of her, determined to not let her go.

But I didn't have anything to worry about, because instead of struggling beneath me, she was just lay there, sobbing.

I looked up at Brenda. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” she said, smiling, turning back to her machine. “I'm almost done.”

As people began to gather around us, I recognized a pair of large shoes very close to my head.

I looked up.

Jake looked stared down at me.

“I was going to ask to borrow your ATM card,” he said, lifting an eyebrow. “But looks like you're busy.”

I didn't believe in obscene gestures, but if I did, I absolutely, without a doubt, would've shown my handsome , grinning husband my middle finger.

THIRTY NINE

“There 's are a ton of people out there, Mom,” Emily said, snapping her head back from the curtain. “I mean, a ton. Including my friends.”

“I know,” I said, smiling. “The turnout is pretty good.”

It was a week later and we were backstage at the First Annual Prism Talent Show To Raise Money For New Computers.

“I didn't know if people would come,” she said, fiddling with her hair. “And I told my friends not to come.”

“They probably wanted to see you embarrass yourself,” I told her.

“Mom,” she said, rolling her eyes. “And I still don't get why this whole thing wasn't just canceled anyway since you found the computers.”

The casino security arrived shortly after I'd landed on Charlotte Nordhoff. I'd explained to them the situation without mentioning Al. They'd in turn called the police, who eventually came and took Charlotte into custody after she'd admitted to the theft. They'd talked to Al, who very quickly told them that he'd called his friend Johnny Witt to tell him that some computers had showed up in one of his storage trailers and they looked liked they belonged to a school that had lost them and he knew that Johnny knew someone at that school so he wanted to do the right thing. It seemed flimsy at best and I wasn't sure if it would hold up, depending on what Charlotte had to say, but it had worked in the moment.

So the computers had been returned to Prism, much to everyone's excitement. The one person who hadn't been able to share in the excitement was Mrs. Bingledorf. The board had gotten wind of her interviewing elsewhere and immediately terminated her contract, handing control of the school over to Mr , . Watson, the assistant principal director , a man who had nearly thirty years of experience in education and w ho seemed happy to take over the task.

And he'd Mr. Watson asked me to keep on with the talent show, telling me that whatever money we raised would go toward purchasing more computers and upgrading the lab.

With all of the pressure off, I told him I'd be thrilled to.

So Emily and I were waiting backstage to do our lip – synch routine to “Footloose.” The show seemed to have been mostly a success so far, with the participants having fun and the crowd applauding loudly. I think it was didn't know for sure, but I thought it was because it was far easier to have a good time when we all knew that the fate of the school's technology was no longer resting on the success of the fundraiser.

“And we get to go get my new iPhone tomorrow, I get my phone back immediately after we get off stage, right?” Emily asked, again messing with her hair. “Because you promised.”

I'd had to make some more promises in order to ensure Emily's participation and to get her to agree to perform “Footloose” with me. “ “ Yeah, yeah . Tomorrow. But ,” I said. “But let's focus on tonight our performance .”

“No,” she said, frowning. “ Let's just ge I just want to get it over with t tonight over with so I can start rebuilding my life after it's ruined on stage here in just a moment.” .”

“So dramatic,” I said.

She stuck her tongue out at me.

Jake materialized from the curtain wearing a tuxedo that fit him perfectly. He scanned the notecards in his hand, then pointed at me with the microphone. “You guys are next.”

Emily groaned .

“ I know,” I said. “We're ready.”

He nodded, then smiled. “I have to admit, you pulled it off. It's going really well. People are having fun.”

“ You doubted me?”

“ Never,” he said, shaking his head. “I doubted others.”

“ Hmm.”

“ But I'm really thinking we need to get you your licen se,” he said.

“ My license for organizing talent shows?” I fluffed my hair, my fingers touching the crimped curls I'd styled for our act. “Or my beauty license?”

“ Neither,” Jake said. His eyes lingered on my hair, though. He loved curls.“Your investigator's license. Not only did you pull this show off, you solved the thef t. You're three for three now.”

While I was happy that we'd figured out what had happened to the computers, I was ready to be done with mischief and mayhem for awhile.

“ No,” I said. “I do not want to be a private eye. I just want to be a mom and a wife.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Well, you've got those two down. And like it or not, you seem to have the other one down, too. I told you before. You could start your own business. ”

“ You were kidding.” I stole a quick glance around the backstage area, looking for Emily. She'd disappeared when we started talking and I saw her leaning against the wall, a dark-haired guy holding a violin and smiling at her.

“ I was sort of kidding,” he said. He smiled at me. “Look, as much as I tease you about your...inquisitive nature, the fact is, it's not going away. And if this is something you like to do, the investigating...” His voice trailed off.

“ No,” I said, shaking my head. “I'm just looking for some peace and quiet for awhile.” I glanced at Emily again. The boy had moved closer, his hand bracing the wall behind her. “Although I might be investigating that really soon...”

He chuckled. “That kid doesn't stand a chance.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Alright, I need to check on the rest of our acts. I'll try not to butcher yo ur name when I introduce you.”

“ Yeah, you do that,” I said, laughing as he strode off.

“Daisy!” Harriet Hollenstork said, shuffling up to me. “This is turning out magnificent!”

I turned away from my pouting daughter and smiled . “Thanks ,” I said, smiling. .”

Harriet phoned me earlier in the week with exciting news. The school would be using their store to upgrade the lab and to purchase anything new with the funds from the show. She'd thanked me about a million times and brought the PTA out in force, helping to man the door and run the backstage area for the show. .

“Harold is out there,” she said, peeking at through the thin opening between the curtain and the stage. “And he just wanted me to tell you thank you again.”

“You don't need to keep thanking me,” I said. “I'm glad it's all worked out.”

“For everyone,” she said, grinning. “Yes, for everyone. Okay, I need to go check on a couple of the kids. Good luck!”

She shuffled off . and Emily rejoined me, her hands fidgeting nervously.

“You're, like, the school hero now,” Emily observed.

“Right? Maybe I should get a cape or something . ”

“Oh my God. Whatever.”

“Some boots? Some tights?”

“You are so weird, Mom.”

I was about to suggest getting a shirt with a giant, fancy D on it when Miles Riggler waved at me from the other side of the dressing area and . He made his way over to us. gingerly across the stage, his large, re d , clown shoes about ten sizes too big on his feet.

“You two all ready?” he asked.

Emily shrugged.

I smiled. “Think so.”

“Awesome,” he said. “And I haven't had a chance to say thank you this week with everything that's been going on. So thank you.” He paused . , then held out a key. “I just brought this with me. I didn't want to leave it under the mat or anything.”

I took my house key. He'd shown up at five on the button at our house to use the Internet, part of our deal to get him on stage. “Thank you. You got done what you needed to get done?”

He nodded. “ Yeah. And I had some other news I wanted to share with you.”

“Other news?”

He turned so his back was to Emily. “The class I was taking?” he whispered. “I worked with my instructor to speed it up. I finished it. And passed it.”

“That's great,” I said, genu n inely happy for him.

“Still a few more to go,” he said, smiling. “But I have a better idea of what I'm doing now. So thank you. For all that stuff.”

“You're welcome,” I said. “Very welcome.”

He stepped back. “ You guys have fun. I'm gonna go watch I need to finish getting ready . , ” he said. “Break a leg!”

He descended the stairs that led to the seating area of the theater. headed back toward the dressing room area.

“What was he whispering about?” Emily asked.

“Just stuff about the computers,” I said. “He's just very happy that it's all over with.”

“Yeah, well, I'll be happy when this is all over with if I can manage not to not make a fool out of myself,” she said, frowning.

I took my daughter by the shoulders. “Emily, there will be plenty of times in your life that you will make a fool of yourself. You have my genetics. It's going to happen.”

She stared at me.

“But it doesn't mean you're a fool,” I said. “There's a big difference. So relax. Laugh at yourself. Have fun. This Because this is going to be fun.”

“This is going to be torture,” she said, shrugging out of my grip. “And we are going to the phone store as soon as it opens tomorrow you're giving me back my phone the minute we walk off the stage .”

I laughed. We did look looked ridiculous . S – s pandex pants, neon tops, bandanas . C , a c omplete 80's ensemble. And she probably would be embarrassed for that night. But I hoped that at some point she would look back on this and laugh about it and maybe be even be glad that we'd done it together. I didn't know for sure that she would, but I hoped she might.

“Stop laughing,” Emily said, but she smiled when she said it. Applause erupted from the other side of the curtain and a high school boy strutted off the toward the stage and around the curtain with his guitar.

Emily sighed. “Okay. I think we're up.”

“ Okay. “ Are you ready?” I asked her.

“No, but oh well,” she said. “Are you ready?”

It had been a long two weeks. I was ready to go back to my version of normal life. And it was waiting for me just as soon as I completely embarrassed myself onstage in front of a bunch of people I didn't know.

I put my arm around my daughter. “I am so ready.”

THE END