Free Dark Carnival Murders by Bob Moats Page B

area, in case
Dark tries it again."
    My cell phone buzzed and I
excused myself, it was Penny. "Hey babe, what’s up? Why aren’t you
in bed, it’s after one in the morning."
    "I didn’t know when you
were coming back, Angelo stopped by earlier to say his Mom and Gino
are in town, they arrived tonight. Angelo put them up in the
Tropicana Hotel and Francis told him to tell me we are having a spa
day tomorrow after I tape my show. I’m going to pick her up in the
morning to take her to my studio to watch, then off to beauty
land."
    "I hope they can help you.
I’m about finished here, I’ll be home as soon as I can."
    "Help me? Is there
something wrong with me, huh? Do you think I need help? You better
duck when you get home buddy." She hung up and I regretted trying
to joke with her, but I knew she loved it.
    I went back to Earl and
said, "I’m done here, I’ll take you back to your car and then I’ll
go fight with my lovely wife."
    "What dumb thing did you
say now?" he said with a laugh.
    "Gino and Francis are in
town, and Penny is going with Francis tomorrow for spa
treatments."
    "And you made a comment
about her needing treatments."
    "Close enough. Do you know
any flower shops open this late?"
    Earl looked back to the
jewelry store and said, "No, but I know where you can get a nice
necklace for her." He busted out laughing and we went to my
van.
    *
     

Chapter 13
     
    Finally arriving at my
home, Earl drove off without making any more smart-ass comments. I
went into the house and straight to the bedroom and found Penny
sound asleep, so I didn’t wake her. I felt bad that I hadn’t called
the Walkers earlier to let them know we were still on the
case.
    I took a quick shower in
my bathroom and toweled off. Willy was standing in the doorway
watching me and looking half asleep. I picked him up and put him on
his Bates Motel chair and then I crawled into bed. I was asleep
quickly.
    Morning came and I could
hear a commotion coming from the kitchen area and could smell
something good. I threw on a robe and went out to find Penny and
Angelo packing a picnic basket of food.
    "I thought you were going
to the studio, then to a spa? What’s with the picnic basket?" I
asked.
    "Angelo is whipping up
some snacks for us while we are at the studio. It’s sort of a
welcome to Vegas for Francis," Penny replied.
    I looked in the basket and
they had a bunch of tasty looking homemade pastries and assorted
goodies.
    "Angelo, you never cease
to amaze me, you are a pastry chef too?" I asked.
    "All good Italian chefs
know how to make great cannoli’s and other pastries. It’s part of
the tradition."
    I started to reach in for
one and Penny smacked my hand. I recoiled and went to the bread box
to get my slices for toast.
    "Angelo, what’s Gino doing
today?" I asked.
    "Gee Mr. R., you don’t
really want to know. It’s better that way."
    "Gotcha, enough said." Ah,
the life of a mob capo. Probably going to be mixing up cement for
someone’s shoes. "What are you going to be doing today?"
    "I’m going to keep my mom
company at the studio until they go to the spa, then I’ll go visit
a couple friends."
    "Hey, did you find out
anything from your gypsy friends about Dark and Cole?"
    "Oh, yeah. Sorry I forgot,
my contacts don’t know either of them but they are still going to
check for me. I’ll let you know as soon as something
pops."
    "Thanks Angelo." I turned
to Penny and said, "I’ll be with Lynn and Deacon today, call if you
need me."
    "I’ll be relaxing and
being pampered by soothing hands today, so don’t bother me. Angelo
is going to drive us in the mini-limo." She kissed me and then said
to Angelo, "Shall we go?" They went out to the car, which Angelo
brought out earlier. I looked to Willy and said, "Guess it’s just
us two, big guy."
    I drove by the office
building to drop off Willy for Lacey to watch and check my
messages, there were none. I didn’t know if that was good or bad,
but it was no fun being ignored.
    "Jim, is