The Girl in White Pajamas Read online

  When times were tough, he’d pull it out and look at it. He’d curse his mother for being a drunk and curse his father for being a heartless prick. Rejuvenated, he’d return the picture to its hiding spot.

  Now as Bogie pulled the loose molding away from the wall, he looked up at the skylight window above him in the hallway. It was so dirty there was almost no natural light coming through it. He reached in and found his plastic covered treasure. How many times had he regretted leaving this house without his picture? He remembered boot camp and when he was being shipped out and times he was scared. As the years went by, he no longer had the opportunity or desire to return to the third floor. But now, he’d carry her picture away.

  When Bogie came back to the kitchen, Isabella was telling James and Trudie how a man puts his penis into a woman’s vagina and makes a baby. Their faces frozen, the old couple only nodded.

  Bogie opened the plastic and showed James and Trudie the picture. “This was my mother. She was so young.”

  Isabella studied the picture of the lovely blonde woman. “She has our eyes Da-dee.”

  “No, we have hers,” Bogie said solemnly.

  James looked at him. “You used to take that out every time you and your father had a blow up. I could hear the wood creaking in the hallway after you’d come up the stairs.”

  Bogie smiled. “Yes, the good old days.”

  James returned his smile. “You did make them good, Bogie, and you certainly made them interesting.” He laughed as he re-told the story of how they were sweltering in the heat on the third floor until Bogie showed up one night with a small air conditioner. He installed it in the back window of the couple’s meager bedroom and only asked that they keep their door open late at night so he could lie on the hallway floor and enjoy the cold air. Believing that James and Trudie had purchased the unit, Baxter and Elizabeth said nothing, although they thought the servants a bit forward to assume the McGruders would willingly pay the increased electric bill. James ended the story by asking Bogie, “Where did you get the air conditioner?”

  As Isabella watched him intently, Bogie said, “It fell off a truck.”

  Bogie motioned with his thumb toward the house next door. “Anything going on over there?”

  “Lots of lights on at night, even on the top floor. But we never see her coming or going.”

  “Is it okay if I leave Isabella here for a few minutes? I want to run over there and see if she needs anything.”

  James and Trudie nodded although they believed any act of kindness shown toward Jeannie McGruder was an act wasted. As Bogie walked out the back door, he heard Isabella tell them about the wonderful books she received from Mandie not realizing that it was James who carried the books to the post office.

  Bogie banged on the back door repeatedly until Jeannie finally yelled out the second floor window. “What the fuck do you want now?” she yelled.

  “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay,” Bogie said.

  After coughing a few times, she wheezed out, “And what if I’m not?”

  “I’ll help you.”

  Jeannie’s cackling laugh had the desired effect of irritating the listener. “You can’t even help yourself,” she finally spit out.

  “You have my number,” Bogie said as he realized his patience was coming to an end.

  “Yeah,” Jeannie snorted. “And if your phone don’t ring, you’ll know it’s me.”

  When Bogie returned to Elizabeth McGruder’s side of the brownstone, he shook his head wondering what would become of Jeannie. He listened as Isabella told the old couple how she got her warrior’s clothes in Chinatown with her new friend, Tommie.

  Bogie took some bills from his wallet and put them under the teapot. “You don’t have to do that!” Trudie admonished.

  Bogie smiled. “You were my upstairs neighbors and friends. When Isabella was talking about clothes, I remembered that you bought me my first coat when I came to Boston.” Bogie did not mention the jacket came from the Goodwill store. “Neighbors have to stick together.”

  As Bogie and Isabella left the house, he felt they were being watched. He knew James and Trudie were still in the back of the house. Uneasy, he picked up Isabella and quickly walked down the street.

  46 LET THE LIES BEGIN!

  Bailey sat at her desk speaking to a potential new client. It was an unusual situation because the woman, Shirley, showed up with Ovid, who was the defendant. She was a passenger in Ovid’s Cadillac when it struck a pole. Shirley was making a claim for her injuries along with her pain and suffering. When Shirley handed Bailey the file, Bailey noted that it came from another law office. “I see that the insurance company denied this claim. Why is that?”

  “They said it was no accident!” Shirley offered. “I got hurt! Ovid didn’t mean to hurt me so it was an accident!”

  Bailey continued to read through the file and tried to piece together a story. After a few minutes, she looked up and said, “Let me see if I understand this. When Ovid hit a tree, there was a man standing in front of that tree. Is that correct?”

  Shirley and Ovid both nodded.

  “You didn’t mention that to the police?” Bailey asked already knowing the answer.

  Shirley and Ovid shrugged.

  Bailey continued reading then closed the file. “What was the man’s name?”

  Ovid grinned showing a gold tooth then said, “John.”

  Bailey nodded her understanding. “John was in front of a tree and you tried to hit him. Is that correct?”

  Ovid smiled and nodded. “He tried to get more than he paid for.”

  Bailey studied Shirley. “You had a dispute over money so Ovid tried to strike John with his car.”

  Bailey handed the file back to Shirley. “You’re claiming you were injured in an accident. Ovid hitting a tree was no accident, it was intentional. I don’t think we’ll be able to help you. The case is too complicated for this office.”

  Shirley and Ovid left the office unhappy. Angel held the door, as they walked out. Before Ovid and Shirley reached the first floor, Bailey called Rubin at home. Their conversation did not go well. “Did you know that Ovid was her pimp? Did you know that he was trying to run over the john? Did you know that another lawyer threw out this piece of shit case after the insurance company denied her claim? I didn’t think so!” Bailey yelled before she hung up.

  *****

  Two hours later, Matt McDonald sat across from Bailey Hampfield. “You don’t remember what happened to your coat?”

  Bailey shook her head. “It was a winter coat, and winter is over so I probably got rid of it.”

  “You were wearing it on April second. It wasn’t that long ago.”

  Bailey stared at him. “Is that a question?”

  He studied her then asked. “Where’s your car?”

  “It was junked.”

  “Why?”

  Bailey relayed the story of how her brakes failed and the car was totaled.

  “So the insurance company has it?”

  “No. They wouldn’t pay for it so I had it junked.”

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why wouldn’t they pay for it?”

  “My insurance had been cancelled.”

  “And you didn’t know it?”

  Bailey shook her head.

  “Where did you have it junked?”

  Bailey opened the middle drawer of her desk and retrieved a business card. As she handed it to him, she said, “You can keep it. If you don’t have any more questions, I’ve got work to do.”

  *****

  As they walked through the Boston Common, Bogie watched Isabella studying the blossoms on the trees, the tulips, and the lovely purple flowers. She looked up at him and asked, “Could we plant some beautiful flowers on Fluffy’s grave?”

  Bogie nodded. “Tomorrow, we’ll buy some nice colorful pl
ants and put them on the grave.”

  Isabella nodded and wiped a tear off her cheek while her father wondered what kind of monster would kill a small child’s pet like that.

  They came to the corner at Park Street and watched as a long line of people, mostly men, waited for the blonde lady and her helpers to pass out soup and sandwiches. Bogie recalled seeing the same scene five years earlier and was saddened when he realized that the only thing different was that the line of the homeless had grown longer. Isabella pulled on his arm and asked sotto voce, “Why are all these people lined up?”

  “They’re waiting for some food, they’re homeless. Do you know what that means?”

  After considering this, Isabella said, “They have no home.”

  Bogie nodded. When they finally reached Washington Street, where Filene’s and Jordan Marsh Department stores once reigned, Bogie noted that the street was lined with many small stores and too many people. He could tell that Isabella was getting tired. “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  While Bogie looked around for an eatery, Isabella pointed to the golden arches of McDonald’s. “There! There’s a place!” she said excitedly. “They have the most wonderful food!”

  “Wouldn’t you rather—?”

  “No! They have Happy Meals with a prize.”

  Defeated, he took her inside where she drank her milk and played with her food and toy. Bogie drank three cartons of orange juice while eating a slightly wilted salad. He was glad to see her happy. After they finished, she insisted on carrying away the Happy Meal container with the uneaten food and plastic toy. She was ready to show the world she’d dined at the finest, most wonderful restaurant.

  When they got to the beginning of Washington Street, Bogie held Isabella’s hand as they stood across the street from her mommy’s office. He half listened to her chattering while he tried replaying the scene of his brother’s murder. Bogie studied the glass doors of the building and was startled when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Matt McDonald stood looking from Isabella to Bogie. “You still around?”

  “No. I’m an optical illusion.”

  Matt nodded toward Isabella. “Cute kid!” He bent down and looked at her. “Do you remember me?”

  Isabella nodded. “You were at Grandma’s house.”

  “You’re a smart one. What’s your name?”

  “Isabella. What’s your name?”

  “Matt MacDonald.”

  Isabella smiled.

  “You’re a real looker, just like your mom.”

  Isabella nodded. She lifted her Happy Meal container to show him. “See what I got!”

  “Nice.” Turning to Bogie, Matt said, “I heard you were into eating all that healthy crap. And you get her that?”

  “I guess she’s the boss. Aren’t you supposed to be out catching bad guys?” Bogie asked.

  “That’s what I’m doing. Watch and learn. I just came from that building where I was talking to her mother.”

  “So you know somebody’s trying to kill her.”

  “I don’t know anything about that. What I do know is that Bailey Hampfield was here the night Bud was killed.”

  “So what? I’m sure there were lots of people around here at that time.”

  “Actually, no! Most of these legal types don’t work Saturday nights. And even fewer work on a Saturday night during an ice storm. Not many people in their right mind wanted to be out that night.”

  “And your point is?”

  “Three people who had no real business being out that night were here. They all knew each other, and now one of them’s dead.”

  “Yeah, Bud, Mother McGruder and you,” Bogie said.

  Matt MacDonald shook his head as if Bogie had a learning disability. “No! Bud, Bailey and Jack Hampfield.”

  “That’s bullshit! Bailey and Jack hardly knew Bud.”

  Matt McDonald studied Bogie then started to laugh. He pointed to Isabella and said, “She’s just the little boss, the big one sure has you by the short hairs!” Still laughing he walked to his illegally parked car, got in and drove away.

  47 TURNING OVER ROCKS

  After they walked away from Matt MacDonald, Bogie crossed State Street and hailed a cab. Confused, Isabella asked, “Aren’t we going to visit Mommy at her work?”

  Bogie shook his head. “I think it’s better to leave her alone and let her work. We’ll go to R&B, and you can practice some of your moves.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Isabella said as they left the cab and walked into the R&B Investigations and Security building. While Isabella practiced moves with Jesus and Ken Nguyen, Bogie and Tommie sat across from each other at the conference room table. Each had a laptop in front of him and a super-concentrated expression on his face. Tommie stared at his screen with his ear buds in place, and Bogie studied his screen with a tight, angry look on his face and murder in his eyes.

  *****

  Bailey sat at her desk wondering if she should wait for Bogie and Isabella or start heading home. Her cell phone rang and she grabbed it hoping it was Bogie. It wasn’t. The call was from David Thompson, one of the young men who had been thrown out the third floor window of a crack house. He’d been arrested and was in jail waiting for her and the bail bondsmen to get him out.

  When Bailey got to the jail, she met Detective Chin in the lobby. David had been picked up in Neiman Marcus trying to make a purchase with a MasterCard issued to Yan Li. The Chinese detective thought this particularly funny since David was a two hundred and fifty pound black man who stood about six feet three inches tall.

  After another cop came upstairs and took Detective Chin aside, Chin was no longer laughing. He just learned that the man he had arrested and fingerprinted announced he had chicken pox. “If I get sick, I’m going to kill that mother-fucker!” Chin said a bit too loudly to the other cop. He turned to Bailey and asked, “Do you want to see him?”

  Bailey stared at the detective then shook her head. “I’ll wait for the bail bondsman. Please tell David to call the office and not come in. I don’t want to deal with him or his chicken pox!”

  The cop pointed to Angel Fernandez standing six feet away from Bailey wearing his black R&B windbreaker and black cargo pants. “Is he with you?”

  Bailey looked back at Angel and nodded. “He’s my paralegal.”

  “And he carries?”

  “It’s a tough world out there!” Bailey said with a straight face.

  Bailey called Rubin, but the call went straight to voicemail. She felt more isolated each day as cases turned to crap while Rubin floated away into his Prozac world.

  Bailey and Angel returned to her office and found Rose waiting for them. After Bailey placed her briefcase on the desk, Rose asked, “What did Matt want with you?”

  Bailey stared at her blankly. “Who?”

  “Matt MacDonald, the detective.”

  “Oh, him. He just wanted to ask some questions about the Saturday night I was working.”

  Rose sat down in one of the visitor’s chairs in front of the desk. “Honey, we’re going to be heading for Weston in a few minutes, and you’d better think of a better answer than that by the time we get there. Bogie’s waiting to talk to you!”

  48 THE EMBARASSMENT OF BEING ME

  Florida

  Amanda walked over to the apartment where her Grandmother and Aunt Annie were staying. When she reached the door, it opened. Margarita stood there grinning with her black hair tied back in a red kerchief. “How are you doing?”

  Amanda just shrugged.

  “Margaret! Margaret!” Elizabeth McGruder called out. “There’s someone at the door!”

  “I’ve got it, Elizabeth. Would you like some lemonade?”

  “In a while.” Elizabeth’s voice was barely audible.

  Amanda looked at Margarita. “Where is she?”

  Margarita whispered, “
She’s in her bedroom watching a movie. I think she thinks it’s not something she should be doing.”

  Amanda considered this. “I think the only TV they had in the house was in the kitchen. Trudie watched it.”

  Margarita motioned for Amanda to sit down. “I heard you visited John Carpenter this morning,” Margarita said before she started laughing.

  Amanda put her hands over her face. “This place is like a cesspool of gossip. You know, we could start our own blog.” After she stopped and sighed, she said, “I was totally humiliated!”

  Margarita continued laughing and Amanda joined in. As the women laughed, Carlos tapped on the open door and walked in. “Having a party?”

  They continued laughing and shook their heads. Carlos looked from one to other and smiled. He pointed to Amanda. “Randy’s looking for you. He said something about needing a shower.”

  Amanda stopped laughing and glared at Carlos. “That’s not funny!”

  “Yes, it is, and he is, he’s looking for you,” Carlos said sweetly.

  49 TRUTH OR DARE

  Weston, Massachusetts

  At six o’clock, Bailey and Rose came into the kitchen to find a large Cobb salad on the table. Bogie broiled fish as Isabella practiced kick boxing moves she learned from the big guys while her father and Tommie hacked into emails, telephone and bank records. “Dinner’s almost ready,” Bogie said to the women in greeting.

  Rose looked at her watch. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve got places to go.”

  Bailey looked at her as if to say ‘please don’t leave me here alone’.

  The dinner revolved around Isabella as she relayed the day’s events from tea with Mister James and Missus Trudie to their wonderful meal at McDonalds. Kim smiled. Bailey forced a smile then said, “I thought you were going to visit me.”