Naked Frame Part 16

To her surprise, Joey's desk was unlocked. In the top left drawer she found a contract for the sale of Cafe Nue to Joey. It was signed by Kimberly Smotherburn, and notarized. But the doc.u.ment was postdated for the fifteenth of next month. So, the notary had committed fraud, risking revocation of his commission or even prison. There must have been some serious payoff money, thought Rebecca.

Kimberly was selling Cafe Nue for a measly ten grand. It had to be worth a lot more than that. And what gave her the right to sell it?

Rebecca heard someone walking down the hallway. She quickly put the contract back in the drawer and closed it.

Joey opened the door. "What the h.e.l.l are you doing in my office?"

Rebecca got up from the chair and sauntered over to him. "I've been waiting for you." She stepped in very close. With the heels, she was 6-foot-5. Her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s were just below his chin.

"Well, you have no business being in here."

"Aw, come on, Baby. Don't be mad." She put her hands on the sides of his head and gently pulled it toward her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. If Rebecca could keep herself from barfing on his head, she figured she just might come out of this alive.

Joey soften his tone. "I'm not mad...I just..." He kissed the top of her left breast.

There was a knock at the door.

Joey jumped back.

Bobby opened the door and stuck his head in. He looked surprised and disappointed. "What's going on, Boss?"

"Nothing." He cleared his throat. "Get back to work, b.o.o.bsicles. I'll...look into that problem."

"Thank you, Sir." Rebecca exited.

She hurried to the dressing room, changed into her street clothes, and left the building before Joey or Bobby came out of the office. She needed a shower. A very long, hot shower.

Once Rebecca was two blocks away, she took out her phone and called Gabby to come pick her up. It took him ten minutes to get there, but it seemed like thirty.

"What did you find out?"

"I think Joey is the killer, and that he did it for Kimberly."

"Kimberly Smotherburn? Why? I mean, I can understand her motive. She wants her husband's money and his company-without having to be his wife. But what's Joey's motive?"

"The cafe. I found a sales contract between Kimberly and Joey for Cafe Nue. She's selling it to him for $10,000."

"That's practically giving it to him."

"Yeah, and it's postdated for the fifteenth of next month. It's even notarized."

"So, Joey kills Big Bill and frames you for the murder. Owners.h.i.+p of Cafe Nue pa.s.ses to Kimberly, and she sells it to Joey for a song."

"Quite a plan, huh? So, I'm moving Joey Ketrousie to the top of our suspect list."

"But if Joey killed Big Bill right there in your office, why hasn't he recognized you?"

"I don't know. He must have hired somebody else to do it."

CHAPTER 24 - Tuesday 7:32 p.m.

Wiley plopped down in his leather recliner and called her again.

"Why do you keep calling me?"

"Because I miss you, Baby. And I want to come over."

"Well, I miss you too, Honey, but you know you can't come here right now. What if somebody were to see you?"

"I don't care," he slurred.

"Are you drunk, Wiley?"

"No. Of course not."

"Because you know how I feel about that."

"I know. I did have a couple of drinks earlier. But I'm not drunk. Definitely not drunk."

"Good."

"I want to come over there and screw your brains out."

"Wiley!"

"I'm sorry. I meant make love to you. You know that's what I meant, Baby."

"I know. I want that too. But we can't."

Wiley sighed.

"But you know what we can do?"

"The Game?"

"Yeah, The Game. It turns me on like crazy, Honey. Please play with me."

"Okay. Let me get it. I'm putting you on speaker." He set his cell phone down on the coffee table.

After a few moments, she said, "Wiley? Are you there?"

"I'm back."

"Good. I'm lying in bed. Let's play."

"Okay. I'm spinning."

"I'm already getting hot."

"Putting it against my head."

"I'm catching on fire, Honey. Keep going."

"I'm pulling the trigger." The revolver clicked.

"I'm almost there, Baby. When you spin, it feels like you're licking me. Oh, G.o.d, don't stop!"

"I'm spinning again. Spinning. Spinning."

"Oh, my, I'm gonna explode. Hurry! Pull the trigger, Baby. Pull it!"

The hammer clicked on an empty chamber.

"Oh, oh, here it comes. s.h.i.+t! Oh, Baby. I can feel you in me. Oh, G.o.d!"

Wiley waited a few moments for her to finish.

"Let's go again, Baby. You want to go again?"

"Sure. But this time, how about I come over there and do it for real?"

"Oh, wait. I'm sorry, Wiley. Somebody is ringing the doorbell. I've got to go."

CHAPTER 25 - Tuesday, 7:38 p.m.

Melvin open the door to his apartment.

Megan walked in. It smelled like old people. Or maybe it was the stacks of newspapers along the wall.

"Have a seat, Young Lady."

"Thanks." There was a couch, covered with a worn and stained quilt. No way. She opted for the wooden rocker. At least the wood looked relatively clean.

"You must be hungry. Let me see what I've got in the fridge."

Megan imagined leftover turnip greens and fried liver. "No, thanks. I'm fine. I had something at the airport."

"How about something to drink? I've got a can of Pepsi."

"Sure. That would be great."

He brought her the can.

She opened it and began to sip. "It's kinda noisy here."

"What do you mean?"

"You know." She pointed to the window. "The cars honking. People yelling."

"You get used to it."

She set her Pepsi on a coaster. "Where's the bathroom?"

"At the end of the hall."

"Thanks." Megan got up and walked into the hall, pulling her carry-on bag behind her. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Melvin looking at her bag, shaking his head. He probably thought a pink bag was silly.

She went into the bathroom, turned on the light, and shut the door. After she had used the toilet and washed her hands, she heard a knock at the apartment door. Megan put an ear to the door and listened from inside the bathroom.

Someone burst into the apartment.

"Where is she?" said the man.

"Who?" said Melvin.

"You know who. Where is she, Old Man?"

Megan panicked. She knew it must be the killer. The bathroom window wasn't very large, but she was sure she could squeeze through it. She released the latch, and pulled the window open. Megan knew the killer would find her bag in the bathroom. But she hoped he wouldn't hurt Melvin for lying.

She climbed up on the counter, and went out through the window, onto the fire escape. She had never stepped foot on a fire escape before, and it scared her. Although, not as much as the killer in Melvin's apartment.

She followed the stairs down as fast as she could, and took the ladder to the sidewalk.

CHAPTER 26 - Tuesday, 7:49 p.m.