Green Eyes Cry, You Die, page 4
part #2 of Layton Shayne Mystery Series
“I just can’t leave you two alone for a minute,” Frankie said, as he put our drinks down in front of us.
That’s when I noticed a telltale gold band on his finger and pointed to it. “That’s new… how’s about sharing the details, friend?”
“Alright, I’ve got time. I have someone playing host or rather hostess, so I can spend time visiting with you two. If you do not mind me joining in your meal.”
“Not at all, but we haven’t seen menus yet,” I said.
“And you won’t, Jimmy has everything covered. Now back to your original question. Jimmy and I are both officially off the market.”
“Congratulations,” Alex said, “but isn’t it rather sudden? Layton filled me in on your meeting with Jimmy, and how you both left town together for each other’s safety. I guess he was right when he told me he thought it was a case of love at first sight for you and Jimmy.”
“That would be correct. I knew Jimmy was the one, and it was confirmed our first night together.”
I raised an eyebrow toward Frankie, remembering how bold he was in claiming Jimmy for his future partner when they’d met.
“To be honest, I’m not speaking about the sex,” Frankie said. “It was a more intimate moment than that between Jimmy and me. We’d just left Shelby and did not know what our future had in store for us. For a moment, the two of us were lost in the world, but we were lost together.”
“That’s a beautiful sentiment,” Alex said.
“Just an honest one. We’d both seen some crazy stuff back in that town, and it brought us together quickly. There was an honesty between us that I’d never felt with anyone else, and when we did finally have intercourse, it was more than just sex. In my life, I’ve always been a somewhat selfish lover—a good one, but selfish. But with him—with Jimmy, I finally understood what making love was all about. The giving completely of oneself to another in not just a physical sense, but emotionally and spiritually as well. It blew my mind.”
“So much so that he had to put a ring on my finger,” Jimmy said.
We’d been so enthralled by Frankie’s tale that we never heard Jimmy come into the courtyard carrying a large plate of garlic bread with melted cheese on top. As soon as he put the plate down on the table, I stood up and was about to give him a hug when I turned to Frankie smiling.
“With your permission, Sir,”
“Of course, but just a hug—and… maybe a small kiss on the cheek.”
I gave Jimmy a big hug and a kiss on his cheek. “Jimmy, it’s so good to see you again.” I stood back and looked at him with his big white chef’s hat and uniform. The guy was still skinny, but he was so happy he was glowing. “You look fanfreakintastic, and I’m so glad. You deserve this: the Italian, the restaurant, all of it.” I put my arm out toward Alex. “This is the love of my life, Alex Shayne. And you have my permission to hug and kiss him on the cheek.” I smiled as they hugged and kissed on the cheek.
“No ring on Alex’s finger; but you gave him your name. That’s something, I guess,” Frankie said.
“Mmm, the bread looks good,” I said.
“Smooth change of subject,” Jimmy said. “We’ll work on you tonight. The two of you are staying upstairs with us for the night. We have a guest bedroom, so you’ll be comfortable.”
“And the walls are thick, so no worries, my friends,” Frankie said.
“Are you concerned about us being noisy, or the two of you?” I said.
“If any of us are noisy, we won’t disturb the others,” Jimmy said.
“I’m glad to see you brought over the garlic bread recipe from the restaurant in Shelby. Hopefully, you brought your sinfully sweet dessert creation too,” I said.
“I remembered how much you loved it, and have some here as well as some upstairs in our fridge for you.”
“You’re getting spoiled, Layton,” Alex said.
“You will be too,” Jimmy said. “You both deserve it, and you’d better enjoy it before getting started on this crazy case. Just wait until Frankie starts telling you what you’re dealing with here.”
-5-
Getting Down to Business
“Layton, I want you to know I told Frankie about the money you gave me, and we both agree that we’ll pay you back with interest,” Jimmy said.
“It wasn’t a loan. Like I mentioned in Shelby, the two of you helped me a lot in many ways. I’d be insulted if you try to pay me back.”
“OK, but at least let us make sure you never go hungry,” Frankie said. “If ever you need a meal, and this goes for the both of you—”
“We know where to come, thank you,” I said.
Jimmy gave me another hug, then excused himself to work on our meal.
“Tell me something, Frankie, how did you two get a restaurant set up so fast?” Alex said.
“Miss Lucy knew someone who needed to sell this place quickly. The widow of the old chef and owner needed to sell, and she really took a shine to Jimmy and me. The restaurant was still doing well, but her nephew, the interim chef, was ready to leave and go back home, where he was in cooking school. Basically, the widow was ready to let the place go to the right person, and Miss Lucy phoned and told her we were the right people. And like I said, she had taken a real shine to us. She said we reminded her of her husband and herself, except for the obvious difference. Once we bought the place, all we needed to do was move in. It was also convenient that there was a two bedroom apartment with a balcony on the third floor. She sold us the whole place. Grandfather was happy to give me my inheritance ahead of time, so we could afford to buy all of it.”
“Wow,” I said. “I’m at a loss for words. Like I said earlier, I’m beyond happy for you two, and thank you for letting us stay the night.”
“For the two of you, it will always be an open invitation,” Frankie said. “Now, I’m sure you want to hear about the case.”
I took a sip of my Coke, slipped off my flip-flops, and stretched my legs out. Frankie and Alex looked at me and laughed.
“I just don’t think you’ll ever appreciate fine clothes, Layton. You seem much more comfortable out of them,” Frankie said.
“He looks so good out of them too,” Alex said.
“Stop, you two are gonna make me blush,” I said. “Tell me about the case, Frankie.”
“Unfortunately, there’s still not much to tell. Leticia’s daughter Noelle is around, trying to do research on the case. Apparently, she is not having much luck, though. Miss Lucy said she had to enlist a free agent’s help.”
Jimmy arrived with three plates on a large tray. The main course smelled delicious.
“Can you believe the free agent’s name is Sassafrass Jones?” Jimmy said. “Miss Lucy said she’s a salvage person and a knowledgeable collector, who’ll be around to help find the statue. Enjoy the food.”
“Seeing you carrying that tray reminds me of when we first met and you were my waiter,” I said. “Somehow, I think you’re an even better chef.”
“I’m better at cooking than almost anything else.”
He left us with plates of large pasta shells stuffed with meat and ricotta cheese. There were three of them on each plate and they smelled delicious. I cut into mine as Alex spoke.
“What a name! Sassafrass Jones… she must be a character.”
“We wouldn’t know, Alex, we’ve never met her. Miss Lucy said that when the time is right, Ms. Jones will find you two.”
I laughed in between bites of food. It earned me hard stares from each of my dining companions. “Sorry, it’s just so funny hearing Frankie trying to use contractions.”
“I did say it would take me a while,” Frankie said. “This is an early dinner, but Jimmy said he’ll fix us an evening snack.”
“I won’t argue with that,” I said. “The guy’s a damn good cook.”
“The guy’s damn good at everything, as you well know,” Frankie said. “No offense, Alex.”
“None taken,” Alex said. “What else did Miss Lucy tell you?”
“Tomorrow, the two of you are supposed to meet an agent named Buck Taggerty at the gay nudist campground located one town over. She did stress that he can be a royal pain in the ass.”
“She warned me already,” I said.
“And even with that warning, you told Charity that we were living in a threesome with him,” Alex said.
“That was a mistake, detective… friend,” Frankie said. “Miss Lucy came to the restaurant with Charity once, and that young lady is very observant. Why did you tell her you were in a threesome?”
“Miss Lucy said we’d probably need to infiltrate Charity’s group, and the more out there we were the better. She told me to play up the gay thing, so I played it up and told Charity we were in a threesome.”
Frankie just shook his head. “Then you’d better be in one before you meet her again. I don’t think Charity’s the type you can lie to without her figuring it out.”
“Who says I’m lying?” I said, noticing the crazy looks I was getting. “I’m playing a part… there’s a difference. As a detective, I’m called upon to play different roles, that doesn’t make me a liar.”
“That’s a fine line,” Frankie said. “But in a way, you do have a point, and maybe if you stay in that mindset, Charity won’t figure out the truth. What do you guys know about the statue of the lady with green eyes that cry?”
“Nothing except that we’re here to find a statue by that name,” I said.
Frankie started laughing loudly. “You’ll have to excuse me, Layton, but your clients really didn’t tell you much, did they?”
“No, and what’s so damn funny, Francisco Torrea?”
Frankie laughed again. “No need to get upset and start calling me by my given name.” He laughed some more. “The green-eyed lady is the symbol of the small town of Ramard. Different versions of her are on storefronts, T-shirts, dolls, figurines, and statues. My God, Layton, it’s not a matter of finding a single statue. It’s more a matter of finding the right one amongst thousands.”
“Shit!” I said. “How the hell are we supposed to know which one is the right one? Do all their eyes look like emeralds?”
“Yes, and sometimes the statues are even made with crystal tears and Swarovski Crystal eyes. If not crystal, then plastic eyes that look like emeralds.”
“There must be an original lady with green eyes statue,” Alex said. “Surely, the original lady is the one we’re looking for.”
“No one’s really sure where the original one is, but there are rumors that there may be more than one original lady,” Frankie said. “Noelle believes the original statue came from Asia, but from what Miss Lucy told me, they’re not even positive about that.”
“Wait a minute,” I said, “if the green-eyed lady is being depicted in all that kitsch, how is she being presented? As an Asian, a Caucasian—what?” I took another bite of food, which was leaving me feeling very satisfied, despite the inconsistent details of the case.
“Wait until you drive to Ramard and see for yourself. There’s a version of her in front of a Chinese restaurant dressed in a full Chinese costume, one of her as a Caucasian wearing not much more than tassels on a bar sign, and even one of her dressed as a can-can dancer on the sign of a clothing store.”
“I’ll have to do some footwork and talk to a couple of old-timers, who might remember what her original incarnation was,” I said.
“Hang on a minute,” Alex said. “Why are we starting this case at a gay nudist campground—are we gonna have to stay in a tent?”
“You two really are making me laugh a lot today,” Frankie said, then laughed. “I keep forgetting you just got here. Zombies were spotted twice at the campground, and some folks reported seeing glowing green eyes on some of the green-eyed lady signs right before the zombies showed up.”
“Did Agent Buck see the zombies?” Alex said.
“No, he wasn’t there yet.”
“Let’s just hope that statue is somewhere in the campground,” I said. “It’ll make things a lot easier.”
“If it is there, I hope you have a plan for fighting zombies,” Frankie said.
“How did people fight them before?” I said. “I’m assuming the same zombies aren’t still running around raising hell.”
“They didn’t fight the last ones. The zombies killed some people, then went back to being dead themselves. It was as if they had a job to do, and once it was done, that was the end of it.”
“Did they eat people’s brains?” Alex asked.
It was his turn to get looks from Frankie and me now.
“What?” he said. “They are zombies… or aren’t they?”
“According to what Miss Lucy found out, they’re more like hollow shells following someone’s orders. More like a combination of a zombie and a mummy, I guess,” Frankie said. “No one’s heard them speak, but it’s said that they are incredibly strong.”
“It sounds like there are numerous witnesses to these… zombie happenings,” I said. “Why isn’t this plastered all over the news, and why aren’t the cops all over it?”
“These are small towns; they need the tourist business—not bad press; and the police don’t want widespread panic or the feds getting involved. Plus, Leticia talked with them and convinced them to let her organization handle things. So, here you and Alex are, as well as Agent Buck and Miss Lucy.”
“And don’t forget Sassafras Jones,” Alex said.
We’d just finished eating the stuffed shells when Jimmy brought in another platter.
“I hope you guys left room for dessert,” Jimmy said.
He presented a dessert I remembered well from my time in Shelby—Torta di Zabaglione. It looked as good as I remembered with its filling of luscious thick zabaglione cream, soft sponge cake portion, and topping of crisp meringue pieces.
“Oh, I’ve heard of this,” Alex said.
I jumped up, took Jimmy’s face in my hands and gave him a kiss on each cheek. Then looked him in the eyes naughtily and looked at Frankie.
“Go ahead, this once, and give him a real kiss,” Frankie said. “He made that dessert just for you.”
I looked at Alex.
“Go for it,” he said.
I gave Jimmy a chaste kiss on the lips, and a huge bear hug. Jimmy just grinned.
“That dessert does look good,” Alex said.
“I remembered how much Layton liked it, and thought it was the least I could do,” Jimmy said. “I have to get back to the kitchen, but we can talk more later tonight.”
“Frankie, that boy’s a keeper,” I said. “Don’t ever let him go.”
“Till death do us part,” Frankie said, holding up his ring finger. “And hopefully, not even then… I want him by me in Heaven too.”
“Nice,” I said. “You’ve got it as bad for him as I do for Alex.” I took a bite of dessert and let out a low groan.
“How does a guy who loves sweets as much as you do stay in such great shape?” Frankie said.
“It’s a trade-off… I work out every day. Also, luckily for me, I burn it off quickly.”
“This is good!” Alex said after taking a bite of his dessert. “I may owe Jimmy a kiss and a hug myself.”
* * * *
After we ate, we walked back to the car to get our bags. Frankie was nice enough to come lend us a hand, then show us a back alleyway that led to the third floor apartment. That was when chills ran up my spine—someone was watching us.
-6-
Hot Times in Mt Ore
I turned, quickly walked out of the wide alley, and looked around. No one was there, but I noticed a white stick on the ground and bent down to examine it closer.
“What is it?” Frankie, who’d walked up to me, said.
“It’s a stick from a lollipop,” Alex said, peering over my shoulder.
“And it’s still wet,” I said. “Step back a bit, guys; I think I can make out a footprint.”
They stepped back, and I saw a single footprint in a small patch of sand beside the paved alleyway. It looked small, so I put my foot against it to check.
“Guess it was just a kid being nosy,” I said, turning to Frankie and Alex.
“That explains the lollipop stick,” Alex said.
* * * *
“Just put your stuff down here and let me give you the quick tour,” Frankie said, once we’d entered his and Jimmy’s apartment.
We walked into an open living room and kitchen space which was roomy and well-appointed. The floors were a beautiful hardwood and the back wall which was mostly glass overlooked a rooftop terrace.
“This place is classy like you, Frankie,” I said.
“We like it,” Frankie said. “Let me show you our favorite spot.”
He ushered us through the wood and glass back door onto a large and private terrace which had a waist-high, stucco wall around it. There were enormous pots containing colorful plants, a couple of reclining, full-length canvas lounge chairs, a small metal table with four chairs, and in the corner was the centerpiece—a mid-sized hot tub.
“Nice,” I said.
“Feel free to use the hot tub,” Frankie said. “Only, it’s a no-clothes or bathing suit zone.”
“Excuse me,” Alex said.
“The previous owner told me she and her husband used the tub frequently, and that the guy who installed it for them said it was best to use it nude. Even the fibers from bathing suits can mess up the system. Besides, there’s no need to be shy here amongst friends.”
“I’m still too stuffed to even think about using it right now, but it will definitely feel good later,” I said.
We went back inside, followed Frankie down a short hall to the left, and were shown a bathroom to the right and a guest bedroom to the left. The bedroom was a decent size for a guest room, and contained a queen-size bed, a nice dresser, and a bedside table.
“We bought the place furnished, but the bed sheets and comforter are new and freshly washed,” Frankie said. “I’d better go downstairs and check on the restaurant. Make yourselves at home. There are drinks in the fridge; and help yourselves to whatever else is in there. If you need anything, you know where to find us.”
