Mischievous Malamute Mystery Series: Books 4-6

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

“Um, are you sure you want us as your wing chicks?” Leah asked as Anna revved the engine of her monster SUV and punched the gas, surging us forward as we exited the parking garage and merged into L.A. traffic.

“Honestly, I’d feel better if you came with me,” Anna replied, sounding less and less like the bright and cheerful girl we had come to know and love.

Then again, even the most well-grounded, even-keeled person had their tipping points. I certainly didn’t fault her for being human and was actually glad we were present when Decker had dealt the blow.

“What’s the deal with Decker, anyway?” I hoped my question wasn’t going to send our friend over the edge.

Thankfully, Anna released her stranglehold on the steering wheel.

“According to Abe and Elijah, Decker’s father was the real deal. An old school gumshoe and a real son-of-a-gun ball buster,” she replied, her eyes bright as she relayed their telling of the story. “He started doing skip traces but the detective bug was in his blood. He was a natural—one of those guys who relied on his gut—always fair but tough. And he never quit until he had his man, solved the case or had whatever answers his client’s sought.”

“Must run in his daughter’s blood, too,” Leah replied. “She seems…intense.”

“Yeah, she’s a different beast, all right. Guess Sarah had it right after all, about her being a bit ‘rough’ around the edges,” Anna replied.

Once again, I was glad I hadn’t been the one hurling the accusations at Decker. Given her physical size, stature and general demeanor, she seemed like she could knock a few heads together. Still, she’d brushed Anna’s comments off with ease, as though slicking off water in a rainstorm. Tough with thick skin and intensely focused on the task at hand and yet, willing to break ranks when the situation necessitated it, at great risk to her pocketbook and reputation.

I closed the chapter on my mental meanderings as Anna continued, “I remember Abe and Elijah telling me that old man Decker was always hell-bent on some mission—that there were stories of pre- and post-Decker—and in the last thirty years of his life, he was ruthless. He would act first, question and work the specifics out later. He was of the mindset that there were enemies, monsters and evil everywhere and that the concept of good was nothing but a myth.”

“Any idea what happened?” Leah asked.

“Yeah, it’s actually a famous Los Angeles crime story. I’m sure you heard about it when one of those investigative shows did an anniversary feature on it?” We both shook our heads. “Decker’s wife was murdered thirty years ago. Killer was never found. L.A.P.D. had Decker in their sights for a while, but he was cleared due to a lack of evidence. Many believed it was a retribution hit, that Decker had crossed someone—the wrong someone—but he emphatically denied it, swearing that his wife’s killer would be brought to justice, even if he had to do it from Hell.”

“Whoa,” Leah replied.

Anna nodded and continued, “His wife’s attack was beyond brutal. Her throat had been cut so deeply her head was barely attached. The killer had also ripped her open like an animal, splaying her insides across the bed and coating every surface with blood. But that’s not even the worst of it.” Anna sucked in a breath as she merged onto the freeway. “When law enforcement arrived—an anonymous call had tipped them off—they found the couple’s daughter clinging to her mother’s body.”

“Decker?” Both Leah and I asked simultaneously.

“Yes, it took the police quite a while to coax her from the room—to leave her mother—and then to even speak but when she did, she told the officers that she had been hiding under the bed and only come out once she was sure her mother’s attacker was gone. Upon seeing her mother, she climbed on the bed and tried to comfort her. Of course, there was nothing that could be done but Decker refused to leave her.”

“Kind of explains things,” I murmured, thinking about the way Decker had presented herself.

I wondered if she lived in the shadows of her father’s legacy—serving as his warrior—existing to see his visions to fruition. Would she spend a lifetime trying to bring her mother’s murderer to justice? Having seen Decker in the flesh, I already knew—and understood—her answer, but in the end, would it be worth the cost?

Those of us that had experienced death, violence…even murder had to answer that in our own way and in our own time. But at some point, we had to take weights and measures. Not for ourselves or those whose justice we sought, but for ones who lived and that we loved—those who deserved to live without constant fear or worry for the day when our toll came due.

And at the end of the day I had Leah and Nicoh. And our friends—Anna, Abe, Elijah—even Ramirez.

I hoped Kelly Decker had the same type of support system but, in truth, I had to wonder if she even entertained the notion.

“I guess,” Anna responded. “You think that’s where she gets her toughness?”

“Probably,” I replied, staring out the window at the city that buzzed and went on, in spite of us mere mortals.

Nicoh nudged my hand, as though sensing my mood. I stroked his satiny fur and he grumbled out a low “whoo-woo.”

“Where are we headed?” Leah asked.

I noted that her demeanor had down-shifted considerably after the discussion of Decker’s mother.

“To the beach.” Anna offered us each a sideways look. “You two sure you’re up for it?”

Leah slapped her leg and pasted on a smile. “Honey, we’re from the desert, we’re always up for something beachy.”

“Well, here’s to sand in your shorts, then,” Anna replied, her tone dry.

I wasn’t sure about the sentiment but truth be told, it didn’t sound all that appealing.

We drove for what seemed like hours along the Pacific Coast Highway and while Leah and I had made the trek on various occasions, we made small talk with Anna, asking her a variety of questions about the area we already knew the answers to—just to fill the void and occupy her mind—with the hope we could temper down her emotions before she confronted Blaze.

Mind you, we were on her side, so it wasn’t our place to question why he’d done what he had but I gave him some credit—he’d been smart enough to get a reference from the Stantons—but failing to inform his fiancé? If he had been my brother, I would have kicked him in the teeth. If he’d been my fiancé…well, I can’t say what I’d do, not having been in similar circumstances.

I couldn’t disagree with Anna’s reaction. I’d probably feel the same. Especially after Blaze had hired an investigator under her nose months earlier, not to mention how his entire response to the threats had affected her—mentally, emotionally and physically. I only hoped at the end of this, we would understand the rationale behind his decision—and that all of us hadn’t played him wrong from the start.

We pulled into one of the beach communities that was popular with locals but had yet to attract the masses. According to Anna, the few that lived there full time hoped to keep it that way. The ecosystem had suffered in the last several decades and the constant threat of development only served to further its decline.

“Blaze’s filming a segment of the documentary here,” Anna commented, her tone somber. “Soon, it’ll all be gone—a resort community is scheduled to be built, right there.” She pointed at an outcropping, where the beach was stopped by a rocky cliff.

“Ah, lovely beach views,” Leah replied, pursing her lips as she added, “for the most elite and privileged of the upper echelon.”

“Isn’t that the way it always goes?” Anna sounded equally bitter.

“That’s why Blaze chose it as a topic for his documentary, though…to bring awareness?” I asked, in a feeble attempt to lighten the mood.

Anna pulled off her shoes and buried her feet in the sand. “In large part…yes. He wanted to use his name and his brand in a positive way to generate awareness of the continued annihilation of beaches, wildlife and sea life in support of capitalism.”

“Kind of controversial subject matter, wouldn’t you say?” Leah added, pulling her own shoes off.

Anna nodded. “It is. Fortunately, Blaze has the backing of the surfing community and the locals.”

“But it could also be the reason he and his crew have been targeted,” I thought out loud.

“Maybe so.” Anna nodded.

“Has anything like this happened in the past?” I asked.

“Just the usual overzealous fans,” she replied, before adding, “but nothing that could be construed as menacing.”

“I’d like to know the specifics of the threats Decker mentioned,” Leah commented.

“So would I.” Anna looked at us both before kicking a pile of sand. “So would I.”

We trudged about a half of a mile up the beach, where a large tent had been erected in the sand. Angry voices buzzed from inside the covering before a tanned guy wearing cargo shorts and a fluorescent yellow surfing shirt stormed out, running his hands through his shoulder length hair. He muttered something under his breath and nearly ran into us before he’d looked up.

“Oh hey, Anna. I didn’t know you were coming out today.” His frown suggested he wasn’t going to be part of the welcoming committee.

“Hey, Bryce,” Anna replied. “Actually, the trip wasn’t planned but something has come up that I need to discuss with Blaze.” She nodded at the tent. “Everything okay?”

He glanced at us before looking over his shoulder, the downward turn of his mouth increasing two-fold before he responded. “Chalk it up to creative differences.”

“You sure?” Anna pressed.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Why’re you asking?” Bryce turned his focus to the surfers on the horizon, working his jaw as he chewed the inside of his mouth.

Anna continued to survey him. “No reason. Could just hear you guys all the way up the beach—must be some pretty significant ‘creative differences.’”

Bryce shrugged. “Just the usual. You know how much of a perfectionist Blaze is. Wind condition has to be right. Natural lighting has to be just so. It’s hard to get Mother Nature to see things your way when she’s the one in control.”

“You’re sure that’s all it is?” The harder Anna pushed him, the more shifting he did from one foot the other.

“Second time you asked, Anna. Second time I’m saying yes,” Bryce replied, this time his voice was laced with a bit of venom and sarcasm. “You want a better answer than that, then I suggest you talk to your fiancé.” He thrust his hands in his pockets, brushing past us as he continued up the beach.

“Nice dude,” Leah mumbled.

“Normally he is,” Anna replied, looking after him. “Bryce Denton is Blaze’s best friend and right-hand man.”

“He’s certainly not a very convincing liar.” My response did nothing to hide my first impression of Blaze’s bestie.

“No, he is not.” Anna nodded at the tent. “Shall we go to the source?”

“You’re still sure you want us to tag along?” I asked.

“Why? Are you worried?” Anna gave me a sideways glance.

“Well, I don’t think AJ was asking if you needed witnesses,” Leah replied. “So if you didn’t want anyone to see what’s about to go down in there, perhaps it might be best if we stayed out here.”

“Chicken.” Anna snorted. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything rash.” She glanced over her shoulder before entering the tent. “At least not until after he’s spilled his guts.”

I slid a cautious look at Leah as we followed her into the tent, where several people were standing around a large folding table covered with maps and various aerial photographs. A few of them looked up, shifting just enough that Blaze became visible, oblivious to our arrival as he continued studying the materials.

“…and that’s why it’s imperative that we wait to shoot this until we can ensure the security of the people involved.”

Sun-bleached waves swarmed his head, his lapis eyes bright with excitement as he talked with his hands. Lines crinkled at the corners of his eyes as he squinted and pointed at one section of the map, his tanned fingers scarred from his former occupation.

Suddenly, his eyes flickered in our direction and the moment he caught a glimpse of Anna, it was as though time froze and the only energy or movement of space and time existed between them. He rounded the table and within steps, embraced her in a warm hug, giving her a peck on the forehead as he did.

“Hey, Babe. I didn’t know you were coming out today, and with company, to boot.” Blaze gave us a quick hug and knelt to scratch Nicoh’s ears, a necessary distraction from the tension that swirled—and continued to mount—as Anna narrowed her eyes at him.

“Just saw Bryce on our way in,” she replied, ignoring his comment. “Didn’t seem himself.”

Blaze would not meet her gaze as he shrugged. “He’s under a lot of pressure. Just needed some time to cool off.”

“Huh, sounds like all of you are under a lot of pressure.” Anna crossed her arms and tapped her foot, causing a few of Blaze’s crew to slowly back away from the table.

“Nothing more than the usual,” Blaze replied, frowning as he added, “though in hindsight, we probably bit off more than we can chew with this project—should have started it three months earlier than we did.”

“According to Bryce, sounds like you’re having more than a few timing issues.” This time Anna’s voice was sharp.

“What do you mean?” Bryce asked, his eyes going wide as he absorbed Anna’s stance and demeanor. “Crap. You talked to Decker.”

No verbal response was needed on Anna’s part—her expression was enough to suck all the air out of the tent.