Death Drops Read online

  “Excuse me,” I said anyway. “Is your last name Polumbo by any chance?”

  The kid shoved the cleanup rag into the front pocket of his apron. “Yeah, I’m Tad Polumbo. Who’s asking?”

  Simon stiffened. “Is your father Dan?”

  “Yeah, so?” He started to clear the table next to us.

  “You see this?” He pointed at his nose. “Your father did this to me.”

  “You’re lying!” Tad yelled, throwing the rag on the table. “He wouldn’t.”

  “He did,” Simon said, gesturing to me. “I was trying to defend her aunt Claire.”

  “Oh, her,” Tad said, like he was describing the dregs of the earth. “Serves her right she ended up dead. She almost killed me!”

  I shook my head no. “My aunt didn’t know your entire medical history. Your mother didn’t tell her you had asthma. She would have been more conservative in her approach. I know that.”

  “That’s BS. My mom and dad said it was all her fault!” His voice got even louder, and I wondered if he should be on the suspect list, too. He was big enough and angry enough to have killed Aunt Claire.

  “Let’s all calm down now,” Jackson said. “Take it easy, Tad.”

  “Yeah, kid. Get me a waiter,” Simon said, waving him away. “Make yourself useful.”

  “I oughta slug you, too.” He lurched toward Simon. “My old man had the right idea.”

  Simon put his hands up to defend his nose, and Hector jumped up and grabbed Tad. Hearing the commotion, the pet shop boys exited the Vine Bar and marched over to us.

  “You got trouble, Tad?” the unpleasant man from the pet store asked.

  “Yeah, Lenny, I got trouble,” Tad said, spitting the words out. “These people are all in with that Claire Hagan broad. She hurt me, she hurt my family.”

  “Oh, we know all about her, don’t we, Billy?”

  “Bitch makes it hard for us to do business,” Billy snarled.

  “This is her niece,” Tad said, and pointed to me.

  “Oh yeah?” Billy came around the table and put his face in mine. I made the connection, finally remembering where I knew him from. He’d been two years ahead of me in high school. Constantly in trouble, expelled three times. And obviously still a menace.

  Jackson got up. “Let it go, Billy. Back off,” he said, and pulled Billy away from me.

  “You back off.” Billy swiveled and smashed his fist into Jackson’s face. Jackson hit the ground, hard, and I cried out as Lenny started kicking him in the stomach. Hector lurched over and grabbed Lenny by the collar, pulling him away and tearing his shirt, but Billy immediately jumped on him, pounding him with his fists. Tad turned and ran inside to get some help while Simon gathered his manuscript and took off like a jackrabbit. Allie and I stood helplessly by, watching the madness.

  Jackson managed to get to his feet, charged like a bull, and knocked Billy backward across our table. The glasses of wine and cheese platter shattered on the brick patio. Billy landed on the ground with an ooomph! while Lenny went after Jackson again, but Hector knocked him down with a good right. The two pet shop boys writhed and groaned on the ground.

  Action over, Jackson slumped into a chair, all the adrenaline gone and the pain back, a grimace on his face. Hector grabbed a napkin to clean the blood off his bleeding knuckles as the sound of police sirens filled the air, blotting out everything else. All in all, this sure hadn’t ended up being the relaxing, quiet night out I’d envisioned.

  chapter twenty-one

  Dear Dr. McQuade,

  I just got back from a visit to my doctor and she gave me the results of my bone scan. She told me I have osteoporosis. Can any natural remedies help?

  Signed,

  Boning Up

  Dear Boning Up,

  I applaud you for wanting to use natural remedies to help heal your osteoporosis. Even though our bones take a beating as we get older and are also affected by smoking, caffeine, alcohol, and soda, which can leach calcium, our bones are living tissue and can regenerate with the right help. One of the best things to do is to aim for an alkaline diet by eating lots of leafy, green veggies and foods that have a pH higher than 7. You can supplement this with a good powdered green-food drink. Weight-bearing exercise is important, too. Calcium gets a lot of buzz, but strontium is more effective. Research shows it builds better bones and helps reduce the pain of osteoporosis.

  Signed,

  Dr. Willow McQuade

  When they heard the sirens, the pet shop boys pulled themselves together, jumped the picket fence, and beat it across the street and behind the IGA grocery store. A cop car zoomed in and stopped at the curb, a dirty blue Ford sedan right behind it. Two uniformed officers got out of the cop car, while Detectives Koren and Coyle stepped out of the Ford. Coyle, dressed in a cheap-looking blue seersucker suit and wearing shades, and Koren, in a tailored Brooks Brothers suit, took their sweet time as they walked to the entrance to the patio, opened the gate, and came over to us.

  When they did, Koren arched an eyebrow and said, “Getting into trouble again, Dr. McQuade?”

  “They’re getting away,” I said, and pointed across the street.

  Koren put his hands on his hips and pushed back his jacket so we could all see his gun in its holster. “Don’t tell me. Janice. Again.”

  I shook my head, frustrated. “No, not Janice. Lenny and Billy, the pet shop boys.”

  “The pet shop boys?” He blew out a breath. “Explain, please.”

  I told him about the fight. When I finished, he looked at Jackson. “Thought you had a bad back. How did you manage to get into a fight?”

  “It’s called fight or flight, officer,” I said. “He sensed danger, his adrenaline kicked in, and he was able to act. He was trying to help us.”

  Koren considered this. “Yes, I’ve heard he’s been helping you. The coroner told me he called about the time of death for Sean Nichols. You’re a bit off your patch, wouldn’t you say, Spade?”

  “I’m trying to help a friend, Koren. That’s all.”

  “Dr. McQuade?” He nodded to me.

  “Claire Hagan.”

  “The disability board might be interested in your extracurricular activities when your case comes up for review next month,” Coyle said.

  “How do you know about that?” Jackson asked.

  “We know everything,” Koren said, sounding smug. “And I’ll be happy to let them know that you’re doing quite well. Hell, maybe you don’t need that disability after all, Spade.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” I said. “He’s not doing well; he’s in constant pain.”

  Jackson put his hand on my arm and said, “McQuade, I can handle this myself.”

  “You can if you get smart and stay out of this case,” Koren said. The two detectives headed up the steps and went inside.

  “What absolute asses,” Allie said. Such a comment was big for Allie, who rarely had an unkind word to say about anyone.

  We watched Koren and Coyle as they talked to Tad and a woman I presumed was the manager. Tad waved and gestured. The woman remained calm.

  Jackson groaned as he sat down. “I’m going to pay for this big-time.”

  “He can’t touch you,” I said, concerned about what Koren might do now. “He’s bluffing.”

  “I meant my back,” Jackson said. “It’s already in spasm. Those two bozos don’t worry me.”

  Hector sat down next to him. “I can help you. The B-fifty-four acupressure point behind your knees can relieve back pain and pressure. But I’ll need to get you on the table. We can go after this.”

  “I’ll follow up with a massage,” Allie said.

  “Hopefully we can wrap this up quickly,” I said. “And get out of here.”

  A few minutes later, Detectives Koren and Coyle trotted down the steps and came back over to us. “You’re very lucky, Dr. McQuade, you and your friends,” Koren said. “The manager doesn’t want to press charges. She doesn’t want any negative publicity. We’ve
also got more important things to do.”

  “Like find Sean Nichols’s and Claire Hagan’s killers?” I asked.

  Koren pulled me aside and lowered his voice. “Sean Nichols had in his possession an envelope with Claire’s name and Fresh Face written on it. Know anything about that, Dr. McQuade?”

  I played dumb. “He did? Does that mean he stole the formula and killed my aunt?”

  Koren’s phone buzzed. “That would wrap things up nicely for you, wouldn’t it?” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at the message. “No, we don’t think it’s that simple. You’re still on my list of suspects.” He eyed Jackson and dropped the phone back into his pocket. “Stay out of this, Dr. McQuade, and you, too, Spade. Let us do our jobs.” They slipped through the fence and headed to their car.

  The four of us hurried back to Nature’s Way and helped Jackson upstairs so he could begin his acupuncture treatment. “Since it’s late, I’ll do an abbreviated session, but it will still mitigate the tumble you took tonight,” Hector said. “We’ll follow up tomorrow and Allie can give you a massage then, too.”

  “I appreciate this,” Jackson said.

  “Not at all,” Hector said. “Now please take off your T-shirt and lie down.”

  It took some effort, but Jackson managed to pull it over his head. His chest was buff and muscled, with a few distinguishing scars that looked like they could be bullet wounds. Definitely super hot.

  He got onto the table and lay on a special body-sized heating pad. Once he was settled, Hector said, “Since you have acute lower back pain, Jackson, we’ll want to invigorate your chi and blood to remove the stagnation and unblock the channels, which will stop the pain.” He looked at Allie and me. “Do you mind if they watch? Willow is interested in seeing my technique.”

  “Have at it,” he said, turning his head and giving me a deep, penetrating look. “Thanks for the help.”

  “Quid pro quo, remember? I promised.”

  “Indeed you did, McQuade.” He closed his eyes. “I’ll see you on the other side.”

  We watched silently as Hector inserted various super-thin, pliable needles into Jackson’s skin. I glanced at the chart on the wall. For acute lower back pain, the first distal acupuncture point he targeted was Liver 3 on the foot, one of the most important acupuncture points. Jackson winced slightly as he inserted the needle. Next, he inserted LI 4, Du 26, (N-UE 19), and finally BL 40, and then said, “That’s enough for now. We’ll do more tomorrow.”

  He adjusted the temperature of the mat and dimmed the lights. “This BioMat is something you might want at home, Jackson. It’s a special heating pad that has far infrared healing rays, amethysts, and negative ions. Very therapeutic. A far infrared sauna is also good for detoxification afterward.”

  “Hmm-hum,” Jackson said sleepily.

  “We’ll leave you now for about twenty minutes. It’s okay if you fall asleep.”

  “Hmm-hum,” Jackson repeated.

  The three of us went downstairs to get a cup of tea. Hector and Allie waited at a table next to the window while Qigong followed me as I moved around the kitchen, putting the water on and depositing tea bags into mugs. I’d been in there only a minute when Allie came hustling in with a worried look on her face. “Someone is watching the store,” she said, and tugged me on the arm. “Come and see.”

  Hector stood by the front door, looking through the windowpanes on the top. “They’re in the park. I think they have binoculars. Look to the right of your van.” I stood next to him and peered out. To the right of our van, I saw two people. I couldn’t tell if it was the pet shop boys.

  “Aunt Claire has a pair of binoculars, too. I saw them in her bookcase.” I ran into the office and grabbed the pair, which sat on a shelf next to new-age DVDs, including those of Catherine Ponder, Louise Hay, and Deepak Chopra. I ran back out and focused on the two shadows, standing to one side of the carousel but just out of range of a large spotlight. Damn it.

  “I’m going out,” Hector said.

  “I’m going with you,” I said.

  Hector shook his head. “That’s not a good idea. Maybe we should call that detective.”

  I shook my head no. “Not until we have real proof.” I turned to Allie and said, “You wait here. If we don’t come back right away or you see something bad happen, call the cops and tell Jackson.” I checked to make sure I had my cell phone. “I’ll call you in a few minutes.”

  “I don’t like this,” Allie said, shivering.

  “I don’t like it, either,” I said. “But we’re in this now.”

  Hector and I made our way out the back door, cut behind Nan’s Needlework, and crossed Front Street to the other side of the post office. The building blocked our approach. Once across, we headed toward the water and to the path that cut through the back of Mitchell Park and circled behind the carousel.

  When we got to the carousel, we could see the two people talking, while one of them, the shorter one, who could be a woman, kept the binoculars trained on Nature’s Way. Since the first and third floor lights were on, I figured they were waiting for them to go off before making a move. But as we approached, one of them took off across the street. I still couldn’t tell who he or she was. The other person remained in place and I noticed a few strands of long, blond hair snaking out from under the watch cap the person wore. Polly?

  We moved closer through the damp grass to the edge of the carousel. A light flickered from the steps of Nature’s Way. A signal perhaps? The person with the binoculars ran across the street, and before we could follow, Qigong began barking from inside the store. The flickering light on the steps went out, and moments later we heard a soft whooshing sound. The two people took off at a dead run toward the drugstore and 1st Street while Hector and I ran over to see what had happened. All four tires on the van had been slashed.

  chapter twenty-two

  Dear Dr. McQuade,

  My doctor tells me I’ve got high blood pressure. I know I need to manage my stress more effectively, but how can I change my diet to help? Are there any special foods that lower blood pressure?

  Signed,

  Too High

  Dear Too High,

  Yes, you are right, handling stress is a top priority when you have high blood pressure. Qigong breathing exercises can help. Qigong breathing is basically conscious breathing, with slow, gentle, deep breaths. To learn how, visit www.SpringForestQigong.com. The right diet can help as well. You can start by using the DASH diet (www.dashdiet.org) to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This diet, which focuses on fruits, veggies, whole grains, high fiber, and low-fat foods, can also help to lower “bad” cholesterol. Fun fact? Chocolate can help, too. The flavonoids in cocoa act as antioxidants and are good for cardiovascular function. Make it a habit to have an ounce of dark chocolate that is high in cacao content (at least 70 percent) once a day. Yum!

  Signed,

  Dr. Willow McQuade

  “So they slashed the tires and ran?” Jackson asked us. The four of us and Qigong were back upstairs in Hector’s treatment room.

  “I swear one of them was Polly,” I said. “Whoever it was had long, blond hair. Hector chased after them, but they had a good head start.”

  “Track was not my strong suit.” Hector picked Jackson’s red-and-white flannel shirt up off the hutch and handed it to him. “Keep warm. We don’t want those muscles to tense up.”

  Jackson sat up, pulled on the shirt, and eased off the table. “Obviously, they haven’t given up. Even if they do have the formula. Even if they did kill Claire. Exhibit A.” He pointed to my left arm, which was still in a cast. “Like we agreed at the Vine Bar, I think we’re going to have to be much more careful going forward.”

  “Every question we ask seems to stir up a lot of trouble,” I said. “I just want justice. I want the truth. I owe it to her.”

  “Walk me out,” Jackson said to me, and took my arm. I felt a zing of electricity pass between us so strong it almost
took my breath away. We headed down the stairs in silence, and when we got to the bottom he turned to me. “With everything that’s happened, I think we have to consider abandoning the idea that we can solve this thing. Maybe Koren was right, it’s better left to professionals.”

  “You are a professional.”

  He shook his head. “Willow, I was a professional. I’m retired. On disability. I can barely get around. You were right—if it hadn’t been for that adrenaline rush, I never would have been able to take on those two boneheads. This is getting complicated. And I’m worried about you.”

  “You’re worried about me?”

  He smiled. “Let’s just say that you’ve grown on me, McQuade. You’ve got guts. I like your style.”

  “Back atcha, Spade.” I punched him on the arm like I was in third grade.

  We stood there awkwardly for a few moments, and then Jackson shoved his hands into his pockets. “Guess I should be going.”

  We walked down the aisle, past the dairy refrigerator, fruit juices, coconut water, and snacks, to the front of the store. I made small talk to dispel any weirdness. “But Hector helped you, didn’t he? You feel better?”

  “Yes, I feel much looser and my muscles feel energized somehow. I almost feel normal. Thank you, Willow.”

  “It’s part of our personal service.”

  “Is that right?” He gave me that 100-watt stare and crooked smile.

  I felt all gooey inside. “Yes, that’s right.” It was one of those moments that could go either way. Would we kiss or not?

  Jackson leaned in and I closed my eyes. Then the front door flew open and Simon stepped in.

  “Willow, you okay?” Simon said as he rushed over to me. He held his manuscript in one hand and a Starbucks cup in the other. Obviously, he’d made it there after all. “I was worried about you.” He gulped down some coffee.

  Now he was worried? What about during the big fight? And with the cops? Self-centered Simon. But what good would it do to fight? “Simon, I’m fine. Thanks for checking.”