The Spia Family Presses On - By Mary Leo Page 0,57

time came for physical action.

Lisa and Jade sat in the front chatting about Alcatraz Island and the Al Capone years, while I sat in the back alone with my thoughts. I wasn’t paying attention to their conversation, too busy going over the list of possible suspects, Uncle Benny taking slot number one because of that codicil. He especially had motive now that he was sleeping with my mom, a vision I didn’t want to dwell on. The one problem to that scenario was her setup. Why would Benny set up the woman he was sleeping with? That made no sense. Still, did anything ever make sense with these Wise Guys?

Cousin Jimmy stood at number two because he still followed orders, and would have no problem with slicing and dicing Dickey then spreading him around. I’d heard stories about Jimmy, and although he was never indicted for murder, I suspected he was a good little enforcer to the rest of his crew. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had been the Dickey impersonator on the other end of Jade’s call.

Uncle Ray came to mind next because of Val’s hatred for Dickey; Ray could easily shoot Dickey to avenge his wife. Valerie was a powerful force and for all of Ray’s bravado, Val was the master of that household.

Then there was always Hetty and Babe, two women who truly had motive and opportunity.

And I couldn’t rule out Maryann just because of her peculiar accordion connection with Dickey. Who knew what secrets that woman could be hiding?

My head was spinning with various compare scenarios when I felt a slight smack on our back bumper.

“What the hell?” I said as Lisa swerved toward the ditch on the passenger side of the road.

“I got it,” she croaked then sped up. She pressed a button on the car door and her seat automatically adjusted, along with the steering wheel, and side mirrors. I wondered if this feature came standard.

Lisa sat up straight, locked each hand on either side of the wheel then gazed in the rearview mirror. “Prepare for evasive action,” she ordered, voice laden with authority.

“Evasive action?” I didn’t know if she was kidding or completely serious.

“Yes. When you’re being pursued while in a car do not allow the pursuer to gain the upper hand. Be prepared to take evasive defensive action. This is a contest of both wills and skills.”

I tightened my seat belt.

Apparently, she’d already written this section of her book.

I really needed to catch up.

“Shouldn’t we just, like, stop?” Jade spluttered, leaning forward in her seat. “Share information? Ya know, call the police? Do all those accident things?”

“Not a chance. That guy’s been tailing us ever since we left the orchard. I think we’ve got something personal going on.”

I turned to grab a better look. “This is so not good.” A black Tundra was gaining on us.

“But who . . . are you sure?” Jade asked.

“Positive. My radar’s been up for the last ten minutes, but I didn’t want to alarm you guys. He fits all the criteria for a road warrior: no plates, smoky windows, aggressive driving and I can’t shake him. This bad dude is nothing I can’t handle.” Lisa focused on the street and cars ahead of her. “I’ve been through the Bob Bondurant Tac Mob course. I know exactly what to do to avoid the kill zone. This fool is messing with the wrong chick.”

“The kill zone?” I asked.

“Any place your attacker tries to trap you,” Lisa calmly said.

“Anyone you know?” I asked Jade, not wanting to think it might be the killer giving us yet another warning. Or was this warning meant specifically for Jade? After all, Lisa and I had already gotten the finger . . . so to speak.

Jade twisted around and stared at the Tundra, then shook her head. “No. Like, I don’t think so, but I can’t see his face too well. And nobody I know would hit our car like that, or wear those awful shades. Those are, like, so last year.”

I turned and caught the double-C logo for Chanel on the sides of his shades. What guy would wear big Chanel glasses with a cowboy hat? And didn’t he have a mustache?

Something very odd was up with this bumper dude, but I didn’t have time to think about it because Jade was still talking. “This is so not cool. I mean some of my friends are crazy, but not this crazy, ya know? Besides, I didn’t tell anybody I was coming