The Spia Family Presses On - By Mary Leo Page 0,80
the coals for some solid alimony. Anyway, I saw Carla take that horseshoe ring off her index finger and slip it on Dickey’s pinky. Funny thing was, I looked everywhere for that damn ring after he was hauled off to the slammer, figuring I could sell it for some cash. Money got tight, but I never saw the damn thing until the other night when he showed up for the party wearing it. He must have had it stashed somewhere.”
I decided to tell her the truth about the ring.
“My mom had it in her safety deposit box at the bank.”
“Your mom! Why didn’t she tell me?” She took a long drag on her cigarette.
“Did you ever ask?”
She thought about this for a moment, blowing smoke up over my head again, its sweet fragrance embracing us. I inhaled memories and felt a ting of melancholy.
I so craved the taste of a cigarette, and the calm feeling one got with that first drag. It was like heaven in just three little inches.
“No. Never in a million years did I think your mom would have it. He was a smart man, that Dickey.”
She took another deep drag. I watched, mesmerized by the ease of her controlled habit.
“Apparently, not as smart as everybody thought,” I said. “He told me the ring was going to give somebody real heartburn.”
“It gave me heartburn, that’s for sure. But I didn’t kill the bastard. He and I went into the barn earlier that night for some privacy, but when I left him the first time, he was still very much alive.”
“What did you talk about?”
“I wanted to know his plans for the land, but all he wanted to do was fool around. I let him cop a feel or two. Why not? These are the genuine article.” She pushed out her rather large chest and ran her hands over her breasts. “And most men these days don’t get the opportunity to play around with a natural pair, what with all them implants these young girls get. And Dickey always had a fondness for these puppies so I figured what the hell. A little feel wouldn’t make any difference. Besides, the guy was shut up for eight years. He was hungry for a little action.”
“But he had a fiancée,” I reminded her.
“Yeah, well, that’s Dickey for ya. The consummate player.”
She took a last drag then snuffed out the cigarette in a crystal ashtray. “And besides, he never said a word to me about Jade, and even if he did, I’d have known he wasn’t serious. A guy like that? Married right out of prison? Never gonna happen.”
She knew him better than she thought.
I grabbed for my mug and held the warm cup in my hands. The heat gave me a shiver. I was getting sleepy, but I didn’t want to stop talking yet. Aunt Babe was on a roll, and no way did I want her to settle in for the night without first getting all my questions answered.
“Jade confessed the engagement was all a ruse.”
She smirked, and slammed her hand on the table. “I knew it, the son of a bitch. A real game playing prick right to the end. I’m glad I took that damn ring. A ring like that shouldn’t go to waste.”
“But it’s dangerous for you to have it while the killer is still out there. Right now he thinks I have it so you’re safe, but if it ever gets out that you have it, there’s no telling what he or she might do.”
“I’ve thought about that, especially after tonight when that new Wise Guy showed up.”
“I’m more worried about the killer. I think the idiot killer is the person who tried to run us off the road today. There’s no telling what he or she might do next.”
She thought about that for a moment. “You’re right, doll.” I think I must have surprised the killer while he was trying to get it off Dickey’s finger. I found an open futso near the body when I walked in and some oil on Dickey’s pinky finger. Thing is, I only went back in the barn to tell Dickey we were through. I was feeling a little guilty over leading him on earlier. Although, now that I know the bastard had a young sweetie, he probably didn’t care one hoot about me. Anyway, whoever it was that did Dickey in was already trying to get the ring off. I just finished the process.