Higgins Hotel

By Carla Coffman

A string of crimes takes people by surprise in the southern coal fields of West Virginia where women struggle to make a living and raise their children. A real estate company receives a helping hand from Higgins Hotel, and racketeering charges are dropped against the owner Jack Higgins. Collateral Damage Control is definitely needed, but the FBI is a poor substitute, and the body count is climbing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524613594

Carla Coffman

Carla Coffman lives in West Virginia with her dog Bubba. She has worked in the real estate and insurance business as well as for environmental protection. This is her second novel.

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2016 Carla Coffman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/08/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-1360-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-1359-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016909493

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

CHAPTER 1

Y ou’ve never seen my bad side, he said.

How strange that he thought I was seeing his good side, but be that as it may, I’ll begin.

Jack Higgins hadn’t aged well except that he still had an exceptional physique for a man of sixty-seven and the stamina of a Pamplona bull. Boxing had done a number on his face, but his wife was still beautiful, and he had plenty of money. He was generous to a fault. Thanks to his childless Aunt Lucy, a wealthy widow, he inherited some prime real estate including Jack’s Gym and Higgins Hotel when he was still in his thirties.

Business was good, but lately Jack had begun sharing space in the crime section of the paper with a bookie named Chuck Floyd, and his wife hauled-ass to Florida to be with her parents and their daughter, Nicki. Affectionately known as Booboo, his wife ran the hotel, and Jack had the gym. She usually went to Florida for a month or so, but this time she left before Thanksgiving and didn’t have any definite plans to return, she said.

Jack visited the family once during the Daytona 500, but that was the extent of their family gathering since she’d left back in November. Jack really wasn’t much of a family man. His passion was Jack’s Gym and coaching boxing.

He usually had breakfast at the hotel and sometimes even spent the night there leaving off to the gym. He enjoyed the company of men, especially Chuck Floyd. Not that he was ACDC, but there’s nothing strange about that, he thought. Chuck was a Golden Glove’s champion and, also, a hell of a bowler, and took them to win the national bowling tournament in Las Vegas the previous year.

With Booboo in Florida Jack began to feel like an orphan in his own establishment. He worried that she wasn’t going to come back. It was not bad enough that he was accused of racketeering, but now she had deserted him. He sat at the counter for breakfast early that morning glancing at the newspaper and thinking of strategy to improve his position.

Damn Booboo. I’m going to have to put my foot down, he said.

As he consumed his usual eggs and bacon with biscuits and gravy breakfast, the waitresses became engaged in a lively discussion. They were used to Jack eating there and talking to himself occasionally and hardly paid him any mind. This particular morning the gossip was flying. His ears perked up as he overheard a couple waitresses laughing together.

Can you imagine? Blossom bent over the bed and Jeff on top of her, and he said ‘I’m changing a lightbulb’. John said ‘well I think the lightbulb is up there.

Susie is mad as hell, the other waitress said. She’ll kick Blossom’s ass.

Jack typically wouldn’t have given it a second thought except that Blossom was the good-looking redhead and built like a brick shit-house. He listened, not quite sure which one was Susie, but he knew Jeff and John in maintenance. Jack drank a second cup of coffee and made up his mind to call Blossom into his office for a chat.

He sat at the desk usually occupied by Booboo looking down at Blossom’s personnel file when she came in and quietly sat down across from him. Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t afford to lose her job right now. She knew everyone was talking about her and Jeff, but it was just Jeff horsing around. Now Susie was pissed at her and possibly she was about to be fired all over Jeff’s ignorant bullshit she silently fumed.

Blossom, Jack said still looking down at her personnel file. I see you graduated from college with a degree in Human Resources Management.

Yes, she said.

My wife has been spending a lot of time in Florida and hasn’t been carrying the work load to which I’ve become accustomed. I just don’t have time to watch everyone around here the way I should. I need someone to take care of things, to supervise. How would you feel about filling her shoes?

He shook his head in exasperation and took a deep breath then looked up and made eye contact with Blossom. Her worried expression changed to relief mixed with disbelief slightly suspicious in a way that made Jack smile. When she grasped that he’d just offered her a job she flashed him back a big smile, and he nearly creamed his jeans.

Can you do it? he asked.

Are you kidding? I’d love to, she said.

I’ll give you a twenty percent raise for the first couple months, then we’ll see, he said and closed the file.

Thank you, Mr. Higgins, Blossom said gratefully.

You can use this office. Be here at nine in the mornings. If I’m not here, call me at this number. It’s my private number so don’t give it out to anyone. You will need to hire another housekeeper right away to take your place. And call me Jack.

He wrote his number down on a piece of paper and handed it to her. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect anything other than a little gratitude from her. It was simply a business decision, and the transition was surprisingly smooth.

After a few days Blossom mentioned that one of the conference rooms was practically never used and wanted to rent it out as office space to a real estate company. They worked out the details with the real estate company. and the glass wall next to the lobby was now populated rather than an empty shell. Then Blossom wanted to hire a Concierge. She could be very persuasive. Jack said to go ahead, but only part-time. He didn’t care for her choice of concierge much as the guy was what Jack would call a ‘fruit,’ but people seemed to like him.

Blossom had initiative and drive, and after a few days Jack started to consider a proper salary for her. He hardly missed his wife anymore, but unfortunately she was still on the payroll and still a pain in his ass.

One afternoon Jack came back to the hotel and showered and shaved there, feeling a little horny. It had been weeks since he’d had sex with a woman. He came into the office and saw Blossom sitting there looking so fine in her pink bubble-knit sweater. He closed the door and locked it. Blossom looked up at him and without saying a word pulled her sweater up over her head revealing a large set of knockers spilling out over a pink lace bra. Her long red hair fell around her white shoulders as she slid off the sweater and tossed it. It was Jack’s lucky day.

It was quick, but no one was complaining. Blossom was as surprised as he was.

Damn, Jack, you are good, she said breathlessly.

Did you think I wouldn’t be? he asked.

I don’t know what I thought, she said, but you’re good. I need a cigarette.

Let’s have a smoke then we can put our clothes back on. We wouldn’t want to start a fire, now would we?

No, we sure don’t want that, Blossom said and giggled.

But all good things must come to an end. One morning after Jack left for the gym his wife came back from Florida unannounced and made her appearance at the hotel. Blossom was sitting behind the desk making up the schedules, and she was startled to see her.

What are you doing? Mrs. Higgins asked standing at the door, dead in her tracks.

Mrs. Higgins! Hello, nice to see you back. I’m the new Human Resource Manager, Blossom said.

Really. Jack must have forgotten to mention that.

Blossom knew Mrs. Higgins could be a bitch sometimes, but she wasn’t going to blow this job if she could help it. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

Men, she said. They can be so forgetful.

Mrs. Higgins’ eyes seemed to go empty and black as she stood there glaring at Blossom. Booboo was petite and always dressed to the nines, tanned with blond hair swept back away from her face and possibly a face lift, Blossom thought.

He’s been busy training a new guy at the gym, Blossom said.

I see. I’ll catch up with you after I speak to Jack. We need to discuss a few things, she said and turned around and walked away.

Blossom dialed Jack’s private number.

Mrs. Higgins is back. Didn’t you tell her about giving me this job?

I’ll call you back, he said and hung up.

CHAPTER 2

J ack didn’t want his wife showing up at the gym so he left and drove home. Her Lincoln was parked in the driveway when he got there. She was slamming cabinet doors when he walked into the kitchen.

I guess I need to go to the grocery store, she said looking into the empty cabinets.

No shit, Sherlock, he said.

Did you promote one of the waitresses to Human Resource Manager?

She was in housekeeping, he said. She has a degree in Human Resources. She’s doing a good job.

I’ll be the judge of that, she said.

Jack really wasn’t in the mood for her sarcasm.

If you want to go to Florida and stay all winter, that’s fine with me, but don’t come back here handing out orders. Someone has to take care of business.

Fine with me, she said. I want a divorce, anyway. Then see how you like it.

Booboo could still see Blossom sitting at her desk looking like the cat that ate the canary… so smug. She was boss at the hotel, and that was one position she hadn’t considered losing.

I don’t have time for your bullshit, Jack said. I’ll fucking kill you if you ever sue me for divorce, do you understand me? And if you can find someone else to eat your pussy, you have my blessing.

He made a sort of religious gesture crossing himself.

You are disgusting, she said. What kind of name is Blossom? Her parents must have been on drugs to name a kid Blossom. She’d have to be retarded to work for you, anyway.

What the fuck is Booboo, Latin or something? Shut the fuck up.

My name is Beulah, asshole, she screamed.

Jack had never hit her or any woman for that matter, but he pulled back his fist and punched her. She fell to the floor before she could blink. Jack leaned over her to see if she was alright, and she slapped him.

You just wait until I tell our daughter what you did.

Jack got ahold of her arm and pulled her up standing her on her feet.

I’m sorry. You know I never did hit you, he said gruffly.

That’s the last time you’ll ever hit me, you rotten piece of shit, she said.

He shoved her back down onto the floor and stretched out on top of her unzipping his fly.

He yanked her pants off while she kicked and slapped at him. He turned her over and took her from behind with one arm around her waist and his other hand over her face. He bit down over her twisted hair and pulled the clip out and spit it across the floor. It slid across the tile making a sharp scratching noise as he moaned and fell to her side then pulled her into his arms. She was silent, unable to move as they lay on the cold kitchen tile.

That’s all you needed, a little attitude adjustment, he said in her ear.

Jack got up without any further comment as Booboo stayed on the floor with her thoughts going back to when they were in marriage counseling early on in their marriage. Jack had started accusing her of trying to poison him. He told her that he was having nightmares about it, and he knew she must want him dead. Finally, she convinced him to go with her for marriage counseling, but it didn’t help. ‘How is your sex life?’ the lady therapist asked them. Jack said that their sex life wasn’t any of her business. The session turned particularly nasty. Jack said he didn’t remember something. Booboo was still on the floor trying to remember what it was that Jack said he didn’t