Anastasia looked startled but recovered. “Would you care for anything?” she asked.
“Coffee, black,” Lisa said.
Ray held up a finger. “Could you make that two, please?”
“As you wish.”
Anastasia escorted them into the parlor where they sat. Three minutes later, Margaret entered in a diaphanous dressing gown. It was open more than it should have been. Her make-up was heavy and a little smeared. She staggered a little before she sat.
Anastasia entered with a tray. She handed the coffees to Lisa and Ray and a champagne flute to Margaret. “Your mimosa, Madam,” she said.
“My third – or fourth,” Margaret said. The raised the glass. “Cheers!”
Anastasia glided from the room like she was on rollers. Margaret looked at her.
“Isn’t she interesting?” she asked. “Like something out of a Dracula movie.”
Lisa and Ray said nothing for a while. Then Lisa asked, “Why did you give us the video?”
“Well,” Margaret said. “Isn’t that something you detectives should figure out?”
“Anything you can tell us would be appreciated,” Ray said.
Margaret’s mouth curled at the edges. She looked at Lisa the way a hungry cat stares at a bird in a cage. “You have to give to get,” she said.
Ray looked from Margaret to Lisa and back.
“What am I missing?” he asked Lisa.
“Nothing, partner,” she said. “But, I think Margaret would be move comfortable telling me some things in private.”
“Precisely,” Margaret said. “You know, Detective Jones, girl talk.”
She stood, took Lisa by the hand, and led her out of the room.
Ray sipped his coffee and waited.
Margaret opened the door to a private study. After Lisa entered, Margaret shut the door and flipped the lock. She let her dressing gown fall open. She was naked underneath.
“Isn’t going to happen, Margaret,” Lisa said. “Not now – not ever.”
“Come on, Detective. We can have a little fun and you will get what you want.”
Lisa drew herself to her full height. “Cut the shit. You can play lesbo seductress all you want, but if you fuck with me on this, I will run you in.”
“Ooooo, will there be handcuffs?”
Lisa laughed despite herself. “You are relentless, you know that?”
“I am indeed.”
Lisa shook her head. “I cannot have sex with you.”
Margaret laughed. “I know,” she said. “I may be total depraved, but I am not an idiot. I just brought you in here to make your partner a little jumpy. I’ll give you what I have, I just want a favor.”
“What?”
“Say something to make him…ah…to give him something to ponder. Let’s just have a little fun.”
“Deal,” Lisa said.
They sat, sipped their drinks, and chatted. Margaret looked at her watch. “Okay,” she said. “That’s thirty minutes.”
She reached into her pocket then handed Lisa another jump drive.
“Remember the deal,” she said.”
“10-4,” Lisa said.
When they got to the parlor, Lisa motioned for Ray. “Time to hit the road, partner,” she said.
As Ray walked by, he said, “What the hell you two been up to?”
“A lady never tells,” Lisa said, “Just know, next time we have to go to a gay bar for information, you’ll be the one putting out.”
Ray’s head snapped. Lisa and Margaret both laughed.
On the way out of the gate, Ray looked over. “You didn’t…really?” he asked.
“Didn’t what?’ Lisa asked, innocence dripping from her voice.
“You know…ah…do…ah…anything?”
Lisa didn’t answer. She just laughed for the next ten minutes.
***
“Good afternoon,” the butler said. “Mr. Adams will be with you shortly.”
After the butler left, Ray turned to Lisa. “Service in this joint sucks,” he said.
“You expected eggs benedict?”
“Well, coffee would have been nice,” he said. “Is it just me or do you look really relaxed?”
“It’s just you,” Lisa said. “Let it go.”
Ray took a breath to say something, but Adams entered the room.
“What do you two want now,” he asked.
“Good to see you too, sir,” Ray said.
Lisa charged into the conversation. “What are your intentions for Yvonne?’ she asked.
“Are you her guardian?” Adams asked.
“Just concerned for someone who does not appear to be capable of making good decisions,” Lisa said.
Adams sighed. “I can assure you, Miss Andrews…”
“Detective Andrews.”
“Sure. Detective Andrews, Yvonne is fully in control of her faculties.”
“We’d like to determine that ourselves.”
Lisa changed tactics. “Ever been married, Mr. Adams?”
Adams scowled. “How is that your business?”
“Simply covering all the bases.”
Silence. The next person who spoke would be in retreat. It was Adams.
“I was. Charlotte is deceased.”
“Sorry for your loss,” Lisa said. “Any children?”
“Your compassion is touching, Detective.” Adams spit out the last word like he had a hair in his mouth. “No, we were not blessed with offspring. Charlotte did not have a maternal bone in her body.” Adams fixed on something outside – lost in thought.
Yvonne walked in. With Old World courtesy, Adams immediately offered her a chair. Yvonne looked rested and refreshed. Her hair glistened. It had been recently colored and highlighted. Her dress was fashionable and fitted.
“Good afternoon, Miss Phillips.” Ray said, extending his hand.
“Detective,” she said. “Nice to see you. I hope I look a little better than the last time you saw me.”
“You look just fine, ma’am. You remember my partner, Detective Lisa Andrews.”
Yvonne nodded. “Good afternoon.”
“Mr. Adams has been reluctant to talk about your relationship. Would you like to get us up to speed?”
“We are to be married,” she said.
At the same time, Lisa and Ray both said, “Congratulations.”
Adams cleared his throat. “Detective Jones, you extend congratulations to the groom…the perspective bride should be given ‘best wishes.’”
“My mistake,” Ray said. “Best wishes, Ms. Phillips.”
“Oh, Fred is such an old fuddy-duddy,” Yvonne said. “I appreciate your best wishes and your congratulations.” She glared at Adams in mock ferocity.
“We’d like to ask you a few questions,” Lisa said.
“And I will answer everything, with your promise of immunity,” Yvonne said.
“Transactional or derivative?” Lisa asked.
“Both,” Yvonne said. “I know the difference.”
Ray pursed his lips. “We can only go so far with a promise like that, Ms. Phillips. If you confess to a murder, we don’t have the power to waive prosecution. That’s up to the District Attorney.”
“I understand,” Yvonne said. “I promise I haven’t killed anyone. But, there may have been some…how do you say it…victimless crimes.”
“Tell you what,” Ray said. “If your information helps with the case and whatever you may or may not have done doesn’t ruffle too many feathers, we can talk the DA into looking the other way.”
Yvonne nodded. “You seem like honorable people. Deal.”
Adams coughed. “Darling, don’t you think we should call my attorney.”
Yvonne put her hand on Fred’s waist. “It’ll be fine, honey,” she said.
“Okay,” Yvonne said. “Based on the events in the hospital, you have probably figured out that I have an alias.”
“Sandra Davis,” Ray said.
“Yes, Sandra Davis.”
“And Sandra Davis is the person with potential legal issues,” Lisa said.
“Yes, under her name, I ran a personal services business.”
“Escort service,” Ray said.
“Let’s be honest, here,” Yvonne said. “It was a one-woman brothel.”
“We appreciate your honesty,” Ray said. “Location?”
“My apartment.”
Lisa leaned forward. “What part did Nicholas have in the operation?”
“None,” Lisa said. “He didn’t know anything about it.”
“How’d you pull that off?”
“Nicholas was always on a trip somewhere playing his music,” Yvonne explained, “I took advantage of that.”
“How did your clients pay?” Lisa asked.
“Cash only.”
“You ever use your real name?” This was Ray.
“God, no! I’m not an idiot!”
“You use Sandra Davis exclusively?
Yvonne made a small face. “Usually, but I let my friends call me whatever they wanted. Fred here preferred to call me Charlotte.”
Ray and Lisa exchanged glances that said “Creepy.”
“We’ll need a list of your clients,” Ray said.
Yvonne reached into her pocket. “Thought you might. You want it now?” She handed it to Lisa who handed it to Ray. He snapped a picture with his phone.
“Are we done?”
Lisa shook her head. “We have a little more,” she said. “Did you know someone was stalking Nicholas?”
The shock on Yvonne’s face was genuine. “A stalker?”
“And what do you know about his friend, Steve Wesley?”
“I know he’s a creep. I know he’s handsy – always brushing up against my chest and stuff. I know he runs a business on the side out of the Morgue.”
“That’s him,” Lisa said.
“What does Steve have to do with any of this?”
“Nicholas told him about the stalker – and he showed Steve this.” Lisa reached into her bag and took out the doll.
“That thing is wearing a nurse’s uniform.”
“Yes.”
Yvonne looked at the doll’s back and fingered the ring. “Does it talk?”
“Yes.”
“May I?”
“If you want.”
“Yvonne belongs to me.”
Yvonne dropped the doll. Her hands shot to her mouth and stifled a scream.
Fred shot out of his chair. “What the hell is wrong with you people,” he said. “This woman has been through hell.”
Hell of her own making, Lisa thought.
Lisa stood. “We’ll give you two a minute.”
She walked into the hall with Ray. “Call a cab. Go to the Station. Look at the new video Margaret gave me. I’ll meet you at the Opera House. We need to look at the crime scene again. There’s something we must have missed.”
Ray nodded and reached for his phone as he headed to the door.
***
Lisa headed back into the room with Adams and Yvonne. “Let’s go over your client list,” she said.
“Okay,” Yvonne said.
“Would you like Mr. Adams to step out?” Lisa asked.
“You’ll notice he’s the first name on the list. He knows everything.”
“Fine,” Lisa said. Bet he doesn’t know everything.
She continued. “There are only seven on this list.”
Yvonne smiled. “I was very exclusive…and very expensive. I made between ten and twelve grand a year.”
“Why did you keep working as a nurse?”
“Cover story,” Yvonne said. “Nichols had no understanding of the real world. When I told him I made over a hundred grand a year as a nurse, he never blinked.”
“Jennifer Lynn’s name is not on here.”
“Jennifer is a … friend,” Yvonne said with a touch of wickedness in her voice. “A very good friend.”
“You are aware she is also a very dead friend?”
For the second time in less than ten minutes, Lisa could tell Yvonne was genuinely shocked. No lead here.
***
Traffic was light on the way to the Station. Ray could feel the adrenaline surging the closer he got. He knew when a case was about to break.
He intentionally did not look at the list on his phone until he sat at his desk. He wanted his mind clear and the NASCAR driver behind the wheel of the cab had made the ride to the Station more than a little harrowing. Ray punched in his passcode and pulled up the list. Seven names.
And the last one made his eyes bulge.
He plugged the flash disk into his computer. Another CCTV video. This time, Jennifer Lynn strutted across the room in a red micro-mini and matching six-inch Jimmy Choos. Her make-up was heavy…her make-up was whorish. She took a phone from her black leather clutch.
“I’m here,” she said.
Ray fast forwarded ten minutes. Yvonne entered the room, black, backless jumpsuit – low neckline – obviously no bra.
“Hey, babe,” Jennifer said. She walked to Yvonne and kissed her. The next fifteen minutes were a porn junkie’s dream. Once they were finished, Jennifer curled up to cuddle. Yvonne stood and began to dress.
“I have something for you,” Jennifer said. She reached for her clutch, then handed a small jewelry box to Yvonne.
Yvonne opened the box and took out a necklace. Ray couldn’t tell what sort of stone dangled from the chain, but it looked expensive.
“You like it?’ Jennifer asked.
“Thank you,” Yvonne said without any emotion or excitement.
“What’s wrong?”
Yvonne bored a hole in Jennifer. Even on tape, Ray could feel the intensity. “We have to stop seeing each other,” Yvonne said.
Jennifer sagged on the bed. “Why?
“You’re getting too clingy, Jessica,” Yvonne said. “Remember, this is supposed to be casual – fun.”
“But, but I love you,” Jennifer said.
“See what I mean. That's the problem.”
“How can that be the problem, Yvonne?” Jennifer reached out. Yvonne moved away.
“It's better this way, for both of us,” Yvonne said.
Jennifer’s hand trembled. She looked up through teary eyes. “I guess the old saying is true.”
“Which one is that, dear?”
“Never fall in love with a whore.”
Yvonne laughed – cold and detached. “If that was supposed to sting, try again. I’m a professional – I don’t get emotional.”
“But, what we had…”
“Was fun. You have skill – at least for an amateur. But, if you thought there was emotion in any of this, you don’t know acting when you see it.”
“Can I ask you something?” Jennifer said. “Did you ever love me?”
“Did I ever tell you that I loved you?”
“You are one, cold bitch,” Jennifer said,
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Come on, Jenny, I have a boyfriend and you're married – where did you really see us heading?”
Jennifer stared at Yvonne.
“I have to go,” Yvonne said and walked over to her. She patted Jennifer on the head. “It’s been fun.” She picked up her handbag and left.
Ray took out his cell phone and sent Lisa a text message.
“Ask her about her relationship with Jennifer Lynn.”
He backed up the file and then collected the case files from his office drawer. Things were becoming clearer, though Ray was still unsure; he needed to check the theory that was forming in his mind.
He walked to the map on the board. He picked up the phone.
“National Weather Service.”
“This is Detective Ray Jones, badge number 2467. I need wind speeds and direction for the following date and coordinates.
”
“Hold please.” There was a two-minute delay. “You check out, Detective. Go for coordinates.”
Ray gave the latitude, longitude, and date. Another delay – this time three minutes.
“Got it, Detective.”
“What took you so long,” he said. “Isn’t all this computerized?”
“It is, but you are about tenth in line – sorry.”
“No problem.”
“Wind speed for the date and location in question was from the northwest at eleven knots.”
“So current on the lake would go…”
“From the northwest to the southeast. You got a floater?”
“We do.”
“Depending on size, your DB should move at about two miles an hour.”
“So, if we found the body on the southeastern shore at 5:00 AM, what does that mean?”
“I’ve got your map here, Detective. Unless the floater was dropped into the water from a boat, it would have been placed in the water somewhere in quadrant 206 about 11:00 PM the night before.”
“That checks out,” Ray said. “Thanks.”
“Happy to help.”
Ray dialed another number.
“City Planning.”
He repeated his name and badge number. “What sort of development is going on in quadrant 206 on the county map?”
“Hang on.”
Another wait. Ray heard the shuffle of papers – obviously a map unrolling.
“Nothing, Detective. That area is heavily wooded – no scheduled for any development at all. It’s a flood plain.”
“Thanks.”
“Any time, Detective.”
Ray checked the load in his service revolver, grabbed his keys from the desk drawer, and headed for the parking lot.
16
Despite herself, Lisa found Yvonne intriguing. How the hell did she make this work? she thought with grudging admiration. The woman is a go-getter.
“Did he ever suspect anything?” Lisa asked.
“If he did, he hid it well.”
“How did you cover it so well?”
“The best place to hide something is in plain sight,” Yvonne answered. “My phone never had a password, I left my bank statements all over the house. I never looked at anything. I was simply the perfect girlfriend.”
“Ever have a clingy client?” Lisa asked.
“Occasionally. It was tough because I worked out of my home. But, if someone came by unannounced, they never did it more than once. If they broke my rules, I cut them off. “
Family Ties Mystery Series Box Set Page 41