Styled for Murder

by Nancy J. Cohen

  Marla’s eyes widened when she noted the location. “She must live in one of those mansions by the water. I imagine it irked Brad that she had so much money while he was struggling.”

  “Possibly.” Dalton wagged a finger at her. “Be careful what you say and don’t share any details about my case.”

  “Mum’s the word.” She’d stop at the grocery store and pick up some pastries before heading over to Davinia’s house. A quick text message verified the woman was home and would receive her.

  ****

  The sun had risen higher in the sky by the time Marla arrived at the celebrity’s impressive corner estate on the Intracoastal Waterway. She lived at Las Olas Isles, a community with multi-million-dollar mansions and mega-yachts moored at backyard docks.

  Davinia’s residence, a Mediterranean-style structure, looked palatial beyond a private iron gate. Thank goodness she’d called ahead, Marla thought, as she punched in the guest entry code she’d been given. She drove through and followed a palm-lined drive toward the main entrance. At least she’d chosen a royal blue dress to wear with wedge sandals. She would have felt out of place in these posh surroundings in jeans and a casual top.

  She stepped outside of her parked car to survey the property. Multiple towers fronted the sand-painted façade, with marble steps leading up to a set of arched double doors. The second story boasted a balcony with a wrought iron railing. Tropical plants, colorful crotons, and royal palms graced a broad lawn, while the scent of gardenias filled the air.

  A maid in a black uniform and white apron answered the doorbell and led her indoors. Marla paused inside a tiled foyer to gaze in rapture at the interior. Her entire dining room would fit inside this entryway lit by a crystal chandelier. Ahead was a spiral staircase with polished steps and a fancy handrail.

  To the left was a parlor with contemporary furnishings. The formal dining room was on her right. It had a long, rich wood table that must have seated at least twenty people. Silver serving pieces gleamed at intervals on either side of a fresh flower arrangement.

  “This way, please.” The maid gestured for Marla to follow her toward a large open room in the rear. It had floor-to-ceiling windows and a water view. Marla’s glance swept the cream-colored sofas, brick fireplace, and mahogany bar with a granite countertop.

  She sat on one of the couches, careful not to dislodge the collection of throw pillows. Outside the window, she glimpsed a tour boat gliding past. She could imagine the onboard guide describing the residents in the lavish homes that lined the canal. She’d feel as though she were in a fishbowl living here. A rectangular swimming pool glistened off to the side, making Marla wonder where the dock was located. It must be around the corner at the other end.

  Davinia breezed in amid a cloud of perfume. She wore a purple caftan and a turban with a jeweled feather perched atop her head. An amethyst necklace sparkled around her neck and on a large ring around her finger. She greeted Marla with outstretched arms and a grin on her heavily made-up face.

  “Hello, darling, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

  That’s for sure. The actress didn’t look like a woman in mourning for her dead brother.

  “I’m sorry for your loss.” Marla handed over the bakery box in her hands. “Here, I brought you some sweets. I wouldn’t have disturbed your privacy except my errand couldn’t wait.”

  This excuse presented her with the perfect opportunity to ask about Brad’s background and his relationship to Oscar. She’d have to be tactful when approaching the topic.

  “Thank you, I appreciate your support.” Davinia pawned her gift off on the maid and ordered coffee service for her guest. “You said on the phone that you had found my bracelet?”

  Marla dug the item from her bag and handed it over. The diamonds glittered in the sunlight streaming in through the windows. “Is this yours? I found it in the grass after we met yesterday.”

  Davinia pressed a hand to her heart. “Oh Lordy, yes. I thought it was gone for good. You’re an angel for finding it and returning it to me. What can I do to repay you?”

  Tell me everything you know about your brother, Marla wanted to say but didn’t. Instead, she tried a different tact.

  “Like I’d said earlier, I would be interested in doing more work for celebrities. If you can mention my salon to your friends, I’ll be happy. Meanwhile, please tell me about your house. It’s magnificent.”

  The actress smiled, and two tiny dimples appeared in her cheeks. “Thank you. I knew I wanted a place on the water when I decided to move back home. This one became available just at the right time. It has eight full bedroom suites in addition to the master. Each one has its own bathroom, sitting area, and walk-in closet. Do you want a quick tour?”

  “I’d love to see more of the place.” Marla rose, eager for the opportunity to note any items of interest to her husband’s case. Framed family photos, for example, could be revealing. So could a home office. Did Oscar work here, or did he have a place of business elsewhere? She supposed Dalton would be investigating him now and learning more about his background.

  As they passed through various rooms, Davinia spiked the tour with commentary. Marla responded with complimentary remarks. She noted that childhood pictures of Davinia and Brad were disappointingly absent.

  However, fresh flower bouquets decorated nearly every public room. They must account for the heavy floral scent that pervaded the house. Orchid, violet, and lavender blooms predominated. Marla glanced at Davinia’s flowing purple garment. Obviously, she favored this color scheme.

  They passed briefly into a study where cherry wood bookcases lined the walls. Here the actress displayed her trophies along with framed photos of herself on set and at various events. Oscar appeared in a number of them, evidently escorting her to award ceremonies and to premieres related to her acting career.

  One item in a glass case caught her eye. “I can’t believe you kept the red sash from your days as garlic festival queen,” Marla said. “It’s too bad you didn’t get a tiara instead.”

  Davinia smiled. “Darling, I was happy to get that sash along with the ridiculous headdress. I’ve had plenty of other occasions to wear jewels.”

  They moved on to a cozy room with a huge television screen mounted on a wall, brown leather furniture, a wet bar, a billiards table and a fireplace. French doors led outside to a covered patio with a dining set and a complete outdoor kitchen. The open pool glistened off to the side and beyond flowed the Intracoastal Waterway.

  “Your house is perfect for entertaining,” Marla remarked. “Do you host parties often? Or do you prefer a quiet lifestyle when you’re at home?”

  Davinia cast her an amused glance. “I’m not a recluse, if that’s what you mean. I enjoy having friends over.”

  They entered a tiled kitchen with white cabinetry. A stab of envy washed over her. Marla could easily picture herself working at the professional range and washing dishes at the enormous single sink. Tall windows by a breakfast nook would tempt her to linger and watch the boats sail by on the waterway.

  The aroma of brewed coffee reached her nose. On a side counter, the maid placed two delicate bone china cups and saucers on a tray along with a crystal sugar bowl and creamer. Marla’s blood sang for another jolt of caffeine.

  “Come, let’s sit down.” Davinia signaled for Marla to follow her.

  “Your home is gorgeous,” Marla said, claiming her prior seat in the gathering room at the rear of the house. “I love the kitchen. It’s so bright and airy with its water view.” As she glanced out the window, the water taxi chugged past, crossing paths with a motorboat.

  The maid delivered their coffee and a platter with snacks.

  Marla pointed to the glittering garnish on the food. “Is that real gold?” she asked, never having seen such a thing.

  Davinia laughed. “Of course, it is. We made these appetizers for my soiree Saturday evening. This is a fresh sample, though, so you needn’t worry.” Her face grew sad. �
��That was the night before... well, now I’ll be having friends over for a different reason.”

  Marla assumed she meant condolence calls. At least she’d have friends to console her on her brother’s death. Probably Oscar wouldn’t care. He might be relieved the man was out of her hair, especially if the two guys didn’t get along.

  Marla transferred a smoked salmon roll with rice and avocado to her plate. It was coated with gold beads. “Is this safe to eat?” she asked, lifting a fork.

  “Yes, it’s quite all right. Haven’t you heard of edible gold?” Davinia’s eyes crinkled with mirth.

  “Not really.” Marla didn’t socialize in the circles where they served such things.

  “My former husband learned about it when he was stationed overseas in the army. After Craig came home, he started a manufacturing business in Naples. He says gold is biologically inert and doesn’t break down during digestion.”

  “Oh, lovely.” Marla had a distasteful image of the results, especially when she pictured one of Ryder’s diapers with gold flake deposits.

  Erasing that image from her mind, she took a tentative bite of the sushi roll. The beads tasted similar to those gelatinous pearls in fancy drinks. They had no flavor but were smooth on her tongue.

  She passed on the other items. One piece was topped with a translucent white food and sprinkled with gold dust. Was that raw fish? She’d stick to the smoked salmon as a safer bet. Even the turkey mini wraps with fresh raspberries were decorated with gold crumbles. How bizarre. And how typical of the elite who went all out to impress their friends.

  Anyway, she wasn’t here to discuss food, she told herself as she added cream to her cup of coffee and took a sip. At least the drinks hadn’t come with gold sprinkles.

  How could she bring the conversation around to the questions she needed answered about Brad and the manager? She’d better start before they got interrupted. Davinia would still have to make final arrangements for her brother, unless she’d passed that duty along to Oscar.

  The woman had shown few signs of grief during their conversation so far. Was she glad her brother was gone? Or was she still numb and suppressing her sadness through social niceties?

  “I was honored to be part of the garlic festival pageant,” Marla mentioned. “All of the girls were so deserving of the prize. You must have been so excited when you won the title as queen. How did Brad feel about his big sister moving to California when your career took off?”

  Davinia shrugged. “He didn’t care. We were never close. In fact, Brad always resented me because I was Mom and Dad’s favorite. He did things to get attention, but it wasn’t anything good. They tried hard to encourage him, but he was set on the wrong path from the start.”

  “What did he do after high school?”

  “He didn’t go to college. It wasn’t the fast track to success that he wanted. He got odd jobs and ended up in construction.”

  “Is that what he did before establishing Amaze Design Center?”

  “You could say that.” Davinia plucked at her caftan, her face downcast.

  “I have a confession to make. My mother is having her bathroom redone by his company. I did some research, and I couldn’t find much on Brad before he started this business.”

  Marla didn’t want to confess her husband was the detective investigating Brad’s death, or Davinia might throw her out. This was an easier path, especially because it was true.

  Davinia snorted. “You won’t find anything since Brad changed his last name from Quincy to Quinn. He thought it would fool people. His dummy companies sure did.”

  Marla, who’d just taken a sip of coffee, put down her cup with a clatter. “Excuse me?”

  “When things got too hot, Brad jumped ship. He thought I didn’t know about his tricks, but I kept an eye on him. He promised me this time would be different. I should have listened when Oscar told me not to believe him.”

  “Did I hear my name?” The manager strode into the room, a scowl on his face as he took in the scene. “My dear, is this woman upsetting you?”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Startled by the manager’s sudden appearance, Marla could only stare at him. When did he get there? And why would he assume she might be upsetting Davinia? Had he overheard the actress’s comments about Brad?

  She couldn’t help her defensive reply. “I came here to return Davinia’s bracelet that she lost at the pageant yesterday. It fell off and landed in the grass. If you recall, I was at the festival as a hairstylist for the contestants. Davinia mentioned the old days when she won the crown.”

  “Oh, well in that case...” He straightened the bowtie he wore with his slate gray suit. Although his jacket expertly fit his stocky build, in these elegant surroundings he looked more suited to a boxing ring than a drawing room.

  Had Oscar stopped by to help Davinia make funeral arrangements for her brother? As her friend as well as her manager, Marla should have expected him to be there to offer support. If she recalled, he and Davinia had known each other since childhood.

  That meant they hadn’t met in Hollywood when Davinia lived in California. They must have reconnected when she moved back home. Did he have any other clients, or was Davinia his sole means of income?

  “How are you doing, my dear?” he asked the actress. “I came by to assist you with Brad’s memorial plans.”

  Davinia responded with a fond smile. “You’re a sweetheart, Oscar, but I can manage on my own. I don’t think reality has sunk in yet.”

  He moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You may mourn your brother, but he was nothing but an albatross to you.”

  And it’s good you’re rid of him. Oscar didn’t say it aloud, but Marla heard his message loud and clear.

  “Poor Brad, all he ever wanted was our parents’ approval. Being a success meant everything to him.” Davinia’s eyes filled with moisture.

  Marla narrowed her gaze. Were those tears real? Davinia hadn’t evidenced any sorrow during their earlier conversation.

  “Your brother took the wrong path to get there,” Oscar said. “You can forgive him in your heart, my dear. Meanwhile, why don’t you let me save you the trouble of meeting with the mortician? I can handle everything. I’ve cleared your schedule, so you can stay home and avoid the paparazzi.” He stroked her hair, his expression reflecting concern along with something more.

  That’s not all you want to handle, Marla realized. He was soft on his client. Did Davinia return his affection or even realize he felt that way?

  At any rate, Marla’s time here was finished. She wouldn’t get any further information from Davinia with the manager present. The man raised her hackles. He was too much ingrained into Davinia’s life. She seemed to appreciate his attention, but Marla would find his constant presence to be annoying.

  Or was it the other way around? Perhaps Davinia recognized his affection and manipulated him into doing her bidding. Marla shouldn’t discount either one of them from her suspect list.

  She gathered her purse and rose. “Thank you for your hospitality. You know, it might be fun to serve these gold-flecked snacks at my next party. What’s the name of your ex-husband’s company? I’ll look up his website.”

  “It’s called Au-Some Eats.” Davinia spelled it out. “The ‘a-u’ refers to gold’s elemental symbol. Clever, isn’t it? You can buy their products online.”

  “Got it, thanks.” The name sounded rather plebian to her for a line of edible gold. It brought to mind a food truck, not a platter of glittering food for the elite.

  Davinia wagged a finger at her. “If you talk to Craig, tell him I referred you. We still keep in touch.”

  “I’ll do that. Meanwhile, I’d appreciate it if you could notify me about your brother’s memorial service. I’d like to attend to pay my respects.”

  Oscar stiffened, his gaze growing cold. Uh-oh. Did he remember spotting her at Jack’s funeral? “Wait a minute. Aren’t you the woman whose mother is getting her bathroom
redone?”

  “That’s right.” Marla said it as though issuing a challenge. Why should that matter to him?

  “I hope she’s not going to post any bad reviews. The company is in enough trouble already. I’ve been hard-pressed to keep Davinia’s name from being associated with them.”

  Marla stepped back from the sour expression on his face. “My mother will be happy once their project is finished. Any complaints have to do with the delays in getting the job done.”

  Oscar glowered at her. “Things should move along now that the bad eggs are out of the way. I’ll have to ask you to leave. Davinia needs her rest. She has a delicate constitution.”

  Marla sneaked a glance at the actress who appeared anything but delicate. Her eyes held a hard resolve. Did she intend to honor her brother’s memory despite the manager’s enmity toward him? Or was she playing another game?

  After bidding the duo a hasty farewell, Marla departed. She’d ask Dalton to look more closely into Oscar’s affairs. If he’d put all his marbles into one basket, that meant trouble if Davinia’s career faltered. How far would Oscar go to ensure that didn’t happen?

  Once in her car, Marla looked up the ex-husband’s company. His business was located in Naples on Florida’s west coast. She put in a call and a masculine voice answered.

  “Hi, are you Craig Vernon? My name is Marla Vail. I’m a friend of Davinia’s.”

  “What can I do for you?” he asked in a wary tone.

  “She served me some appetizers sprinkled with gold and said you manufacture the product. It’s as awesome as your company name implies. Have you heard the news about her brother?”

  “No. What about him?”

  “I’m sorry to inform you that Brad has passed away.”

  Silence met her pronouncement, while Marla hoped she wasn’t overstepping her boundaries by infringing on Dalton’s investigation. Then again, he had no reason so far to talk to this guy.

  “That’s sad, but what do I have to do with it?” Craig asked, his voice gruff.

  “I’d like to discuss his relationship to Davinia.”