Styled for Murder

by Nancy J. Cohen

  Marla debated which thread to follow first and chose to follow up on her most recent conversation. “I had a chat with Caroline at the design center. She’s worried about her job, and so is Nadia. They’re concerned about what will happen to the business.”

  Davinia’s lips formed a pout and her forehead creased. “I’ll have to get in touch with them. Brad left small bequests for both women. Everything else goes to me. I’m not sure yet what I’ll do with the company. Oscar says it’s a burden I don’t need. He’s probably right.”

  I would agree, but do you accept everything your manager tells you?

  Marla walked over to the marble mantelpiece adorning a brick fireplace. Framed signed photos of celebrities graced its surface. Friends of the actress? She hadn’t heard of most of them, but then she never watched daytime television.

  “Amaze Design Center had a lot of suppliers,” she mentioned. “As Brad’s beneficiary, would you be responsible for any debts he left? I don’t understand the legalities.”

  “There shouldn’t be any unpaid bills,” Davinia retorted, her voice bitter. “I made sure of that.”

  “Oh yes. I heard about your secret donation from Caroline. I also learned how you repaid my stepfather when he lost money to Brad and Jack’s scam in the past. It was generous of you to help your brother make amends each time.”

  Marla figured a personal story might help to ease the sudden tension that had sprung up between them. “I helped my own brother once when he ran into financial problems. He’d made some bad investment choices, and his clients wanted to cash out. I gave him the means to make restitution. He’s been doing well ever since.”

  Davinia moved over to stroke a statue on a pedestal. It looked to be an Asian figurine cast in jade. “Brad promised me he would go straight. Oscar warned me not to believe him, and I should have listened.”

  Marla nodded her agreement with this advice. “Caroline told me Brad was running another scam with Amaze Design Center. He took the final payment from customers and wired the money to his personal offshore account. Then he’d use the next deposit to cover his bills. If his dirty dealings came to light, it could have dragged your name through the scandal sheets. Who might have wanted to stop him to protect you?”

  Davinia pressed a hand over her chest. “What are you saying?”

  “There’s one person who is always looking out for you. It must irk him that you keep shelling out money to save your brother.”

  “I hope you’re not implying Oscar had anything to do with Brad’s death. If so, that’s the most preposterous thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “Is it? How well do you truly know him?”

  Davinia glared at her. “Oscar wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. I might not have approved of Brad’s ways, but he was still family.”

  Something clicked in Marla’s mind as her gaze came to rest on the statue Davinia had touched earlier. The jade statue. Its green shade was a mite duller than the gown Davinia had worn when she’d won the pageant. Marla recalled the photo in the actress’s study. A red sash of honor had been draped over her sequined emerald evening gown. Christmas colors... same as Reed’s necktie fastened around Jack’s throat.

  “Did I hear my name?” Oscar strode into the room, a scowl on his face. He wore his customary bowtie with a suit that stretched across his stocky form.

  What’s he doing here? Has he been eavesdropping? Marla’s hackles rose even as warning bells clamored in her mind.

  She glanced toward the front door, hoping Dalton would get there soon. The maid seemed to have vanished, and the three of them appeared to be alone.

  “Marla has said the most ridiculous things,” Davinia told him. “She implied you did away with Brad to avoid a scandal.”

  Oscar’s lip curled. “You’re too soft, Davvy. We’ve been down this path before. It was in your brother’s nature to scheme and exploit people’s weaknesses. He lied to you about going straight.”

  “That’s not true. He only needed another chance.”

  “Come now, surely you aren’t so naïve. He’d always be a blight on your life. I took care of him for you.”

  Davinia gasped. “What are you saying?”

  Marla pointed at him. “You’re the person responsible, aren’t you? You killed Brad.”

  Oscar swung his gaze her way and snarled. “Of course, it was me. Who else did you think would protect Davvy’s career?”

  How would he react if his client appeared unappreciative? Marla stepped back, not wanting to find out. Would Oscar hurt the woman he loved? How about her?

  She scanned the room for an escape route. Oscar stood between her position and the door.

  “You’re not leaving. You know too much,” he told her, apparently guessing her intent. “You should have stopped asking questions when you had the chance.”

  He returned his attention to Davinia. “I thought the garlic garland around Brad’s neck was a nice touch, didn’t you? I’d meant it to remind you of your reign as festival queen.”

  Davinia’s face paled. “How could you? Brad was my brother.”

  “Someone had to look out for you. It wasn’t the first time, either. You should be grateful, my dear. I’ve always had your best interests at heart.”

  Davinia recoiled from him as she would from a snake. “W-What do you mean that it wasn’t the first time?”

  While his focus centered on Davinia, Marla considered what she might use as a weapon. She could swing her cross-body purse at him if she had the opportunity. Was there anything inside she could use to defend herself? She had a mini can of holding spray and the jar of gold crumbs Craig had given her. But she’d have to get close enough to Oscar to aim at his eyes with either one.

  Meanwhile, another idea came to mind, and she fumbled in her bag for her cell phone. She speed-dialed Dalton’s number and left her purse partially open.

  “Tobias became a liability,” Oscar admitted to Davinia. “You do know why, don’t you?”

  “Who?” Davinia shook her head, confusion mixed with horror in her eyes.

  “The guy who worked as a permit inspector for your brother’s company. He was taking bribes from Jack Laredo. I knew him from way back in high school. Don’t you remember him? Tobias was on the city council then. He was the special guest of honor when you entered the pageant that started your career. Even then, he was amenable to making a quick buck.”

  Davinia gasped. “No, Oscar. You couldn’t have—”

  “I was in love with you, you know. So I did what I had to do for you to be happy. Tobias was the person who tabulated the ballots and announced the winner. Tears came to my eyes as I watched you accept the crown. Do you recall the emerald gown you wore? I’ll never forget how regal you looked.”

  “You bribed Tobias to announce me as the winner? You cheated?” Davinia shouted. “How could you betray me like that? You’re worse than my brother. At least he tried to do better!”

  Oscar stiffened as he faced her. “You never got the message I meant for you after I got rid of Jack.” He reached for Davinia, but she eluded his grasp. “The tie I wrapped around Jack’s neck was emerald, like your gown that day. The color brought out the beautiful Irish green of your eyes. The red stripes represented the royal sash you wore as garlic queen.”

  Marla couldn’t help the inadvertent cry that left her lips. “So I was right to relate the tie to the beauty pageant. You’d hoped to catch Davinia’s attention, while at the same time casting blame on my stepfather.”

  Oscar rounded on her, his muscles budging inside his suit. Marla realized the killer didn’t need military training or martial arts schooling to learn how to kill someone with his hands. There was probably a video online. They’d been looking at all the wrong places for the murderer.

  His mouth twisted into a sneer as he regarded her, his eyes filled with malice. “I meant it as a message to Davvy, but nobody released that detail from the detective’s office. Same as the garlic garland. I’d hoped Davvy would remember how I ha
d supported her at the festival. Maybe she’d appreciate me more if she knew how hard I worked behind the scenes to keep her safe.”

  “I don’t understand. Why kill Jack?” Marla asked, needing to understand his motives. She wished Davinia would edge toward the exit while she kept Oscar talking, but the actress seemed frozen in place. Davinia stared at Oscar with a horrified glaze in her eyes.

  Oscar shrugged as though telling Marla anything at this point wouldn’t matter. “Jack found out about the bribe when Tobias blabbed about his connection to a famous actress. Tobias knew she was judging the upcoming contest and that it was a big deal to the town. Jack used this information to attempt to blackmail Davvy. When she told me about it, I knew I couldn’t let him threaten her future. Her entire career had been based on a lie.”

  “So you did away with Jack?” Marla said to keep him talking until Dalton had time to get there. She hoped he could hear their conversation and had called for backup.

  “I followed him that morning. When I realized where he was headed, I parked around the corner and waited for him in your mother’s backyard.”

  “What about Tobias? Did you kill him too?” She cast a glance at Davinia, who looked about to pass out. Could she rouse the woman enough to resist Oscar if he attacked one of them?

  Oscar snarled. “Tobias was a loose end. Not only had he been bragging about his role in Davvy’s success, but he’d kept the original ballots from the contest she had won. He could prove she wasn’t the winner and might get the same idea as Jack to extort money from her. It was convenient how he had a propane gas tank at his home and mentioned his family would be out of town for a few days.”

  “So it was you who planted evidence in Pete Ferdinand’s work shed?” she said.

  His chest puffed out. “That’s right.”

  “I can understand you going after Tobias and Jack, but not Brad,” she said, wishing the maid would return. Oscar might decide to spring at her at any moment. She edged toward the door, but he still blocked the exit.

  “Unfortunately, Brad’s latest scam would have caused a scandal if it came to light. Davvy kept providing funds to bail him out. It had to end.”

  “So you killed him, too? You figured to get rid of all the bad eggs so you and Davinia could live happily ever after?”

  Davinia finally recovered her composure to respond. “Oscar, how can you think I’d condone these horrible things you’ve done? You may have been my friend, but there can never be anything more between us.”

  His narrowed gaze swung toward her. “You don’t know your own heart, my dear.”

  “On the contrary, my eyes have been opened. Please get out of here. Now.” Her voice trembled and her lower lip quivered but she stood her ground.

  Oscar’s gaze darkened, and he stepped toward her. “You ungrateful bitch. If I can’t have you, no one will. Especially after all I’ve done for you...”

  In two long strides, he reached Davinia’s side. He grasped her arm, twirled her around, and caught her in a choke hold.

  Davinia lifted her foot to stomp on his instep, but he was too far back. She gave Marla a wild-eyed glance. Marla stood paralyzed, afraid in the next instant he’d snap Davinia’s neck.

  Regret enveloped her for not listening to Dalton. Surely, she’d be next.

  Or not. She wasn’t about to leave her son without a mother. Determination flooded her and gave her strength.

  She grabbed the jade statue Davinia had touched earlier, bounded toward Oscar, and smashed the weighty object down on his head with all her might.

  A crunch sounded, followed by a grunt. Oscar tumbled to the floor.

  Davinia spun away, doubling over with gasping breaths. Marla stood there holding the jagged remains of the statue while Oscar moaned on the floor.

  Banging noises sounded from the front door followed by repeated rings of the doorbell. Marla heard footsteps as the maid rushed to answer. Where had she been when Oscar threatened them?

  Marla’s knees buckled as Dalton’s familiar voice answered. “Police. Open up! Keep your hands in front where I can see them and stand aside.”

  A moment later, Dalton burst into view, his gun drawn. Upon spying the scene, he stashed his weapon and cuffed the man down.

  “Are you alright?” he asked, casting Marla a frantic glance.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Did you hear our conversation?” Marla remembered her cell phone and pushed the end button to disconnect their call. Sirens sounded in the distance.

  “I did, but I’ll still need your formal statements. Backup is on the way. We’ll get this guy secured and then you and I will have a talk.”

  Marla swallowed, imagining his admonishment that she should have waited for him to join her before entering the house. But all was well. She and Davinia were alive. The bad guy was caught. What else mattered?

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Marla couldn’t believe it was Mother’s Day. So much had happened recently that she had trouble keeping the dates straight. But here she was, on the way to Anita’s house for a catered brunch with the entire family. As Dalton drove, she twisted her neck to regard Brianna in the back seat playing with Ryder. She’d miss the teen when Brie left for college at Boston. They only had a couple of precious months together before her departure.

  She’d suggested they all meet at a restaurant, but with the baby, this was actually easier. She could put Ryder down for a nap at her mom’s place after lunch. And Michael’s two kids would have somewhere to run around.

  Once they arrived, Dalton carried their gear into the house while Marla began a round of greetings. She gave her mother a tight embrace. In the interim, Anita had come down to the salon for a makeover. She’d wanted to change her white pixie cut for a longer, layered style with a golden blond tint. Marla loved the results and knew it reflected Ma’s lightened heart.

  Reed gave her a tight squeeze and murmured words of gratitude into her ear. He smelled of musk aftershave and wool.

  “Now we can move on and celebrate all the good things coming up,” he said as they stepped apart. He smiled at her with fond affection, and her heart warmed. She hoped Reed, once he felt fully integrated into the family, would become a mentor to her.

  His sons had joined them for the occasion. She greeted the guys, whom she’d met at several family events. Only one of them was married with kids, and Marla waved to the wife who sat on the floor watching their children, including Marla’s niece and nephew. She eased Ryder from her arms so he could join them on the carpet strewn with toys and building blocks.

  Michael and Charlene came over to exchange hugs. She’d expected the latter to be aloof, but Charlene’s embrace was warm and friendly. Michael gave his sister an extra pat on the back. His broad grin made her wonder what had transpired between them. She wouldn’t get the chance to ask until later, after she’d put Ryder down for his nap.

  Everyone took seats at the extended dining table at mealtime and dug into the food that had been delivered. Marla fed Ryder in his highchair.

  “Your bathroom looks great,” Michael told their mother, spearing a tomato slice with his fork.

  “Thanks, we love the results.” Anita scraped polish-tipped fingers through her hair. Marla still wasn’t used to her new look but really liked it.

  “Despite the problems, I think the shower came out well,” Marla said. “That tile guy is very talented.”

  “Lenny Brooks was glad to finish this job and run off to his next project. Did I tell you I hired my former rabbi to come by and say a prayer for the dead man’s soul?” Anita passed the potato salad to Reed. “It was the only way I’d feel comfortable using the shower. Now with a blessing given to send Jack’s spirit on its way, we can go back to normal.”

  “Jack should be at peace now that we’ve identified his killer,” Reed remarked, his appetite obviously not affected as evidenced by his hearty portions.

  “Nice tie.” Marla pointed to his blue and red accessory.

  His mouth twisted. “I can�
��t believe Davinia’s manager used my necktie as a message of devotion to her.”

  Dalton jabbed a finger in the air. “Oscar was delusional about her feelings for him. He claimed he did it all out of love to protect her, but she didn’t return his affection that way.”

  “I can see how it would cause a scandal to reveal she’d never truly won the pageant,” Brianna piped in. “Daddy discovered a manilla envelope in Tobias’s belongings with the original ballots. Would you believe he’d held onto them after all this time?”

  “Davinia must be upset,” Anita said, her tone sympathetic as she brushed a strand of hair off her face. “Her brother is dead. Her manager is in jail. And she wasn’t the real winner of the contest that launched her career. What will she do now?”

  “Her show is still popular. She wasn’t to blame for anything that happened,” Marla said. “The worst of it might be a swell of publicity. Isn’t that what celebrities want, whether good or bad? Nonetheless, she must feel lonely. Did I tell you she asked me to do her hair for an upcoming awards ceremony? Maybe I’ll send her a gift certificate to our day spa.”

  “That would be generous of you,” Dalton said with an approving nod.

  “I spoke to Hannah, who was Jack’s ex-girlfriend. She was relieved to know an arrest had been made. Her brother Stuart admitted he’d had words with Jack, threatening to expose his criminal past unless he left Hannah alone. She’d been afraid Stuart had done something violent but that wasn’t the case.”

  “Isn’t she pregnant?” Dalton asked.

  “Yes, and she has come to terms with it. She’s happy to have Jack’s child and considers it a legacy to remember him by. She loved him despite his flaws.”

  Brianna stuffed a piece of spinach and cheese quiche into her mouth. “Enough about killers and their motives already. Let’s change the subject. I can’t wait until school is over. In the meantime, prom is next weekend.”