Murder at the Bomb Shelter

by Lee Strauss

  “Do you play?” Larry asked.

  “No, not at all. I’ll admit I find it boring. My father is a big enthusiast, though.”

  “I’m not sure I see the appeal.” He shrugged his shoulders.

  Rosa, eager to promote the intricacies of her home country, added with a note of triumph,

  “We have a queen.”

  “Oh yeah, I heard y’all had a queen. What happened to the King?”

  “Sadly, he passed away.”

  “So, the Queen is not married?” Larry looked incredulous.

  “Oh yes, she’s married to the Duke of Edinburgh.”

  “Edinburgh! Why even a good ol’ boy like me from Galveston knows that Edinburgh is in Ireland, not in England.”

  Rosa’s hand flew to her mouth to suppress a giggle. She didn’t want him to think she was making fun of him. “Actually, it’s in Scotland,” she finally managed. She cut a piece off her steak.

  “Aha, so he’s Scottish.”

  “He was born in Greece.” She lifted the piece of steak to her mouth.

  “Greece? Well, how in the blue thunderin’ heaven did a Greek man get to be a Duke of Edinburgh when he was born in a place where they’ve never even heard of bagpipes? I heard they dance on tables and play those bazooka guitars in Greece, for crying out loud.”

  “Bouzouki,” Rosa corrected, waving her fork at him and grinning.

  “Good golly, that guy must be luckier than a skinny turkey at Thanksgivin’.”

  Rosa’s laughter filled her voice as she tried to explain. “His title when he was born was Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark.”

  Larry threw up his hands. “No wonder they didn’t let him be king. He’s already taken over most of Europe. Man, I have to meet this guy.”

  The twinkle in Larry’s eyes told Rosa that he’d been pulling her leg about his lack of knowledge of the “old world”, but she enjoyed hearing his down-home perspective of the royal family and the state of affairs in jolly old England. Rosa hadn’t had a good laugh like this in a long time.

  Larry Rayburn was charming in a disarming way. Rosa enjoyed hearing him describe, with love, his parents and his older sister and his affection for his home state of Texas. Rosa had never been there, but after tonight, she knew she wanted to visit there one day.

  Larry seemed genuinely interested in everything about her. He’d hung on every word as she relayed her sojourn in America when only a child. He’d expressed astonishment at her position as a police officer in London, especially for a woman. Larry was truly impressed.

  In turn, Rosa admired Larry’s brave struggle out of a lower-class family and to becoming the top graduating student at a medical school in Los Angeles.

  The time flew by, and before Rosa knew it, they were starting on a wonderful apple pie dessert, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Rosa had just popped the first delicious morsel into her mouth when she looked up and saw Miguel Belmonte walk onto the patio.

  Her heart felt as if it had just headed downward on an out-of-control Ferris wheel.

  Wearing a casual polo shirt and a pair of double-pleated trousers, Miguel looked like he’d come straight from a LIFE magazine shoot.

  Miguel’s fiancée, a stunning platinum blonde, had her arm hooked into his. Rosa instantly recognized the aspiring actress, Charlene Winters, and the speed and strength of her jealousy hit her hard. Her history with Miguel was still very much a part of her, it seemed, and she was greatly annoyed at that revelation. She was having a beautiful evening with a handsome and charming man, yet a glimpse of her teenage sweetheart with another woman had her mind swirling.

  Larry, with his back to Miguel, was oblivious to Rosa’s new turmoil. Her mind raced. She needed a plan to escape. The ladies’ room was across the restaurant, and she couldn’t get there without traipsing in full view of Miguel and Charlene.

  She took a long sip of her wine, nearly finishing the glass.

  Por todos los santos!

  Rosa silently chastised herself. She needed to steady her emotions before either Larry or Miguel could read her mind.

  It was fine. Everything was fine. She was on a date with Larry, which Miguel already knew about, and Miguel was with Charlene. She and the aspiring actress had briefly met before, and Rosa couldn’t fault the lady’s manners. She was gracious and delightful and, Rosa thought uncharitably, not at all threatened by Rosa’s presence in Miguel’s life.

  The thought of meeting like this felt intolerably awkward. But then, why should it be uncomfortable? Rosa was on a date, and Miguel was with his betrothed. What could be simpler and more natural? And yet, the thought of them seeing each other and small talking made her palms dampen and her teeth clench.

  Rosa watched out of the corner of her eye as Miguel and Miss Winters were led to a corner table, and for an instant, she thought she might get off scot-free. She would suggest to Larry it was time for them to leave, and if they kept their backs to the corner—

  “Well, look at that,” Larry proclaimed. “There’s Detective Belmonte.”

  He waved at the couple, and Miguel, when he caught Larry’s eye, waved back. Rosa was mortified. She felt her mouth form a fake smile as she finger-waved at Miguel, but she knew the rest of her face was not cooperating. Charlene Winters stared at Rosa with an expression that suggested that Rosa should make her exit.

  Rosa thought the worst was over, and each couple could continue with their evening, but Miguel had to ruin it by rising from his seat and walking over. Rosa supposed it was natural, since Miguel and Larry often worked together, and were on friendly terms.

  Miguel, holding his hat in his hands, said smoothly, “Good evening, Rosa. Larry. How was your dinner?”

  “Terrific,” Larry answered. “And good to see you. Twice in one day!”

  “Yes, and Rosa as well. I take it you were able to wrap things up with your client?”

  “I was hired to find a missing man,” Rosa said, “which I did, and then to explain to the family what I think happened.”

  Miguel stared at her pointedly. “I’d be interested in knowing what you think happened.”

  “Actually, I plan to come to the precinct tomorrow morning. I don’t have anything urgent.” She looked at Larry. “And nothing of import until the autopsy report is complete. Besides, you and Detective Sanchez were at the same scene. I doubt that I found anything that you two did not.”

  “I’d still like to hear your opinion.”

  “Say,” Larry said, changing the subject, “let’s cease with work for the evening. Miguel, why don’t you bring your date over here and share a drink with us? I don’t think I’ve officially met her. Is she your fiancée?”

  Rosa felt sweat bead on her brow. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said without looking either man in the eye, “I need to use the ladies’.”

  The heat of mortification burst in her chest as she pushed through the door of the ladies’ restroom. Her departure had been noticeably abrupt and not at all ladylike. She could only imagine what Larry and Miguel must be thinking.

  Taking deep breaths, Rosa eyed her reflection in the mirror and pouted at the round red blotches that had formed on her cheeks. Using a handkerchief dampened with cold water, she patted her face, talking herself down as she did. Miguel and Larry were too involved in their conversation to notice how it had affected her. They were both too focused on Charlene Winters sitting gracefully, her dramatic beauty on display, to notice Rosa’s discomfiture at Larry’s impromptu invitation. She just had to pull herself together and return to her table as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, as if she hadn’t just gotten run over by an emotional dump truck. She would put her shoulders back and face Miguel and Charlene like it didn’t matter to her one iota, not even if Miguel put an arm around Charlene or showered any affection on her.

  Rosa was suddenly short of breath. She couldn’t do it. She just simply couldn’t.

  The horror didn’t end there. The door of the ladies’ pushed open and who shoul
d walk in but Miss Winters herself.

  “Oh, hello,” Miss Winters said, looking confident and tremendously fashionable in her black-and-white striped swing dress. A black hat sat at an angle on her perfectly styled hair; the attached veil covered her eyes, making her look mysterious and glamorous. She stared at Rosa through the reflection of the mirror. “I thought you’d left.”

  “No, just decided to freshen up.” Rosa opened her purse and removed a lipstick. Her pale lips needed a touch-up, but Rosa also didn’t want to dash out and give Miss Winters the impression that she was intimidated.

  Even if she was a bit.

  Miss Winters did the same, topping off her already luxuriously red lips. Quite unnecessarily, Rosa thought, which made her think that Miss Winters had known Rosa was in the restroom. Had she felt it necessary to warn Rosa off? Perhaps, underneath all that glam, she was feeling a mite intimidated herself.

  Rosa faced her and forced a smile. “I know you are Detective Belmonte’s fiancée, but we’ve never been formally introduced. I’m Rosa Reed.”

  “Charlene Winters,” Miss Winters returned. “I’ve heard a lot about you. The famous lady detective from England.”

  “I wouldn’t say famous,” Rosa said, “but I’ve worked with the Santa Bonita Police Department in the past as a consultant.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I hear you’re an actress.”

  Miss Winters’ eyes brightened. “I’ve just got cast in a movie that’s going to be made here in Santa Bonita. Miguel and I will be able to see each other more often.” She pushed out her lower lip. “It’s been so difficult with me living in Los Angeles.”

  Rosa commiserated, “I imagine it would be. How did you and Miguel meet?”

  “Oh, it’s such a funny story. I was on vacation with my family, the beach here is so quaint, and my father’s car was broken into. He summoned the police, and it was Miguel who attended us. I was immediately smitten with those dimples, you know? And Father was so grateful. Later, we bumped into each other at the Chug Away Diner.” Charlene leaned in and lowered her voice as if they were conspirators. “In truth, I followed Miguel there and made him think it was accidental. He invited me to join him, and as they say, the rest is history.”

  Rosa blinked back at the pain gripping her heart. “How nice. And what will you do once you’re married? Will you give up acting and move to Santa Bonita?”

  Charlene chortled. “Oh no, honey. A movie star has to live in L.A. Miguel can transfer to the city.”

  Miguel had never mentioned a plan to move back to Los Angeles, but Rosa supposed he wasn’t obligated to reveal his future intentions to her.

  “My father thinks I’m going through a phase.” Miss Winters pulled on the handle of the restroom door and stared at Rosa over her shoulder. “He’s not happy that I’m marrying a cop, especially an immigrant. But he’s mistaken.” She smiled with a glint in her eye. “And I love proving my father wrong.”

  8

  Rosa had a fitful sleep filled with blasted dreams of Miguel—he was always dressed in his army uniform, his dark hair short against his scalp, and inevitably the dream ended with them walking through the park saying a heart-wrenching goodbye. It always took her half a day to recover, and by the time Rosa got to her office in the morning, she was still emotionally drained.

  Diego claimed his spot on one of the chairs in the stream of light coming through the window. He licked his paw and wiped his forehead, more times than Rosa thought necessary, then curled into a ball, his furry stomach exposed, and closed his eyes.

  How lovely it must be to be a cat!

  On her way to work that morning, Rosa had stopped at the bank and deposited the check from Janet Gainer. She should be celebrating her first paycheck and supposed she was doing just that the night before until Miguel’s arrival had ruined it.

  She shook her head to free her thoughts of him.

  What she needed was a new client to focus her attention on. Rosa glared at the telephone sitting silently on her desk and huffed. The phone wasn’t about to ring with another job just because she stared at it.

  Pushing away from her desk, she glanced at her kitten who, with his big green-blue eyes, watched her.

  “It’s awfully quiet, isn’t it, Diego?”

  He continued to stare without blinking, his expression quite clearly unconcerned with Rosa’s unease.

  “Perhaps I should buy a radio with my earnings. I think I’ll go and do that at once. You’ll be all right here for a little while.” Diego had food, water, and a litter box and could sleep just as well in her office as in her satchel.

  Rosa had just grabbed her purse when a knock sounded at the door. Before she could invite her caller in, the door sprang open. Rosa hoped she held in her shock at seeing Mr. Orville Gainer standing in the doorway.

  “Mr. Gainer?”

  Orville Gainer stepped into her office. “Miss Reed.”

  Rosa motioned to the chairs not occupied by a brown tabby cat now sprawled out on his back in a most undignified manner. “Please have a seat.”

  “I’ll stand if you don’t mind. I won’t be long.”

  Rosa clasped her hands in front of her. “Very well. What can I do for you?”

  Mr. Gainer steadied his piercing blue eyes on her. “Have you already gone to the police?”

  Even though she’d told Miguel she’d come to the precinct that morning, she hadn’t felt emotionally fortified enough to do it yet. Though now, she was curious about the burr in Mr. Gainer’s side. It was something big enough to have him come to her office alone.

  Before she could answer, Mr. Gainer plowed on. “You should know that the authorities will get no cooperation from anybody in my family. I will see to it that the police will find themselves stonewalled by everyone they interview. Each one will have a solid alibi. Each and every one will be accounted for. It will be an unassailable wall, stronger than Fort Knox. Let the police knock on our door, but no one will answer.”

  “You know there are laws against that kind of thing,” Rosa said. “Concealment of evidence, lying to the police, obstruction of justice.” She raised an eyebrow in question. “Are you sure you want those kinds of charges leveled against members of your family? And as I see it, you would be on the top of the list to be subpoenaed, Mr. Gainer.”

  “I am not afraid of the police, and I am willing to take that chance. Besides, I am confident they won’t get very far.”

  What on earth was hiding under the rugs at the Gainer household?

  “If that Mexican detective gets too close, he will suddenly find himself looking for employment.” He cocked his head to one side and nodded knowingly.

  A pit formed in Rosa’s belly. “What exactly are you implying?”

  “Let’s just say that I have friends seated in high places in this town and this county. Detective Belmonte won’t even know what hit him.”

  Rosa held her breath. Mr. Gainer knew Miguel was on the case.

  Her caller narrowed his eyes in a way that made Rosa feel like she was being carefully studied by a cobra ready to attack. “I’ve done my homework on you, Miss Reed. I know that Mr. Belmonte once meant a great deal to you.”

  Rosa’s mouth fell open. Heat exploded in her chest, burst up her neck and across her cheeks. How dare this man! How could he?

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “It turns out that certain letters meant for you were returned to sender. However, the sender, Mr. Belmonte, or Private Belmonte, as he was known at that time, was no longer stationed in Santa Bonita.” His lined lips turned up crookedly. “I’m good friends with the postmaster, you could say.”

  Mr. Gainer raised a wrinkled palm. His eyes softened, and suddenly, he was everybody’s benign grandfather. “I feel that you and I have gotten off on the wrong foot, Miss Reed. Believe it or not, I do want Dieter’s murder to be solved. I won’t allow murderers to be counted among the Gainer clan; I just don’t want the police involved.”

&n
bsp; Rosa finally found her voice. “I’m not sure how I can be of service.”

  “You impressed me last night, Miss Reed. It’s not often that I’m impressed. I want to hire you to lead the investigation.”

  Rosa was about to refuse but then hesitated. If she didn’t take the case and solve the murder, Miguel was sure to take it on. If he lost his job, it could cost him his career. He’d have to leave Santa Bonita…

  “I’ll need full cooperation from every family member,” she finally said.

  “Done.”

  “And you realize that if I find the killer, I have to share my evidence with the police. Only they can make an arrest and make a conviction stick.”

  “I understand,” Mr. Gainer said. “But you only have to submit evidence that pertains to the murder. Any peripheral information would be kept in-house.” He looked her straight in the eye. “If in your investigation, you find that the killer is not part of our family, I would invite you to leave the case, and let the police handle the investigation. That is as long as they don’t think one of us did it, of course. In other words, if someone from outside our family killed Dieter, then I have very little concern about it, but if someone from within our family did it, I want to know who that is first, even before the police.”

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible. You might make a way for the killer to escape justice.” Rosa did not doubt that Orville Gainer was powerful enough to do so. “And I definitely can’t condone vigilantism.”

  “Very well,” Mr. Gainer said after a moment’s pause. “But you can keep me updated as you go. Correct?”

  “Yes, I can do that.”

  “I suppose that will have to do.”

  “I’ll also need access to financial records from you and any businesses that are under your influence.” Rosa held Mr. Gainer’s gaze. He hadn’t reckoned on that, she thought. “And I want immediate priority for interviews with anyone in the family. Is that clear?”

  “As a bell.”

  Orville Gainer turned to leave, but paused. “Miss Reed, you might want to look into those crazy conspiracy theorists in town. Dieter spent more time with them than he did his own family. I wouldn’t be surprised if one nut turned on another.”