Killer Party

by Lynn Cahoon

  He stopped at the couch and kissed me, then picked up the book I’d laid on the table. “I should have known what you’d spend your free evening doing. This any good?”

  “Excellent.” It was a thriller and I knew Greg had liked the author’s last book. “You should read it.”

  “Maybe I will. I’ve had some free time lately, especially with you going back to school. I get a little lonely here with Emma by myself.” He sat next to me.

  “Yeah, especially on nights you don’t have some sort of game to watch.” I pointed at the television. “I didn’t think that television even knew such games of skill existed. We were more of a romantic comedy house before you moved in.”

  “Totally, not true. I watched games over here a lot before I moved in. The television loves it when I’m in control of the remote.” He bent his head back over the couch and sighed. “I’m beat. I hate it when the lawyer thinks he has to put on a show for his client. I wanted to tell the guy that it wasn’t up to me when he got released, it was the judge who had left him stewing all day while he did eighteen holes. But that would have gotten me into hot water with the DA.”

  “Sounds like hell.” I didn’t envy Greg’s job. A lot of it was being political. “So who was the big shot, you going to tell me?”

  “I am.” When he saw the shock I felt register on my face, he laughed. “Don’t get your hopes up, it wasn’t someone famous.”

  “I’m just surprised you’re going to tell me.”

  He ran his hand through his hair. “It might have something to do with Levi’s death. Well, not really, but it was a fallout from the death.”

  Now he had me totally confused. “What?”

  “The guy is some big shot nightclub developer. I guess Levi had set up a meeting with him for this weekend and when he heard Levi was gone, well, he started drinking.” Greg brushed Emma hair off my yoga pants. “I heard he’s an angry drunk, especially when a multi-million-dollar deal goes south.”

  “So Levi was planning on turning The Castle into some exclusive club. I don’t understand why are the papers in Jessica’s name?”

  “Taxes maybe? A shelter against his company’s stock holders? He thought he was being clever?” Greg yawned. “Who knows what went on in Levi’s head.”

  “You ready for bed?” I brushed the lock of hair that kept falling into his eyes back away from his face.

  “Definitely.” He started to sit up and then sank back down into the couch. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

  “I have class in the evening.” I didn’t know what he was looking for. “The shop’s closed on Mondays.”

  “I mean about the investigation. You’re not planning on doing any snooping around tomorrow, are you?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not sure what I’d do. We kind of eliminated all of our suspects except Jessica and I can’t see me going up to a grieving woman and accuse her of killing Levi.”

  “Yeah, that’s where I am too. After finding the laptop, I thought we’d have a good lead there, but it was only Levi’s warped mind going after something he couldn’t have.”

  “You know the group is going to change now that Allison is expecting a baby. You may stay friends, but I can’t see a weekend like this with a toddler running around.” I unfolded my legs from under me and stretched.

  “Honey, when Levi died, that changed the group forever. I doubt there will be any more of these annual get-togethers. We’ll do phone calls and Christmas cards, but the gang won’t be the same. One weekend a year wasn’t enough to keep us close, like we once were. And Levi was the driving force that kept those going. Now, we’ll be sucked into our own separate lives.”

  I didn’t know if that was a bad thing or not, but I kept my opinion to myself and went to let Emma out one more time. Greg set up the coffee for the next morning and then it was time for bed.

  As I drifted off to sleep, Greg curled around me, his arms pulling me into a hug. “If you’re wondering, I’m happy with the life we have. This is where I should be.”

  I felt my lips curve into a smile, then I went to sleep.

  *

  Greg was gone by the time I woke on Monday. Emma nudged me awake, and then whined while I got dressed in my running clothes. It was like she knew I’d planned on taking her down to the beach today. She had a sixth sense about some things. Like runs and when Greg brought home pizza from Bakerstown’s Godfathers.

  Maybe she did understand what we said more than I realized. Anyway, she knew we were running this morning. The morning was gorgeous and as we ran, I felt my head clear for the first time in months. We were down the coast and turning around before I knew what was going on. Emma was running in the surf, playing with the birds that liked to hunt for bits and pieces of food with each wave. One would fly up, land a few feet away from Emma, wait for her to get close, then fly up again. As we neared the parking lot, I called her from playing with her friend and clicked on her leash. A man and a woman sat on the steps to the deck that led to the parking area. This time, I recognized them.

  Jessica and Vladimir looked up when I approached. He started to stand, but then Jessica put a hand on his arm. “It’s too late to hide, father. Good morning, Jill. Who’s this?” She reached a hand down to Emma who gave her kisses. I’d never seen her warm to a person she’d just met that quickly.

  “Emma, meet Jessica and Vladimir.” I smiled. “Emma’s my running partner.”

  “I would have thought that police man of yours would run with you.” Vladimir petted Emma’s head. “He should keep you close. It’s not safe for young attractive women to be alone.”

  “Papa, don’t scare Jill. She’s being cautious, she has Emma.”

  “And pepper spray, just in case.” Jessica’s words filtered through my head. “Wait, he’s your father?”

  Vladimir nodded. “Guilty as charged. My Jessica is my first born. She looks just like her mama did at her age.”

  “Why are you keeping your relationship a secret?”

  Jessica moved over on the stair. “Come sit. We need to talk.”

  She told me about how she had saved money and used a ‘service’ to come to the United States when she turned eighteen. But as things go, finding a job here in America was harder than she’d imagined. So she got hired on at a strip club in Texas. “Not the best decision, but I was a kid in a strange country.”

  I had never met a former stripper before, but I admit, I was a little naïve. “So what happened?”

  Jessica smiled, but her eyes shimmered with tears. “Levi found me. He kept coming into the strip club, talking to me, paying for my time and all of a sudden, the manager came to me and told me I was fired. Go, he said. A car is waiting for you in back.”

  I listened, Emma laying at my feet watching us.

  “The only person in the car was the driver. He took me to a condo on the better side of Houston. Levi was there, cooking breakfast. He turned to me and said, ‘Welcome home.’”

  Now the tears were falling. I put my hand on her shoulder. “He bought you?”

  “He saved me. We started dating, he told me I was free to do whatever I wanted, but I enjoyed spending time with him. Eventually we fell in love.” She patted her father’s knee. “I asked Levi to bring over Papa and Alana last year when Mama died. It took a while, but now we are all here. Legally.” She added as an afterthought.

  “Wow.” That was some story. An immigration story gone good. And Levi had been the hero in the whole thing. I’d heard so many bad things about the guy, I had doubted his ability to be thoughtful or selfless. This was the guy Greg remembered and why they stayed friends. “So what are you going to do now?”

  She leaned against her father. “I’m moving here to South Cove. I can work in Papa’s shop. According to my attorney, the prenup Levi signed will keep me from needing money, and maybe I’ll start some sort of charity to help girls who want to come over to the US, without going through the coyotes I used.”

  “I think that would be a lovely use o
f Levi’s legacy.” I guess Greg was right, we were all out of suspects for Levi’s murder. The wife to be didn’t kill him. I didn’t think the father-in-law had anything to do with it, especially since he had more to gain if Levi stayed alive. I decided to head to town and talk with Greg about this new twist. I stood and brushed sand off my running pants. “You do need to tell Terrance about your father though. It might make you look guilty if he finds out on his own.”

  “There are no more secrets.” Vladimir said, making a gesture like an umpire did when he called someone out. Apparently, no matter where men came from, they were still all about the game. “We will go into town today and tell them everything.”

  Another reason I needed Greg to know—so if anything went wrong, he could help clear up any misunderstandings.

  “I’ll see you around then.” I smiled at Jessica. It was nice that she was staying in South Cove. I hoped she and I might become friends. I looked at my watch. If I stopped by the station to see Greg, I’d miss Sadie. I made a mental note to call her and invite her to the Sunday Brunch group. We’d have to move it a little later or earlier, since she wouldn’t miss church, but it would be fun to have another regular.

  My heart was light as I showered and got ready for my day. I packed my school bag, left it by the door, then grabbed my tote and walked into town.

  I stopped by the shop and took out a box of cookies to ease Greg’s Monday. While I was there, I grabbed another book off the Advance Reading Copy pile that seemed to grow overnight. I might have a few minutes here and there to start reading. When I arrived at the station, Esmeralda was at the front desk. She peered at the box. “Cookies?”

  “Yep. Is he available?”

  She glanced at the door and then at the box again. “Depends.”

  “On what?” I knew what she wanted, but we could play this game.

  “On if one of those cookies has my name on it.” She waved me closer. “Show me what you have girl. I didn’t have breakfast and I’m starving.”

  I opened the box and she picked out two of the large chocolate chip walnut cookies that Sadie had baked on Saturday. We’d get all fresh desserts tomorrow morning, so I needed to get rid of the leftovers anyway.

  She glanced at the phone display. “He just finished his call. Go on in.”

  “Thanks.” I knew Esmeralda liked me. Her cat loved me. But first and foremost, she was Greg’s employee-slash-guard dog. If he’d told her he didn’t want to see me, no amount of cookie bribes would get me through that door.

  Greg looked up when I entered and his gaze dropped from my face to the box. Seriously, I could get a complex here if I didn’t know firsthand how amazing Sadie’s desserts were. “You didn’t have to stop by. I did scramble some eggs this morning before I left the house.”

  “I need to update you.” I closed the door behind me. No use everyone overhearing our conversation.

  He waved me over to the couch. “You know they think we make out when you close the door.”

  “You’re just dreaming.” I opened the box and took out a cookie. I still had some coffee left in my travel mug. Greg grabbed his cup and sat next to me.

  “So what’s up? You told me you weren’t investigating today.” He took a cookie out of the box and bit into it. His face lit up like a little boy with a train under the Christmas tree. “Sadie is a baking genius.”

  “Yes, she is.” I told him about the meeting I’d interrupted between Jessica and Vladimir. When I’d finished, he’d eaten two cookies, but hadn’t said a word. I narrowed my eyes at him. “You don’t seem surprised.”

  “I just found out myself, I promise. The mayor had some questions on Vladimir’s business license application so he asked me to dig into his background. I got the report from the private investigator this morning.”

  I sank back into the chair and sighed. Even when I thought I was two steps ahead of Greg, really, I was behind or just even. And that was running flat out.

  “I still have one question though,” he mused, considering his third cookie. He grabbed it, then looked at me. “What is she doing with The Castle?”

  My eyes widened. I hadn’t even asked. “I don’t know. She didn’t say.”

  “Which means you forgot to ask.” He ate the cookie.

  “I was a little taken back about the whole story. How crazy would it be to make your living at a dance club?”

  “Gentleman’s club is the PC name. Or not PC name. Besides, there’s a lot of bad in the world that we don’t typically see here in South Cove. That’s one reason I like working here.” He sipped on his coffee. “Face it Jill, we’re pretty sheltered.”

  “I like being sheltered.” I thought about Levi again. “So this basically wipes out all our suspects in his killing, right?”

  “I believe so. Maybe it was a random, impulse event. Strong emotion can lead people to do strange things.” He glanced at his watch. “Sorry, but I’ve got a meeting with the mayor to tell him what I just told you about Vladimir.”

  “You told me first?” For some reason, knowing this made me smile.

  He went back to his desk to grab a file. “Of course I did. You’re my partner in crime.”

  “I’m heading into town early tonight and grabbing dinner before class. You going to be okay?” I put my tote on my shoulder and stood.

  “For dinner? Honey, I didn’t starve before we moved in together. I think I can handle one meal on my own.” He kissed me as he ushered me out of his office, then shut the door. “Besides, there’s a game on tonight. I’ll pick up takeout from Diamond Lille’s and Emma and I will eat in front of the television.”

  “You’re teaching my dog bad habits.” I waved at Esmeralda as I headed to the door.

  “I know you’re not talking about eating in the living room, you do it all the time.” He paused at the reception desk and watched me.

  “Of course not. I’m just hoping she doesn’t get hooked on watching college basketball. I’ll have to send her to rehab if we ever break up.”

  He shook his head. “Who said you’re ever getting rid of me?”

  As I walked back to the house, thoughts about Levi and his entourage circled through my mind. The one thing I hadn’t totally nailed down was the sale of The Castle. Aunt Jackie was stopping by and talking to Brenda today. Maybe she’d pick up some gossip. Jessica had mentioned that Terrance had been making noises about letting them return to their normal lives in a few days. I suppose he was at an impasse with the investigation like we were. I hated to think Levi’s killer was going to get away scot-free.

  I had a list of housework I needed to get done, including cleaning the bathrooms that had seemed to slip off Greg’s list yesterday. I had four hours, give or take, to get as much done at the house before I needed to leave for class. Especially if I was going to make a stop at the library to see if I could find anything else about the sale of The Castle.

  My list took me less than three hours and even with a shower, I had time to start the book I’d tucked into my tote. I’d also brought it with me as a dinner companion. Now, I was sitting at the library, with a good hour to spare before class. This time would be eaten up with homework probably as soon as the first class was over. Right now, I was enjoying my quasi-student state and spending time in the library. I booted up the computer, put in my password, and found the legal records for the sale of The Castle.

  I re-read the document four times. Nothing new. Nothing showing me that Jessica didn’t know she now owned one of the most historical sites on the California coast.

  “Have I told you how cool it is that we’re closed on Mondays?” Deek plopped into a chair next to me. “I got three classes in today and only have to come back for one on Thursday night. Are you taking Professor Andy’s accounting class this semester?”

  I turned toward him. “Next semester. Then it’s all about numbers for the three months. I told you how much I hate numbers, right?”

  “It’s all a part of the game. You have to know the numbers to
know if you’re successful.” He pulled out a protein bar and unwrapped it. Holding it toward me, he asked, “You want one?”

  “No.” I didn’t have to tell him that eating or drinking in the library was prohibited. I just hoped he wouldn’t get busted while he was sitting with me in the small computer section of the research wing. “I ate earlier.”

  “Mom’s doing some class tonight so I’m supposed to feed myself. I think I’ll go to the Burger and Brew and watch the game.” He pointed with his half-eaten bar to the screen. “What’s that?”

  “The legal filing of a property sale. I’m trying to find out who actually bought the property.” My head was beginning to throb and I figured a migraine was in my future. I was getting as good of a fortune teller as Esmeralda, at least where these headaches were concerned.

  “Did you look at the filing page?” Deek reached over and with a few keystrokes, a new page listing all the details of the transaction appeared. In buyer and filer, Levi Wallace was listed. As new owner, Jessica Cole’s name appeared. “The dude bought this and just gave it all to some chick?”

  I nodded, scribbling down several bits of information including the name of the attorney who actually filed the paperwork. It looked like I was going to be seeing Jimmy Marcum tomorrow after all. Maybe he could shed some like on Levi’s motives.

  Or maybe, just maybe, there was a darker reason for the change in ownership. If so, did the fact that Jessica was the sole owner of The Castle put her in danger too?

  CHAPTER 20

  Greg was asleep when I got home and when I woke up, he had already left for work. He said he got more work done in the first two hours before anyone else showed up than he did all day.

  For me, the quiet gave me time to think. And usually, read. After the coffee commuter group had dwindled down to nothing, I opened my laptop to see if Jimmy had a website that listed office hours. Jimmy Marcum was an old-school lawyer, the type you’d see in reruns of Perry Mason or something. I think he still wore a suit to work every day, even if he wasn’t appearing in court. The other thing was I totally trusted him to be as honest as he could about a situation.