Sweetheart Deal

by Linda Joffe Hull

“But whoever it is had to also be aware that the security camera wasn’t working by the pool where Alejandro was found.”

  “So everyone on the list fits all three criteria?” FJ asked.

  Philip nodded. “We believe one of the people on it is either the murderer, or is someone with a direct link to whoever’s behind what’s going on.”

  “Sweet,” Trent said as Philip began to hand out copies, starting with me.

  As I expected, the list was full of mostly unfamiliar names and long enough to keep all of us busy until we finally got to go home:

  Cesar Y. / Recreational Equipment Manager

  Luis T. / Bartender

  Tito O. / Pool Maintenance

  Pablo G. / Lifeguard Staff

  Rosa R. / Front Desk

  Ana S. / Spa Employee

  Octavio B. / Groundskeeper

  Victor C. / Food Services

  Jesus M. / Food Services

  Carmen L. / Hair Salon

  Raul R. / Grounds Staff

  Fernando P. / Maintenance

  Marisol M. / Yoga Instructor

  Unsurprisingly, I didn’t recognize almost any of them. I was surprised, however, by two more familiar names on the list:

  Zelda R. / Housekeeping

  Beti B. / Vacation Ownership Staff

  “How did you come up with this list?” I asked.

  “Actually, you initiated it by asking Jorge about potentially suspicious folks. He sent the request up the food chain and these are the names they compiled.”

  “Nice work, Mom,” Trent said.

  “We want you to find out anything and everything you possibly can and report what you hear back to us,” Philip said. “Then, we’ll take it from there.”

  “Cut,” Anastasia said and ran over to give Philip a smooch. “You’re a natural, darling.”

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “Okay,” she said to the rest of us. “Here’s what we’re going to do …”

  I wondered how much more surreal things could possibly get as Anastasia began to outline her insta-plan: we would participate in the activities we were already scheduled to enjoy on camera and take turns tracking down information about various people on the list throughout the evening. That was, under the assumption that people who feared for their job security and the livelihood of their families might actually divulge why they hated Alejandro or disliked Ivan, and then admit that they knew the security system was down by the pool so they could commit a murder there.

  “I’ll mainly need Maddie and Frank for the salsa dancing shots, I’ll want everyone for karaoke, and primarily the kids for the moonlight swim. Well, maybe one or two romantic moments with Frank and Maddie under the stars.”

  All three kids scrunched their noses.

  “Since we’ll have our cameras set up in the tango studio, karaoke bar, and the pool area, try to be seen talking to the suspects and other employees in those areas, if you can.”

  “What about audio?” Frank asked.

  “You’ll be miked, but we can’t count on anything,” she said. “So I’ll set up a confessional for everyone to report what they’ve heard.”

  “So, I’m supposed to say to people, ‘Hey, I’m kinda seeing Ivan. Do you hate him, or what?’” Eloise asked.

  “That’s not bad, actually,” Anastasia said. “Use the fact that you’re interested in him as an entrée to talk about him.”

  “I guess I could do that if I’m, like, not with him at the time.”

  “We’ll figure out the details as we go along,” Anastasia said as if she already hadn’t.

  “So basically we’re on a resort-wide scavenger hunt to find out who hated Alejandro the most?” Trent asked.

  “And why,” FJ added.

  “Exactly.” Anastasia smiled as broadly as I’d seen her smile since she’d said I do. “See you in the dance studio at eight fifteen to salsa, sing, swim, and sleuth!”

  I managed to shower, change, and get ready with enough time to run downstairs, locate Ivan by the swim-up snack bar, and show him the names before I had to meet up with cast and crew in the dance studio.

  “Every person on here had a legit grievance of some kind with Alejandro,” Ivan said.

  “Grievances worthy of murder?”

  “He insisted that Carmen give him free haircuts. He never, ever tipped Luis the bartender. And Ana Suarez …” He sighed. “But, to be honest, I’m just as bugged that this many people might not like me than I am worried about any of them hating Alejandro enough to kill him.”

  “All I’ve heard is how much everyone loves you around here.”

  “I mean, I thought I was tight with Jesus,” he said, tucking a dreadlock behind his ear. “And Victor said he wanted to introduce me to one of nieces—you know, before I met Eloise and everything …”

  “No need to explain,” I said. “This list feels just as off as the last one, somehow.”

  “To me, it reads more like a secret probation list than anything else,” he said. “I guess Tito qualifies because he’d have known the security cameras weren’t working around the pool where they found Alejandro, but still … Where did you say the police got this?”

  “I asked Jorge for some names. This list somehow made its way into the hands of the police and on to me.”

  “No surprises there,” he said.

  “No,” I said.

  We scanned the names again together.

  “What’s your take on Zelda?” I asked.

  “Wacky, superstitious, and harmless,” Ivan said. “Although Alejandro was constantly having her break housekeeping rules.”

  “Like having her deliver notes?” I dared to ask.

  “Did he have her deliver a note to you too?”

  I nodded.

  He sighed. “That man was quite the operator.”

  “Poor Elena.”

  “Nothing poor about her,” Ivan said. “Except that she really had no choice but to marry Alejandro.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Family status, tradition, and a little fear.” He pointed to a small infinity sign tattooed on his upper arm. “Speaking of which, Zelda claims this is bad luck and is always warning me to get rid of it.”

  “I certainly hope she’s wrong.”

  “So far, she’s been zero for zero with her doomsday predictions,” he said. “But judging by this list, the Familia de la Fortuna is definitely running scared.”

  “Do you think there’s anyone on here who could possibly be of note?”

  “Only one person gives me any pause at all.”

  “And that is?”

  “Beti.”

  “The receptionist in the timeshare office?

  “She’s no killer …” He waited until a busboy wiped down a nearby table and moved away. “But she might be able to clarify a bit more about what I heard that day on the boat.”

  “I thought you only heard a few jumbled words.”

  “Which I’ve gone over and over.” He paused. “What I didn’t think about was who was saying those words.”

  “Meaning what?” I asked.

  “I realized the man they were talking to spoke Spanish with an American accent, which is why I didn’t notice anything unusual.”

  “Why does that matter?”

  “That’s what I want to find out,” he answered. “You start working your way down the list and I’ll track down Beti for you. I know she’ll feel safe talking to me.”

  “But is it safe for you to—”

  “I trust her. Plus, they organized tonight’s events to keep the guests relaxed and entertained, but mostly to keep the staff here and under close surveillance.” He motioned with his head at the camera situated right behind us. “Couldn’t be safer around here for any of us, or a better opportunity to try and speak to pretty much everyone. Like shooting fish in a barrel.”

  “Okay, but—”

  “I’ll get back to you ASAP,” he said, not elaborating on exactly what it was he was looking for. “You oug
ht to hear some interesting stuff in the meantime.”

  “I hope so.”

  He smiled a wry smile. “Some of it may even be true.”

  “What’s the point of going through the motions again if it isn’t?”

  “For one thing, when the Familia de la Fortuna needs and expects something from you, you do it.”

  “And for another?”

  “To be honest?” he said, a hint of color reddening his cheeks. “I’m curious to know why they think all these people don’t like me.”

  “I’m quite sure this whole interrogation charade will put a rest to that issue,” I said, “if nothing else.”

  “Starting with Rosa from the front desk,” he said.

  “Why’s that?”

  He pointed toward an attractive brunette. “Because she just got off her shift and she’s heading toward the bar.”

  “Ivan’s a little bit too hippie-ish for this resort if you ask me,” Rosa said. “But everyone likes him and he’s good at his job.”

  “And what about Alejandro?” I asked.

  “Alejandro was a wonderful man,” Rosa said over the bar noise, and clearly for the record. “Everyone misses him terribly around here.”

  “That’s not what I’m told,” I whispered.

  An odd look crossed her face. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s no secret that he could be difficult.”

  “And flirtatious,” she finally admitted. “On occasion.”

  “How many occasions?”

  She looked around quickly. “Really, any occasion where Elena wasn’t nearby …”

  My head had already started to spin before I entered the dance studio and met up with an abundance of employees, all of whom were clustered together around the resort security cameras like bugs around a light bulb.

  Or, as Ivan had described them, fish in a barrel.

  “What we’re going for here is the Frugalicious Family making the most of their vacation,” Anastasia said as we collected in front of the camera. “And a show of sleuthing.”

  Despite the show, and the fact we were once again questioning predetermined “suspects,” the encounter with Rosa had more than piqued my curiosity about what else we were going to hear.

  “Here’s the plan,” Anastasia continued. “Instead of pairing off, we’re going to have the men change partners at the end of each song. That way, you’ll each have the opportunity to speak with as many people as possible.”

  “And make idiots of ourselves with as many chicks as possible,” Trent said.

  FJ shook his head. “So not into this.”

  “Do I at least get to start the evening with my bride?” Frank said, his palms sweaty as he reached for my hand.

  “Of course.” Anastasia raised her bullhorn. “Everyone else take a partner.”

  Eloise, who was less than enthusiastic after getting the news that Ivan had to deal with something and would miss the dancing segment, surveyed her prospects.

  “Maybe she should start off with one of the boys,” I said, thinking a warm-up dance might help ease her into a friendlier, more inquisitive state of mind.

  “That’s what’s worrying me,” Frank said, glancing over at Trent, FJ, and Liam. More specifically, at FJ and Liam, who appeared as if they’d prefer to pair off with each other.

  Eloise stepped over and pulled Liam onto the dance floor.

  Trent sidled over to a pretty employee of about eighteen, who seemed pleased by the prospect of dancing with him.

  The instructor, a certain Marisol who’d taught the yoga class and was now a member of the suspect list, took a surprised but somewhat bemused FJ by the hand and stepped up to the microphone.

  Salsa music began to filter through the room on low and the cameras began to roll.

  “Gentlemen, take your partner’s right hand in your left and place your right hand on her left shoulder blade,” Marisol said with a far-too-broad-for-yoga smile. “Ladies, keep your left hand on his right shoulder, with your arm over his.”

  Guiding FJ, Marisol did a demonstration for the crowd.

  “When dancing, always keep your spine straight and your shoulders back. Keep your head held up or tilted to look directly at your partner. Never look at your feet, nor your partner’s.”

  Marisol looked deeply into FJ’s eyes.

  He blushed, then went crimson when she added, “Most important, move those hips!”

  The music grew louder.

  “Now, let’s find that salsa beat!”30

  Despite any disinterest, distaste, or lack of desire to dance, the next thing I knew, we were all keeping 4/4 time in eight counts, switching partners, and shimmying our way across the dance floor and into some intriguing information …

  “Everyone in Pool Maintenance knew the cameras were down that night,” Tito said as he dipped me. “Not to mention some of Food Services.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “We closed down the snack bar there because there was no way to monitor the cash register, or the pool, or anything else.”

  “I see,” I said.

  “I was on duty and with the technician the whole time he was trying to get everything back online. I’ll give you his name and number if you need to confirm we were together when Alejandro died.”

  “What about Ivan’s incident?”

  “I was working that day too,” he said. “I’m thankful he wasn’t hurt, but between us, I’m sort of glad that guy was under water for a while.”

  “Why’s that?”

  Tito smiled. “I figure he can always use a bath.”

  My next dance partner was supposed to be Dave the groomsman, but since Body was unwilling to separate from him, I moved on to Cesar, the recreational equipment manager.

  “Sure, I was mad when Ivan got the activities director job instead of me,” he said. “I don’t have anything against him personally, though.”

  “And Alejandro?”

  “I can’t say I’ll miss him taking equipment without signing it out and just leaving it anywhere and everywhere.”

  “That had to be annoying.”

  “Not to mention a threat to me and my job,” he said. “The police questioned me because there were weights near the pool where he died that hadn’t been checked out by anyone.”

  “Why would Alejandro—”

  “Who knows, but they sure wanted an answer from me.”

  “And what did you tell them?”

  “That he annoyed me, but they should talk to the people that hated him the most if they wanted to find his killer.”

  “And who hated him the most?”

  Before he passed me along to the gentleman next to me, he whispered, “I’d put my money on someone from Food Services.”

  “We’d have never paid one cent for that condo if we hadn’t had so many margaritas before the presentation.”

  My next dance partner was the husband of the woman who’d come into the timeshare office complaining.

  And now he was also complaining.

  And also drinking.

  “I continued to demand a refund,” he said, with a slur. “But unlike their timeshares, which supposedly have a twenty-four-hour refund period, this Sampler nonsense we signed up for is completely nonrefundable.”

  “So what are you doing about it?”

  “What can we do?” he asked in whiny voice. “Can’t say I’m surprised or sorry someone bumped off the manager over there, though.”

  “Alejandro never missed a napkin with a spot, food on a utensil, or anything to do with the meal itself,” Carlos, the head waiter said. “Sometimes, it seemed like there was nothing we could do right.”

  “It sounds like he was a real stickler,” I said.

  “I was okay with it because I figured he was just trying to make us an even better resort than we already are.”

  “It had to bother you sometimes, though.”

  “Not as much as it bothered the kitchen staff,” he said. “They kept a dartboard with a photo o
f him in the breakroom.”

  After admitting that salsa dancing was kinda fun, in a way, Trent reported that Aracelli, who was friends with Jesus the sous chef, always knew when Alejandro was in the restaurant because plates started coming back to be remade.

  Eloise managed to set aside her disappointment about Ivan’s absence and find out that Pablo the lifeguard dreaded Alejandro’s morning swims because he made the pool staff check the temperature before he got in, and they had to raise or lower it to his liking. The snack bar staff paid him back on behalf of the pool staff by “boosting” his morning smoothie with regular grass instead of wheatgrass. More important, Pablo thought Eloise was pretty. Too pretty for a hippie like Ivan, apparently.

  FJ filled us in on Marisol, who, as it turned out, had a whirlwind love affair with a young, handsome, and not nearly so tyrannical Alejandro as soon as she moved to the area and began to work at the resort. While she still hadn’t entirely forgiven him for neglecting to tell her he was duty-bound to marry someone else by year’s end, she’d gotten over the old heartbreak through yoga, higher spirituality, and staying ten pounds thinner than Elena.

  Frank’s information seemed to top all. He whispered it only to me, directly from Ana Suarez, who worked in the spa as a masseuse: “The spa staff feel they all got the happy ending Alejandro jokingly asked for at the end of each and every one of his massages.”

  “She can’t be serious,” Eloise said as we read over the karaoke song choices provided us by a production assistant.

  “Frank Sinatra?” Trent said.

  “No can-do on the Neil Diamond,” FJ said.

  “There are plenty of options,” Anastasia said, “We’re trying to appeal to viewers of all ages.”

  “I guess so,” FJ said as Frank ran up to the stage and began to belt out the first bars of “Margaritaville.” Hopefully, the accompanying pitchers of margaritas adequately numbed the crowd in time for my off-key version of “I Love Rock and Roll,” the boys’ spirited interpretation of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and Eloise’s grudging “Holiday.”

  As we took turns singing, a steady stream of employees chanced by our table with increasingly interesting bits and pieces of information:

  “Seeing as Alejandro had me pour vodka into a water glass on more than once occasion, it wouldn’t have killed him to be appreciative,” Tito the bartender said.