Downton Tabby

by Sparkle Abbey

  I smiled to myself thinking maybe I was becoming more and more like my friend Diana. I have to be honest; I didn’t see the similarities as a bad thing.

  I’d poured myself a glass of pinot, but had forgotten to drink it. My mind was like a pinball machine. Thoughts about all the events of the past few days and what they might mean bouncing off each other. I couldn’t seem to turn it off.

  I’d set my cell phone within reach. I didn’t expect Cash would call again, but you never know. Sam was up north at a business meeting and had hinted of bringing me a surprise. With Sam, a surprise could be the perfect cup of coffee, or the perfect emerald earrings. You just never knew. He had the unique talent of choosing exactly what I would’ve picked myself. Regardless of whether it was a thing or an experience, I could use a “good” surprise to wipe out all the bad ones I’d encountered lately.

  I patted Dogbert and shifted Toria on my lap so I could scratch her head.

  I had repeated my phone conversation with Graham Cash to Malone. I could tell he was still skeptical about Cash’s involvement, but I had hopes Cash would call him and we’d finally be able to fill in some big gaps of information.

  It felt like I had pieces of the puzzle, but they didn’t fit together.

  There was the hostile neighbor and his anger issues. The videos with only shadowy figures.

  How did someone walk into a house in a quiet neighborhood and murder a guy and then walk right back out and no one noticed?

  Then the lawsuit involving the dog app. I’m sure it made Jake and Cash a ton of money, but they’d created lots of other apps. WoofWalker was just one of many. Why in this case would they steal another web developer’s idea? Or why would someone think they had?

  And the secret room full of computers, the intruder, and then the bare shelves.

  Not to mention, Cash’s girlfriend Heidi. Her lack of interest in what had happened to the man who was supposedly someone she cared about. And what was the deal with the information she’d been holding back from the police.

  Pieces. But how did they fit together?

  My doorbell rang. I had to untangle myself from my blanket of pets in order to get up. I turned the music down and went to the door.

  “Who is it?” Though I now knew the SUV that had been following me had just been my ex, it didn’t change the fact that a killer was still on the loose.

  “Malone,” came the short reply.

  I got a glimpse of myself in the entryway mirror. Not my best look. Cat-styled hair, scattered tufts of fur on the front of my dark-teal silk T-shirt, and makeup that had disappeared hours ago. Mama’s be-aware-and-be-prepared admonition flashed through my mind.

  Sorry, Mama, I’ve let you down.

  I opened the door.

  “Ms. Lamont.”

  “Detective, please come in.”

  He followed me to the living room.

  “Please have a seat. Can I get you something? Coffee, tea, coke?” I asked. I’d let my mama down in the fashion department, but I wasn’t so far gone I’d forgotten my upbringing in the hostess sector.

  Malone’s mouth quirked in an almost smile. “No, thanks.”

  He seated himself on the couch.

  “So, what’s up?” I perched on the arm of the easy chair.

  “I spoke with Heidi Sussman, and she confirmed what you’d told me about being at the house the day of the murder.” He shifted on the couch, and Thelma stretched and gave him a sidelong glance. How dare he disturb her?

  “I’m glad she didn’t deny it.” I hadn’t been sure she wouldn’t.

  “How did you know she’d been there?” His sharp blue eyes held mine.

  “The energy drink on the patio. The day Jake was killed, when I was waiting for you to talk to me, I accidently knocked it over. It spilled, and when I mopped it up I noticed it was cold. It was a warm sunny day so it couldn’t have been outside long. She always has this one particular brand with her. I’d never seen the guys drink it, only her.”

  “Good observations, Detective Lamont.”

  I took the good-natured dig as an attempt at a peace offering. “Maybe, but not worth much if it doesn’t help you.”

  “Here’s another strange development.” He rubbed his chin. “I just got the info on the license plate you gave me earlier today, and the car is registered to Heidi’s brother.”

  “Wait, so it was Heidi’s brother who was inside the secret room?”

  “She never mentioned a brother?” It was a question, but his expression told me he already knew the answer.

  “Never.” I shook my head. I couldn’t remember her mentioning any family, but she hadn’t stopped by the office on a regular basis, and when she did, she didn’t stay long.

  “There’s more.” Malone leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees, which garnered another disgusted look from Thelma.

  “I’m all ears.”

  “Heidi’s brother’s name is Brody Patton.” He waited for the significance to sink in.

  It took me a few minutes to remember where I’d heard the name, but I finally did. “Which means not only is Brody the intruder I saw pop out of the secret room, he’s also the guy who is suing Jake and Cash for a portion of their WoofWalker.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Different fathers?” None of us would have made the connection because of the different last names.

  “Strangely, the same birth parents, but separated by divorce, and the mother remarried. Heidi took the new dad’s name. Thus, Heidi Sussman.”

  “So I’m guessing you see Brody Patton as a suspect.”

  “Right now, I see him as my number-one suspect.” He wiped a hand across his face, the stress of the past week apparent in his fatigue.

  Here I’d been thinking I’d had a lousy few days, but they probably didn’t even touch the kind of days Detective Malone had been having lately.

  “I just came from his condo and he’s not there, but we’ll pick him up.”

  “Then what?”

  “We’ll bring him in for questioning. You might have to come down to the police station and identify him. I may bring Heidi Sussman in as well.”

  “Sounds like she might have been withholding information to protect her brother.” Which would explain quite a bit of her odd behavior.

  “Could be.”

  “No problem. Let me know when you need me and I’ll be there.”

  “Great.” He stood. “Just wanted to give you a heads up.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  He opened the door to leave and tapped the dead bolt. “Make sure you lock up.”

  “I will.”

  I locked up as Malone had ordered. I would have anyway. Then I pulled on my softest T-shirt and flannel pajama bottoms. Mama’s distinct ring tone summoned me from the bathroom where I was getting ready for bed.

  “Hi, Mama.” I patted my face with a towel. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine, Carolina.” Uh-oh. She sounded serious. “The question is how are you?”

  “I’m okay. Why do you ask?”

  “Well, I heard from Barbara, who heard from Melinda, that Geoffrey Carlisle is there in California. He stopped by to see Melinda at her little shop and told her you threatened him in front of a whole crowd of people.”

  “I did.” Aunt Barbara, aka Mel’s mama, had got that one right.

  “Good.”

  “What?” I couldn’t believe what I’d heard.

  “I said, good. That low-life has no business coming out there and interfering in your life. I hope you told him to get out of town.”

  “I can’t believe he’d be dumb enough to go talk to Melinda.” Was the man stupid as well as arrogant? Or had he gone to Melinda hoping word would get back to me? Probably the latter.

  I pictured Mama Kat pacing as she talked. “I know you two girls have had your differences, but you know, bless her heart, Melinda would stand up for you.”

  “I know she would, Mama.”

  We talked a
little bit more about her big summer barbecue plans, and at one point she offered to make a trip to Laguna if I needed reinforcements. I told her I thought I could handle things with Geoffrey just fine.

  After we hung up, I went to the safe where I’d had the brooch locked up and got it out. Warm feelings about Grandma Tillie washed over me.

  Matilda “Tillie” Montgomery had been quite a lady, and I had good memories of long summer days spent at the ranch. Mel and I used to play in Grandma Tillie’s jewelry, trying on various pieces, pretending to be British royalty. Or Egyptian princesses. Or Mary Kay ladies. We had some fun times.

  Then we’d ditch the baubles for outdoor play, chasing around with the dogs, climbing trees, riding horses until we were grimy and dead dog-tired. Then we’d head back to the house where Grandma Tillie always had a big pitcher of lemonade ready as if somehow she’d known the timing.

  I opened the musical jewelry box on my dresser and the delicate sounds of The Yellow Rose of Texas began to play. I’d had the music box since I was thirteen. A gift from Mel because I was a teenager before she was and she was worried I was going all “girly” on her.

  We were driving our families crazy with our fight over Grandma Tillie’s brooch. We were denying ourselves the shared memories that were a big part of what made us the proud and prickly Texas roses we were.

  It was time to figure this out. I placed the brooch inside the old jewelry box and added “Call Melinda” to my list for the next day. (It might take me a few days, or maybe even weeks, to cross that task off my list, but at least by putting it on the list I was committing to doing it.)

  “Dogbert, Toria,” I called my two snugglers and headed to bed for the best sleep I’d had in days.

  AS I PULLED OUT of my garage the next morning and paused to hit the garage door closer, I noticed my next-door neighbor’s car. Apparently she was home from her Alaskan cruise. I’ll admit I was reassured to think someone was close by, though I didn’t think the diminutive Freda Bauer would be much help fighting off a killer. Still she could call 911, right?

  Maybe I was just being paranoid.

  Maybe not.

  There was still a killer out there, and the police seemed no closer to finding out who had murdered Jake.

  I dressed for the day in white jeans and a bright coral top by Maranda, one of the California designers I loved. I had only one appointment. A client with whom I’d been working for a couple of months. Lonnie’s mixed breed, Turk, had been having problems since she’d lost her other dog. Animals grieve just like we do, and Turk was lost without Coco, his longtime companion. As a result he’d been depressed and not eating.

  After finishing up with Lonnie and Turk, I stopped by the Koffee Klatch to grab a latte before heading to the office.

  Verdi was at the desk. A bit of normal in my life was a good thing.

  “I’m sorry. If I’d known you were going to be here I would have brought you something.”

  “That’s okay. I brought my own.” She held up her own Koffee Klatch cup. “I thought I’d better have plenty of caffeine in case we were in for another parade of people.”

  I laughed. “You may need more than caffeine.”

  “Anything new on the murder?” She glanced toward the closed door of Jake and Cash’s office.

  I brought her up to speed on the events of yesterday, the call from Cash, and what Malone had shared in his visit last night.

  My phone rang. I now dreaded those numbers I didn’t recognize. Where prior to Jake’s murder a call usually meant a new client, lately that sure hadn’t been the case.

  “Hello, this is Caro.”

  “Caro, it’s Heidi,” she whispered. “I’m scared.”

  “Of what, Heidi?” I pressed the phone against my ear trying to hear her. “Are you okay?”

  “Come, please. It might be nothing, but I’m really scared.” She hiccupped. “My address is forty-five-fifty Blue Bell, Apartment two B. Hurry.” The call abruptly disconnected.

  I grabbed my keys. “Verdi, call Malone. I’m going to Heidi’s apartment. Here’s the address.” I scribbled it down and ran to my car.

  This time of day, the traffic can be bad on PCH so I took back streets to get to Heidi’s apartment. It was a small walk-up, and I climbed two flights of outside stairs as fast as I could.

  As I made the turn at the top toward 2B, I felt a terrible sense of dread. I could see the brightly painted yellow door was partly open.

  “Heidi?” I called. I touched the bottom with my foot, carefully pushing it slightly open and prayed that Malone was on his way. The door opened a little more, and I tried to peer inside.

  “Heidi?” I called again, louder this time. “Hon, are you in there?”

  With a wail of sirens, a Laguna Beach blue and white skidded to a stop in front of the building.

  “Thank God.” I stood aside.

  Malone’s silver Camaro pulled up right behind the police car.

  The officers rushed past me, kicked the door fully open, and went in guns drawn.

  They were back outside by the time Malone had reached the top of the stairs.

  “Nothing,” one of the uniformed officers reported. “The place has been torn up, but there’s no one there.”

  “The young lady?” Malone asked.

  The officer shook his head. “She’s gone.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  I SAT ON THE STEPS and related my story to Malone while the two uniformed officers went door to door asking neighbors if they’d heard anything.

  “She said she was afraid,” I repeated. “If she was afraid, why didn’t she call 911, or call you directly? She had your number.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What if she’s dead?” I looked up at Malone. “What if I could have saved her if I’d gotten here sooner?”

  “We don’t know that she’s dead.” He turned to talk to the two officers who had returned. It sounded like the problem was that no one was home in the other apartments and very few in the surrounding homes. Most people were at work this time of day.

  “Let’s get crime scene in here.” Malone punched some numbers into his cell. “Rope off this area.” He gestured toward the stairs and apartment.

  “I’ll have someone drive you home.” Malone reached a hand down to help me up.

  “I’m okay to drive.” I was shaky, but I could drive.

  “Are you sure?”

  I nodded.

  “We haven’t picked up Brody yet, but we’re still watching his place, and he has to come home sometime.”

  “This has to have something to do with him, doesn’t it?”

  “Let’s just say I have a lot of questions for him.”

  I should have gotten more information from her. I couldn’t get past the idea that I’d talked to her on the phone just minutes ago and now she was gone.

  I CANCELED MY appointments for the rest of the day and went home. Freda from next door stopped over with a gift from Alaska, a little bottle of Alaskan Birch Syrup, to thank me for watering her plants while she was gone. She’d also caught up on her Laguna Beach news and had lots of questions for me about the murder.

  I understood her curiosity, but I was so upset by Heidi’s disappearance that I didn’t think I was up to re-telling all the details. I gave her a brief overview of the day I’d found Jake and that Cash had gone missing.

  Freda politely moved to other topics, and we talked about her trip and other things. She inquired about April Mae, my neighbor on the other side, and when she was expected back. It was soothing to talk about “normal” things for a while. I’d almost forgotten what normal felt like. An hour had passed before I realized it.

  My doorbell interrupted us, and not wanting any surprises, I peered out the window. Detective Malone’s car was parked in my driveway.

  I opened the door and invited him in.

  “Ms. Lamont.” He stepped inside.

  “This is my neighbor, Mrs. Bauer.” Freda had followed me to the
door. “She just returned from Alaska.”

  “Nice to meet you.” He nodded.

  “Nice to meet you, detective. I’ll be on my way.” Freda slipped around Malone. “Thanks again for taking care of my plants while I was gone. I’ll be happy to return the favor if you ever need it.”

  As soon as Freda left, Malone got right to the point.

  “We picked up Brody, Heidi’s brother, an hour ago.” The detective had been busy. “He admitted to being in the house the day you were there.”

  “Did he say why?’

  “It has to do with the lawsuit. He took a hard drive with the source code for the WoofWalker app. He claims whatever it was he took can help him prove he had a hand in the development.”

  “So that’s why he killed Jake?” I tried to put it together in my head. “I’d think Jake would be more valuable alive.”

  “I can’t tie Brody to Jake’s murder yet, but I can hold him on the breaking and entering.” Malone paced. “So he’s locked up at least until he can make bail on that charge.”

  “What about Heidi?” I asked.

  “He says he knows nothing about Heidi’s disappearance.”

  “Does he know who she might be afraid of?”

  Malone shook his head.

  I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I felt a little safer knowing Brody was behind bars for the time being. But the truth was he hadn’t seemed all that menacing when he’d been in the house. If you want to talk about menacing, my money had been on Zellwen. But he’d come up with an air-tight alibi.

  “Caro, until we figure out what’s happened to Heidi Sussman, I need you to stay as far from anyone involved in this investigation as you possibly can. Do you understand?”

  I nodded.

  “Go about your business as usual. If anyone calls you—Cash, Heidi, that annoying reporter—anyone wanting to talk about the case, call me immediately.”

  “I will.” I was perfectly willing to stay away from anyone involved. You weren’t going to find me driving by Jake and Cash’s house again and drawing the ire of Mr. Anger Management. I hoped Cash’s next phone call would be to Malone and not me. And Heidi, well, I hoped someone heard from her.