I nodded. “Forbidden fruit and all that stuff. Look, because Geneva’s my client, I really can’t talk about Brooke’s chart. I can look at the composite between your chart and hers, however.”
I clicked on the button that would generate a chart of midpoints to describe the relationship and studied it a moment. I turned the screen toward Matt again so I could point out the placements I was talking about. “There’s a twelfth house Sun. That is not positive. Not in a composite or relationship chart. Either a secret relationship or something that can’t quite come out into the light of day. And that Sun has an opposition from Uranus near the seventh house cusp.”
“What does all that mean?”
“Even if Brooke had been free when you met, there would have been difficulties. It’s just the very nature of the relationship. Some other circumstance would have existed that wouldn’t have allowed this relationship to ‘come out,’ and there would always be an instability about it. With Saturn transiting over your fourth house cusp, you’re looking for something solid, someone you can build a future with.”
Matt was silent.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t her and never will be. Not under any circumstances.” Perhaps harsh words, but a reality I’d had to face in different circumstances.
“You’re right. I know you’re right. I’ve wracked my brain over this thing. I know I have to forget her.”
I couldn’t ask the question directly, but I was fairly certain Matt had not heard of Brooke’s arrest, and unless I wanted to be the astrological town gossip, I wasn’t about to inform him. He would probably be attending Moira’s wake. I was sure he’d hear of Brooke’s arrest soon enough.
“Do you see anyone coming along in the near future?” he asked.
“Let’s have a look.” I went back to his chart and used a timer to advance his progressions. “In about a year, you’ll be in a committed relationship. That’s definite. It’s possible you’ll meet her in about four months’ time, when Venus progresses to your natal Sun. Can’t guarantee that part, it’s an educated guess, but you’ve got the next year to be single.”
“Whoa. That’s scary. I’ll have to think about that one.”
I smiled. “Be careful what you wish for.”
Matt left, much more cheerful than when he arrived. I closed up his folder and filed it away. I was sure no one suspected his relationship with Brooke, and I certainly wasn’t free to blab about it anyway, even if I were so inclined. I also didn’t want to be the one to tell him that the police believed Brooke and Moira had exchanged emails plotting Rob’s death. It was simply too ridiculous.
Was Geneva correct in suspecting Andy? He could be guilty, whether he’d pulled the trigger or not. If Moira had found out that her identity was being used for real estate deals, maybe she was getting ready to blow the whistle on Andy or his boss. If so, the possibility of jail time could be a very compelling motive for murder. Dan hated Rob and would blame him for Moira’s death no matter whose gun had killed her. Rob, on the other hand, suspected a plot against Brooke on the part of Moira and Dan to get access to the money in Brooke’s trust fund. If anything, that was a motive that made monetary sense.
I couldn’t think what else I could do. I could try again to locate Tony, the bartender at Macao, although the idea of returning there gave me the shudders. Maybe Zims really did exist, but what information he could offer would be dubious if not downright suspect. The guy was a drug dealer, after all.
I could even call Detective Ianello and tell him what I suspected about Andy and turn over Moira’s tax form to the police. Had those papers we found stuck behind the broken drawer been misplaced, or had Moira hidden them there? Had she been aware her identity was being used all along, or had she recently discovered what Andy was doing? If there were records on her computer, the police might already have figured all that out. Maybe Andy was completely innocent of any involvement with Moira’s difficulties. Maybe the tax form listing real estate had absolutely nothing to do with him. But Dan’s comment about Andy’s under-the-table real estate deals was too much of a coincidence. It was time to find out.
thirty-two
Andy’s building on Cole, a two-story, spruced-up Victorian, was painted yellow and divided into four apartments. The front door was an old-fashioned double door with beveled glass panes. I pushed the button that said A. DeWinter. A moment later, the doorknob vibrated in my hand. I entered the hallway. A door opened on the left of the small lobby and Andy looked out, surprised to see me.
“Julia!”
“Hi Andy. I just stopped by on the off chance you’d be home. I hope you don’t mind?” I was just observing the niceties. At this point, I didn’t care if he did mind.
“Not at all, come on in. I’m always here. Most of my work is bookkeeping for my clients.” He held the door open for me. “Listen, I’m really sorry about the other night. I was a real mess. I’m sure you can understand.”
Andy’s apartment consisted of a living room that faced the street through tall ceiling-high bowed windows, with more than likely a bedroom, kitchen, and bath at the other end of a long hallway. A large desk faced the front windows, piled with folders, more papers, and a laptop. Andy stepped over to the desk and closed the laptop. I guess he didn’t want any snooping on my part.
“Have a seat. What can I do for you?”
“Detective Ianello stopped by my apartment the other day.”
Andy groaned. “Yeah, he’s been here too. Asking a lot of the same questions over and over, the same ones they asked me downtown.”
“He seemed to be particularly interested in what you were wearing that night. I told him you had on jeans and a jacket.”
“That’s right. I don’t know why he thought it was strange. I don’t wear pajamas. Moira pulled off my clothes and I passed out. When I came to, I just grabbed the closest thing. It was cold that night. I think he thinks I was lurking around in the backyard or something. He kept asking me if I knew that David kept a gun in the trunk of his car.”
“Did you?”
“Nah. I wasn’t paying any attention. I may have seen David showing Rob something in the garage the night before the wedding, but it didn’t really register. At least I don’t think so. I didn’t see a gun. Not that I’m conscious of.”
“Who’s the guy at Macao you said Moira was very friendly with?”
Andy’s mouth twitched slightly. “I don’t remember his name.”
I waited.
“I don’t. Really. I just know he bartends there, and I know he goes to Berkeley ’cause Moira never shut up about him. She was always going on about how nice he was and how smart he was and all that crap.” Andy sat on his desk chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
“So I guess you do bookkeeping for the owner of Macao. And you’re involved in some real estate deals too.”
Andy became very still. “Who told you that?”
“Dan mentioned it.”
“Dan’s got it all wrong.” Andy rose from his chair and walked over to the desk. He started rearranging the piles of papers. “Besides I’m not licensed by the state to broker any real estate deals. Dan was mistaken.”
“I see.” I did see. He was lying through his teeth.
“Maybe you and Moira were investing in real estate?” I said quietly.
“That’s ridiculous.” He answered too quickly. “I don’t own any real estate, and as far as I know, neither did Moira. Is there anything else, Julia? Because I’m real busy right now. Got a lot of work to get done.” A small tic had started under his left eye.
I thought of Geneva and the Learys and what they were going through. I had no more patience with anybody’s lies. My anger was going to boil to the surface and I wasn’t sure I could contain it. Somehow I forced my voice to remain calm. “I think you’re a damn liar, Andy. I found a tax form at her apartment. A form that proved she was decl
aring real estate investments. I checked out those properties.”
He glared at me. “I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”
“You were using her identity, weren’t you? Did she find out? Is that what you were really arguing about at the wedding?”
“That’s crazy.” He moved awkwardly and his arm collided with a stack of papers on the desk. They fell to the floor, scattering in all directions. “I think you should leave now.” He advanced toward me. Involuntarily, I took two steps back. “Who do you think you are, coming here, accusing me of this shit!”
“Did she threaten to blow your cover?
The blood had drained from Andy’s face. His complexion was ashen. “How can you say that? I would never have hurt her. Never!”
“And your pals at Macao? What about them?”
He gritted his teeth. “Get out! Get the hell out of here. Before I do something I’ll be sorry about.”
I didn’t need another invitation. I was out the door in three steps, slamming it behind me. Somehow I reached the sidewalk. Outside on the street, I looked back at his front windows. He stood there staring at me, a phone held against his ear. I felt his gaze boring into me as I headed for my car. My hands were shaking. If Andy had shot Moira, or if his dealings had caused her death, I wanted to tear his throat out myself.
thirty-three
I rammed my key into the ignition and drove into the park. I was on auto pilot, not even sure where I was heading. I kept taking deep breaths until my head cleared. My cell phone rang as I passed the Conservatory of Flowers. I pulled over and hit the brakes, making a conscious effort to pull myself back into the here and now. It was Gale.
“Julia, get over here. Right now.” I could hear Cheryl in the background giggling.
“What’s going on?”
Cheryl grabbed the phone. “We’re celebrating. We won. We won.” She crowed cheerfully.
Gale came back on the line. “The judge ruled today. Sam just called us. And Frank’s so upset he’s been leaving nasty voicemails all afternoon on Cheryl’s phone. He should’ve had a lawyer. But I guess he figured dental school qualified him to practice law.” Gale shrieked with laughter.
“What’s the final outcome?”
“Cheryl gets half the house, so she’ll have enough to buy a nice little apartment in the city near us, and half of Frank’s sizeable pension fund. Pretty cool, huh? Don’t know how he’s going to support his underage pregnant girlfriend, though.” Gale hooted with laughter once again. I could hear glasses clinking in the background. “Anyway, we’re celebrating tonight at my place. You have to come over right now. I’ve ordered out for sushi and we’re having wine.”
“I’ll come now.” I didn’t trust myself to be alone.
Gale’s condo is a corner unit in a sleek high-rise on Russian Hill. Her years in real estate had served her well. Two sides of the apartment have large windows overlooking the northern part of the city. The view toward the east is anchored by Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill. To the north is the Bay with the Golden Gate Bridge an illuminated marker on the far west. The sun had set and the lights of the city were twinkling below. It was breathtaking, but I had to admit to a teeny bit of vertigo and the fact that I’d be terrified in an earthquake.
“Honey, don’t worry,” Gale always says. “These buildings are built to sway in an earthquake. If anything happens, just hold on to a doorjamb and try not to lose your balance. They’re a lot safer than the older buildings.”
I pulled into the carriage area and waved to the valet. He came rushing over and opened my door. “Hi, James. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Good to see you again.” As the regular valet for guests on weeknights, James was used to my little red Geo and kind enough not to sneer at it, as another valet and a doorman had done. The cars that lived and visited here were priced at least fifty-thousand dollars more. I’m attached to my little car, though, and wouldn’t trade it in for anything. It’s dependable, always starts, is easy on gas, and has gotten me out of a few tough scrapes.
Gale and Cheryl were laughing hysterically when I reached the front door of the condo. I could hear them as soon as I stepped off the elevator. I rang the bell and Gale opened the door a moment later. She was dressed in a flowy sort of caftan-like outfit she’d picked up in Morocco and was decked out with large pieces of handmade African jewelry.
“Did you have to bribe the whole tribe for that?” I was referring to her necklace made of hunks of stone and copper strung together with leather strips.
“Oh, shut up,” she laughed. “Come on in and help Cheryl celebrate. Kick off your shoes. The sushi’s already here.”
I took her advice and settled into the cushions with a large glass of wine. She passed me a tray of sushi. Not my favorite thing to eat. I always worry it might be dressed with poisonous blowfish, but I was so hungry, I wolfed down several rounds. Spelling each other when one ran out of breath, Cheryl and Gale happily, and somewhat tipsily, gave me a blow-by-blow account of the judge’s order. Frank and his girlfriend had been charged with contempt of court. He was released on his own recognizance later in the day, but would now have to find a lawyer and appear in court again.
“Julia, I’ve been so scared, not knowing how I was going to survive or make a living, and I was so intimidated by Frank, I couldn’t think straight.”
“Be happy. You’re starting a brand new life, and you don’t deserve to walk away with nothing.”
Cheryl was thrilled with the settlement and, hugging Gale, broke down in grateful tears. Gale was a born mother, and I knew she was secretly thrilled to have engineered Cheryl’s successful divorce. “I still can’t believe what he did. I actually fell for it. I’m so ashamed,” Cheryl went on. Tears came into her eyes. “I guess I just needed to see one more time what a selfish ass he is.”
We were silent for a few moments, sad that Cheryl had been so vulnerable to Frank’s manipulations. Gale finally said, “So Julia, where were you today? Tell us what’s going on. Bring us up to date.”
I decided not to mention my confrontation with Andy. I didn’t want to hear anyone’s advice at that moment, nor did I want to rain on Cheryl’s parade. “You’ve never met Geneva, my friend from school …”
“No, but you’ve mentioned her often. Cheryl told me part of the story. I can’t believe you know these people. I mean, it’s really shocking. And you were there.”
I grimaced. “I truly wish I hadn’t been.”
“So what do you think? What do the stars have to say?”
I shook my head. “Can’t talk about that at all, you know that.”
“Can you talk about the murder?”
“I can tell you what happened. It’s no secret.” I gave Gale the condensed version of events, editing out my questioning of Rita and Andy. They listened, rapt and wide-eyed.
Cheryl spoke first. “So now the police know the murder weapon was a .22 caliber gun. So it definitely wasn’t the husband?”
“Couldn’t be. Rob’s gun was only fired once, and that bullet was lodged in the opposite wall.
“And the second gun is still missing? That’s the one that belonged to your friend’s husband?”
“David’s gun is missing, but there’s no proof it was the gun that killed Moira, although it certainly looks suspicious. The police have torn the house and the entire property apart and can’t find any other gun. So, it’s likely that someone else was in the garage with Moira that night. Someone who took off with the gun.”
“Did everyone come running at once?”
“I was sleeping in the den above the garage, so the shots were probably much louder where I was. Ashley, their little girl, sleeps on the third floor and didn’t wake up at all, thankfully.”
“So who wasn’t where they were supposed to be?” Gale cut straight to the chase.
I explained the layout o
f the house and the old servants’ stairway. “It’s possible someone could have returned to an upstairs bedroom from the back stairs. They’d have to be pretty quick, though. It’s also possible Moira was planning to take off in Andy’s car, or she was meeting someone in the garage who we don’t know about. Mary was standing on the stairway when I went through the foyer. Matt came down the stairs a few moments later.”
“You didn’t see anyone else?”
“Not at first. Matt and I had just decided to go investigate, but the door that leads down into the garage was locked. Then Rob opened that door from the other side to tell us he’d shot someone. We followed him back down to the garage and … I was in a state of shock, I guess. I wasn’t watching who was there and who wasn’t.”
“Think about it now.”
“Well, Matt was right by my side, and Rob of course was already there. Mary was at the bottom of the stairs in the garage, but I didn’t actually notice Andy until the ambulance took Moira and Brooke away. And then Dan showed up very quickly. Andy had called him.”
“So any of the others could have been in the garage and come back into the house through the yard and the back stairway, couldn’t they?
“I suppose so. But then how could they have gotten rid of the gun? There wouldn’t have been time. The house and neighborhood have all been searched. The police probably quickly realized two different guns were involved.”
“And the missing gun? Could it have been hidden somewhere?”
“I don’t see how. The search was very thorough. And it still hasn’t turned up. The real question is why? Why would anybody want to kill Moira?”
“What does the family think?”
“Geneva suspects Andy because he and Moira fought so much. Dan dislikes Rob intensely and tends to think he’s behind this somehow. Rob … he had a theory I won’t bore you with, and I have no idea what Brooke’s theory is.
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