Murder in Mariposa Beach

by Teresa Michael

  “Oh my God! I thought my father was going to kill Enrique.” Pilar covered her face with her hands. “My uncle, my cousin and my father got into a big fight. I could hear them screaming at each other. My father accused him of getting me involved in the whole mess. My cousin swears he didn’t know. He was crying and begging for forgiveness for getting us both involved in that company. It was horrible.”

  “I heard the company is closed down. The books are being audited, and everyone is being investigated. I felt bad for the tech support guys. I believe they didn’t know what was going on. They were doing their jobs,” Libby said.

  “I feel bad for my customers who might need support. This is all so terrible.”

  “You’re safe, and that’s something we’re all grateful for.” Libby put her hand on top of Pilar’s.

  “I owe you my life, Libby. How can I ever repay you?”

  “By moving on. If you can’t shake these feelings, talk to a counselor. Go on a trip. Do whatever you have to do to find yourself again. Believe me. I know what I’m talking about. If you can’t move forward, those feelings will consume you. They will eat you up inside.”

  “What happened to you?” Pilar asked, leaning forward, concern in her voice.

  “It’s a long story that I promise I will share with you one day, but believe me, I know what it’s like to feel as though you’re split in two and that you’ll never find yourself again. I spent three months at my Aunt Julia’s condo, sitting on the beach, staring out to sea before I was able to move forward.”

  “How did you?”

  “Well, I met Mimi.” She laughed at the memory. “She got me involved in her dream to open the cafe.”

  “I always wondered how you two first got together.”

  “She saved my life, along with my Aunt Julia and David and the others. Pretty soon, I was almost happy again. So, regardless of how you find your way back, I promise, you will, but it takes time. Be patient with yourself.”

  “I will.” Pilar took a breath and asked, “One question?”

  “Of course.”

  “I have to ask. Where does Tony fit into all this?”

  “What has Tony told you?”

  “Not much. Just that you’re his ex-wife. Not much more than that. He has never wanted to talk about his past, at least not with me.”

  “Tony was a big part of why I was in a manic state sitting on the beach.”

  “Now, you’ve got me wondering.”

  Just as Libby was starting to answer her, a voice from behind them called, “Pilar, are you out there?”

  “Yes, mama. I’ll be right there.” To Libby, she whispered, “I want details.”

  Libby laughed and leaned back into the swing to watch a sailboat maneuver from the bay into the canal. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and relaxed into the sway of the swing.

  Suddenly, her eyes snapped open. What was that? Behind her, she heard a rustle in the bushes. Had she dozed off, she wondered. She smelled cigarette smoke and realized someone was smoking on the other side of the bushes. She heard footsteps as another person joined the first.

  “Light?” A man’s voice asked.

  “Sure.”

  “Some party, huh?”

  “Yeah, they like to give parties. Any occasion or no occasion, there’s a party. Your job is to stay out of sight unless summoned.”

  “But it’s okay to be out here for a smoke, right?” The second guy sounded younger and less sure of himself. Probably a new guy, Libby thought.

  “Sure, this is sort of away from the house. You can see what’s going on, but most of the people over there won’t even notice us.” The first guy had a deeper voice and sounded like he was breaking in a new employee.

  “I heard the old man chewing young Ricky a new one.”

  “Don’t cross the old man…especially when it comes to Pilar or his wife. Ricky messed up big time getting involved with those guys and then getting Pilar involved. Damn, that was bad.”

  “What’s the old man going to do?”

  “We have to wait and see. The old man said he got some new information he’s looking into.” He took a long drag on his cigarette, and Libby wondered if he was talking about the missing flash drive?

  “What kind of information?” The second guy asked, with a little too much excitement.

  “Don’t worry about it. Be ready to travel at a moment’s notice. When he gets in a mood, there’s no telling what he’ll do. He’s all happy and mellow right now, but as soon as the party’s over, he’ll go to work. So keep your head down and be ready.”

  On the other side of the bushes, it sounded like one of the men was crushing out his cigarette with his shoe. As Libby realized they were winding down their smoking and conversation, she hoped they wouldn’t decide on a moonlight stroll by the water. From where she was sitting, it appeared that the short wall by the dock would give her cover from anyone standing on higher ground by the bushes and gazebo, especially at dusk. Deciding a quiet exit was in order, she removed her heels and began to creep out of the gazebo down the steps to the dock.

  “Did you hear something?” Libby heard the first man ask, the one with the deeper voice. Oh, shit! Better get out of here.

  “No? What did you hear?”

  By the time the men came around the bushes and into the gazebo, mariachi music was coming from the patio. Libby hoped the music would mask any noise she made as she crept half the length of the boat dock carrying her shoes. She hoped her movements were blocked by the wall, the docked boat and the descending darkness.

  When she reached the end of the dock, she stuck her head up enough to peer through the dusk towards the gazebo. Since the gazebo was just beyond the extent of the patio lights, she couldn’t see anyone. Hoping it was safe enough to make her way towards the house, she took a deep breath to ease her racing heart. She replaced her shoes, then stood up and walked up the steps towards the house.

  Chapter 34

  Wednesday Evening – Coral Gables

  The Payoff

  Libby stood at the edge of the patio watching the mariachi trio stroll from one group of people to another.

  “Having a good time?” Tony asked as he handed her a Corona.

  “Who wouldn’t be smiling while listening to a mariachi band? It’s such happy music,” she said before taking a drink.

  “Mr. Montoya wants to see you in his office so he can give you the check.”

  “I feel a little funny accepting money for what I did.”

  “Whatever you do, don’t refuse him,” Tony warned. “He would take it as an insult if you did, and, believe me, you don’t want to insult him.”

  Taking her by the elbow, Tony led her past the outdoor bar and into the biggest residential kitchen she had ever seen. Beautiful wood cabinets surrounded a huge island with prep area, sink and a bar seating area.

  “Wow, Mimi would give her eye teeth for a kitchen like this,” Libby said, as two women from the catering company barely gave them a passing glance as Tony rushed her through. On the way out the door on the opposite side of the room, she set her half-empty beer on the counter.

  She followed Tony through a hallway that led to an adjoining wing of the house that served as a home office. They passed a room with a half-open door where Libby got a glimpse of at least six security monitors showing various parts of the house. As they passed, she met Mario’s eyes. He gave her a wink before closing the door. Security and surveillance are keeping an eye on the guests and the family silver. How interesting.

  As they approached the closed door at the end of the hall, Tony’s gait slowed. Libby’s heart beat faster, and she caught a whiff of a sweet-smelling cigar. Tony rapped on the door and waited for permission to enter.

  “Come in,” she heard from inside the room.

  Tony took her hand and smiled down at her before opening the door. Libby was surprised to see that, in contrast to the rest of the house, the office was quite homey and messy. The floral sofa to her left lo
oked comfortable. Overflowing ashtrays sat on a rectangular wooden coffee table, and two side chairs were on either side of the sofa. Framed photos of friends and relatives smiled from the walls as did pictures marking the milestones in the history of Montoya Foods.

  Javier Montoya sat behind his desk, a lit cigar in the corner of his mouth. Folders and loose papers littered his desk, and an open laptop sat on a worktable behind him. Clearly, this was an office where real business was conducted.

  “Libby, Tony. Come in, come in.” Montoya stood and put out his cigar in an ashtray on the desk return to his left. “This is the only room in the house where I am allowed to smoke.” He laughed as he came around the desk.

  “I love the pictures on the wall.” Libby pointed to a black and white picture of a two-story house with two children standing on the front stoop. “Where’s this?”

  “That was my family’s home in Havana.” He came and stood next to her and pointed to one of the children. “That one. It is me. The other is my brother, Julio.”

  “You’re so cute.”

  “It was a lifetime ago.” He sighed and turned back towards the desk.

  While his back was turned, Libby’s eyes swept over the desk, hoping for a glance of the missing flash drive. With all the papers on the desk, it could be hidden underneath anything. She glanced towards the laptop, but with the angle it was turned, she couldn’t see if there was anything inserted into the USB port.

  Mr. Montoya turned the bound checkbook around and tore a check along the perforations. “This is not nearly enough to thank you for what you did for my daughter and my family,” he said as he handed the check to her.

  Libby looked at Tony and back at the check. She met Montoya’s eyes and said, “Thank you, Mr. Montoya.”

  “Tony tells me your father has gone to be with God,” he said, touching his forehead, chest and shoulders in the sign of the cross.

  “Yes, that’s true. Five years ago.”

  “If at any time you need anything, anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask me. You are a part of our family now. Promise me. You will ask.”

  She wanted to say ‘I hope I never have to ask you for a favor.’ But aloud she said, “I promise. Thank you. I do appreciate this.”

  Chapter 35

  Wednesday Evening – Miami

  Thanks, But No Thanks, for the Memories

  After leaving his car in the hotel portico with the valet, Tony and Libby crossed the lobby.

  “A nightcap?” He asked.

  “I would love to,” she said following him into the lobby bar. “It was a lovely party,” she said as she took the seat he offered at a table in the corner.

  “They do know how to give a party,” he said, signaling the waiter. “A scotch, please, and for the lady,” he added turning to Libby.”

  “Tequila.”

  Tony sat across from her as the waiter went to place the order.

  “It feels so good to sit down for a minute,” she said.

  “I must say, you look beautiful tonight. Reminds me of how beautiful you were on our wedding day.” He placed his hand over hers.

  The waiter arrived with their drinks, and she slipped her hand out from under his and picked up her glass.

  “Thank you for these few days. I’d almost forgotten what it’s like staying in a fancy hotel and being pampered to no end.” She raised her glass to him and sipped the golden liquid.

  “You should be pampered every day.” He looked over his glass at her. “Do you remember that resort we stayed in on St. Thomas during our honeymoon?”

  “Yes, it was beautiful, and I’ve never seen water so blue. I remember the view from the balcony on that beautiful bay.” She smiled and took another sip.

  “I remember that red bikini you wore.” He laughed and winked. “Well, you didn’t wear it for very long.”

  “We had some good times back in the day, didn’t we?”

  “Yes, we did.” He took another sip and set the glass on the table. “I know I screwed everything up, and I’m so sorry. If there were anything I could do to make it right, you know I would do it.”

  She shook her head. “It’s all in the past. Let’s don’t go over all that again tonight. All right?”

  “Is it really in the past? Do you not think about us, what we had…what we lost?”

  “I think about it all, even though I try not to.” She spoke barely above a whisper. “Sometimes, I have this dream.”

  “A dream?”

  “A dream where I’m with a small child, a toddler, maybe three or four. I can’t tell if it’s a boy or a girl, but it has dark curly hair, dark eyes and the most beautiful smile.” She smiled, remembering the beauty of the dream, though her eyes were filling with tears. “And we’re in a park. The child is running around playing, laughing. But then suddenly it turns dark, and I can’t find the child. I hear it calling ‘Mommy’ ‘Mommy,’ but I can’t find my child. Then I hear a scream, and I wake up not sure if it was in the dream or me that was screaming.”

  She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face.

  “Oh, Mary Elizabeth…”

  “I’ve never told anyone about this,” she said, wiping her hands across her face.

  He took her hands again. “The loss of our child was something that we shared. It was our child. I think about it, too. About where we would be if…if all of that hadn’t happened.”

  “But it did, didn’t it? And you were in jail, and I was all alone with my grief and my loss.” She finished her drink in one gulp. “I think I’ll go on up to my room. Good night, Tony.”

  He stood as she rose to leave. “I was alone, too.”

  She turned and walked out of the bar.

  Chapter 36

  Thursday

  The Red Sports Car

  “Tony, it’s been good to see you, but it’s time for me to go back home.” Libby was standing in front of the revolving doors in the hotel lobby, her backpack slung over her shoulder and a new beach bag in hand. She was wearing the floral sundress she had worn to lunch the day before. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Thank Mr. Montoya for me again. I appreciate his writing off the entire bill, including the clothes and the other stuff.”

  “Why don’t you take a couple more days? Relax, enjoy the beach, have another massage. You could try a body wrap this time. I hear they’re amazing.”

  “I must admit it’s tempting, but I have to go. I need to help Mimi get the store ready. We have a lot to do so we can re-open in the next few weeks. This check will come in handy.”

  Tony gripped her shoulders and leaned down to look her in the eye, “Mary Elizabeth O’Brien, I told you last night. I’m sorry for everything that happened. I miss you, and I want you back. I want our old life back.” His eyes squinted the way they always did when he was concentrating on a case, a point he was trying to make or when he was really serious with her.

  She could feel the tears coming, and she didn’t want him to see her cry. He had tried to tell her this last night in the bar. But she had left him standing there. She was vulnerable and didn’t want to make a mistake in a moment of weakness.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t,” she said, stepping backward out of his grip. She wiped her face and glanced towards the front door. She saw Jack pull into the hotel portico in a red sports car. She smiled and turned back to Tony. “I have to go.”

  “The cop? You and the detective?”

  “Yes. I don’t know. Maybe.” She let out the breath she had been holding. “It’s none of your business.”

  He laughed. “What about your rule?”

  “It still applies to lawyers,” she said with a smile. “Bye, Tony.”

  “Bye, Lizzie. Take care of yourself.”

  As she turned to go, he pulled her to him and kissed her full on the mouth.

  She pushed him away and said, “Why’d you do that?”

  “I’m not giving up so easily. See you around.” He softly touched her chin, then turned and w
alked away.

  Through the hotel doors, she could see Jack leaning against the passenger door of a red Mustang. She wondered if he had seen Tony kiss her. Damn that Tony. She knew he kissed her on purpose, so that Jack would see.

  As soon as she exited the revolving door, a hot blast of Florida humidity stopped her in her tracks.

  “Hey,” she said. “Thanks for coming to get me.”

  “You ready to leave this swanky place?” He uncrossed his arms and pulled her into a deep, tongue-probing kiss that added to the beads of sweat popping out on her forehead.

  “Oh my! Definitely.”

  “Well, then let’s go,” he said, opening the passenger door. She slid into the front seat, and he deposited her bags in the trunk.

  He dropped into the driver’s seat and turned to look at her as if he were examining her under a microscope.

  “What?” She asked, pulling the sun visor down and looking in the mirror. “Do I have something on my face or in my teeth?”

  “Like the dress, but what happened to your hair?”

  “Had it styled for the big party at the Montoya’s last night. You should see where they live. Wow.” She smiled at him and flipped the sleek hair over her shoulder. “Don’t worry. It will be back to normal as soon as I wash it.”

  “Good,” he said as he started the car.

  Libby looked back at the hotel as he put the car in gear and pulled away. She was glad to be leaving and heading home. “Where did you get this hot car?”

  “My cousin works at a car rental agency in Florida City. He gave me a good deal. We can return it in Sarasota.”

  “Look what I got,” she said holding up the check.

  “What’s that?”

  “The check for fifty thousand big ones. We will get that new cappuccino machine, TV, piano, computers, kitchen equipment and whatever else we need to re-open the café.”

  “Congratulations,” he said as he stopped at a red light. He leaned over and lightly brushed his lips over hers.