I clicked on the TV and turned the volume to a low level. I found coffee beans and a grinder and made a pot of coffee. I grabbed a grapefruit from the fruit bowl on the half-wall counter dividing the kitchen from the living room. I peeled the fruit and put it in a bowl. I poured granola and milk in a second bowl. With my fresh coffee and half and half in a mug, I sat on one of the high leg chairs at the counter. Beautiful, reflected sun from the surface of the pool produced shimmering light in the pool house. This sparkling, glorious image contrasted with the horror that happened at this estate a day and a half earlier.
My mind focused on the House of Gabriel. I thought of all that happened over the past ten years.
It was an unexpected action. A year before his death in 1995, Sid Gabriel had changed his will. He had declared his love-child, Tawny, his legal daughter and made it a stipulation in his will that she be named and raised as Tawny Deer Gabriel. He also stated his intention to marry his secret fiancée, Bambi Deer, and desired her to use his last name as her own on his death, if that occurred before they were married. In addition, Sid wrote that he would revisit his will after he married Bambi. His murder prevented that from happening.
The changes he did make gave Bambi a life annuity that provided her $10,000 per month. Plus, Bambi received a tenancy on his large mansion for twenty-two years, and a $50,000 annual housing maintenance allowance; until their daughter, Tawny, turned twenty-five. Then, Tawny would inherit the big house, the land and all of its contents, free and clear. Sid also established a $2 million trust fund for Tawny that she could access at twenty-five. Bambi then would have a life tenancy on the smaller pool house on Sid’s estate.
In addition, Sid created a life annuity for Edie McCall that provided her $10,000 a month and gave her a tenancy on the pool house for twenty-two years. Sid extended his generosity to Edie’s father, Rob Nealy, by providing him a life annuity of $5,000 a month. Rob’s funds were deposited until he completed his eight-year prison term.
The remaining majority of Sid’s estate, mostly real estate investments worth over ten million dollars, was left to his son, Troy. Troy also had a twenty-two year tenancy on the estate’s garage apartment. If either child died without legal heirs, the other sibling would inherit their estate.
As a result of Sid’s actions, Bambi’s relationship with Sid, and her daughter’s birth, was legitimized in the eyes of the law. Bambi was promoted from concubine to widowed queen consort. She was gracefully preserving the legacy of her betrothal to the king, maintaining his estate for their princess, and presiding over a court that included the crown prince and a maid-in-waiting, of sorts. When I visited this kingdom a year earlier, I was the knight-errant making the queen’s long-desired return, in the form of my vacation.
I didn’t know what to expect from Bambi. She was very welcoming to me, but we weren’t close friends. No, it was more accurate to say we were acquaintances that shared a traumatic episode.
At forty-nine, Bambi still looked beautiful. She was petite and had a big, white-toothed smile, large expressive brown eyes, a straight, prominent nose, high cheek bones and a gorgeous southern accent from her youth in South Carolina. Her dyed-blonde hair was long, parted just off center, and still falling down her back. Her big chest, a legacy from her now-ended professional career, partially hid the fact that Bambi was very thin. She stood five feet two inches tall, but couldn’t weigh more than one hundred and ten pounds. Her clothes were more conservative than years earlier. She greeted me dressed in white slacks, a stylish black sweater set, and black high-heeled boots. Bambi had a kind, generous personality, and was the kind of wife and mother a husband and children dream about.
I soon met Bambi’s daughter, Tawny. At nearly eleven, she was a beautiful, friendly, poised and well-mannered young woman. At five feet two inches tall, Tawny had already reached her mother’s height and looked like a child model. She wore shorts, sandals and a sleeveless t-shirt. Her hair nearly reached to her waist, was naturally dark brown, and tied back with a blue ribbon into a very long pony tail.
I also met Tawny’s twenty-six year-old half-brother, Troy Gabriel, poolside. Troy was a cocky but friendly millionaire. His wealth gave Troy confidence and a relatively carefree outlook on life. He had finished college with a business degree a few years ago and was managing his inheritance; a Torrance apartment complex and a Chatsworth condo community were the largest parts of his asset portfolio. That job didn’t seem to stress him too much, and left him a lot of time for his primary interest; his fiancée, Lisa. She was a stunningly beautiful brunette from a middle class family who grasped with pleasure her role in life — to keep Troy happy. She seemed to be doing her part well. They seemed to be totally in love with each other. I learned that Troy and Lisa split their time between his garage apartment here in Beverly Hills, their three-bedroom condo in Chatsworth, and Troy’s mother’s home in Malibu. Clearly, Troy enjoyed life and, why not? He was a millionaire. He had a gorgeous, caring fiancée. And, he had a mother, stepmother and a half sister who adored having him as the man in their lives.
Nothing was as I expected it. Troy liked Bambi and loved Tawny and enjoyed hanging out with them. There were no negative vibes in the House of Gabriel; not yet.
Later, after my welcoming dinner, I was seated in the mansion’s living room with Bambi.
I said, “I think about Sid’s death a lot. I don’t think I’ve gotten over it yet.”
Bambi said, “I do too. I miss Sid every day.”
I said, “You were very kind to me when it all happened. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“But, umm…”
“What’s up Stevie? Tell me.”
“Well, I’ve decided to write a book about the whole investigation. I think it might help me, to get over it, to move on, but, also to understand why it happened.”
Bambi said, “I think that’s a good idea. Do you need my help?”
“Yes, I was going to ask you, but you beat me to it.”
“What help were you thinking of?”
“I just wanted to talk, to review everything, your life with Sid. I don’t want to be too personal, if that’s OK?”
“Sure, maybe I could write too. I’ve been thinking of doing that for Tawny. She has so few memories of her father.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea. Why don’t we talk over the next couple of days and I’ll take notes? I’ve also brought a small audio recorder, if that’s OK?”
“Stevie, don’t worry. I trust you. And, I think it’s more than OK. I love the idea. Some of the memories are a little racy, especially of my R-rated movies and exotic dancing days, so I’ll have to edit as I go for you and for Tawny.”
Then, Bambi laughed.
As things turned out, I wished I had more time to talk to Bambi.
I spent two fun days with the Gabriels before I visited Edie in Tucson. We went to the beach, saw the sights and shopped, rode on their horses that they boarded at a stable north of Burbank, dined at a modern restaurant high in the hills above the L.A. basin, and talked about life for hours.
The weather was perfect, the surf warm and inviting, and Bambi and Tawny were wonderful companions. Life was good in L.A.
Our conversations covered all kinds of topics about people and places. Bambi told me how she met Sid Gabriel. She spoke about their movies and times together before their affair started. Then, one night, Sid and Edie met Bambi at Modern Girls. During a lap dance with Sid, he invited Bambi back to his estate. She surprised herself by saying yes.
She confirmed that she got pregnant the first weekend that they slept together. It happened the first morning. Sid’s son, Troy, was at his mother’s, Edie was somewhere, maybe back in her pool house, and she and Sid were alone in his big bed. They woke together and made love.
“It wasn’t just sex, Stevie. We all know what that’s like. No, Sid really took his time. He confessed his love for me. ‘I can’t help it, Bambi; I’ve felt like this ever since we met years ago. I ho
pe you understand. The timing was never right. Maybe it still isn’t, I don’t know. But, this is right now, very right.’
“I was so shocked. Sid didn’t use protection and I wasn’t on the pill. Still, I couldn’t believe I conceived. The amazing thing was that Sid and I were thrilled when we learned I was pregnant. I couldn’t believe I was having a baby. After all these years; I was almost 40. And, Sid was in his late 40’s. Yet, it was magical. We were so happy. He helped me so much! He wanted to get married, immediately. I said no because I didn’t know him that well and, well, I knew he had other women. I give him credit. He was persistent. He didn’t want Tawny to be a bastard. Right after Tawny was born, while I was in bed in the hospital, he proposed again and I said yes.
“Sid showered me with gifts. He gave me the three bedroom condo in Chatsworth. He paid for my mother to relocate from South Carolina to be with Tawny when I worked.”
I said, “You went back to dancing at Modern Girls.”
“Yes, Sid didn’t want me to. I knew he hadn’t told anybody about me and Tawny. I told him we were his big secret. He was committed to us, but he was still seeing other women. I wouldn’t wear my engagement ring on my finger.
“Stevie, I know it’s weird, but I was in love. Sid treated me nicely. He also paid for big things, like my body work – but he was the one that wanted me to do it. I got nicer-looking breast implants. He begged me to get a tattoo on my lower back and I did. He wanted me to stay a blonde. He wanted me to look as hot as I could be. I did, but I told him I couldn’t dress that way all the time. I mean, I was now a mother and living with my mother. It was hard enough for her to accept my exotic dancing job and the fact that Sid and I had this weird relationship. I just couldn’t wear four inch heels and go braless and squeeze into tight clothes all the time. I said I’d dress like that when he was around, but he’d have to tell me when he was coming by the condo. He did that, and was very happy with me. He knew he was demanding, but we had this thing, this connection, where I understood his needs. We also knew he was changing, getting ready for his new life with just me. He just had a lot of bad habits to break and I was patient because I could see his progress.”
Bambi finished her confession. “I was faithful to him and he knew it. I made him see a doctor regularly and get tested and show me the results. I made him wear a condom. He didn’t like that at first, as he wanted us to have another child, but he knew why I made him do it; so we all stayed healthy. I wasn’t so sure about having a second baby as I was forty-one. But, I told him I’d do it if he made the total commitment and told everyone. We would need to get married and we needed to live in his mansion. He had to stop the playing around. I would stop working at Modern Girls. I wanted to be a stay-home mother and wife. And, my mother would be moving in with us.
“He agreed with everything I wanted. He told me he was going to announce our engagement and plans just a few weeks after Troy’s high school graduation. I found out later he was being truthful.”
I asked, “How?”
Bambi answered, “He changed his will.”
“That’s right.”
***
My memories skipped ahead to the Arizona part of my 2003 vacation.
Edie caught me up with her life since we last met at Andi Anderson’s wedding in 2000.
She spoke about her TV series, her love life, and life in L.A. at the Gabriel estate.
I decided to tackle a tougher subject. I asked, “So, how is your dad?”
“He has dark moods. Sometimes when I visit he doesn’t talk. I get sad…it’s hard. He’s up for parole next year. It’s been a nightmare for seven years, but he’s very sorry for everything that happened. Bambi and I visit him often.”
“Bambi visits him?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t believe it at first. You know, I didn’t know Bambi at all until we found everything out after Sid died. I learned that my dad and Bambi already knew each other. They did things with Sid; you know the three of them went to dinner together, stuff like that. You know my dad worked for Sid for many years, but they were friends too. They three of them were relatively close in age, with Sid and my dad in their fifties and Bambi was forty-one at the time.”
“Did your dad know that Sid and Bambi were secretly engaged when Sid died?”
“Yeah, maybe, you know, I don’t know. Anyway, during the recovery from his wound, dad reached out to Bambi to explain what happened and how Kathy Reese mixed him all up. He knew Bambi was heartbroken by Sid’s death and he apologized for the harm he caused. Dad had also pled guilty to a conspiracy to murder charge for his acts with Kathy. His twenty year prison term was reduced to eight due to his cooperation with the police and help in keeping Andi alive.
“During his time in the joint, dad and Bambi have stayed in touch. Bambi visits him at Chino. We usually go separately so it seems like he gets more visitors. I think it’s helped them recover. Bambi forgave dad. I think their casual friendship has deepened.”
I was amazed and said so.
“I know; me too. Bambi is a real Christian and always said that she needed to forgive dad and help him.”
“Wow!”
Edie then said, “And, we were all shocked when Sid put us all in his will. We all thought everything was going to Troy.”
“I bet you were. I thought it would be that way too.”
“Yeah, it’s not like dad or Bambi or I are millionaires or anything. It’s just a security thing with our annuities. We don’t have to worry really, Bambi especially. I mean, Sid really did her right. You know, he did as much as he could to legitimize Tawny and his love and relationship with her and Bambi. He made it clear in the will that they were engaged and that he loved her and was going to marry her.”
“Yeah. How did that make you feel?”
“OK, really. I mean I knew Sid and I would never marry. Plus, once I really got to know Bambi, I fell in love with her. You know, she is a terrific person and really does treat me like she’s my mother or older sister. And, Tawny, well, she is a joy.”
She paused, looked at me, and said, “They really are my family.”
“That’s great, Edie.”
“Bambi’s doing an incredible job raising Tawny alone, especially since Bambi’s mother died two years ago. She doesn’t spoil Tawny, but she does shower her with love. And, because of Sid’s will, Bambi has been able to act like a true widow and treat the estate like it’s a family home. She was the key to getting Troy and Tawny to act like siblings. Troy really likes his little sister. It’s amazing, really.”
“It sure looks like it.”
“Sid would be very happy. You know, we are all together on the estate a lot of the times; Bambi and Tawny in the mansion, Troy in the garage apartment and me in the pool house. It’s a little weird, but Bambi has made it all work and we all get along great. I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“So, Tawny will be very rich when she gets older.”
“She’s not as rich as Troy, because most of Tawny’s inheritance is tied up in the estate. We all hope she keeps it as a family home. I think she will, because she’ll get other money from Sid when she turns twenty-five.”
“So, what will your dad do when he gets released?”
“I’m not exactly sure. Bambi has already asked him if he wants to move back to the estate and live in the housekeepers’ quarters downstairs.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and he told her he might.”
“Wow, this is surprising news, Edie.”
The television brought me back to the present. A news story came on about the triple murders. Suddenly, on the TV screen was my fiancée giving her statement to the media the day before. Edie asked for prayers for Tawny. I could tell she needed all of her acting skill and internal strength to make it through that one minute of unwanted attention.
Then, the screen went back to the studio reporter. Spoken phrases of the victims bounced in my head; murdered mistress of long-dead Academy Award winner, surviving millio
naire son and his fiancée killed too, and the missing half-sister of Troy and daughter from Sid Gabriel’s relationship with Bambi Deer. The report went on to say that family friend and actress, Edie McCall, discovered the tragic scene when she returned from filming her new TV show in Vancouver, British Columbia. So far police have not made any arrests or held anyone for questioning. However, they do believe Tawny Gabriel’s disappearance is related to the murders…
Where was Tawny? Something went wrong. I thought that the murderer truly meant to kill everyone, including Edie and Tawny. Edie had spoiled the plan with her extended filming.
But, what about Tawny? That bloody brick could be evidence of an incident with her. If so, what did the killer do with Tawny? Did they take her? If so, where?
As I was eating a grapefruit slice, it hit me; Rob Nealy, Edie’s father. Where was he? Edie said he was supposed to be here to help with wedding preparations. This was way too coincidental. God, no! It couldn’t be. Memories flooded back. Connections were made I had never seen before.
This reminded me so much of that earlier case; Sid Gabriel’s murder and Andi Anderson’s abduction. However, those crimes were committed by Kathy Reese…and Rob Nealy. He was Reese’s accomplice. Yes, she shot Sid Gabriel…but Rob drove the getaway car. And, Rob helped abduct Andi and let Reese torture her. He then drove Andi from L.A. to Arizona in his car’s trunk. The plan was for Rob to murder Andi, but he couldn’t do it. Yet, his change of mind was mostly due to Reese dumping him as her boyfriend, not because he wanted to avoid committing first degree murder. Rob had served eight years in prison for his crimes. I had unanswered questions about Rob.
First, where was he on Sunday? Second, where was he now? And, third, why hadn’t he contacted Edie since then?
Morning Visitor
My train of thought was broken by a knock at the door. It was Lieutenant Lomita.
Some people never age. Eight years had passed since Rob Nealy’s trial, and Peter Lomita still looked the same. Six feet, three inches tall, lean and muscular with medium-long hair. He was still clean shaven and had a strong chin. His piercing blue eyes were squinting in the early morning sun. I still didn’t know his age, but guessed he was at least fifty. He has a fairly fierce, gruff manner. His wardrobe hadn’t changed since the 1990’s; he wore ankle-high black boots, trim black slacks, and a white long-sleeved shirt. His black conservatively patterned tie was loosened and the top button of his shirt was undone. His gray sports coat was unbuttoned and, with his right hand on his hip, opened to reveal a shoulder holster and pistol. His detective badge was fixed to the holster.
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