by Metsy Hingle
Kelly eyed the bag and Meredith suspiciously. “Why?”
Meredith rolled her eyes. “Oh, for pity’s sake, just take the thing.”
Kelly took the bag and simply stared at it. Growing up as she had, gifts had been a rare thing, consisting primarily of a toy at the Doll and Toy Fund hosted for underprivileged children at Christmastime, and sometimes a new dress purchased by the Ladies Guild for the girls at St. Ann’s for the holidays. She’d been taught to send a proper thank-you for those gifts. But unexpected gifts like this one from Meredith were something with which she’d had little experience.
“Well, aren’t you going to open it?”
Kelly pushed aside the gold tissue and drew out a small glass bottle with a fancy-shaped top. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”
“It’s perfume,” Meredith advised her proudly. “Both the fragrance and bottle were designed exclusively for me. It’s the signature scent for the new boutique I’m opening in the French Quarter next month. It’s called Indulgences—the same as the boutique. Just wait until you smell it,” she said, and taking the bottle from her, Meredith removed the cut-glass stopper. “Give me your wrists.”
Kelly did as instructed and Meredith drew the tip of the stopper along her pulse points.
“Go ahead. Take a sniff.”
Kelly smelled her wrist. She had to admit the soft floral notes were pleasant.
“Well, what do you think? Sinful, isn’t it?”
“It’s very nice,” she said.”
“Nice? You think it’s nice?”
Meredith’s crestfallen expression reminded Kelly of a child being told that there was no Santa Claus—and she felt herself softening. “Actually, it’s lovely, Meredith. Heavenly, in fact,” Kelly amended. “I don’t think I’ve ever smelled anything quite like it.”
Meredith beamed. “Thanks. That’s what I thought, too. I’m hoping it will be a big seller in the boutique. Promise you’ll come to the grand opening and wear the perfume.”
“I’ll probably be back in New York by then.”
“Then fly back for the opening. After all, that’s what planes are for, aren’t they?”
“Well, I suppose that’s one way to look at it,” Kelly said, amazed that Meredith could see life as simply as she did. One big beautiful apple to be savored as she chose. But then, Meredith had lived a life much different from her own.
“So you’ll come?”
“I’ll try,” Kelly hedged. “Well thanks again for the gift,” she said, holding up the bag. “And for dropping by.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to kick me out before we have a chance to chat. Why, we haven’t seen each other in years—not since my little modeling stint in New York. We’ve got so much catching up to do.”
“We do?” Kelly remarked.
“Of course. And I was also hoping to discuss a little business with you.”
Which was an explanation that made more sense for this visit, Kelly thought. “Actually, Meredith, now is probably not the best time—”
“Oh, I promise I won’t stay but a minute. Why don’t we go sit down and get comfy,” Meredith suggested, sweeping passed her in a swish of crimson silk and perfume.
Feeling as though she’d been steamrollered, Kelly followed Meredith into the main area of the suite.
“Oh, isn’t this just lovely,” Meredith exclaimed. “I can’t tell you how impressed I was when I found out you’d booked yourself at the Regent. And a suite, no less.”
“Don’t be too impressed. There’s a medical convention in town and it’s the only thing I could get,” Kelly explained. She’d hated paying the hijacker’s rates and certainly didn’t need a suite, but she’d had no intention of postponing the trip after learning of Sister Grace’s death.
“Well, you certainly got your money’s worth. Look at this view.”
Kelly placed the perfume and wrappings on the table. Sister Grace’s lectures about good manners kicked in once again and she said, “Would you like something from the minibar?”
“Hmm? Oh, no, thanks,” Meredith told her as she began to prowl about the room, running her fingers over a table, checking out the artwork on the walls. “The Jardines have such wonderful taste. You can bet that lamp’s an antique and not a reproduction,” she remarked, referring to the lamp on a corner table.
“I’ll have to take your word for it,” Kelly told her, since her knowledge of antiques was limited.
Meredith turned around and gave her another of those engaging smiles that Kelly associated with the Callaghans. “This is so nice, Kelly. It does my heart good to see you doing so well. Why, I remember that little cramped place you had in New York. I swear I don’t know how you ever lived in that thing.”
“Actually, I still live there.”
Meredith blinked, her big green eyes filled with disbelief. “But why? I mean, I know New York is expensive and all, but you’re one of the best photographers in the business.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Meredith waved off her remark. “I’m not telling you anything you don’t know already. You’re very good at what you do and your work is in some of the biggest fashion magazines in the country. I just assumed you were earning a decent salary and could afford a nicer place to live.”
“I am earning a decent salary,” Kelly assured her. In fact, she was paid well for doing a job she enjoyed. “But I don’t see any point in wasting money on a fancy apartment when all I need is a place to sleep and a darkroom to develop my photos. I’m perfectly happy with my apartment.”
“But how could you be? I mean, you don’t even have a view.”
Kelly nearly laughed, unable to help but be amused by the differences between her and Meredith. “You mean the back of another apartment building doesn’t count?”
Meredith gave her a withering look.
“I don’t need a view, Meredith. I’m hardly ever home, and when I am, I’m in my darkroom.”
“What about when you entertain? Or when you have a guest stay over?”
Kelly’s smile disappeared. “I’m too busy working to do much entertaining. As for overnight guests, I don’t have much time for them, either.” The truth was she hadn’t had any overnight guests since her relationship with Garrett had ended.
“Sounds to me like you could use some fun in your life. And lucky for you, I know all about having fun. That’s the other reason I came by. Mother’s having a little cocktail party this Sunday evening, and when she heard you were in town, she insisted that I ask you to come.”
“Your mother’s inviting me to a cocktail party?” Kelly repeated.
“You needn’t sound so skeptical.”
“It’s kind of hard not to,” Kelly told her. “Face it, Meredith, you and I weren’t exactly pals back in school, and we certainly didn’t move in the same social circles.”
“Oh, don’t be such a snob, Kelly.”
“Me? A snob?”
“Yes,” Meredith insisted. “Back in school, you were the one who always went off by yourself, as if you thought you were too smart or too good to sit with the rest of us girls. I thought when you helped me get on with that modeling agent in New York a few years ago you’d finally gotten over it. Obviously, I was wrong.”
Stunned by the accusation, Kelly didn’t know what to say at first. Finally, she said, “I was different from the rest of you.”
“Of course you were different. You were always so intense and focused on what you were going to do with your life. And the rest of us, well, we were just worried over whether or not we’d have a date to the prom and if we did, what dress we were going to wear.”
“Those weren’t the only differences.”
“You mean what people said about you…about how you could see the future?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be honest. I’ve always wondered whether or not the stories were true.”
“What if I said they were?”
“Really?” Meredith replied, her face lighting up.<
br />
“Yes.”
“Darn! I wish you’d have told me that when we were in high school. I certainly could have used a friend with a crystal ball back then when it came to boys. I was forever picking the wrong guy. Shoot, I still am,” she said with a frown. “Any chance I could get you to take a look at my palm or whatever it is you do now?”
“No.”
“Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to visit Madam Zara down by the Square,” Meredith said nonchalantly.
“Meredith, you said you wanted to discuss some business. Why don’t you quit dancing around and tell me what it is you really want?”
“Gosh, you are so darned prickly. You need to lighten up.”
“The business, Meredith?”
The other woman sighed. “All right. But first off, I really did come here to say hello and invite you to the party. I also wanted to see if I could hire you to do some ads for me for Indulgences.”
“No.”
If Meredith heard her, she gave no indication, she simply launched into her plea. “I’ll pay you whatever you say—even double your rate,” she said, and swallowed as though she’d surprised herself with the offer. “The shop is scheduled to open just before the Christmas season kicks off…”
“Meredith—”
“…and I’ve got to make a go of this. You’d have complete creative license, carte blanche, whatever you need…”
“Meredith,” Kelly tried again. To no avail.
“…and if you’ll do this for me, I swear on the Bible that I’ll be forever grateful to you. Why, I’ll even name my firstborn child—boy or girl—after you.” She whooshed out a breath. “So what do you say? Will you do it?”
“No.”
“No?” Meredith repeated.
Feeling somewhat guilty, Kelly said, “Even if I wanted to help you, I couldn’t. I don’t have any of my equipment here.”
“But you could get it. I could have it flown in for you,” she offered.
Kelly shook her head. “I’m not here to work. I’m here on a personal matter,” she explained.
“I know. And I meant to tell you how sorry I was about Sister Grace. My whole family was. Despite the fact that she was a nun, she really was an okay lady and I liked her.”
“So did I.”
“And I bet if Sister Grace were here now she’d be the first one to tell you that when a friend is in dire straits, like I am, that you should help them.”
“Meredith, I hardly see you as someone in dire straits.”
“Oh, but I am. I’ve got to make this boutique work. I’ve got to,” she said, a hint of desperation creeping into her voice.
“Meredith—”
“Don’t give me an answer now. Just think about it for a bit and we’ll talk again later.”
Kelly was about to tell the other woman that she didn’t need to think about it because she wasn’t going to change her mind. But as though Meredith sensed what was coming, she jumped to her feet.
“Oh, goodness, would you look at the time,” she said, making a show of glancing at her watch. “I need to scoot. Now, don’t forget. Cocktails on Sunday at seven-thirty.”
“I’m not sure I can make it,” Kelly began.
“Of course you can. My mother simply won’t take no for an answer and neither will I.” She scooped up her handbag. “Do you need the address?”
“No. I know the address,” Kelly told her. Anyone who had ever lived in New Orleans knew the striking mansion on St. Charles Avenue that belonged to the Callaghan family. “But—”
“No buts. I’ll see you on Sunday.”
And in the same whirlwind manner in which she had swept into the room, Meredith was gone, leaving a confused Kelly in her wake.
“Come on, Bobby. We’ve already got you on tape hocking the watch and ring,” Jack told the guy they had in interrogation. They had tracked down the man when a check of local pawnshops resulted in a watch inscribed to Gilbert and a family ring with a ruby stone. “What we want to know is where you got the stuff?”
“I already told you, man, I didn’t steal the stuff. I found it.”
“The same way you found that woman’s wedding ring and necklace that you were hauled in for this past summer?” Jack countered.
“That was a misunderstanding,” Bobby told him.
Leon grabbed the guy’s chair and pulled it around. Then he got down in the man’s face. “Do we look like morons to you, Bobby?”
Bobby shook his head no, but Jack suspected he sorely wanted to answer affirmatively.
“Then why don’t you just cut the crap and tell me and Detective Callaghan here how you ended up with a watch and ring that belonged to a dead man?”
“I keep telling you, I found it,” Bobby insisted.
“Before or after you put a bullet through him?” Leon asked.
“No way. I done told you, I never killed nobody,” the guy said, a panicked whine in his voice. The man’s dark eyes shifted from Jack to Leon and back again, like those of a trapped animal. “You gotta believe, man. I didn’t kill him.”
“I want to believe you, Bobby. But the only way I can do that is if you tell me who did kill the guy,” Jack told him.
“I don’t know.”
Leon shoved the man’s chair back so that it banged against the back of the table. “We’re wasting our time with this piece of shit. I say let’s book him for murder and have him tossed in a cell. With the three-strikes policy, he won’t have a prayer of ever seeing daylight again.”
“No,” Bobby shouted, visibly trembling now. “It wasn’t me, I tell you. It must have been the woman.”
“What woman?” Jack asked.
Bobby wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Don’t know who she was. Never saw her before, but she came by the corner where my buddy Sly and his brothers were finishing up a number. Sly had his guitar case open and people was throwing in money to, you know, show their appreciation for the fine music. Anyways, this tall chick walks by, tosses in a wad of bills and keeps going.”
“That’s a real nice story, Bobby,” Jack began. “But it still doesn’t explain to me how you ended up with the dead man’s watch and ring, or why I should believe that some woman you don’t know, and never saw before, is the one who killed the guy.”
“I was getting to that,” Bobby told him, and from the way the fellow’s eyes kept darting about, Jack wondered if he was on something or simply scared half out of his wits. “Anyways, like I said, I sees this chick when she turns onto the corner walking kind of fast-like. She hadn’t even been there for Sly’s number, but she throws a wad of bills into the guitar case, anyway. So, me, I figure something’s not right and I decides to go investigate.”
“Because you’re such a Good Samaritan,” Leon remarked.
“Maybe I was trying to be,” Bobby argued.
“So what happened, Bobby?” Jack prompted.
“Well, I goes down the street where I seen the chick come from. One of the streetlights is out, so it’s pretty dark, but I sees this car sitting at the end of the alley with out-of-state plates. Everybody knows you can’t park a car down there ’cause the police will tow it away, so I decided I’d do the guy a favor. I’d tell him he needed to move his car before the cops come.”
“Why, can you believe it, Jackson? Old Bobby here is all heart. A regular good guy. Or maybe he’s really a lowlife piece of scum who was hoping he’d found himself an easy mark to rob.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Bobby cried out.
“Then how was it?” Jack demanded, his patience wearing thin. “And no more bullshit.”
“All right. The thing is, I thought the guy had just made it with a hooker and that maybe he was looking for more action. So I was going to, you know, offer to recommend a couple of working girls I know.”
“You pimping now, too, Bobby?” Leon asked.
“No! I don’t do that shit. I was just trying to help out a couple of the ladies. The economy’s been tough on everybody, you
know?”
“So what happened?” Jack asked, directing the man back to the story at hand.
“So’s I knocked on the guy’s window, see? Only he don’t answer. I can see the dude’s got white hair, so I’m thinking maybe the old guy’s hard of hearing or something. So’s I open the car door and the dude nearly fell on top of me. I see there’s all this blood and the guy’s not breathing, so I shoves him back into the car and I get the hell out of there.”
“But not before you helped yourself to his watch and ring,” Leon pointed out.
“The dude was dead, man. What did he need them for?”
“You are one sorry son of a bitch,” Leon told him.
“Maybe I am, but I’m no killer. I swear on my mama’s grave, I’m telling you the truth. I didn’t off the old man, that bitch must have done it.”
“What makes you so sure the woman killed him?” Jack asked.
“Because I was watching the corner that night, waiting for my girlfriend. She was supposed to be meeting me and we was supposed to go do some partying when she got off of work. Only first she wanted to go change clothes because she said she’d bought this sweet little costume for Halloween that she wanted me to see.”
“Bobby, you want to cut to the chase here?” Jack suggested.
“That’s what I’m doing. You see, my girlfriend, she stays with her aunt down that block—the one where I saw the chick coming from that leads to that alley. So I was watching for my girl. And I don’t see nobody come from that direction for at least fifteen minutes before I saw that chick. The way I figure it, the guy must have tried to welch on what he owed her, so she whacked him and took the money he owed her.”
“Then how do you explain her dumping a wad of bills in your pal Sly’s case?” Jack asked.
Bobby shrugged. “Maybe she just wanted to take what was owed her.”
“An honest working girl who kills her johns but doesn’t steal,” Leon offered sarcastically. “You are one dumb fuck, Bobby.”
“This woman you saw, what did she look like?” Jack asked.
“I don’t know, man. I couldn’t see her face on account of she was wearing one of them long black capethings that had a hood on it.”