Outrageous Vegas Vacation (An Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Mystery Book 8)

by Madison Johns

  I laughed. “Is that what she told you? I was under the impression that she had a red-hot affair with the recently deceased Malcolm, Kayla White’s manager.”

  “Look, I’m not sure what Bambi told you in that regard, but she was only using him to get money.”

  “And what makes you think that’s the truth?”

  “I had her followed and even asked a man inside Kayla’s camp. If those two ever spent any time together alone, I’d know about it.”

  “And you never thought that this man might have been bought off? Sorry, but I can’t imagine any man handing over that kind of cash for polite conversation. Bambi was doing something for the money. You’re just too over-confident to believe it.”

  “I’m done with this conversation.”

  “Did you or didn’t you murder Malcolm Banktop for sleeping with your girlfriend?”

  “I’d be a fool to tell you anything, not that it matters. It’s not like you’re the police,” he said, as he made way over to Bambi and turned. “For your information, I was flying in to Vegas the day Malcolm was murdered.”

  “I hope you can prove that.”

  “I can. They do ask for identification at the airport, you know.”

  “What about you, Bambi?” I asked. “Where were you that day?”

  “I was at a rehearsal at Bally’s all day.”

  “All day?”

  “Yes, it’s a new number and the choreographer is a slave driver.” She giggled. “But don’t take my word for it, go over there and ask. I won’t supply you with any more information. I can see that you’re trying to pin Malcolm’s murder on everyone other than the bodyguard Mark, who stands accused.”

  Andrew and Mr. Wilson came out of the lounge and we met them halfway. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’d really like to go upstairs. I have a huge headache now.”

  “Me, too,” Eleanor said. “This case seemed so promising, but now I just don’t know.”

  On the way to the elevator, we filled the men in on what we had learned from Bambi and Michael.

  “What did you expect, a smoking gun?” Andrew said. “Have you ever thought that Mark might just be guilty here?”

  I hated to admit to it, but it was looking more likely all the time. “I’m not about ready to give up. We’ll be finding Bambi’s mother to ask her a few questions, unless Michael was right and it was all just a scam to get money.”

  “There might be a money trail if we could prove how much money Malcolm took and if he wrote a check to Bambi.”

  “And Michael insists that Bambi and Malcolm weren’t intimately involved, but I just don’t believe it.”

  “I’d sure not hand over that kind of cash to anyone,” Wilson said. “I’d need plenty of sugar and even that wouldn’t be enough. Are you sure she wasn’t extorting money from that Malcolm?”

  “I don’t see how we’d find out about that, but I can see another conversation with Kayla is in order, tomorrow. She certainly didn’t tell us she knew Bambi, or that she had spent time with her.”

  “Sleep on it, Agnes. I’m sure by tomorrow, you’ll come up with something. From the receipts I’ve seen, Malcolm stole far more than fifty thousand.”

  I reserved my comment for now. My eyelids felt heavy and I still hoped that we’d be able to find something that would clear Mark and find out who was threatening Kayla. When we came through the door, all I could think about was brushing my teeth before heading straight to bed, but that was before Andrew told me that he and Wilson had a surprise for us.

  Interesting enough, Andrew and Mr. Wilson had the table set up with a linen tablecloth in the room that overlooked the lighted pool and fountain below. I didn’t focus on the silver ice bucket that was chilling the wine, the four glasses, or even the warm look in Andrew’s eyes. Instead, I admired the lights of Vegas. I could see people in the pool area that were in the midst of a party, but that didn’t interest me in the very least. I was quite content for Eleanor and I to enjoy some downtime with our husbands.

  I finally turned and said, “This is a delightful surprise.”

  “Wilson and I figured this might be the closest we’ll be able to get to the two of you until your case is solved.”

  I gave Andrew a hug and kissed him, moving away to take a seat opposite Eleanor, who joined me at the table. Andrew popped the cork and passed it around. I watched Eleanor as she took the cork and sniffed it.

  “You don’t have to shove it all the way up your nostril,” I said.

  She set it down, her eyes narrow and flashing now. “At least I know how to appreciate real wine, not like that Arbor Mist stuff you drink back home.”

  “I, for one, happen to like Arbor Mist and it tastes real enough to me.”

  “This is white Zinfandel,” Andrew said. “You’ll like it.”

  “Why does everyone act like I’ve never had corked wine before?”

  “Besides because it riles you up?” Eleanor said with a snicker.

  I rubbed the back of my neck and I felt the headache getting worse. “So, is the wine going to be actually poured tonight, or ….”

  Andrew’s brow arched as he filled the wine glasses. Only then did I notice I had been given a half glass of wine. I held it up to the dim light overhead. “Half a glass? Believe me, I’ve had a busy enough day to at least earn a full glass.”

  “Or entire bottle,” Eleanor said.

  “So, what are you plans for tomorrow?” Andrew asked.

  “Does it matter? I mean, I’d like to concentrate on tonight.”

  Andrew smiled and we toasted for a long happy marriage that I was already having, even though it was at this late stage. There is no timeline on marriage or happiness, not to mention love. I felt that every time I looked into Andrew’s eyes, whether he was happy or sad. I’d made my commitment to this man, as Eleanor did to Mr. Wilson.

  We finished our wine and went to our separate rooms and I was more thankful than ever as Andrew held me throughout the night and we fell asleep together.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Breakfast was quiet since Andrew was missing after I came out of the shower. Apparently, Andrew and Wilson would be busy today male bonding. Andrew didn’t even tell me where he was going, but I didn’t give it too much thought since Eleanor and I needed to investigate again today.

  After breakfast, we headed to the elevator and took it up to Kayla’s floor. Eleanor knocked on the door and there was no answer, so in Eleanor’s classic way, she then pounded on the door with the end of her fist.

  The door slowly opened and Sue stood there, rubbing her brow. “Do you need to pound on the door?”

  “I do when it’s not answered when I knock on it lighter. Are you going to let us in or not?”

  “I’d like to say not, but my daughter hired you so the least I can do is to go along with it. Excuse me while I head into the bathroom.”

  She hiccupped and made a lurching movement that meant she might be about ready to loose her cookies. I just prayed that it wouldn’t be right here or the hotel maids would have an even bigger mess to clean up. Luckily for us, Kayla came out of the bathroom while Sue made a run for it, slamming the door behind her.

  Kayla smiled as she invited us to sit by the window that had quite the view of the pool beneath.

  “How are you today, dear?” I asked.

  “Better. It took me more than a few drinks, but I believe my mother might have had more than me.”

  “I believe you might be right about that.” I paused and hated to bring up the subject of Bambi, but I had to. “We finally caught up with Bambi Baboom last night.”

  A well-shaped eyebrow shot up. “Oh? And did you learn anything that would help you out with the case?”

  “Actually, no, if her alibi checks out, but how well do you know Bambi?”

  Kayla frowned now. “Just that she met Malcolm, or latched onto him. I figured that she was out for money, since she went on about her poor mother all the time, although I never directly heard her ask for a
ny.”

  “Was it true that you had dinner and drinks with her and Malcolm and that she’s been in your room, partying with you?”

  Kayla pursed her lips. “I suppose she told you that. Did she admit at least that the pay-to-party with me wasn’t something I liked, and that I seldom spent time with the guests?”

  “No, actually she told us you didn’t seem to mind it at all.”

  “That’s a total lie. Bambi threw herself at Malcolm, and every time she was up here, she was fawning all over him. She even told him that she loved him, all while she had another man on the side. It wouldn’t surprise me if either of them offed Malcolm.”

  “I thought that, too, but it seems they both have an alibi, or they say they do. We’ll be checking out Bally’s to ask if Bambi was really there the whole day in rehearsals like she told us. I’m not exactly sure about how we’ll be able to prove that Michael really flew in that day, but I’ll call the detectives on the case so they can check it out, at least. Both of them have plenty of motive.”

  “Did Bambi and Malcolm have an intimate relationship to your knowledge?” Eleanor asked.

  “Yes, I overheard Malcolm telling Mark all about it when they thought I wasn’t listening. I can’t believe a man would tell another one details like that.”

  “Not all men are like that, dear, but there are certainly some like that.”

  Kayla pouted. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that I knew Bambi more than just in passing. I would have thought that Malcolm was on to her.”

  “Would you call it a discrete involvement?”

  “No. Mark knew and so did everyone else that has ever been up here. I can’t see how her boyfriend didn’t.”

  “I don’t either, but Michael claims that Bambi was only trying to scam Malcolm.”

  “And what do you think about that?” Kayla asked.

  “I’m not sure. We were told that Malcolm did give Bambi money so that she in turn could give it to her mother to pay off her house, but Michael claimed it was all a scam.”

  “So, Bambi was probably given some of the money that Malcolm stole from me?”

  “It looks that way, but that’s where we’ll be concentrating on investigating today. I think it might be better to stick to your hotel room today, for your own safety. When we visited Mark at jail, he told us to make sure you hired more security from outside the casino.”

  “That’s what I had planned for today. Ted called me earlier and told me that he’d double the security for today. At least for now it’s not public knowledge that I’ve been threatened, but I’m not sure how long that will last.”

  “Have you gotten any more calls?”

  “No and I hope that continues to be the case. If it’s related to Malcolm, you’d have thought that the calls would have stopped, not continued.”

  I couldn’t agree more and I led the way for the door, with Eleanor joining me outside. When the door closed, I admitted that I just wasn’t sure what any of this meant. “Why do you think that Kayla was so reluctant to tell us she knew Bambi more than as just the woman Malcolm was involved with?”

  “After everything that has happened, I imagine that Kayla finds it hard to trust anyone.”

  Now that was something I knew must be the truth. “Kayla is sticking to her story about not participating much in the parties in her room.”

  “At least she’s consistent, unlike Bambi who gets last week and a few days ago confused,” Eleanor said. “How do you think we’ll be able to find Bambi’s mother?”

  “I’m not positive, but I had hoped to find Ted and ask him. Now that we know he’s a manager, he might be useful for information. He seemed nice to us in the past.”

  We were on the first floor within minutes since the elevator moved so quickly. Downstairs it wasn’t all that busy as of yet and I only hoped we’d be able to locate Ted.

  I walked up to the front counter and asked the check in clerk if she knew where Ted’s office was. Phillip, one of the bellboys, led us into the casino and down a long hallway. He knocked on a door labeled general manager and a woman with dark, flowing hair opened it.

  “We’d like to speak to Ted,” I said.

  “Do you have an appointment?” she asked, staring at her watch.

  “Actually, no, but we need to speak with him if we could. It’s connected to Malcolm’s murder,” I said.

  She motioned us through the door and the bellboy bounded away. She then picked up the phone and announced that we were here to see Ted. The phone was hung up and a door opened, with Ted inviting us in. “How nice to see you again. I’ve heard you’re on the trail of Malcolm’s murder. The police could use all the help they can get.”

  “We questioned a Bambi Baboom last night and when she mentioned her mother, we realized that we need to speak to her, but the problem is, we don’t know where she lives.”

  “Is Bambi mixed up in Malcolm’s murder?”

  “The investigation is ongoing and it would be premature to make a conclusion about who really killed Malcolm.”

  Ted walked over to his file cabinet and pulled out Bambi’s job application that had her mother’s contact information on it. He then jotted down a name and address before handing it to me. “This is where you’ll find Sherry. Good luck with the case. I, for one, look forward to finding out who killed Malcolm and that’s the only reason I’m giving you Sherry’s address. Please keep it to yourself.”

  We thanked Ted and I called Andrew, telling him where we were going. Eleanor was out the door first, flagging down a taxi. One skidded to a stop and we hopped in, giving the address where we’d hopefully find Bambi’s mother. We eased back to enjoy the ride that wove in and out of traffic. I half expected to find Cactus Street in the desert, but it was far from it. When the taxi driver pulled into a circle drive, I was confused. “Are you sure you have the right address?”

  “This is 5523 Cactus Street.”

  “But this is the Sherwood Oak Retirement Home.”

  “I know that. Maybe you were given the wrong address.”

  I stared at the address scrawled on the piece of paper that Ted gave me. “No, it’s the right one. Can you wait for us until we at least find out if this is the right place?”

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  We got out of the taxi and approached the door that was locked.

  “Look, here’s a doorbell,” Eleanor pointed out.

  “Why are the doors locked?”

  A buzzer went off and we went through the door, meeting up with a large man who wore a gray uniform.

  “We’re here to see Sherry Trey?” I said. “Am I in the right place?”

  “You sure are. You’ll have to tell the taxi to come back after your visit. Whenever our residents see a taxi they get stirred up.”

  “Oh, sure.”

  I went back outside and paid the taxi driver, coming back inside where Eleanor was in a conversation with a very short old man who had a nasally voice.

  “Look, another lovely lady to see me, Don.”

  “I see that Wallace, but I believe they’re here to see Sherry.”

  Wallace’s shoulders slumped and I instantly felt bad for him. He seemed so lonely, that was until three old ladies approached.

  “I hope you don’t get any funny ideas about our Wallace here. He’s mine,” one woman said.

  “Oh, no, he’s not. Tuesday is my day.”

  “It’s Thursday,” the last woman exclaimed. “We better get going Wallace, or we’ll never have a spot in the dancing room.”

  “You better get a move on, Wallace. I’d hate to see you make these lovely ladies wait,” Don said.

  Wallace walked past us and with a shrug and smile, joined the women.

  “He’s quite the charmer.” Don laughed. “I’ll show you where you’ll find Sherry. She’s in the greenhouse right about now. I’m sure she’ll be happy to have visitors.”

  “Oh, does she get many?”

  “I can’t really say. Privacy policy, you understan
d.”

  I nodded as we were led through a commons area that had card tables set up. Not only were cards on the tables, but I spotted chips and several old men slamming their fists on the tables. “Cheater,” one said, while the other claimed the same, even though they sat at separate tables.

  “Don’t mind them. As you might imagine, our residents take playing cards seriously.”

  “They aren’t playing with real money, are they?”

  “No. We play for points here, so it’s about as good as money. They can earn shopping trips and vacations. We treat everyone well here. There’s a beauty shop, masseur, greenhouse, and dancehall. That’s where Wallace and his lady friends are going, dancing. Of course there’s also a chapel here where church services are held and a few weddings have taken place.”

  “Why is the front door locked?”

  “It’s more for security purposes. All doors open from the inside, but we have alarms. Most of the residents have a hard time coping with life, which is why they’re here.”

  “What about the chapel? Are the residents aware enough to get married?”

  “For the most part yes, but I’d watch out for Wallace’s girlfriends. They’re a little on the jealous side.”

  I was impressed at how nice and clean this place was. I couldn’t wait to meet Bambi’s mother to see if she was anything like her daughter.

  We followed Don through a door and into the greenhouse. I rather enjoyed the moisture of the place and inhaled the smell of green plants and flowers. On the far end was a lady with a silver spray can that she had the handle pulled back and she then pushed the plunger to emit a stream of bug killer.

  “Got you,” she said. “Teach you to come into my greenhouse.”

  She lifted her face and smiled as she headed straight for us. “Oh, finally. I was wondering when I’d get some help.” She pointed at me. “What are you waiting for, start pulling weeds.”

  I gulped, but went right to doing what she wanted. I figured it might help better to get information out of her since I wasn’t all that sure how aware she was of the world around her.

  Eleanor was laughing at me until a watering can was put into her hands. “Start watering the plants over there.”