Bosom Bodies (Mina's Adventures)

by Swan, Maria Grazia

  “Super Glue?”

  “Yeah, needed to glue a perfume cap Angelina broke, you know, that night.”

  Sam nodded and smiled. It was so much easier to talk to another woman than to a male cop.

  “Well, Mina, I would love to stay and chat with you a little longer, but duty calls. If Dan doesn’t give you your Volkswagen back, you call me. I’ll see if I can help. Okay?” Sam gathered some papers scattered on her desk, ran her hand over her holster as if reassuring herself the gun was there, then escorted Mina back to the original bench and left.

  Ten more minutes went by. Except for phones ringing and the large clock on the wall ticking time away, nothing happened. Where was everyone? What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

  By the time DeFiore came marching in, she was actually glad to see him. Adams came back at about the same time, and the three of them went into DeFiore’s office. He closed the door before sitting behind his desk. He seemed preoccupied maybe even edgy, moving papers around, avoiding eye contact. What was eating him? Adams didn’t seem to help much, no friendly hello, no pleasantries.

  DeFiore spoke first. “Well, any time you want to pick up you car, feel free to do so. All the paperwork has been cleared. Wait, I forgot it’s Saturday, can’t get into vehicle storage. You’ll have to wait until Monday morning. You can also go back to your condo. We are done. It’s still a mess, but we can’t help that. However, I would feel better if I knew you were staying with friends a few days longer.” He spoke to Mina, but looked at Adams the whole time. Adams nodded slightly. A sign of approval? What was going on?

  The detective turned his attention to her, “Mina, I need to talk to you about Ginger.”

  Shit, he did see her on Thursday!

  “What about? Is everything okay?” If he was going to call her on that Thursday, she wasn’t about to make it easier for him.

  “No, not okay at all. Ginger is dead.”

  Mina found herself looking at Adams and DeFiore, back and forth. Both returned her stare and she felt like they knew about Ginger being dead way before now.

  “Oh. Dio mio.” Not Ginger. “How did it happen? When? She is young, was, I mean. Oh, I don’t know what I mean. Please, explain to me what happened.”

  Again, the two men exchanged glances. Adams put his hand on her arm. Mina kept her eyes on DeFiore. “Mina, it happened on Monday—we think—in New York.”

  “New York? What was Ginger doing in New York? She was supposed to be back in town on Monday, from Vegas, I mean. Why New York? How did she die?”

  “Cardiac arrhythmia was the cause of death. It happens. Even to athletes, younger and in better shape than Ginger.” DeFiore avoided her eyes.

  “But? There has to be a but. I sense it. I feel it. Talk.” Mina’s voice went up an octave and trembled as badly as her hands. She just knew she was getting the civilized, sugarcoated version of the truth. The “here is your car back” was just a grand gesture, smoke in her eyes.

  “What, you don’t think I can handle it? I lost my mother to a vicious murder. I’m not a little helpless girl. I want to know the facts. I have the right to the truth. Ginger was my friend.”

  “No, she wasn’t,” DeFiore said. “She set you up for a fall. She used you. The purpose of you taking her place at Bosom Bodies was to buy Ginger and Barbara extra time to get away. Neither Barbara nor Ginger cared about what would become of you once the ruse was discovered. So, don’t cry for her, for them, and don’t compare their death with your mother’s.”

  Mina sat, stunned.

  Adams’s voice was kinder than the detective’s. “Detective DeFiore is telling you the truth, Mina. You need to pay attention and cooperate. We are all trying to protect you from harm.” Adams turned to DeFiore. “Maybe if Mina knew more about the background, something would trigger her memory.”

  DeFiore nodded. “Before leaving California, Ginger entrusted you with something. Whatever it is, we have to assume it is still in your possession. Ginger flew to New York where Barbara would meet her. Barbara never made it because she was killed Saturday night. We know Barbara didn’t give to these people what they wanted because on Monday, Angelina searched your place. Either Barbara or Ginger, maybe even both pointed a finger in your direction. It is possible Barbara didn’t know where the ‘treasure’ was hidden. She only knew you were the unwilling delivery girl. So…”

  “Look,” Mina took a deep breath, “with Barbara and Ginger dead, who ever wanted their stuff is at a dead end. How would they know Ginger didn’t have it with her in New York? Maybe she sold it or left it in a safety deposit box somewhere. I see that in the police shows.”

  DeFiore rolled his eyes then looked at Adams. Adams nodded.

  “First, this isn’t a show, people get hurt and die for real. These perps know Ginger didn’t have anything with her because she died while they were torturing her. Her body was found in a bathtub filled with ice. Both her kidneys were missing. In a twisted attempt at humor, a phone and a note to call nine-one-one was left next to the tub. Without ID it took a little longer for the information to reach California. While it appears she did die of natural causes, it was all brought on by the torture. The first incision to remove her kidney was done while Ginger was conscious. That’s what caused her heart to stop. The excision was completed after her death. She may have died before spilling the beans, or maybe she only mentioned your name. We don’t know—

  “You look pale.” Adams interrupted. “Are you getting sick?”

  Hands over her mouth, Mina nodded. DeFiore pointed to the right of his office. She ran off.

  She looked at herself in the mirror over the sink and splashed cold water on her face. Dio mio.

  Real people didn’t do this kind of thing. Why would DeFiore lie? Dear God, what was it they wanted from her? Could she have done something to prevent any of this? Adams—he had to have known about Ginger. He was too calm and didn’t ask questions. A lawyer who didn’t ask questions? Where did Diego fit in all of this? She couldn’t hide in the police department bathroom forever. She dried her face and her hands and went back to DeFiore’s office.

  “Okay, DeFiore, you must have something in mind. Obviously, you didn’t get me here to tell me I can pick up my car on Monday. What is it you want from me?”

  Adams opened his mouth to speak. Mina held up her hand to stop him and looked at DeFiore.

  “Mina, let’s try to figure out what Ginger gave you. It’s something small enough to fit into the small boxes Angelina searched. Something worth about one and a half million dollars. The sooner we get it out of your hands, the sooner you get your life back.”

  “The only things I have are the pink dumbbells. Ginger didn’t give them to me. The owner of the gym where Ginger used to work did.”

  DeFiore and Adams seemed to let out a sight of relief. “Good, Mina, very good. Where are the dumbbells?”

  “I forgot them in the back seat of Margo’s car along with the Super Glue. When I spoke to Margo today, she said everything was still in the same place.”

  DeFiore got up, “Is Margo still living in the same condo complex?”

  Mina nodded. “Are you calling her?”

  “No, I’m driving to her place. I need to get someone else to go with me.” He picked up the phone.

  “Ask Sam. I was telling her about it before you got here.”

  DeFiore put the phone down and walked over to Mina. “You told Sam what?”

  “About the dumbbells. She saw me when I drove to Ginger’s condo. I didn’t want her to think I was snooping or something. I explained I was driving Margo’s car because she wasn’t feeling well…”

  Mina didn’t get a chance to finish her story. DeFiore raced out of his office leaving her there with Adams.

  Chapter 15

  “Adams, when Angelina came to work that Sunday, her face was bruised. Maybe Barbara did it, while fighting for her life.” They left the police department right after DeFiore and Mina could think of nothing but Ginger and Barbar
a. Adams kept the car idling in front of West Coast Software while he tried to convince Mina to leave California.

  “Who knows?” he said. “A little overseas vacation might do you good. You could fly to Europe, connect with Brian and his mom and have a white Christmas in Italy. By the time you get back to Orange County all this ugliness with Ginger, Angelina and Barbara would be sorted out, and you can take your time deciding about your future. Don’t get me wrong; I’m still getting the lease voided. I’ll have your belongings stored until we know what tomorrow holds. Mina, this is no way to live. I know you had the best intentions when you agreed to work at Bosom Bodies. You’ve seen how that turned out. Why don’t you stay with us a couple of days? My daughter is not around much and we have plenty of room. Monday you get your car and we can park it at West Coast Software until you get back from Europe.”

  “What’s happening with the investors? I thought by now a merger or a sale would’ve been a done deal.”

  “Mina, why do I get the sense you are trying to change the subject?”

  While she searched for an excuse, the car phone rang. Adams didn’t appear in a rush to answer, and when he did it seemed to Mina he had kept her sitting in the car just for that, a call from DeFiore. And DeFiore didn’t sound happy at all. His voice so loud she could make out most of what he was saying from her passenger seat.

  “A brick through the rear window—over in minutes…no kid job.”

  Mina wanted to know what was so important for DeFiore to call Adams’s mobile, but above all, she wanted to know how she was connected with the call. She poked Adams. He ignored her, totally focused on DeFiore’s tirade. When he hung up, he turned to Mina, “It’s settled. You are going to Europe.”

  “Like hell I will. Who threw what through whose window?”

  “You were listening?”

  “Listening? DeFiore was hollering like a TV preacher. What happened?”

  “Someone broke into Margo’s car. He arrived at the complex a few minutes after the fact. The manager thought he was responding to his nine-one-one call.”

  “Margo’s car? Oh, my God. Poor Margo, she is still making payments on that car. What was taken? Her stereo system?”

  “No, the thieves broke the rear window and stole Ginger’s pink dumbbells and your Super Glue. Nothing else.”

  Mina was speechless. Too bad Diego wasn’t around to enjoy the moment. Some clarity began to unfold from this deceptive act of vandalism. The pink dumbbells held the key to all the troubles. With some luck, they were now in the murderous hands of the people who killed Barbara and Ginger. While she felt bad for DeFiore, a sense of relief wrapped her mind and soul. It was over. No more drugged hot cocoa, no more break-ins, no more living in fear, no more—Diego?

  The kaleidoscope of emotions must have reflected on her face because Adams said, “You are still going to Europe.”

  Mina ignored him. She needed to be alone, to analyze her true feelings now that Diego’s protection and his constant presence were no longer a requisite for survival.

  “I’m going to the office to call Margo to see if I can help, then I’ll get myself back to the condo. Don’t start making any flight reservations on my behalf, okay?” She got out of the Lincoln without waiting for Adams to answer.

  It was late Saturday afternoon, and West Coast Software was locked up and deserted. Mina let herself in, entered the security code and went to sit at the receptionist’s desk like she had so many times before. The whole reception area sported a coat of fresh paint, probably part of the staging for the investors’ benefit. Adams never had answered her question regarding the pending business deal. She dialed Margo’s number. “Hey, Margo, I heard about your car. I’m so sorry. What else was taken?”

  “Shit, Mina, only your stuff. Well, the dumb dumbbells. I don’t give a damn about that, but I have a five hundred dollars deductible on the car. Shit. That’s what my life is, shit.”

  Mina’s mind wandered to Ginger’s life and death, or what she had been told of it. Margo didn’t know how lucky she was. “Margo, don’t fret, I’ll help you out. Consider it an early Christmas present. I feel responsible. Maybe nothing would have happened if I hadn’t forgotten what you so appropriately call the dumb dumbbells. Okay?”

  “That’s nice. Thanks, Mina. I’m calling the insurance company. They have a twenty-four hour glass repair service. I intend to show up for work on Monday even if I have to tape cardboard over the window. And DeFiore is taking fingerprints. Fingerprints. A bona fide detective spending time on my car. I think he really likes me.”

  “I think he does too,” Mina lied. No need to drag Margo into this. “And don’t be too concerned about coming to work. Come Monday I’ll have my Bug back. I can cover for you. Ciao.”

  Sitting there alone brought back an avalanche of repressed memories: her mother, the Fernandez sisters, the unnecessary ugliness culminating in her mother’s murder. All the pains and sorrows seemed to share a common denominator—betrayal. Betrayal fueled by greed. Even now, if she tried to analyze the seeds of this new madness, the answer was still the same. Barbara and Ginger stole from others, both greed and betrayal. Mina put her arms on the desk, rested her head on them and cried. It was a quiet weep, a cleansing process, because this very room had also witnessed acts of kindness. Perhaps even love. This is where she met Paco, who turned out to be a wonderful friend, a father figure almost, and Margo, who pretended to be tough, but deep down was a simple woman looking for true love like any other mortal soul.

  And it was in this very room Mina realized she was falling in love with Brian and his blue eyes. It was an evening like this. She was alone, getting ready to lock up the place. He showed up with a pizza. Brian. Not too long ago the sound of his name brought joy to her heart and fire to her body. What went wrong? She hadn’t seen it coming. Was there something left to be saved? Maybe it was the holiday blues, Christmas around the corner and no one to share it with. Could Brian have been the one asking Adams to suggest her trip to Europe?

  The night timer kicked in and the outdoor lights came on. Inside only a dim floor lamp was on automatic. The room felt so restful, she could just stay there all night, forget about everything and everyone. She remembered she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Maybe that was one of the reasons she felt so melancholic. She could order some pizza and a soda. Paco had done that before when they worked overtime. What was the name of that pizza place? She was searching under the desk for a phone book when she heard a soft tapping on the front door. Her heart stopped. Whoever was knocking couldn’t see her under the desk because of the modesty panel. What now? The tapping turned into a thumping. Mina got up from under the desk and turned to look. Diego leaned sideways against the door, his face pressed against the glass pane, looking straight at her. He waved his hand and waited. For what? The door was unlocked. With a sigh she left her chair and went to let him in.

  “How did you know I was here?” she asked.

  “And good evening to you also. Adams,” he said.

  “You know Adams?”

  “No. DeFiore does.”

  Oh, yes, team work.

  “May I come in?”

  “Sure, sorry.” They faced each other. For the first time since she met him, she saw him as a friend more than a man of mystery. Could it be because she no longer needed his protection? He walked in and closed the door.

  “So, this is West Coast Software.” He looked around.

  “The reception area, yes. And the offices, then there is a warehouse and—if you want a tour, I’m not sure I remember how to get everything working, and I’m the only one here.”

  “You hungry?” he asked.

  “Huh?”

  “Hungry, you know—food, eating?”

  “How did you get here?” she asked.

  “Is that a yes?” he said.

  “Yes to what?”

  “The pizza I picked up on my way here.”

  He brought a pizza. Brian had showed up with a pizza. Too much coinci
dence. Better behave.

  “You want to eat here?” she said.

  He kept his eyes locked on to hers. “Here, in the car, at my place?”

  Was he still talking food? “Where is your car?”

  “Just around the corner. Do you need help locking up?”

  Instead of answering, Mina gathered her things, opened the door and motioned Diego to get out. She set the alarm, ran to the exit and locked up. He stood back watching as she went through the motions, his hands in the pockets of the black leather jacket, his expression unruffled. They walked to the car without touching or speaking. Mina felt awkward and self conscious, burdened by a sense of guilt heightened by the urge to surrender to her whims. She assured herself it was all in her head and nothing between them would change. They were on their way to share a pizza, a glass of wine and a laugh. Isn’t that what friendship is all about?

  What would her mother say? Her mother had known betrayal in so many ways by so many people. Her mother thought Brian was the perfect match for Mina. But her mother was gone, and Brian was not around when she needed him most. Mina snuggled in the passenger seat of the black automobile and watched Diego maneuver off the West Coast Software parking lot.

  Diego removed his leather jacket and placed it on a chair, then popped a bottle of Prosecco, same brand she drank. Interesting. The pizza warming in the oven didn’t resemble the typical carry out Mina was used to. It looked more like the pizza from back home, thin crust, lighter sauce, artichoke hearts and prosciutto, just the way she liked it. No pepperoni—thank God for that—she didn’t know what pepperoni would be in Italian because she had never seen it in the old country. Besides, peperoni in Italian meant bell peppers. She had no idea where the extra “p” came from.

  She sat in his comfortable living room. Should she tell him that DeFiore said it was okay for her to go back to her place? No, she wasn’t ready to go yet. And her phone would need to be moved also. The only thing she needed to share was about the dumbbells.