Miraculously, only twenty minutes later, a giant tow truck with a crane came and cleared the ice cream truck off to the side of the road, allowing traffic to crawl past, and I pulled up in front of the shining chrome and glass office building that Johnson, Levy, and Kaufman only marginally late.
As I huffed through the front doors, a receptionist with springing auburn curls looked up with a placid expression. "May I help you?"
"Maddie Springer. Here to see Kaufman."
"Oh, right," she said, smiling. "Just down the hall and through the door on your left," she said, indicating behind her. "You're fiance is already here."
I paused and for a moment insanely wondered how Ramirez knew where I was before I realized who she was talking about. Felix.
"Thanks," I called, making my way down the hall as I concentrated on bringing my breathing back to normal.
I pushed open a door marked A. Kaufman to find my fiance lounging in a leather chair across a sleek mahogany conference table from a large, barrel-chested man with a graying crew cut on a head a least a size too big for his body. They both rose as I entered the room.
"Maddie, what took you so long, darling?" Felix asked, planting a kiss on my cheek.
"Traffic. Darling," I answered, wiping it off with the back of my hand.
"Lovely to meet you, Ms. Springer," Kaufman said, offering a large, beefy hand. "Your fiance here is quite a character. I can see what drew you to him."
"Hmm." I made a noncommittal sound as I gave Felix a sidelong glance, wondering just what he and Kaufman had been chatting about while I suffered through mint chip traffic.
"So," Kaufman said, as we all took our seats, "you'd like me to draw up a prenuptial agreement?"
"The little woman here has some silly notion that I'm only after her money," Felix said, sending me a wink.
I think I showed great restraint in not hopping over the table to strangle him.
"Well, I have to say, she's right," Kaufman said, nodding. "I recommend them to anyone. Divorce is a terrible thing for newlyweds to contemplate, but it happens all the time. Fifty-two percent of the time to be exact. And it's better to be safe than sorry, isn't it?"
I shot Felix an I-told-you-so look, before I remembered he wasn't actually my fiance.
"I've got a couple of forms here," Kaufman said, sliding a pile of papers across the table to me.
I looked over them as he explained the main points, the legalese wording, and how exactly we should customize our agreement. Then he had his assistant type it all up, and in record time I had a prenup sitting in front of me with Ramirez's and my names on it, just ready for signatures.
I stared at it. The entirety of "mine," "his," and "ours" spelled out in black and white suddenly making me nervous. I tried to tell myself it was just your average case of pre-wedding cold feet. But as I shoved it in my purse I feared frost bite.
"Would you like to sign it now?" Kaufman asked, slipping a pen across the table toward Felix.
"Oh, uh, maybe we can do it later?" I said.
Kaufman raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I just want to sleep on it and make sure we're not missing anything."
Felix nodded. "Excellent idea, snookums."
I rolled my eyes.
"Of course," Kaufman replied. "I completely understand." He started tidying up papers and putting his pens into a briefcase.
Felix gave me a kick under the table, inkling his head toward Kaufman.
"Uh, I wanted to thank you again for fitting me in on such short notice," I said. "Gigi was right, you are wonderful."
At the mention of Gigi's name, Kaufman faltered, clearing his throat. "Yes, well, I'm glad we could fit you in, as well."
"Gigi came to see you the day before she died, didn't she?" Felix asked.
Kaufman frowned.
"Uh, I was having lunch with her that day and she mentioned it," I quickly covered. Which was almost true. I'd seen her, then had lunch. It was close.
But it seemed to satisfy him as he nodded his oversized head. "Yes. Yes, she did."
"She told me you had something to discuss?"
He frowned again.
"I'm sorry, but I can't discuss that."
I felt the desperation of another dead end bubbling up in my throat.
Felix leaned forward, "Listen, I understand that you can't tell us what went on between you because of confidentiality. But Gigi was a good friend of ours, she's dead, and the police have no idea who her killer may have been. I find it an awful coincidence that she was killed the day after an emergency meeting with her attorney."
Kaufmans's face blanched, his shoulders slumping as he leaned back in his chair. Apparently he hadn't thought of it that way.
He shook his head. "I'm sure that what Gigi and I discussed had no bearing on her death."
"Is there anything you can tell us?" I asked, stopping myself just short of adding "pretty please with sugar on top."
Kaufman ran his tongue over his teeth, his gaze ping-ponging from Felix to me. Finally he made a decision.
"Look, I can't go into what was discussed at our meeting. But, I can tell you that Gigi was anxious to have the matter resolved as soon as possible. I had a client cancel and could fit her in at the last minute. We disused her... needs and I promised I'd have the necessary papers drawn up for her to sign by the following evening."
But someone got to Gigi before he could. Right at that moment I would have given anything I had to know what Gigi had come to Kaufman for.
But it was obvious from the way he stood and cleared his throat that wasn't going to happen.
"Listen, I am sorry about what happened to Gigi. But I can assure you that it had nothing to do with why she saw me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm already running behind." And with that he ushered us out of the conference room and back out into the lobby where a perky receptionist said she'd send me a bill.
Once outside I threw my hands up.
"Well, great. We're no closer than we were before."
Felix shoved his hands in his pockets, staring back at Kaufman's building. I could see him mentally calculating just how difficult it would be to break in and peek at Kaufman's files. But, I had a feeling the security in the lawyer's office was a bit much even for a pro lock picker like Felix.
"So what now?" I asked.
"I'm going back to Allie's. Maybe there's something there the police missed."
I raised an eyebrow.
Felix let out a long sigh. "Yes, I'm aware it's a long shot. But I can't just do nothing."
I nodded. I knew the feeling. "You know, there is another possibility," I hedged. Then told him about Larry's theory that Allie had staged her own disappearance.
Felix's face grew stony, his eyes narrowing as he shook his head. "No way. Not possible."
"Why not?"
"What about the blood on her floor?"
"She could have put it there on purpose."
"What about the trampled leaves?"
"She has feet, Felix. She could have done that, too."
He shook his head again. "I don't believe it."
"Look, I'm not saying I totally believe it either, but just that... well... we should keep an open mind."
But I could tell by the set of his jaw, his mind was sealed shut. Amazing how a pair of big boobs did that to a guy.
"I'm going to Allie's," he said again, his resolve picking up steam. "You coming or not?"
I did an internal shudder, the image of all that blood - staged or not - way too fresh. "No thanks. I've got... wedding stuff to do," I lied. Hey, it sounded a lot better than "I'm a big fat chicken."
Felix nodded, then shuffled off to his Neon parked three cars down.
I got in my Jeep and cranked on the air, pulling back around toward the 101.
The truth was, all the wedding stuff was done. The last thing on my checklist had been to get my nails done. Today was the day I was supposed to be relaxing, going to a spa, recharging for the chaos that would undoubte
dly ensue tomorrow.
Instead, I was worried about one stacked blonde gone MIA, one wedding planner six feet under, a stupid bet with my soon-to-be husband over just how much of a bimbo I might be, and last but not lest, a prenup just in case I was one of the not-so-lucky 52%. All of which added up to an anxious churning feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Honestly, there was only one thing to do at a time like this.
Eat chocolate.
Which is probably why my car exited the freeway at the 2 and snaked west into Beverly Hills until it hit Fauston's bakery.
I parked my Jeep at the curb and pushed through the front door, the bell jangling to signal my arrival. Immediately Anne came out from the back, carrying a fresh tray of peanut butter cookies. I inhaled deeply, wondering why no one has bottled that scent.
"Hi, Maddie," she said, then frowned. "Don't tell me there's a problem with your order?"
"Actually, I'm having a major chocolate craving." I eyed the offerings in her bakery case. "Are those chocolate turtles?"
Anne nodded. "Uh huh. Pecans, caramel, and dark chocolate."
I think I drooled a little on the counter.
"Wow. I'll take four. No, wait. Better make that six."
I salivated in anticipation as she bagged them up for me, not even waiting until I was out of the store before biting into one ooey, gooey piece of heaven. Caramel exploded onto my tongue as I bit into it, and I swear I had a near orgasmic experience.
"My God, these are good, aren't they?"
Anne shrugged. "Haven't tried them. I don't really like chocolate."
I froze. "Seriously?" What, was she from Mars?
She just shrugged her slim shoulders. "Not much of a sweet tooth, I guess."
No wonder she was a stick figure. I shoved the rest of the turtle in my mouth and paid for my chocolate, giving her a wave as I left.
I made it all the way to my Jeep before indulging in another piece. Okay, so maybe my life was still in turmoil, but at least with a piece of chocolate in my mouth I didn't care about the turmoil quite so much. I leaned my head back on the headrest and let my thoughts wander as I rolled the dark chocolate over my tongue.
The problem with this whole case was that there was motive galore. Too much motive. If Gigi was getting her own prenup drawn up, there went Spike's gravy train. Mitsy was known for her temper, and the way she'd threatened me, I could easily see her snapping at Gigi. Summerville, well, who knew what kind of hostility existed between a man and his ex.
And then there was Fauston.
I watched Anne carefully loading her cookies into a pink bakery box through the window.
Fauston had been sketchy about his and Gigi's relationship. But if he'd resented Summerville, it was likely he'd resent Gigi marrying a hot young rock star even more. Had he resented it enough to kill her to prevent it happening?
Anne taped the box shut, then took her empty tray back into the kitchen.
As much as I liked the Fauston theory, it had one fatal flaw. He had an airtight alibi. The delivery log showed him across town at the time Gigi was killed. There was just no getting around that.
I sighed, popping another turtle in my mouth as Anne swung through the kitchen doors again. She took off her apron, hanging it on a hook near the door and switched the sign from "please come in" to "sorry we're closed".
Lucky me, I'd gotten my turtle fix just in time. And it's a good thing I did. Never again will I underestimate the powers of chocolate on an overtaxed mind. Because as I sat there watching Fauston's niece grab the pink box and disappear into the back of the shop again, it hit me.
Anne didn't have an alibi.
Chapter Nineteen
I felt little cogs clicking into place as I stared at the empty window of Fauston's bakery. When I'd asked about the day of the murder, Anne had said her uncle was out on deliveries. But I'd never thought to ask about where she'd been. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for her to switch the little sign to closed, drive the three blocks to Gigi's, off her, then slip back to the shop with no one the wiser. I'd never thought of her before because she had no motive. But her uncle did. I wasn't sure how, but I knew Fauston had connived his niece to off Gigi for him while he went on deliveries, providing him with the perfect alibi.
I shoved my hand into my purse, grabbed my cell and, with shaky fingers, dialed Felix's number.
"Hello?"
"Felix, it's me."
"Me who?"
"Can it, this is serious. I know who killed Gigi!"
Felix was silent for a moment on the other end. Then, "Alright, let's hear it."
So, I told him my theory, about how we'd completely overlooked Anne even though she was right under our noses the whole time. By the time I was done, I could hear him breathing hard.
"I hate to admit it, but you may be right. Where are you now?" he asked.
"Outside Fauston's... oh shit."
"What?"
I watched as a big white van with the words "Fauston's Bakery" pulled out from behind the building, Anne at the wheel.
"She's leaving."
"Where's she going?" I could heard the sound of Felix grabbing his keys in the background.
"I don't know. She's in the bakery van."
"Well, follow her. Don't let her out of your sight. If you're right about Fauston, she may lead us to Allie."
"Right."
I flipped my phone shut and gunned the engine, pulling out into traffic half a block behind Anne. Luckily, her big bakery van stood out like a white elephant among the subdued Beemers and Jags, and I had no trouble keeping an eye on her as she wound through the rush-hour crowd, finally stopping outside a large office building on Wilshire. She parked at the curb, and I pulled into a loading zone four car lengths behind her, watching as she hopped out of the van with a big pink box in hand. She disappeared into the building, then fifteen minutes later emerged empty handed and got back into the driver's seat.
Back into traffic, this time hopping onto Santa Monica Blvd. east toward Hollywood. I followed her through the bumper-to-bumper maze of cars, only losing her once at a red light, before I caught up two blocks later at La Brea. When we hit the 101, she got on going south and didn't exit until we were near the civic center. I followed her through the downtown streets until the impressive outline of the Summerville building came into view.
Again Anne parked at the curb, this time grabbing a basket of muffins before slipping inside the building. I waited, watching out my window, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel. Twelve minutes later she finally she emerged, then jumped back into her van again, this time heading north toward the Echo Park area. I was beginning to wonder how many deliveries she had to make when my cell chirped to life on the seat beside me. I flipped it open.
"Yeah?"
"Where are you?" Felix asked.
I looked up at a passing street sign. "Sunset and Elysian."
"Good, stay on the line and don't lose her. I'm on my way."
"While I appreciate the help, I don't really think two cars trailing her would be less conspicuous, do you?"
Felix made a funny sound in the back of his throat. "I'm not coming to join you, I'm taking over."
I scoffed. "Felix, I've been tailed by you. You suck, at it. I'm doing fine thanks."
"You have somewhere else to be."
I made a hard right, trying to concentrate on the road. "Oh, I do, do I?"
"Your wedding rehearsal? I do believe it starts in half an hour?"
I looked at my dash clock. Dammit, I hated it when Felix was right.
"Shit. I totally forgot."
"You've been doing that a lot lately. It'll be a wonder if you remember the actual wedding."
I did a double take at his words, remembering how that had been my exact sentiment about Ramirez when we'd originally found Gigi. Now who was the one so wrapped up in a case that she forgot her own wedding rehearsal? And Felix was right. It wasn't the first item I'd forgotten in the past few days
. If it wasn't for my friends and family, I've have missed half the wedding-related stuff I was supposed to be doing. I made a mental note to cut Ramirez a little slack the next time a homicide ruined our dinner plans.
Anne pulled into a small strip mall, driving around to the receiving bay of a mini mart. I followed, pulling the opposite direction and parking near a Subway Sandwiches.
"Hey, I'm at the mini mart on Silver Lake," I relayed into the phone. "Anne's making a delivery."
"Keep an eye on her. I'll be there in three minutes," Felix promised.
I waited on the line listening to the sound of his little Neon being pushed to its limits as Felix shouted a string of curses at the other drivers. I kept my eyes glued to the back bay of the mini mart, counting the seconds as they ticked by. I bit my lip as one minute turned into two, then five. Come on, Felix, where are you?
Finally six minutes and thirty two seconds later, his little Neon flew into the parking lot, bottoming out on a speed bump as he took it at forty miles per hour.
Just as Anne returned empty handed to the bakery truck.
Instinctively, I ducked down, even though I was pretty sure there was no way she could see me at this angle. Not that it seemed she was looking. For a guilty person, she seemed pretty carefree, whistling as she made her way to the driver's side and slipped behind the wheel again.
"She's leaving," I whispered into the phone. Then realized how ridiculous I was being. If she couldn't see me, she certainly couldn't hear me either.
"I'm on her," Felix assured me. Two beats later he pulled out of the lot, following Anne's van west on Silver Lake. "Go to your rehearsal. I'll call you when I get something."
And with that, he clicked off.
I sat staring down at my silent phone, feeling rather anticlimactic. I just hoped Felix did a better job of tailing Anne than he did me.
In the meantime... I had a wedding to rehearse. Taking a quick stock of my location, I pulled out of the parking lot, pointing my Jeep toward Beverly Hills and praying traffic was light.
* * *
Only forty minutes later, I pulled into the lot of the Beverly Garden Hotel and raced through the lobby to the back gardens where Ramirez and I were schedule to walk down the aisle in less than twenty-four hours. Then came to a screeching halt as I rounded the corner and saw the scene that Marco and Dana had set for me.
Mayhem in High Heels Page 21