The Dingo Dilemma

by Claire McNab

  It would be obvious to anyone that Janette and Ariana were sisters. Janette had the same pale hair as Ariana, although her blue eyes were not as vivid and she was carrying more weight. They differed most in personality. Where Ariana was detached, Janette was warm and friendly.

  Janette was an artist of some note, specializing in disturbing, disconcerting images. At first glance, the scenes she depicted in almost photographic detail in her paintings seemed unexceptional. A closer look always showed something was very wrong-perhaps a human head was stacked neatly with logs in a fireplace, or a human finger, complete with blood-red nail polish, was being used as a bookmark.

  Janette led the way into Ariana's beautiful living room, where a wall of glass provided a panoramic view of Los Angeles.

  "Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? A soda?"

  I didn't feel like anything, but I felt awkward, so to give me something to do with my hands, I said, "A Coke?"

  "Coming right up."

  When we were seated, each with tall glass of Coca-Cola, we silently regarded the stunning view. From this height, the sheer size of Los Angeles was evident. I tried to imagine what this huge basin, bounded by mountains and edged by the sea, would have looked like thousands of years ago.

  Pulling my attention back to Janette, I said, "How is Quip?"

  "He's stiff and sore, but safely home with Fran looking after him." She laughed. "Spare a thought for the poor boy. My daughter's no Florence Nightingale. She has the bedside manner of a pit bull."

  I hesitated, then said, "And Natalie?"

  Janette's grin faded. "No change. I don't know if Ariana told you, but Natalie's stroke was the less common one. It wasn't a clot, but a blood vessel breaking. There are aggressive treatments now for strokes caused by blood clots, but there's not as much that can be done for bleeding into the brain."

  I decided to be direct. "I'm not sure what to say to Ariana. She's so cool, so contained."

  Janette gave me an understanding smile. "My sister's always been rather reticent and the events in the past have accentuated her reserve. It might help you understand if you realize how Natalie's illness isolated Ariana. Natalie was much older than Ariana, and a professor at UCLA, so from the beginning the majority of their friends came from academia. Ariana was in the closet at the LAPD, which at that time was a hostile workplace for gays, so she formed very few close relationships there."

  "My father was one."

  Affection flooded Janette's face. "Colin was a wonderful man. I still can't believe he's gone. I'll always miss him."

  I blinked hard, hoping Janette didn't see the sudden tears in my eyes. I missed him, too. He'd died before I'd really got to know him.

  Janette went on," When the unmistakable signs of Alzheimer's appeared, Natalie took early retirement. She had always been rightly proud of her intellect, so she was embarrassed and confused when it began to increasingly fail her. She became a recluse, withdrawing from almost everyone in their social network. I know Ariana tried to maintain friendships of her own, but she had so little time. Her life became filled with the demands of her career as a cop and her caretaker role with Natalie."

  I said, "Ariana's told me how she stayed close to my dad and how he offered her a partnership in his business."

  "Colin admired Ariana for the way she managed her commitment to Kendall & Creeling while coping with Natalie's worsening mental state. And he was there for her when it became obvious that Natalie had deteriorated to the point where she needed to be in an intensive-care home."

  "Making that decision must have been hard," I said inadequately.

  "Devastating. It broke Ariana's heart, but at least she had me and Colin to support her. When Colin died, that left only me to confide in. Then you came along."

  "I don't think I could say Ariana confides in me."

  Janette leaned forward and put a hand on mine. "I'm so pleased you're in her life, Kylie. You make her laugh, and that's more of an achievement than you can imagine."

  I said ruefully, "It's more laughing at me than with me."

  "Don't sell yourself short. You're the only one, besides me, who can get close to her."

  "Crikey, Janette, I don't know if I can claim that degree of intimacy."

  Janette sat back with a knowing smile. "Really? That's not how I heard it from Ariana."

  I felt myself blushing. "What did she say?"

  "She said you were like no one she had ever met before. That you went to bed together. That she was astonished and disconcerted." Janette chuckled. "And that it was pretty damn good."

  Flustered and delighted and confused, all at once, I blurted out, "I'm in love with her."

  Janette's face softened. "Kylie, that may not be such a good idea."

  "Why? Because Natalie will always be between us?"

  "Ariana is fiercely loyal."

  "I can't help how I feel. I don't want to help it," For the second time in a few minutes I felt tears sting my eyes. I was becoming such a sook. "You're saying I've got Buckley's, are you?" I asked.

  She frowned. "Buckley's?"

  "Meaning I've no chance." I added for clarification, "It's hopeless."

  Her expression concerned, she said, "Ariana didn't mention any of this to me. Does she know how you feel?"

  "Yes."

  Gussie, who'd settled down near us, suddenly leapt joyfully to her feet, her plumed tail wagging.

  "Ariana's home," said Janette.

  We heard the key in the door and then the sounds of Gussie's enthusiastic greeting. Janette said to me in a soft voice, "Be careful with her, Kylie. When she called to say she was running late, it was because she couldn't drive. She was too upset. She didn't say why, but of course it's to do with Natalie."

  Ariana and Gussie came into the room. Janette went to her and gave her a hug. "How's it going, sis?"

  "OK." Ariana looked over Janette's shoulder at me. "Hi."

  "Hello." I felt a fool, not sure of what to say or how to act. Janette took the pressure off by bustling around looking for her car keys.

  Keys located, she gave Ariana another quick hug. "I'll speak with you tomorrow. If you want me to take Gussie again, just give the word." She flashed a smile at me. "See you, Kylie."

  Ariana and Gussie went outside to see Janette off, leaving me in unexpected turmoil, uncertain of whether to ask Ariana about Natalie, or avoid the subject. Would it hurt her or help her to talk about it? Was I presuming too much? Why would she want to share her grief with me?

  Let me comfort you, I'd said yesterday, confident that I could. Today I wasn't sure of anything.

  ****

  In the end, we didn't watch a movie, but had pizza delivered and chatted about different things, none of which was remotely connected to Natalie. I did most of the talking. I amused her with my description of Pauline Feeney's ire when I'd told her there was no way I could get her onto the Darleen set. I told her about my conversation with Yancy and how he'd claimed his boss, Norris Blainey, some time in the past had been associated with mysterious deaths. I described my trepidation about embarking on an acting career, even though it was only for a short time and in a good cause, and how I expected Harry and Gert O'Rourke to call any minute, demanding to know what I'd found out about their son, Dingo, which so far would be nothing.

  After we'd cleared away the remains of the pizza, we sat on either end of the couch with tea (me) and coffee (Ariana) looking out at the lights of the city.

  Ariana broke the silence. "Sorry. I'm not very good company tonight."

  I took a deep breath. "Do you want to talk about Natalie?"

  "What is there to say?" I didn't speak. Ariana looked over at me. After a moment, she said, "Natalie doesn't know who I am."

  How could anyone forget those laser blue eyes?

  Ariana's lips trembled. "She's in restraints. She doesn't understand what's happened to her, and she keeps trying to get up, saying she wants to go home. Natalie means our house, where we lived in Santa Monica."
/>   Ariana put her face in her hands. "When I was leaving, she pleaded with me, begged me to take her there. She said someone was waiting for her. Someone who loved her."

  I put my tea down carefully, and moved to take her in my arms. I could cry for the pity of it, but that would be no comfort for Ariana. "What else?" I said.

  "That was the worst. That and her bewilderment at not being able to get up and walk. She treated me like a friendly stranger. "Something's the matter," she said. "Will you get someone to help me, please?"

  We sat in silence, Ariana in my arms, for a long time. Then she stirred. "I'm exhausted."

  I kissed her, gently. She didn't push me away, nor did she respond. I said, "Come to bed."

  "Kylie, sex is the last thing on my mind."

  "I had more in mind a comfortable cuddle."

  She gave me a small, tired smile. "Why do I not believe you?"

  "Fair dinkum, Ariana. I won't start anything. Promise. It's just that I don't think you should be alone tonight."

  She nodded slowly. "Just for tonight, I'd…"

  "Appreciate my company?"

  "Something like that."

  "Can you give me an old T-shirt to wear? I hadn't planned ahead." Sure.

  She moved without her usual taut energy. I took Gussie outside for a quick run, then came in, cleaned my teeth in the guest bathroom and changed into the old, soft T-shirt Ariana had left out for me. I padded into her bedroom. I could hear her shower still running, so I sat on the bed and waited.

  She came out wearing green silk pajamas. I looked at her without passion, but with a love so overwhelming it frightened me. I clenched my teeth to avoid saying, "I absolutely adore you."

  She turned back the bedspread, and without a word, we slid between the sheets. She reached up, snapped off the lamp beside the bed and turned her back to me. I put my arm around her and snuggled up close. Her breathing slowed almost immediately, and I realized she had fallen into an exhausted sleep.

  I was sure I'd lie awake all night, joyful that Ariana lay within the circle of my arm. That was my last waking thought.

  Sometime during the night I awoke. From her ragged breathing, I knew Ariana was weeping. I touched her wet face, then gently took her in my arms. Eventually I felt her relax as sleep overtook her again. This time I did lie awake for a long time.

  ****

  "Night on the town, eh?" Lonnie said, beaming as he joined me at Kendall & Creeling's front door at eight-thirty the next morning. I gave him the hairy eyeball, and he said, "Sorry, Kylie. None of my business."

  As I unlocked the door I thought how astonished Lonnie would be if he knew I'd spent the night in Ariana's bed. Or perhaps he wouldn't be at all surprised. His little-boy manner made it easy to underestimate how sharp he was.

  Ariana had been sound asleep when I'd woken up. I'd shushed Gussie, let her outside for a bathroom break while I dressed, checked that Ariana was still sleeping, then put Gussie back inside with whispered instructions not to wake her mistress.

  Lonnie was clutching his McDonald's breakfast, and was in an excellent mood, even side-stepping Julia Roberts without his usual complaints, when she darted out from behind Melodie's desk and tried to brush against his legs. Whistling, he made his way to the kitchen, where he busied himself making coffee, while I put the electric kettle on for tea.

  It wasn't unusual for Lonnie to come in to work during the weekend, as up to now he hadn't had much of a personal life to take up his time. Come to think, he did look rather tattered around the edges, so I said, "I reckon you're the one who's had a night on the town."

  "I did tie one on," he said, clearly pleased with himself. "In fact, I've hardly had any sleep at all. Out on Friday until the wee small hours, and last night Pauline took me to an event to launch a new perfume-Moonlight Reconnaissance. Everyone who's anyone was there."

  He started to reel off names. I interrupted with, "Moonlight Reconnaissance is the name of a perfume?"

  "Not exactly a perfume-a male fragrance. 'Moonlight' has connotations of romance and 'Reconnaissance' conjures up the raw, masculine element."

  He shoved his face near mine. "Take a sniff. I'm wearing the Moonlight Reconnaissance aftershave splash and skin invigorator. What do you think?"

  I sniffed. "Crikey," I said, "you're telling me a true blue bloke would wear that?"

  He grinned at me. "It is a bit on the strong side, isn't it? But Pauline likes it." A calculating look crossed his face. "About Pauline-now that there's so much publicity about the Collie Coalition and the threat to harm Darleen, it's even more important that Pauline-"

  "Don't ask, Lonnie. I've already told her there is no way, even without her poodles, I could get her onto the Darleen Come Home soundstage. She even suggested hiding in the boot of my car, but I pointed out security was checking every vehicle and she'd be sprung before she got through the gates."

  "Pauline will find a way," Lonnie said, his admiration obvious. "She's implacable, relentless."

  "Ruthless, even?"

  "That too, but in a nice sense," Lonnie assured me. "And speaking of ruthless, what I've discovered so far about Norris Blainey is very interesting."

  Dramatic pause. He waggled his eyebrows at me. Obediently I asked, "What was very interesting?"

  "What happened to Louie and Louise Thorburn."

  "They came to no good?"

  "You could say that. They're both dead."

  My skin prickled. "Murdered?"

  "Hit and run. The vehicle was never found and no one was ever charged." Lonnie unwrapped his first Egg McMuffin and took a healthy bite. He chewed, swallowed, then sighed with satisfaction. "This is such good stuff. You should try it."

  "I have. I prefer porridge. Now tell me about Norris Blainey."

  Lonnie demolished the rest of the McMuffin, then said, "Blarney's always had a keen interest in show business, which isn't unusual. You'll find many entrepreneurs are lured by the glamour of Tinseltown, and this guy was no exception. He put money into a few projects, and finally linked up with a husband-and-wife team, Louie and Louise Thorburn, who'd previously produced TV programs. As three equal partners, they formed a production company called Zurial Entertainment. Blainey provided the funding, the Thorburns the expertise."

  While Lonnie attacked his second McMuffin, I poured my tea. Fortified, he continued, "Initially Zurial Entertainment had some modest success packaging programs for cable, and then things took a turn for the better business-wise, but not at the personal level. Zurial seemed bound for the big time when one of the networks expressed keen interest in the pilot episode of a proposed sitcom. Sprong & Sprang was about two undercover cops, one neat and one messy, who are forced to work together."

  "One neat and one messy? It doesn't sound very original."

  "Nothing much is original in the biz," Lonnie said with a cynical smile. "It's recycle, recycle, recycle. If it worked once before, it'll work again."

  I'd never heard of this particular show, but perhaps it was one never telecast in Australia. "Was Sprong & Sprang a hit?"

  "It made it as a series, tanked, and was canceled after four episodes, but initially test audiences loved it, so the show looked set to be a big success. The promise of substantial money put Blainey and the Thorburns at each other's throats. Blainey bitterly resented that their original business arrangement split profits three ways. He demanded that either the split be amended to fifty-fifty or the Thorburns allow him to buy them out."

  "I guess they didn't agree with him."

  "The whole thing was headed to court when Louie and Louise conveniently died. Under the terms of the agreement, their shares of Zurial automatically went to Blainey."

  "You really believe he had them killed?"

  "I've no proof, but I'm sure of it," Lonnie said. "And Kylie, you need to know something more. Norris Blainey has a substantial financial interest in Darleen Come Home!'

  Twelve

  I didn't see Ariana again until Monday morning. On Sunday she called
me when she awoke to thank me for staying over. We had a short, friendly conversation. Neither of us mentioned the possibility of me seeing her later that day. I'd decided, after mulling over what Janette had said, that I wouldn't push it, but wait for Ariana to come to me. I did my best to ignore the grim thought that this might never happen.

  I was due at Bellina Studios for a session with a voice coach at eleven, and after that I had a plethora of people to see about makeup and costumes and other esoteric things that would make perfect sense to someone like Melodie, but were pretty well a mystery to me.

  Thinking that I'd be out of the office most of the day, I tidied up my in-tray, which contained mostly bills. I dutifully wrote out many checks-Lonnie's alarming stories of identity theft had frightened me away from paying through the Internet-and trotted up to the front desk to put my envelopes in the outgoing-mail basket.

  As I approached, I heard Melodie say to Harriet, "We had a wonderful weekend. On Friday night we even got into that hot new nightspot, Total Ennui."

  Quite unashamedly, I stopped to listen.

  "How did you manage that?" Harriet asked. "Bribe the guy on the door?"

  "Didn't need to. Pauline was just arriving with, would you believe, Lonnie-he looked so out of place-and when she saw us, she gave the word and we were in."

  "Wow," said Harriet, clearly impressed.

  "Like, it was just awesome and Bruce had the best time. Pauline took a fancy to him and said if he could sharpen up a bit she might have a party motivator job for him. She said Aussie guys were in demand."

  "I can't see Bruce as eye candy," said Harriet, "although he is good-looking."

  Melodie propped her elbows on her desk and leaned forward confidentially. "Harriet, can I tell you something? Bruce is my idea of a perfect man. Brave yet sensitive." A frown darkened her brow. "Lexus thinks so too."

  "A lot of heartache in these international affairs," said Harriet knowledgably. "It's not just the clash of cultures, it's the difficulty for a foreigner to live long-term in the States. Green cards are hard to get."