“I can imagine Johnny would do that rather than feeding the monster,” DeeDee confirmed. “That sounds about right.”
“Recently though, Mimi started doing what the manager called one step away from stalking Johnny. Apparently Mimi and Johnny had a pretty intense conversation at their last sales review meeting. It appears Mimi’s days off last week were Friday and Saturday, the day Johnny was killed. She rotates Saturdays, but she always works on Sundays, because that’s when she makes the most sales.”
“I see,” DeeDee said, as she thought that Mimi Edmonds sounded like a real piece of work. “And what about the two others, Wayne and Greg? Did Rob find anything out about them?”
“He sure did,” Jake said. “Wayne, Johnny’s loser brother, lives in a rundown part of Seattle. He’s behind on his rent and owes money to various people at a seedy bar, Fat Al’s, which he frequents on a daily basis. He doesn’t work, and he lives off the allowance from the trust fund that Johnny controlled. He’s been arrested a couple of times for minor infractions and misdemeanors. Johnny always came to his rescue and paid for a lawyer to defend him.”
“Oh,” DeeDee said, shocked. Now it made even more sense why she’d never heard Wayne’s name mentioned in the Roberts’ household.
“Rob spoke to Wayne’s neighbor, who said Wayne had been away for a few days, but he’d returned Saturday night. They said it wasn’t unusual for him to be gone for several days, since he only came home when the latest woman he’d picked up got tired of him and kicked him out.”
“Ugh,” DeeDee said. “I really don’t look forward to meeting him. He sounds disgusting. What about Greg Baker? I hope at least he’s got some redeeming qualities.”
“I guess Cassie thought so once,” Jake said, “even if she’s since changed her mind. Okay, business-wise, Greg has been moderately successful. He has his own accounting practice, but he’s not a big-league player. His personal life has been more checkered. He’s been divorced three times. The first divorce wasn’t all that long after he wanted Cassie to leave Johnny for him”
“Sounds like a rebound marriage,” DeeDee observed. “What’s also interesting is that Cassie said at the time that she was attracted to him one of the reasons was that he was rock solid. Doesn’t look like that was a very good assessment of his character.”
“You’re probably right,” Jake agreed. “His first marriage lasted a grand total of seventy-four days. The next two were longer. His second wife was a barmaid, and the third was a blackjack dealer at one of the Indian casinos north of Seattle. He has a total of five children by his second and third wives. From what Rob found out, his spousal support and child support payments eat up most of his disposable income. The employees at his office, according to what Rob found out on social media, say they’re underpaid, and that he’s lecherous and a sexist.”
“Wow,” DeeDee said. “Rob’s thorough, I’ll say that much. I’m sure glad Cassie didn’t run off with him, but I am surprised she was ever attracted to him at all. From what you’ve told me, it seems Greg was the only one of the suspects that was in Whistler when Johnny was murdered. Maybe Cassie’s hunch about Greg killing Johnny is correct.”
“Not so fast, Watson,” Jake said. “We still don’t know where the other three were. Any of them could have been in Whistler without us knowing about it. Rob’s still working on that angle, so we’re really not in a position to draw any conclusions just yet. I’m going to pass all of the information Rob found out on to Inspector Stewart in the morning and see if the police in Whistler have come up with anything locally. Why don’t you sleep on it, and we’ll catch up again tomorrow?”
“Okay,” DeeDee said, with a smile. “Thanks for all of your help with this, Jake. I know Cassie will really appreciate it. She was very upset when we spoke, so I’m going over to her home on Mercer Island tomorrow and see what I can do to help her out.”
“That’s awfully nice of you,” Jake said.
“It’s what friends do,” DeeDee replied. “Cassie was there for me when Lyle left, and she would be again in a heartbeat. We can count on each other.”
“Yes,” Jake said. “We can.”
DeeDee knew that comment was directed at her, and that the reason Jake was doing all of this for Cassie was because of his deep feelings for DeeDee. At that moment, her heart felt like it was going to burst with affection for this man who had only been in her life for a short time, but without whom she knew she’d be lost.
“Let’s go to bed, Balto,” DeeDee said, after she and Jake had said goodnight and ended their call. She locked up and filled Balto’s water bowl before turning the table lamp off and heading upstairs.
Her warm, cozy bed was calling to her when her phone buzzed again. Tempted to ignore the incoming call, she hesitated when she saw Roz’s name appear on the screen. Setting down her toothbrush, DeeDee swiped the glass on the phone.
CHAPTER 17
During the telephone call with Roz the night before, Roz had said, “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid,” when DeeDee had told her about her plan to go and see Mimi Edmonds at the J.R. Mercedes dealership, since it was on the way to Cassie’s home.
DeeDee had assured her sister she had no intention of doing anything stupid. As she dialed J.R. Mercedes the next morning to make an appointment with Mimi, she didn’t think it was stupid at all. If anything, she was congratulating herself on what she thought was an excellent idea. All DeeDee wanted to do was meet the woman who, according to some, had been stalking Johnny Roberts, or close to it, and see for herself what Mimi was like. She’d often heard Johnny boast that the security company he used was the best in the city, so DeeDee considered that a company that viewed all the activity in a high-end dealership with 24/7 security was as safe a place to be as anywhere on a Monday morning.
“I’d like to make an appointment with Mimi Edmonds, please,” DeeDee said to the receptionist who answered her call. “I’m looking for a new Mercedes, top of the line, and Ms. Edmonds has been recommended to me by several friends.”
DeeDee could hear the receptionist clicking on her computer keyboard. “I’m sorry,” the female voice replied. “Mimi has no available appointments today. She’s fully booked. Would you be available Wednesday, instead?”
DeeDee thought for a second. “That’s a shame,” she said. “I leave tomorrow for an extended vacation in the Caribbean, and I really wanted to order the car before I left. I’m going to need some help choosing the extra custom upgrades I want. Silly me, I should have called earlier. I suppose I can go to another dealership, but thanks for your help.”
“Wait,” the woman said, her clicking becoming frantic. “Ryan Connell could see you today, or…”
“Never mind,” DeeDee said. “The person who recommended Mimi to me is a friend of the Roberts’ family, and he said I should only deal with Mimi. Maybe next time. Both of my children are getting new cars soon, so I might try again then.” She paused. “Thank you and goodbye…”
“I just realized Mimi has a cancellation for 12:30 this afternoon,” the receptionist interrupted.
“That’s perfect,” DeeDee said. “Thank you. That will work for me.”
It meant she wouldn’t arrive at Cassie’s until a little later than planned, but she’d call Cassie on the way and explain. DeeDee dressed in a casual outfit of cropped fitted pants, a light linen knit over a silk blouse, and flats. She carefully applied her makeup, blow-dried her hair, and spritzed herself with a liberal dose of Michael Kors fragrance. She decided on her Coach purse, and then checked herself over in the mirror.
Balto watched her fix a smudge of mascara on her eyelid, his head tilted to one side, with a quizzical look on his face.
“Do you think I look as if I’m about to buy a $70,000 car, Balto?” DeeDee asked. “Well, if you won’t answer me, I just hope I can convince Mimi. C’mon, let’s go.”
Balto obediently followed DeeDee out to her SUV. She loaded a small suitcase containing some overnight things into it, the roast she’d taken out
of the freezer and had in a cooler with ice, a dog bed, and some dog food for Balto, since she wasn’t sure how long they’d be gone. When everything was loaded into the car, including Balto in the back seat, she went back inside to get her purse and lock up. When she returned to the car moments later, Balto had moved up to the front seat.
DeeDee laughed. “Okay, Balto. You can ride shotgun with me today. Hopefully we won’t get into any trouble.”
*****
As usual, Balto enjoyed the ferry ride from Bainbridge Island to Seattle. The boat wasn’t busy, and DeeDee bumped into her friend Tammy on the ferry. She had her dog, Buddy, with her. The thirty-five-minute ride was just long enough for DeeDee to briefly fill Tammy in about the drama on the trip to Whistler, while Balto and Buddy played on the passenger deck.
“I promise I’ll stop by the cafe when we get back from Cassie’s house,” DeeDee said, before they made their way to their cars when the boat was close to the dock at the Seattle terminal. “I need to see Susie anyway.”
“You better stop by,” Tammy said, waving them off. “Be careful. I don’t need to remind you that you have a knack for getting mixed up with murders.”
DeeDee thought about Tammy’s comment as she drove through the streets of Seattle on the way to J.R. Mercedes. She tried to convince herself that the fact she’d found herself caught up in two murder investigations in the past six months was just bad luck. She couldn’t imagine it was something that would ever happen again. If she could just help Cassie through this one, DeeDee was sure she would never have to do any more amateur sleuthing for the rest of her life.
“Here we are, Balto,” DeeDee said as she parked outside the J.R. Mercedes showroom just before 12:30. Her SUV looked pretty shabby compared to the shiny cars that were for sale and parked in the display lot. Even the used cars looked brand new. Balto wanted to get out of the SUV, and he started pawing at the door handle.
“Sorry, big guy,” DeeDee said firmly. “You have to stay in the car.” She ignored Balto’s whines and rolled the window down far enough to allow him to get plenty of fresh air. “I’ll be back soon, I promise.”
As she walked over to the glass-enclosed showroom, DeeDee stopped and admired a few of the used vehicles on display that she passed along the way. She had to remind herself she wasn’t really car shopping. She was just role-playing and trying to get a sense of Mimi. Even so, it was fun to pretend.
Inside the airy and bright showroom, a friendly young woman at the reception desk greeted DeeDee and wrote down some information. “Mimi will be with you in just a moment, Mrs. Wilson,” the receptionist assured her. “Please, take a seat.” Her arm gestured toward an area with black leather and chrome Barcelona chairs, surrounded by tall, leafy green potted plants.
DeeDee wondered if the plants were real, since they looked almost too convincing. She was about to reach out and touch one of the leaves when the receptionist asked, “May I get you some coffee?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you,” DeeDee said, smiling, her arm dropping back to her side. She remained standing, looking around. Several salesmen dressed in well-tailored suits were talking to customers on the showroom floor. They stood beside the latest Mercedes models, some with their doors open. Signs beside the cars showed the retail price and alternative leasing options. The entire place was shiny and sparkling, from the cars, to the glass exterior windows, to the glass-walled offices in the interior of the building. It smelled of money and that new car smell which DeeDee wished she could buy in an aerosol can and spray in her own three-year old SUV.
The click of Mimi’s stiletto heels on the marble floor signaled her arrival before she came into view from around the side of a black Mercedes sedan. DeeDee had no doubt that the stunningly gorgeous blond woman sashaying towards her was Mimi Edmonds. Several of the other customers in the showroom also turned to stare at her hourglass figure and long legs that went on for miles before reaching a thigh-skimming skirt into which she’d tucked a low-cut blouse. On anyone else the outfit might have made them look like a streetwalker, but Mimi owned the look.
Her picture-perfect face was framed by sleek golden tresses with caramel and platinum highlights. She glowed, and it wasn’t just her hair and skin. The chunky diamonds she wore on her ears, wrists, and nestled in between what DeeDee thought were her best assets, although it was a tough call, considering everything else Mimi had going for her, created a dazzling display to complete the package.
DeeDee was dumbstruck. The woman looked amazing, and there was no doubt she knew it. As Mimi greeted her with a gleaming smile and walked over to her, DeeDee noticed she was wearing what looked like Jimmy Choo shoes. DeeDee regretted her own choice of comfortable footwear and felt completely dowdy in comparison to this woman who looked like a movie star.
“Mrs. Wilson, how lovely to meet you,” Mimi said, extending her hand, which DeeDee shook with trepidation. She suspected Mimi was aware of the effect she had on people, and no doubt would try to use it to her advantage in car sales negotiations. Since DeeDee had no intention of buying anything, she told herself she had nothing to fear. “I’m so happy to be able to help you today,” Mimi purred. “Why don’t we step into my office?”
DeeDee followed Mimi into an impressive office with two dark wooden desks, one on either side of the room. Mimi’s name was on one, and the other desk, which was unoccupied, had a man’s name on it. A liquor cabinet against one wall held what looked like a fully-stocked bar with a row of crystal decanters on top. Mimi shut the glass door to the showroom behind them and motioned for DeeDee to have a seat.
As DeeDee did so, she looked at the framed photographs on the wall behind Mimi’s desk. There were several of Mimi at car shows and receiving awards, but DeeDee’s gaze paused on a large picture of Johnny Roberts, beaming down at her. DeeDee felt herself choke up. Johnny looked just like she remembered him. Big, grinning, and happy.
“Is that Johnny Roberts?” she asked Mimi. “I heard he died recently.”
Mimi’s eyes narrowed as she watched DeeDee. “Yes, he was my boss. Did you know him?”
“Oh, no,” DeeDee said, pulling her eyes away from Johnny’s photograph. She forced herself to make eye contact with Mimi. “He was an acquaintance of a friend of mine who recommended that I come here.” She glanced up at the wall again. “He certainly was attractive. It looks like he had tremendous presence.”
“Depends on who you talk to, I suppose,” Mimi said with a laugh. “He was great at selling cars, and he was a good boss, but I hear he was a lousy husband.”
DeeDee tried to look casual. “Really? What makes you say that?”
Mimi glanced toward the door before leaning across the table. “His marriage was a sham. Johnny was chasing after every piece of skirt in town. I used to feel sorry for his wife. I’m sure his death is a blessing for her. Maybe her next husband will have more respect for her than Johnny did.”
“That’s terrible,” DeeDee said, “and his wife knew nothing about it?”
“Oh, no,” Mimi said, with a conspiratorial smile. She suddenly stopped herself. “I’m so sorry. I forgot your friend knows the family. I really shouldn’t say anything else, out of respect for the dead. What’s done is done. I just hope his wife never finds out what he was like. Letting her continue to believe the lie would probably be the kindest thing to do under the circumstances.”
DeeDee felt her cheeks redden at Mimi’s words. The man she was describing did not sound at all like the Johnny she’d known. She looked at Mimi, and in an instant, she saw right through her. Everything about her was fake. Her hair extensions, her teeth, her breasts, and most of all, her lies about Johnny. DeeDee decided she didn’t need to sit through one more second of this woman’s mean-spiritedness. She’d learned everything she needed to know about Mimi Edmonds.
DeeDee suddenly realized that Mimi had continued talking and was now staring at her, waiting for a reply. She had no idea what Mimi had said. “Um, I…”
“The car, Mrs. Wilson? I
understand you want to finalize your order today. What model do you have in mind?”
DeeDee didn’t appreciate the fact that Mimi was looking at her like she was some kind of an idiot. She bet Mimi treated her male customers in a completely different way.
Regaining her composure, DeeDee took a sheet of paper from her purse. She’d gone online that morning and had copied down the specifications for her dream convertible Mercedes sports car. “It’s a Mercedes SLC convertible. Black metallic, leather seats, premium extra package. I’ve written it all down.” She pushed the sheet of paper across the desk to Mimi, whose expression suddenly turned friendlier.
DeeDee abruptly stood up. She couldn’t take being with this woman for another moment. “I’ve just realized I’m not going to have time for a test-drive today. If you could call me with the price this afternoon, we can finalize the payment details. My contact information is all there.”
“Do you require financing, Mrs. Wilson, or will you be taking the leasing option?”
DeeDee gave Mimi a horrified look. “Goodness, no,” she said, with a flick of her arm. “I’ll pay cash.”
Mimi scrambled to open the door for her, and DeeDee left smiling through gritted teeth. She hoped Mimi would have fun later on when she called the fake number she’d written on the paper which was for a fast-food restaurant in downtown Seattle.
*****
Mimi closed the door to her office and sat down to write up DeeDee’s contract. A moment later her cell phone rang, and she saw her son’s name on the monitor.
“Hi, Josh. From what I’ve seen in the media it looks like your trip to Whistler was a success. How did you like the private plane and staying at the Fairmont Chateau?”
“Mom, the plane ride was amazing. That’s beautiful country, and I’ve never stayed in anything like the Fairmont, but there’s something I have to tell you.”
“And what is that?” Mimi asked.
“Well, I got to thinking about what would happen to me if anyone ever discovered that I was the one who’d poisoned the guy you told me about. I actually had the ricin in my pocket when I went up to his room, and I was going to put it in his coffee just liked we talked about, but at the last minute I couldn’t do it. I even delivered the coffee to him and pretended I was with room service.
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