Adir stood up and pushed a box aside on the top shelf of the metal storage rack, exposing a small duffle bag. He pulled it down and handed it to Penelope. She recognized it as the one she had seen that night bouncing off of Adir’s hip as she lay on the patio.
Penelope unzipped the bag and saw a pile of money and two diamond-studded dog collars inside, the ones Max and Christian wore the night Christian was killed.
“Unfortunately this puts you at the scene of a murder, and I can now arrest you for robbery,” Officer Gomez said, looking into the bag.
“He was dead when I got there. I didn’t kill anyone. We just wanted to get away, start over somewhere together,” Adir said. He alternated between sweat and shivers in his jacket.
“Where were the dog collars?” Penelope asked.
“They were just sitting out on the counter. I had to search for the other stuff,” Adir said, shrugging.
“Let me look at your arm,” Officer Gomez said.
He pulled his jacket off and hiked up the sleeve of his t-shirt. An ace bandage, drenched in dried brown blood, was wrapped around his bicep.
“Yep, you got shot,” Officer Gomez said. “And it looks infected. You need to get to the hospital.”
“I’m going with him,” Sinay said.
“If you’re going with him and not going back to Miss Joyce’s, I should talk to her now. Can you arrest her if she makes the deal with me?” Penelope asked.
“It would be better if the girls were already here. We’ll have her for sure if the hand-off is actually made.”
“I will go back and wait,” Sinay said. “Miss Joyce won’t be home tonight. She’s going to a show. I can go to the hospital with Adir and she won’t notice.”
“Then we’ll do the deal with her tomorrow,” Penelope said.
Chapter 32
Penelope knocked on Mrs. Sotheby’s front door a few minutes later.
“There you are,” Mrs. Sotheby said. “I wondered what on earth could have happened to you.”
“I’m sorry,” Penelope said, stepping inside the foyer. “I ran into someone outside. I have to get going, but I may have an idea of what’s been going on next door. Hopefully after tomorrow it won’t be happening anymore.”
“Well, that’s exciting,” Mrs. Sotheby said. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Maybe,” Penelope said. “Will you be home tomorrow afternoon?”
“Yes, I’ll be here for most of the day.”
“Great. I have something in mind. See you then.”
Penelope hailed a cab on the avenue and dialed Joey’s number. It rang several times before going to voicemail.
“Joey, hi, it’s me. I found the guy from the other night. The one you...you know, hit. He’s cooperating with the police. Can you call me back? I hope this makes things easier for you at work. Love you.”
She hung up and tapped Arlena’s number.
Arlena picked up after the first ring. “Pen, where are you?”
“I just figured out part of what happened at Christian’s the other night. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to clear Max of murder, but I feel like I’m getting closer. Where are you?”
“I’m in a bistro near Hannah’s building. I haven’t seen the little witch yet.”
“Okay, stay put, I’m heading your way.”
Penelope spotted Arlena in the window of the bistro across the street from Max’s building, a half-eaten cheeseburger and fries platter on the table in front of her.
“Hungry, huh?” Penelope asked, eyeing the plate.
“Actually, I’m starving all the time now. I don’t know if it’s psychological or just something I’m doing to fill the time between bad news reports. I’ve probably gained ten pounds already.”
Penelope looked at her skeptically before changing the subject. Arlena’s eyes widened behind her large sunglasses as Penelope told her about her trip to Joyce’s and what she had planned for the next day. When she’d finished, Arlena said, “I can’t believe what that horrible woman is doing.”
“I know,” Penelope said. “But Sinay said Christian was nice to her, and they had no reason to kill him. Sinay heard the shots and called her boyfriend after everything had quieted down. Joyce was out of town, so she could use the phone without getting into trouble. Adir came to check on her, then decided to ransack Christian’s apartment for getaway money.”
Arlena sighed. “It’s great you’re going to help those girls. But Max is still on the hook for Christian’s murder unless we find the truth.”
“You haven’t heard from Max?” Penelope asked.
Arlena shook her head. “I know he’s scared, but he can’t just run away. He cares about our family—he wouldn’t leave us here to deal with everything. I’m sure he’s somewhere cooling off, thinking about everything. He’ll come back after he’s had some time.”
“I hope so,” Penelope said. “He can’t forfeit a two-million-dollar bond, can he?”
“Of course not,” Arlena said. “He would never do that to Daddy.”
Penelope gazed at the front door of Max’s building. She was so absorbed in her thoughts she almost missed Hannah walking out the front doors.
“There she is,” Penelope said.
They stood up from the table and hurried outside, jaywalking across the street and following her down the sidewalk.
Hannah walked toward the corner, hugging a large knit sweater over her small shoulders.
“Hannah,” Arlena called from behind.
Hannah’s shoulders stiffened but she kept walking, quickening her pace, her slouchy satchel purse bouncing off her hip.
“Hannah, wait,” Arlena called again.
Hannah slowed her pace and looked over her shoulder, rolling her eyes when she saw it was Arlena and Penelope. “What?” she asked impatiently. Her hair was tucked up in a knit hat, and she wore large sunglasses that obscured her small face.
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Arlena asked, glancing at the bookstore windows.
“Talk about what?” Hannah asked.
Arlena looked down at the much shorter girl. “Let’s talk about the lies you’re telling about my brother.”
Hannah twisted her mouth up into a smile and turned on her heel to go.
“Hannah,” Penelope said. “We know you’re pregnant.”
Hannah stopped again, turning back to them. “Do you now? How could you know a thing like that?”
“I saw the positive pregnancy test in Max’s bathroom,” Penelope said. A few people walked past them, giving them mildly curious glances as they went, but no one stopped.
“You’re quite the detective.” Hannah laughed. She pulled a pack of cigarettes from her bag and lit one up, smirking at them through the cloud of smoke she blew from her mouth.
“You shouldn’t be smoking,” Arlena said. “You have to take better care of yourself now.”
“See, that’s the thing. I don’t have to worry about that at all. Because it’s not me who’s pregnant,” Hannah said, taking another drag. “You’re smart, but obviously not smart enough to see what’s right in front of you.”
Arlena stepped closer to Hannah and stared down at her. “Are you telling everyone Max killed Christian because you’re jealous of him and another woman?”
Hannah nonchalantly blew out more smoke. “He made promises to me that he obviously had no intention of keeping. Now he’s starting a family with someone else. Good luck to them. We’ll see how happily ever after he is after defending himself against a murder charge.”
“But I saw you with someone else too,” Penelope said. “I saw you making out with Christian in the bathroom of the club the night of the fashion show.”
Hannah took another drag of her cigarette and threw it on the sidewalk, crushing it under the toe of her boot. “So? Max is allowed to play the fiel
d and I’m not? I thought I’d give Max a taste of his own medicine. A jealous man can’t ignore you.” She smiled playfully at Penelope. “I saw you go down that hallway, knew you’d be in the bathroom, and would run back to squeal on me to your beloved Madison family. Yeah, he talked about you all the time. I know how close you think they are to you.” Hannah eyed Arlena up and down from behind her glasses, stopping for a moment to stare at her waist.
Penelope shook her head and said, “You saw who killed Christian, you were there. Why don’t you just tell the truth and end this? Don’t you care at all about what happens to Max?”
Hannah glanced away, a momentary flash of guilt crossing her face. “I didn’t see anything. I only heard Max and Christian arguing in the living room from the bathroom. I listened at the door to hear what they were saying, but it was only Max saying something about being responsible. Imagine that, talking about responsibility, drunk at three in the morning. Then I heard more shouting and a gunshot. I hid in the bathroom until it was quiet, and then I left. Christian was dead and Max was gone.”
“Max wouldn’t have left you there if you were in danger,” Arlena said.
“That’s the thing. You don’t know Max as well as you think you do, big sister.” She turned and walked away from them, slipping into the crowd of people waiting at the crosswalk.
Arlena and Penelope sat in the café at the bookstore and sipped tea. “That was sort of helpful, but where does that leave Max? It feels like with everything we find out, we’re making things more complicated for him, not less.”
Angel waved at Penelope as she passed by with a stack of books in her arm.
“That’s the lady who saw Max and Sienna together in this store,” Penelope said. “She said they seemed intimate.”
“They’re good friends,” Arlena said, once again dismissing the idea.
“Has Sienna returned your call?”
“No, but she’s busy. She’s wrapping up here and going back to London in about two weeks,” Arlena said. “Maybe she switched hotels or something came up and she had to get home earlier. I’ll try again to get in touch.”
Penelope glanced at the clock on the wall of the café. It was shaped like a coffee urn and the hands were made from two spoons. It was hard to tell exactly, but it looked like it was getting close to four o’clock.
“I have to get to work soon,” Penelope said. “It’s going to be another long night.”
“You haven’t slept,” Arlena said. “How are you going to make it through another night?”
“I don’t know. I’ll just have to,” Penelope said. She hadn’t felt tired until they started talking about how tired she should feel. Exhaustion nipped at the edges of her mind. “I’ll drink lots of coffee.”
Chapter 33
After a surprisingly short night of work, Penelope got back to the hotel a little after one in the morning. The director had gotten what he needed in a few takes and decided the crew needed a break. He hadn’t decided if they’d be working the next day for sure, so Penelope and the rest of the crew had to wait to hear from production about their next call time. She took a hot shower, then wiped the steam from the mirror to check out her bruises. The edges had faded to an orange-yellow color. After brushing out her wet hair and slipping into some clean pajamas, Penelope stared at the empty bed, stark white with its comforter pulled tight across, undisturbed.
She thought about Joey, about the last time they were really happy, right here in this room. It had only been a couple of days, but already it felt like a lifetime since she’d seen him. She hadn’t heard back from him since she left the message about finding Adir, which left her feeling slightly wounded and desperate to hear his voice. But it also made her a bit angry with him for not being there for her when she really needed him, or acknowledging all she was doing to help him.
She pulled the comforter aside and slipped beneath it, turning off the light and silencing her phone. She was asleep within minutes.
A series of loud knocks on her hotel room door jarred her from sleep. She sat up in bed, trying to figure out what time it was based on the sliver of sunlight between the blackout curtains. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she glanced at the clock on the bedside table and saw it was just after nine. The knocking started up again and Penelope shook her head.
“Hang on a second,” Penelope said, throwing aside the heavy comforter. She looked through the peephole and saw a familiar face, her heart skipping in her chest.
“Max!” Penelope said, swinging the door open wide. She pulled him inside and hugged him tightly, standing up on her tiptoes to reach around his neck.
“Pen,” Max said in a raspy voice. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Come in,” Penelope said, releasing him and stepping aside. “Where have you been?”
She watched Max walk into the room, his tall frame appearing larger than life to her tired eyes.
“I’ve been around, sorting through some things,” Max said.
“Arlena must be so relieved you came back,” Penelope said. She sat down on the edge of the bed and Max sat in one of the club chairs.
“I haven’t seen her yet.” Max’s eyes had purple bags under them. He looked completely exhausted.
“Max, you have to tell her, and your dad. They’re so worried.”
“I know,” Max said. “I’m going to head up there in a minute. But I wanted to talk to you first.”
“Why?” Penelope asked.
“I need to thank you for trying to help me. I’m sorry I called and got you involved in this mess.” Max looked at Penelope’s face and winced at her bruised eye. “I put you in danger. You got hurt and it’s totally my fault.”
“Max, I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“The thing with Christian…I can’t remember everything that happened and it scares me. We’d all had a lot to drink…then I think I was hit from behind. I remember arguing with him and then maybe someone coming to the door. Then all I remember is seeing his dead body. There was no one else in the apartment. I panicked and ran.”
“What about Hannah?” Penelope asked.
Max shook his head. “I just don’t remember.”
“You don’t know who killed Christian?”
“No,” Max said, a pained expression on his face. “I don’t want to think it was Hannah, but I know it wasn’t me. I’ve been walking around trying to get my mind to go back.”
“Hannah’s got no problem blaming you for the murder,” Penelope said. “If you were hit on the head, it’s possible you won’t ever remember, Max.”
“I know, and that’s the scariest part. Pen, do you think I could shoot someone and not remember it?” Max propped his elbows on his knees and dropped his head into his hands.
Penelope stood up and walked over to Max and looped her arms around his shoulders. “Of course not. You would never do anything like that, Max.”
He became very still and leaned into her, his shoulders tense under his leather jacket. They stayed like that for a few moments before Penelope said, “You need a hot shower and some sleep. You’re going to feel better, I promise. I’ve been looking into some things Christian may have been involved with at that house—”
Max jolted upright, looking at her. “Pen, please don’t get mixed up any more with these people. If you get hurt again because of me—”
“Max, I want to help you and Arlena. If I can do something to get you out of trouble, I’m going to do it.”
Penelope sat down in the opposite chair. “Look, it’s none of my business, but what is going on with you and Sienna?” Penelope asked quietly.
Max looked at her, an ironic smile passing over his lips. “She’s a great person and an even greater friend.”
“I can see that, but what is happening between you two?”
Max sighed. “We’re having a baby.”
Pe
nelope sat back in her chair and crossed her arms at her waist. “Congratulations?” she finally said.
Max laughed quietly. “Thanks.”
“So Hannah finds out about you and Sienna and tries to get back at you by pinning a murder on you?”
Max’s face became very still and his features darkened. “That’s what it looks like, doesn’t it?”
“Where is Sienna now?” Penelope asked.
“I’m not sure,” Max said. “We haven’t spoken since the night Christian died.”
After Max left, Penelope showered and dressed, then picked up her phone to check her messages. The first one was from Gary in production.
“We’ve sent out an email to let you know, but I’m also following up with all the department heads. There’s been a casting change on the set involving one of the leads, so we’re delaying for two days to get the new talent caught up. Check your email for dates and particulars.”
Penelope sighed and deleted the voicemail, then pressed her phone back to her ear to listen to the next one.
“Penelope, it’s Denise. I’ve got something for you. Call me when you get this.”
Penelope hit the call back option and listened to the phone ring a few times before she heard the familiar “Gomez.”
“It’s Penelope. What’s up?”
“I sat on the house last night. I saw the new delivery come through.”
Penelope glanced out of her hotel window in the general direction of Joyce Alves’s building. “How many girls?”
“At least three, from what I could see,” Officer Gomez said. “A little after two in the morning.”
“I’m going to try and get one of them,” Penelope said.
“I still think it’s too dangerous. If it goes wrong, I could lose my job. Even worse, these children could be in more danger.”
“You’re not telling me to do it, remember? And if it goes right, we’ll help them all escape, and put Joyce away. Isn’t it worth a try?” Penelope started gathering up her things and loading them into her purse. She pulled her jacket from the closet. “You know what? You think about it. I’m leaving now. Be there in twenty.”
MURDER ON A DESIGNER DIET Page 16