by M. Z. Kelly
Oz shook his head. “No, but I’m not at liberty to say anything more right now. I just wanted to prepare you.”
I stood up. “Why do I get the feeling there’s a lot more to this story?”
A cryptic smile found Oz’s face. “Because there is.”
***
I spent the morning making arrangements to interview Bruce Reeder’s ex-wife and go to CRS, while listening to Alex’s claims that Oz was playing favorites. I did my best to tune him out as Leo and I went over a list of names Brett Watson, the manager of the company, had sent over. We ran record checks on everyone on the list but came up with nothing worthwhile.
As the three of us drove with Bernie to meet with Reeder’s ex, as much as I hated to admit it, I was starting to feel like Alex might be right. We were chasing our tails with no real leads on the cases. My thoughts eventually drifted to our second victim, what Mo had said about her sources saying someone had taken an interest in Carla Hodge and somebody was unhappy about that. I hadn’t said anything about what she’d said in our meeting because I knew that Alex would accuse me of breaking confidentiality and talking about our case to my friends. I decided I would privately tell Leo what I’d learned because it was the only lead we had on a case that was going nowhere.
As for the Bruce Reeder case, I had to agree with Alex, that trying to find someone in the group photos that had a reason to kill our victim was a long shot. I then had a dismal thought that both the Reeder and Hodge cases might eventually end up in the cold case unit where they would stay forever.
Bruce Reeder’s ex lived in a condo complex on the outskirts of Inglewood, about twenty minutes from Hollywood. I knew from the original investigator’s reports that Tanya Morton was in her late forties, but, as she led us into her living room, it was obvious she was doing her best not to age gracefully. She was a willowy blonde woman who’d had lots of work done, not all of it successful. Her lips were full of collagen and she’d had a nose job that resulted in the feature being too small for her face. It was a little disconcerting as we made introductions and engaged in a little small talk before getting down to the business at hand.
Since Reeder was still Leo’s case, he began the questioning. “We’re going over your ex-husband’s case again, taking a look at the facts to be sure nothing was missed.”
Morton sighed. “It’s been years. Is there some new evidence?”
Leo shook his head. “Nothing definitive at this point.” He softened his tone. “We understand that you and Bruce were married for about five years.”
She nodded. “I already went over this…”
“I know you have. I’m sorry to bring this up again, but if you could help us out one more time we’d be very appreciative.”
After she released another heavy breath, Morton said, “Yes, we were together about five years before I began to suspect Bruce was…he was gay.”
“Was there something specific that happened that you became aware of?”
Her voice was full of contempt. “I caught Bruce in my bed with a man.” Her eyes moved away and her voice trailed off before adding, “I guess you could say that was pretty specific.”
“Who was he with?”
She looked at Leo again. “Just somebody he knew from college. I found out they’d been seeing one another for years.” She took a moment, her blue eyes losing focus. “Looking back, I wasn’t really surprised. I’d had my suspicions for years.”
Leo nodded. “Speaking of looking back, after all the time that’s passed since Bruce’s death, is there anyone who comes to mind that your husband was having problems with, maybe someone who would want to harm him?”
“Other than me, no, not really.” The skin on her forehead tightened. “I’m just kidding, of course. While I was unhappy and miserable in my marriage, I never thought about harming Bruce. He was…” She took a breath. “I think he was miserable trying to pretend he was straight. His life was pretty sad in a lot of ways.”
“Didn’t Bruce have a best friend…?” Alex referenced his notes, “Jason Quail?” He looked back at Morton. “Were they having problems?”
“He’s the reason Bruce left me. They were hot and heavy for a while, but…” She shook her head. “I can’t see him harming my husband.”
“What about Bruce’s work at Bernstein Studios?” I asked. “Was he having issues or conflict with anyone there?”
Her blue eyes turned away from me as she thought about my question. I couldn’t help but stare at her odd features, wondering if she realized what her plastic surgeon had done to her appearance.
“There was somebody, now that I think about it.” She looked back at me. “I don’t really know all the details, but Bruce said there was a young man, I think he was just a kid, really. He told me he was a jerk and he had some issues with him.”
“What kind of issues?”
She shrugged. “I’m not really sure.”
“Do you remember his name?”
She shook her head. “Sorry. I didn’t even think about him until just now. It’s probably nothing.”
After pressing her for more details and not getting anything, we left her condo. As Bernie sniffed a flowerbed, I asked Leo and Alex for their thoughts.
“What she said about Reeder having conflict with someone, it’s probably nothing,” Alex said. “Almost every business has one or two jerks who cause problems.”
I bit my lip as Leo smiled and said, “Nevertheless, it’s worth keeping in mind.”
***
Confidential Records Solutions, or CRS, was a state-wide corporation specializing in the storage, maintenance, and shredding of confidential files. After our meeting with Bruce Reeder’s ex, we met with Brett Watson, the on-site manager for CRS, who told us about the company. The thirty-something manager, who was thin and balding, explained about their screening process for new employees after we took seats in his office.
“There’s a thorough background completed on everyone, including record checks, and, of course, our employees are bonded.”
Watson had only been told that we were looking into a breach of confidential records at R&I.
“Who does the background checks for your company?” I asked.
“We have a contractor. I can get you the name if you’d like.”
I nodded and waited as he went over and fished through a file cabinet. Alex rolled his eyes and made huffing sounds, body language that he was already annoyed.
After he gave me a folder with information about the contractor, I removed the list of employee names from my briefcase that Watson had sent over to us earlier. There were over two dozen individuals who’d had access to our R&I Division over the years. I asked Watson if he knew any of the employees personally.
He nodded. “I’ve only been with the company for the past three years, but I know most of our employees. I try to be hands on.”
I glanced down at the list and then back at him. “I need you to take a moment and look at the names again. Does anyone stand out as having problems or maybe being difficult? We need to hear about anything you can think of that might seem a little out of the ordinary, no matter how insignificant it might seem.” I handed over the list, thinking I wasn’t going to get much back.
Watson exhaled. “I don’t need to see the list.”
My brows inched together. “Why is that?”
He reached over and tapped a name in the middle of the page. “Galen Marshall. He resigned a few weeks back. I don’t know if he did anything out of policy…”
My pulse quickened. “Go on.”
“Corporate didn’t want me to say anything, but Marshall’s a hot head with a bad attitude. I wanted to fire him, but…”
When he didn’t go on, I said, “But what?”
Watson folded his arms. “He made some threats and so I backed off.”
Leo’s interest was now also peaked. “What kind of threats did he make, son?”
“He said he would harm my family if I tried to fire him. I don�
�t think he was kidding.”
“What makes you think that?”
“The guy had a knife and said he would use it on me.”
My heart was racing now. I found a photograph of our murder weapon in my briefcase and showed it to him. “Did the knife look anything like this?”
Watson glanced at the photo as his brows inched together and his eyes came up to me. “That’s it.”
THIRTEEN
“I made arrangements for us to talk to Janice Taylor tomorrow afternoon at the Supermax Federal Prison in Florence,” Joe Dawson said.
It was just after six. My phone had chirped when Bernie and I’d walked out of the station after work.
Dawson went on, “I’ve already cleared things through Greer and your superiors.”
I collapsed onto a bench by the pathway and released a breath, dreading the trip. “Any idea what she wants to talk about?”
“Not a clue. Her attorney has made it clear that she wants only you to be there, but I’m going to tag along.”
“Why do I get the feeling nothing good is going to come of this?”
I heard Dawson breathe before he said, “You okay with this?”
“We’ve worked together long enough to tell you the truth. I’d rather do just about anything than deal with her again.”
“Understood.” There was a pause, then, “My offer to try and keep you out of things still stands.”
I dragged a hand through my damp hair. “I appreciate it, but we both know it’s me she wants. I’ll be there.”
“Your flight leaves at ten in the morning. See you in Colorado.”
After ending the call, I got ahold of Oz, who’d already left for the day, and made sure he knew what was happening. He said I was authorized to go and that he’d inform Leo and Alex about my absence in the morning. He also told me that, so far, Selfie and Molly hadn’t been able to match Galen Marshall with ever having worked at Bernstein Studios. Before I’d ended my day, we’d run several record checks on Marshall, but had come up with nothing, and the DMV address on file for him wasn’t current.
“I guess I’ll see you in a couple of days,” I said before ending the call.
“You okay, Kate?”
I knew it was Oz’s fatherly concerns taking over. “As well as I can be under the circumstances.” I took a breath, trying to steady my nerves. “I just need some time to get my head back in the game with the feds. I’ll be okay.”
“You need anything, let me know.”
After thanking the lieutenant for his concerns, Bernie and I drove home. I took a long shower and then fixed myself a bite to eat before realizing that I’d need to make arrangements for someone to take care of Bernie while I was gone. I went next door where I found Natalie and Mo with Nana and Natalie’s boyfriend, Izzy Cluck.
Natalie poured me a glass of what they were all drinking, something called Death by Moscow. “It’s just a little fruit flavorin’, along with some of that Russian joy juice,” she said. “It’s not ’bout to get you pie-eyed unless you gotta spend the winter with some guy named Boris.” She tipped her glass up. “Cheers!”
After slugging down some of Natalie’s prior concoctions, I took a cautious sip. My brows went up. “It’s actually pretty good.”
“It’s better than good,” Nana said, smiling like a jack-o-lantern. “It’s got my motor running real good.” She looked at Natalie’s boyfriend and licked her lips.
“Keep them giant ivories in your mouth,” Mo said. “Izzy’s off limits. He’s also busy workin’ on project H.”
I knew I probably shouldn’t ask but said, “Project H?”
“Izzy’s gonna make the Hollywood sign disappear,” Natalie said, beaming a smile at her new beau.
“It’s the biggest thing to happen ’round here in years,” Mo agreed.
I took another sip of my Dead Russian, I mean Death by Moscow, at the same time realizing it was probably more potent than I’d anticipated. “That should be quite the trick, considering the sign is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.”
Natalie downed the last of her drink. “It’s gonna be covered live on TV. If you want, me and Mo can get your front row tickets with us.”
“I’ll have to check my schedule.”
Izzy rubbed his hands together and smiled. “It will be my most celebrated illusion to date. If everything goes well, I’ll be as famous as David Copperfield.”
“I wanna help out with the trick,” Nana said. “I can act like Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune. I could wear a cocktail dress and turn the letters over on the sign until they’re all gone.”
Mo turned her head that was adorned with a curly red wig in Nana’s direction. “If we’re lucky, Izzy will make you disappear, along with the sign.”
Nana pushed her dentures forward in her mouth, like Lebron James working a mouth protector. “You’re just jealous because I’m a bigger star than you.” She turned to me. “Once I get my role on Hollywood Girlz established, I’ll probably get a spin-off and have my own series.”
I was starting to really feel the effects of my Moscow Monster, or whatever the hell it was, and said, “Maybe they’ll call it Hollywood’s Golden Girlz.”
Nana looked at my friends. “I also want to be in that magazine shoot I heard you talking about on the set yesterday.”
“Me and baby sis got us an exclusive contract,” Mo said. “And there’s no way they’re gonna want you on the cover of Wild Child.
I set my drink down, deciding I needed to slow down. “What’s this all about?”
Natalie’s voice was pitched high with enthusiasm. “Me and Mo are gonna be in a photo spread ’bout modern women of Hollywood. We’re either gonna be dressed in our PI gear or be in costume for our TV show. It should make us even more famous.”
“You are lookin’ at a couple of celebs du jour,” Mo added. She glanced at Izzy. “Tell you what, if you do make Nana disappear I’ll give you half my salary for the magazine shoot.”
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Izzy said. He made a gesture like he was holding an invisible wand. “Nana will be like dust in the wind.”
“Now you’re talking.”
After Nana pleaded her case not to be dust, Natalie asked me how my date with Noah had gone.
“It was a nice evening. We’re taking his therapy dogs on an outing again next weekend.”
“I think Kate’s gettin’ closer to giving it up,” Mo said.
Nana scowled at me. “You must be the world’s oldest virgin.”
Maybe it was the drink working on me, but I’d had it with their idiotic comments. “My sex life is none of your business.”
“What sex life?” Nana said. “You’d have to get a life before it would be none of our business.”
I stood up and said to my friends, “I’ve got to leave town tomorrow. Do you think you could watch Bernie?”
“Of course,” Mo said. “Where you going?”
I knew I probably shouldn’t say anything, but my friends knew all about Janice Taylor and The Swarm. I told her what was happening, saying, “Joe Dawson says she wants to talk to me.”
“She and her group of crazies are probably gonna start somethin’ again,” Mo said. “Maybe me and baby sis should go with you.”
“I got some new moves I learned in me ninja class,” Natalie added, working her hands through the air like Bruce Lee.
“Sorry, but I’m on my own. I should be back about this time tomorrow night. I’ll drop Bernie by in the morning before I leave.”
“We can take him with us to the museum,” Mo said, coming over to me. “Gladys has her cousin working there and she suspects he might have been in on the robbery. We’re gonna talk about setting up that undercover op we told you ‘bout and will probably need your help.”
“What kind of operation are you talking about?”
Mo smiled, cut her eyes to Natalie, and then back to me. “We’re still working out the details. When we get it worked out, we’ll let you know.”
I looked at Natalie who had one of her grins that always means trouble. She said, “I’m workin’ on the undercover outfits for the operation. Nobody will even recognize us.”
I shook my head, remembering some of the past antics my friends had gotten me into. “Just so you know, I’m not dressing up like a slut or a Hollywood Madam.”
“Not to worry,” Natalie said. “I might just have Izzy wave his magic wand and turn you into a princess.”
I turned and saw Izzy making a motion like he had an invisible wand again. “I’d better get out of here before he changes his mind and I end up being turned into a frog.”
I spent the rest of my evening preparing for my trip. Just before bed, I decided to try Lindsay’s number again. As her phone rang, I promised myself to make the conversation casual and non-threatening. Then a man answered.
“You don’t get it, do you?”
I realized it was Brody, or Ice, as he was now calling himself.
I kept my voice even. “Please, I just want to talk to Lindsay for a moment.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“Why are you acting like this? Lindsay’s my sister and I care about her.”
There was a long pause before he said, “You need to understand something.”
I took a breath. “What’s that?”
After a hesitation, I heard him say, “Lindsay might be your sister, but she belongs to me.”
Before I could respond, the line went dead.
FOURTEEN
After dropping Bernie off with my friends the next day, the FBI sent a driver who took me to Van Nuys where the feds leased planes that flew in and out of the small airport. As we made our way through the congested traffic, I ran my hands over my briefcase. My mother’s letter was inside.
I wasn’t sure why, but at the last minute I’d decided to bring her letter with me. Maybe it had something to do with what my sister’s boyfriend had said last night about Lindsay belonging to him. His words had left me both terrified for her safety and depressed. Brody, or Ice, was dangerous and I knew my sister wasn’t safe.
It was probably naïve, and maybe even a little silly, but I thought of my mother’s letter as a talisman; giving me a sense that it held some power that could change my life and circumstances. My family’s past was still a mystery in many ways. And the more I’d thought about that and about what both my father and Noah had said about the gifts we receive in this life, the closer I felt to being ready to read what she’d written. If I had the time, I decided that I would read her letter on the plane.