The Michaela Bancroft Mysteries 1-3

by Michele Scott

  Michaela knew she should just get on the freeway and head home, but someone had murdered her friend, and the ache she felt in her body every time she thought about what had happened to Audrey compelled her to find the answers. And, she had an inkling that the answers might lie somewhere amongst this strange crew of individuals Audrey had been associated with.

  TWELVE

  MICHAELA PULLED INTO HUGH BOWEN'S ESTATE and training facility up in the hills of Malibu. Although her ranch was not shabby in the least—her uncle had built up quite an estate—it paled in comparison to Hugh's place. After ringing the button on the security gate and responding to what she guessed had been Hugh's wife, Bridgette, on the other end, the gate opened. She wondered if Bridgette realized who she was. Doubtful.

  The road up to the house, if it could be called a house—more of a mansion…no, a villa, actually—was cobblestone. Off to one side was a large pasture filled with grazing mares and their foals, the moms busy eating, their babies romping, some nursing. Pretty picture. Michaela sighed and rolled down her window, taking in the sweetness of the leftover marine layer wafting up from the coast only a few miles away. Off to the other side was a racetrack. Straight ahead she could see an indoor arena, and next to it, holding what she figured was up to a hundred horses, a large barn built of light wood and trimmed in teal and yellow—Bowen's ranch colors. All of his jockeys' silks were in these colors. Amazingly artistic looking. Farther back up on a hill stood the villa, replete with that old-world Italian look: arches and large paned windows, brightly boxed flowers hanging off balconies, and on one side of the house, ivy entwined from the ground on up. The place truly looked like it should be set amid the rolling hills of Tuscany.

  She spotted Hugh as she got out of her truck, seated with another man on the first-floor balcony. Her initial plan had not been to see him, but maybe this was a good thing. She could find out if Josh was on the property, and maybe she'd ask Hugh a few questions about Audrey. It had been her impression when they'd run into him at the races that they were still quite close—more than simply a business relationship. Kathleen had obviously failed to come between the friendship that Hugh and Audrey shared.

  Hugh waved to her. "Come on up. The front door is open. Go to your right and then out through the doors in the kitchen."

  Entering the place, she decided the kitchen area could have filled the first floor of her home. Boy, the Venetian in Vegas had nothing on this place. Once she did find her way outside, Hugh ushered her over. "Good morning. I'm pleased you decided to come by today. I wasn't sure you'd make it, considering last night."

  "Me either—" Michaela stopped short. The man with Hugh was Hudson Drake, looking as spectacular as she remembered. She quickly chastised herself for being so shallow, but dammit, the man was handsome and the human side of her told her that it was okay to think that. The friend of Audrey and Jude's—uh, sort of more than a friend—told her that it definitely was not okay. Being human right now was not an option.

  Hudson extended a hand. "Nice to see you again, Michaela."

  "You've met?" Hugh asked.

  She nodded.

  "Yesterday, as a matter of fact, at the races. We bumped into each other at the bar and discovered we have quite a bit in common," Hudson said.

  "Actually, we realized that we both knew you."

  "Oh," Hugh replied. "Good. Good."

  "I came by, actually," Hudson said, "to talk with Hugh about Bob." He looked at the other man. "I had already told Michaela what I just told you about Bob. It came up in our conversation and we felt it was appropriate for Michaela to tell Audrey that Bob hadn't shown up for work, considering that she knew his sister, and I didn't. It is kind of…sensitive."

  "No, no, I agree. Of course." Hugh sat back down in one of the wicker chairs and motioned for them to do the same. "Hudson was telling me that he's quite concerned Bob has not shown up at work, and now with Audrey…" He shook his head. "I don't know what to think. And, take a look at this." Hugh handed her the newspaper off the table.

  It wasn't a front-page story but close enough. The headline read "Police Focus on Brother's Disappearance in Murder." The story went on to say that a source from the Orange County Sheriff 's Department believed that Bob Pratt might be responsible for his sister's murder.

  Michaela shifted uneasily in the chair.

  "Would you like coffee, juice, water, anything?" Hugh asked.

  "No thank you. I don't believe this. They're saying that they think Bob might have killed Audrey and skipped town? But you told me that you haven't seen Bob since Tuesday."

  "I told the police that, too," Hudson replied. "The detective—Merrill—seemed to think that Bob not showing up for work since Tuesday was only a guise, possibly to make the police think that he'd been gone since then."

  "They're thinking he planned this out, went into hiding, killed his sister, and then took off?" Michaela couldn't believe it. That didn't sound like the Bob Pratt she'd met or heard Audrey talk about.

  "It's hard to say what the police think," Hugh said.

  "What do you think? Michaela asked.

  "I have my suspicions," Hugh said. "But I don't believe that Bob murdered Audrey."

  "Hugh was thinking along the same vein as we were yesterday," Hudson added.

  "That he's fallen off the wagon and hiding under a rock somewhere?" Michaela asked.

  "It is a possibility," Hudson said.

  "There's another one," Michaela replied. "What if Audrey's murder is connected to Bob's disappearance? Not that Bob killed Audrey, but…"

  "You mean, whoever killed Audrey could have taken Bob? Abducted him?" Hugh finished her sentence.

  "Yes. It does seem strange that Bob disappears, then his sister is murdered. I can understand why the police might target him, but I can't believe he would kill Audrey. What for? Why would he do it?"

  Hudson sighed and crossed his arms, leaning back in the chair. "I hate to even think that the cops are right with their speculation, but what if they are? Maybe Bob did kill her for some reason, or had someone else do it."

  Hugh shook his head. "No way. Bob and Audrey were close. They loved each other dearly. I can't believe that. Not for a minute. Sure, they had their problems when they were younger, but they'd worked them out, and Audrey always supported Bob. Hell, she came to me about helping him get the job with Eq Tech."

  Hudson nodded. "I know. I interviewed Bob. He's great. He really is and I really don't believe that he would do something like that, but it is still difficult to ever really know people, and maybe there were underlying issues that none of us were aware of. It's only a theory and I doubt it's even close to the truth, but we all know that the cops may consider it because of Bob's past addictions."

  Hugh fidgeted with one of the buttons on his shirt. "Addictions can destroy you."

  Michaela agreed, thinking of her dad, who'd nearly lost his family and himself to his gambling addiction more than once over the years. She also thought she detected something in Hugh's voice that made her wonder if he might have also dealt firsthand with the issue of addiction, or if he'd had a loved one with a problem. She couldn't put her finger on it; maybe it was the tone of his voice or his distant gaze when he'd made the comment. For a second Michaela thought of Olivia and her strange behavior and frazzled appearance that morning. Could Hugh's daughter have a problem with drugs or alcohol?

  "Look, the police will be working on locating Bob, in connection with his sister's murder," Hudson said. "It doesn't look good. But we need to find him, to help him out and make sure that he really is all right. I'm planning on hiring a private investigator."

  "I know someone. He's good, too," Michaela interjected. Both men looked at her. Hmm, maybe she shouldn't have said anything. Joe Pellegrino was not a PI…not technically, anyway. He just had all those cousins who seemed to have numerous ways of finding out information.

  "I actually have someone in mind," Hudson said.

  "Oh. Well, okay. I just thought that I co
uld help in some way."

  "Why don't you talk to your guy, then? I'll talk with this other man I've worked with in the past, and maybe we can come up with something between the two of them."

  Hugh nodded. "How can I help?"

  Hudson stood and clapped him on the shoulder. "I think you're doing all that you can. We just have to find him."

  "Right."

  "Didn't you say to Audrey yesterday that you saw him only a few days ago?" Michaela asked Hugh.

  He nodded. "I did. He came by and did a vet check on a few of my horses. I talked with him for a few minutes. That was Monday. He didn't act strange or anything. Friendly as always. Pleasant. I only had a few minutes with him, though. I had a meeting to get to. Josh helped him with the horses."

  "It makes no sense at all," Michaela said. The men agreed.

  "I hate to run, but it's Sunday morning and I typically try and make it to mass. I'll be praying about this," Hudson said.

  Michaela smiled. She liked the fact that Hudson had faith. She didn't attend church regularly herself, but her mother was a devout Catholic and she'd been raised Catholic, so her roots remained in the church.

  "Michaela, I'll see you Saturday night," Hudson said. "I have to get to my office. I'm sorry about your loss. I know your friend meant a lot to you."

  "Thank you."

  "And Hugh, thank you." Hudson held up a check and waved it. "This will help us to keep up with the growth the company is experiencing."

  "I believe in the product," Hugh replied.

  Michaela started to bring up Saturday night and how it wasn't going to work out, but Hugh stood and walked Hudson to the door. The timing to bring up Saturday right now was awkward anyway. She'd have to call him about it. She'd also have to give Joe a call and see if he would help her find out what might have happened to Bob Pratt. She didn't like this one bit. She'd been sucked into what had happened to Bob and Audrey, and now a compulsion drove her to want to find out who had done this horrid thing to Audrey, and thus find justice for her friend.

  THIRTEEN

  WHEN HUGH RETURNED, MICHAELA DECIDED TO ask him some more questions. At this point she had nothing to lose. "I know it might be awkward, but I wanted to talk to you about Audrey and take a look at the horses we discussed. I know that she would have wanted me to do that anyway, and honestly I'm not sure it's sunk in for me yet that…she's really gone."

  He nodded. "Nor me. Come on down to the barn. I've got to deliver these supplements that Hudson dropped off." He picked up a bucket of Eq Tech's all-around athlete vitamins and minerals. "Good stuff. I'm telling you; since putting my horses on it, I've seen a difference in their performances. I know I sound like a salesman, and sure, I've got plenty of cash tied up in that company, but I really do believe in the product. You using it?"

  "Some," Michaela replied. "It's pretty expensive though. I've got a few of my horses on it."

  "I'm sure Hudson would cut you a deal on it." He winked at her. "Did I notice a bit of an interest there?"

  Michaela knew she was blushing. "No. As he said, we met yesterday and started talking, that kind of thing. Nice man. Really…nice."

  Hugh raised his brows. "Uh-huh. Is that why you're going to see him on Saturday night? I imagine he's asked you to the Eq Tech charity event and auction. That's great. He's a good man, and I'll be there, too. I'm offering up two weeks at my vacation home in Capri for the auction. I'm certain we'll be seated at the same table. Josh and Olivia will be there…and word is, so will my ex-wife." His face darkened.

  "Oh, that. No. Well, yes, he did ask me. Actually, agreeing was a rash decision on my part, and now the timing couldn't be worse. I won't be going. Speaking of Josh, is he around?" She wanted to change the subject.

  "No. He's out right now. But we don't need him to show the horses. Back to Saturday night. I disagree with you. I think the timing is what we all need."

  "What?"

  "I know what Audrey would have told you. She would have wanted you to go out and live your life. Live it up."

  "I'm sure that's what she'd say, too, but I don't feel right about it."

  "Bull. I say think about it. Losing Audrey makes me realize a lot about the way I've been living my life, and I plan to make changes. Big changes."

  Michaela thought she heard a catch in his throat. She wanted to ask him what he meant but didn't feel all that comfortable prying.

  They started to walk out the massive front door, only to run into Bridgette, Hugh's wife, sauntering down the stairs and into the entryway dressed to the nines. She froze when she spotted Michaela. "Hello," she said curtly.

  "Good morning," Michaela replied and decided it best to bury the hatchet with her, even though she didn't trust the woman as far as she could throw her. "I want to apologize for yesterday. It was an awful situation and I was pretty emotional."

  "I understand and accept your apology." She looked at Hugh. "Honey, I have to go into L.A. for a lunch appointment, and I thought maybe I'd do some shopping on Rodeo Drive first." She ran her hands over her tight black pencil skirt—as if it needed any straightening—then fiddled with the waist of her white crepe low-cut blouse, which exposed cleavage and a very large diamond necklace matching the stones in her ears. She fluffed up her long brunette hair and smiled. "I shouldn't be too late."

  "Considering what's happened, I'm not sure that going to Beverly Hills makes sense," he said.

  "What? Why?"

  He looked at her incredulously. "Bridgette, you found a friend of ours murdered yesterday. I would think that might affect you."

  She nodded and frowned. "It was horrible. I liked Audrey."

  Michaela watched her face. She was lying again. She had not liked Audrey. And Michaela did not like Bridgette Bowen any better today. She could even hear the lie in the woman's voice. But why lie? And why did she dislike Audrey? Because Audrey didn't care for her, or because of Audrey's relationship with Kathleen and Olivia? Or…was there another reason?

  "I can't cancel my luncheon," Bridgette said. "It's for the charity event I'm doing with my Cedars-Sinai hospital group. We're trying to raise money for heart disease research. It's important and it will keep my mind off of yesterday's horrible events."

  "I don't think it's a good idea. It feels insensitive to me," Hugh said.

  "Honey, I am on the board and I can't bring Audrey back. I might as well raise money to help others."

  "Fine. You go do what you need to do."

  "Thank you." She nodded at Michaela. "Nice to see you again."

  Oh, she was good with the lies. Actually she kind of sucked at them, but she sure dispensed plenty of them. "Nice to see you, too." Two could play that game.

  "Ciao, honey. I'll be home in time for dinner. I've asked Lucita to make your favorite pork loin recipe. And her delicious crème brûlée. I thought a good meal would lift the gloom a bit."

  Hugh opened the front door for Michaela. "Let's go see the horses." She followed him out and around the corner, where he climbed into a golf cart. "This driveway is a bitch to get around, and the older I get the less I want to make that trek down to the barn and back. Come on, hop in. Wanna drive it?"

  "I think I'll let you do the honors." Michaela laughed as she got into the passenger seat.

  "Can I ask if your ex-wife knew that you and Audrey had remained such close friends?"

  "Oh, ha. No, she didn't. Kathleen has a horrid temper. Piss her off, she's like a rattlesnake. No one wants to get in the way of her wrath. I know, because I'm always in it. She is constantly taking me back to court for more money. Don't ask me what she spends it on, but the woman can go through cash faster than anyone I've ever known. Everything has to be first class. And now I've married her younger twin. Kathleen plays up the martyr act, but it's only an act. Trust me."

  Michaela recalled Kathleen's anger toward Olivia that morning. "Did you see Audrey other than when she came to buy horses?"

  "Now and again. She'd come up to take a look at horses, or we'd visit over lunch
. We talked every week about Olivia or…you know, life, things." His voice trailed off. "I'll miss her."

  Michaela noticed tears in his eyes. "Me, too."

  "I can't believe she's gone. Nor why anyone would do this. Everyone loved Audrey. Dearly. How could you not? She was kind, generous, loving, and beautiful. I adored her."

  "Sounds like you did."

  His words again made Michaela think that there had been something going on between Audrey and Hugh. This was the second time she'd wondered about it. "You knew Audrey for a long time, didn't you?"

  "More than twenty-five years."

  "She worked for you?"

  "She did."

  "Waitress, wasn't she?"

  "She was more than a waitress. She and Kathleen were the entertainment at the original Bowen's in Malibu. That's how we all met. They worked for me, and one night I overheard them talking about how they'd like to sing. I asked them if they had any talent and they said that they did. I told them to put something together and I'd listen, maybe let them sing at the restaurant. They did, and they were great. Packed them in. Audrey had a beautiful voice and could play the guitar. And Kathleen, she could sing, too, and play the harmonica."

  Michaela laughed. That one was hard to imagine.

  He looked at her with amusement as they entered the impressive barn, row upon row of horses—some sticking their heads outside their stalls to see the guests, a few nickers here and there, some pawing at the ground. "I know what you're thinking—Kathleen playing a harmonica."