Exposed by Rage

by Sherrel Lee

  “Did you know Jillie well?” I was curious, even as I was appalled by her reaction to the murder.

  “I’m sure we would have been great friends, if she would have answered my calls.”

  DeMarco broke in. “Eve, maybe you would like to come to my office, we could talk about this.”

  “Oh, you think I killed her.” Eve’s crystal bell laugh rang out. “Of course you do, but I don’t have time right now, officer.” She scampered back up the steps and into the house.

  “Is she insane?” DeMarco reached for the door handle.

  I caught his arm as he started to step out the car. “Probably,” I assured him. “Eve is almost certainly unbalanced.”

  “I’ll have Braden talk to her first. He’s pretty good at dealing with nuts.”

  5

  DeMarco’s cell phone rang as we drove out of Trixie’s driveway. He put the phone on speaker and I heard Braden follow up on the message about Eve, and tell DeMarco, the chief wanted him in the office. He dropped me off at the hotel on the way to the meeting. I wasn’t unhappy. At the front desk, there was an envelope for me from a local law firm and my own cell rang as I walked down the hall to my room.

  “Honey, I am so sorry, Dylan told me what happened to Jillie,” Poppy Mendoza explained when I answered. Poppy was my one true friend. She had found me on the streets when I’d run away, watched over me, protected me. Only a year older than me, she was street smart and brain smart.

  “Thanks, Poppy.” I closed my eyes, sighed and knew I didn’t have to hold back the tears. “I guess I needed to hear from you,” I croaked, when I could. “So how did Dylan find out?”

  “Caster told him after you called last night. Said you were thinking about resigning if he had a problem with you working on this case with the local police...”

  Caster was my commanding officer. Dylan was the closest thing I’d had to a romantic interest since I’d been in grade school, and had worked with me the first two years I’d joined the MP’s.

  “So you think you’ll resign and stay in Plano? That doesn’t sound like you.”

  As she was talking, I opened the envelope from the lawyer.

  “Popp, I have to go. I’ll call you in the next day or so.”

  “No problem. I want to be there for you at the funeral, so let me know when it’s arranged.”

  “Promise. I’ll call you soon.” I realized I’d been so angry about Jillie’s death I hadn’t even thought about a funeral. As far as I know, Jillie’s parents were dead and she didn’t have any brothers or sisters, so who was going to arrange it? I dialed the attorney’s office, hoping he’d have some answers.

  * * * *

  Harold Severenson was tall, lean and made you feel comfortable with a solid, gentle handshake. He met me in the lobby and walked me to his office, offering me a seat before stepping behind his desk.

  “Thank you for coming so quickly. I know how much Jillie cared for you and I’m sorry you had to be the one to find her.” He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

  “Your note indicated you wanted to see me as soon as possible.”

  Putting his glasses back on, he gave me a sad smile. “Jillie left specific directions should anything happen to her. You were to be contacted and provided with these.” He handed me a heavy envelope. “This is the key to her house, the cars, and to the club.”

  I looked at the envelope, then back at the man.

  “Of course there will be an official reading of the will, but she wanted you to have access as soon as possible.”

  “Did she tell you what she thought might happen? Was she worried she was going to be killed? Why would she...”

  Severenson shook his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to give you the impression...Jillie made these arrangements some time ago. I don’t think they’re related to what happened to her.” Pain and sadness flashed across his face.

  “You were her friend and attorney.”

  He nodded. “Yes, she was very dear to me. I wish I had known she was in trouble. I would have...” he looked as though he was searching for the right word. “I would have done anything I could to help her.”

  Normally when I am curious, I just blurt out the questions on my mind. This time, I held back, feeling Harold Severenson was more than just Jillie’s attorney. The anguish I saw in his eyes told me a story I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear.

  “Sorry, I...I am going to miss her,” he cleared his throat. “Jillie’s parents disowned her, and she thought of you as her ‘little sister’. She wanted you to have what belonged to her.” He smiled. “She thought you were the most wonderful person she’d ever met and wanted you to have the moon.”

  “I loved her. She was my family.” I fought back the tears burning the back of my eyes. “I...did she make arrangements? What she wanted...”

  “Yes, don’t worry about that. She wanted to be cremated, her ashes scattered. I will see to everything once the police are ready to release her body.”

  “Thank you.”

  “She wants a wake, a celebration of her life. If it is alright with you, I think we should have it at VixSin. You can close the club and I can have my secretary take care of the catering.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate it.” Thank you again, Harold Severenson, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I stuffed the envelope into my bag, and prepared to leave.

  “Miss Gibson, one more thing. I also have a letter for you. I thought perhaps I should wait until the reading of the will, but then Jillie didn’t specify that, and perhaps this will shed some light on the current situation.”

  I couldn’t control the quiver in my hand as I reached out and took the second envelope. Was there going to be something in this that would help me find her killer?

  * * * *

  I made two phone calls as I drove back to the hotel. The first one was to DeMarco, to get his okay so I could move into the pool house at Jillie’s. The second was to call Poppy back, ask her to come for an extended stay. I needed her friendship, but I also needed someone who could look at the books and management of the club, if I was going to be the new owner. Poppy was addicted to numbers and would be able to tell me everything about the operation before I could finish looking at the check register for this month’s bills.

  After checking out of the hotel, I drove to Randi and Butch’s place in Aubrey. A small town northwest of Dallas. As much as I wanted to read the letter Jillie had left, I wanted to catch her killer. I had opened the letter before leaving my room, and, after a quick scan, knew I wasn’t ready for anything Jillie had to say, nor was there anything I could find that told me what had happened. I’d read it later. Much later.

  Ashley, it started, by the time you read this I hope you and your mother have reconciled....

  “Come in,” Butch said when he opened the door. “Randi’s in the back, I’ll get her.”

  Randi managed the VixSin and she and Butch often went out with Jillie and Kevin. I was glad I could talk to both of them, it would save me some time.

  “Ash. Baby. It must have been so awful.” Randi threw her arms around me in a fierce hug. “I was hoping we were going to see you before the funeral. Do you know when that will be?”

  I waited until I could breathe, before answering. “No, her attorney is taking care of the arrangements.”

  “Harold? He must be devastated. He loved her so much and she couldn’t love him back.”

  “Harold Severenson? Her lawyer? I thought Kevin was the man in her life.”

  “Oh he is...was, the last year or so, but I bet there was some jealousy there. Kev wanted her to find a new attorney, and she refused.”

  Kevin was jealous? Would he have...? Of course not. I couldn’t be that wrong about someone.

  “I more or less agreed to work with the police to find out who killed Jillie. Of course, they’ll be along to ask you the same questions again. Do you mind telling me? Was there anyone at the club that seemed to be a threat?”

  “Just the u
sual victims. Jillie worked in the back most nights and rarely came out until closing. I’m not sure most of the freaks even knew she was there.”

  “Well, that’s not exactly true,” Butch chimed in, walking up and placing his arm around Randi. “There were a few of the actors from Trixie’s group hanging around lately. A couple of them were real winners.”

  The sarcasm was unusual. Butch usually didn’t raise an eyebrow when it came to strange, creepy or perverted. “Do you know who they were?”

  “No, and Kevin told me not to mess with them. Then that actor, Duncan Delaney showed up. He insisted Jillie take care of him personally. You know. Serve his drinks. Introduce him to the girls. Real jackass.”

  I almost laughed at the way he snapped his fingers and raised his chin, placing his nose in the air as he mimicked the actor, but then I remembered why I was there. We talked for another twenty minutes about Jillie, the club and people who were regulars and regular drop-ins. No one popped out as suspect number one.

  I told Randi that Poppy would be coming in and looking over the books. She looked upset, but didn’t say anything. My half-hearted attempt to determine why failed. She didn’t give me anything to work with and it could just be she saw Poppy as an outsider.

  It was time to go to the house, take out my frustrations with a workout in the pool. Try to clear my head and make sense of what I was hearing.

  * * * *

  Two cars sat in the driveway of Jillie’s house. One I recognized immediately. Poppy. I should have been surprised, but nothing about Poppy surprised me anymore. She was sitting in the front seat of the second car, talking to the driver. Detective Braden. Apparently the interviews at Trixie’s place were over for the day.

  Poppy hopped out of the car as I pulled in beside them, and ran to my driver side window. “I thought you’d never get here, this guy has been making me crazy. Tell him I was supposed to meet you here.”

  Braden stood in the doorway of his car, watching. He wore the same superior smirk he’d had on yesterday, and it was just as irritating as when I’d had to deal with him in the main house.

  I walked up to Braden. “So are you going to let me in or do I have to call DeMarco for you? I’ve already talked to him and he gave me the okay to stay here.”

  “He told me, but he didn’t say anything about your girlfriend. She another one of your porno friends or someone closer to you?”

  Poppy could have broken his neck for the insult. I wasn’t her type.

  “Braden, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Move your car.”

  He lost the staring contest. Without additional conversation, he put the car in reverse and tore away. Tough man he wasn’t.

  Poppy followed me into the back, pulling her car next to mine in the auto park between the pool and the garage. We dragged our suitcases into the pool house and agreed a swim in the heated water before unpacking would be a great team-building exercise.

  I began laps, working out the kinks in my muscles and trying to make sense of the events over the past twenty-four hours. Jillie dead. There was a lawyer who loved her. I was her heir. Trixie and the cameras were in Texas. Nothing but confusion swam in my brain.

  “Okay, Ashley. Time to give it a rest. I think that makes forty laps. Eventually you’re going to cramp and drown. I don’t want to do a rescue swim, I already dried my hair,” Poppy called as I shoved off the deep end wall.

  I hadn’t noticed when she’d stopped swimming along beside me. She’s much stronger in the pool than I am, and although I wouldn’t admit it, I was beginning to feel the strain. I stepped out of the pool and took the towel she offered, as the air hit me. My overworked muscles took exception to the sudden chill.

  Texas weather, one day ninety degrees the next it’s snowing. It was only April so the nights cooled quickly when the sun disappeared behind the horizon.

  Poppy had already changed and offered to start dinner while I took a shower. I would have been insulted by the offer, but I hated to cook.

  “You’re friend Jillie sure had great taste,” Poppy said as she put dinner on the table. Salmon with a pesto sauce, and side of pasta glazed with garlic, diced tomatoes and a sprinkling of olive oil, topped by freshly chopped basil. My stomach roared in celebration for the first time since I’d arrived.

  I looked around the room. When you came in the French doors from the pool you had a kitchen and small dining area on the left and a comfortable seating area on the right. It was simple yet elegant. The couch and chair were plush and allowed you to sink into them. Grey slate tiles divided the two areas, the tiles big enough to keep water from wet swimwear off the carpet in the living area.

  “It’s nice,” I said and watched Poppy’s eyes open wide in disbelief.

  “Nice. I know you don’t have a deep desire to wear the latest fashions, but surely you know this is not just nice. Look at the fabrics on the couch and lounge. In a pool house.”

  “Okay.

  “Have you been in the bedrooms, Ash? I mean just out here in this little swim cottage. The bedding. The sheets are Egyptian cotton. Spread - real satin and silk that simmers like the sea. You’re friend made a major investment here. I had no idea those clubs brought in this kind of money. I can’t wait to get my hands on the accounts.”

  I’d never noticed. Could money be the motive for murder? But that didn’t make sense. I know I didn’t kill Jillie, and according to her lawyer, I was her heir. But maybe there were others?

  I thought about the envelope filled with keys. There were five cars in the garage. Three were collector T-Birds, restored to their original glory. One was a pick-up, almost a requirement in Texas, and the last was her Lexus, the one she drove every day. I knew a couple of the people who worked around the house, and was sure she had left something for them. The gardener, Jose Torres, and Elspeth Bloomington, her housekeeper had been with Jillie for years. Beverly Tyson restored the cars and maintained the fleet. Surely they had been mentioned. Who else?

  “You have that look on your face,” Poppy said, drawing me back to the present space I occupied. “You’re puzzling over something.”

  “It[s just I never really thought about Jillie having money and what all this must cost. If I missed something like that about her, what else have I missed? Something that might have cost her life?”

  * * * *

  Poppy and I had stayed up late, talking, tossing around ideas, who might have a motive to kill Jillie, could someone who tortured her the way they had, hide all that raw anger? Look normal? Nothing really jelled. She did make me wonder if the police had found Jillie’s will. I hadn’t seen it in the main safe, just a glance to see if anything was obviously removed, before they arrived, and I hadn’t opened the one in the kitchen, where I suspected she kept most of her more business oriented paperwork. Had the crime techs discovered that safe?

  I was just pouring coffee when Poppy walked in and took the cup from my hand. “You going to the club this morning? I asked her. There won’t be anyone to show you around.” I grabbed a large mug and filled it.

  “Yea, just like I want it. I’ll bet I can find the password to the computer somewhere in the desk, and if not I can just do a quick inventory of the stock until someone shows up.”

  I handed her the club keys and agreed to pick her up at one for lunch. When she drove off, I walked over to the garage to look at the vehicles. I’d called the rental company and they were sending out a driver to take my rental car back to the airport.

  I began to wonder how well I knew Jillie. The Lexus wasn’t what I expected. An eco-friendly one-room mansion on wheels. I don’t know much about the Lexus but I sure didn’t expect a hybrid and I was pretty sure it had every bell and accessory available. I was not going to be comfortable driving this around, but it was mine now, so I had been told, and I had the key to it. Figured it would be less obvious than the T’s or even the truck, which was hot pink.

  My cell vibrated and rang. “Hello?” I listened. “Hi, Dylan, thanks for...r />
  Are you okay, Ash? I know this is really hard for you.”

  “Yeah, I’m going to really miss her, Dylan.”

  Dylan was the closest thing I’d probably ever come to a boyfriend, lover, fill in the blank. Of course all that was history after I failed to perform in the lover roll. Now he was my friend.

  “Thanks for calling. I don’t know when the funeral will be.”

  “Ashley, I’m not coming just for the funeral. I want to help you find this pervert. Poppy told me how badly Jillie was mutilated. You don’t need to be doing this investigation on your own.”

  Poppy needed to keep her nose where I asked her to put it. We hadn’t even talked about Jillie much. I suppose she’d gone through my stuff and found the photos.

  “Look you just made the move into the Criminal--”

  “I’ve already taken care of that, I’ll be on leave. I want to be there to help watch your back and keep Pop and you safe. Don’t argue.”

  I hate it when he did that, just steam rolls over me and wouldn’t let me finish a sentence. Another reason we didn’t make it in the romantic dance. “The people I need to talk to aren’t going to trust you, Dylan. If you’re with me, they won’t trust me either.”

  “We’ll find a way. Where are you staying?”

  I told him about the pool house. There was also a room over the garage, no reason for him to have to go to a hotel. We talked a few more minutes and said goodbye. He’d be in tonight, was driving his truck. Good thing I now owned a place with more than a miniscule living area and a bedroom where you could hardly walk around the bed. Not that I would let him anywhere near the bedroom. And, as a bonus, parking was going to be easy.

  6

  I spent the morning visiting people who worked at the club and lived in North Dallas and Richardson, a suburb of Dallas. No one had noticed anyone unusual. I had to ask myself, what was unusual in their business? The regulars were really people from the fringe of normality, if there was such a thing.

  I was going to have to go back to Trixie’s, and I knew I was stalling. Might as well get it over with since we would be seeing each other that evening at the reading of the will. I hadn’t told DeMarco everything. Jillie had been upset by the actors, something going on there. I hadn’t listened because what she wanted to tell me had to do with Trixie. Well, I still wasn’t ready to immerse myself into that world. I hadn’t seen one of those movies since I pinched a couple of the videos from Trixie’s office when I was fifteen and she was out of town---again. But, when I looked at any of the actresses, with their balloons they called boobs, it made me hurt. I drove to the strip club, which sat on a little piece of land on Highway 121 a bit northwest of Plano.