by Joan Rylen
Vivian gave hers a sniff. “This smells pretty foofy-lala.”
“Just wait till you taste it, honey, but first a toast.” Rodney lifted his glass dramatically. “To life ended without permission,” he looked directly at Vivian, shaking his head. “To love ended before fruition. To Jon.”
Love? Fruition? What the????
Everyone clinked and started sipping except for Vivian. She was too busy staring at Rodney, who wasn’t sipping but pouring his drink down his throat.
After a quick beat, he put his empty glass down and said cheerfully, “Who wants another?”
The girls had barely made a dent and Vivian hadn’t even had a sip, being too shell-shocked, but he started grabbing for fresh glasses.
Vivian scooted over toward him. “Um, Rodney?”
“Yes, honey, drink up.”
“What’s this love and fruition crap? You looked at me.”
“Did I?”
“Yes, you did. Looked right at me.”
He started mixing fresh drinks. “I might have,” he stopped to think. Then shrugged his shoulders and resumed. “Well, what the hell, everybody knows. No offense sweetie.”
“Knows what?”
He started the ass shaking again. “Well, that you’re the…” He paused, leaned in close, whispering, “Suspect.”
It was hard for her to hear the word spoken out loud, and she almost dropped her glass.
“Excuse me, but I am not the only one. There are several,” she hesitated and lowered her voice “suspects.”
He poured out the drinks, handed another to Vivian and lifted his own.
“Well you’re the only one I’ve heard about,” he said, picking up a drink. “Plus, I saw you that night at Club Caliente. The two of you made that place really sizzle, and it was already hot.”
She took a ginormous first gulp of the Rodney Special. Damn, that’s tasty. Everyone else had already grabbed their second pour. Two-fistin’ it. Apparently the Texas girls liked the Rodney Special, too.
“We were just dancing! He taught me how to salsa!”
He held his drink out to the side with his pinky out. “I’ve seen a lot of salsa, and let me tell ya, the heat between you two was scorching. The ignition of fruition was beyond comprehension for those of us who’ve seen love before. And honey, that was love.”
More like lust.
“Just how many Rodney Specials have you had tonight?” Vivian asked. “Because yes, that was some sexual tension that could have led to fruition had my inhibitions not been hindered by my intuition. Instead, there was some masturba…”
“Whoaaaa…y’all sound like U2’s “Let It Go” gone way wrong,” Wendy said loudly, waving her Rodney Special in the air.
“What?” Rodney questioned.
“You know,” she said, then sang a few lines. Every word ended in “ion.”
“That was lovely, but shhhhhhhhhh. I’ve heard enough!” Rodney slurred and put his finger to his lips.
Dammit. Suppression.
Lucy pointed at Rodney, “You need to get away from the bar,” she pointed to Vivian, “and I’m guessing you could use some fresh air.”
Rodney started to protest but Vivian pushed him outside with the girls. He didn’t protest.
Kate took a swig of her drink as she stepped onto the patio and almost spit it back out. Managing not to choke, she said, “There’s Shorty over there on that lounger, with The Ladies. And there’s Al and Adrienne. Right next to him!”
“Interesting,” Vivian said, then turned her back to them and finished off her first Rodney special and half of the other.
Adrienne saw them almost immediately and walked over. “Hi, girlfriends! Can you believe this house? It’s amazing!”
“Oh my gosh, we know. And the pool! Wow,” Vivian said glancing over at it, then introduced Adrienne to Rodney.
He put down his drink and grabbed both of Adrienne’s hands, pulling them out to either side of her. “Let me get a good look at you, honey. You are bedazzling from head to toe.” He twirled her around.
She wore a sexy, scarlet, clingy dress with rhinestones around the low-cut V-neck. It showed every curve, leaving nothing to the imagination. She had on enough bracelets to be heard from miles away, and her sky-high silver strappy heels provided just the perfect accent.
Rodney whistled. “Yes, ma’am, you are quite the diva.”
“Aren’t you cute,” Adrienne said with a big smile on her face, obviously loving the attention. “And how do you know these girls?”
“I had my hands all over that one,” he said, pointing to Lucy. “I’m just kidding. I’m a massage therapist. These ladies were privy to my services earlier today and invited me to the party. Said it was ‘the more the merrier.’ ”
“What are y’all doin’ here?” Vivian asked her.
“Beats me. This isn’t generally Al’s scene, though you never know with him. He’s full of surprises,” she paused looking Vivian over. “I see you had a bout with the sun today.”
Vivian groaned. “Yeah, and the sun won.”
Rodney took Adrienne’s hand again. “It was so nice meeting you. There’s a guy over there I know from my gym. He’s a trainer, actually, and let me tell you, I’d like him to teach me a few things. I’ve had enough Rodney Specials, I think, to work up the courage to go talk to him.”
“Go get ’em, Tiger!” Lucy waved her fist in the air, Rocky Balboa-style.
“See you later, I’m sure. Unless I get lucky!” Rodney said with a grin and a clap, then flitted off toward the trainer.
Vivian watched his approach and saw the trainer smile at him and touch his arm. “He just might be a lucky little leprechaun after all.”
The girls were laughing at Vivian’s comment when Pierre appeared suddenly at Kate’s side. His face was flushed and he looked freaked out.
“You are not going to believe who I just spoke to.”
“Who?” They all asked in unison.
“Crazy Stella.”
CHAPTER 59
“I WAS over by the fire pit, sitting down,” Pierre motioned in that direction, then continued telling the girls about his encounter with Stella. “She came up and sat next to me. Like, right here.” He indicated how close.
“What did she want?” Vivian interrupted.
“She asked me where Dominik was.”
Vivian shook her head, frustrated at Stella’s inability to grasp reality.
“I didn’t even bother to try to explain the character thing to her. I just told her he was murdered on the beach a few nights ago.”
“Did she seem shocked? Or surprised?”
“She was definitely shocked,” he replied, wiping his brow. “She put her head in her hands and just started sobbing. I sort of felt bad for her, she seemed so distraught, but then again, I’m not sure what to think.”
“She didn’t ask anything about the police, or if they knew who killed him or anything like that?” Kate asked.
“No, but I did try to ask her a few questions. She got even more upset, then just jumped up and ran inside the house. I ran after her but lost her in this crowd. She is quick.”
“Let’s split up and see if we can find her,” Vivian suggested. “Maybe she’s still around.”
“I’ll help, too,” Adrienne said. “Upstairs isn’t as crowded. I can run through the game room and bedrooms quickly.”
Vivian’s brain was in overdrive at Pierre’s tale but it did register that Adrienne must have gone upstairs snooping around. Was that who went into the master bedroom while we were searching the study?
“Great!” Wendy said and came up with a game plan on the fly. “Pierre, why don’t you go check the front of the house and down the road, just in case she’s leaving. Kate, Lucy, y’all hit the kitchen, dining room and part of the living room. Viv and I will check the far side of the living area and the media room. Meet back here on the patio when you’re finished.”
Vivian felt like they should all throw their hands to
gether and yell “break” but there was no time and they all took off.
The house was packed, and it wasn’t easy to make their way through the crowd.
Vivian and Wendy took their time weaving through the living room, checking every face. The DJ was set up in the far corner with a “dance floor” in front of him. They boogied their way across to get to the media room where couples lounged about on oversized chairs. A huge flat-screen TV played music videos without sound.
Vivian tried to get a good look at the girls’ faces, which wasn’t always easy. There seemed to be some tonsil inspections going on, a lot of groping, and apparently clothing was optional in this area of the house. Didn’t need to see that.
“You won’t find me sitting on any of this furniture!” Wendy shook as if she had the heebie-jeebies. “No Stella, though I tried not to look too closely at the girls in here.”
“Oh, I don’t think they care,” Vivian told her. “I got a good look. A little too much of a good look.”
Wendy shook again at that and they went back out to the patio. Lucy and Kate were already there.
“We didn’t see her,” Lucy said, hands on hips.
“There must be half a gazillion people in this house,” Wendy said. “I think a fire code is being broken, if they have fire codes down here.”
“How can this chick keep vanishing into thin air?” Kate asked with exasperation.
Vivian scanned the backyard in vain. She didn’t see Stella, but instead, Al. “Look, Al’s over there talking with Victor and Joel.”
“Who?” Lucy asked.
“The guys who work for Shorty.”
“What’s up with that?” Kate said. “Al’s always in places or talking to people that seem a bit odd for a guy who just owns a restaurant in Chicago.”
Vivian couldn’t hear their conversation, but saw them all laugh at something Al said. He shook both of their hands and then wandered off.
Pierre came back after a minute, looking sweaty and frustrated. “I didn’t see Stella anywhere, and I ran up and down the road a little.”
“Maybe somebody should check the study and the ‘love nest,’ ” Kate said with a grin.
Just then Adrienne came barreling out of the house, which was not an easy feat for someone of her small stature.
“I found her!” she exclaimed, sounding winded. “And I think she’s the killer.”
“What?” Vivian exclaimed. “Where is she?”
“Upstairs, on the couch in the game room. I’m supposed to be getting her a glass of water. Y’all go stay with her.”
Pierre led the way as the group rushed as quickly as they could through the crowded house.
As soon as Pierre stepped on the landing, Vivian knew. She knew Stella would be gone and there’d likely be no finding her.
The couch was empty.
Kate unhooked the rope blocking off access to Shorty’s study and bedroom and flew up the stairs.
Lucy was hot on her heels.
Pierre ran toward the bedrooms to the right of the man-cave.
Vivian and Wendy ran through the ones on the left.
Everyone returned within seconds of each other and started back down the stairs, passing a surprised Adrienne on her way up with the water, who turned and followed them down.
Pierre bolted out the front door.
The girls split up and ran through the house again, shoving people carelessly out of the way.
Adrienne, still holding the glass of water, waited on the patio for the girls when they returned.
Pierre joined them soon afterward, short of breath.
“She’s nowhere,” Pierre gasped. “Gone.”
“What happened when you talked to Stella?” Vivian asked Adrienne.
“I went upstairs into the game room and saw a woman with long black hair hunched over, crying on the couch,” Adrienne explained excitedly. “I was able to see the tattoo you talked about on the small of her back, the spider, so I knew it had to be her.
“I went over and asked if she was okay. She was sobbing, very upset. She said she’s been looking for Dominik for two days, wanting to apologize. Said she saw his friend here and he told her Dominik is dead. That he was murdered on the beach two nights ago.”
“And?” Vivian prompted.
“I asked her why she needed to apologize, and she said – get this - that she had lost control.”
“No way!”
“I asked her if she argued with him on the beach and she said YES!”
“Did she say how she hurt him?” Kate asked.
“No, but she did say he was cheating on his wife, that’s why she was so upset. She said, ‘I was so mad, then he fell down. I don’t know what happened.’ ”
“Then what?” Lucy asked.
“I tried to console her. She just kept saying she needed to confess. And she was grasping a cross necklace she was wearing. I asked her if she wanted a glass of water, and she said yes, so I ran down here to tell you girls. You know the rest.”
“This totally means Stella is the killer!” Vivian exclaimed.
“We’ve got to call Detective Vega,” Wendy said.
Vivian dug Vega’s card out of her purse. Her fingers shook as she tried to dial. It took three attempts.
“It’s ringing!” she whispered.
“Dammit! Voicemail.”
“Hey Detective Vega, this is Vivian Taylor, you know, from the murder. I’m here at Julio’s party, and Crazy Stella, remember, we told you about her, was here and just confessed to my friend, Adrienne, that she accidentally killed Jon, whom she thought was Dominik, the soap opera star, cheating on his wife. She was here just a minute ago but seems to have disappeared again. She can’t have gone far so we’re going to search for her, and you know, make a citizen’s arrest or something when we find her. Can we do that in Mexico? Anyway, come as soon—”
BEEP!
“It cut me off!”
“I think he probably will get the gist of it.” Kate tried to reassure her.
“And it’s true, she can’t have gone far,” Wendy said. “Y’all want to split up again and search for her?”
“I’ll search the beach,” Lucy said. “I can run fast if I take off these shoes.”
Vivian considered what to do for a moment and looked over to the fire pit, where Stella had been seen. She hoped to see her again, but spotted Al instead, talking with Shorty, Victor and Joel. They looked serious.
Shorty glanced up and caught her looking at him.
Adrienne followed her line of sight and called, “Al, honey. Come here, we need your help.”
Al excused himself and walked over to them. Shorty and company went inside.
Just as Al asked what they needed help with, they heard, “Policia! Nadia Mueve!”
CHAPTER 60
“POLICIA! NADIA Mueve!” Detective Vega shouted again, louder this time.
Vivian spun around to see that Vega had burst through the front door, followed by, of all people, Ponytail. Guns drawn.
Police in bullet proof vests ran in behind them and through the gate in the garden. Party guests threw their hands up, looking at each other confused. Several looked a little nervous and some tried to run off but couldn’t get out.
“Ponytail is a cop!” Vivian gasped in shock, throwing her hands up like the rest of the crowd, hurting her sunburned shoulders. She turned back around to face the girls and Pierre, whose arms were sky high. Al and Adrienne weren’t standing beside them anymore.
“Where? Where?” Vivian stammered, pointing a finger to the space that had just been occupied by them.
Pierre kept his arms in the air and nodded toward the beach. “They took off that way.”
Al must have ducked through all those plants.
“What do we do now?” Kate asked.
“Whatever they tell us to do,” Pierre said, watching the police break people into groups, frisk them and sit them down.
“We haven’t done anything wrong,” Vivian said. “We
need to talk to Detective Vega.”
Lucy’s right foot tapped uncontrollably. “I’ve never been in a raid before and I do not want to be put into a paddy wagon. Plus, I can’t do another trip to the police station. If you recall, the first one didn’t go so well for me.”
A cop came over to them, yelling something in Spanish.
“I think he wants to see our IDs,” Wendy said.
Wendy told him they didn’t have their passports, and that they needed to talk to Detective Vega. That it was about the murder of Jon Tournay.
The officer squinted his eyes at her, then walked back to the house. He talked to two other cops, pointing in their direction, before he went inside.
“At least there wasn’t any shooting or anything,” Kate said.
“This is crazy.” Lucy said. “And I need to pee!”
“You’re gonna have to hold it.” Vivian used her ‘Mom’ voice again.
They all took a seat around the fire pit as the two policia took a stance on either side of them.
Vivian whispered over to Wendy, “Are we being guarded or held?”
“I’m pretty sure the latter.”
Detective Vega walked out the back patio doors about five minutes later.
“Thank goodness you’re here!” Vivian yelled and stood up.
The policia standing around them took a few steps toward her and reached for their weapons.
“Está bien,” Vega said to them.
They backed off.
“Did you get my message? We found the killer! It’s that lady, the crazy fan. She’s a total whack-job!”
“What message?” he asked, sounding uninterested.
“I just called you, right before the raid. We found out who killed Jon! She practically confessed!”
“Of course, she’s vanished now,” Lucy said.
“Slow down, Mrs. Taylor. Who killed Jon?”
“Crazy Stella, his fan! We told you about her, remember? She’s the one with the tattoo who thinks he’s actually his soap opera character.”
“Ah, yes. I remember,” Vega said, nodding his head.
“She was here, went up to Pierre, and asked him where Dominik had been for the past two days.”
“I told her he was found murdered on the beach,” Pierre interjected. “She freaked out and ran into the house. That’s when Adrienne found her and she confessed.”