Candy Canes & Corpses

by Abby L. Vandiver

“I wasn’t planning on coming to the office today,” Mickey went on, “but I had to be here because of a couple of meetings I couldn’t cancel. Some people have flown in from out of state for them, and one’s an appointment I need to keep to honor Dana. I could see you at ten this morning. Do you have my address?”

  “Yes, I’ll see you then.” DeeDee ended the call and looked over at Al.

  “Good,” Al said, smiling at her. “That’s one down. Why don’tcha call that nail place and see if ya’ can get an appointment fer’ early this afternoon? I gotta coupla’ people I need to talk to, and I don’t want ya’ goin’ to Seattle by yerself’.”

  “Sure,” DeeDee nodded, getting up. “I have the number in my purse. I’ll go get it and make the call now.” DeeDee walked into the hallway with the phone, and Al heard her make the call. A few minutes later she came back in the room. “I have an appointment with the owner herself, Nikki, at one this afternoon. She had a cancellation. I’ll be finished by 2:00. Is that okay?”

  “Perfect. While yer’ gettin’ ready,” Al said, “Ima gonna’ see how Red’s doin’ and take him and my pal Balto here out for a walk.” Balto’s tail started wagging furiously when Al said the word “walk.” Al laughed at the dog’s antics. “We won’t go far, but ya; know the drill. Lock the doors, and…”

  “Stay away from the windows. I got it, Al.”

  “Good. While I’m out I’ll make a coupla calls. When I get back, I’ll drive ya; to Donnelly’s place and wait fer ya’. I’m gonna drive yer’ car. Think you’ll be okay in there by yerself’. I’ll do the same with the nail joint.”

  “Al, I appreciate what you’re doing for me, honestly, but don’t you think that’s a bit overkill?”

  “Nope, and I don’t wanna hear no more about it.” Al slapped his leg for Balto to follow him. Not that there was much danger of Balto doing otherwise. Earlier, Al had trouble keeping Balto out of the bathroom when he was showering.

  Al left by the back door that led into the yard, taking food and water for Red, and locking the door after him. After making sure Red had been taken care of, he pulled out his phone.

  “Jake, it’s Al. Found another note under the windshield wiper this mornin’. Pretty much like the first one. Did ya’ find out anythin’ on that McGee guy?”

  “Not yet,” Jake said. “Why don’t you call Rob directly? Save me from being the middle man. I don’t think DeeDee would be very happy if she knew I was at all involved.”

  Al remembered DeeDee’s sadness the night before when she’d mentioned Jake’s name.

  “Yer’ probably right. I’ve still got his number. DeeDee has an appointment with Dana’s husband, and she’s fixed to see the nail gal that does Sonia McNulty’s nails. Ima gonna make an appointment with Dino. Right after I take my canine friends fer a walk, that is. Catcha later.”

  “Thanks Al, bye.”

  Al walked around to the front of the house with Red and Balto in tow, and the three of them headed towards the path that led to the beach. He pulled his collar up against the strong breeze, and thought about the day ahead. He was glad Jake had suggested he call Rob directly, because there was something else he wanted to ask Rob. He wanted to find out more about a certain attractive lady by the name of Cassie Roberts.

  Chapter Twelve

  “This is it, right here,” DeeDee said, pointing to a commercial office building. Al screeched the SUV to a halt, DeeDee gripping the door handle. There was a thump from the back seat, followed by a yelp from Balto. “I think you just set a new record for going from 60 miles per hour to 0 in my car,” she commented before climbing out, knees knocking. “Ever considered the Monte Carlo Grand Prix?”

  “Too slow for me,” Al replied with a lazy grin. “I’ll park across the street and be waitin’ fer ya’. Any trouble jes’ holler.” He adjusted his sunglasses and checked the rear-view mirror as he put the car in drive. DeeDee just had time to close the door before he sped off in the direction of a nearby parking space, accompanied by a squeal of tires, and the smell of burning rubber.

  DeeDee looked from side to side as she approached the entrance of the building, paranoid in case she was being watched or followed. The street was quiet, apart from an elderly woman riding a mobility scooter in her direction. DeeDee quickened her pace toward the entrance, on the remote chance that the woman decided to turn kamikaze. There were a few characters on Bainbridge Island, but the woman didn't strike DeeDee as being one of them, although she was zipping along at a pretty fast pace.

  Once she was safely inside the office building, DeeDee breathed a sigh of relief. The sight of a security guard on duty made her feel even better. Although she was happy not to be cooped up in the house like she had been the day before, she was uncomfortable feeling like she had to look over her shoulder everywhere she went.

  The click of her heels echoed on the tile floor. “I’m here to see Mr. Donnelly,” she informed the receptionist. “My name’s DeeDee Wilson. I spoke with him earlier today.”

  The receptionist smiled at her politely and directed her down the hall. “Mr. Donnelly’s room is on the right. Please, take a seat in the hallway outside his office. He’s with someone, but he shouldn’t be much longer.”

  “Thank you,” DeeDee said as she headed down the hall toward the row of seats lined up against the wall. A sign with Mickey Donnelly’s name on the door indicated she was in the right place. Sitting down, she noticed the door was slightly ajar, and in an effort to be polite, she tried not to eavesdrop on the voices she could hear coming from within the room.

  DeeDee began to play a computer game called Candy Crush on her phone, but soon the conversation between Mickey, whose voice she recognized, and another man, caused her to pause. They were talking about gambling addiction. The man speaking sounded like he was reciting a speech he’d given before.

  “Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other, so that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from their addiction to gambling. We’re here to help and support you, Mickey. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling.”

  “How much does it cost?” DeeDee heard Mickey ask. “Because I’ve just about blown through everything I’ve got. I’m barely hanging on by a financial thread, but whatever it takes, I’ve got to beat this thing. I made a promise to Dana, so I’ll get the money from somewhere.” DeeDee heard a hollow laugh. “I always managed to find the money for gambling, although stealing from my children’s piggy banks wasn’t one of my finer moments.”

  DeeDee considered leaving without collecting Mickey’s share of her fee. What Dana had paid her more than covered it already. DeeDee wasn’t desperate for the money, but from what she’d just overheard, it seemed like Mickey was. If it weren’t for the fact she was scared of her own shadow while Dana’s killer was still on the loose, she would have left right then and there.

  The other man spoke up. “There are no dues or fees for membership in Gamblers Anonymous. We are self-supporting through our own contributions. GA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution. It doesn’t wish to engage in any controversy, and it neither endorses nor opposes any cause. Our primary purpose is to stop gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same. I’ve been in your shoes Mickey. GA helped me, and it can help you too.”

  “I doubt if you were as bad as I am,” Mickey muttered. “Gambling is the only thing I’ve cared about for a long time. My relationship with my wife, my kids, my performance at work—it all became secondary while I craved the next opportunity to empty my bank account.”

  “Believe me, Mickey, I’ve been in the same boat. Most of us have been unwilling to admit we had a problem with gambling until it’s too late. No one likes to think they’re different from other people.”

  Mickey’s voice cracked. “If you mean, pretending like I had it all under control, when the opposite was true, then yeah, I was that guy.”r />
  “That’s the reason it’s not surprising that our gambling has been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could gamble like other people,” the second man said.

  After listening to the conversation coming from inside the room, DeeDee decided he must be some sort of GA counsellor or sponsor. “The idea that somehow, some day, we can control our gambling is the great obsession of every compulsive gambler.”

  When she heard the sound of a chair being pushed back, DeeDee tried to look absorbed in the Candy Crush game on her cell phone. If she left now, it might alert the men that she’d overheard their conversation, so she stayed put and decided she’d deal with it when they walked out. She kept her head down when the door swung open and both men stepped into the narrow hallway.

  “Why don’t I pick you up this evening and take you to a meeting?” the man asked Mickey.

  DeeDee sneaked a peek at the man who was talking. He was older than he sounded, with a gray beard, and he was holding a walking cane.

  “I appreciate it, Aaron,” Mickey said, shaking his hand. “I’ll see you later.”

  DeeDee stood up, so Aaron could walk past her without bumping into her knees.

  “DeeDee, it’s good to see you,” Mickey said, and she smiled at him. He was unshaven, his dark wavy hair unkempt, and his expression was as crumpled as his suit. “Please, come into my office,” he said. When she was in his office, he gestured towards a leather chair facing his desk and said, “Have a seat.”

  Mickey walked over to his desk and sat down. He smiled at her sadly. “I assume you overheard the conversation between Aaron and me, and I guess it really doesn’t matter now. As he explained to me, part of the recovery for my gambling problem will be to admit I have an addiction to it, which I do. I guess you’re the first person I’ve told. I have to say, in a strange way, it’s a great relief.”

  DeeDee’s heart went out to him. The man looked bereft, broken, and the way his mouth was tightly set, made her think he was desperately trying to control his emotions. “Mr. Donnelly,” she began, “l didn’t listen on purpose. Your receptionist told me to take a seat in the hallway outside your office, and that your meeting would be over very soon. I’m sorry if it’s caused you any discomfort.”

  “No,” Mickey said, putting his head in his hands. It was a few moments before he looked up again, his eyes wet. “It’s long overdue. As a matter of fact, Dana and I had decided to start our lives over. That was the reason for the New Year’s Eve party. It was a celebration of my giving up gambling and her walking away from a relationship she’d had for several years, probably as a result of my behavior. I don’t blame her for it, because I have to admit that my gambling addiction took over pretty much every aspect of my life. It’s not a pretty story, but I guess I have to start somewhere.” He gulped back a sob. “I can’t believe she’s gone. I keep telling myself if I’d stopped gambling earlier, this never would have happened.”

  DeeDee reached in her purse for a packet of Kleenex, and passed them across the desk. “Mr. Donnelly, I admire you for what you’re doing. If you want to talk about it, I’d be happy to listen, but I’ll also understand if you don’t.”

  Mickey took a Kleenex from the packet and rubbed his eyes. “Actually DeeDee, it’s probably time I did talk about it. You see, about twenty years ago, I got interested in playing poker. There was no online poker then, and only very crude poker software. I got Doyle Brunson's bible on how to successfully play the game and studied it non-stop. I played every chance I could, including at casinos, and in some serious home poker games. Overall, I did fairly well. I ended up about $15,000 ahead for my best year and never showed an annual loss.”

  DeeDee listened to him, fascinated by what he was saying. Twenty years was a long time, and she wondered when things had started going wrong. It looked like Mickey, who was taking a sip of water from the glass beside him, was about to tell her.

  “Then, Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker, and the poker boom exploded. Internet poker became a big business, and I got hooked. I spent hours every day playing online. In the last few years, I’ve lost a ton of money. I was pretty sure at some point I’d have to sell our house just to cover my losses. Dana and I talked about it and agreed that would probably be the best decision. We decided we were going to downsize. That was another reason for the party. It was going to be the last time we’d entertain at the house. Guess that was true.”

  “I’m sorry,” DeeDee murmured.

  “I can’t believe I let my addiction become more important than Dana.” Mickey set the glass back down on his desk with a thump. “If it weren’t for my gambling and our decision to sell the house, we never would have had the party, and she’d still be alive. It was all my fault, and I’ll never be able to forgive myself. What I can’t figure out is why someone would want to murder her. She was the darling of Seattle. Everyone loved her.”

  DeeDee leaned across the desk. “Mr. Donnelly, as you know, I was at the party, and I’ve been trying to think of anything that might help the police with their investigation. Do you have any idea who might have done it?”

  “I’ve thought of nothing else for the last day and a half,” Mickey said, shaking his head, “and no one comes to mind. Sure, she had run-ins a couple of times with people. I mean, when you’re in the spotlight and on camera all the time, you’re bound to have them.”

  “Can you think of anyone who might have had a grudge against her?” DeeDee searched Mickey’s face for any sign of guilt. As far as she could tell, he wasn’t hiding anything. He tilted his head while he thought for a few seconds. “The only two people that come to mind are Sonia McNulty and Jerry McGee. Dana was one of those people who had the ability to defuse problems before they blew up. Sonia wanted her job, but Dana was the one who was responsible for putting a word in for Sonia at a television station for a position in Portland doing exactly what Dana did. Dana said she was confident they were about to make Sonia an offer, since her contract was coming up for renewal. Now I don’t know what will happen.”

  “You mentioned Jerry McGee,” DeeDee said, spotting Al walking Balto on the other side of the street through the window located behind Mickey. Al was on the phone, Balto matching him stride for stride. “I remember something about Jerry McGee walking off the set when Dana was interviewing him. Whatever happened with that?”

  Mickey grimaced. “That was a messy situation. Dana apologized profusely to him for revealing his background. She honestly thought his fans would appreciate knowing where he’d come from, the way he’d made it big even with those obstacles in his past. She thought she was doing him a favor by revealing it. Initially, Jerry didn’t think so, but after some time he agreed with her. He told her he’d thought about it and realized she was right, and that he’d forgiven her. That was one of the reasons he was at the party. It was kind of a public acknowledgment they’d made up.”

  “I see,” DeeDee said. “Mr. Donnelly, I’ve been involved in helping solve a couple of murders recently. If you don’t mind, I’d like to see if I can find out anything that might help solve the mystery of who murdered Dana. I really liked her, and along with everyone else in Seattle, I feel sick and saddened by what happened. Is there anyone else you can think of?”

  “No. Dana knew a lot of people. You’ll probably hear some recent gossip about Dana and a well-known local businessman and quite frankly, it was true. The thing is, Dana loved to court the press when it came to celebrities she wasn’t involved with, but that was a cover for the relationship she was really having. My gambling addiction gave her a very good reason for having a relationship outside the marriage, and I believe she cared for this man more than she admitted to me. She told me when she’d ended the relationship the man had been devastated, but knowing the person in question, I don’t think he would hurt her. He adored her.”

  DeeDee nodded, certain that Mickey was referring to Dino Argyros. She knew Al would want to hear Mickey’s comments regarding Dino. She could see Al
outside, and he appeared to have ended his telephone call. From what she could see, he was having an earnest conversation with Balto.

  Mickey looked at his watch. “I have another appointment. Let me pay you the rest of your fee.” He opened his drawer and took out a checkbook. “And thanks for listening to me, DeeDee. I guess I’ll have to get used to admitting to people I have a gambling addiction, despite the stigma that comes with it. I need to do it to honor my promise to Dana. I think she would find it very appropriate.”

  As Mickey started to write the check, DeeDee spoke out. “Mr. Donnelly, your wife paid me plenty already. She was very generous. If you don’t mind, I’d feel a lot better if we left it at that.”

  Mickey looked up in surprise. “Thanks, but no, I don’t want to do that. We had a deal, and you earned it. I insist.” He scrawled his signature on the bottom of the check, tore it out of the checkbook, and handed it across the desk to DeeDee, who pushed it away.

  She stood up with a smile, and shook his hand. “Please, Mr. Donnelly, I’d be much happier if you use the check to make a donation to GA. I wish you well on your journey.”

  She saw Al looking in the window, and nodded to him that her appointment was over. By the time she opened the front door of the building, Al and Balto were in front of it, waiting in the car with the engine running.

  “Sounds like Dana and Dino had a real thing going,” Al said on the drive back to the house, after DeeDee told him about her conversation with Mickey. “I called Dino and arranged to see him later this afternoon, and I also spoke to Dom Langello. He was Vinny’s attorney, and he’s also Dino’s. Dom said the last time they spoke Dino was pretty depressed, and Dana was the reason why.”

  “Wasn’t that breaking a client confidence?” DeeDee asked. She was surprised at a lawyer talking about a client. She’d always heard about the lawyer-client confidentiality.

  “Ain’t no secret Dino and Dana were havin’ an affair,” Al said, “so not at all. Dino told Dom that Dana had called the whole thing off, and he was sure she meant it.”