by Kim Davis
It didn’t take Philip long to reach the freeway and head east on the 55 and then north on the 405 Freeway. I worried I would lose him in traffic, but luckily there were only pockets of slowing, so I kept him in sight. He was in the far left non-carpool lane when suddenly his white SUV darted across traffic and took the 605 Freeway exit. I almost couldn’t merge into the exit lane but managed it at the last second, leaving several cars honking their horns at me. I crossed my fingers, hoping Philip didn’t notice.
Ten minutes later, when I realized where Philip was heading, my heart sank. The building was brightly lit with a flashy sign inviting people to play the tables and eat delicious buffet food. I would have no way to recover all the money he had lost there. It was gone forever, and I would be paying his debt for the rest of my life.
Chapter 27
I parked several rows over from Philip and watched as he ambled toward the casino entrance. He seemed focused, and in his hands, he fondled what appeared to be a credit card. I berated myself for not canceling our credit cards sooner. I dug through my purse and pulled out the one credit card I carried. After calling the toll-free number on the back of the card, I waded through the menu, punching number after number until I reached a live person. Once I explained the situation, they closed the account and promised I would receive a final bill within a few days. I almost wept when I was told the balance due. A balance that had been a few hundred dollars the last time I glanced at the statement, a few months ago, was now a few thousand dollars. I only used the card for groceries, gas, and other mundane household items, and I was sure Philip had said he paid it off every month.
I knew we had two other joint credit card accounts for emergencies, but since I didn’t carry them in my wallet, I promised myself I would cancel them as soon as I got home. I worried over the amount of money he might charge on one of those cards tonight, but right now, unless I wanted to make a huge scene, I couldn’t do anything about that.
Piper whined, and I petted her head. My mind played out scenarios, wondering if I had jumped to conclusions. What if he wasn’t gambling? Could he be meeting another mistress? Or moving stolen artwork? I snapped the leash onto Piper and opened the trunk of my car. I was sure the casino would frown on me bringing my dog in, but it was too hot to leave her in the car.
Right after we adopted Piper, I enrolled us in a service dog training program. Piper did great. Me? Not so much. In fact, I was the one who caused us to flunk out. The instructor told me that if I would learn to be more commanding, we were welcome to come back. Plus, I was really lax about working with Piper, aside from the five minutes before classes. I found her service dog vest tucked into the back corner of the trunk of my Honda. I hated to take advantage of the system that allowed service dogs into public places, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
A beefy security guard, buttons straining on his tight shirt, was standing by the glass doors leading into the casino. He gave us a cursory glance before turning his attention back to the gaming tables. On the far side of the huge, open room, I spotted the side of Philip’s head as he sat at one of the card tables. He had a stack of chips in front of him and intently studied the cards in his hand. I knew nothing about playing poker or gambling, but I could tell he wasn’t happy. From the way he was rubbing his jawline, he didn’t like what he saw in his hand. Sure enough, he threw the cards down, and the dealer swept away the pile of red and yellow chips from the table’s center.
Not wanting Philip to see me, I walked alongside the far wall until all that was visible was the back side of his head. No one was paying any attention to Piper or me, so I stood a few more minutes. My stomach plunged when he lost more money. As much as I didn’t want to cause a scene, it was time to stop him from putting us further in debt.
I wove around the crowded tables and then pulled Piper to a stop. Officer Amy Doyle, dressed in a yellow floral-print sundress, had her arms around Philip’s neck and was kissing him on the lips! Now I had proof they were involved. My suspicions about Amy killing Tori bubbled up. It made perfect sense. Kill the competition and frame the wife. She had motive, opportunity, and means. In several of my favorite mystery books, I read that detectives looked for those qualities. I turned around and made my way to the exit as quickly as I could without calling attention to myself. Detective Jackson needed this information right away.
I gave Philip and Amy another quick glance. She was trying to lead him away from the gaming table, and they seemed to be arguing. The same security guard who had stood at the casino entrance marched up to them. He grabbed them both by their arms and escorted them in the direction of the exit. When I saw them coming straight toward me, I darted behind a large pillar, hoping it was wide enough to hide both me and my dog.
“You have no right to tell me what to do,” Philip said in a low and menacing voice.
“When you keep borrowing money from me, I have every right to make sure you don’t piss it away,” Amy answered, her voice low and cold. “You need help. You’re addicted, Philip. I won’t stand by and let you ruin your life or my life either.”
“That’s enough, you two. Wait until you’re in private to hash this out.” The security guard didn’t seem fazed, so I assumed he ran into this situation fairly often.
I waited until I was sure Philip and Amy had left before I walked to my car. I worried that Tori had gotten him involved in something illegal to support his gambling. That forged painting had me concerned I was overlooking something because I sure didn’t see Amy having anything to do with it. From what Randall had told me, Tori was the one involved in theft and money laundering. I needed to talk to Randall and the Stoner Dudes again, but those conversations would have to wait until tomorrow.
Once Piper and I arrived home, I called Detective Jackson and told him what I had seen.
He was dismissive. “It’s not illegal to gamble. Nor is it illegal to have an affair.”
“I know, but this gives Amy Doyle motive, opportunity, and means.” I liked the way I could rattle it off. It sounded impressive, to me at least.
Detective Jackson laughed—not in a “this is funny” way but a condescending way. “Mrs. Martinez, I’m investigating, so go back to your mystery books and leave the real work to the police. Don’t forget, I know you have motive, opportunity, and means too. It’s late, so unless it’s an emergency, please don’t bother me with any more wild theories.”
Suddenly I didn’t feel so sure of myself. As much as I had learned, I still knew nothing. I would have to find proof Amy was the killer and then present the evidence to Detective Jackson.
Chapter 28
After dealing with the credit card companies, I put Piper in her crate and tumbled into bed. I was exhausted, but my mind was working overtime, trying to solve the case. Every time I drifted off to sleep, giant playing cards chased me, and by the time dawn broke, I was more than ready to get up to end my nightmares.
Since it was too early to track down Randall or visit the Stoner Dudes, I assembled some of the cardboard boxes my mother had sent home with me. I started in the garage and packed the nonessentials, like tools and the car-washing products Philip had left behind. I left household paper products out, since I was sure I would need them over the next few weeks. Next, I started packing my bookcase. I left out recipe books I thought I might need but boxed up the fun decorating books that I had collected by the score. I got distracted and browsed through a couple cupcake cookbooks I had bought the previous year and never looked at. My phone rang just as I finished my second cup of coffee.
It was Mother. “Darling, the realtor is bringing over a client at nine this morning. Please tell me you’re packed and the condo is clean.”
I was glad I had gotten up early so I wouldn’t have to lie to my mother. “I’ve got quite a bit packed, but it’s taking longer than I expected.”
She sighed. “Well, I suppose that can’t be helped. Put all your boxes in the garage and make sure everything is tidy. You can finish packing
once they leave.”
“Okay.” There was no use arguing with her, but I’d finish packing when it fit into my schedule. I had a murder to solve first. “Are you meeting the realtor here, or am I on my own?”
“About that….” She was silent for a few beats. “We thought it would be best if I was there and you were, uh, elsewhere.”
“You mean leave?”
“Thank you for understanding, darling. We don’t want to make the prospective client nervous around someone who has been arrested for murder.”
“I wasn’t arrested for murder!” Technically I had been arrested, just not charged, but I would never admit I had been arrested.
“Well, you know how the media blows everything out of proportion, so we thought it was for the best.”
I ended the call after half-listening to my mother’s mindless chitchat and jumped into the shower. If the client was showing up in two hours, I needed to get a move on. After pulling my hair into a wet ponytail, I made my bed, shoved all the boxes containing my books into the garage, downed breakfast, and took Piper for a quick walk. She would have to hang out with me while they showed the condo, but I didn’t think the Stoner Dudes would mind her visiting. I wanted to get their phone number the last time I dropped by, especially after Stan’s strange expression, but had forgotten to ask by the time I left.
To sweeten them up after showing up on their front doorstep yet again, I stopped by the donut shop and bought a half-dozen donuts and coffee. It wasn’t easy juggling the coffee cups and box of donuts while trying to keep Piper from wrapping her leash around my legs as I climbed the rickety stairs, but I made it without spilling anything. I set the coffee down and knocked on the door.
Stan answered a minute later, shirtless, breathing hard, and covered with a light sheen of sweat. I hoped he had been exercising and not involved in another activity.
“Oh, it’s you again.” Stan wiped his brow with a blue hand towel. “Don’t you believe in calling before dropping by someone’s house?”
“Sorry. I really meant to get your number the last time but forgot.” I bent down, picked up the coffee cups, and shoved them into his hands. “Here, coffee and donuts for you and Steve.”
Stan looked unhappy, but he opened the door wide and gestured me inside. After Piper was secured and lying down by the front door, I followed him to the kitchen. Stan sniffed the coffee and put both cups in the sink before turning on his high-end espresso machine. I should have known better than to buy cheap donut-shop swill for the guys.
“Where should I put the donuts?” I held out the box to him.
“Any apple fritters in there?”
“You bet! There’s old-fashioned and glazed yeast donuts too. Oh, and a maple bar and a jelly donut.” I placed the box on the counter then handed him the apple fritter.
He grunted and took a huge bite. Stan padded to the living room, eating his fritter, and I stooped to pick up a few crumbs he dropped along the way.
“Don’t worry about it. Steve will clean it up.”
“That’s okay. I’m the one who brought the donuts.”
“To what do I owe this unexpected visit?”
I gathered I had annoyed him by dropping by, again, without calling. At least he wasn’t with a woman or still sleeping. “Is Steve here?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, I’ll fill you in on my investigation, and you can tell him.” I thought I saw Stan roll his eyes, but honestly, my mind was only seeing Amy kissing Philip. I wondered how long they’d been involved and if Philip had moved in with her. From the sound of it, she had already given him money a few times, so chances were their affair wasn’t a new thing.
“Earth to Em. Are you going to share, or did you come over here to space out in my living room?”
I quickly told him about following Philip, his affair with Amy, the break-in, and the forged painting confiscated from my condo. “Do you think all these things are tied in together? Even though Philip has a gambling problem, I don’t see him being involved in art theft and forgery.”
Stan smirked. “You must admit you’re pretty clueless and had no idea he was having affairs. So why not theft too? Especially if the rumors were true about Tori.”
“You might be right, but Philip never seemed like he was involved in anything shady.” I rarely saw him, so what did I know? “On a different subject, I’m dying to know why you and Steve have the surfer-and-stoner-dude persona. Why hide what you have?”
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
I laughed at his quote from Top Gun, but somehow, Stan didn’t seem like he was kidding, and I felt vulnerable. I tried to joke. “Are you in the Witness Protection Program or something?”
“Or something.”
Now I was getting uncomfortable again. The guys obviously didn’t want me prying into their lives, but that only made me want to know all the more. “I don’t mean to pry, but you make me curious. You’re not trying to hide from the government or something?”
“Or something.” Stan’s eyes turned dark as he watched me through half-closed lids. “You know what they say. Curiosity killed the cat.”
Uh-oh. This time I didn’t think he was kidding around. I tried to give my naïve, happy laugh, but the tremor in my voice told me I hadn’t pulled it off. “Oh, Stan, you’re so funny! Don’t worry. Whatever secret you have is safe with clueless little me.”
This time, Stan let out a real laugh, and I felt instantly relieved. “You should have seen your face. You really are gullible, aren’t you?”
“Yep, that’s me. Miss Gullible.” I stood. “I’ll be on my way and let you get back to hiding from the government.”
Stan stood and opened a drawer on a side table. After rummaging around, he pulled out a business card and flipped it to me. “Here’s my cell number. Call instead of dropping by.”
I glanced at the card and saw his name and a phone number. That was it. No business name, no address, nothing. “Sure, and sorry about coming by this morning.”
Once Stan’s front door slammed behind me, Piper and I headed to the car. I checked my phone but saw no message from my mother, which meant we couldn’t go home yet. I called Randall. When his voice mail recording answered, I hung up without leaving a message.
“Well, Piper, maybe we should go for a walk on the beach.”
By her yelps and the way she wagged her tail, I was sure she said a resounding “yes.”
Chapter 29
We were early enough that summer crowds hadn’t clogged the parking lot close to the iconic Huntington Beach pier. After I leashed Piper, we headed for the broad paved bike path that bordered the sand. I stopped for a moment to watch several wetsuit-clad surfers balance on their boards and ride the pounding waves. Piper would be thrilled to go for a swim, but I didn’t want the added chore of grooming her and trying to get the sand out of her curly coat of fur. She would have to be content with a walk.
As we headed away from the pier and walked toward Newport Beach, I was mindful of the colorful bikes whizzing by and kept Piper to the side. I loved watching the families, parents with kids in tow, bicycling down the wide path, the kids ringing the bells on their bikes or honking attached clown horns. Their faces all had looks of pure joy, and their laughter and shrieks of delight filled the air. A touch of sadness enveloped my heart when I recalled memories of all I had missed out on after my dad abandoned us. Shaking off my blues, I picked up my pace and collided with Bandboy.
“Are you okay?” Brad reached out to steady my arm. “You need to watch where you’re going, or you’ll hurt yourself one of these days.”
“I’m so sorry, Ba... Brad! You’re not hurt, are you?” Aware I was standing on his flip-flop-clad foot, I took a hasty step back.
“I’ll survive.” He chuckled while rubbing the top of his bare foot. “Want some company on your walk?”
“Sure. We just got here.” I glanced at my gorgeous walking partner and wished I had taken time to put makeup on and do so
mething with my hair besides putting it in a ponytail. “Did you come down for a walk, or are you on your way to breakfast or coffee?”
“I had an interview with a potential employee at the coffee shop across the street and decided to take a walk while I was down here.” He stretched his arms wide. “God, I have missed this place. Northern California beaches aren’t the same.”
I had to agree with him. I was very lucky to live in this area. Piper stopped to sniff interesting smells every so often while Brad and I chatted nonstop about high school and mutual friends. Once again, he surprised me with his knowledge of local gossip, which he was all too willing to share. I laughed often at his colorful stories about starting up his business and his travel adventures. He was an entertaining guy, and I began to relax.
We had walked about a mile when my phone chimed with a text from my mother. Meet at condo 10 min.
Did she think I had parked around the corner from my home, just waiting for the client to leave?
At beach walking Piper. There in 30. She wouldn’t be happy with my reply, but it was the best I could do.
“Sorry to rush our walk, but I need to go home.” I rolled my eyes. “Sometimes it’s like I’m still a kid, running at my mother’s every beck and call.”
“No problem. I need to get back for another interview, anyway.” Brad bent down to scratch Piper’s ears. “I’m so glad we reconnected. Do you want to have dinner with me tomorrow night? There’s a new seafood place that just opened in Seal Beach that I’ve wanted to try.”
Uh-oh. I didn’t want to, but I needed to be honest with Brad before he thought there was a chance at something more than friendship between us. “Um, that sounds nice.”