by Rose Pressey
Sadly, even with this theory, I had no way of finding the perpetrators other than a description of their car. But I was a private investigator. This was my job. Of course I could track down the dirtbags, right?
“We’ll check for fingerprints,” Jake said.
I stepped around the office to see if anything else was missing. Though the laptop was the only thing of value.
“What a mess,” Dorothy said as she stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips. “I guess now you’ll need to change the lock.”
And to think earlier I had been relaxing on the beach. Now my world was turned upside down. I stared at the files on the floor. My uncle had an odd habit of numbering all the pages in a file. I supposed it was a good idea. That way if one of the pages was lost, he would know it. Pages were spread out on the floor. Pages two and four.
A couple papers were missing from the file folders. Page four only had words on half the page. These were old files though. Why would someone want papers from a file that dated back to 1994?
Chapter 3
Dorothy was safely home now. Honestly, I thought I was more upset about the money than she was, but maybe she would have a breakdown soon. I certainly hoped not, but it was possible. Tonight I had a date with Jake. Sadly, after the chaotic day, I didn’t really want to go, but it was important to him, and I didn’t want to let him down.
We were having dinner at his boss’s house. Lloyd Klein hadn’t been Jake’s boss for long. Ever since Lloyd had taken on the job Jake had been stressed. Jake was convinced that his boss didn’t like him much, so it was important for him to make a good impression. I wasn’t sure why Jake wanted me to go along. Surely I would say something inappropriate or break something in my usual clumsy fashion. I would try to be on my best behavior though.
Rushing around my tiny apartment, I had only a few minutes before Jake would be there to pick me up. I had dressed in a cute yellow and white striped summer dress. Plus, I was wearing my wedge heels. Dressing up wasn’t something I did often, so Jake would know this was a special occasion for sure. I had even curled my hair and now had big bouncy brown waves, another thing I didn’t do often. Usually I just pulled my dark hair back into a ponytail and raced out the door for the next case. Tonight I’d even applied makeup, but I’d stopped short of the false eyelashes. No need to go overboard.
It was a good thing I didn’t dress up often. Since my apartment was a tiny space, there wasn’t a lot of room for extra clothing anyway. I’d thought about maybe upgrading to a bigger place, but it was so close to the beach that I worried I wouldn’t get something that close again.
If I looked out at the edge of the building and held my head at just the right angle, I could totally see the beach. And for this price, I thought that was a bargain. So even though it was the size of a closet, I was okay with that. Just being able to walk to the beach made it worthwhile. I really loved the beach that much. Plus, the building had a pool, and hardly anyone ever used it. It was like having my own pool. Except for when the guy in 3A liked to come out and swim in his Speedo. He wore way too much suntan oil and he liked to wink at me, so that was kind of bad, but other than that, it was great.
I didn’t know much about Jake’s boss other than he was grouchy. He was married and I assumed his wife Vivian would be at the dinner as well. That was probably why Jake had invited me. He didn’t want to be alone with the two of them. I would be there to help break any awkward silence in the conversation. That was unless I created more awkward conversation. I’d never met the wife and I just hoped she was nice. But if she was anything like her husband then that was doubtful. What would we talk about?
Obviously, I was preoccupied with everything that had happened today. And I knew that would only continue until I figured out what had happened at my office. Maybe this dinner would help take my mind off it for just a bit, but the more I thought about today’s crime, the faster I would figure out what had happened. Jake said that I needed to give my brain a rest from all the detective work. I disagreed. There would be rest after the case was solved.
Surprisingly, I was now ready for Jake and I had ten minutes left, so I decided to go sit by the pool. The temperature still hovered somewhere around ninety degrees Fahrenheit, but there was a bit of a breeze, along with the few palm trees around the courtyard that offered a bit of shade. I just hoped that guy in 3A didn’t come down for a dip.
After grabbing my purse, I headed out the door, locking it behind me. I stepped into the pool area, closing the little black gate behind me. It was my lucky night. Speedo guy was nowhere in sight. I picked the lounge chair over by the biggest palm. The water sparkled and the slight breeze blew the fronds. Now if only I had a fruity cocktail in a coconut glass with an umbrella on the side, I’d be all set.
Relaxation wouldn’t last long though because thoughts of today’s earlier incidents came to mind. I tried to focus on the guy who had taken Dorothy’s bag and wondered if there was anything about him that I was forgetting. So far nothing had come to mind. Then I thought about the missing files. Nothing else had been gone from the folders. What was it about those specific files? I had to figure out what that meant. Old stuff from the 1990s couldn’t possibly be relevant today. I’d even thought about throwing the filing cabinets’ contents away, but they held nostalgia for me. They were little mementos from the past.
Laying my head back on the chair, I closed my eyes and tried to relax. I’d just think about the view, the beach, and the fun time that I’d have with Jake tonight. I guessed it did help that his boss lived on the beach with a spectacular view of the ocean. His wife apparently had tons of money. I wasn’t quite sure how she’d acquired such a fortune, but maybe she’d let me in on those little details. Although I supposed it was none of my business. I was curious though. Who wouldn’t be?
“Having fun?” the baritone voice asked.
I jumped and almost fell off the chair. The voice had startled me. I looked to my left and spotted Mr. Speedo himself.
“I was,” I said.
He flashed his insanely white teeth, obviously not catching my meaning. He moved around the fence and headed for the pool’s gate. It looked like it was time for me to get out of here. Where was Jake anyway? Couldn’t he show up early? The guy wore his red Speedos this time. He must have one of every color. His flip-flops made a squeaking noise with each step, His dark golden tan belly hung over the top of his Speedos.
I hated to be rude because the guy might be nice, but he just sent off a creepy vibe. Honestly, even if he had been wearing a business suit and not a Speedo, I would still think he was creepy. There was no way I wanted to sit and have a chitchat with him. I was just way too anxious for that tonight. I headed toward the gate, but of course, he was waiting for me right there. There was no way I was getting past the gatekeeper without a bit of conversation.
“Leaving so soon?” he asked with a big smile.
His teeth were so white they probably glowed in the dark. Were they his real teeth? They were impossibly perfect.
“Actually, I’m waiting for my boyfriend,” I said. “He should be here any minute.”
He stared at me then looked down at my dress, which was creepy too. “Lucky guy.”
I smiled. “I’ll tell him you said that.”
Speedo man opened the gate for me and allowed me to step out. At least that was nice of him.
“Thank you,” I said.
“If you ever dump that loser, why don’t you give me a ring? I’m in 3A,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
I knew all too well which apartment was his.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said.
Maybe I should have told him to get lost and not encouraged this behavior at all. But again, I hated to be rude. Maybe he was just being flirty. Some people were like that and meant no harm by it. Perhaps I should chill out just a bit.
Leaving him at the pool, I hurried out from the area and toward the path that led to the street out front. I woul
d just wait out there on the sidewalk for Jake. When I glanced back my neighbor was still watching me. He smiled and waved. I tossed my hand up quickly and then hurried on my way. Just as I was walking down the path toward the street Jake appeared around the corner. Thank goodness. I was so ready to go. Plus, I was hungry.
“You must be excited about this evening,” he said when he saw me.
“Not exactly, but my neighbor was at the pool so I decided I didn’t want to have small talk.”
“That’s my Maggie, always being friendly to the neighbors.” Jake leaned down and kissed me.
“Hey, if you saw this guy you would understand. He wears a skimpy pair of Speedos.”
Jake grimaced. “I totally get you. Okay, so let’s get this over with, all right?”
“That bad, huh?” I asked. “If you don’t want to go then why are you going?”
“Because I want to make a good impression. If I want to get a promotion then I have to get this guy to like me.”
“Why do you think he doesn’t like you?” I asked as we approached Jake’s car.
“Sometimes people just don’t like other people. There’s no specific reason. I think that’s the case with me.”
I shrugged. “I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t totally love you.”
Jake smiled. “I wish everyone felt that way.”
Jake opened the door for me, and I slipped inside. As he walked around to the driver’s side door, I checked my reflection. No lipstick on my teeth.
“Just think of it this way, we’ll get a great dinner and visit a fabulous house with a view of the beach.”
“You always look at the bright side, don’t you?” Jake said as he started the car.
“I try my best,” I said.
Chapter 4
Soon we arrived at his boss’s house. Pulling up into the driveway, Jake parked in front of the shiny red Mercedes. It was a large two-story home but fit onto a small lot with tons of palm trees. The front yard of course was a small area of grass, but mostly landscaping.
“Well, here goes,” Jake said as he unbuckled the seat belt.
“You’ll be fine,” I said, squeezing his hand. “You work with the guy every day.”
“That’s what has me concerned. I know how he is.”
“Well, you have me now. I’m sure I’ll charm him.”
Jake grimaced.
“Hey,” I said.
He laughed as I opened the car door. Soon Jake and I walked up to the front door. I felt the nervous tension coming off him. I’d had no idea that he was dealing with this kind of stress every day at work. I’d just assumed he loved the job and there were no issues, but now I felt bad for him.
Jake and I stood in front of the frosted glass door. The porch stoop had just enough room for the two of us to stand.
I adjusted my dress. “How do I look?”
“I forgot to tell you that you look fantastic. You distracted me with talk about Speedos.”
“Well, yes, you forgot, but I’ll let it go this time,” I said with a wink.
He laughed. “You look fantastic as always.”
“You look dashingly handsome as always,” I said. “Now quit stalling and ring the doorbell.”
He rang the bell, but after a while still no one had answered. Jake and I exchanged a look.
“Did you get the time wrong?” I asked.
“No, I’m pretty sure he told me to be here at seven on the dot. It’s seven on the dot now.” Jake checked his watch.
“What did he say the last time you spoke with him?”
“He told me that I can’t be too early, and I can’t be too late.”
“He sounds like a real peach to work with,” I said.
“But what if now he thinks I’m late?” Jake asked.
“Don’t panic. If he doesn’t answer the door then it isn’t our fault.”
Another minute had passed and no one had come to the door.
“I’ll give him a call and see if maybe he forgot.” Jake pulled out his phone.
“And you were worried about what he thought of you. How could he forget you were coming over?” I said.
Jake shook his head and dialed the phone. A few seconds later, he said, “No answer either.”
I pushed the bell again. “I guess we can try again. Maybe he didn’t hear it the first time.”
“I guess,” Jake said with hesitation.
After a few more minutes of standing there, we decided it was time to give up. Before walking away though, Jake reached out and tried the door. It opened.
“Anybody home?” Jake called out.
He peeked inside the house. Of course no one answered.
“I guess they just left and forgot to lock the door,” I said.
“And forgot about us,” he said.
“I don’t like him. If he’s rude to you then I don’t like him.”
Just as Jake was ready to close the door, he paused.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I spotted something.” He opened the door wider and took a few steps inside the house.
At first I didn’t know what was going on, but then I raced in after him and saw the body lying on the floor in the kitchen. Only the legs were visible, but I knew somebody was on the ground.
I looked down at the woman. She wore white shorts and a blue blouse. One flip-flop was on her left foot, but the right foot was missing the shoe. The marks around her neck were noticeable right away. It looked as if someone had strangled her. This wasn’t looking good. Jake reached down and touched her neck, checking for a pulse.
He looked up at me and shook his head. “Stay here. I’m going to check the house.”
I nodded but wondered if I should help check the house. Sure, he’d told me to stay put, but I figured he could use the help. I stepped over to the window and looked out at the sparkling blue water beyond the beach. The bright sun beat down on the white sand. People strolled along the shore. No one had looked this way. Furthermore, it seemed as if no one had just run from the house after committing a murder.
Jake’s footsteps echoed through the house as he moved up the stairs. I noticed that the back door leading out onto the patio was slightly ajar. I knew enough not to touch the door to close it. Had someone come in through the back door, murdered her, and then left the same way? Where was Jake’s boss? Had he done this? I didn’t know him well, but I couldn’t imagine he was a murderer. I was anxious for Jake to get back down here. Standing in here with the body gave me the creeps.
As I moved toward the front of the house I looked over at the body. It seemed like there was something in her hand, but I couldn’t make out exactly what. Should I go in for a closer look? I had to, right? Looking for clues was what I did. I was a private investigator. Therefore, I looked for clues just as much as Jake did. This wasn’t my case, but there would be no harm in looking, right? I wouldn’t touch the body of course. I moved over to her, leaning down for a closer look.
“Maggie? What are you doing?” Jake snapped.
I jumped up and spun around, seeing that Jake had returned. “Getting a closer look at the body. I didn’t touch anything.” I held my hand up.
The way he looked at me let me know he was suspicious.
“I think there’s something in her hand.” I pointed.
Jake leaned a little closer to the body. “Looks like a key. I have backup on the way.”
“What do we do until then?” I asked.
“Well, they should be here within minutes. Why don’t we go outside and get some fresh air?” he asked.
“Is this your boss’ wife?” I asked.
“Yes, I believe so. I’ve only seen Vivian once. I’m almost positive though,” Jake said.
The gravity of the situation wasn’t lost on me. Lloyd’s wife was dead. This was huge news. Plus, Lloyd was missing. Surely it would be only a matter of time until he arrived home. Then we would get more details. Well, Jake could get more details. I wasn’t exactly involved in this case.
I had my own things to worry about, like who had broken into my office and who had stolen Dorothy’s money.
I decided to take Jake’s advice and step outside. I really didn’t want to be standing in here when all the police officers arrived. And I hoped that would be soon now. Plus I might as well go outside since I figured it would be a while before Jake would be leaving this house. Especially since we were the ones who had discovered the body. I just couldn’t get it out of my head. Where was Lloyd? Maybe he had done this to his wife. That thought sent a shiver down my spine.
“I’m going outside,” I said. “Taking your advice.”
“I’ll walk with you,” he said.
Jake and I headed across the house toward the front door. I was quite happy to get out of there. The whole thing was just spooky. Sure, I’d discovered dead people before, but this time it just downright chilling because Jake possibly worked with the murderer… every day.
I had just stepped over to Jake’s car when the other police cars pulled up. With sirens and lights flashing, they screeched to a halt. Still there was no sign of Jake’s boss. I watched as the officers walked up to Jake and he explained the situation. They immediately all went inside the house and I waited outside. I so wanted to have a look around the outside as well. I didn’t want to just stand there and do nothing. I had to feel like I was helping in some way.
The path on the side of the house led around to the back, so I moved around the palm bushes and headed across the sand. I kept my eye out for anything suspicious along my walk, but I saw absolutely nothing unusual. I was looking for any signs of blood. Perhaps a murder weapon. Though it looked as if she had been strangled and there had been no blood. Nevertheless, I had to be on the lookout for anything unusual.
I’d reached the back of the house now. Lost in thought, I stood there and stared out at the ocean. The gentle lapping of the water against the shore was peaceful. It was hard to believe that just inside the house was a frantic scene. The bright sun beamed down on me and the view was stunning, of course.