Family Ties Mystery Series Box Set

by James Kipling

  “The Petting Zoo?”

  “Bar on 53rd. Don’t keep me waiting.”

  Lisa headed for the door.

  Jane’s icy voice pierced her. “Little late for a booty call isn’t it, darling?”

  “Working on a case.”

  “At a lesbian club?”

  “Gotta go where I gotta go.”

  She could hear Jane ranting about “time for us” and “work always getting in the way” and a lot of other shit, but she got in the car, cranked it, and called Ray.

  She filled him in.

  “Want me to tag?”

  “No, I’ll fill you in tomorrow. Just wanted to make sure you knew what’s going on.”

  “I bet Little Miss Janie is thrilled.”

  “Tickled positively pink.”

  Ray laughed, but without humor. “You might have to come over to the other side out of sheer sexual frustration.”

  Despite her foul mood, Lisa smiled. “I still have a drawer full of electronic devices that are twice as dependable as any man and require absolutely no maintenance.”

  “I’ll remember to tell my broker to buy stock in a battery company,” Ray said.

  “Fuck you,” she said, and they hung up laughing.

  Lisa parked and walked towards the bar. It was hopping – and not a man in sight. Even the front-door bouncer was a woman. Looked like she could start for the Cincinnati Bengals, but she was…indeed…a she. She walked towards the bar.

  Lisa felt an arm around her waist. Her hand went to her gun.

  “Hang on there, Annie Oakley,” a voice said. Lisa turned to see Victoria, tray in hand, and dressed in a donkey costume – a very skimpy donkey costume.

  “Hi,” Lisa said. She tried to sound professional, but the laugh came out of her nose like a snort.

  “Yeah, I have that effect on people the first time,” Victoria said. She led Lisa to a table. It was slightly less deafening. “I’m on break in a bit. I’ll be back.”

  Ten minutes later, she was back and lighting a cigarette. After a long exhale, she said, “Damn, I needed that.”

  Lisa had recovered her cop-ly demeanor. “What do you have?”

  “Before I tell you anything, you need to know I will not testify.”

  “Okay.” Lisa said.

  “Jennifer and I had a fling.”

  “Seriously,” Lisa said. “She’s married and you…”

  “Yes, she’s married, and I have a boyfriend,” Victoria answered. “But, like the old song says, girls just want to have fun.”

  “What does that have to do with her being killed and stuffed in a ventilation shaft?”

  “Jennifer was seeing someone else other than me.”

  “Someone else, plus you, plus her husband?” Lisa asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Busy woman,” Lisa said. “Who was the other man?”

  “Not a man – at least I’ve never met a man named Sandra.”

  “Sandra Davis?”

  “That's the one,” Victoria said. “And someone didn’t like it. Someone interested in this Davis chick was doing the stalking thing on Jennifer.””

  “So how did you know about the stalking?”

  “Jennifer told me. The guy – she figured it was a guy – left little notes in her locker and car. One time he left a doll.”

  “Wait a minute,” Lisa said. “A rag doll?”

  “How the hell did you know that?’ Victoria asked, then dismissed. “You’re a cop. You’re supposed to know shit.” She looked at her wristwatch again, threw her cigarette on the floor, and stamped on it with her shoe.

  “I have to get back to work,” she said before peering through the door at the noisy bar. “That bitch Chloe is going to snake all my tables!”

  “Okay,” Lisa said, but she took hold of Victoria’s forearm. “Would you mind coming down to the station tomorrow and identifying a similar doll we have in our possession?”

  “What time?”

  “I will call you and let you know,” Lisa answered.

  “Okay, have a good night.”

  “You too,” Lisa said and watched as she melted back into the crowd.

  ***

  Ray and Lisa seemed a little lighter on their feet the next morning as they walked into the hospital. Things were picking up. And Lisa had left the apartment before Jane awakened. Lisa left water for tea on simmer and a note of apology. She’d also cleaned up the breakage and the tea stains.

  “Good Morning,” Ray said to the now familiar receptionist behind the desk.

  “Good morning,” she answered.

  “We are here to see Yvonne Phillips, please,” Ray said. He smiled. She returned it.

  Making progress, he thought. I am so damn evolved.

  “Just a minute.”

  The receptionist tapped on a keyboard.

  “Discharged last night.”

  “Into who’s care, please?”

  “Fred Adams,” she said. “And I am not supposed to tell you that, but you are less of an asshole this morning.”

  “Thank you for noticing.”

  “Thank you for your startling personality transformation."

  Ray turned to Lisa, who shrugged.

  The receptionist leaned in conspiratorially. “Tell you something else,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I heard from someone in Accounting that he paid the entire bill. We don’t get a lot of cash payments here for twenty-six grand.”

  “Geez,” Lisa said.

  “Mum’s the word,” the receptionist said.

  “The word about what?” Lisa said.

  The receptionist gave her a thumbs up.

  “Don’t guess you have an address or phone number?” Ray asked.

  The receptionist looked both ways, then slid a folded piece of paper across the desk.

  “I think you dropped this, Detective.”

  “Well, I believe I did,” Ray said and nodded his thanks.

  They walked toward the car. “Get Victoria on the horn; find out when she can meet us.”

  “Already on it,” Lisa said. Five seconds later. “It went to voicemail. What now, Batman?”

  “We go see Mr. Fred Adams, benefactor extraordinaire.”

  Lisa started the car and looked at the address in Fred’s hand.

  “Need directions?” Fred asked.

  “Nope,” she said. “Same area I was yesterday.”

  They pulled into a circular drive.

  “This place must be thirty thousand square feet,” Ray said.

  “At least. Want to make a bet?”

  “On what?”

  “Twenty bucks says this asshat has a trophy wife – double if she’s under thirty,” Lisa said.

  “Book it.”

  The guard at the gatehouse thought he was patrolling CIA Headquarters in Langley.

  “Good morning,” Lisa said.

  “Show me your ID and state your purpose.”

  “Detectives Andrews and Jones to see Mr. Adams.”

  “Purpose of your visit.”

  “Again, to see Mr. Adams.”

  “For what reason?”

  “For the reason for which we are here,” Lisa could play this game all day. The guard was in an intellectual axe fight without an axe.

  The guard punched a few buttons at a terminal and handed back the IDs. “I’ll need your weapons,” he said.

  “You’ll need to be tougher than I think you are to take ‘em, Skippy,” Lisa said.

  “Can’t let you in with a firearm.”

  “Can’t do our jobs without them. You interested in learning more about obstruction of justice. It’s a fun course. Usually lasts about three to five years in a place where other large gentlemen will be very interested every time you bend over for the soap.”

  The guard scowled. “Follow the signs,” he said. “And watch your speed.”

  Ray was howling
three feet from the gatehouse. “You are a piece of work, partner,” he said.

  “I am way over my asshole quota for the month, Ray. It’s time someone played nice with us.”

  An older man in an immaculately tailored suit stood behind a balustrade. As they exited the car, he descended the steps.

  “I bet he practices that move,” Lisa said.

  “Twice a week at least,” Ray said.

  “Good morning,” the man said. “I’m Fred Adams.”

  “I am Detective Andrews, and this is my partner Detective Jones.” Lisa said.

  “I don’t get a lot of visits from the police,” Adams said. “That’s why I came to the door. This is in reference to what, may I ask?”

  “You may,” Ray said. “It’s a murder investigation.”

  They passed through a high-ceilinged foyer – all marble – down a hall and into an opulently appointed study.

  “Pay up. No wife,” Ray said out of the side of his mouth.

  “It’s still the first inning,” Lisa said.

  “Now, about the homicide?” Adams remained poised and calm.

  “Nicholas Clarke – professional violinist. Shot in the head a few nights ago.”

  “That’s terrible,” Adams said. “But I do not know anyone by that name.”

  “You checked his girlfriend out of the hospital this morning.”

  “I did?”

  “You mean Yvonne?”

  “Yes,” Ray said. He’d hope Adams would call her Sandra.

  “Yvonne has a boyfriend? Is it serious?”

  “They were living together,” Lisa said.

  Mr. Adams let out a soft chuckle and shook his head slightly, not really the reaction that either Lisa or Ray had expected.

  “So that sneaky little bitch has a boyfriend?”

  “Had a boyfriend. He was murdered,” Ray said.

  “Why was he murdered?”

  “That is why we are here, sir; we are trying to connect the dots to find that out.”

  “Does that mean I'm a suspect in the investigation?” Adams asked with the same tone he would ask, “Is that doggie dookie on my shoe?” “I do not even know the gentleman; why would I wish him dead?”

  “Sir, we would like to know what the nature of your relationship with Yvonne is.”

  “I'm sorry, that is rather personal.”

  “We really need to know.”

  “I really will not discuss it until I have talked to Yvonne first.”

  Lisa stepped forward for one of her favorite lines. “Sir, any information pertaining the murder case that you are withholding from us can later be held against you in a court of law.”

  “Nice, tough tone, young lady. Very SVU. I like it very much.” Adams had an odd, old-world demeanor…very proper…very irritating. “If I may, you seem a little – what is the proper term – oh, yes…you seem a little butchy. I imagine you are a lesbian.”

  “Sir, we are not here to talk about my personal life,” Lisa said. She could feel the anger building.

  “No, no you’re not,” he answered. “You are here to talk about mine. See how it feels?”

  “Sir, we need to know the nature of your relationship with Yvonne Phillips,” Ray said in a serious tone.

  “Like I said, I will not discuss that with you.”

  “Can you at the very least tell us where you took her after discharging her?”

  “Yes.”

  He stared that them – a full minute. At the same time, Lisa and Ray said,

  “She's right here.”

  “Can we talk to her?”

  “Not sure if you can, but right now you may not. She is resting.”

  “Can,” Ray started, then went back to avoid the grammar police, “May we come back later and talk with you.”

  “Yes, Detective. Very good. You may.”

  “What time would be ideal?” Lisa asked.

  “San…” Mr. Adams coughed and corrected himself. “Yvonne and I will be free at noon.”

  “Okay, we shall see you then,” Ray said and got to his feet.

  “That you shall.”

  Ray and Lisa walked out of the mansion and headed to the parking lot. They drove towards the main gate in silence. The security guard touched his forefinger to his cap.

  “Did he salute?”

  “Yep,” Ray said.

  “What a taint bonnet,” Lisa said.

  Ray spewed a laugh into the dashboard. “Never heard that one before.”

  “Stick around, young’un,” she said. “This old dyke has a million lines.”

  They turned onto the road. Lisa fished into the pocket of her slacks. “Here you go,” she said.

  “Easiest twenty I ever made.”

  Ray didn’t bother looking over. He knew what Lisa was doing with her hand.

  Lisa hit the dial button on her phone. “Victoria, this is Detective Andrews.”

  The voice on the speaker was filled with static, but they could make out most of what Victoria was saying.

  “So, how soon will you be able to make it down to the station?”

  “In about an hour,” Victoria said.

  “Got it,” Lisa said. “We’ve got sixty minutes for fun and games. So, where are we headed?”

  “I have no idea,” Ray answered.

  “The Station it is,” Lisa said.

  “Way to be decisive,” Ray said.

  “I’m a take charge kinda gal,” Lisa said.

  “I just bet you are.”

  15

  They sat in front of a white board on which they had pictures, names, times, and a few doodles.

  “So, what have we found out so far?”

  “A semi-incestuous relationship… two murders… an unknown stalker… a creepy doll… Sandra Davis and/or Yvonne Phillips… a tall, gum-smacking receptionist…”

  Ray interrupted. “Tall, rude and gum-smacking.”

  “Noted,” Lisa said. “An M.E. who leaves out key evidence…and a billionaire savior. Did I miss anything?”

  “Blackmail,” Ray said.

  “True, but does that matter?”

  “Everything matters,” he said.

  Then, maybe I should mention Margaret’s hand on my tit, Lisa thought. She shook her head.

  “What?” Ray asked.

  “Nothing,” Lisa said.

  He looked at her sideways but said nothing.

  The intercom buzzed.

  “Someone names Victoria to see you guys,” the desk sergeant said.

  Ray pushed the button. “Send her up.”

  “10-4.”

  Victoria wore a belted sundress.

  “Little bit different outfit today,” Lisa said.

  “Gotta keep it fresh,” Victoria said. “Honestly, this is more the real me. The Petting Zoo’s not really my scene. But, it pays the bills.”

  “Understood. This is my partner, Ray Jones.”

  Victoria shook his hand, took a seat, and looked around nervously. “We still have a deal about court, right? I’m not going to testify about anything.”

  “Understood.” Lisa was content to let Victoria talk. Ray had seen his partner work before. Amazing what people would say when you let them ramble.

  “Tell me about Jennifer.”

  “It only lasted about six months,” Victoria said. “She was all into me, then it ended – sorta sudden. She told me she’d met someone else. Said it was real serious. I never met whoever it was, but one day Jennifer and I were all over each other – the next day, she didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

  “You said something about a stalker?”

  “Yes. That was creepy. Jen – that’s what I called her – told me someone was leaving roses outside her door. And then, there was the doll I mentioned.”

  “Did you see it?”

  “Yes.”

  Ray reached into the drawer and handed the doll to Lisa who handed
it to Victoria.

  “Look like this?”

  Victoria gasped. “That’s it. That’s the one. It even has the little ring thing. Does it talk? Does it have that message?”

  “Which message?”

  “The one that says something about Yolanda or someone?”

  “Yvonne?”

  “That’s it.”

  Lisa took the doll and pulled the cord.

  “Yvonne belongs to me.”

  Victoria shrieked. “That’s it.”

  “One more thing,” Lisa said. “Do you know this person?” He pointed to Yvonne’s picture on the white board.

  “No.”

  “You know Sandra Davis?”

  “Never heard of her.”

  Lisa stood. “Thank you for coming in.”

  Victoria stood. She was pale, her face almost invisible against the light-colored sundress. “Ah, if you come back to the Petting Zoo, a couple of the patrons would like to meet you,” she said.

  Ray noticed that Lisa blushed. “Thank you,” Lisa said. “But, I doubt I’ll be around any time soon.”

  “Bet you would drink free all night,” Victoria said.

  “Thanks again.”

  As soon as Victoria left, Ray mocked, “Bet you would drink free all night.”

  “Shut up, asshole,” Lisa said.

  Lisa turned serious. “What do you think now?”

  “Back to Margaret’s.”

  Lisa swallowed – hard. “You sure?”

  “Absolutely. Unless you have a problem with that.”

  “No…no problem,” Lisa said.

  “Good,” Ray said. He flipped her the keys. “You drive. I want a nap.”

  ***

  “Something bothering you, partner?” Ray asked.

  “All good,” Lisa said. “Why?

  “You’ve been acting squirrely since yesterday.”

  “Just stuff with Jane,” Lisa said. “Cold war. Not a good scene.” She paused. “Why the hell are you so interested?”

  “I just care about my partner,” Ray said. “I want you to be okay.”

  “I’m fine. Now, shut up unless you have a solution to this case.”

  They passed into the gated community without incident and cruised into the long, circular drive. Ray took the steps two at a time and rang the bell. By the time Lisa caught up, Anastasia was answering the door.

  “Is Madam expecting you,” she said.

  “She’ll see us,” Lisa said, walking past and into the entrance hall. “Tell her it’s Detectives Andrews and Jones.”