The Player

by Joe Cosentino

  “From a rod?”

  “No, it sounded more like a body slumping against it. So I ran in here, opened the door, and Alexandria Popov Sokolov fell at my feet.”

  “Who’s Alexandria Popov Sokolov?”

  “She is… was a young woman who lived with her husband in apartment 1A.”

  “Approved by your aunt Nia, I presume?”

  “Barely.”

  “How was Alexandria iced?”

  “She was strangled!”

  “Did you call the elephant ears?”

  “Freddy, please speak in non-Roaring-Twenties slang!”

  “The police?”

  “I called my aunt Nia. She phoned a detective, Takoda Shawnee, who moved into apartment 2B last week.”

  “A peeper lives in my house?”

  I nodded. “He and another detective are investigating the case. I wasn’t allowed back inside my apartment until this afternoon. I think Shawnee suspects me or maybe Aunt Nia or perhaps my best friend, Victor.”

  Freddy chuckled. “Banana oil!”

  “If that means nonsense, tell it to Shawnee.”

  “I will.” He rose and started toward the door. Realizing the limitations of his ghostly form, he plopped back down on the chaise. “I’ll do the next best thing.”

  “What?”

  “Help you solve the case.”

  “I’m not a detective! Neither are you.”

  “Have you forgotten my connection to the head of the FBI?”

  I sniggered. “Hoover died in 1972.”

  “Then there is my friendship with renowned police detective Johnny Broderick.”

  “What year was he born?”

  “1896.”

  “I’m pretty sure he passed away too.”

  “You’re missing my point, Andre. I learned a great deal from these masters. And since I couldn’t be a detective in life, now is my chance to do so in death.” He tented his fingers. “This woman was murdered at your doorstep. Your life could be in danger. I care deeply about you, more than I’ve ever cared for anyone outside my family. And now you need protecting.” Freddy announced, “So, I’ll take the case.”

  “How are you going to solve a murder mystery when you can’t leave the apartment?”

  He rested his elbows on his knees. “Being associated with many people when I was alive has given me insight into human nature and what makes people do the things they do. Besides, I don’t need to leave the apartment.” He grinned. “You can.” He rested back on the chaise and crossed his legs over my lap. “Fill me in on the victim, suspects, motives, and alibis, Watson. And don’t leave anything out.”

  Thrilled to have Freddy back and needing his help, I told him everything I knew. “Alexandria Popov Sokolov is a businesswoman. She, her husband, and her brother have lived in the building for five years. Since she was strangled and left at my door, I’m a suspect.”

  “Not guilty.” He pinched my side. “You’re too adorable to be a murderer. And you clearly don’t have the cunning for it.”

  I ignored him. “Though I don’t believe my aunt would hurt anyone, she called Alexandria a racist in front of Detective Shawnee, because Alexandria had incorrectly assumed Aunt Nia was an unwed mother.”

  “If everyone murdered somebody for saying something they didn’t like, you’d all be ghosts like me.”

  I pushed his legs off my lap. “Aunt Nia was also angry at Alexandria for being late with her rent payment and blaming it on her husband.”

  He placed his legs over me again. “Shouldn’t that money go to me?”

  “What would a ghost do with money?”

  He snapped his fingers. “Good point, which brings me to my dear friend Fanny Bryce.”

  “You knew Fanny Bryce, the entertainer?”

  “Not in the biblical sense, though Fanny found me incredibly attractive. Fanny made a fortune from playing the Ziegfeld circuit, but she married a man who gambled away her money.”

  “Do you think Alexandria’s husband spent all her earnings?”

  “Possibly. Or perhaps, like my pal the fashion designer Coco Chanel, Alexandria had a temporary cash flow problem while she expanded her businesses.” He clapped. “Or like my good friend the actress Joan Crawford, Alexandria may have been too good of a businesswoman for her own good.”

  “You socialized with Joan Crawford?”

  “Yes. And she was the biggest mother I’ve ever met.”

  “I’m not following.”

  He chuckled. “I continue to find your ingenuousness most endearing, Andre.”

  I was beginning to lose my patience. “What was your point about Joan Crawford?”

  “The end of her umbrella if one wasn’t careful.” He sat up as if teaching a lesson. “I’m referring to shrewd businesspeople like Joannie who often make great business deals—for themselves—leaving others out in the cold. So, you’ll need to investigate Alexandria Popov Sokolov’s professional life, including anyone involved with her. Then report back to me what you discover.” He waved me onward. “Now let’s move to your little friend’s motive.”

  “Alexandria reneged on Victor’s promised audition for a Broadway show she was coproducing. He was angry about it.”

  Freddy seemed to be taking it all in. “Does Victor have an alibi for the time of the murder?”

  I shook my head. “None of us do.”

  “But you told me your ‘heterosexual’ neighbor waved to you from his window at the time.”

  My heartbeat slowed down to rapid. “That’s right! Leander is my alibi!”

  “And you are his. However, Aunt Nia and Victor have no such luck.”

  “They were both home alone at the time.”

  He rubbed his hands together. “My very close friend Greta Garbo, like most of the actors and actresses I knew, would have killed for a role.”

  I cocked my head. “How could you have been friends with Greta Garbo? I thought she always wanted to be alone.”

  “She did. With me! And my actor friends went even further than murder when the film studio bosses threatened to fire them for being cake-eaters. They married women! Except for my dear friend William Haines. Billy told Louie B. Mayer he was already ‘married’ to his longtime paramour, Jimmy Shields, who by the way was wildly jealous of my friendship with Billy.” He wagged a finger at me. “So, watch your little actor friend, and let me know if he does anything odd. At least odder than usual.” He added à la Sherlock Holmes, “Now tell me about the other suspects.”

  “I witnessed Hunter Buck, a personal trainer living in 2C, and Preston Steele, my school’s vice principal who recently moved into 2A, have some kind of business transaction with Alexandria. Both Hunter and Preston didn’t seem too pleased with the results.”

  “It sounds like Alexandria was giving them the business… so to speak. Keep them in mind for later investigation. Next suspect!”

  “Alexandria’s husband, Denis, is a mystery novelist.”

  “Authors! Now they can be crafty. I often marveled at Aggie’s plots as she was writing her novels.”

  I gasped. “You knew Agatha Christie?”

  “Of course. She ran all her ideas by me before writing them in her books. It drained me.” He leaned forward. “Come to think of it, Aggie’s first husband, Archie, was quite a drain on her—emotionally and financially. Was Denis a drain on Alexandria?”

  “I believe Alexandria was the primary breadwinner, but I overheard her arguing with Denis in the hallway about something besides money. I only met Denis once, but he seems like an angry man.”

  “Talk to him again. Find out what he’s angry about. And read his latest novel.”

  I nodded. “Leander loaned me a copy.”

  “When?”

  “Today, when I visited his apartment.”

  Freddy growled. “Why did you do that?

  “To be a friendly neighbor. And to borrow a copy of a film journal with an article Leander wrote about his new camera invention.” I pointed to the table by th
e door.

  “Read the novel first.” He added with a stern glance, “And when you’re finished, leave them both at Leander’s door.”

  Ignoring Freddy’s jealously, I said, “The next suspect is Alexandria’s twin brother, Alexander. He’s a lawyer who, like your friend J. Edgar Hoover, likes to dress in women’s clothing—his sister’s.”

  “Is he a cake-eater?”

  “Not every cross-dresser is gay, but Alexander said he has gaydar. So I assume—”

  “Gaydar?”

  “It’s when gay people instinctively sense other people are gay.”

  “Like you and me?”

  “Right.”

  He winked at me. “Cash or check?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Kiss me now or later?”

  I groaned. “Can we get back to Alexander?”

  “Of course, but I won’t kiss him.” He sobered. “There are various reasons why a man might dress as a woman. For example, Eddy preferred playing the woman’s role when having relations with a man.”

  “Did he?”

  “So I heard.”

  “Alexander said he dresses as his sister to honor her memory.”

  A thin line formed across his smooth forehead. “Did the twins get on well?”

  “Alexander said they did.”

  “How about Alexander and his brother-in-law?”

  I slid to the edge of my seat. “Come to think of it, Alexander and Denis seem somehow… connected.”

  “There were many brothers secretly ‘connected’ to their brothers-in-law in my circles. Do you think that’s the case with Alexander and Denis?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  He stared in front of him. “When poor Brenda Brighton married wealthy Carlyle Simonson, I recall her brother Benji spending scads of time with Brenda’s ex, Roger.”

  “Was something going on between Benji and Roger?”

  “Not a thing. I came to find out it wasn’t Benji with Roger after all. It was Brenda herself, dressed as her brother, enjoying her private time with Roger while she basked in the riches of Carlyle.” Pulling me to my feet, Freddy said, “It is time to begin the investigation.”

  “How do I start?”

  “By bringing flowers to Alexander.”

  “I don’t have any flowers.”

  “Then food will do.” After leading me to the refrigerator, Freddy opened the door and eyed its contents. Pointing at a casserole dish, he asked, “What’s in that?”

  “Leftovers from Aunt Nia’s dinner here for Victor and me.”

  “Perfect.” He handed it to me. Walking me to the door, he said, “Talk to Alexander and Denis discreetly about where they were when Alexandria was murdered and what they might gain from her demise.”

  “What if they won’t talk to me?”

  “Listen at keyholes.”

  “We don’t have keyholes any longer.”

  “Then listen at doorways. Be observant of the others around you. When speaking to a suspect, use your boyish charm.” At the entryway, he added, “But don’t use too much charm.” Opening the door, he said, “Hit on all sixes!”

  “Meaning?”

  “Perform well.” He closed the door after me and then opened it again. “But don’t perform in the bedroom!”

  I carried the casserole down the stairs. Arriving at apartment 1C, I heard voices coming from inside. Remembering what Freddy had told me, I listened at the door.

  Alexander said, “My law firm uses actors to help prepare us for upcoming trials.”

  I was surprised to hear Victor’s voice. “Will you put in a good word for me?”

  “Would you like me to?”

  “I would like that very much.”

  “Then that’s what I’ll do.”

  Victor said, “You’re a really sweet person.”

  Alexander replied, “You’re pretty sweet yourself.”

  Before things got even cozier in there, I knocked on the door.

  Alexander called out, “Come in!”

  I opened the door to find Alexander walking toward me, wearing a black T-shirt and slacks. His long blond hair was pulled back with a rubber band, revealing bloodshot eyes. “Hello, Andre.”

  “Hi, Alexander.” I held out the casserole. “This is for you and your brother-in-law. I assume you’ve been too distraught to think about cooking anything.”

  A sad smile graced his delicate face. “That’s very nice of you. Denis is out arranging for… our farewell to Alexandria.”

  “When is the funeral?”

  He sighed. “Alexandria wanted to be cremated with no service or party. We don’t have any other family, except our mother in Saddle River. She’s elderly and quite ill. Hearing about Alexandria obviously upset her, so Mom is under doctor’s sedation.” Tears streamed down his cheeks. “Here I go again.”

  Victor appeared next to Alexander. He wore a pink tank top and tight white shorts. “Hi, Andre.”

  I feigned surprise. “Victor, I didn’t know you were here.”

  “I was walking down the hall and I heard Alexander crying. When I knocked on the door to see if he was all right—”

  “I invited him to sit on the sofa.”

  I played coy as Freddy had advised. “I don’t want to intrude.” I lifted the casserole dish. “Just want to make sure you’re eating during this trying time.”

  Alexander glanced from Victor to me. “I have such kind neighbors. Andre, please come join us.”

  Alexander’s living room was decorated beautifully in all white. As I entered, he placed the casserole on the kitchenette counter. “I’m afraid I don’t have much of an appetite right now. I’ll share this with Denis later.” He sat on the sofa between Victor and me.

  Victor rose. “I’ll have a nosh.”

  I glared at Victor and he sat down again. Then I asked Alexander, “How are you holding up?”

  “Not well I’m afraid. I can’t imagine what my life will be like without Alexandria.” He blinked back tears.

  “I know you and your sister were very close.”

  “When we were growing up in Saddle River, our parents were always busy working.” Smiling sadly, he added, “My sister was all I had.”

  I asked, “Did you play together?”

  He stared straight ahead as if seeing it all again. “We played dress up. First with Alexandria’s dolls and then with each other. She liked pretending to be the brother, and I enjoyed taking on the role of sister. We ate together, read the same books, watched the same television shows, and sat next to each other in school. When the other kids bullied me, Alexandria was there to stop them. She put on a façade of toughness, strength, and inner fortitude to protect me. She never let anyone see her vulnerability. Only I witnessed her good heart and compassionate side. Whenever I felt lonely, afraid, or upset about anything, Alexandria was always there to put her arms around me, rock me back and forth, and whisper gentle words in my ear. And if I cried in bed at night, Alexandria would slide in next to me and hold me in her arms until I fell asleep.”

  “I wish I had known her better.”

  Alexander sighed. “Alexandria was a very private person. She never opened up to anyone, except to me and of course her husband.”

  “How did Alexandria and Denis meet?” I asked.

  Alexander seemed grateful for the opportunity to talk about his sister. “They met back in college. Denis was in one of Alexandria’s classes. They hit it off right away. At first, I was jealous, but Denis seemed to like me as much as he liked my sister. And I couldn’t help liking him back. Denis is strong, smart, and loyal. When my father had a stroke, Denis’s clear thinking and compassion got us through that terrible time. Over the ten years Denis and Alexandria were married, I grew to love Denis as much as I love… loved my sister.” He made eye contact with us, clenching his white fists. “Who could have done this to Alexandria?” Then wiping his face with a tissue, he said, “I’m sorry to go on like that. I know we’ve only met recently.”

>   “But you can trust us.” Victor offered a supportive smile.

  “I appreciate that.” Alexander sniffled. “There’s nobody else I can talk to about this. My mother isn’t well enough. I don’t have any close friends, except for Denis and my sister. And now….” The tears streamed down his face. Wiping them again, he said, “My colleagues at work told me to stay home for a week. They’re no doubt stealing my cases. But you know something amazing?”

  “What?” Victor and I asked in unison.

  “I love being a lawyer, and I’m concerned about my clients, but I don’t care about any of that now—with my sister gone.” He wept bitterly.

  I placed a comforting arm around his shoulders. “Alexander, have you heard anything from Detective Shawnee?”

  “Both detectives have been here twice to question me. Two police officers searched my apartment.” His narrow shoulders slumped. “When I asked who did this to Alexandria, they said, ‘We aren’t at liberty to discuss the investigation.’”

  “Detective Shawnee questioned us as well.”

  Alexander clucked. “You both hardly knew Alexandria. Besides, you guys are so outgoing and attractive, I’m sure you weren’t alone at the time Alexandria was murdered.”

  I wondered if Alexander was scoping out our alibis or trying to see if Victor was seeing anyone. “I was on my balcony at the time your sister was… when it happened. My neighbor, Professor Leander Bryce, saw me from his window.”

  Victor was oblivious as usual. “I was home alone at the time Alexandria was… taken from us.”

  Recalling Freddy’s advice, I turned the tables on Alexander. “Where were you and your brother-in-law?”

  He replied, “We were together at the time, here in my apartment.”

  Trying to sound as casual as possible, I said, “When I bumped into Victor in the hallway yesterday, I heard Denis call you inside. Did Alexandria need your help with something?”

  Thankfully, Alexander took the bait. “I should explain something to you both about my sister.”

  Victor interrupted, “Alexander, you don’t need to tell us anything.”

  “It might help for Alexander to talk about it.” I stared Victor into silence.

  Luckily Alexander forged on. “As a girl, my sister fought with our parents constantly. After Alexandria and Denis got married, Alexandria seemed happier than she had ever been. But lately she was on edge.”