“I agree.”
“Ask the magic box if Hulk Topper had any connection to Alexandria Popov Sokolov.”
My fingers flew over the keyboard. I spotted a picture of the two of them at a dance club. “Bingo!”
Freddy was at my side. “Since Hulk Topper and Alexandria had met at a frolic pad in New York City, if Hulk Topper and Preston Steele are one and the same, Alexandria would have seen through Steele’s cover when she met him again in the hallway last week. Therefore, Preston’s checks to Alexandria could have been blackmail payments.”
“Exactly.”
“Ask the box if it has any more photographs of Alexandria at frolic pads in New York City.”
I continued typing. Then I froze.
“What is it?”
Pointing to a picture on the screen, I said, “This was taken a few years ago at a hot spot in the City. It’s definitely Alexandria Popov Sokolov.”
“Who is she dancing with?”
“Detective Takoda Shawnee.”
Chapter Ten
A FEW minutes later, I knocked on the door of apartment 2A. Preston Steele opened it with a quizzical expression on his handsome face. “Is throwing me out of your apartment and then knocking on my door part of a sexual role-play you like?”
“Preston, I know you didn’t write those checks to Alexandria as a ‘good neighbor’ so she could pay back her loans to the Russian mob.”
“That’s what she did with the money.”
“Maybe so, but I think you wrote those checks because Alexandria was blackmailing you.”
“Alexandria wasn’t blackmailing me.”
“I think she was—Hulk Topper.”
Preston’s head dropped to his pumped-up chest.
“I saw your pictures online.”
“How did you know it was me?”
“I wasn’t completely sure. You just confirmed it for me.”
He gazed up at me with puppy dog eyes. “Please don’t tell anyone at school, or my family back in Mississippi.”
“I won’t.”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you want in exchange?”
“You to admit Alexandria was blackmailing you.”
He threw his hands up. “Okay, I admit it.”
“And I want you to tell Shawnee.”
Preston rubbed his forehead. “He’ll think I killed Alexandria—which I didn’t.”
“Blackmailers often return to ask for more money. You could have murdered Alexandria to ensure that wouldn’t happen.”
Shaking his head vehemently, he replied, “When Alexandria mentioned our past meeting at some club in the City, she told me about her problem. I gave her the money. It was the full amount of what she owned to the Russians. Alexandria said she’d never bother me again, and I believed her.”
“Then you should have no problem with me telling Shawnee—and only Shawnee—what you just said.”
His broad shoulders dropped. “All right. Go ahead.”
I couldn’t resist. “Preston, don’t you think it’s hypocritical for an evangelical to be a gay porn star?”
“Not really. It pays well, I meet a lot of hot guys, and I pray for forgiveness after each shoot.”
I chuckled. “That’s convenient… since you’re already down on your knees.”
His face hardened. “Mocking my religion violates my religious freedom. That’s against the law.”
“Your religion and your religious freedom are full of shit, and so are you.”
He shouted to my back, “Remember you promised not to tell anyone at school about me!”
After heading down the flight of stairs, I knocked on Aunt Nia’s door. Detective Shawnee opened it. He wore a dark suit. I noticed red lipstick on his cheek. “Is that a new shade of lipstick for you, Detective?”
Aunt Nia appeared next to him wearing an off-the-shoulder floral maxi dress. “It’s my lipstick.” She wiped it off Shawnee’s cheek with a hanky. Then she turned in my direction, her coconut scent enveloping me. “Andre, why are you standing out in the hall? Everybody in the building doesn’t need to know my business.”
After we were all seated on Aunt Nia’s sofa with three cups full of rooibos tea resting on the table in front of us, she took Shawnee’s hand. “Over the last few days, Takoda and I have become… friends.”
I couldn’t resist needling her. “Have you and the detective been sharing makeup tips?”
Shawnee ran a finger around the collar of his white shirt. Beads of sweat lined his forehead. “I think your aunt is a wonderful woman.”
“So do I,” I replied. “Aunt Nia is like a mother to me.”
She nodded proudly.
He cleared his throat. “Then you won’t mind me asking… if you have any objections to your aunt and me… dating.”
“It seems like you’ve already done that, Detective.”
Aunt Nia grabbed my arm. “Nothing improper has gone on here, Andre. Takoda and I shared a few meals and some conversation.”
“And some lipstick, it seems.”
Her eyebrows arched. “Don’t make me put you over my knee, Andre. Takoda is a good man who has shown nothing but respect for me. You know I don’t enter into a relationship lightly.”
Shawnee glanced down at the Bantu area rug. “Your aunt and I have each been… lonely for many years.”
Recalling the online picture of Shawnee, I said, “I know Aunt Nia hasn’t dated anyone since her divorce, but I think you’ve had fun at frolic pads… I mean dance clubs, Detective. Actually, I saw a picture online of you and Alexandria Popov Sokolov dancing at a club in New York City.”
Aunt Nia rested a hand on her hip. “Would you like to explain that, Takoda?”
“No, but I will—for you.” He scratched at his thick dark locks. “I lived a sheltered life on the reservation in Arizona. Six years ago, when I moved to New Jersey with my sister, I took the bus into New York City to see a Broadway play, visit an art museum, and go to a dance club.”
“That’s where you met Alexandria?” I asked.
He nodded. “We were both single. She was fascinated with my Native American culture… and my naivety.”
“Not to mention your good looks and strapping body, I’ll bet,” Aunt Nia added.
Shawnee wiped his sweaty palms along his dress slacks. “We had a drink, danced, and Alexandria took me to her apartment.”
“That sounds cozy,” Aunt Nia replied with a smirk.
“It was only one night.”
“Why?” I asked.
“I wanted more. Alexandria wasn’t interested.” He squirmed in his seat. “When I met Alexandria in the building, she was with her husband. I did the gentlemanly thing and pretended she and I had never met. Alexandria did the same.” He rubbed his neck. “Or maybe she had forgotten having known me.”
“I doubt that,” Aunt Nia offered with a sniff.
Takoda’s dark eyes focused on me. “Andre, I’ve… been acquainted with a number of women, but they were just that—acquaintances. I think what your aunt and I are embarking on here is something very special. Nia is a wonderful, caring, and joyful woman.”
She blew him a kiss.
“I don’t have to tell you that. But I do have to tell you how much your support of our relationship would mean to me and to your aunt.”
I counted to five for dramatic effect before blurting out, “Of course I support you two dating.”
They embraced.
Aunt Nia kissed my cheek.
“Thank you, Andre.”
I replied to Shawnee, “And in the spirit of friendship, I’m hoping you can help me with something.”
“I’ll try,” he said. “What do you need?”
“You not to arrest Alexander Popov.”
He rested back on the sofa. “I can’t do that, Andre.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “But Alexander didn’t do it.”
“And you know this how?” he asked.
“Just like you and Aunt Nia are beginning
a new relationship, Alexander and Victor have found each other.”
Shawnee smiled. “I’ve arrested many criminals who had loving partners crying at their jail cells. Alexander’s DNA was on the scarf used to strangle Alexandria—which we found in his hall closet.”
Aunt Nia beat me to it. “Alexander wears his sister’s clothes, and he leaves his door unlocked. Couldn’t someone else have taken, then returned the scarf in his apartment?”
I added, “And Alexander has an alibi for the time of his sister’s murder.”
“Upon further questioning, Denis Sokolov admitted Alexander left his apartment for part of the night when Alexandria was murdered.” Shawnee lifted a pad from his jacket pocket and scanned it. “Your neighbor, Leander Bryce, overheard Alexander in his apartment arguing with his sister prior to her murder.”
I nodded. “Alexandria had borrowed money from the Russian mob. When the loan was due, she couldn’t pay it back due to her bad business investments. Alexander offered to cover it for her. She refused, having gotten the money elsewhere.” I leaned toward him. “Shawnee, you have a sister. Wouldn’t you scold her and then try to help your sister if she were in trouble?”
He remained in detective mode. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but Alexander has a strong motive—a wealthy, aging mother who now has only one living child.”
I asked, “With Alexandria deceased, does her husband inherit her share of the money?”
Shawnee shook his head. “When the time comes, Alexander will inherit it all.”
Aunt Nia rested an arm around my shoulder. “It doesn’t sound good for Alexander, honey.”
“But it doesn’t sound good for anyone in the building. Every tenant has motive and opportunity for murdering Alexandria.”
Shawnee tented his fingers. “Except for you, thanks to your alibi in 3B.”
I nodded. “Leander Bryce and I waved to each other from our balconies during the time Alexandria was murdered. But none of the other tenants have alibis! If Alexander had left the apartment the night of Alexandria’s murder, that not only destroys Alex’s alibi, it also ruins Denis’s. I Now Pronounce You Murdered, a novel by Denis Sokolov, is about a poor author who kills his wealthy wife for cheating on him with her personal trainer. Alexandria did just that with Hunter Buck in 2C. Also, Hunter’s patent for an exercise machine he invented was taken over by Alexandria when her investment in the product didn’t pay off—and she became jealous of Hunter’s other ‘clients.’”
Shawnee sighed. “I know all that.”
I continued rapidly, “Alexandria was blackmailing Preston Steele in 2A in exchange for not revealing his identity as gay porn star Hulk Topper.”
“That I didn’t know.”
Aunt Nia gasped. “There’s a porn star living in my building?”
I nodded. “We need to keep that between us.”
“No problem,” Aunt Nia said with a tsk.
I added, “And Preston doesn’t have an alibi for the time of Alexandria’s murder. No offense, but neither do the two of you.”
Shawnee replied, “Calling someone a racist or dating them six years ago aren’t strong motives for murder.”
“But getting thrown out of college is. While teaching as an adjunct instructor, Alexandria reported Milo Archer in 4A for plagiarizing a term paper. It resulted in his expulsion from college, which Milo blames on Alexandria. Milo says he was alone in his bedroom the night of the murder.”
Shawnee nodded. “I’ll look into that further.”
I guiltily grasped at my last straw. “Finally, there’s Victor’s lost audition.”
“Again, not much of a reason to kill someone.”
“I guess you don’t know many actors, Detective.”
Shawnee smiled.
“I don’t believe Victor murdered Alexandria, but he does have a secret up his sleeve.”
“I’m listening,” Shawnee said.
“Aunt Nia, did you know Tzar Me In is an anagram for Martinez?”
She cocked her head. “Victor’s parents own the Tzar Me In Corporation?”
“Which owns this building. I found the proof online.”
“Why didn’t Victor tell us?”
Shawnee slid to the edge of his seat. “Do you think this has something to do with the murder?”
“Probably not. But it shows there are more pieces to this puzzle than what we currently have on the table.”
Shawnee nodded. “I’ll talk to Victor.”
I stood. “You’ll have to wait in line.”
Aunt Nia and Shawnee walked me to the door.
I stopped in the entryway. “Shawnee, before you have Alexander arrested, please think about everything I told you.”
He paused and then finally said, “I’ll call my partner and ask her to hang tight for now.”
“Thank you, Detective.” I shook his hand. “And I’m glad you and my aunt Nia found each other.”
“We are too.” He opened the door. “Andre, you think you can call me Takoda?”
I grinned. “How about Uncle Takoda?”
They blushed.
As I left, Aunt Nia called out after me, “Be careful, Andre!”
I ran up the two flights of stairs and down the hall to apartment 3C.
Victor answered my knock on his door. “Andre, where have you been?”
“Talking to Shawnee—like you wanted.”
He motioned for me to come inside. I sat on a threadbare gray armchair. Opposite me, Victor joined Alexander on the lumpy brown sofa. They both looked haggard and frightened.
I said, “Aunt Nia and Shawnee seemed cozy when I visited them.”
Victor’s eyes nearly doubled in size. “Does that mean you have good news for us?”
“Yes—for the moment.” I took in a deep breath. “Shawnee agreed to hold off on arresting Alexander—for now.”
They asked in unison, “For now?”
I explained, “I gave Shawnee some new information.”
“New information?”
I evaded Victor’s question and asked my own. “Alexander, did your sister ever mention Shawnee?”
He shrugged. “Just that a detective moved into our building.”
I focused on Victor, “Why didn’t you tell me your parents own this building?”
“I did, sort of, when I said they insist on me making my own way in the world.”
Alexander cocked his head at Victor. “Your parents own the building?”
Victor nodded. “But I applied to be a tenant like everyone else, and I pay full rent.”
I asked Victor, “Did Alexandria know your parents own the Tzar Me In Corporation?”
Victor seemed to struggle in recollection. “When Alexandria and I spoke in the hallway about my audition, she mentioned having business dealings with people from Russia. Noting the name of the corporation, she asked me if Russians own the building. I told her my parents own it, and Tzar Me In is an anagram for Martinez.”
I inquired, “Did that lead Alexandria to ask you for a loan?”
“Yeah, but I told her what I said to you: my parents don’t give me a penny.” Victor seemed to suddenly realize the connection between the two events. “And soon after that, she reneged on my audition!”
It all came together in my mind. “Like me, Alexandria must have done the research and found out your parents owned the building before you told her. She was no doubt stringing you along about the audition with the hope of getting you to loan her some needed cash. When you didn’t cough up the money, she lost interest.”
Alexander defended his sister. “The Russian mobsters were leaning on her to repay the loan. She was desperate to get money any way she could.” He sulked. “Except from me.”
Victor placed a comforting arm around his shoulder, and they shared a sweet kiss.
Since three was clearly a crowd, I rose. “I’ll keep you posted about Shawnee. For now, I’ll wish you guys a good night.”
Victor jumped up. “Thank you for help
ing us, pal.”
Alexander followed. Blinking back tears, he said, “Andre, we barely know each other and you were willing to help me. I won’t forget that.”
“Let’s hope Shawnee listens to reason.” When the three of us were at the door, I added, “Alexander, I believe you didn’t kill your sister. And I have the feeling that if you just hang in there, whoever did it will soon be exposed.”
Victor offered me a hug. “Thanks, buddy.”
Alexander did the same.
My best friend asked me, “How did your date go with Preston Steele?”
“Like a horror movie.”
“Sorry.”
“I’m not. Take care of each other.” I returned their hugs and left. Running down the hall, I couldn’t wait to see Freddy. When I entered my apartment, I joined him at the dining room table. “Freddy, you were right!”
“The perfect start of any conversation.” He winked at me.
I fired off like bullets, “Preston admitted to being Hulk Topper and came clean about Alexandria blackmailing him. Shawnee dated Alexandria, who broke it off after only one date. Denis told Shawnee that Alexander left the apartment just before the time of the murder. After I told Shawnee all I knew about my neighbors, he agreed to review the case. But I’m afraid he’ll arrest Alexander soon.”
“I doubt that.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you will tell the detective the identity of the killer.”
I gasped. “Freddy, have you figured out who did it?”
He nodded.
“Who?”
“Not so fast, dear boy. First, I have a little surprise for you.” Freddy disappeared into the bedroom. Finally, he called out, “Please enter!”
Following his voice into the bedroom, I assumed Freddy would again be posing on the window seat à la Sherlock Holmes. He was posing all right, but this time on my bed—with his clothes off.
His satiny sexy voice filled my bedroom. “Welcome, Andre.”
I gasped at Freddy’s amazing physique. His body was long, lean, and incredibly cut. Large hands with long graceful fingers and prominent feet with lengthy toes completed the package. And speaking of the package, a mound of jet-black pubic hair haloed an incredibly long, thin uncircumcised penis resting above two gigantic round balls. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to join him in bed. “Why are you undressed?”
The Player Page 14
