by Carrie Doyle
“Divorced,” he said.
“Interesting, we probably have a lot to talk about.”
Leslie gave him a flirtatious look—at least that’s what Plum thought it was, but since Leslie’s face muscles were paralyzed, it was hard for Plum to decode.
Juan Kevin squirmed. “Possibly.”
“Let’s swap war stories. I’m here until next month.”
“Okay…”
Fortunately, Nina arrived with the drinks and placed them on the table. She also included a platter of fruit and coconut cookies. The pineapple looked so tantalizing that Plum speared a piece. It melted in her mouth. She realized she hadn’t had breakfast.
“Thanks so much, Nina,” said Leslie.
“And what happened with Nick?” asked Plum.
“We were all having a drink and a giggle. That Nick was a load of fun, a real flirt,” said Leslie. “Then Martin shows up and yells that Carmen is a disgrace and accuses her and Nick of sleeping together—they had only just met, I mean, really! And besides, his daddy’s been dead for a year now, so what if she was? She deserves a little hoot. But Martin doesn’t want her to have any fun. He sat at the bar and stared daggers at us. Finally, we decided to leave.”
“Did you all leave together?” asked Juan Kevin.
“We walked out together, but then I scurried home. A gal needs her beauty sleep, don’t you agree, Juan Kevin?”
He shifted in his seat. “It appears you have had plenty of sleep then, if that is true.”
“You flirt!” she said, placing her veined hand on top of his. “Heck, the funny part is that I didn’t even realize that Nick was staying next door! I’d only met the other fella when he was checking in.”
Plum quickly gulped down a cookie. “Which fella? Nick or Jason?”
“I’m not sure.”
Plum leaned toward her. Had Leslie also met the impostor? “What did he look like?”
“I don’t know; it was through the bushes. I was unloading the groceries, and he was going in the villa. I said howdy. Honestly, I thought he might offer to help, seeing as I was carrying all these large bags, but he just sort of mumbled and went inside.”
“When was this?” asked Plum.
“It was Thursday around lunch.”
Plum whipped out her cell phone and pulled up Nick’s Instagram page. “Was it either of these guys?” she asked pointing to Deepak and Jason.
“He definitely wasn’t Indian. I don’t know about the other guy; I don’t think so because this guy was not very buff. It was hard to tell because he was wearing those wraparound sunglasses.”
Plum turned to Juan Kevin and gave him a knowing look. “Must have been the guy who came to see me.”
Juan Kevin nodded then turned back to Leslie. “What happened to Carmen when you left the beach bar?”
“I’m not sure about Carmen. When I left, she was talking to Nick. But I doubt they stayed there much longer; Martin was still lurking around giving them the hairy eyeball.”
“Is it possible they came back to Nick’s villa together?” asked Plum.
“I’ve no idea. I stay out of other people’s hanky-panky. I have my own to worry about!” She laughed then turned and gave what was possibly a seductive look (again, hard to tell with the surgery) to Juan Kevin.
“One more question,” asked Plum. “Do you own a pair of turquoise earrings?”
“Well, I’m not sure, but probably, I’d have to say.”
“Is it possible you were wearing one and lost it the other night?”
“No, all my baubles are accounted for.”
Chapter 13
Lila Donovan and AJ Thompson, the couple Deepak and Jason had run into at the bar, were staying in one of the rooms at the hotel—a three-story structure set back from the beach, nestled between two golf courses. The limestone building was long and shaded by deep verandas and balconies on each floor. Juan Kevin had one of his security associates track them down, and they agreed to meet up at Las Casitas, the tapas restaurant on the first floor.
Plum had only done a quick walk-through of the hotel the day after she arrived and was surprised to see there was so much activity. Dozens of sunbathers were relaxing on lounge chairs by the pool, which featured a giant, thatched-roof bar in the center that people had to swim to in order to access. Children in floaties were splashing about and jumping off the ledge. Techno music was thumping from the speakers along the wall, and waiters were carrying trays of blended fruit cocktails.
“Lots of people here,” said Plum as they strode past the pool toward the restaurant. “I’m surprised guests aren’t at the beach. What’s the point of coming all the way to the Caribbean and sitting by a pool? May as well be in Florida.”
“Many with young children prefer the pool, as it is easier to access, but it is also a favorite amongst the British clientele.”
“British? Why’s that?”
“I’ve no idea. But I’ve found through the years that visitors from various cultures generally operate the same way. The Americans and the Russians are the first to the beach—very early in the morning. The Americans generally put on large amounts of sunblock and sit under umbrellas. The fathers and sons toss footballs or baseballs over the crowds. They stay until early afternoon, when they then retire to play tennis or golf or do fitness. The Russians leave around lunchtime.”
“Fascinating. What about the Spanish or Italians?”
“They generally arrive later to the beach. They have long lunches, then stay late, party late, and sleep late. They can be quite loud on the beach.”
“I think I’ve heard them.”
Las Casitas was buzzing. The open-walled restaurant was completely white from the tables and chairs to the umbrellas. Whitewashed rattan pendants hung from the cavernous ceilings. Sunlight poured in from every angle. It was situated on a balcony overlooking the pool area, and the pulsing music crept its way up.
“That must be them,” said Juan Kevin.
They walked towards a couple sitting at a table in the corner, their backs against the wall. The man gave a half wave. He was in his early thirties and had a rectilinear face, cropped sandy hair, and the stocky, muscular, broad-shouldered body of a college athlete. The word jock instantly sprang to Plum’s mind. He wore a polo shirt and khaki shorts straight out of a Lands’ End catalog. He rose to greet them and thrust out his hand.
“I’m AJ Thompson; this is Lila Donovan,” he said, motioning toward his girlfriend.
Lila was wearing a diaphanous white caftan and a wide-brimmed sun hat. She had a dainty nose, small blue eyes, and pale blond hair. Trendy bracelets that looked like Chiclets dangled on her bony wrists, and stylish beaded earrings hung from her tiny ears. She was clearly someone who cultivated undernourishment, the sort that Plum had run into often at parties in New York. Her expression was set in that disappointed-and-bored mode that clung to twentysomethings. Dealing with these types was in Plum’s wheelhouse.
After a few brief moments of polite conversation about the weather and the resort, they segued into the name game, where both Plum and Lila brought up people they might know in common. It became a frantic contest of one-upmanship as they rattled off names in the publishing, fashion, and society world. AJ and Juan Kevin’s heads kept swerving back and forth between them as they fired questions at one another.
“Mimi Wasserman?” asked Plum.
“Yes, she was just fired from the Market Street Journal,” Lila replied. “She totally ruined it.”
“I agree,” said Plum. “It was unbearable.”
“Very boring.”
“Gerald Hand?” asked Plum.
“Never heard of him.”
“Right. He worked for me. He’s at the Market Street Journal.”
Lila shrugged. “Not in my social world.”
“What do you do?” asked Plum.
“I’m an influencer,” said Lila, brightening for the first time. “You can check out my Instagram @SomethingVeryWhite. I have over two million followers. There are links to where I buy all my super cute clothing and accessories.”
“Oh, really?” asked Plum. A bitter taste entered her mouth. It was as if Lila had said she was a mass murderer. Plum hated influencers. Influencers were the reason she was out of a job. They did none of the hard work like research or writing and only posted pictures of themselves in chic locations, and now no one read magazines—they just turned to social media. “That’s nice,” said Plum dismissively.
Juan Kevin could sense it was time to interject and finally broached the topic of Nick’s murder.
“Can you walk us through your evening, if you don’t mind?” he asked AJ.
“Sure,” said AJ, running a hand through his hair. Plum noticed it barely moved, just swayed a bit like blades of grass in a gentle breeze. “Lila and I came down to Las Frutas on Thursday for the week. We were having dinner at the beach, and we saw Jason, Deepak, and Nick. We had no idea they were down here.”
“How do you know them?” asked Plum.
“Let’s see, I guess we met them a few years ago. We all had share houses in the Hamptons for the summer. I mean, they were in one, and Lila and I were in another. We’d take turns having parties, and we’d see each other at the beach.”
“Which Hampton?” asked Plum. This was her area of expertise.
“West,” said AJ.
“Oh,” said Plum, losing interest. It was the least fancy. Really shouldn’t even have Hampton attached to the name.
“Ever sense any friction between the men back then?” asked Juan Kevin.
“No,” said AJ. “But then, I’m not sure I would. I was usually around other people when they were there. It wasn’t like we spent any quality time together.”
“What about you?” Plum asked Lila.
“I never saw or heard anything like that,” she answered in a bored voice.
“What about the night of Nick’s death?” asked Juan Kevin.
“Right,” said AJ. “We told them we would meet up with them after we finished our dinner. We found Jason and Deepak sitting at the bar, you know, on the barstools. Nick was bouncing around the restaurant; he was already pretty loaded and chasing after anything in a skirt. That’s the kind of guy he was.”
“AJ, you make Nick sound like a real jerk,” said Lila. “He’s dead. You can’t talk about the dead that way.”
AJ gave her a look indicating he didn’t agree. “He was fine.”
She cocked her head to the side and said in a disapproving voice, “Come on.”
“What?” he asked.
Lila turned toward Juan Kevin and Plum. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. Nick was a nice guy.”
“A nice guy who had a revolving door of women,” said AJ.
“You can be a nice guy and like the ladies,” said Juan Kevin diplomatically.
“Yes,” agreed Lila.
Plum wanted to analyze Juan Kevin’s statement (was he a nice guy who liked the ladies?) but instead posed a question to AJ. “We know Jason was irritated at Nick that night for hitting on women. Did he tell you that?”
“He was annoyed because he didn’t want Nick to pull him into it. Jason said his fiancée is really possessive and thinks Nick is—was—a bad influence.”
“Do you know anything about a prank Nick was going to play on Jason?” asked Plum.
“What do you mean?” asked AJ.
“We heard he was going to play a prank on his friend who was going to get married.”
AJ shook his head. “I know nothing about that. Honestly, I didn’t really hang out with Nick that night. I was with Jason, Deepak, and Lila.”
“What about you?” Plum asked Lila.
“I talked to Nick for a bit,” she said, taking a sip of her iced tea. “Just about what we’ve been up to, catching up on people in common. But we didn’t talk about any prank.”
“Did he say anything to either of you about feeling fearful or in danger?” asked Juan Kevin.
“Nope,” said AJ.
“No,” said Lila.
“Are you sure?” asked Plum.
They nodded. “Hey, does this mean we should be frightened? Are our lives in danger?” asked AJ, as if the thought just occurred to him.
“Of course not,” said Juan Kevin. “We have no reason to believe anyone is in danger.”
“It’s kind of sketchy that this happened,” said AJ. “Do you know if they have any suspects?”
“I’m sure the police have someone in mind,” assured Juan Kevin.
“I wish they had burglar alarms for the room. I’m not sure I feel safe,” said Lila.
“You got me, babe,” said AJ, placing his beefy hand on top of her pale, slender one.
***
“Before I drive you back to the office, do you want to grab a quick bite from the taco truck? I’m starving,” said Juan Kevin.
Plum’s instinct was to decline. The less social time spent with a man who found her critical and harsh, the better. But she was also ravenous, and hunger was trumping dignity. “Fine,” she said.
They stood eating their lunch—chili-rubbed grilled chicken with refried beans and avocado cream for Juan Kevin and Baja-style fish taco with shredded cabbage and chipotle mayo for Plum—under the shade of the papaya trees.
“Well, that meeting with AJ and Lila was fruitless,” said Plum. “Doesn’t seem like they know anything.”
“Perhaps, but maybe we jogged their memories. Often, people know more or pick up more than they realize, and it comes to them later, like a delayed reaction.”
“You know, something they said did remind me of something, but I can’t think of it.”
What was it they said that reminded Plum of something? Ugh, if only she could remember. Juan Kevin noticed her grimacing and smiled.
“It’ll come back to you.”
“How can you be so sure people are not in danger?”
“My security team is all over the resort. We increased surveillance.”
“It didn’t help last night.”
“True,” admitted Juan Kevin. “I’ve added even more men today. And, to be honest, maybe it’s just instinct, but I don’t think someone is on a killing spree. I think there was a particular reason that Nick Macpherson was killed. He enraged the wrong person.”
“Well, as you enjoyed telling me last night, I’ve enraged a lot of people. I was never murdered.”
“You’ve enraged people?” repeated Juan Kevin sarcastically. “No, I can’t imagine that.”
“Very funny.”
“Listen, I’m sorry I was so blunt,” he began.
Plum interrupted. “Let’s not talk about it again. Let’s restrict our conversations to the case or the mundane. No reason to exchange personal commentary.”
“Very well.”
Plum bit into her taco. She usually avoided mayonnaise, but it really added flavor. She would love to order a glass of crisp white wine to accompany it, but she had to get back to the office.
“If it’s not too personal, may I ask if you like it?” asked Juan Kevin.
“It’s delicious,” said Plum.
He gave her a strange look. “You know, you look really red. Are you wearing sunblock?”
“Sunblock? I put it on every day.”
“Maybe it’s not strong enough.”
She remembered that after Juan Kevin had called and awoken her, she had made a hasty exit.
“I forgot this morning. I need to get inside. My skin doesn’t do well in the sun; I look like a tomato.”
“You must be careful. I’ll take you back.”
“Thanks.”
Juan Kevin said, “I h
ave a staff meeting for the rest of the afternoon and won’t be available, but I’ll call Tony the golf pro and see if we can chat with him later, say, five o’clock?”
“If you think you can bear being with me again.”
Plum was unwilling to let Juan Kevin completely forget his critique of her. But as someone who didn’t enjoy conflict, he was willing to make amends so she could preserve her pride.
“I can.”
Chapter 14
Damián and Lucia were both at their desks when she arrived. Plum was about to make a preemptive snarky comment to Damián, but he gave her a satisfied cat-that-ate-the-canary look, and she was immediately suspicious.
“You are wanted in Jonathan’s office,” said Lucia with a worried expression.
“Okay,” said Plum breezily.
“I was able to pull some strings and use up some favors and secured accommodation for Jason and Deepak. I booked them in the hotel, and their rooms will be ready at five today.”
“Thank you,” said Plum.
As she walked toward Jonathan’s door, Damián swiveled in his chair to look at her. “Are you okay? You are as red as the devil.”
“Just a little sunburned.” Plum sniffed..
“I was going to recommend a little color for your ghost skin, but you overdid it.”
Plum didn’t even bother with a response. But he was right; her skin was starting to sizzle, and she knew she would definitely pay for forgetting the sunblock. That was the damn problem with her pale complexion!
When she entered, she found a pensive Jonathan with his hands folded tensely. Captain Diaz seated across from him. The latter swerved around in his chair with a malicious look.
“Plum, Captain Diaz would like a word with you,” said Jonathan.
“Okay.”
“Yes, señorita. I have some follow-up questions.”
They all looked at each other before Jonathan understood he was being displaced from his office, as the interview would transpire there.
“Very well, then, I’ll be off. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance,” said Jonathan cordially. But his face was less than friendly.
“You already have been a tremendous help,” said Captain Diaz.
