“Mark and I have a theory, you know,” Dana says subversively, ignoring Francesca’s reasoning, and her attempt at tough love. “Blaine stays with me so he can murder Mark.”
Dana paces the floor, theatrically, building the story. “With Mark dead, I’ll get Mark’s inheritance and Blaine will end up with everything when I overdose.”
Francesca doubles over in laughter. “Dana,” she says, “that’s almost the plot to Hamlet.”
Dana puts on an angelic expression. “I knew I’d heard it somewhere before. I could be right, you know. Blaine hasn’t had an original idea since he thought that buying an Aston Martin would get him an audition to be the new James Bond.”
“It wasn’t even that original. I know four other actors who tried the same thing!” Francesca giggles. “Didn’t work for them, either.”
Dana throws her arms around Francesca and the two friends explode into laughter.
Chapter 23
While her mother and Dana are laughing about Blaine’s Aston Martin, Mercy is on the phone in the guest house in back of The Vinery Restaurant. Helen and little Lindsey have returned from the expansive gardens.
Jon Powell emerges from the front of the estate, where the mansion was converted to a restaurant. At about the same time, his wife, Jann, and their three young daughters, Lisbeth, Georgina and Christie, walk over from the former stables, which have been renovated and now serve as their house.
The children are carrying toys and Jann has shopping bags. Mercy makes the introductions, and Jann suggests that they go sit down in the guesthouse where the girls can play.
Inside the guesthouse, Jon flips on the light and offers everyone a seat. Helen hesitates to sit on the couch, ashamed of how dirty she got rooting through the dumpster.
Jann says, “No worries. It’s not necessary, but if you and Lindsey want to freshen up while we help Mercy with her anniversary party arrangements, the restrooms are down the hall on the left.”
Jon says, “I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Janny to grab a few things from the kids’ closets. I wasn’t sure what size Lindsey would need, but we were hoping that you both would join us in the restaurant for a celebration.”
Lindsey looks delighted, “A celebration?”
Jon tells the little girl, “We were thinking more of a ‘Celebration of New Friends.’ We celebrate as often as we can at The Vinery.”
Jann explains, “The truth is that Jon works between eighteen and twenty hours every day. If we don’t find excuses to sit down and eat together, sometimes our lives get away from us. I try to help as much as I can, but with three girls and a baby on the way, it’s just harder than it used to be.”
“Please Helen. Join us for dinner,” Mercy adds. “I can’t remember the last time that Lucienne and I had a chance to have dinner without her dispatcher calling her away, and Janny and Jon rarely slow down often enough to eat.”
Lucienne bribes the children, saying, “I think that Lindsey and her new friends might have fun with the dessert tray.”
“Yay!!” cheer the girls. “Cake!!”
Helen smiles, “I appear to be outnumbered. Is that offer of freshening up still available?”
“You bet,” says Jon. Mercy and I will work on her party plans. When Lindsey’s ready, she can come out here and play with the girls and you can take a few minutes to relax in the spa tub, if you want.”
Lucienne points at a pile of clothing on dry-cleaning hangers, draped over a chair. “Grab anything you like from Mercy’s dry cleaning if you want to change. I know I am.”
Mercy says, “We can wash your clothes here in the guesthouse if you don’t want to go back to the laundromat tonight.”
Jann says, “Laundromat?”
Mercy intervenes with the sad truth. “They’re sleeping in their car in a laundromat parking lot.”
Jann bursts into tears. “That’s terrifying!” She pauses, realizing that she said that aloud. “Forgive me, Helen. My pregnancy hormones make me a little emotional sometimes.”
She gathers her wits and says, “You are not sleeping at a laundromat tonight. We’ll have dinner and you and Lindsey are welcome to stay here in the guesthouse tonight. I insist.”
Tired, hungry and overcome with gratitude, Helen stutters, “I appreciate it, but…”
Jon interjects, saying, “It’s not charity, Helen. We believe that people were put on this earth to help each other so we all succeed. Neither Janny nor I come from families with money. People helped us get started, and we worked to turn that help into a success. We don’t take that kindness for granted, and we try to help others as we were helped. If we needed help, I’m sure you would do what you could for us. Please let us do this for you.”
Helen nods. “Yes, I would help you if I could. And I will take you up on your kind offer. Thank you.”
After quick showers and a change of clothes, the group enjoys a wonderful dinner at The Vinery. Lucienne stays through the entire dinner without taking a single work call. Jon and Jann actually have a chance to slow down and enjoy the evening. The girls eat a healthy meal but find a way to follow it up with cake.
Mercy asks her sister, “Not that I’m not excited to see you, but how did you know to respond to the radio call about the mugger?”
Lucienne laughs, “Are you serious? When a call goes out for a Lamborghini with a license plate, WILDER1, did you think I wouldn’t get called? You wouldn’t believe how many LAPD officers know your car. I’m sure you’ve not been stopped for speeding many times because you’re my sister.”
The entire table laughs while Mercy defends her vanity plate choice. “I truly appreciate that. Besides, it was my only option. Mom already had WILDE1, and Joseph had NOLUCER because he’s “no loser” when it comes to court cases. I couldn’t come up with anything more original,” she chuckles.
Everyone laughs and talks, and the evening goes late. The Powells’s au pair picks up the girls and takes them back to the guesthouse to play. Lucienne drives Helen to the laundromat to pick up her car and follows her back to the guesthouse to ensure the mugger left no partners behind.
After one more latté, Lucienne leaves, citing an early morning. Mercy orders food for Joseph and some grilled salmon for the cats, Mack and Mabel, leaving before it is too late for them to eat.
Having had her first decent meal in two years and seeing Lindsey sleeping in a bed surrounded by the toys that the girls left behind brings more peace to Helen’s mind than she has known since the days before she learned that her husband was shipped out. Helen snuggles next to Lindsey and holds the little girl’s small hand in her own until she, too, falls into a deep sleep.
Chapter 24
It is early Saturday morning, and at first glance, the sleepy little part of town named Bel Air — famous for hosting producers, personalities and former presidents — is already enjoying a picture-perfect day. Being able to live within its perfection is a constant pleasure for Dana Montgomery, and her love of Bel Air is one of the reasons that she sticks to her studio-designated persona, despite the discomfort that it sometimes causes her.
Dana’s mansion, known to all as Le Coeur Bel, is one of Bel Air’s great gems, and a source of great pride for the girl who came to Hollywood with nothing. Designed by a protégé of “architect to the stars” Paul R. Williams in the late 1940s, the name bestowed upon the sprawling edifice was meant to reflect the builder’s translation of “the beautiful heart.”
The sun is up, and the sky is a perfect blue. But, as is often the case, the hype does not match the reality. A colder-than-usual day threatens the annual charity event, and gardeners scurry to set up a phalanx of heaters to protect the bikini-clad bodies expected later.
Catering trucks are parked in the driveway of the mansion. Workers from Bella Palermo Caterers, including half a dozen aspiring actors from Blaine’s class, are setting up for a large party by the Olympic-sized pool. Other crews set up pool tables around the pool for what they are calling the Pool and Pool Party.<
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Inside, the mansion bustles with activity. Preparations are underway for the evening’s charity dinner, and Wesley has his hands full wrangling the temporary help, who cannot seem to focus on anything other than the lush interiors and trying to get a glimpse of the owners.
Soothing orchestral music filters in from a catering truck parked in the driveway, masking any phantom freeway noise that may dare to travel into the neighborhood.
This is Bel Air, California, established by multi-millionaire oil and real-estate tycoon Alphonzo Bell in 1923, and nobody and nothing, including freeway noise, gets past the gated entrances without approval. Today, the Southern California breeze blows in from the west, kissing the air with ocean freshness and gently ruffling the perfectly styled hair of the perfectly styled caterers.
More Bella Palermo Catering vans arrive and park in the driveways of Le Coeur Bel, while others are unloaded by students from Blaine’s acting class.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, Sal stands by the pool, discussing the menu with the waitstaff. Their attention is riveted to loud, angry voices bursting through the mansion’s wide French doors.
Sal gives his staff a stern look, letting them know that, under no circumstance, are they to pay any attention to the screaming coming from the library. As a couple of heads turn toward the mansion and strain to hear the argument, Sal hustles over to the offending caterers and redirects their attention to their work.
Beth drives up in a catering van, but before she joins Sal, he watches a ritual that he sees Beth repeat several times each day. While he waits, Beth sits in the van and drops the car keys into her pocket and stuffs her sunglasses and compact in afterward. Wiping the imprint left by the sunglasses from her nose, she digs around in her pockets for blush and lipstick. As far back as he can remember, Sal rarely has seen Beth carry a purse. She has even resorted to cargo pants on occasion to avoid having to deal with a pocketbook.
After freshening up her makeup, Beth tosses her lipstick and blush back into her pockets, along with a tissue she used to blot her lips. Then she hops out of the van and joins Sal at the bar.
“Hi, honey,” she says, giving Sal a peck on the cheek. “Sorry I’m late.
Sal teases her, saying, “Did you put on enough war paint to set up the bar?”
Beth pouts a little and defends herself. “I just want to look nice for you. Where do you want me to start?”
Sal replies, “I need to grab a few things out of the van. Keys, please?”
Beth digs around in her pockets and looks around the bar. Frustrated, she checks and rechecks her pockets before she locates them under her stash of makeup.
“Your keys, sir,” Beth says as she hands them over.
Sal winks at her and says, “Do you want to help me set up the bar or do you need to go over the duties with the household staff?”
“I’ll help you. I came out to go over the details with the house staff earlier,” replies Beth.
Sal fumes as he sets up the bar. “When did you get here? Sunrise? If you like it here so much, maybe you should move out of our apartment and move in with Mark!”
Beth responds indignantly. “Sal, how am I supposed to plan the party without coming here to plan?”
Sal hisses, “I don’t know, Beth. Are we planning a party or the second coming?”
Sal’s angry face irritates Beth. “My God, you’re so jealous. I came here to plan this stupid party. That’s all. If you didn’t want me to plan the party, why did you ask?”
Sal snaps back, “Because you hounded me until I agreed to let you plan it. I was going to hire that woman who writes ‘Party Me Hearties,’ but nooooooo, you insisted that you could do it and save us some money.”
“And I did,” retorts Beth.
“I’m curious. What were you planning by coming here this morning? A quick fling with Mark? A torrid affair with Blaine? Maybe you could try for Wesley? I hear he’s quite the butler-about-town,” snarks Sal.
Beth hisses, “Unfortunately, none of them were available to show me a good time.” She adds sarcastically, “Maybe next time I’ll get luckier.”
“If they weren’t here, how did you get inside? Did you steal a key?” he accuses her.
Beth throws bottles to Sal as he slams them down on the bar. They glare at each other silently. Out of the corner of her eye, Beth keeps a discreet watch on the house.
“If you must know, the raven-haired spawn of the world-famous Colombian lord was just leaving when I arrived.”
“Watch it, Beth. Susana is my friend, and you know it. And her dad runs the largest pharmaceutical research firm in the world. It’s in Brazil, not Colombia.”
“Why thank you, Captain Geography,” Beth snaps back. Taking a shot at Sal’s pride, Beth says, “That’s the same rich daddy who wouldn’t let Susana date you because you’re ‘too working class’ for his precious baby girl?”
Her words having hit the target, Sal’s face turns red with embarrassment. “Yes, but Susana’s dad is happy with Susana’s current beau. No one could accuse Mark of being too ‘working class’ for the Alfonso family.”
As if on cue, Susana’s test model Hennessey Venom F5 glides into the driveway. Beth watches her steer the high-performance sports car up the hill toward the house and mutters to herself, “Mark and Susana ... a match made in Wall Street Heaven.”
Annoyed at the sight of Susana, Beth slams a bottle a bit too hard, attracting Sal’s attention. “Now what?” he asks, already knowing the answer.
“Your favorite spoiled brat has arrived. This morning, Susana waltzed out of the front door of Mark’s house like she owned it. Queen of the manor. Ever know anyone so superior?”
Sal holds back a grin. “Like she owned it, huh? Instead of you? Now that must have ticked you off.” No longer able to suppress his laughter, he adds, “I’m surprised you didn’t scratch her eyes out when she opened the door.”
As Sal opens amaretto bottles, he eyes Beth suspiciously. “You didn’t, did you?”
Beth says, “I guess not. She can still see well enough to drive that two-million-dollar car. Who drives a car that can go three hundred miles per hour when you can’t go three hundred feet per hour on the 405?”
Sal says, “The next matriarch of the Montgomery-Lathem family dynasty, I guess. That car alone should prove to you that you will never have that title. Are you ever giving up on Mark? Or are you just going to continue to find ways to insert yourself into his life until you find a way to get him back? If that’s your plan, I’ll be happy to give you some space.”
Beth turns on her heel and drops the lemons in a large bowl with a defiant gesture and storms off toward the house.
Sal calls after her, “You know, famous guys may sleep with girls like you, but they never marry them. Never.”
Stomping toward the house, she intentionally detours toward Susana, who is getting clothes out of her Hennessey at the top of the hill.
Chapter 25
Joseph cuts up to Franklin Avenue as he speeds east toward Vine Street. He smiles as he nears the Hollywood United Methodist Church and hears the tubular bells of the Martindale Carillon ring the hour in four-part harmony. He pulls into The Vinery restaurant parking lot and is followed moments later by Mercy’s Lamborghini coming north from Olympic.
Mercy parks her car, smiles at Joseph, and holds up one finger to let him know that she needs a minute. She reaches into the backseat for a shoebox and pulls out a fresh pair of Louboutins. Joseph watches her with a wide smile on his face as she steps out of the car, pops her feet into her new stilettos, and tests them for the first time while standing next to her car.
“I’m guessing the other shoes had a tough night?” asks Joseph.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Mercy says, right in front of Joseph now and going in for a quick kiss. “I’ll drop those off at the cobbler and see if they can be saved. I know they were one of your favorites.”
“I’ll tell you a secret. All of your shoes are my favorites, as long as
you are wearing them and safe while doing so,” Joseph says, gently squeezing her hand.
“Sorry I got home too late to give you all the details from last night,” she apologizes.
“Dare I ask what went wrong? I don’t suppose we’re here because Jonny couldn’t guarantee doing our party?” he asks, knowing in advance that it is not.
“To be honest, I’m not exactly sure why we’re here. Jonny and Janny were still here with our new friend Helen and her daughter when I had to call it a night. I didn’t want you to starve to death waiting on your dinner.”
Joseph asks, “We have a new friend named Helen? Let’s see … you went to set up a dinner party, brought home salmon for the cats who were watching their fish video and dinner to a sleeping husband who just woke up an hour ago … Okay, sure. I guess we had time to make a new friend somewhere in there. And she has a daughter?”
“Yes, her name is Lindsey. She’s six. I can’t wait for you to meet her. Face of an angel.”
“Woman, sometimes you move so fast you make my head spin.” He puts his arm around her waist and opens the restaurant door. “Then, other times, you just make my head spin anyway,” he laughs.
They open the door to The Vinery where Mercy gets a wonderful surprise. Helen is standing before them in one of the dresses that Mercy left behind the night before, grinning madly.
“Welcome to The Vinery,” she says, beaming at Mercy. “My name is Helen, and we’ve been expecting you. Let me show you to your table.”
Joseph looks at Helen’s outfit and at Mercy. “I see you have the same taste.”
Helen blushes and says, “It’s a very thoughtful loan which I will have dry cleaned and returned as soon as I get my first paycheck.”
Mercy laughs, “It looks better on you than it ever did on me. Works better for your coloring. Actually, most of the stuff I left here last night was at the dry cleaner so long that I must not have needed it. I’d love for you to keep everything and put it to good use.”
The Case of the Stained Stilettos Page 10
