The Case of the Stained Stilettos

by Smith, Melissa J. L

  Carmella and Francesca hug. “It’s so good to see you, Francesca. And again, I can’t thank you enough for being keynote speaker at my graduation. I don’t think the dean has gotten over meeting you to this day. The picture of the three of us together was still hanging in his office when I went in to say goodbye.”

  Francesca is delighted. “I was happy to do it. And it was wonderful having so much of the family together. I’ve never seen your Uncle James and Aunt Rena any prouder. It’s not every day that someone is the basketball team’s MVP and valedictorian at the same time. How’s the knee, by the way?”

  “Not good enough for the WNBA, unfortunately. It’s good that I majored in journalism instead of Physical Education. You know what Uncle James always says…”

  “Your knees will betray you long before your brains do,” laughs Francesca. “Yes, he says that every time we beat him in basketball.”

  Carmella looks quizzically at Francesca, wondering why she is dressed in couture half-covered in dirt and carrying a broom.

  Dana laughs out loud at the sight. “Don’t ask, Carmella. It’s just another day here at Le Coeur Bel. If you still want to interview me tomorrow, would two-thirty work for you? I’d like to hit the spa tomorrow morning before you take pictures. Get a little spruced up, if that fits your deadline?” asks Dana.

  “Ms. Montgomery…” starts Carmella.

  “It’s Dana, please.. We’re all family here, James and Rena have been my very dear friends since before you were born,” says Dana.

  Carmella nods and smiles. “I will do the interview any time you want. But if you don’t mind my saying, I see nothing to spruce up. How much more gorgeous can you get?”

  That observation was something that Dana needed to hear. She throws her arms around Carmella and whispers, “Welcome to the family, dahhlling,” while Francesca and Wesley both break out into huge smiles.

  Chapter 32

  At 2 p.m., Mark escorts the detectives down to where the party will get underway in a few hours. Those who are not in Sal’s acting class stare at Mark, who has had some success on-screen and even more in the tabloids. He knows he is being watched and enjoys the attention but has mastered the art of appearing nonchalant about his status.

  Even with so many eyes on him and with the grounds of Le Coeur Bel buzzing with activity, Mark is lost in thought. Tensions have been escalating between Blaine and Dana recently, and this has him more concerned than usual about his mother’s future and his own.

  Despite never having been told the entire story, Mark is somewhat aware that his mother had a tough childhood, and because of that, he tends to be overprotective and perhaps overly forgiving when it comes to her flaws.

  Because Dana and Wesley never told people about their plan to keep the underage Wesley away from Child Protective Services when they arrived in Los Angeles, Mark has never known that Wesley is his uncle. They plan to tell him after he is married to Susana and unavailable, with any luck, to Beth. Mark always has assumed that Wesley is Dana’s ever-faithful butler, kind of like Alfred and Bruce Wayne, but nothing more.

  Also, no one except Wesley has ever seen Dana’s will. Not knowing that Wesley is his uncle, Mark assumes that, in addition to the trust fund that he is to receive from Daniel Lathem’s estate when he reaches thirty, that he will inherit all of Dana’s money when she dies.

  But Mark also knows that since his own will leaves everything to Dana, he must be exceptionally wary about Blaine. Not only does Mark think that Blaine might try something to ensure that Dana ends up with everything, but he also worries that Blaine will try to get rid of him while the family fortune is still under Dana’s control. Mark is also fairly certain that Dana’s days would be numbered if he died and his mother ended up with both fortunes.

  Blaine would do his best to ensure that Dana’s and Mark’s estates ended up his. In fact, Mark would have moved out years ago, but has always feared that Blaine would ply his mother with tranquilizers and martinis and take advantage of her in a weak moment by adjusting her will in his own favor.

  If Blaine could keep her right on the edge of overdosing, then find a way to get rid of Mark, it would only take a few extra pills to put Blaine into what Dana called “the catbird’s seat.”

  Mark has often laughed at this possible scenario, realizing that it is basically the plot of Hamlet. It chills the young actor to consider that while his stepfather might not be smart enough to think up an original plot, but Blaine could be devious enough to steal a really good plot and put it to use.

  The song emanating from the catering truck changes, snapping Mark back to the present. He, Lucienne and Frank spend a little time touring the grounds, and the two detectives quietly discuss where to focus their efforts at various stages of the party. On their way back to the house with Mark, they pass Sal. Sal waves Mark over. He asks the detectives if they need him further, and says, “That’s my buddy, Sal Caggiano. He’s the owner of Bella Palermo Caterers, and a lot of this is his handiwork. Would you like to meet him?”

  Lucienne declines. “I think it’s better if we just disappear rather than having to explain why we’re looking around. I think we’ve covered everything we need, so far, don’t you, Frank?”

  “Yup,” Frank says. “I think we’re good for now. We’ll head back to the house. Do your best to not blow our cover, okay?”

  Mark nods in agreement, and Lucienne and Frank split up, each taking a separate path out of Sal’s eyesight. Mark walks over to the bar area, pours himself a Bourbon and plants himself deliberately so that Sal’s back is turned toward Frank and Lucienne.

  “Everything looks great, Sal. You and Beth have done a beautiful job,” he says. When Sal smiles weakly at his friend’s kind words, Mark says, “You doin’ okay?”

  Sal shakes his head and says, “Not really. Beth is stressing me out. I think she was here more during the past two weeks than she’s been since you two were dating. Between the stress and the headache, I think I may pass out before we get this party started.”

  “Trust me, Sal. I have not spoken more than a few words with Beth in months, except when she was with you. I have no desire to come between you two,” says Mark.

  Sal looks at his best friend with gratitude. “I appreciate that, buddy. I wish I could believe the same thing about Blaine. I can’t help but worry if the two of them are making use of the guest house or the cabanas. It’s a good thing that Blaine’s Valkyrie doesn’t have a back seat, or I’d have more nightmares.”

  Mark snorts with derision. “Yeah, Blaine thinks that driving an Aston Martin makes him seem more like James Bond. He’s wrong, as usual.”

  Sal smiles wanly again and leans against the bar, suddenly looking like he is in a lot of pain. He asks, “Mark, you have anything for a headache? I’m so stressed out about Beth that I’m not sure if I’m going to make it through the party at this rate.”

  “Of course,” Mark says, eager to help. “Is there any pill we don’t have at this house? I’ll go get you some of Mom’s tranquilizers and pain pills. Wait here.”

  Sal pulls himself up and stiffens his resolve. “No, you go back to your friends. I’ve been in and out of your house for most of my life. I know where Dana keeps her stash. I’m going to finish up here and go to the kitchen in a little while and check with the staff. I may sneak in a nap in the study if I have time. I believe the tranquilizers are in the library and the pain pills are in Dana’s medicine cabinet, unless something has changed?”

  “Nope, nothing has changed, unfortunately,” Mark says. “We still have enough pills around to open our own pharmacy. Call me if you need any help. And make yourself at home.”

  Sal heads off toward the house. “Thanks, buddy. Catch you later.”

  Mark glances toward the house to confirm that Lucienne and Frank are heading through the front door and out of Sal’s sight.

  Chapter 33

  At Joseph and Mercy’s home in Beverly Hills, the couple is juggling getting dressed, taking phone ca
lls, and playing with the cats, Mack and Mabel. As usual, Mack and Mabel show zero respect for their owners’ fashion choices, sitting on Joseph’s Crittenden Rawlings jacket the moment it is laid on the bed.

  Joseph says, “What’s the plan? Are we picking up Francesca?”

  “Actually, she’s already at Dana’s. She was going with your dad but had to make a detour by The Vinery for a quick meeting. He is, however, Mom’s escort for the evening.”

  A bemused smile creeps onto Joseph’s face. “So, is this an official date? Dad hasn’t dated since my mother died. It would be nice for him to have a companion.”

  “Mom says it’s not a date, but she spent four hours shopping, then went to the day spa and salon, so…”

  Joseph says, “Yeah, but that could be because she wants to show up Dana Montgomery as part of their fake rivalry.”

  Mercy observes, “Friends and rivals. Show business is too weird. I’m glad I’m a detective.”

  Sarcastically, Joseph says, “Because detectives always deal with such sane people.”

  As the couple walks out to Joseph’s McLaren, Mercy says, “At least I don’t have to worry about getting rejected because of the way I look.”

  Joseph takes a deep, admiring look at his wife. “Wife, nobody would ever reject you because of the way you look.”

  Chapter 34

  It is 4 p.m. at Le Coeur Bel and Francesca is unloading shopping bags and garment bags from her Bentley when Wesley appears out of nowhere to help. He shows her to the guest room, where Lucienne is getting ready for the party. Francesca knocks lightly on the guest room door and calls to her daughter. “Honey, it’s me. Wesley is here, too. Are you decent, and do you want help?”

  “Yes, and yes!” replies her daughter.

  Wesley and Francesca enter the room to find Luci standing in a closet full of clothes looking completely overwhelmed

  “Thank goodness you’re both here,” she says to Francesca. “Wesley, I know you hung my clothes up in the closet, but I can’t find anything. I can’t remember what we bought. Mom, you went through the stores so fast that I’m not even sure what’s mine.”

  “Well,” says Francesca, as though talking to a child, “mine are the ones that I just brought in and yours are what Wesley hung in the closet.”

  “All this? I wouldn’t wear this many dresses in a year!”

  Wesley stifles a chuckle and hangs Francesca’s outfits in a different closet. “Will that be all, Ms. Wilde?”

  Francesca replies, “Yes, Wesley. Thank you. Are you ever going to call me ‘Francesca’?”

  He smiles a knowing smile as he excuses himself. “Someday soon, perhaps.”

  Lucienne is measuring the heel heights on all of the new stilettos she now owns against her will.

  “Can you imagine me chasing a suspect down an alley in these shoes?” Lucienne asks.

  Francesca sits down on the bed and puts her head in her hands. “Please, Lucienne. Don’t remind me that you chase killers down alleys. I’d really like to go to the party without that thought in my head.”

  Lucienne shows up at the closet door with four different dresses on hangers. “Okay, which one?”

  “Which one do you like, dear?”

  “Mom, I don’t care. I was pretty happy in the jeans and sweatshirt I had on before.”

  “There’s more of Francesca Wilde in you than you think. And tonight, we’re going to find those pieces and connect the dots and put them all in … that Elie Saab dress with the matching coat. It’s supposed to be chilly tonight,” Francesca says, pointing at a beautiful red ensemble.

  Lucienne looks at the dress and nods her assent. “Red it is, then. Let’s go show this town what happens when three Wilde women get together.”

  Chapter 35

  Down the hall, Frank Lawshé adds the finishing touches to his Dior head-to-toe “look” … an absolutely correct dimple in the tie … perfect angle on the pocket square … just the right amount of muss in his hair to define perfection.

  While most men struggle to put together “the look,” for Frank, looking great and being camera-ready are practically embedded in his DNA. Photographed from birth with various parents and stepparents of his famous extended family, Frank can easily pass as one of the beautiful people, but he welcomes the anonymity that his position with the Sheriff’s Department brings.

  When the paparazzi become too intrusive, he waves his badge to shoo them away, citing “interference with an investigation,” whether he truly is investigating or just trying to buy coffee without being photographed.

  Frank’s worst nightmare would be to have to face a repeat of a story that appeared without warning in a Hollywood paper two years ago, when a photographer secretly followed him around and posted a story titled “A Day in the Life of Tinseltown’s Cutest Cop,” featuring pictures of Frank grabbing lunch from a street vendor, conferring with a dowdily dressed female colleague in front of the Sheriff’s office, and using the treadmill at his gym. Frank still is living that article down, and he has become more cautious than ever around photographers and press.

  This means, among other things, carefully choosing who he goes out with, and trying to keep his dating life out of the papers. This is easier said than done, in part because he tends to date models, singers and aspiring actresses. This dating pool has always seemed natural, given his upbringing. But recently, Frank has started to notice that the women he dates seem to be more interested in his famous family than in him. Not that they do not love his fashion sense and his suave demeanor, but they never want to talk about his policing career, and they always seem a little too excited to hear about his movie star mom and studio chief dad. This observation has slowed down his dating life considerably, and he realizes that tonight is the first official “date” he has had in three months, even if it is just a ruse.

  One thing is sure: Tonight will be different. Detective Sensible Shoes is legendary among Los Angeles Law Enforcement as a woman who plays against type when it comes to her own glamorous family. It is not just at the LAPD and Sheriff’s Office that she downplays her status as a member of a family widely considered to be Hollywood royalty. Even the Parks Department knows that Lucienne Wilde does her best to separate herself from LaLaLand.

  Yet, here Frank is … down the hall, waiting for Lucienne to finish getting dressed for the party … and wondering how to keep her away from any photos near his mother.

  He can see the caption now … “Law Enforcement Son of Actress Penelope Hunt and Studio Head Bradford Lawshé Attends Party with Woman in Clodhopper Shoes.”

  Frank looks to the heavens in a plea to help him navigate the evening, so his mother does not rail at him for the next six months about doing his part to maintain the “proper image.”

  In reality, the more he is around Lucienne, the more he likes her, and the cop clothes she wears for work are more than appropriate for the job. But tonight, the job is going to require finesse, and Frank Lawshé is not sure that Lucienne Wilde has finesse in her bag of tricks.

  Frank takes a deep breath, checks his look in the mirror one more time, and steps out into the hallway. He looks both directions and ponders bolting down the west staircase and out to the party grounds alone, so nobody will know that he and Detective Sensible Shoes are attending together. Perhaps everyone will assume that they have bumped into each other by accident.

  He heads for the staircase, unsure which is the better solution … to bite the bullet and embarrass his mother or to call his mother and arrange for a seat at her table. As he is trying to decide, his cell phone rings. It is Penelope.

  Frank answers the phone, pausing between each question. “Yes, Mother, I’ll be at the party ... No, no, I won’t be sitting with you this evening … I have a date ... Sort of … We work together … No, you won’t be embarrassed again … Just pretend you don’t see me if you think that’s better … I can’t talk now … I’m on my way to pick her up now … Goodbye, Mother.”

  He hangs up the phone
, his decision made for him by his mother’s attitude. What if he had been interested in another cop? Would his mother disapprove? What if he fell in love with someone who she did not consider perfect casting for the role of “Penelope Hunt’s daughter-in-law”? Would his mother disown him? Pretend they are strangers? Would Francesca’s occasionally adversarial relationship with his mother lead to a scene at the party? Would Lucienne finally put an end to his already-tenuous relationship with his mother tonight? Frank ponders the last time someone fired a gun at him, and he doubts that he was as stressed as he is at this moment.

  Chapter 36

  Down another hallway, Carmella Crayton changes into her party dress. The dress’s zipper breaks as it slides over her head and this sends her into a panic. She searches the room for a needle and thread or safety pins or some way to salvage the dress, so she does not have to wear her work clothes to the party.

  “Now what am I going to do? I can’t embarrass Dana by showing up in a broken dress, and I don’t have time to go home,” she frets aloud.

  She opens the guest room door and peers down the hall for assistance but sees no one. Leaving the door ajar, she turns to grab her phone from her purse and dials Dana’s home number. Sula, the maid, answers the phone. “Hello, Sula? This is Carmella Crayton … No, I didn’t leave. I’m in a guest room…”

  Wesley approaches the guest room and is poised to knock when he hears Carmella talking to Sula. He waits until she takes a breath to interrupt her but cannot help overhearing her words.

  “That would be great, Sula. A needle or some safety pins. Whatever you can find. Which guest room am I in? Oh no, I have no idea. I think I’m in the … East wing?” she says. “Okay, I’ll be waiting. Thank you.”

  She hangs up the phone and sits down on the bed. Wesley starts to knock but stops when Carmella begins talking to herself. “I know what’s on the line for Dana tonight. If I can’t fix this dress, I’ll skip the party. I won’t embarrass her by showing up looking tacky.”