The Case of the Stained Stilettos

by Smith, Melissa J. L

  Carmella agonizes over the position in which she finds herself. She needs the interview with her hostess to keep her job, but she knows this particular hostess has set a very high bar for the evening.

  Carmella paces back and forth, talking to herself while she waits for Sula. “I have to think about what Dana has gone through to achieve what she has accomplished,” Carmella tells herself. “I know I could be like some of those scummy reporters who print things to promote their own careers. They don’t care if it’s true or not. They just want a better byline and a shot at a TV gig. Well, I’m not those people. I may not get anywhere in my career, but I won’t take advantage of someone, especially not someone who has been as nice to me as Dana has.”

  Wesley smiles at the tone of the conversation that Carmella is having with herself. Just when he is sure she has stopped talking to herself, he hears her voice again.

  “I just have to hope that nothing wild happens at the party. If my boss finds out that I didn’t shoot video and pictures, he’ll fire me for sure.”

  “That’s okay,” Carmella says out loud. “Whatever happens tonight, I won’t do a hatchet job on Dana. He can fire me if he wants. I always can find another job, and I’ll still be able to look at myself in the mirror tomorrow and not be embarrassed by what I’ve done. And I won’t even be going if I can’t fix this dress!”

  Her last thought is punctuated by Wesley’s knock. She opens the door to find the smiling butler/brother holding a stack of dresses from Dana’s closet. “I hope you don’t find me presumptuous, but I thought this might be easier than fixing a zipper.” Carmella nods, relieved. “If you don’t see anything here you like, we can check Dana’s other closets,” he adds.

  “I’m sure one of these will fit. Wesley, I can’t thank you enough!” she says. “I have no idea how to repay your kindness!”

  Wesley takes a box out of his pocket and hands it to her. “You could wear this as a favor to me … if you like it, that is,” he says in a rare moment of shyness.

  Carmella opens the box to see a dazzling Harry Winston diamond necklace. Her jaw drops at the exquisite sight. He adds, “It’s just a loan for the evening, but I thought it would look lovely on you.”

  “It’s incredible. I don’t know what to say…” says Carmella.

  “Just say you’ll wear it if it goes with whichever dress you choose,” he says.

  Carmella takes his hand and kisses him on the cheek. “I promise.”

  ***

  Down the hall, a door to one of the guest rooms opens behind Frank. Reflexively, he spins around and reaches for his holster. Francesca, having seen Lucienne react similarly before, immediately throws up both hands. “Hold on there, Cowboy. We come in peace.”

  Frank relaxes and says sheepishly, “Sorry, Ches. Sometimes, the reflexes are a step ahead. No worries, I never would have drawn my weapon without assessing the situation first. I’m trained to be prepared for any situation.”

  Francesca smiles, waiting for his next reaction. “Prepared for any situation, huh? Well, let’s see how you handle this…” as she waves Lucienne out into the hall.

  Glamourous and gorgeous in her Elie Saab dress and Louis Vuitton red Urban Twist four-inch heels, Lucienne carefully enters the hall trying not to rock on her shoes. Frank’s face is frozen in shock at the woman who could do justice to a Vanity Fair photo shoot.

  Francesca giggles at his reaction. “Frank, I believe you’ve met my daughter.” Frank, still in a stupor, does not reply. “Frank? Frank!” says Francesca.

  In her best “cop voice,” Lucienne says, “Detective Lawshé!” and Frank snaps back to reality.

  Frank finally blurts out, “Uh, Wilde? Is that really you? I mean, uh, you … look … phenomenal.”

  Lucienne breathes a sigh of relief and almost forgets to balance herself on her non-flat shoes. Not expecting such a positive reaction, she mumbles, “Thanks. Mom helped.” Embarrassed, she pleads, “Promise you won’t let me fall into a gopher hole?”

  Frank walks over and extends his arm. She slips her hand around his bicep with a mental note that he must lift weights a lot. He gracefully steadies her and slips his hand around her waist. When she recoils slightly, he whispers, “Don’t worry. Just giving you an extra bit of support till you get your ‘sea legs.’”

  Lucienne relaxes as they make their way down the staircase, arm in arm.

  Francesca calls after them, “Why don’t you two take a walk around the estate? I’m going to go change.”

  Frank looks quizzically at Lucienne, “Change? What’s wrong with the way she looks now?”

  Lucienne smiles, “Nothing is wrong. She’s been going at it all day. This might be the twentieth dress she’s tried on today. To be honest, I think she might be a little nervous about her date with Ethan tonight … although she swears it’s not a date.”

  “Ethan Luce? Your mom’s dating the DA? That’s one way to get the better prosecutors to handle your cases. Nice move, Wilde,” Frank says admiringly.

  “Not my doing,” laughs Lucienne. “Mom says it’s just a convenience between two friends who each needed a ‘plus-one,’ but I’ve seen her with friends before. She usually only changes dresses a few times before an event. Not twenty.” She pauses to think, “You know, that prosecutor angle could really work out for me. Thanks, Lawshé.”

  They make their way to the door and Lucienne takes a deep breath, contemplating the uneven turf before her. Finding the center of gravity in her shoes, she relaxes a bit and the detectives start an early surveillance of the grounds.

  Chapter 37

  It is 6 p.m., and the party is just getting started at Le Coeur Bel. Some early arrivals are playing eight-ball on the nearby pool tables, and others play volleyball in the swimming pool.

  Conversations about deal memos, production and casting already can be heard as caterers move through the crowd, serving the first of many rounds of appetizers.

  Beth orchestrates the event like a philharmonic conductor. Sal opens a wine bottle at the bar and admires the glassware.

  He teases Beth. “The crystal looks great, honey. Why did you decide to use paper plates? Dana find out about the china you dropped at the SAG after-party?”

  Beth hisses through her teeth, Clint-Eastwood style. “Thanks for that reminder. The paper plates aren’t my fault. Dana ordered china for the Italian theme. The store screwed up and sent paper napkins, paper plates and paper tablecloths two hours ago. They insist that someone changed the order and the original shipment is back east somewhere. Dana’s livid.”

  “It still looks wonderful, honey. Don’t worry about Dana. Doubtless your plans for the evening will make Dana forget about it.” Sal gives her a peck on the cheek, and she sighs.

  “Doubtless,” Beth thinks to herself. “Without a doubt.”

  Half an hour later, Joseph and Mercy pass Beth and Sal as they wind their way through the crowd to a table where Ethan and Francesca are surrounded by friends and fans. Seated next to them is Helen Sands from The Vinery.

  “…and Ethan was at the restaurant and was kind enough to offer me a ride,” Helen is saying as Wesley and Carmella approach.

  Wesley escorts Carmella to the table and excuses himself. “I will leave you here in excellent company, but I’m afraid duty calls,” he tells Carmella. “I hope to see you later.”

  Carmella replies, “I would enjoy that very much, Wesley. Thank you for everything.” She blushes as she looks down at the dress and touches the necklace.

  Wesley whispers in her ear, “That dress never looked better.”

  Wesley waves to Joseph and Mercy before heading to the house to direct the staff.

  “I see that Mom and Ethan are holding court,” says Mercy.

  “Looks like it,” Joseph chuckles. “Do you think this might blossom into something more?”

  Mercy replies, “Maybe. I know Mom gets lonely sometimes, and Dad has been gone for so long now. Lucienne and I have both urged her to date again. It’s not like s
he’s being disloyal to his memory. We know she’ll never love another man like she loved him, but she can learn to love someone else, as well.”

  “I had that same conversation with Dad. Not sure if it sank in.” Joseph grabs his wife and gives her a tight hug. “Just promise me you’ll never leave me.”

  “Never, ever,” she says. “At least not permanently. But I’m afraid I have to ditch you for a couple of minutes right now. You okay with that?”

  “I guess. Where are you off to?” Joseph asks.

  “I see a client that I need to talk to,” she says, pointing at Bob Philips, a famous music producer. “Can you fend for yourself awhile?”

  Joseph says, “I ‘fended’ for myself before I met you. Have I crumbled in recent years?”

  Mercy laughs and says, “No, but that’s because I work across the hall from you. Not sure how well you’d do if I moved my office to, I don’t know, say … the Valley?”

  “Oh, don’t even say that,” Joseph says. “You know I’d be begging you to come back within a week.”

  “And you know I wouldn’t be able to stay away,” she replies, giving his hand a squeeze. She feels Joseph’s admiring gaze as she breaks from him and makes a beeline for her client.

  Joseph walks toward the table where Francesca, Ethan, Carmella and Helen are seated, an L-shape design attached to the dais. As Joseph approaches, he notices Francesca flirting with Ethan by sneaking a bite of caviar from his plate. Thanks to the phalanx of friends and admirers around the table, Joseph is able to hang back a little and eavesdrop on his father’s conversation with his mother-in-law.

  Francesca tells Ethan, “You know, Ethan, now that I’m back from New York, my book’s full of invitations. I’ll need an escort quite often. Do you think I can I depend on you to help me out with that?”

  Ethan takes Francesca by the hand. “Ches, I’ve not been on a date since Ann died. I’m out of practice. What if I embarrass you in front of your Hollywood friends?”

  She takes his hand and squeezes it. “Silly boy. Escorting me down a red carpet or two could hardly be considered a date. If and when an occasion turns into a ‘real date,’ I guarantee you’ll figure it out quickly.”

  Ethan blushes at Francesca’s implication as she waves to some studio executives at a nearby table. Red-faced, but flattered, he notices Joseph, shoots him a look of flustered amazement, and whispers, “I think that I have the most gorgeous date at the party, don’t you, Son?”

  Joseph nods, “When it comes to women, there are none more gorgeous than the Wilde ones.”

  This gets Francesca’s attention. She turns to Joseph and Ethan with a big smile. “Did I hear something about the women of my family?”

  “Well, I’m biased, but I was just saying that no one compares to the Wilde women,” Joseph says. “And Francesca, may I say, you look especially beautiful tonight.”

  Francesca says, “Thank you, gentlemen, but do me a favor. Don’t say that in front of Dana. She hates to be one-upped, even by me.”

  “Speaking of Wilde women,” Francesca says, “here comes one that you may recognize … or not.”

  Lucienne and Frank approach the table. Lucienne hangs on to Frank a little tighter than she would like to as she struggles a little to navigate the damp ground in stilettos. Joseph and Ethan stand up and Frank pulls out a chair for Lucienne.

  Introductions are made around the table. “Has everyone met our friend, Helen Sands, from The Vinery? And this is James and Rena’s niece, Carmella Crayton.”

  Joseph takes one look at Lucienne and says, “Wow, Luci. You look incredible! Red is definitely your color.”

  Ethan agrees. “Lucienne, if you ever decide to give up police work, I think the modeling world could use you.”

  Lucienne, annoyed at her clumsiness in such high heels, replies, “I just hope Elie doesn’t see video of me stumbling around and making his dress look bad. These shoes are beautiful, but I don’t do them justice. I have always been such a klutz in heels. I don’t know how Sis runs in them.”

  Mercy approaches and laughs, saying, “I heard that,” as she joins the group at the table.

  “Hi Frank. I saw your mom over there,” says Mercy, pointing one direction, “and your dad,” pointing the other direction. “And your stepdad,” she says, pointing in a third direction. “And your other stepdad…” pointing in a fourth.

  “And here I am, stuck right in the middle as always,” says Frank. He looks at Lucienne, “But if anyone thinks I’m going to miss an opportunity to show off my hot date to all of my parents, they are extremely wrong.”

  He turns to Lucienne, “Unless you object, of course.”

  Mercy pats her sister on the arm, “Of course she doesn’t object, do you, Sis?” She whispers to her sister, “If you won’t do it for Frank, do it for Mom. You wouldn’t deny Mom a chance to show off her gorgeous baby daughter to Penelope Hunt, would you?”

  Lucienne agrees, “Of course we can say hello to Penelope. But not right now. Our hostess is headed our way.”

  Chapter 38

  Dana, Mark and Susana mingle through the crowd as caterers make the rounds.

  The food at Dana’s table remains uneaten as the hostess arrives at Francesca’s table, which adjoins the dais. Dana is putting on her performance as “Best Actor Trying to Make a Spouse Jealous,” in reaction to Blaine’s conspicuous absence.

  Dana says with an ironic laugh and a grand flourish, “Francesca, darling! It’s been far, far too long! What’s it been? Thirty minutes since I saw you last?”

  Mark steadies Dana as she stumbles. Embarrassed, he speaks to the group as he tries to divert attention from what he believes is about to become one of Dana’s mortifying situations.

  Mark says, “Good evening, everyone. I apologize for the chilly weather. However, the heaters are on, and the pool is nice and warm. I hope the evening won’t be uncomfortable for anyone,” he says pointedly in Dana’s direction in an attempt to quell any embarrassing behavior.

  Susana introduces herself to the table. “I believe I know almost everyone here, but not all. I’m Mark’s fiancée, Susana Alfonso.”

  Susana takes a long look at Frank and thinks to herself, Frank Lawshé. Handsome, rich and the son of a studio president … and he doesn’t live with his mother. She puts the “idea of Frank” in her back pocket, should Dana’s antics cause her father so much embarrassment that he insists she break up with Mark.

  Extending her hand and fluttering those incredible eyelashes at Frank, Susana purrs, “So good to see you,” directly at Frank.

  Lucienne shifts uncomfortably in her chair and Dana tells Susana, “Careful, Susana. Frank’s date is licensed to carry a firearm.”

  Susana glares at Dana and says, “I’m just being cordial, Dana. Like a good hostess should be.”

  Irritated that Dana called her out, Susana changes the subject. She looks at the necklace that Wesley lent Carmella and continues, “How lovely!”

  Carmella, unsure if Susana is complimenting her or the necklace, responds with a simple “Thank you.”

  Francesca says, “Allow me to introduce Helen Sands and Carmella Crayton.” Mark chuckles once more at the mention of Carmella’s name, but Susana, neither knowing nor caring anything about basketball, looks confused.

  “What’s so funny?” Susana asks.

  “Nothing you’d be interested in,” Mark replies.

  “Really, Susana, if you’re going to be part of this family, you’re going to have to expand your horizons,” Dana scolds. “At least watch a sport every once in a while.” A split second after throwing this shade, Dana looks around for Blaine’s Aston Martin Valkyrie. It is nowhere to be seen.

  “It seems as though I am short an escort for the evening. Any volunteers? Is anyone unhappy with their current date?” teases Dana.

  “Mom! Cut it out. Would you like it if other women hit on Blaine in front of you?” chastises Mark.

  Dana’s temper kicks in as she reminds her son of her situa
tion. “No, Mark, I wouldn’t like it much at all, but since it seems to be the thing to do around here, allow me to show ‘Junior’ here how it’s done,” she says, pointing at Susana.

  She turns to the group at the table. “May I get a bit of assistance in this next scene?”

  Flabbergasted at Dana’s shot at Susana, or in some cases just confused, most people are still too surprised to reply. Having known Dana for such a long time, Francesca feels her “early-warning alarm” go off. She says, “Dana, what did you have in mind?”

  “Just this,” replies Dana.

  Dana turns to Susana, calling her “Junior” again. “Pay attention, Junior. You want to take somebody’s man away from her? This is how you do it.”

  Dana launches into a fake seduction of the men at the table, who seem compelled to play along to keep Dana from throwing what they are afraid would be a drunken tantrum.

  “And … action!” Dana claps her hands together creating an imaginary clapboard and repeats her approach toward the table.

  With her best bravado, Dana throws open her arms for the press and the gossipmongers. “Francesca, darling!! And Mercy! It’s been far, far too long!”

  Laughing ironically, Dana continues, “Great Tallulah Bankhead! I sound like a parody of my own career!”

  Mark steadies a still-tipsy Dana, embarrassed, and trying to slow down Dana’s ruse. He improvs his part of the scene, “Good evening, everyone. How lovely of you to make time for us. You remember my fiancée, Susana Alfonso, of course?”

  Mercy pulls out her best socialite skills, “Of course. How nice of you to include us this evening. Susana, Dana, you remember my husband, Joseph Luce and Joseph’s father, District Attorney Ethan Luce?”

  Dana extends her hand, drunkenly, in a theatrical gesture. She stands transfixed, pretending to admire Ethan. She makes a blatant pass, sidling up to Ethan and seductively fingering the knot of his tie while batting her eyelashes in his direction. “Mm-hmm. Ches, you haven’t lost your touch when it comes to your escorts. Mr. District Attorney, I am so pleased that you were able to join us tonight.”