A Sadie Kramer Flair Mystery 02 - A Flair For Drama

by Deborah Garner

  Five minutes passed, during which Sadie hushed a whining Coco several times, observed ongoing business behind the desk, and did breathing exercises that she’d read about recently in a magazine, hoping that would calm her down. Still, she jumped when she saw Higgins emerge from a hallway and look her way.

  “Ms. Kramer.”

  Sadie stood quickly, as if being summoned to a school principal’s office. She reminded herself silently that she hadn’t done anything wrong. She crossed her fingers around one of the tote handles. She hoped it would be clear that she was only there to help.

  “Detective Higgins, it’s nice to see you.” The words had barely passed over her lips before she realized they were anything but true.

  “What brings you in today?”

  Sadie looked around before speaking. “I’d really like to talk with you in private.”

  “We can go into a room down the hall. I just need to let them search your bag before I take you back.” He indicated the front desk. The female officer stood up and reached for the bag.

  Sadie felt a wave of panic. “Is that really necessary?”

  “Yes it is,” Higgins said. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  “Of course not,” Sadie lied, knowing she had no other choice. As she handed over the tote, she comforted herself with the thought that people sometimes had two phones. Maybe it wouldn’t seem strange when the bag was searched. Of course, there was always the other factor…

  The female officer took on an expression of disdain when she took her first glance into the bag. She reached in reluctantly and lifted out the Yorkie as if handling toxic waste. She placed Coco on the desk. Her colleague raised his eyebrows. She then rifled through the bag. Apparently finding nothing forbidden, she deposited Coco back in the tote and handed it to Sadie, who breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Follow me.” Higgins turned away and led Sadie to a small room, offered her a chair and sat down across from her. Saying nothing, he waited for Sadie to speak.

  Sadie shifted her position several times, and then finally said, “I brought you something.” She reached into the tote bag. Coco whined softly as Sadie slipped her hand slowly into an interior pocket, then more rapidly into another, and yet another. Her heart began to race. “I have it…sorry, Detective Higgins, just give me a moment.” Coco began whining louder as Sadie pulled her out of the bag and set her on the interview table, and continued to rummage frantically through the tote. Where was the phone?

  “Ms. Kramer?”

  Sadie looked up to see that Coco was lavishing kisses on the detective’s neck, a good distraction from her confusion. Good dog! she thought.

  “Coco, get down,” Sadie said. “You know better than to climb on people.”

  Coco obeyed and jumped down. She curled up on the table and watched Sadie and Higgins.

  “I’m sorry about that.” Sadie smiled sheepishly. “She does love a man with a badge!” One by one, she pulled items out of the tote bag and placed them on the table while continuing her search: the show flyers, silver bangles, bright purple sunglasses, cherry-flavored lip gloss, a hotel room key, and several other items. If she hadn’t cleaned the tote out before she returned to Monterey, the process would have taken even longer.

  “What exactly are you looking for?” The detective was running out of patience.

  “I thought I brought you…” Sadie paused. How could she say she had Russell’s phone and then not produce it? She had to think quickly. “I thought I brought…a list of questions, no, more like ideas about Brynn Baker’s murder. But I can’t seem to find it now.” Of course I can’t find it, since it doesn’t exist… She glanced at Coco, as if she could somehow help her out of the tight spot. She could almost swear the Yorkie raised an eyebrow in amusement. You’re no help, she thought.

  Detective Higgins leaned forward, though slightly away from Coco. “What sort of ideas?”

  “Well, I don’t know without the list.” Sadie attempted to sigh nonchalantly, which sounded more like choking on an oversized chunk of cucumber.

  “I see.”

  “I must have left it at the hotel,” Sadie said, standing up in what she hoped was a casual manner, rather than revealing her urge to flee the building. “I wish I could remember what I jotted down. But, you know, at my age my memory isn’t what it was. I’ll try to find the list and bring it by later on today, or maybe tomorrow morning.”

  “I would appreciate that,” Higgins said. He sounded like he wasn’t sure the list existed. Probably, he thought she had no ideas, and possibly nothing much at all between her ears. Better to be thought an airhead than a criminal.

  Detective Higgins escorted Sadie back to the station entrance, where Coco popped her head out of the bag to give the female officer at the front desk something resembling a stink eye.

  “You’ll let me know if you find your list, all right?” Higgins said politely.

  “Of course,” Sadie said as she backed out the door. “Always happy to help!”

  * * * *

  Sadie parked her car on Carmel’s Dolores Street and walked back to Ocean Avenue. If she hadn’t been ready for retail therapy earlier, she certainly was now. The meeting with Detective Higgins had been not only unproductive, but also downright ridiculous.

  A splash of chartreuse in a store window caught Sadie’s eye, and she ducked into a quaint boutique with a curlicue sign above the door. With a few gyrations undoubtedly unbecoming for a woman her age, she managed to peer through the backdrop of the display to identify the item in question: a soft knit poncho in a green-yellow color that several of her own customers found disturbing, yet she’d always loved.

  “May I help you find something?”

  The voice sounded familiar, but Sadie couldn’t place it until she turned around and found herself face to face with Freda, the wardrobe supervisor from the Seaside Players.

  “Well, hi there!” she said. “It’s Coco’s mom.”

  “Hello, Freda. Moonlighting at this boutique?”

  “Not exactly moonlighting” Freda said. “I’ve worked here for years. Usually full time, but only part time when the theatre has a production going on.” She looked over Sadie’s shoulder, into the front display. “Something in the window you’d like to see?”

  “That poncho,” Sadie said, indicating the bright article of clothing.

  Freda pointed to a rack along the side of the store, and led Sadie to it. “We have those over here. They come in several colors, including the one in the window. They’re from Peru, an alpaca wool blend. One size fits all.”

  “That’s the best part about ponchos!” Sadie exclaimed. “One size does fit all. Always a little room for a few extra desserts, if you know what I mean!” Sadie patted a hip enthusiastically with one hand, the tote bag swinging on the opposite arm from the movement. A faint whine came from inside.

  “Hush!” Sadie whispered.

  “I beg your pardon?” Freda raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh, not you!” Sadie said, her face flushing. “That was for Coco. She prefers a smoother ride.” Sadie held the tote open to reveal Coco curled up in its bottom.

  Freda dipped her hand into the bag and rubbed between Coco’s ears. “How’s our little angel doing?”

  “She’s doing great. She thrives on the attention and loves to travel. She also loves to shop.”

  “I see,” Freda said. “Such a little love. She must be a great companion.”

  Sadie nodded and reached out to touch the closest poncho, admiring the soft texture of the weave. “I love this peachy color, too.”

  “That’s called salmon sunset. It’s been very popular.” Freda pulled the poncho from the rack and hung it face out. She did the same with the chartreuse version, letting Sadie see them side by side. “The matching blouses make it easy to pull a smart look together,” she added, pointing to another section on the same rack. “Lighter shades of the same colors.”

  “I can see those blend in nicely,” Sadie said, then paused. “
Such a shame about the murder,” She stood back to admire the full collection of garments and compare the chartreuse and salmon colors. “What a terrible shock for you all.”

  “Yes, an awful shock,” Freda said. “Though it was a ridiculous meeting place they had, don’t you think, the catwalk? Penelope and I were just talking about that the other day.”

  “Meeting place?” Sadie asked. Her pulse quickened in anticipation of new information.

  “Yes, Brynn and Russell. Apparently they’d been meeting there,” Freda said. “At least that’s what Penelope told me, that she’d seen them up there after hours. She cleans the theatre at night sometimes, you know.”

  Sadie tipped her head to the side, keeping her eyes on the clothing in order to appear nonchalant about the tidbit of gossip. “That’s right. Well, I agree, it’s an odd place to meet. But I’m not crazy about heights, so it wouldn’t be my choice, in any case.”

  “Not mine either,” Freda said. “So, would you like to try on one of the ponchos?”

  Sadie reached out and lifted the hangers, one in each hand, resulting in another faint whine from her tote bag. “No need. One size fits all, right? I’ll take them both, plus blouses to match. Better make those a large … er, extra large, maybe.”

  “Excellent.” Freda smiled as she pulled the items from the rack. “I’ll help you out up front.”

  At the cash register, Sadie pulled out her wallet and gave Freda her credit card. She signed the store copy of the charge receipt and watched as Freda folded the items inside tissue paper and placed them in an elegant fuchsia bag with silver ribbons for handles.

  “Personally,” Freda said, leaning forward across the counter as she handed Sadie the bag, “I think Russell did it.”

  “Why do you think Russell might have wanted to kill Brynn?” Sadie asked. ‘I don’t know him at all, but if he and Brynn were secretly dating, it seems strange for him to want to kill her. Unless they had some kind of fight?’

  “That missing phone story? Too convenient, don’t you think?” Freda said. She straightened up and twisted her stud earring while she waited for Sadie’s reply.

  “I don’t know,” Sadie said, admiring the bright bag as an excuse to avoid eye contact. “People do lose phones. And they pick up other people’s phones by accident, since so many look alike these days.”

  “Well, I say if that phone shows up, they’ll know who did it,” Freda said. “Maybe they already know. The police don’t release all the information to the public. They might even have the phone already. In any case, it must be around somewhere.”

  “It just might be,” Sadie said. “You never know.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Coco batted a circular makeup puff up off the dressing room table, flipping it onto her head like a hat. Flurries of talc floated downward, showering her in a thin layer of powder.

  “Coco!” Sadie reprimanded the Yorkie and apologized to Freda, who had turned away momentarily from the task of dressing Coco to grab a hair clip.

  “It’s fine.” Freda sighed, removed the puff and brushed the powder out of Coco’s fur before placing the sequined bow on her head.

  “She’s just amped up,” Sadie offered. “All this activity! And so many of the cast and crew welcoming her back with hugs and treats.”

  It wasn’t difficult for Sadie to explain; she felt the same way. Being backstage again brought back all the thrill of the previous weekend, minus the tragic aspect of Brynn Baker’s murder. Now, two shows remained, both sold out. And then there was the cast party. Yes, it would be an exciting weekend for sure.

  “Well, your little star is as ready as she’ll ever be,” Freda said. “I need to go check Russell’s costume, make sure nothing was left askew when Alex wore it last weekend.” She stepped back, eyed Coco’s bow with satisfaction, and left the room.

  “All’s well?” Roxy popped her head into the room as soon as Freda stepped out.

  “… that ends well, right?” Sadie silently patted herself on the back, though for no specific reason, since she couldn’t accurately place the reference. Still, it sounded clever, considering the theatre setting.

  “Yes,” Roxy said. “All’s well that ends well, as Shakespeare would say.”

  Aha! Sadie thought. Shakespeare, of course. “Yes, exactly. One of his comedies, right?”

  “I suppose so,” Roxy said. “At least it’s classified as such. It’s more of a problem play, really. Comedic elements, yet dark aspects. Several of his plays fall into that category.”

  “Sort of like Songs to the Sun?” Sadie said. It seemed appropriate, considering the odd mix of tragedy and comedy.

  “I guess so,” Roxy said. “Though the dark elements aren’t part of this show. And we owe the comic features to Coco.”

  “You hear that?” Sadie scratched the Yorkie under her chin. “You’re providing the comedy for this show.” Coco tipped her head slightly to the side. The yip that followed sounded remarkably like “yep.”

  “I’ll stop by the prop table after you get settled there. I have your headset, and Coop has the picnic basket.” Roxy ducked back out of the room.

  “OK, Coco, let’s go. It’s almost show time.” Sadie reached out to pick Coco up, but didn’t need to. Coco jumped down from the dressing table and trotted right out the door and straight to the prop area, proving she knew the backstage setup perfectly already. She hopped up on the table, nudged the edge of the picnic basket’s lid with one paw in order to flip it open, and jumped in. Grasping a cluster of plastic grapes between her teeth, she curled up, ready for her performance.

  “So this is the new little star,” a deep voice said.

  Sadie turned to see Russell standing beside the prop table. He looked as calm and collected as he had the night of the dress rehearsal, when Sadie had first seen him on stage. His hair was perfectly coifed, his costume was immaculate, and he didn’t seem either stressed or guilt ridden. He was hardly anything like the rattled and tipsy man she saw at the bar the last weekend. Perhaps he’d already gotten over the arrest and Higgins’ repeated questioning through the week. Either he was truly innocent and had nothing to be worried about, or he was an actor worthy of a much more complicated role than that in this play.

  “Yes,” Sadie said. “Coco, this is Russell. Russell, meet Coco. Russell reached one hand into the basket, just close enough for Coco to give it a sniff. Coco sneezed and dropped the grapes. She didn’t seem to like Russell the way she adored Nevada or even Alex, but she didn’t seem to find fault with him, either .

  “I’ve never been much of a dog person, sorry,” Russell said. He sounded polite yet non-apologetic.

  “I have to say, I’m so impressed at your calm after all the police have put you through. If it were me, I’d be a mess,” Sadie said.

  “Well, I’m not guilty of anything, so once I got over the shock of being arrested, I had no reason to worry, you know. I decided to file the experience away so that I could call on it in the future if I ever play a criminal.” His eyes skimmed Sadie’s face, and he looked into the picnic basket at Coco again. “See you later, little dog.” He gave her a perfunctory pat on the back. She bared her teeth but didn’t snarl. Russell smiled and excused himself.

  “Coco,” Sadie whispered. “You could at least be polite and pretend to like people when you meet them. These are your coworkers now, you know.”

  Coco licked one paw, then ran it across her cheek and eyebrow, barely tapping the bow on her head.

  “Watch out,” Sadie warned. “You don’t want Freda having to come back to redo your costume.” Sadie checked the bow to make sure it was still secure, then saw Nevada approaching. “Oh, here comes one of your favorite people now, Coco.”

  Nevada swooped in like a fairy godmother, cupping Coco’s delighted face between her hands and placing a light kiss on her forehead. “I just adore this dog!” she exclaimed to Sadie.

  “The feeling is obviously mutual,” Sadie said. She watched as Coco retrieved a leaf from inside
the picnic basket and offered it to Nevada.

  “Not yet, Coco,” Nevada cooed. “Save that for the picnic scene. I’ll be right there to help you. Sadie will tell you when to give me something.”

  Coop came by to give Sadie the headset sent by Roxy and to test it against the speaker in the basket. All passed inspection.

  Sid zoomed through the backstage area briefly. “Good show, everyone!”

  Ernie flagged Nevada down to hand her a bottle of water, and then insisted on placing it in her dressing room after she’d taken a quick drink.

  “Places,” Roxy called over the general headsets to the full cast.

  Sadie watched as cues were called and the show began. Scene by scene unfolded during the first act. With Russell and Alex back in their regular roles, Coop was back at his role as Roxy’s assistant, leaving Sadie with Coco as her sole charge. It felt slightly anti-climactic after all the hubbub of the previous weekend, yet she did on one occasion offer antiseptic spray to a stagehand who had picked up a splinter in one finger. This produced a burst of pride in Sadie over her recently acquired stagehand skills.

  The picnic scene came and went without unusual incidents. Coco followed cues perfectly – after all, it was her third performance. She enchanted the audience by delivering grapes to Nevada, a tangerine to Alex, who thanked Coco with a muffled sneeze, a paper napkin to Russell – though only after repeated encouragement from Sadie – and a peach rose to Nevada, which Coco must have swiped from a dressing room delivery and stored before the lights came up. The audience didn’t seem to care what item emerged from the picnic basket, or which recipient Coco chose. Just the presence of the petite cast member thrilled ticketholders. The curtain for intermission fell to thunderous applause.

  “Great job,” Roxy said once Sadie and Coco were back in the dressing room.

  “I thank you, and Coco thanks you,” Sadie said.

  Roxy paused to answer a question in the hallway, and then turned back to Sadie. “I’ve got to be alert for when intermission ends. Staying back here for the second act?”