Faux Pas

by Shannon Esposito

  ‘Bonnie was fairly close with Celeste,’ I said as Devon handed me the wine and slid back in his seat. ‘She’s just upset. You can’t take what she said to heart.’

  ‘Just doing what you’re paying me to do. Investigate.’ He clinked my glass with his Guinness bottle. ‘Slainte.’

  Ouch. Right. I was paying him to be here. This wasn’t a date. As much as I kept reiterating that to Hope, I seemed to lose sight of it somewhere between feeling jealous of him making Georgia laugh and my body’s reaction to his breath in my ear. I felt my face grow warm. There was nothing between us but an agreement. An exchange of money for services. Did he say that to remind me of that fact? You’re such an idiot, Elle. Keep it professional.

  Straightening my back, I scooted to the right a bit on my chair, putting more distance between us. Just an inch. But still, it helped that I could no longer feel his body heat.

  A server put down a round of Caesar salad in front of us all. I concentrated on crunching the lettuce to keep my humiliation at bay. Luckily, the MC started calling out some ticket numbers and giving out door prizes, otherwise the silence at our table would’ve been awkward.

  By the time our respective chicken, fish or vegetarian dinners came, Devon had expertly maneuvered himself into a friendly conversation with Zebina. I wondered how long she would be smiling at him if she knew he was the PI who’d spilled the beans about her affair with Robert to Celeste. Glancing over at Hope, I noticed her and Ira were watching the exchange with interest, also.

  ‘Next time you go, you must try Chez Casimir. They simply have the best cheese plate in Paris. Right, darling?’ Zebina turned to Robert.

  Robert nodded, seemingly timid about joining the conversation. He wasn’t the only one. Any talk of traveling the world made me feel inadequate and envious. The furthest out of Clearwater I’d ever been was right here on Moon Key.

  ‘I’m Devon, by the way.’ He lifted out of his seat a bit to offer his hand.

  ‘Zebina.’ Her dark eyes narrowed. ‘Where do I know you from? You look very familiar.’

  ‘It’s a small island, Zebina. I’m sure we’ve been in the same place at one time or another. Lovely name, by the way. Greek?’

  I hid a smile behind my napkin and made a mental note of his expert dodge for when I was looking for a straight answer from him.

  ‘Yes. Oh, I’m being rude.’ She flicked her dark hair behind a bare shoulder and rested a hand on Robert’s arm. ‘This is my fiancé, Robert Green.’

  The two men nodded over the span of the table and then Devon said, ‘Green? Any relation to that woman, Celeste Green, who died at the Pampered Pup Resort?’

  I watched as Robert stiffened and glanced at Ira. Zebina’s gaze fell to stare at her still full plate.

  Robert’s voice was thin and strained when he answered. ‘Yes. She was my ex-wife.’

  ‘So sorry for your loss.’ Devon suddenly looked very focused on the couple, all sense of light conversation gone. ‘Even though you weren’t married any longer, there’s still history and love there, I’m sure.’

  Robert nodded. ‘Of course. Yes, it was very tragic.’

  Devon raised his beer bottle. ‘To Celeste, then.’ Everyone lifted their glasses except Zebina. This seemed to amuse Devon. ‘May she have eternal life in the hearts of those who loved her.’

  ‘Amen.’ I clinked my wine glass with Devon’s bottle and then reached across to clink Ira’s. Ira’s eyes were glassy and his mouth turned up a little into a sad smile. My heart sank even further.

  When everyone went back to finishing their dinners, I leaned over to Devon. ‘We should tell Ira about the Botox bottle I ran over in the parking garage.’

  He nodded. ‘We will.’ Then he slipped his arm around the back of my chair and leaned into my ear. My pulse did something that felt dangerous to my health. ‘Zebina is weary of me now. She keeps glancing at me. I think she may be trying to place where she’s seen me before, so we need to make sure she believes we’re here on a date.’

  I faked a laugh and pushed him away so I could breathe for real. Handing him my empty glass I said louder than I normally would, ‘Would you get me a refill please, darling?’

  Taking my glass, his eyes sparkled as he held my gaze and lifted my hand. Gently brushing his lips against my skin he answered, ‘Anything you wish.’

  I took a shuddering breath in as he left the table. That’s it. The man is evil. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me and enjoying every second of it. We had to figure out who killed Celeste quickly before his charm sent me into cardiac arrest.

  I made the mistake of glancing at Zebina, who was grinning at me like we shared a secret. I managed a smile and shoved a forkful of broccoli into my mouth.

  After dinner a band took over, giving everyone ample time to bid on the silent auction items now that we’d all been plied with delicious food and, more importantly, alcohol.

  ‘We’re going to take off, Elle.’ Hope’s face was pale and she was scratching her left forearm, something she always did when she was upset. ‘Ira didn’t realize people would actually believe he had something to do with Celeste’s death. He’s pretty upset. I think more so about that than the possibility of being arrested.’

  ‘I understand, Hope. I’m so sorry.’ I gave her a hug. ‘Is he going to let Devon help him?’

  She glanced over at Ira waiting by the exit for her. ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘Hang on.’ I motioned for Devon. When he approached, I whispered, ‘We have to tell Ira about the bottle now. Before they leave.’ He nodded his agreement. I turned to Hope. ‘I think we have some information that may change his mind.’

  We all approached Ira and walked with him into the less crowded lobby. I turned my back to the front doors so I didn’t accidentally catch Alex’s eye.

  ‘Ira, I know you don’t like the idea of hiring a private investigator to help you, but I found something in the parking garage at the Pampered Pup I think really needs investigating. Something I think will prove you didn’t have anything to do with Celeste’s death, especially in light of the fact that Botox is what killed her.’

  ‘What’s that?’ Ira asked, loosening his bow tie.

  ‘Something that had rolled under my tire the day she was killed … a bottle of Botox.’

  Ira and Hope were both staring back and forth from me to Devon, their expressions part confusion, part expectation. Hope asked, ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘Well, Celeste had a parking space just a little ways down from mine. What it could mean is someone attacked her with Botox, stabbing her in the neck after she left Ira’s office. Maybe attacked her in the parking garage and then dropped the bottle and couldn’t find it? Had to leave in a hurry? I don’t know. It’s just a theory right now.’

  Devon rocked back on his heels. ‘It would’ve had to be someone who knew Celeste’s schedule. Knew she’d be coming from your office and having that specific procedure done. Someone who wanted to frame you for her death.’

  ‘That sounds unlikely, even to me,’ Ira said, frowning.

  Devon turned to me. ‘Are there cameras in the parking garage?’

  I shook my head no. ‘You have to get in with a gate card so I guess they didn’t see any need for cameras.’

  ‘Isn’t this something that should be turned over to the police then?’ Ira asked, sounding exhausted.

  ‘Sure,’ Devon answered. ‘And it will be. But you have to know it’ll sit in evidence for months on end, waiting for forensic tests to be done in underfunded, overburdened labs. That is, if they even think it’s worth investigating when they already have a suspect they know did, in fact, give her a Botox injection to the neck.’ He looked pointedly at Ira.

  ‘Right,’ Ira said, blowing out a deep breath. He exchanged a glance with Hope and then rubbed the back of his neck. ‘OK. Mr Burke, you’re hired. I’ll have Hope call you tomorrow with a credit card number for billing. Do whatever you need to do. Money’s not an issue. Time is.’


  ‘I understand.’ Devon shook Ira’s hand. ‘Better get back to it then.’ He disappeared back into the ballroom.

  I gave Ira a hug, feeling a little guilty at my relief that he was now footing the bill for the investigation. ‘We’ll figure this out, don’t worry.’

  ‘Elle, if someone did attack Celeste in the parking garage … please be careful. Don’t go getting yourself hurt on my account.’

  ‘Yes, Elle,’ Hope said sternly. ‘Ira’s right. If there’s a murderer lurking around the Pampered Pup, you need to be careful.’

  I smiled gratefully at my friends. I wasn’t worried, but I appreciated their concern. I really felt Celeste was killed for personal reasons, that it wasn’t just a random act of violence. Still, they didn’t need anything else to worry about. ‘I’ll be careful, I promise.’

  I walked around the auction tables, viewing and bidding on some items just for the fun of it. There was a particularly beautiful silver yin-yang symbol necklace I really fell in love with. I scribbled a number on the sheet, knowing my meager offering would be outbid. But, maybe it was too small a bauble for these ladies to care about. A girl can dream. That was becoming my motto in life since working on Moon Key.

  Speaking of dreaming. A strong arm suddenly slid around my middle, pulling me into a solid chest. Devon’s husky voice was once again sending very strong messages through my body as he pressed his cheek against my hair.

  ‘You need to get into the conversation Zebina’s having right now and get yourself invited to that party.’

  I wanted to ask him what party, but I couldn’t catch my breath in time. His departure left me more aware of the empty space around me than I had ever been. I shook it off and went to search out my mission.

  ‘Oh sorry,’ I said, bumping into Zebina from behind. ‘So sorry, I’m not used to these heels, and I’m really feeling the wine.’

  ‘No problem, Elle,’ Zebina laughed, pulling me into her circle. ‘Ladies, I’d like you to meet my doga instructor, Elle Pressley. Max just loves her classes.’

  I greeted the glassy-eyed, rosy-cheeked women and then I remembered something. ‘Oh, Zebina. Do you know what happened to little Princess?’

  ‘Yes,’ Zebina said, looking very pleased with herself. ‘Celeste’s good friend, Billie Olsen offered to take her. Good thing, too. That dog was so spoiled, it would have never survived in a shelter.’

  They were going to put Princess in a shelter? My blood boiled. I bit my tongue. And then took a swig of the bottled water I had switched to, to wash down the blood.

  Then seeing my reaction, Zebina chuckled. ‘Just kidding, Elle. Of course, we wouldn’t do that to Princess.’

  ‘I’m so glad we could do something tonight to help those poor shelter animals,’ said a woman with flawless mocha skin and short-cropped gray hair. ‘So tragic to have so many animals without proper homes.’

  ‘Yes, well. Speaking of helping, I’ve got my eye on a diamond and emerald bracelet that I simply must have,’ said a tall, sleek woman in a silver gown who resembled a strand of tinsel. ‘Going to go check the bid. Zebina, I’ll see you at the party next Saturday.’

  As she left the group, I put on my best excited smile. ‘Party? Are you having a party, Zebina?’

  ‘Oh, yes, it’s a Botox party.’ She let her eyes roam over my face with an assessing gaze. ‘You should come, Elle. It’s going to be a fun girls’ night.’

  My smile froze for a split second and then melted in confusion. ‘Botox party? Are you serious?’

  ‘Well, I know it seems insensitive,’ she laughed. ‘Considering Celeste’s death and all, but we can’t all walk around wrinkled because of one person’s tragedy.’

  ‘I wasn’t really thinking insensitive.’ I gaped at her. ‘More like unsafe.’

  ‘Oh, it’s perfectly safe, dear,’ the woman who’d been introduced to me as Helen chimed in. ‘We just do our crow’s feet and forehead. Nothing along the—’ she motioned with blood red nails along her neck, her yellow-tinged eyes widening – ‘you know.’

  ‘Oh,’ I said, nodding with fake understanding. ‘I see. Sure then, I’d love to come.’

  TEN

  At the end of a long evening, Devon and I climbed back into his Jeep. The air was thick with a promised storm as thunder rumbled in the distance.

  ‘Please tell me you’re as exhausted as I am,’ I sighed.

  ‘Knackered. But it was a very productive evening.’ Devon eased the Jeep away from the curb, following the steady flow of expensive cars leaving the resort.

  I toed off my heels, wiggling my aching toes and rolled my head on the leather headrest to look at him. ‘Yeah? How so?’

  He removed his bow tie with one hand and tossed it in the console. ‘Well, for one we learned from Zebina’s reaction to my mentioning Celeste that she feels guilty about somethin’. Whether that guilt comes from her murdering Celeste or just running off with the woman’s husband remains to be seen.’ He steered the Jeep smoothly around a curve and then accelerated again. I closed my eyes. They felt like sandpaper and my lashes were sticking together.

  He went on. ‘We also learned a lot of people do believe Ira had something to do with Celeste’s death … Bonnie and Robert being the most vocal.’

  My eyes flew open. ‘Robert said that to you? That’s what everyone thinks? But we know Ira didn’t in fact have anything to do with her death, right?’

  Devon threw me a smirk. ‘Right, Elle. Don’t worry. Unless Ira is a sociopath, a person can’t fake the emotional pain he was going through tonight.’

  ‘Thank you,’ I said, truly relieved that he believed in Ira’s innocence.

  ‘Unless it was accidental,’ he added grimly.

  I shook my head. ‘No, Ira’s an excellent plastic surgeon. He wouldn’t make a fatal mistake like that.’ I didn’t know anything about the procedure Celeste had been given, but I knew Ira. He was meticulous and careful to a fault. ‘It’s much more likely the Botox bottle I found had something to do with her death.’ I knew I sounded defensive but I couldn’t help it. I wanted him to believe in Ira’s innocence as much as I did.

  Devon was silent for a few minutes and then he added, ‘Well, you’ve got yourself an invitation to a Botox party next weekend. That’s a huge opportunity to learn more about how easy it would be for Zebina, or anyone in fact, to get their hands on a bottle of the toxin.’

  I moaned at the thought of the party. ‘I’m so thrilled. So that’s what you want me to go for?’

  He nodded. ‘That and anything that may tell us who else would want to harm Celeste. Listen carefully to any gossip. Also, I’m assuming the party’ll be at Robert’s house since they’re living together now. He may have been given some of Celeste’s belongings after her death, since she hadn’t taken him out of her will yet as far as I know. Anything electronic like her computer or cell phone would be useful to find.’

  ‘You want me to take them if I find them?’

  ‘No. He’d realize they were gone. Just see if you can look through her emails or current phone calls. If there’s a password, try “Princess”. That’s what she used with our correspondence. Can you do that?’

  ‘I guess.’ Could I? I’d have to. ‘But, wouldn’t the police have done that already?’

  ‘Not yet. They’ll open an investigation now that they know the cause of death. But, we have some time before they’ll get around to locating her belongings. That’s the advantage we have over the police … we don’t have to worry about warrants and such, so we can work faster.’

  ‘What if Robert catches me snooping around his house?’

  Devon frowned and raised an eyebrow at me. ‘Don’t get caught.’

  He steered the Jeep around the large fountain in front of the Pampered Pup and pulled up to the front doors. The guard, George, and I exchanged a wave.

  Devon threw the Jeep in park and turned to me, curiosity dancing in his blue eyes. ‘So, are you staying here then?’

  I let my eyes fall. ‘Yes, for
now. I’m kind of in between places.’

  He must have noticed my embarrassment. ‘Well, I’d say a girl could do worse than stay here. It’s one of my favorite hotels, architectural-wise.’

  ‘Is it?’ I asked suspiciously.

  Devon nodded. ‘Sure. Its style is a mix of Moorish Revival and Spanish Baroque. Very rare.’ His finger traced the air around the horseshoe-shaped arches that jutted out intermittently along the length of the outside stucco walls. ‘Those would be your Moorish Revival influence. The towers on the corners and balconies with that intricate ironwork, that’s the Baroque features. Very charmin’ together.’

  I studied the sizeable, four-story building in a new light. It was quite beautiful. ‘A photographer and private investigator who knows about architecture?’ I studied him in a new light, too. A very, very alluring one.

  ‘Well—’ the dimple appeared as he smiled self-consciously – ‘I do appreciate beauty in the world … man-made or otherwise.’ He hopped out and came around to open my door while I plucked my shoes off the floorboard. There was no way those torture devices were going back on my swollen feet tonight.

  The pavers were warm and rough on my bare soles. I spread my toes in an automatic reflex, pressing each toe pad evenly on the ground, enjoying the feel of being barefoot. ‘Not to change the subject to something so morbid, but is there a day this week I can show you where Celeste died? Maybe Monday?’ I blushed. We did need to move fast to clear Ira, but my reaction suggested an underlying motive.

  He ran a hand through his dark waves and thought for a moment. As if echoing my thoughts, he sighed. ‘Monday would be better, we do need to work fast on this. But, unfortunately, I’ll be off island until Wednesday. Until then, you can still do some askin’ around at the spa. See if anyone saw anything suspicious that morning.’

  I pushed aside my disappointment at not seeing him for four more days, not willing to examine whether it was because that was four days we weren’t working together on clearing Ira or because of my growing attraction toward him. ‘Wednesday, around noon?’ My morning class would be over by then.