The Detective's Last Case

by Gerald Lopez

  “You’re no help.”

  “I do know Chambers had just finished some sort of business deal that was important to him. Maybe he stepped on some important toes there.”

  “Is that very likely?”

  “No.”

  “Speaking of blondes,” the detective said. “I’m sorry about the death of your blonde beard Corrine.”

  “Thanks. We’d better check on the boys. It was funny watching Galen walk the puppy earlier. I don’t know who was leading who.”

  The detective chuckled, kissed Walter, then spoke.

  “Thank you for making us a home.”

  “You may enjoy the parade at brunch.”

  “Parade?” the detective said.

  “All the ladies will be dressed in their finest for brunch, where they will exchange all sorts of town gossip. Some of which may interest a detective trying to discover the identity of a blonde girl.”

  “How has this girl escaped the eyes of the local gossips?”

  “Maybe Chambers was being extra careful to hide the girl’s identity.”

  “Why? I need specifics.”

  “Maybe she was married,” Walter said.

  “No, that wouldn’t work for Chambers socially. In fact, why would he take a girl involved with anyone else to a social event? It wouldn’t make him look good, would it?”

  “Not unless she was a great beauty,” Walter said, “and there’s no blonde in town who can compare to Naomi in looks.”

  “But Naomi wouldn’t have accompanied Chambers or any man to social events which are more business than social.”

  “That’s true, I guess,” Walter said. “The blonde girl would’ve just been eye candy to show off. But he wouldn’t want someone who’d already shown up on another man’s arm.”

  “Did you two attend the same social events? Could you have seen the girl and not known it?”

  “No to both those questions, sorry. Those events he attended were very expensive and extremely exclusive.”

  “Would they have used local police for security?”

  “Not a chance,” Walter said. “Time to go.”

  Galen and Gabriel had put the puppies in their crates, and were waiting by the front door. Like their Pops, the boys were wearing Polo shirts, long pants, deck shoes, and jackets. Instead of going to the hotel in the car they got in a golf cart that was in the driveway.

  WALTER SMILED WHEN he saw the looks on the faces of his three boys. The detective, Gabriel, and Galen’s eyes were opened wide as they looked at the impressive display of foods and desserts on tables scattered around the front of the room.

  “You guys find a table,” Walter said. “I’ll join you as soon as I check things in the kitchen.” He smiled then left.

  “Look at all those little cakes, Gabi.”

  “Yum,” Gabriel said. “But we still have birthday cake at home.”

  “Start with real food first,” the detective said. “Then dessert.”

  “This room is so fancy,” Gabriel said, as he looked at the crystal chandeliers and white walls accented with gold leaf trim. Round tables with pristine, white, tablecloths filled the room. On each table was an elaborate floral display in a clear blue vase.

  “I don’t know what to do, Popsy,” Galen said, then grabbed the detective’s hand.

  “Just act like you belong,” the detective said. “Get some plates then breakfast.”

  “Good morning,” Robertito said, as he walked in wearing a suit and tie.

  “Good morning,” the detective said. “The folks coming?”

  “Yes, but the women all arrive exactly at eleven, so no one upstages the others,” Robertito said. “I always get here early for the good food. Hi, Gabriel, Galen. The crepes are superb, and a nice, light start.”

  “Crepes sound good to me,” the detective said.

  “They were at the crepe station watching a cook making crepes when Walter approached them.

  “Hello, Robertito.”

  “Hi, you look even more delicious than the crepes, Walt,” Robertito said.

  “He does,” the detective said. “I’m a lucky man.”

  “Robertito, do you happen to know why all of my staff seems more anxious than usual to see the parade of brunch attendees?” Walter said.

  “As a matter of fact that is one question I can actually answer,” Robertito said, catching the detective’s ear

  Chapter 27

  The Parade

  GABRIEL HELPED HIS brother hold his plate out to receive a crepe from the chef, while the others spoke.

  “Ms. Lucie will be coming to brunch with her sister and Louise today,” Robertito said.

  “Ms. Lucie almost never comes to brunch,” Walter said.

  “Not only will she be coming today, but word has it that she had a complete makeover—one with striking results,” Robertito said.

  The detective turned his attention to the crepe maker, then to Gabriel and Galen but nobody said anything for the moment. They were fascinated, watching the chef cook. When they all had three crepes on each of their plates they went to a table in a back corner and sat down. Walter and Robertito joined them shortly with plates of their own.

  They heard the gasps before the sisters made their grand entrance with Louise.

  “My God, they weren’t lying,” Robertito said.

  “That’s Ms. Lucie?” Gabriel said in shock.

  Adele walked in wearing a pretty floral dress and large hat. Holding her hand and Lucie’s was Louise who wore an ankle-length white dress and ribbons in her hair. But all eyes were on Lucie. Her brown and gray hair had been cut short, and was now snowy white in color. She was also wearing makeup, which brought out the blue in her eyes. The fitted white jacket and slim pants she wore with high-heel pumps accented a figure that while not young was fit and shapely.

  “It’s Louise,” Galen said. “Can I say hi to her, Popsy?”

  “Finish eating your last crepe, then you can say hi,” the detective said.

  Mercedes and Pierre walked in behind the sisters, followed by Lola and Bernadette.

  “Slow down there before you choke, Galen,” Walter said.

  The detective watched the sisters sit at a table with Louise, Lola, and Bernadette.

  “If anyone could lead you to Chambers’ blonde girl, it’s Ms. Adele,” Robertito said. “She knows all the latest gossip.”

  Seeing that Galen’s plate was now devoid of crepes, the detective stood.

  “Let’s go say hi to Louise then we can get more food,” the detective said to Galen who got up and held his hand.

  “Hi, Louise,” Galen said, when they got to her table.

  “Hi, Galen,” Louise said. “My mama got strangled and killed trying to run off with a suitcase full of money.”

  “At least she can’t beat you any more,” Galen said.

  “But I just know she killed my poor daddy,” Louise said.

  The detective turned to the sisters and gave them a “what’s up with that” look.

  “Louise, honey,” Adele said. “There’s more than one reason we brought you to brunch.”

  Before she could say anything else, François emerged from the kitchen in his black and white chef’s uniform.

  “Papa!” Louise said. “Papa!” She ran to François, who picked her up in his arms and held her tightly.

  “It’s nice to see you, ladies, again,” the detective said to the sisters.

  “Please sit for a moment and let me introduce you to our friends Bernadette and Lola.”

  While they were talking, François walked up to the table with Louise. François thanked the sisters for taking care of Louise, while Louise excitedly spoke to Galen.

  “Guess what, Galen? We’re going to be neighbors. And not just that. Daddy said we’re getting a puppy and everything. I can see her after we eat, and Daddy gets a break. Ms. Lucie, will you come see my new house and puppy?”

  “I’d love to,” Lucie said.

  “And what about me?” A
dele said.

  “You can come too,” Louise said. “I bet my new puppy is super cute!”

  “Enough puppy talk,” the detective said. “You two go get some food.” By the time he turned back to the ladies, François had gone back to the kitchen.

  Some other women had stopped by to say hello to the detective, welcome him to town, and congratulate him on his engagement to Walter. They then went to get some food, leaving the detective and the others to talk.

  “Do any of you ladies by chance know who Cabot Chambers was pursuing before he died,” the detective said. “All we know is that she was young and blonde.”

  “Pursuing sexually, or to show off at his formal functions?” Lola said.

  “The latter,” the detective said.

  “Could it have been Marianne?” Bernadette said.

  “No, dear,” Adele said. “Marianne’s brother offers her up to any man that’s new in town, or has caught his fancy. That would make her an inappropriate date.”

  “True,” Bernadette said. “I forgot about all of that.”

  “Look which group finally decided to make their entrance,” Lola said.

  The detective saw three men enter wearing stylish suits with hats and sunglasses. It didn’t take him long to recognize them as Queenie, Flan, and Royale. Father Albion entered behind them and they quickly joined the table and the conversation. Most of them stood, as there weren’t enough seats at the table for all of them.

  “So, Mr. Detective, you think the key to solving the murder is discovering the blonde girl’s identity,” Queenie said.

  “She may have some connection to the killer,” the detective said.

  “That does make sense,” Royale said. “And I sort of remember something I overheard that might help.”

  “Well, spit it out, girl,” Flan said. “I’m getting hungry.”

  “There, now you made it go right out of my head,” Royale said. “It had something to do with someone getting a puppy from Mrs. Marie and her husband.”

  “Go eat something, and maybe you’ll remember it later,” Adele said. “Father Albion, have you seen Maxime today.”

  “He stayed up late last night working, and said he would be sleeping in today,” Father Albion said.

  The conversation had changed, so the detective excused himself to catch up with Galen and get more food. When everyone at the detective’s table had moved on to eating dessert, Bernadette, Lola and Adele walked up.

  “Mr. Detective, Robertito, I’ve been thinking about things,” Bernadette said. “And I remembered Dolores Santiago.”

  “Oh God,” Robertito said. “Dolores, the queen of all bitches.”

  “Language, please,” Mercedes said, as she walked up with Lucie and Queenie.

  “He’s just being accurate, Mercedes,” Adele said. “But why mention her, Bernadette?”

  “That woman was a real ballbuster, as they say,” Bernadette said. “Anyway while I was eating, Dolores popped into my mind. She was so critical of everyone when she visited that time during the festival. Like her shit didn’t stink.”

  “She was horrible to all the kids except me—I was her favorite,” Robertito said. “I still remember how she made some of the other kids cry, even the older ones.”

  “That’s exactly what I remembered,” Bernadette said. “And more.”

  “What do you mean more?” Lola said.

  “The dancing,” Bernadette said. “When everyone was dancing, she started calling people out and making fun of some of them, saying they couldn’t dance.”

  “Oh, I remember that,” Queenie said. “She was vicious. It took me a while to get over what she said about me having no rhythm, specially considering my race.”

  “She really was a bitch,” the detective said. “So, Bernadette, you’re thinking Dolores may have traumatized someone to the point they became the dancing man killer.”

  “Exactly,” Bernadette said. “Oops, I guess that doesn’t help with the Chambers’ murder.”

  “It may help me with the dancing man murders, though,” Robertito said.

  “Bernadette, can you remember if Cabot Chambers ever traumatized anyone?” the detective said.

  “He wasn’t the type,” Bernadette said. “He was a flirt, but a happy person who never meant anyone here any harm.”

  “Being a flirt is probably what got him killed,” Lola said.

  Flan and Royale walked over.

  “Royale remembered something,” Flan said.

  “Yes,” Royale said. “I remember hearing someone that works here at La Mer telling somebody else—and I quote ‘how’s that girl gonna take care of a dog? He’s crazy to think of buying one for her.’”

  “Do you remember if they said the girl’s name?” the detective said.

  “Or the name of the worker who you overheard?” Walter said.

  “No to both,” Royale said.

  “Somebody got the brunt of what Dolores had to dish out,” Queenie said. “But it was so long ago I can’t remember who it was. Only that they weren’t with my group of friends because we were older. He or she may have been Robertito’s age, give or take some years. But I may even be wrong about that.”

  After talking a while longer, everyone split off into their groups and continued eating. On the way home Galen asked if they could stop by to visit Louise later to see her new puppy. The detective said it might be a good idea for Galen to walk his puppy there after they all had a nap, so both dogs could play together. When they arrived at Louise’s home after their naps, Galen and his puppy went outside with Louise and her pup. The detective stayed inside, and spoke with Adele, Mercedes, and the other ladies who were visiting Louise. But he didn’t learn anything new.

  “We will definitely keep our ears open for who Mr. Chambers’ blonde might be,” Adele said.

  The women had decided to stay with Louise until her papa got off work. The detective smiled when he walked outside and saw Louise and Galen playing with the puppies in a carefree and happy way.

  “Did you enjoy visiting Louise?” the detective said, when he and Galen were on their way back home with their puppy.

  “Yes, Popsy, thank you.” It was taking all his strength to hold the puppy’s leash, because the puppy had gotten distracted by something.

  “Let me give you a hand there, Buddy,” the detective said, then helped hold the puppy’s leash.

  “I can help you too, Popsy,” Galen said.

  “Oh yeah. How, buddy?”

  “Louise told me who Mr. Chambers bought the puppy for,” Galen said.

  The detective stopped in his tracks. “She gave you an actual name?”

  “Yeah, but it won’t help you much.”

  Chapter 28

  The Name

  “WHO WAS IT, Pal?’ The detective said, as he bent down to pet the anxious puppy.

  “Corinne,” Galen said.

  “But Corinne was Papa Walter’s date to parties and such,” the detective said.

  “Yeah, but those weren’t big parties. Louise said that Corinne knew how to fix herself up pretty, and all the guys would look at her even though her mama used to say Corinne was plain.”

  “So was Corinne gonna stop going out with Papa to parties,” he started walking again but slowly.

  Galen looked at the detective, and began to cry. The detective knelt down and hugged Galen while holding the puppy’s leash.

  “Please don’t be mad at Papa, Popsy. I don’t want to have to move, and live with just me and Gabi.”

  “You and Gabi, Papa, and me are a family now, buddy. Don’t ever doubt that. I’m just trying to figure out if Corinne was looking for a better deal as they say.

  Galen wiped his watery eyes, and the detective couldn’t resist picking him up and holding him in one arm. Despite all Galen had eaten he was still light and so skinny like Gabriel.

  “I’m sorry, kid,” the detective said.

  “For what, Popsy?”

  “For making a little guy I love a whole
lot cry,” the detective said. “Especially when you were being such a big help to me.”

  “I was?” Galen said.

  “Yeah, buddy,” the detective said. “The best help ever.” The puppy was whining, and clearly unsettled over how Galen had been upset, so they had to walk even slower . But that suited the detective.

  “I love you too, Popsy. And Papa and Gabi too and the puppy too. Louise said that Corinne was just trying to see whether Papa or Mr. Chambers would make her a big star. She was so stupid.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because Louise said that Corinne wasn’t really talented, and should’ve just gotten married. Lots of guys thought she was pretty ‘nough to marry.”

  “Did Louise mention if any guy in town actually asked Corinne to marry him?”

  “I asked her the same thing, Popsy, but she said she didn’t know.”

  The detective kissed Galen’s cheek. “You have been a very big help to me, Son. For that I think there’s a piece of cake at home with your name on it.”

  When they got home, Galen got a piece of cake, and was sitting at the kitchen island eating while being watched by his mindful puppy.

  Walter walked into the kitchen, and looked at the detective, then Galen.

  “Cake on top of all the dessert you had at brunch,” Walter said.

  “He earned it for being a huge help to me and for defending his papa,” the detective said.

  “What happened?” Walter said, then crouched down to look at Galen’s face. He noticed the red eyes and turned to his detective. “Why has our little boy been crying?”

  “No,” Galen said, tearing up. “Not fighting. Mama and Mr. Chambers used to fight a lot.”

  The detective walked over to Walter and Galen, then spoke.

  “Family hug time.” He pulled both Walter and Galen into a hug, and Galen giggled. “Galen, Papa and I are going outside so I can tell him what a great little boy we have, who’s my best helper ever. You enjoy your cake, OK.”