Beauty Expos Are Murder

by Libby Klein

  “You’re a stench, Clayton. You promised to protect and serve these people. You used Temarius, then got rid of him like he was expendable. How dare you wear that uniform?”

  “No one will give another thought to the loss of one more disadvantaged kid in the system.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. Now. Drop. Your. Gun.”

  Chief Fischer pushed the gun deeper into my temple. “You’re killing her.”

  “Then why don’t you let her go and take me instead?”

  Chief Fischer laughed. “That’s your problem, Amber. You always have to be a hero.”

  Amber removed her aim and held both her hands over her head. “You know what to do.”

  The chief moved his gun away from my temple and took aim at Amber. I flung my body against his arm, and a loud shot echoed throughout the underground garage. Amber dropped to the ground.

  I screamed, “No!”

  I felt the chief pull away from me and I rushed to Amber’s side. I knelt on the ground next to her. “Oh Amber, I’m so sorry.”

  She looked up at me. “Would you relax? I’m fine. He just clipped my arm.”

  Kieran Dunne stepped out from behind a concrete pylon with his gun aimed at the chief of police, who lay in a crumpled heap on the ground. A red pool flowing from his chest.

  A chill ran down my arms and I shuddered.

  Kieran holstered his firearm and came toward us. “My God, I thought you two would never stop talking.” He put his hand down to Amber. She stared at him for a beat, then put her hand in his, and he helped her up.

  “I guess I’ll get myself up. I was just the hostage for the last hour while you were doing God knows what.”

  I struggled to my feet, but before I could dust off my jeans, Amber wrapped me in a hug and whispered, “Thank you.”

  I hugged her back. “You’re welcome.”

  “Never tell anyone about this.”

  “Okay, but now we’re even for the grapes.”

  “Not even close.”

  CHAPTER 56

  “When will we all learn that the quality of a man is not in the color of his skin?” I started to sob. Somehow uncovering the identity of Temarius’s killer had left me feeling empty and sick inside.

  Officer Birkwell handed me a cup of coffee. He put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed.

  I had to give my statement about fifty times in between receiving updates about what had happened while I was being dragged to my death in the parking garage.

  While I was being interrogated by Kieran Dunne, Officer Birkwell had discovered that the written evidence log had a page missing. Joanne Junk had used her one phone call from the station to call Sawyer, so Sawyer could tell Consuelos that we were in trouble and the owner of the warehouse was Clementine Newsome. Consuelos called Birkwell, who reported his suspicions to Kieran Dunne, then, at Kieran Dunne’s direction, called the department IT officer to print out an emergency log report from the backups. Based on the login information in the file, it appeared that Prudence Crabtree had signed in and deleted Amber’s entry in the evidence log.

  Amber came and sat next to me. “How’s your head?”

  I shrugged. “It’s fine. My best plaid is ruined. So how did you get out of your cell?”

  “When Kieran found out the evidence log had been tampered with, he finally believed that I’d been framed. He let me out and mentioned that intel had just surfaced that the warehouse was owned by Clementine Newsome. He wanted to know why that was significant.”

  “You told him about the collie?”

  “Everyone knows the chief named that dog after his ex-wife out of spite.”

  “I really thought Kieran was the handler. Why would he answer that cell phone if it wasn’t his?”

  Amber snorted. “He said he answered the burner phone by accident because it looked like the one Fischer had given him to use during the investigation. The chief bought them by the case for department use. Apparently, they have sequential serial numbers.”

  “So the one he gave Temarius could be tracked back to him.”

  Kieran led Prudence Crabtree to the desk across from where Amber and I were sitting. She had just arrived back at the station and was doing a perp walk with Big Shirley for her third drunk and disorderly this year.

  Prudence appeared to be in a panic. “But I didn’t delete the record.”

  “It’s your username and password.”

  Prudence pulled out a notebook with shaking hands. “Look at my call log. I couldn’t have done it. I was in court all day.”

  Kieran shouted across the room to the IT officer. “Find out if that login was hacked.”

  Kieran folded his arms and perched on the edge of the desk to look down at Prudence. “If it wasn’t, we’ll be moving this conversation to the interrogation room. Now, who sent you to Jackson’s apartment?”

  She squirmed in her seat. “Chief Fischer directly, sir.”

  “And the warehouse?”

  “There too.”

  “Didn’t you think it was strange the calls didn’t come through Dispatch?”

  Prudence twisted her hands. “He said they were top level, off-book missions based on anonymous intel. I didn’t question him. He’d been grooming me for promotion to detective, so I figured it was a test. Am I in trouble?”

  Kieran replied sweetly, “Absolutely. I’m just trying to determine exactly how much trouble you’re in.”

  Prudence whimpered.

  I whispered to Amber, “Wow, she is cracking like a Christmas walnut.”

  Amber whispered back, “Oh, she is nowhere close to being ready for detective.”

  Birkwell approached Kieran with his notebook open. “Apparently Simmons was assigned by Chief Fischer to perform surveillance inside the warehouse to wait for the next break-in. He was told to keep the incident off the radio and not to write up a report about it. He said he was just happy to have something to do other than issue parking tickets for a change.”

  Kieran shook his head. “God help us if that boy ever has to fire his weapon. Birkwell, take Crabtree here down to the holding tank until I’m ready to interview her formally.”

  Prudence Crabtree held Amber’s gaze as Shane Birkwell led her off the station floor.

  I called after her, “If Big Shirley charges you, make sure you plant your feet.”

  She whimpered again, and Amber snickered under her breath.

  The IT officer eventually brought over a printout and handed it to Kieran. “I was able to trace the login by the end user’s IP address to the PC in the chief’s office. Either she logged in from his computer or he used Officer Crabtree’s username and password to make the deletion himself.”

  “Good work, Edgar.” He looked over at me sitting at the desk with a giant bandage wrapped around my head. “I’m sending you to Cape Regional to get checked out.”

  I tried to protest. “I don’t want to go to the hospital. I just want to go home.”

  He held up his hand. “I insist.”

  He called the paramedics to transport me to be sure I was safe. I thought it was more likely to ensure I wouldn’t sue the department for reckless endangerment. I felt like an idiot sitting in the emergency room with Amber, wrapped in a huge sheet of tinfoil, waiting for my blood pressure to return to normal. When I was finally released to go home, it was nearly seven a.m. Amber drove me, and I had her drop me off at Sawyer’s bookstore on the Mall. She had texted me hours ago that we needed to talk as soon as I could get there.

  * * *

  Sawyer was ready for me when I knocked. The door opened, and the smell of coffee made me a little less miserable than I’d been before I arrived. She handed me a cup and made a fuss over the butterfly bandage that was pasted to my temple.

  “You should see the other guy.”

  We went to her back office. A sofa bed was closed up with a folded blanket and two pillows resting on one side.

  “So?” I plugged my cell phone into her charger. “What’s going on
?”

  “I’m living here. I’ve been here for weeks. The lights you keep seeing on are from me.”

  “You’re not back together with Kurt?”

  “Eww, no. Why would you think that?”

  “Because I ran into him at your condo and he led me to believe that you’d reconciled.”

  “Did he say that? Uck. He’s such a liar.”

  “Then why is he there?”

  “That’s what I didn’t want to tell you. Kurt is living in my condo temporarily because he’s homeless.”

  I took a long sip of coffee and tried to keep my mouth shut.

  “He lost his job a few months ago, and the house a few months after that.”

  “Okay. So why do you need to be the one to help him get back on his feet?”

  “Because I can’t afford the rent on the condo without his alimony, and he can’t pay alimony plus rent on an apartment. I was letting him sleep on the couch, but it became. . . problematic . . . and I moved out. It’s only temporary. He has one month to find a place and get out, even if that means I have to get a loan.”

  Sawyer’s heart had always been two sizes too big for her own good. I wanted to hug her and shake her at the same time. “You know, you could have stayed with me. I have empty guest rooms. Plus, Joanne can make us breakfast.”

  She nodded.

  “So why isn’t Kurt the one sleeping on the pullout sofa while you live in the condo?”

  “Because she’s moving in with me.” Officer Consuelos appeared in the doorway, wiping shaving cream from his face. “At least until we can get him out of there.”

  Sawyer gave me a tiny smile, but the light in her eyes was jumping for joy. “That was the other thing I didn’t want to tell you. Ben and I have been dating since the winery.”

  Ben came over and stood behind Sawyer.

  “Why wouldn’t you want to tell me that? You know I’m thrilled for you . . . as long as it isn’t Kurt. And why am I the last to know? Both Amber and Joanne have hinted about you two, and I was too dense to catch on sooner.”

  Sawyer took his hand in hers. “At first I kept it a secret because you had so much going on with Tim and Gia. Then, just as I was about to tell you, Alex showed up, and I didn’t want to rub it in your face.” A tear slid down her cheek.

  I put my coffee down and pulled her into a hug. “You’re ridiculous, you know that? Your happiness means far more to me.”

  She nodded against my shoulder.

  “But if you’re dating a cop, why do you have all those parking tickets? There ought to be some perks.”

  Sawyer blushed and looked up at Officer Consuelos. “Those aren’t parking tickets.” She giggled. “Ben leaves little notes for me when he patrols.”

  I gave Officer Consuelos a look that said aww, aren’t you cute. He cleared his throat and looked away.

  I got to my feet. “I’m going to go home and make sure Victory isn’t asleep in a closet somewhere, check out my Cat Show people, mend Figaro’s broken heart with tuna, then sleep until next weekend.”

  My cell phone chimed that I had a voice mail, and I took it off the charger. It was from Gia. Sawyer walked me to the door, and I hit Play.

  “Bella, I did not want to leave this in a message. Please come by the coffee shop tonight at six so I can explain in person.”

  Sawyer’s eyes doubled in size. “What is that about?”

  I looked across the courtyard at La Dolce Vita. Alex was out front in a pretty little flowered dress, casually sweeping the sidewalk. “I guess the plan is in motion.”

  CHAPTER 57

  “I hope you had a wonderful stay with us.”

  Dale Parker held up his empty cat carrier. “Everything was lovely. And breakfast in bed was such a nice treat.”

  “I’m so glad you enjoyed it. And congratulations again to Portia for winning first place in the Pretty Kitty Cat Show.”

  Dale smiled, then looked in his empty cat carrier with a grimace. “I hope Patsy finds her soon. We need to get on the road.”

  The entire household had been nervously looking for the green-eyed girl since breakfast. I gave Dale a supportive smile that I hoped hid my fear that Figaro was somehow involved in Portia’s disappearance.

  Patsy came down the hall empty-handed, shaking her head. “I just can’t find her anywhere. It’s not like her to hide.”

  “You know what, she’s been venturing up to the third floor with Fig. I’m going to go do another sweep.” I stopped in the kitchen and dug around the refrigerator. I took out a package of bacon and microwaved a piece.

  Aunt Ginny came in from the mudroom. “Not in there. What are you doing?”

  I held up the bacon. “Bait.”

  Aunt Ginny nodded her approval. “It should at least work on Fig.”

  I climbed the back stairs to the third floor, calling, “Portia, here kitty. Treat.” No soft thud. No meow of begging. I checked my room and two of the old servants’ rooms. No cats. I was about to give up and eat the bacon myself when I noticed the door to the storage room was slightly ajar.

  I crept in the room and moved aside the mink coats and Christmas tree. In the very back corner, curled up together like yin and yang, I found Figaro and Portia. Snuggled down in a box of mittens and scarves.

  I sighed. “It’s time for Portia to go home, baby.”

  Fig opened one eye to a slit and closed it again. I was dismissed.

  “Portia, I have bacon.”

  Her green eyes popped open and she licked her mouth. Portia stretched and sat tall, the call of the bacon was more appealing than the lure of a boyfriend. I know where your priorities lie.

  I broke off a piece and fed it to her. Then I picked up the white Persian and carried her down the stairs. “I found her.”

  Dale let out a sigh of relief and reached for the kitty. “Oh thank goodness. You naughty girl.” They put her in the carrier and prepared to go.

  Figaro appeared at my ankles and let out a long meow to declare his thoughts on Portia leaving.

  Portia returned her customary cold hiss. She had moved on. Figaro sat in loaf position, looking out the window for the rest of the day. He wouldn’t even eat the bacon.

  CHAPTER 58

  I brought Aunt Ginny with me to La Dolce Vita. She had been my rock these past six months and I didn’t think I could face tonight without her. Gia had asked me to wait in the alley until he was ready to let us in.

  Aunt Ginny humphed and gave me a look that said she was not pleased with him right now.

  About five after six he opened the door and put his finger to his lips. He led us into his small office, where a laptop was set up with a view of the dining room. He indicated for us to take our seats, then he kissed me on the forehead and shut us in.

  Aunt Ginny and I looked at each other, both confused but waiting to see how this played out.

  I had to fight back the fear that Gia would return any minute to tell me we were over. Alex and he had worked things out and they were going to try again. No. I can trust him.

  The screen in front of us showed that two tables in the dining room were occupied. Two men in Hawaiian shirts sat, casually having coffee and talking about fishing. A woman in the corner was reading a book and occasionally sipping a cappuccino.

  Gia hummed a tune while he cleaned the bar. I recognized it immediately. He’s humming “Unchained Melody.” I tried to swallow, but a sob caught in my throat. It was the song he’d played for me on Valentine’s Day, when we had our first date.

  The front door opened and the bell jingled. Momma came in with Alex and they both gave Gia a kiss.

  Aunt Ginny patted me on the leg.

  He sat them at a table right in front of the camera and made them each espressos.

  A couple of minutes later Zio Alfio entered the shop with his briefcase and took off his fedora. They greeted one another with cheek kisses, and Gia joined them at the table.

  Gia took Alex’s hand and said to her, “I have given it a lot of thought;
you are right. We should try again. You say you have never stopped loving me, so I think we should renew our vows.”

  A little part of me went dead inside hearing Gia say those words to another woman.

  Alex squealed and threw her arms around Gia’s neck, planting kisses all over his face. “Mio caro. I am so excited. There is so much I want us to do. Let’s renew our vows in Montepulciano. They have the cutest little church. And I saw this cozy beach house in Monterrey that would be perfect for us.”

  Gia held up his hand. “Whoa. Tesoro mio. As much as I want you to have everything your heart desires, I do not have money for those things.”

  Alex brightened with a smile. “Don’t worry, we can spend some of the inheritance. It won’t be that much.”

  Gia gently pushed Alex off him. “What do you mean, spend the inheritance? What inheritance?”

  Alex’s smile lost a touch of its confidence. “The inheritance your father left you. Papa said the family property in Italy was sold for millions and you would inherit most of it.” She looked from Gia to Zio Alfio.

  Zio Alfio raised both his palms and muttered something in Italian that no one understood.

  Momma smacked him on the back of the head and said some things that everyone understood, including me and Aunt Ginny.

  Gia asked, “Zio Alfio, what did you do?”

  “I may have put out some . . . how you say . . . informazioni false with my contacts in Roma for Vincenzo Scarduzio to hear in the wind. I suspect the scent of money would get Alexandra to return.”

  Gia made a fist and pointed at Zio Alfio. “You mean you lied.”

  Alex’s face froze in confusion, but her eyelids fluttered. “So, there is no money?”

  Gia put his hand on her back. “It is okay, tesoro mio. We can start over in Philly by your cousins. Maybe you can get your job back at Marco’s Pizzeria.”

  Alex’s face turned three shades of pink.

  Aunt Ginny snickered. “Liars do not like to be lied to.”