by P. J. Conn
"I'd hoped you'd do a lot with the subject," Joe mused aloud. "Too many girls come to Hollywood with their eyes so full of stars they can't see the dangers at every turn."
"Like the Black Dahlia," Marty added. "I often think of Elizabeth Short, but there aren't any new leads on her case."
When Marty got ready to leave, Joe had a suggestion. "I've found a great barber across the street from the El Capitan theatre. His name is Fred Cooper, and he'll give you the best haircut you've ever had for a reasonable price."
Marty brushed his hair off his forehead. "Thanks, I guess I could use a trim."
Joe smiled as though that was all the slovenly reporter needed, but it was a start.
* * *
Saturday night, Joe and Mary Margaret met Hal Marten and Gladys Swartz in one of China Town's finest restaurants. Leon Helms had been so grateful for all Joe had done for Stuart, he'd given him a generous bonus when he'd paid his bill. Joe now had the money for a honeymoon, and quite a few nice dinners as well.
Mary Margaret wore an enticingly seductive new perfume. This didn't seem like the time to comment on it however, when she might insist all he smelled was the luscious aroma of barbecued ribs.
"We've two things to celebrate." Mary Margaret raised her glass. "Joe not only solved the Cookie Crumble case, but he’ll play a role in Roy Roger's next film, Under California Stars!"
"I wouldn't go so far as to describe it as a role," Joe objected with a good-natured humor. "The casting director was looking for lanky types, that's all. I'll probably only be kicking up a lot of dust riding out of town on horseback. I doubt you'll be able to recognize which cowboy is me."
"Of course, we will," Gladys interjected. "We should all go together when the film is released."
"Sure," Hal added. "I like Roy Roger's Westerns."
Their waiter began bringing their dinner choices, and the conversation settled into soft murmurs as they passed around the platters. Every dish was better than the last, and they appreciated them all.
Mary Margaret finished a delectable egg roll, and spoke softly, "I'm not looking for free legal advice, Gladys, but I do have a question."
"I'm in a celebratory mood," the attorney responded. "Ask whatever you'd like."
"Let's say a couple decides to marry here in LA, and then later wants to marry again in Seattle. Is there any law against it?"
"Not if you're marrying the same person. There are couples who renew their vows every year on their anniversary. You have such a lovely engagement ring. Are you thinking of marrying twice?"
"Our friends are all here," Joe explained. "Mary Margaret's family lives in Seattle."
Gladys nodded thoughtfully. "I see the problem. Would your family object to attending your second wedding rather than your first?"
Mary Margaret looked at Joe. "Not if they didn't know about the first wedding."
"Secrets," Hal breathed out. "There's a much better argument for telling the truth."
Lou King's sister, Jade, entered the restaurant with a tall, good-looking date. Rather than pause at their table, she simply waved. Dressed in a red cheongsam with her long, black hair falling free, she stopped the conversation at every table she passed.
"Who is that?" Mary Margaret whispered, her eyes wide.
"Jade King," Joe replied. "Her brother, Lou, is a bail bondsman who's been very helpful."
She looked at him askance. "A likely story."
Hal quickly stood up for his friend. "No, it's true. I'd not have met Gladys had Lou not given me her name when I needed an attorney. Jade is his receptionist."
"If that's the receptionist, I'd sure like to see Lou," Mary Margaret murmured.
Gladys giggled. "Didn't you just ask me about getting married twice?"
"That's true, but we're not married yet," Mary Margaret countered.
Joe brought her hand to his lips. "We can be at the courthouse Monday morning when the wedding license office opens." He knew she was teasing him, but he'd never let her go.
She batted her eyelashes. "Let's discuss it later, sweetheart."
When she wore such an exotic perfume, he doubted they'd remember to talk before dawn. While they were in China Town, however, he wondered if there might be a good place to buy silk tassels.
The End
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Want more from Phoebe Conn?
Here's an excerpt from
MURDER ON STILETTOS
A Detective Joe Ezell Mystery
Book Four
~
Los Angeles, 1947
Bloody footprints surrounded the body with dancing steps. Joe Ezell had come across a more gruesome murder scene only once, and he’d done his best to forget it. He bent down to get a closer look, and the sickening stench of freshly spilled blood immediately straightened his spine.
There was no sign of a fight, so apparently the deceased hadn’t seen the first blow coming, and had had no chance to mount a defense. Blood splattered the wall in a sweeping arc, spoiling the pristine décor. The once beautiful apartment had been a serene mix of black and white, making the bright red splash doubly jarring.
Not wanting to smear whatever incriminating fingerprints might have been left behind, Joe knocked on a neighbor’s door. "I’m Joe Ezell, a private detective. There’s been a murder, and I need you to call the police."
The slim brunette who had answered the door swayed slightly and grabbed the doorknob to steady herself. Dressed in a tightly belted pink satin robe and feathered mules, she appeared to be getting a late start on the day. She gasped and glanced down the hallway to the door Joe had left standing ajar. She raised her hand to her throat. Her nails were painted a bright red.
"I’ve never called the police. What should I say?"
"Give them your name and address and tell them there has been a murder in apartment eight. They’ll take it from there."
"All right, I can handle that." She closed her door, and then yanked it open. "I’m sorry, but I’m not dressed and can’t invite you to come in."
"I’d prefer to wait out here in the hallway. Please hurry and make the call. Then it would be a good idea to get dressed."
"Oh yes, right away." She closed her door and this time left it shut.
Twenty minutes later, Detective Lieutenant Jacob Lynch stepped out of the elevator. Handsomely dressed in a well-tailored suit, as always, he took one look at Joe, and swore under his breath.
"Have you recently moved into this building, Mr. Ezell? This is quite a step up for you."
Lynch knew where Joe lived because there had been a murder in his building, but Joe considered the comparison between his home and these high-priced apartments rude in the extreme. He’d never liked Lynch anyway.
"No, I haven’t moved. I was in the neighborhood working on a case."
"Really? You’ve shown a rare talent for showing up at murder scenes."
Joe nodded. "Yeah, I’m lucky that way."
When he’d been hired, he’d expected the usual follow and photograph work, and he wondered how he could have been so badly mistaken.
~
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Murder on Stilettos
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A native Californian, P.J. Conn attended the University of Arizona and California State University at Los Angeles where she earned a
BA in Art History and an MA in Education. Her Historical Romance and Futuristic novels, written under Phoebe Conn, have won many awards.
Phoebe is the proud mother of two grown sons and two adorable grandchildren, who love to have her read to them.
You can contact Phoebe through her publisher at [email protected]
