Diamonds & Disguises

by Laina Turner

  Their body language was tense and they were both giving off angry vibes. I’d definitely interrupted something and wondered what.

  “Presley. Have you had the chance to meet Michael Panning? Our soon to be city councilman,” she said in a tone that didn’t give any indication of annoyance and she broadened her smile.

  “That’s what I’m hoping anyway.” He reached out to shake my hand. I had no clue as to his politics, but he was handsome. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark complexion. I thought he looked Hispanic, but Panning wasn’t exactly a Hispanic last name.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said.

  “So, which initiative are you most interested in with my proposed changes to the educational platform?”

  I just stared at him, speechless.

  He started laughing. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”

  I was so embarrassed. Here I was at an event in his honor and I had no idea what he stood for. In hindsight, I should have been more prepared.

  Red-faced, I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I’m not very plugged into politics.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” He smiled. “You’re not the only one. People come here more for the free food and wine than they do to listen to my politics.”

  His eyes twinkled and he seemed like a nice guy, though he was a politician and knew how to play the game. Why was he arguing with Leigh? “Can you excuse me, please? Duty calls,” he said to both of us.

  “Of course. Good to meet you,” I said.

  “Likewise,” he said and walked away.

  I watched Leigh’s eyes follow him. She was still angry. Her smile couldn’t overcome the flash of anger in her eyes. “Are you enjoying yourself?” she said, turning back to me.

  “I am. It’s not often I get to dress up like this.”

  “It is fun sometimes.”

  We stood there in uncomfortable silence. I’m not sure why, except she knew I had seen them arguing and I’m sure she hadn’t wanted that to happen. Rule number one: you shouldn’t argue in public if you wanted to keep it a secret. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person who noticed.

  “The masks should be in Monday,” I said to break the silence.

  “Good,” she said absently. I wasn’t even sure she fully realized what I said. She didn’t want to talk about that either. “I need to use the ladies’ room. Talk to you later, Pres,” she said abruptly and walked away and once again I was standing alone.

  As I watched her, she didn’t go to the ladies’ room. She headed in the opposite direction. I saw her look over her shoulder and then head through another door that presumably led outside the ballroom. Where was she going?

  I spent the next hour going from one cluster of people to another, introducing myself and making small talk. I enjoyed it and met many interesting people, but it was exhausting. Making small talk wasn’t easy so I was relieved when Cooper texted me he was pulling up out front. I excused myself from the person I was chatting with and headed to the door, setting down my empty champagne glass on the way.

  Chapter 20

  “How was it?” Cooper asked as I slid into the passenger seat.

  “Definitely my core shopping demographic so it was great in terms of networking. It’s weird, though. A whole different lifestyle. None of them seem genuine. Like it’s one big show and I’m exhausted from making small talk. Who knew talking was so exhausting?”

  “Especially for you,” he teased, and I gave him a dirty look. “Even your new friend Bess? She’s not genuine.”

  I snorted at that comment. “I wouldn’t classify her as a friend. She’s bored and helping me is a fun diversion. For now. She’ll find something better to do with her time soon. Anyway, who cares about her. I’m glad you could pick me up.”

  I would have loved to talk to Cooper about what Kitty had said and the argument I’d seen between Leigh and Michael Panning to get his opinion, but if I did that he’d know I was investigating and I didn’t want that conversation.

  When Cooper had texted me that he was on his way home and could swing by to get me I was thrilled. Not only was I ready to leave, but even if I hadn’t been I would have left. Seeing him even for a few minutes was more important than a black-tie event.

  “Are you going to stay or go back to work?”

  “Stay.”

  That put a huge smile on my face and just leaned back in the seat and relaxed the rest of the car ride home. This was a perfect ending to the evening.

  “Why is Willie waiting outside the building?” Cooper said as he pulled up to drop me off at the door. My eyes popped open and I thought, oh crap. I knew Willie was here to talk to me about my laptop and seeing Bill with Sawyer Thompson. He told me earlier today he’d stop by if he could. I’d just forgot it momentarily when Cooper offered to pick me up and was surprised he hadn’t texted me first. When I’d initially told Willie to stop by, I’d planned on being home alone.

  “OK, don’t get mad but I need to tell you something” I said nervously not wanting to tell him.

  “Don’t you know telling someone not to get mad is an assurance the person will get mad?” He sighed. “What haven’t you told me?”

  “I can explain. I promise.”

  “I want to know now.” Luck was with Cooper and there was a spot to park on the street, which never happened. He pulled in there instead of parking in the garage. Probably so I couldn’t warn Willie he didn’t know why he was here. We got out and headed to where Willie was standing.

  “Good timing. I was about to leave when your car pulled up. I knew you were at that event this evening and didn’t want to interrupt it. So, I figured I’d just stop by and if you weren’t home, no biggie.”

  Great timing, I thought sarcastically. This was one time I almost wished Cooper had worked late. But then this was my own fault for keeping it from him. I should know by now he always found out. One of these days maybe I’d learn. Willie gave me a hug and shook Cooper’s hand.

  “I have some information about your laptop.”

  “What about your laptop?” Cooper looked at me, eyebrows raised.

  “From the mugging. We may have a lead on it,” Willie said.

  “What mugging?” Cooper gave me hard look.

  Willie grimaced. He knew by Cooper’s response I hadn’t told him. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble by dropping by.”

  “You didn’t. You know perfectly well that Presley likes to keep me in the dark about things she knows I won’t like,” he continued in that same stern tone.

  “Listen. It’s not that big a deal. Someone mugged me outside the store a couple mornings ago. The only reason I didn’t tell you is because you have your own stuff going on. I didn’t want to add to your worry.”

  “Not a big deal? How is that not a big deal?” Cooper said and I could tell he was trying really hard not to raise his voice. He was usually calm, cool, and collected but this was one of his buttons. He hated when I didn’t tell him things.

  “It’s Chicago. It comes with the territory. I mean really, it’s surprising it hasn’t happened before,” I said, trying to minimize it. “Everyone gets mugged at least once.”

  Cooper glared at me. He looked at Willie. “Will you talk some sense into her and get her to realize a mugging is a big deal?”

  I sighed. “I’m sorry, Cooper. Want to come up for a drink, Willie?”

  “Please do, Willie. You can tell me if there are any more secrets Presley’s been hiding.” I felt a pit in my stomach at that statement.

  Willie looked at me disapprovingly, which I knew was about not telling Cooper what had been going on. Secrets always had a way of coming out. Especially, at the most inopportune times. I didn’t want him to mention me telling him I saw Bill with Sawyer though. Though at this point there’s not much I could do about it if he did. I would just keep my fingers crossed and hope it didn’t come up.

  We walked into the kitchen and I went over to my wine rack. “White or red?”

  “Red would be
nice,” Willie said.

  “Works for me too,” Cooper added.

  “Then you guys sit down, and I’ll pour us all a glass.

  I grabbed a bottle of merlot that was one of my favorites and brought the bottle and three glasses to the kitchen table.

  I barely had the wine poured when Willie wasted no time in chastising me. “Why didn’t you tell Cooper about the mugging?”

  “Not you too. You have to start with me?” I said, half serious, half laughing. “It’s not like I got hurt and things can be replaced. Were you able to find out if the other policeman was able to track down the location of the laptop?” The morning after I’d seen it online I’d sent the location to Willie to pass on.

  Willie wasn’t assigned to that case. He was a homicide detective, but he had told me he’d see if anything had progressed. “No. They haven’t followed up on it yet.”

  “Ugh.” I groaned. “I’m sure it’s long gone by now.”

  “Yeah, probably. They just don’t have a lot of manpower for these things. It’s not a top priority.”

  “I get it. Anyway, do you know Michael Panning?” I asked both of them.

  “The guy running for city council? I know of him,” Willie said.

  “That’s the event I was at tonight. A fundraiser for him. He seemed like a nice guy,” I said, and told them about my embarrassing moment when I had to admit to him I didn’t know anything about his politics to which they both laughed.

  “I’ve heard nothing but good things about him. So far, all press has been positive. His opponents haven’t dug up any dirt,” Willie commented.

  “Same here. Everything has been good and he has several good ideas about education,” Cooper chimed in.

  “Did you question anyone while you were there?” Willie asked.

  I tried to pretend I was offended but wasn’t able to pull it off without laughing when Willie and Cooper both gave me knowing looks. I could say I was going to leave the murder investigation to the police until I was blue in the face and neither of them would probably believe me.

  “OK, fine. I may have chatted with a few people. I did find out Susan was blackmailing people on top of having multiple affairs,” I said.

  “Yeah, I knew about that,” Willie said.

  “What? And you didn’t tell me?”

  “I was going to, but you beat me to it.”

  “So, who is on your suspect list?”

  “I’m making my way through all the men who Susan had affairs with and their wives. It’s a pretty big list.”

  “Really?” My eyebrows raised in surprise. Though if I believed everything I’d been hearing it wasn’t all that surprising.

  He nodded. “She had tried, in many cases successfully, to blackmail these people. Even though they paid her off, who’s to say she wouldn’t come back asking for more money. That’s a lot of incentive right there. Her MO was pretty consistent, so no one is standing out as a suspect, and don’t you dare repeat any of this,” he warned.

  I frowned. “You know I won’t.”

  Willie asked Cooper a question and while they chatted I only half paid attention. I wondered who all Susan blackmailed. I know Bess said an affair was much more drama, but what Willie said stuck in my head. Just because they paid Susan once, who’s to say she wouldn’t come back again and again for more money. To me that sure seemed like a much bigger motive.

  Chapter 21

  I tossed and turned all night, dreaming of masks chasing me. When I woke up and had a chance to think about it, it was even more nightmarish. I must be subconsciously worried about the gala. I was consciously thinking about what Willie had said last night about Susan blackmailing many people and having an unusually long suspect list. I had tried to get more information from him and while he was willing to share some, he wouldn’t give me all the specifics and now I was more determined to get the information myself.

  I knew I should probably let this go but I couldn’t. It had a hold on my curiosity, and it had happened at Silk. Which involved me. At least that’s how I was justifying it in my mind.

  Cooper left for work already and I sat with my coffee on the little terrace off the kitchen, enjoying the beautiful breeze before it was supposed to climb up to the nineties later in the day. I thought of who might know more about Susan and what she was up to besides Bess. I needed some independent information. But except for the circle of women who already didn’t like her and wouldn’t be objective, there was no one. I needed someone impartial, but maybe that was crazy. There might not be such a person.

  I drummed my fingers on my coffee cup and was about to give up and go in to take a shower when a name popped in my head. But almost as quickly I dismissed it. There was no way it was even a possibility to ask this person. No way she’d talk to me. Though she might want to know who killed her mother enough to help me, even though what I was asking was a little crazy. If only I had Stacey Milford’s number. Or some way to get ahold of her.

  I picked up my phone that was lying next to my coffee cup and once again turned to Facebook. She was easy to find. I went to the about section to see if by chance she had her contact information listed, which she didn’t. That left me with messaging her via Facebook.

  I typed out a quick message and read it several times wondering if I was being cruel asking if she’d meet me to talk about her mother, knowing I was going to ask her some things that put her mother in a non-flattering light. But it was to help find her murderer. What was that saying? The road to hell is paved with good intentions?

  I finally took a deep breath, pressed send, then quickly put my phone down. I doubted I’d hear back. So, I was shocked when only a few minutes later I saw a notification pop up. She’d answered. My heart beating fast, expecting to read a scathing reply but instead I read her response that yes, she would be willing to meet me. Did I want to do coffee in an hour?

  I responded back yes, with a proposed location and she agreed. I went inside and put my cup in the sink before jumping in the shower and getting ready. I walked out of the house thirty minutes later in a simple green sundress and gold flat sandals, nervous about meeting her.

  I got to the coffee shop, ordered my drink and found a table that faced the door so I could see her when she came in. Which she did, right on time. I waved and she motioned she was going to get a drink, which gave me a few more minutes to decide how to broach the topic of her mother without coming across as insensitive.

  “Hi,” she said as she sat down.

  “Thanks for meeting me.”

  “I was a little surprised when I got your message. I don’t know what you could possibly want to know about my mother.” She sounded more curious than anything, which I took as a good sign. At least she wasn’t on the defensive right from the get-go. Though once I started speaking that might change.

  “Listen, I again want to say how sorry I am about your loss. I didn’t know your mother, but I can’t imagine how hard this time is for you.”

  “Thank you. And I’m sorry I came in and made a scene in your store. That was wrong of me. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

  “Don’t even worry about it.”

  I hesitated before speaking again, because I didn’t want to say anything bad about Susan. But there really wasn’t any way around it if I was going to try and get the kind of information I needed. “I’m trying to figure out who might have wanted your mom dead. Do you have any idea who might have had a grudge against her?”

  “You’re trying to figure out which wife whose husband she slept with might want to kill her?”

  My eyes shot up and I knew I had a shocked expression on my face.

  Stacey grimaced. “I loved my mom, but I know she wasn’t a saint.”

  “Did you know she was also blackmailing people?”

  Now it was her turn to be surprised and she shook her head. “I didn’t. But I have to honest, I’m not surprised. My mom was a very unhappy person and I think that’s what drove her to do the things she did.”
/>   “You think someone who she was blackmailing killed her?”

  “It makes sense, doesn’t it? That she made someone mad enough to commit murder?

  Stacey seemed to think that over and I felt bad for her. I couldn’t imagine knowing that about my mother. “I want to help. I want to find out who murdered my mother,” she said, her voice soft. She sounded defeated. “What can I do?”

  “Did your mom keep a journal or have any private papers where she might have written down any of this stuff to know who she blackmailed?” Did people keep track of who they blackmailed? Like a business?

  “She had a home office. If she kept any records they’d be in there.”

  “Do you think you could get access?”

  “Sure. Want to go right now? My dad is golfing and won’t be back until late tonight. I’d rather do it when he’s not there.”

  That made sense, but it also seemed odd he was out golfing when his wife was recently murdered. But who was I to judge how someone else handled grief. No time like the present. I was excited that maybe this was the big break the case needed.

  Stacey stood up. “Did you drive or take a cab?”

  “I cabbed it.”

  “Then ride with me and you can Uber back.”

  “OK.” I followed her out of the shop to the parking garage across the street. We got close to a white Audi Q3 and she pressed a button on her key fob and unlocked it. We both got in and she pulled out of the garage neither of us talking. Thirty minutes later we pulled into a subdivision with homes that had to start upwards of a million.

  “Is this where you grew up?” I asked.

  “Yeah. My parents bought this place when I was five and were planning to sell next year now that they are empty nesters and spend time traveling.”

  “I’m from a small town and my family home isn’t on this level, but there is something to be said for the place you grew up.”

  “Yeah. I would have traded size for a real family,” she said sadly.