I woke in the dark, just before my alarm, and realized things are forever changed. Andi is dead. Eve and Dee Dee are gone. Cyndie will not be the one. But, there is another modern girl. Edie McCall is coming to me. Will we find love? Is this our time?
modern girl
A few minutes time later the alarm went off. The clock displayed red numbers; 6:05 a.m.
Cyndie said, “God, it’s early, but I feel so good, so rested.”
“I’ll be right back.” I slipped out of bed and went into the kitchen.
I'd get some breakfast for us and then share it in bed. After the coffee was made, I poured us each a cup. I filled the tray with the mugs, fruit and yogurt and returned to the bedroom. I placed the tray on the bed between us. Then, rejoined Cyn in bed.
“Cyn, how are you?”
“Much better. Thank you for being with me last night.”
“I’m glad I was.”
“I slept great too, the first good sleep I've had in over three months. Somehow, I even forgot about Andi. But, I still can't believe it. Stevie, why did it happen?”
“I don't know.”
Then, I got out of that warm bed and headed to my shower.
Cyndie was dressed and in the kitchen by the time I finished my shower. She wore black bike shorts, a black tank top and sandals. She took a shower too - in the hall bathroom - as her hair was damp.
Before I left for work, we decided to contact Andi's attorney, Walter Hines. Cyndie broke the tragic news to Hines and the shock was so great that he paused for a minute before he spoke again. When he did, he gave short and clear replies to our questions. He said that Andi wanted to be cremated. She also didn’t want a funeral or a memorial service. Instead, Andi wanted her ashes to be scattered on the beach in Rehoboth.
We could do that. Hines planned to contact my former girlfriend, Eve, and work out the particulars of handling Andi’s body. Cyn let Hines know that Robert Grayson was out of the country, and we didn't know if he had heard of Andi's death.
Hines did confirm that Andi had changed her will and did name Edie, Cyndie and me as beneficiaries. We had inherited the beach house. As far as Hines was concerned, Andi's soon-to-be-ex-husband, Robert, did not have any claim to the Rehoboth home. Also, Hines told Cyn that he would pass on that information to Eve and would work with her to resolve Andi’s estate.
Cyn paused, asked Walter to hold a moment, while she relayed his messages. That’s when I asked to speak to Walter directly.
I introduced myself to Walter and said, “I, for one, am not convinced all is as it appears on the surface.”
Hines replied, “What do you mean?”
“It all worked out so convenient for Robert Grayson. He was able to divorce Andi and save a half million dollars in the process. Plus, I don't know why he didn't bring the police into it or investigate it himself. It's not his reputation that would be hurt. He actually destroyed Andi's reputation by divorcing her and trying to prove she was at fault.”
“Do you have any proof?”
“No, not really, I don't, yet.”
Hines asked, “What do you want me to do now?”
“Nothing right now, Walter. Notify Eve about Andi's will, but don't push for a settlement of her estate, yet. Give me some time, say two weeks to investigate. Okay?”
“Sure.”
I gave the phone back to Cyndie. Cyn informed Hines that she, Edie and I were headed to Rehoboth for a few days. She made an appointment with Hines for the following Monday afternoon to go over everything and make arrangements for Andi's remains.
When Cyndie got off the phone, she smiled and said to me, “Go to work, Stevie and I'll pack what we need.”
“Why don’t we take both cars? Edie might have a different schedule than us.”
“OK, I’ll ask her when she arrives.”
Cyn came up close, hugged me, and started speaking in a little girl's voice. “Would you let me drive your Blue Baby?”
“Well, if you ask nicely.”
“Please?”
“Okay.”
“Fine; it’s a deal.”
So, it was settled. I drove the Miata to Philadelphia and parked it in my spot underground, beneath Two Liberty Place.
***
I had a productive half-day in the office. My partner, Jimmie Spiare, traced the second call Andi made from her Colorado hotel room and found out that she called a woman named Sarah Hostel. She lived on Rodeo Drive in Fort Collins. I called her phone number again and once again left a message on her answering machine.
At 1 p.m., my cellphone rang.
“Hello.”
“Mr. Garrett?”
“Yes.”
“This is Wanda Solano. I'm a waitress at Nico's restaurant in Fort Collins. Eileen told me to call you.”
“Yes, thanks for calling, Wanda. Do you want me to call back to save on the long-distance charges?”
“No, don't worry; I'm using the restaurant's phone. Nico can afford the call.”
“Okay, well, I'm interested in a table you served a week ago Saturday night, May 22.”
I then filled in Wanda with all the details that I knew, leaving out only Andi's death.
“Yes, I remember the party. They caused quite a scene.”
“How so?”
“Well, first, your friend, Andi is it, was a very-good looking woman, with a great body and long blonde hair. She squeezed her size 6 body into a size 2, white mini-dress. She wore big heels and had a big chest. Oh, yeah, she knew how to walk and display herself. Every man in the place was watching her every move.”
“She's a model.”
“Well, that explains it.”
I asked, “Who else was with her?”
“After she was seated, a thirty-something, big muscular guy with curly-blonde hair and a petite younger dark-haired woman arrived together and sat at her table.”
“What do you remember about dinner?”
“They were talking a lot, but tended to shut up when I came to the table. The blonde seemed agitated and wanted something from the other two. I heard the guy say to her a few times, 'You're crazy.’ The little brunette didn't say a lot, but blondie told her something like, 'How could you do this to me?' and the brunette only laughed back at her.”
“Do you know the other couple?”
“No, I haven't seen them again. I live down in Loveland and don't spend a whole lot of time in Fort Collins. But, the guy looked familiar from somewhere. I'm not sure where.”
“Okay. Wanda can I ask you one other favor?”
“What's that?”
“If you ever see either of them again, please call me.”
“Okay.”
I placed a call to the Grayson Agency and spoke to Robert Grayson's secretary. Surprisingly, she made an appointment with him for me; the following Tuesday, at 9:30 a.m, once I returned from the beach, but, more important, once he returned from Mexico.
***
By 1:30 p.m. I had wrapped up things and said my goodbyes in my office. Now, I stood in front of one of the security gates at Philadelphia International Airport. A thin, short, dark-haired beauty walked through the tunnel directly toward me.
She ran the last three steps, embraced me and said, “Oh, Stevie, tell me this didn’t happen.”
“I wish I could.”
Edie McCall wore black; a simple above-the-knee cotton short-sleeve dress and sandals. Her very dark brown hair was longer and loose, trailing down her back. She clutched a wad of slightly-damp tissues in her right hand, a wide-brimmed black hat in her left hand, and her small purse was on a long strap over her left shoulder.
Edie is a striking, 33-year-old woman with exotic beauty due to her maternal grandmother's Mexican-American heritage. Despite the tragedy we faced, Edie looked gorgeous and glowed in good health.
Edie gave me a very long, passionate kiss that moved me. I didn’t realize at the time how much I was affected.
Edie held my hand the whole way to baggage claim as she stru
ggled to stop her tears. Somehow, Edie recovered by the time I lifted her suitcase from the baggage carousel. I forgot on what level I parked the Miata in the parking garage, but found it on my first guess.
As we began our ride south, I gave Edie an overview of the past few days, Andi’s will and our beach plans. Thirty minutes later we pulled off I-95 onto Naamans Road and stopped at our first red light.
Edie had been pretty quiet during the ride, so I was surprised when she asked, “How far is it to your home?”
“About four miles; we'll be there in ten minutes.”
“So, how’s Cyndie taking Andi’s death?”
I said, “It’s very tough. She’s scared and we don’t have a clue who killed Andi. That’s why Cyn wanted to get away from Philadelphia for a few days.”
“Stevie, it is really shitty. Andi was a good person and wanted a great life. She had some issues, but, shit, we all do. She didn’t deserve this at all.”
***
Edie's arrival sprung a new flood of tears as the memories of Andi and thoughts of her lost opportunities overwhelmed them and me. After thirty heartfelt minutes I suggested we should decide; to leave before our emotions wore us out, or stay and begin our trip the next day. My interruption broke the sadness spell and the two ladies looked at each other and agreed - we would go - now.
I continued to marvel at our luck. We had a perfect weather day; eighty degrees and sunny - not a cloud in the sky. I packed the SUV with our suitcases.
fast car
“I’ll ride with Edie. I want to explain everything we know and everything we’ve found. She’ll help us, because she’ll see things, something we don’t.”
Cyndie said, “Sure. I think that’s a good idea.”
Edie had removed her big black hat revealing her below-the-shoulder sleek black hair. Edie and Cyndie munched on fruits and raw veggies as I packed the cars.
Cyn looked incredible. She packed a mixed wardrobe of Goth black and pure summer light colors. After I packed the cars I noticed Cyn had changed out of her black clothes into a pink g-string, a pink halter top, white bike shorts and white sandals. It was a pleasant surprise and I thought she was rising to the beauty challenge provided by Edie. I smiled at that thought but kept silent.
The warm day reminded me of August instead of early June. The skies remained sunny, and cloudless. By 3:30 we were off, Cyn in the Miata and Edie and me in the SUV.
We wound through the backstreets of my neighborhood, Brandywine Hundred, and stopped at Starbucks to get green tea for Edie and two lattes for Cyn and me. Three minutes later we entered I-95 from Marsh Road and began our 100-mile ride south to Rehoboth, first on Interstate 95, and then on Route 1.
Cyndie shifted into fifth, got the Miata's speed up to 80 miles per hour and blew past us and everyone else in sight. Edie turned to me and said, “So, tell me what happened, Stevie.”
The story filled the first hour of our trip. Edie stopped me a few times with well-thought out questions. Her expressions changed from sadness, to anger, to uncertainty, and finally, to determination. Bottom line, Edie wanted to help. She showed me that she knew Andi enough both to understand her motivations and to recognize the dangers beautiful women face, especially those in the public eye, like models.
“When did you fall in love with Andi?” The question caught me off-guard.
After a moment's pause I answered, “Well, really, from the moment we met. It was twelve years ago...”
I filled Edie in on that crazy first encounter with Andi and Cyndie at the fashion show in Manhattan when we were all younger.
I ended the memory with, “…yes, she was gorgeous. Her body looked so perfect then. We were both 25 at the time, but she looked 18. Yet, she was a superstar and had been so for a few years. I had no idea she would completely display both her body and her vulnerability for me. She hadn't had her implants yet or her other surgeries and she had an incredible model-thin body. I admit I was in a total trance that day. It seemed like a strange dream and I didn't know how to react. But, Cyndie did and she was the one that sought me out. You know how that's gone. Andi was the one that was always out of reach.”
Edie smiled and said, “Andi wasn't always out of reach. You guys got in on in Los Angeles.”
“Yes, I misspoke, but that was the only time.”
“Now, that’s true.”
I turned and looked at Edie.
“Andi couldn’t keep a secret, especially about you.”
I thought about her reply for a few seconds. Memories of the incredible adventure in California in August 1995 flooded back. Andi got in big trouble and I helped her out of it. Okay, yes, Andi and I had a fling. No, it was more than that. We couldn't stop ourselves. It all happened so fast. I was dating Dee Dee, and Andi was really happy for me. I met Edie during the investigation and she was the missing link that helped us solve the mystery and save Andi’s life. But, that time together changed things between all three of us. Edie and I connected. We almost started something. But, the whole experience weirded me out, and I needed to get out of L.A. and go home.
Afterward, Cyn and I moved Andi out of L.A., got her a job at the modeling agency, and she met Robert. The next year Andi married Robert. Last summer, I visited Edie in her Arizona home and we rekindled our friendship. Again, we almost started a relationship but the timing wasn’t right; I was still dating Dee Dee and she was seeing an actor from her TV show.
Then, last fall, Andi and I had a real heart-to-heart and saw that it was all a series of mistakes that kept us apart. We had plans to connect after Andi’s divorce was final. I soon realized Edie knew all of these recent events because Andi told her.
At that moment, we caught up to Cyn in the Miata. We were about 100 yards behind her and I tried to keep pace the rest of the trip.
I took a glance outside my side window at the farm lands of Kent County, the center of Delaware. Edie reached over and put her right hand on my left knee and squeezed it.
“Look, Stevie. I'm interested and want to help. I understand how it went. Andi told me her side of this story. Andi and Cyndie both loved you. Andi fell in love with you from that first time, when you investigated her stolen bikini. It’s amazing to me that you never married one of them. I know the timing was never right with Andi. And, Cyndie is the independent type and didn't want to marry anyone.”
A lot of thoughts passed through my mind, but I said only, “She still doesn’t.”
Edie said, “Hmm… But, the reason I'm asking about you three is that it may matter to the blackmail and Andi’s killing.”
“What do you mean?”
Edie answered, “God, Stevie, I've never known three people that had such a strong, weird bond. You three loved each other, all slept together a few times, but you each had other lovers in your lives that interacted with you and Andi and Cyndie. It seemed to work for you guys, but it was strange. Believe me, others knew it, too. Don't you see?”
I wasn't sure really. “I guess, but, what are you getting at, Edie?”
“Look, Stevie. Through the last twelve years, even if you were with other people, you three still loved each other, right?”
“Yes, putting it that way. It felt right though.”
“May be it did, but to others, it can seem weird. No, let me put it this way; it did seem weird to me, and I'm an open-minded person.”
“Well, that's tough for them.”
“I'm not disagreeing, Stevie. However, the way you three acted could piss off people too. You three weren't discreet. Or, you may have been, but, Cyndie wasn't sometimes and Andi never was.”
A light bulb turned on in my mind. “You're right, Edie. I've thought about it too, and guessed the blackmailer, and now the killer, could be someone who knew Andi. I just didn't think it could be someone very close.”
“It's a possibility, Stevie. Let's talk about that, and see if we can identify anyone to follow up on.”
I looked at Edie, got distracted because she’s so cute, smiled and wh
ispered, “God, this is scary. This is murder and blackmail.”
“I agree. Just like last time, we’re not going to do anything stupid. We’ll work as a team. Okay?”
I hesitated.
Edie pleaded, with her adorable, young girl's voice, “Plus, you aren’t thinking clearly – you can’t – you’re too close. So is Cyndie. Let me try. I’ve got some perspective.”
I thought only a moment. She reminded me of John Samuel, my boss, who used similar words when he gave me advice; “Always step back and take a different look at it – gain perspective – question your findings at least once – before you reach a conclusion.” Now, Edie was doing that for me, making me explain myself and my feelings. I felt good confiding in her, as the minutes and miles passed inside the SUV, her point of view felt right too.
I told her, “Yes, Edie, I need your help. Thanks for offering.”
“You're welcome. I want to talk about Andi's crazy life and what you've found out, but, first, let's go over your love life and Cyndie's love life.”
I said, “Okay.”
“Let's start with you. I know a fair amount about you, but, we have time, why don’t you give me an overview of your life story?”
I began with the basic stuff. It's not the most interesting life; accounting degree from the University of Delaware, CPA exam, public accounting for two years, a major insurance company for three years, and the last 10 years at Center City Investigators.
I played high school football. I was a strong safety on defense and a played a little on offense too, as a receiver. The best memory is my one touchdown catch in my senior year. We, the Indians, were down by six with a minute to play. I was brought in on the left side of a double tight end formation. It was third down on the Green Knights nine yard line. The other tight end, the two wide receivers, the halfback, and I all took off for the end zone at the snap. With five offensive receivers flooding the defensive backfield, an outside linebacker was forced to cover me. I faked inside, to my right, and then, broke left. I had three steps on the linebacker after he took the fake. A soft pass from the quarterback made for an easy catch to tie the game. With the extra point kick we had a great Indians win.
Sexy Girls Page 10
