My eyes opened wide in astonishment. He might as well have asked for a million. This would definitely put me a few steps closer to bunking at my mom and dad's on a permanent basis. No way was I giving him that much.
"I can get you five hundred. I don't have much cash handy."
Vido scoffed. "You're a liar. You can get the money out of your business."
I gritted my teeth. "Five hundred. Take it or leave it. My business isn't exactly booming right now."
"Fine." Vido nodded in agreement. "That's still enough to get me a forty-two inch. Maybe a new DVR and some pornos too."
Josie rolled her eyes at me in disgust.
"When can you get it?" Vido asked.
The banks closed at noon on Saturday. "Well, I guess it's going to have to be Monday now."
"Okay."
Darn. I hated to wait that long. My shop would continue to suffer in the meantime. More customers asking questions. If only I could get him the money sooner.
Josie must have guessed what I was thinking. "Can't you take it out on a debit card?"
"Yes, but I have a three hundred dollar limit withdrawal for each day. I suppose I could do a withdrawal today and one on Sunday. Can we meet tomorrow?"
"The wake's at one," Vido said.
"Well, maybe you could meet us here beforehand, say at noon?" I asked. "I'll give you the money then."
Vido tugged at his beard. "Yeah. I guess that'll be okay." He sauntered back into the shop, and we followed him, mystified. "I'll take a dozen of those cookies with the jelly. On the house, of course." He pointed at the glass. "And I gotta have some fortune cookies. Give me a dozen of those too."
I clenched my fists at my sides and, without another word, grabbed a piece of waxed paper and placed the cookies into one of my little, pink boxes. I handed the box to Vido, but it took every effort of my being to keep from throwing it at him. I didn't like being blackmailed. If Brian knew what I was up to, he'd read me the riot act and probably never speak to me again. Still, there was no time to waste. I had to find Amanda's killer so that my shop could return to normal.
Vido sauntered over to Gianna's side. She glanced up from her book with apprehension. He nodded and reached into the box, cracking a fortune cookie open with his teeth. He pulled the strip of paper from his mouth while she continued to watch in horror.
He held the other half out to her. "Fortune cookie, babe?"
Gianna wrinkled her nose. "Um, no thanks. I think I lost my appetite…forever."
Vido stared at the piece of paper. "What's this mean?"
"Why, Vido," Josie grinned. "I always thought you knew how to read."
He shot her a dirty look. "You ain't funny, Josie. No, I don't get this." He read aloud. "Your problem just got bigger. What have you done?"
Josie snorted. "Extortion. How fitting."
The tinkling of bells sounded, and Ellen walked in.
"Hey, girlfriend." Josie leaned against the counter. "What's going on?"
Ellen looked like she needed a good night's sleep. "Not much. Dad was craving something sweet." She stared at Vido, her eyes full of wonder.
"I'll see you ladies tomorrow." Vido winked at Josie, then gave Ellen, in her jeans and sweater, an appraising look.
She stepped away from him, disgust written all over her face.
He reached into the box again and produced a jelly-filled cookie. He bit into it and smacked his lips, eyes lingering on my chest. I crossed my arms in defense and glared back at him.
"Don't worry. I'm going. Wouldn't want to keep your customers from coming in." He laughed. "Until tomorrow, girls."
Josie watched him leave then turned to me. "I swear to God, if I had the money, you'd be the one making cookies while he slobbers all over you."
"You're the one who said he was harmless." I reached under the counter to get a box ready for Ellen's order.
"He's getting worse with age." Josie shook her head. "Maybe he misses all those things he and Amanda used to do together."
The picture in my mind was unsettling. "Okay, I think I just threw up a little."
"What's going on?" Ellen's face was puzzled.
Josie turned her attention back to her friend. "I'm sorry, hun, what kind of cookies would you like?"
Ellen turned her attention back to the display case. "Let's see. How about two of the fudgy delights, two biscotti, six of the jelly, and two raspberry cheesecake."
"Twelve dollars," Josie said. "Nice to have someone buying more than one cookie for a change."
Ellen handed Josie the money. "Is it really that bad?"
"Things could be better." I sighed. "If Josie and I have anything to say about it, business will be back to normal next week."
"Why? What have you guys got planned?"
"You two better get a move on, or you won't make it in time." Gianna didn't even glance up from her book.
Josie started up the staircase. "I'm going to freshen up. Be down in a minute."
"Hurry up. We don't want to be late." I bent down to straighten the tray of fortune cookies.
Ellen clutched the box between her hands. "Where are you guys going?"
"To Amanda's Retreat for a massage and facial." I grabbed my purse behind the counter.
Ellen made a face. "Do you think it's a good idea for you to go there? I mean, when people think you might have had something to do with her death?"
"I need to find a way to clear my name from all of this. Maybe it will help." I removed my compact mirror from my purse and tried to smooth down some curls. Since the heat had broken, at least my hair wasn't as frizzy. I smiled at Gianna, poring over her books. "Thank you so much for watching the store."
She nodded absently, already engrossed in her studies.
Josie descended the staircase and slung her purse over her shoulder. "All set?"
Ellen clucked her tongue. "Well, I hope you have a relaxing time. I need to get home. Pop will be wondering what happened to me." She started for the door. "Are you guys going to the wake tomorrow?"
"Yeah, we told Kate we'd be there," Josie said. "How about you?"
Ellen frowned. "I'll see how Pop is first. Let's be honest. I wasn't fond of her and don't think people should be hypocrites about such things." She stared at both of us pointedly and then pushed her way out the front door in a huff.
"Wow." My mouth fell open. "What the heck did we do?"
Josie shrugged. "Who knows? She gets in these weird, self-righteous moods all the time. She really needs a social life. What's going to happen when her father dies?"
"Maybe she'll find a guy and fall in love." I hoped so, for her sake. She seemed lonely, and I could definitely relate.
Josie pondered this for a moment. "I don't remember the last time Ellen even talked about a date. I know she went to the prom with Billy Dunsbach, and I think they dated for a while, but I can't for the life of me remember any other guy."
My thoughts turned to Mike and Colin. "Well, at least she's been spared a lot of drama."
Josie grinned. "I love drama. If there's no drama in your life, something's wrong."
Apparently, I was doing something right then.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Amanda's Retreat was known as a luxury spa for the rich and beautiful, but I still wasn't prepared for all the grandeur. A receptionist behind the black marble counter invited us to take a seat in the adjoining sitting room while our technicians finished up with their previous clients.
The high-back, Victorian chairs were plush and comfortable. A fire roared in the fireplace, despite the seventy-degree day outside. Perhaps the only thing unsettling about the place was a huge oil painting of Amanda over the fireplace.
Josie helped herself to a muffin from the coffee bar in the corner and settled next to me on the couch. "I know it's wrong to speak ill of the dead, but it takes a real shallow person to do that." She pointed at the picture.
I wandered over to the coffee bar for a drink. A middle-aged, Asian woman was behind the count
er, pouring iced tea into tall, crystal glasses. She smiled. "Lemon or sugar? Or perhaps you'd rather have one of our delicious smoothies?" She motioned to the blender in front of her. "Fresh blueberries and strawberries with low fat milk and vanilla."
I stared in fascination at what I assumed had been Amanda's deadly drink, and a chill ran down my spine. "Um, no thanks. The tea will be great. With lemon, please."
She reached inside a small fridge behind the counter and produced sliced lemon, which she dropped into my glass with a pair of tongs.
"Thank you." I smiled, and the woman nodded in return.
Besides Josie and me, two other women were waiting. One was reading a magazine while the other liberally helped herself to chocolates from a tray on a nearby coffee table. Polished hardwood floors were covered with antique, Oriental rugs. I couldn't fathom how much a business like this cost to run. It was open every day, except for Sunday.
I sat next to Josie. "I wonder how much Amanda's father left her in his will."
"Millions." Josie practically spat the word out. "He was an investment banker and partner. My mother told me. He died right before Amanda turned twenty-five. There were stipulations in his will that she'd receive her trust fund at that age. It was for at least ten million dollars."
I gasped. "Dang. But what about Kate?"
Josie wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Does she look like she's suffering? There's plenty more where that came from, honey. Amanda's wealth would have tripled if she'd survived her mother."
"Sally?" A slender, young woman with bright-red cheeks and shoulder-length, blonde hair stood in the doorway. She smiled when her eyes came to rest on me.
I waved my hand and got to my feet, placing my glass on the table.
"Hi, I'm Zoe."
"Josie?" A woman of about forty in a black T-shirt pushed her way past the younger girl. She had short, dark hair and was heavyset, her arms resembling tree trunks. I turned to Josie and rolled my eyes.
"Here." Josie moved forward with trepidation.
"I'm Liza." She pursed her lips. "You girls are in the same double room?" She pointed a finger at Josie. "I have you down for a Swedish massage? And you," the finger made its way over to me. "Zoe will be giving you a facial."
"That's right," I said.
"Stairs or elevator?" Liza asked.
"Stairs are fine," Josie assured her with a nod.
Zoe didn't look much older than a teenager. She gestured to the staircase at the right of the reception counter and Liza sidled past, with Josie and me following. "Is this your first time here?"
My sandal clipped the stairs, and I grabbed the railing for support. "Yes. I've been told such wonderful things about this place and the owner."
Liza snorted. She had the mannerisms of a drill sergeant. "Guess you've come to the wrong place then." She flung open a door and ushered us into a hallway. "Second room on the left."
I said a silent prayer of thanks that she wasn't working on me.
We walked into a large room with vinyl walls the color of sandstone with a marble finish. The pleasant scent of eucalyptus surrounded us. Dimmed, recessed lighting gave the room an overall relaxed atmosphere. A hydraulic chair and massage table were spaced about ten feet apart from each other and against opposite walls. There was an overstuffed armchair next to each one with bubbling footbaths that looked inviting. Rainforest music played softly in the background.
"Both of you undress," Liza ordered. "You." She pointed at me. "From the waist up." She picked up the beige, terry cloth wraparound towel lying on the chair with the name "Amanda's" written in cursive letters. "Then, put this on."
"And as for you." She turned to Josie, who jumped at the sound of her voice. "You completely undress before you put your towel on. Take off all jewelry, and soak your feet. We'll be back in five."
She walked out of the room, and Zoe followed, after a shy smile to us.
I removed my blouse and bra and set them on a small table next to the chair. "Why do I feel like I joined the army?"
Josie undressed quickly and wrapped herself in the towel. "I'll give you twenty bucks if you trade technicians. I'm afraid she's going to hurt me."
I placed my feet in the footbath. "I've been looking forward to this all morning. I'm starting to think it's not going to be quite as relaxing as I'd hoped."
"Remember." She glanced toward the door. "We're here to find out whatever information we can about Amanda and what they thought of her."
There was a knock, and I called, "Come in."
Zoe and Lisa both wore pink smocks with a golden "A" embroidered on the lapels. They reached down simultaneously to dry our feet with soft, white towels. Then Liza jerked her thumb toward the massage table and glared at Josie. "On your stomach."
Zoe was more patient with me. "You can lie back in the chair now. Do you have any allergies?"
"None." Amanda came to mind again.
I settled into the comfortable, well-padded chair, which Zoe reclined back slightly. She tucked a plush blanket under my arms and shone a magnifying lamp over my face. "You have very nice skin. Did you want a regular facial, the anti-aging, or a champagne one?"
I tried to crack the ice. "Is it cheap champagne or the expensive kind?"
Josie laughed with me. Neither technician responded, so we stopped.
After a minute, Zoe giggled. "Oh, I get it. That's funny."
"Hilarious." Liza landed a whack to Josie's back.
"Oomph." Josie grunted in pain.
Well, I was pushing thirty. "The anti-aging one sounds good, thank you."
Zoe rubbed cream into my cheeks, and the scent of honey penetrated my nostrils. She reached for a hot washcloth and gently draped it over my face. "Okey-dokey."
I closed my eyes and listened to the soothing sounds of waterfalls playing on the CD in the background. I was sorely tempted to let myself fall asleep. There was work to be done though. Zoe removed the cloth, and I forced my eyes open, curious to see her reaction to the upcoming questions I planned to ask. "How long have you worked here?"
She turned on the steam machine, and the mist began to permeate the air. "I've been here about a year. Liza's been here, what, two years?"
"Since the place opened." Liza leaned over Josie's shoulders with a determined look on her face. "Already too long."
Ow, Josie mouthed, a pleading look on her face.
"I was sorry to hear about your boss." My remark seemed like a bad idea when I noticed it cost Josie another whack to her back.
"That lying little slut." The lines around Liza's mouth hardened, and she began to breathe heavy.
Zoe glanced at Liza with surprise then smiled hesitantly. "Liza and Amanda didn't always see eye to eye."
"No one saw eye to eye with that bitch." Liza's eyes glittered. "She didn't give a damn about any of us. Remember last year, how she promised us all Christmas bonuses?"
Zoe nodded.
Liza started working on the neck area vehemently. A small, strangled cry escaped from Josie.
"You want to know what we got, what the fabulous bonus turned out to be?"
"Um, sure." Josie's answer came out muffled.
Liza stopped for a minute to rub more oil on Josie's back. "We each got a gift certificate for a free manicure. Can you believe it? All the money that little tramp had, and she gives out manicure coupons. Like we don't spend enough time here already."
"I'd been hoping for some cash." A wistful look crossed Zoe's face.
"We all wanted cash." Liza glared at her.
Josie waved her arms in a panic, but Liza appeared not to notice. I winced as I watched her.
"Can you breathe?" I asked.
"She's fine," Liza grunted. "Aren't you?" It sounded more like a threat than a question of concern.
"Um, yeah." Josie's voice sounded far away. "Fine."
"Anyhow, I went to her a couple of weeks ago to ask for a loan. She pretty much laughed in my face." Liza did a karate chop to Josie's neck, which made Josie cry out.
"No one laughs in my face."
"Nobody," Josie croaked.
"We only make minimum wage here." Zoe lowered her voice. "We really depend on our tips. I need them to survive."
I could take a hint.
"There's a rumor going around she might have been k-killed." Josie managed to squeak out.
"Good," Liza mumbled under her breath. "Karma's a bitch, and so was she."
"Who'll run the business now that she's—you know, gone?" I asked.
Zoe finished massaging my hands with cream and placed them inside heated mitts. "I guess her cousin, Charlotte, will take over. I hope they don't decide to close it. I don't know what I'd do then."
"Run the business?" Liza repeated. "That squeaky little thing? Charlotte's another one like Amanda. Shows up when she feels like it and pretends to take care of the books. What a joke. At least Amanda had some business sense. That mouse is a waste of precious air."
Zoe shrugged. "I haven't even seen her since Tuesday."
"Yeah. Payday. That's the only time you ever see her. She handed out checks, helped herself to some cash, and left."
"Right after she and Amanda had that argument." Zoe slathered more cream on my face.
My ears pricked up. "What kind of an argument?"
Liza shot Zoe a dirty look. "It was nothing. They were always bickering. Or shall I say, Amanda was always ordering her around. And Charlotte was stupid enough to take it." Her eyes darkened as she ground her hands into Josie's back.
Help me, Josie mouthed.
"Um, Liza, Josie had a baby recently," I said. "Can you take it a little easy on her?"
"I thought you wanted to relax?" Liza frowned as she pounded on Josie's back like she was beating a drum. "You're going to feel like a whole different person when I'm through with you."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Josie shut her eyes.
Zoe started to do some extractions on my face. "They started arguing right after that really hot-looking guy showed up."
She had my full attention. "Do you get a lot of male customers?"
"Not any like him." Zoe laughed. "He was fine."
Josie lifted her shoulders off the table. "What'd he look like?"
"Tall, dark, and handsome." Liza pushed her back down.
Tastes Like Murder (Cookies & Chance Mysteries Book 1) Page 10
