I tried to stifle a laugh, but I couldn’t.
She grinned. “Oh sure, it’s funny now. Fortunately, we didn’t have the lights on, and I had towels sitting out. Still, there’s nothing like having your daughter look at you and say ‘Eww, gross,’ to make you feel old. It’s a real mood killer.” She leaned over the counter. “So come on, give. I’m desperate here. Is he a good kisser? What was it like?”
I grinned. “Fabulous, probably the best kiss I’ve ever had.” I closed my eyes reliving it.
“Then what happened?”
I knew she wanted every detail, but I couldn‘t share those feelings, so I just summarized. “Then he said that we needed to go somewhere public and took me for a hamburger. When I finally got around to telling him that Arnie threatened me, he drove like a maniac back to the hotel. He made me leave and promise to come directly here. I had to promise to stay here until he calls. I hope that’s all right. You don’t have other plans, do you?” Now I felt guilty intruding on a night when it looked like both kids were gone.
She waved her hand. “Trust me, one of them will be home any minute.” She shook her head, a big grin on her face. “Wow. He was so afraid he couldn’t keep his hands off you that he had to take you someplace public.” Trust Charlene to put the best possible spin on it. I had to admit I liked that scenario. She turned around and pulled a box of plastic bags from a drawer, and then began stuffing each bag with cookies. “Do you really think Arnie killed her?”
I thought about it. I didn‘t like Arnie. He was the type that would have hated having a woman in control of anything—but murder? “I don’t know. It wasn’t premeditated. That’s the problem. Almost anyone could have killed her in a fit of anger. It’s possible she was blackmailing him.” I told her about Gary Dillon’s claim that Arnie was sexually harassing Doris and my theory that Monica had met with Arnie. “Delgado said Monica’s bank statements showed several cash deposits. If she was into blackmail, it could expand the list of suspects considerably.” As I thought about Delgado, I checked my cell phone once more, wondering why he hadn’t called.
“It could also explain why someone searched your house. Maybe she kept some kind of incriminating evidence.”
“It doesn’t explain why they think I might have it, or why she was in my office when she was killed, or even how she got into my office.” I stood and started pacing.
Charlene shrugged. “As I told the detectives, getting a key to your office wouldn’t have been all that difficult. I keep the keys in my desk drawer during the day. Everyone knows that yours are on your key ring, which you leave on the top of your desk when you’re in. She could have made a wax impression of either of them in seconds, and then had a key made. The real question is why? There’s nothing in your office to steal. I doubt she was after information on the other HR employees. About the only information in there that she could use in some way was advance information on the union negotiations.”
I stopped pacing. “You may be right. She met with Jerry McCrea three days before the end of negotiations. Maybe she offered to find out what our final offer would be. That way he could make sure he held out for the most he could get. Except I never keep any notes on that kind of thing.” I couldn’t wait to find out if Delgado had interviewed Jerry yet. Why didn’t he call?
Charlene was on a roll now. “Maybe Jerry killed her because she didn’t come through. He waited until negotiations were over, because he didn‘t have time before. She could have been in your office trying to prove to him that the notes didn‘t exist.” Hands on her hips, she grinned as if she had single handedly solved the whole case.
While it fit the facts, as we knew them, it didn’t seem like sufficient reason for murder.
I heard the back door slam. Lincoln and a friend walked in. They were both dressed in faded jeans hanging off their butts, four inches of underwear showing. He looked at me and said, “Yo.”
I said, “Yo.” It seemed like the appropriate response.
“Wow. Cookies.” He grabbed a bag off the counter. “Are these chocolate chip?”
“Of course. Not until after dinner.” Charlene tried to grab the bag out of his hand, but being a foot taller, he held it out of her reach.
“Big Dog and I grabbed some burgers on the way home.” He tossed the bag to his friend, and snagged a half gallon of milk from the refrigerator on his way out.
Charlene called after him. “Where’s Patty, I thought you were going to pick her up?”
He yelled from the other room. “I did. I dropped her off at Lana’s. She said to tell you she’s eating dinner with them, and then they’re planning on coming back here to watch a movie.”
Charlene gave me a look that said, “See I told you.”
When Charlene’s phone rang, I jumped up, hoping it was Delgado.
Charlene answered and then held her hand over the receiver. “Evan,” she said to me. “Lincoln just came in. Patty’s at Lana’s. No such luck. She’s bringing Lana back here to watch a movie. She should be here about the time you get home. See, I told you they coordinate. By the way, Valerie’s here.” She looked at me. “He wants to know if we want to go out to dinner, or whether he should stop and get something on his way home.”
I shrugged. “I promised not to leave until Delgado called.”
We agreed on Chinese takeout. Charlene phoned in the order for Evan to pick up.
Lincoln strolled in, tossing the now empty plastic milk container and cookie bag in the trash. “Big Dog and I are going to the game.” He put his arm around his mother and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks for the cookies, Mom. They were great.”
She rolled her eyes. “What do you want?”
“I could use some gas money.”
“Did you clean the pool?”
“Tomorrow, I promise.”
She smiled sweetly. “Now, or you’ll be walking.”
“Aw Mom, if I do it now, we’ll be late.”
She simply looked at him with the Mom stare. Even Big Dog must have recognized the futility of arguing with the stare, as he simply opened the back door to the pool and waited for Lincoln to join him. Thirty minutes later they came back in, collected the cash, and left.
I had to laugh when Patty and her girlfriend arrived just as Evan pulled into the driveway.
Evan plopped two white bags down in front of me and kissed me on the cheek. “Food for my Goddess.”
Hands on her hips, Charlene said, “Hey, what about me?”
He waggled his eyebrows at her. “You and I, my sexy siren, will feast on love.” He swooped in and dipped her back, kissing her with a loud smack.
Patty walked in. “Oh yuck. Old people kissing. My eyes. My eyes.”
Evan grinned at her. “Hi, Munchkin.”
Her friend laughed and Patty rolled her eyes. “Don’t encourage him. We’ll be in the Jacuzzi.”
Straightening up, Charlene laughed. “You must have had a good day of golf.”
“Six over par. Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
Charlene took plates out of the cupboard and I opened the sacks and set out the white cartons. When everyone had filled their plate, Evan asked, “So Val, how are you doing? Any news on your burglary, or the murder?”
Charlene said, “Detective Delgado kissed her, and she was threatened by a pit boss, but we think Jerry, the teamster’s rep, is the one who killed Monica.”
Evan simply picked out the fact he thought most relevant. “What is Delgado doing about this threat?”
“He’s interviewing him right now,” I said.
He put his hand over mine. “Maybe you should move in here for while.”
“Thanks. Let’s wait and see what the police say.”
We brought him up to date on our theories. After dinner, I thought about changing into something more comfortable, but I was hoping Delgado would stop by. Maybe he would want to go out. While we watched TV, I kept checking my phone to see if it was working. Finally, around nine o’clock my phone rang, but it
wasn’t Delgado.
Chapter Seven
“Ms. Peterson, this is Detective Long. I wanted to let you know that we’ve interviewed Arnie Waters. He has an airtight alibi for the night of the murder. We’ve been able to verify that he was working and took all his breaks in the cafeteria, surrounded by witnesses. I’m convinced he won’t bother you again, but if you have any trouble at all with him, please call.”
“Thanks for letting me know.” He didn’t mention Delgado, and I was too proud to ask why he wasn’t the one to call.
I updated Charlene and Evan and then escaped to the bathroom to soak in a hot tub. Surrounded by bubbles, I let myself mope. I guess Delgado satisfied his curiosity. Maybe I didn’t taste good after all. Maybe he didn’t take me for a burger because he couldn’t keep his hands off me, but so I would keep my hands off him. Well, he didn’t need to worry. Tomorrow I would go back to my own house, get on with my life, and forget all about him. I felt sure he wouldn’t be stopping by anymore. I would pass any information I got on to Detective Long, or even have Alan do it for me. With that resolve, I climbed out of the tub, dried myself off, threw on an old t-shirt and panties, and rummaged around in my overnight case to find two over-the-counter sleep aids. I peeked out the bedroom door to let Charlene and Evan know that I was going to bed. I slept soundly until morning.
I woke up early, packed up my things, thanked Charlene and Evan for their hospitality and went home. The team Charlene had hired for me had done a good job. Everything was clean and back in order. Still it didn’t feel the same. I wasn’t afraid exactly. I figured that whoever had searched my house now knew I didn’t have whatever they were looking for. However, thinking about how they had invaded my privacy and gone through my things, I felt violated, almost as if someone had put their hands on me. I shook off the thought, determined that I wouldn’t let them ruin what had been a sanctuary for me.
I replaced the lamps in the front room with the ones Charlene had purchased for me, and threw the new pillows on the bed.
Since it was Sunday, I changed into a dress and went to church. I met Mom on the steps of the church, and we went in together. This was our ritual. Every Sunday we could, we went to church together and then had lunch. Sometimes she would invite one or two of her friends to join us for lunch, and sometimes it was just us. Today it was just the two of us. After church, Mom put leftover lasagna in the microwave to heat, and we discussed Eddie’s surprising news.
“Why don’t you like Myra?” she asked.
“I don’t dislike her. I don’t know her yet. She’s just a little too perfect. I don’t want him to be hurt.”
“Well, she meets all of my qualifications,” she stated, setting the hot lasagna on the table with a green salad and garlic bread.
“What qualifications are those?” I asked, filling my plate. Nobody makes lasagna like Mom and leftover lasagna was even better.
She thought about it a minute. “It’s obvious she loves him. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for my children—that they find someone who loves them as much as I do.” She looked at me and smiled. “Now tell me about the new man in your life.”
I choked on a piece of lettuce. How does she do that? Eddie was right. She never caught me breaking any of the rules. However, from the time I was old enough to like boys, Mom always knew if I was interested in someone new. No matter what I said, she would just stand there with that knowing look on her face and prod until I told her everything. I took a drink and resigned myself. After all these years, I didn’t bother stalling. Pushing the last of the lasagna around on my plate, I said, “The detective who is investigating the murder is rich, single, gorgeous, and apparently not as interested in me as I am in him.” Well, I don’t tell her everything. I edit. Still there was no point in pretending there wasn’t someone new who had caught my eye.
“What makes you think he isn’t interested in you?”
“Because he said he would call last night and then his partner called instead. I haven’t heard from him since.”
She must have heard the sadness in my voice, because she went into comfort mode. “There could be a number of explanations for that.”
I got up to rinse off my dish and place it in the dishwasher. I really didn‘t want to discuss it, afraid of getting my hopes up again. I said, “I know. It’s just a feeling I have.”
She gave me a look, but let it go, helping me to clear the table. While she wiped down the sink, she asked, “How’s the investigation going?
Leaning back on the counter I said, “I had reason to believe that Monica might have been blackmailing Arnie the pit boss, but when the police questioned him, he had an airtight alibi.” As I said, I edit. I didn’t tell her he threatened me.
“What does Alan say about all this?” She’d met him several times and even invited him to her house on several occasions, hoping that something would come of our friendship.
“He said he didn’t know anything about what Monica was doing.”
She stopped and looked at me. “You don’t believe him?”
“It’s not that. It’s just strange. Usually, he hears all the rumors before I do. I can’t help but wonder why he didn’t hear this one.”
“Maybe knowing that you‘re such good friends, people were reluctant to tell him.”
“Maybe, but that’s another thing. He has been very attentive lately. He’s made sure I know that he would like to be more than friends.”
“Is that bad?”
“No, but why now? Nothing has changed. He knows that we can’t be more than friends as long as both of us work at the hotel. Is he trying to get me fired?” I was more than a little frustrated with the direction my life had taken this last week.
She put her hand on mine. “I doubt that’s his motivation. More than likely, he senses your interest in this detective and it’s made him see you in a different light. This could be good. And, if things worked out between you, there’d be no need to continue working.”
I wanted to shout, “I like my job. I don’t want to quit working,” but I knew it was pointless. She was probably right about Alan, but it didn’t make me feel any better. One man I wanted didn’t want me, and one man I couldn’t have, did.
After lunch, I went home. I checked the answering machine. There were no messages.
The couch and loveseat wouldn’t be done for at least a week, so I dragged two dining room chairs into my bare front room so I could watch TV. Sitting on one and putting my feet up on the other wasn’t very comfortable. I flipped through over a hundred channels, but there was nothing on I wanted to watch. Remembering a book I’d been meaning to read, I grabbed it and a diet coke and curled up on the lounge chair on the patio. I was lost in my book for the next two hours.
Reading had always been my favorite way to escape. Now having spent time in someone else’s much more exciting life, I could face my own. Since it was obvious by now that no one was going to call or come by, I decided it was time for a little pampering. For the rest of the evening I gave myself a manicure and pedicure, oiled and buffed all the rough skin, and gave my hair a hot oil treatment.
I also made a list of the people I wanted to talk to first thing Monday morning:
• Rose—did she have an alibi for the night Monica was killed? What about the notes Mike said she had been keeping on Monica? Did she know if the police interviewed Danny, and did he have an alibi?
• Dee—had Monica been offering her services in St. Louis? If so, why had she recommended her to me?
• Jerry McCrea—had he met with Monica? What was he doing the night she was killed?
• Detective Long—had they located Monica’s car?
• Doris Fox—I needed to know if there was any reason for Monica to blackmail Arnie.
Since I’d gone to bed early, I was awake before the alarm went off. Corporate had rescheduled their meeting to this morning. I stopped by the office first. Thanks to Charlene, the locksmiths were already there changing the locks and issuing new keys.<
br />
Charlene looked me up and down. “What’s with the beige? You usually wear a power suit to these meetings.”
I decided on a beige pants suit. Beige tends to wash me out, which was why I usually paired it with a bright top and heels, but today I’d worn a beige top as well.” I figured since my department and the murder are sure to be hot topics of conversation, I’d try for inconspicuous.”
“Invisible is more like it.”
“Even better. I plan to sit in a corner, keep my mouth shut, and answer only those questions directed specifically to me.”
“Yeah, right.”
She had a point, my chances of pulling that off were slim and none. Unfortunately, I found it virtually impossible to stay quiet in the presence of rampant stupidity, not that the corporate officers were actually stupid. On the contrary, for the most part, they were well educated and intelligent. However, since the good ole boys had been in the business for years, they had fixed ideas about how a hotel/casino should run. They barely tolerated Human Resources, considering it an inconvenient necessity in a litigious society. Their patronizing air tended to get on my nerves. I always left one of these meetings feeling like I’d been patted on the head and told to be a good girl. It was only because my boss, Tony, considered me a valued member of his executive team that they allowed me to sit in on the meetings at all. Even in this down economy, Tony’s numbers were always the best. He brought in the most money, so they allowed him to do whatever he wanted.
“I have to admit, I like the earrings. I wonder what Alan will wear.”
The only bright spot of my ensemble was a pair of red dice earrings with rhinestones that Alan had given me last year. Every Christmas and birthday, we searched for some small gag gift to give each other. It became our tradition to wear one of these slightly inappropriate accessories to the stuffy corporate meetings. My earrings were small enough not to draw too much attention, but just tacky enough to make a statement.
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