by CC Dragon
I looked at the ring with my sister’s name on it. The disposal blade would’ve damaged it. I was grateful Norm had put the stuff in the pipes and not tried to shred the ring in the disposal. “I need this back when you’re done.”
The detective nodded. “Go tell your sister the good news. We’ll need you to come in for your statement first thing tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” I wanted my sister to know she was safe once again.
Chapter Forty
I drove back to the mansion with a sense of relief but I’d been there before. Calling Ricky’s cell, I needed to be sure before I said a word to Sonia.
“Everything okay?” he answered.
“You tell me. I don’t want any false hope this time. He confessed?” I couldn’t wait to hear it was tied up.
I stopped for a red light and took a deep breath. My gut said I had the right person but when it came to family, feelings were tricky.
“Oh yeah, he ranted and raved all the way there and to the detective who interviewed him. I watched it all on tape. Norm said it was fine until you showed up and were hanging around. Blamed you but he admitted he did the deed for his wife. Talk about drama. He thinks that makes him a hero. We told him we’d charge her as an accessory. Pick her up and interrogate her. So he signed a confession, waived the lawyer in exchange for immunity for his wife. At least he really loved her.” Ricky sounded sad.
“I feel bad for Myra. I don’t want Norm pulling an insanity plea. So no search tomorrow at Sonia’s?”
“No search. Sonia’s off the hook, it’s okay.” Ricky sighed. “You did it.”
I wish I could take all the credit. I’d paid attention and asked the right questions. A lot of them. I’d also gone in a lot of wrong directions. “I never thought the paparazzi would help my case. I got lucky. He was stalking Sonia too, right? I don’t have another stalker on the loose?”
“It’s Hollywood. She could always have a new one. He denies driving the black Caddy that chased you. No records of him or anyone he knows driving one. He hasn’t bought any tires. We’re running his credit history and all of it.”
“I think that might be a stalker paparazzi. Seriously, they had enough time to get my plate number and I shot out their tires. They couldn’t have pressed charges or come after me. But if they sold the pictures they’d probably eat the loss on tires.” I hated trying to think like a soulless creature but that guy from the backyard might hold a grudge.
“I hear you. That wasn’t the most threatening move but more like baiting. Now on to the slashed tires on Sonia’s car. Norm denied it. A couple beat cops picked up some skittish college kids that fit the description and had a knife later that day. They were slashing tires and generally being idiots. Some frat dare. I’m not saying it’s them for sure, but some of those idiots get extra points for proving they got a celebrity.”
“You’re kidding? College pranks?” Something didn’t sit right with me. “Did you charge them?”
“They paid fines. Rich daddies. Vandalism. We can put Sonia through a line up and see if she remembers the two but they’ll stick to the story that it was a college dare and they never meant to hurt anyone. She’s a celebrity and they get public attention all the time. She’ll look petty and the added charges will be minimal. I don’t know if you want to put her through that.” Ricky shuffled papers on his end of the phone.
“Probably not. As long as it’s handled. But Norm left the notes, and stole the dog?” she asked. Something about the tire slashing seemed more coordinated and deliberate than kids but pressing the issue now wouldn’t solve it. Norm had admitted to murder; a couple of tires weren’t something worth denying. Someone else out there might have a grudge.
“Yep. He was obsessed with protecting his wife and his fury was focused on Sonia and Danny. He’s not getting out,” Ricky sighed.
“Okay. Thanks. Bye.” I tossed the phone in my purse. Driving along, the pressure and fear slowly evaporated. I let the success creep inside. Sonia was safe. Well, safer. The murderer was caught. Her primary stalker was caught. The nightmare was behind us but had Norm been masking a less lethal problem?
I pulled into the driveway and saw Jordan’s and Emmy’s cars still there. Checking my watch, I saw it’d only been three hours. It felt like two weeks or maybe just two seconds. I walked inside and disarmed the alarm. Out of habit I locked the door behind me.
“That took forever. What could be so interesting at the rental house?” Sonia had her feet propped up on the table.
I stared at them. Somehow her toenails had been painted a snakeskin gray and black. “What the hell happened to your toes?”
Emmy smiled. “If she’s going to jail, she needs to look tough so no one pushes her around.”
“And funky nail polish will accomplish that?” I didn’t see how but okay.
I dropped my purse and headed for the table. Luckily prison wasn’t an issue, but they wouldn’t let her keep nail polish on or makeup or anything like that in prison.
“What’s wrong with you?” Sonia asked.
“What? Nothing” I rotated my right shoulder and looked down.
I kicked people all over with my bare hands and feet in martial arts classes. This was nothing. Then I spotted it. My nail polish had gotten smudged.
“Sorry Emmy, I messed up your hard work,” I said.
Emmy waved it off. “We can fix that.”
Sonia sat up straight in her chair and felt my forehead. “Are you sick?”
“No.”
Sonia threw up her hands. “What is the problem? Are you drunk?”
Jordan cleared his throat. “Hel, sweetie, the alarm isn’t on. What the hell?”
“What he said.” Sonia folded her arms.
I rested my head back on the cushy chair and smiled.
“It’s over.” This time I knew it was real.
A loud knocking came from the front door.
“What, I’m being arrested?” Sonia asked.
Her hands went to her throat. Perfect dramatic pose for a movie but police didn’t generally strangle or hang people.
“No, it’s not a lynch mob. I’ll get it.” Maybe it was better for Ricky to give some official news or something.
Sonia paced one step behind me. “What’s over?”
“Norm did it.” I opened the door and was immediately blinded by the flashes.
“Helena! Sonia!” The camera crews and reporters took over the front lawn.
Sonia stepped out without missing a beat. “You’ll have to excuse my appearance. My friends and I were having a girl’s night in. The only safe fun my sister will let me have lately.”
The reporters chuckled and shouted questions while I stared and tried to look poised. It wasn’t just tabloid reporters this time. I saw respected news affiliates out there.
“Sonia, how do you feel about the arrest of Norm Andrews? He’s been booked by LAPD.”
I had the sneaking suspicion the Queen Bees had a photographer on me. Now I knew it. How else could the news break so fast? Unless it was someone in the LAPD.
“Actually, my sister just got back and I haven’t gotten any of the details yet. No police have been here so I don’t know anything. But I do know that I’m innocent and if they’ve found the real killer,” Sonia swallowed hard and her eyes glistened over, “I’m relieved for Danny and everyone else who loved him.”
“Were you and Danny getting back together?” a reporter called.
“We heard your sister was instrumental in the capture? Any comment?” another shouted.
Sonia looked at me.
I stepped up. “No comment. I’m sure the police will have a statement or information tomorrow morning, so let’s just wait and see.”
I turned and went back in the house, my arm around Sonia’s shoulders so she came with me.
She closed the door and locked it. “What?” Tears burst from her and her body trembled.
“I’m sorry, I wanted to tell you but it didn’t seem real. Nor
m did it and I caught him there trying to get rid of the evidence. He came at me with a wrench.” I guided Sonia back to the table and made her sit down.
Jordan patted me down. “You don’t seem hurt.”
“She had a gun,” Emmy smiled.
“Actually I didn’t use it. I beat him up, sort of.”
“Did you hurt him?” Sonia asked.
I couldn’t quite tell if she feared that I had killed Norm or hoped.
“I hit him in the face hard. That’s how I ruined the polish. Ricky came and Norm was arrested. They found the evidence,” I said.
“He confessed?” Jordan asked.
I nodded. “He did. Got all crazy and said it was my fault.”
“Tell me what he said because it makes no sense.” Emmy leaned back like the Filipino version of Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote.
“Norm felt like Danny was using Myra. I got a text from someone that Myra was going to write a tell-all book about Sonia and Danny. Seemed like a money grab. Norm was pissed because Sonia left and Danny cheated. I guess it affected Myra’s business a lot and Norm took it personally.” I walked into the kitchen and dug out a pint of chocolate ice cream from the freezer and a spoon from the drawer.
When I walked back they all sat there expectantly. “That’s it—the police never really suspected them because Danny was still with Myra. No evidence of a problem. Norm went over there and they got in a fight.”
“I’m shocked. Norm.” Sonia shook her head.
“Right, but we can thank the Queen Bees. They had a picture of Danny’s house just before or right around the time of the murder and Norm’s car was out front.”
“Danny was worth more to them dead than alive?” Jordan shook his head.
I looked to Sonia. “Danny was leaving Faith for you. Even if you wouldn’t take him back he wanted to try. Norm didn’t approve.” I opened the container of ice cream and took a spoonful.
Sonia smiled. “He loved me.”
Jordan nodded. “Maybe he matured faster than you thought he would? Maybe he figured it out?”
“And Norm ruined it all.” Sonia blinked back the tears.
I had to put the good spin on it before depression took hold. Sonia could grieve fully now but she needed to feel the relief. “Yes, but at least he didn’t get away with it. You’re not the one in jail. The guilty person will pay.”
Sonia inhaled and exhaled deeply. “You’re right, I can’t change it now. I just don’t know what to do.”
I offered her a spoonful of ice cream and she took it. “I think first you need get that odd nail polish off your toes. All those reporters have pictures of you with black nail polish on your toes.”
Jordan smiled. “Brava! Since when did you get so image conscious?”
“Image? I don’t give a crap about her image. Mom’s going to see that and think she joined a snake cult or something. Watch, she’ll get a box full of saint statues for the house in a week.” I pointed at Sonia.
She sighed. “Damn, you’re both right. It’s not me anyway, not the right look.”
Emmy jumped in. “Give me those toes. We’ll put on the most innocent frosted white. Alpine snow or something with a little shimmer is just the thing. You’ll look so pure, and tomorrow you wear open-toed shoes to the next press conference. Maybe a little more under eye concealer.”
“Oh God!” Sonia grabbed a mirror. “How could you let me go out there like this?”
“I didn’t know what I’d find. How did the press get the info so fast?” I shot back.
“You should’ve told me immediately when you came in. I knew you were acting weird.” Sonia huffed.
“It was hard to believe. Within a couple of hours I was threatened with a wrench and I punched someone in the face. I was worried Norm would retract his confession or something. On the way here I checked with Ricky so I know they’ve got it recorded.” I took another spoonful of ice cream and let the sugar high hit.
Sonia smiled and then giggled. “A couple of hours ago I was going to jail. The show would be screwed and it’d be all my fault. My big break gone and I’d be paying for a crime I didn’t do.”
“You were the top suspect.” I grabbed a cotton ball and soaked it in nail polish remover. “Tomorrow you can clear your name and it’ll be over. I have to go give my statement to the cops but that’s it. Done.”
Jordan wagged his finger at Sonia. “You should wear that Marilyn Monroe style dress you have. The one that looks like it’s from The Seven Year Itch—white and innocent.”
“Cut down to her navel looks innocent?” I rolled my eyes.
“In Hollywood, yes. We can put a wrap around her shoulders so it looks more demure.” Jordan stood. “I’m going to find the right white open-toed shoes for this.” On a mission, he sprinted up the stairs.
“You should call Sam. I’m sure he’ll be relieved,” I said.
After removing the polish from my fingers I tossed the used cotton in the trash and went back to the ice cream.
Sonia looked at the clock. “It’s too late now. I’ll bug him tomorrow if it’s real.”
“Feels like a dream.” Emmy grabbed my hand and started retouching the ruined manicure.
“It’s real and I was there. Hard to believe but it’ll sink in tomorrow.” I sat back and stretched.
“You’re relaxing.” Sonia smiled. “We must be safe.”
An hour later I ate reheated orange chicken on a bed of brown rice with a diet cola. The party hadn’t ended but I needed to refuel. Sonia and Jordan were trying her in different innocent yet victorious outfits. I never knew clothes could say so much. Emmy was the final judge while I was moral support.
Pounding on the door made us all jump. The reality of safety had yet to completely sink in yet.
“I’ll get it.” I checked my watch. Who’d come over after midnight?
I checked the peephole this time and found Ricky with a present.
“Sonia. It’s good news this time.” I opened the door.
Ricky let go of Fluffy’s leash and the dog bounded in and headed straight for Sonia’s glass of wine. The dog lapped up the liquid and whined when Sonia scooped him up and hugged him tightly. Finally Fluffy licked her face.
“I thought you wouldn’t mind the hour. This little darling was homesick.” Ricky smiled.
I looked behind him to the street. “You evicted the stalkarazzi?”
He nodded. “Press conference at the precinct, tomorrow at noon. Okay with you?”
“Sounds good.” I closed the door behind him. “Fluffy was at Myra’s home?”
“No. Norm was keeping her at one of the rental properties. But there was food, water, and no signs of abuse. Animal control cleared him and released him. We’ve got the pictures for evidence. I don’t think we need to hold him.”
“Thank you.” Sonia hugged Ricky hard and went back to the dog. “I knew you weren’t dead, Fluffy. I never believed it.”
“Want some coffee or something?” I offered.
“No thanks, I have to get back. Tons of paperwork to go through before the conference. You’re coming in tomorrow at eight?” he asked.
“Fine with me, get it all over with.” I yawned.
“See you then. I’m glad it worked out.” He gave Sonia a little wink and left.
Emmy and Jordan began to pack up.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“You and Sonia need your beauty sleep. Eight isn’t that far away and you’re both already exhausted,” Emmy explained.
Jordan held up a hand. “It’s not a judgment— I know how good you can look. The situation is draining. I’ll come over and work my magic but there are limits. Sleep well. In the morning maybe put some teabags on those eyes.”
“Thanks, I’m not really worried about that.” Then I thought of something. “Hang on.”
I ran upstairs and loaded the clothes Jordan had lent me, all freshly laundered by Lupe, into a bag. I carried them back down and handed them to Jordan.
“Thanks for the help and the loaners but I’m done with the labels game. The big push to fit in is finally over,” I said.
Jordan took them. “Not even tomorrow?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Being myself works much better. But I’m keeping your boots.”
I’d brought down Norm in my clothes and a cheap pair of flip flops.
“Okay, you got the power.” He kissed my cheek.
“See you tomorrow,” I yawned. “Or later today.”
Everyone said their goodbyes until later and Sonia locked up the house. She even set the alarm. It was a good habit to get into with her fame and the valuable stuff in her house. Her life was safe from Norm, and that’s all I needed to declare victory!
Chapter Forty-One
A few days later life was back to some sense of normal. But I had a date to keep. I found the restaurant, complete with valet parking and dog sitting service. That wasn’t the weirdest part. Crowds of paparazzi stood in front and suddenly swarmed my car. Cameras snapped and questions came at me. What the hell?
They shouted my name and blocked my path.
Now I got why my sister hated them so much. I kept an eye out for the black Cadillac but didn’t spot it.
I opened the door and was given barely enough room. Closing the door, I hopped up on the driver’s seat and walked over onto the passenger seat. I opened the door and stepped out. Cameras flashed but they gave me room since the valet stand was there.
Handing my keys to the valet I headed in. Keith wanted a lunch and I’d promised him one if he didn’t exploit Danny’s death or my sister’s grief. Plus he’d helped me catch the killer. Definitely not like the tabloids I’d seen. I wanted to know his full story. That didn’t mean I wanted to eat at a place so exclusive I’d never get in without him.
Keith waved to me and the staff just nodded me in. More people than I’d realized knew who I was. My press conference antics probably didn’t help. Jordan swore up and down I’d been all over the gossip and other news sites. I’d avoided watching it all, as had Sonia. She wanted to put the ugliness behind her and my getting press wouldn’t help either of us.
