The last bit of information threw a whole new spin on the confusion surrounding the death of Al Shady and disappearance of Barbara. Questions flew around the table, many of them aimed at Margaret. Finally she had to say, “I’m happy to be able to be a part of this. I may not have all the answers, but as you might suspect I do have an ulterior motive. The more I got into it, the more I knew when this whole thing finally comes to a conclusion we are likely to uncover things that are real shockers. I don’t know if we’ll be able to find Barbara or what happened to her, but I do know that when the dust settles Danny and I will be able to write one Hell of a book. Probably true crime rather than treating it as fiction. I’m in for the long haul if you will have me. Are you going to share this with the detective on the case?”
At first there was silence as everyone digested what it would mean to share Margaret’s information with the police and whether they even wanted to. Cameron got up from the table and returned with a seven-tier chocolate cake she had picked up at the Gelson’s Market, plus a cake server, a sharp knife and plates for everyone.
As she sliced and served generous pieces of the cake, even to those who protested, she said, “It’s always easier to think while devouring chocolate. Dig in. Here’s my thought. They have been so closed with us, they would probably write us off as nosy amateurs. With our combined skills and contacts—Danny, you’re a professional, Kate you’re an investigator, and none of us are real amateurs because we all have some solved cases under our belts. Even you, Colonel. I say we carry on by ourselves. When we have more answers, it will be soon enough to gloat while we present them with facts.”
Garrett said, “That’s all well and good, Cami, and I pretty much agree, but it could get dangerous. We really don’t know what we’re getting into and this could just be the surface. Is it smart for us to go it alone or to bring them in for some measure of protection? There’s still the question of Al’s murder. I know she couldn’t have pulled it off by herself. That is, if she wasn’t kidnapped and is actually part of it. Maybe, despite her history, she really didn’t cause his death. It bothers me that it wasn’t typical of her style. Making it look like natural death. He was beaten, his body hidden for a few days, then dumped in the canal. She would have had to have help. Strong help. Still, I’m not saying we shouldn’t do this by ourselves. We just need to be aware of what we’re getting into.”
The discussion went on for another hour, exploring all the pros and cons. Halfway through, Clarence ventured out from his place under the table and went to each of them sniffing and looking for a treat. When no one gave him anything, he padded into the living room and headed for the fireplace. Carrying out his normal routine, he turned around a few times and settled in one of his favorite spots.
They finally decided who would do what and were all in agreement that they would not bring the police into their private investigation just yet. Between Garrett, Kate and Margaret’s resources, they were sure to move forward. They still didn’t know about Barbara’s remaining aliases. However, they were sure she had substantial financial security set up under each one, or even under a name unrelated to any of them, in case she had to run as she had from the past murders she most likely committed. Not only did she appear to be a skilled murderer, but one with the resources to have many sets of false ID. There was still a possibility she had been kidnapped, but that theory was growing dimmer by the day.
26
To his surprise, Garrett received a call from Detective Barrington the following morning. Apparently, his ardent fan had a piece of information to share off the record. He proceeded to update Garrett with the information revealed in the autopsy. Al Shady had been injected with OxyContin. Either it had been against his will, or he had been an addict. Barrington added it appeared to be a substantial amount. There was a controversy around the station. Some thought he was injected to subdue him, others assumed that since he was a doctor who could still write prescriptions, maybe he was an addict.
Garrett was tempted to tell him what they had uncovered about Barbara Shady’s past and the fact that she was a nurse practitioner, but because of the team agreement the night before, he decided to withhold that information. As it turned out, Barrington was anxious to hear all about the former FBI agent’s thoughts on the discovery of the drug in Shady’s system.
He said, “So, what do you think Danny? Did the Oxy kill him or the gun shots and the beating?”
“Come on, Man. You expect me to render an opinion on just what you’ve told me? Sorry, Pal, no can do. I’d need to see the medical examiner’s report, maybe have an opportunity to discuss it with him, and lots more. I might be a former agent, and write thrillers and true crime, but I’m not a magician. Contrary to what you think, there’s hardly enough for me to offer an opinion. For example, was he able to determine if the Oxy shots were pre or postmortem? That’s important. Where were the gun shots—random around the body or taps to the head? What about the bruising? See what I mean. Not enough information. Update me when you have more.”
Barrington said he would try to get more information but would be breaking protocol if he shared it. Still, he indicated, what someone doesn’t know doesn’t hurt them. He was very clear that he really wanted input from his hero.
This turn of events could be a good opportunity to get more information about what happened before Al Shady met his violent demise. The team would surely engage in a little gloating that the police, while refusing to give them any credibility or information, might unknowingly contribute to their investigation. He smiled to himself, picturing the reaction of the others.
The rest of the day was uneventful.
CAMERON TRIED TO CONCENTRATE on business, but images of Barbara Shady, or Briana Hanley, or whatever name she might be using now if she was alive, drifted in and out of her mind. She tried to picture anything that might add to what they already knew, but the truth was she simply had avoided getting to know the missing woman. So she allowed herself to indulge in fantasizing possible scenarios.
Right in the middle of one where she imagined Barbara hiring a hitman to get rid of the old goat and staging the whole scene at the HOA meeting, she was jolted back into the present by the buzz of her intercom.
“Hey, Boss, I know you said not to disturb you, but this is a call I think you want to take. It’s Stephanie Metcalf from Sexy Seniors. I think it’s a good call. She sounds happy.”
At full attention, Cameron said, “Put it through. Let’s see if I hit a home run yesterday.”
A moment later she heard, “Cami? This is Stephanie Metcalf. How are you today?”
“Oh, busy as usual. What can I do for you?”
A little laughter. “This call is what I can do for you. We loved what you showed us yesterday. Of course, those seniors with bellies out to here and droopy boobs won’t look like your beautiful model, but they will see what they want to see. As for the male, he was great, too. You were so right. We did need attractive mature models and I really have to compliment you on the ones you chose.”
Cameron smiled to herself. Stephanie was one of those ambitious thirty-something overachievers who had risen to the position of CEO of a big corporation. Her flaw was that she was probably the one who had okayed the young model chosen by their current ad agency. Cameron was sure she did that without a clue that an attractive young model wearing plain-looking disposable panties, would be a turnoff for the older woman. How could they relate to someone who looked like a college coed?
“Anyway, we discussed it yesterday, and we really like your approach and your ideas.” She paused and Cameron thought she heard a suppressed giggle. “Um, I had some ideas of my own. Maybe going with the older is still sexy theme, what about a screen print that looked like crotchless bikinis? You know. To remind them of being young. Or, oh, I don’t know. I have lots of suggestions, but we can get to that.”
“Does that mean you’re going with the campaign I presented? If so, we need to set up a meeting to hammer out details and th
en we can review your ideas. I’d love to work with you Stephanie, but frankly, I can’t have any further design discussions until your company is under contract. You understand, don’t you? I have to protect my concept.”
Secretly she thought it would be very challenging to work with a young woman who had no idea how the minds of incontinent elderly women operated. But she was up to the challenge and loved the idea that it meant a very lucrative contract. The call ended with Stephanie Metcalf saying their contract with the other agency expired at the end of the month, and their attorney would be in touch to work out a new one with Harsen Advertising.
After the call ended, Cameron let out a sigh, then let her secretary know they had snagged the account.
She kept her office door closed and went back to brainstorming. In her heart, she didn’t really want Barbara to be dead. If she was a killer celebrating the addition of the sixth notch to her belt—one that signaled the elimination of one more wealthy husband and another inheritance—it would be so satisfying to bring her down. Of course, if she was alive, they would also have a much better chance of recovering the stolen HOA money. That is, if it wasn’t all gone. Cameron enjoyed a fleeting sense of revenge as she pictured her using the alias Briana Hanley—wanted as a suspect in a murder—in cuffs, unable to spend the money she cheated them out of. Oh, the headlines she envisioned. Barbara in prison wearing a standard-issue orange jumpsuit, TV crime shows exposing the notorious Black Widow. Delicious thoughts. How superior would she be able to act then?
Then she began to wonder where the accounting expertise came from. Certainly not from her training as a nurse practitioner. Maybe she did a quick course or two at some point to be able to manipulate the money she conned. Maybe there were additional instances in her history of appropriating money that wasn’t hers to take.
They knew she had successfully scammed enough money from five prior, now moribund, husbands to never have to work again before she met Shady. Thanks to Margaret, they also knew she was still being hunted by the San Francisco police relative to the Hanley death which was finally ruled a murder. Shady was a worthy target for her—a fairly famous doctor to the stars and a recent widower with no children. That meant no pesky sons or daughters to cause the problem she’d had with Hanley. She used connections among friends or acquaintances in Beverly Hills in a clever and calculated way to facilitate their meeting
Before Cameron knew it, most of the day had passed. She hadn’t gotten much work done and decided to leave a little early to beat any possible traffic. Ever since this whole thing began, she found herself looking forward to the nightly meetings. She couldn’t wait to find out what her colleagues might have uncovered.
27
Cameron found Kate sitting in one of the chairs in the courtyard enjoying the wonderful weather—just warm enough with a light breeze. Popcorn clouds floated in a seldom seen blue sky. It was the kind of day that made you love being in Southern California. Kate had changed from her business clothes into a pair of jeans topped by a tee shirt featuring a pointing finger and the word ‘Gotcha’ below the Fraud Busters logo. Maxi and Mini were sitting on the concrete next to Kate’s chair sunning themselves. Occasionally one of the ducks would give a little quack. Outside of that everything was tranquil.
“Hey, you’re early. Glad to see you’re controlling a little of that workaholic nature of yours.” Kate patted the chair next to her. “Join me for a minute before you go in to change.” She flashed an engaging smile. “I wrapped it up early today, too. Wait till I tell you about my meeting with the producers. It’s a go, but there’s more. I’ll tell you everything that happened after you change.”
Cameron plopped down in another chair and kicked off her stilettos. “Congratulations. When do they begin filming? Who’s playing you? Oh, man, I have a thousand questions.”
“Whoa. Too early to answer any of that. Like I said, you’ll get everything I know when you come back down.”
“Okay, be like that. Make me wait. Anyway, I have news, too, but nowhere as thrilling as yours. I pulled it off. I’m getting the contract for Sexy Seniors and a very lucrative account. You are looking at the Queen of beguiling disposable panties for women and men. Um, I guess that title will go to the CEO, but I’m behind the campaign. You’ve gotta love it, right? Who ever dreamed you could market the solution for incontinence as being sexy?”
“Well, my friend, you sure made the right decision when you geared your agency to targeting the over-fifty market. I don’t think youngsters relate to how much buying power seniors have or what will tap into that market.”
They sat there for a few minutes, thoroughly enjoying life. Maxi got tired of his spot on the concrete and got up to waddle back to the canal. Mini limped after him. They were such a cute couple.
Finally, Cameron said, “Well, I’ll be back shortly. I’ve gotta get out of this suit and stow my briefcase.” She wiggled her feet back into the stilettos and headed for the house, then stopped and turned toward Kate. “Besides the news about your meeting, which I can’t wait to hear more about, anything new regarding the Shadys?”
“Yeah, I’ll tell you about it when you come back. Danny called, and he said both he and Margaret have more to tell us. Also, I saw the Colonel walking Clarence when I got back. He said he remembered something Shady told him quite a while back but wanted to wait to tell everyone at the same time. It should be an interesting evening. By the way, don’t worry about dinner. I ordered some Wolfgang Puck salads, two rotisserie chickens and a spinach quiche plus one of those wonderful Viktor Benes Black Forest Cakes from Gelson’s. I got plenty for all of us. They’ll deliver it around seven thirty. Go! Get changed.”
Less than fifteen minutes later Cameron hurried down the stairs to join Kate. The chic business suit had been traded for cargo pants and a crop top. The Jimmy Choo stilettos were replaced by sandals with a slight wedge heel.
A couple of tourists strolled along the walkway, his arm around her shoulders. Both wore matching shorts and tee shirts obviously purchased from one of the shops on the boardwalk. His had a bikini-clad cutie on a surfboard with the words “Fun and Sun at Venice Beach CA.” Hers featured a Muscle Beach hunk and said “Love the Scenery at Venice Beach.” They paused for a beat and looked over the low fence into Cameron’s courtyard.
The man said, “Hey, how ya doin’ tonight? Sure is nice to be here.”
Cameron lifted her wine glass to the couple. “Glad you’re enjoying it. I really feel lucky to live here.”
He waved to her and said, “We’re from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, just here till tomorrow. If you haven’t visited, it’s pretty exciting there, too, but somehow being by the ocean and being by a river are a lot different. Still, you have these canals, eh. Sort of like being by a river, I guess.”
His companion giggled at the comparison, then looked embarrassed. “We shouldn’t bother these nice people, Luke.”
“Right you are, Love. Anyway, have a nice night, ladies.” He gave them a little salute and the couple continued their walk.
“You know, I really do feel lucky to live here,” Cameron said. “When I take the time to sit out here with a glass of wine, occasionally with a good friend like you, sometimes I think about how it could have gone if the three of us hadn’t met and we hadn’t gotten our reward for being whistleblowers. I’d probably be working in some hack job after Reed/Cunningham dumped me instead of being able to start my own agency and steal some of their clients.”
She added, “Revenge really is fun, you know. Never in a hundred years did they imagine I’d do something like that. In retrospect they really did me a favor when old Cunningham fired me by voicemail, although I sure didn’t think so at the time.”
Kate nodded. “I feel the same way. I love my street with the painted ladies and feel so blessed to be able to own one of them. Lord knows what would have happened to me if I hadn’t taken the job with FACR, met you and Kim and embarked on our crazy lives. I almost didn’t accept when I realized I’d b
e working for the Federal prison system. And it was such a step down, but you’ve gotta put bread on the table.” She let out a sigh. “Truthfully, I don’t even allow myself to think about it. Too bad Kim couldn’t get away to be here with us this time.”
The Colonel and Clarence made their slow trek along the walkway toward Cameron’s house. She looked at her watch and saw that it was five minutes to seven. The others would be arriving soon. She got up and opened the gate for them. Clarence’s tail wagged like a metronome. He raised up on his hind legs, placed his front paws on Cameron and gave her a doggie kiss. She patted his head and said, “I love you, too, old fellah. Wait till you see the carrot I’ve been saving for you.”
“Evening, Ladies. Looks like I’m the first one here. Oh, wait, here comes Matt. With the stride that man has he’ll be here in no time.” Looking a bit nostalgic, he added, “I remember when I used to be able to do that,” then waved to the action star who was sprinting in their direction.
He added, “It’s so beautiful tonight. Should we just wait out here for Danny and Maggie?”
With no need for words, the two men pulled out the other two chairs. Clarence went over to Matt and put his head in Matt’s lap, waiting for pets and pats.
Kate broke the silence. “I get the feeling that all of us have updates about the case, but let’s wait until everyone is here. Meanwhile, I’m bursting with good news. Nothing to do with our investigation, though.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t know if you knew this, but when my agent set up meetings with the network producers, I thought it was going to be to discuss going forward with a TV movie based on my book. Instead—something he’d hinted at but didn’t say outright to me—he pitched them on making it a series. Truthfully, I thought I was just building that part up in my mind.”
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