Highlights to Heaven

by Nancy J. Cohen

  “You are as loco as your friend. I merely tried to do my civic duty.”

  “Sorry, but we have to consider all the possibilities.” No, we don’t. That’s Vail’s job, remember?

  Bless my bones, I’ve done it again.

  “Forgive me, Hector. I’ve had threatening things happen to me lately, and I don’t really know why. I’m concerned about that motorcycle you’ve heard. Ever seen its license plate?”

  He shook his head, anger fading into anxiety. “I’m sorry, too. It’s unfortunate when bad things happen in the neighborhood. It turns people against each other.”

  “How about I watch your back, and you watch mine?”

  “Deal.”

  They shook hands, then Marla headed home.

  As she opened her front door, the phone rang. She raced into the kitchen to pick up the receiver. Spooks pranced at her feet.

  “Hello?” she called, cradling the phone on one shoulder while she untied his leash.

  “Hi,” Dalton Vail’s voice said. “I haven’t spoken to you all week. How’s it going?”

  “Great. You?” Despite her reluctance to resume their relationship, her heart soared at the sound of his voice.

  “Things are progressing. I thought if you didn’t have any plans, you might want to come over for dinner. I’m doing salmon fillets on the grill.”

  “Oh. Will Brianna be there?”

  “She’s working on her homework. I’ve been tied up in my office, but I needed a break. I’d hoped you and I could, you know, review the facts on the Verkovich case.”

  “Heck, Lieutenant, I thought you weren’t allowed to divulge details.”

  “You already know most of them,” he said with a hint of amusement.

  “Don’t you usually use Brianna for a sounding board?”

  “She suggested we call you since you always come up with fresh insights.”

  Thanks, honey. “Okay, what time do you want me and what should I bring?”

  His voice deepened. “I want you all the time, and you can just bring that luscious body.”

  She ignored his innuendo. “I’ll get ready, and then I’ll come over.”

  “Actually, how about if you bring back Brie’s chess set? It doesn’t matter that you haven’t found a matching game board. We can use one from another set. I’d like to get started teaching her how to play.”

  Marla’s throat tightened. “Sure, I’ll go get it right now so I don’t forget.”

  Hanging up she wondered, while changing into a long skirt and sweater, how to explain the missing piece. Vail was already sensitive about his late wife. He wouldn’t be pleased to learn she’d ruined part of his gift.

  “Spooks, it’s all your fault,” she said to the dog, who followed her like a shadow. Guilt assailed her for having left the chess set lying around where he could get it. This would only serve as another wedge between her and the detective.

  After fixing her makeup and hair, she made a quick phone call to Tally to confirm their dinner date for Tuesday night, checked in with her mother, and guiltily phoned her brother at Anita’s urging. She’d just switched handbags when the sound of the telephone jarred her senses.

  “Now what?” She grabbed for the receiver in her bedroom.

  “Hello?”

  Silence.

  “Who’s there?” Her tone sharpened.

  “Marla…” a raspy voice grated.

  “What? Who is this?”

  “It’s me. I’m calling to warn you.”

  Her sweaty fingers gripped the receiver. “Goat! I don’t believe it. Where are you?” She barely recognized his voice.

  Static sounded. Her Caller ID said PRIVATE CALL. No way to trace it. “Stay away from…” His next words were garbled.

  “What? Stay away from the white home?” Whose white house? “I can’t hear you; the reception is bad. Can I call you back?” Click.

  “Hello?”

  Darn, he’d hung up, or else they had been disconnected. Either way, his message puzzled her. He’d said he was calling to warn her. But against whom, or what? The only white house that came to mind was the one in the nation’s capitol…or the residence on Evan’s ranch. She wasn’t fool enough to venture there by herself again, so why did he feel it necessary to contact her?

  Her body trembling, she waited by the phone in case Goat decided to call again. Was he all right? Or had he been detained by his enemies and interrupted in his effort to warn her? Biting her lower lip, she counted the minutes until she realized the wait was useless. Might as well go to Vail’s and tell him about it. Besides, he might have something new to share with her.

  Brianna opened the door, looking every inch the teenager with her midriff exposed under a busty top, tight jeans, and shoes from Nine West. She’d pulled her dark hair back into a ponytail and applied a subtle touch of makeup that Vail probably hadn’t noticed. Greeting Marla, she grinned broadly.

  “I’m glad you could come,” Brianna said, flinging herself into Marla’s arms.

  Stunned, Marla hugged the girl. This was the first time Brianna had made any show of affection toward her. Marla’s paranoia kicked in again, and she wondered if the girl had an ulterior motive for inviting her over.

  “Daddy is in the kitchen. He’s making a mess.”

  Clutching her purse and a shopping bag, Marla followed Brianna through a short hallway and into the kitchen. As always, the room produced immediate claustrophobia in Marla. Its single window over the double porcelain sink was too small, not letting in enough light. The dropped ceiling with plastic panels and fluorescent lighting increased illumination, but it hailed from the seventies, as did the speckled linoleum floor. Patterned fruit wallpaper, tacky prints of wine and cheese, a grandfather clock, and antique furniture pieces made her cringe. So did the collection of angel figurines and painted plates in a wooden cabinet. No way could she ever live in a kitchen like this. Admittedly, it had a comfortable, cozy feeling, but one more in tune with another woman’s personality.

  Marla swallowed her disquiet and smiled at Vail, who stood by the sink preparing a salad. “Hi,” she said, admiring his physique. He wore a polo shirt tucked into a pair of tan Dockers. Her breath caught when he swung his penetrating gaze in her direction. Smoky gray eyes slammed into her senses with sensual force. Somehow, being in a kitchen with him put their relationship on a different keel. It almost felt…right.

  “Hi,” he said, his glance traveling her length.

  “I brought a bottle of chardonnay, and here’s your chess set.” She withdrew the items from her bag and put them on a counter. “Uh, about your game…” Might as well get it off her chest. “I had a little accident. Spooks got hold of one of the pieces and thought it was a chew toy. I’ll get a replacement.”

  His mouth tightened. “I see.”

  “I can always buy you a new set,” she offered.

  “That’s not the point. This one is special. Or at least it was.” He dried his hands on a towel and stepped over to pry open the lid. “It’s missing a knight.” He said it matter-of-factly, but she caught the hard edge in his tone.

  “I’m sorry. I know how much this means to you. I promise I’ll get a close match.”

  He must have noticed her contrite expression, because his face softened. “Accidents happen.”

  All that worry, and he was actually being nice about it. She glided over and kissed him. “I would have told you earlier, but I was afraid you’d be angry.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Brianna called out. She sat at the maple dining table, schoolbooks spread in front of her. “Daddy’s more eager to play that stupid game than I am.”

  “Your mother and I bought this set on our trip to Europe,” Vail explained.

  “So? You bought a lot of things together. That doesn’t mean I have to like them. Right, Marla?”

  She exchanged a glance with Vail. “You have the right to your own opinions,” she told his daughter. “I’m sure you treasure some of your mother’s things.”


  “I have her needlepoint pictures in my room, and I like her angel collection and her crystal bells. Some of the other stuff is okay, but it makes the house too dark. You should see my friend’s place. Andrea lives in this huge house in Weston. It has vaulted ceilings, a really modern kitchen, and not nearly as much junk as we have scattered around. Her parents’ bathroom is bigger than my bedroom. It’s awesome.”

  “Pam wouldn’t have cared to live in a house like that,” Vail said quietly. “Too impersonal.”

  “Mom wants us to be happy. I don’t really think it matters to her if we fix the house up or not. It’s embarrassing to bring my friends here. You tell him, Marla.”

  Been there, done that. “I think we should get on with the meal. Do you want help?” she asked Vail. “Or shall I tell you about the phone call I got just before I came here?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Goat phoned me. At least I think it was him. The reception was bad. He warned me not to go near someone’s white home.”

  Vail stepped toward her, then stopped. “How did he sound? Did he say where he was calling from?”

  “Unfortunately, no. He just got a few words out; then we were disconnected.”

  “Freakin’ phone company. What about your Caller ID?”

  She shook her head. “I guess he was warning me against going near Evan’s ranch. It’s a white building. Goat must have learned about my previous visit there.”

  “That means either he’s been keeping watch on things, or he’s been in contact with someone. Damn, if only he’d turned himself in.”

  “He may do that when you catch Yani’s killer. Any leads?” Her attention shifted. “Brianna, honey, you should get yourself a sapphire file. It’s much better for your nails than that metal one.”

  “Is that right? Can I get a manicure at your salon?”

  “Brianna, you’re supposed to be doing your homework, not your nails.” Vail selected a knife and began slicing tomatoes. “I have a chablis open in the refrigerator. Want some?”

  “I’d love it. Where do you keep your wineglasses?”

  “Left top cabinet, second shelf, unless you want to use the crystal ones in the dining room.”

  She reached inside the cupboard. “These are fine.” Feeling as though she were invading another woman’s space, she checked the dinnerware. “Shall I set the table?”

  “Yep. The salmon won’t take long to cook. It’s already marinated. I made rice, but it doesn’t look right.”

  “He used the wrong kind,” Brianna piped in. “Daddy never listens to me, except when he’s discussing his cases. That’s the only time my opinion counts.”

  At the stove, Marla lifted the lid off a saucepan. “This rice isn’t fully cooked.”

  “I don’t know why,” Vail said, pouring them each a glass of wine.

  “All the water got absorbed.”

  “Were you using Minute Rice?”

  “I don’t know. The box is in the pantry.”

  A few moments later, Marla chuckled. “No wonder. This is arborio rice. You have to cook it slowly and keep adding water. It isn’t prepared the same as Minute Rice.”

  “What do I know? Usually the housekeeper prepares our meals.”

  Their gazes locked. “You need a woman around full-time who knows what she’s doing. Or next time, listen to your daughter.”

  “How about if I tried both? Where do you think I could get the woman?” he asked in a teasing banter.

  “Get to the point, Daddy.” Brianna gave an exasperated sigh.

  “He keeps talking about asking you to move in. It wouldn’t bother me.” She studied her fingernails. “We could, like, go to the mall.

  They do ear-piercing at Claire’s.”

  “I thought I told you not to bring up that subject again,” Vail said sternly.

  Now we get to the real reason Brianna wanted me over. She felt like a pawn in their familial chess game, caught between two opposing armies. Was this what would happen if she became part of their enclave? She’d end up fighting battles? No thanks. Domestic bliss wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. She’d fought enough skirmishes with Stan to have learned that lesson.

  “I’m hungry,” she stated firmly. “Let’s eat and review your case. That’s why you asked me for dinner.”

  “It’s not only my case. It’s yours, too. I don’t like Goat’s warning, and I also don’t like the fact that another stylist was involved in an accident.” Vail carried the salad bowl to the table.

  Marla found a box of instant mashed potatoes in the pantry and set about preparing it. “You heard about Lori?”

  “Did you know her?”

  “She was in my class. Only Kenya and I are left from the gang who played that trick on Wyeth Holmes. His name isn’t listed on the roster I had printed out from our beauty school. Maybe you should track him down.”

  “I’d like a copy of that list.”

  “I’ll fax it to your office in the morning.”

  “It might be safer for you to stay here tonight.”

  She paused, spoon in hand while she assessed his impassive features. Was the man genuinely concerned for her safety, or was this another ploy to land her in his bed? Couldn’t be the latter, not while Brianna was afoot.

  “I’ll be all right. My alarm system works now, remember?”

  “Your alarm system doesn’t go with you when you walk Spooks.”

  “So I’ll let him out into the backyard until things quiet down. I’m not actively seeking trouble.”

  “Ha! Trouble has a way of finding you. Now listen to what I’ve found out.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Animal Farm pet store is owned by a man named Wake Hollander,” Vail said. Leaving Marla with her mouth hanging open, he picked up the dish of salmon fillets and strode out to the screened patio.

  After setting a lid on the pot of mashed potatoes and removing it from the heat, Marla trailed after him. She brought her glass of wine, needing a big gulp. “That’s where Goat gets his supplies.”

  “I checked on the owner. Hollander has a lot of receipts from a guy called Lujan Chang. Chang just happens to be Yani Verkovich’s Chinese associate at Stockhart Industries.”

  He set the fillets on a gas grill, while Marla admired his masculine form. She could get used to having him around, but she didn’t know how she’d feel about having Brianna around all the time. Fond feelings aside, teenagers presented a burden Marla wasn’t sure she wanted.

  Or was it one she feared she couldn’t handle?

  “What kind of receipts did you find?” she asked, taking another drink. Focusing on his case was a lot easier than addressing personal issues.

  He gave her a flippant grin that turned her heart upside down. “Chang buys birds. You know how that’s a popular thing in Hong Kong. Birdcages are everywhere. Except I think some of the specimens he buys aren’t available through normal channels.”

  Marla sat on one of the patio chairs. “Remember how I heard Evan and Wake talking about a shipment? Something Wake expected wasn’t coming in on time, and he said Tiger would be upset.

  Do you suspect Tiger and this Chang are one and the same?”

  “It’s highly likely. There are other peculiarities.”

  “Such as?”

  “I’ve been looking into Chang’s background. He likes to go to the local pound and collect animals doomed to be put to sleep. He says he finds homes for the dogs and cats but has never documented his claim. It seems as if they disappear.”

  “Bless my bones, you don’t think he-” Her throat closed.

  Vail nodded grimly. “It would account for a few things.”

  She sipped her wine while mulling over the possibilities. “I can’t believe he’d be involved in the pet-fur business in addition to smuggling illegal birds into the country.”

  “I presume Chang is either a collector or he resells the birds to fellow countrymen. Either way, he’s the purchaser, not the smuggler. That honor goes to Ev
an Fargutt. We have a couple of other agencies interested in his operation.”

  “Have you checked out his ranch?”

  “Yeah, I got a search warrant. He has over eight hundred birds in metal and wood cages alone, plus the aviary and the birds-of-prey section. Just the caged birds are worth about five hundred thousand dollars. I didn’t see any signs of the laboratory you’d mentioned. There are three larger buildings: his house, a guest house for the ranch hands, and a quarantine station for imported birds. Assorted pieces of equipment lying around: aquariums, incubators, cages, and such.”

  “If he makes so much money being an aviculturist, why would he bother with smugglers?”

  “You want the simple answer? It’s a lucrative trade worth several billion dollars a year. Since the Wild Bird Conservation Act restricted exotic bird imports, up to one hundred thousand are smuggled into this country every year. That’s just birds. Who knows? Maybe Evan brings in other stuff. Thousands of illegal animals enter the United States, and they’re often hidden in legal shipments. South Florida, in particular, is a magnet for smugglers, since we’re so close to Central and South America. Birds, reptiles, primates, snakes, tropical fish, you name it. Asian remedies use bones and other body parts from endangered animals. Animals are wanted, dead and alive.”

  Hadn’t she heard about bird’s-nest soup, a Chinese delicacy? Marla shivered at the images conjured in her mind.

  Regarding Vail, she narrowed her eyes. “Like certain gourmet dishes, secret formulas may require exotic ingredients. Perfume, cosmetic, and skin-care product companies claim to add special factors to their compounds. What if Cutter and his pals were developing a hair-growth tonic that needed rare elements, like ground boar’s teeth or something? Yani could have obtained them from either Chang or Evan. Did he threaten to expose Chang’s larger operation? Or did he get greedy and turn the tables on them to keep the formula for himself?”

  “That doesn’t explain the bag of money left at Goat’s place, or how Goat got involved with the bad eggs in the first place,” Vail replied, his gaze pensive.

  “Daddy said your friend Goat worked at Evan’s ranch,” Brianna said, trundling out to the patio. “What if he asked Wake Hollander, one day when he was buying supplies, if any extra work was available? Pet stores have to keep their animals groomed. Maybe Wake didn’t need help, but he referred Goat to Evan. That could be how Goat got the job at the ranch.”