2-in-1

by Kira Chase

  “I’m glad we found this land far from the maddening crowd. Our private oasis.”

  “It was fun designing our log home just the way we wanted it and especially watching it being built.”

  “It was.” She sighed. “I was looking forward to having some peaceful nights together at home for what’s left of the summer, but it looks like our easy case went south.”

  Frankie gritted her teeth. “This case has me so damned frustrated.”

  “We’ll figure it out. We always do. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, my mother wants to come for a visit next month.” She made a face. “She called while you were in the shower.”

  She smiled. “I hope you told her we’d love to see her.”

  She touched Frankie’s cheek. “Thank you for being so nice to my mother when I know what a pain in the ass she is.”

  “She’s not so bad.”

  Johanna leaned in for a kiss. “Maybe we should have our mothers visit at the same time. It’s been a while.”

  Frankie chuckled. “They’re as different as day and night and that’s why we try not to have them here at the same time. The last time they were both here for Christmas a couple of years ago I was on pins and needles hoping my mother would behave.”

  “And she did. I love Selma just the way she is. She says what she thinks.”

  “Well sometimes she needs to think before she speaks. Anyway, we need to get the house in order before your mother comes. The guestroom is going to need a thorough cleaning.”

  “The house is fine, honey.” Johanna’s eyes shifted to the flower garden to the left of the driveway. “We’ve got to get Trey over here to help us decide what flowers we can add to the garden. I was thinking about putting some perennials in and maybe have a nice border near the fence. What do you think?”

  “That would look nice. We’ll have to think of what color would look best. I love what we have there now, but I think a little more color, especially something that will last a little longer than the other flowers.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. I hate when the flowers die off.”

  “We should invite Trey and his latest over for dinner one of these nights,” Frankie said. “We can ask him what he suggests then.”

  “That would be fun. It’s been a while since he’s been here. And I can’t wait to check out his new guy.” Johanna was quiet as she recalled their first meeting with Trey Daniels. He looked like a model with sandy-colored hair, blue eyes, broad shoulders, and a heart of gold. They’d met him when they were interviewing for landscapers, then kept him on when he informed them that he had a small side business trimming hedges, cutting lawns and anything else a client may need. He had a full team working for him, but was on the job personally when Johanna and Frankie needed something done. His business manner was professional, but when they invited him onto the porch for a cold beer, they soon found out how charming he really was. Ever since, they’d become close friends.

  “I’ll give him a call tomorrow,” Frankie said, “but right now we’ve got a case to solve.”

  “This coming from the woman who, a few minutes ago, was hoping to strike it rich at the casinos and retire.”

  “Yeah, well that was a few minutes ago. Besides, you’re right. All that sitting around would drive me crazy.” She flashed a wide smile.

  “I thought we were going to get a good night’s sleep and start fresh in the morning.”

  “That’s what you said.” She pursed her lips. “Let’s go over to Riley’s Gym.”

  “Why? We’ve already talked to the manager.”

  “We talked to the day manager. We need to question the night manager and see what she says.” She patted Johanna’s hand. “You look beat. If you don’t want to come, I can go, honey. Just keep the bed warm for me.” She winked suggestively.

  “No. I’ll come. I’ve got my second wind, but most importantly I need to make sure you don’t mess up my car,” she teased.

  “You love it when I drive.”

  Johanna rolled her eyes. “When you’re not giving me a heart attack.”

  Frankie laughed. “Can’t help my heavy foot.”

  * * * *

  A half hour later they stood in the lobby of Riley’s Gym. The room was large and inviting with soft lighting and warm colors. Straight ahead from the main entrance, a long counter filled with pamphlets encouraged those entering to learn more about the services the gym provided. A young blonde woman stood behind the counter busily leafing through a book. An older, brassy blonde woman stood on the other side filling out a form.

  While they waited for the brassy blonde to finish her business, Frankie observed the women entering and leaving, noting that they all looked the same to her. Tight asses, perfect thighs and pencil-thin figures. She hadn’t worked out at a gym in months, but Johanna and she regularly exercised at home and jogged a few times a week. She glanced at Johanna. Her body was as good or even better than these women’s.

  Johanna took her elbow. “Watch it, woman,” she whispered.

  “Just comparing how much sexier your body is,” she whispered back.

  “You always know the right thing to say.”

  “I only speak the truth,” Frankie replied as her eyes stayed focused on the brassy blonde. The woman finished her business and left the counter. “Looks like she’s free now.”

  The blonde greeted them with a bright smile pasted on her full lips as they made their way to the counter. She was short, petite and with obvious home-dyed hair.

  Frankie’s eyes strayed to the brown eyebrows. At least she could have dyed those, too. She handed the woman a business card.

  “I’m Frankie and this is my partner Johanna.”

  The blonde smiled showing off a set of extraordinarily white teeth. “What can I do for you?”

  Frankie squinted at her nametag.

  “Mayna…Mayna Taylor,” the blonde replied.

  “That’s an unusual, but pretty name,” Johanna said.

  “You haven’t met my parents.” Mayna rolled her eyes upwards.

  “How long have you been manager?” Johanna asked.

  “About two months. I used to work days in the office answering phones, but Bailey, the head manager, promoted me. She manages the day shift.”

  “You’ve heard about Cassandra McHenry I assume?” Frankie looked pointedly at her.

  “It was a shock. I still can’t believe she was murdered.” The smile faded from her lips.

  “Was she a regular here?” Frankie asked.

  Mayna nodded. “You could set your watch by her.”

  “That’s what Bailey Jones said about her when Cassandra came in the mornings.”

  “Yeah, Cassandra was a stickler for staying on schedule. She had everything mapped out minute by minute I think.” She shifted her eyes. “But then her life was the complete opposite of mine. You know, like north and south…day and night.”

  “I get the idea,” Frankie impatiently cut in. “How well did you know her?”

  “Not too well.”

  “Did you talk to her much?” Johanna asked.

  “Nothing personal…just the usual…the weather, things like that.”

  “Who was her trainer?”

  “Joe Bunson. She used to work with Nick Bower, but when she switched to nights, she had to forfeit Nick. He only works days.”

  “Do you know why she switched to nights?”

  Her eyes were stormy as she looked squarely at Johanna. “No, she never said and it really isn’t my business.”

  “Was there something going on between Cassandra and Nick?” Johanna asked. “Maybe they had a falling out and that’s why she changed her workout schedule.”

  “No. They became close friends over time. Of course I never saw Cassandra when I worked days, since I was stuck in the office, but Nick used to come in to chat with me a couple of times a week.”

  “How do you know for certain that nothing was going on between them?” Johanna persisted.

  “
I just know. Nick never got involved with any of his clients…ever. And if you knew Cassandra even a little, you would know that she’d never cheat. She only had eyes for her husband.” Mayna’s face flushed angrily. “Now if you’ll excuse me I have some things to do before we close.”

  Frankie cleared her throat. “I have just a couple more questions.”

  “I’ve all ready talked to the sheriff. I don’t legally have to talk to you two,” she snapped.

  “No, you don’t,” Frankie said. “But if you don’t I’ll probably, along with my partner, come to the conclusion that you may be withholding a crucial piece of information.” She shrugged. “We might decide to persuade the sheriff to re-question you.”

  Her face flamed. “I am not!”

  “Why are you so angry?”

  “I have work to do before I close. I’d like to get out of here at a decent hour.”

  “What’s Bunson like?” Frankie asked, watching a tremor shoot through Mayna’s hand as she picked up a pen and absentmindedly began tapping it softly on the edge of the counter.

  “He’s an arrogant son of a bitch,” she said between clenched teeth. “He thinks he’s God’s gift to women. I don’t know why they keep him on here, but of course, since he started here about a year ago, nighttime memberships have picked up.”

  “I take it you don’t like him much,” Johanna said.

  Mayna lowered her eyes and looked at the pen in her hand, then quickly set the pen down. “No. I don’t. He thinks women should fawn all over him the minute he enters the room. If they don’t, well let’s just suffice it to say that he loves a challenge. He’s the master of seduction,” she replied bitterly.

  “How long did you date him?” Johanna asked, unexpectedly taking Mayna by surprise.

  Frankie watched the color creep into Mayna’s cheeks. She loved watching Johanna work. She had a knack for sizing someone up and then subtly asking an unanticipated question and gauging the immediate reaction of her unsuspecting interviewee.

  Mayna’s fingers became restless again and instead of picking the pen back up, she nervously fingered a pile of brochures stacked on the counter. A long tapered red fingernail looked like it would be pulled off if it got snagged in the pamphlets. “I got him the job here. What a mistake that turned out to be. We were together for almost two years and he led me to believe we were heading to something permanent.” She raised her eyes slowly.

  Frankie noticed the tears peeking out behind Mayna’s eyelids. “It’s none of our business about the details of your relationship with Bunson. We’re here to talk about Cassandra McHenry.”

  Mayna cleared her throat. “She’s the reason we broke up.”

  “They were having an affair?” Johanna asked, lifting a curious eyebrow in her direction.

  She nodded.

  “A minute ago you told us Cassandra was faithful to her husband,” Johanna continued. “And would never even look at another man.”

  “That was when you asked me about Nick. She changed when she began coming in at night. She wasn’t the same at all. She began flirting with the trainers and they flirted back a little, but nothing came of it. I thought Joe was just flirting back harmlessly, the way the other trainers were, but I noticed he was giving more attention than usual to her.” Her eyes flashed angrily. “A couple of weeks after she began nights, she requested Joe as her personal trainer. I suspected something more was going on beyond the bounds of trainer and client. I admit I was getting a little jealous, and I had every right to be since we were dating.”

  “Did you confront him?”

  She peered into Johanna’s eyes. “I didn’t have to.” She took a deep breath. “About a month ago we were closing up one night and Joe didn’t come out, like he typically does, to wait for me. I was busy because we were running a membership special, so I didn’t notice Cassandra leaving the building like I normally would.” She took another deep breath. “Anyway, I walked into the exercise room he uses. The room was empty and I was ready to leave when I heard a woman’s voice calling out. I rushed to the door at the far side of the room—all the rooms have back exit doors which lead down a corridor to the showers,” she explained. “Of course, my first thought was that one of the clients had slipped in the shower and injured herself. As I drew closer, the woman began to pant.” Her face flushed. “I opened the door and there on the floor was Cassandra on all fours with Joe’s cock rammed up her ass.”

  “That must have been a shock,” Johanna replied.

  Mayna’s bottom lip trembled. “I think seeing it was Cassandra was more of a shock. It was totally out of character for her.” She shrugged. “But then maybe I never knew her at all.”

  “Did you tell anyone what you saw?”

  She shook her head.

  “Is Bunson working tonight?” Frankie asked.

  “Yes.” She tilted her head in the direction of the large swinging doors. “The exercise rooms are through there.”

  “What was his reaction to Cassandra’s death?” Johanna asked.

  “He’s not one to show much emotion, so it’s hard to tell how he feels.” She sighed. “As much as I was crushed when I found them together, I certainly would never have wished her any harm.”

  “Did he continue seeing her after you walked in on them?”

  “I don’t know. I never saw them together in any way that would be suspect, but she was always the last client to leave every night. I hadn’t spoken to her since that night and she made no attempt to speak to me.”

  “Was Bunson working last night?”

  She nodded. “He left about an hour or so after she did. There were rumors floating around that she had a motel room and he’d meet her there. Like I said, I never saw them act inappropriately with one another after that night, but what happened outside of the gym I don’t know.”

  “We’d like to talk to him.” Frankie peered at the woman. Mayna’s eyes revealed the anger that obviously still consumed her at Bunson’s indiscretion. “We’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell him that we’re private investigators,” she added.

  Mayna’s eyes suddenly brightened. “I won’t tell him anything. You’ll get to see firsthand what a jerk he is. I’ll go get him.” She moved to the end of the counter, unlatched the small door, hurried through it, then walked quickly toward the swinging doors.

  Frankie touched Johanna’s arm. “What do you think?”

  Johanna slowly let her breath out. “We have two more possible suspects to add to the list.”

  Frankie frowned. “I know what Mayna’s motive could be—jilted lover, but what about Bunson’s? What’s in it for him?”

  Johanna smiled slyly. “It could be a number of things. Maybe he was blackmailing her. You know…he’ll go to the husband and tell him about her unfaithfulness if she doesn’t pay up. Or possibly he did love Cassandra and wanted her to leave her husband. Maybe she jilted him. Then it might be a crime of passion.”

  Frankie grinned. “I love how your mind works.”

  The swinging doors opened. Mayna walked toward them followed by Joe Bunson. He caught Johanna’s eye and flexed his muscles before flashing her a bright smile.

  “God, Mayna’s right. He does think he’s God’s gift to women,” Johanna muttered. “Look how he’s staring at us.”

  “It’s you he’s staring at, babe. Let’s knock the pompous bastard down a peg or two. It’s game time.”

  Bunson moved with an arrogant swagger as he came closer. Frankie saw the simmering flick of desire in his eyes as they traveled up Johanna’s well-shaped legs, which were even more enticing in her heels. Johanna rarely dressed in anything but skirts and dresses when they were working, unless they were staking someone out. But Frankie was more comfortable in jeans and boots. She dressed in skirts and dresses only when it was necessary.

  His eyes stopped and rested for a moment on Johanna’s ample breasts. Tonight she was clad in a business-length black skirt and cream-colored silk blouse. In Frankie’s opinion she was hot no m
atter what her attire, but she looked even hotter tonight, and Frankie didn’t appreciate Bunson’s obvious lurid eye motions. He caught Frankie’s eye and gave her a swift once-over. She figured he wasn’t impressed with her black jeans, red silk blouse and black boots since he abruptly turned his attention back to Johanna.

  He smiled broadly as he stopped in front of them. “Joe Bunson at your service. What can I do for you two, ladies?” he asked, but only looked at Johanna.

  “Did Mayna tell you why we’re here?” Frankie asked.

  He shrugged his muscle-bound shoulders and glanced at her. “No, but I’m assuming you’re interested in a personal trainer or why else would you have requested me? I am the best.”

  Frankie felt like throwing up.

  “Can we talk somewhere in private?” Johanna asked with a coy smile pasted on her lips.

  “Of course.” He seemed pleased to turn his full attention back to Johanna and extended an arm, motioning them toward a small cafeteria located next to the swinging doors. They walked the short distance and entered the room. The room contained a few tables and chairs. A counter ran the length of one wall and offered bottled water, juice, and assorted snack items most of which consisted of fruit.

  “Can I get you ladies anything?” he asked as they sat down on uncomfortable wire mesh chairs at one of the small circular tables.

  “No. Thanks.” Frankie glanced around the empty room. The counter girl was the only other person in the small room. She wiped down the counter and straightened the napkin holders. When she cast a glance in their direction Frankie caught her eye and smiled. The girl’s slight lifting of an eyebrow gave Frankie the impression that the girl was anxious to clean up and leave.

  “So, which one of you is looking for a trainer?” Bunson asked as he pulled out a chair and seated himself as close to Johanna’s chair as he could without being too obvious. “Or are you both?”

  “We do everything together,” Johanna stated.

  Bunson leaned back in his chair. “My kind of women. I’ll have you two whipped into shape in no time at all, but I must say,” he continued as he leered at Johanna, “you look like you’re already in pretty decent shape.”