by Roslyn Woods
You’re thinking of you and Dean and Donald, not me, thought Shell. She couldn’t feel she was Dean’s family even if she knew she was Margie’s dearest friend and Margie was the closest thing to family she had in this world. Dean had cast her out, and rather unkindly. She could not agree with his sister that it was because he was jealous. She could only see that he had judged her unfairly. If he hadn’t liked the fact that she had opened the door and spoken to Brad, well then that was just too bad. She’d had a life, and so had he. She didn’t judge him for his mistakes, and if he was going to judge her for hers, he couldn’t be allowed into a deep part of her heart.
Even as she thought this she felt a little ache come back that stayed with her. Somehow, Dean had gotten into her heart, and she knew she would just have to get over him.
As if on cue, Shell’s phone dinged. A text message had come in. She rinsed and dried her hands and dug her phone from its pocket in her purse. She hoped it wouldn’t be Brad, but there was no feeling of relief when she looked at the screen. It was Dean.
I handled everything badly last night. Can we talk?
Shell leaned against Margie’s kitchen counter and looked at her phone. She didn’t want to talk to him, and she didn’t want to allow herself to be vulnerable to him again.
“What’s up?” asked Margaret as she stirred a mixture of ground sirloin, onions, and herbs.
Shell held the phone up so her friend could read it, and a smile spread across Margie’s face. “I knew he’d want you to come back. You have time to call him while I get the meatballs going. The bread can be done last minute.” She was talking as if she didn’t know Shell’s feelings had been deeply bruised the night before. “And tell him I’m making way too many meatballs. He should come over. Oh, and have him bring a Cabernet or a Tempranillo—or anything red. I’m out.”
“Margie, what if I’m finding it hard to talk to him right now?” she asked as she sat down at the little kitchen table.
Margie rinsed her hands and dried them on her apron. She sat down by Shell and put her arm around her. “Listen, I love you as much as I love Dean, but I’m asking you to cut him some slack. He’s under investigation for murder. He’s not reacting the way he normally would. He’s acted badly, yes, and this text may be his way of apologizing. Let him. Just do it for me if you can’t do it for him.”
Shell was silent for a full minute. “Okay. I’ll do it for you,” she said quietly.
“And I have to get out the big skillet and pasta pot, so I’m going to be noisy. You should call him from the other room.”
“Okay,” said Shell, trudging into the guestroom.
She sat on the side of the bed and stared at the phone. What should she say to him? He had been as cold as ice the night before. She didn’t expect this to be an easy conversation, and she didn’t want to be soft and sweet. He didn’t deserve forgiveness from her, but she had better get on with calling him. She tapped the screen a couple of times and saw his name appear. She listened to his phone ring once.
“Hi,” he picked up right away.
“Hi,” she said back.
“Uh, thanks for responding,” he said. “I was waiting and thinking maybe you wouldn’t.”
“Your sister wants you to come over for dinner,” Shell said abruptly. “She wants you to bring some red wine ‘cause she’s all out.”
“Okay,” he said sounding confused. “I can do that, but are you going to talk to me?”
“I really don’t know what to say.”
“How about I admit I acted like a jerk and you come home?”
“Home?”
“Back to your house.”
“I thought it wasn’t safe.” She wasn’t willing to help him much.
“Today I installed some cameras like the ones at my house. I can show you where each one is to make sure you’re okay with it. And I checked the attic to see if something was hidden there. It wasn’t. So they’ve either found what they’re looking for, or it was never there. Anyway, if you’re feeling nervous Sadie can stay with you. And I thought a lot about the fact that the locks have been changed. If there was a problem with someone trying to get in, I’m pretty much always close by, and the surveillance will alert me.”
“I’m not the one who was worried about safety.”
“I know.” He sounded frustrated. “I’m crawling here. I would really like it if you would come back, and I’d like you to let Sadie stay with you,” he said, “so I won’t be worried.”
She didn’t answer right away.
“Okay?” he asked.
“Okay.”
“Am I still invited to dinner?” he asked.
“You are.”
He got there just after Donald got home. Shell was buttering the garlic bread, and Donald was getting to know Bitsy.
“Dean, come meet Shell’s new dog,” said Donald.
“Well, hello,” said Dean, looking down at her. “What’s your name?”
“She was already named Bitsy,” said Margie. “Her family had to move to an apartment that wouldn’t take pets. She’s two years old, and she’s a total sweetheart. We just have to get Tabitha used to her.”
“And Sadie,” said Dean, putting two bottles on the table and smiling hopefully at Shell. “So you got a dog,” he said.
“I did,” and she smiled distantly. She put the bread in the oven and got glasses down for the four of them, but she didn’t say anything else.
“Donald, could you open the wine?” asked Margie. “And Dean, could you get that platter down for me?”
In a few minutes the wine was poured and the platter of steaming spaghetti and meatballs was placed in the middle of the dining room table. Salad and bread were dished up first and everyone sat down to eat.
It was strange how different Shell felt tonight. The food was great, and the company was fine, but she was changed. She could tell Dean was trying to be friendly, but there was a cold feeling in her chest. She watched the evening go by, and she participated, but she felt something hanging in the air, and she couldn’t deny the feeling. His apology hadn’t really been enough. He hadn’t said why he had sent her away, why he had been so unfeeling with her. She also knew she could never allow herself to give in to her attraction for him again. There was too much to lose.
“I talked to Ray today,” said Dean, as Margie brought out a frozen chocolate mousse. “He lied to me. He said he hadn’t been to Danny’s Place since I took him there a year and a half ago when I was gathering pictures for the website. So I have to admit, you ladies were right. Something’s going on over there, and he probably has something to do with it.”
Margie and Shell exchanged looks. They had both felt sure Ray had been at the bar for a reason.
“The thing is,” said Donald, accepting a dish of the chocolate mousse, “how do we get Sgt. Gonzalez to look into this?”
“I don’t know,” said Dean. “He hasn’t even responded yet about the license plate. I doubt he’s even checked it. If we tell him you saw Kojak in the bar, that might make a difference.”
“I can just hear him saying that it’s a free country and there’s nothing illegal about the intruder working at Danny’s Place,” said Donald.
“We have to try,” said Margie, handing dessert dishes to Dean and Shell. “Our best hope is if Sgt. Gonzalez gets curious about why Kojak was in your house and why he’s also in Danny’s bar. The Ray connection will have to reveal itself when he figures out the Kojak connection.”
“I think you’re right, Margie,” said Dean. “I’ll call him in the morning.” Then, tasting the mousse, “My God, girl, how do you do it?”
“I just happen to know,” said Margie, “that my brother’s favorite food is chocolate.”
Chapter 29
Becky Lester lived in Jollyville near Forest Ridge. Her house was on a little hill, and the sidewalk was already lit up with footlights even though it wasn’t yet dark.
Wilson noted that she was a little bit of a thing with very shor
t blond hair and big hoop earrings. She seemed nervous, but nice. Wilson guessed she was about thirty-two or three.
“I’m Sergeant Gonzalez, and this is Detective Wilson. Do you mind if we record this interview?”
“Oh, I don’t know. That’s going to make me nervous. Do you have to record it?” she asked. Her voice was slightly high-pitched, and she seemed younger when she spoke.
“Well, no, we don’t,” said Gonzalez, “but it really helps when we’re transcribing it later.”
“You transcribe it? Oh gosh, that makes me nervous too.”
“It would be very helpful. What do you say?”
“Oh, okay. Just don’t ask hard questions.”
“It’s not any kind of test. We just want truthful answers to questions you know the answers to,” said Gonzalez.
“Sorry, I just have anxiety sometimes.”
“I understand.”
“Oh gee, where are my manners? Would you like to sit down?”
“Thank you,” said Gonzalez as he and Wilson took places on the white sofa.
“Can I get y’all something to drink?”
“No, no, that’s okay. We just have a few questions and then we’ll be on our way.”
“Okay.” She sat down in the chair opposite them and folded her hands in her lap like a sixth grader waiting to speak with the principal.
“How long have you worked at Dell in Round Rock?” asked Gonzalez.
“About six years. I started in March, so really it’s not six years yet. It won’t be six years until March, so that makes five years and, let’s see, five years and—”
“About seven months?” asked Gonzalez.
“Yeah, about that I guess. Is that right?”
“I think so. Close enough. When did you meet Amanda Lopez?”
“Well, it was after that because she started after I did.”
“And did you become friends?”
“Yes.”
“Did you visit with Amanda Lopez at work?”
“A little. Mostly we went out places after work. She started asking me and Linda to go out with her after Linda started.”
“Would that be Linda Morrison?”
“Yes. We went out for food and drinks, and sometimes the guys came.”
“Which guys?”
“At first it was Jason. Then later Ray and Gabe started up. Let’s see, and then Jason quit, and then, oh I don’t know—”
“Is that Jason Novak?”
“Yes.”
“What can you tell me about Amanda Lopez and Novak?”
“Well, gee, they were close for a while, but Amanda broke it off.”
“Do you know why?”
“I remember she said he was a loser.”
“A loser? Really? Why would she say that?”
“I’m not sure. He was pretty nice, and technically, he was one of the bosses. I remember she said his place was a dump. People say he gambles, so maybe there’s not a lot of money left over.”
“How was the breakup?”
“I hardly knew it happened. Jason just quit going out with us.”
“So, did he seem hurt?”
“I don’t see him at work much. He’s in a different department and one of the bosses. I guess I never thought about it. And it was long time ago.”
“Hmm. Who else came along, Miss Lester?”
She took a breath and looked from Gonzalez to Wilson with big eyes. “Came along? What do you mean?” she asked.
“Were there other people who went out for dinner and drinks with you and your friends?”
“Oh, people would come and go,” she said evasively.
“What people?”
“Okay. Danny Lopez would come. And yes, we started dating, okay? We dated for a while and I broke up with him. Now everybody says he’s missing and they keep asking me if I’ve heard from him.” She looked out the window and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Who keeps asking you?” asked Gonzalez.
“Linda asked me. Gabe asked me. They said you were looking for him.”
“And you haven’t heard from him?”
“No.”
“Okay. Well, what can you tell us about him?”
“What do you mean?”
“Where did he live?”
“He had a place in south Austin. And he stayed at the bar sometimes.”
“Did you ever stay with him at the place in south Austin?”
She paused and looked at Gonzalez and then back at Wilson before she answered. “I don’t want anybody to know I told you this.”
“Why is that?”
“I don’t know, I just don’t feel all that good about Danny’s friends. I don’t think they’d want me telling you where he lives.”
“Why would they care?”
“I don’t know, I just think they would.”
“Have you ever been threatened by Danny or any of his friends?”
Her eyes grew large and she asked, “Why are you asking me about that?”
“Miss Lester, we’re trying to find out what happened to Amanda Maxwell. We’re also searching for her brother. Is there any information you can give us that might help?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Did you ever go to Danny’s home in south Austin? We don’t intend to tell anyone that you’ve given us this information,” he assured her. “So did you?” he asked again.
“A few times.”
“Can you tell us where this place is located?”
“It’s on Pinehurst in Onion Creek. I don’t remember the number.”
“If we got it on Google Maps and did a street view of it, could you tell us which place it was?”
“I don’t know.”
Wilson opened his laptop and pulled up the maps program. In a minute or two he carried it over to show it to her.
“Now Miss Lester, as you’re going into Onion Creek, would you turn right or left on Pinehurst?” Wilson asked.
“Right,” she said, smiling shyly at him and giving in a little.
Wilson maneuvered with the mouse pad. “Let me know when you see anything that looks like we’re getting warm,” he said.
“Not yet,” she said. It took several minutes before she said, “That’s looking familiar. No, go back a little bit. There it is. That’s the house.”
Wilson zoomed in on the house number. “Okay, sir. We’ve got it,” he said to Gonzalez. “Thanks,” he added to Becky.
“Miss Lester, did Amanda Maxwell ever tell you that she was frightened?” Gonzalez continued.
“No.”
“Were you ever a witness to her fighting with anyone?”
“She argued with people sometimes, sure.” Becky was wringing her hands now.
“Who did she argue with?”
“Danny mostly. But I know she argued with Ray sometimes, too. She didn’t like his using very much, and I think she was giving him money a lot of the time.”
“How about her husband?”
Becky Lester looked at Gonzalez for a few seconds before she answered. “I don’t know, but I always wondered what she had against him. She didn’t want him going out with us, and she didn’t want him knowing where we were.”
“And she told you this?”
“She said once that he didn’t need to know everything.”
“He didn’t need to know everything?” asked Gonzalez.
“Yeah. But I don’t know what it meant for sure.”
“When was this?
“It was right after the wedding so she was still living with him. I picked her up and we were going to Danny’s Place. I said hi to Dean when she opened the door, and he asked where us ladies were going. I just answered and said Danny’s Place.”
“And Amanda didn’t like that?”
“I think she might have already told him somewhere else. She said something like, ‘Just for a minute to get Danny and then we’re going on to Chez Zee.’ But we weren’t. We were just going to have drinks at the bar. Then
when we got in the car she said, ‘He doesn’t need to know everything,’ and I felt kinda bad for him. It seemed like an innocent question.”
“Did you think she was hiding something specific?”
“If we were spending the whole night at the bar then maybe that meant she was drinking a lot. She drank too much, but I’m not sure if that’s why she said we were going somewhere else.”
“What about her relationship with Ray? Was she already having an affair with him?”
Becky looked startled for a minute. “Yes,” she answered. “But I don’t want Ray knowing I told you.”
“Is it such a secret?”
“I just know Ray didn’t want Dean to know about it, and even now he doesn’t want him to know.”
“Because?
“I don’t know. Maybe it would ruin their friendship.”
“And he’s told you specifically that he doesn’t want Maxwell to know about his relationship with his wife?”
“Yes.”
“When was this?”
“He calls sometimes. He called me after Amanda was killed. He was asking questions.”
“What kind of questions?”
“He wanted to know if Amanda had stayed with me at all. He wanted to know what I knew about places where she might have kept any of her stuff. It didn’t make sense to me. She had an apartment. But he also said not to talk to Dean about it because he thought it might hurt Dean to know about their affair.”
“Was there any chance you might have talked to Dean?”
“No, but maybe he was just getting a little paranoid. I always liked Ray. I never knew why he couldn’t get over Amanda.”
“Why did he want to know about a place where Amanda might have kept her stuff?”
“I just guessed he needed money. He’s always using, and he lost his job up at Dell, and the job at Danny’s Place probably couldn’t pay as much, so how’s he going to pay for his habit? I figured he wanted to hock something.”
“It makes sense. Can I ask you about Danny now?”
“What?” She was wringing her hands again.
“Why did you break up with him?”
“We just didn’t get along,” she said, looking a little bit frightened again.
