“Oh, how wonderful,” Dolores exclaimed. “I’ve never seen a private dragon dance before.”
Kuan was having fun, I could tell. As the lights came up, he stood. “The dragon is welcomed everywhere because he brings good fortune.” He bowed his head in Gloria’s direction. “Dragons possess great power and wisdom and the longer the dragon, the more luck. For our space, we could only hire a small dragon with five joints.” Kuan glanced around the table. “But it’s important to use an odd number of joints.”
“I thought the dragon dance was only for Chinese New Year,” Angela said.
“Well, the practice first started in the Han Dynasty for ceremonies to worship ancestors, but eventually it came into use for all sorts of celebrations. If this was a religious ceremony, the dragon’s head and tail would have to be burned and the body stored until next year.”
“I think it’s wonderful,” Gloria said. “Thank you, Kuan. That was so thoughtful of you.”
“May it bring great good fortune,” Kuan replied.
After dessert and more tea, and once the plates were cleared away, Angela and Dolores were the first to leave. I breathed a sigh of relief when the odious Gianni left with them. I asked Gloria and Kuan if I could drive the two of them back to Castle Alley, but they declined, saying they’d rather walk. “Are you sure?” I pressed.
“Yes, dear, we’ll be fine. It’s a nice night for a walk.”
I hugged my grandmother and gave Kuan a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Kuan. I’ll see you both soon.”
Cheryl and I climbed into my car and, waving to Kuan and my grandmother, headed down Grant Avenue toward the Mystic Eye. I pulled into the small parking lot at the rear.
“I’m so sorry, Julia.” Cheryl looked contrite. “I don’t know what made me say that, about a new man in your life.”
“Ha! I knew I should have stopped you after two glasses of that liqueur. Don’t worry about it. Are you okay to drive home?”
“Sure, I’ll be fine. The hot tea helped.” Cheryl opened the passenger door.
“Hey, before you go, there’s a place I’d like to stop into. Do you feel like walking across the way to Stoned?”
“Stoned? The club?”
“One of the women at David’s office plays in a band. Tonight’s their night. She invited me, so I thought I’d pop in for a drink.”
“Uh uh, not me. I’m pooped. It’s almost eleven. Aren’t you tired?”
“Kind of, but Googie Adano, the owner, is a friend. I thought I’d say hi. Kill two birds with one stone.”
“Thanks, but no. I’m heading home and collapsing until I have to come back here tomorrow.” Cheryl climbed out and then leaned down. “Leave your car here. It’ll be safe.”
“Good idea. See you Saturday.”
“Oh, don’t remind me. I have to get all the snacks organized for the open house.” Cheryl blew me a kiss. “Have fun.”
I climbed out and locked my car, waving to Cheryl as she got in her car and drove away. I hurried down the short alleyway and crossed Columbus, weaving through the crowds of late night strollers. I wished I’d worn something more casual, because now I was totally overdressed for a club night, but they’d have to take me as I was. I wanted a chance to observe Dani and her band and nose around.
I walked the last two blocks to the entrance and pushed a ten-dollar bill through the tiny window. Googie’s partner, JJ, was collecting the cover. He’s a very large, very tattooed biker who helps Googie manage the business. His tough macho exterior is good window-dressing, and he can double as a bouncer when needed. He’s scary looking enough to keep customers in line but he’s as gentle as a large pussycat. JJ smiled in recognition and stamped the back of my hand with a purple stamp.
“Julia, nice to see you …”
“JJ.” I nodded and smiled.
“Whatcha doing here, girl? Surely you’re not here for the culchuh?” JJ growled.
“I’m with the band.”
“You shoulda said somethin’.” He pushed the ten-dollar bill back to me. “Go right in, honey. Googie’s around … you’ll see him.”
The blast was deafening. Dani’s band, Hoarse, was on, and Dani was on stage with her bass playing a solid rhythm. The lead singer, a male, stood rigid at the mike and screamed out lyrics I couldn’t for the life of me understand. I made a circuit of the interior, carefully avoiding the center where patrons screamed, cavorted, slid, and collided to the music. Actually, I thought Dani was pretty good … as a bass player, that is. The rest of the band she could do without. I spotted Googie on the far right wall behind the bar, wearing a florid Hawaiian shirt decorated with rhinestones.
Googie is devastatingly witty and works very hard at running his business, his dream come true. He absolutely loves what he does and spends every day and night at his club. What amazes me is that after all this time at the noise-a-thon, he still has eardrums left. I ducked under the bar and waved to him.
“Julia, sweetie.” Googie sped from the other end of the bar to embrace me and kiss me on both cheeks. He pulled back and looked at my outfit. “Oh, I’m so sorry, madam, the Junior League Tea was cancelled.”
I laughed. “Just came from my grandmother’s birthday dinner.”
“How’s she doing?”
“She’s great. Kuan organized a big do at the Asia Inn.”
“Well, then you’ve stopped by to tell me you’re leaving me your hair in your will?”
I rubbed the top of Googie’s thinning hairline. “No, sweetie, no. Just to see you and hear the music.”
“Likely story. Come up to my office where we can talk.” Googie walked to the end of the bar, grabbed a handle in the wall, and pulled. A black rectangle opened. He gave a wave to the bartender on duty, who nodded in return, and then took my hand and led me up a narrow stairway dimly lit with tiny white lights at the baseboard level. Once the door to the bar was shut, much of the noise disappeared, though the entire structure still reverberated. We climbed the stairway and Googie unlocked another heavy door that opened into a corridor leading to his office at one end and his and JJ’s living quarters at the other. Their apartment looked out over Broadway, a street once lit by the infamous neon sign of the topless dancer with flashing nipples suspended from the building at the corner.
“Now what are you really up to? You know, I have to come back soon for a reading, I’m actually thinking of sinking some more money into this hellhole, but I want to consult with you first.”
“Of course. Actually, that’s what started this … a reading for a friend. You know I’m acquainted with one of your musicians?”
“Oh, who, darlin’?” Googie offered me a cigar. I shook my head no and Googie lit one.
“She’s playing bass right now with Hoarse.”
“Oh, right, she seems real sweet. Not like that testosterone-ridden nerd who sings with them, but she’s all right as these kids go. What’s up?”
“What dates have they played this past week?”
“Well, we have them booked for tonight and the next three Thursdays. If they bring in a decent crowd, we could move ’em up to Friday nights. But they’ve been doing the Sunday evening jams.”
“Were they here last Sunday?
“Oh yeah. They were. You could always double check with JJ. He has a better memory for that stuff.” Googie waved his hand vaguely in the air.
“What time do they start up and how many sets do they do?”
“Four sets. On Thursdays they set up around seven thirty and start playing at eight thirty, and then go to last call at one forty. Unless of course they’re sharing the bill with someone else, which they’re not right now because it wouldn’t be worth it for me. Sundays, they play six to ten. They’re the main band. They play the whole first set, then the jammers have their turn.”
That schedule didn’t give Dani an alibi for either mur
der. “That’s an awfully long night, isn’t it?”
“Oh, no, sweetface, they have to work for their money. You know what an oppressive capitalist pig I am.” Googie smiled. “Listen, I’m thinking of a whole new look: white on white, with silver appointments, swing bands, and elegant jazz trios. Drinks, caviar, the whole thing … evening dress only. What do you think?
“Wow! That’s a change.”
“This whole urban punk thing has been done to death … it’s as common as dirt and hardly alternative anything. I’m thinking Café Googie … or maybe Café Giorgio. Sounds classier, doesn’t it?” Googie trailed off and smiled. “Besides, I’d love to see JJ in a tux. Can you hang around till we close up?”
“No, I can’t. Thanks anyway. I just stopped in to say hi and pick your brain. It’s a long story, which I won’t bore you with now. I’ll say hello to Dani and maybe buy her a drink. Don’t mention I’ve been asking questions, okay?”
“You got it.”
“Oh, one more thing if you don’t mind, Googs.”
“Anything for you, honey. After all, you’re a Sagittarius. I trust you.”
“Ever hear any rumors about a man named Roger Wilkinson?”
Googie squinted his eyes. “Name rings a bell, but I can’t place it. Is he one of my people?”
“Pretty sure. Here. Here’s a photo of him.” I pulled out the article Roger had written on health care abuses, which I’d fortunately remembered to stuff in my purse. It boasted a professional shot of Roger in a suit.
“Oooh, yes. I know who he is. Although I only knew the first name.”
“Well, tell …” I prompted.
“I don’t remember the details offhand. It was a few years back but there was quite a scandal. JJ might remember. I’ll let you know what I can find out.”
“I’d appreciate that. And again, don’t tell anyone I was asking, okay?”
“Don’t worry.” Googie made a silent gesture zipping his lips shut. “If I can find out more, I’ll let you know.”
I found Dani on the other side of the room. The jukebox was playing Patsy Cline, which was a welcome relief, and Dani was chatting with a young guy with a beer in his hand.
I approached slowly. “Hi, Dani.”
She smiled vacantly at me, then vagueness turned to amazement as she recognized me. “Julia! Ohmigod, I didn’t recognize you. You’re all dressed up,” she laughed.
“I just came from a dinner party, but I was nearby so I thought I’d stop in.”
“Hey, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend.” She turned to the young man. “Antho, this is Julia. She’s working at the firm this week.” Antho turned a somewhat pockmarked round face toward me and smiled a toothy grin. His eyebrows and lips were pierced in various spots. I thought his name reminiscent of the disease that affects a lot of sheep, but I smiled anyway and shook his hand.
“Antho’s our singer and lead guitar,” Dani announced proudly.
“Can I get you a beer or a drink, Dani?”
“Nah, I’ve got one, thanks, and I’ve got to go back up in a minute. Did you catch our last set?”
“I did. It was great,” I lied. “I just came by to hear you and say hi.”
“Can you stick around for the next set?”
My head spun at the thought of another minute in front of the stacks of amps. “Oh, I’d love to, but I’m on my way to meet a friend. Some other time maybe.”
Dani spun around and glanced at a signal from another guitar player on stage. “Uh oh, gotta go. Listen, thanks for coming by, Julia. I’ll give you some of our flyers tomorrow when I see you.” She kissed Antho quickly on the cheek and took off for the stage.
All in all, the hour spent at Googie’s didn’t net very much. Whatever alibi Dani might have for either of the murders didn’t involve a gig at Stoned. Googie’s memory was maddeningly vague, but I knew what a gossip he was and that if he remembered anything more about Roger, he’d let me know. I waved good night to Dani, now on stage, and made my way through the growing crowd to the front door of the club. I said good night to JJ, slipped out the door, and retraced my steps to the parking lot of the Eye to head home.
I pulled up to my garage door and searched for the opener. It wasn’t in my purse, the last place I’d seen it. I checked the glove compartment. Empty. Where had it gotten to? I gave up the search, backed out to the curb, and climbed out. I’d have to search for it tomorrow. I climbed the stairs, unlocked the door, and called to Wizard. He didn’t come to greet me. I heard his bell jingle somewhere in the apartment. It wasn’t like him not to rush to the top of the stairs to greet me. I turned on the lamp on the hallway table and spotted his paws underneath.
“Wiz, what are you doing? Come on out for a hug.” I petted his paws and made kissing sounds. Wiz returned the affection with a gurgle and rushed out to my arms. “What are you doing hiding there?” I cuddled him as I walked into the living room. I flicked on the wall switch and stood in stunned horror. My apartment had been trashed.
twenty-eight
The room was in shambles. A ceramic vase lay shattered in a hundred pieces on the floor. Books had been tossed off the shelves and two of the sofa cushions had been ripped open. I couldn’t breathe and could barely move. Wizard mewed and snuggled closer in my arms. I went back to the hallway, terrified something might have happened to my bronze Buddha. It was still in its place, probably because it weighs a ton and is impossible to lift. I sighed; it hadn’t guarded my nest very well tonight. In the kitchen, dishes from the cabinet were smashed. Food from the refrigerator, what there was of it, had been thrown against the walls to drip on to the floor. Bureau drawers had been dumped out in my bedroom, jewelry flung all over the room. The pillows on my bed and the comforter were slashed. The clothes hanging in the small closet, mostly just a couple of suits and some jeans and sweaters I’d been wearing that week, had been ripped off the hangers and cut to ribbons.
I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. My hands started to shake. I knew now why Wizard had been hiding under the table, terrified. Then the thought occurred to me that someone could still be in the apartment. Perhaps I’d just interrupted the intruder. I lowered Wizard gently to the floor and shushed him, then made a dash for the small coat closet in the hallway where I keep a toolbox. Opening the door as quietly as possible, I released the catches on the metal box and grabbed a long thick screwdriver. It was the only thing I could think of in a hurry. If I had to defend myself, there was a good chance I could do a job on someone with it. I slipped off my shoes so I could walk silently, and, against my instincts, returned to the bedroom. I peeked under the bed. My hands were still shaking. Wizard had followed me and now was hiding under the tall bureau, his tail sticking out. I was tempted to join him. I picked up the phone and dialed Gale’s number, praying she’d answer. She picked up on the third ring.
“Gale. It’s me. Can you come right over?”
“Julia? Sure, honey. What’s wrong?”
“Tell you when you get here.” I hung up. Tiptoeing softly, I walked to the end of the hallway and the office. Nothing in there had been touched. Thankfully, my computer was in one piece. The charts were still stuck on the bulletin board, so whoever it was had either taken no interest in this room or had been interrupted. I checked the desk drawer where I store my laptop. It was intact. I breathed a sigh of relief. The filing cabinet where I keep my hard copies of client charts was undisturbed. Everything seemed in order.
There weren’t too many hiding places in my apartment, and the ones that did exist I knew very well. I looked in the large walk-in closet in the hallway where most of my clothes were stored. As usual when I pulled on the knob, the door stuck. I leaned all my weight on the handle and it released. If that clothing had been destroyed, it would have been a real blow, but it was fine. I checked in the bathroom, in the shower stall, and peeked under the bed again for good measure. I walked
very softly down the hall to the living room and made a circuit of the space, then checked the coat closet by the top of the stairs again and the small laundry room next to the kitchen.
Returning to the bedroom, I pulled out a small case I keep under the bed. It holds a flashlight, a small radio, and a pair of tennis shoes in case of earthquake. I grabbed the flashlight and clicked it on. There was only one possible hiding place left in the apartment, and that was the storage area under the front stairway. I tiptoed down the stairs. The triangular-shaped door beneath the stairs is painted the same color as the wall of the hallway and the handle is camouflaged by color as well. Anyone not familiar with the apartment might not even notice it. I steeled myself in case my intruder was hiding there and would lunge out at me. Screwdriver in one hand and flashlight in the other, I pulled open the door and stepped back quickly. Nothing happened. I’d been holding my breath. I shone the flashlight around the almost-empty space. Nothing but two boxes of old tax papers and files and a large plastic storage container for extra blankets. I shut the door and turned the hasp to lock it.
The doorbell rang. I jumped involuntarily. It took me a moment to catch my breath. “Who is it?” I called out.
“It’s me,” Gale said from the other side of the door.
I opened it and let her in. “How did you get here so fast?”
“I was just down the street on Clement having a drink. Are you okay?” Gale took my hand. “What’s going on?” She glanced at the screwdriver I was clutching tightly. “Holy crap, put that down. You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Let’s go up to the kitchen.”
“Somebody broke in. Come have a look. You won’t believe it.” Gale followed me up the stairs. “I think I may have surprised them.”
Tail of the Dragon Page 18
