by Judy Clemons
Of course, she was right.
Chapter Twenty-six
Neither Laurie nor Sissy showed up for class. Sissy was probably dealing with the Parkers, and Laurie was most likely hiding under a rock somewhere. Casey did have the pleasure of seeing the gossipy Vonnie, however, and pulled her aside after class.
Vonnie took a deep draught from her water bottle and patted her face with her towel. “What is it?”
Casey hated talking to the woman, but knew she would be a fount of information, true or false. Casey would just have to take a shower later. “Who was Andrea seeing?”
Vonnie shrugged. “It was hard to keep track, with Krystal having guys around all the time.”
“I don’t think so.”
Vonnie gave a sly smile. “What’s it worth to you?”
Casey stepped closer to Vonnie, looking deep into her eyes. “I found Andrea bleeding to death on the floor of that locker room three days ago. Her parents are here, wondering how their beautiful daughter could have been murdered. Her friends are falling to pieces. I am very, very motivated to find out what happened. That’s what it’s worth to me. Do you understand?”
Vonnie gave a high, forced laugh. “Of course. I understand.”
“So who was Andrea seeing?”
Vonnie glanced around the empty room.
“There’s no one here to hear you,” Casey said. Or to save you.
Vonnie swallowed. “I don’t know. No one really talked about Andrea. It really was all about Krystal.”
“You’ve got nothing?”
“She would be in the bar sometimes, mostly with Krystal and various guys. But nobody regular. Nobody who seemed to mean anything.”
She was sweating again, and this time is wasn’t from exercise.
“What about Brandon?”
A shifty look stole across Vonnie’s face. “That would make sense, wouldn’t it? She wouldn’t want anyone else to know. And then she dumped him, and he came back and killed her.” She inhaled abruptly and slapped her hand over her mouth. “It’s too perfect!”
“It’s all in your head.”
“I don’t think so.”
Casey decided Vonnie really was telling all she knew—along with a bunch of speculation. “If you hear anything that has to do with actual facts, let me know.”
“Of course I will.” Vonnie was backing away now, a smile plastered on her face. When she saw she was close to the door, she spun and scurried out.
“Yuck,” Death said.
“And it wasn’t even helpful.”
“Except to confirm what we already know.”
“Which is?”
“That if Andrea was seeing somebody exclusively, it was a secret.”
Casey went through the locker room to her office, where she gestured for Death to turn around before she changed into her swimsuit. “So did she meet Brandon here? After he got the job, and after he’d begun scamming the residents?”
“She must have.”
“But how could she stomach that? Not only seeing him hurt other people, but knowing he was sleeping with them?”
“Maybe she couldn’t. Maybe that’s what the final straw was. Why he left.” Death was getting excited. “Maybe Andrea finally realized he wasn’t going to stop, and ratted him out to Sissy.”
“But Sissy already knew, because he was blackmailing her, remember, besides other things?”
“Then she ratted him out to the other women who were giving him money and putting him in their wills.”
“That would make more sense. Her parents said she stopped talking about the guy a couple weeks ago, just in time for Brandon to leave. So now he’s back, getting his revenge?” Casey thought about it. “It’s possible, I guess. He’d know the security procedures of the building. He might even still have keys.”
“Or…” Death held up a finger. “One of his ladies discovered Andrea was the reason he’s gone. And she was pissed.”
“Or they thought Andrea was in on the scam.” Casey considered that scenario, as she had before, and shook her head. “But think who the women are. Sissy. Bernie. Laurie. A bunch of older women who showered him with money. Could any of them really do that much damage to another woman? Especially a young, strong one like Andrea?”
“Laurie is the other fitness instructor here, remember. When she’s not freaking out and talking like a crazy person, she’s probably got it in her. And Sissy and Bernie both take classes, so they’re at least somewhat in shape. Besides, Andrea was most likely attacked from behind or by someone she knew. Or both. She could’ve been turning on the shower, talking to someone, and bam! You can do a lot of damage if the other person doesn’t suspect anything.” Death stole a glance back at Casey. “You could’ve done me in just now, and I wouldn’t have been able to respond.”
“Not with my luck. What about Maria? She might not have been one of Brandon’s ‘women,’ but she had a reason to be afraid because of her citizenship problems. If she thought Andrea was in cahoots with him, she could have assumed that now that Brandon is gone Andrea would tell her secret, and get her deported.” Casey grabbed a towel from the cupboard and went back out through the locker room, toward the pool. “Too many possibilities.”
Death followed. “I think you’re ignoring the obvious.”
Casey couldn’t talk, because there were women in the room, changing.
“Tamille has the strength. It would’ve taken her two seconds to do that kind of hurtin’.”
Casey shook her head.
“I know. You trust her. Think she’s like you. Just remember, dearie, that just a couple of weeks ago you yourself put down a bad guy, and he ain’t getting’ back up.”
Casey pushed out into the empty hallway. “I just don’t believe it. There’s no motive. I think Tamille’s telling the truth that she went to the bar to talk to Krystal, not Andrea. I guess we could ask the guy’s grandma.”
“Nah. I’m just playing devil’s advocate. If Tamille really was going to beat the crap out of somebody, she wouldn’t do it when their back was turned.”
Casey went to slap Death on the shoulder, but stopped in time. “Now you’re getting it.”
The pool room was hotter than the day before, and Casey grew lightheaded as she padded across the cement. She sat on the bottom row of the bleachers and took a deep breath.
“Thought I might find you here.” It was Binns, followed by—of course—the gorgeous Officer Gomez.
“Told you,” Death said. “You were naughty.”
Casey held her towel up in front of her swimsuit, feeling exposed in front of Gomez. “Hey. What’s up?”
“You’re holding out on me.” Binns stayed standing, looking down at Casey. Gomez checked out the rest of the room.
“I’m not,” Casey said. “I thought I might have learned something this morning, but I was wrong.”
“You want to share what that was and let me decide?”
No, she really didn’t. But Binns wasn’t going to let it drop. Casey tried to think of something else she could share that wouldn’t compromise someone. Maria was in the country illegally. Bernie had given away most of her money. Sissy was being blackmailed and having an affair with the unscrupulous Brandon, who was possibly engaged to Andrea, and she’d had a bad end at her old job that was documented on letterhead. Laurie was going just a bit off the deep end.
There. That might be good.
“Have you seen Laurie Kilmer lately?”
“No. Should I have?”
“She accosted me last night outside the Flamingo.”
Gomez swung around, his eyes searching Casey’s face, and her bare shoulders. Casey went suddenly hot, but managed a little smile. “I’m fine. Really. I saw her coming. But something’s not right there. She says she was jealous of Andrea being involved with Brandon, the last fitness instructor, but also says Andrea assured her it wasn’t true. I’m not convinced she’s handling it all very well.”
“So you think that’s who Andrea was en
gaged to?”
“Probably. But I don’t have anything concrete on that.”
“We’ll check it out. But why didn’t you just tell me about Ms. Kilmer this morning?”
“Didn’t want to make something out of nothing. I haven’t seen her today, though, and I’m wondering what’s become of her.”
“What about Ms. Patterson? Has she been after you today?”
“I’m not worried about her anymore. At least as far as my own well-being.” She told Binns and Gomez what had happened that morning.
“That’s a big turnaround,” Binns said.
“Grief,” Casey said. “It does weird things.” She glanced at Gomez, who colored slightly and looked away. “On another subject, have you checked out the banking angle?”
“In what way?”
“People Andrea may have been working with. Loans she didn’t approve.”
“We have someone working on it. Nothing jumps out at us, but sometimes what seems small to the rest of us is a mountain to somebody else.”
Like Del.
“Did you have someone in particular in mind?”
Casey kept her face neutral. “No. I just thought it might be a good place to check, and I certainly don’t have the authority to be asking.”
“So you recognize that? That’s interesting.” Binns gave her a blank look. “Don’t worry. We’ve got it under control.” She waved a hand toward the pool and the women gathering there. “Class waiting for you?”
“It is time.”
“We’ll let you go, then. But Ms. Gray, next time just tell me what you’re thinking. I’m not going to rush off and arrest people without cause.”
“Sure. Of course.”
“Come on, Gomez.” Binns clicked across the concrete in her sensible pumps. Gomez hesitated, meeting Casey’s eyes for one last look before following the detective.
“Oh, he’s caving.” Death’s hands rubbed together. “He’ll be ripe for the picking, soon.”
“I’m not harvesting anything,” Casey said from behind her towel. “And I’m certainly not going after a cop. Okay, class!” She clapped her hands. “Ready to get started?”
The class was fun, and the women ended with a splashing contest, ultimately ganging up on Casey and giving her a good dousing. When they’d dispersed, giggling, Casey pushed herself out of the pool.
She was getting water out of her ear with her towel when she felt a presence at her elbow. It was Sissy. “The Parkers want to talk to you some more.”
“Why?”
“They won’t say. They’ll only tell me they have something they need to ask you.”
“I have personal training in twenty minutes.”
“Then you can just tell the Parkers it has to be quick.”
Casey let out a big breath. “All right. Are they in her apartment?”
“They haven’t left it all day.”
“I’ll change and go up.”
“Thank you, Daisy.”
Casey got into dry clothes and went up to the fourth floor. She knocked on Andrea’s door, which had yet another bundle of flowers leaning against it. And then she knocked again. No response. She picked up the flowers and opened the door.
“Hello? Mr. and Mrs. Parker?”
It was dark in the apartment, just like Krystal’s had been that morning. Casey pushed the door open far enough she could see Andrea’s parents sitting in the living room, her mom on the sofa, her dad in the easy chair. Casey wondered if they’d moved at all since she’d left them, because it looked like they were still wearing the same clothes as the day before. She stepped in and turned on the light. Mrs. Parker swiveled toward her, squinting.
Casey set the flowers on the table. “It’s me. Daisy Gray. You wanted to see me?”
Andrea’s mom regarded Casey with confusion, and then her face cleared. “Oh, yes. Please, come in.”
Casey shut the door and went to sit beside Mrs. Parker. “How can I help you?”
“They’re telling us we can’t take Andrea home. They won’t let us have her.”
“The police have to finish their investigation first. Once they’re satisfied they have everything, they’ll release her.”
“But we want to go home. We want to take her home.” Her voice was quiet and thin.
“I know. They’re doing everything they can.”
Mrs. Parker sagged back into the sofa. Mr. Parker hadn’t yet moved.
Casey cleared her throat. “Have you remembered her fiancé’s name yet?”
Mrs. Parker shook her head slowly. “He should come. He should be here, shouldn’t he?”
If there was a ‘he,’ he definitely should.
Casey patted Mrs. Parker’s knee, then got up and went back to Andrea’s bedroom. Where would Andrea keep something with his name? And why was it hidden? She was beginning to think the whole fiancé thing was just a story for her parents. benefit. Casey looked again in the closet, under the bed, and between the mattress and the box springs. She flicked on the bedside lamp and opened the drawer of the nightstand. Nothing but an old devotional book and an extra box of tissues. She slid the drawer shut and hesitated, studying the top of the stand. A fine layer of dust covered the exposed wood, but on the side closest to the bed lay a line which appeared less dusty. The bare spot was about five inches across. Like a photo frame. Casey let out a breath. If there had been a photo by her bed, and now it was gone, that said something. Something big. There were still pictures of Andrea’s family in the apartment, so there couldn’t be a secret there. The missing photo had to be of her mystery man.
She went back out to the living room, took the family photo off the wall, and showed it to Andrea’s mother. “All family?”
“Yes. That’s David and me, of course, and Andrea’s brothers, and…and Andrea.”
Casey hung the photo back up and went to the kitchen. The refrigerator held the same pictures as the night before, which all showed family members.
Back in the living room, she took one last look between the magazines, and under the books. The books. She checked the bookmark in the top one. A receipt from the grocery store. The next book had a folded tissue. Casey picked up the third one, a paperback romance. She pulled out the scrap paper. It was a handwritten note.
My love,
You are an angel for understanding. Give it just a few more weeks, and it will be your turn. She is so grateful, and I don’t want to leave her before things are taken care of. I’ll be in touch.
With all my love,
Richie
Chapter Twenty-seven
Casey went cold. Richie? Andrea was involved with Richie? The “sweetheart” instructor who hadn’t known anything about his job? Who couldn’t show his face anywhere near or Sissy would take him to court? Not Brandon, the stud con-man? But Richie had been gone for…she didn’t know exactly how long he’d been gone. Casey looked up, hoping to see Death to compare reactions, but Death was—for once—nowhere to be seen.
Casey’s fingers shook. Everything she’d been told about Richie was that he had taken off, never to be heard from again. That if he did show up, Sissy would have him thrown in jail, or would take him to court, or whatever.
A few more weeks, he said in the note. A few weeks from when? From when he disappeared? From much, much later, when everyone else thought he’d disappeared for good?
And then she remembered, the one time she’d talked to Andrea about the previous instructors. She had said, “Richie is a sweetheart.” Not was. Is. Casey hadn’t picked up on it at the time, but now it stuck out like Death at a baby shower.
Casey smoothed the note out on her leg. “Mrs. Parker, does the name Richie mean anything to you?”
Mrs. Parker’s face remained impassive. “No.” She brightened. “Is that Andrea’s fiancé?”
“I don’t know. I just…I found this note.” She held it out.
Mrs. Parker read it, her brow furrowing. “What does he mean? Once what is taken care of?”
“I
don’t know. May I keep the note?”
Mrs. Parker absently handed it back over, the spark disappearing from her eyes.
Casey stood. “I need to talk to someone. I’ll be in touch, okay? Are you all right here? Do you need anything?”
She got no response, and left them to their silence. She ran down to her apartment and waited for Death to join her, so she could share what she’d just found. But Death didn’t come. When she couldn’t wait any longer, Casey jogged down the service stairs to the weight room, where she met her personal training client. It was one of the older men she’d had on Wednesday, and she basically just stood by, making sure he didn’t drop a weight on his head.
She couldn’t believe what she’d found. Andrea had been involved with Richie? What did that mean? Why would that get her killed? Maybe it didn’t. Maybe someone else was under the same false impression Casey had been—that Andrea had been involved with Brandon.
But why would anybody think that in the first place?
Casey put her guy on the treadmill, and got her next client started. Again, an older woman who didn’t take a lot of thought. As soon as her time was over, Casey hustled down to the reception area, hoping to catch Maria. She was still there, with a young woman who was signing papers. Sissy’s door was closed, but light showed at its base. Casey hung back, and saw Jack getting the bar area ready for the night’s happy hour.
She walked over. “Sorry about last night.”
He looked up. “Hey. No problem. I figured you were exhausted after these past few days, and hit the sack early. Was I right?”
“Exactly.”
He picked up a glass and looked at her expectantly.
“No, thanks. I’m waiting to talk to Maria.”
“Anything I can help you with?”
Casey thought for a moment, then pulled the note out of her pocket and shoved it across the bar. “What do you think of this?”
He read the note. “Who was this to?”
“Want to take a guess?”
His eyebrows rose. “Andrea?”
She nodded. “I just found out she was engaged. I thought it was to Brandon, but it seems I was wrong.”
“Andrea and Brandon?” Jack let out a sharp laugh. “No way.”
