by Alexie Aaron
“Bella, this is Marco.”
“Hello, Marco,” I said in a soft voice.
“I’m going to be gone for a few weeks.”
“Are you going home?” I asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“Have a safe journey,” I said, meaning it.
“Bella, please listen. I’m not a good man. I have a wife and family, but I make love to you.”
“I loved making love to you. You are a wonderful, bad man.”
He laughed. “Bella, can I call you when I come back?”
“Please do, Marco.”
“Until then, you will be in my heart,” he said and hung up.
I took a moment to feel the love, and yes, the relief that washed over me. To have such an ardent lover, and not have to wash his clothes, was wonderful. I sighed.
Buslowski pulled up. “Are you having car trouble?”
“I was answering a call.”
“Okay.”
“Why are you interested?” I asked him.
“Because, for a woman so hot to get rid of me, you never made it out of the lot.”
“Do you want me to feed you?” I asked.
“Please.”
“Do I have to cook?”
“No. Take me out to eat.”
I closed my eyes a moment. “Park your car, and I’ll pick you up. I have to call Harry first.”
He had the nerve to salute me.
“Harry, I’m taking Buslowski to eat. No, I’m not going to sleep with him. I’m going to feed him. Where should I take him? I’m thinking, loud music so I don’t have to answer any more of his bloody questions.”
“The Old Key Lime House. Crab Cakes, and don’t forget the pie,” Harry said. “Cin, Tom wants you to visit him. I guess it’s time for a booty call.”
“Be nice. Go ahead and schedule it. I have a few questions for him.”
“Cin, just to be clear. You’re going alone this time.”
“Yes.”
“Good. Don’t hurt him, Cin.”
“Who, Harry? Tom? I won’t hurt him. Buslowski, I’m going to kill.”
“What about Marco?”
“Marco’s gone back to Rome.”
“Are you sad?”
“No. He was way too distracting. Time to get back to work.”
“That’s the Cin I love.”
I didn’t know what to say. “I’ll be home early or I’ll call.” I pulled the car around and picked up Buslowski who had changed his shirt. “Thank you, Dave, I didn’t like the way the other one smelled.”
~
The meal was good and the music loud. At one point, I went to the restroom and caught Buslowski trying to access my phone when I returned. It was a good thing I locked it after talking to Harry.
“Excuse me, but that’s my phone.”
“Who were you talking to in the parking lot?” he asked.
“Harry. He gave me the restaurant recommendation.”
“No, before. It was so important you stopped the car.”
I shrugged and smiled at the waiter. “Two pies please,” I said.
“You looked beautiful at Carmen,” he said as he moved his chair next to mine so he could hear me.
“Thank you.”
“Antonia hates you. She told me so. You bumped her daughter off of Marco’s lap.”
“That’s Marco’s business. I went to the opera with him, Harry and Sally.”
“But…”
“What is it with you? I was doing an investigation. And yes, I enjoyed myself, and yes, I like the scoundrel, but there is nothing there. I had a good time. I was treated like a treasure, and the night ended. Leave it alone.”
“He’s not the guy,” Buslowski said. “I thought he was, but, no, you were ripe and sassy before Marco got his hands on you.”
“I beg your pardon?” I asked, hurt. “Dave, you’ve got to stop this. What does it have to do with catching Kyle’s killer?”
“It doesn’t.”
“Then why are you grilling me?”
“You and I were set to have a wonderful future together and…”
“Kyle ended that. Don’t try to rewrite it. You failed me three times. I owe you nothing. You were a great fuck, now go away.”
“No.”
I couldn’t help it, but I started laughing. A group of drunk tourists danced by, and I got up and joined them. Anything to get away from my feelings. When I came back, the pie was there along with two mugs of coffee. Buslowski was not. Neither was my phone. Damn it, if he broke the code, I was going to have a hell of a lot of questions to answer.
He came back, handed me the phone, and pouted. “I thought I had it, but no. I didn’t want to wipe the phone by too many wrong codes, so I quit.”
“Who are you looking for on my phone?”
“I’m not sure. I feel that you’re in danger.”
“If Preston is free, then I’m sure I am.”
My phone rang, and it was Harry. “Cin, someone broke into the house. I was in the pool house, putting a new battery in the answering machine, when I heard someone in the main house. I took my gun and…”
“Did you shoot someone?” I asked, my heart in my mouth.
“No, but you didn’t really like that microwave, did you?”
“Thank God. I’m coming home. Did you call the cops?”
“Village guys are on the way.”
I looked over at Buslowski. “Someone broke into the house. Harry scared them away by shooting my microwave,” I said. “I’m going to get this pie to go.” I raised my hand.
“What were they looking for?”
“Meth, I keep it in the flour canister,” I said.
“Right next to the illegal currency,” Buslowski played along.
“But not far from…” I stopped. I excused myself and walked into the ladies’. I called Harry.
“Yes.”
“You said you were working on the answering machine in the pool house?”
“Yes. Luke’s got a ton of batteries. We have none.”
“Make sure no one gets that answering machine.”
“Why would anyone want this old thing?”
“It’s what’s on it that’s important,” I said. “I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
I walked out and over to Buslowski. I picked up the check, did a few calculations, and left enough cash to cover the meal and the tip. I picked up my packaged pie. “Do you want to stay? Because I have to leave.”
“I’m coming.”
I drove, and both of us were deep in thought. I dropped him off and headed home. I had a good idea who had broken into the house and what he wanted.
Buslowski tailed me home. I really didn’t mind it. I fed the goon; he could at least check out the place for us. The village cops were okay, but they weren’t Buslowski.
~
“The family room window lock is broken,” Buslowski said. “Why didn’t the alarm go off?”
“I was in the pool house. I only had the front door alarm on. The sliders are on the window circuit,” Harry said.
I walked into the master suite. I smelled the scent. “Buslowski!” I called. He ran in. “Can you smell it?”
“Rose Anonyme,” he said, nodding. He opened up the closets, and that’s when I saw the destruction. The dress I wore to the opera with Marco lay in shreds on the closet floor. Inside the shoe closet was a warning written in my dark apricot lipstick on the wall:
YOU ARE NEXT!
My bathroom mirror was broken. All my bubbles and salts had been tossed into the tub. There was broken glass everywhere. I backed into the master suite and sat on the bed. It felt funny. I pulled the bedspread off, and there, lying in my bed was a cardboard cutout of Kyle. He was drenched in some red paint.
“How long were you in the pool house?” I asked Harry.
“I went in looking for batteries, and then I started measuring. I think an hour at most. I’m so sorry, Cin.”
“No, Harry, don’t be sorry. This leve
l of crazy would have gotten you hurt had you walked in on it. Have you inventoried the den?”
“Drawers open. The file cabinet has been jimmied open…”
I ran past him and into the den. I couldn’t find Tom’s information file. “Harry, how did we file the Ely’s Coming band case?”
“Here. It’s under C for cautionary tale.”
It was an awful joke on me, but I could have kissed Harry. I hugged the file to my chest and avoided Buslowski’s eyes. I walked out to the pool house and shut the door behind me. I hadn’t been in there since Luke came back. He had been removing more of his stuff every time he was in town. All that was left were odds and ends. I walked over to the kitchenette, opened a drawer, and slid the file inside. I looked around and decided that I would move in here for a while. I couldn’t bear to be in my room now, and the wing that held the other rooms abutted Harry’s. I wanted to give Harry and Sally space.
I heard the door open. I turned around to see Buslowski walk in. “Cin, it’s time to tell me what’s going on.”
“Not until Harry is through. Could you help me move a few things in here? I can’t stay in there.”
“Sure, but you could stay with me,” he offered.
I quoted Tom, whom I was desperately trying to keep my promise to, “I would love to take you up on your offer, but, Dave, I think you need a little distance from all the trouble I bring with me.”
Harry waited until the pictures were taken and the reports filed before sitting down, so we could explain ourselves to Buslowski. Our insurance adjuster would be out tomorrow to look at the damage in the master suite. I still had the receipt for the dress. It would help replace the mirror. Although, I thought about redoing the bathroom. I would have to consult with Luke who still owned half the house as per the divorce.
Dave helped me move some personal items into the pool house in baskets. I just grabbed and tossed. I was so glad I had my alto clarinet in the shop for a tune up. I can only imagine what would have happened to it.
“There are two things going on,” I started. “One has to do with Eldora Capella, and the other has to do with me. I think there are two people involved. Possibly they are working together, but it is also possible that they are working independently.” I looked at Harry, and he nodded. “Tom Richards contacted us after I came home from the hospital. You know he’s…”
“In that ritzy detention prison,” Buslowski finished. “What does he have to do with all of this?”
“He was good friends with Eldora Capella.”
“But he’s incarcerated, so he couldn’t have murdered Kyle.”
“Please wait until I’m finished,” I requested.
“Go on…”
“Eldora Capella isn’t dead. She’s not even missing. She’s living in Europe, but Preston and the rest don’t know where. Tom knows. He flew her there when she came to him frightened after Preston and Marco got into a fight. Kyle’s murder and your involvement was a very cleverly orchestrated con to get information on where Eldora Capella is right now. I think Preston is involved. Now the second part… When I was being used as bait, I had attracted Marco D’Amore. His mistress, Antonia Aldana’s daughter, was - what? Dumped? Do you dump a mistress? Anyway, she’s probably responsible for the dress and the master suite. Why just my opera dress? I have a Donna Karan dress in there that is worth a small fortune. If I was being a vindictive bitch, that’s the one I would ruin.”
Harry spoke up. “We promised not to tell anyone that Eldora was alive. If people thought she was dead, all the better. But Cin insisted that if you were in trouble, we would tell, but not before warning Tom that the shit was going to hit the fan.”
“So your best guess, which I think is based on sound thinking,” Buslowski prefaced and proceeded, “is that Preston drew Cin in more because of her contact with Tom and me. I would do anything to clear my name. But, killing Kyle and you, Cin, who does that?”
“Someone who shouldn’t find out about Eldora being alive,” I said. “He tried to flush her out with that little stunt of Kyle kissing my hand. He thought that it would rile Marco enough to contact Eldora. He assumed, incorrectly, that Marco secreted Eldora away. Who knows, she may have contacted him. He didn’t let anything slip when I was around him,” I said.
“That file has Tom’s information in it,” Buslowski said.
“Yes, it has where he is in prison. Thank God that Harry files with a sense of humor and had the answering machine with him at the time of the break-in, because it has detailed information on how to get in to see Tom. I’m still worried that Tom may be in danger. That place isn’t exactly secure.”
“Preston played me for a fool,” Dave said.
“You? You weren’t the one covered in an ivy tattoo,” I said wryly.
“Cin, Preston said something to me that made me doubt your involvement with Kyle.”
I prepared myself before asking, “What did he say?”
“That he had caught the two of you canoodling in the workroom.”
“He was setting you up with that information,” Harry said. “You would eventually remember what he said and look for Cin there. She was herded to that room. Kyle was driven into a frenzy with his obsession that was being fueled by Preston. Cin was meant to die in that room along with Kyle. It’s just that Kyle helped Preston out by killing her himself.”
“That’s why he was laughing. He’s the laughing man with the one glove. He made a mistake. He picked something up from the ground and set it on the table,” I said.
“All the stuff that hasn’t been brought in as evidence is long gone,” Buslowski said. “Tony and I looked for whatever it was after the hypnosis.”
“So you believed me?” Cin said.
“Yes, I’m just sorry I didn’t believe in you, freckles,” Buslowski said.
Tragedia
I walked through security and let myself be searched along with the tote of clothing I had brought. I left a bottle of expensive wine and took the twin bottle with me. I walked into the conjugal condo. Tom looked me over. He smiled and took me in his arms. I laughed and allowed myself to be petted and loved. There would be time for information. Right now, I needed to feed the hunger in his eyes. He was more energetic with me. I wasn’t broken anymore.
I napped in his arms. He had worn me out. I woke to him looking at me. “You’ve changed. You’re someone different.”
“I’m coping better. Maybe that’s what you’re seeing,” I explained.
He looked at me oddly. “Cin, I have a confession. I wanted you from the first day I saw you.”
I kissed him. “I’m here now.”
“I have nothing to offer you, Cin.”
“I’m not looking for anything. Let me make love to you, Tom. Don’t expect anything in return, and don’t try to hold on to me. I’ll disappoint you.”
“Cin, I’ve been in the music industry a long time. I’m used to independent women. Let’s enjoy each other and see where it takes us.”
I had bad news to impart to him and questions to ask. “Tom, do you mind if we talk business for a moment?”
“Yes. I had a feeling this was about Eldora…” he prompted.
I told him what we had put together and our fear that Eldora was in danger. “Either you find a way to contact her, or I’ll do it. I have a good friend who takes care of sensitive things for the church. He owes me.”
“We have a way of contacting. Leave that in my hands, Cin. Eldora’s son is up for a very prestigious political position. Your friend trying to contact her may bring up some questions that could taint his chances of becoming a diplomat. I can see you have questions, and I will answer them, but first I have a few of my own.” He got up and grabbed his clear bag of papers. He drew out the picture of me and Marco.
“How deep are you?”
“I had to rule him out,” I said. “I don’t think he is involved. He contacted me, and he tried to see me in hospital. I was curious. He never asked about Eldora or you. He’s just M
arco. He says he’s a bad man, but I don’t really know him that well.”
“Marco loved Eldora with his whole heart,” Tom explained. “Eldora loved many men, including me. She accepted him when she found out she was pregnant. It wasn’t his baby; it was mine. Can you imagine his suspicion if he had gazed upon his blond, blue-eyed son? Eldora didn’t care. Marco was from a rich family. Preston, too, was consumed by Eldora. She was the only woman that he was aroused by. He wanted to marry her, but he was a dresser and penniless, so he wasn’t even considered.”
“She must have been beautiful.”
“Cin, she and you are very similar.”
“Is that why you wanted me, Tom?”
“Yes, in the beginning. Then I met you and found your passion for setting things right attractive. I love how you helped Elijah and his daughter out. Manny’s fixation with you wasn’t because he couldn’t have you. You’re exciting.”
“I’m trouble, Tom. Tell me about the fight?”
“Marco was preparing to take Eldora to his home in Rome. There she would stay until the child was born. His family insisted that he wait until after the child was born before consenting to allow the marriage. Yes, it sounds medieval, but in this case, they were right. I had been married to Susan for a short time, and I didn’t want to hurt her. I know, cart before the horse. But you’ve met Susan; she can be a hard woman at times to love.”
“So you have a son, Tom?”
“No. Preston hurt Eldora badly when he found out she was leaving the country with Marco. Preston beat her, and she lost my child.”
I put my hand on his arm. He looked at me. “Don’t feel sad for me. I have Elijah, Gareth and, perhaps, Alex too. They’re good kids.”
“I’m sure that they would be pleased to still be thought of as kids.”
“Eldora miscarried and had a nervous breakdown. She was convinced that someone was trying to kill her. The only one she trusted was me. I took her away from here and had her installed in Spain. I paid for her living arrangements until she found a husband. That’s where most of my fortune went,” Tom confessed.
