Camilla T. Crespi - The Breakfast Club Murder

by Camilla T. Crespi

  “Or she’s using that excuse to see more of him.” Their smoothies appeared on the counter, each with a straw. Lori thanked the counterman and turned to Beth. “Now that info, please.”

  Beth took a maddeningly slow sip of her drink before answering. “I went to the county clerk’s office yesterday and discovered that one-fourth of Waterside Properties—I assume the fourth that Rob was hoping to buy—is owned by your friend and divorce lawyer, Warren Dixon.”

  “That can’t be true. He told Margot not to give Rob the money, that it was a bad investment.”

  “Maybe Warren wanted Rob to fail so he could buy the one-fourth share of the partnership for himself. Maybe he just changed his mind.”

  “Can Warren be that devious?”

  “He’s a lawyer.”

  “But how could he lie to Margot if he’s still in love with her?”

  “I wish it weren’t true, but money does trump love for a lot of people.”

  “How awful!” Lori propped both elbows on the counter, and without touching the glass, sucked down all of her smoothie through the straw. “We can’t tell Margot,” she said after the glass was empty. “She’d be so hurt.”

  “I have a feeling she wouldn’t be in the least surprised,” Beth said. “I never bought the story that Margot left Warren because she was in love with someone else.”

  “Why else would she divorce him?”

  “What if he was the one who wanted out? You know her pride would never let her admit that.”

  “Oh no, he still loves her.” Lori remembered the lunch at Warren’s club, how fiery his eyes became when he talked about Margot.

  “Maybe he still wants to possess her,” Beth said. “If he loved her, he would have let her invest with him in Waterside Properties. At least by my definition of love.”

  “How does Warren’s investment tie in with Valerie’s death?”

  “I don’t know. I find it interesting, though, and I’m willing to bet that Rob’s failed attempt to raise money for Waterside Properties does have something to do with the murder.”

  “Who, besides Seth, loaned Rob money and got stiffed?” Lori asked rhetorically. “Maybe Rob will tell me. Today’s the day I’m driving to NewYork and confronting him. And I should talk to Seth. We’ve only heard Jan’s version of what happened that night.”

  “You think she’s not telling the truth?” Beth looked skeptical.

  “I’m sure she is, but as my mother often reminds me when she doesn’t agree with me, our truths don’t always match up. Besides, Seth might know who else gave Rob money to invest.”

  “Be careful.” Beth checked her watch and reached for her purse.

  “Rob’s not going to do anything to me.”

  Beth lowered her voice. “I meant Seth. If he killed Valerie, he’s not going to welcome you with open arms.”

  “He would have had to know Rob was going to inherit. Otherwise he has no motive.”

  Beth slipped off her stool and paid the counterman. “This one’s on me,” she said before Lori could protest. “Look, Seth assumed Rob was going to inherit when you met him on the train. Maybe Rob had told him or he found out some way. Just be careful, okay? With both of them.” She started to walk out.

  Lori followed her through the glass doors. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  Beth eyed Lori’s outfit. Old black baggy slacks cut off at the ankle, a man’s extra-large black T-shirt with Kids in Crisis written on it—a charity event handout—and black flip-flops. She hadn’t combed her hair.

  Lori shrugged, knowing she looked like a bedraggled crow. “Who cares?”

  “Jonathan might. Now quickly tell me about your dinner with Alec.”

  “It was lovely,” Lori said, perfectly aware those were easy, overused words, but she couldn’t begin to describe the evening, either quickly or at length. Alec had managed to make her feel good about herself again. This morning she had woken up an optimist, convinced that she was worthy of a good life and that a person unknown to her and Jess would turn out to be the murderer. Alec had also unwittingly shown her what she wanted in a man, but she was hard put to define to herself or anyone else how he had accomplished all this in the few hours they were together. It was like trying to describe falling in love.

  Lori knocked on the glass front door of the Bella Vista Travel Agency. From the window, a gorgeous tanned woman in a Band-Aid sized bikini smiled back at her from the beach of Puerto Vallarta. Lori sucked in her stomach and knocked again. The agency wasn’t open yet, but she knew Ellie always showed up for work an hour early to check on yesterday’s bookings in peace and quiet.

  Ellie shuffled to the door, peered at her daughter for a moment before opening up. Lori peered back, taking in her mother’s mane of newly dyed hair. Her gray had turned into a dull deep black that wiped the color off her face.

  “Mom, you dyed your hair!” Lori blurted out as soon as Ellie opened the door.

  “Glad you got eyes.”

  Lori stooped to give Ellie the required cheek kisses. “You look good,” she lied and went to sit in the chair facing Ellie’s desk. Two other desks with their requisite computers crammed the small space, which was wallpapered with posters of more smiling beauties, hunks, and wholesome families tempting the onlooker to all corners of the world.

  “At least the creams I gave you are helping.” Ellie dropped into her swivel chair and swung herself to face the computer, which was emitting a low hiccuppy groan.

  “You should get yourself a new computer, Mom.”

  “Nothing wrong with this one.” Ellie fiddled with the red-rimmed glasses on the end of her nose. “How’s my gorgeous granddaughter?”

  “She’s having a great time. Are you okay?”

  “Busy, that’s all.”

  “I called you last night. You weren’t home.”

  “Were you?”

  “No, I went on a wonderful picnic at PepsiCo.”

  “With the real estate guy?”

  “No, with a very nice guy who happens to be gay. Alec Winters. You can Google him, too.”

  “No need to. Gay won’t get you anywhere.”

  “Actually he’s already gotten me somewhere, but don’t ask me to explain because I can’t. How was dinner with Joey Pellegrino?”

  Ellie stopped her fiddling, swiveled her chair to peer at Lori above her glasses. “Dinner was just great. Just great.” She paused and sadness seeped into her face. “I forgot how a man changes a room, like when you take your curtains down to wash them and for a few days the place takes on a new look, bigger and brighter, and you wonder why you put curtains up in the first place. I cooked for him last night, too. Same recipe, he loved it so much. I just didn’t answer the phone because I didn’t want to miss out on a second of him.”

  “Oh, Mom.” Lori felt the depth of her mother’s yearning as if it were her own. It hurt.

  Ellie waved a hand in the air. “Aw, don’t worry. I’m not falling in love or anything.”

  Why else would she color her hair, Lori wondered.

  “It was just that Joey reminded me, you know? What it was like with your papa. It was good. I wish that for you again.” The sadness was gone from Ellie’s face, replaced by concern.

  “Thanks, Mom. I’m going to be fine. I found a new friend”— she hoped that’s what Alec would be—“and he’s already removed the curtains.”

  Ellie looked doubtful. “The gay guy?”

  “His name is Alec, Mom.”

  “Not the real estate guy?”

  “Jonathan’s just sexy.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.” Ellie’s throat turned a deep red.

  “Mom, you didn’t!”

  “None of your business.” Ellie hugged the collar of her shirt to her neck. “Enough with the sentimental stuff. It wasn’t all fun and games with Joey, you know. I was also investigating. He wouldn’t talk Sunday night, but I got him last night with a double helping of pasta and two bottles of Montepulciano.”

  “That�
��s all?”

  “As I said, none of your business. So this is what I found out for you. First of all, Valerie didn’t have a will before the one we know about, so her cousin, Ruth what’s-her-name, would have gotten all her money. But it looks like Ruth has some kind of alibi. That’s why she hasn’t been arrested. They’re checking it out. Now wait ’til you hear this.” A bell rang and Ellie stopped to look up as Sharee—one of her two assistants—walked in, popped her bubble gum, and waved at them both. Ellie sent her out to get coffee.

  Once Sharee was gone, Ellie turned back to Lori. “You’ll never guess who drew up Valerie and Rob’s will.”

  “Someone in Rob’s law firm.”

  “Nope.”

  “Valerie’s lawyer, then.”

  “Wrong again. It was a real rush job, as if they knew one of them would be dead soon, which doesn’t look too good for Rob. So guess who the lawyer was? Two vowels, four consonants.”

  “You’re not going to tell me Warren.”

  Ellie nodded. “I am.”

  Lori said nothing at first, not knowing what to think. She knew how she felt, though. Somehow betrayed, disappointed. Warren had been on her side, her divorce lawyer. She had considered him a friend. Obviously she was only a client, someone who would bring him money, nothing more. He had offered lunch at his club saying he was worried about her, wanted to help her with the police, but thinking back on it now, Lori wondered if the real reason for the invitation hadn’t been to pump her for information about Margot’s love life. “I’m surprised,” she said quietly.

  “Maybe you should drive up to Cape Cod,” Ellie said, “and bring Jessica home.”

  “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Warren goes where the money is, that’s now obvious, but that doesn’t mean Jessica is in any danger.”

  “He could be the killer.”

  “Come on, Mom! He’s got no motive.”

  Ellie half stood up. “Then I’ll go. I’ve got a real busy day coming up and I’m one person short, but I’ll go and bring my Jessica back.”

  “Mom! Stop it. I will drive up there to talk to him, and I promise, if I don’t like his answers I’ll bring Jess back. I promise.” Lori stood up to leave.

  Ellie settled back in her chair. “Since for once you’re taking my advice, I’ll tell you something else.”

  “What now?”

  “What I told those two detectives, you know, about coming into your house that night and unplugging the phone?”

  Lori chuckled. “That was fast thinking on your part and they bought it. I can’t thank you enough.”

  “I wasn’t lying.”

  “But you gave back the keys!”

  Ellie shrugged. “I got an emergency copy, just in case.”

  Lori didn’t know whether to be angry or grateful. “Oh, Mom. What am I going to do with you?”

  “Feed me to the dogs, but I’m keeping that key.”

  Lori walked behind the desk and planted a kiss on Ellie’s head. “I guess I’ll just have to keep loving you, but dye your hair brown next time, okay?”

  It was a beautiful, clear day, yesterday’s humidity having dissipated during the night. Lori chose the West Side Highway to drive into New York even though Rob’s office was on the East Side. She took in the view as she drove. A barge eased itself toward the ocean through the sun-speckled ripples of the river. A Circle Line boat filled with tourists motored under the George Washington Bridge. Lori turned off the air-conditioning and opened her window to let the rush of air ruffle her hair off her shoulders. This calmed her even more than the view. She wasn’t looking forward to her facedown with Rob, then the long drive to Cape Cod to question Warren. Was Ellie right? Could he be the killer? It was hard to believe, but she could feel a worry knot tighten in her chest. Think of Jess, she told herself. How nice it will be to see her.

  Lori punched in Warren’s number. He answered after one ring. He must have been waiting for a call. “I need to talk to you,” she said, her anxiety making her forget to say hello.

  “They’ve arrested Rob.” There was no question in his voice.

  “No, I need information, but I don’t want to do this over the phone. I’d like to come up late this afternoon. Is that okay?”

  “Sure. Whatever you want to know, I hope I can be of help. You’ll spend the night. Even better, why not stay a few days? I’ve got plenty of room, and I could use the company. The girls are always off at the beach being girls and the few times they’re around, their conversation isn’t exactly stimulating.”

  He sounded so nice, so welcoming. The worry knot eased. “I really appreciate that. Thanks.” She hadn’t thought about the drive back at night. “Expect me around six, traffic permitting. I’ll call from the road when I’m close. I’ll get directions from Margot.”

  “Bring her along.”

  “Warren . . .”

  “I know you don’t want to get involved, but try. Please. I’d appreciate it.”

  Here was another person yearning, Lori thought after disconnecting. Everyone she knew was hungering for something or someone, herself included. Beth and Callie for their lost husbands, Alec for his lost partner Chris, Ellie for a new love, Jess for her first boyfriend, Janet for reassurance, Seth for his money, Mrs. Ashe for a new home. Rob must want money to pay his debts, and his new wife back. Jonathan? Lori remembered the moment of regret on his face during their dinner together. She suspected he too was aching for something. More money, more girlfriends? Fame? Or was she being unfair? Maybe all he ached for was the loving father he never had. He hadn’t called back. Lori wondered if Mrs. Ashe had given him the message. She needed to talk to him before more time elapsed.

  “Jonathan? Hi, it’s Lori. Is this a bad time?”

  “I’ll always have time for you. I’m sorry I didn’t return your call, but I’ve been bogged down with my mother and that apartment she insists on buying against my better judgment. She’s accusing me of being cruel, so I’m giving in. It is her money. Look, I’m glad you called. About this weekend—”

  “That’s why I’m calling. Look, I’m not up to going. I’m sorry. I really am. I was hoping to tell you in person, but I have to drive to Cape Cod this afternoon to see Jess and I’m staying the night.” The words were coming out so quickly, Lori felt she was blabbering. “It has nothing to do with you. I had a wonderful time Sunday night. Really. I mean if Jess hadn’t called we would—” She stopped, not knowing what to say next.

  “But your daughter did call and we didn’t and now you’ve changed your mind.” His voice was neutral, and Lori couldn’t tell whether he was angry or didn’t care.

  “You’re a very attractive man, Jonathan. It’s just that I’m not ready.” She was grateful to him for reawakening her sexual desire and for wanting her, but after meeting Alec, she knew she would never fall in love with Jonathan. Making love to him would have been only a trifling thing that would leave her with a hole in her heart waiting to be filled. She understood Beth now. “Please forgive me.”

  Jonathan laughed. “Nothing to forgive. I was about to cancel on you.”

  “Oh. How come?” she asked in a small voice.

  “I have to close a deal on Saturday.”

  The Saturday of the Fourth of July weekend? Did he really expect her to believe him? “Then it’s all right,” she said. “No harm done on either side.” Well, she did feel a little insulted, but it proved her point, didn’t it? Jonathan was not the dependable type. She thought this over for a second and burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, I’m laughing at myself. It’s all right for me to cancel, but I don’t like it one bit when you do.”

  “Does that mean there’s a chance for a rain check?” He had moved his phone closer to his lips. His voice was low, seductive again.

  Lori suppressed a giggle. He was really a silly, vain charmer. “A platonic rain check would be great.”

  “Sorry, but you’re much too attractive for that.”

  “So are you.”

  “Okay, then. I�
��ll call you in a month or so. Sound good?”

  “That sounds fine.” And then she remembered what Ruth had told her. “Jonathan,” she tried to keep her voice light. “There’s something I want to ask you.”

  There was silence at the other end of the line.

  “You knew Valerie, didn’t you?”

  “Valerie?”

  “Yes, Rob’s wife,” Lori said. “Last week, when I wanted to know more about Valerie, Beth mentioned that you might help as you two traveled in the same circles. Did you know her?”

  “When I drove you to Rob’s apartment,” Jonathan said, “I told you I’d never met her, didn’t I?”

  “I don’t remember that,” Lori lied. She’d never get the truth out of Jonathan if she put him on the spot.

  “Well, I did know her. In fact, I dated her for a while. I’m sorry I lied to you, but I didn’t think you’d see me anymore if you knew about Valerie.”

  “You’re right.”

  “She was much too aggressive and fixated on money. I walked away.”

  “She must have been upset,” Lori said.

  “Look, it was a long time ago. Why did you ask?”

  It was her turn to tell the truth. At least part of it. “I learned that Valerie had been very much in love with someone before she met Rob and I was wondering if it was you.” And if it was you, Lori thought silently, you might have killed her for marrying Rob.

  “I’m flattered, but I’m not the guy.”

  Lori had no reason not to believe Jonathan and yet something bothered her. Maybe it was his rebuff. She hoped she wasn’t that vain.

  “Listen,” Jonathan said, in a tone that made it clear the conversation was over. “I’ll call you in a couple of months.”

  “In a couple of months.” Lori said goodbye, thinking he was not the kind of man who accepted having his ego bruised. Jonathan would never call again. That thought didn’t bother her at all.

  CHAPTER 28

  * * *

  Rob was on the phone with a client when Lori slipped into his office. The room was one of those corner offices that young lawyers dream about as they sweat their eighty hours a week of grueling work. One wall held a row of windows facing east, overlooking the equally coveted corner offices of the surrounding skyscrapers and a jagged rectangle of sky. The other walls were covered with chrome bookshelves loaded with law books. These, Lori knew, were for show, as Rob hadn’t cracked open a law book since he’d been moved up to this office. That was work for the peons.