Between the Sheets, page 16
He had no idea about the nightgown in my suitcase, thank goodness.
And now that she was drinking coffee, she knew what to do. Reframe the uncomfortable thoughts. That's what she'd teach her doulas, when they'd come back from a difficult birth and couldn't let go of negative emotions.
I'm perfectly fine being friends with Rex Redondo. In fact, that's a lot less complicated than the other.
Then she told herself one more time, Rex had no idea what was on my mind. He was far too involved with his detective work to think about me. I am way past dating anyone and I need to let this all go.
Her cell phone chimed, breaking into her self-talk. Two unheard messages. One came from a family with a new baby. The other message brought up a quick breath. Beverly Nelson.
Viv held her phone to her ear. "Ms. Rose. Please call me at your earliest convenience. I want to know how your investigation is going with Joey Baker." Gone was the drunken woman with the slurred words. She had been replaced by a sober version of Beverly Nelson who wanted answers.
Viv put the phone down, agitated. Rex warned me about going to her home alone. But she deserves answers.
Viv's mind flashed on the scene at the casino, where she'd tried to engage Joey Baker in a conversation. She wondered if he didn't have something to do with Carmine's death. Even if Beverly and Pete looked guilty, that didn't mean Joey was blameless.
Opening up her computer at the kitchen table, she sent an email to the couple who needed advice about their new baby's sleeping schedule. Nurse when baby is hungry. Even at night. Double your liquid intake. That's the best way. I'll check in with you this evening.
Viv always had trouble explaining to young couples that having a healthy baby meant lots of work. If you resisted, it only felt more difficult. If you just gave in and accepted that the baby's needs came first, you had a better chance of adjusting to parenthood. Then in another eighteen years you could reclaim your life, assuming you still loved each other.
After sending that email she opened another document. From memory she typed the names of the HOA board. I've encountered each of these men outside that meeting.
Frank Salucci had stood in front of her with his wife at the wake. He was the first one to mention Joey Baker.
And then there was Rear Admiral Samuel Daniels. A man who spent a good deal of his retirement preaching at the local church. She did catch a quick glimpse of him on the golf course. When Kevin escaped for a run.
Viv kept typing, making notes of the things she remembered next to each name. And there was that Dean guy. Selling sneakers out the back of Carmine's Fluff and Fold. They'd only spoken briefly, but that counted as an encounter. Plus the revolver in the locker was stored in a sneaker box. Something to consider.
And she was hired by Beverly Nelson, who was not on the HOA board. But her friend, Peter Langford, was the treasurer of the board. And the way they bolted out of Rex's show—that surely meant something.
She tapped her fingers on the table next to the computer. All of those people, with the exception of Beverly Nelson, must have property in the Desert Tortoise Estates. Otherwise they couldn't be on the HOA board. I want to know where they live. Beverly Nelson can wait.
Convinced she was on to something, Viv stood from the table. If I pay attention to the investigation, I'll stop fussing about Rex. Then he'll assume that I am interested in solving this murder, not that I’m interested in him. She felt her chest relax.
By the time her cell phone began to rattle on the table, she was ready to answer. "Hey, neighbor," came Rex's rich voice. "I hope you kept your suitcase packed. I've booked us for a weekend at Three Bunch. And don't worry. Sutton already said she'd feed Miss Kitty."
45
REX REDONDO
On the drive to Three Bunch Palms, Rex felt anxious. He glanced over at Viv, who sat quietly looking out the passenger window. She didn’t initiate any conversation, which always made him feel uncomfortable.
Why is she acting all standoffish? Plus she didn't say yes at first. She finally agreed after I explained how we were going to do some surveillance. She's still hiding something from me. More quiet than usual. Damn, I wish I knew what I'd done.
Rex pulled the SUV into the entrance of the resort. He rolled down his window to talk to the man who leaned out from the air-conditioned hut. "My name is Redondo," he explained. "I have a reservation for the weekend."
The man reached for a clipboard. "Reservation for Rex Redondo and a guest." He eyed Viv, who sat motionless in the passenger seat. When she didn't smile, he looked back at his reservation sheet.
"Got it here. For two. All the bungalows are numbered," he explained in a singsong voice. "Yours is ready." Then he slammed the window of the hut closed. The gate lifted and Rex drove through.
They found a parking spot in the gravel area shaded by palms. Signs indicated their bungalow number 122 was close by. Rex helped Viv out of the car. She stood looking toward the mountain range as he hoisted bags from the back of the vehicle.
He attempted conversation. "So have you been here before?"
"No," Viv said.
With an exasperated huff, he moved toward the path, one rolling suitcase in each hand. He gestured for Viv to walk ahead. The winding path curved away from the parking lot into the resort, through a tree-shaded oasis. He stopped to glance at a map posted on a wooden announcement board.
The low murmur of voices drew his attention. He looked over to find a group of people. They all wore white fluffy bathrobes and had their heads bound in turbans. Sunglasses hid their eyes. One couple was doing all the talking.
He turned to Viv. "So like I said on the phone, my dermatologist sends patients here for special weekend retreats. They get work done and relax too. Have you heard about the place?"
"Yes," she said.
When she didn't add any more, his frustration got the better of him. "Are you mad at me? I'm feeling the distance, ever since last night."
Viv pointed ahead. "That's our bungalow. Number 122."
"So you're not going to answer my question. Okay then, play it that way." He lugged the suitcases down the path and toward the door.
Constructed in mid-century style, their bungalow had a courtyard and a tiled sign with the unit number prominently posted. The distinctive artwork on the tiles reminded Rex of his trips on a cruise ship. He'd done several shows for tourists traveling to Mexico. The bold cobalt-blue design matched the enormous cobalt-blue planters on each side of the door.
In the courtyard two lounge chairs had been placed in the shade of an umbrella. "Our casitas are very similar in design. Have you noticed?" Viv commented.
Relieved that she'd finally initiated some conversation, Rex agreed. "They do look similar. I think Desert Tortoise must have tried to imitate Three Bunch. This place is well known. Old Hollywood stars would come for the natural waters in the fifties."
"The grounds are welcoming," Viv added. Her voice had lost its edgy tone, much to Rex's relief.
"Like Hawaii, the atmosphere, don't you think?" He smiled at her, tapping his key card on the entry pad.
A fire had been prepared in the living room fireplace, and a bucket with a bottle of champagne sat on the hearth. Rex observed the cubes in the bucket. "Looks like the hospitality team just left." He stood in the middle of the room, giving her a moment to look things over. Viv took steps down the corridor.
"Two bedrooms?" She lifted the handle of her suitcase from his grasp and rolled down the hallway. Then she called back, "Just like the casitas. I'll take the bedroom at the back, if you don't mind."
"I'll take the other one," he called after her. She's not gonna tell me what's really bothering her. Okay then, I'll pretend I don't notice. We're here to investigate, not to squabble.
By the time Rex unpacked, he'd talked himself out of feeling irritated. I'm not here to hang out with Viv. This is a surveillance opportunity. He walked down the hallway, book for sitting by the pool in hand, and knocked on her door.
"Come in."
He found her in a bathing suit and cover-up, flip-flops on her feet, a large straw hat pulled low over her face. The brim, dipped over her eyes, giving her a casual but rather elegant appearance. His heartbeat quickened. "Reading my mind," he told her. “How about we sit by the pool for a bit before dinner? I've made reservations for seven. Does that suit you?"
"Sounds good." She sounded deliberately upbeat. But the coolness underneath was plain as day to Rex.
He'd also reserved a cabana by the pool earlier, which he explained to Viv as they strolled across the lushly landscaped path. Palm trees shaded the way, dipping gracefully overhead.
"So you come here often," Viv said. "Is that why you reserved everything?"
"I do know my way around," he admitted. "It was by happenstance, though, that I found out the couple in question were also frequent guests. It will be challenging to find them. Most people make it a point not to interact. And most people wear the same bathrobes and head turbans. Privacy is the policy. Some people even check in with fake names."
"You didn't," she commented quietly.
"I did at first," he admitted. "Wrote us down as Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow. Then I decided not to. I registered with my real name. I'm not hiding anything." He glanced at her. "And I thought using a fake identity might annoy you."
He saw Viv's eyebrows raise over her sunglasses. As he directed her toward the infinity pool, she said, "That was thoughtful of you and observant. You've rightly assumed that I’m uncomfortable with your easy attitude toward the facts."
"But not the truth," he said. "I am very clear on what's a story and how facts and lies can, when carefully crafted, lead to the truth. Just so you know."
Her small smile meant the world to him. He felt slightly better until she said, "But the widow and her date. What if they look at the register and realize we're following them?"
Rex frowned. He hadn't thought of that. In his eagerness to please Viv with telling the absolute truth, he'd missed the obvious. "You have a point," he muttered. "Let me think about that. I do have someone on the inside who may be able to change the check-in information."
They arrived at their assigned cabana. One oversized daybed, the main attraction, had been covered with a fitted white top sheet. Four towels, fluffy and also oversized, had been placed at the foot of the bed. Rex dropped his paperback and stretched, watching Viv from the corner of his eye.
She placed her bag on the left side, sitting down to test the mattress. Before either could stretch out, a familiar voice asked, "What can I get you two? A margarita perhaps, or a dry martini?"
The woman stood under the shade of the cabana. Dressed in blue short shorts and a red tank top, Sutton Drew held a cell phone with a cash payment device. She grinned at Viv and then nodded toward Rex.
Sutton turned around to untie the curtains on each side of the cabana. "Hope you had an easy check-in," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Do you work here?” Viv asked.
"I do now. Got myself a weekend job with some quick talk about needing cash. I told them I'd work for free this weekend and then they could decide to hire me full-time if they thought I'd fit in." Sutton adjusted her sunglasses, which were the color of her shirt—bright red.
Rex stretched himself out on the bed, raising both arms to prop up his head. He patted the place next to him, an invitation for Viv to join him. "We need to play the part of a couple,” he explained.
Viv removed her hat. She tucked the firm round pillow under her neck and leaned back. "Nice," she remarked.
Rex chuckled.
"I mean the pillow."
"They align your spine," Rex explained. "Like I said, everything this weekend is about making your body healthy."
"And about drinking and having sex." Sutton smirked.
"Oh, that won't be us!" Viv said instantly. "We're here to investigate."
Rex sighed. She'd answered so quickly. He knew for sure she was still mad at him for whatever reason. He'd been trying to give her space, but when she was so close, lying next to him, it made ignoring her impossible. If not for Sutton…
He nudged Sutton with his toe. "So did you catch sight of them yet?"
"Sure did. They checked in under the names of Fred and Ginger." Sutton grimaced. "I even know their bungalow and their weekend agenda. I think I can get surveillance on them right after dinner."
"Speaking of check-in," Rex said, “could you find our names and change them to Frank and Mia Sinatra?"
"I can so handle that," Sutton assured them. "Or how about Elvis and Priscilla just in case Frank and Mia are taken? Easily done. The receptionist owes me a favor."
"Already?" Rex exclaimed. "You've only been here a day. You do work fast!"
Sutton rolled her eyes and then winked at Viv. "He underestimates me all the time."
Viv spoke up. "So tell me how you'll do the surveillance, if you don't mind my asking. I'm interested. Are you staying in the bungalow next to them?"
"Nah. I'm not staying at Three Bunch. Commuting from home. I don't need to do anything so old-fashioned as skulking about. I have a drone for photos. It's loud, but I don't think they'll notice. Earbuds block out the sound, and everyone wears them now.
"And I slipped by early this morning to drop in my latest surveillance microphone. I've got everything they say on tape and can listen from an app on my phone. Pretty slick."
Rex sighed. "Enough details. I want a nap." He glared at Sutton, who stood up and asked, "So no drinks then?"
Viv rolled her head to the left. "Not for me." She turned to Rex. "Besides napping, what are we here for? It feels like Sutton has everything under control."
"Oh, she does," Rex admitted. "But I figured we could hang out and have a nice weekend while Sutton is on duty. She can report to us and we can do laps in the pool and soak in the hot springs. Dipping into that salty water, the palm trees swaying in the breeze. The night sky. There's nothing better.
"I don't mind the food either. All done for us. We can sleep and chill out." He closed his eyes, hoping Viv would appreciate his plans.
"Salt water dries out my skin." She sounded a bit cross.
"Is that all you can say? Three Bunch is world-renowned. And it's all on me. So sit back and enjoy your firm pillow." Rex closed his eyes again, a smirk on his lips.
Peeking from the corner of his eye, he saw that Viv had closed her eyes. To his relief, she didn't ask any more questions.
"Well I'll leave you two then," Sutton announced. "Sure I can't get you a cocktail?"
When neither Rex nor Viv responded, Sutton lifted the curtains and slipped out, the fabric falling back into place. Rex watched Viv from the corner of his eye. She stared up to the canopy above, her arms crossed over her chest.
Women. You just can't please them.
Rex closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.
46
VIVIENNE ROSE
They were shown to their table, the waiter in the lead. Viv wore a shimmering off-white caftan that flowed around her body, dropping to her ankles, revealing manicured pink toenails and low-heeled sandals. Even she had to admit she'd attracted a glance or two from older men as they made their way to the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the steaming hot springs.
She felt proud of herself and her careful planning. Casual but elegant, knowing she'd managed to find the sweet spot for her age and body type. Not too fussy but definitely put together, as if she cared about her appearance as a mature woman. Viv hadn't felt this good since years ago, when she'd dressed to go to the theater with her former husband. A lot younger then, she'd dressed for him. But now she dressed for herself.
Seated, facing Rex, she unfolded her napkin with a slight smile. Basking in his admiring gaze, she glanced at the fairy lights surrounding the palm trees right outside their window. In no hurry, she casually picked up her menu.
Rex, already staring at selections, glanced over the top of his menu to look at her. When she moved her head he ducked his, not wanting to be observed. Viv knew the glance. This time she did not start telling herself she was too old to be appreciated for how she looked. This time she knew that her glow made her feel confident, and that feeling was ageless.
The shift in her attitude began that afternoon. Instead of running with the feeling of inadequacy, comparing herself to the other women around the pool, she lingered on her discomfort without judgment. She made a note of everything she felt.
Maybe it was the hour spent by the pool or the dip in the hot springs when she felt a subtle shift in her attitude. The salt water and gentle current enveloping her body made her feel more alive than she had in years. Appreciating herself for once, she wanted the feeling to last. From that moment she paid close attention to her feelings, especially as she lay next to him in the cabana, her eyes closed.
Later in the afternoon she left Rex in the bungalow with a smile. "I'm going for a stroll," she told him. She laid out her evening outfit on the bed. Since her skin felt rough from the salt residue, she decided to take a shower.
Once in the bathroom she undressed, dropping her suit and cover-up on the floor. Instead of ignoring her nakedness, she paused to run her hand over her arms and body. A shiver trickled up her spine. Then a moment of gratitude filled her.
This body has accompanied me for nearly sixty years. Through thick and thin, it's been my companion. Instead of being critical, I want to be appreciative.
Rather than turn toward the mirror, she deliberately ignored her reflection. I'm not doing that anymore, comparing my body to how I used to look or to a random woman at the pool.
She lifted her hand to her lips and licked the back, the tangy taste of salt on the tip of her tongue. She walked to the shower, turning the knobs and testing the temperature of the water.
