Between the Sheets, page 17
There were three shower heads. One on each wall, and the overhead one in the middle. Ducking under the spray, she rubbed her skin with a fresh bar of soap, lifting her hand to smell the scent. As she ran the soap over her body, washing off the salt, she thought back to Rex.
He probably knew how pampered she’d feel staying at Three Bunch. He’d spent many weekends there before. Presumably with lots of female company. Viv shuddered. She didn’t want to think about that part. Don’t compare yourself, she cautioned.
As she sat across from him at dinner, she was fully composed, having a wonderful time.
She closed her menu as he openly stared at her.
"Thinking about the food?" he asked.
"Not really." She looked outside. Steam rose up from the hot springs, glimmering in the decorative lights.
They waited for their main course; the room held the low hum of voices. A quick glance over the room assured Viv there were mostly couples, even though faces were difficult to distinguish in the candlelight.
"Care for an olive?” Viv held up the small plate for Rex's inspection.
"No, thanks," he said, not removing his eyes from her face.
"So the food here is good?” She fidgeting with her napkin, avoiding his glance.
She knew her new awareness of herself would disappear once she stared into his mesmerizing eyes. She wanted to linger with herself a while longer.
"They have a famous chef on staff and serve fresh ingredients," he answered. "That's what people expect at Three Bunch. Everyone's willing to pay for the quality and service. Are you happy you came?"
"Very pleased," she said.
"And might I say you look intoxicating tonight?" His voice sounded husky with invitation.
"Yes you can," she assured him. She looked out the window, continuing to avoid his gaze.
Rex cleared his throat. "I have a surprise for this evening."
Viv's heart stopped. Here it comes…
"The Three Bunch Lounge booked us a table. A local crooner is performing at the bar."
She felt relieved. Her eyebrows raised. "Anyone I know?"
"That's the fun part. You do know him. Dean Marcella."
"The guy with the sneakers at Carmine's Fluff and Fold?" Viv said, intrigued.
"I thought you'd like that." He grinned. "Dean does side gigs in town. He's got a pretty good voice. Covers Sinatra tunes mostly. Doo be doo be doo," Rex sang in a low voice.
Viv grinned. "Shush. Someone will look over and recognize us." She ducked her face into her napkin.
"I was hoping we could sit in the back of the audience and not be noticed," he added.
At that moment the waiter arrived with their salad, giving Viv a chance to put her napkin back on her lap.
After dinner they walked to the lounge and were seated at the second table of the evening. Small tealight candles, along with strings of fairy lights, had been strategically placed around the room. Viv blinked, trying to see if she recognized anyone in the dim light. "This is very nice," she commented, realizing that “nice” hardly covered the intimate setting.
Seductive would be more like it.
Rex reached across the table to take her hand. "What?" he said, looking innocent. "We have to play the part of a couple, right? At least in public."
She didn't remove her hand. And to her satisfaction, she didn't feel overheated either. She leaned in closer to whisper. "Maybe we should leave. I don't think Pete and Beverly are here."
"It's hard to tell. Kinda dark and not everyone arrives ahead of time," he said.
At that moment a light shone toward the corner of the room, illuminating a platform that stood next to a grand piano. Viv was reminded of the instrument in the Nelsons' foyer—the piano with all the photos displayed on the closed lid.
Switching on a small light, the pianist sat down on the bench. He wore a tuxedo with tails. Hands poised over the keyboard, he began to play a familiar song. “Luck Be a Lady Tonight” rippled through the room. A jazz version, loose and open to interpretation. Viv tapped her toe.
A polite round of applause came at the last arpeggio. Then the spotlight focused on another man. He stood with his hand resting on the piano, and he was also wearing a tuxedo. Viv's eyes traveled to his shoes. "Is he wearing sneakers?" she whispered to Rex.
"We're not here to assess his footwear." Rex squeezed her hand.
She felt a tingle travel up her arm.
Viv slid her hand out from his, placing it in her lap. She knew she was being fickle. There was something about the suave Rex Redondo that made her want to resist. Even though only a day ago she was very hurt when she'd seen his suitcase packed with tools.
He brings out the contrary in me, she admitted to herself. Then her eyes caught sight of a familiar couple. A table with two chairs had been reserved for them close to the piano. Pete Langford stood behind a chair. Small in stature, the full head of hair—probably a toupee—was brushed back from his face.
Pete glanced over the room before helping his date be seated. Viv recognized Beverly Nelson, even in semi darkness. "Welcome to the Three Bunch Lounge," came the resonant voice of Dean Marcella. “I see we have a few regulars in the audience." His head dipped toward the table where Beverly and Peter sat.
Beverly gave a slight wave. She wore a white dress with fringe in three layers, looking like a flapper in the roaring twenties. Her hair had been combed in an updo.
"And for those of you who are new…" He grinned, his very white teeth sparkling in the spotlight. "I suggest that you order another round as soon as possible. The wait staff appreciates the tips!"
A ripple of laugher followed his remark. Then everyone grew silent. Dean drew the mic closer to his chin and began to sing in his deep baritone voice, "Fly me to the moon," as people clapped their approval.
Later that night, Viv closed the door to her bedroom. As she undressed, she thought about Rex and the evening. How he'd held her hand but not tried to kiss her, even when she'd made it clear she was sleeping alone.
"Thank you for the very pleasant evening. Who knew that private detective work would be so fun?” She'd emphasized the part about detective, hoping he'd realize it wasn't a date. Not exactly. Just an exotic locale. Where they investigated. Nothing more.
Sliding between the sheets, Viv realized that she'd only put off what she didn't want to face. At least not right now. That sometime soon she'd have to decide where her relationship with Rex would lead. And if she'd say yes to his offer and start a whole new life, become a business partner. Would the two be able to coexist?
Was she willing to have a brief fling at her age with someone who lived next door? Was she capable of having sex and keeping everything light? Or would she be the kind of woman who would get her feelings hurt and then have to awkwardly encounter him every day, living close by, when he'd moved on to other interests?
After some time Viv pushed away her concerns. I need to sleep. Semiconscious, she remembered the grand piano. The one at Carmine Nelson's wake.
Before Viv could recollect the significance, she fell asleep, her lips slightly parted.
47
REX REDONDO
Rex woke the next morning feeling a throb over his left temple. He'd had too much wine the night before. Partially to keep up the facade and partly because Viv made him lose focus.
She looked stunning in that dress. How am I keeping my hands off of her?
He didn't appreciate how silly he felt, or how he'd fallen hopelessly in love with his next-door neighbor. He'd been able to bed many younger women over the years with a quarter of the effort. But Viv, she was a challenge.
It was mostly because he cared. He just didn't want to overstep. I don't want her to run back in her house and never speak to me again. He realized, maybe for the first time in his adult life, that he'd gotten emotionally invested.
And those thoughts alone upset Rex. He'd not been that vulnerable for a long time. Maybe since forever, when he'd first started dating. Mary Lou What's-Her-Name in seventh grade. She'd made him feel this confused. When she dumped him for his best friend, he'd been humiliated and hurt. But not since then.
"Damn," he uttered to the empty bedroom. And then because he knew he had to stop thinking about Vivienne, he reached over for his cell phone. One message from Sutton caught his eye.
Got lots of surveillance conversations from the suspects.
[Let's talk in the cabana later?
I can come to your bungalow.
I'll shower and be ready.
Rex was making coffee when he heard a tap at their door. Sutton stood outside wearing her Three Bunch shirt. Her white sneakers looked as clean as the day before. He pointed to her Nikes.
"Are those shoes a part of the uniform they give every employee?"
"Yep, we get two sets of clothes. Even the shoes. Two pairs. Three Bunch is very particular about their footwear."
"Come on in. I have coffee."
Sutton walked through the front room toward the kitchen. She looked around. "No Viv?"
“She's sleeping in," Rex muttered.
"Did you sleep alone last night?" When he shrugged, Sutton's eyes opened wide. "Why you old scoundrel. She's keeping you at arm’s length. The great Rex Redondo."
"That's true," he admitted, pouring coffee in her mug. "I am relegated to making the morning brew and licking my wounds. So what did you find out?" He gestured to a chair at the counter for her to sit.
"First of all, I'm pretty sure Pete and Beverly are a couple. No overt flirting or anything, but they seem very familiar with each other. And then all they could talk about was Viv." She paused and then continued, "How she'd not reported in since they gave her the retainer."
"Were they mad?" He felt his stomach twist. "I mean, are they going to do anything about it, like track her down?"
"There was talk of that. Peter seems to think he can show up on her doorstep at her house and call her out."
"They did give her a whopping check," Rex admitted. "But I'm afraid they'll do more than demand the money back."
"Ten grand. They talked about that too. But mostly how Joey killed Carmine and no one, not even the cops, seemed to care."
"So what's that got to do with Viv?"
"They are depending on her to hand him over. I don't know what they want to do with Joey. That part is uncertain. But just so you know, they aren't happy with you either. In fact, Peter is furious, the way you used Beverly during the act. I believe I heard him use the words, 'phony mentalist with the fake teeth.'"
Rex tapped on his front teeth and grinned at Sutton. "Okay, so I've had some caps and gotten them straightened. And I do bleach. But I'm no more phony than everyone else around here." He nodded at her.
"I'll have you know these are my teeth. The ones my parents paid for," Sutton insisted. "I merely keep them clean and polished."
She put her empty cup on the counter. "I've gotta report in to work. I'm still serving cocktails by the infinity pool. I reserved a cabana for Elvis and Priscilla, so you two can come by any time."
She left Rex in the kitchen, closing the door with a click.
He emptied the rest of the coffee into his mug. From the other room he detected a squeak and then the drag of the front door against the tile.
"Did you forget something?" he called out.
When no one answered, Rex made his way around the corner. To his surprise, a man, facing the front door, was securing the dead bolt in place. He must have heard Rex, because he turned around quickly. "Stand over there," Joey Baker commanded, a revolver raised in the air. Nothing in his tone gave Rex the impression that he had a choice.
Before he could speak, the sight of a woman in a fluffy white bathrobe made his heart stop. He wanted to shout, to tell Viv to run the other way, but the words got caught in his throat. Fortunately Baker's back faced the hallway. Rex wasn't sure if Viv could see the small gun he held waist-high pointed right at him.
Viv stepped closer, her eyes looking past Joey to Rex. He didn't glance her way, hoping she'd realize he was in danger. She stopped in her tracks. Reaching inside her bathrobe, she pulled out a silver meat tenderizer, the kind found in a gourmet kitchen. With one swing, the mallet made a sickening thud against Baker's skull, followed by his body slowly crumpling to the floor.
Hair in disarray, her robe gaping open slightly, Viv held the mallet aloft. She waited for Baker to get up. When he didn't, she explained, "I took it with me last night. From the kitchen." A small drop of blood from the mallet dripped onto the floor.
Rex came closer. He bent down to have a better look at the unconscious man.
"I needed a weapon just in case someone broke in," Viv kept explaining. "In the middle of the night I kept thinking about Carmine. Discovering him between the sheets. I needed something for protection."
Rex put two fingers under Joey's ear. "Still has a pulse." He looked at the back of Joey's head. "Not much blood."
"It was self-defense," Viv explained.
"You protected me," he said, his voice unsteady. "With a meat tenderizer." He stood, taking in her stricken face. Then he pulled on his ear. "But now we'd better call the cops."
48
VIVIENNE ROSE
It wasn't until Viv stood outside waiting for the cops that her knees began to shake. Still in her fluffy white bathrobe, her bare toes curled up. Then she turned to Rex.
"That was quick, your call to the police." She nodded her approval.
His look of admiration made her smile. "You really walloped him. I had no idea you had that in you." A look of respect came over his face. Then the corner of his mouth quirked as if he found her amusing.
"Oh, I can defend myself quite well," Viv insisted.
"He had a gun on me, you know. Gave me second thoughts."
"Did your life flash before you, like they say it does when you're facing death?"
"As a matter of fact…yes." Rex nodded ruefully. "But I'm also wondering about the gun. It looked familiar. A revolver."
"You put it back in the box," she paused, "but then it appeared in Joey Baker's hand."
"He waved it my face, don't forget!" Rex sounded indignant. "In a threatening manner, no less." Before he could say more, sirens wailed in the distance.
"I think that may be the cops." A look of worry came over his face. "A good thing too. Joey's probably ready to wake up by now."
"Did you grab the revolver?" Viv asked anxiously.
"Got it right here." Rex patted his back pocket. "Makes me nervous. Despite my military service, I don't like guns much."
"Me neither," Viv admitted. "Though I can shoot one if I have to. My dad taught me when I was a kid."
For the second time that morning, admiration shone in his eyes. "You're quite the gal, Vivienne Rose," he said, slapping her on her back.
At that moment Susan Farrah rolled up in her police van. She exited on the driver's side, hurrying toward them. "Where's the body?" she demanded.
"Right in there." Rex gestured.
Farrah shouted over her shoulder. "Hurry up!" Her armed partner rushed past into the bungalow as Farrah pulled out her notepad.
Rex explained how the intruder had walked inside without an invitation and pulled out a gun while his back was turned. When he got to the part where Viv came down the hallway, he stopped. "She can tell you the rest."
"Go ahead, you can finish," Viv encouraged.
It didn't take another invitation. "And then Viv snuck up from behind; she came from the hallway. She had a mallet in her hand and she looked like a cavewoman in a fluffy bathrobe. Whack! She conked him right in the back of the head. He crumpled to the ground. The first thing I did was pick up the revolver. Here you go." Rex handed it to Farrah.
"Tampered with evidence," Farrah muttered, taking a plastic bag from her jacket pocket to drop the revolver inside.
Viv felt a moment of relief. Now we won't be held responsible for finding the revolver in the locker. Farrah can do some tests and trace it back to Carmine. And then Joey will be her number one suspect. One less thing to get arrested for.
"I wasn't going to leave it with him," Rex said indignantly. "He might have regained consciousness and come after us again."
Susan Farrah ignored his protests. She turned to Viv. "So tell me, why did you happen to have a meat mallet in your hand? As far as I know, they belong in the kitchen."
Viv looked at her feet, a blush coming up her neck. "I took it with me before going to bed," she said.
Farrah looked at Rex and then back to Viv. "Don't tell me. You two play caveman and cavewoman to, you know, spice up your love life?"
"Absolutely not!" Rex did not disguise the annoyance in his voice.
Farrah grinned, appearing to appreciate his denial.
Rex turned to Viv. "You explain to her."
Viv sighed. "Like I told him earlier, I grabbed the meat mallet from the kitchen in the middle of the night. Ever since I saw Carmine Nelson dead in bed, I've been a bit nervous, especially in unfamiliar surroundings."
As Farrah wrote on her notepad, Viv watched Rex's expression. She wondered if he doubted her explanation. Maybe he thought I kept the mallet under my pillow in case he showed up in my room unannounced.
"Where's the weapon?” Farrah asked.
Viv reached inside her robe and brought out the double-sided kitchen utensil. Drops of blood still clung to the metal spikes.
"I've been keeping it under my armpit," she explained. "Just in case."
Susan Farrah took out another plastic bag and slipped the mallet inside. "We can get a sample of the blood and see if he's in our database. A quick identifier."
"We already know who the guy is!" Rex exclaimed. "His name is Joey Baker. He's on the HOA. Ever heard of him?"
Farrah's face went white. Her hand flew to cover her mouth. She turned away from Rex as if to gather her composure.
