Between the Sheets, page 18
"Do you know him?" Viv asked again.
When the officer didn't respond, Viv reached out to pat her shoulder. "Everything okay?"
Farrah shrugged off her hand, eventually turning to face them. "I'm fine. Didn't have breakfast yet. Feeling a bit woozy. So you're telling me that Joey Baker broke in and then held a gun on you." She wrote furiously in her notepad. "And that this is the revolver." She pointed to the plastic bag.
The door from the bungalow opened as the uniformed officer rushed outside. "I thought I had him. Read him his rights. And then I turned my back for just a second… He escaped. Pushed his way through the kitchen window and took off toward the golf course.”
"Well don't just stand there, go get him," Farrah shouted. She turned to Viv and Rex. "I don't have time to talk to you right now. I'll give you a call later and you can come down to the station to sign the paperwork."
Bags of evidence in one hand, she bolted for the police van. With a screech of tires, the car pulled away from the curb.
Rex shook his head. "Okay then. Not your average morning. How are you feeling about now?"
Viv shrugged, but then admitted, "I've never been involved in anything like this before. I'm feeling terrified, if you must know the truth."
He agreed. "I hung out with some unsavory types in the military where people had weapons. But most of my time was spent in the IT tent. Sure, everyone had weapons, but no one ever pulled one on me."
They stared at each other. But then Rex broke in. "How about we unwind and sit by the pool. I'm starving. Maybe eggs Benedict?" She knew he was changing the subject to lighten the mood. And she appreciated him for it.
Viv glanced at her bathrobe. "Give me a few minutes."
He scratched his chin. "Are you sure that mallet was meant for intruders? I mean, when you explained to Farrah, I got a little self-conscious."
Viv looked him up and down. Then she smiled. "Oh please. You're a lightweight. Mallets are for dangerous criminals. Not mentalists."
Viv heard his laughter all the way into the bungalow.
49
REX REDONDO
Sutton poked her head between the curtains of the cabana. Rex lay on one side of the bed, Viv on the other, the space of a few inches in between. He held a detective novel open on his chest. It was so old the pages hung out the side.
"May I help you?" he asked. His voice implied that she interrupted.
Sutton stepped farther inside, the curtains falling behind her back. "Hey, boss, just wanted you to know I spotted another one of those HOA guys."
Viv opened her eyes. "Which one?" She'd been taking a nap. The busy morning had brought a good deal of confusion and fatigue.
"The African American guy. The one who's a pastor. The preacher guy." Sutton got a faraway look in her eye. Rex knew she was trying to imagine him standing at a lectern.
"Anyway, I looked up his background on the internet. I found lots of photos from his military days, so I knew who he was right away."
"Sammy Daniels," Rex said. "So he's here too."
Viv sat up, her round pillow dropping to the ground. "Okay, I caught most of that. Don't you think it's time for a quick review of everyone here at Three Bunch? We've got Carmine's widow and her boyfriend Pete Langford, also on the HOA. Then Joey Baker tries to hold us up at gunpoint. He's on the HOA."
Rex jumped in. "And don't forget the crooner, Dean Marcella. He's on the HOA."
"And now we have Sammy Daniels," Sutton said.
"So where exactly did you see him?" Rex asked.
"Well, boss. I'm so glad you asked. I was taking my break, flying my drone, minding my own business. Not exactly my own business, if we were to get technical about it. Anyway, I was listening in on the widow and the boyfriend, when Sammy stopped by their cabana."
"Was he dressed as a clergyman?" Viv asked. "I'd find that highly amusing, here at the spa. A man in a collar trying to convert more souls to Jesus."
"No, he had on the same white bathrobe as everyone else," Sutton said. "He was sporting some fancy flip-flops though. I want a pair of those. I checked on it. You can get them in the gift shop."
"Never mind that," Rex growled. "What did Sammy have to say?"
"That's the funny part. He was telling Beverly that he signed his wife up for a class. He wanted to know if she wanted to join. You know Three Bunch offers all kinds of instructional opportunities. The list is posted right outside the restaurant," she explained.
"I did see that," Viv admitted. "Which class? I was thinking of joining the stargazing one."
"Not the star one. He signed her up for the spirit animal class," Sutton said.
"People take classes on that?" Rex asked. "Isn't that considered not quite appropriate?"
“Not if the instruction comes from a genuine Native, it isn't," Sutton objected.
"Someone once told me, I won't mention names, that my spirit animal was a cat," Rex said thoughtfully. He remembered the woman as if it were yesterday. She was in her mid-twenties. A beautiful body and bright green eyes. Her hair, long and straight, falling around his face when they made love. She'd come to his shows and then slip backstage afterward. They'd dated for a couple of weeks back in the early 2000s. She'd be in her forties by now. Rex remembered everyone he'd been with from his past. But he never knew when they'd slip into his consciousness or why.
"How could that be?” Viv turned to him with a surprised look on her face. "You seem like a dog person to me. And Miss Kitty rarely pays you any attention."
"True," Rex admitted. "But that woman was an authority on spirit animals and she said mine was a cat, so there you have it." She had a beautiful smile too. All I had to do was sit back. She'd initiate everything.
Viv shook her head in disbelief. "Why don't you go to the class then. I'm sure the Native teacher will connect you with your real spirit animal. Which won't be a cat," she insisted.
Rex closed his eyes, still remembering. The woman never told him why she picked the cat. He didn't mind what animal she chose, just so long as it wasn't anything like a rat or a weasel.
Plus they'd ended on good terms. She hooked up with the head bouncer at the casino and that was that. The story of his life. Until he met Viv and realized not every woman threw herself at him.
By the time Sutton left, Viv closed her eyes again, leaving Rex to wonder. Four out of five in the HOA hanging out here at Three Bunch for the weekend. Is it all about the me-time, getting facials and work done? Or is it possible that they come here for other reasons? The men sign up the wives for a class and then what…
Rex settled his neck onto the round pillow and closed his eyes. An image arrived. Men sat around a round table. Each held a hand of cards. Women stood behind the men, scantily dressed in bikinis. Poker chips were stacked in front of each man.
There was another guy who stood at the door, his arms folded over his chest. He looked like a bar bouncer or a bodyguard. Rex inhaled, feeling his nerves tingle from the image.
It didn't take a mentalist to get the gist of that situation.
"The HOA men come to Three Bunch for a poker game. They ditch the wives and have at it. Probably high rollers and high stakes," he explained to Viv.
"What do you mean?" She swung her legs over the side of the daybed. He admired how athletic and toned they looked.
"Just like I said. I think the men are here for poker. That's why Sam hooked the wives up. It keeps them busy while they get down to business."
"I don't understand men," Viv admitted. "They come here for some relaxation and then hide in a back room, away from the beautiful setting and hot springs, to play a card game. Makes no sense to me." She stood up.
"I'm going for a swim," she announced. Pulling her cover-up over her head, she stepped into her flip-flops. Rex watched attentively. Then as she turned to face him, her face lit up. "You know something?" she asked him.
“Oh, I know lots of stuff," he said. "Like how that suit fits you so well. And the red looks great with the tan."
"Not that," she said stoutly. "I think we're doing the math wrong. We have the HOA guys all here. We added them up. But it's not good enough to keep adding. It's time to subtract. It's not who's here, but who isn't." She waited for Rex to catch on.
"Oh!" he said instantly. "Of course. I never thought of that. What about the HOA director, Frank Salucci?"
"That's right," Viv exclaimed. "Where is Frank in all of this?"
"Maybe he's just busy this weekend," Rex offered.
"Or maybe the other four don't like him that much. Maybe they cut him out of the game for some reason?” Viv suggested.
She picked up her towel. "Let's refocus. At the wake I overheard Salucci tell his wife that Joey killed Carmine. And we know that Beverly and Pete think Joey killed Carmine. I might dismiss Salucci's opinion if it weren't for the other two."
Rex looked thoughtful. "Maybe it's not Joey. Maybe Beverly and Pete wanted Carmine out of the way so they could go public with their relationship. They wanted Joey to take the fall."
Viv looked thoughtful. "So then once I brought Joey to them, they'd what? Get rid of him?"
"Think back. Did Salucci specifically say that Joey was the guy?" Rex asked.
"We were waiting in line to pay our last respects, but I think that's what he implied."
Rex cleared his throat. "Back to our first idea. Why is Frank Salucci the only HOA board member not here this weekend?"
50
REX REDONDO
"Pastor Daniels is ready to see you now," the church secretary said in a singsong voice. After Sutton was unable to get a meeting with Frank Salucci, Rex decided he'd do a work-around and get to him through Sammy Daniels. That's how he and Viv ended up back at church.
Handing Rex a stack of papers, the secretary added, "Here are the prenuptial guidelines of St. Bartholomew's. Pastor will guide you through the details and arrange three appointments prior to your ceremony.”
Rex felt Viv's body stiffen. He turned to her. "Come along, darling, let's get this part done so that we can go shopping and pick out your dress." He took her by the elbow. Then he whispered in her ear, "You're the bride, remember. Act happy."
The door to the pastor's office opened, revealing Samuel Daniels. He wore an ecclesial collar with a black long-sleeve shirt. Light gray slacks emphasized his tall, slim build. "I remember you now," he said, beaming at them. "Come in and have a seat."
Rex and Viv sat in two chairs on one side of the expansive mahogany desk. A gold pen, next to a worn Bible, lay on the right-hand corner of the polished surface. Behind the desk was a credenza that held the customary photos. The largest was of a beautiful woman in her fifties and two teenage children, a boy and a girl. When Pastor Daniels seated himself, he held his hands like a steeple in front of his chest and smiled.
"I see you're ready to tie the knot," Daniels began the conversation.
Aware of Viv's eyes boring into the side of his face, Rex could barely refrain from laughing. He'd not explained earlier how he'd gotten the appointment with Daniels, just that he had one. She must be surprised.
It was Sutton who'd instructed him earlier on how to dress for a meeting with the pastor. "Okay, so I made the appointment for you and Viv at St. Bart’s for this afternoon. I recommend that you wear clothes that look like you stepped off the golf course. Since Pastor Daniels golfs, you'll have an instant connection point with him."
Rex had yawned at the time, trying to recollect when exactly Sutton had become his clothing consultant among all the other things she was in charge of. "And Viv. What should she wear?"
"Whatever the hell she wants, Viv's a grownup. You, I'm not so sure of," muttered Sutton. Kevin chose that moment to leap on the bed and lick Rex's face.
But now that he sat in the pastor's study, he realized Sutton knew what she was doing. He hadn't anticipated feeling so disingenuous. Sitting here like this, a minister staring him down, reminded him of times in the past. Like when I was a kid and the priest chewed me out for sampling the communion wine. He shifted his legs, trying to get more comfortable. The guilt makes me fidgety. He only had to look down at his knee bouncing up and down to be convinced this wasn't the place he wanted to be.
Rex laid the paperwork on the desk. He cleared his throat. "Okay, so we're not here for prenuptial counseling." He observed Daniels's face carefully. He's a good hider, that guy. Must be the collar.
"Is that so," came the sonorous reply.
"We're here to talk to you about the Desert Tortoise Estates. We're all residents and you're on the HOA."
"We tried to get a meeting with the director, Frank Salucci," Viv explained.
"But he couldn't come to the phone," Rex added.
"According to the letterhead, you're the next in charge," Viv said.
"I'm the facilities coordinator," Daniels explained. "I work with Judy in the office. And then once a month we take a tour of the property, driving around the neighborhood, to see if neighbors are in compliance with the CC&Rs. That kind of thing."
Viv spoke. "So we have issues with the CC&Rs. But that's not why we want a meeting. I'd like to get a copy of the annual budget. For some reason that's not been sent out electronically or through the mail."
Sammy Daniels's jaw tightened.
Rex commented quietly, "I can see these questions bother you."
"Not at all," Daniels’s voice boomed. The sheer volume of his response told Rex everything he wanted to know. Gotcha. Having achieved his purpose of throwing the pastor off guard, Rex knew the better part of valor was to make a quick exit.
He stood. "So if you could call Judy and tell her to send us the yearly report, we'd appreciate it."
"And then we can have a good long look." Viv stood too. "Another thing, if you could put a call in to Joey Baker, that would be great. He's the treasurer and I'm sure he can answer any questions we have after reading the report."
Pastor Daniels’s face sagged. He gripped the side of the desk as he stood. "Joey is not available at the moment," he said. "He's on a cruise."
"How long will they be out of town?" Viv asked.
"I'm not sure. At least two weeks." Then he leaned closer, using a conspiratorial voice. "Joey may be in a spot of trouble. I'm only saying this because you're part of the estate community and I think you should know."
Rex took Viv's hand. "We've heard that Joey killed Carmine."
"I cannot confirm or deny, but you can put two and two together. He was the only one not at the HOA that night."
Rex inched Viv closer to the door. "Thanks for that information," he told Pastor Daniels on their way out.
Once inside the SUV, Viv spoke first. "He practically insisted Joey is hiding from the cops and that he murdered Carmine. You know, I'm not sure I believe him about the cruise. It's like a hunch."
"I like it when you have hunches," Rex said. "And I'm inclined to agree."
Viv sighed with exasperation. "So what did we learn from that charade?"
"It's a lot of paperwork to get married in a church?" he said with a grin.
"Besides that." Viv scowled.
Rex pulled the SUV into his driveway. "We learned that Sammy Daniels has confidentiality issues and that the HOA is hiding something. And that the board may just be a front for what they're hiding."
Viv shook her head. "Since Joey is the HOA accountant, he must be in way deep. Maybe he's skimming money off the top. You know, embezzling." She paused for a breath before continuing. "Maybe Carmine figured it out and tried to blackmail him. That's when Joey decided to kill Carmine."
Rex whistled. "Sounds plausible."
Viv opened the SUV door. "I'll see you later. I have some phone calls to follow up on. Plus we can't do anything until we get that report."
"See you soon." Rex waited for her to close the door before pulling into his garage.
"Bork," came a greeting from inside the house.
Rex opened the door to Kevin, who wriggled and wagged his tail.
51
VIVIENNE ROSE
With one yank, Viv pulled the comforter off of her bed. Convinced there was a connection between Carmine and Joey that went beyond the HOA, she'd decided to return to Carmine's Fluff and Fold. There's something going on with that place besides laundry. She dropped the comforter into a plastic basket and headed toward the garage.
At the laundromat, one glance told Viv that all three of the oversized washing machines were in use. But this time a young woman stood behind the counter folding sheets. Viv walked to the smart card machine. As predicted, her first card had gotten lost. She sighed when she saw an Out of Order paper pasted over the machine.
Viv walked to the counter. "Is there another way I can pay for a load?" she asked. The girl looked up from her folding, causing Viv to flinch. I know her. She's the one who walks the baby in the neighborhood.
"You live at the Desert Tortoise Estates," the girl said. "I've seen you walking with that silver-haired guy. The mentalist."
Viv did her best not to laugh. Everybody knows Rex. Give a man a big smile and a stack of perfect gray hair and he becomes the immediate center of attention.
"That's us," Viv said. "And Kevin, Rex's dog," she added.
"So the silver fox owns the dog." She pushed the folded sheet aside to start on a pillowcase.
"How do I pay for a load of wash with the machine out of service?" Viv changed the subject.
"New management," the girl explained. "We only deal in cash now. You pay me. I start the washer. If you need the money, you can step across the street to the bank."
Viv looked out the plate glass storefront window to the building across the street. To her surprise there was a freshly painted sign over the door: D&M Savings and Loan. "Is that a new bank—a private one? I've never heard of it."
"Yep." The girl nodded. "Changed hands just this week." Her tone was clipped. "The guy who bought out the Fluff and Fold also owns the bank. There are branches up north." She pointed to the sign behind the counter: D&M Fluff and Fold. “Named after the owner."
When the officer didn't respond, Viv reached out to pat her shoulder. "Everything okay?"
Farrah shrugged off her hand, eventually turning to face them. "I'm fine. Didn't have breakfast yet. Feeling a bit woozy. So you're telling me that Joey Baker broke in and then held a gun on you." She wrote furiously in her notepad. "And that this is the revolver." She pointed to the plastic bag.
The door from the bungalow opened as the uniformed officer rushed outside. "I thought I had him. Read him his rights. And then I turned my back for just a second… He escaped. Pushed his way through the kitchen window and took off toward the golf course.”
"Well don't just stand there, go get him," Farrah shouted. She turned to Viv and Rex. "I don't have time to talk to you right now. I'll give you a call later and you can come down to the station to sign the paperwork."
Bags of evidence in one hand, she bolted for the police van. With a screech of tires, the car pulled away from the curb.
Rex shook his head. "Okay then. Not your average morning. How are you feeling about now?"
Viv shrugged, but then admitted, "I've never been involved in anything like this before. I'm feeling terrified, if you must know the truth."
He agreed. "I hung out with some unsavory types in the military where people had weapons. But most of my time was spent in the IT tent. Sure, everyone had weapons, but no one ever pulled one on me."
They stared at each other. But then Rex broke in. "How about we unwind and sit by the pool. I'm starving. Maybe eggs Benedict?" She knew he was changing the subject to lighten the mood. And she appreciated him for it.
Viv glanced at her bathrobe. "Give me a few minutes."
He scratched his chin. "Are you sure that mallet was meant for intruders? I mean, when you explained to Farrah, I got a little self-conscious."
Viv looked him up and down. Then she smiled. "Oh please. You're a lightweight. Mallets are for dangerous criminals. Not mentalists."
Viv heard his laughter all the way into the bungalow.
49
REX REDONDO
Sutton poked her head between the curtains of the cabana. Rex lay on one side of the bed, Viv on the other, the space of a few inches in between. He held a detective novel open on his chest. It was so old the pages hung out the side.
"May I help you?" he asked. His voice implied that she interrupted.
Sutton stepped farther inside, the curtains falling behind her back. "Hey, boss, just wanted you to know I spotted another one of those HOA guys."
Viv opened her eyes. "Which one?" She'd been taking a nap. The busy morning had brought a good deal of confusion and fatigue.
"The African American guy. The one who's a pastor. The preacher guy." Sutton got a faraway look in her eye. Rex knew she was trying to imagine him standing at a lectern.
"Anyway, I looked up his background on the internet. I found lots of photos from his military days, so I knew who he was right away."
"Sammy Daniels," Rex said. "So he's here too."
Viv sat up, her round pillow dropping to the ground. "Okay, I caught most of that. Don't you think it's time for a quick review of everyone here at Three Bunch? We've got Carmine's widow and her boyfriend Pete Langford, also on the HOA. Then Joey Baker tries to hold us up at gunpoint. He's on the HOA."
Rex jumped in. "And don't forget the crooner, Dean Marcella. He's on the HOA."
"And now we have Sammy Daniels," Sutton said.
"So where exactly did you see him?" Rex asked.
"Well, boss. I'm so glad you asked. I was taking my break, flying my drone, minding my own business. Not exactly my own business, if we were to get technical about it. Anyway, I was listening in on the widow and the boyfriend, when Sammy stopped by their cabana."
"Was he dressed as a clergyman?" Viv asked. "I'd find that highly amusing, here at the spa. A man in a collar trying to convert more souls to Jesus."
"No, he had on the same white bathrobe as everyone else," Sutton said. "He was sporting some fancy flip-flops though. I want a pair of those. I checked on it. You can get them in the gift shop."
"Never mind that," Rex growled. "What did Sammy have to say?"
"That's the funny part. He was telling Beverly that he signed his wife up for a class. He wanted to know if she wanted to join. You know Three Bunch offers all kinds of instructional opportunities. The list is posted right outside the restaurant," she explained.
"I did see that," Viv admitted. "Which class? I was thinking of joining the stargazing one."
"Not the star one. He signed her up for the spirit animal class," Sutton said.
"People take classes on that?" Rex asked. "Isn't that considered not quite appropriate?"
“Not if the instruction comes from a genuine Native, it isn't," Sutton objected.
"Someone once told me, I won't mention names, that my spirit animal was a cat," Rex said thoughtfully. He remembered the woman as if it were yesterday. She was in her mid-twenties. A beautiful body and bright green eyes. Her hair, long and straight, falling around his face when they made love. She'd come to his shows and then slip backstage afterward. They'd dated for a couple of weeks back in the early 2000s. She'd be in her forties by now. Rex remembered everyone he'd been with from his past. But he never knew when they'd slip into his consciousness or why.
"How could that be?” Viv turned to him with a surprised look on her face. "You seem like a dog person to me. And Miss Kitty rarely pays you any attention."
"True," Rex admitted. "But that woman was an authority on spirit animals and she said mine was a cat, so there you have it." She had a beautiful smile too. All I had to do was sit back. She'd initiate everything.
Viv shook her head in disbelief. "Why don't you go to the class then. I'm sure the Native teacher will connect you with your real spirit animal. Which won't be a cat," she insisted.
Rex closed his eyes, still remembering. The woman never told him why she picked the cat. He didn't mind what animal she chose, just so long as it wasn't anything like a rat or a weasel.
Plus they'd ended on good terms. She hooked up with the head bouncer at the casino and that was that. The story of his life. Until he met Viv and realized not every woman threw herself at him.
By the time Sutton left, Viv closed her eyes again, leaving Rex to wonder. Four out of five in the HOA hanging out here at Three Bunch for the weekend. Is it all about the me-time, getting facials and work done? Or is it possible that they come here for other reasons? The men sign up the wives for a class and then what…
Rex settled his neck onto the round pillow and closed his eyes. An image arrived. Men sat around a round table. Each held a hand of cards. Women stood behind the men, scantily dressed in bikinis. Poker chips were stacked in front of each man.
There was another guy who stood at the door, his arms folded over his chest. He looked like a bar bouncer or a bodyguard. Rex inhaled, feeling his nerves tingle from the image.
It didn't take a mentalist to get the gist of that situation.
"The HOA men come to Three Bunch for a poker game. They ditch the wives and have at it. Probably high rollers and high stakes," he explained to Viv.
"What do you mean?" She swung her legs over the side of the daybed. He admired how athletic and toned they looked.
"Just like I said. I think the men are here for poker. That's why Sam hooked the wives up. It keeps them busy while they get down to business."
"I don't understand men," Viv admitted. "They come here for some relaxation and then hide in a back room, away from the beautiful setting and hot springs, to play a card game. Makes no sense to me." She stood up.
"I'm going for a swim," she announced. Pulling her cover-up over her head, she stepped into her flip-flops. Rex watched attentively. Then as she turned to face him, her face lit up. "You know something?" she asked him.
“Oh, I know lots of stuff," he said. "Like how that suit fits you so well. And the red looks great with the tan."
"Not that," she said stoutly. "I think we're doing the math wrong. We have the HOA guys all here. We added them up. But it's not good enough to keep adding. It's time to subtract. It's not who's here, but who isn't." She waited for Rex to catch on.
"Oh!" he said instantly. "Of course. I never thought of that. What about the HOA director, Frank Salucci?"
"That's right," Viv exclaimed. "Where is Frank in all of this?"
"Maybe he's just busy this weekend," Rex offered.
"Or maybe the other four don't like him that much. Maybe they cut him out of the game for some reason?” Viv suggested.
She picked up her towel. "Let's refocus. At the wake I overheard Salucci tell his wife that Joey killed Carmine. And we know that Beverly and Pete think Joey killed Carmine. I might dismiss Salucci's opinion if it weren't for the other two."
Rex looked thoughtful. "Maybe it's not Joey. Maybe Beverly and Pete wanted Carmine out of the way so they could go public with their relationship. They wanted Joey to take the fall."
Viv looked thoughtful. "So then once I brought Joey to them, they'd what? Get rid of him?"
"Think back. Did Salucci specifically say that Joey was the guy?" Rex asked.
"We were waiting in line to pay our last respects, but I think that's what he implied."
Rex cleared his throat. "Back to our first idea. Why is Frank Salucci the only HOA board member not here this weekend?"
50
REX REDONDO
"Pastor Daniels is ready to see you now," the church secretary said in a singsong voice. After Sutton was unable to get a meeting with Frank Salucci, Rex decided he'd do a work-around and get to him through Sammy Daniels. That's how he and Viv ended up back at church.
Handing Rex a stack of papers, the secretary added, "Here are the prenuptial guidelines of St. Bartholomew's. Pastor will guide you through the details and arrange three appointments prior to your ceremony.”
Rex felt Viv's body stiffen. He turned to her. "Come along, darling, let's get this part done so that we can go shopping and pick out your dress." He took her by the elbow. Then he whispered in her ear, "You're the bride, remember. Act happy."
The door to the pastor's office opened, revealing Samuel Daniels. He wore an ecclesial collar with a black long-sleeve shirt. Light gray slacks emphasized his tall, slim build. "I remember you now," he said, beaming at them. "Come in and have a seat."
Rex and Viv sat in two chairs on one side of the expansive mahogany desk. A gold pen, next to a worn Bible, lay on the right-hand corner of the polished surface. Behind the desk was a credenza that held the customary photos. The largest was of a beautiful woman in her fifties and two teenage children, a boy and a girl. When Pastor Daniels seated himself, he held his hands like a steeple in front of his chest and smiled.
"I see you're ready to tie the knot," Daniels began the conversation.
Aware of Viv's eyes boring into the side of his face, Rex could barely refrain from laughing. He'd not explained earlier how he'd gotten the appointment with Daniels, just that he had one. She must be surprised.
It was Sutton who'd instructed him earlier on how to dress for a meeting with the pastor. "Okay, so I made the appointment for you and Viv at St. Bart’s for this afternoon. I recommend that you wear clothes that look like you stepped off the golf course. Since Pastor Daniels golfs, you'll have an instant connection point with him."
Rex had yawned at the time, trying to recollect when exactly Sutton had become his clothing consultant among all the other things she was in charge of. "And Viv. What should she wear?"
"Whatever the hell she wants, Viv's a grownup. You, I'm not so sure of," muttered Sutton. Kevin chose that moment to leap on the bed and lick Rex's face.
But now that he sat in the pastor's study, he realized Sutton knew what she was doing. He hadn't anticipated feeling so disingenuous. Sitting here like this, a minister staring him down, reminded him of times in the past. Like when I was a kid and the priest chewed me out for sampling the communion wine. He shifted his legs, trying to get more comfortable. The guilt makes me fidgety. He only had to look down at his knee bouncing up and down to be convinced this wasn't the place he wanted to be.
Rex laid the paperwork on the desk. He cleared his throat. "Okay, so we're not here for prenuptial counseling." He observed Daniels's face carefully. He's a good hider, that guy. Must be the collar.
"Is that so," came the sonorous reply.
"We're here to talk to you about the Desert Tortoise Estates. We're all residents and you're on the HOA."
"We tried to get a meeting with the director, Frank Salucci," Viv explained.
"But he couldn't come to the phone," Rex added.
"According to the letterhead, you're the next in charge," Viv said.
"I'm the facilities coordinator," Daniels explained. "I work with Judy in the office. And then once a month we take a tour of the property, driving around the neighborhood, to see if neighbors are in compliance with the CC&Rs. That kind of thing."
Viv spoke. "So we have issues with the CC&Rs. But that's not why we want a meeting. I'd like to get a copy of the annual budget. For some reason that's not been sent out electronically or through the mail."
Sammy Daniels's jaw tightened.
Rex commented quietly, "I can see these questions bother you."
"Not at all," Daniels’s voice boomed. The sheer volume of his response told Rex everything he wanted to know. Gotcha. Having achieved his purpose of throwing the pastor off guard, Rex knew the better part of valor was to make a quick exit.
He stood. "So if you could call Judy and tell her to send us the yearly report, we'd appreciate it."
"And then we can have a good long look." Viv stood too. "Another thing, if you could put a call in to Joey Baker, that would be great. He's the treasurer and I'm sure he can answer any questions we have after reading the report."
Pastor Daniels’s face sagged. He gripped the side of the desk as he stood. "Joey is not available at the moment," he said. "He's on a cruise."
"How long will they be out of town?" Viv asked.
"I'm not sure. At least two weeks." Then he leaned closer, using a conspiratorial voice. "Joey may be in a spot of trouble. I'm only saying this because you're part of the estate community and I think you should know."
Rex took Viv's hand. "We've heard that Joey killed Carmine."
"I cannot confirm or deny, but you can put two and two together. He was the only one not at the HOA that night."
Rex inched Viv closer to the door. "Thanks for that information," he told Pastor Daniels on their way out.
Once inside the SUV, Viv spoke first. "He practically insisted Joey is hiding from the cops and that he murdered Carmine. You know, I'm not sure I believe him about the cruise. It's like a hunch."
"I like it when you have hunches," Rex said. "And I'm inclined to agree."
Viv sighed with exasperation. "So what did we learn from that charade?"
"It's a lot of paperwork to get married in a church?" he said with a grin.
"Besides that." Viv scowled.
Rex pulled the SUV into his driveway. "We learned that Sammy Daniels has confidentiality issues and that the HOA is hiding something. And that the board may just be a front for what they're hiding."
Viv shook her head. "Since Joey is the HOA accountant, he must be in way deep. Maybe he's skimming money off the top. You know, embezzling." She paused for a breath before continuing. "Maybe Carmine figured it out and tried to blackmail him. That's when Joey decided to kill Carmine."
Rex whistled. "Sounds plausible."
Viv opened the SUV door. "I'll see you later. I have some phone calls to follow up on. Plus we can't do anything until we get that report."
"See you soon." Rex waited for her to close the door before pulling into his garage.
"Bork," came a greeting from inside the house.
Rex opened the door to Kevin, who wriggled and wagged his tail.
51
VIVIENNE ROSE
With one yank, Viv pulled the comforter off of her bed. Convinced there was a connection between Carmine and Joey that went beyond the HOA, she'd decided to return to Carmine's Fluff and Fold. There's something going on with that place besides laundry. She dropped the comforter into a plastic basket and headed toward the garage.
At the laundromat, one glance told Viv that all three of the oversized washing machines were in use. But this time a young woman stood behind the counter folding sheets. Viv walked to the smart card machine. As predicted, her first card had gotten lost. She sighed when she saw an Out of Order paper pasted over the machine.
Viv walked to the counter. "Is there another way I can pay for a load?" she asked. The girl looked up from her folding, causing Viv to flinch. I know her. She's the one who walks the baby in the neighborhood.
"You live at the Desert Tortoise Estates," the girl said. "I've seen you walking with that silver-haired guy. The mentalist."
Viv did her best not to laugh. Everybody knows Rex. Give a man a big smile and a stack of perfect gray hair and he becomes the immediate center of attention.
"That's us," Viv said. "And Kevin, Rex's dog," she added.
"So the silver fox owns the dog." She pushed the folded sheet aside to start on a pillowcase.
"How do I pay for a load of wash with the machine out of service?" Viv changed the subject.
"New management," the girl explained. "We only deal in cash now. You pay me. I start the washer. If you need the money, you can step across the street to the bank."
Viv looked out the plate glass storefront window to the building across the street. To her surprise there was a freshly painted sign over the door: D&M Savings and Loan. "Is that a new bank—a private one? I've never heard of it."
"Yep." The girl nodded. "Changed hands just this week." Her tone was clipped. "The guy who bought out the Fluff and Fold also owns the bank. There are branches up north." She pointed to the sign behind the counter: D&M Fluff and Fold. “Named after the owner."
