Between the Sheets, page 3
"Oh no, it wasn't me." Viv held up her palm as if to wave off Farrah's words. "You had to do the work. I may have been the catalyst, but it often happens that way. Women get to talking, sometimes to perfect strangers, and then a boulder is rolled aside and all kinds of memories and feelings are revealed."
Viv had to admit, looking at the officer, that she seemed different. More centered. Less fragile. She was still someone Viv could easily talk to.
"I did work with the other officer, your substitute from Lily Rock," Viv admitted. "Now she was something else!"
"Janis Jets." Farrah grinned. "She's a handful, right? Very old school and to the point."
"You can say that again," Viv chuckled.
Rex sauntered back from his phone call. He pulled on his earlobe, looking contrite. Viv glared at him, feeling a spark of her former irritation return. Liar, liar, pants on fire.
"Unfortunately I can't stay any longer," Rex announced. "My assistant tells me I'm needed for the early show. Last-minute cancellation. Maybe tomorrow? I can stop at the police station and tell you everything I know about…" He waited expectantly for the officer to fill in a name.
Viv knew right away what he was up to. He's going to have Sutton do a background search and come up with the name of the deceased. Then he'll have information to share and cover up his big fat lie.
"Carmine Nelson," Officer Farrah told them. "He owns and operates that big Fluff and Fold in town. In fact it's called Carmine's Fluff and Fold. Know the place?"
Viv glared at him, but he didn't seem to notice.
Rex smiled as if he'd known all along. Just like my Lucas when he'd get caught doing something naughty. As Farrah glanced at her notebook, Rex gave Viv a quick wink. And then to her annoyance, she felt her heart warm. He'd managed to take away her indignation and anger, replacing it with a tinge of admiration.
Officer Farrah flipped her notepad closed. "I'll see you at the precinct in the morning." Then she turned to Viv. "You can come too. You might know something that could be helpful." She walked toward another officer who waited for her by the door.
Rex nodded toward the path leading away from the casita. "Shall we?" he asked. Offering his elbow, she declined. She kept her arms to her side, not wanting to be touched. To give him credit, he read her signal loud and clear. He shrugged and walked ahead.
"We never got to talk to the HOA. And then the dead body," Viv said, a note of accusation in her voice. "How is it we started the evening one way and it turned in an entirely different direction?"
"The second dead body in our short time together," Rex admitted. "Surely a sign that we're meant to get involved, don't you think?"
"I am not a detective," she said, dismissing his idea. "Let's talk about something else. How about those beautiful sheets. Weren't they something?"
"Actually I had a vision about that bed before we even walked over," he said.
Viv shook her head. "No visions. Not right now. I'm pretty disgusted with you and your lies. You didn't even know the victim's name. But I bet Sutton is already on the case."
He raised both hands in surrender. "Well I did manage to send a text as we were saying goodbye. Sutton will come up with everything we need to know about the dead guy, maybe more than the cops, what with her connections."
Viv felt impatient. She didn't want to hear any more of his bright ideas. Even the talk about the sheets went back to his vision. Hoping to make her irritation go away, she looked up at the full moon, inhaling deeply.
As they strolled back in silence, Viv’s previous surge of anger waned. No use feeling upset with Rex Redondo. It's not like he'll ever change, she concluded.
They rounded the corner and walked half a block to stand in her driveway. He spoke again.
"Why don't we talk about my big lie and the new case tomorrow over our morning coffee? I'll bring Kevin and he can play with Miss Kitty."
Viv gulped. She wasn't actually that mad, once he admitted what he'd done. In fact she felt a glimmer of excitement. She did have fun that last time they worked together. Maybe fun wasn't the right word. But it hadn't been dull, that's for sure.
Anyone can complain at a homeowner's association meeting, she reminded herself. But how many people can get involved in a murder investigation not just once, but a second time?
A slight smile came to the corner of her mouth. He's so persuasive. "I'll talk to Miss Kitty and let you know. She's not exactly a fan of Kevin's exuberant behavior." Using the cat to express her feelings had become a habit. Especially when it came to Rex. Viv wasn't ready to share her feelings directly with him. He had a certain power over her that made her feel vulnerable. No use giving him more ammunition.
"Understood," he said gravely. "I realize Kevin is a bit over the top. Unconventional. He's playful and full of enthusiastic affection. I get it. And I'll get him to do better. But don't forget that dog is loyal." He didn't wait for her reply. "See you tomorrow. Bright and early. Sleep tight, next-door neighbor."
She watched as he sauntered to his house, hands in pockets. Then she heard a whistle drift past in the dry desert air. She recognized the tune immediately: "The Best is Yet to Come," from Frank Sinatra's Nothing But the Best album. Viv knew those old '50s and '60s hits. She favored the classic tunes.
She watched as Rex disappeared through his front door.
7
REX REDONDO
The next morning Rex sat in his home office, sorting papers on his desk. When Sutton came through the door, she brought Kevin. He barked his greeting.
"Hey, you mangy mutt."
Kevin bolted toward Rex, the sound of his paws scratching against the wood flooring. He leaped into Rex’s lap as papers flew across the floor. "Now that's the kind of greeting I live for." Rex reached his arms around the dog's body to give him a big hug.
"See? I told you he needs another round of obedience.” Sutton Drew grinned at her employer, enjoying the swirl of papers on the floor.
With a gentle shove and a downward tilt to his thighs, Rex removed the dog from his lap. "Bork," came the happy reply. Kevin dashed back toward Sutton. Then he took a quick left. He bent over an overflowing basket of his toys tucked into the corner.
Ducking his head, he came up with his favorite. A brown bedraggled bunny, very flat because its stuffing and squeaker had been torn away. Holding it between his teeth, Kevin raced to the door and dropped the bunny at Sutton's feet.
"Play fetch the bunny with him, would you? I'm doing some work here and then getting ready to have coffee with Viv," Rex said.
"Did you get that information I sent you last night?" Sutton tossed the bunny for Kevin. When he ran down the hallway she closed the door, blocking his way back into the office. "The dead man is…"
"I got it. Carmine Nelson. Fifty-five years old. Family with a wife and two adult children. The son is in rehab and the daughter lives up north. Two grandchildren from her first marriage."
Sutton perched on the corner of Rex's desk. She wore black tights with a bright red hoodie that stopped at her thighs. Crossing one leg over her knee, he admired her Nike running shoes. The latest edition, if he wasn't mistaken.
She looked athletic and fit. Her hair, strawberry-blonde, had been slicked back into a high and tight ponytail. After her customary three-mile run she looked cool and calm as ever.
Sutton tapped the desk with her fingernail. "So what are you going to do with that information? You never said." A text alert interrupted his reply. It was from Viv.
Meet me at the police station. We can have coffee afterward.
Rex sighed. He sent a thumbs-up emoji and set his phone down. "Looks like I'm already late. How about you come with me to the kitchen. I can eat something quick and we can talk more about this Carmine Nelson guy." A scratch came from the door.
"And I can feed Bunny-Boy." Sutton slid off the desk.
Rex piled the papers on his blotter before following Sutton to the kitchen. He smelled coffee; his stomach growled. He didn't like it when he ran late. He loved the leisurely pace, but he had to admit a chocolate chip muffin and a fresh brew with Sutton was worth the time it took to gulp down.
He pulled out a chair at the high-top table. Sutton brought a mug of coffee and the muffin on a plate. "I only have a few minutes. You can clean up the dishes, I gotta get a move on," she told him.
He took a big bite.
Sutton glanced at her iPad screen. "So here's what I got. Have a look and I'll send you the information later." She shoved the device across the table.
Rex read, nodding over the details. "Looks like Carmine Nelson was quite the guy," he said. "Lots of Fluff and Folds in his history. Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?”
"I wouldn't jump to any conclusions." Sutton reached over to grab the last bite of muffin off his plate. "But you and I both know, laundering isn't always about dirty clothes."
8
VIVIENNE ROSE
Two chairs sat across the desk from Officer Susan Farrah. She gestured with a sweep of her hand for them to take a seat. Viv took the one on the left, carefully moving it away from the other chair before she sat down.
Rex raised an eyebrow in her direction. Then he offered a friendly greeting. "So Officer Farrah, we meet again. Did you get a good night's sleep?"
Farrah stared at Rex. Doubt on her face. Viv stifled a grin. Susan looks at Rex as if he had spinach caught between his front teeth.
Farrah cleared her throat. "My sleeping patterns are none of your concern, Mr. Redondo." The use of his name with the Mr. made it clear that she wasn't there for chitchat.
"Let me remind you," she continued, "that I'm only interested in how you know our victim, Carmine Nelson. What can you tell me about him?"
Perspiration broke out on Viv's hands. The image of Carmine had kept her up that night. And she had to admit she felt a bit uncomfortable for Rex. Since he lied about knowing the dead man, he was more than likely going to get caught. Unless, of course, Sutton…
She glanced over at Rex. So what's his plan? Did he want to insert himself into the investigation because he fancied himself as some kind of detective? Viv expected Rex would come clean now that they sat in the police station. Surely he'll tell Farrah.
"Oh, Carmine and I are old pals," he said in an easy voice. "We go back, I don't know, maybe a decade."
Viv hid the startled look from her face by turning her head and coughing into her hand. She knew for certain that wasn't remotely true. Hadn't Rex admitted he didn't know Carmine last night? She turned her head back to stare at him. He continued to weave a tale about his supposed friendship with the deceased.
"We'd play golf occasionally." Rex held his hand up to inspect each individual fingernail on his right hand. "You had to take your time with Carmine. He spent a lot of energy with his warm-ups on the course. Never in a rush, that guy. He'd do stretches and then practice swings. He'd tell me that he needed to 'get a sense of the playing field.'" Rex used air quotes. "Of course he knew every green in Palm Desert like the back of his hand. A big player, that was Carmine."
Vivienne couldn't believe her ears. Rex had made up a story on the spot that sounded so convincing. How does he do that? She glanced over at Officer Farrah, who also stared at Rex. I think she's totally taken in. Who wouldn't be with that mesmerizing voice he uses along with the attention to detail.
Farrah slid her hand over to grasp her pad of paper. She scribbled a few notes with a pencil. "Anything else?" Farrah asked, putting her pencil down.
Viv's concern about Rex's glib lies made her wonder. Couldn't Farrah arrest him for obstructing justice? Couldn't he be charged for an offense and go to jail?
"Nope." Rex leaned back in his chair.
Farrah slid her notebook into a drawer. "I guess that will be all for now," she said. "Thanks for coming in."
Viv exhaled in relief. Apparently she's not going to arrest him now or ask me any questions.
Rex stood and Viv did the same. She followed him out the door, into the reception area. Once they stood outside, he turned to her. "How about coffee at Just Desserts?"
"Or tea..."
"You can get an herbal tea." His brows raised above his inviting gaze.
Her palms, now dry, began to itch. She felt her heart race. He wanted to explain and get back into her good graces. She could feel it in the way his eyes appraised her face, running over her mouth. He tentatively smiled again, waiting for her reply. Her heart tugged.
Why do I feel like turning him down would absolutely ruin his day…
"Oh all right. Let's walk over. We can get some steps in. I didn't get a chance to exercise this morning." Viv knew that was her fault. The visit to the police station interrupted their walk with Kevin.
"Wonderful." He smiled at her, as if she'd just delivered the best news ever. "Then I can tell you my plan. Sutton's working on getting the background on all of those HOA guys. One by one we need to track them down. It has to be one of them who killed Carmine. I just know it."
"Carmine the golf guy," she said dryly, using his own description.
"Yeah, him. I hope he does play golf. I mean, who lives in Palm Desert who doesn't?" Rex took her by the elbow, ushering her down the sidewalk toward Just Desserts.
9
VIVIENNE ROSE
Rex stabbed the middle of an enormous cinnamon roll, pulling the warm gooey center out with his fork. "This is the way I see it," he said chomping down on his first bite. He swallowed. "We have work to do."
Viv took a sip of hot chamomile tea. He actually thinks we are both investigating this murder. She shook her head slightly, wondering, not for the first time, about his unflinching self-confidence. Bordering on arrogance.
She'd learned over the past months not to return his gaze. Unsure if it was his mentalist thing or that she was just attracted to him, she'd gotten into the habit of looking over his eyes to his carefully coiffed gray hair.
But this morning she took a chance. Staring into his black eyes without flinching, she inhaled deeply. His pupils widened.
And then as if to prove to herself she couldn't be mesmerized by his tricks, she didn't disconnect her gaze. She allowed herself to feel his desire, his need to get closer, to win back her full approval. And she let him feel those things without flinching or taking them on as her problem.
"Okay then," she finally said, clearing her throat. "What kind of work?" Shifting her glance back to the mug of tea, her optimism returned. I'm pretty strong when I put my mind to it. She felt proud of herself.
"So I sensed some extra tension when Farrah first broke into the HOA meeting," Rex began. "None of those guys seemed that alarmed when she barged into the room. Almost as if they expected her. It felt off, at least to me."
"So that’s why you want to look into all of them, the HOA directors?"
Rex pulled out his phone. "Yes, it is. Like I said, they didn't act like you'd think they would. A guy was found with a bullet hole in his head in one of the casitas and they shrugged, like it was just another cleanup, nothing to worry about. So I made a list to get started with what I call my getting-to-know-you plan.
"To start with, all of these guys have jobs. Some are semiretired, like Sammy Daniels, for instance."
Viv closed her eyes to picture the names from the previous night. She opened her eyes to say, "That would be the only African American man, right?"
"That's right. He's a retired Navy admiral. A chaplain, actually. His last assignment was in Washington, DC. He's some relative of a country singer, if my information is correct. Has a bunch of kids. So they decided to retire in Palm Desert. The climate. All that sunshine."
"Does he play golf?" she asked, knowing that nearly everyone played golf in the desert.
"Probably, but golf's not our point of contact," he said.
"Really? What do you suggest?"
"What are you doing this Sunday?" A playful smile lurked at the corner of his mouth.
"The same things I do for the rest of the week," she assured him. "That's my life now that my Desert Doulas has gone…" She hesitated to say defunct. But for all intents and purposes, she was the only doula left. As the head of the company, she could hardly call it an agency with only a couple of employees.
"So we can go to church," he immediately offered. "The Episcopalian one on Judy Garland Drive."
"The one with the big steeple? I drive past that whenever I'm heading to the freeway," Viv said.
"That's where we'll meet the retired admiral. He'll never suspect us at church. Probably think we're weekend visitors who just happened to drop by. We'll cozy up to him at the coffee hour and act friendly. Trust me, this is going to be a piece of cake."
"But we have to listen to a sermon and sing hymns. Doesn't that bother you?"
"Not at all. I was raised Catholic. I can do the rosary and maintain a happy face, still thinking about the television show I saw last night. You could say I learned to multitask from the best.
"Plus we skip communion and watch people. Take notes. Act just like everyone else. Don't forget to bring your phone," he added.
Viv put down her mug of tea. She glanced at Rex's plate. The outside loop of cinnamon roll remained. She reached over with her finger and broke off a small piece, lifting it to her mouth.
She felt him watch her carefully, even as she chewed. When she was finished she took her napkin and dabbed at her lips. "Okay then. I'm in. I'll go home and pick out a church outfit. Can't be too careful. I don't want to stand out and alert Admiral What's-His-Puss."
Rex flagged down the waiter and then reached for his wallet. "We'll blend right in," he told her as he dropped the plastic credit card on the table.
Since when did Rex Redondo blend in anywhere? Viv thought.
10
REX REDONDO
On Sunday morning, Rex dressed in a navy-blue sports coat and tan slacks. A crisp white shirt open at the collar, he looked desert-ready for church. Slipping his feet into a dark pair of Gucci loafers, he stepped closer to the full-length mirror for one more glance.
