All the Dirty Secrets, page 6
“You’re handling the Blake murder, aren’t you?” Eisenberg asked without ceremony.
“Yes, it’s why we’re here. Callie Blake had her portrait and what’s called glamour shots done by Melinda Mastrianni Photography Studio. The owner, who I dated in high school, is insisting I get a warrant if I want to see her files. She claims the photograph with the body wasn’t one of hers.”
“You don’t believe her?” Eisenberg asked.
“It’s not a question of belief…I think she’s holding up the investigation to bust my balls.”
“And why would she do that?”
“It goes back to the time around my sister’s death, but that’s not the point. And it’s personal, Judge Eisenberg.” Jake hoped the judge didn’t push the issue. “Callie had her pictures taken by Melinda. I need to see who else did, in case the blackmailer targets them,” Jake said.
“You’ll have your warrant…but first.”
Jake raised his eyes from his notebook when the judge hesitated. “Yes?”
Jake exchanged a look with Louie.
“You’re going to find my wife’s photo is in there. I’m going to ask that you both use discretion when you question her and not put them in your files.”
What? Has the whole town gone crazy? “I will, sir. We’re not out to destroy anyone or share what we find. As long as they aren’t targeted by the blackmailer or killer, it’s their business what they do.”
“Do you know why they’d target cops’ and judges’ wives?” Judge Eisenberg asked.
“Not a clue, sir, but whoever the blackmailer is, he doesn’t understand what he brought down upon his head,” Jake said with conviction.
Judge Eisenberg locked eyes with him, then with Louie. “The warrant should come through within the hour.”
Jake left the office deep in thought. What he said in the judge’s office he believed. The blackmailer had to have reasons for targeting these women. Find the why, find the killer. Had Melinda run special ads for these kinds of pictures to entice women to pose? If she had, where did she advertise? It was an angle to search. He’d hand off the search for the ads to Kirk Brown, one of his junior detectives and an ace with online research. It would clear Jake’s plate to move forward into his background checks on the Blakes after he executed his warrant for Melinda’s place. He had to question the Blakes’ neighbors and friends to get a feel for the couple. He was acquainted with some of them from picnics at the Blakes’, and wasn’t that going to be fun.
* * * *
Neither of them missed the expression on Melinda’s face when Jake handed her the warrant two hours later. He nodded to Louie as he followed her to the back of the studio. Louie searched the front of the studio.
Upset he hadn’t approached her the first time with a warrant, Jake hoped she hadn’t wiped the computer drive clean after their visit.
“I need the password,” Jake said, taking a seat at her computer.
Melinda leaned in over his shoulder and typed in the password before stepping back. Jake clicked on file after file. If he couldn’t find anything, he’d bring the station’s computer whiz here to search.
“Which photos were taken this year?” He wanted to narrow down the task.
“All files have a two-number extension at the end, with the year.”
Jake searched the year, then the name. Christ, Melinda’s business seemed to be doing well this year. She’d photographed over thirty women.
He clicked on a few files, then stopped. “Is there a way to cull through the boudoir pictures only, instead of the portraits and weddings?” Jake asked.
“A lot of the brides pose for the glamour shots as a special gift for their future husbands on their wedding night,” Melinda said.
“Do you have a list of the ones that did both?”
“I need to sit back down at my computer.”
Jake swirled the chair in Melinda’s direction and stood. Melinda sat down in the black leather chair Jake had vacated and typed furiously. After a few keystrokes she opened a document. She rose and gave him the chair back. He bit back a remark as he viewed the list. If she’d given him this list to begin with…no, he wasn’t going to go there.
“Can you print a copy of this document for me?”
“Jake, this is my customer list, and it is heavily guarded. If one of my competitors ever got hold of it, I’d be out of business.”
“I’m going to have to insist. No one but Louie and I will see the file.”
Even with the list, it took two hours to go through her records. Midway through he’d come upon Callie’s shoot. He continued clicking through the pictures, finding pictures of other prominent women who had also posed for the same kind of shots.
“Do you have the addresses and phone numbers for each?”
“Good Lord, Jake, do you want me to do your job for you? Yes, I have the information that was current at the time of the photo session. Get your ass out of my chair.”
She pushed him aside and sat down again. After bringing up another program, she printed out the file. “I’ll sue you and the department if my client list is made public.”
“Got it, and thanks for your time.”
Louie wrote up a receipt for the printouts and handed it to Melinda. Jake didn’t care how much he’d insulted her today. The last thing he needed was another body turning up—assuming the photos were the connection to Callie’s murder.
“Thanks. If we need anything else, we’ll give you a call.” Jake tucked his notepad into his pocket and followed Louie out. Louie had remained quiet throughout Jake’s questioning.
“I’ll wait with bated breath,” Melinda said as the door swung closed.
“She didn’t seem hinky or anything,” Louie said when they climbed into the car. “She didn’t exhibit any tells.”
“No, but she was nervous from the minute we walked in the door, too much to put it down to seeing me again. I’m going to dig deeper into her background.”
Jake took his notepad out and started writing. “Are you going to drive, or what?” Louie asked.
“I will as soon as I separate out some names I found in her files.”
He handed his pad to Louie when he finished. A low whistle filled the car.
“All of them? These women have everything. Why would they pose for something so stupid?” Louie asked.
“I haven’t the foggiest idea, Louie.”
“You got to see them? How come I get all the shit jobs?”
“A comedian you are. It wasn’t pleasant. I’ll never be able to look the lot of them in the eyes again without remembering their pictures.”
“Do you think the captain knows Darcy is one of them?”
“He will after we tell him.”
“Well, I didn’t see them, so that task falls to you.”
“Coward.”
“Oh, you bet. I treasure my career.” Louie’s lips curved up.
* * * *
Jake pulled into the underground garage at headquarters, placed the stick shift into park, and drummed his fingers on the wheel as he ran through what he had to do. “I’m going to tell Shamus alone, to spare him the embarrassment.”
Louie stepped into the elevator first, then pressed two. Jake pressed three. When the elevator stopped on two, Louie gave Jake a pat on the back before he stepped off. The short ride to the third floor had Jake dreading the meeting. Shamus’s office was the first door on the right. He lifted his hand to knock on the partially open door when Shamus called out, “Come in.”
“Shamus,” Jake said as he closed the door.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Shamus stood behind his desk and threw a set of photos across it. “My wife gave me these this morning. And you need to know these were for my eyes only, Jake. I don’t want them in the file. No one is going to ogle my wife. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“This is totally out of character for Darcy. And for my intelligent wife not only to have considered it, but to actually pose for them, is beyond my comprehension.” Shamus’s shoulders slumped. He sat in his chair but never took his eyes off Jake.
Jake didn’t pick up the pictures. He left them where Shamus had tossed them. “I’ve already seen them.”
“I figured. You and Louie work fast.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m the only one who saw them, while Louie searched the front of the studio.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Shamus picked up the photos and shoved them into his briefcase.
“I need to ask, did Darcy receive any threatening letters with copies of these, or any photos with a man in them?”
“Not that I’m aware of. These are the only ones she showed me.”
Jake pulled out the picture of Callie Blake with the unidentified male. “I need to know.”
McGuire grabbed his receiver and pressed in a number and got right to the point. “Did you pose with a male model?”
Jake noted the harsh tones in Shamus’s voice. Shamus pushed out of his chair and stood. Jake noted Shamus’s white knuckles gripping the phone.
Jake watched closely—he’d almost missed it. The surprise, then the disgust. Shamus’s pasty skin reddened. “We’ll talk when I get home. One more thing, it’s very important. Did you get any kind of threatening letter?”
McGuire put down the receiver. He stared at it as if it would bite him. “Darcy didn’t receive any kind of letter, but said a male model was suggested once she’d finished up with the agreed photos. It upset her and she refused the offer.” Consternation dripped from his tone.
Jake had found pictures of Darcy with a man in a bedroom. It had surprised the heck out of him. He’d never have guessed it was her style or Callie’s. “This is painful, Shamus. Do you believe your wife is faithful?”
“Without question, I know she is.”
“Do you know who the man in Callie’s picture is?”
“No.”
“Can you let your wife know I’ll be paying her a visit? I need to question her.”
Shamus rubbed his chin, then slammed his hand down on his desk. “This will humiliate her.”
“You know it can’t be helped. I’ll do it alone.”
Jake understood from this day forward things would never be the same between him and Shamus.
* * * *
“I’m calling to let you know Jake Carrington has to interview you. He found and viewed your glamour shots in the photographer’s files today. For God’s sake, Darcy, Jake Carrington saw you in your underwear.”
Darcy gulped. How could I be so naïve? And how will I ever be able to look Jake Carrington in the eyes again?
“Are there any more surprises that I should know about, Darcy?”
Shamus’s controlled anger worried her, but she’d have to deal with it when they were both home, and not on the phone.
“No, Shamus. This was supposed to be for your eyes only as an anniversary gift. Though the photographer did offer an opportunity to pose with a male model, I turned her down. I thought it was rude, and invasive on her part to even offer such a thing.”
Yesterday, she’d cried for three straight hours before her husband thought to give her a call and tell her the horrible news about her best friend. She replayed the conversation over in her head and how she’d tried to pin him with guilt for not calling her.
Her eyes stung as she forced them to focus on the vibrating phone in her hand. What could he say now? Callie’s dead. I needed him hours ago.
“Shamus, tell me it isn’t true.” Her voice cracked.
“I wish I could, honey. I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to call you sooner. Todd has been with me since I got the call. Their kids learned about her death on the news.”
“So did I, Shamus.” The hurt in her tone was quite clear.
“I want to warn you, honey, there are pictures with the body that are pointing to an affair.”
“No, Callie would never cheat on Todd,” she said.
Yes, she was hurting, but she hadn’t given him an ounce of understanding yesterday concerning the situation he’d been caught in with Todd. When she heard of the pictures found with the body, she tried to think if her shots compared. And would the blackmailer/killer target her?
“Darcy, if the blackmailer contacts you, you need to tell me immediately.”
“I will, Shamus.”
“I’m serious, and when I get home we’re going to discuss this and your need to prance around in your underwear.”
It was all innocent until the photographer suggested that slimy guy pose with her. Hindsight was great. She should’ve demanded the memory card be erased after she’d chosen her pictures. Is this the end of my marriage?
* * * *
Most days he liked working homicide. It gave the victim an identity and justice, which allowed him to handle the atrocities he witnessed each day. But on days like this, Jake hated his job. Not that he’d dealt with anything like this before. Having to question his captain’s wife had him walking a tightrope. The door opened before he could raise his hand to knock. Darcy McGuire had always had his admiration and respect. And now it was his job to tear her down, to find the truth, and solve a murder and hopefully prevent another one.
“Come in and let’s get this over with. I need to be back at my office by four,” Darcy said. She was dressed in a tailored navy suit and pumps. Her brown hair was twisted back at the nape of her neck.
The busy CEO and successful businesswoman, Mrs. McGuire, ran a multimillion-dollar manufacturing company. She locked her sharp brown eyes on his. Not many could get him to look away first, but he did.
“Follow me.” She marched away, leaving him to close the door behind him. “Take a seat.” Darcy pointed to a muted beige wingback chair.
The living room with its couch and chairs at precise angles reminded him of the captain’s office and the couple’s military backgrounds. Not one knickknack out of place or a dust mote to be found. She favored blue and beige in her fabrics. Furniture, curtains, and the clothes she wore didn’t vary from the theme.
There was no offer of coffee. The woman in front of him was used to being in control. “Mrs. McGuire—”
“It’s always been Darcy, Jake.”
“Darcy, this is embarrassing for both of us. In the course of my investigation into Callie Blake’s death, I came across compromising pictures of you.”
“Let’s cut the bull, shall we? I posed for some racy pictures to present to my husband for our anniversary. If you’d been married as long as we have, you’d know that at times a little spice is needed to keep the spark alive. After the scheduled appointment I went to get dressed, and the photographer asked if I wanted to pose with a model. I didn’t.”
Another lie he’d caught Melinda in. He’d add it to his list of questions for his next interview with her.
“Why did you turn her down?”
“Well, for one, I felt this would be disrespectful to Shamus. But also…the model came down the stairs after I viewed the pictures Melinda shot of me. He made my skin crawl with the way he looked at me. I’m sure it was her boyfriend with how they interacted with each other. A real sleaze, if you ask me.”
“What makes you think they were dating?”
“It was the way Melinda looked at him and touched him. And after years of reading people, he sent my antenna waving, so I declined. Blackmail never crossed my mind.”
“Did you pose anywhere other than the studio?”
“No, why would I? I will tell you, Melinda told me the blue background I posed in front of allowed her to change the scenery. Oh, what a fool I’ve been. Jake, I never thought…”
“The pictures I viewed today showed you and a man in a bedroom.” Jake watched her face carefully.
Fear, shame, and anger crossed her features in a matter of seconds. “Are you telling me Melinda doctored the pictures?”
“If you’re telling me you didn’t pose anywhere else but at Melinda’s studio, yes. You’ll need to tell your husband in case they get out.”
“I swear to God, I didn’t pose with anyone. Is there a way for your forensics team to see if the man was cut into the picture?”
“It’s an avenue I’m pursuing, Darcy.” Jake took her hand. “You have to promise me if you hear from blackmailers you’ll contact me personally before you let Shamus know. Do not pay if they request money. I’ll give you my cell phone number.”
“I’m not stupid, Jake. Well, most times anyway. But if something like this got out, it could ruin both Shamus’s and my careers.”
“One other thing—what was his name?”
“Sal.”
“You don’t have a last name?”
“No.”
“I need this guy’s face. Can you work with a police artist? It will help me to identify him.”
“Yes.”
For the first time since he’d known her, Darcy broke down. Tears washed away the makeup. The sunlight shining through the living room window wasn’t flattering as it landed on her face. It highlighted every wrinkle, aging her as he watched her try to compose herself.
“I’ll let myself out.” He could offer no comfort.
He passed the mailman on his way to the car.
Chapter 7
Edwina Dunstan sat across from her husband, Cedric, in the formal dining room, a ritual she’d grown up with and kept when she had gotten married. Her maid, Benita, placed the salads in front of each of them. Cedric, at the other end of the table, seemed preoccupied.
What had she seen in him all those years ago? Ah, but he was a handsome young man filled with ideas on how he’d conquer the world. Edy remembered it well, the night of the big dance, the bonfires, the excitement bubbling up inside her, and then she spotted Cedric across the blazing fire pit. She and her friend Margaret had been plotting their next move on Travis Dresser, the captain of the football team. But when she locked eyes with Cedric she’d fallen instantly in love with him. Cedric’s green eyes and his cocky smile, his flirting nature enticed her in ways she’d never considered before.
