I froze, the receiver still glued to my ear as the line went dead. Ohmigod. Had it been Bunny? Andi? Thong woman? I couldn’t tell. The voice had been kind of muffled. It was a woman, that much I knew. And she was pissed.
I shivered and quickly replaced the receiver as if she could reach through the phone and shoot me as easily as she’d done Greenway. If ever I needed confirmation that Richard was innocent, that was it.
How had she gotten my number? How did she even know who I was? Did she know where I lived too?
I ran to the front door and checked the lock. Still in place. I unlocked and relocked it again just in case. Then I checked all the windows and shut the blinds. I had the irrational urge to hide under my futon. Instead, remembering my own stint crouching in Richard's closet, I quickly scanned mine. I was relieved to find no one hiding in my seasonal sweaters.
After checking the lock on the front door one more time I sat down on my futon and turned the television on really loud. Trying to fill the now menacing silence with Seinfeld reruns. Only I wasn’t paying attention to Jerry. I was listening for sounds outside. Like the sounds of a crazed thong wearing, stiletto walking, blonde, homicidal maniac. I turned Seinfeld down so I could hear better.
I was truly getting freaked out.
What I needed was a weapon. Something in case Homicidal Barbie tried to break in during the night. Like a sharp knife or a heavy wrench. Unfortunately, since I didn’t cook or do carburetors, I didn’t have either. My eyes scanned the room for anything heavy enough to conk a Barbie on the head. I grabbed my dusty thighmaster from the closet and jumped back onto my futon.
Nope. Still didn’t feel safe.
Reluctantly, I pulled Ramirez’s number out of my purse. I stared at it. The right thing to do was call the cops, right? I mean, I’d just received a death threat. This was the sort of thing cops did. Respond to calls like this.
Only, after the way we’d verbally sparred this morning, I didn’t really want to be the one to make first contact. I mean, I didn’t want Ramirez to think this was just some excuse to call him. If I called him first, that made me the loser right?
I bit my lip, deciding which was worse, being a loser or being Barbie prey. I grabbed my cordless and dialed the number. It rang once. And then I chickened out and hung up. Shit. I was a loser.
The phone rang in my hand and I jumped about three feet in the air. My hands shook as I pressed the on button.
“Hello?” Oh God, please let it be a telemarketer.
“Maddie?”
No such luck. It was Ramirez.
“Oh, hi.”
“Did you just call me? Your number came up on my caller ID.”
I cursed modern invention.
“Oh, uh, yeah. Sort of.”
“Sort of?”
“Fine. I called and hung up. Happy?”
There was a pause on the other end. I expected laughter but instead his voice held a note of concern. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
Damn. I hated that I was acting like a teenager and he was being all concerned and touching. Maddie, you are seriously screwed up girl.
“Yes. I’m okay. I just got a disturbing phone call.”
A pause again. “Tell me about it.”
So I did. It didn’t take very long. It was a short call, but the chill in the caller’s voice was leaving a long impact. When I finished there was a silence on the other end again.
“Do you want me to come over?” he asked.
Boy, did I. And I wasn’t even thinking about sex. Much. Just the thought of Bad Cop with his big bad gun guarding my door made me feel a lot less like hiding under my futon. On the other hand, calling and hanging up had been pretty girly of me. And asking him to come spend the night just because some woman was crank calling me would be really girly. So, despite the fact that my insides were screaming, “Yes, come over, bring your gun and let’s get naked,” I managed to muster up some pride.
“No, thanks. I’ve got my thighmaster. I’m fine. Really.”
I could hear him sighing on the other end. I don’t think he believed that any more than I did.
Finally he said, “You have my number, right?”
“Yes.”
“Put it on speed dial.” Then he hung up.
I turned off the ringer and complied, adding Ramirez’s number to my speed dial. Then I clutched my thighmaster in one hand as my pride and I hunkered down for a long night. Punctuated by dreams of killer Mattel dolls and naked Ramirez. Was my subconscious screwed up or what?
The next morning I woke up early and checked to make sure all the doors and windows were still locked. They were. Which should have made me feel better, but only served to heighten my paranoia. I skipped the shower – visions of Janet Leigh’s psycho scene playing through my head – and downed two cups of coffee instead as I quickly got dressed.
I checked my messages and found one from Althea saying that visiting hours at the prison were from two to four, and she’d put me on the list to see Richard. I said a silent thank you that at least someone was on my side.
The second message was from Dana. She’d changed her mind about borrowing an outfit, but now she needed a new pair of boots. So, did I want to shoe shop with her?
On the one hand, it seemed kind of frivolous to be shopping while my boyfriend was in jail and my life was quickly crumbling around me. On the other, a new pair of shoes always helped me think more clearly…
I quickly called Dana back and told her I’d meet her at Neiman’s in half an hour.
Neiman Marcus was located in Beverly Hills just three block from Wilshire’s famous Miracle Mile, teeming with museums, restaurants, and most importantly, store after designer store filled with fashion temptation for the visa challenged such as myself. I rounded the block, parking in the garage, and found Dana sitting in Neiman’s shoe department, a pile of boots on the seat beside her.
“You’re late,” she said.
What was with people continually pointing this out?
“Sorry. I had a long night.”
“Ooo… with your detective?”
“No!” Thanks to my stupid pride. “And he’s not my detective. He’s just a detective.” Who kept showing up in my dreams naked. Ugh.
“Too bad. So…” Dana got that wicked twinkle in her eyes. The one that through many years of friendship I’d come to associate with short-term men. “Ask me about my night with Sasha.” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down.
“Would you hate me if I said I’d rather not?”
“It was fabulous! Maddie, the man is a machine.” She held up four fingers. “Four times. Four separate orgasms in one night. Can you imagine?”
I was ashamed to say, I almost couldn’t.
“I’m telling you, he’s like the Energizer Bunny. He just goes, and goes, and goes…”
“I get the point.”
“And the best part is…” She leaned in close, pseudo whispering. “…he has a friend. Micha.” She winked at me. “Wanna double date tonight?”
I admit, the Energizer Bunny aspect was tempting. “Dana, I have a boyfriend.” Sort of.
She cocked her head at me. “I thought you said he was married? And, like, in jail?”
I hated that she had a point. “Can we not talk about this right now?”
She shrugged. “Okay, whatever. Just, think about it, okay?” She held up four fingers again.
I rolled my eyes and quickly changed the subject. “Are those Prada?”
“Uh huh. You likey?” Dana wiggled her toes in a pair of camel colored calfskin boots.
“Likey? Honey, I’m in lovey. Can you afford Prada?” I asked.
“I wish. But I can afford to try them on.”
As if on cue a salesman emerged from the back room, carrying three more boot boxes that he deposited on the seat beside Dana.
“Thank you, David,” she said reading his name tag. “You’re an absolute doll.” Then she flashed him her biggest, flirtiest smile. “And would you mind checking if you have these,” she pointed to a pair of spike heeled Gucci’s, “in black?”
“No problem.” He then looked expectantly at me.
“Oh, I, uh…” I looked from the calfskin Prada to the salesman. What the hell. “And those in a seven and a half.”
Twenty minute later I was warring with my Visa over whether or not there was any chance in hell I could afford Prada. Maybe if I sold my car, and didn’t eat for the next six months I could swing them. And, I decided as I looked at myself in the mirror, it would almost be worth it. The soft tan leather felt as light and airy as silk against my legs and the soles were so finely crafted it felt like I was walking on clouds. Not to mention that the three inch heels made my calves look almost like Dana’s. Tiny precision stitching, perfectly molded contours, and that shiny little Prada logo zipper. Ladies and gentlemen, this is what shoes were meant to be. I twirled in front of the mirror and did a little sigh.
Unfortunately my Visa won the argument when I did the math on how many pairs of kiddie shoes I’d have to design to afford one pair of boots. It was not pretty. Reluctantly I put my own emerald slingbacks back on. Dana and I left Prada at Neiman’s and she settled on a pair of white, vinyl go-go boots for her reinvention of Mod Squad Chic.
Purchases in hand, we walked down the street to Leon’s where I ordered extra cheesy chili fries and Dana munched on a low fat cucumber and sprouts pita as I told her about my late night caller.
When I finished, Dana looked thoughtful, grazing on her sprouts. “So, who do you think it was?”
“I don’t know. Bunny maybe? She was pretty pissed when I ran into her at Charlie Platt’s.”
“Uh huh.” Dana popped a cucumber into her mouth, chewing as she nodded.
“Or maybe Andi. She did sound like she had a vicious streak to her.”
“You know,” Dana said, licking her fingers, “I’m wondering, have you thought about the wife?”
“Celia?” I asked. “She’s dead.”
“No, I meant Richard’s wife.”
I froze, chili fry halfway to my mouth. “I thought we weren’t mentioning his marital status.”
“Sorry, sorry,” she said, waving her napkin in the air. “It’s just…” She trailed off, biting her lip.
I gave in. “What? What about Richard’s wife?”
“Well, we’ve been going on the theory that the murders are tied to Greenway’s infidelity. But what about Richard’s infidelity?”
I cringed. “Go on?”
“Well, maybe his wife found out about you and was pissed. What if she used Greenway to frame Richard? Seeing your cheating ex on death row would be one hell of a revenge.”
I popped a chili fry in my mouth as I chewed on this new angle. I had to admit, I liked it. “If she was planning on divorce, twenty million dollars would make a nice parting gift. And as Richard’s wife, Cinderella could have easily gained access to his files.”
“Right. And women do get a little crazy when they discover they’ve been lied to.”
You’re telling me.
Dana shrugged. “It’s something to think about anyway.”
It certainly was. The only question was, would Cinderella really kill two people in cold blood just to get revenge on Richard? I shuddered. I always knew there was something creepy about those Disney characters.
“Well,” Dana said balling up her napkin, “this has been fun, but I’ve got to be in Hollywood in twenty minutes.” She held up her go-go boots. “Wish me luck.”
“Break a leg,” I said as she gave me an air kiss and made her way back down Wilshire. As I watched her round the corner toward the parking structure, my mind was still digesting the Cinderella theory. I scooped up the last of the chili with a soggy French fry and popped it in my mouth. I had to admit, the more I thought about it, the more I really, really wanted the killer to be Cinderella. Why not? Ramirez said that the gun was hers in the first place. Who better to use it? And the blonde hairs in Greenway’s room could have easily come from her. Heck, maybe Cinderella was even having an affair with Greenway? I mean, what did I really know about her anyway? Not much. Just that she drove a brand new roadster.
And was married to my boyfriend. The bitch.
I looked down at my watch. Two-ten. Visiting hours at the prison started ten minutes ago. No time like the present to drag a few answers out of Richard. I quickly threw away the remains of my calorie splurge lunch and headed for my Jeep.
The L.A. county lock-up was about the same as you’d see in any prison movie. Bleak and square, a series of cement blocks painted a dull orange sometime in 1976. The inside wasn’t much better, lit by flickering fluorescent lights and smelling like Pine-Sol and cigarettes. An indefinable feeling of tension hung in the air and no one quite looked me in the eye.
I had to stop at the desk to have my purse examined inside and out for anything that could be used as a weapon (they held my nail file hostage) and was patted down twice by a woman who looked like John Goodman before being sent into the gymnasium like room full of tables and chairs where weepy women sat across from men in orange jumpsuits. All of them looking like they could use a good bath and a dose of antibacterial soap.
The stony faced guards flanking the room did little to sooth my nerves, so I took a place at a table near the door. Five minutes later Richard was led through the self locking door on the far end of the room. I almost felt pity for him as he sat down across from me. His eyes were rimmed in dark circles like he hadn’t slept and his chin was covered in pale, blonde stubble. Only it didn’t remind me of a Schick commercial. More Nick Nolte’s mug shot.
“Thanks for coming,” he said.
I nodded, not really sure what to say.
“Chesterton tell you I wouldn’t make bail?”
I nodded again. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” He looked around himself as if still not believing he was here.
I admit, I was having a hard time believing it too. But, I tried to remind myself why I’d come here.
“Richard, I need to know about your wife.”
He looked down at his hands, avoiding eye contact. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about her, Maddie. I never meant to hurt you.”
“You mean, you never meant for me to find out?”
“No. I… we’re separated.” He sighed, still not quite looking at me. “I’ve been living in the condo and she’s got her life in Orange County. I just haven’t filed for divorce yet because I don’t want some lawyer of hers nosing through my assets right now.”
I bit my lip. Did I believe him? I wasn’t sure. “And what about the roadster?”
“God, how do you know about…” He trailed off, his eyes meeting mine. He shook his head, running a hand through his hair so it stood up in little tufts. I guess hair gel wasn’t standard prison issue. “Look, I bought Amy the roadster to put her off for a while. She wanted to file now, but I couldn’t risk it. Her lawyer would have wanted detailed accounts of every penny that ever went through my hands. With everything going on with Greenway… well, I didn’t think that would be a good idea right now.”
“So, she’s after your money?” The Cinderella theory was looking better.
“No. No, Amy’s not like that. She’s not about money.”
Yeah right.
He shook his head. “The roadster was my idea.”
“Richard, did Amy know you were seeing me?”
He looked guiltily from side to side, his eyes looking everywhere but at mine. “No. I didn’t tell her.”
Which didn’t mean she didn’t find out on her own. And go completely postal over it. I wondered what Richard would think of Cinderella if she was the killer. Would he file for divorce then? Take back the roadster? Because it was kind of bothering me that he was defending her even as he talked about how they were separated. What did he mean Cinderella wasn’t into money? Who wasn’t into money?
I truly intended to continue grilling him about his possibly homicidal wife. I meant to be the unemotional fact finder, on a mission to nail her itty bitty butt to the wall. But the more I thought about perfect Cinderella and her perfect Z3, the more that other-woman insecurity got to me. I’d like to blame it on hormones that while I meant to ask, “Do you think your wife’s capable of murder?” something entirely different popped out of my mouth instead.
“Are you still in love with her?” I bit my lip, loath to admit just how much his answer meant.
“No. God, no. Do you really think I would do that to you Maddie?” His blue eyes searched mine as he reached across the table and took one of my hands in his. He began to draw little circles on the inside of my wrist with his thumb as his eyes pleaded with me. “I swear, pumpkin, you’re the only woman in my life.”
I’ll admit, I was starting to waiver. He really did look sincere. “What about the condom wrapper on your desk?”
“What?” To his credit he looked genuinely confused.
“I searched through your office and found a used condom wrapper wedged beneath the calendar on your desk.”
Richard’s jaw dropped open, shocked that I’d have the audacity to search through his office.
I raised both eyebrows in a challenge, daring him to say something about it now. Go ahead punk, make my day.
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“You didn’t have sex with your wife at work?”
“No.” He shook his head, scrunching his nose like the idea really was repulsive. “Look, I know you have every reason not to believe me after what I’ve put you through, but I promise you, I don’t know. Pumpkin, there hasn’t been anyone but you. I swear it. Please, believe me. I need you.”
I need you. Not I love you, I’ve missed you. I need you.
And I realized he really did need me. He was up shit creek and I was the only one in the world who might lend a paddle.
Only – did I need him? I looked at the man across from me. He didn’t seem like a Ken Doll now. He’d been stripped of his shiny veneer and I was getting a glimpse of the man inside. The man that might have taken me years of fancy dates to the Hollywood Bowl to uncover in any other circumstances. And under the lawyer veneer, I had a sinking feeling there wasn’t much left.
I’d spent the last week desperately wanting to find Richard. Thinking that if Richard was here, then suddenly I wouldn’t be going through this whole possible pregnancy thing alone. That if I saw that pink line and freaked out, at least I’d have Richard to fall back on. Only I had the idea now as I sat here looking at the man I'd spent the last five months of my life with, that even if he tried, Richard might not be strong enough to catch me. Instead of falling back on him, would I be the one holding the both of us up?
Suddenly all I wanted to do was let him have it. To scream and yell and take out all my frustrations on the man that was single handedly ruining my life. I wanted to let loose and have a crying, girly breakdown to end all breakdowns right here in the prison visiting room.
He was still waiting for me to say something. “I need you to believe me.” He lifted my hand to his lips and gently kissed the back of my knuckles. “Please, pumpkin, you’re all I have.”
Ugh. If I ever contemplated getting involved with a man again, I made a mental note to shoot myself first.
“Fine. I believe you.” Maybe.
Richard did a little half smile, his hand still covering mine. “Thanks, pumpkin. I knew I could count on you.”
I walked out with an odd feeling in my stomach. Hollow. Nauseating. Painful. I think it was that damn pride again.
After my brush with prison life, I stopped in at a Taco Bell and ordered a big greasy plate of nachos, smothered in gooey cheese and jalapeños. Comfort food. I ate the entire thing before going back to my apartment.
I tried not to think about my conversation with Richard as I pulled up to my studio. The awful thing was, I really kind of did believe him. I didn’t think Richard was capable of leading a double life, and I could see him buying Cinderella off with a car only too well. In fact, when I’d wanted him to come with me to my cousin Shannon’s confirmation last month, he’d put me off with a sparkly pair of 24 karat earrings. His story fit with his MO. Which left me where? With a boyfriend? Without? I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t even sure it was about me anymore. I glanced down at my belly. I made a mental note to go out and buy a new pregnancy test in the morning.
I slowly trudged up the stairs, so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice anything was wrong until I reached the top step.
And saw my front door gaping open.
Cold fear prickled up my spine, my feet freezing in place. Maybe it was just Dana. Maybe she’d had a fight with Sasha and had come over looking for a shoulder to cry on. Maybe Ramirez was back. Maybe he’d just let himself in.
Only I didn’t see a black SUV or Dana’s tan Saturn on the street.
I slowly crept forward, one step at a time, my ears pricked for any sound. All I heard was the slight hum of my neighbor’s TV and the street traffic from Venice. Gingerly I pushed the front door open on its hinges.
“Hello? Dana?”
I stifled a gasp when I saw my apartment. It looked like the Big One had hit. Every cupboard was open, the meager contents of my kitchen in a broken pile on the tile floor. My futon was on its side, cushions tossed across the room. My pens were scattered across the floor mingling with shoes, clothes and makeup into one big mess.
Fearing the worst, I took a few steps toward my drawing table. I sucked in a quick breath, biting back tears. Someone had taken a big black marker and written across my Strawberry Shortcake shoe design. “Back off bitch.”
The words swam before my eyes and I felt dizzy. I was still staring at the ruined designs, realizing I had to start all over on the damn thing now, when I heard a noise behind me.
I spun around.
But not quickly enough. Before I could see what had pricked my ears, I felt an explosion behind my temple. Then the drawing table, the ruined designs, and the entire mess that was my life faded and everything went black.