Dead Ringer (5 page)

He stepped into the bar and saw the woman straight away, dancing with some guy. They were the only couple on the dance floor. She had her head on his shoulder. Her eyes were closed. It looked like she was at peace, in love. Striker was supposed to know everything about her, how come he didn’t know she had a boyfriend?

He passed through the crowd and took a seat at the end of the bar, careful to keep the mingling people between himself and her, in case she opened her eyes. He didn’t think she’d recognized him in the Safeway, probably because she’d been concentrating on Virgil, but his brother wasn’t with him now and he didn’t want to take any chances.

“
You come in here often?” A girl’s voice.

“
What?” Horace turned to the woman on the stool next to him. She looked like a hippy from the ’60s. She had waist length hair, parted in the center and she was wearing a kind of flower power skirt made out of that thin Indian tapestry material.

“
I said, do you come in here often?” She had a voice like music.

“
No, first time,” Horace said.

“
I’m Sadie.” She had a boyish figure, small tits, but lips like a sexy model. Her mouth was all Os when she talked.

“
Nice to meet you, Sadie, I’m Horace.”

“
That’s your name, Horace? Really?” she said.

“
Yeah.”

“
I like it. It rhymes with romance. You look romantic.”

“
It doesn’t, you know, rhyme with romance,” Horace said.

“
It could if you wanted.” She leaned into him, graced him with the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen, a cross between an O and a pout. She was the hottest thing that had ever come on to him in all his forty-four years.

“
I’ve been romantic,” he said.

“
I bet you have. I saw you watching them dance. Do you?”

“
What, dance?”

“
Yeah.”

“
I do, but not now.”

“
Why not?”

“
You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“
Try me.”

“
I’m working.”

“
At what?”

“
I’m a private detective. I’m watching the couple on the dance floor. They’re married, but not to each other.”

“
Oh.” Then, “If you took me out there you could watch up close.”

Horace thought about that for a second, leaned closer to her. “I’m wearing a shoulder holster. I wouldn’t want it to frighten you.”

“
Why would it do that?”

“
If we danced and you felt it against your, you know, your chest.”

“
Come on.” She hopped off the barstool, took his hand and pulled him along as she wound her way through the crowd.

Horace sighed, felt a surge of relief when another couple followed. The woman was still slow dancing with the older guy, still had her eyes closed. Horace turned away from her as Sadie wrapped her arms around his neck. He put his hands around her waist.

“
I feel it,” she whispered into his ear, “your gun, up against my, ah, chest.”

“
Look,” Horace whispered back, “I might have to leave quick like. You know, if they go. I gotta follow them.”

“
I know,” she said.

“
I wouldn’t want you to think I was running out on you. I’m working, it’s my job.”

“
You could call me when you finish. Sadie Sanders, I’m in the book.”

“
It might not be tonight, tomorrow okay?”

“
When you can. It’s okay.” She rested her head on his shoulder.

The DJ played another slow song and another after that. Horace had trouble keeping an eye on the woman as more couples took to the dance floor. Soon most of the bar was dancing and he was tempted to forget her and concentrate on Sadie. But then he remembered Virgil across the street. He had to be getting plenty worried by now.

“
Do you believe in fate, Horace?” Sadie whispered.

“
Yeah,” Horace said.

“
I think there might be something for you and me. Maybe not right away, but I think we’re destined for a relationship.” She pulled him in close. He felt the heat of her and it caused him to shiver. “You don’t have be afraid,” she said.

“
I’m not.”

“
You are.”

“
Maybe a little.”

Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. Sure he’d had beautiful women in his time, but he’d always had to work at it and in the end they’d always left. For a time, he blamed it on his family. After all, who in their right mind would want anything to do with Ma? And then there was Virgil. But as he got older, he had to admit the fault was within himself. He’d never been able to commit to anyone. It didn’t take women long to figure that out.

But there was something about Sadie. Something different.

“
It’s kinda quick,” she said. “But you know when it’s right.”

“
Yeah,” he said.

“
They’re going, the ones you’re supposed to be watching.”

“
Damn, I forgot.” He pulled away from her.

“
Just a second.” She still had her arms around his neck. She pulled him in. Kissed him hard. “Just so you don’t forget to call.”

“
I won’t.”

“
Go.” She kissed him again, quick.

“
See ya.” Horace backed away.

Outside, he saw the couple turn the corner and head down toward the beach. He sprinted across the street. Inside the diner, he dropped a fifty on the table. “Keep the change,” he told the waitress. Then to Virgil, “Come on, we gotta go.”

Chapter Four

Jasmine wouldn’t stop worrying until her mom was back and they were inside the condo with the doors locked. She peeked through the blinds. She had a good view of her condo from the clubhouse on the third floor.

“
This is a stupid way to spend Saturday,” Sonya said. She was Jasmine’s best friend. They sat next to each other in school. She’d turned eight a week ago and she’d been lording it over Jasmine, the age difference, and she’d keep it up till the week after next, when Jasmine’s birthday came around.

“
The Ghost is back.” Jasmine pushed her blonde hair out of her eyes. They’d been up here since breakfast, without the air-conditioning on. It was hot. She was sweating. They had the window open a crack, but the little bit of sea breeze slipping in wasn’t enough.

“
Let me see!” Sonya’s brown eyes were open wide as she replaced Jasmine at the window. Tiny, honey brown fingers pulled the blinds apart. She was afraid of the Ghost. “He’s so spooky.”

“
He’s a policeman.” Jasmine moved up next to her. The one who looked like a ghost had come before, with the police, so Jasmine guessed he was a detective, because he was wearing ordinary clothes, even if they looked like he’d slept in them. She was a little afraid of him too, but if anyone could catch the killer, a ghost could.

The other man was wearing a dark suit with a vest, way too much for the beach on a hot day. He was the one who brought her mom home from the police station after what she’d seen in that mini market store in Long Beach. He’d been wearing jeans and a flower print shirt on that day, but Jasmine recognized him because of his long ponytail.

The Ghost knocked, then opened the door and they went into the condo. Darn, she should’ve locked the door. For a second she thought about going for the security guard. Danny could kick those guys out of there real quick, but she didn’t want to leave her spot at the window.

She bit the inside of her cheek, felt blood with her tongue. She didn’t mean to do it, she’d been concentrating too hard. She thought about how her mom had left on another of her writer’s retreats. A quick kiss on the cheek. A fast ruffle of her hair, then she was out the door with her suitcase. Gone for a week, studying and writing up in Big Bear. Did she know the cops were gonna come around? Was that why she took off?

No. If she did, she’d have taken her with her. Her mom was a scatterbrain, but no way would she have left her behind, not if she knew the Ghost was in town. Jasmine could hardly wait till tomorrow. She was supposed to be back then. Tomorrow everything was gonna be okay.

She’d miss hanging out next door with Sonya. No restriction on television time. At home, she could only watch for an hour a night. No broccoli, no cauliflower, no string beans and no spinach—her mom would hate that. Jasmine smiled, what her mom didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt her.

She stuck her lower lip out and blew her hair back from her forehead. Still, as much fun as she was having at Sonya’s, she wanted her mom back. Every second she was gone, worried her more. What if the killer had gotten her?

Down below, the Ghost looked out the door, almost as if he knew the two girls were watching. He seemed to be looking out over the ocean, but Jasmine wasn’t fooled. Those spooky eyes saw everything. It was scary. He walked to the fence between the condos and the sea, bent down and picked up a handful of sand, then he stood and let it slip through his fingers, almost like she did when she played at the beach everyday. Why’d he do that? He turned, went back to the condo, but just before entering, he glanced up at the clubhouse and for a second, Jasmine imagined those ghosty eyes could see through the wall. She shivered, but he went into her house and she couldn’t see him anymore.

* * *

Gay Sullivan was singing “My Girl” along with Smokey Robinson as she turned off the Pacific Coast Highway and into the drive for the Huntington Beach Sand and Sea Condos. “Beach Front Homes on the Sand,” the sign said. She braked at the security gate, turned off the CD player. The dashboard clock said 3:00, she checked her Rolex, 3:15. The dash clock was still slow, and they said they’d fixed it. She sighed. A classic XKE Jaguar was like a boat, you paid for the maintenance, then you paid to have it done again.

“
How’s it going, Mrs. Sullivan?” the guard at the gate said.

“
Okay for me, Danny boy.” She knew it pleased him, his name said that way.

Danny wore a frown. He was a fifty-eight year old black man with skin dark as Gay’s, who claimed never to have had a bad day in his life. He was the eternal optimist. So the frown worried her.

“
What’s wrong?” Her first thought was of the girls.

“
The police are back. They want to see Mrs. Kenyon. Now they think she’s missing.”

“
She’s not missing. Margo’s off on one of her retreats. Jazz is staying with me.”

“
You know it and I know it, but the cops don’t know it.”

“
You didn’t tell ’em?”

“
I don’t talk to cops.”

“
Danny, I’ve got a feeling Margo’s in trouble.”

“
Me too. You know what it’s about?”

“
Nobody told you? You’re supposed to be the security here.”

“
I guess the real cops don’t have much use for guys like me.”

“
Well, I sure do, so listen up. Margo was standing in line at the check out behind Frankie Fujimori, at a convenience store in Long Beach, when some guy walks in, pulls out a shotgun and blows Frankie away. Guy pointed the gun at her, apparently changed his mind, then took off. Nobody saw the shooter’s face except Margo.”

“
I saw that on the news. Nobody told me Mrs. Kenyon was there.”

“
You’re surprised? You know how she felt about Fujimori. She would’ve walked barefoot through hot coals if it would’ve helped put him back where he belonged.”

“
She’s a tough one alright.” Danny had that wistful look in his eyes. Gay thought she smelled marijuana. Ah well, God didn’t put her on this earth to judge others. She had enough trouble keeping care of Sonya and her own self.

“
Yeah, she’s tough, but that shotgun in her face really shook her up. A cop had to drive her home, guess it was after you got off or you would’ve known. I had to drive her to the police parking lot in Long Beach the next day to get her car.”

“
She left that brand new Porsche in a parking lot all night long? In Long Beach?”

“
Police parking, but yeah. That’s how shook up she was.”

“
I should know this stuff.” Danny narrowed his eyes. The faraway look was gone now. He was one hundred percent concentration.

“
The cops want to keep it quiet. I think Margo does too. So don’t tell her I said anything. But it’s stupid of them not to tell you. I mean, what if the killer found out? What if he tried to get by you? You know, to get to her.”

“
Nobody gets in here without a tenant clears him. But just the same, I’m gonna be twice as careful now that I know.” He slapped his holstered pistol, a gunfighter ready for battle. “And don’t you worry, I won’t let on you told me.”

“
Good.” Gay smiled at him as he waived her past. Stupid cops, not telling Danny, how dumb.

She used her clicker to open the gate for tenant parking, found her spot and parked. At her condo, she saw the door next door was open. She clenched her fists, tensed. She didn’t like the thought of police in Margo’s home. She wasn’t a criminal.

“
Yo.” Gay recognized Bruce Kenyon’s voice. He must’ve come in right behind her and parked in the guest parking. She turned and waited. “So, what’s the deal?” he said. “The guy at the gate says there’s cops here to see Margo.”