False Prophet (15 page)

“There will be a slight delay, Albert. Why don’t you get yourself something to eat.”

The chauffeur, whose name was Russ Donnally, thanked her and pocketed the bill in his uniform pants. After scrounging to earn a buck for years, Donnally had landed a pretty good gig. A friend of a friend had told him about the position. The old lady not only paid decently, but she had tucked away a fleet of bitchin’ cars — a drop-dead Rolls Silver Cloud III, a Bentley Flying Spur, a new Bentley Turbo, and two old Packard touring sedans. And of course the limos. Cars he was
allowed
to start up and take out. He just loved to cruise the streets, girls giving him the eye. Big beauties like these machines had definite advantages. He’d fucked more than a few babes in backseats as large as a double bed.

As far as Davida went, the old broad was okay. She never asked personal questions — too busy talking about herself or checking out his crotch. Just as long as he did the old lady’s bidding and tossed her compliments, she was happy as a hype in a pharmacy. Donnally didn’t like being called Albert — Alberts were skinny old bald dudes with English accents — but hey, no job was perfect.

“Thank you, Miss Eversong.” Donnally eased his mistress into the car and glided a palm over a crown of slicked-back black hair. “Can I get you something to eat?”

“No, Albert, I’m not due to eat again until noon. Mustn’t let my girlish figure go to seed.”

“That would be criminal, madam.”

“Albert, you’re a shameless flatterer. Keep it up.”

Donnally smiled. “When should I be back?”

“Thirty minutes. Don’t be late.”

“You got it, Miss Eversong.” He waved good-bye and shut the door.

Davida sighed and studied her nails.

“That boy is a repulsive worm, Mother. Why do you keep him?”

“Because I’m whimsical.” She turned to her son. “And he performs my assignments well. Which is more than I can say for
you
. Frederick, she was
beaten
up, the poor child! What
happened
?”

“I don’t
know
!”

“You
should
know!” Davida opened the compartment door to a built-in nail set and pulled out an emery board. “You were the last one to see her.”

“She was absolutely fine when I dropped her off. You make horrid insinuations, Mother! I would
never
hurt her—”

“Just shut up, Freddy, and turn on the overhead light. The interior’s dark and I can’t see a thing.”

Brecht ran his handkerchief over his face and flipped the switch. “Something must have gone wrong—”

“Damn right something went
wrong
. On top of this shit with Lilah, my jewels are gone.” She filed an index finger furiously. “God, that
pisses
me off!”

“Whoever took your jewels must have hurt Lilah.”

“Whole thing makes me
sick
!”

“Why are we waiting around, Mother?”

“A detective wants to talk to me about the jewels.”

“The tall redheaded man?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t like him.”

“Of course you don’t. He’s competent.”

“Go ahead and insult me, Mother. And the next time you need an errand boy, call Kingston. See if
he
drives up to Malibu.”

Davida laughed loudly and patted his knee. “Do I detect a note of fraternal competition in your voice? Now just because you’re adopted doesn’t mean I don’t love—”

“Mother, if I hear that speech one more time, I’ll throw up!”

She patted his knee again. “Poor Freddy. I do grate on your nerves. The detective should be down soon. I’ve made it quite clear I value my time. I’ll describe my jewels to him; then we can all go home and forget about this mess.”

“I’m not very comfortable about the police nosing in our affairs,” Brecht said. “I’m surprised you are.”

“Frederick darling, be logical. He’s not nosing in our family affairs, he’s trying to solve a
crime
. He’s interested in
Lilah
… and maybe he’s interested in my jewels, too. If he happens to become
sidetracked
, I’ll sic some reporters on him. Last thing the police need — especially in this area — is press. In the meantime, let him look for Lilah’s attacker.
I’m
not hiding anything.”

“I’m not either, Mother.”

Davida blew air on her nails. “Then we’ve both got nothing to worry about. Stop
fretting
, Freddy. If things get complicated, I’ll take care of it — and you. That’s what mothers are for.”

“Forgive me if I don’t nominate you for the Mother of the Year award.”

“Freddy, don’t be so mean. You don’t have the knack for it.” She kissed his cheek. “You know my sharp tongue. It’s just an unrestrained ego talking.”

Brecht flicked his wrist and checked his Rolex.

Davida said, “Pressed for time?”

“A bit.”

“You mean you actually have
patients
?”

Brecht turned red. “Lilah asked me to stop by the spa and make sure things were running smoothly. And then, yes, Mother, I do have
patients
. As a matter of fact, I have an untold amount of patience for
you
.”

Davida regarded him. “A pun, Frederick! How very Noel Coward of you!”

Brecht glared at her. “Mother, I think I’ll take a cab back to the spa. If you’ll excuse me…”

“Frederick, before you go, could you press back my cuticles for me. I want my nails to look nice when I shake the red-haired detective’s hand.”

Marge thought: Ten-thirty and the women had already been exercising for three and a half hours. Sweat streaming down their skin as they marched and kicked and squatted and made hundreds of arm circles to head-banging metal music. Enough physical activity to send a heart into overdrive. Yet, for the spa, the day was still young, four more classes scheduled in the afternoon. How did these women have the strength? The regimen seemed especially ridiculous because the gals weren’t porkers. They were
skinny
women. And they paid lots of money for this torture. Hell, they could have joined the army and saved themselves beaucoup bucks.

The girl leading this class was blocky but agile. She was shouting in an accented voice over the music, with a look of grave intensity plastered to her damp face. Marge hadn’t talked to her, but decided it wasn’t in anyone’s best interests to interrupt the class. Kelley Ness’s attitude this morning had been cooperative, but she still wasn’t friendly.

Marge decided to try her luck with the tennis instructor — Eubie Jeffers — maybe catch him between lessons. The spa should have his schedule mapped out at the front desk. She strolled through the ornate lobby and went over to the reception area, which was devoid of personnel. Resisting the urge to ring the little black bell, she leaned against the counter, her eyes instinctively shifting to the man at her left. He was fair and bald and looked agitated. Rocking on his feet, he rang the bell several times in quick succession.

“Where’s help when you need it?” Marge said.

The man startled at the sound of Marge’s voice. He wore a black silk shirt over jeans, and open-toed sandals.

“The help here is usually exemplary.” He turned to Marge. “I’m Dr. Frederick Brecht — Valley Canyon’s physician. Perhaps I can help you.”

“Perhaps you can.” Marge stuck out her hand. “Detective Dunn. Maybe we could talk a little.”

Brecht looked at her hand, then finally shook it. “I’ve already spoken to the police. I have nothing to tell you. I really wish I did, but I don’t.”

Marge focused in on his face. The man dressed casually but was as tight as a bad case of constipation. “I’d like to talk about the spa and the people who work here. It’s very close to your sister’s house.”

“No one here would hurt a hair on my sister’s head. Everyone in her employ loves her. There are thousands of maniacs on the streets of Los Angeles. Why don’t you start investigating them?”

Marge was about to respond when sharp-featured Ms. Purcel returned to her post behind the front desk.

“Nice of you to join us, Fern,” Brecht said.

Marge smiled as Fernie-poo blushed.

“I… I’m terribly sorry—”

Brecht waved her away, then faced Marge. “Somewhere out there is a maniac who beats and rapes women. Go find him.”

“You bet we’ll keep investigating,” Marge said. “But in the meantime, maybe I could speak to the men in Miss Brecht’s employ. Just to be… thorough.”

Brecht sighed forcefully. “I
suppose
it would be all right. Do try to be
discreet
, Detective. We cater to a very exclusive clientele.”

“Well, well, well!” a deep baritone voice boomed. “Who emptied the gutters?”

Marge and Brecht turned to its source. He was tall and well-built. He appeared to be in his middle to late forties with icy-blue eyes, pale lips, and a Roman nose. He had a florid complexion crisscrossed with tiny spider veins throughout the nose and cheeks. His salt-and-pepper hair had been cut long enough to form a cap of curls, but the tresses were short enough to be neat. He wore a dark-blue linen blazer, a white shirt with a tab collar, a blue-silk jacquard tie, and white-and-blue-striped seersucker pants. Around his flat belly was a dyed-white lizard belt secured with a gold buckle. His feet were housed in white Cole-Haan calfskin loafers; a white-silk handkerchief fanned out from his breast pocket. Marge looked at him, then back at Brecht, whose bald head had reddened from anger.

“What the hell are
you
doing here?” Brecht spat out.

“Visiting Mother, Frederick.”

“You’re not welcome here,” Brecht fired back. “Leave at once or I will call the authorities.” He glanced at Marge. “Make yourself useful, Detective, and arrest this man. Dr. Merritt is trespassing on private property.”

“I was invited down here—”

“Arrest him, Detective!”

Marge said, “Dr. Brecht—”

“Arrest him this moment!” Brecht whined.

Merritt’s thin lips turned into a mirthless smile. He took a step forward; Marge blocked his advance. Merritt’s eyes narrowed.

“Who the hell are you?”

“I’m the police, Dr. Merritt,” Marge said. “Why don’t we all sit down and try to have a civilized chat—”

“You don’t know this man,” Brecht said. “You can’t be civilized with him.”

Merritt threw him a contemptuous look, then turned to Marge. “Why are the police here?”

“Investigating your sister—” Marge said.

“What kind of
mischief
has Lilah gotten into now?” Merritt asked.

“She hasn’t
gotten
into anything,” Brecht said.

Merritt’s eyes lost some of their self-confidence. He turned to Marge. “So why are you investigating her?”

“If she had wanted you to know, she would have told you, Kingston. Why don’t you leave poor Lilah alone. She doesn’t
need
you anymore.”

Merritt’s nostrils twitched. He sidestepped Marge until he was face-to-face with Brecht. “You little twit, don’t you
dare
tell me how to treat my baby sister—”

“You can’t talk to me like that!” Brecht said.

“Gentlemen—”

“I can damn well talk to you however I please!” Merritt gave Brecht a firm shove. “Now get out of my way!”

“Get your hands off me!”

“I’ll put my hands wherever I please!”

Marge stepped between the men and separated them with her arms. “BACK OFF! BOTH OF YOU! BACK OFF NOW!”

They stopped, shocked by the force of her voice.

“What the
hell
is going on here!”

Marge turned to the new male voice. Mike Ness — behind him a very worried-looking Ms. Purcel. She’d called in the guard dog. Great! Another puffed-up male ego to appease!

“Dr. Brecht, are you all right?” Ness said. But he was staring at Merritt. He wore a muscle shirt and shorts and was wiping his neck with a towel. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave, sir!”

“The hell you will!” Merritt said. “My mother, Davida Eversong, called me down here and I intend to speak to her!”

“Ms. Eversong isn’t in,” Ness said quietly. “I’ll tell her you stopped by.”

“Then I’ll wait for her…
young man
!” Merritt said.

“That wouldn’t be a good idea…
sir
!”

“Mike,” Marge broke in, “why don’t you take Dr. Brecht and give him some of your stress-reducing consommé. I’ll stay down here and chat with Dr. Merritt until Ms. Eversong returns. When is she due back?”

“I don’t know,” Brecht said. “In the meantime, this man is not
welcome
here.”

“You don’t own the spa, Freddy!” Merritt shouted. “
Lilah
does!”

“Lilah despises you!”

“Then let her tell me personally!”

“You are both creating quite a scene,” Marge said. She smiled and jerked her head toward a small crowd that had gathered near the marble hearth. The men followed the glance and said nothing.

Ness’s eyes darted between Brecht and Merritt. Then he turned to Ms. Purcel. “It’s okay, Fern, everything’s under control. You can go back to work.”

Ms. Purcel scurried back behind the protective shield of the reception desk.

Ness said, “Dr. Brecht, I have a couple of questions for you anyway. If you have a few minutes…”

Brecht brushed off his trousers, but didn’t speak.

Ness gave a passing glance to Merritt. Then he said, “You know the ladies, Dr. Brecht. They ask technical questions. I just can’t answer. Let’s talk in your office.”

Brecht nodded. Slowly, Ness led Brecht upstairs. Marge thought about the confrontation. What bothered her most was not Merritt and Brecht, but
Merritt and Ness
. They were addressing each other like strangers, yet Marge sensed that they knew each other.

“… detest that excuse of a man,” Merritt was saying.

“Pardon?” Marge said.

“Frederick,” Merritt muttered. “I don’t know how he has insinuated himself into Lilah’s heart. She always did have a spot for the downtrodden. Probably why she married the Jew.”

“The Jew?”

“Lilah’s ex-husband.”

“Is he a physician as well?”

“Perry? Good God, no!”

Marge smiled to herself. The one Semite in the bunch and he wasn’t a doctor. “Why don’t we sit down while you wait, Dr. Merritt?”