Chapter 18
Paulo agreed—actually
more than agreed; he sounded way too eager to make contact with
Nikki, and this put her even further on guard. They met at the
Starbucks just around the corner from her hotel at ten. Paulo was
all Armani’d out—a bit too dapper for a Saturday morning coffee.
One also had to wonder where his other half was and if she’d truly
forgiven him from the night before.
They sat down at a
corner table, and Nikki knew that the best defense was a good
offense, so she played ball like any good quarterback and threw one
right at him. “Did you and Jennifer have a chance to patch things
up last night after I left?”
“Ah, that was
nothing, like I told you. My little Jenny forgets that we made an
agreement to have an open relationship.”
Paulo reached across
the table and tried to take Nikki’s hand in his, which she quickly
wrapped around her coffee cup. “That’s nice,” she
replied.
“It is. It works well
and the theatrics that you saw are simply that. Theatrics. It makes
things a bit more spicy for us.” He winked at her and rubbed his
thumb and pointer finger over his other thumb. Trying to be
nonchalant about it.
Could this bozo get
any sleazier?
“But there is always
room for more spice.”
“Speaking of, you
said that you knew Susan Jennings quite well, or at least you
implied that you did.”
“Yes. Susan was an
amazing woman in many ways.”
Was that sadness in
his eyes? Could this man actually have that sort of feeling? “How
so?”
“She was an extremely
intelligent woman, and sexy as hell.” He looked away.
“I have to ask. How
well did you know Susan?”
“It’s none of your
business, but since you asked, a lot of men knew Susan very well,
but I knew her better than most. Sexy as hell, like I said—a real
she-devil, that one. If anyone could have tamed her, well, baby,
you’re looking at him.”
It was getting thick
in the Starbucks, and Nikki took a drink from her coffee to keep
herself from telling him what she really thought of his bravado.
“That said, and assuming it means what I think it means, what
happened? Why settle for the sister?”
He laughed. “You mean
seconds? Yeah, well, I’m not one to settle down, but I did like
Susan a lot and we had a good thing for a while. Then some older
dude she thought she could get a decent payout from came along, so
she started making it with him, you know. I make good money, but
not like this hombre did, or used to anyway. I saw that old dude at
the wedding. I guess Suzy Q liked inviting all the old
flames.”
“But she obviously
dumped him, too.”
“Oh yeah. The richer
the better, and Kristof Waltman was the richest by far. Susie Q
made a decent living and always lived high on the hog, but that
Waltman family, well . . . You’ve seen their place. They make a lot
of moolah, baby. I’m not surprised that someone was murdered there.
I’m only surprised it was Suz.”
“Really? What do you
mean by that? Who would you think would’ve been the murder
victim?”
“Sweetheart, I knew
Susan really well, and she was never the type to fall in love. Men
weren’t her passion. Oh, yeah, she liked the old sausage of love,
but money was her first love. Her real gig. If anyone was gonna get
axed in that marriage, I’d have thought it would’ve been down the
line and that it would’ve been the hubby. In my world I would’ve
placed bets that the killer would’ve been dear Suzy Q
herself.”
“Interesting. Why,
then, do you think Susan was murdered, and who do you think might
have murdered her?”
“They got your friend
behind bars don’t they? Signed, sealed, and delivered, from what I
heard.”
Nikki couldn’t help
but cringe. “Yes, Isabel is in jail, but get this straight—nothing
at all is signed, sealed, or delivered.” She shook a finger at
him.
“Hey, baby, you don’t
have to go getting all testy on me. I’m only going by what I hear
and read.” He held his hands up in the air, palms facing her, as he
leaned back into his chair.
Keep cool and keep
him talking. Suck it up. “I’m sorry. I don’t believe that Isabel
killed Susan no matter what the police or press are saying. She
didn’t do it.”
“How do you know
that? How can you be so sure? I heard the cops have some pretty
solid evidence and that Suz was her nastiest self around your
friend Isabel. And trust me, I have seen Susan at her nastiest self, and not even I would want to go
toe-to-toe with that woman. There’s been a time or two I wanted to
take her out and teach her a lesson for being a bad
girl.”
“Really? Did
you?”
“Hell, no. I liked
screwing her too much and, like I said, I’m not a committing type
of man. Even after we parted, and she hooked up with the old dude
and then Waltman, every once in awhile she came to me for some real
lovin’. We always had a good time together.”
“And she didn’t mind
that you were also sharing the, uh, love sausage, with her
sister?”
“Why should she? She
was banging this and that and all for the dinero. She came to me
for a good time. At least I was keeping it all in the family and
with Jennifer it obviously isn’t for the money. Well, maybe now
that she has some, it makes things more fun. Just
kidding.”
Was he?
“Jennifer is a wild
cat, and she likes to live life as a drama, just like Susan did,
but with Jennifer I’m always in control. With Susan she took
control, and for a man like me, that can be a bit difficult at
times.”
“Susan and Jennifer
were obviously different, but they must’ve loved each other. They
were sisters, after all.”
“Love? Maybe a bit.
You’re right. They were blood sisters, and that’s why I convinced
Susan to include Jennifer in her will.”
“You did
that?”
He nodded. “But for
Susan, it was more about guilt.”
Nikki shifted in her
chair and almost spilled her coffee on herself. “Guilty for
what?”
“Those two had it
rough growing up. Susan made out better than Jennifer because she
was far more resilient and far more savvy. Susan left her baby
sister behind.”
“You’ve got to be
more specific than that.”
“Typical
dysfunctional family story. They grew up poor white
trash.”
Nikki cringed. Those
were words she’d heard before, when she’d been a little kid back in
Tennessee before she’d been sent to live with her aunt. “So, their
mom and dad were poor?” This was info she’d already figured out
from speaking with Jennifer, but she wanted Paulo’s
take.
“It’s more than that.
Daddy left them all high and dry when the girls were real young. He
was a loser, you know, the always drunk kind.”
Nikki nodded. “Tough
stuff.”
“Yeah, the dude left
them, and their mom did what she could. They lived in Arizona. Mom
cleaned houses for rich folks in Scottsdale. Sometimes the girls
would have to tag along, and believe me, Susan was all eyes and
ears.”
“She told you
this?”
“Oh yeah.” He nodded
emphatically. “Like I told you, we were tight for a while there.”
He held up his hand and crossed two fingers. “As a kid, she started
listening to those rich people and how they came into money and how
they spent and saved, soaking up everything she could
hear.”
“Smart.”
He pointed a finger
at her, shaking it. “Told you, and sneaky. Jennifer liked the
wealth, too, but like I said, savvy isn’t what my girl Jenny is all
about. She may like the cash, but actually that girl has a pretty
big heart, and she goes way too much on emotion than anything else.
All she is, is one big act. Trust me, there’s a real sweet girl
under there.”
Okay, if he said so,
but Nikki had her doubts.
“Mom wasn’t as smart
as her oldest daughter, and she started stealing from those she
worked for.”
“And she got
caught.”
“You’re smart, too,
aren’t you? I like that,” he replied.
“Did their mom go to
jail?”
“Not only that. She
served her time. The kids went to a foster home, and I guess lucky
for them, depending on how you look at it, they got to stay
together. Once their mom was out of jail, the dumb broad didn’t
even try to locate the girls. Susan has been looking over her
shoulder for dear old mama to show up all these years, figuring
that if she ever found her that her hand would be out like the
beggar on the street.”
“The girls have had
no clue where their mother is or has been?”
“Nope. Surprise for
Susan when Jen came knocking at her door. She wasn’t too happy
about that either. She tolerated her, and I think I saw a few
seconds over the last year of what could be thought of as affection
between them, especially when Susan was handing over a check to her
sister.”
“Jennifer was taking
money from Susan.” She said it more as a statement than question,
knowing this answer, too.
“On a regular basis,
but Susan was getting pretty sick of it. She had the dough and
marrying into the cash flow of the century was gonna be a big help,
but she didn’t like feeling sucked on. She put up with it
though.”
“Because she felt
guilty? You still haven’t told me what Susan felt guilty about
toward Jennifer. If anyone should feel guilty it should be their
mother.”
“Guilt and family is
a funny thing. In the foster system the girls went from home to
home. In their teen years they wound up with a fairly well-to-do
family. Susan got real close with the dad, if you know what I mean.
When the foster mom found out, she kicked out both of the girls,
and they each split up, going out on their own. Susan wanted to
come here to California and Jen wanted to stay because she’d met a
guy, who, of course, knocked her up.”
“Jennifer has a
child?”
“She did. She went on
the system, had her baby, and the baby later died of SIDS. The
woman has not had it easy. She’s struggled from this job to that
and from this man to that. She’s a looker. You’ve seen
her.”
That was true.
Jennifer was pretty, but she badly needed a makeover. She seemed to
have the belief that more of everything was better than less—more
makeup, more cleavage. Nikki was sure that Jennifer could be far
more attractive by showing off less. “Both of these women filled
you in on all of this? Their life story?”
“I am good with the ladies.” He leaned back in his chair
and winked at her.
Yuck.
“I probably shouldn’t
be telling you any of this, but you seem like a nice lady, and who
knows, maybe I’ll want something from you someday.”
Comment ignored.
Nikki figured the guy wasn’t being an open book for her because he
was a nice man who liked to talk, but that didn’t matter, because
whatever his reasons were to be flapping his mouth the way he was
didn’t concern her. She pursued more questions. “Do you think
Jennifer could’ve killed her sister?”
He laughed. “Jennifer
couldn’t kill a damn spider crawling across the floor the other
night.”
“The spider didn’t
have a will with Jennifer in it.”
“Maybe not, but why
would Jen do something like that? For the condo? No. There may have
been bad blood between the girls, but they did love each other.
They were sisters, and not only that, why would you want to kill
the cash cow?”
“Because the cow
owned a real nice condominium here in the city worth a helluva lot
of money, more than, I’m sure, Susan was giving her on a regular
basis.”
“I see your point,
but I’ve been investing for Jenny some of that money Susan was
giving her, because I’d like to see her do well for herself. It’s
not in her to kill Susan, and why risk it? Why risk all that she’s
gained? No, sweetheart, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Besides,
my girl Jenny doesn’t have the skills or finesse to carry out
murder.”
“What about you?” Why
not go for it? Someone had tried to run her down the night before,
and she wanted to see if she accused this man, if he wouldn’t
squirm. She wanted some answers and fast. She knew Isabel’s time
was running out and the thought of her sitting in that jail cell in
Santa Rosa was heartbreaking.
“Not only are you
smart”—he clucked his tongue—“but you’re a goddamn comedian, too.
Why would I want to kill the best lay I’ve had in my entire life?
Trust me, Susan would’ve been back in my bed in no time, once the
honeymoon was over, regardless of her marriage vows.”
“And, it didn’t
bother you that you were sleeping with both Susan and Jennifer, and
it really didn’t bother Susan?”
He shrugged. “It’s
sex, babe. Total ecstasy. Who gives a shit? Jennifer might have
cared if she knew what was going on, but she never knew and she
never had nor has a need to know. Especially now.” He stared
pointedly at her.
She got his drift.
Nikki wondered silently if Jennifer did know that she was sharing a
bed with her very own sister and if her motive to kill wasn’t about
money at all, but over a man. This was getting a bit too Jerry
Springer for her.
“I may have the
finesse and brains to murder someone, but I don’t have a need. Why
bother? I have everything I could ever want and desire, and I don’t
have a problem getting the things I don’t have. Killing people is
not how I get what I want. Besides what could be my motive? I have
my own money, which I do very well at earning, and I don’t take
handouts. Never been my style, so killing for Susan’s money
wouldn’t be up my alley, and if it was, and I know what you’re
thinking . . . If it was about money, and since I put Susan up to
including Jenny in her will, you’re thinking maybe I got greedy. I
hook up with Jenny and get my own piece of the pie.”
“You said it, not
me.”
“If that was my deal,
I sure in hell would’ve waited until she was married to Waltman for
a bit, and convince Jenny to cozy up to big sis a little more. Have
her get in good and tight and then kill Susan. I’d wind up with
more myself. Besides I’d have married Jenny first to make sure I
got what I thought was mine. But, sorry, sweetheart, that wasn’t or
isn’t my deal. Murder is not my style.”
Surprisingly enough,
Nikki believed him. The man was an egomaniac, but a murderer? She
had her doubts. However, she still wasn’t convinced that Jennifer
hadn’t done away with her own sister. Nikki had to wonder if it was
possible that Jennifer did indeed know she was sharing her bed
buddy with her own flesh and blood. Could Jennifer have gotten rid
of Susan over a man? Even if it was this creep? She didn’t think
Jennifer was as dumb as Paulo did. He might be underestimating his
girlfriend or whatever she was to him, but Nikki wasn’t about
to.
“I know you want to
help your friend out and I can get that. Sad thing is, I think you
might have to face it. Your friend, in all likelihood, murdered
Susan. I heard a rumor going around that your friend Isabel and
Kristof had a thing at one time.”
Nikki had to bite her
tongue. How dare he. He didn’t know Isabel. “Where did you hear
something like that?”
“I have my ways.
Listen, it’s been great speaking with you, and I do hope I cleared
up some things for you. I told you what I did in confidence,
because some people may have the wrong idea about Susan and Jenny.
They’re both decent women who had rough starts in life. Susan
wasn’t always the nicest person around, but she didn’t deserve to
die. And, if you want my opinion, Jenny is an innocent bystander
who is finally going to maybe get a chance to enjoy life a little.
Granted it’s at the expense of her sister, but life is bizarre that
way.” He stood and took her hand, giving it another one of his
slimy kisses. “If I can ever help you out in any way, you know how to find me.”
Paulo left and Nikki
went into the bathroom to wash her hands. Maybe Paulo hadn’t done
it, but he’d told a huge tale and Nikki wondered why. Had he really
thought that she might wind up in the sack with him after spilling
all he knew about the Jennings women? Or had he had ulterior
motives to either deflect suspicion off of him and onto Jennifer?
Or was his need to tell all about trying to convince Nikki that
Jennifer was just an all-American girl underneath that tough
exterior?
Nikki had no idea.
She really didn’t think he’d murdered Susan, but maybe Jennifer
had, and he knew it. Maybe he was trying to protect
Jennifer.
She checked her
watch. Time was racing by and she only had an hour before her lunch
with Blake Sorgensen. So maybe she hadn’t just had coffee with a
murderer, but she couldn’t help wondering if she was about to have
lunch with one, because the photos she’d seen at the Waltman Castle
might have been Blake Sorgensen’s reason for killing
Susan.