Fashion Faux Paw (36 page)

“Hey, hey, hey,”
Rudy said with a snarl.
“I resent that. I knew where I was headed, and I figured out she was undercover the minute I saw her wearin’ that thirty-eight special a day ago.”

It was impossible to argue with Sam and her yorkiepoo at the same time. Truth is, it would have been nice if Rudy had clued her on his suspicions of Beatriz yesterday, but the stinker had kept the information to himself. When they were alone, they were going to have a long talk about sharing everything they knew about the people they dealt with.

“You should give him more credit. He was definitely looking for a way out for both of us.”

“You can say whatever you want, but I’m right about this.”

“You’re dead wrong, Detective Doofus.”

Sam raised his head and connected with Vaughn, who was signaling him from the entryway. “Sit here and don’t move. I’m being summoned.”

Ellie watched him walk into the foyer, then locked gazes with her boy. “I know you’re not happy with Sam’s take on things, but please stop interrupting. It’s hard enough following his comments without trying to listen to yours. And how did you know the caliber of gun Detective Alfonso was wearing?”

“That thirty-eight? It’s a Ladysmith six-forty-two. It’s got a five-round shot, and it’s double action. Won’t do a ton of damage, but it had enough to stop the designer and her prince.”
He sneezed.
“Good thing those two dopes realized it.”

“You still haven’t said where you learned so much about guns. Where did you go to pick up all that—” She stopped midsentence when tuxedo clad legs stopped to stand in front of her.

“I hate to belabor the point, but are you holding another conversation with your dog?” Marcus David asked her. “Then again, what else would you be doing?”

Ellie gazed up at her disappearing date. “Oh, ah, hello. How long have you been here?”

“In the building? I never left. I’ve been downstairs chatting with the doorman since I pretended to do what Nola suggested.” He nodded at the empty cushion beside her. “Mind if I sit?”

“No, of course not.” She heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry you had to be put out. I kept hoping you’d be the one to find me, but I guess Nola told you a good story.”

“She tried, but I didn’t believe her. I left because I didn’t want to ruin Kitty’s big moment, and came downstairs to ask the doorman if he’d called a cab for a beautiful redhead and her dog. When he said no, I knew you were still upstairs and I phoned Vaughn. I figured something hinky was going on.”

“But you didn’t know what?”

“I had a suspicion it was something big. I knew you were looking into Jeffery King’s case, and he worked for Nola and Morgan. We were in their apartment, as were all the suspects, and Nola had just lied to me, so it was inevitable something would happen.” He put an arm behind her on the sofa back. “When I saw your guy and Detective Vaughn march through the downstairs foyer shortly after that, I hung around to watch.”

“I take it someone’s filled you in on your substitute model, and told you she’s a cop.”

“Yeah. Detective Vaughn thought the NMD people knew more than they were saying, so he went to the Fashion Council and had them intervene. An undercover model was the best they could come up with.”

Ellie grinned. “Considering her real profession, I think Beatriz Alfonso did a pretty remarkable job on the runway, don’t you?”

“Yep, and I already told her so, too. She’s a nice woman.”

“And attractive.”

A flush of red crossed the designer’s face. “Very.”

“Homicide detectives have lousy hours, and they’re always on duty, but they are dependable,” she encouraged. Marcus needed someone in his life, and he and Beatriz might make a good match. “But that’s something you should find out for yourself.”

“One thing at a time,” he said with a laugh. Then his arm dropped to her shoulder.

“I hate to be the one to tell you this,” said Ellie, “but I gathered from my conversation with Nola and Morgan that you were the one they wanted framed for the murder. Nola was going to find a way to plant Lilah’s swag bag in your apartment, though I have no idea how they planned to get the cops to search for it there.” She looked in his eyes. “Why did they choose you?”

He blew out a breath. “Probably because of the bad blood between me and Lilah. What’s important is that you thought I was innocent.”

“I must admit, the story of what happened to your sister put a bug in my ear, but something inside told me you were too nice a guy to kill anyone.”

“And I guess you haven’t been lying. You and Detective Ryder are truly in a good relationship, huh?”

“The best,” said Ellie, taking his free hand in hers. “You’re a great guy, Marcus, and I was so sorry to hear about your sister, but the past is over and done. It’s time you moved on with your life.”

“It took me a while, but I figured that out. I was just sort of hoping I could move on with you.” He placed his lips on her temple. “But I realized that wasn’t going to work the moment I saw the way Sam looked at you.”

“He’s a little possessive, and I like him that way, but he’d never stop me from helping someone who’s wrongly accused unless he felt I’d be in danger. That’s the reason he snared a spot on this raid.” She scanned the room, noting many of the forensic team had left. “It looks like things are winding down and they’re about ready to close up here.”

Marcus moved his arm and set his hands on his knees. “Then I guess I should be leaving.”

“I’m sure I’ll see you in the near future, and think about giving Beatriz a chance. You might like a woman who wears a gun.” Ellie kissed his cheek. “Take care of yourself.”

Marcus stood. “You do the same. And keep talking to your dog. The way I see it, that’s when you get your best ideas.” He tipped his head. “Be good.”

“He got that last part right,”
said Rudy.
“I am the giver of all good ideas.”

“I might be able to come up with a few of my own if you shared your information with me,” she chided. Then she shut up. Detective Vaughn and Sam were headed their way.

“Ms. Engleman. I’m sending you home in the protective custody of Detective Ryder.”

She stood and Sam locked their arms together.

“We have your statement, plus the confession of both Nola McKay and Morgan Prince, though I probably don’t have to tell you they sang two very different renditions of the same old song.”

“I imagine they would. They didn’t seem like lovers or even agreeable roommates when they confronted me.” She crossed mental fingers. “I don’t suppose you could tell me why they did it.”

“Ellie,” warned Sam.

Vaughn canted his head, the barest glimmer of a smile on his lips. “It’s fine, Ryder. She has a right to know,” he conceded. “Depending on who you believe, Nola McKay and Lilah Perry were lovers. When Morgan Prince found out Nola betrayed him, he seduced Ms. Perry himself. The McKay woman said he’d cheated on her numerous times over the years, so she was just getting back at him. After sleeping with both of them, Ms. Perry saw an opportunity for blackmail and she took it. McKay and Prince knew the dirty information would not only cast a pall on their big contest, but ruin their introduction into the ready-to-wear market, as well.”

“Hang on. They were both sleeping with Lilah?”

“Apparently. And when they received the blackmail demand, in person by Ms. Perry, McKay came up with the idea to get rid of the girl for good.” He raised an eyebrow. “Hard to imagine, isn’t it?”

“I’ll say,” Ellie agreed. “So they just pretended to be loving partners—”

“Their business thrived on it.”

“But they slept with different people.”

“Seems that way. My guess is once the story gets out there will be at least a dozen models, designers, and stylists who claim they slept with one or both of them, too.” He shrugged. “This is one crazy industry.”

“Geez, I’ll say. Do you think they’ll go to trial?”

“They’ll do time, but the length will depend on the DA and the lawyers. Now, if there’s anything else I can do for you before we call it a night?”

“How about a reward? A coupl’a bags of Dingo bones would be nice right about now.”

“I do have a question,” said Ellie, ignoring Rudy’s suggestion. “I never did hear if Lilah had relatives, because I wonder about Klingon.”

“Klingon?” Vaughn’s face was blank. “Like in
Star Trek?
”

“Klingon, as in Lilah Perry’s mini Schnauzer. He’s been living with Yasmine, but she can’t keep him any longer. Has anyone in the Perry family been contacted about taking him?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll have to check and see. Knowing how you feel about dogs, I’ll let you know.” He shook Sam’s hand, then Ellie’s. “You’ll be hearing from me about anything else we need via Detective Ryder. Have a good night.”

Ellie rested her head on Sam’s shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to spend your one night off babysitting me, but I told you I’d be fine. It sounds like Vaughn and Detective Alfonso had everything under control.”

He shrugged. “Maybe, but they didn’t while you were being held at gunpoint. Between then and the time Vaughn arrived anything might have happened.”

“Rudy was here. He would have—”

“Stop, already. I think you’d better come up with a new story, because that one’s getting really old.” He took her by the hand. “Let’s get out of here. I’m beat and I’m sure you are, too, but we can sleep late tomorrow morning and—”

“Go to Mother’s for brunch.” Ellie pulled Rudy’s lead from her handbag and snapped it on his collar. “Remember, you promised me.”

Sam stood still for a long moment, then took the leash and walked her and Rudy out of the apartment. When he hadn’t said a word by the time they got to the elevator, Ellie continued. “Okay, I’ll understand if you don’t want to go, but I have to show my face. The judge will want to hear about tonight, and Mother will give me hell if I pass on another brunch, especially since it’s her birthday weekend.”

He stepped aside and let her enter the elevator first. “So you’ll go with or without me?”

“Both Rudy and I. I don’t have much of a choice.”

“Are you sayin’ this is one time I’m willing to stay home with the defective detective, and you won’t let me?”

She gave herself a mental head slap. Leave it to both the men in her life to join forces against Georgette.

Sam pressed the lobby floor, then wrapped an arm around her. “Don’t be silly. If you go, I go. I gave you my word, and I’m not about to renege.”

“Great. The big idiot has to disagree with me even when I’m willin’ to see things his way. What a putz.”

She put a hand on Sam’s cheek and turned his head. “Thanks. I know Stanley is looking forward to seeing you. You’re the best.”

He kissed her, deep and slow, all the way down until the elevator door slid open.

“Come on. It’s time to go home,” he said, ushering her toward the front of the building. “Once we get there, I plan to do one more important thing before we call it a night.”

Ellie caught the meaning in his smile and her heart skipped a beat. “That’s fine by me.”

“Ya know, I think I’d rather spend the night with the ex-terminator than be with you two when you get mushy.”

Sam hailed a cab and, when one showed, she entered and slid across the seat as she whispered to her boy. “You’d be even more miserable if we were like Nola and Morgan, always bickering and sniping at each other.”

“Those two were a piece of work,” said Sam, though he’d only heard the last half of her sentence. “I don’t want to think about us ever letting things go that far.”

“How about if you just left us alone? That would work.”

“You don’t have a thing to say about it,” Ellie answered, before she realized she’d spoken out loud. “I mean you don’t have anything to worry about,” she added when Sam gave her a look.

When they arrived at their apartment he paid the fare and held the door while Rudy jumped out, and she followed. “I suppose he has to take a walk.”

“The man is a genius,”
her boy said, yipping.

“Just to the corner. We’ll be back in a minute.” They didn’t go far before her yorkiepoo raised a rear leg and took his time watering a hydrant. “Sorry, I should have thought about this sooner.”

“It was close, but I would’a spoke up if I wasn’t gonna make it. Just give me another minute or two.”

Ellie did as requested, then returned to her front porch, smiling when she saw Sam waiting. “I could have finished up alone out here. Rudy was with me.”

In answer, Sam ran a hand through his hair, unlocked the entry, did the same to the interior door, and took her elbow as they climbed the stairs. She knew by his silence that he didn’t agree, but he wasn’t going to talk about it.

Inside, she took care of Rudy’s leash while he locked up. “Do you want a cup of tea or something to help you sleep?”

“I’m ready to drop. You?”

“Same here. Use the bathroom first while I change, okay?”

He disappeared and she went to the bedroom, where she walked to the bed and grabbed Rudy’s pillow, brought it to the guest room, and dropped it on the mattress. “There, you’re all set. And you’re going to cut us a break in the morning, and let us sleep a little later, correct?”

“You’re not gonna need me to wake you. If I know the ex-terminator, she’ll be on the line bright and early, reminding you about her grub and gossip party.”

“Probably.” She sat next to him after he jumped up. “We’re good, right?”

“We’re always good. It’s me and the dastardly dick that—”

Hugging him close, Ellie kissed the top of his head. “I just want to say thank you again for finding Detective Alfonso and coming to my rescue.”

“You’re my girl, Triple E. I’ll always be there to rescue you. I like to think you don’t belong to anybody, animal or human, but me.”

He curled on the pillow and she bent to give him another smooch. “It’s you and me forever, no matter what happens between me and Sam.”

“That’s a promise, right?”
Rudy asked, licking her cheek.