Sunset & Vine: Loose Lips (10 page)

“How will we get them?”

“George has been given instructions in my will to provide them to you,” the aunt answered.

George was the old lady’s only son. Brit wasn’t even sure of her old aunt’s age, nineties she guessed, or how she was even related to them. In reality, she was a little afraid to even find out. Everything about her mother’s family had always been so cryptic.

She was starting to entertain the idea that the gentleman who showed up at the house may actually be legit.

“Aunt Marjorie, you don’t know what a burden you’ve taken off of my mind. I just feel so incomplete sometimes, not knowing anything about my grandparents other than where they were from, and where they are buried.” Pretending to be relieved in front of her aunt.

Her aunt had just stirred up her curiosity even more. She was now convinced that there was something more to this. Far more than what was being said, by all involved.

“I am glad I was able to put your mind at ease, my little angel. Now, you remember, this is our little secret.”

“Yes, Aunt Marjorie, my lips are sealed,” she answered. While thinking, “But, my dear aunt, there is a lot that I intend to “unseal” as fast as I can.” As she gave her old, frail aunt a gentle goodbye hug.

* * *

The next morning, Brit phoned the gentleman in the gray suit straight away.

“Good morning, sir. I’ve given our discussion some thought. In order for us to proceed with the request of your client, we will be asking a few questions.

“First, if it is possible, we would like to know the name of your client if we are to release something as personal as a DNA sample. Secondly, should my mother turn out to be the individual you are looking for, what kind of protections will she be entitled to? Thirdly, what is the amount of inheritance at issue? And finally, how did you become aware of my mother’s adoption?” She was proud of her professional presentation.

“I’m afraid I may not be able to divulge to you the identity of my client because of privacy and security concerns. I will, however, share this request with them for further instructions. If your mother is the individual that we are searching for, her protection is laid out in a legal codicil that has been put into place, a complete step by step process in helping her along the way, along with the assistance of her newly found family, should she be the one, of course. I am unable to inform you of any dollar amount except to say it is quite large. Should I say more than that, it has the potential to put your mother and her entire family at risk should anyone outside of your family discover this. Finally, your mother’s adoption was discovered during the course of our extensive investigation, involving many people, that has led us to your mother’s doorstep. Suffice it to say we have spent decades and millions of dollars searching for a lost family member. At this point, the DNA test would hold all the answers for us, your mother, and her family,” he concluded.

“Miss, hello, Miss? Are you still there?” There was a long pause of silence on the other end, long enough for the gentleman to wonder if Brit was still on the line.

“Yes … yes, I’m still here. Thank you for your time in discussing this. We will wait for your response as to whether or not your client will identify themselves. In the meantime, I have a sample of my mother’s DNA and I’ve prepared the DNA testing kit in case we go forward. I am just concerned about the impact upon my parents should she not be who you are looking for.

“How do I reach you?” he asked.

“Please call me directly at 818.525.0333. Thank you, sir.”

I’ll be in touch, Miss Henderson. Thank you for your efforts. I hope we will be able to bring this to closure soon. I hope to speak to you within the next few days, goodbye.” The gray-suited gentleman hung up.

“What’s in it for them? Why would they willingly spend so much money to locate a lost relative just to give part of their wealth to? They must need something out of this.” She was trying to cover all her bases. All those detective novels she was addicted to as a teenager were paying off.

Brit had a plan already in place. She was convinced that her mother did not have a clue about her adoption, and she couldn’t risk the heartache of telling her unless Brit was sure of it. Brit had decided to tell her mother only after she had personally confirmed it.

The plan was to get a DNA sample of her buried grandparents and have it tested along with the requested DNA by the investigator.

Brit had an ex-boyfriend who was attending law school. The love-struck young man had not given up on his pursuit of her, still pined for her, and would do just about anything for her. She would ask for his help.

“I’ll tell him that I have relatives who are trying to cheat me out of some inheritance from my grandparents and I need to secretly gather some DNA from them. It’s at least part of the truth.” She knew that would make him instantly protective of her.

“I’ll ask him to create a fake court order for Forest Lawn Cemetery in order to have my grandparents exhumed, grab a DNA sample, and be off.”

Exhumation was rarely done, but it could be accomplished. A rather simple alternative versus the drawn out legal requests allowed under California law, if there is a demonstrated legal necessity involved. Hers didn’t fall under those parameters, but she would utilize them anyway.

This would put her on a clear path to understanding some of the clouded mysteries surrounding her mother’s history. She figured, it was better to depend upon yourself for evidence rather than on a stranger’s evidence. Who knows what alternative agendas those people might be hiding?

“I will prove once and for all if my mother was adopted, or not. As shattering as this kind of news could be, I know my mother is also a practical woman who deals with life head on.”

Steering her second hand, old red convertible sports car up the long road to the massive, white stone entrance of Forest Lawn Cemetery-Hollywood Hills brought back memories of the death of her grandparents. She had been a little girl of 11 then, and it had been her first encounter with death. At the time, she felt it had helped that she understood that they were old, and had had a long life. They had loved her mother and her dearly. She was sure they would have approved of her actions. They had been the ultimate practitioners of practicality.

Brit took the fake subpoena to the cemetery office as requested. They needed a hard copy to go with the previously faxed one, and she paid the fee for the exhumation. It appeared, as she expected, that they were more interested in the fee than in the legal document. Having called ahead and arranged for the exhumation, the coffins were prepared in an enclosed tent for the sampling, and she was left alone.

Brit asked the attendant to collect the small hair samples as delicately as possible. She did not want to see the condition of the bodies. The coffins were closed. She kissed the coffins of her grandparents and stood quietly as they were returned to their resting place. Her fond memories of them gave her a strange calmness at having been this physically close to them again after all these years.

The DNA tests were sent off within two hours. It would take a week for the results. She could barely sleep wondering what the results would bring, more concerned about whether or not she was related to her grandparents than the strange lost relative issue at hand.

“Are our lives about to be turned upside down? Will I finally be able to put to rest the life-long mystery cloaking Mother’s background, thus mine? If mother was adopted, who are her parents? Could they still be alive? And who were these mysterious people who have shown up out of nowhere with such keen interest in Mom’s background?” She tossed and turned all night. Little did she know, those unsettling questions would be the least of her concerns over the next few days. Her life was about to change in ways that not even a Hollywood writer of fiction could have created.

Brit’s mother would never learn of the results confirming whether or not she had been adopted, or if she was the lost relative of some, yet unknown, wealthy family.

Dotty Henderson was brutally murdered the following morning. The next few days became a nightmarish hell for Brit. No amount of good news could alter her grief and despair.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Detective Goldman vs. Aunt Marjorie

Rocco and Elsa sought out the surveillance video at Schwab’s.

It captured a figure dressed in black wearing a hat and a knitted face mask. They’d entered the diner shortly after Dotty’s arrival. It showed the same figure leaving after what must have been Dotty’s murder. They found nothing on it that would assist in identifying the murderer. They couldn’t tell if it was a woman or a man, nor did it give them any discernible behaviors or identifying characteristics.

However, they did discover the video of the visiting stranger in the gray suit no one seemed to be able to identify.

In the meantime, they had to interview Dotty’s daughter to gather any information that might provide them with a lead.

Michael Deeves was willing and able to give almost detective-like details of the appearance and approximate times he had witnessed the well-dressed stranger who showed up at Schwab’s one day out of the blue.

“I noticed him right away. He was impeccably dressed, and seemed to stare at Dotty in an unusual manner. I remember at one point I saw the man reach for a spoon with a handkerchief after Dotty had placed it on the counter. The man quickly removed his hand as Dotty was turning unexpectedly to face him,” he proudly offered, using his most descriptive prose.

The two detectives identified the man who they would later interview.

It was now time to speak to Dotty’s daughter Brit.

Brit Henderson was visibly shaken with grief and shock over the loss of her mother, but agreed to speak with them.

“I’ll do anything I can to help find whoever did this to my mom.”

“Miss Henderson, we are deeply sorry for your loss from the bottom of our hearts. We both knew your mother for many years as regulars at Schwab’s. I want to assure you that we are taking this on a personal level, and will do everything within our power to find whoever did this,” Elsa said as she tried to calm the grieving daughter.

“We’d like to find out a little bit about your mother’s background if we may?” Rocco asked.

“Of course, whatever you need to know.”

“Did you know of anyone who might have wanted to hurt your mother for any reason?”

“No. But I have seen all the nasty things in the papers they are saying about her. That was not the mother that I knew, I can tell you that. My mother never once indicated to me that she was doing anything like that. And, I simply don’t believe she would. My mother cared for and respected everyone that I have ever seen her come into contact with, from the garbage men to the postman. That’s just the way she was,” Brit exclaimed.

“Had she or you met anyone recently that may have been out of the ordinary?” asked detective Goldman.

“Well, as a matter of fact yes. There was something odd that happened a few days ago. This strange, well-dressed man came to our house in the middle of the day looking for my mother. I was just about to leave for school, I’m a senior at UCLA.”

“What did he look like, and what was he looking for?” Rocco asked.

Brit gave them a description.

Detective Goldman and Elsa looked at each other. Elsa pulled out a photograph from her breast pocket.

“Was this the man?” she asked Brit.

“That’s him! I normally would never let a stranger into the house when I’m alone, but he seemed professional, well dressed, driving an expensive car, you know. He seemed OK. Besides, I pretended my boyfriend was upstairs, just in case, and I reminded him that he was on the home security camera. And since I was her daughter, I handled most of her personal business affairs. And I really do, just to help keep scammers away from my parents,” she stated.

“Did he tell you what he wanted to speak to your mother about?” Rocco continued.

“Yes. He said that he was a lawyer. Some kind of investigator for someone who was searching for a lost relative and that they thought my mother might be that person. That he needed to verify whether she was or not. That there may be a large amount of money involved. Then he asked if I would ask mom for a DNA sample. It was all very strange,” Brit said as she drifted in and out of tears.

“Did he tell you who his client was?” Elsa added.

“No, although I did ask. I was suspicious and tried to find out as much information as possible in case it was some kind of scam. I told him that I would have to have more information before disturbing my mother with something like this. I didn’t want to bother her with what could be some kind of scam. The oddest thing about the whole experience was that he told me that my mother was adopted. I am absolutely sure my mom nor I knew this. She just would not have hidden something like this. And, she would have wanted to know who her parents were. I know my mom.

“So, before telling my mom about any of this, I asked her if she knew about any rich lost relatives. She said no and that was the end of our discussion. I did a little sleuthing on my own, intrigued with the adoption statement.”

“Your mother is an only child I take it?”

“Yes, my grandparents died when I was a child so there weren’t many relatives except for my Aunt Marjorie and her son George. In fact, I paid a visit to her when trying to find out any information about the family history.”

“And did you find out anything that might be of any help?”

“Oh yes! My Aunt Marjorie is about 92 years old if I remember correctly. She is also not a woman who talks very much about the past. She told me something that might be of some value. My aunt told me that she had some private documents that were to be given to my mother only upon her death, and that these documents would shed some light on any questions about our family history.”

“Documents about your mother’s past?”

“I assumed so. She held the information about those documents as if the safety of the world depended on it. Wouldn’t tell me a thing about them. I am sure they have something to do with my mother’s real history.”

“Why do you say, real history?”

“After the odd visit from the strange man in the gray suit, and my conversation with Aunt Marjorie, I snuck a DNA test from my mother. I found out that she was definitely adopted, 99% sure.”

“Wouldn’t you need the DNA of your grandparents for that?” inquired Elsa.

“Let’s just say I was able to find what I needed and carried out the test.”

This was getting more complicated by the minute. Rocco and Elsa looked at each other as if to say “Whoa!”

“Did you give this information to the gentleman seeking out your mother?”

“No. I only found out the day after mom was … killed,” she said softly, through tears.

Elsa sat next to her and wrapped her arms around her to comfort her.

“In my last conversation with this stranger, I told him that we needed to know who his client was before having any further contact.”

“Did he leave any contact information?” Rocco asked.

“Yes. Here, I’ll give it to you.”

Rocco and Elsa took the contact information from Brit for the stranger and thanked her for her time. They assured her that they would be getting back in touch with her to keep her updated on the progress. And they offered to speak to her at anytime if she needed someone to talk to. They both gave her a comforting hug and left.

“We need to talk to Mr … .” Elsa glanced down at the business card given to them by Brit,

“Mr. James D. Celletti, of Thurston, Summerfield & Celletti, Inc. A Law firm.”

“We need to talk to Mr. Celletti and find out his game plan and what the fuck has he been up to, and for whom.” Rocco shared with an edge of venom in his tone.

“Agreed!”

Rocco and Elsa were a well-oiled team, having spent five years together on the Hollywood Police Department’s homicide force as partners. Rocco couldn’t think of a better partner to be working with on what was turning out to be the biggest case in his career. He had tried to persuade Elsa to stay on the force but understood the concerns of her new wife. After all, that was why he was still single. His serious girlfriends just weren’t the types to have their future husband dealing with murders every single day, along with the possible danger of him becoming a target.

They wanted this vicious murder of their old friend solved as fast as possible. Whoever did this to Dotty was a clear and present danger to the whole city.

* * *

Victoria thought it would be important to share this information with the detectives. It would clear the air and help verify Michael Deeves was not involved in the extortion and blackmail.

Cino sat quietly listening to what Victoria had just told him regarding the call from Michael Deeves. It gave him an sense of relief.

“When are the pictures going to be returned?” he stoically asked.

“As soon as the investigation is complete I think? In the meantime, Detective Rocco has assured me that they will remain under lock and key with access only allowed to him and his captain. He said that he would try to clear Michael before all of the information goes to the L.A. Prosecutor’s office. That way he will be able to return them to us sooner.”

“Great! Because I don’t want private pictures of my “wife” floating around the world!”

“Your wife?” Victoria kind of giggled.

“My wife!” Repeating the words as he stood up, grabbed her by the waist, and lifted her up in the air.

“I want to marry you, Victoria Salvaggio! I want to make babies with you!”

“Si!” Victoria answered with a huge smile on her face.

“You are the one. The one fate had in store for me. I know that with all my heart!”

“And you for me, Cino Salvaggio!” Slowly kissing him as if it were the first time.

As worried as she was about the photos, she was convinced something good had come out of the bad experience. It definitely had brought them closer together, out of concern for each other.

He tenderly kissed both her hands and then slid his grandmother’s ruby encrusted emerald engagement ring on her finger.

“I promised my Nonna that I would share this with the woman I marry. She insisted it would keep a part of her with me after she had gone. Now, it is that special moment for me to share this in life.” He knelt on both his knees staring up at her face.

“It takes my breath away, amore! I will cherish it forever. I have never loved anyone like I love you, Cino,” she told him through the tears streaming down her face.

“I will see to it that you never do, by being the best husband in the world my treasure.” As he begins to cry as well.

“Let’s get started on that first baby!” She began unbuttoning his shirt.