The Michaela Bancroft Mysteries 1-3 (81 page)

"No. I have a little girl's birthday party to go to. Do you need anything else from me?"

"Yes, I do. I need you to be honest with me. I need you to be a civilian, not a cop. I'm the cop. My guys are still dusting for prints. Now, let me take you home."

She tossed him the keys to the shop. "Lock it up for me. I have to go." She reached her truck and brushed away tears, wincing at the bruise on her cheek.

JOE'S FAMILY DOTED ON MICHAELA. MARIANNE and Joe had five kids, and they weren't without their tribulations—Gen dealt with autism, little Joe with anger management issues. Vincent, who was thirteen, seemed well behaved and mild mannered, and the twins, Giorgio and Isabel, were rambunctious toddlers who kept their mother hopping. But there was a lot of love inside this home, and Michaela enjoyed being there eating birthday cake with them while Gen opened her presents.

Gen smiled widely when Vincent took out the therapeutic riding saddle for her. "That's your very own saddle," Michaela said.

"It's just for you." Marianne stood behind Gen, placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders, and winked at Michaela.

Marianne mouthed "thank you" to her. Michaela nodded and smiled. Her head still ached, but being around the Pellegrino family helped. Their house was one of the newer tract homes and had that Southern California feel combined with Mediterranean flair that so many contractors were trying to emulate in the area. It looked like Marianne probably needed help with the housecleaning. There were toys pretty much everywhere, and the twins appeared to be messy marvins, as they were busy strewing the wrapping paper all over the floor.

The adults steered clear of discussing Sterling's murder and anything related to it while the kids were around and instead talked about horses, TV shows they liked, and even the weather—anything light. They took special care in avoiding what had happened earlier. Marianne had taken Michaela into the kitchen and given her an earful when she arrived.

"You and Joe been getting into some trouble. He's worried about you. I'm worried about you. He told me what happened and that's not good. Are you okay?" Marianne rested her hands on her hips. She was a thin, petite woman, but Michaela knew that when Marianne Pellegrino meant business, she wasn't one to mess with.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry. I know I've been a pain, and I'll leave Joe out of this from now on."

"Oh no you won't. You'll get yourself killed if Joey isn't around. But I don't need my Joey getting himself killed either. Promise me you'll start carrying some pepper spray or something. Joey makes me carry it. No more dead bodies either. This business of you and murder…well, it's not good for anyone. You need to be teaching my kid and the other kids how to ride, and settling down."

"You're right." As if she really enjoyed coming across dead bodies. But she wasn't about to argue with Marianne, who at that moment played the part of a perfect mother hen.

"Of course I'm right. Now go and have some cake."

But once Marianne suggested that the kids get ready for bed and they all told her good night, Joe clapped his hands together and said, "What do you think? Should we put our heads together on this?"

"What do you mean?" Michaela asked.

"I mean, you know and I know the cops don't have this thing figured out. Someone tried to kill you tonight and we gotta find out who it was."

"I don't think that's such a great idea," Michaela replied.

"Why not?"

"Marianne had a little talk with me and I don't want to step on any toes."

He waved a hand at her. "Mare is all bark, no bite. I gotta help you and she knows it."

"No, you don't. Why do you want to anyway?"

He yawned and stretched. "Makes me feel kind of like that dude on that old TV show—
Magnum P.I.
"

Michaela laughed. It made her head hurt, but she couldn't help it. "Tom Selleck? Oh Joe, you'd have to lose some weight and grow some more hair."

He touched the top of his head. "You cut so low sometimes. You noticed I'm losing hair, too, huh? Marianne said something about it the other day. Used to have a ton of it only what, last year or so. Shit, this getting old stuff sucks."

"I'm sorry. So, if you're Magnum, that means I must be the pain in the butt Higgins."

He pointed at her. "Ain't that the truth. Wanna beer?"

"No. I have to get home."

"Uh-uh. Marianne and I talked and you need to stay the night until we get this all resolved."

"I can't do that. The horses need me and your family doesn't need the intrusion."

"Mickey, you
are
family and you got Dwayne and Camden to take care of the animals."

"That's right, which means they're there with me and I'll be fine."

Joe smiled. "Them two are too busy these days from what you say, being holed up in the love shack."

"True."

"So you'll stay."

Marianne walked into the family room. "Of course she'll stay. And I know you two are up to no good, so you are going to deal me in. If you're going to do your little private investigating then you better include me."

"Ah, Mare, come on. You wouldn't be any good at this."

She shook a finger at him. "Joey, I'm in and there's nothing you can do about it. I think three heads are better than two, so you two start from square one and fill me in. It's obvious by the bruise on your face, Michaela, that you're in trouble. So talk."

She looked from Marianne to Joe and nodded. Joe shook his head. "Women."

"I don't think you're going to win this one, Joe."

"I never win."

Michaela started from the beginning, going over the day of the match, what happened before it, after, and then the days following.

Marianne raised her brows when she revealed that she and Joe had broken into Sterling's place. She shot her husband a dirty look. He shrugged and looked chagrined. "You think that maybe this makeup artist had a set of tapes? Or that her friend Sheila had the tape she was in?" Marianne asked.

"It's possible, but it doesn't make sense that she would kill Carolyn Taber," Michaela replied.

"No, but we don't know for sure that the woman didn't kill herself," Joe said.

"She didn't."

"You still got that bracelet you mentioned?" Marianne asked.

"Yes, it's in my purse. No one's claimed it yet." She took out the bracelet and handed it to Marianne.

"Pretty. Looks real. I have some of these fake diamonds, the cubic zirconium like this, and no one knows the difference. You mentioned the Sorvinos." She looked at Joe. "You know that the Sorvinos are related to Diamante Pizzini."

"The Pez?" Joe asked.

Marianne nodded.

"Where did you hear that?"

"You're not the only one who has cousins." She smiled.

"Can I ask who the Pez is?" Michaela said.

"He's a low-life thug. He's been in and out of jail for stolen goods. Last time he got out, I heard he went into business with some wealthy guy in Palm Springs. He runs that Sinners and Saints club."

"The place that Lucia likes to hang out at?" Michaela asked.

"That's the one, but I didn't know they were related. You sure about that, Mare?" Joe asked.

"Sure I'm sure. I ran into my cousin Nancy last year who knows Diamante's ex-wife's brother and she said that the Pez is a bastard son of Pepe Sorvino's brother."

"Pepe has kept that one under wraps, hasn't he?" Joe said. "Not surprised. Pepe likes to act like he's all about being on the up and up, and as far as I know he is, but I do find it interesting that he's related to this guy and that his daughter hangs out at that club."

"If you want my two cents," Marianne said, "I'm betting that Lucia and her brother, Mario, had something to do with the murders and now tonight with Michaela."

"But why go after Carolyn Taber?" Michaela asked.

"That's a good point, and I don't know why, but we need to trap that little brat and get her to talk," Marianne said.

"And how do you plan to do that?" Joe asked.

Marianne thought for a few seconds, and then a smile spread across her face. "I got an idea."

THEY STAYED UP LATE INTO THE NIGHT TALKING and planning. Marianne had a good idea to get Lucia to talk, but it also involved some delinquency on everyone's part. Joe was surprised by his wife's sneaky side and by the way Joe patted her on the butt when they finally went to bed, she got the feeling that Joe wasn't only surprised by his wife, but that it also had ignited something else in him.

Michaela camped out on the couch. She awoke the next morning to four big, round brown eyes staring at her. The twins were up early. It wasn't quite seven and Isabel was touching the side of Michaela's mouth, which was open, and she realized that she'd been drooling. Oh, thank God they were only two. She swallowed and realized how badly she needed to brush her teeth. Instead of waking Joe and Marianne, she found bowls and some cereal and gave the twins breakfast. Vincent came padding out as she brewed a pot of coffee.

"Thanks," he said.

"For what?"

"Making the twins something to eat."

He was a good-looking boy with dark hair like his dad, and light green eyes like his mom. "It didn't take much. Just poured some Frosted Flakes into a bowl."

"I know." He smiled. "But it's still cool. My mom is tired a lot and it's good she's sleeping in. My dad, too."

Michaela felt a nudge of guilt. Had Joe spent too much time trying to help her? And now Marianne was involved. "You know what? Why don't you and me surprise the two of them? Your dad mentioned something about their wedding anniversary coming up. Why don't we send them away for a weekend and I can stay with you guys?"

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure you'd want to do that? The twins are crazy and Gen is a lot to handle sometimes. And have you ever seen little Joe throw a tantrum? It's ugly."

Michaela touched Vincent's shoulder. "And what about you? You look like trouble."

He smiled sheepishly. "I try to be good."

"I think you've got it handled. So I'll make some plans for them and then we can surprise them on their anniversary."

"I think that's cool."

"I think you're cool. Listen, I've got some things to do. Will you let your mom and dad know that I'll call?"

"Sure."

Michaela cleaned up and left Vincent with the twins. What a good kid…and spending a weekend with Joe and Marianne's family was the least she could do, given all they'd done for her.

She made a quick trip home, where she fed the animals, cleaned up, and got back on the road. This morning she was going to find out what the truth was between Erin Hornersberg, her girlfriend, Sheila, and Sterling Taber. She wanted to be sure all of the bases were covered before the planned attack on Lucia Sorvino went down.

MICHAELA FOUND THE SALON THAT ERIN HORNERSBERG worked at and Sheila owned. It was definitely one of those posh spa places where all beauty services were rendered. The sound of ocean waves played over the speaker system, and the scents of patchouli and rose filled the air. Camden would love this place. Off to the right of the beige marbled flooring and peach faux-finished walls were a couple of manicurists and their clients. They spoke in hushed tones as they lacquered the nails of their cucumber eye-patched patrons, who sat in neck-massaging chairs.

A receptionist dressed in a white lab coat, as if she were a doctor of some sort, eyed Michaela as she walked up to the desk and asked for Erin.

"Oh, Erin hasn't been in for a few days. She must've quit."

"Did she call?"

"No." Another woman slid in next to the receptionist and looked at the appointment book. She had long golden hair, which cascaded down her back, a flawless complexion, and bright blue eyes. Her nametag read SHEILA
.

"Sheila?" Michaela asked.

The young woman looked up. "Yes? Are you my next client?"

"No."

"She's looking for Erin," the receptionist said.

"Funny. Me, too."

"Oh?" Michaela wasn't sure what to say.

"Can I ask why
you're
looking for her?"

She leaned in and lowered her voice. "It has to do with a murder investigation."

"Are you a cop?"

"No, I'm not. Erin did a job for me last weekend. I'm sure you've heard about Sterling Taber's murder in the papers?"

The receptionist looked up. Sheila grabbed Michaela's arm. "Tell my client when she shows up that I'll be back in a few minutes. Come on."

"What?"

"Come on. I'll get you some tea."

"I don't want any tea."

The girl practically dragged her into a rear storeroom. She closed the door and crossed her arms. "What the hell do you want?"

"I told you that I wanted to talk to Erin. Can we keep the door open?"

"No. This is a place of business and I run a professional operation. I don't appreciate you coming in here asking nosy questions about Erin."

She should've brought Joe with her like she initially planned; she hadn't expected to be dragged off into a storage room. She didn't like this one bit.

"Wait a minute." Sheila snapped her fingers. "Did you and some other woman stop by Erin's the other night?"

"Yes."

She nodded. "Uh-huh, then you're the reason she took off."

"What? I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm here because a man was killed and she might know something about it. She had his address written on the back of her business card, and now another woman associated with Sterling is dead. I know that Erin was probably jealous of what happened between you and Sterling."

Sheila played dumb. "What do you mean?"

"Come on. Erin even told me that you went home with him."

"Who are you?"

"I am the woman who was accused of murdering Sterling. He was killed in my office."

"Oh, I see, and you think that Erin did him in because she was jealous of me and him."

Michaela shrugged. "Why don't you tell me?"

Sheila shook her head. "Erin had that address because the morning after I was with that jerk, I needed a ride home. Yes, it bugged her what I did, but we got through it."