The Rock 'N Roll Detective's Greatest Hits - a Spike Berenger Anthology (21 page)

“You had a very amicable divorce.”

“Yeah, I guess we did. We had an understanding. You see, I knew Flame was cheating on me and stuff. He still believed he was twenty-five years old and was entitled to live the decadent life of a rock star. I caught him in bed with two teenaged girls one night and I suppose that was the last straw. He actually wanted me to join them but I walked out. So I told him I’d let him live the life he wanted as long as I could still be a part of it. And I wanted him to be a part of Joshua’s life. I wanted him to be close to us, and if that meant giving him back his freedom then I was willing to do it. So we worked out a deal. His lawyer and my lawyer did the work and everything came out okay. I got enough money to live on for the rest of my life and Joshua got a substantial trust, and I was satisfied with that. I also wanted to be involved in Flame’s company—which was the one sticking point—but my lawyer was good. I got the title of Vice President of Flame Productions. I suppose I’ll continue to enjoy that title even after Joshua takes over next year.”

“You got a good deal, all right. I guess he didn’t mind you seeing other men and stuff?”

“He never said anything about it. I was seeing other men before our divorce was final, but it was nothing compared to what
he
was doing while we were still married.”

“How come you never remarried?”

She laughed. “Who needs that, Spike? I’ve got everything I want. If I want some companionship for a brief period of time, it’s not hard to find. I’m not looking for anything permanent anymore.”

“So how much input did you actually have in what Flame was doing?” Berenger asked.

“Not much. None, really. I went to a board of directors meeting once in a blue moon and usually sat there listening to Flame argue with Al Patton. Now that Flame is gone, though, I’ll be a bigger part of the decision-making process. There’s a ton of stuff that has to be settled, so I’ll probably be having some knockdown drag-outs with Al in the coming weeks. That’s what we’re meeting about this afternoon. It’s a preliminary ‘this is what we have to talk about’ meeting. I wish he wasn’t doing it today of all days, but there’s not a lot you can say to Al Patton. He’s who he is.”

“How do you feel about Joshua being named to take over the company and owning everything?”

Carol was silent for a moment and then said, “At first I was hurt. Something inside me thought he’d give it to me. But now, rationally, I see that was impossible. There’s no way he would do that. So I was very grateful he gave it to Joshua. Joshua’s his son, after all.”

“So is Adrian,” Berenger said.

Carol made a face. “Adrian has
never
been a son to Flame. Flame never considered him to be a son.”

“Why not?”

“Because Adrian hated him. Gosh, Spike, you know Adrian. He’s a hateful, unpleasant person. I don’t think I’ve
ever
seen him smile or laugh. It’s as if he expects the world to be handed to him. He resented me and especially looked down his nose at Joshua. I’m really not surprised he’s standing trial for killing his father. It’s not a surprise at all.”

Berenger thought it best to steer the conversation away from Adrian. “I had a nice talk with Joshua yesterday.”

“Yes, he told me.”

“He was very cooperative. One thing I wanted to ask you, though—are you aware that he’s not really too excited about taking over Flame Productions?”

“Yes. He’ll get over that, though. I think it’s just an overwhelming proposition for him.”

“But if he’d rather be a lawyer—”

“This will satisfy his early craving to be a musician like his father. He just doesn’t realize it yet.”

“Huh?” Berenger was confused. “What do you mean?”

“The music thing didn’t work out for Joshua. He’s always been angry about that.”

“Hold on. I thought Joshua had no interest whatsoever in the music business.”

“That’s what he says now. When he was young—oh, junior high school and early high school age—he wanted to be a musician, too. Flame put a stop to that. Flame had a bad experience with Adrian over the music business and didn’t want that to become a rift between them. So Flame nipped it in the bud. He forbade Joshua from any kind of musical aspirations. Joshua was angry about it at first but he quickly got over it. I think he realized what a cutthroat business it is. So he went into law.”

Berenger was surprised. Joshua didn’t mention this at all. Was it because it was simply no longer an issue, or was the young man deliberately keeping it from him? In fact, Joshua had told Berenger he “never wanted to know” anything about the music business. Was it a lie?

Carol kept talking. “So, for the next year, I’ll continue to run the company and Joshua will learn the ropes. Hopefully by the time I hand over the reins he’ll be fully indoctrinated and excited about it.” She smiled and shook her head. “You know, Josh can do an
awesome
impression of Flame. He can sound just like him. He’s got the voice inflections down perfectly. But I guess he won’t be doing that anymore. You could never get him to do it in public anyway. He’s always been so shy.”

Berenger was still trying to understand the rift between Flame and his sons. “Why did Flame oppose his kids being in music? What’s the big deal?”

“You know, I really don’t have an answer to that,” Carol said. “Gina pushed Adrian into it and Flame didn’t like that. Maybe Flame had such a bad time with Adrian that it soured him forever.”

“I take it you and Gina don’t get along too well.”

Carol made a sour face. “Gina Tipton’s a calculating bitch. Sorry, Spike, I know you were sleeping with her at one time, but that’s what I think.”

Berenger said, “That was a long time ago, Carol. It was nothing.”

“I don’t really care, Spike,” she said. “I think it’s ‘cause of her that Flame could never really commit fully to another woman.”

“He seems to have done so with Brenda.”

“Oh,
please
. Brenda Twist gives me the creeps. You knew Flame. Can you imagine him in a million years being with a girl like her? Miss Squeaky Clean Bible-thumper? It’s a big fat mystery, if you ask me. I think those Messengers brainwashed Flame somehow. Whatever happened to him in rehab and shortly afterwards changed him. He may have got off the drugs but I can’t honestly say he was a better person.”

She paused and shook her head. “Shit, what am I saying? Here it is the day of his memorial service and I’m putting him down. I loved Flame, Spike. I suppose I still do, for what it’s worth. I still can’t believe he was… murdered.”

“Carol, are there any other possible suspects in your mind other than Adrian?”

“No. Adrian did it. It’s so obvious.”

“You don’t think the Messengers might be involved? Or Dave Bristol and his buddies?”

“Dave and Flame always ruffled each other’s feathers but I don’t for one minute believe Dave could do something like that. As for the Messengers, well, I just don’t understand them. I’ll never comprehend why Flame turned religious. He never told me, even when I asked. He’d just quote some scripture and say he ‘found the light’ or some crap like that. I finally gave up asking. Flame always went his own way and that was just another chapter in his life. It’s too bad we’ll never see what the
next
chapter would have been.”

Berenger rubbed his beard. “Can you tell me about that last night at the Beacon Theater? The Meet ‘n’ Greet? What do you remember?”

“Hmmm, well let’s see. Joshua and I went to the after-show. I recall trying to get closer to Flame but I was frustrated by the horde of bloodsuckers around him. They call themselves Christians but they aren’t
Christians
at all. The Messengers pervert the tenets of Christianity and they’ve become more like one of those bizarre cults, you know, like the ones that eventually committed mass suicide. Brenda always manages to get passes for a dozen of the Messengers whenever the band plays in town. I tell you, I hate that little bitch. Brenda is so unbelievably
straight
, crystal-clean and all-American, a little Snow White. In the old days he always went for the bad girls. I suppose I was one of those once but people grow up, right? After Joshua was born and things fell apart with the marriage, what can I say, I cleaned up my act.

“Anyway, Joshua was busy chatting up one of the girls from the Messengers. He was looking down and smiling in that ‘Gosh, ma’am,’ way of his that women find cute. I may be his mother but I think Joshua is a real catch—it’s too bad he’s so shy and introverted. I did my best to get him to be more socially active, but all Joshua wants to do is finish his studies at Columbia and get a law degree.

“I tried to get closer to Flame and at least tell him I enjoyed the show. But Brenda was holding on to his arm, smiling like a saint. Reverend Theo was standing away from his flock, watching with that pleased expression on his face. That man has the widest grin of anyone I’ve ever known. He does have a lot of charisma, I’ll say that for him. It’s practically impossible not to like the guy, even though he exudes that creepy holy vibe that makes us non-religious people uncomfortable. Flame was sold on the reverend, that much is certain. There’s no telling how much money Flame donated to the Messengers.

“I finally decided to leave. I couldn’t get in a word to Flame, and besides, why should I need to? I could contact him any time—I’m one of the privileged ones.” At that she laughed sardonically. “So I walked over to Joshua and interrupted his conversation with the young lady. I told him I was leaving and asked him if he wanted a ride uptown. He must have thought he was about to get lucky so he refused. He said he’d catch the subway. So I walked out. I do remember turning and glancing back at Flame. He had a glazed look in his eyes as all those born-again sycophants continued to pay homage to him. I felt disgusted and left the building.”

“Do you know what time Joshua left?”

“No.”

Berenger decided to take a chance and pop the question. “So this IRS audit you’re going through has nothing to do with Flame or his company, does it?”

Carol’s eyes widened. “How do you know about that?”

“I’m a PI, Carol. It’s my job to know what’s going on with anyone involved in a case. I don’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Well, I think that’s where I draw the line and stop answering questions.”

“That’s certainly your prerogative, Carol.”

She looked at her watch. “I really have to go,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Can I accompany you to Al’s office?”

“Thanks, Spike, but I really need to go alone. I have to get my thoughts together in the taxi. Do you mind?”

“Not at all. I’ll see you tonight?”

“Absolutely.” Despite her façade of friendliness, Berenger could see that his last question had shaken her. Had his instincts been correct? Had Carol Merryman been stealing money from her ex-husband and was caught by the Feds?

She stood, left the room for a moment, and returned with fresh lipstick on her mouth. Berenger went with her in the elevator and watched her hail a taxi. She coolly said goodbye to him once again and the cab drove away.

Berenger walked in the direction of the Rockin’ Security office and thought about the case. The big question was—what made Flame become a cult member? The answer might hold a clue as to why the superstar was murdered. But even after speaking to Flame’s family and associates, Berenger was no closer in uncovering any revelations. He would have to dig deeper into the Messengers and talk to Brenda Twist, if she’d talk to him.

Carol Merryman had just become a more interesting suspect. Even if she wasn’t embezzling from Flame, she may have thought she stood to gain a great deal if he were to check out from the living. But she was a long shot.

Dave Bristol exhibited a lot of venom toward his former musical partner. Could bumping off Flame have helped Bristol with the pending lawsuits? Again, a long shot.

And why did the Jimmys want him dead? Why did they care? Berenger was trying to get Adrian—one of their dealers—
out
of jail.

But the most disturbing thing, Berenger came to realize, was that nothing he had seen or heard so far refuted the unanimous belief that Adrian Duncan was indeed Flame’s killer.

B
erenger grabbed Suzanne at the Rockin’ Security office and said, “Come on, we’re going to pay a visit to the Messengers.”