Beautiful Girls (4 page)

^***

^{My memories skipped ahead to the Arizona part of my 2003 vacation.}

^{Edie caught me up with her life since we last met at Andi Anderson's wedding in 2000.}

^{She spoke about her TV series, her love life, and life in L.A. at the Gabriel estate.}

^{I decided to tackle a tougher subject. I asked, “So, how is your dad?”}

^{“He has dark moods. Sometimes when I visit he doesn't talk. I get sad…it's hard. He's up for parole next year. It's been a nightmare for seven years, but he's very sorry for everything that happened. Bambi and I visit him often.”}

^{“Bambi visits him?”}

^{“Yeah, I couldn't believe it at first. You know, I didn't know Bambi at all until we found everything out after Sid died. I learned that my dad and Bambi already knew each other. They did things with Sid; you know the three of them went to dinner together, stuff like that. You know my dad worked for Sid for many years, but they were friends too. They three of them were relatively close in age, with Sid and my dad in their fifties and Bambi was forty-one at the time.”}

^{“Did your dad know that Sid and Bambi were secretly engaged when Sid died?”}

^{“Yeah, maybe, you know, I don't know. Anyway, during the recovery from his wound, dad reached out to Bambi to explain what happened and how Kathy Reese mixed him all up. He knew Bambi was heartbroken by Sid's death and he apologized for the harm he caused. Dad had also pled guilty to a conspiracy to murder charge for his acts with Kathy. His twenty year prison term was reduced to eight due to his cooperation with the police and help in keeping Andi alive.}

^{“During his time in the joint, dad and Bambi have stayed in touch. Bambi visits him at Chino. We usually go separately so it seems like he gets more visitors. I think it's helped them recover. Bambi forgave dad. I think their casual friendship has deepened.”}

^{I was amazed and said so.}

^{“I know; me too. Bambi is a real Christian and always said that she needed to forgive dad and help him.”}

^“Wow!”

^{Edie then said, “And, we were all shocked when Sid put us all in his will. We all thought everything was going to Troy.”}

^{“I bet you were. I thought it would be that way too.”}

^{“Yeah, it's not like dad or Bambi or I are millionaires or anything. It's just a security thing with our annuities. We don't have to worry really, Bambi especially. I mean, Sid really did her right. You know, he did as much as he could to legitimize Tawny and his love and relationship with her and Bambi. He made it clear in the will that they were engaged and that he loved her and was going to marry her.”}

^{“Yeah. How did that make you feel?”}

^{“OK, really. I mean I knew Sid and I would never marry. Plus, once I really got to know Bambi, I fell in love with her. You know, she is a terrific person and really does treat me like she's my mother or older sister. And, Tawny, well, she is a joy.”}

^{She paused, looked at me, and said, “They really are my family.”}

^{“That's great, Edie.”}

^{“Bambi's doing an incredible job raising Tawny alone, especially since Bambi's mother died two years ago. She doesn't spoil Tawny, but she does shower her with love. And, because of Sid's will, Bambi has been able to act like a true widow and treat the estate like it's a family home. She was the key to getting Troy and Tawny to act like siblings. Troy really likes his little sister. It's amazing, really.”}

^{“It sure looks like it.”}

^{“Sid would be very happy. You know, we are all together on the estate a lot of the times; Bambi and Tawny in the mansion, Troy in the garage apartment and me in the pool house. It's a little weird, but Bambi has made it all work and we all get along great. I wouldn't have believed it.”}

^{“So, Tawny will be very rich when she gets older.”}

^{“She's not as rich as Troy, because most of Tawny's inheritance is tied up in the estate. We all hope she keeps it as a family home. I think she will, because she'll get other money from Sid when she turns twenty-five.”}

^{“So, what will your dad do when he gets released?”}

^{“I'm not exactly sure. Bambi has already asked him if he wants to move back to the estate and live in the housekeepers' quarters downstairs.”}

^{“Really?”}

^{“Yes, and he told her he might.”}

^{“Wow, this is surprising news, Edie.”}

^{The television brought me back to the present. A news story came on about the triple murders. Suddenly, on the TV screen was my fiancée giving her statement to the media the day before. Edie asked for prayers for Tawny. I could tell she needed all of her acting skill and internal strength to make it through that one minute of unwanted attention.}

^{Then, the screen went back to the studio reporter. Spoken phrases of the victims bounced in my head; murdered mistress of long-dead Academy Award winner, surviving millionaire son and his fiancée killed too, and the missing half-sister of Troy and daughter from Sid Gabriel's relationship with Bambi Deer. The report went on to say that family friend and actress, Edie McCall, discovered the tragic scene when she returned from filming her new TV show in Vancouver, British Columbia. So far police have not made any arrests or held anyone for questioning. However, they do believe Tawny Gabriel's disappearance is related to the murders…}

^{Where was Tawny? Something went wrong. I thought that the murderer truly meant to kill everyone, including Edie and Tawny. Edie had spoiled the plan with her extended filming.}

^{But, what about Tawny? That bloody brick could be evidence of an incident with her. If so, what did the killer do with Tawny? Did they take her? If so, where?}

^{As I was eating a grapefruit slice, it hit me; Rob Nealy, Edie's father. Where was he? Edie said he was supposed to be here to help with wedding preparations. This was way too coincidental. God, no! It couldn't be. Memories flooded back. Connections were made I had never seen before.}

^{This reminded me so much of that earlier case; Sid Gabriel's murder and Andi Anderson's abduction. However, those crimes were committed by Kathy Reese…and Rob Nealy. He was Reese's accomplice. Yes, she shot Sid Gabriel…but Rob drove the getaway car. And, Rob helped abduct Andi and let Reese torture her. He then drove Andi from L.A. to Arizona in his car's trunk. The plan was for Rob to murder Andi, but he couldn't do it. Yet, his change of mind was mostly due to Reese dumping him as her boyfriend, not because he wanted to avoid committing first degree murder. Rob had served eight years in prison for his crimes. I had unanswered questions about Rob.}

^{First, where was he on Sunday? Second, where was he now? And, third, why hadn't he contacted Edie since then?}

 

 

^{My train of thought was broken by a knock at the door. It was Lieutenant Lomita.}

^{Some people never age. Eight years had passed since Rob Nealy's trial, and Peter Lomita still looked the same. Six feet, three inches tall, lean and muscular with medium-long hair. He was still clean shaven and had a strong chin. His piercing blue eyes were squinting in the early morning sun. I still didn't know his age, but guessed he was at least fifty. He has a fairly fierce, gruff manner. His wardrobe hadn't changed since the 1990's; he wore ankle-high black boots, trim black slacks, and a white long-sleeved shirt. His black conservatively patterned tie was loosened and the top button of his shirt was undone. His gray sports coat was unbuttoned and, with his right hand on his hip, opened to reveal a shoulder holster and pistol. His detective badge was fixed to the holster.}

^{Lomita greeted me with a strong handshake and said, “We need to stop meeting like this, Garrett.”}

^{“Hello, Lieutenant.”}

^{“So, where is your little lady?”}

^{“Sleeping.”}

^{“I'd like to talk to her, too.”}

^{“Sure, I'll wake her in a few minutes, but I'd like to talk about a few things first.”}

^{Lomita said, “OK.”}

^{“Can I get you a cup of coffee?”}

^{“Sure, I take it black.”}

^{“Come in and have a seat, Lieutenant.”}

^{He said, “Things have come full circle. My first homicide investigation was Sid Senior and his wife's drowning back in 1983. Then, I was on his son's murder in ‘95, and now, the grandson, Troy, and two others. Something's not right for all this death to happen to one family.”}

^{“I agree.”}

^{I went to the kitchen and poured a mug for Lomita. I handed him the coffee and sat across from him.}

^{I asked, “Any news on Rob Nealy or Tawny?”}

^{“No. I spoke to Tucson and no one has shown up at the mountain cabin. It looks like Nealy was there sometime in the last week, but not in the last day or two. They're checking out that soup kitchen you mentioned last night. They'll keep an eye on the cabin twice a day.”}

^{“Good. I don't like that he's completely out of touch.”}

^{Lomita understood what I meant. “We'll find him. So, what do your private eye instincts tell you?”}

^{I shared my earlier thoughts.}

^{Lomita said, “I'm thinking like you, too.”}

^{I asked, “Any more on the blood on the paving stone?”}

^{“Not yet, but I need your fiancée to get a blood test. It's our best chance to see if it's her father's blood. If not, we'll also compare it to Tawny's mother and half brother's.”}

^{I knew what he meant.}

^{I said, “We'll do it today.”}

^“OK.”

^{“Edie wants me to look for Tawny. She's like a big sister to the girl and this is tearing her up. I don't know how she's keeping it together with the other three deaths.”}

^{“Sure, it's understandable. What kind of looking are you going to do?”}

^{“I don't know. I think Edie wants to reconstruct Tawny's day on Sunday. She thinks she was with a friend Sunday afternoon. I think it could be why Edie didn't find Tawny's body when she got here.”}

^{“I've thought of that, too. OK, Garrett, here's the deal. You do your private eye stuff. But, you work with me, in two ways.”}

^{“Two ways?”}

^{“Yeah; first, you take ‘No' as an answer from me. And, second, you call me at the end of every day and check in, and immediately if something big happens. Got it?”}

^{“Sure do, Lieutenant. What do I get from you?”}

^{“You get me listening to you and having these little chats.”}

^{A feminine voice said, “That sounds nice.”}

^{It was Edie, walking out of the bedroom, wrapped in her white knee length bathrobe.}

^{Lomita said, “See, Garrett, your fiancée knows how nice I am.”}

^{I smiled at Lomita, got up and gave Edie a hug. She nodded when I offered coffee. She sat on the love seat across from the detective.}

^{Edie said, “Is there any news, detective?”}

^{Lomita and I recapped our brief conversation for Edie.}

^{She said, “Oh, I don't want to think about the blood on that rock. I won't right now. I've seen more blood…it's a nightmare…”}

^{She stopped talking and held my hand.}

^{I said we would go to the lab later today. Lomita gave us the address where the blood sample should be sent. Edie told him we would get it done at her obstetrician's office as she had her sixteen week checkup later that morning. That statement raised Lomita's left eyebrow and caused him to look at me and smile.}

^{Edie didn't really have other questions.}

^{Lomita said, “Miss McCall, I'd like to conduct a search of the mansion with you.”}

^{“Yes, Lieutenant, Stevie mentioned that last night. I'll get dressed after I take my vitamins.”}

^{Lomita said, “I'll get the patrolmen and wait outside.”}

^{As he left, Edie said, “We'll be out in five minutes.”}

^{Edie waited a moment after Lomita shut the pool house front door. Tears were running down her face. I moved over closer to her and patted her back. She turned and whispered, “Thank you,” and kissed me.}

^{As she got up from the love seat holding her coffee cup, her robe caught and pulled open. First her bare legs, next her rounded tummy, then her behind and finally her uncovered chest came out of the robe, leaving her naked except for a tiny thong.}

^{I said, “Lomita will never know what he missed.”}

^{Edie smiled at me over her shoulder, slipped completely out of the robe and walked on to the kitchen. She calmly and deliberately took out her morning vitamins, poured a glass of milk, drank the pills down and walked back to the bedroom without thinking of covering herself again.}

^{I simply admired the view for the long seconds that it took before the bedroom door was shut behind Edie. But not before she caught my eye and winked at me.}