Sexy Girls (22 page)

 

 

^{I dialed home and after three rings, the answering machine kicked on. I started to leave a message, “Cyn, it's Stevie, if you're there, pick up.”}

^{“Oh Stevie, how's it going?”}

^{“I'm so glad I reached you.”}

^{“What's up?”}

^{“Lots of stuff. I'm calling you from the rental using my cellphone. How's the reception?”}

^{“Very good.”}

^{“I'm getting very close to Jack Hostel. He's out of town, mountain biking until late tomorrow, but I found what must be his mom's house and his new company.”}

^{“New company, what company?”}

^{“He owns a hardware store that includes a large electronics section.”}

^{Responding with shock and surprise, Cyndie said, “How, where did this happen?”}

^{“Sometime in the last month he had the grand opening right here on College Avenue, the main street in Fort Collins. It's called
Jack's.
”}

^{“Where did he get the money to open that store?”}

^{“I'm not sure, but I have a different question for you. What's the name of Robert Grayson's daughter?”}

^{“Jill, why?”}

^{“What does she look like?”}

^{“She's cute, below the shoulders brown hair, thin, about five feet four.”}

^{“I met Jill forty-five minutes ago.”}

^{“What is she doing in Fort Collins?”}

^{“She runs a photography studio called,
Jill's
, right next to Jack's store. I'm meeting her again just before eight.”}

^{“Oh my God, what's going on?”}

^{“I don't know. I spoke to Jack's assistant store manager and he told me that Jack and Jill were engaged.”}

^{“That little witch. I can't believe it.”}

^{“Cyndie, how could they have met?”}

^{“At the agency. Robert hired Jill after she graduated from college about a year and a half ago. She wants to be a photographer. Jill travelled to some remote shoots, usually with her Dad. She went with me once, but didn't like it as she told me I bossed her around.”}

^{“Cyn, this is getting crazy. Since I've got close to an hour to kill, tell me what you know about Andi's relationship with Robert's children from the time she first met them?”}

^{“Okay. When Andi started dating Robert, Robbie and Jill were in their teens and spoiled rotten. I don't know much about Robbie. He's older than Jill by two years, went to Penn State and majored in architecture. He's working in Los Angeles and I only met him one time at the office. I think he's seriously dating some young blonde girl there.}

^{“I first met Jill when she was in college. She graduated from Vassar two years ago. She spent more time at Robert's home on holidays and weekends than Robbie. I think Jill craved her father's attention. She loved and admired her Dad and I think that's why she became a photographer and started working with the Grayson Agency.”}

^{I asked, “Where did Jill live once she started working?”}

^{“She had an apartment in the Rittenhouse Square area, very close to work. I was there one time with Andi. Very nice, much more expensive than she could afford on the salary she should have been paid, but Andi told me that Robert paid the entire rent so Jill spent her salary on her self.”}

^{I stopped for a moment. I needed to explore this news about Jill further. “Did you ever see Jill with Jack?”}

^{“No,” she answered.}

^{“Did Jill know Andi was bisexual?”}

^{“No, I don't think so. She never told her.”}

^{“Did Jill ever see you with Red?”}

^{“No, we were discreet.”}

^{“How about you and Andi?”}

^{“No, wait, damn it.”}

^{Cyndie paused, breaking my rapid-fire questions and her confident, quick answers. Then, when she spoke again, she seemed unsure and embarrassed, as if she was being forced to come clean with me, “Oh, Stevie.”}

^{“What happened, Cyndie?”}

^{“Andi and I were kind of naughty together at work, especially this past winter.”}

^{“How naughty?”}

^{“Well, we went to lunches and dinner together, when Red was out of town, and we got a little frisky at times.”}

^{“How frisky?”}

^{That's when I heard a sigh. I felt awful. I was mad at myself for getting Cyn upset. Even worse, it's hard to comfort someone seventeen hundred miles away.}

^{Through her sobs, Cyndie said, “Stevie, we kissed a little and did some other things in public.”}

^{“Sure. What things?”}

^{Cyndie breathed deep and I let her control herself. After a long time, Cyn whispered, “This is hard. I'm only telling you this because I trust you and you know how Andi changed your life with her crazy lust.”}

^{“Yes, I do. Look, Cyn, everything you say to me is confidential.”}

^{“God! Okay, Stevie, there was a time Jill saw us.”}

^“When?”

^{“Robert and Red were traveling on a photo shoot, and you were out of town on business. Andi invited me to stay in the penthouse apartment with her. Jill saw us on the company elevator riding down from the penthouse.”}

^{“That doesn't sound too bad.”}

^{Cyndie continued, “Just wait, Stevie. It was a mild, sunny winter's day and we decided to go to
Rouge
, one of the restaurants on the Square. Before lunch, Andi and I went up to the penthouse and changed into provocative clothes. Andi wore a tight lime-colored knit dress. It was sleeveless, with a low back and ended way above her knees.}

^{“When we were ready we left without coats as we planned to walk fast to the restaurant. In the penthouse, Andi and I had turned each other on. We entered the elevator and, as soon as the doors closed, Andi pulled me close and gave me a very long kiss.}

^{“We were so into each other that we didn't stop kissing until the elevator doors opened on the fourth floor. We were still hugging when we turned to see Jill standing there looking right at us. She saw everything. She had this smirk on her face and said, 'Don't stop what you're doing. I'll catch the next one.' Then, the elevator doors closed.}

^{“So much happened in the next days and weeks I hadn't remembered that ride until right now.”}

^{I said, “Oh boy!”}

^{Cyndie sighed again and then said, “Stevie, that's what Andi did to me.”}

^{“I know that feeling. When was that elevator ride?”}

^{“Let me think. It was early February, a few days before that night at the
Kimmel Center
.”}

^{“With you guys acting out your affair in public, it was obvious to Jill what was up with you and Andi.”}

^{I redirected the conversation. “Okay, let's get back to Jack and Jill. This is strange. I can't believe Jack had the kind of money to buy this hardware store and to open Jill's shop. Cyn, you wouldn't believe it. The two shops are right next to each other and have the same colors and lettering style on their signs, green, yellow and white.”}

^{“Amazing! What else did Jack's employee tell you?”}

^{“Let me think back. He said Jack is engaged to Jill. That Jill's father is rich. He also said Jill is just starting out in the business. How experienced was Jill as a photographer?”}

^{“Not very. I don't think she picked up a camera before a year ago. Remember, she visited Rehoboth with Aprella, Andi and me last year and she was learning to shoot then.”}

^{“Well, this turns our thinking about who may have been involved in the blackmail and why they did it, but, I need to talk about that some.”}

^{“Stevie, Jill is talented, but I never knew what she wanted to do. To be attracted to a security guard and to move to Colorado, just weren't on my radar screen. I didn't see that coming at all.”}

^{We both paused for a second, and then Cyndie continued, thinking out loud, “I guess she wanted to prove to her Dad that she could be a photographer. Maybe in this Hostel guy she thinks she's found someone who will give her the attention she needs. But, what's the link between starting up out there and the blackmail?”}

^{I answered, “I'm not sure. I hope to find out.”}

^{Cyndie asked, “What did you say to Jill when you met her?”}

^{“I told her I needed to speak to her about Jack. I was vague, and she wanted to know if something was wrong with him and I said no. That it was a Philadelphia matter and I had something to say to him.”}

^{“Okay, good, that's fuzzy enough to spark her interest. How are you going to handle the next meeting?”}

^{I said, “Once I've got her attention, I'll start the story. I'll tell her some things about the Kimmel Center night, and let her know about the blackmail and the killing. I'll explain I was hired to find Jack and to ask him what he knows about this incident. Maybe I can get her to tell us something interesting.”}

^{“Perfect, that should startle her.”}

^{I added, “If Jill and Jack did this scheme, their goal would be to get Andi out of Robert's life.”}

^{Cyndie thought for a minute, and then said, “So, they may be the blackmailers and used Robert's money to get set up in Colorado.”}

^{I asked, “But, something doesn't make sense here. How could she explain this to Robert?”}

^{Cyndie replied, “What do you mean?”}

^{I probed further, “How does Jill explain Jack, her move to Colorado and Jack's sudden wealth to her Dad?”}

^{“I don't know.”}

^{I went on, “How does Red Sable fit into this picture?”}

^{“Stevie, I don't know that either.”}

^{I added, “Maybe I'll learn more when I speak to Jill. Obviously, Andi knew something.”}

^{I changed the subject, “Cyn, how is everything back there?”}

^{“Okay, I finished dinner a little while ago and I'm about to do some karate to work off stress.”}

^{Cyndie paused, and then continued, “Stevie, I don't know what to say, but thank you, and please be careful.”}

^{“I will be. I'll call you tomorrow morning as it may be late when I get back from my meeting with Jill.”}

^{“Thank you Stevie, for all your doing.”}

^{“You're welcome Cyndie. Get a good night's sleep.”}

 

^***

 

^{I got out of the SUV, beeped it locked, and walked back to
Jill's
, arriving at 7:55 p.m. The lights were on and I entered to the sound of the door chimes.}

^{Jill called out, “Is that you, Mr. Garrett?”}

^{“Yes, it's me.”}

^{“I'll be right there. Have a seat.”}

^{I got comfortable on the black leather couch and saw the back studio lights go out. I noticed a sign by the front desk that said Jill was available for weddings, outdoor photos and special events.}

^{Jill approached carrying a black leather jacket and her black leather brief case. Jill exuded confidence, that her business was doing well and that she was doing what she wanted to do. She sat down next to me and said, “Now, who are you Mr. Garrett and what do you know about my fiancé?}

^{I answered, “Jill, please call me Stevie. Thank you for making the time.”}

^{I handed her my
Center City Investigator's
business card - the one that says I'm a senior investigator, with my Philadelphia address and phone number.}

^{I continued, “Jill, I work in center city Philadelphia for an investigation firm. Most of my assignments come from companies with financial problems, but sometimes I help out individuals. That's the case with this matter. My client is Cyndie Myst. I understand she was a friend of your stepmother.”}

^{This caused Jill to flinch and pull back into herself. Jill whispered, “Andi is dead, Stevie. Please, let's not talk about that.”}

^{I knew I had to act quickly to ease her concerns or I would lose her and not get anything accomplished.}

^{“I understand this is difficult, given that your father was divorcing Andi and Andi died tragically. But, I'm not here about the divorce or your father. I have news about Andi.”}