Sexy Girls (23 page)

^{Jill asked, “What's that?”}

^{“This is hard for me to explain. Do you know what caused your father to file for divorce?”}

^{She answered, “Yes, he told me that he and Andi didn't love each other anymore.”}

^{I replied calmly, “That may be true, Jill, but that's not all.”}

^{“Stevie, you're holding back the truth. I'm a grown woman. What's this got to do with Jack?”}

^{“Jill, your father found out that Andi had an affair with a woman, my client, Cyndie Myst.”}

^{“I didn't know Andi was gay. Why are you telling me this?”}

^{“Jill, I understand from Cyndie that she and Andi were friends. They met in the Grayson building where they both worked. Cyndie admits she's bisexual, but they weren't dating; it was just passion and spur of the moment.”}

^{I could see that Jill was getting impatient, fast, especially when she said, “Other than dropping this unpleasant news in my lap, why are you here?”}

^{“This event caused your father to start the divorce, and he invoked his prenuptial agreement. The prenuptial agreement allowed him to divorce Andi and to pay her very little in their divorce settlement, since he has proof of marital misconduct.”}

^{“It sounds like she deserved it.”}

^{I responded, “Yes, were not arguing that point. Andi realized she was stupid, and wanted to move on with her life, but first she needed answers to some questions. It appears the answers were deadly. Those questions remain unanswered. That's the reason why I'm here.”}

^{Jill got up and walked to the front desk and put down her purse and turned off the stereo. Jill's early sense of ease had ended, replaced by a growing waive of discomfort on her part. I wasn't sure if it was anger, regret, worry or what? But, I decided to continue talking.}

^{“The reason I'm here is that your father and Andi were blackmailed. A package was mailed to their home in Delaware. Inside was a video tape of Andi's affair with my client. It was pretty graphic, showing their sex act. The blackmailer demanded $1 million or they would make the tape public and ruin your father's reputation. I understand your father paid the money in exchange for all copies of the video.”}

^{“So what does this have to do with me and Jack?”}

^{“I'll answer that question in a minute. But, let me quickly finish my story. As you know, two weeks ago, your stepmother was murdered and found stuffed in the trunk of her car, near Rittenhouse Square. Both the blackmailing and this killing have traumatized Cyndie. She's very worried for her own safety and wants answers to these senseless crimes.”}

^{“I'm sorry about all this terrible news. It really is awful. But, what does this have to do with me and Jack?”}

^{“Jill, first, Cyndie wants to know who filmed the sex and why they blackmailed Andi and your father.”}

^{I paused as Jill answered, “I have no idea.”}

^{I ignored her reply, and continued, “See, for Ms. Myst, even though she behaved badly, she feels like a crime victim too and needs to know how this happened.”}

^{“Why does Cyndie feel that way, wasn't the video made by a security camera?”}

^{Not missing a beat since I had not mentioned where the tryst between Cyndie and Andi took place, I replied, “Jill, what security camera?”}

^{Jill stepped in it again, “Stevie, Jack told me that the
Kimmel Center
had cameras all over.”}

^{“Hey, I thought you didn't know anything about the sex between Andi and Cyndie?”}

^{Jill's voice was rising, “You mentioned the
Kimmel Center
earlier.”}

^{“No I didn't Jill.”}

^{“Well, I must have learned about it from someone earlier.”}

^{“I'm sure you did. I think you know a lot about that night.”}

^{“Garrett, what are you trying to say?”}

^{“Jill, look, Cyndie's former life is destroyed. Her very good friend was killed and your father recently fired Cyndie. She's devastated by all this. Wouldn't you be? Cyndie and I went back to the
Kimmel Center
and talked to the security department there. There was never any camera installed in the lounge where they had sex. Plus, their security cameras only have video, black and white video. The blackmailers tape is in color and also has sound - very clear sound.”}

^{Jill was red in the face and almost shouted, “So what?”}

^{“Jill, it proves that the camera was placed there by someone else, not the
Kimmel Center
. The
Kimmel Center
's security manager told me that Jack was working on the security camera in the hallway outside that lounge both before and after that night. Plus, he worked Valentine's Day night as a guard. Then, his former roommate, Phil, from Philadelphia told me that Jack has a talent for electronics. Finally, I come out here and Jack has opened a hardware store with a special security section, with state-of-the-art cameras and audio equipment. That's what.”}

^{“That's a coincidence.”}

^{“Maybe, but it's hard to believe. Where did Jack and you get all the money to move out here to Fort Collins and buy these two stores?”}

^{Jill answered, “That's none of your business.”}

^{“It's not my business, but it may interest others.”}

^{“My father helped us out.”}

^{“You're father has had a lot of expenses recently. First he had to pay $1 million in blackmail and didn't get the police involved to investigate. Then, he began an expensive divorce. Now, he pays for your apartment, for Jack to buy a hardware store and for you to open a new photography studio.”}

^{“Mr. Garrett, my father's a rich man.”}

^{“He must be. Look, Jill, I think someone close to you is creating serious problems for themselves, and they may have killed Andi. It also looks like they're hurting you.”}

^{I wanted to talk more; to ask her about Andi's murder. But, I could see my time was just about up with Jill before something unpleasant would happen. She said, “You don't know what you're talking about.”}

^{“I will be in town a few more days. I would like to speak to Jack when he returns. Jill, please pass my message on to Jack. I'm staying at the Holiday Inn on Prospect. Thanks again.”}

^{I got up and walked out of the store. Behind me, Jill began to close down her store for the night. I can only imagine how quickly she would be calling Jack.}

^{Within two minutes I had made it from Jill's store to the SUV and was now in the back alley crouched down next to the blue dumpster. I turned on the listening device's receiver and didn't need to wait very long.}

 

^***

 

^{I heard her turn the lock, open and close the door, and her high heels walking into their second floor apartment. She made some other noise and then I didn't hear her shoes again. She probably kicked off her heels.}

^{The light came on in the north apartment's kitchen window. A few moments passed and I heard minor noises, and then, Jill spoke out loud, “That bastard, I knew he'd screw this up. I can't believe it. That fucking Cyndie Myst isn't a wimp after all.”}

^{I heard other sounds and then, Jill again spoke, “How could he be so stupid? I told him to be as careful as possible.”}

^{Another twenty seconds went by and then I heard Jill speak, “It's me. How are you?”}

^{A pause and then Jill said, “How was biking?”}

^{She was on the phone and it had to be Jack on the other line. Jill asked, “How's Joey?”}

^{She waited through a long reply and then, suddenly agitated, she said, “We need to talk.”}

^{After a shorter wait, Jill said, “I met a private eye tonight.”}

^{I picked up a sigh and a muffled sound.}

^{“Very funny. No, this guy is named Stevie Garrett and he's from Philly and he's working for Cyndie Myst.”}

^{She quickly replied, “He's looking for you.”}

^{Jill's side of the conversation went as follows, “Take a guess?”}

^{“Bingo, you got it on the first try.”}

^{“Make another guess; you're doing well so far.”}

^{“You need to make a guess or I'm hanging up!”}

^{“Don't patronize me, you bastard.”}

^{“You tell me?”}

^{“Don't get mad at me.”}

^{“Garrett has figured out everything. He thinks you're the one that made the video as they know it wasn't made by a security camera, and they know there wasn't any camera in that lounge where Andi and Cyndie had sex.”}

^{“Plus, they know that you were messing with the camera in that area before and after Valentine's Day.”}

^{“Garrett went on to wonder how we got all the money to buy the stores and to move here.”}

^{“I told him my Dad paid for it all. I said he was a rich man.”}

^{“Well, he doesn't believe it. I think he thinks you or me or both of us are the blackmailers. I told him he was crazy.”}

^{“Not that well, I got upset at the end.”}

^{“That's not all. I said a few things that showed him I knew more than I pretended.”}

^{“I said something like the
Kimmel Center
had security cameras. Up to then, during the conversation, I pretended I didn't even know what happened. He hadn't mentioned the
Kimmel Center
at all before then.”}

^{“Oh, shut up, this is all your fault.”}

^{“Come on, you're nuts. I think he knows everything.”}

^{“Jack, you're incredible. We could be in real trouble and you think everything is fine.”}

^{“No, okay, he didn't ask about that.”}

^{“This is so goddamn messy! I'm freaking out over here.”}

^{“I can't calm down.”}

^{Jill was nearly screaming. “No, you fucked up. You got it all wrong!”}

^{She was now screaming. “Shut up!”}

^{“I don't plan to speak to him again.”}

^{“Yeah, he told me he was staying at the Holiday Inn by the campus for a day or two more.”}

^{“We got to handle that fucking guy.”}

^{“Yes, do it. Good bye.”}

^{She hung up and screamed, “Shit!”}

 

^***

 

^{Once I got back to the SUV, I realized I was shaking and sweating. Holy cow! Could this be the whole story? Maybe, but, what proof did I have? I had only one side of a conversation, yet, it told me a lot.}

^{The pieces were fitting together, but, some were still missing, or, I didn't see them yet. Well, I had showed Jill my hand. My element of surprise was gone.}

^{I got into the SUV and locked the door. I thought of calling Detective Morelli, but, realized it was too late tonight. I'd do that in the morning. I didn't know where to go next. I thought about leaving town, but felt I'd be okay as Jack wouldn't return to Fort Collins until tomorrow night.}

 

^***

 

^{I was starving. I decided I'd like to go again to
Nico's Catacombs
. It was just up the street. Plus, I wanted to speak to the waitress who served Andi and, now I was sure, Jack and Jill.}

^{I started the SUV and took a circular route to
Nico's
looking for any tails following me. There weren't. So, I parked on College Avenue and went in to eat.}

^{My luck continued. I again met the hostess, Eileen, and asked if Wanda Solano was working that night. She was.}

^{Eileen walked to the dining room and spoke to a middle-aged medium-build woman with dyed red hair. They walked toward me and Wanda sat with me on the bench in the entrance area. She repeated many of the details from our earlier phone conversation. Wanda did remember Andi and said she was with a young couple, a muscular, blonde haired guy and a petite brunette. She hadn't seen any of them before or since.}

^{Wanda said their conversation became heated at times. “Well, your blonde friend was the one upset. She said things like, ‘This is ruining me,' and ‘I'm getting screwed,' but I didn't hear any specifics. It was serious talk, but they remained civil, and they became quiet when I came to the table,” Wanda elaborated.}