The Cinderella Murder (21 page)

“Actually,” Jerry said, “I told her she could sleep in.”

“We’re supposed to see Keith Ratner today.” She looked at her watch. They should be leaving before too long. “We can review strategy on the ride there. Rosemary has always been convinced Keith was involved.”

“I know, the boyfriend’s important. But he’s almost as celebrity-conscious as Madison Meyer. That’s why I thought you should bring Alex instead of me and Grace. Assuming, of course, that’s okay with you, Alex.”

Alex looked up from his coffee. “I wouldn’t say I’m a celebrity, but I’m happy to do whatever Laurie would like.”

Another point for Jerry. He was right. Alex would likely snow Keith Ratner—she might as well take advantage of his expertise. “Alex, if Keith has been holding on to information about Susan’s murder all these years, I can’t imagine anyone who might have a better chance of getting him to talk.”

“I don’t know, Jerry,” Leo said cheerfully. “It sounds to me like you’re playing Alex and Laurie to get yourself a day off.”

“Absolutely not, Mr. Farley,” he said, waving his punch list. “Grace and I have a long to-do list ahead of the summit session next week.”

Laurie smiled. “Dad, I can assure you that Jerry is always working. Speaking of work, Alex, you and I should be heading out. And, Jerry, you can scratch one phone call off your list. We’ll make sure Keith knows where to come next week for the big shoot.”

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T
hree hundred sixty miles north, Dwight Cook was just waking up in his Palo Alto mansion. Though the home had more than nine thousand square feet, he spent most of his time in this enormous master suite with sweeping views of the foothills. But this morning, he was more interested in another one of his real estate holdings. He immediately reached for the laptop on his nightstand and opened the viewer for the surveillance cameras in the Bel Air house.

The first camera to appear overlooked the entryway. Laurie Moran was walking toward the front door. He recognized the man behind her as Alex Buckley, the show’s host.

Dwight used the right-arrow key to flip through the cameras situated around the house.

The assistant, Grace, was coming out of one of the bedrooms on the second floor, singing an old disco song. The others were all finishing breakfast in the kitchen, the child asking whether they’d have time for a trip to Disneyland. The surveillance equipment—built into the walls, completely undetectable—was working flawlessly. Dwight had had the system installed in all his properties for extra security, but now it would be serving another role.

Dwight wouldn’t be going to Los Angeles until this weekend, but for all practical purposes, he was right there with the production team. And once the summit sessions began, he’d be able to see and hear everything.

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L
aurie led the way to the their black SUV. In addition to the Land Cruiser, they had also rented a full-size van for production use, and a separate sedan for Leo and Timmy to tool around in. She dangled the keys as she walked. “Would you care to drive, or should I?”

“Your choice.”

“I’ve never driven in Los Angeles before. I suppose I should at least try it. If I feel like I’m putting our lives in danger, I’ll pull over and we can switch.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Alex said, “though I’d be more worried about the life of any driver stupid enough to upset you.”

“I’ll admit, I can be a tough customer,” Laurie laughed. “I’ll try to avoid any road-rage incidents.”

She had already entered their destination into the GPS. Once they were both belted in, she started the engine for the short drive to Westwood.

“I’m surprised you don’t have a driver,” Alex said.

“Says the man with the butler,” she said wryly. “Seriously, have you not
met
Brett Young? He has been all over me about the budget for this episode. It’s not cheap to shoot in California. I think we can manage our own driving.”

“That house certainly doesn’t look like budget-friendly lodging.”

“Funny you should mention that. Jerry just told me this morning that it belongs to Dwight Cook. We’re using it free of charge.”

“You sound irritated.”

“It’s fine. I just know that Jerry had a hundred opportunities to mention that detail a little earlier.”

“But then you might have said no, and he’d be back to trying to find a space big enough to house us all, and suitable for filming, all on the studio budget. As they say, better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”

“You’re right. I think it’s hard for me sometimes to see Jerry as someone other than the skinny intern who used to fetch coffee.”

“It’s not my business, but from what I’ve seen, he’s a far cry from that. He’s very good at his job.”

“I know. Sending you to meet with Keith today is a perfect example. He and Madison are status conscious. They live in a world where their worth is measured daily by how fast the valet at the Ivy fetches their car. He’s not exactly A-list, but he’d run right over Jerry and Grace.”

“No one runs over Grace,” Alex said.

“True.”

“Where are we meeting him?”

“A little bookstore in Westwood. From what I read online, it seems like an alternative kind of place—counterculture stuff.”

“Why there? I thought he said he was at some church thing the night Susan was murdered.”

She should have known that Alex would have fully reviewed all the case materials. “Yes, at least
allegedly
. But the church wasn’t exactly a church yet. It was fledgling. A bit fringy, if you ask me. At the time, Keith told police he was at a discussion group at the bookstore. Once the police investigated further, they learned that it was a meeting for some group called Advocates for God.”

Several group members vouched for Keith’s whereabouts at the
time of Susan’s murder, but, based on what Laurie knew about the church, she wondered if they might be so insular as to cover for one another.

“They’ve come a long way since holding recruiting meetings at indie bookstores,” Alex said. “Isn’t it a big West Coast megachurch now?”

“And how do you think they got there?” she asked. “Money. They say they ‘advocate for God’s goodness’ ”—she added air quotes for good measure—“but they’re all about raising money. Supposedly it all goes to serving the poor, but you’ve got to wonder. Meanwhile, the church’s members seem to follow along blindly.”

“And that’s why you said Keith
allegedly
has an alibi for Susan’s murder.”

“Exactly. Admittedly, at the time, Ratner was a starving actor and was only just beginning with AG. If he was involved in Susan’s murder, I don’t see why the church would stick its neck out to cover for him.”

“In the lawyering world, we call what you’re doing arguing with yourself.”

“I know. I can look at every suspect and think they’re completely innocent, then, in the blink of an eye, picture them chasing poor Susan into that park. Even her friend Nicole was acting completely out of sorts when we spoke to her, like she was hiding something. I can see why the police were never able to solve the case.”

“Hey, don’t get frustrated yet. We’re just getting started.”

•  •  •

The tiny store was crammed floor to ceiling with books, many of them used. A whiteboard behind the cash register listed upcoming events. That night, an author would be signing copies of his book
Legalize Everything
.

The sole employee sported a bushy beard that made it difficult to estimate his age. “You guys looking for a coffee shop or something?”

So she wasn’t alone in thinking that she and Alex looked out of
place here. Fortunately, the jingle of the bell on the front door interrupted the moment. Laurie could tell from Keith Ratner’s expression that he immediately recognized Alex from television.

“I didn’t think we were shooting today.” He ran his fingers through his tousled dark hair.

“We’re not,” she explained. “But Alex wanted the opportunity to meet you before the cameras are on.”

Alex offered a handshake. “Hey, Keith, good to meet you. I was a huge fan of
Judgment Calls
.” Keith Ratner had played a young prosecutor in the short-lived courtroom drama.

“Thanks for meeting us,” Laurie said. “And before I forget, we have the location for next week’s summit session. It’s a house not too far from here.” She handed him a piece of paper with the Bel Air address on it.

“No problem,” he said, slipping the address into the front pocket of his jeans. “Wow. This store hasn’t changed at all. Talk about a blast from the past.”

“You haven’t been here for a while?” Laurie asked.

“I only came here twice, I think, both for events.”

“Advocates for God events, you mean.”

“Sure. Does that matter?”

“Only if your church members were backing you up because you share the same religion.”

“So much for a little friendly conversation.” He looked to Alex for help, but Alex pretended to browse a shelf labeled
HAIKU AND TANKA
. “The only reason I was ever
under suspicion
in the first place was because Rosemary never liked me. I had six different people confirm to the police I was with them all night—first here at the store, then we went out for coffee. But because we were part of a new church people didn’t understand, it’s like our word didn’t count.”

“Sorry, Keith, this isn’t about oppressing you for your belief system. You have to admit, when we spoke on the phone, you tried to deflect attention onto anyone but you.”

“Human nature.” Keith looked to Alex again. “The criminal defense lawyer here must understand that. Someone killed Susan, and it wasn’t me—so, yeah, I guess you could say I suspect everyone else. People seem to forget that she was my girlfriend. For four years. I loved that girl.”

“Yet you cheated on her,” Alex said. He wasn’t going to play good cop.

“I never said I was perfect. Why do you think I went looking for a religion? Something to believe in? I was a bad boyfriend, but that doesn’t make me a murderer. Did you even look into the stuff I told you about Dwight Cook? Pretty convenient that he happened to
invent
something so valuable within months of Susan’s murder.”

“Actually,” Laurie said, “I did look into your theory. And what I learned was that you knew so little about your own girlfriend that you had no idea what she was working on. Her professor even confirmed that Susan’s research had nothing to do with the idea that became REACH.”

“Professors don’t know anything about who their students
really
are. Dwight followed Susan around like a lapdog. It seemed like every time I’d come by her dorm, he’d be lingering nearby. I don’t care how much money he’s made. I’m telling you: something was off about that kid.”

“You sound desperate, Keith.”

He shook his head. “Check it out if you don’t believe me. You know, when I said I’d do this, you told me you’d be objective, that you were a reporter at heart. But it’s obvious that Rosemary’s infected your brain about me. I’m out of here.”

“We’re just asking questions,” she said. “And you signed a contract.”

“Then sue me.”

The jingle of the bell as he exited felt like a buzzer ending a boxing round that Laurie knew she had lost.

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