Drop Dead Beautiful (32 page)

“Who did you think you were speaking to on the phone, a secretary?” Diane said, noting that Renee Falcon was an overweight woman with a masculine-style haircut and mannish attire.

“I imagined Detective Franklin was a man.”

“As you can see, I’m not,” Diane said, sliding into the booth. “I’m a black woman and proud of it.”

“I didn’t say anything about you being black,” Renee said.

“That’s all right, I’m sure you noticed.”

The two women sized each other up like a couple of heavyweight boxers about to enter the ring.

Shit!
Renee thought.
We’re off to a fine start
.

Hmm
… Diane thought.
This one is not going to be easy
.

“Coffee?” Renee inquired.

Diane nodded.

Renee summoned one of the waitresses.

“As I mentioned on the phone,” Diane said, “I’m here about Tasmin Garland’s disappearance.”

“Tasmin has disappeared?” Renee said, managing a look of surprise. “Are you sure?”

“Mrs. Garland hasn’t been seen for forty-eight hours, therefore we’re starting an investigation,” Diane said, producing a weathered notebook from her purse and laying it on the table. “She left a ten-year-old son, an ex-husband, and an excellent job. I understand that the night she vanished she was coming to have dinner with you at your hotel. According to her babysitter, you had told her you were fixing her up with a date.”

“No, that’s not right at all,” Renee said, taking a sip of coffee. “There was no date involved.”

“Mrs. Garland seemed to think that’s why you had invited her to dinner,” Diane said, her eyes watching Renee’s face. “She definitely told the babysitter she was meeting a date.”

“Nonsense,” Renee said briskly. “A friend of mine was in town and he happened to join us for dinner. He’s a married man, there was absolutely no date involved.”

“You’re sure about that?” Diane asked, tapping her pen on the table.

“Perfectly sure. I don’t understand why Tasmin would have been under that impression.”

“Who was your friend?” Diane asked.

“What friend?”

“The one that Tasmin was under the impression she was being set up with?”

“An out-of-town business acquaintance.”

“His name?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

Renee hesitated for a moment. She couldn’t lie—too many people had seen Anthony sitting at their table. Besides, she had to act as if she had nothing to hide.

“Anthony Bonar,” she said at last.

“What business are you in with Mr. Bonar?”

“He’s not really a business acquaintance,” Renee said, quickly changing her story. “More of a longtime friend.”

“So,” Diane said, scribbling in her notebook. “A business acquaintance or longtime friend? Which is it?”

“Longtime friend,” Renee replied.

“And where does Mr. Bonar reside?”

“He travels a lot.”

“Is he based in Vegas?”

“No.”

“I’ll need contact numbers.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ll need to speak to him.”

“Very well. My assistant will have to deal with that.”

More scribbling before the next question. “Was it just the three of you at dinner? Yourself, Mrs. Garland, and Mr. Bonar?”

“No,” Renee said, reluctant to drag Susie into it, but aware that she had no choice. “My significant other was with us.”

“And who is that?”

“My partner, Susie Rae Young.”

“Any relation to …?”

“Yes,” Renee said abruptly. “She’s his widow.”

“I see.” A long beat. “Changed paths, did she?”

“I hardly think that’s any of your business.”

“You never know when you’re investigating a case what details might turn out to be relevant.”

“All I can tell you is that Tasmin came to dinner,” Renee said. “Then left around ten-thirty, eleven o’clock. That’s the last time I saw her. So … if there’s nothing else, I have a very busy day ahead of me.”

Diane had no intention of going anywhere, not until all her questions were answered to her satisfaction.

“You do business with her at the bank, is that correct?” she asked, pen poised.

“I have done so.”

“Was everything satisfactory?”

“Of course.”

“Of course?” Diane said. “Sometimes people are dissatisfied with their bank managers. You weren’t. Everything was copacetic?”

“Yes.”

“How was her mood during dinner?”

“Her mood?”

“Was she upbeat? Depressed? Was she in the frame of mind where you thought she could get in her car, drive off, and never be seen again?”

“She seemed to be happy enough, we had a very pleasant dinner.”

“And the conversation was about?”

“How the hell am I supposed to remember what we talked about?”

“Movies? Politics? Family? Perhaps she mentioned her ex-husband?”

“I do not recall.”

“Very well, Mrs. Falcon. If you have anything else that you consider helpful you can call me on my direct line.” She handed Renee a printed card. “And you don’t mind me asking a few questions around the hotel, do you?”

“As long as you don’t disturb my guests.”

“I’ll also have to speak with Mrs. Rae Young as soon as possible.”
“There’s no need for you to do that,” Renee said quickly. “I’ve told you everything you need to know.”

“I understand, but it’s my job to interview everyone.”

“How time consuming,” Renee said acidly.

“It is,” Diane replied, closing her notebook. “But it’s prudent to be as thorough as possible. When can I interview Mrs. Rae Young?”

“I’ll have to ask her.”

“I’d prefer direct contact. Where can I reach her?”

“I’m not sure where she is today.”

“A phone number will do.”

Reluctantly Renee gave her Susie’s number, and abruptly concluded the meeting by standing up.

“I have an extremely busy day ahead of me,” she repeated.

“Thank you for your time,” Diane said, also getting up from the table.

“Let me know when she turns up,” Renee said.

“
If
she does,” Diane said.

“I’m sure she will,” Renee said, heading for the entrance to the coffee shop.

Diane watched her go. She’d seen plenty during her seventeen years on the force, especially working in Vegas, but in all the years she’d worked there, she’d never met anyone quite like Renee Falcon. The woman was a force. Big and brash. Gay and proud of it. Forceful and overbearing. With something to hide.

Diane Franklin had a nose for secrets, and Renee Falcon was definitely harboring a secret, Diane would bet her career on it.

Chapter 50

Alternately running and walking, Max managed to keep on her feet, although she was about ready to give up. She was cold and hungry and everything hurt. Eventually, after what seemed like hours, Ace allowed them to take a rest.

She collapsed under a tree, hugging her knees to her chin, trying to control her shivering.

“What happened to your phone?” he asked.

“He took it. Where’s yours?”

“What do you think?”

“I can’t tell my mom what happened,” she said, worrying about Lucky’s reaction.

“Why not?”

“She’d go totally crazy if she knew I let myself get kidnapped.”

“You didn’t
let
yourself do anything, it was one of those insane things,” he said, putting his arm around her and pulling her close. “I’m not coming on to you,” he assured her. “I’m keeping us both warm. Body heat, y’know?”

His arms around her felt good, she had no objections. “How about
your
parents?” she asked, snuggling close.

“Don’t have any—they died in a plane crash. I live with my older brother. He’s a fireman.”

“Your brother’s a fireman?”

“What did I just say?”

“Sorry, that’s one of my bad habits, repeating things.”

“You have bad habits?” he teased.

“Shut up.”

“I will if you will.”

“I don’t think I can go much farther,” she said. “My ankle’s hurting so badly.”

“What’s up with your ankle? I thought it was your side that hurt.”

“He shackled my ankle to the bed, it’s all blistered and bleeding.”

“Jeez! What a sicko.”

“He kept me like that for two days until I finally persuaded him to take it off. Thank God I did, otherwise I’d never have been able to reach the window and get out.”

“Sorry this had to happen to you, Max,” he said.

“No,” she replied. “
I’m
sorry I dragged
you
into this mess, ’cause—y’know …”

“What?” he said, squeezing her hand.

“Nothing,” she murmured, thinking how incredibly close she felt to this boy she hardly knew. This boy in the Lakers sweatshirt with the cleft in his chin. This boy who’d saved her.

Henry didn’t often dream, but when he did his dreams were always extremely vivid and graphic. In this particular dream Maria was stroking his forehead and telling him she loved him. He could see her face, so young and serene and innocent, her intense green eyes staring into his, melting into his as if they were one. Then she climbed on top of him and very slowly began to unzip his pants.

He reached for her breasts to feel them, touch them …

And he climaxed in his sleep, which awoke him.

He lay there for a minute, disoriented and perfectly satisfied. He might be a virgin, but that didn’t mean he did not experience the most earth-shattering orgasms. Usually they were brought on by a trio of girls he visited on the Internet. This time it was different. This time it was real.

After a while he consulted his watch. Five
A.M
. Monday morning, and only just beginning to get light outside. Maria was asleep in the bedroom. His Maria, so near, so dear.

Yesterday she’d begun to thaw toward him. He’d talked and she’d listened. He’d removed the shackle from her ankle because he’d finally felt he could trust her. She must’ve sensed—like he did—that it was the beginning of the rest of their lives together. The beginning of paradise.

Feeling exceptionally happy and content, he got out of bed and padded to the bathroom, stopping to listen outside her door as he passed.

Soon he would be in that bed with her. Oh yes, very soon.

But he had no intention of pushing her. As far as he was concerned she could take all the time she needed.

“Let me take a look at your hands,” Max said as soon as it started getting light.

Ace held out his hands for her to inspect. They were blistered and covered in scratches, his fingernails broken and torn.

“Do they hurt?” she asked, gently touching them.

“ ’S okay,” he said. “I’ll live.”

“You want to see my ankle?” she offered.

“It’s not number one on my list of things to do, but if you insist,” he said, taking a quick peek. “Man, what an asshole!”

“Like you said, he’s a sicko.”

“At least we got away.”

“Thanks to you,” she said, looking around and observing nothing but long grass and tall trees. “How long do you think we’ve been running?”

“I dunno, my watch broke.”

“He took mine.”

“Do I stink?” Ace asked, sniffing his sweatshirt.

“I’m not exactly Miss Clean, so I wouldn’t know.”

“No, seriously, do I? I was locked in that place forever. I had to dig through God knows how much crap to get out.”

“You’re not exactly smelling like a rose, but neither am I.”

“She’s so sweet.”

“No, I’m not,” she said, thinking that sweet was hardly the way she wanted him to view her.

“Man,” he said, standing up and stretching. “You wanna know what I’m imagining?”

“What?”

“One big fat juicy burger, with fries, and a can of cold beer. Did he feed you?”

“Fruit and cereal, soup and bread. He had a fridge full of stuff.”

“That means he was prepared,” Ace said thoughtfully. “He must’ve had it all planned.”

“He was definitely expecting me to go off with him for the weekend.” She hesitated for a moment. “This might sound weird, but I think he has kind of a crush on me.”

“Sure,” Ace said disbelievingly. “That must be why he shackled your ankle and held a gun to your head. Some big crush.”

“He sounded so cool in his e-mails,” Max mused. “I guess he totally faked me out. I feel like
such
a moron. If my mom finds out, she’ll kill me.”

“So you’re telling me that you get kidnapped, manage to make a daring escape, and your mom’s gonna kill you?”

“You don’t know her.”

“Don’t think I want to.”

“Anyway, I’ve made up my mind that if we get out of this, I’m not telling her. If she finds out the truth she’ll never let me out of the house again.”

“Some dragon lady.”

“I’ll tell her I had a flat tire, got carjacked and dumped off in the woods.”

“
That’s
a better story than the truth?”

“Maybe.”

“Be quiet a minute,” he said, standing very still. “I can hear a car, we must be near a road.”

“Really?” she said excitedly.

“Yeah, this way,” he said, pulling her up. “Let’s go hitch a ride.”

“Looking like this?” she said, stumbling. “Nobody’s going to stop for us.”

“Here’s the deal—I estimate we’re about twenty-five
miles outside town, so we need to get a ride. Otherwise we’re screwed, he’ll catch up with us for sure. When we hit the road, stay by the side so we can see if it’s him coming. I saw his car outside the cabin, he must’ve taken yours back and made a swap.”

“Do you think my car’s in the Kmart parking lot?”

“If it is we’d better get to it before he does.”

“I’m so cold,” she said, shivering uncontrollably. “I think I’ve had it.”

“No flaking out on me now, Max. You’ll have plenty of time to collapse when we’re safe. Right now you gotta move it. I promise you—we’re almost there.”

Chapter 51

“I never want to do that again,” Lucky groaned, reaching for a bottle of water on her bedside table.

“What’re you never gonna do again?” Lennie asked, rolling over in bed and placing his hand on her thigh. “The sex? The party? The fight?”

“We missed the fight,” she pointed out. “And stop being facetious, I’m in no frame of mind to deal with your sarcasm.”