Helena Goes to Hollywood: A Helena Morris Mystery (22 page)

Ricky sighed and put his coffee in the center cup holder. “You play it low key. Like we’re just trying to see if he knows anything that could help us.”

“Done. I’m open for any lead. Did you run the plates from the Caddy?” I asked.

“Just like you thought, the plate was stolen off an old Buick from East L.A.” He drove back out on the highway and headed to the suburbs of Los Angeles. “Let’s compare notes. What do you know about Brian?”

“Teaches at UCLA, poetry, classic literature, and he’s on the tenure track. Father died when he was in high school, cancer. He lives with his mother. She’s in her early sixties and he’s thirty-seven. No record according to Todd or you.” I grabbed a sip of coffee. “Danny talked to some of Brian’s classes. Brian sent Sonia a lot of odd love letters. Very Shakespearean and yet puritanical.”

“We saw him at the funeral,” Ricky added.

“I’m sure there are plenty of guest speakers in college classes. He just wants to be close to fame or maybe he wanted my sister.” My gut said Brian was not some sweet fan who adored her from afar even if that’s how his fan mail read. “I want to be sure.”

“Maybe he wanted Danny? There are a lot of angles here, Hel. You’re focused on one and I understand that. But let me explore it all. We don’t want to miss something.”

“You’re right, I didn’t even think about that.” The gay obsession was a possibility but I didn’t get that feel from Brian. “He could have fallen for Danny and murdered him when the advances were rejected. I’m not totally obsessed with this suspect either. Todd is running info on Carmen too, just in case.”

H
alf an hour later we walked up to the modest home. I glanced up the driveway where the Cadillac sat in the open garage. I shook my head at Ricky. Not the right car. Even if they’d changed the tires, that wasn’t the right model and the windows weren’t darkened.

Ricky shrugged and we moved on to the porch. He rang the doorbell and I tried to relax and smile. Good cop was the role we both needed to play for now.

The door opened and it was the mother. Maybe it would’ve been better if we went after Brian alone while he was at work but it was too late to leave now.

“Good morning, Mrs. Conners. I’m Detective Evans. We’d like to talk to Brian if he’s home.” Ricky flashed his badge but Mrs. Conners stared at me.

“You’re Helena Morris. Brian mentioned he met you at the funeral.” She opened the door wide. “Come in.”

We followed her into a well-kept house that looked stuck in the late seventies with minor updates here and there. “Please sit down. I’ll let Brian know you’re here and put on some coffee.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Ricky sat in an armchair.

I sat on the couch. When Mrs. Conners left I frowned at Ricky. “She saw the badge, right?”

“Yeah, I think she‘s more interested in you. Play it friendly, like he can help us. Who knows what he knows.” Ricky played good cop really well. But he’d always wanted to help people.

A few minutes later Brian came out. Dressed in jeans and a UCLA T-shirt, he looked relaxed. Cute and in shape, he wasn’t the typical poetry or even Star Wars geek. I’d seen him at the funeral and once before on the street, though I didn’t know it was him then. Still, in the drama of the funeral I’d never taken a good look. He could get a date without trouble so why was he obsessed with soap operas?

“I didn’t believe it.” He stared at me. “Helena Morris, I figured after the funeral you’d have me arrested if you ever saw me again.”

I looked at Ricky for a split second. “No, no law against coming to a cemetery. I’m just paranoid for my sister’s safety and I’d never met you before. You understand that some fans are a little...”

“Crazy—I know, I see it on the web all the time. That’s why I always identify myself as Dr. Brian. To show there are educated fans of the genre.” He turned to Ricky. “Brian Conners, PhD.”

The men shook hands. “Rick Evans, LAPD. Hope you don’t mind if we ask you some questions. You knew Danny and we’re checking every potential lead and I’m sure one of our uniforms was by already.”

“No problem. They haven’t caught Danny’s killer?” He sat down next to me. “How’s your sister doing?”

I put my competition face on and didn’t budge despite wanting to put a little more space between us. “She’s holding up okay. No, they haven’t caught the killer yet. The suspects are confusing. Do you know anything that could help us?”

Mrs. Conners came back with a tray. Brian stood and helped her to set the tray on the large round coffee table. But he sat back down and let his mother pour.

“Cream and sugar?” she asked.

“Neither, thanks.” I took the cup of black coffee in a very lovely old china cup and saucer. I felt like I needed to be on my best behavior so they’d cooperate. I hoped it was worth it.

“Both please.” Ricky didn’t look natural holding the delicate porcelain.

Brian took his coffee and shrugged. “I’m not really sure what I can give you. There are some extremely obsessed fans. Obviously I don’t believe for a second that Sonia did it.”

“Oh no, she’s such a sweet girl.” Mrs. Conners sat down in a cozy recliner and stirred her coffee. “She was an instant favorite of mine on the soap. She and Danny made such a cute couple because you could tell they weren’t typical Hollywood types sleeping around with everyone and partying. They were truly in love with each other.”

Ricky gave me a look and I agreed with what he was thinking. The mom was just as creepy as Brian.

“Thanks, I’m sure my sister would appreciate it.” I looked at Brian. “How long did you know Danny?”

Brian shrugged. “A few years. I met him and your sister at a soap fan conference—I take mother to one every year. Danny spoke about being considered a hero and sex symbol. I caught him after and asked him to speak to my class.”

“Soap operas are on par with Shakespeare?” I tried to keep the sarcasm level down.

“Why not? It’s dramatic and romantic. It’s not smut that makes money off nudity and drugs. It gets deep into the characters, not just the fun and over.” Mrs. Conners adjusted her sweater tighter around her shoulders.

Ricky jumped in. “It just seems like an unusual interest for a thirty something man. Most of the fans are female and older. I checked the statistics. We’re working the case very hard.”

Brian smiled. “I know it’s odd, but I was raised watching soaps. Mother always had them on instead of the talk shows. I learned to appreciate how something small can cause immense drama or pain. That’s real life.”

“Talk shows are nothing but garbage. Pure trash where people want attention for being bad. Confess their sins to the world instead of God. Shameless,” she frowned.

Brian continued on as though he knew how she‘d react from every comment. “My father was ill a lot when I was young so I didn’t do sports or after school clubs. I came home and helped my mom. During the summer I stayed in and gave her a break. That’s what got me addicted to the soaps. It’s unusual, maybe a bit of a turn off to some but it’s not a crime.”

“Of course not. We just need to check out everyone who knew and had access to Danny.” Ricky set his cup down. “Let’s get this out of the way so we can talk. Do you have an alibi for the day of Danny’s murder at ten in the morning?”

“Dear God, my son isn’t a murderer. Why would you ask him such a thing?” Mrs. Conners smacked the arm of her chair and glared at me rather than Ricky.

It was my turn to jump in and console. “It’s a formality, Mrs. Conners. He has to ask. It’s his job. We really need the help and I’m worried for my sister’s safety. The more people we eliminate the faster it’ll be over and we can find the killer. And Brian might have other info that leads us to the right person.”

Brian patted her arm to console her. “Relax, Mother. It was a Tuesday and I have a nine a.m. class that lasts three hours. No way could I’ve done it. The college has plenty of security cameras in the parking lot at every entrance and exit. They’ll have me coming and going. My students can attest to my teaching.”

Ricky made a note. “Good to know. Now you’ve commented on the gossip websites about this so you’re aware that Sonia is being stalked. Do you know anything about that?”

Brian sat back. “Only what’s out there. I stay in touch with other fans but I’d never want to scare Sonia.”

“If you’re going to accuse my son of stalking as well, you can leave this house now,” Mrs. Conners warned.

“We’re not accusing anyone. We just want to know if he’s heard or read anything suspicious. The amount of information online is taking the police a long time to wade through. We need someone who knows the chatter and the eager fans from the serious troublemakers. Your son is out there a lot and he could be a tremendous help.” If Brian’s alibi was true, all I could hope for was that he’d give us a lead.

Brian smiled at me. “I like you, no nonsense. No ego like so many of the Hollywood types.”

“I’m not Hollywood. I’m heading back home as soon as we solve the murder and my sister is safe.” I wanted to edge away. The creepy factor was in his eyes and he stared at me as though I wasn’t a person but an object he wanted to touch.

Mrs. Conners nodded. “Get away from L.A. if you can—so much sin and temptation here. We lived in Kansas until my husband was diagnosed. His career was bad and we got into a clinical trial out here. That’s the only reason we moved and we stayed because the weather was easier on his health. Then my son was in college and he got a good job. God has a plan.”

“A PhD is quite an accomplishment. I’m sure you’re very proud.” I turned back to Brian. “Dr. Conners, we really need you to tell us if you know of anyone who’d want to hurt Danny or Sonia.”

“It’s Brian, please. I feel like I know you. You’ve been on the websites so much with your sister. I’m sorry but I don’t know of anyone who’d want to hurt either of them. Their divorce was the big shock. Some were angry with Danny for cheating but no one was going to kill him over that. We’ve known about it for months so it’s not a recent revelation.” He sipped his coffee.

He wasn’t telling us the whole story and I gave Ricky a look. “You don’t think it could be a fan out to get them? Wanting to punish Danny? Or someone obsessed with Sonia who wanted to get rid of Danny?”

Mrs. Conners huffed. “Danny ruined the marriage. There should be people judging him. Adultery isn’t a joke.”

Brian nodded. “It’s totally possible that there are obsessed fans but I don’t know of any you should be investigating. I‘d love to help but I don’t associate with those types of fans.”

“You think he’s behind it.” Mrs. Conners got to her feet. “I hate liars. Pretending to be our friends and using him.”

“Mother, don’t be like that,” Brian said.

“I liked her and I thought she was a good sister, protecting Sonia. Now she’s just looking for a scapegoat. Not my son.” She stalked off toward the kitchen.

“I’m sorry about her, she’s overprotective. I’m all she has left.” Brian put his coffee cup down.

“Obviously we’ll check out your alibi and that will eliminate you as a suspect so she has nothing to worry about.” Ricky leaned forward. “A lot of times people know things but don’t realize how useful it can be to us. It might be nothing to you but anything that stands out as unusual could help.”

Brian nodded. “I understand. Mother wouldn’t want to think anyone I know could be associated with murder. The police were already here but it was brief and generic.”

“So you do know something.” I crossed my legs and leaned in. “Please tell us.”

“I don’t know anything for sure and I feel bad throwing around accusations. But if you’re checking on things that could possibly be something—” He looked toward the kitchen door. “I have a thought.”

“Dr. Conners, I assure you I’m not going to arrest anyone based on what you say here. If you point me in a direction I’ll check it out. That’s all.” Ricky had his notebook open and ready.

“Okay, there are the San Bernardino sisters. They run a blog devoted to the soap operas. Big fans of Danny and Sonia—they run daily contests and trivia questions about them. They had an online funeral chat where people could come and share. Since then it’s been a favorite Danny episode featured. The blog is all black and in mourning.”

Ricky scribbled. “You think one of them had a reason to want Danny dead?”

“Not ordinarily.” Brian looked back toward the kitchen again. “I used to date one of the sisters. We had a lot in common. Not as beautiful as you, Ms. Morris, but a nice girl.”

I forced myself not to inch back. “What happened?”

“Her sister. You can’t come between twins and I’m an only child so I learned slowly.”

Ricky jumped in. “You think your ex might have something to do with it?”

Brian shook his head. “No, not Angie. Her sister. Vicky is nice most of the time but if she’s off her meds—”

“Meds? She’s got a medical problem or a mental one?” I asked.

“Mental. At first they thought it was adult ADD, then maybe bipolar. Finally they got a doctor who did it right. Schizophrenia. On her medications she’s nice, normal, and very functional. Off her drugs she can be obsessive and hear voices, see things. She’s very hard to reason with of course.”

“Is she why you broke up with Angie?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Angie had to take care of her sister and I had my mother to look after. Neither likes to be alone. If Angie didn’t have Vicky it might’ve worked, but we had to go our separate ways.”

“Was Vicky particularly interested in Danny and Sonia?” Ricky asked.

“Danny, definitely—she had posters of him up. She came to my class when he’d talk. She got her picture taken with him and got a kiss on the cheek. She knew he was married but she had a crush. Danny was sweet about it.”

I finished my coffee and put the cup and saucer on the tray. “Is she generally good about taking her medications or is she erratic?”

“At first it took a while to get her on the right med combo so they changed the routine on her all the time. Angie would be up with her all night convincing her no one was after her. Then she’d be overmedicated and almost catatonic. Now they have the right mix but sometimes she’ll forget because she feels fine or gets depressed that she has to take so many pills and refuse. Life is cruel.” Brian chewed his lower lip.