Trifecta (9 page)

She turned around and headed to the front door, still giggling.

"I have to go now."  She finally had herself
under control.  "We should probably meet in a couple of days." 

Robin forced himself to be serious after her funny reaction
to that blatantly suggestive bedroom.  They agreed to meet at a restaurant called
Franklin's on Sunset Boulevard in two days.

Julia insisted on giving him a check before she left so
that he could cover his expenses over the next couple of days.  He put it in his
pocket.  He had no intention of cashing it.

When he closed the door, he went to the kitchen and frantically
began searching for something alcoholic to calm his nerves.  Julia had a very strange
effect on him.

J
ulia was practically tearing out her hair, trying
to figure out the code that Brian had used so she could access his manuscript on
the computer.  It was almost time for Aaron Quijada to come back to see the work,
and she had absolutely nothing to show him.

Quijada had met Julia at the door to his home that morning
and had taken her back to the little cottage where Brian had been staying.  He left
abruptly, saying he would look in on her and see how she was doing in a few hours,
before lunch. 

Julia had been glad when Quijada left, after showing her
around the cottage, which was a studio apartment composed of one large room with
a bed, and a small kitchen and bathroom.  It had been chilling to see Brian's clothes
in the closets and his personal belongings casually strewn around the place.  His
razor in the bathroom, with his toothbrush and the silver comb he always used.

She moved about, touching Brian's things.  She had planned
to start packing all of his personal items and clothing back into the suitcase that
was so familiar, and which had been pushed under the bed, but she was drawn like
a magnet to the computer.  It was sitting on a desk beside a window overlooking
the back grounds of the estate.  The view from that window was beautiful, with a
large oak tree right outside, showcasing the pool and tennis courts.  Julia could
almost picture Brian working here, on this very computer she was now delicately
touching. 

There were a few biographical facts on Aaron Quijada under
a heading listed BIO in the directory, but that was all she had found pertaining
to the book.  There were personal letters, also in the main directory, but otherwise
the machine appeared to be empty.  She knew the manuscript was in there, if only
she could access it.

Julia got up and started folding Brian's clothing and putting
his things in the suitcase.  She tried to turn off her mind as she did so.  It was
sad, but she was becoming used to the concept that Brian was gone.  She didn't want
to be used to that horrible fact.  She still wanted to feel the pain as sharply
as ever, but her mind had accommodated to the fact, even though her emotions were
still in turmoil.

When she went back to the computer she tried her
own name for a secret code as a lark.  Nothing.  She tried her initials.  Still
nothing but a serene and frustratingly blank, light blue screen.  Finally she put
in her whole name, including her middle name, Julia Theresa Monay.  Suddenly the
blank screen was filled with words.  She leaned forward quickly, reading with rapt
concentration:

J.

DON'T LET ANYONE ELSE SEE THIS.  AS SOON AS YOU READ
IT, DESTROY.  DO NOT PRINT OR SAVE, AS I'M AFRAID IT MIGHT GET IN THE WRONG HANDS. 
THERE ARE DOCS AND VIDS IN Q'S SF.  YOU HAVE TO GET THEM SOMEHOW. (D.R.)  I DON'T
ADVISE LOOKING AT VIDS.  KNOWING YOU, YOU PROBABLY WILL.  GIVE TO TAD.  PACKING
AND LEAVING NOW.  IF YOU GET THIS MESSAGE I AM A DM.  LOOK UNDER 092611 FOR M.

LOVE YOU

Julia buried her face in her hands for a moment,
then hit the 'print screen' key.  She had to have it. 

Julia looked out the window, afraid someone might see her. 
With two large windows overlooking the grounds, she was visible inside the guest
cottage. 

Damn, Aaron Quijada was coming!  She could see him walking
quickly toward the cottage with Bruno.  He bent down by the side of the pool and
put his hand in the water, testing the temperature. 

Julia jumped up and ripped off the sheet of paper that
had just come out of the printer.  She quickly folded it into tiny squares and stuffed
it into her blouse, inside her bra.

Then she pressed the save button on the computer and when
it said Y or N, she pressed N, for No.  She had to get rid of the message before
Quijada got here. 

Julia quickly entered 092611 as a code into the computer. 
The directory for the manuscript appeared instantly.  The secret pass-code was the
probably the date Brian had begun the book, but backwards.

Aaron knocked on the side of the door and she called for
him to come in.  As he was moving toward the desk, she had time to save the whole
book again, without using a code.  She would edit the manuscript, in case there
was anything inflammatory in it.  The original would still be on the computer's
hard drive, safely hidden from prying eyes.

"Ah.  I see you found my manuscript," Quijada
said, as he bent down and peered at the screen.  She accessed the first chapter
and showed it to him.  As he stood beside her she almost felt faint and thought
it was an emotional reaction, until she began to sneeze.  It was some kind of cologne
he was wearing that was causing her eyes to water and her nose to itch fiercely. 

"Are you all right," Quijada asked, backing away.

"Fine," Julia answered, pinching her nostrils
to keep them from itching.  "Probably some pollen in the air."  She couldn't
tell him it was the overpowering, obnoxious scent he was wearing,  a sickening combination
of spicy and fruity.  Kind of like the sweet smell of juicy fruit gum, with the
horrible addition of cinnamon and cloves.

"How'd you find the book?" Quijada asked.

Julia decided to tell him the truth so he wouldn't think
she was holding anything back.  He had tried to find the information on the computer
himself, and had failed.  "Brian used a special access code.  I put everything
back into the main directory.  Now you can just turn the computer on and hit this
key," Julia said, pointing to F5.

If Quijada really was guilty in Brian's death, and suspicious
that secrets were buried somewhere within the manuscript, she hoped she had put
those notions to rest.  Now that Quijada could get the material anytime he wanted,
he would be less likely to do so. 

The thought of Quijada sneaking over here in the middle
of the night to read it was a little preposterous.  It was a large body of work. 
It would take a lot of time to read the whole thing.

She thought of something else to allay his suspicions. 
"I'll print the whole manuscript, right away, and give it to you.  You can
go over it and see if you would like anything added or changed.  At the same time,
I'll be editing and making suggestions as to where the pictures should be inserted."

"You can print it all, right now?" Quijada asked.

"It will take a few hours, but yes, I'll do it right
away if you like."

He was nodding, thoughtfully.  But he was also leaning
too close to her.  She could see black tufts of hair sprouting from his ears and
nose.  He had large facial pores, which looked black inside, and his face had small
pock marks.  From far away he was a good looking man in a swarthy, exotic way, but
close up he repelled her.  His eyes were watery and his features seemed course and
oversized.  On top of that, his cologne was making her sneeze.

Julia noticed him back away, very rapidly.  If he was a
hypochondriac, afraid of germs to an excessive degree, she could act like she had
a cold and keep him at a distance.  The man had a menacing aura about him.  He also
had the arrogant attitude of one used to wielding great power. 

Julia didn't want to believe she was really scared of him,
but he was physically powerful also, although he probably had hatchet men who did
his dirty work.  She wondered how the people of California had been duped to the
extent that they seemed to have no reservations about him.  She trusted her own
instincts and felt repulsed.

"I'll have a lunch tray sent to you," Quijada
said.  "You can get started immediately."

Well, he really was in a hurry to see the manuscript. 
"Thank you, but I made arrangements for lunch with a friend," Julia said. 
She hadn't, but she wanted to get off the property and call Robin, tell him what
she had found.  "I should be gone only about an hour," she added, in case
he decided to come in here while she was away and start reading directly from the
computer. 

"Okay.  I want you to feel welcome, though.  If you
get hungry, any time, just go to the kitchen and get a snack," Quijada said. 
"Rosa can help you find anything you want."

"Thank you.  That's very kind.  Would it be all right
if I walked around the grounds?  I want to plan some camera angles.  Maybe tomorrow
we can take the pictures."

"Go anywhere you like.  The house, too.  You might
want photos of the interiors."

"I'll also want to see your production office." 
She might be able to learn something from co-workers.

"Fine." 

Julia smiled and nodded.  Now she had access to anywhere
she would want to go.  "I need to pick out pictures from the albums you showed
me yesterday, for the book.  I'll have to take some of them out, to have them duplicated. 
I'll process the film myself, so you can be sure the pictures are safe."

"Those pictures can't be replaced," Quijada warned.

"I know they're valuable.  That's why I want to do
it myself."

As Quijada left he turned in the doorway.  "I'm going
to leave Bruno in here with you for a while, so he'll get to know you.  He's professionally
trained to attack strangers.  Bruno is better than any security alarm system, but
he might scare you, and run at you if he saw you walking around."

"The dog will attack anyone?" Julia asked.  She
had a vague plan working in her mind, from the information Brian had left for her,
but if the dog would attack, she would have to do it alone.  A daunting thought. 
She had been hoping Robin could help her, but now that seemed impossible.  The positive
information was that she now knew that Quijada didn't have a security system for
the grounds.

"Bruno's perfectly safe with people I introduce him
to.  And he won't attack a child.  But if anyone came over the walls he would be
very threatening."

Quijada gave the dog a command in Spanish and Bruno went
and lay down at Julia's feet.  As he was leaving he turned around at the doorway. 
"You said that your brother had spoken to you before his death?"

"Yes," Julia said, feeling her scalp prickle
with anticipation.

"Did he say anything about his work?  Anything about
me?"

"I really can't talk about Brian," Julia said. 
She let the tears that were hovering behind her eyes at the thought of her brother
show.  "He did talk about it, but I can't tell you yet.  I really didn't understand
all he said.  Perhaps in a few days...?" 

"Sure.  Sure.  I was just wondering," Quijada
said.

She thought that Robin would kill her himself if he knew
what she was doing.  "He did mention you, but I can't speak about it right
now."

"Another time, then," Quijada said as he left.

Julia reached down and petted the big, silky black head
resting at her feet.  It was comforting to have the animal with her.  The dog immediately
sat up and licked her face, tasting the tears that finally came.

Julia printed out the first chapter and started reading. 
As she did so she found herself involved in the poignant story of an immigrant family
with five children, traveling around the United States as migrant workers.  Even
the smallest children worked in the fields, harvesting different crops.  They had
been virtually destitute and lived in appalling circumstances.  One of the children
had died young; probably victim to malnutrition, poverty and poor health care. 
It was quite sad.  Brian had done a good job. 

Now Julia had a better idea why Aaron Quijada could grow
up to be a ruthless, aggressive individual, willing to go to any lengths to accumulate
wealth and power.

Julia saved the chapter and then looked back at it in the
directory.  For each chapter there was a time and date indicating the last time
it had been accessed.  She would know if anyone went into the computer because the
date and time would be changed. 

Julia realized she was already feeling protective of the
book.  Brian had done beautiful work.  It deserved to be published.

He must have been very frightened to abandon something
he had worked on so arduously.

"I
'm so glad I have someone to talk to,"
Julia said as Robin sat down at the table where she had been waiting.  "Thanks
for coming on such short notice."

He had on another suit, like the one he had worn to court,
but this one was different, exquisitely made and obviously expensive.  Julia was
surprised because she had assumed Robin owned only one.  She noted that all the
women in the restaurant had paused to look at him as he walked over to her table,
probably wondering who the interesting looking man was.  Julia had to revise her
assessment and admit that Robin was more than interesting.  He was very handsome.

They were at 'The Source,' a restaurant at the intersection
of Sunset Boulevard and Sweetzer Avenue in West Hollywood.  It was located in a
tiny building with a conspicuously hippie atmosphere; a very 'in' place, and not
widely known.  Julia had smiled when she saw the attractive Fabio sitting in the
patio room.  The diners were all acting like they were not impressed, and that no
famous people here, but Julia had recognized two actresses, as well as a renowned
film director.

Robin pulled his napkin in his lap and looked at Julia. 
She was very excited, he could tell by the energy she exuded, almost like a light
bulb had gone on within, making her appear even more radiant than usual. 

He smiled at her, "You found something?"

Julia nodded excitedly.  She reached unselfconsciously
into the top of her blouse and slipped out a folded paper.  He tried not to look
when she performed that little maneuver.  The fact that she was well endowed was
something he consciously tried not to think about.

Julia was unfolding and smoothing the paper.  Then she
handed it to him.  The paper was still warm to the touch.  It was dim in the restaurant,
but he could read it.  The dimness had to do with his wit.  He couldn't make heads
or tails of the short note.

Julia explained about the finding the secret code Brian
had used to send her a message on his computer.  Then she told him what it meant. 
There were videos and documents in Aaron Quijada's safe that they would have to
gain access to.  Also, Brian had warned her not to look at the videos that were
hidden in the safe because of something shocking on them, she supposed.

"What does D.R. mean?" Robin asked.

"The safe is in the drawing room.  Or maybe the dining
room."

"Oh.  And what about, he will be a DM. if you find
the note?"

"Dead Man.  He meant that if I actually had to go
into the computer and find the message, he knew he would no longer be alive."

"You weren't twins or something?"

"No.  Opposite genders can't be identical twins, or
possess the ESP twins are reputed to have.  Although Brian and I did have the same
coloring, I'm two years older.  Even Aaron Quijada noticed the resemblance.  Why
do you ask?"

"I just find it extraordinary that you can understand
this so easily.  Who's Tad?"

"Tad Potter is the trustee of a foundation my parents
created before they died.  He's a very smart lawyer.  I don't think Brian wanted
me to give the information from Quijada's safe to the police.  Not here in Los Angeles,
anyway."

I'm also a very smart lawyer, Robin was thinking to himself. 
"You will be a DW, if you do what your brother told you to."

"I'll be careful," Julia said.  She was still
smiling gleefully.

Robin shook his head  He would have to put a stop to her
crazy schemes immediately.  "Right.  You find Aaron Quijada's safe and take
out a video and some documents, and you think you're going to be safe when he finds
them missing?"

"No.  We get them and then we make copies and put
the originals back," Julia answered reasonably.

"That's assuming you can find the safe, first.  Then
you will have to get the combination or key, which might be a tricky little exercise
all by itself.  Then you break in, hoping there's no security alarm to alert Quijada
that someone is taking his property.  After that's accomplished, you simply sneak
off with the stuff and copy it.  On top of that, you have to get the material back
into the safe without getting caught."

"He doesn't have a security system on the grounds. 
And I can introduce you to Bruno, his dog, some time when Aaron is gone."

Robin smiled nastily.  He leaned forward and whispered. 
"You're casually talking breaking and entering.  Possible grand theft.  And
pissing off a man who might be the next governor of California.  Not to mention
a mafia don with probably hundreds of his people, selling his dope, who would just
love to get into his good graces by killing off a rich little, uppity, blond Boston
socialite."

"I'm not an uppity Boston socialite," Julia said
with dignity.  She turned up her nose.  "I'll do it myself.  I was hoping you
would help me, but I can see it might be a bit dangerous."

"Not dangerous," Robin said flatly.  "Suicidal."

"Forget I told you about it," Julia answered.

"Right."

They sat glaring at each other in silence as a waitress
came over and took their order.

When the waitress left, Robin leaned forward again and
said very softly and persuasively, "Why don't you let me do my work?  You hired
me to get information on Quijada, and I will get it.  You don't have to throw your
life away over this."

"I'm not going to do anything rash.  I need lots of
information before I can make an attempt to get the things in the safe.  Meanwhile,
you can go ahead with your investigation."

"This isn't a race," Robin warned.

"I know.  But it's so tempting, knowing everything
we need is right there on the property." 

She looked so excited and happy that Robin found he couldn't 
dampen her spirits any longer.  Also, she was stubborn.  If he unequivocally told
her not to do it, he would probably spur her on, out of a sense of outrage and frustration. 
He didn't want to make her angry.  That might make her more impulsive.

"Just hold your horses for a little while," Robin
said.  "I'll work as fast as I can.  And you want to finish the book, anyway. 
You said it would take a while."

Julia nodded and smiled at him.  "You're right.  We
do have some time.  I promise I'll be careful."

As they began eating, Robin thought she looked much too
pleased with herself.  She was going to go ahead with her schemes.  He just knew
it.  He liked looking at her anyway, smug or not.  Her hair was down again and he
found it hard to believe that she was so perfect looking.  Nothing was harsh or
clashed dissonantly.  She made the other women in the restaurant look like painted
dollies, all gooped with make-up and clothes that shouted that they were available. 
He tried to see if she had make-up on, but he didn't believe so.  Unlike his truck,
Make-My-Day, she would be beautiful in the morning light.

After a time, Julia said, "You look very nice, today."

"Had to be in court again," Robin answered, noncommittally,
between bites of an avocado sandwich in pita bread.

"Why?" Julia asked, really curious.

"Problems with the law," Robin said darkly. 
He was smiling inwardly, though, thinking she probably believed she was associating
with a ax murderer by now.  He would have to tell her the truth soon.  To change
the subject, he said, "Brian indicated that he was planning to pack and leave
as soon as he left you that note."  He vaguely pointed his fork in the direction
of her blouse, where she had again safely placed it.  "Did you notice anything
which looked like a struggle took place in the cottage where he was staying."

"I thought of that, too.  Nothing was broken or looked
disturbed.  The police said there was a mighty struggle, from the injuries Brian
sustained, so he must have been lured somewhere else.  Or it happened on the grounds
of the estate."

She heard Robin groan and thought he was feeling sorry
about what Brian had gone through.  Then she noticed that Robin was gazing toward
the entrance of the restaurant.  She could tell, from his eyes, that someone was
approaching.

Julia turned and saw a woman rapidly moving toward their
table, smiling brilliantly.

Robin stood up politely.  "Hi Sarah.  I'd like you
to meet  Julia Monay."

Julia looked at the woman who was now standing beside their
table and smiled automatically.  The woman had bright red hair and long red talons. 
Very pretty in a slightly vulgar manner, with the red hair swept up on one side
of her face, and hanging low over her forehead on the other side.  She was smiling
in a predatory way at Robin with red, pouty lips.

"Nice to meet you, Julia," the woman said.  "Please
sit down Robin."

Robin sat, looking uncomfortable.  Julia thought this must
be a women he was dating, the way the red-head was trying to hide that she was looking
her over appraisingly. 

Julia answered the introduction pleasantly.  She certainly
didn't care if Robin was dating a vulgar appearing woman, who was dressed in exceptionally
tight jeans.  Sarah had on a very low cut blouse which did not even reach the waist
of her jeans, but revealed a peek at a remarkably tan abdomen.

"Robin dear," Sarah said, "I expected you
to call and explain just why you disappeared the other morning.  I was left to fend
for myself.  Your behavior is really inexcusable."  She looked at Julia, adding,
"Robin can sometimes be naughty."

Sarah was smiling, but Julia could tell the woman was quite
put out.  And she was letting Julia know that she and Robin had an intimate relationship,
placing a claim on him as though he was a brawny side of beef.

"Oh?  I wouldn't know."  Julia said innocently. 
"Robin and I just met.  We were here on business."  She didn't want to
interfere with a tawdry affair, or ruin Robin's love life, if his taste ran toward
this type of woman.

"What kind of business are you in, Julia?" Sarah
asked.  She sounded politely interested, but Julia knew she wasn't.

Julia searched wildly for something she could be doing
with Robin of a business nature.  Something having to do with car mechanics.  "I
was hoping to buy that big truck of his."

"That yellow pile of trash in the parking lot?"
Sarah asked, looking aghast.  "I saw it as I came in."

"No one could possibly miss it," Julia said,
smiling.

Now Sarah was looking at her speculatively, probably wondering
if she was lying and using the truck as an excuse to glom onto her boyfriend.

"I have to do a little more work on the truck, Julia,"
Robin said, perfectly serious.  "I want it in impeccable condition before you
drive it."

"It's really yours?" Sarah asked Robin.  She
looked mystified.

"Not for long," Julia said.  "I want it."

"Whatever for?" Sarah asked. 

She must think I'm a dunce, Julia thought.  "That
truck is retro, a one-of-a-kind."  She turned and looked at Robin.  "We
just can't agree on the price."

"I don't see why he would quibble," Sarah said. 
"Robin could give that thing to you." 

Now Robin had to break in, knowing Sarah was referring
to his inherited family wealth.  "Are you meeting someone here, Sarah?  You
could join us."

"Thanks.  I'm having lunch with Fabio," Sarah
said.  "I really shouldn't keep him waiting.  Nice meeting you, Julia.  And
Robin, I'll call you at the office later.  You will be there?"

"I have to go to court.  I'll be in touch."

Sarah wiggled off in the high heels.  Julia thought the
woman looked ridiculous in jeans and high heels, but she also knew that many men
were extremely gullible with that kind of blatant sensuality.  Especially here in
Los Angeles, where everyone was tan and trim and wore extravagantly suggestive clothing,
pronouncing 'What you see is what you get.'  She found it depressing and pushed
the salad around on her plate with her fork.

"Old girlfriend," Robin said.

I wonder what the new one looks like, Julia thought.  She
really felt despondent.  Her brother was dead.  The nice mechanic sitting across
from her was so stupid he could not see below a glittering exterior; that his little
starlet girlfriend now happily ensconced at the table with Fabio was a superficial,
name dropping little slut.

"Fast thinking, covering up like that," Robin
said.

"Sarah didn't believe me for a minute, but she has
nothing to be jealous of."

"Right," Robin sounded angry for a second and
Julia wondered why.  She had helped him provide a cover for himself.  After all,
he had been discovered sitting with another woman in a restaurant by a girlfriend. 
But truthfully, Julia knew Sarah was dying of jealousy, even if she had tried to
patch things up by saying they were here on business.  And she was glad.

Sarah was seated across the room so that she could watch
the two of them and was doing so, with angry eyes, pretending to be having a wonderful
time with Fabio, to spite Robin.

For his part, Robin didn't even glance at the table where
Sarah and Fabio were sitting.  He began telling Julia about the leads he was getting
into the Mexican mafia.

"I'll probably have to attempt a buy myself, to get
more information," Robin was saying, and finally Julia straightened up and
listened.

"What!"  She knew she had almost shouted.

"Shhh.  I have to get to his associates.  So I'm going
to have to buy a lot of the stuff.  It comes in raw from Mexico looking like a kind
of brownish/black tar.  Some people just chew it like that, instead of injecting
it, because it's much cheaper in that form, but evidently the high they get isn't
as extreme as when it's injected.  It's also very dangerous because it can be riddled
with deadly little microorganisms.  No quality control on the stuff in the streets."

"Oh, no," Julia said, truly worried.  "Robin,
you might get caught by the police."

"I'll be careful," Robin said, smiling at her.