4 Yip/Tuck Read online

  Darby threw a couple of pillows at me. I tossed them next to the basket.

  “There’s been a slight change of plans with your cousin’s photo shoot. Caro requested we do it at her place, tomorrow morning at ten. It’s easier on the cats.”

  As Darby dragged a ficus tree across the cement floor to the staging area, I racked my brain for a quick fix. “Can you talk her into a few shots here or outside maybe? Just her and Dogbert? On the beach or at the dog park? Anything to get her out of the house for an hour.”

  She brushed off her jeans. “We can’t be too obvious. She knows I feel partially responsible that she has the pin again. I was so busy watching her case the boutique, I didn’t think about watching the brooch. If I push too much, she’ll know something’s up.”

  I picked up the handful of scattered leaves and tossed them in the basket. “It wasn’t just you. Heck, my eyes were glued to her too.” Caro never came into the shop. At least not since we’d stopped talking to each other.

  “Before I forget, I met Betty,” Darby said.

  I checked my cell. It was time to head over to Dr. O’s office, but I wanted to hear her opinion on my almost part-timer. “What do you think of her?”

  Darby worried her bottom lip. I could tell she was searching for the right words. “She’s interesting. Seems to have a lot of energy.”

  “She finished putting up the Christmas decorations while I was out.”

  Darby nodded. “I wondered about that. You may want to consider reviewing your products with her. She tried to convince me the pale pink polish would look good with my skin tone. Does she understand you sell pet products?”

  I laughed. “She used to sell cosmetics.” I checked the time again.

  “Are you late for an appointment?”

  “You’re never going to believe this, but Tova asked me to help her get a photo from Dr. O’s office.”

  Darby pursed her lips. “You’re right. I don’t believe it. Why would she think you would help her?”

  I shrugged. “Who can explain Tova? She thought Malone and I were friends.”

  “Where would she get that idea?”

  “You know, because I ‘helped’ him once, so that must mean now we’re best buds.”

  “She obviously doesn’t know Detective Malone.”

  “Trust me, she wasn’t going to stop hassling me until I agreed to run interference for her. She’s so desperate, she apologized about the fleas.”

  “So what?” Darby narrowed her sharp blue eyes. “An apology is easy when she wants something. She didn’t have a problem spending the hush money you gave her.”

  “Whoa there, Tiger. First, it wasn’t hush money. It was cheaper for me to pay her off than to fight a nuisance suit. I hate to acknowledge this out loud, but as annoying as Tova may be, between her and Jack O’Doggle, they’ve spent ten times that amount at my shop in the past month.”

  “You do remember Detective Malone said to stay out of it.”

  I smiled wryly. “I hear his droning commands in my sleep. Look, I’m running interference for Tova so she can grab a photo of her and the doctor. That’s it. I swear. If you’re that worried she’s taking advantage of me, feel free to come along.”

  I’M NOT SURE if Darby tagged along to keep tabs on Tova or me. Either way, I was glad to have her as backup. At three-thirty, we entered Dr. O’Doggle’s office building in Newport Beach. It was as if we’d walked into the Montage Resort Hotel. The office exuded a specific lifestyle of sophistication, luxury, and money. He definitely catered to an upscale clientele.

  Tova had changed into skinny jeans, a Stella McCartney colorblock print top, and black, four-inch pirate boots. I hadn’t realized I should have dressed for the occasion. Darby and I were still in our everyday jeans and tops.

  Not surprisingly, Tova hadn’t followed directions. She’d arrived before us and, instead of waiting, barged inside and provoked the staff. It was a Charlie’s Angels standoff. Three long-haired beauties in white shirts and black slacks against a lingerie supermodel. My money was on anyone other than Tova.

  “I said, what are you doing here?” The tall redhead stepped away from the trio. She had to be the office manager Tova had complained about. What was her name? Oh yeah, Gwen.

  Tova huffed. “I don’t trust you. I came for the photo of Jack and me.” She wasn’t as confident as she tried to appear. Her hands trembled as she stroked Kiki.

  “Hey, Tova,” I called brightly as Darby and I walked across the room. With each step, my boots sank into the thick, white carpet. The handful of patients in the waiting room watched the group of women with intense curiosity. So much for not making a scene.

  Darby and I reached the reception desk. Gwen could easily take Tova. It was obvious from her flexed stance that she knew her way around a bar fight or two. She was as scrappy as she was beautiful.

  “Melinda, take Kiki.” Tova shoved her dog at me then marched toward the back of the building. Her heels clicked with determination on the expensive tile leading toward the offices and examination rooms.

  “You can’t go back there.” Gwen stomped after her.

  “I knew this would go badly,” Darby muttered under her breath.

  I cradled Kiki, caressing her absently. “Sorry.” I apologized to the duo of gorgeous women on the other side of the humongous mahogany desk. “I’m sure you know Tova can be a tad out of control.” I made an effort to keep my voice low so the patients didn’t overhear.

  “Are you her friends?” Blatant distrust was apparent in the blonde’s icy voice.

  “Hardly. I own Bow Wow boutique. Tova’s a customer.”

  “Oh,” the girls said simultaneously. Two sets of earthy brown eyes transformed from suspicion to sadness.

  “You found Dr. O’Doggle’s body.” That was the brunette.

  “Ah, yes.” I immediately felt uncomfortable. Darby was right. This was a bad idea. I hadn’t thought about their reaction to me. Was it too late to leave?

  “I’m Bailey, the practice’s Image Expert. This is Heidi, she’s our receptionist.”

  “I’m Darby. I was with Mel when . . .” she trailed off.

  “We’re really sorry about your boss,” I told them. “I’m sure this has been difficult for all of you.” I held Kiki a little tighter. She licked my hand, as if knowing all of us needed comfort. Dogs were amazing creatures.

  “It’s been the worst,” Bailey said. “Poor Heidi’s dealt with constant phone calls all day. The police were here questioning us. O’Doggle’s patients have been frantic about their appointments. Dr. Stolzman refuses to close. He doesn’t want to get behind schedule since he’ll inherit a number of O’Doggle’s patients. Gwen finally locked the doors for an hour this morning so we could have a break and come up with a plan for the day.”

  That must have been when Tova showed up the first time.

  Bailey dabbed teary eyes. “Everyone who works here loved O’Doggle.”

  I had to wonder if they’d still feel that way if they knew he didn’t like dogs.

  “He was an amazing doctor.” Bailey’s voice broke. She swallowed hard. “He did all of our work.” She indicated her face.

  I had to admit, it felt like we’d walked into a plastic surgery slumber party. Large lips and larger breasts at every turn. I wasn’t a self-conscious girl. Heck, the beauty pageant circuit is no cakewalk, but even I felt the need to stand a little taller among these women. If you know what I mean.

  “And now she’s back.” Heidi scoffed.

  “You don’t like Tova?” Darby asked.

  “I’ve worked here for five years. He’s had a number of girlfriends, but he never spent the kind of money on them like he did on her. Boxes arrive weekly. Gifts for Kiki, gifts for her. Dresses, make-up, shoes, jewelry. Even a couple of wigs.”

  Jealous much, Heidi? I could see Tova with extensions, but a wig? “Are you sure about the wigs?”

  “It was written right on the box,” Bailey offered.

  “I thi
nk he was getting ready to dump her.” Heidi leaned closer and lowered her voice. “They used to have a standing date every Sunday night, but I know for a fact he broke the last three.”

  “How do you know?” I asked.

  “I heard them arguing about it a couple of days ago.”

  Bailey shook her head in disagreement. “I don’t think so. He was always trying to make up with her. Why else would he buy all those gifts? He could have done so much better.” She sighed.

  Like dating you, instead? It was written all over both of their faces. They were in love with their boss, which made them suspects in my book.

  “Are you sure they were gifts for Tova? Is it possible he bought them for someone else?” I asked.

  “O’Doggle told us they were for Tova,” Bailey insisted.

  Heidi narrowed her dark eyes. “Hold on. Now that you mention it, he never said Tova’s name. He said for his special lady. We assumed he meant Tova.”

  Darby leaned on the desk. “Did you notice him acting differently lately?”

  “What do you mean?” Bailey asked.

  “Agitated? Secretive? Depressed? Scared?” I felt like Malone. Probably a clue to stop the questions. But Tova hadn’t returned, so I kept the conversation alive. Just doing my part.

  “No. He seemed really happy lately,” she admitted grudgingly. “The business is really successful. He hired Dr. Stolzman a couple of weeks ago, after we started losing patients because we couldn’t get them appointments quick enough.”

  Darby and I shared a look. Losing or stealing?

  “I heard a rumor there was some type of lawsuit. Did that have to do with some other surgeon stealing Dr. O’Doggle’s patients?”

  Their friendly demeanor vanished. I’d gone too far.

  Heidi set me straight with a drop-it-or-you’ll-wish-you-had look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  It was time to leave. Tova had been gone way too long. I passed Kiki off to Darby and excused myself.

  Finding Tova was simple. I followed her grating voice.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about. He was not cheating on me. He was going to propose.” Tova sounded on the verge of tears.

  “Propose? Are you serious? If this crap isn’t for you, then for who? Face it, he had another girlfriend,” Gwen taunted.

  “He wasn’t like that. You’re wrong.” Tova rushed past me with a huge, ugly, blonde afro wig clutched in her hand. I swear that wig could have walked on its own. Where had she found it? And why was she taking it with her?

  I poked my head into the office. Gwen stood next to a large cardboard box, victory blazing in her hazel eyes. I looked around, absorbing as many details as possible. I had a feeling this was the only opportunity I’d get to see the office.

  “You missed her.” Gwen strode toward me. “She left without her prized possession.”

  I took the picture frame she shoved at me. “Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine now that she’s been brought down to size. She needs to face the facts. He wasn’t that into her.” Gwen shut the door behind us and ushered me back to where Darby waited.

  Judging by the picture Tova claimed, I’d have to disagree. They seemed happy. A candlelight dinner, both of them smiling into the camera as if they didn’t have a care in the world. It didn’t add up.

  “Do you really believe he cheated on her?” I asked.

  Gwen looked at me with a confident smile. “There’ve been rumors swirling for weeks. A couple of days ago, I found a tube of glitter lip gloss in his desk drawer. It’s not Tova’s brand.”

  Something in her eyes led me to believe she knew what she was talking about. It was almost frightening. I couldn’t prove it, but I had a hunch Gwen knew exactly who that lip gloss belonged to. And she wasn’t sharing her information with me.

  Chapter Thirteen

  THE SUN WAS setting, cueing a colorful end of an even more colorful day. I pointed the Jeep south. We bounced along PCH, back to Laguna, each lost in our own thoughts. The radio played quietly in the background, a female voice reciting the top news. I heard Dr. O’Doggle’s name and quickly turned up the volume.

  “The police have confirmed the death of renowned plastic surgeon, Jack O’Doggle of Newport Beach. His death has been officially classified as a homicide. Dr. O’Doggle’s body was found in front of the Bow Wow Boutique in downtown Laguna Beach yesterday morning. The cause of death has not been—”

  I turned off the radio. I’d heard enough.

  After the latest news bulletin, it struck me that we may have unwittingly helped the killer dispose of incriminating evidence. I felt sick to my stomach. I know, too little too late.

  “I really hope there isn’t an eyewitness out there who saw a woman with a hideous blonde afro leave the scene,” I said.

  Darby’s breath hitched. “Do you think someone on the doctor’s staff killed him?”

  “I don’t know. If someone did see something, Tova’s the only one carrying that ugly wig around town.”

  I kept my eyes on the road. Traffic slowed as more cars filled the highway. I switched lanes to pass a black SUV with Montana plates driving well under the speed limit. Visitors. Ugh.

  “Should we tell Malone?” Darby asked.

  “Tell him what? Tova’s acting like a crazy woman, running around town with a blonde afro wig that shouldn’t ever be worn? Not even for a Halloween slasher movie?”

  “That about sums it up. Are you going to call or shall I?” Darby asked.

  The light at the Crystal Cove State Park turned red. I stopped the Jeep and contemplated what to do about Tova and her wig.

  “It doesn’t prove anything. We have the picture, which was supposedly the whole reason she went there in the first place. She’ll be back. Let’s talk to her then.”

  Darby looked at me, her face suddenly sympathetic. “Do you think he was cheating on Tova?”

  I shrugged. “Gwen thinks so. She knows more than she’s divulging. If there is another woman, we need to find her. Maybe she’s the one who killed Tova’s cheating boyfriend.”

  “We?” Darby squeaked. “I think we need to stay out of it.”

  The light turned green. I accelerated, heading for the boutique. My thoughts collided with possibilities. If Jack O’Doggle really was strangled with a dog leash, were any of those women strong enough to kill him? Was he killed in front of Bow Wow or was that a dumping ground? Either way, why in front of my shop? Did it mean anything or was it just coincidence?

  Staying out of it. A nice thought.

  Execution was a different matter altogether.

  TWENTY MINUTES later, we were back at the boutique. The bell jangled our return. Other than Betty bustling around the shop, the place was empty.

  “It’s Melinda,” I called out before I flipped the sign to Closed. “How’d it go?”

  “Slow. You need to come up with some ideas to drum up business.” She turned to face me. When she saw Darby her eyes lit up. “Hi, there. Change your mind about the nail polish?”

  Darby smiled. “Afraid not.”

  “Your loss.” Betty shuffled to the counter, her sneakers squeaking on the hardwood floor.

  As she got closer, I could see she’d refreshed her lipstick. Only on the lips. Maybe the eyebrow thing was a fluke.

  She picked up a yellow notepad. “You had a couple of calls, tootsie. Vera White inquired about the job. I told her you’d filled the position.” She shot me a denture-filled grin. “You should send her an official rejection letter. She seems like the needy type.” She licked her boney finger and flipped the page. “A Detective Malone called. Said he was still waiting for a list of addresses. He’ll be at the station late tonight.”

  Darby sent me an uneasy glance. My heart skipped a beat. I’d forgotten about the addresses.

  “You didn’t mention where I was, did you?”

  Betty shrugged a fragile shoulder; her silk pajamas slid forward, showing off her extra-white skin. “He didn’t a
sk.”

  Darby elbowed me. I knew what she was saying. Close call. We joined Betty behind the counter and shoved our purses on the shelf.

  “Did you help that lady get her photo?” Betty asked.

  I pulled the frame out of my purse. I looked at it with a critical eye. It didn’t look like it was anything special. Gold, five-by-seven, a burgundy felt backside.

  “She left in a rush and forgot to take it with her.” Which meant I’d have an opportunity to talk to Tova again. Boy, did I have a lot of questions.

  Betty picked up the frame and smiled. “They look happy. My Tommy gave me a picture frame just like this many years ago. I miss him sometimes.” Her fingers traced the gold beveled edges.

  “I’m sorry, Betty. How long ago did he die?” Darby asked softly.

  “Ten years ago this Thanksgiving. Died of a heart attack at the family dinner table. Face plant in the mashed potatoes and gravy. Kplat! Never saw it coming.”

  “That’s awful.” Tenderhearted Darby patted Betty’s arm.

  “Once the family stopped laughing, we realized he was dead. The girls were devastated. We had some good times, me and my Tommy.” She handed the photo back to me.

  “You never remarried?” I asked.

  “I love an attractive man, but I don’t want to be hitched to another. Unless it’s for lovin’.” She wiggled her faded eyebrows. “Do you know any good men, cookie?”

  Darby’s lips pressed together, hiding a smile. I blinked rapidly, working hard to not picture Betty’s definition of lovin’. Too much information.

  “I’ll have to think on that,” I said.

  “Did you check the secret compartment on the backside?” Betty’s face softened. “My Tommy used to hide notes for me. He was a romantic.”

  A secret compartment? I flipped the frame over. A small tab, just big enough to hold between your thumb and index finger, stuck out, begging to be pulled. It wasn’t exactly a hiding place. It was how the back came off to insert the photo. But I could see how someone might hide a note behind it if they were so inclined.