Gypped (16 page)

J
ack!” Regan said as she answered her phone and walked into the kitchen. “I really hope we don’t get disconnected. The cell phone service in this house is unreliable.”

“I miss you. All of a sudden it seems like forever since I’ve seen you.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Your text said you were going back to your friend Zelda’s?” he asked.

“Yes.” Regan explained to him Zelda’s concerns about her financial adviser and her stepmother. “We’re trying to get things straightened out.”

“But you’re okay.”

“Yes, of course I am. Jack, I hope I won’t be delayed in getting back for dinner tonight. I don’t know how long this will take.”

“Don’t worry about it. If you’re delayed, I’ll come over to Zelda’s. Give me the address.”

Regan smiled. Jack never complains or makes me feel guilty. “I don’t know why I was lucky enough to find you,” she said after giving him directions to the Scrumps estate.

“You were born under a lucky star,” Jack joked. “But so was I.”

“How’s your day been?”

“Interesting. We’re a much bigger group today. It’s good to reconnect with people I haven’t seen for a while. A few of us had lunch together at a restaurant near headquarters. We’re heading back to the auditorium for the afternoon session in a few minutes. I’ll call you when we finish and see what’s up.”

Should I tell him about my visit to a police station this morning? Regan wondered. No. He sounds too worried. The problem is that when Jack gets a feeling about something, he’s usually right. Regan teased that she was going to buy him a crystal ball.

“Regan, are you there?”

“Yes, of course.”

“If you need any help finding information about these people, you know you can call my office.”

“Thanks, Jack. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Be careful.”

“I will.”

When Regan hung up the phone, she stood quietly for a moment. I can’t wait to see him, she thought. It won’t be long. She glanced around the kitchen wondering what went on in the house when people actually lived here. There must be some clues somewhere. She shrugged. I can’t think about that now. There are more important issues to deal with.

She found a small glass bowl, brought it upstairs, and placed it upside down over the liquid on the dresser. Zelda was in the bathroom.

Regan sat down with her iPad and entered Rich’s name into a search engine.

I
n the auditorium at LAPD headquarters, Jack’s lunch buddies were saving him a seat. He headed down the aisle, saying hello to people he knew along the way.

“Hey, Jack, how’s it going?”

“Great. You?”

“Can’t complain.”

“Jack, good to see you.”

“You, too.”

The program was about to begin. The final stragglers were wandering in. On the stage, the microphone was being tested.

Jack was about to take his seat when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around. An officer from the LAPD introduced himself.

“I wanted to say hello. My name is Lew Martin. I met your wife several years ago when we arrested a guy she investigated. She’s terrific.”

“Thanks,” Jack said. “I agree.”

“I just heard she’s working overtime. We could use her back in Los Angeles, but thanks to you we lost her to New York.” Martin laughed.

Jack smiled. “Overtime?”

Martin leaned in and lowered his voice. “I hear that knife she found in the woods is a beauty.”

Jack raised his eyebrows slightly, an expression that was meant to convey disbelief at the situation, not that he was hearing this for the first time.

“Tell her the guys at the precinct over in Hollywood are grateful she dropped it off this morning. More patrols have been ordered. A knife like that, hidden in the woods near hiking trails?”

An announcement was made from the podium: “Could everyone please be seated?”

“Good to meet you, Jack. Say hello to Regan for me.”

Jack barely heard him.

T
wo crew members on the Victorious Vitamins shoot were working together on the set for one of the ads. Their commercial would feature a couch potato couple who develop an amazing love for exercise and healthy food after four weeks of ingesting the vitamins. In the first scene the pair sits on the couch eating giant bowls of ice cream and watching television. Opened bags of potato chips, candy bars, French fries, doughnuts, cakes, cookies, and bottles of soda are scattered on the coffee table in front of them.

Four quick scenes follow.

First we see the couple taking the vitamins for one week. Some of the junk food has been thrown into a clear trash can next to the coffee table. The couple looks a little more alive. The next scene takes place after they have taken Victorious Vitamins for two weeks. More junk food has been discarded and the twosome is sitting up straight and starting to smile. In the third scene the couple is wearing exercise clothing and all the junk food has been cleared from the table. In the final scene the energetic duo is laughing and cheering as they jog around the couch, weights in their hands. The trash can is gone. Fruits and vegetables cover every inch of the coffee table.

“Hey, Ernie,” one of the crew said. “This plastic window we’re supposed to hang on the wall behind the couch is cracked and broken.”

Ernie shrugged as he sawed a piece of plywood. “I’ve never been on such a shoddy project in my life. Max, you think these vitamins are for real?”

“Nah. If I thought the vitamins would cut down on the number of doughnuts I eat, I might try them. But what they’re claiming is impossible. Besides, I like my donuts. I eat my vegetables, too, but I don’t run around the couch cheering about them.”

“If the company fails they should sell the commercials to a comedy station. I can’t wait until the actors get here and start rehearsing. How they do this stuff with straight faces is beyond me.”

In the back room of the warehouse, Rich and Heather, producers of the commercial, were meeting with the director, Frank Bird. Frank had asked for the meeting. He was clearly upset.

“You’re not spending enough money,” Frank complained. “The sets are cheesy. I’d like to rent furniture to use in the scenes. I checked, and there’s a company not far from here that has what we need.”

“I’m sorry,” Rich said, shaking his head. “We’ve spent a great deal of money developing the product and we have to keep our costs down. This is only the beginning. Once orders start pouring in, we’ll have money to spend on advertising. Don’t forget, the commercials we’re doing today cost money to put on the air.”

“Who developed this product?” Frank asked.

“We’re working with a brilliant scientist.”

“Named?”

“The person wishes to remain anonymous.”

Frank frowned. “I can’t understand why. Do you have FDA approval?”

Heather leaned forward and cleared her throat. “Food supplements do not require FDA approval.”

“That’s great. Okay. I hope the reason you’re not spending money today is because you spent it all developing a safe, healthy product.”

“Without question we have a product that is safe, healthy, and effective,” Heather replied. “We’re confident Victorious Vitamins will procure a large percentage of the market.”

“Right,” Frank said, wishing he could just walk away from the job and never see these people again. “One more question.”

“Yes?” Rich asked.

“I was hired Wednesday night. What happened to your original director?”

“We didn’t feel he was capable,” Rich answered, his jaw tight. “We saw your reel and knew you were the one who would convey our vision for Victorious Vitamins—pep, energy, health—”

Frank stood. “I’ll do the best I can. But don’t blame me if these commercials are embarrassing. I just hope the actors are decent. I’m not the one who chose most of them.” He looked the two of them in the eye. “I’m forty-two years old. I got into this business late in life because I decided I wanted to do something I love, something I can be proud of. I hope your vitamins are as good as you say they are.”

He walked out of the room and shut the door.

M
aggie went to two thrift shops that weren’t well stocked with petites, never mind anything red in a petite four. Then it struck her. She was wasting precious time. Thrift shops only can sell what people donate. They don’t place orders. It’s hit or miss. What she was looking for would not be easily obtained in a used clothing store.

Sitting in her car in front of I’ll Have Seconds, Maggie got up the nerve to call Gladys. She knew it was her only hope.

“Hi, Maggie,” Gladys answered cheerfully. “My size hasn’t changed since we last spoke.” She laughed. “I’m looking forward to tonight.”

“Me too. Funny you mention your size,” Maggie said, her voice casual. “The restaurant just sent me an e-mail confirming our reservation. They’re trying out theme nights. Tonight they suggest people wear red. I don’t know. Does that grab you?”

“A theme night? This isn’t a raucous, noisy place, is it? I’d like to see you but I can’t hear myself think when—”

“Oh, no!” Maggie said quickly. “It’s elegant. You’ll love it. Do you have a red outfit?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any problem wearing it tonight?”

“No. I’ll wear red. Sounds like fun.”

“Atta girl. See you later.”

Maggie hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief. What’s wrong with me? I should have made that call a few hours ago. Now I’ll buy Gladys a box of candy so she’ll have something to open. If the only package I have for her is that gray pantsuit she might throw it at me. I wouldn’t blame her.

Norman hadn’t called back yet. I know he’s doing that to annoy me, she thought. If he wants me to beg, I’ll beg. She dialed his number. Naturally, he didn’t answer. “Norman, please, I’m begging you to call me back. It’s important.” Then she sent him a text that started with the word EMERGENCY.

That should get his attention, she thought. Now to the chocolate shop. I could drive there in my sleep.