Stilettos & Scoundrels (29 page)

“I brought you some coffee, I thought you might want a late afternoon pick
-
me
-
up, although I spilled half of it on the way and the rest is probably cold by now. I was trying to make it up to you for being late,”
I
apologized.

“Don’t worry about it. Come on back to the office,” Katy said to
me
. “I have a new espresso machine. I was spending way too much time and money going to Betty’s. Not to mention it was hard to go there without getting a muffin too. I can whip us up some of that fancy coffee you like so well.”

“Yum…lead the way.”

Katy fired up the machine and soon the room filled with the heady aroma of fresh brewed espresso. How
I
loved that smell. It was almost as good as the taste. Almost.

I
sat down on the brown leather couch in the break room/office of Katy’s sa
lon and waited for my
coffee to brew. “I like those jeans
,
Katy.” They were wide leg jeans with white embroidered butterflies on the cuffs. She paired them with a crocheted sho
r
t sleeve top that just set off the cuff of the jean well. “I need you to tell me everything you know about
Cooper
. Besides what we heard from Dirt last night. What has he been doing since the army? How did he get into private security?”

“What’s with all the questions? You like him?” Katy teased.

“Hardly. In fact, it’s the other way around. He drives me crazy.” In
m
any
w
ays
,
I
wasn’t ready to admit to
anyone
I
felt something there. Hell,
I wasn’t ready to admit it to my
self. “But I asked him and he put me off. I guess I am just surprised to find him in this line of work and curious that he doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“Didn’t you have a thing for him once?” Katy asked, looking at
me
as she expertly steamed milk for their lattes. “Wait a minute. Didn’t you get together once our senior year? Yes, yes,” she said excitedly, as if catching
me
red-handed. “It was the party after you got in that huge fight with Brian when you found out he had messed around with Gail Severs.”

“Please. One time. It meant nothing,”
I
said with a dismissive wave of
my
hand. At least it had meant nothing to him.
We
had what
I
thought was a connection
—
talking all night, among other things. Then, the following Monday at school, he acted as if
I
didn’t exist. “That was a hundred years ago
,
and I didn’t even remember until you just brought it up.”
I
had thought about that night a lot since it had happened, though not in years. However, when
I
saw
Cooper
Saturday at the hotel, it all came flooding back.

“Just forget it.”
I
didn’t like where this conversation was going.
I
didn’t want to talk about
my
feelings,
especially
regarding
Cooper
. “So, did you find out anything? Ruth was less than helpful
,
and on top of it, she called
Cooper
and my mother and told them I was trying to get information from her. I had to listen to both of them yell at me and don’t relish a repeat of that.”

“Don’t think you’re going to get off this easy, Presley. I want to talk more about this
Cooper
thing. But I guess it can wait,” Katy said to
me
with mock sternness. “Since I do have some exciting news!”

“What!”

“I confirmed Helen Daniels was definitely having an affair, and still is, if you believe everything you hear. Which
you do,
of course
,
because
you saw it with your own eyes. Mrs. Dixon, who comes in for a wash and set every week, told me it was common knowledge
that
Helen and Tom were sleeping in separate bedrooms and definitely had their own lives, if you know what I mean. Those were her exact words
,
and she even winked at me when she said it. It was hilarious
,
and it was all I could do to keep from laughing. She told me the only thing keeping them together was money. His love of hers that is, because I don’t think he had any of his own. Helen just didn’t want the scandal of a divorce or to have to pay him off.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t call me the minute you heard this! Did she give you any idea who Helen might have been involved with? We already suspected her of the affair. We just need to find out who it is. This is awesome news.”

“No, she wasn’t exactly sure who it was, but she’s convinced it’s someone here.”

“You mean here as in Alkon? Why?”

“Because, for the last six months
,
she said Helen has been spending more time back here in town than she has in a long time
—
and without Tom, which is unusual. They typically have the fake ‘happy family’ thing going on. Mrs. Dixon said Helen used to come to Alkon about once or twice a year
,
and it’s been that way for years, because Helen never really liked it here. Then, in the
p
ast six months, she has come back about twice a month, supposedly on
‘
family business.
’
However, what could possibly need her attention this much lately, especially without Tom? We would have heard about
some
thing that important through the grapevine.” Katy was vibrating with excitement at being the one to give all this news.
I was glad to have our
suspicions confirmed. At least it was a start.

“Hmm, you know, Ruth also made me think there was something going on. She got very annoyed when I started asking questions about Helen. The gossip queens,”
I
said
, nodding my
head in the direction of Margaret and Hildy
,
“didn’t have a lot of nice things to say.
But
Harriet
Sands
insinuated that the Senator had someone working for him who is gay. Or, as she put it, someone of an ‘alternative lifestyle
.
’ Since the Senator was publicly against this ‘lifestyle
,
’ if people knew about it, it could be bad for him. Can you believe that people still even care about this in today’s day and age? As if someone would get killed over that.”

“They must be talking about Tobey Stone.”

“What?”
I
choked on
my
latte. “Tobey’s gay?”

“Duh. I thought most people had that figured out in junior high. You’re not very observant.”
Katy launghed.

“Well, that sucks. I had thought maybe Tobey was who Helen was having an affair with. You know, I saw them arguing at the Coffee Café
,
and Tobey’s young and good-looking. I thought maybe Helen might have picked him to get back at the Senator, since he was one of his employees. It would have been a great way to get back at him if she was so inclined. Nothing like a little young eye
-
candy on the side.”

“Tobey’s definitely not having an affair with Helen,” Katy laughed. “You should have told me before that that was what you were thinking. I could have saved you a lot of time.”

“Well, then maybe it’s Chris. You know, keep it in the family.”
I
was joking, but the look on Katy’s face made
me
stop for a moment and start to think that there was definitely something going on between her and Chris.
More than just the casual fling Katy had alluded to.
The other night at the restaurant,
I
knew Katy liked him, with the shameless flirting and noticeable cleavage. However, when Katy said it was all in fun,
I
believed her that she was just playing around. But
when I
mention
ed
Chris having an affair, even in jest, a pissed-off look flitt
ed
across her face and was quickly replaced with sadness.

“Katy, what’s wrong? Is there something you’re not telling me
?
”
I
probed gently. Tears welled up in Katy’s eyes. “Is there something more than just a flirtation and fun going on between you and Chris?”

She nodded, trying to get control of her emotions.

“Well, why are you crying about it?”
I
touched her hand. “If you like him and he likes you
,
then you have a right to be happy.”
I
was confused
about
why Katy was so upset
,
though
I
was sure it had something to do with the fact
that
Chris was being a jerk, like he had
been to her
in the past
.

“That’s just it. I’m not sure he does like me. I mean, for any
thing
more than just a quick fling
,
and I want more than that this time. I am not willing to settle
,
and he said
that
this time it was different. At first, he was really sweet and caring. He couldn’t seem to get enough of me and wanted to spend all our free time together. Then, these last few weeks, he’s been standoffish and distant. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” This statement brought a fresh burst of tears.

“Honey, nothing is wrong with you. If he doesn’t like you, that’s his problem. Not yours. Have you tried to ask him about it?”

She nodded again. “He just says he’s busy and that he’ll call. You know the typical unoriginal excuses that men come up with. The ones they think we’re stupid enough to believe. He just brushes me off.”

“I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I would just blow him off the next time he comes around. Make him realize you are not going to just sit around. You know how it is. When men think you’re available, they think they can treat you like crap. The minute you turn the tables on them, it is amazing how quickly they come running. Later, let’s go shopping. I promise it will make you feel a hundred times better.”

She smiled at this. “I know that’s what you’d do, but I’m not you. I can’t help it. I really like him. I have for years,” she shook her head ruefully. “You’d think by now I would have learned my lesson with him
, but
I can’t help it. There is something about him I just can’t seem to get over, even when he treats me like crap. I just keep thinking he will change. That this time is
the
time
.
”

“Trust me
;
I’ve made plenty of mistakes with my love life. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Sometimes you have to act strong even if you don’t feel it. You can’t let Chris know how much he can hurt you or he’ll take advantage. Most guys will.”

“I know, I know. Guys are pigs. So remind me
,
why do we like them?”

“Well, the alternative doesn’t seem all that exciting either. Can you imagine how frustrating it would be to date a woman?”
I
said in a half-hearted attempt to cheer Katy up.

We
both sat there for a minute
:
Katy lost in her own thoughts and
I was
trying to be patient, waiting for Katy to collect her thoughts while sipping her coffee.
I
wanted to get back to the matter at hand, but didn’t want to push her. Chris was a jerk and had always been a jerk, in
my
opinion, even though Katy never seemed to remember. Better she realized finally what a big jerk he was before she continued to let him play his games with her. She was way too good for him.

“You know,” Katy, said, tapping her finger on her lips thoughtfully, seemingly back in control of her emotions, “I did hear a rumor a while back that Bobby Johnson was having an affair. Supposedly it was the reason Bobby’s marriage broke up.”

I choked on my
coffee again at this news. “Stop telling me these things when I am drinking something,”
I
scolded Katy playfully. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Sorry
.
” Katy giggled.

“You know I love gossip just as much as the next person, but does this have anything to do with our investigation? We need to focus.”

“The rumor was going around for a few weeks right when Bobby separated from his wife and came back from his trip from Las Vegas. Supposedly, he went there to recover from his big heartbreak.
But
if cheating was the reason his wife left him, he shouldn’t be too upset. It was his own damn fault.”