The man at the head of the table looked up. "The meeting will now come to order," came his light baritone voice.
I guess he's the big cheese, Viv thought. She glanced at his name plate on the table. Frank Salucci, spelled in bold black letters.
Frank tipped his head toward Viv, his blue eyes looking slightly salacious. Did he just lick his lips? Ick. She didn't feel the smile. Not like Rex, when he directed his thousand-watt grin toward her. When he was on stage, that was another smile entirely. On stage he pretended.
A ladies’ man. That's how Frank Salucci thinks of himself. I'm the only woman in the room so I get his attention. Even if I am old. Viv adjusted her seat, leaving her hands folded in her lap.
Likely in his mid sixties, Frank Salucci had that air of authority. While the other men at the table shuffled papers, he gave instructions. "We'll get the minutes approved and move on to other business as soon as Joey shows up. I'm wondering what's taking him so long?"
Viv had the feeling people did not make a habit of being late with Frank Salucci. He had that way about him, like a jaguar stalking its prey, waiting for one slip and then gulp, you're dinner.
"I need to talk about the casita rentals," a man sitting next to Frank spoke out. "We're losing money."
"Not now, Pete. Like I said, we're waiting for Joey. And then Dean has to read the minutes from last month first. There's no need to rush." Salucci's voice sounded firm. He looked over at Viv again, as if waiting for her to agree. His attention made her nervous. She didn't like being the only female in the room.
Before she could issue him one of her well-honed withering glances, a loud voice came from down the hall. Viv turned to look over her shoulder right as the door swung open.
A woman stood in the threshold, tall and lean with the posture of someone used to unceremoniously interrupting people. She was dressed like a cop. Crisp white button-up shirt. Tan slacks. Brown belt. She held a badge extended in her right hand. Her voice curt.
"Stop the meeting." She made her way toward the conference table.
The officer passed Viv and Rex without a glance. Her eyes stared directly at Frank Salucci. "I am Officer Susan Farrah." The words came as a challenge, as if she dared him to disagree. "We're responding to a 911 call. A housekeeper found a dead body in one of the casitas by the golf course."
She looked at each man at the table. Dean's face registered disbelief. Samuel Daniel's jaw clamped shut. Farrah’s eyes drifted past the empty seat, where Joey Baker's name plaque stood. "He's not here yet?" She pointed.
Pete Langford spoke up. "He's just running late." Even to Viv's untrained ear the excuse felt flimsy. The one guy missing at the table would most likely be the first one interviewed by Officer Farrah.
Viv gasped as Rex reached his arm around her shoulders. With a quick glance she looked at the officer again, realizing this wasn't the first time she'd seen her. The name was familiar. But the woman's demeanor was different. She's looking good. Much better than the last time we met.
Susan Farrah barked another order. "I'll get one of my sergeants to track him down. The rest of you sit still."
To Viv's surprise Frank Salucci had a somewhat amused expression on his face, his mouth open slightly, a smirk at the corner. From the front row she clearly saw his icy stare, taking in the officer in charge. His overall impression was one of nonchalance, like he heard about dead bodies every day.
"Who's dead?" he asked, his voice casual. As if that question came naturally, just like, “What's for dinner?” Then he laid both hands on the table.
Susan Farrah flinched. Her head jerked back for just a second, then she spread her legs out and squared her shoulders. Although she recovered quickly, it was obvious Salucci got under her skin.
"My team will be interviewing everyone at this table in just a few minutes. Like I said, don't go far."
Viv had to hand it to her, Susan Farrah had taken command of the room. She watched as the policewoman's eyes glanced over each of the name plates and then at the man sitting behind. After each inspection, she paused to write in her notebook. The corner of her mouth tightening.
Once she closed the notebook she turned to Viv and Rex. "Why are you two here?"
"Hello again," Viv said.
"Hello." Susan gave a small smile.
Rex stood. "Officer Farrah. Looks like you've got another situation on your hands." He kept his hands in his pockets.
The men at the table remained silent, watching the interaction.
Farrah cleared her throat. "So what brings you two to the meeting?"
"We're homeowners," Viv explained.
"We have concerns," Rex admitted. "Some landscaping issues." He glanced up at the ceiling.
"And children being allowed to play in the street." Viv sounded indignant. "On the way here we saw a child on his tricycle almost hit by a silver Mercedes. The driver was speeding on Joshua Tree Way. He didn't even stop."
"Did you now?" Farrah pulled out her notebook. "Didn't happen to jot down the license number, did you?"
"No," Viv mumbled.
"I know the plate," Rex interjected. He tapped his temple with his finger. Viv recognized one of his on-stage gestures. "It said, ‘Just Win.’" He nodded with certainty.
"Shouldn't be too hard to look up." Farrah’s pencil scratched across the paper in her notebook. "You two don't need to stay. I think I have everything I need here," she added.
Rex replied, "I can't argue with that. Maybe I'll head over to the casita to see what's going on." He offered his hand to Viv, helping her to her feet.
"Stay away from my crime scene," Farrah said firmly. "You're not involved with this investigation. I've got everything under control."
Viv smiled appreciatively. "I'm sure you do. We wouldn't have gotten involved last time if it hadn't been for your…" She paused and then added, "Unexpected leave of absence. But now I can see you're on duty so we'll just head home." She bumped Rex with her hip, hoping he wouldn't disagree.
Her heart pumped rapidly in her chest as they walked toward the door. Once out of earshot, she asked, "Are we really going to look at the casita and the crime scene?"
"I don't need permission to check out my own neighborhood," Rex replied. "Nice cover back there, by the way. If I didn't know you better, I'd say you outright lied to the officer. Let's get going before she can stop us."
Outside the building, Rex grinned. "This may be our next case. If there's a dead body in that casita like Farrah was saying, then Redondo and Rose are back."
"I have no intention of another case," Viv said.
"This has to be a murder," Rex continued, brushing aside her objection. "Otherwise why would the cop be so official. Like I was saying, if there's a dead body, we can pick up where we left off. I'll be Philip Marlowe." He pulled at his earlobe, tugging the brim of an invisible fedora.
Viv scowled. "You've been doing that a lot lately. Pulling your earlobe. I think I've seen that before. In a movie."
"The Big Sleep," he answered. "Bogart plays Marlowe in that film. He pulls on his earlobe all the time."
"And flirts with Lauren Bacall," Viv said.
"You're some kind of dame." He lowered his voice to imitate Bogart. "Let's head over to the casitas and see what's goin' on."
Rex offered his elbow with a smile.
He's irresistible, she thought. Then, despite her better judgement, she took his elbow, knowing full well she'd probably regret the decision sooner rather than later.