"Get out of here," Officer Farrah commanded. "Or I'll arrest you for obstruction."
Rex's voice, smooth as a baby's skin, rose to disagree. "Oh, surely you don't mean that. We were really quite helpful the last time." He turned to Viv. "Plus there are two of us now, a team. Working for the course of justice." He reached for Viv's hand.
When she yanked it away he casually lowered his arm. "We're only here to help." Rex added a nod to make his point sound convincing.
Farrah blinked. "So she's your partner now, is she. My recollection is that you just met a few months ago. And then you called the cops because you were snooping over her fence and saw the body when she was at work. You're that guy, right? The mentalist from the casino?"
Used to hecklers and naysayers, Rex didn't blink. Maybe Officer Farrah wasn't susceptible to his little boy charm. Okay, he knew some women who weren't. Not many, but some. He knew what to do—he'd disarm her by immediately agreeing and then changing the subject.
"That's right! I'm happy you remembered. And yes, we are friends now. That's due to the kindness of this woman standing next to me. She's something. A rare human being who keeps an open mind and doesn't jump to conclusions."
Rex knew that his power of persuasion was one of his best tools. He put subtle ideas into people's heads, which they would later assume they'd come to on their own.
But Farrah's body language, her glaring eyes, and straight-lipped mouth, made him wonder. Am I losing my touch? Did I get into her head or not? He waited for a clue, a softening of her expression indicating attraction or, at the very least, interest in what he was saying.
When Farrah stepped back and folded her arms over her chest, he knew he'd missed his mark again. Okay, have it your way, he thought. In that moment Rex felt a certain admiration for Officer Farrah. The rare woman, like Vivienne Rose, for example, who didn't respond to his moves. He remembered telling Sutton about that just a few months ago.
"I like how Viv isn't taken in by me, my little games," he'd admitted to Sutton over a beer. "She's a challenge."
"I think you may have overestimated your charm on women," Sutton commented matter-of-factly. "I don't care about your little boy act either. So that makes two of us. Viv and me. Like this." She held up two fingers close together.
Farrah's fierce glare brought Rex back to the present. The fierceness in her gaze made the color of her eyes shift slightly. From sky blue to a darker shade of indigo. Then she dropped her arms, her mouth softening at the corners. She didn't smile, but she wasn't grimacing either.
If I'm not mistaken, she's changed her mind. This is a good sign. And now I know that she's resistant yet susceptible to the power of suggestion. He glanced quickly at Viv again, hoping she'd notice how expertly he'd handled the situation. Unfortunately, Viv paid no attention to him or Officer Farrah. She kept staring at the body in the bed.
Rex followed her gaze. The dead man lay against the white embroidered pillowcases. His mouth hung open as if he'd been caught by surprise. Hands lay poised over the folded edge of the expensive sheets, which had been pulled up to touch his double chin. Rex knew the linens were pricey because they were embroidered. Black thread with D.T.E. for Desert Tortoise Estates was on every pillowcase and at the corner of the top sheet.
"He's dead, right?" Viv looked to Farrah for confirmation. "I assumed, you know, with the bullet hole and everything. But you're the professional." Her voice trembled.
"Yes, he is," Farrah answered in a lowered voice. She instantly sounded less confrontational. "And let me remind you once again, you are not invited to this crime scene. I'll give you both one more chance to go home quietly. And none of your mentalist shenanigans either!" She saved a glower for Rex.
At that moment a paramedic walked past Viv, hurrying to the bed. He bent over the dead man. Lifting the crisp linen sheet carefully, he gave it a tug, and then let it fall. The dead man's face was no longer visible.
"Very respectful," Rex said approvingly.
"We're not here to be respectful," Farrah said. "But before you leave, it dawns on me that I may have been a bit hasty to dismiss you so quickly. I may have jumped to conclusions. I forgot to ask: can you identify the victim?"
Rex kept his face immobile. I did get to her. Because now instead of dismissing us, she’s asking questions. "Oh, I know him well. He frequents Pair-a-Dice."
"He comes to the casino for your shows?" Farrah looked surprised.
"No, not my shows. He drinks at The Roadkill and he gambles. Kind of a high roller. Plays a lot of blackjack."
"I see." Farrah pulled out the pad of paper and pencil from her pocket. She made a note. "Let's step outside. I can ask more questions and then you can go home." But before they could turn to go, she interrupted. "Did you happen to catch his name?"
"I don't know his name," Rex admitted. "Sorry about that."
"You've already helped a lot," Farrah admitted. Her voice sounded more respectful. She turned to Viv. "And you too, Miss Rose. The same question. Did you know the victim?"
"No, I did not." Viv glared at Rex. "I don't gamble. And the dead man doesn't look remotely familiar."
Sensing Viv's irritation, Rex felt uneasy. "So happy we could help." He put his arm around Viv's shoulders protectively and ushered her toward the door. This time she did not shrug away.
Standing together in the cool night air, Viv wasted no time. "So you've seen that guy? That's a real coincidence." She sounded doubtful.
Rex paused for a moment, considering his options. He decided then and there he had to tell Viv the truth, just like he would Sutton. Two of a kind. "I have no idea who that guy is. I just looked him over and made the assumption he's a gambler. His manicured fingernails made me think of a card player."
When she remained silent, he kept talking.
"Plus I wanted an excuse to give the cop, you know, to make me look more useful. She was trying to send us home," he claimed. "I didn't want to be dismissed. So I told her a few details and it worked. She stopped treating us like add-on baggage at the airport."
Viv glared. "You are incorrigible. The lies just flow from your lips. It's second nature with you!" She shook her head at him.
Rex's stomach sank. Somehow he'd gotten into trouble with the woman he'd only wanted to impress. He had hoped that she'd see his good intentions underneath the small fabrications.
He had hoped they would go back to her place and then sit by the pool. Talking about their new case would bring back the energy and intimacy he'd come to anticipate in her presence. And then they could solve the case together. Just like neighbors in crime.
But now she was mad at him. He could feel it in her body language, the way she'd stepped back. And her crisp judgment about lying. That too.
Before he could explain, Officer Farrah came striding through the open door. As she came closer, Rex closed his eyes briefly, then opened them. And in that instant another plan snapped into his head.
He'd solve the murder with Viv. He'd show her how his lies were only used for good, not evil. He'd be sitting by her pool in no time, knocking back an IPA, figuring out who killed the guy inside.
It's gonna work, he told himself. You really are quite extraordinary, Rex Redondo.