"I can't believe you just showed up at the wake and introduced yourself." Rex knew he sounded upset. Her impulsive decision worried him.
Viv sat with her feet propped up against the stones that surrounded his fire-pit. The flames licked at the rocks, the blaze casting light on her face. She's beautiful in the firelight. I like the way the angle of her chin lifts as she looks at the stars.
He'd texted her earlier, hoping they could get together.
He'd not expected her to arrive with such interesting news. She took a beer and began to tell him about showing up for Carmine's wake. He nursed his beer and paid attention. But then when she got to the part where she turned the Bible around, he leaned forward. His nerves tingled. I forget that Viv has some nerve. Touching a dead guy like that.
"Carmine looked so fake," she said. "Waxy and lifeless. That's to be expected. But the bullet hole? No sign on that forehead. I don't know how they managed to cover up the hole, but if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I'd assume he died of natural causes."
"I think the desert mortuaries hire old Hollywood makeup artists to do their work. Not surprising they're good at it. But let's get to the other part. You actually turned the Bible around right under his cold dead waxy hands?"
"Sure did." Viv nodded. "I didn't break one of his fingers off or anything, if that's what you're wondering. It needed to be done, so I did it."
There it was. That practical side of Viv. But had she gone too far this time. Maybe someone noticed what she did and took offense. He shuddered to think of what the family would do if someone messed with one of their own.
"So was the widow, you know, properly upset?" he asked.
"People lined up to offer their condolences," Viv replied. "She was devastated. In tears. I didn't stop to talk to her. But then I didn't stay very long."
"Do you think Mrs. Carmine might have killed her hubby?" Rex asked.
"I can't say for certain, not having met her face-to-face. But in case you're wondering, Beverly's tears sounded sincere on the phone. I sensed she genuinely grieved the loss of her husband. And then Jason told me they were close. So there’s that."
"So what did you think of Frank?" Rex asked.
"I didn't get to talk to him face-to-face either. Most of the time he was surrounded by other men. I'm thinking he's the head of their group. The one with the power. All the men there were afraid of him," she said thoughtfully. "It was more than respect. It seemed like genuine fear."
"He is retired. I got that from Sutton. In his previous life he was a motion picture director and producer. Used his profits to promote his films. I think there was a rumor that he was a part owner at the Pair-a-Dice. At least he spent a lot of time there. Had a high-power poker game going every week in a back room. And now he's turned his eye to real estate; property dealings in the high desert."
"Mob connections?" Viv asked.
"Maybe, though I'm not sure about that. The casino is run by a Native tribe, the Cahuillas. Maybe they bought him out at one point," he mused.
"So no more poker games?"
"Could be. Either way, Frank's supposedly out of the casino business. Sutton is looking at Dean Marcella now. She thinks he may have a Fluff and Fold connection."
Viv leaned back in her chair. She continued to stare up at the night sky. "I wish I knew more about constellations," she said softly.
"Me too." He wanted to say more, but constellations were the last thing on his mind. If only Viv was as interested in me as she is in the night sky. He held up his empty bottle. "Want another one?"
"No thanks." She didn't look over.
When he returned to the firepit, she was still gazing at the stars. "So let's recap." He pulled his chair closer. "We know Carmine had a wife. She also has an unlimited capacity for tears, which may be who she is or may be because she's an actress and putting on a show. But you think the former is true."
"Genuine tears. From my perspective. Plus we also know that Carmine owned or at least operated the local Fluff and Fold," Viv added.
"Carmine must be connected to Frank Salucci," Rex said.
"And the other HOA guy, Dean what's-his-name, sells shoes out of a truck in back of his place," Viv said.
"Or Dean's son does. Remember?" Rex smirked.
"Like I believe that excuse," Viv scoffed.
"It may be a father and son operation," Rex said.
“You're right. That may be true. But let's stick to what we know about the HOA guys first."
“Okay, so we have Frank, Dean, and then the preacher guy," Rex concluded.
"Samuel Daniels," Viv said. "He seemed so nice. And he's a man of God. I think he can be scratched off our list of suspects. Plus I didn't see him at the wake, so maybe he didn't even know Carmine."
Rex tapped her arm. He made a face at her in the dark. "The church is filled with lunatics and money grabbers. How do you think the Vatican got so rich?"
"That doesn't mean a retired chaplain, an admiral no less, would murder a person. I'm not seeing Pastor Daniels as a suspect. Like I said, just because he's on the HOA with others doesn't mean they are associates or even friends."
"You think he's a good guy," Rex said.
"And you think all of the HOA members are suspects," she replied at once.
Rex had to admit that she was right. It was part of his work to listen for the secrets that people did their best to hide. Probably makes me suspicious of everyone. Kind of collateral damage in my line of work.
He didn't respond to Viv's accusation. Instead he took her cue and looked up at the night sky to avoid defending himself. The expanse of the stars, the swath of darkness made him feel slightly out of control. He focused on her again. "I'm thinking we've found out a lot about Carmine. But the most interesting part is what you overheard when Frank was talking to his wife about Joey Baker."
"I agree," Viv replied. "Head-of-the-family Frank thinks that Joey was acting oddly. And that means he may suspect that Joey killed Carmine."
"Maybe so," Rex commented. "So I think we need to focus on Joey Baker. Let's get a good night's sleep and make our plan in the morning."
"During our walk," Viv added.
Rex's heart skipped a beat. As long as we're investigating, I get to see her every day.
"Get a load of that dipper," he said, pointing to the sky.
"Which one is that?"