The iron gates to Daniela’s mansion in the trees were closed when I arrived. I parked in front and pressed the buzzer.
“Yes,” a voice said on the other end.
“Can I speak with Daniela?”
“And you are?” the voice said.
“A friend.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
It was like she was in the witness protection program.
“I didn’t know I needed one.”
“Your name?” the voice said.
“Sloane.”
“Sloane what?” The voice sounded insistent.
“Monroe.” I thought about throwing my middle name in for kicks, but I didn’t want to press my luck.
I heard some movement overhead and stuck my head out the window and looked up. A miniature video camera disguised itself in the branches of the tree. It made some adjustments before lining me up in its sights.
“Well, Sloane Monroe, Daniela is not here right now.”
“Can you tell me when you expect her?”
“No, I cannot,” the voice said.
“Can I leave a message?”
“What do you wish to say?”
“Can you ask her to give me a call?”
“Does she have your number?” the voice said.
“She does, but let me give it to you again just in case she’s misplaced it.”
I gave him my number and waited.
“Thank you. Goodbye Ms. Monroe.”
The camera stayed with me while I backed out of the drive and turned around. I didn’t get the secrecy.
Who were these people?
I spotted a slender jogger as I made my way back down the road. She ran past me but didn’t look in my direction. Her thick, black glasses shielded most of her face, but the hair was unmistakable. I did a U-turn.
“Daniela,” I said.
An iPod hung at the side of her waist, and she didn’t hear me at first. I waved and called her name again.
She removed her glasses and squinted at me and then crossed the road.
Once she got close enough to the car, she removed her earphones.
“Oh, it’s you. What do you want?”
“I need to talk with you about Parker,” I said.
“It’s like I told you the other day, we’re over. There’s nothing left to say.”
“I know. I just wanted to warn you.”
She jogged in place. “Why?”
“Charlotte Halliwell, the other woman he was seeing…she was poisoned.”
Daniela brushed a fallen piece of hair out of her face. “I’m sorry.”
“Parker is the number-one suspect. I thought you should know in case he tries to contact you.”
She didn’t seem the least bit concerned. “Did you go to the cops?”
“I’m helping them out with the investigation,” I said.
“But you promised. I don’t want the cops involved with what happened the other night. You said––”
“I know what I said, and I meant it. I won’t reveal your identity. Look, we both know Parker has a lot of pent-up anger.”
Daniela tossed her head back and laughed.
“Don’t worry about me. He’ll stay away if he knows what’s good for him. If he comes anywhere near me again, my brother will…”
She stopped mid-sentence, put her glasses back on, and jogged away yelling, “Thanks for the warning.”