Chapter 69
SOPHIE
“Explain this one more time,” Nicholas said, a teasing note in his voice. “I’m taking off work for what exactly?”
“Not for what,” I said. “For whom.”
“For you.”
“No. For Lily-Ann.”
He shifted his hands on the steering wheel as he drove away from Old Town Goleta. “Lily-Ann is fine. She’s got all the money in the world.”
“She’s not fine, Nicholas.” I steadied the pastry box in my lap. “This whole thing is a mess, and you know how she feels about messes. None of us are fine.”
“But you know we’ll be okay, right?” He glanced at me. “You and me. Even if Mrs. B loses the Cottages?”
“Don’t even say that.”
“I know, but…” He turned in to the World of Goods parking lot. “We have each other.”
I ignored the catch of emotion in my throat and unbuckled my seat belt. “We do. I—we do. But if we lose the Cottages everything falls apart for everyone else. So we’re doing whatever Lily-Ann asks, to keep that from happening.”
“And that’s why we’re bringing mini-cupcakes to Cougar Jane Sheffield?”
“For an informational meeting,” I said. “About working in development.”
“And I’m here because—”
“Eye candy,” I said, which I enjoyed maybe a little too much.
When I’d mentioned in the Givemore Girls chat that I was visiting World of Goods, Angela warned me that Jane didn’t warm easily to younger women.
She claimed that if I brought Nicholas, Jane might open up a little, show off her wisdom and expertise.
“Also, her legs.” Which sounded ridiculous, but I found myself amused at the thought of Nicholas getting ogled.
World of Goods was housed in a lofty space with offices around the margins and a warehouse in the center, complete with pallets and forklifts.
When the receptionist brought us to Jane’s office, she was all smiles …
until she caught me gazing at her shelf of awards.
Most were thick black plaques, though a few were of the clunky cut-glass variety.
What stood out, though, was that she’d arranged them in a semicircle, with an empty place of honor in the middle.
Where clearly that big national prize, the Millerbrandt Award, should’ve gone. But hadn’t—possibly because of Frank DeYoung’s lack of support.
“I, uh, promise we won’t take much of your time,” I said, looking away from the display, “but I’m new to the field and would love to hear your advice.”
“You’re the one from Frank’s party,” she told Nicholas, as if I hadn’t spoken. “I remember you standing with Pax.”
“I went as Sophie’s plus-one.”
Her gaze flicked to me. “Such a tragedy.”
I couldn’t tell if she meant Frank’s death, or that Nicholas was my plus-one, so I blurted, “Wow, that’s a lot of awards.”
“Yes.” She bared her teeth. “All of them except the one that matters.”
“Well, er…” I offered the mini-cupcakes. “Consolation prize?”
Her eyes turned to ice. “Refined sugar is poison.”
Oops. Time to change the subject with a little ass-kissing. “No wonder you’re so skinny!”
“One’s body is a temple,” she said. “Not a trash can.”
“Oh, Angela shared that quote with me just the other day.”
“Did she?” Jane asked, clearly pleased.
“Yeah, with our whole fundraising group. She, uh, says that you’re among the most successful development directors in World of Goods history.”
Jane adjusted the neckline of her blue leopard-patterned wrap dress. “The Millerbrandt Award notwithstanding, I can confidently say that I’m among the top two most successful development directors, and I’m not in second place.”
“Ha!” Nicholas leaned forward. “Sophie says she doesn’t know what Frank was thinking, not making sure you got that award.”
“He was weak about that kind of thing. Too persuadable. And with his failing health…”
“You don’t think Karina influenced him?” I asked.
“Karina didn’t care enough to interfere.” Jane’s plump lips turned down. “And now she’s cut us off completely. Not just us, either. She threw a dozen organizations under the bus—against Frank’s will—though sadly, not against his actual will.”
When I kicked Nicholas, he chuckled at the wordplay. “Well said! Uh, but why did she do that?”
“She resented anything that attracted Frank’s attention. Charities, causes … beautiful women.”
Nicholas ignored my next kick so I was forced to say, “That must’ve been tough on your friendship.”
She granted me a tolerant smile. “It was, a little.”
“Do you think she really saw CJ push Frank?” I asked. “Or, I mean, would she point the finger at CJ just because she was jealous?”
“Jealous of that girl with her silly makeup? Her hair is exceptional, obviously, but if Karina were jealous of anyone…” Jane stared at Nicholas soulfully. “Don’t you think she’d have targeted me?”
Nicholas squeezed the back of his neck. “Right, yes. Of course.”
“Are you stiff?” Jane asked him.
I gaped at her.
Nicholas said, “P-pardon?”
“Rubbing your neck like that.” Jane rummaged in her desk for a business card. “You should give Pax a call, his hands are divine. His client list is a who’s who of Santa Barbara. Well, most are elderly, but he made an exception for me. I’m sure he will for you.”
Nicholas reached for the card. “Oh, thanks.”
“No need to thank me.” She held on to the card for a moment too long before she let Nicholas take it. “I’m happy to help.”
“Are they sleeping together?” Nicholas asked. “Karina and Pax?”
She shot him a naughty look. “No, Pax refuses to sleep with clients. Ask me how I know.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
“I’ll never tell.”
Okay, then. That was more than I wanted to hear about the cougar life of Jane. I leaned forward like I was confiding a dirty secret. “Did you hear that CJ disappeared?”
“She’s such a nonentity, how can you tell?
” Jane gave a tinkling laugh, then stood behind her desk.
“Well! My best tip for you is that this business is built upon personality. We’re not selling a concrete benefit, we’re selling a feeling.
Pride, altruism, vanity. So one’s personal appeal is key, which is one more reason you should learn to sparkle.
At least try. Here, I’ll walk you to your car. ”
Well, this was a waste of time. My phone buzzed again as we followed her from the office, so I glanced at the messages piling up.
Hamilton
Initial police exam revealed ligature
around Sunny W’s neck. Not sufficient
to kill him.
Lily-Ann
Someone strangled him, but
not to death?
Hamilton
Yes. They confirmed
from behind. Inside the car.
The screen dimmed when he didn’t continue, so I refocused on Jane, who was telling Nicholas about positive self-talk and the power of yes.
Lily-Ann
What else, Hamilton?
Hamilton
Sorry, back now. The assailant slit his throat.
Lengthwise. Which is rare and bloody.
Lily-Ann
Clearly.
Hamilton
Though I don’t know if bloodier than
normal throat slitting.
Lily-Ann
Why stop strangling him,
and slit his throat instead?
Hamilton
And takes some degree of skill.
The police don’t know.
Lily-Ann
I didn’t expect them to.
But the question strikes me
as a key one.
Hamilton
Oh, and they found CJ’s
cell phone. On an unhoused guy
outside the Art Museum.
Ocean
Oh. No.
Anthony
Not sure that that means.
What
Hamilton
Some homeless guy found
her phone.
Anthony
What what means
WHAT THAT MEANS
Lily-Ann
She abandoned her phone.
Or someone abandoned it for her.
“Mostly people don’t know what they want,” Jane was telling Nicholas. “Especially rich men. George Kagant wants whatever his wife, Helene, tells him to want. Sunny Wheeler thinks he wants eternal life but he really wants meaning in his meaningless life.”
I grimaced, but didn’t tell her that his meaningless life was over.
“What about Frank?” I asked.
She shook her head sadly, her first hint of real emotion. “He was as lost as the rest of them.”