Bosom Bodies (Mina's Adventures) Read online

  “I’m sure he meant for you to stay away. Anyway, I don’t take my orders from DeFiore.”

  Mina spread the Nutella on her toast, not sure what to think about what he said. He didn’t take orders from DeFiore. Was that good or bad?

  “Maybe you should call him back,” For once Diego sounded unsure.

  “Brian? I can’t. Don’t know his phone number.”

  “How about asking information? There is such a thing as international information service, you know.”

  “You don’t understand. I have no idea where he is, honestly.” The Nutella tasted like dirt. She felt Diego studying her. Didn’t he believe her?

  “Listen, he left about a week ago to accompany his mother to Mode—Medug—maledizione, some kooky place in Yugoslavia where stupid people with too much time and money go to see the Virgin Mary by appointment or some other idiotic story like that.” Her frustration clogged her brain.

  “You mean Medjugorje?” He sounded tense.

  “That’s it. You know about it?”

  “You are dating a good Catholic boy, I see.” His tone didn’t match the lighthearted remark.

  “Neither Brian nor his mother are Catholic. His mother heard about these apparitions on the twenty-fifth of each month and decided to travel there to see if the Virgin Mary, in her spare time, can cure her headaches.”

  “Sounds like you’re not too crazy about your future mother-in-law.”

  “She is not my future mother-in-law, and the feeling is mutual. Trust me.”

  “When are they coming back?”

  “That’s just it. Their passports were stolen, and they can’t leave the country. She probably hid the passports so he couldn’t be back by Christmas.”

  “Mina, listen to me. They are too close to Sarajevo. They need to get the hell out of there, now.” He clenched his jaw. What was going through his head? Probably nothing she cared to know.

  “Now you understand why I was so frustrated last night? He gets mad at me. He has no idea what’s going on in my life. I will not be accused of doing something I didn’t do.”

  “You did sleep in your neighbor’s bed.”

  Mina gave him her most withering look and hoped it was effective. She decided to finish her coffee somewhere else. When she attempted to stand up from her chair, he grabbed her wrist, a repeat of last night.

  “Give me their names. I may be able to help.”

  “Names? What names?”

  “Brian and his mother.”

  “What do you care?”

  “I care about you.”

  She sat back in the chair. He let go of her wrist. The coffee in her mug made tiny waves against the rim. She managed to set the mug on the table, not wanting Diego to see her tremble and not ready to ask how he cared.

  “Brian and Louise Starr.” She cleared her throat. “Aren’t you going to write it down?”

  He got up. When he came back she hadn’t moved at all, and still avoided his eyes.

  “Any middle initials?” Diego wrote on a white sticky note with a dark blue pen.

  “Maybe. I don’t know. The subject never came up.” He wrote in a very slanted, large cursive. “Your handwriting is very nice.” She wanted to say something pleasant but not too personal.

  “Thank you.” He folded the note and put it in his pocket.

  “Diego, what did you mean when you said they are too close to Sarajevo?”

  “There is—political unrest. Not sure it’s a good place for Americans.”

  “Oh, I had no idea, and they are stuck there. Maybe I wasn’t very nice, huh?”

  Diego didn’t answer and seemed to avoid looking at her. The unspoken words made the silence unbearable.

  After a minute that seemed like ten, she said, “I noticed the door of your secret room is open.”

  “Keeping my promise. You unzipped your gym bag, I unlocked my door.”

  “Oh, yeah. I should go and check it out.” They didn’t move, didn’t look at each other.

  “Yes, you should.”

  Awkward.

  Their coffee had gone cold a while back. Mina was the first one to leave the table. She rinsed her mug in the sink, turned to Diego, “Okay, I’m on my way to the mystery room.”

  “Right behind you,” he said. “By the way, we need to leave at noon while the maintenance crew is at lunch so we won’t be seen using the service exit.”

  “No problem, I’m wearing everything I brought with me.” Mina headed down the hall. “DeFiore said you were going to tell me about Barbara.” She wasn’t really interested in the second bedroom, but keeping busy kept her from analyzing events she’d rather ignore.

  “Why do you need two computers? I don’t even have one. I use the one at the office sometimes, but only if I need to type something. My handwriting is bad, not like yours.” She slid open the closet doors and found men’s clothing neatly organized and covered by plastic bags. “You have more clothes than I do.”

  “That’s because I’m older, had more time to acquire them.” He didn’t sound too entertained by her comments.

  “What’s this? A McDonald’s uniform? Wait, a Triple A shirt? Why does it say Joe S. on the nametag? How many jobs have you had? But your name is not Joe—“

  Diego walked up and slid the closet door shut. “About Barbara—“

  “Oh, yes. Have they found out something new? Is Ginger back in town?”

  “Mina, sit down and pay attention.” He pushed the office chair by the desk in her direction. It was the only chair in the room. She sat while he stood beside it.

  “Bosom Bodies was used to launder money, and Barbara Spencer was the facilitator. She siphoned off a small percentage of every dollar she ran through the books. But she got greedy. She stole three quarters of a million dollar from people who are not very forgiving. She invested that money into something else that was meant to double the amount within a week.” He sounded like he was reading from a script.

  “Oh, how smart. So she was going to pay back the seven hundred fifty thousand and still have a lot of money left. Clever woman.”

  “She got killed, Mina. How smart is that? Anyway, the Feds were onto the scam and getting ready to shut down the operation when she died. She didn’t know I was there to collect evidence the same way she didn’t know the people she worked for had grown suspicious and placed Angelina there to keep an eye on things.”

  “Damn. This is like a movie. But where do I come in? Why did Ginger and Barbara want me to pretend I was Ginger and work at Bosom Bodies?”

  “That’s the one point five million dollar question. You’re somehow unwillingly tied to the seven hundred fifty thousand dollar investment. Barbara had a one-way ticket to New York. She was scheduled to catch the red-eye on Monday night. Monday was your last day at Bosom Bodies. We know Ginger was already in New York.”

  “Ginger didn’t go to Vegas to be married? This is confusing and is making me very sad. I hardly knew Barbara, but Ginger is a very sweet, caring person. She always volunteered at the animal shelter and was getting certified to work with handicapped children in some foreign country. What was she doing in New York and…? Wait. You are saying they lied to me? They used me? For what?”

  “Your car was used to bait Barbara. You found the flat tire after work. Angelina probably let the air out of it. When we left, they used your car to approach Barbara. She wasn’t going to walk up to a stranger’s car late at night on a deserted stretch of road. Your car is easily recognizable. Forensics found no trace she ever was inside your Volkswagen. By the way, I bet you’ll get your car back when you see DeFiore.”

  “It’s about time. But it will never feel the same knowing my car was instrumental in Barbara’s death.”

  “Get a lock on that car, and you’ll be fine. Barbara wasn’t run over by a car, she was beaten to death in her own apartment. The killers drove her there, beat her to get information, then drove her body back to where her car was parked and left her on the beach below to be found the ne
xt day.”

  “Oh, my God. How could someone do that to another human being? Diego, did the people who killed Barbara break into my condo?”

  He nodded. “Mina, they aren’t stupid. Angelina is a small fish. They’ve figured out you don’t know you’re the keeper of whatever Barbara’s investment is. Hurting you would not solve their problem. They’re hoping sooner or later you will take them to the stolen money investment. After that, they won’t need you. That’s why you’re here. DeFiore is determined to keep you safe. Can you think of anything special Barbara or Ginger asked you to keep for them?”

  “This is not good. Neither one gave me anything. Maybe they invested in real estate, or antiques. Why can’t DeFiore arrest the people doing all this? You must know who they are. What are you waiting for?”

  “I don’t arrest people, good or bad. How can I explain? Picture an iceberg. Barbara, Angelina and her accomplices are the tip of the iceberg everyone can see floating. But the most important part is what you can’t see, the large mass underwater keeping the top afloat. I swim under the water, trying to find a way to take down the whole iceberg. Does that make sense?”

  “You scare me,” she said, got up and headed for the bedroom.

  “Mina. Stop it. You know I could never hurt you. Look. The only way to find an answer is to revisit everything you did with Barbara and Ginger, or said to them, during the last three weeks.”

  She turned to face him. “I have a better idea. How about you and DeFiore beat the hell out of Ginger until she tells you where this precious investment is? I’m sure you both know how to make people talk.”

  “I wish I knew how to make some people shut up.” Diego said.

  They looked at each other. Mina could feel the electricity between them.

  If this were a movie, we would kiss.

  “I’m sorry.” She didn’t move.

  “It’s okay. I understand. Cabin fever.” He smiled. “It will all be over soon.”

  “How do you know?”

  “It always is.” He sounded sort of sad. “New icebergs surface all the time. Then I get the call.”

  Chapter 14

  Mina used her key to let herself into West Coast Software. Inside, she found Paco’s office door open. It was a Saturday and there wasn’t much going on in the building.

  “Oh, there you are.” Paco came from the warehouse. “Adams called. He’s on his way. Mina, you haven’t been around for a while. Come, sit down, let’s talk.”

  He sounded quite animated. What was going on? She followed him. Before closing the office door, she turned to glance through the front window. Diego was nowhere in sight. True to his word, after delivering her to West Coast Software, he left.

  “Brian has been calling here saying you never answer the phone and he is concerned.”

  “I spoke to him last night.” She wasn’t about to discuss their lovers’ quarrel with Paco or anyone else for that matter. “There is—was a problem with my phone, and I couldn’t call in or out. By the way, how is Margo?”

  “Margo had food poisoning. She’s trying to figure it out, said you both ate at the same place yet you’re fine. She should be back at work by Monday. How about you? You’ve been different since you moved into that swanky side of town. Are you okay?”

  Mina felt herself blushing. The mere mention of her condo had her thinking about Diego and her yearning to be with him.

  “I don’t care much for the place. I’m going to talk to Adams about getting me out of the lease. Is there any news about the merger or the sale of our business?”

  He shook his head and sighed. “I’m not sure I understand what these investors are up to. First they acted like they were in a big rush, now they’re dragging their feet, asking for more concessions. Adams is putting together a final proposal. After that it will be take it or leave it. They initiated the deal, not us. I’m perfectly happy to keep on doing what I’ve been doing.” He swiped at the clean desk with his hands. Paco tended to clean imaginary dust when he was in deep thought. “I guess we’ll see.” He shrugged. “You know, I think I forgot to lock the back door. I’ll be right back.”

  He walked out and Mina found herself alone in the quiet office her mother once occupied. Silence, even in these familiar surroundings, made her question every sound, every sight. Fear had become her constant companion since Diego explained she was the guardian of something many bad people seem to covet. Her mind explored horrific scenarios of people kidnapping her, inflicting her physical pain. All because of answers she didn’t have. In spite of all of her excuses, she only felt safe when she was with Diego.

  She went back to the lobby, and dialed Margo’s number.

  “Hello?” Margo sounded half-asleep.

  “Hey, Margo, it’s me, Mina. How are you doing? My phone is not working, that’s why I couldn’t call you. Did you see a doctor?”

  “Shit, Mina, never again. I’m never, ever going to eat at that place again. Yeah, I’m better, was able to drive myself to the doctor and back. Probably lost ten pounds, but not in the right places.”

  “Glad to hear you haven’t lost your sense of humor.” She wasn’t going to tell Margo about the break-in, or Sarajevo. Nothing anyone could do about it anyhow. “I forgot the super glue and the dumbbells in your car. Did you find them?”

  “They are probably still where you left them. I managed to get in and out of the car keeping my eyes focused ahead or I would’ve thrown up. I’m much better, and I’ll be at the office Monday. Why don’t you stop by and get your stuff then? And no, we are not doing lunch.”

  Mina saw Adams’s Lincoln pull up outside. “Adams is here. We have to go talk to DeFiore again, and this time he better give me my car.”

  “Say hi to DeFiore for me, okay?” Margo sounded energized at the mere mention of DeFiore’s name.

  “Of course.” Mina hung up and headed for the front door. Paco must have gone out through the warehouse, as he was already hunched over the passenger side window talking to Adams. When he saw Mina he stepped back and opened the car door for her. She got in and waved good-bye.

  “That condo is not working out for you, is it?” Adams brought it up before she had a chance to start complaining. “I’m working on getting you out of the lease without penalty. The break-in should be enough. But, Mina, where do you go from there? I’m not talking location. I’m asking you on a deeper level. What do you see yourself doing in the coming years? There must be something you feel passionate about. Whether or not you plan on spending the rest of your life with Brian, your own life should have a purpose.”

  The question hovered, Mina felt overwhelmed by mixed feelings. Adams had a way of bringing clarity to her muddled emotions. She didn’t want to dig into her so-called passions of any kind right now because regardless of the questions, only one answer kept popping up—Diego.

  Nothing escaped Adams. She recognized that. He might not know the name or face behind her hesitation, but he must have figured out something was brewing. It was almost a certainty Brian had phoned Adams when he was unable to reach her. Maybe even after their last sparring match.

  “Detective DeFiore seemed very concerned about your safety, Mina. Perhaps I’m not up to date with all that’s happening. The fact that he wants to talk to us in his office on a Saturday afternoon is serious enough. How about you tell me your understanding of the events?”

  “I’m not sure I know the whole story myself. I’m told some bad people are trying to find something that Barbara Spencer, Bosom Bodies manager, stole from them. Everyone, cops and robbers, is convinced I have it. However, I don’t know what it is, neither does DeFiore. So, you tell me, where do I look if I don’t know what I’m looking for?”

  Adams nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. They drove the rest of the way to the police department without speaking. Adams parked and they walked in together. They were told DeFiore was running late, and asked if they could please wait.

  They sat. The P.D. surroundings intimidated Mina, as
usual. Ten minutes went by. As she yawned, an older man in a police uniform walked by and stopped to speak to Adams. They shook hands and started reminiscing about some closed case.

  Adams turned to her. “Mina, do you mind if I go over to Bob’s office? I’d like to look at some photos of a case.”

  “No problem, I’m sure DeFiore will find you when he gets here.” Left sitting alone on the bench, Mina’s restlessness peaked. She got up and walked around. Not much to see, almost every desk had a computer, a phone, papers, pencils. Boring.

  A laugh came from somewhere down one of the side corridors. A woman’s laugh. Could it be Sam? Mina walked toward the laughter. No one stopped her. Sam sat at a large desk behind a glass partition, talking on the phone. When she saw Mina in the hall, she motioned her to come in, then hung up.

  “Mina, what a nice surprise. What are you doing here?”

  “I came over with Adams. We are waiting for DeFiore. He wants to talk to us.”

  “Adams?”

  “Oh, you don’t know him. He is a lawyer and a good friend. He ran into a cop he knows, they are somewhere chatting.” In spite of the cheerful tone, Mina felt embarrassed. She hadn’t forgotten that Sam saw her driving around Ginger’s condo complex. Might as well get it over with. “Sam, about Thursday—I don’t want you to think I was snooping. All I wanted to do was to return some stuff to Ginger. Honestly.”

  Sam looked at her with renewed interest, “You have things that belong to Ginger? What? Her wig?” She said wig with a smile and that lifted the sense of gloom Mina felt.

  “No, not that. I stopped by the gym where I first met Ginger and the owner gave me a set of pink dumbbells Ginger had left behind. I mean, not a big deal, I had to drive by her place anyhow. Then I saw DeFiore’s green sedan and decided it would be wiser to keep on going. He had warned me to stay out of Ginger’s life. There, now you know. Please don’t tell DeFiore or I’ll never get my car back.”

  “It’ll be our little secret. What did you do with the dumbbells? Were you able to get them back to Ginger?”

  “No. Here’s the thing. I was riding with my friend Margo. She works at West Coast Software. We ate at this joint she likes, and she got sick. She dropped me off at the gate of Bayside and took off like a maniac. I left the dumbbells and my Super Glue in the back seat of her car. They are still there because Margo is in bed sick.”