Neighbors and More (High Rise Series) (6 page)

Still engrossed in his telephone conversation, Steve was
facing the ocean. A moment later, he clicked his phone shut and slipped it into
his shorts pocket. He strolled back into the living room, an apologetic smile
on his lips. “Sorry about that. It was Carter. He had a question about business.”

She shrugged. Honestly, she couldn’t care less about
Steve or his roommate.

“Now we toast.” Steve took the glass remaining on the
table and smiled. “To you and me being friends.”

 He raised his goblet and emptied it. She sipped hers
slowly.

“Go ahead, finish it,” he insisted, his hazel eyes blazing.

“I don’t drink that fast.”

“Okay I’ll have another with you. Then I’ll go soak in
the Jacuzzi for a few minutes.”

“It’s not good to drink and go into the hot tub.”

“Don’t be silly. Those tubs are made for sharing a drink
and fun.”

She gulped down her iced tea. “I have to go.”

 “Me too.” He gave her a strange look. “Good bye,
sweetie. I’ll sure miss you.” He kissed her on the cheek, sauntered to the
entrance door, and turned to glance at her. “I may call you later.”

“From Atlanta? Don’t. Have a good trip.”

“Yeah. I will.” He arched an eyebrow, stared at her for a
moment, and walked to the door. She slammed it behind him. About time.

With a big humph of relief, she hustled to clear the
table and left the glasses and bottle on the kitchen counter. A throbbing
headache pounded at her temples. Thank God, he was leaving for Atlanta and
she’d managed to survive his visit without problems.

****

“I hope you didn’t wash them?” Dante asked as he and the
detective leaped off the sofa.

“I didn’t have time what with Greg and you visiting one
after the other.”

“Thank God.” Ladd grabbed his briefcase and reached the
kitchen in a few giant steps, followed by Dante. The detective extracted
plastic bags and latex gloves from his briefcase and deposited them on the
counter top. He dug his hand into his treasure bag again and came up with a
camera. After clicking a few pictures of the glasses, carafe, and the whole
kitchen, he slipped on the gloves and carefully slid the carafe and two glasses
into plastic bags, enveloped the precious packages with bubble wrap, and put
them into another bag.

He turned around and scanned the counter top bar separating
the kitchen from the living room. “Where did Steve stand when he poured the
liquor?”

“Here,” Alexa said, pointing to the other side of the bar. “He
poured the drinks here, at the bar, but when the phone rang he left his drink
on the table and I did the same.”

Ladd took more pictures. “I think I’m done.” He surveyed the
living room one last time. “Before I leave, would you mind if I have a look at
the rest of your apartment?”

The detective was doing his job, and she had nothing to
hide. She shrugged. “Sure, go ahead.”

Without waiting for her to show him the way, he strode to
the office and surveyed the room. “Do you often work here?”

“Not really. I e-mail my friends and order things on the
Internet.”

“Your computer?” He pointed to the desktop sitting on the humongous
antique desk.

“Actually, it’s Greg’s old one. I use the laptop.” She
showed him the small PC laying on the cocktail table in front of the sofa and
the wide-screen TV.

“So the bedrooms and office face west and have views of the Intracoastal?”

“Yes, and the living room and kitchen face the ocean on the
east.”

The detective clicked a few pictures. He did the same in the
guestroom and then returned to the living room and walked the hallway leading
to her bedroom. He entered, surveyed the room, snapped a couple of pictures.
His camera in hand, he opened the closet and stared at the two full-size
suitcases. He bent and lifted them, assessing their weight. His eyebrows
arched. “Are you traveling soon?”

“I was going to New York tomorrow to visit a school friend,
but I changed my mind after what happened.”

“It’s wise.” He shot a picture of the suitcases and
continued his exploration of the bathrooms.

“Well, I’m done with my questions. You have been most
helpful, Mrs. Partson. Mr. Cantari, did you talk to Bairey in the elevator?”

“Barely. He said, ‘What brought you back? We thought you
left for good.’ He didn’t seem pleased to see me.”

“How so?”

“In the past, he used to be smiling and talkative, as if he
wanted my friendship.”

“You wrote on the information sheet you saw him at about 12:00
pm. Correct?”

Dante nodded. “He got off at the fifth floor when I met him
in the elevator.”

“So he exited at the floor of the apartment he shared with
Carter Morton, must have spent some time there, and then went up again to the
twenty-first floor.” The detective looked at Alexa. “Why was he so intent on
seeing you?”

“I already told you. To share a drink and say goodbye.”

“Do you really believe that?” Ladd asked with a sarcastic
smile as he headed to the door.

No, she didn’t believe it. But then, why had Steve come to
see her?

Her head spun with confusing and scary questions. Did he die
because of the drinks? What if
she
had swallowed the Amaretto he’d
served her? A cold chill snaked down her spine.

“Earth to you,” Dante said, with a grin as he tickled her
chin.

“Let’s go out.” She returned his smile and smothered her
creepy thoughts.

After a late dinner, they walked hand-in-hand in the tourist
avenue of Las Olas, paused and admired lit window-shops. By midnight, Dante yawned
and suggested they hit the sack.

With too many dreadful images twirling in her mind, Alexa
knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. “
Malibu Bar
has a late band.
Come. I’m sure you’ll like it.” Dante obliged and they’d lingered out drinking
and dancing, until the place closed.

Silence hovered in the car as Dante drove home and later as they
rode the elevator. No matter how hard Alexa tried to erase the images etched in
her mind, she couldn’t forget today’s events. She opened the door of her
apartment and froze in the hallway.

“Do you want me to stay with you?” Dante asked after a big
yawn.

“You must be very tired.”

“A bit sleepy, but that’s not a problem. I can keep you
company for a while.” His sympathetic smile warmed her heart.

“Would you mind, please?” An irrational fear twisted her
insides. Maybe his presence would help her conquer her demons. “Make yourself
comfortable in the office. I’ll be back in a minute. We can chat and watch a
movie.”  

True to her word, she changed into decent pajamas and immediately
returned. Dante peacefully slept, his head resting on the back of the couch,
and his legs stretched on the cocktail table, while the TV projected an oldie
from the eighties. She smiled at his peaceful, choirboy expression, and cuddled
next to him.

A tinge of guilt hit her. Poor Dante. He was exhausted and
jet-lagged, and she’d submitted him to such a long night. “Sorry,” she
whispered, laying her forehead against his chin. His arm automatically
encircled her shoulders and a contented groan escaped from his parted lips.
“Pleasant dreams, Dante.” She chuckled, and then sobered. “I hope my own are
not too dramatic.”

Chapter Five

Alexa buried her head under the pillow, determined to slip
back into a peaceful slumber. But the ringing continued, persistent and
annoying, until she reached for the phone and squinted. Sunrays filtered
through the shades and bathed her bedroom in a subtle glow.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty. Did you have a good night? No
nightmares?”

“None.” Was there anything more delightful than to be
awakened by Dante’s cheerful voice? “Boy, did I sleep well.” Better than she had
in a year.

But he wasn’t here now. “Uh...” She didn’t recognize her husky
voice and cleared her throat. “When did you leave?”

“Not sure. I woke up in the middle of the night to find you
asleep in my arms in your office. I carried you to bed and went home to
collapse.” Dante’s chuckle faded. “Alexa, the detective called me. He’ll be
here soon.”

“Damn it, can’t he leave us in peace. I told him everything
I know.”

“Still he has to come back. See you in a moment.”

The hot spray of the shower relaxed Alexa’s sore muscles but
did little to lighten her worries. Wrapping a bath towel around her like a
toga, she fetched her clothes and quickly got dressed.

After drying her hair, she applied her eyeliner and lipstick.
Just as she was spraying a whiff of perfume on her neck and wrists, a soft
knock alerted her and she opened the apartment door. Her heart skipped a beat
at the sight of a showered Dante, his hair wet and tousled. A delicious smell
wafted from the covered skillet in his hands.

His eyes skimmed over her, and he smiled broadly.

“Do I pass inspection?”

“Oh yes. You’re lovely as usual.” His gaze rested on her décolletage.
“Good thing I have a healthy heart,” he added with a chuckle that made her
blush to her ears. “Let’s eat. Yesterday, I picked up a few things on my way
home from the airport.”

Dante had cooked a delicious omelet with sausage, cheese,
and tomato. His stomach rumbled. “
Dio
, I’m hungry.”

“Why is the detective coming back?” Alexa asked as she
brought plates, napkins, and silverware and set them on the kitchen table in
front of the bay window, while Dante toasted the bread.

 “They finished the autopsy. He wants to discuss a few
things.”

Sitting in front of her plate, she played with her fork.
“Why couldn’t he say it over the phone?”

“Routine procedure. Eat your omelet. I guarantee it’s good.”
He made a show of taking a big bite, sighed, and licked his lips. “Honestly,
it’s a chef’s masterpiece. As good as the ones my
nonna
makes.”

She didn’t smile, but worked a bite into her mouth and
slowly chewed as if her stomach had knotted. Dante finished the food on his
plate just as someone knocked. Alexa pushed back her chair and darted to the
door.

“Good morning. Come in, Mr. Ladd.”

“Am I interrupting your breakfast?” He glanced at his watch,
reminding them it was already 10:30 am.

“We’re done.” With a wave of her hand, she invited him to
sit in the living room. “So what did they find?”

“The autopsy revealed that he passed out and drowned,” the
detective announced as he dropped into a leather chair.

“Really?” She frowned and crossed her hands in her lap.

 Dante chided himself. He should have warned her not to
reveal her feelings so openly. He came to sit beside her on the sofa.

“The autopsy also revealed a substantial level of alcohol
and a high dose of an antidepressant drug. This combination and the high
temperature of the hot tub must have made him drowsy.”

“Which drug?” Dante asked as he extended his arm behind
Alexa’s back, his fingers gently pressing against her side. The less she said
now the better.

“Valium, also called diazepam. Mrs. Partson, did you know if
Bairey was taking Valium?”

“He never said anything about it. Julia should know.”

“She already told us neither she nor her husband had ever
been prescribed this drug.”

The blood drained from Alexa’s face, and she stiffened.

The detective peered at her like a cat about to hypnotize a
mouse. “Have you ever taken Valium? Would we find the drug in your personal
pharmacy?”

Alexa stared at him and turned to face Dante. She seemed
unable to part her lips.

“Tell him if you remember.” Dante understood her shock, but her
facial expression could be mistaken for fear. Smiling at her, he nudged her in
the side.

“My doctor prescribed Valium two years ago when I was
stressed because of the divorce, but I never took it. The pill bottle is in the
bathroom, in the medicine cabinet.”

“You never took any of it?”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“Alexa is not the only person who has Valium in her pharmacy,”
Dante hastened to point out.

“Dianna mentioned she was given some,” Alexa agreed with him.
“We have the same doctor.”

“Yes, she admitted having a few pills left in a bottle,” Ladd
concurred.

“What now?” Dante asked. “Are we still required to stay home
waiting for further interrogation?”

“You are free to come and go as you please, but don’t leave
town until this investigation is closed. I have your cell phone numbers. I’ll
call you if I need you.” He stood to leave. “I’d like to take your bottle of
Valium with me.”

“Okay. I’ll get it for you.”

They followed her to the master bathroom. The detective slipped
his right hand into a latex glove. As soon as she took the bottle from the
glass cabinet, he snatched it out of her hand. “Your doctor gave you a
prescription for ten days. One tablet of 10 mg per day,” he read off the label.
“You sure you never took any?”

“Never. A friend told me it caused her dizziness. I didn’t
need that on top of everything else.”

Ladd spread a clean tissue on the dark granite counter, pushed
the lid down, and opened the bottle, and then carefully spilled its content over
the tissue.

They counted seven pills. Chills coursed her arms and legs.

“Three are missing,” Ladd said ominously. “I’ll be back
soon.”

****

 Alexa’s knees buckled. “I don’t understand. Who took the
three pills?”

Steve’s death was turning into a nightmare for her. With the
back of her hand, she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“Alexa, are you sure you never took any? Think hard.”

“I’m sure, Dante. I hate taking medicines. Besides, you saw
the lid was still securely tightened as if it had never been opened.” She
reached inside the cabinet and took out a few bottles. “Here, you can check
these. Those I never used are still securely tightened. But the ones I used are
easy to open. Once I open them, I don’t tighten them again.”