“I’m looking for anyone who’ll give me any kind of information.” He took a drink of his coffee—tepid, but beggars couldn’t be choosers—and sat down to wait.
Appearing harried, Beth Harper showed up about forty-five minutes later. She was in her midforties, near as Rex could tell. She had a plump figure and a blondish pixie haircut that was currently popular in the Hollywood set, but was harder to pull off after a certain age.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was waiting for me until Isabel texted me,” she said a little breathlessly.
“We didn’t have an appointment,” Rex assured her. “I just left a phone message over the weekend. I’m actually looking for someone. Ralph Gaines. You purchased the agency from him and his wife?”
“Oh. Yeah. Years ago.” She waved a hand dismissively. Old news. “Jimmy and I were looking for a business to buy and Ralph was getting ready to sell.” She peeled a scarf from around her neck and heaved a sigh. “You want to come into my office? I need to sit down for a while.”
“Sure,” Rex said.
Ravinia popped to her feet and they all walked single file down the blue-carpeted runway that led to the glassed-in office. Beth flipped on the lights and hung her jacket and scarf on a coatrack in one back corner. On the desk was a picture of her, and probably her husband, in happier days, the shot snapped in an outdoor setting. They were smiling at each other while behind them dandelion seeds floated upward like little ballerinas.
Seeing they were looking at the photo, Beth said, “We renewed our vows in a field. It was just such a perfect day.” For a moment, she stared at the photo and her eyes watered, but then she took a deep breath and said, “You’re looking for Ralph Gaines. Can I ask why?”
“I’m his niece,” Ravinia said before Rex could answer.
That wasn’t strictly the truth, but Rex decided it was as good an explanation as any.
“We’ve lost touch,” Ravinia went on, “and my mother really needs him now, what with Kayla running away again and Dad leaving. It’s been hard,” she embellished. “But Uncle Ralph’s her brother.”
Rex stared at Ravinia. Kayla? He’d just chased down a runaway teen named Kayla shortly before Ravinia showed up on his doorstep.
Beth Harper looked at Rex. “Isabel said you were a private investigator.”
“That’s right. Ravinia hired me to help find Mr. Gaines.”
“Hmmm. Well, I don’t know that I can help you.” Beth’s eyes slipped over the stain on Ravinia’s jeans. “We bought the business from Ralph and Joy, but they were at the tail end of a divorce and she was just a signature on a page. We mostly dealt with him. I believe there was talk of moving to Colorado, but I can’t remember if that was Joy or Ralph or both of them. They didn’t seem like they were staying together.”
“Did you meet my cousin, Elizabeth?” Ravinia jumped in.
That caught Beth off guard and she frowned slightly.
Rex tensed, worried that Ravinia had pushed too hard and blown it, but all Beth said was, “I do recall your cousin. She was a little girl at the time. But . . . well this had to have been, what? Maybe twenty years ago.”
Rex was surprised. “But you remember her.”
“Elizabeth. Yes. I remember because her name was like mine.”
“I really want to find her, too,” Ravinia pressed.
“It’s Ralph I remember most,” Beth said. “He was proud of the business and I think he was suffering serious second thoughts about selling it, so he kept showing up long after it was sold, just to see how we were doing. The divorce forced the sale, and eventually he moved. I didn’t really know the wife.”
“So he didn’t move to Colorado.” Rex made it a statement rather than a question.
Beth frowned. “No, at least not then. Really, I didn’t keep up with either one of the Gaineses.”
“Did you meet Elizabeth?” Ravinia cut in, asking the question again before Rex could ask for a forwarding address.
“He brought her with him a couple of times.” Beth seemed to want to say more but didn’t know how, so she just shut down.
“What was she like?” Ravinia questioned.
“A little quiet . . .”
Rex gave Ravinia a look and asked Beth, “Do you have a forwarding address?”
“I’m not sure I do,” she apologized. “We bought the business outright and Jim wanted it to be just ours, so he discouraged Ralph from coming around.”
“But Elizabeth,” Ravinia pushed. “What do you remember about her?”
“It’s funny you should ask,” Beth said, then shook her head as if dispelling something from her mind.
“Why?” Ravinia asked.
“She went to Wembley Grade, which is not all that far from here. Do you know it?” Beth was looking at Rex.
“I do.” How do you remember that, and not anything else? he wondered, waiting for Beth to explain.
“I don’t want to tell tales out of school,” she said, “but there was an incident with Elizabeth that sticks in my mind. It’s one of those weird things that seemed important at the time, but maybe really isn’t.”
“What?” Rex asked.
She hesitated, and something about that hesitation made him brace himself for what was to come. Even before she spoke, he found the hair starting to lift on his arms. Rapt, Ravinia leaned forward, sensing the change in the atmosphere, too.
“Elizabeth was a pretty child. Fairly quiet, like I said. But one afternoon when she was here with Ralph, she started suddenly shrieking that the bridge was falling down. ‘The bridge is falling!’ she yelled, standing on one of the chairs in the agency. Everybody stopped and stared at her. It was just so . . . odd, all of a sudden. Ralph tried to shush her, but she was adamant. ‘The bridge is falling!’ ”
“What bridge fell?” Ravinia asked, never taking her eyes off Beth.
“Well, that’s just it. We thought it was ‘London Bridge is falling down.’ Ralph said as much. He played it off like she did this kind of thing all the time, and maybe she did. Anyway, about two hours later a pedestrian bridge not far from here collapsed over a ravine. Nobody was killed, luckily, as it crashed down at night, but it was spooky because of what Elizabeth had said. I called Ralph about it, but he acted like it was just a coincidence, and maybe it was, but . . .” Beth let out a pent-up breath. “Anyway, I’ve thought about it over the years, and I’ve wondered about Elizabeth. If you find her, I’d like to know how she’s doing.”
“You don’t have any address for either Ralph or Joy?” Rex pressed.
“No, as I said. Only the address from when they lived here. It was an apartment building near the grade school. Brightside Apartments, I think. I don’t remember the unit number offhand. Maybe I could find it,” she said doubtfully.
“That’s all right,” Rex said.
They talked to her a few more minutes, but Beth Harper was tapped out and losing interest, her gaze drifting back to the picture of her husband and herself in a field of dandelions. She promised to call or e-mail Rex if she thought of anything else.
Outside, Rex cast an eye toward the hovering black clouds overhead, pulled Ravinia’s backpack from the trunk, and handed it to her before climbing into the driver’s seat and waiting for her to buckle up.
Once they were on their way, he said to her, “We’ll get your clothes clean and then I want you to hit Wembley Grade School and ask some questions. You can say you went to school there, or something. Maybe ask about a teaching assistant job. Tell them your cousin went there. Teachers remember former students, especially if there’s something about them that’s different and it sounds like Elizabeth was different.”
“You’re going to trust me?”
“I think you’re a natural when playing a part,” Rex admitted.
“What are you gonna be doing?”
“I’ll check Brightside Apartments, find out who owns the complex, see if I can engage the manager into conversation, see how long he or she’s been there. Migh
t even be able to do that today.”
Ravinia seemed to roll that over in her mind as Rex drove into traffic. “I’ve never been inside a school,” she admitted.
“First time for everything. You look like you could still be a student. Have you got anything besides jeans?”
“You mean like that red dress Isabel was wearing? No, sorry. My wardrobe’s a little more limited than that,” she said testily. “And I purposely didn’t bring one of Aunt Catherine’s dresses.”
“Aunt Catherine’s dresses?”
“Long, old-fashioned ones. She wanted us to look like we were . . .”
“Amish?” When she didn’t immediately answer, he asked, “You know about them?”
“Yes, I know about them,” she snapped. “We did have a television, though it’s nothing like yours. And books. No, Aunt Catherine just wanted to shut the door on all the bad things that were out there. Hide us away. Reverse time.”
“I don’t think it worked with you,” Rex said lightly.
“I guess she did what she thought was right,” Ravinia said grudgingly.
They lapsed into silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts.
Then Rex said, “Maybe we can’t have you apply for a job at the school. It might be better if you were a student. Check in with a couple of the older teachers as school’s letting out. Maybe someone will remember Elizabeth. Beth Harper sure did.”
“Maybe they have information about where she went.”
“It’s getting that information. Privacy laws make it difficult. They’re not just going to hand it over.”
“We have to sneak the information out of them.”
“Well . . . yeah . . . a lot of times.”
They drove for several miles through the traffic-choked surface streets, and then Ravinia asked, “What did you think about what she said about the bridge falling down?”
“I’m glad it made an impression on Beth Harper.”
“I know, but Elizabeth predicted the bridge collapse.”
“So, what are you saying? She’s got a gift, too?” he asked drily.
“Maybe.” Ravinia lifted her chin. “Maybe Elizabeth can see the future, sort of like my sister Cassandra . . .”
“Good, then she can see us looking for her. Maybe she can even help out. Send us a signal.”
Ravinia heaved a deep sigh and looked through the windshield as if she found him too, too dense. “I’ll go with you to the apartments.”
“No, I’ll take you over to the school later. Anyway, I’ve got a lot of other things to do.”
“What other things?”
“Other jobs. People other than you. I’m driving to the office tomorrow, so I’ll take you back to Santa Monica.”
“I’m not going back.” She looked affronted. “The trail to Elizabeth is here.”
“I should’ve had you sign the contract when you were in the office.”
“Well, bring it on. You want a retainer? I’ve got money.”
“So you’ve said.”
“Fine.” With that, Ravinia reached down for her backpack and started digging through it.
“Stop. We’ll take care of it later tonight.” When she set the pack back down, he said, “I take it you plan on staying another night.”
“I can find another place to sleep,” she said with a sniff.
At that moment, a deluge of rain poured over the car, sheeting the windshield so thick it ran like honey. Rex threw the wipers on full blast. “You might want to rethink that,” he pointed out.
Though she looked like she wanted to make some retort, she wisely kept her mouth shut.
Elizabeth dropped Chloe off at school and drove to Fitness Now! She sat in the parking lot for several minutes, flexing her hands on the steering wheel. She’d dressed in workout gear, but her main reason for heading to the gym was to cancel her membership. It was all fine and good that her friends wanted her to stay, but she could sense a tsunami of financial problems rushing toward her and if she didn’t start swimming now, she was going to be battered, beaten, and drowned in debt.
She found herself surreptitiously looking around the parking lot for a sign of GoodGuy’s convertible and caught herself up. Let it go. It doesn’t do you any good to dwell on it. It’s over. There’s no reason to tap into negative feelings.
Pulling out the combination lock she kept in the glove box, she hurried inside against a persistent, cold rain, then made her way to the women’s dressing rooms. Grabbing the first available locker, she placed her purse and jacket inside, then spun the lock’s dial to erase any sign of the combination numbers and headed into the main fitness area with its treadmills, ellipticals and various other workout equipment.
She chose a treadmill in front of a television that was tuned to an all-day news channel, which was fine with her. She’d barely gotten started when Vivian, whom she’d called to tell that she was heading to the fitness center, appeared wearing a dark orange tank top and black Lululemon pants. She waved at Elizabeth then grabbed the treadmill next to her, which was just being vacated by a man sweating from head to toe.
“So glad you changed your mind about the membership. We should start up yoga classes again,” Vivian said as she grabbed a towel and sprayed it with disinfectant from a bottle kept near the machines. “Ugh. Some guys can sure sweat!” She started the treadmill and began jogging. “It’s sick the way they never wipe down the equipment after they use it.”
Elizabeth was starting to sweat as she’d set a fast, uphill pace. “I’m probably still going to give it up,” she answered, puffing a little. “My membership, I mean. I came in to do just that, but I wanted to work out at least once more. I don’t know. Everything just feels so uncertain.”
“You’re coming to the grief counseling group tonight, right?” Vivian asked.
“Yeah . . .” Elizabeth kind of wanted to get out of it. She just wasn’t sure how.
Vivian started out slowly on the treadmill. “It’ll be good. You’ll see. Everybody feels uncertain, but we’re all coping in our way. Some better than others. You know that’s how I met Nadia. I’m not supposed to talk about other people’s problems, but since you know her, and about the miscarriages, I don’t think I’m really breaking the news. Anyway, that’s how we became friends. Everybody in the group is good people.”
“I don’t open up well,” Elizabeth said, breathing hard. She could feel the exercise in her calves and chest and she almost wanted to crank up the speed some more. It felt good to burn through all the anxiety and worry.
“That’s okay. You can listen. Most of us do at first. Bring Chloe over and we can go together.”
“I can get a babysitter.”
“But why? I’m sorry Lissa made that awful comment to Chloe, but they have fun together.”
“Okay. I’ll bring her over right after dinner.”
“Perfect.” Vivian smiled.
Elizabeth pressed for more speed and their conversation stopped. Another group, she thought warily, then decided that maybe opening up and sharing her concerns would actually help her.
Chapter 19
It was a pisser being left at Rex’s house waiting for her clothes to wash while he was off following a lead. Ravinia had argued with him, but he’d left her high and dry anyway, heading out while she was still wearing the woman’s robe he’d found for her in one of his closets. She’d asked about it, but he’d mumbled something unintelligible, which had led her to believe the robe was a leftover from some woman with whom he’d once been involved.
It had all been a ploy, anyway. He’d waited till she was without her clothes and then taken off. Just like that. Honestly, she hadn’t thought him wily enough to pull that on her, which had been a mistake. He was an investigator and he probably did things like that all the time in his job. She’d just thought . . . well . . . she’d trusted him more than she should. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Barefoot, she wandered from the living room into one of the back be
drooms, neither of which possessed a bed. It looked like he lived in only three rooms, but it was a nice place. Particularly nice with rain pouring outside. She’d turned on the television and learned that the Californians were rejoicing in the deluge as they’d been in a long-term drought, although the freeways were choked with creeping traffic caused by numerous fender benders.
I’ve got to get a driver’s license. And I need Rex’s help.
Ravinia wasn’t calculating by nature. She was too up front and generally annoyed by obstacles to approach them in any way other than head-on. It was something she’d always known about herself. However, she saw that she was going to have to find a new tact with Rex. She’d chosen him as her mentor, of sorts. She knew she could work with him, if he’d just let her, and he could help her get the things she needed. If he helped her, she could help him.
“What’s that called?” she asked the room aloud. Ravinia had been home-schooled at Siren Song by Aunt Catherine and her older sisters, and she had a “broad and eclectic education” her eldest sister, Isadora, was wont to say. She hadn’t been the most interested pupil; she’d fought her education all the way. But she’d absorbed more than she’d ever let any of them know, and then had passed her GED without a hitch, surprising everyone but herself.
She’d always known she would leave and had dreamed of grand adventures. Once she found Elizabeth and made sure she was all right and safe, maybe those future grand adventures could begin....
She returned to where she’d started, to the warmth and rhythmic beating of the dryer in the laundry room. For a moment, the word escaped her, and then it hit her. “Symbiosis,” she said. That’s what she and Rex Kingston could have. A symbiotic relationship where he helped her and she helped him.
She just had to convince him of that.
The Brightside Apartments were a lesson in deferred maintenance. The paint was peeling along the edges of the eaves and one downspout had completely disengaged from the building, allowing rain to pour over the choked gutter in an unbroken arc of water. Cracked and uneven concrete made treading along the sidewalks hazardous, and yet the cars he saw in the parking lot were newer, higher-end models. Rex made an immediate assumption that the people living here valued their vehicles more than their abodes, not that it took a genius to figure that one out. No one was taking care of the building, although the cost of living in the area was high enough that he suspected it wouldn’t be long until some conglomerate bought the apartment buildings, upgraded them, and jacked up the rents.