Ladies' Night (Sisters in Crime/LA Chapter Book 2015) Read online

  I came upon a caravan of wrecked cars and trucks, windows smashed out. Roofs caved in. Even creepier were the human remains—skeletons and scattered bones. People caught with no way out, forever ghost riders.

  I found my way to the bank’s underground rooms and the mini-vault that Gloria had successfully breached in her previous visit. Black as pitch in there. I shined my powerful flashlight upon row after row of safe deposit boxes. They stared at me, metal faces, each with its unique number. Viper had marked on the map the boxes she had already opened.

  I approached a random number 3720. I inserted the lock pick device, followed her instructions and with a soft click, it released. I removed the long, narrow metal deposit box.

  “What will the lucky girl find tonight?” I murmured, took a deep breath and opened it.

  Inside were two gold watches, a stack of hundred dollar bills an inch thick, and a bundle of legal documents, including a will, deed of trust to a house, and other loan docs. At first, I didn’t want to see the names on the will, the presumed owners of these valuables. Made it all too real somehow. But I had to look. If I did turn the valuables over to Devon Royal, he’d need an inventory for his records.

  I put my ethics in a mental lockbox, my brain on autopilot and got to work. Plundered for a couple hours, writing a cryptic inventory on the back of the map—box number, surname, items removed. Finally, I stopped and took a drink from my water bottle. The bag of jewelry, watches and gold coins glistened in my flashlight beam.

  There was so much more I had left behind and I felt my resolve begin to crumble.

  The surreal experience shook me to my core. Box after box held more than cash and jewels. They held the true treasure—memories, proof of life, verifications of birth and death, marriage, even divorce. I saw wills and living trusts, CDs and video tapes, flash drives and smart cards—all the devices that stored a person’s life history. The photographs broke my heart. Sons and daughters, husbands and wives, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. I could feel the joy radiating in their faces.

  Family.

  A concept I barely knew, save for Gloria Viper. Maybe I was “the lucky girl,” but the Great Misery had robbed me in a way worse than these lost souls. I slid to the floor, back against the hard metal, and wept.

  “Why the tears, pretty girl?” A voice from the shadows whispered.

  I nearly leapt out of my skin. My fingers reached for the gun at my waist.

  Footsteps approached. To my shock, Devon Royal stepped out from the shadows.

  “What? How?” I stammered, and started to get up.

  “Don’t move,” he said, and brandished a pistol in my face. “I know about your partner in crime, Gloria Viper.”

  “Please, let me explain.”

  Devon smiled, humorless. “Save it for someone who cares. She picked the wrong bank, and after that scene in the bar, I had a feeling you might pinch-hit for her.”

  “I don’t understand. How—” He cut me off.

  “The GPS I planted in your vehicle.”

  “You stole my battery.”

  “I may have arranged it.”

  I felt like a prize fool. At Rusty’s, he’d been playing me all along. “So all that bullshit about a proper dinner? You set me up.”

  “Weren’t you doing the same? All your nonsense about a reward for turning in stolen goods. We’ve been on to your partner in crime for days.”

  “Please stop saying that,” I said.

  “What?”

  “Partner in crime.”

  He held up the bag of valuables. “What do you call this?”

  “Yeah, I took this stuff, but I’m sorry I did.”

  “Plenty of time for remorse.” He handcuffed me.

  “You have no right. You’re a salvager, not the law.”

  “I beg to differ. We have contracts with corporations who own the claims on these ruined banks. As such, we have certain legal parameters, similar to a security firm.” He hauled me to my feet. “I have every right to bring you into custody.”

  I struggled against the cuffs. “I though these lost banks were off the grid.”

  “Many of them are and we want to keep them that way. There’s not enough labor force to salvage them all yet, so we’ve installed motion sensors. Your partner in crime tripped one a couple weeks ago. We set up hidden cameras in key locations and caught her entering the bank vaults when she returned.”

  “Look, you have it wrong.”

  He wasn’t listening. “What adds to her crime—she could have only known about that entrance if she had access to blueprints or maps. I know that Clean Sweep has a safe filled with maps and blueprints. Perhaps she helped herself to a few. That will go over well with the judge.”

  “Please give me the courtesy to explain. Maybe you’ll have a change of heart.”

  “Courtesy, is it?” He laughed. “You’re something else, Kendall Mulholland. When you get out of jail, I’ll still take you on that proper dinner.”

  “Don’t do me any favors.”

  I sat on a concrete slab outside the mini-vault. He paced in front of me, listening without a word while I told him everything—Viper’s EQN, the bio-lab, the busted undercover ops, and her assassination by Poison Pill. I ended with our life before, how she raised me, gave me a home. “Don’t you get it? I owe her so much. I’m sorry. I feel terrible, but I planned to turn all this stuff over to you anyway, against her wishes.”

  I looked at my handcuffed wrists then raised my eyes to meet his. “You’ve no idea what else I found in those boxes. People’s personal histories. It broke my heart.”

  He held my gaze, a deep sadness reflected back, and said, “I know what you saw. In my business I’ve witnessed that and more.” Without another word, he bent down and removed the handcuffs.

  I rubbed my wrists. “Does this mean I’m off the hook?”

  “That depends. I may have a solution. You mentor is right to shield you from the cartels. We live in a close community. I’ve heard rumors of this new Poison Pill and I’m willing to offer her a deal. She gives me the names of who did this to her, including any additional, viable intelligence, and I will channel that info to sources who will avenge her death, and then some.”

  He pulled me to my feet. “You will be out of the loop so no chance of blowback. In return, Fortunate Sons will buy out her EQN. I’ve dealt with these parasites before. I can negotiate them down.”

  I stood in front of him, stunned by his offer. “You would do that for us? We just met.”

  “I know enough. I believe you’re a decent person, and that the last decade tested all of us who survived.” He massaged my bruised wrists, an unexpected and tender gesture. “Besides,” he continued, with a smile, “Forgiveness is making a comeback.”

  There were no words to say other than “thank you.” I leaned in and kissed him. He seemed to like that and said, “Guess this means we have a deal.”

  We both smiled, and I felt shy. To cover, I nudged the bag of gold and jewelry with my foot. “How do we explain this?”

  “I’ll submit it through the proper channels. Who’s going to question? It’s my company.”

  Devon and I spent the remainder of the night and into the early dawn recovering and cataloging the remaining deposit box valuables. We were emotionally spent when we made our way out. “You’re good at this,’ he said. “Methodical, attention to detail. I ought to hire you.”

  “Yeah, right.” I couldn’t be sure if he was teasing or serious. “Plunderer in Chief.”

  He turned and glared. “You need to stop with that kind of talk.”

  “Sorry.”

  “I’m serious. Someday, you come with me when we return a claim. You’ll feel the emotions that flow from these people when you hand over a birth certificate or a marriage photo of someone they’ve lost. What we do helps fill in the blanks. Gives closure. Helps financially, to be blunt. You tell me what’s wrong with any of that?” He couldn’t contain his anger. At me? Or at the world we
had been born into?

  I looked around at the rubble of a broken shopping mall, ghosts of a lost society, and ultimately, a tomb for unfulfilled dreams.

  Devon was right.

  I spent the last days of Gloria Viper’s life by her side, creating our final memories. I wasn’t allowed to be there for her meeting with Devon, but she approved of the deal, and gave him the name of her assassins, including other intelligence.

  Apparently, she approved of Devon. Even tried to play matchmaker in her final hours. “You should keep that man in your life. So he’s a foot shorter than you. Wear flat shoes.”

  Then the moment arrived. The heat of the day was upon us, when creatures of all shapes and sizes sought refuge in any available shade. Gloria lay in her bed, dressed in her favorite pajamas of scarlet red silk, with embroidered green dragons.

  “Times are changing, Kendall, and my bones tell me it’s happening too fast.”

  “You and your bones,” I replied. I embraced her. Felt her heart beat against mine. “I promise you, no one else will die from a Poison Pill. I will find that bio-lab, and destroy it. No matter how long it takes.”

  “As you will,’ she said, weak but determined. “Now, get on with it. I’m ready.”

  I injected the shot. She slipped into unconsciousness. One final breath and she was gone. I sat by her body. Held her hand until the sun set, a ball of rose-colored fire.

  With Devon’s help, Gloria Viper received a proper cremation. After the ceremony, and with the blessings of her family, Devon and I drove up to Mulholland Drive—to the western-most end. In the distance, the hazy blue of the Pacific Ocean spread to the far horizon and beyond. A gentle breeze carried her ashes to that infinite blue.

  Devon held me as I cried an ocean of tears.

  Afterwards he said, “I don’t know if I’d call this a Brave New Renaissance, but I believe we’re on the right side of history, however that future unfolds. The present is being written by us, and I want this, us, to continue. Come work for me. Be part of Fortunate Sons. Be with me.”

  I knew he would ask me this. I’d been weighing my future plans for days.

  “You make a generous offer, but I need to be fortunate in a different way. I’ve taken a Deputy Sheriff’s position with the new Sheriff’s Department.”

  I could see his disappointment.

  “You’re sure?” he asked. “We can pay you a hell of a lot more. Think of the perks, access to all the latest and greatest technology, and travel to exotic places, like Bakersfield.”

  I smiled at his Bakersfield joke. “You’re tempting me, Mr. Royal.” I reached out and stroked his cheek, feeling the stubble coming in—prickly, rough, like Devon, himself. “But you know what’s happened. My life has a clear direction now. A purpose.”

  “I suppose.” He held my hands in his. “You won’t forget me, right?”

  “As if I could. Maybe we’ll ride together in the future, but this is where I need to be, what I need to do. Until then, you remember me. Remember us.”

  And we kissed. Sweeter than honeysuckle.

  Our love sealed.

  Back to TOC

  Canyon Ladies

  Sarah M. Chen

  I gulped my Moscow Mule, almost swallowing the stupid mint leaf garnish. Clearly, I needed to settle down and take it easy. The charges of embezzlement and fraud were dropped. My husband was off the hook and we were at the Sunset Tower Hotel bar celebrating his good fortune with five hundred of his closest friends. I just needed to enjoy the evening, put a smile on my face, and savor my lovely cocktail.

  As my friend Sophie would say—excuse me, former friend—“Shut up and drink your drink, bitch.”

  A roar of laughter behind me. I glanced over to see Daniel, my husband, clapping someone on the shoulder, a view of the downtown Los Angeles skyline behind him through the bar’s floor to ceiling windows. A crowd of people I didn’t recognize gathered around him hooting and hollering. I caught my husband’s eye and his smile was so fleeting I wondered if I’d imagined it. It was hard to tell with the dim lighting in the plush bar.

  I sighed, wishing I could leave, but I was Daniel’s designated driver. Not only because he would be too sloshed from celebrating tonight to drive back home, but also because he had a suspended license for a DUI last year. That didn’t stop him from driving anyway, especially to the beach to surf. He was such a cocky bastard, he didn’t think rules and suspensions applied to him.

  But shit, he was right. Last week in court was a perfect example. The U.S. Attorney had a locked-in case against my husband but somehow, the Honorable Judge March announced that all charges were dropped to a stunned courtroom. I shook my head. Unbelievable.

  “Hey, Shelby, where’s your Canyon Chicks?”

  I turned to see Todd, my husband’s best friend, standing next to me, a smug look on his weasel face.

  “It’s Canyon Ladies.” I glared at him. He always made fun of the name that Sophie concocted for us one night when she was feeling especially clever.

  “Oh, my bad.” He smiled. “Well, where are they?”

  He was such an asshole. He knew perfectly well that I’d been ostracized by the Canyon Ladies because of Daniel. Todd frequented the same Hollywood clubs that I did—or that I used to—and there was no doubt in my mind Sophie couldn’t wait to tell him how shocked she was by Daniel’s arrest and that she always suspected we were crooks.

  I gave Todd a tight smile and replied, “How the hell should I know?” before leaving him standing at the bar, a bemused expression on his face.

  Bastard. I hated him, but mostly I hated the Canyon Ladies. How easily they could discard me like last week’s gossip.

  Except for Juniper. For some reason, she stuck by me. I attributed it to the fact that she was never quite the Canyon Lady we all were. She was a little too wild for our tastes, mouthing off at inappropriate times to the bouncers and getting us kicked out of more clubs than Lindsay Lohan. She was the only one of us who was single and probably for good reason. Every time she hooked up with a guy, she instantly fell head over heels in love. The poor guys thought they were just getting a booty call and instead ended up with a crazy stalker.

  Plus she drove a big ass Ford F150 truck that she could barely maneuver through the narrow streets of our Laurel Canyon neighborhood without sideswiping a parked car. She wore Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots all the time so I guess it went with the truck, but come on. The girl was a hot mess.

  So when the Canyon Ladies declared me socially toxic, Juniper surprised me by stopping by now and then to “make sure I hadn’t offed myself” as she so eloquently put it. I was somewhat baffled by her loyalty to me. I mean, come on, if the Canyon Ladies had ostracized Juniper, I wouldn’t have stuck by her side. Because what woman in her right mind would give up VIP treatment at Soho House, the most exclusive club in Hollywood?

  Of course, I later discovered that Juniper had been ostracized by the Canyon Ladies too.

  “So did you hear?”

  “Oh my God, how could you not?”

  This was the conversation I heard three months ago as I sat on the toilet at the women’s restroom at the Mulholland Tennis Club.

  “It’s so sad but shit, we can’t be around her anymore. I mean, people might think we’re criminals like her husband, you know?”

  I wondered if I’d been imagining Sophie and Morgan’s silent treatment, but now, here in the tennis club’s cramped bathroom stall, I had my answer.

  I’m not Daniel, I wanted to scream. Instead I stared down at the white bathroom tile. Feeling pathetic and misunderstood like I’d just been outed as a slut even though I’d only gone to first base.

  I was just an innocent victim in all this too. What woman would question an impromptu trip to Fiji or the Birkin bag I’d been eyeing at the Hermes store for the past two weeks? He gave me a credit card and expected me to shut up which I did.

  None of those ladies would question it if it was their husband, I guarantee it. But they didn’t see
it that way. They figured if they were seen with me at the VIP table at Supper Club, then they were just as dirty as I was.

  I waited until I was sure they were gone and then slunk from the stall, Sophie’s perfume lingering in the air. I looked in the mirror as I washed my hands, and shame, wearing last season’s bathing suit, stared back at me. I bet this is how the fat girl in school felt like every day. That made me feel even worse since I was one of those bitches who taunted the fat girl.

  I studied my reflection. The thick coat of make-up didn’t hide the bags under my eyes or the wrinkles that I swear appeared overnight. I turned my head to the side and fluffed up my long blonde hair. It fell limply around my face, making me look even more pathetic.

  This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. I was supposed to receive sympathy, damnit. A girls’ night out with Sophie yelling “Screw Daniel, that crook!” while we downed shots of Patron. Impulsive “this will make you feel better” shopping trips on Robertson Blvd. despite my questionable cash situation. Morgan would treat me to a pair of Manolo Blahniks because, “that’s just the kind of friend I am,” she would say with a giggle.

  I laughed. It sounded harsh and desperate in the quiet bathroom. Like an inappropriate joke at the dinner table.

  “Screw it,” I muttered. It was time to go back out to the pool and pay for my Diet Coke. And hopefully slink away before they noticed me. I doubted I’d ever return. No point, especially since we would probably have to sell back our fifteen thousand dollar membership.

  I strolled by the pool where tan bodies lay side by side and looked for my server. He spotted me and came running over with the bill like he’d been expecting me to dart out of the club without paying. I glanced at it and threw down some cash. Fifteen dollars was the cheapest I’d ever spent here. Probably the cheapest anyone had spent here.

  I pulled out my bathing suit cover-up from my bag and yanked it over my head. That’s when I spotted Sophie and Morgan making their way over towards me from the bar. Shit. I was about to duck behind a lounge chair but when I saw Sophie point at me, I stood my ground and put on my cheerful face.