A Cold Heart

11

Juliet Kipper’s house was one of two ugly gray boxes squeezed onto a skimpy lot. No backyard. The front was an oily mesa of concrete. Curling tar-paper roofs provided the only green in sight.

Bars on the windows. A rusted iron fence blocked entry to the property. Yellow tape across the rear unit billowed in the ocean breeze. I got out. The fence was locked. No doorbell or call box in sight. A shaved-head kid of sixteen or so sauntered down the street, walking a red-nosed pit bull leashed to a pinch collar. Both owner and dog ignored me, but the two older, shaved-head guys who drove by a few moments later in a chopped-and-lowered Chevy Nova slowed and looked me over.

No reason for me to be there. I returned to the car, took Pico to Lincoln, drove south to Rose Street, in Venice, where I crossed over to the good side.

Robin’s place was a white cottage, shake-roofed and gabled, way too cute by half. Pretty flowers in front hadn’t been there months ago. I’d never known Robin to garden. Maybe Tim had a green thumb.

His Volvo was parked in the driveway behind Robin’s Ford truck. I considered leaving.

“To hell with that,” I said, out loud. “Paternal rights and all that.”

I was hoping she’d answer the door, but he did.

“Alex.”

“Tim.”

Tight smiles, all around. Cursory handshake. He had on his usual outfit: long-sleeved plaid shirt, khaki Dockers, brown moccasins. Mr. Laid Back. Rimless eyeglasses gave his blue eyes- true blue, deeper than my gray-tinged irises- a dreamy look.

He’s a year younger than me, but I like to think he looks older because he’s losing his hair. The strands that remain are fine and caramel-colored and too long- obvious overcompensation. There’s gray in his beard. Soulful, those eyes.

Then, there’s the voice. The smoothest, most sonorous basso profundo you’ll ever hear. Every word rounded and plummy and cadenced. Walking advertisement for his craft.

He’s a vocal coach, one of the best, works with opera singers and rock stars and high-priced public speakers, travels around a lot. Robin met him at a recording session a month after we separated. He’d been called in to help a diva whose larynx had frozen up, and he and Robin had started talking. She was there on an emergency call, too- several instruments knocked off kilter in transit.

I thought of the kind of emergencies the two of them faced. The two of them lived in a different world from mine.

From what I’d seen, Tim was easygoing, patient, rarely spoke unless he was spoken to. Divorced from another vocal coach, he had a twenty-year-old daughter studying at Juilliard who adored him.

A week after Robin met him, she called me up. Once we got past the hemming and hawing, I realized she was asking my permission.

I told her she didn’t need it, wished her the best, hung up. Then I sank low. Within a month, she and Tim were living together.

“So,” he said. The Voice making it sound profound. Maybe he was born with those pipes, but it set my teeth on edge.

“How’s it going, Tim?”

“Well. With you?”

“Ditto.”

He leaned against the doorjamb. “I’m on my way out, actually.”

“On the road, again?”

“Indeed. The road to Burbank- sounds like a Hope and Crosby movie.”

“Have fun.”

He didn’t budge. “You’re here to…”

“See Spike.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “He’s at the vet. Having his teeth cleaned.”

“Ah. There’s also something I need to talk to Robin about.”

No movement for a second, then he stepped aside.

I walked past him, through the small, dim living room furnished with his solid oak furniture and the few things Robin had taken with her. An old closet in the hallway had been turned into a passageway between the units. Through the door, I could hear the roar of a table saw.

“Alex?”

I stopped and turned. Tim remained in the doorway. “Please don’t upset her.”

“I wasn’t intending to.”

“I know- look, I’ll be frank with you. The last time she spoke to you she was really upset.”

“The last time she spoke to me was volitional. She dropped in on me.”

He showed me his palms in a pacific gesture. “I know that, Alex. She wanted to talk to you about Baby Boy Lee. I thank you.”

“For what?”

“Listening to her.”

“Yet you think I upset her.”

“No- look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just that…”

I waited.

He said, “Forget it,” and turned to leave.

I said, “Did you know Baby Boy?”

The sudden change of topic made him flinch. “I knew of him.”

“Ever work with him?”

“Never.”

“What about China Maranga?”

“That name I don’t know.”

“She was a singer,” I said. “More of a screamer, actually. Which is why I figured she might’ve consulted you.”

“The screamers seldom do. Why are you asking about her?”

“She’s dead. Murdered, like Baby Boy.”

“That’s what you’re here for? Alex, I really don’t think Robin should be exposed to any more-”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I continued toward the connecting door.

“Fine,” he called after me. “You’re tough-minded. I concede. Now how about thinking of Robin, this time?”

This time. Dangling the bait. I swam by.

I stepped into the heat of machinery and the smell of hardwood. The floor was coated with sawdust. Several projects- guitars and mandolins in various stages of completion- hung on the wall. Robin’s back was to me as she guided a block of rosewood through the whirring blade. Her hair was gathered under one of those bandanas she collects. She wore goggles, a dust mask, had on a tight, white tank top, loose black cotton yoga pants, white tennis shoes. The dark wood hissed and threw off what looked like chocolate chips. Startling her would be dangerous, so I stood there and watched and waited until she’d flipped the switch and stepped away from the saw and the roar died to a growl.

“Hi,” I said.

She flipped around, stared at me through the goggles, pulled down the mask, laid the trimmed piece of rosewood on the bench.

“Hi.” She wiped her hands on a rag.

“Just saw Tim on the way out. He’s worried I’m going to upset you.”

“Are you?”

“Maybe.”

Flipping the mask over her back, she said, “C’mon, I’m thirsty.”

I followed her into the tiny, old kitchen at the rear of the duplex. Old, white appliances, yellow tiles, several of them mended. The room was one-third the size of the spiffy new kitchen we’d designed together. But as in that room, all was spotless, everything in its place.

She got a pitcher of iced tea and poured two glasses and brought them to the Formica table that barely fit the room. Space for two chairs, only. Guess they didn’t entertain much. Probably busy entertaining each other…

“Cheers,” she said, looking anything but cheerful.

We drank tea. She glanced at her watch.

I said, “If you’re busy-”

“No, I’m tired. Been at it since six, ready for my nap.”

In the old days, I’d have suggested a mutual nap. “I’ll go,” I said.

“No. What’s on your mind, Alex?”

“China Maranga.”

“What about her?”

“I was thinking,” I said. “She and Baby Boy. There could be similarities.”

“China? In what way?”

I told her, added the bare facts of Juliet Kipper’s murder.

She got pale. “I guess- but really, there are so many differences.”

“You’re probably right,” I said.

“You could say China’s career was taking off,” she said. “Her records were selling better than anyone expected. But, still… Alex, I hope you’re wrong. That would be hideous.”

“Murdering art?”

“Murdering artists because they’re on the way up.” Her color hadn’t returned.

“Here I go again,” I said, “bringing the bad stuff into your life.” I stood. “I was wrong. Tim was right.”

“About what?”

“The last time you saw me you were upset. I should know better.”

She frowned. “Tim tries to protect me… I was upset. But not by anything you did.”

“What, then?”

“Everything. The state of the world- all this change. I know we did the right thing, but… then Baby Boy. One day I’m talking to him, the next day he no longer exists. At the time I guess I was especially vulnerable. I’m better now. Talking to you helped.”

“Till now.”

“Even now.”

She took hold of my wrist. “You were there for me.”

“For a change.”

She let go and shook her head. “With all our history, you still need to fish for compliments?”

The spot where she’d touched me itched.

“Sit down,” she said. “Please. Have more tea. We can be civilized.”

I took a seat.

“Baby Boy was my friend,” she said. “I had no relationship with China. My only contact with her was that one job, and she wasn’t happy with it. Remember how she flipped me off?”

“Flipped us off,” I said. “I think it was me she didn’t care for. She kept calling me Mr. Yuppie.”

“She was obnoxious… there’s something she didn’t have in common with Baby. He was the sweetest guy in the world. Another difference is that he had real talent. And her body was buried- no, I don’t see it, Alex. My bet is she allowed herself to get picked up by the wrong person, maybe shot off her mouth and paid for it.”

“Makes sense,” I said. “She left the session angry. What about her band? Any of them ever display aggressive tendencies?”

“Those guys?” she said. “Hardly. They were like China. College kids playing naughty. And why would they kill China? When she died, so did the band. What does Milo think?”

“I haven’t asked him, yet.”

“You came here, first?”

“You’re a lot better-looking.”

“I guess that would depend on who you ask.”

“No,” I said. “Even Rick would say you’re cuter.” I got up again. “Thanks and sorry if I upset your biorhythm. Have a good nap.”

I began walking toward the front of the house.

“They’re hard, aren’t they?” she called after me.

“What?”

“Changes in biorhythm. Tim’s wonderful to me, but sometimes I still find myself starting to say something to you… are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“She’s treating you well?”

“Yes. How’s Spike?”

“Too bad he’s not here,” she said. “Periodontal work.”

“Ouch.”

“They’re keeping him overnight. You can visit. Call to make sure someone’s here.”

“Thanks.”

“Okay,” she said, standing. “Let me walk you out.”

“Not necessary.”

“Not necessary but polite. Mama raised me right.”

She accompanied me to the curb. “I’ll think more about China, ask around. If I come up with anything, I’ll let you know.” Big grin. “Hey, look at me: girl detective.”

“Don’t even think about it,” I said.

She took my hand in both of hers. “Alex, what I said before is true. You didn’t upset me. Not then, and not now.”

“Big tough girl?”

She looked up at me and smiled. “I’m still pretty small.”

Once upon a time, you took up a big corner of my heart.

“Not to me,” I said.

“You could always do that,” she said. “Make me feel important. I’m not sure I did that for you.”

“Of course you did,” I said.

She’s wonderful. What the hell happened?

Allison’s wonderful…

I dropped her hand, got into the car, started up the engine, and turned to give her a wave. She’d already gone inside.