Makeovers Can Be Murder

Chapter 12

″Someone else was killed?″ I asked Evelyn. ″Who? How come I never heard about it?″

″I didn′t know her,″ Evelyn replied. ″Her name was Anaïs Loring. She died last spring right before I joined the Newbodies. Anaïs was the group′s founder. Everyone said she was very charismatic.″

″Was it a carjacking?″

″No,″ she said. ″Anaïs was killed in a home-invasion robbery. There was lots of stuff stolen from her home, including her jewelry and credit cards. Anaïs was found shot dead in her kitchen. ″

The story rang a distant bell. I must have heard about the Anaïs Loring murder at the time. I′d have to look it up when I got back to the studio. Talk about being behind the times.

While I was thinking, Evelyn continued. ″The police never arrested anybody in Anaïs′s murder, ″ she said. ″And now Jana′s dead. And last week another woman in our group got her identity stolen. So I′m thinking-″

″Wait a second. Slow down, Evelyn,″ I said as her implication sunk in. ″You think the two murders-of Jana and Anaïs-are linked? A home invasion and a carjacking? And that the killings are connected somehow to the identity theft of another woman in the group?″

When Evelyn didn′t respond, I added, ″Iden tity theft usually happens when someone logs on to a bad Web site on the Internet. What makes you think it has anything to do with Jana? Or Anaïs?″

″I don′t know exactly,″ Evelyn admitted. ″But it feels like some evil karma is stalking the Newbodies. I′m even wondering if we should disband the group.″

When my conversation with Evelyn wrapped up, I punched in Jonathan′s number. I was already mentally rehearsing the message I wanted to leave, the precise words that would let him know how urgent it was that I speak to him right away.

Jonathan surprised me by picking up on the third ring.

″Hallo,″ he said.

″Hi, sweetie; it′s me.″

A slight pause. ″Of course. How′ve you been?″ Jonathan′s tone was stilted.

″Well, I just wanted to reach you in general,″ I began, thinking how lame my words sounded. ″And especially today, because something has happened.″

″Oh.″ Another weird pause. ″Kate, I′m sorry, but is it okay if I call you right back? I′m-″

From his end of the line I heard a strange noise. It sounded like the trilling sound a caged bird makes. Then there was a muffled sound, as if Jonathan was covering the receiver with his hand. Or maybe someone was trying to grab it from him.

″Is everything all right with you there?″ I asked, worried now. ″Is it your mother? Is she okay?″

″Mum′s fine. I′ve just been busy because some things came up. I′ll call you when I-″

Another sound of a struggle that ended in a peal of female laughter. Then a different voice came on the line. It was a woman′s voice.

″Katie, honey, Jonathan′s busy right now.″ She sounded extremely young, and she spoke with an Asian-sounding accent.

Then she added with a giggle, ″You′ve heard of me, right, Katie? My name is Gi. I′m Jonathan′s wife.″

My heart tumbled into my gut.

″But why don′t you call me Gigi?″ she continued. ″That′s what my Johnnie calls me.″

I tried to think of something to come back with. But I was completely speechless. I couldn′t even move my lips.

Meanwhile Gi-Gigi-continued speaking in a bright, oddly chipper tone: ″Ooh, did Johnnie forget to tell you he′s still married? His bad. I′ll spank him now for you, okay? He likes that. We′re fucking like love bunnies right now.″

In the background, Jonathan yelled, ″Cut it out, Gi. Damn you.″

Then he came back on the line, his voice urgent. ″Kate, let me explain. This is not what you-″

I couldn′t bear to hear anything more. There would be. No. More. Words.

I slammed down the receiver.