Chapter 55
CRUZ AND DEL RIO trooped into my office. Cruz combed his hair back with his fingers, refastened his ponytail. Del Rio righted the chair Andy had knocked over and sat in it.
“Andy fired us? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I had to tell him about Shelby and the spa. He couldn’t believe it.”
“Ooof,” Cruz said. “I feel for the guy.”
“Me too,” I said. “Ever wish you were wrong?”
“He fired us because you told him the truth, huh?” said Del Rio.
“He’ll change his mind in a few days.”
“You think?” Cruz said.
“So, how are you doing?” I asked them. “We’re still working this case, right? We’re going to find out who murdered Shelby.”
Cruz put a hand in his inside pocket. He withdrew a narrow notebook and started to report. He said that he’d interviewed a woman who worked at Glenda Treat’s spa and that she’d given him the names of two clients who saw a lot of Shelby Cushman.
“They’re both in the entertainment business,” Cruz said. “I did some research. Also, I checked with the New York office. One of the guys, Bob Santangelo, came from Brooklyn. You know him?”
“I know his name. I think I’ve seen him in a couple of movies.”
“Pugnacious type from back east. One of those actors who don’t give TV interviews. Likes to throw his weight around.”
“He saw Shelby a lot?”
“A few times a week, apparently. The other guy is Zev Martin, an A-list director, works for Warner Brothers a lot. People say the A stands for asshole in his case. Apparently, he’s quite in love with himself.”
“Bat Out of Hell,” Del Rio said. “Horror classic, freakin’ masterpiece. I saw it about six times. Martin directed it. Santangelo played the bad guy.”
“Both of them are married,” Cruz continued. “Neither has a record.”
“License to carry?” I asked.
“Negative,” said Cruz.
“You have a preference?”
“Nope.”
“You take Santangelo,” I said to Cruz. “Keep in touch.”