Healthy Homicide Chapter One

Barrel Springs Day Spa

Alexa stretched languidly, adjusting the warmed Turkish towel over her small derriere. In all her twenty-five years of public service, she had afforded herself but one extravagant luxury--an herbal, full body massage by the master himself, Raul Hernandez. The man had hands of gold.

He swept into the room, turned and securely closed the door.

"Hello, Ms. Bond. Thank goodness it’s Wednesday. This effeminate act is so tiring…"

He moved about the room setting up his massage table, talking non-stop sports as he progressed. When he’d warmed the chakra stones to the correct temperature, he placed them on Alexa’s back.

"…and he was smart enough to hold out for fifty million. I wish I’d had his insight."

Alexa uh-hummed at all the right intervals and allowed herself the opulence of drifting into a warm sleep, lulled by the smooth baritone of Raul’s voice. She knew and trusted Raul to massage all the kinks out of her body while she slept undisturbed.

Just as she stood to accept the Pulitzer Prize for her insightful article, written during her spare time for the Los Angeles Times on the current graft in City governments, she heard her name called from far away. The voice became insistent and nearer. She realized Raul was trying to wake her from her slumber.

"Oh, please, Raul, just five more minutes. I was so near this time."

"I’m sorry Ms. Bond, but I have another scheduled appointment in fifteen minutes. I need time to prepare the room." He handed her the spa’s signature terry cloth robe and slipped out the door.

Alexa smiled at Raul’s attempt to sound American. He’d vehemently declared he was from upstate New York, but she knew he’d been a star soccer player and hero on Spain’s national team. Irreparable damage to his Achilles tendon during the final World Cup game had made it impossible for him to continue playing the sport. During his physical therapy, he’d decided to learn massage as a way to put money in his bank account while he studied to become an actor in America. His dark looks had served him well in soccer circles, and he felt they would be his ticket to stardom. The accent was being carefully cultivated in an acting class he was attending. From the moment he’d learned to whom Alexa was married, he’d been trying to curry her favor.

Thomas Culver, Alexa’s other half, had been a well-known action star in the 80’s and 90’s until a stunt had gone wrong breaking his back. One of the few to have healed without much residual damage, he’d curbed his action packed movies for artistic endeavors which challenged his talent. He also loaned his voice to animated characters for the movies.

Thomas loved being the center of attention as much as Alexa shunned it; beside the fact, he was nice arm candy. Smiling, she slipped into the robe and padded to the locker room where she showered and changed into her business suit. She dropped the robe into the laundry container on her way to the front desk. The closer she got to the front, the activity surrounding her increased. She moved to the counter and gave the receptionist, a big smile.

The slender blue-eyed brunette’s face lit up when she spotted Alexa. She held up a finger indicating she was still on the phone. Finishing her conversation, she turned the page to the following Wednesday date.

"How was your massage, Ms. Bond?" Unconsciously touching the tip of the pencil to her tongue before she wrote down the appointment date she stood waiting for Alexa’s response.

"As always Raul was magnificent. He should have those hands insured," Alexa took the appointment card proffered her.

"Actually, I think he does have them insured. One can never be too careful, you know?" She turned to the pigeon holed wall behind her and retrieved Alexa’s cellphone.

"Please remember not to turn it on until you’ve left the building. We’ll see you next Wednesday, Ms. Bond. Oh, yeah. Congratulations on your retirement." She waved as the Palmdale Mayor walked into the sunshine of the April day.

Barrel Springs Day Spa had many features, but the one that had set it apart from its closest competitor, West Palmdale Rejuvenation Clinic and Fitness Center, was the No Cellphone rule. On the one occasion Alexa had scheduled a massage at West Palmdale, the masseuse’s cellphone had rung--and she had taken the call! That pretty well convinced Alexa she wouldn’t visit again.

As she turned her phone on, it immediately began to ring. Alexa sighed, checked the time-11:30-and answered. Not soon enough her time would be her own.

"Alexa Bond."

"Ms. Bond? Are you still on the property? This is Cyndi Palmer, and I really need to speak with you. Can you spare a moment? I promise it won’t take long."

Something about the note of desperation in Cyndi’s voice touched Alexa.

"Okay, but I’ve got a noon meeting with the mayor pro tem, and I can’t miss it."

She turned and walked back into the spa’s lobby. A piercing scream rent the air. Alexa’s skin prickled in goose bumps. She stepped aside of the uniformed employees running in the direction of the Vitamin Verandah. Spotting Cyndi Palmer, her normally tanned face ashen, Alexa raised an eyebrow. Behind Cyndi was the spa’s assistant manager, Marilyn, who strolled to Alexa’s side.

"I’ll bet it’s just Vonnie Spencer trying to get her session for free. That woman is a menace. She’s badmouthed and scared every employee here except the head masseuse. He’s so stoic even she can’t ruffle his feathers. Why don’t you wait here? I’m sure this will take only a moment." Marilyn winked, her bright, green eyes twinkling as she strolled in the direction of the current crisis.

Alexa watched as Cyndi dashed past Marilyn nearly knocking her over in the process and instructed the receptionist to call 911. She picked the microphone up and flipped the switch.

"Ladies. I’m sorry but we’ve had an emergency arise. I’d like to ask all of you to please dress and come to the lobby. I’ll explain in more detail when everyone is out front. Your appointments today are courtesy of the spa. Thank you." Returning the microphone to the desktop, head in hands, Cyndi faced the wall mural located behind the reception desk of a serene Tahitian beach.

Alexa moved to her side. "Cyndi? Is there anything I can do to help?"

Sighing deeply, the tall, elegantly muscled, tanned spa manager offered a lopsided smile.

"No, Ms. Bond. I’m afraid you’re going to miss your meeting. When my appointment secretary went to notify Ms. Spencer it was time for her Swedish sauna, well, she, she found her…dead."

Alexa felt the blood drain from her face. "Dead? Are you sure?" She shook her head. "I’m sorry. That was a stupid question. Why is it necessary for me to stay?"

Cyndi pulled in a deep, centering breath.

"I’m sure the police are going to want to know who was where and what they were doing for the last hour. At least that’s the way they do it on TV. Ms. Spencer had an appointment for Vitamin Invigoration about the time you were set up for your massage.

"I requested you come back because I wanted to ask you about an item that is going to be put before a city council vote, but I think my hands are going to be full for a while.

"I’m so sorry. I think this is the one time I’ll allow everyone to use their cellphones inside. Have a seat. It looks as though it’s going to be a long afternoon."

Alexa watched Cyndi trudge outside to wait for the police. Her shoulders drooped and the normally ebullient manager wore a somber expression. Even Marilyn, infamous for her brilliant smile and perky demeanor, seemed solemn and quiet as she moved among the spa guests.

The employees moved to one side of the room and stood whispering among themselves.

Palmdale police Lieutenant Dave Eckles pushed through the door and nodded at Alexa. "Mayor."

He pulled Cyndi aside and the two conferred for a moment before he cleared his throat to garner the attention of all in the room.

"Ladies," he nodded to the staff, "and gentlemen. At this time, I will give you five minutes to call home, work, or wherever you need to let them know you are unavailable for the next couple of hours. Please do not mention the situation. You may say it has to do with the police but not why. I’ll have my people walk among you to make sure you all stay honest. Sgt. Bard, Officer Talbot, please."

The lieutenant sauntered to Alexa’s side.

"Mayor? Would you like to start first?" he gestured in the direction of the manager’s office.

"Lieutenant, do you mind if I call my assistant, before we get going?"

"Of course not. I’ll wait." He stood gazing through the sliding glass entry doors into the sunlight of the day.

Alexa placed her call and the phone was picked up on the first ring. "Mayor’s office, this is Ron."

"Ron, I hate to do this to you, but would you fill in with the mayor pro tem this afternoon? You have all the information and probably know more about how Gil Johnson thinks than I do. Something official, police official, has taken precedence. I’ll be unavailable for a couple hours."

"Sure. Not a problem. Anything I can do to help?" Ron allowed concern to creep into his voice.

"Nothing I can’t handle. I’ll call when I’m done." Alexa snapped her cellphone shut.

Ron Byerly, her assistant, was an enigma. Born into wealth, he’d attended college and earned his MBA in Finance but had gone against his family’s wishes to take over their business in Utah to become an Administrative Assistant. When Alexa had interviewed him for the job and voiced her concern he was too qualified, he assured her he liked being near the seat of power, not in it. By assisting her he was able to keep abreast of the political clime in the area but still had time to pursue his snowboarding passion. It was an arrangement that suited both Ron and Alexa. She felt confident he would handle the afternoon meeting as she would.

"Mayor?"

The lieutenant slipped his hand under her elbow and guided her into the office behind the front counter. Indicating she should take the chair across from his, he sat behind the sleek cherrywood desk. He pulled a small recorder from his inner coat pocket and placed it on the desktop.

"Do you mind if I record? This makes it easier to remember the details."

"Not at all."

"Shall we begin?" He snapped on the small device.

The next ten minutes they retraced Alexa’s routine at the spa. When the lieutenant was satisfied, he turned off the recorder.

"When I spoke with the manager, she indicated she has a door behind the bookshelf that will lead you to the parking lot in the back. If you like, I’ll have the sergeant. bring your vehicle around to the back. I noticed a reporter and photographer from the paper out front. I can have the officer pull them aside and ‘leak’ a bit of information until the sergeant gets your car here and you’re safely out of camera range. Will that work for you?"

Alexa leaned back in the chair. "That would be great, Lieutenant. Thanks. I’ve got so little time left in office; I’d hate to see the paper stir up trouble for my few remaining days."

She rummaged in her purse and pulled out the keys to her Escalade. "It’s the dark green Cadillac with vanity plates in the second row." She slid them across the desk blotter.

The lieutenant spoke into his walkie-talkie. "Bard. In the office--now."

The instrument in his hand crackled. "Yes, Lieutenant. Right away."

Alexa’s eyes followed the pacing figure of the fair-haired police officer. She’d worked with his mother for years. It still took her off guard to see him so grown and in such a position of authority. She sighed. Don’t be so silly. Your own daughters are adults with families of their own. Time stands still for no one.

The door opened and the sergeant. entered. He crossed to the lieutenant who stopped pacing long enough to explain what he wanted. The sergeant leaned close to the lieutenant and muttered behind his hand currying a nod from the taller man. As he left the room with Alexa’s keys in his possession, he got on his radio and called an officer outside.

The response was lost when he closed the door.

"Bard tells me the coroner and the head of my CSI Department, are here. I’ll be needed out front to conduct some of these interviews and move this investigation along."

The two turned at the muted tapping on a spot behind the bookshelf. The lieutenant, groping under the lip of the desk, found a button which popped opened a segment of the bookcase. He pulled the section away from the wall and peered through the peephole in the hidden door.

"It’s Sgt. Bard with your car. You’d best leave now before newspaper guys clue into our deception. Thanks for your cooperation, Mayor." He opened the door and checked both ways before waving Alexa to come through.

Alexa scurried through the door and into her car. The sergeant closed her door and tapped on the side for her to drive away. She escaped down the alley and on to the road. By the time she’d pulled into her parking space at City Hall, Alexa’s breathing had evened and her heart was no longer pounding in her chest. She glanced in her rear view mirror and lightly fluffed her hair. If she was lucky, she might have time to conference with Ron before the phone calls started.