phone began to ring.
“Mr. Rooney there?”
said a thick, drawling voice with a real downhome Louisiana accent.
“No, I am so sorry, he’s not available. Who’s calling? Can I take a message?”
“I’m just returnin’ the man’s calls. It’s Juda Salina. You know what it’s about?”
Rosie perked up, becoming the partner in the investigation agency.
“Yes, we are investigating the case of Anna Louise Caley and
“
The phone went dead. Rosie looked at thWeceiver, wondering if it was something she had done at her end. She wrote a memo for Rooney and Lorraine, saying the psychic had made contact. Rosie also noted the time and date the call had come in. She was being very professional.
Phyllis toyed with her glass of mineral water.
“She needs pills to make her sleep and sometimes she can’t get up. Today is one of them. We had the doctor come but he prescribed a different sedative. It’s all very sad, poor woman, but I’ll make sure she can see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
Lorraine sipped the melting ice, the deftly placed slice of lemon now floating on top of the residue of tepid water.
“So you didn’t see or hear anything untoward the day the family departed for New Orleans?”
“No, I did not.”
“And Anna Louise was happy and carefree, excited by the forthcoming trip?” “Yes, they were often more like friends than mother and daughter. I mean, they had the odd little argument, only naturalshe was quite willful but she never sulked.”
“The day they left, February fifteenth, you received a call from the Caleys’ private jet?”
“Yes, I did. Anna Louise had seen something in Vogue she wanted me to purchase for her.”
,
“Did you?”
tt\7 ?)
Yes.
“Did she often just call you to get what she wanted? According to the files a thirty-five-hundred-dollar black chiffon Valentino dress. I would say that stinks of a spoiled kid.”
Phyllis pursed her lips.
“The Caleys happen to be extremely wealthy, Mrs. Page, and I assure you that was not unusual. You may say she was spoiled, but at the same time she was also one of the sweetest, most natural young girls I’ve ever known.”
“But she was spoiled.”
“No more than any other child of rich parents.”
Lorraine hesitated, and then said quietly,
“Or parent…”
“I’m sorry, I don’t quite follow?”
“Yes, you do. Surely it is obvious that the main money in the Caley family is Elizabeth Caley’s.”
Phyllis pursed her lips.
“Mr. Caley is also a very successful businessman.”
“But he was not that successful when they first married. An old press cutting hinted that he was not a wealthy man and they met when he was showing Mrs. Caley a property.”
Phyllis froze.
“I am afraid this is not something I can answer. I have worked for the Caleys for only ten years, so I have no knowledge of whatever happened previously. All I do know is Mr. Caley works exceptionally hard.”
“What work is he involved in specifically in New Orleans?”
“Mrs. Page, I am not privy to Mr. Caley’s business. I am Elizabeth Caley’s companion and secretary.”
“But you settle the bills. You did, I believe, pay my fees and will continue to pay them, is that correct?”
“Yes, Mrs. Caley instructed me to pay your retainer.”
“You didn’t discuss it with Mr. Caley?”
“I made a note for him to be aware of exactly what I had done, as I always do.”
Lorraine made no mention of the million-dollar bonus Mrs. Caley
I
had promised to pay. She was beginning to feel tired; it had been a long day and she had to drive back to Pasadena.
“Thank ycflf. Oh, just one more thingTilda Brown, Anna Louise’s girlfriend, was staying here and she was supposed to return to New Orleans with the Caleys but instead left the day before. Do you know why?”
Phyllis rose to her feet.
“No, but probably over a tennis matchthey were always playing tennis. I think Tilda used to make up her own rules and it infuriated Anna
“Mr. Rooney there?”
said a thick, drawling voice with a real downhome Louisiana accent.
“No, I am so sorry, he’s not available. Who’s calling? Can I take a message?”
“I’m just returnin’ the man’s calls. It’s Juda Salina. You know what it’s about?”
Rosie perked up, becoming the partner in the investigation agency.
“Yes, we are investigating the case of Anna Louise Caley and
“
The phone went dead. Rosie looked at thWeceiver, wondering if it was something she had done at her end. She wrote a memo for Rooney and Lorraine, saying the psychic had made contact. Rosie also noted the time and date the call had come in. She was being very professional.
Phyllis toyed with her glass of mineral water.
“She needs pills to make her sleep and sometimes she can’t get up. Today is one of them. We had the doctor come but he prescribed a different sedative. It’s all very sad, poor woman, but I’ll make sure she can see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
Lorraine sipped the melting ice, the deftly placed slice of lemon now floating on top of the residue of tepid water.
“So you didn’t see or hear anything untoward the day the family departed for New Orleans?”
“No, I did not.”
“And Anna Louise was happy and carefree, excited by the forthcoming trip?” “Yes, they were often more like friends than mother and daughter. I mean, they had the odd little argument, only naturalshe was quite willful but she never sulked.”
“The day they left, February fifteenth, you received a call from the Caleys’ private jet?”
“Yes, I did. Anna Louise had seen something in Vogue she wanted me to purchase for her.”
,
“Did you?”
tt\7 ?)
Yes.
“Did she often just call you to get what she wanted? According to the files a thirty-five-hundred-dollar black chiffon Valentino dress. I would say that stinks of a spoiled kid.”
Phyllis pursed her lips.
“The Caleys happen to be extremely wealthy, Mrs. Page, and I assure you that was not unusual. You may say she was spoiled, but at the same time she was also one of the sweetest, most natural young girls I’ve ever known.”
“But she was spoiled.”
“No more than any other child of rich parents.”
Lorraine hesitated, and then said quietly,
“Or parent…”
“I’m sorry, I don’t quite follow?”
“Yes, you do. Surely it is obvious that the main money in the Caley family is Elizabeth Caley’s.”
Phyllis pursed her lips.
“Mr. Caley is also a very successful businessman.”
“But he was not that successful when they first married. An old press cutting hinted that he was not a wealthy man and they met when he was showing Mrs. Caley a property.”
Phyllis froze.
“I am afraid this is not something I can answer. I have worked for the Caleys for only ten years, so I have no knowledge of whatever happened previously. All I do know is Mr. Caley works exceptionally hard.”
“What work is he involved in specifically in New Orleans?”
“Mrs. Page, I am not privy to Mr. Caley’s business. I am Elizabeth Caley’s companion and secretary.”
“But you settle the bills. You did, I believe, pay my fees and will continue to pay them, is that correct?”
“Yes, Mrs. Caley instructed me to pay your retainer.”
“You didn’t discuss it with Mr. Caley?”
“I made a note for him to be aware of exactly what I had done, as I always do.”
Lorraine made no mention of the million-dollar bonus Mrs. Caley
I
had promised to pay. She was beginning to feel tired; it had been a long day and she had to drive back to Pasadena.
“Thank ycflf. Oh, just one more thingTilda Brown, Anna Louise’s girlfriend, was staying here and she was supposed to return to New Orleans with the Caleys but instead left the day before. Do you know why?”
Phyllis rose to her feet.
“No, but probably over a tennis matchthey were always playing tennis. I think Tilda used to make up her own rules and it infuriated Anna
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