claim that they didn’t see anyone else before Karen’s death.”
“There was Charlotte and Hiroaki.”
“Together? When did you see them?” Polly asked.
“Eight-oh-five.”
“It’s all so complicated,” Polly whined.
“Some things are more obvious than others. Do you want a cup of coffee—to go?”
“I’ve had my fill, thanks.” Polly rose from her chair at the table. “By the by, now that you’re being evicted from your home, where are you going to live?”
“I’ve got a roommate thing in West Hollywood,” Jamie said. “I always land in clover.”
“A handsome boy like you always does,” Polly said and gave Jamie another hug. “Please come to dinner at the Plantation one night this week. I know that you and Tim would get along well, and I want to know more about Karen. She had such a great reputation for creativity. Check your schedule and we’ll call you later,” Polly added as she followed Jamie back through the house and out the front doorway.
Once outside, she was not surprised to see Tim and Placenta both engaged in conversation with muscle-bound Steve. Tim was especially flagrant as he flattered Steve with admiring questions about his tattoos, and asked for pointers on what vitamin supplements he should take after working out at the gym. Sotto voce to Jamie, Polly said, “Ignore Tim. He’s been a virgin for nearly a month.”
Jamie sniggered. “Steve’s a stunner all right. He could make a man forget his grief.”
Chapter 12
“T hat was quite a show back there,” Polly said once her car was out of sight of Karen’s house.
“A-men!” Placenta agreed. “When God decides He wants to punish His children, He makes a specimen like Steve so we all hate ourselves.”
Polly snorted, “I’m talking about Jamie! He’s either the most sentimental young fool, or he’s a hell of an actor. By the way, I’m utterly mortified by the way you both behaved around that U.S. Marine Corp poster boy.” Polly mimicked Tim panting like a dog. “‘Show me your tattoos.’” Then she imitated Placenta demurely asking, “‘How do you keep your teeth so white?’ You both had better find boyfriends ASAP.”
“What do you think we were trying to do?” Placenta said.
“As I was saying,” Polly continued, “the performance that Jamie put on for me was a doozy.” Now she mimicked Jamie exalting the merits of Karen. “However, he still won’t admit that he lied about being present at his girlfriend’s last gasp.”
Tim divided his attention between the road and watching his mother in the rearview mirror. “I take it that he didn’t come right out and say he was a Menendez brother,” Tim said.
“Not in so many words. But his alibi and sorry story about being at Starbucks at the time of the crime has as many holes in it as Bonnie and Clyde. But I’ve got a plan.”
Placenta and Tim were listening intently as Polly reached into her suit jacket and withdrew an eight-by-ten black-and-white head shot of Jamie that she had carefully hidden under her arm. “When our boy was weeping over the loss of his great love—or the loss of his house—I snatched this, which was lying beside a box of Kleenex.” She held up the picture for all to see.
“So Jamie’s an actor, eh?” Placenta said as she took the glossy from Polly’s hands. She turned the picture over and began to read his credits listed on the reverse side. “ Les Miz . Of course. A Chorus Line . Natch. Annie , Fiddler , Rent . Not bad,” she said, sounding slightly impressed. “Get this—seven productions of Mame ! In every production he had the role of adult Patrick.”
Polly pondered the situation for a moment. “What’s wrong with this picture?”
“It’s at least five years old?” Placenta said.
“Not the eight-by-ten!” Polly snapped. “The big picture. Here’s an actor, living with the director of a show that he’s done a gazillion times. Why isn’t he in this production?”
“Probably burned out
“There was Charlotte and Hiroaki.”
“Together? When did you see them?” Polly asked.
“Eight-oh-five.”
“It’s all so complicated,” Polly whined.
“Some things are more obvious than others. Do you want a cup of coffee—to go?”
“I’ve had my fill, thanks.” Polly rose from her chair at the table. “By the by, now that you’re being evicted from your home, where are you going to live?”
“I’ve got a roommate thing in West Hollywood,” Jamie said. “I always land in clover.”
“A handsome boy like you always does,” Polly said and gave Jamie another hug. “Please come to dinner at the Plantation one night this week. I know that you and Tim would get along well, and I want to know more about Karen. She had such a great reputation for creativity. Check your schedule and we’ll call you later,” Polly added as she followed Jamie back through the house and out the front doorway.
Once outside, she was not surprised to see Tim and Placenta both engaged in conversation with muscle-bound Steve. Tim was especially flagrant as he flattered Steve with admiring questions about his tattoos, and asked for pointers on what vitamin supplements he should take after working out at the gym. Sotto voce to Jamie, Polly said, “Ignore Tim. He’s been a virgin for nearly a month.”
Jamie sniggered. “Steve’s a stunner all right. He could make a man forget his grief.”
Chapter 12
“T hat was quite a show back there,” Polly said once her car was out of sight of Karen’s house.
“A-men!” Placenta agreed. “When God decides He wants to punish His children, He makes a specimen like Steve so we all hate ourselves.”
Polly snorted, “I’m talking about Jamie! He’s either the most sentimental young fool, or he’s a hell of an actor. By the way, I’m utterly mortified by the way you both behaved around that U.S. Marine Corp poster boy.” Polly mimicked Tim panting like a dog. “‘Show me your tattoos.’” Then she imitated Placenta demurely asking, “‘How do you keep your teeth so white?’ You both had better find boyfriends ASAP.”
“What do you think we were trying to do?” Placenta said.
“As I was saying,” Polly continued, “the performance that Jamie put on for me was a doozy.” Now she mimicked Jamie exalting the merits of Karen. “However, he still won’t admit that he lied about being present at his girlfriend’s last gasp.”
Tim divided his attention between the road and watching his mother in the rearview mirror. “I take it that he didn’t come right out and say he was a Menendez brother,” Tim said.
“Not in so many words. But his alibi and sorry story about being at Starbucks at the time of the crime has as many holes in it as Bonnie and Clyde. But I’ve got a plan.”
Placenta and Tim were listening intently as Polly reached into her suit jacket and withdrew an eight-by-ten black-and-white head shot of Jamie that she had carefully hidden under her arm. “When our boy was weeping over the loss of his great love—or the loss of his house—I snatched this, which was lying beside a box of Kleenex.” She held up the picture for all to see.
“So Jamie’s an actor, eh?” Placenta said as she took the glossy from Polly’s hands. She turned the picture over and began to read his credits listed on the reverse side. “ Les Miz . Of course. A Chorus Line . Natch. Annie , Fiddler , Rent . Not bad,” she said, sounding slightly impressed. “Get this—seven productions of Mame ! In every production he had the role of adult Patrick.”
Polly pondered the situation for a moment. “What’s wrong with this picture?”
“It’s at least five years old?” Placenta said.
“Not the eight-by-ten!” Polly snapped. “The big picture. Here’s an actor, living with the director of a show that he’s done a gazillion times. Why isn’t he in this production?”
“Probably burned out
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