Finding Shayla Read online

  “I was hired as the director for Wit’s End. We’ve done eight seasons now and I’ve fallen in love with the city. No matter where I work from now on, I’ll always call Chicago my home.” It is magical here, isn’t it?”

  “Magical doesn’t begin to describe it. How long have you been here? What have you done? What have you seen?”

  Shayla felt like a greenhorn as she listed all the touristy things she’d done.

  “I’ve only been here a few days,” she said.

  “I’d like to show you more, if you don’t mind? Maybe you’d enjoy seeing places off the beaten path?”

  “Sure. That would be wonderful.” And Shayla meant it. Nothing seemed more wonderful than spending more time with this gorgeous, powerful woman.

  Jazz finished her plate and smiled ruefully at Shayla.

  “Time to mix and mingle, as much as I’d love to stay out here in the secluded darkness and get to know you better. Will you do me the honor of staying on my arm?”

  “I’d love that.”

  They stepped back inside and the bright lights and loud voices assaulted Shayla’s senses. It was almost too much, but then she felt Jazz’s hand on the small of her back and stepped forward. Jazz stepped next to her and extended her elbow. Shayla slipped her hand through it and was guided through the room.

  Shayla felt like she was in a fairy tale. Jazz introduced Shayla to everyone and made a point of including her in all the conversations. Even when they turned to work, she made sure Shayla understood the context. Shayla had never had more fun in her life.

  They walked up to a circle where Daisy was holding court. She looked at Shayla holding onto Jazz and arched an eyebrow. Then she smiled.

  “Destiny,” Jazz said. “I understand you’re the person I need to thank for introducing me to the charming Shayla.”

  “Oh, yes,” Daisy said. “Shayla and I go way back.”

  “I’m thinking of having her read for a part next season. How does that sound?”

  Daisy may have answered, but Shayla didn’t hear her. She was shocked and amazed. Her head spun and she fought to stay upright.

  “Shayla? Are you all right?” Daisy said.

  “I’m sorry. Yes. I’m fine. Just a little surprised.”

  Jazz patted her hand.

  “Don’t be. I believe you’ll be a natural.”

  Daisy beamed at Shayla who smiled back. Jazz excused them then and they finished making their rounds through the party.

  “Shall we get out of here?” Jazz said.

  “What?”

  “I’m sorry. We can stay if you like. I’ve done my duty though and would like to take you out. Show you off. Show you the city.”

  “I’d love that. Let me go let Daisy know.”

  “I’ll join you.”

  They found Daisy with another group and Shayla pulled her aside.

  “Jazz wants to show me around,” she said. “The city, I mean. Are you okay if I leave?”

  “Of course, darling. You have fun.”

  “She’s safe, isn’t she?”

  Daisy stared hard into Shayla’s eyes.

  “She won’t hurt you, Shayla. You’ll be fine with her. She’s good people.”

  “Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Count on it.”

  Jazz and Shayla took the elevator down to the main lobby.

  “What kind of music do you like?” she said.

  Shayla blushed.

  “Mostly eighties music. As I said, I’ve been very sheltered. I couldn’t name a top forty artist if my life depended on it.”

  “You’re an enigma. I can’t wait to unravel you. How do you feel about jazz?”

  “You mean you?” Shayla thought it odd she referred to herself in the third person.

  “No, silly. Though I’d love to know that, too. I mean smooth jazz. The music?”

  “Oh, I love it. Or rather, I used to. So I suppose I still would.”

  “Great. Have I got a treat for you.”

  Chapter Nine

  A limousine pulled up to greet Jazz and Shayla. They got in, drank more champagne and Shayla watched as the city sped by. They got out on Navy Pier and saw a crowd of people in the distance.

  “This is the place,” Jazz said. “I hope you’re ready for fun.”

  “I am.” Shayla held tight to Jazz’s hand as they joined the crowd. Soon they were boarding a boat and setting sail.

  “You don’t get seasick, do you? I should have asked.” Jazz said.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “I’ll take that as a no. You’re going to love this.”

  Jazz led them to a table in the back of the main room. They could still see the stage, but they were out of the maddening crowds. Jazz signaled to the waitress and ordered them more champagne.

  “The champagne won’t be as good as what was at the party, but I don’t think we should mix,” Jazz said. “I don’t want to lose my head when I’m trying so hard to make a good impression.”

  Shayla laughed.

  “You’ve made a wonderful impression.”

  Jazz grinned at her.

  “Why, thank you. As have you.”

  They sipped their champagne and listened to the wonderful jazz ensemble. Shayla was more relaxed than she’d been in years. Well, except for her night with Cayenne. She’d been very relaxed that night. Too relaxed. She shuddered.

  “Are you cold?” Jazz put her arm around Shayla.

  “No. Just a random shudder. I’m fine. But you can keep your arm there.”

  “I think I will.”

  The word lesbian popped into Shayla’s mind. Is that what she was now? She certainly enjoyed Jazz’s company. And she’d enjoyed Cayenne’s. But she’d technically never had sex with a woman before. She wondered what that would be like. Then her system shut down. Sex reminded her of all the times Robin had raped her. All the times she’d awakened to find him rutting inside her. The times he’d throw her on the ground and fuck her just because he could. Her stomach soured and she thought she might be sick. No. Not here. Not now.

  “So why now?” Jazz said.

  “Hm?” Shayla brought herself back to the present.

  “Why leave Ari-flippin’-zona and come to Chicago now?”

  “My husband left me.” Shayla had said it so many times she almost started believing it. “I figured what better time for a whole new beginning?”

  “His loss,” Jazz said. “My gain?”

  Shayla smiled at her. Jazz smiled back.

  The cruise ended at three and Jazz walked Shayla back to her waiting limo.

  “May I have your phone?” Jazz said. Shayla handed it to her, and Jazz entered her number. “Now, you enter yours in mine, please. So I can call you. If you’d like?”

  “I’d like very much.”

  “Good. Where are we dropping you off?”

  Shayla gave Jazz the name of her hotel and thanked her lucky stars she was staying at a four-star hotel instead of a divey motel.

  When they arrived, Jazz walked her to the elevator.

  “May I see you tomorrow night?”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Great. We’ll have dinner and go see a show.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “I’ll call you with the details,” Jazz said.

  “Please do.”

  “Good night, Shayla. And thank you for coming into my life.”

  Shayla felt a wide smile break across her face.

  “Thank you.”

  Jazz waited until the elevator doors closed before leaving. Shayla rode up to her floor and felt like she was walking on sunshine. It was almost four in the morning and she wasn’t the least bit tired. She changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed. She played the events of the night over and over again. Was Jazz interested interested in her? She seemed to be. How did Shayla feel about that? She was swooning. That’s all she needed to know.

  Shayla was dead to the world when she woke to an annoying, high pi
tched sound. She rolled over and realized someone was calling her. She answered the phone groggily.

  “Hello?”

  “Did I wake you?” It was Daisy.

  “It’s okay. What time is it?”

  “Eleven. Where are you?”

  “In my hotel room, why?”

  “Just making sure you didn’t wake up with Jazz,” Daisy said.

  “Very funny.” Shayla grinned at the thought.

  “Did you want to do lunch? I thought we’d go to Willis Tower. The view of the city is amazing.”

  “Sounds good. When will you be here?”

  “I’m outside your door right now. I’ve been knocking, but you didn’t answer.”

  “I’m sorry. Late night. I’ll let you in now.”

  “Oh, honey,” Daisy proclaimed after getting a look at Shayla. “Get in the shower. I’ll make coffee.”

  Shayla did as she was told. She felt a hundred times better after getting clean and gratefully accepted a cup of coffee from Daisy.

  “So…” Daisy said. “Want to kiss and tell?”

  Shayla blushed.

  “There’s nothing to tell. And there was no kissing.”

  “I used to wonder about you in college,” Daisy said. “I had the biggest crush on you, but you were so into Robin.”

  “Long time ago,” Shayla said.

  “Yes. I suppose so. Now, I’m famished. Tell me about your night over lunch.”

  They sat on the side of the building that overlooked Navy Pier. It looked so different in the daylight. Of course, the night before they’d only been there to catch the boat.

  “You do know by now that Jazz is a very influential woman in this city,” Daisy said. “And if she wants you to read for a part, she’s impressed with you.”

  Shayla blushed. “She was the perfect gentlewoman last night. We went on a jazz cruise last night and listened to good music and really got to know each other. We’re going out tonight as well.”

  “My, my. Color me impressed. Good for you, Shayla. Good for you indeed.”

  ***

  Cayenne woke in a foul mood early Sunday morning. There was something she was missing. Something about Shayla that should tell her where she was. She took a shower then headed into town. She stopped at a greasy spoon on Main Street and ate her fill of French Toast and bacon. She drank about a gallon of coffee, but still took one to go.

  At the station, she pulled up her email and read reports from her deputies. She hadn’t missed much. A brawl outside the tavern. A young couple caught in the throes of passion on a side street. Nothing helpful about the case.

  Deputy Swanson walked in and Cayenne motioned him to her.

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “What have we found out about the Gardner woman’s new bank account?”

  “Nothing so far. And I won’t get anywhere today with it being Sunday. I’ll get back on it tomorrow.”

  Cayenne stopped herself from biting his head off. He seemed so nonchalant, but she was sure it was just the way she was interpreting it. He was trying. That was all she could ask at this point.

  She checked her post in the highway patrol database. No one had responded. Shit. Okay, fine. She needed to do something. She called Casa Grande and asked if she could come out and look at the truck with them. They told her to come on out, so she got in her Bronco and drove there.

  The truck had been torn apart. They were looking in every nook and cranny.

  “What can you tell me?” Cayenne said.

  “Nothing we couldn’t have told you over the phone.”

  “I get that, but I needed to see it. There’s nothing for me to do at the station in Lazu right now.”

  “Understood. We found blood on the back seat. And black fiber that we think will match what your ME found. We’re certain this is how the body ended up in your neck of the woods.”

  “Fair enough. I’ll take examples of the fiber.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “What else have we found?” Cayenne said.

  “Fingerprints on the steering wheel. We’ve ruled out his but are trying to locate who the second set belongs to.”

  Shayla. There was no doubt in Cayenne’s mind. Somehow she’d have to get a set of her prints to prove it was her. But how?

  “Something else we got, Sheriff. There was blood on the steering wheel. It wasn’t his. Like he’d fought off his assailant.”

  Or beat her one last time.

  “Get me a sample of that. We have some unidentified blood we found in the house. I’d like to see if they match.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Cayenne took the evidence and drove back to Lazu. She hurried downstairs to give it to Doc.

  “Please compare this blood to the blood on the gray fabric,” she said. “I’m certain it’s a match.”

  “Do we know who it belongs to?” Doc said.

  “I have a hunch, but no way to prove it yet.” She handed Doc the black fibers. “I think you’ll find these a match to the black fibers you took from the dead guy’s head. If so, we know how he got here. And, another thing…”

  “How many more things have you got? I’m only one man, Cayenne.” Doc sounded exasperated.

  “No. I was just wondering if anybody had tried to claim the body yet.”

  “I haven’t gotten a call.”

  “Strange.”

  “Very.”

  Cayenne left Doc to his work. She checked the highway database again. Still nothing. Surely someone had seen her? Then Cayenne remembered another tidbit from that night. Shayla wanted to be in show business. Was she in Hollywood? New York? Undoubtedly. She was free now to pursue her dream.

  She needed to contact the California Highway Patrol and New York State Police on the phone. But she wanted to talk to the people in charge. One more thing that would have to wait until tomorrow.

  Frustrated, and needing a drink, Cayenne checked the time. Four thirty. Close enough to quitting time. She turned off her computer, locked her desk, and put her hat on. She was on her way out when Doc called to her.

  “It’s a match, Cayenne,” he said. “The blood from the gray fiber and the sample you brought me today. They match. But it’s not the victim’s blood. Whose could it be?”

  “Perhaps another victim,” Cayenne said quietly.

  “You think someone else is dead?”

  “You don’t have to be murdered to be a victim, Doc.”

  Without another word, she left. She drove home and grabbed a beer. It was cold and crisp and felt good going down. It went down too easily, and she grabbed another. She went out back and sat on her deck.

  Her mind was jumbled as she played over the events of the past week or so. She had a murder victim. She had a pretty solid suspect. Cayenne thought back to the night she’d spent with Shayla. She’d been skinny, too skinny. Did she really have it in her to crush a man’s skull?

  She had to have done it. They had no other suspects. But Cayenne honestly didn’t feel like Shayla was guilty of murder. She was sure it had been self-defense. She’d been thinking that since the beginning. She just had to find Shayla and convince her to come back and face the facts.

  Cayenne doubted Shayla would do any time. Hell, Cayenne would make sure she had a good lawyer, though God knew Shayla had the financial wherewithal to hire anyone she wanted. She had plenty of money, but it would eventually run out. Then she’d have to find a job. Cayenne would have to put that she was wanted into the national data base, so if she did apply for a job and they ran a background check, they’d find her.

  The thought made Cayenne sick. She didn’t want to arrest Shayla. Yes, she had left the scene of the crime. A misdemeanor. That would probably stick. But if she could prove self-defense, she wouldn’t spend a day in prison.

  Shit. She had to find her. She had to talk to her. She had to explain things to her. But where was Shayla? There was nothing more for Cayenne to do but torture herself, so she finished her beer and went to bed.

  Cha
pter Ten

  Shayla answered her door wearing the same green sundress she’d worn on that fateful night with Cayenne. She was still battling her mixed feelings about that day and night when Jazz had knocked.

  Jazz was wearing gray slacks and a cobalt blue shirt. She looked amazing and Shayla’s heart skipped a beat. All her worries and concerns drifted away and she set her sights on enjoying the company of one of Chicago’s most eligible lesbians.

  “You look amazing.” Jazz gave her a once over. “Simply amazing. Shall we go?”

  Shayla grabbed her purse, took Jazz’s hand and readied herself for the night ahead.

  “What exactly are we doing tonight?” Shayla said.

  “I should have asked. Are you a vegetarian?”

  “No.”

  “Great. I’m going to fatten you up on one of Chicago’s best steaks.”

  Shayla felt the tears well up. She couldn’t cry. Wouldn’t cry. Jazz thought she was too skinny. She didn’t find her attractive. She drew a deep, ragged breath. Jazz stopped walking and turned to her.

  “Shayla? What is it?”

  Shayla didn’t trust her voice. She simply shook her head. Jazz stopped the elevator and made Shayla face her.

  “I said something,” Jazz said. “I don’t know what, but whatever it was, I’m sorry.”

  “No. It’s just, well, my husband always told me I was too fat, and I guess when you told me I was too skinny, I flashed back.”

  “Babe, you are not too skinny. You’re perfect. You’re gorgeous. I was just trying to be funny. Please. I’ll be more careful. I promise. Now, you okay?”

  Shayla took another deep breath and nodded.

  “Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. You have every right to feel your feels. Now, after the show, we’ll get a cup of coffee and you can tell me all about your so-called marriage, okay?”

  “That sounds good.”

  “Great,” Jazz said. “Now, let’s get some food.”

  Dinner was delicious and Shayla ate with gusto. Afterward, they went to a comedy club and Shayla laughed until she cried. Her face hurt from laughing so hard. It had been a wonderful evening and she was sorry to see it come to an end.