The Daughter

Chapter 3

THREE

Rachel plopped down in the chair behind her desk, delighted to be in her office. It wasn’t a large office, but had enough size to accommodate several file cabinets, her desk and chair, and the guest chair positioned in front. Behind her was the mini fridge where she kept water bottles. All but one wall was glass, which gave her the advantage of seeing who was approaching, whether from the outside or within the building. She happily put on her condo manager cap and cast off her mother’s hat. Whatever the day brought; she was eager to greet every event.

LuAnn Riley was the first one to come through the door. Her blonde hair fell past her shoulders, just like one would expect of a country singer. LuAnn could have passed for Dolly Parton’s sister, since she had a similar face with a figure to match. And long nails.

“Hi, honey.”

“Have a seat,” Rachel said, pointing at the chair across from the desk. “What’s up?”

“I was just wanting to know if you and Joe would like to come hear me sing this weekend and meet Derks?” Her pretty face shone with joy.

Derks Ford was LuAnn’s boyfriend. They were rather new as a couple, but the situation looked promising, according to LuAnn.

“I think we can do that,” Rachel said. “Do you mind if we bring Angie?”

“Who’s Angie?”

“Our daughter. She’s visiting.”

“Oh, honey, that would be wonderful,” she drawled. “Y’all come and bring Angie along. She’ll have a good time.”

“Yes, I think she would enjoy herself.”

“How long is she visiting for?”

“That’s a very good question,” Rachel said with a sigh. “I have no idea.”

“Oh, one of those situations.” LuAnn nodded her head like she understood. Although she had been married three times, LuAnn did not have any children.

“Yes, but Joe is really on board this time. I don’t think he’ll cave to her whims.”

“Nothing like a daughter batting her eyelashes at her daddy. Works every time,” LuAnn said. “Did for me.”

“Are you meeting us later at the clubhouse?” Rachel asked.

“I’ll be there at five. Have some errands to run and then get my nails done.” LuAnn held out one hand and wiggled her fingers.

“See ya then.”

No sooner had the door closed than Ruby Moskowitz walked into the office. Ruby was the building’s most flamboyant resident. Her preferred clothing was a bathing suit that revealed everything that no one wanted to see. At the age of ninety-something, the only things she had to expose were skinny limbs adorned by knobby joints with creped skin as a covering. With flaming red hair piled on top of her head and red lipstick, she was quite a sight to behold as she strutted around the pool, doing her best model walk.

“Hi, Ruby,” Rachel said. She was quite fond of the old woman, despite the heavy gardenia scent that followed her everywhere. While most of the female residents thought she was brazen, mainly due to their jealousy, Rachel knew of her compassionate side.

“Hi. I just wanted you to know that Loretta is under the weather.” The way Ruby made her statement, it sounded to Rachel like she was more than a little concerned.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Well, I’m not sure,” she answered, sitting in the chair in front of the desk. “She’s coughing a lot. I told her to go to the doctor, but she doesn’t want to. She hates doctors; says she’ll take cough medicine instead.”

“A woman her age shouldn’t mess around with a cough.”

“I know. I told her that.”

“Do you want me to talk to her?”

“Not yet. If I can’t get through to her, I’ll let you know.”

The door to the office opened and Joe stuck his head in. “Just so you know, the new tenant is moving in on the eighth floor.”

“Okay, thanks, Joe,” replied Rachel, turning back to Ruby.

“So, I’m going to pick up some chicken noodle soup for Loretta,” Ruby said, standing. “Can’t hurt, might help.”

“Good idea, Ruby. Keep me informed, okay?”

“I will.”

After Ruby left, Rachel sat back in thought. Loretta was an elegant woman in her middle eighties. She was a good Christian woman with a past that no one would have ever guessed by current appearances. Loretta had been a high-profile detective in Nevada. Ruby was Loretta’s Confidential Informant, bringing important information about the influential elite that she associated with due to her prominence as a fashion model.

The women had not seen each other in decades. Ruby deliberately moved away because she feared repercussions from some of the prison releases who might come looking for Loretta. Then when Loretta coincidentally moved into the same condo, Ruby again was afraid of being discovered and continued to avoid Loretta. It wasn’t until recently that they had become very close friends, even taking a Hawaiian cruise together. Rachel had great respect for Loretta’s wisdom and had asked her counsel in the past.

“Enough,” she said aloud. She had work to do.

Rachel rode the elevator to the eighth floor where the new tenant was moving into a condo unit. And it wasn’t just any condo unit. It was the one where her friend Eneida had lived, until she was murdered. In that unit. It took weeks before it was cleared by the police for entry. The condominium owners eventually foreclosed on it and had to pay for renovations. After repairs were done on the wall where a portion had been removed as evidence and then painted, the carpeting was removed, and tile was installed in its place. Rachel had wondered if it would ever be rented out or purchased?

Rachel exited the elevator and turned onto the walkway that stretched outside across each of the twelve floors of the condominium. It was an open walkway with an iron fence to prevent anyone from falling below. Immediately, she saw the movement of people walking into the previously vacant unit. Several men were hoisting furniture and boxes. It appeared that a professional crew had been hired to accomplish this move for the new resident.

Rachel came to the door where all the action was taking place. A young man poked his head out when Rachel approached. He was dark haired, clean shaven, and quite handsome. He wore a black tee-shirt, black jeans, and was slender in body.

“Hi, I’m Rachel Barnes, the condo manger,” she said, extending her hand toward him.

“Yeah, great, I’m Josh,” he said in response, extending his hand as well. “Josh Brigham. Just moving in now.” Josh smiled down at her. He was tall, much taller than Rachel.

“Is everything going well?” Rachel asked.

“Oh, yeah, what could be wrong?” Josh smiled broadly at Rachel.

“I hope nothing,” she said. “If you do have any problems, let me know. My office is on the first floor.”

“I don’t anticipate any problems,” he answered. “Thank you for caring.”

“Not a problem, Josh,” she said, turning to leave.

Rachel’s immediate impression was that of a very polite young man. Being young, though, she hoped his youthful behaviors wouldn’t become an issue. She couldn’t help wondering why he was moving into an over fifty condo. Perhaps he was the son of the new resident, maybe helping him to move in? She didn’t know, so she decided to speak with the president of the condo board and the applicant himself. When she returned to her office, she dug out the application for residency and called the applicant, John Brigham.

“Yes,” a male voice said.

“Hi, I am Rachel Barnes, the manager of the Breezeway Condominiums that you are moving into.”

“Okay, yes.” He paused, waiting for her response.

“Well, I met a young man today who I imagine is your son? His name was Josh.”

Rachel didn’t hear any response to her question, so she continued. “Anyway, he was very polite and, I guess, supervising the move,” she said. “I haven’t met you, personally, Mr. Brigham, I only have paperwork here on my desk that shows you purchased a unit. I presume he is your son? I mean, people under fifty aren’t allowed to purchase a condo unit here.”

There was a brief silence before the man spoke.

“That is my condo. But there is no need to concern yourself, young lady.”

“What?”

“I will be in town in a few days. Josh is handling everything, so don’t worry,” the man answered.

“I was merely asking…”

“As I said, I will be in town soon. Josh will handle everything in my absence, so there is no reason for your concern,” he said. “I look forward to meeting you.”

And with that, the man hung up the phone.

Rachel sat back in her chair, not sure what to make of the conversation. She wished the condo president would be more forthcoming in these matters. How was she to know what was happening with the sales of the units if she wasn’t informed? This was a unique situation where the condo association had foreclosed on the unit and resold it. She had not been informed about the new owners, except to know the names and the approximate date of arrival.

The next call Rachel made was to the condo board president, Charles Amos.

“Hello, Rachel. What can I do for you today?” Charles sounded cheery.

“My call is regarding the Brighams. The son is moving everything in today. His name is Josh,” she said. “I also spoke with the father, John Brigham, on the phone. I wasn’t clear about the arrangements, given we are an over fifty condominium. Josh is obviously much younger than fifty. His name isn’t on the forms as owner, either.”

“Nothing to worry about, Rachel,” he said. “Everything has been worked out.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, don’t worry about it,” Charles said.

What was happening? Two men in a short period of time were telling her not to worry about the details of this unit. What was so special about the Brighams?

“I don’t understand the secrecy surrounding this unit.”

“There isn’t any secrecy, Rachel. Mr. Brigham will be in town soon. Josh is moving his father into the unit,” he said. “End of story.”

“Well, okay,” she said. But she didn’t believe that was the end of the story. There was something fishy about this.

Rachel thought it especially odd that someone would purchase a unit where a murder had been committed, especially when other units were available. By law, full disclosure was required to any potential buyer. Who wants a unit where a murder, a gruesome murder, no less, had taken place? Unless they were a mortician or Stephen King.