Intimate Relations by Rebecca Forster (most popular ebook readers TXT) 📕

Both dark haired and of Indian extraction. They looked at him with huge eyes, and said not a word. The little girl, no more than six, appeared especially peeved at his arrival. The boy had a truck. The girl a crayon. Finn was just about to speak, to ask if he had come to the wrong floor when an extraordinarily beautiful woman swept down the hall and gathered the children to her, pulling them back.

"I'm so sorry. Please, please. Come. Come," she said to Finn.

When she tipped her head toward the children, her black hair cascaded over her shoulder. When she spoke to them, her voice was warm, her words lilting despite her crisp British accent.

"I have told you, wait until a visitor comes to the door before you greet them."

The woman stood up. One hand remained on the little girl's shoulder, the other she extended to Finn.

"Vida Keyes," she said. "And these are my children. Our welcoming committee."

"Detective O'Brien," Finn said.

Ali Keyes' wife was movie star beautiful with her deep dark eyes, her full lips and perfect skin. Her clothes were casual and expensive. Her figure was voluptuous and, while other men might admire her, the woman would have no eyes for them. It was clear from her open smile, the way she spoke to her children, the welcome she gave Finn, that she could find no greener pastures.

"Come, come. Ali is expecting you."

Vida Keyes shooed the children ahead, and Finn heard them squeal as they went back to their play. Vida stood back and let him go into the apartment before her, all the while keeping up a pleasant conversation.

"I'm afraid our children have learned how to read the lights on our security system. They know when the elevator is coming and rush out before I can stop them."

"Then I hope 'tis only friends coming to your door," Finn said.

"I believe so," she answered. "Won't you have something to drink?"

"Thank you, no," he said.

"I hope you don't mind if I leave you, but I am busy with the children. It was lovely to meet you."

With that she was gone to do what rich, happy mothers do with their children. Finn looked after her for a moment, and then checked out his surroundings. Everything in the living room was expensive, but the errant toy under the sofa, the candid family pictures, the way the furniture was set close enough to have a real conversation made it homey. Finn walked to the sliding glass doors. There was a balcony outside that was as large as a patio, and the view was spectacular. Finn was not one to lust after person or thing, but he would be happy to have a view such as this.

"It's awesome, isn't it?" Finn turned to find Ali Keyes behind him. "Hope I didn't scare you. Sometimes I get so lost in that view I'm startled when someone talks to me."

"I'm not easily surprised, but thank you for asking."

"I suppose in your line of work that could be detrimental." Ali swept his hand toward the furniture, inviting Finn to sit where he pleased. "Did Vida offer you something to drink?"

"She did," Finn said. "I'm good. I've only a few questions for you about the event you held at The Brewery."

Ali's head went up and down. Both men turned their backs on the view. Ali Keyes sat in an overstuffed chair, Finn on the edge of the couch. The man was as comfortable in his skin as his wife was in hers. He was narrow, his body lithe, his face long, but his good nature was full blown. There was no artifice in Ali Keyes, he seemed to be an open book. He was thirty-five, perhaps. Young and rich. A father. A happy husband. Yet his business led Finn to believe there was some flaw in this perfect picture.

"I've been advised of the problem the other night," Ali said. "I was sorry to hear about what happened. Asylum gatherings are carefully curated as are our members. But this was not a true Asylum event. We were only asked to coordinate the venue and extend invitations to a limited guest list."

"So I understand," Finn said. "But the party was exclusively Asylum members and I'd like to confirm my understanding. You vet the women, but the men are welcome as long as they pay a fee. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"So do you vet the gentleman?" Finn asked.

"Our membership paperwork requests full disclosure, yes," Ali said. There was no guile here for which Finn was grateful. "Many of our members lead very public lives so this is a formality because we are already aware of who they are. But there is a lot of private money, old money, in the hands of people who do not leave a public footprint. Sometimes our members are foreigners. Those people we look at a little more closely. If there is a hint of anything untoward in their background, they are refused membership."

"And Cami?"

"Cami." Ali sat back. He smiled and shook his head. "She came highly recommended."

"By whom?"

"By one of our members who has not been active for sometime. Sadly, she really wasn't appropriate for our group. I assure you, she was not invited to the event at The Brewery. I further assure you that none of the invited guests had anything to do with harming her."

"I appreciate that, but I am in charge of a murder investigation and I must ask."

"And I'm afraid I can be of little help," Ali said.

The man's teeth were brilliantly white when he smiled. His black hair fell over his brow making him look almost boyish. Finn was not fooled. No boy came to live as Ali Keyes did without risk taking and experience.

"I am only asking for two things. The information you have on the woman, Cami, and the name of the person who hosted the party."

This time Ali Keyes's smile was not wide and bright. It faded a bit as if he felt bad