“That tape wasn’t Shana’s to distribute. I gave it to her in confidence.”
“It’s a sex tape, Laurelle. If you didn’t want people to see it, why did you make it in the first place?”
Laurelle shook her head. She’d moved back, and twin dots of crimson had appeared on her cheeks. Out of nowhere, a knife suddenly manifested in her hand. “You’re just as bad as your asshole daughter, Camille. I should have taken care of you and your family a long time ago.”
Camille eyed the knife nervously.“What are you doing?”
Laurelle’s lips curled up into a cruel smile. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m going to put my carving skills to good use. This time without a witness.”
“You won’t get away with this. Everyone will know it was you.”
The stylist shrugged.“I’ll just cut myself. Tell the cops the terrorist struck again and I barely escaped with my life. I’ll even throw in a full description this time. Only for you, help will come too late, of course. You’ll be dead.”
“Why did you do it, Laurelle? Why did you kill my daughter?”
“For the same reason I’m going to kill you. Because you deserve it,” she spat. “You think you’re so high and mighty. Sitting on your throne of money and fame and power. You think you can mock and ridicule everyone else. Well, no more. I deserve a spot in the limelight, just like you, and I’m going to get it. That tape was supposed to put me out there, but your daughter sabotaged everything. She didn’t want the competition. She could have made me part of her inner circle but instead she chose to keep me down.”
“You’re crazy,” said Camille. “No silly sex tape could have made you famous. It would simply have made you the laughing stock of the world.”
Laurelle stuck out her chin.“You know it’s all about celebrity endorsement. If Shana had endorsed my tape, it would have put my name on the map.”
“You’re deluded, honey. It doesn’t work that way. Shana was famous not because of some elusive celebrity endorsement but because she had talent and worked her ass off to make it in this business. Success doesn’t fall from the sky. Shana had to work hard to make a success of herself, and she wasn’t going to hand it to you on a silver platter just because you felt entitled.”
“You’re so wrong. I’m not entitled. I’m talented. I just needed a break.”
“Drop that knife. It’s over. You killed Shana and you’re going to jail.”
“It isn’t over until I say it is. You and your family are going to suffer. I’m going to kill every last one of you. First I’ll carve you up like a brisket, and then I’m going to do the same to your rotten kids. I won’t rest until all the Kenspeckles are nothing but a bunch of cadavers rotting in the ground.”
“You’re insane,” said Camille, throwing up her hands. “Why didn’t I see this before? When this is over I’m going to have a word with your employment agency. This is just ridiculous.”
“One more thing before I slice you to ribbons,” said Laurelle. “Give me the name of the witness.”
“I told you, it was Kane,” said Camille.
“I should never have given my precious baby to Shana,” said Laurelle. “I knew she wouldn’t appreciate it. I just felt sorry for her after Lil’ Pim died.”
“Well, Kane was the witness.”
“Quit messing around, Camille,” said Laurelle, gesturing with the knife. “Tell me the name of the witness.”
Odelia stepped from behind the curtain.“That would be me.”
Laurelle’s eyes widened in shock. “You! What are you doing here?!”
“Telling Camille what’s going on.”
“You saw me that night?”
“A family friend did.”
Laurelle took a step toward her.“Give me the name or I’ll gut you right now. One slice is all it takes to spread your guts all over the floor so you can watch yourself bleed to death.”
“Sounds like fun,” Odelia said. “But I think I’ll pass.” She shook her head. “And here I thought you were the victim. You sure fooled me.”
“I am the victim. I’m the victim of Kenspeckle greed.”
“You made that tape, didn’t you?” asked Odelia. “That was your idea.”
“Of course it was my idea. I devised the whole plan. You don’t think I escaped that shit town of Armada, Illinois just to spend my life slaving away for the Kenspeckles, do you? I came to LA to become rich and famous, only this asshole here doesn’t want to share. So now I’ll make her pay. And I’ll make you pay,” she said, making a slashing gesture in Odelia’s direction.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a voice sounded from the door. Chase had appeared, and he was accompanied by the FBI agent in charge.
Laurelle stared at them, completely taken aback.“I… the terrorist was here, and… he attacked me and…”
“I don’t think so, Laurelle,” said Burr as he stepped from behind the curtain. He had his camera mounted on his shoulder and pointed at Laurelle.
The knife dropped from her hand and fell to the floor.“You filmed me?”
“Yep. Got it all on tape.” He tapped his camera proudly. “A real doozy.”
It was over, and she knew it. Chase stepped forward, and outfitted the fallen stylist with a nice set of shiny new handcuffs. Laurelle looked at Odelia.“Who was the witness? Who saw me that night? I need to know.”
Odelia shrugged.“There was no witness. I just made that up.”
The girl’s face contorted into an expression of rage. “I hate you. I hate all of you! And I hate you most of all, Camille Kenspeckle! I’ll get you for this!”
“Join the line,” said Camille with a satisfied smile. “Oh, God,” she said as she turned to Odelia. “I can’t thank you enough, honey. If not for you I’m pretty sure that monster would have murdered my entire family.”
“That seems to have been her plan all along,” said Odelia. “Only she wanted to take her time. Kill you one at a time and make you suffer as long as possible.” She glanced at the camera, which was pretty much in her face now. “Um, could you stop filming now?”
Camille grinned.“Why? You’re going to be next season’s biggest star.”
Two cats came darting in, and she picked them both up.“These are my stars,” she said. “My biggest stars.”
Pity she couldn’t tell the world they were the ones who caught Laurelle. Then again, sometimes real heroes went uncelebrated.
“Mom,” said Shayonne as she came darting in. “Is it true Laurelle is the killer?”
“Yes, it’s true,” said Camille.
“No way!” Shalonda cried, close on her sister’s heel. “Did you get her confession on tape?”
“Yes, we did.”
The two sisters exchanged high fives.“Best. Show. Ever!”
Odelia shook her head and walked out. Keeping up with the Kenspeckles was a tough proposition, but at least she hadn’t sustained permanent damage.
Epilogue
Dusk was falling and Dooley and I were seated on the swing Doctor Tex had installed on the back porch. Gran was sitting next to us, patiently waiting for dinner to start. Tex was whipping beef ribs onto the barbecue, joining the burger patties and sausages already sizzling on the grill. Uncle Alec was helping him by swigging back a Corona and being generous with his advice.
My stomach grumbled as the delicious scent caressed my nostrils. We’d already been fed a few slivers of raw sausage, and now we were waiting for the barbecue feast to start, cooked up by the barbecue maestro himself.
Even though Tex warned against artery-clogging red meat on a daily basis to his patients, when he wasn’t on duty he liked to treat himself to some choice artery-clogging beef ribs himself. He argued that if God didn’t want us to have barbecue, he shouldn’t have made it taste and smell so darn good.
Chase and Odelia were seated at the white plastic table Marge had placed in the garden. They were deeply engrossed in conversation, probably clearing up the last few details about the murder case. Marge was busy in the kitchen, doing something with potato salad, and putting the finishing touches on the chocolate cake she was baking. Brutus and Harriet were snuggling at Odelia’s feet. They’d canceled their romantic evening for dinner with the fam.