The Beach House

days I was going nuts. Then a waitress spelled it out for me. Nichols is owned by Jimmy Taravalla, a venture capitalist worth a couple hundred million. Taravalla is tight with Neubauer. He's a frequent guest at parties. According to my friend, Neubauer called Jimmy, Jimmy called Antoinette Alois, the manager, and that was that. Hasta la vista. Put down the chalupa. Go directly to the back of the unemployment line.'

'It gets scarier,' Molly said. 'I've been doing some asking around about the party, right. Then, the other night, somebody was following me. It was a black BMW. Tonight I saw the same car parked outside my house.'

'That's so weird,' Marci spoke up. 'The same cretin was following me. It's creepy.'

'Hang on to your privates, boys and girls,' said Sammy. 'The empire is starting to strike back.'

It was after midnight before the last mourner gave me a last damp hug. Then it was just me and Mack in the brightly lit kitchen. I poured two whiskeys.

'To Jack and Peter,' I said.

'To you and me,' said Macklin. 'We're all that's left.'

Chapter 19

I AWOKE WITH A HANGOVER the morning after my father's funeral and wake. About eleven, I decided to go see Dana, partly to apologize for not paying enough attention to her the day before, but mostly I needed someone to talk to. I knew that her parents were still out of town; otherwise, I don't think I could have gone to the house.

What can you say about the 'summer cottage' that the Neubauers had already turned down $40 million for? Is it real, or is it Manderly? I could never drive onto the property without thinking about how much Dana loved the house and the twelve acres it sits on. What's not to love? A grand Georgian-style house surrounded by apple orchards? Two glorious pools – a reflection pool for the mind, a lap pool for the body? A formal rose garden? The English-style garden? A circular drive in front of the house that looked as though it were built for vintage cars, and vintage cars only?

I rode Peter's motorcycle up close to the garage, cut the engine, and parked in an unobtrusive spot. Even though I had an open invitation to the house, I suddenly felt weird just being there. I tried to shake off the feeling, but it wouldn't shake.

I heard a splash in one of the pools.

I could see the 'north pool,' as the family called it, the lap pool, and suddenly I stopped walking. My stomach clutched.

Dana was climbing out of the pool and she had on a kickass suit that I'd told her was my personal favorite. Beads of water glistened on her skin and the black Lycra of the string bikini.

She tiptoed across the ornate, hand-painted tiles of the deck to one of several cream-and-royal-blue-striped chaise longues. She smiled as she drank in the warmth of the sun.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Propped comfortably on the chaise was none other than Frank Volpi. The sickening thing was that Frank looked none the worse for the wear and tear of his very demanding detective's job. He was as relaxed and tanned and toned as Dana was.

Dana was still smiling as she went and sat next to him on the longue. She laid her water-chilled hands on his stomach, and he playfully grabbed her wrists. He pulled her on top of him, and she covered his mouth with hers. As they kissed, all I could see was the back of her blond head and his hands untying the strings of her suit.

I wanted to look away, to get the hell out of there, but before I could actually move, the kiss ended.

Then Dana looked over Volpi's shoulder, and I was pretty sure she saw me before I skulked off to the Beemer and headed back where I belonged.

Chapter 20

I DROVE AROUND FOR A WHILE – fast, too fast for the winding, crowded side roads of eastern Long Island. I was feeling really bad now, not for myself – well, hell, yeah, for myself.

By the time I got home, it was past four. The house was still a disaster from the day before. I figured I'd better clean up before Mack had to do it.

A note was stuck in the screen door. My heart sank. I grabbed the envelope and opened it.

The stationery was rose-colored and I could smell perfume all over it.

The note said – IL8400. The Memory.

That was enough. I'd gotten messages like it before. Dana wanted me to meet her at the Memory Motel. She was waiting there now. The letters and numbers were the license plate of her Mercedes SUV The note, the perfume – it was pure Dana.

I shouldn't have gone over to the Memory but – what can I say? – I went. Maybe deep down, I'm a hopeless sap. Or maybe I'm too romantic for my own good.

Dana was there. What was worse, she knew that I would go. She was so sure of herself. Well, maybe I could change that.

I pulled open the passenger-side door and leaned inside. The Mercedes still smelled new. It also smelled of her perfume.

'Sit down, Jack. We need to talk,' she said in the softest voice. A slender, manicured hand patted the seat.

'I'm fine where I am,' I said. 'I'm good.'

'It's not what it looked like, Jack.'

I shook my head. 'Sure it is, Dana. While I was riding around the past couple of hours, it all came together. I saw you and Volpi talking at my house yesterday. Then you left around seven or so. Amazingly, so did Volpi. You'll have to fill me in on the rest.'

Dana somehow managed to look angry at me. 'He came to our house this morning, Jack. Not last night. Said it was about the investigation, but he brought his bathing suit. That's Frank.'

'So you invited him to have a swim? One thing led to another?'

Dana shook her head. 'Jack, you can't believe that I'm interested in Frank Volpi.'

'Dana,' I said, 'why were you making out with him? It's a fair question.'

'Hey, Jack, let me tell you something that I learned from my father – life isn't fair. That's why he always wins. It's how the game is played. And Jack, it is a game.'

'Dana -'

She waved me off, and it struck me that I had never really seen that side of her. 'Let me finish. I know my timing is dreadful, but I've been thinking about this for weeks. I guess it's why I didn't come and pick you up on Friday night. Jack, I need space. I really need time to be by myself… I'm going to Europe for a couple of months. I've never done that before. The European thing.'

'Oh, yeah, me neither,' I said. 'Run away from my problems.'

'Jack, don't make this any harder than it already is. It is hard for me.' Then tears started to run down her cheeks. I couldn't believe that all this was happening. It almost seemed too bad to be true.

'So, Dana,' I finally said, 'is Volpi going to Europe with you?'

I didn't wait for an answer. I slammed her car door and walked away. I guess we had just broken up.

Chapter 21

I COULDN'T SLEEP THAT NIGHT because I couldn't stop the bad thoughts and images crashing through my