Crush - Alan Jacobson [91]
“Corks,” Vail said. “We’ll look into it. Anything specific?”
Cameron took another drink. “Nope. I just remember her mentioning something about it. Maybe it’s significant, maybe it’s not.” He looked down at his glass. “If you don’t mind letting yourselves out, I think I’m just going to sit here and finish off these bottles.”
Lugo rose, placed a hand on his friend’s left shoulder, then led the others off the property.
THIRTY-FOUR
On the way back to the car, Dixon called Detective Eddie Agbayani in Vallejo and told him about the connection between Maryanne Bernal and the Georges Valley AVA board. Dixon, being lead investigator, made the executive decision to add him to the task force. It was something she should have done upon the discovery that Bernal was one of the Crush Killer’s victims. Vail certainly hadn’t suggested it, nor had Brix, but Vail wondered if Dixon’s relationship with Agbayani gave her pause. Still, the short delay in adding him had not had any ill effects on the investigation, and, their prior relationship notwithstanding, Agbayani appreciated the appointment.
“Are you okay with seeing Eddie regularly at the task force?”
“Hopefully, for our sake, this task force won’t be around much longer. But as to Eddie, I imagine we’ll have our awkward moments. The thing is, he’s a really good guy. I miss him. I miss the intimacy, sharing things with a life partner I can trust. No games.”
Vail chuckled, with a tinge of sarcasm. “I had a life partner once. Turns out I couldn’t trust him and he had a whole arsenal of games up his sleeve.”
“This is your ex?”
“Was my ex. Yeah.”
“But now you’ve got Robby.”
Vail smiled. “Yeah. I do. I lucked out.” A long, hard yawn stretched her jaw wide. She shook her head. “Sorry. I need something to wake me up, I feel like my blood’s gone stagnant.” She turned to look out the window. “Is there a Starbucks around?”
“You won’t find any chains around here.” Dixon turned the ignition key and the engine turned over. “We’ve got some good cafés, but enough abusing your body.” She twisted her wrist and grabbed a look at her watch. “I’ve got something better. We’re entitled to a little downtime. Instead of breakfast, let’s take an hour now.”
THEY ARRIVED AT DIXON’S GYM, a Fit1! chain that featured a vast array of free weights, ellipticals and treadmills, and Ivanko machines. No saunas or juice bars. Plenty of sweat and body odor to go around, however.
While Vail bought an inexpensive pair of shorts and a T-shirt from the front desk, Dixon signed in, paid a one-day guest fee for Vail, then handed her a towel and locker key. “We’ll do some weights, then shower. I promise, you’ll feel a whole lot better.”
Vail chuckled. “I’ll feel better just from putting on the new clothes Robby bought.” She slung the towel over her shoulder. “I was beginning to ease back into my regular workout routine after my surgery. You really think we can get in and out in an hour?”
“We’ll do what we can do. My regular routine is about two hours a day. I usually come after work. No way would I get in a full workout before a long day at work.”
Thirty cardio minutes later, sporting a reddened face and a half-drained water bottle, Vail joined Dixon in the free weights area, where Dixon was hoisting a curl bar loaded with iron discs.
“How goes it?”
Dixon puffed. “Good. Feels. Good.”
“I’m gonna run to the restroom, then do a few machines.”
“I’ll. Be. Here,” Dixon said as she strained the last rep.
Vail walked away and Dixon set down the barbell, then walked over to the shoulder press. She stacked the bar with weight on both sides, then sat on the bench. But she needed a partner to spot her. Given her irregular hours, she often did not cross paths with the same people when she was able to make it to the gym. Nevertheless, she usually found someone willing to help—and she never hesitated to return the favor.
Behind her, a lean, well-built man in a ripped tank top stood at the weight rack, large hands wrapped around thick dumbbells. He lifted them off the metal framework with a clean jerk,