The Japanese Masseuse – Chapter 42

   

Helene Ballings (Gary Kent’s girlfriend)

Ivy Kim (Detective, Austin Police Department)

Debbie & Hayden Olander (Neighbor)

     

Gena & Katherine Foster  (Gary Kent’s neighbors)

Craig & Victoria Mooney   (Ivy Kim’s ex-husband and step-daughter)

David & Amy Brosette (David accused for killing his wife Amy)

     

Gary Kent (Actor, producer, director)

Big Rosa (Gary Kent’s dog)

Beast (Ivy Kim’s turtle)

Connie Ding (Japanese masseuse)

CHAPTER 42

 

Helene Ballings didn’t look a bit surprised about the detective’s visit. She right away opened the door to allow her to step inside.

The home was clean and tidy, without a staged feeling of showing off the architecture, furnishings, and accessories. A nice aroma of coffee filtered through the family room.

There was something about Miss Ballings that Ivy really liked. Perhaps it’s her relaxed and very natural mannerisms. She was not a native Texan, not with that accent. More likely from the West Coast.

She wore an Indian sari, light green, and was barefoot. On the floor in front of the TV, a purple yoga mat was rolled out. A muted video of a yoga instructor was on.

“Coffee?” Helene grabbed a mug from the kitchen counter.

Ivy shook her head.

“I know. I should drink green tea, but nobody’s perfect.” She smiled and poured a cup of coffee for herself. “I love your hair color. I’m sure you get lots of stares.”

“Not so much anymore. I’m back to red again; but sometimes it’s purple, blue, even green. People get used to other people being different, and then they find themselves doing it, too.”

“Please have a seat.” She pointed to a comfy armchair.

Ivy sat down.

The slim, agile woman bent down and got comfortable in a cross-legged sitting position on the yoga mat.

“It keeps me sane,” she said and made a gesture showing her perfect yoga posture. “Body, mind, and soul. I meditate. If we don’t know ourselves, how can we then interact with other people?”

“So do you know yourself?” Ivy wasn’t sure what that implicated.

“I’m still surprised what I learn about myself…sometimes even shocked.” She patted her hand on the mat. “Come sit next to me.”

“On the floor?” Ivy looked at her with a slight elevation of her eyebrows.

She nodded.

Reluctantly, Ivy moved from the comfortable armchair to the yoga mat on the floor where she moved into the same position as her new yoga instructor. Unbelievable what I do to get information out of people.

“Now close your eyes.”

“I’m a detective. We keep our eyes open,” she said and looked around.

“You can still see with your eyes closed.”

Ivy closed her eyes and sat for a moment in silence.

“Now, tell me what you see.” Helene’s voice was warm and soothing.

“Nothing.”

“Are you sure?”

A colorful picture surprisingly shaped for her inner eye. “I…,” she chuckled, “I think I see a face.” She paused. “I see a man’s face…Gosh!” She opened her eyes, unexpectedly staring into Helene’s peaceful face. “Hee! That was interesting.”

“There you go. We can all see, even with our eyes closed. So what are you looking for with your open, detective eyes?”

“Debbie Olander suggested I talk to you,” Ivy was still surprised by her experience.

“I like Debbie. She and I used to be close friends. Then I started dating Gary, and everything changed. Katherine and Debbie are neighbors, and their children are in the same class. Debbie doesn’t want to do anything to destroy that friendship.”

“Who’s your friend?”

“Gary. And a woman in San Jose.”

“That’s far away.”

“Yeah, my husband got a job here, so we moved. He got sick and passed away. Don’t really wanna talk about it.”

“So do you belong here?”

“If I belong here.” She laughed. “I’m probably the only Democrat and Buddhist in this neighborhood,” she said and smiled.

“How does that make you feel?”

“Special.”

“Do they talk to you?”

“They tolerate me…No, I think they find me interesting. Something to talk about. Something very different from their silly charity balls with made-up princesses and all that nonsense. I always wonder why they put on these theatrics. Is that really what they dream about?”

Ivy recalled how Victoria had begged her to be part of the local chapter of The Women’s Beautification League. Craig had encouraged her since most of his colleagues and business associates’ wives were members. Once a year, they would put on this enormous ball, and the young girls would dress up as princesses in the most stunning dresses, be escorted by the successful families’ sons. Finally, she had given in; but shortly after, she and Craig had separated and The Women’s Beautification League was not a place for divorcees.

“They are all members of the country club. All they do is play tennis, golf, and go to luncheons,” she continued. “I don’t play golf or tennis. They talk a lot. I can do that, but honestly I’ve never figured out what they talk about. Lots of words are coming out of their mouths, but altogether they don’t make any sense. During the last presidential election, I was invited to a luncheon. I happened to bring up something about one of the candidates when a woman told me that we didn’t discuss politics.”

“So what do they talk about?”

“The women who couldn’t make it to the luncheon. Their very important but very abusive husbands. How to look young and sexy even if they don’t have a sex drive anymore.” She looked at Ivy. “Recently, they have talked about Amy Brosette, the West Lake woman who was run over by her husband…can’t really blame him…There you go! Now I’m gossiping. I’m a fast learner.”

“Did you know Amy Brosette?”

“I’d met her. But you see, she didn’t really mingle with people from River Place. I guess she has to now. Don’t think we have a choice when we’re dead.”

“And one day we’ll all mingle with Katherine Foster, “Ivy said. “How well did you know her?”

“She lives in my neighborhood. She introduced me to the book club. I like books; but we always had to read the books she recommended, so I stopped showing up.”

“So what do you think about this snake attack?”

“I’m sorry. But I’m sure you want me to be honest. I really think she got what she deserved. I didn’t want her dead, of course, but what a snake she was!”

A tingling told Ivy that her legs were about to get numb. She felt stuck in the yoga pose. “Now, how do I get out of this?”

With the assistance of Helene, she managed to unlock her legs. “Is this supposed to be good for you?”

“Yes.”

“Hmmm.”

“I feel very sad for her daughter and her husband. I’m sure they loved her. I’m not going to miss her. Sorry! When I’m told to be honest, that I am.”

“So who planted the snake there?” Ivy moved up into the chair.

“Perhaps it was a mistake. Perhaps it should have been dropped off at Austin Zoo.” Helene said in an attempt to be funny. “I guess I don’t have much useful information, but feel free to call on me any time.”

The detective was getting ready to leave when the front door opened, and Gary Kent walked in. Without a word, he promptly headed for the kitchen carrying two heavy grocery bags that were killing his hands, judging from the pain in his eyes. With renewed energy after setting the bags down, he came back through the doorway to join the two women.

Gary reached out his hand to introduce himself to the fascinating woman with burning red hair. “I’m Gary.”

“Gary Kent? I was on my way to your house next, but now we can do it here instead.”

A totally perplexed look painted Gary’s face. “We can do what here?”

Helene didn’t offer any help, just wondered why her boyfriend acted so strange.

“I’m Detective Kim. I need to ask you some questions about your neighbor, Mrs. Foster.”

“Detective? They certainly have changed over the years. I’m sorry! I just thought I had seen you before. Sure, you can ask me questions.”

They returned to the comfy chairs and the purple yoga mat. This time, Ivy accepted a cup of coffee but not the mat. Gary got himself a beer and sat next to Helene on the couch.

“I don’t have much nice to say about my neighbor. She’s been a pain in the neck; but I must say, it’s a pretty dramatic way to teach her a lesson.”

“Why didn’t you get along?” Ivy sipped her coffee.

It wasn’t easy for Gary to talk about it without getting too emotional; it was important that he control himself. “The woman doesn’t approve of Helene’s and mine relationship. She constantly complains about me to the HOA.”

“About what?”

“My dogs. All she cares about is her daughter being an honor student. Who cares about an honor student when you have a Great Dane? I rescue dogs…She kills them!” It felt like his lungs were about to collapse. “She poisoned Big Rosa!”

“Big Rosa?”

“My Great Dane.”

“So she deserved a poisonous snake?”

Gary looked down. His heart was galloping. “What do you think, detective? Do you like dogs?”

“I love dogs. I have a turtle.”

“Do you want a dog? I have a beautiful stray dog that needs a home.”

Ivy almost jumped in her chair. “I know where we’ve met! The Japanese masseuse!”

The detective could almost feel her face burn with excitement. What was the link to this Japanese masseuse? “You arrived as my colleague and I were leaving. You asked me about your stray dog.”

She could hardly wait to follow up with her questions. “Is Miss Ding a good massage therapist? Does she make you stronger? Does she enable you to do things? Does she take your pain away?” It was almost impossible for her to stop her stream of words.

Gary leaned back as had he been caught in the stream of a jet engine. Feeling the pressure, he searched his mind for the right answers.

“Detective, I honestly don’t know. It’s so painful every time I’m there, I don’t know why I keep going back.”