Detective Jack: S2-03: Casa Cecilia

Cecilia Redder, born Cecilia Dumond, the first, former, and only wife of Donald Redder.

The story of their break-up was an odd one, even by Los Angeles standards.

She kept his name, continued to profess her love for him, and they shared control of the nine Donny’s Donuts strewn across Los Angeles.

At fifty-nine, she was in excellent shape, an avowed practitioner of the only-in-America phenomena of competitive dance aerobics.

Her mansion overlooked Topenga Canyon. With 19 bedrooms, it was the largest house for miles. Originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for an art-loving oil tycoon, Cecilia Redder bought it after the divorce and promptly named it Casa Cecilia.

I started pacing the grounds, slightly confused about how donuts paid for all of this but thinking that perhaps I was doubting the powers of capitalism.

As I turned the third corner of the house, I saw what could only be described as a conspiracy in the tree line. Three armed men and a pick-up truck covered by brush.

I ducked down and started heading closer.