by Nora Kane
“Thank you,” Rodriguez told him. “I’ll leave you alone.”
Margot decided to follow Rodriguez’s lead and give him the bad news later.
Instead, she found a chair and pulled it next to the bed. She sat down and Radcliff took her hand. Soon he was asleep, and it wasn’t long before Margot was sleeping as well.
Chapter 12
“Sorry, if I’d known I was going to spend the night, I would have left you at my place.”
Cassie opened her eyes and then sat up. She’d curled up on a pair of chairs set side by side and slept in the waiting room while Margot spent the night next to Radcliff.
“No worries, this was still better than my car. What now?”
“You want to stay with me until this thing sorts itself out?”
“I think so. If you don’t mind. I was under the impression you don’t like me.”
“You’ve had your moments, but I think we’re cool now. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Can we still do that interview?”
“Sure.”
“When?”
“I’ll let you know. Let’s get back to my place, get some breakfast, and figure out the rest of the day.”
Cassie nodded and worked her way to her feet. She took a moment to stretch and then followed Margot toward the exit.
“How’s your detective?” Cassie asked as they walked.
“Better this morning than he was last night. The doctors are liking his chances better too.”
“Good to hear. Did he see anything?”
“Are you asking as a reporter or a human being?”
“Reporters aren’t human beings?”
“Answer the question.”
“I’m asking as a concerned human being.”
“Doesn’t sound like he saw anything useful. He doesn’t even know Ames and Burke didn’t make it. He’s pretty drugged up so maybe there’s more he can’t process yet, but I kind of doubt it.”
“So, it still could be your old boyfriend.”
“Yeah.”
“You think he’s still looking for me?”
“I have no reason to think he’s not.”
They reached Margot’s Prius. Cassie stopped short.
“Margot, are you using me as bait?”
“Never crossed my mind. Get in.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You shouldn’t, but does it matter? I’m not forcing you to do anything. If you feel better on your own, I won’t try to stop you. Hell, I’ll give you a ride.”
“I just want you to be straight with me.”
Margot got in and unlocked the passenger door. She waited and Cassie climbed in.
“I want to find Mal. I’m going to do what it takes.”
“You really think he shot them?”
“Even if he didn’t, he’s into something, and it’s getting people hurt. You’re the last person I should be telling this to.”
“Yeah, I guess I am. I try not to think about it, to be honest.”
Margot nodded as she put the car in reverse. “I wish I couldn’t.”
They picked up breakfast to go at a place that sold breakfast burritos and then made their way back to Margot’s place.
They reached the door and Margot stuck her key in a lock that wasn’t there. She stepped back and saw the casing for her deadbolt lock was still there, but the lock itself was gone.
Margot set down the bag of burritos and hot sauce and drew her gun. Then she whispered, “Wait here,” to Cassie and kicked open her own door.
Margot turned on the light and was glad to see whoever broke in wasn’t waiting for her. She could see the guts of her lock on the floor. It looked like someone used something to blow the lock out. It didn’t make her feel good that her deadbolt lock was so easy to defeat. She moved through her small apartment and found it was empty. If something was missing, it wasn’t something she’d notice.
“It’s clear,” Margot said to Cassie as she went over to check on her lock.
“So, someone’s after you, too,” Cassie whispered.
“Maybe, it might be you.”
“No one knew I was here.”
“You left the Lucky Irish with me and as you found out, nothing going on there stays a secret very long if there’s something to be gained. Maybe someone did the math. They took a big risk; knocking out this lock would have made some noise. They seriously risked catching a bullet on the way in. Plus, if they knew me at all, they would have known my car wasn’t in the parking lot.”
“Except, I was with you.”
“They might not have known that; it makes sense I would go, but they wouldn’t know if you went too. A lot of people wouldn’t.”
“I wouldn’t have if not for the whole kidnapping torture thing I just went through.”
“The problem with all this is how would they have known I went to the hospital?”
“Rodriguez would have told her detectives. They would have figured you’d be there.”
“You’re opening a whole new can of worms there. I’ve got no reason to think there’s a dirty cop in Homicide.”
“You mean, other than Anderson.”
“He’s not there anymore, and he wasn’t working for organized crime.”
“You clearly haven’t watched my latest Masterson Hot Tub Massacre video.”
“I think we already went over that. Since I’ve got a lot on my plate today, why don’t you give the high points or at least the part where the dirty cops and cartel hitmen get involved.”
“You do know Phoebe was seeing Harry Lee and that her husband was involved with Lee somehow, right?”
“Yeah, I’d say he was laundering money for Harry, but all Phoebe was doing was sleeping with him. She didn’t even know her husband worked for Harry.”
“So she says. You take her at her word?”
“No, but when there’s nothing to say differently, I have to give her some benefit of the doubt. There’s nothing to say Anderson knew about any of that, either.”
“You really believe he did all that for love?”
“Until I see something that says different.”
“So Anderson killed three people—four if you count killing himself—for some pussy?”
“He wouldn’t be the first or last.”
“I don’t know, Phoebe is a nice-looking woman but not somebody I’d murder three people over.”
“You’re not a divorced, overweight, middle-aged man like Anderson.”
“Fair point, but it still seems wrong.”
“You have anything other than speculation?”
“I can’t say that I do, but Burke was supposed to give me something before he got in the way of a bullet.”
“Something about Phoebe?”
“He didn’t say.”
“So, nothing but speculation.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“That might be enough for a YouTube show, but I’m going to need more before I start talking about corrupt cops.”
“It would explain why no one was waiting for us. Mr. Clean, or Mal, or someone like them would have. I’m pretty sure Mr. Clean didn’t have a day job to get to.”
Margot nodded. It was a good point. Whoever did this, messed up. Margot knew they were out there now. That didn’t mean it was a cop. People, especially criminals, often did stupid things. It was usually better in Margot’s experience to assume they would do the dumb thing.
“You know, I just had this door replaced. This lock was brand new.”
“I’m no locksmith, but it looks fixable.”
“Probably better we stay somewhere else anyway.”
“Bummer, I was really looking forward to sleeping somewhere that had something resembling a bed.”
“Shaw has an arrangement with a shelter; sometimes we’ve got to hide people. I’ll put you up there.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll probabl
y be there soon enough, but I’ve got some things to do first.”
Margot picked up her phone. She dialed the maintenance guy from her building first and arranged for him to fix the lock, then she dialed Shaw and explained the situation with Cassie.
“You mind if I ask what you’re going to do next?” Cassie asked once she’d hung up.
“You mean after I get you to Shaw’s safe house?”
“Yeah.”
“Go back and check on Radcliff and then, believe it or not, follow up on an idea you gave me.”
“Can you tell me about it?”
“Can I? Yeah. Will I? Not yet.”
Chapter 13
Margot went by the office first so Shaw could give her the key to the house. He and a local activist in women's rights, who liked to remain confidential, had an agreement that he could use the house if in his work he ran across a female who needed a safe place. Cassie certainly qualified and though she didn’t like to admit it because it made her feel weak, so did Margot.
If she didn’t stay at the hospital, she was planning on joining Cassie there once she did a little work on finding Mal.
“Ms. Dithers still insists on talking to you,” Shaw told her as he handed off the key.
“Right now, I’m insisting she doesn’t.”
“Fair enough. Right now, you have the house to yourselves, but there is always the possibility the owner might be bringing someone else later since these things don’t happen on a schedule. If she does, don’t shoot her.”
“I think I can handle that.”
“Also, don’t leave a mess.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Margot drove there next. She took an odd route in case someone was trying to follow. While she could never be a hundred percent sure no one was following, she arrived at the address Shaw gave her feeling as good as she could about not letting anyone tail them there.
It was a small house sitting on the edge of what most people would define as a bad neighborhood. It was clean inside, and there was some food in the refrigerator. They had cable television and Wi-Fi so there was no reason for Cassie to leave.
“I’ll swing by later. If the owner comes by, she’ll have a key, so if someone knocks don’t answer.”
“You don’t have to tell me that. I don’t answer doors these days, ever.”
Margot didn’t figure that was an exaggeration since the signature move of the person who tried to kill her before was to fire a bullet through the peephole when the victim went to answer the door.
Margot went to the hospital next. Since she’d been in Radcliff’s room before, no one questioned her going up there now. The rules stated family only, but as long as no one got in the way, the hospital seemed pretty loose about enforcing it.
Margot was a little surprised to run into Rodriguez in the hallway.
“Maybe you don’t want to go in there right now,” Rodriguez told her, stepping into Margot’s path. “He’s sleeping anyway.”
“I don’t really care about hurting your detectives’ feelings right now.”
“It’s not them. Your old client Phoebe is in there.”
“Phoebe?”
“From what I understand, she and Detective Radcliff had a relationship.”
“The key word there is had. Besides, I kept Phoebe off of death row. I don’t think she has any issues with me.”
“Suit yourself, I’m just trying to keep the peace.”
“Maybe try by telling someone other than me what to do.”
Rodriguez nodded as if she was going to consider the request and then started back down the hall.
Margot turned and caught up with her.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“You can always ask.”
“Did Ron call you last night? When Radcliff woke up?”
“Yes, I asked him to. If it makes you feel better, he called you first. I happened to be already here checking on him.”
“I wasn’t really worried about that. I was wondering who else you told?”
“Why?”
“Just curious.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit reply. I may be an administrator now, but I worked my way there solving murders.”
“Okay, how about I’d rather not say until I know more. It’s probably nothing.”
“You think I have another dirty cop?”
“I don’t know enough to think anything yet.”
Rodriguez stopped and gave Margot a going over.
“I told everybody in my unit via group text.”
“Did you tell anybody I’d be here?”
“No, but I don’t think it would take a genius to figure out you would be. Why do you ask?”
“Like I said, I don’t know enough to say.”
“When you do, call me first. Not Driver, me.”
“Is there some reason I shouldn’t call Driver?”
“Other than I told you to call me first?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s more than reason enough,” Rodriguez told her before she marched off.
Margot figured she was right. If there was anyone she could trust, it would be Rodriguez. Nothing she said was surprising, but it was always good to get some confirmation.
In the room was Ron and another family member, plus Phoebe, who’d taken Margot’s spot next to Radcliff. She wasn’t holding his hand, which was probably a good thing for everybody.
She looked up to Margot with tears in her eyes. Her show of emotion seemed genuine, but it was hard for Margot to completely take her seriously since she had admitted dumping Radcliff for a man who drove a nicer car.
Phoebe surprised Margot by getting up and giving her a hug. Margot hugged back, again feeling the show of emotion was genuine.
Phoebe stepped away and motioned to the chair she’d been sitting in. “If he wakes up, I’m sure he’d rather see your face than mine.”
Margot sat down.
“I can’t stay long,” Margot told everybody, “but I wanted to see how he was doing.”