“I’m glad you’re going to speak to them,” George said. “I’d also be grateful for any other help you can give me. Maybe when you talk to Officers Austin and Mendez, you can ask them what else never made it into the official record.”
“No problem. I’ll do what I can without damaging Louie’s case since I have a close, personal relationship with the classy lady lawyer who’s trying to get him out of the trouble he’s in.” Frank smiled sweetly at me, and I squeezed the hand that was holding mine.
“Aw, aren’t they cute?” Tommy teased. “That’s a good idea, Frank. If anyone caught you looking at Jessica like that, the jig would be up anyway. Speaking of jigs…”
“Not yet, Tommy,” Jerry interrupted. “We need to figure out what to do next, and then we’ll play.”
“I’ll see what Officers Austin and Mendez have to say about their willingness to investigate the case further if that option becomes available.”
“When Kim and I speak to Louie again, we’ll ask him for the names of any friends who visited his campsite,” I offered. “I’m sure it’s hoping for too much that one of them saw some guy on the trail or lurking about that they didn’t recognize who turns out to be the Cleaner Man.”
“If they saw him before the Cleaner Man saw them,” Kim responded.
“You know what?” Jerry asked. “He may not care if he’s seen by someone that he’s not stalking. I’m betting when he doesn’t have you under his spell, he’s a drab, nondescript man that none of us would notice. To prey on the homeless, he must blend in and mingle with them while he decides who to target.”
“Got it. I’d like to ask the guys who saw Louie and Sacramento fighting what they told the police officers who tracked them down. Louie was a little vague about why they were fighting.”
“As soon as I can get any names, I’ll pass them along to you and George,” Frank said. “I’ll also ask for any notes they have based on their conversations with them at the time. I can’t believe they didn’t ask what the fight was about or if they’d fought like that before.”
“That would be a big help,” George replied wearily. “Their notes may help us figure out who to locate and speak to first. I wish I could stay longer, but I need to get back to see what Timothy Ridgeway has to say for himself after sitting in jail for a while.”
“At least your unexpected hike in the summer heat resulted in an arrest. I don’t see how we can turn back now, but given all the weird situations we’ve already encountered, I feel like we’ve opened Pandora’s Box. I’m glad you were there to take Timothy Ridgeway into custody and to see the whole business with Nick and the screaming, gas-wielding, loon for yourself.”
“I’d be skeptical if I hadn’t been there to witness whatever it was that came out of the box you opened,” George said.
“That box was open long before we got involved,” Betsy said. “It’s unfortunate for the Cleaner Man’s victims that no one noticed, or cared, until now. Mr. Oliver assured George that the Cleaner Man is well-known among the homeless, although no one was able to describe him other than to say he dresses in white and almost glows and...” Betsy paused, and an odd expression stole over her face. I shivered, struck by fear for her and the rest of us. Then she spoke again as if from a distance.
“His head is lowered, and all you see is the blazing white Stetson he wears. When he raises his head, you know he’s looking at you—smiling too, although his face has no features. You’re peering into a shiny space—reflective like a mirror or the surface of a pool of water he’s offering as a place to be cleansed.” You could have heard a pin drop in the silence that filled the room. I wondered who else besides Peter and me were aware of Betsy’s odd spells.
“I’m sorry, that was a bit dramatic, wasn’t it?” Betsy asked as she shifted in her seat and sat up straighter. Peter reached for her with a touch of concern on his face as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Not overly dramatic, but eerily like what Louie Jacobs told us. That’s what he sees when he tries to recall the face of the man with whom he met on at least a dozen occasions.”
“Dramatic or not, I’m totally freaked out!” Laura cried. “Let’s put whatever got out back inside Pandora’s Box and close it, ASAP!”
“Madre de Dios!” Bernadette added, pulling a rosary from her pocket. “What Betsy said gave me the chicken skin—goosebumps, you know? I’m going to ask my prayer circle to pray for us. I won’t tell them what’s going on, just that we need help.”
“Do you want me to get you an aspirin, Betsy?” Bernadette asked, which answered one of my unspoken questions. Why wouldn’t she be aware of Betsy’s spells and how much pain they sometimes caused her? Bernadette was Betsy’s friend long before I was.
“How about me? I need an aspirin!” Tommy snapped. “I’m sorry I was joking around now that I realize how right Brien was about this guy. We’re dealing with our most heinous villain ever.” Jerry shook his head at Tommy.
“There’s no reason to panic. We’re not his type. What I’ve heard everyone say over and over is that he prefers to prey on people without social ties. The Cleaner Man makes mistakes, though. Louie Jacobs was one since he didn’t understand how close Louie was to Sacramento Lugo. If it’s true that the Cleaner Man killed Sacramento, that was a mistake too.”
“That’s two serious mistakes in a matter of months. Maybe the would-be Angel of Death is coming unglued,” Frank added. “If that’s true, we need to be better prepared to take advantage of his next mistake. I’m going to give Denise and Julio a chance to step up and ask to reopen the original investigation into Sacramento’s murder. If they won’t do it, I will.”
“Jessica, as soon as you get the names from Frank or Louie, Tommy and I can try to find out who’s still in the area and where they’re living. We could screen them for you too if you’d like.”
“That would be very helpful since I also need to follow up with the Lugo family and the manager in the new casino near Twentynine Palms. Louie suspects that’s where Sacramento learned that el hombre limpio was such a dangerous man,” I said. George’s phone rang, and he checked the number.
“I’ve got to take this,” he said, wandering to a quieter corner of the enormous great room in my childhood home. Sometimes I’m disappointed in myself to be living here again. Under the circumstances, however, I was grateful to be in comfortable, familiar surroundings.
“Twentynine Palms is in the high desert, miles and miles from Indio. The Cleaner Man gets around, doesn’t he?” Brien asked.
“You can say that again,” Jerry added. “Maybe his condition is deteriorating, Frank. Returning to a crime scene where he already killed someone could have been his biggest mistake yet.”
“He’s either losing it, or he’s as desperate as Timothy Ridgeway was to retrieve that knife sheath before we found it,” I added.
“If the Cleaner Man has weaponized a substance to knock people out and make them forget the details of what happened, he may not feel he needs to worry,” Peter added. “Confronting him won’t be easy unless, as Kim says, we see him before he sees us.”
“It’s sort of too late to do that if he’s watching us before he takes off,” Brien pointed out.
“I have an idea about how to do that,” Betsy commented. “I believe Jerry is correct that he’d prefer not to deal with us, so we’ve got to pursue him.”
“How do we do that? He’s practically invisible,” Laura noted.
“Camouflaged, not invisible. I believe he hides in plain sight among the homeless. Someone must have seen the Cleaner Man or overheard him speaking to one of the men he was getting to know well enough to target. I’d like to canvass all the shelters in the area, question the staff, and speak to the homeless who visit the shelters often. That would be easiest to do when they’re gathered for meals. I can’t do it alone, though. If you’re okay with the idea, I can ask for a volunteer or two to help me. We can do this faster, though, if one or two more of us help too.”
“That’s a brilliant idea, Laura!” Betsy said in an excited tone. “You’d think emergency room personnel would have called the police except that claims made by men like Xavier Oliver are often dismissed. To be honest, if it hadn’t been for Louie Jacobs’ situation, I would have had a hard time believing anything Xavier said today.”
“I can help you too, if the boss will let me,” Brien offered, smiling at Peter. “Kim and Jessica’s hands are full, and Tommy and Jerry’s will be too once they have all those names. We can help, though, can’t we Bernadette?”
“Sure, but you’re riding shotgun, and I’m driving,” Bernadette insisted.
“Thanks, Bernadette,” Peter commented. “Once Betsy has an idea of when and where she needs help, we’ll figure out how you can assist her too, Brien.”
“I’ve got to go,” George said as he dashed back toward us. “There’s no sign of Willard Clark, but the Indio Police found another body.”
“Hang on,” Bernadette said as she dashed from the room. Her endurance and fleetness of foot are two of her many superpowers. The tiny woman in her sixties can run rings around the rest of us. In seconds, she was back with a “to go” box for George.
“Bernadette, if it weren’t for you, I’d be as skinny as Xavier Oliver or Louie Jacobs. Thank you.” Then George leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
He truly has become a member of the Cat Pack, I thought. Then another issue occurred to me.
“George, how can they be sure the body isn’t Willard Clark’s?”
“This one has been buried much longer. The coyotes must have dug him up. Before you jump to the conclusion that the Cleaner Man put him there, I’ll remind you there was trouble on that property for years before the place burned to the ground. Who knows who the poor sap is?” When I opened my mouth to speak, he cut me off. “If we figure out this has anything to do with the Cleaner Man, I’ll tell you.”
Once George left, we had another promise to keep. I was exhausted and a little sore from the day’s events, but Anastasia would not be denied her chance to dance. Once the music was on, and the dancing began, I forgot all about my fatigue. For a few minutes, even worries about Louie Jacobs and other misbegotten lost souls who’d fallen prey to the Cleaner Man vanished.
Having Frank to hang on to during the hilarity helped too. He didn’t do much jumping for fear he’d jar his ribs. His fake jumping and a few other awkward moves were funny. It was wonderful to see him almost back to the man he’d been before taking on the undercover assignment. Suddenly his demeanor changed as if clouds had rolled in.
“What is it? I asked.
“I hate to spoil the mood, but I’m wondering if Louie Jacobs isn’t safer in jail than anywhere else until we figure out what happened to his friend.”
“He’s on a locked ward in the hospital that’s used for prisoners and people under observation because they’re a suicide risk or have threatened someone,” I responded.
“Normally, I’d consider that safe. I’m just not sure in this case—and it isn’t just the spray-toting Cleaner Man I’m concerned about. Who could have known you were planning to visit the crime scene today and have tipped off Timothy Ridgeway?”
9 The Quarantine Calamity
The next morning, I felt hungover. I’d only had a little champagne the night before, so that wasn’t the problem. I’d eaten too much, so that was probably part of my sluggish, depressed mood. Mostly, it was my conversation with Frank, Peter, and Kim that made me want to crawl back in bed and pull the covers over my head.
Before Frank left, we discussed who could have tipped off Timothy Ridgeway that Kim and I were headed to the crime scene. The conversation left me feeling totally paranoid. I wasn’t heading back to the crime scene, but I still had plenty of running around to do if I was going to make progress on Louie’s case.
It didn’t help that Frank took off while I still had the heebie-jeebies. I was more than a little disappointed that we didn’t have a bit of time alone. He still had to go to his parents’ house and share his good news with them and his kids. Frankie and Evie were spending a few days with their grandpa and grandma before school started for them in Perris.
“What is it, Chica?” Bernadette asked as soon as she spotted me.
Her question probably had something to do with the fact that my head was resting on my arms. Bernadette poured coffee for herself and brought the press pot with her. She slipped onto the barstool next to me and refilled my cup. Her presence was instantly uplifting. I downed the coffee she poured, and that also made me feel better.
“Does your bad mood have anything to do with the top-secret conversation you were having with Peter and Frank?”
“I thought you’d left the room with the others by then to fix them food to take home.”
“Yes, but you didn’t even notice when I came to see if Peter was ready to go. I copied the recipe Betsy wanted while she took Anastasia outside for a walk. She asked me to let Peter know she was ready to leave. I was standing there for a few minutes before Betsy and Anastasia joined me. I don’t have Anastasia’s ability to make an entrance.”
Bernadette reached down to pet the sweet poodle’s soft head where she stood between us. With her front paws on the wrought iron bar that was part of Bernadette’s barstool, the clever girl was in petting range for both of us.
“You know how to make an entrance when you want to be noticed. What did you hear?” I asked as I gave Anastasia, who was also in treat range, a nibble of toast.
“You know you shouldn’t feed her people food! She’ll get fat!” Bernadette tossed a dog biscuit for Anastasia to retrieve.
“Heaven forbid she should gain weight like the rest of us who eat too much of your delicious meals.”
“Basta! You live off those high protein bars and coffee during the day. If anything, you’ve lost weight since you came home.” Anastasia was back in a flash. “Did you take her out for her morning walk?”
“Si, Mamacita,” I said, giving Bernadette a pat on the arm. “She’s a furry love sponge so she can never get enough petting—or treats. Now tell me what it is you’re dying to know about the conversation you overheard?”
“I heard you all talking about running background checks on the people who work at the Indio jail. Does Frank suspect someone at the jail eavesdropped on you and Kim?”
“Something like that. He’s sure our plan to visit the crime scene was the motive for Timothy Ridgeway to get there before Kim and I did. A guard escorted Louie into the room, but I don’t believe he could have overheard us. The room’s almost soundproof to protect privileged conversations between inmates and their lawyers. Besides, Louie told us about the location of his campsite where Sacramento was murdered, but Kim and I never told him we planned to check it out.”
“Then who could have been spying on you?” Bernadette asked. I shrugged.
“I wish I knew. Kim and I decided to check out the crime scene before we arrived at the jail. We’d already arranged for Nick to be our guide, so neither one of us called anyone about it while we were at the jail. We were chatting about the things Louie told us, but neither of us remembers discussing our plans to visit the crime scene while we were in the lobby or on our way to the car.”
“I heard Peter and Frank say you should check out the people who work at the jail, or who you saw in the lobby. They didn’t change their minds about that, did they?”
“No. Kim and I will try. It’ll be a challenge to figure out who it could have been with all the suspicious characters coming and going in that lobby. And, I’m not just talking about the half a dozen lawyers I recognized.”
“Ha-ha. You must be feeling better since you’re bein’ funny.”
“I’ll feel better when we have some idea what the heck is going on. Kim’s going to try to determine if any members of Timothy Ridgeway’s family work at the jail or elsewhere in the detention center. I gave her the names of the lawyers I recognized, including one who works with the tribal authorities. He must at least have met Timothy Ridgeway or his partner, Billy Castro.”
“That’s like looking for a needle in a mountain of straw, isn’t it?” Bernadette loves to use idioms, often in an imprecise way that bothers my prissy perfectionist streak. This was close enough not to correct her.
“It is,” I said. “Timothy Ridgeway’s had lots of contact with law enforcement officers over the years, so we can’t rule out that one of them is helping him keep tabs on our renewed interest in Louie’s fate.”
“All Frank needs is to find out dirty cops are helping Timothy Ridgeway. He’s still discouraged about the officers who hurt him, isn’t he?”
“Yes, and here we go again—dirty tribal cops but cops, nonetheless. Maybe that’s why he’s so insistent about finding out who tipped off Timothy Ridgeway. I wish he’d share more of what he’s feeling rather than carrying the load alone.”
“Aw, give him a little more time,” Bernadette suggested. “He probably feels as disappointed about his career as you felt about your marriage.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” I responded. “I need to trust his cop instincts. He may have learned a few things about figuring out who’s on which side of the law no matter what position they’re in. Even if we do find someone who knew Timothy Ridgeway, I don’t understand how anyone tipped him off about where we were going.”
A Dead Nephew Page 10