“I’ve got to see my father, Ari. Maybe he can see a picture from all these pieces.”
“From his cell?”
“Thanks for the encouragement.”
“Go back to sleep. The car was more pleasant in the silence.”
I tried to force myself to feel stronger.
It took the full night, but by the next morning, filled with Betsy’s muffins and steaming coffee, I felt ready to see my father.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Al Flanagan came through once again. Everyone needed him so that when he asked for a favor it was almost always granted. It helped that Al had a very long memory and a very short forgiveness gene. No one liked to say no to Flanagan.
I waited to see my father. The jail limited visits to an hour. There were other restrictions. I wanted to look at my father up close. It turned out that Al wanted to speak to my father as well, so he had a reasonable excuse to have my father brought to a conference room in the D.A.’s office. In truth, although I wouldn’t admit it, I wanted to see if Flanagan could help. He was very smart and knew everyone in law enforcement. I couldn’t see through the fog of murder, and I thought maybe he could.
My father had received a haircut, or more like a hair slaughter, in prison. His gray hair was prominent on the sides of his head. His face was more gaunt and more pale. His eyes were deader and his eyelids were more closed than usual. He had a lazy eye so it always looked as though one of his eyes was closed. At that moment he looked like a man who was half alive and half dead. And like he was leaning toward the dead side.
I was pleased that his face brightened when he saw me as he walked over to the chair in the room. They had evidently only told him he was going to see Flanagan.
“Danny. I’m sorry you have to see me like this.”
A crueler version of me would have reminded him that he was the one who had confessed, but when I looked at him any cruel impulse that might have been inside me evaporated.
“Are you all right now? I heard someone went after you.”
“Go figure, Danny. It turns out that there are violent and mean people in prison.”
“I’ll call the Times.”
He gave a wry nod.
“Please try to relax, Mr. Ryle. I didn’t invite your lawyer because I was told you didn’t want him. If that was a mistake on the prison’s part, tell me and I’ll arrange for him to be here.”
“I don’t want any lawyers. They never did me any good. I thought you wanted to talk directly to me, Mr. Flanagan.”
There were three guards who had accompanied my father. Flanagan asked them to stand in the hall. This must have violated protocol since they were very upset. But Flanagan knew how to stare and how to yell.
They went out of the room.
“You want some coffee? I sent out for crullers. Good ones.”
My father appreciated the gesture. Flanagan got them, handed them to my father, and sat back down, but only for a few seconds.
“Oh, I forgot,” Flanagan said. Then he got up and walked over to the door where the guards had left from. “I have an errand down the hall. I’ll be back in a minute. The guards will be just outside the door. The windows are nailed shut. The glass can’t be shattered. You get the idea.”
Flanagan walked out.
My father waited no more than two seconds.
“Danny, I made a terrible mistake. You know I didn’t kill Mrs. Spring. You know why I confessed. Because of Mr. Spring’s father helping Mom. I thought I was a tough old man. What could a jail do to me that I haven’t done to myself? But, Danny, it’s terrible. I hate being locked up. I go crazy in that cage. I want to run at the bars and try to break them down. My mind feels as though it is going insane. You have to help me get out. Please.”
“Dad, I promise to do all I can.”
“Is there any hope?”
My father and I had an understanding in our lives. We spoke to each other directly, without embellishment, and, in this case, without false hope.
“I don’t have any leads, Dad. The suspects keep getting alibis or they just die on me.”
My father nodded silently.
“Just keep remembering, Danny. Somebody killed Mrs. Spring and Spring’s law partner. The killer is not a figment of our imagination. You can find him. You’re the best there is at this. Everybody tells me that.”
Flanagan came back.
“So,” he said. “Has this father and son reunion gone well?”
“We’re ready to go home together,” I said.
“Be careful or your joint home will have bars.”
“Oh, Al, you’re such a pessimist. Didn’t you know I’m going to find the killer?”
“Maybe the killer is a ghost. That might be your best strategy.”
“Why did you ask me here, Mr. Flanagan?”
“I wanted bait. You’re it. The bait is for your son. I want Danny to review the entire case for me. And for you. Maybe among the three of us, we’ll get some ideas. Your kid has a pretty good memory, Mr. Ryle.”
“He got it from his mother. You can probably guess that she had the brains and psychological insights in the family.”
“I figured that, Mr. Ryle. My experience with your son is he’s eager, but not the brightest kid in the class.”
“I am sitting here,” I said.
“So stop sitting and start talking,” Flanagan said.
There was no point in holding back. I started from the beginning, going very slowly, remembering all I could. I didn’t mention Cromwell or flirtations with the law, but I included everything I knew.
At one point or another they asked me questions. Flanagan wanted to know about the paralegal in Spring’ office. I reminded him that her name was Joni Burns. He seemed obsessed with the idea that she was still a suspect. But then he hadn’t met her. My father wanted to hear Lou Nelson’s account of being next door and walking around the fence as well as of looking into the window. He wanted Nelson’s exact words in telling the story. I paused and did my best. Then my father asked Flanagan if perhaps Buzzy Young had killed Mrs. Spring and then killed himself. Flanagan looked at my father in either a sympathetic or a horrified way. I wasn’t sure. He did say that neither Mrs. Spring nor Buzzy Young had committed suicide.
And so we talked on. The guards came in to ask how long we would be. Flanagan calmly looked up and asked them, “How long does the truth take?”
This seemed to puzzle all three. They just walked out.
My father was concerned about the knife attack on me. Flanagan didn’t seem to care.
A secretary came in to see Flanagan.
“There’s a call for, Mr. Ryle. Danny Ryle, I mean. It sounds urgent.”
Flanagan nodded at me. I nodded at my father. Flanagan was going to send him back when I went.
I walked out the door and followed the secretary. She showed me to a phone on her desk.
I picked it up.
“This is Danny Ryle,” I said.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Marlene ping-ponged between screaming and crying. My sister had inherited all the emotional reactions available to a family and used them at frequent intervals.
“Take it easy,” I said. “Start at the beginning. And speak slowly. I can’t help you if I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Her whole left cheek was cut, Danny. Mary Jo is in the hospital still.”
“And where is Jimmy Marvin? I hope with the police.”
“That’s just it. I spoke with her mother. The cops can’t find Jimmy.”
I didn’t want to tell Marlene to take a deep breath. She would have been insulted, like I was the adult trying to calm her down. I would just have to wait her out.
“Is she going to be all right?”
“Would you be all right if you were a woman with your face cut up?”
“No, Marlene, I wouldn’t.”
“Well, neither is she. She’s scared he’s going to come back.”
“Again. Why did he do
it?”
“Because he’s crazy.”
“Marlene.”
“Because he was drunk. And she was drinking. They were at a bar. She was showing someone at the bar her new tattoo.” A moment of calm. “Mary Jo likes the attention of men. She used to be very pretty in high school.”
“I remember.”
“Everyone wanted to date her including half the male teachers.”
I wanted to add that three-quarters of the football team did date her, but there was no point going after a woman who had suffered.
“She was very pretty,” I said again.
“Some of it is gone now, Danny. She hasn’t aged all that well. Her eyes look old. Her skin doesn’t look as good as it did. Her figure...oh, let’s not talk about that. The same could be said about me. Anyway, she emotionally needs men to think she’s attractive. So maybe she flirts a little with men. Tells them how handsome or funny or strong they are.”
“I notice you didn’t say smart.”
“Mary Jo isn’t a great admirer of brains, Danny. But for all her faults she didn’t deserve this.”
“Don’t come visit just now, Marlene. You were just here and anyway there’s not much you can do.”
“I know that, Danny. It’s you I want to do something.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Stop him. That man you work with looks like he could punch down a tree.”
I wouldn’t have bet against Ari doing that, but I didn’t want to encourage Marlene.
“Ari will just get into trouble. He’s not a citizen, and he doesn’t want to be deported. Anyway, he punches Jimmy, maybe that provokes the guy. Maybe he treats Mary Jo far worse.” I paused. “Tell me, what does Mary Jo want?”
“She’s all confused what with her kids and all.”
“Where are the children now?”
“With her mother. I think they’re going to stay there. Mary Jo is scared for them.”
“She’s going to have to make a choice.”
“What do you mean, Danny?”
“I mean does she want to stay with Jimmy or not?”
“Maybe you can speak with her.”
“I will if you want, Marlene. But you’re her friend. Talk with her mom. Then talk with her. The separation question is the big fork in the road. I’ll deal with Jimmy in one way or the other, but I’ll deal with him differently knowing what she wants to do.”
“Okay. I guess that makes sense.”
Sure. Instead of being a wildly hysterical reaction. Those are the words I wanted to say to Marlene, but I kept quiet. I figured it might be good therapy to get it all out even if you got your sister good and angry at you. But I wasn’t that sort of person.
Marlene promised to get back to me.
I left Flanagan and drove home. Ari and Betsy listened carefully to my telling them what had happened.
We all decided to take a few minutes to think. We decided to read and then come back to the problem. My father had told me how good the Perry Mason novels were, and I told him I would read some so we could talk about them. I had picked up a copy of The Case of the Velvet Claws, the first in the series. It had been written fifty years ago, so I was surprised at how much I liked the cleverness of the plot. One of the reasons I liked it is that it took me out of the world just when I needed to be.
The phone rang several hours later. Again, the three of us gathered around it.
“Hello,” I said.
“It’s me. I spoke with Mary Jo’s mother. Mary Jo was too upset to talk.”
“So what choice has she made?”
“Danny, she wants to leave him. Like I said, the kids are set for now. Only Mary Jo is scared to death that Jimmy will track her down. She doesn’t know where to go. He can check every hotel and motel. And staying there will cost money. Jimmy will check her family first thing. Can you help, Danny?”
“I’ll try.”
“Thank you. She’s getting out of the hospital in a few hours.”
“We’ll go over there.”
“Danny, you’re the best.”
“I’m putting you in charge of setting up my tombstone. You can put that as my epitaph.”
“Stop. That’s disgusting.”
“Good-bye, Marlene.”
We hung up.
I made another phone call.
Then we went to the hospital.
Ari stayed in the hallway. Betsy talked to Mary Jo’s parents, reassuring them that we were experienced at helping people in trouble.
Mary Jo’s father asked how much we charged.
Betsy said we helped people for free no matter what it took or how long it was needed.
The parents seemed pleased.
Mary Jo looked small in the bed.
“Hi, Danny. You look good. Don’t tell me I do as well. I don’t want to hear lies told to be polite. I look like a girl they used to call pretty and can’t force themselves to do it anymore.”
“I’m going to take you out of here when they let you go.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“I’m not telling anyone, Mary Jo. Even you.”
“Jimmy will find me.”
“He’ll be sorry if he does.”
“Promise.”
“Don’t get excited. We want to avoid violence if we can.”
“Danny!”
“Just a minute, Mary Jo. That’s my friend Ari in the hall.”
I went outside.
Jimmy Marvin was walking down the hallway. He was not a walking advertisement for the benefits of alcohol.
“It’s best you get out of the way.” He paused. “You know, it took me a few days after I saw you at the hamburger joint to remember who you were. You’re just not so memorable, I guess. But then it came to me. Marlene’s brother. Danny. Not important in high school and not important now. So I’ll repeat that it’s best you get out of the way.”
I ignored his insults.
“I can’t do that, Jimmy. My friends and I are taking her away. She wants a divorce. My advice is you give it to her and don’t make a fuss. Just stay away from her. Forever. Maybe someday it will be better but not now.”
“Are you going to try to stop me?” He snickered.
“You see this gentleman next to me?”
“Yeah. I remember him from the restaurant. So what?”
“So he comes from Israel. He was in a special fighting force. They went after terrorists and then killed them. He’s not really afraid of you.”
Jimmy looked over at Ari. Ari had this knack. I’m not sure if it was natural or he had been taught to get the look. However he had learned to get it, the look was frightening. Jimmy saw the look.
“I have to tell you, Jimmy. My friend gets especially angry if someone tries to hurt a woman. You don’t believe me, take another step forward. It might be all right. I mean you’re already in a hospital. They’ll be able to set those broken bones pretty quickly.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“Let at him, Jimmy. And then turn around and walk away quietly.”
Ari took a step toward him.
“I don’t want you to walk away.”
I put my hand on Ari’s arm.
“Jimmy. We knew each other in high school. That’s why I’m here trying to help you. Your wife doesn’t want to get hit any more. She’s sick of it. She doesn’t want to see you. Now turn around. For your own good, go home and forget Mary Jo.”
Jimmy was deciding.
And then Ari put his hand on Jimmy’s chest and pushed. I was sure Jimmy would charge at him. Instead, Jimmy grabbed at the hand that had pushed him. Ari took one of Jimmy’s arms and twisted it. I heard a sound.
“It’s not broken,” Ari said. “Not yet. You have five seconds to get out of my sight.”
Jimmy made a point of walking slowly. He wasn’t going to give in to pressure in front of the crowd that had gathered around us. But he was walking away.
When the woman with the release forms said
we could go, I took Mary Jo out a side exit. We checked for Jimmy or anybody else following us.
I drove out to Sag Harbor to my father’s empty house. Mary Jo would be safe there. Ari was going to stay as well for a few days.
Then I drove home.
Jimmy Marvin was sitting on the lawn in front of my house and drinking a bottle of beer.
I got out.
“Where’s your friend?” he asked.
“Getting doughnuts. I think he’ll bring enough. He’ll be here in five minutes. It would be a good idea if he didn’t see you here.”
“Does Mary Jo really want a divorce?” The voice was sad, not angry.
“Yes, she does.”
“I lost my job, Danny.”
“You can’t be all that surprised, Jimmy.”
“No. I guess not. In a couple of days I lose my job and then my family.”
“You didn’t lose your life. You just have to start over. What are you going to do?”
He shrugged. “What can I do? My brother is in the steel business in Pennsylvania. He’ll give me a job. I hate to take a job from my brother, like I’m some beggar. But I’ve got to eat.”
He was quiet for a few minutes.
I reached out and took the bottle from him. He let me.
“Let’s make a deal, Danny.”
“I’m listening.”
“Let me start over. I’m going to stay with my cousin. He’s near Pittsburgh. He also works for my brother. Give me some time to get back on my feet. Then I want to call Mary Jo and see if we can do this together.”
“Jimmy, I think she still loves you, but she’s really scared of you at the same time. Can I give you some advice?”
“Sure.”
“Stop drinking. Not tomorrow. Not tonight. Right now. I mean cold turkey. No liquor at all. Not a cold beer on a warm day. And start exercising, Jimmy. Maybe in a few months you call me.” I reached in my coat pocket and gave him a card.
“I’ll see if Mary Jo wants to speak with you. If she does, fine. We take it a step at a time. But if not, Jimmy, you stay away from her and the kids.”
“That’s not so easy.”
“Jimmy. Look at me. It’s a matter of survival for you. I promise you.”
“You turned out not to be so far from your father, Danny.”
The Starry Night of Death Page 10