Con Game

by Alex Westmore

  Turning to Megan, who was busily printing the hubris quote on a piece of butcher paper, Delta leaned over and kissed her.

  “How are you holding up?” Megan whispered.

  Delta shot a glance over at Connie, already deeply absorbed in the game. “Better than she is. I’m worried for her.”

  “Me, too. And I’m scared for you as well.” Watching the blue of Megan’s eyes shimmer, Delta felt that Connie’s life wasn’t the only one that would be changed after this.

  “What for?”

  “You have to promise to be more careful.”

  Delta cocked her head as if she didn’t understand.

  “Oh, come on, Del. I’ve seen that look in your eyes before. You look at Connie, and you see her hurting—you see the changes in her character these two weeks, and there’s a fire burning inside you, Delta—a fire I’ve seen once before when someone else you loved had been wronged.”

  “You know me well.”

  “Yes, I do. And I know that sometimes that fire carries you beyond reason. That, my love, is what scares me most about your job; I don’t hate that you’re a cop. You’re a damned good cop. It’s just, when you get that look, the rules of life no longer apply to you. You’ll do whatever has to be done to right a wrong, regardless of the danger you may face. That’s what scares me most, Del. At times like those, you forget that I need you, too. You forget that I need you safe and home in one piece. That’s what I mean about putting our relationship on the back burner. I want us to come first enough that you won’t take so many risks.”

  Delta could only stare at Megan

  “Don’t say anything, Del. I told you, we’ll talk when this thing is over. But I just want you to think about it.”

  “But you’re scared.”

  “Yes I am. That fire is a part of who you are, my love. Sometimes, I think it’s what gets you up in the morning. It’s also one of the things I find so alluring about you. When you feel something, Del, you really feel it. Be honest with me, sweetheart. Tell me what you’re feeling now.”

  “Scared, sad that—”

  Megan shook her head. “No, honey, that’s not what I meant. I mean tell me about the fire. Tell me what’s burning inside your heart right this minute. Because I know it’s there. I can see it in your eyes as plainly as I can see your face.”

  Delta licked her lips and thought for a moment. She had never put into words what that edge felt like. While Megan saw it as fire, Delta felt it as sharpness, a gathering of strength and power for the upcoming battle. She felt an inner strength whenever she was like this, and it was better than any high she could ever imagine. This fire, this edge, made her better than all the rest.

  “I feel like I did in college when I was getting ready for a softball game. There’s this inner preparation that happens, like my soul is donning armor and gathering weapons.”

  Inhaling deeply and slowly, Delta attempted to do as Megan asked. “It’s a feeling that says I’ll do whatever it takes to win. I’ll put whatever I have to on the line to be successful.” As a catcher in college, Delta had taken on a lot of women at home plate. Half a dozen times, she’d been knocked unconscious because she wasn’t afraid to take on anyone charging her.

  “At any cost?”

  Delta nodded. “Yes.”

  Megan wrapped her arms around Delta. “That fire, that passion pushes you beyond yourself, beyond your safety, beyond our relationship. It’s the mistress I envy when you get like this. It’s the other woman who threatens to take you away from me.”

  “I don’t know how else to be, Megan. I’ve lived my whole life responding to that fire.”

  Megan grinned sadly. “I know. And since we’ve been together, I’ve lived hoping it won’t take you away from me forever. I know that look, Delta, and I know you’re going after him to kill him.” Megan removed an arm and held up her hand to silence Delta before she could respond. “And I also know that you’ll stop at nothing until you see him dead. It’s the stopping at nothing part that frightens me most.”

  “What would you have me do, Megan?”

  “Do? It’s not that I want you to do anything. I want you not to do something that might endanger you. All I’m asking for here, sweetheart, is that you’ll think twice before putting your life in jeopardy.. Just promise me that you’ll try. That’s all I’ll ask for now.”

  Nodding, Delta took Megan in her arms. “I can promise you that much. I swear, Megan, I’ll try to think about my . . . our life together before I take any risks. I may not be successful, but you have to believe me when I say that I’ll try.”

  Pulling away, Megan kissed Delta’s lips softly. “Thank you.”

  Hugging Megan again, Delta shut her eyes tightly. If only trying were as easy as loving the woman in her arms.

  Chapter 39

  Delta hobbled to the house from the backyard, where she’d been letting her mind rest among the trees. If she never saw or heard another myth again, it would be too soon for her. The last two days had been spent getting as far in the game as their energy and time would allow, and she was beat. Her eyes ached, her leg throbbed, and her head pounded. Their seventy-two hours were rapidly dropping through the hourglass. If the answer they had come up with wasn’t the right one, the game was over.

  Sliding the glass door open, Delta turned and smiled weakly at Connie. Forty-eight hours of watching a computer monitor put dark circles under Connie’s eyes. She looked dreadful.

  “I think we finally got him. If there’s another solution to this level, it’s beyond my reach. We’ve done all we can.”

  “What did you finally have to do?”

  Delta closed her eyes; visions of Dori fighting Poseidon passed in front of her. For the last twelve hours, every time Dori got close to Poseidon, he killed her. They tried throwing snakes, rocks, magic spells, even the shoes, but nothing hurt him, nothing distracted him. Time and time again, Poseidon raised his trident and thrust it into the tiny warrior, sending them back to the beginning of the level. And although she would never admit it, Delta had grown rather fond of the dark-haired, animated figure of Dori. On the screen, she seemed so real, so heroic in her actions, that Delta found it increasingly difficult to watch her get killed.

  It wasn’t until after they figured out Harold’s Hubris, that they knew how to approach Poseidon—or not approach him as the case turned out.

  Connie pulled up a chair next to Delta and sat down heavily. “Dori was lacking the humility of a mortal. When a person forgets they’re human and acts like a god, they commit hubris.”

  Delta nodded. She almost resented the fact that she was beginning to understand how this game and Elson’s twisted mind worked. “Right. Dori isn’t a god, so she shouldn’t approach him as if she were.”

  Gina walked in and pulled herself up on the counter. She had toned down her patient load to only a few “must sees” a day, and Connie was having an increasingly difficult time just getting her out of the house. If this case had been tough on Connie, it was doubly hard on the woman who loved her. Gina seldom let Connie out of her sight now and, for the past week, had been feeding Connie her meals at the computer. Looking up, Delta saw the same tired lines forming around Gina’s mouth that she saw on Connie’s. If they didn’t have the answer, then this became someone else’s ballgame.

  Looking around at her best friends, Delta wondered, for the first time in her life, if that wasn’t such a bad idea.

  “Hi,” Gina said, bending over to kiss Connie. “How are things coming?”

  “I think we’re ahead of him now, honey,” Connie replied with little enthusiasm.

  Gina’s face suddenly lit up. “That’s great! How’d you do it?” Hopping off the counter, Gina sat in Connie’s lap.

  “We did everything we could to get by Poseidon, and then we realized we were doing the very thing Elson accused me of.”

  “What?”

  “We were arrogant. A mortal should never try to outsmart a god. That’s exactly what hubris is abo
ut.”

  “So, what did you do?”

  “After trying everything we could think of, Megan called Professor Rosenbaum at the university and explained what we had going. When she was telling him about the shoes, he stopped and asked if the shoes were all we got from the gorgon.”

  Gina nodded. “It was.”

  “Yes, but that wasn’t the only thing she had to offer.”

  Gina glanced over at Delta, who nodded. “I hate to use Jan’s analogy, but what else does the F.T.D. Florist guy wear besides winged sandals?”

  Gina’s eyes lit up. “That little helmet.”

  “Right. But that isn’t just any helmet,” Connie said, twisting open a Calistoga. “It’s the helmet of invisibility.”

  “I get it. Once Dori turned invisible, she could go get the trident.”

  Connie nodded. “Which she did. She put on the helmet, got on the horse, and Poseidon immediately fell asleep.”

  “So we nabbed the trident.”

  “Con, that’s fantastic! Now what?”

  Connie and Delta shrugged in unison. “We don’t know.”

  Taking Connie’s Calistoga from her, Gina took a drink. “You don’t think he intends on stealing a horse, do you?”

  Coming in from the bathroom, Megan joined them as well. “I was just thinking the same thing. Don’t you think stealing a horse from the hustle and bustle of a racetrack would be nearly impossible?”

  Connie and Delta looked at each other. “That’s precisely why he would do it,” Connie said quietly. “If we look at his current pattern, his actions have become more and more dangerous, more and more sensational. He held a cop hostage, only feet away from other cops, he’s attacked Delta twice now, and he’s already killed numerous people. Stealing a horse right out from under everyone’s noses would be child’s play after those stunts. He’s getting fearless, and that could be his greatest downfall.”

  Delta nodded. “Being destroyed by his own hubris. What irony.”

  “Isn’t that what happens to most brilliant criminals? He’s cocky now. He’s been successful in every turn. Now is when he’s going to make that one fatal mistake.”

  Megan shook her head. “Yeah, but come on. Stealing a horse at a racetrack? Isn’t that a bit like trying to hide an elephant in a pet store?”

  “Actually,” Gina said, handing the water back to Connie, “It would be more like trying to hide an elephant in a carnival. It’s been done before. When I was a kid, there was a big news story about guys who went in and dyed a horse right there in the stall. They simply walked the now-chestnut horse out of the barn and into a waiting trailer. They got a multi-million dollar horse for free.”

  “But where is the murder?” Delta asked, puzzled.

  Connie fidgeted with her bottle. “True. We didn’t have to kill anyone to get the trident. Maybe there aren’t any more deaths.”

  Maybe just not on this level.”

  “You don’t think,” Megan offered, rubbing the back of her neck, “That he’d murder one of the jockeys in an effort to get closer to the stables?”

  Connie thought about this a moment before answering. “He’s crazy enough.”

  “And little enough,” Delta added. “It’s possible that’s how he plans on getting into the stables in the first place.”

  “Harold’s Hubris’s last race is at 5:30 tomorrow.” Megan said, tossing down the racing green.

  “That’s not the killing hours,” Delta said.

  “No, but now would be a good time for him to switch gears. Maybe he’ll kill again, maybe he won’t. It’s possible he may just knock someone out, kind of like Dori did.”

  Megan nodded. “I agree. I think we need to be at that last race so—”

  “Whoa. Wait a minute,” Delta interrupted. “Who’s ‘we’? You’re not going anywhere, my sweet. Elson is far too dangerous.”

  Megan stood and jammed her hands on her hips. “No? Then, who? Certainly not you.”

  Delta eyed her leg and then looked over at Connie.

  “What do you want to do?” Connie asked, already anticipating Delta’s next words.

  Tracing the bandage with her finger, Delta wondered how much weight she could put on it before the stitches busted. “As much as I hate to say this, it’s got to be done. Bring Leonard in. We have our best lead since we started, and I don’t want to lose him because I have a bad wheel.”

  Connie shrugged. “We don’t really have a choice, do we?”

  “No. It would be suicide to put any of you out there against him. Let’s call Leonard and tell him what we’ve got going. He needs a collar so badly, he won’t give a damn how we know, so long as he comes out of it with an arrest. I’ll brief him on everything we have.”

  Megan moved behind Delta and massaged her temples. “And what, my overworked mate, are the rest of us going to do?”

  “Megan, you go back to the racetrack and find everything we’ll need to know about the stables, the horse, the jockey, the exits and entrances, how many stable hands there are, et cetera. Even information about the owners will help.”

  “Do I, uh, use my sources?”

  Delta grinned. “Short of getting on your back, do what needs to be done.”

  Megan clapped her hands together. “How exciting.”

  Delta pulled Megan to her. “It’s dangerous, honey, not exciting. Remember, always, that you’re dealing with a psychopath. A murdering, insane lunatic, who could cut your heart out as easily as look at you.”

  Megan nodded. “I know. I’ll be discreet. Remember, before you met me, discretion was my middle name.”

  Delta grinned and realized she was holding Megan’s arms too tightly. “I remember it being something a little naughtier than that, but we can revisit this later.”

  Connie nodded and gently motioned for Gina to get off her lap. “I’ll keep at the game and try to figure out what we’re supposed to do with the trident.”

  “Good. I’ll get Leonard to arrange for a surveillance van so we can be there and follow what he and his men are up to.”

  Connie frowned. “You think he’ll do that?”

  “I won’t give him any choice. If he wants the goods, he’s going to have to play this our way.”

  Connie moved over to the computer. “I’ll hook Eddie up in the van, so I can be right there should I have a break in the game.”

  Slowly rising and grabbing her cane, Delta put gentle pressure on her leg. “Then I guess this is it. Any questions before we make the call to Leonard?”

  Megan threw her sweatshirt over her head, and bent down to lightly kiss Delta on the mouth. “Remember what we spoke about yesterday. Don’t be a hero, my love. I know how badly you want him, but you do have another life outside of him and your badge. Remember that, okay?”

  Kissing Megan back, Delta felt the fire burning inside. “Roger.”

  “Del?” Connie said sternly. “That order goes ditto for me.”

  Taking the racing form from Megan, Delta nodded. “Okay, okay. I promise to try and remain an innocent bystander.”

  Megan ran her fingers through Delta’s hair. “Somehow, my love, you and the word ‘innocent’ together in one sentence is hard to buy. Just stick to the promises you can keep.”

  “You’re all so cynical,” Delta said. “I swear, I’ll stay on the sidelines.”

  Connie shook her head. “And I’ll turn into a tomato at dawn. I mean it, Storm, keep your promise.”

  “I will. Speaking of promises, Gina, are you coming with us or do you need to see patients today?”

  “I’ll need to go to the office and cancel my appointments first. I had an emergency call from a fellow last night, and he sounded suicidal. I’ll need to call and see if he won’t mind seeing one of my associates. After that, I’m all yours.”

  Connie nodded. “Are you sure?”

  Draping her arms across Connie’s neck, Gina held her. “You’re all that matters to me, my love. If I let someone down because I’m not there, I’ll deal with it
later. But right now, your safety is all I care about. I love you, Consuela.”

  “And I love you, Gene,” Connie said, hugging her.

  Glancing over at her two best friends locked in a fearful embrace, Delta grit her teeth. She would die before she let anything happen to Connie; of that, she was sure.

  Promise or not.

  Chapter 40

  With Leonard’s men in place, Delta painfully limped over to the surveillance van and climbed in. Every available plainclothes cop was supplied with a computer print-out of Elson’s face, and then stationed at various vantage points across the track. Delta didn’t expect the picture to be much help, since he was obviously big on disguises and make-up. Nevertheless, it was good for them to have pictures of Elson’s dark black shark’s eyes which no amount of make-up could hide.

  “Everything’s running like clockwork, Stevie. If your hunch is right, he should be walkin’ right into our hands in half an hour.”

  Delta nodded, but said nothing. Leonard had been less than skeptical in the beginning, but when she told him she might have a bead on Elson, he sat very still until she had finished her explanation. This time, he didn’t balk. Instead, Leonard immediately got on the phone and started making arrangements for the bust. Elson Zuckerman had even changed the concrete, evidence-only view of Detective Russ Leonard. It was almost scary.

  Chuck Connell, Leonard’s partner, shook his head. “Goes against every M.O. this guy’s set up, Sarge. Everyone knows he hits between ten and one. It’s not yet five, and you think he’s going to show?”

  Delta nodded. “He’ll show all right. And don’t be surprised if he’s through with his standard M.O.”

  “How can you be so sure?”