Black Adagio

by Potocki, Wendy

  “And you never looked for it?”

  “Why would I? It’s no big deal. Just a ratty old sweatshirt that I should have thrown out a long time ago.”

  Todd appeared at the door, Foster Lake beside him. Meeting Todd’s eyes, she nearly broke down. She just wanted him to tell her everything would be alright, and assure her that this nightmare would end. Cummings waved them away, shutting the door. Pivoting, he bore down on her.

  “How’d you get Larabee’s phone?” he taunted.

  “What? What do you mean? I found his coat, not his phone!”

  “We don’t know that, do we? You were alone when you found the coat, weren’t you? Was the phone next to it? Did you pick it up so you could use it?”

  “No! That’s just stupid!” She was sinking in quicksand, and tired of being dragged down.

  He flipped through his notes.

  “So your story is that you arrived back at Velofsky’s at 10:00 PM. What did you do after you arrived?”

  Melissa drummed her fingertips along her forehead, trying to focus. What the hell had she done? At this point, she was having trouble remembering her own name, but everything rested on recollection.

  “I met Kurt, Kurt Casings, and then talked to Zoe Ryan for a few minutes. I went upstairs and spoke with my father.”

  “At what time?”

  “I guess around ten minutes later.”

  “And how long did you speak?”

  “I suppose around ten or fifteen minutes,” she said.

  Ace gave Angie a knowing look. It still fit the timeline.

  “And the second time, a little longer. Maybe twenty or thirty minutes.”

  He whirled around.

  “What second time?”

  “He called me back.”

  “When?”

  “A few minutes later. I’d say around 10:30. It’d be on my phone wouldn’t it?”

  “Yes, it would,” he agreed, exhaling through clenched teeth. His eyes traveled upwards, why did things always have to be this difficult? If what she said were true, she couldn’t have called or met Scott which meant someone else did. Someone that sounded and looked enough like Melissa to impersonate her. “You mind if we have a look at your phone?”

  “No, of course not. Why would I mind?”

  Digging it out of her coat, she didn’t care. Handing it to them, the fact she seemed anxious for them to verify her statement put more tick marks in the column marked “Innocent.”

  The evidence backed her up, but Ace copied down her father’s number just to make sure their stories matched.

  “Are you leaving for the holidays, Ms. Solange? We understand the school is closing early.”

  “No, I’m not leaving. At least not for a couple of weeks,” she added softly.

  “If your plans change, I suggest you let us know,” he said. Handing the phone back, he exited the room. Angela following like a wolf pup, Foster stopped the two agents in the hallway.

  “Sir, I don’t know if you’ve heard,” he stated, “but Laurie Hilliard made bail. She was released last night.”

  “Shit!” Ace spat. “And nobody thought to let us know?”

  “It’s how Judge Crenshaw works. He’s known the Hilliards for years. I guess he thought she was being railroaded.”

  “Yeah, and that brilliant decision might have gotten an agent killed!” he seethed.

  Not waiting for a reply, he and Murray left to find the girl who would no longer see the light of day. Not unless it was shining through iron bars.

  Chapter Forty-three

  “What’s going on? Why am I being held?” Carol Hilliard argued, her body reduced to a trembling mass of nerves.

  “Obstruction of justice,” Ace replied.

  “I don’t understand. How am I obstructing anything?”

  “By lying. We know your daughter wasn’t home last night.”

  “Yes, she was! I drove her home and she went straight to her room.”

  “And she stayed there all evening?”

  “Yes, most of it. She came downstairs for a late supper, and said she was tired. I mean, wouldn’t you be if you’d been through what she had?”

  “Wouldn’t know since we don’t engage in kidnappings,” Angie antagonized. “But tell me how you’re so positive that she was upstairs?”

  “I don’t know what you mean … she was up there! I just know! She didn’t leave the house!”

  “And it’s because of those statements that you’re being charged, Mrs. Hilliard. You can’t possibly know she didn’t sneak out unless you were with her all night. Were you? Were you curled up next to her in her bed?” she taunted, tired of the clueless mother and her feeble protestations.

  Massaging her eyes, Carol lowered her head. It was all getting too much. What they were implying was absurd. Yes, Laurie was a loner, but that didn’t make her guilty of anything.

  “No, but …” she stated, wanting to mount a vigorous defense, but not knowing how.

  “Finally,” Ace said, slipping in front of Angie. It was his turn to play good cop. “Now help us, and we’ll help you. If Laurie cooperates, we might be able to cut a deal. She won’t do any hard time if she just tells us the truth.”

  “What do you want me to do?” Fresh tears squeezing out, she couldn’t fight this any longer. The past few years had been hard. She’d been hit with one thing after another. After fighting so hard to stay on her feet, she couldn’t lose her daughter. She’d be damned if she sat back and let Laurie be framed as the scapegoat for these crimes. She was innocent. She was sure of it.

  Ace handed her a box of tissues. Using one to dry her eyes, she attentively listened.

  “We need to know who else is in that group of hers.”

  “You mean, The Innocents?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Hilliard. We know your daughter couldn’t have acted alone. We only want to know who was responsible.”

  “And if I try?”

  “Then you can leave and go home.”

  “And if I fail.”

  “That is not an option,” Angie stated. The icy chill embedded in her voice was like a killing frost.

  Ace rose, peeking his head out the door. Motioning, the sound of chains rattled in the hallway. In another moment, Laurie appeared. Shackled and distraught, she erupted into tears upon seeing her mother held in custody.

  “Mom! What’s happening? Did they arrest you, too?” she screamed, scampering as best she could into her mother’s arms. Her cuffed ankles restrained her movements, making her tentative steps shaky as a toddler learning to walk.

  Hugging her daughter, Carol sobbed heavily. Feeling the weight of responsibility, she had to get her daughter out of this mess. Pushing frail strands of bleached blonde hair away from her daughter’s beautiful face, the deep well of emotion was stirred. No longer caring if she’d been involved, ultimately it was her fault that her little girl was messed up. It was her poor choices that had caused the strife Laurie had gone through. Turning a child with a sunny smile into a morose adolescent, they’d made her reclusive and untrusting. Willing to take ownership, she’d make things right. Even if it meant getting her to confess to crimes she didn’t commit if it meant she’d go free.

  “Laurie,” she soothed, ending the heartfelt embrace. “Sit down, baby. Please.”

  Following her mother’s directive, Laurie sat down unsurely, looking at the two agents standing to the side. Forgetting about the two eavesdroppers, Carol pulled a chair next to her. Squeezing her nose with a tissue, she focused only on her beautiful child—the one Larabee had been trying to jump.

  “Baby,” she started, holding her hand. “Baby, you have to tell everything you know about that group.”

  “But, Mom. I told you, I don’t know anything!”

  “Baby, that can’t be true. They said you were emailing somebody … somebody at your school! You must know who it was so just tell them!”

  Laurie closed her eyes, throwing her head back. Her mother was making this difficult. Of course,
she knew who’d emailed her, but she didn’t want to rat him out. He was a righteous dude when you got to know him. The problem was that few people took the trouble, but she had. He was the one who’d turned her onto magick, and although he may not use it in the way she did, she’d learned a lot from him. She couldn’t just throw him to the wolves. It wasn’t fair and he’d been through enough. Bullied and teased at school, it was all because he looked different. And why shouldn’t he? He was different. Powerful. Fuck those little dweebs that couldn’t respect people who created their own destiny.

  Dropping her head, she shook her head, leveling her eyes.

  “Mom, I swear I don’t know who it was or how they got my email. Honest.”

  “Okay, then,” Ace interrupted, breaking in on the two-way conversation. Grabbing Mrs. Hilliard under her arm, he lifted her up, corralling her towards the door. “Hope you like your new cell.”

  “But she doesn’t know!” she objected. “You heard her! You think she’d let me go to jail if she knew?”

  “Yes, that’s exactly what we think, Mrs. Hilliard,” Cummings replied. “She knows and doesn’t care. Of course, she’s a child and not thinking things through carefully. For instance, if you’re in jail, you’re not going to be able to work. And if you can’t work, bills don’t get paid. It means you’ll lose your house and everything else you own, but I guess,” he directed at the young girl glaring at him with eyes blazing with fury, “that isn’t your problem, is it, Laurie? “

  Opening the door, he yelled at the agents in the corridor. “Lock her up!” he said giving Carol a small push in their direction.

  Laurie slammed her hands down on the table, leaping to her cuffed feet.

  “Alright! I’ll tell!” she yelled, her head drooping to one side.

  “Laurie?” her mother replied breathlessly. Her daughter had been lying, and she hadn’t even been able to tell. What else was she hiding? What else was she holding back?

  “That’s really good, Laurie,” Angie replied, stepping forward. “You’re finally getting smart. Now tell us his name.”

  Laurie crossed her arms, twisting her face up into a scowl of rage. God, she didn’t want to do this, but she’d have to. She’d make it up to him though. As soon as she got home, she’d cast another spell, this time directed at these two dick agents who were going way too far.

  Exhaling, she huffed like the little pig blowing down the house of straw.

  “Jack Harris.”

  Chapter Forty-four

  Todd sat down heavily on the familiar black vinyl upholstery. It had been a long day, and he couldn’t wait to get home.

  “Where’s your little friend?”

  It was Bonnie, a teasing grin on her face, her pad poised to write down any incriminating admissions about the budding romance.

  “Right there,” he replied, pointing at the door that had opened. "Over here, sweetie!” he called out to a thoroughly flustered Foster Lake.

  “Wise guy!” Bonnie said, giving him a playful swat with the two menus she handed to the officers.

  “Did I miss something?” Foster asked, unzipping his coat and flinging it on the seat next to him.

  Todd looked deeply into his eyes.

  “Not a thing, baby. And never stop being as cute as you are,” he mocked with as straight a face as he could muster.

  “Men! Can’t live with them, but then who’s really tried?” the waitress philosophized, walking away.

  “Full house tonight,” Foster observed.

  “Yeah,” Todd said swiveling around. His gaze stopped on the man seated at the counter. Nodding to Mulligan, he sat with an emptied plate and fresh cup of coffee before him. Mulligan acknowledged the greeting with a solemn smile and unbroken despair.

  Todd blew into his hands. Cold outside as befitting the season, he checked the time. Meeting his family later in the evening, the stupendous occasion was the annual selection of a Christmas tree. He’d decided to invite Melissa along. Thinking she’d enjoy the diversion, she’d had a bad time of it lately.

  Todd pushed the menu to the side, giving his friend a chance to look over the specials.

  “I wonder how long they’ll keep him?” Foster asked, referring to Jack Harris.

  “Good question,” Todd answered. “At this point, the only hard evidence linking Harris to Laurie are the emails he sent to her. No crime in that.”

  “Suppose, but murder sure is.”

  “Murder?” the nosey waitress inquired, hovering over the table like a spacecraft. “Hope you’re not expecting Manny to go out and shoot something for dinner? If he puts his winter boots on, that’s gonna be extra! I’m just warning you!”

  Foster and Todd chuckled.

  “You’re quick alright. Too bad you can’t get an order right,” Foster tweaked. Liking to get her back sometimes, humor eased the tension that was spreading throughout the community. While some didn’t understand its importance, Brent had taught him that lesson. Insisting that the community took its clues from the authorities, it meant that if a police officer was nervous, they would be, too.

  “Oh, nice!” Bonnie retaliated. “Well, aren’t I just going to have to wait until your food gets nice and cold before I serve it! I’ll let it sit up there on the counter all night if I have to!”

  “Give it to him, Bonnie. The audacity in thinking he could start up with you,” Todd joked.

  “Well, okay. I see whose side you’re on. Guess I don’t have those big, dark eyes that make you go all goo-goo.”

  Foster’s teasing hitting the mark, Todd blushed. Knowing that he couldn’t hide how he was feeling, it was written all over his face.

  “You leave him alone! She’s a keeper!” Bonnie encouraged.

  “Yeah, but that’s the problem. With his ugly mug, he’d have to keep her locked up. Lots of good-looking guys around town,” Foster replied.

  “You talkin’ about yourself again?” Bonnie shot.

  “You know I’m taken,” he answered.

  “Yeah, many times from what I hear,” she fired back, the booming laughs of both Todd and Foster added to hers.

  “I hate smart aleck waitresses. Why don’t you just get me #3—with a large Coke, if you don’t mind,” Foster said, the smile still plastered on his face.

  “I’ll have the turkey club with the …”

  “Uncola thing. Got it. I’ll see you boys in a minute.”

  “By the way, what did Cummings want?” Foster asked as soon as Bonnie was out of earshot.

  “To break my chops. He informed me that I’m being relegated to a much lesser role in this case. Thinks I may be too ‘personally’ involved. His words, not mine.”

  “That’s crazy,” Foster said stretching out his legs under the table. “As if you’d hide evidence or anything. I mean, you’re sweet on that girl. Anyone can see that, but you’d never do anything to screw-up an investigation.”

  “Thanks for that vote of confidence. Guess not everyone thinks that way.”

  “Evidently.”

  “It’s a shame, too. I wanted to go back and speak to Midge Moore.”

  “Why the hell would you do something like that?”

  “Because what she says doesn’t add up,” he said taking several swallows of water.

  “But that can’t have anything to do with what’s going on?”

  Todd’s glass hit the top of the table with a dull thud. His head pivoted quickly, his eyes meeting Foster’s.

  “No?”

  “Oh, hell, you can’t think …”

  “I don’t know what I think. All I know is that what she said doesn’t match up with the facts, that’s all. It could be nothing. Or …”

  “Or what?” Bonnie asked, putting down the plates in front of the hungry men.

  Todd grabbed the napkin, spreading it across his lap. He wasted no time in digging in.

  “Or a nosy waitress might get handcuffed,” Foster answered for him.

  “Who told you I liked that sort of thing?” Foster and
Todd laughing, she was a pistol alright. “Come on, what the hell is going on?” she pressed, the two men going silent. “I heard you say something about Midge. Do you think what’s happening has anything to do with Barbara?”

  “Do you?” Foster asked, tossing back the hot potato.

  “Yes, I do.”

  The answer surprised both of them. Not taking the bite he was about to, Todd put down his sandwich, casting a sidelong glance at Foster.

  “I don’t know,” she continued. “It all seems strange. I mean, it can’t be the same guy making these little girls disappear, but maybe they’re … related to him or something.”

  “Like his great-grandmother?” Foster sniped.

  “Be serious!” she admonished. “All I know is that something weird is going on.”

  Foster wiped at his mouth snickering.

  “We all know that!”

  “Thank you, Mr. Snarky!” she reprimanded.

  Whether it was her nervousness or just curiosity, Todd decided to dig.

  “What do you mean, Bonnie?” he asked, resuming the serious business of wolfing down his supper.

  She shook her body, as if throwing off water.

  “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like all these people I haven’t seen in a while … I’m suddenly seeing.”

  “And …?” Todd prodded, confused about what point she was making.

  “Yeah, so what?” Foster added. “I run into old schoolmates all the time. Hardly gives me the Willies.”

  “Well, it does me! There was Mrs. Jenkins, my old school teacher, and Mr. Pallack, he was the janitor at my old church, and oh!” she exclaimed shaking her finger at Foster, “there was Eddie! You must have seen him!”

  “Eddie?” Foster said, blankly staring ahead.

  “Yeah, Eddie! The Shmooz! You remember, the guy the police kept picking up for vagrancy a few years back.”

  Todd nodded, “Oh, yeah, I do remember him. Was wondering where he went to.”

  “Sorry to burst your bubble, but he’s dead,” Foster stated flatly.