by M. Z. Kelly
I heard the resolve in my voice as I said, “One way or another, that’s my intention.”
SIXTY
I got home from my dinner with Pearl a little after nine and found my friends with Natalie’s new boyfriend, Goose, in the atrium, having drinks. Bernie was in doggy paradise on the floor, receiving lots of attention from Natalie’s new beau.
“I need to get me one of these,” Goose said, referencing my furry partner, as I took a seat, and Bernie saw me. My big dog sprang to his feet and came over to greet me.
“I highly recommend them,” I said. “Both for protection and for love.”
Bernie must have understood, because he licked my face.
Natalie introduced me to Goose, who looked to be in his late twenties. Her new guy had a solid build, sandy brown hair, and eyes the color of tropical water. He looked like he would be more at home on a surfboard than at a movie studio.
“Try one of these Mud Hens,” Natalie said to me. “They’re guaranteed to make you squawk like a chicken and lay an egg.”
Mo, who already had an empty cocktail glass in front of her, seconded her opinion, adding, “These hit the spot, but I doubt that I’m gonna lay an egg or anything else tonight.”
“Cheer up, Mo,” Natalie said. “Our JPS run is next weekend. I betcha you find yourself a guy who looks like that Dwayne Johnson bloke.” She looked at Goose. “Don’t worry. I’m only going for moral support, along with Kate.”
Goose smiled and looked at me. “I understand you work Homicide.”
“Kate’s got more gum on her shoe than Sherlock Holmes,” Mo said. She looked at me. “Did you find out anything about that Laura Keene girl that went missing?”
“Unfortunately, no, but it sounds like there’s lots of things going on at the studio beneath the surface.” I looked at Goose. “I understand you work for Mogul Studios, writing scripts.”
“Actually, I write from home and sometimes go there to pitch my work to the producers.” He lowered his voice. “And, just so you know, I’ve also heard some rumors.”
“Did you ever hear anything about Robert Zemaris?”
Natalie answered for him. “Just that he’s the biggest scumbag in Hollywood.”
Goose, who seemed surprisingly rational, given some of Natalie’s past choices in men, was more diplomatic. “I don’t know of anyone, in particular, that he’s harassed, but I have heard the rumors that he’s a womanizer, for lack of a better word.”
“Does the name Gina Spence sound familiar? She was a school teacher who had a small part in an upcoming film the studio was producing.”
Goose took a moment before answering. “A school teacher, yes. I think I did hear something about her from one of the stagehands.”
“Somebody went bang-bang and killed her,” Natalie said. She looked at me. “Maybe somebody who was bangin’ her, like that Zemaris wanker.”
“I don’t know about him being involved with her,” Goose said, “but the stagehand said something about a school teacher being raped.”
“Did he give you any of the details?” I asked.
“Not really, but the guy’s name is Tony Rogers, if you want to talk to him.” He took a breath. “Maybe it would be best if you left me out of the discussion.”
“Why is that?”
“As you probably know, the studios operate based on who’s in favor with those in power. It would just be better for me if I remain anonymous.”
“Kate will change your name to protect your innocence,” Mo said. “She’ll call you Deep Throat.”
Goose laughed. “Thanks. I think.”
“Speakin’ of deep throats, Goose and me gotta run,” Natalie said. “We’re gonna see Chucky Strange at the Improv. The guy is supposed to be funnier than Chris Rock, and wears a bag on his head so he won’t get sued by anyone he makes fun of.”
After saying goodnight to her and Goose, Mo asked me about my evening.
I told her about having dinner with Pearl because of what Lieutenant Byrd had told me about Bronson. “I’m convinced that the chief had ties to the Rylands going back thirty years, and he’s worried that my looking into things will uncover those ties.”
Mo chugged the last of her Hen. “You think he could have been involved with that Cooper fella who murdered your adoptive dad?”
“There’s no way of knowing for sure, but Bronson wants me off the force, so anything’s possible.”
“You ain’t gonna quit, are you?”
“Of course not. What I am going to do is find a way to shine the light of truth on everything, even if it means taking down my police chief.”
Mo found a third Mud Hen on the cocktail tray and helped herself. “You think the bastard knows who your bio-dad is?”
“Pearl and I speculated that he might. If he does, and he knows what happened to him, it might explain him wanting me off the force.”
Mo nodded, drank, set her glass down, then straightened the purple wig she was wearing. “If that’s the case, there’s another possibility that maybe you should consider.”
“What’s that?”
“Your police chief might also know Nathan Caine.”
SIXTY-ONE
What Mo had said was still with me the next morning when I got ready for work. If Bronson had been in league with the Rylands, it did seem possible that he might know Caine. And, if that was the case, he was withholding evidence that might help capture the world’s most wanted terrorist. The problem was I had no way of proving any of that. And, if I even hinted that he might know Caine, it would also be the beginning of the end of my career.
After grabbing a muffin, I got Bernie’s leash off the hallway counter. My phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number as I answered.
“Good morning, Detective Sexton,” I heard Nathan Caine wheeze. “I wanted to call and wish you a lovely day.”
Every nerve in my body was suddenly on fire as I said, “Where is my sister?”
A chuckle. “I’m glad you asked. She’s right here. I thought you might want to say hello.”
There was a pause before I heard Lindsay’s voice. “Kate, it’s me. I’m okay.”
“Where are you?”
“I...I don’t know, just somewhere under...”
Her voice faded, and I heard Caine on the line again. “I believe that’s enough chit-chat for now.”
“What do you want?” I demanded.
“That will become apparent to you and the rest of the world very shortly.” There was a pause, and Caine wheezed, “But you are a very patient woman. After all, you’ve lived all these years not knowing who your father is. What’s it been like, not knowing anything about the man who brought you into this world?”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
Caine took his time answering. “There may come a time when you have another opportunity to save your sister’s life. I’m proposing a trade.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I trade Lindsay and the identity of your biological father for my freedom. When the time comes, I’m sure you will make the correct decision. I’ll be in touch soon.”
The line clicked dead, even as I screamed for him to let me talk to Lindsay again. My thoughts then went to Grant Addison, our discussion about possibly tracing burner phones. I tried calling Grant, but the call went to voicemail. I left a message, then got Stan Waters on the line.
I told him about my conversation with Caine, and that he might try to use Lindsay, and knowledge about my bio-dad, as leverage should the need arise. I mentioned what Grant had told me about using sophisticated software to trace burner phones. “According to my friend, the location of a call can be traced, even if the phone is turned off and the battery is removed.”
“It’s the first I’ve heard of the technology,” Waters said, “but let me follow up with our technical people. I take it Caine didn’t give you any idea about what he has in mind?”
“Nothing, other than saying something about it being apparent to me and th
e rest of the world shortly.”
Waters exhaled. “It sounds like we’re in for round three. I’ll be in touch shortly.”
After ending the call, I thought about not going to work and waiting for Waters to call back. I changed my mind, deciding I would rather be busy than wait around for something to happen.
When Bernie and I got to the station, Lieutenant Byrd called everyone together in his office, including Al, who was back from divorce court, and our two crime analysts, Jenny and Molly.
“Van Ness has put our three murders front and center again,” Byrd began, as Bernie trotted off for a nap. “Let’s run down what we know about Garth Spence’s killing.”
Olivia, Leo, and I took a few minutes to update everyone on yesterday’s events. I summarized the frustration we were feeling. “There has to be a link between the three victims that we’re missing. Somebody must have thought Garth knew something and didn’t want him talking.” I looked at Jenny and Molly. “Did you get a chance to talk to McVey’s ex and his daughter?”
Jenny swept her blonde hair off her shoulder and answered. “Stephanie McVey was with her sister at an art showing yesterday. They had an early breakfast then went directly to the gallery. There might have been a small window of opportunity for her to kill our victim before she met her sister, but it seems doubtful.”
“But she’s the only one with a motive,” Al barked. His mood seemed worse than usual, maybe because of his day in court. “She stood to inherit a multi-million dollar property with her ex’s death.”
“But why kill Garth Spence?” I said. “It doesn’t fit.”
“Maybe she was still in love with her ex and was angry with Garth for letting his wife get together with John. We’ve all seen cases where there’s a long trail of anger and deception that motivates someone.”
“I think it’s a stretch,” Leo said.
“A huge stretch,” Olivia added.
“You guys got a better idea?” Al grumbled.
“What about Danica?” Byrd asked. “Where was she when Garth was murdered?”
“She starts work at eight every morning,” Jenny said, “so, again, there was a small window of opportunity.”
Molly spoke up. “I’ve got something interesting on Sorin.”
I saw Byrd’s confusion and said, “It’s the chemical company that John McVey wrote an exposé on last year about their chemicals causing birth defects.”
“Go on,” Byrd said to Molly.
“They threatened legal action against the Herald-Press and McVey after the article was written. There are some write-ups on the Internet about it, but apparently nothing was ever filed.”
“Because of McVey’s death?” I asked.
“Maybe, but there’s something else. One of the articles I found talks about McVey’s daughter, Danica, being involved in accusing the company of covering up the effects of their products. A few months later, there was a follow-up interview, just before John McVey was killed, where Danica said she was mistaken. She believed her father’s article was wrong and the company had acted in good faith.”
“It sounds like she was paid off,” Al said.
Jenny answered. “We haven’t found anything to verify that, but Danica bought a condo in Maui about six months ago.”
“What’s so unusual about that?” Olivia asked.
“It’s in one of those exclusive resorts, right on the ocean. The recording of the sale shows it sold for just under five million dollars. Danica works as a legal assistant, so there’s no way she could have afforded it on her salary.”
The room was silent as we all considered what she’d said. Leo spoke up, running a scenario past us. “Suppose Danica cut her own deal with somebody at Sorin Chemicals,” he began. “She promises the company that her father’s investigative reporting of the company will go no further, providing they make it worth her while. She eliminates her father, at the same time paying him back for a lifetime of cheating on her mother and his sexual abuse of her.”
“Danica knows her father is involved with Gina Spence,” Olivia said, picking up the story. “She reasons that daddy knows she’s dealing directly with the chemical company to kill the effects of his story, and he’s probably told Gina about it. She decides to take out Gina before her father, so she can’t talk.”
“If that was the case,” Byrd said, “why wouldn’t McVey implicate Danica in Gina Spence’s murder?”
“Despite their estrangement, she was still his daughter. Maybe he wanted to make up for the way he treated her, and kept quiet.”
“So, how does Mr. Handsome fit into this tale?” Al said. “Garth’s got no skin in the game.”
I spoke up. “Maybe he confronted Gina about her affair with John. During those discussions, he learns about Danica’s dealings with the chemical company to kill her father’s investigation. After his wife is killed, he goes to Danica, blackmailing her for money to pay off more of his gambling debts under the threat of going to the authorities. At first, she cooperates, but when he squeezes her for more, she ends his life and any threat that he’ll eventually tell us what he knows.”
After spinning the scenario a couple more times, with slight variations on how it might have played out, Byrd told us how he wanted to proceed. “It doesn’t look like we have any other play, so let’s see where this goes. Get with Danica, lean on her hard, and see what breaks loose.”
SIXTY-TWO
As Olivia, Bernie, and I drove to Danica Andrews’ apartment in South Pasadena, I got a call back from Grant. “Sorry about not getting back to you earlier. I was in a meeting.”
“I understand. Did you get the information I left you about Caine’s call?”
“Yeah, I used the software we discussed and got a fix on the location. The call originated in Longmont, Colorado.”
“You’re sure about the location?”
“Yes. It’s just north of Denver.”
After thanking Grant and ending the call, I got Stan Waters on the line and told him what I’d learned. After filling him in, I said, “I’m not sure what Caine’s doing in Colorado, but he made it clear the world will know his intentions shortly.”
“I don’t understand,” Waters said. “Our tech people told me they can’t track the calls made to your phone.”
“You need to trust me on this. My friend is a wizard when it comes to technology. He was able to use specialized software developed by the NSA to track the call’s location.”
“Okay. Let me do some follow-up. You need to be ready to travel right away if we get anything more.”
“Understood. Have you heard from Joe?”
“Not a word. Why?”
“It’s probably nothing. I asked him to call you. I’ll follow up with him.”
After ending the call, I tried Joe’s number, but the call went to voicemail. I cursed as I pushed my phone into my pocket.
“Everything okay?” Olivia asked, hearing my frustration.
I filled her in on what happened, then said, “Joe didn’t call Stan Waters like he promised and he isn’t picking up my calls. I’m worried something’s going on with him.”
Olivia turned off the freeway in Pasadena. “Maybe he’s just resting. He’s had a difficult few days.” She changed the subject. “I tried calling Danica when we left the station but didn’t get an answer. You want to try her number?”
I did as she suggested and was able to get Danica on the line. “We’re stopping by because we have a few follow-up questions.”
There was a hesitation before she said, “What kind of questions?”
“It’s just routine, nothing to be concerned about. We should be there in a few minutes.” When she didn’t respond, I said, “Are you there? Hello?”
I turned to Olivia. “The line went dead. I have a feeling she knows something’s up.”
“We’re just a couple minutes out. Let’s have Leo and Al cover the alleyway.”
I made the arrangements before we pulled up in front of Danica’s apartme
nt. As I was getting Bernie out of the car, Olivia yelled over to me, “It’s Danica! She’s running through the parking lot!”
When I got Bernie on his leash, I looked in the direction Olivia had indicated and saw that Danica was running toward the courtyard of the complex. We followed after her, Bernie straining on his leash, as we entered the swimming pool area near the leasing office. That’s when I saw Danica turn in our direction, sunlight glinting off metal.
“Gun!” I yelled. “She’s armed!”
We ducked down, taking cover in the barbeque area, as several shots rang out. We each pulled our weapon and were about to return fire when we heard Leo call out. “Suspect down! We’re clear.”
When we got over to Danica, we saw that Al had his service weapon out and was tending to her. As Olivia called for an ambulance, he told me what happened. “She drew down on me, and I returned fire.”
I saw that our suspect was still conscious. I let Leo take Bernie’s lead and went over to her. “Why?” I said.
Danica’s eyes fluttered but stayed open. Her voice was weak. “I...I hated m...my father.”
“What about the others?”
“I...I couldn’t t...take a ch...chance...” She went on, saying something about Sorin Chemicals that I couldn’t make out.
“What about Garth?” I said. “Did you kill him?”
Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she lost consciousness. I heard sirens coming up the street as I walked over to Olivia and Leo. “There’s no way to know for sure, but I think it went down pretty much as we discussed this morning. A triple homicide to cover up her payoff from the chemical company.”
“It’s like that old saying your partner had,” Leo said.
I realized he was talking about Charlie Winkler. “What’s that?”
“Money’s thicker than blood.”
SIXTY-THREE
Nathan Caine killed the headlights and slowed the car to a crawl. A half-moon had risen, and he cursed out loud, deciding there was too much light. He pulled the car into a turnout, where it was concealed behind a stand of trees.