by Alexie Aaron
“He knows where Mom is. Shit!” Alex shot a glance at Harry.
“Whoever has him is going to try to get him to tell where Cin is.” Harry thought a moment. “He’s not going to tell unless there is some kind of leverage.”
“Leverage?” Pete asked.
“Another band member, Bernice or some other innocent?” Alex fished.
“I just talked to Bernice. Lord, too many people have died. Did you put out a warrant for Doctor Sanders?”
“No witnesses, no warrant.” Dave sat back.
“So this guy doesn’t even know that he’s a suspect, does he?” I said. “He’s moving around with the cocky confidence that he is a supreme being. No one can touch him. Bastard.”
“Manfred called Cin not long ago,” Harry spouted. “We may not be dealing with Doctor Sanders but the old farts.”
Pete and Dave looked over at me, and I recounted, word for non-contracted word, what Manfred had said to me.
“Seems like an invitation to me...” Pete started.
“An invitation to death,” Harry pointed out.
“Public place, what could happen?”
“They killed Carl during a public concert, hung Miles with a police escort.”
“Now that was different,” Dave defended Pete’s merging idea. “You could meet with the charming bassoonist, and we could be close. This way we could rule him out.”
I shuddered before speaking, “Do we really have time for this? Tony’s been gone for some time now.”
“I don’t know, Cin, we’ve not located Doctor Sanders yet. But if I was to follow Harry’s line of thinking, Manfred and Tobias couldn’t be killing if they were dining, let’s say, with you?” Dave looked at me, and I swore his eyes dared me to comply.
“You’re forgetting Doctor Sanders. Do we give him free reign while I entertain the terrible twosome?”
“Do you know where he’s at? Where would he keep Tony? He’s not an easy man to move with his girth,” Dave pointed out.
“So, we’ve narrowed it down to Doctor Sanders and the bassoonists, or is there anyone else?” I asked the policemen.
They looked at me and down at their notes. I wasn’t sure, but did Pete start to shrug his shoulder? I glared at him.
“Okay, whoever has Tony, what is the next move?” Pete asked the group.
“The theater. They’re heading, or will head, for the theater,” Harry said and looked at me for confirmation.
“You’re right. That’s where all the scenes were set. Don’t be Late. Copying killed the Copycat. We hung this one on Miles. Last but not least, She was too blind to see. He’ll call me when he’s ready. He’s counting on that I don’t know about Tony’s abduction. Somehow they’re going to lure me and/or Harry to the Avery. Gentlemen, we need to get there first.”
“What if he senses the trap?” Alex asked.
“He will kill Tony instantly, remember the curare,” I warned everyone.
“So we need to be stealthy. Do you know a way we can get in without being seen?” Dave looked at Harry.
A smile broke on Harry’s face. “There is a way in. There’s a utility tunnel under the road that runs from the library to the theater. I learned about it from the student that had my job before me. You can get to it from the lower lobby of the Avery, and it connects to the library in the utility closet of the men’s washroom. I used it a couple times when I didn’t want to get wet when it was raining, when I needed a book or just wanted to screw around. It scares the hell out of the librarian when you come out of the john after hours.”
“I’ll get my sharp shooters to the library in unmarked vehicles. Don’t look at me like that. There are, too, unmarked vehicles. They will use their own cars, Cin. You get them in, Harry.”
“Sure, no problem.”
“Wait a minute. Harry isn’t a policeman. I’m sorry, but you know the type of maniac or maniacs we are dealing with. They may have spray, darts, gasses - all poison. All geared to instantly kill.”
“And your point being?” Harry folded his arms.
Alex started to speak up. Dave held up his hand to stop the all-volunteer boys club from making plans. “Harry, you show us the route and then you and Alex will leave. Plain and simple.”
“I can’t talk you out of this?”
“No.”
I grabbed Alex’s arm. “I suppose you have to go too?”
“Where Harry goes, I go,” Alex said calmly.
“We’re going to fight poison with prevention,” Pete said making some notes. He looked over at Dave and asked, “Can you get a hold of enough gas masks? I think that we need to protect ourselves as if we would encounter nuclear fallout.”
“Makes sense,” Dave nodded and made a likewise note.
“So, then I get to stay here and use the Jacuzzi,” I said glancing longingly outside.
“No, you’re calling Manfred and accepting his invitation to, let’s say, drinks at the Queen Palm,” Dave instructed. “I will have a few plain clothes people there, say seven thirty?”
I picked up my cell phone, cruised through the last few calls and pressed redial.
“Why Cynthia, I did not expect to hear from you so soon.” He sounded genuinely pleased to hear from me.
“My calendar just opened up, and I was wondering if we could meet at the Queen Palm, say for cocktails and munchies?” I paused a moment and lowered my voice seductively, “Of course if the missus doesn’t let you out after dark…”
He burst out laughing, roaring into the phone, “Oh, no, I was just trying to remember where the Queen Palm was.”
“Just the east side of the bridge, east of the theater about a mile on the Intercostal side.”
“Oh, yes, I remember. Charming little place. Tobias will meet us there as I believe he has a prior engagement. Let us pin down a time.”
“Seven thirty, I’ll make the reservations for...” I hedged, hoping the wives would be there too.
“Make it for three. Nice and cozy, the three of us.”
My stomach rolled, and I fought the urge to throw-up. “Three at seven thirty,” I confirmed and added, “I’ll get us a table with a view.”
“Wonderful. See you then, ta ta.”
I lowered the phone and gazed at the group. “You’ll have your people in place?” I asked Pete. He nodded. “And you boys will stay out the fray?” I looked Alex in the eyes and then Harry.
“Just going to show them the passage and...”
“Head home,” I instructed. “We are going to leave the theater business up to the professionals,” I said more for my benefit than the boys.
They nodded, placating me for a moment.
“What are you going to wear?” Harry asked.
I walked over and picked up the shoes that Officer Dudley had brought in from the car.
“Oh, those are going to look so nice with your cargos and sweatshirt,” Harry’s sarcastic tone drilled into my head.
“I suppose I better go shopping because I’m not going home,” I said, looking at the shoes and trying to visualize what I would buy to go with them.
“So typical.” Harry sighed. “When the going gets tough, Cin goes shopping.”
“Pete, Dave, can you guys monitor my cell phone?” I asked.
“Not easily. We don’t have the resources. It would take too long to set this up.”
“Okay then, I’ll call you after my meeting with Manfred. I will just have to take for granted that all of you are in place.”
“What if no one arrives?” Pete asked Dave. “We are just guessing here.”
“Then we will have had a great terrorist drill.” Dave held out his hands.
“Let’s get going. Alex, you drive Harry. Pete is with Dave, and I will drive the BMW.”
“In bunny slippers?” Pete asked.
“If I have to. I don’t see me navigating too well in these ankle breakers.” I held up the shoes and hissed at the height of the heels. “Harry, I need my credit card back.”
&
nbsp; “What card?”
“Damn it, Harry, get my card,” I growled.
Pete and Dave left, followed by Harry and Alex. I pulled out of the garage and let my car fly. I needed time. Time to prepare. The afternoon sun was killing my eyes even with the sunglasses on. I flipped the sunshield over the glasses, and it did help. I had my phone plugged into the holder. It was charging as I was planning.
~
Sitting under the dryer at the department store’s walk-in salon, I was nursing a double espresso. I wriggled my toes in my new running shoes. I was still wearing the cargo pants and black t-shirt that Harry bought. It wasn’t time to get dressed yet. I broke the bank on my outfit. It was a short but high-necked cocktail dress. I couldn’t bear Manfred ogling my breasts. I opted for a cross body purse in which I had filled with several items of a lethal nature, including the knife so generously loaned to me by the nurse. If Manfred was the killer, I wasn’t going to go down without a fight. My cell phone rang.
“Mom,” I heard Alex’s voice faintly. I lifted the dryer hood so I could hear. “Harry’s down showing the troops the passage. We’re going to hang out here until show time. How are you doing?”
“I’ve got a few minutes to spare.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I want to be on a plane out of here,” I admitted. “Plus, I’ve got this bad feeling that our actions are being orchestrated.”
“I know you hate being out of control.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Call me when you leave the restaurant. Don’t go back to our house. Harry and I will meet up with you, and we’ll drive to the beach together.”
I agreed and hung up. I lowered the hood and closed my eyes. Memories flashed, starting with the family and working into my trip to England. I winced at the flashes of danger I had put myself and those I loved in. I wanted to claim it wasn’t my fault, but I knew better. Father Williams was the last face I saw before I was pulled out of my mind by the hairdresser lifting the hood of the dryer.
“Time to comb out,” the cleverly coiffed young woman said, guiding me to her chair. “Next time let’s attack those grays, Ms. Fin-Lathen.”
My eyes opened wide as I sat down and saw what she was talking about. In the last few days my temples had gone completely white! I looked like the bride of Frankenstein. I restrained from screaming at the visage of the fully dilated, monster face surrounded by giant pink rollers. As she took each one out, the bounce of the large curl helped soften the death mask before me. “How the hell did this happen?” I asked myself.
“Maybe we’ll send you over to cosmetics. Couldn’t hurt.”
I read her name tag through the mirror. “Mary, it’s been a hard few days.”
She rolled her eyes and began to work a miracle with my hair.
~
I parked my own car at the Queen Palm. I backed it in so I could have a quick getaway. I slid off my sneakers and on the Cole shoes. I maneuvered my legs out of the car and manage to not show my underpants to any passerby as I leveraged my body out of the roadster. Standing tall, I smoothed the dress and rued the moment I thought more leg showing would be a good idea. I placed my phone in my purse and sighed as I felt the contents of the purse were in place. Earlier I had taped the knife to my back as it wouldn’t fit in the bag. I would have to reach up under my skirt to get at it but I hoped I wouldn’t need it tonight.
I strode with purpose, smiling at the valet as I swung my straightened curls over my shoulder and waited for the doorman. I received back a nice leer, but after all, it was dark outside. Still this gave me the confidence to enter the Queen Palm at exactly seven thirty.
Chapter Twenty-three
Manfred Tuttle never really seemed an imposing man to me. True, he was tall, broad but, I assumed, soft. His hands were deceptively strong. The hand that grasped the small of my back - just inches below where I had taped my knife - as he walked me to our table wasn’t frail. In accordance with my request, we were seated at a table overlooking the Intercostal Waterway. I had forgotten that the Queen Palm was a three story drop from where the host was pulling out my chair. I teetered a bit on my heels as I sat down, grabbing at my hem to make sure the short skirt covered my ample derrière.
“It is a delightful evening. Do you not agree?” Manfred said as he perused the wine list. His manner of not using contractions bothered me, but I tried not to let my brows knit together or wince when he said, “Are you a red or a white, wine that is. They have a Johannesburg Riesling here that is truly magnificent.”
“You choose. I have to admit my pallet has a high school education,” I said smiling.
“Tut tut, my dear, it is never too late to learn. I expect it was Boones Farm behind the bleachers.”
The bastard! How did he know? “Well, you know, I quickly moved on to drinks of the amber color.”
He tapped the list. “Let us try the Poully Fuisse. I never get to drink it because Tobias is not a fan.”
“Speaking of Tobias, where is he?”
“He had some chores to finish. He said to go ahead and order him an appetizer. He will not be long.” Manfred raised his hand to get the attention of our waiter. “Let us have some wine and get reacquainted.”
The waiter appeared, and I was able to push down the rising bile while the two of them conferred over the wine list. I wanted to excuse myself and go to the bathroom. Hiding there would kill a few minutes, but I feared my shoes and the architect’s idea of flooring didn’t mesh. The simulated bleached flooring had gaps between the boards, stiletto-sized gaps. Navigating to my seat had required Manfred’s aid but leaving would be my own undertaking. Just getting out of the chair and the vertigo of being so near the edge made falling a distinct possibility.
“Cynthia?” Manfred’s voice bore into my skull.
I realized that the waiter had left, and perhaps Manfred had been waiting a few moments. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, “lost in my thoughts.”
“No problem, my dear, you have had a busy week.”
Oh yes, I had a busy week you pompous moron. Four murders, several more attempted, one attempted on me, and a missing police detective to find, was what I was thinking, but I said, “I’ve had better.”
“Tell me. I am a great listener.”
Could have fooled me with all the wasted rehearsal time, I wanted to say but thought better of it. “Manfred, I don’t know how I got into the mess I’m in.”
I had to give the man credit. He actually seemed concerned as I recapped the story, being careful to edit out anything that would give this man power, if he was indeed the killer. I didn’t mention that I knew Tony was gone or where I was now living.
“No one was more surprised than I, when I received Bernice’s phone call. Why would anyone want to hurt me or Tobias for that matter?” Manfred asked, opening his napkin and settling it into his lap.
“I thought I had the answers,” I told him, “but no longer.”
The waiter arrived with the wine and Manfred went through the tasting and acceptance of the bottle. It seemed to take forever before my glass was poured.
Manfred held up his glass, “Salute.”
I raised mine and echoed, “Salute.”
A cold chill followed by an army of goose bumps assaulted my body as Manfred’s stocking foot moved into my space and began to put pressure on my leg as it moved upwards. How far did he intend to go in this public place? His foot suddenly left my leg and ensconced itself in the patent leather loafer. My blood warmed, and I avoided his eyes by looking into the restaurant. I saw the reason for his retreat walking in the door, following the host to our table. Tobias had arrived.
~
Looking back, the meal was a pleasant, fun affair. Tobias who I had rarely heard speak before was filled with clever stories and trivia about many of the composers whose music we frequently played. He sat next to me, freeing me from further assaults of Manfred’s foot. All too soon, coffee was served and dessert discussed.
I gave in to the calories and told Manfred to order me something decadent. I excused myself and, with great concentration, managed to make it to the ladies room without falling over. I took out my cell phone and called, first, Dave to let him know I would be leaving soon. No answer. I next tried Pete. Same. I panicked a moment and remembered that if they were in the tunnel they may not have cell reception. I called Alex, nothing. Irritated, I called Harry and told his voicemail that if he and Alex were anywhere near the assault team to let them know that as of 9:30PM Manfred and Tobias were no longer being watched by me. I also warned Harry to get himself and Alex the hell out of there or I would kill them myself.
I finished my business and checked the knife’s placement before exiting the stall. Washing my hands, I ran through the plan again and again. There should have been someone there to take my call. Maybe the people that Pete put in place at the restaurant would notify the team. I didn’t see anyone I recognized as I passed through, but if they were doing their jobs correctly I shouldn’t have been able to pick them out.
Worried but determined to finish my role, I left the safe confines of the ladies room and walked back to our table. Manfred was ordering desert when I arrived. Tobias was gone.
“Tobias?”
“He had a call and had to leave. He asked me to thank you again for saving our lives and for joining us for dinner,” Manfred explained.
“Oh, okay, sorry I took so long but nature...”
Manfred waved aside my apology. “I have ordered us a treat and let us have a gossip while we eat.” His eyes lit up. “I’ll go first. Did you know that a certain trumpet player...”
I listened to the gossip and added a few harmless bits of dirt myself. Together we laughed and pushed innuendo to the breaking point. The cheesecake he ordered was paired with bitter coffee. If I hadn’t seen the waiter pour it myself I would have suspected something was in it besides chicory. Before I knew it, a half hour had elapsed. I looked at my watch.
“Getting late, my dear?” Manfred tsk tsked at the poor form of checking the time on a dinner date. He signaled for the waiter and the check arrived pronto.