“Okay. I’ll be there around 10:30.”
I wasn’t sure how to broach with Landra the subject of Niki’s disclosures without revealing the fact that I’d had her investigated. But if the police were calling Landra back in for questioning, her husband’s death could have a direct bearing on the investigation of Drake Reeds’ death. There was no doubt in my mind that Reeds’ death had been an accident, and I think anyone who had seen Landra that night would have agreed. I was sure that her being called back in was just a formality, but if the police had come up with the same information that Niki had, things could get complicated. Although, in Drake’s case, there was no apparent motive.
We got to the police station promptly at 11:00 o’clock and took a seat in one of the offices. I reached over and squeezed Landra’s hand to reassure her before the officer came in and she gave me a feeble smile. He asked many of the same questions he had asked on the night of the accident, presumably to see if Landra gave the same answers. She held up well under his scrutiny and I could see the officer’s demeanor change from antagonistic to conciliatory as the interrogation progressed. As it turned out, it was only a ruse to lure Landra into a false sense of security, as became apparent when he changed his line of questioning.
“You said that Mr. Reeds picked you up and carried you back in the room and that you grabbed a vase and hit him over the head.”
“Yes,” Landra agreed.
“Which way were you facing when he was carrying you? Towards him or away from him?”
“I was facing away from him.”
“How were you able to hit him over the head if you were facing away from him?”
“Well, I was fighting him and I managed to turn sideways in his grasp. And I picked up the vase and twisted. And when he saw that I had the vase, he put me down to try to get it away from me and that’s when I hit him.”
“What part of his head did the vase come into contact with?”
“I think it was the right side. But it all happened so fast that I’m not certain.”
“Tell me again about when you tried to get out of the room. Was the bedroom door open or closed when you tried to escape?”
“Drake had closed it.”
“Was it locked?”
“I don’t think so . . . or at least, I didn’t have to unlock it to get it open.”
“Do you know why your fingerprints would be on the lock?”
“I wasn’t even aware that there was a lock.”
“You stated that Mr. Reeds stumbled and fell into the window and then went right through it. Is that still what you contend?”
“Yes. That’s what happened. I pushed him away from me after I hit him with the vase and he stumbled over a chair and fell through the window.”
“How much momentum would you say he had behind him when he fell?”
I was intentionally staying out of it because I felt that Landra was holding her own, but I had to jump in on that one. “What kind of question is that? How much momentum compared to what?” I interjected.
The officer looked at me with an annoyed expression. “Maybe compared to the momentum of being pushed. The positioning of Mr. Reeds’ body on the cement was inconsistent with that of a mere fall. There was considerable force behind him when he went through that window. His body landed a good way out from the house.”
“Ms. Krally has nothing further to say,” I told him. “Now, if you’re not going to bring charges against her, we’ll be leaving.”
The officer got up and left the room and returned in a few minutes. “You’re free to go,” he told Landra.
We left the police station and as soon as I drove out of the parking lot, Landra broke into tears. “I can’t go through this again, Sam. I swear, I can’t.” She was fumbling through her purse and pulled out a Kleenex and wiped her eyes.
“What do mean again?” I asked her.
“I was married before,” she said. “But he turned out to be a druggie, and six months into our marriage he overdosed on a mixture of coke and heroin. I found him on our kitchen floor laying in his vomit and his skin was all blue.” She was quiet for a minute. “They tried to blame me for it,” she finally said. “No charges were ever filed, but they conducted a whole investigation, trying to prove that I had mixed the concoction that had killed him.”
“Why? Did you do drugs together?”
“Never. I didn’t even know he did them until we’d been married for four months. I tried to get him to check himself into a rehab program, but he wouldn’t do it.” Landra looked over at me. “They’re going to try to bring that back up now, aren’t they?”
“I don’t know. But we need to get you a good criminal attorney.”
“You’re my attorney,” Landra said.
“I’m not a criminal lawyer, Landra. And listening to the questions he was asking you back there, it doesn’t sound like they’re going to drop their investigation.”
Landra leaned her head back against the seat. “Why would I kill him? What would I possibly have to gain? And if I was going to kill him, why would I do it in public in front of 200 people?”
“You don’t have to convince me, Landra. I’m on your side.”
“Then be my lawyer. I don’t want anyone else.”
I’d been driving while she’d been relating her story and we ended up back at my office. I didn’t feel like arguing with her. “Let’s just take things one step at a time. Try not to worry, okay? Why don’t we get a bite to eat so you can calm down.”
“I’m not hungry at all,” she said. “In fact, I think if I ate, I’d throw up.”
“Gross. Then let’s do something else. Wanna go to the zoo?” I suggested.
“Don’t you have work to do?”
“Nothing that can’t wait,” I lied.
“I really appreciate you trying to take care of me, Sam, but I know you have stuff to do and to tell you the truth, I think I need to be by myself for a while.”
“Bullshit,” I said. I put the car in drive and took off.
“Sam! You can’t take me with you against my will!”
“Yeah, I can.” I stopped at a red light and unbuckled my safety belt and leaned over and kissed her. When the light turned green, the bitch behind me honked and I shot the finger at her. “Will you go to the zoo with me?” I asked her.
Landra turned around to see who had honked. “Yes, Sam. I’ll go to the zoo with you. But only because I think it’s where you belong.”
“That’s my girl!”
We spent the next two hours walking around looking at the animals and then we rode the miniature train that circles Brackenridge Park where the zoo is situated. The track winds around the ball fields, the driving range, in and out of the woods, and past the museum that borders the park. At one time, there had been stables where the public could ride horses through the park, and seeing the place where the old barns had once been, brought back a whole slew of memories.
As the youngest of five children, my siblings were always daring me to do one thing or another, and more often than not, it was something that would get me in trouble. But invariably I accepted the challenge, more willing to look bad for my parents than be a wimp in the eyes of my brothers and sisters.
One time when we were visiting the stables, they dared me to take off on one of the horses at full speed and pretend to be out of control. The poor stable boy was running behind me in his bright orange shirt, flailing his hands in the air, while my brothers and sisters and I laughed our asses off. Another time, the five of us kids were sitting in the engine of the train having our picture taken and they told me to hit the lever that made the train go. It was like the little engine that could. We went chugging away with no driver with my mother screaming in the background, while the conductor raced along beside the track trying to get the train stopped without getting run over.
At some point, my siblings stopped daring me to do things that were dangerous because they realized I’d do whatever they asked, regardless of t
he consequences; and after a while Mom and Dad got wise to the fact that my elders were putting me up to things, so my siblings were included in whatever punishment I got.
If I sat on the train long enough I could probably recall a dozen other stories about me and my siblings and Brackenridge Park, but it’s a short ride and by the time Landra and I got off the train, it was almost 3:00 o’clock. I needed to get back for an appointment, so I dropped Landra off at her car and headed back to my office.
There was some Mexican function going on in the park across from the courthouse and there was a group of mariachis dressed in black pants with silver studs running down the length of the legs, singing and playing their instruments, and food booths selling roasted corn, fajitas and gorditas. It smelled awesome, but I didn’t have time to stop.
When I got back in, Maddie had called twice and Penny was frantic that I had forgotten my 3:30 hearing on a divorce petition. I had already gathered my files before I’d gone with Landra, so all I had to do was grab them and go across the street to the courthouse. The mariachis were playing La Bamba and the crowd was making a dismal attempt to sing along.
I hadn’t had a chance to call Maddie before I left and when I got back, she had called a third time. I knew what it was about and I knew that I needed to break the news to Penny that Maddie would be joining our office staff the next morning.
“Has she ever done legal work before?” Penny asked, trying to hide her surprise.
“Not that I know of. But she can type.”
“Well, it should be fun having another woman around the place.” She looked around like she wanted to redecorate.
“I’m sure that’s what she’s calling about so will you call her and let her know she can start tomorrow? It would be best coming from the Office Manager.”
Titles are awesome. They’re an abstract concept that goes a long way toward employee relations. Whether or not the duties and responsibilities change, a new title is always an ego boost. And I’d taken enough psyche classes to know not to bring in a new secretary without throwing a bone to the old one.
“Office manager!” Penny replied happily.
“Yeah, but with no increase in salary.”
I knew she wouldn’t argue. Whenever we’d win a big case, i.e., one that made us lots of money, I was always generous with the proceeds. I liked to think of us as a team. It was an arrangement that worked out well for both of us. Bonuses are a lot like titles in that respect; they go a long way towards goodwill and motivation. A couple of times when we’d had a really good month, I’d surprised her with a bonus that matched her monthly salary and she was so appreciative that I was embarrassed.
Penny knew all the shit that Maddie had been through and the reason behind her coming to work with us, and I could hear her on the phone reassuring Maddie that she’d make a great legal secretary. After a couple of minutes, Penny buzzed me and said that Maddie still wanted to talk to me.
“Hi, Maddie. What’s up?
“You’re really going to give me a job?”
“I told you I would,” I said, feeling irritated that she had to ask.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it, Sam. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I’m sure you’d manage. If there’s nothing else, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Sam.” I could tell she was tearing up.
“You’re welcome. See you tomorrow.” I hung up and decided that we were going to have to get Maddie’s crying sorted out from the very beginning. I couldn’t deal with an emotional secretary who broke down in tears every time anything happened, good or bad.
I didn’t see Landra that night because I needed to prepare for my meeting with the attorney I’d seen at the party, but I called her to make sure she was okay. We made tentative plans to get together for dinner later in the week, and afterwards she would get started prepping another wall of my fortress. The room had become my favorite room in the house and I found myself staring at the wall, trying to imagine it as anything but an old stone wall. I was sitting back there when I heard something at the French doors. I turned on the outside light to find the Siamese standing on his hind legs, with his front paws pressed against the door, scratching on the glass. He hadn’t been around for a while and I’d wondered if maybe he had left for good. Evidently, no such luck.
“What do you want?” I said through the door.
“Meow!” he answered enthusiastically.
Out of curiosity, I opened the door to see what he would do. He stood there looking at me indifferently for a good 10 seconds, then he came in and immediately went and sniffed my stone wall.
“Your girlfriend did that,” I told him.
The cat walked the length of the wall then I guess he lost interest, because he went and parked himself at his spot on the hearth. He was a nice looking cat with eyes so blue they looked fake. He reminded me of some snobby, rich old fart that didn’t have to give anyone the time of day. He looked at me, then turned his head away and started licking his nether region, as if to let me know exactly what he thought of me. For some reason, I wanted to win the prick over. Maybe he reminded me of myself in some way, or maybe it was just the challenge, but I went into the kitchen and searched through the fridge for something to bribe him with. I wasn’t sure if cats liked pepperoni, but I pulled a slice off the leftover pizza.
“Here kitty, kitty,” I called from the kitchen. To my surprise, the bastard sauntered in and stood at my feet looking up at me expectantly.
“Sit.” I’ll be damned. The cat actually did it. “Good boy,” I told him. He licked his chops as he watched me place the pepperoni on the floor in front of him. A tentative brown paw pushed the meat first one way, then the other, then he picked it up in his teeth and kind of shook it and set it down twice before he actually ate it.
He looked at me like he wanted more, so I opened the fridge and retrieved another bit of pepperoni and a little piece of Italian sausage. He was back on all fours, so I gave him the sit command and he did it again. I gave him both pieces of meat and this time he gobbled them down without foreplay, then he looked back at me for more.
“That’s all,” I told him, showing him my empty hands.
He meowed and turned around, leaving the kitchen to resume his seat at the fireplace. I let him stay inside until I went to bed, then I booted him out the same door that I’d let him in.
Chapter 6
I was the last one to the office the next morning, even though I had gotten an early start. Not wanting to miss out on my muffins, I’d stopped off at Mrs. Howard’s house early to pick them up. She had already dressed and done her hair, but she wasn’t as perky as she usually was and she looked a little pale. She waved off my concern, and basically laughed at me, so I took off with the muffins and ate them in the car on my way to the office.
Maddie greeted me with a cup of coffee when I walked in. I took one look at her and stopped dead in my tracks. “Whoa! Look at your hair!” I said, not even attempting to hide my surprise. “Shit Maddie, you look great! I can’t believe you ever wore that horrible hairstyle.”
“Thanks . . . I guess,” she said, running her hand through her hair.
I’d had these visions of her showing up at the office wearing some sleazy outfit with a low-cut blouse and her giant boobs hanging out, and greeting our clients with that hair. All I could think of was what a terrible first impression she would make. But she looked great – completely professional. She was wearing navy pants with a matching blazer and a white button down shirt that showed no cleavage whatsoever. And her hair. She had really nice hair when she wore it down and straight. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why she’d worn it in a rat’s nest for so long.
“Wow. I’m just shocked,” I said.
“Well, I don’t look that different!” Maddie said defensively.
Penny came out of my office at that point, no doubt saving me from sticking my foot any further down my throat.
�
��Good morning, Samuel. I’ve been showing Madeline our filing system.”
Madeline? I’d never even thought about what Maddie was short for, but she actually looked like a Madeline. Not that I’d ever met another one, but the name fit.
“Great. Let me know if you need anything, Madeline.” She smiled and looked away when I looked at her. I picked up my messages from Penny’s desk and went into my office, closing the door behind me, but Penny knocked and opened it before I even sat down.
“Niki Lautrec called and said he had something important to talk to you about. I told him that you would be in the office between 8:00 and 10:00 this morning and then again . . .” She misinterpreted the look on my face and stopped before she finished her sentence. “I’m sorry. Should I not have told him that?” she asked.
“No that’s fine,” I assured her. “I just don’t want to hear what he has to say.”
She smiled and lowered her voice. “I think Madeline’s going to work out really well. She’s very bright.”
“I guess we need to buy another computer. Let’s give her a couple of days and see how she does. Would you take care of that for us?”
“Certainly,” Penny said agreeably. “I’ll leave you alone now.” She left my office, closing the door behind her.
I went to my meeting and returned during lunch to an empty office. Penny and Maddie came in together within a few minutes, both of them laughing, their arms full of grocery bags. They didn’t realize I was there, and I could hear them cackling out in the reception area. They had obviously hit it off immediately and it was apparent they were fast becoming friends. Penny might as well have gone out and bought the damn computer because it was obvious Maddie was going to be a permanent fixture in the office. I heard paper crinkling and then oohing and aahing, and finally the suspense was too much. They were so engrossed in whatever they were doing that I’d walked up right behind them without them even knowing it.
“What are you two doing out here?” I asked. It was a totally innocent question, asked in a normal tone of voice, but Maddie screamed like she had witnessed her mother’s murder, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
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