Black Forest, Denver Cereal Volume 5

by Claudia Hall Christian

  Seth turned to look at her.

  “I’ve asked a lot from you,” Ava said. “And you’re right. We’ve only been dating a few weeks. Are you okay with… everything?”

  He nodded and went into the bathroom. She got out of bed to follow him. Her eyes watched him brush his teeth and get ready for bed.

  “You don’t have anything to say?” Ava asked.

  “There will be a time when we both have a lot to say,” Seth said. “Now’s not that time. I’m very tired and have a huge day tomorrow.”

  Her eyes puzzled at his response as he moved past her to the bed. He slipped under the covers and retrieved his pillow from her side.

  “Come to bed,” he said.

  “You’re not going to play tonight?” Ava slipped in beside him.

  “Too exhausted,” Seth said. “Plus, I think I may have finished the last piece.”

  “What’s going to happen tomorrow?” Ava’s voice cracked.

  “Five DPD officers, five Homeland Security and a group from Lipson are going to start working on the coal tunnel where Saint Jude is living,” Seth said. “The plan is for them to close off the tunnel near where he’s been living. He can’t skulk away in the dark. Then, we’ll lure him out and capture him.”

  “You’re not involved,” Ava said.

  “Outside of the planning and monitoring, I’m too recognizable to him,” Seth said. “God, Ava. You would not believe how much he hates me. He devoted an entire wall to me in his trophy room in New Mexico.”

  “You went there today?” Ava asked.

  “By helicopter,” Seth said. “Alex’s guy wanted to go so they arranged transportation. What a place! I’ll have to go back there after we collect him. But…”

  “Why does he hate you?” Ava asked.

  “Bonita and I were working things out,” Seth said. “She left him for me.”

  “Like Celeste,” Ava said.

  “Like Celeste,” Seth said. “Only he hasn’t been able to kill me, though he’s tried over and over again.”

  “I’m glad he hasn’t killed you,” Ava said.

  “Me too,” Seth said. He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “You need to rest. Are you working tomorrow?”

  “I don’t think so,” Ava said. “I’m worn out from today. But we’ll see. I definitely want part of this collar.”

  “I think you own the collar,” Seth said.

  “Are you ever going to tell me how you figured out the Cigarette Killer?” Ava asked.

  “You’ve never asked,” Seth said.

  Ava didn’t respond. Leaning up, Seth saw that she was asleep. Smiling to himself, he fluffed the pillow and joined her.

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FOURTY-SIX

  Starting

  Monday early morning — 4:30 A.M.

  Coal Tunnel near Wynkoop

  “I’ll tell you Jake,” State Inspector Barry Radow said. “Our asses are in a sling. My boss’s ass, my ass…”

  “Mine too?” Jacob asked.

  “No more than you already are,” Barry said. “I saw your sister, Honey. She’s female.”

  “And I can’t run the project,” Jacob sighed.

  Wearing head lamps, they continued walking along the dark ancient crumbling tunnel. Created in the 1800s, the brick and mortar coal tunnels carried coal by rail to businesses and the mansions east of Downtown Denver. Besides mortar and brick dust, the tunnels were dry and clear. They were walking toward dim lights up ahead.

  “Dad’s going to be here in a half hour,” Jacob said. “He’d be here but he’s drug testing some new employees.”

  “Listen, I know she’s your sister but your return to work order was clear. No women,” Barry said. “Just sucks when guys like you get into this kind of trouble. Let me ask you…”

  Jacob stopped walking to look at the State Inspector. His headlamp highlighted the man’s round face.

  “Did you at least fuck her?” Barry asked.

  Jacob shook his head.

  “Damn,” Barry said. They continued walking. They’d gone another hundred feet before Barry said: “I was hoping you at least got laid.”

  Jacob grimaced.

  “I was joking, Jake,” Barry said. “I never thought you did anything with that viper.”

  “I know,” Jacob said.

  On their left, they passed a wide open area. There were lights overhead.

  “I heard this was lit by mystery electrical lines,” Barry said. “No Xcel record.”

  “Hard to imagine,” Jacob said.

  “It’s not even cold here.”

  “Phantom gas lines,” Jacob said.

  “How does that happen?”

  “Who knows?” Jacob asked.

  “But they know now?”

  “They know now,” Jacob said. “I would hate to get the century old bill.”

  Barry laughed.

  “Next time I’m on the couch, I’m coming here,” Barry said. “Serve the wife right.”

  Jacob laughed.

  “Ok, this is it,” Barry nodded to the GPS indicator in his hand.

  “No water,” Jacob said. “Our people have checked every year for more than ten years.”

  “You don’t have to tell me,” Barry said. “I think the Governor is trying to get a freebie from Lipson before he leaves office. Can you guys afford it?”

  “We can’t afford not to do it,” Jacob said. “I got a team together last night after you called. They’ll start as soon as we’re done.”

  The inspector pulled a can of spray paint out of his pocket. He painted a line on the wall where the tributary was supposed to join the coal tunnel. He paced off six feet and sprayed a second line.

  “You’ll close the tunnel here,” Barry said. “Then work on that tributary.”

  “Do you think we need a permanent close or something temporary,” Jacob asked.

  “The contract doesn’t specify,” Barry said. “You’re a carpenter, aren’t you?”

  Jacob nodded.

  “Just put up some plywood,” Barry said. “I’ll sign off on it. You can leave the women on one side and work on the other.”

  “Good thinking,” Jacob said.

  Barry looked around the warm, dry, lit tunnel. With his hands on his hips, he took a deep breath and shook his head.

  “Let’s get the hell out of here,” Barry said. “Place gives me the creeps. It’s like a fucking tomb.”

  Nodding, Jacob followed Barry out of the tunnel.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Monday morning — 6:30 A.M.

  Fully dressed, Seth sat on the bed. Ava was sound asleep lying on her side. He touched her bare shoulder.

  “Hey,” she rolled onto her back to look at him.

  “Hey.”

  “Investigator’s breakfast?” Ava asked.

  He nodded. She leaned up to kiss his lips. He held her close.

  “I’m hoping you’ll spend the day here,” he said. “Rest and recover. Ferg says your work yesterday put them in good shape. Of course, they’ll be overwhelmed by tomorrow.”

  “But today, everything is good,” Ava said. “I’m planning on resting today.”

  Surprised, Seth squinted at her.

  “I was going to ask you…” She gave him her most charming smile.

  “What?”

  “Well… Uh…”

  “Just ask,” Seth said.

  “Do you have any pull with Dazzle?” Ava asked. “There’s a concert tonight. It’s an invitation only event. I thought if anyone could get in, maybe you could and…”

  Ava blushed. She felt like she was asking her father for her allowance.

  “And…”

  “You won’t like it,” Ava said.

  “I’m not your father,” Seth said. “Spit it out and we’ll sort it out.”

  “There’s this guy… He’s hip hop, very cool, one of my favorites,” Ava said. “He killed a girl by mistake, at least I think it was a mistake and he’s leaving the music business. He did a big farewell tour l
ast summer. Beth and I were going to go to but the tickets were too expensive. Anyway, he’s from here, Denver, and he’s doing one last show as a thank you to people who supported him through his tough time. They were giving away tickets on the radio. I called and called and called and called… but I didn’t win. I thought maybe…”

  “I would have tickets,” Seth said. “Who’s he playing with? Any idea?”

  “His old crew,” Ava said.

  “And who do you think that might be?” Seth asked.

  “I don’t know,” Ava said. “People he went to high school with or… Oh. You’re playing with him tonight.”

  Seth nodded.

  “That’s why you woke me up,” Ava said. “To tell me. You’d never wake me up usually.”

  Seth nodded.

  “It’s the kind of thing that drives most women crazy,” Seth said. “I’ve been gone working for days. Finally I get a night off and I have a gig.”

  “I’m not most women,” Ava said. “How do you know Jeraine?”

  “He’s Bumpy’s son,” Seth said.

  “I watched his quitting speech. I cried,” Ava said. Repeating what the hip hop star had said: “I’ve hurt two women in my life without doing a thing to make it happen or stop it. The first was a message from God. I did not listen. I’ve regretted it every single day since. I need to listen now.”

  Her hand pressed against her heart as she repeated the words. The simple sincerity on Ava’s face made him smile.

  “Do you think he killed that woman?” Ava asked. “Everyone does.”

  “She killed herself,” Seth said. “He never met her.”

  “How can you be sure?”

  “I did the investigation myself,” Seth said. “Bumpy asked but he didn’t have to. I would have anyway.”

  “Who’s the first woman?” Ava asked. “There’s lots of speculation. Do you think it was Halle Berry or Brandy is acting like it’s her or Perez Hilton says it’s Amy Adams…”

  “You’ve met her,” Seth smiled. “Remember the woman who saved Rachel from Saint Jude.”

  “Tanesha?” Ava’s shocked face made Seth chuckle.

  “It’s a long story,” Seth said. “Anyway, with everything going on, I almost forgot about the gig. Would you like to go tonight? I have VIP tickets – as many as you’d like. They aren’t up close, but they are good seats. Sandy and her friends are going.”

  “But not Tanesha,” Ava said.

  “She’ll be there.”

  “She’s dating this wicked charming doctor,” Ava said. “I took his DNA.”

  “She may be dating someone but she and Jeraine are like magnets. They always end up in the same spot at the same time.”

  “What about Saint Jude?” Ava asked.

  “We’re setting the net,” Seth said. “There’s nothing for me to do. Depending on how much Jake and his team get done today, I might be involved tomorrow. Tonight, however, I need to help an old friend’s son leave the music business with class. Are you upset?”

  “Upset? No,” Ava said. “Does it feel weird going out, doing a gig with Saint Jude out there? I mean everyone’s trying to catch him.”

  “The monsters are always out there. The best thing to do is to never forget to live your life and do what you love.”

  Uncertain of how to respond, Ava nodded.

  “Saint Jude has taken a lot from you,” Seth said. “We have to take some back sometimes.”

  “What’s he going to do?” Ava asked.

  “Saint Jude?”

  “Jeraine.”

  “He’s going to medical school,” Seth said. “His father did the same thing. Bumpy worked in the business until he had enough money for school. Of course, Jer’s made a thousand times the money his Dad made.”

  “What about college?” Ava asked. “He’s been touring since high school.”

  “Jer went to college online at CU Denver. He took his practicals and labs when he wasn’t touring. He’s starting at the Health Sciences Center in the fall.”

  “So this whole thing was a publicity stunt?” Ava’s face fell in disappointment.

  “No,” Seth said. “He’s not that kind of a man. He wasn’t sure if he would go. The woman killing herself, his arrest, the grand jury… It made him see what needed to happen in his life.”

  “Oh,” Ava said.

  “Oh?”

  “I get to go?” Ava brightened. “Dale too?”

  “I’d love it if you were there,” Seth said. “But don’t feel obligated. It’s not going to be so hip hop.”

  “Instrumental, that’s what the radio said. Once in a lifetime chance to hear Denver’s finest,” Ava said. “I want to go.”

  “Great,” Seth said.

  “The Coroner is going to be there with her husband. Sandy and her friends, Maresol, of course, Lizzie, and a few others you know. I’m getting the bar tab, so have a good time.”

  Ava fell back to the bed and closed her eyes.

  “Are you all right?” Seth asked.

  “I have to rest so I can party tonight,” Ava said.

  Seth laughed. He leaned over and kissed her.

  “It should be fun,” he said.

  With her eyes closed, Ava smiled. He got up to go. At the door, he turned to see her.

  “See you tonight,” Seth said.

  Ava was asleep. Smiling to himself, he left to meet with the ever expanding Saint Jude investigation team.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Monday mid-day — 12:30 P.M.

  “Thank you for seeing me,” a bean pole of a young man with thinning reddish-blonde hair perched on the doorstep said. “I know it’s last minute.”

  “It’s our pleasure,” Emily O’Malley Barth said. “Please come in.”

  The young man stepped into a McMansion tucked between Parker Boulevard and South Quebec in Aurora. A fit middle aged man came to the top of the stairwell.

  “Geoffrey, it’s Jammy Schmidt,” Lizzie’s mother said to her husband. “You remember, Seth’s agent, Schmidty?”

  The man trotted down the stairs to shake Jim’s extended hand.

  “James Schmidt,” Schmidy said.

  “You have some information on the lullaby?” Geoffrey asked as he gestured toward an archway on the left.

  The couple walked out of the entryway. Schmidty followed Geoffrey and Emily into a spacious living room. As they entered the room, a Hispanic woman wearing a maid’s uniform arrived.

  “Lupe, can you get us some…” Emily stopped talking. She looked at her husband and then at Schmidty.

  “Champagne to celebrate,” her husband said.

  “Schmidty?” Emily asked.

  “Tea would be great,” Schmidty said.

  “What kind?” Lupe asked.

  “Just regular tea, maybe some milk.” Schmidty smiled and Lupe nodded.

  “You heard what my husband said, Lupe. Champagne and some tea for our guest,” Emily sneered at the woman.

  Lupe gave her mistress a curt nod. Her eyes caught Schmidty’s as she turned. He smiled at the woman’s slight roll of her eyes before she left the room.

  “Frankly, I’ve been a little surprised that you’ve done so little to sell the lullaby or any of our catalogs,” Geoffrey said.

  “I work for Mr. O’Malley, sir,” Schmidty said.

  “Our catalog includes Mr. O’Malley’s best works,” Geoffrey said.

  Schmidty cleared his throat. Lupe returned with a porcelain tea pot, cup and saucer and a matching cream pot on a delicate tray. She set his tea down on the granite coffee table in front of him and left the room.

  “You have information for us?” Emily asked.

  “Have you sold any of our songs?” Geoffrey asked. His face held the lusty look of a starving man standing over food.

  Schmidty focused on his tea to keep from screaming ‘Your songs? Your songs? These songs don’t have anything to do with you,’ at the man. He let out a breath. He was a third generation music agent. He wouldn’t let this prick throw h
im off his game. After all, he had begged Seth to let him come today.

  “I have a potential buyer for two of the songs you have the rights to,” Schmidty said. “Glee wants to use ‘Like a rainbow’ in one of their shows and Disney has requested the use of the lullaby for one of their summer tours.”

  “Fabulous!” Geoffrey clapped his hands together. He leaned over to give Emily a wet, loud kiss on the cheek. “That’s wonderful news.”

  “It’s about time,” Emily said. “I thought you’d forgotten all about these songs.”

  “Oh no! There’s no way I’d forget about these songs.”

  The simple honesty of the statement startled the Barth’s. Lupe came in with a bottle of champagne in a silver champagne ice bucket and stand. She set the stand near Geoffrey and left the room.

  “Let’s have a toast,” Geoffrey said.

  He took the bottle from the stand and opened it with a luscious pop. Looking around, he noticed there were no glasses.

  “LUPE!” Geoffrey screamed.

  Lupe trotted into the room with three crystal champagne glasses. Geoffrey snatched one from her hand making her lose her balance. She almost fell but Schmidty jumped to his feet to right her. Stable, she set the glasses down. Nodding to Schmidty in thanks, she left the room.

  “It’s hard to find good help these days,” Emily said.

  Schmidty forced the edges of his lips up in a smile to hide his disgust. Geoffrey poured three glasses of Champagne. Schmidty moved his to the edge of the coffee table. While Geoffrey and Emily toasted their success, he opened his briefcase and pulled out a file.

  “Are those the offers?” Geoffrey beamed. He held his hand out for the documents. Schmidty scowled and his hand retreated.

  “I’ve only brought one offer for you today,” Schmidty said. “This is a copy of the divorce decree between Seth and Emily O’Malley.”

  Schmidty gave Emily and Geoffrey a copy of the divorce decree.

  “If you turn to page three, you’ll see the details for the property allocations.”

  A little stunned, Emily and Geoffrey obeyed and turned to page three.

  “You’ll see under the column titled ‘Songs’ that Emily O’Malley held the copyright of these fifteen songs under two conditions: 1. The minor children Lizzie and Julie Ann were in the household and/or 2. said minor children were being supported or in need of financial support from their mother.”