Lethe's Cipher

by Peter Sargent

  When they arrived home, Lil insisted on walking all the way up to the top floor to get her tea set from her room. She said they would have tea before her daddy left, which of course was a ploy to get him to stay longer. Lyons complied because he’d already broken her heart once today. While he was standing in Lil’s room, watching the light filter through the princess decals stuck to her window, he saw a book in the corner. He picked it up and looked at the cover. The title was “Rich Bear, Poor Bear.” The author was Norma Hicks.

  “Lil, is this yours?”

  “Yeah Daddy that’s a good book. There’s a bear. And he lives in a castle. Another bear lives in the woods.”

  Lil went on to explain the story, but her father interrupted her. “Yeah, baby, I just read through it. The rich bear’s mean to the poor bear, but the poor bear moves away. Then the rich bear goes hungry because the poor bear used to bring him berries that the rich bear doesn’t know how to pick.”

  “There’s no rich bear.”

  “Yeah, he lives in the castle. They don’t say he’s rich; they just imply it.”

  “Oh. Will you read it to me?”

  “No, sweetie; it’s a lot of bullshit.”

  * * * *

  Lyons took the book with him in the car. The imprint was the New England School of Fine Arts Press. The cop had a list of references and one of them was a professor at the school named Jillian Duval. Manuel had said Jillian was Norma’s best friend. They had gone to school at NESFA and they planned lots of charity events with the school. A quick call to records confirmed that Norma Stern was once Norma Hicks, the creator of the bears in the castle.

  While driving down the NESFA, Lyons called Manuel. He said, “Have you seen the ransom note?”

  “It was sent to me. So yes.”

  “Okay. What did it say; what did it look like – no don’t ask me why I don’t know. I’m on my way to talk to your friend Jillian and I haven’t seen the note. Just tell me your impressions.”

  “There was nothing to it. It said they had my wife and described what she was wearing when I last saw her. Then it told me to deposit one million in the trunk of the Jaguar.”

  “The car is in the police impound lot.”

  “The note said to put the car back under the bridge.”

  “Mr. Stern, does the car have a valet key? That won’t open the trunk? Of course it does – can you describe it to me?”

  “The valet key is flat.” said Stern. “The main key is sort of hexagonal, with extra ridges. You can lock the trunk so it can’t be opened from inside the car. But no one found Norma’s key. I have the duplicate.”

  “Well that all makes sense.”

  “So,”

  “So do you buy this ransom note? You’re a VC, so I think you’re used to sizing up a situation. If you weren’t desperate for any way to get your wife back, would this note pass the sniff test?”

  “It seems foolish.” said Stern. “It’s a classic Jag once owned by Norma’s father. It’s worth half a mil on it’s own. Why not just sell it rather than take the risk of a kidnapping and only demand a million? Have you got a theory?”

  “Uh-huh. One more thing. Did you sign a pre-nup?”

  “Of course.”

  Lyons thanked Stern and let him know he’d call back later before hanging up.

  He was working up a theory. It was a simple matter of Norma Stern getting out of her marriage. It was Judge Judy with private jets.

  The phone rang again. It was Manuel’s number, but it wasn’t his voice.

  “Hi Mr Lyons, this is Ally Stern. I heard what you were saying with my dad. We both think you’re wondering if my mom is cooking up some elaborate scheme to get out of her marriage. I wanted to tell you myself that isn’t true. She wouldn’t leave me.”

  “You have a point.” said the cop. “And don’t worry. I’ll do my job and find your mom.”

  “Don’t condescend to me. Some day I’ll be running my dad’s company and I could own you a thousand times.” A pause, and then, “Do yourself a favor and don’t cross me or my dad.”

  * * * *

  When Lyons first met Jillian he thought, she’s hot. And then he had a paranoid moment when he hoped that she couldn’t read his mind. His male brain worked against him like that – but Jesus – this woman had to be fifty and she looked better than his ex. She was dressed the way a good looking woman her age should dress - how she wishes she had when she was younger. She came around the desk and reached first to shake his hand.

  Jillian’s office at NESFA was tiny and in the basement. It stood at the end of a visual arts hall, just before it turned into the music department. There must have been practice rooms on the other side because Lyons and Jillian had to talk over trumpet music.

  “I used to like Petrushka.” said Jillian. “Before that trumpeter started playing the bit with the dancing bear over and over again without ever finishing it.”

  Lyons smiled and changed the subject. “What’s your opinion of the Sterns’ marriage? Were they a happy couple?”

  “They were a convenient couple. Marrying for money isn’t a bad idea when you get an accommodating man. And even millionaires can be accommodating when they want both a sex partner and a mother for their children. I’d like to try the same trick myself.”

  Lyons remembered the detail about the Jag belonging to Norma’s father and said, “I thought Norma’s family was well off.”

  “Not that I know of. She always said she needed the stability Manuel provided her.”

  “Do you think Norma was calculating?”

  “I’m saying she was an art professor and she wasn’t getting any younger.”

  “So she wasn’t under any romantic delusions, meaning that before she got married she knew under what conditions she might break it off.”

  “Yes.” said Jillian. “It’s occurred to me that she could’ve faked her own abduction. Now that her children’s books are successful, she has money of her own. But why not just divorce the bastard?”

  Lyons didn’t answer that one. The only reason he could think of was because she wanted to take her child away. But their only child, Ally, was still in Manuel’s custody. And what if Ally wasn’t their only child? There were books and movies for a younger child.

  Lyons said, “How many books did Norma write? Were there movies too?”

  “No movies. Five books.”

  “All that kid’s stuff in her house wasn’t just stuff she’d made herself. If it had been, that would be normal. But it’s not. Is Ally the Stern’s only child?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Is Ally Norma’s only child?”

  Jillian paused and looked away. She backed up very slightly. All of this took a second, but it struck Lyons hard. She was about to lie through her polished teeth.

  “Yeah. Of course. You’re police. Shouldn’t you know that?”

  The warmth and easy attitude that Lyons had first felt from her went away. She topped it off with a vague insult and then seemed to regret it. Not because she regretted being mean, but because she realized she wasn’t fooling anyone. She thought for a moment and Lyons let her.

  She said, “Have you talked to Ted?”

  Okay. Unexpected, but maybe helpful. “A homeless man named Ted was found in Norma’s abandoned car.”

  Jillian said, “I don’t know his last name, but I think he had a crush on Norma. We used to do a lot of charity events for the less fortunate. He and Norma talked a few times and he took to following her around. We finally called the police and barred him from attending any other functions.”

  Jillian sat down,as if she’d just delivered a practiced speech. In doing so, she revealed a photo on the book shelf behind her. It featured herself and Norma on either side of a man that looked a lot like Ted. To their side stood a painting on an easel.

  Lyons said, “Is that Ted there?”

  “Huh? Oh yes. Of course. That’s how Ted and Norma first met. It was a painting workshop for children of abuse. Ted w
on a prize for his painting. I guess he thought it entitled him to more than a picture with Norma. But we didn’t call the cops because - you know, it didn’t seem right at the time.”

  Lyons thought that Norma looked a little familiar with Ted. Most people would put their hand on someone’s upper back if required to show appreciation in a professional manner. However, Norma had wrapped her arm around the man. Norma’s fingers were visible on his opposite shoulder and it looked like Ted was the one who was uncomfortable. He was leaning a bit in the opposite direction. There was a connection there and Jillian was hiding it. Lyons nodded and looked back at Jillian.

  “Jillian.” said Lyons. “Did Manuel Stern tell you to dress this way? In that photo you look more conservative.”

  “It was a formal event.”

  “You’re at work. Do you take teaching students less seriously?”

  Jillian huffed and shooed the inspector away with the sort of self righteous indignation he’d expected. As he was leaving, he hoped he hadn’t made a mistake. He may have formed a new theory about Manual setting Ted up, but was it at the cost of tipping his hand? If Manual had prepped Jillian to redirect Lyons in the event that the cop came knocking, then the VC would be eager to hear how their conversation went.

  * * * *

  Lyons turned back to Ted’s shelter. The cop wasn’t sure what had just happened in Jillian office, but it had convinced him that Ted’s involvement was nowhere near coincidental. The only problem now was the traffic. The school was just south of Brookline Village and the shelter was in East Boston - at four o’clock they were an hour apart unless you had a news chopper. Or a flashing cop car. But Lyons wasn’t sure if Ted was in imminent danger.

  A phone call proved him wrong. Superintendent Arbor rang up to say that Jillian had already called the office and repeated the details about Ted’s history of stalking. That had been a half hour ago and Arbor was wondering why Lyons didn’t use his slow motion drive time to inform his superiors of this development. Lyons didn’t want to say it, but he was going to sit on the details so he could talk to Ted before arresting him again. And damn, isn’t that what Jillian and Manuel would’ve expected? They’d embarrassed him and that was just a prelude to Manuel pressing for Lyon’s removal from the case.

  Arbor said, “The art teacher said you made some sexual comments.”

  Maybe she had read his mind after all.

  “You’re taking her word?”

  “You can be abrupt with women. Not that I think you were coming on to her - I know that with you it’s just a tactic and jesus - don’t I know that sometimes it works. But this is starting to get too sensitive. I’m sorry, but I will reassign you. Before that I do need one thing. We tried to pick up Ted, but we can’t find him. Do you have any ideas?”

  “Not really.”

  “I didn’t think so. Stern’s going to go ahead with the drop then.”

  “That makes no sense. Even he told me so.”

  “He changed his mind. Now get your ass back here.”

  Lyons murmured that he’d be back at his desk as soon as he was out of the traffic; then he hung up. It as a strange experience for him. He did was he needed to do in the field, but he knew when to bow to authority. This sort of behavior is what got his dad in trouble; the man was never interested in getting ahead when it was just as easy to curse out the boss. But somehow. this case was bothering Lyons. It wasn’t foolish if you knew what you were doing.

  * * * *

  Leo was there when Lyons showed up. He was finishing his shift on the dinner crew and about to sit down for his own meal. Lyons sat across from him. Leo denied knowing where his friend was.

  “My colleagues are out looking for him.” said Lyons. “He’s the prime suspect again.”

  “A lot changes in eight hours.” said Leo.

  “As for me, I think he’s into something big. I want to help him. I know, you don’t exactly like me, but listen. Leo? What I said about Ted getting you off that DUI was true, wasn’t it? Even if all the other stuff I said wasn’t?”

  Leo nodded without looking the cop in the eyes. He spoke into his food. “That man is like some kind of extra terrestrial. He knows things. I love him, but he scares me. He can find people, and he can make them do what he wants.”

  “Sounds like he’s a lot more than what he seems. Do you think he’s really homeless?”

  “I have no doubt about that. The thing you’ve got to understand is that Ted has limited amounts of concentration. He’s sick; that’s for real. But sometimes his mind clears for long enough for him to pull off some crazy shit.”

  “What else? Besides talking his friends out of DUI’s?”

  “I’m not telling you. You’d be better off just staying away.”

  “Is that really how you want this to go? You know Ted gets in trouble, and you know that he’s in bigger trouble now than he ever has been. And I think you know something about this Norma Hicks.” Lyons paused and watched for a subtle reaction. Leo pursed his lips and clenched his hands. That was it. “So you know Norma means something to Ted and now she’s in the same mess. Do you want to run away like usual, or do you want to help these people?”

  “I want to help them.” said Leo. “I just don’t trust you.”

  “There’s no one else here. You’ll just have to take a chance.”

  Leo paused, and then, “Ted is Ted Hicks. Norma’s his cousin. They both came from a rich family. But the Hicks - they fell on hard times. Ted’s a little nuts and has no skills, so he wound up here.”

  “And Norma married Stern. She could’ve sold her father’s car and lived a decent middle class life, but I guess she was too used to being a rich girl.”

  “It’s not the money man. Norma’s got this kid. She don’t know who the father is. The kid has problems and he needs a dad. I guess Manuel came on real strong as the good father. Only Ted doesn’t think it was for real. He thinks Manuel had other plans.”

  “What kind of plans?”

  “For Norma’s kid. He was strange. The way Ted’s strange. It’s the kind of strange that could be very useful to some people. And here’s the thing you really ought to know, in case you haven’t figured it out. That kid’s name was Brian Hicks.”

  Lyons leaned back. He nodded his head. This was the Brian whom Ted had said was the reason for his cousin’s disappearance. Lyons wanted to think about that for a moment, but he didn’t get the chance. His phone rang - when was it ever quiet? - and it was Lil. Her tone of voice made Lyons sit straight up. Then he stood up.

  “Daddy, there’s someone in the house. He knocked Grammy on the floor and she’s not moving.”

  * * * *

  When Lyons showed up at the house, there was a car pulling out of the driveway. The cop got a glimpse of Lil in the backseat and swerved to get his own car across the opening. The other vehicle slammed into his front passenger door. Lyons jumped out, not even caring that he was standing in the middle of the street. The other driver stayed in his car, looked uncertain of what to do. Lil was banging her palms on the window. Lyons produced his pistol and shield and ordered the kidnapper to get the hell out. The man complied, but in his moment of panic he hit the button that unlocked all the doors. Lil, who was quick on her toes, heard the click, popped open her door, and ran. She stood behind her father, but she didn’t cower. Instead she said,

  “My daddy’s going to take you to jail you son of a pitch!”

  The last word made Lyons smile. And then he said, “If I don’t take you down right here.”

  The other man put his hands up, but he walked closer.

  “That’s my daughter.” he said. “I’m her real father.”

  Lil said, “You’re not my daddy!”

  “Who are you?” said Lyons.

  “I told you, man. You don’t need to worry, we’ll work it out.”

  “Daddy, what about Grammy?”

  Lyons said, “Let’s go inside.”

  He found his mother lying on the floor, but look
ing up at him. She grimaced with pain and said she couldn’t get up - but she didn’t think she’d broken anything. Lyons called 911 and knelt down my his mom. The elderly woman said she was sorry that she’d let the assailant in.

  “I never would’ve done that before.” she said, “But I’m old and I’m not thinking straight.”

  This lady was made of steel, thought Lyons. Then he thought of her nameless attacker, who was casting a shadow in the door. Lyons still had his sidearm in one hand when he turned back to the man, who looked smaller and more cautious now.

  “Before you say anything,” he said, “Lil’s mom told me to come here. I wasn’t really thinking; I just - I don’t know. I’m sorry about your mom.”

  Lyons said, “Lil’s mom doesn’t even know who you are.” The other man began to speak, but the cop put up his free hand. “I don’t want to hear it. I’m calling my ex right now.” Lyons punched up her number on the phone, but it didn’t pick up. He glanced at it and realized it was her work number. Then he hit the mobile number and the woman picked up. Lyons said, “Where the hell are you? You aren’t at work.”

  “I’m on my way, I’m sorry. Go ahead, go back to work. I’ll be home soon.”

  “I can’t; there’s some bastard here who knocked down my mom and tried to kidnap Lil. Says you told him to come here.”

  There was silence.

  Then the woman said, “Lil isn’t your daughter. She’s Jerry’s daughter. You have no legal right to her. I’m at our new place now.”

  “I am her father.” he said, and Lil shouted to add her support to this fact. “And I’ve been nothing but accommodating. Now, after all these years, you’re going to run out and shack up with some guy you haven’t seen in six years and didn’t even know was...” He caught himself from completing the sentence. He didn’t need to nurture doubts in Lil’s mind. “When did you even find this guy?”

  “I’ve been planning this for a long time on my own.” said the woman. “I’m not even getting into it. But then this morning I got a tip about Jerry.”