Jack turned on him. “I damn well know what happened. And let me tell you something. You’d better have good representation right now, Old Man. I hold you responsible for sending my son out in the line of fire.”
Decker said, “I will take full responsibility—”
“You’d better pray that your pension is untouchable because after I’m done with you, you’ll be lucky to get a job as a guard at an old age home, which is where you belong.”
“Dad, enough!” Tyler got out.
“Shut up!”
“I’m serious, Dad. That’s enough!”
“Fucking moron!”
“We’re all idiots and morons: I get it!” Tyler blew out air. “Can you cap it for a second so I can catch my breath?”
No one spoke.
Tyler said, “Dad, I’ll be in Boston by August, ready to join the ranks of all the fine minds of law who came before me. So it’s all good, okay?”
For the first time, the senior McAdams had managed to lower his voice. “I’ve heard that before.”
“I’m serious.”
McAdams weighed the kid’s words. “You’re finally going to do it?”
“I never said I wasn’t. I just wasn’t ready to do it right after graduation.”
“You’ve been stalling to spite me. And now look at you!”
“If I had a crystal ball to see into the future, I might have reconsidered. But I didn’t, so it is what it is. Can we move on?”
“We would have been all set up by now—”
“That’s not moving on, Dad.”
Jack McAdams looked at his watch. “I have to be back in New York. I have an eight A.M. breakfast meeting tomorrow.”
“I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say you can leave.”
“I don’t want you left alone, Tyler. I know you think I’m an asshole but I really do care about your safety.”
“At least until I enter law school.”
“Stop it.”
“Go, Dad. Just . . . go.”
“I’ll be with him,” Decker said.
“How reassuring!”
Tyler said, “Dad, he saved my life. You might try a thank you.”
“He put you in jeopardy in the first place.”
“He didn’t put me in danger, I put me in danger. I took the job, which means I should have learned to use a firearm a long time ago. I fucked up. So if you’re going to sue anyone, sue me. And you know my assets better than anyone. You could walk away with a bundle.”
“Stop it, Tyler. Just . . . shut up!” Then Jack said, “When’s your mother arriving?”
“Tomorrow. I told her I was okay and after very little convincing, she took my word at face value.” A pause. “I didn’t want you two here at the same time.”
“That was smart.”
“Can you please leave? We’ve got it all figured out.”
“Who’s we?”
“Detective Decker and me. I’m moving into his house—”
“Are you out of your mind?” The senior McAdams was pacing again. “You’re coming back to New York just as soon as you’re discharged.”
“No, I’m not. I’m staying here until I know what’s going on. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt, including you believe it or not.”
“Don’t be an idiot!”
“Do you want me in law school, yes or no?”
“Tyler—”
“Let me handle this, Dad. Let me do it my way—”
“I’ve seen what happens when you do it your way.”
“Move . . . on!” Tyler snapped. “You are incredibly impossible. Is it any wonder that I defy you all the time? If you shut up right now, I promise I’ll make the plunge.”
“You know how important that is.”
“I know but ultimately, I hold the cards. So don’t piss me off and we’ll both be happy. Now could you kindly go so I can get a little rest?”
The senior McAdams looked at his watch. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Just go home.”
“I don’t want to go home. I want to come back in an hour. Any objections?”
“Would it do any good if I did object?”
“None whatsoever.”
“Fine. I’ll see you in an hour.”
Jack turned to the mayor. “I’m hungry.”
“I’ll take you out, Jack.”
“You damn well better take me out, Logan, if you know what’s good for you.”
Decker could hear Jack’s voice even after the two of them were down the corridor. He tried out a smile. Mike Radar didn’t even bother to fake it. “I think I’m going to go make myself useful. I’d rather deal with just about anything than take abuse like that.”
“I apologize,” Tyler said.
“No, I owe you an apology,” Radar said. “You didn’t want me to call them and I did it anyway. My mistake.”
“Exactly how much money does he give to the town?”
“Enough to make the mayor keep his mouth shut while he berates public servants.”
“Again, I apologize.”
“How are you feeling, Tyler?”
A forced smile. “Once he leaves, I’ll be a lot better.”
To Decker, Radar said, “So you’ll stick around?”
“Yes. I have a little thinking to do and I could use Tyler’s brain. Let’s meet up at the station house at around six in the evening. I’m going to bring Rina with me. I don’t want to leave her alone at night right now even with a cop outside our door.”
“That sounds fine.”
“Who’s outside my house?”
“Wickel until six. Then I have O’Brien from six to twelve. I’ll keep him there even if no one’s home. Kramer’s taking the graveyard shift.”
“Thanks. At some point, I’m going to need to sleep.”
“It’s not a problem. We’ve got a post outside the hospital room so you can leave whenever you need to.” To Tyler, Radar said, “Heal up, son. That’s your sole job.”
After he left, Decker blew out air. “You should probably get some sleep.”
“I’m too pissed to be tired. I was just starting to feel like I’m doing something positive and then . . .” He threw up his hands. “It’s like . . . why bother?”
Decker was about to give a pep talk, but changed his mind. He switched gears. “Why is he so keen on your going to law school?”
“Following in the old man’s way.”
“There’s more to it than that.”
“Yes, there is.” Silence. “I suppose I owe it to you to tell you what’s going on.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“That’s not true. Let me ask you this, Decker. That night . . . how long did it take you to realize that I might be in trouble?”
“I didn’t.” Decker felt sheepish. “Rina realized it moments after I made the 911 call.”
McAdams laughed. “Well, you’re honest.”
“I almost broke my shoulder for you if that counts.”
“Maybe a teensy bit. Remind me to send your wife a dozen roses.” The kid tried to shift his position, but his leg was in traction.
“You need help?” Decker asked.
“No, I’m okay.” Tyler said, “My father’s right about one thing. I have been putzing around just to spite him.” He grimaced. “We both can’t fully inherit until I finish Harvard Law. Neither can Harvard Law. My grandfather left a shitload of money to them with the proviso that they take me and I graduate. Needless to say I could sit on my ass drooling for three years and I’d still matriculate. To prevent that, Grandpa stipulated that I have to pass three bars—New York, California, and Massachusetts. So I do actually have to learn something. We get a chunk when I enroll, another chunk when I graduate, and the final chunk wh
en I pass all the bars. And until I do, both Dad and I are on a generous but fixed income. I don’t care. But he does.”
Decker raised his eyebrows. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow.”
“Are you under a time pressure to accomplish all this?”
“I have until thirty to enter school. Then I have another ten years to pass all the bars. It’s not a problem. I’ve always been an excellent test taker. I’m not worried about passing or anything. I’m just procrastinating.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Of course, I’m going to go. I’m not self-destructive. I can’t figure out what I’m waiting for other than spite and even that’s worn off.”
“I suppose you’ll do it when you’re ready.”
“You know if I die, Dad gets his share, the school’s share, and my share, so I guess it’s to his credit that he hasn’t bumped me off.”
“Tyler—”
“We should find out if he’s rented out any silver Hyundai vans.” The kid shook his head. “I’ll go this August.” He looked lost in thought. “The department will be happy to get rid of me. I know I’ve been a pain in the ass.”
Decker didn’t deny it. But he didn’t confirm it either. “Tyler, if your father’s inheritance depends on you, why do you let him talk to you that way?”
The kid shrugged. “It’s unseemly to bring it up every time I have it out with my father—which is all the time. It’s dirty fighting.”
“Good for you. You’re a better man than I.”
“I suppose deep down I’m hoping for some kind of relationship after I’ve come through with the goods.” He looked upward. “Of course, he may blow me off anyway. I’m prepared for that. But I don’t want to give him ammunition. Can you change the subject?”
“How are you feeling?” Decker asked.
“I have a several tubes in my arm, a tube up my dick, I’m nauseated, and I can’t move. I hurt almost everywhere and the few places I don’t hurt, I’m plain sore. But other than that, I’m perfect.” He forced a smile. “I believe it was you who said no whining? Something about no one wants to hear me bitch?”
Decker changed the subject. “I have an assignment for you if you want it.”
“Thanks for the sympathy.” The kid looked up. “What?”
“Are you able to use your iPad?”
“Yeah, of course. First of all, I’m right-handed and I got hit on the left side. Second, both my hands are fine. What do you need?”
“Once you’re out of here, I still want you looking through the libraries for pilfered items.”
“Why? The case is obviously beyond a stolen book or a few stolen antique maps.”
“If Moreau and Latham were improvising with their own petty thefts, they had to fence their wares somewhere. We both saw the books and the maps in Goddard’s gallery. Not unusual for him to have things like that, but if we could find him holding stolen goods, we’d at least have a connection.”
“I would think he’d want to chuck anything that would tie him to them.”
“When it comes to chucking valuable things, people are funny. That’s why we find things like bloody clothes, bloody shoes, and murder weapons. Not to mention photographs and texts and phone numbers in cells. People don’t cover their tracks that well. And even when they do, they slip up. We need to check as many angles as we can think of. Are you in or out?”
“I’m in.” A beat. “Only because you’re still using the pronoun ‘we.’ ”
“Of course it’s a ‘we.’ ”
The kid gave a genuine smile. “I’m up to it.”
“I’d also like Rina to come sit with you. I’ll have an armed cop watch both of you. And she can help. She also knows how to shoot.” A pause. “You’ll all have to go together to the restroom.”
“She’s already seen me with a catheter. I’m beyond embarrassment. I’ll gladly do whatever you need. You might as well exploit me while you can.”
Decker patted the kid’s arm, and then he slumped in his chair. “We both could use some rest.”
“Go home.”
“Not a chance.”
“I could probably get a cot in the room if you want.”
“Don’t bother.” Decker took off his shoes and put his feet up on the end of the hospital bed. “I’ll just doze in the chair.”
“As soon as I’m up and about, I want to learn how to shoot a gun.”
“You don’t have to wait. I can take you to the range while you’re still in a wheelchair. We all could use a little brushing up.”
“Does the ‘we’ include your buddy?”
“I’m sure he hasn’t been to the range since he retired. So, yes, it probably does include Oliver.”
“Oliver is the last name, right?”
“Yes. His name is Scott Oliver.” Decker closed his eyes. Within a minute, he started drifting off until Tyler’s voice woke him up.
“What’s he like? Oliver.”
“He’s got a wicked sense of humor and dresses like a dandy.” Decker yawned. “He loves good clothes. It’s his weakness. He’s always looking for sales and outlets.”
“The GQ cop.”
“The GQ cop with a cop’s IQ. You two have a lot in common.”
“Like what? I don’t care about clothes.”
“No, not the threads.” Decker stretched out. “You’ve both got the fire.” He closed his tired eyes. “You both want to feel useful again.”
CHAPTER 26
RETIREMENT HADN’T TREATED Scott Oliver kindly. He had gone soft around the middle and walked stoop-shouldered with a drawn face. His once dark hair was almost white. It dawned on Rina that he’d probably been rinsing it for a while. Even his clothes reflected a defeatist attitude—all function with little flair that once was his trademark. The only glimmer of the former detective was the twinkle in his brown eyes when he presented Rina with a gift pack of three expensive kosher wines.
“Might be hard getting these out in the boonies.”
“How thoughtful of you, Scott.” Rina gave him a peck on the cheek. “No trouble finding the place?”
“I may be fading but I still know how to read a GPS.” He set down his suitcase and took off his hat, his scarf, his gloves, and his jacket. “Where’s Deck? Working on a Sunday? Like I need to ask.”
“He’s making up for the days he lost tending to Tyler in the hospital.”
“Makes total sense. Deck did it right, you know. Getting a change of scenery but refusing to pack it in.”
“The move has its pluses but a few minuses . . . starting with the temperature outside.” She pointed to his jacket and accoutrements. “Can I hang those up?”
“I’m not a guest, I’m hired help.”
“Of course you’re a guest.”
“Rina, I don’t want to be a guest. Think of me as old Oliver. Well, not old Oliver.”
“The Oliver formerly known as Detective Oliver,” Rina said.
He laughed. “Just show me where I’m staying and I’ll make myself comfortable.”
“Down the hallway, first door to the right. How about some tea or coffee?”
“Normally, I’d say coffee but I’m so cold, tea sounds great.”
“Do you want me to turn up the heat?”
“No, I’ll be fine. Which door? I really need to do something, Rina. I’m going nuts.”
“First on your right. Tyler’s staying across from you.”
“Yeah, how’s the kid doing?”
“Grumpy, but that’s to be expected. How’s your arm doing?”
“Stiff . . . especially in the cold.” He rubbed his arms, and then lifted the handle on his suitcase. “I’ll just settle in.” A pause. “The Loo said it was your idea to call me.”
“The case has jumped from puzzling to dangerous. He needs som
eone with experience.”
“Thanks for thinking of me, Rina. I’m happy you did.”
“You’re welcome. There are clean towels on the bed. You have your own private half bath, but you’re going to have to share the shower with Tyler.”
“No problem for me, can’t talk for the blueblood.” He went to his room and closed the door.
Rina started the kettle for the tea. A minute later, she heard Tyler’s wheelchair rolling down the hallway. He came into the kitchen with a scowl on his face. “The enemy has landed.”
“Tea?”
“Sure.” He wheeled himself to the kitchen table. “How’s he doing?”
“He looks tired.”
“So now I have to deal with two codgers.”
“Two experienced homicide detectives, you mean?”
McAdams smiled. “At least it’s not Dad.” He sighed. “I assume Decker told you?”
“It’s all over the precinct. Your dad’s mouth has taken on legendary proportions.”
“Man oh man oh man.” He rolled his eyes. “So between getting shot and his charming personality have I garnered enough support for the sympathy vote?”
“Apparently not because Peter is putting you back to work.” When Tyler perked up, she said, “He wants us to start going through the reference library books tomorrow.”
“Yeah, right. Busy work.”
“Which is 90 percent of detective work.” She mussed his hair. “You know, I got a call from the provost of the college. He’s not happy about our having an armed guard with us. I reminded him that one of his students was murdered and the case is still unsolved.”
“So what did he say?”
“Not much . . . a little bluster followed by a lot of BS. But he didn’t say no, so you and I have a date with some musty old books.”
“Best offer I’ve had in a year.”
The front door opened and Rina pulled out a drawer and extracted a revolver. Tyler’s eyes went wide. She put her finger to her lips.
“Hello?”
Peter’s voice. Rina stowed the gun back in the drawer and shouted, “In the kitchen.”
Murder 101: A Decker/Lazarus Novel (Decker/Lazarus Novels Book 22) Page 27