She took out a pack of Marlboro’s and a lighter, shook one from the pack and popped it into her mouth. “And,” she lit the thing, “she wouldn’t think twice about stringing him up.” She blew out a huge cloud.
“I don’t really allow smoking in here.”
“And I appreciate you bending the rules for me.” She blew out another puff.
“I didn’t mean…”
“And another thing, I’ll bet if you look into her financial records you’ll find enough discrepancies for a motive right there. I’ll bet she’s been ripping him off for years.”
She blew another giant cloud in his direction and looked around for an ashtray. There was a candy dish on the desk presently void of goodies. She pushed the cigarette into the dish only partially putting it out. Then she got up and walked over to his chair, sitting on the edge of the desk, very close to Lowell.
“Maybe together we could get her,” she leaned over and whispered in his ear.
The intercom buzzed.
Lowell grabbed it. “Yes, what?”
“Max is on line one,” said Sarah, “but I told him you were tied up and…”
“Thank you, I’ll talk to him. I’m sorry, I’ve got to take this call,” he told Tracy.
She sat back in her chair.
“Uh, I really need some privacy here.”
She didn’t stir.
He picked up the phone. “Hello, Max, what can I do for you?”
“I’ve got a client’s chart I’d like you to look at for me,” said the acupuncturist.
“Okay, what are the birth information and the symptoms?”
Lowell took down the information and promised to call back with his diagnosis. Then he hung up. He looked over at his guest.
“Tracy, what do you want from me?”
“I want you to get her for killing my Freddie.” She began to take another cigarette from her pack.
He shook his head and she pushed it back in.
He stood up and walked around the desk, took her by the arm and gently, but forcefully, walked her to the door.
“I tell you what, let me look into a few things and I promise I’ll call you personally once I know something.”
She was not happy with the results of her visit, but his grip was firm and his voice unbending, so she acquiesced. She was used to getting her way and not accustomed to having her sexuality ignored. She didn’t like it.
Chapter Twenty-six
For the tenth day that month the temperature topped ninety degrees. Global warming was the smelly, sweaty, elephant in the room in almost every conversation in the city.
Lowell and Vivian left Lowell’s office and would have taken a walk but for the oppressive environment. They were about to get into the limousine, ever present with Andy at the wheel waiting, when a blue Chevy pulled up and the back door opened. Skinny Jimmy came out, gun in hand.
“Get in the limo, both of ya.” He aimed the gun directly at Vivian.
Lowell thought about disarming him, but he couldn’t risk Vivian’s safety, so he followed the man’s orders.
The man sat at the desk chair in front of the computer. “You two sit over there.” He pointed to the leather seat. When they were all seated in Lowell’s car Jimmy said: “Tell your driver not to try any funny stuff or I’ll waste the broad right here.”
“Broad?” said Vivian.
“Where do you want to go?” asked Lowell.
“I’ll let you know. Just tell him to head out the Long Island Expressway and I’ll tell you the exit later.”
Lowell picked up the phone. “Andy, we’ve got a situation back here.”
“I know, I saw him follow you in. Want me to do anything?”
“No, just do what he says to the letter, understand?”
“Sure. Uh, Boss,” Andy said softly, “are we on speaker?”
“No.”
“We got a tail, a blue Chevy. And I think, maybe a second car as well.”
“I understand. Just follow his instructions and head toward the L.I.E. Take the tunnel.”
“No you don’t,” said Jimmy, “take the Triboro Bridge.”
“Take the bridge,” Lowell repeated into the phone.
“And no funny business.” Jimmy waved the gun in Lowell’s face.
“Would you mind putting that thing down?” asked Vivian. “We’re not going to do anything.”
“Just shut up and sit there.”
“Want to tell me what this is all about?” asked Lowell.
“Just shut up. You’ll find out soon enough.”
They rode in silence for about fifteen minutes.
“I’m thirsty,” said Vivian.
“You mind if I get her a bottle of water?”
“Yeah, just don’t try anything,” replied Jimmy. “I know all about you.”
“What does he mean?” asked Vivian.
“I believe I’ve met this gentleman’s associates recently in Soho, if I’m not mistaken.”
Lowell opened the refrigerator, took out a bottle of water and handed it to Vivian.
“You want one?” he asked Jimmy.
“No, I don’t want nothin’ except that you keep your mouth shut.”
Traffic was awful. They drove bumper to bumper at speeds ranging from ten miles an hour to seventy, yet always with the cars no more than a few feet behind each other.
After about an hour Jimmy said: “Tell him to get off at exit sixty-eight and then make a left.”
“If we could just talk about this,” said Lowell, “I’m sure we can come to some understanding.”
“We’ll come to an understanding, all right. You’ll understand just fine in a little while.”
Lowell picked up the phone and slowly repeated the instructions to Andy. His eye was on the astrolabe. The Moon was just about to go void of course, a time when the energy is disconnected and things often go awry. If he was going to get the chance this would be the time. He had noticed the gunman flex his fingers on the barrel of the gun a few times in recent moments. He would likely want to switch hands soon.
Jimmy obliged, and before his grasp on the barrel was tight, Lowell brought the phone down hard on both of the gunman’s hands.
The gun dropped and landed on the floor near Vivian’s feet. Jimmy leaned over to get it. Lowell put his left hand under Jimmy’s shoulder, pushed up, grabbed his right forearm and twisted it down until Jimmy literally was lifted from his seat.
“Hey, cut it out, will ya?” he shouted.
Vivian leaned over and punched him in the jaw. His head hit the glass partition and out he went.
“Broad, huh? I’ll show you who’s a broad.”
“That’s a hell of a left,” said Lowell.
“Girl’s boxing champion, Catholic School’s regional, three years running. Those nuns know how to fight.”
Vivian picked up the gun and handed it to Lowell. “Now what?”
“We still have to find out what this is all about.”
He removed the clip from the gun, checked the chamber, and put it in his pocket. Then he picked up the phone. “Andy, all under control back here. Can we lose the tail?”
“Sorry boss, there’s no place to go. It’s just one long straight line. And I’ve got a car on either side boxing me in.”
“Okay, just keep rolling and don’t stop no matter what.”
“Gotcha boss. But we’re not far from exit sixty-eight.”
“I understand.”
Lowell hung up the phone and thought for a minute.
“I’ve got an idea.” He turned the dials at the control panel. “Just play along with me.”
“Okay,” replied the actress, ready to get into character. “Where are we?”
“Connecticut.”
He turned the knob on the scenario machine until a New England moonlight oceanscape came into vision. He took the cell phone from Jimmy’s jacket and put it in his own. Then he adjusted the watch on Jimmy’s arm. He turned off the screen on his computer, tied his
would-be kidnapper’s hands together in front and, when he was satisfied that the stage was set, threw some water into Jimmy’s face.
It took a few seconds for him to come around. “Where am I?”
“You’re in my limousine. What’s your name?”
“Jimmy.”
“Jimmy what?”
“None of your business. Jesus, what did you hit me with?”
“I didn’t hit you, she did.”
“Hey,” he put his bound hands on a bump on his head, “lighten up lady.” He looked out the window. “Where the fuck are we?”
“Connecticut.”
“What the fuck? Connecticut, are you crazy? How long was I out?”
He looked at his watch and cursed. Then he tried to look out the back of the car, but the rear window was darkened.
“Don’t bother. We lost your companions hours ago. Nobody knows where you are. You’re all alone now.”
“Yeah, well fuck you. Wait till my uncle finds out what you did. Kidnapping’s against the law.”
“And what were you doing to us?” asked Vivian.
“Aw, I was just taking you out to the Island, that’s all. I wasn’t gonna hurt you. This is crossing state lines, fercrisake. That’s a federal offense, ain’t it?”
“Only if you’re under eighteen,” replied Lowell. “Who’s your uncle?”
“None of your business.” The fear showed quite clearly on his face. “But you’ll find out soon enough.”
“Listen, buddy,” Vivian put on her act, “you’re on your own now. Nobody is going to come to your rescue. You’ve got one chance to level with us or we’ll put you somewhere they’ll never find you.”
“You’re not gonna kill me,” said Jimmy, assuredly.
“Really, and why not?” asked Vivian. “You were willing to kill us.”
He turned to Lowell. “Keep her away from me, will ya? She’s crazy.”
“Is she right?”
“Aw, I wasn’t going to hurt you. I just wanted you out of the way for a while, that’s all.”
“Yeah right,” said Vivian. “No funny stuff or I’ll waste the broad right here. Isn’t that what you said?”
“You don’t got to take everything so literal, do ya?”
“What do you want with us?” Lowell took the gun from his pocket and waved it in Jimmy’s face.
“I ain’t talking.”
“Okay,” Lowell turned to Vivian, “we’ll be near that little town I mentioned. We can dump him there.”
“Okay with me.”
“Hey,” said Jimmy, “you’re a broad. You ain’t supposed to think like that.”
“Really? You kidnap us, you threaten us with a gun, and you probably murdered my father. Why wouldn’t I want to bump you off, as you would say?”
“What? Murdered you father? I never killed nobody. I don’t even know who your father is.”
“My father is, was, Freddie Finger.”
“Oh, him. I had nothing to do with that, I swear to you. I didn’t kill him. I didn’t kill nobody.”
“So who did?” asked Lowell.
“I don’t know.” Jimmy was near tears. “I don’t know nothin’ about any murders.”
“I don’t know if I believe you.” A thought came to Lowell. “Do you own a crimson sweatshirt with a hood?”
“No, why?”
“It’s not important. And you had us attacked downtown.”
“I was just tryin’ to scare you. You didn’t have to go all ape shit on us. Christ, you put Leo in the hospital. And one guy’s shoulder ain’t never gonna be the same.”
The phone rang.
“Boss,” said Andy, “we passed exit sixty-eight and the two cars are trying to box us in. What do you want me to do? There’s a small rest area in three miles, and it looks like they’re going to force us into it, unless you want me to speed up.”
“Go ahead and stop there, we can dump the body. Just be ready to leave immediately.”
“I understand.”
Lowell took the gun and put it next to Jimmy’s temple. “I want to know who killed Freddie.”
“I don’t know.” Sweat starting to bead on his forehead.
“I’ll count to three. One…”
“I swear I don’t know.”
“Two…”
“You got to believe me, I don’t know!”
“Three.” And he pulled the trigger.
“Ahhh!” shouted Jimmy, when he heard the clicking sound. But nothing happened. There was no bullet in the chamber. He sat back in the seat breathing heavily.
The blue Chevy had come along side the limo. There was a black Toyota directly behind. Andy didn’t have much of a choice but to pull into the rest area. He weaved over to the right and took the ramp. The Chevy had pulled in front and the Toyota remained in back. Once they were off the highway the Chevy stopped, forcing Andy to do the same.
Two men exited the car, both holding guns. The rest area was deserted, except for a lone trucker apparently asleep in his cabin.
As soon as the car stopped Lowell opened the door. “Get out.”
“What? Here? What the fuck am I going to do in Connecticut? You can’t leave me here.”
Lowell waved the gun in his face. “Get out!”
Jimmy did as he was told.
When he exited the car and saw his surrounding he was too confused to act for several moments. The two gunmen seeing Jimmy holstered their weapons and were walking over to where he was.
Lowell pulled the door shut, and Andy slammed on the gas, ramming the Chevy in front with the limo’s reinforced steel bumpers and pushing it into a pole and out of his way. He drove the limo around it and was back on the highway before anyone could react.
The Toyota gave chase, but ate dust. Jimmy and the two gunmen jumped into the Chevy, but the car was useless.
Jimmy grabbed a cell phone from one of the two men and punched in a number.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Lowell called Lieutenant Roland and told him about their encounter. He and Vivian went to the precinct and looked through some mug shots, but they couldn’t find their assailant. All they knew about him was that his name was Jimmy, and he had an uncle. He dropped Vivian at her hotel and went back to the office.
***
Lowell was at his desk when the intercom buzzed. “Yes, Sarah?”
“Melinda’s here.”
“Send her in.”
The door opened and a tall woman with long chestnut hair, dressed in a blue pinstriped skirt suit entered. At five foot eleven she towered over Lowell. She walked over to his desk and kissed him on the cheek. “Hi, dad. Just wanted you to know I’m in town.”
“I’m glad you’re back. How was Texas?”
“Hot, but not as bad as here! How is your case going?”
He told her about the attempted kidnapping.
“Are you alright? Why would someone try to kidnap you?”
“I don’t know. I must be getting close to something.” Lowell tugged on his ponytail and shrugged. “This is a difficult case. Not too many people liked Freddie Finger, and I’ve got more suspects than I know what to do with. And there is a large sum of money involved, but it’s unclear who stands to benefit the most.”
“Nobody stands out?”
He shook his head. “Not really. Although the comparative charts show plenty of animosity between Freddie and many of his people, there isn’t a chart that points directly toward any one of them.” He pushed a button on the intercom. “Let me get Mort in here.” He looked at his daughter. “You look tired. I think that law firm is running you ragged.”
“I’m okay, just a little jetlag.”
There was a brief knock, and then Mort entered. “Melinda, what a pleasant surprise. How was your trip?”
“It was okay. A bit tiring, but that’s what you get when you’re low man on the totem pole.” Melinda sat in a client’s chair. “Dad, can you fill me in quickly?”
Lowell told her about the case
and his plethora of suspects. “I think it’s time to work the composite charts. I’m not getting anywhere with the individuals. Do you remember what I taught you about composites?” Melinda was his prize astrology student.
His daughter nodded. “Oh yes. You were quite adamant about their uses”
Mort tilted his head. “Composite charts?”
Lowell sat back in his chair. “The chart of a relationship between two people can be quite different from either individual’s energy. There are several different horoscopes I look at including the composite chart, which is made up of the midpoints between all the planets in two people’s natal charts. It shows the nature of the relationship and how the two will react together.”
Mort thought about it. “Interesting, but how will that help you with this case?”
“Have you ever had a friend who starts to date someone, and their personality changes? You may still enjoy that friend’s company alone, but not when they are together. A separate entity now exists, we call the relationship. You and Melinda may act one way when you are separate, but once you interact, that third creature now has a voice. And you may react to things differently than you normally would. If Freddie’s death was the result of several people’s actions, I may have to see it in the composite charts to truly understand the dynamics of how those people interact.”
Lowell stood up and walked to the window. “Mort, what have you got for me?”
“Well, this may or may not be much, but I discovered something about the Mrs. Fingers numbers two and three that you may find useful. Did you know that while the two of them are outwardly fighting and suing each other, they have quietly put together an Internet business to sell Freddie’s things?”
Lowell smiled widely. “How interesting. Maybe they aren’t quite the enemies they pretend to be. Any luck finding the real birth information for the second Mrs. Finger?”
“I believe I have. According to the class records at Great Neck High School, Tracy Finger was born Evelyn Goodman. Luckily it was a local birth and easy to track down. She was brought into this world at North Shore Hospital on October 21, 1973.”
“At least she had been honest about the day. Well done. How about the time?”
Death in the 12th House Page 14