“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say like a guilty perp in interrogation. I suppose it is the worst kept secret in Galilee. The only people who aren’t privy to the knowledge are Justin and Rebecca. Too close to it, I guess.
“I apologize,” Grace says, shaking her head. “I fear my years of isolation have made me feral. I forget how to act in polite society. Let me try this again.” She smiles. “How is Justin these days? Well, I hope.”
“He’s wonderful.”
“Love does that to a person, I suppose. I received the wedding invitation two months ago. It was very sweet of him to invite me. To the engagement party as well.” She sips her drink. “And what is the bride-to-be like? I understand she’s a doctor.”
“Pediatric surgeon. And she’s…perfect. Sweet, smart, incredibly beautiful. She has a daughter, as well.”
“Does she?” Grace asks, surprised. “Huh. Then Justin has found exactly what he’s always wanted.”
“What’s that?”
“A family. An instant family to welcome him in. To never be alone again.”
“I never thought of it like that.” I scoff. “I guess you’re right.”
“You only knew him after his father died,” she says to make me feel better. “They were very close. His mother passed when he was so young. All they had was each other all alone in that big house. I remember Mr. Pendergast would take him out of school to go fishing on a whim. I always envied that. My father barely acknowledged my presence. The only thing a girl was good for was marrying well. At least he died before he could see that dream fail.”
“That’s a little fatalistic,” I say. “I’m sure there’s a dozen men who—”
She waves her hand. “That part of my life is over,” she says. “I’ve actually come to enjoy solitude. I don’t have to spend hours getting ready just to go outdoors. I don’t spend thousands a month on trivial things like my nails. No more small talk or gossip. It’s actually very liberating.”
“Never pegged you for the hermit life,” I say with a smile.
“I’m not. My priorities just changed. I volunteer three times a week at the battered woman’s shelter, among other places. After my…experience, everything about my life seemed so shallow. It was such a wake-up call.”
“Well, I’m glad something good came out of it.”
“As am I,” she says. “But we aren’t here to reminisce, and I’m sure you’re eager to get back to work.” She takes a sip of her drink. “I’ll bet you were surprised to hear from me, especially after my little rant.”
“Yes. I heard you refused to be re-interviewed when we called this morning.”
“Understandably I was in shock. I thought that ordeal was behind me, and then I wake up in the middle of the night to find it’s not. Then shock turned to fear, which turned to anger. That’s when the other detectives approached me, and I called that silly press conference.” She shakes her head at the memory. “I sounded like a lunatic.”
“No, you didn’t,” I say. “You did a better job than I did.”
“That’s why I called, you know,” she says. “I’ve been watching the news coverage all day. All those talking heads. The mayor. Commissioner. That idiot warden. All swearing to capture James, bring him to justice and all. You were the only one I believed.”
“Thank you. I meant it.”
She nods in reverence. Twenty years I’ve been around these people, the rich, privileged, and snotty as hell, but this is the first time any one of them has shown me the slightest hint of respect.
Grace downs the rest of her scotch. “Okay, I think I’m ready to answer all your questions now. Ask away.”
“In the three years since his incarceration has he contacted you?”
“Not personally since the trial. The day of his conviction I did receive a letter.”
“What did it say?”
“Nothing really. He professed his undying love. Said he didn’t blame me for testifying. I turned it over to the police.”
“Nothing since?”
“Not really. I do receive a bouquet of pink roses on my birthday from him. I hired a private investigator to track the payment, but he had no luck. I pulled the file of his findings. It’s over by the door.”
“Thank you.” I jot that down. “That’s it? The only contact?”
“Nothing else, thank goodness. I can only hope that he’s forgotten about me. Moved onto his next obsession.”
“How did you two meet?”
“Chad, of all people. Caldwell Inc. was working with one of James’ legitimate businesses on some project. Chad invited him over for drinks, and I just happened to be there.” She scoffs. “He told me later it was love at first sight.”
“How did he act with you at first?”
“Cordial. A little flirty, but nothing overt. Then he started showing up everywhere. At my gym. Outside my charity meetings. Even at the opera. We’d chat, nothing more. I didn’t really think anything of it until a month later.”
“What happened?”
“I was ‘mugged,’” she says, doing the quotation marks with her fingers. “James just happened to be strolling by to rescue me. He, of course, set the entire thing up, not that I would find that out until it was too late. I invited him up to this apartment to wait for the police. I’ll admit I was shaken, and I let him kiss me, but I never slept with him, despite what his attorney insinuated.
“After I came to my senses, I pushed him away and he grew…angry. He told me he loved me, and I ordered him to leave. He actually apologized, and left. The next day I received a necklace. And the next day, matching earrings. I called James and told him to stop. That I was in love with Chad, and nothing would change that.
“The next night at the AIDS gala Alkaline showed up, as I’m sure Justin told you. It was…frightening. I’d never seen a supervillain in person before, at least not that I knew of. I feel like such an idiot now. I should have known. Seen the signs or something.”
“We didn’t know who he was then,” I offer.
“Still. Only a total ignoramus couldn’t have put two and two together.” She quickly grins. “Anyway, Alkaline zeroed in on me and Chad, attempted to kill poor Chad and to take me hostage, but thank God Justice showed up when he did.”
“But Alkaline got away,” I say.
“Even so, I was saved. At least that time.”
“What happened the night of the kidnapping?”
She hugs herself a little. “Do I really have to go through this again? Isn’t it all in a file somewhere?”
“Yes, but you might remember something new now. A forgotten detail that surfaces that could help. I wouldn’t ask otherwise.”
“I suppose.” She looks down at the floor and continues. “After the gala, Chad and I went to the Bahamas for a week to recover from the whole ordeal. We were back maybe two hours when three men broke in. They just kicked the door down and ran into Chad’s townhouse. We were in the living room, and they shot Chad on sight right through the head. The blood…” She closes her eyes. “It was all over me. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t even scream. That’s when another man pointed what looked like another gun at me. But it was a Taser. Next thing I knew, I woke up in a windowless room.”
Those men were found the next day with two holes in their heads. A five million dollar ransom was demanded, but the kidnapper wasn’t forthcoming with his identity. James Ryder’s name popped up a few times, but he had disappeared as well. On paper, he seemed like a legitimate businessman with a crush. It was Justice who suggested that the gala and kidnapping were connected. Within three days, it was confirmed. James Ryder was Alkaline, the supervillain who ran Diablo’s Ward. With this revelation, the biggest manhunt in the city’s history was underway. The psycho made his first mistake in all his years. Love makes even the most methodical sloppy.
“James showed up hours later with my still packed suitcase. I begged him to let me go, but he refused. I spent the first few days curled up in a ball i
n bed almost catatonic. James would just open the door and check on me like a nurse does a patient. He’d say, ‘Everything will be alright, Grace. I promise,’ and he’d leave. Hunger finally got the best of me, and I left the bed to eat. Mind you, I only had the finest. All my favorites from the top restaurants. The room had a TV, books, all I could want. He knew all my tastes.
“I think it was the fifth day that I was allowed out of my room. We were underground somewhere, so there were no windows and most doors were locked. There were guards on duty at all times, but I could walk around. I had access to the living room, dining room, office, and kitchen, though the forks and knives were locked up.”
“He took you home,” I say.
“Yes. And he treated me like a guest. As best as I can figure, with hindsight mind you, he brought me there so I would fall in love with him. For us to get to know each other better. He believed that if I was alone with him, and we spent enough time together, I’d forget about Chad and love him instead. At the time I just knew to play along with whatever he wanted. We’d play chess or watch movies, and we’d always have dinner together.”
“Did he talk to you about his crimes? His accomplices?”
“Some. He spoke about his childhood in the Ward, coming into his power. I gave the names he mentioned and crimes when I was rescued. I haven’t been able to recall any others since.”
“What about places?”
“None,” she says sadly, “and since last night I’ve been trying. I want him caught as much as you do. Probably more.”
“That’s okay,” I say with a sympathetic smile. This is a waste of time. I’m not doing anything but torturing her now. I start to stand up, but she grows tense.
“You’re leaving?” she asks.
“I can get the rest of this from the case files. You don’t have to—”
“I want to,” she says. “I need to. I need you to hear it. So you can understand who you’re dealing with. So when he’s in your sights, you don’t hesitate.”
A chill fills the room spurred on by her voice. I sit again. “Okay.”
Grace’s gaze moves to the outside of her window. “I did my best to be a good prisoner. I was attentive when he’d drone on for hours about Justice and his crimes. I’d help him make dinner. And yes, I even let him kiss me on a few occasions. He actually believed I loved him after a week or two. But at night when I was locked back in my room, I’d cry myself to sleep. Every night.”
“What happened the day you escaped?”
“He’d just had the fight with Justice at the library.”
Ryder was at the library in a disguise, but a patron still recognized him and called the police. Justice got there first. It took a year before they could re-open it. Many said it was a miracle that the entire place didn’t collapse. If you look closely, you can see the patches they had to put in where the acid ate away the wall.
“He was so enraged, like nothing I had ever seen before. I can only equate it to demonic possession. He threw things, destroyed a chair, and…even killed one of the guards who tried to calm him down.” Tears glisten in her eyes. “His body…there was nothing left of his chest but blood and pulp. I ran screaming into my room, barricading the door with anything I could. I was so terrified, I huddled in the corner.
“Then perhaps five minutes later, as if nothing had happened, James knocked on my door. He apologized for the outburst, for scaring me, but I refused to open the door. After half an hour he pushed his way in, calm as could be. I couldn’t stop crying. He tried to smooth my hair, but I cringed. He asked if I still loved him, and…I lost it. I told him I hated him, thought he was worse than the devil. He told me he loved me. I spit in his face. That’s when he…you know.”
“Yes.”
“After it was over, he curled up into a ball beside me, whispering for forgiveness. I just got off the bed and walked out. He simply let me leave. I’ve spent many a sleepless night wondering why he did that. He had to know what I’d do.”
“Maybe he didn’t care,” I offer. “He knew that he’d lost you.” An image pops into my mind of Rebecca walking down the aisle toward Justin. My stomach momentarily knots up. Hell, I think I just sympathized with the devil.
“Perhaps,” Grace says.
Grace was spotted wandering down the street by a vendor, who immediately called the police. Within an hour Justice had Alkaline in custody. The villain didn’t even put up a fight.
“Do you think he’ll contact you?” I ask.
“I don’t know. It’s been years, I doubt I’m anything but a memory to him by now. At least I hope so.”
“He’s not stupid,” I say. “He’ll know we’re watching you closely. If you want it, we can have officers posted right outside your door.”
“I have Warren and Arnold,” she says, referring to her guards. “I’m more than confident in their abilities.”
“Well then,” I say, standing up again, “if you need anything else, just call me. If you think of anything else, or just need to talk…”
Grace stands as well, ushering me toward the door. “I will.” We reach the door, she hands me the file. I open the door. “You know…”
I stop and turn around. “What?”
“I never used to like you.”
“Huh?”
“I thought you were just some pathetic hanger-on maneuvering for a way out of the gutter. We all did.”
“I kind of figured that,” I say.
“But we were wrong, weren’t we? You’re genuinely in love with him. And he has no idea, does he?”
Sucker punch right into the gut. “He’s my best friend,” I say, the old stand-by.
She smiles sympathetically. “Can’t help who we fall in love with, can we? It has no rhyme, it has no reason. And it’s usually so fucking unfair.” She quietly scoffs. We stand in silence for a moment before her faux smiles returns. “Well, then. Will you please give Justin my best wishes? I doubt I’ll be attending the engagement party or the wedding. I hope he’ll understand.”
“Of course he will.”
“And good luck.” She starts closing the door. “You will need it.”
The door shuts in my face.
CHAPTER SIX
Tips
Alkaline’s been a busy boy today. He’s visited the zoo, every grocery store in the city, and apparently can now be found in the fifth plane of existence, whatever the hell that is. We received over two hundred fifty tips, and they all have to be logged. The ones that don’t involve inter-dimensional travel have to be investigated. Scut work, not my favorite thing. I’ve gotten through about twenty, most dismissed with a simple phone call.
The squad room is quiet now. All non-essential personnel were sent home to catch a few winks. I got mine last night, so I’m stuck here. Cam and Kowalski are in our now empty interview rooms reviewing the preliminary reports on the guards. Harry’s in his office with the door closed and the blinds drawn. Probably asleep at his desk.
“This is stupid,” Mirabelle says across the room from his desk. “I’ve been yelled at four times in a row for calling so late. It’s past midnight. Even Alkaline’s asleep right now.”
“That’s why we’re better than him. He rests, we don’t.”
“Maybe I’m in the wrong racket.”
“I really can’t picture you in a spandex costume, Mirabelle.”
A young uniformed officer walks in holding a piece of paper. “Um, ma’am?”
“Yes?” I ask.
“There’s a woman on the tip line who’s asking to speak to a detective. She’s pretty insistent.”
Ugh. “Fine. Transfer her.”
The officer walks back into the other room.
“You want me to take it?” Mirabelle asks.
The light on my phone blinks to let me know I have a call. “I got it.” I pick up the phone. “Det. Joanna Fallon.”
“Are you like in charge of the Alkaline case?” a young woman asks nervously.
“Yes,” I lie. �
�You say you have information? Can I get your name and telephone number, please?”
“Can’t this be, like, anonymous or something? I don’t want them to know it was me. They’ll, like, kill me.”
The certainty in her voice with those last words grabs my attention. I signal to Mirabelle, mouthing “trace the call.” He hops to. “That’s fine. What can you tell me?”
“It’s my boyfriend. Robbie. I think he’s in trouble. Like major trouble. And I’m like totally freaking out.”
“What’s his connection to Alkaline?”
“If I tell you, you have to promise you won’t arrest him, okay?”
“That’s not up to me, that’s up to the DA. But if his cooperation leads to Alkaline’s capture, the DA will take that into consideration.” The girl is quiet as she considers this. I’m going to lose her, so I add, “Miss, if your boyfriend is involved with Alkaline, then he is in grave danger. This is a man who could very easily kill Robbie just so he won’t talk. You as well.”
She waits a moment before saying, “I think Robbie is making a driver’s license and passport for Alkaline. I saw him printing one with Alkaline’s picture on it. He doesn’t know I saw it.”
Yes! Yes! A legitimate break. Finally. I’m so happy, I could cry. I smile at Mirabelle, who has been listening to my every word. “What’s Robbie’s last name?”
“Munoz. I’m not saying anything else. I gotta go.” She hangs up before I can ask another question. I sigh. “Crap.”
Mirabelle listens into his phone for a moment, and then hangs up. “Call came from a payphone on McFarlane. The Ward.”
“Is the name ‘Robbie Munoz’ familiar to you?” I ask Mirabelle. “Counterfeiter?”
“Munoz? Yeah. We had him in today. He was Luis Rivas’ old apprentice. You know, the documents guy Alkaline offed? Weren’t you the first responder on that one?”
“Yeah.” I get up to retrieve the file on the interview today. Mirabelle helps me with the other box. I think we set a new record for number of interviews in one day with not a damn thing to show for it. Munoz is about a third of the way through. I open the file. Munoz swore up and down he had nothing to do with Alkaline and wouldn’t, even if asked.
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