Dolly stared into his eyes for a moment, then nodded her head. ‘Becky, I’m stepping out for a moment. But I’ll be close by. You need me, you call me. OK?’
Becky nodded without looking up.
‘Have a seat, Becky,’ Jake urged.
The teenager slid back into the chair and refocused her gaze on the table’s surface.
‘Becky, maybe I’m wrong, but it seemed like you were more concerned about speaking in front of your mother than you are about talking to me.’
‘Because I know she’ll tell Mr O’Hara. Actually, Mom is a big gossip. Everyone would know before we got back in the car.’
‘You sound very critical of your mother.’
Becky sighed. ‘I won’t lie. I like listening to her dish it out most of the time. This is just different. I couldn’t bear to have her talking bad about Dylan.’
‘You’ve got to tell me, Becky.’
‘I bet you’ll tell Mr O’Hara, too.’
‘So what if I do? Mr O’Hara has a right to know why his son died. His heart is broken, Becky. He needs answers.’
A long moment of silence stretched between them. At last, Becky looked up. ‘More than anything, he didn’t want his father to know.’
‘What horrible thing could Dylan have done?’
‘He didn’t think his dad would ever speak to him again.’
‘What did he do, Becky?’
‘It wasn’t what he did. It was who he was.’
Jake knew where the conversation was leading but acted as if he didn’t. ‘What do you mean by that?’
‘Dylan wanted it to be different. He wanted to be like everyone else. I tried to help him. One night, I completely undressed, hoping it would turn him on. But, nothing . . .’
‘Becky, are you saying that Dylan committed suicide because he was gay?’
‘It was more like he did it because he didn’t want anyone to know he was gay.’ Becky shuddered. ‘I can’t believe I broke my word. I hope he doesn’t know it. I know you have to tell Mr O’Hara but please try to make him understand. Please don’t let him hate Dylan.’
‘I’ll do the best I can, Becky. And I think you need to explain everything to your mother. She’s very worried. Put her mind at ease. And give her some credit – she does know some things are not meant to be the subject of gossip.’
Becky nodded her head.
Jake opened the door and waved Dolly back inside to her daughter. Then he trudged down the hall to the room where Seth O’Hara waited. He wasn’t quite sure how to approach Seth. Was the man before him biased against gay men? Or was it worse – did he harbor hatred toward homosexuals? Or did Dylan shortchange his dad? Was Seth just a father who would, no matter how he felt about the issue, continue to love and support his son?
‘Am I going to be arrested on an assault charge?’ Seth asked.
‘Only if Todd Childress files a complaint. I am going to talk to him and his father after I talk to you. Depending on how things go in here, it’s possible that those charges will be dropped.’
Seth shook his head. ‘What do you mean “depending on how things go in here?” What’s happening?’
Jake laid one hand on the back of the other and leaned over the table. ‘Seth, I know why and how your son died.’
‘Did Todd confess?’
‘In a manner of speaking, yes. But he did not confess to murder. He told me what happened between him and your son Dylan – an encounter that led to your son’s suicide.’
‘There you go again – just like the rest of them.’
‘No, Mr O’Hara, that’s where you are wrong. The rest of them told you it was suicide but could offer no reason. I know exactly what drove Dylan to that ultimate act – but I’m not sure how you’re going to take it.’
‘Are you going to tell me the truth?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Then I’ll take it just fine. Shoot,’ Seth said as he folded his arms across his chest and stared straight on at Jake.
‘Mr O’Hara, did you have any suspicions that Dylan was gay?’
‘My son, gay? Of course not. I’m not gay. My son’s not gay. End of story.’
‘You know, sir, that it doesn’t work that way. Heterosexual couples do have homosexual children.’
‘Not my son,’ Seth insisted, shaking his head in denial.
‘Yes, Mr O’Hara. I have it from a very reliable source.’
‘Oh, the deputy’s brat. The little Childress faggot. He told you my son was gay, didn’t he? And you bought it.’
Jake closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Todd Childress did tell me of an incident in the shower in the locker room . . .’
‘Nothing but a sexual fantasy by the Childress boy. It has nothing to do with my Dylan.’
‘It was confirmed by someone close to Dylan, Mr O’Hara. Someone who did not want to tell me because of a promise made to your son. She swore she’d never tell his secret.’
Jake and Seth were interrupted by a knock on the door. ‘Agent Lovett, sorry to interrupt but Mrs O’Hara insisted that I let you know she’s here.’
‘Why don’t you escort her down here?’ Jake said. A moment later, Martha sat by her husband and took one of his hands in her own. She listened carefully as Jake repeated what he’d told Seth.
‘I see,’ she said and sat quietly for a moment. ‘Becky Carpenter must have been who told you.’
Jake didn’t respond.
‘It had to be,’ she said. ‘He wasn’t close to anyone else.’ She turned to her husband. ‘Seth, you never suspected?’
‘That our son was gay? Of course not,’ he said, pulling back his hand.
‘I’ve thought about it many times. His only close friend was a girl, but there didn’t seem to be any fire between them. He never dated. I never wanted to say anything – what if I was wrong? It could be traumatic for him. I thought he’d tell me when he was ready.’
‘Are you serious, Martha?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, Seth. But it wouldn’t have mattered, would it? He would have still been our son. I know I would have still loved him. Wouldn’t you, Seth? Wouldn’t you?’
‘He was my son, Martha. I can’t believe you needed to ask.’
‘Well, Seth, sometimes your language about gay people . . .’
‘I didn’t mean anything by it, Martha. I wouldn’t have said anything if I’d known or even ever had a question in my mind.’
Martha turned to Jake. ‘May we go now, Agent Lovett?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I may need to arrest your husband on assault charges at some point – but maybe not. In the meantime, there is no reason why you two can’t go home.’
‘Thank you. I’m going to try to arrange the funeral for the day after tomorrow. I’ll let you know when it’s definite.’
‘Thank you, Mrs O’Hara, Mr O’Hara.’ Jake stood in the hall and watched as the slumped and defeated couple made their way down the hall. Now he needed to use all his powers of persuasion to get Seth out of the mess he’d created.
FORTY-TWO
Back at the justice center, Lucinda made a beeline to the research office, where she found Lara working at her computer. ‘Quivey, I need your help.’
‘That’s why I’m here,’ Lara said with a smile.
‘I need you to look back at 1977 to 1978 for any crimes involving anyone who attended or worked at Livingston High School.’
‘Any crime? Even shoplifting or traffic violations?’
‘No. Not now. Look for felonies. Suspected felonies. Anything that could possibly have any connection to Teresa “Tess” Scott Middleton.’
‘You got it. I’ll send you a report as soon as I have anything.’
‘Thank you, Lara. I owe you.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ Lara said with a chuckle. ‘You sure do.’
Lucinda stopped next at the lab where she was intercepted by Dr Audrey Ringo. Her bright orange-red hair battled for dominance with her turquoise outfit. With her white lab coat hanging on th
e peg, she was a solid blue-green from the neckline of her dress to the shoes on her feet. Without anything to break up the color, Audrey looked as straight up and down as one of those foam pool noodles people play with when they’re swimming.
‘Lieutenant,’ Audrey said. ‘When are you going back under the knife to take care of those scars on your face?’
‘Soon, Audrey,’ she said with a sigh.
‘As I am sure you know, I had surgery last year,’ Audrey said, referring to her mastectomy. ‘I tried to keep it secret but this place is like a harem of old gossiping women.’
‘I would think, Audrey, that you would understand my desire to keep the matter of my facial reconstruction private.’
‘Not the same, Lieutenant. The results of my procedure are hidden. Yours are out there for everyone to see. They talk about it constantly, wondering about it obsessively. I suspect there’s even a pool betting on when you’ll take the plunge again.’
‘Audrey, you and I both know that is not true. No one – but you – cares. My medical procedures are too boring for anyone else to contemplate. So cut the crap.’ Lucinda gritted her teeth. She knew that Audrey was a brilliant forensic scientist but realized that she was a miserable human being at times, seeming to thrive by creating discomfort in the people around her.
Before Audrey could spit out another venomous comment, Beth Ann Coynes popped out into the hallway. ‘Lieutenant, I thought I heard your voice. Did you get my message?’
‘No. I haven’t been to my desk.’
‘We got a hit on the DNA profile from under Candace Eagleton’s fingernails. Come look.’
Lucinda followed Beth Ann to her workstation and peered at the image on the computer screen. A mugshot of a man wearing a gray suit and a prominent smirk stared back at her. ‘Who is he?’
‘Julius Trappatino of Trenton, New Jersey. Suspected hit man.’
‘The mob?’
‘Occasionally he does hits for The Family. But he’s not on payroll; he’s strictly freelance and expensive. Suspected in a dozen or more murders, but nothing ever proven.’
‘His age?’
‘Thirty-four.’
‘That makes him too young to be in the same graduating class with the others,’ Lucinda mused.
‘Excuse me?’ Beth asked.
‘Never mind. Just trying to fit him into the current cast of characters,’ she said. ‘You’re sure about this ID?’
‘Oh, yes. Absolutely. It’s a statistically perfect match for one of the DNA profiles.’
‘There’s another?’ Lucinda asked.
‘Two others, actually. Three in all: Trappatino, the victim and an unknown.’
‘Unknown?’
‘Male is the best we can do. Any luck on getting a sample from the husband?’
‘No. Would you like to call him to schedule an appointment with serology?’
Beth Ann gave her a puzzled look and then said, ‘Oh, right. You have to go through his attorney now.’
‘Don’t let him know that you know about that when you call.’
‘You got it.’
‘Thanks. Later,’ Lucinda said as she went back down the hall and evaded another conversation with Audrey Ringo.
When she arrived at her desk there was already a message from Lara containing news story attachments. She read them through with a mounting frustration – a litany of dropped charges, compromised evidence and crafty evasion. She would need as much help as she could get to bring Julius Trappatino to heel. She could hardly believe she was thinking it, but she knew she needed the resources of the FBI.
She called the field office and asked for Jake even though she knew he wasn’t there. ‘This is Lieutenant Pierce.’
‘Oh, Lieutenant, Special Agent Lovett is on a leave of absence.’
‘I need his assistance on an investigation.’
‘Didn’t he tell you he’s desk-bound now?’
‘Yes. But I need him to be reactivated.’
‘That’s way above my pay grade, Lieutenant. In fact, no one here in this office can make that happen.’
‘Give me a phone number for the wicked witch of the north, then.’
Lucinda was rewarded with a chuckle and the number to Sandra Goodman’s direct line. She introduced herself when Goodman answered.
‘And what can I do for you today, Lieutenant?’
‘I need FBI assistance and I want to work with Special Agent in Charge Jake Lovett.’
‘That is not possible at this time, but I can connect with another agent from that field office.’
‘I do not want another agent. I want Agent Lovett.’
‘Special Agent in Charge Lovett is not engaging in field work at this time. I can strongly recommend . . .’
‘I don’t care who you might recommend. I’ve worked with Lovett in the past and I trust his judgment and his analysis.’
‘It is simply not possible at this time. The same resources and commitment are available to you with any agent.’
‘Listen, Director Goodman. That does not matter. I am sitting here with a homicide case that appears to be connected to a hit man whom I believe you have had under investigation.’
‘His name?’
‘I’ll tell that to Special Agent Lovett.’
‘I do not understand your attitude.’
‘Let’s just say I have trust issues.’
‘I’m sorry. That’s not good enough.’
‘How about this, Goodman? I’ll call my mayor and tell him to go ahead and contact his friend at the Justice Department and schedule the news conference about Julius Trappatino.’ Each word of Lucinda’s bluff bit into her tongue as she spoke it.
‘The mayor has friends at the Justice Department?’
‘Who doesn’t?’ Lucinda quipped. She loathed the politics of inter-agency dancing even though she played it well.
‘It may take me some time to locate Special Agent in Charge Lovett. But when I do, I’ll give him your number and have him call. In the meantime, can someone else help you?’
‘No. But please bear in mind, with every passing moment my lead grows colder.’
‘Of course, Lieutenant,’ she said and slammed down the receiver.
Lucinda smiled. She didn’t like the lies or game-playing but still could not help feeling smug and satisfied when she won. Maybe Coynes will have luck with that phone call to Eagleton.
FORTY-THREE
Jake walked back to the on-duty room, hoping to find Deputy Childress in the house. He spotted him at a keyboard working on a report. ‘Deputy Childress, have you got a moment?’
‘Sure. You still got my boy?’
‘Yes, I do, Deputy. I’d like you to come with me to talk something over with him.’
In the interrogation room Todd wouldn’t look his father in the eye. ‘Can you look at me, son?’
Todd just shook his head.
‘What’s the matter with you, boy?’
‘We’ll get to that in due time, Deputy,’ Jake said. ‘Todd, I know you were assaulted and threatened by Mr O’Hara. I know it was a very frightening experience. The question that remains is: do you want to press charges?’
‘Damned right we’ll press charges,’ the deputy bellowed.
‘No. No, Dad, I don’t want to press charges.’
‘Don’t want to press charges? That man held a gun to your head. I know he’s grieving but for cripe’s sake, that is no excuse.’
‘Agent Lovett,’ Todd said. ‘Since I’m eighteen years old, doesn’t that mean that the decision is all mine to make?’
‘I can’t believe you’re saying that, boy. After all I’ve done for—’
‘Deputy Childress, please,’ Jake said, holding up a hand. ‘Yes, Todd, it is your decision. I do think, though, it would be a good idea if you’d share with your father what happened the afternoon Dylan took his life.’
‘You tell him.’
Jake shook his head. ‘No, Todd, it should come from you.’
Todd
sighed.
The deputy was now on his feet, pacing the room. He threw his hands up in the air and said, ‘Well, somebody tell me.’
‘Todd . . .’ Jake said.
Todd kept his eyes focused on the surface of the table as he told his dad about the incident in the locker room. He ended by pleading his case. ‘Dad, I swear to God Almighty – I had no idea he’d commit suicide. I was going to make it easy for him. Just get him to give me something to keep quiet.’
‘Give you something? Son, you crept right close to blackmail – extortion. And that’s a crime – a felony. I can understand why you got a little prickly with the O’Hara boy but Lord have mercy, boy, what were you thinking? You shoulda just told him to cut it out, you weren’t interested. Since when did you become a holy crusader?’
‘Dad, I just didn’t think . . .’
‘That’s right, Todd. You just didn’t think. Agent, can he go home now?’
‘If the matter of pressing charges is settled,’ Jake answered.
The deputy turned to his son. ‘Go on. Get out of here. You might want to talk to your mother before I get home from work. If I have to explain all this to her, you might not like what I say.’
Todd rose, slump-shouldered from the table and plodded across the room. At the doorway, he turned back and began, ‘Dad . . .’
‘Later, son. We’ll talk about this at home.’ Once Todd disappeared from view, the deputy turned his attention to Jake. ‘No, Agent. We won’t be pressing any charges against Seth O’Hara. You just tell him to stay away from Todd.’
‘I don’t think you’ll have a problem with Mr O’Hara, Deputy.’
‘Good. I’ve got my hands full with my boy.’
FORTY-FOUR
‘Lieutenant.’
Lucinda looked up to find Lara Quivey in her doorway with papers in both hands. ‘Whatcha got?’ she asked.
‘Tracked down Bonnie Louise Upchurch of Livingston High School to Texas where she legally changed her name to “Olivia Louise Cartwright” nineteen years ago.’
‘Is she still in Texas?’
‘No. Tracked her to Reno, then to San Diego and finally to Seattle. I’m still looking for where she went from there.’
False Front (Lucinda Pierce) Page 18