Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Epigraph
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
About the Author
Praise
Other Books by Faye Kellerman
Copyright
About the Publisher
FAYE KELLERMAN
Serpent’s Tooth
A PETER DECKER/RINA LAZARUS NOVEL
To Jonathan after having reached the twenty-five-year mark. There may be silver at your temples, but there’s only gold in your heart. Thanks a heap, Colonel.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any other beast of the field.
—Genesis 3:1
Because you did this, you are cursed from among all the animals and beasts of the field.
—Genesis 3:14
From this we learn that we do not give one who seduces people [to do evil] the opportunity to justify his actions.
—Rashi
Sanhedrin 29a
Contents
Epigraph
1
Nobody noticed him.
2
A microsecond flash of yesteryear as images too frighteningly clear…
3
Though bandaged tightly, the arm was still leaking blood. But…
4
“Harlan worked here for around three, four months—”
5
Decker expected to talk to the machine. Instead, Rina picked…
6
The girl reeked of mint—hiding her booze breath with Scope…
7
After a full day of hospital visits, bereavement calls, and…
8
Waking up before the sun, Decker showered, shaved, and said…
9
Marge knocked on Decker’s doorjamb, walked through the open door…
10
The temperature in the office was arctic. Why did the…
11
The house was small, disappointingly so. Martinez hadn’t been expecting…
12
Jeanine Garrison was a hard person to reach. Decker was…
13
With a wave of her hand, she invited Decker into…
14
Some would call him obsessive. Decker referred to himself as…
15
It was after ten, but Rina was still up. More…
16
A pleasant breakfast with Cindy followed by a morning of…
17
The message was on his desk when Decker walked into…
18
Marge said, “I can’t believe they did this to you.”
19
All dressed up with nowhere to go. But it didn’t…
20
Sipping coffee, Decker flipped through the morning papers at four…
21
No doubt Rina noticed how antsy he was. But she…
22
Choosing and discarding a number of outfits. Among the rejects:…
23
Tricky business, talking to teens. Authority figures left them frosty…
24
“Hassle minors,” Decker repeated.
25
Prayer in front of a mirror was forbidden.
26
Oliver said, “We ordered a full toxicology, including a blood-gas…
27
Placing his hands on his desk, Strapp made a tepee…
28
And there was evening, and there was morning.
29
Cindy picked up her latte, sipped foamy milk. “It’s all…
30
It seemed to Rina that Hollywood got uglier and dirtier…
31
The Scrabble tournament was set up on the second floor…
32
She had a strange feeling. But the .22 in her…
33
Reading yesterday’s paper at one in the morning. Decker wondered…
34
Not much more than a shed. But it sat in…
35
The woman stepped aside, let Decker in. He said, “How…
36
Savvy kids.
37
Strapp coughed. “Good news. Sean Amos is being held without…
38
Closing the door to Decker’s office, Marge said, “What is…
39
“Even forgetting about the admissibility of polygraphs as evidence…”
40
Fixed in front of the TV—the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—Hannah…
41
And it came to pass at midnight.
About the Author
Praise
Other Books by Faye Kellerman
Copyright
About the Publisher
1
Nobody noticed him.
Not Wendy Culligan, who was too busy pitching million-dollar condos to a half-dozen Japanese businessmen more interested in her rear than in residences. Still, she patiently went about her spiel, talking about in-house services, drop-dead views, revolving mortgages, and great resale values.
Leaning over the table, showing a touch of cleavage while spearing a jumbo shrimp off the seafood appetizer plate. Along with the prawns were oysters, abalone, gravlax, and raw sea-urchin sashimi, the last item a big hit with the Asians—something about making them potent.
Men—regardless of race, creed, or color—thought only about sex. And here she was, trying to earn an honest buck while they popped squiggly things into their mouths, washing the tidbits down with sake as they licked their lips suggestively.
What’s a poor working girl to do?
Inwardly, Wendy acknowledged that Brenda, her boss, had been generous in arranging the dinner at Estelle’s. The restaurant was exquisite—all silver and crystal and candle-light. Antique mahogany buffets and chests rested against walls lined with elegant sky-blue Oriental silk screens. Exotic flower arrangements adorned every table—giant lilies, imported orchids, and twotone roses. A hint of perfume, but never overwhelming. The chairs were not only upholstered in silky fabric but comfortable as well. Even the bar area was posh—plush stools, smoked mirrors, and rich walnut panels, all tastefully illuminated with Tivoli lights.
She felt as if she were dining in a palace, wondered why the rich ever had any problems. So what if they came with baggage—their scheming mistresses and lovers, their taw-dry secrets and perverted kinks, their whining children and mooching relatives. Wendy could have withstood the pain, just so long as those big bucks kept rolling in.
Transfixed by the spl
endid surroundings, so intent on doing her job—getting a fat and much-needed commission—Wendy didn’t blink an eye when the young man with the green sport coat walked through the door, eyeing the room with coldness and calculation.
Neither did Linda or Ray Garrison.
At last, Ray was enjoying a little solitude with his wife of thirty-five years. Recalling the anniversary party that their daughter, Jeanine, had thrown for them even if she had thrown it with his money. At least it had gone well. Jeanine was one hell of an organizer. The guests had remarked what a wonderful party it was, what magnificent parents he and Linda must have been to have raised two such devoted children…politely including David in the same category as Jeanine. No one had dared to hint at his son’s recent jail term.
An elegant affair. But Ray knew it had been just as much for Jeanine as it had been for Linda and him. Lots of her “club” friends—people Ray barely knew—had come along for the ride.
Still, it had been fun. And David had behaved himself. At last, the boy finally seemed to be moving in the right direction, was using his God-given talents. Ray would have disinherited him years ago, but it had been Linda’s soft heart that had kept the avenues of communication open.
Linda. Soft, beautiful, generous, and solid, his backbone for three and a half decades. At times, he was aware of the age in her face, the webbing around the corners of her eyes and mouth, the gentle drop of her jaw and cheeks. But Linda’s imperfections, completely absent in her youth, only served to increase his desire for her.
He loved her with all his heart. And he knew that she returned the sentiment. At times, their closeness seemed to exclude everyone else, including their children. Maybe that was why David had grown up so resentful. But more than likely, their love for one another had nothing to do with their son’s problems. Weak-willed and cursed with talent and charm, Dave had drifted into a Bohemian life at an early age.
But why think about that now? Ray reprimanded himself. Why think about Jeanine—her spending habits, her high-strung hysteria, and her fits of temper when she didn’t get what she wanted? Why think about David’s repeated stabs at rehab? Concentrate on the moment…on your lovely wife.
Ray took his own advice and reserved his remaining attention for Linda. Although his eyes did sweep over the young, grave-faced man in the green jacket, holding a drink, they failed to take him in.
Even if Walter Skinner had noticed the odd man, he wouldn’t give the punk the time of day. At this stage in his life, Walter had no patience for youngsters, no patience for anyone. He had worked in Hollywood for over fifty years, had earned himself a fat bank account and a modicum of recognition and respect. He wanted what he wanted when he wanted it with no questions asked. If you didn’t like it, you could take a long walk to China.
And what Walter wanted now was the young lady sitting across from him. A lovely lass with big, red hair, and long shapely legs that melded into a firm, round ass that sent his juices flowing.
Not here, Walter scolded himself. To calm himself down, he thought about Adelaide.
A good woman, a tolerant woman. Once she had been a beautiful woman, a Vegas dancer right after Bugsy had turned the desert sands into dunes of gold. Walter had chased her, pursued her relentlessly. Finally, she gave in. For her, it had paid off. As a minimally talented show girl, Adelaide had been destined for obscurity. Instead, she became a Hollywood wife. He gave her status, money, and a role she could have for life. If she was willing to indulge him from time to time. Which she did gracefully.
Good old Addie. As steady as the old gray mare.
Walter looked across the table, through the diamond-cut stemware. Good grade Waterford. Estelle had done it up nicely. Elegant without being pompous. And good food. No wonder the place was always jammed.
He’d had doubts about bringing Big Hair here. She had dolled up for the occasion, and much to Walter’s surprise, she had pulled it off without looking cheap.
A gray-haired old lady smiled at him, nodded.
Walter nodded back.
Ah, recognition. It was sweet.
However, it was not quite as sweet as Big Hair’s ass. Walter looked deeply into his table companion’s baby blues, his eyes shifting downward to her superb surgically designed chest. He felt a tug in his pants and that was wonderful. At seventy-eight, no hard-on was ever taken for granted.
Face it, Walter said to himself. At seventy-eight, waking up in the morning was a cause for celebration.
So enamored of his sexual response and his beating heart, Walter didn’t think about the serious young man leaning against the bar, his eyes as chilled as the drink he was nursing.
Carol Anger did glance at the thin young man in the green coat, thinking he looked familiar. She couldn’t quite place him. A face that had changed and had changed again. But she couldn’t dwell on it because she was too busy. Gretchen had called in sick and Carol was running double shift.
On her slate was a nice group of tables. Carol especially liked the party of sweet-sixteeners in the corner. Eight giggly girls trying to pretend they were grown-ups, decked out in sophisticated suits and too much makeup.
Like she had been at sixteen—sans the suits and jewelry of course. She had grown up in a home where money had always been tight. But down deep, all sixteen-year-old girls were the same.
Where had the time gone?
At first, right after her divorce, her life had been a blur of tears. Tears of fury at her ex, tears of gratitude at her parents for their love and understanding.
And their help.
Mom had come through. Always there when Carol needed her. Saying she’d take care of Billy so Carol could go back to nursing school. Carol had insisted on doing her fair share. Hence the job…this job. And it was a doozy.
She had Olaf to thank for that.
She had met him at a bar. Had laughed when he had told her his name.
OLAF!
OLAF, THE VIKING MAN!
He had blushed when she laughed. Which of course had made her feel terrible. Olaf had come to America to be a cook. When he told her he worked at Estelle’s, she had nearly fainted.
You’re not a cook, she had chided. You’re a chef!
Within a month, Olaf had convinced Estelle to give Carol a job interview. A week later, she was dressed in a tux and ready to work.
How she loved Olaf, with his half smile, his stoic manner, and his thick upper lip that was often dotted with sweat from the heat of the kitchen. She had often wondered how she could have been so upset over her failed marriage, since from it came all this good fortune.
So occupied by her fate and work, Carol failed to see the thin young man’s mouth turn into a twisted smile, his eyes as blank as snowdrifts.
Ken Wetzel didn’t think twice about him. He was too busy slurping up oysters while giving his wife the bad news. He was trying to be as gentle as possible but it wasn’t coming out right.
It wasn’t that he didn’t love Tess. He guessed he still did. She had been there for him, was still a decent wife, a good mother, and a passable lover. Unfortunately, she just didn’t fit into his world anymore.
Especially since he had been promoted to assistant vice president.
He needed a partner who was more dynamic, not some ordinary woman whose sole occupation was raising children. Granted, the kids were good kids…Tess’s doing. But that wasn’t enough anymore. A woman had to know things—how to dress, how to smile, how to make conversation about the vagaries of the market. A woman like that could help him get ahead. Trouble was, Tess was holding him back.
A great gal, but a high-school dropout. And with the last kid, she had gotten heavy. Those awful tents she wore. Why did the prints always have to be so garish? Why didn’t she realize she would have looked more sophisticated and sleek in a plain black suit?
That was Tess.
Ken sighed inwardly, wishing she’d wipe the tears off her cheeks. Because she was embarrassing him. He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing hims
elf a brief fantasy of Sherrie. Sherrie, with her milky eyes, her sensuous mouth, her wonderful hips, her full breasts, and her MBA from Stanford.
They had met on interoffice E-mail, she being in marketing, he being two floors up in stock research. He joked that it had been love at first byte. The affair was almost immediate, fueled by the thrill of their respective infidelities and what each one could do for the other’s career.
Yes, Ken still loved Tess on some level. And yes, Ken still cared for the kids. But life was about reaching one’s potential. The marriage just wouldn’t work any longer.
Times change, he had told her.
Life changes.
You move on.
With each pronouncement, Tess had shed a new batch of tears.
Still, the drama of the evening did little to quell his appetite. As much as he hated himself, he had to admit that telling Tess it was over was a definite high. The exhilaration of liberation.
Flying high with freedom, Ken paid no attention to the thin young man. Not even when the young man’s face fell flat, turning his physiognomy into something inanimate, his eyes as murky as pond water.
No one even noticed when he reached into the pocket of his green jacket.
Not until he pulled out a gun and the lead began to fly.
But by then, it was too late.
2
A microsecond flash of yesteryear as images too frighteningly clear burst from the hidden recesses of Decker’s brain. A familiar scene with familiar sounds and smells. Charlie’s discards. Twisted corpses. Moans of the wounded echoing through a gripping fog of panic. Medics worked frantically, hands and arms bathed in blood and flesh. The metallic odor of spilled blood mixed with the stink of emptied bowels. Surreal. The magnitude of death and destruction. It destroyed faith in a hand clap.
Decker swallowed, trying to lubricate a parched throat. Rationally, he knew Nam was over. So what was this? An instant replay? Except the surroundings were off. Confusion reigned. But only for a moment.
Because there was work to be done.
Instantly, he rolled up his jacket and shirt sleeves, gloved his hands. Saw a woman whose leg had been turned into Swiss cheese by dime-sized bullet holes. Lying in a pool of crimson. Her complexion pasty…clammy. Pushing aside debris with his foot, Decker made room for himself…knelt at her side.
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