The Tower of Evil bbm-1

by Robert A. Liston

  “Nothing really, some nut I suspect.” They picked up their coffee and Danish from the counter and found a table. At once his cell phone rang. He dug it out of his tennis bag, said, “Not many people know this number, Shep. It might be important.”

  “Go right ahead.”

  Addie Kinkaid’s voice was excited, so changed from the mousy, hopeless whine he’d heard in the van. “Josh is in town. He moved me to the most glamorous hotel in Santa Barbara-the El Encanto, if you can imagine such luxury after The Sally. We both want to see you.”

  “I’m in the middle of something at the moment, Addie. Why don’t I take you and Josh to lunch at your hotel, noon okay? See you soon.”

  He hung up, said, “Sorry, where were we?”

  “You were about to pick my brains.”

  “What can you tell me about Victor Dragon”

  “Where have you been? He’s in the papers almost as much as you.”

  “The needle is accepted. I’m not talking about his reputation or public persona, I want to know-”

  “A little dirt from a judge, right” His laugh resounded generously.

  “Now that you put it that way, yes-and we never had this conversation.”

  “Better believe that.” He thought a moment, smoothing back his gray hair. “Even when he was a deputy DA, certainly since going to the other side, Vic has always been one to push the envelope. He never breaks the law, or actually does anything improper, but-”

  “He tests the limits.”

  “Personally I’m a little surprised he’s stayed out of trouble, but then he’s a very smart man.”

  “Does he represent Karl Kinkaid?”

  “Does Bill Gates own a computer? Kinkaid couldn’t fart without Victor Dragon holding his hand.”

  “May I quote you on that, Judge?”

  “I should say that’s in California. I don’t know what happens in the rest of the world.”

  Byerly sipped his coffee. “I’ve lived in this town for 10 years, and I’ve never laid eyes on Karl Kinkaid that I know of.”

  “Join the club. I can’t tell you how much Kinkaid litigation crosses my desk, yet I can’t remember when I last saw the man, if ever. I sometimes wonder if there really is a Karl Kinkaid.”

  “You’re talking Howard Hughes.”

  “The thought has crossed my mind. In the man’s absence we have Victor Dragon. I’ve even asked him if his client is alive and well. He just laughs. Why don’t you talk to Vic? Maybe you’ll have better luck.”

  “Not a bad idea.”

  The El Encanto Hotel reigned over the Riviera, the estate-filled foothills several hundred feet above the city. The restaurant hugged a veranda with breathtaking views of the city and ocean below.

  He almost didn’t recognize Addie in a fashionable suit and hairstyle. He bent, kissed her cheek. “You look just radiant.” He wondered if other homeless might do as well if given the chance.

  “Thanks to you. Walter, this is my son, Josh.”

  Josh was younger than he anticipated, blondish, handsome in a kooky way. He wore some sort of goop to make his hair stand straight up. They shook hands.

  “I had no idea Mums had no money, Mr. Byerly. I would never have-”

  “I’m sure not.” He smiled. “You’re here now to look after her, that’s all that matters.”

  Wine was ordered and poured. He mostly just listened to Josh’s talk about cars, Addie’s hope to get back into her apartment. Actually he was glad to be distracted from thoughts of tomorrow and the hospital.

  “Did your father leave you financially well-off, Josh?” he asked.

  “I really don’t know a number. It’s all in a trust. The income is more than enough for me to live on.”

  Lucky kid. “Your grandfather set up the trust?”

  “Not very likely. My grandmother set up the trust from her family fortune. It went to my father, now to me. My grandfather Kinkaid had no use for my father and very little for me.”

  “I only ever saw him once or twice,” Addie said.

  “I understand he’s a bit reclusive.”

  Josh laughed. “That’s an understatement. Nobody’s seen Karl Kinkaid in years. Few people know where he actually lives.”

  “Then who runs his affairs, lawyers?”

  “There are battalions of those, but the real power is the latest Mrs. Kinkaid. She makes the decisions, spends the money.” He shook his head. “A real piece of work, my step-granny. What a laugh that is, Granny Joy.”

  “I assume you mean Dr. Joy Fielding.”

  “The one and only. I slept with her once, you know.”

  “Josh, you didn’t!”

  “I’m a big boy now, Mums-at least she thought so. I was 17, spending the night at the castle. She crawled in my bed.” He looked away. ”She’s something else, really likes it.” Suddenly embarrassed, he drank from his wine. “A big mistake is what it was. I guess she decided I wasn’t worth any possible scandal. Overnight I was persona non grata, out of the place, never to return.”

  “Then it wasn’t old Mr. Kinkaid who-”

  “No, Mums, I’m not sure he knew I existed. It was Granny Joy.” The wine again, a far away look in his eyes. “Some luncheon discussion, don’t you think?”

  “Does Dr. Joy make nocturnal visits a habit?”

  “Get yourself invited to the castle some night, maybe you’ll find out. I keep in touch with a couple of people. They tell me she’s insatiable, a real nympho, makes Catherine the Great look like a nun.”

  “You know that bit of history, do you?” Josh rose in his estimation. “Let’s change the subject. What can you tell me about Victor Dragon?”

  “He’s into her pants big time, expects to be the next Mr. Joy, as soon as the old man dies and leaves every penny to her. Personally I think it’ll be Justin Wright. That’s why she’d backing him. She’d adore being Madame President.”

  Their food came and Josh returned to his favorite subject, cars. In a break between Jeeps and Land Rovers, Byerly said, “Addie and I drove out to the estate the other day. A couple of rough-looking men threw us out.”

  “They were awful,” Addie said.

  “They’re Joy’s goons-and what else I don’t know.”

  The woman’s sexual proclivities were much on the young man’s mind. At the next opportunity he said, “Josh, would it be possible to hide a person out there so no one knew they were even there?”

  “Easy, the tower. As a kid I always wanted to go up there and play. No way. I never have set foot in it. A heavy oak door bars it. Behind that are stone steps leading upward.”

  "How do you know that?”

  “I caught a glimpse once when the door was open. The place is a regular Tower of London.”

  What had Doreen called it? Oh yes, tower of evil. Could be?

  17: Unwelcome Visitors

  He stopped at her shop.

  “Such a day, Walter, I can’t get off the phone. Everybody in the world must read the News-Press.”

  “Let me guess.” He raised his voice to a falsetto. “Such an ordeal, darling, you must be a nervous wreck.”

  “That’s what I am, sorta.”

  “I just hope the story keeps Lucretia away until-”

  “Who?”

  “Dr. Joy, last name Borgia. Wait till you hear the dirt on her.”

  “It’s going to have to keep. Will you look after Jamie while I play sleuth?”

  He listened to her plan. “Hmm, it’s worth a shot, I guess. Sure, I”ll hang out here, but who tends to business?”

  “Karen and Gabriella will handle the phones. You take care of walk-ins-and Jamie.”

  She stuck her head in the door. “Remember me?”

  Hyacinth Owens hesitated, then smiled brilliantly. “Of course, you’re…DeeDee, wasn’t it? See, your flowers are still lovely.”

  “Not as lovely as you. You look radiant, my dear.”

  “I am sort of excited. This is my last day here. I’m going to make a movie-in H
ollywood!”

  “Good heavens! Are you really?”

  “I didn’t want to tell anyone. I was so afraid it wouldn’t happen, then I’d have all the explanations. But I had the screen test and I’ve been offered a part.”

  “I couldn’t be happier for you.”

  “It’s only a small part, of course, but it’s supposed to be an important movie. Maybe I’ll get noticed.”

  “With your looks, Hyacinth, I have no doubt.”

  “They’re changing my name to Ollie, Ollie Owens.”

  “It has a certain ring to it, but I still like Hyacinth.” She sat in the chair beside her desk. “Tell me all about it. How did this wonderful thing happen? Have you always wanted to be an actress?”

  “Yes, I studied, worked with the Ensemble Theater company, you know, the local-”

  “Their shows are so good, go on.”

  “I never thought I’d get anywhere. Then Mr. Dragon — “

  “Is that Victor Dragon, the attorney?”

  “He and I were, well, sort of dating, you might say. One day he said I ought to be in films. He’d make a couple of calls. I thought it was just breeze, you know, then one day I got called for a screen test.” She beamed. “The rest is history, as they say.”

  “And a grand history it will be.” She laughed. “If history can be in the future, that is. How do you happen to know Victor Dragon?”

  “Like I said, we went out a couple of times.”

  “I know that, but how did you make his acquaintance in the first place?”

  ”Oh, he comes in here often. Actually Vic-Mr. Dragon-set up this place. He’s the landlord, you might say, owns the space and equipment. He hired me and Lola to work here.”

  “Fascinating!”

  “The lawyers don’t actually work for him, but he wants to help them get started in their own practice.”

  “Mr. Dragon sent business Harry’s way?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Can you remember anything in particular?”

  “No, it would be in the files, but that’s erased.”

  “Try Hyacinth, something may come to you.”

  The girl looked away, a pensive look on her face. Her profile was to die for.

  “Maybe there was something. Yes, I remember. Harry said he had a job for Karl Kinkaid. He thought it might lead to more, you know, legal work.”

  “I’m sure it would have.” She stood up. “I have to run, but good luck in your movie, no, I’m certain you’ll be a huge success.” She kissed the beautiful cheek. “You’ve been a big help to me.”

  “I didn’t do anything.”

  Byerly saw the black limo stop out front and knew at once whose it was. He looked around for Jamie, found him playing happily with his truck, picking up fallen blossoms on the floor, wheeling them to the trash. There was no place to hide him. The store was L-shaped, with a counter blocking the base. The workspaces were clearly visible.

  The woman who entered was a knockout, blonde and built with the imperiousness that comes from knowing she is a knockout, blonde and built. A respectful three paces behind strode the Ninja who had threatened him. He smiled at him, said, “Made any pancakes lately?” That earned him a scowl.

  The blonde approached the counter. “I’d like to speak to DeeDee.”

  “May I ask who wants to see her?” He knew damn well who she was, but he couldn’t resist letting a little air out of her.

  “I’m Mrs. Karl Kinkaid.”

  He thought of Josh Kinkaid and a woman crawling into his bed. “Of course, now I know where I’ve seen you, on TV, you’re that sex lady, Dr. Grunt, or is it Dr. Moan, I forget.”

  She whipped off her shades and looked at him. She might have just bitten into a lime. “Is DeeDee in?”

  “I’m afraid not, I’m her husband, Walter Byerly. May I help you?”

  Now she studied him, as though he were a rare species of beetle from Madagascar. “So you’re the one.” Now she looked behind the counter. “Is that the boy you call your grandson?”

  Nothing to do but face up to it. “Yes, he is.”

  “His name is Jamie, isn’t it?”

  That name was not in the paper. He said nothing.

  “Come here, Jamie.”

  The boy was nothing if not obedient. He stood up, took a couple of steps, but came no closer.

  “I said come here, little boy.”

  Byerly felt two small arms clutch his leg. Atta boy, Jamie!

  “You may be great on sex, Dr. Rut, but you haven’t quite got the handle on little boys, even if they are a product of sex. You see, one leads to the other, but they aren’t the same.”

  The look she lavished on him was usually reserved for excrement.

  “Now, if you’d like to make an appointment, I could give you a few pointers.”

  She turned. “Dirk, the boy.”

  The Ninja started around the counter. Jamie still holding on to his leg, Byerly moved to block his path. “I believe the expression is over my dead body.” He glanced at her. “It’ll look good in the tabloids, sex expert slays old man to steal a little boy. Really help out your image.”

  She glared at him a long moment, then turned on her spike heels and left, Dirk the Ninja following.

  “Nice to have met you, Cruella.”

  “Did you really call her Cruella?”

  “That was the tame stuff.” He looked at Jamie, sitting on a kitchen stool. “How’s the macaroni and cheese?”

  “Cheese.”

  “Can you say macaroni?”

  “Mack.”

  “That’s good enough.” He turned to Doreen. “He’s going to be a chef.”

  “Without a doubt.”

  The TV was on behind the counter, showing cartoons. Jamie watched some, but he was hardly rapt. “I have a theory, love. Kids don’t really like cartoons, at least little kids.”

  “Don’t tell the other Walt that.”

  She poured wine for both of them. “Honestly now, if you hadn’t learned all the nasty stuff, what would your impression of her be?”

  “Dr. Joy? You want the seminal male view I gather. Let me see. I’d notice her, that’s for sure, probably turn around and stare. She’s beautiful, blonde, built, buxom-“ He laughed. “Give me another B.”

  “Beguiling?”

  “Naw, too obvious for that. Maybe that’s the problem. She’s too perfect, all arranged, hair, lipstick, every thread.”

  “For an effect?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t know which one.”

  “I gather you’d like to mess her up a bit.”

  “I’ll tell you what I’d really like to do-find out her age. It’s not listed anywhere. She could be thirties, sixties, maybe seventies. She looks like one of those aging actresses, who still looks like she did as an ingenue-only the skin on her kisser is stretched so tight, it’s ready to split.”

  Doreen laughed. “And they never show their necks or hands. Do you want me to visit the plastic man, love? Wouldn’t you like me to look like the girl you married?”

  “She was okay, but I like the one I got now, she’s sexier.”

  “How discerning of you.”

  He heard a knock at the door. “I’ll go, it’s probably Lupe.”

  “Too loud for her.”

  He opened the door on two deputy sheriffs, both burly. They looked like NFL tackles working their day jobs.

  “Is this the home of Walter and Doreen Byerly?”

  Before he could answer a second question came.

  “Do you have a boy named James Sykes here?”

  Both deputies pushed past him into the kitchen. “Hey, where do you think you’re going?” He started to follow but a hand grabbed his arm, shoved a piece of paper at him.

  “This is a court order legally requiring you to turn over the boy to us.”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  “My name is Victor Dragon, I’m an attorney.”

  “The hell with you.” He jerked his arm away and tur
ned to the kitchen. Doreen stood behind the counter, clutching Jamie, her eyes wide with fear.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Byerly, it’s a lawful order.” The deputy looked apologetic. “We have to take the boy.”

  Jamie began to cry.

  “You can’t take him, I won’t let you.” She clung to the now screaming boy, while the one deputy held her arms and the other pulled at Jamie.

  “Let him go, Doreen, you’ll get hurt.”

  Either she heard him or lost the battle, for Jamie was in the hands of the deputy. At once a woman he had not seen burst by him. “Oh, my darling little boy.”

  He turned to Victor Dragon. “And who is this woman?”

  “His mother, of course.”

  The woman clasped Jamie in her arms. “Oh, my precious little darling, did the bad lady hurt you?”

  Jamie was not placated. He screamed louder than ever and reached back toward Doreen as they carried him from the house.

  A heavy knot weighed on his chest, making breathing difficult. Doreen began to sob. He held her, tried to comfort her, but he didn’t know what to say.

  He left her to cry and went to the phone to call Lupe. She came at once and looked at the court order.

  “I’m sorry, but it’s a legal order signed by a judge.”

  He firmed his lips. “I was afraid of that. When?”

  “About an hour ago.”

  “Cruella sure didn’t waste any time.” He saw her confusion. “I’ll explain it sometime.” Lupe went to comfort Doreen. It seemed to help for she soon began to sniffle and blow. He paced the floor, forcing himself to think, not just feel. Soon he stopped in mid-stride. “Lupe, I don’t think that was Jamie’s mother. She didn’t look much like her photograph.”

  “By God, you’re right, darling, the woman was an imposter, I’m sure of it.”

  “Straight out of Equity.” He went to falsetto. “’Oh, my precious darling, did the bad lady hurt you?’ Godawful! At least they could have hired someone who could act. Lupe, couldn’t we go to the judge, tell him-”

  “If you can prove fraud, you might stand a chance.”

  “We have her photograph. Even a judge can see there’s little resemblance.”

  Doreen was on her feet now. “Karen knows her, can identify her.”

  “And that girl in Boston, her roommate, what’s her-”