Call Of The Witch

by Dana Donovan

  “All right,” I said, my hands up in surrender. “Nobody’s asking you to give up. You don’t have to go anywhere.” I looked over at Brittany. The expression on her face told me she knew that was coming, but was unable to warn me. I put my hands back down and softened my stance. “Just so you know, Dominic, I’m sure everyone here appreciates what that kid is going through. To assume otherwise is unfair. Now I know you’re extra-sensitive about this case, what with you expecting a kid of your own soon, but we all care for Kelly’s well-being just as much as you do. That the rest of us have gone home to sleep doesn’t take away from that. The reason I’ve been trying to get you to go home and rest is that I need everyone to be as sharp as they can be. Especially you. You’re my right-hand man, Dominic. I count on you, and I need you to be at the top of your game at all times.”

  “What? So you’re sending me home now?”

  I looked again at Brittany. She gave me a faint head shake no. Another couple of hours, I thought, and it would all be over. Would Dominic be any worse by then? I doubted it. I stepped up to him, wrapped my arms around him and gave him a hug. I don’t know why. I guess I thought he needed it.

  “No. I’m not sending you home.” I palmed his shoulders and pushed him away easy. “But I do think we could use a pot of coffee down here. We still have some details to work out.”

  “I’ll get it,” said Brittany.

  “No.” I put my finger up to stop her. “Dominic, would you mind getting it?”

  He didn’t hesitate. In fact I think he appreciated me asking him to do it. And the look on Brittany’s face told me I had tactfully killed two birds with one stone.

  We were still mapping out our strategy when Carlos showed up around eight o’clock. If I thought Dominic looked bad when I first saw him that morning, I can tell you Carlos looked even worse.

  “Mother of Joseph!” said Dominic. Apparently he noticed it too. “What the hell happened to you, Carlos? You look like shit!”

  Carlos plopped down in a seat at the end of the table furthest from the map. His hair was scraggly. He was unshaven. His clothes, which I noticed were the same ones he wore the day before, were rumpled. His hands were dirty and his shoes were untied.

  “Carlos, where have you been?”

  “Out,” he said, his gaze just a blank stare down at the floor.

  “What do you mean out? Outside?”

  “Yeah.”

  “All night?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Did you sleep outside?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Where, in the dirt?”

  He nodded.

  “Carlos, tell us what happened. Were you mugged? Are you all right? Are you hurt?”

  “She left me, Tony.”

  “Who?”

  “Lauri.”

  “Your fiancée?”

  He kicked his shoes off and crossed his legs. The sock on his left foot sported a hole the size of a quarter, and his big toe was sticking out of it.

  “Why did she leave you?”

  He rolled his eyes up to the ceiling and then back down at his feet. “I gave it away.”

  “Gave what away?”

  “Oh dear God,” I heard Dominic say.

  “What?”

  “He gave away his money.”

  “What!” I got down on one knee beside Carlos and shook his arm. “Carlos, is that true? Did you give all your money away?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “To Lauri? Did you give it to Lauri?”

  I think the absurdity of that question helped snap him out of his zombie-like trance. “What? No! I didn’t give my money to Lauri. That’s why she left me.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  He was making eye contact with the three of us now, though mostly with me. “You said she was only interested in me for my money. I wanted to prove you wrong.”

  “So you gave your money away?”

  “Yeah, that’s why I went to see my accountant last night. I told him to give all my money to charity, that all I wanted was what was in my retirement account before I won the lottery.”

  “Carlos, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

  He nodded. “Yes you did, Tony. You knew. You told me that all Lauri was interested in was my money. You know it takes a true friend to tell you something like that.”

  “I told you that, too,” Dominic said. Man, I hate a suck-up.

  Carlos and I ignored him. “Well, I’m not sure I put it exactly that way,” I said.

  “Doesn’t matter. You were right. If I married Lauri, she would have turned around and divorced me and taken half of all my money.”

  “Yes, but you’d still the other half, over two million dollars. Now you’re broke.”

  He shook his head faintly. “I don’t care. I’d rather have nothing than to see her get half of something.”

  Dominic came over and placed his hand on Carlos’ shoulder. “Well, I’m sorry about the way it turned out between you two. I really wanted to see it work.”

  “Me too,” said Carlos. “But I think it’s for the best. You know, after I told Lauri that I gave away my millions, and she dumped me, I thought I was gonna die. I was crushed. I drove out to the pier at Suffolk Walk and––”

  “You weren’t going to kill yourself,” said Dominic, “were you?”

  “What! No!”

  “Oh, that’s a relief.”

  “I was going to kill Lauri.”

  “Huh?”

  “Yeah, but after I let her out of the trunk I––”

  “You didn’t!”

  He laughed. “No, I’m kidding. Cut me some slack. Of course I didn’t have her in the trunk. I went out there alone. I just needed time to myself, to get away and think.”

  “What were you thinking about?”

  He shook his head. “About you guys.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah, about how you tried to warn me. You know, I suppose inside I thought the same thing. I mean, why else would someone as gorgeous as Lauri be interested in an old guy like me?”

  Brittany said, “I don’t think you’re such a bad catch, Carlos.”

  The three of us turned to look at her. It’s funny how very attractive Brittany appeared to me then; more so than I had ever noticed before. Perhaps it was the morning light streaming in through the window, a soft luminescence warming her skin with a natural glow. She crossed the room in satin strides as if riding on a thread of smoke. Carlos pulled his feet in and tucked them under his chair. She wedged herself between his knees, cradled his cheeks in her palms and kissed him on the forehead. I think I heard the lump in his throat bottom out when he swallowed. I know I heard mine.

  After the kiss, she combed her fingers through his hair, raked her thumbs across his brows and brushed his chin with a feathered touch so light his whiskers barely moved. She eased back on a cushion of air, the separation between them proportionate to the gape of his mouth.

  “Wow,” I heard someone say when we caught our breaths again. I would tell you it was Dominic, but I can’t be so sure it wasn’t me.

  I don’t know what possessed Brittany to do what she did, but its affect on Carlos was greater than any medicine money could buy. He stood up, pulled the wrinkles from his coat, picked up his shoes and carried them to the door.

  “Where are you going?” I asked, after realizing he wasn’t going to volunteer the information.

  “I’m going to take a long, hot shower, a close shave and a big…you know what.”

  “Shit,” I said.

  “Right.”

  “No, I mean shit.” I held my phone up. “It’s a text message from Burke. He’s upstairs at the courthouse. Judge Hayes allowed Santana and Martinez to bail out of jail this morning.”

  “You’re kidding? Who put up the money?”

  I shook my head. “You’re not going to believe it.”

  Dominic said, “Amanda Brewbaker.”

  I pointed at him. “Bingo.”

&nbs
p; Carlos rolled his eyes. “Unfuckinbelievable. I think the shower and shave can wait a little bit. I’m going to go do the third thing. I’ll see you at Brewbaker’s at nine.”

  He shut the door. I strolled over to one of the chairs at the table and sat down. “So, what do you think of that?”

  “I think it sucks,” said Brittany. She pulled out a chair and sat down beside me. “How could Amanda Brewbaker bail those two son-za-bitches out of jail when she knows one or both of them might have kidnapped her daughter?”

  “Easy,” said Dominic. He pulled the chair next to Brittany out from the table and took a seat. “Isn’t it obvious? She’s in on it.”

  “Maybe we should have put her in jail.”

  “We could have,” I said. “If I had called the K-9s in to search her house yesterday and found her coke stash.”

  Dominic shook his head. “Wouldn’t matter. All three of them would still be out on bail this morning. Money will buy you anything.”

  I scoffed lightly. “Huh, don’t tell that to Carlos.”

  The three of us sat quietly after that. I felt bad for saying it, but it was true. Maybe money couldn’t buy happiness, but enough of it could buy a person just about everything else.

  “Hey,” I said. “Can we spare a couple of uniforms to keep tabs on Santana and Martinez?”

  “Who?” said Dominic. “We have all available hands assigned to the stakeout. Besides, those two are gone now. We could lose half the morning tracking them down.”

  Brittany said, “Dominic’s right. If they’re in on the kidnapping, then they’re not going far. We have all the bases covered down at the creek.”

  “You’re right.” I checked my watch. “We should head out now. The bank’s opening soon.”

  It was already 9:30 before Carlos met up with us at the Brewbaker’s. He looked a sight better than he had earlier that morning. Though his clothes were wrinkled, (I assumed they were from his locker, as he had showered at work) he smelled suspiciously nice. I walked up and gave him a handshake when he came in, and leaning in close I said, “You smell good. Did you do that for Brit’s sake?”

  “Nooo,” he whispered back. “It’s cologne Lauri gave me. I just want to use it up.”

  “All at once?”

  He looked wounded, but I knew better. I crossed the room to where Amanda Brewbaker was sitting. She had arrived just ahead of us from the courthouse and was still wearing her jacket. Lionel Brewbaker was close enough to hear what I had to say to her, but with Carlos entering into conversation with him, I didn’t suspect he would.

  “Mrs. Brewbaker, I understand you were down at the courthouse this morning.”

  She looked up at me through slotted eyes. “Yes?”

  “You know you bailed out the two prime suspects in your daughter’s kidnapping.”

  “Detective. Raul hasn’t the brains to plan and execute a kidnapping.”

  “But I suppose you do.”

  “Are you accusing me?”

  “Are you aware that we arrested Raul Martinez for possession of child pornography?”

  “Yes, I’m aware. He told me you planted those images on his computer.”

  “And you believe him?”

  “I believe he’s a decent man.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And Hector? What do you believe about him?”

  “I believe he’s a decent fuck.”

  “You don’t get it, Mrs. Brewbaker. Do you?”

  “Get what?”

  “Your daughter’s been kidnapped, and it’s quite possible that one or both of those men are culpable in her abduction. By bailing them out of jail, you may have enabled them to get away with it, or worse. You may have seriously jeopardized your daughter’s safety.”

  “Detective, I don’t believe my daughter’s been kidnapped at all.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Don’t you see? It’s a ruse put on by my husband to discredit me before our divorce proceedings. It’s no coincidence he has you suspecting the very people I hang around with.”

  “Are you serious? Mrs. Brewbaker, your husband didn’t point us to Raul or to Hector. The evidence pointed us there.”

  “Then you underestimate my husband, Detective.”

  “Or perhaps I’ve underestimated you.”

  “Tony!” Carlos hurried over and showed me the text message on his phone. “It’s Dominic. He’s says all the units are in place. We should get Lionel over to the bank now.”

  “Right.” I looked at Brittany and then pointed to Amanda Brewbaker. “Detective Olson will wait here with you, Mrs. Brewbaker” On the outside chance the kidnappers let Kelly go in front of the house, I want you two here to hurry her to the hospital to get her checked out.”

  Lionel grabbed my forearm and squeezed it tightly. “What do you mean on the outside chance? You don’t think the kidnappers will release Kelly?”

  “We have to be ready for all contingencies.”

  “But they will let her go, won’t they?”

  Immediately, I thought of Karina Martinez, about her former employer in Boxford, and what Dominic said about the little girl kidnapped there. My heart sank. I looked at Carlos, wanting so much for him to make that commitment to his long-time friend. But he wouldn’t have it. Lionel was still holding onto my arm. I put my hand on top of his and I bit the bullet.

  “Yes sir,” I said, just as sure as I could sound. “They’ll let her go.”

  Amanda Brewbaker got up and moved to another seat in the living room. I angled in close to Brittany and said, “Keep a close eye on that one. Don’t let her make any phone calls if you can’t hear her side of the conversation.”

  “Got it,” she said.

  I checked my watch again. It was 9:40. We had only twenty minutes to get to the bank and then to the drop site. “Carlos,” I said, “does the bank have the money ready?”

  “Yes, the bank’s president is there waiting on us now. All Lionel needs to do is sign and go.”

  “All right then.” I turned to Lionel. “Mr. Brewbaker, are you ready?”

  “Yes.” He seemed nervous but in control.

  “Okay. You’re going to take your own car. Stop out front of the bank. Double-park if you have to. Get the money and then head straight out to Garfield Creek. It’s about a five-minute walk from where you’ll have to leave your car to the bridge. You’ll have plenty of time so don’t run and don’t draw any attention to yourself. When you get to the bridge, I want you to lean against the handrail on the south side with the money bag hanging over. Keep an eye on your watch. At exactly 10:00, drop the bag into the water and walk away. Don’t look around. Don’t look over your shoulder. Don’t talk to anyone that might happen by, and for God’s sake don’t acknowledge any of my men if you happen to spot one. You got it?”

  “Yes. I understand.”

  “Good. Carlos and I will follow you in his Corvette. We know the kidnappers will probably be watching you when you leave the bank, so we won’t follow too closely. Just keep in mind, if you don’t see us, it doesn’t mean we’ve lost you. We’ll still have your back.”

  “I know you will.”

  “All right, then. You ready?”

  Lionel took a deep breath and let it out in a steady blow. “Ready.” He glanced across the room at his wife. She seemed to be looking not so much at him as through him.

  I touched his arm and nudged him gently. “Come on. Your daughter’s waiting for you.”

  On the way to the bank, I told Carlos what Amanda Brewbaker said about her husband. He didn’t even consider the possibility.

  “I’m just telling you what she told me,” I said.

  He kept his eyes on the road. Lionel’s Mercedes was three cars ahead of us. “I don’t care what she said, Tony. The woman’s delusional.”

  “I don’t know about delusional, Carlos. Maybe––”

  “Maybe nothing! She’s a crack head. She hangs around with crack heads. If you ask me, that’s her m
otive for kidnapping her own daughter. $300,000 can buy a lot of crack you know.”

  “First of all, it’s not crack. It’s coke.”

  “Oh, so now you’re defending her?”

  “I’m not defending her, and I’m not saying I disagree with you. She certainly isn’t the most trustworthy witness.”

  “That’s right, she’s not. But you know who is?”

  “Lionel Brewbaker?”

  “Damn straight. I know Lionel. I’m telling you, I know people. I know when they’re lying and when they’re hiding something.”

  “Oh, like Lauri Shullit,” I said, and immediately I wished I could take it back. I looked over at Carlos. His jaw hung slack. Hell, my jaw hung slack. “Carlos…I’m sorry. I didn’t––”

  “Screw you, Tony.”

  “What?”

  “I said, screw you. You call yourself a friend.”

  “Carlos. I am your friend. That was wrong. I know it. It just came out. I’m sorry.”

  “You think sorry fixes everything?”

  “No, but you know I am.”

  My phone rang, preventing me from further groveling. I answered, “Yes.”

  “Tony. Dominic.”

  “Yes, Dominic.”

  “I just got back-to-back calls from the Essex and Danvers PDs.”

  “And?”

  “Russell Haywood wasn’t home.”

  “What about Dmitry Kovalchuk?”

  “Danvers checked on him ten minutes ago. He’s also a no-show. Wasn’t at his studio.”

  “Great. I don’t suppose anyone’s seen Martinez then, have they?”

  “Raul?”

  “No Karina! Geezus, Spinelli! Are you paying fuckin` attention? Was Karina Martinez at the studio or wasn’t she?”

  The phone went silent. I glanced over at Carlos. His brows were hooked in perpetual surprise. I noticed then my hands were shaking. My stomach was queasy and my head felt light. Carlos reached over the consol and touched my arm.