by Tim O'Mara
She thought about that and nodded. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ I said and walked out of the diner, probably looking for all anyone else knew, like a guy who thought he knew what he was talking about.
TWELVE
‘She was sleeping with the murder victim?’
‘Having an affair,’ I said. ‘Yes.’
‘And you’re not going to tell the police?’
‘Tell them what, exactly? That once again Chief Donne’s nephew – who used to be a cop but is now a schoolteacher – was sticking his civilian nose into places it doesn’t belong and illegally obtained information their own detectives may or may not have uncovered because a friend of mine accessed the murder victim’s computer and I broke into an apartment?’
A pause. ‘I can see your point.’
‘I thought about not telling you.’
‘Why did you?’
‘Because you’re my girlfriend, and I tell you things.’
‘But not before you make sure we’re talking off the record?’
‘About some things, yes. This is one of those things, Allison.’
‘This is a big thing, Ray. Marty Stover’s murder is big news. Him sleeping with – having an affair with – the parent of one of his charity’s recipients—’
‘Would do serious damage to some innocent people if it came out in the papers.’
‘You mean my paper?’
‘At this point,’ I said, ‘since you are the only reporter who has knowledge of the affair, yes, I am talking about your paper.’
Allison paused long enough this time for me to think she was going to hang up on me. Part of me wouldn’t have blamed her if she had. The other part would’ve been real pissed, because we’d been over this before. During the past couple of years, due to my getting involved in situations I probably shouldn’t have – probably – I had become privy to certain sensitive information that Allison could have used to advance her career as a journalist. We almost broke up over it not so long ago, so we had the talk and agreed that if we ever found ourselves in a similar situation – which I honestly didn’t think would happen again – I’d preface anything I didn’t want public by telling her we were ‘off the record.’ I wondered how many other couples had similar arrangements.
‘You still there?’ I asked.
‘Yes, I’m still here. You think I’m gonna get all pissy and hang up because you’re not giving me what I want? Please, Ray. Give me more credit than that.’
I took a breath. ‘Sorry, you’re right. It’s been a long twenty-four hours.’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘It has. Do you know anything more about a memorial service? I know he was Jewish and they usually like to bury the deceased as soon as possible, right? Like within twenty-four hours?’
‘That’s how I understand the tradition, but with Marty being a homicide victim, I’m not sure about that time frame. He’s going to have to be autopsied. The Office of the Medical Examiner takes precedence over the Old Testament.’
Allison thought about that for a few seconds and said, ‘Gee, if only Marty’s family knew someone who could expedite the whole process.’
Ha! ‘You’re right,’ I said. ‘I should call Uncle Ray.’
‘I didn’t say you should call your Uncle Ray.’
‘No, but I should. I don’t know Helaine all that well, but I would think she’d want this done as quickly as possible. Can I call you back after I talk to him?’
‘I’m not going anywhere. Either way, we are seeing each other later, right?’
‘Absolutely. I’ll call you back as soon as I know something.’
I ended the call with Allison and gave myself a mental pat on the back for avoiding another argument with her. Then I called my uncle. He picked up after two rings.
‘Nephew,’ he said. ‘I hope today was less eventful for you than yesterday.’
I told him how I had gone out to the Island to sign some papers for the police.
‘Right,’ he said. ‘I forgot Marty kept your family on as limited partners or some shit. Anything interesting?’
‘The exact opposite,’ I said, sounding pretty convincing. ‘I hadn’t been there in years, so I couldn’t tell them much and whoever broke in was real neat about it. Came in through an unalarmed second-floor window and left through the front door.’
Uncle Ray laughed. ‘Marty always was a cheap son of a bitch. What the hell, who breaks into a lawyer’s office, right?’
‘Somebody was looking for something. I’m just not sure if they found it.’
‘Good thing it’s not your job to know that stuff, right, Nephew?’
‘Right, Uncle Ray.’
He was silent for a bit, and I could make out the sound of traffic. Maybe he was heading back home.
‘So why the call?’ he asked.
‘I wanted to know if you heard anything about a memorial service for Marty. I’m not sure how religious he and Helaine were, so. …’
‘Religious enough where Helaine called me this morning to ask if I could request a rush job on the autopsy.’
‘What good is having the Chief of Detectives as a friend if you can’t call in the occasional favor?’ He didn’t respond, so I went on. ‘Were you able to do what she wanted?’
He laughed again. ‘Whatta you think, Ray? Of course I was. I even called in one of the best medical examiners we got down there. Not that we needed him, but I figured Marty deserved the best I could get, right? No big mystery. Guy sustained a serious wound to the upper thigh, severing the femoral artery, and he bled to death on a men’s room floor. There were no other wounds and – we haven’t released this yet – the murderer left the weapon behind.’ Another pause as he said something to someone, probably Officer Gray, his driver. ‘Actually, he left the weapon in Marty. That’s how Marty was able to make it to the men’s room without bleeding all over the place. The ME said as soon as he pulled out the blade, that was it. Bled out in less than five minutes.’
‘Shit,’ I said.
‘Big-time. So, anyway, Marty Junior’s gonna get back to me about the shiva. It starts sometime tomorrow.’
‘What about the burial?’
‘Family only,’ he said. ‘Helaine’s a fairly private person, and she doesn’t want a big show. Junior said she also didn’t want to wait for relatives to travel in from all over the place. They’ll do the burial tomorrow morning and then have people back at the house. You ever go to a shiva?’
‘Yeah. It’s like a wake without the body. I’ve been to a few.’
‘And there’s food,’ he said. He said something else to the person in the car. ‘Anyway, I should know more later. You’ll make sure your mom gets there, right?’
‘She’s with Rachel right now, so I guess so. Allison and I will take the train in the morning.’
‘Oh, good. You’re bringing a date.’
‘She’s my girlfriend, Uncle Ray.’
‘Just make sure it’s your girlfriend you bring and not the reporter.’
If you only knew, Uncle Ray.
‘We’ve already had the talk,’ I said. ‘It wasn’t easy.’
‘Like all the other conversations we have with women are? Just wait ’til you get married, Ray. It don’t get any better.’
‘Mom put you up to that?’ I asked.
‘To what?’
I shook my head. ‘Never mind. Call me later, OK?’
‘As soon as I know something.’
‘Thanks.’ I decided to ask one more question. ‘What kind of blade was it?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘What kind of blade did the murderer use?’
Uncle Ray laughed. ‘I heard the question, Raymond. I just couldn’t believe you were asking it. What the fuck difference does it make to you what kind of blade the murderer used? It was a blade. Sharp enough to penetrate Marty Stover’s upper thigh, sever his femoral artery, and cause his death.’
‘I was just curious, Uncle Ray.’
�
��You’re never just curious, Nephew.’ He laughed again. ‘But since it’s probably going to bug you – and since the information is going to hit the papers and TV tomorrow anyway – it was a box cutter. Happy now?’
‘A box cutter?’ I said.
‘Yep.’
‘Damn. Marty Stover was killed with a box cutter?’
‘Why does that surprise you?’
‘It doesn’t. It’s just that they’re so easy to come by. Shit, I take a dozen of them away from students every year.’ I gave that some thought. The cop part of me was hoping Marty had been killed by a rare, easily traceable knife. ‘Did they say what kind of box cutter?’
‘There’re different kinds?’
‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Some are the cheapies you can pick up for about two bucks anywhere in the city. Then there’re the professional-grade ones the pros use.’
‘Professional-grade box cutters? I didn’t know that. I got a couple of ’em at home and keep one in the glove compartment of the car.’
‘You probably have the cheap ones. No offense.’
He laughed. ‘I’m a little more thick-skinned than that, Raymond.’ He was silent for a bit and then said, ‘Hey, didn’t you have a kid involved in Marty’s charity?’
‘Hector, yeah,’ I said. ‘I was over there this morning. He was upset about Marty, and his mother called me. I ended up walking Hector over to the Sterns’ building – that’s where he works – because—’
‘Because you just can’t stand not getting involved. Do I have to stick your teaching degree in your face again, Raymond?’
‘I was there because I am a teacher, Uncle Ray. He’s my kid. I got him involved with Marty.’ Who, by the way, was sleeping with my student’s mother. ‘All I did was get Hector to his job. I met Joshua Stern and then left. The whole thing was uneventful.’
‘Make sure it stays that way.’
‘I will.’
I heard cars beeping on the other end of the phone. Through my cell, they sounded like my uncle was riding with a bad orchestra.
‘I gotta go, Raymond,’ he said. ‘I’ll call you later when I hear from Junior or Helaine about tomorrow.’
‘Thanks, Uncle Ray.’
He hung up without saying good-bye. Maybe he was thinking that some of the people involved in Marty’s charity worked at or owned an art supply store where box cutters – cheap ones and professional ones – were sold and used. Maybe he was thinking about one of the cardinal rules of being a detective: There are very few coincidences.
I know I was.
THIRTEEN
‘I will never get tired of this view.’
I stepped over to my girlfriend, wrapped my arms around her waist, kissed the back of her neck and said, ‘Neither will I.’
Both my thighs got slapped. ‘I was talking about the skyline, Ray.’
‘What did you think I was talking about?’
She turned and pulled me into a deep kiss. Until she had, I was unaware of how much I needed it. We kissed like that for about a minute before we stopped.
‘But if you wanna go any further,’ she said, ‘you’re going to have to buy me dinner. I may be many things, but a cheap date is not one of them.’
‘That’s why I asked you over, Ally,’ I said. ‘We can order in Italian, Chinese. …’
‘Or you can take me to the new Polish place that just opened.’
‘Or,’ I said, ‘I can take you to the new Polish place that just opened.’
She looked at me and grinned, and then she kissed me again. When she was done, she said, ‘See what happens when you listen to your girlfriend?’
‘I think there was a little something in there for you, too. Girlfriend.’
She held her index finger an inch away from her thumb. ‘Maybe a little.’
‘I told you about that gesture, Ally. No man with any Irish in him likes it.’
This time, she slapped me in the middle of my chest. ‘That’s the least of your worries, tough guy. Put your coat on. I need me some pork roast, pickled beets, and pierogies. And some good Polish beer.’
As I opened the closet to get my jacket, my cell phone rang. I was about to let it go to voice mail when I saw it was my uncle.
‘That was quick,’ I said.
‘I hope your girlfriend never says that.’
Deep down, under the gold badge, stripes and blue uniform he wore with great pride, my uncle was sometimes just an immature frat boy at heart.
‘You call to make fun of my sexual skills, or was there another reason?’
‘Oh, excuse me, Nephew. No time for banter? I assume that means the girlfriend in question is in the room?’
‘You are good, Uncle Ray.’
‘You don’t even know the half of it, son. The Stovers are having people over tomorrow at two. Like I said: the burial’s going to be quick, Jewish, and private.’ He paused for a few seconds. ‘Are we supposed to bring anything to this … shiva?’
‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘I’ll ask Mom. She may be Catholic, but she knows all the etiquette stuff.’
‘How you getting out there?’
‘Ally and I are going to take the train. Rachel’ll pick us up at the station.’
‘Don’t be stupid,’ he said. I’d heard those words from him many times. ‘I’ll have Officer Gray pick you up.’
‘You don’t have to do that, we can—’
‘Of course I don’t have to, Raymond. I want to. He’s gotta come out and drive me around anyway. He might as well swing by your place and get you and Allison.’ He thought about that for a second. ‘You are at your place, right?’
‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘but really …’
‘He’ll swing by and get you around one. It’ll give you guys time to reminisce about your little walk around the crime scene, maybe talk about me a little.’
‘You sure you want that?’
‘I’ll see you tomorrow, Nephew.’
When I put my phone back in my pocket, Allison asked, ‘What was that about?’
‘Looks like we got a ride out to the Island tomorrow.’
‘On the taxpayers’ dime, I suppose?’
I stepped over and kissed her. ‘You know what it’s like when dealing with my uncle, Allison. Don’t ask too many questions.’
She put her hands on my lower back, pulled me closer and whispered in my ear. ‘I’ve got a question for you.’
I kissed her neck. ‘The answer’s yes.’
With our entrees finished, Allison and I split something she ordered that looked and tasted like Polish baklava. It was crunchy and sweet and went very well with the beer we were both drinking. This new place was going to be a nice addition to the neighborhood for a long time. At least until the tourists found it.
‘So,’ Allison said, ‘you’ve had a busier day than expected.’
‘That’s one way of putting it I guess.’
She raised her thumb. ‘Someone breaks into Marty Stover’s law office hours after he’s murdered and nothing seems to have been taken.’ Index finger. ‘You find out Marty’s been keeping a secret apartment using your father’s name.’ Middle finger. ‘And to top it off, he’s been carrying on an affair with the mother of one of your students. What kind of day would you call that, Ray?’ She closed her hand.
‘I suppose busy is the right word.’
‘I’m a reporter. I only use the right words.’ She took a sip of beer. ‘It all makes me quite curious about what tomorrow’s going to bring.’
‘A nice boring shiva, I hope. We’ll eat some deli, drink some Manischewitz, extend our condolences to Marty’s family, and be back in the city for dinner.’
‘You don’t want to take Monday off? Visit with your mom a bit?’
I smiled. ‘As nice as that sounds,’ I said, ‘I do have a suspension hearing to be at Monday morning and there’s a school safety meeting after lunch.’
She shook her head. ‘Your uncle’s right about one thing, Ray.’
‘What’s that?�
��
‘You never could fully give it up. Listen to you. You sound like a cop more and more these days. Suspension hearings. Safety meetings.’
‘I’m a dean now, Ally. Those things come with the job.’
‘And you love it, don’t you?’
‘For the most part, yeah,’ I said. ‘I miss the classroom every once in a while, but I’m working with the kids who need it. I’m getting to them before the cops do.’
She leaned back with her beer. ‘You’re the cop of the building, Ray. Admit it. You turned your gun and blues in for a walkie-talkie and blue jeans.’
‘I took the job because the old guy retired and my boss asked me.’
‘You took the job because it was so much like your old one,’ she said. ‘There’s nothing wrong with that.’ She took a sip. ‘There might be something wrong with doing what you did this afternoon and checking out Marty’s secret love nest.’
‘I didn’t know that’s what it was.’
‘But you couldn’t resist the trip.’
‘Hey. There was someone living in that apartment with my father’s name. Tell me you wouldn’t have done the same thing.’
‘I wouldn’t have had my friend access a murder victim’s computer in order to get that information.’
‘I never asked Edgar to do that. He did it on his own, and I told him how much trouble he could have caused for the both of us.’
‘Before or after you used the illegally obtained information? Before or after you used a lock pick to open the apartment door?’
As gorgeous as I think my girlfriend is, she gets considerably less attractive when she puts that smug look on her face. It was there now. The look that said, ‘I gotcha, tough guy.’
And she did. We both knew it. I stayed shut for a while, trying to think of some clever thing to say. Nothing good was coming to mind, so after about fifteen seconds, I said, ‘You’re paying for dinner.’
‘That’s not fair,’ she said. ‘I’m right and I have to foot the bill?’
‘Think about that the next time you want to be right.’
She laughed. ‘You’re lucky you’re cute.’
‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘It helps me in all situations. And I want another beer.’
The smirk turned back to a smile, and she was gorgeous again.