by LS Sygnet
“I wish I could, but I need to get home. David Levine is back in town, and I have no idea if Johnny’s dragging him home for dinner or not.” Actually, that part was half true. I was itching to learn if Johnny successfully managed to convince David that I need space. He had a vested interest in keeping him at bay too.
My cell phone rang. “Speak of the devil.”
“Give him my regards, and tell him that we’ll call as soon as we’ve got the DNA analyzed.”
It wasn’t Johnny calling, it was Dad.
“Well?” he asked crisply.
“Well what?”
“Did Johnny tell you why Levine is really here?”
“They’re still together as far as I know. Did our other guest call you?”
“He did,” Wendell said. “I’m sitting outside this God forsaken assisted living out on Hennessey Island right now. He went to the market and got home about five minutes ago. Doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere soon, Helen. Do we really believe he’d be the one watching you?”
“No,” I said, “but we do believe that he’s in this up to his plugged hairline. If he’s got someone else doing the watching for him –”
“Like those investigators you mentioned that tried to apprehend you in Washington?”
“Yeah, like that. If he’s hired someone to watch me, you’ll spot them. Come to think of it, you’d probably learn more following me than you will following Lyle.”
“Did you deliver my DNA to your friend?”
“Yes.”
“Helen, I don’t care if it matches this woman’s sample. It changes nothing.”
“Perhaps it doesn’t, but it will answer some of the questions we have.”
“Or pose more than we want to consider. Like why Lyle would raise my daughter and give me someone else’s. What was the point of that, when they knew full well that I didn’t marry to start a family?”
“Did Marie know that you rescued other children?” I asked one of the many questions that had been nagging me for decades, since I started to scratch the surface of who my father really was.
He cursed.
“So perhaps they knew you didn’t have it in you to reject your own child.”
“Of course I didn’t.”
“But I’m not your child, Daddy.”
“You are. And neither of you are children anymore, Helen.”
I cleared my throat. “How long are you sticking around out at Lyle’s place tonight?”
“Until I’m sure he’s not leaving.”
“And how do you plan to accomplish that?”
Dad’s laughter sent a warm ripple of affection deep into my bones. “Because he’s on the tenth floor, and I’m across the street on the roof of a building with a perfect line of sight into his apartment. I can see his every move through my binoculars.”
“How far is this place from Danny’s casino?”
“Half a block. Why?”
“So Sanderfield was killed half a block away from where his step-father lived.”
I heard the rustle of Dad readjusting his position. “Uh-huh. And from this vantage point, I’ve got a clear view of the exit from the casino. By God, Sprout. This sniper might well have pulled the trigger from this exact location. Did Johnny search the area looking for anything the guy might’ve left behind?”
“Of course he did. There was nothing, not a shell casing, not a cigarette butt. Not even a drop of sweat.”
Dad snorted. “From what I’ve seen of your fair city, the place doesn’t get hot enough to produce much sweat. Jesus, is it always this chilly and damp here?”
“The weather has been remarkably clear for the past few weeks. Wait until the fog returns. It’s like living on a cloud.”
“Darling, do we know where Sanderfield was headed when he left the casino?”
“Uh, brunch with Lyle, I believe. That’s what his security detail said.”
“Which explains why they weren’t exiting the hotel and entering a car. It’s less than a five minute walk down the street.”
“Risky proposition for a politician. Rather like JFK’s ride in a convertible, wasn’t it?” I said dryly. “Then again, I’m sure Sanderfield was too arrogant to think someone might’ve assassinated him.”
“Helen, whoever shot him, if this was in fact the location he used, could’ve taken out Lyle at the same time. I can truly see just about everything in his apartment. It’s rather more upscale than what I was expecting.”
He described it when I asked what he meant.
Apparently, Lyle could afford a luxury assisted living residence. Dad said the terraced high rise resembled more of a hanging garden structure than a place that housed elderly tenants in need of help with their activities of daily living. Lyle’s spread was an airy loft on the tenth floor, floor to ceiling glass in the south facing structure, marble and granite interior, lushly furnished.
“He’s got some guy in there right now,” Dad said. “White tee, white pants, name tag, and if my eyes don’t deceive me, it reads Nate.”
“An orderly?”
“Mmm-hmm, looks like it. He’s not actually doing anything but watching Lyle sauté something on the range. Leeks maybe. Who the hell eats sautéed leeks? Ah, never mind. He’s added some chicken now.”
“Dad, I’m not particularly interested in his food preferences.”
“Everything is important, Sprout. I do believe the old bastard is making cock-a-leekie soup. Ah, yep. He’s got prunes out now.”
“What’s the orderly doing?”
“Mirroring my disgust.”
I chuckled and engaged the Sync function on the Expedition so I could continue my conversation with Dad while driving across town.
“They’re certainly engrossed in conversation,” Dad said. “Seems like this young man Nate is more than a casual acquaintance.”
“He could be inquiring after Lyle’s needs. We can’t be sure unless you’ve been hiding some unknown skills from me. Like lip-reading.”
“Well,” Dad grinned, “I did all right with that back in the day, but I haven’t had time to undergo any Lasik surgery since my untimely demise, so my vision isn’t what it used to be.”
“Don’t bullshit me. You read the kid’s name tag.”
“Fair enough, my dear. Whatever they’re discussing, neither one of them scores high marks for elucidation. Lyle seems irritated. Nate is defensive. Waving his arms a bit. Now why on earth would they be arguing?”
“Maybe Nate has done some extra work for Lyle.”
“It would appear so. Lyle’s pointing his knife toward a breakfront.”
“And?”
“Nate’s walking toward it. He’s opening a drawer…”
“And? Don’t keep me in suspense, Dad. I haven’t got all night.”
“It’s an envelope. Can’t see what’s in it, but Nate is looking. Shit. It’s cash. He just pulled it out, Helen. Looks like quite a bit of cash.”
“More than a lowly fill-in pastor should have on hand?”
Dad snorted. “Lyle never had trouble laying his hands on money, Helen. What he didn’t bilk the parishioners for in Poughkeepsie, Marie supplied with her part-time job.”
“You’re talking about the robberies.”
“Indeed I am. From what I could surmise, Marie filled his coffers with more than a million dollars over the years she forced me to watch her back.”
“Is that why they called you Jersey Third Eye?”
Dad burst out laughing. “You do realize that she was Jersey Third Eye, don’t you, Sprout? And I suppose it is the reason she earned the moniker, at least in part. You see, they said it’s like he has eyes in the back of his head. Which of course, was me, the eyes in the back of her head. The Jersey part came not from any of the locations of the heists, but that one of the drivers told the police that the man who robbed them was built like a Jersey cow. Believe me, it was not a compliment.”
I laughed. “So they described a man with a fat body, proportionately sm
all head and thin, short legs.”
“I couldn’t have described her better myself. One of the heists took place in my precinct’s jurisdiction. My partner, Sarge and I observed the witness interviews. I about laughed myself silly when the guy described Marie. The fact that they assumed she was a man was rather amusing as well.”
“Why didn’t your attorney point any of this out at the trial?”
Dad fell silent.
“Daddy?”
“I wouldn’t let him, Helen. If we’d lifted a finger to fight the charges, I would’ve been acquitted, but it would’ve haunted you forever. You’d have been Jersey Third Eye’s daughter.”
“I was anyway.”
“Yes, but they quickly forgot because I was locked away, on death row for awhile too, until the legislature’s moratorium on capital punishment. The world remembers the crimes much longer when the criminal evades justice. When he doesn’t, we quickly forget and move on to the next public demon that has earned our hate.”
“I think we should be watching Nate. Unless the rules have changed, I don’t think it’s exactly kosher for Lyle to pay his caregivers under the table.”
“You’re right of course,” Dad said. “This is a bonus. Nate’s never seen me before in his life. And while he might recognize Danny, the little sleuth won’t see me coming.”
I didn’t make time to worry about what that meant.
Chapter 22
Lyle picked up the phone and dialed a number he knew as well as his own. His partner answered before the cessation of the first chime.
“It’s done,” he said. “Nate understands why there can be no further special errands for me. I don’t like it, but I’ve done what you felt was necessary.”
“Good. But I’m still concerned if he’s trustworthy or not.”
“He is. We have another problem. I went out to Dunhaven today,” Lyle said. “It would appear that OSI is suddenly concerned for the wellbeing of our friend Jerry Lowe.”
“Oh?”
“You had no inkling that this was coming?”
“The welcome mat at the police department was revoked to me some months ago, as you well know, Lyle. Why is OSI worried about Mr. Lowe?”
“It seems that Orion thinks his life might be in danger.”
“They can’t deny you access,” he said. “Mental health rights being what they are, Jerry can have visits from clergymen.”
“Yes, but they’ve boosted security out there. In fact, OSI has a man posted on Jerry’s unit at all times now, or so I was informed when I asked about the unfamiliar face outside his room.”
“I see. During your spiritual visits to Mr. Lowe, has he indicated knowledge of anything he shouldn’t know?”
“You were clearly very careful, old friend.”
“One has to be when dealing with men like him. I recall his naked ambition back in the day, how much others equally ambitious and far more qualified for command despised him. Jerry Lowe was never well liked. It served my purposes to see him advance.”
“But you didn’t know about his extracurricular activities, did you?”
Lyle’s partner laughed. “Why would I care what he does? He kept that nonsense out of the good neighborhoods. I preferred to think of it as population control. Are you certain he doesn’t know my identity?”
“If he does, the cagey bastard hasn’t let it slip. Then again, I get the impression that Mr. Lowe knows a great deal about many things and has no intention of talking about them.”
“With OSI watching him, it makes it more difficult to make sure he doesn’t have a change of heart, Lyle. At this point, I’m leaning toward complete elimination of all potential leaks. That includes Jerry Lowe. God knows, the community would not weep over his passing. In fact, I daresay they’d be delighted to see justice served.”
“How can we accomplish it?”
“We may not have to,” his partner said. “Not if OSI has concerns. Helen Eriksson might have more motive than anyone else to eliminate Lowe.”
“We can’t will the woman to commit a murder,” Lyle said. “She may have been raised by an unconscionable killer, but that doesn’t mean she naturally disposed to such violence.”
“Oh, but she is. Let’s not forget how she dispensed her form of justice to Andy Gillette and Captain Gutierrez. She’s paranoid, Lyle. If she believes that Jerry Lowe poses a threat to her and Orion’s spawn, she’ll kill him. You mark my words.”
“He’s locked away in Dunhaven. How the hell do you propose that we convince her that Lowe is a threat to her child’s safety?”
“He’s the mastermind of this human trafficking thing she just won’t stop investigating, of course.”
“And if she realizes that she was the beginning of our enterprise? Then what? Jerry Lowe isn’t old enough to be –”
“You let me worry about that. I’m certain that none of them know the truth of Helen’s parentage. I do still have one reliable source of information, Lyle.”
“Do you?”
“Yes,” he said. “Like it or not, that won’t change.”
“And which of you doesn’t like it.”
“At the moment, that would be me. But I see a solution to that problem as well. I want you to continue seeing Jerry Lowe, and keep me apprised of conditions at Dunhaven. The information will be useful at some point, I’m certain.”
Johnny crowded behind me in the kitchen. His hands roved over my belly. “I missed you.”
“Is that a fact? It’s almost midnight. You didn’t even call to say you wouldn’t be home for dinner.”
“Sorry about that.” He nibbled at the sweet spot on my neck. “David had a lot of questions.”
“Hmm, I’m sure he did. Do I want to know what has piqued his curiosity this time?”
“Probably. It was mostly about you. I think your Mr. Hyde routine this afternoon freaked him out more than a little bit, Helen.”
“No less than he deserves.”
“I don’t think he completely buys this hormones run amok story I tried to peddle. It could be a real problem if you don’t at least try to rein it in.”
“I can’t pretend right now, Johnny. Don’t you think I wish I could simply lie without batting an eye? God, I miss the good old days.”
“Not sure I like the sound of that.” He jerked his head toward the stairs. “How are things with our guest going?”
“Fine,” I said. “Danny has a remarkable capacity for forgiveness. Quite unexpected, all things considered.”
“Should I be worried that the two of you seem to be developing a bit of common ground?”
I shrugged. “You’ll worry no matter what I say about it. I’m more interested in hearing David’s excuses for his sudden return to Darkwater Bay.”
“It’s this Sanderfield thing, Helen. The man was a state senator, a candidate for governor. Like it or not, the FBI is in on this for the duration.”
“He left a team here working the clues, what few there are. That hardly necessitates a behavioral profiler’s presence.”
“Except Sanderfield was already under investigation on the campaign funding,” Johnny reminded me. “I dropped David off at the airport about two hours ago. He’s flying back to Montgomery to resume that angle of the investigation. Seems his bosses think there could be a link between his murder and fear that whoever funded his campaign could be exposed.”
“Our the slave dealers,” I said.
“That’s the concern,” Johnny said.
“Does David think they can trace the money?”
“It’s the only lead left to follow, so I guess they’ve got no other choice.”
“Is OSI still involved in that investigation?”
“Darnell has the state police in Montgomery working with the FBI.”
“Shouldn’t you be involved? Hands on, I mean.”
“Helen, I’m not leaving Darkwater Bay. Don’t think for one second that I’m leaving Lyle Henderson in the hands of Devlin and your brother. Nor would I ev
en consider leaving you alone in a city with your father on the loose and Danny Datello living under our roof.”
“You don’t trust me?”
He grinned unabashedly. “Without reservation. I have complete faith in your ability to sneak off, lie to everyone around you, evade proper backup, and try to put an end to all of this legally or otherwise the second we turn away for a second.”
“In other words, not the tiniest little bit,” I grouched. “You seem to forget that my mobility is a little bit impaired at the moment and getting worse by the day.”
“You are creeping up on the halfway mark of this pregnancy. Yet that doesn’t comfort me in the least. In fact, it was the desperation caused by pregnancy that made you liberate Wendell two months ago.”
True.
Thunder rumbled overhead. I glanced through the wall of glass into the back yard and watched the storm raging over the Pacific. The flashes of light held a hypnotic quality, comforting too, despite the power unleashed by nature.
Johnny’s hands settled on my shoulders in a light massage. “Come to bed, Helen. There’s nothing more we can do today.”
“I want to talk to Jerry Lowe.”
“Even if I would allow that, I’m certain his attorney wouldn’t. When I talked to Kayla Young, she impressed upon me how limited access to Lowe really is now.”
“Except to my grandfather. Maybe if I found God, they’d let me have a chat with him.”
“I thought briefly about letting Wendell try to get inside.”
“Seriously?”
“Not really,” Johnny said. “It was a passing notion. He’s not a real priest, after all, and I doubt that he’s fooled anyone in the confessional or anywhere else.”
“Do you think the FBI is still trying to charge me with Rick’s murder?”
Johnny tugged me toward the bedroom. “I don’t know what David’s really up to, Helen, but I agree with your concerns. And Wendell’s. Even Datello’s. Though I’m begging you right now not to share that tidbit with him. The day Danny Datello and I agree on anything is the day that the apocalypse begins.”
“You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“I can’t help it. We’ll never like each other, Helen. I’m glad he’s not the monster we assumed, but that’s a far cry from trusting him.”