by Rick Polad
“Yes. She never told me what. But we had to make arrangements to get together so she always knew and could prepare. Of course it didn’t matter because of the vasectomy. But I didn’t want anyone to know, not even Beth. That night she said she forgot her birth control. I said I thought it would be okay and not to worry about it. She was very nervous but went ahead.”
“What did you say when she told you she was pregnant? That must have been strange.”
He let out a big sigh. “Yes it certainly was. I felt betrayed. I knew it wasn’t me so she must be sleeping with someone else. I was very surprised and hurt. I asked if she was sure it was me. She got mad and started to cry.” He leaned his head back and looked at the ceiling. “She asked what I was suggesting. If she didn’t want to admit there was someone else, I didn’t have the heart to tell her I knew there was. I decided after what I had put her through, I couldn’t push it. I had no right to feel hurt, but I was. I asked if she wanted to have the baby. She again got angry and said of course. So I told her I would give her money for the baby. I sent a check for baby things and then sent five hundred a month. I...”
The phone rang again. This time he excused himself saying he’d better get it. I got up and stood by the glass doors and watched the storm. The rain had stopped but there was still lightning. But the electricity in the room was greater than outside. I thought how amazing it is that someone with an image like the mayor’s could have such a story in his closet. You never know what is going on with the people you meet from day to day.
He came back into the room.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes. It was my wife. She’s going to come home Thursday for a meeting and then go back to Wisconsin for the weekend.” We both sat.
“How do you think Ronny got the checks?”
“I think he stole them.”
“Hmmm. Here’s another question that’s maybe not so easy. Why did you write checks? Why not send a money order or something without your name on it?”
“I guess that was stupid. But I wanted some evidence that I had supported Marty in case everything hit the fan.”
“But you weren’t the father. Rather easy to prove.”
“I know. It doesn’t make much sense. I guess I would have liked to be the father. I can’t really explain it.”
“So where were the checks?”
“I kept them up in the house in Wisconsin, along with cash and a yearly picture of Marty that Elizabeth sent, in a safe no one knew about. It was hidden in a paneled wall.”
“How did Ronny find out about it?”
“I’ve been thinking about that since you said he had them. All I can figure is he saw me open it one night and came back. Louise and I were up there for a few days and one night Ronny showed up. Hadn’t seen him for about three years. He had some trouble down in Georgia. Spent some time in jail, but less than he should have because of me. I should have let him rot.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I felt responsible for him. And sorry for him I guess. He had a tough life. He got it the worst from my father. But he was out on probation and I made it clear that if he screwed up again, I wasn’t helping.”
He got up and mixed another drink and talked as he did. “He asked for more money. I told him I would give him a thousand dollars but it was the last time. I said that if he asked again I would have him looked at with a microscope and find something that would put him back in jail. He must have seen me open the safe.”
“When were the checks missing?”
“About a week later, Louise was up at the house alone. She called one night. Said she had been out shopping. When she came back she thought she heard some noise in the house. She went to the back door and found it open and thought she saw someone running away. It was dark and she didn’t get a good look. Then when she walked back into the house she went in the den and found the safe open.”
He took a drink and continued. “She was very surprised—asked why I didn’t tell her there was a safe there and asked what was in it. I just said I used it to keep extra cash and asked if there was anything left. She said it was empty. Thank God. That’s all I needed would be for her to ask questions about the pictures and the checks.”
“You’re sure she didn’t find some? Ronny did not have a full set and there was only one picture.”
“How do you know that?”
“I saw them.”
“Where?”
Back to a question I didn’t want to answer. But he deserved to know, for credibility if nothing else. I decided what the hell. “They are in his dresser drawer.”
He looked confused. “He had you in his apartment?”
“No. I broke in.”
Confusion turned to surprise. “You pick locks?”
“No. But I know someone who does.”
“Ronny does, too. And I guess he’s good with safes.”
“I guess.” I repeated my question. “Why do you think your wife didn’t get anything from the safe?”
“I guess I’m just hopeful, but she never said anything.”
“Does she own a gun?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“Simple one. Just wondering. Should have an easy answer.”
“It does. Yes, she does.”
“Know what kind?”
“Yes, a twenty-two.”
I nodded. Lots of those around.
“How did Ronny get in? I assume you have security like you do here.”
“No we didn’t. I hate the security here. Like living in a bubble. I wanted a place I could get away from all this. But Louise refused to stay there alone. She came back that night. Wouldn’t go up by herself till I had an alarm system put in and yard lights.”
“Anything happen after that?”
“Like what?”
“Like anything.”
“Well a few months later Louise’s emotional stability got worse. Her psychiatrist suggested she be put into a care center—used to be called asylums or institutions. It was all very hush hush and very expensive. She was in and out for a year.”
“Why?”
“The same old thing. Wanted me to go to the doctor. I refused. It was then that she turned the front room into a toy room. It hasn’t changed in three years. Not one toy has ever been moved. She has nieces that come over and she won’t let them play in there.”
“Did the care center help?”
“I guess. When she got out she got involved with the kids’ programs and that seemed to satisfy her.”
“You kept sending checks to Beth?”
“Yes. Five hundred dollars. But at some point she called and asked to meet. We did.” He looked wistful. “She looked so lovely. She asked for more money. Said with Marty getting older she needed another five hundred.”
“How did you feel about that?”
“I was angry and almost told her the truth. I realized I was paying her the money to assuage my guilt at not being man enough to marry her. But another five hundred was beyond my guilt. Besides, I didn’t have it. The bills from Louise’s care were huge. I told Beth as much.”
“How did she react?”
“She just seemed sad. Resigned. I never saw her again. I kept sending checks. Then I got a letter from her giving me a new address.”
“Did you ever go there?”
“I drove by once.” A look of despair came over him. “I felt so awful. I wondered what had happened to her. I realized that whatever it was, it wasn’t my fault, except that I had refused her money. I just couldn’t do anything different. She always knew that.”
He was trying hard to talk away his guilt. But he never would.
“Rather ironic,” I said.
“What?”
“You gave Ronny money but refused Elizabeth.”
“Are you saying I got her killed?”
“No. Are you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I am. I’ve certainly been thinking it for quite awhile.”
�
�Have you heard any more from Ronny?”
“No. He knows I’ve had enough. Chief Ranek told me he was back and working at Skyline and maybe mixed up in something. He asked if I wanted any special treatment for him if he was involved. I said no, lock him up and throw away the key.”
I glanced at my watch—11:20. Nothing from Stosh.
“Spencer, you have me wondering about my wife and those checks. I wonder if she did take them.”
“Most likely Ronny took everything in there and then only saved what he thought he needed.”
“Why would he save the picture and the checks?”
The gate buzzer went off. We both looked at the monitor. It was Rosie. He buzzed open the gate and I excused myself and let her in.
“Spencer, Stosh has Kelly. He’s bringing her to his house and wants you to meet there. She’s okay. Are you done here?”
“I am now. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I told the mayor they had found my friend and I needed to go. I told him I would get back to him.
“Spencer, can you spare one more minute?”
I was anxious to go, but said sure.
“I’d like to hire you.”
“For?”
“I’m worried about the checks. I’d like you to search the Wisconsin house and see if she has them hidden anywhere.” He handed me a map. “We use this for our friends. It’s fairly easy to find. Just a little north of Algoma along the shore. Here’s a spare key and the security code. The safe is empty, so you needn’t check it. My wife will be back Thursday morning for a meeting and then is going back on Friday and then will be there for a week. So if you can get up there Thursday I’d really appreciate it.”
I said I would.
“Let me know what I owe you.”
I waved him off.
We walked to the door.
“And thanks for listening, Spencer.”
“Sure.”
I opened the door and had taken a few steps when he called me.
“Spencer, do you have any idea why Ronny would keep the picture and the checks?”
I did. “Blackmail.”
“But I never heard from him.”
“Not you. Beth. I’d be willing to bet that’s why she had to move. She didn’t need the money for her. She needed it to pay Ronny.”
“Why would she give in to blackmail?”
“To protect you. Gotta go.” That wasn’t quite true but I figured he deserved it. I had also thought about telling him that Ronny had probably followed him to Beth’s the night he gave him the money, but he could probably figure that out for himself.
There was little traffic and Rosie drove fast. On the way, she filled me in. Whoever grabbed Kelly had drugged her and dumped her in a field. When she came to, she walked to a gas station and called the cops. They found her car a couple blocks away.
There were three unmarked cars in front of Stosh’s house. Stosh’s cruiser was in the driveway. Rosie pulled in behind it.
Chapter 32
I walked in in the middle of the conversation.
Kelly was saying, “My eyes were taped shut and they put sunglasses on me. They took me up a flight of stairs, probably concrete. Then a screen door screeched open and I was pushed inside. Someone took my arm and led me through another doorway and pushed me down on the floor and warned me about what would happen if I made any noise. The place smelled awful.”
I stopped in the foyer and listened. I didn’t want to interrupt her.
“Were there any noises you can remember?” Stosh asked.
“No. Oh yes. Every once-in-a-while there was this electrical noise, kind of a zap like a short circuit.”
“Was the smell pretty much what you smell like?”
“I smell like that? I can’t smell much. I think my nose was deadened.”
“I assume you could identify the smell if we can find the place.”
“Sure, but I’d rather not have to go back there.”
I butted in. “She doesn’t have to go back there. I know where it is.”
Kelly jumped up and put her arms around my neck. I held her tight, trying to ignore the odor. Stosh was sitting in his chair. Two other detectives stood against the far wall.
“I am so sorry Kelly. Are you okay?”
She pulled away but did not let go. “I’m fine Spence. Could use a shower though. But I’m the one who should be sorry. I should have stayed put.”
“That’s past. From now on I don’t take my eyes off of you.”
She rested her head on my chest.
Stosh piped up. “What do you mean you know where she was?”
“Cuz I spent some time in a place that smelled like that. Can’t be two of them.”
“Care to share?” Stosh asked.
“Yeah, my buddy Ronny.” I stroked Kelly’s head. She looked up at me. “That sound you heard was a bug zapper in the kitchen.”
“Jesus,” Stosh replied. “Some fancy place he’s got.”
“Yeah, a real garden of Eden. You gonna go grab him?”
Stosh rubbed his chin and looked perplexed. “Well, we’ve got a little problem.”
“Oh for christ sake. Here we go again. You know the guy is guilty of far more than we could even imagine. Why not go grab him and lock him up and throw away the key?”
“Because we have this little thing called ‘due process’. He gets a trial and with what we got, any judge would laugh, that is if we could convince a D.A. to even charge him.”
I rolled my eyes and led Kelly to the couch. “So what’s the problem?”
“The problem is we got nothin’ to tie him to the kidnapping.”
“What do you mean nothin’ to tie him? I just identified the place by the smell. Get a warrant and get over there.”
He turned to the detectives. “Boys, would you go out and check on the crowds?”
“There aren’t any crowds out...”
“Get the hell outta here!” They left.
“So what’s the problem?” I asked.
“You’re telling me you have identified Ronny’s apartment as the place Kelly was kept by the smell.”
“Right.”
“And you’d be willing to testify to that in court?”
“Right.”
“I don’t know that smell counts. I assume he didn’t invite you over for a beer, so I’d have a better case against you for breaking and entering than against him for kidnapping.”
“But Stosh, I...”
“I know kid. It sucks. But that’s the way it is.”
“Stosh, I...” Kelly started. But I was too mad to let her finish.
“That’s a big crock of crap. You know damn well...”
“Spencer.”
I put my hand on her leg. “Kelly, don’t try and make sense out of this. The whole damned system is nuts. I...”
“Spencer. Take a rest would you? My turn,” Kelly said with authority.
I looked at her with rage but didn’t say anything.
“Thank you. Stosh, would it help if there was something of mine in the apartment that was still there when you got there?”
“I think so. We’d have enough suspicion to check the place. If we found something that put you in there, I think that would be enough to squelch any possible questions.”
“Okay. Well, I left my ring in the room they dumped me in.”
I looked at her with my mouth hanging open. “Your ruby diamond ring?” She had worn it for our first dinner.
She nodded.
“How did you happen to do that?” Stosh asked.
She shrugged. “Seemed to me it might help if I left something behind, kind of like Hansel and Gretel’s trail of breadcrumbs. My hands were tied so I didn’t have much choice. But I managed to slip the ring off my finger and work it down into whatever it was I was sitting on.”
I gave her a big hug.
“Do you have any idea what you were sitting on?”
“It was a pile of something. Soft. I think I f
elt a pair of pants. I didn’t want to poke around too much.”
“Ma’am, you are something else. I think you have earned yourself a shower. Leave your clothes by the door and I’ll get them in the washer.”
She frowned. “Thanks. But if you don’t mind, I think I’d rather they were in the garbage.”
“Understood. I’ll get you a garbage bag.”
He took her hand and led her out of the room. I opened all the windows and then walked outside and stood on the front stoop. The fresh air smelled good. It was still warm and the humidity was high. The clouds were breaking and every once in a while the moon spilled light between the cracks in the clouds. I thought about the situation. Here I was hiding in the safety of the police and lucky enough to have Kelly safe despite the danger I put her in. Sam Spade would be slowly shaking his head and telling me to try a different line of work. But then I realized I had found who Marty’s father was; I’d solved my case. It was Stosh’s case that was the problem. After a few minutes I heard the screen door open and Stosh joined me.
“That’s an amazing woman.”
“Yes sir, she is that. Why did they let her go?”
He waved me to the glider on the porch and we sat.
“I think they were just sending a message. You pissed them off. They were letting you know they could get her if they wanted. Keeping her meant nothing to them. But as long as she was missing we’d be looking and they didn’t need that. They have other things to worry about. So they dumped her.”
The street was empty and all but one of the unmarked cars had left. Two detectives sat unmoving in the front seat. All the lights in the neighboring houses were off.
“So how do you like the P.I. business, kid?”
I gave him a look full of resignation and sorrow and said, “Okay, so it’s not all romance. But I did find what I was looking for. That’s gotta be worth something.”
Stosh shrugged and then turned the shrug into a stretch and a yawn. “Sure. Everybody’s gotta make a living. But there are guys out there who just don’t care if you are alive or dead. And if you start poking your nose into their business, dead will be the choice. You do what you like with you but you have involved Kelly.”
“Yes, I didn’t realize.” I paused. “Stosh, these guys killed Mom and Dad.”
“I know, kid. And we’ll get them. But my point here is that Kelly didn’t sign on for trouble and I’m not getting any damned sleep.”