Falafel Jones - The Kewpie Killer (24 page)

I pointed to the picture in his hand. “Look, there’s been a carnival connection to all of these deaths. Let’s see if Pops recognizes the guy.”

Robby sent a patrol car to pick up Pops and then resumed showing the photo around. Eddie and I went back to the security office to watch more video. The guard set us up with the indoor recordings around the time Ryan died. Since there were so many cameras recording different locations at the same time, one hour of real time became many hours of video time.

We looked for Ryan’s killer in the halls, parking garage and the lobby but couldn’t find him. Robby sent a man down to relieve us and to look through the outdoor parking lot footage. When he arrived, I got a copy of the photo Robby had and we went back up to Ryan’s floor.

Pops and Robby stood in the waiting area, toe to toe. I could see Pop’s face turning red. He clenched his fists and said, “It’s all your fault my boy is dead. You decided he was a killer. You chased him down and drove him to his death. I hope you have children and every time you look at them, you remember what you did.” Pops spat on Robby’s shoe.

I touched his elbow. “Pops?”

He turned to me with a sad face and I touched his cheek. The big man burst into tears, hugged me and buried his head in my neck. Then he loosened his hold and slid down until he knelt on the floor at my feet hugging himself while he sobbed. “Why? First, my Rosa… now my Leonardo… Why?”

A nurse brought a cup of water. She and I helped Pops to a chair. I sat next to him and patted his shoulder until he calmed down.

“Pops, can I show you a photo?”

He wiped his eyes, then his nose on the back of his hand and nodded.

“Do you know this man?”

Pop’s stopped sobbing and his jaw went slack. “He always said his greatest illusion would be coming back from the dead. That… that’s Orazio, Leonardo’s father.”

Pops asked. “You think Orazio was in the tunnel… with Leonardo?”

Robby said, “I heard two sets of footsteps.”

“Oh, my God, do you think Leonardo saw his father attacking that man?”

“There’s a good chance he did. Maybe that’s why he ran.”

“Detective, I am so sorry, what I said, I was upset. I was wrong. Please forgive me. You didn’t drive Leonardo to his death. His father did.”

“His father?”

“When he was three, Leonardo watched his father stab his mother and then sat helpless while his father succumbed to a drug overdose and his mother bled to death. The poor boy’s survived suicide attempts, been in and out of therapy, on and off drugs and still after all that time, wakes up screaming. His only salvation was the thought Orazio was dead and couldn’t hurt anybody anymore. I fear that when he saw Orazio alive in that dark tunnel killing again… it brought everything back… was too much to handle.”

“Are you sure that’s Orazio in the photo?”

“I haven’t seen him since the day he killed… but I know that face. It’s him.”

“Do you know where to find him?”

“No.”

“Could he have visited the carnival without you knowing?”

“In New York, sure. We cover a couple of acres and we’re having a good season. A lot of people come to see the show.”

“Do you think he approached Leonardo?”

“If he did, the boy would have told me.”

Robby called over one of the patrol officers and handed him Orazio’s photo. “Make copies and circulate this. Notify State Police, Border Patrol, airports and TSA… everybody. He’s wanted for multiple homicides, armed and dangerous.” Then he said to Eddie, “Any other ideas?”

“Yeah, Raquel and I found Orazio’s gravesite in Florida. Looks like it’s time to see who’s inside.”

I said, “But you told me we had no way to ID the remains.”

“We didn’t then but now we know Leonardo was Orazio’s son. His DNA has components that will match his fathers.”

Robby said, “I’ll get Leonardo’s sample from the M.E.”

Eddie took out his cell phone. “… and I’ll have Jennie get an exhumation order.”

* * *

Back at Mom’s she hovered over me while I tried to pack some fresh things for tomorrow’s flight to Florida. Her questions about the case made it hard to concentrate on what I needed to find. After grilling me about Ryan, her interest shifted when I mentioned Dr. DeAndrea.

“So, this Doctor met Dad?”

“Yup. See my grey skirt anywhere?”

“What did he say about him?”

I gave up on packing. It would be impossible until Mom learned what she wanted to know. “Dad gave his patients a lift but we never printed the story.”

“I’ll bet I could find his notes if I looked. This may be the last thing he ever wrote.”

“I’d like to see them too.”

Now she had the full story, Mom started to help me pack. She reached into my underwear drawer and pulled out a red leather thong. Her mouth hung open as she peered into the drawer a second time. With her other hand, she lifted a black sheer top with red leather piping and then asked. “Raquel?”

I snatched the outfit from her and stuck it back in the drawer. “It’s a thank you gift from Kara.”

Mom clasped her hands in front of her waist and said, “Oh, well.” She pursed her lips. “Maybe I’ll leave you to finish on your own.”

As soon as she left the room, I took the sleazy underwear from my drawer, cut off the tags and hid it in the bottom of my suitcase.

* * *

The next morning, Eddie’s and I landed at Orlando International Airport. An Achalaca County Police Officer met us at the gate.

“Detective, your partner sent me to bring your car. We’re supposed to meet her at the cemetery.” The man looked at his watch. “We leave now, should get there in time for the grand opening.”

Eddie leaned in to look at the officer’s nametag and said, “Thank you, Briggs. I’m afraid to ask but how did you recognize me.”

“I didn’t. I saw you react to my uniform… but I thought it was you.”

“Why’s that?”

Briggs smiled. “Your partner said you’d be with a good looking woman who could be her older sister.”

During the ride, Briggs brought Eddie up to speed on recent activities. “You’re lucky. Your partner’s been all over this. She circulated Orazio’s photo, obtained a court order, rounded up staff, requisitioned equipment… ”

Eddie groaned.

“What’s the matter?”

“Briggs, you got a partner?”

“Yeah, sure, why?”

“What do you think your life would be like if he thought you left him to do all of the work?”

“Oh, sorry…”

After a while, the scenery looked familiar and I recognized Dragoni’s trailer but he wasn’t in sight. Eddie slowed down and drove down a dirt road past some trees until we came to a grassy clearing. He parked next to another unmarked Police car and I could see a work crew lifting a wooden box from a hole in the ground. A stone marker bore the names “Orazio and Agnese Medici” and the Italian phrase, “Insieme nella Morte” which meant “Together in Death”.

We exited the car and Briggs left to join the other patrol officers. Jennie walked over to us and said, “Welcome to Florida.”

I thought, “Older sister? No way.” but I said, “Thank you.”

She gestured towards Eddie. “I was talking to the stranger here.”

Eddie said, “Good to see you too, Sunshine. What you got?”

“While you were nice and cool in the Northeast, the boys and I’ve been sweating in the heat, walking in the mud, digging up dead people.”

“You sure know how to show the boys a good time. You already look inside?”

Jennie grinned, “Just about to. C’mon.”

I followed Eddie and Jennie graveside and peered between them as two men pried the cover off a plain wooden box. It gave way and one of the men lifted it open. A cop leaned in, took a picture and blocked my view. When he leaned back, I could see. They found only one box and it contained only one body.

Jennie asked, “Orazio or Agnese?”

The Medical Examiner bent over the body. “Based on the bones, I’d say it was a female… not much more than five feet tall in life.”

Eddie said, “Orazio was over six feet. Must be Agnese.”

Jennie said, “… or some other poor victim. Let’s take it back to the lab. We can also use Leonardo’s DNA to ID his Mom. You gonna follow up on Orazio?”

Eddie said, “Yeah. I think I’ll start with the doctor who signed his death certificate. Got a copy in the file.”

Eddie went back to his car, pulled out a file folder and made some phone calls. I leaned against the car hood and watched men load remains into a Coroner’s truck. After a few minutes, Eddie called to me. “Found the doctor who signed the certificate. Private practice, not far from here. Get in.”

Eddie and I pulled up in front of a Medical building on Okalaka Trail and went inside. He read the directory in the lobby and said, “Dr. Evangilista Suite 202.”

When we entered suite 202, a 50-ish brunette with a 40-ish inch bust in a size 30-ish blouse greeted us. “Afternoon, you have an appointment?”

Eddie displayed his badge.

She looked behind her and then leaned forward, straining her poor blouse further and whispered, “I don’t recognize you but I thought I settled that downtown.”

Eddie leaned forward and whispered back. “We’re here for the doctor.”

“Oh, he wasn’t involved in that. Other things, maybe, but his lawyer says, ‘Innocent until proven guilty’.”

Eddie said, “We’re here to see the doctor. Please show us in and we won’t have to talk about your… ‘visit’ downtown.”

The woman stood to reveal a short black skirt tighter than her blouse. She winked at Eddie. “His office’s this way. I’ll send him in as soon as he finishes his patient.”

When we entered Dr. Evangilista’s office, Eddie gestured towards the sofa. “Have a seat.”

“I’ll take a chair. I can imagine the uses that couch gets.”

“Oh, I’ve got a great chair at home. Maybe there’s something new I can show you?”

The door opened and balding man in his mid-forties entered. He seemed surprised to see us. “I’m Dr. Evangilista and you are…”

Eddie stood and flashed his badge. “Detective Franklin. Raquel Flanagan.”

The doctor sat behind his desk, swallowed and asked, “… and you’re here because?”

Eddie placed a copy of Orazio’s death certificate on the desk, pointed to it and asked, “This your signature?”

Evangilista scratched his nose, picked up the certificate, looked at it and put it down. Then he put on his glasses, picked up the certificate, held it for a moment and then put it down again. “What’s this about?” he asked.

Eddie leaned over the desk, placed his finger on the certificate and asked, “Is this your signature?”

The doctor swallowed and then wiped his forehead. “What if it is?”

“We both know the answer to my question. You can tell me if that’s your signature or I can have forensic auditors and the State Licensing Board investigators here tomorrow morning.”

“Too late. They left last week. You put in a word with the D.A., I’ll tell you what I know.

“I can’t help you with your license.”

Evangilista laughed. “That ship’s already sailed. Just keep me out of jail or if you can’t, then get me a reduced sentence. Anything. I’m desperate.”

Eddie said, “Give me something good, I’ll tell them how you helped in a murder investigation.”

“Murder? That should trump fraud. OK. It’s my signature. He made me do it, threatened to kill me.”

“Who?”

Evangilista flicked his hand at the certificate. “This crazy man, Orazio Medici.”

Once he admitted signing the certificate, Evangilista appeared relieved. Eddie opened his pad, “I want the whole story.” He clicked his pen and said, “Take your time.”

Evangilista sighed. “Might as well before someone else comes and asks about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Few years back. Some reporter came to see me. Asked the same things.”

“Know his name?”

Evangilista shook his head. “Something with an ‘F’, big Irish guy.” He looked at me. “Could be Flanagan.”

My jaw went slack but Eddie didn’t flinch. “What’d you tell him?”

“Nothing. Told him to get lost. Back then, nobody was preparing to yank my license and throw me in jail. You promise if I tell you what I know, you’ll tell the D.A. to take it easy on me?”

“Can’t promise what they’ll do, but I’ll tell them.”

Evangilista sat back and looked at Eddie for a while as if to gauge his integrity. Then he sat forward and said. “Twenty years ago, I just finished Medical School with big dreams and bigger debts. This area was rural back then and had no full time Medical Examiner, no need. I got hired as an Associate M.E., worked part time as needed to supplement my income while I started my practice.”

Eddie asked, “So you got the call for the murder-suicide. Did you know Orazio or his wife prior to that?”

“Never met them before. Wish I never did. I got to the scene and found two bodies. I pronounced them both and brought them in for autopsy. Back at the office, I’m all alone, working on the female, C.O.D. exsanguination due to a knife wound when I hear a sound behind me. The male, Orazio, sits up on the table and smiles at me.” EvRaquelista shook his head side to side. “I almost shit my pants.”

Evangilista got up, crossed the room and sat on the couch. Eddie and I turned to watch him while he poured a glass of water from a pitcher on the coffee table. He drank a sip and said, “The guy was some type of illusionist, could slow his body and hold his breath for, geez, must have been three minutes at a time. Made me an offer I couldn’t turn down. I sign, he pays my loans. I refuse, he kills me like he did the woman. He also said if I ever told anyone, he’d kill me and any family I might ever have. I was scared. He had nothing to lose by killing me. I signed the damn certificate.” Evangilista leaned back on the couch and sighed. “It ruined my life. Crime is a slippery slope.” He shrugged, “I’m going to lose everything soon anyway. If you can get me a favor when the shit hits my fan, I’d appreciate it.”

Eddie asked, “Who picked up the female?”

“I don’t recall, some friend of Orazio’s. His name, if it’s real, is right there on the death certificate.”