Cold Judgment (14 page)

 

 

Curtis Holt pulled out a crumpled handkerchief and blew his nose. He had a rotten winter cold. The bright fluorescent lights in the squad room hurt his eyes and his throat felt scratchy. He had taken a timed-release cold capsule before he'd left his apartment, but maybe it was time for more vitamin C. He'd wash it down with a cup of coffee. He could use the caffeine.

Curt felt around in his pocket for change. The Feldman murder case was getting him down and now he had the priest on top of it. Two murders at once were a pain. He needed some help, but today was Mac's day off and Curt didn't want to bother him at home. Mac would tell him to look for connections, but there didn't seem to be any. As far as Curt could tell, the murders were unrelated. Mac had known Feldman, so he couldn't be officially assigned to the case. And he had known the priest, too. Curt frowned. The only connection between the two murders was Mac!

For a moment Curt was alarmed. Then he grinned sheepishly. St. Steven's Church was on lower Hennepin. Mac had walked that beat when he was a rookie. And Feldman was a dentist. Mac was probably a former patient. Of course he'd run a routine check, but it probably wasn't important at all.

Curt sneezed and blew his nose again. His wife had filled a Baggie with high-potency vitamin C, and Curt chuckled as he took it out of his pocket. If the narc boys came in, he'd probably be busted for possession.

The coffee machine buzzed loudly. Curt knew it was daring him to put in his money. This time he had it licked. He knew exactly what to do.

Curt dropped his money in the slot. The machine accepted his coins with a series of clicks. Curt whacked the metal frame exactly as Mac had done and stood back, grinning. The coffee splashed out and ran down the drain. No cup.

“Aw, shit!” Curt groaned loudly. He was debating the wisdom of investing another fifty cents when the new female rookie walked into the room. She was a gorgeous redhead in her twenties. The guys called her Bazookas.

“Hello, Sergeant Holt.”

Curt smiled back and nodded. For the life of him he couldn't remember her real name. He opened his mouth to warn her about the coffee machine, but it was too late. She had already dropped in her money.

The machine whirred smoothly. The cup dropped into perfect position. Coffee filled it to within a half-inch of the rim and stopped.

“Uh . . . Carol?” Curt grinned as he remembered her name. “Would you get one of those for me, too? I'm up to my neck in this paperwork.”

“Sure, Sergeant Holt.” She took his coins and gave him the world's sweetest smile. “I had trouble with the coffee machine, too, at first. You just have to show it who's boss.”

CHAPTER 20

“Believe me, Debbie, it's a lot safer if you stay with Elena. I'll put Nora on the train and meet you at the theater.”

Debra gave in reluctantly. She was so scared, she hated to let Mac out of her sight, but he was right. She'd be perfectly safe if she stayed close to Elena.

All their plans were made. Nora was leaving tonight on the train to Chicago. She had phoned to reserve a compartment. Elena would fly to meet her tomorrow. As the show's choreographer, she was required to attend the opening night and make notes on any last-minute changes in the dance numbers. She would be free to leave in the morning once the show was set.

Mac glanced at his watch. “We'll leave in a minute, Nora. You'd better get ready. Put on Debbie's coat and scarf. If anyone's watching, they'll think Debbie and I are leaving and you're still inside.”

“It's early, Mac!” Nora looked puzzled. “If we leave now, I'll get to the station an hour before I can board.”

“I want to drive around for a while and make sure we're not tailed. Let's see what you look like in Debbie's clothes.”

Nora put on the cloth coat and frowned at her reflection in the mirror. With Debra's scarf wrapped around her head, she looked like a frump. She almost told Mac she wouldn't be caught dead wearing a scarf, but the time for joking was over. She'd wear galoshes and overalls if it meant she could get out of town safely.

“You can have my sealskin to wear while I'm gone.” Nora took a coat from the hanger and tossed it to Debra. “I guarantee it'll change your life.” Debra was stunned. Nora's coat was obviously expensive.

“Are you sure, Nora? I've got another coat at my apartment I can wear.”

“Of course I'm sure. Live it up a little, darling. You'll look gorgeous in it.”

Debra smiled as she stroked the soft fur. She had refused to wear animal skins of any kind for conservationist reasons. It was an easy commitment to make. Fur coats cost much more than she could afford.

“Thank you, Nora.” Debra gave her a grateful kiss on the cheek. She hoped none of the Greenpeace people would be at the Guthrie tonight.

“Bring my full-length mink cape when you fly up tomorrow.” Nora hugged Elena hard. “And tell April to break a leg. You don't have to mention that I mean it literally.”

“I love you, Nora.” Elena hugged her back. “I'll meet you at four tomorrow afternoon.”

There were tears in Nora's eyes as she kissed Elena good-bye. Debra swallowed past the lump in her throat. They really loved each other. She thought about how she'd feel if she had to leave Mac and she almost burst into tears.

Mac cleared his throat. “Come on, Nora. You don't want to miss your train.”

Elena handed Nora her tote bag. “Have the porter make up your berth right away and take two Valiums the minute the train pulls out of the station. You can sleep all the way to Chicago.”

Elena's smile stayed in place until the door had closed behind them. Then her shoulders slumped and she brushed the tears from her cheek with the back of her hand. She turned back to Debra and tried to smile.

“I thought we'd open a bottle of Chardonnay to celebrate Nora's escape. We've got an hour before we have to leave. Then we'll splurge and take a taxi to the Guthrie.”

“That sounds fine.” Debra smiled back. She noticed that Elena's hands were shaking as she took out the wine. “Do you want me to open that, Elena?”

“I think you'd better.” Elena sighed as she handed over the corkscrew. “I'll probably stab myself with the damn thing. That'd be poetic. Nora flees on the train in the midst of danger and I do myself in with a corkscrew at home.”

 

 

Dr. Elias had just finished an excellent dinner. The coq au vin from the Orion Room had been perfect tonight. He poured himself a small glass of port and placed the leather case containing his father's meerschaum on the table next to his chair.

An evening of relaxation awaited him. Dr. Elias tuned the radio to KSJN. They were playing Mahler's Symphony no. 2 in C Minor. It was one of his favorites. It addressed the
why
of human existence. Mahler told a German critic that it was a sequel to his First Symphony, written five years earlier. The first movement, “Celebration of the Dead,” bore the hero from his First Symphony to the grave. Mahler said it asked the great questions:
Why have you lived? Why have you suffered?
And
, Has it all been only a huge, frightful joke?

Dr. Elias particularly looked forward to the graceful Austrian folk dance in the second movement and the horns of the apocalypse in the fifth. The symphony climaxed with a burst of shattering power that he always found invigorating.

The theme from
All Things Considered
was just ending. Dr. Elias adjusted the volume. There would be a brief series of public announcements and then the symphony would start.

Dr. Elias hurried to the phone as the music critic began to give the program notes. Nora was missing her opening night. He had to find out what had happened.

It took twenty minutes to get through to someone who had the necessary information. The first movement was just ending as Dr. Elias was connected to the manager's office. Miss Stanford had been called out of town for a family emergency. Her mother was extremely ill. The theater manager didn't know when she would be back. He expected Miss Stanford to contact him tomorrow by phone.

There was a frown on Dr. Elias's face as he turned up the radio and sat back down in his chair. Nora's mother was dead. She had no family. Obviously the emergency was an excuse. Nora had panicked. She was breaking down and he had to find her.

It was only natural that the last few members of the group would try to leave town. Dr. Elias had prepared for this eventuality. He knew he could determine where Nora had gone. He had the advantage of knowing her response patterns. Nora had been honest and open in her therapy. Dr. Elias concentrated on remembering what she had revealed in her sessions.

The contralto was beginning the folk poetry lyrics in the fourth movement when Dr. Elias thought of it. Sarah Edwards, Nora's favorite drama teacher, was the key. She was the only person Nora had ever gone to for help. Dr. Elias got up from his chair and hurried to the office. He had the address in his files.

His records were cross-indexed and Dr. Elias found the information in minutes. Sarah Edwards lived in Chicago. If Nora had left by car, it would be difficult to intercept her.

Nora hated long cross-country drives and she had no patience in traffic. Dr. Elias was sure that she would not drive by herself. The first thing to do was to check the studio to see if Elena was still there.

Elena picked up the phone on the first ring. Dr. Elias recognized her voice. He apologized for reaching the wrong number and hung up quickly. Nora had not left town by car.

She would not take a plane. Dr. Elias knew that Nora was terrified of flying. A bus was too common. Nora liked to travel in style. That left the train. Naturally she would reserve a compartment under an assumed name. Dr. Elias smiled as he dialed the Amtrak information number.

He was still smiling as he hung up the phone. There was only one train leaving for the East tonight, at eight forty-seven. He had over an hour to prepare. Union Station was in St. Paul, but the freeways provided an easy access. It was only a twenty-minute ride by cab. Nora couldn't have made things easier for him if she had tried.

Dr. Elias glanced at his watch. The gift shop downstairs was still open and they had precisely what he needed for Nora. He smiled as he walked down the hallway and pressed the button for the elevator. Human behavior was entirely predictable if one took the time to analyze the possibilities and narrow them down to an inevitable conclusion.

 

 

“Neat-o, Dad!” James grinned as he grabbed another slice of pizza and sprinkled it with crushed peppers. Mom called it garbage pizza because it had everything on it. Sausage, cheese, pepperoni, olives, tomatoes, Canadian bacon, onions, and a side order of anchovies for Dad. James took a big mouthful and chewed.

“It's just like this movie I saw on television last night. We'll be fugitives!”

“Not quite.” Charles laughed. “We're just sneaking out of town for a couple of days, James. It's actually more like playing hooky. The governor does it all the time. Just make sure you don't tell anyone that we're going.”

“My lips are sealed.” James picked off a piece of pepperoni and threw it to Ralph. “I don't mind missing the hockey game as long as you pack my skis.”

Trish looked disgruntled. She removed the slices of ripe olive from her pizza and arranged them neatly on the edge of her paper plate.

“Regina Cook'll be in seventh heaven. She'll throw herself at Darin while I'm gone. It'll be absolutely disgusting!”

“Let Regina make a fool of herself.” Kay smiled at her. “Then Darin will appreciate you that much more when you get home.”

“Oh, Mom!” Trish frowned. “Maybe that was true in the Dark Ages, but things are different today. Darin's a hunk. If I'm not here to keep him interested, he'll find someone else.”

Trish was in the throes of her first love, a tall, gangly high school junior who tripped over his own feet unless he was on the basketball court. Kay failed to see the attraction, but Trish was only fifteen. There was still hope that she'd develop better taste in men as she got older.

“I've got it!” Trish smiled suddenly. “I'll call Darin right before we leave and tell him I have to go undercover for a while. He'll be so busy trying to figure out what's happening that he won't even notice Regina.”

Charles shook his head as Kay offered him the last piece of pizza. James looked like a vulture, ready to swoop, and Kay passed it over to him.

“You kids wrap your presents as soon as you're through eating.” Charles pushed his chair back from the table. “We'll load the car later tonight.”

“What time are we leaving?” Trish set her paper plate down on the floor for Ralph. There were seven slices of olive and a big piece of crust that she hadn't eaten. Kay sighed. Trish was dieting again. The anorexic look must still be popular with her peers.

“Your mother's got a fashion show she can't get out of, and I have to arrange some things at the office. We plan on leaving here about three in the afternoon.”

“Will Grandma have a tree?”

Kay laughed at James's worried expression. “If she doesn't, we'll go out and cut one. Maybe you'd better box up some of those plastic ornaments, James. We don't want Ralph to ruin Grandma's tree.”

“Oh, no!” Trish made a face. “I forgot about Ralph. I hope he doesn't get carsick again. Last time we took him along, he barfed all over my coat.”

 

 

“That van just turned off, Mac.” Nora shivered as she watched out the rear window. “I don't think there's anybody behind us now.”

Mac nodded grimly. He had seen the van in the rearview mirror. It had been following them for the past ten blocks, but now it was gone.

“Where are you going?” Nora looked puzzled as they turned into the Kellogg Square parking ramp. “We're not going to walk from here, are we?”

“Of course not.” Mac grinned at her as he took a ticket. “It's a trick I learned from the movies. We'll go up the ramp and come back down again. You keep an eye on any cars that pull in behind us and leave when we do.”

Nora nodded. It made sense. A green Ford was behind them as they went up the ramp, but it turned off and parked on the second level. No one followed them to the top. A car pulled out as they started down the ramp, but two teenage girls were inside. Mac pulled off at the next level to let them pass.

“Mac! There's a red VW behind us!” Nora's voice was shaking. “I think it's the same one that followed us on the freeway!”

Mac almost told Nora not to worry, that there were thousands of red VW bugs in the Twin Cities. He caught himself just in time. Even though the probability was next to zero, it wouldn't hurt to check it out.

“See if you can get a look inside when I stop at the ticket booth.”

Nora turned around on the seat to stare at the car behind them. “A man's driving. He's alone. Dark hair, glasses . . . oh, hell, Mac! There's a kid in the passenger seat. I can just see the top of his head.”

“Okay. We're clear.”

Mac drove to the post office and pulled into the lot. He shut off the engine and looked around before he opened the door.

“We'll walk over from here, Nora. We can get a good look at anyone who follows us across the street.”

No one followed them. Nora stuck close to Mac as they walked across the street and entered the station. It was crowded with holiday travelers. Nora carefully examined every face, but no one was paying any attention to them. They stood in a long line to confirm her reservation.

As they neared the front, Nora tugged at Mac's arm. “The tickets are reserved under the name Christie, first initial A.”

“Miss A. Christie.” Mac nodded and then it sank in. He started to grin. “Agatha, right? Nora . . . you really are incorrigible.”

Finally they were done. Mac led her away from the ticket window and found a bench by the coffee machine.

“Do you want a bottle of water, or fruit juice? Or a cup of coffee? We've still got fifteen minutes before they call your train.”