Murder 101 (25 page)

“Done.”

“And while you’re on the phone, I suppose you can call your buddy when it’s a decent hour in L.A. Let me know what he says. If he wants to come out, I’ll talk to him but no promises. I not only have to approve him, I’m going to have to figure out how to pull money out of my butt to get him hired on as a consultant.”

“I understand.”

“Let me know when Tyler wakes up. I want to be there when he tells his story.” Radar licked his lips. “He didn’t tell you anything about what went down?”

“He heard someone. He locked himself in the closet. That’s all I know.”

“I want the full story from him. You call me right away. And also call me when the parents arrive. I don’t care what time it is. I want to talk to them personally.”

“That’s good because I’m sure they’ll want to talk to you,” Decker said. “Judging from the way Tyler talks about them, I don’t think they usually deal with underlings.”

CHAPTER 25

A
FTER DECKER SPENT
a half hour, meticulously explaining everything, the kid’s sole comment was, “So I’m being replaced.”

“No . . . no, not at all.” Decker rubbed his eyes. “You’re still actively involved. But because of the obvious circumstances, you can’t do the legwork. If you want to heal properly, you can’t be running around.”

“I wouldn’t be running around. I’d be in a car. I can put on a seat belt.”

“As my kids would say, I’m not having this conversation.” Decker had to be blunt. “McAdams, if someone starts shooting at the car, you’re a sitting duck because you’re immobile. We have to keep you protected—”

“I don’t
want
protection.” A pause. “Well, I do. But I don’t want to be sitting on my ass while you get all the glory.”

“The glory is all yours, McAdams.”

“
I
figured out the codebook.”

“Absolutely—”

“I still have a working brain—”

“And I intend to use it. Summer Village is giving the codebook to Mordechai Gold. When he has something, I’ll go up there—”

“With your new partner.”

Decker treaded gingerly. “He’s not my new partner, Tyler. You are my partner. But Radar will pull me off the case unless I have someone to ride with me.”

“So use someone else from Greenbury.”

“The dees in the town are already stretched. They’re hunting down the van, they’re canvassing the area, they’re calling hospitals left and right because I nicked the guy at my house. They’re also knee deep in forensics combing through
two
houses. That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to bring in a third party.”

“Your cop buddy.”

“Tyler, he’s a great cop and we work well together.” Decker knew his words were a mistake. He tried to backtrack. “He’s bored. I’m doing him a favor.”

“Fuck it, Old Man. I don’t give a shit.” The kid sunk back in his hospital bed. “I’m tired. Leave me alone.”

“I called your parents.”

“So you not only dumped me, you’re now a traitor. Get the fuck out of here.”

“Just shut up and listen. I had to call your parents. If I didn’t do it, Radar would have called them. So I did it. You should be giving me sympathy, not sass.”

“You and my father deserve each other.”

“You’re moving into my house by the way. That way the cops here only have to guard one location.”

“I don’t need a guard.”

“Don’t be stupid. Of course you need protection and so does Rina. She was there when Mr. Shadow tried to take us both out. Mike’s putting a twenty-four-hour guard on the house and on the two of you. So whether you like it or not, you’re involved up to your neck.”

McAdams clenched his jaw. “You’re actually moving me into your house?”

“Rina’s idea not mine.”

“Figures.” A pause. “Where’s the new guy staying?”

“Oliver? If Radar approves, he’ll stay with us as well. It’s a three-bedroom house. He’s no threat to you, Tyler. He’s an old guy just like me.”

The kid was still sulking. “When you talk to Gold, I want to be there. It was my idea to call him.”

“You cannot be there in person, McAdams, but we’ll Skype you in. You’ll have the codebook in front of you and you can ask as many questions as you want.”

“How long is this interloper going to be here?”

“Until we get a solve. It won’t be permanent.”

“I can’t believe you called my parents against my wishes.”

“We’re crossing the same road, Harvard.”

He blew out air. “Are they coming in?”

“Of course, they’re coming in. They were very concerned.”

“Right. Let me guess. My father started screaming—his default way of communicating. First, he started swearing at me, calling me an incompetent moron, and then he probably turned his wrath on you, saying that you were also an incompetent moron and everything that happened was your fault.” When Decker didn’t answer, the kid said, “How am I doing?”

“He called me an idiot not a moron.”

The kid managed a smile. “My mother probably listened for a moment, and then she put you through to her secretary for the details.”

“You know the first thing out of their mouths?” Decker said. “They asked me if you were okay.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“They care, Tyler.” Decker stood up. “I have to call Radar. He wants to come down here when you make your statement.”

“I already told you everything.”

“I was supposed to call him when you woke up and started talking. But I didn’t. If you could, pretend that you just woke up and you’re telling your story to both of us for the first time.”

“You wanted to hear everything from me first.”

“Yes.”

“So you’re asking me to lie to protect your ass.”

“It would be nice.”

“What’s Mike doing now?”

“He’s directing forensics. You were shot with a .32-caliber bullet, probably a revolver because so far CID didn’t find any casings. Too bad the asshole didn’t drop the murder weapon when I shot him.”

“Maybe he picked the casings up.”

“I think I surprised him when Rina and I crashed through your door. He wouldn’t have had time to pick it up. But we did find two stray bullets in the closet.”

“Any prints?”

“I don’t know.” Decker waited a few seconds. “How do you feel, Harvard?”

“Like a truck ran over me.”

“Do you want me to call in a nurse for more pain medication?”

“No.” He shook his head. “No.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. I fucking hurt. But it’s good to feel something real for a change.”

THE SHOOTING HAD
brought the mayor down to the hospital. Logan Brettly was in his fifties, average height with a barrel chest and curly white hair. He came into Tyler’s room just in time to intercept Jack McAdams’s wrath, which had been previously bestowed on Decker, Mike Radar, and of course, his son. Tyler had listened wordlessly as his father heaped insults without pause. The senior McAdams was a tall, good-looking man in his fifties: dark curly hair, big chin, flashing blue eyes, and a foul mouth. He ranted endlessly about being surrounded by idiots, morons, and cretins. Then came the inevitable mention of lawsuits.

“Dad, I’m not suing anyone.” Somehow, Tyler had managed to interrupt his diatribe. “And even if I wanted to—and I don’t—I have no case.”

“Oh, shut up. If you would have gone to law school, you wouldn’t be in this mess right now.” The senior McAdams turned his fury on the mayor. “Logan, you assured me that this job was a cakewalk, a mere formality so the kid can pass a couple of years doing something other than jerking off. What the hell was that all about?”

“Jack, nothing like this has happened in this town in years. I know you’re upset—”

“Of course, I’m fucking upset. I’m pissed off!” He pointed to the bed. “Look at him!”

The nurse walked in. “Sir, this is causing quite a ruckus.”

“Get out of here!” Jack snapped.

The nurse turned wide-eyed. The mayor nodded and she turned tail and ran. The room fell silent, but not for long. Big McAdams launched another tirade. Decker had enough. He didn’t mind having his ass reamed, but the man’s berating wasn’t doing Tyler any good. “Your kid is lying in a hospital bed, having been shot by God only knows who. Can you dial it back, please?”

Jack turned on him. “I damn well know what happened. And let me tell you something. You’d better have good representation right now, Old Man. I hold you responsible for sending my son out in the line of fire.”

Decker said, “I will take full responsibility—”

“You’d better pray that your pension is untouchable because after I’m done with you, you’ll be lucky to get a job as a guard at an old age home, which is where you belong.”

“Dad, enough!” Tyler got out.

“Shut up!”

“I’m serious, Dad. That’s enough!”

“Fucking moron!”

“We’re all idiots and morons: I get it!” Tyler blew out air. “Can you cap it for a second so I can catch my breath?”

No one spoke.

Tyler said, “Dad, I’ll be in Boston by August, ready to join the ranks of all the fine minds of law who came before me. So it’s all good, okay?”

For the first time, the senior McAdams had managed to lower his voice. “I’ve heard that before.”

“I’m serious.”

McAdams weighed the kid’s words. “You’re finally going to do it?”

“I never said I wasn’t. I just wasn’t ready to do it right after graduation.”

“You’ve been stalling to spite me. And now look at you!”

“If I had a crystal ball to see into the future, I might have reconsidered. But I didn’t, so it is what it is. Can we move on?”

“We would have been all set up by now—”

“That’s not moving on, Dad.”

Jack McAdams looked at his watch. “I have to be back in New York. I have an eight
A.M.
breakfast meeting tomorrow.”

“I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say you can leave.”

“I don’t want you left alone, Tyler. I know you think I’m an asshole but I really do care about your safety.”

“At least until I enter law school.”

“Stop it.”

“Go, Dad. Just . . . go.”

“I’ll be with him,” Decker said.

“How reassuring!”

Tyler said, “Dad, he saved my life. You might try a thank you.”

“He put you in jeopardy in the first place.”

“He didn’t put me in danger,
I
put me in danger. I took the job, which means I should have learned to use a firearm a long time ago. I fucked up. So if you’re going to sue anyone, sue me. And you know my assets better than anyone. You could walk away with a bundle.”

“Stop it, Tyler. Just . . . shut up!” Then Jack said, “When’s your mother arriving?”

“Tomorrow. I told her I was okay and after very little convincing, she took my word at face value.” A pause. “I didn’t want you two here at the same time.”

“That was smart.”

“Can you please leave? We’ve got it all figured out.”

“Who’s we?”

“Detective Decker and me. I’m moving into his house—”

“Are you out of your mind?” The senior McAdams was pacing again. “You’re coming back to New York just as soon as you’re discharged.”

“No, I’m not. I’m staying here until I know what’s going on. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt, including you believe it or not.”

“Don’t be an idiot!”

“Do you want me in law school, yes or no?”

“Tyler—”

“Let me handle this, Dad. Let me do it my way—”

“I’ve seen what happens when you do it your way.”

“Move . . . on!” Tyler snapped. “You are incredibly impossible. Is it any wonder that I defy you all the time? If you shut up right now, I promise I’ll make the plunge.”

“You know how
important
that is.”

“I know but ultimately, I hold the cards. So don’t piss me off and we’ll both be happy. Now could you kindly go so I can get a little rest?”

The senior McAdams looked at his watch. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

“Just go home.”

“I don’t want to go home. I want to come back in an hour. Any objections?”

“Would it do any good if I did object?”

“None whatsoever.”

“Fine. I’ll see you in an hour.”

Jack turned to the mayor. “I’m hungry.”

“I’ll take you out, Jack.”

“You damn well better take me out, Logan, if you know what’s good for you.”

Decker could hear Jack’s voice even after the two of them were down the corridor. He tried out a smile. Mike Radar didn’t even bother to fake it. “I think I’m going to go make myself useful. I’d rather deal with just about anything than take abuse like that.”

“I apologize,” Tyler said.

“No, I owe you an apology,” Radar said. “You didn’t want me to call them and I did it anyway. My mistake.”

“Exactly how much money does he give to the town?”

“Enough to make the mayor keep his mouth shut while he berates public servants.”

“Again, I apologize.”

“How are you feeling, Tyler?”

A forced smile. “Once he leaves, I’ll be a lot better.”

To Decker, Radar said, “So you’ll stick around?”

“Yes. I have a little thinking to do and I could use Tyler’s brain. Let’s meet up at the station house at around six in the evening. I’m going to bring Rina with me. I don’t want to leave her alone at night right now even with a cop outside our door.”

“That sounds fine.”

“Who’s outside my house?”

“Wickel until six. Then I have O’Brien from six to twelve. I’ll keep him there even if no one’s home. Kramer’s taking the graveyard shift.”

“Thanks. At some point, I’m going to need to sleep.”

“It’s not a problem. We’ve got a post outside the hospital room so you can leave whenever you need to.” To Tyler, Radar said, “Heal up, son. That’s your sole job.”

After he left, Decker blew out air. “You should probably get some sleep.”

“I’m too pissed to be tired. I was just starting to feel like I’m doing something positive and then . . .” He threw up his hands. “It’s like . . . why bother?”

Decker was about to give a pep talk, but changed his mind. He switched gears. “Why is he so keen on your going to law school?”

“Following in the old man’s way.”

“There’s more to it than that.”

“Yes, there is.” Silence. “I suppose I owe it to you to tell you what’s going on.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“That’s not true. Let me ask you this, Decker. That night . . . how long did it take you to realize that I might be in trouble?”

“I didn’t.” Decker felt sheepish. “Rina realized it moments after I made the 911 call.”

McAdams laughed. “Well, you’re honest.”

“I almost broke my shoulder for you if that counts.”

“Maybe a teensy bit. Remind me to send your wife a dozen roses.” The kid tried to shift his position, but his leg was in traction.

“You need help?” Decker asked.

“No, I’m okay.” Tyler said, “My father’s right about one thing. I have been putzing around just to spite him.” He grimaced. “We both can’t fully inherit until I finish Harvard Law. Neither can Harvard Law. My grandfather left a shitload of money to them with the proviso that they take me and I graduate. Needless to say I could sit on my ass drooling for three years and I’d still matriculate. To prevent that, Grandpa stipulated that I have to pass three bars—New York, California, and Massachusetts. So I do actually have to learn something. We get a chunk when I enroll, another chunk when I graduate, and the final chunk when I pass all the bars. And until I do, both Dad and I are on a generous but fixed income. I don’t care. But he does.”