One of the Wicked: A Mick Callahan Novel (23 page)

I got her a glass of ice water. A plane crossed west to east on the way to the Burbank airport. My other neighbor came outside whistling, started watering his yard. Mary Kate ate most of the toast and finished the coffee. We talked around things, rather than about. Shared how we missed the desert sometimes, how the city smelled bad and felt crowded. We both agreed that country music was in the toilet except for the Dixie Chicks and that they had brass ovaries for speaking out against the war a few years back.

"Don't you have a show to do?"

I told her I was out of work again. Said I hoped to find something soon, but didn't know where I'd end up. Mary Kate expressed sympathy, and it seemed sincere. We agreed we'd have to make an effort to stay in touch.

Finally, I poured a second cup. "Let's talk about dickhead. How long have you known the guy?"

She sighed. "A couple of years and change."

"It's serious?"

"As a heart attack. We were engaged once. I broke it off because all we did was fight all the time." Mary Kate looked up. "He won't forget about this, Mick. You should have told him you're my brother."

I laughed. "Okay, you can tell him if you want. Personally, I didn't think he deserved to know."

"He's not so bad. Usually."

"Mary Kate, he beats you up. I know I don't have to explain how low it is, you're smarter than that."

"I bring it on myself sometimes," she said, and then blushed. "I can be pretty hard to get along with."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this crap from you."

Her eyes flashed, but she didn't argue. The blush deepened to purple. Mary Kate picked at her fingernails. "You know, we still have to make up some nicknames for each other one of these days. You been thinking on that?"

"Not really, not yet, but I will."

"Okay."

"Mary Kate, I'm biting my lip to keep from going off on you. Have you ever tried the program? For real?"

"AA ain't for everybody," she said defiantly, repeating my own sentiments. And, of course, she was right. It was there for everyone, but only worked for a fortunate few.

"You gave the program a shot?"

"I went to meetings in Reno for a time and even got a sponsor, but I can't handle all the God crap. It's too much like a cult."

"It can be. It can also save your life. A lot depends on how you approach it, and who you choose to hang out with. You ever change your mind, want to give it another try, I'll introduce you to some women who have it together."

She met my eyes. "Not likely, big brother."

I shrugged. "Standing offer, kid sister."

"Fuck you," she said, but not unkindly.

I touched her arm. "Hey, and fuck you, too."

The wall clock seemed to get louder. Our eyes went moist and drifted sideways. Mary Kate and Mick Callahan, sentimental Irish fools. We both looked out the window as if suddenly fascinated by the shadows caressing the leaves. A couple of awkward kids.

My telephone rang, almost on cue. I left her at the table and went to answer it in the living room.

"Callahan."

"Good morning, sunshine," Jerry barked. "This is your lucky day."

I took the portable phone out onto the back porch, lowered my voice. "What have you got?"

"We found the car Faber and Toole rented. It's sitting unclaimed in a parking lot out by LAX."

"Did you call Donato?"

"Yeah, and he suggested we stick with Lopez. Like, why bring someone new into it, right?"

"Makes sense, but Dave said he was out."

"Five hundred bucks in cash changed his mind. Anyway, late last night Dave and I had a look. We were careful, believe me."

"And. . . . ?"

"And nothing. Zip. Nada. That ride was wiped clean of prints, Mick. It didn't have so much as one cigarette butt in the ashtray. Maybe a police forensics team could turn something up, but one thing I can tell you for sure is that Faber and Toole really don't want to be found, not any time soon."

"That's a lot of trouble for a couple of drug dealers to go through, since as far as they know, the only one after them is Bud. That is, unless they do know something serious about Gordo and the murder. Or maybe killed him themselves?"

"That's what I was thinking."

"Good job, Jerry. What about the other vehicle, the one that nabbed Brandi?"

"Lopez is doing some legwork. He says we have it down to a few more cars in the LA area that might fit the bill. I'll keep you posted."

"Okay. Thanks."

I cut the connection, sat down on my back porch and considered this new development. The pieces had to fit together somehow, but the pattern eluded me, the next piece tantalizingly out of reach. I finally decided to take Mary Kate to the Hungry Fox for some home cooking, just to take my mind off a steadily increasing state of confusion. I put the phone back.

"Sis, you up for some breakfast?"

No answer. I went into the kitchen. Her plate and cup were in the sink. I went back down the hall to the bedroom then checked the guest bathroom. No one. I looked everywhere. The house was empty. I walked out into the front yard and went to the curb, stared both ways. No sign of her. Mary Kate was gone. Hell, I don't know how, maybe she just hitched a ride with the neighbor's gardener.

"Nice knowing you."

I walked back inside, feeling weighted down. I locked the door and went into the office to fire up my computer. I had three E-mails, one from Judd Kramer. I opened it and discovered a paragraph describing a job offer at a small station in New Mexico. I'd have to do some local news, but the money was decent, and the company would pay any moving expenses. Would I be interested? I did a search on the call letters and called up some photos of the locale. Nice. It pissed me off that Judd hadn't had the testicles to just call me, but then I'd been pretty rough on his sorry ass. Should I even call him back?

Maybe, but not yet. The idea I'd be allowing Judd to collect a commission from me ever again gave me serious pause. Besides, I'd have to sell the house and leave town. I didn't know what it would mean for my relationship with Darlene, if I could still call it that.

Eventually I took the easy way out and e-mailed back that I'd think about it for a couple of days.

The next missive was from Darlene, asking me to call her as soon as I had some privacy. The third was from Hal. I called him first, tracked him down and pulled him up on video chat.

"Where are you?"

Hal held up a glass full of what appeared to be iced coffee. "I'll give you a hint. It's very hot."

"So? It's hot as hell here in Los Angeles."

"Drive to the coast, young stallion. Enjoy the sea breeze and the clear air. Then you'll have a better idea."

"Hal, it's too early in the morning for this. Hawaii?"

"You think like such a plebeian." He sipped the drink, slowly turned the computer and camera to show me an expanse of white sand and clear water. His face appeared again. He was rubbing on sun screen. "I am ensconced on the beach near San Juan, sir. The people are pleasant, the prices outrageous, and the ladies scantily clad."

"Hey, I am so happy for you, old man."

"You would be if you loved me. Oh, Callahan, I can personally assure you that the thong bikini is the best invention since sliced bread."

"Sliced bread is such an apt metaphor. Can you spare a few minutes, or have you already taken the Viagra?"

"Don't get snippy with me." Hal leaned back, took another sip of his coffee drink. "It is times like these that almost make a man wish he weren't over twenty-five years clean and sober."

"If you weren't, you'd go to sleep in Puerto Rico and wake up in Cleveland."

"Hey, I said almost."

I told him about Mary Kate having shown up and just as suddenly disappeared. Hal shook his head. "This must break your heart."

"What was left. It really is a shame. And I know there's not a damned thing I can say or do to make it better, Hal. Mary Kate has already been to meetings, and she's easily as stubborn as me."

"Perhaps she'll be back, Mick. This is a program of attraction."

"Rather than promotion. I know."

"Any news from Jerry on our project?"

"We're closing in. The car Faber and Toole were driving is out by the LA airport, but it was picked clean. There's nothing for us to go on, except that it was a rental. Hopefully we'll have something more to work with soon."

"Hopefully."

Hal leaned back in his chair. Sun reflected from his forehead and confused the camera for a moment. I looked down at the keyboard. "Kramer relayed a job offer. It's in New Mexico."

"Oh, excrement."

"Exactly. Good news, bad news."

"I have begun to ponder the notion that you may be in the wrong business anyway, stallion. Imagine the money you could make if you started getting paid for all of this . . . extra-curricular activity."

"Just imagine." I stared at the screen, my face letting him know I considered that a terrible idea.

"It was just a thought."

"Believe me, Hal, sometimes I do think about changing careers, but I suppose I enjoy it enough to keep going."

"Really?"

"Well, the therapy part, anyway."

"Consider carefully. Mick Callahan, Private Eye."

"Sounds like bad television."

"And your point would be. . . . ?"

"Up yours, old man."

We both grinned. Hal said, "I just have to ask you one question, Mick. It is a very serious question. Do you love this young policewoman? Love her enough to seal the bargain?"

"If I knew the answer to that, I wouldn't have to come to you for advice."

"That seems slippery, and perhaps beneath you."

I leaned forward. "I love Darlene, Hal. How much and in exactly what way is the question. And to be honest with you, if I proposed I don't think she'd accept, for a lot of different reasons."

"Give me two."

"We fight way too often. My work makes me travel. Finally, she is dedicated to her own career."

Hal pursed his lips. "Unfortunately, those are very good reasons."

"I know."

"I feel like a stroll along the sand," Hal said. "May I check back with you later this morning?"

"Sure, or I'll call you."

"How are the finances, do you need anything?"

I shook my head. "You're very generous, as usual. Jerry has plenty of cash for what he's doing, Lopez is caught up, and our other expenses have been covered."

"Do you require a loan whilst unemployed?"

"I'm fine. Go study butt cheeks."

"I shall, I assure you. I shall indeed."

We broke the connection. I sat back in the chair and rolled backwards, away from the computer just as my fax machine whirred and began printing. Two pages of text arrived; a cover sheet from a public machine and a one-page fax from Darlene. As I studied it, my stomach sank to the hardwood floor and even did a bit of mopping.
When it rains, it freaking pours. . . .

It took me a good five minutes to work up the gumption to dial her on the cell. She picked me up from caller ID. "First, I want you to know I just put in for some personal time. I get the distinct feeling you're going to need all the help you can get. I'm on leave when I wrap up my shift this afternoon."

"I don't know what to say."

"Try you're beautiful, sexy, and I love you more than life itself."

"You're beautiful and sexy and I love you more than life itself."

"Once more with feeling."

"Later. I'll work on it, I promise."

The humor was a bit forced. We both knew it. Finally, Darlene said, "Did you get my fax? I sent it from an office supply on Vineland in North Hollywood."

"Yes, it just arrived."

"And?"

I sighed. "To be honest with you, Darlene, I'm feeling pretty strange right now."

"Me, too."

"Because I don't know how to take this."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," I said quite carefully, "last night you were complaining about being dragged into a bunch of new problems and having your career endangered. Today you say you're taking time off to watch my back, and you dig into Mary Kate's past and fax me her jacket."

"No good deed goes unpunished."

"What possessed you to take the risk of running her through the system?"

"Did it ever occur to you to thank me?"

"I sincerely thank you for being in my life, Darlene."

"Mick, I'm trying to help."

"And I appreciate that. But this is my sister we're talking about, not some lowlife we just stumbled across. Suddenly reading about her past problems with the law sort of gives me the creeps."

Uh oh
. Darlene was steaming again. "Mick, just in case you need glasses, Mary Callahan, your newly discovered sister, has used the alias Mary Catherine Carter. She has an open warrant in Texas for failing to show up for sentencing on a DWI. She's also been busted for kiting checks, case dismissed for lack of evidence. Oh, and she was once charged with prostitution but charges were dropped when she turned State's on the escort service."

"Okay. Okay."

"Look, nothing personal, but she doesn't seem like the kind of girl that should have the spare keys to your car or access to any of your finances, and I thought you should know."

"Okay, now I know."

Darlene took a deep breath. I heard voices approaching her. "I have to go," she said. "And, Mick? It gets worse. We were right. According to CSI they found some of Bud Stone's prints at the Gordo murder scene. There's a warrant and an APB on your friend as of this morning. I'm sorry."

The phone went dead. I closed my eyes. "Yeah, I'm sorry, too."

"You've got mail."