Smash Cut (18 page)
Authors: Sandra Brown
Tags: #Legal, #Suspense, #Fiction, #General, #Georgia, #Thrillers, #Rich people, #Atlanta (Ga.), #Trials (Murder), #Legal stories, #Rich People - Georgia
Creighton had come slowly to his feet. Except that I have one last detail of my own. He had smiled, but in a way that made Billys heart hitch.
What detail?
Im not as
relaxed
as you are. Especially about your ex-lover.
The hitch in his heart had become a hammer. She doesnt even know Im in Georgia.
Creightons smile had turned sad. Billy, you really shouldnt lie to your partner.
Im not lying.
Creighton had leaned in and whispered, Ive talked to Ariel.
Billyd almost thrown up his coffee. You did? When? Where?
I know about the phone calls.
Still trying to brazen it out, hed stammered, Ph-phone calls? I dont know what youre talking about. What phone calls?
Dont try that bluster on me, Billy. You know what phone calls Im talking about.
I swear I dont. Hed denied it with all the passion he could muster. He was ashamed now of how desperate he must have appeared to the rich bastard. Look, I dont know what Ariel told you, but theres no way she could know Im within a thousand miles of here. We agreed to keep it that way, right? Were partners, you and I.
As such, we shouldnt have secrets. Which is why Im telling you now that Ive decided to make sure your former girlfriend doesnt come back to haunt us.
How do you plan to do that?
Leave it to me.
Im telling you, we dont have to worry about her.
Well Creighton had winked. Just to be on the safe side.
Billy had rounded the bar so quickly, hed rapped his hip bone against the corner. Hed raised his hands, palms out, and given Creighton that sheepish, boyish grin that had never failed him before. Okay, Im caught. I did phone her house a couple of times. Like a prank, you know. Just for shits and giggles. Whats the big deal?
Creighton had checked his watch and turned toward the door. My masseur will be waiting on me.
Wait, what are you going to do?
Get a massage, hed replied with the innocence of an altar boy. Oh, you mean about your former sweetheart? Hed pursed his lips as though thinking about it, and Billy had wanted to hit him. Well, after what she did to you, after the level of her betrayal, I believe her punishment should be severe, dont you? She showed you no mercy, right?
Shes just a kid, Billy had said, trying to keep his inflection indifferent. And I wasnt exactly fair to her, either.
Trust me, Billy. Well both feel much more confident of success if we dont leave this one loose end. Billy had been on his heels as Creighton had walked to the door. Hed reached for the doorknob, but Billy, acting on impulse rather than common sense, had grabbed it ahead of him.
Youre not going anywhere, Creighton. Not until weve talked about this. Until were clear.
Creighton had looked surprised and offended. That sounds like a threat.
No threat. I just want to make sure theres no misunderstanding about this.
I think we understand each other perfectly. With that, Creighton had shot a pointed look down at Billys hand around the doorknob. Billy had turned the knob and opened the door.
Creighton had been almost through it when he stopped and snapped his fingers. I almost forgot. I left you a present. Over there by the TV. Enjoy.
The so-called present had been a movie on DVD.
He hadnt watched it because hed wanted badly to take a long, hot shower. Though hed never seen Creighton less than immaculately groomed and dressed, the guy gave off an unaccountable air of foulness. It would be hard to make this room worse than it was, but somehow Creighton Wheelers presence had polluted it.
The shower had helped, some. But a nagging worry had stayed with him throughout the day. He tried putting a positive spin on everything Creighton had said and the way hed said it, but sinister implications seemed glaringly apparent. Foreboding clung to Billys skin like the sour sweat that had defied even his shower. He began to wish hed never met Creighton Wheeler.
He had seemed like a guardian angel when he first approached Billy. Hed appeared when least expected. Hed insinuated his way into Billys life, and Billy had allowed it. Indeed, hed welcomed it. Because Creighton had saved a complete strangershis, Billy Dukesbutt. There was never any question that Billy would show his gratitude by repaying the favor. Besides, Creighton had been very persuasive.
And things had gone just as Creighton had said they would. Paul Wheeler was dead, and all credit went to Billy Duke. For days following the shooting, each time he watched a news story about it on TV, he could barely contain his pride. With one bold act, hed gone from playing in the minor leagues to hitting a grand slam at the World Series.
While hed been staying cooped up in this dump of a place, the days had grown long and tiresome, but hed consoled himself with visions of his future. When the agreed-upon hundred grand was deposited into the bank account set up for him in the Caymans, hed be outta here. His conscience was clear because nobody had been snuffed except a stingy old man, a despot who had made his nephews life miserable. Billy Duke would live out his days a rich man. He and Creighton would get off scot-free, just as theyd planned.
But Creightons behavior this morning had been high on the creep scale. Things he had said, the way hed acted, had left Billy with the unsettling doubt that their partnership might not end as rosily as projected. Creightons mention of Ariel might have been a bluff just to gauge how Billy would react. Creighton had said they had an understanding about that, but did they? Hed said he would deposit the money into the account, but would he?
Billy had spent the day wrestling the fear that his alliance with Creighton had been a colossal mistake.
But now, as he gazed at himself in the mirror, he asked where that jerk got off, nearly choking him to death? And why had he let him get by with it?
Suddenly, in a blinding moment of clarity, Billy cursed himself for being such a limp dick. It occurred to him that he was playing right into Creighton Wheelers hands. This was Creightons MO. He was trying to psyche Billy out, and Billy had almost let him!
He laughed at himself for being so damn gullible and susceptible to the other mans mind-fucking. This was what rich men like Creighton Wheeler did. They instilled fear by dropping subtle warnings. Thats how they wielded power over other people. Creighton had played a mind game with him, and it had almost worked just as it had before.
Screw that!
Billy stalked into the main room and gave the finger to the chair in which Creighton had sat that morning, looking so goddamn perfect and untouchable. Whod the guy think he was, to second-guess the way Billy had carried out his uncles execution? He had his nerve. His ass hadnt been put on the line, had it? So how dare he criticize.
Billy reminded himself that he was a wolf, wily and witty, surviving on instinct and cunning. He was a lean, mean machine. Grinning with renewed confidence, he knelt and retrieved the black velvet bag from the bottom drawer of the bureau. I wasnt born yesterday.
He chuckled, remembering that hed said those very words to Creighton. He had gazed at Billy in that smarmy way of his that made Billy want to deck him, which he should have done.
Creighton Wheeler wasnt nearly as smart as he thought he was. Did he really think Billy Duke would fail to leave himself an escape hatch? There was more than one way to skin a cat, and Billy always had options in place just in case the original plan got fucked up.
He opened the drawstring on the bag and shook the contents onto the bed. Most of the pieces were inexpensive and disposable, although a pair of diamond ear studs belonging to one of the scared old ladies might be worth a coupla thou.
But Wheelers watch, now that was a huge bargaining chip.
And, now that he thought about it, so was Julie Rutledge.
From the start Billy had sensed that the broad bugged Creighton almost as much as his uncle did. Hed been emphatic that Wheeler die in her presence, preferably in her arms. Hed drummed that into Billys head until Billy had got sick of hearing it and had told him so. He hadnt mentioned his uncles mistress since, not even this morning.
But, having a knack for seizing or making an opportunity where one could be found, Billy had checked out every aspect of Julie Rutledges life as soon as he arrived in Atlanta. Hed done this covert surveillance thinking that she might make a better partner for him than Creighton. Hed thought he might pull the ol switcheroo, the double-cross.
For instance, he could go to her, tell her of Creightons plan, and see if she could think of an alternate scheme that would spare her lovers life
and
be more lucrative to Billy.
Win-win. See?
But in the end, hed decided against it. For one thing, although she had a swank gallery and looked like a classy piece of ass, she didnt have the
major
bucks that Creighton Wheeler did. Her home was nice, but nothing compared with the high rise where Creighton livedyeah, against Creightons explicit instructions, Billy had checked out the building. In the long run, hed decided his best bet was not to approach Julie Rutledge but to stick with Creighton and his plan.
Once, Billy had even considered going to Paul Wheeler and telling him what his nephew had in store for him. But, based on Creightons description of him as a real hard-ass, Billy was afraid that Wheeler would call the cops on him, and that would be that. He would go to prison, and Creighton would go on living the life of a prince.
Because no one would believe that a rich guy like Creighton Wheeler was in cahoots with a hustler like Billy Duke. And thats what really nagged at Billy. As things stood now, if he was caught, hed go down alone.
He picked up Paul Wheelers wristwatch and rubbed his thumb across the smooth face. Damn! It had been a brilliant move to hang on to it. Not because it was worth fifty grand but because, as long as he had it, he had some leverage with Creighton Wheeler.
But how to put it to best use? He needed to extricate himself from Creighton as gracefully and as profitably as possible. Without getting caught, of course.
He must devise a way.
But his mind needed a break. One could think on a problem so hard that the logical solution became more stubbornly jammed.
So, while he was mulling it over, he put the DVD that Creighton had left him into the player and settled back to enjoy the movie.
What detail?
Im not as
relaxed
as you are. Especially about your ex-lover.
The hitch in his heart had become a hammer. She doesnt even know Im in Georgia.
Creightons smile had turned sad. Billy, you really shouldnt lie to your partner.
Im not lying.
Creighton had leaned in and whispered, Ive talked to Ariel.
Billyd almost thrown up his coffee. You did? When? Where?
I know about the phone calls.
Still trying to brazen it out, hed stammered, Ph-phone calls? I dont know what youre talking about. What phone calls?
Dont try that bluster on me, Billy. You know what phone calls Im talking about.
I swear I dont. Hed denied it with all the passion he could muster. He was ashamed now of how desperate he must have appeared to the rich bastard. Look, I dont know what Ariel told you, but theres no way she could know Im within a thousand miles of here. We agreed to keep it that way, right? Were partners, you and I.
As such, we shouldnt have secrets. Which is why Im telling you now that Ive decided to make sure your former girlfriend doesnt come back to haunt us.
How do you plan to do that?
Leave it to me.
Im telling you, we dont have to worry about her.
Well Creighton had winked. Just to be on the safe side.
Billy had rounded the bar so quickly, hed rapped his hip bone against the corner. Hed raised his hands, palms out, and given Creighton that sheepish, boyish grin that had never failed him before. Okay, Im caught. I did phone her house a couple of times. Like a prank, you know. Just for shits and giggles. Whats the big deal?
Creighton had checked his watch and turned toward the door. My masseur will be waiting on me.
Wait, what are you going to do?
Get a massage, hed replied with the innocence of an altar boy. Oh, you mean about your former sweetheart? Hed pursed his lips as though thinking about it, and Billy had wanted to hit him. Well, after what she did to you, after the level of her betrayal, I believe her punishment should be severe, dont you? She showed you no mercy, right?
Shes just a kid, Billy had said, trying to keep his inflection indifferent. And I wasnt exactly fair to her, either.
Trust me, Billy. Well both feel much more confident of success if we dont leave this one loose end. Billy had been on his heels as Creighton had walked to the door. Hed reached for the doorknob, but Billy, acting on impulse rather than common sense, had grabbed it ahead of him.
Youre not going anywhere, Creighton. Not until weve talked about this. Until were clear.
Creighton had looked surprised and offended. That sounds like a threat.
No threat. I just want to make sure theres no misunderstanding about this.
I think we understand each other perfectly. With that, Creighton had shot a pointed look down at Billys hand around the doorknob. Billy had turned the knob and opened the door.
Creighton had been almost through it when he stopped and snapped his fingers. I almost forgot. I left you a present. Over there by the TV. Enjoy.
The so-called present had been a movie on DVD.
He hadnt watched it because hed wanted badly to take a long, hot shower. Though hed never seen Creighton less than immaculately groomed and dressed, the guy gave off an unaccountable air of foulness. It would be hard to make this room worse than it was, but somehow Creighton Wheelers presence had polluted it.
The shower had helped, some. But a nagging worry had stayed with him throughout the day. He tried putting a positive spin on everything Creighton had said and the way hed said it, but sinister implications seemed glaringly apparent. Foreboding clung to Billys skin like the sour sweat that had defied even his shower. He began to wish hed never met Creighton Wheeler.
He had seemed like a guardian angel when he first approached Billy. Hed appeared when least expected. Hed insinuated his way into Billys life, and Billy had allowed it. Indeed, hed welcomed it. Because Creighton had saved a complete strangershis, Billy Dukesbutt. There was never any question that Billy would show his gratitude by repaying the favor. Besides, Creighton had been very persuasive.
And things had gone just as Creighton had said they would. Paul Wheeler was dead, and all credit went to Billy Duke. For days following the shooting, each time he watched a news story about it on TV, he could barely contain his pride. With one bold act, hed gone from playing in the minor leagues to hitting a grand slam at the World Series.
While hed been staying cooped up in this dump of a place, the days had grown long and tiresome, but hed consoled himself with visions of his future. When the agreed-upon hundred grand was deposited into the bank account set up for him in the Caymans, hed be outta here. His conscience was clear because nobody had been snuffed except a stingy old man, a despot who had made his nephews life miserable. Billy Duke would live out his days a rich man. He and Creighton would get off scot-free, just as theyd planned.
But Creightons behavior this morning had been high on the creep scale. Things he had said, the way hed acted, had left Billy with the unsettling doubt that their partnership might not end as rosily as projected. Creightons mention of Ariel might have been a bluff just to gauge how Billy would react. Creighton had said they had an understanding about that, but did they? Hed said he would deposit the money into the account, but would he?
Billy had spent the day wrestling the fear that his alliance with Creighton had been a colossal mistake.
But now, as he gazed at himself in the mirror, he asked where that jerk got off, nearly choking him to death? And why had he let him get by with it?
Suddenly, in a blinding moment of clarity, Billy cursed himself for being such a limp dick. It occurred to him that he was playing right into Creighton Wheelers hands. This was Creightons MO. He was trying to psyche Billy out, and Billy had almost let him!
He laughed at himself for being so damn gullible and susceptible to the other mans mind-fucking. This was what rich men like Creighton Wheeler did. They instilled fear by dropping subtle warnings. Thats how they wielded power over other people. Creighton had played a mind game with him, and it had almost worked just as it had before.
Screw that!
Billy stalked into the main room and gave the finger to the chair in which Creighton had sat that morning, looking so goddamn perfect and untouchable. Whod the guy think he was, to second-guess the way Billy had carried out his uncles execution? He had his nerve. His ass hadnt been put on the line, had it? So how dare he criticize.
Billy reminded himself that he was a wolf, wily and witty, surviving on instinct and cunning. He was a lean, mean machine. Grinning with renewed confidence, he knelt and retrieved the black velvet bag from the bottom drawer of the bureau. I wasnt born yesterday.
He chuckled, remembering that hed said those very words to Creighton. He had gazed at Billy in that smarmy way of his that made Billy want to deck him, which he should have done.
Creighton Wheeler wasnt nearly as smart as he thought he was. Did he really think Billy Duke would fail to leave himself an escape hatch? There was more than one way to skin a cat, and Billy always had options in place just in case the original plan got fucked up.
He opened the drawstring on the bag and shook the contents onto the bed. Most of the pieces were inexpensive and disposable, although a pair of diamond ear studs belonging to one of the scared old ladies might be worth a coupla thou.
But Wheelers watch, now that was a huge bargaining chip.
And, now that he thought about it, so was Julie Rutledge.
From the start Billy had sensed that the broad bugged Creighton almost as much as his uncle did. Hed been emphatic that Wheeler die in her presence, preferably in her arms. Hed drummed that into Billys head until Billy had got sick of hearing it and had told him so. He hadnt mentioned his uncles mistress since, not even this morning.
But, having a knack for seizing or making an opportunity where one could be found, Billy had checked out every aspect of Julie Rutledges life as soon as he arrived in Atlanta. Hed done this covert surveillance thinking that she might make a better partner for him than Creighton. Hed thought he might pull the ol switcheroo, the double-cross.
For instance, he could go to her, tell her of Creightons plan, and see if she could think of an alternate scheme that would spare her lovers life
and
be more lucrative to Billy.
Win-win. See?
But in the end, hed decided against it. For one thing, although she had a swank gallery and looked like a classy piece of ass, she didnt have the
major
bucks that Creighton Wheeler did. Her home was nice, but nothing compared with the high rise where Creighton livedyeah, against Creightons explicit instructions, Billy had checked out the building. In the long run, hed decided his best bet was not to approach Julie Rutledge but to stick with Creighton and his plan.
Once, Billy had even considered going to Paul Wheeler and telling him what his nephew had in store for him. But, based on Creightons description of him as a real hard-ass, Billy was afraid that Wheeler would call the cops on him, and that would be that. He would go to prison, and Creighton would go on living the life of a prince.
Because no one would believe that a rich guy like Creighton Wheeler was in cahoots with a hustler like Billy Duke. And thats what really nagged at Billy. As things stood now, if he was caught, hed go down alone.
He picked up Paul Wheelers wristwatch and rubbed his thumb across the smooth face. Damn! It had been a brilliant move to hang on to it. Not because it was worth fifty grand but because, as long as he had it, he had some leverage with Creighton Wheeler.
But how to put it to best use? He needed to extricate himself from Creighton as gracefully and as profitably as possible. Without getting caught, of course.
He must devise a way.
But his mind needed a break. One could think on a problem so hard that the logical solution became more stubbornly jammed.
So, while he was mulling it over, he put the DVD that Creighton had left him into the player and settled back to enjoy the movie.
CHAPTER
17
J
ULIE HAD TO RING THE DOORBELL THREE TIMES BEFORE HE answered.
He was dressed as hed been when they separated, in a pair of jeans and a white shirt with the cuffs rolled to his elbows, but now he looked unkempt. His shirttail was out, and his hair looked as though it had withstood a hurricane-force gale. His eyes were bloodshot and wet. A man in heartache.
He had no reaction to seeing her, not surprise, gladness, or annoyance. His features were drawn with acute sorrow.
She said his name, just that, softly and with compassion.
Saying nothing in return, he left the door standing open and retreated down an entry hall. She stepped inside, closed the front door, followed him around a corner and into a compact room. Two of its walls had built-in bookshelves. They were neat but functional, not for show. Louvered shutters were closed over a single tall window.
The room was minimally furnished. A desk with a computer, stacks of newspapers, unopened mail. An armchair. And a tobacco-colored leather love seat on which Derek was sprawled, his head resting on the padded armrest, his forearm covering his eyes.
Now she was here, Julie wasnt sure what to do. Hed hung up directly after telling her his beloved Maggie had been killed. Acting impulsively, shed got up, dressed, and within minutes of answering her phone was speeding toward his home.
When her plan to prevent him from representing Creighton was still unformed, shed looked up his address. Habersham was one of the most prestigious streets in the city, and like most of the homes on its winding trail through Buckhead, Dereks was situated on a deep, tree-shaded lot. It was an older home to which renovations had been made without any sacrifice of its original character. At any other time, she would have enjoyed taking in all the details.
But tonight she was more interested in the owner than in the well-appointed house. In her haste to get here, she hadnt paused to question what was compelling her to come. Now, she questioned the advisability of intruding on his grief.
Gingerly she lowered herself onto the seat of the armchair. Can I get you anything?
He shook his head.
The house was as silent as a stone. Not even a ticking clock, or the creak of settling lumber, disturbed the profound silence that pressed against her eardrums like water pressure at fifty meters. She thought of leaving, just going, without disturbing him further. She could slip out and he probably wouldnt even notice or remember later that shed been there. But something kept her perched tensely on the edge of the chair.
Finally he lowered his arm and looked at her, just looked, said nothing.
Do you want me to leave?
Why did you come?
Because She stopped. Shed been about to say,
Because I know how much Maggie meant to you
or
Because I know how wrenching a loss like this can be.
But suddenly she realized the reason she was here, and it made her ill. She had raced here in order to apologize.
If it werent for me, she said thickly, Maggie would be alive. Im sorry. Im so sorry.
She shot to her feet and rushed for the door, but Derek called her back. You didnt kill Maggie. He sat up.
He
did. That sick fuck. He killed her.
He placed his elbows on his knees, dropping his head into his hands and plowing his fingers through his hair. His abject despair touched Julie to her core. She went to the love seat, sat down beside him, and placed her hand between his shoulder blades. How long had you had her?
He glanced at the rug beside his desk chair, where Maggie must have napped while he worked. Ten years.
She was mentioned in most of the articles I read about you. She was described as your constant companion. She was as much a celebrity as you.
He gave a soft laugh and wiped his eyes with the heels of his hands. She knew it, too. I swear she posed for pictures.
Think of that. Think of how well she was loved, how much she loved you. Focus on the good times you had together.
He raised his head and looked toward the open office door. Thatll be hard. For a while anyway.
She followed the direction of his gaze, then returned to his profile, which had gone rigid. You found her when you got home from Athens?
I took my time getting back. Stopped to get something to eat. Again, he planted his elbows on his thighs and dug into his eye sockets with his thumbs. You know the scene in
The Godfather?
The racehorse. In the bed.
She exhaled a thread of breath through parted lips, murmuring, Oh my God, Derek.
He lowered his hands from his eyes and looked at her. Yeah. It unmanned me. I screamed. He wanted to hurt me, he wanted to get to me, make the worst possible impact. He did.
The doorbell rang, and Julie jumped, looking at him with alarm.
Thatll probably be the police. I thought you were them when you rang the bell.
They took their sweet time.
I told them there was no rush, that the damage was done. Excuse me.
He left her to answer the door. She followed. The uniformed patrol officers looked awfully young and terribly rigid, as though theyd just graduated from the academy and had to overcompensate for their inexperience by being stiff-lipped and terse.
They exchanged very stilted introductions with Derek, who then motioned them upstairs. First door on your left.
As he and Julie watched them go up, she said quietly, Theyre like machines. The shock of what theyll see might render them more human.
Dont count on it. They know me by reputation. Theyll go through the motions of investigating, but the Atlanta PD isnt going to go all-out to track down my dogs killer. I dont expect these two to do much more than file the report. The only reason I called them was because I wanted it on the record.
The doorbell chimed again. Thatll be the vet, he said. I called him to help me with with Maggie.
He went to the door and admitted a man about his age. It appeared hed dressed swiftly, in threadbare jeans and a faded Falcons T-shirt. Maybe hed chosen the old articles of clothing because he knew that, after doing the chore hed been called to handle, he would probably have to throw the clothes away.
He and Derek hugged each other awkwardly, in the way of men finding themselves in an emotional situation. When Derek stepped back, he indicated Julie and made a low-key introduction, to which she and the doctor responded in monotones.
Then Derek said to the vet, This way. As they passed her, he said, Dont come upstairs.
Julie found her way to the kitchen. The appliances and countertops were sleek and spotless, those of someone who didnt cook often. The coffeemaker was so newfangled it took her a while to figure out how to start it once shed filled the water tank and scooped grounds into the wire mesh filter.
Seeing Maggies food and water dish near the back door, she moved them inside the pantry. They would be painful reminders.
The two police officers entered the kitchen, looking no less stern than they had before going upstairs. Each gave her a once-over but said nothing as they passed through the room and used the exterior door to go outside.
From the window in the breakfast nook, she watched their flashlight beams dance along the ground and sweep across the shrubbery. One officer shone his up into the branches of a tree, as though the culprit might be hiding there. But neither did any real investigating, and within a couple of minutes of going out, they came back in. One tapped his flashlight against the control box of the security system, and the other nodded.
Do you think he tinkered with the alarm system? Julie asked. Are you going to fingerprint that doorknob? Did you see footprints outside?
Ignoring her questions, one asked, Whats your name?
She told him.
Common spelling?
Yes.
Were you here?
When?
When he found the dog.
She shook her head. I arrived only a few minutes before you.
Asking nothing else, they filed out of the kitchen, moving as one unit.
Derek had predicted correctly. They were going through the motions, but just barely. She followed them to the foot of the staircase, where they reunited with Derek. She hung back while they conferred with him in muted voices. One took notes. Derek asked them several questions, to which he received perfunctory answers.
Then the officer taking notes closed his notebook. She heard the other tell Derek that they would be in touch. He showed them to the door, where one touched the brim of his hat. Sorry about your dog, Mr. Mitchell.
Derek closed the door on them without replying. He shot Julie a look as he passed through the hall but said nothing as he started up the staircase.
She returned to the kitchen. The coffee was ready. Shed just located mugs and spoons when she heard noises and went back to the front of the house. Between them, Derek and the vet were carrying a black plastic bag down the stairs. Dereks eyes were leaking tears.
She went ahead of them, opened the front door, and stood aside. They carried the bag from the house to the curb, where the vet had left his pickup. Julie watched from the open doorway as they gently laid the bag on the ground, lowered the tailgate, then lifted the bag into the bed of the truck.
The vet stepped away, leaving Derek alone. He stood there for what seemed to Julie a long time, but the moments were fraught with such emotion that perhaps it wasnt nearly as long as it seemed. Finally Derek placed his hand on the bag, said something, then raised the tailgate and closed it.
The vet, with remarkable sensitivity, Julie thought, didnt say anything more, just climbed into the cab of his truck and drove away. Dereks knees seemed to give way. He sat down on the curb, facing the street, and stayed there for a time. Julie saw his shoulders shaking. She stayed where she was in the open doorway, knowing that he needed this time.
Eventually, he stood up and walked slowly back to the house. His white shirt was white no more. His jeans were dark with blood. When he got to the door, he said, Im going to shower, and once again climbed the stairs.
When he hadnt reappeared after fifteen minutes, she filled a mug with coffee and carried it up. She located his bedroom because it was the only room with the light on. The door to the adjacent bathroom was closed. Behind it, water was running. His bed had been stripped. In the center of the mattress was a dark, wet stain, larger than a man, as repugnant as anything Julie had ever seen.
Another bag, like the one in which Maggies body had been placed, had been sealed and put in a corner. Dereks bedding and clothing, she thought. On the floor, propped against the wall opposite the bed, was the painting from the auction, still in the crate in which shed secured it. Just the night before, but it seemed a lifetime ago.
The water shut off, and a couple minutes later he stepped from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. She extended the mug toward him. Im afraid its gone cold.
Thanks anyway. He took the mug from her, but he stared into the coffee without tasting it. Id rather have a drink.
My house. She spoke decisively, even though the idea only just then had occurred to her. Get dressed.
ULIE HAD TO RING THE DOORBELL THREE TIMES BEFORE HE answered.
He was dressed as hed been when they separated, in a pair of jeans and a white shirt with the cuffs rolled to his elbows, but now he looked unkempt. His shirttail was out, and his hair looked as though it had withstood a hurricane-force gale. His eyes were bloodshot and wet. A man in heartache.
He had no reaction to seeing her, not surprise, gladness, or annoyance. His features were drawn with acute sorrow.
She said his name, just that, softly and with compassion.
Saying nothing in return, he left the door standing open and retreated down an entry hall. She stepped inside, closed the front door, followed him around a corner and into a compact room. Two of its walls had built-in bookshelves. They were neat but functional, not for show. Louvered shutters were closed over a single tall window.
The room was minimally furnished. A desk with a computer, stacks of newspapers, unopened mail. An armchair. And a tobacco-colored leather love seat on which Derek was sprawled, his head resting on the padded armrest, his forearm covering his eyes.
Now she was here, Julie wasnt sure what to do. Hed hung up directly after telling her his beloved Maggie had been killed. Acting impulsively, shed got up, dressed, and within minutes of answering her phone was speeding toward his home.
When her plan to prevent him from representing Creighton was still unformed, shed looked up his address. Habersham was one of the most prestigious streets in the city, and like most of the homes on its winding trail through Buckhead, Dereks was situated on a deep, tree-shaded lot. It was an older home to which renovations had been made without any sacrifice of its original character. At any other time, she would have enjoyed taking in all the details.
But tonight she was more interested in the owner than in the well-appointed house. In her haste to get here, she hadnt paused to question what was compelling her to come. Now, she questioned the advisability of intruding on his grief.
Gingerly she lowered herself onto the seat of the armchair. Can I get you anything?
He shook his head.
The house was as silent as a stone. Not even a ticking clock, or the creak of settling lumber, disturbed the profound silence that pressed against her eardrums like water pressure at fifty meters. She thought of leaving, just going, without disturbing him further. She could slip out and he probably wouldnt even notice or remember later that shed been there. But something kept her perched tensely on the edge of the chair.
Finally he lowered his arm and looked at her, just looked, said nothing.
Do you want me to leave?
Why did you come?
Because She stopped. Shed been about to say,
Because I know how much Maggie meant to you
or
Because I know how wrenching a loss like this can be.
But suddenly she realized the reason she was here, and it made her ill. She had raced here in order to apologize.
If it werent for me, she said thickly, Maggie would be alive. Im sorry. Im so sorry.
She shot to her feet and rushed for the door, but Derek called her back. You didnt kill Maggie. He sat up.
He
did. That sick fuck. He killed her.
He placed his elbows on his knees, dropping his head into his hands and plowing his fingers through his hair. His abject despair touched Julie to her core. She went to the love seat, sat down beside him, and placed her hand between his shoulder blades. How long had you had her?
He glanced at the rug beside his desk chair, where Maggie must have napped while he worked. Ten years.
She was mentioned in most of the articles I read about you. She was described as your constant companion. She was as much a celebrity as you.
He gave a soft laugh and wiped his eyes with the heels of his hands. She knew it, too. I swear she posed for pictures.
Think of that. Think of how well she was loved, how much she loved you. Focus on the good times you had together.
He raised his head and looked toward the open office door. Thatll be hard. For a while anyway.
She followed the direction of his gaze, then returned to his profile, which had gone rigid. You found her when you got home from Athens?
I took my time getting back. Stopped to get something to eat. Again, he planted his elbows on his thighs and dug into his eye sockets with his thumbs. You know the scene in
The Godfather?
The racehorse. In the bed.
She exhaled a thread of breath through parted lips, murmuring, Oh my God, Derek.
He lowered his hands from his eyes and looked at her. Yeah. It unmanned me. I screamed. He wanted to hurt me, he wanted to get to me, make the worst possible impact. He did.
The doorbell rang, and Julie jumped, looking at him with alarm.
Thatll probably be the police. I thought you were them when you rang the bell.
They took their sweet time.
I told them there was no rush, that the damage was done. Excuse me.
He left her to answer the door. She followed. The uniformed patrol officers looked awfully young and terribly rigid, as though theyd just graduated from the academy and had to overcompensate for their inexperience by being stiff-lipped and terse.
They exchanged very stilted introductions with Derek, who then motioned them upstairs. First door on your left.
As he and Julie watched them go up, she said quietly, Theyre like machines. The shock of what theyll see might render them more human.
Dont count on it. They know me by reputation. Theyll go through the motions of investigating, but the Atlanta PD isnt going to go all-out to track down my dogs killer. I dont expect these two to do much more than file the report. The only reason I called them was because I wanted it on the record.
The doorbell chimed again. Thatll be the vet, he said. I called him to help me with with Maggie.
He went to the door and admitted a man about his age. It appeared hed dressed swiftly, in threadbare jeans and a faded Falcons T-shirt. Maybe hed chosen the old articles of clothing because he knew that, after doing the chore hed been called to handle, he would probably have to throw the clothes away.
He and Derek hugged each other awkwardly, in the way of men finding themselves in an emotional situation. When Derek stepped back, he indicated Julie and made a low-key introduction, to which she and the doctor responded in monotones.
Then Derek said to the vet, This way. As they passed her, he said, Dont come upstairs.
Julie found her way to the kitchen. The appliances and countertops were sleek and spotless, those of someone who didnt cook often. The coffeemaker was so newfangled it took her a while to figure out how to start it once shed filled the water tank and scooped grounds into the wire mesh filter.
Seeing Maggies food and water dish near the back door, she moved them inside the pantry. They would be painful reminders.
The two police officers entered the kitchen, looking no less stern than they had before going upstairs. Each gave her a once-over but said nothing as they passed through the room and used the exterior door to go outside.
From the window in the breakfast nook, she watched their flashlight beams dance along the ground and sweep across the shrubbery. One officer shone his up into the branches of a tree, as though the culprit might be hiding there. But neither did any real investigating, and within a couple of minutes of going out, they came back in. One tapped his flashlight against the control box of the security system, and the other nodded.
Do you think he tinkered with the alarm system? Julie asked. Are you going to fingerprint that doorknob? Did you see footprints outside?
Ignoring her questions, one asked, Whats your name?
She told him.
Common spelling?
Yes.
Were you here?
When?
When he found the dog.
She shook her head. I arrived only a few minutes before you.
Asking nothing else, they filed out of the kitchen, moving as one unit.
Derek had predicted correctly. They were going through the motions, but just barely. She followed them to the foot of the staircase, where they reunited with Derek. She hung back while they conferred with him in muted voices. One took notes. Derek asked them several questions, to which he received perfunctory answers.
Then the officer taking notes closed his notebook. She heard the other tell Derek that they would be in touch. He showed them to the door, where one touched the brim of his hat. Sorry about your dog, Mr. Mitchell.
Derek closed the door on them without replying. He shot Julie a look as he passed through the hall but said nothing as he started up the staircase.
She returned to the kitchen. The coffee was ready. Shed just located mugs and spoons when she heard noises and went back to the front of the house. Between them, Derek and the vet were carrying a black plastic bag down the stairs. Dereks eyes were leaking tears.
She went ahead of them, opened the front door, and stood aside. They carried the bag from the house to the curb, where the vet had left his pickup. Julie watched from the open doorway as they gently laid the bag on the ground, lowered the tailgate, then lifted the bag into the bed of the truck.
The vet stepped away, leaving Derek alone. He stood there for what seemed to Julie a long time, but the moments were fraught with such emotion that perhaps it wasnt nearly as long as it seemed. Finally Derek placed his hand on the bag, said something, then raised the tailgate and closed it.
The vet, with remarkable sensitivity, Julie thought, didnt say anything more, just climbed into the cab of his truck and drove away. Dereks knees seemed to give way. He sat down on the curb, facing the street, and stayed there for a time. Julie saw his shoulders shaking. She stayed where she was in the open doorway, knowing that he needed this time.
Eventually, he stood up and walked slowly back to the house. His white shirt was white no more. His jeans were dark with blood. When he got to the door, he said, Im going to shower, and once again climbed the stairs.
When he hadnt reappeared after fifteen minutes, she filled a mug with coffee and carried it up. She located his bedroom because it was the only room with the light on. The door to the adjacent bathroom was closed. Behind it, water was running. His bed had been stripped. In the center of the mattress was a dark, wet stain, larger than a man, as repugnant as anything Julie had ever seen.
Another bag, like the one in which Maggies body had been placed, had been sealed and put in a corner. Dereks bedding and clothing, she thought. On the floor, propped against the wall opposite the bed, was the painting from the auction, still in the crate in which shed secured it. Just the night before, but it seemed a lifetime ago.
The water shut off, and a couple minutes later he stepped from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. She extended the mug toward him. Im afraid its gone cold.
Thanks anyway. He took the mug from her, but he stared into the coffee without tasting it. Id rather have a drink.
My house. She spoke decisively, even though the idea only just then had occurred to her. Get dressed.
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