Suspicion (15 page)

  "Sure, Kate."

  But she could tell by the way he walked away, with his shoulders hunched low, that he wasn’t holding much hope.

  Back in the car, she called Frankie for messages. "I’ve got some news about that drug dealer you wanted me to check out," Frankie said after she’d read Kate’s three messages. "But you’re not going to like it."

  "Tell me anyway."

  "The creep checked himself into a drug rehabilitation center three weeks ago."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Positive. I called my former boyfriend, who called Pete’s parole officer. After being released from prison, Finley said he was through with the drug scene and had decided to go clean."

  "Could he have been there as an outpatient?"

  "No. Pete Finley was admitted as an inpatient. According to the staff, there’s no way he could have gotten out of that place without someone knowing about it." She paused. "I’m sorry, Boss. I know you were counting on that drug connection."

  Although disappointed, Kate didn’t dwell on the bad news too long. As she had pointed out to Tony earlier, the revelation that Gina Lamont and Lilly had known each other was significant. She couldn’t explain it yet, but it was definitely a step forward.

  As soon as Kate returned to the office, Frankie came in.

  "So," she said, making herself at home on the edge of Kate’s desk, "did Tony recognize Gina?"

  "He’s never seen her before, and Lilly never mentioned her."

  "Bummer."

  "Oh, I don’t know, Frankie. It’s the first real clue we’ve had so far. And I intend to take full advantage of it."

  "Well, I always say, if anyone can do the impossible, it’s you, Boss."

  Kate smiled. "Thanks for the faith, Frankie."

  "What’s your game plan?"

  Leaning back in her chair, Kate began to swing side to side. "Well, since I seem to have missed something vital during my initial investigation of Lilly’s murder, it’s only fitting that I reinvestigate the case, don’t you think? From the beginning." She gave Frankie a wicked grin. "And what better place to start than with Chuck Winslow."

  Frankie made a disapproving sound with her tongue. "The partners aren’t going to like it."

  "I’ll handle the partners." She glanced at her watch. "Right now, as a matter of fact. Douglas in?"

  "I believe so."

  "Good." She stood up. "Buzz him and tell him I’m on my way to see him, will you?"

  Douglas rose the moment Kate entered his plush, green carpeted office. "How did the bail hearing go?" he asked before she even had a chance to sit down.

  "Pretty much as I expected. Fox was released on two hundred thousand dollars bail and the case goes to the grand jury tomorrow."

  "What’s your gut feeling on this?"

  "I’m almost certain he’ll be indicted. But a trial date can’t possibly be set until March or April of next year. That will give me ample time to prepare his case." She smiled. "And win it."

  Douglas looked pleased. "That’s the spirit."

  As he continued to look at her, Kate felt herself falter. Despite the fact she had known him for almost fifteen years, his rigid ways and low tolerance for human failure often made him intimidating. Yet she could no longer continue to lie to him. She was surprised that she had kept up with the deception as long as she had.

  "I didn’t come here to discuss the Fox case," she said at last.

  "You didn’t?"

  "No." She took a deep breath. "I heard from Eric." She said it quickly, and without flinching.

  Except for a slight tightening of his lips, there was no change in his expression. "When?"

  "The morning of the murder and again yesterday."

  "Do the police know?"

  "No." There was no need to tell him about the possible alliance she had formed with Detective Calhoon.

  "My God, Kate, do you realize what you’re doing? You’re aiding and abetting a fugitive. That’s a felony. You could be disbarred."

  "I’m not aiding and abetting anyone! I only agreed to look into the circumstances of Gina’s death, that’s all."

  "You shouldn’t even have done that."

  "What else could I do?" she flung at him, relieved that the deception was over. "You saw how devastated Alison was, how upset she was when she thought I wasn’t helping her father. What was I supposed to tell her when she asked me to help him? No, I won’t because I may be disbarred?"

  "You’re not helping him by keeping his whereabouts from the police."

  "I’m not keeping his whereabouts from the police. I have no idea where Eric is. He wouldn’t tell me."

  "So why didn’t you tell Calhoon that he called?"

  "Because if I had, he would have put a tap on my phone." She leaned forward, her features taut with tension. "The reason I’m telling you this is that I can’t stand to keep the truth from you any longer." Afraid he might bypass Mitch and go straight to the chief of police, whom he knew well, she added, "but I warn you, Douglas, if you breathe one word of this to the police, Alison will never forgive you." She squared her shoulders. "And neither will I."

  "Does that mean you intend to represent Eric?"

  "Yes."

  Douglas remained silent, his arms folded and his index finger curled around his mouth. As always, it was impossible to guess what he was thinking. When he finally

  spoke, his voice was strained. "He doesn’t deserve what you’re doing for him, Kate. Or what you’re risking."

  "That’s my choice to make." She swallowed, readying herself for another outburst. "And you might as well know that I’m also planning to reinvestigate Lilly’s murder. From the beginning."

  His jaw tightened. "Whatever for?"

  Once again, she repeated her conversation with Shirley Jacob.

  Douglas stared at her in disbelief. "Those two women had nothing whatsoever in common. That flight attendant must be mistaken."

  "She’s not. I had Frankie pull Lilly’s picture from our files and take it to Ms. Jacob’s apartment. She identified her without a moment’s hesitation."

  Douglas picked up a pencil and began to drum it against the edge of his desk. "You said you were going to reinvestigate that case from the beginning. What did you mean by that?"

  "I’m going to question Chuck Winslow again."

  This time, Douglas nearly jumped out of his chair. "That’s insane! You’ll leave yourself wide open for a harassment suit."

  "Not if I proceed cautiously."

  "Where will you find the time to investigate two murders and prepare for William Fox’s trial, as well?"

  "I can handle it. I’ll work night and day if I have to."

  Douglas’s expression remained implacable. "When did you become so stubborn, Kate? So damned unreasonable?"

  "Isn’t that why you hired me, Douglas? Because I never give up?" She smiled. "I believe at the time you called it my ‘pit bull determination.’"

  For several seconds, they held each other’s gaze, two

  old friends who were suddenly on opposite sides. After a while, Douglas nodded, but his expression was still somber. "Very well, then. I guess I can’t stop you from doing what you think is right. But be careful with Winslow, will you? I was just informed that I’m one of this year’s recipients for the Washingtonian of the Year Award and-"

  "Douglas!" Kate beamed, genuinely pleased. "How wonderful." The annual award, sponsored by the monthly magazine, The Washingtonian, was presented each year to fifteen men and women who had spent time and money to make the capital a better and safer place. Douglas, whose neighbor had been paralyzed following a riding accident, had contributed large sums of money to the rehabilitation of paraplegics and quadriplegics throughout the District. "I’m so glad for you," she added. "I can’t think of anyone more deserving."

  Douglas allowed himself a small smile. "Thank you, Kate. But I didn’t mean to brag. What I was going to say was that a lawsuit at this time would be embarrassing, not only for me but for the firm."

  "There won’t be a lawsuit, Douglas. I’ll question Winslow with such a light hand, he won’t even know what I’m doing. And if I need to push a little harder, I’ll hire a private investigator and let him do the dirty work."

  "All right." He stood up, indicating the meeting was over. "Go for it, then, but keep me informed, will you?"

  "Of course."

  She had hoped for a little more encouragement, maybe even a word of praise for her tenacity, which he had always admired. It disappointed her that all he had seemed to care about was the firm.

  The Winslows lived on 15th Street, in a four-story building that was sandwiched between a flower shop and a Thai restaurant. As usual, the elevator was out of order and Kate had to climb the three flights of stairs. At the door bearing the Winslows’ name, she knocked, waited a few seconds and then knocked again.

  "They ain’t here no more."

  Kate turned around. Across the hall, a gray-haired woman with a deeply lined face and granny glasses held her door as far back as the safety chain would allow.

  Kate’s heart gave an extra beat. "Not here anymore? Why? Where did they go?"

  "Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They packed everything they owned into a U-Haul and just took off."

  "When did that happen?"

  "Monday."

  Monday. The day the jury had brought back Tony’s verdict. "Did they leave a forwarding address?"

  The woman scrunched her nose. "Why do you want to know? Who are you?"

  Knowing she would never get anywhere if she admitted to being an attorney, Kate went into one of the routines she had learned from a private investigator she knew. "I’m with Lifetime Insurance, ma’am. Mrs. Winslow bought a policy from us a couple of weeks ago, but she forgot to sign one of the forms."

  "She didn’t tell you she was moving?"

  "I’m sure it was an oversight." She took a few steps toward the other apartment, being careful to keep enough distance between her and the woman so as not to frighten her. "Did she leave you a forwarding address?"

  "Of course she did. Cora and I were friends."

  "It would save me a lot of time if you gave it to me. That way, Mrs. Winslow’s policy wouldn’t have to be delayed unnecessarily."

  "Well…" The woman gave Kate another scrutinizing

  look. Then, having made up her mind, she shrugged. "I guess Cora won’t mind, seeing as the two of you are doing business an’ all."

  Leaving the door ajar, she walked back into her apartment. A few moments later, she returned. Through the opening, she handed Kate a small piece of brown paper on which she had scribbled an address.

  Kate thanked her and left. When she reached her car, she dialed the travel agency she had been using for years and booked a round-trip flight to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the next morning.

  "Do you have everything you need, baby? Have I brought you enough clothes?" Trying not to sound too mushy, Kate smiled at her daughter as they both sat in Rose’s elegant drawing room.

  Alison gave a careless shrug. "You forgot my Calvins, but that’s okay. Grandma is taking me shopping on Sunday."

  "I’d be glad to take you," Kate’s voice rose with hope. "Tonight if you’d like."

  "Thanks, but…" Alison flipped her hair back. "I’d rather go with Grandma." She waited a beat before adding, "You don’t mind, do you?"

  Kate’s heart sank. Shopping was one of Alison’s passions, one she had always enjoyed sharing with her mother-until now. Concealing her disappointment, Kate smiled bravely. "Of course not. You and I can go another time. Next week maybe? We’ll make a day of it." She laughed. "We’ll raid the town."

  "That sounds good." Alison stretched her legs and contemplated her sneakers for a moment. When she looked up again, there was a trace of challenge in her eyes. "Are you making progress on Daddy’s case?"

  Glad that they still had something in common, Kate nodded. "As a matter of fact, I am. It’s nothing I can discuss at the moment, but I can say this-the prosecution’s case doesn’t look nearly as strong now as it did a couple of days ago."

  Alison’s mood perked up considerably. "Oh, Mom, tell me what you found out. Please? I won’t tell anyone, I swear."

  Enjoying the game, Kate laughed and shook her head. "I can’t, darling. Professional ethics and all that. But the moment I can tell you, I will. That’s a promise."

  "Okay." Alison’s gaze drifted toward the telephone. "I just wish Daddy would call. I haven’t talked to him in so long." As if on cue, the phone rang. Alison lunged at it, her eyes wide with expectation as she said hello. Then, almost immediately, her shoulders sagged. "It’s Melissa," she said, turning to Kate.

  Knowing how much Alison treasured her privacy, Kate rose and hugged her daughter. "I’ll see you tomorrow night, baby. Be good."

  Then, rather pleased with the way this visit had turned out, Kate left.

  The temperature in Myrtle Beach was a pleasant sixty-four degrees when Kate’s cab dropped her off at 1145 Bridgen Road the following morning.

  Her coat draped over her arm, she gazed at the modest blue ranch house with its white shutters and small, fenced in yard. The old pickup was there, parked along the curb, and the front door was open to let in the warm ocean breeze. Only the screen door was closed.

  Kate rapped lightly on the frame and waited. Within moments, Cora Winslow, looking the same as she had six

  months ago, appeared, wearing one of her flowered house dresses.

  Everything about her was gray and lifeless-gray hair as coarse and dry as steel wool, a gray complexion and gray teeth. She was a quiet, unsmiling woman, who seemed perfectly content to go through life in her husband’s shadow.

  "Mrs. Winslow?" Kate put on her friendliest smile. "Do you remember me? Kate Logan. I’m Tony Fuente’s attorney."