Джонатан Келлерман: Serpentine

I wondered if she’d stood in the doorway to his bedroom and, despite that, considered it.

The final souvenir was the coverage of Dr. Stanley Barker’s fatal tumble. Written in the margin: Miser. Said no. Paid the ultimate price.

Milo said, “Nothing about a poisoned dog.”

I said, “A throwaway not worth commemorating.”

“What a pair. I’ll call Orinda and Portland, after all this time they probably won’t be able to do anything about it but what the hell. The rest, no need to get into it. Right?”

I said, “Agreed but there are a few other calls that need to be made.”

“To who?”

I told him.

He said, “You mind doing it? I gotta deal with Jen Arredondo. Got a call last night from her dad. He’s concerned because she says she’s fine, refused the department shrink, and he thinks better to pay up now and avoid PTSD. If we can convince her, can you hook her up with someone? Even you if you feel like it.”

“I’m too involved, we’ll go the referral route.”

“Fair enough. So you’ll do the other calls?”

“No prob.”

“What a pal—scratch that, no wiseassery, you were the main deal on this one. I mean it. And don’t say aw shucks.”

I said, “Buy me lunch.”

“Like I wouldn’t if you didn’t ask.”

—

I reached Vicki Quandt at her home in Santa Monica Canyon and told her we’d located a relative who was looking for her.

She said, “I figured that might happen. Who?”

“A woman named Bella Owen. She’s local and was your—”

“No need to get into it,” said Quandt. “It was a long time ago and like I told you, I’ve got my life.”

I said, “Just wanted you to know.”

“And I appreciate that—tell you what, text me her information and I’ll see how I feel.”

—

Call Number Two: Val Des Barres.

She said, “All ears,” when I told her I had new information. The same kind of quivery inflection we’d heard from Ellie at the onset of the sit-down.

When I finished, she said, “What an utter monster. Thank God she didn’t hurt Father…is Ellie okay? Learning all this. Should I reach out to her?”

“At this point, it’s probably best to let her work it out.”

“I do hope she’s okay.”

“It’s looking positive, Val.”

“I hope so…Father was innocent.”

“He was.”

“Though a bit of a rogue.” She laughed.

No sense telling her about Anton Des Barres’s tastes in female companionship. Her laughter was genuine. Wanting to think of him as a guy with flair.

“That he was, Val.”

“He loved me,” she said. “Whatever made him happy.”

—

I reached Maxine Driver at her campus office.

She said, “Giving or taking?”

I said, “The former.”

“Goody. Juicy stuff?”

“Oh, yeah. There are things you won’t be able to use but there’s plenty you can. I’m figuring two, three papers, minimum, who knows how many symposia.”

“Awesome,” she said. “To paraphrase the tykes.”

To Faye

Special thanks to Clea Koff and Joy Viray

By Jonathan KellermanFICTION ALEX DELAWARE NOVELS

Serpentine (2021)

The Museum of Desire (2020)

The Wedding Guest (2019)

Night Moves (2018)

Heartbreak Hotel (2017)

Breakdown (2016)

Motive (2015)

Killer (2014)

Guilt (2013)

Victims (2012)

Mystery (2011)

Deception (2010)

Evidence (2009)

Bones (2008)

Compulsion (2008)

Obsession (2007)

Gone (2006)

Rage (2005)

Therapy (2004)

A Cold Heart (2003)

The Murder Book (2002)

Flesh and Blood (2001)

Dr. Death (2000)

Monster (1999)

Survival of the Fittest (1997)

The Clinic (1997)

The Web (1996)

Self-Defense (1995)

Bad Love (1994)

Devil’s Waltz (1993)

Private Eyes (1992)

Time Bomb (1990)

Silent Partner (1989)

Over the Edge (1987)

Blood Test (1986)

When the Bough Breaks (1985) BY JONATHAN KELLERMAN AND JESSE KELLERMAN

Half Moon Bay (2020)

A Measure of Darkness (2018)

Crime Scene (2017)

The Golem of Paris (2015)

The Golem of Hollywood (2014) OTHER NOVELS

The Murderer’s Daughter (2015)

True Detectives (2009)

Capital Crimes (with Faye Kellerman, 2006)

Twisted (2004)

Double Homicide (with Faye Kellerman, 2004)

The Conspiracy Club (2003)

Billy Straight (1998)

The Butcher’s Theater (1988) GRAPHIC NOVELS

Silent Partner (2012)

The Web (2012) NONFICTION

With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars (2008)

Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children (1999)

Helping the Fearful Child (1981)

Psychological Aspects of Childhood Cancer (1980) FOR CHILDREN, WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED

Jonathan Kellerman’s ABC of Weird Creatures (1995)

Daddy, Daddy, Can You Touch the Sky? (1994)

About the Author

Jonathan Kellerman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, The Butcher’s Theater,Billy Straight,The Conspiracy Club,Twisted,True Detectives, and The Murderer’s Daughter. With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored Double Homicide and Capital Crimes. With his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored Half Moon Bay,A Measure of Darkness,Crime Scene,The Golem of Hollywood, and The Golem of Paris. He is also the author of two children’s books and numerous nonfiction works, including Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children and With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars. He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, and has been nominated for a Shamus Award. Jonathan and Faye Kellerman live in California and New Mexico.

jonathankellerman.com

Facebook.com/​JonathanKellerman

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