Robert Liston - The Tower of Evil

She drove back to her flower shop, quite slowly now, her hands shaking as she gripped the wheel. She sighed. At least she’d found Jamie. He was safe-for the moment.

Karen La Rocca bounced in an hour or so later, her car repaired. DeeDee took her aside, explained.

“I’m sure Marco didn’t mean anything, DeeDee. All he thought about was returning Jamie to his mother.”

And the $25,000. “I’m sure that’s true, Karen, but we can’t take chances. Do you have somewhere you can go with Jamie, both boys, somewhere Marco doesn’t know, where you’d be safe?”

Karen patted her hair. “I’ve never mentioned my brother to Marco.” She sighed. “Gino wouldn’t approve of Marco.”

A wise brother. “Where does he live?”

“Fresno.” She looked uncertain. “I guess Gino and Norma would take us in for a few days.”

“Go now, please, and don’t tell anyone where you are.”

Karen hesitated. “But Marco will-”

“Phone him if you must, but please, please, I beg you, don’t tell him where you are.”

“But what about the store?”

“It’ll be hell, but we’ll manage. We have no choice.” She knelt, hugged both boys at once. “I’ll miss you guys.” Now she looked up. Karen clearly did not want to go into hiding. “You have misgivings, don’t you?”

“No, no, it’s okay-I guess.”

“I’ll keep you on salary while you’re gone.” That brightened her. DeeDee went to the cash drawer. “Here, let me give you some money to tide you over.” Two hundred lit her up.

Doreen hadn’t sobbed like this since her father died. He could feel her whole body shaking. He said nothing, just held her-relieved she was still there for him to hold.

Finally coherent words came. “I was so…frightened, Walter, so…terribly scared. I–I could've been killed…Tommy, too.”

“You’re a good driver, darling, better than you think.”

“No, no, I’m not, in and out…of traffic, racing…” He felt her shudder all over like a wet dog. “I’m never…going to drive…again. I–I'm getting rid of…that silly little car.”

He laughed. “Good thing you had it. You’d never have caught up to Jamie otherwise. That’s all that matters.” He reached behind her to the kitchen counter. “Here, love, drink some cognac. It’ll do you good.”

It worked, or something did, for soon her breathing became more ordered. “Sorry, I do so hate ninnies.”

“Only understandable. You had a bad fright.” She blew her nose, snatched a second tissue from the box. “I have to ask, Doreen, why are we doing this? This is cops’ stuff. Let the Buster Brogan’s of this world handle it.”

“But they aren’t. I found out poor Harry wasn’t a suicide, that somebody stole all his records, that Jamie belongs to another woman. Not even Lupe would’ve discovered all that. I think I’m doing splendidly, Walter.”

He laughed. “What are you going to do, open DeeDee’s Detective Agency?”

“Not a bad idea. We could be partners. You learned about the kidnapping and who Jamie really is.”

He waved that aside. “Any gumshoe can stumble on something once in awhile. While you’re detecting, you might ask what’s to keep your well-muscled Isla Vista friend from still calling up-”

“I told him he’d never sleep with Karen again if he told anyone.” She smiled. “Those aren’t the exact words I used, but that’s what I meant.”

“Probably an idle threat, given the way those two ogle each other.”

“Karen’s taking both boys to her brother’s in Fresno. She promised not to tell Marco where they are.”

“And what’s to keep him from calling up Kinkaid or whoever and telling him about your involvement? That has to be worth a few bucks.”

Her eyes widened. “I don’t think he will,” she said softly.

“Will you admit my worry has some justification?”

She rested her head on his chest. “I worry about you, too, you know.” She couldn’t bring herself to say cancer. “There’s risk for both of us in chasing after-bad guys.”

He thought about the threat from the Ninja, but said nothing.

“We agreed we didn’t want to be old stick-in-the-muds. That’s why I opened the shop and you drive the homeless around. Keeps us young.” She smiled up at him. “Isn’t playing detective sort of fun?”

“So is bungee jumping, I’m told.”

“We’ll have to try that. Darling, let’s not worry-”

“Tomorrow will take care of itself. Well said, my dear.” He kissed her. “Let me tell you my news.”

She listened. “Do you think this Henry is right about Amanda Sykes?”

“Tough call,” he said. “Ever since his skiing accident, Henry’s mind is in and out. He can remember something vividly, then a moment later not know it at all.” He stroked his chin, felt whiskers. “I’m inclined to believe him. The two are of an age. They could have gone to school together.” He stopped. “Damn, why didn’t I check Henry’s records while I was there. That would have settled it.”

“You can’t think of everything, dear. The fact Henry knew a nickname for her, especially one like Cyclone for Sykes-”

“That is sort of convincing, isn’t it?”

She sipped her brandy. “Let’s assume Jamie’s mother is Amanda Sykes.”

“Who once had a romance with then-Congressman Justin Wright.”

“Where’s Amanda Sykes now? Out at the Kinkaid castle? If she is, how do we get in there to rescue her?”

“Whoa, dobbin, you move too fast.”

“You should’ve seen me on the freeway.”

“Thank God I didn’t. I may, hopefully, soon answer at least one of your questions.”

“I’m all ears.”

“And such pretty ones.” He kissed her. “I stopped at your competition and bought a bouquet of flowers.”

“Oh?”

“I had it sent out to the castle, but I didn’t want it to look like it came from me. “

She kissed him back. “Who’s the lucky girl?”

“Her name is Maria Angelo, a cook or something out there, and a friend of Addie Kinkaid. I wrote a note giving her my cell number. Addie is rather hard to reach.”

“Sounds like a good idea.”

“We’ll hope so. I didn’t want the message intercepted by one of the Ninja, so I wrote in Spanish-and you know how good my Spanish is.”

“You should have come to DeeDee’s Flowers. Se habla Espanol. What did you think you were saying in your note?"

“That Addie was in trouble and needed her.”

“She probably thinks you wanted a date.”

“Then she’ll definitely call. You didn’t happen to get that number Marco was calling when you so rudely-”

“I did of course.”

He had just jotted it down when his cell phone rang. “I couldn’t be so lucky, could I?” Spanish, his understanding nil, assaulted his ear. All he got were the names Maria and Addie. “Habla mas despacio, por favor.” If that slowed her down, he couldn’t detect it.

“Let me try.” Doreen took the phone from him.

He stood there feeling helpless, listening to Doreen’s si, si’s and yo comprendo’s. She even threw in an es verdad or two.

“What do you want me to tell her?”

“That Addie Kinkaid lost her home and is living at the Salvation Army temporarily. Also-” Doreen’s streak of Spanish silenced him.

“What else do you want to know?”

“I didn’t know your Spanish was so good.”

“I’m good at lots of things.” Her grin was wicked.

“Ask her if she knows where Josh is. Addie wants to reach him.”

He realized he might understand some of it, if he made the effort. But Doreen was doing her thing, so he gave up and quickly became bored. He fixed himself a highball then remembered the call he intended to make. He used the house phone. Lupe answered on the second ring. He told her about the rumor on the street. “There’s a number to call if you see the boy. I’d like to know whose it is, but I’d have to ID myself and that’s not too hot an idea.”